An Invitation to pray with us

Pray with us for God to continue granting us favour with Head-teachers, Christian Union Patron teachers, Guidance & Counseling Head of departments, the students and all the other stakeholders in the education fraternity, so that CML and other essential ministries may continue to have opportunities for in-campus ministry during this 3rd term.

The following is some background information regarding this prayer request:

During 3rd term, some schools tend to adopt a hard-line policy against extracurricular activities, including in-campus Christian ministry like the one CML offers. They claim to be preparing for end-year final exams.

Due to the undesirable post-election events early this year, Kenyan students have had to cope with a rather hectic academic year characterized by short term /semester periods and pressure to cover the academic syllabus. In addition, some of the students have had to cope with the resultant trauma and stress. The 3rd and last term in the Academic year normally pose even additional weight and cause for stress especially to the candidate students- the pressure and anxiety of the looming exams, worsened by the skewed emphasis placed on “academic performance as the key to all success”.

Although many cultures in Africa have almost idolized education as the key to success, various special factors have led to the elevated esteem with which academic performance is held amongst certain Kenyan people. The socio-political and economic history of the Kenyan nation is one such factors- apparently some tribes and communities have by default been disadvantaged in all other aspects, forcing them to resort to academic achievement as the possible way of survival. And even when that has been achieved, other factors like tribalism have continually played against them, leading to their perpetual state of being disadvantaged.

So, a child from such a community grows hearing the same adage; “Education is the key”. Parents at home sing it, teachers at school sing it, their peers sing it, and the mentors sing the same song, the musicians echo the same… almost the entire community sings it. Even the government education policy formation and implementation has for some time been influenced by this unfortunately skewed perception. This has gone to the extent that nobody seeks to identify, and nurture the gifts and talents that a child may have. It is not uncommon to find cases where a child who is talented in soccer or music is subjected to massive pressure to perform academically, and almost no encouragement at all to perfect the gift.

The aftermath of this imbalanced trend has led to many institutions producing graduates who may have academic qualifications and papers, but are miserable because they are not fulfilled even as they function in society. Yet, it is worth noting the existence of many people who are underachievers in academics but experience joyful, productive, fulfilled, effective and less stressful lives because they identified their talents and gifts early in life, continued to perfect them and are currently making use of the same in their careers.

CML takes a balanced approach in encouraging students towards academic excellence. We emphasize that a balanced education is one of the important factors, but not the ultimate key to a good, productive, fulfilled and purposeful life. In fact we let them know that God also uses high academic achievers, but that does not mean that He loves or values them more than the low academic achievers. Not everybody is gifted with intellectual aptitude to achieve high academic performance, but God has divinely and uniquely wired each individual with the ability to function best, with utmost efficiency and optimal output in a given area. That field may be sports, drama, music and any other area including academics, and if God intended the person to glorify Him in that, failure to do so, if you ask me would be tantamount to absolute failure.

We encourage the young people to intentionally endeavour to discover, embrace and develop the gifts God bestowed in them. Likewise, we encourage teachers, parents and all stakeholders to be deliberate in facilitating the process of identifying, motivating and facilitating the nurturing of the gifts in the young people.

“Academic Excellence” is one of the topics we handle in our sessions with students. Other related topics are “Life Purpose” and “Career Choice & Development”. In all these, we emphasize one common core value: “True success is determined by the extent to which a person accomplishes the purpose for which God created him/her”. We are normally seize the opportunity to underscore the truth that "to be in Christ is the first key towards unlocking authentic success." By God's grace, many have decided to take that first step. All glory to God!

For some other points we normally emphasize during our sessions on “Academic Excellence", please read the blog entry just preceding this one.

We cherish your support in prayers.

Keep Blessed.