60613/50M
She Dreams a World Wherein Every Child Has Access to Quality Education
Winter 2013
In this issue:
Ground Broken for the Ubuntu Center at Africa University
Sharai Muonwa Thanks to United Methodists in West Michigan and an anonymous donor, new AU facility will enhance pan-African values.
IGRC Embarks on New Scholarships Fund Andra Stevens Conference plans help at least 10 students complete four years of study.
AU Graduate’s Work Changes Lives in Malawi Adapted from 2012 Africa University yearbook Phunziro Jawati says, “AU education is invaluable.”
Kenneth Plummer, AU Supporter and Lay Leader, Dies at 89
Andra Stevens Ken Plummer’s enthusiasm for AU and belief in its potential was contagious.
She Dreams a World Wherein Every Child Has Access to Quality Education Elaine Jenkins United Methodist pastor’s commitment to education inspires support for female students of theology at AU.
sity and Oberlin College, respectively. Jennifer first learned of Africa University while in seminary when the dean of Africa University’s Faculty of Theology, the Rev. Dr. Beauty Maenzanese, presented a lecture on the nation of Zimbabwe and Africa University. Jennifer was so moved and inspired by what she heard that she felt compelled to establish an endowed scholarship fund at Africa University to support the education of female students enrolled in the Faculty of Theology. “I have always been committed to education and teaching,” Jennifer said. “My children and I have been blessed with quality public education. I believe the youth and young adults of the world should all have access to quality education and be provided with the educational foundation needed to serve their communities and nations.” Dr. Jue’s dream for Africa University is that it will continue to educate strong and moral leaders who will provide prophetic leadership and foster health and peace for the nations of Africa and the world. Dr. Jue’s children, Heather and Jonathan Jue-Wong, were the inspiration for establishing a scholarship at AU.
—Elaine Jenkins, Africa University Development Office
Dr. Jennifer Joanne Jue is a “PK,” preacher’s kid. Her father, the late Rev. Jun Wan Jue, was an elder of the California-Nevada Annual Conference. Her mother, Mrs. Lillie Jue, is a retired dietician. Jennifer and three brothers grew up in United Methodist parsonages in northern California. Jennifer graduated from John F. Kennedy High School (Richmond, Calif.) in 1977. She earned a B.S. degree in human development from the University of California, Davis, in 1981. After earning her teaching credential in elementary education in 1984, she taught Chinese immigrant children in the public schools of San Francisco and Oakland, Calif. She also taught elementary school in Bradford, England, for one academic year (1987–88) as a participant in the Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program. Jennifer earned her M.A. degree in education from
Stanford University in 1989 and her doctoral degree in multicultural education from the University of San Francisco in 1993. She worked in teacher education at Stanford University and taught multicultural education courses at New College of California (San Francisco) and later at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo. After working in primary and higher education for more than 20 years, Jennifer responded to God’s call to the ordained ministry in 2004 and enrolled at GarrettEvangelical Theological Seminary. She earned two master’s degrees from Garrett: her Master of Divinity degree in 2006 and her Master of Arts degree in spiritual formation and evangelism in 2007. She was ordained an elder and full member of the West Michigan Annual Conference in June 2010. She presently serves Napoleon United Methodist Church in rural Napoleon, Mich. Jennifer is married to Dr. Erik Wong, a pharmaceutical research consultant. The couple are proud parents of twins, Heather and Jonathan Jue-Wong. Heather and Jonathan are first-year students at Carnegie Mellon Univer-
Celebrating the Connection between Africa University and United Methodist Congregations 100 Percent Support
Thank you for supporting Africa University through your 100 percent remittance of the Africa University Fund apportionment in 2011.
Jurisdiction Total Support and Annual Conferences with 100 percent or more in 2011 (includes 2010 performance)
102% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 118.36% 102.86% 99.29% 100% 100% 100% 100% 151.51% 110.50%
2010 North Central Jurisdiction Dakotas East Ohio Illinois Great Rivers Iowa Minnesota Northern Illinois West Michigan West Ohio Wisconsin
100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 133% 112.46% 110.34% 100%
2011
Northeastern Jurisdiction Baltimore-Washington Greater New Jersey New England New York Susquehanna Peninsula-Delaware Upper New York West Virginia Western Pennsylvania
100% 100% 100% 100% 99% 100% 100% 113.58% 114% 100.06% 110.87%
South Central Jurisdiction Central Texas 100% Louisiana 100.01% 100.04% North Texas 100.50% 100% Oklahoma Indian Missionary 100.05% 100% Southeastern Jurisdiction Florida Holston Kentucky North Carolina North Georgia Red Bird Missionary
100.02% 100%
100%
Western Jurisdiction Alaska United Methodist Desert Southwest
As Africa University celebrates 20 years of realized dreams, we look forward to your full support in 2013.
• Africa University is located in Old Mutare, Zimbabwe, and is the first fully accredited United Methodist–related educational institution on the African continent, established by action of the General Conference. • Africa 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 postgraduate diplomas and master’s programs.
Winter 2013
—Muonwa is acting director, Information and Public Affairs, Africa University
shared her dream with the district. “Once the vision is cast,” she said, “the fire catches on.” Dr. Maggie Jackson, who chairs the university Buildings and Grounds Committee, said such generosity required superb leadership, hard work and sacrifice. She called the funding of the Ubuntu Retreat Center an example of how connectionalism works within The United Methodist Church. “This center,” Jackson added, “will also help in the continuation and growth of Africa University. Africa will become a better place as we use this building to enhance pan-African values in our students.” Kenneth Thomas, a secondyear student in the faculty of humanities and social sciences from Nigeria, said the event was historic and memorable in the life of the institution. “I am very excited,” he said. “Ubuntu speaks to our identity as Africans, to our sense of community as a people, and that’s important because we are a pan-African university.” Acknowledging the support from the Grand Rapids District, Thomas said it “inspires us to look into ourselves and … give back to our school and our communities when we graduate.”
Ground Broken for the Ubuntu Center at Africa University
He explained that the current guesthouse facilities at Africa University are inadequate for housing visitors who often must stay at expensive hotels. “With the retreat center,” Tagwira noted, “volunteer in mission teams can come to Africa University when the semester is in Bishops Matthews, Nhiwatiwa and Dorff watch full swing and experience proceedings at Ubuntu Welcome/Retreat the full beauty and Center groundbreaking. diversity of our campus.” In the past, teams had to come during school vacation when residence halls were available for accommodation. Bishop David Yemba, university chancellor, reminded attendees that the groundbreaking ceremony for Africa University was held at the exact location in April 1991. He spoke of the spirit of Ubuntu, expressing hope that the center would encourage scholars from various disciplines to explore economics, philosophy, anthropology and the natural sciences. Mr. James Salley, associate vice chancellor for institutional advancement, spoke of the power of dreams. “There has to be a dream, and there has to be a dreamer,” he said. “This dream came through the district superintendent of the Grand Rapids District.” The Rev. Laurie Haller
Sharai Muonwa Thanks to the people of the Grand Rapids District and the West Michigan Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church, the Ubuntu Welcome/ Retreat Center will be the newest addition to the Africa University campus in Mutare, Zimbabwe. Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the center, Professor Fanuel Tagwira, vice chancellor, expressed gratitude to the district and to an anonymous donor who gave a matching grant of $500,000, bringing the total to $1 million. “I am very excited about this very important project,” said Tagwira. “We are delighted that we will have our own facilities which will serve the university community, as well as visitors.”