March 1, 2009

Dear Friends,

The Kenyan flag. Kenya is another part of Africa that occupies a large place in our hearts.

With Kenya in our hearts and Ethiopia with a grip on our souls, we are not finished with Africa; or Africa is not finished with us.

As a mission worker in Kenya during my (Anne’s) first term, which started in 1982, I was sometimes asked, “Is this your career? Will you do this for your whole life?” I really didn’t know. I did know that God had wonderfully answered eight years of prayers, preparation, and longing to return to Africa after my first cross-cultural experience as a volunteer in Ethiopia in 1973-74. Apart from that, it seemed presumptuous to speak so far into the future, and so I would reply, “I don’t know. If it is for my whole life, it will happen term by term, every three years.” This was because the practice has always been that at the end of a three-year term, PC(USA), the partner church or institution, and the mission co-workers discern together if God is continuing to lead in this multi-strand partnership in ministry and kingdom witness.

Now, 27 years later, it seems fair to say, “Yes, cross-cultural mission and Africa are integral to my life.” Six years working with high school students and teachers and preaching in rural congregations on the east side of Mt. Kenya in Chogoria/Meru was followed by five years teaching and mentoring young persons preparing for pastoral ministry in the Presbyterian Church of East Africa through the Pastoral Training Institute in Kikuyu, while John served as chaplain and teacher at Alliance (Boys) High School.

In 1997 we moved from Kenya to rural Ethiopia where John and I worked with the Southwest Bethel Synod for three and a half years in starting a Bible school that gave a two-year certificate course for those serving congregations and who would then be ordained to pastoral ministry. The next move was from Ethiopia to the United States, where we served as missionaries-in-residence over a four-year period, first as resource persons in a congregation in California and then in the Mission Personnel Office in the Worldwide Ministries Division of PC(USA) in Louisville, helping explore ways to provide pastoral support and encouragement for mission co-workers.

God led us back to Ethiopia in 2004 and we spent four years helping develop and establish the mission studies program at the Ethiopian Graduate School of Theology. On the side, we were part of a team of worship leaders and preachers with the International Lutheran Church (EECMY), which was without a pastor for over three years.

Twenty-seven years later for Anne—and 18 years for John—cross-cultural mission and Africa and caring for people committed to long term cross-cultural ministry have so shaped who we are that we believe we must continue in these callings. It is with sadness that we have come to realize that there is no way currently to answer these callings within the structures of PC(USA) World Mission. While will be ending service this month with World Mission, it is so that we can continue service in Africa and more fully pursue the new directions that God has led us in our hearts and hopes in caring for mission personnel.

Even though this change is scary and tinged with the sadness of an ending, we are excited for the new ways that God is calling us to be part of what he is doing in the world and the new ways he is working through all kinds of people.

This photograph of EGST’s building, taken in January, shows recent progress.

We continue to be excited with the developments at the Ethiopian Graduate School of Theology in Addis Ababa. The first phase of the building is already constructed and is now being blocked in, with the hopes of completion before graduation in June this year. One hundred students are enrolled in EGST’s four different graduate degree programs. Several in our faculty development program have begun their doctoral studies in Europe and in the United States.

Churches and individuals here in the United States have wanted to get involved, helping with scholarships for students, donating theological books to EGST’s library, contributing to the building development fund. This kind of help can be given through EGST’s Extra Commitment Opportunity #E051846. Or you can click on the "give" button below to give online

Additionally, PC(USA) is seeking to appoint a professor of systematic theology to EGST. Please see the listings for mission personnel needs on the PC(USA) Web site or contact Nancy Cavalcante at (888) 728-7228 x5309 if you can help with this.

We celebrate Presbyterian World Mission’s continuing commitment to the Ethiopian Graduate School of Theology.

We are grateful for the ways that Presbyterian World Mission and its various predecessors over the years have helped us to be connected with you all as together we have been and continue to be partners in the gospel of Christ and witnesses of the kingdom of God.

Borrowing and adapting from St. Patrick and others who have loved his spirit, we share this blessing:

            Christ beside us, Christ with us, Christ in us,
            Christ around us, Christ below, Christ above us,
            On our left and on our right Christ with us into the night
            Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of us.

Anne and John Wheeler-Waddell