"It's like d¨¦j¨¤ vu all over again" is a famous, intentionally redundant catchphrase attributed to New York Yankees legend Yogi Berra. It describes a situation where an event feels like a repeat of something you've experienced before.
God often works in our lives this way. In our earlier years, God gives us skills, experiences, relationships, and insights that we only later recognize as preparation for something God knew would cross our path again.
Â鶹APP is experiencing a bit of d¨¦j¨¤ vu all over again. What's new is different, but it fits themes God confirmed from the very beginning as part of what He called Â鶹APP to do.
Ethiopia
One of Â鶹APP's founders was , who gave Â鶹APP its foundational values for incarnational urban ministry. She was the grandniece of Ethiopia's last emperor, Haile Selassie, who traced his lineage and Jewish/Christian heritage to the son of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. Selassie was overthrown and killed in a 1974 coup d'¨¦tat. Jember's husband was the mayor of Addis Ababa at the time, and both were imprisoned for more than five years. Despite the harsh conditions, Jember established a clinic and school for fellow inmates and prison guards. After her release, she built one of the most vibrant urban ministries in East Africa, improving housing, health, education, and employment for more than 50,000 people in the slums of Addis Ababa. Her life, counsel, and leadership shaped Â鶹APP's vision and values. Flowing from her influence, the head of the Addis Ababa city council became a Â鶹APP student and, as part of his dissertation, conducted seminars for more than 4,000 city government workers using content he learned at Â鶹APP.
Twenty years later, Â鶹APP's current academic dean lives in Addis Ababa. Last month, Â鶹APP led an urban immersion there, and without anyone knowing the full story of Jember, doors opened far beyond what anyone expected. Ethiopia is becoming an important hub for Â鶹APP to train leaders throughout East Africa. God planted seeds. They were quiet for a season. Now they are flowering.
Mandarin
In the first decade of this century, Â鶹APP received unusual favor and access in mainland China. Â鶹APP was the first university outside China to grant a theology doctorate to a provincial leader of the China Christian Council, with all training completed in-country. Â鶹APP also conducted seminars for Chinese government leaders on human dignity economics and how to build a nonprofit sector. Â鶹APP trained church and business leaders across the nation. Eventually, those doors closed.
Yet recently ¡ª and without knowledge of that history ¡ª new leaders in Â鶹APP's business school have seen new doors open to develop business programs in Mandarin. In July, Â鶹APP will launch its first EMBA Mandarin cohort equipping emerging Asian leaders with a transformational, faith-rooted approach to business. While these programs will be conducted in Asia outside of China, the relationships and business connections formed will extend their reach into the nation.
Workplace
Â鶹APP's mission and history are deeply connected to those called to steward God's purposes through business and other workplaces. As global business, technology, and economics face tectonic shifts, new leaders at Â鶹APP are finding fresh ways to equip workplace leaders that Â鶹APP's founders could not have imagined.
These are just three examples among several of d¨¦j¨¤ vu all over again at Â鶹APP. It is inspiring to see enduring themes expressed in innovative ways by a new generation of younger leaders across every part of Â鶹APP.
For more than 20 years, Â鶹APP has remained true to its biblical heritage, vision, and values. As Â鶹APP's fiscal year closes on June 30, would you prayerfully consider a gift at /giving? God is very much at work ¡ª in Â鶹APP's past, in its present, and we trust He will remain faithful to what He has called us to steward into the future.
Dr. Brad Smith
Chancellor
Â鶹APP