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Mukhanyo Prayer and Praise - February 2022

28/1/2022

What a privilege to have this Word freely available! The Word of God is powerful and we thank the Lord that here at Mukhanyo we are part of the ministry of equipping men and women to share the Word of God effectively with others. Thank you that you are standing with us in this.

Please thank the Lord and pray with us for the following:

We thank the Lord for keeping the Mukhanyo family safe during the recent holiday season and that we could reopen on the set date.
Pray with us that the Lord will bless the Mukhanyo ministry during 2022 and that we may experience His provision, protection and guidance– especially for the Board and the Executive Committee that is responsible for decision making.
Thank the Lord with us for the returning students and the new students that joined us this semester at all 5 centres. Pray that their training will be a great blessing to them and that they may experience the Lord’s guidance and provision – financially and in other areas of their lives.
February is a busy month in many ways – also for our lecturers as they have to learn to know the students and deal with a third of the semester’s lecturing. Pray that the Lord will equip them and make them a blessing to the students in class, mentorship sessions as well as Devotions that are held twice per week.
Pray for wisdom for the Academic Admin and Finance department as they process all the admin related to the start of the semester as well as issuing the invoices to all students.
The following is the calendar for February:
1. Monday 14 February – Student Support Committee meeting
2. Wednesday 16 February – Education Committee meeting
3. Monday 21 February – Audit and Risk Committee meeting
4. Wednesday 23 February – Welcome function for new students at our Durban Centre
5. Thursday 24 February – Meeting with students at Johannesburg Campus
Please pray for our Distance students as they continue with their studies in the various centres They often take longer to complete their course and sometimes struggle to cope as they are studying part-time. Pray that the Lord will strengthen them and that they will persevere.

Thank you for continued support in prayer

Mukhanyo Prayer and Praise - November 2021

10/11/2021

Whenever we make plans or share our plans – like we are doing with this Prayer and Praise Letter – we are very much aware that we always need to say: "God willing”. May the Lord keep us very aware that our lives, our ministries and the whole world is in His hands and circumstances can change very quickly.

We thank the Lord that ministry at Mukhanyo is continuing and we also thank Him for those that stand with us through their prayers, interest and support! We again wish to share some points for prayer:

Thank the Lord with us for the Staff Vision Day, Strategic Workshops and Strategic Planning that took place from 29 September to 1 October. Valuable ideas could be shared and we experienced a unity among staff members that was encouraging. Please pray for the Lord’s guidance as management is processing the results of those discussions.
The contact students are busy with the last few weeks of classes before the exams. We thank the Lord for them and pray that it will go well with their studies.
Pray that our students will not only be academically equipped, but that they will also grow in their relationship with the Lord and that their training will be a period of spiritual formation for them.
Apart from all the normal day-to-day activities, the following is on the programme for November:
1. Thursday 4 November – Student Farewell meeting in KwaMhlanga
2. Saturday 6 November – Conference in KwaMhlanga for Church Leaders and Alumni
3. Monday 15 November – Executive Committee meeting
4. Monday 15 November – HR Committee meeting
5. Tuesday 16 November – Exams start for all contact students
6. Thursday 18 November – Audit and Risk committee
7. Monday 22 November – Student Support Committee
8. Tuesday 30 November – Staff Forum
Quite a bit of planning for 2022 is done currently. Please pray for wisdom for the following:
- Teaching schedule for the first semester next year.
- Annual financial budget that has to be prepared before the Audit and Risk meeting.
- Marketing for new students – pray that the Lord will send those whom He wants to be equipped for ministry.
Pray that the Lord will encourage all the MTC staff in their walk with Him and in their work at Mukhanyo and that He will call the right people to fill the vacancies there are.

Thank you for being part of Mukhanyo!

Mukhanyo Prayer and Praise - October 2021

4/10/2021

Amidst everything that is happening around us, we may continue to put our trust in God alone. He is our everlasting rock and He will keep us in His peace. What a privilege that we may know this – even when things are tough.

