Karibu. Friends Theological College welcomes you to our college blog. Through it we hope to enrich relationships among Friends and with others and to build a community of shared theological interests and loving mutual concern. We hope to hear from you.
Originally founded as Friends Bible Institute in 1942 at Lugulu, Kenya, the college moved to Kaimosi in the early 1950s. Later renamed Friends Theological College, the college now serves Quakers and the wider Christian church in Kenya and the rest of East Africa. Current students come from Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Ethiopia. FTC trains pastors, evangelists, educators, school chaplains and social justice workers. FTC is a ministry of Friends United Meeting and is affiliated with St Paul’s, Limuru, Kenya and the Accrediting Council for Theological Education in Africa. More information about Friends Theological College is available on our website http://ftc.quaker.org.
Before turning to the reflections of student Oscar Lugusa on Friends Theological College as a place of transformation, let me offer thanks to recent donors to the college and to my own ministry needs. Many thanks to these generous Friends and friends for their prayers and support.
May you each be richly blessed by the pouring of God’s love into your heart.
Ann Riggs, Principal
FRIENDS THEOLOGICAL COLLLEGE-CENTRE OF TRANSFORMATION
Transformation is a process. From the word itself we learn it is a transition to formation. To me this means change. You can not know the will of God if you conform to the standards of this world and there is no complete change of your mind. This is why transformation is a process and it is at Friends Theological College that in us this process is fulfilled.
In the Gospel of John Jesus’ prayer for his disciples is written “Just as I do not belong to the world, they do not belong to the world” (Jn17:16 RSV). It is indeed a paradox how you can be not of the world and yet you are in the world. Maybe not conforming to the standards of this world and complete change of mind is what Jesus meant. You are enabled to know the will of God for your life by not conforming to the standards of this world and by having complete change of mind. At Friends Theological College, you realize the will of God for you, are taught not to conform to the standards of this world, and in the process of learning, the mind is changed completely.
The will of God is to prepare a people who are transformed to be able to reveal to humanity His image through Jesus Christ. The Sermon on the Mount (Matt: 5-7) it is very clear on the teachings Jesus gives. They challenge the standards of the world. Here it is clear what it means not to conform to the standards of this world: Living as Christ lived, that is believing in the historical Jesus, and also trusting in the risen Lord, leads one to reveal to humanity the image of God. At Friends Theological College one is prepared to reveal to humanity the image of God through Jesus Christ, for example suffering with those who suffer, like visiting and praying with the sick. A clear role model here is our dear principal Ann Riggs. Her concern for the needy is clearly seen in the projects and new programs she is initiating. For instance, the eco-friendly fuel from briquettes is affordable to the common person, chaplaincy program to extend an arm in the prison ministry and others.
A butterfly is normally a very beautiful insect. Looking at it closely you cannot easily realize the process it undergoes—metamorphosis—to attain its beauty and even fly. The most interesting part is when the larva is coming out of the cocoon; this is actually the stage that enables the process of flying to take place. Here at Friends Theological College, at certain point we come out of our cocoons that divide us. That is, despite our diversities in tribes, race, cultures, and even different faith and practices, we become one community. This can impact on the individual because your worldview is transformed. You come out so beautiful as a butterfly and ready to fly to further heights.
Transformation is needed all over the world. Indeed this is a continual process that goes on here at Friends Theological College. The presentation of students from different parts of the country and Africa at large and the many graduates who have gone out to the world is a clear sign that actually this is a transforming centre because the world will never remain the same. In fact through the impact caused, the world is left a better place than it was found.
Personally, I have experienced this transformation. I’m computer literate; I am able to write and type articles, work as a librarian and teach. This is what I was not when I joined here. This is transformation. Indeed, here is the potter’s house; the potter himself who is God moulds different vessels to be used for various purposes; through transformation this is made possible.
I beseech everyone in every place who is participating in transforming the world to continue supporting and praying for the success of this college. We really need you even as the college transitions to be accredited by the Accrediting Council for Theological Education in Africa.
For those of you who went through Friends Theological College, one of the pressing needs is for the college’s income to be 50% African. So all African friends of FTC out there all over the world, the ball is in your court. Invest in this beautiful centre of transformation.
God bless you all.
OSCAR LUGUSA MALANDE
I have volunteered as a pastor for the last eight years in Vihiga Yearly Meeting of Friends, Kenya. Currently I’m continuing with my studies in the Bachelor of Theology here at Friends Theological College. I study as I continue with my pastoral work.
I’m married to Zipporah Adema and we are blessed with two children; a girl, Axtell Imali, and a boy, Samuel Malande. We do some farming in our little shamba to sustain ourselves. We plant bananas, maize, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, sugarcane and we also keep poultry. This is for domestic use and sometimes for sale to buy things we use in the house. I’m very glad that currently our college has given us a small loan to enable us to do more poultry farming. This will help me in raising my college fees.
Although it is not very easy, I aspire to fly to further heights in my academics. This is why I chose this beautiful centre of transformation. It is an avenue for greater pursuits.
