Swansea Valley Bible Church was planted in 1991 by Peter and Lynne Yeoman. They returned to their home-land of Wales from Okehampton, Devon, to plant a church in the Swansea Valley with AOG UK (Assemblies of God). The official opening was at Maesydderwen School, and the first meetings took place in the “Band Room” in Godrergraig. That opening weekend, God signalled His intent to fill the valley with His glory. God set His seal upon the work by visiting the opening meeting with His presence. The next day, in the band room, two local ladies accepted Christ as their Saviour. Over the following months and years, SVBC moved around and met in different halls within the vicinity to accommodate the growing congregation.
During 1992 and 1996, visiting prophets from Bible Temple, Oregon had a profound impact on the church. Today, we stand bearing witness to the fulfilment of much of that ministry.
During 1994-1998, SVBC was impacted by the outpouring happening in the Church across the world, including the ‘Brownsville Revival’ in Pensacola, Florida. SVBC has since become closely linked with staff and affiliates of the then ‘Brownsville Revival School of Ministry’ (BRSM), and now – F.I.R.E. Church and School. SVBC made it a mandate to go after God ‘for such a time as this’. In 1998, the church set out to ‘invest in revival’ and also established their own building when they purchased a factory unit and renovated it as a place of worship. In 1999 and 2000, through the visiting ministry of a BRSM team, the church was led to re-dig the wells of the prophetic.
In 2000, the youth ministry, Kingdom Ablaze, was formed. The group comprised a small company of young adults and youth with a heart for radical lifestyle in Jesus Christ and a vision for apostolic mission. This group eventually grew into what became Europe Ablaze Missionary Society, which was involved in mission both abroad and on home-soil. The group made strong connections with growing fellowships in northern Poland, with which they maintain a strong relationship, as well as other fellowships across Europe and the UK.
In 2006, Swansea Valley Bible Church, with the directing of leaders from within the church and like-hearted churches, founded Kingdom First Training Centre, a school of ministry for training young people to pursue the call of God. The school consisted of recognised spiritual leaders as a faculty, all of them willing to pour their lives and experience into the students.
As of October 2008-2010, it was decided, in following the will of God, to begin linking with other apostolic streams and centres of like mind and vision. We have strong connections with these centres both home and abroad.
On 30th August 2009, during a special weekend of ministry, the baton was passed as Andrew and Helen Yeoman were initiated into Senior Leadership, and Peter and Lynne Yeoman were released to further fulfil the calling on their lives. They left for the USA in January 2010.
Andrew and Helen, in taking up the senior ministerial position, are supported in leadership by the Ministers & Elders of SVBC, and a wider group of spiritual leaders and ministries from apostolic centres and ministries around the UK and the world.
In June 2010, SVBC established Mission Communities – meetings in homes on Sunday evenings within localities throughout the Swansea Valley, Amman Valley and Pencoed. These meetings are in addition to our meeting as one congregation every Sunday morning in Unit 19, Ystradgynlais. The aim of these groups is to see every believer discipled, pastored, and released to then shine the light of the Gospel of Jesus, as living epistles to the communities and people of the valley.
The church is now standing on its mandate to fulfil that call to invest in prayer & revival and become not only a house of worship, but to be a house of prayer for all the nations. Whether we are in Swansea Valley or in another place, our pursuit is the presence of the Lord, and His Gospel to be expressed.
Swansea Valley Bible Church has a heart for apostolic mission and a Kingdom vision for mobilisation of the people of God to fulfil the Great Commission, and the sending and releasing of saints into the purposes of God. As well as missions in the Swansea Valley, UK, Poland, Barcelona and the Isle of Skye, we have held three missions in Pencoed, Bridgend County in 2009, 2010 & 2011. We have since sent out a team of workers to see a local work established there.
Today we stand at the exciting threshold of something new in God. In January 2012, we re-launch the school as Kingdom Fire School of Mission, partnering with FIRE School of Ministry, USA. We also see the beginning of new congregations being formed in other towns and regions, as well as our own. Also, this year we have seen three new ministers set apart to bring a great five-fold function to the local church and the wider vision.
Swansea Valley Bible Church has been carried by God’s grace and presence since 1991, and has known God strengthen the work with leaders and a strong body of members. God has brought us to this moment in time, upon the early foundation of the Gospel, to now enlarge our borders and see the tent of the Lord spread into other places, and bring His glorious Kingdom, in the message of Jesus, proclaimed through the people of God.