Cape Town seminary “trains the head, heart and hands”

Founded in 1974, Cape Town Baptist Seminary (CTBS) in South Africa has over 450 graduates. While the history of the seminary is denominational, students represent several denominations. The seminary also cooperates with interdenominational groups and other seminaries to foster the exchange of ideas, promote quality in accreditation goals and share library resources and lecturers. CTBS’s vision is to “train the head, heart and hands” as they specialize in pastoral, youth, children and missions training.

With a stable history and a culturally diverse faculty and staff, CTBS believes their academically, spiritually and practically-balanced program is a strength to the student body. All faculty have a PhD or are in the process of completing it, and all come from pastoral/missions backgrounds and are involved in local church ministries.

CTBS offers many courses focusing on contextual realities, including a new “Contemporary Issues” course, dealing with the realities of HIV/AIDS, restorative justice and abuse issues (drugs, sexual, physical). The seminary presents a monthly series of popular lectures “to get people thinking and equipped to respond” to issues, such as contemporary challenges to the Gospel. CTBS has now formally established an alumni association and plans to use their website to create an online alumni community.

Bachelor of Theology graduate Darren Botha became the Associate and Young Adults pastor at a local church after graduation and was involved in weekly Bible studies and youth adult counseling. While at seminary, he founded a Christian art t-shirt printing company to help fund his education. In addition, he is involved in Christian music and was instrumental in bringing Christian recording artists “Casting Crowns” to South Africa for a concert and to conduct youth ministry training workshops.