Mission
PAThS prepares servant leaders to equip the church of Africa to fulfill God’s mission in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Because of this commitment, the training priorities of this seminary are intentionally biblical in perspective, Pentecostal in orientation, missional in emphasis, contextual in application, and scholarly in practice.
It is the conviction of the leadership of this seminary that God has a great plan for the church in Africa to fulfill through fully participating in the Missio Dei to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to the nations of the earth. PAThS exists to prepare trainers and leaders of the African church, who will in turn equip other eleventh-hour laborers to fulfill their God-given destiny (2 Tim. 2:2).
CORE VALUES
Biblical in perspective: We value a high view of Scripture. We believe the entire Bible (Old and New Testaments) is inspired of God and is the revelation of God to humanity, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct for all of life. The Bible is indispensable to the identity, health, and mission of God’s people. The seminary considers it a sacred responsibility to pass on to students a passion for God’s Word. We prioritize the use of skillful exegesis to correctly understand and apply Scripture.
Pentecostal in orientation: We value theological education characterized by Pentecostal ethos. Pentecostal-theological education emphasizes the role and presence of the Holy Spirit in student formation. Because the Spirit’s intervention is essential for personal growth and ministry, the seminary commits to creating space for the Holy Spirit in all parts of the educative process, emphasizing His role in the student’s learning experience.
Missional in emphasis: We value the church’s role in proclaiming God’s mission to redeem sinful humanity and restore a fallen world. This mission is realized evangelistically through the proclamation of the gospel of Christ, and is lived out in the ministry context of everyday life. The seminary is committed to Christ’s Great Commission, and therefore is also committed to effectively equip and empower students for meaningful engagement in this purpose.
Contextual in application: We value the ministry context of every student. The faculty of the seminary are committed to a learning environment that presents information in a way that will help the student better construct meaning out of his or her own experiences. The learning environment exists not only in the classroom, but also in the student’s local context through application of course content to the student’s own cultural setting and ministry.
Scholarly in practice: We value scholar-practitioners who are aware of, and can respond to, questions the surrounding culture is asking. All truth is God’s truth; therefore we are committed to knowing truth through scholarly investigation. The seminary is committed to effectual theological education resulting in outcomes characterized by scholarly rigor, academic integrity, and ministerial competence.
Administration & Faculty
Board of Directors
Dr. Jude Ngouwa, Chairman of the Board
Dr. Honoré Daplex Ouentchist, PAThS Chancellor and West Africa Representative
Rev. Greg Beggs, Africa Regional Director
Rev. Gary Dickinson, Executive Secretary
Rev. Brent Teague, West Africa Area Director
Rev. Philip Kitoto, East Africa Representative
Rev. Michel Ouedraogo, West Africa Representative
Dr. Gordon Lebelo, Southern Africa Representative
Rev. Pat Hurst, President, WAAST
Board of Administration
Dr. Honoré Daplex Ouentchist, Chancellor
Dr. Steve Pennington, Vice Chancellor
Dr. Bill Kirsch, Provost
Dr. Bob Braswell, Vice Provost
Dr. Etienne Zongo, Dean of Students
Rev. Earl Goodrich, Program Administrator
Rev. Beth Lord, Registrar
Dr. Jim Lemons, Dean of Francophone Program
Rev. Pat Hurst, President, WAAST
Rev. Randy Tarr, Africa’s Hope Liaison
Academic Affairs Committee
Dr. Honoré Daplex Ouentchist, Chancellor
Dr. Steve Pennington, Vice Chancellor
Dr. Bill Kirsch, Provost
Dr. Bob Braswell, Vice Provost, Dean of Research
Dr. Chuck Wilson, Dean of Institutional Assessment, Dissertation Coordinator
Dr. Doug Lowenberg, Bible-Theology Chair
Rev. Earl Goodrich, Program Administrator
Rev. Beth Lord, Registrar
Dr. Carl Gibbs, ATTS Liaison
Dr. Andrew Mkwaila, Dean of Tanzania Extension
Dr. Jim Lemons, Dean of Francophone Program, Togo Campus Administrator
Dr. Jonathan Bersot, Dissertation Coordinator for Francophone Program
Rev. Romuald Hanss (PhD Cand.), Dean of Research for Francophone Program
Rev. Cynthia Lemons, Registrar, Francophone Program
Teaching Faculty
Jonathan Bersot, PhD, University of Montreal
Chip Block, DMin, Assemblies of God Theological Seminary
Richard Bogere, PhD, Pan-Africa Theological Seminary
Jean-Claude Boutinon, PhD, Sorbonne Université
Bob Braswell, PhD, Florida State University
Delta Cavner, EdD, Boise State University
Charles Davis, PhD, University of Nebraska
John M. Elliott, DMin, Assemblies of God Theological Seminary
Sam Farina, DMin, Assemblies of God Theological Seminary
Douti Flindja, PhD, Pan-Africa Theological Seminary
Carl B. Gibbs, DMin, Western Conservative Baptist Seminary
Doug Green, DMin, Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary
Romuald Hanss, PhD Cand., Jean Calvin d’Aix en Provence
Suzanne Hurst, DrPH, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Jerry Ireland, PhD, Liberty University
Alan R. Johnson, PhD, University of Wales
Bill Kirsch, DMin, Assemblies of God Theological Seminary
Israël Kombaté, PhD, University of South Africa; PhD, l’Université de Fribourg
