Ingrid Kjonstad appointed National Director of South Africa 

Left to right: Pastor Vernon Govender, former assistant director and interim national director of South Africa; Ingrid Kjonstad, newly appointed national director of South Africa; Johnson Nadasen, board member and treasurer for BCM South Africa; Rev. Stephen King, regional director for Africa and Asia.

By presidential appointment, Ingrid Kjonstad was named BCM International’s national director of South Africa in January 2025. BCM President Dr. Rick Rhoads appointed Ingrid to the position at the recommendation of the South African Board and the Africa and Asia Regional Director Stephen King.   

“I am very excited about having Ingrid in the leadership team for National Directors and BCM South Africa and look forward to this next season of how God will use her in kingdom expansion globally,” said Dr. Rhoads. “Ingrid is a key leader coming into this role with significant leadership experience inside and outside BCM International.” 

Ingrid will transition into the role over the next few months. Pastor Vernon Govender served as South Africa’s interim director for seven months after the passing of the former director Rev. John Peter. Many, including Rev. Stephen King, BCM’s regional director for Africa and Asia, saw Ingrid as the next key leader for the national role. 

“Ingrid’s personal vision is to equip and empower both individuals and organizations, which has been demonstrated numerous times over the years.” says Stephen. From her stepping up as one of BCM’s first volunteer “In Step With the Master Teacher” lead trainers to being the main organizer behind the 2023 Africa conference, Stephen says the role matches well with Ingrid’s service and personal vision.   

 After much prayer and discernment, Ingrid accepted the appointment.  

Following God’s Lead 

“I had been asking the Lord where He wanted me to serve, and then I was asked to consider the position,” recalls Ingrid. “As I prayed about it, I felt led that this was the next season He had in store.” 

She plans to meet with each of the missionaries under her care to create God-led goals in their area of ministry. “And then,” Ingrid continues, “with prayer ask for the Lord’s leading as to where to focus and implement the two aspects of ‘reaching children’ and ‘strengthening the church’ in the context of South Africa.” 

Ingrid served for eight years as a volunteer lead trainer for BCM in Africa before becoming a full-time BCM missionary. Prior to that, she served as the general manager for a Christian conference center, where she significantly networked with leaders in South Africa, serving churches and Christian organizations within a four-country radius. She was also chaplain of her local police service, and she holds degrees in Practical Theology and Education from the University of South Africa and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Cape Town.   

“Collaborative” is her leadership style. “I am there to support and encourage each missionary to reach the goals God has laid on their hearts,” she explains. “I like to hold what we in South Africa call ‘Indabas,’ where all affected people meet together, talk and brainstorm, and then we reach a consensus.” 

She’s helped with teaching and training in various ministry contexts, including BCM’s teacher-training program “In Step with the Master Teacher” in South Africa. “I love to see the lights of insight and understanding come on in people’s eyes. There is something about enabling someone to do or achieve what they have been called to do that is very satisfying,” she says. 

Equipped for the Role 

Ingrid, who is from Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa, says, “God planted me right where He wanted me.” This is true of the vast majority of BCM Missionaries, as 97% are native to the country in which they do ministry.  

Ingrid was born in Harding, a small farming town in KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. After attending university, she worked as a trainee manager at a hotel and then at a Christian conference center in the United Kingdom. While there, she felt called to missions and returned to work at a Christian conference center only 50 miles from where she was born. 

While hosting a Sunday School teacher training program, she met Pat Govender, BCM’s international “In Step with the Master Teacher” coordinator. Pat introduced Ingrid to BCM’s ISMT training program and invited her to help run a training at the conference center. In 2013, Ingrid attended Mobilise, a BCM event to equip people for teaching teachers. She helped Pat with trainings in Kenya and Uganda, solidifying her involvement with BCM.  

“From the beginning…I saw that her leadership was dependent on God. Her conversations, discussions, interactions always modelled that,” shares Pat. “I know she loves God so much, because that is what exudes out of her life and ministry. We have worked very closely together for many years, and I have always been so encouraged by her dependence on God and how she lives her life. 

“I do believe that God has been preparing her and has provided the right person for this position for South Africa,” Pat concludes. 

Ingrid is passionate about BCM’s dual core mission of reaching children and strengthening the Church. She explains, “I have a strong desire to see transformation in the lives of children and adults through discipleship and building resilience in the hearts and minds of individuals so that they are enabled to faithfully follow in the footsteps of Jesus and shine the light of the gospel in the community where they live.” 

She has seen God at work through relationships and how He orchestrates connections with people to share true hope. One recent example was how she met a man from Burkina Faso. Ingrid had been praying for the region of West Africa. In April of 2024, she attended a course on “Walking with Wounded Children” in a tiny town called De Doorns (The Thorns) in the middle of the Karoo, a semi-desert area. She met Emmanual from Burkina Faso, who had come to attend the training too. By the end of the year, Ingrid and Mado Fumunguya were able to run an online teacher training for him and a group of teachers. “This was only done because God brought us together in such an out of the way place,” Ingrid admits. “Now we have a footprint in Burkina Faso to nurture. And this year, trainers from Nigeria ECWA will be travelling to Sierra Leone. The Lord is opening doors through relationships.” 

Her ministry has included elements of hospitality and education alongside being a camp cook and Bible college lecturer. She coordinated the translation of Sunday school materials into Zulu. She’s served as a counselor for a Christian helpline and at a place of restoration for abused children and enjoys crocheting, reading, walking in nature, visiting game reserves and studying. A true student, she considers it a day not wasted as long as she has learned something new.  

God has used Ingrid’s variety of experiences, gifts and passions to prepare her for this role with BCM. Please pray for her and the BCM South African team as they continue on mission to reach children and strengthen the Church.