About OCS
Our Vision
Founded in 1955, the Order of Christian Service exists to serve the Church of Jesus Christ by means of supplying manpower for all types of employment in God's service;
- providing enabling for home-based discipleship
- providing training programmes and resources for the laity
- providing evangelism through mission and personal work
The Order of Christian Service is officially recognised by the Methodist Church and enjoys active involvement with all Christian denominations. Through the ranks of its Field Members, have passed a wide variety of gifted Christians - pastors, hospital workers, youth workers, teachers, plumbers, builders, evangelists, managers and social workers. More than sixty of these have gone on to ordination in the ministry.
The Order of Christian Service has found itself in much demand over the years for the provision of lay training programmes, and evangelistic missions. The Order is prepared to operate in these fields and to travel to wherever they are needed.
The Order is not so much an organisation as an association of Christians who have been called by God to serve Him in a particular field, either at home or elsewhere in South Africa. In the faith that where God guides He provides, the Executive Committee of the Order does not engage itself in fund raising ventures, but rather acts as stewards of God's provision.
The Order of Christian Service seeks quietly to fulfil its mission. Perhaps you have a role to play...
Our Founder
During nearly fifty years as a Methodist minister, the Rev. AJT Cook (MA, BD) had extensive experience in training both lay people and ministerial students.
He was principal at various times of the Lovedale Theological School, John Wesley College in the Federal Theological Seminary, and the Pastoral Seminary of the Methodist Church.
He founded the Order of Christian Service and was head of the Order's Department of Evangelism and Lay Training up till his death in 1980.
With degrees from the Universities of Cambridge, Cape Town and South Africa in Psychology and Divinity, "Jack" Cook combined a strong academic background with a rich store of practical experience of helping and teaching common people to live out the Gospel in their daily lives.
He saw Christians as "ordinary people doing extraordinary things" in the power of God's Spirit.
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