Rustenburg the New Growth Point

For years the Reformed churches as well as Mukhanyo and a few South Korean missionaries have been involved in proclaiming the Gospel in the Rustenburg region. A Mukhanyo distance learning site has been functioning and there are a number of preaching points in the region. But now Mukhanyo hopes, God willing, to be able to accelerate mission work in this region.

Rustenburg and the region, the Bojanala Platinum District, is one of the fastest growing cities in the country. With an estimated population of 550 000 in 2011, it is estimated that the number of people must be close to a million by now, including all the platinum mines and other developments in the area.
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As from April, Mukhanyo has appointed a mission worker for Rustenburg, Dr Eben le Roux. His task will be to develop the Rustenburg learning site into what will be called the Rustenburg Advanced Learning Centre, which will be something in between the present learning site and a fully-fledged campus. While distance study centres have facilitators, Rustenburg will have Eben as a full-time manager, coordinator, facilitator, tutor, etc. Eben is currently busy drawing up a plan of action for the way forward, together with the different ministry partners, which include the Rustenburg Central, Rustenburg West and Koster Reformed Churches (in the form of the Visio Dei Ministry) and the Mukhanyo management.

Dr Eben le Roux

His experience in mission and organisational development is quite extensive. He grew up in Botswana as a missionary kid, which is where he picked up a number of Botswana languages. He studied environmental management at North West University and later did his PhD in Manchester on sustainable leadership and adult education.
For the last seven years, Eben has been involved in missionary work in Botswana, where Eben and his wife set up an NGO that facilitates Bible translations in a few Botswana and Namibian languages, supports church leader development, 

and also implements Early Childhood Development projects. Eben is married to Phia, and God blessed them with four children.
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The Rustenburg project offers huge potential to extend Mukhanyo’s activities and God willing, Eben will be able to use his knowledge and experience to the glory of God and to the benefit of the Rustenburg region.