Kevin & Machi Rietveld
Kevin and Machi entered the ministry in 1982. After serving Christian Reformed Churches in Wellington, New Zealand; Kingston, Tasmania; and Blaxland, New South Wales, they were called to serve in Solomon Islands as Missionaries in 1998.
Kevin is the Director of SWIM mission, and is involved in teaching and training Church Leaders. He has run workshops on Preaching, classes in Theology, Christian Leadership and Counselling. His passion is that the cross of Christ is central in all teaching and preaching. Kevin is also involved in media ministry with weekly radio and newspaper exposure.
Machi’s area of interest is in children’s ministry and ministry to women, and she has developed some very good workshops for Sunday School Teachers, as well as dealing with women’s & family issues. Machi also facilitates the sponsorship of about 65 students who are supported by churches and individuals in Australia. She has played a key role in the ministry to people with disabilities.
Kevin and Machi often work together sharing various aspects of their workshops, and they also work together in most of the aid projects and distribution of relief goods.
They also organize ministry projects for visiting “SWIM Teams” such as outreach in villages, village health programs etc. They have 3 married children and 7 grandchildren in their family.
Grace Vaate
Grace Vaate, originally from Holland, is currently working as the office administrator in a two year position. She started here at SWIM in September, 2007 as the first office administrator assisting both missionary couples. She enjoys setting up systems that others can continue to work with when her term of service is finished.
Grace’s interest in missions began ten years ago when she took a Discipleship Training Course with YWAM. The Lord has been working through events in her life to open doors for this training course, as well as providing the opportunities for service in Sri Lanka, the Philippines and in Mercy Ships offices in Europe. Grace delights in seeing 'changed' people as they return from the mission projects, recognizing that God changes not only local communities but also the hearts and the minds of those who are willing to be involved in mission outreach in another culture.