We thank the Lord for the ministry at Mukhanyo and for your share in it! We again wish to share some points for prayer:

Thank the Lord with us that the second semester is continuing without hindrances. At the time of writing our contact students are enjoying a short study break. Classes are due to resume on 5 October. Pray for the last few weeks of study before exams will start by mid-November, D.V.
On Saturday 18 September we had an “Award Ceremony” were a number of our students who completed their course and preferred not to wait for the Graduation in March 2021, received their qualifications. It was encouraging to see several senior students among them who pressed on over a considerable period of time to complete the unaccredited Focus course. It is our prayer that the Lord may make them all a blessing in their churches and communities.
We thank God for the nine students who started their ThM studies at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary (PRTS) with classes in our Pretoria Campus. The first two modules were presented by Dr Greg Salazar during the Reading Break at the end of September.
We also thank the Lord for another successful Distance Forum. The leaders of many Mukhanyo distance groups from South Africa gathered for three days of discussion and fellowship. Others from across Southern Africa joined us via zoom, with the hope that next year they can join in person.
During October our Faculty members will be busy with the preparation and finalising of exam papers. This means quite a bit of extra work that needs to be done while normal lectures continue. Pray for the Lord’s blessing on their work and that He will use them in their ministry to the students.
The following is stipulated on the programme for October:
1. Monday 11 October – Faculty Forum
2. Monday 11 October – Student Support Committee meeting
3. Tuesday 12 October – Executive Committee meeting
4. Monday 25 October – Academic Committee meeting
5. Thursday 28 October – Operations Committee meeting
Thank the Lord for each member of the Mukhanyo faculty and staff, and pray that the Lord will:
1. Help them to grow in their relationship with Him.
2. Help them with their work and help them to function in dependence on Him.
3. Keep them safe and provide in their needs.
4. Use them as witnesses for Him in their communities and families.

Thank you for being part of Mukhanyo!

Mukhanyo Prayer and Praise - September 2021

8/9/2021

We are living in unusual and, in a sense, scary times. Our thoughts can very easily multiply within us and then we get mentally occupied with many things and anxious about them. However, that is not the way to go, we should rather quiet our souls and hope and rest in the Lord as He is still the only fortress and refuge for His children. May He give us grace to do so from day to day!

Once again, thank you for your partnership in the Mukhanyo ministry. We gladly share some specific points for prayer:

Our second semester of classes for 2021 is well on the go at all five centres. Pray that the Lord will encourage our students and help them to make the best of their studies and be able to focus on it.
Pray that our students will also grow in the knowledge or our Lord Jesus and that they will be willing to open their hearts to teaching and to share with lecturers and mentors when they have issues so that they can be helped.
Apart from classes and all the normal activities, the programme for September seems to be quite full:
1. Wednesday 1 September – Education Committee meeting
2. Thursday 2 September – Operations Committee meeting
3. Tuesday 7 September – Executive Committee meeting
4. Thursday 9 September – Audit and Risk Committee meeting
5. Saturday 11 September – Board meeting (partly together with the Executive Committee for the sake of some evaluation and planning)
6. Monday 13 September – Academic Committee meeting
7. Saturday 18 September – Award conferring ceremony (for students that completed and prefer not to wait for the next graduation in March)
8. Monday 20 to Thursday 30 September – Study break for students
9. Tuesday 21 to Thursday 23 September – Distance Forum for all tutors of distance groups.
10. Wednesday 22 to Wednesday 29 September – The first Masters module to be taught (Intensive)
Due to COVID restrictions, the following was postponed from July and re-scheduled as follows:
1. Wednesday 29 September – Staff Vision Day (KwaMhlanga)
2. Thursday 30 September – Strategic Workshops (KwaMhlanga)
3. Friday 1 October – Strategic Forum (Pretoria)
Pray that the Lord will encourage and strengthen the MTC faculty and staff in their work, enable them to do their work as for the Lord and continue to make them a blessing to one another while keeping their eyes on our Lord Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.

May the Lord richly bless you and make you a blessing in your sphere of influence!

