MOZAMBIQUE 25TH GRADUATION MAKES HISTORY!

Saturday, November 12, 2011, was an historic day in the Bible College in Maputo. The occasion was the 25th graduation at which 99 students received their Diplomas. It was a moving and majestic sight as they came marching down the long aisle of the large Central Church, two and two, in their graduation caps and gowns. I remembered how that in that same church 26 years ago, on October 31, 1985, the School officially began. Since then hundreds of students have graduated all over the country, and many of them are involved in Christian service. To God be the glory, great things He has done! On the back of the program sheet for that Graduation Ceremony, someone had written:

“By the grace of God, since its beginning on October 31,1985, the Assembly of God Bible School has produced fruit that will never perish! During the 26 years that it has existed, the School has graduated around 1,300 students all over the country from the Extension School program, 586 students from the Ministerial program (Diploma in Theology), and 54 from the Bachelors program. Last year – 2010 – saw the first graduation of the Masters program, with 18 graduates.”

Sunday the 13th of November, the closing service for the annual, national Pastors Conference was held in that same church. That large building, including the balcony, was jammed, with many people standing. The General Superintendent of the Conference, Pastor Tiago Manhiça, was in the first graduating class of the Bible School, 25 years ago. His assistant, Pastor Pedro Muianga, who is also the National Director of the Bible School, graduated at the same time, as did the Assistant General Secretary. The General Secretary graduated a few years later. In the service that morning, 64 Pastors, along with their wives, were ordained to the Ministry. For all of this and more, we praise the Lord. Thanks for your part in it all.

I wish you a great new year, filled with God’s richest blessings as you continue to minister to many at home and overseas.

With you in His service,

Bill Mercer

A WEEKEND TO REMEMBER IN ZIMBABWE–PART 1

THIS WAS ONE OF THOSE WONDERFUL WEEKENDS TO REMEMBER . . . It was a bit cold and wet as I headed out to Jomo Kenyatta airport just after 6am en route to Harare. The 2 hour delayed takeoff gave passengers lots of time to meet each other and enjoy a free breakfast (courtesy of my cheek and Kenya Airways client-care).

On board I met Faith, a young Zimbabwean lady who works in the media industry in Tanzania. She was heading to a funeral and was expecting to become the instant mom to the 3 children 11 and under.  It was her fiancé’s father who had died and he had been raising the children alone since they were orphaned of their parents. She told me that as a believer, she had decided that she would make any and every sacrifice on behalf of the children – even uproot her life and profession in Tanzania – Praise God for people like Faith!

Landing at Harare International Airport was uneventful, although much busier than a year ago – the economy is bouncing back after some almost fatal episodes in recent history. As I was waiting for my bags to come off the carousel, the mechanism broke and bags tumbled everywhere–eventually they cleared the mess and my bags appeared (thankfully).

Dr. Paul Kohls and his wife Lynn were on the same plane and outside Gerry Jeske was waiting to meet us. Yes, this is the same Gerry that had quintuple bypass surgery a few months ago – now renewed and in great health! He had his wife, Susan have been serving at PACC Harare for the past 2 years and have added so much value to the ministry of leadership development that flows from there. Nostalgically, this was their last weekend before heading back to the frozen north of Calgary, Alberta, where Gerry will become the interim pastor at Beddington Pentecostal Church.

After a quick lunch (thank you Susan), Gerry and I headed to a meeting with PAOZ’s National Executive Committee that was concluding 3 days of strategic planning. How wonderful to renew fellowship with Bishop Trevor Manhanga and his team – men and women who have served the Lord enthusiastically through the struggles of life in Zim!

Saturday was Pan Africa Christian College’s 37 graduation. A deliberate mistake on the graduation programme (inserting a blank line into the graduation list) boosted the number of graduates from 36 to 37 (nice touch I thought!). The programme was conducted without a hitch (even if the tent had blown down the night before and provoked a change of venue!). Rev. Lynn Kohls brought the graduation message on the healing of the paralytic who was brought to Jesus by his friends (or was it he that brought his friends to Jesus?). The content of her message was so rich and the delivery so perfect that when she finished she received a standing ovation! Bishop Manhanga, always ready to boast about Zimbabwe reminded the enthusiastic crowd that Lynn was born in Zimbabwe and that the reason she could preach like that was because she was Zimbabwean!!! (Lynn’s parents, the Butlers, were missionaries in Zaire, now DRC).

PACC 37 GRADUATION VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Rev. Dr. Ken Birch with the Lord

Dear friends:

With the mixed emotions of those who have lost a leader, a friend and a brother but know he is now in a better place, we communicate the passing of Dr. Birch into the presence of the Lord on Wednesday November 10, 2011. Please remember Shirley and the family in prayer.

Steve & Heather

DEGREES OF THANKS!

PAC University graduation is coming up on August 13 and we are anticipating a great celebration where we will be awarding the first degrees from the Business Leadership class. According to the Vice-Chancellor’s audit, we expect the class of 2011 to have 216 graduates as follows:

• MA in Leadership                                                        -           38
• BA – Bible and Theology                                             -           26
• BA – Counseling                                                          -           13
• BA – Business Leadership                                           -             7
• Frontier Youth Discipleship Program (FYDP)              -           12
• Diploma in Transformational Church Leadership      -           120     

Prof. James Ole Kiyiapi, Permanent Secretary for Science and Technology will be the Guest of Honour. Prof. Kiyiapi is a notable believer and preacher and serves the Lord in the Ministry of Higher Education.

This is a great time for us to give thanks to all of you who have invested in our ministry of leadership training at PAN Africa Christian University. We couldn’t have achieved what we have without you! 

