Since UCSF was weaned off by the Bulawayo Presbyterian Church at end of August 2010, on the grounds of limited funds, the UCSF leadership team has been working on a plan to re-establish the student ministry as a para-church organisation. This has been a challenging process yet worth every effort and dime that has been invested in securing various resources which are strategic to the continuation of the ministry.
When UCSF’s doors closed, the ministry lost the Manse, a house which belongs to the Presbyterian Church which the church repossessed for its own use. This house was housing UCSF female students as part of its discipleship program. The guys’ house, the Den, was put in the process of transfer back into the hands of its owner with intentions to market it out to the public for either lease or sale. Over and above these key facilities, UCSF lost the financial support that it was getting from the church which catered for staff salaries and other ministry expenses. Key ministry expenses included fuel, housing, and camping expenses. However, except for the fuel and staff salaries, the other ministry expenses were not all covered in full by the church, but shortfalls over and above the rents, camp fees and other contributions which were made by UCSF member students.
Although UCSF stood to lose so much, not everything was lost. UCSF continues to benefit from the love and spiritual support of the Presbyterian Church plus the freedom to use the church premises for meetings as before. The church has also been so generous to continue to support the Students Worker with a living allowance while he continues to study at the Theological College of Zimbabwe.
In light of the above, the first step that was taken by the ministry leadership with the mind to re-establish UCSF was to secure the Den (guys’ accommodation). The acquisition was successful but it came at a price because a financial commitment was required to ensure rental payments just at the time when students were going on holiday and there was not going to be any rental income coming over the four months holiday. This financial backing has continued to sustain the house as it has not yet filled to capacity and as a result not generating enough income. The house has not filled up, partly because the ministry has not been running, which served to draw the right kind of students into the accommodation, and also because the rentals have had to increase by about 50% as there is no longer housing support, and this has been a deterrent.
As a second measure, efforts have been made to call on all UCSF alumni to come in and support UCSF. The alumni have been working together to establish a UCSF trust fund through which donations can be made for UCSF, and also to help manage the ministry finances. This is a much anticipated development by the ministry team which would help alleviate some logistical and accountability challenges which are currently at hand. Many thanks for the great job done so far by the alumni in keeping the UCSF Alumni group on Facebook buzzing and other communications going.
Thirdly, many thanks go to the Kuttners, UCSF’s former ministry coordinators. Their passion for student ministry and in particular, UCSF, has been the linking thread in all the efforts being made by the various teams to see to the resuscitation of UCSF. There have been UCSF’s voice of appeal to the international community and they have really poured their hearts out for UCSF’s plight. In October 2010, the Kuttners managed to set up a meeting for UCSF, represented by Willard Mudzimiri the last standing ministry coordinator, with Fritz who is the current director of Student Y in South Africa. The meeting was fruitful and indicated a possibility for Student Y to partner with UCSF in the process of getting it back on its feet.
A key factor in re-establishing UCSF has been the issue of finding a ministry coordinator. The ministry coordinator would often be at the heart of any proposal or application for financial support for such a ministry as he would be responsible for all ministry operations. Ideally the UCSF team has been looking for a self funded couple with a sound theological background and a heart for students. In this regard, some progress has been made in identifying a potential candidate who would possibly be available for this position in March 2011 at the earliest, but no commitment has been secured yet. In the mean time, Willard Mudzimiri is keen and available to act in this position until August 2011, beyond which his presence in Bulawayo is uncertain.
Over and above the ministry coordinator, UCSF still has the commitment of its students worker Lennon Mazonde, who is currently dwelling in the guys residence and running the discipleship program therein. The ministry has also had a number of its members returning from attachment for their final year at NUST plus a number of other members from various tertiary institutions in Bulawayo. This remnant has had occasions to meet for much longed-for fellowship, and updates on progress being made to restore ministry operations. It has really been a very sad chapter in the life of UCSF to have gone through a whole semester without the ministry in operation.
It is the UCSF team’s greatest hope and deep desire that the current efforts being made to revive UCSF can attract the greatest financial and spiritual support from those who have gone through its doors. Some significant progress has been made to achieving this goal yet there’s still more to be done. UCSF’s friends and supporters from abroad have been a great pillar of strength. Their financial and spiritual support has kept the ministry afloat at times when our hearts have been willing but our resources limiting. Indeed the ministry has thrived on their love and consideration. May the Lord who started this work continue to sustain it for His glory through the humble services and sacrifices that so many of you have made and still hope to make.
