How a Church Emerged in HaLebesa: The Story of Liberty Church HaLebesa

When we first set out to Lesotho from Liberty Church, we were responding to the call to care for orphaned and vulnerable children. The heart of the project was the love of God, expressed through safe family homes and long-term community presence. We did not set out to plant a church. Yet over time, a church has emerged alongside the work in HaLebesa.

Looking back over the past year, it is striking how naturally this has unfolded, one day at a time.

The First Gathering on the Porch

The meeting in Mme Puleng’s house that helped start Liberty church HaLebesa

In September 2018, while a team was visiting, a small and unexpected moment became significant. One evening, some of us were playing guitars and singing worship songs in the house where we were staying. Members of the local community heard the music and asked what we were doing. They came the following night, filling the small living room, and we shared songs and a short message from Scripture together.

Afterwards, they asked if we would run a church service.

That Sunday, we gathered on the porch between the two unfinished houses on the One Day site. Chairs were brought together, people sat and stood around the space, and we sang and shared from Scripture. It was simple and unplanned, but there was a real sense of openness. Some began moving towards faith in Jesus.

A few weeks later, another team led by Noel Kenny and Patrice Duff returned and continued meeting with the community. One gathering took place under a large tree on the site. Again, people came. During that time, the village chief publicly expressed her desire to welcome Jesus into the village. It was a meaningful moment for everyone present.

When the teams returned home, Chris and Sheila continued walking with those who had shown interest.

Discipleship and Local Leadership

At that stage, Chris and Sheila were attending an AFM church in Butha Buthe on Sundays. Two men from that church, Ntate Brown and Ntate Ntlaba, began travelling up to HaLebesa to help disciple those who were exploring faith. They invested time, built relationships, and helped provide pastoral oversight.

Over time, Ntate Brown became a close friend and trusted partner in the wider project. He has been instrumental not only in discipling new believers but also in helping Chris and Sheila navigate life and leadership in Lesotho. From cultural insight to practical support, his contribution has been invaluable.

On a later visit, I got to meet Ntate Brown, and we spoke at length about what was happening in HaLebesa. There was a shared sense that something was taking root. People were gathering. Faith was growing. The question arose naturally: should a local church be planted?

We approached the idea carefully, with prayer and conversation. Ntate Brown agreed to take responsibility for leading and nurturing what was emerging. From those early discipleship gatherings, Liberty Church, HaLebesa began to form.

A Tent on the Mountain

As the church community grew, the practical question of where to meet became more pressing. In what can only be described as providential timing, Noel met a South African couple at an event in Dublin. In conversation, Lesotho was mentioned, and they connected us with an organisation called Judea Harvest.

Through Caroline Pittout and Kola de Klerk at Judea Harvest, we received support in securing a large tent to serve as a meeting space. The tent was transported across the border and set up on the One Day site. It became the home of HaLebesa Church.

The tent served us well. On windy days, it required extra effort to keep secure against the mountain gusts, but it provided an initial gathering place. It also functioned as a multi-use space for community events and larger meetings.

A Permanent Home for HaLebesa Church

Later in 2019, we learned about Judea Harvest’s “Snap Church” model, a prefabricated structure that can be assembled in a short time. We approached them about the possibility of building one in HaLebesa. They responded with great generosity, partnering with us and subsidising much of the cost.

The remaining funds were provided by a couple in Liberty Church who had set aside money and chose to give it in full for this purpose. Their generosity meant the building could go ahead without delay.

A team arrived in late 2019, and within a week the Snap Church was constructed! HaLebesa Church now has a permanent home. The building also serves as a shared community space, connected to the One Day site but accessible for broader use. It is used for church gatherings, community meetings, and events that serve both the children and the wider village.

One River, Many Streams

It is humbling to reflect on how this has unfolded. We did not arrive in Lesotho intending to establish a church. Yet as we have responded to what is in front of us, doors have opened and relationships have formed. The church and the One Day project now sit alongside one another, each strengthening the other in different ways.

HaLebesa Church is led by Ntate Brown, whose leadership has been steady and faithful. The church has become a vital part of the local community. It is an expression of love and spiritual care within the same village where children are being raised in family homes.

There is a sense that we have stepped into something already in motion, and that our role has been to follow faithfully as opportunities arise. We are grateful for every person who has played a part, from those who first gathered in a living room, to those who travelled to build a tent or a church building, to those who continue to disciple and serve week by week.

If you would like to learn more about HaLebesa Church, or about how the church and the One Day project work together in Lesotho, we would be glad to share more.