The University of North Carolina at Asheville had accepted me as a student, and word had gotten out. I am sure this church leader had the best of intentions as he argued with me about the evils of the public education system. At the end of our conversation, because he had not convinced me to reconsider my decision, he left me with these words: "It is such a shame to see a young man like you go to a non-Adventist school. Son, I will tell you now that when you finish, you will not know what you believe, and you will lose your salvation."
His words hurt me deeply. I would hear similar comments again and again-from Adventist college recruiters, from the pulpit, and from church publications. Nevertheless, I stood firm in my decision to attend a public university, and I praise God for that decision. I am still in the church. My Christian experience has changed, but only for the better. We as Adventist Christians tend to make the assumption that it is never God's will that someone attend a non-Adventist school. Yet it was while I was attending a public university that I truly gave my heart to God and later became a chaplain on a public university campus.
At times we have viewed students who enroll in public universities as though they were doing something wrong or unbiblical. We give them the impression that their decision or their character is somehow flawed, or that they are not supporting Christ or the church. We should, instead, view Adventists in public school settings as resources to help fulfill the Great Commission. The Bible is direct in its command to share God's love with all people. "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). Ellen White encourages Christian Adventist students to share Christ with their teachers and classmates. "There are those who, after becoming established, rooted and grounded in the truth, should enter these [secular] institutions of learning as students. They can keep the living principles of the truth, and observe the Sabbath, and yet they will have opportunity to work for the Master by dropping seeds of truth in minds and hearts. Under the influence of the Holy Spirit, these seeds will spring up to bear fruit for the glory of God, and will result in the saving of souls" (Selected Messages, book 3, p. 234).
We must begin to see public universities for what they are-mission fields-and realize that public campus ministry is evangelism. Thousands of colleges, technical schools, and universities house millions of young adults who want to know who Jesus really is. For many, it is the first time they have truly asked themselves if they are going to follow the God of their parents, or they are searching to know if God is real and what place He has in their lives.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a leader among denominations in mission work, yet Adventists are the only mainstream church that does not have a ministry presence on most North American public campuses. And we should have a presence on college campuses, even if there are no Adventist students in attendance. If an Adventist student decides to attend a public university, we should view their choice as an opportunity rather than a negative decision. We must utilize those students to become powerful tools for sharing Christ's love with their teachers, classmates, and friends.
The attitude toward public education is slowly changing in North America, but more change is needed. Although well-intended, articles written about Adventist students on public campuses have centered on what students had to do to survive on a public campus. Instead we should concentrate on what the church could or should do to help a student feel accepted and part of the church, and on the incredible importance of campus ministry as an evangelistic tool. Often articles suggest that an Adventist student faces doom once they step foot on a public campus, or they suggest that a student is attending public education to escape the church. Truthfully, some students do choose a public university because they are no longer interested in the church. And there are many distractions that can challenge a person's Christianity. However, many students on public campuses are very interested in being a part of the church. They seek out faith-based student organizations to help them maintain their focus on Christ, and have a sincere desire to share Christ with their friends and classmates.
How then can the Seventh-day Adventist Church facilitate an environment of acceptance and support toward Adventist public school students?
The first step is to support Adventist Christian Fellowship (ACF) in your conference. Although ACF has been a ministry of the church for several decades, a large portion of our membership does not even know it exists. A growing number of programs are springing up in the North American Division, with some of the most notable programs being at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, the University of Michigan, the University of California at Berkeley, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The Ontario Conference also has a very well-structured network of campus ministry programs.
Every church located near a university or college has an opportunity to become involved. Even if there are no Adventist students on a campus, churches should start an outreach, because there is no greater mission field to influence searching minds.
Here are some ways to participate in this outreach:
1. Start an adopt-a-student program in the church or conference. Discover who is attending a public school and reach out to that student (see number 6), maybe by providing a ride, not just to church but also to the park, the mall, or a restaurant. To have any legitimacy in a student's life, the church's interest must be more than seeing them attend services on Sabbath. Students can sense the difference between genuine interest in their everyday life and pew filling. By "adopting" a student the church member can establish trust and, if the student wishes, he or she will be someone that student can come to for advice, comfort, and encouragement.
