HPUMC-funded Women’s Dormitory Completed, Occupied
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100% SUPPORT
March 2016, during Africa University’s 25th anniversary celebrations. It is the largest gift to date from a congregation and the most substantial investment in student services infrastructure at Africa University in more than a decade. The church designated the funds to build the women’s dormitory and complete phase two of the student union building. “To see the dorm and to open it to students brings unimaginable joy to us,” said George Miti, the university’s dean of students. He described the facility as first-rate and its impact as deeply meaningful to a grateful campus community. “Given HPUMC’s long term support of students through scholarships, it is a dream come true to be able to support students in a new way,” said Lisa Tichenor, a member of the congregation and chair of the AU Tennessee corporation. Marti Benson, an architect and member of the
Thank you for investing at 100 percent in the Africa University Fund in 2019. 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 Ohio Wisconsin Jurisdiction Total Support
2019 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 91.33%
2018 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 108.99% 95.87%
Northeastern Jurisdiction Baltimore-Washington Greater New Jersey New England New York Peninsula-Delaware Susquehanna Upper New York West Virginia Western Pennsylvania Jurisdiction Total Support
2019 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 98.82%
2018 100% 100% 100% 104.01% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 98.53%
South Central Jurisdiction Oklahoma Indian Missionary Jurisdiction Total Support
2019 100% 78.24%
2018 100% 85.42%
HPUMC congregation, provided input in designing the buildings and helped to supervise construction. “It is the greatest joy, not only for me but for the congregation as a whole, to see the excitement of the students, their happiness and the reinforcement of their faith in God as they enjoy the benefits of safe and comfortable housing while getting their education at Africa University,” said Benson. Southeastern Jurisdiction Florida North Alabama North Carolina Red Bird Missionary South Carolina Tennessee Virginia Jurisdiction Total Support
2019 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 93.26%
2018 100% 100% 100% 108.76% 100% 110.35%
Western Jurisdiction Alaska United Methodist California Nevada California Pacific Desert Southwest Mountain Sky Oregon Idaho Pacific Northwest Jurisdiction Total Support
2019 100% 100%
2018 100% 100% 100% 100%
100% 100% 100% 93.82%
93.11%
100% 100% 100%
Winter 2020
new dormitory, built with the support of Highland Park United Methodist Church (HPUMC), is now home to more than 130 female students at Africa University. The facility is one of two HPUMC-funded infrastructure projects at the institution’s main campus at Old Mutare, Zimbabwe. With the existing dormitories at full capacity last August, more than 300 students—83 percent of them undergraduate women—had no option but to live off-campus. The new dormitory, completed in mid-January, has enabled many students to move onto the campus. Among them is second-year student Munashe Foroma, the resident assistant (RA) assigned to the new dormitory. She is thrilled that her daily commute is over. “The new hostel has great facilities…The space is clean and lovely and just feels like a home away from home,” said Foroma. HPUMC announced the $2 million gift in
Africa University Today — Winter 2020
Pierre Omadjela Praises God for the Gift of Communication
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ithout Africa University, Pierre Omadjela doubts he would be where he is today. He was teaching high school in the Democratic Republic of Congo when, to his delight, he received a scholarship to attend the university, 3,500 miles from his homeland. Pursuing a Master of Business Administration degree, Pierre quickly discovered a key benefit of studying at AU: learning English. “I served as class representative for Intensive English, leading 95 students from five countries,” he said. While at AU, he served as a resident assistant in dormitories that housed graduate students from 12 African countries. He was also the AU choir’s student representative, when the singers traveled to Durban, South Africa, for the World Methodist Council meeting. At graduation in June 2012, Pierre was appointed director of communications and development director for the Central Congo Episcopal Area. Four years ago, he became a full-time field project manager with United Methodist Communications’ Global
Communications Technology team. “Today,” he said, “we are a team of 21 people in our central conference. We are planning to train a communicator in each district. In Kinshasa, we now have communicators on the local church level. I am proud to be the initiator of this, and I praise God.” In Africa, where United Methodism is experiencing phenomenal growth, Pierre’s ministry is essential. He introduced the use of internet and social media for church communications, allowing global access to news from the central conferences. In a region where Ebola and other diseases are grim realities, Pierre used UMConnect, a text-messaging system, to offer words of hope to thousands of church members in the East Congo Area. During DRC elections, UMConnect shared peace-focused audio messages from Central Congo bishops. Pierre loves being in ministry with people all over the world. Reflecting on the denomination’s
growing diversity, he said, “AU is important as it allows future church leaders to learn how to live with people who are from different countries with different cultures. “I am serving the church in D.R. Congo, Tanzania, Zambia, Central Africa and South Africa,” Pierre added. “I couldn’t do that if I did not go to Africa University.”
How You Can Help ocated at Old Mutare, Zimbabwe, Africa University is an accredited United Methodist-related educational institution in Africa, established by action of the General Conference. The university offers degree programs in three colleges: Health, Agriculture and Natural Sciences (CHANS); Business, Peace, Leadership and Governance (CBPLG); and Social Sciences, Theology, Humanities and Education (CSSTH&E). New academic programs include master’s and doctoral degree programs in military chaplaincy, migration, citizenship and refugee protection; and entrepreneurship, innovation and creativity.
