Changing the Face and the Future of the African Continent One Student at a Time With Rev. Professor Peter Mageto Vice Chancellor of Africa University (Part 1)

Rev. Dr. Brad Miller: 00:00:00

Hello good people and welcome to to the in couraged the podcast with Bishop Julius C treble, where we offer an encouraging word to an often discouraged world. our very special guest and today's episode is Reverend Professor Peter Magneto. He is the fifth Vice Chancellor of African University. He has a bachelor's degree bachelor's degree in divinity from St. Paul's United Theological College in Kenya, and a Master of theological studies and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary, which is also aware in Illinois, which is also where a bishop of trouble and I got our master's degrees that presser to get to has a wealth of experience over 25 years in church ministry, and in the university setting, and he believes in cultivates collaboration networks and partnerships as pillars for societal transformation. And he has an expertise in ethics, and calls for a pursuit of justice, and equality. Bishop, would you help us to welcome Reverend Dr. Peter Bagatelle to our podcast? Yes. Praise be to God. Hallelujah. Amen. It is a it's a great thing to have my friend and the Vice Chancellor of African University, the Reverend Dr. Peter magotteaux. On our podcast today. He is a global leader. And he's certainly a powerful, inspiring speaker and academic mission. But he's also a United Methodist, and this is the Be encouraged podcast, we reached out to people, you don't have to be Methodist to listen or be blessed to be encouraged for sure. But we we are not apologetic about our commitment to education and advancing the cause of justice for all of humanity. So welcome, Reverend Dr. Peter Magneto. Thank you, Bishop Trimble. And thank you Dr. Mira. Dina, it is an incredible pleasure privileged to have you with us joining us today from Zimbabwe, which is where Africa University is located. We'll say more about the details of that for a second. But I'd like to hear from you, Professor to get to live it about you personally. First of all, we'd just like to hear a little bit about how you came to know Jesus Christ in the first place. Your walk of faith and how that eventually led you to become a device chancellor of Africa University.

Rev. Professor Peter Mageto: 00:02:43

Thank you very much. It's a pleasure. To all of you who are listening and greetings from Africa University in Zimbabwe. It is literally an afternoon here. Well, this morning, it is 2:45pm. It is a joy to share with you my faith Ginepri free. I was born in a family that was not aware of Christian faith. My father and my mother were not Christians at all. So they were indigenous believers. But they became a Christian in high school. In the year, were in high school, my form to a true Campus Crusade team that there was visiting the school for a whole almost week of preaching and revival. And that's how I gave my life to the Lord. The general faith started in that local place. In interestingly, there was not the United Methodist congregation there. But there was a Lutheran congregation. So briefly, I was a Lutheran, you know, as a young person, and, and later on, then I joined the Methodist.

Rev. Professor Peter Mageto: 00:03:56

This it is very interesting to look back. I recently spoke and I was making a reference to my call to ministry, which occurred in the context of a call to young people. I as a young person, I had this call that the Lord was saying I needed to take the gospel to the young people. Then I didn't know that the young people will become later on. Be in the university setting. I thought it was a congregation work with the youth work with Sunday School honor to come and find myself in these but my journey in the academy has been of great interest as an ordained elder. I have served the congregations in Kenya. By then after Garrett and Jericho theological seminary training. I returned back to Kenya to join the Academy. And that's how then I transitioned from a congregational care to a combat care. And in the academy, I did then run through the departments that colleges is and I became also the Vice President for responsible for academics were in Kenya, and received at some time as the President or Vice Chancellor in a university in Zimbabwe University of Kigali, from which the former late Vice Chancellor of my university recruited me as his Deputy Vice Chancellor from from Rwanda. So, and that's how I found myself in the year 2018. Yet, Africa University, I came to serve as the Deputy Vice Chancellor, I'm glad for the opportunity, we didn't see it coming. And in the middle of COVID-19, I lost my friend, and my mentor, Professor Fusa, who had recruited me to Zimbabwe, in fact, is good to mention that it was Africa University that brought me to Zimbabwe for the first time I had not been to Zimbabwe, I came to Zimbabwe first time to go to an interview here at Africa University. And then I didn't have a clue that I will becoming the becoming the vice chancellor. These are called the things of God. And we have as recent periphery to my my faith journey, you need to be encouraged. I was born in a village, I didn't didn't know that there will be a global village, you know that the word that God has now provided to me, and this is a joy. And when I saw the invitation, through this podcast, and whose theme was to be encouraged, I was generally personally encouraged and I said, I will be glad to be part of those who would encourage others. Thank you.

