PARTNERSHIP & GROWTH
A Year of Kingdom Service and Expansion
Global Diploma in Theology and Christian Leadership
One year ago, Erskine Theological Seminary’s Global Diploma in Theology and Christian Leadership was still a dream. As we embark on its second year, it is with great delight that I re ect on the milestones accomplished in its inaugural year.
Global Theological Education Program Mission
The mission of the Global Theological Education Department is to provide robust, biblical, and theological training that equips men and women from the global south for e ective Christian and academic leadership.
Erskine Seminary (Theological Graduate Programs) Mission
Erskine Theological Seminary prepares men and women to ful ll the Great Commission of Jesus Christ through theological higher education that is ecclesial, missional, and confessional.
Amidst the challenges posed by in ation and an everchanging global landscape, the Global Diploma was not only birthed, but persevered and ourished. The ground-breaking partnership formed between Erskine Seminary and the World Witness Missions Agency is marked by signi cance. Our collaboration delivered robust and reformed theological education to global students who are geographically and economically separated from educational opportunities. This collaboration worked beautifully as World Witness provided the culturally-trained teachers, in-country reach, and national translators while Erskine Seminary contributed credentialing authority, academic direction, and accountability.
Central to our success this year has been donor partnership through the John and Sarah Ellen Carson Scholarship fund. The role of our donors cannot be overstated. None of what we have accomplished would be possible without this generous gift of funding and prayer. It is through this scholarship that Erskine Seminary has been able to provide the high-quality education and academic accountability that our students need, and their governments require.
Support of the Global Diploma Program has enabled us to gather 4 full-time adjunct professors, 3 part-time adjunct professors, and 2 full-time adjunct instructors. Their expertise, passion for teaching, and commitment to scholarship has enriched the learning experiences of over 240 Global Diploma students. During the past year, we have o ered 25 in-person courses in 5 di erent cohort sites. That is an incredible 600 hours of face-toface quality theological education for key church leaders in Rwanda and in Pakistan!
Our students received instruction in foundational courses such as Old Testament Survey, Pastoral Care and Counseling, Systematic Theology, Church History, and many others. Notably, our professor’s and instuctor’s contributions extended far beyond the con nes of the classroom as they visited students’homes, preached in their churches, and prayed for their communities. They are truly helping to shape the future Church leaders of tomorrow.
Looking ahead, Erskine Seminary’s Global Diploma Program will remain steadfast in our commitment to academic excellence, cultural sensitivity, and sustainable ministry. We recognize that with the nancial and spiritual support we receive, we also bear a responsibility to steward resources wisely. I desire prayerfully to deliver on our mutual commitment of serving God’s Kingdom through theological education. To that end, we are seeking to add new cohorts in Ethiopia and in South Sudan. If God blesses these e orts, our total cohorts by the end of next year will be seven across four countries.
In conclusion, this past year has been a testimony to the strength of Christ’s Church and the power of the Holy Spirit seen through the shared commitment to the Global Church by Erskine Seminary, World Witness, and our faithful donors. As the Director of the program, I am blessed beyond measure to have a front-row seat to the creativity and excitement of the students and faculty in the Global Diploma. I want to extend my deepest thanks to our supporters and prayer partners. I look forward to the next year with a deep sense of determination and purpose, following the Lord as he transforms lives, churches, and communities through theological education.
soli Deo gloria,
Director of Global Theological Education
Erskine Theological Seminary
OUR PROGRAM
Global Theological Education Initiative
Countries, Rwanda and Pakistan, and hoping to add Ethiopia and South Sudan
Church leaders taught in Rwanda and Pakistan!
• In 2015, 2% of Pakistan’s total population was Christian.
• The average monthly salary is approximately US$138 among Christians.
• Islamic blasphemy laws in Pakistan make life difficult and dangerous for Christians with almost any accusation holding weight in a court of law.
• Yet, despite persecution, the Christian community has developed options for growth and education, including a rich history of multi-church conventions dating from 1904. Erskine Seminary Global Diploma professors have been honored to teach multiple times at conventions in both Sahiwal and Karachi.
• By 2050, Africa will have 53% of all Protestants in the world.
• In 2015, Rwanda had the fastest annual growth rate of Protestants worldwide at 13.02%.
• Despite Rwanda being 91.5% Christian, the majority are Roman Catholic, leaving many Protestant Evangelicals at a deficit in looking for theological education.
