 |
|
Does the Great Commission Apply to Education?
By Ray Warwick, ACU Academic Dean
| |
|
One of the great challenges of any organizational endeavour today is funding. Among those of us who depend on the generosity of the saints in order to leave home and family to serve God and His people at ACU, the biggest challenge we face is seeking support from local churches. Why are so few churches willing to seriously consider ACU as part of their "missionary budget"?
There are, no doubt, multiple and complex reasons. Misconceptions of missions may play a fundamental role. I regularly hear one common but ill-conceived perspective on missionary support. I have been told, too many times, that the only "legitimate" mission of the church is church planting. So churches can't support educators as missionaries.
When our Lord gave what we have come to regard as the "Great Commission," was He simply referring to planting churches? Not likely; although church planting is certainly included in the commission. But our Lord's exhortation found in Matthew 28:19, 20, which many theologians consider to be a summary of the emphasis of Matthew's entire gospel, clearly indicates that His intent is that His disciples are to be doing more than merely evangelizing. They are to be making disciples by baptizing and teaching all that He has commanded them. There it is in the Great Commission, the rallying cry of missions! Does that mean only planting churches? Does it not read much broader than that? Historically, it has included an educational component to mature the individual believer and the church in understanding and applying the Word of God. Yet church planting is almost exclusively the limit of what many contemporary pastors approve as missions. Recently, education has largely been left as the task of the secular world, and in fact, secular education is more often mimicked by the church. This sad reality has devastated many cultures which once were informed by a biblical worldview, but now must admit to being overwhelmingly secular.
Indeed, the eminent John Calvin1 criticized the Anabaptists because, in their "misguided attempt to flee the world ... [they] should have been seeking positive ways in which they could be used by the indwelling Spirit to impact society in general and reform it, and so advance the kingdom of Christ."2 So, how have we Reformed Baptists been doing at impacting society lately? A distinctively Christian arts and sciences university which teaches that all truth is God's truth and is to be learned, understood and used for the glory of God and the advancement of His kingdom would certainly reflect historical missions more closely, and help churches today to more completely fulfil the Great Commission!
It is well known that the English and American Puritans considered Christian education to be a vital part of equipping the saints for the work of the ministry. Leland Ryken tells us, "The Puritan emphasis on the Christian element in education will surprise no one ... While the aim of Puritan education was religious, its content was the liberal arts. Puritan colleges were established primarily to provide an educated clergy, but this did not mean that they were seminaries or Bible colleges. They were Christian liberal arts colleges."3 What did the Puritans know that we seem to have forgotten? "To this day, ministers in the Reformed and Puritan traditions are expected to have a college education plus seminary training, not simply a religious education as in some pietistic traditions. This practice is part of the Puritan heritage."4
This is the robust model of missions that many missionaries historically have taken. It expressed a much healthier and effective approach to the fulfilment of our Lord's Great Commission. Perhaps it is time, once again, to take that Commission seriously and completely. ACU stands ready to do the ground work; we are merely waiting on the Lord to raise up His saints who will serve by helping to supply us with means.
1 I recommend To the Ends of the Earth: Calvin's Missional Vision and Legacy by Michael A.G. Haykin and C. Jeffrey Robinson, Sr., Crossway, 2014.
2 Haykin, pg. 54.
3 Leland Ryken, Worldly Saints: The Puritans as They Really Were. Zondervan, 1986, pg. 164.
4 Ryken, pg. 165.
|
|
|
|
An Interview with Wezi Chibalani, ACU Office Manager
By Kendra Hawley, ACU Librarian
| |
|
ACU: Tell us about your family and where you are from. WC: I grew up on the Copperbelt in a little town called Luanshya where my family still lives. For the past several years I lived in various places while I attended boarding school and travelled to South Africa for university. I recently moved to Lusaka, where I stay with my grandparents.
ACU: How did you come to a saving faith in Christ? What is your testimony? WC: I grew up in a Catholic family, attended services every Sunday and thought I was a Christian. When I went to University, I attended a charismatic church. During that time, I became frustrated with life. I finally told my friends I was ready to really try this "God thing". On my next home break, I was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Church. A few months later, God used scripture to convict me of sin and truly save me. After that, I continued to attend the charismatic church, but a lot of what I learned there was works based. They taught that if you had enough "faith" and spoke enough "tongues" you were truly saved. I really started to struggle and felt rejected by the people at the church which led me to think God was rejecting me as well. Because I did not think I could measure up, I decided to live life my own way and rebelled for several months. Soon I wanted to climb out of the dark hole, but I thought I had to fix myself first. I kept failing. It was during that time that I became convicted of God's love and grace that I could never earn. The church I attended was good on Sunday, but did not help me with living my life throughout the week. During this time, I became more frustrated. Finally, I started attending a Bible study on campus where Tim Cantrell, pastor of Antioch Bible Church, was the teacher. I actually started hearing the Bible taught in a practical way and came to the place where I could understand my salvation and engage in Bible study.
