College offers contextually-relevant courses for Sudan’s realities

Founded in 1991, Nile Theological College, Sudan (NTCS), continues to establish itself as a viable institution serving churches in Northern, Central and Southern Sudan where a large Arab Christian population exists. NTCS’s purpose is to train Sudanese Christian leaders of all denominations in theological studies in order that they may provide effective service and leadership for the Church in Sudan.

The college moved to its present campus in Khartoum in 1993, and that same year, a Christian Education program was begun to prepare teachers of Christian religion to work in both government and church-related schools. Today, the Bachelor of Arts in Theological Studies degree is offered in Arabic and English and includes courses especially appropriate for the Sudanese context, such as Islam, Christianity in Sudan, social studies and HIV/AIDS.

Despite having over 170 graduates, the college and Sudan have many great challenges after a 21-year civil war and the current Darfur conflict. Millions are suffering from hunger, famine and displacement, yet the Church in Sudan is growing at a fast rate. NTCS is not only providing the trained pastors, teachers and evangelists needed but also raising the level of hope among the displaced communities through its contextually-relevant courses.

Bachelor of Christian Education student Paula Achan Omoya currently evangelizes to non-believers; shares the Word in churches; and teaches women handicraft works, how to manage their homes and how to care for themselves and their families. Through her training, she says, “God is teaching me how to be holy like Jesus…, how to care for His ministry…and how to teach His Word to people.” Paula says after her training, she will be a qualified and well-equipped Christian education teacher with the training needed to develop the Church in Sudan.