I love the country of my birth, South Africa. My grandparents are buried in Polokwane (Pietersburg). My parents planted churches in the Orange Free State and Transvaal and started a Bible college in the Western Cape in the mid- to late 20th century.
South Africa is currently in the news for several reasons, and I thought I would share links to some of my writing touching on South Africa over the years as well as two other articles addressing current news on the country. In my view, South Africa is a fragile country that could easily go one way or another in its politics, economy, violence, racism, academic institutions, and ecclesiastical health. It has been in constant decline under ANC leadership for thirty years. The country also needs wise engagement through mission agencies, churches, and Evangelical denominations working together, especially in theological education.
My Writing Related to South Africa:
Bible and Mission: Engaging Mission Theology Scholarship: Stewards of Grace: A Reflective, Mission Biography of Eugene and Phyllis Grams in South Africa, 1951-1962. This introduces my book: Rollin G. Grams, Stewards of Grace: A Reflective, Mission Biography of Eugene and Phyllis Grams in South Africa, 1951-1962 (Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2010).
Bible and Mission: The Economy of Forgiveness Trades in the Currency of Mercy
Bible and Mission: Major Challenges Facing South Africa, 2020
Bible and Mission: Immigration and Violence in South Africa, and Contours of a Christian Response
Mission as Theological Education in Africa 6: Academic Challenges in African Universities
Bible and Mission: Mission as Theological Education in Africa 5: Issues to Pursue in theological education in Africa. This is an article summarising a book addressing problems in African universities, particularly in South Africa: R. W. Johnson, African University: The Critical Case of South Africa and the Tragedy of the UKZN (Tafelberg Short, 2012).
The Postmodern University and Its New Methodologies. This article originated after hearing of some postmodern methodologies for graduate research promoted at a seminary in the University of Pretoria. It gives a brief summary of the new methodologies, which show how the current decline in education at a large number of Western universities (places like Harvard, Columbia, Stanford, etc.) is just as present in the once strong universities in South Africa.
Other Recommended Articles on Current Discussion of South Africa:
Victor Davis Hanson has a good article on South Africa: The So-Called Trump-Ramaphosa ‘Ambush’ - Victor Davis Hanson
Helpful article on the killing of white farmers: MSM wrong - S Africa's white farmers' murder rate three times higher - The Conservative Woman
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