Christo April: Becoming Reformed

Starting in a Pentecostal association many years ago and slowly progressing towards Reformed theology. That is the story of Rev Christo April in Cape Town. He is a student in the Masters of Theology (ThM) programme of the Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary in North America.

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Two years ago, this ThM programme started to be facilitated in Pretoria. Christo read about this study opportunity in a newsletter and also learned more about Mukhanyo: “It felt like God finally answered my years of praying for and desiring the opportunity to study at a Reformed seminary.”

Rev Christo pastors the Montrose Park Bible Church in Mitchell’s Plain, together with three fellow elders. He also serves at the Bible Institute of South Africa (BISA) in Kalk Bay, working mainly in their Christian Leadership Programme, and he teaches part-time for BISA’s residential and distance BTh programmes.

His church loves the Westminster Standards, teaches its contents regularly, and bases its convictions and practices on its theology. Their public worship is shaped by the Westminster Directory. However, says Rev Christo, “We are still a long way from embracing a confession or identifying as a Reformed church. For now, I’m just happy that I get to shepherd the Lord’s people on the foundation of Reformed theology.”

How does Rev Christo evaluate his ThM studies? Christo replies “the academic level is suitably challenging and stimulating. The fees are affordable. The time I am required to travel for classes is not too demanding.”

We wish Christo all the best with his studies and future ministry.