Dear Friends, Having just come through our extensive selection process, we are excited to tell you about the new scholars we have selected for the fall of 2007. Our process remains quite competitive, and we accept only 10-15% of those who apply – assuring that each one is a key leader for the church in the places where it is growing the fastest and these leaders are needed most!
· Rev. Bishop Joshua Banda (Zambia): Joshua is a pastor, bishop, and educator with national responsibilities in the Assemblies of God denomination in Zambia. In addition, he is a key leader in the church’s efforts to combat HIV/AIDS in the region. He currently leads a multi-denominational group in conjunction with World Vision, Children Aids Fund, and others on the church’s response to HIV/AIDS. He will continue that work with his research in the UK.
· Pontien Batibuka (Congo): After his degree, Pontien will return as the only resident New Testament faculty at Bunia Theological Seminary in the Congo. His PhD will focus on the integration of the Christian faith into the life and actions of the Congolese people. – a topic he believes very pertinent as many in this war torn nation have professed to follow Christ, but many church leaders are alarmed at the continued violence and hatred in the country – even among Christians. He will study in the UK.
· Daniel Muvengi (Kenya): Daniel serves as the Director of Spiritual Transformation-Christian Commitments in East Africa for World Vision. In his ministry he trains pastors and teachers across Africa, lifting up a vision for the church to engage in holistic ministry as an agent of transformation for the continent of Africa. He will study in South Africa.
· Kouadio Noel N’Guessan (Ivory Coast): Noel is an up and coming faculty member at West African Alliance Theological Seminary (WAATS). He will be the second scholar we support at the Akrofi Christaller Institute in Ghana. His work will focus on the character and spiritual formation of the African pastor, a topic he sees as crucial because of his work on the Ethics and Theological Council for South Africa.
· Igors Rautmains (Latvia): Igors currently serves as the General Secretary (national director) for IFES student movement in Latvia. (InterVarsity Christian Fellowship is the US work of the global IFES work among college students). Igors will study at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA.
· David Roldan (Argentina): David will be the second scholar CISF is supporting in a unique South American doctoral program called PRODALA. Led by Dr. Charles Van Engen from Fuller Seminary, PRODALA is a consortium program that brings together some of the best faculty throughout Latin America. We have been pleased with this creative approach to PhD studies in South America. David exemplifies the kinds of leaders they are attracting – a gifted scholar with a heart for the church. He is currently the Dean of the IFET seminary in Buenos Aires as well as a Presbyterian pastor.
· Yacouba Sanon (Burkina Faso): CISF has identified French speaking Africa as a key region in which the leadership gap is growing quickly. As such, we are pleased to support Yacouba Sanon as the third scholar from that region in this year’s class. Already on the faculty at WAATS in the Ivory Coast, Yacouba will study at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Illinois where he will focus on the issue of suffering in the Old Testament. He believes this is a important topic for the African context where so many people experience pain and tragedy on a regular basis.
· Joanna Soberano (Philippines): A professor and Dean at Asian Theological Seminary in the Philippines, Joanna is pursuing a PhD in Educational Studies at Trinity in Illinois. Her work will focus particularly on the challenge of teaching the truth of Christianity in an increasingly postmodern context of Asia – which already has such a diverse religious landscape. She will be the first resident faculty member for Education at ATS in Manila. In the coming months, we look forward to sharing more about their lives, their ministries, and the ways in which they are helping to lead the church around the world. We invite you to join us as we pray for these men and women as they prepare for this next step in their leadership journey. I also want to remind you that the CISF board continues to cover all overhead expenses, meaning every dollar you give goes directly to the support of these gifted men and women. Thank you for your partnership!
Peace of Christ,
Evan Hunter
Director of Operations, CISF
