Dear Friends,

 

Herewith the first SABSletter for 1999. I apologise that its a little later than usual; I had some technical problems to deal with. Enjoy reading!

In Christ's service,
Theo Rappard

SABSletter

Southern Africa Bible School, PO Box 11165, Rynfield 1514, South Africa. Tel. +27-11-969-4497 Fax +27-11-969-4993

SABS Calendar:

• SABS Fun-Day  -  1 May, Saturday
• Last Day of  1st Semester  - June 25
• First Day of 2nd Semester - July 19

 

1999 Lectureship - 26-29 September (Sunday-Wednesday)

WELCOME TO NEW STAFF

• Pat Seiderer, widow of the late Joe Seiderer (who both attended SABS and served on the Board of Trustees for many years), is serving as Ladies' Dorm Mother. She moved in January from her home town of East London to take up her position at SABS. She lives in one of the SABS flats and is already making herself useful to the Bible School. Talented musically, Pat is also blessed with a sparkling and happy personality. Already the girls love her and she loves "her girls".
   
• Gordon Uys ('69 ), is teaching 2 courses at SABS this year. His courses are "Book of Acts" and "Pastoral Epistles". Gordon has been a gospel preacher for many years, having served congregations in Pietermaritzburg, Durban, and Riverview.  Last year, Gordon was instrumental in establishing the church in Centurion (Pretoria area) and still serves as their pulpit minister. That congregation will be one year old on March 7.
   
• Paul Sheasby ('91), who once again assists at SABS, teaches "Prison Epistles".

 

WELCOME TO THE 1999 INTERNS

Mikhail Dorogokouplia ('98), has just returned from three weeks in Nigeria, looking into the possibility of serving as a dentist in one of our mission hospitals there. Lucas Titise ('98) assists at Crystal Parl Church of Christ, and Wayne Pohorille ('98) is a youth leader at the Benoni congregation.

FROM THE POSTBOX

From Angie Sianjina ('98) in Livingstone, Zambia, who is helping with the youth at her congregation:  "I really enjoyed SABS and learnt a lot. I grew spiritually, mentally and physically. I am so grateful for what SABS did for me. It is a place where people can really grow spiritually and learn to stand on their own. SABS is all about GOD   how He is and will be the centre of all students there."

 

THANK YOU

Gareth Davies serves as the honorary consultant and advisor in building operations to the Director. Al Horne says his expertise is invaluable, reliable and most helpful. Alwyn Hefer, long-time friend to SABS, recently donated labour and parts for the SABS tractor. Rob Cooke installed the bell system at SABS to herald the change of classes. The Family of Warren Scott ('94), Randburg members, donated some computers to SABS. A Christian, who wishes to remain anonymous, donated R15,000 for the purchase of a borehole pump. Jenny Smee, Benoni member, has been working at SABS daily on a voluntary basis. Both the library and the office are benefiting from her knowledgeable presence.

 

STORK DELIVERIES

John and Lynda Staiger (' 81) have a son now in addition to two daughters: Donna Dawn, 4, and Suzanne, 2. The baby was born November 25 in Auckland, New Zealand, and was named John Al James Staiger. Their mailing address is Box 56-020, Dominion Rd., Auckland, New Zealand. Shenalee ('94) and Allan Holcombe  ('93) welcomed their first baby, Luke John, into the world on December 17th. They have moved back to their house in Benoni. Ashleigh ('96) and Lance Archer also welcomed their first-born, a daughter, Cyan Naomi, on January 19 in Benoni.  Cyan weighed in at 3,2 kg.

 

NEWS OF GRADS AND EXES:

• Cecile and Abrie Visser (' 97) now live in Swellendam in the Cape. Our sympathies to Cecile whose father was recently killed in a car accident and Abrie whose father died after a long illness.
   
• Sheldon de Vries ('98) flew out on January 13th to attend Rochester College in the United States.
   
• Steve and Sharon Benton  ('95) have a new address: 30 Dersley Road, Nahoon (Tel. 3539358).
   
• Thelma and Roy Lothian ('74) have moved from PE to East London where Roy became pulpit minister of the Keam Road congregation.
   
• Sherwin Kriedeman ('95) is working as a Cellular Consultant with Nashua Zululand. His cell no. is 0828045447.
   
• Carmin and Norman Turner ('91) is working for D Enterprises (Phillips Agents in East London). His work as a sales rep takes him all over the Eastern Cape. By the time this goes to press, two-year-old Austin is expected to have a baby (due on the 25th) brother or sister! 
   
• Steve Horne ('89) and Erin Williams  of Saginaw, Texas, became engaged in Florida over Valentine's Day weekend. Lisa ('76) and Des Steyn  ('78) and four children (Ryan, 17; Daniel, 15; Lauren, 9; and Christy, 7) are moving from Plettenberg Bay in order to be in Fort Worth, Texas, by April 1. They have been invited to be Missionary-in- Residence for a year with their sponsoring congregation.
   
• Nick and Glory Mensah ('94) and their baby, Precious Patience, are moving to Gaborone, Botswana, end of February because their residence permits were not renewed by the government.
   
• Brigitte Smit  ('97) graduated second in her P C Engineering class from Damelin last year. On January 4, she began working for MWeb as part of their Technical Support Staff.
   
• Craig Uys  ('85) moved to America towards the end of last year and is living in the Dallas area. He is managing a warehouse there. 
   
• Paul Jones ('87) has been on a 8-week fund-raising tour among American congregations.
   
