Dr. Mugabe to be buried October 29 | |
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Dr. Henry Mugabe, founding president and professor of the Zimbabwe Theological Seminary (ZTS), and his son, Munyaradzi Johannes Mugabe, are to be buried on Saturday, October 29.
Services are planned for the Mtapa Baptist Church in the city of Gweru in central Zimbabwe. The burial will be in their hometown of Masvingo.
Dr. Mugabe and his son were killed in a traffic accident on October 21, along with Dr. Dudzirai Chimeri, who succeeded Dr. Mugabe as ZTS president.
Lott Carey has been a partner of ZTS since its founding in 2011 and is offering support to the families.
Condolences are being received from the global Lott Carey community. These are to be shared with the Mugabe and Chimeri families, and the seminary community.
Expressions may be sent to lottcarey@lottcarey.org.
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Rev. Dunn elected president of North American Baptists | |
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Lott Carey Executive Secretary-Treasurer Rev. Emmett Dunn was elected president of the North American Baptist Fellowship (NABF) during its annual meeting in Falls Church, Virginia, on October 24.
Dunn succeeds Rev. Dr. Samuel Tolbert, president of the National Baptist Convention of America.
The NABF represents 22 Baptist conventions, unions, and mission societies in Canada and the United States. It comprises almost 20 million members in 55,000 congregations.
NABF mission emphases include creation care, disaster relief, and scholars’ collaboration.
The 2022 annual meeting focused on hope. Participants explored issues of church revitalization, creation care and mental health.
The gathering provided opportunities for fellowship, inspiring conversation, and networking.
Rev. Dunn will serve a three-year term.
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Dr. Henry Mugabe dies in tragic accident | |
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Lott Carey mourns the tragic passing of Dr. Henry Mugabe, professor and former president of the Zimbabwe Theological Seminary (ZTS), his son, Munyaradzi Johannes Mugabe, and Dr. Dudzirai Chimeri, ZTS president.
The three died in a motor vehicle accident in Zimbabwe on October 21.
“The Lott Carey family has suffered a tremendous loss in the passing of Dr. Henry Mugabe,” said Lott Carey Executive Secretary-Treasurer Rev. Emmett Dunn. “He was a faithful co-laborer in Lott Carey’s groundbreaking missional engagement in Zimbabwe.”
ZTS, a Lott Carey partner, was launched in 2011 with Dr. Mugabe providing much of the outreach effort to get the fledgling institution off the ground. He toured the United States seeking funding and partnerships for the school.
Lott Carey became a significant partner for ZTS. Dr. Mugabe was an important link between the global mission agency and the school.
The seminary described itself as having a “distinctively Baptist heritage with an ecumenical commitment, a global perspective, and participation in the worldwide Christian mission.”
Lott Carey President Rev. Dr. Gina Stewart remembers Dr. Mugabe “as a gentle giant. A man of tremendous intellect, a faithful and committed partner of Lott Carey, an outstanding theologian, and a true ambassador of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Rev. Dunn declared Dr. Mugabe was “an innovative leader who combined the practical and spiritual in crafting the churches response to the ills of society, a provocative theologian who believed that the Word of God must be interpreted using the lenses of marginalized Africans, and a firm believer in the fight for justice in defending the rights of the indigenous church against foreign intervention. He enters heaven bearing the scars as evidence of his fight for justice.”
“I take pride in knowing that Lott Carey was very instrumental in his ministry from its infancy,” Dr. Stewart stated. “When the history of Lott Carey is written, the name of Henry Mugabe will be counted among those who touch lives with transforming love.”
Rev. Dunn mourned that “The church in Africa has lost one of God’s faithful servants.”
Dr. Mugabe is survived by his widow, Hermina, and children Grace and Tinashse.
“We pray for the Mugabe and Chimeri families who suffered such heartbreaking loss. Let us remember the seminary community, the church, and the people of Zimbabwe,” Rev. Dunn urged the Lott Carey global family.
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Puerto Rico and Florida hurricane relief | |
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Lott Carey is appealing to its partners and affiliates to make generous donations for hurricane relief in Puerto Rico and Florida.
Hurricane Fiona devastated Puerto Rico in mid-September. With winds of more than 110 miles per hour, Fiona affected parts of the Caribbean and Eastern Canada, with Puerto Rico bearing the brunt.
Other islands and areas experiencing damage and loss included the Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Turks and Caicos, and Bermuda.
