Department of Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology

Prof TD Mashau

College of Human Sciences
School of Humanities
Department: Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology
Acting Deputy Executive Dean
Tel: 012 429 4227
E-mail: Mashatd@unisa.ac.za

Qualifications

  • BA (1997, Potchefstroom University)
  • MA (2000, Potchefstroom University)
  • PhD (2004, North West University (Potchefstroom Campus)
  • MA (2006,  North West University (Potchefstroom Campus)

NRF Rating

C2

Currently teaching

  • Missiology Today
  • Research in Missiology

Fields of academic interests

  • Missiological studies
  • Urban missions & ministry
  • African Theology

Field of Specialisation

  • Theology
  • Missiology

Books

  • Mashau, T.D. 2005. Love, Courtship and Marriage: Biblical Solutions to Problems Confronting African Youths in the 21st Century. Potchefstroom: Potchefstroom Theological Publications.
  • Mashau, T.D. 2006. Unlocking the Mystery of Marriage: Issues in Premarital Counselling. Potchefstroom: Potchefstroom Theological Publications.
  • Greenway, R.S & Mashau, T.D. 2007. An Eye That Sees: Vision for Urban Missions. Potchefstroom: Thitshi Afro Gospel Publications.
  • Mashau, T.D. 2008. God’s Road Map to Human Sexuality: Discipling Your Child to Make Sexual Choices That Honour God. Kempton Park: AcadSA Publishing.
  • Mashau, T.D. 2008. Following Jesus Outside the Camp: The Missionary Legacy of Hugo du Plessis. Kempton Park: AcadSA Publishing.
  • Mashau, T.D. 2013. New Life in Christ: Contours of the basics of the Christian faith. Parow: AcadSA Publishing.
  • Mashau, T.D. 2013. Coming back to the heart of worship: The hour of true and acceptable worship in the African city. Parow: AcadSA Publishing.
  • Mashau T.D. & Kritzinger, J.N.J. (eds). 2014. Pavement Encounters for Justice: Doing Transformative Missiology with homeless people in the City of Tshwane. Parow: AcadSA Publishing.
  • Mashau, T.D. 2016. The none/dancing generation in the marketplace: Sharing the undiluted gospel with a generation of young urbanites in Africa. Sunnyside: Thitshi Productions.