ACU: What led you to desire to volunteer with ACU? Why do you think ACU is important for Zambia and Africa? WC: I first heard of ACU when I was in Johannesburg. Then after I returned to Zambia, friends mentioned that Voddie Baucham was going to be part of ACU. I started joking with a friend that I would probably end up helping out at ACU for awhile. So I started looking for more information and a friend suggested I speak to his "Uncle" Ken Turnbull at Lusaka Baptist Church. I only realized that Ken Turnbull was the Vice-Chancellor after he handed me his business card. When I spoke with him about the project, I was excited about it. What caught my attention was the emphasis on discipleship. I see the value of older believers feeding into the lives of the younger ones. I really like how ACU wants to be a university which trains students to work everyday, everywhere, in every occupation. It is not just a school for pastors. I picture it like an octopus with tentacles reaching out to all corners of Zambia discipling for every area of life. It is the gospel that changes everything. When we have a right understanding of what Christ has done, we will be humble in our daily life. There is no other school in the nation that would do this. I am excited to see what the Lord does.
ACU: Tell us about your position as office manager at ACU. How will this help the university? WC: I imagine the office manager will keep the machine oiled and spinning. The various departments will be more efficient because of the organization that manages all these things. As I keep things running efficiently, I will serve them so they can focus on their distinct roles.
|
|
|
|
Update and Future Plans
By Davey Hoffman, ACU Scholars Programme Instructor
| |
|
From the last updates, and the updates before that, you know that ACU is waiting to receive registration from the Ministry of Education to not only start classes, but also begin advertising and accepting students. Unfortunately, we are still waiting to receive our license. Earlier this week we learned that the board, appointed to review our application, responded that the registration process and guidelines will be enacted by 31st March 2015. Once these are enacted, the approval process will commence.
Although it is a bit disappointing to know that we will not be approved before that date, we are happy to have received a concrete timeline as to when the process will properly begin. We are also thankful that the recently appointed board, who is reviewing our application, is moving forward and that their work may commence without political hesitation now that things are settling after the presidential elections last month.
Of course ACU is not sitting idly as it waits for registration. Much work is going on behind the scenes to make sure that we are ready and prepared to start the Scholars Programme once we receive our license. One thing we are continuing to work on is the construction at the ACU offices. The library recently had both a security door and an entrance door installed. Plans to construct the library office are scheduled to begin at the end of this month. Windows have also been installed in the ablution (toilet) block.
Preparations are ongoing, with plans being worked out for the curriculum, student accommodation and all that goes into running a budding university. Excited faculty are ready to begin teaching, the classroom chairs are ready to be filled and the library books are ready to be read. All is being done to ensure a fast takeoff once we receive registration.
One of the most exciting developments over the past month is that ACU welcomed a new volunteer Office Manager. Wezi Chibalani eagerly joins the ACU team in an increasingly crucial position. She will handle many things that will help the rest of us to stay organized and on the same track. We welcome her enthusiastic attitude and are thankful for her willingness to serve in this capacity.
The past month also saw the christening of two new funding initiatives. Firstly, the "Friends of ACU" initiative began. The "Friends of ACU" is an avenue for those who would like to become partners with ACU to assist with funding special projects. Secondly, ACU has partnered with several online stores, which allow anyone to support ACU while they shop on the internet. You may check out these initiatives on the ACU website.
Future plans are underway to begin the development of the Chisamba property. Through God's incredible provision, the small structure built on the land by the squatters is currently being used to house the new property caretaker. However, this structure is not large enough for both him and his family, so plans are underway to extend the living space there. ACU hopes to begin the development of the initial building phases at the Chisamba campus as soon as a construction project manager steps forward.
We wait with eager anticipation for the Lord's provision in granting the registration. At the same time, we wait in action. We remain diligent in our work and preparations for the coming year. We greatly appreciate your prayers, support and time volunteered and look forward to continued partnership in these areas.
|
|
|
|
|
|
As ACU makes preparations for the beginning of the Scholars Programme, please pray that the Lord will move the hearts of church members to open their homes for students needing accommodation.
The Ministry of Education has given notice that they will begin reviewing applications from waiting universities after 31 March 2015. Please pray that ACU's application will be processed efficiently.
The Jonathan Edwards Library is coming together. Please pray for an experienced library assistant to volunteer to serve with Kendra Hawley in the setup and operation of the library.
May God raise up many faithful Zambian brethren through "Friends of ACU" to help support various projects to prepare the ACU headquarters for starting the Scholars Programme.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
That the squatters on the Chisamba land have been peacefully evicted and the new caretaker, Donald Tembo, is now staying at the property.
For the installation of an entrance and security door on the library and windows on the ablution block.
For Conrad Mbewe & ACU's presence at the Desiring God Conference during the first week of February.
For Wezi Chibalani, ACU's new volunteer Office Manager.
|
|
|
|
Seeking Help
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
