About Restoring the Wells

For nearly four decades, we have had the privilege of serving the local church across nations, walking with leaders and seeing lives restored through the power of Jesus Christ.

What began as a simple step of obedience in South Africa has grown into a translocal ministry devoted to equipping the Church, building lasting relationships, and seeing people walk in true freedom, healing, and restoration.

We are an apostolic ministry committed to strengthening the local church through long-term, relational investment into leaders and communities.

We always placed relationship before the function of ministry, walking with churches over time, returning, supporting, and building in ways that bring lasting strength and stability.

Our heart is to see people walk in freedom, healing, and restoration through Jesus Christ, and to see the Church established, equipped, and thriving.

Strengthening Churches

We come alongside church leaders to help establish strong, biblical foundations that allow churches to grow and impact their region.

Equipping Leaders

We invest in leaders through relationship, teaching, and ongoing support, helping them build with biblical clarity and confidence.

Preaching & Ministry

Our heart is to see people walk in freedom, healing, and restoration. We minister in the authority and love of Jesus, trusting Him to transform lives.

Extended Ministry

We often spend several days with churches, ministering and investing into leaders and their teams. This allows for deeper relationship, intentional equipping, and lasting impact.

Our Story

From a small beginning in a South African church in 1987, the Lord led us into a life of serving His people across nations. What began as a "yes" to following Jesus grew into a ministry that has reached thousands of individuals and hundreds of churches, all driven by a desire to follow His will and a deep love for His people. Over the years, we have been involved in youth ministry, children’s ministry, and leading churches across two continents, while continuing to minister in over 30 countries. In South Africa, the Lord took us to Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg, where we served as part of the leadership teams of local churches. From Johannesburg, we regularly traveled to Zimbabwe, helping found and establish churches in unreached areas, providing essential aid, and training leaders who continue to carry the Gospel throughout Africa. In 2003, God led us to the United States to help establish a new church in Leesburg, Virginia. After 12 years, we passed the leadership of Free Life Church to our son, Clayton, and his wife, Jen. Today, through Restoring the Wells, we are able to minister more fully to churches around the world, equipping leaders, strengthening local churches, and restoring wells of life, freedom, and healing. We serve under the eldership covering of Free Life Church and in partnership with New Covenant Ministries International, committed to strengthening and uplifting the body of Christ wherever God sends us.

Our Team

Those who lead and serve in this ministry

Ken Grenfell

Ken is the founder of Restoring the Wells and spent over 20 years leading churches in South Africa and the United States.

He now ministers into churches across nations, strengthening leaders and helping build healthy, established local churches, carrying a deep conviction to see people walk in lasting freedom through Jesus Christ.

Michelle Grenfell

Michelle is the co-founder of Restoring the Wells and has spent decades serving alongside Ken in leading and building local churches.

She carries a deep love for people and a strong pastoral heart, bringing wisdom, encouragement, and care as she invests into leaders, their families, and the life of the local church.

Chantelle Keblusek

Chantelle is actively involved in traveling with and ministering alongside Ken into churches, investing into people and supporting the work of the ministry.

She leads the ministry’s writing and communication, and spends prayer and intercession with a heart to see people walk in true freedom.

What Others Say

by Bazil and Simone, Lead Elders
Durban, South Africa

The very first time I set foot in a church, other than our traditional Greek church, was a few days after I got saved. It was Sunday night in August 1992 at Immanuel Church in Umhlanga Rocks, and the young preacher was preaching with fire. As a new believer, I remember clearly saying to God, “I want what he’s got!”

From that day, we have loved Ken and Michelle and their ministry, and have been greatly influenced and shaped by those years in Durban.

We now lead a church, and Ken’s warm, fatherly heart, his passion for God’s people, and the fire and power of his ministry inspire us to lead our people in the same way.

Verster and Cara Brent, Former Fellow Elders of NorthWest Christian Church
Johannesburg, South Africa

I don’t think Ken and Michelle will ever realize the tremendous impact their spiritual leadership and friendship have had on our lives during our time in Johannesburg. We are where we are today because of what they sowed into our lives. We moved from the country to a huge city, slightly weather-beaten and a little spiritually disillusioned. We still wanted to serve God in a local church and prayed for the right church family. God, in His wisdom, knew exactly what He was doing and led us to a city church family. And what a family it was…

They embraced and loved us unconditionally, and when I think of their leadership, all that comes to mind is grace, grace, and more grace. Their leadership opened the way for spiritual restoration in our own lives. It allowed us to trust again, dare to believe in dreams again, and to be vulnerable again.

Thank you, Ken and Michelle, for being you—you cannot be anything else but who and what God has called you to be. No false pretenses, no hidden agendas, no false motives—just you. You never claimed to be perfect, but it was your imperfection and humility that allowed us to see God’s redemptive restoration.

by Scott & Trish Brown, Lead Elders
Zimbabwe

The fact is that Ken and Michelle are one of our all-time favorite couples in terms of apostolic people who have visited us. They have cared for us and spoken into our lives, our ministry, and the life of our church.

