Third year student Joan Cheptot visits with professor Janet Allison

The first valedictorian of our bachelor’s programme was a female student. Her fellow students were very proud of her and the accomplishment of being top of the class.

An important part of the ACC difference, is our requirement for married students to bring their wives and families with them while they are studying. We believe three years is too long a separation for a strong, Christian family. We also work to provide opportunities for growth– spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally– for all of our wives while they live on campus with us.

Over the past several years, we have also experienced a wonderful increase in female students enrolled in our degree-granting curricula. Currently, we celebrate having 9 women as full-time students at the college. Three of these women are single. Six are married with their husbands also enrolled in the curricula.

Educating students for excellent service should not be limited to educating men. Women are leading families, villages and communities. They are helping solve significant challenges throughout our continent. We are excited to offer this opportunity for them to earn degrees that will help provide a stronger, educated future for them and their families.

Larry, Kurt & Wendy display ACTEA certificate

ACC administration had received word in December that we would be granted affiliate accreditation status with the Accrediting Council for Theological Education in Africa (ACTEA). We were happy and celebrated then, but were much more excited to receive our official certificate of affiliate status on February 2, 2012.

Becoming fully accredited is a long process, but an important one for African Christian College to reach its goals and accomplish its vision. Earning affiliate status was our last step, but the process continues. Administration and faculty are diligently working to address recommendations from ACTEA and clarifying our curricula and processes to best establish ourselves for accreditation candidacy in the near future.

More about ACTEA and our accreditation process updates

It’s always a joy to welcome first year students to our campus and their families. Our campus has been blessed with 12 new first-year students (and three additional children!).

We are also excited to have Lynn Rhodes from Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA, joining us as visiting faculty in our counselling program. He is teaching during this first semester.

2012 Student Population Breakdown:

• First Year Students: 12
• Second Year Students: 12
• Third Year Students: 8

Student home countries:

• Kenya: 12
• Lesotho: 1
• Malawi: 4
• South Africa: 1
• Swaziland: 5
• Uganda: 2
• Zambia: 3
• Zimbabwe: 4

Just last month we celebrated with Thomas Meki, one of our bachelor’s graduates. We said goodbye to him, his wife Elizabeth and their family.

Now we celebrate with Thomas again as he has already secured employment teaching English and Bible! Now back home in Zimbabwe, he is working at Hitmark College.

Thomas, like our other graduates, is a gifted communicator, servant and leader.

In addition to engaging in important work on behalf of the college, the Board also hosted supporters from the Austin area for an amazing dinner on Friday night at the Westover Hills Church of Christ. Over 100 attendees who have supported ACC in various ways gathered to celebrate and share stories during the evening.

On the business side, trustees were most excited to hear that the macadamia orchard has generated revenue in excess of expenses in 2011 and examined projections for its continued growth in that area to help the sustainability of the school. They also finalized the hiring of president-elect Brad Carter, a substantial new addition to the ACC team.

In many places, giving before the end of the year allows donors to get a tax deduction for their gift. ACC is recognized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in the United States and recognized as a nonprofit in Swaziland.

Contributions postmarked before midnight, December 31 are tax deductible for 2011.

In the United States, donations can be mailed to African Christian College, PO Box 70033, Albuquerque, NM 87197

In Africa, donations can be mailed to African Christian College, PO Box 331, Manzini M200 Swaziland

Online donations must be made before midnight, December 31 for a 2011 tax deduction. Donate using a credit/debit card online.

Our students work with teens from throughout the area in Swaziland each Friday night. They volunteer their time to teach and mentor the young people from several congregations as well as those who are not yet Christians.

ACC's 2011 Degree Graduates: Banda, Meki, Chagaga, Oguttu, Kachitenji

On December 8, African Christian College held our graduation ceremonies on-campus. Our fourteen graduates were all smiles upon completing their studies.

We awarded theology degrees to our third year students Moses Banda, Thomas Meki, Enock Chagaga, Geoffrey Oguttu and Hosea Kachitenji. These five men have returned to their home countries to begin the next chapter in their service in God’s kingdom and are already missed by the rest of us on campus.

ACC awarded nine diplomas to our second year students. Most of these students will continue their studies with us in order to earn a bachelor’s degree. Tapedza Chipindura and Khanyisani-Gifts Gcwabaza will be leaving ACC to begin work in Zimbabwe and South Africa.

The faculty, administration and board of African Christian College is extremely proud of our 2011 graduates. They are some of our most talented students who will continue making a significant difference throughout Southern Africa by providing excellent service and leadership in God’s kingdom.

2011 ACC Diploma and degree graduates

The beautiful site of maize germinating on ACC's campus.

It’s springtime in Swaziland! So it’s time for our crops to burst forth from the ground. Here’s a look at our maize (corn) this morning.

African Christian College grows open pollinated maize seed which can be planted, harvested and then some replanted over the next few years several times without the need of repurchasing seed. Some of it is sold to organizations that distribute it to poor families while the income allows us to purchase much more maize meal for our cafeteria than we would get from grinding it ourselves. Some of it is kept back for use in helping teach sustainable farming to widows and others. Seed is offered to local widows and other poor homesteaders with lessons in appropriate farming methods.

Project S.E.E.D. is one part of our efforts toward sustainability for the college and struggling families in our community.

Students, wives and staff ready to serve at the 2011 Farewell Dinner

Students, faculty, staff and families celebrated the coming end of the semester at the annual Farewell Dinner on Wednesday, November 30. Two days later, students would begin final exams and final preparations for graduation on December 8.

Everyone looks forward to the farewell dinner as a time for a special meal– with decorations and rare treats. It’s an important time of saying goodbye to graduating students and celebrating the coming end of the year’s studies.