Conferences Urged to Celebrate AU with 100% AUF Investment
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100% SUPPORT
Furusa, AU’s vice chancellor and chief executive officer. “Contributions from e United Methodist Church and other partners have helped AU to launch new programs and enhance its infrastructure so that the students and faculty can continue to innovate and improve the quality of life in African communities,” Furusa said. “Today, there is no doubt that through God’s grace we United Methodists can do great things,” said Bishop Minerva Carcaño, the chair of the Finance Committee of the AU Board of Directors and resident bishop of the San Francisco Area. “Every annual conference in the connection would do well to contribute its 2017 apportionment for AU at 100 percent as an expression of gratitude to God and a commitment to the future of our Africa University,” said Carcaño. e California Nevada Conference has set quite an example. By February 2017, the conference had contributed 100 percent of its asking to the AUF. In June, California Nevada United Methodists
California Nevada United Methodists continue to invest in shaping leaders through Africa University.
presented Africa University with a 25th anniversary celebration gift that has surpassed $150,000. e Tennessee and Red Bird Missionary conferences lead in the Southeastern Jurisdiction with 2017 AUF contributions of 126.10 percent and 104.12 percent, respectively. Although apportionment receipts are traditionally sent to the General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) in late December/early January, nine other annual conferences have current contributions to the AUF that exceed 80 percent of their asking.
Thank you for investing at 100 percent in the Africa University Fund in 2016. The Annual Conferences of The United Methodist Church with a 100 percent or more remittance to the AUF apportionment over the past two years are: North Central Jurisdiction Dakotas East Ohio Illinois Great Rivers Indiana Iowa Minnesota West Michigan West Ohio Jurisdiction Total Support
2016 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 104.21% 100% 96.52%
2015 100.03% 100% 100% 116.54% 100% 100% 100% 96.27%
Northeastern Jurisdiction
2016
2015
Baltimore-Washington Eastern Pennsylvania
100% 108.16%
100.01% 110.65%
Greater New Jersey New England New York Peninsula-Delaware Susquehanna Upper New York West Virginia Western Pennsylvania Jurisdiction Total Support
100% 100% 100.96% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100.93%
100% 100% 100% 100.43% 100% 100% 100.02% 100.01% 101.11%
South Central Jurisdiction
2016
2015
Central Texas Oklahoma Indian Missionary Texas Jurisdiction Total Support
100% 100.01% 100% 91.65%
100% 100% 100% 89.54%
Southeastern Jurisdiction
2016
2015
Florida
100%
100%
Holston Kentucky North Alabama North Carolina Red Bird Missionary South Carolina Tennessee Jurisdiction Total Support
100% 113.80% 100% 100% 100% 100% 92.49%
100% 100% 100% 100% 101.41% 100% 91.73%
Western Jurisdiction
2016
2015
Alaska United Methodist California Nevada California Pacific Desert Southwest Oregon Idaho Pacific Northwest Rocky Mountain Jurisdiction Total Support
100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 99.70%
100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 92.77%
Fall/Winter 2017
nited Methodist leaders and churches are being urged to demonstrate their confidence in Africa University (AU) by increasing their support. With AU’s 25th anniversary celebrations culminating in March 2018, university leaders view giving to the Africa University Fund (AUF) apportionment at 100 percent in 2017 as the perfect way to rally around a flagship global ministry. Local church contributions to the AUF for 2017 exceeded $1.5 million, or 64.12 percent of the amount mandated in the general church budget, at the end of October. Overall, giving to the AUF is up by almost two percent over the October 2016 level. ree annual conferences—CaliforniaNevada, Red Bird Missionary, and Tennessee—have already invested 100 percent or more of their asking to the fund. “Despite the economic challenges facing countries like Angola and Nigeria and recent developments in the governance situation in Zimbabwe, Africa University continues to operate effectively and without interruption,” said Munashe
Africa University Today — Fall/Winter 2017
Cascade UMC Explores Increasing Engagement with AU
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ascade United Methodist Church (UMC), the fourth largest AfricanAmerican congregation in the denomination, is planning a 2018 visit to Africa University’s (AU) main campus in Zimbabwe as part of its effort to enhance support for the institution. e church’s senior pastor, Rev. Dr. Kevin R. Murriel, describes the visit to AU as exploratory in nature. “We hope to be a resource to better the lives of the students, faculty, and staff and … to be a bridge for other congregations who might be interested in serving the needs of the Africa University community,” said Murriel. e visit is just one of the initiatives evolving from discussions that took place in July 2017 between several influential North
Georgia United Methodists and university leaders. “It was the perfect opportunity to bring the remarkable story of Africa University to the forefront and discuss the potential for greater progress at AU through support from North Georgia United Methodists,” said Dr. James Laney, a longtime advocate who chaired the Africa University site selection committee. “It is our hope that the North Georgia Conference will reach 100 percent of its apportionment this year and, as other conferences have done, perhaps even launch a special campaign to raise funds for the endowment at AU,” said Dr. James L. Waits, one of the co-hosts of the meeting. e dates and schedule for the 2018
Cascade UMC visit to AU are still under discussion, with organizers targeting the latter half of the year. “Many of our members are energized around the purpose of our relationship with Africa University, and I anticipate this relationship growing in vitality for years to come,” said Murriel.
