'For all that you have done, ...'

The song, 'For all that you have done I need to say, I thank you, ...' summarizes the measure of faithfulness we have enjoyed from the Lord for the past eleven years of our marriage. This day, eleven years ago, we walked to the alter of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Freetown, where we recited our wedding vows. Through the years, the Lord has been very faithful to us. He has blessed our lives as we seek to serve him and love each other. He has worked on our weaknesses, faults and limitations for his glory.

Today, as we look back where the Lord has brought us, we just need to say we thank you. We continue to ask for his grace as we walk in his footsteps. I truly appreciate you dear for your love shown to us as a family.

On your marks, ready, go! New Academic Year 2010

The academic race has started again after the official opening of the academic year. The opening lecture given by Prof Dr Nullens, rector of ETF on the topic 'May it be a bit more theological' punctuated this start. After the opening lecture, I had the opportunity of sharing fruitful discussions with some of my professors during the reception.

We spent time to pray for wisdom as both professors and students engage in studies and intellectual analysis on our 'fides quaerens intellectum'.

International Conference on Mission History

I was recently participating in an international scientific conference in Berlin, Germany on the theme: "Mission History as History of the Globalisation of Knowledge: the Transcultural Appropriation of knowledge by Christian missionaries in Africa and Asia in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries."

The main thrust of the conference was the need to ask questions about past missionary involvement in Africa and Asia and how this might have possibly impacted our perception of missionary involvement today. The conference was cross disciplinary and made a bold attempt to question some of the accepted trajectories of mission history.

What I saw most striking was the on going need to restore the role of the African and Asian agent in the transcultural appropriation and transmission of knowledge, which is usually absent from missiological historiography. It was wonderful to be a part of this scholarly and scientific conference.

Berlin was a great city to visit.

TECT Distance Education 2010

The annual Distance Education program organized by The Evangelical College of Theology in Sierra Leone has just recently ended. This year's event which ran from 2 - 14 August 2010 was held simultaneously in Bo, Makeni and Freetown (the three biggest cities in Sierra Leone). The programme brought together a total of 81 pastors, evangelists, youth workers, women's leaders for training.

There were 31 students in the Bo campus, 17 in Makeni campus and 31 in the Freetown campus. The students are mainly enrolled in the BA, Dip in Theology and Diploma in Christian Ministries program. Among these students are some who are expected to graduate in December 2010.

We are grateful to friends who partner with us as we reach out to pastors in the interior of Sierra Leone who would not have had opportunity for training in ministry. Pray also as the academic year will officially begin on 6th September. Pray that the returning students will have the enthusiasm to study. Pray for our new students that they will find God's direction and will as they train for ministry.

REDEEMING THE TIME: What is the Difference Between Election and Predestination?

REDEEMING THE TIME: What is the Difference Between Election and Predestination?

Examinations - Study to show yourself approved!

This week, 17 - 21 May 2010, the final year students at The Evangelical College of Theology (TECT) in Sierra Leone are taking their final year written comprehensive examination in candidacy for various degrees and diplomas in theology, development and peace & conflict studies. These students have faithfully laboured in the past two, three or four years as they prepare themselves to face this decisive event in their academic pursuits.

As we usually do in events such as these, the students are given basic tips of how to take and pass exams. They are given a course on how to face public examination that have to be externally validated by the University of Sierra Leone which offers accreditation to TECT. They are told what the rules are regarding the conduct of the examination itself. In essence, they are prepared both for the theoretical and practical aspects of the examination.

This is also what we find in Paul's address to Timothy, the young pastor who was assigned to oversee the church at Ephesus. Paul said to him ' ... study to show yourself approved. A workman who does not need to be ashamed, but rightly handles the word of truth.' 2 Timothy 2:15

Examinations provide us the opportunity to show that we have really mastered the facts in class and can use them to advance the kingdom of God. They tell us that we are accountable to the Lord for the things entrusted into our care.

I wish all the best for my students as they take these examinations. May you receive wisdom from above as you reflect in the next coming days.

Haiti's Tragedy and the God who cares!

We have all followed the harrowing details of the painful tragedy that hit Haiti on Tuesday January 12. As I listen to news reporters, my heart breaks within me, because they continue to report that gradually the sounds of cry for help produced by survivors trapped under the rubble continue to fade. Some, I presume could no longer hold it under there, so they give up.

As always, when tragedies like this one strikes, our minds wonder aloud and our faith is called into question. If, God is loving why must he allow such suffering of this nature to hit the poorest country in the western heimesphere? The questions may go on, and on, and on. We cannot possibly understand the impact of the pain whole families have to bear at the moment.

Well through it all, we can say with the Psalmist "eventhough I walk through the valley of shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." [Psalm 23:4]

We can be comforted that though we may not have answers to our questions, yet the Lord our God cares, even now. So we bring all our cares to him, for he hears, knows and feels when his people suffer.