NTSNEWS

VisitbytwotwoBelgiancolleaguesBetween11and17February, two lecturers fromtheProtestantTheologicalFaculty inBrusselsvisitedNTStogive lectures.TheyareProfessorJohanTemmerman(SystematicTheology)andDrsArjanKnop

(OldTestament).TheyaremembersoftheUnitedProtestantChurchinBelgium(UPCB),whichhasbeena partner of the URCSA since our inception. The UPCB contributed a significant amount of moneytowards the post for an NTS principal (see below) and theywanted to visit to NTS to build a closer

relationship.Theyeachpresentedfourlectures,whichwerewellattendedandmuchappreciatedbythestudents.Weplantofurtherdeepenthispartnershipinthefuture.

ProfessorTemmermanexplainingHegel DrsKnopcountingbiblicalnumbers

Firstcontactsessionfor2018

The first contact session for theyear tookplace from22-24Februaryat theMamelodiDienssentrum,and it was attended by 75 students. The students were interviewed by the Assessment Committee,whoseroleitistomonitortheiracademicprogress,practicalministryskillsandspiritualgrowth.Parallel

tothe interviewstherewerepresentationsontheGeneralSynodRegulationonministerial formation,biblicalexegesis,theChurchOrder,andsermonpreparation.OntheSaturdaythestudentbodyelectedthefollowingstudentsastheSRCfor2018:

President: MrTAPudumoChairperson: MrMSMatsipeDeputychairperson: MrFFokase

Secretary: MrHCMaqashela

Deputysecretary: MsZBillaTreasurer: MrMJMeno

Additionalmember: MrLVNtseleOpeningservice

TheannualopeningserviceofNTSwasheldonSunday25thFebruary2018 in theMelodiyaTshwanecongregation. Itwas a festive service, attendedby a large congregation, among themaround twentyNTSalumniwhocametocelebratethe15thanniversaryofNTS.

Four ministry candidates (proponente) were licensed during the service. One of themwas aformerministerwhowasreinstatedaftercolloquiumdoctum:BrotherFMokoenaoftheBibleSociety.TheotherthreewereNTSalumni:MrEMMofokeng,MrMLMohlamonyaneandMrMNxumalo.

Theguest speakerwasRev LJRaboshakga, scribeof theNorthernSynod,whopreached fromJeremiah 1:17: “Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you.” Heencouraged the new candidates to be courageous by preaching to congregationswhatever God tells

them.

Thenewministrycandidates:FMokoena,MLMohlamonyane,EMMofokeng,MNxumaloNTSprincipal

Duringtheserviceanewchapter in thehistoryofNTSdawnedwhenRevMSMaponyaofPolokwaneCitywas installedas the firstNTSprincipal.Hewillassumehisdutieson1stApril2018onapart-time

basis (20 hours per week). Until now, NTS has been managed by a group of URCSA ministers andmembers on a voluntary basis, but the growth and complexity of the seminary has made thatincreasingly difficult to sustain. In 2009 NTS started addressing this need by appointing a part-time

administrator, which in due course became a full-time post. Ms Mpho Morobi has been the NTSadministrator since 2011. Now NTS has managed to raise sufficient funds to appoint a part-timeprincipal to guide and manage the ministerial formation process. The principal will ensure more

personal attention to students, better partnerships with the ministers who are mentoring students,closer better relationshipswith donors and greater involvement of congregations andpresbyteries intheformationprocess.There ishopethatthispostwilleventuallydevelopintoafull-timeposition,as

theseminarygrows.

RevMSMaponya,thenewlyappointedNTSprincipal