By Eileen Rob
Not too long ago, I sat down with a group of educators from various backgrounds, cultures, and countries at a fancy hotel in Colorado Springs. I felt a bit out of place but enjoyed listening to what the group had to say about themselves. I enjoyed hearing of their passion for the children they help to educate. They all had a dream, a praise, a goal, and best of all, a concern in their heart for what they did.
They all took turns relating real-life stories that seemed to capture everyone’s heart, including mine. They spoke of their concerns for urban schools, all sharing from different levels of involvement. Some schools had only recently become involved, while others had been at it long enough to experience victory over tough times.
What did I personally have to share? I am not an educator, nor have I experienced urban life. I don’t really even understand the disparity and need within this society because I’m from Africa. Born and raised in Kenya, I am the oldest of five children. My father, Brigadier General James Rob, was in the Kenya Army, and my mother was a teacher and principal. At 18, I graduated and went to a two-year college. I then started working with the Evangelical Free Church of America, a ministry that had both a health and a theology school in Zaire.
After two years, I was accepted at the University of Nebraska. First I was a business major, then a physical science major, and then the thought of being a respiratory therapist crossed my mind until I finally felt drawn to learn more about the needs of the world. In my second year at the university, I declared international studies as my major. I was able to write and read about both political and social situations in various countries. However, I was not exposed to urban situations in America, and I think my present position is going to be my learning ground where I can learn more about urban ministry and become involved.
It was almost my turn. What was I going to share with the group? Sitting to my left was a principal from South Africa who paved the way for me. He also had not been involved with urban ministries, but he had a desire to be as soon as he returned to South Africa.
When my turn came, I quietly introduced myself as the Assistant to the Director of Urban School Services for ACSI. It bothered me that I had no story to tell (especially after hearing about Desire Street Academy in New Orleans, and Christian Academy in San Antonio, and many, many others) and that because of my lack of knowledge about urban ministry, I did not yet have a passion for urban ministry. But what I heard over and over again was the need in the urban community and the passion in the hearts of these educators. And I felt happy, satisfied with what they had chosen to do for the children and the community.
While in college, I had to study Africa and honestly I thought to myself, I don’t need to. I’m from there, and I know it all. Well, there was no way out; I studied Africa! I had thought I knew every migration pattern and history of every struggling nation on that continent. During my classes I was humbled, realizing I did not understand it enough to fully embrace the suffering in Africa. I now believe that a Christ-centered education holds out perhaps the greatest promise of hope for those suffering throughout the world, including the urban centers here in America.
The Meantime Volume 3 Number 1