INTERVIEWS

 

In Discussion with Pieter Verster

 

 

G. van der Watt

Dr. G. van der Watt, Research fellow, Dept. Practical and Missional Theology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein. E-mail: missio@ngkvs.co.za; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5993-636X

 

 

GvdW: When you are due to retire, one normally reflects on one's life and contribution. How do you feel about this at the moment?

PV: Thinking back, the words of David in 1 Chronicles 17 verse 16 come to mind where he explains that he and his family are not worthy, but have been blessed so much by the Lord. I had some health challenges in my life, but the Lord helped me reach this point in time. My family and especially my wife supported me throughout. I have had the great opportunity to be a minister of religion for some time and to teach students the wonders of mission and missiology. I am grateful to the University of the Free State for giving me the opportunity to teach mission and to do research regarding this delightful discipline. I served under five deans, and all of them have made it possible for me to teach missiology without interference. I also want to acknowledge the promoters of my doctoral studies, Prof. Carel Boshoff and Prof. Johan Heyns, as well as my predecessor in missiology, Prof. Koos Smit.

GvdW: Please give us a brief biographical summary: Where did you grow up, study, work? Tell us about your family, special interests/hobbies.

PV: I was born and bred in the Free State. Born in Heilbron, I later started school at Vrede Primary School, continued in Bloemfontein at Willem Postma Primary School and matriculated from Grey College High School. I did my admission BA at the University of the Free State and completed my theological studies at the University of Pretoria. I obtained my two doctorates from the University of Pretoria. I studied for a while in Europe and was then called to the Dutch Reformed Bloemfontein North Congregation (the so-called Klipkerk), where I served for roughly 9 blessed years with superb colleagues, Dr Frans Burger and Rev. Fanie Schoonees, their wives and families. In 1992, I was called by the church to the Faculty of Theology, at that time a faculty of the Dutch Reformed Church. Soon after my appointment, it became an open faculty.

I was blessed with the most wonderful parents, Koos and Frida Verster, who were also born and bred in the Free State. My three brothers and their wives, my sister and her husband, and their families play a positive role in my life. I am grateful to God for my lovely wife Ernéne, and our children Wanda, Frida, and Pieter Lafras, as well as my son-in-law Wilhelm Odendaal.

Rugby always played an important role in the Verster family, but I never reached the high levels of rugby as my brothers did.

I love literature, especially Afrikaans literature, and a few of my poems have been published in literary journals. My golf was a total disaster: I looked for missing golf balls for many hours and ultimately gave up, for there is more to life!

GvdW: Why are you interested in theology, specifically in missiology?

PV: My upbringing in the Christian faith by my parents and my grandparents is an absolute privilege. To have been raised in such a positive Afrikaans, Christian family was unbelievable. After my matric year, Brother Andrew came to Bloemfontein and challenged young people to become involved in mission. It had a massive influence on my life. I got involved in the Dutch Reformed mission to the Communist world and distributed Bibles to foreign ships and boats in Walvis Bay harbour, Cape Town harbour, and other harbours in South Africa. As the secretary of the church's outreach, Rev. Pieter de Wet greatly inspired me.

I had the privilege to study at the Universities of the Free State and Pretoria. I found theology and, more specifically, missiology the most interesting disciplines. To me, these disciplines were never something to be developed in ivory towers. They have meaning for this life and the future life with Christ.

GvdW: Why did you obtain a second PhD, and was it worthwhile?

PV: I did a PhD in Systematic Theology and Ethics with Prof. Johan Heyns as promoter. It was on the ministry of reconciliation during revolutionary times. It blended in well with my first PhD on salvation in the light of Marxism Leninism in Southern Africa of that time. Missiology and systematic theology have many aspects that are important for both disciplines. My interest remained, in both instances, in how the church can be relevant in revolutionary times by remaining true to the essence of the Gospel, namely that God loved the world so much that He gave his only Son so that whosoever believes in Him may not perish, but have eternal life.

GvdW: What were your focus areas in missiology and why were they so important to you? For instance, Christology played an important role in your definition of missiology. You wrote a book on that. Please explain this approach.

