African Christian College has been equipping Africans with heavenly knowledge and understanding so that they can become strong and dedicated men and women to the Word of God in His kingdom. The college has prepared many graduates throughout Southern and East Africa. A recent alumnus, Admire Praymore Matata, shares his experience since graduating in November 2018.
“The merciful God really works in us,” Matata said.
In 2015, Matata visited his brother-in-law who was studying at African Christian College. During that one week, he came across people from different countries speaking different languages and having different cultural beliefs. From that visit, he developed the desire to study at this multicultural environment so that he could learn what other people do and believe in their countries. For Matata, the presence of different people at this institution indicated the merciful God putting nations together and showing them they are one. “This is just how God works in us,” said Matata.
Not only this, but Matata observed that African Christian College is a unique institution fit for every African student. He noticed that the school offers a generous scholarship and it provides students with an opportunity to work in the campus and pay their remaining balances if they don’t have any source of funds. He explained that the major challenge with most young Africans is the lack of financial support to pay school fees. Therefore, he saw this as a great opportunity for him to excel in his academic career.
Furthermore, Matata explained that he had been dreaming about working and serving people from different problems they encounter every day of their lives:
“When I saw that the school offers a counselling program, which I have been dreaming about in my life, I was so impressed. I decided to come and study at this wonderful institution.”
Admire Matata, 2018 Graduate
According to Matata, this again shows how merciful God is to his people for he believes it was God directing him to come to African Christian College.
Soon after graduation, Matata secured a volunteer job in South Africa at an organisation caring for orphans. “This year, I am working as a volunteer at Ikhaya Lontando Community Centre in South Africa. Ikhaya is a children’s home which takes care of boys from the ages of twelve to eighteen-years old. I am very glad to work with these children, because I am gaining experience in this field of counselling,” said Matata.
Through the knowledge he gained from studying at African Christian College, he is able to help his clients enjoy his presence and be free to talk to him. In his observation, Matata sees God working in him through the services he is offering to the orphans.
African Christian College also equipped him with knowledge on how to live and work with others by showing the love of Jesus to others. He is able to not judge his clients, listen attentively, and show them his concern for their story and life. He tells them the reality of life that it is only God who knows their future and encourages them to be strong in prayer and worship. He teaches them to build relationships between each other and helps them see life holistically.
“All these show me the mighty hand of God working in me because I never expected myself to be such a helper to these young children. This also tells me how merciful and organized our God is by calling me to this place so that I can feel what the children feel and learn more about how to treat others.”
Admire Matata, 2018 graduate
Through the knowledge he gained from African Christian College, Matata is able to prepare and deliver good sermons, help the church by doing home Bible studies every Wednesday night, and sing praise and worship during service without being shy.
Matata observed that in life the biggest challenge is to know who we are. Through African Christian College, Matata is now able to understand who he is in terms of behaviour, thinking, and goals because of the lessons he received there that helped him.
In addition, Matata explains that the school taught him to never give up in life but to keep on pressing toward what he wants until something happens. He is still using that knowledge in many different areas.
According to Matata, now when he sees himself and reflect back from where he is coming from, he sees the merciful God working in him through the services he is doing to these young boys.
Admire Praymore Matata is a 24-year-old young man from Zimbabwe who graduated from African Christian College with a Bachelor of Theology degree, majoring in counselling in 2018.