Bill Greenwood, a retired pastor from Kernersville, N.C., served as an adjunct professor at Uganda Baptist Seminary (UBS) in Jinja, Uganda, in 2015. He and his wife, Sheryl, recently hosted a gathering for Jack Frost, founder and former principal of UBS, and Anthony Shelton, current UBS principal. The Sheltons were on stateside assignment and have since returned to Uganda.
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Contributed photo From left, Misti and Anthony Shelton with their daughters Karis and Sophia, Sheryl and Bill Greenwood and Evelyn and Jack Frost. The Sheltons returned to Uganda in early August. |
Frost and his wife, Evelyn, returned to the United States in 2015 and retired from the International Mission Board (IMB) last year. They returned to Greensboro, N.C., and are members of Friendly Avenue Baptist Church. Jack founded UBS in 1988 as a ministry of the IMB Baptist Mission of Uganda and the Baptist Union of Uganda. Evelyn served as the nurse on campus.
Frost told the Biblical Recorder that the seminary continues to see significant growth under Shelton’s leadership. When Frost left Uganda, only the diploma and certificate of theology were accredited by the Uganda National Council for Higher Education. The bachelor of theology was still in consideration.
“It was earlier this year that they accredited the degree of bachelor of theology,” Frost said. “That happened formally after we came back and the Sheltons were leading on.”
About 280 bivocational students are enrolled in the seminary. More than 40 percent of students come from nearby countries: Kenya, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi. Students go to UBS three times a year for four-week terms.
Shelton and Frost said many students return to their home villages and start churches and Bible training centers, which UBS oversees, for leaders who cannot travel to Jinja. According to ministry reports, UBS has more than 1,000 alumni serving throughout East Africa. They have led thousands to Christ through outreach ministry and planted more than 100 churches.
UBS maintains a partnership with Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) in Wake Forest, N.C. John Ewart, associate vice president for Global Theological Initiatives and Ministry Centers at SEBTS, periodically leads a group of professors in Jinja to teach classes. Greenwood said UBS welcomes volunteer pastors as visiting professors, as well as medical professionals to volunteer in the clinic.
The IMB funds salaries of two missionaries who manage UBS’ administration and upkeep, but it does not cover other operating expenses. UBS relies on gifts from churches and individuals to cover professors’ salaries, food, lodging, transportation and scholarships. Most of the faculty and staff are Ugandan, Frost said.
“Many of the students are farmers,” Greenwood said. “Most have four to six children and take in an orphan or two.” They depend on donations to keep tuition costs as low as possible.
To support UBS, go to imb.org/give and indicate your gift to go to Uganda Baptist Seminary. Pastors interested in serving as volunteer professors can email [email protected]. For more information about the seminary, visit their Facebook page and website, ugandabaptistseminary.org.