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ACSI Memo June 2010

TO:              Brothers and Sisters

FROM:         Dr Samson B. K. Makhado, Director:  ACSI Africa

DATE:         June  2010

SUBJECT:   Updates 

1.    Apology

I really want to apologize for being so quiet for the last two months, reason being that I have been extremely busy travelling to various parts of Africa and being involved in so many meetings and conferences. 

During the months of April, I spent only three days in the South Africa office, most of the time I was in Africa leading and participating in conferences in different parts of the continent.  My goal is to keep you posted so that you can be relevant in your prayers.  Our mission in Africa is to disturb the very solid programme of the enemy.  Almost every day our team is walking against the face of the enemy, our target (the child) is also the enemy’s main target.  That is why your prayers are so vital.

2.    Sad News

We extend our condolences to Judy Marais and her family on the passing of her dear mother who went to be with the Lord on Sunday 20th June 2010.  May God comfort them and help them to cherish the good memories of their loved one.  Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints (NIV. Psalm 116:15).

3.    The World Cup, a national uniting factor

For the past fifty years, South Africa’s history has gone through tough phases - “from the new chapter of  apartheid in the 1940s, the defiance campaign of the 1950s, the treason trial of the 1960s, the bloody 1970s, the ungovernable 1980s, to the transition and subsequently democratic 1990s (Moshoeshoe Monare 2004, p. 67).”  These historical events shaped the history of South Africa and fuelled the tensions between South Africa’s dominant White minority and the dominated Black majority populations.

The 1990’s democracy came in two major steps, the unbanning of all political organizations, the release of Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners, then the election on 27 April 1994 and thereafter the burning of all apartheid laws.  The last fifteen years we all could feel that although the laws were repealed, the apartheid ideology was still alive and kicking in the hearts, minds and the lives of people.  The separation by skin colour was still very active.

By God’s grace the world cup came with a new dimension.  It was preceded by the Super 14 rugby semi-final and final which were staged in Soweto.  It was amazing to see many South African whites spending their first  evening in Soweto, and realizing that South Africa is one nation.

The world cup manages to put apartheid ideology on its knees.  There was no other time in South Africa where one could ever witness and experience the unity than at the present moment.  The national flag is waving almost everywhere.  A mere mortal may not realise that what is happening in South Africa is the answer to the prayers of the Saints.

Let us pray that the Lord will continue to bless this nation, protect all the visitors, and let the national unity continue beyond the time of the world cup.

4.    Thanksgiving prayers

4.1  Kenya ICEC Conference:  1 - 4 April 2010
This conference used to be for International Schools only, but this year Mike Epp, ACSI International Director for Europe, CIE and Africa, has broken that circle.  He opened the conference to ACSI African national schools as well.  Many of the African leaders from South Africa, Uganda, Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana and Kenya attended this conference.  The coming together of national and international schools was a breakthrough.  It has opened many doors and bridged gaps for those of us who are working in the continents.  The conference was also graced by the ACSI President Dr Brian Simmons and by great speakers and workshop leaders.

We really need to thank the Lord for Mike Epp and his team for the work well done.

4.2  Nigeria four cities conference:  10 - 27 April
         Location                       Dates

       Lagos                               Sun 11th – Wed 14th April, 2010

       Akure                              Wed 14th – Sat 17th April, 2010

       Abuja                               Sun 18th – Wed 21st April, 2010

       Calabar                           Wed 21st – Sat 24th April, 2010

 

Our sincere thanks go to our sister Mrs Adun  Akenyemiju and her ACSI national right hand young man Mr Segun Oludipe, the co-ordinators Mary Joy Omesiet,  Monilola Adeyeoluwa,  Esther Rex Fubara and Praise Amed and their respective committees.  I do not have enough words to express our joy on what these brothers and sisters are doing in their regions.

Speakers at this conference were Pastor Cobus Sipsma, Mrs Adun Akenyemiju and myself.

4.3  The “Beyond” Conference:  Democratic Republic of Congo 17- 21 May 
The “Beyond” conference in the DRC was one of the greatest successes.  For the last four to five years our focus has been on the Kinshasa Province.  This was used as a pilot project but now the Kinshasa team has gone beyond piloting.  They are ready to expand to the entire nation.  The trained ACSI team went on a mission to train leaders in Bacongo, Bandundu and Equator Provinces.  For the first time since our time in the DRC we had delegates from the four provinces.  The speakers were Bishop Nyamuke, Gavin Brettenny and myself.

The conference will be followed by the first French “Training of the Trainer” on 7 - 10 November 2010.

4.4  The ACSI/IAPCHE/CPCHEA Conference:  26 May - 5 June, 2010                                                              
Developing Comprehensive Christian Education                                                                                                                                 
This was a  Faculty Enrichment Programme for university professors and leaders in primary and high schools and    held at Redeemer's University, Lagos, Nigeria.

West Africa Faculty Enrichment Program aims to train Christian teachers to be more effective in classroom work, to better relate our faith to the subject matter, and to strengthen the campus ministry in institutions.

The conference was blessed by many speakers:  Dr Nick Lantinga, IAPCHE; Dr Samson Makhado, ACSI Africa; Pastor Isaac Mutua, CPCHEA; Ms  Sheila Dykstra, ACSI; Mr Mike Epp, ACSI; Dr Joseph Ilori, Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary; Prof Sherri Lantinga, Dordt College; Dr Yusufu Turaki, Nigeria; Danny McCain, University of Jos; Mrs. Ngozi Okiyi, Royal Family Academy (ACSI Trainee); Deborah Ogunrombi, Nigeria Baptist Theological Seminary; Dr. John Tal, St. Andrews University College; Yusufu Turaki, ECWA Seminary; John Vander Hoek, Worldwide Christian Schools.

