My name is Jesse Muchoki Ndungo, a qualified professional engineer originally from Kenya, currently residing and working in Botswana. I hold a Bachelor of Engineering degree from the University of Botswana and am presently pursuing a Master of Divinity degree. Furthermore, I serve as a youth pastor at my local church. My involvement with the youth department spans twenty-four years, including nine years of volunteer service and fifteen years in the role of youth pastor. I work with teenagers (13-19), students and young adults (20-30). I am married to Nonofo Jesse, a human capital development consultant and coach who works alongside me in the youth department and is also an author.
I have long aspired to author a book, but I repeatedly delayed pursuing this goal. Initially, I intended to write fictional content; however, I soon realised that my imaginative capacity was limited in this regard. Upon being appointed to lead the youth department, I developed significant teaching material. Over time, as I prepared lessons in a series format, I accumulated substantial content on various subjects. This experience highlighted the potential for writing on the topics I have taught the youth throughout the years.
Approximately ten years ago, we developed a management system for the youth department that included establishing a transitional group for young individuals aged 20 years. The objective of this group was to facilitate their transition from adolescence to young adulthood and assist them in integrating from the teenagers’ class into the main congregation. As part of this transition process, I designed a lesson plan aimed at raising awareness about the new life stage they were entering and providing them with practical tools to navigate through this phase successfully.
As I conducted this lesson over an extended period, I received numerous testimonials regarding the lessons’ effectiveness. I recognised that many individuals would benefit from having a long-term reference to these teachings, spanning beyond their 20 years. Consequently, I decided to compile the material into a book.
“Face to Face: Navigating Adulthood” provides a comprehensive overview of what individuals can expect as they transition into young adulthood. In addition to outlining expectations, it offers practical tools to assist in navigating this stage of life. These tools are derived from the experiences of biblical characters, the author’s personal experiences, and those of individuals who have influenced the author both directly and indirectly. The objective is to equip young adults with an awareness of their current phase in life and to provide guidance on actions that will lead to positive outcomes in subsequent stages of their lives.
