History of Emmanuel Wesleyan Church

The development of The Wesleyan Church of Swaziland originated through mission efforts arising out of The Pilgrim Holiness Church in America, which would later merge with the Wesleyan Methodist church in 1968 to form The Wesleyan Church. The Pilgrim Holiness Church came into being as a result of the revival of scriptural holiness that swept across America in the last half of the nineteenth century. This movement caused many small groups of churches to come together in fellowship and cooperation. Although the name, "The Pilgrim Holiness Church," was not taken by an official body until 1922 the point of actual organisation began in 1897 by the union of a number of these churches. The primary purpose of the union was to unite holiness people to promote worldwide holiness evangelism. From the beginning of the 1900's, foreign missionary work began as members of the union went out as faith missionaries around the world. Among those who went out was Mr. Fred DeWeerd who held evangelistic meetings from 1908 to 1910, starting in Port Elizabeth and moving northward up into Swaziland. During his time in Swaziland Mr. DeWeerd applied for and was given a land grant to develop a religious mission and educational institution in the Lubombo region just south of Steki. Thus, Ebenezer mission was born and the first missionary family, Rev. Charles