Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest (Ps 126:5-6).

These words were echoed by Dr Ntavhanyeni Phaswana, who recently graduated from two different universities.

Phaswana obtained his Marriage Officer Diploma from the University of South Africa in February 2009. As if that was not enough, he graduated for his second master´s degree in practical theology from the University of Pretoria.

Phaswana is Circuit Manager for Soutpansberg North circuit. He obtained a BA degree from Unisa (1991), a Higher Education Diploma Post-graduate (Unisa, 1994), BA(Hons) (University of Pretoria, 1996), a master´s degree (he wrote about divorce) (University of Pretoria,1998) and a Doctor of Literature and Philosophy (Unisa, 2000). In his thesis, Phaswana wrote about marital problems in religiously mixed marriages amongst the Vhavenda people of South Africa from an African-Christian perspective. He also obtained qualifications in HIV/Aids Care and Counselling (Unisa, 2002), Family and Marriage Counselling (Unisa & FAMSA, 2003).

He did everything after matric part-time, as there was no money in the family to go to university full-time.

According to him, studying is not only a hobby, but the fastest way to fight poverty. With education one can turn his/her life around, he said. His message to the youth is that they should avoid postponing work as much as possible.

Phaswana is also a director of Bo-die-Krans Lodge, Paradise Maname Independent school, Ntavhanyeni Business Enterprise and Machaka Learning Academy.

He used to do the Interfaith Programme at Phalaphala FM from 1996 to 2009.