NTC delegation to leave for Zimbabwe:Health Clinic dedication July 16

BY DR. JOAN G. LABARR
Editor

Thirty clergy and laity will represent the North Texas Conference for the July 16 dedication of the new health clinic at Africa University (AU) in Old Mutare, Zimbabwe. North Texas United Methodists raised $500,000 to build the clinic and an additional $500,000 for health science scholarships through the Bishop’s Initiative
for Africa University.

The dedication will be a time of celebration for both the conference and the university as the newly completed health clinic is launched to meet the health care needs of the 15-year old United Methodist institution that draws students from 22 countries across the African continent. Since opening in 1994 with some 40 students, AU now boasts an enrollment of more than 1300. In 2008, 272 students graduated with undergraduate and 81 with master’s degrees.

AU is planning to create a plaque recognizing the NTC’s gift to hang permanently in the health clinic. The plaque will also honor Bishop Alfred L. Norris and his wife, Dr. Mackie Norris, for their leadership in the Bishop’s Initiative and the late NTC Bishop Rhymes H. Moncure, Jr. and his wife, Jewell Moncure, for their support of the university. Bishop and Dr. Norris and Mrs. Moncure will be part of the delegation going to Zimbabwe for the dedication.

Other delegation leaders will include Bishop W. Earl Bledsoe and representatives of the Bishop’s Committee for Africa University, including co-chairs Lisa Tichenor, Highland Park UMC, Dallas, and Rev. Tyrone Gordon, St. Luke “Community” UMC, Dallas.

On June 8 Bishop Bledsoe and the co-chairs presented the $500,000 check for scholarships at the 2009 North Texas Annual Conference. Dr. Jim Salley, Associate Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement, received the check on behalf of AU.

The conference also celebrated achieving a 100 percent payout on the AU apportionment. The apportionment remains the primary financial support for the institution, which also benefits from World Service Special Gifts and a permanent endowment fund. The money raised for health science scholarships will become part of the permanent endowment.

Dr. Salley said that the new health clinic will be the number one health care facility of its kind in Zimbabwe. He also noted it will be the latest of 32 buildings completed on the AU campus, with four other buildings presently under construction. In the spirit of the Connection, Dr. Salley said that the German UM Conference has been so impressed with the NTC financial support in building the health clinic facility that the conference has pledged to secure the latest and best equipment for it. “This happened because of you…because you decided to be the church,” Dr. Salley said.

Dr. Salley commended Bishop Bledsoe for continuing the leadership that Bishop and Dr. Norris began during his 2006-2008 tenure as the NTC bishop, filling the unexpired term of Bishop Moncure. The Bishop’s Initiative for Africa University was launched in late 2007 at Bishop Norris’ suggestion.

Many members of the committee Bishop Norris assembled to lead the initiative had been on a mission trip to AU in 2007. The committee developed a plan to involve individual members in an effort to raise $1 million to build the badly-needed health clinic and fund health science scholarships.

A centerpiece of the campaign was a Lenten study guide with AU-related devotionals written by members of St. Luke “Community,” committee members and others. The idea was for the conference to be in prayer and join a shared mission to support the Initiative. The devotional booklet included a study guide and reflection suggestions, as well as a chart to keep track of contributions to AU. Each NTC church received a proportional quantity of devotional guides equal to one and one half its average worship attendance. Sections of the book were also available on the conference website.

The NTC itineration of the Africa University choir in the spring of 2008 was a key component in the successful campaign.

Through the Lenten campaign and other contributions, the $500,000 to start construction on the health clinic was collected prior to the 2008 annual conference. Students and others at AU joined in the time of prayer and reflection through the website postings.

NTC Laity are continuing the pattern of prayer as Districts take responsibility for praying for the delegation each day of the trip.

AU is the first private, fully accredited, degree-granting UMrelated institution on the African continent as established and approved by General Conference in 1088. The majority of faculty and administrative staff are Africans. Professors and policy makers include permanent and visiting educators from the United States, Europe and around the world. English is the official language of the university and the country of Zimbabwe.

For additional information, please e-mail Dr. Salley: audevoffice@gbhem.org, or log on to website: www.africau.edu or www.support-africauniversity.org.