West Africa
Theological Seminary

Testimonial

“Jesus believed in wholistic ministry. He taught, he preached, he healed, he fed multitudes, and he challenged the status quo. He delivered captives in distress. He cured human need . . . So, this event is a symbolic act which proclaims the Lord's jubilee to a continent so very deeply in need of what God can do.»

Dr. William Sillings

Graduation Ceremonies

May 2008 Graduation

Saturday, May 24, 2008 A.D. was a High Day at WATS. Over 1,000 people gathered on the WATS campus to celebrate these events:

1. Graduation of 107 WATS students
2. Groundbreaking for two new WATS buildings
3. Presentation of a unique collection of ancient Bibles
4. Inauguration of our first endowed faculty chair

Special visitors and participants included Dr. William Sillings, chairman of Friends of WATS of the USA; Most Rev. M. Kehinde Stephen, Archbishop of Ibadan (Methodist Church Nigeria) the Guest Speaker, representing His Eminence, Dr. Sunday Makinde, Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria; Dr. and Mrs. Ira Pence and their granddaughter Celeste (Georgia, USA); David and Jewel Byrd (representing the family making the ancient Bible donation); and Bruce and Dee Richardson, of Facilitators International, of Greenwood, Indiana, USA. Many other special guests from around Nigeria were also present. The Vice President of Nigeria, His Excellency Goodluck Jonathan, was unable to attend the event due to a very last-minute change of plans.

The WATS grounds were festooned as never before. The centerpiece was a huge tent with more than enough room to handle the large crowd. Dr. William Sillings masterfully handled the groundbreaking ceremony. News of the day was prominently featured in at least ten national newspapers, both before and after the event. Dr. Gary Maxey, Acting Provost, delivered a speech. There was a lot of interest from the Nigerian press especially in the ancient Bible collection, moreso because nothing of this sort has been seen previously in West Africa.

Drs. Tosin Awolalu and Victoria Ezeokoli served well as MCs. The ceremonies culminated with the awarding of diplomas to WATS graduating students, both graduate and undergraduate. At the conclusion of the ceremony Ruth Ann Veltkamp, WATS faculty member completing forty years of missionary service in Nigeria this year, was presented as the first occupant of the Earl and Mabel Hunter Muslim Ministry Chair, to the evident pleasure and delight of all present.

This high day at WATS also served informally as our kick-off of our twentieth year as an institution—looking ahead to an even greater celebration on May 23, 2009 when we will officially mark our twentieth anniversary. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!