The Kum-Ran Bible College (KBC), the training arm of the Greater Evangelism World Crusader Church (GEWC) has graduated 119 students who successfully completed their studies at the College and subsequently matriculated new students as well as celebrated the 40th anniversary of the institution and launched a one hundred million naira (N100m) endowment fund for the development of the institution.
The ceremony took place at Norwa in Tai Local Government Area, Rivers State with a call by the International Director of the Ministry, Apostle Godwin D. Numbere on the graduands to have clear cut vision of their goals and purpose in life to succeed, not minding if the people understand or not.
The International Director charged them to be unequivocally committed to the goals and purpose with sure knowledge of where they are going not minding discouragement by those who do not understand them and be aware of the reward awaiting them at the successful end even if people desert them when the going gets tough.
In her welcome address the school Provost, Pastor (Mrs.) Abigail Tanu recalled that the college started on the 13th day of Feb., 1974 by the founding father, Apostle Numbere who was the principal, tutor and registrar and that the school likewise relocated from Bori to Norwa as its permanent site in 1994.
The college according to Tanu has graduated students who are lecturers in the institution, pastors in various churches in and out of the GEWC, general overseers of different ministries within and outside the country and has trained over 554 persons.
Pastor Tanu, however revealed that the mother church only form 40% of the entire students population adding that the school needs fencing, modern classroom cum administrative block, staff quarters, a 18 seater bus, power generating set, hostel for students, convocation arena and a standard ICT library among others.
In order to improve on the spiritual, physical, educational and social well being of the institution the Provost recommends that prospective pastors be send to the college for training before appointing them as pastors to local churches.
In his contribution, the KBC council chairman, pastor (Dr.) Apele Graham Iyagba implored the graduands to use knowledge acquired during their studies and be epistle of their founding father, Apostle Numbere as the church is “sick” waiting for their own manifestation for better as well as being a blessing to all that played active roles in their schooling.
Also Rev. Reuben Mature, Coordinator, Christian Religion Education, Institution of education Ahmadu Bello University, Zaira in his keynote address titled “Theological Education and the challenges of Nigerian Society” admitted that evil people hid behind religion in order to carry out all sorts of atrocities, explained that unless Christians rise up and give the society the proper theological education, the situation will continue to worsen and tasked the graduands and matriculating students to make relevant what they do and say, asking them to talk, write, preach and speak about God to effect the desired and meaningful society transformation.
Speaking to journalists, Ledum Vite, a lecturer in the institution blamed those who refused theological training believing that anointing is everything in the gospel field asking them to make a rethink as education gives direction in everything. He has it that the school though is doing well needs elevation. ###
Mene Gbarabe
