Please Remember Africa University in Your Will Issue: 02
Vol: 26
July - August 2021
Africa University Development Office | P O Box 340007 | Nashville, TN 37203 Tel. (615) 340-7438 | Fax. (615) 340-7290 | Email: audevoffice@gbhem.org
8th Annual BLJHGI Set for Sept. 27th in Orangeburg, SC Golfers from South In 2020, the tourCarolina and across the nament raised more nation are preparing for than $35,000 to assist the Bishop L. Jonathan students and help Holston Golf Invitational South Carolina United (BLJHGI) Benefiting Africa Methodists meet their University in Zimbabwe. annual budget comThe event takes place at mitment. All 12 United the Orangeburg Country Methodists districts Club on September 27. It invested and had will raise funds for schol- Tournament patron, Bishop Jonathan Holston (in red) teams in the tournaarships and other needs with Rev. John Hipp to his right (in yellow), and fellow ment. at United MethodistWespath Institutional clegry and 2020 team members. related Africa University. Investments, a unit of This year, golfers will also use the gath- Wespath Benefits and Investments—the ering to pay tribute to a lifelong Methodist largest reporting faith-based pension fund in and dedicated tournament participant, Rev. the United States—is the tournament’s lead John Wesley Hipp, who died in October sponsor for a third consecutive year. 2020. "We are pleased to support Africa Rev. Mitch Houston of Bethany United University's vision to improve life, peace, Methodist Church-Summerville was Hipp’s and prosperity through higher education," college roommate and lifelong friend. said Joe Halwax, Wespath Institutional “I speak for his family and friends in say- Investments' managing director, Institutional ing we miss his laughter and warm smile Investment Relationships. every day,” said Houston. “John loved the To sign up for the event, visit www. game of golf." support-africauniversity.org/scgolf.
Marion District Scholarship Endowment Local churches in the Marion District of the South Carolina Conference are raising funds to endow a scholarship for a student at Africa University. The Marion District’s 92 congregations, spread across five counties, have an initial goal of $10,000 to establish the endowed scholarship fund. The Marion District Superintendent, Rev. Tim Rogers, and a local pastor, Rev. J. Elbert Williams, announced the pledge after their February 2020 visit to the Africa University campus in Zimbabwe. “The endowment is an opportunity to invest in new leaders for Africa and extend
Give Now
the reach of the love of Christ on the continent,” said Rogers. The district level effort would be the third scholarship endowment to involve Rogers and Williams. Both pastors have already endowed scholarships at Africa University from their personal resources. The Rev. Timothy and Mrs. Meridith Lyn Rogers Endowed Scholarship Fund (ESF) was established in March 2021. Rev. Williams set up The Mrs. Magnolia R. Williams ESF in memory of his late mother in 2014. Prior to being reassigned to the Hartsville District on July 1, Williams supported the Marion District effort with local church/small group presentations. "Members were excited to learn more about AU, and by being directly approached to become more engaged," said Williams.
EOC to Host AU Advisors' Meeting in Cleveland, OH The Africa University Advisory Development Committee (ADC) will gather in Cleveland, OH on September 18. Members are traveling to the East Ohio Conference (EOC) at the invitation of Bishop Tracy S. Malone. More than a dozen ADC members are assigned to preach during an Africa University saturation event, taking place in Cleveland-area churches on Sunday, September 19. The ADC's visit and the saturation event will promote the ongoing conferenece-wide campaign to build and equip a new residence hall for women at Africa University. With strong support from individuals and churches across the conference, East Ohio United Methodists are set to complete their campaign much earlier than anticipated.
Academic Year Opens with Online-Only Classes More than 3,000 students are settling into online-only lectures and supervision as the 2021-2022 academic year opens at Africa University. Lectures for new and returning students began on August 23, with a small number of students living in the dorms and studying virtually. AU had initially hoped to move to a blend of in-person and virtual learning. However, due to rising infection rates regionally, Zimbabwe has instituted stricter COVID-19 prevention meaures..
