March 2024 Anglican Commentary: Nonhlanhla Shezi

March 2024 Anglican Commentary

Greetings 

My name is Nonhlanhla Shezi (Noni), and I am a first-year student at Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS). I am a first born of 5 siblings and a single mother of one. 

It is such an honor to have an opportunity to share my life with you. 

I was born in KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa and raised in a small town called Port Shepstone. Raised by a strict mother, she instilled solid values and ethics in me that propelled a strong desire for excellence and humility. I was baptized in the Church of England and raised in the Anglican Church. From a very young age, spending time in church was joyous and fulfilling. I observed my mother, who was devoted to people and the church. 

I started serving the Church by cleaning it, helping with Sunday School, and being a server or acolyte. Later, I took on leadership roles for youth at various levels, from my parish to the Archdeaconry and even the diocesan level. In 2008, I was elected as the youth president of the Anglican Youth of Southern Africa. My primary responsibility as president was to develop a sustainable approach to youth ministry for the province. My team and I created a brand for the youth ministry and developed plans with specific short-, medium-, and long-term strategies. Our goal was to ensure that young people’s voices were heard and that they were given opportunities to grow and remain in the Anglican Church so that they could serve others. Parallel to all this, I was developing myself as a Communications Practitioner for South Africa’s energy company while raising my son as a single mother. There are many other things that I have done in my life, some of which never made sense; all I know is that they were small steps to a revelation of my call. 

I was recently appointed as a Project Assistant with the Center for Anglican Communion Studies (CACS) for the VTS Trinity Wall Street Grant to empower Anglican young leaders. This leadership development project aims to empower young leaders of the Anglican Province of Southern Africa on successful leadership development strategies. I feel privileged to be part of the team facilitating this program. It is expected to develop the leadership skills and understanding of the 10 young leaders in the cohort and help them reach out to others in their churches and communities through the support of local projects. CACS at VTS is a remarkable organization that opens doors to the global world. It facilitates programs that impact Anglicans/Episcopalians, from young leaders to esteemed scholars and clergy to archbishops worldwide.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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