Published by Paul Heidebriecht
April 2008
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NEGST Alumni move for peace
On March 7, hundreds of Kenyan pastors, led and mobilized by NEGST Alumni, began an historic journey across the country. Called “Msafara”, the mission was to pray, listen, and bring peace to Kenya's five largest city centers. The journey began in Mombasa, on the eastern coast. The cities chosen were ones broken and hurting from the post-election chaos.
Along the route, the Msafara team gave out 100,000 Care Packs, donated by churches and individuals throughout the nation. By March 17, on arrival in Kisumu on the western border, the team had encouraged thousands, providing basic supplies and food, praying and offering God’s physical and spiritual healing. NEGST can rejoice that in keeping with our calling to "excellence in African Christianity" our graduates are leading the way in demonstrating godly responses to current issues. Many other members of the NEGST community were involved in ways too numerous to name here.
To visit the Msafara website, click here.
NEGST student organises camp for internally displaced people
Meet Christopher Ngugi Wanaina, a first year NEGST student pursuing an MA in missions. Apart from being a student, Chris also serves at Karura Community Chapel in the missions department, in charge of the compassion and social justice docket since 2007.With the onset of the post-election violence, Karura Community Chapel began hosting three hundred internally displaced people (IDPs)—95 adults and 205 children—within the first week of January. By the second week, the number had doubled!
Upcoming Events
7th - 18th April 2008 Special Courses on Conflict Resolution & Forgiveness
RSVP:
admissions@negst.edu
Need To Read
The Drama of Scripture: Finding Our Place in the Biblical Story
The Drama of Scripture is a great help to understanding the revelation of God as it unfolds redemptively and historically and, in consequence, making sense of the Bible as a whole. This book is highly recommended for those who desire to understand how the Bible's diverse writings are united in content and purpose.Dr. Peter NyendeNEGST Lecturer, Biblical Studies
NEGST in Figures
7 cows graze on the green campus of NEGST
Kids At NEGST
Abby (3yrs): "I love coloring at school and playing on the swings."
Friday, April 25, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
Updates from David Waweru
Hi Ed,
We thank God for the progress Kenya has made so far in returning peace and reconciliation among its leaders and people.
However the work has just began, there is a lot more that needs to be done in resettling displaced persons in affected areas. There is also the putting in of structures which will ensure the country never goes back to the state it was after election will be a crucial step.
So we need to continue to pray that this happens through Gods Guidance and Wisdom in the shortest time possible.
I`m happy to hear of your plans to come and minister at NEGST,on my part with the assistance of Carol Kariuki we will be happy to coordinate the Safari, in-road travels and home stays.
If there is anything else that we can do to make your visit here successful let us know.
David Waweru.
We thank God for the progress Kenya has made so far in returning peace and reconciliation among its leaders and people.
However the work has just began, there is a lot more that needs to be done in resettling displaced persons in affected areas. There is also the putting in of structures which will ensure the country never goes back to the state it was after election will be a crucial step.
So we need to continue to pray that this happens through Gods Guidance and Wisdom in the shortest time possible.
I`m happy to hear of your plans to come and minister at NEGST,on my part with the assistance of Carol Kariuki we will be happy to coordinate the Safari, in-road travels and home stays.
If there is anything else that we can do to make your visit here successful let us know.
David Waweru.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Kenya Is Attracting IPO Fever
This article appeared in the Tuesday, Wall Street Journal and was written by Sarah Childress.
Nairobi, Kenya--Despite global financial turmoil and months of violence in this corner of Africa, first-time investors are betting big on an initial public offering of stock on the Nairobi Stock Exchange.
Taxi drivers, kiosk owners and street vendors have been queuing up at banks in downtown Nairobi to subscribe to shares of mobile-phone company Safaricom Ltd. in east Africa's largest IPO. The government is selling 25% of the company, a stake valued at about $ 800 million. The new shares will be listed on the Nairobi Exchange in early June. There is no underwriter on the deal, though Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC is serving as the coordinator and sole bookrunner.
The Safaricom offering which had been delayed from December amid election-related violence that month could be an early indicator that Kenya's economy--badly bruised by the violence--is moving on.
