Richard and his wife Trijnie along with 9 children have been living in Malawi since september 2021. Sent out of the congregation of Bethábara Holland, with the calling of evangelist, Richard’s primary focus is evangelism amongst the villages serving various church bodies including the (APC) Associated Presbyterian Church. The APC has over 20 churches established since 2015 in less developed regions of Malawi.
In march 2019 from his home country Canada Richard visited Malawi for ten days from a call of the APC leadership to “come over and help”. Responding to this call he realized the great need for evangelical gospel teaching in the conviction of total depravity of man and total salvation in Christ being justified by grace through faith. In Richard’s heart was a strong emphasis from Luke 14:23 “Compel them to come in that my house may be filled” and he had a call to the ministry from an early age. Through the grace and guidance of the Lord and with the help of the congregation in Holland he was able to leave things behind and follow this call to Malawi with his family. He could only do this through the mercies and tender love of his Master, Who gave the promise and commission: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”
In september 2021 Richard arrived with his family to begin this work. Richard & Trijnie came to Malawi with their 8 children, 5 girls and 3 boys, and in april 2022 another boy was added to their family here in Malawi.
Though life is much different here, the family does enjoy the country and have made it their home by the grace of God. Richard’s focus is on evangelism currently amongst more than 30 villages mostly consisting of small churches or gatherings of between 20 and 80 villagers. Additionally, a “Stewardship” training course for men is administered at the Bethábara Mission Center where leaders of the churches are brought together for Biblical instruction. There is also a small sustainable farm developed to help the costs for the “Stewardship” training course. Richard’s longing desire is that the Holy Spirit would be richly poured out amongst the villages in Malawi, that Christ the King might be exalted amongst this nation and fruits of repentance and regeneration to the honour and glory of the Father would be brought before His holy throne.