In celebrating the life and ministry of Nicholas Bhengu, a significant church leader who pioneered African evangelism, the Faculty of Theology and Religion recently hosted the Bhengu Memorial Lecture 2023, during which Dr Kelebogile Resane delivered the keynote address. 

Hosted in the Senate Hall on the Hatfield Campus of the University of Pretoria, this auspicious occasion drew in scores of visitors, both online and in person, for a time of reflection, instruction and fellowship.

As an annual event, the Bhengu Memorial lecture seeks to commemorate the impact Nicholas Bhengu had on the spread of the Christian Gospel during the last century, while honouring his leadership and providing space to explore, in theory, the current context of African missions and outreach. In the words of Dr Buhle Mpofu, a senior lecturer from the Department of Practical Theology and Mission Studies, as well as the primary coordinator of this lecture series:

“This lecture was long overdue because of the relevance of the life, teachings and the ministry of Bhengu for the church and our contemporary society, which are riddled with so many challenges. The teachings of Bhengu are profoundly significant because there is much to learn from him regarding his humble service and commitment to the vision of calling Africa back to God. He believed the message of the gospel can be a formidable asset for the emancipation of African masses, who face no lesser challenges that those Bhengu had to address within a polarised, divided and repressive environment with minimum resources.”

The gathering was graced by members of the Bhengu family, the Dean of the Faculty of Theology and Religion, Prof Rantoa Letšosa, and the wise words of Dr Kelebogile Resane, the full text of whose lecture can be downloaded here.