Financial need: Any amount is welcome!
Project: 55401

South Africa

Baptist Convention College

Pastors in Africa are not only theologians, but also teachers, counsellors, spiritual and social development aid workers, as well as conflict mediators in cases of societal emergencies and problems. They are people who preach the word of God and provide comprehensive care for people in society and respect them.  They are urgently needed in Africa.

The college’s goal is to give young men and women qualified training for pastoral service.

The college founded by the Baptist Convention of South Africa (BCS) has its headquarters in Soweto. 30 to 40 students have completed theological training here and after receiving their diploma, they usual work as pastors, joining the service of the Baptist Convention's congregations.

The number of part-time students is continually increasing, since many must finance their studies with other work. The insufficient accommodation options also contribute to making it not possible for many students to complete the full-time three-year training, but rather require them to take two years longer for their studies. Courses such as “children’s work,” “theology for women,” “social welfare work,” are to challenge the female students in particular and equip them for their future work. Men also attend these lectures. Furthermore, the HIV/AIDS problem is having a direct and indirect effect on the work. In lectures, this subject is addressed in order to prepare the students for this task in their future service.