My name is Ms. Lucy Nafula and I have been serving as a STEM staff in Maseno and Busia CUs. 

At the beginning of this journey, I was clouded with uncertainties and the fear of the unknown. But God has carried me successfully and I have learned total surrender to Him. Through my STEM experiences, He has helped me know Him as the Sovereign God and my Provider.

My communication and public speaking skills have greatly improved. I have had very refreshing opportunities for one-on-one engagements with students and associates. Those have enabled me to sharpen skills in guiding and counseling skills. I am trusting God to enroll in further studies in guiding and counseling so that I can serve more effectively.

All these have been possible with the great help of very key people in my life among them, the faculty members and associates in Maseno and Busia, my team leaders, my selfless partners, and the students. May the Lord bless them abundantly and enlarge their territories.

I pray that the Lord will order my steps as I transit to the marketplace. 

My name is martin Mwathi. I was stationed at Kenyatta University Main and Ruiru campuses.

Thus far the LORD has helped me to know Him more. I had the privilege of supporting students in their vulnerable seasons and witnessing the transformation in their lives. God has transformed students who were lost in darkness and made them His followers. It has been humbling to witness this.

I have seen God caring and supplying my needs through people in my tenure of service. I have never met some of them but they were consistent in supporting my ministry. This has changed my perspective on giving to the work of the LORD. I am now more intentional to support missionary work through prayer, encouraging those in the field, and supporting them financially.

STEM has been packed with learning and unlearning. It has helped me appreciate that the gospel goes beyond the pulpit declaration of the Word, but should be lived out faithfully too. My perspectives on pain and suffering have significantly changed also. I am strongly convicted that He is good and gracious in trials and tribulations.

A host of skills have been sharpened in my service including personal organization, communication, resource mobilization, training, financial stewardship, public speaking, and presentations. I am much better at team playing, reading, research and writing. FOCUS has helped me become a diligent worker with sharper emotional intelligence. These skills will enhance my effectiveness in my future family and career.

The associates, students, and staff in FOCUS have become great friends. The experience opened opportunities for my mentorship and a lifelong transformation. Special thanks to my team leader for his mentorship and the KU students for embracing me. I am grateful to the staff and associates for their generous support towards me.
I pray for strength and spiritual renewal as I consider another year in STEM. I trust that the Lord shall affirm His will to me in my walk with Him.

My name is Mercy Naeku. I served in Taita Taveta CUs. Ministry has been a beautiful journey full of intense and immense growth and experience. It has taken patience to be refined and defined by God through the eight months of STEM. I have learned not to lean on my understanding but to fully surrender to God.

Fellowships with students in various meetings including discipleship, executive committee meetings, discipleship classes, training, and regular services were very enriching. Hosting and being hosted were highlights for me. When we cooked together, we always had deep candid discussions about life and ministry. These cheerful meet-ups would warm my heart!

I have learned lifetime values like excellence, honesty, integrity, hard work, and being a faithful steward. STEM has allowed me to learn skills in resource mobilization, content development, mastering the art of public speaking, and well-developed organizing and coordinating skills. Warm and exciting Bible studies with the associates and students have challenged me to keenly study the Bible and interpret the scriptures with faithfulness.

STEM has been a beautiful journey and timely gift to me and I give thanks to God and FOCUS for granting me such a rare opportunity. I have been challenged to think deeply about God’s mission and marveled at the sight of men giving their time and money to generously support God’s work. May God bless those who supported me financially, spiritually, and emotionally. I am grateful to the Taita Taveta associates for their overwhelming support accorded to me whenever I needed them. My teammates at Pwani, the students, friends, my family, the Christian Unions patrons and the FOCUS family have also been great pillars of the ministry. I am thankful for all their support.

I am transitioning to my teaching career with confidence in God’s leadership and guidance. Until He comes again, may He find me faithful! Every blessing in Christ Jesus!

My name is Sharon Waithera Thiong’o. I served as STEM in the Associates’ department, at Kiriri University and Utalii College Christian Unions.

Coming back for a second year in STEM was purely God’s intention. My expectations may have been limited to my former experience but clearly, God had a purpose for it. I now know with all my heart that God holds His children in His hand and leads them on, day after day. He also empowers them to do all that He calls them to do, providing grace and making them fruitful in every good work. I am convinced that God is at work in His world, daily raising men and women to fulfill His grand agenda of reaching and drawing back all nations to Himself, and to those who yield, there is no limitation to what He can do in and through them.

I am a better leader, communicator, trainer, and mentor because of STEM. These skills will be so needful in my ministry engagements and work in the marketplace in the coming days. I am indebted to God for the privilege to reach students with His Word, through preaching, discipleship programs, mentorship, and training. I was also involved in the planning and coordination of fresh graduates’ forums. These avenues stretched my creativity, excellence, and commitment. I rejoice in the Lord for the impact of those activities and programs on the lives of the students and fresh graduates and at the same time, rejoice for the growth and development of skills I have experienced in the process.

First of all, I am grateful for the faithful support I have received from the staff at FOCUS, and the constant challenge to grow, be and do better. Second, I appreciate my mentors and friends who kept me accountable and reminded me to be found faithful. Third, I thank the associates with who we closely worked together within our endeavor to reach students and be part of God’s story of transformation. In addition, I cannot thank God enough for students who so endearingly opened up their arms and doors for me in Kiriri and Utalii Christian Unions. Serving God among them brought me so much joy and fulfillment. In a special way, I thank my family for their kind words of encouragement, prayers, and love as I took this new path. My partners generously supported me and made this ministry possible. May God reward them richly.

Please thank God for me the transformative one year and eight months in STEM. I will never be the same again. I trust God for an open door to work and serve Him after STEM. May God grant me swift obedience to His leading. I desire that all the investment done on me through STEM, the skills and experience, would be a springboard to faithfully representing Him and bringing glory to His Name.
Shalom!