Pomp & Circumstance

The team was moving a little slower today.  Some caught up on sleep, some celebrated Independence Day late into the night.  After a late breakfast we gathered to attend the Grand Biennial Graduation Ceremonies of Covenant Bible Institute of Theology (CBIT). 

Again the providence of God was made manifest.  Turns out, they only celebrate graduation every other year, and on the second week in October.  We did not plan our trip around this event – we didn’t even know about it until Tuesday!

Coincidence does not exist here.  I have just begun to serve on the provisional USA board of CBIT and attended some of the classes Tuesday to evaluate the caliber of professors and the curriculum.  While there, I was asked to represent the board by being the commencement speaker on Saturday.  An honor too great for me, but I was persuaded after they explained how God worked it out for a greater purpose. 

They kept referring to us as the “guests of honor.”  Truly we were humbled and felt unworthy of the title, yet over the course of explaining the history of CBIT, Pastor Vincent said, God again has provided for this institution through the generous giving of the brothers and sisters from America.

All four pastors plus elder Tom Langdon wore academic regalia.

I gave the address, encouraging these new pastors to have confidence in their education, to continue learning the Word, and to be a humble servant of God’s people, transparent, so that they can see through the pastor as they gaze upon Jesus Christ.

Tom gave the charge to the graduates stressing the need to be storytellers, telling the story of Jesus in the church, and out in the field.

Morris Ogenga, chairman of the CBIT Uganda board, gave perhaps the best advice:  “In the church, there are no tribes, no favoritism, no partiality.  We are all God’s children.  We are one.”

My favorite line from the ceremony was when the graduates move their cap tassels from the right to the left:  “We are changing history forever.”  It’s true.

The Bible College is the heartbeat of the evangelism program, for without pastors who know the Word of God, how can you plant churches? 

The Mukongoro church will provide at least one pastoral candidate by next year, and he will study at CBIT, only to graduate and be ordained/installed at a church planted 3 years from now!  This symbiotic relationship feeds the evangelism mission of the PCU. 

The pastor we are installing at Mukongoro is Pastor Julius.  He graduated today, and received the leadership award – a good sign for this new church!

It was a very long ceremony, complete with traditional African dancing, full processional, a brass marching band, choirs from the school and orphanage, poetry readings, professional portrait studio (printed and framed on the spot), and a large lunch for everyone in attendance (300-400 people!) 

It was great to see the parental support for these young men who graduated.  The program of study is very difficult, and the curriculum and caliber of professors rivaled my own seminary education!

Finally, the teams made it back to the hotel and rested, shopped, or strolled for the rest of the day.  Although it must come, today served as a reminder that our work is finished here, and that the plane ride home is looming on the African horizon. 

We are very excited to see our families, to be sure.  Yet this is mixed with a tinge of sadness over leaving this beautiful place and even more beautiful people. 

All this week we’ve been using Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s “Life Together.”  Very intense discussions of Community, Time Alone, Daily Routine, Ministry, Confession and Communion.  This set the tone and the spirit of each day. 

I am so proud of this team.  They have been community - they've loved well, studied hard, worked even harder and have epitomized the word flexible.  No longer average men and women, these have been changed into evangelists, apostles, preachers, teachers, healers, prophets and leaders. 

God be praised, in work and in rest.