Wairimu Wambui
09-0709
General narrative
1085 words
“That's the thing about faith. If you don't have it you can't understand it. And if you do, no explanation is necessary a quote by Kira Nerys. This may mean a lot to most of us probably even different things but again shouldn’t we examine our lives now and then. *Violet is a 3rd year student at Daystar University. On Tuesday morning, she wakes up at six thirty in the morning and heads for breakfast. When most of the students prepare themselves so as to attend chapel at the amphitheater, Violet walks back to her room after breakfast to catch more sleep only to wake up at 9:00 am to prepare for her morning class. “Going for chapel should be my own choice and shouldn’t be forced on me. At least they changed the rule this semester seeing that it’s not compulsory to attend chapel on Tuesday but only on Thursday” she tells me.
This is a wanting situation seeing that all students are required to write a testimony of their faith before joining this campus. These testimonies serve as a sign that students admitted to this campus are committed Christians. Come to think of it, shouldn’t they be people of faith that does not need rules to be administered for them to fellowship together with others? It sounds to me like some of the students feel forced to practice their faith. This might be because fellowship is one thing that focuses on our faith practicing and so they rebel. But, can’t we just put away at the back of our minds that such rules exist and enjoy the fellowship with the rest of the community? Most of the student, Violet being a good example might call it freedom but only a different one from the one the crowds waving green leaves chant in the streets. A freedom to practice their faith the way they want not the way they are told.
Being a student demands for some responsibility as well as commitment to which most are not willing to commit to especially those that demand a lot of attention. Take into consideration when I joined campus, to begin with there were the fears that I would be shocked if or when my beliefs were threatened. Have you ever had that fearful feeling when you are on new grounds and you don’t understand the culture. This was because I couldn’t stand the thought of people looking at me and detesting me because I am a Roman Catholic. But here I was in a school full of Protestants. I couldn’t even do some basic things practiced by my faith in public due to that fear. I know you get what I mean, my religion was threatened. It felt like slipping and falling right into one of the scariest moments of my life. Well most of the students are still lost in that moment of uncertainty and will remain there probably till they leave. But that changed for me, I can practice my faith in the way I have grown to know how.
How students choose to engage in faith once in campus often determines whether or not they will work through the temptation, and other issues that often accompany one’s campus experience. Engaging one’s faith helps and no one should ever go through life alone. Thankfully, Daystar Christian Fellowship is an umbrella under which are several subcommittees in which students join and engage in. These subcommittees include Worship team, Service team, Sing Africa, Mission and Outreach team etcetera these groups of people serve the community in different Ways. For example the Mission and Outreach team go around the country preaching the word as a way of practicing their Faith in God. Sing Africa on the other hand preach through their songs.
“Its painful that most of the students don’t care about growing in their faith let alone practice it even if there are opportunities given in the campus. They live a life I would call careless of the consequences of giving up on God. They just live and some are not even sure what they believe in or are afraid to express their faith. These are comments made by Miss Lillian Nzuki, a prayer coordinator for Evangelism choir a subcommittee under Daystar Christian Fellowship (DCF). I have always thought that determining where you stand in terms of faith is a simple thing. It’s like saying I am passionate about meat, bread and potatoes. On the other hand, I’m adamant about not eating anything green. I’m sorry, I just can’t get myself to put anything green in my mouth-I’m not going to do it.
But again there are those who indeed take believing in God seriously. They are on the forefront to put their faith into practice and are not afraid to show it. Some even take the advantage that they are comfortable with their faith and extend that to their friends and also other people around them. Take for example the members of the Mission and Outreach team. They travel to many parts of the country to meet with people from all walks of life. People that they have no history with. I don’t know what you think about this but to me this is courage and the understanding of what faith really is.
A great way to stretch our faith is by choosing love. Interacting with and caring for the ‘least of these.’ In the days of Jesus, these people were lepers, prostitutes, the demon-possessed and even children. Trying to discover who the ‘least of these’ are on campus and choose to love and accept them. After all, people will be able to identify something different about you by whom and how you love. “I make conscious effort to be kind and gentle to everyone I come in contact with. In addition, as a person I believe you should make an attempt to show compassion by approaching people you would typically not interact with. I individually commit to going out of my way to show compassion to at least one person each day.” According to Miss Gillian Lema a student in the University and also the chairperson for Daystar University Peer Educators, this is what she knows as practice of faith is.