Journal articles

  • Mashau, T.D. 2003. Africanisation of Christianity and Theology: A Reformational Perspective. Theologia Viatorum: Journal of Theology and Religion in Africa. 21:1, 123 – 143.
  • Mashau, T.D. 2004. The Reformed Churches in South Africa’s missionary pilgrimage among the Vhavenda people at Siloam. Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae. Volume XXX, 1: 90 – 107.
  • Mashau, T.D. 2006. The Belief in One God as a Contact Point in the Christian Mission among the Muslims. Theologia Viatorum: Journal of Theology and Religion in Africa, 30:1, 25 - 49.
  • Mashau, T.D. 2007. Hugo du Plessis’ Theology of Mission as influenced by Missiological debates in the Ecumenical circles. In Die Skriflig 41(2):1-23.
  • Mashau, T.D. 2007. Occulticism in African Context: A Case for the Vhavenda Speaking People of the Limpopo Province. In Die Skriflig 41(4):637-653.
  • Mashau, T.D. 2008. When and where it hurts most: HIV and AIDS in Marriage and Family Life. In EXCHANGE Journal of Missiological and Ecumenical Research. Leiden: Koninklijke Brill NV, 37:1 (2008):23-34.
  • Mashau, T.D. & Fredericks, M. 2008. Coming of Age in African Theology: The Quest for Authentic Theology in African Soil. In EXCHANGE Journal of Missiological and Ecumenical Research. Leiden: Koninklijke Brill NV, 37:2 (2008):109-123.
  • Mashau, T.D. 2008. John Calvin’s theology of the charismata: Its influence on the Reformed Confessions and its implications for the church’s mission. In Missionalia 36:1 (April 2008):86-97.
  • Mashau, T.D. 2009. Social disruption and coping among Street Children in South Africa: A Socio-Missional Reflection. In Theologia Viatorum 33/1 (2009): 77-99.
  • Mashau, T.D. 2009. Meaning and Process of Conversion in the Encounter between Christianity and People of other Faiths as Reflected in Acts 13. In Journal for Christian Scholarship (Special edition 1, 2009): 91-99.
  • Mashau, T.D. 2009. A Reformed Missional Perspective on Secularism and Pluralism in Africa: Their impact on African Christianity and the Revival of Traditional Religion. In Calvin Theological Journal 44 (2009): 108-126.
  • Mashau, T.D. 2011. Cohabitation and premarital sex among Christian youth in South Africa: A missional reflection. HTS 67(2), 1-7. 000184.
  • Mashau, T.D. 2012. Mission as action in hope in the context of white poverty in Pretoria: a case for Betlehem Mission Centre in Pretoria West. In Acta Theologica Supplementum 16 (2009):54-69.
  • Mashau, T.D. 2012. A reformed perspective on taking mission and Missiology to the heart of theological training. In Die Skriflig 46(2) 2012.
  • Mashau, T.D. 2013. Ministering effectively in the context of Pentecostalism in Africa: A reformed missional reflection. In Die Skriflig 47(1) 2013.
  • Mashau, T.D. 2014. Reimagining mission in the public square: Engaging hills and valleys in the African City of Tshwane. In HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies Volume 70, issue 3, 2014.
  • Mashau, T.D. 2014. More than just a piece of land: Power dynamics in the land discourse within the City of Tshwane. In Missionalia 42:3 (November 2014): 192-211.
  • Mashau, T.D. & Mangoedi, L., 2015. Faith communities, social exclusion, homelessness and disability: Transforming the margins in the City of Tshwane. In HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies Volume 71(3), #3088, 9 pages. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/hts.v71i3.3088.
  • Mashau, T.D., 2016, ‘Moving to different streams of healing praxis: A reformed missionary approach of healing in the African context’, Verbum et Ecclesia 37(1), a1508. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/ve.v37i1.1508.
  • Mashau, T.D. & Ngcobo, T.E. 2016. Christian mission in creative tension with African worldview(s): A post-colonial engagement regarding life after death and ancestry. In Missionalia. Volume 44(1): 34-49.  http://dx.doi.org/10.7832/44-1-89

Paper presentations

National Research Visits

05/08/2004. University of Free State, Host: Prof. P. Verster (Head of the Department of Missiology) and Prof. R.M. Britz (Department of Church History).

12/08/2004. University of South Africa (UNISA), Host: Prof. N. Botha (Head of the Department of Missiology) and Prof. T. Maluleke (Dean of the Faculty of Theology).

18/08/2004. University of Stellenbosch, Host: Dr. C. August and Dr. D.X. Simon.

International Research Visits

22 – 29/05/2002. Netherlands, Intercultural Reformed Theological Training (IRTT), Host: Drs. Ben van den Lugt.

13 – 30/10/2003. Netherlands: Free University in Amsterdam, Host: Dr. Alle Hoekema; Theological University of Kampen, Host: Drs. Kees Haak; The Catholic University of Utrecht, The Interuniversity Institute for Missiology and Oecumene (IIMO), Host: Dr. Gerard Van’t Spijker and Prof. Jan Jongeneel; Theological University of Apeldoorn, Host: Drs. Berend-Jan Dikken; Theological Seminary of the NGK, Host: Drs. H. van de Velde; Belgium, the Theological University of Heverlee, Host: Dr. Piet Boersema; Gereformeerde Zendings Bond; Mission Deputies of the Christian Reformed Churches; Mission Deputies of the Netherlands Gereformeerde Churches; Mission Committee of the International Conference of the Reformed Churches (ICRC); Mission Committee of the Intercultural Reformed Theological Training (IRTT) and De Verre Naasten.