In the 1990s, I had been tasked with leading the little church in our farming community in Raffingora, Zimbabwe, but with the farm invasions and people being kicked off their farms, we knew that we would all be leaving the district in time. I was trained as a farmer—I had no ministry experience at all and wasn’t even doing what I did in the church very well. And yet, when Ken came to minister, he took my dad’s big jacket and put it over me, with the prophetic encouragement that God had a much bigger mantle for me—the little community church was great, but God had so much more for me to do.

Sure enough, as more and more farmers were evicted from their land, our turn came around as well, and we were forced to move. I landed up in Bulawayo, still in Zimbabwe but at the other end of the country, in a secular job managing an exotic leather tannery. Within a few short years, we were asked to lead the church we were attending. At first, I said no, I can’t do that . . . for many different reasons. But the words of Ken’s prophecy for me filling a larger mantle constantly stirred me, and finally I came back with an affirmative answer to lead our church in Bulawayo—a lot bigger than the church in our farming community.

We have been leading this church for almost ten years, and I can truly say that Ken and Michelle had a large role to play in giving me the faith and confidence to step into this calling. We have seen God’s provision and enabling in amazing ways over the years, despite choosing to minister in a country in which inflation was out of control, where people were emigrating, and where the economy was imploding.

So thank you, Ken and Michelle, with all our hearts, for your faithfulness to visit, teach, encourage, and prophesy into a small church in a farming community in the north of Zimbabwe, and speak so powerfully and accurately into so many lives, including ours. You have given our lives so much direction, and we love what we’re doing now.

by Monique, Worship Leader and Former Youth Group Attendee
Cape Town, South Africa

I knew Ken as a vibrant youth pastor who swept into our lives at a God-appointed time and blessed us with his leadership, humble spirit, and his love for Jesus. I remember the Grenfells’ home so well; it was always full of people, laughter, tears, music, and endless cups of coffee. The back gate was constantly swinging open, with another teenager coming in to receive advice, prayer, a hug, but mostly friendship.

Ken and Michelle’s life and ministry impacted me in a profound way, and I will be eternally grateful to our heavenly Father for placing them in my life. I remember Ken encouraging me in my music ministry from the tender age of 15, and today I am still privileged to lead God’s people into a place of worship every Sunday. Ken taught me to prepare well, practice, and to hear what the Spirit of God is wanting to do amongst His people. Youth retreats, Friday and Sunday evening youth ministry—Ken and Michelle brought us through it all and taught us to love Jesus not because of what He can give us, but because He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. In that time, I received a love for God’s Word and learned to listen to His voice.

by Bev Watkins, Former Youth Attendee
Johannesburg, South Africa

I was 16 years old when I first met Ken and Michelle. Looking back, I know that it was a divine appointment, but at the time, I was just trying to get confirmed in the Presbyterian Church.

For me, confirmation was a routine requirement where one had to go to Bible study for a year and then be accepted into the church officially… but no! God sent this radically on-fire youth pastor to our church who was determined that we should know God before getting confirmed. Well, that first year, I lasted all of two months under that steely blue, Holy Spirit-filled gaze of Ken’s. I decided that this being “born again” was actually a serious thing, and I was not ready for it. So off I went for the rest of the year. But God was not letting go, and the next year I was back in confirmation class. Alas, Ken was still the teacher! Suffice to say that I got radically born again within a month or so of attending those classes.

But this was just the beginning of the story… I had not only met Jesus in a very real and impacting way, but I had found a spiritual father. At the time, I did not realize what a tremendous gift and privilege this was. After serving the Lord for more than 20 years, I know what Paul said to be true: “You may have ten thousand instructors in Christ, but you do not have many fathers.” I was blessed beyond measure to have a man like Ken as my spiritual father. He taught me about God when he loved me despite my faults, when he forgave me when I did unforgivable things, when he encouraged me when I was down, rebuked me when I needed it, and taught me to follow him as he followed Christ.

The foundations laid into my life through Ken and Michelle are one of the reasons I believe I have been able to continue to seek first the Kingdom of God throughout my life. I would not be where I am today without their wisdom and training in every area of my life.

by Jenny Cutler
Virginia, USA

Ken and Michelle have walked with us through some of the most challenging seasons of our lives. Through a lot of loss and heartbreak, they continued to point us towards Jesus and give us a bigger perspective.

They have walked us into greater measures of freedom, breaking bondages, curses, and lies that had affected us in countless ways. We walk in much greater freedom and peace today because of their ministry.

With all they have poured into us, they have always built away from themselves and openhandedly released us when God called us outward. They give themselves fully and passionately to the Kingdom and are among the most trustworthy and humble people I know.

