BACKGROUND AND BEGINNING

Various contemporary religious movements, cults, extreme Christian fringe groups, and false doctrines have been around for years, and are still continuing to cause confusion around the world.

In 1959 Adrian van Leen, as a teenager, made a deliberate choice to become a follower of Jesus Christ. He expressed this choice publicly at the Billy Graham Crusade, held in Perth, Western Australia, in May that year.

He became involved with Churches of Christ and determined to find out all he could about the Christian Faith. In the process he began to learn about religious groups, both historical and contemporary, which claimed that they alone had salvation truth.

The ensuing years included continuous research into cultic and other contemporary religious movements, theological training for pastoral ministry, training and post-graduate studies as a school teacher, further theological and religious studies.

The shocking deaths of 913 cult members in Jonestown, Guyana, in November 1978, led to a growing number of people making inquiries of Adrian van Leen about various religious groups. As requests for help and information grew, the small inner-city congregation of which he was pastor, encouraged and initially gave some limited financial support, to the establishment of CCG Ministries in October 1979.

 Since a bank account was first opened for Concerned Christians Growth Ministries in North Perth, Western Australia, in October 1979, our organisation has grown into a well known and respected group.

A Board of management was formed, and the organisation formally and legally incorporated as an association in 1982.

As a legally incorporated association, CCG Ministries is under the control of a Board of Management made up of people from differing professions, backgrounds, and Christian denominations. The Director, other staff and volunteers, are accountable to the Board. We believe in accountability - including in the area of finance - our financial records are audited annually and copies submitted to the Australian Securities Commission.

After years of using various rented premises, CCG Ministries was able to purchase, at auction, on the 29^th April, 1998, a former Aboriginal hostel at 50 Carcoola Street in Nollamara, Western Australia, to be the organisation’s permanent Ministry home.