Africa U Today - Summer 2019

Mississippi United Methodists Celebrate $1M AU Campaign

$1 million gift, presented to Africa

University by Mississippi Annual Conference on June 6th, is opening the door to a lifechanging education for more young people in sub-Saharan Africa.

Bishop James E. Swanson, Sr. presented a check for $1 million to Africa University’s chief advancement officer, Mr. James H. Salley, in an emotional and moving celebration at the annual conference gathering in Jackson, MS.

“What a difference you can make when you learn to give,” said Swanson. “You took on the task and you did a tremendous job. Thank you, Mississippi. In a state where we sometimes struggle so much, we found it in our hearts to give so much.”

This gift fulfils a scholarship endowment pledge and ends a conference-wide major campaign for Africa University, which began in 2015. The campaign’s culmination was cause for thanksgiving and special recognition of the many

leaders who helped bring it to fruition.

“The Mississippi Conference has been very generous in establishing this scholarship endowment for Africa University students,” said Salley, who described the leadership of Bishop Swanson and Mrs. Delphine Swanson as a model for the church.

Salley thanked the Mississippi Conference on behalf of the Africa University Board of Directors, its chair, Bishop Mande Muyombo, and the university’s chief executive, Prof. Munashe Furusa. He also surprised Bishop and Mrs. Swanson with Africa University’s highest honor—the Drum Award.

“With all the things that seek to divide us in The United Methodist Church, this is another example of why Africa University is a uniting, United Methodist dream come true,” said Salley.

“The people of Mississippi who call themselves United Methodist have stepped up to empower the people of Africa to do for themselves.”

The three-year Mississippi Conference effort to endow scholarships was part of Africa University’s ongoing $50 million, “Seeding Hope, Shaping Opportunity” campaign. Gifts to the campaign have already surpassed the goal and are enhancing teaching and research, campus infrastructure and student access.