Douglas Lowenberg, PhD, Regent University
Enson M. Lwesya, DMin, Assemblies of God Theological Seminary
Phil Mayo, PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary
Robert P. Menzies, PhD, University of Aberdeen
Denzil R. Miller, DMin, Assemblies of God Theological Seminary
Andrew Mkwaila, DMiss, Fuller Theological Seminary
R. Michael Oney, PhD, Regent University
Randy Payne, PhD, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Steve Pennington, PhD, Assemblies of God Theological Seminary
Boyd Powers, DMin, Assemblies of God Theological Seminary
Charles Wilson, EdD, Nova Southeastern University
Guest Lecturers
James T. Bradford, PhD, University of Minnesota
Alan R. Johnson, PhD, University of Wales
Craig S. Keener, PhD, Duke University
Byron D. Klaus, DMin, Fuller Theological Seminary
Research Faculty
Mary L. Ballenger, DMin, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
Jonathan Bersot, PhD, University of Montreal
Chip Block, DMin, Assemblies of God Theological Seminary
Larry Bogle, EdD, University of North Texas
John Brown, PhD, Emory University
Delta Cavner, EdD, Boise State University
Janet Deck, EdD, Walden University
John L. Easter, PhD, Assemblies of God Theological Seminary
Charles Estridge, PhD, Baylor University; DMin, Reformed Theological Seminary
Terance D. Espinoza, PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary
Sam Farina, DMin, Assemblies of God Theological Seminary
Allison Fountain, PhD, University of Auckland
Béchié Gnanchou, PhD, Pan-Africa Theological Seminary
Larry Goodrich, EdD, University of Minnesota
Douglas M. Graham, DMin, Azusa Pacific University
Judy Higgins, DMin, Assemblies of God Theological Seminary
Alan R. Johnson, PhD, University of Wales
Shaun Joynt, PhD, University of Pretoria
Byeong Jun, PhD, University of the Western Cape
Jim W. Lemons, DMin, Assemblies of God Theological Seminary
Paul W. Lewis, PhD, Baylor University
Jeanne M. Lowell, PhD, Biola University
James O. Lowell, PhD, Biola University
Enson M. Lwesya, DMin, Assemblies of God Theological Seminary
Robert Mapes, EdD, Texas A & M Commerce
Julie A. McElhany, EdD, Texas A&M University
Murriell McCulley, EdD, Regent University
Terry Minter, PhD, Regent University
Warren Newberry, DTh, University of South Africa
John L. Ommani, DMiss, Fuller Theological Seminary
R. Michael Oney, PhD, Regent University
Boyd Powers, DMin, Assemblies of God Theological Seminary
Jean-Baptiste ROAMBA, PhD, Regent University
Bruce Rosdahl, PhD, Dallas Theological Seminary
Robert Shipley, PhD, Pan-Africa Theological Seminary
Kim Snider, PhD, Biola University
Carl F. Verge, PhD, New York University
Charles P. Watt, DTh, University of South Africa
David Welle, DMin, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
Howard L. Young, DMin, Assemblies of God Theological Seminary
Étienne P. ZONGO, DMin, Assemblies of God Theological Seminary
HISTORY & BELIEFS
In 2002, the Africa Assemblies of God Alliance (AAGA) Executive Committee mandated that a doctoral program be started on the continent. Key factors in the decision to move forward with the development of this new program were as follows:
The growth of the African church requires capable and qualified leaders to address the growing challenges. The training of ministers at all levels of education is essential. Therefore, AAGA mandated doctoral-level training to assist in meeting increasing leadership requirements.
AAGA leaders desired a doctoral program that embodies a high view of Scripture and shares the values inherent within the Pentecostal tradition.
The African Assemblies of God (AG) Masters programs, the first beginning in 1994, had graduated a significant number of highly qualified key church leaders. Many of these graduates, having earned theological masters degrees, were now ready for further training to help them lead in the twenty-first century.
With the number of experienced ministers holding doctoral degrees increasing in both AAGA and AGWM-Africa, a doctoral program staffed jointly by African-related personnel was now possible.
Several key AAGA events led to the establishing of the doctoral program in Africa. First, an African Doctoral Graduate Outcomes Profiling Survey was conducted at the AAGA General Assembly in Cape Town in October 2002. This survey laid the foundations for the continent-wide church leadership research needed for establishing the program. This event was followed by a dialogue between interested African and AGWM missionary respondents. This was facilitated by Africa Theological Training Service (ATTS) and conducted by Rev. Don Corbin, Regional Director of the US Assemblies of God World Missions. A regionally-representative doctoral committee meeting was then held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, in November 2003, further defining the parameters for the doctoral program. From there, a doctoral program design committee was appointed and a proposal for establishing the African doctoral program was presented at the AAGA General Assembly in Accra, Ghana, in October 2004. That body unanimously approved the doctoral program and mandated its starting date.
ATTS was tasked to implement this new training initiative and develop its structure. The PAThS Constitution and Bylaws and the appointment of PAThS administration were ratified at the AAGA Executive Meeting in Lilongwe, Malawi, February 2005. In response to the AAGA mandate, PAThS began in November 2005 with a cohort of sixteen doctoral students from ten nations of Africa.
PAThS is a community of scholars committed to the World Assemblies of God Fellowship Statement of Fundamental Truths