When Reza-Astrid Fourie was rejected to enrol as a student by all three Cape universities, she took a gap year and, on recommendation of her mother Francis, re-applied to study theology at Stellenbosch University (US).
Fourie was born in Stellenbosch, lived in Wellington until Grade 3, moved to Virginia in the USA until Grade 11, and completed her high school career at Rhenish Girls’ High School in Stellenbosch, before studying theology at Maties.
Until recently, the Stellenbosch local was the youth minister at the Coronation Avenue Methodist Church in Somerset West, but will soon start at the Seth Mokitimi Methodist Seminary in Pietermaritzburg, where she is expected to be stationed for two to three years.
“Growing up, I never knew what it meant or took to become a preacher. No-one had ever explained it to me or even suggested I go into ministry or local preaching, so I always just thought ministers magically became ministers. I didn’t think much about it. So after high school, I applied to university but each time I would get an email back from the universities I applied to: ‘Sorry, unfortunately you have not been accepted to study’. This happened at UCT, UWC and SU, and for all three fields which I had applied.
“I was absolutely devastated and depressed. I was heartbroken, sad and confused with God. The following year, when I had to apply to universities again, I was quite nervous and hesitant. One evening, my mom, out of nowhere, asked whether I had thought about theology. I replied: ‘Theology? No, why would I? Cool people don’t study ministry.’ And she asked me why not, encouraging me to try it.
“I remember thinking there’s no way, but I listened to my mom and I applied to study Theology Youth Ministry. A day later, I went back on the website to check something, when I saw I had been accepted. I was so shocked.”
She remembers her first week of orientation as a theology student.
“I was having chats with God and I remember saying: ‘God, I don’t think I’m in the right place. I think you’ve got this wrong.’ I just heard God saying quietly: ‘Just be patient, just try. I think you’ll like this.’
“This conversation would continue the first week of the semester, the end of the first semester, the end of my first year, my second year and in my final year. Over and over again, I would hear God say: ‘Trust me’. And I did.”
Her aunt, the late Professor Mary-Anne Plaatjies-van Huffel, the first female professor in theology at SU, sadly passed on before she could deliver her professorate. She was the first female of colour who became a minister in the then Dutch Reformed Mission church in Robertson East in 1992 and was a pioneer in her field of theology.
Since her passing, the faculty annually holds a commemorative celebration in her honour.
“Aunty Anne was a force to be reckoned with and she would not let anyone interfere with the plans that God had set out for her. She was strong and tenacious, but gentle and kind. She influenced me to believe in myself, work hard and never stop listening to and trusting in God,” Fourie says.
She loved getting to know the people as a youth minister. “You cannot be there for someone, serve alongside someone or love someone if you don’t know the person. Sitting with someone, hearing their life story, drinking tea, laughing together, sharing life together is the best part! Secondly, I loved the camps! In youth ministry, there are lots of camps. It’s during camps where you really feel the Holy Spirit transforming young people’s lives. It’s amazing what God can do in one weekend, how loved He makes them feel, how He heals them and how He touches their lives.
“When my studies are done in Pietermaritzburg, I would love to serve everyone. I love seeing young people learn, discover and grow into their relationship with God. Yet, there is so much beauty sitting with someone older and being able to listen to their life story and how God has been part of it every step of the way and how they continue to rely and trust in God.
“Last year I walked the Camino de Santiago in Spain, which was a bucket list item I never thought I would actually be able to accomplish. I never seemed to have enough money, enough time, be fit enough or have anyone to go with me. Looking back now, I realise it just wasn’t my time.
“The Camino was life changing, because I realised I can do anything I set my mind to, that God is with me every single step of the way and that God will always send me the right people to walk this life journey with. I’m never alone,” Fourie added.
Items on her bucket list include running a half marathon, visiting all the countries in the world and doing the full Camino in one go. Her hobbies are reading, making YouTube videos, walking her dogs, exploring a new city or country, and shopping.
“My advice to girls who want to go into ministry is if God has called you to ministry, there is nowhere you’ll be able to run that is far enough from Him. So instead of running away from God, run towards Him! And seek God’s peace – when you are at peace, you’ll know you’re doing what God has called you to do.
“As one of a few female ministers, my toughest obstacle was not believing in myself when I first started. I had a bit of imposter syndrome. My minister, Reverend Ralph Afghan, believed in me wholeheartedly, encouraged me continuously and supported me. He pushed me to get out of my comfort zone and cheered me on when I succeeded. When I did not succeed, he sat with me and told me that I would get it next time.
“The advice I hold dear to my heart from my parents, Danville and Francis, is: Don’t be afraid to start over again! You never know what God has in store for you! My message to female first-year theology students for 2024 is: You’re exactly where you are supposed to be. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and talk to God about everything.”