PV: I have always regarded the challenges in South Africa in revolutionary times as most important for missiology. The philosophical background of Marxism-Leninism and a Christian apologetical reply to the challenges in revolutionary times interested me a great deal. The miracle of, through the Grace of God only, bringing people out of darkness to the magnificent light of Jesus Christ has always been crucial to me. The plight of people in informal settlements and the failure of governments to come up with policies to change it, challenged me to seek the church's involvement. Essential in these regards remains the proclamation of Jesus Christ as Lord. The confession of Christ as verily God and verily human remains absolute. Since my early days, my minister in the Berg-en-Dal congregation of the DRC, Dr Tienie Zeeman's emphasis on the Divinity of Christ has remained the confession on my lips. Reading Athanasius during my Honours in Greek urged me to proclaim that all the more. This led to my book on Christ and mission. I am also indebted to Prof. Bram van de Beek's insights in this regard. Christ's divinity touches every aspect of mission. My book was written in Afrikaans as protest against the present rejection of this beautiful language and written on the implications of Jesus' divinity for missions as protest against many theologians' present disregard of this confession. The positive aspects of Christology are huge for mission and missiology, especially at present. I also plan a book to explain the huge implications of confession regarding the Holy Spirt and God the Father for mission.

GvdW: You also focused a great deal on reconciliation - on Christ the Reconciler. Could you briefly elaborate on this?

PV: There is a deep need for reconciliation in South Africa and the world. In my research, I tried to follow the line of the great reconciliation passage, namely 2 Corinthians 5:11-21: Christ is the One for the others, He gave Himself for all. He who was without sin was made sin so that we can be reconciled with God. From this reconciliation flows the reconciliation with the others. This message must remain central in mission.

GvdW: You did much research on poverty in our townships. Are you hopeful that the church can indeed play a role in healing our broken communities?

PV: I am rather pessimistic about the situation in poverty-stricken areas. We need economic policies that will enhance entrepreneurship and create more jobs. A person who has an occupation has self-respect and hope for the future. The church must be a positive instrument in empowering people to create work and enhance the future of the community. Soup kitchens and bread distribution have limited effect. What is needed is a positive economy and the church's role in this regard is to empower people to do that.

GvdW: During the past few decades, there have been big changes in the discipline of missiology. The missional discourse, decolonisation, dialogue between faiths, and a focus on community development are but a few of these changes. What is your view for missiology in the future?

PV: There is the story of the government (I think in Brazil) who built a bridge but did not take into account that the river could shift, and the bridge became obsolete. Some say that this is the missiology of the past. I have a different view. Recently, I walked across the centuries-old Charles Bridge in Prague. It still stands. Missiology, deeply grounded in the confessions, and proclaiming Christ's Divinity and humanity, is still needed. It does not mean that the challenges of the present day such as decolonisation and the fourth industrial revolution do not need to be addressed fully. Mission committed to the apostolic faith remains essential. I am concerned that missiology and theology, in general, are very often sold out to the present-day philosophical ideas. These ideas are important, but sound theology must always seek to listen to the Word of God in all earnestness and at all times. The solas of the Reformation, namely sola Scriptura, sola fide, sola gratia, and solus Christus must always and at all times remain essential to theology and missiology. Missiology must engage all the new challenges, but must also remain true to the essence of the Gospel.

GvdW: Jy het ook 'n besondere belangstelling in die Afrikaanse letterkunde. Jy het selfs 'n digbundel die lig laat sien. Vertel 'n bietjie meer hiervan. Is daar 'n verband tussen letterkunde en teologie, die woord en die Woord?

PV: In my ouerhuis was daar 'n groot liefde vir die letterkunde, veral Afrikaanse letterkunde. NP van Wyk Louw was 'n geliefde digter in ons huis. My liefde vir Afrikaans is deur die jare steeds gevoed deur onderwysers, dosente en vriende. Enkele van my gedigte en kortverhale is deur die jare in letterkundige tydskrifte opgeneem. Ek het hierdie en ander gedigte gebundel in die bundel, Die breek van eerste lig. Teologie, die sending en die letterkunde het veel in gemeen. Groot digters se worsteling met God dien steeds tot nadenke. In Afrikaans is daar verskeie gedigte wat as diep Christelik beskou sal kan word. Daar is ook gedigte uit 'n ander oord wat uit sendingkundige oogpunt vrae stel, soos die gedigte van Breyten Breytenbach, en wat dus ook ontleed moet word. Dit geld ewe-eens vir romans en dramas.

