Reaching People With Grace

Israel Gwatana knew from the time he was a little boy that he wanted to teach, to preach, and to follow the Word of God.

The son of a minister and an elementary school Bible teacher, it was, after all, a family thing. As a native of Nigeria and a member of the Bassa Kwomu ethnic group, he longed for the opportunity to add his voice to those discussing his larger, global family.

He found it at Princeton Theological Seminary where he was one of four students selected to address the first of the two-part Afterlives of Slavery Conference last October in Monrovia, Liberia.

The conference was presented jointly by Princeton Seminary, Howard University Divinity School, the Smithsonian National Museum of African History and Culture, and the University of Liberia. Part II of the series is scheduled for Oct. 19-21 in Washington, D.C.

Gwatana, who graduated earlier this year with a Masters of Theological Studies degree, is passionate about the subject.

“The afterlife of slavery is not just something that is happening in the US or in Liberia. It is transnational. And even though the polity the colonial actors might have left Africa, the script is still there,” he says. “And some ethnic groups are still using those scripts to marginalize other groups of people.

“For me, the question is how does our faith as Christians speak to those issues? How can we use the Bible to talk about reconciliation, about forgiveness, about the historical marginalization that has led to this lack of trust amongst people? And how do we get to the point where we see ourselves as humans first before any other differences that we have?”

A graduate of ECWA Theological Seminary in Jos, Nigeria, Gwatana’s ultimate goal is to return to Nigeria to teach and preach. His wife, Blessing, recently was accepted into Princeton Seminary’s education and formation program. They also have a daughter, Kulana, who is with them. For the next couple of years, Gwatana will be serving at East Pennsauken UMC and Pennsauken UMC in New Jersey.

For me, the question is how does our faith as Christians speak to those issues? How can we use the Bible to talk about reconciliation, about forgiveness, about the historical marginalization that has led to this lack of trust amongst people?

He found his way to the United Methodist Church through one of his early Princeton Seminary classes with theologian Dr. Willy L. Mafuta, an adjunct professor who is also a pastor at Hopewell UMC in New Jersey.

“In one of our classes, he asked us where we see ourselves in 10 years. I told him that I saw myself standing right where he is. Teaching as a professor.”

Mafuta wanted to hear more. The two got to talking.

“I told him I was interested in doing pastoral ministry and biblical scholarship as well. So that was how we connected, and that was how he became my mentor. I started volunteering to serve in his church. And when it was time for me to do my field education, he graciously granted me that opportunity. The people were so welcoming and supportive. They gave me a whole new definition of what it looks like to support someone in ministry.”

Gwatana’s relationship with the Bible has deepened as he matured, but he admits to moments of disappointment in how its message has been spread – or misrepresented.

“I grew up with the Bible. But I would say that in the latter days of my teens, I sort of drifted; I couldn't make sense of religion. Nigeria is a country that has been plagued by a lot of religious tension and ethnic killings and religious violence. I couldn't understand how Nigeria can be this very religious country -- and religion is still a problem. It seems Christians couldn't even find the answer or find a place of agreement and order.”

So, he set out to find some answers.

“I have always been fascinated with scholarship, writing, researching, and teaching. I see those things as gifts that come naturally for me,” he says. “I was just looking for the things that could help me become the best in what I wanted to do.”

While studying in a seminary in Nigeria, he read a book by New Testament Scholar, Bart Ehrman, a 1981 Princeton Seminary graduate.

“There are several things that I did not agree with, but I just loved how he presented his arguments. And when I saw that he graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary, that’s when I began looking at PTS.”

He hopes to remain on campus for some time to come. He plans to pursue a PhD at the Seminary. In the meantime, he says, look for him in Washington for the second Afterlives Slavery conference.

“For me, one thing I have learned that will help me in my ministry beyond PTS is how to reach out to people with grace. We have seen how fragile we are. I will try as much as possible to apply this lesson in the way I live with people, in the way I lead. I will try not to leave anyone outside the door and create room for everyone to have a voice.”