Mukhanyo Prayer and Praise - August 2021

3/8/2021

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“But He [Jesus] was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they [the disciples] woke Him and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’ And He awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm” (Mark 4:38-39).

In our area of the country, the month of August is known for strong winds and, as a result, lots of dust. In our lives and ministries we might also experience times of storms. Or times when we feel “we wish the dust could settle”. As the Lord Jesus stilled the storm for the disciples in the boat, we may trust Him even today to take care of us in “stormy” times. And He is so faithful – He does care and does help us. What a comfort that is!

Thank you that you are part of this ministry. We gladly share some specific points for prayer:

We experienced severe protest and unrest in parts of our country around the middle of July. We thank the Lord that none of the MTC family was personally affected and all the properties are safe. Although some of the members of the family did contract COVID-19, all of them recovered well. Thank the Lord for His protecting hand over us!
It is expected that the experienced unrest will have a very negative effect on the economy of our country for the long-term. Please pray that our students will be able to continue their studies.
Some activities planned for July could not take place due to lock-down restrictions. However, at the time of writing, we expect that MTC will be able to resume classes next week with the start of the second semester of 2021. Thank the Lord with us for new students that enrolled. It is our prayer that their studies will be a great blessing to them. Pray that all our current contact students will be able to return to continue their studies.
Pray with us that the students will not only be academically equipped through their studies, but also spiritually. Pray that they will open up when they experience difficult times in their lives so that they can receive the necessary counselling and help. It is our prayer that they will be walking with the Lord and growing in their relationship with Him.
Our students need perseverance to continue with their studies – especially those that study part-time through distance learning and thus take much longer to complete their course. Pray that the Lord will encourage and strengthen them.
During the semester a Devotion is held once or twice a week at each Campus / Advanced Learning Centre. There lecturers take turns to bring a message from God’s Word. Pray that the Lord will use these messages in the lives of staff and students that attend.

May the Lord richly bless you and make you a blessing to others!

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Mukhanyo Prayer and Praise - July 2021

1/7/2021

“"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”
(Psalm 46:10-11)

What a glorious thought: The Almighty God is with us and He is our fortress. Many things are happening around us and there are many uncertainties, but God is on the Throne! He is our refuge and our fortress! May He help us all to remember this wonderful truth in the trying times we are experiencing.

Thank you that you are part of this ministry. We gladly share some specific points for prayer:

Thank the Lord with us for the Bible College Consultation that went well. We thank the Lord for those that saw their way open to attend in person or via Zoom, as well as for His blessing on the event. Everything went well and many testified of blessing and encouragement received.
Pray that the Lord will give wisdom to those that attended the Consultation to apply what they have learned during the event. That His Kingdom on earth may be extended as result of this event.
Our Faculty and support staff are preparing for the second semester. Pray for a good intake of students and that our lecturers will inspired to teach the material allocated to them for this semester.
Our students are enjoying a study break. Pray that the Lord will use them in the ministry opportunities which they have and as witnesses among friends and family. Pray also that they will find and use more time to study God’s Word during this period.
Some of our students are experiencing difficulty to cover their outstanding tuition fees. COVID and lockdown didn’t make that easier. Pray that they will learn in a new way to trust the Lord and that the Lord will provide for them.
July is the beginning of the second semester and there is much on the programme. Among others the following can be listed:
1. Mondays to Wednesdays 5-7 and 12-14 July – Intensive Course for B.Th. students
2. Wednesday 14 July – Staff Vision Day (KwaMhlanga)
3. Thursday 15 July – Strategic Workshops (KwaMhlanga)
4. Friday 16 July – Strategic Forum (Pretoria)
5. Monday 19 July – Student Orientation for the second semester.
6. Tuesday 20 July – Second semester classes starting
7. Tuesday 20 July – Executive Management meeting
8. Thursday 22 July – Operations Committee meeting
9. Thursday 22 July – Staff Forum at KwaMhlanga Campus
10. Saturday 24 July – Annual General meeting (AGM) of Member Churches
11. Monday 26 July – Faculty Forum
Thank the Lord with us for our dear supporters and intercessors. Many of them are experiencing their own challenges on different levels. Pray that the Lord will encourage and strengthen them in the difficult times that we currently experience and that He will provide in their needs.

