Ministry update June 2026

TIME WAITS FOR NO ONE, NOT EVEN FOR US!!

It seems as if it were yesterday that we communicated with you all about what is happening in the ministry of Genesis Design all over the world.

HAIL AND RAINSTORM!

In April, we experienced a once-in-a-lifetime hail and rainstorm in Okahandja. Over 100mm of rain fell in an hour, accompanied by hail. It looked as if snow had fallen and caused flooding throughout the property. building. Michael moving the hail

Gutters were blocked, storm water pipes clogged with ice and the water just could not escape from the premises, the roofs and courtyard. The result was catastrophic. Ceilings fell in, furniture standing on the ground floor was soaked, power failed in some rooms and the main office was filled with water.

We worked very hard in trying to open up the storm-water pipes to get the water out and had to use spades to move the ice so the water could flow out. A very exciting event, but one we don’t want to experience again.

We are grateful to the Lord that the facility is insured for events like this. Our insurance broker did a great job in getting the insurance company to assess the damage and a contractor is about to start with renovations. We are grateful to the Lord.

7^TH ANNIVERSARY AND ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The theme for the 7^th Anniversary was this verse of Scripture from Zachariah 4:6

Over the weekend of April 24 to 27, the organisation's Annual General Meeting was held and the 7^th Anniversary of the founding of Genesis Design was also remembered. It was a wonderful gathering of past staff, people who were impacted by the ministry over the years, donors and close friends.

We are constantly reminded that the ministry of Genesis Design must be like yeast, unseen yet active. We do not need to know what the Lord is doing or where He is doing it. But we are encouraged when we receive reports of people from all over the world who have been touched or influenced by the teaching of Genesis Design (or Choose to Wait, as it was called before). His mercies are new every morning.

Lives are being changed forever. I spoke to a friend today who testified that he was changed 40+ years ago, after hearing the Word preached and now, he is the pastor of a growing church and ministry in South Africa; starting the church’s own Bible College at the end of the month with 40 students enrolled! Who would have thought that would happen?

The event was used to share Certificates of Appreciation with those Council members and staff who have been involved over the years. It was honestly a time of rejoicing, sharing the faithfulness of our God and KING, Christ our Lord.

APPOINTMENT OF NEW CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

During the AGM, the Genesis Design Global Council also announced and confirmed the appointment of Lenhert Plaatjies as the Chief Operating Officer, of the global ministry. It was indeed an opportunity to thank the Lord for what the Council believes is the Lord’s choice as the future leader of Genesis Design. God willing, he will take over full control of the ministry, during the next months with an appointment in March 2027 as the new Global Coordinator.

Lenhert came to know the Lord Jesus through Jos and Sylvia’s YfC Namibia ministry in the early 1990’s. He spent 25+ years in various leadership positions with Operation Mobilisation and other ministries which he led, before returning to Namibia.

 His vast experience in cross-cultural and cross-generational leadership ministry equipped him uniquely to be appointed to this position. It also opens up an immense new field of ministry that Genesis Design has never pursued in East Asia. 

We believe that with his experience of the culture and spiritual needs in that part of the world, Genesis Design is strategically positioned to invest in the Church and see many coming to understand God’s principles of manhood | womanhood | sexuality | marriage. It appears from conversations with him that the harvest is plentiful and the labourers are very few. Please pray for Lenhert that he will be led by the Spirit and know what the Lord wants as the next steps, in the development and implementation of the global vision of Genesis Design.

FUTURE FOR JOS AND SYLVIA HOLTZHAUSEN

They will continue to assist and coach where needed. Lenhert has already taken at least 40% of the global leadership and responsibilities over from Jos. He organised much of the celebration event and was introduced to many local people and companies, as the new Representative of Genesis Design.

Because of his experience, hosting more than 350 people a day on the OM ship, he is like a duck to water, managing and welcoming people at the training centre. Changes have started taking place and a major part of the catering, hosting of guests and management has been passed on from Sylvia -a burden she has always carried regardless of the ministry they served in.

Her main focus from now on will be completing of the development of the over 350 Genesis Design age-appropriate lessons. She will continue to teach and train the content and application of the Genesis Design curriculum to anyone willing to receive the skills to do so. We are inundated with requests from all over the world to go and equip the saints for the work of the ministry. They are very excited about the future of Genesis Design.

During the 7^th Anniversary celebrations, special thanks were given to them and the Lord for the 50+years of full-time missionary work they had completed by 2025. The Lord has been good and faithful to them on a daily basis. We rejoice with them on this milestone.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

SPECIAL PRAYER REQUEST

Jos and Sylvia left on Friday, June 12^th on another “Missions Trip”. They will be in Nairobi, Kenya, where they will be meeting up with the rest of the Lesson Writing Team to work on the final stretch of completing YEAR 1’s lessons by year's end. Circumstances are of such a nature that it is easier for them to go to Kenya than for the team to come here.

The Lord has already provided most of the funding needs, but they are still in need of funds to cover the shortfall for food and accommodation for all of them.

They will be away for 2-months. Lenhert will join them to meet the staff working there, who will soon be reporting to him.

And talking of staff, we rejoice with Carolyn and Paul on the birth of their second child, a baby girl, Elizabeth Geno.

THANK YOU for your continued and faithful support of Genesis Design. 

GOODBYE FOR NOW AND GOD BLESS