Join an open-air service of hope

The community is invited to join Freek Vermaak and the Baasraak team for an open-air service at the Sterkfontein Heritage Lodge this coming weekend.

The focus of the service from 4pm to 6pm on Sunday 1 March will be suppressing crime through prayer and faith. Ex-gangsters, ex-prisoners and ex-drug dealers will testify about the healing hand of God. Everyone is welcome.

According to their Facebook page, Baasraak is a Christian multimedia network managed by Freek Vermaak Ministries.

For 18 years Freek has been sharing his inspirational story with people around the country.

He brings messages of hope to old and young in prisons, schools, colleges, universities, rehabilitation centres, sport teams, churches and businesses.

Freek grew up on the West Rand with his mother and father. They did not have much, but Freek always received more than enough love from his parents. His dad, who worked as a tradesman and did not earn a lot of money, was his hero.

Freek was a good rugby player and many believed that he would play for the Springboks one day. Unfortunately this dream never realised because of the bad life choices he made back then.

Freek joined the police after finishing school and gained a lot of experience of the criminal underworld, including gangs and drugs.

After serving as a policeman for a few years, he found himself on the wrong side of the law and became involved with organised crime.

He became addicted to alcohol and cocaine among other things, and all of these unsavoury activities landed him in hot water.

One night Freek fell to his knees and called to God for help. God helped Freek to rewrite his whole life story, and He gave Freek a message of hope amid a life of despair.

Freek and his wife Hanna are now spreading this message of hope to those who need it most.