Debbie Prinsloo, Valley’s New Youth & Children’s Pastor, Introduces Herself

As Valley’s newly appointed Youth and Children’s Pastor (officially from July 07), I would like to take this opportunity to share a bit about myself with you...

I was born in Johannesburg, to Grace & Clifford Rens, late 1970. I am an only child and as my father passed away soon after my second birthday I grew up with my mother and grandparents. I matriculated from Clapham High School in 1988, and beginning 1989 entered varsity life as a first year student in the Department of Communication Pathology. At the end of my third year of studies, in December 1991, I married my husband Michael after knowing each other since high school. At the end of this year we celebrate our 16th anniversary together. We have two children, Jason (11) and Meghan (turning 9 in June).

I graduated from the University of Pretoria with a Bachelors Degree in Logapaedics (Speech therapy &
Audiology) in 1992. I have worked as a clinical Audiologist (working with hearing disorders) firstly in the South African Medical Service (SANDF) and then for 11 years at the Ear Institute in Pretoria. Since January 2006 I have been a Lecturer and Head of the Audiology deportment at University of Limpopo Medunsa Campus in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology.

Since late high school I have been involved in Youth and Children's ministry as a Sunday School teacher and Youth leader. I took a break from this role when my children were small, and took up teaching again at Valleys YPC in 2006. All through my professional career I have been involved in the training and education of both adults and student in the field of Audiology. As a lecturer I have gained much experience in working with youth and young adults. I have also headed up the Mentoring Program in the department at Medunsa. For the past year I have felt a strong calling to get mare deeply involved in Children's and Youth ministry. My two passions in life are teaching/training and children and I feel that the Lord has been preparing me throughout my career for full time ministry to the kids and youth.

Our children are our future and their future rests heavily on the foundations we set in their young lives. God has placed a great responsibility on all of us to teach our children about Him and his love for all. Matthew 19:14 quotes Jesus saying: “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” My belief is that by not teaching our children from a early age the foundations of our Faith in the Trinity, we are not doing as Jesus commanded us.My vision for the youth and children’s ministry of Valley is to grow strong believers and leaders and in so doing produce a generation of evangelists and disciples with an amazing love for God and his people.

I am also not blind to the problems experienced in the past in these specific ministries but believe that if we all work and pray together that “I can do anything through Him who gives me strength” Prov. 4:13.One of my life’s mottos is that one cannot grow if you are not challenged and in this ministry there are many challenges. Family is also important for me and I plan to make sure that both Children’s and Youth ministry is handled as part of family ministry.

I leave you with my life verse, Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. Please pray with me for strength and guidance as I embark on this exciting journey with our youth. God surely has amazing plans and a wonderful future in store for all.


Blessings, Debbie.
The promise is for you and your children and all who are far off for all whom the Lord our God will call. Acts 2:39