Rowland Jr. & Jane Van Es

Students and faculty cluster in conversation, warm cups of chai and mandazi pastries in hand after the morning’s energetic chapel service. Their tea comes from the fields surrounding St. Paul’s University in the misty, cool town of Limuru, Kenya, a short drive up into the hills northwest of Nairobi. Soon, students and professors alike will bustle along to class where they strive to be “servants of God and humanity,” as the university’s motto says. 

It’s at St. Paul’s main campus that Rowland and Jane Van Es spend their days teaching students in theology and social sciences, equipping them for lives of Christian service in the world. Some may go into church ministry while others may go into social work, pursue higher degrees in counseling, or teach like the Van Eses do. Jane and Rowland’s goal is to mentor them to walk in the footsteps of Christ, whatever their chosen path.