Bishop Julius Trimble: 00:06:33

That's great that yeah, that's That's great. VC. The three of us that it seems like the world is getting smaller and smaller. But we're there we're actually, we are actually one village. And this is something I preach all the time, that we really are one village. And the three of us actually have connections, other connections. And I want you to speak a little bit about you have an Indiana connection, that also the the producer of this podcast, Reverend Dr. Brad Miller has as well. Can you say something about I think you spent some time in Evansville? Oh, I

Rev. Professor Peter Mageto: 00:07:16

did. Vishal Bandra, and this is very interesting to be very sincere with you. I came. I and my wife and our son, we came to Gary by Jericho Theological Seminary. I came as a student and my family accompanied me then. And the interesting piece is that after my years of coursework of PhD, I was looking for a conference where I could be taken aid as a missionary in residence or a student pastor. As I was writing my dissertation, and I will tell you the truth, I tried Michigan, I tried Northern Illinois, and both of them turned me down. And then there was this lady from Aldersgate. United Methodist Church in Indiana, Reverend Elaine Leigh Renee, who was coming on behalf of the conference to meet some students at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary. I said, since someone is coming, let me put my name down in case they allow me I would like to see them and speak to them about my desire. I am not from that conference, but I put my name down. I will never forget it was a very rainy day. But he turned up and of the students that he saw from Indiana, I was not from Indiana. She gave me a chance to meet with that. And I expressed my interest and I will never forget what she said. She said I can't promise but I will want to talk to my district superintendent. And I will talk also to the bishop. I don't know what will come I can't promise you anything. But you know, it's good. We have met I will tell you the truth. Tomorrow will be almost 20 years of the work we have been doing through Aldersgate United Methodist I got appointed as a student, a missionary student. I traveled from Chicago from Evanston to Evansville, Indiana to be responsible for Bible study. And during the week between two congregations United Aldersgate UMC at the Methodist temple, but while I was a student interesting relationship, while I was a student at the Garrett, I did encourage my younger brothers and Netta to apply to CTS, you know, I CTS or Michael abusing the Christian Theological Seminary

Rev. Dr. Brad Miller: 00:09:47

that's correct yes. Yeah, I

Rev. Professor Peter Mageto: 00:09:49

didn't anopheles and, and that's how my younger brother ended up in Indiana also. And so it was in Indiana before me and analysis In case of Jim was a cabinet as ideas this this the world has become a small village, you know, and Aldersgate United Methodist congregation is is one congregation we consider as our own congregation even if you were to ask me where my membership is, I will say at all designate United Methodist Church in Evansville?

Rev. Dr. Brad Miller: 00:10:23

Well, Evansville is actually my hometown. I claim it as my hometown and I'm going to read Gretna graduate of University of Evansville and I know Alterus gate church very well. And I know Lynn as well. So yes.

Rev. Professor Peter Mageto: 00:10:35

This is a small world. Read you be talking that my my, my daughter, she's music therapy. Student that your V.

Brad Miller: 00:10:46

Oh, is that right? Well, good for her go. Here's my, my mug, Yvonne, my Oh, my goodness.

Bishop Julius Trimble: 00:10:54

Yeah.

Rev. Professor Peter Mageto: 00:10:57

And the rest of the group. So you it is one family? My wife is an alumni of universal weapons for the nursing program. Yeah.

