Klaus-Eckart Damaske

I saw the light of day as the seventh of eight children on March 1, 1966 in the vast expanse of Coligny, today’s North-West province of SA. For a century, there was a mission station “Botshabelo” (called “Place of Refuge”) with missionaries from Germany. In the 1970s my parents were transferred to the Platinum mines around Rustenburg. The government had started a resettlement program – and lo and behold: about 15 new preaching places emerged from one congregation. Kroondal and Rustenburg are among my vivid childhood memories. Most of my student years were spent in Pretoria studying BA, theology and UNISA honours. Active in 4 student groups, I found the chosen one, Antje, my dear wife since 1991. The journey led us through the 2 years of compulsory military service and 2 years of additional studies in Germany, Oberursel and Mainz, and back to Pretoria, where I was ordained and appointed as pastor of the Afrikaans part of the St. Paul’s congregation, Arcadia, in 1996. In the 22 years of congregational work, we experienced lots of excitement and inspiration, were especially committed to education and cultivated various contacts. We were given 5 children, one of which has already preceded us to heaven.