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His Life

The Life of Dr. M. Douglas Carew

November 24, 2012

Moses Douglas Carew was born to his proud parents, Moses and Admire Carew, on April 4, 1956.  He was a pleasant son who never gave cause for concern.  As a young boy Douglas was an active member of the Boy Scouts. He also sang with the Holy Trinity Church Choir from age nine until he left Sierra Leone for Kenya.

Baby Mo, as his family affectionately called him, attended Dove Court Nursery then moved to Holy Trinity Primary School. After two years there, he moved to Cathedral Boys School where he sat for his Common Entrance exam. He later attended Albert Academy where he sat for his General Certificate of Education (GCE) O Level. He completed his sixth form studies at the Prince of Wales Secondary School, prior to pursuing a bachelor’s degree at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone.  Douglas graduated from Fourah Bay College with a Bachelor of Science degree in December of 1979. He then undertook a Postgraduate Diploma in Education, which he earned in 1980.

Upon graduation, Douglas secured his first job teaching science at St. Joseph’s Secondary School in Brookfields, Freetown. After a year at St. Joseph’s, his work in ministry began when he started serving as a Travelling Secretary with Scripture Union in Freetown and Bo, Sierra Leone.  

Douglas married his love and true life partner, Ayikulola Davies, on January 12, 1985 at St. George’s Cathedral in Freetown, Sierra Leone.  The newlyweds left for Nairobi, Kenya later that year for Douglas to pursue a Master of Divinity degree at the Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology (NEGST). During their time in Nairobi, Douglas and Ayiku were blessed with three children, Oluniyi, Rodney and Serah. He graduated with a Master of Divinity in Biblical Studies in 1988.

In 1989, Douglas returned to Sierra Leone with his family where he took a position as a lecturer at the Sierra Leone Bible College (SLBC) in Jui, Sierra Leone. He left for the United States in 1994 to pursue a doctoral degree in Old Testament theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS) in Bannockburn, Illinois.  Douglas earned his Ph.D in 1998 and often preached at various churches that were supportive of his endeavors during his time at TEDS.

Douglas returned to his alma mater in Nairobi in December 1998 to teach Hebrew, Cultural World of the Bible and Hermeneutics. He was appointed Vice Chancellor of NEGST on September 1, 2004, and then reappointed for a second term in 2008.  In this role, he worked diligently to obtain a university charter.  Thanks to his efforts and those of his colleagues, the charter was granted on March 4, 2011, transforming NEGST into a full-fledged university, now known as

Africa International University (AIU).  Douglas served as the University's first Vice Chancellor until his death while on official business in the United States of America.  

At the time of his death, Dr. Carew was the Chair of Accrediting Council for Theological Education in Africa (ACTEA) and Deputy Chair of the global equivalent, International Council for Evangelical Theological Education (ICETE). He was also the Secretary of the Kenya Association of Private Universities (KAPU) and a Fellow of the Langham Scholars Program (Langham Partnership International/John Stott Ministry). Douglas was involved with Couples Enrichment Focus at Nairobi Chapel, where he counseled and supported numerous couples.

Dr. Carew will be remembered as one of the great theological educators of Africa. He was a brilliant student, an outstanding lecturer and an inspirational Vice Chancellor. He was a visionary leader who contributed to the transformation of the church in Africa as many influential leaders passed through his hands as lecturer, Vice Chancellor, mentor and friend. He was a humble, committed and deeply relational Christian.

His family will remember him as a caring, committed, loving and dedicated husband and father. He showed great affection towards Ayiku who stood by him through all his endeavours. Douglas never made a decision, no matter how minor, without consulting his wife.  He loved Ayiku as Christ ordered!  His children were his pride and joy and Douglas gave all he could for them. Mo was a remarkable son to Mum and Dad, and was looking forward to taking them to Kenya with him for an extended visit this November.  To Feyi, he was a faithful friend and son-in-law. To his four sisters, he was the consummate big brother.   Douggie was a loyal friend to so many.

Douglas leaves to cherish many precious memories his wife: Ayiku; children: Oluniyi, Rodney and Serah; parents: Moses and Admire Carew; Mother-in-law: Feyidiya Davies; sisters: Alberta Kofoworola May, Thelma Abisordun Rapley, Bertha Olayemi Bobson-Sesay, Moira Vic Carew;  brothers-in-law: Babatunde Roland May - his lifelong friend, Dennis Rapley, Adesina  Davies and Jerry Cline-Bailey; sisters-in-law: Layemi Cline-Bailey, Marvella Davies and Olufemi Davies;  several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews; The Carew, Lasite, Davies and Cole families; his mentor, Dr. Chester Wood, and many close friends and Christian brothers and sisters in Sierra Leone, Kenya, UK, US and various other places throughout the world.  He will be deeply missed!