On his recent trip to Kenya, Dr. Frank Tweheyo, Empower’s Africa Director, had the opportunity to give a lecture at the Pioneer International University. Here is Frank’s report on that event, edited for length and clarity.
Faith Kabiru, (now referred fondly to as Mama Faith because she is the Bishop’s wife and the President of Mothers Union in the Nairobi Diocese) is one of Empower’s senior trainers. She has trained for us on numerous occasions both in Kenya and Rwanda and is negotiating for us in South Sudan along with Dr Zablon Bundi. She is always explaining Empower to as many people as she will meet. She is so passionate!
Prior to my visit last month, Faith successfully contacted the Pioneer International University Vice Chancellor, Professor Gideon Maina. They contacted me and we agreed to do an inaugural “Transformational Leadership Lecture,” with the University, using the New Man, New Woman, New Life model.
The lecture was held in late July at Pioneer University School of Divinity, Maranga campus.
Present to receive us was Dr. Peter Munga, the proprietor and Chancellor of the University. He is also a billionaire and the Chairman (Owner) of Equity Bank among many enterprises. His personal presence underscored the importance of the occasion.
Also present at the lecture were all the Faculty and the Senate of the university, all students of Divinity, various community and ecclesiastical leaders from various denominations, including Catholics, Anglicans and Pentecostals among others.
After introductory remarks from the Chancellor, the Vice Chancellor and the Principal of the Divinity School, Faith made few remarks about Empower and welcomed me to give the lecture.
I followed basically the Three-Part Story Framework of Creation, Fall and Redemption, juxtaposing between the leader whose leadership ethos is locked in the fall, vis-a-vis the one who is redeemed from patriarchy, the “big man” mentality and struggle for power. We discussed the Leadership Triangle and how it is redeemed in Christ as well as allowing the proper understanding of scripture to inform us as transformational leaders. (For details on all of these elements of the training, download a free copy of the curriculum here.)
In the whole lecture room, for example, only one person (The Vice Chancellor), believed that Adam and Eve were together in the garden when the serpent was tempting the human. Imagine their surprise to actually read the Bible and find that both were there together! Almost all believed that man and woman were cursed alongside the serpent and the ground. Dispelling this faulty interpretation generated chorus interjections and huge “aha!” moments when the Bible gave us the actual answer.
After the lecture, I facilitated a lively Q & A session and many participants said that it was the first time they were understanding the Bible in this way, as well as finding a correlation between redemption and transformational leadership.
Empower will be running NMNWNL trainings at the University as well as the ACK Diocese of Mount Kenya Central staff and clergy (which will be led by Faith) this fall.
It was another great opportunity into Kenya’s institutions of higher learning embracing Empower’s message.