November 16, 2022
In 2001, the Rev. John Holler and a mission team from South Carolina traveled thousands of miles to work at the Fairfield Children’s Home.
They fell in love with the orphans and The United Methodist Church’s Old Mutare Mission that was caring for them. Holler promised to return.
On Oct. 21, Holler walked back on the campus. He also brought a gift of $800,029.
“For 20 years, it was a promise unkept,” he said. “It is amazing to return to this place.”
More than 80 United Methodists traveled from the U.S. to celebrate the 30th anniversary of United Methodist-related Africa University and the inauguration of the Rev. Peter Mageto as the university’s fifth vice chancellor.
The visit to Old Mutare Mission was also in the plans.
“Africa University is called the ‘School of Dreams,’” said Bishop L. Jonathan Holston, episcopal leader of the South Carolina Conference. “The Old Mutare Mission is across the way in the ‘Valley of Hope.’”
Because Africa University originated in Old Mutare, Holston continued, “we have no choice but to embrace the Old Mutare Mission.” The university was built on land originally belonging to the mission and donated by the church in Zimbabwe.
Many of the donors and visitors on the journey, organized by the Africa University Development Office, came from the South Carolina Conference. Holston said he wanted the people to “see with their own eyes how the money they give is making a difference.”
The gift to Fairfield came from a campaign to raise funds for the Epworth Children’s Home in South Carolina where Holler, who recently retired, was president and CEO. Holston agreed to the fundraising idea but asked Holler to add a foreign mission component and give a tithe of 10% of whatever was raised. They both thought Fairfield would be the perfect recipient.
“I began to think about The United Methodist Church with our organizational structure and how it is sometimes underutilized,” Holler said. “I went to the bishop with the idea of trying to see if as a church we could really make a difference in the whole issue of child care.”
Holler’s goal was to raise $10 million. Two years into the campaign, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. They came up a little short of the goal, but through internet work and innovative ways, including vacation Bible school collections, they were able to raise $8 million.
The money going to Fairfield will be used to support the children and the mission’s ministry. A scholarship fund to Africa University also will be established.
The money will go into an endowment fund, and the Fairfield Outreach and Sponsors Association will vet projects.
“We are working toward scholarships for any of the children from Fairfield to attend Africa University,” Holler said. “In fact, one of the top graduates in the last graduating class at AU was a Fairfield child.”
During his 2001 visit, Holler was asked to preach at a rural church. It was a pivotal moment for him.
The church hadn’t had anyone serve communion to them in a long time, he said.
“As I served communion, I will never forget the people who came to receive the host,” Holler recalled. “There was a hunger.”
“I knew in my heart we are one under God; we are all God’s children, and we are all on a journey toward holiness,” Holler told the group gathered under the tent on Oct. 21.
“I present this gift,” he added. “It is amazing to return to be with you to celebrate together in God’s miraculous world.”
