Meet Abri, our Founder

Abri Brancken, PhD

Abri completed (1994-1997) 4 years of full-time Theological studies at the Waterberg Training Centre in South Africa, obtaining his degree in Religious Studies.

In 1998 Abri moved to Pretoria and joined a megachurch where he became actively involved in the church’s missions departments’ short-term international outreaches program. In 2001 he received a call to another megachurch (Moreletapark Church) in Pretoria where he served as Arts Director and Senior Worship Leader for four years, overseeing the worship, dance and drama departments of the then 17 000-member mega church.

In 2006 Abri moved to Israel in order to gain a greater understanding of the culture and traditions in which the Bible was written, furthering his informal anthropological studies while in Israel. He has been conducting yearly educational and worship tours to Israel since 2004.

In 2007 he returned to South Africa and co-planted the Living Word East congregation in Pretoria where he served full-time for 6 years. In December 2012 he moved to Mauritius to pastor the Living Word Church on the island, a multi-cultural evangelical congregation. He served there until February 2016. In March 2016 he moved to Auckland, New Zealand to join MBCC.

In 2014 Abri was awarded his Doctorate (PhD) in Biblical Studies after completing 2 1/2 years of research on the topic of “Life Alteration through GRIN Technologies”. His thesis was entitled, “Altering God’s Design”, and addressed the complex issues surrounding the morals and ethics of altering life on earth through genetic engineering and other GRIN technologies. He argued against the advancement towards Trans-humanism and the creation of new life forms, whether plant, animal or human, through GRIN technologies. Abri is also a qualified Chaplain and over the years he has traveled to more than 30 countries for business and church-related projects. Some of these countries include Israel, Russia, America, England, Brazil, Holland, Belgium, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Namibia, Uganda, Egypt, Greece, Malawi, Mauritius, Hong Kong, etc. Abri enjoys assisting people from around the globe and from all walks of life to take the necessary steps towards greater spiritual growth and maturity.

strategist, author & songwriter.

His books can be purchased online through Amazon.com, Lulu.com and other media platforms. 

Books Amazon >

Most Popular: Biblical Principles On How to Make It Through a Financial Crisis: How to adjust your lifestyle and your focus during financially tough times