AU Today - Spring 2017

Highland Park’s $2M Gift to Improve Student Life at Africa University

H

100% SUPPORT

in March. For her, living off-campus has meant higher costs and more limited access to the library and laboratories. Majongwe also misses the social interaction and sense of community of campus life.

“I feel one misses out on participating in the clubs and sports, which is really a disadvantage,” Majongwe said. “ere’s no question that Africa University is one of the finest educational institutions on the continent,” said Rev. Paul Rasmussen, the senior pastor at Highland Park United Methodist Church.

“rough these facilities, we want to help elevate student life into a world class experience,” said Rasmussen. “We believe Africa University can grow into a powerful global presence.” e Dallas, Texas-based congregation has placed Africa University in its centenary campaign, Beyond, which includes a $3.5 million investment in global mission outreach.

Lisa Tichenor, an HPUMC member and Africa University trustee, sees the gift as pivotal.

“Africa University’s sizable footprint on the continent of Africa is the perfect vehicle for HPUMC to have lasting impact, support development of self-sufficiency, and create disciples,” Tichenor said.

Currently, Africa University houses more than 900 of its students on campus. e university hopes to boost its on-campus housing capacity to 1,200 by 2020 with the addition of three new dormitories. e $50 million Campaign for Africa University prioritizes $7 million for capital projects and new technology.

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

2016

Dakotas East Ohio Illinois Great Rivers Indiana Iowa Minnesota West Michigan West Ohio Jurisdiction Total Support

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%

Spring 2017

ighland Park United Methodist Church (HPUMC) is providing a gift of $2 million to Africa University to build a dormitory and complete phase two of the student union building. is gift is the university’s largest from a local church and the most significant investment in student services infrastructure in a decade. “e gift from Highland Park is exciting, it’s timely, and it addresses a high priority item for Africa University, which is the quality of student life on campus,” said Munashe Furusa, the institution’s vice chancellor/CEO. Once constructed, the new dormitory will be the first addition to student housing since 2002. e university has increased its use of offcampus housing over the past five years. Lora Majongwe is one of 26 young women who enrolled

Africa University Today — Spring 2017

U.S.-Based Celebrations Engage Friends—Old and New—for AU

C

urrently, the Africa University Silver Jubilee events roster lists 137 special events taking place in 2017. Events are happening across the United States and in all five jurisdictions of e United Methodist Church. Organizers have a four-fold agenda—give thanks, provide an update on AU’s progress, make new friends for AU, and invite attendees to celebrate the anniversary with a gift of $25.

In March, Frank and Betty Balderson brought friends together over coffee and sweet treats.

“Word of Africa University and the good that it is doing passed beyond just those who came that morning,” said Betty Balderson. Attendees went on to share what they’d learned about Africa University at a meeting of the United Methodist Women and a church event for young people.

“I’m encouraged by the celebration of 25 years of this ministry that some said would

never happen,” said James Salley, the university’s chief advancement officer.

As 2017 progresses, four conferences— Baltimore Washington, California Nevada, East Ohio and South Carolina—are inviting the full participation of their members through worship services in every local church and conferencewide offerings. In the South Carolina Conference, Black Methodists for Church Renewal, (BMCR), jump-started the effort

Bishop Jonathan Holston and Bishop Tracy Malone are leading trips to AU in the coming months.

among African-American congregations.

“Giving back… empowers us to be better as family and strengthens the well-being and sustainability of our communities,” said South Carolina BMCR president, Bishop Minerva Carcaño Rev. Pattie Gordon. “is in turn, builds relationships and proves that together we make a difference.”

When the California Nevada Annual Conference meets June 21-24, under the theme “Testify to Love. Your story matters.”, the first offering will be devoted to a ministry that Bishop Minerva Carcaño describes as “one of the best things that we have ever done as United Methodists” in a video message to members.

“Here is an opportunity all year long for not only United Methodists, but also all persons who are advocates for Africa University, to make a statement by helping us celebrate,” said Salley.

“If people give out of their ability, our practice is to trust God to provide the increase.” e Africa University Silver Jubilee commemorative events culminate in December.

How You Can Help 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. The university offers bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in six faculties of learning: agriculture and natural resources, education, health sciences, humanities and social sciences, management and administration, and theology. The Institute of Peace, Leadership and Governance offers post-graduate diplomas and master’s programs.

L

A

lumni turned out in large numbers to celebrate their alma mater and the bonds forged during their years on the campus. eir contributions to the celebration program included a symposium featuring the work of distinguished alumni and a dinner that raised $15,000 to assist current and future students in paying their fees. Alumni chapters are being urged to send in their gifts by March 2018.

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 apportionment remittance means 100 percent Continued next page.

How you can help... continued. support of Africa University’s operational budget, for costs such as utilities, equipment and faculty salaries.

