Mukhanyo hosted its first 3-day tutor workshop on 3-5 April at the KwaMhlanga campus. The purpose of this event was two-fold. Firstly to provide in-depth training in the effective running of a distance group, especially the administration involved. In the second place, to provide guidance in becoming a better tutor and mentor for the students.  

It was a free event and included lodging and meals. Attendees, 23 in total, came from all over South Africa, as well as Malawi and Zimbabwe.

The first session was an explanation of the vision and mission of Mukhanyo given by Dr Brian deVries. This laid the foundation for all the rest of the talks to follow.

Workshop topics focused on the role of the tutor in different areas such as, the classroom, financial matters, writing of assignments, administration, invigilating and examinations and as motivator. Other sessions included assessment, exam marks and compliance matters. Delegates were not shy to ask questions and expressed that the topics were relevant to their needs.

Tutors were divided into groups to discuss the challenges they experience. They also shared good practices that work for them and made suggestions on how we can improve in supporting them. They were eager to participate and used more than the allocated time for the breakout session.
The overall experience, sessions and hospitality were received favorably and delegates asked for a second workshop.
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The workshop was a valuable time of discussion and feedback, as Mukhanyo strives to improve in the delivery of a quality service.

Read more:
Study group in Kenya 
Why become a pastor/and or teacher?
To become a Christian school

“God has blessed Mukhanyo and by His grace we can say that we believe that this college is now one of the best Reformed training colleges in and for South Africa. Major progress was made in 2016 and is still in the making.” This was the testimony of Dr Brian DeVries at Mukhanyo’s AGM that was held in Pretoria during March. He presented the annual report and highlighted a number of salient features, including the following:

• Staff expansion: In the past year a number of highly qualified people joined Mukhanyo, improving the academic and administrative quality.
• Mukhanyo now is a multi-located, decentralised academic ministry with a missionary heart (KwaMhlanga, Pretoria, Johannesburg) with in addition some 48 Bible study locations, of which a few are outside South Africa.
• There are more theological students than before: In 2017 there are some 70 students receiving contact or part-time training (BTh – 43, Diploma – 24 and Certificate – 8).
• Upgrading and extensions to the facilities have mostly been completed (with a few important exceptions).
• Accreditation (re-)applications for a number of programmes were completed.
• Concerning finances: 45% of income now comes from SA, making Mukhanyo less dependent on outside resources. However, further progress is required.
  
• Nearly half a million rand was spent on bursaries for theological students, more than ever. But more is needed.
  

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Faculty Forum: investing in good practices 
Why become a pastor/and or teacher?
To become a Christian school

Bumula Distance College in Kenya facilitates the Mukhanyo Diploma in Theology. This distance group has 17 pastors taking on serious theological study, according to Pastor Eric Ngala.

On 8 April an open day was held and students showed visitors around the Bumalo library, ICT and material, including Mukhanyo’s study material. The college is also involved in the training of teachers and farmers. The main speech by Pastor Kefa Nyenda inspired students and visitors.

It is claimed that approx. 80% of preachers in Kenya have not had any theological training.  This is not likely to be much different in most African countries. Mukhanyo hopes, God willing, to be able to contribute in changing this by providing distance appropriate and contextualised study. Pastor Ngala hopes to be able to attend the Bible College Consultation on 20-22 June in Pretoria. The theme will be “Christian ethics for biblical teaching in Africa.” 

Read more:
Faculty Forum: investing in good practices 
Why become a pastor/and or teacher?
To become a Christian school

What are the most important jobs in the world, given that all work is important? Politician? Doctor? Engineer? Farmer? Businessman?

Ever considered pastors and teachers? They teach the Bible and advise, help, encourage and lead people to God, our Almighty Father. They teach us to love His Son, Jesus Christ, about our belief in Him,  about grace, forgiveness, eternal life.  Also about  His love and our obedience.  All part of our religion, the most important aspect of our life.
 
Mukhanyo has been training pastors and church leaders for many years. In the past few years also teachers. We believe these “jobs” are important callings and of the utmost importance. That is why we pray to grow the number of our students, lecturers and facilities. Because we believe that these people are essential prerequisites, firstly to please and honour God, and secondly to make peace and prosperity in South Africa.

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Study group in Kenya 
Why become a pastor/and or teacher?
To become a Christian school

To start and end a school day with Bible reading and prayer is only the start of a school becoming a Christian school. Bible classes are the next step, but much more is needed to being a fully-fledged Christian school.
   
