Archives for January 20, 2014

The 16-hour flight from Johannesburg to Atlanta—the longest commercial flight in the world, went well. I spoke for three hours with a young Jewish man—the third Jew on this trip!—who was returning home from his honeymoon. He said that he believed strongly in the God of the Old Testament, but is still waiting for the Messiah. I talked to him about Isaiah 53, but he had no recall of that chapter. His rabbi speaks mostly from the Pentateuch (the first five books of Moses). This young man himself has never read the entire Old Testament. We also spent considerable time talking about creation and Genesis 1-3. He is a theistic evolutionist. I happened to have with me a 30-page booklet I had purchased in South Africa, titled, 15 Reasons to Take Genesis as History, which my traveling companion promptly read in its entirety. Though he wasn’t fully persuaded himself, he did acknowledge that the authors had made some good points. He said, “Their arguments are quite similar to my rabbi’s, who also believes in a young earth and rejects evolution.”

I landed in Grand Rapids well in time to participate in the beautiful wedding and reception of Jason Fintelman and Hannah Kamp (my niece). Between the wedding and the reception, my wife and I visited three dear friends in the hospital. I was exhausted by the time we returned home late on Friday evening. Thanks for praying my way through this South African itinerary. Your prayers mean more to me than you know.

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Jason and Hannah Fintelman

Mukhanyo Theological College

After overnighting at the DeVries home and enjoying breakfast with Brian and Lanae DeVries, and their precious children, Christa (almost 3) and Micah (almost 1), Dr. DeVries drove me to Mukhanyo Theological College, so that I could give two opening lectures for the semester that begins next week. The first was for the faculty, staff, and administration (“What the Puritans Have to Teach Us Today”) and the second was for the incoming students (“Cultivating Holiness for Study and Ministry”). I thoroughly enjoyed fellowshiping afterward with many of the faculty and some of the approximately forty students. The whole experience was rather nostalgic, as PRTS is so closely tied to this school, with Dr. DeVries, Dr. Miskin, and Jane Korevaar playing such key roles here.

Faculty Members at Mukhanyo Theological College–Dr. Brian Wingard, President Dr. Brian DeVries, Dr. Arthur Miskin, Pastor Ronald Munyithya, Pastor Paul Mahlangu

I had lunch with Dr. DeVries and Henria Stolper, who is heading up Teacher’s Education, a program that is upgrading the credentials of teachers who are presently working in South African schools. The program is designed to help Christian teachers become better role models for the children in local schools. There are presently more than 160 teachers in this program.

Staff for Long Distance Training Program, Led by Jane Korevaar

After lunch, Dr. DeVries showed me the adjacent elementary school—now educating 69 students, grades K–5—where Sarsih Kegel worked recently. We then went to Jane Korevaar’s office. She introduced me to her staff which is busy editing various courses for Mukhanyo’s burgeoning long distance program which is now serving nearly 200 students and explained the huge potential of this program. I came away from my visit persuaded more than ever of the great value of Mukhanyo Theological College for Christ’s kingdom throughout South Africa and beyond. Please pray for this school and its long distance program. The possibilities of extension and great usefulness are immeasurable.

Dr. DeVries then took me to the Johannesburg airport. On the way, we stopped to see Dr. Flip Buys, the former president of Mukhanyo Theological College, whom I know well. It was great to see him again.