Bio

Herman & Jana Viljoen Herman and Dr. Jana Viljoen are founding members of Eden Christian Ministries, now Eden Teen Challenge International. Herman was a street child in the 1960’s and believed on Jesus Christ through correspondence with Dave Wilkerson and Nicky Cruz and now is a product of Teen Challenge himself.

After dropping out of Bible school, Herman became a detective in the South African Police service. Following this he went into private business where he was quite successful. Finally, unfulfilled by all of the success the world offered, he responded to the call of God to full time ministry. He had a serious heart attack and this is how he met his wife, Jana in the hospital. That was also when Eden Christian Ministries was founded. He has been the chairman of Eden since December 1991 and is currently working in Virginia together with his wife, Dr. Jana Viljoen. JANA Like Herman, Jana also came from a mining family and grew up in Virginia. She got saved whilst studying at Hentie Cilliers. She went to the University of the Free State where she achieved the degree, M.B.,Ch.B. (medical doctor) in 1991. She was the District Surgeon in Bloemfontein and later moved to Virginia where she is now working at Ernest Oppenheimer Hospital since 1994 where she specializes in Tuberculosis and AIDS. She is also in charge of the clinics at the Eden centers. Herman has two married daughters. Herman and Jana have five grandchildren. EDEN TEEN CHALLENGE Eden Christian Ministries was founded on 17 December 1991 by Ps. Herman Viljoen in Bloemfontein. In February 1992 he started the center in Bloemspruit and then in April 1992 the then presidential adviser for the Free State, Mr. Smith, was so impressed with the ministry that he convinced the government to give the now Eden Teen Challenge building in Virginia to Eden. A few men from Bloemfontein went to Virginia to start the ministry there where they soon gathered children from the street and ministered to the down and out. Dr. Jana also started with clinics in the centers. And soon after that the South African railway (Transnet) made buildings available in Kroonstad and Bethlehem which was then utilized by Eden for centers in these areas. Eden is proud to be part of the Teen Challenge Ministries. Please leave comments on our Blog.