Rev Tshililo Azwifaneli Liphadzi lives with his family in Centurion, a town between Pretoria and Johannesburg. In Centurion, he is pastor of a congregation that has four preaching places. His congregation in Centurion pays his living expenses, but not long ago the synod appointed him to lead the church's training institute, Iyani/Heidelberg. Once a month, he spends a week in Sibasa, 470 kilometres from his home.
Practical approach to theological education
Rev Liphadzi has a clear vision for his work. The training of theology students should be about practical training. That is why he is happy that his church's synod decided a few years ago to merge two institutes. Iyani, which made its mark as a formation institute of the churches. That is where youth conferences were held, that is where the church's Sunday school programme was devised. It was there that women were formed with a view to Christian family life. That is where elders and deacons were equipped. Now Iyani is part of the programme where pastors are also trained. Heidelberg Theological Seminary chimed in, and now offers students the opportunity to be immediately involved practically in congregations, formation work and church planting work. You cannot be made a vocational candidate at Heidelberg if you have not shown that you have a heart for missionary work and helped plant a new congregation. During a working visit, Br Sjaak van de Graaf and Rev Willem van 't Spijker spoke to him in detail about this.
What could it mean if in the Netherlands the training of prospective pastors was also approached in such a practical way? Working visitors may long for it!
