Missions Focus: South Africa
SPBC missionaries Sipho and Lungi Mfusi are faithfully ministering for the advancement of the gospel in South Africa. Sipho took some time to tell us about a ministry he's involved in called ZEBS.
What is ZEBS?
"Zion Evangelical Bible Schools (ZEBS) are a network of informal 4-year Bible colleges designed specifically with amaZioni church leaders in mind. The intention is to offer quality training in Bible, theology, and church administration in a context that is both affordable and accessible to these amaZioni leaders."
Why is this needed in your context?
"ZEBS are needful in our context because amaZioni tend to be among the most impoverished, under-educated, and under-represented communities in Southern Africa. Many (if not most) amaZioni church leaders have not completed secondary or even primary education, and most have not received any formal Bible training; they often inherit leadership roles through their family, rather than because of their qualifications. Additionally, amaZioni are generally looked down upon by most other church denominations. All of these factors—lack of funds, lack of education, and social stigma—make it very difficult for amaZioni leaders to train at a traditional Bible college. ZEBS offers a solution to these challenges."
What have been some challenges in running ZEBS?
"Demand for the classes is high, and resources are stretched thin. As such it is difficult to build and maintain personal relationships with the vast majority of our students. Consequently, accountability structures are lacking, and it is difficult to measure the long-term impact of the schools once they go back to their churches. We really have no idea if they are faithfully teaching the Bible in their churches, week in and week out."
What have been some encouragements from ZEBS?
"In those relationships we have been able to maintain, we are seeing lives change visibly and dramatically as the students internalize God’s Word and learn how to better study it. The contrast between a ZEBS-trained pastor preaching a biblical sermon and the typical untrained Zionist preaching is striking. Additionally, other ZEBS teachers tell me that testimonies abound of students whose personal lives, marriages, family relationships, etc., have been greatly impacted by the biblical teaching they find at ZEBS."
Radstock Ministries
Our church is a part of the Radstock Network. Radstock is a global network of churches connected for mission. Radstock aims to see mission-driven churches equipped and planted throughout the world. They focus on developing inter-church partnerships, equipping churches to do and think about missions well, creating opportunities for ministry, and providing expertise from many countries, cultures and ministries.
To give to our missionaries who are a part of the Radstock Network, follow the instructions below:
1. Go to http://radstock.org/give/
2. Click on the American Flag.
3. Sign in to Radstock or Create a log-in.
4. From the left side select either Give Now (for a one time donation) or select Scheduled Giving (for a recurring donation).
5. Select the missionary you would like to support from the Please Choose From List drop down.
6. Fill out your form of payment information.
7. Press submit.