South African News
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Growth in the Trans-Orange Conference: Numerical & Financial
This is intended to share with you how God is mysteriously and miraculously blessing His Conference. According to our recent [31 March 1999] statistical report, The TOC has realised a numerical growth of 839. This simply means that God's children are sharing and witnessing for their Jesus Christ. This numerical growth is also accompanied by an unprecedented financial growth. God is adding to His Church as He added to the Apostolic Church in the Book of Acts. This is a sign that saints are actually warning the judgement-bound people of this earth of the impending advent of Jesus Christ.
Once more, this is a cause for rejoicing because these occurrences are actually hastening the coming of Jesus Christ. Each date that sets brings us closer to the day of His Coming. Someone has said that we are actually operating in an "injury time." Injury time is more of a borrowed or probationary time. The piercing question is: Are you sharing Jesus Christ with your friends, relatives and others? Do you know Jesus Christ personally? I believe that the ultimate issue is one's relationship with Jesus Christ. May the Good Lord guide and keep up in our pilgrimage in this dark hour of earth's history.
Pastor Tankiso Letseli (TOC President)
The loss of 2 prominent TOC SDASA Chapter members - Melanie & Logic.
These two members are waiting for the "last trump" after which the terrible chapter of this life will be no more. Melanie Hulane was buried this past Sunday, on the 11 July 1999 in Kimberly. Prior to her untimely and unfortunate death, she served as the Secretary of the TOC SDASA Chapter, and she was in the process of arranging for a mid-year SDASA Conference that would be held on the 2-4 July 1999 in Klerksdorp. Her passing away makes one appreciate and long for the wondrous morning of resurrection where our bodies will put on immortality, and thereby rejoice with the Lord forever.
Logic passed prior to Melanie. They were on their way from Botswana when their vehicle suffered a tire burst. One thing led to another. Ultimately their vehicle overturned and some got hurt, but unfortunately he could not survive. Once more, the enemy has done it. One cannot help but long for the day when God will wipe away tears from our eyes, in the land where there will not be death, crying, moaning and grieving. We are not quite far from that time.
The Lord did not promise us a peaceful pilgrimage. He promised that He shall be with us even if we go through the dark valley of death. We are comforted to know that we are not all by ourselves in this dark hour of earth's history. His presence eases the pains and heartaches. It wont be long, the skies will unfold, the trumpet will sound, the dead will arise in their slumbering graves, and we shall behold Him face-to-face. Let us hold on until the end.
Pastor Tankiso Letseli (TOC President)
Distance Education Agreement Signed with University of South Africa
Silver Spring, Maryland, USA ... [ANN] Griggs University, operated under
the auspices of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, signed a formal agreement
with the University of South Africa, Pretoria, to cooperate and share
resources in offering a variety of academic degree programs by distance
education. Griggs University is operated as the higher education division
of Home Study International. Among the oldest institutions of distance
education, the schools together have offered college studies for 90 years.
Major features of the arrangement, which was signed on May 27,
1999, include joint presentation of selected programs at the undergraduate
and graduate levels, cooperation in encouraging and promoting the
advancement, recruitment, placement and referral of students, and
recognition as well as efficient transfer of academic program units
completed by students at each institution. The two entities will also share
course materials and technology, as well as exchange faculty and staff.
Depending upon the discipline, as much as fifty percent of the
total curriculum may be presented by Griggs University utilizing Adventist
course materials and faculty. The degrees conferred on successful
candidates will be presented jointly. It is agreed that the finances will
be shared equitably.
Three schools or faculties of the University of South Africa, the
Faculty of Arts, the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, and the
Faculty of Theology, are cooperating with Griggs University in identifying
the programs to be offered and the contents of the curriculum.
Griggs University specializes in distance education programs and
innovative delivery systems, and serves students from scores of countries
around the world, as well as operates several extension centers in the
continent of Africa.
The University of South Africa is the oldest university in South
Africa. Established in 1873 as an examining body, "Unisa" pioneered
tertiary distance education in 1946.
Through this alliance, Griggs University hopes to enhance its
services and program offerings to its students.
[From ANN]