Richard “Dick” and Robin Hart arrived in Jordan in August, 1979 with Jonathan, their 21 month old son. Immediately the family began learning Arabic, Dick and Robin at the Kelsey School and Jonathan with Sofy in Daycare. In March, 1980 at the invitation of WorldVenture colleague, Bob Robertson, Dick began meeting with the committee of Arab and expatriate Christian leaders that founded the Program for Theological Education by Extension, PTEE, in May, 1981.
When the founding Executive Director, John DiPasquale, was planning to move into another ministry responsibility, the PTEE appointed Dick as his replacement in June, 1985. Dick continued in that role for 28 years. An orderly transition was made in November, 2013 when Jiries Habash became Executive Director.
During the PTEE’s history, its members developed a 36 course Bachelor Degree level study program and offered classes in local churches in the Arab world and in some countries where Middle Easterners have migrated. Students study self-instructional books and attend weekly face-to-face tutor-led seminars in local churches.
Dick now focuses his time in providing consulting assistance to the PTEE and other theological education institutions in the region. He is also leading the fund discovery efforts of the Roy and Dora Whitman Academy, (RDWA), as it seeks to raise the friends and funds for building a new school. Since 1994 the school has provided education opportunities in English for the children of parents-in-ministry from many countries living in Jordan. The current rented building is now too small for the students who would like to attend. The goal is to raise $10 million to buy the land and build the grade 1-12 school.
Robin is the Vice Principal for the Roy and Dora Whitman Academy.
As I live as a retiree I want to:
spend time with my spouse, children, grandchildren, in-laws and siblings so that they will continue to lean more on Jesus as they live out the callings God has for them.
read, reflect, and write history
see our home as a place of renewal for us and others.
spread hope.
