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Our Hope is in the Lord
By Dr. Conrad Mbewe, ACU Chancellor
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"Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Saviour and my God" (Psalm 42:5, 11)
We began 2014 convinced that ACU would take on board its first students in the Scholars Programme. As far as we were concerned we were more than ready for them. It was not to be. Instead we saw more staff come on board and refurbishment made to our rented facilities. We also polished up our strategic plan, giving us a greater sense of ownership of the ACU project.
The Lord also sent us some trials. We had to redo some of the refurbishment work due to poor workmanship. We also sustained a break-in at the office in Lusaka and an attempted take-over of our plot of land in Chisamba that warned us that we were in a fallen world. In addition, the seminary director had to return to the USA. All these have taken us back to our knees in prayer.
We are still convinced that the Lord has led us thus far and that at His own time our doors will open to our first students. We want to thank all of you who have had faith together with us that this project is an act of God. We want to thank God for bringing a new seminary director (Dr. Voddie Baucham) soon after the loss of the previous one. These things have gone a long way to confirm that the Lord is still with us.
Pray for the Zambian churches to rise to the demands of getting this great ACU ship out to sea. Pray also that the Lord may move the Zambian government to begin issuing licences soon to new private universities to do their work. They have not done so for the last year and a half! Finally, pray for our vice-chancellor, Dr. Ken Turnbull, to continue knowing the Lord's help as he steers the ship of the ACU into the high seas of 2015.
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Heavenly Perspective
By Dr. Ken Turnbull, ACU Vice-Chancellor
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"But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end."
(Psalm 73:16-17)
From the perspective of one "in the trenches" of the daily operations and developments of ACU, it is easy to look back over 2014 as a series of setbacks and postponements with a few bright spots in their midst. By no fault of our own, since 2013 we have been unable to receive registration as an institute of higher education in Zambia through the Ministry of Education. We are now being told, "... by January 2015," yet we continue waiting on the government to do its job. Because of that, we had two false starts for initiating the Scholars Programme during the year. We lost some precious labourers from our team. Our campus property was threatened and harmed by squatters. Illness has struck our team and sent some home for recovery. We went for months without city water to our offices. We paid the cost and laboured through faulty construction. We experienced emotional and relational strains threatening the unity of the ACU management team. In all of these there is stress and, as the Psalmist said, trying to understand this is "a wearisome task". But he does not end there.
"Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end." Only in fellowship with God, as our thinking is conformed to His heavenly perspective, can we begin to discern God's providence. We now realise that a delay starting classes actually protected us from cancelling classes due to the lack of water. We see God pruning our team to better mature and strengthen our unity. We see the hand of God in calling new labourers this year for the work ahead, namely: Dr. Voddie & Bridget Baucham, Kendra Hawley, Chris & Keren Hays, Davey Hoffman. We realize that God's grace is superseding all that we are doing. In the trenches we keep our focus on the daily planning and preparations which bear fruit in the long term, while God guides our steps to accomplish His sovereign purpose for His glory. We trust all of this is a testimony of God's sovereign faithfulness.
Looking ahead to 2015 from this experience base makes it much easier to know one thing for certain: ACU is a work of God's mighty hand, and we will experience exactly what He knows we need to experience in order to accomplish the work of ACU to His glory. Along with the accomplishments, there will be challenges and likely setbacks ahead. However, nothing will occur outside of the grace of God, and we wait on Him to will and to work for His good pleasure.
Thank you for the prayers you prayed for ACU in 2014, and for your coming prayers throughout 2015!
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Brothers, Pray for Us!
By Wilson Tembo, ACU Dean of Students
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As we begin a new year, it is fitting to look at the year just behind us and take time to pour out our hearts to God in thanks and praise of His name. There are many things that happened in 2014 for which we need to thank God. Several milestones were achieved in 2014 probably more than in any other year since ACU's inception. Among these are two points I would like to talk about, namely: ACU head office infrastructure development and the ACU strategic plan. 2014 saw a lot of progress in terms of infrastructure development in readiness of the commencement of the Scholars Programme. The ablution block was erected. Classroom desks and tables were procured. The Olive Doke pavilion was completed. The Jonathan Edwards Library received the first consignment of books. These developments could not have happened without the financial support of various churches and individuals in Zambia, South Africa and the USA. I would like to say a big 'Thank You' on behalf of ACU Zambia board and management to all who made this possible!