• Lisa Wilmot ('94) left Feb. 26 for a month overseas. She will visit Disneyworld in Florida and then join a Kon-Tiki Tour to New York. Another two weeks will be spend visiting Lande and Rod Cullingworth ('97) in Memphis, Tennessee, with her return date to RSA March 25.
   
• Derrick Bam  ('83) is serving as the Involvement Minister at the University Church of Christ in Abilene. Brian Motsa ('91), former teacher at Manzini Bible School in Swaziland, and his family moved recently to South Africa.
   
• Dick van Dyk (' 79) and his family now live in Mananga near Vuvulane where he's a guidance teacher at one of the local schools.

 

MEET OUR FIRST YEARS!

Clive Landsberg, 50, born in Zimbabwe, came to SABS from Venda. He and his wife, Alice, have five children: Clive, Junior, 6;  Natasha, 7; Megan, 17; Eric, 20; and Marvin, 22. The latter two are also first-year SABS students which reminds us of the adage, "Like father, like son". Clive's education took place in Harare, Zimbabwe, at Moffat Primary and Moffat High School where he enjoyed playing football, volleyball, baseball and cricket. Professionally, he worked as a boiler- maker for Cochrane & Sons as well as for the Zimbabwe Fertilization Company. He was also employed in the building trade as a plasterer for John Sisk Construction Company, and is a welder. Baptized at the age of 14 by brother Lawyer in Harare, Clive considers the Makwarela congregation to be his home church. Blessed with a beautiful voice, Clive excels in song-leading and has also assisted with the preaching. His long-term plans are to become a full-time preacher. Meanwhile, it's commendable that Clive came to SABS even though he doesn't have a congregation sponsoring him and his family. This represents much sacrifice and faith on his part. He is "walking by faith, not by sight"! Should any congregation wish to assist with his support, please contact the SABS office.

Shadreck Sibwaalu, 34, began life at Kalomo, Zimbabwe, and school at Siamapumba Primary. He also went to school at Kabanga Mission prior to attending Namwianga Mission's Christian Secondary School from 1983-1989.  He enjoyed soccer and volleyball. Before coming to SABS, Shadreck was working at Namwianga Mission in the area of Church Development Project and also served as a Bible teacher to Secondary School pupils. He and his wife, Dorothy, (a fine Christian who was his fellow-student at Namwianga), have two daughters: Georgia, 5, and Joann, 2. In July, they will welcome a third child to their family. One of four sons, (one of whom was adopted by an American missionary couple, Iris and Ken Elder), Shadreck, has a strong Christian  background and attributes it to his father, Thomas, of whom he says, "My father is a powerful believer and though I lost my mother in childbirth when I was only four, my father managed to educate me in  the Bible". Converted by brother Bicycle Sianjina (the grandfather of second- year student, Sanderson Sianjina) in 1983, Shadreck  plans upon completion of SABS to return to  Namwianga in Zambia to teach and spread the Word of God.

Bronwyn Harwood-Nash, 18, has come to SABS in the footsteps of her older sister, Cyd Frost of Welkom. Born in Newcastle, Bronwyn's home is with her parents, Errol and Maggs, in Utrecht. She began school at Allenridge Primary in Welkom, continuing at Welkom High and matriculating at Newcastle High with an "A" average for her finals. A popular young lady with her fellow-students, Bronwyn served as chairlady of the Student Representative Council in Standard 10 and was also head girl of the hostel and school prefect. Active in school sports, Bronwyn  swam, played tennis and hockey, and excelled at athletics. She ran Free State athletics  1200m and 1500m as well as Free State cross-country and Northern Free State biathlon. She also enjoys hiking and cycling ("anything outdoors and sporty!"). Also at school, she was very involved in  drama. In Standard 9, she played "Puck" in a Shakespearean production. Last year she had a lead  role as "Magrat Garlick", one of three witches in "Wyrd Sisters" by Terry Pratchett. She found it  most enjoyable. Meanwhile, she was converted by Paul Sheasby ('91), Boksburg minister, and baptised by her brother-in-law, Noel Frost ('97). Her plans are to complete her LLB degree through UNISA and work as a legal advisor.

Vera Johns, 20, came to SABS from Mutare, though her birthplace is Zvishavane in Zimbabwe.  She is the third oldest in a family of six children. Vera has one brother, Kirsten (23) and six sisters: Adelaide (28), Anneline (18), Terry-Ann (11), and Jamie-Lyn (9). She attended were Baring Primary, Chancellor Primary, Sir John Kennedy Primary, Mutare Junior (where she was a prefect), and Mutare Girls High School where she served as Class Monitor. She also took computer courses at Mutare Technical College and is skilled in Lotus 123, Word Perfect, Pastel, and Excel. School sports included basketball, Jiu-Jitsu, knitting, sewing and swimming. Other interests are stamp-collecting, gardening, and travelling. After working for Gideon's (her dad's engineering firm in Mutare), she spent two years working in London. She was employed there by T.M.G. Citroen  as a receptionist;  in accounting for W.H. Smith, newspaper retailers; and as a warehouse assistant for ironmongers, Robert Dyas. Upon returning to Mutare, she spent six weeks working for Office Micro Systems but left to attend SABS. Having been taught the gospel by Tyrone Abdul ('94) and baptised by Sherwin Grottis ('95) in 1995, Vera's church membership has been at Seventh Avenue in Mutare. She enjoys working with youth and would like to further her studies in Bible and also counselling. She would like to stay at SABS for the full three years.