| Introduction | | | | there for all regardless of status. It may be a church |
| The general theme for this year's Trinity Term | | | | situation, or college situation or denominational |
| Retreat: The Effect of our National Disturbances on | | | | situation. The Old Testament presents no less a case |
| the Work of the College since 1997: What are the | | | | on this matter (see Ps. 48:14, 73:24; Isa. 58:11; Jer. |
| Prospects? Urges all of us - lecturers, students, | | | | 3:14) than its New Testament counterpart does (see |
| administrators and friends to do a retrospective, | | | | Lk. 1.79, Jn. 16:13). |
| introspective and prospective analysis of our | | | | In my life as a lecturer in most of the institutions |
| ten-year-old crisis within the context of the Christian | | | | where I have worked, the saddest mistake that is |
| community. This exercise is necessary because | | | | often made is the neglect of God's Elijahs and Elishas |
| through it we learn from both the past and the | | | | in these intuitions. Lecturers are sometimes if not all |
| present circumstances so that we may prepare | | | | the time underpaid under so many pretexts. These |
| ourselves for a bright future. | | | | lecturers or administrators who have given their lives |
| The actual outbreak of the rebel war started in 1991 | | | | to serve and give theological, or pastoral guidance in |
| in Eastern Sierra Leone, then it spread to the South. | | | | the same manner as Elisha, are worthy of their |
| In April 1994 it reached the North and after a year in | | | | reward. |
| 1995 it made itself felt in the Western Area of the | | | | 3. THE NON-NEGOTIABLE MOMENT OF |
| country. At the moment, in the year 2008 the yoke | | | | THEOLOGICAL CRISIS |
| of this rebel war is still psychologically and painfully | | | | (2ND KINGS 6:5) |
| hanging over the head of every living Sierra Leonean. | | | | Having looked at the Need for Theological guidance, |
| It is needless to remind you that from the inception | | | | we should now look at the Non-negotiable Moment |
| of this war to date the people of this country have | | | | of Theological Crisis. The moment of crisis cannot be |
| been subjected to untold suffering - there has been | | | | negotiated because it comes as and when it is |
| destruction of lives and property country-wide; | | | | propelled by the agent of evil (see James 1: 2-4, |
| disruption of the educational system and much of the | | | | 13-16). The servant of God can neither postpone |
| governmental administrative machinery. | | | | crisis nor can he transfer it to someone else. As one |
| Against the foregoing background, I would like to | | | | of the students of Elisha was busy cutting trees |
| take liberty of the general theme by introducing a | | | | together with his colleagues, he met his moment of |
| sub-theme: The Testimony of a Theological | | | | non-negotiable theological crisis because the passage |
| Community in Times of Crisis. This sub-theme draws | | | | roads - "but as one of them was cutting a tree, his |
| our attention to four important ideas from 2nd Kings | | | | axe head feel into the river, and he exclaimed, 'O my |
| 6: 1-7. | | | | master, the iron piece that you have lent me". |
| 1. The Need for Theological Initiative (2nd Kings 6: | | | | The moment of crisis that has overshadowed Sierra |
| 1-2); | | | | Leone for the past ten years is unexpected and |
| 2. The Need for Theological Guidance (2nd Kings 6: | | | | non-negotiable. The interruption of college programs |
| 3-4); | | | | was adjusted to meet the constraining demand for |
| 3. The Non-Negotiable moment of Theological Crisis | | | | lecturers and students' academic needs, etc. This |
| (2nd Kings 6:5); | | | | writer salutes all those daring and dedicated |
| 4. The Unforgettable Remedy for Theological Crisis | | | | colleagues, with whom he laboured during the most |
| (2nd Kings 6-7). | | | | turbulent of times in the history of this war in Sierra |
| 1. THE NEED FOR THEOLOGICAL INITIATIVE (2ND | | | | Leone. |
| KINGS 6: 1-2); | | | | 4. THE UNFORGETTABLE REMEDY FOR |
| The Prophetic Ministry which owes its early | | | | THEOLOGICAL CRISIS (2ND KINGS 6: 6-7) |
| beginnings to Samuel who exercised the tripartite | | | | I must underscore here that wherever and |
| ministry of Seer, Priest and Prophet (see 1st Sam. 1: | | | | whenever there is a non-negotiable moment of |
| 1-10) has now reached the stage of an organised | | | | theological crisis, there is the unforgettable remedy |
| school or college during the time of both Elijah and | | | | for theological crisis. The interaction between Elisha |
| Elisha. Trainee Prophets were recruited and made to | | | | and his theological student gives us a vivid picture of |
| go through the rigours of training in matters relating | | | | what I mean here. In 2nd Kings 6: 6-7 we read: "The |
