Derek Anthony LIEBENBERG

LIEBENBERG, Derek Anthony Derek Anthony Liebenberg was born to Abe and Beryl April 10, 1965 and grew up in Bulawayo, Rhodesia. As a shy young boy, Derek excelled at every sport he tried and developed his love for nature and hunting. After high school, Derek completed a BSc in zoology and biochem. Following the call of God he enrolled in a Bible College, as one of the first two full-time white students in what had been a non-white college in Port Elizabeth in 1986. Some were critical of this move as these were apartheid years and it was considered an unhealthy choice of educational institutions. He graduated with a BTh from their affiliate, CNC in Winnipeg. He then received his MTH from the Nazarene Bible College in England. While in Manchester, Derek fell in love with a Canadian student by the name of Heather Fraser. They were married September 26, 1992. After a honeymoon in South Africa, they returned to Canada to live. With nothing but love and a God-given vision, Derek and Heather founded New Life Centres and ministered to the poor and disadvantaged for ten years. They worked tirelessly and with great sacrifice to bring hope where there was despair, freedom where there was addiction, food to those who were hungry, and the Gospel where there was darkness. God called them to Derek's home country of South Africa where they started a community resource centre for the poor and the HIV/AIDS afflicted. In six months, they had secured an abandoned college campus with office space, dorms, church, and two homes. After many months of cleaning and program development they had their grand opening in January 2005, which was attended by King Goodwill Zwelithini, King of the Zulu nation. This was the King's first visit ever to his township. He affirmed the work of MEDSA and the need for all possible assistance for his Zulu people as the provincial HIV/AIDS infection rate had hit forty percent. Although they endured squatters, threatening police, fires, thefts, personal attacks, muggings, bribery and corruption, they built a great team of staff and volunteers. MEDSA's multi-racial Board of Directors and churches from around the world helped them greatly. Derek and Heather witnessed many deaths in the township but no one could imagine the suddenness of Derek's passing of a heart attack. Derek loved his wife dearly, loved God supremely, loved people selflessly, and deeply loved his, as yet, unborn child. All who knew him were drawn to him because of his passion and dedication to others. A Memorial Service will be held at Centre Street Church's West campus, 4120 Centre Street North, on Saturday, January 14 at 11:00 a.m.