A Visit with Stay-at-Home Scholars, South Africa

August 31, 2008

South Africa – June 22-29, 2008

Notably the most well developed country on the continent, South Africa is still trying to find its balance with majority rule in a democracy. The recent riots attributed to xenophobia point to economic uncertainties, unrealized expectations since the transition to majority rule, and prospect of the next presidential election. Traveling in South Africa can be deceptive, it seems, as one can view the modern roads and buildings, good restaurants and expansive malls—and not even see the shanty compounds, villages, and underdeveloped regions. Sunday, June 29, I attended a large interdenominational church that is overwhelmingly “white,” although whites currently comprise 9.1% of the population. There are reportedly congregations with higher levels of integration but I did not have opportunity to visit them. In the post-graduate areas, the universities where Langham scholars study are seeking to diversify their faculties as well as the student population.

All said, the JSM scholars currently studying in South Africa are from other African countries, so the context there is not crucial to their future ministries.

1. Justino Alfredo from Mozambique is a scholar in biblical studies at the University of Stellenbosch. U.S. is a private university linked to the Reformed Church of South Africa (formerly known as the Dutch Reformed Church). The department of religion is a primary institution for training ministers for the church. During the apartheid era, U.S. would have trained white South Africans exclusively, and even today, fourteen years into majority rule, a large percentage of the students are white. U.S. is not in the evangelical stream but is considered to be one of the more conservative universities in South Africa, with faculty who are supportive.

Justino is the first JSM scholar from Mozambique. Mozambique is notably less advanced in terms of Protestant/evangelical Christianity than surrounding neighbors. As a Portuguese colony, Catholic influence was dominant. Also, at the time of independence, Mozambique had the lowest literacy rate in southern Africa.  Justino is preparing to return to teach at the Baptist Seminary in Maputo. However, the United Bible Society is very interested in his potential as a translator because of his research on local cultural issues. Obviously, he will have the opportunity make an important contribution to the small but growing evangelical church in Mozambique.

2. Abiola Mbamalo is a Nigerian scholar at the University of Kwazulu-Natal. She and her husband Williams are a unique and dedicated couple. Both of them completed Master’s work at Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology (NEGST) in Nairobi after several years of church planting with the Assemblies of God in Nigeria. Williams was accepted at Harvard for the Th.M. program but chose to do the program at University of KwaZulu Natal (UKZN), then proceeded to Northwest University in South Africa for doctoral work, which he completed in three years. Abiola began her doctoral work at NEGST but chose to transfer to UKZN.

Abiola’s research topic focuses on the advance of the “prosperity gospel” in Nigeria. She is looking at the biblical themes with a particular focus on the cultural dynamics in Nigeria that provide receptivity to this aberrant form of the gospel. I encouraged her to examine the research of Sunday Komolafe, Langham scholar, who dealt with similar themes in his dissertation and has written for Missiology. Her sending institution is NEGST. Williams recently resigned from the Assemblies of God graduate school in Nairobi so that he could join Abiola in Pietermaritzburg, bringing their two middle daughters. Two older sons are in school in Nigeria as the family is intent on their maintaining connection with the home culture.

Abiola and family, as well as the Emedi family live on the campus of the Evangelical Seminary of South Africa. This is a small but well-funded school that benefits from having these scholars on campus to provide some instruction as adjuncts—and the scholars benefit from the adequate housing provided.

3. Philippe Emedi is a new scholar with JSM, although he has been enrolled part-time at UKZN while he continued his work with ACTEA, the accrediting council for theological education in Africa. Philippe hails from the Democratic Republic of Congo but was born in Uganda when his parents were refugees during the Congo war. He has lived in Kenya and Nigeria (where he served the Free Methodist church). Philippe wants to research the connection between theological education and discipleship. The Emedi family is indeed beautiful and delightful. Philippe intends to return to his leadership role with ACTEA. He brings a rich and informed perspective on the African church. He is fully in the evangelical stream but embraces the charismatic gifts as does much of the African church.

4. Rosinah Gabaitse is the second new scholar at UKZN is from Botswana, and distinguished as the second Langham scholar from that small country of 600,000.

Rosinah completed the M.Th. at Yale and returned to a post as junior lecturer at the University of Botswana. I believe the Univ. is the primary institution for theological education in Botswana. Rosinah has left her three children with her husband and mother so that she can focus on her studies. Her supervisor is Isabel Phiri, one of the leading women in theological education in South Africa and chairperson of the Langham Regional Council for southern Africa.

Rosinah’s research topic is highly relevant to the context of southern Africa, particularly to Botswana, She aims to deal with the biblical understanding of women in light of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Rosinah provided me with deeper insights on the effect of the pandemic on daily life. She talked about the fear of being tested that haunts her family and friends, the effect of the pandemic on all of society. I sensed the grief that is very present, though not obvious at the surface. Rosinah wants to base her research on Acts 2 and Joel 2, looking at the outpouring of the Spirit as the frame for viewing all humanity, particularly women.

I met Rosinah in Johannesburg since she planned to move to Natal later in July and it was easier for her to travel to Johannesburg. We had a wonderful 24 hours together at a bed and breakfast near the airport. She had planned to travel with her husband but the crisis in Zimbabwe prevented his coming. He is a pilot in the Botswana army and they were on alert during those days.
Zambia – June 30-July 7, 2008
Kenya – July 8-12, 2008
United Kingdom – July 13-19, 2008

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