Serving with Vision in Harrismith
We believe the church belongs to Jesus. He is the Head of this house. As elders, we serve under His Lordship and remain accountable to Him, to one another, and to you — our church family.
Our leadership is built on calling, character, and shared responsibility. We do not carry this work individually. We discern direction together. We pray together. We guard the spiritual health of the congregation together.
When decisions need to be made, we wait on the Lord first. Unity among us matters because it strengthens and steadies the church.
We see ourselves as stewards. God has entrusted us with people, doctrine, culture, and vision. Our calling is to shepherd faithfully and to cultivate a grace-centered, Holy Spirit-led community rooted in Scripture and expressed through authentic relationships here in Harrismith.
Harrismith is our home. This is where we gather, serve, pray, and build. Over the years, some who were part of this house have moved to other towns and provinces, yet the relationships remain strong. Those connections now extend beyond our local streets into friendships and ministry relationships across the country. Our focus remains firmly local, and our fellowship carries a wider reach — bound together by shared faith, shared history, and enduring relationships.
Spiritual Oversight and Pastoral Care
We come from different generations, professions, and life journeys. Those differences strengthen our leadership. They bring perspective, maturity, and fresh insight into the same shared calling.
Spiritual oversight involves prayerful discernment, strengthening doctrine, and guarding the church’s spiritual atmosphere. We take seriously the responsibility of listening to the Holy Spirit and aligning ourselves with Scripture before moving forward.
Pastoral care is central to how we lead. We walk with people through real-life conversations after services, times of counsel, seasons of crisis, moments of celebration, and ongoing discipleship. We care about the spiritual health of the church, and we care about the personal stories behind every seat.
Some of us are directly involved in leading life groups and discipleship spaces. Others serve through prayer, mentoring, and pastoral support. Each elder carries responsibility according to calling and capacity, yet we stand together in shared oversight.
Collectively, our role includes:
- Prayerful oversight of the church body.
- Guarding relational health and unity.
- Providing spiritual guidance and counsel.
- Standing with families in grief, illness, and transition.
- Protecting and reinforcing sound doctrine.
- Encouraging believers toward maturity and service.
We lead as shepherds. We remain accessible. You will find us before and after services, in conversation, in prayer, and in everyday community life. We desire that you feel known, supported, and strengthened as you grow in Christ.
Leadership Culture at Fountain of Life
Certain convictions shape how we lead and how we serve:
- The church belongs to Jesus.
- The Holy Spirit actively leads and empowers believers.
- Grace transforms lives deeply and consistently.
- Authenticity builds strong foundations.
- Community reveals dimensions of Christ we cannot see alone.
These convictions guide our posture and inform our decisions.
We guard this culture intentionally. A healthy spiritual environment requires prayer, humility, Scripture, and accountability among us as elders. We hold one another accountable. We listen carefully. We submit to one another as we submit to Christ.
We are committed to a culture without pretense. You do not need to project strength you do not feel. You do not need to perform spirituality. Honesty is welcomed. Growth is encouraged. Maturity is pursued with patience and grace.
This authenticity shapes how we preach, worship, disciple, and serve together as a church family.
Doctrinal Guardrails
We carry responsibility for protecting the theological foundation of Fountain of Life. Clarity in doctrine safeguards the health of the church.
We are committed to:
- The finished work of Jesus is central to salvation and spiritual growth.
- The active leading and present ministry of the Holy Spirit.
- Scripture is the authoritative foundation for faith and practice.
- Freedom from religious legalism and performance-driven Christianity.
- Christ-centered teaching that produces practical, daily faith
For us, doctrine is lived theology. It shapes how we approach marriage, parenting, business integrity, forgiveness, generosity, and daily obedience. It shapes how we respond to suffering and how we celebrate in victory.
Our unity in doctrine keeps our teaching clear, strengthens the next generation, and provides long-term stability for the church family.
Intergenerational Strength
We deeply value generations serving together. That value is reflected in both our leadership and our worship life.
Those who have walked with the Lord for decades bring wisdom, stability, and long-term perspective. Younger leaders bring energy, insight, and fresh expression. Together, we reflect a fuller expression of the body of Christ.