25/03-01/04/2004. Zambia, the United Church of Zambia Theological College.

08/04 – 18/05/2012. Indonesia, Universitas Pelita Harapan (UPH).

GUEST LECTURES

2003. Theological University of Apeldoorn (Netherlands), Host: Drs. Berend-Jan Dikken. (1) Communication of the gospel among the adherents of the African Traditional Religion; (2) Communication of the Gospel among the adherents of Islam.

2007. Calvin Theological Seminary (USA), Host: Prof. Roger Greenway. (1) The fifth petition of the Lord’s Prayer: Reformed perspective on reconciliation based on the South African experience of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

2007. University of Utrecht (Netherlands), Host: Prof. Martha Fredericks. (1) Coming of Age in African Christianity: The quest for authentic theology and Christianity in the African Soil; (2) When and where it hurts most: HIV and AIDS in Marriage and Family Life.

2010. Calvin Theological Seminary (USA), “Urban missions and ministry: A case for the Center of Reformational Urban Ministry in Africa (CRUMA)”.

2012: Universitas Pelita Harapan (Indonesia)

National Conferences/Workshops/Seminars

2003. Southern Africa Missiological Society (UNISA), Attendee.

2003. PanTheol Workshop (Potchefstroom), Paper presented: “The Teaching of Missiology at the Faculty of Theology of the North West University.”

2004. Southern Africa Missiological Society (University of Pretoria), Attendee.

25/08/2004. Pretoria, Gereformeerde Kerk Waterkloof. Paper presented: “Intercultural Communication of the Gospel with an eye to the adherents of the African Traditional Religion (ATR) in the 21st century.”

14/10/2004. Workshop, Department of New Testament – North West University (Potchefstroom Campus). Paper presented: “Occultism in African Context.”

2005. Southern Africa Missiological Society (University of Pretoria), Attendee.

2006. Southern Africa Missiological Society (University of Stellenbosch), Attendee.

03 – 04/03/2006. Conference, Department of Missiology – North West University (Potchefstroom Campus). Paper presented: “Congregational Strategic Planning for Mission in a Multicultural Context.”

2007. Southern Africa Missiological Society (University of Stellenbosch), Congress Chair

30/08 – 01/09/2007. Conference, Department of Missiology – North West University (Potchefstroom Campus). Papers presented: (1) When and where it hurts most: HIV and AIDS in Marriage and Family Life; (2) The Place and Role of Christian Education in Rebuilding African Cities.

06 – 08/09/2007. Leadership Conference (Pretoria), Reformed Partners in World Evangelism (REPAIWE). Papers presented: (1) God’s vision for the Church; (2) Towards a vision driven Church; (3) Servant Leadership.

13 – 14/03/2009. Eastern Cape (South Africa), Dumisani Theological Institute Awards Ceremony and Day Conference. Papers presented: (1) God’s road map for human sexuality. (2) Courting for life: Marrying the right way and staying married for life.

25 – 28/03/2009. Limpopo Christian Educators’ Conference. Louis Trichardt (Makhado). Papers presented: (1) Life orientation and Biblical perspectives on human sexuality. (2) The role that Christian schools can play in combating the spread of HIV and AIDS pandemic. (3) Parents’ involvement in the education of their children: A critical comment from a Christian perspective.

07 – 11/09/2009. Workshop organised by Center for Reformational Urban Ministry in Africa (CRUMA), Pretoria (South Africa). Participant. Workshop Theme: Paradigm Shifts in Training Ministry Strategy.

31/10 – 01/11/2017. Reformed Theological Society. Randburg. Paper presented: Unshackling the chains of coloniality: Reimagining Decoloniality, Africanisation and Reformation for a non-racial South Africa.

Regional and International Conferences/Seminars/Workshops

22 – 29/05/2002. Netherlands, Institute for Reformational Theological Training (IRTT). Paper presented: “Reformed Ecumenicity within the South African Context.”