Rev. Dr. Brad Miller: 00:11:08

How about that? How about that? Or Bishop? What did you want to ask? Professor get to know about what's going on? At Africa University. What's what our focus is here today? Yeah,

Bishop Julius Trimble: 00:11:17

I think there's so much that people maybe don't fully understand. And I think the more we understand, the better we're able to celebrate. And the more we're able to celebrate, the better we are able to share the witness. For example, when we make reference to you share this in the national median of black Methodist Church renewal, this will the population of the continent of Africa. Sometimes we in America, and other places, mistakenly refer to Africa as though Africa is a country when it is a continent of many countries. And Africa University is a Pan African University, some people wouldn't necessarily understand that term. Can you share a little bit about the vast diversity of the continent of Africa, and how this United Methodist related liberal arts private institution is Pan African, which makes it somewhat unique globally?

Rev. Professor Peter Mageto: 00:12:25

Thank you, Bishop for that question. I totally agree with you. Africa is a continent 55 countries. And these countries are divided by what you would be calling almost colonial languages there is there the English speaking countries, the Portuguese speaking countries, the French speaking countries, then Arabic, you know, and in, in Ethiopia, which keeps a bit different. But 55 countries with a population of 1.3 billion people billion with V with a B 1.3. And they still us that 40% of that population are youth. They are young people 40% of that population are young people. Where are these young people? They are either in primary school, in high schools, or they're in universities. This is where this 40% population is. But it will be of interest, especially at the level where we speak now as African University to say home so the 55 countries must be ready then for these 40% population. No, they are not there. 55 countries are still struggling. They are not. Let me give you a clue. The whole continent as a slightly 1250 universities 1250 universities, Africa University is one of those 1000. And the worst part of it is that this is both private and public and instead universities. Now where we are in Zimbabwe, we have only 24 universities as a country. And of the 24. Universities, five private, the rest are state universities. They are government sponsored of the five private Africa University is the first private university in Zimbabwe. In fact, we better put it Clary it is the first Christian private university because there are also other individual universities. So when you think about it, Africa University then provides us with an opportunity to be able to say what is it that we are offering? We are private by We are Christian. And we are not just Christian. We also Pan African Bishop, you're right. The founders of this university had the desire to call their 55, then they were 50 countries to call them together. And Africa University was seen as a clarion call institution, where then African students coming from the 55 countries could gather. As we speak now, we have managed to gather almost 31 countries in the continent of Africa University, that one currently, if you were to come on campus, you will experience around 23 of those countries that go our students are sitting for exams. Why was this necessary? It was necessary because, first with our Christian mandate, go into the world and make disciples. We believe that even in higher education, we are making disciples for the Kingdom. And no one listening shouldn't be encouraged about this. We are not talking about just the credential, rising students providing certificates and degrees. We are also interested with their well holistic well being, their fiscal, their spiritual, and emotional. And this is well understood, because the founding programs in the university was, was focused on holistic wellbeing, the mind, the body, and the soul. And that's why we started with a Bachelor of divinity with a Bachelor of Science in agriculture, and as well as the Bachelor of Education. So we need an education, we needed food, we needed spiritual food. Where are we now, this mandate has not stopped the Pan African spirit, it keeps calling us back. Their spirit calls us back to go to their founding fathers, and say, what else do we need to do? A bishop before you came in, I was talking to Dr. Brown. And I said, it's very interesting what technology can do. And that's where the future of Africa universities line when we are inviting students on campus, we wanted to thank the Board of Directors of Africa University who have continued to invest in technology, so that we are able to see how much we can reach the students in other regions in the continent, who can continue Oh can also learn online, while they find it difficult either to fly to Zimbabwe, because Zimbabwe because of a that the geopolitical issues are because it is really expensive, you know, and yet what they need is the internet and laptop, and they will be ready to go. So this is the kind of the future of education that Africa University is now embracing. So we believe that our business has been declared fish have you made reference to the 30th anniversary, it was a major celebration. And we celebrated that for 30 years, we laid the foundation, as I say, to do remind operation, indeed, if the Lord Jesus Christ, the 3030 year, age and his ministry was beginning then then Africa inverse, this mission has just started. And we are looking into the next day for the for the ticket, and we feel like we are ready to launch on. And of course, with the leadership of Bishop Trimble and this kind of podcast, we are making it known to everyone just to be encouraged that if you are part and parcel of Africa University, then you are transforming the continent noticing that we're not there with your student, that 55 countries are being transformed.

