Meet the Pastors

Pastor Joshua Bolaji (Lead Pastor)

Joshua is married to Esther, and they have been blessed with four children. Joshua has been preaching since 1990 and involved in pastoral work since 1992. Joshua graduated from the University of Westminster (London, UK) and worked in the corporate sector before moving into full-time Christian ministry in 2004, when him and Esther moved to Welkom, South Africa. Later, in 2011, Joshua was called to pastor Welkom Baptist Church. In addition to pastoring WBC, Joshua serves as Director on the board of Mukhanyo Theological College, and as Executive Director for the African Pastors' Conferences. His other passions include: supporting Liverpool FC; photography, Star Wars and Literature.

Pastor Louis O’Tool (Associate Pastor)

Louis is married to Amber, and they have been blessed with four children. Louis entered vocational ministry at the age of 27, spending 6 years in children’s home ministry. Louis graduated from Faith Baptist Bible College in Ankeny, Iowa (USA). The O’Tools began attending WBC in 2011 while ministering at a nearby children’s home. In 2014, Louis transitioned to full-time ministry at WBC as Associate pastor. In addition to normal pastoral duties, Louis oversees the youth ministry of WBC. As an extension of the discipleship and mission ministry of WBC, he also serves as the registered tutor for the Welkom local learning site of Mukhanyo Theological College.

Our History

Welkom Baptist Church was planted through the extension efforts of the Bloemfontein Baptist Church in the late 1940s. In 1948, Rev P Visser was sent to the Free State Goldfields to establish a church, supported by the Central Association—an alliance between the Bloemfontein and Vereeniging Baptist churches. With financial backing from Bloemfontein, including a monthly stipend and a bonded manse, and a land donation from Mr C Naude, the church was constituted on April 22, 1950. The original sanctuary, now the hall, served until the new sanctuary opened on November 2, 1974.

Previous pastors include: Rev P Visser, Rev John Lamprecht, Rev Stephen Green, Rev Billy van der Merwe, Rev Trevor Eayrs, Rev Les Wiseman, Rev Vernon Light, Rev Noel Russo, Rev Jannie Goss, and Rev Lee Ward Able