About Me

Personal Information

Named Robert George Corder by my parents, I am generally known as Rob. I am an ordained Presbyterian Minister. Although officially retired, in practice I remain active and when COVID is not around, I preach several times a month in various churches as needed. 

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  • Born in Queenstown (now Komani)(Eastern Cape, South Africa -1939).
  • Matriculated at Queens College Queenstown (1956).
  • Studied at the Bible Institute of South Africa (1965/66)
  • Married Shirley Millar Geddes in Gwelo, Rhodesia (now Gweru Zimbabwe)(1967)
  • Became a dad for the first time when our daughter, Debbie, was born in Johannesburg. (1968)
  • Ordained into the ministry of the Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa (1969)
  • Our first son, Stephen, was born in Cape Town. (1971)
  • Our third and final offspring, David, was born in Kimberley. (1975)
  • Obtained a Bachelor of Theology degree from the University of South Africa (1980).
  • Retired from the pastoral ministry (2006).
  • We are now happily living in a retirement village in Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha) South Africa, praise God, still in good health. 
  • Our three children are all happily married, faithfully follow the Lord, and have given us four grandsons and two granddaughters

Pastoral Ministry 

During 36 years of full-time pastoral ministry, I pastored the following Presbyterian congregations: 

  • Bridgetown, Cape Town (Western Cape),
  • St Andrew’s Beaconsfield, Kimberley (Northern Cape).
  • Hatfield, Harare, Zimbabwe (formerly Salisbury, Rhodesia).
  • Cambridge, East London (Eastern Cape),
  • Krugersdorp, Gauteng (formerly Witwatersrand).
  • Elgin United Church, (Presbyterian & Congregational) Grabouw (Western Cape). 

 

Present activities

Although I retired from the full-time ministry in 2006 I have continued to preach in churches around our city as well as in the nearby seaside town of Jeffrey’s Bay (about an hour away). However, with the Covid-19 pandemic, these preaching engagements came to an abrupt halt so I busied myself with this series of reflections on the prophecy of Habakkuk. I found them to be most appropriate, especially in view of the major problems as a result of the horrific Coronavirus.

With the lockdown regulations being eased off I have once again become active in preaching at two Presbyterian congregations in the city. After well over a year that series on the prophecy of Habakkuk has come to an end. At present am busy on a new series titled ‘Encounter with Jesus’. reflecting on a number of bible personalities who had an encounter with Jesus during His earthly ministry.

Until the end of 2019, both Shirley and I were involved in the Happy Echoes Choir, a group of approximately 30 retired persons, which was really like a large musical family. We produced around 25 concerts a year at local retirement villages, social clubs and church senior’s groups. We had to go into recess suddenly as a result of lockdown, but remain in touch through a Whatsapp group.

When not preparing sermons or devotions I enjoy building model ships, oil painting, jigsaw puzzles, and the challenge of Sudoku.

My wife, Shirley, is a published author, and you can see more about her on her website, Write to Inspire, of which this one is a subdomain.