This shared leadership reinforces humility and mutual honor. It strengthens continuity. It allows heritage and momentum to move forward together as one unified church family.
Serving Together
Leadership is a responsibility we carry with gratitude and reverence.
From the collective eldership to those who carry responsibility in various ministry areas, our shared aim remains clear: to serve the people of Harrismith by building a Christ-centered, Spirit-led church family where living water flows freely.
If you would like to connect with us, ask questions, or explore how you can grow within the life of the church, we welcome the conversation.
You are welcome here.
The Elder Team
(All elders together form the leadership of Fountain of Life Harrismith.)
We serve as a collective eldership. Each couple carries distinct strengths, experiences, and callings, yet we share one responsibility — to shepherd faithfully and to guard the spiritual health of this house together.
Our leadership is built on shared stewardship. We stand together in prayer, in accountability, and in responsibility for the culture and direction of Fountain of Life.
John & Michelle Veitch
Within our eldership, John and Michelle serve in foundational leadership roles.
John has been in ministry since 2001 and planted a church in Harrismith in 2009. In 2015, two local congregations merged to form the present Fountain of Life family. His teaching centers on the finished work of Jesus, freedom from religious legalism, and living by the leading of the Holy Spirit. He carries primary responsibility in preaching and doctrinal clarity, helping ensure that our teaching remains Christ-centered, grace-grounded, and applicable to daily life.
Michelle brings pastoral strength, wisdom, and discernment. With her background in psychology, she walks closely with individuals and families, offering counsel, stability, and compassionate care. She helps cultivate a culture that is not a show — a house where there is no pressure to perform and where people are free to be honest, imperfect, and growing.
Together, they serve alongside the rest of us in nurturing a church environment shaped by authenticity, spiritual maturity, and dependence on God’s grace.
Stan & Desley Ge van Pittius
Stan and Desley bring deep roots in Harrismith and long-standing involvement in the local community.
Stan carries a strong conviction that the church must remain welcoming to people from every social and economic background. Integrity, relational trust, and steady wisdom characterize his contribution to our leadership. He reminds us that community is essential and that no believer is meant to walk alone.
Desley brings warmth and spiritual depth. Her presence strengthens the relational life of the church and reinforces our commitment to belonging, local investment, and genuine connection.
Together, they anchor our leadership in maturity, stability, and heartfelt care for people.
Piet & Linda Uys
Piet and Linda bring missionary experience, prayerfulness, and a deep passion for discipleship.
Piet carries a burden to see every believer discover and walk in their God-given calling. He consistently emphasizes that sons and daughters of God are led by the Holy Spirit and encourages active engagement in the life of the body.
Linda strengthens the church through faithful prayer, thoughtful organization, and practical support in ministry areas. She sees the church as a place of restoration where people are discipled into spiritual growth and strengthened for daily life.
Together, they reinforce spiritual activation, steady prayer, and faithful service within the congregation.
GF & Danielle Terre Blanche
GF and Danielle represent a younger generation within our leadership, bringing clarity, conviction, and relational strength.
GF emphasizes intimacy with the Father and living through God rather than striving to perform for Him. His contribution consistently reinforces identity, grace, and spiritual growth rooted in a relationship with Christ.
Danielle serves actively in worship and discipleship spaces while balancing family life. She strengthens the culture of authenticity and grace, encouraging healthy and genuine community connections.
Together, they contribute energy, theological depth, and intergenerational continuity within the eldership.
Lourens & Hanlie Terre Blanche
Lourens and Hanlie embody steady faithfulness and attentive pastoral care.
Lourens brings practical leadership experience and a deep commitment to trusting the Lord’s direction. He values obedience, spiritual sensitivity, and steady discernment in church life.
Hanlie carries a strong intercessory heart and thrives in one-on-one connections. She is passionate about creating a safe space where people feel seen, heard, and valued. Her focus remains on long-term spiritual growth and enduring maturity.
Together, they strengthen our leadership through humility, prayer, and relational attentiveness.