Living Way was started as a way to sustainably address the issue of poverty in Cape Town. Having been birthed out of Living Hope, the following is a brief explanation of Living Hope and Living Way's focus and history.

Living Hope was formed in 1999 as a way for the church to respond to the crisis of HIV and Aids. Since then, it expanded to address other chronic illnesses, prevention programmes, home based care and palliative care. Over the years, it became evident that without effectively tackling poverty, these medical and other needs would continue to surface. The HIV pandemic is fuelled by poverty and it is the poor who are overwhelmingly affected by the virus. Thus began a journey in discovering what could be done to engage with the topic of prevention and reducing poverty with the hope of curbing further spread of the epidemic.

Pastor John Thomas, the founder of Living Hope, in discussion with others, began to explore different thoughts and dreams of how this could be accomplished. A team of interested people formed an ad hoc advisory team, providing input and advice from their expertise. It was decided that a further ministry needed to be formed to focus on poverty and economic empowerment since community health and economic empowerment require different skill sets. Thus Living Way was birthed to begin these important initiatives.

A scripture that ignited Living Way is Isaiah 58:6-8:

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard."

Once it was decided that a new ministry be formed, an American volunteer, Craig Doescher, spent two months in mid-2007 researching and interviewing various stakeholders in Cape Town. He compiled his research and presented recommendations of the way forward. This laid the foundation for the model that is being implemented. In November 2007, Richard Lundie came on board to continue with the research, develop the model and implement it.

The rest, they say, is history.