The south coast of KwaZulu Natal is known for a long string of holiday resorts, but not for the far more important Bible study training by the Kind Christian Outreach Trust which at present has seven local learning sites with 40 students, facilitated by six tutors.
This trust, known as KCOT, is an initiative of the late Ed Coetsee and the retired Reformed pastor, the Rev. Hermanus Schutte. They started the work in 2011 and decided that the Mukhanyo programmes were best suited for the purpose. By 2023, more than 100 students had already completed one of these programmes.
Why the Mukhanyo courses? Schutte says that he and the other trust members gave careful consideration and researched several programmes and found that Mukhanyo did fulfil their requirements best, teaching the Reformed doctrine. The programmes are affordable, the training is good quality theology and has has been developed with distance training in mind.
In the regions, there is a deep need for proper Bible knowledge. The in-depth training is therefore especially to enable lay preachers to grow their ministries, but is also aimed at other pastors, evangelists, teachers, nurses and others. Through this, the trust wants to contribute to uplift communities in need of Bible knowledge, Biblical values and the love of God.
Poverty and unemployment in this region are very serious and it is estimated that only some 26% of the employable population have work. The trust believes that people should be assisted to develop their God-given potential through theological training. This should benefit the students and also their communities. The trust also gives continuous support to its alumni.
At present the sites are located at:
- Cedarville (Kokstad) offers the Higher Certificate in Church Ministry (HCCM) and the Focus programme in Zulu.
- Gamalakhe (Margate): Higher Certificate in Bible Teaching (HCBT) and Focus in Zulu.
- Hibberdene: HCCM and Focus in Zulu
- Munster: The Focus programme in English
- Port Shepstone: HCCM and HCBT
- Port St Johns: HCBT
- Scottburgh: HCCM
This year the trust aims to raise enough funds to be able to continue their activities to enlarge the groups, and also to increase the scope of their continued support of the alumni.
