Doctoral Graduation

CBM/Carey Theological College Africa Doctoral Program

March 16, 2016 Commencement Service

Brackenhurst, Limuru, Kenya

In March, we celebrated the graduation of the Carey Theological College doctor of ministry program.  The graduation was held on the beautiful grounds of the Brackenhurst Conference Centre in Limuru, Kenya, with students and guests coming from South Sudan, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya and Canada.

Leadership development and education has been a priority for Canadian Baptist Ministries in Africa since we began partnership in Angola in 1957. We are thrilled that so many of our African partner churches have benefitted from this program.

 Rev. Dr. Brian Stelck addressing the doctoral graduates

A driving force behind the Carey certificate, Bachelors, Master, and Doctoral degree programs in Africa has been Rev. Dr. Brian Stelck, who has championed the partnership between Carey, CBM, and our African partner churches. We are deeply thankful to Brian and Caryn for their commitment to the development of leadership among our partner churches.

 Aaron receiving his doctoral degree from Terry Smith

Over the past six years, Aaron has been study with sixteen other denominational leaders from across Africa and India in this program. For his final doctoral research project, he reviewed documentary sources and interviewed forty people involved in Canadian Baptist Ministries four decades of ministry in Garissa among Muslim communities. His final project shares this story and identifies lessons for fruitful ministry.

Carey Theological College President, Rev. Dr. Colin Godwin hooding Aaron

Aaron greeting Carey Alumni, Dr. Julius Karanja Kimani

 Rev. Dr. Terry Smith, Executive Director of Canadian Baptist Ministries

sharing an exhortation for the graduates

In 1957, Canadian Baptist Ministries began partnering with the Evangelical Church in Angola. From those early days, our partnerships have grown across Africa into many different countries with multiple indigenous African church families and NGOs. Several years ago, leaders from CBM and church partners from Angola, Rwanda and Kenya met together in Mombasa, Kenya, to explore a new approach to joint mission. One of the outcomes of that meeting was an invitation to build the capacity of the senior leaders of our partners and enable them to achieve the highest academic qualifications. New partners in South Sudan and Democratic Republic of the Congo joined. CBM reached out to Carey Theological College to deliver a joint Carey / CBM Education programme with a Masters and a Doctoral cohort.

 We congratulate the graduates who have successfully completed the programme and look forward to the leadership you will offer to God and his mission in the World.Sola Dei Gloria 

Rev. Dr. Terry Smith, Executive Director of Canadian Baptist Ministries

 Tristan the official photographer of the graduation

 Celebrating with some of our Kenyan colleagues

 Andai and Aaron

Colin and Aaron 

In 1987, Dr. Paul Stevens from Vancouver, Canada volunteered to give four weeks of teaching in Kenya. At that time, Caryn & Brian Stelck (future President of Carey) were CBM Missionaries in Kenya and during a long trip to Lake Victoria with several African leaders a format was discussed that became the Certificate in Ministry, a joint project of Carey, Canadian Baptist Ministries and CBM's African partners. Through this partnership, Carey has graduated more than 500 leaders from CBM’s African Partners:  Certificate in Ministry (176), Bachelor of Ministry (92), Master of Arts (43), and Doctor of Ministry(8). In addition, there were 198 graduates of the Christian Teacher Education & Counselling program and one award of an honorary Doctor of Divinity. Finally, community development personnel from both CBM and its African partners were trained through the Diploma in Integral Mission. Each of these initiatives, stretching out over almost thirty years, was made possible by many gifts of time, study, service and funds from both Africa and Canada and by a Christian fellowship that has been deeper and stronger than the challenges brought by language, culture, country and tribe.

We rejoice in this true Christian partnership and we give thanks to God for the graduating class in the Doctor of Ministry programme.

Bwana safiwe!

Rev. Dr. Colin Godwin, President of Carey Theological College

 Aaron with his parents, Cecil and Marie Kenny

visiting from Prince Edward Island

Our family is so proud of Aaron!