2003. Zambia, International Missions Conference in Livingstone. Devotional message presented: “Contextualisation of the Gospel Message in African Context.”

18 – 19/03/2005. Rietvallei (Pretoria), International Conference on Global Missions. Paper presented: “A Kairos Call: Challenges Facing the Reformed Churches in South Africa in the 21st Century.”

8 – 9/02/2005. Netherlands, “The Teaching of Missiology and Research Opportunities in the 21st Century.” [Contribution on the workshop organized by the Institute for Reformational Theological Training (IRTT)].

31/03 – 03/04/2005. “The Mission of the Church in Today’s Africa: The Redefinition of Mission and its Implications for the Church’s Missionary Calling in the 21st Century.” [Paper presented in Kenya, Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology, organised by Center for the Promotion of Christian Higher Education in Africa (CPCHEA).]

2006. Johannesburg, World Reformed Fellowship. International Assembly: Attendee.

25 – 27/08/2006. Zimbabwe, Gweru. Paper presented: “The Mission of the Church in the Light of the Kingdom of God.” Conference organised by Reformed Churches in Zimbabwe and Reformed Partners in World Evangelism (REPAIWE).

2007. Africa Roundtable, Johannesburg. Facilitator. Roundtable organised by the Association for Christian Schools International (ACSI).

2007. JH Bavinck Consultation, Calvin Theological Seminary: Michigan, Grand Rapids. Participant.

04/03/2008. Redeemer University College, CANADA. Roundtable. Paper presented: Vision to establish a Christian University in South Africa: A true journey of faith.

26 – 28/08/2008. Center for the Promotion of Christian Higher Education in Africa (CPCHEA) Conference, Potchefstroom: North West University. Paper Presented: Raising the flag of Christian Higher Education for Christian Schooling.

18 – 19/09/2008. International Conference on Missions and Conversion, Bloemfontein (South Africa): University of Free State. Paper presented: Meaning and process of conversion in the encounter between Christianity and people of other faiths as reflected in Acts 13.

23 – 25/09/2008. World Reformed Fellowship African Region Assembly, Johannesburg: Krugersdorp. Paper presented: The Power of Reformed Discernment: In Search for Authentic Reformed African Spirituality.

07 – 10/10/2008. JH Bavinck Consultation, Calvin Theological Seminary: Michigan, Grand Rapids. Papers presented: (1) A Reformed Missional Perspective on Secularism and Pluralism in Africa: Their impact on African Christianity and the Revival of Traditional Religion. (2) Mission and Conversion in the light of the theology of JH Bavinck.

03 – 07/11/2008. International Conference of Reformed Churches, African Regional Conference. Kenya, Brackenhurst. Paper presented: The Bible and Justice: Implications for the Church’s Prophetic Witness in the Public Square in the African Context(s).

19 – 20/01/2009. 150th Anniversary of Reformed Churches in South Africa, International Conference: Potchefstroom. Paper read: Reformed Identity in Southern Africa.

27 – 28/10/2009. International Conference on Healing and mission in Africa. South Africa, Pretoria. Organised by the Foundation for the Promotion of Reformed Missiology and Ecumenics (PROMISE) and the Africa Institute for Missiology (AIM). Paper read: African culture, Healing, and Reformed Mission.

11 – 17/04/2010. World Reformed Fellowship (WRF) 3rd general assembly, Edinburgh (Scotland). Paper read: Ministering effectively in the context of Pentecostalism in Africa: a reformed missional reflection.

05 – 11/01/2010. JH Bavinck Consultation, Universitas Pelita Harapan, Indonesia. 

Mission as action in hope in the context of poverty in the city of Tshwane: A case for Bethlehem in Pretoria West. Presented at the University of the Free State (International Conference). 12 - 13 May 2011.

24 – 27 May 2011, Nordic Institute for Missiology (NIME), Copenhagen.  Paper presented: Reformed Perspective on Missiology as a Theological Discipline.

