Wayland classes in Kenya will proceed as scheduled

Posted: 1/08/08

Wayland classes in Kenya
will proceed as scheduled

LIMURU, Kenya—In spite of reports of violence about two-thirds of a mile from Kenya Baptist Theological College, Wayland Baptist University will begins regularly scheduled classes there Jan. 14.

Gunfire erupted Jan. 7 in Limuru, Kenya, a small town approximately 1 kilometer from the campus. Don Ashley, associate professor of religion at Wayland, said several people were killed and almost 200 young men were arrested in the melee.

Ashley and his family traveled to Kenya prior to Christmas. He will teach in the upcoming term in Wayland’s Kenya program. While the violence has shaken his family, they are currently safe at the Kenya Baptist Theological College campus, he reported.

A major problem in recent days had been lack of supplies, but Ashley said supply lines have reopened, although it remains difficult to get food, water and fuel. While the campus has sufficient supplies, officials there have stopped accepting refugees for fear of running out.

Rick Shaw, director of the Wayland project in Kenya, is scheduled to travel to Kenya Jan. 11. Having spent 12 years on the mission field in Albania, Macedonia and Kosovo serving with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Shaw said this type of violence comes with the territory.

“There are shootings all the time,” he said. “It’s never welcome, but you kind of get used to it.”

Shaw plans to spend about a month in Kenya, assessing the program and its needs. Shaw has been in close contact with administrators at Kenya Baptist Theological College who have advised him it is safe to continue classes as planned.