United Methodist DNA Evident in 2024 AUF Investment
UnitedMethodists are generous and deeply committed to global missional engagement. Local congregations made this clear in 2024 through their unwavering support for the Africa University Fund (AUF) apportionment.
The fund ended the year with overall giving at 78.95 percent. Seventeen annual conferences gave 100 percent of their asking to the AUF, up from 15 in 2023.
Beyond budget commitments, giving increased in 11 annual conferences and helped to balance shortfalls in those conferences where 2024 AUF investment slipped below 2023 levels. That led to AUF year-end receipts for 2024 that were down less than one percent from 2023.
“Africa University urged its extended family, stakeholders and friends…to remember that we have done what we said we would do—educate future leaders for the continent of Africa and the world in a Chrisitan environment—and their response tells us that they are not done with Africa
University yet,” said James H. Salley, president and chief executive officer of AU (Tennessee) Inc.
A new denominational budget for 2025-2028 went into effect in January. It includes a shared commitment to invest $1,272,632 in AUF in 2025. That’s around 40 percent lower than the previous budget. In this new four-year churchwide budget, funding for Africa University went from around $9.3M to $4.8M.
For Bishop L. Jonathan Holston, chair of AU (Tennessee) Inc. Board of Directors and resident bishop of the newly formed Alabama Panhandle Episcopal Area, this is where United Methodists show the world who and whose they are.
“Your commitments and support to the mission and ministry of education at your Africa University is about a joy so great that we want to share it,” said Holston. “The point is never the money but how we use our gifts and talents for the common good.”
“When you give, it comes back to you,” said Salley. “Africa University is still under the cross and
flame of The United Methodist Church. I expect the church to continue to prove the naysayers wrong with support that enables the university to make disciples of Jesus Christ to transform the world.”
Local churches’ investment in the AU Fund helps to sustain day-to-day operations at the United Methodist-related institution.
Become a Keystone Congregation for AU!
Supporting AU satisfies a need for purpose and solidifies connection to one of the greatest missions of The United Methodist Church. This can happen when a church becomes a Keystone Congregation for AU.
A keystone congregation promises to share in the college journey of an AU student with updates, mutual prayers and encouragement; and makes a multi-year commitment to provide annual scholarship support of at least $7,000 for that student. A four-year commitment is ideal. With that, a congregation becomes a permanent part of AU’s strategy for growth and sustainability.
Typically, this level of commitment is something that congregations grow into; the journey starts with members learning about the impact of their witness. To do this, a church can host a congregation-wide AU Sunday celebration, an
exciting, informative event that connects members with AU students and staff.
Charity UMC in Virginia Beach, Va., hosted its first AU Sunday celebration in mid-January. The update on AU and message shared by the guest preacher, Rev. Lloyd Rollins, challenged their mission chairperson and lay leaders to imagine a giving plan that goes beyond the church’s budget. Since a $7,000 annual commitment can be daunting to some congregations, Rollins breaks it down. Imagine, he says, if 100 members agreed to give $1.35 a week for 52 weeks; that comes to $5.40 a month, less than $65 per person for the year.
Rev. Jay Cottman, Charity UMC senior pastor said, “Our church has a missional mindset and is examining sacrificial mission and ministry. Giving to AU could allow students to support their families; it could give a student one more gift of
God’s tangible grace.” Interested in developing a plan to extend your church’s missional reach by becoming a Keystone Congregation? We want to hear from you. Be in touch by email at audevoffice@africau.org or call us at (615) 340-7438.
James H. Salley
Bishop L. Jonathan Holston
AU FUND 100% SUPPORT
USAID Freeze Strikes AU
A 90-day freeze on foreign aid has shuttered worldwide programs at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). On Feb. 6, the Trump administration announced plans to cut the USAID workforce from more than 10,000 to about 290; and about 800 awards and contracts administered through the agency were canceled.
At AU, programs researching malaria and tuberculosis were halted and staff members on those efforts were no longer getting paychecks. In Zimbabwe alone, 25,000 people were affected by the freeze, said James H. Salley, AU president and chief executive officer.
