The paperwork and finances to acquire the new facility in Pinetown for Mukhanyo’s new Durban Advanced Learning Centre are almost finalised, and some minor work to prepare the centre for the staff and students has started.
The other step forward is the appointment of seven regional coordinators to assist and promote decentralised facilitated learning support centres. The fast growth of Mukhanyo’s distance programme in the last few years is a clear indication that there is still enormous potential for further growth. The task of the regional coordinators will be to guide and build on this potential while also providing more assistance to existing centres so that they continue to function effectively
The same is true in KwaZulu-Natal. Over many years, much mission work was done within this region; and there are at least twenty reformed churches as well as many preaching points. Yet many local pastors are close to retirement and there are not enough young church leaders to succeed them. Reformed Bible schools in two KwaZulu-Natal regions had to close down when financial support from overseas decreased substantially.
The present distance centres in the KwaZulu-Natal region offer Mukhanyo’s two Higher Certificate, an accredited qualification (NQF level 5). The Durban Centre in Pinetown also offers this Higher Certificate, as well as the BTh Degree in Theology (NQF level 7). But many more distance groups need to be established across the whole of KwaZulu-Natal, to serve many more churches with quality accredited Bible education.
These two steps forward – the new Durban Centre facilities and the appointment of regional coordinators – are advancements to serve a greater number of churches and potential ministry students.
