Leadership
Derk Jan and Renee Van Der Veen are currently the leaders of the Shofar Utrecht congregation. They have 5 years previous experience with students at one of the bigger Shofar congregations in Cape Town. They are passionate about teaching others of Christ and the Gospel, as well as seeing people healed through Deliverance.
God called them to Utrecht for the purpose of planting an English speaking Shofar Church and moved to Utrecht on the 9th of July 2015. Their house is always open to anyone and have become spiritual parents to many. They have a heart for the lost and unreached and head into the heart of Utrecht every Thursday, to evangelize and connect with people in the streets.
Derk Jan and Renee are assisted by a board of three Elders:
Banish Jha comes from India and currently lives in the Netherlands. He is a software engineer by profession and has found his true calling in serving in God’s kingdom. Since 2019, he has been part of Shofar Utrecht, and since 2024, he has been serving as an elder there. Currently, he is leading the Bible school curriculum for Shofar in Europe, and he passionately nurtures spiritual growth within his community. Married to Mary, they joyfully raise their two beautiful daughters, Evangeline and Angela. Banish is deeply committed to hearing and teaching God's word, driven by the call to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to people in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Derrick Frimpong originally comes from Ghana and currently lives in the Netherlands with his wife, Roline, and daughter Emanuella. He joined Shofar Utrecht in 2020. He is the current overseer of the Encounters and started serving as an elder in 2024. He is passionate about rightly dividing the word of truth (the Bible) to believers, seeing them grow into God's image and likeness, and reflecting this image in their daily lives.
Urbanus Kiio originally comes from Kenya and currently lives in the Netherlands together with his wife Sylvia and son Immanuel. Urbanus joined Shofar Utrecht in 2018. He is the current Small Groups overseer and started serving as an elder in 2024. He is passionate about believers walking in faith and in the power of the Holy Spirit to achieve their God-given potential.
