"Pastors can't preach if they don’t study, and they can't study if they don't have books!"
  Read about an exciting OC development and the clear need it will address – Written by Dr. Bill Houston, OC Africa Regional Director

In January 2009, OC will partner with Langham Literature, a program of John Stott Ministries, to train African Christian writers in Nairobi. Twelve participants will be given the opportunity for interactive training through this Writer's Workshop. Clearly this event has tapped a real need; nearly 40 people have expressed interest in the workshop.

Most textbooks used in African seminaries are written in the West and address the Western context. Now a new day is dawning as many faculty members have doctorates and are able to write from an African perspective. They only need the training and encouragement to do so. Imagine the impact of 20 or more biblically based texts being published over the next few years! As Langham says, "Pastors can't preach if they don't study, and they can't study if they don't have books!" Subjects will include witchcraft, ancestry, leadership, multiethnic churches, bride price, church revitalization, Christian-Muslim relations, refugees, gender issues, death and burial practices.

OC's connection to Langham can be seen in many ways. Langham has funded approximately 300 doctoral scholars over 35 years, many of whom are linked to OC partner schools. Both Dr. Ashish Chrispal and Abraham Najjar*, OC Regional Directors for Asia and Middle East/Central Europe, respectively, are Langham Scholars. Dr. Bill Houston, OC Regional Director for Africa, serves on the Langham Partnerships Regional Council for Southern Africa as well. Later in 2009, another workshop will take place in West Africa if funds are available. Najjar* is also planning a similar event in the Middle East. *Name has been changed for security purposes.		  
Graduate serves as school ambassador and "strong voice within Africa"
  Read a great example of one graduate who continues serving his alma mater long after graduation and the impact he is having across the continent.

Rev. José Evaristo Abias graduated in 1985 as a member of the first graduating class of the Evangelical Theological Seminary of Lubango (ETSL), Angola. Since then, he has helped the seminary fight for both national and international recognition, in addition to opening church members’ eyes to the value of theological training that equips leaders to confront the challenges of Angolan society.

After serving as general secretary of his denomination for 25 years and teaching part-time at ETSL, Rev. Abias was elected as the General Secretary of the Evangelical Alliance of Angola in 2005. His longtime experience in an interdenominational context uniquely suited him for his present ministry, particularly as he strives to be an evangelical voice to the government and seeks greater unity and cooperation among church denominations. ETSL says, "Rev. Abias has contributed immensely to church/mission dialogue on several continents; has often been an 'ambassador' for ETSL in Europe, North America and Brazil; and has been a strong voice within Africa as well."

Rev. Abias says it is important for the Church and its institutions to reflect what it means to be the whole people of God, and he attributes this understanding and perspective to his ETSL experience. His future ministry goals include establishing a retreat center of rest, renewal, refreshment and counseling for pastors and church leaders. Join OC in prayer for Rev. Abias as he helps awaken churches to the possibilities of self-sustainment, changes their negative mindset and employs creativity in extending God's Kingdom.
  
Cooperation among institutions serves the greater good in countless ways
  Read about an emerging trend that OC fully supports – Written by Dr. Bill Houston, OC Africa Regional Director

OC strongly supports institutional generosity and cooperation, such as higher level seminaries helping resource lower level seminaries, because it is effective, speaks well of the Gospel and avoids costly duplication. For example, one OC partner school principal in West Africa gathers principals of 12 lower level colleges in his city to pass on what he has learned from the annual OC Institute for Excellence in Christian Leadership Development. Talk about the multiplier effect!

Another great example is seen in the partnership among 26 Francophone (or French-speaking) schools in Africa. The schools have organized themselves into a cooperative association to help one another. A core curriculum has been
Dr. Bill Houston,
OC Africa Regional Director
agreed upon that allows students to easily transfer credits if they move, and faculty have agreed to teach courses in other countries where needs exist. OC’s partner seminaries in Bangui, Cote d'Ivoire and Chad are leaders in this movement (Bangui Evangelical School of Theology (BEST), Alliance Seminary of West Africa (FATEAC) and ESTES School of Evangelical Theology (ESTES), respectively).