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Africa University and the 20th Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church are partnering to enable graduates of A.M.E. schools in five African countries to matriculate at Africa University. The 20th Episcopal District will enroll students beginning in March 2020. An anonymous gift of $700,000, given to Africa University, will provide most of the funding to educate 28 students from the district over a seven-year period. The district is currently raising additional funds to invest in the initiative.
Africa University continues to be the evidence of faith, hope and belief in the visions of dreamers. Thank you for investing in changed lives and communities! 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 generosity ensures 100 percent support of Africa University’s operational budget for costs such as utilities, equipment and faculty salaries. Continued next page.
How you can help... continued.
East Ohio Campaign Enters Public Phase
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he East Ohio Conference campaign to build and furnish a dormitory for women at Africa University entered its public phase in January 2020, with more than $579,790.00 in gifts and pledges realized towards the goal of $1.5 million. This is a three-year campaign. The final date for the receipt of gifts is December 31, 2022. Initiated by Bishop Tracy Malone in June 2019, the “Teach • Reach • Bless” campaign is a response to the on-campus housing challenges associated with enrollment growth at Africa University. Bishop Malone is a member of the Africa University Board of Directors. “The East Ohio Conference campaign… affirms our long-standing support of Africa University and our shared value of providing students with wholesome housing accommodations and community life while pursuing their education,” said Malone. The East Ohio Conference funded the construction of two dormitories at Africa University in the 1990s and the conference currently has more than $2 million invested in
endowed scholarships for AU students. “East Ohio’s ties to Africa University are deep,” said Rev. Dr. William McFadden, who along with fellow AU Advisory Development Bishop Tracy Malone Committee member, Dr. Maggie Jackson, was appointed to co-chair the campaign. “East Ohio is part of keeping the dream moving forward,” said Jackson. “As ministry grows and evolves, there are always needs and we must continue to find ways to give.” Currently, female students comprise 58.4 percent of Africa University’s total enrollment, compared to 25 percent on average for other universities in Africa. “We know that women are among the most vulnerable in society and commuting to the Africa University campus puts female students at serious risk,” Malone said.
Local Churches Remain Committed to AU
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wenty-eight annual conferences of The United Methodist Church maintained their investment in the Africa University Fund (AUF) apportionment at 100 percent in 2019. Their support, along with a very strong showing across all five jurisdictions in the United States, resulted in an overall AUF investment of 90.3 percent. “In light of the uncertainties in The United Methodist Church, it is clear that when local churches and annual conferences are made aware of what is needed to do ministry they respond,” said James Salley, the university’s chief advancement officer. For the first time since AUF apportionment was established in 1989, the Virginia Conference achieved a 100 percent investment of its asking. “Recognizing the importance of our global connection, we wanted to make the apportionment giving 100 percent,” said Bishop Sharma Lewis of the Richmond Episcopal Area.
Under her leadership, the Virginia Conference has been striving for 100 percent apportionment giving and considering new avenues for mission partnership with Africa University. Bishop Sharma Lewis “To achieve 100 percent apportionment giving for Africa University, the Virginia Conference was blessed by an anonymous donor who values higher education and felt a calling to make up the difference,” said Lewis. “Thank you to all the ministry partners who went the second, and even the third mile, in supporting the AUF,” said Salley. “I don’t see gloom and doom. I see the hope that comes when people of faith respond to the Word of God.”
Consider these additional ways of helping the university educate new leaders for the nations of Africa: Planned Gifts— 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 can become a partner with Africa University by supporting one student 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 #03-0188). 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 download resources to help tell the story of the Africa University Fund apportionment, visit: umcgiving.org/auf and/or the resources page at support-africauniversity.org. Current resources include: • Africa University at 28 — Talking Points • Africa University: The School of Hope (video) • Usahwira (brochure) • AU in a Nutshell (presentation)
Africa University Development Office P.O. Box 340007 Nashville, TN 37203-0007 (615) 340-7438 Fax: (615) 340-7290 audevoffice@gbhem.org www.support-africauniversity.org
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Africa University Today — Winter 2020
Josefa Bethea Wall: Cultivating Legacy Gifts
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n January, Josefa Bethea Wall joined the staff of the Africa University Development Office as interim director of planned giving. Working with AU’s planned giving council, she is making significant contributions in fostering support and advancing the mission of Africa University. “I am excited about the opportunity to participate in the ministry that is Africa University and to lead an area that has become vitally important to the future of the university,” said Bethea-Wall. “When one considers the importance of planned giving, it is the consistent support that looks toward the future of the university and the impact it will have for persons we will never meet.” As a longstanding member of the Africa University Advisory Development Committee,
Bethea Wall has volunteered her skills, insight and deep connections within The United Methodist Church. “Mrs. Bethea Wall is a major donor to Africa University (AU), she has an impeccable network within and beyond The United Methodist Church and is one of the university’s primary celebration partners in the United States,” said James H. Salley, the associate vice chancellor for institutional advancement. Bethea Wall brings more than 18 years of nonprofit management and fundraising experience to the role, including close to three years as director of development at the General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA), where she managed fundraising teams across multiple racialethnic development initiatives for the agency.
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.