Africa University Reaches out to Refugees

A

attend AU without it. She is the frica University is extending first in her family to graduate a lifeline to young refugees college, earning her degree in through scholarship programs psychology in 2016. and other assistance. ere are many other refugees Worldwide, there are more like Clemantine with Africa than 21 million refugees, half of whom are under the age of 18.

Evelyne Ingabire and Sarah Nzaki University success stories, including two other long-term UNHCR data shows that subSaharan Africa hosts more than 26 percent of the residents of the Tongogara Refugee Camp, Sarah Nzaki of the Democratic Republic of the Congo world’s refugee population.

Before receiving a scholarship to attend Africa and Evelyne Ingabire of Burundi. e young women, both orphans, received last-minute University, Clemantine Uwineza of Rwanda financial aid in October 2016 and are currently lived with her parents and two brothers at Tongogara Refugee Camp in eastern Zimbabwe. attending the university.

Tuarira Mtaita, the chair of Africa University’s “During my high school, my parents would sacrifice the little [UNHCR refugees] subsidy to financial aid committee, helped them get to campus and register for classes. pay my school fees. My elder brother did not “Even though they say gratitude is the continue learning because there was not enough language of the heart, these girls expressed their money to pay for both of us,” she said. gratitude with tears of joy. ey could not anks to the Usahwira Scholarships believe that somebody whom they have never program, a partnership between Africa met could rekindle their lost hope,” Mtaita said.

University and United Methodist churches and members, Clemantine was able to continue her Story by Julie Dwyer, a general church content editor education. She called the scholarship “a blessing,” with United Methodist Communications. adding that she never would have been able to

Ubuntu Center Immerses Visitors in Campus Life

T

he Ubuntu Retreat Center to night and made the transition at Africa University is from visitors to family.” becoming a focal point for e Ubuntu Retreat Center community building. was made possible by a generous Opened in February 2016, the gift from the West Michigan center offers accommodations, Conference. at contribution meals and meeting space. In its also inspired an anonymous Carol and Charles Moore first year, it housed visitors from matching gift, resulting in more the West Michigan, Great Plains and Baltimore than $1 million for the project.

Washington conferences, among others. e center continues to receive gifts to further Members of the AU Board of Directors now its development. During the 25th anniversary use the center for their biannual meetings and celebrations, Dr. David Beckley, president of guests attending the 25th anniversary Rust College; Dr. Albert Mosley, president celebrations were accommodated there in of Gammon eological Seminary; Rev. March. Among them were Carol Moore and her McCallister Hollins, pastor of Ousley United husband Charles Moore, an AU Board member. Methodist Church; and Rev. Denise SmarrtSears, superintendent of the Metropolitan “Staying on campus is an important part of gaining an appreciation and perspective into the District of the New York Conference, presented life of Africa University,” said Carol Moore. “We Africa University with monetary gifts for the interacted with students and staff from morning center.

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 #03-0188). 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 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) 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

Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID Nashville, Tenn.

Permit No. 11

it y s r e v ni ...

U a c Afri st News Late

Africa University Today — Spring 2017

A Family’s Commitment to Africa University

A

s Dr. James M. (Jimmy) e chair in pastoral care and Walker lay dying, his counselling was fully endowed nephew and niece-in-law, Bill in 1991 and named in honor and Dona Shaw, asked Walker of Walker. if there was anything they could “Uncle Macie holds such a do for him. His emphatic tender place in my heart and response was, “support Africa was the foundational person in University!” my call to ordained ministry,” As she prepared to travel to Shaw said.

Rev. Dr. Leigh Ann Shaw was Africa University for the 25th Shaw now serves as senior impressed with the students she met, anniversary celebrations in pastor of the United Methodist including her church’s scholarship March, Rev. Dr. Leigh Ann Church of Vista, California. In beneficiary, Alex Lumbwe.

Shaw, Walker’s great-niece, heard 2012, the church endowed a this story from her mother for the first time. scholarship at the university in honor of two of Shaw recalls knowing that her uncle was its members, Earl J. (Tommy) omson and his late wife Margie. Shaw wanted to see first-hand involved in a “big project” during her teenage years. He gave all her family members Africa the “big project” that had captured her greatUniversity t-shirts. Walker served as president of uncle’s imagination and to meet the church’s the Division of Chaplains and Related Ministries scholarship recipient. She was impressed by the students, including her church’s scholarship of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry from 1988 until his death in November recipient who speaks five languages.

“Africa University not only provides hope 1991. e division voted in October 1988 to for the future for these young people and the endow Africa University’s first faculty chair.

communities to which they will return, but it is also making a difference right now as it feeds people’s minds, spirits, and bodies,” Shaw said. “e mere existence of this university is a testament to the power of e United Methodist Church to make a difference in 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.