Meet the team
As Faithful Exiles, we partake in a mandate that is bigger than what any one person can achieve. Therefore we are proud to have a large, enthusiastic team that shares and believes in our vision. This furthermore provides us with flexibility, and a desire to make a long-term contribution.
Mascot
Frank is our mascot. He represents the ordinary Christian. On the one hand, he feels completely at home in this world – he knows where to get 2-for-1 specials on dental floss and has a weakness for chocolate – yet something is wrong. Sometimes he feels like a complete stranger in this world, not unlike an alien. He knows the promises God has revealed in Scripture, but he often struggles to see how they play out day by day. He believes God is King of more than just Sunday worship, but struggles to see this in reality, especially in a country as turbulent as South Africa, where the mark of human sin appears to run deep. Is God really at work in South Africa? Thinking through these things gives Frank a headache. Despite having certain skills, desires and aspirations, sometimes using these gifts for God’s Kingdom seems weak and pathetic, pointless even. If you identify with Frank, you will probably enjoy the content of this podcast.
Producer
Jürgen manages the full life-cycle of the podcast episodes – he is glad to call his team-members close friends. By day he works as an electronic engineer – building logical “lego” as a firmware developer – his hope is that this podcast will help believers explore the all-encompassing wonder and beauty of the gospel of Jesus Christ in everyday life.
Host
JP is a New Testament scholar who has also served as a church minister for many years. He currently lectures Greek, works as a software engineer, and is pursuing further biblical research while trying to love his wife and three children. JP is passionate about thinking through what all of life looks like when governed by the gospel and the reality of Jesus’ kingdom.
Host
Christian is an engineer, working in the aerospace sector, doing software and control system design, whilst finishing up his PhD in a related field. He and his wife live in Stellenbosch, where they both attend and serve at Christ Church. He enjoys picking peoples brains, to determine their motivations and worldview, and is eager to see how people approach their context with the message of Jesus’ lordship.
Content analyst
Dillon enjoys studying theology as a layman, and therefore gets the privilege and frustration of reviewing our episodes prior to release. He is currently a software engineer for a company that manufactures telescopes. Dillon is passionate to see the effects of the Gospel on the hearts of believers and to see it transform the hearts of those who are still to believe.
Graphics
Alicia works in marketing, administration and academics at Elizabeth Galloway Academy of Fashion in Stellenbosch, where she completed her Advanced Diploma in Fashion. Alicia does indeed have a stereotypical “passion for fashion” but sees herself in a privileged position where passion meets purpose. She hopes to have a positive impact on students’ lives whilst sharing this common interest. As a keen podcast listener, Alicia is incredibly excited to be considered part of the Faithful Exiles team and looks forward to the topics the hosts are planning on discussing. Alicia is looking forward to the advancement of the Gospel through this platform and hopes this project will reach and teach many about Jesus.
Written content, social media and finance
Astrid helps Jürgen with some of the administrative aspects of running the podcast. She’s currently in her second year of the ministry training scheme at St Helen’s Bishopsgate where she’s been part of the church family for several years. She is also attending the second year of the Cornhill Training Course. In her previous life she worked as a Chartered Accountant for about 7 years, both in Cape Town and London. She hopes that the podcast will serve Christians in South Africa, helping us to think deeply about what it means to follow Jesus and live in this world for him.
Further honorable mentions to Ashwill Paulse, Francois Pauw, Birgit Lanzillotti for their valued contributions.