About Us

Meet the Team

Our team is made up of volunteers who represent a wide variety of ages, and experiences. Together they bring a combined passion to see healing and wholeness restored in community.

Meet the team

Our Story

During Bronwyn's study to become a qualified counsellor, she undertook a research paper on spirituality and its role of healing in the counselling profession (nationally and internationally). Whilst she discovered spirituality plays a significant role in the healing of the individual, there was very little combination of Christian spirituality and counselling being used in the profession.

Shortly after this discovery, Bronwyn and a colleague were invited to address the issue of anxiety using counselling methods and Christian spirituality at a local church. They spoke to young girls aged 12-14 years. The evening was successful and Bronwyn realised the significant need for practical application of both Christian spirituality and counselling tools to equip people in their personal journey to aid restoration. This ushered in a two and a half year process of writing the Building Strong Foundations course, combining Bronwyn's personal testimony of healing and restoration through her relationship with God, as well as learnings from her counselling degree.

Key Staff

Bronwyn Sandford

Director / Counsellor / Facilitator

BCouns, MNZCCA

As the author of this course, Bronwyn has a Bachelor's degree in Counselling and has focused on working with couples and individuals. The recorded testimony used in the course is Bronwyn’s personal account of building a strong foundation in her own life after going through personal tragedy. She has grappled with and continues in her journey of knowing God and herself.

Bronwyn married Don in March, 1996; they have three nearly grown children and live with family in the Bay of Plenty. She enjoys the outdoors and loves spending time with family and friends.

Jacki Van der Burg

Co-Facilitator

Jacki has several years experience co-facilitating groups, where she received training and practical experience - in particular, working alongside women in two ministries. She is also on a journey of re-building and restoration through knowing God and herself, from a place of trauma and addiction recovery.

Jacki has a grown son and daughter and lives with family in the Bay of Plenty. She loves creating photo stories, beach walks and hanging out with whānau and friends.

Jeanette Cole

Administration and Events Manager

Jeanette brings extensive administration experience to Building Strong Foundations, gained from working in both the corporate and tertiary education sectors. Previous to joining HOTR, she provided administrative support to colleagues and students in the School of Social Practice (Counselling and Education Programmes) at Laidlaw College, Auckland. This included organising events both large and small, ranging from book launches through to conferences, both in-person and online.

Jeanette made the move from Auckland to Tauranga at the end of 2021, where she lives with whānau. She is passionate about music and worship, and oversees the music component in Building Strong Foundations. Jeanette also loves good coffee (breakfast of champions), and cooking delicious food for whānau and friends.