January 21, 2005
Nazarene university presidents from Africa, Canada, and the United States met January 5th in consultations regarding the newly envisioned Brazil Nazarene University to be located at Taquaral, Campinas. Joining International Board of Education Commissioner Jerry Lambert and South America Education Coordinator David Wesley were presidents Bob Brower (Point Loma Nazarene University), Riley Coulter (Canadian Nazarene University College), Loren Gresham (Southern Nazarene University), Richard Spindle (MidAmerica Nazarene University) and Leah Marangu, vice-chancellor of Africa Nazarene University. Geraldo Nunes, newly elected president of Brazil Nazarene University, joined the group as well. The group met for three days offering consultations with the Organizing Committee for Brazil Nazarene University along with representatives from all regular districts in Brazil. The meetings addressed the vision for the establishment of Brazil Nazarene University by Aquiar Valvassoura, pastor of Campinas Central Church and superintendent of the Southwest Paulist district. Also included was a review of the establishing process required by the Brazilian government, a proposed constitution and by-laws, and discussion of various topics.
Also included on the agenda was a meeting of the International Resource Team with the church board of Campinas Central Church (a church of more than 6,000 members with more than 12,000 in attendance each week) to review the vision and progress of the initiative. Additionally, Nazarene professionals and 85 university professors currently teaching in Brazilian universities, along with a team from UNICAMP (Universidade Estadual de Campinas), a local university in Campinas, met as well. Consultants toured the newly purchased 40-acre site, which will serve both Campinas Central Church and Brazil Nazarene University.
According to Pastor Geraldo Nunes Filho, the goal is to have the first university entrance exams near the end of this year and to start classes in 2006 in the areas of Business Administration, Mass Communication, Education, Music, and Theology. The Church of the Nazarene in Brazil already has more than 100 professors teaching in higher education. The new university will join the other 57 Nazarene universities and colleges in higher education around the world.
—Story developed by Brian Utter, NCN South America, Riley Coulter, reporting for Nazarene News-Canada and NCN News