Friends of AICMAR

A key challenge facing the church in East Africa is how to equip enough leaders, preachers, teachers and writers to apply Biblical principles to contemporary issues. This is the major concern of AICMAR, for which we seek a gospel partnership and friendship.

Why AICMAR?

Limited theological resources in East Africa

There are several centres for theological study in Kenya west of the Rift Valley, but none provide adequately for postgraduate scholarship, nor are most equipped to address present contemporary African issues. Few have resources to publish their research. As a result most people seeking advanced training or qualification (especially PhD) seek to go abroad, usually to America, Australia or the United Kingdom.

Cost of training Africans abroad

A good number of African scholars have benefited from overseas scholarships and returned to their countries better prepared to work in positions of influence. These scholarships are important and should be continued while at the same time developing local resources within Africa.

However, the number of applicants for these few scholarships suggests that there is a great need and hunger for advanced biblical and theological qualification in Africa, despite the personal sacrifice involved for every successful applicant. But it is now generally accepted by mission agencies that the cost of support for African theological education and study partners abroad is becoming unsustainable (it can cost 10 times more to train a married student in the West than it would do in Africa).

Western training is often unsuitable

Training Africans in the West can cause considerable problems. Cultural barriers and hardships make studying more difficult, and training is inevitably shaped by the needs of the Western context. Western institutions generally lack relevant study materials and supervisors on contemporary African issues. Many students find that they are exposed to liberal-critical traditions and approaches rather than evangelical scholarship.

Going abroad also has numerous other shortcomings such as long family separations (up to 3 years), immigration and visa difficulties, and economic adjustments on return.

Would you help?

AICMAR is creating an institute within Africa to help develop evangelical scholarship deeply rooted in Biblical principles. It seeks to provide resources for postgraduate evangelical scholarship, forums to debate current African ministry needs, and conferences to promote biblical expository preaching.

AICMAR needs friends and gospel partners who will:

• Pray for the progress of this project
• Publicise the work of the AICMAR amongst family and friends
• Embrace this as your church’s missionary project
• Support AICMAR financially by sending a donation, making a standing order or covenant or consider a legacy
• Organise a special collection or small fund-raising activity in aid of the AICMAR
• Enlist as a fund-raising volunteer or representative of the AICMAR in your region
• Donate books and journals to the library, or give funds for their acquisition. (Please contact us before sending books, as all books must be checked to ensure they comply with the library’s acquisition policy.)

If you would like to join Friends of AICMAR or can offer any kind of support, please contact us.