Senior Pastor Jan Smit provides the visionary leadership for the church, drawing upon over 20 years of pastoral experience, including the last 15 as its senior leader. Leading this new English chapter are respected voices in ministry and worship: Hermann du Plessis, a pastor and best-selling author with decades of leadership experience, will bring his passion for practical faith to the pulpit, alongside his wife Adél, who is deeply committed to children’s ministry. They are joined by Garreth Williamson, a pastor with decades of ministry and church-planting experience, known for blending storytelling and social impact with a passion for leadership and people, and his wife Chelsea, a strong advocate for disability inclusion and social change.

The worship experience will be led by well known worshiper Nathan Jean, a local artist whose music bridges the sacred and contemporary. With over a decade of experience leading worship at prominent churches in Gauteng, Nathan’s calling has led him to Ruimsig Gemeente, where he serves alongside his dynamic wife Zia Mowett, who is deeply passionate about women’s ministry. “Worship is doing life with God in all its beautifully complicated ebbs and flows — It’s more than music but music is part of how I worship; it’s surrender, intimacy, and a lifestyle of inviting God’s presence into every moment.” says Nathan.

“This isn’t about Sunday performances,” emphasises Hermann du Plessis. “It’s about building a place where people are known, faith is real, and worship transforms everyday life.”

Together, this team is committed to offering Real Faith for Real Life —rooted in the Word of God, focused on authentic, lifelong relationships with Him, and building genuine community where every person is truly known. The service is designed to be a place of spiritual growth and belonging for all life stages, providing meaning, purpose, and a true spiritual home.

The launch will be celebrated with the annual Awaken Worship Festival, a four-night event running from 31 August to 3 September 2025. Designed to unite hearts in prayer and celebration, the festival will feature seasoned worship artists; Joe Dippenaar, Nathan Jean, G&G Worship & Johan Heystek. This festival also marks two significant milestones: the church’s two-year anniversary at its Ruimsig premises and the official opening of its new coffee shop, established in partnership with Coffee The Bible. More than just a café, this initiative acts as a mission in action, with every cup of coffee sold helping to fund Bible translations for languages that have never had scripture, thereby turning everyday moments into eternal impact.

Ruimsig Gemeente has a long-standing commitment to community outreach, with contributions supporting sustainable, long-term partnerships with various organisations. These initiatives include holistic child development in Zandspruit (Golang Education Outreach), church support in Mozambique (Mosaic Upliftment Trust), care for disabled learners (Pathways Roodepoort), leadership training for children’s ministry (Petra Kollege), community and business ministry in Westbury and Ruimsig informal settlement (Holy Spirit Ministries), and confidential support for missionaries in Gospel-Repressed Nations. Ruimsig Embrace provides immediate, dignified listening and support as a first point of contact for mental health struggles in South Africa, backed by a professional referral network.