Bishop Julius Trimble: 00:18:48

Great, great. I think the African University website is x is exciting. And I hope you will continue to invest in your website because people all across the globe can find out about African University and see some kind of interactive videos that really highlight the students. It seems like Student Life is very, very important to you, as the Vice Chancellor, and as both as as a theologian and an academic Domitian and ethicist. But, but it seems you really have a good pick this up at the anniversary, how much the students love, love you as a leader, what why students so important in particularly at this time and in the history of the globe.

Rev. Professor Peter Mageto: 00:19:40

I think one of the blessings, Bishop timber that we have is that sometimes we do not get to understand the core mandate of a university. And for that matter, a Christian university. The core business of the university is not just it's not to create revenue It is first and foremost, to center everything around the student. Once you focus on the student and take interest in the student, the student will speak to another student, and the other students will speak to another student. And they will all come together we have decided that Africa University will be known for student centeredness. And what this means is that we believe in what we refer to as shared governance. Anyone at Africa University should be available to our students, whether that student is on campus or online, wherever that student is, we must be available. But more importantly, it is. It is all gone now, for us to imagine that young people have no ideas. Bishop we have discovered that listening to this young people to these students, you discover things that they are interested in. And that's why we take interest to address their needs, not our needs, but their needs. And listening to them you. I will give you an example. Number of these students tell us very clearly Bishop they say no would not want to stay in the military town. Those of you have been in the military, you know that this almost 1314 kilometres away from combat. They say we want to stay on campus, and a bishop we want to retest our appreciation to the Indiana conference they have invested in the past in different Austral buildings and different investments that have come through. But more importantly, they talk about the housing, they want housing on campus. This is very important. Why? Because they know that if you are on campus, even if electricity went off, even if we lost electricity in the city, the university generators will kick on. Therefore they will have power, they know that the internet will not disappear. But the second item is also to listen keenly to their stories. Each of the students as a narrative. Some of them are coming from a refugee camp. Some of them are coming from as from an orphanage, some of them are coming from single parenting homes. Some of them are coming from homes that are traveling with the issues of divorce and separation. Some of them traveled into this country in very difficult circumstances. So when they realize that the administration is listening to them, and we are giving them space to tell their story, they get encouraged. And that's the enthusiasm patient that I've seen among our students. And when you promise them something we try to deliver when we tell them, your results will be released on Friday this date, we want to honor that and release the results. When we say you rather break between now and this or you will run your event between this and they find that we are supporting them. Their response has been very, very great. And that we want to keep that enthusiasm because we believe that word of mouth is more powerful than any word on print. So if they can walk out of the universe and say, Yeah, African versus the university of choice, then we know that we're going to be attracting more students to come

Bishop Julius Trimble: 00:23:20

there. Did I hear you say that you have students coming from the refugee camp and from orphanages.

