June 2023 AIU Newsletter
June 2023 Newsletter
Training Africa’s Next Generation of Spiritual Leaders
Our Maiden Master’s Graduating Class Is Here!
We praise God for faithfully guiding the first-ever graduating class of six residential students through the Master of Arts in Biblical Studies Program at AIU! On July 9, in the presence of family, friends, and loved ones, they will proceed to the podium to collect their hard-earned awards. Our mandate at AIU is to equip Africa’s next generation of spiritual leaders, and this is a truly praiseworthy milestone. Please pray with us that as these graduates advance in their knowledge of God’s Word, they will seek every opportunity to use it to point others to Jesus.
Three of these graduates currently serve in various capacities at AIU. To our delight, they will continue with us as teachers. The other three graduates lead various ministries outside of AIU. Expressing their thoughts on this program, some of the graduates responded as follows:
“As a full-time pastor with a family, this program has strengthened me in areas of biblical family life and as a preacher, two areas of life I am most passionate about. As a part time Theology Lecturer, I now feel much better equipped. I am so thankful for Dr. Clifton F. Morris, our professors, and the AIU-Gospelink team who designed and continued the program through the Covid-19 challenge, bringing it to its completion.” – Lubinda Kapuyi – Pastor – Igreja Ministério Tocando O Mundo Com O Evangelho (MITOMUE) – Maputo
“I am so grateful to be here today, celebrating my upcoming graduation with all of you. I could not have achieved this without the support and encouragement of my friends, sponsors, and family who have been with me through the highs and lows of my academic journey, and whose kindness and generosity exceed words. To Dr. Cliff and the friends of Zambia, thank you for making this experience fun and memorable. You have taught me so much about life, friendship, and teamwork.” – George Mukoboto – Dean of Theology – AIU.
“I am grateful to participate in the M.A.B.S program at AIU. While God made this possible, I want to express my gratitude to Dr. Clifton Morris, the First Baptist Church of Dublin Georgia, and all those who have sponsored me. I am forever indebted to you. Through this my understanding of God’s Word is much deeper, empowering me to effectively share it with others. I look forward to seeing what God does in the future.” – Jairos Banda – Distance Learning Supervisor – AIU.
We are Thankful
to Dr. Clifton Morris, the director of this program, and to the First Baptist Church of Dublin, Georgia, for making this program a success.
Please pray with us for God’s provision in the lives of these graduates and in the ministry of Ambassador International University!
HOSPITAL MINISTRY
The Outreach Ministry at AIU Continues to Grow!
The Outreach Department at AIU continues to grow thanks to the efforts of our staff and students, resulting in new ministry opportunities - including hospital outreach. Many hospitals in Zambia have opened their doors for AIU students and staff to visit patients and share the gospel. Last month our 2023 Senior class visited the Levy Mwanawasa Hospital and the University Teaching Hospital (UTH), the two largest hospitals in Zambia, both located in the capital city of Lusaka. At Levy Mwanawasa General Hospital, these 23 students shared the gospel with 111 patients, offering a message of comfort and hope in a time of pain and confinement. There was a genuine thirst for God’s Word and the students distributed thirty-seven Bibles. This outreach was a blessing to the patients and an opportunity for the students to gain practical ministry experience prior to graduating in October and setting out to fulfill their individual ministry callings.
Later that same day, the students visited the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) where they visited a mortuary. Standing among lifeless bodies in a cold room was a humbling experience, heightening the students’ sense of urgency to share the gospel among the living - in and out of season. In the words of one student:
“This Ministry is vital to me and any AIU student because it exposes practical life realities requiring urgent responses from ministers of the gospel. It reveals how in the frailty of life, people are helpless and in need of the gospel, especially while in a hospital setting and uncertain of their relationship with Jesus. I saw a great response from those that we spoke to; helpless and in pain they allowed us to speak to them. Several people were impacted and asked for a Bible to read on their own. I realized how God can touch lives through what we share. I am convinced in my heart that God used this time to teach me to be grateful and use my gift to speak truth to others. The mortuary experience reminded me of how death comes in a blink of an eye, and without Jesus all hope is lost. It boosted me to be more intentional about God’s work, as death is unpredictable”- Allen Lubumba, Senior class of 2023
In addition to the patients, the management in these two hospitals sensed great joy in the Lord’s work conducted by our students. We are grateful when God opens such doors for ministry opportunities. Continue praying for our students as they minister in other settings like this, that God would increase their desire to share His truth.
