Greetings!
We delight in updating our prayer partners each month, because in doing so, we are reminded of the sovereignty of God. This month we are proud to announce the ACU Seminary. |
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 ACU Seminary
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As part of ACU, the Seminary seeks to provide God-centered, Christ-focused, Scripture-based theological education.
The Vision
To be a center of excellence for Reformed Biblical Scholarship, devotion and teaching, impacting Africa with the gospel of Christ and a God-Centered world view.
The Seminary stands in the Reformed and Baptist traditions. However, the word of God is our first and final authority.
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| Meet Victor Kanyense
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Pastor Kanyense
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We are pleased to feature Victor Kanyense, who has served as Pastor of Mt Makulu Baptist Church for the past 10 years. The church is located just south of Lusaka in Chilanga and is one of the four sponsoring Zambian churches of ACU. Victor has been involved in both pastoral and mission work in the north and south provinces of Zambia for many years and is active in theological training to equip men for Christian ministry in Zambia and Ethiopia.
He is married to Miriam, a practicing nurse, and they have two children: Grace Lukoka (21) a second year university student, and Isaac Mapesho (13) a 9th grade student. Victor holds a Bachelor of Theology (Honors) degree from the University of KwaZulu Natal and is waiting to be conferred with a Masters of Theology degree by the same university.
When asked to forecast the possible implications that ACU's fulfillment might have on the lives of members of Mt. Makula Baptist Church, Pastor Kanyense enthusiastically replied, "Our congregation is principally composed of young couples with adolescents, the majority in their pre-teen years." He anticipates with great expectation, the day when some of them are able to attend ACU as recipients of a Christ-centered alternative for tertiary higher education. "I pray ACU is truly hastened to completion so my own son, Isaac Mapesho is able to enroll in the University after graduating from high school."
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Pastor, Conrad Mbewe (Kabwata Baptist Church) initially shared the vision of ACU at Mt. Makula Baptist Church. He made the case for the unique niche that African Christian University will occupy in producing worshipers of God with Biblical motives. That initial presentation was intended to help develop a sense of ownership for collaboration together in the project. "His message was heartily received," assured Pastor Kanyense, "precipitating an invitation to Dr. Ken Turnbull and Bruce Button, who will soon provide further enlightenment on all aspects of the mission." He added, "We trust that God will propel His people to action and that they will come to own the vision."
Pastor Kenyense underscored the importance of not viewing ACU "as merely an in-house solution for Reformed Baptist's in Zambia." He zealously believes the most significant consequence of this Christ-centered University, will be in the "equipping of an army, a new generation of citizens, endowed with various skills and knowledge, wrapped with a powerful and all-encompassing biblical worldview." He concluded with a crescendo and compelling summons. "Just imagine a critical mass of Godly servants, managing the affairs of state across Africa, in economics, politics, industry, governance, etc., all to the glory of the thrice blessed Triune God."
Pastor Kanyense is nurturing, this grand hope while earnestly praying that the sovereign LORD will be pleased to grant it to His people who He is calling to be faithful stewards through fervent prayer, vigorous financial support and faithful service towards its fruition. Our petition is that Victor's stirring call to action does not fall on deaf ears, but on God's ordained doers.
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ACU Strategic Planning
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Strategic Planning Meeting
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In January, Board Chair, John Chundu encouraged the servants God ordained to initiate African Christian University, not to shrink back, viewing the process of gathering to make wise plans established by counsel as "God's undertaking." (Pro 20:18). The Zambian Board, other stakeholders and invitees met to work towards producing a three-year plan encompassing all aspects of ACU's development. The meeting was facilitated by a faithful brother from Evangel Baptist Church, Lovemore Nkhoma, experienced in helping organizations develop strategic plans. Analytical tools were utilized to assess the external setting for the ACU project in Zambia and the internal strengths and weaknesses of the project in that light. Assessments were made of perceived strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, while examining political, economic, social and technological factors. |
The analysis indicated that ACU operates in an external African and Zambian environment that is politically stable, peaceful and open to Christian influence; however, it is also underdeveloped economically, in industry and infrastructure, with the majority of its population living in poverty. Internally, ACU has strengths and opportunities based on a vision and mission built on Christ in accordance with the Scripture. It is located on a continent and in a country thirsting for quality higher education; its unique approach blends labor and academy in the context of Biblical Christianity having the potential to significantly transform aspects of culture which are suppressing the expression of God's image-bearers. Land has been made available to the University near Lusaka. The project is backed by biblically rooted, indigenous churches, national and international support organizations, an army of prayer partners, donors, robust leadership and dedicated staff. The perceived weaknesses and threats focused on the limited resources, both materially and in terms of human resources, the potential challenge with accreditation due to ACU's firm adherence to a Christian worldview, and the potential cultural barriers in bringing a God-focused education into a "learn to earn" cultural mentality.