Rev. Professor Peter Mageto: 00:23:30

Yes, we should. We have we have. For example, I can give an example. We you know, next to the university is what we know as fair, fair, fair for your children, so on. And almost every year we are seeing two or three students coming through some of these children. They do not have original parents. I can give you an example. There is a young girl she graduated last year, July, and she was from Fairfield children's home. And I just took a hint into the university in one of the departments to work for the next six months or so. And she grew up there she was picked from the street. She doesn't know anyone else. She has no Auntie No uncle, no brother. She was born from the street. And Juliet is Anna. She's wonderful. We sit together. She has taken me like our father, you know. And in that show you have it is that Africa University through an app of you who give through scholarships, gave a scholarship and number of the students who come you know, few kilometers away from the University is one of the biggest refugee camp in Zimbabwe. And we have religions from Burundi, from Rwanda from in, you know, in a number of countries I believe Bishop if you when you're on campus, some of these students have stories to tell, you know, but it is very encouraging to see each one of them where they're coming. And can you give one example the latest one is a young man called Christian Christian comes from this refugee camp. And last semester, he walked into my office, he said, I am in second year, but I am wanting to drop because I have no scholarship and I have free balance from last semester. And a Christian said, But Christian, happy seeing you in chapel every Wednesday morning. Every every Sunday morning, you and you is an instrument, an instrumentalist. He plays the Gita very well. And a Christian said, Yeah, I am. But I am struggling. So I listened. And somehow I shared again with our office, President CEO, Jim Sally in Africa, investing Environment Office in Nashville. And there was a blessing that came through this student got a scholarship Christian speaks gives his testimony, a lot about what what happened. And we keep encouraging them to come forward to have the confidence to be able to tell their story, because in telling their story, one has to be encouraged that there are some there must be an angel that is being raised somewhere.

Bishop Julius Trimble: 00:26:23

Professor maganda you can help Bishop tremble, because just as you said, when you say something to students, they expect you to deliver. And when I was last on campus, I said I was going back to raise money for scholarships. We raised now over about 130,000, towards our $300,000 goal, which we intend to meet that goal exceed that goal by the end of this year. But I annual conferences coming up this coming June. So So could you say a word on behalf of Bishop Trimble? Why this effort that I'm my wife and I first lady reseller myself, I really we reached out through our family, our friends, and especially United Methodist and others across the globe, that we want to support this, but can you can you say a word why? Why my my promise is so important. Because when I was last on campus, I told students I was coming back, and we were going to raise more money. So we can hear more stories like you've just shared of students who are becoming leaders across the globe, especially on the continent of Africa.

Rev. Professor Peter Mageto: 00:27:34

You know, Bishop, I just I wanted to get clarity on one item. What What was your target? I can't remember was it

Bishop Julius Trimble: 00:27:42

targeted was $300,000 300,000.

Rev. Professor Peter Mageto: 00:27:45

And how many delegates do you have to the conference?

Bishop Julius Trimble: 00:27:51

Oh, we we added it conference. I don't know. We have 1000 people that did last year they came came to conference. So

