by John Ogillah
vice president of Melvin University
In the year 2000, during my last year in a bible school, I went to the library to do a research. While looking for more materials on the shelves, I came across a book with a title: “Can the Pastor do it alone”? By Dr. Melvin.
That morning, I didn’t continue with my research work, instead went through that book from cover to cover. I got so much interested and burdened and I started to think how well I can introduce lay pastors ministry (PACE) in our churches after graduation.
After I had introduced PACE in our church and it’s branches, many other churches also got interested and therefore had to form a team to spearhead lay pastors ministry in this region.
Mid 2001, God opened many doors for ministry through Lay Pastors Ministry/LPM. In June the same year, we had our first Lay Pastors Ministry conference which was attended by over 200 Church leaders and it was sponsored by Dr. Melvin.
After our conference, together with my team, we decided to form a para church organization. In 2005, Lay Pastors Ministry/LPM was officially registered by Kenya government as a religious organization with a mission to train and equip Church leaders in Kenya. To date, we have equipped thousands of Church leaders from every part of Kenya. We have effectively done this through Church training, seminars and conferences.
Throughout all our conferences and seminars, we have received hundreds of requests from Church leaders to make one more step and start a learning institution where Church leaders could enroll to advance their theological studies. For many years, there was nothing we could do but pray about the need.
In Kenya, there is serious need for theological education, unfortunately, we have very few universities doing theological studies. In this area, there’s none apart from Lay Pastors Ministry/LPM theological seminary which has been launched to fill that gap.
In 2012, While doing my Degree in theological studies, God put into my heart a great burden to complete my Degree and start a school through Lay Pastors Ministry/LPM where Church leaders can advance their studies in ministry. Towards the end of my theological studies at Daystar university, I shared that Holy burden with Dr. Melvin, he told me ” John, that’s a great burden that God has put into your heart, but let’s pray about it”
Unfortunately, shortly after my graduation, Dr. Melvin went to be with the Lord.
I then shared the vision with Rev. Byeong, who’s the national Director of LPM Korea. We prayed about the vision and in June 2017, we took a step of faith and started LPM theological seminary with only 7 students.
Today, with a steady growth, we have more than 150 students. Because of the serious need for theological education in this region, we have hundreds of applicants from Church leaders who have a great desire to advance their theological studies in our seminary, unfortunately, the few facilities we have can not accommodate a big number of students.
It’s our sincere prayer that God would open away to build more classrooms, hall, hostels etc so that we can admit more students.
Lay Pastors Ministry/LPM theological seminary is fully registered accredited by the Kenya government through the ministry of education.
When we started the school in 2017, we wanted it to be theological education university, but the government advised us to start as a college then after two or three years, we can advance to university.
Today, plans are underway to transition from seminary to university in three to five years time. We know that this is not a very easy path we have taken, it’s long and tedious therefore we need your prayers for us to succeed.
As the Holy Bible puts it:
Matthew 19:26 English Standard Version (ESV)
“But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Brethren, all we are asking you is to join us in prayer. Through prayer, we are going to succeed.
The need to transition from Seminary to University (2021)
The future of the African Church looks bright with its tremendous numerical growth, but careful assessment shows that it is failing to match numerical growth with the development of its personnel. African Church is in crisis due to the lack of enough qualified pastors and church leaders to lead it. If the Church in Africa is thinking about its future it must think of the theological education through which its leaders are equipped.
The African Church currently has a feeble theological education system, characterized by unviable theological institutions, irrelevant curricula, low enrollment, and unqualified theological tutors among other challenges. For the African Church to take the right path as it moves to the future, it must revitalize its theological education system so as to prepare a sufficient number of well-equipped church leaders to match the rapidly changing African society.
Africa desperately needs thousands of faithful shepherds who will rightly handle God’s Word, boldly teach it, lead healthy churches, and disciple new leaders. Apart from trained, godly leaders, the most prevalent theological threats facing Sub-Saharan Africa will continue to spread.
Threats to the Church in Africa and the need to shift from seminary to university
Three theological threats present a looming challenge for African churches. While much more can be said about each, here’s the short version:
- The prosperity gospel This is one of the most toxic movements threatening the church in Africa. Africans want to have better lives just like anyone. And they easily believe false teachers who have twisted the Bible into a message about living the good life here and now.
- Syncretism Many Africans mix traditional beliefs such as animism and spiritism with Christianity. One might readily profess faith in Christ but also continue living in fear of evil spirits. Church members in the pews are often seen wearing traditional charms and bracelets they have received from witch doctors for protection.
- Unqualified pastors This is, perhaps, the most serious threat. Many congregations are led by people who have never even opened the Bible, let alone evidenced a life of true Christian faith. When shepherds are incompetent or unqualified, flocks are defenseless against false teaching and syncretism
To address these threats, LPM Theological Seminary is working to provide a solid theological education to as many Church leaders as we can. We train them to love the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. And we send them out to train others to do the same.
For us to train and equip Church leaders holistically, God gave us a Holy burden to shift LPM Theological seminary to a full-fledged and a state of the art theological university in Africa.♥
Vision/Mission & Philosophy of Melvin University
Vision Statement
Melvin University aims to be a distinguished, Christ centered African institution of higher learning for the transformation of the church.
Mission Statement
Melvin University seeks to develop church leaders and professionals to be effective christian servant leaders through the incorporation of Christian faith and holistic learning for the transformation of the church in Africa and beyond. Melvin University offers theological and Christian education for excellence in servant leadership. These are the core values: Servant leadership. Christian values. Excellence. Education!
Philosophy of University
In order to achieve our mission, Melvin University is committed itself to the transformational paradigm of “Knowing…Being…Doing…” as the basis of both our professional and ministerial degree programs.
All of our courses impart a body of knowledge (knowing) of the Lay Pastors Ministry/PACE that enhances our students’ understanding, insight, and perspective on the important issues of the Christian faith.
We are convinced, however, that education must push beyond the informational to the formational (being) by the Lay Pastors Ministry/PACE and result in an inner transformation, where all members of the learning community are conformed to Christ’s image.
This paradigm of education includes advanced vocational competencies (doing) for the Lay Pastors Ministry/PACE so that graduates from our degree programs are equipped for what will be required of them as they move from graduation to their chosen ministry vocation.
June 1, 2020
