Staff and students hold hands with as they pray for individual needs - at Athi River Campus

By Hannington Karanja 

One of the most significant days on the Daystar University calendar is prayer day, observed at every beginning of the semester. This is a time when the community gathers at the respective campuses to incline their ears to God as they commit the semester to God.  

The Nairobi Campus prayer day was held at the DAC Auditorium and was attended by the University management, senate, faculty members, staff and students. 

In his sermon, the guest speaker Rev. John Agagwa of Mamlaka Hill Chapel Nairobi, reflected on Luke 18:1-9; the parable of the persistent widow. He encouraged the congregation to make prayer a part of their daily lives in order to remain deeply rooted in Christ, and not only when faced with adversities. 

Rev. Agagwa said persistence in prayer was a vital weapon in the life of a Christian. 

“Never give up or despair for in the right time we will witness the hand of God,” was his encouragement to the congregation.  

In his address to the Daystar family, the Vice-chancellor, Prof. P. Ayiro acknowledged and expressed sincere gratitude to the University’s management team for their matchless dedication and efforts. Prof. Ayiro emphasized on the May Semester theme: Pressing On, drawn from Philippians 3:14, saying it was important to tirelessly seek to know Christ and build a Christ-centred life as opposed to the self-centred way of living.  

The teachings of Paul in Philippians 3:4-14 carried the better part of his address accompanied by words of encouragement to the Daystar family. 

“Let us press on, forgetting what lies behind us and looking forward to what is ahead,” Prof. Laban P. Ayiro encouraged. 

On his part, the DVC Finance, Administration and Planning Prof. Muturi Wachira underscored the need to pray for the country and leaders, while the DVC Academic, Research and Student Affairs Prof. Faith Nguru expressed gratitude for numerous answers to prayer, urging the University to have faith that God will answer even the pending prayers. 

Prayer Day Athi River Campus 

At the Athi River Campus, the prayer service was led by the University Chaplain Rev. John Miano Weche.  

The guest speaker was the Vicar of St. Augustine ACK Church in Madaraka, the Rev. Tom Otieno, also an alumnus of Daystar University. Rev. Otieno cautioned participants against taking their successes too seriously saying that if past success becomes the point of focus, it can affect future success. 

“Christians do not have righteousness of their own and should stay true to the gospel,” he said. 

Prayers were offered on both campuses to intercede for university governance, management, faculty, staff, students, the country, and personal needs among others. 

The prayer day culminated with a cerebration of the Holy Communion administered by Rev. Miano Weche at Athi River and the Dean of Students Rev. Mutinda Musyimi at Nairobi Campus. 

That done, Daystar University is now ready to take on the new semester with the blessing of the Lord.