Die rol van die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk in Sonop Christelike Tehuis 1916-2016: 'n historiese oorsig vanuit kerklike perspektief

[摘要] English: The research of the history of Sonop Christian Residence, that commemorated its hundredth anniversary on 2 September 2016, can be approached from two angles: The first and most common approach would be to research the student life of the inhabitants over the past years in the most general sense of the word, and record it either chronologically or thematically.Matters that would come to light from this approach are as follows:�?The number of inhabitants per year from 1917 to the centenary, with a subsection on how many in a group per year from first year to final year students.�?Election, composition and functioning of the house committees over all the years, with further reference to the different portfolios, in order to manage the full extent of the residents' comings and goings.�?Traditional house meetings with not only the laughter and true student humour, but also the serious issues that are sometimes debated at length and philosophically.�?The relationship of the house committees with members of the former Sonop Commissions of the church councils of the Dutch Reformed Church, Pretoria and Pretoria East congregations, the members of the former Sonop Council of Synod and nowadays the Sonop Company, as well as the former and current house fathers.�?The role of the 'nonnie (kitchen matron) cannot be left out of any Sonop story. To the contrary, it could well be a study of its own!�?The unique distribution of housing in specific regions, such as the North, East, West, Central, Far West, Senate, Blue Train, and first-year accommodation in the Parsonage and the 'Stalle (Stables), with specific reference to the origin of the names and the specific culture to be found in each region.�?Characteristic to university residences, Sonop also has mascots. Apart from the fact that Sonop has its own mascot, Garribaldi (named after the well-known Italian General Garibaldi), it is also the caretaker and protector of Tuks's mascot, Uncle Gert. These two mascots form an integral part of the history of Sonop.�?Sonop's achievements in the areas of academics, culture, sport and Rag. Although Sonop is relatively small in its number of inhabitants, it has lived out the determination and valour of General Garibaldi and �?to the surprise of others �?leaves its mark on the above-mentioned activities on a regular basis.The second approach �?and this is the approach taken in this study within the field of Ecclesiology �?is particularly not to focus on student life, but rather on the role of the Dutch Reformed Church at Sonop from 1916 to 2016.The proposal for a residence for male students at the former Transvaal University College was made during a Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church of Transvaal in 1916. The proposal was approved and referred to the Dutch Reformed Church congregation of Pretoria for execution.From the founding date of September 2, 1916, to the celebration of Sonop's centenary celebrations in 2016, the role of the Dutch Reformed Church has been intertwined with Sonop like a golden thread throughout its history.From day one Congregations and Church Council Committees, as well as Synods and Synodal Commissions have established and expanded Sonop with unprecedented zeal by means of specifically nominated persons, whose names are recorded in the research paper. Difficult economic times, conflicting personalities and requests to transfer Sonop to the University of Pretoria could not stop the execution of the Divine command.The story of the role of the Dutch Reformed Church at Sonop from 1916 to 2016 is a story with the same message as Zechariah 4:10: For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through the whole earth (King James Version). God's way of doing often starts small, but the result is great. Of course, Sonop is undoubtedly proof thereof!

[发布机构] University of the Free State