“God, Give Me a Sign,” Benaiah Nyanjui ‘25 prayed before his tour of Grace Christian University
It was an honest and earnest prayer, but he had no idea how it would be answered.
TAKEOFF
Born to missionary parents, Benaiah was raised in Kenya where he and his family were constantly involved in ministry. As early as he could remember, he was in church.
“If I had to count how many times I’ve missed church, I could count it on one hand.”
He didn’t have a choice. His parents served in leadership roles, so they practically lived at the church. Benaiah even had a place to sleep during prayer nights. By 8 years old, Benaiah spoke Swahili and English. Then his parents sensed a calling to serve in Ecuador—an entirely different continent, culture, and language. There, he learned Spanish.
“I was like a sponge,” Benaiah says. “My sister and I were still young at the time, so it was easy for us to pick up the language.” His parents didn’t catch on as fast, but they were determined to show their children that learning new things should happen at any age.
“My parents have been great role models for me and my siblings growing up,” Benaiah says. “They still are to this day.” Although Benaiah always admired his parents’ heart for missions, his strong sense of independence motivated him to pave his own runway. Benaiah discovered an excitement for aviation through an online video.
“It inspired me,” Benaiah says. “I felt a strong desire to become a pilot.”
TEMPORARY TURBULENCE
In hopes of beginning his aviation journey, Benaiah decided to attend a conference in Quito, Ecuador, where schools from all over the globe came to offer education opportunities for people in that region. With a borrowed baseball cap from his dad and a hopeful heart, Benaiah left for the conference. With every conversation, the weight of discouragement grew. Benaiah realized there were no aviation program opportunities in Quito. On his way out, a woman stopped him.
“Are you from Michigan?” She referred to his baseball cap, which had the University of Michigan logo on it.
“What’s Michigan?” Benaiah asked.
The woman was Diane Finch, and she opened the door to an aviation opportunity in Michigan. She connected Benaiah with a family in the area who welcomed him into their home and practically adopted him as one of their own. He worked at an aviation museum in Kalamazoo, Michigan and began attending a community college. Benaiah didn’t think a university was in his future because of his finances, but Grace Christian University kept popping up in conversation and advertisements. He meditated on Matthew 11:28 throughout that time, knowing that God’s plan isn’t heavy, but light, and that He would provide a direction for him. But the more that Benaiah held off the thought of Grace, the more unsettled he felt in his spirit. Benaiah decided to simply tour Grace.
ON THE TARMAC
In Grace’s parking lot before the tour, he prayed that God would give him a sign—not just a tug of his heart—so he would know for sure. During his tour, everyone was welcoming and friendly, but it wasn’t enough for him to consider it a sign from God. On his way out, President Kemper stopped him to introduce himself, and he asked Benaiah where he was from. When he answered Kenya, suddenly, President Kemper began speaking Swahili.
“This came as a shock to me,” Benaiah says. “President Kemper doesn’t look like someone who would speak Swahili.” They instantly connected over their similar experiences as missionaries. “This was part of the sign,” Benaiah explained. “The other part was when he quoted Matthew 11:28 to me. That was the verse I had been meditating on during that time.”
Benaiah felt affirmed in his decision to come to Grace after that, even though he thought he would not be able to afford it.
“God knows us so well. He knows the answers we need in order for us to take the next steps,” Benaiah says. “God has taken care of my every need and I’ve been able to pay for every semester.”
At Grace, Benaiah has not only been cared for, but he has thrived in many ways. He’s grown closer to God, and has a deepened appreciation of the body of Christ and a growing reassurance that God will take care of him wherever he goes. “Just like when grabbing that Michigan hat,” Benaiah says. “God was in that decision and I didn’t even know it.”
But Benaiah has always been sure about one decision: intentionally including Christ in everything. Becoming a missionary pilot is Benaiah’s hope for the future, though he realizes it will take some time.
“Waiting to be a missionary pilot doesn’t mean I’m holding off God’s work,” Benaiah says, “because I’m doing His work right now, every day.”
GOD KNOWS US SO WELL …
GOD HAS TAKEN CARE OF MY EVERY NEED.
Emma Wodowski ‘25 is a student in the communication program and plans to pursue non-profit work after graduation. Emma’s greatest passion is to serve Christ and hear how the Lord works to spread His truth and love to the world.
Read more stories like this in The Journey Magazine | Spring 2025 >