Rev. Professor Peter Mageto: 00:27:59

let's say Bishop, let's assume that you are wondering 100 people coming to your conference, only 100 people, you know, and even though there are only 100 delegates coming to the conference, each one of them needs to give you $3,000 under you, you are at 300,000 is collected. You're right. And I just want to give word to the conference visual view of it is true patient and let me put it this way. There is nothing as powerful when I listen to my students on campus as the respect that they have for our religious leaders, whether it is Bishop Trimble, or whether it is Reverend Professor Magneto. These young people believe that there is a mission that we have been given by God to transform their lives. While they respected their lectures, there's something different about us that reaches leaders and they hold us so close to the righteousness of God. They trust it like a miracle when you promised the bishop when you hear for the poor and you said you will be going out to raise the money. You just want to know that these students are praying for Bishop Trimble's target whenever they gotta as communities. Interestingly, the university is got us through students in communities, the East African Community, the South African community, the West African community, and when they do community prayers, they live the such kind of promises and the and the Type gets into prayer. So one of the things that your delegates need to be encouraged the Indiana conference delegates need to be encouraged about is for you to know that these young people ages between 19 and 23. They are saying a prayer for each one of us or delegate that You need to be encouraged in giving true Bishop Trimble's target of 300,000, you will be changing not one life, you will be changing lives from 55 countries in the continent of Africa. And how will this happen? It happens in different ways. A number of you are delegates, you have different interests, you may be having interest in about issues around food security, that means a student who is studying agriculture will be pleased to have you work with that student. Some of you, you have interest in issues around malaria, tuberculosis, you know, health issues. So students in medical lab in public health in nursing, will be benefiting from this, some of you are concerned about issues around conflict. And they that we run a strong degree around peace, reconciliation and governance, you know, and that these ministries will not happen unless you stand with Bishop Trimble. And by standing with him, which means you are sending a student to the to the Sudan right now. We are meeting here in this podcast, when Sudan is in a crisis, you know, the word this the wars that are going on there, and the people facing difficulties, you can't imagine that from the south and Sudan, we have two students here on campus. So when they see what is happening in the Sudan, they get worried. But some of you are interested in issues to do with human rights, social justice, and we ran a program on the human rights on child rights, you know, issues around sexual violence, criminal justice, you know, international relations, these are some of the things some of you have that interest. But think about this, some of you are delegates, you may be interested in areas that are very innovative computer science, software engineering, you know, accounting, economics, as we seek to empower these young people, the future of Africa University, just be encouraged. We're honored to be possible by your contribution 300,000 Bishop, I believe that this is a great target. I believe that your 100 delegates will deliver by the during the conference, or did you say 1000? Delegates? If it is 1000 delegates, then maybe we have 2000? Yeah, thank you 3000. They all

Bishop Julius Trimble: 00:32:31

bring, they all bring three $300. And we're good then

Rev. Professor Peter Mageto: 00:32:35

if they and you know now it is even simplifying, because with with 1000 delegates $300 We you eat it because it almost like this is sealed, that there's so delegates when you receive the broadcast, please don't forget your phone, I believe that the bishop will be having a very important QR code for you to do all of this. But the pitch of I think I better provide a footnote around this. For those of you who have not been to Africa University, you just want to imagine a young person who seated now for the exam right now as we are speaking, and they are not sure if they will come back next semester. Because they are scholarship or the money they were hoping for is not forthcoming. I want to testify this morning that the financial controller of the university that Bossa just shared with me a list of students she has allowed to sit for exams, but she has told them they will not see their results until they pay Hap. And some of these students, sometimes you look at this, they you're like $500, they your $750 they owe you know, there are others who even up to 4000. Unfortunately, you know, that's an outstanding debt. You know, and the student keeps saying or when I started, my father was alive, but they passed on this January, you know, so only my mother and my mother is housewife. These are some of the things that we struggle with on a daily basis. So you are coming through every gift is a blessing. I can tell you the truth, a miracle that is one area I've also noticed with concern. There are students here, you ask them how do they live, they say we walk with one leg. When you eat one leg it means they have only one meal a day. That's what they mean by one day one one leg and one meal a day then I asked them so how do you decide which mirror could you have during the day? They then they say depended on how you wake up then you can decide whether you want to go for breakfast and therefore you have no lunch or do You know, or you can only go for dinner. A meal card. A miracle for a semester is $600. And I sit there I'm like, okay, part of what Bishop Trimble is raising it to go into these areas, it will be a scholarship that covers some of these things. And and we I truly believe that this is a worthy investment for anyone who has not tried it before. Just be encouraged, tried. The prayers of these young people, I believe bishop goes directly to God, as the scripture says, the prayers of the widows and the orphans are often more faster than in other prayers, I find that to be worrisome when young people are praying. And whenever they tell me, we see we are praying for you. We know you are concerned about as I say, I believe that this is going to happen. And I believe Indiana conference, Bishop treebo, they will shock you during the gathering. And this will be done.

Rev. Dr. Brad Miller: 00:36:01

So just to interject something here if I'm understanding Dr. Baguette toe and basically triple A person could support a meal card for a student for $600. Is that what I'm understanding if we could put a really tangible understanding of that together? Is that right?