Rev. Dr. Kevin Murriel, senior pastor of Cascade UMC in Atlanta.
Alumna’s Journey Inspired by Study Abroad Experience
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afadzwa Anne-Marie Dzinoreva, the world president of the International Association of Students in Agricultural and Related Sciences (IAAS) for 2017-2018, can’t resist an opportunity to inspire and equip others for change. Dzinoreva is due to complete a graduate degree in Public Policy and Governance at Africa University in 2018. Her journey to the helm of one of the largest student organizations in the world began in 2014 with a study-abroad placement. While studying Agribusiness at Africa University, Dzinoreva did an internship at Farm Creeks Farms in Iowa. She visited Iowa State University where IAAS was holding its 57th World Congress and was invited to join the Congress for one week. “at one week was life-changing,” said Dzinoreva. “I was so excited to see people of my own age engaged in real talk and the search for solutions to producing high-quality food sustainably and feeding the planet. I thought, we need this in Africa.” Dzinoreva worked with fellow students to establish the National Committee of IAAS Zimbabwe at Africa University. Since 2014, two local committees (or units) have been
champions ongoing, student-led IAAS projects among farmers and in communities and helps to prepare “students to fulfill the challenges of their future work” through advocacy, training, and global exposure.
How You Can Help Alumna Elected World President of IAAS
added at the University of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe College of Forestry. “I have gained quite a lot by being part of IAAS and now I think bigger,” said Dzinoreva. “It has given me the confidence to stand for what I believe in—unity, teamwork, innovation and encouraging other students … and for this, I go back to the internship opportunity I got through Africa University. [It] has opened more doors for me than I ever anticipated.” True to the IAAS motto, Dzinoreva thinks globally and acts locally to target food shortages, food waste and hunger. She
ocated at Old Mutare, Zimbabwe, Africa University is an accredited United Methodist-related educational institution in Africa, established by the action of the General Conference. Africa University offers degree programs in three colleges: business, peace, leadership and governance; health, agriculture and natural sciences; and social sciences, theology, humanities and education. New academic programs include master’s and doctoral degree programs in migration, citizenship, and refugee protection; intellectual property; child rights and childhood studies; and entrepreneurship, innovation and creativity.
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Africa University continues to be the evidence of faith, hope and belief in the visions of dreamers. We are counting on you! Encourage your church to set a 100 percent apportionment remittance goal. Sending a portion of your goal each month makes it easier to reach full remittance by year’s end. Your church’s 100 percent Continued next page.
How you can help... continued.
AU Strengthens Its Contribution to Global Efforts to Eradicate Malaria
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frica University is poised to deliver critical data for reducing malaria deaths and provide new knowledge for controlling mosquitos and the diseases that they transmit in Africa and around the world. e United Methodist-related institution is now home to the first and only university-based insectary in Zimbabwe—a laboratory for rearing, housing and studying live insects, such as mosquitos. e university took delivery of the first of three state-of-the-art insectary units to be housed at its Mutare, Zimbabwe campus in October. e unit is fabricated from a 40-foot container, with distinct rooms for housing reference vector mosquito colonies as well as handling mosquitos collected from the field. It will support research on insecticide resistance and the effectiveness of malaria control tools such as indoor residual spraying, insecticide-treated mosquito nets, etc. “Africa University is … an important partner in making [malaria] eradication a reality because of our work in the community and our willingness to avail our facilities and expertise wherever they are needed,” said Sungano Mharakurwa, head of the university’s Malaria Research Unit and dean of the
e unit is an “insectary-in-a-box’ facility fabricated from a 40-foot container.
College of Health, Agriculture and Natural Sciences. e insectary was funded by the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). It is a key resource for a partnership between Africa University and Ministry of Health and Child Welfare in Zimbabwe. Increased prevention and control measures have led to a 29 percent reduction in malaria mortality rates globally since 2010. ere were roughly 212 million malaria cases and an estimated 429,000 malaria deaths in 2015. SubSaharan Africa continues to carry a disproportionately high share of the global malaria burden. In 2015, the region was home to 90 percent of malaria cases and 92 percent of malaria deaths (WHO 2016).
