Nelson and Sandra Hayashida had a call to missions as teenagers. Finally, in 1981 they arrived in Lusaka, Zambia, along with their two young children Maury and Malia. They served as theological educators at the Baptist Theological Seminary of Zambia for 11 years.

Subsequently, after a two-year absence during which Nelson completed his PhD at the University of Edinburgh, they returned to Africa as professors at the Baptist International Theological Seminary in South Africa, later transferring to the Baptist College in Soweto. They spent a total of five years at these two South African institutions.

After an absence of nine years, the Hayashidas have felt a call to return to Zambia to become the Principal of Zambia International Theological College in the Copperbelt.

The urgent need of the churches of the Baptist Convention of Zambia is to establish a theological training institution for the development of church leadership. Currently, out of 550 churches there are only 30 theologically trained pastors and leaders.

The desire of the Baptist Convention of Zambia is to ensure that both women and men are trained for leadership. But this training must follow a pattern of contextual theological education whereby a broad and deep sweep of theological exposure to the culture and problems of Zambian people and churches are addressed. This means the need to incorporate a social consciousness and a cultural awareness relevant to the Zambian people of the 21st century.

The gospel of the College is to resound the message that Jesus loves the people of Africa.