An Australian couple were guest speakers at the annual camp meeting and Week of Prayer of the University of Eastern Africa in Baraton, Kenya, held from October 3-12.
Dr Steve Stephenson, director of Mission Integration at the Sydney Adventist Hospital (the San), delivered the morning and evening sermons, while his wife Laurazelle led workshops on youth issues, courtship marriage and family, empowering women in ministry, and other topics.
The theme for the 10-day event was “Renewing Our Passion for God”.
“Camp meetings in the African continent are a time of celebration, a festive season,” Dr Stephenson said. “Numerous choirs flooded the university, setting the tone for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.”
University vice-chancellor Professor Msafiri Mmamba Jackson described this year’s meeting as the best in recent history. “It has brought about renewal, revival, transformation and baptisms . . . 177 souls decided to accept Jesus as their personal Saviour. This has been a spiritual feast to me.”
University of Eastern Africa, Baraton, is one of the largest, most diverse universities in Africa, with more than 5000 students. Alongside its strong academic programs, the university is known for its vibrant campus life that promotes personal and spiritual growth, cultural enrichment, sense of community and leadership development.
“Dr Stephenson’s visit to the university comes as a huge blessing to the Jeremic Community Medical Centre,” said Dr Damacline Abuya, chief medical officer at the centre. “The board members were able to have some lengthy conversations with Dr Stephenson and requested support and guidance from Adventist HealthCare, Australia. We hope this partnership with the San will reshape and redefine healthcare in East Africa.”
After the camp meetings, Dr and Mrs Stephenson spent a week at the orphanage and destitute home they own in Kenya. They built a chicken coop, a duck coop and a goat pen, did some farming and purchased a van for the children in the orphanage who were previously walking 14 kilometres each day to school.
