TUKS

The University of Pretoria, also known as TUKS (which is the acronym in Afrikaans), is an incredibly beautiful campus, wonderful for students and strategic for ministry. It is one of the biggest Universities in the entire country and welcomes over 40,000 students on its campus. TUKS is largely international with students coming from Europe, Korea, China, India, as well as countries all over Africa. By reaching out to students on this campus, we have the opportunity to not only reach the country of South Africa, but have the potential to reach all of Africa and the world. 

As of 2007, the campus division is roughly 43% white students and 57% black students. Their two biggest schools of study are Engineering and Business Communications although the University itself offers everything from Fashion Design to Zoology, Acting to Medicine, and Home Economics to Law. The wide variety of majors that are offered, bring in a wide variety of students. 

This year, there are approximately 7,000 first year students coming onto campus. This week is freshman orientation week which is our big opportunity to do outreach. The first week for freshman is the most bombarding time for them as pressures to get drunk, go clubbing, party, and have sex pull from every side of them from the older students and clubs on campus. Our hope is to reach them before anyone else does, and to invite them into an abundantly more fulfilling and satisfying life in Christ. We also hope to connect with students who already know the Lord, to build them up in their faith and develop them as future leaders to reach other students on their campus. 

I trust that the Lord has already prepared the hearts of those we're going to meet. Pray with me as I expect God to do mighty things this week and this year on the TUKS campus.