Important issues noted in the assessment included that universities in Africa and Zambia are secular, based wholey on western standards, technologically underdeveloped, and have minimal entrepreneurial impact. This results in graduates that are not able to economically exploit the abundant resources of the continent for the socio-economic well-being of its people. Against this background, the Christ-centered and labor-based theme of ACU is anticipated to have a unique distinction and competitive advantage.
Using information generated from this external and internal environmental analysis, the attendees drafted a potential vision and mission statement for the University. This will become the basis from which the strategic plans for ACU's development will be derived.
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Lovemore Nkhoma
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Facilitator, Lovemore Nkhoma, is currently amassing the information generated from this initial meeting with already existing ACU information, as well as refining the draft vision and mission statements, developing strategic objectives and attendant activities, structuring a logical, monitoring and evaluation framework and refining an organizational structure framework.
Dividing his schedule between full time employment in development work and ACU's strategic plan has been a balancing act, but Lovemore said, "I intend, God willing, to finish the entire strategic plan draft by the end of March, 2012." He went on to say, "When the draft is completed, the Board will meet to review and finalize the document, and my expectation is that the strategic plan should be completed and ready for use by end of April, 2012."
Lovemore and wife, Elizabeth, have two daughters. They are members of Evangel Baptist Church, in Lusaka, where he serves as an Elder. He requests that we petition the Lord for the granting of wisdom, strength and intellectual capacity necessary for the completion of the strategic plan and that the end product will glorify God, while advancing the kingdom purpose of ACU.
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Our April Prayer Update will include a review of Pastor Conrad Mbewe's recent USA Tour to Michigan, Tennessee and Georgia. We will also share more photos of the events.Conrad is shown above with Hannah and Damarise Turnbull at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Georgia. |
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Your prayer support is of great worth to ACU!
Rich blessings in Christ,
  Linda WoodwardDirector of Communications
African Christian University-USA
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Southern Baptist Founders'
Conference
ACU exhibited at the Southern Baptist Founders' Conference in St. Louis, Feb 28-29. Fifteen new Prayer Partners signed up, and interest in the project was high, with multiple service inquiries! Shown in photos: Karen Eppler, Mike Tharp, Jim Hamman, and Clayton and Lisa Huff
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Matters of Praise
- Dr. Hein Strauss has been able to obtain an ACU-RSA bank account and is now leading the preparation of final application for Sec. 18a registration of ACU-RSA as an internationally recognized non-profit organization.
- We are grateful to Tony Barmann (USA) who created the ACU Seminary logo and designed the ACU Seminary brochure. May God richly bless his fervent service.
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Matters for Prayer
- May God stir hearts to action as Ken and Bruce present ACU at Mt. Makulu Baptist Church, one of the supporting association of churches, on Sun, Mar 25.
- May God grant Dr. Howard Foreman and his wife safe journey to Lusaka Apr 12-16 to discuss collaborations between ACU and Training Leaders International (TLI), a Christian higher education support organization founded out of Bethlehem Baptist Church (Pr. John Piper), Plead that God will direct an alliance to help supply faculty, assist in raising support and preparation for service.
- Implore the Lord to humbly equip those He is calling to serve with ACU, granting full provision for their needs.
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African Christian University-USA Named 2011 All Star
ACU has been recognized by our Email management source, Constant Contact, for results which rank in the top 10 percentile of more than half a million organizations worldwide. We credit our faithful prayer partners for helping us spread the word across the globe.
Soli Deo Gloria! |
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Facebook Fan
"70 Reached - 4 Likes"
Worldliness is seductive, dazzling the sight and poisoning the ear, causing the heart to drift from Christ.
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