Pierre and Sonja Bartels (Ministry
Coordinator)After leaving school, Pierre attended a Discipleship Training school for 3 years. Thereafter he went to Bible School in Texas, USA. After this Pierre went into full time youth ministry as a youth pastor and in time began running a successful gap year programme for his youth ministry In this time he started coordinating and hosting national and international missions teams and felt called to pursue this ministry, founding Out of Africa Missions, based in George, Western Cape.
He is married to Sonja and they have two daughters, Megan and Kate. Pierre has a passion to see people come to understand that Jesus loves us and that He has an amazing plan for each one of our lives.
Stephen and Hannah McKenzie (Outreach & Communications )Following several short-term missions trips to Kenya and South Africa, where they first met Pierre and Sonja, Stephen and Hannah believed the Lord was calling them to serve there full-time. In response, they left their home and careers in Northern Ireland to assist in the initial development of Out of Africa Missions. Stephen, a PE and Business Studies teacher is now using his skills to reach out to children in the townships, while coordinating missions teams, camps and Living Hope Homes. Hannah was working in the field of PR and Marketing, and is now coordinating this area of the mission. They are members of Portstewart Baptist Church, where they were actively involved in youth, children, and music ministry before moving to South Africa.
Wayne & Suzi McAfee (Sports Academy)
Wayne and Suzi McAfee left their home in Northern Ireland to join the team in George in January 2008. Wayne, a rugby player from Ballymena and sports store owner, and Suzi, a Website Designer and keen surfer, began bringing Team SACK visitors to OAM from the UK in 2005 to be involved in local ministries with outreach focuses on sports and building. Following their God-inspired experiences and love for children in South Africa, they decided to devote two years to setting up the Sports Academy ministry in George. They are from Causeway Coast Vineyard Church in Coleraine, Northern Ireland.
Brian, Jill, Thomas and Anna McCormick (Living Hope Homes)
Brian, a qualified joiner/builder from Northern Ireland, has been involved in many outreaches around the world, along with a LIFT “labour in faith trust” team. After many years of working in George, God spoke to Brian in 2008 and Brian saw the need to move to George full time and to take up the role of co-ordinator of Living Hope Homes. Meanwhile in Northern Ireland, God was also speaking to Gillian a Science teacher that He wanted her to take a different role in the community. So after much prayer and seeking God’s will and having permission from the children, Thomas (16) and Anna (14) they packed up their home, said good bye to their friends and moved to George on the 31st August 2009.
Desire Roos (Administration)
My Grandfather owned a farm in Blanco, George and I’ve been coming here ever since I was born. At the end of 2003, after working at an IT company the year after school, I decided it was time to move to George and become a local as my heart has always been here.
After trying to study various courses in different directions, I realised that nothing was satisfy me and then volunteered to help at a NGO in 2008. It finally felt like something was beginning to fall into place and while helping at that NGO I met Suzi, who told me about OAM. February 2009 I started working for OAM and it has been a blessing seeing God work in the lives of those around me.
I still desire to travel through Africa and spend time helping out at various mission organisations. The hardest thing for me has been to stay in one place or work at one company for more than 8 months but I guess when God is in control even that can change!!
Stephen Hilditch (Northern Ireland Co-ordinator)Stephen Hilditch recently retired from a 30 year career in April 2007. He is married to Frances and they have two sons, Jonathan and Mark.Stephen is an active member and office bearer in his home church of Portstewart Baptist church and currently resides in the town of Coleraine. Following his retirement Stephen and his family came out to visit and work with the OAM team over the June, July, August period. They, along with other volunteers were able to assist with catering, transport and generally looking after the visiting teams as they fulfilled their ministry work. Shortly after Stephen took up the role of representing OAM in Northern Ireland and spends his time administering the office and meeting with schools SU programs, taking church meetings and generally raising the profile of OAM within Northern Ireland. In 2008 and 2009 Stephen and his wife Frances headed up the volunteer team and came out to South Africa to look after the visiting mission teams practical needs.
Karen Rouggly (USA Co-ordinator)Karen has joined the Out of Africa Missions team, after working with the organization in leading and participating in short term trips spanning over 4 years. She has always felt a strong connection to missions, which started during her time earning her undergraduate degree from Azusa Pacific University. Karen graduated in 2005 and has since been working for various non-profit organizations. She is currently persuing a Masters Degree in Cross Cultural Studies, with an emphasis in Anthroplogy from Fuller Theological Seminary. She is now living in the Los Angeles area with her wonderful husband Seth.
Janet FranzsenJanet Franzsen has been living in the Gargen Route Area for the past 16years and in George for 12 years. She has been a single mother since 2006 and has 5 children of which 2 are still at school. She has a wonderfully deep relationship with our Dad which expresses itself in a selfless and caring lifestyle. She is doing a superlative job of keeping all our mission base running in tip-top shape. It's great to have her on the team!
Says Janet, "I believe that God is using our family’s circumstances for His good and that I have been called to serve other single women through encouraging them and teaching them who they are in Christ."