In January 2005 a group of ministers and practitioners from the US went to Johannesburg to panel the first South African practitioners on “home ground”. They are Gerd Pontow, Anka Daly, and Penelope Gottlieb, who jointly run and administer the Soul Home teaching chapter in Johannesburg since the departure of Rev. Stephanie Clarke. Their aim is to become more widely recognized as part of our world-wide community and to help others to live a life of choice through sharing the Science of Mind philosophy.

One of the difficulties of having a group so far away is a feeling of isolation and of not being a part of the greater community. Gerd was supported by the UCRS Global tithe in attending Asilomar last summer. He left saying that he now felt part of the Global Heart. He carried back with him a sense of belonging and a clearer understanding of UCRS and its people. He appreciated learning from and with others, and exchanging ideas with people from the worldwide organization.

In addition to the bimonthly Sunday services, certificated classes and workshops, the three practitioners offer a prayer ministry and counseling sessions. Visioning is an important part of the Soul Home approach and is a major influence on determining the direction of this growing group.

In addition to his work in Johannesburg, Gerd has begun a second group in Cape Town, some 750 miles to the southwest, with support from another former student, Miriam Nunes, who has relocated to that City on the southernmost tip of the African continent. His response has been very encouraging and he looks forward to working with them monthly.