Africa Roundtable 2

Africa, the Stage is Yours!

This past August I had the privilege of participating in a historic roundtable conference held by ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International) Africa in Johannesburg, South Africa.  For one week 140 educators and community leaders from 35 nations came together to give testimony, share, and strategize about how to move forward Christian Education in Africa.  

Me with the delegates from Niger

The theme for the conference was "Africa, the Stage is Yours!"  It reiterated again and again the opportunities we have in Africa to bring the kingdom of God to each country through Christian Education.

We heard speakers from Ivory Coast to South Africa both testify and challenge us in the call we have to be Christian Educators in Africa.  Some highlights included,

Pastor Moussa Kone – “From the age of three I knew I was meant to be an imam (Islamic religious leader).  My father would tell me every day that my god was Allah, Mohammed my prophet, and that I would become an imam like him and his father.”  These were the messages that he learned as a very young child.  God had other plans for Pastor Moussa though! What stories are we telling our children as Christians?  Do they know who they are from a very young age?

Samson Makhado – “Save the African child through Christian Education, so the Christian child can save Africa.”

Each area of Africa shared testimonies of what God has been doing in Christian Education.  The Democratic Republic of the Congo has over a million children in Christian schools with teachers just waiting to be trained! In other countries teachers are coming to a deeper understanding of Biblical worldview, of their roles and responsibilities as Christian teachers in transforming their students and countries for Christ’s kingdom.

Myself with Bishop Nyamuke of Democratic Republic of the Congo

Connecting with other parts of West Africa.  Most countries in West Africa are French speaking – and it was fantastic making connections and in-roads in these areas.  As a result of these connections I had the opportunity to participate in a Christian school director’s conference in Senegal in October.  ACSI Nigeria is also planning to make an inroad into Sierra Leone in January as we connected at the conference with Mr. JT Koroma, a principal in a CRC Christian School in Kabala.

JT Koroma of Sierra Leone with Segun Oludipe of Nigeria

The development of a declaration.  Every day we met together to discuss what we need to commit to in order to strengthen Christian Education and bring about transformation.  Great plans were put in place – and it was amazing as we came from our small groups to share with the large group.  Our answers and ideas were unified.  God be praised.  To see a copy of the roundtable declaration go to: www.acsiafrica.org

Samson Makhado and I signing the declaration

Hank DeJong (Edu-Deo) and I

Join me in praising God for this momentous occasion.  Pray for each of us as we return to our own countries and pray and vision about how to implement this declaration in our various contexts.  Pray for wisdom and protection for many who serve in the midst of difficult and challenging circumstances.