"After the IPO, I'm going to make a bit of money," said Mwatha Karuita, a 50 year old lab technician, as he prepared to buy shares one recent day.
Fierce ethnic clashes and a simmering political standoff set back an ecomomic boom this country had been enjoying. The government and opposition party took a step forward Sunday, when President Mwai Kibaki names a new cabinet, with opposition leader Raila Odinga as new prime minister. As part of the power-sharing deal, 40 cabinet postings were split between the president's party and its allies, and Mr. Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement.
Lingering tensions directly threatened the offering as recently as last month. Mr Odinga, who cliamed victory in the late December presidential election, held news conferences and threatened protests to warn Kenyans not to buy in because of a dispute over a minor shareholder in the company. But his advice went largely ignored. On the offering's opening day on March 28, people lined up peacefully by the hundreds for a chance to snap up shares.
The Kenyan government holds a 60% stake in Safaircom with Vodaphone Kenya Ltd., a subsidiary of London based Vodaphone Group PLC, owning the other 40%. After the sale, the government's share will drop to 35%. The government has been in discussions with the company for about four years to divest its majority share to raise capital and as part of its effort to diversify shareholders in state-0wned companies.
Safaricom is a household name in Kenya. Eight yers ago, American Michael Joseph was brought in to turn around the struggling carrier, at the time owned by state-run Telkom Kenya Ltd. Vodafone Kenya bought into the company in 2000.
On coming aboard, Mr. Joseph, chief executive, said the company had $ 20million in the bank and 17,000 "very unhappy" customers, "That's all we had," he said. He quickly retargeted the company's marketing and went after Africa's high growth but financially strapped "informal" sector.
Many Kenyans, unable to afford high public school fees, have had to forgo educations, finding themselves shut out of well-paying jobs. They turn instead to entrepreneurial pursuits--for instance, start-up car services, like my friend David Waweru, who left his job at Telekom Kenya, or hair braiding, Swahili lessons or house-cleaning.
Many of Safaricom's competitors saw these customers as a risk since the lack of a steady, dependable income meant they may not be able to pay their bills. Mr. Joseph introduced the prepaid calling and personal billing. The latter was a big departure from rounding up each finished call to a full minute, which was a big hit for customers watching every Kenyan schilling.
Safaircom also offered inesp0ensive phones and free, rount-the clock customer care. Last year the company introduced a banking program that allows people to send money via mobile phone.
The changes paid off. Safari-c0m now has about 9 million subscribers and claims 80% of the market share in Kenya. Longtime competitors Celtel Kenya and Telkom Kenya have only a sliver of the market now, though Safaricom will soon face additional competition from new entrants.
Kenya's elite--including black businessmen and wealthy South Asians--have seized on the IPO. Beginning last week, international investors also were given a chance to buy in.
Of the 10 billion shares to be sold, 65% will be offered to domestic investors while the remainder were available to foreign buyers. Retail investors will get 52% of the domestic offering. If the domestic pool is oversubscribed, the percentage of the available shares will be increased. The application period ends April 23.
Blue-collar workers and small-business owners are also rushing in. the offer price is about five Kenyan shillings, or about 8 US cents, a share. Some investors have pooled money to meet the 2,000 share minimum. Many of these first-time investors don't even have bank accounts.
Some who can barely support their families have applied for bank loans to raise enough funds for the shares, a practice that worries Michael Masau, executive director of Emerging Africa Capital, Ltd., an investment advisory company in Nairobi. He believes Safaricom is a good buy, but only for those able to pay in cash.
"It's an investment," he said. "People can end up losing all their finances. We tell them to only invest what they can afford to lose."
Jane Keobu, 35 years old and with her three-year-old tied to her back with a red scarf, came into a Diamond Trust Bank branch in downtown Nairobi one recent morning. She supports her five children by selling cabbage, potatoes, and sukuma, a vegetable used in traditional meals, in a small town outside Nairobi. With no bank or brokerage account, the single mother saved the $ 160 to buy a minimum stake, having decided to buy when the offering was announced last year. Bank respresentative set up special tables tables to help first-time buyers open up an account.
