Proponent Michael Richard Wildeman was born on the farm Misgund, a farm that you will find if you travel from Oudshoorn or George along the R62 in the Langkloof district. It is an area where you will find sweet, delicious apples, pears and oranges.
Prop. Wildeman was born on 21 May 1970 as one of ten children of the late Naas and Sarah Wildeman. He attended the then Misgund DR Mission Church Primary School and matriculated from the Humansdorp Senior Secondary School in 1988.
“As a youngster, my father was definitely my role model,” Prop. Wildeman says. “He was working as the caretaker at our local congregation and we used to help him clean the church. He was strict and expected us to attend church every Sunday! We also gathered for huisgodsdiens every evening. I cannot recall a time where I was not part of the church. I think this laid the foundation for my calling. In my later years as an adult, we as siblings had to rely on each other. I specifically cherish my eldest sister Salomie who cared for us when my mother passed away at an early stage in my life. My brother Naas, who was called after my father, also embraced our family.”
But how did it happen that Prop. Wildeman decided to become a minister? He explains: “I have always been a Christian and part of the church. It is as if it is part of my DNA. Funny enough, it was always at the back of my mind, but the business world was more attractive at that stage. It was only when I became a church council member in 2002 and the late Rev. Paulus De Wet asked me when I am going to register to study theology that I started considering it.
“There was also another congregant who became a good friend of mine, who asked me one Sunday after church, ‘Brother, why don’t you give up this job of yours? Can’t you see you should be a dominee?’ In 2016 I could no longer resist this calling of the Lord and resigned from my work to start studying theology full-time.
“I obtained my BDiv in 2020 and my MDiv in 2021. My Master’s thesis focused on Interreligious Intolerance, an Ecumenical Missiological Study in a Post-Apartheid Community on the Cape Flats.“
And what is his dream for his future congregation and the church? He explains: “I dream of a church that is a safe space for everyone. An ecumenical and missiological church that embodies justice, peace, reconciliation and togetherness. A church that look beyond the colour of our skin or abilities, because if a Holy God dares to partner with us as mere mortals in fulfilling His mission and purpose, who are we to exclude anyone? It is God’s mission and it is God who chooses and sends us into this world to make a difference.”
Prop. Wildeman is very fond of reading, action movies and enjoys life with his friends and family. He is married to Margaret who works as a processor.
Contact Prop. Wildeman at [email protected] or 063 176 9068 for more information.