Help for George Whitefield College
GWC has students from many countries and denominations. Its focus is ministry and mission for Africa. Its Bible-based curriculum prepares teachers of the Word of God for church leadership, pastoral ministry, and mission. In addition to preaching and pastoral leadership it has specializations in children’s ministry, women’s, youth and student ministries, and theological education. The college offers a certificate, and degrees at bachelors, honours, and masters level. Doctoral training is done in cooperation with South African universities. At present (2020) GWC has approximately 110 full time students, 84 in the undergraduate program and 26 postgraduates.
GWC also has a distance program. Explore enables people at any education level to complete a course which will enrich their lives and equip them for their own ministries inside and outside the church. In 2019 Explore had 1228 students writing 2320 modules in 15 African countries and 2 outside Africa. Mentors meets with groups in many places.
Would you like to visit GWC and see for yourself? I generally return to Cape Town for a month each year, and love it when visitors to the college can come with me or when I am there. Sometimes we can coincide with a teaching event at the college. Contact me at
History of Whitefield International Partners
From 1993 to 2012 I was Principal of George Whitefield College in Cape Town, South Africa. Our goal was to train pastors and ministers of the Word of God for the new South Africa and beyond. I count it as an immense privilege that God should have given me such a challenge and opportunity in my lifetime. In 2013 Mark Dickson took over as Principal but my involvement with the College continued. My first task as Roving Ambassador of GWC was to head up the fundraising for the Itumeleng Motlhope Student Centre (The Hope Centre). That project completed, I am devoting most of my time to writing.
During my time as Principal the College was greatly assisted by Overseas Council International and Overseas Council Australia. OCI came about when an American businessman visited a theological college in South Korea and realized they needed financial assistance. He gathered some friends in the US and formed the Overseas Council of that college. Realizing many Bible colleges in the developing world were faced with the same challenges, the organization grew into Overseas Council International. GWC became the 101st partner institution and was helped financially, and with training and consultation. As OCI spawned other national councils, GWC came under the wing of Overseas Council Australia and continues to receive valuable assistance.
Theological institutions are vital players in the growth of God’s kingdom throughout the world. Disciples of Christ who are well-trained in Bible and ministry-skills lead effective churches and can influence whole regions. George Whitefield College has been placed in a strategic position to provide Christian leaders for South Africa and many countries in Africa and the world. This is why I continue my commitment to seeing the college flourish and grow. A theological college is an expensive item. GWC has 9 full time lecturers, 10 staff and a large library. The college receives financial support in South Africa from its founding denomination (Reformed Evangelical Anglican Church of South Africa – REACH South Africa) and from individual donors, but help is also needed from further afield. I realized GWC needed its own ‘overseas council’ devoted to its particular needs, so established Whitefield International Partners.
Out of GWC has come hundreds of graduates eager to preach the gospel, lead churches, and establish their own ministries. I found myself wanting to help some of these endeavours, and WIP provides a mechanism. The main task of WIP is to keep George Whitefield College strong and to encourage and help it maintain its mission for training Christian leaders for Africa’s churches.
Help for Mauritian Bible Training Institute
A new principal began at MBTI in April 2019. Ben van Rensburg, a graduate of the Bible Institute of South Africa and George Whitefield College. Recently completed an MA with North-West University (Potchefstroom). Ben and Elaine have worked in Turkey for 22 years and for the past 2 years Ben has pastored a Scottish Free Church on the Island of Arran. I was able to help connect the institute with Ben and Elaine, and Lorraine and I visited in May. Thanks to two generous servants of Christ a car was purchased and a contribution made to get this important work over an initial hump. Elaine has found work as a physics and maths teacher at Lighthouse Christian School. Ben wrote recently: “In a world that has been turned upside down by Covid-19 it is good to know that God is always the same, and that in the midst of this crisis we can put our trust in Him. More than ever we believe that theological education is of paramount importance to the church in Mauritius and the wider world. We need God’s truth to guide and lead us as we journey through all the challenges of life. We are delighted that for the second semester we will host face to face classes and virtual classes on Zoom as well as an online class.”
School in Mozambique
Seed capital was needed to purchase land for a school.
- Target US$1000
- Progress Raised in full!
Thank you the students at St Mark’s Anglican School in Perth.
READ MORE about the ministry in Mozambique
PhD Scholarship for African Lecturer
Rev Vuyani Sindo lectures New Testament at George Whitefield College. An evangelical Christian with a passion for ministry and a deep love for Africa, Vyani began his PhD studies with North-West University (Potchefstroom) in 2016. His family and studies were supported by generous Christians. In 2017 Philippians Trust sponsored him to study for a semester at Trinity Theological College in Perth Western Australia, where Dr Allan Chapple, an expert on Paul and Leadership was able to help him. Vuyani was awarded the PhD in 2018. Thanks go to God and all his servants who helped. Vuyani is now a full-time lecturer in New Testament at George Whitefield College.