GvdW: Gaan jy die kollegas en studente mis? Watter planne het jy vir na aftrede?

PV: Sedert 1992 is ek as dosent betrokke by die Fakulteit Teologie. Dit sal uiteraard groot aanpassing verg om nou 'n nuwe lewensfase te betree. Verskeie gesprekke in die teekamer en elders het tot nuwe insigte gelei en mens sal dit mis. Groot is ook my waardering vir die ondersteuningspersoneel wat my deur die jare besonder bygestaan het. Ek het baie respek vir die studente wat onder die huidige, moeilike omstandighede steeds kies om teologie te studeer. Sendingtoere wat ek met hulle meegemaak het, bly my steeds by. Ek sal in die toekoms steeds navorsing wil doen. Ek sal ook graag wil skryf, akademies en letterkundig. Dan sal ek ook nou die wêreld wil verken met Ernéne en my kinders. En ek sal in die kerk betrokke wil bly; ek wil bly getuig: Alles, alles is genade onverdiende guns alleen.

 

TORSO

Die lou asem wat in U longe beweeg

ruk U liggaam terug in voorlaaste sug,

die lewe is soos 'n vlag wat oulaas val.

Papirus sonder letters hou wonde leeg.

Nou wag slegs die stil vroue op die dood,

terwyl hulle soos moeders van soldate

vertoef by die rou liggaam. terwyl die kordate

soldate nog oor bloednat klere loot.

'n Geliefde word trou weer weggelê.

Staan nader - rituele van lewe,

fluisterend oor wat Hy so helder wou sê

Is daar belofte in die leë liggaam?

Al die trane van die dood is opgeberg,

as ons ons ten dode werp op U mooi Naam.

Uit die bundel: Pieter Verster, Die breek van eerste lig

 

PUBLICATIONS

Journals

1982. Die letterkunde en die Christen: Enkele riglyne. Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe 22 (3):216-229.

1990. Die ontwerp van 'n dogmaties-etiese versoeningsmodel, gegrond op "die bediening van die versoening" in 2 Kor 5:11-21. Acta Theologica 10(1):57-77.

1991. Politiek en teologie: Oos-Europa 1990: Barth agterhaal? Ned Geref Teologiese Tydskrif 32(4):614-621.

1992. Kerk en politiek: die Kuitert-Schillebeecx debat. Ned Geref Teologiese Tydskrif 33(2):255-260.

1993. Die "sending" aan die seelui van die Ned. Geref. Kerk: Sendingdoel en sendingmetode. Ned Geref Teologiese Tydskrif 34(3):385-394.

1993. Religieuse verwysings in "Onse Hymie", eties en Christelik religieus beoordeel. Tydskrif vir Christelike Wetenskap 29(2):94-102

1994. Die "godsbegrip van die Afrikaner" met verwysing na "Die Kreef raak gewoond daaraan" van André P. Brink. In die Skriflig 28(4):645-656.

1994. Die kerk en die arme: 'n Herbesinning. Ned Geref Teologiese Tydskrif 35(3):442-453.

1994. Die verhouding van die godsdienste tot mekaar: Hoër konsensus, godsdiensekumene en dialoog van nader bekyk. Acta Theologica 14(1):105-118.

1994. The gospel in the squatter camp: A missiological approach. Mission Bulletin. 14(3): 3-15.

1995. Bedieningstrategieë in die lig van huidige godsdienstrominge. Acta Theologica 15(1):84-92.

1995. Die kerk en die samelewing. Die verhouding tussen kerk en koninkryk. Tydskrif vir Christelike Wetenskap 31(1,2):81-98.

1996. Teenswoordige heil, verbond en sending. Skrif en Kerk 17(1):215-236. https://doi.org/10.4102/ve.v17i1.1137

1996. The gospel in the "apartheid" city Botshabelo. Missionalia 24(3):410-421.

1997. Armoede in Afrika: 'n Lewens- en wêreldbeskoulike probleem? Tydskrif vir Christelike Wetenskap 33(1,2):103-122.

1997. (Saam met Van Vuuren S.J.E.J.). Belewing van die missionêre diakonaat in informele behuisingsgmeenskappe in die Vrystaatse platteland: 'n Vergelyking tussen twee groepe. Ned Geref Teologiese Tydskrif 38(3):157-170.

