About CABC: History of CABC
A HISTORY OF CENTRAL AFRICA BAPTIST COLLEGE
Kitwe, Zambia Africa
The missionary enterprise of the local NT church finds its biblical mandate in Christ’s command to make disciples of all nations (Mt. 28.18-20). The history of the spread of the gospel in the Book of Acts is instructive in many ways. Persecution provided the initial impetus for gospel as the Pentecost believers returned to their adopted gentile countries. The formal missionary effort of the church began when the Apostle Paul was sent out from the church at Antioch with the gospel to the population centers of the ancient world (Acts 13.1-3).
Paul’s ministry focus was threefold: To share the gospel, to make disciples and to establish local indigenous churches. These churches would be self-supporting, self-governing, self-propagating, indigenous bases for continued propagation of the gospel to the entire region where they were located. In his second letter to Timothy, Paul revealed the passion of his heart as he commanded Timothy to do as he had done: “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2.2).
Paul was concerned that disciples be trained who would carry on the work within the local churches that were established. Timothy, Titus, Appolos, Aquilla & Priscilla were a few examples of those impacted and instructed directly or indirectly through the ministry of Paul. He sought to return to the areas where he had ministered in an effort to strengthen these disciples (Acts 14.22). His letters to these churches indicate a continued heart for doctrinal instruction and grounding in the faith. His letters to the pastors indicate a continued heart for building up men in the faith so that they would stand the test of time and eternity and remain faithful to the end.
The result of this approach to missions was the establishment of a church that marched boldly into the first and second centuries laying groundwork for our ministry to the present day.
In 1993 the Whitwam and Hunt families embarked upon a team-based church planting ministry in Kitwe, Zambia Central Africa. The first independent Baptist church was established in a working class neighborhood of Kitwe. As men and women came to know Christ and were biblically discipled they began to express burdens for the gospel to be preached in other areas of the city. Outreach ministries began in various locations and these eventually blossomed into new church plants. This was indigenous ministry! God’s people responding to God’s Word to build God’s kingdom!
As the ministries grew in Zambia the need to provide a high level of education and training in Africa for Africa became clear.. This college must provide a quality education and equip leaders with the potential to move forward a truly indigenous Baptist church movement on the continent of Africa. The African theological landscape is sparse to say the least. There are many Bible Institutes and "colleges" but none in our movement aimed at training the African who would be a candidate for university or Bible college training in the west. Men with this capacity will become the future leaders on the continent. As the ministries began to grow in Zambia so to the desire to provide that level of education in Africa for all of Africa. In 1998 the team began to seriously commit this need to God in prayer and to wait for His leading.
In early 2002 Dr. Charles Phelps visited Zambia. Philip Hunt shared with Dr. Phelps the need and the vision to establish a Bible College that would offer a balanced, biblical, credible education for men training for the gospel ministry in Africa. God used this to lay the burden for an African Bible college upon Pastor Phelps’ heart. When he returned to the United States Pastor Phelps contacted Dr. Steve Pettit and encouraged him to visit the ministry in Zambia. Dr Pettit ministered in Zambia in December of 2002. He too became burdened with the vision for a Bible College.
Dr. Pettit spoke with the administration of Northland Baptist Bible College in Dunbar, WI recommending that they visit Zambia and pursue the possibility of a joint venture with us in the establishment of this Bible College. In June of 2003, Phil Hunt was invited to visit the campus of Northland and had opportunity to speak with Dr. Matt Olson, President of NBBC. They discussed the possibility of a branch campus of Northland being established in Zambia. It was recognized that a representative of Northland needed to visit the ministry in Zambia to see firsthand the opportunity and access the feasibility of such a venture.
In March 2004, Dr. Sam Horn, Executive VP of NBBC, spent a week in Zambia. Dr. Horn’s assessment was that a branch campus in Zambia was viable. He outlined for the missionaries in Zambia what would be involved in getting the college opened. The decision was made by the missionary team in Zambia to pursue the path where God was clearly leading.
In an effort to carry out the New Testament mandate and follow the example of evangelization, discipleship and planting of indigenous local churches on the continent of Africa the Central Africa Baptist College in Kitwe Zambia was founded on April 5, 2004. At the inaugural board meeting held in South Bend, IN a budget was approved and Philip Hunt was appointed as the president of the college.
Through this period of time God was at work to bring together a team of qualified, passionate men to move the ministry of Central Africa Baptist College forward. Len Dunphy, Lee Peterson and Steve Hafler arrived in Kitwe and were key in the development and implementation phase of the newly formed college.
On February 13, 2006 the first classes of Central Africa Baptist College were held in the newly renovated rented facility located in the Riverside area of Kitwe, Zambia. Twelve students enrolled for first semester classes. In July 2008 the college moved into a spacious new campus facilities located off Jambo Drive in Riverside, Kitwe.
There are many challenges ahead and the history of the college is still being written. We pray that God will continue to raise up men and women to serve at Central Africa Baptist College and that He will select the student body - men and women committed to making disciples across Africa.
