Jackson’s Ridge was started in the early 1990’s by a missionary couple called Ed and Sonja Corbin. After serving the children of Africa for over 20 years, they retired from the mission field and Neville and Gail Fannin were appointed Directors of Jackson’s Ridge.

Neville and Gail Fannin mentored and worked alongside the Corbins back in the early 1990’s and then felt the call into full-time children’s ministries. They served for 13 years on pastoral staff at two very large churches, one in Mafikeng and the other in Nelspruit. The training they had received from Jackson’s Ridge was implemented with great success and they went on to gain a wealth of experience in leading Sunday School, Children’s Church and Outreach Programmes, as well as formulate programs to motivate volunteers to become involved in children’s ministry and become passionate about changing children’s lives.

They ministered extensively in the rural areas among the disadvantaged and abused children of South Africa and spent a lot of time training workers in those areas. They are especially wise and insightful regarding the special challenges faced by the local church and their children’s workers, both in the city and townships.

They have travelled extensively across South Africa, Zimbabwe, Swaziland and Lesotho, assisting churches with basic training in all spheres of children’s ministry. During their travels, they have come to realize the urgent need for mentors to be available to churches to assist them to upgrade their children’s departments. Many churches are still using archaic methods in attempting to give children the gospel. There is a need for Neville and Gail, who are gifted and anointed communicators, excellent trainers and engaging children’s ministry presenters to continue to mentor and coach children’s ministers in a wide range of ministry tools, to be effective in teaching children.

They are passionate about their calling. They are absolutely convinced that it is time for the church to take ministry to children, seriously. For too long, the church has been happy just to keep the children quiet, and out of the adult service. They believe that children are an integral part of the body of Christ, and that Jesus desires that each child operates in their calling from a very young age. Jesus used a child to model what is necessary to enter into the Kingdom of heaven. Many adults never see the children in the church, so how will they know how to “be like a child” to enter the kingdom of heaven? Adults have much to learn from children. They just need to understand that the children are an integral part of the body of Christ.

They were both born in Zimbabwe and moved to South Africa shortly after they were married (over 30 years ago.) They have two adult children, Devin and Taryn. Devin lives in Swaziland and works as an Accountant, and Taryn is a school teacher and is married to Troy. They also live in Swaziland.

JR has an excellent team of people who serve in the ministry of Jackson’s Ridge. This team work tirelessly to ensure that the JR facility is kept pristine and always at the ready for children’s camps, training seminars, hosting missions trips and Royal Family events.