The YFC Connection

YFC (Youth for Christ) has always been a close partner with New Life & 7th Avenue. From the earliest days we worked across denominational lines in order to bring our music and experience to as many young people like ourselves. A great part of the groups success and appeal has been due to the platform provided by YFC.

YFC – Pretoria (75-82)

Derek Weston

Jos Holtzhausen

Fran

Shirley Francis (nee…)

YFC Staff – Reefland

Ted Carr

Norman Hanna (associate)

YFC Music

Pat Berning

YFC Natal (76)

Stuart Lear

YFC – N. Natal (76-78)

Dennis Drennan

Ronnie Francis

YFC Bulawayo

Hamish Grant

The Pretoria YFC Connection

Derek Weston

Seph: We were quite involved with Pretoria YFC (Youth for Christ), first with Derek Weston, and then with Jos Holtzhausen. In the early years of New Life, and probably a little pre-New Life, Derek had been renting out a cinema in Sunnyside on Sundays to show Christian Movies.  It was great for us all to get together and see those Mark IV films like “Thief in the Night” and “Blood on the Mountain”.  Derek Weston was YFC’s “film guy”.  The little office was in Central House off Central Street opposite Belfast’s or Ansteys, on the second floor.  Some Saturdays we would volunteer to be in the office if people came by to get films, or return them.  They also sold In Magazine and T-shirts.  Mac & Penny & I were in there one day in ‘76 when some Portuguese accented guy came in to get the shirts with the “Long leafs”. Our Portuguese friends did give us quite a few laughs!  

Derek was very much into movies as he saw the power of the media.  In 1976/77 he set out to make a full length SA movie called “Love’s a Quiet Thing” , (which we jokingly called “Love is Quite a Thing!”).  It was a very difficult process for him, even though he had got a company to donate the funds to make it.  For us it was exciting to see the final product as it had scenes from around Johannesburg including The Carlton Center.  Cool!  Most movies we saw were foreign.  

The other visual media that YFC had, were slide shows.  These were very effective shows that featured contemporary Christian music while showing multiple slide images. As YFC associate staff we would take these shows to churches and set up the screen, the 2 or 3 projectors and run the show.  It was the power of these shows that later on inspired us to do the multi-media presentations with the slides.  Lots of work!  I think Brian Helsby was responsible for the original YFC slide shows, and Pat Berning had something to with them also. 

Derek had originally done studies in the Forestry and after YFC returned to that field.  Nadine had been his secretary in Pretoria YFC for many years, and he eventually ended up marrying her. (Before our time).  The other lady who also worked at the Pretoria YFC in the late 60’s, early 70’s was Linda, who became Pat Berning’s wife! And to go back even further, while Pat was dating Linda, he was a resident at the Aviva Hotel (my dad’s hotel) in 1969.  I remember him and his guitar even then!

By the time Derek Weston left YFC, the film division was moved to the National HQ in Johannesburg. The office was downsized and moved to a space in Schoeman Street in the Patterson Building. Jos Holtshausen took over as Pretoria YFC Director.  Jos had previously led a YFC Y-1 team in 1977. Part of that team included Shirley, who later became The Pretoria YFC Secretary. Before Shirley’s arrival, Fran was secretary.  She and Lewis were dating in 76/77, (I know because I got a joint birthday card from them for my 21st in 1977).  Fran was fun! After Lewis, she dated Manny, and later they married.

When Fran left the position, she was replaced by Shirley, and by this time the office had moved to Schoeman Street. Both girls had to have been saints to have worked with Jos! Jos would agree!  Shirley later got married to Ronnie Francis.  So the small little Pretoria YFC was quite an active place!

But we also had a great camaraderie with YFC in general.  We spent many events with Ted Carr.  Ted was always so impressive, so organised.  We knew if we were going to do an event with Ted it would be great!  Pat Berning was also based in Johannesburg. He was the musical side of YFC, and a great friend and mentor to the Band. So many YFC people over the years….who can forget Oom Louw Alberts, the “pwesident of Youth for Kwaaist”. Dennis Drennan and Stuart Lear in Natal, Brian Helsby in PE, Hamish Grant and Pat Laufmann in Rhodesia, Nico Bougas with IN Magazine, later taken over by Charlie Payne, who used to run the Y-1 program.  Then there was Rob Harmon and YFC’s New Song, Many Y-1 guys and leaders like the Vermooten brothers, Sean Daly and the Leadership guys like Dennis House and Geoff Rutter. God certainly has allowed us to meet a number of his Giants.