Central Africa Baptist University came into existence in 2006 to “train the next generation of servant-leaders in Africa for Great Commission living.”
In 1993 American missionaries, Neil Whitwam and Philip Hunt embarked upon a team-based church planting ministry in Kitwe, Zambia. As men and women came to know Christ and were biblically discipled, outreach ministries started in various places. These eventually blossomed into new church plants. God’s people were responding to God’s Word to build God’s church.
As these churches grew, there was a need for more in-depth theological and ministry training. In 2002, Dr. Steve Pettit, a board member at Northland Baptist Bible College (later Northland International University), visited Zambia. Dr. Pettit encouraged the administration of NBBC to visit Zambia to evaluate the possibility of a joint venture to establish a college to train pastors and Christian leaders in Kitwe.
In March 2004, Dr. Sam Horn, Executive VP of NBBC, spent a week in Zambia. Dr. Horn’s assessment was that a branch campus in Zambia was viable. Central Africa Baptist College in Kitwe Zambia was chartered on April 5, 2004. At the inaugural board meeting, Philip Hunt was appointed as president of the college.
On February 13, 2006, the first classes of CABC were held. Twelve students enrolled for the opening semester. Since then, God has brought a team of qualified, passionate men and women from across Africa and beyond to make up the faculty and staff at Central Africa Baptist College & Seminary.
A partnership agreement was signed between Piedmont International University, USA (now Carolina University) and CABC in 2013. This partnership offered a Piedmont master’s degree in Biblical Studies at CABC. In 2020, an application was made to HEA for accreditation for a Master of Arts in Christian Ministries.
Campus property was purchased in Riverside Extension, Kitwe, in 2005. Construction of Phase 1 was completed in 2008. In 2015, the board approved plans for Link Business Park. This two-story commercial building was intended to generate local income to support the college and seminary’s annual operations.
In 2020, Phase 2 development included the purchase of an additional adjoining property. Renovations were approved to convert part of Link Park into office and classroom space. Construction of a multi-purpose student centre was also undertaken.
CABC applied to ACTEA for accreditation for the theology program in 2016 and was accredited in 2017. In January 2020, Central Africa Baptist College & Seminary was granted accreditation by the Higher Education Authority (HEA). The status of CABC was upgraded to a university, and the name changed to Central Africa Baptist University. CABU has grown from 12 students in 2006 to 135 students in 2020.
The university maintains a focused effort of providing theological training to networks of local churches. This includes providing training to pastors and ministry leaders in Zambia and other countries in the region through our TSE Program (Theological Studies by Extension).
The mission of CABU is to “facilitate obedience to the Great Commission until Christ has been made known by reproducing gospel-preaching churches in every village, town & city across Africa.”
As of December 2020, CABC has 130 graduates serving in 9 countries around the world.