"This is my first time to buy shares," she says. "But when I saw them, I thought it'd be a good time."
Peter Ndirangu, 21, who works as a butcher, agrees. He came to the bank one recent morning, clutching forms to purchase shares. "When the price rises, I'll sell, he said.
Nairobi, Kenya--Despite global financial turmoil and months of violence in this corner of Africa, first-time investors are betting big on an initial public offering of stock on the Nairobi Stock Exchange.
Taxi drivers, kiosk owners and street vendors have been queuing up at banks in downtown Nairobi to subscribe to shares of mobile-phone company Safaricom Ltd. in east Africa's largest IPO. The government is selling 25% of the company, a stake valued at about $ 800 million. The new shares will be listed on the Nairobi Exchange in early June. There is no underwriter on the deal, though Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC is serving as the coordinator and sole bookrunner.
The Safaricom offering which had been delayed from December amid election-related violence that month could be an early indicator that Kenya's economy--badly bruised by the violence--is moving on.
"After the IPO, I'm going to make a bit of money," said Mwatha Karuita, a 50 year old lab technician, as he prepared to buy shares one recent day.
Fierce ethnic clashes and a simmering political standoff set back an ecomomic boom this country had been enjoying. The government and opposition party took a step forward Sunday, when President Mwai Kibaki names a new cabinet, with opposition leader Raila Odinga as new prime minister. As part of the power-sharing deal, 40 cabinet postings were split between the president's party and its allies, and Mr. Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement.
Lingering tensions directly threatened the offering as recently as last month. Mr Odinga, who cliamed victory in the late December presidential election, held news conferences and threatened protests to warn Kenyans not to buy in because of a dispute over a minor shareholder in the company. But his advice went largely ignored. On the offering's opening day on March 28, people lined up peacefully by the hundreds for a chance to snap up shares.
The Kenyan government holds a 60% stake in Safaircom with Vodaphone Kenya Ltd., a subsidiary of London based Vodaphone Group PLC, owning the other 40%. After the sale, the government's share will drop to 35%. The government has been in discussions with the company for about four years to divest its majority share to raise capital and as part of its effort to diversify shareholders in state-0wned companies.
Safaricom is a household name in Kenya. Eight yers ago, American Michael Joseph was brought in to turn around the struggling carrier, at the time owned by state-run Telkom Kenya Ltd. Vodafone Kenya bought into the company in 2000.
On coming aboard, Mr. Joseph, chief executive, said the company had $ 20million in the bank and 17,000 "very unhappy" customers, "That's all we had," he said. He quickly retargeted the company's marketing and went after Africa's high growth but financially strapped "informal" sector.
Many Kenyans, unable to afford high public school fees, have had to forgo educations, finding themselves shut out of well-paying jobs. They turn instead to entrepreneurial pursuits--for instance, start-up car services, like my friend David Waweru, who left his job at Telekom Kenya, or hair braiding, Swahili lessons or house-cleaning.
Many of Safaricom's competitors saw these customers as a risk since the lack of a steady, dependable income meant they may not be able to pay their bills. Mr. Joseph introduced the prepaid calling and personal billing. The latter was a big departure from rounding up each finished call to a full minute, which was a big hit for customers watching every Kenyan schilling.
Safaircom also offered inesp0ensive phones and free, rount-the clock customer care. Last year the company introduced a banking program that allows people to send money via mobile phone.
The changes paid off. Safari-c0m now has about 9 million subscribers and claims 80% of the market share in Kenya. Longtime competitors Celtel Kenya and Telkom Kenya have only a sliver of the market now, though Safaricom will soon face additional competition from new entrants.
Kenya's elite--including black businessmen and wealthy South Asians--have seized on the IPO. Beginning last week, international investors also were given a chance to buy in.
Of the 10 billion shares to be sold, 65% will be offered to domestic investors while the remainder were available to foreign buyers. Retail investors will get 52% of the domestic offering. If the domestic pool is oversubscribed, the percentage of the available shares will be increased. The application period ends April 23.
Blue-collar workers and small-business owners are also rushing in. the offer price is about five Kenyan shillings, or about 8 US cents, a share. Some investors have pooled money to meet the 2,000 share minimum. Many of these first-time investors don't even have bank accounts.
