Faces & Places in Term 1

e-Conference 2025: Last Chance to Register!

An interpreter’s hermeneutical approach flows from their posture towards the biblical text. Following the marked surge of higher critical methodologies in the 20th century, the hermeneutical landscape has been by a recent rise in ideological criticisms, cultural relativism, and reader-response approaches. Such reading strategies have resulted in biblical analyses that place the reader at the center of interpretation thereby giving them authority over the sacred text. The so-called hermeneutic of suspicion, which seeks to read against the grain of Scripture, has been eroding the conviction that Scripture is God-breathed, useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness (2 Tim 3:16). The rise of perilous hermeneutical approaches and their erosion of a hermeneutic of trust calls for a return to the text and a critical reconsideration of the reading strategies we adopt. In response to these dangers and opportunities for engagement, the 2025 SATS e-Conference is themed: “Back to the Bible: Biblical Hermeneutics in the Global South.” Celebrating the beauty, trustworthiness, and efficacy of Scripture, we aim to foster a dialogue around theories of interpretation and their application. We will explore the relationship between text and context, the centrality of Christ in the Bible, and the transformative power of the Scriptures to shape faith communities. Click here to register for this event!

 Contact Person:

Please direct any questions to Dr Sarah Apps ().

 

Study Short Courses at SATS

If you want to study the Bible or theology without investing the time and money required for a full degree programme, Micro Seminary may be a good fit for you. You may be:

  • a seminary graduate committed to lifelong learning
  • a pastor who never had the opportunity to go to seminary
  • an ordinary Christian with a longing to learn about God and his Word

Click here for further information.

Counsellor’s Corner – Hope in the Storm

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” – Hebrews 6:19

Life’s storms can be overwhelming, but hope is the anchor that keeps us grounded. Reflect on the ways God has been faithful in your past, and let that encourage you to face today’s challenges. Sharing this hope with others can be a powerful ministry.

If you feel called to minister to others through lay-counselling or professional Christian counselling, we are here to walk with you on that journey. Supporting you in answering the calling in your life, is ours.

 New Counselling Courses                 

    

Keep an eye on the Higher Certificate in Christian Counselling. Along with Christian Counselling Skills 2 (HCC1125), Counselling Holy Sexuality (HCC1126) and Crisis and Trauma Christian Counselling (HCC2122) are launching. These courses are presently only available for students in the 5E Model of Christian Counselling curriculum. We pray that they are useful to your counselling ministry.

Meet some new faces at SATS

Tuli Sambudla was born and raised in Bizana in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. She is a widowed mother of two adult children and resides in Gqeberha. She is an ordained minister of the Burning Bush Ministries, South Africa, where she serves as an executive council member. Her ministry involvement includes pastoring, missionary work, youth, and children’s ministry. She holds a MBChB degree from UNITRA and an Honour’s degree in Theology with SATS. She was appointed at SATS in 2024 as an adjunct lecturer for the Pastoral Ministry and Introduction to Theology courses.
Maxwell Chiwoko Banda, 33, is a dedicated Christian, husband, theologian, researcher, and Bible translator. He is married to Alice and father of two. He was ordained in 2016 under the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP), Nkhoma Synod. In 2024, he became a full-time congregational minister in Malawi and joined the South African Theological Seminary (SATS) as a lecturer, teaching courses such as Genesis, Deuteronomy, and Pastoral Epistles.
My name is Brian Chansa, husband to Gladys and father of “three Hebrew boys” namely Taanug, Tovia, and Tiqvah. I came to know, believe, and love Christ and decidedly followed him as his servant in 2002 while I was in my final grade at Kansenshi High School, Ndola, Zambia. My life was immediately transformed from a winebibber to a Spirit-filled man. My mother whom I had vexed with my delinquencies could not believe that my mouth no longer issued vulgarities but committed to the praise of God.

I am grateful to God for giving me the privilege to continue on my academic journey with SATS, both as a Part-Time Lecturer and a PhD student. Currently, I am teaching two courses namely the Historical Books and How to Study the Bible.

Kwasi Atta Agyapong is an adjunct lecturer at SATS and serves as a reviewer for several academic peer-reviewed journals. Beyond academia, he is an ordained and full-time minister for the Church of Pentecost-Ghana. Kwasi is currently the district pastor for Acherensua in the Ahafo region of Ghana. 

His research interests include Systematic Theology, Practical Theology, Christian Ethics, Mythological Studies, and Pentecostal Studies. He has authored several articles, with over 20 published in renowned peer-reviewed journals. He is also the author of the book Witchcraft in Ghana: Beliefs, Practices, and Consequences.

At SATS, he currently teaches Christian Ethics and the Doctrine of Salvation.

Nanine Lessing holds an Honours degree in Theology and is dedicated to serving God through her ministry and teaching. Residing in Pretoria, she is involved in Choose Life Church and currently serves as a Part Time Lecturer at South African Theological Seminary.

With a passion for Biblical studies and a heart for loving and serving God’s people, Nanine strives to make a positive impact through her faith and actions. She is committed to spreading love, compassion, and understanding, and looks forward to furthering her theological studies in the near future.

Additional Free Resources

SATS has free resources available in a variety of formats. Our YouTube Channel covers a broad range of topics ranging from African Theology, Bible Interpretation, Christology, Ecclesiology, and others that can be viewed for your personal growth. In addition, we provide monthly Blog articles on interesting topics written by expert theologians and bi-annual academic articles in our scholarly journal, Conspectus. You are also welcome to register for future free events on our Events page.