Welcome to our journey!

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report.
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Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Hebrews 11: 1-3 KJV

To Gerritt & Ami Coetzee, the founders of Agapé Family Ministries in Grabouw in South Africa, faith has become a tangible substance that has sprouted a growing ministry to the poor and helpless in this small town and surrounding areas.

What started as a little wooden house given to them in 1994, became multiple properties from which sick and dying children have received new life, hungry souls and bellies have been filled, and lives of the most desperate and lost have been radically changed. We are proud to honour the King of Kings, Who has made this possible - as only He could - with a website that will stand as a memorial that

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Hebrews 13:8 ESV

A Little Wooden House

Our first home in Grabouw came from our desire to move into the community we were serving from a distance (while staying in Strand, about 30 minutes drive away). The Department of Forestry, having heard about our ministry, offered to give us an old wooden house they were no longer using and we gladly accepted. Soon we were praying for more space, as the two-room house was soon over-crowded with wheelchairs and needy children. God granted us more buildings by His grace through the Department of Forestry, and Agapé 1 was established.

High Cloud Ring of Mystery

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50-cent school and
steel structure built by faith.

As our ministry grew, we were constantly challenged with the need for more infrastructure. With no money to purchase such things, we relied completely on the LORD to provide. He always did (and does still). The 50-cent school was sold to us for just that - 50 cents. The other steel structure was donated to us by a local company, but was not erected. The structural pieces lay on the ground for months, until a man came to us with a desire to pray that God would raise the structure up. About a week after his prayer, we were contacted by a company that wanted to donate some time to our ministry. Not knowing the man, we asked what his company did. "We put up steel structures!", was his reply. The rest is history.

Today, 27 years down the road and counting, the work started by God through Gerritt & Ami Coetzee continues to be accomplished through our facilities, the help of hard-working volunteers, limited government subsidies and private financial support as it comes our way. But behind it all is the mighty hand of God, without Whom we would never have been able to take our first step.

You may or may not believe in God as you navigate this website. Whatever your belief, may this website stand as an uncompromising memorial that He exists, that His power is undeniable and His love for us is far above what we can ever imagine.