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David
and Debbie Colvin - SIM
David and Debbie Colvin have
been working in the Nigerian town of Kagoro for the last 5 years, at the ECWA
(Evangelical Church of West Africa) Theological College. Debbie grew up in Ballynahinch Congregational and before
moving to Nigeria worked with Latin Link in Brazil. She and David Colvin, who is
originally from Moneymore, Co. Londonderry have been married for almost 6 years.
David and Debbie have kindly
answered the below questions.
1. What
does your work involve in Nigeria?
Work can be roughly divided into four main areas:
(a) Teaching
Most of our time is taken up with preparing and giving classes. Debbie usually
teaches 2 Old Testament subjects per semester while David teaches 3 or 4
subjects ranging from Doctrine, Hermeneutics, Counselling and 1&2 Corinthians. Classes begin at 8 am and finish at 2 pm with one hour for college
devotions which begin at 10 am.
(b) Devotional programme
As a staff, we meet for prayer at 7.30 am on Tuesday and Thursday, before
classes. Both staff and students meet together at 10 am each morning. Two
mornings per week, staff and students take their turn in preaching on the theme
chosen for the semester. Last year it was 'Steps to Spiritual Maturity'. One
morning per week is spent listening to reports from students who have been on
Christian assignment (practical experience in local churches) and praying for
them. One morning is spent in singing and another in prayer groups.
Every Sunday evening there is a service held at the college.
Once per semester there is a day of prayer and fasting and an all night prayer
vigil.
(c) Administration
David and Debbie are both on various committees in the college. David is on the
Newsletter Committee which is responsible for producing the yearly newsletter. David also spends a lot of time maintaining the College computer systems.
Outside the College, David is on various SIM committees. As librarian,
Debbie is on the Library Committee and Management Committee. Managing the
library means spending time there each day after classes.
(d) Students
The work involves contact with students outside the classroom and they
often visit us to chat or ask questions about assignments or other problems they
may have. This means being available even when its not convenient!!
2. How does such a College differ
from similar places in Northern Ireland?
The main difference between teaching theology in
Nigeria and in the UK is the cultural difference. African culture has different
strengths and weaknesses than Western culture. Although we are teaching in
English, we need to contextualize the message, that is, communicate it cross
culturally. Another difference is the ability of the students to use the English
language. Classes are conducted in English but many students do not have very
good English since it is not their first language. This means we have to avoid
complicated words and make sure the students have good notes to help them in
their study.
3. In what ways have you had to
adapt to living in Nigeria?
We have had to adapt to living in Nigeria by taking
into consideration the differences in culture and coping with the different
infrastructure in Nigeria. For an example of cultural difference: it is normal
for Nigerian students to visit you at any time during the day with little or no
warning whereas in the UK, people normally let you know they are coming to
visit. One difference in infrastructure, at present, is the lack of telephone
lines in the area where we work. Also, there are no mobile phones in Kagoro.
Major Nigerian cities have regular phones and some have mobile phone services
but the countryside is less developed.
4. What are the plans for the
future of your work?
We plan to return to Nigeria and resume teaching
theology at Kagoro. The college has just started teaching a degree programme and
we are looking forward to teaching at that level also. We would also like to
increase the use of computers at the college. One goal is to make some computers
available to the students.
5. How can people from
Ballynahinch Congregational Church do more to help you?
One of the best ways to help us in our work in Nigeria
is to pray. We are teaching the Bible and it is a unique, spiritual book (Heb.
4:12). We need the help of the Holy Spirit in our work. People can also help by
supporting us financially either through the church or giving directly to SIM
towards our support. A third area that would help is to have people in the
church keep in touch with us by regular mail or e-mail. Some folks have been
doing that and it is much appreciated.
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