A
work of divine providence in answer to prayer led to the beginning of ESWA, the
first interdenominational evangelical seminary in Liberia to offer a master’s
degree. It all began when Dr. Jacob Vambo, who was Executive Director of Scholarship
at the Liberian Baptist Theological Seminary, was tasked to establish a Master
of Divinity program for the seminary. After several years of prayers and
fasting asking the Lord to show him someone who would help him establish such a
program in Liberia, the Lord led him to examine the Christian Education faculty
at Dallas Theological Seminary. As he looked at each name, he prayed “Oh Lord!
Please send us someone to kindly aid our seminary”. Suddenly, the photo of
Prof. Jay L. Sedwick popped up from the page and stood on his desk. “It was the
strangest and shocking thing” he said, but he knew that it was God’s hand at
work. Then he heard the prayer-answering God say, “This is my servant I am
sending to help you”. Two days later, an email was sent to Dr. Sedwick, who after
some inquiry responded favorably and was able to meet Dr. Vambo in Liberia that
very year.
Not
long after that meeting, Dr. Rick Calenberg joined the DTS faculty. He was well
familiar with the need of theological education in Africa, having served at a
seminary in Nigeria and traveled and ministered in Liberia with the Romans
Project. He and Dr. Sedwick agreed to partner in exploring the need and
opportunity in Liberia. A meeting was held in January, 2014 with several church
leaders, mission leaders and theological educators. All agreed that an
evangelical graduate seminary was needed. SIM gave permission to use its
property in Congo Town, also serving as the HQs of the Evangelical Church of Liberia,
which became the first church partner with ESWA. The process of accreditation
was begun, culminating in provisional accreditation with the Liberian National
Commission on Higher Education in June 2019.
The
ESWA Board appointed Dr. Rick Calenberg as the first president, and classes
began in September, 2019 with about 25 students. The first graduation will be
held in December, 2022.