Gerry Crawley and
her dog, Wrigley
Gladys G. “Gerry” Crawley experienced the world many times over in her 84 years. She traveled the globe teaching, exploring, and spreading a joy she could not hide. Gerry left a legacy of creativity and happiness. She exemplified the Christ-centered life she lived and sought to document the “every day” beauty she encountered. She loved photography, she loved VW Beetles, and she loved the Lord.
In the last 15 years of her life, Gerry also became one of the most generous donors to African Bible Colleges. She supported our missionaries, our ABC Community Hospital and Clinics in Malawi, and our students through sponsorships and scholarships.
Gerry insured her legacy as an ABC hero when she designated ABC as a beneficiary of her estate. She named ABC as one of the recipients of the proceeds when she passed away in 2023 and her final gift to ABC exceeded an amazing $1.3 million. This gift, designated to be used wherever the needs are greatest, will allow ABC to impact thousands of Africans in the name of Jesus Christ.
With her legacy gift, Gerry became a member of ABC’s Cholowa Society, created to honor those who include ABC in their estate and trust plans. “Cholowa” means “legacy” in the native Malawian language of Chichewa. Members of the Cholowa Society include those who have named ABC as a beneficiary in their their wills, planned-giving decisions, or other financial legacy determinations.
You can also be a member of ABC’s Cholowa Society! If you have ABC in your legacy planning, or want information about the process, please contact Trey Porter, ABC Director of Development. You can email him at portert@africanbiblecolleges.net or call (601) 922-1962.
A LIFE WELL LIVED,
A LEGACY INSURED
Yaen Zuzarte leads her classroom in reading exercises.
ABCCA’s ZUZARTE: AN ANSWER TO PRAYERS
Yaen Zuzarte is contagious. No, she’s not a patient at ABC’s Mission Hospital in Malawi. She’s a second year, second grade teacher at ABC’s Christian Academy and her spirit, her faith, and her joy are contagious.
Yaen began her teaching career in her native Lilongwe, Malawi, at a nearby elementary school. Like ABCCA, it is a highly regarded school, but it isn’t a Christian school and Yaen felt it was time to move on when she couldn’t incorporate her faith into her daily lessons. So, she told her principal that she would be leaving and put her trust in God to provide her next job.
It was another poignant example of Yaen’s faith in God and His provision for his people. She began her professional career far from education. After a number of years, she felt led to be a teacher and took a leap of faith by getting a Montessori Diploma and beginning her new journey as a teacher.
She and her husband also leaned on God’s providence when they decided to enroll their oldest child in ABCCA. It was going to be a financial challenge, but it was imperative to them. Then, they would seek the financial means to also send their younger child when he was old enough.
What followed was Yaen’s decision to leave her old school. Several months passed before she received an offer to teach at ABCCA. Now, Yaen and both their children are now all the Academy.
She loves the many opportunities she’s been given to live the Gospel and share Christ with her students at ABCCA. It is as nourishing for her spirit as it must be for her students. “It is impossible to teach with only a part of who you are. I do not overlook this opportunity to use my abilities and my faith in teaching here. It is such a blessing for me and for our children to be at the Academy.”
And Yaen is a blessing to ABCCA too.
Lee Sonius and his wife, Michelle, at Ebenezer Menonite Church in Bluffton, Ohio.
SONIUS ON THE ROAD IN 2024
African Bible Colleges’ President and CEO Lee Sonius has logged the miles in 2024. Whether it was traveling to each of the three campuses multiple times or attending denominational conventions and church mission conferences, Sonius has remained in motion throughout the year.
It has been important for Lee to be a regular presence on the campuses as he seeks to expand his knowledge of the mission and work with everyone on each campus to establish the future of each institution. He has also made it a high priority to meet and engage donors, partners, and friends throughout the US. By attending various missions conferences and national meetings, he has met hundreds of ABC supporters.
In the summer months, his stateside travel included a week at the Presbyterian Church in America’s annual General Assembly in Richmond, Virginia, and the Getty’s Sing! Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. He has also participated in missions conferences in South Carolina and Ohio so far this year. He’s also made multiple trips to San Diego to meet with our West Coast staff and mutiple donors and partners.
If you are interested in having Lee, or another member of our staff, attend your church’s missions conference or general meeting, please contact Trey Porter, ABC Director of Development, at 601-922-1962 or portert@africanbiblecolleges.net.
ABC CHRISTMAS DEVOTIONAL
Each Christmas, African Bible Colleges offers a 14-day devotional series leading up to Christmas day. The daily devotionals, written by ABC staff from all over the world, is a wonderful way to prepare our hearts for the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The devotional series combines Scriptural studies and cross-cultural African perspectives for a unique Advent experience.
LIBERIA CAMPUS
NEEDS
ABC Radio 95.7 FM in Liberia is embarking on an ambitious expansion plan! They are working to expand their broadcast signal nationwide and to online platforms, with a potential audience of nearly 500,000 Liberians! With the expansion, ABC Radio 95.7 FM would significantly increase ABCU’s radio coverage and exponentially increase leadership.
The expansion plan includes modifications and improvements in the radio studios, the purchase and installation of additional studio equipment and software for online broadcasting, increasing the height of the radio tower at the campus radio station, and adding a repeater tower on top of nearly Mount Nimba to increase the range of broadcast nationwide.
MALAWI CAMPUS
NEEDS
The ABC campus in Malawi houses more than 270 students on campus, many of whom enjoy food services. The student cafeteria, constructed in the late 1980's when the college was established, is in great need of updates in their kitchen and food storage facilities. Plans are underway to purchase new kitchen equipment to better serve the growing student population. There are also plans to convert an existing structure adjacent to the cafeteria into a food storage structure.
Additionally, there are a number of missionary houses in need of significant upgrades and repair. The campus includes some 21 houses that are home to the members of the college, academy, and hospital staff.
UGANDA CAMPUS
NEEDS
The ABC staff in Uganda is growing! As our enrollment increases, the need for staff increases and, thus, our provisions for staff housing are critical right now.
We have a staff duplex currently under construction, but, due to rising costs in construction, we need additional funds to complete the work.
The campus is also in need of a new multi-passenger vehicle to transport students, staff, and guests. Travel can be difficult and, as such, our Uganda campus is planning to purchase a reliable van to replace the old vehicle shown below. It will benefit nearly every aspect of daily life on campus and increase our ability to transport our ABC Uganda family throughout the country.
It is a remarkable time in the history of African Bible Colleges! God is sending us more and more students on our three campuses in Africa. We have a growing number of students pursuing their education online. God has blessed us with the ability to treat more and more sick and injured Malawians at our ABC Mission Hospital and Clinics. God is reaching hundreds of amazing young students every day at our ABC Christian Academy. Many are hearing the Gospel and learning about God and His love for us through our radio stations and television station. The list could go on and on!
But ABC cannot do all that God is leading us to do without the generous support of our donors, partners, and friends. Will you please prayerfully consider making a year-end donation to ABC today?