• Religious and international groups in South Sudan are a major source of assistance to the government in conflict resolution, and help provide stability in this highly unstable society.
YOUR SUPPORT MADE POSSIBLE
in total Donations
Full-time adjunct instructors
Part-time adjunct professors
Full-time adjunct professors
Established Cohorts
hours of face-to-face quality theological education!
URGENT NEED FOR PRAYER
The 2018 Rwandan law we have often spoken about is now being implemented. The Rwandan government has begun shutting down churches whose pastors do not have su cient theological training and whose facilities fall below governmental standards. To date, there have been over 10,000 churches shut down. Out of the 58 students in 2 of our cohorts, only 3 of their churches remain open.
We want people in churches in Rwanda to be physically safe as much as we want them to be theologically safe. The Erskine Seminary Global Diploma is committed to ful lling the theological requirements of the Rwandan government.
Yet, because we are serving the poorest people in the most rural places, the facility requirements are well out of the reach of these churches. We praise God for the opportunity to walk alongside the body of Christ in Rwanda and thank you for your part in helping these pastors and church leaders. Please join us as we pray for the Rwandan church and may God give us all wisdom in how to best serve them during this bewildering time.
COMMITMENT
To The Kingdom
Rwanda, the land of a thousand hills, sits nestled in the middle of Africa. This verdant, tiny, landlocked nation is growing and thriving, despite its heartbreaking past. A majority of this growth is due to the Rwandan government’s commitment to progress and development. Yet, the poorest of the people are often the ones who bear the burden of government regulations.
Due to a recent law, pastors in Rwanda are now required by the government to have certification of pastoral education to continue to lead their churches. This may not seem like a hard request, but for rural students who are subsistence farmers, it is daunting. Pastor-farmers like Global Diploma student Celestin Harerimana struggle to feed and clothe their families. Accessing traditional theological education is an economic impossibility. Celestine has only his two feet for transportation. This means that for him, theological education is also out of reach geographically.
To help solve this problem, Erskine Seminary Alumnus Benjamin Musuhukye, a native-born Rwandan, asked World Witness to help with training these pastors and church leaders. Even before the government set these regulations, Rwandan church leaders asked Benjamin for help in understanding and teaching the Bible better. With the passing of the pastoral education law, Benjamin knew that the training would need to be standardized, systematic, and given through a formal, accredited partner. The obvious choice for Benjamin and the SEED Ministry of World Witness was Erskine Seminary. Along with Benjamin, and myself, most of the World Witness SEED team are Erskine Seminary Alumni and were ecstatic when the Erskine Board approved our request to create this partnership.
Benjamin and our students know that education is the path out of economic poverty, and theological education is the path out of biblical poverty. Your donations to the John and Sarah Ellen Carson Scholarship & Global Theological Education Initiative make a difference in breaking this cycle of poverty.
The cycle is broken not just in these students lives, but in their churches, their families, and their communities. Donations made to the Carson Scholarship and to the SEED Ministry of World Witness create the opportunity for us to bring theological education to students like Celestin in their villages or nearby towns. Celestin joyfully walks two hours to and from class each day to access the doctrines of grace taught by our Erskine Seminary Global Diploma professors and instructors. Thank you so much for your continued support of this project and the work of God across the world!
“Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.” Hebrews 2:11 (NIV)
In Rwanda this past spring, one of our instructors was teaching a spiritual formation class. He explained that Christians are to be assured of our salvation in this life. He taught that a person’s assurance comes from their position as a son or daughter of the Father – by way of union with Christ, our brother Jesus. This was a brand-new thought to the students. The majority Christian culture in Rwanda is Catholicism. Roman Catholic theology often leads to a legalistic reading of Scripture and a works-oriented salvation.
At the end of the session, the class was asked for comments or questions. One student stood up and with tears in her eyes said, “Thank you! Before this course, I thought that whenever I sinned, I was no longer saved. Now I know that God has given me his grace, he loves me, and that he will never take that back away from me.”
This paints a beautiful case study of how right doctrine leads to right understanding and love of God. How will this change in perspective on salvation a ect this woman’s life? How will this new understanding a ect the circles of in uence God has placed her in? We could immediately see by the tears in her eyes that she was overcome by the Father’s love for her and also how humbled she was by the grace of Jesus. The ripple e ects of change in the theological understanding of a church leader are immeasurable. Those she disciples from now on will be given grace rather than legalism, and this extraordinary doctrine will lead to faithful devotion in those around her.
