USPG’s Exchanging Places programme enables USPG partner churches to share expertise, experience and resources through the sending and receiving of mission personnel.
The latest appointment in the programme is that of Rev’d Thanduxolo Noketshe, from the Diocese of Port Elizabeth in the Anglican Church of Southern Africa. He has been appointed to serve in the Diocese of North East Caribbean and Aruba in the Church of the Province of West Indies. The arrival of Rev’d Thanduxolo Noketshe and his family in the West Indies was due to take place last year but was delayed by travel restrictions due to Covid-19.
Rev’d Thanduxolo will be serving as a priest, attached to the Pro-Cathedral of St. George, Basseterre in the Parish of St. George with St. Barnabas, St Kitts, for 2 years. He says, ‘We have been overwhelmed by the welcome and reception at every stage of the journey and are sincerely grateful to everyone who has made this journey possible.’
The Noketshe family at church in St Kitt's
Habib Nader, USPG’s People Programmes Manager, added, ‘This is a wonderful opportunity for the Church in the West Indies and the Church in Africa to engage and learn from each other.’
Dean Ernest Flemming, Bishop-Elect of NECA, who met the family when they made a stop-over in Antigua, said, ‘Thanks to USPG, the Noketshe family arrived safely in the West Indies. We look forward to a good Caribbean ministry for all of them.’
The Rt Rev’d Errol Brooks, former Bishop of NECA, who initiated this appointment, said, ‘Rev’d Thandoxolo’s safe arrival is great news. God does all things well in His time.’
There are currently five similar appointments under the Exchanging Places Programme.
- Fr Obed Baiden from the Diocese of Cape Coast, Ghana serving in Banjul, The Gambia
- Fr Dennis Obidiegwu, Diocese of Ho, Ghana, serving in Tangiers, Morocco
- Fr Virgilio Fernandez Jr, the Iglesia Filipina Independiente serving in Casablanca, Morocco
- Canon James Juhari, the Diocese of Kuching serving in the Diocese of Egypt, Province of Alexandria
- Fr Justice Apo Tetteh, the Diocese of Accra, Ghana serving in the Diocese of the Windward Islands, West Indies
We ask your prayers for Rev’d Thanduxolo and others taking part in the Exchanging Places programme. May their ministries enable the relations between our partner churches to flourish through the sharing of each other’s gifts.