We sat down with Rob over a cuppa and talked about his personal experience, life and music.
Rob challenges and encourages us in the imperative value of knowing who we are in Christ.

Tell us abit about your background?

I was born in Wangaratta, Australia to two Dutch parents and have a older brother who was also born in Holland. Through our childhood we were home schooled by our parents. We moved to Tasmania so that all of us could be closer together, particularly Papa who had been working as a computer programmer all over Australia prior to this point. It was then that we heard about the Holy Spirit experience and within a period of a year we all received this proof that God existed and were baptised. It was around then that I got interested in electronics and got taught how to program computers. The last 8 years I’ve been working as a Software Developer after completing a degree in Computing in Tasmania. I’ve been married for a year to a girl called Pamela, who I met some 5 years ago. Our relationship slowly changed from being just friends, better friends to being in a relationship. Both of us, independently had thought it would be good to spread our geographical horizons a bit and after getting married the time was right and we moved to London.

Do you sometimes look at your life and wonder, how the earth did you get there?

Life is very strange, even with the Lord guiding you. I think everything is so much bigger, intertwined and complex than we could ever imagine. I’m beginning to learn to just sit back, take opportunities as they come and enjoy the ride.

Simply, why rap?

I like writing words that mean something and I’m not particularly enamoured by my singing voice. I really like hip hop, the rhythms, the wordplay and the beats, but I’d prefer to sing if I could.

How was the trip to PNG and would you like to tell us a little about is?

I had two weeks in PNG travelling with some 20 people from Australia, New Zealand and Africa of various ages. We were over there for the 25th anniversary of RCI in the country. Our trip took in a week in the highlands and a second week in the more urban areas, including a spectacular rally at a stadium in the second largest city, Lae. I went over to get some perspective, to see how other people with the same experience deal with it in their context. The urban areas suffer similar pressures to the western culture; that is – being consumed by desire for goods and having faith spoilt by knowledge.

In the “simpler” regions, in the highlands for instance, the Word is used very tactile manner and there’s a palpable enthusiasm that is not dimmed or dulled by social etiquette. This is evident in the preaching, the singing and even down to the everyday manner of the people there. The power of the Lord is obviously operating in their life and they’re happy about it. That’s it.

Since then, I’ve thought a lot about what the established social norms are how much I stick by them. Consider then Jesus who had his Father first in all his communication with other people, ruffling a few feathers.

How was the move to the UK?

Moving to the UK has made me feel a lot more mortal. Although I understand I have eternal life I’m much more aware that there the Lord has only given us VERY few years on his training ground. This has made me reconsider my priorities. A great thing about being here has made me trust entirely in the Lord, and He’s coming through continuously. I’ve never been less stressed in my life.

Where does your passion for playing the piano come from?

It’s a form of expression. I like to express myself in any way that I can whether it be writing, conversation or drawing but I think playing piano is the thing is that I’ve stuck at the longest and maybe its the most direct conduit to the soul for me… Most musicians would probably agree that their passion for music is heightened when they get to play with other people who are on a similar wavelength. A discussion around why this is may be getting a little too metaphysical other than to say that its an exchange of ideas and expansion of perspective.

What are your desires and dreams for RCI UK?

My hope is twofold. One that the people that make up the church here currently, including myself, continue to grow in their understanding of the Lord and realise how important it is that we have each other, that the Lord has brought us together for a reason. The second, feeding from the first, is that I hope that that passion and zeal that we have for the Lord then rubs of on other people. From there, I trust the Lord will do the rest.

Could you give us a small testimony?

I believed there was a God all my life whom I would pray to as a child until my early teens. I heard that there was a gift to be had from God. I didn’t give it a second thought. Not really understanding anything about the full extent of the plan of God I asked him one night in bedroom “give me the Holy Spirit” because this what I had heard it called. A few seconds later I spoke in tongues as God promised. My understanding was enlightened and I all of a sudden the Bible made a lot of sense and prayer actually started making difference in my life. I also got baptised by full immersion as the Bible highlighted that I should do. I think that the largest thing that the Lord has done for me is given me a peace and confidence about the world and where it’s heading and also, on a smaller scale, in my personal life. Without the Lord I probably would tie myself to a bulldozer in the rain forest. Also seeing the Lord provide in the most micro and macroscopic ways on a daily basis, in my life and for others, continues to build my faith daily.