About

Our History

The United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA), founded in 1967, has a strong established partnership with Global Ministries. The UCCSA spans five countries in southern Africa (Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique, and Botswana). In South Africa there are 272 UCCSA congregations with 235,900 members. 

One of the South African UCCSA congregations is in Zola Soweto and operates the UCCSA Bridgman Development Centre. The Centre opened its doors in 1975 under the direction of its founder, Reverend Bernard Spong, and was developed to provide tutorial support and leadership development to high school students. These students were some of the most marginalized students in the area from a community riddled with poverty, violence, discrimination, and despair. Despite the challenges from the system of apartheid in those days, there have always been young hopefuls who have participated in the Centre to forge ahead. 

Today, the Bridgman Development Centre continues to work hard and maintains its tradition in the education and the empowerment of young leaders. It has had several very capable young directors, including today’s director, Wellington Mthobisi Sibanda.