18 Leopold Street
PO Box 681
King William’s Town,
5600
South Africa
Phone: +27 (0) 43-642-4737
Fax: +27 (0) 86-530-5179
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.dumisani.org
New website
Please take the time to visit our new
website (www.dumisani.org) which
was published at the beginning of
April. Change is good and new is fresh,
so we trust that this will spark further
interest in the work of DTI for the kingdom of God.
Visit to Tiyo Soga’s church
On Sunday 26 April, a delegation of nine
students, accompanied by Dr & Mrs
Whytock, attended a wonderful service
at the Mgwali United Presbyterian
church, situated near Stutterheim in the
Eastern Cape, where Tiyo Soga ministered. Tiyo Soga was the first Xhosa man
ordained as a Presbyterian minister.
The delegation also visited the Tiyo Soga
Museum, and subsequently enjoyed
lunch
and fellowship
with the
l o c a l
congregation.
Items for Prayer
Thanks
1.Pray for the plans being made for
the second semester and beyond.
We want to thank all congregations and
individuals who have provided financial
support for Dumisani in the first quarter
of 2015. Thank you for your vision and
commitment to training Christian workers for the Eastern Cape. We value your
continued support.
2.Pray for Drs Whytock and Phillips as
they attend the Bible College Consultation in Pretoria in June. May
they bring many ideas back for
Dumisani.
Dumisani News
May 2015
World Reformed Fellowship
The Fourth General Assembly of the World Reformed Fellowship was held in Sao Paulo, Brazil
hosted by Mackenzie Presbyterian University,
March 21-28. Our acting principal and his wife
were able to attend. They were blessed by much
dynamic and engaging teaching, fellowship with
Christians from all over the world, and numerous
opportunities to engage in networks with many
involved in theological education around the globe. The photo here shows the new
International Director who was installed at the meeting in Sao Paulo. This is Dr Flip
Buys from South Africa. Dr Buys was very instrumental in the work of Mukhanyo
Theological College in KwaMhlanga, South Africa. Dr Whytock was elected to the
Board of Directors of the World Reformed Fellowship at Brazil. Hopefully at some
point we will have Dr Buys come and speak at Dumisani.
Short Courses proving worthwhile
We began 2015 with a new approach to our entry-level studies: our Short Courses.
In the first half of the first semester, we offered Foundations of the Bible, Foundations of Computer Skills, Foundations of the Gospel, and Foundations of Doctrine. At
present we are offering the following:
3.Pray for our students who are all
engaged in Christian ministry opportunities each Sunday and also
that they can balance this with their
study commitments at Dumisani and
work commitments.
3.
Foundations of Biblical Counselling
4.
Foundations of Preaching
4.Praise God for ongoing donations of
funds and books which Dumisani
has recently received.
These are foundational courses which run for seven weeks, each course costing
R350. The students have found them most worthwhile. The next Short Courses will
begin on 20 July 2015. (See back of Newsletter for contact details.)
1.
Foundations of the New Testament
2.
Foundations of Computer Skills
Dumisani Awards & Graduation Ceremonies, 14 March
International Missions Board visit
We were honoured to have Dr John and Elizabeth Ross
return to be with us for this year’s awards and graduation ceremonies. Dr Ross spoke boldly from John 13 on
what constitutes true servant leadership and was very
well received. Our student speaker was Mr. Ronnie
Ntabeni who also did a fine job challenging us to ‘Walk
in the Light’.
Nine students were recognized for their achievements:
At the end of March we welcomed Rev. David MacPherson, chairman of the
IMB, and his wife Martha, as well as Rev. David Miller, member of the IMB and
past member of staff at Dumisani. We had good fellowship both in meetings and in sharing meals together. The visitors enjoyed a tour around King William’s Town with our receptionist, Mrs Hombakazi
Thsandu, and they attended Easter services and
meetings in the wider Free Church community in the
Basic Ministries Studies: W.S. Camagu, M. Kiva, S.
Rubushe, T.L. Siguqu, Y. Solwandle
Dr John Ross & early Christians of the Eastern Cape
Advanced Ministries Studies: R.N.Y. Mfamana, M.V.
Ncanywa, R.M. Ntabeni
Bachelor of Theology Degree: One student, Ikho Magodla, graduated the day
before (13 March) by being
awarded his degree at the ceremonies in Potchefstroom through
North-West University.
Our students all received excellent presentations of donated
books which included bible commentaries and study material.
Meet Mr Ntabeni
Mr Ronnie Ntabeni, a true gentleman and dedicated student, began his studies
with us in 2011. He is a candidate for the Bachelor of Theology Degree, which
he aims to finish this year. One would often find him on his own in the lecture
hall going over his material in preparation for the next class. Mr Ntabeni was
our student speaker at the recent Awards Service. He is
pictured here with his mother, and son Sindisa. Mr Ntabeni’s favourite course has been New Testament studies. He
found Philosophy the most challenging. He appreciates
the resources that Dumisani has to offer and he holds the
lecturers in high regard. Please pray for Mr Ntabeni.
It was good to have Dr Ross back at DTI, having been a lecturer with us from
2008 to 2011. He shared talks on early Christians in the Eastern Cape, including the lives and experiences of Ntsikana and
Wilhelmina Stompjes, probably the first Christian Xhosa man and woman in this area, and Jane
Elizabeth Waterston, teacher and missionary at
Lovedale, near Alice in the Eastern Cape.
The talks were well supported and many in attendance were impressed by Dr Ross’
knowledge of the local area and its people.
Book sales
As we meet and communicate with various individuals and organizations,
whether locally or globally, we find a number who are willing to support the
ministry at DTI. One such blessing has been the donation of books, or the reduction in prices of such resources. Therefore, we have been able to bless our
students and members of the public with
valuable resources for their studies and for
Christian growth in general. We invite you
to contact us and find out about our book
sales which take place on a regular basis.
Our librarian Mrs Nancy Whytock would
gladly assist you in this regard.