“The United States is the largest contributor of humanitarian aid in the country of Zimbabwe,” Salley said. The freeze had an immediate $1.2 million impact on Africa University, Salley said. On malaria research alone, 30 people aren’t getting their salaries.
“Our shared United Methodist values compel us to help and not hurt the most vulnerable,” said Bishop Julius C. Trimble, top executive of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society. “For the U.S. to abruptly renege
Africa University is deeply thankful for the extravagant generosity of local congregations. Thank you for living out a mindset of abundance and shared mission. To the 17 conferences that achieved a 100% investment in the AUF in 2024, thank you for your faithfulness in sharing your blessings so that lives and communities are transformed.
USAID Mission Director Jenean Davis with members of AU’s malaria research team and VC Peter Mageto, during a visit in which the unit’s groundbreaking work to combat malaria deaths was celebrated.
on its congressional commitments to fund extremely vital programs for the most vulnerable in the world by withholding life-saving food and medicine from children, the sick and elderly is astounding, shameful and deeply un-Christian.”
Legal experts say only an act of Congress could eliminate USAID, and they add that the current dismantling of the agency violates U.S. law.
Salley is planning to fundraise to help alleviate the damage, but he said he doesn’t think he can raise $1.6 million to completely compensate for the loss of USAID funds.
“When COVID hit, we had individuals who provided gifts specifically to keep people working,” Salley said. “So that’s what makes me optimistic. I believe in people and folk coming to our assistance.”
Trimble suggested people contact Congress’s switchboard at 202-224-3121 to tell U.S. representatives to restore “the funding for the USAID and save lives.”
Salley is optimistic that a solution would be forthcoming. “We have come this far by faith,” he said. “We stand on what God has done once, God will do again.”
From a UM News article by Jim Patterson.
AU Pioneers Military Chaplaincy Program
In June, AU will grant degrees to its first Doctor of Ministry (Chaplaincy) cohort, thanks to its partnership with Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. This initiative represents a historic milestone for AU and the continent. Accredited by the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education, the program addresses the spiritual, ethical and psychological needs of uniformed forces personnel.
The program’s first group of graduates hail from Botswana, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe, bringing with them perspectives and research interests that reflect the challenges faced by military, prison and police chaplains. Their doctoral projects explore trauma healing, suicide prevention, marriage counseling and predeployment
Distinguished individuals—representing the vanguard of spiritual support in the military, police, and prison services across Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe—and Wesley Theological Seminary Facilitator Dr. Douglas D. Tzan converged with a shared commitment to fortify their ministry through advanced education in AU’s Doctor of Ministry (Chaplaincy) program.
spiritual preparation, all deeply rooted in theological and biblical frameworks. The new knowledge they’ve generated addresses deployment trauma, reducing drug abuse among officers, and using psalms of lament for facilitating healing.
The program aligns with AU’s vision of fostering leadership and capacity-building to drive transformation across the continent.
Critical to the new program’s success is the support of Chaplain Lt. Col. (retired) David Lile, formerly of the U.S. Army Africa Command, based in Rome, Italy, now at home in Kentucky.
Together, AU and Wesley Theological Seminary are forging pathways to more peaceful, resilient societies, one chaplain at a time.
AU Senior Wants to Change the World
AU senior and social work major Agnetha Valentine Musona, 23, is a woman with big ideas.
“One of my biggest long-term goals after graduation is to work hard and invest in building orphanages in at least three countries in Africa,” she said.
Agnetha is enrolled at AU thanks to scholarship gifts from women whose love spanned the 10,000-mile distance between Los Altos, California and Mutare, Zimbabwe.
Eighteen years ago, women at Los Altos United Methodist Church started the African Student Education Fund as direct scholarships to help women complete undergraduate degree programs. To date, direct scholarship gifts from LAUMC to AU total more than a half a million dollars.
The Los Altos women announced another major gift last October: $130,000 is designated to establish an endowed scholarship fund; and $7,000 to immediately add one more woman to the existing roster of seven United Women in Faith-LAUMC scholars. The source is the Ellen
Gillis Legacy Fund, a bequest by a former member.