ANOTHER LOGOS CLASS COMMENCES
We praise the Lord for His provision as the 20 students of our 2023 Junior class students were each given the Logos Bible Software, a generous gift from Mr. William Fiess! This software is an extremely useful resource as it contains various study Bibles, commentaries, theological books, and many articles. It will be a tremendous study aid to our students academically, as well as for their personal spiritual enrichment. To bring them up to speed on this extensive software, Mr. Fiess led via Zoom the first 1.5-hour session of a ten-week Logos Bible software orientation last month. By the end of the ten weeks, students are expected to be 70-90 percent proficient in their use of the software. We are truly grateful for Mr. Fiess’ dedication and commitment to equipping our students in such a practical and lasting manner. The students are clearly excited about this too. In the words of one:
“I am thankful and humbled for this wonderful gift from God through the generosity of William Fiess who has also made himself available to orient us on the Logos Bible. This is a rare gift that I will benefit me and my pastoral ministry throughout my life.” - Samuel Kangusu, Junior class of 2023
The Logos Bible Software is indeed a gift that helps our students in their desire and zeal to study God’s Word as they share it with others. It also helps AIU meet the demands of Zambia’s Higher Education Authority (HEA). Pray with us for God’s continued provision for Mr. William Fiess and that this gift encourages our students to continue serving the Lord faithfully.
STAFF SPOTLIGHT!
GODFREY MWALE
Dean of Students
Godfrey graduated from AIU in 2014, after which he joined our staff. Between then and 2021, he served in various roles including as our Facilities Manager and as Campus Operations Manager. Godfrey now serves as the Dean of Students where he is a vital link between the student body and the AIU administration. His daily routines involve managing student welfare, ensuring they understand school policies, and coordinating extracurricular student activities. He also disciples students in their individual walks with the Lord. The staff and students at AIU are so grateful for his dedication and his servant’s heart. Here is what Godfrey had to say about his job:
“While this is not an easy job, it is made possible with God’s help. The work is very exciting, and I am looking forward to more opportunities to serve in this manner.”
Godfrey has been married to his dear wife, Precious, since 2017. God has blessed them with three children, Uriah, Seth, and Samantha. Godfrey describes his wife as “a very humble, loving, supportive, and God-fearing partner”. Working at AIU has been a blessing to Godfrey. It allows him to serve others and build strong relationships while also helping him grow in his family life and teaching him to be a good steward of everything entrusted to him by the Lord.
This is a special year for Godfrey as he prepares to graduate in July as part of AIU’s first Master’s class followed by ordination in September. After graduation, Godfrey is scheduled to teach Pentateuch, Old Testament Survey, Principles for Discipling Others, and New Testament Survey. Upon his ordination, Godfrey will also become the Resident Senior Pastor for Calvary Baptist Church, located about 5.5 kilometers from the AIU campus.
Godfrey is grateful to Gospelink and AIU for the privilege of serving here. His prayer is that God would give him wisdom, maturity, and patience in this ministry. Please pray for Godfrey and Precious for the Lord’s grace and guidance in their marriage and service at AIU.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT!
LEONARD BANDA
Sophomore
Leonard Banda is currently a sophomore at AIU. He came to us from Petauke, a town in eastern Zambia. The fourth born with two brothers and two sisters, he was raised by his grandmother, a godly woman and devoted Christian. Leonard vividly remembers when as a child before his salvation, his grandmother taught him desirable morals. He recalls her praying for him regularly, inviting him to attend church with her, and sharing Bible stories with him almost daily.
At the age of fifteen, he first responded to his grandmother’s sharing of the gospel with him. Believing in the saving mercies of Jesus Christ at that moment, Leonard found peace in God’s grace. Upon his conversion, Leonard devoted himself to knowing God more. This included participating in programs to help him in his spiritual walk. He was challenged early on in how to properly understand the Scriptures and apply them in his life. As he matured, a desire grew in his heart to become a preacher of God’s Word, leading him to seek out a Bible school. In 2021, by God’s grace, Leonard was introduced to AIU by a former student and he enrolled in 2022. In Leonard’s own words:
“It is a blessing to be here at AIU. The people on campus are so helpful, encouraging, and welcoming. At AIU I have been able to continue growing in my walk with the Lord. Before coming here, I understood very little about how to properly understand and interpret the Word of God, but the courses I have learned have greatly helped me.”
Leonard’s desire is to be a faithful servant of the Lord. Please pray with him that he would finish his studies well and that God would open ministry doors for him to serve upon his graduation from AIU. With a passion to teach God’s Word, Leonard hopes to apply his current training to serve at his local church alongside his pastor while also continuing to grow deeper in theological studies.