African seminary offers training for the whole family

Founded in 1977, Bangui Evangelical School of Theology (BEST) in the Central African Republic offers graduate-level theological training school for Africa’s French-speaking nations and remains one of the most established training centers for this region of Africa. BEST trains leaders in both undergraduate and graduate programs geared for academic excellence, as well as programs for seminary wives and children – this family approach to education is one of the many strengths of BEST.

The school of 569 graduates is serving and training leaders within a country among the poorest in the world. HIV/AIDS and other religions in Africa are among the challenges for BEST students and graduates. In the past few years, BEST introduced its first doctoral program, and their Master of Arts in Christian Leadership program is in its second year. The school continues in the transition of standardizing its curriculum into the French system of education. BEST will have its first group of distance learning graduates soon, and the Diploma in Advanced Studies was launched, leading to doctoral studies and a specialized Master’s program.

After graduating with his Bachelor's in Translation, OC scholarship student Alfred Siango will be working with the Banda-Linda community, one of the largest communities in the country. He will be involved in Bible translation, evangelism and raising the level of literacy in the community. He says his training has taught him many things, including "how to translate the Bible in a clear way, so that those who read it can understand it and come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ."