During our recent trip to the Daystar graduation, many students were wearing the t-shirt “Christ in My Heart…. That’s the Difference!”
This is what makes Daystar University unique—Daystar focuses great effort and energy on shaping every student to know Jesus Christ and make Him known as they represent Him as servant leaders in the world.
Daystar hopes to follow the example of the Apostle Paul’s words in Colossians 1:28-29: “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.”
I want to thank Rev. Steven Nduto, Daystar University Chaplain, for graciously sharing the excellent report on Christian ministries at Daystar summarized below. Please pray for each of these ministry efforts for students to grow in their faith.
1. Weekly Chapel Services: (Tuesday and Sunday on the Athi River campus and Tuesday and Friday on the Nairobi Valley Road Campus) Tuesday attendance is mandatory for all students and staff.
Last semester’s chapel theme was “Embracing the Transforming Grace” based on Romans 6:23. This semester's chapel theme is “Walk with the Lord” based on series of messages from the book of 1 John.
2. Prayer Fellowships: Daystar believes that approaching the Father through prayer together changes each student, staff, and faculty member.
Students and staff organize themselves for weekly prayer meetings under the guidance of the Daystar Chaplaincy. There are also daily prayer meetings twice each day at Nairobi Valley Road Campus and daily at the Athi River Campus.
This semester’s prayer and voluntary fasting week will take place from Monday, August 27 to Friday, August 31st. The university prayer day will happen on Thursday, August 30th on both campus. All other campus activities will be canceled on August 30th, so all Daystar community members can focus only on prayer.
Daystar celebrates the great victories they have experienced through answered prayer. Daystar members strive to continue to grow in their dependence on God’s fatherly care and guidance.
3. Mentorship and Bible Study: Every Daystar University community member, both students and staff, is part of a weekly small Bible study group that meets each Thursday.
Each staff member leads a small Bible study group as their mentorship role with Daystar students. In 2017, 179 staff members were trained to become more effective Bible study leaders.
Daystar University aims for every member of the community to be trained in a course entitled “Theology of Work” which forms the foundation for integration of faith and learning. All staff members are encouraged to view their work as a ministry and calling and as an opportunity to draw students into a relationship with Jesus Christ. So far 125 out of 260 staff and faculty members have been trained in the “Theology of Work” course.
This is an excellent opportunity to strengthen Christian fellowship and to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus together in community.
4. Ministry Partnerships: Daystar University welcomes other like-minded ministries to mold and mentor students to walk in the way of the Lord.
Gideon’s International is involved in Bible distribution on Daystar campuses. Focus ministry (www.focuskenya.org ) weekly trains the Daystar Christian Fellowship (DCF) leadership team in a program entitled “Best-P” (Bible Expository Self-Training Program)
Man Enough Mentorship Program: Every Thursday 70 male Daystar students are trained in becoming Godly men.
5. Missions and Evangelism: Daystar University prepares, equips and sends students and staff in outreaches to share the good news of Jesus to those outside the Daystar community.
Last semester, Daystar Christian Fellowship (DCF) organized door-to-door evangelism in the surrounding community as well as an open-air evangelistic outreach event where fifteen people gave their lives to Christ.
Last year, 86 students and 6 staff member were part of a mission trip to Vihiga County region where 150 people gave their lives to Jesus Christ.
6. Discipleship: The University is committed to fulfilling the Great Commission to “make disciples of all nations.” (Matthew 28:19).
Last year 206 students accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. 126 of these students graduated from discipleship classes where they were trained and discipled in their faith. Most of the other 80 students are still completing this follow up training.
7. Pastoral Care and Counseling: The Chaplaincy has a visitation program to build strong relationships with all the Daystar community members including visiting the sick and those who are suffering.
Sadly, in the January semester, 5 members of the University Community (4 students and 1 staff) died from different causes. The Chaplaincy visited each of the families to pray and mourn for their losses. Daystar also arranged special memorial chapels to remember and mourn.
8. Leadership Development: Last year, each staff and faculty member was taken through a special training for effective evangelism outreach to unbelieving Daystar students.
The Chaplaincy program is training, equipping, and mentoring Daystar Christian Fellowship leaders and Daystar staff on how to reach out to unbelieving students with the Gospel.
Your prayers are very important as you partner with Daystar University to impact lives for Christ in Africa. If you would like to receive regular emails on specific prayer requests from the university, sign up for our prayer email list HERE