In Kenya, Debt-ridden Christian Universities Struggle to Stay Open

In Kenya, Debt-ridden Christian Universities Struggle to Stay Open



Facing overwhelming debt, one Christian university in Kenya has been ordered to shut its doors as students and professors at two others are wondering whether they could be next.


The nation’s acting education secretary directed the Presbyterian University of East Africa on Thursday (Jan. 25) to start dismantling, revealing for many in this East African country how financial mismanagement and poorly planned growth was undermining not only Presbyterian University, but two other Christian institutions of higher education in Kenya as well.


While Presbyterian University hopes to yet save itself, concern is also focused on the Catholic University of Eastern Africa and Kenya Methodist University. Both have a year to show a government commission that they have restructured and can ensure future financial stability.


The debt problems plaguing these universities have upset not only those enrolled and employed by them, but ordinary citizens in this predominantly Christian country who had hoped for better from the universities’ leaders.


“As a church institution, I thought it would adopt the best management practice,” said David Nene, a Presbyterian taxi driver who often shuttled people to the university that faces imminent closure.


But the Rev. Julius Mwamba, the moderator of Presbyterian Church of East Africa, which owns the university, said its challenges can be…

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Captured nun pleads for Pope’s help in new video

A video of Gloria Cecilia Narváez was released by the group Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin and intercepted by SITE Intel Group, a group which monitors jihadist activity.

The Colombian’s appeal was translated into English as saying: “I ask you to help with my freedom and do the impossible and get them to release me.”

 

Local church leader, Bishop Jean-Baptiste Tiama told the Fides news agency: “We have seen the video and we are happy to know she is alive and this urges us to continue our prayers and efforts for her release.”

Sister Gloria was taken captive in the Mali – close to the border of Burkina Faso – on 7th February 2017.

She was accused by the group, whose named translates as the Group to Support Islam and Muslims, of “preaching Christianity and supporting the crusaders in Mali”.

World Watch Monitor

 

One member suggested that relatives of Sister Gloria should send money to pay for a ransom and hinted that other hostages were also being held.

Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin has been blamed for a recent spate of attacks across Mali, including a shooting at a Radisson Blu hotel in the capital Bamako in November 2015 which left 20 people dead.

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Prayers needed as Cape Town’s water cut-off date looms

Cape Town is on its way to Day Zero, a term the city’s authorities have dubbed which indicates the day all municipal water is turned off. It’s currently scheduled for 16th April.

Sally Ann Creed, a Christian in Cape Town told Premier how people are coping.

 

“We’re hardly having any showers and it’s a heat wave as well,” she said.

“All of us are getting charged heinous amounts to use any water. It’s impossible to buy any water at the moment.”

Authorities have said the water crisis is one of the worst the country has seen.

Helen Zille, premier of the Western Cape, said it was the “greatest disaster a Western city has experienced since 9/11”.

Mmusi Maimane, whose Democratic Alliance party runs Cape Town and the surrounding province, said residents must use fewer than 50 litres (13.2 gallons) per person daily to avoid the tap closure altogether.

 

Mr Maimane said aquifer drilling is accelerating and authorities will reduce water pressure in the municipal system in the coming weeks.

The city is working on securing seven alternative water sources to avoid Day Zero; however, six of them are running behind schedule.

Security forces would guard 200 water collection points where residents can pick up 25 litres (6.6 gallons) daily if the tap cut-off occurs, authorities said.

Providers of bottled water are being encouraged to increase supply so people have the option of buying…

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Mike Bickle Answers the 100 Most Frequently Asked Questions About the End Times—Part 3 .

(Max Pixel)

This is part 3 of a multipart series. Click here to read part 1 and click here to read part 2.

51. What does it mean to believe in the post-tribulation rapture? Since “post” means “after,” to believe in the post-tribulation rapture means you believe Christians will be raptured at the end of the Great Tribulation at the second coming of Jesus. The Bible explicitly teaches this. After describing the Great Tribulation in Matthew 24:15-26, Jesus states when believers will be raptured…

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President Trump’s “new American moment”: 3 biblical responses

President Trump delivered his first State of the Union address last night. The president described this time in our history as a “new American moment” and added, “There has never been a better time to start living the American dream.”

The purpose of my article today is to offer not political analysis but a biblical response. The president stated, “We know that faith and family, not government and bureaucracy, are the center of the American life. Our motto is ‘in God we trust.’”

How can we make our motto our daily reality?

If I could offer a Spiritual State of the Union to our country, I would point to Psalm 30 and three principles that teach us how to maximize this moment in our history.

Live in the present for the eternal.

The president focused on achievements his administration has made in its first year. He pointed to car companies that are “now building and expanding plants in the United States,” the approval of more new and generic drugs, and the liberation of nearly all the territory once held by the Islamic State.

