Dr. Isaac Keita passed away on January 25, 2012, as a result of liver failure. He was laid to rest in his home country of Guinea, where church leaders and missionaries from all around Africa came to honor the life of a wonderful man of God and exemplary Christian leader.
Most recently Dr. Keita served as director of the highly respected West Africa Alliance Theological Seminary (FATEAC) in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. Since its inception in 1993, FATEAC has trained students from 18 countries and 55 denominations across Africa. Dr. Keita’s dream as director of FATEAC was to provide a place where Africans from all ethnic backgrounds would come together as brothers and sisters in Christ and be trained to win, disciple, and equip their continent for Him.
Abridged Biography of the Late Dr. Isaac Keita
Dr. Keita was born in 1950 at Kissidougou, Guinea. He was the son of the late Reverend Paul Keita, the first president of the National Executive Committee of the Evangelical Protestant Church of Guinea, and the late Rebecca Hawa Mansare.
Dr. Keita began his schooling in 1958 at the Kissidougou primary school where he obtained his certificate of elementary studies in 1963. This enabled him to enter middle school at the College of Kissidougou in 1964 where he obtained his middle school certificate in 1967. He then enrolled at Emmaus Missionary Bible School in Switzerland in 1968, at the same time taking classes at the School of Modern Letters in Lausanne.
In 1972, recognizing the experience acquired during his training in Switzerland, the authorities of the Evangelical Protestant Church of Guinea directed the young Pastor Keita towards Telekoro Bible Institute in the Kissidougou Prefecture to serve as a teacher of student pastors. Rev. Keita demonstrated his capacity for communication, which constituted a particular gift given to him by the Lord. In 1986, the Evangelical Protestant Church of Guinea entrusted to him the future of the Guinea church, electing him to the post of President of the National Executive Committee of the church. He served well in this post until 1989.
From 1989 to 1990 Dr. Keita worked on the Malinke translation of the Jesus film. The film project was considered to be a significant pioneer work in the country of Guinea.
Dr. Keita was also a founding member and president of the Association of Evangelical Churches and Missions of Guinea, which consisted of The Christian and Missionary Alliance mission, the Philafricaine mission, and the Evangelical Protestant Church of Guinea. Dr. Keita faithfully served this association from 1978 to 1996.
While participating in the Conference of C&MA church presidents in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Dr. Keita’s standing as global church leader resulted in his being elected as a member of the Executive Committee of the Alliance World Fellowship in 1987.
A lifelong learner, Dr. Keita received excellent theological training while attending Canadian Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (D.Min.).
In 1998 Dr. Keita became the director of the West Africa Alliance Theological Seminary. He occupied this post until the time that the Lord God called him home to Himself on January 25, 2012.
Dr. Isaac Keita Memorial Fund
As a fitting tribute to Dr. Keita’s life and ministry, a memorial fund has been established to help build and equip the Dr. Isaac Keita Student Dormitory on the campus of FATEAC. The facility will house 25 couples/families preparing to carry Dr. Keita’s legacy forward. Only about half of the seminary’s students are able to live on campus because of the lack of living space. Dr. Keita’s beloved wife, Rachelle, has given her full endorsement to this endeavor in her husband’s memory.
For those interested in making a contribution to the Dr. Isaac Keita Memorial Fund, you may follow this link to make an online gift.
Prayer Requests
In conclusion, please pray for
- Comfort and daily strength for Rachelle, her five children, and grandchild;
- The students and staff of FATEAC, especially wisdom for the new interim director, Issiaka Coulibaly;
- The purity and growth of the Church in Africa and its impact upon African society.
For more information about this article, contact Doug Wicks at [email protected].