Very competitive, shy at first – but when you get to know her, you will see that she is straightforward and says things as they are. This is
Melissa Opperman, recipient of the Dean’s Medal for achieving the best results in a bachelor’s degree in the
Faculty of Theology and Religion at the University of the Free State (UFS). She collected this prestigious award during the April Graduation ceremonies on the Bloemfontein Campus.
Breaking the stigma around theology
About receiving the medal, Opperman says it is a great honour and privilege. “I always felt like I had to prove myself, even more so in the field of theology, as I am a female and we only recently got recognised by the church. This medal is not just for me, but for every lady studying theology and enduring the difficulties and suppression that come with it.”
This is also what motivated her, proving people wrong who underestimated her. “I was highly underestimated. As a woman, I had a point to prove – that I belong in theology. Jesus included everyone,” she states.
Opperman, who is doing her honour’s degree in
Divinity, wanted to pursue a career in teaching or psychology. “Enrolling for Theology was a blessing and a calling from Christ. It was not my choice but rather His plan for me,” she says. After her studies, Opperman wants to become a full-time minister and continue with her psychological studies, following a career as a pastoral psychologist.
Having the opportunity to make a difference, she says she would like to break the stigma around what theology is and what it may entail. “There are numerous opportunities in this discipline, and it is not only learning to read the Bible; it is a very complex field in which there is space for engagement,” she adds.
Called to empower the Church in its African expression
With the great demand for translation consultants to meet the need for translations coming from Africa, as well as her love for biblical languages, Prof Mburu decided to pursue studies in this field.
She was motivated by the recognition that the knowledge and skills acquired through formal education are not about her self-aggrandisement. “My scholarship is meant for the Church. I believe that I am called to empower the Church in its African expression. This strengthens me to face any obstacles or hurdles I inevitably encounter along the way.”
During her studies, she says that she specifically enjoyed the class interaction. “It was refreshing and enlightening to hear ideas from, and engaging in the experiences of, people living in different parts of the continent.”
On completion of her studies, she plans to continue working for Langham Publishing, developing contextual resources. “I would, however, like to enhance my work with the knowledge and skills I have acquired. I believe learning the theory and practice of Bible Translation would help me in my current field,” says Prof Mburu, who also hopes to one day work as a consultant on various Bible translation projects in Africa.
“I would like to encourage those in Biblical studies and Bible translation work, as well as other related fields, to develop contextual models in their approach to the biblical text and its application. We need to recognise that we have our own unique issues on the continent, and the foreign methods we have been exposed to – while good – tend to be limited. We need contextual solutions to contextual issues, and this can only be achieved by Africans, stressing the need to engage our African context on our own terms. I believe that whatever we do ought to be in service of the Church and society, and we need to be pursuing genuine transformation of our religious, social, economic, and political spheres,” she says.
This degree at the UFS is Prof Mburu’s third master’s degree. She also has a Master of Divinity, which she obtained from the Nairobi International School of Theology (now the International Leadership University), as well as a Master of Sacred Theology from Northwest Baptist Seminary (now the Corban University School of Ministry). She received her PhD in New Testament from the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) in 2008.
Melissa Opperman would like to break the stigma around what
theology is and what it entails. Photo: Supplied)