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A native of Londiani, Kenya, Peter already has years of experience as a missionary to the Sudanese people, who have suffered much as the result of a long-running civil war. But Peter had to leave the country when the war erupted again in 1978. He has not been back since.

Peter, who is 57 years old, first became aware of the Sudanese situation in the 1970’s while he was a student at Scott Theological College in Machakos, Kenya. A chapel speaker, Rev. Abednigo Vuni from the African Inland Church, challenged the students to help rebuild Sudan, which had been decimated by the war. Peter says that he felt like Nehemiah, who was called by God to help rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

In 1976 Peter took his first trip - a short one - into the neighboring country to survey damage. This strengthened his desire to stay in the country long-term. He returned to Kenya and shared his ministry desire with then-fiancée Anne. In 1978 the couple, now married, began missionary work in Sudan. Said Peter, “I was a ‘jack of all trades’ - evangelist, preacher, and teacher.” However, in 1981 war returned to Sudan, and Peter and Anne had to leave the country and people they had grown to love.

The Kanyis returned to Kenya, where they began missionary work with the Nandi tribe. Peter calls it a “working furlough” from Sudan. Though this work, Peter became acquainted with a couple who had known at Dallas Christian College. The words of Ecclesiastes 10:10 convicted Peter that he needed to pursue education: “If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill will bring success.” Peter and Anne decided to take their family, consisting of three sons, to the United States to study.

While at Dallas, Peter got to know Dr. Cara Snyder, a DCC faculty member who is also a Trustee of Emmanuel School of Religion. She and other DCC students, faculty, and alumni steered Peter toward Emmanuel to continue his education.

Peter has now been a student at Emmanuel for four years. He expects to graduate in May with the Master of Arts in Religion. His thesis research is about the African Inland Mission and the struggles missionaries have had propagating Christianity in Africa. He also focuses on the response of the Kikuyu people - his own people - to the Gospel.

Peter says that what he has learned at Emmanuel has helped him to interact with people of other faiths and to respect their religious backgrounds without compromising his own faith. “When dealing with refugees you encounter all kinds of beliefs. I have learned to integrate among denominations,” he said. “Refugees are all kinds of denominations. I try to work out how to witness for Christ regardless of someone’s background.”

Peter wants to return to the Sudan someday to continue his ministry to the people there. But the ongoing civil war may prevent that. “I still have a heart for missions,” said Peter. “I would like to be one who challenges young people to go to the mission field. I would like to teach, maybe in a mission school.”

Peter says that Acts 26:16-18 really speaks to him. “God gave me a challenge to go. It has been my challenge all through my life. Mine is to be a testimony of the Lord before people. I have the Sudanese people at heart.”

It is always a special occasion in our daily Chapel services to hear from one of our Emmanuel missionaries. Kip and Katy Lines, who both received degrees in 1998, recently completed their first term of service in Kenya.

If we had not known Kip, we might have been uneasy when he announced the title of his message: “Ten Things I Did Not Learn in Seminary About Being a Missionary.” With refreshing insight and humility he told us of valuable lessons he had to learn from the actual experience of working in another culture, lessons which by and large could only be learned from experience. “Yes,” a teacher may have thought, “but we talked about that in class.” And yet we readily recognize that there is a big difference between talking about something in class and then facing a difficulty, the force of which we never imagined.

The other reality is that no educational process can anticipate every challenge the graduate is likely to experience. For example, what physician will say that he or she learned everything needed for the practice of medicine in medical school? The same thing can be said of all professions. Physicians, teachers and engineers will find themselves confronting challenges that were never mentioned in their formal education. What makes them capable is that they received an education that enables them to solve novel problems. Furthermore, their formal education impresses on them the necessity of being life-long students. After all, we do not want to be treated by a physician who has not learned anything new since medical school.

Emmanuel accepts as its responsibility to give its students the tools of learning in biblical studies, Christian doctrine, church history and ministerial practice. The faculty is constantly examining the curriculum so that courses address the concerns of the church in contemporary culture, but without losing that which is basic to preparation for ministry. It is always easy to think of one more course to add to the curriculum. But the Master of Divinity requires 90 semester hours above the bachelor’s degree. And it is the exception when students can finish those 90 semester hours in just three years!

There are many wonderful developments in the life of the church. And great emphasis is being placed on leadership and methods seminars. Those who have been schooled in the basics of ministerial preparation will be able to take advantage of these continuing education seminars without losing sight of what is fundamental to the faith and their calling in ministry.

Thank you, Kip, for reminding us of just how much of our preparation for ministry takes place once we have been immersed in ministry.