PAOA EAST AFRICA APRIL 2011

		PAOA East Africa 2011 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

KENYA – GRADUATION CELEBRATIONS

PENTECOSTAL BIBLE COLLEGE, Nyang’ori – Kenya

Friday March 25, 2011 was a day of great excitement and great achievement at Pentecostal Bible College in Nyang’ori, Kenya. An estimated crowd of 3,500 peoplegathered on our spacious grounds to witness PBC’s 56th graduation ceremony! Two hundred and eighteen (218) students graduated. Of these graduates, 113 were from our Residential Program and 105 were from our Extension Program. These diligent grads either received a three year diploma (108) or a two year certificate (110).

Our special guest speaker was Rev. David Hazzard, Assistant General Superintendent of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. David’s ministry was greatly appreciated. PAOC global workers in attendance for this incredibly joyous occasion were: Deborah Sirjoosingh, Dr. Freda Myco, and Felix and Cecelia Chiriseri. Rev. Angela Lynch, of Focus on the World Ministries, was also in attendance. Angela had effectively ministered to the wives of ourgraduating students for three days earlier that week.

What a great day of excitement and achievement for Gabriel Musungu. Gabriel is 41 years old. He graduated with distinction. He pastors a local Pentecostal Assemblies of God church! Now he is able to return home and help his wife raise their seven children, the ages of which are 15, 13, 9, 7 (son), 5, 3 (son), and 1. The Musungus named their last child Moriah-Gabriella after our twin daughters. That was so nice! But there is more to this story.

The Musungus are not wealthy people as this world measures wealth–nowhere near being wealthy. But they are people of compassion and people of faith. They have taken into their modest home five “aids orphans”–four girls, the ages of which are 13, 13, 5 and 9 as well as a nine year old boy. In faith they have purchased a piece of property on which they plan to build an orphanage in order to take in more children without parents. What an amazing story!

One of the great things about the Church in Africa is that it practices the apprenticeship model. This means that believers are mentored to serve the Lord. As they discover and dedicate their talents and spiritual gifts their ministry opportunities develop. Formal Ministry, Bible  and Theological Education comes later. This distinguishes African students from the majority of those in Canada. Most Canadian students enter Bible College without a developed ministry because they have never been mentored in the local church.

MINISTER MURDERED FOR HIS FAITH

March 2, 2011

The World Evangelical Alliance is grieving the loss of Pakistan’s Minister for Minority Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti, who was assassinated today in Islamabad. The WEA condemns in the strongest terms this senseless act of violence and urges the government of Pakistan to bring to justice those who committed this crime.

Dr. Geoff Tunnicliffe, WEA Secretary General stated, “Not only have I lost a dear personal friend, but the world has lost a great champion for religious liberty, human rights and the protection of human dignity for all people.”

The WEA commends Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari for creating the Ministry for Minority Affairs, for appointing a minister from a religious minority community, and for forcefully condemning the assassination of Minister Bhatti. The WEA urges the Government of Pakistan to honour the pioneering work of Minister Bhatti and his memory by ensuring the swift appointment of another strong advocate for minorities to build upon all that he accomplished.

Minister Bhatti was an outspoken critic of Pakistan’s blasphemy law and had been calling for its abolition. Pamphlets left by the assassins labeled him an “infidel Christian” and cited his opposition to the blasphemy law as the reason for his assassination.

The killing of Minister Bhatti underscores the peril religious minorities in Pakistan are facing as a result of the blasphemy law and the culture of animosity this law continues to foster within the country.

Dr. Tunnicliffe met Minister Bhatti just recently to discuss the situation in Pakistan and plan a high level visit to Islamabad by WEA leaders.

Ten days ago Shahbaz Bhatti was re-inducted into the cabinet of the government of Pakistan. According to Minister Bhatti his induction “had sent a wave of joy and encouragement among the religious minorities across the country, especially the Christian community”.

Yesterday, a day before his assassination, Minister Bhatti wrote in a communication with Dr. Tunnicliffe, Secretary General of the World Evangelical Alliance:

“I personally believe that it is Jesus Christ who has once again bestowed unto me this responsibility and position with a special purpose and mission to serve the suffering humanity and I am determined to carry on defending the principles of religious freedom, human equality, social justice and the rights of minorities.”

Writing to Geoff Tunnicliffe yesterday, in what was one of his last communications, Bhatti called Christians around the world to prayer for Pakistan saying, “It is time to stand in solidarity.”

The WEA will continue to champion the work of heroes of the faith, like Minister Bhatti, and speak out for marginalized and persecuted people in all societies.

Letter from Minister Bhatti to Geoff Tunnicliffe:

March 1, 2011

Dear Brother Geoff,

It was nice to meet you and discuss important issues with you during my visit to Washington. Thank you for your support, solidarity and prayers. Thanks for letter and press release. I had   very memorable and productive trip to Canada and USA.

I appreciate your commitment for religious freedom and your dedication for the persecuted and marginalized Christians.

My meeting with you was a source of encouragement for me and I thank you for the solidarity shown by you for the religious minorities of Pakistan.

As you are aware, I have been re inducted into the reconstituted Federal Cabinet of Pakistan, President Asif Ali Zardari despite severe opposition from the extremists included me into the reshuffled Federal Cabinet.

My induction has sent a wave of joy and encouragement among the religious minorities across the country, especially the Christian community. 

I personally believe that it is Jesus Christ who has once again bestowed unto me this responsibility and position with a special purpose and mission to serve the suffering humanity and I am determined to carry on defending the principles of religious freedom, human equality, social justice and the rights of minorities.  

I am looking forward to welcome you and your delegation in Pakistan. Kindly encourage WEA network and other friends to keep me in their prayers. It is time to stand in solidarity 

Yours in Christ,

Shahbaz Bhatti