Historical Overview of the College
- As stated in the College’s constitution, the name of this institution is Assembly Bible College (ABC). The College is located at Tlokweng, Sefoke Ward, and Plot # 976. The College is owned and operated by a community of people of a church, Assemblies of God in Botswana (AOG). It is an education department of this organisation. This appears in Article xv: Christian Education and Theological Training, of the constitution of the Assemblies of God in Botswana (ref. appx. 5: Constitution and By-Law of AOG)
- It offers a Christ-centred theological education. This echoes the cries of the prophet Hosea when he declared, “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6) The apostle Paul urges us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” (II Timothy 2:15). Hence the theological training.
- Assembly Bible College (ABC) was established after unfortunate events took place in Lesotho and South Africa respectively. In 1969, four young men and women were sent to Lesotho to train as workers at an Assemblies of God College there. Unfortunately, this arrangement was short lived as a year later, the political turmoil in that country abruptly forced the students to come back to Botswana. As a result, Rev GL Haggard then quickly made an arrangement with the South Africa Assembly Bible College to have the Batswana students admitted there. This too failed as the South African Apartheid government would not grant Batswana students study permits as they were deemed as political risks. It became therefore incumbent/obligatory for the missionaries in Botswana to come with an alternative plan to ensure that that the returning students continue and complete their course.
- (d) Thus in 1970, having entered into an agreement with the local church, the Assemblies of God World Missions authorised the country missionaries to establish a Bible College in Botswana. The Gaborone Assembly of God agreed to lease a piece of land within its grounds to build a structure for the college. A total of eight students were enrolled at that time.
- The establishment of training facilities falls within the mission of the Assemblies of God World Missions to REACH, PLANT, TRAIN and SERVE. To this end, the establishment of a Bible Training College in Botswana was key in reaching Botswana for Christ to fulfil the mandate of the church to evangelise which is the pillar and anchor of the New Testament church.
- Assembly Bible College (ABC) was founded in 1970 in Gaborone under the leadership of Rev. G.L. Haggard as Principal. Shortly afterwards, Rev. G.L. Olshevski took over the College and they, and the College moved to its 3.2 hectors campus in Tlokweng in 1981. Rev. James Stewart Jr. and family transferred to Botswana from KwaZulu Natal in 1982, and served on staff at the College.
- Rev. R. Habibo (AOG Botswana’s Bishop) joined the faculty in 1977 and became the principal in 1982. Rev. Habibo served as principal until 1996. Rev. K.K. Mbae served as Principal till 2000. Rev. L. Stevens served briefly in 2000. Rev. P. Mahar took over in 2001 and served the College till April of 2005. Dr. Charles Wilson took over the leadership of the College in April 2005 until 2009. Rev. Samuel Letang took over in 2009 to 2015 and Rev. Phodiso Ntwaetsile is the current President of the College.
