Julianna Overmeyer

Calitzdorp, South Africa

Julianna Overmeyer

In 8th grade a friend invited Julianna to a youth group where “you get to hold hands with the boys” when you pray! When she learned that Christ loved her unconditionally, she submitted her life to him. Not long after, when a missionary from the Phillipines spoke at her church, she knew God was calling her to full-time overseas missions.

Life and raising a family kept her in Spokane WA until her youngest daughter graduated from high school. The Lord used this time to prepare her for service with YFC in Africa.

After 17 years as a Human Resource Specialist and 21 years of serving in various levels of leadership with Bible Study Fellowship she first served YFC in The Gambia, West Africa. For 16 months “Momma Julianna” taught religious education (Bible study) to the grade 6 students in public schools and organised camps and leadership development workshops for high school and college students.

In 2007 Julianna met Nathan Overmeyer at a YFC-Africa National Director’s conference where they discovered a shared passion for leadership development. A year of emails later they married in the United States and she transferred to YFC-Knysna in South Africa. The Lord uniquely prepared her for this center as she served as a crisis pregnancy counselor and International Volunteer House Parent, while Nathan served as Associate Pastor of a local church.

The Lord led Nathan and Julianna to Calitzdorp in 2015 where Nathan serves in the position of Pastoral care at a old-age home where his 86 year old mother resides. Julianna is currently the Centre Director for a satelite office of YFC-George (South Africa). YFC-Calitzdorp currently runs 3 projects:

Hope Options Centre – Giving women and youth hope in the time of crisis (unplanned pregnancy, HIV and crisis and gender-based violence) through counselling and support
Kidstop Drop-In Centre – Offering a loving environment for youth who have dropped out of school where they receive hot meals, remedial education, lifeskills lessons, acceptance and the hope of salvation through Jesus Christ.
Engaging Families – Partnering with primary care givers and men to play a role in stopping the interfamilial cycle of abuse and violence through workshops, small groups, and camps. Our desire is that through empowering families the cycle of abuse will end and youth will lead the next generation with healthy relationships.

Julianna and Nathan desire to see every youth in Calitzdorp find hope through Jesus Christ and live transformed lives as they learn His Word and submit to His will through the power of the Holy Spirit.