Senior Staff
About Richard & Riekje
Richard and Riekje were married in Amsterdam in 1993 (the ceremony took place in a windmill). They are the parents of four outgoing children and have spent the majority of their married life church-planting in Portugal and Spain. They love to use their gift of hospitality and a down-to-earth spirituality, to draw people into authentic, Christ-centered community. They currently reside in Madrid, Spain.
Richard, from the UK, is a classic Third Culture Kid (TCK). He was born in Uganda and spent his formative years in Kenya and Fiji; finishing his schooling in the UK. Studying for a degree in Horticulture at Bath University, he met Riekje, from Holland (not a TCK!). Eventually, moving to Amsterdam, they were married two years later! During his time in Holland, Richard completed an MDiv at Tyndale Theological Seminary. They also attended Crossroads International Church, in Amsterdam, and were mentored by Dr. Linus Morris, who had founded the church.
Richard had long-planned to return to the Majority World to support the local church with community development, but during their years attending Crossroads they found God opening their eyes to the tremendous spiritual needs of Europe. In 1996, they joined Christian Associates International (now Communitas) and worked for 23 years in Iberia as church-planters. They also assisted a team with planting Riverside International Church, in Lisbon, Portugal (1997-2001) and then served as a founding family and lead pastors of Mountainview International Church, in Madrid, Spain (2002-2018).
For many years their focus was on church growth, but more recently they have experienced God doing a deeper work in their lives. Freedom in Christ and an extended series on grace (based on Galatians) that Richard taught at Mountainview, were defining moments in their lives and ministry. Their vision has morphed into the multiplication of spiritually and emotionally healthy leaders and churches that are fountains of Christ and His grace; that overflow in the blessing of individuals, communities and the world. They like to say that God has transformed their vision from bigger churches to bigger hearts!
They believe Global Training Network will help them leverage their vision, gifting, background and experiences for greater Kingdom purposes. Internationally they are serving on a Divine Expedition Team; training and multiplying leaders and churches. Locally (Madrid/Spain) they are focused on church-planting, and the training and multiplying of emotionally and spiritually mature leaders.