1997. All-inclusive mission: A discussion of transforming mission (1991) by D.J. Bosch. In die Skriflig 31(3):251-266.

1997. Armoede in Afrika: 'n Lewens- en wêreldbeskoulike probleem? Tydskrif vir Christelike Wetenskap 33(1,2):103-122.

1997. Lukas 4:16-30 in sendingperspektief. Ned Geref Teologiese Tydskrif 37(4):550-557.

1998. The missiological implications of baptism in African context. Theological Forum 26(2):10-17.

1998. Van veroordeling (Babilon) tot heil (Die nuwe Jerusalem): Kontoer vir sending in die stad. Ned Geref Teologiese Tydskrif 39(4):325-333.

1999. Die dag van die Here in "As Silo kom" van Hennie Jones. Literator 20(1):89-102. https://doi.org/10.4102/lit.v20i1.451

1999. Sending in die nabloei van die Marxisme-Leninisme. Skrif en Kerk 20(1):207-218. https://doi.org/10.4102/ve.v20i1.1175

2000. Die bemagtiging van die armes. Acta Theologica 20(2):138-150.

2000. (Saam met Nel, P.J. en Namukoa, E.W.). Montoheistic understanding of the divine in African religion, Christianity and Islam. Acta Theologica 20(1):90-111.

2000. Religious pluralism and the uniqueness of the salvation in Christ. Theological Forum 28(3,4): 40-46. Dec.

2000. Sending rondom die eeuwending steeds uniek Christelik? Kaleidoskoop

2000. Artikels oor die teologie. Acta Theologica Supplementum (1):327-251.

2000. (Saam met Cronjé, V.J.). Temaversterkers as kategorie van nie-egte vrae in die Romeinebrief. Ned Geref Teologiese Tydskrif 41(3,4):196-211.

2001. 'n Bevrydendende woord vir Afrika? "The liberating message" van B.J. van der Walt. In die Skriflig 35(3): 461-474.

2001. 'n Beoordeling van vriendskapsevangelisasie onder die Moslem-gemeenskap in die lig van ander benaderings. Ned Geref Teologiese Tydskrif 43(3,4):461-474.

2001. Die implikasies van stellings as kategorie van nie-egte vrae in Romeine. Acta Theologica 21(1):198-214.

2002. Die bemagtiging van die armes in informele behuisingsgemeenskappe in Mangaung. [The empowerment of the poor in informal housing units in Mangaung]. Acta Theologica 22(2):262-274.

2002. Conversion as primary aim of mission? A discussion with Willem Saayman on reformed missiology. Missionalia 30 (1):39-45.

2002 Gedeelde kontekstuele kennis in die brief aan die Romeine. Tydskrif vir Christelike Wetenskap 38(1,2):121-133.

2002. Jesus is ons versoening: Die implikasies van die versoening vir die sending. [Jesus is our reconciliation: the implications of reconciliation for mission]. Ned Geref Teologiese Tydskrif 43(3,4):631-640.

2002 (Saam met Schoeman, L.G. en Kritzinger, J.J.) Die wit kerk en swart nood: Is daar nog sout in die soutpot oor? Opmerkings oor die betrokkenheid van die wit kerk by die MIV/Vigs pandemie in Suid-Afrika. Verbum et Ecclesia 23(2):468-480. https://doi.org/10.4102/ve.v23i2.1220

2003 Aktiewe gemeente-betrokkenheid by die missionêre diakonaat: 'n Ondersoek in 'n gemeente van die NGKA in Mangaung. Acta Theologica 23(2):254-267.

2003 Muslim evangelism: A continuing discussion. REC Focus 3(2) June (Islam and Christianity).

2003. Sending in gebrokenheid: 'n Perspektief op Paulus. Tydskrif vir Christelike Wetenskap 39(3,4):161-174.

2004. (With Hancke, F). Common "critical success factors" that determine the mission impact of the local church. Missionalia 32(1):102-120.

