Report about LTS Intensive Courses 09th March 2018
by
Rev. Mbongeni John Nkambule
It was a joy and an honour for us at the LTS to have Professor John Pless and Dr. Sibongiseni Sithole among us for two weeks of intensives. It was a good combination indeed. Professor John Pless serves at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, and Dr. Sibongiseni Sithole (LCSA) currently serves as an isiZulu translator for the South African Bible Society.
The students were able to attend these intensives in great numbers as the regular classes were suspended to allow the students enough study time under the guest professors without worrying about regular classes as well. In exchange, we maximized the benefits received from the visiting professors. As usual, we had also guests and visitors from various area congregations attending the classes as well. Some of them were pastors serving congregations, while others were either vicars or lay leaders. It was a blessing to our students to be among and interact with people with such significant congregational experience.
Professor Pless taught Luther’s Catechisms (Chief Part 2: The Apostles’ Creed) in the morning, while Dr. Sithole taught his Introduction to the Old Testament course in the afternoon. Our students gained a lot from them. One could pick that up from their vote of thanks at the end of the courses. We thank those congregations that paid for their travelling fees and the books Prof. Pless brought for his students and for our library. He has been doing this for years now – we are most grateful. Praise be to God for giving His church faithful servants like you, who support the seminary tirelessly.
At the end of professor Pless’s class, he hosted the entire campus for a braai, as is his custom. Thank you to him and to all who made it possible for him to do so. During the braai, certificates were issued to those who attended the course. The braai was an enjoyable event indeed. There was enough time to chat and catch up as a seminary family in a very relaxed way. May the Lord of the church touch the hearts of many, so that financial and prayer support of the seminary can continue and so that more and more pastors and deaconesses for the confessional Lutheran church in Africa may be trained.
