From South Africa to Spiritual Growth at TMU

For many students, including freshman business major Declan Govender, the classes, faculty, chapels, and community at The Master’s University instill spiritual discipline and teach them how to practice what they preach.

But Govender wouldn’t have been able to experience that without the help of donor-funded scholarships.

Growing up in Johannesburg, South Africa, Govender quickly wrote off the possibility of leaving his country to study at TMU. He first heard about the University through his pastor and his pastor’s wife, Tim and Michelle Cantrell, who are both TMU alumni. The idea of moving across the world to attend TMU interested Govender but seemed financially unrealistic.

He set his dream aside and began working as an accountant in South Africa shortly after graduating high school. But then the Lord brought another TMU grad as a visitor to Govender’s home church, and through that visit, word of Govender’s plight made it to donors.

This ultimately led to Govender receiving the scholarship help he needed to move his life across the world and begin his freshman year at TMU this past spring.

Despite having only been at TMU for a semester, Govender already sees growth in his own heart and spiritual maturity.

“Having so much poured into you from a biblical point of view,” Govender says, “there is just so much opportunity to learn and grow in your knowledge of the Word. It also forces you to practice what you preach.”

The generosity of TMU’s donors allows students like Govender to develop deep spiritual habits through their education at the University. Govender is excited to carry these practices into his future career, knowing that if he focuses on Christ, everything else will fall into place.

“It has been incredible to be at TMU, where my skills and talents can be cultivated for the glory of God,” he said. “I can’t wait to see what else the Lord is going to do during my time at TMU.”

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