2004. (With Afeke, B.) Christianisation of ancestor veneration within African traditional religions: An evaluation. In die Skriflig 38(1):1-15.

2004. "And Africa will be saved!"? Nadenke oor die kerk, die sending en die nood van Sub-Sahara Afrika. Acta Theologica Supplementum 6. Die Woord verwoord. Artikels oor die teologie. Eeufeesviering, Universiteit van die Vrystaat: 240-258

2004. Die versoening in Christus: ''n Perspektief op aspekte van die Nederlandse debat. Tydskrif vir Christelike Wetenskap 40(3,4):211-228.

2004. 'n Christosentriese benadering van die gereformeerde leer as uitgangspunt van die sending. Ned Geref Teologiese Tydskrif 45(3,4):742-750.

2004. Respek vir die lewe en die doodstraf volgens die perspektief van Genesis 9:5-6. Acta Theologica 24(2):168-179.

2005. Jesus die Here: 'n Apologetiese beskouing van die uniekheid van Jesus Christus in vergelyking met godsdiensfigure. Tydskrif vir Christelike Wetenskap 41(3,4):119-138.

2005. Die begronding van die sending by Paulus in die lig van sy erkenning van die Godheid van Christus. Ned Geref Teologiese Tydskrif 46(3,4):636-650.

2007. Geweld in die versoening: Vrae aan 2 Korintiërs 5:11-21. Ned Geref Teologiese Tydskrif 48(1,2): 296-306.

2007. The implications of non-authentic questions in Galatians. Acta Theologica Supplementum 9. 2007. Exploring New Rhetorical Approaches to Galatians: Papers presented at an International Conference, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein. March 13-14. 2006 (DF Tolmie (Ed.)):142-161.

2007. Jesaja 19 as sendingteks. Ned Geref Teologiese Tydskrif 48(3,4):699-706.

2007. (With Jonck, P. en Le Roux, A.). Lidmate se houding teenoor kerkvereniging in die NGK-familie: 'n Kruiskulturele ondersoek na enkele veranderlikes. Acta Theologica 27(1):59-82. https://doi.org/10.4314/actat.v27i1.5492

2007. (Saam met Jonck, P. en Le Roux, A. ). 'n Sosiaal-psigologiese perspektief op lidmate in die Mangaung-area se houding teenoor kerkverening in die Nederduits Gereformeerde kerkfamilie: 'n Kruiskulturele ondersoek. In die Skriflig 41(1):45-68.

2007. Tussen modernisme, postmodernisme en nuwe realisme: 'n Uitweg vir die Christelike teologie? Tydskrif vir Christelike Wetenskap 43(1,2):125-136.

2008. Atonement and new life: contours for theology in desperate situations. Ciências da Religião. Journal Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie. 5(2):75-92. http://www4.mackenzie.com.br/10502.html.

2008. (With Sukdaven, M. and Van Vuuren, S.). Inclusive or exclusive? An analysis of the missiological responses of the Reformed Church in Africa (RCA) towards inhabitants of informal settlements. Ned Geref Teologiese Tydskrif 49(3,4):360-375.

2008. Die persoon van vrede in die sending. Acta Theologica 28(2):165-179.

2008. Selfbemagtiging as instrument in die bestryding van armoede. Tydskrif vir Christelike Wetenskap 44(3,4):115-129.

2008. Vergifnis. Tydskrif vir Christelike Wetenskap 44(1,2):65-77.

2009. Calvyn en sending na aanleiding van sy kommentaar op die brief aan die Romeine. Ned Geref Teologiese Tydskrif 50:670-680.

2009. The Christian church and the alleviation of poverty: New challenges in informal areas. The International Journal of the Humanities 7(5):91-104. https://doi.org/10.18848/1447-9508/CGP/v07i05/42679.

2009. The "Conversion of Paul" and Christian mission today. Tydskrif vir Christelike Wetenskap (spesiale uitgawe 1):117-133.

2009. Divine election and man's culpability for rejecting the gospel. Testamentum Imperium 2:1-11. www.PreciousHeart.net/ti.

2009. Die etiek van die Christelike sending. Tydskrif vir Christelike Wetenskap 45(1,2):231-250.

2009. Die liefde van God as 'n aanknopingspunt vir 'n gesprek met Moslems: Die rol van Joh 3:16. Acta Theologica 29:151-168.

