Debbie Blane
Email: Debbie Blane

Debbie is a lecturer in theology at Nile Theological College (NTC) in Khartoum, Sudan. She teaches a wide range of programs to prepare pastors to serve in Presbyterian churches.

Since Sudan gained independence in 1956, civil war has gripped the nation. Nevertheless, many people in Sudan have struggled courageously to create paths to a common peace. NTC was founded in 1991 by two Presbyterian churches: The Sudan Evangelical Presbyterian Church, which has its roots in Egypt, and the Presbyterian Church of the Sudan. Together they provide a Christian witness of hope to this deeply troubled nation. NTC provides training and education in English and Arabic for the churches of Sudan, principally in the northern region of Sudan.

Prior to accepting the call to serve in Sudan, Debbie worked for two years, 2007-2009, with the Amity program in China. She was assigned to the China Pharmaceutical University in Nanjing, China, where she taught oral English to first- and second-year English majors.

Letters from
Debbie Blane

• December 2008
• October 2008 (2)
• October 2008 (1)
• March 2008
• February 2008 (2)
• February 2008 (1)
• January 2008
• December 2007
• November 2007
• October 2007

“I did not see China coming,” writes Debbie. “I felt called to international ministry and to college campus ministry. Teaching English is a bit off the beaten path for a minister, but what I found in my student teaching experience at St. Michael’s College is that when I am with the students it feels as it did when I was at Trinity Lutheran College in a pastoral role—natural and fulfilling. I do not stop being a minister while teaching English; I am just doing God's work in a different setting.”

Prior to her departure for China, Debbie held an uncompensated position at Trinity Lutheran College as assistant to the Biblical Studies Department, where she did pastoral care, mentoring, and vocational counseling for pre-seminary students. Prior to this call, Debbie describes herself as a “full-time mom and student,” having returned to college in 1992 and to seminary in 1997.

Debbie has a Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary in Seattle, Washington, and a bachelor’s in Biblical studies from Trinity Lutheran College in Issaquah, Washington. To prepare for her work with Amity, she studied in the Applied Linguistics Department at St. Michael's College in Burlington, Vermont, in their English as a Second Language diploma program.

Debbie was ordained to the ministry of Word and Sacrament on September 29, 2002, by the Presbytery of Cascades.

She is the mother of two adult children: a son, Andrew, who works for a cell phone company in Sammamish, Washington, and a daughter, Elizabeth, a college student, who was married to James Fischl two days before Debbie left for her ESL training in Vermont. Debbie co-officiated at Elizabeth and James’ wedding.

Birthday – August 26