May the Lord richly bless you and make you a blessing to others!

Mukhanyo Prayer and Praise - June 2021

2/6/2021

“You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also."
(2 Timothy 2:1-2)

That is what theological training is all about: To pass on to faithful men what the Lord has taught us and entrusted to us. In this way they are equipped for teach others also – including those in their churches and communities. May the Lord help us that Mukhanyo will have such an impact to the glory of His name!

Thank you that you are part of this ministry through your prayers. We gladly share some specific points:

Thank the Lord with us that our students could complete the first semester of 2021 and the exams are done. Several of them are struggling to cover their fees – pray that the Lord will help them and provide for them so that they can be ready to enrol for the second semester in July.
Although January is the beginning of our academic year, Mukhanyo has an intake twice per year. Pray that we will have a good intake at all five centres in July.
Pray for our students as they enjoy a well-deserved study break. Many will be involved in some ministries while others spend time with families or friends. Often these families are not true Christians. It is our prayer that the Lord will use our students as witnesses for Him during this period and that they will stand strong in their faith.
The annual Bible College Consultation is on the agenda for Tuesday 8 to Thursday 10 June. Please pray with us for:
1. All the preparations – practical matters, but also the speakers who prepare for their presentations.
2. Safe travels for all attendees – a few will even attend from other countries.
3. For all practical matters during the event – that the weather will not be too cold (it is winter!), that everything will run smoothly, that no sickness, Covid regulations or other matters will disturb the event.
4. Most importantly, pray for the Lord’s richest blessing on the event and that it will contribute towards the promotion of sound Theological training in Southern Africa.
Other matters on the agenda for June are:
1. Tuesday 1 June – Post moderation for exams.
2. Tuesday 1 June – Audit and Risk committee meeting.
3. Wednesday 2 June – HR Committee meeting.
4. Thursday 3 June – Academic committee meeting including Student Assessment.
5. Saturday 19 June – Board meeting.
6. Monday 21 to Friday 25 June – Staff training.
7. Tuesday 22 June – Executive Committee meeting.

May the Lord richly bless you and make you a blessing to others

Mukhanyo Praise and Prayer - May 2021

13/5/2021

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. And when He had said these things, as they were looking on, He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him out of their sight… Men of Galilee…. This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:8-11)

The Lord Jesus did not leave His disciples behind as orphans – they would be equipped and empowered by the Holy Spirit. That applies to all those following Him, even to us. As the disciples of old, we wonder when the Lord Jesus will return, and as the disciples of old we don’t know, but may the Lord help us to labour faithfully for Him until then!

Thank the Lord for the ministry of MTC and pray that He will equip and strengthen lecturers, support staff and students for the task He has entrusted to them.
Thank the Lord with us for the faithful intercessors and supporters He has given to MTC. Please pray that He will bless them and that strengthen and encourage them in their walk with Him and the challenges they may experience.
Apart from the normal day-to-day activities, the following is on the calendar for May:
1. Monday 10 May: Exams start at all five locations.
2. Tuesday 18 May: Executive Management meeting
3. Monday 24 May: Student Support Committee meeting
Exams – a short word, but it represents a lot of hard work! Pray for:
1. Our students – that they will be able to give clear account of what they learned.
2. Our lecturers who will be doing a lot of marking during this period and need wisdom in that.
Some of our students are struggling to pay their fees in time. Please pray that they will learn in a new way to look to the Lord for their needs and that He will provide for them.
On a personal note:
1. Pray for our Registrar, Greg Phillips and family after the short illness and death of his wife.
2. Thank the Lord for Tienie de Klerk who joined MTC as senior librarian. Pray for her for wisdom in her new task and that it will be a blessing to her to be part of the MTC family.
3. Pray for our Operations Manager, Jan Pelser and family as his wife, Ilsa, has been diagnosed with cancer for the second time.
The Annual Bible College Consultation is planned for the second week of June. Please pray:
1. For the planning committee.
2. The guest speakers as they have to prepare their teachings.
3. For good attendance as people have opportunity to register during May.

