What's been happening? (AGM Report)

The 2008 to 2009 Academic Year

The 2008 to 2009 academic year was a very dramatic one for UCSF. We had to endure yet another haphazard NUST academic year which had no set semester program. As has been the case in the past few years, the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) was not able to start the academic year as per their set schedule such that we were not able to set our calendar in line with its program. We had to keep our ears on the ground for all changes that were strategic to our ministry events, particularly orientation week where we reach out to incoming first year students. However, this challenge also turned out to be a blessing for us because we were able to start our UCSF program like we would when NUST is running on its normal schedule and this eventually gave us what was probably the longest ministry program we have ever had. It also helped us broaden our ministry field to other tertiary level students in other learning institutions other than NUST who we normally would not have had the capacity to reach out to.

The Departure of the Kuttners

The year 2009 came with the sad departure of the Kuttners to Cape Town, South Africa, who were heading UCSF, and had served the ministry for close to five years. We have remained with many fond memories of them and priceless lessons about the principles, virtues and values of our faith they taught us. We remember them mostly for how they clearly and effectively demonstrated the gospel through their day to day living. Being a white family ministering to a black students group, their ability to see beyond race was quite fascinating to many students. We continue to hold them in our prayers for the ministry work that they have taken on in Cape Town.

Since the departure of the Kuttners, UCSF continued to thrive under the care of a committed staff team as well as the support and oversight of its mother church, the Bulawayo City Presbyterian Church. The church provided finances and a vehicle for the continuation of the ministry, over and above its premises that UCSF had always been using. Willard Mudzimiri took over from Lance, directing the ministry under the guidance of the eldership, with Nomakhosi Nkiwane heading the ladies ministry. Noma has made great effort in building the ladies ministry and her love for the ladies and passion for this ministry has been evident throughout the year, bearing good fruit.

More Farewells

In October, UCSF again had to bid farewell to yet another faithful staff member Gift Gana, who left at a time when he needed to prepare for his marriage and to commit more to ministry at his church. I am happy to say he is today a happily married man and we rejoice greatly with him in his joy and excitement as he builds his new home with Tendai, another former UCSF member. He has stood as a shining example in the body of Christ and amongst his peers and we are thankful to God for the times we had with him. Gift’s resignation led to the appointment of the last standing UCSF Students Worker, Lennon Mazonde who is currently studying theology at the Theological College of Zimbabwe (TCZ). He has been a real blessing to our ministry and his musical talents have overflowed from UCSF into the Presbyterian church.

In December we also sadly bid farewell to Shumbeyi, one of our alumni who was heading the Manse. She had an incredible influence on the girls in the Manse and made it feel like home away from home for them. We also lost her to her new husband who moved her to Harare where they have started their new home. Unfortunately the UCSF boys failed to catch this one and another good guy pounced at the opportunity. Shumbeyi’s critical role was taken up by Christine who has also been a shining example in UCSF, with such a big heart and a deep love for God. Her gift in giving and serving others is a great encouragement to all of us.

Samkele Camp - November 2009

Despite UCSF’s losses to good fortunes, God continued to bless our ministry and we saw many incredible events come our way. Camp was held at Samkele in November 2009 under the theme, “Spiritual Gifts.” This camp was aimed at challenging students to identify their spiritual gifts and talents in order to start serving in their churches and in UCSF effectively. We held various workshops addressing teaching, music, prayer and what we ended up referring to as “special operations” encompassing ushering, administrating, welcoming and other works of service. This camp formed the foundations of incredible team work within the group and it also developed a strong sense of belonging amongst our members.

Vital Connections

Our Friday evening meetings, ‘Vital Connections’ constitute a major part of the focus of our ministry, bible studies. In the first half of the year we studied the book of Proverbs, which turned out to be a first time for many to have studied the book in a group setting, while most students were already quite familiar with it. But familiarity did not manage to steal the thunder of the study because the unpacking of the proverbs raised many practical challenges in our day to day living. It confronted people’s habits and general conduct in light of their faith and knowledge of God. We ended the year with the study of the book of 1 Peter. This study was quite inspirational right from the beginning. The background study of the book during its introduction transformed our perspective and understanding of Peter’s message in light of its context. As always, there was so much to learn yet so little time and we only managed to cover two chapters of the book. These bible studies have also been a good training platform for developing teachers of the word and over the years we have seen many of our study group leaders mature tremendously in their handling of Scripture.

The social time after these Friday night studies have worked well to develop good relationships within the group, which have helped UCSF members become family and care for each other. Of the various institutions represented in our membership, we had the pleasure and joy of having as many as five students studying theology at the theological college of Zimbabwe (TCZ), as part of our membership. Their involvement has been a bonus to our teaching ministry. All in all, we have enjoyed having students from different institutions in our city participating in our ministry, and their relationships have grown beyond their institutional divisions, which is generally not a simple thing to attain relative to other Christian groups that have attempted to do the same. This has been greatly complemented by the housing model that has made it possible for the students who make up the core of the group to live and work together.

The Ministry Houses

The Den (the guys’ house) and the Manse (the ladies’ house) continued to be the hub of our ministry providing a very conducive environment for discipleship. Discipleship is one of the major focuses of UCSF that distinguishes it from our other student ministries at NUST. However, our efforts in discipleship have not been as effective in the Manse as they have been in the Den in light of the fact that we have not been able to acquire the services of a theologically trained female Students Worker to stay in the house as head, such as we have had in the Den. This though is not to undermine the efforts that are currently being made by the current leadership, and the growth taking place in the process. These houses have provided a platform where students can discuss and challenge each other on all sorts of issues as they naturally arise. It has really been a good setting for effective informal Christian education for living. However, this area of UCSF’s ministry stands challenged by the question of viability in light of the financial challenges that the Presbytrian church is currently facing.

The Suspension of UCSF

When the Kuttners left Zimbabwe, UCSF lost a part of its family and also a part of its financial strength that was coming through the Kuttners. Over the course of the year, the City Presbyterian Church has felt, more and more, the toll of the financial load that came with sustaining UCSF. Eventually it was realized that sustainability under what had been UCSF’s ministry model was not possible without external support. Coupled with financial issues was also the need for a dedicated ministry director to run UCSF as Willard is now committed to TCZ as a full time student, who had taken over the running of the ministry since March 2009 when the Kuttners left.

Closing Remarks

After all has been said and done, it turned out to be a blessed year for all of us in UCSF and we are grateful to God for His many blessings to us, including all those who have partnered with us through their precious prayers and financial support. We appreciate that the suspension of UCSF has not meant the end of UCSF and efforts continue to be made to see this vital ministry up on its feet again. UCSF is so thankful and grateful to the City Presbyterian Church for starting and having sustained this ministry for the many years that it had been running. Your love and sacrifice has made an incredible impact on the lives of many students, most of whom you have not encountered. Through UCSF, dreams have been altered and shaped, doctrines and beliefs have been revised, needs, both physical and material have been met, godly marriages and life-long friendships have been formed, lives have been saved, many lessons have been learnt and also many mistakes were made. Thanks to God who makes all things work together for good for all who love Him and are called according to his purpose.

Compiled by Willard Mudzimiri (Ministry Co-ordinator) for the City Presby AGM, March 2010