May 16, 2008
Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ [Romans10:17]
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Vinay Samuel
Rev. Dr. Vinay Samuel, an Indian by nationality is a graduate of Union Biblical Seminary, Yavatmal, India, and holds a doctorate in Economics from Cambridge University, England, which he attended as the first scholar of the Langham Trust.
Rev. Samuel is recognized internationally as a development economist and theologian. He ably and effectively bridges the gap between ecumenical social activism and the evangelical church. As a theologian who stresses the dignity of the oppressed, he has been a practitioner of development; has published widely; is associated with a number of international development organizations; and is a regular participant n international conferences on development. He is an advocate for social justice and transformational development.
Writing about Dr. Samuel in his book Seeking the Asian face of Jesus, Dr. Chris Sugden notes that "Dr. Samuel [holds] the view that evangelical theological education is in a critical position to provide leadership to the whole church globally and that leaders are called to choose between old models that are failing and new models. Christian institutions can use the academy to assist in ensuring that standards are met, but can also challenge the academy by informing all areas of study with Christian faith, especially in the areas of culture studies and social studies."
In 1977 Dr. Samuel founded a program to equip development workers for the Evangelical Fellowship of India Commission on Relief (EFICOR). In its 27-years of innovative training, this three-month program has prepared hundreds of community development workers who now provide leadership to community-based development throughout India and South Asia. EFICOR now also conducts in-service courses for a number of development organizations further strengthening the skills and vision of long-term community development personnel. Dr. Samuel sees institutions as necessary tools in the process of 'transformation.' His understanding of a good institution is one that is closely linked to 'social carriers' or those who implement ideas and return back and keep influencing the 'ideas-people.' Dr. Samuel's emphasis on connecting ideas and theories to grassroots practice has led him deeply into the arena of education.
Dr. Vinay Samuel has also contributed to other educational efforts to enhance effective strategies to combat poverty. He and Dr. Chris Sugden have written a course on Poverty and Development which is now being used in nearly eighty countries. Since the creation of this singular course, Dr. Samuel's commitment to equipping leadership in the field of development has grown into the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies (OCMS), a training center for mission practitioners form the Global South. At present he is the Director of this Center, located at Oxford, in the United Kingdom.
OCMS has become a leading educational center for higher education of emerging leaders from Africa, Asia and Latin America who are involved in transformational development-primarily in the disciplines of economics and society. Many have earned doctoral degrees facilitated by OCMS.
For Dr. Samuel this kind of education is 'influencing for impact'. He has coordinated many consultations and workshops that have focused on developing a Christian perspective on global issues, including: economics; population dynamics; hunger and poverty; and communication. He is constantly seeking for ways to help Christians from various walks of life to grapple with the intersection of their faith and their vocations.
More recently, through his participation in and leadership of the Divya Shanti Association, Dr. Samuel has been focusing on the challenges being faced in urban contexts of the Global South.
Rev. Samuel is recognized internationally as a development economist and theologian. He ably and effectively bridges the gap between ecumenical social activism and the evangelical church. As a theologian who stresses the dignity of the oppressed, he has been a practitioner of development; has published widely; is associated with a number of international development organizations; and is a regular participant n international conferences on development. He is an advocate for social justice and transformational development.
Writing about Dr. Samuel in his book Seeking the Asian face of Jesus, Dr. Chris Sugden notes that "Dr. Samuel [holds] the view that evangelical theological education is in a critical position to provide leadership to the whole church globally and that leaders are called to choose between old models that are failing and new models. Christian institutions can use the academy to assist in ensuring that standards are met, but can also challenge the academy by informing all areas of study with Christian faith, especially in the areas of culture studies and social studies."
In 1977 Dr. Samuel founded a program to equip development workers for the Evangelical Fellowship of India Commission on Relief (EFICOR). In its 27-years of innovative training, this three-month program has prepared hundreds of community development workers who now provide leadership to community-based development throughout India and South Asia. EFICOR now also conducts in-service courses for a number of development organizations further strengthening the skills and vision of long-term community development personnel. Dr. Samuel sees institutions as necessary tools in the process of 'transformation.' His understanding of a good institution is one that is closely linked to 'social carriers' or those who implement ideas and return back and keep influencing the 'ideas-people.' Dr. Samuel's emphasis on connecting ideas and theories to grassroots practice has led him deeply into the arena of education.
Dr. Vinay Samuel has also contributed to other educational efforts to enhance effective strategies to combat poverty. He and Dr. Chris Sugden have written a course on Poverty and Development which is now being used in nearly eighty countries. Since the creation of this singular course, Dr. Samuel's commitment to equipping leadership in the field of development has grown into the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies (OCMS), a training center for mission practitioners form the Global South. At present he is the Director of this Center, located at Oxford, in the United Kingdom.
OCMS has become a leading educational center for higher education of emerging leaders from Africa, Asia and Latin America who are involved in transformational development-primarily in the disciplines of economics and society. Many have earned doctoral degrees facilitated by OCMS.
For Dr. Samuel this kind of education is 'influencing for impact'. He has coordinated many consultations and workshops that have focused on developing a Christian perspective on global issues, including: economics; population dynamics; hunger and poverty; and communication. He is constantly seeking for ways to help Christians from various walks of life to grapple with the intersection of their faith and their vocations.
More recently, through his participation in and leadership of the Divya Shanti Association, Dr. Samuel has been focusing on the challenges being faced in urban contexts of the Global South.
Recorded on Thursday, September 21, 2006, 7:30pm EST
Yale Divinity School
Marquand Chapel
New Haven, Connecticut
Length: 86 minutes
Yale Divinity School
Marquand Chapel
New Haven, Connecticut
Length: 86 minutes
