(Under Construction)
The Beginnings
Around September of 1974, Pastor Ed Roebert of Hatfield Baptist Church was having “outreach” meetings at the Hamilton Primary School, on Visage Street in Pretoria. It was at these meetings that both Les and Cecil Spencer committed their lives to Christ. The previous year, 1973, Steve, then still a high schooler, had been confirmed at Mayville Methodist church. And during the confirmation class process he come into a new understanding of Christ. This church provided a fertile ground for Steve’s Spiritual growth. Soon, Steve’s influence, together with others, impacted his older brother Theo, and Theo’s friends Lewis, Mac, and Penny. All (including Les, Cecil & Joan) had, or were attending Hillview High in Pretoria.
In the latter part of 1974, Les & Joan, Cecil, Steve, Theo, Mac and Penny, Lewis and their friends all found themselves attending Hatfield Baptist Church services, all searching to know more about, and have more of God. It was not very “denominational”, you did not need to be Baptist, you just went to any meetings to get “more”. It was an exciting time, the Spirit was moving.
Lewis: We all met the Davis’s through Andy Carpenter… a friend of Steve , who was a member of the church where the Davis’s were going.( The Davis’s were missionaries) There was a split not too long afterwards due to certain differences in doctrine… or interpretation of scripture…. I stayed with the Davis’s for a while but then rejoined New life later.
The UPC Diversion
At about that time, Steve was in Matric at Hillview. One of his class mates, Andy Carpenter, invited Steve and his friends to attend an evening of Fellowship at his church, a United Pentecostal Church(UPC), led by Pastor Davis, an American Missionary.
Les recalls: It was very appealing idea as anything from “America” seemed to have extra cache.
The Davis’ also had two teenage daughters in the same age range. Fellowshipping in the Lord with other believers was a tonic. They had music, laughter and the Lord in common. A powerful combination. Many days spent around the swimming pool (boys and girls had to swim separately!), and evenings spent playing music together, singing, praying, testifying and eating Brenda Davis’ famous “Brownies”.
Within a few weeks, it was decided to form a singing group that “ministered” at the UPC church outreaches. The group, tentatively, was called “Youth Harvest”. Theo, Steve, Mac & Lewis were used to playing, singing and harmonizing together. Now they were joined by Les and his guitar skills, and the vocals of Brenda & Laura Davis.
However, in just a few months, it became clear that the United Pentecostal Church, and Pastor Davis specifically, was leaning towards the UPC as being the “true and only” understanding of Christianity, and part of the UPC mission was to help others see their doctrinal shortcomings. UPC was a non-trinitarian offshoot of traditional pentecostal churches. They believed that for salvation, one needed to be baptised in the name of Jesus only, (not Father, Son and Holy Spirit), and the Baptism of the Spirit was required, i.e. speaking in tongues.
During this time most of the group had been baptised at the UPC church, (in Jesus Name) as it was a requirement. Soon these dogmatic and non-trinitarian views and other issues became a little too restraining for a number of the groups members.
However they had still maintained their ties to Hatfield and other churches, and those ties and the influence of some who had family members in other denominations started to influence their thinking back to pre UPC days. Les talks about having discussions with his future father in-law, an Anglican, who thought that his prospective son-in-law, Les, had joined a cult! Enthusiasm had overtaken wisdom, but sanity prevailed, and collectively, a decision was made to part from the UPC group.
One of the groups last appearances as a UPC entity was at the Pretoria University, on May 1 1975. It was here that Seph saw the group, and became reacquainted. Mac and Seph had for may years attended the same church and Sunday school, St Paul’s Church of England in Pretoria. Although he was the only non-Hillview High member of the group, Seph had (through Mac) met and hung around with Theo, Lewis & Steve growing up.
The germination of New Life
After the split from the United Pentecostals, the group of friends getting together regularly now comprising Les & Joan, Mac and Penny, Theo and Steve, Lewis and Seph (who had started hanging out with the friends after having heard them play at a UPC event). They fellowship together multiple times weekly, play music together and attend church at Hatfield Baptist, and Mayville Methodist on Sunday mornings, and often getting together on Sunday afternoons to attend YFC christian movies showings or other events.
