Dr. Richmond Wandera (L), the Founder and President of Pastors Discipleship Network (PDN) together with Mr Joseph Musaalo (R), the Chairperson of the PDN board of directors.
Pastors Discipleship Network (PDN) on Saturday marked the start of construction on its new institution of higher learning, Cornerstone University, which will be used to equip critical and creative servant leaders who will employ a Christian worldview for community transformation in all facets of life.
Dr. Richmond Wandera, the Founder and President of PDN stated that in satisfying the mandates and requirements of the National Council of Higher Education, the proposed university will offer an innovative approach to education that blends academic rigor with Christian values.
“This university is being established to solve a problem. There is a scholarly crisis in the African Church and society today. Most African pastors are untrained and the effects of their teaching and misuse of power are being felt in people’s lives,” Dr. Wandera said in his speech.
“It is the goal of Cornerstone University to train and equip the higher caliber of Pastors and leaders in various facets of society, to maximize the redemptive and restorative assignment of the Church,” he said.
Mr Wandera urged that Africa needs a new and improved type of higher education that produces truly transformed and qualified individuals.
Sitting on over 435,600-square-feet of land in Kazinga, Bweyogerere in Wakiso district, construction of the institution has been valued at more than UGX.4 billion. Cornerstone University will offer programs not only in theology and biblical studies, but in traditional fields like arts, science, business and education.
Dr. Richmond Wandera illustrated the need for African pastors to attain theological training by using apostle Paul’s powerful relationship with Timothy. In Acts 16, Paul intentionally chose Timothy to travel with him on his journeys so that he could help Timothy grow in his faith.
“It is only when you have that kind of support that you can reach your destination,” Dr. Wandera said in his speech. “They’re things that I dreamt to do, but I did not know how to do them, until God sent men and women to guide me on this journey. And, that is what I believe this university is.”
“Africa is a blessed land. We have wisdom here. We have people with a calling in this land. All they need is someone to come alongside them. To instruct them in the way of God and commission them,” he said.
High Court Judge, Justice Margaret Mutonyi who was the guest of honor at the groundbreaking ceremony stated that Cornerstone University is being established “at a time the world is moving away from the normal to the abnormal, from the natural to the unnatural, from the Biblical truth to lies.”
“Praise be to God that Cornerstone University which is based on the cornerstone of our salvation, Jesus Christ, is going to be a gateway to our future. There has not been a better time than now for its breaking of the ground,” she said.
“May the Almighty God, who finances all programs, the Alpha and Omega of all our programs, the Great I Am, who is with us, continue to be with us, as Cornerstone University is being established,” she said.
The official opening of Cornerstone University is expected to take place in December, 2023.
About Pastors Discipleship Network (PDN)
PDN is a registered nonprofit 501c(3) organization established in 2008 to train and equip pastors and their wives with critical ministry and life skills to help them lead and teach their congregations while fostering personal development.
During the past 15 years, they have successfully trained and equipped over 4,800 pastors in East Africa – providing quality theological education by gifted facilitators, securing and delivering high-quality ministry resources to African church leaders, effectively following up with pastors after training, and building networks for pastors across East Africa to facilitate accountability and fellowship.
In their business training program, PDN has provided more than 1,600 pastors and their wives with training and resources in small business development, financial accountability, and entrepreneurship. The goal of this special training is to alleviate the extreme poverty that is common among African pastors.
