So You Are From Sierra Leone?
In the spring of 1959, a few months after arriving at Evangelical Theological Seminary, 28-year-old Eustace Renner wrote this short account of his life and calling for the seminary's student publication. It is the earliest piece of his own writing we have found. The text below is transcribed exactly as printed, including original spelling.
It was 4 P.M., February 12, 1959, when I pulled into Naperville, Illinois, to begin work in the Seminary. It was extremely foggy. After a round of greetings, the long awaited question came—"so you are from Sierra Leone?"
Yes, I come from Sierra Leone, West Africa, but via Albright College, Reading, Pennsylvania. I enjoyed most of my stay there from 1955 to 1959. Three of my most cherished memories are winning the award for the best freshman, presidents of Kappa Tau Chi (Pre-ministerial fraternity) and Y.M.C.A., and stage managing the last Quadrannial Pageant of our denomination.
I owe all of my success directly to the Evangelical United Brethren Church. Born in November 7, 1930 into the family of Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Renner, I am the fourth of four boys and two sisters both adopted after my mother lost five girls. After completing elementary and secondary education in Moyamba and Freetown, I began active mission work in 1948—first as office assistant and then in 1950 and 1951 as Conference Treasurer and assistant accountant.
In 1950, I finally decided to stop "kicking against the goad" and was licensed by Bishop Warner; and, believe me, the Holy Spirit fell on me that day. From 1951-1954, I attended Fourah Bay University College for my theological training. I was also pastor of three worship centres, two of which I started. In 1954, after a lot of prayer and struggle, I accepted the appointment as Conference Director of Youth Work and also Conference Statistician and Co-ordinating Secretary. The highlight of my work among young people was the youth camp of 1955. God called me definitely into young people's work in the Church and I was not prepared for it. Therefore, the Department of World Missions working closely with the Sierra Leone Conference offered me the opportunity for further training. That's how I found myself in the United States.
Everyday, I see new avenues for service and realize how much responsibility goes with every opportunity and blessing from God. I become more and more convinced as St. Paul that "Necessity is laid upon me, woe to me if I preach not the Gospel". I beg for your continued prayers and support as I go back to the "Macedonian calling" Africa.
Two years later he graduated with a Bachelor of Divinity, the only member of his class from Africa, and in March 1962 he kept his promise and went home to Sierra Leone with his bride, Zainabu.
View the archival scans (PDF), including the 1961 graduating class pages.
Courtesy of Styberg Library, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston, Illinois, which holds the records of Evangelical Theological Seminary.