Our Pastors

Hendrik grew up in a Pentecostal family, as the son of a Pastor at the Full Gospel Church of God in South Africa. At 15, he started ministry as a youth leader in that Church, where he saw his youth group grow from 8 to almost 50. When he moved churches, he quickly became a youth leader and saw that youth group grow from a handful to over 150 in just two years. Since the Church grew from 50 to 400 members, he assumed the position of area pastor until his pastoral studies were completed.

In 1987, Hendrik began his National Service in the army. During his service he took a number of Chaplaincy positions and served as an Associate Pastor at a church of 800 members.

In 1990, Hendrik felt the call of God and moved to a church for which he was the pastor for seven years. During this time, he founded the first ever ‘Place of Refuge’ in the Full Gospel Church of God. This centre could accommodate 150 families at a time; so in a town of 3000 the church was responsible for more than 10% of the people and quickly became a great influence in that community.

Hendrik then joined the Institute for Church Growth in Africa where he had the opportunity to speak to thousands of pastors in many African countries, as well as Europe, Asia and 27 US states.

In May 1999 Hendrik accepted the position of Senior Pastor of Maritzburg Christian Church, which he saw growth from 600 to 1200 members over the next 18 months. At this time he was co-opted onto the Board of Directors of Church Growth International (the board of Dr. David Yonggi Cho) for which he continues to play an active role, including having ministered at the world’s largest church. This opportunity also lead to a future position heading up CGI South Africa, training thousands of Pastors and leaders in church planting and growth over the last 10 years.

Hendrik’s wife Ursula and their five girls (aged between 9 and 19) have just relocated to Australia in order to take up the Senior Pastor’s position at Riverside. We look forward to the many great things that God is going to unveil during this new season for Riverside.