4.5 Ibadan Teachers Conference
This conference was the first of its kind.  Since ACSI arrived in Nigeria the focus has been leadership.  This conference took place immediately after the ACSI/IAPCHE conference and was attended by more than 600 teachers.  The conference was a clear indication that ACSI Nigeria is now ready to move to the next level.  Congratulations to the ACSI co-ordinator Moni Adeyeuluwa and her team.  This was truly a job well done!

5.    Training of the Trainers

The objective of this programme is to develop local, national and regional leadership for emerging leaders, new and experienced leaders.

  1. 11 - 20 July, 2010:  ACSI and IICSE:  11 of our national leaders from Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya and Cameroon will be attending ACSI Institute at Colombia University in South Carolina USA.  Thereafter the African team will attend a “Training of the Trainer” programme with the team from Asia.  This programme will be led by Dr Janet Nason and myself.
  2. 15 - 17 August, 2010:   “Training of the Trainer” programme at Willow Park in Johannesburg, South Africa.  This will be an intensive leadership training entitled “Building blocks of an effective Christian school”.   In this topic the following will be addressed:
  • Governance
  • School administration
  • Classroom management
  • Effective discipline in Christian school;
  • Teaching the whole truth, Integration of faith and learning
  • The role of the Church in Christian schooling.                                                                                            
  • The training will also answer the following questions:
  • What is authentic Biblical worldview that will make our Christian schools distinctive?
  • What are the elements of an authentic Christian school?
  • How can our Christian teachers teach the whole truth?
  • What is the role of the Church in Christian schooling?

            Delegates will also get to experience a day in the South African Christian School environment.

3.     27 - 28 September, 2010:  A follow up program for the team that attended the “Training of the Trainer”  

     in 2009 at Willow Park in South Africa.  This will take place in Lagos, Nigeria. 

6.    Good News

6.1  Opening ACSI West Africa and Central Africa offices

Nigeria
Nigeria is the most populated country in Africa with a population of over 150million.  The country has the potential to drive Christian education among the West Africa Anglophone countries like Ghana, Liberia, Gambia, and Sierra Leone.  The Nigerians regard ACSI as an umbrella body that will unite them, to form a very strong front in Christian education to enable them to combat the Moslem strategies.  To date over 500 member schools have registered with ACSI.

ACSI opens the West Africa Anglophone office in Lagos on 30 September 2010.              

Central Africa
In 2003, the DRC, through the Church of Christ in Congo (CCC), extended an invitation to ACSI.  The invitation has been endorsed by their Kinshasa leader Bishop Nyamuke.  When one analyzes the work that the CCC is doing in the Congo, it fits well with the vision and mission of ACSI.  The Church of Christ in the Congo is the coalition of 65 denominations.  This coalition has played a major role in preserving education of the children of the Congo.  Today the Church of Christ in the Congo is responsible for over 12 000 schools, over 77000 teachers and over two million children in the country.  The Church has a concern of providing Christian education that is based on authentic Biblical worldview and want their schools to display the true essential elements of Christian schools.  They also want their teachers to enable them to teach Christianly and lastly they want to understand the role of the Church in Christian schooling.                                                                                                                

In order to play its redemptive role in Christian schooling and be a catalyst for training the next generation of leaders, the Church of Christ in the Congo invited ACSI to help in leading the Christian education arm of the Church in a way that will accommodate and strengthen the CCC national and provincial structures.

ACSI and CCC open the ACSI Central Africa regional office in Kinshasa in 24 - 29 January 2011.

 

7.    It is time for Africa!

There is no other time in the history of the continent that this continent has had so many Christians.

“We are in the midst of one of the greatest periods of religious change in the history of the world, Christianity is growing  so dramatically in Africa, Latin America and Asia” (Joel Carpenter, 2006).

Africans represent 33% of the planet's Christians.  Europe, by contrast is the only continent where Christian numbers are declining.

David Barrett illustrates the emerging trend of dramatic Christian growth on the continent of Africa.  In 1900, there were only 8.7 million adherents of Christianity; now there are 390 million, and it is expected by 2025 there will be 633 million Christians in Africa.

(The statistics from the World Christian Encyclopedia)

Through Christian Education, we can change this statistics to reality; we can leave a better Africa behind.  Much of the Christian growth in Africa is now due to African evangelism rather than European missionaries.

 

8.    Conclusion

Brothers and Sisters, pray for us so that we can have renewed strength, have faith in God through Christ.  The work is much and the labourers are few.

Remember, experiencing God’s favour is a result of our willingness to carry out our divine assignment, to allow God to mould our characters, to be willing to work hard, take risks and by presenting ourselves as God’s vessel of honour.

Through Jesus we share in the same intimate relationship He has with the Father.

Paul reminds us that we can call God “our dear Father” (Galatians 4:6).  Within this family circle, security and safety surround us.  We can be ourselves.  We are accepted regardless our feelings, fears and failures.                      
Our heavenly Father will never turn His back on us.

Thank you and God bless you.

Samson B.K. Makhado Ph.D.
Director, Africa
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Association of Christian Schools International
PO Box 828, Edenvale, South Africa
Mobile 27 82 313 4999