The most recent additions to SMMS staff come to us from the United States of America, via the General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM), United Methodist Church.
Rev Dr Wesley and Leah Magruder arrived at the beginning of the second semester 2019 and have jumped right into Village life. Dr Magruder lectured in Methodist history and leadership, while Leah became involved with the Academic Support Centre.
The Magruder are originally from Dallas, Texas, where most recently, Dr Magruder was senior pastor of Kessler Park United Methodist Church, and Leah was a primary school teacher. The Magruders have also served as missionaries of GBGM to Cameroon, where they lived for four years.
Dr Magruder earned his Masters of Divinity at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, and his Doctor of Ministry in Homiletics at Brite Divinity School, Texas Christian University. He has preached several times in the chapel, and looks forward to working with seminarians on sermon preparation.
The Magruders have three daughters: Rachel, 25, lives in Madrid, Spain with her husband; Chloe, 23, is a middle-school teacher near Dallas; and Mallory, 20, is attending university at Hendrix College in Arkansas. All three girls are planning to visit Pietermaritzburg over the Christmas holidays, and their parents cannot wait to see them!
