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Doubling of Distance Learning Support Centres

Distance Growth Since September 2018

In four years, the number of Mukhanyo’s Distance Learning Support Centres has doubled to 101. This year, four centres started in Kenya and seven in South Africa. Even faster growth is expected with the recent appointment of five regional distance coordinators.

The Kenyan centres in Bumala, Bumamu, Busia and Kisumu were established by Rev. Eric Mutumbi, in partnership with the North American funders Word & Deed. All of them are using Mukhanyo’s Focus programme. The facilitators/tutors are pastors who have recently been trained, enabling them to manage and lead the groups.

Rev. Eric says the beginning was an evangelism programme he initiated. He found that Mukhanyo’s Focus programme is what they need to further train untrained church leaders. But they can start with support from their friends. At present, there are about 140 students. The target is 250 students and several groups in the next three years.

Seven new groups have been started in South Africa so far this year. Several groups concluded their cohorts, or were amalgamated, to improve overall quality. One group, also in South Africa, is preparing to offer Mukhanyo’s Degree in Theology. If successful, other groups will also start offering this degree. Another group is offering the Focus programme in the Afrikaans language and simultaneously translating the programme into that language. It is expected that this will result in new Afrikaans groups being established, especially in areas of the Western Cape where Afrikaans is the main language. The Focus programme is also being used by some Zulu groups.

Regional coordinators are now being appointed to be responsible for further training and development of new facilitators/tutors, increased quality control, the establishment of new groups, and further networking in each region.