“Ellen Gillis was interested in education for women,” said Linda Miller, African Student Education Fund lead and retired church treasurer at Los Altos UMC. “In addition to her passion for Africa University, she had a passion for the arts and art education.”
Elalie Kambaj Tshipeng, health board coordinator for the South Congo Annual Conference in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is grateful for the gift of empowerment. For female students at AU, “it serves for bridging paths to capitalizing potential otherwise denied due to financial shortage.” To the women at Los Altos UMC, she said, “May the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob fill your cups in all seasons.”
Barbara Dunlap-Berg is a freelance writer in Carbondale, Illinois
AU Graduate Jack Mujinga’s Agricultural Expertise
Graduating from AU in 2022, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture and natural resources management.
The youngest of seven children, Jack grew up in Lubumbashi and recalls, “My father taught us three ways for a better life: keeping Christian values, going to school/studying, and choosing a good partner.”
Today he is a General Board of Global Ministries missionary in the Senegal District, Cote d´Ivoire Episcopal Area; previously he was a Global Mission Fellow in Senegal. Excited about his assignment, Jack said, “I am serving as a project and leadership support coordinator. I love my work because it is helping the church in Senegal financially.”
Jack credits AU with preparing him for his current role. Involved in the church since childhood, Jack became serious about his participation, he joined the church choir and led weekday services. He believes that activities that attract and help young people to grow spiritually are most important. Addressing food insecurity is vital.
Information in this profile appears on the General Board of Global Ministries website and was used by permission. Barbara Dunlap-Berg, writer.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Located 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 four colleges and one school: Health, Agriculture and Natural Sciences (CHANS); Business, Peace, Leadership and Governance (CBPLG); Engineering and Applied Sciences (CEAS); Social Sciences, Theology, Humanities and Education (CSSTH&E); and the School of Law.
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 keep its investment goal for the Africa University Fund at the figure set by the 2016 General Conference and strive for a 100 percent apportionment remittance. Sending a portion of your goal each month makes it easier to reach full remittance by year’s end. Your church’s generosity ensures support of Africa University’s operational 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 can become a partner with Africa University by supporting one student for four years. The annual cost of supporting one undergraduate student is just $7,000. Local churches and individuals 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 https://support.africau.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: ResourceUMC and/ or the resources page at support.africau.org.
Africa University Development Office
P O Box 340007, Nashville, TN 37203-0007 (615) 340-7438; Fax: (615) 340-7290 audevoffice@africau.org https://support.africau.org
Scholarship beneficiaries say their lives have been transformed because of gifts provided by Los Altos (California) UMC.
AU alum Jack Kitwa Mujinga of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) hopes someday to own a farming center where he can teach sustainable agriculture practices.
Latest News from Africa University
Rev. Warren E. Covell
While serving as chair of a Conference Board of Global Ministries, Rev. Warren Covell was introduced to Africa University through a challenge. The 2000 Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference of The United Methodist Church challenged each annual conference in the jurisdiction to endow a full scholarship at Africa University. The North Central New York (now Upper New York) Annual Conference accepted the challenge and raised funds to endow a scholarship.
Warren and his wife, Phyllis, personally made their first commitment to AU during this campaign. In making the gift, Warren noted the significance of equipping new
leaders. At that time, he shared, “I want to see Africa University become a great institution making a strong contribution to the leadership pool on the African continent.”
Warren’s life theme of supporting mission and outreach continued, as he served on the Upper New York task force that has raised funds for multiple endowed scholarships. As his passion for AU grew, he envisioned the transformative role the university played in shaping future leaders. A second planned gift designation served to reinforce his vision for leadership development across Africa.
“Charitable giving is part of my DNA,” Warren once stated. These words were underscored multiple times in his support of Africa University. With his passing in 2023, Rev. Warren Covell’s legacy of faith, service to missions and generosity are fulfilled and secured.
The AU Today is published by the Africa University Development Office. For more information, contact the Africa University Development Office P.O. Box 340007 Nashville, TN 37203-0007
Tel: (615) 340-7438
Fax: (615) 340-7290
Email: audevoffice@africau.org https://support.africau.org
AFRICA UNIVERSITY TODAY | WINTER 2025