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Emil Kirstein was born and raised in South Africa. Emil and his wife, Lorna, are missionaries, Bible teachers and English teachers. They have been active in South Africa’s Western Cape Province, Malawi (Central Africa), and South Korea (Southeast Asia). Currently they are semiretired in their hometown, Somerset West, South Africa, and enjoy time with their children, grandchildren and friends. Emil believes that being a witness of the living Jesus Christ means more than mere “churchianity” and religiosity.
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During May 1983 Emil contracted a virus in his heart muscle (myocarditis) that proved nearly fatal. After being resuscitated, having suffered heart failure and been clinically dead for just over three minutes, He started to ask deep spiritual questions. His most basic question simply was, “Where would I have been if I had not opened my eyes again.” This resulted in both Emil and Lorna receiving Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior, and a new life started for them. As he put it, “That was when I changed from being a good person on the road to hell, to a saved sinner on the road to heaven.” His physical and psychological condition took about two years to heal. That was a very dark period in the household; however the Light of Jesus guided them through, enabling them to overcome.
His business career spans retailing, banking, accounting, marketing, administration and management. His Christian ministry endeavor has focused on the less privileged and has taken him through pastoring a local assembly, teaching at a Bible school, undertaking missionary outreaches in Africa (South Africa, Malawi and Zimbabwe), organizing Christian politics, and teaching English as a missionary in South Korea.
In 1989 he founded Soterion International, a ministry organization that became a missionary shell in 1999, and serves as a home for missionaries in the workplace and the field. In 1998 he founded ReNA (Revival Network Africa) in Malawi, to serve as a unifying body for smaller churches seeking more of God. An associate of Soterion International is continuing this ministry and has introduced a Bible School on CD for those in the rural areas.
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Emil has an Intermediate Degree in Commerce (SA); a Ministerial Diploma (SA); a Master of Divinity degree (USA); and holds an Associate of the College of Teachers (TESOL) (UK). He is also a Member of the College of Teachers (UK).
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