"Building Pan African"
Interview with Dr. Curtis Grey, Superintendent and President of PATC
By: Allison Norton
In February of 2005, Dr. Curtis Grey, President and Founder of Pan African Theological College, answered some questions concerning how and why PATC is in existence.
Question: How did PATC begin and how did the vision begin to come to reality?
Answer: We when first came to West and Central Africa we realized the need for training. We did not have the proper leadership necessary because many of the ministers were not properly trained. Our goal is to train the future leaders of the Church of God in West and Central Africa. We were promised help from Lee University in starting the school, but the plans fell through. The Lord provided encouragement for us, though, in sending Sister Qualls and Sister Whitten to help us begin. At the time, we did not even have a building for the school. As my wife and I seriously prayed about starting the school, we received a phone call from Sister Qualls and Sister Whitten the very same day. They told us they were coming to Ghana. The Lord again provided encouragement in a unique way in providing a building to house the school. Our realtor was helping us find a one story home to live in. One day he took us to a large 2 story home. We told him, “No, this is not what we want to live in.” He replied, “This isn’t for your house, this is for your school.” We know that God was leading, because we had not even told him we were planning on starting a school!
Question: What specific challenges have you faced during this process, and what particular needs do you have?
Answer: One of our main challenges has concerned finances. In order to rent all of the buildings we needed for the school, we had to pay $20,000 to secure them for 2 years. My wife and I traveled and raised the necessary funds for the rent, but then we did not have the funds for furniture, not even for chairs and tables. We used the little bit of money we had to provide the basic furniture needed, but then the Lord again provided for us, in sending a sponsor who gave to provide for furniture and for a school bus. Currently, our biggest challenge is procuring qualified lecturers. We have a large vision for this school, and believe that one day it will provide education through the doctorate level. We need qualified lecturers in order to achieve this goal.
Question: What are your plans to overcome your challenges?
Answer: We are arranging several meetings with Lee University and the Church of God officials to see how they will be able to assist us. Fortunately, we have close relationships with many of the officials, and most of the time if there is anyway they can help us, they do.
Question: What is the current and progressive development for PATC?
Answer: After paying for the rental buildings, we realized that we could not continue paying $20,000 every 2 years. We are currently building in Winneba, and PATC will be moving there for the 2005-2006 school year. We have been able to raise the money to build the chapel and administration building, and we are receiving additional funding from YWEA (Youth World Evangelism Action) which will enable us to complete this project. I know that my wife and I would not still be here, if it were not for PATC. We know the value and importance of the school, and have a large vision for the future. When the buildings are completed, we will be able to rejoice in what God has done.
10-Sep-2005 ® www.PanAfricanTheologicalCollege.org