About the Author

I have always had a love for the Lord and wanted to learn more about Him and the Bible. Over time this has led me to (informal) studies in the Bible, theology and apologetics [1]—so much so that I have been confused by some for a seminary student. I have preached sermons [2] as a lay preacher, led Bible studies and other kinds of small groups, and been involved in mercy ministry [3]. As a child I attended the Dutch Reformed church of South Africa, since the time of my post-graduate studies I have attended REACH SA [4] and baptist churches.

See also my declaration of faith [5].

I have lived in the South Africa all my life, mostly in and around the Cape Town area. Professionally I am a software developer. I studied at the University of Stellenbosch, earning a Master's degree in Computer Science.

I enjoy tea, writing, history, science fiction, jogging, cats, photography, small DIY projects—none of which I am going to claim to be particularly good at.

Brief bio

I was raised in a home of reformed (Calvinist) Christians. From an early age my parents took me to church and I enjoyed going with them. For the first part of my life I was very sheltered, living in a small town in the country. After moving to the city when I was 10, I attended the local church within the same denomination in which I was raised. That is where I found the Café on the Rock coffee bar. Early in high school, in-fighting within that church caused the collapse of the youth ministry there, much to my distress. However I kept growing in faith through group Bible studies and an initiative at my school. It was at this time in my life when I was introduced to Messianic Judaism. But a couple of other incidents led to a breakdown of my faith in organised religion as I finished high school and started university. That was the beginning of a passive era in my spiritual life—what I call my "desert wandering". I however kept reading the Bible but, eventually, stopped even doing that, and only continued to pray. Five years later, feeling spent and empty, God called me back to church. I realised that not having fellowship with believers (coupled with some bad personal choices) was what had drained me. I knew of a church a cousin of mine attended and I cautiously and suspiciously approached one of the morning services there. I received a warm welcome from the members of the congregation, but it was the solid Bible teaching—the strongest criteria by which I was judging churches—which convinced me to stay. Today I can proudly say that I am part of a Bible teaching, and loving and caring church family.