Probably some of us feel intimidated or should I say shy to practice our faith because we forget that religion is not our faith but just a way of practicing it. We should get a clear understanding about certain things to help us practice our faith with no fear or trepidation. As H.E Yoweli Kaguta Museveni said and I quote, “lets not classify Christ with religions where he is a prisoner but we should walk with him in the dusty streets of Africa where he feels at home.
* Not her real name.
09-0709
General narrative
1085 words
Toe to toe with our faith
“That's the thing about faith. If you don't have it you can't understand it. And if you do, no explanation is necessary a quote by Kira Nerys. This may mean a lot to most of us probably even different things but again shouldn’t we examine our lives now and then. *Violet is a 3rd year student at Daystar University. On Tuesday morning, she wakes up at six thirty in the morning and heads for breakfast. When most of the students prepare themselves so as to attend chapel at the amphitheater, Violet walks back to her room after breakfast to catch more sleep only to wake up at 9:00 am to prepare for her morning class. “Going for chapel should be my own choice and shouldn’t be forced on me. At least they changed the rule this semester seeing that it’s not compulsory to attend chapel on Tuesday but only on Thursday” she tells me.
This is a wanting situation seeing that all students are required to write a testimony of their faith before joining this campus. These testimonies serve as a sign that students admitted to this campus are committed Christians. Come to think of it, shouldn’t they be people of faith that does not need rules to be administered for them to fellowship together with others? It sounds to me like some of the students feel forced to practice their faith. This might be because fellowship is one thing that focuses on our faith practicing and so they rebel. But, can’t we just put away at the back of our minds that such rules exist and enjoy the fellowship with the rest of the community? Most of the student, Violet being a good example might call it freedom but only a different one from the one the crowds waving green leaves chant in the streets. A freedom to practice their faith the way they want not the way they are told.
 |
| Students attentively listening to the preacher in chapel |
Being a student demands for some responsibility as well as commitment to which most are not willing to commit to especially those that demand a lot of attention. Take into consideration when I joined campus, to begin with there were the fears that I would be shocked if or when my beliefs were threatened. Have you ever had that fearful feeling when you are on new grounds and you don’t understand the culture. This was because I couldn’t stand the thought of people looking at me and detesting me because I am a Roman Catholic. But here I was in a school full of Protestants. I couldn’t even do some basic things practiced by my faith in public due to that fear. I know you get what I mean, my religion was threatened. It felt like slipping and falling right into one of the scariest moments of my life. Well most of the students are still lost in that moment of uncertainty and will remain there probably till they leave. But that changed for me, I can practice my faith in the way I have grown to know how.
 |
| Now I can silently recite my Rosary on the streets of Daystar |
How students choose to engage in faith once in campus often determines whether or not they will work through the temptation, and other issues that often accompany one’s campus experience. Engaging one’s faith helps and no one should ever go through life alone. Thankfully, Daystar Christian Fellowship is an umbrella under which are several subcommittees in which students join and engage in. These subcommittees include Worship team, Service team, Sing Africa, Mission and Outreach team etcetera these groups of people serve the community in different Ways. For example the Mission and Outreach team go around the country preaching the word as a way of practicing their Faith in God. Sing Africa on the other hand preach through their songs.
“Its painful that most of the students don’t care about growing in their faith let alone practice it even if there are opportunities given in the campus. They live a life I would call careless of the consequences of giving up on God. They just live and some are not even sure what they believe in or are afraid to express their faith. These are comments made by Miss Lillian Nzuki, a prayer coordinator for Evangelism choir a subcommittee under Daystar Christian Fellowship (DCF). I have always thought that determining where you stand in terms of faith is a simple thing. It’s like saying I am passionate about meat, bread and potatoes. On the other hand, I’m adamant about not eating anything green. I’m sorry, I just can’t get myself to put anything green in my mouth-I’m not going to do it.
But again there are those who indeed take believing in God seriously. They are on the forefront to put their faith into practice and are not afraid to show it. Some even take the advantage that they are comfortable with their faith and extend that to their friends and also other people around them. Take for example the members of the Mission and Outreach team. They travel to many parts of the country to meet with people from all walks of life. People that they have no history with. I don’t know what you think about this but to me this is courage and the understanding of what faith really is.
 |
| Showing compassion as way of practicing faith |
Probably some of us feel intimidated or should I say shy to practice our faith because we forget that religion is not our faith but just a way of practicing it. We should get a clear understanding about certain things to help us practice our faith with no fear or trepidation. As H.E Yoweli Kaguta Museveni said and I quote, “lets not classify Christ with religions where he is a prisoner but we should walk with him in the dusty streets of Africa where he feels at home.
* Not her real name.
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