Dear Friends,
I write to you this January wishing you all greetings for a Happy New Year! I am glad to share the latest news of my ministry and Friends Theological College (FTC).
At FTC, classes resumed for the residential program on January 9, 2018. Students had returned home on recess on December 16, 2017, and the FTC faculty and staff had a break for the Christmas holiday starting on December 21. Christmas presents were offered to the faculty and staff from the administration mostly consisting of food stuffs for their families, which has been a tradition at FTC.
The FTC faculty and staff resumed their duties on January 4, 2018 to prepare for the residential students’ arrival. We have had a good turn-out of students for the January semester with a total of 40. In addition, we are glad that Margaret Amudavi has returned from a six-month sabbatical and has resumed her duties as the FTC Academic Dean.
FTC residential students, back in session on January 9, 2018, enjoy lunch in the dining hall.
The satellite campus in Kitale, which we launched on November 25, 2017, is now in session. Students resumed classes on January 15, 2018. Currently, eleven students are enrolled for the diploma program. The modular (school-based or holiday) program will begin this April 2018 with ten students.
Additionally, FTC is in communication with Africa Theological Seminary in Kitale, which is already accredited with the Association for Christian Theological Education in Africa (ACTEA). We are in collaboration with them to allow our students to use their library while we complete equipping our own library at the FTC Kitale satellite campus.
Another exciting piece of the news is that on December 23, 2017, we called in a technician who restored our SMA solar system which had been down since September 21, 2017. It has now been restored to serve as the primary source of energy for the lower level of the FTC campus. The grid is only serving as stand-by but also serves as primary to staff houses. Plans are under way to also install solar panels to staff houses following the on-going renovations.
Through this past December and also this January, I have had a full schedule of speaking engagements as well as great time to spend with family and friends for the Christmas holiday.
December 10: I was at the Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC) Africa section session in Kakamega. I led the devotion at a prayer breakfast meeting attended by all the yearly meeting clerks.
December 15: I spoke at the Young Friends program of Tongaren Yearly Meeting on Quaker faith and practice. I also shared about FTC programs and invited prospective students to apply and join FTC. I was glad to find one of the enrolled students at FTC from this yearly meeting at the session.
December 25: On Christmas day, we had a family gathering. My daughter, Ivy, came from Nairobi with two grandkids and their two family friends. We enjoyed a nice day together.
December 26: All together as a family, we went and joined the family of Selina Waliaula (Nancy’s mother) at Chwele where all the children and grandchildren were invited to spend time with her together. Selina lives about 20 miles away from our home in Kimilili.
December 30: I spoke at the Pastor’s Retreat of Elgon Yearly Meeting, Lugulu on “Church governance”. The yearly meeting had unveiled their revised constitution in November 2017, and I was glad to be invited to share on this topic with the pastors. Many students already enrolled at FTC, as well as FTC alumni, attended. Many Friends have expressed that they are glad for the opportunity to join FTC satellite campuses, thereby avoiding having to travel all the way to Kaimosi.
January 13: I spoke at the Pastor’s Retreat of Chavakali Yearly Meeting on “The qualities of a spiritual leader within”. I was accompanied by a group of FTC students who were well-received. Other alumni and students were also there. I did some marketing and enrollment and provided information on FTC programs.
Edna Tadayo
Also, I would like to let Friends know that we are continuing fundraising for the education fund set up for Shantel Mmbone, the five-year-old daughter of Edna Tadayo. Edna was hit by a stray bullet shot by a police officer at a shopping center on November 17, 2017 and passed away a day later. Edna served as the Front Desk Receptionist at FTC. We have also distributed appeal forms to yearly meetings in Kenya to contribute to this fund.
The fund will benefit Shantel from primary school to university. We are seeking to raise funds by the end of March 2018. Friends who are located outside Kenya may donate to the education fund by clicking here, choosing “Other” from the drop-down menu, and writing “Edna’s Fund” in the comments field on the last screen. Donors within Kenya can send their contribution to MPesa paybill 514608. After punching in the number, write your name as Account Number.
Finally, I would like to invite friends again to check out the new FTC website, which is officially up and running. Check it out here at https://friendstheologicalcollege.org.
Thank you, Friends, for all your support and prayers, and I look forward to continuing in this ministry in the new year.
Dr. Robert J. Wafula
Principal
Tel. +254 734 728564
Email: robertw@fum.org
To subscribe to Robert Wafula’s email newsletter, please go here. You can also see a list of past newsletters by going to this link.
Praises
- Praises and thanks to God that Margaret Amudavi has returned to FTC after a restful sabbatical. We welcomed Margaret back to the office; the faculty, staff, and students are glad to have her back.
- Many thanks to God for Rodgers Wekesi, who stepped in as the FTC Academic Dean while Margaret was away on her sabbatical leave. Thank you Rodgers for stepping in. We have expressed an extended thank you to Rodgers Wekesi for serving in this position while Margaret was on leave.
- Praise be to God that students are back from the holidays and have returned safely to FTC campus.
- Thanks to God for the staff housing renovation jobs that are going well. A full report on this will be featured in the February 2018 newsletter.
Prayer Requests
- Prayers for Colin Saxton, John Muhanji, and I during our mission trip to Turkana from January 18 through January 21. We request that friends pray for the trip.