Soon it was decided to form a new music group, that would be open to ministering the gospel in music, to anyone who asked, irrelevant of denomination. They just wanted to share the Good News!
And so “New Lif”e was born in mid-1975. All of us in our late teens and early twenties. It comprised Les Spencer, Joan Venter, Mac Finlay, Penny Boccleone, Theo & Steve Van Rooyen, Seph Barnard and Lewis Van Rensburg (a few weeks later, as he hung in with the Davis’ UPC church people a little longer).
Soon thereafter Lynn Moyes, a high schooler in Steve’s church at Mayville Methodist was also invited to join to bolster the girls number to three, to the guys six for a total of 9 members. (Steve was doing his military service, but joined us whenever he could).
Members Recollection of the formation of New Life – 7th Avenue
Blessed Occurence: The Beginnings – Seph’s Perspective & Memories
Seph: It’s May 1st 1975, and in my third year at the University of Pretoria I happened to be at the Tukkies Rag (Jool) on Lynnwood road at the men’s college. I think some band were performing a current hit, “The air that I breathe”. But in another tent, there was an acoustic act performing. As I saunter over I recognised some of the members as my friends, Mac, Theo, Stephen. We start talking after their performance. I hadn’t seen them for months. They were the same guys I grew up with, but they were “different” now, singing “religious” tunes. Mmm? They invited me to get together with them at a later date. I did! And soon I was hanging around with them all the time.
The group I’d seen at the Tukkies Rag, had included Les Spencer, and Joan Venter and some other people with American accents I was not familiar with. As I recall, they were part of a church outreach of the United Pentecostal Movement (also known as “Jesus Only” people) spearheaded by an American Missionary family, the Davis’s.
I believe they sang under the name “Youth Harvest”, (not to be confused with YFC’s operation, many years later.) I do recall the daughter, Brenda Davis, I think Mac liked her, but more likely her car because she drove a Triumph Spitfire which her parents had bought her! And she was funny, especially when telling jokes of the guy with the thick coke bottle bottom glasses.
I can remember actually attending a couple of the gatherings with the group at the Davis’s. I was not aware, but already doctrinal issues were starting to crop up between the Davis’ and the group. The Davis’ felt they were the only way. Notwithstanding the clear work of God happening at other churches, including the small Hatfield Baptist Church,.
Steve also had had a real meeting with Jesus during his confirmation at the Methodist Church, and was on fire for God, but reluctant, as I recall, to throw in his lot solely with the UPC Church. Others seemed to feel the same way, and they started talking of splitting away from the Davis’s, broadening their alliances, and forming a new group, (ultimately named “New Life”).
Back to the days after the Tukkies Rag. I had invited the guys around to my house a few days after seeing them play. We had a great time, but most memorable to me was Steve, the most passionate, on-fire one of the lot. He flat out asked me … “So Seph, are you a Christian?” I was quite taken aback! Did he not know I took collection at St Paul’s? Did he not know I was involved with the Youth Group?
I had been quite religious, tried to read my bible regularly, tried to be a good person, just like all of us had. But this new version of my friends was different! And I remember praying that night as I went to bed, “Lord, if I’m missing something, please open my eyes. I want to run flat out for you, come and overwhelm me Lord, take every aspect of my life. I give it all to you”. And God in his mercy allowed me to experience so much. God’s Providence! Being in the right place, physically and spiritually, at the right time. I just kind of got swept up on the wings of my very talented friends…. and so it began.
