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History of the Emmaus School of Correspondence in Kenya
The following text we found in a booklet called: Emmaus Bible School - Golden Jubilee 1952 - 2002
Welcome
You are given a very warm welcome as we come together to remember all that the Lord has done through the Emmaus ministry here in this country. Someone has said "Avoid the trap of looking back - unless it is to recall a lesson learned or to glorify God for what He has ac complished. For those whose lives are centered in Christ the best days are always yet to come".
During the last Fifty years Emmaus has gone through some difficult times but God has always been there and proved faithful in keeping the work alive. We cannot do otherwise than give all the praise and glory unto Hirn. Only eternity will reveal an the lives that have been touched and influenced by this ministry. We have tried to bring together in this publication something of the history of Emmaus and what it is all about and we trust that it will be of interest and a blessing to you. We have refrained from using names as much as possible because some would end up being left out. Over the 50 years God has raised up and used many different people from various countries to further His Work here in Emmaus. Same have been short term while others have served for longer periods hut we are confident that they are all known to God and He will reward accordingly. He is faithful.
We trust that you will enjoy this occasion and that the Lord will bless and challenge you.
What is Emmaus?
The School gets its name from the Bible, in Luke 24:13. Emmaus was actually a small village near Jerusalem. Three days after the Lord's death on the Cross, two of the disciples were walking along the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus discussing all that bad happened, they were very despondent concerning the future.
The Lord joined them in their walk and told them about the necessity of His crucifixion and His resurrection. The Bible says "He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things conceming Hirnself”. (Luke 24:27) and: “He opened to them the scriptures, the Word of God.” (Luke 24.32).
This is the aim of "Emmaus" a world wide organisation, committed to the provision and distribution of correspondence courses so that we may help to "open" the scriptures to all who would seek to know more of His Word.
International history
 Emmaus Bible Correspondence School began in 1942 in Toronto Canada. The founders were Ed Harlow, Ernie Tatham and John Smart. However Tatham says "There would have been no Emmaus without Ed Harlow. John Smart and I fully supported him, hut he bad the dream and the organizational know how to put it all together. He was God's man for the work." Ed Harlow along with his first wife spent some time as a missionary in Zaire. Upon returning to Canada he saw a real need of people in outlaying areas who wanted to study the Word of God and so he with those named above set about meeting that need. Today Ernmaus is one of the largest correspondence schools in the world and uses languages spoken by 80% of the world's population. Millions have studied these courses and have been greatly blessed.
The local history
The Emmaus work in Kenya was started in 1952 by a missionary called Dr. Jarvis who began by sending out English courses. In the same year a Mr. Bob McKinley bad a similar vision and began working in Mombasa having the courses translated and distributed in the Kiswahili language. About the same time the African Inland Mission realised the same need and opened an office for Luo courses in Kisumu and another for Kamba in Muiango, Kitui.
In 1961 Miss G Koppel (now Mrs. E. Harlow founder of Emmaus) came from Zaire. (Democratic Republic of Congo). She saw the need to coordinate what had rapidly developed in Kenya and was able to bring the various sections together. Miss Koppel during her time also translated same of the courses into Kiswahili. During September of 1961 the Royal Show was held and Emmaus was ahle to get a small stand to display the courses available at that time. About 130 free courses were given out to those who showed a special interest, same of them being Asians which was a great encouragement. Three days later one who had received a course sent in four of the tests for marking.
In 1963 Mr. Bert Banzhaf became the Regional Director. He came from Tanzania and brought with him the "Word of Life" correspondence courses which were added to those already being used. Expansion of the work was seen at this time in that the number of courses being sent out monthly increased from hundreds to thousands per month and there were same courses in Luo and Kikamba added as well. Mr. Banzhaf was very active in seeking to gain new students by visiting schools, holding evangelistic meetings, showing films and tract distribution. Mr. Bill Jacobson who had worked for some time as Assistant Director then became the Director. He was very much involved with the Radio ministry which has been a great blessing to many over the years. David Mbugua Mungai who worked with both Mr. Banzhaf and Mr. Jacobson then became the Director. He was followed by Mr. Allan Griffin and then Mr. Les Rainey.
