new church life: jan uary / february 201 4
when they were ordained as ministers in the New Church in 2003 and sent
back to Kenya to establish societies and plant the Church there.
After working to spread the Church in Nairobi for a few years, the Rev.
Samson Abuga returned to his village, Etora, just outside Ogembo in Kisii.
Over a period of time he established a congregation. A piece of land was
purchased, and later a second adjoining piece, giving the church a sizeable
lot with good main road frontage. On the land Samson built a church and
classrooms for an elementary school. The number of children in the school
grew, and the church thrived.
However, at the heart of Samson’s plan for the Church in Kenya was a
Theological School, which could train ministers locally. It is often very difficult
for Kenyans to be granted visas to visit the United States – Samson himself has
been consistently denied one – so a local school was the only solution.
During a visit to Kenya in 2010 we laid plans for the new Keugata
Theological School, which would be under Mr. Abuga’s direction in Kenya and
my oversight from Bryn Athyn. Because most of the students were teachers, it
was decided that we would hold classes in April and August, which would be
taught by volunteers from the United States. This worked out for our school
year in the United States as well. Two courses would be covered in each term,
making it possible for the students to complete the entire program in three
years.
We decided to use the standard curriculum of 12 courses that we use in
distance training around the world. These are the most important courses
taught at Bryn Athyn College Theological School, with the goal that all
ministers trained for the ministry, anywhere in the world, will have done the
same basic training and have covered the same doctrinal subjects.
Overall the program was successful. Although we started with more
students than we finished with, those who stayed the course demonstrated
commitment to the Church and a passion for the ministry. Since the graduation
ceremony, three of the graduates have applied for and received recognition as
candidates. The fourth student has been recognized as a lay leader.
At the moment there are no new students in Kenya, but I am confident
that will not last for long. Once a reasonable pool of students develops there,
we will begin the training process all over again. In the meantime, the New
Church in Kenya is poised to grow and prosper under its very
committed leadership.
The Rev. Dr. Andrew M. T. Dibb is Dean of the Bryn Athyn College
Theological School and has served as a pastor in South Africa. He was
ordained in 1984 and into the second degree in 1986. He and his wife,
Cara (Glenn), live in Abington, Pennsylvania.
[email protected]
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