Although she no longer resides in Louis Trichardt, former Triegie Leonie Meyfarth continues to bring pride to the Soutpansberg region. She recently earned her doctorate in systematic theology.

Born on 11 May 1982 in Johannesburg to Dennis and Jana Smith, Leonie completed her primary and secondary education in Louis Trichardt, Limpopo, and graduated in the year 2000. Her academic journey led her to the Auckland Park Theological Seminary, where she enrolled as a part-time student in 2008 and excelled, graduating as the Dux student in 2011.

While juggling her roles as mother of four and the presiding pastor of AFM Charisma in Louis Trichardt, she pursued her higher education with unwavering dedication. Leonie earned her honours degree in theology from North-West University in 2016 and continued with a master of theology in 2019. In 2021, she embarked on her journey to obtain her PhD in systematic theology from North-West University, successfully completing her doctoral studies in 2023. Her educational and pastoral achievements serve as a testament to her commitment to both her academic and spiritual callings.

In her thesis, titled "Beoordeling van Messiaanse Christene se wetsonderhouding vanuit ‘n pentekostalistiese perspektief" (Assessment of Messianic Christians' legalism from a pentecostal perspective), the study identified three South African Hebrew Roots ministries whose online materials were used to conduct a comparative analysis of their teachings, focusing on their ideological and theological characteristics.

The primary objective of the study was to evaluate the scriptural foundations upon which these ministries base their teachings systematically, employing a pentecostal hermeneutic perspective. The research findings highlighted a significant concern within Hebrew Roots teachings, namely, the potential risk of leading to the denial of the deity of Christ as the exclusive path to salvation.

Leonie currently resides in Hermanus.