Christianity and Suffering

DAVID BAWKS is a minister with Nairobi Chapel, having served in Kenya since 2008. He graduated from Wheaton College, IL, with a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical/Theological Studies and History, then went on to complete a Master of Divinity at Africa International University. Previously, he taught at Carlile College and led the Nairobi Chapel Tyrannus Hall training ministry. Currently he leads a new church plant at Nairobi Chapel Karen.

DR DIPHUS CHOSEFU CHEMORION is an ordained Minister of the Reformed Church of East Africa (RCEA). He earned his BA (Social Work) degree from the University of Nairobi and a Bachelor of Divinity from St Paul’s University. He also holds a Master of Theology from Emory University (Candler School of Theology) and a Doctor of Theology degree from Stellenbosch University in South Africa. Rev. Prof. Chemorion is currently an Associate Professor of Old Testament and Dean of Faculty of Theology at St Paul’s University, Limuru- Kenya. He is also the RCEA Synod Professor of Theology.

BISHOP DR ISAIAH MAJOK DAU is the General Overseer of Sudan Pentecostal Church and former Principal of the Nairobi Pentecostal Bible College. Dr Dau studied systematic theology at the University of Stellenbosch, addressing the theology of suffering. Dr Dau has, in the last five years, been engaged in conflict resolution and peace-building in South Sudan, representing the South Sudan Council of Churches. He maintains a teaching ministry internationally and locally. Dr Dau has written two books, Suffering and God: A Theological Reflection on the War in Sudan (2002) and Free at Last: South Sudan Independence and the Role of the Church (2011).

NATHAN NZYOKA JOSHUA earned his PhD in New Testament Biblical Studies from Africa International University (AIU), Nairobi, Kenya. He is a pastor for Africa Inland Church, and currently lectures and serves as the acting Head of Department for Biblical Studies, at AIU. He is the co-author of Restoring the Beauty and Blessing of Ethnic Diversity: A Training Manual on Ethnicity (AIU and ALARM, 2009). Dr Joshua has three children with his wife, Regina.

ELIZABETH MBURU was the first woman to gain a PhD from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, North Carolina, USA. She is an associate professor of New Testament and Greek at International Leadership University, Africa International University and Pan-Africa Christian University in Nairobi, Kenya. Dr Mburu is on the board of the Africa Bible Commentary and is the editorial coordinator and New Testament editor for its revision, as well as the Anglophone Africa Regional Coordinator for Langham Literature. Professor Mburu is also the author of Qumran and the Origins of Johannine Language and Symbolism (T&T Clark, 2010).

REV PETER MBEDE OYUGI is an ordained minister and currently the National Director of Youth Ministries in Fountain of Life Churches International (FOLCI) and a member of the Executive Council of FOLCI. He was educated in Kenya and holds an Advance Diploma in Theology from Bible College of East Africa (2006), a Bachelor of Ministry degree from Far Eastern Bible College, Singapore (2007), and a Master of Divinity from International Leadership University (2011). He is currently pursuing a PhD in Theological Studies at the last institution, focusing on the theologies in contemporary music and how music can be used to teach theology. Rev Mbede is an adjunct faculty member in the department of Bible and Theology at Pan Africa Christian University, Kenya.

FELICIA CHINYERE PRIEST is a Nigerian and holds two master’s degrees in Missions and Biblical Studies from West Africa Theological Seminary (an affiliate of the University of Nigeria Nsukka), Lagos, Nigeria. She is a PhD candidate at Africa International University, Nairobi, Kenya (Intercultural Studies). Her field of research is the conversion of Christians to Islam within sub-Saharan Africa. Apart from serving as a missionary in Sudan, she served for many years as lecturer in the Mission Department of West Africa Theological Seminary (WATS), Lagos, Nigeria. She is equally a Teaching Assistant in Africa International University, Nairobi.

JANICE HORSAGER RASMUSSEN has been a missionary for twenty-two years. She taught education, family, and spiritual development at colleges in Tanzania, Kenya, and the USA. She is currently a PhD candidate in Education at Africa International University in Nairobi, Kenya. Previously, she was an assistant professor with the University of Minnesota Extension Service, disseminating research into communities.

REV STEVEN D. H. RASMUSSEN is director of Training East African Ministers (TEAM) and senior lecturer at Africa International University (2008–2017). From 1995 to 2008 he lived in Mwanza, Tanzania, and led Lake Victoria Christian College. Prior to that he was assistant pastor of a multicultural congregation, Bethel Christian Fellowship in St Paul, MN, USA. He holds a PhD in Intercultural Studies from Trinity International University in Deerfield, IL, USA. He has written chapters and journal articles on short-term missions, negative ethnicity, the Africa Leadership Study, and Christian responses to “witches” and “witch” accusations.

REV DR DARYLL STANTON is an ordained missionary and educator of the Church of the Nazarene, having served for thirty-five years in eastern and southern Africa. He received his EdD from California Coast University (Santa Ana, USA). Currently he is Senior Lecturer and Chair of the Department of Religion at Africa Nazarene University in Nairobi, Kenya, where he has served for the past twenty years. Previously he trained and mentored pastors and Christian religion educators in South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia.

DR PHILIP THUO is a lecturer in Community Development at Africa Nazarene University, Nairobi, Kenya. He obtained ThM and PhD degrees in Intercultural Studies (with a special focus on Church in Society) with Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky, USA, after undergraduate studies in Economics at the University of Nairobi, Kenya. He has served in various capacities as development planning officer both in the Kenyan government and in the private sector.

JUDY WANJIRU WANG’OMBE did her MDiv (Biblical Studies) and MTh (Missions) with Africa International University, Kenya. She is currently a doctoral candidate of Inter-Religious Studies in the same university. She has a keen interest in understanding the lived experiences of Muslims, especially those pertaining to the world of spirits. She has served in various Muslim locations and interacted with Muslims from different cultural settings.

REV DR SAMMY GITHUKU WANGONGYA is a senior lecturer at St Paul’s University in the Faculty of Theology. Sammy did his Master’s and doctoral studies at McGill University and Catholic University of Eastern Africa respectively. He teaches courses in Old Testament and Biblical Hebrew. Sammy has served as the Dean of the Faculty of Theology and is currently the Director of Postgraduate Studies at St Paul’s University.