Theological College of Zimbabwe

Details

Dates: May/June 2012 (exact dates TBD)

Location and Ministries:

Theological Education Track: Ministry will be based at the Theological College of Zimbabwe (TCZ), in Bulawayo Zimbabwe. In light of the significant growth of the church in Africa, there is an increasing need for theological education and leadership development. Participants in this track will work under the supervision of the faculty and staff of TCZ in order to understand the practical needs of preparing leaders for ministry in this context. Exposure will be given to the situation in the church in Zimbabwe and to various levels of theological training offered in the country. Participants will be involved thinking through the needs of theological education and will be afforded some opportunities to preach and teach as well as tutor theological students. The Zimbabwe Team will be limited to 10 participants.

Relief & Development Track: Ministry will be based in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, in the midst of the world’s lowest life expectancy, a struggling economy and about 25% HIV infection.  Participants will be exposed to a range of issues relevant to the context such as food supplementation programs, orphan work, self help farming and microeconomic schemes aimed at empowering people to look after themselves in an environment of more than 80% unemployment. In addition to this survey opportunity will also be afforded to spend time in a specific relief project to be identified closer to the time. The Zimbabwe Team will be limited to 10 participants.

Team Mentor: Craig Jones, Lecturer in New Testament and Greek at TCZ, (cjones@tcz.co.zw or cramell@netconnect.co.zw)

Reflections from a Member of the 2008 TCZ OMP Team

“At first, it seemed almost unrighteous to think and talk too much about the economic situation in today’s Zimbabwe. But, since the politics and economy seemed to consume the better part of many conversations, particularly during the mid-morning tea break at TCZ, that preoccupation itself causes one to stop and ask, ‘What is the biblical context of the message here?’ And, the message, at least for me, is simply that it is difficult to teach to, discuss with, and minister among, people who are thrice daily concerned with getting and buying food, plagued with escalating transportation costs for the commute to and from school, and worried about the future of raising a family in such an environment. Then to effectively communicate to students, who need encouragement to stay the academic course in order to become pastors and missionaries, one most recognize that not all missiological barriers will be theological. But then, it seems that Jesus understood that all too well during his three-year, earthly ministry.”

Dan Derrick, 2008 OMP Participant