At least 25 Puerto Ricans died from the effects of Fiona, a category 4 hurricane. It caused island wide power outages, with initial estimates of $2 billion devastation to the electrical grid. More than one million Puerto Ricans, one third of the population, were left without potable (drinking) water.
Hurricane Fiona is only the most recent disaster affecting Puerto Rico. It is yet to fully recover from Hurricane Maria that landed on the United States Territory from September 17-19, 2017. Maria resulted in nearly 3,000 deaths and destroyed the entire electrical grid.
The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic led to further disruptions.
Hurricane Ian caused widespread destruction in Florida in late September. Also a category 4 cyclone, it was the deadliest hurricane to hit Florida since 1935.
It affected other American states such as North Carolina and South Carolina, as well as Cuba and the Cayman Islands. Hurricane Ian resulted in at least 137 fatalities, 126 in Florida. Damage is estimated at $50 billion.
Immediate needs include water filters, solar lanterns, and hygiene kits.
“I appeal to our churches, brothers and sisters in the Lott Carey family to remember Puerto Ricans and Floridians who suffer because of these recent disasters,” said Lott Carey Executive Secretary-Treasurer Rev. Emmett Dunn.
“We ask that you be generous with your donations and gifts as we seek to meet these urgent needs,” he stated.
“The longsuffering people of Puerto Rico need our help,” Rev. Dunn said. “Let us reach out and help them and those who are still in need in Florida, even as we lift them up in prayer.”
To donate, click the link below.
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Annual Session approves major initiatives | |
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A mission budget of $1.8 million was approved by the board during Lott Carey’s 125th Annual Session in New Orleans, Louisiana, from August 15-18.
The budget will support various projects in 11 countries. These include education of more than 12,000 students in India, Liberia, Nigeria, and Guyana; free medical care for leprosy patients in India; and HIV/AIDS education, prevention, care, and support in Ethiopia.
The board approved an individual membership drive to be launched in 2023. Among other things, it will build a strong network around Lott Carey programs and causes and provide fundraising support.
Individual members will be encouraged to engage in advocacy and perform ambassadorial roles on the behalf of Lott Carey in their local churches, organizations, and communities.
A scholarship for students at Lott Carey mission schools in the names of Dr. and Mrs. David Emmanuel Goatley was approved by the board, which granted an initial sum of $5,000 to its launch. Dr. Goatley served 20 years as executive secretary-treasurer for Lott Carey. Other solicitations will be received to boost the fund.
The Thriving Congregations initiative was officially launched at the Annual Session. Focus will be on churches’ response to changing social and cultural contexts, clarifying values, and on mission. It seeks to cultivate Christian practices that strengthen the vitality, faithfulness, and effectiveness of local churches.
The initiative will facilitate four cohorts consisting of eight to 12 congregational teams comprising pastors and lay leaders. Between 50 and 60 congregations are expected to benefit from the program, funded by a grant from Lilly Endowment.
The $1 million development fund launched by Lott Carey President Dr. Gina M. Stewart at the Spring Missions Conference in Atlanta in March, got a major boost during the Annual Session. Several donations were pledged or received, including $25,000 from the Conference of National Black Churches.
Dr. Stewart is encouraging churches to invest in increasing capacity and building the infrastructure of Lott Carey to enable its partners to effectively meet the needs of the people they serve.
The Annual Session was held August 15-18 and incorporated Bible Study, worship, mission education classes, mission service opportunities, and presentations on issues of concern such as human trafficking, voting rights and social justice. There were special events for children and youth, among other activities and programs.
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Launch of Thriving Congregations Initiative | |
The Thriving Congregations Initiative will help pastors, lay leaders and the congregations they serve to recognize and respond to changing social and cultural contexts, clarify values, and cultivate Christian practices that strengthen their vitality, faithfulness, and effectiveness.
The program will facilitate four cohorts consisting of 8 to 12 congregational teams comprising pastors and three lay leaders. We envision supporting 50-60 congregations on a journey toward thriving.
Click on the link below to read, download and share the Thriving in Congregations letter from Executive Secretary-Treasurer Rev. Emmett Dunn.
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Established in 1897, Lott Carey has networks in 27 countries in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, North America, Oceania, and South America.
Based in the Washington DC Metro Area, Lott Carey provides financial support and technical assistance in leadership development, education, training, healthcare, advocacy, disaster relief, and other services.
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