“We’re thankful God is calling us to equip and train leaders at this time of growth”

Dr. Emmanuel Bellon, Principal of OC partner Nairobi International School of Theology (NIST), Kenya, recently visited the OC headquarters. He shared about the school’s impact in Africa where the Church is growing fastest. Dr. Bellon says churches are “sprouting up everywhere,” creating a real need for godly leadership

Dr. Emmanuel Bellon, NIST Principal, and Jason Ferenczi, OC Vice President of International Partnerships

(Clockwise from left) Josephine, Dr. Bellon, Leticia, Gifty and Caleb

and helping people live godly lives. “We’re thankful that God is calling us to be a part of equipping and training leaders at this particular time of growth.” Currently, NIST is exploring opportunities to train leaders in other countries through short-term programs and modules, as well as partnering with existing institutions to offer graduate-level training.

Dr. Bellon says theological education in Africa should respond to the continent’s challenges and be relevant to bring about holistic transformation. For example, NIST is setting up a Voluntary Counseling and Testing Center for HIV/AIDS patients and offers a stewardship course geared toward addressing poverty. Practical ministry plays a key role as well. Two new NIST programs include the Executive Master’s in Governance and the Master’s in Organizational Development, which incorporate biblical principles into the work of government and corporate employees. Besides NIST’s current extension centers, Dr. Bellon would like to see training centers throughout Africa, so pastors and other leaders can remain in their congregations and places of work while training through online courses and modules.

“Thank you for all you do to train leaders on the continent of Africa,” says Dr. Bellon. Through faculty and student scholarships, “OC has helped eliminate the burden of training expenses.” He understands this personally as an OC scholarship student himself at one time.

Please pray for Dr. Bellon and his family as they continue adjusting to his leadership transition and his oldest daughter attending college in the US; grace and wisdom for NIST leadership and students; and godly leadership for Kenya to allow the country to move forward.

About Dr. Bellon – Dr. Bellon was born in Ghana. He and his wife, Leticia, served as missionaries for Campus Crusade for Christ in Africa. They have three children: Josephine (17), Gifty (10) and Caleb (5). Before becoming NIST Principal, Dr. Bellon worked for World Vision among many Christian organizations, as a teaching assistant at NIST and the Director of the Leadership Center in Nairobi.  He earned his MDiv at NIST, ThM at Fuller Theological Seminary and is currently working on his PhD at Fuller. He is an ordained pastor and the Associate Pastor of his local church.