Page 15 - The Plain Truth Spring-Summer 2026

Christians in the UK – and wants to encourage the Church !2 . (! 5 **%
to have more open conversations about mental health. Growing up in rural Ghana,
Caleb Nyanni was the third of
Widely unacknowledged five children born to Apostle
He said, ‘I believe that a person can be deeply spiritual and Professor Opoku Onyinah
profoundly depressed: the human soul is capable of holding – a prominent Ghanaian
both light and shadow at once and the Church needs to Pentecostal theologian.
acknowledge that. Caleb remembers carrying
This is my chance to share my own story – and I want to buckets of water to bathe in
help church leaders become more aware of mental health. as a child and moved to the capital Accra at the age of
Even today, it’s widely refused and unacknowledged. With 12. The family relocated to Birmingham, UK, in 1998
so many challenges facing younger generations, we have for his father’s theological studies, and Caleb enrolled
to remove stigma so that people of all faiths and none have at Bourneville college where he completed A-levels in
somewhere to turn.’ English, Computing and Maths alongside leadership
Dr Nyanni officially began his new role in March 2026 involvement in the Elim Pentecostal Church.
and described the move as ‘God-given’. He said, ‘Waverley After an initial year studying film and media
Abbey has already offered me such a sense of calling. at Wolverhampton University, Caleb switched to
I believe this College has such an impact, and I really Theology, gaining an undergraduate in 2004, then an
want to bring my whole self and my personal journey MA in Theology from Manchester University. He later
wrote an PhD at the University of Birmingham on
into this role. second generation African Pentecostals in the West.
It’s a big job – but I believe it’s a God-given calling. Caleb lives in Bartley Green, Birmingham, with his
I want to help more people take their talents, skills and wife and has two adult sons. He loves football, cooking
compassion and share them with the whole world. and walking, and is involved with various community
I want Waverly Abbey College to be a place where we engagement projects including a Gospel Choir and
equip, empower and engage a rising generation. It’s not monthly breakfast support club for those struggling
about certificates that remain on shelves. with addiction. Caleb is a firm believer in counselling,
It’s about creating new training and courses that meet accountability and mentoring, and holds an AQA
the needs of young people – who are facing huge challenges foundation certificate in counselling and is accredited
such as addiction and powerlessness. Too many people have with the Association of Christian Counsellors.
no one to speak to – and we need to change that.’ ,

ABOUT WAVERLEY ABBEY COLLEGE, FARNHAM, SURREY

Waverley Abbey is a historic estate near Farnham, Surrey, and the site of the first Cistercian monastery
founded in Britain in 1128 by William Giffard, Bishop of Winchester. Set within 112 acres of gardens, woodland
and the remains of the original abbey, it has been a place of community and spiritual life for centuries.
Today, Waverley Abbey is a centre for hospitality, leadership development and education, welcoming people
from across the UK and beyond. Waverley Abbey College enrols roughly 500 students each year to train in
counselling, theology and spiritual formation – making it the biggest provider of Chaplaincy training in the
UK. Since 1987, Waverley Abbey College has equipped Christians with skills in mental health, wellbeing and
leadership and maintains an outstanding level of student satisfaction. Photo Credit: Murgatroyd49/https://commons.wikimedia.org
Alongside its academic programmes in counselling and chaplaincy, the site hosts retreats, corporate events
and community activities, as well as a public café and access to the historic ruins.
Building on its heritage, Waverley Abbey continues to serve as a place where history, learning and community
come together, offering space for enjoyment, spiritual reflection, and personal growth.
For more information, visit www.waverleyabbey.org

Find us online at www.plain-truth.org.uk Spring-Summer 2026 The Plain Truth 15