| to the profession. The curriculum might have included | | | | man of God asked him, where did it fall? And he |
| such matters as Prophetic calling, administration, | | | | showed Elisha the place. Elisha cut off a stick, throw |
| ethics, ministry, comportment, etc. But the point at | | | | it in there, and the iron piece floated. "Elisha said, 'get |
| issue here is - the need for Theological Initiative. In | | | | it'. The man reached out his hand and took it". |
| vs. 1-2 of 2nd Kings, chapter 6, Elisha's students | | | | The impression I have is that there is a cordial |
| demonstrated a certain amount of initiative - "Now | | | | relationship between Elisha and his students. Elisha did |
| the fellow prophets said to Elisha, see the place | | | | not scold or accuse the student of carelessness. He |
| where we are gathered has became too small for us. | | | | knew it was a moment of crisis, so he asked instead |
| Let us go to the Jordan, and let each of us get a log | | | | of scolding and accusing - "where did it fall?". |
| to build a shed where we can gather. The facilities | | | | Furthermore, Elisha's method of remedying the crisis |
| they have in Samaria are inadequate, so they are | | | | is rather unsual - he cut off a stick, throw it into the |
| talking about expansion. | | | | place where the iron fell, and it floated. Contrary to |
| A successful lecturer or teacher, or pastor | | | | marine studies and physics the current did not |
| sometimes succeeds in imbuing into the students or | | | | prevent the iron from floating. Wherever there is |
| congregation the capacity for theological initiative. | | | | divine presence, the impossibilities became possibilities, |
| Christ succeeded in doing that through the disciples | | | | and the unusual happens. Elisha has remedied the |
| whom he called, taught and sent out on mission (Mt. | | | | situation in his capacity as a prophet. |
| 10: 1-42). The founders of most of our colleges in | | | | It is my conviction that those who stayed with us 1n |
| Sierra Leone, and parts adjacent were propelled by | | | | Sierra Leone since 1991 up to this point in time in |
| theological initiative in order to contribute to bringing | | | | 2008 would agree with me that this country is still |
| to fruition the great commission of Christ. Even | | | | what it is today due to God's unforgettable remedy. |
| though the rebel war attempted to thwart the | | | | Conclusion |
| initiative of our fore-founders, their initiative continues | | | | In conclusion I must emphasize that the effect of |
| to make an impact. | | | | our National Political disturbances on the work of our |
| 2. THE NEED FOR THEOLOGICAL GUIDANCE (2ND | | | | Theological Colleges and institutions in general since |
| KINGS 6: 3-4) | | | | 1991 has been devastating, traumatic and |
| It is a good thing to demonstrate a sense of | | | | retrogressive. Therefore, in order to forge ahead, our |
| theological initiative either by the majority or by an | | | | testimony as a Theological Community during and |
| individual. But there is also the need for theological | | | | after this moment of crisis, should been seen in the |
| guidance as is the case in 2nd Kings 6: 3-4. The | | | | context of 2nd Kings 6:1-7 bearing in mind the four |
| majority were united in calling for the expansion of | | | | important points we have discussed so far: |
| their facilities, but only one thought of the need for | | | | 1. The Need for Theological Initiative (2nd Kings 6: |
| theological guidance: "Then one of them said to him, | | | | 1-2); 2. The Need for Theological Guidance (2nd Kings |
| why do you not come along with us?" so Elisha went | | | | 6: 3-4); 3. The non-negotiable moment of Theological |
| with them. And when they arrived at the Jordan, | | | | crisis (2nd Kings 6:5); 4. The Unforgettable remedy |
| they began to cut down the trees". It seems as if as | | | | for Theological Crisis (2nd Kings 6:6-7). Our country |
| a lecturer or teacher or mentor Elisha succeeded | | | | and its related institutions must be seen to be |
| more in imbuing into his disciples the need for | | | | working together in unity. The programs must be |
| theological initiative than he is successful in imbuing | | | | relevant to the needs of our immediate and wider |
| into them the need for theological guidance because | | | | community. Both academics and Students alike must |
| only one of the students thought about it - "why do | | | | have a common goal - academic excellence, |
| you not come along with us?". | | | | tolerance, compassion, and humility as they march on |
| Whatever names we call it - whether theological, or | | | | to fulfill the mission of Christ. |
| pastoral or missiological guidance, the need is ever | | | | |