Two leaders from Impact Church made a partnership site visit to attend Africa University in June.
"Impact Church is committed to education and impacting our global leaders around the world," said Serene Coleman, who serves as community director. She traveled to Zimbabwe with Rachel Gervin, the church's executive director and general counsel. Coleman and Gervin attended Africa University's 24th graduation ceremony.
Your support of the Africa University Fund apportionment supports the general operating expenses of Africa University including faculty and staff salaries and vital infrastructure.
"The graduation ceremony was full of life and joy," said Coleman. "It was a community of leaders, government officials, families, and students. Only Africa University could bring all those people together to celebrate the next group of leaders."
Impact is a vibrant and rapidly-growing United Methodist congregation based in Atlanta, GA. A seven-person team, led by Pastor Olu Brown, oversees the operations of the church.
"Our goal was to visit the school, speak to students and professors about the university, (and)…to find ways to support the university with our time and resources," said Coleman.
"I was incredibly impressed with the university," Gervin added. "I was amazed with the high-quality partnerships that the school has developed with organizations such as United States Agency for International Development, the Centers for Disease Control, and World Health Organization."
The Impact Church leadership team is now exploring plans to send 'Impactors'— leaders and members of the congregation—to Africa University and Zimbabwe to give back through teaching, mentoring and internship opportunities for students, and volunteering at the children's home at the Old Mutare Mission Center.
"I think it would be great to have a small group of our Impact leadership team do a two or three-part talk to seminary students about the Impact story, based in part on the book "Zero to Eighty," said Gervin. "This is essentially the story of how Impact Church started from a group of 25 people with very few resources and grew to a 2500-person church in less than 10 years."
Andra M. Stevens, Director, Communications, Africa University Development Office
One of seven apportioned giving opportunities of The United Methodist Church, the Africa University Fund transforms Africa by educating and empowering students from across the continent through Africa University, the first fully accredited, United Methodist-related educational institution on the continent. The Africa University Fund supports the general operating expenses of Africa University including faculty and staff salaries and vital infrastructure. Please encourage your leaders and congregations to support the Africa University Fund at 100 percent.
