SATS Newsletter

IT IS NOT TOO LATE

Although the annual Theological Higher Education Conference hosted by SATS, takes place this Friday 5 September 2008, starting at 08:00, at the Village Church, Lonehill, it is not too late to register. Look at these vital topics:

The State of the Nation: what is the Ethical response? (Michael Cassidy)

An African world view of Biblical Ethics – Making the connection (Prof. Sam Kunhiyop)

The Bible in present theological ethical debate e.g. the gender issue (Dr Martin Pohlman)

Biofuels – Robbing the world of food (Dr Willem Semelink)

Ethics relating to Poverty and Violence (Moss Ntlha)

Pastoral Integrity (Dr Charles Mahlangu)

Ethics of current reproductive technologies in a post-modern society (Pastor Ian Nash)

The perception of the implications of the Internet in the world. The Church is out of touch and children are being compromised by lack of knowledge. (Dr Neil Butcher)

In addition, Prof Francis Faller will update us on latest developments at the Council on Higher Education.

We realise that you are a busy person with cost and time constraints; therefore we have kept the conference to a one-day event and the cost as low as possible. R320 per person and R290 per person for a group of 5 or more delegates.

If you would like to make a booking please complete the online application form at www.satsonline.org or email jenny@sats.edu.za or phone her on 011 234 4440 .

SNEAK PREVIEW

SATS is about to launch its own publishing house! Yes, the launch of South African Theological Seminary Press is just a week away. We are very excited about this development as it will give our faculty and students an opportunity to publish under our own banner.

We see this not only as an answer to our publishing needs, but also as an important step forward in solving the dearth of quality literature written by Africans. The constraints that large publishers have set in place make it almost impossible for more than just a handful of Africans to publish, resulting in very books emerging from the theological community in Africa and perpetuating the cycle of western-only textbooks. If Africa is going to take its rightful place as a world leader in Christianity, the issue of publishing simply HAS to be resolved.

Our first book, which we believe will make an enormous contribution to theological research, will be released next week ... but its title and content will be announced in our next newsletter.

GOD'S WILL AND A BUILDING

At close of business last Monday, our deadline for raising the finance to buy the building we spoke of in earlier newsletters, came and went. Some donations had been received, but not enough by far to go through with the purchase. From a human perspective it was disappointing not to be able to complete the transaction, but we had always prayed that if God wanted something different, that He should block the process. Indeed that is what He has done, but I am reminded of 2 Chronicles 25:9b, "The LORD can give you so much more than that."

We are trusting Him to reveal the next step to us, but in the meantime, our building fund appeal will remain open so that when the right moment arrives, we will be ready. If you would like to make a contribution (tax deductible in South Africa), our details are as follows.

Account Name:         SA Theological Seminary

Bank:                        First National Bank

Account No:              51321182366

Branch:                     Fourways Mall

Branch Code:           251655

Or use our online credit card payment system at http://www.satsonline.org/satsonline/node/43 Please remember to mark your donation "Building".

CROSSROADS ON TWR

Our discipleship and leadership training programme, Crossroads, which was broadcast on TV last year, is currently being broadcast on Trans World Radio each Sunday night. Initially it is going out to 6 African countries, but if these broadcasts are successful, futher developments can be expected. If you would like to run this inexpensive but very powerful tool in your church, please go to http://www.satsonline.org/satsonline/node/6925 for more information.