Derek and Beryl Puffett

Derek: Executive Leader, Regional Director for Africa
Beryl: Deputy Regional Director for Africa

Derek and Beryl are the regional directors for Ellel Ministries in Africa.

Derek and Beryl married in 1967 and lived in Namibia for some years. Derek was a company director in a corporate environment. Before they became Christians, they established a telephone helpline in Namibia which is still operating. In 1982 when they moved to Pretoria, the whole family found salvation in Jesus. In 1986 they established Telefriend, which is a Christian telephone counselling, caring and evangelism helpline, now a national ministry in South Africa.

Derek then became a full-time church pastor for 12 years from 1989-2000, with Beryl alongside him. They have always had a special interest in helping hurting and broken people. This is their heart, to restore and equip people. So when they found that Ellel Ministries had the same vision and could equip them further, they travelled to the UK to do the NETS training programme in 2000/1. After NETS they stayed on and spent some months at Glyndley Manor and Ellel Grange to learn more about the ethos of the ministry.

Pioneering and establishing Ellel Ministries in South Africa began in 2002. Shere House was purchased in 2003 and before long they were reaching out to other nations in Africa also. Derek and Beryl have two wonderful children and five beautiful grandchildren.