Ab out this time Emmaus was in a difficult financial situation and moved from the office in Mfangano Street to Nairobi Chapel where the overheads were not so high.
In 1985 Mr. Jack Lacey who had spent a number of years in Rwanda as a missionary, involved in the Emmaus work there became the Director here in Kenya. During his time an agreement was reached with “Fellowship of Believers” to sublease part of the compound at Kimathi to Emmaus to put up a building for the ministry. A fund had been set up in the States for this purpose and this was the first building that Emmaus owned in Kenya. Mr. Lacey used his experience from Rwanda and designed the building to meet the needs of the ministry which included ample office space, studio for the radio work, provision for the printing of our own courses, a Bookshop, as weIl as two apartments for those working with Emmaus.
Mr. Lacey retired in 1990 and Mr. Rex Riordan then became the Director and continues to be so up to this present time. Over this period changes have taken place with a number of new courses being added to the catalogue especially in the Kiswahili section. We are much indebted to the Emmaus work in Tanzania as they have translated more of the courses into Kiswahili which means we can use them here. Our own project in this area has been the translation of the two prisons courses into Kiswahili and we are encouraged that the first one is now in stock and the other almost ready for printing.
Our Bookshop was started by Mr. & Mrs. F. Munnings from Canada in 1987. Mrs. Dorothy Riordan took over in 1989 and over the years has been able to increase the stock held and sells a wide variety of Bibles as well as much good reading materials, and some Christian tapes etc. In Kenya courses are available in English and Kiswahili languages. Currently there are 74 in English and 27 in Kiswahili. With every course completed successfully a student will receive a report card which gives the name of the student, the name of the course completed, the percentage earned and the date. Upon completion of the first 9 courses the student will receive a Certificate and when a further 9 are completed a diploma is given. Another 12 will earn an Advanced Diploma, then for every 12 courses completed another Advanced Diploma.
During our last financial year (1st December 2000 to 31st November 2001) there were 13614 courses sent out to all corners of the country with 10117 being returned für marking. There were 2932 new students enrolled during the year. There were 256 who wrote in to say that through their studies they bad come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. There has been good cornmitment in that 299 eamed their certificates having completed the first 9 courses while 136 received diplomas.
 As a nonprofit making organisation we seek to offer these courses of high academic standard to our students at a reasonable price. The price charged for all courses is less than the cost of production. Gifts from God's people make up the difference. Bible Literature International helps a great deal in this area. The purpose is that many will better understand the Bible and use its truths as the basis and source of etemal life as well as a practical guide for everyday life.
Prison Ministry
A prison ministry was commenced around the early 1970's and continued until the early 1980's when it had to be closed due to lack of funds to keep it going. .
In 1989 it was reactivated again and has continued up to the present time. Initially students were only allowed to do the first 4 courses but due to the pressure from students and prison authorities it was extended to the first 9 courses (certificate level). Again there was a plea to let them continue and this was granted so that today a prisoner can continue doing the courses free of charge until the prison term is completed and there are some who have completed to the Diploma level with one or two reaching the Advanced Diploma.
Emmaus staff are allowed to visit the prisons to preach the gospel and introduce the courses to the prisoners and staff. Over the last half of 2001 the number of courses going into the prisons has doubled and now there are more courses going into the prisons than are being sent to ordinary students. It is very encouraging to have ex-prisoners visit the office from time to time and to see them going on in their studies. The need for Bibles in the prisons is always there. From the commencement of 2002 every prisoner now receives a New Testament with the second course.
Radio Ministry
Emmaus has had the privilege of being able to teach the scriptures over the Radio since the early 1960's up until July of 2000 free of charge. Due to policy changes in KBC which required that all programs be paid for it had had to be suspended.
It began with a 15 minute slot in Kiswahili but due to demand from listeners it was extended to 30 minutes. Many listeners also requested to be taught in their vernacular language and so programs in Kikuyu, Maasai and Kikamba were introduced. From 1994 the programs were only in Kiswahili.
Many have come to know the Lord through our Radio broadcasts and have become students of Emmaus. Over the years there have been many requests from listeners to visit their respective Churches which has given the opportunity to preach the Ward and introduce the Emmaus courses.