Some who can barely support their families have applied for bank loans to raise enough funds for the shares, a practice that worries Michael Masau, executive director of Emerging Africa Capital, Ltd., an investment advisory company in Nairobi. He believes Safaricom is a good buy, but only for those able to pay in cash.
"It's an investment," he said. "People can end up losing all their finances. We tell them to only invest what they can afford to lose."
Jane Keobu, 35 years old and with her three-year-old tied to her back with a red scarf, came into a Diamond Trust Bank branch in downtown Nairobi one recent morning. She supports her five children by selling cabbage, potatoes, and sukuma, a vegetable used in traditional meals, in a small town outside Nairobi. With no bank or brokerage account, the single mother saved the $ 160 to buy a minimum stake, having decided to buy when the offering was announced last year. Bank respresentative set up special tables tables to help first-time buyers open up an account.
"This is my first time to buy shares," she says. "But when I saw them, I thought it'd be a good time."
Peter Ndirangu, 21, who works as a butcher, agrees. He came to the bank one recent morning, clutching forms to purchase shares. "When the price rises, I'll sell, he said.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Dr. Chet's Wood's April Prayer Letter
NAIROBI EVANGELICAL GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY
"A School in the Heart of Africa with Africa on Its Heart"
9441 Haddington Drive West, Indianapolis, IN 46256
Tel.: 317-595-9850 Email: Chester.wood@att.net, Dolores.wood@att.net
Dear Friend, April 6, 2008
LESSONS TO LEARN FROM THE KENYA CRISIS
It would appear that Kenya is back to “normal”. At least there is a measure of tranquility just now. But most of the underlying problems that gave rise to the recent crisis have yet to be addressed in any significant way. One deep underlying issue is injustice that goes back at least to the time of the colonial powers and perhaps further back. The apparent injustice in land distribution after the departure of the British is certainly part of the issue. Apparently the better lands were given to the more powerful tribe(s). And there are problems with the current constitution.
INJUSTICE AND ETHNICITY
If injustice is one of the fundamental underlying causes and if this injustice is along tribal lines, then NEGST needs to continue to take seriously both justice and ethnicity. Perhaps you will recall that the first fifteen months of the joint PhD in Bible and Bible Translation focused upon the topic of ethnicity starting with Genesis and going all the way to Revelation. This is a biblical theology approach to the topic. The PhD students have been called upon to speak publicly on radio, TV and in churches, universities and seminaries on this topic. What makes this all the more powerful is that the PhD students from Kenya represent some of the conflicting tribes. We thank God that He guided the PhD team several years ago to the topic of ethnicity. You may also know that each year from January to July Chester teaches OT and NT Theology at NEGST using justice as the integrating theme for the course.
One of the lessons to be learned from all of this is that we need to keep training more and more pastors like Pastor Oscar Muriu of Nairobi Chapel who will stay in Kenya for their graduate education, will take courses that speak directly to their local situation and consequently will be in a position to have a significant impact on the church and society in Africa. There are scores of NEGST grads in Kenya who have been and are seeking justice, reconciliation and peace in the months since the presidential election last December and are proclaiming the love of God and forgiveness through Jesus.
CONTINUING AND EXPANDING THE PHD PROGRAMS
The first cohort of twelve PhD students are now well into the dissertation writing phase of their work. The goal is for them to finish by the end of 2009, although the recent troubles in Kenya were a major interruption to their work. Pray for health, stamina, courage and wisdom as they write. This summer many of them will be traveling abroad as part of the program’s requirement
· to access a world-class library,
· to meet, if possible, with their international mentor, e.g. I. Howard Marshall, Karen Jobs, and
· to attend a major professional meeting in their area of focus.
The goal of LOWM has always been to assist in recruiting, training and sustaining African faculty members at NEGST. Currently we have been working in four areas to achieve that single goal. First, we want to help the first cohort of PhD students finish well. Several of these will become faculty members at NEGST. Most of the PhD students doing Bible will be going to Tyndale House Library at Cambridge, England which is one of the finest biblical research libraries in the world. Several years ago we (Dolores and Chester) spent twenty-two very productive weeks there. Although a great deal has already been invested in the PhD program, Light of the World Ministries (LOWM) is seeking to assist NEGST’s PhD students with a gift of $24,000 to help with trip expenses. NEGST needs these funds by June.