SERVICE
To God’s People
Serving for years as a consulate in Christian Hospital Sahiwal in Pakistan, Samson John felt called to care for people – advocating for them during a time of fear and worry about their health, openly praying for them through Jesus Christ, and supporting them as they found care.
He incorporated Bible study into his routine at the hospital to encourage and nurture a deeper understanding of Jesus and his Word for anyone with whom God gave him opportunity.
When the Erskine Seminary Global Diploma classes began, Samson signed up for the rst course right away. He knew he needed to understand the Bible more profoundly so that he could lead others more fully into a right relationship with God.
The Erskine Seminary Global Diploma always begins with an Old Testament survey course. Samson shared that the way the professors taught the rst ve books of the Old Testament brought more comprehensive understanding and cultivated a desire in him to help others see Jesus and the incredible way He is revealed in the law and history of the Old Testament.
How could Samson help the people God put in his path to engage with the Bible in a deeper way in this context of a Pakistani Christian Mission Hospital? God’s answer led Samson to begin organizing small groups using a Socratic, question-and-answer format to inspire and guide them without being pushy. As he led others, Samson found his understanding of the Bible being strengthened and sharpened. Still others heard about Samson’s small groups, and this opened a new opportunity for him to share with pastors from other denominations the clear message of the overarching Redemption story that begins in Genesis and ends in Revelation. What a beautiful picture of the ripple e ect of Erskine Seminary Global Diploma classes!
IMPACT
For God’s Glory
Rev. Zeeshan Sadiq
The story of my journey with Erskine Seminary goes back to 2008. Former World Witness Director, Rev. Frank Van Dalen, was visiting Pakistan and spoke to our Synod about Erskine Seminary’s Distance Education program. He o ered anyone interested in pursuing theological higher education an opportunity to connect with Erskine Seminary and even to cover their expenses. This is how I became part of the Erskine community, and I am greatly indebted to Rev. Frank for his help in getting me here.
Erskine Seminary has signi cantly changed my life in many ways. It has helped me to discover the beauty and glory of Reformed faith and doctrine. I was raised in an ARP family, and I am a fourth generation ARP, but I had never seen the use of the Westminster Confession or Catechisms in our churches.
Erskine Seminary’s dedication to strong academics, and exposing me to theological books, articles, and journals, immensely contributed to my learning. Through my professors and courses, my preaching skills have been signi cantly polished. In Pakistan, most churches conduct annual conventions or conferences, and I now get numerous invitations for preaching. So I am very grateful for the theological and practical help Erskine Seminary has given me in preaching and teaching.
My education has helped me gain further in uence within the church in Pakistan. A few years back, as I was feeling an internal call to help my fellow ARP pastors and elders, I took the initiative and started a small Bible class.
Following this, Sam Cotten and Lee Shelnutt came and taught an introductory course on the Lord’s Prayer and shared about their vision of Erskine Seminary and the
SEED ministry partnering to o er the Global Diploma in Theology and Christian Leadership in Pakistan. I was ecstatic.
I couldn’t believe we were going to be able to receive training from these quali ed teachers. Now I work full-time as an administrator and translator for the program while at the same time pursuing a ThM from Erskine Seminary.
I have seen rst-hand the incredible impact of the Global Diploma in Pakistan. Rural pastors who in the past have lacked the opportunity for a seminary education are receiving long overdue training. The Reformed faith is being promoted throughout the country. False teachings, such as the prosperity gospel, are being combatted. Future leaders are being prepared for ministry. And ties between the ARP churches in Pakistan and the United States are strengthening.
I am very optimistic that the Global Diploma will prove to be a beacon of hope for churches in Pakistan to plant more churches, reach the unreached, and proclaim to all that Jesus is Lord.
STEWARDSHIP
Of His Resources
“But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children.” 1 Thess. 2:7 (NIV)
Recently, at the end of class, our professor, David Galletta, was asked by a student what he should look for in a wife. As someone from a di erent culture, it was a great honor to be asked that question. The conversation became a lively discussion about godly qualities to look for, courting (they do not date), sexual purity, and more! Classes that are taught in week-long intensives, multiple times a year to the same group of students is bonding to say the least. Our professors are living in the community with the students, connecting over meals and tea, and as just described, are often asked questions about very personal matters. What a privilege to be asked to give advice to these young men as they actively seek to apply the theology they are learning to their lives.
