By Michelle Adserias
Vuyani Ndumela sat in a prison cell. The legal system’s purpose for sending him there was to pay the penalty for his past crimes. But God’s purpose for this young man’s incarceration was to show him the penalty for all his sins — past, present and future — had already been paid by Jesus on the cross.
Vuyani never heard the gospel as a child. Although he saw others going to church on Sunday mornings, his family didn’t attend and no one else ever invited him. So, when a fellow prisoner, Juwaine, befriended him and explained how he could find new life in Christ. Vuyani surrendered his life to Christ in 2020.
Since then, he has devoted himself to following Christ and being a student of God’s Word. Reverend Neil Henry began visiting and teaching Vuyani sound doctrine while he was still behind bars, and continued pastoring him after he was released. In time, Vuyani enrolled in an unaccredited Bible school headed by Reverend Henry and Reverend Christo April. And that his how his formal Bible training began.
When Reverend Henry took a position with Mukhanyo Theological College, he helped Vuyani register as a student at the Montrose Park location and pursue a Higher Certificate in Bible Training. Vuyani is so thankful for this opportunity to grow in His faith and spiritual understanding. “What I’ve enjoyed most is that I get to sit under God’s Word, hearing the Scriptures being explained and taught faithfully by godly men of integrity,” Vuyani said. “Being part of a school that hold the Bible central is essential in these days where there are many false teachers around.”
He was helped along the way when a donor learned of his dedication and gave him a bicycle to help him get to and from the school in a timely manner. It also helps him get to and from his job as a carpenter. “I have never been given a gift like this!”
Vuyani plans to graduate in 2026. Armed with his knowledge of God’s Word and his desire to serve God, he believes God is leading him to pastor a church. But he also believes God is calling him to teach others, just as he has been taught. “With my certificate, I would apply to Mukhanyo so I may continue to serve the church by developing leaders in biblical knowledge and sound theology.”
God has His own mysterious ways of accomplishing His purposes. Vuyani’s life is evidence that God is at work throughout our lives, orchestrating everything — the good and the bad — to our good and His glory. That’s why his favorite verse is Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.”
Vuyani explained, “I believe that while this is a prophecy to the people of God, through Jeremiah, God was speaking to me [when I read this verse]. Even though I was in exile, away from family and friends, God was having plans for my life, not to harm me but for me to have hope and a future.”
Over these past five years, Vuyani has become absolutely convinced that life without Christ is nothing, “like a fish without water — dead!” He advises those he meets to be reconciled to God through the finished work of Jesus on the cross and allow Him to be Lord of their lives.
“Any obstacles, challenges we are facing as mankind, God can solve if we seek Him wholeheartedly.”
Mukhanyo Theological College NPC is a registered higher education institution. Their desire is to provide equip present and future church leaders to understand and apply God’s Word and inspire kingdom vision amongst their faculty and students. They offer the following accredited programs:
- Higher Certificate in Bible Teaching
- Higher Certificate in Church Ministry
- Bachelor of Theology
- Bachelor of Theology Honours
