2024 South Africa Summer Bible School
This Summer Bible School is a unique experience to fellowship with other Christadelphians from our worldwide community.
Read Time: 6 minutes
Last year’s South African Summer Bible School was held at the beautiful venue of Hebron Haven, in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. It was the 43rd school, which has been held since 1982.
The venue has fully furnished accommodation with supplied bedding. There are also tennis courts, a pool, and a small dam. Hebron Haven’s location allows for hikes, walks, birdwatching, and fishing in recreational time. The large conference venue is air-conditioned. Afternoon sports activities are also organized daily at the school. Three meals, as well as morning and afternoon tea, are provided.
Bro. Kitson Reid (Acocks Green Ecclesia, UK) began our Bible School with a two-part talk on the topic “Walking with Kings” (King Amaziah). This was followed by two very well-handled talks on the topic “Before you say, ‘I do.’” In these talks Bro. Kitson skillfully handled the sensitive topic of principles and practical applications of courtship and marriage. In Bro. Kitson’s last four talks at the school, he spoke on the topic of “To make ready a people prepared for the Lord,” where he delved into the Gospel of Luke.
Bro. Kitson also gave us a very entertaining talk on striving for the Kingdom (as opposed to Egypt) and on how he came to the truth. We kept our brother very busy with a Sisters’ Class and an exhortation at the memorial meeting. He also led a very helpful mutual improvement class for the brothers.
Besides the main talks, we also benefited from a variety of discussion sessions each day. Bro. Barry van Heerden (Westville Ecclesia) led a session on “What is real faith?” Bro. Simon Taylor (Pinetown Ecclesia) led a session on “The Holy Spirit—how is it active today?” Bro. Tapiwa Chipunga led a session on the topic “African culture, lobola and Biblical marriage values.” On the last full day of the school, Bro. Travis Sinclair led a session on practical gospel proclamation where attendees created short videos to post on social media.
Sunday School classes were held for children aged 2-15, and youth classes were held for those aged 16 and up. There was also a selection of Christadelphian books on sale at bargain prices.
This Summer Bible School is a unique experience for many brothers and sisters to fellowship with other Christadelphians from our worldwide community. It’s highly beneficial for young brothers to grow in their understanding of the Truth and to develop skills such as presiding, reading, publicly praying, and leading classes as they learn from other experienced brothers and sisters. The lessons learned at the school place our brothers and sisters in good stead for years to come.
Visit our website:
christadelphian-bibleschoolsa.co.za to see some videos and photos from the school.
Below are some reviews from attendees.
The Christadelphian Summer Bible School held in KwaZulu Natal South Africa brings together brothers and sisters from all over South Africa and neighboring countries such as Zimbabwe. It is a spiritually uplifting experience that prepares us all for the year ahead. It gives opportunities for catching up with friends from afar and making new ones. Young people get to know each other and keep in contact over WhatsApp. The Bible school helps remind us all that we are not alone in our daily struggles. Having a speaker from another country is always very uplifting too. Different languages and cultures are brought together with our common faith and hope. It is a privilege and a blessing to attend the Bible School. We are extremely grateful for it and pray it will continue to be available to us until our Lord’s return. (Sis. Bernice Kassier, Pinetown Ecclesia).
I would like to thank God for this special time we enjoyed at Hebron Haven as brothers and sisters. It was so beautiful and amazing. It was like a glimpse of the Kingdom of God. We learned a lot from everyone and the love and care shown by the brethren. I feel that this was too special with our Bro. Kitson never rested, ensuring that we were equipped with different tools to understand what was being taught, giving us practical examples that will forever stay in our hearts. We thank the organizers for their sleepless nights preparing and adding different activities just to name one, the class of the unbaptized on the program that was very thoughtful. We were even guided on how to prepare a video as part of preaching on social media. (Sis. Zanele Khumalo, Soweto Ecclesia).
Our population is very diverse and spiritual needs are different from center to center. We have of course “made do” as all brothers and sisters in Christ work together towards the good of the body, but an external voice was SO HELPFUL! In the end, we are all striving for excellence in our Lord, and the help (prayers, financial aid, speakers etc.) has afforded us the opportunity to continue with this endeavor. Every comment was favorable, and to quote just one: “When we sisters spoke together, we all agreed: this was the best Bible school—ever! Perhaps this means Christ is returning this year. SO MANY thanks to ALL who make such opportunities available. To be honest: money (for those who have) is the easier part: support, care, prayers, and commitment ensure that – against all worldly odds – the brotherhood survives. (Sis. Cheryl Alberts, Pinetown Ecclesia).
The Summer Bible School of 2024 was for me, one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. In so many ways It has helped me to see things differently in the New Year and my spiritual life has been greatly enriched. If it weren’t for the Bible School, I would not have appreciated the value of gathering away from the world with other brothers and sisters from far away. This has helped me get another level of understanding of God’s Word and with that, I am hoping this will help me inspire others by sharing the good news of our coming King Jesus Christ. (Bro. John Life Tshosha, Soweto Ecclesia).
The Soweto Ecclesia was only established officially in 2010. None of our brothers and sisters grew up in the “truth” with that strong Biblical foundation and background nor did they have the sense of a worldwide fellowship. Most spiritual births require a major separation from entrenched beliefs of ancestor worship and the devil with “his demons” and total submission to a pastor. Leaving that environment often meant ostracism by family and neighbors. A serious commitment to the narrow way of Christ requires conviction and courage. The ecclesial meetings and other activities are vital for spiritual growth and help in creating an allegiance to a new eternal family but Bible school is where the joy and wonder of a wider worldwide fellowship can be developed and appreciated, and where faith and deeper insights into God’s Word can grow. It has led to marriage and lasting friendships. Was this not also one of the purposes for the three feasts under the Law of Moses: to build unity and a deeper appreciation of God’s high calling? This Bible school in December was again a precious oasis of spiritual encouragement and strengthening of all the above. A wonderful Kingdom spirit was tangible, and Bro. Kitson’s infectious enthusiasm for the practical outworking of our faith and “speaking to the heart” rubbed off on everyone. We thank him for going the extra mile and adding valuable sessions in the afternoons. All are greatly appreciated. Visitors are warmly embraced and they, in turn, will leave indelible memories here of our unique worldwide cross-cultural fellowship. Do join us if you can! (Sis. Leonie Verster, Soweto Ecclesia).
Unfortunately, many of our attendees come from impoverished communities and can’t afford to pay their full fees to attend the school. To address this issue, we have implemented a sponsorship program where for R3,500 ($190 USD) one person can be sponsored for a week. On our website bibleschool.shop.netcash.co.za, we have opened a page where donations can be made in a very easy way via debit or credit card. The entity is a registered non-profit company (Reg No 2024/389550/08) and a non-profit organization/charity (registration no 310-873 NPO). Alternatively, electronic bank transfers can be made to:
Christadelphian Projects Fund
South Africa
First National Bank
Branch—221526
Account—63113954978
Swift Code—FIRNZAJJ
Reference— “Sponsor Bible School”
We pray the Lord may bless the Summer Bible School so it may continue to take place while our Lord remains away. We would like to re-introduce a mid-year Bible School and also have plans to get more international visitors to attend the school. Accommodation is limited, but anyone who would like to book for the December 26-30 2025 school should please visit our website or contact us via email. We will do our best to assist with accommodation before/after school, as well as address any concerns (such as safety) any brothers or sisters may have.
Questions can be addressed to Bro.Travis Sinclair:
trenosinclair@gmail.com
Travis Sinclair,
Summer Bible School Committee