2009. A missiological approach to poverty and xenophobia. Theologia Viatorum (Special edition). 33(2):281-301.

2009. Skrifberoep en die hantering daarvan in die sending. In die Skriflig 43:793-816.

2010. Armoede, gelykheid en 'n herbesinning oor ekonomiese bestaan: 'n Christelik-etiese benadering. Ned Geref Teologiese Tydskrif 51(3,4): 193-204.

2011. 'n Christosentriese benadering deur die kerk tot die krisis wat deur armoede en vigs meegebring word. Tydskrif vir Christelike Wetenskap 47(1):117-131.

2011. Hemel en hel: 'n Sendingperspektief. Ned Geref Teologiese Tydskrif 52(3,4):614-627.

2011. Die kerk en mense op straat in die informele behuisingsgebiede in Mangaung/Bloemfontein. Verbum et Ecclesia 32(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.4102/ve.v32i1.466.

2011. The task and place of missiology at the public university. Acta Theologica Supplementum 14:141-159.

2012. A church with the poor: Lessons from scripture and congregations in informal settlements. Acta Theologica Supplementum 16:70-88.

2012. Empowering the poor: The Bible and the poor in informal settlements in Africa with reference to Mangaung, South Africa. In R.G. Masiiwa & J. Kügler (Eds.) The Bible and politics in Africa. Bamberg: University of Bamberg Press) pp 314-339. (Bible in Africa Studies 7)

2012. Jesus who himself had no permanent abode, and the displaced. In H. Yan (Ed.) International proceedings of economic development and research: Humanities, Society and Culture 11, (Hong Kong: ACSIT Press), pp. 163-166.

2012. Die sendingimplikasies van Kolossense 1:15-20. Ned Geref Teologiese Tydskrif 53(3&4):402-413.

2013. (With Pali, K.J.). The church and mission: challenges to and perspectives from the DRCA (NGKA) in the Free State. Tydskrif vir Christelike Wetenskap 49(3):227-255.

2013. (With Petersen, G.) Mission among Nomads: The case of the Ovahimba. Ned Geref Teologiese Tydskrif 54(1,2) :1-12. http://ngtt.journals.ac.za. https://doi.org/10.5952/54-1-2-317.

2013. (With Pali, K.J.) The church and mission: Challenges to and perspectives from the DRCA (NGKA) in the Free State. Tydskrif vir Christelike Wetenskap 49(3):227-255.

2013. (With Hancke, F.J.vH.). Comprehensive personal witness: A model to enlarge missional involvement of the local church. Missionalia 41(3):270-289. http://missionalia.journals.ac.za doi: http://dx.doi.org/10/7832/41-3-39 (Published in 2014).

2013. They did it for Christ's sake: An appraisal of the missionary movement in Africa. Tydskrif vir Christelike Wetenskap 49(1,2):147-162.

2013. Toekomsverwagting en hoop by inwoners in die informele nedersettings rondom Bloemfontein. Ned Geref Teologiese Tydskrif 54(3,4):1-12.

2013. Versoening met God in "30 nagte in Amsterdam" van Etienne van Heerden. Litnet 2013. https://www.litnet.co.za/versoening-met-god-in-30-nagte-in-amsterdam-deur-etienne-van-heerden/.

2014. Missiology: Rise, demise and future at the university. Ned Geref Teologiese Tydskrif 55(3,4):879-893 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.5952/55-3-4-670.

2014. Watter ryk man sal gered word? Riglyne uit 1 Timoteus 6. Tydskrif vir Christelike Wetenskap 50(3):111-131.

2014. (With Carstens, J.). Work the quintessential commission given to mankind: A missiological approach. Tydskrif vir Christelike Wetenskap (JCS) 50(2):125-147.

2015. A Christological approach to poverty in Africa: Following Christ amidst the needy. HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies; 71(1):1-8. doi: https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v71i1.2090

2015. Inspiration from the Gospel for the fullness of life in the informal settlements in Mangaung, Free State Province, South Africa. Stellenbosch Theological Journal (formerly NGTT: Ned Geref Teologiese Tydskrif) 1(2):761-781. https://doi.org/10.17570/stj.2015.v1n2.a36.