Kitwe, Zambia Africa
The missionary enterprise of the local NT church finds its biblical mandate in Christ’s command to make disciples of all nations (Mt. 28.18-20). The history of the spread of the gospel in the Book of Acts is instructive in many ways. Persecution provided the initial impetus for gospel as the Pentecost believers returned to their adopted gentile countries. The formal missionary effort of the church began when the Apostle Paul was sent out from the church at Antioch with the gospel to the population centers of the ancient world (Acts 13.1-3).
Paul’s ministry focus was threefold: To share the gospel, to make disciples and to establish local indigenous churches. These churches would be self-supporting, self-governing, self-propagating, indigenous bases for continued propagation of the gospel to the entire region where they were located. In his second letter to Timothy, Paul revealed the passion of his heart as he commanded Timothy to do as he had done: “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2.2).
Paul was concerned that disciples be trained who would carry on the work within the local churches that were established. Timothy, Titus, Appolos, Aquilla & Priscilla were a few examples of those impacted and instructed directly or indirectly through the ministry of Paul. He sought to return to the areas where he had ministered in an effort to strengthen these disciples (Acts 14.22). His letters to these churches indicate a continued heart for doctrinal instruction and grounding in the faith. His letters to the pastors indicate a continued heart for building up men in the faith so that they would stand the test of time and eternity and remain faithful to the end.
The result of this approach to missions was the establishment of a church that marched boldly into the first and second centuries laying groundwork for our ministry to the present day.
In 1993 the Whitwam and Hunt families embarked upon a team-based church planting ministry in Kitwe, Zambia Central Africa. The first independent Baptist church was established in a working class neighborhood of Kitwe. As men and women came to know Christ and were biblically discipled they began to express burdens for the gospel to be preached in other areas of the city. Outreach ministries began in various locations and these eventually blossomed into new church plants. This was indigenous ministry! God’s people responding to God’s Word to build God’s kingdom!
As the ministries grew in Zambia the need to provide a high level of education and training in Africa for Africa became clear.. This college must provide a quality education and equip leaders with the potential to move forward a truly indigenous Baptist church movement on the continent of Africa. The African theological landscape is sparse to say the least. There are many Bible Institutes and "colleges" but none in our movement aimed at training the African who would be a candidate for university or Bible college training in the west. Men with this capacity will become the future leaders on the continent. As the ministries began to grow in Zambia so to the desire to provide that level of education in Africa for all of Africa. In 1998 the team began to seriously commit this need to God in prayer and to wait for His leading.
In early 2002 Dr. Charles Phelps visited Zambia. Philip Hunt shared with Dr. Phelps the need and the vision to establish a Bible College that would offer a balanced, biblical, credible education for men training for the gospel ministry in Africa. God used this to lay the burden for an African Bible college upon Pastor Phelps’ heart. When he returned to the United States Pastor Phelps contacted Dr. Steve Pettit and encouraged him to visit the ministry in Zambia. Dr Pettit ministered in Zambia in December of 2002. He too became burdened with the vision for a Bible College.
Dr. Pettit spoke with the administration of Northland Baptist Bible College in Dunbar, WI recommending that they visit Zambia and pursue the possibility of a joint venture with us in the establishment of this Bible College. In June of 2003, Phil Hunt was invited to visit the campus of Northland and had opportunity to speak with Dr. Matt Olson, President of NBBC. They discussed the possibility of a branch campus of Northland being established in Zambia. It was recognized that a representative of Northland needed to visit the ministry in Zambia to see firsthand the opportunity and access the feasibility of such a venture.
In March 2004, Dr. Sam Horn, Executive VP of NBBC, spent a week in Zambia. Dr. Horn’s assessment was that a branch campus in Zambia was viable. He outlined for the missionaries in Zambia what would be involved in getting the college opened. The decision was made by the missionary team in Zambia to pursue the path where God was clearly leading.
In an effort to carry out the New Testament mandate and follow the example of evangelization, discipleship and planting of indigenous local churches on the continent of Africa the Central Africa Baptist College in Kitwe Zambia was founded on April 5, 2004. At the inaugural board meeting held in South Bend, IN a budget was approved and Philip Hunt was appointed as the president of the college.
Through this period of time God was at work to bring together a team of qualified, passionate men to move the ministry of Central Africa Baptist College forward. Len Dunphy, Lee Peterson and Steve Hafler arrived in Kitwe and were key in the development and implementation phase of the newly formed college.
On February 13, 2006 the first classes of Central Africa Baptist College were held in the newly renovated rented facility located in the Riverside area of Kitwe, Zambia. Twelve students enrolled for first semester classes. In July 2008 the college moved into a spacious new campus facilities located off Jambo Drive in Riverside, Kitwe.
There are many challenges ahead and the history of the college is still being written. We pray that God will continue to raise up men and women to serve at Central Africa Baptist College and that He will select the student body - men and women committed to making disciples across Africa.