He was quickly recognized and accepted and not long afterwards he approached the Chairman to request the elders (committee) to grant him a piece of land where he could establish a church. While all this was happening, the news of this work reached someone at Durbanville Baptist Church who had connections and five containers were donated for a future church structure.

A large piece of ground was allocated and soon tent meetings began. A small wooden (4m and 3m) structure became the kitchen and preaching point.

In December 2003, Rev. Terry Rae of the Baptist Union of South Africa, Johannesburg preached there and was burdened with the needs. He said he would share this vision with other churches in the Baptist Union of S.A.

Durbanville Baptist Church, under Pastor Basil Starke, became regular providers of cooked food, which was collected from restaurants in their area and delivered on Fridays. Financial assistance was also given for the project.

With the crowds of people requiring food on Fridays growing, often the food collected from the restaurants in Durbanville was not sufficient. A backup food supply was needed and Claremont Baptist Church under Peter Smallbones included the Barcelona feeding scheme in their Annual Mission Budget.

Julius and Irene now receive a regular supply of staple foods – the ladies at Claremont visited Barcelona to teach the helpers to use the "wonder box"/Hay Box technique for economical cooking and efficient food preparation. 

A member of the Durbanville Baptist Church, Mr. Robert Haupt, Founder/Director of E.A.T Africa, an independent ministry, came alongside Julius and invested finance from the USA and locally, and has spent much time in placing the containers in position. These have now become the venue consisting of a large hall, classrooms – and office. Rob’s tireless effort has managed to establish the shell of the building – and with financial assistance from RIFIKI, an international skills training ministry in South Africa, donated money to have the roof completed. Thanks to the WPBA the floor has been completed.

Claremont Baptist Church has an ongoing collecting point of clothes, shoes, blankets and linens which get sorted, cleaned and given to the Pastor and Irene to be distributed at their discretion. This usually takes place after the Sunday morning service.

Recently a vegetable garden has been established for the daily subsistence. Many missionaries from USA and UK visit the site and offer their financial and skills assistance. 

A new development in Pastor Julius and Irene’s ministry is fostering seven children, three of whom have AIDS. Two of the children are Julius and Irene’s orphaned grandchildren – their daughter died of AIDS in July 2003.

It is interesting to note that they were approached by the Social Workers in the area and found to be ideal and willing to take in some AIDS children.

Irene asked her sister Ann to come and live with them to assist with the caring of them.

At one stage, the pastor, his wife, Ann and six of the children lived in half of the original one room wooden shed.  When someone donated a double bed – and furniture, they moved into the container and have made it their own special place, I quote Julius, their new bedroom is " deserving of the pastor". The door is left open so that passers by can see his own place. 

Claremont Baptist Church designated their May Thanksgiving Offering to be used to obtain a timber Wendy house type structure for the children and Ann. It was erected at the beginning of July. Four double-bunks are now installed for the children.

Julius and Irene’s vision for Barcelona is to build a congregation of believers with a strong sense of community – plus a home for the many needy children who find their way to a loving, caring family.

Highlights of the ministry have been the parties arranged around the Christmas season.

The church regulars are catered to first of all, with presents and food and then the others, not regulars, are given the party fare. This is an excellent way to reach this vast needy community.

Saturday, 10th December 2005 was the Children's Christmas Party at Barcelona, arranged by Ruth and Hilton Isaacson.  Thank you so much to everyone in the church who gave so much to make it possible to give food and cooldrinks and presents to everyone of about 175 children who came.  Thank you to all those who provided transport and came to help distribute the gifts to the children.

There was a Gospel presentation by Julian Taylor before handing out the goodies, sweets, cake, etc.

For those who were not able to come along, here are some of the scenes from the party!