Margaret Court the special guest at Fresh Christian Fellowship’s 10-year anniversary event in Geraldton

A special service and a special guest marked Fresh Christian Fellowship’s 10-year anniversary in Geraldton on Sunday, with Australian tennis legend and prominent Christian minister Margaret Court helping to bless the occasion.

Mrs Court delivered a sermon at the Geraldton service that touched on faith, perseverance and the importance of building strong, spirit-led communities.

Fresh Christian Fellowship pastor Will Taylor said Mrs Court’s words were received with warmth and gratitude by the congregation.

“Margaret’s presence was an incredible blessing,” he said.

“Not just because of who she is, but because of her heart. Her message reminded us that no matter our past or present, God has more for us if we choose to follow him.”

Many of the congregation stayed on to share in a morning of fellowship, food and reflection of the past decade, which included a shared meal, cake cutting, photo displays and testimonies from long-time members.

Fresh Christian Fellowship is a member church of the Victory Life network and has grown from a small group of believers into a multi-generational congregation over the past decade.

Mrs Court is the founder and head of Victory Life Centre in Perth. Her presence at the Geraldton’s milestone service was also a chance for many in attendance to honour her sporting legacy.

Mrs Court has 24 grand slam singles titles to her name — the most of any female player in tennis history and a record only equalled by Novak Djokovic in 2023.

She has won a total of 64 major titles in the 1960s and 70s, including singles, doubles and mixed doubles — and is the only player, male or female, to have won the grand slam “double boxed set” — every grand slam title in singles, doubles and mixed at least twice.

Mrs Court retired from professional tennis in 1977 and founded Victory Life in the 1990s.