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In our present days, it is very hard to live a righteous life, especially for young people. This is the case throughout a confused and mixed-up world, but even more so in South Africa with its many cultures, religions and divisions. Christian role-models are often not there. Worldly thinking and behaviour is advertised over the media and the youth battle with many questions. Some matters which are called sin in Scripture are seen as normal standards in their communities, etc.
During the afternoon boys and girls had separate sessions while these topics were further elaborated on by the various leaders. Responses from the youth showed that the teachings were much appreciated. All who took part arranging the conference agreed that it was richly blessed by the Lord. The day was a success, a good start for a Biblical way forward. However, they also agreed that they hardly could scratch the surface of these very important subjects on which very much teaching is needed. May the Lord help Mukhanyo to touch this need again in the near future and to pray earnestly for our young people in the meantime!
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 Over the past 18 months, the first draft of Mukhanyo’s 25-year history was completed. But it still lacks some detail, anecdotes and the roles of some key-participants, much of which has never been documented. Therefore this is a call to all readers of this newsletter to assist by submitting their experiences in respect of Mukhanyo’s history. More specific, also the following:
Help wanted! Additionally, we now need a final editor to complete this project. An experienced author is needed to polish the whole book and put it into its final form. Please contact the Principal, Dr Brian DeVries (brian.devries@mtc.ac.za), if you are willing to assist with this project. To know your Bible is one thing – a very important one at that. To apply it in your daily life is another matter. But for church leaders to give biblical counselling to other people – individuals, couples and families – can be very difficult and requires specialised knowledge and wisdom. Above all, a biblical counsellor must firmly believe that God alone brings change in the hearts and lives of counselees.
 Prof Buys taught the students the basic guidelines for counselling, how to build trust and give hope, how to understand counselees and to place them before God and how to help them plan for change. Topics discussed in class included counselling for marriage and the family, trauma, HIV/Aids, processing bereavement and grief, witchcraft, ancestor spirits and demon possession. In all this, it was made very clear that a counsellor must to know that he or she may plant and water as God’s fellow worker, but that God gives the growth (1 Cor 3:5-9). There is no substitute for prayerful devotion to God in the counsellor’s character and conduct. God must be the mainspring of the counsellor’s effort, the fountain and crown of all the counsellor’s endeavours. At the end of a week of concentrated, all-day lecturing, and after many lively discussions, the students will hand in an assignment on a real-life challenge that describes the approach they would follow to restore a counselee to a life that pleases the Lord.
The first step in this plan is to find a qualified Christian who can lead this project. Please review the job advert (below) for a Durban Centre Manager. Do you want to be part of this growing vision? Please contact Dr Brian DeVries to discuss ways Mukhanyo can partner with local churches to make this vision a reality. Mukhanyo seeks applicants for appointment for the Durban Centre Manager: This position will be responsible for management and development of a proposed learning centre in Durban. The ideal candidate will also serve as a Senior Lecturer on the Academic Team. 
What is quality in theological education? A few points to ponder:
Other aspects to ponder include the components of quality such as goals and motives, as well as practical aspects such as accreditation. Additionally, consider the many spheres determining the quality of an institution such as the environment, lecturers, contents, processes and outcomes, and the students themselves. https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?m=t&s=71191424152510.
 Conducting self-assessment. The Bible encourages self-examination. For example, one can refer to Holy Communion before which one should evaluate oneself. Are you worthy for participating in the communion? The Bible also teaches that everyone is to count the cost before going to war or beginning to build a house. Likewise, Bible schools should also examine themselves. To assess an institution’s quality requires much more than a look at classes, books, students, teachers or the curriculum. The assessment is rather how well one does in respect to the unique task with unique students. Should we not look more at the fruits and less at the qualifications? There is a long list of questions to answer. Are the teachers/lecturers qualified? (right experience, teaching ability, continuous study, pastoral skills, good role models, etc.). Does the institution have the right students from an educational, emotional and social ability points of view? Are they willing, mature, spiritually gifted and called? Next, is there a coherent, integrated and contextual programme? And does the institution have the physical and financial resources to make the programme