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Bishop Mandla Khumalo
COFA’s work in South Africa is the direct result of the leadership of Bishop Mandla Khumalo to create a vibrant Christian community in Mhluzi, South Africa, the former segregated township of the city of Middelburg. Bishop Khumalo formed St. Peter Confessional Lutheran Church three decades ago. Since then, he has helped open other churches in the province of Mpumalanga and formed the Confessional Lutheran Synod of South Africa. In 2019 the Synod was formally accepted into fellowship with the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.
Soon after its creation, St. Peter Confessional Lutheran Church opened a preschool, Bethel Preparatory School. As children entered school age, it opened St. Peter Christian College, which is now a fully developed K-12 school.
COFA has helped improve and expand both schools. Understanding the need to enhance the physical as well as spiritual health of his community, Bishop Khumalo worked with COFA to develop a health clinic and entrepreneurial space within the St. Peter Christian College campus. Our work to improve the schools, health care services and employment opportunities in Mhluzi continues. Other churches in the Synod are planning to open their own schools and COFA hopes to implement the model that it has used in Mhluzi to help those communities.
Bishop Khumalo tragically died from COVID-19 in February 2021. His spirit lives on in the the work of COFA and the congregations of the Confessional Lutheran Synod of South Africa.
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Bishop Khumalo discusses the origin of his ministry.
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