When Erskine Seminary sends Global Diploma professors to the eld, they do much more than simply transmit knowledge – as essential as that knowledge is. They are often given opportunities that go beyond the classroom to express love and fellowship to their students, such as attending weddings, blessing new babies, and, providing pastoral care and discipleship.
This past summer, adjunct professor Sam Cotten was presented with such an opportunity to provide pastoral care. A dear Global Diploma student named Innocent unexpectedly lost his wife during the teaching week. He was devastated as her death left him as the sole parent of four children in a culture where food is cooked over re and clothes are hand-washed. In Rwanda, sudden deaths occur more often than in the States because of their lack of quick access to high-quality health care. The fact that death comes unexpectedly and more frequently does not lessen the pain and grief. People living in developing countries feel more intensely the fragility of life in this fallen world because they so often experience it.
The Rwandese are a communal people and do everything together as a community. So, the entire class attended the funeral and burial to support Pastor Innocent. There will be ongoing encouragement and assistance for him and his four children from the community. What an honor to represent Erskine Seminary and World Witness as Sam attended the funeral, prayed for, and comforted Pastor Innocent and his family.
To
Education DEDICATION
Theological
As supporters of Erskine Seminary’s Global Diploma Program, you have had the unique opportunity to make a lasting impact on the future of the Church in Africa, Pakistan, and across the world. This December, we will experience the tangible e ects of that support as we celebrate our rst Global Diploma graduation in Rwanda. Two of our cohorts have completed the necessary coursework to nish their diploma and we will celebrate that with a graduation ceremony. Thank you for trusting Erskine Seminary, along with the SEED Ministry, to provide gospel-centered, reformed training to these passionate yet underserved leaders.
We will see 22 students graduate from our Eastern Province, Bugesera district cohort. They have been working hard, even meeting between classes with their Rwandan cohort leader Pastor Silas. The classes are taught at Pastor Silas’ church, which is one of the churches that has been able to stay open despite all of the recent closures. 26 students will graduate from our Western Province, Nyabihu district cohort. This class meets in a church that is on the same grounds as Benjamin Musuhukye’s RCRI primary school. This church has also been able to stay open since they are a part of the school and meet the facility requirements.
The graduation in December will be a huge celebration for these men and women who have spent countless hours receiving in-person, culturally sensitive, reformed theological training. These leaders have already begun to foster growth and transformation in their churches and communities, and it will be an incomparable joy to see them walk across the stage. Thank you for helping to equip these leaders to strengthen the Church for decades to come.
What We Are Doing
• Extending the reach and in uence of Erskine, both locally and globally.
• Aligning with the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) accreditation expectation that the Seminary is engaged in “global awareness and engagement within the context of its mission.”
• Expanding program o erings in a way that conserves capital by partnering with World Witness.
• Giving opportunities for faculty to teach internationally, where they will be encouraged by these highly motivated students.
• Creating a exible program that has the potential to expand and reach students in di erent Global South contexts.
• Ful lling the missional need for programs that train global students for lives of service and leadership.
THE JOHN & SARAH ELLEN CARSON SCHOLARSHIP & GLOBAL THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION INITIATIVE
Rev. Dr. John L. Carson graduated from Erskine College and earned a Master of Divinity from Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson, MS. After serving as pastor of Ebenezer Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC, from 1973–1983, he earned a Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Aberdeen. Dr. Carson returned to Erskine College and Theological Seminary in 1998 to serve as the institution’s thirteenth president until 2005.
After his presidency, and with the support of Mrs. Sarah Ellen Carson, he helped to found World Witness’s Mobile Theological Training Team (MT3). He spent much time teaching theology and raising up Church leaders in Africa, especially in Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda.
Sarah Ellen Carson not only raised a family and supported her husband, John, as a pastor’s wife and rst lady of Erskine College and Seminary, but tirelessly served in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian (ARP) denomination through volunteering at the Due West ARP Church, helping with Music Conference, organizing Women’s Ministries Bible studies, and leading Bible studies at Erskine Theological Seminary for seminary student wives. Perhaps her greatest legacy remains the countless young women and pastors’wives she loved, encouraged, and discipled for ministry at Erskine and in Uganda and South Africa. In 2011, Sarah Ellen was honored with the Julia Hardeman Rhodes Award, given each year to a faithful and dedicated ARP woman.
