About Ruth Drop-In Centre

The journey started about 10 years ago, when God put it on the founder Elmien Van Zyl’s heart that she must change her profession and reach out to children.  She trusted the Lord and know He will lead her.  A year later God send two little, troubled boys on her path.  On that very first meeting her husband said to her “this is your ministry”. The couple reached out to help the two boys but unfortunately the boys were removed out of the father’s care before the couple could apply for foster care.  A few months later a 10-month-old baby boy was placed in the care of the Van Zyl couple.  Later a little girl was placed in temporary care with Van Zyl family.  Elmien believed that God’s plan was not complete yet, but that He was only preparing her for wat is to come.

One family outing changed her life completely. She injured her back and was not able to return to her profession after surgery.  She was in the Hair and Beauty industry for 28 years.

She started an aftercare for children helping them with homework and studies. She enquired at the Child protection organisation that handled her foster child’s case to become a volunteer, but instead they appointed her in a half day post.  A year later she was appointed full time.  She closed the aftercare but still helped children to learn Afrikaans as a language.

Through her work she noticed that the need in the community is growing rapidly. People in the community did not only suffer financial but spiritual as well.  In her fourth year she had a conversation with a friend that is a social worker, she said that she wishes she could do more for the struggling people. The friend said that she must start her own program. Within three days two other social workers asked her why doesn’t she start her own program.  They felt that she has all the skills needed and the hart to make a success of her own program.

She started her research on the specific needs in the community.  God showed her one night during a parent meeting where the need is.  She did more research and discovered that there is a great number of poor and vulnerable children that struggle academically.  These children needed help.

She started to prepare the documentation to register a non-profit organization. Throughout the process people warned her that it is not easy to register a non- profit organization and that it may take a long period.  She stayed faithful and said “if this is what God called me to do then He will open the door”.   The documents were ready for submission, the Van Zyl family prayed and asked God that they will have an answer within 2 weeks. Two weeks later she received an email from the NPO office requesting her to add a few points on the constitution.  She added the two points and resubmited the documentation. The family asked God again for two weeks. But at that point she was informed that the office will be closed for 2 weeks due to Covid.  Ruth Drop-in Centre was registered two weeks after that.

She took the leap of faith to resign from her work.  Her husband asked her to wait until he was permanently employed.  She said to him “a leap of faith is to trust in God”.  Her resignation letter was typed but she had to wait, unity in their marriage is very important to them. She trusted God to prepare the way.  The very next day her husband was employed permanently.

She reigned from her work after five years to start a new journey.  The negotiations, networking and planning started for Ruth Drop-in Centre.

Now after 25 years she understands the prophecy on her life. “You will be the mother of plenty and children will seek shelter at your feet”