South African seminary is a leading force in addressing HIV/AIDS epidemic

Founded in 1982, the Evangelical Seminary of Southern Africa (ESSA) in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, is one of the leading evangelical training centers in Sub-Saharan Africa and has over 250 graduates. The ESSA staff has a broad background in missions, education and Africa-based experiences and seeks to develop Africans who are true servant leaders.

Along with challenges like poverty, hunger, unemployment and related development issues, the HIV/AIDS epidemic is a great challenge in South Africa. For many years, the seminary has been at the forefront of training ministers and other Christian leaders to address this crisis and is often sought for help by other training centers across the continent. The ESSA Christian AIDS Program was launched 10 years ago to help churches and communities with training, information and practical help. The seminary has been a leading force in integrating training for AIDS into the curriculum as well and has hosted conferences on the subject.

In addition, the seminary’s Bachelor of Theology program has a Development Track aimed at empowering graduates in poverty alleviation, creating job opportunities and hunger relief. ESSA is also developing a diploma-level course for chaplains to enhance their skills and formal qualifications.

Diploma of Theology graduate Delipher Manda and her husband, an ESSA graduate, say they could see the impact their training was having in the lives of men and women as they led the healing department of the Breakthru Church International. Today, Delipher is studying at ESSA for her Bachelor of Theology degree and says that she and her husband plan to co-lead a ministry to initiate healing and development in churches, “binding up broken lives and relationships and empowering people to develop themselves.”