John and Sarah Ellen Carson have four children, all of whom are involved in Christian ministry, and ten grandchildren.
OUR PROFESSORS & INSTRUCTORS
Rev. Justin Brickey
Rev. Justin Brickey is an ordained minister in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church and a missionary with the SEED Ministry of World Witness. He has lived and served cross-culturally in the United States, Peru, and Spain. He has a MDiv and a ThM from Erskine Seminary. His burden is to help equip indigenous ministers and church leaders to grow in their biblical understanding so they can more faithfully minister in their communities. Justin currently lives in West Columbia with his wife, Gillian, and their children.
Mrs. Martha Margaret Cotten
Mrs. Martha-Margaret Cotten serves as the Director of Global Education at Erskine Seminary as well as a Global Diploma Adjunct Professor. She and her husband also serve as missionaries with World Witness in Rwanda and Pakistan. She has an MATS from Erskine Seminary and a MTh from Union School of Theology in Wales. She is currently in the DMin program at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary studying Missions, Leadership, and Development in the Global Context. Martha Margaret and her husband Sam live in Rock Hill, SC and have four children and two grandchildren.
Rev. Samuel Cotten
Rev. Samuel W. Cotten is an ordained minister in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. He pastored for 12 years in the US before becoming a missionary with World Witness. He serves as the Rwanda team leader for the SEED Ministry of World Witness. Sam has a MATS from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary and a MTh from the Union School of Theology in Wales. Sam and his wife Martha Margaret live in Rock Hill, SC and have four children and two grandchildren.
Rev. Dr. Ross Durham
Rev. Dr. Ross Durham is an ordained minister in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church and currently serves as pastor of Grace Hill Church in Hillsborough, NC. He has a ThM from Princeton Theological Seminary and a DMin from Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte. He has served in ordained pastoral ministry since 2000. He enjoys running and mountain and road biking. Ross lives in Chapel Hill, NC with his wife Cathy and son David.
Rev. Dr. David Galletta
Rev. Dr. David Galletta is an ordained minister in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, having pastored in Maryland and in Canada for 9 years. He has been a World Witness missionary since 2000. He specializes in theology and biblical studies. David has an MDiv from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, a DMin from Covenant Theological Seminary, and a PhD from the University of Wales. He and his wife, Annelies, have three adult daughters and 2 grandchildren and live in Silver Spring, MD.
Rev. Dr. Andrew Goodman
Rev. Dr. Andrew R. Goodman is an ordained minister in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church and serves as part of the SEED Ministry in Uganda/East Africa. He has a PhD from Westminster Theological Seminary. He is seconded to teach Biblical Studies at African Bible University in Kampala, Uganda, and supports SEED Ministry initiatives to encourage and equip African leaders and churches. He and his wife, Lauren, have four children.
Rev. Dr. Eliah Massey
Rev. Dr. Eliah Massey is an ordained minister and has served for several years in the Korean Presbyterian Reformed Church. He holds a PhD from Kukje Theological Seminary in South Korea. He served as a professor of New Testament theology at Holy People Seminary in Korea and currently serves as a missionary pastor and church planter in the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America. He and his wife Ramona have two children and live in Kansas City, Kansas.
Rev. Zeeshan Sadiq
Rev. Zeeshan Sadiq is an ordained minister in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church of Pakistan. He has a MDiv from Gujranwala Theological Seminary, a MATS and is currently pursuing a ThM from Erskine Seminary. He has served as pastor of Bethlehem ARP Church in Sahiwal, Pakistan since 2007 and as the secretary of the ARP Synod of Pakistan since 2011. He serves SEED not only as an Instructor but also as the lead translator and national partner. Rev. Sadiq and his wife Humera Yasmin have three daughters and two sons and live in Sahiwal, Pakistan.
Rev. Lee Shelnutt
Rev. Lee Shelnutt is an ordained minister in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church and pastored for over 25 years as well as served as moderator of the General Synod. He has a MDiv from Reformed Theological Seminary as well as degrees from the Atlanta School of Biblical Studies and Georgia Tech. He has been a World Witness missionary since 2021 and serves as the team leader of the SEED ministry for World Witness as well as serving as an encourager, facilitator, and coordinator for many World Witness missionaries in Europe. He is also the Interim Field Director for the ARP Mission in Pakistan. Lee and his wife Joni
Norwood, North Carolina and have one daughter.
