The Andrew Initiative is a student recruitment drive that began in August to involve all Africa International University/NEGST community members in active student recruitment. “Andrew” refers to the biblical character who brought his brother to the Lord. Mary Kitemi is one of the new students who was pleased to be recruited through this initiative.

Mary, what inspired you to come to NEGST?

My husband Simon Kitemi graduated this year with a post graduate diploma in theology. He recruited me and is the one who encouraged me to pursue the masters in organizational  leadership at NEGST. I decided to join NEGST because of the Christian values and the academic excellence. The flexible study schedule is very relevant to me. Other institutions offer leadership programmes, but their modules of learning are not as flexible for me. I couldn’t wait for the Kitui Cohort to kick off, so I decided to come to the main campus and start my studies.

How did you hear about the Andrew Initiative?

I came across the Andrew Initiative when I read the graduation magazine. My husband also told me about it. And I heard about it from Read the full story »

The “Andrew Initiative”  is a student recruitment drive that actively engages the entire AIU/NEGST community. As Andrew brought his brother Peter to the Messiah, we seek, in this initiative to enroll students at NEGST/AIU, encouraging each one to bring one.

AIU/NEGST is committed to increasing its student enrollment to 3,000 over the next 10 years, with a new target for the 2010-2011 academic year of 600 students, with the Andrew Initiative accounting for 300 students. The goal of the Andrew Initiative is to mobilize the entire AIU/NEGST community and other partners to participate in student recruitment by having each person recruit at least one student.

The Andrew Initiative builds on the phenomenal success of the recent student recruitment drive dubbed the “Jitokeze  Initiative” registered 474 potential students in a period of three months, of whom we expect about 50% to apply for admission and 50% of those to end up joining the school. We therefore anticipate about 120 new students from the initiative. This impressive result confirms that students are our best recruitment and marketing agents.

The Andrew Initiative is based on John 1:41-42, “The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, we have found the Messiah (That is, the Christ), and he brought him to Jesus.”

How to Participate: Read the full story »

On 5th June 2010, more than 45 old girls and boys of NEGST came together to catch up with old friends, meet new members of the NEGST alumni fraternity, and receive from Vice Chancellor Douglas Carew the strategic vision of the ongoing transition from NEGST to Africa International University (AIU). They were treated to a sumptuous lunch at the Kijiji guesthouse on campus.

Kavita Muoka, director of communication and development, walked those in attendance through the strategic importance of the alumni office and office bearers. After he spoke, everyone was introduced and the group conducted elections.

With a view of bringing new life to the alumni association, the following were elected to office: Rev. Richard Mayabi (Chairman), John Kitur (Vice Chairman), Joy Mindo-Wamutitu (Secretary), Florence Mungathia (Asst Secretary), Rev Ken Kimiywe (Treasurer), Ephraim Mudave (Asst Treasurer), Antony Wainaina Njuguna and Femi Olawafemi (committee members).

It was unanimously agreed that representatives from various regions of the world would be incorporated into the committee, which was charged with working out the structure of representation.

We would like to thank all the alumni who made it for the luncheon. Special thanks are due to those who agreed to serve in the alumni association. We look forward to a strong revival of the alumni community world-wide.

On 10th May 2010, the Institute for the Study of African Realities (ISAR), one of the schools of Africa International University, held a management seminar at the Fairview Hotel. The guest speaker was Michael Schluter, author of The Relational Manager. In the seminar, Schluter focused on why relationships matter so much, personally and organizationally. He talked about the relational proximity model, which includes communication, story, knowledge, power and purpose. Mr. Schluter also talked about relational mapping and identifying relational weaknesses in company structures.

On 11th May, Mr. Schluter held a talk on the NEGST campus: “Does Jesus know anything about drafting a national constitution?” He gave a brief overview of constitutions in various parts of the world, the stages and challenges in creating constitutions, and the role of Christians in constitution-making.

In the course of the week, AIU hosted Read the full story »

Africa International University/NEGST launched the Jitokeze initiative in March 2010. The initiative involves the NEGST student body going to churches to spread the good news of Africa International University and our programmes. Student volunteers go forth in teams of three people to designated churches each Sunday, already reaching the majority of the first thirty churches that the campaign aimed to reach.

By 11 April, 79 people had already submitted indications of interest in AIU from the ongoing campaigns. On 11 April, the team collected an additional 61 expressions of interest, adding 12 more on 18 April, for a total of 160 people to date. Student volunteers are continuing the campaign.

Seventeen individuals are interested in the certificate and diploma courses, 2 in the BA in Business Administration, 23 in the BA in psychology and counseling and 40 in the bachelor’s of theology, indicating that our foray into undergraduate programmes is continuing to meet with increasing demand.  As for our long-standing graduate opportunities, Read the full story »

Guest post by NEGST student, Babatomiwa Moses Owojaiye, from his recent blog post.

