First theology varsity to open next year

New Life Bible Church, a local church in Kicukiro District, Kigali City is set to open up a Christian university earlier next year.The Africa College of Theology (ACT) will mainly target ministers (pastors) and it will begin with offering certificate courses in theology.In an interview with The New Times, Charles Mugisha, the Senior Pastor of New Life Bible Church, said the construction for the ACT building is underway and in September this year, the college will open its doors for the first intake of at least 50 students.“Currently, 95 per cent of Rwandan pastors have not received any formal theological training and it’s in this regard that New Life Bible Church decided to set a university for theology which can help Christian leaders in the country to acquire the relevant knowledge and skills concerning the bible because this will enable them to be in a better position to serve God and the needs of their respective churches,” Pastor Mugisha said.He added that the college will provide non-traditional biblical education leading to an accredited Bachelor of Theology Degree for the pastors who will join it.The complex is estimated to cost over US$1 million with tuition tagged at US$2,640 a year per student.He said that in September next year, they will begin diploma courses of two years and in 2014, bachelor’s programmes will commence.ACT in partnership with volunteers from Multnomah University, Portland, USA has finished setting up a theological library with 15,000 books worth U$0.5m and according to Pastor Mugisha, the library will provide unprecedented resources for pastors in the country.Mugisha added that Africa New Life is also raising scholarship funds to support ACT students mainly those who don’t have enough funds to study at the college. Speaking to The New Times, yesterday, Reverend George Agaba, the chairman of the Foundation of Peace Ministries said: “I thank New Life Bible Church for coming up with such an important initiative of setting up a university for theology in the country because this will enable us servants of God to understand the bible more and to carry out our daily duties in an organised manner.”Pastor Isaac Karamira, the senior pastor of Gatsata Faith Evangelical Church, said the college will help fight against illiteracy among religious leaders in the country.He asked Christians and investors to come up with similar projects which he said would promote professionalism among religious leaders not only in Rwanda but in the region.

National

First theology varsity to open next year