Firstly, a commendation to Hedley Stead for the work he is doing to maintain a sense of fellowship between the BI students of his day. My years of 1966 and 1967 coincided with one of Hedley’s years (1966). From BI days I have been involved with my profession as an Engineering Surveyor. I retired in about 2006

After BI it took me a long time before I again got down to formal theological studies. In about 2000 on the strength of my BI diploma I was admitted to the BTh (Hons) program of the University of Zululand as a distance-learning student. This was the brainchild of Professor Arthur Song a lovely Christian brother with whom we have maintained contact in his retirement. Success at this level led to my tackling an MTh.

My thesis had to do with narrative homiletics and Arthur was my supervisor. My home town of Pietermaritzburg is the centre of five important Bible Institutes which attract students locally and from far afield in Africa. I examined the homiletics courses at each institution for a narrative or “story preaching” content. When interviewing a selection of students I was shocked at a typical response to one of my questions: “I study the method of preaching I am taught in the Bible Institute so that I can pass the exams but when I go home I preach in a Bible story method because that alone is what they understand.” Of the five institutes the only one with a significant narrative preaching content was the Roman Catholic institution. With the Lord’s help I achieved a cum laude result with the thesis.

For about thirty years my wife and I have been members of Christ Church Pietermaritzburg (Ch. Of Eng. In SA. – now known as REACH SA). Christ Church is a fairly large church and we have been blessed by the number of opportunities we have had of serving the Lord. I have preached regularly twice per month, mainly at homes for the elderly. This year I have sensed that the time has come to pass this ministry on to others. In the church we have a well-structured system of fourteen Growth Groups (home Bible Studies) in the city. My wife and I lead one in our home. The Sunday morning sermon will deal with the subject which is to be studied in the group during the following week. The group leaders meet for discussions once a fortnight.

We are blessed to have both our children living in Pietermaritzburg. Pierre (married to Donné) is a Civil Engineer. They have four children. Pierre is an elder in Church on the Ridge, independent, evangelical and reformed. Leanne (unmarried) is Remedial Teacher at a primary school. She is an active member of Ch. on the Ridge.

Unfortunately failing health precludes my flying to Cape Town for a reunion.
It was the same situation last month when my niece was married in Tanzania and I was offered an all-expenses paid trip to the wedding! But such is life. How good the Lord has been, far beyond what our feeble efforts deserve!

Rejoice with us that our family all love Jesus.
Please pray for us for continued faithfulness to him.

Rob Queripel