Leadership Education Mission for Africa- LEMA Institute was founded in August 2015 by Rev Joshua Amaezechi and two other gentlemen –Chris Palmer and Gregg Shewan as an extension of an annual Christian Leadership and Development Seminar for pastors which Rev Amaezechi started in Igboland of Nigeria in 2013. These annual Seminars were partly sponsored by the Christian Reformed World Mission (now Resonate Global Mission) and organized in partnership with area pastors and the One Degree Foundation – a Nigerian based Nongovernmental organization founded by Rev Amaezechi and coordinated by Rev Christian Ezuruike and Rev Susanna Willie. Since then, over 1000 pastors and ministry leaders have received training. The LEMA Institute in Mbaitoli has grown to become LEMA Theological Seminary, a degree awarding institution, with a study center in Amuria Uganda. Continue reading...
Christianity is exploding in Africa!
The lack of opportunities for higher education has left the church with many untrained leaders.
It is believed that more than 70% of ministry leaders in Africa do not have any formal ministry
training. Most of the immigrant pastors from Africa come from this pool of untrained leaders.
Without knowledge of God’s Word and a biblically trained leader to guide them, it is difficult
for African Christians to live faithfully in the midst of political instability, poverty, and
generations of unredeemed tribal customs. This leaves many churches in Africa vulnerable to
corruption, false teaching, and ungodly worship practices.
The troubling factors mentioned above combine to create problematic ethics in ministry. All too
often the corruption and abuse in the church place barriers in front of God’s lost and faithful,
making it more difficult for them to live into the hope, promises, and truth that God has for His
people. The cumulative result is that even while the African church is growing in numbers, it has
not been able to realize anything close to its potential for sending missionaries to the world. Even
in the US, the immigrant pastors struggle with a lack of informed knowledge of how to lead and share
God's word in the North American context.
The LEMA Institute has been established to address these needs by providing ministry training
opportunities and accountability systems so that these leaders can improve their knowledge of the
Word and flourish in their ministries.
LEMA Institute Head Office is located at
First Congregational Church building, 120 W. Morrell St,
Otsego, MI 49078
LEMA Institute exists to equip Christian leaders in Africa as well as immigrant pastors for healthy, biblical, financially independent ministry.
The LEMA Institute teaches the truth of Scripture and fully agrees with the Statement of Faith as adopted by the National Association of Evangelicals: http://nae.net/statement-of-faith/.
Below is a statement of what we believe at LEMA. It is by no means exhaustive. It is however a guide to the things we teach, learn, and share at LEMA. Please, contact our office if you need additional information.And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
2 Timothy 2 vs 2
Qualified Teachers
Dynamic Students
Transformational Courses
Years Ahead
Rev Joshua Amaezechi
MDiv
Position : President
Mark Lovdahl
Position : Director
Ray Wright
Position : Director
Chanel Wilson
Position : Director
Dave Glas
Position : Chair of the Board
Emily Shumaker
Position : Member
Jeff Scheffers
Position : Member
Valerie Cunningham
Position : Board Member Emeritus
Traci Rhoades
Position : Director/Secretary to the Board
Rev Gregg Shewan
Position : Founding Board Chair
Prof Ruth Veltkamp
PhD
Position : Professor of Missions
Board Member Emeritus
Rev Paul Larbode
Position : Board Chair Emeritus
Dr Christopher L. Palmer
Position : Founding Board Member/Academic Dean
Dr Roger Sikkenga
Position : Board Member Emeritus
Late Steven Klooster
Position : Board Member Emeritus
Rev Christian Ezuruike
Position : Board Member Emeritus
Rev ThankGod Nwaozuzu
PhD
Position : Registrar/Dean of Students
Rev (Mrs) Hope Mgbeoduru
PhD
Position :Dean of Faculty and Administration
LEMA Theological Seminary
Mrs Kechi Ofoegbu
BSc
Position : Librarian
LEMA Theological Seminary
Rev Joshua Amaezechi
MDiv
Position : President
Prof Ruth Veltkamp
Position : Professor of Missions
Rev John Nnoje
PhD
Position : Visiting Professor
Bishop Emmanuel Okwalinga
Position : Mission Leader, Uganda
Dr Udo Ukeje
Position : Vocational Instructor
LEMA Theological Seminary
Tony Gillies
Indiana
Position : Advisor
Kim Diemer
Grand Rapids
Position : Advisor
Rhonda Bos
Plainwell
Position : Advisor
Rev Joshua Amaezechi
MDiv
Position : President
Hunter Renema
Position : Development Administrative Assistant
Bev Towne
Position : LEMA Bookkeeper
Tara Lovdahl
Position : Prayer & Life Ministry Assistant
Mary Green
Position : LEMA Office Assistant