The Shofar Story
Fred and Lucille May started Shofar Christian Church in Stellenbosch, South Africa in 1992. Since then, we’ve grown from a student fellowship to an international, multi-generational, multi-cultural church family with congregations in South Africa, Namibia, the United Kingdom, Burundi, and the Netherlands.
We have more than 50 churches, with everything from lively young congregations in cities to family-orientated churches in farming towns. We also have a growing number of new church plants, as well as fellowship groups and streaming locations.
Shofar (pronounced ‘show far’), is the Hebrew word for the ceremonial ram’s horn. In Biblical times, the shofar had several uses (all of which are significant to who we are). It was used to announce the advent of times and seasons. It was a pitcher for the oil used for anointing and inducting kings and priests. It also signalled a summons to war. The shofar is a metaphor for prophetic urgency, authority and mobilisation.
Our Vision
To reach nations & generations through
Disciple-making, leadership development
And church planting
Core Values
PASSION for Jesus
Passion speaks of love for Jesus – the Father’s emphatic, blazing love to and through us. This love lends legitimacy to who we are and what we do.
POWER of Belief
Power is the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Profound belief sustains this inspiration and makes for change, growth and accomplishment.
PEOPLE to Serve
People are our core business. To serve them flows naturally from this passion. Leadership happens when we commit to serve and grow others.
PURPOSE to Pursue
Purpose is an inheritance everyone has from God. It is a uniquely crafted, person-specific progression of assignments. Finding and engaging it brings the reward of ultimate affirmation.
International Leader
Heinrich Titus
Heinrich Titus spent his childhood as a pastor’s kid, growing up to follow in his parents’ footsteps, first as a teacher and now as a pastor himself. After pastoring congregations in Pretoria and Johannesburg, and serving as Regional Leader of Shofar Gauteng, he is now pastoring Shofar Somerset West and serves on the International Apostolic Team as International Leader. Having experienced the highs and lows of ministry life for the last forty years, he is a firm believer that God has chosen the local church to bring healing to this broken world. He lives to see the vulnerable children of the world safely nurtured in the house of God. Heinrich is married to Nikki and together they have two children.
Andries van der Merwe
Andries and his wife Lize spent several years heading up Shofar London, before returning to South Africa in 2009 to pastor Shofar Stellenbosch.
Hercules Opperman
After completing an internship year with Shofar, Hercules and his wife Melanie went on to support Shofar Franschhoek and later pastor Shofar Worcester.
Phillip Boshoff
Phillip pastors Shofar Pretoria and serves as Regional Leader for our Gauteng 2 region.
Amo O’Kennedy
Amo O’Kennedy spent 5 years in Shofar Stellenbosch pastoring students, before moving to George with his wife Cornel in 2013 to pastor Shofar George. According to Amo, his greatest achievement is his four kids Iva, Nikolas, Amo, and Julia.
André Kruger
André has been involved in the planting of different churches and pastors Shofar East London.
Affiliations
We believe that it’s vital to be part of the greater global church and play an active role in encouraging healthy relationships between local churches. That’s why we’re not only working to build a strong network of churches but are also part of national and international Christian bodies and groups.
Letsgo
Through the Shofar Network, more than 1000 churches have access to our discipleship training and materials and our Letsgo mission teams assist them with evangelism and training.
Empowered21
Empowered21 is the largest interdenominational movement uniting Spirit-filled churches and ministries across the globe. As Shofar, we form part of Empowered21 Africa, with Anton Myburgh fulfilling leadership roles on the African Cabinet.