Almost all of the positive things we hear in ministry about ourselves are things we learned, directly and indirectly, by watching and hanging out with Ken and Michelle. They have restored our wells and expanded them to be far deeper and wider than they were before.

by Jeremy Cutler
Virginia, USA

Having served alongside Ken and Michelle for close to 8 years, it is hard to sum up in a short space how great an impact they have had on the life of our family. For much of our time at Free Life, Jenny and I served the body as deacons and by leading the children’s ministry. Much of the impact that the Grenfells had in our life, however, had more to do with relationship than our actual role in the church.

Ken and Michelle exemplify integrity to the core. The core values upon which Free Life Church was founded are completely embodied in the daily lives of this dynamic couple. Their home was always open to us. They have lived their lives as an open book. When I entered their home, I felt like I was home, because the atmosphere was a presence of peace.

Beyond their integrity, there is a deep hunger for the Lord they express so evidently. If leadership sets the bar and creates the culture, Ken and Michelle have created a culture with a high value on the presence of God and actively work to cultivate an atmosphere where the Spirit is free to move. Theirs is a heart like David, to experience true revival and the fullness of God’s presence.

Having come from a place where I have seen much abuse with things of the Spirit, one of the biggest ways the Grenfells have impacted my life is with how they administer church governance. By providing strong yet gentle leadership, they have created a community where God is free to move without the manipulation of man. This was incredible to me after having experienced much manipulation in charismatic services. They even taught us how to do ministry in such ways as where we lay our hands to prevent “pushing” people, and ways of protecting someone’s dignity when dealing with deliverance situations.

I could probably write for hours on the impact that Ken and Michelle have had on my family’s life, but the greatest and most lasting impact, to me, is the value they place on growing the Kingdom of God through building and sustaining life-giving relationships. The Grenfells love and serve without any personal agenda. I have seen them travel cross-country just to build relationally with other bodies of believers, with no agenda but the Kingdom of God. These two amazing people are the embodiment of lives poured out for Christ. If I live a life that has half the impact that they have had, I will consider myself to have lived well.

by Debbie Sudworth
Chicago, USA

In May 2004, my husband and I and our two children packed up our belongings and said yes to the call of God to start a church in the heart of Chicago.

Before we left South Africa, we had made contact with Ken and Michelle (who had left South Africa a few years earlier to plant in Virginia). We asked them some basic questions about relocating and church planting in the USA, whilst exchanging emails and sharing stories.

We arrived in Chicago on a Tuesday and started the church that very first Sunday. It was, and continues to be, an adventure, but it’s not without its challenges. While we knew this was where God wanted us, and His grace was clearly evident and tangible, our hearts were raw from the loss of family and friends.

Our greatest challenge in the early days of the church plant (over and above missing family) was the loss of a leadership team around us. We felt it on every level, personally and in the day-to-day church activities.

After three months, we got a call from Ken asking if they could visit and spend a few days with us. Tentatively, we said yes, not really knowing them very well and feeling a little reserved because they were strangers. Little did we know that this precious gesture was the beginning of a deep friendship that has continued to grow and deepen over the years.

Over the three days that Ken and Michelle were with us, God used them to minister to us personally in ways we were not even aware we needed. To have a couple come to just hang out and encourage us was life-giving on so many levels.

We are so deeply grateful that God has knitted our hearts together with Ken and Michelle, and we are so excited to continue to partner with them to see His Kingdom advance.

by David Swart
Ohio, USA

In our nine years at Church in the City, we have had the privilege of having Ken and Michelle visit at least once each year. Their ministry has had a significant impact on the life and history of our church. The Ephesians 4 verses that speak about the gifting that “equips the saints to do the work of the ministry” have never been more evident than when they came.

Each time they visited, the church grew in understanding how to minister in the prophetic and how to move with the Holy Spirit. Many times, God used them in the area of deliverance without them even preaching on it — it just happened.

I would be comfortable inviting them into any setting to minister and help build into a local church.

They aren’t self-promoting. They aren’t fake in any way. They are the real deal — a powerful duo indeed.

by Greg Stevens, Lead Elder of Immanuel Church
Durban, South Africa

Ken and Michelle helped me to realize that knowing God was not that complicated. They had this amazing way of making spiritual truth quite simple, so that many of us entered into a deeper yet profoundly possible walk with God.

We shared deeply and honestly. They encouraged me, shaped me, and I am truly blessed and grateful that God brought them into my life. They mentored and guided me, opened opportunities for me, and both Sue and I will forever be grateful for the role they played in our lives. In particular, Sue grew up walking with God from a young age and had almost become overfamiliar with spiritual things, but the way Ken and Michelle walked with the Spirit opened her eyes to the exciting adventure of following Jesus.

Together, we have been massively impacted by their ministry, and we continue to walk in friendship with them.

Ken and Michelle are based in Free Life Church and are personally accountable to the eldership. They partner with New Covenant Ministries International, a team committed to work together to strengthen the local church and advance the Kingdom of God.

Restoring the Wells is not affiliated with any denomination, nor do we exclude denominations in our ministry.