Traveling the road from our Mkar mission station to the airstrip, one passes a small sign which reads. “Reformed Theological College of Nigeria.” Looking to the right one can see the tangible evidence of the financial gifts of many people in America, for in the final stages of construction are the following modest units: a two-room classroom building, two homes for staff members, and housing for married students.
In January of 1973 the Reformed Theological College of Nigeria will move from its temporary location at Mbaakpur to this new site. By then its present class of seventeen students will have completed two of their four years of study and a second class will be admitted to the school. This system follows the pattern practised by other theological colleges in Nigeria—a four year course, with a new class admitted every two years. With the addition of this new class, it will also be necessary to add a third teacher to the staff. We are thankful to the Lord for a theological college in Nigeria where the Reformed faith is so enthusiastically taught and where any qualified student, regardless of tribe, will be admitted.
A fine beginning has been made, but there is still much that must be done, especially in the area of further construction and physical equipment. Due to the admittance of a new class next January, more construction must be undertaken immediately: one more classroom building must be built, a home must be provided for the third teacher, and additional housing for married and single students is needed. At its August meeting the building committee decided to recommend to the Board of Governors that construction of these units begin immediately.
Up until now funds received as voluntary gifts from friends and churches in the United States and Canada have been sufficient to cover all building costs. However. before this second phase of construction can be paid for, they will need more money. And these buildings cover only the barest minimum. Long-range plans also call for the construction of a chapel and of a library (thanks to the generous donations of friends in America, a fine beginning has been made on a theological library, but it will have to be housed temporarily in one of the classrooms). Upon advice of a mission builder a generator has been ordered—to avoid the constantly rising price—but it will not be put into use until the $3000 necessary for installation and wiring is available. Plumbing facilities will be very primitive and running water will not be a reality until sufficient funds are on hand. Offices for the staff will also have to wait, as will permanent storage facilities for food (the students are provided with food and the Nigerian churches donate large amounts of this; so it is important that adequate storage facilities be provided). Neither has any provision been made for the landscaping of the grounds. And so one can readily see that, while an encouraging beginning has been made, there are still many needs which have not been met.
The Nigerian Christians are very thankful that Synod of 1972 saw fit to follow the recommendation of the Board of Foreign Missions and decided to recognize their school. However, it should be noted that there is no provision whatsoever in the mission budget for funds for this school and that the help being given this fledgling Reformed seminary is in the following three areas only; money sent to the Board of Foreign Missions and specifically designated for the Reformed Theological College of Nigeria will be forwarded to them; two missionaries are allowed to serve on the Board of Governors; and one staff member will be provided and his salary paid by our mission. (Rev. T. Monsma has been appointed and will begin his work as principal and teacher in January of 1973.) But this means that the Nigerian church itself is responsible for providing the salaries of the other two teachers as well as all the operating expenses of the school. And this they gladly do. But when one thinks of the extremely limited financial resources of the Nigerian church members, one can understand why they are so in need of further gifts for their building fund.
So, together with our Christian brothers across the sea, let us praise God for the progress which Reformed theological education in Nigeria has made and for the faith they have shown as they opened this school almost two years ago. And let us continue to uphold them with our prayers and with our financial gifts both as individuals and as churches. Gifts may be designated for this seminary and sent to the Christian Reformed Board of Foreign Missions, 2850 Kalamazoo Avenue, S. E., Grand Rapids, Mich. 49508, or may be mailed directly to the Nigerian church in care of its treasurer, Mr. Peter Ayaka, Mkar P.A., via Ghoko P.O., Benue Plateau State, Nigeria. Checks then should be made out to the Reformed Theological College of Nigeria.
In January of 1973 the Reformed Theological College of Nigeria will move from its temporary location at Mbaakpur to this new site. By then its present class of seventeen students will have completed two of their four years of study and a second class will be admitted to the school. This system follows the pattern practised by other theological colleges in Nigeria—a four year course, with a new class admitted every two years. With the addition of this new class, it will also be necessary to add a third teacher to the staff. We are thankful to the Lord for a theological college in Nigeria where the Reformed faith is so enthusiastically taught and where any qualified student, regardless of tribe, will be admitted.
A fine beginning has been made, but there is still much that must be done, especially in the area of further construction and physical equipment. Due to the admittance of a new class next January, more construction must be undertaken immediately: one more classroom building must be built, a home must be provided for the third teacher, and additional housing for married and single students is needed. At its August meeting the building committee decided to recommend to the Board of Governors that construction of these units begin immediately.
Up until now funds received as voluntary gifts from friends and churches in the United States and Canada have been sufficient to cover all building costs. However. before this second phase of construction can be paid for, they will need more money. And these buildings cover only the barest minimum. Long-range plans also call for the construction of a chapel and of a library (thanks to the generous donations of friends in America, a fine beginning has been made on a theological library, but it will have to be housed temporarily in one of the classrooms). Upon advice of a mission builder a generator has been ordered—to avoid the constantly rising price—but it will not be put into use until the $3000 necessary for installation and wiring is available. Plumbing facilities will be very primitive and running water will not be a reality until sufficient funds are on hand. Offices for the staff will also have to wait, as will permanent storage facilities for food (the students are provided with food and the Nigerian churches donate large amounts of this; so it is important that adequate storage facilities be provided). Neither has any provision been made for the landscaping of the grounds. And so one can readily see that, while an encouraging beginning has been made, there are still many needs which have not been met.
The Nigerian Christians are very thankful that Synod of 1972 saw fit to follow the recommendation of the Board of Foreign Missions and decided to recognize their school. However, it should be noted that there is no provision whatsoever in the mission budget for funds for this school and that the help being given this fledgling Reformed seminary is in the following three areas only; money sent to the Board of Foreign Missions and specifically designated for the Reformed Theological College of Nigeria will be forwarded to them; two missionaries are allowed to serve on the Board of Governors; and one staff member will be provided and his salary paid by our mission. (Rev. T. Monsma has been appointed and will begin his work as principal and teacher in January of 1973.) But this means that the Nigerian church itself is responsible for providing the salaries of the other two teachers as well as all the operating expenses of the school. And this they gladly do. But when one thinks of the extremely limited financial resources of the Nigerian church members, one can understand why they are so in need of further gifts for their building fund.
So, together with our Christian brothers across the sea, let us praise God for the progress which Reformed theological education in Nigeria has made and for the faith they have shown as they opened this school almost two years ago. And let us continue to uphold them with our prayers and with our financial gifts both as individuals and as churches. Gifts may be designated for this seminary and sent to the Christian Reformed Board of Foreign Missions, 2850 Kalamazoo Avenue, S. E., Grand Rapids, Mich. 49508, or may be mailed directly to the Nigerian church in care of its treasurer, Mr. Peter Ayaka, Mkar P.A., via Ghoko P.O., Benue Plateau State, Nigeria. Checks then should be made out to the Reformed Theological College of Nigeria.