Another milestone was the completion of the strategic plan. This plan clearly spells out the vision, mission and core values of ACU. It provides a road map along which ACU must travel for the next 3 years. This is a culmination of work started 3 years back by the board with the help of dear brothers, namely: Lovemore Nkhoma, Dr. Victor Nakah, Dr. Tim Tomlinson and Dr. Conrad Mbewe. The vision of ACU, as encapsulated in the strategic plan, is: "To be an excellent tertiary educational institution that glorifies God through a training that is biblical worldview based, innovative, stewardship oriented and truly african." We anxiously await this vision becoming reality!
As for 2015, we are trusting the Lord for a 'go ahead' clearance from the authorities and for commencement of the Scholars Programme. We cannot afford to wait much longer and as such we implore you to pray earnestly for these items. "Brothers, pray for us!" (1Thessalonians 5:25). I wish you God's blessings as you go through 2015.
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Sharing in God's Work
By Pr. Dan Pentimone, ACU-USA Board Chairman
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2014 brought many challenges for ACU, but God's grace was sufficient for them all. One of the greatest blessings demonstrating God's faithfulness this year was to see the USA tax exempt status restored after filing the necessary reports which the previous accountant had been negligent in doing. This means that all past and future gifts given to ACU-USA remain tax-deductible.
ACU-USA was able to assist both the ACU-ZAM and ACU-RSA boards by offering a dollar for dollar matching program. This raised the necessary money for part of the construction and furniture needed for the ACU headquarters in time to host the Taste of ACU days in May. The generous gift from one of our supporting churches helped make this possible.
ACU-USA also had a visible presence at numerous conferences throughout the year in places around the USA such as Atlanta, Grand Rapids, St. Louis, Louisville, San Diego, La Mirada and Oxnard, as well as London, Ontario in Canada. These conferences offered many opportunities for us both to share about the work of ACU and meet those who are already supporting ACU through prayers, donations, and some who are considering moving to Zambia to assist ACU there.
The ACU-USA board is excited about the upcoming year and the many opportunities to talk of God's gracious work in building ACU for His glory. This year we will be implementing new procedures for potential workers and developing new avenues of support. If your church is open to having a representative of ACU present the work, please let us know. Above all, we earnestly ask you to pray for ACU, recognizing that this is God's work and therefore requires God's strength and wisdom. To God be all the glory!
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Toward an AFRICAN, not Merely Zambian, Christian University
By Pr. Irving Steggles, ACU-RSA Board Chairman
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During the September 2014 Sola 5 Conference in Pretoria, South Africa, where a high proportion of churches represented were from South Africa, the vision and work of ACU was clearly and inspiringly presented. There was an appeal for South African Reformed Baptist churches to seize hold of the opportunity to become actively involved with ACU. We continue this effort by my writing to all of the Sola 5 churches and Trevor Thompson writing to all of the Baptist Union churches.
In South Africa, we are facing spiritual warfare as we long for churches to escape the gravitational pull of their parochialism and the worthy gospel works to which they are individually committed as local churches and soar into the space of wider cooperative works of mission for Christ's glory. The theme of the Sola 5 conference was Missions! There should be a passion for the glory of God in the unique biblical-worldview-creating work of ACU, yet we are still dragging our feet on the launch-pad! Please make this an urgent matter for prayer and that we would be inspired by the enthusiasm of our American brethren.
Pray specifically for ACU-RSA, that we will gain entry into churches to present the vision of ACU and the urgent needs. Pray that already parents of potential students will capture the unique opportunity ACU will present. Pray for recruits for the Scholars Programme. Pray that there will be a realisation that this is AFRICAN Christian University and not just Zambian Christian University. Pray that we will inspire our own young people.
So pray that the ACU-RSA Board will be used by God for a spiritual breakthrough here in South Africa.
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Seeking Help
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If God has gifted you as an artisan of excellence in any aspect of the construction trade, consider discipling colleagues and students with ACU. Please contact us if you believe God is calling you to serve His kingdom work in this way.
  Current Faculty Needs:Theology - Education
Business - Agriculture
with future expansion to cover all humanities and sciences
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