Pastors Slabbert and Naomi Pretorius
Ps. Slabbert and Naomi Pretorius are the senior pastors of Accelerate Church. Both were called to ministry from a young age—Slabbert from South Africa and Naomi from Fiji—and now serve together in Australia and throughout the South Pacific/Indonesian region. Their lives reflect a deep devotion to Jesus and a passion to see His Kingdom advanced in every sphere of society.
They carry a heart for discipleship, worship, and revival, with a clear mandate to reach nations through the mountain of education and the advancement of Biblical Worldview education. Their ministry is anchored in the Great Commission:
“Jesus came and told his disciples, ‘I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’” — Matthew 28:18–20
Their vision is to raise up a generation of revivalists—Spirit-filled believers who walk boldly in their God-given purpose, usher in God’s Kingdom, and impact their world with His love and power.
In addition to leading the church together, Ps. Slabbert oversees the Men of Integrity ministry, calling men to live strong, godly lives of faith and character. Ps. Naomi leads Accelerate Women, empowering women to arise in their God-given identity and purpose, and also serves as Worship Pastor, leading Accelerate Worship—a culture of Spirit-filled, Christ-centred, God-honouring worship and intercession.
At Accelerate Church, their heart is to see people encounter God’s presence, grow strong in faith, and be equipped as leaders who bring transformation in families, communities, and nations for the glory of Jesus.
Pastors Frikkie and Mary-Ann de Beer
Ps. Frikkie and Mary-Ann serve as the Campus Pastors - Pastoral Care at Accelerate Church. Originally from South Africa, Frikkie was called to ministry at a young age and served faithfully in a part-time capacity for most of his life before saying a final "yes" to full-time ministry in 2025. He joined Mary-Ann, who was already deeply embedded in the life of Accelerate Church through various roles, and together they now dedicate their lives to the spiritual care and growth of the church family.
In their capacity they lead the Accelerate Afrikaans Ministry, fostering a vibrant community rooted in faith, heritage, and the love of Christ. Their ministry is anchored in a deep commitment to family:
“…But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” — Joshua 24:15
With a vision to see every generation thrive, Frikkie and Mary-Ann are dedicated to equipping believers to walk boldly in their God-given purpose, ensuring that every person feels seen, known, and supported in their walk with God.
Family is at the heart of their ministry. Frikkie and Mary-Ann are the proud parents of three daughters: Menisch, Mckenzie, and Mia-Merie. The call to serve is a family affair, with their daughters actively involved in the day-to-day life and ministry of the church.
In addition to their roles as Campus Pastors - Pastoral Care:
- Ps. Frikkie provides oversight for Accelerate Youth, empowering the next generation to live strong, godly lives of faith and character.
- Ps. Mary-Ann oversees and coordinates Accelerate Kids, building a foundation of faith for the youngest in the house. She also leads the Hospitality team, creating a culture of warmth and belonging for everyone who walks through the doors.
At Accelerate Church, their heart as Campus Pastors - Pastoral Care is to see people encounter God’s presence, grow strong in faith, and be equipped as leaders who bring transformation to their families and communities for the glory of Jesus.
Pastor Karl,
Pastor Karl is currently the Co-Pastor at Accelerate Church, and working in content creation and social media with the wider ministry. He has been with Accelerate for more than 20 years, working with youth in Christian Schools around the South Pacific and Indonesia. Born and home schooled New Zealand, he moved to Australia in 2005 to start working for Southern Cross Educational Enterprises (now Accelerate Educational Ministries, the wider ministry of Accelerate Church) to run programs and events for high school students using the A.C.E. program.
Karl is married to Melody (also an A.C.E. graduate) and they home school their three children, Maia, Raylan, and Gian using A.C.E. He is a musician, preacher, and loves sci-fi, but his particular passion is cars, and has successfully run a Car Meet as an outreach event of the local Church for more than five years.
Karl believes that every person has worth, no matter the mistakes they have made along the way, and wants to communicate that to all. Identity is very important, it is so easily destroyed, especially in children and teens, and if he can help people find their identity in Jesus, he has accomplished his goal in life. “Introducing people to the great I AM so that they can know who they are”
"For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." Ephesians 2:10
Pastors Llewellyn and Shireen Graham
We serve as the Mission Pastors here at Accelerate, where our primary heartbeat is providing pastoral care and spiritual support to our partners across the Pacific Islands. Our mission is to walk alongside our ministry partners—offering encouragement, prayer, and a listening ear to those serving on the front lines of education and ministry.
Beyond pastoral support, we facilitate growth through regional training for educators and the coordination of student conventions and conferences. These events are designed to be more than just gatherings; as they bring more Knowledge, Inspiration and are life changing for educators and students. We are also deeply committed to our "Bush School program", raising funds and providing hands-on support to establish "Bush Schools" in rural areas. By liaising with our offshore teams and school leaders, we ensure that every community we serve has the resources and care they need to thrive.
Pastors Nathan and Mikaela Waqa
Nathan and Mikaela Waqa serve as the Young Adult Pastors of Accelerate Church, with a deep conviction to see the next generation established in bold, unashamed faith and a secure identity in Christ Jesus.
Nathan has served in ministry from a young age, growing up in a ministry family in Fiji, while Mikaela encountered Jesus as a young adult and has since lived with a wholehearted surrender and a willing “yes” to wherever He calls. Together, they are committed to following Him faithfully and leading others to do the same.
They are devoted to leading through servanthood, modelling the life of Jesus who came not to be served, but to serve. Their heart is to faithfully steward what God is already doing, recognising that true ministry flows from partnership with Him, not personal ambition.
They carry a strong desire to see a generation rise as unashamed followers of Jesus, carrying the anthem, “I will not be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” and boldly living out their faith daily across universities, workplaces, families, and friendships. Their prayer is that revival would not be confined to moments or stages, but expressed through lives fully surrendered to Him.
This conviction is anchored in the truth of Romans 1:16:
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes…”
In addition to leading Young Adults, Mikaela is dedicated to equipping people for their God given purpose through education, particularly through our Leadership Institute and Bible College, while Nathan carries a heart for worship ministry and a vision to see technology used to glorify God, both within worship and beyond.
At Accelerate Church, their heart is to see young people grounded in their identity in Christ, unashamed of the Gospel, and part of a community where people can be real, grow in truth, and live differently to the world around them.