It is with heavy heart but with gratitude to God Almighty that we received the home-going news of one of the giants in the history of the  Church and Christianity in Africa. Our own Dr. Tokunboh Adeyemo has gone to be with the Lord today March 18, 2010. Adeyemo was an African Christian statesman of high repute. He was a detribalized Christian and a true son of Africa. Adeyemo was a very brilliant, level-headed and one of the true African-Christian leaders with exemplary virtues. The Church in Africa needs more men like Adeyemo but unfortunately real men like him are becoming scarce by the day in Africa. I guess it is high time for the church in Africa to raise its voice in prayer for the Lord be gracious to us and grant us again sincere, faithful, humble, sacrificial, loving, purposeful, scholarly, hard-working, and forward-looking men and women like Tokunboh Adeyemo.

Tokunboh Adeyemo was born into a royal Muslim family in Western Nigeria. The second in a family of eight children, he was the oldest son. Destined to be the chief of his tribe, he was educated in the best institutions in the country and became involved in politics as a young man. When people looked at him, they saw a faithful Muslim and a young man with a promising future, but Tokunboh felt an ache inside, an emptiness he could not fill. A teacher at the school where Read the full story »

Africa International University/NEGST launched the new Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Counseling in Nairobi this term. It has been one of our most inquired-about programmes. As we move closer toward expanding into a full-fledged university, we expect this field to grow, including at the undergrad level.

The first cohort class meets on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings, with four multi-talented teachers, in a convenient location in downtown Nairobi. The director of the programme, Dr Gladys Mwiti (pictured), earned her PhD from Fuller.

In a recent visit to Eldoret, 45% of the inquirers about the AIU/NEGST showed interest in this programme, which leads us to believe it is well-needed beyond Nairobi. In addition, a full-time programme on the NEGST campus is open for applications for a September 2010 intake.

The BA programme attracted students who are interested in becoming certified and trained professionals with the skills and Christian commitment to bring hope and healing to married couples, extended families and young people. The new students are interested in working in churches and counseling centers, or Read the full story »

Lois Shaw, you’ve been at the school for years and have played a big role in weaving the dream that we want to hear about now. Tell us why “trailblazers” Victoria Hanne, Brenda Buchanan and Donna Chapman decided to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in January, in the name of Africa International University/NEGST?
By committing to this climb, these North American women, their friends and others on the team have already raised over $55,000, with much more pledged, to build the new Leah Ngini community center in the heart of our campus. The university sent them off to Mount Kilimanjaro in grand style with songs and blessings in chapel—the first of many climbers lined up to help build the center.

That’s great, Lois! Tell us more about the Leah Ngini Community Center.
The community center is to become the gateway building on campus, connecting us to community and to one another. We are known as “A school in the heart of Africa with Africa on its heart” and it is time for us to have a physical heart of our own—a hub or central gathering place for students, faculty, the community, guests and friends.

The school has needed this center for a long time. And now, as we have expanded to undergrad programs and new PhD and MA programs, more commuting students bring a greater need for the services a community center could provide. It has now become urgent that we get this gateway building built.

What would the community center do for the school?
Some needed amenities include:
• Seminar and conference rooms, as scholars and experts Read the full story »

“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11 (ESV)

In very inauspicious surroundings, the angel announced a seemingly inauspicious message, “a Savior is born.” This message and this Savior continue to transform our lives and world two thousand years on.

We at NEGST are witnesses to that transformation; an on-going reality since NEGST was founded twenty six years ago. From the merry band of four students who registered in 1983, today there are over three hundred current students and almost one thousand alumni from all over the continent and beyond; agents of change and hope. For this we are thankful.

The NEGST transformation would not be possible without the wonderful people who continue to serve us with diligence. Among these are our staff –teaching and non-teaching, Governors, spouses and family members, donors, partners, and friends of NEGST. For this mosaic of dedicated and generous people we are thankful.

The gains over the years have been made in spite of perennial financial challenges. No doubt 2009 has been one of the most economically challenging years at NEGST; the result of a cocktail of difficult internal, national and global economic realities.

In the midst of the onslaught of the financial challenges, one is reminded of the words of the unknown author of the poem ‘footprints in the sand’. “Lord – you said that once I decided to follow you, you’d walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life. There is only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why you’d leave me when I need you most.” The Lord replied, “My precious, precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you saw only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”

Because the Savior is born, we not only reflect on the times past with thankful hearts, we look forward to the year ahead with hopeful expectation. One key expectation is that we will in 2010 receive our university Charter and so fully transition into Africa International University! May AIU be truly an agent of renewal – renewal of God’s people and world.

A sincere and big THANK YOU to all of you who have played, and continue to play, a part in our great mission to equip Christian leaders for excellence in Africa and beyond. Thank your for your prayers, partnership, and service. May Christmas 2009 be a most meaningful and joyful event. May our living Savior be present with you throughout the New Year, and make 2010 a fulfilling year.

Warmly,

Dr. Douglas Carew

The NEGST team won a sweet and pleasant victory in the annual Nairobi Fellowship of Theological Colleges (NFTC) soccer tournament. For the first time in the 31-year history of NFTC, Africa International University/NEGST not only reached the finals, but won the championship. PACCU, Moffat, NPBC, Scott and NIST could not match our dexterity and agility in foot-balling.

NEGST was in pool A, together with Moffat and Nairobi International School of Theology. In the first game against Moffat, each team scored one goal, John Teke scoring the goal for NEGST. In the second game against NIST, John scored again, Josh Amwago scored three times, Soren Daalsgard, Edwin Savala and Patroba each Read the full story »