As OC continues encouraging partner schools to cooperate with other schools in their regions and share resources, the Kingdom is served in countless ways and ultimately blessed. 		 
Johannesburg Institute welcomed 25 leaders: "Thanks for making these possible"
  OC's ninth 2008 Institute for Excellence in Christian Leadership Development took place October 13-17 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The event was hosted by OC partner South African Theological Seminary (SATSSA). Twenty-five leaders from strategic training programs in the region attended the Institute, representing Angola, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The five-day Institute, themed “Leadership Matters,” focused on topics designed to equip participants as more effective school leaders. All presentations and materials were available in English.

"I really appreciated being part of the Institute," one Institute participant said. "Thank you for making these Institutes possible – they impact the life of the college in a huge way. The Ministry Action Plan is a great idea too." Another participant said, "God had already started challenging me to change my leadership style; this Institute added to that. I need to do more team building and encourage individuals more, celebrate their achievements, encourage them in their ideas, allow them space to grow and prepare others to take over from me."

To see more pictures from the Johannesburg Institute, click here.

The last 2008 Institutes for Excellence took place in Malaysia, Taiwan and India. Read about them in next month’s eNewsletter.

[See Johannesburg Institute speaker list in sidebar] 		 
Regional prayer requests
  Please commit to pray with OC over the following Africa prayer requests:
  • For the January 2009 Langham Literature Writer’s Workshop in Nairobi, subsequent workshops and OC’s fundraising efforts to subsidize the training
  • For the Lord to encourage the hearts of partner school presidents as many leaders deal with high levels of stress and burnout
  • For the impact that graduates have in churches across the continent
  • For the students, faculty and staff at each of OC’s 34 African partner schools
  

A Brand New Online Service
Use our new online estate-planning service to take the first step that will provide for your family and honor Christ. OC has partnered with PhilanthroCorp to offer this service, which you can complete in about 30 minutes in the comfort of your own home. Click here to go to our Planned Giving page and click on the "Estate Plan Organizer" button to start this easy process.



Two floods leave new OC partner school damaged, tough decision ahead
OC partner Mekane Yesus Theological Seminary (MYTS) in Ethiopia has suffered damage to their campus after two back-to-back floods. Click here to read the full story.



Take advantage of two matches – Double $1,757,500 for God’s Kingdom


Several generous OC donors have announced their willingness to double funds given to the organization. The deadline for both matches is December 31st, 2008. We are grateful for your prayerful consideration and for partnering with us to advance Christian leaders who in turn strengthen the worldwide Church. Click here to read more and invest in these important match opportunities.



Thoughts from an OC scholar
"I rejoice that the training I have received from GCU has tremendously enhanced my pastoral skills. Wherever I minister, people attest to this…A report from my senior pastor and congregation indicates that not only are my teaching and preaching Bible-based and sound but also life-changing…I ask God to bless your organization, so that through it, God can continue to support my education and other servants of His."
– Richard Kofi Acolatse, OC Scholarship Student, Ghana Christian University (GCU)

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Johannesburg Institute speaker list
  • Devison Banda (Justo Mwale Theological College, Zambia)
  • Dan Brewster (Compassion International, Malaysia)
  • Gerhardus Buys (Namibia Evangelical Theological Seminary)
  • Brian Edwards (Development Associates International, South Africa)
  • Bill Houston (OC Africa Regional Director, South Africa)
  • Victor Nakah (Theological College of Zimbabwe)
  • Samuel Njenga (Maurice Kerrigan, Ltd., South Africa)
  • Morompi Ole-Ronkei (Compassion International, Kenya)
  • Rodney Orr (Africa Leadership and Management Academy, Zimbabwe)
  • Avelino Rafael (Evangelical Theological Seminary of Lubango, Angola)