The CBR Group at the Manyano Centre in Paarl
“I’ve learned very much. It’s been very informative and gave us new perspectives of how to read the Bible,” says Geliane Cupido, a youth leader from Van Wyksvlei (Presbytery of Wellington).
From 28 to 30 October Congregational Witness facilitated a second Contextual Bible Reading (CBR) workshop with a group of youth leaders from different presbyteries within the Western and Northern Cape of URCSA Cape. The youth leaders represented the presbyteries of Caledon, Clanwilliam, Ebenezer, Sarepta, Stellenbosch, Tulbagh, Wellington and Zuurbraak. The workshop took place at the Manyano Centre in Paarl. Our proponents Jayson Gribble, Dewald Jacobs, and Rachel Linderoth were the facilitators and they have been assisted by proponents Ashwin Thyssen and Aidan Windvogel. This forms part of the manager of Witness Ministry and of the CBR Project, Rev. Stephen Pedro’s plan to utilize the time and expertise of our licenced candidates (proponents) and create income opportunities whilst they are waiting to be called by congregations. Rev. Wilden Hector from URCSA Clanwilliam also attended the workshop as part of the representation of the Presbytery of Clanwilliam. Rev. Danny Bock of Congregational Ministry and Rev. Pedro joined the workshop on Saturday to show their support for this exiting and empowering development and for our proponents and youth leaders at the workshop.
The workshop formed part of the adjusted strategy to focus on the ministries of URCSA Cape, with a special focus on the youth and women ministries. For this first round the goal of the workshops is to introduce CBR to the leaders of the ministries. During the second round, the focus will be to train these leaders as CBR facilitators so that they can take CBR to their various constituencies on presbyterial and congregational level.
According to the feedback of some of our youth leaders who attended the workshop it seems that the goals set out for the workshop has been achieved and there is an excitement for what lies ahead. Like Thamsanqa Zifune of the Presbytery of Mthatha puts it: “The CBR workshop was very exciting and helpful, it equipped us how to use the Bible to heal the social challenges of our communities.”
JP Manuel from Eersterivier, convener of the Steering Committee, was also present. He says, “It was quite informative, and it has given me new direction as to how I have to read the Bible, how to interpret the text and to see how we can put it into context.”
It is our hope that this three-pronged method (SEE, DISCERN, ACT) of reading the Bible will not only be a tool that will enable our ministries to tackle their peculiar challenges, but will also help building capacity and strengthen their operational activities.
As Siyamthanda Bola of KwaZakhele Congregation and member of URCSA Cape Region’s CYM’s Steering Committee summarizes it: “It was a very informative and a much-needed workshop. It helped me how to read the Bible – I know now that I have a three-pronged method of reading the Bible, namely SEE, DISCERN, ACT”.
Contact Rev. Stephen Pedro at stephen@kaapkerk.co.za for more information