23-15 March 2013, SAMS congress in Stellenbosch, paper presented: (1) Child naming among urban young Christian couples in the post-colonial and apartheid South Africa: A contradiction or affirmation of the missionary language.

15 May 2013, M & D Seminar at UNISA, paper presented: (1) Reimagining missiological research: Creative thinking in generating and reshaping missiological conversations.

23-26 July 2013, ATISCA conference in Zambia, 2 papers presented: (1) Recycling the same fish from the same pond: The influence of consumerism in city missions; (2) Looking beyond consumerism and worship wars: Contemporary landscape of worship in the African city.

14-15 August 2013, National Consultation on the Future of Missiology at UNISA: (1) Paper presented: Perspectives on the Future of Missiology as a Theological discipline.

16-19 October 2013, International Missions Conference of World Reformed Fellowship in collaboration with the North West University, Potchefstroom: paper to be presented: (1) Urban harvest in Africa: Challenges of exploding cities in Africa.

28 March 2015, Evangelical Missiological Society, Northeast Region Conference. Flushing: New York (USA).

17-21 August 2015, Theological Education in Africa Conference, Africa Bible University (Kampala, Uganda).

26-28 June 2017, Transatlantic Roundtable on Religion, Race and Contested Globalization, Howard University, Washington DC (USA). Paper presented: #Foreigners go home: Reimagining the theology of Ubuntu in addressing current backlash against foreign nationals in the City of Tshwane.

Professional positions, fellowships & awards

Professional positions

2006:- Sub-Editor, Theologia Viatorum: Journal of Theology and Religion in Africa.

2006:- Secretary, Executive Committee: World Reformed Fellowship (African Region).

2006:- Guest Columnist for Mirror (Regional Newspaper – Limpopo Province).

2007/8. Editor and Chair of the Editorial Board of Missiological Series @ ACADSA.

2008 – 2010. Board Member, International Association for the Promotion of Christian Higher Education (IAPCHE).

2007:-  Board Member, Center for Reformational Urban Ministry in Africa (CRUMA).

2012. Deputy Chair, International Association for the Promotion of Christian Higher Education (IAPCHE).       

2013 – 2016: Director and Member of the Advisory Board: Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), African Region

2013. Board Chair, International Association for the Promotion of Christian Higher Education (IAPCHE).

2014 – 2016: Deputy General Secretary, Southern Africa Missiological Society (SAMS).

2015 – 2017 Director, World Reformed Fellowship African Region.

2017 – General Secretary, Southern Africa Missiological Society.

Fellowships

  • General Secretary, Southern Africa Missiological Society
  • Association of Christian Schools International (African Board)
  • World Reformed Fellowship

Awards

2003.Grant-holder, National Research Foundation (NRF) – Thuthukha, Gun: 2053079.

2004. Grant-holder, National Research Foundation (NRF) – Thuthukha, Gun: 2053079.

2005. Institutional Research Excellence Award, North West University.

2006. Institutional Research Excellence Award, North West University.

2007. Grant-holder, NRF – REDIBA, Ref. TT2006061400009.

2008. Institutional Research Excellence Award, North West University.

2008. Vice Chancellor’s Research Merit Award, North West University.

2009. Institutional Research Excellence Award, North West University.

2011. Institutional Research Excellence Award, North West University.

Projects

  • Meal of Peace Community Engagement Project
  • Meal of Peace Book Writing Project
  • Research in Urban missions and ministry

