What’s one of the best eternal investments you can make? Certainly, The Advanced Training Fund has to be close to the top.

Here are our reasons for making this statement: AIM’s two top priorities are evangelization and the effective preparation of church leaders. The Advanced Training Fund is one of the most important ways that AIM helps to prepare church leaders, by enabling them to get the best training for leading the African church. The Advanced Training Fund (ATF) gives grants of US$1000 per year to men and women who are doing higher degrees which will benefit the church in Africa.

AIM has assisted students who are doing a range of degrees including: MA in Counselling and Psychology, MA in Pastoral Care/HIV AIDS, MA in Missions (Islamic), MA in Christian Ministry Leadership and PhD in Systematic Theology. Past students have come from eight different countries in Africa.

It is very difficult for African students to pay for their college fees, so AIM set up the ATF to provide financial support for these students. AIM missionaries fund a number of scholarships because they see the benefit first hand.

Let me tell you about one of our current students.

Phanuel Munezero is 31 years old, and is married with three children. Phanuel is from Rwanda and was one of 12 children. In the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, Phanuel lost both his parents and 10 of his siblings. He was re united with his 11 year old brother just after the genocide, and he now lives with Phanuel and his family.

Despite the trauma that Phanuel has gone through in Rwanda, his greatest desire is to return to that country to teach in a theological seminary. He believes that God has preserved his life so that he can share God’s Word with the people of Rwanda.

Phanuel studied for a BA in Theology at Scott Theological College, Kenya. In a letter to AIM, the Principal of Scott College describes Phanuel as "one of the best students we ever had at Scott... he is an excellent student with real promise... He has a very gracious, gentle and loving spirit."

Thanks to ATF and others, Phanuel has been able to start an MA in Biblical Studies in Kenya, and will graduate in 2007. He will then return to Rwanda to teach at a newly established Bible school in the capital, Kigali.

It is an enormous privilege to be able to help students like Phanuel. This project is strategic and has immeasurable long term benefits for the church in Africa. A gift to this project will enable us to say "yes" to even more qualified students. To make a contribution to this project please press the "Give Online" button. Thank you!

Story by Jan Rossington

Bookmark