image001Two men serving in India and Africa have graduated from U.S. colleges. They are now planning to return to their home countries to continue in ministry.

Wesley Chatla is affiliated with the Indian Christian Bethel Baptist Gospel Fellowship, which connects more than 200 independent Baptist churches in southern India. His father, Dr. Chatla Devasahayam, is president and oversees a large ministry in Nidumolu. This ministry includes a local church, Bible college, orphanage, and large Christian school. Wesley was principal of the Christian school until he began pursuing an MDiv at Faith Baptist Bible Seminary, Ankeny, Iowa. Wesley came to the U.S. alone, separated from his family until they were able to join him during his second year. Wesley and his wife, Sonia, and their two boys moved into married student housing, integrated into Midwestern U.S. culture, and endured the harsh Iowa winters. On May 7 Wesley graduated with an MDiv degree. He expressed his praise to God and thanksgiving for so many people who helped his family during these years of education. The family plans to return to India June 9 to focus on church planting.

Emmanuel Ndolimana is pastor of a Baptist church that fellowships with the Evangelical Baptist Churches of Rwanda in eastern Africa. He also serves asimage001 general secretary of that association, headquartered in the capital city of Kigali. Emmanuel says, “The education acquired will enable me to be a resource person to equip fellow laborers in ministry back home who have less opportunity of Biblical training.” Separated from his family and friends, Emmanuel discovered that winter in Illinois is quite different from the climate in Rwanda, but he came for a purpose and finished the course. He graduated May 9 from Wheaton College, a Christian liberal arts college located west of Chicago. He received an MA in systematic theology and will return to Rwanda to his family and ministry on May 17.