Members Recollection of friendships before the band
The Back Story: Friendships before New Life
Seph: I’d known Mac since we were probably 10 years old, at St Paul’s Church of England, where we both attended. Mac’s dad was a deacon at the church. Mac attended Hillview High, as did Theo, Steve, Lewis, Les, Joan and Penny. I was at CBC. The guys’ love of music had brought them together, often jamming together, singing songs from the Beatles, The Eagles and CSN&Y. During those high school days, the guys would occasionally come to St Pauls Youth Group, which was just across the street from the Aviva Hotel, which my dad ran. And after Youth Group we would gather in the kitchen of the hotel making milkshakes or eating ice cream!
By 1973, I was out of school and occasionally hanging out with guys at Mac or Theo’s house and often the guitars would come out and the singing began. I did not play anything, nor could I sing, but I sure liked being around my talented friends. I remember being in Mac’s dad’s workshop, listening to those great melodies. So I had these dreams of promoting them. Being their “promoter” seemed to be the only option for me, to be part of them.
I happened to get to know a guy named Andre, who owned a small restaurant called “The Pit Stop”. He was crazy about motor racing, (as was I at the time). His restaurant had checkered flag tablecloths and old racing tyres for lamp shades. He had a classic silver 256 Porsche (like James Dean had). I managed to convince him to let Mac, Lewis, Steve & Theo sing at the restaurant, in exchange for a meal! This happened quite a few times, and later they were joined by Paul(?) Fivaz on the Double Bass. (I’d met Paul at St Hilda’s Catholic Church, where I attended, knew of his interest in music, and suggested he accompany them). I must admit I was very proud sitting in the audience listening to them! Songs like “Meet me on the Corner”, “Teach your Children”, “Yesterday”. Mac, Lewis, Steve & Theo wowing us with their amazing harmonies.
I think they played quite regularly at “The Pit Stop”. I believe I also managed to get them another opportunity at a pancake place, but it didn’t really go anywhere. Theo thought (in 2020) that it was just Theo, Mac and Steve playing at “The Pit Stop”, but I remember clearly Lewis being there. So I asked him.
Lewis recalls (in 2020): “I was playing there with them…. Can’t remember what music… Could have been Lindisfarne (The Fog on the Tyne), Beatle stuff. Theo was doing The Motorsickle Song by Arlo Guthrie. I was very much into Folk music at that stage…. I was going out with a girl that Theo named Pickle (The girl’s name was Marietjie de Bruyn…. Theo was right… Pickle sounded better)….. We called ourselves ” Nedd, Flock, Fleez and Bug…. We were going to play for the Formula 1 drivers that were going to race at Kyalami. The gig got cancelled when Peter Revson got killed in practice at Kyalami. (March 22 1974). Other songs were… Blowing in the Wind (Bob Dylan), Me and Bobby McGhee (Kris Kristofferson), Raze the Prison to the Ground (Joan Baez). My first song, called Blackbird Song, and many many many Beatle songs…. Have You Ever Woken Up with Bullfrogs on your Mind… Arlo Guthrie. With a Little Help from my Friends, and She came in through the Bathroom Window, both by the Beatles. Locomotive Breath (Jethro Tull) and many many many more Beatles songs. We did a song that I can’t remember the name… but it was done by Dave Dee Dozey Beaky Mick and Titch. I think we also did a song by Loggins and Messina, also House of the Rising Sun (The Animals), Smoke on the Water (Deep Purple), Behind Blue Eyes (The Who). I also did a traditional folk song called “lf l were a Carpenter” by myself.
Mac added: Sweet Judy Blue eyes (CSNY), Catch the Wind (Donavan)
Seph continues: Theo’s older brother Danie and cousin Derek Riley were also in a Band…. but they were “Big Time”. They even took part in the “Battle of the Bands”. And I can remember going to see them with Theo & Mac, at “The Devil’s Grotto”, a nightclub in downtown Pretoria. We went one afternoon, as we were probably too young to go in at night. The Van Rooyens were certainly inspired by their Dad, “Toby”, who was pretty good on the guitar himself! One night I can remember him bringing it out and serenading Aunty Jackie. That was so cool!
Again all of these memories are courtesy of a great group of friends and a wonderful God who allowed us to participate in the next exciting few years…
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