Father Vanderbijl was born in Windhoek, Namibia, September 5th, 1961 and raised on a working farm near the Botswana border raising Karakul sheep (pelts and wool), Persian sheep (mutton),Hereford cattle (beef) and a few horses for riding.
His work in the ministry began in the mission field where he spent 6 years teaching English, Geography, Religious Instruction and P.E. and participating in field and medical work. He worked in Botswana (with YWAM), in Kaokoland, north-western Namibia, with the Herero, Himba and Tjimba. He also worked in Tsumeb, north-eastern Namibia, with the San (or Bushmen as some call them) with much of his work being done through the Dutch Reformed Mission.
While in the mission field, Father Vanderbijl met Louise Van Zyl (who was a nurse at the local mission hospital) with whom he fell madly in love and married on the 1st of December, 1983. Their first son, Hanno, was born in the mission on the 16th of September, 1984.
His work progresed into long and short term drug rehabilitation counselling over the next 4 years during which time their second son, Heyns, was born (6 March, 1987). The Short term rehabilitation work took place in Kameeldrift, just outside the city of Pretoria, Transvaal Province, South Africa with the Dutch Reformed Church. The Long term rehabilitation took place in Muldersvlei, predominantly farming area just outside the city of Stellenbosch, Cape Province, South Africa. This was with the Salvation Army and was considerably more labour oriented.
Father Vanderbijl's first seminary degree was earned from George Whitefield College in Kalk Bay, between St. James and Fish Hoek, South Africa. George Whitefield is the official seminary of the Church of England in Southern Africa. Father Vanderbijl was ordained a Deacon in 1992 and after a years service in the Diaconate, he was ordained a Presbyter in 1993 by the Australian Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Stephen Bradley. His first parish ministry was in Swakopmund where he served as the Rector of St. Timothy's Church of England in Namibia for 4 years.
In 1996 the entire family moved to the United States of America so Father Vanderbijl could pursue a Masters Degree in Christian Education at Columbia International University. His credit hours were eventually transferred to the extension division of Cummins Memorial Theological Seminary (REC) where he received a Masters of Divinity Degree in 2003.
During Eastertide, 1997 Father Vanderbijl was inducted as Rector of Christ Covenant Church REC and took the small congregation of a handful of people meeting in a YMCA to a thriving parish located in our own building today (plus a recent extension!). Since that time, the parish decided to change its name to The Anglican Church of St. George the Martyr to better reflect our heritage and ethos as an Anglican body. In the meantime, Father Vanderbijl earned a further diploma in Biblical counseling from Redeemer Biblical Counseling Training Institute under the direction of Dr. Jay E. Adams and began to pursue a D.Min. degree through Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry in Ambridge, PA.
On February 19, 2006, the members of St. George the Martyr overwhelmingly voted to request a transfer of both Fr. Vanderbijl and the parish to the Anglican Province of America, Diocese of the Eastern United States (APA, DEUS) due to ecclesiastical similarities with this jurisdiction and because of geographical proximity to many like-minded parishes in the immediate vicinity. This request was graciously granted by the late Bishop of the Diocese of the South-East, The Rt. Rev. James C. West, and the Standing Committee on May 26, 2006. On May 28, 2006, Bishop West entered into eternal glory.
Father Vanderbijl is a confessed yet unrehabilitated bookaholic who enjoys painting (see his web site at http://vanderbijlart.googlepages.com/), collecting warthogs (not real ones, but that has crossed his mind) camping, hiking and music. He enjoys spending time with his wife...and children (when he can). His oldest son, Hanno is now married to Lauren, who is surely one of the best daughters-in-law any parent could hope for, and he is currently attending Gordon-Conwell Seminary up in MA. His youngest son, Heyns is a business and German major at the College of Charleston, SC. Father Vanderbijl's hopes and aspirations are summarized in his desire to see The Anglican Church of St. George the Martyr grow numerically and spiritually to become a beacon and bastion of Biblical truth for the Upstate.
Father Vanderbijl and Louise became citizens of the United States of America at a ceremony in historic Charleston on July 10, 2007.
