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Issue No. 2
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February 2009 A.D.
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Dear Friend of WATS,
Last month we announced our new mailing address. Here it is again just to make sure you see it:
Friends of WATS
PO Box 490306
Lawrenceville GA 30049
All other contact information remains as before. THANKS!!
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Global Christians
"We must be global Christians with a global vision because our God is a global God" (John R. W. Stott).
There are few people who have impacted the African Church more than Dr. John R. W. Stott. Today, at 87, he labors on as the greatest gift of the Anglican Communion to worldwide evangelicalism. A lifelong celibate, he has written fifty books, and in retirement remains the Rector Emeritus of All Souls Church in Langham Place, England. Dr. Stott has visited Africa countless times, and has done more than any other person to provide scholarships for worthy Africans and sow African soil with excellent Christian literature. We are happy to pay tribute to a GREAT SOUL of whom it was once said, "If evangelicals could elect a pope, Stott is the person they would likely choose."
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Praise Notes
1. We always look forward to January because of the extra excitement and bustle of activities surrounding our MA in Christian Leadership modules. This year we welcomed to campus a larger group than usual. January 12 – 16 thirty-five top church leaders went through eight hours daily of "Aspects of the Contemporary Nigerian Church," and the following week a slightly larger group experienced five intensive days with Dr. Wes Griffin and the International Leadership Institution (ILI) curriculum. The synergy among these leaders—from eleven different Nigerian denominations—was excellent and productive. We were pleased to welcome a large number of leaders from the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries—one of the fastest-growing churches in the world, with over 11,000 pastors in Nigeria as well as thousands more outside the country.
2. In other Masters modules, Ruth Veltkamp taught Cross-Cultural Discipleship and Church Planting, Dr. Zamani Kafang (ECWA Theological Seminary, Kagoro, Nigeria) taught Old Testament Prophets, Dr. Julius Adegbola taught Christian Leadership and Church Administration, and Kalu Okechukwu taught Synoptic Gospels. In the meantime, undergraduates returned in record numbers to register for their second semester.
3. January 22 witnessed a first-of-its-kind effort with a fundraising dinner in the national capital, Abuja. The WATS PR team masterfully prepared for this event, working closely with WATS trustee, Brig. General Samuel Teidi (rtd). The target was N500 million, largely earmarked for WATS capital needs. The immediate return was modest, but there is hope for us to reach the full goal within the next few months.
4. GOOD NEWS: practical missions and evangelism is alive and well at WATS! During chapel on January 23 we received a report from WATS students who made a spontaneous ten-day evangelistic excursion into the Republic of Benin over the year-end holidays, led by two Beninese Masters students, Constant and Samson. The report of this student-inspired and student-led international initiative was received with great enthusiasm and resulted in a large renewed pledge offering for short-term WATS missions outreach, targeted to ten mission fields by mid-2009 and including missions forays as far afield at Botswana and Sudan. WOW!
5. In the USA, the Friends of WATS board met January 30 and 31, again hosted at Peachtree Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, and was well attended. New board members included Dr. Maurice Watson (senior pastor of Beulahland Bible Church in Macon, GA), Bishop W. Ron Sailor (senior pastor of Christ the King Baptist Church in Dacula, GA), and Dr. Bill Brown (WATS adjunct faculty member, Salisbury, NC). Dr. William Sillings was re-elected chairman for his sixth year. The board took a hard look at the approximately 50% drop in donations in 2008, and reviewed options and made plans for how to see our giving move back to and exceed our previous highs. It was unanimously agreed that the ministry of WATS is more viable and needed than ever. On Friday evening we celebrated our annual Friends of WATS dinner, hosted by Mt. Pisgah United Methodist Church in Johns Creek, GA, where twenty-three new scholarships for WATS were underwritten.
6. Finally, on a note of thanksgiving yet also very deep sadness, we note the passing away of one of our most distinguished adjunct faculty members, Professor Ogbu Kalu, on January 7 in Chicago. Professor Kalu was Africa’s leading Church historian, with professorships at Harvard, Yale, Princeton, McCormick and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He was deeply loved at WATS and will be sorely missed. Thank God for such a stellar man whose devotion to God was a clear as the excellence of his scholarship.
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Prayer Requests
1. Pray in February as Masters modules continue, with generally increased enrollment. Dr. Russell Lovett flies in from Kenya (Africa Nazarene University) to teach Biblical History and Criticism II, Dr. Joseph Mensah (Accra, Ghana) teaches Wesley and Discipleship, Dr. Uzo Obed teaches Transformational Church Growth for Africa, Dr. Charles Osume is back, to teach Apologetics for Missions, and Oumar Coulibaly teaches Mastering Biblical Hebrew. Toward the end of the month we expect our own Dr. Emmanuel Ogunyemi back to teach Educational Ministry of the Church, and Solo Obasi to teach New Testament Introduction.
2. Pray for our PR team at WATS as they energetically follow up on the January 22 fundraiser in Abuja. Many who could not attend the fundraiser have expressed interest in WATS, and we need prayer backing for the five men who are at the forefront of the HARD WORK of follow-up within Nigeria: Rev. Kofi Obiako, Pastor Femi Martins, Jide Moye, Obaleke Obashoyin and Julius Adegbola.
3. Pray for finances for the return to WATS of teachers who have completed doctorates or are near completion. Emmanuel Ogunyemi has completed his PhD at Trinity International University and we need him at WATS THIS MONTH!! Eraste and Rose Nyirimana are close to the finish line with their PhDs at the University of KwaZulu Natal in South Africa, and we need them at WATS THIS SEMESTER. Pray for funding to help these families make these important transitions, including getting set up in new accommodations in Lagos. Also, pray for three other doctorate holders who are working on plans to join the WATS faculty over the next six months or so—that God will guide them and open the necessary doors for them.
4. Pray for plans that are already afoot for the twentieth anniversary celebrations at WATS—which culminate on Saturday, May 23. We want God to smile on us and to make this a time of great celebration.
5. Finally, pray for Patricia Conlee and Gary Maxey as they continue to lead Friends of WATS, and its staff of great volunteers: Brad Roberts as our IT expert, Lorraine Shaffer as our scholarship lady, Katie Goslee as our Nigerian consulate liaison, and several others who help from time to time as needed. Pray for Len Gough as our part-time consultant and co-worker (and especially as he has faced some medical needs recently). And, . . . BELIEVE with us that God will give us a GREAT YEAR in 2009 reaching our goal of 200 more WATS scholarships. Hallelujah! God is with us.
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| Thank you for joining us to believe God for a great year of ministry at WATS! The best of all: God is with us!! |
| BULLETIN: |
(1) We need Bibles and other Christian books! See us about getting them to Illinois for shipment to Nigeria. |
| (2) We are looking for assistance in the shipping of our next container, including the tractor. We need to include 225 sheets of 3/4 in plywood. Can you help? |
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(3) Check www.watsonline.org for giving online,
either using your credit card or an automatic bank draft.
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| Friends of WATS |
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WEST AFRICA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY |
| PO Box 490306 |
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PMB 003, Ipaja |
| Lawrenceville, GA 30049 |
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Lagos, NIGERIA |
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| Ph: 678-226-4733 or 404-895-0018 |
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Ph: +234-1-898-1676 or 1914 |
| Fax: 404-806-4433 |
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EM: GMAfrica@aol.com |
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Yours for the African Harvest,
Dr. Gary S. Maxey |
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