Chaplain offers encouragement in times of great hardships
This passionate social worker is often called to accidents along with murder, suicide, rape and other crime scenes.
Many people tend to venture into certain careers due to being influenced by their social and family background.
Dawn Park resident Roena Swartz’s background led her to study chaplaincy to fulfil her childhood dream of becoming a social worker.
The mother of three is registered with counselling South Africa and the Chaplain on Board Initiative (COBI).
COBI was founded by Willie du Toit and is an NPO dedicated to offering counselling and comfort to victims of trauma, whether physically or spiritually, during emergency situations such as accidents and crime scenes.
Swartz works at the Dawn Park SAPS where she conducts devotions, morning parades, trauma support, drug awareness, while she also deals with gender abuse and People Opposing Women Abuse outreaches.
“Because I have been through abuse, retrenchment and rejection, I can relate to the hardships faced by people,” said Swartz, who is often called to accidents along with murder, suicide, rape and other crime scenes.
She is also active in ministry at the Boksburg Correctional Services.
“It gives me joy when I see a difference being made in the lives of those who are so broken and defeated by life. I know no matter your situation you can be encouraged and find a new dawn.”
The 47-year-old said dealing with sexual abuse cases leaves her numb and emotionally drained.
“At the end of the day, a lot of times people just want to talk to someone and offload. We, after all, live in stressful times.”
- New found passion
To help cope with the strain of counselling, Swartz ‘dissappears’ into her world of acting.
“I find acting to be my stress reliever. For a few hours I get to pause my own world as I step into the shoes of another character.”
She started acting in 2016 and since then she hasn’t looked back.
She has appeared on soapies like Isibaya, 7de Laan, Muvhango, and Lockdown.
The multi-talented chaplain is one of the frequent writers for the ‘Kholwa’, meaning ‘Believe” magazine.
Swartz said when she’s not counselling or acting she’s at home reading the Bible or reading educational books to enhance her knowledge.
“I value time and opportunities that is why one should not waste their time on being negative.”
Swartz also runs an NPO called Stars Arise where she provides educational training and feeding the needy from the food she gets as donations.
“I opened Stars Arise in 2016 to uplift and empower needy women. Since I’ve been in the ministry I have learned that you can’t pray for someone and then at the same time watch them go hungry.
“I always try to provide for the needy because I know that I’m encouraging and giving them strength to continue living regardless of their situation.
“My advice to those going through a difficult time, do not suffer in silence. There is always someone that cares and is willing to help,” Swartz said.
- Background
Swartz grew up in Lady Grey in the Eastern Cape among her five siblings. She finished high school in 1989 and she proceeded to the Cape Peninsula University where she studied marketing and sales.
Her family moved to Johannesburg in 1993 after her father died and they eventually settled in Dawn Park.
“I had plans of finishing my marketing and sales studies here in Johannesburg but I decided to go work to assist my mother to provide for my younger siblings,” said Swartz.
Swartz became a born-again Christian in 2001. In the same year, Swartz met her husband who was a youth pastor for the Salvation Army.
“In 2002 we got married and I became active in the ministry. I went to Bible school and studied counselling. I did my Chaplain course last year at the Siloam Ministry and I was ordained this year February.”
To receive counselling or to donate to the Stars Arise organisation you may contact 072 654 9814 or email stars.arize@gmail.com.