work? https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?m=t&s=71191437544603. Quality cooperation. Is there a need for Bible colleges to work closer together and help each other with matters of facilities, curricula, quality or a joint voice to the authorities? At the Consultation this year it was remarked that there are numerous Bible colleges and schools all over Africa, a number of whom have good quality and are biblically reliable. But there are also some that are not there yet. It is also a well-known fact that there is an enormous shortage of trained church leaders. Some say that approximately 90 % of churches have to do without. At the same time new churches are planted just about daily. Africa is shouting out for the need for well-trained and able pastors and other church leaders. At the end of the Consultation, Dr Brian DeVries made the suggestion that we must consider ways to find greater cooperation on a more regular basis, helping each other in many aspects, all in line with certain delineated points of agreement. Further info available: The main topics and presentations can be downloaded for free from Mukhanyo’s website: https://www.mukhanyo.ac.za/sermons.html. Papers and PowerPoint presentations are also available upon request from Wynie Malan, office.mukhanyo@gmail.com. Note: The tentative dates for next year’s Bible College Consultation are 9-11 June 2020.  Is the quality of teaching in your Bible college up to Biblical standards, in line with the need of churches and also to the satisfaction of the accreditation authorities? This was not an easy question to answer for the forty plus Bible colleges and some hundred delegates attending Mukhanyo’s ninth Bible College Consultation, held in Pretoria from 11 to 13 June. The participating institutions came from ten different African countries, as far north as Uganda. Each country has its own rules and regulations in respect to education and training. Levels of quality differ. Needs differ. The capacity of colleges and their lecturers differ. These factors make it difficult to define how quality should be promoted in the practical situation of each college, university or seminary that is teaching church leaders. The first question to be answered was how quality – especially in theological education – should be defined. It is not as easy and straightforward as it seems. Dr Brian DeVries, principal of Mukhanyo, opened the event for the week and laid a biblical foundation for understanding and promoting quality. The next question was about what a quality lecturer is and how he could grow in his calling. This matter was addressed by Dr Conrad Mbewe, who is presently involved in the establishment of the African Christian University in Zambia. He also addressed the all-important underlying issue of worldviews.
If one knows what quality is, how do you determine or assess the quality of your institution? There is a long list of self-assessment questions to attempt this, as explained by the experienced Dr Steve Hardy, who has been a missionary educator in more than six countries for close to half a century. He also addressed the matter of the governance, management and administration of institutions, as well as the question of how to transform the teaching of colleges.
The next topics on the theme were about a quality curriculum and a quality learning environment. The curriculum part was addressed by Dr Richard Seed, a consultant for a number of theological colleges in several African states. Then the learning part was discussed by Prof Rantoa Letsosa, acting dean of the Faculty of Theology and Religion of the University of the Free State. What should be the quality outcomes? Are they what the local church requires? It has to be seen in context, which was addressed by Dr Victor Nakah who has for many years been teaching, preaching and managing various institutions in a number of countries in Africa. The Consultation also held a number of workshops and cohort discussions on all the relevant subjects. Workshops discussed matters such as partnerships between colleges, confronting unbiblical philosophies, the needs of today’s churches, missional excellence, the problem of plagiarism, and governmental accreditation. Further info available: The main topics and presentations can be downloaded for free from Mukhanyo’s website: https://www.mukhanyo.ac.za/sermons.html. Papers and PowerPoint presentations are also available upon request from Wynie Malan, office.mukhanyo@gmail.com. Note: The tentative dates for next year’s Bible College Consultation are 9-11 June 2020.
Cyclone Idai is said to be one of the worst natural disasters to hit Africa recently. It moved into Mozambique on 14 March, flattened Beira, a rather large city and harbour in central Mozambique, and then continued inland, leaving a path of destruction deep into the east highlands of Zimbabwe and Malawi. Nobody knows how many people lost their lives. Many people went missing, their bodies still not found.  What Rev. Peter encountered when he reached his home was terrible to see. It was the result of 600 mm of rain in 24 hours. His sister-in-law and three sons were living in his new house. With the exception of one son who sustained a broken leg, they all were killed. One son is still missing and presumed dead. His brick home – about 85% finished with only the tiling, glazing and plumbing to be completed – was gone. Nothing was left of Rev. Peter’s investment; not one brick on top of the other, but just a pile of stones after Cyclone Idai.
