On 28th Feb 2007, I woke up with a strange feeling, a craving to go to church after living in the world of rebellion for 6 years. While walking from Kariobangi South, the Kenya Assemblies of God (KAG) Buru Buru sign told me I was home. I walked in when the worship session was on going. Before the service ended, I gave my life to Christ. Walking back home, burdens of bitterness, rebellion, sexual sin, arrogance, and many other things that had oppressed me flew away. I was as light as a feather. I walked into my brother’s house in Kariobangi and reached for the collection of porn, secular music & condoms I had stashed in my bedroom. I threw them away and announced to the family that I had given my life to Christ.
That afternoon, a deep sleep took me away. While in it, I heard a voice (I was alone in the room) telling me to wake up & pray. I had never spoken to God for years. I had forgotten how to pray but miraculously, I found myself on the floor, hands lifted up and pouring my heart out like a pro. Before that, I had lived a life of rebellion when the turbulent teenage years arrived and camped in my life. I found refuge in the makeshift tents of life. The broken cisterns of the world promised to quench my thirst but left me thirsty instead.
While I had been a star kid in our family, all the potential vanished when I landed in class 7. From there on, my life was marked with negativity, migraines and a rebellious attitude. In the process, I recorded a dismal performance in my KCSE. In many ways, I had failed my family, teachers who believed in me and the brain God had given.
In the eyes of the world, I was done. I would never amount to anything.
11 years later, God has blown my mind away in ways I had not imagined. I graduated from one of the best Universities (I paid my education through Daystar) in this country. I have gotten jobs I was not even qualified for (Stima Sacco & Capital FM). I have traveled the world and met awesome people. I have sat with dignitaries & folks who occupy top seats in this country. My articles & social commentary have shaped discourse in this country.
Before getting saved, I had never seen such remarkable change in my life. After salvation, doors I did not knock were opened. Resources I did not have were miraculously provided for. The potential I did not know I had was manifested. From a hopeless kid to a world changer! If I were to list the blessings I have gotten since I gave my life to Christ, it would be a book.
have made terrible mistakes and suffered in the process. I experienced some of the most difficult seasons of my life while walking with God. I have backslid, rebelled against God, walked away from church, lived in the land of sin yet His unfailing love has never rejected me whenever I came back as the prodigal son.
Perhaps you feel unworthy of His love. Maybe you look at the list of mistakes you have made and you wonder if redemption is possible. I would like to tell you that, ‘Yes it is’. No one is too far from the loving arm of our father. No one has gone too far beyond the redemptive blood of Jesus. Come back home & find healing that makes whole.
I may not know what you are going through, but take it from me, God is able to do what He said He will do. gonna fulfill every promise made to you. Don’t give up on God because He won’t give up on you.
Dannish Odongo, Alumni Class of 2015
Would you like to share your story……write to us at alumni@daystar.ac.ke