Rev. Professor Peter Mageto: 00:36:20

That's correct. That's very correct. So it seems

Rev. Dr. Brad Miller: 00:36:23

to me there could be could be ways of couple of ways of framing that or understanding that so that people could be able to share in a very tangible way. So

Bishop Julius Trimble: 00:36:38

yeah, I want to just start, just continue to thank the see. One of the things that that I really believe is that this is our season for serving, whatever season you find yourself in where you're in a leadership position. I believe that that's what God intended for you to be in that season. So I think this is my season. Two, as I'm drawn to the end of my active ministry as a active bishop in Indiana, I think this is my season for serving I think this is Brad season for for lifting up podcast and magnifying the work of United Methodist, as he and his ministry. And I think VEC that this is your season, for leading Africa University to the next to the next level that God has intended for it. You know, there are more students, when you mentioned 1000 universities, somebody might think, Well, that sounds like a lot of universities. But we have more than 1000 universities and in the United States, and we got 350 million people. And we're talking about 1000 universities for a continent that has 1.4 billion people. And 40% of those are younger people. So every time I've been to Africa, and I have had a conversation with young people, they're either trying to stay in school, or get in school. So a lot of Africans who are qualified to go to to go to higher education. They say, Can you help me get to Europe, or to the United States, or to Africa, we have a couple of pastors serving here. Pastor Ezekiel, for example, I think he was from from Burundi. He tells the story about how long it took him to get from Burundi. People think that you could just go like you drive from Indianapolis to Evansville. But but it took him five days. And he and he had to wait 10 days, because he didn't have a visa to get into the country. Five days to get from Burundi on bus, you know, going to Tanzania and Kenya and so forth. So can you say a word about you know, just the, the scope, the possibilities, the need for higher education,

Rev. Professor Peter Mageto: 00:39:02

Accessing Higher education is very difficult in in the continent letters, and it's not free is very expensive. And that's one of the reasons why African investment becomes an avenue for us. Let me give a very quick glimpse of what happens last August. We admitted 1000 1472 students in August, but we only got those who came and report it around 740. On the reported majority of those who did not report we asked if we do a follow up they said they could not get fees. This year so far for August the semester. I knew admissions, we have reached 1100. If we go by the time we close in June, in in June, I believe that it will be almost 1500, which shows that there is the great interest of young people wanting to join Africa University, yes, but majority of this will not be able to report because they will not be able to afford it, they will not have a scholarship from our financial aid, if they will not have a scholarship from an organization. Some farmers that are able to pay the only form like 10% 11% of the students on campus, those who are able to pay men, a majority of these students will not report in August. And that's that's that's the kind of picture that you need to see. So we always ask ourselves, if Africa inverse is attracting 1200 applications by March for August? What about other universe attracting because those that number is very high, and our men are being turned down also from the other universities, just like we are Dunning Dunning turning down these requests. So access is very important. And for me, this is this is what I see as the opportunity we have to offer.

Rev. Dr. Brad Miller: 00:41:09

We've discussed your access, we've discussed her opportunities. And there's certainly challenges that we may have to wait. You mentioned the financial challenges and the challenges of distance and opportunities that are also there. But I'd like to draw our conversation here together here, Bishop and Reverend Dr. magotteaux. With what's next. What's the possibilities? Where are we going from here? And so Bishop, what do you what are you encouraged by what you hear and then Doctor begin to what are you encouraged by moving forward? The theme of our podcast is to be encouraged. What Dr. Magento? What are you encouraged by that we'll have Vishal tremble finishes up.