Second, LOWM plans to encourage the formation and launching of a second cohort in Bible and Bible Translation, a first cohort in Missions and perhaps a first cohort in Theology. All of these have faculty for NEGST in view. This requires seed money. We have set a goal of $6,000 to help start new doctoral cohorts. Third, we are continuing to sponsor the housing rent of one of the PhD students in this first cohort ($4,000). Fourth, from the beginning LOWM has assisted NEGST’s graduates, such as Douglas Carew, to be part of a post-MA/MDiv program known as the MTh which is a one year program that prepares students to do the PhD. We would like to invest another $4,000 in this area.
In addition to this goal of faculty development, we also undertake to give NEGST $3,000 each year for benevolence to help students who have had a death in their family or an illness that is not covered by the required health insurance program. Finally, we would like to make a special gift to NEGST as soon as possible to help them with preparations for celebrating NEGST’s 25th anniversary, which begins this September (1983-2008). In sum, we are asking the Lord to help us raise at least $46,000 in the next few months. We invite you to invest in African Christianity led by leaders trained at NEGST who are able to speak about and act according to God’s Word in matters such as ethnicity and justice. Please indicate that your gift is for “grants” rather than “general support”.
TAKING A BREAK
Four years ago we celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary, but we were just too busy to take more than a day or two off at a time because for the last ten years we have focused all of our energy on launching the PhD. Now that it is in orbit, we have handed over that responsibility to younger men and women. Now we can take time to celebrate by going on an extended holiday in Italy and explore some of Dolores’ roots (near Naples and Palermo) along with seeing the ancient Roman and Greek ruins, places St. Paul visited, the beautiful countryside and the coasts. An anonymous friend has made this trip possible for us for which we are most thankful. We are both rather tired. Pray that we might returned from Italy refreshed and ready for another period of writing and then back to NEGST at the end of 2008 for two terms of teaching. We leave for Italy Wednesday April 9th.
We also invited you to consider visiting NEGST during this special 25th anniversary year. There will be at least two special trips to NEGST, one in late January 2009 and one at graduation time, i.e. July 4th 2009.
With deep gratitude we are your fellow servants in Christ,
Chester & Dolores
Gifts toward this ministry are tax-deductible. Please make your check payable to “Light of the World Ministries.” Mail to Light of the World Ministries, 825 S. Meridian, Indianapolis, IN 46225.
LIGHT OF THE WORLD MINISTRIES, INC.
"A School in the Heart of Africa with Africa on Its Heart"
9441 Haddington Drive West, Indianapolis, IN 46256
Tel.: 317-595-9850 Email: Chester.wood@att.net, Dolores.wood@att.net
Dear Friend, April 6, 2008
LESSONS TO LEARN FROM THE KENYA CRISIS
It would appear that Kenya is back to “normal”. At least there is a measure of tranquility just now. But most of the underlying problems that gave rise to the recent crisis have yet to be addressed in any significant way. One deep underlying issue is injustice that goes back at least to the time of the colonial powers and perhaps further back. The apparent injustice in land distribution after the departure of the British is certainly part of the issue. Apparently the better lands were given to the more powerful tribe(s). And there are problems with the current constitution.
INJUSTICE AND ETHNICITY
If injustice is one of the fundamental underlying causes and if this injustice is along tribal lines, then NEGST needs to continue to take seriously both justice and ethnicity. Perhaps you will recall that the first fifteen months of the joint PhD in Bible and Bible Translation focused upon the topic of ethnicity starting with Genesis and going all the way to Revelation. This is a biblical theology approach to the topic. The PhD students have been called upon to speak publicly on radio, TV and in churches, universities and seminaries on this topic. What makes this all the more powerful is that the PhD students from Kenya represent some of the conflicting tribes. We thank God that He guided the PhD team several years ago to the topic of ethnicity. You may also know that each year from January to July Chester teaches OT and NT Theology at NEGST using justice as the integrating theme for the course.
