The Early Days of Life Challenge

A Move That Marked a Beginning

When Gerhard and Hannelore Nehls moved from Johannesburg to Cape Town in 1975, they carried with them far more than boxes and belongings.

 

They arrived with a deep and abiding burden for young people – a passion that had already shaped their ministry for many years.

 

The story of how they began in South Africa, and the rich tapestry of their first decade and a half of service, is one to be told another time.

 

But what unfolded after their arrival in Cape Town became an extraordinary chapter in its own right.

The Advanced Bible Study: A Foundation of Discipleship

Their passion for young people soon found expression in a structured, long‑term discipleship journey: the weekly Monday evening Advanced Bible Study.

 

This was no ordinary class.

 

Spanning three years and consisting of roughly 275 sessions, it drew a surprising number of young believers hungry to deepen their faith.

 

Gerhard brought to the group a unique depth of insight.

 

He had an ability to open Scripture in ways that were both profound and practical.

 

It was this richness that kept students returning week after week.

 

Those who persevered to the end received a special certificate, a quiet acknowledgment of the commitment they had shown.

A Surprising Encounter and a New Direction

He met Muslims in the community and, with the gentle, winsome manner so characteristic of him, attempted to share his faith in Jesus.

 

But instead of the conversations he was accustomed to, he encountered sharp questions about the reliability of the Bible, the integrity of the Christian faith, and the very nature of Christ.

 

To his surprise, he found himself unprepared to give adequate answers.

 

Gerhard was never one to back away from a challenge.

 

With characteristic resolve, he dedicated the next couple of years to studying Islam in depth.

 

He read widely, gathering a respectable library, and immersed himself in understanding both this faith and the people who followed it.

Tuesday Evenings: A New Learning Journey

Feeling compelled to share what he had learned, Gerhard invited students from the Advanced Bible Study to join him and Hannelore on Tuesday evenings.

 

Here, a new course began to take shape.

 

He developed 24 carefully formulated sessions, covering not only the essentials of Islam but also how to share the Gospel with Muslims – unashamedly, yet always with gentleness and respect.

 

These Tuesday night lectures would become the seeds of later publications, many of which now form part of the Life Challenge legacy.

 

And behind the scenes, Hannelore played a role that cannot be overstated.

 

Her prodigious reading, keen mind, and commitment to research enriched Gerhard’s writing at every turn.

 

She was, in every sense, a partner in the work.

From Learning to Practicing: The Salt River Ministry

At the end of the course, Gerhard presented the group with a simple but life-shaping invitation:

“What about putting into practice that which we have all learned?”

 

He obtained a map of Salt River, a township in Cape Town made up of about 800 homes.

 

As the group leaned over the map, they divided themselves into twenty teams of two, with each pair committing to visit forty homes, systematically and prayerfully.

 

And so began a challenging yet deeply joyful ministry.

 

Many lives were touched, not only in Salt River, but also among the team members themselves.

A Vision for a People’s Movement

From the beginning, Gerhard carried a vision for a people’s movement.

 

He was very grateful to God for his fulltime colleagues from Germany, Switzerland and South Africa.

 

Together, they joined in prayer, planning and practical ministry.

 

But he knew that long-term fruit would come only when indigenous lay believers embraced the mission.

 

In time, some within the original group of forty were encouraged to form and lead their own teams, choosing new areas in which to share the Good News of Jesus.

 

This expansion led to the beginning of the ministry in Surrey Estate.

 

About a year later, Gerhard and Hannelore were deeply moved when the Surrey Estate team invited them to a special celebration.

 

This was a tangible expression of the growth they had prayed for.

The Beginning of a Movement

These events are but one mark of the earliest days of Life Challenge, the beginning of a movement whose stories continue to unfold.

 

More will be shared in time.

Disclaimer

This story is told from the perspective of one of Gerhard’s students.

 

The accompanying pictures are scans of analogue slides and photographs, and the quality reflects their age and the process of digitizing them.