PF South Africa Engaging Churches through STP
From 12 to 15 July, Douw Grobler, PF South Africa executive director, conducted Sycamore Tree Project®training for 28 second year students at the Methodist seminary in Pietermaritzburg. The four day event included sessions on the impact of crime on society, restorative justice, the role of the church, each of the Sycamore Tree Project®sessions, and a prison visit.
According to Douw, “the STP material is meant to flavour these
individuals’ theology as emerging ministers; thereby flavouring the
mission and outreach of the future church to be more restorative,
forgiving, and healing in nature.”
A second training for lay leaders, theology students and others from the Methodist church took place on 28th and 29th
of July. Eleven students attended the training that focused on STP
facilitation. The training represents a continuing relationship between
PF South Africa and the Methodist Church in South Africa and will
become an annual event.
The Catholic Seminary in Pretoria requested a similar event for its students. PF South Africa is currently negotiating delivery of the training.
Follow up
In addition, July saw us extend on the training of 2010 by adding another day to grow this to a 5-day vocational intesive training aimed at establishing a strong theological foundation of Biblical Justice/Restorative Justice in the ministries of these young ministers.
Our relationship with the Methodist Church of Southern Africa continues to grow and prosper, boding well for future partnership projects and mobilisation of resources: human as well as financial and material.
I sincerely recommend drawing close to the mainline churches in your country, sharing the PF Vision with them and acting as catalyst for them to get involved in responding to crime Christ's way.
Regards & God bless
Douw Grobler