A call committee under Rev Charles Smith led to Rev Erwin Barry Paynter and his wife Valerie arriving in Empangeni on 1 April 1980. On 13 April, Rev Milton Staley led the Induction Service. The Paynters were accommodated at 11 Willow Way, which was later purchased for R29 000.00 as the manse. Later a carport was enclosed as a study and a combi was donated to the church. The Paynters occupied this home for 18 months at the end of which time the bond was repaid.

Once again the church dreamed a dream, saw a vision and wasted no time in executing the plans. The need of a hall was felt very strongly and the task was investigated. Without any funds available, but with a simple trust in God's provision, a "sod-turning" ceremony was held during October 1981. The plans for the hall would cost R29 000.00. A new adjacent property, lot 1995 was acquired for the new manse. The old manse had been sold to a cash buyer at a considerable profit and the building of the new manse began on 12 July 1982, and the Paynters moved in by early December.

Both the hall and the manse were officially opened on 5 March 1983 in a ceremony conducted by Rev Milton Staley, the co-ordinator of the Natal Baptist Union.