Introduction
In the early 1960s certain Dutch Reformed Church ministers felt the need for closer contact with English-speakers as well as black Christians. This led to the establishment of the Christian Institute on 15th of August 1963 in Johannesburg. Reverend C. F. Beyers Naude was instrumental in this process. The emphasis of this countrywide organisation was the establishment of ecumenical study and prayer groups. These would deal specifically with the country's problems in light of the Scripture.