Empowering Students to Serve

I’ve been working with Global Ministries’ partner in Johannesburg, South Africa for nearly two and a half years now. I’ve written and spoken about the good that the students do, the communities they empower, about the inmates served by our prison ministries.

Kristine Tisinger serves as a Global Mission Intern in South Africa.  Her work with Global Ministries is funded by your offerings to Week of Compassion.

I’ve been working with Global Ministries’ partner in Johannesburg, South Africa for nearly two and a half years now. I’ve written and spoken about the good that the students do, the communities they empower, about the inmates served by our prison ministries. Behind all of that are the people that make that happen- the staff at the Theological Education by Extension College.

Registration season is in full swing at the moment. November to February is always a hectic time here. In past years as few as 10 staff members have scrambled to advise and enroll thousands of students. Some members of staff regularly worked over 60 hours per week for months to keep the process running smoothly. Every registration season demanded more from the staff than the last because TEE College’s reputation and student body continued to grow. Everyone here is proud to acknowledge that they’ve helped build up THE largest theological college in all of Africa.

When the directors announced the plan to double our student numbers in the next 10 years the staff was behind the initiative but we wondered- is it possible? The College has recently grown in more ways than one. Not only are we projecting and processing record numbers of students (we have processed over 25,000 students over the years) we’ve almost doubled our staff numbers. Mike, Marietjie, Feroza, Carol, Karyn, Elizabeth, Gugu and Peter have joined us. We’re now up to 17 staff members serving at a College of over 4000 current students.

The difference is incredible. Staff members still work overtime during registration but the pace is less frantic. Students are receiving more individualized academic counseling and help in completing their assignments and projects. The help that these new staff members provide is making all of our goals more realistic and attainable. The work that we do here isn’t always glamorous but it is vital to the communities of Southern Africa.

We were only able to add staff members in the past 18 months because of the generosity of our donors. TEE College prides itself on remaining the most affordable theological college in Southern Africa. With donations from Week of Compassion we are able to help keep overhead costs low while improving the quality of services offered to our students. Please know that the staff members of the college are immeasurably grateful. The students are immeasurably grateful. The work that we do and all of the good that the students are able to do is because of you. Thank you.