Global School of Theology – Western Cape

After serving in Nairobi, Kenya for 19 years, Mark and I were called to Cape Town, South Africa, and on February 6, 2006 we assumed the leadership of Global School of Theology-Western Cape (GST-WC).  During our first four years, Mark was the principal and I served as his Administrative Assistant, an advisor to the Student Life Office and taught the Marriage and Family course.  As a current member of the Board of Directors, Mark has been tasked with the responsibility to assist in drafting the documents needed for the re-accreditation process which culminates with an extremely important inspection at the end of this month. Literally, the fate of the future of our school will be determined by this inspection. Please join us in prayer that the Lord will go before us once again to give the Bible school favor with the South African government.

GST-WC is not the original name of the school. A few years ago, it was called Cape Theological Seminary. However, when the school opened its doors in 1986, it was called Cape College of Theology.  The reason for all the name changes is not relevant to the story which takes us back to the year 1982 and a missionary by the name of Gene Grahams. The following is an excerpt from his personal account of the day he met “Angels in Uniform”:

“I am going to establish a Bible college in Cape Town, and I want you to help Me.”

That hot February afternoon in 1982, I was pondering the victories the Lord had given my wife Phyllis and me during our years in South Africa. Suddenly, I heard the Lord tell me He was going to establish a Bible college in Cape Town. He indicated that the school would be different  from any Bible college in the country: it would be multiracial. Students of different races would live in the same dormitories.

“I’m going to use this school to bring reconciliation between races, between families, and between churches,” the Lord said. “I already have the place reserved, and in My time I will lead you to it.”

“Lord,” I prayed, “if this is You, please repeat Your message.”

I heard the message again, word for word, and I knew I was hearing the voice of God. My wife and I went to Cape Town, on the southwest coast of South Africa, and looked for property for the school. But we found nothing.

In addition to property, we needed a permit to open the school. But at that time, obtaining an unrestricted permit for students of different races to attend the same residential school was nearly impossible.

I was granted an interview with the private secretary to a government cabinet minister to discuss the possibility of obtaining a permit. As I got into our Speed-the-Light car to go to the meeting, I began to weep. I felt the presence of two individuals in the car, one sitting next to me and one in the back seat. But I didn’t see anyone.

My appointment was at the Hendrik Verwoerd Building. As I drove, I realized I had forgotten to ask where it was. I knew the offices of the cabinet members would have to be near the parliament building, so I decided to park there.

Two policemen were standing nearby when I got out of the car. I hurriedly approached them. “Excuse me, gentlemen,” I said. “I have a very important appointment at 2 o’clock in the Hendrik Verwoerd Building. Would you please direct me?”

One of the policemen stepped forward with a smile and said, “ Could I have the privilege of accompanying you?”

My, I thought, these are the friendliest policemen I’ve ever met.

As we walked, the policeman said, “You are here on very important business and God is well pleased with it. God has chosen you to help Him in this school.”

I had never seen this man before, I had said nothing to him about the school. In a few words, I tried to explain my mission.

Then the policeman said we would face problems in establishing the school. “From time to time, you will wish somebody else could do it. God’s will is going to be accomplished, but it will be delayed if you don’t follow as He leads you.”

We arrived in a large courtyard in front of a building. “This is the building where you have your appointment,” the policeman said, “I have one last thing to tell you before I leave. Don’t take any credit to yourself for what God is going to do.”

My mind was going in 40 different directions, and I glanced toward the building for a moment. Then I thought I would ask the policeman if I could meet him for lunch. I wanted to ask him how he knew these things. But when I turned back, he was gone. The courtyard was large, and there was no place he could have stood without being seen. Nor could he have taken leave of me without me noticing.

Thank you, Lord, I prayed. I never realized what great importance you placed upon this project. Help me to be faithful in working with You.

As they say, the rest is history.  CCT>CTS>GST-WC became the first institution during the Apartheid era where blacks, coloreds, and whites were permitted to attend the same school and even share the same dorm rooms.  This was UNHEARD OF in those days!  God had given Gene Grahams favor with the government officials when he insisted that the school be integrated. Over the next twelve years when Apartheid ended in 1994, the seminary remained fully integrated and remains so to this day.