The 2025 SDB Visiting Instructors Program will launch on April 22nd. The first stop will be in Janesville, WI where Pastor Canaan Phiri from Malawi and Pastor John Ryakitimbo from Tanzania will be interacting with gathered SDB ministry leaders for The Summit. Pastor Canaan and Pastor John will be part of the team providing presentations, preaching at gathered worship, and leading Bible Studies over the course of the weekend.
The Visiting Instructors will be visiting a number of SDB churches and ministries in North America over the coming weeks, with the final stop at Eastern Association in Shiloh, NJ, May 16-18. The following is an introduction to the two Visiting Instructors in their own words.
John Emmanuel Ryakitimbo
John works as a local pastor in Arusha region within the Seventh Day Baptist Conference of Tanzania in East Africa. John is married and blessed with two boys and one girl. He heads an inter-religious pilot programme called “Meru Hills Gospel Network,” a pilot project aimed to develop positive relations and cooperation amongst different Christian denominations in Arusha region. He also works with local NGOs and education institutions as a Counseling Psychologist, Community Development Consultant, HIV/AIDS Counselor and a Community Change Agent.
A graduate of the Seventh Day Baptist Africa Bible College, he also holds a BA in Counseling Psychology from the University of Eastern Africa Baraton and an MA in Theological Studies and Community Development from Lucent University.
Canaan Phiri
Multitalented person with many credentials and attributes, endowed with a lot of leadership skills, a team player, a man of high integrity, with passion for excellence and a committed individual who rises above parochial tendencies. A Church Pastor by calling, with over 20 years pastoring a church. and also long time ministering in an ecumenical environment. Passionate motivational speaker with a strong drive on leadership development. Teacher by profession, taught in Secondary School and lectured in the University of Malawi as Assistant Lecturer on part time basis. Likes teaching and training leaders. Extensive experience in Corporate Governance having served on over twenty high profile Boards both Statutory and Ecumenical. A Publisher with extensive experience in Desk Top Publishing and Leading a Christian Publishing house.
Mission-oriented National/ Regional Coordinator with Operation Christmas Child, a children’s Ministry of the Samaritan’s Purse successful in developing robust youth ministry programs and serving as positive role model. Zealous in reaching children in the Unreached People Groups. Highly accomplished in helping youths strengthen personal relationships with God and while providing growth opportunities. Talent in program administration, operations management and spiritual leadership. Dependable General Secretary of the Malawi Council of Churches and Regional Coordinator of the Samaritan’s Purse providing excellent office management and administrative support.
Thank You
The Visiting Instructors initiative is thanks to a collaborative partnership between the SDB Missionary Society, the SDB Memorial Fund, and the SDB General Conference of USA and Canada. The SDB Missionary Society is the catalyst behind the educational initiatives and the SDB Memorial Fund is providing funding to make training by Visiting Instructors here in North America possible. Ultimately, we are partnering with God in actively advancing His Kingdom. Please be in prayer as we prepare for this amazing opportunity—together. What a blessing that SDBs from around the world are partnering together in God’s gospel work. We are better together.
