Congratulations go to Chiwimbo Gwenambira

For the past few years our church has given the Christmas Eve offering to support the Africa University Campaign under the Indiana Conference leadership.   In addition to giving money to support the Agriculture Department at the University and student scholarships, we are also learning more about Africa University in the process.

 

 QUICK FACTS:

1. The university opened its doors in 1992 to 40 students.
2. The first two faculties were Theology and Agriculture.
3. Since 1992 over 5500 have received a degree.
4. Currently 28 Africa nations are represented on the campus.
5. 1450 students were enrolled for 2014-2015 school year.
6. All classes are taught in English. 
7. They now have 7 faculties for degreed work at the university.

Our church has a goal for the AU Campaign of $29,000 or more.  When our church joins the other churches and individuals from around the Conference (State of Indiana), we hope to have $1.6 million dollars to be placed in an endowment for salary support for the Agriculture Department and scholarship support for students such as Chiwimbo.

 

Chinoeso, Chiwimbo, and Pricilla at Graduation

Reverands Gwenambira visit Valparaiso 1st May 10  

On Sunday May 10, Chiwimbo and her parents were with us in the 9:15 worship service.   They so appreciated the way in which we extended our radical hospitality.  Chiwimbo had just celebrated her graduation from Michigan State with a Master's Degree in Crop and Soil Sciences.  

Both her parents a United Methodist Pastors in Zimbabwe.   Her father Chinoeso pastors a church with over 1000 who worship each Sunday.   Her mother has been assigned to a rural area where she pastors 6 churches and shepherds 700 worshippers on a Sunday morning.  Her father did his Master's in Divinity at Africa University just before Chichi began her studies there.  She graduated at the top of her class in Agriculture with emphasis on research in crop and soil sciences.  Africa University prepared her very well to move forward with advanced degrees. 

Please remember Chichi and others like her when you give to the Christmas even offering in December 2015.   It means we will be supporting other fine young people just like her who have great plans to make a difference in the world. 

Chichi will be returning to East Lansing this coming fall to begin her doctoral program at Michigan State.  All of the data research will be done in Malawi and Zimbabwe while the actual data analysis will be done in the labs at Michigan State.   We wish her all the best as she continues to "be a Spartan".   (Game days there are a pain...all sorts of bus delays for the serious student.)