2015. Die soeke na God in "Groot ode" van N.P. Van Wyk Louw. LitNet Akademies Jaargang 12(3):546-565. https://www.litnet.co.za/die-soeke-na-god-in-groot-ode-van-n-p-van-wyk-louw/.

2016. Abode in heaven. Missionalia 44(1):19-33.

2016. Conflicting models for mission and reconciliation: Future perspectives. Stellenbosch Theological Journal 2(2):621-644.

2016. Conversion and transformation: An evaluation of Paul's experience. Ponte 72(12): doi: https://doi.org/10.21506Zj.ponte.2016.12.26.

2016. 'n Teologies-etiese oorweging van die christelike sending en die invloed daarvan op morele waardes in Suid-Afrika. LitNet Akademies 13(3):555-581. https://www.litnet.co.za/n-teologies-etiese-oorweging-van-die-christelike-sending-en-die-invloed-daarvan-op-morele-waardes-suid-afrika.

2016. Using films to enhance theological studies. Tydskrif vir Christelike Wetenskap 52 (1,2):141-159.

2017. Die missionale kerk in informele behuisingsgemeenskappe. In die Skriflig. 51(2):1-8. http://www.indieskriflig.org.za/index.php/skriflig/article/view/2212.

2017. 'n Sendingwetenskaplike ondersoek na die betekenis van eiesoortige kultuur. Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe 57(3):772-783.

2018 The challenges faced by educators and schools in informal settlement areas. Tydskrif vir Christelike Wetenskap/Journal for Christian Scholarship 54(3,4): 25-42.

2018. Postkoloniale teologie en die sending: Uitdagings en bedreidings. Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe 58(1):96-108. http://tgwsak.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/TGW-58-1MARCH2018.pdf https://doi.org/10.17159/2224-7912/2018/v58n1a6.

2018. Transcendence in the context of abject poverty in informal settlements in Mangaung, South Africa. Tydskrif vir Christelike Wetenskap/Journal for Christian Scholarship 54(3,4):167-180.

2019. (With Ngesi, B.) Pastoring churches in the informal settlement of Khayelitsha in Mangaung, Free State Province, South Africa. Journal for Christian Scholarship. 55(1):151-167.

2019. The perseverance of the saints, persecution and mission, and its implications for Reformed churches. In die Skriflig/In Luce Verbi 53(3):a2446 doi: https://doi.org/10.4102/ids.v53i3.2446.

2019. Uitdagings ten opsigte van taaldiversiteit in kerke: Die eenheid van die kerk en taal [Challenges of the diversity of languages in churches: The unity of the church and language]. Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe. 59(2): 192-202. doi.10.17159/2224-7912/2019/v59n2a2.

Books: Verster P

1992 Sendingprobleme opnuut bekyk. (Red.). Bloemfontein: Sinodale Kommissie vir Sending en Evangelisasie OVS.

1994 Versoening! Bloemfontein: Drufoma.

1997 Wie het die waarheid beet? 'n Vergelykende oorsig van die Christendom en die groot godsdienste van die wêreld. Vereeniging: CUM.

2000. Good news for the city in Africa: With reference to the "apartheid city" Botshabelo. Pretoria: Institute for Missiological and Ecumenical Research, University of Pretoria.

2002 Gee my 'n antwoord: Riglyne vir 21ste-eeuse mense oor aktuele sake wat 'n Bybelse standpunt vra. Bloemfontein: Barnabas.

2008 A theology of Christian mission: What should the church seek to accomplish? New York: Edwin Mellen Press.

2009 Is Jesus regtig anders? Die Christelike beskouing oor Jesus in vergelyking met beskouings oor Herakles, Mohammed, Krishna, Boeddha, Messiase en voorouers. Fichardtpark (Bloemfontein): Drufoma.

2012 New hope for the poor: A perspective on the church in informal settlements in Africa. Bloemfontein: SunMedia.

2012. Special Edition Acta Theologica, Good news for the poor and the sick

2015. Kaleidoskoop van kerke: Wat kerke glo en doen. Wellington: CLF.

2017. Jesus Christus, Seun van God, is ons versoening: 'n Missionêre Christologie. Bloemfontein: SUN Press.

 

 

Date Published: 6 December 2019