The value of training

Until the end of 2009 Entrust supported the work of Siegfried Ngubane in Khayelitsha township, Cape Town, in what may be the largest township on the planet (some estimate Khayelitsha to have over 2 million inhabitants). Siegfried led a church, mentored key leaders and pioneered a local grassroots training initiative, 'Emmaus Bible School' (EBS), as well as serving on the faculty of a college. It was very exciting for Jem Hovil, our Entrust Director, to be invited to speak at the graduation of EBS students in Khayelitsha this October.

Siegfried remains involved but is now in a very different job. Despite this the work has not just continued but has grown, and is now a locally supported initiative. 20 students from two different sites had covered all their own fees for the evening and weekend courses and had been taught by a group of trainers based in and around Cape Town, who sacrificially give some of their time to the work, a group includes a few of the leaders Siegfried invested so heavily in.

Jem spoke with one pastor afterwards who has been studying hard and caring for his small church in the evenings and weekends, alongside working to support himself and his family. He had gone for many years without any sort of formal training and was glowing and full of gratitude, not only because of the certificate he had received, the support from his family and church members who attended and the books he had received, but also because of the way the training had strengthened him and given him greater recognition in the community. Now he has graduated he is looking forward to having more time to build his church and to equip them to serve.