My wife and I knew for years that we wanted to be missionaries in Kenya.   After visiting Africa and meeting with representatives from various organizations, we even had an early attraction to Africa Inland Mission.  

The more compelling question for us:  “How can we use our skills, spiritual gifts, and interests most effectively for the edification of the African church?” 

While greatly respecting missionary ministries of service (medicine, general education, community development, etc.), I felt inexorably drawn toward ministries of the Word: discipleship and church planting, media, and theological education.¹  

After a two-week teaching trip to Kitale and a brief, but meaningful, visit to Pwani Bible Institute in Mombasa in 2002, I felt that my calling and the guidance of the Holy Spirit had finally converged: I wanted to do theological education and leadership development.

And so in 2005, my family and I came to Scott Theological College in Machakos, Kenya.

Why theological education and leadership development?  The heart of the Great Commission in Matthew 28: 18-20 is disciple-making.  An instructor at a Bible school has the special privilege of teaching the teachers, training the trainers, and discipling the disciple-makers. 

In my experience, theological education combines so many engaging facets of mission work: the intimacy of one-on-one “front porch” discipleship, the satisfaction of church work and ministry trips on the field, and the synergy of a classroom forum where students can reflectively and passionately interact.  

It is especially satisfying to contribute to this strategic ministry knowing that my students will be equipped and positioned to reach Africa for Christ more effectively than I could ever be as a “mzungu” (foreigner) because of their cultural and linguistic affinities.

There is a truism bandied about by national church leaders and missionaries that Christianity in Sub-Sahara Africa is “a mile wide and an inch deep.”  The prolific growth of the African church in the last century has been nothing short of miraculous. But with this great increase comes a profound need for pastors, teachers and missionaries who have the knowledge, skills, and character necessary for leading the church in the deep and abiding faith and service that God requires.  As a theological educator, this is my work, and I sincerely believe it is time well spent.

¹Adapted from Thomas Hale, On Being a Missionary, William Carey Library, 1995. 

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