Esther Waruiru

M.A. '89

Why did you originally choose to attend WSC?
I had been on the Kenya Navigator staff for about nine years and wanted to take a sabbatical. I wanted to take time to just study, reflect, and think about God – as really knowing God is through both having and keeping His commandments (John 14:2-21). Having worked with The Navigators for years, thought I had studied the Scriptures and helped others do the same, I wanted to gain greater depth in my knowledge of the Old and New Testaments. I checked out some well-known seminaries. I found some that offered what I had already studied over the years. However, WSC offered what I was looking for – scholarly depth in the Old and New Testaments, including the study of Greek and Hebrew. This was the major reason for my choice of WSC. I had also been praying I would get a scholarship to the seminary God wanted me to study. WSC wonderfully, graciously offered me the International Student Scholarship! I chose WSC because I didn’t want to spend the winter in Philadelphia on my sabbatical!

What were the most significant things that you learned/gained during your time at WSC?
A deepened knowledge of God through a deepened knowledge of the Old and New Testaments. However, working on Greek vocabulary at night for an 8am test about reduced me to tears – I thought, “How did I end up here?!”

I had been in Isaiah 53 over the years but writing a paper on “The Servant of the Lord” took this poem to a whole different level. The Holy Spirit wrote it in my heart in a way that deepened my love for Jesus and deepened my motivation to serve Him. The study of subjects like Systematic Theology, Church History, and Philosophy further developed me as a worker and leader in Christian ministry. Van Til’s definition of a servant was a particular highlight too: “Servanthood is thinking God’s thoughts after Him”.

What are your present endeavors?
I presently work on The Navigator International Team. Along with others on the team, my role is to serve and lead field staff in the outworking of our calling, values, and vision. My particular areas of focus are North America and Africa.

I desire that God would enable me to keep experiencing His transformation to be more like Christ, that He would help me to be a competent minister of the new covenant and that by His grace I would play the part He wants me to play for the advance of the Gospel to the Nations.

How did your education at WSC equip/prepare you for your present and/or future roles and responsibilities?
Over all, WSC equipped and developed me as a leader in deepening my knowledge of God and in deepening my knowledge of the Scriptures and in the other things I have shared above that I gained.

My deepened knowledge of the Scriptures directly equipped me to be able to lead a Scriptural Roots of The Navigator Ministry throughout the organization’s work in Africa. God blessed this undertaking and from this followed more responsibilities in The Navigator Africa Region and eventually to my current international responsibilities.

What is one of your favorite memories of your time at WSC?
Translating a passage in Scripture from Greek to English and the sheer joy of savoring the truth as the passage got unpacked! I can remember laughing to myself in the library with sheer delight! I knew – yes! This is what I wanted!

What advice would you give to prospective students considering graduate theological education?
Look not so much for “education” as to “learn” Christ. Look to see Him and His work in Scripture, History, Philosophy, and in every discipline. Everything holds together in Him. “Christ is all.” (Ephesians 4:20; Colossians 1:17; Colossians 3:11) If one does not gain Him from theological education, then was it really “theological education?”