Snr. Pastor Melody van der Merwe has been in Knysna since December 1995, where she and her late husband Pastor Johan Swanepoel built Charisma ministries together. In 2004 Pastor Johan suddenly went on to be with the Lord, and Pastor Melody was ordained by God, and confirmed by many others, to continue in full time ministry in Charisma Knysna.

Then on the 25th of April 2009, Melody and Schalk van der Merwe committed their lives to one another in marriage.  Teaching the Word of God with simplicity and understanding is Pastor Melody’s goal. She believes that the Bible is the written and inspired Word of God. Her purpose is to invoke change in the lives of all she comes into contact with. Her desire and vision is for all to hear the Word and gain understanding of God’s love and promises.

Melody is deeply passionate about God’s Word and takes it as the final authority. Each local church has so much potential when we do ‘church’ the right way. Charisma has a very simple and uncomplicated vision: “The church equipped and mobilized to change ‘our’ world.”

Pastor Melody is very sensitive to the moving of the Holy Spirit and leads, together with her husband and covering, with FAITH, INTEGRITY, and EXCELLENCE. If you can Imagine it then God can do it for You, Nothing is Impossible with God.