What also is required, became clear during a Christian education course that was held on Mukhanyo’s KwaMhlanga campus on 22 April, attended by some 60 teachers and teacher students. They were addressed by Mukhanyo’s Dean of Students, Rev Isaac Maleke, two ex-headmasters, Pieter Bisschoff and Jackie Tredoux, and a Reformed education expert from The Netherlands, Dr Gerrit Heino. Here are a few of the critical points made at the seminar:

• The teacher should be a living Christian, an example or role model for the learners, love the learners and build up a good relationship with them – and also with God.  Be honest to yourself, to the children and above all to God.
• Teachers should know that teaching is not a job, but an important and high calling.
• Teachers should also know that the same God who is the Creator of heaven and earth, is in control of everything, and is also the God of the Bible. The laws of the universe which He created cannot be in conflict with what He teaches us in the Bible. Only Christians can understand this.
• A teacher is a lifelong student of the Bible and of the subjects he/she teaches. A teacher’s love for the Bible and the subjects rubs off on the children. If she/he is dedicated, the children will also be.
• Every subject is part of God’s creation and teachers must teach this. The point of departure and the contents of every subject have to be taught in the light of what Christ, the greatest Teacher, teaches.
• Don’t expect children not to misbehave. They are born sinners, like all of us.
• The most important thing to teach children is to believe in the grace of Jesus Christ as well as His righteousness and forgiveness for those who believe in Him.  And to get to know God, our Father, and his Son, one has to study the Bible, which is a lifelong task.

Many other important points were made and could be made. A similar seminar will be held later in the year. An important little book on practical aspects of a real Christian school was made available at the seminar, entitled Building Blocks for Christian Normative Education. It can be ordered from the Mukhanyo Study Centre in Pretoria at 012 333 9993.

Read more:
First Distance Tutor Workshop 
Why become a pastor/and or teacher?
Faculty Forum: investing in good practices
 

 isOver some 25 years hundreds of students completed their studies at Mukhanyo. One of them is Rev George Mnisi, minister of the Free Reformed Church Nelmapius in the eastern part of Pretoria. We asked him about his years and experiences at Mukhanyo.

Rev Mnisi studied at Mukhanyo from 2001 to 2005 and finished his studies at the Universities of Pretoria and Potchefstroom. He was called to Nelmapius in 2009 where today he is the pastor of a congregation with some 80 members. He strongly believes in the priority of spiritual growth. Growth in numbers will follow.

Thinking back to Mukhanyo he is thankful of the Reformed academic training he received. The fact that there were students from other Christian denominations such as pentacostal and charismatic churches, enabled him to really understand what it was to be Reformed, to be critical and to be able to answer arguments and thoughts from other convictions.

He keeps in touch with Mukhanyo and the students with whom he studied. And today he is thankful for the work Mukhanyo continues to do.

His message to Mukhanyo is: Firstly, be thankful for growth but don’t grow too fast, so as to be able to take good care of everything which has to be done. Secondly: The addition of teacher training at Mukhanyo in KwaMhlanga and in Pretoria is a very positive development. Many ministers will have to be tentmakers to enable them to support their families because many congregations are not able to do so financially. And teaching and preaching is an ideal combination.

Rev Mnisi thinks it a good idea to formally study to be a teacher – also for himself. But with a wife and three schoolboys in the home, it is a question if he will have the time!

Read more:
Study group in Kenya 
First Distance Tutor Workshop
Faculty Forum: investing in good practices

The Bible truth is so important, so essential for the conversion of the unsaved and for the spiritual building up, instruction and guidance of Christians, that it simply must be delivered well. How dare we present such priceless gold in a boring way? No, but we must deliver it with great care and much earnest prayer. That is why Mukhanyo held a course on this topic on 6 May.
 
Preparing the sermon is the groundwork which must be done before you can deliver the sermon. If you don’t prepare the sermon, you will have nothing to deliver. If your preparation is poor and your delivery is good, you will be a good deliverer of bad goods, a good salesman of bad products, and maybe a very impressive false teacher. That is not our goal! Rather, we would like good messages from God to be delivered very well and very effectively to the glory of God.
 
For the sake of having the right perspective, a few words need to be said about the preparation of the sermon. It involves two main parts.

• The first is to select a portion in the Bible, study it and use good methods to gain a proper understanding of it.
• The second is to construct the message or sermon with introduction, main points, explanations, illustrations, applications and conclusion.

Never underestimate the importance of good preparation. It is the foundation for any sermon or Bible study.

The main issues in delivering a sermon are as follows.

• Remember a preacher is a steward, herald and a witness
• He prepares his sermon in prayer, considers the hearers, has his prepared notes and makes sure he is appropriately dressed.
• When preaching, he makes sure his attitude, voice, language, posture, movements and gestures are appropriate.
• He faces his hearers. And uses his eyes.
• He talks with clarity, uses his originality and can even use humour.

Read more:
Study group in Kenya 
Faculty Forum: investing in good practices 
Why become a pastor/and or teacher?