One of the PhD students from ZSDS, Rev Ndaba Mazabane, was recently inaugurated as the 4th Principal of International College of Bible and Missions (ICBM), South Africa.
Rev Mazabane is currently an Associate Pastor of his local church. To response to the question whether a new role as the Principal is a big challenge, he said: "I don't think it's impossible because my role as a Pastor and a Principal will benefit the church and the College at the same time. I don't see that as a major challenge but a great partnership that is needed today." Rev Mazabane thinks it is an interesting dynamics when a church can partner with a Bible College to help train and develop leadership.
The newly-inaugurated Principal said that his engagement in the PhD program at Olivet will benefit the College by strengthening the faculty and building capacity in leadership. He was also impressed by the PhD program because it looks at Global Theological Studies and it will assist him in helping churches and the College not to be self-focused but see beyond themselves. Rev Mazabane's plan and direction for the institute is to train lay leaders in the churches of the surrounding area to be highly effective ministers in their churches and highly effective members of their communities.
Established in 2000, ICBM has a vision to see hundreds of men and women trained for vocational Christian ministry beyond the BA (Honors) in Theology the College offers, to pursuing the Masters degree level elsewhere, so that they will be effective in making disciples of all the nations through a firm grasp of Systematic and Practical Theology, Missions, Christian Education, Biblical Counseling, and Youth Ministry, both within South Africa and outside its borders.