Today, 1 July 2026, marked the first day of United Theological College’s annual Fourth-Year Internship Seminar, running until Friday, 3 July. The opening session was chaired by Rev. C. Gwenambira.
The day began with a devotion delivered by Rev. Nyaradzai Mandevana, who read from Joshua 6:20 and Matthew 11:28. Thematically anchored in Overcoming Obstacles Through Faith in God, he challenged participants to interpret both texts as reminders that faith is critical to overcoming life’s challenges. He encouraged the class to reflect on obstacles they had encountered in their respective ministry stations over the past six months, affirming that it was only through faith in God that they had not been overcome, but had instead prevailed.
In his welcome remarks, the Academic Dean, Reverend Joseph Bonga, expressed joy at reuniting with the class after their six-month field placements. He emphasised the importance of the seminar, noting that one of its core purposes is to address gaps that may have been missed during the students’ three years of campus-based training. For this reason, he explained, UTC has invited practitioners with diverse expertise to cover areas that need to be revisited, rejuvenated, or reinforced — drawing directly from the experiences these pastors have gained in the field.
Today’s session also included ministry experiences and reflections from participants, based on their work in different stations across the country. This exchange allowed students to learn from one another, sharing how they are navigating diverse ministry contexts and strengthening each other through collective insight.
The three-day programme is designed to integrate theological reflection with practical ministry insights, equipping fourth-year students for the realities of pastoral work.
