News and plans for 2020

Sep 29, 2019 UMC news

Many of you know that I have been helping out at Kearsney College. Kearsney is a Methodist School in Hillcrest that has a Methodist Minister stationed there as Chaplain to the boys and staff. There is a beautiful chapel on the property, and the Methodist, Christian ethos is very much a part of the way of life at Kearsney. From January 2020, I (Kym) will be transferring to Kearsney full time, where I will be stationed as the resident Chaplain. Michael will continue to be the minister at Umhlali Methodist Church – and instead of moving between Umhlali, Tongaat and Westbrook churches, another minister will be sent to oversee Tongaat and Westbrook, and Michael will be based at UMC. So instead of having half of Michael and half of Kym, UMC will get the whole of Michael :)

I have been doing some studies in high school education, and have been writing some course material around the spiritual formation of teenagers, and have a sense of God’s leading into this area of ministry. At Kearsney I will not only take chapel and other services, but I will also do some teaching – there is a chaplain’s class which is much like ‘religious education’ except I get to set the curriculum! Logistically, we will move as a family to Kearsney and live in the staff housing on the property. The children will transfer to schools in the Hillcrest area, and Michael will commute between Umhlali and Hillcrest. I am excited at the opportunity. But it is definitely bitter sweet, as the thought of leaving this UMC Community is hard. This church has been so very loving, and supportive and journeying with the people of Umhlali Methodist has been a great privilege. This has not been an easy decision to make, nor is it one that we have taken lightly. And yet we know that it is the right one. That God provides as God brings change, and we trust God’s timing in this, even if it unsettles us.

And, with Michael remaining at Umhlali Church and being able to be fully present to this congregation, we look forward to what God will continue to do in this time and place at UMC. The move only happens at the end of the year, so if you have any concerns or questions, please feel free to chat to Michael or I.