practice of faith

The practice of Christian Faith among Daystar University students

I attended a catholic girls’ high school. Like many of my time, we gave thanks at meals, had daily evening prayers and on Sunday, the teacher on duty made sure that everyone attended church. Missing church was a crime punishable by suspension. I especially loved the daily morning prayers, which I began attending to avoid the morning preps. Though attending these prayers was not compulsory, Father John was so good at delivering the sermon that once you attended one, you always found yourself addicted. I was content that I was a Christian. I was not surprised when Mark 16:15 ‘He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation, was our final send off word from Father John. We learnt and lived in a cocoon of suitability but deeper down, for personal reasons, I felt alone and lost.

For this reason, when I came to Daystar University in 2008, I was an earnest young woman with overwhelming desire to find my place in the world. This journey of self fulfillment has not been short and easy, on the contrary, I have been faced with more challenges than I anticipated when I joined Daystar in 2008 May, bringing to this multi-ethnic environment the combination of confidence and anxiety so common to freshmen. In principle, I believed that no challenge was too great for my capability and determination, or was there? Over the years, one of the areas of self discovery that has been top of the list is the religious. In this journey, I have met very interesting characters and to summarize them, I have been able to group the daystar faithful into three distinct categories.

The first is the diehard Christ-fans who, I am tempted to believe that given a chance, they can recite the Bible off head. These are the people never miss chapel even after signing was abolished. My friend Esther is one such person. She is from a fairly liberal family and her decision to faithfully attend church does not come from being forced by her parents. “I don’t have to attend church when I am at home, but I love doing so, and that’s the reason I go” she told me, when I asked why she so passionately goes to church. She is ever happy.  As you walk around the Daystar compound, you are bound to hear her quoting some verses from the scripture in such an interesting way, that you are temped to carry your Bible with you all the time. She is in several sub- committees of Daystar Christian Fellowship and a leader of the small groups.   Since I am her friend on facebook, I get to see her post and from what she writes, one can really tell that she is true to her faith

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Daystar Students during small Christian Groups

The second is the watermelon group who can be swayed in any direction. For these, I believe their motto is ‘when in Rome, do as the Romans do’. Though you are likely to find them in church on Sunday, they also do not mind a few drinks and even a cigarette now and then. This is the biggest group in Daystar University. I could classify my roommate Rachael here. She does not mind going to church but does not understand why students are forced t5o attend chapel and the many bible classes despite the fact that she is in Daystar as a communication major. “I don’t mind taking a few religious courses but honestly, had I wanted to be a pastor, I would have enrolled for theology,” she tells me. On Sunday, you are more likely to find her in church but come Friday, she is a party girl. “I respect every part of growth and therefore I go to church to grow my spiritual, but I also have a social life. The bizarre part of this is that most of the people in this group are pastors’ children or as they are commonly called, PKs. These are people who literary grew up with the bible as their second name

Third is the liberal group. To them, going to church is like enduring the Chinese water torture (A kind of torture performed by dripping one drop of water at a time on someone's forehead. it induces boredom and eventually a lot of frustration). My comrade Sarah is in this category. The one thing she hated in daystar was the signing sheets. “I never once in my life thought that at 19, someone would be forcing Christianity down my throat” she often tells me. “I am a self declared liberal and don’t even try going all religious on me because that’s not my style. Don’t get me wrong, I am not against religion, but why does the church make Jesus look so desperate? I get a whole week of being stressed by class, assignments, inflation, water problems, the sun and even my boyfriend. The last thing I need on a Sunday is a pastor threatening me into salvation then blackmailing me into giving all my pocket money”.  Before the signing was abolished, more often than not she would come to chapel very late and sit at the Post Office then when it was time to leave, she would pretend to be one of those that did not get the signing sheet and pick it then leave for class. Since signing was abolished this semester, I have not seen here near the Amphi Theatre.

Seeking to understand this more, I spoke to the chaplain, Reverend Mutinda, who told me that though not all the students in Daystar fully embrace faith, many students find God in the University. He says that they have set up many activities through Daystar Christian Fellowship, which every Daystar student is a member, such as road shows, worship experiences, keshas,

Students during the Wednesday evening worship experience.

concerts, movie nights, debates, fellowships and bible study groups. “Students in daystar do not fully understand how as young people they are vulnerable out there. When they come out of here, they are like lambs being sent out to lions and we have to ensure that our lambs have enough armor lest they are swallowed whole.” He told me.

Remembering all these and more of my friends in Daystar makes me think of our upcoming graduation. The Chancellor will stand and grant us all the permission to go out into the world and do all that pertains to the degree, and being from a Christian university, we will be expected to be servant leaders. Everyone has done their best to instill Christian values, but as the common saying goes, “you can take a camel to the river but you can’t force it to drink the water”.

*The names used are not the characters real names.

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