Celebrating 10 Years of the MIP at AU
apportionment remittance means 100 percent support of Africa University’s operational budget for costs such as utilities, equipment, and faculty salaries. Consider these additional ways of helping the university educate new leaders for the nations of Africa: Planned Gifts are the foundation for the long-term survival of Africa University. As you make your estate plans, consider leaving a gift or bequest to Africa University in your will. If you have already included the university in your estate plans, please let us know so we may welcome you to the Richard E. “Dick” Reeves Legacy Society. Usahwira—This word in the Shona language means “a beautiful friendship.” Encourage your local church to become a partner with Africa University by supporting one student at the university for four years. The annual cost of supporting one undergraduate student is just under $6,000. Local churches may provide full or partial scholarships. Endowment Fund—Give to the Africa University Endowment Fund (World Service Special Gift #03-01-88). The interest income from the endowment provides scholarships for our students. For more information about giving opportunities or to make a gift, visit us at support-africauniversity.org. To learn about Africa University and its impact, visit africau.edu. Let’s work together to continue the transformation of lives and of Africa. To order resources to help tell the story of the Africa University Fund apportionment, visit umcgiving.org or infoserv.um.org. Or, call United Methodist Communications, toll-free, (888) 346-3862, during normal business hours. Available resources include: • Africa University: A Place of Peace, Learning and Hope DVD (600115) • Africa University Fund: Pieces of the Dream DVD (600512) • We are Africa University (600611)
In 2008, Africa University (AU) and its partners—the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO)—launched the Master in Intellectual Property (MIP) program. It was the first graduate program in IP to be offered in sub-Saharan Africa. e MIP at AU attracted a pioneer group of 20 students from 12 African countries. Since then, 300+ African professionals have completed the one-year program. MIP alumni build awareness of intellectual property rights, strengthen protective policies and structures, and help their countries to leverage IP for income and development.
Africa University Development Office P.O. Box 340007 Nashville, TN 37203-0007 (615) 340-7438 audevoffice@gbhem.org www.support-africauniversity.org
General Board of Higher Education and Ministry Africa University Development Office e United Methodist Church P.O. Box 340007 Nashville, TN 37203-0007
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Africa University Today — Fall/Winter 2017
A Beacon for the Continent of Africa!
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erving the Oklahoma Episcopal Area for three quadrennia (20042016), Bishop Robert E. Hayes, Jr. and his wife, Mrs. Deliliah (Dee) Marie Bernard Hayes were honored by the Oklahoma Annual Conference with the establishment of a fully endowed $130,000 scholarship at Africa University named in their honor. Hayes has always stressed the importance of support for Africa University. e two annual conferences within the Episcopal Area—Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference (OIMC) andOklahoma Annual Conference (OAC)—did not disappoint. e OIMC supported the AU Fund at 100 percent and the OAC’s support of the AU Fund averaged 94.5 percent throughout Bishop Hayes’ 12-year tenure. Dee’s life as the spouse of a bishop was not defined by her husband’s duties, but rather by her passion to assist children, youth, and the poor. During the Hayeses’ tenure in Oklahoma, Dee became active in children’s and youth ministries
and served on several conference and community boards and agencies that addressed the needs of at-risk youth and the poor. Bishop Hayes’ episcopal assignment required travel abroad. eir visit to Africa University in 2010 was a memorable one for them. ey were impressed with the facilities, hospitality, and the beauty of the campus nestled at the foot of Mt. Chiremba in the Valley of Hope. Upon retiring in September 2016, the Hayeses returned to their home in Houston, Texas and have become active members of e Woodlands United Methodist Church. Bishop Hayes is bishop-in-residence, and Dee is involved with numerous outreach projects which support several charitable agencies in the Houston area. When asked what are their hopes and dreams for Africa University, they said they pray that Africa University will continue to be a beacon for the continent of Africa by producing outstanding leaders and continue to be one of the crown jewels
of e United Methodist Church. Further, they pray that the endowed scholarship will enable the young men and women of Africa who are without sufficient financial resources to acquire a first-rate university education so that they may be of service to their families, communities, nations, and the world. Elaine Jenkins Director of Planned Giving
The AU Today is published by the Africa University Development Office, in partnership with the Office of Communications, General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM). For more information, contact the: Africa University Development Office P.O. Box 340007 Nashville, TN 37203-0007 Tel: Fax: Email:
(615) 340-7438 (615) 340-7290 audevoffice@gbhem.org support-africauniversity.org.