George Fox University | About | Lon Fendall

Lon Fendall

Director of the Center for Global Studies and the Center for Peace and Justice

Country:
Burundi

Organization:
Great Lakes School of Theology

Nature of Work:
Lon is chair of the U.S. Advisory Committee for the Great Lakes School of Theology, which serves students from Rwanda, Congo, and Burundi. This is a four-year Bible college, the purpose of which is to prepare men and women to be more effective church leaders and pastors. Part of the curriculum is pointed toward the great need for ethnic reconciliation in the region. One of Lon's functions is to coordinate the recruitment, screening, and preparation of expatriate faculty for the school.

Explanation for Involvement:
Lon was invited to Burundi in 1998 as a consultant to help organize the school. He has been involved for six years. He has visited the school four times to consult with the leaders of the college, to teach, and to meet with the board.

In 2001, Lon co-authored with David Niyonzima, Unlocking Horns: Forgiveness and Reconciliation in Burundi (Barclay Press, 2001).

Country:
Haiti
Lon and his wife Raelene have been involved with a ministry to the poor in Fond-des-Blancs, Haiti. As a result of their experience, Lon co-authored with Jean L. Thomas, At Home With the Poor, (Barclay Press, 2003), an account of the personal commitment, hardship and success of working to meet the spiritual, physical, educational, economic and medical needs of this community. Jean L. Thomas is co-director of the project in Fond-des-Blancs and is a GFU alum. Also involved in the book were Debbie Ellingsworth, on staff with GFU, who supplied the art work, and three GFU students who helped to gather information.