Raymond & Charne Cilliers
South Africans who joined the ministry in 2013 — Pastor Raymond in Worship and Crusades, having ministered in more than eighty nations, and Pastor Charne as Head of Culinary, building the ministry’s kitchens and the River Culinary Institute.
Their story
Pastors Raymond and Charne Cilliers are originally from South Africa. Raymond began his professional music career at age nine and became a recording artist at eleven, traveling extensively in music and ministry before an encounter with God at age sixteen, in one of Dr. Rodney Howard-Browne’s meetings in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, changed his life forever. He transitioned from concert ministry into full-time evangelistic ministry at eighteen.
In 2013, Raymond and Charne moved to the United States to join and serve under Drs. Rodney and Adonica Howard-Browne, and in 2015 they joined the pastoral staff. They have two sons, Reagan and Lincoln, both of whom love the Lord — Reagan excels in hockey and uses it as a platform to share the Gospel with his teammates, and Lincoln carries a passion for telling everyone about Jesus.
Where they serve
Leading and serving in River Worship alongside the wider worship team.
Part of the 500 City Tour since it began, and still traveling with it today.
L’Adon Restaurant, Studio B Kitchen, and the River Culinary Institute.
Individually
Pastor Raymond Cilliers
Pastor Raymond serves in Worship and the Crusades ministry. Before joining RMI, he worked in South Africa as a recording artist and music director, and as a Bible school lecturer in Cape Town.
He has been part of the ministry’s 500 City Tour since its beginning and continues traveling with it today, having ministered in more than eighty nations — most of them alongside Dr. Rodney Howard-Browne — and holds a Doctorate of Theology. His heart is simply to see people have a genuine encounter with God.
Pastor Charne Cilliers
Pastor Charne serves as Head of Culinary. Before coming to RMI, she worked in Cape Town as a Finance Manager and Personal Assistant to the Dean of a Bible school. She first served with Pastors before moving into the kitchen in 2016, and it was there — one night while prepping desserts during the broadcast of a campmeeting service — that she was powerfully touched by the Lord and knew He was calling her into the culinary industry.
She enrolled in culinary school, interned in Michelin-awarded and Michelin-recommended kitchens, and has since helped build and open L’Adon Restaurant, launched and now runs Studio B Kitchen with River Culinary Institute students to produce the ministry’s large weekly Sunday and conference lunches, wrote the curriculum for the River Culinary Institute, and holds a Doctorate of Christian Culinary Arts. She oversees culinary operations, including food vendors, for all of the ministry’s major events and conferences.
Her vision is to raise up chefs and restaurant owners who use their calling to reach their communities for Jesus, rather than follow the addiction, depression, and despair too often found in the culinary world.