Spring 2009 - MTW South Africa

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your prayers regarding the formation of our new seminary, Guguletu Bible College (GBC), about which we shared in our last newsletter. We are very grateful to report that classes began in late February, and that we already have 16 students, with several others considering enrollment as the news of this new initiative spreads through the massive “township” of Guguletu (population .75 million). Pastor W is very encouraged about the developments thus far, and is doing very well in his role as principal. The building is not yet finished, but enough of it has been completed so that we can begin meeting in our own facilities this month instead of in a nearby school. This will allow us to have a daily presence in the community, and to continue with our plan to also develop this into a resource and study center. We already have over 200 books that the students can use.

Most of the students of GBC, with Pastor Walter (principal) on the far right.

It has also been a real privilege to teach for more than a year at Emmaus Bible School (EBS) in Khayelitsha, the largest “township” in Cape Town with an estimated population of over one million. This seminary was founded by a key Zulu leader in February 2007 in order to train pastors and other church leaders in this massive township. The students enroll in a part-time two-year course of study, and the first EBS graduation took place in November 2008 (the end of the academic year in South Africa). The first graduates pictured below represent a cross-section of several denominations in this area, as the purpose of EBS is to train leaders in a non-denominational but biblical and Reformed environment.

The very first graduating class of 12 from Emmaus Bible School! (November 2008)

Prayer Requests:
• Please pray for the first graduates of EBS to apply the two years of training they have received in service to His kingdom in the various ministries they are doing.
• For Pastor W as he learns to function as principal of our newly established seminary, GBC. Ask the Lord to give him wisdom as he leads the seminary forward to be as effective as we can be in the urban “township” context. Pray for additional pastors and other church leaders who need training to join us!
• Pray for strength, diligence, and wisdom as Patty continues to devote time and energy to homeschooling M (a senior!) and also helps L with her studies.
• Please pray for L’s health to improve and that God would help us during this time with this major adjustment. Please pray for good health for all of us.
• Due to difficult circumstances, D decided not to continue studies at Liberty University and returned to South Africa in December. He decided that aviation was not where God wanted him. Please pray for him as he does much volunteer ministry, co-teaching Bible classes in two elementary schools, and spending a few days each week in a strategic campus ministry at the University of Cape Town (UCT) along with an MTW missionary. He’s in the process of signing on with MTW as an intern, and will be seeking some support to help with numerous ministry expenses.

- Jeff & Patty Borden