graduates transforming africa
It was only in 2007 that ICMB Botswana affiliated with IFES, but already they have hosted a sub-regional event. The Student Graduate Integration Consultation took place in Gaborone at the end of October. All 10 national movements of the southern Africa sub-region of EPSA were significantly represented, with 120 students and graduates attending.
The theme of the consultation was Mentoring for Transformation, and the EPSA regional staff team and IFES friends from Intervarsity/USA helped facilitate the meetings.
Tawanda Masango of Focus Zimbabwe reported: ‘It was a huge encouragement to hear what God is doing in other African countries and a great opportunity to build networks with brothers and sisters who are doing student ministry in Africa.
‘Some of the key issues under discussion were the intentional development of mentoring relationships between graduates, students and staff; identifying and equipping godly models to pass on what they have learned to the next generation; developing a sustainable passion for graduate ministry, and sharpening student potential so they can use their studies to glorify God in their local churches and in the market place once they graduate.’
Wandile Sacolo of SWAFES Swaziland told us: ‘Indeed it was a great weekend for us: it challenged us as we don’t have a graduate ministry. We were really encouraged to take the responsibility to start such a ministry in our national movement. We just had our national conference and we have taken the initiative to mobilize our graduates.’
In Lesotho, SULTM has always invited graduates to student events, often as speakers. Moleboheng Ida-Diana Mohapi reported soon after the meeting that they started a new group for graduates. ‘We had an all-night meeting and stopped around 5am because we were too tired to continue! We really thank God because now there is a clear direction.’
Patrick Kaudzu, General Secretary of SCOM Malawi, attended the event as one of the mentors. ‘We had a very enriching experience as we together saw other dimensions of ministry that have been overlooked in our movements.’
We are thankful that already this conference is having an impact on student movements throughout southern Africa. As Tawanda said, ‘We believe God is growing the church in Africa, starting with the campus, feeding our hope of transforming Africa with kingdom values.’