Rev. Professor Peter Mageto: 00:41:51

I am encouraged by the fact that the God has raised the bishop Trimble and his wife to be at the forefront, serving as angels for Africa University, in this call of the target, that they are the champions championing. I see the master Angel. Think about the temptations of Jesus. One of the key areas we miss in the temptations of Jesus, we focus on the temptation so much. We forget the last bit of it. The last bit is where the message is, after the temptations of Jesus, Jesus was hungry. And the Bible says and the angels came and ministered to him. For me, Bishop Trimble and his wife as they champion this they are angels, for the African child, for the African young people that God will be racing to apply to African verse to come in the years to come. I am encouraged also, that God has given Bishop Trimble, the annual conference known as Indiana conference, I see Indiana as their hands as their highs as the feet of Jesus, those that are now working with Bishop to ensure that this happens. Lastly, I am encouraged by the lives that will be touched in the present and in the future. The lives of the young people from the east of Africa, the west of Africa, the North of Africa, the west of Africa, and the Central Africa. I see lives being touched, that will change families, and it will tend to communities and it will change nations. Those countries will be different because of the lives that will be touched through this call that bishop Trimble and his family are leading. Thank you.

Rev. Dr. Brad Miller: 00:43:47

Well, thank you for sharing that. And that is inspirational and aspirational for all of us who are listening here today. Bishop treble would just want to share that if people want to know more about Reverend Dr. Peter Magento, and Africa University, they can go to Africa you.edu And we'll put connections and links to that at our website to be encouraged.com A bishop triple what COURAGING word Have you heard here today? And what kind of prayer then can you bring forward to Reverend Dr. Magneto and the good folks of Africa University?

Bishop Julius Trimble: 00:44:22

Well, I'm thinking I'm thinking of my granddaughter, Korean who's in Virginia now. And my wife is there now with her taken care of Korean Well, her parents are out of town. But something she said about a year and a half ago was we were leaving a drive thru and, and I just got the food and was headed out. And she said, Papa, aren't you gonna say thank you? Aren't you gonna say thank you? So that echoes whenever I think about Africa University, or the work of Jesus Christ through the church. because we're not just talking about a university education, we're talking about the work of Jesus Christ through the church. And that's what people asked me. Well, what do I do? I said, I work for Jesus. And I work for the church. But I'm called to be an encourager, and a supporter of those persons who, who have answered the call. And I feel like I need to say thank you to, to our listeners who listen to the podcast periodically. I was just preaching just recently, in Anderson, Indiana, and then just just preaching in Huntington, Indiana, at Evangelical, and people run up to me say, I listen to your podcasts, Brett. And so it's good to know that people are listened to the podcast. And we've we've and know that people outside of the US listen to the podcast. And we're certainly going to ask Professor magotteaux to, but I want to take this opportunity to say thank you, I say thank you to Jesus Christ, because we are Easter people. And I reminded people just a few days ago in Pittsburgh, that Jesus Christ has done the heavy lifting, but he's already died on the cross for us. So our response should be Thank you. And our response would be Thank you. And one of the questions that the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King said, he said in one of the most persistent and urgent questions for us to answer is, what are we doing to help others? What are we doing with our lives to help others and so I want to spend the, the rest of the life that God has given me in my journey in ministry to continue to devote myself to prayer, and being watchful and being thankful. So I say to though, to our listeners, I thank you in advance for your prayers. If you pray for African university, you are giving to Africa University. Let me say that again, if you pray for Africa University and for students, you are already giving. And if you've been blessed there people who who just been blessed to have have excess, and nothing gives you a greater reward. When we found out that with $6,000, you could pay for it fees, tuition, room, board and meal for students for a whole year. Then we said wow, you can't do that here in Indiana, you can't do that in most places. So so the $600 for a meal cart. So student doesn't have to walk on one leg. That's doable. So I just want to close by saying thank you and, and if we continue to devote ourselves to prayer, and let me just close with this prayer. Dear God, we thank you for giving us the privilege to pray, the privilege to pray. We thank you God for giving us the privilege to serve. We thank you God for giving us the power to love and to encourage, bless VC, the Reverend Dr. Peter McGann to an African University in Zimbabwe. This our listeners, oh God, and oh God, we ask that you would grant us a spirit of generosity and gratitude. That is so sustaining, that it overflows with joy. We pray all the powerful name of Jesus Christ. Amen.