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Riaan is a native of South Africa where he obtained a degree in electrical engineering, served as an officer in the South African armed forces, and worked part-time with missionaries and churches throughout the southern African region spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In 1997 Riaan came to the United States to pursue theological studies where he obtained a Bachelor of Divinity, Bachelor of Arts and Sciences, and Advanced Pastoral Certification.

Riaan served at two mega-churches in the DFW area over a 10-year period in the capacity of executive pastor over missiology, small-group development, men’s ministry, assimilation, and discipleship. He started a missions training school within the local church and developed training materials and curriculum.

In 2003 Riaan established MercyGift and then joined Youth with a Mission (YWAM) for three years as a missionary serving in the Middle East and Southern Africa. In 2007 New Life Church in Colorado Springs, a 14,000-member church, recruited Riaan where he served as the Executive Pastor of Outreach for 12 years. He taught a weekly missiology class for 12 years, led dozens of teams on mission experiences, preached in conferences, taught in Bible schools around the world, trained career missionaries to be sent to the field, and helped churches design mission frameworks. During the covid pandemic, he was recruited by Every Home for Christ, a $50M mobilization and church planting ministry, where he served as their Vice President of Development.

Riaan has a deep love for Jesus and is driven by a conviction that Jesus wants to use every person in a uniquely gifted capacity to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. He has traveled to more than 85 countries introducing partners and churches to the opportunities of Gospel advancement. Riaan has helped missionaries, organizations, churches, and agencies in the areas of fundraising, organizational alignment, structural change, growth and health. Riaan is a gifted teacher and communicator.

He is married to his sweetheart Selena, and they have two children. Riaan loves Jesus, his family, people, golf, fishing, and anything that makes us come alive.

Riaan would love to meet you, discover your God-gifted passion, and take you on an adventure to see the Good News of Jesus transform broken lives through your participation.