Dr Palmer Robertson and the African Bible Universities

Dr Palmer Robertson is a much appreciated speaker at Banner of Truth Ministers’ conferences and an author whose works the Trust publishes.¹ Now he is settled for the next four months [May-August 2012] in a sabbatical spent in England, which is the home of his wife Joanna. Since 1992 he has been lecturing and preaching in Africa. How did that come about?

The original vision for African Bible Colleges began in the hearts and minds of Dr and Mrs John W. Chinchen. After spending seven years training pastors in the interior of Liberia, the Chinchens realised that in order to raise up servant leaders for Christ in Africa they should develop university-level training with a distinctively biblical perspective. In 1975 the vision became reality when the first of these universities began in Liberia, West Africa. A second university opened in 1991 in the Southern African country of Malawi.

In 2005 the third of these Christ-committed universities opened in the strategically located East African country of Uganda. African Bible University offers two four-year degree programmes: BA in Biblical Studies and BA in Christian Community Leadership. Either of these degrees can be taken with a subsidiary in Education, Communications or Business. These subsidiaries offer thorough vocational training enabling students to enter the educational, media or commercial sectors as well as being well-prepared to go into the gospel ministry or other Christian work. African Bible University is located on 30 beautiful acres just outside the capital city of Kampala. They currently have 26 buildings.

Their third graduation in May 2011 consisted of 23 graduates from 7 different African countries: Sudan, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Kenya, Malawi and all parts of Uganda. Many of these are troubled African nations. The graduates have gone into evangelism, church planting, establishing orphanages, teaching, radio ministry, working with illiterate people, apologetics research, pastoral training, and many other fields.

Palmer began teaching at African Bible College, Malawi in 1992 while continuing to teach at Knox Theological Seminary in Florida for one semester each year. He and Joanna were married in December 1996 and she joined him going backwards and forwards between Florida and Malawi. In 2001 Palmer was asked to become the director of the impending African Bible University in Uganda. Since December 2004 he and Joanna have been full-time in Uganda. Their oldest son Murray (13) was born in Malawi, and Elliot (11) and Daniel (9) were born in the USA.

They have been on sabbatical leave during this academic year, having spent the first part in the USA visiting many churches. One of Palmer’s ministries across the years has been the writing ministry. He is currently working on a book about the poetical and wisdom literature of the Old Testament. They expect to be in Cambridge until early August when they will return to Uganda ready for the start of the new academic year.