To access the district proved to be very difficult, even once the water subsided, since roads have become impassable with extremely deep gullies cut into the tarred road and with bridges washed away. Much of the agricultural land had been swept away, replaced by stones and huge boulders. Many of the survivors are psychologically and mentally in shock. The United Baptist Church of Zimbabwe in the region (Rev. Peter’s denomination) with its two boarding schools in the affected area, could not feed the children since only helicopters could bring in food supplies. Rev. Peter states that “the priority at hand for Christians with the backing of churches and the national leadership of the United Baptist Church is to assist with the day-to-day needs for all the local people. Churches responded by mobilizing necessities such as food, clothes, blankets and toiletries from areas which were not affected.” How did the Christians in the region react? And what was Peter able to tell and comfort them? “Obviously, people asked questions like: Why God? Does He care? I heard the story of a Christian who wanted to be struck off from the church register because there is no reason to continue worshiping the God that allows people to suffer like this.” Rev. Peter says, “These questions and reactions reveal our humanness and at the same time they entrench grief, pain and disorientation on the theology of God. Also embedded in these questions is a quest for meaning on human existence and toil under the sun. It is my prayer that ministers of the Word of God faithfully respond to these questions.” Regarding teaching and responding to the disaster, he says, “I did not have the opportunity to teach or counsel anyone because I had a very short time in Zimbabwe… But as a victim with my family, after losing loved ones and what we had laboured for, we settled for Psalm 46:1-11, Deuteronomy 32:39 and Job 1:20-21. We learned to thank God in the face of severe adversity and still trust Him as the sovereign God.” Lessons to learn from this: “We can lose what we have worked for in a short time through any means. But even if our circumstances change, God remains immutable and sovereign. It may seem gloomy, heavy and painful for now but the truth is in 1 Corinthians 10:13: “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way to escape, that you may be able to endure it.” Rev. Peter adds, “Christians must learn to glorify God when their circumstances look unfavourable and painful. Even those who love the Lord and serve Him faithfully will suffer.” Rev. Peter lectured for ten years at the Rusitu Bible College in Chimanimani, eventually becoming its principal. Two and a half years ago he moved to South Africa where he serves at Mukhanyo Theological College. He and his wife felt it was time to move on. A friend told him about a vacancy at Mukhanyo and he applied. But first he was transferred to Harare to start a theological education by extension (TEE) centre coupled with pastoring a church in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe. After doing so, he handed it (TEE) over to capable hands and moved to Mukhanyo. His wife and children are staying in Harare where his wife is supervising a conference centre for their denomination in Harare. After spending two weeks in Zimbabwe, Peter was back at Mukhanyo on 1 April when lectures restarted at the beginning of the second academic quarter. He has continued with his classes. While Rev. Peter moved to Mukhanyo Theological College to teach, he is also working to complete a Ph.D. in Practical Theology at North West University (Vaal Campus). Sometimes he preaches at a Baptist Church in KwaMhlanga. Finally, what can readers of this article do to help the people in Chimanimani after they read this article? Rev. Peter says they must please pray that Christians that suffer to remain faithful and get answers from the Bible through the help of pastors or in their private devotions. Moreover, pray that pastors will spent time listening to survivors and draw answers for the many questions from the Bible. Please also pray for survivors who lost properties and need to rebuild. Pray for those grieving for their deceased families and relatives. And pray that God will use this disaster to draw to Himself many survivors who do not know Him. Pray also for Rev. Peter and his family as they consider rebuilding, and as he continues to equip church leaders for gospel ministry.
Last year Mukhanyo started to radically upgrade its curricula and study material for the distance programme. This project has been making satisfactory progress and is expected to run until the end of 2021.  The main beneficiaries are Mukhanyo’s distance study groups – some 70 groups at present, with more than 600 students. This area of Mukhanyo’s ministry has the potential to expand greatly, not only in South Africa, but all over southern Africa and even beyond. God willing, the project can be accelerated if and when additional qualified people are added to the team. At present the project consists of upgrading and redeveloping all the study material. Most of Mukhanyo’s lecturers are involved in one way or other, in addition to their normal duties. All the study guides go through several stages of development. Completed study material is used on campus and, at the end of the first year, are re-evaluated and adjusted accordingly. In this way, Mukhanyo will be able to remain at the forefront of theology training for many years. Dr Brian DeVries, Mukhanyo’s principal, says that the Mukhanyo Distance programme offers a unique delivery system of theology qualifications – it is a mixed model where students can study on their own and also meet regularly under the supervision of a tutor to discuss matters and watch DVDs produced by Mukhanyo’s recording studio: “Our experience is very positive and twofold: it is effective because students stay involved and a qualified tutor is available all along the way. Secondly it is highly cost-effective with students getting a good qualification at very little personal expense, partly because of the delivery method and partly because Mukhanyo is subsidising the programme.” There is still time to register for the Bible College Consultation on 11-13 June. This year’s theme is Promoting the Quality of Bible Education in Africa. Main speakers this year include Dr Conrad Mbewe, Dr Steve Hardy, Prof Rantoa Letšosa and Dr Victor Nakah. This annual event is a wonderful place for fellowship with the leaders of evangelical Bible education in southern Africa. Last year more than a hundred lecturers and educational leaders attended, the vast majority of whom were actively serving in Bible education in southern Africa.  Thanks to the generosity of several donors, each participant will receive free books, and all Bible colleges in attendance will receive additional library resources. A large selection of quality books – both new and used – will be available for purchase at reasonable prices. There are also some funds available to assist with fees and expenses for participants from schools with financial constraints.
Click HERE for registration forms and further information, or contact Helen Masina - consultation@mtc.ac.za or Wynie Malan - office.mukhanyo@gmail.com. |
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