BMN Exclusive Interview: Q&A With ‘Arch’ Thabo Makgoba

Bible Media News (BMN)* speaks to the Archbishop of Cape Town, the Most Revd Dr Thabo Makgoba, about finding inspiration in Scripture and being in the “business of hope”. 

BMN: Give us a glimpse into your life by describing one thing on your To Do List for this week, that is giving you energy.

Thabo Makgoba: My travel plans this week are heading to Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, to inspire school children as the new academic year kicks off. I will be visiting the Umlazi High School in KwaZulu-Natal.

BMN: Is there a story you tell people when they ask: What gives you hope for South Africa? 

Thabo Makgoba: Yes. I am in the business of hope. Feel free to watch my lecture on creating hope for the youth, titled “Skills Development and Rural Livelihoods”, by watching my lecture, in partnership with the University of Limpopo and the Archbishop Thabo Makgoba Development Trust, below. This give me hope for South Africans.

BMN: What was the last thing that surprised you?

Thabo Makgoba: The last thing that surprised me was a conversation with Nicky Gumbel, an English Anglican priest and author in the evangelical and charismatic traditions. We spoke about how God works on all of us – with our faults and all. 

As a spiritual leader I listen to the stories of other people, so talking about mine was both a gift and pleasant surprise.

BMN: What have you learnt about how Christians can make an impact in society?

Thabo Makgoba: The Ministry of presence and taking examples of Christ’ public ministry as well as the ancient prophets’ role seriously.

BMN: Is there a piece of Scripture that you often go back to in order to find inspiration?

The piece of Scripture that I often go to for inspiration is John 10: 9-10. It states: “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

More about Makgoba:

Thabo Cecil Makgoba, born on 15 December 1960, is the South African Anglican archbishop of Cape Town. He became archbishop of Cape Town on 31 December 2007, the youngest person ever to be elected to this position.

He has a doctorate in Business Administration from the University of Cape Town, a Higher Diploma in Education Science, an MEd in Educational Psychology and a BSc degree from Witwatersrand University. 

Since 2008, He has taken up his current role as Anglican Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa: encompassing 28 dioceses across Angola, Namibia, Mozambique, South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, and the island of St. Helena.

He is the Chair of the Anglican Communion Environmental Network, and Former Commissioner of the Press Freedom Commission. Since 2012, Archbishop Makgoba has been the Chancellor of the University of the Western Cape.

Follow his blog here: https://archbishop.anglicanchurchsa.org/ 

This is the first instalment of a series of short interviews with faith leaders. 

Disclaimer: Bible Media News (BMN)* is an independent faith-based media organization.

Photo: Facebook / Anglican Media SA

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