A Visit with Stay-at-Home Scholars, Kenya
August 31, 2008
Kenya — July 8-12, 2008
The recent turmoil in Kenya after the presidential election is well documented. On the day I arrived in Kenya, another cabinet member had been confronted and forced to resign due to financial improprieties. This seemed to illuminate deep fissures in the governmental system. Most of the people I spoke with said, “Kenya is not as stable as we thought” and “we have a way to go to fix our problems.”
Nairobi Evangelical School of Theology (NEGST) is perhaps the best known of JSM-Langham’s Majority World partner schools and is very well-situated with a beautiful campus and strong faculty. JSM-Langham has contributed five scholars to the faculty, including the vice-chancellor, Douglas Carew, who functions as president. (The chancellor is more an honorary position, it seems).
Since this was graduation week, the vice-chancellor’s office was consumed with commencement arrangements, board meetings and other guests, including the Sudanese ambassador to Kenya (the commencement address was given by Isaiah Dau, a Sudanese and principal of the Nairobi Pentecostal Bible College). The graduation reception on Thursday, July 10, was marked by recognition of graduates, presentation of Langham books to graduates (It was a privilege to make those presentations on behalf of Langham), special recognition of NEGST graduates who have been involved in the reconciliation process since the turmoil and a lovely buffet meal. The reception climaxed with African dancing, with most in attendance participating.
Andy Alo, our current scholar at NEGST is in the first doctoral cohort. Andy is from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and speaks French as well as his native language but his facility in English is quite amazing. Andy recently returned from a seminar in Poland, having been selected by the NEGST faculty to make a presentation on “relevance theory” as it relates to translation. The focus of the NEGST Ph.D. is biblical studies/translation. Andy indicated that he planned to return to the DRC to teach at Bunia and also minister in the local churches after his studies. He did mention the possibility of remaining at NEGST, a plan that had been suggested to all the students in the current cohort. My later conversation with Mark Shaw, director of the doctoral program, revealed that Andy has risen to the top of this cohort and that they hope to invite him to remain on faculty.
The commencement exercises at NEGST combined the traditional pomp and circumstances of the West and music, joy and vibrancy of African celebrations. A dance troupe, composed of children of NEGST students, brought a cultural dynamic. With approximately ninety graduates, the place of NEGST in east African theological education is obvious. During the commencement, Douglas Carew announced the strategic plan for Africa International University, with NEGST one of three schools comprising the university.
Another highlight of the Kenya visit was a gathering of Langham scholars for dinner at an Ethiopian restaurant. Those present were Stephen and Josephine Sesi, Bernard and Mary Boyo of Daystar University, Paul and Mary Kisau, James Nkansah-Obrempong and Andy and Yvette Alo. Several expressed interest in receiving assistance for publishing while others wanted to see more activity with the regional council of East Africa.
Saying good-bye to Africa, after more than three weeks of incredibly rich and stimulating fellowship, gave me a sense of sadness. One cannot drink Africa’s waters without longing for another drink.
South Africa – June 22-29, 2008
Zambia – June 30-July 7, 2008
United Kingdom – July 13-19, 2008
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