During the 1970s, a group of believers met to plant a church in the east Auckland area.  They initially met in the house of a believer.  Eventually the present property in No. 3 Lunn Avenue, Mt Wellington, Auckland, was purchased and Sovereign Grace Church was established.  The church, having been without a regular full time pastor for several years, called Pastor Bala in 1986.  He was inducted as pastor of the church in December 1986 and has been in this position ever since.  Mr. Warrick Snowball and Mr. Grant Lincoln were appointed as deacons later and continue to serve in that position.