One of the lessons to be learned from all of this is that we need to keep training more and more pastors like Pastor Oscar Muriu of Nairobi Chapel who will stay in Kenya for their graduate education, will take courses that speak directly to their local situation and consequently will be in a position to have a significant impact on the church and society in Africa. There are scores of NEGST grads in Kenya who have been and are seeking justice, reconciliation and peace in the months since the presidential election last December and are proclaiming the love of God and forgiveness through Jesus.
CONTINUING AND EXPANDING THE PHD PROGRAMS
The first cohort of twelve PhD students are now well into the dissertation writing phase of their work. The goal is for them to finish by the end of 2009, although the recent troubles in Kenya were a major interruption to their work. Pray for health, stamina, courage and wisdom as they write. This summer many of them will be traveling abroad as part of the program’s requirement
· to access a world-class library,
· to meet, if possible, with their international mentor, e.g. I. Howard Marshall, Karen Jobs, and
· to attend a major professional meeting in their area of focus.
The goal of LOWM has always been to assist in recruiting, training and sustaining African faculty members at NEGST. Currently we have been working in four areas to achieve that single goal. First, we want to help the first cohort of PhD students finish well. Several of these will become faculty members at NEGST. Most of the PhD students doing Bible will be going to Tyndale House Library at Cambridge, England which is one of the finest biblical research libraries in the world. Several years ago we (Dolores and Chester) spent twenty-two very productive weeks there. Although a great deal has already been invested in the PhD program, Light of the World Ministries (LOWM) is seeking to assist NEGST’s PhD students with a gift of $24,000 to help with trip expenses. NEGST needs these funds by June.
Second, LOWM plans to encourage the formation and launching of a second cohort in Bible and Bible Translation, a first cohort in Missions and perhaps a first cohort in Theology. All of these have faculty for NEGST in view. This requires seed money. We have set a goal of $6,000 to help start new doctoral cohorts. Third, we are continuing to sponsor the housing rent of one of the PhD students in this first cohort ($4,000). Fourth, from the beginning LOWM has assisted NEGST’s graduates, such as Douglas Carew, to be part of a post-MA/MDiv program known as the MTh which is a one year program that prepares students to do the PhD. We would like to invest another $4,000 in this area.
In addition to this goal of faculty development, we also undertake to give NEGST $3,000 each year for benevolence to help students who have had a death in their family or an illness that is not covered by the required health insurance program. Finally, we would like to make a special gift to NEGST as soon as possible to help them with preparations for celebrating NEGST’s 25th anniversary, which begins this September (1983-2008). In sum, we are asking the Lord to help us raise at least $46,000 in the next few months. We invite you to invest in African Christianity led by leaders trained at NEGST who are able to speak about and act according to God’s Word in matters such as ethnicity and justice. Please indicate that your gift is for “grants” rather than “general support”.
TAKING A BREAK
Four years ago we celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary, but we were just too busy to take more than a day or two off at a time because for the last ten years we have focused all of our energy on launching the PhD. Now that it is in orbit, we have handed over that responsibility to younger men and women. Now we can take time to celebrate by going on an extended holiday in Italy and explore some of Dolores’ roots (near Naples and Palermo) along with seeing the ancient Roman and Greek ruins, places St. Paul visited, the beautiful countryside and the coasts. An anonymous friend has made this trip possible for us for which we are most thankful. We are both rather tired. Pray that we might returned from Italy refreshed and ready for another period of writing and then back to NEGST at the end of 2008 for two terms of teaching. We leave for Italy Wednesday April 9th.
We also invited you to consider visiting NEGST during this special 25th anniversary year. There will be at least two special trips to NEGST, one in late January 2009 and one at graduation time, i.e. July 4th 2009.
With deep gratitude we are your fellow servants in Christ,
Chester & Dolores
Gifts toward this ministry are tax-deductible. Please make your check payable to “Light of the World Ministries.” Mail to Light of the World Ministries, 825 S. Meridian, Indianapolis, IN 46225.
LIGHT OF THE WORLD MINISTRIES, INC.
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