Most of our keen listeners have been writing to us expressing their disappointment and frustration about the withdrawal of the weekly program. One lady recently had this to say. "Please Emmaus I beg you to do all that you can as soon as possible to bring back the Radio program on air because since it was stopped I feel like I am backsliding and not growing in my spirituallife." So join with us as we continue to pray about the future of our Radio ministry and trusting the Lord to provide and open the door again for us in this work of broadcasting good news and hope to our world.
Bible Literature International
Emmaus is very indebted to Bible Literature International for their faithful support over many years. They also visit the ministries which they support and the following comments are same made by a Mr. Perry A.Temple who visited in 1971.
"In my recent trip to Africa I was particularly delighted with what I found at the Emmaus Correspondence School in Nairobi Kenya. Bert Banzhaf the school's director bad everything organized and running in tip top shape. He had laid down guidelines für a smooth office öperation. I remember one notice on the bulletin board which caught my eye: `The office closes at 5.00. You are not to prepare to leave until 5.00, because if you prepare to leave 10 minutes before 5, you are robbing God of 10 minutes a day´. Going hand in hand with the discipline I found a beautiful spirit among the office staff. While they were well organized and efficient in their tasks there was still that evidence of their dependence upon God in operating the ministry. They make no real appeal for funds, simply relying on the Lord to send in the money. Theirs is the old pioneer spirit that led such missionaries as Hudson Taylor and George Mueller.... and I must say it was refreshing. ... In one office I met a national named "Chris" whose face literally radiated the love of God. I discovered that he bad been at one time a Mau Mau which required taking an oath of violence. God delivered him and completely changed his life. Now, instead of planning acts of violence, he sat there translating the wonderful Words of Life info the Swahili language. ... The results of the work are amazing. One "graduate" of the courses bad been a car thief and was put in prison. While there he began studying the Emmaus courses. Today he is back in prison.. this time, going voluntarily as a christian worker, teaching the inmates about Christ and introducing them to the Emmaus courses which bad been the means of him finding Christ. ... Another "graduate" started taking the courses while in the army. When he was discharged from the service, he entered theological college and is now doing full-time work among Kenya youth".
Bill Jacobson who was first assistant director and then director around 1974 - 75 writes in one of his newsletters: "We met an Ethiopian who is here in Nairobi serving as Regional Representative for the United Bible Societies which covers all of Africa. In learning of our connection with EMMAUS, he broke into a warm smile and said he knew of EMMAUS all right and then proceeded to give us his testimony how same years ago he bad been seeking for the Truth and not knowing who to believe or what way to follow. He had asked himself, who is right? The Orthodox priest (Coptic) or the missionaries of different denominations who do not seem to agree with one another? In the end he enrolled in an Emmaus course called "What the Bible Teaches". He went on to take other courses with Emmaus and
came to a living faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and in His Word. And now his life's ministry has to do with the Bible, Gods Word. That was wonderful to hear."
Looking to the future
We have looked back and with grateful hearts we are able to acknowledge all that God has done, and now we need to look forward and trust Him for all that He is going to do in the future. The Word of God says in Philippians 3.13-14: "Brethren l count not myself to have apprehended, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”
We need to look ahead and plan for this ministry that it will reach many more for Christ before He comes back again. We are told to "work while it is day for the night cometh when no man can work”. We need to remember that our Lord is coming back. We also need to be conscious of the fact that we may not always have the freedom and liberty that we currently enjoy because we live in a changing world. If the Lord tarries we have no idea what the next 10 years may bring let alone the next 50 years.
The present management is concerned that almost all the support for this ministry comes from outside the country. Should this be so after 50 years? As we draw nearer to the Lord s coming and are surrounded by various cults and false teaching (as predicted in scripture) it 15 an undisputed fact that there is a greater need now than ever before for believers to spend time in the Word of God and what better way to do that than by studying the Emmaus courses.
Emmaus therefore needs men and women who are committed to this ministry and who will get behind it in prayer, in giving and in engouraging those who serve the Lord in it. We need those who are not only prepared to use the courses for their own spiritual benefit but willing to encourage others to do so as well. Our desire is to see much more use made of our courses for the spiritual uplifting of the body of Christ.
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