May the Lord bless you as support us through your prayers!

Mukhanyo Prayer and Praise - March 2021

12/3/2021

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's” (Psalm 103:2-5).

What a privilege that we may know the Lord God, the One Who is described in the verses above! And furthermore a privilege to work towards the spreading of the Light of the Gospel so that more people may know Him.

Thank the Lord with us that the ministry can continue unhindered. Some students are facing challenges and COVID-1919 does affect their lives, but by God’s grace MTC is continuing at the five centres.
Thank the Lord for His wonderful provision for the College and the students. We praise the Lord for our donors and intercessors that are supporting us. May He also bless them richly!
Pray for the Lord’s continued hand of protection and safety over MTC staff and students.
Pray for our lecturers as they interact with the students in the classroom, during mentoring sessions and in Devotions. That students won’t only gain academic knowledge, but will grow in their relationship with the Lord and their characters be shaped for ministry.
The following is on the calendar for March:
Monday 1 March: Audit and Risk meeting.
Tuesday 2 March: Executive Committee meeting.
Wednesday 3 March: Education Committee
Thursday 4 March: Student Welcoming function for students at KwaMhlanga campus.
Monday 8 March: Academic Committee meeting
Student Support Committee meeting.
Thursday 11 March: Operations Committee meeting
Board Meeting
Saturday 13 March: Graduation
Friday 26 March: Classes in recess until Tuesday 6 April.
There are still some vacancies, among others: a manager for our Johannesburg campus, a senior lecturer and a manager for our Honours programme as well as for the Masters programme that we will facilitate from July onwards. Pray that the Lord will send the right people to Mukhanyo.

May the Lord bless you as support us through your prayers.

Mukhanyo Prayer and Praise - February 2021

1/2/2021

“Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’”
(John 8:12)

The new year has started. At the time of writing the first month is already drawing to a close. We don’t know what the year will bring, but we trust the Lord that it will be a year of many opportunities for the Gospel! May the Lord help us here at Mukhanyo that many church leaders will be equipped and trained for ministry and that our labours will contribute to the extension of His Kingdom in Southern Africa!

Thank the Lord with us for His hand of protection over the MTC staff during the past holiday season and the current COVID-19 wave.
Thank the Lord for the new students that enrolled and pray with us that their studies will be a great blessing for them.
Thank the Lord for new lecturers that joined our ranks – some on a full-time and some on a part-time basis. Pray that they will soon feel fully part of the Mukhanyo family and will quickly find their feet in the work.
There are still some vacancies, among others: a manager for our Johannesburg campus, a senior lecturer and a manager for our Honours programme as well as for the Masters programme that we will facilitate from July onwards. Pray that the Lord will send the right people to Mukhanyo.
Our Distance groups continue throughout. Pray that they will persevere in their studies and that it will be a great blessing to them.
On Monday 1 February the Academic Committee will meet. This committee consists of all those who are part of academic management. All the various aspects of the training are discussed there and decided on and they need wisdom to ensure the quality of MTC’s training on the academic, but also on the spiritual level.
Student mentorship will also start during February. Please pray that students will be confident to share what is on their hearts and these weekly sessions will proof to be a great blessing to them. Also pray for wisdom for the mentors to know how to deal with each student.
On Tuesday 9 February the Staff Forum will be held. Pray for unity among our staff and that each one will perform his or her duties whole-heartedly as for the Lord and not for people.
Thank the Lord for our precious intercessors and donors! Without them we would, humanly speaking, not been able to enter this new year and continue with the ministry. We realise they have their own needs and challenges that they are facing and it is our prayer that they may also experience the Lord’s provision, guidance and blessing!

Thank you very much for praying together with us.

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