Of course, it is a president’s job to focus on temporal prosperity for the nation he leads. But Scripture consistently calls us to live in the present moment for the sake of eternity.

David testified that God’s “anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning” (Psalm 30:5). Today is the time before time shall be no more.

One of the youth camps at my last pastorate took as its theme “The Dash,” pointing to the hyphen on your gravestone between your birth and your death. The point was that we need to live every day in light of eternity. When you are in heaven, how will you wish you had lived this day on earth?

America will maximize the present moment to the degree that we seek eternal significance.

Know that your prosperity depends on God’s provision.

The president noted that the economy has created 2.4 million new jobs this…

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Trump mentions Christian defector in State of the Union address

The State of the Union is a chance for the incumbent US President to reveal their thoughts on the past year and highlight their policies for the coming months.

President Trump took the opportunity to talk about keeping Guantanamo Bay open and also to criticise the North Korean regime, by referencing Ji Seong-ho who was in the audience.

Ji Seong-ho, who grew up in North Korea before escaping, “was tortured by North Korean authorities after returning from a brief visit to China”, according to President Trump.

Describing his life story to an audience of millions, President Trump said: “His tormentors wanted to know if he had met any Christians [in China]; he had, and he resolved to be free”

Prior to his China visit, Ji Seong-ho had a train run over his limbs as he’d passed out on the train tracks trying to get coal to exchange for food.

Trump said Seong-ho “travelled thousands of miles on crutches across China and Southeast Asia to freedom” but that he still keeps his crutches “as a reminder of how far you’ve come”.

Watching from the crowds as Trump said “your great sacrifice is an inspiration to us all”, an emotional Seong-ho stood and lifted his crutches in their air triumphantly.

Ji Seong-ho now lives in South Korea and has founded Now Action and Unity for Human Rights, who work for Korean unification and helping defectors from North Korea integrate and stay safe in the countries they defect to.

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Elon Musk’s Flamethrower Bags $3.5 Million During First Day Sales

The Boring CompanyPromotional image for The Boring Company flamethrower

It’s official, Elon Musk can make millions out of pretty much anything, even his jokes. Today, the billionaire revealed that first-day sales of The Boring Company’s flamethrower have already topped 7,000 units which roughly translate to around $3.5 million.

The flamethrower was originally intended as a joke to help the company sell more hats. Musk announced back in December that if his company sold 50,000 hats, it would start selling flamethrowers. Needless to say, the marketing ploy worked.

The flamethrowers went up for sale Sunday with a pre-order price of $500. Musk himself posted an Instagram video of himself playing with the firebreathing apparatus and obviously getting a huge kick out of it. Fans quickly channelled their inner Fry and quickly said, “shut up and take my money.”

Musk continues to embrace the silliness of selling a real flamethrower although he admits it will come pretty handy in a zombie apocalypse – which he is not planning by the way. He also joked that the flamethrower was “sentient,” its safe word is “cryptocurrency,” and it “comes with a free blockchain.”

Addressing legal and safety concerns, Musk said that the flamethrower’s flame has a range of fewer than 10 feet in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives regulations. Musk and his firm also threw in an “overpriced” fire extinguisher for an extra $30 so customers won’t burn their house down. The toy/zombie-killing weapon will begin shipping in spring according to company’s website.

Jokes aside, The Boring Company is another…

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Hundreds of fans attend memorial for Christian sports icon Cyrille Regis

Regis, who scored 112 goals in 297 appearances for West Brom, died suddenly on January 14, aged 59.

Regis’ funeral cortege was greeted with applause as it arrived at the club’s ground and the likes of manager Alan Pardew, captain Jonny Evans and goalkeeper Ben Foster were there to pay their respects.

 

The cortege left for a private service at around 8.45am before a public service at The Hawthorns for fans and figures from around the world of football.

West Brom and the footballing community paid tribute to Cyrille Regis at an emotional memorial service at The Hawthorns.

The former Albion, Coventry, Aston Villa and Wolves striker died suddenly aged 59 earlier this month and had a private family funeral on Tuesday morning.

Mike Egerton/PA Wire

 

The Baggies then held a public service for the ex-England international and footballing pioneer, who is recognised as paving the way for a generation of black players.

Carlton Palmer, Ron Atkinson, Les Ferdinand, Chris Hughton, Steve Bull and Brendon Batson all came to pay their respects with 1800 fans in attendance.

‘Bring Him Home’ from ‘Les Miserables’ was sung by Chris Love to open the service, with club anthem ‘The Lord’s My Shepherd’ also played.

Mike Egerton/PA Wire

 

Regis was described as “our brightest star” by Jonathan Barnett, chairman of the Stellar Agency where Regis…

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