Other

Completed MA Students

  • Mulaudzi, M.L. 2004. The Missionary Calling of the Reformed Churches in the Multicultural Context of South Africa. North West University (Potchefstroom Campus) [Supervisor].
  • Swanepoel, J.S. 2005. Communicating the Gospel to the Muslims in Fouad Ellias Accad: A Reformed Perspective. North West University (Potchefstroom Campus) [Supervisor].
  • Cibangu, B.B. 2006. World Religions and God’s Salvific Plan: A Biblical Theology of Religions. (Cum Laude). North West University (Potchefstroom Campus) [Supervisor].
  • Ramos, E. 2006. A Comparative Study of the Traditional and Evangelical Adventism. North West University (Potchefstroom Campus) [Co-supervisor].
  • Veenstra, S.J. 2007. Healing Ministry among the Zulu Speaking People troubled by the Evil spirits. North West University (Potchefstroom Campus) [Supervisor].
  • Wotango, H.T. 2010. Regaining a perspective on holistic mission: An assessment on the role of Wolaitta Zone Kale Heywet Church in Southern Ethiopia [Co-supervisor].
  • Mazuwa, J. 2010. Necromancy in Shona Traditional Culture: A biblical theological critique with special reference to 1 Samuel 28 [Co-supervisor].
  • Baloyi, L.P. 2016. Strategic plan for church growth in an urban context: A case of Eglise de la Bonne Nouvelle [Supervisor].
  • Tshibalo, T.A. 2016. Mission praxis according to Article 4 of the Belhar Confession: A case study on Melodi ya Tshwane [Supervisor].

Current M Students

  • Heritage, D. The nature of relationships between Bryanston Methodist Church and Homeless people in Bryanston: A proposed model.

Completed D Students

  • Kruger, M.P. 2007. Causes and cures of dualism and syncretism in Prison: A Missiological Study.  North West University (Potchefstroom Campus) [Promotor].
  • Ayeebo, J.K. 2007. The Liberating mission of Jesus and the Anglicans of Temale with special reference to St. Luke’s Gospel. North West University (Potchefstroom Campus) [Promotor].
  • Chalwe, A. 2009. An Evaluation of the mission history of the Pentecostal Assemblies of God in Zambia. North West University (Potchefstroom Campus) [Promotor].
  • Mutua, C.W.K. 2010. Missiological education in Kenya: Relevant contextually and in light of the missio Dei? [Promotor].
  • Swanepoel, J.S. 2010. The Church, family and school in a normative crisis in a religious pluralistic society: A proposed paradigm shift within the worldview of the Afrikaans speaking segment of the Reformed Churches in South Africa [Promotor].
  • Mereweather-Thompson, C.M. 2010. The challenges to mission and dialogue in a pluralist context [Co-promotor].
  • Muvengi, D.M. 2011. Poverty, church and development in Kenya: A case study of Kiberia slums in Nairobi [Promotor]
  • Hyun-Jin Kim. 2011. Protestant communities as mission communities [Promotor].
  • Atoyebi, P.O. 2011. From stagnation to revitalization: A study of select turnaround churches in urban Context of Nairobi [Promotor].
  • Babatunde, A.A. 2011. The urban explosion of Afro-Carribbean Majority Churches: Their origin, growth, distinctives and contribution to British Christianity [Co-promotor].
  • Lagat Omwenga, R.J. 2013. Mission to Muslims in the Light of God’s Mission (Missio Dei): A study of select evangelical churches in Eldoret, Kenya [Promotor].
  • Banze, Mulongo-Ngoy. 2015. The Spirit of God and the spirits of Africa: A Dogmatological Study from the vantage point of Pneumatology [Co-promotor].
  • Odewole, I.O.O. 2017. Missional character of music in worship: A study of selected churches in the metropolitan city of Abeokuta, Nigeria [Supervisor].
  • Bahizi, T. 2017. The response of the Anglican diocese of Bujumbura to the challenge of urbanization in Burundi [Supervisor].
  • Nyagwoka, J.B. 2017. Evangelism and Folk Islam: A case study in South Coast of Kenya [Supervisor].

Current D Students

  • Barbe, Eric Jean-Bruno Aniel. Christ’s method in evangelism: A proposed model for the evangelistic practice of Adventist churches in the City of Tshwane.
  • Muana, A.Q. Search and struggle for an African Christology in the urban South African Context: Hope for a renewed missionary paradigm.