2. Care packages. Care packages are especially effective if they arrive just before midterms, finals, or holidays. Homemade cookies, toiletries, gift certificates, cards, etc., are appreciated and remembered.
3. Food! One of the best ways to a student's heart is through their stomach. Find out who is still at school over the holidays or over the weekend and invite them home for dinner. Or throw a pizza party! When I attended UNC at Asheville, the local Baptist churches sponsored a lunch each Wednesday at noon. They provided a meal and a worship thought.
4. Friday night dinner and discussion. Each Friday night we have a vespers on or near the campus. Usually we have a meal followed by music and worship. This builds relationships and fosters Christian growth. The important aspect of group discussion is openness and honesty. Students want to be able to question and discuss issues without fear of criticism.
5. Start a student center. Create a place where the students can study, visit, and/or just hang out. The church can rent space on or near the campus. Recently a student center was opened at UNC at Chapel Hill. Students make great use of the center, and they bring their friends.
6. Keep track of the Adventist students. The best way to do this is by word of mouth. Churches may contact their conference youth director to find out which students are attending public school at any level and where, and to notify him or her when one of its members goes to a public college or university. Adventist academies can make finding students easier by keeping track of those who request transcripts sent to a public school and by following up just before school starts. Or they can give the list to the conference youth director so he or she can alert other conferences when a student is attending a school out of conference.
7. Teachers, pay attention! Adventist teachers on public campuses should make themselves known. Teachers or staff are especially needed if a group of students wants to start a campus organization. Campus student groups usually require a faculty sponsor. Teachers can also provide counseling, encouragement, and advice.
8. Graduation participation. Often graduation ceremonies fall on Sabbath. Sometimes students participate in the ceremonies and other times they do not. You may or may not agree with their decision. If they do participate, be supportive of them. If a student chooses not to participate, then throw them a graduation! This is especially important for high school seniors. Immanuel Temple Adventist Church in Durham, North Carolina, throws a banquet for its students each year-complete with a limo. The students really feel loved. And judging from the dynamic young adult program at Immanuel Temple, the students don't leave!
9. Community service. Students are very civic-minded. They want to serve their communities. Immanuel Temple sponsors workshops and seminars on career and financial decisions and the biblical principles that apply. They are free to the public. At Immanuel Temple there is no doubt that the church is a place where students are wanted and loved.
10. Change negative attitudes. Some church members may be uncomfortable with the entire idea of campus ministry. They may still think that by supporting a campus ministry they are supporting public education as well as threatening the Adventist education system. A hundred years ago Catholic bishops were suspicious of those who wanted to minister to Catholic students at state universities. They too were afraid it would mean declining enrollment at Catholic schools. However, this ministry is now one of their greatest evangelistic tools.
The fact is that Adventist students are going to attend public universities. Wouldn't it be better to support those students with acceptance rather than discourage them with scorn or disapproval? It is not often that young people leave the church because of what they have learned in school. They often leave because of how they were treated by church members.
Six years of campus ministry at UNC at Chapel Hill has changed lives. During that time the New Life Fellowship church was planted in Chapel Hill and is a thriving church made up primarily of young professionals and college students. As a result of God's work in ACF and the New Life church, the great-great-granddaughter of Ellen White gave her life to Christ and was baptized. Her husband also gave his life to Christ. Another student was baptized and then went on to help start a new church in a county with no Adventist presence. That church is now a healthy growing church and is well-known throughout the county.
ACF is not a ministry just to Adventist students, nor should it ever be; other Christians also regularly attend meetings. One such student was actually denied a leadership position in a church organization because of her affiliation with ACF. But rather than leave, she told them if that was what they had to do, fine, but she was finding God at ACF.
Each student has a different story. But for each, the underlying response is the same: "Thank you for caring." ACF chapters throughout the country exist to serve God, their campus, and their community through worship and social activities. They all offer support and a positive environment in which students can fellowship together, praise God, and learn about His love and salvation.
Step out in faith and start an ACF chapter near you. Join God in His work.
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John Van Eyk is director of public campus ministries for the Carolina Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. He is also a physical therapist employed by the Franklin County School System. He is married and has one daughter.
CAN STILL REMEMBER THE knock on the door by the local church leader that spring morning in 1988. The memory of what happened next remains fresh in my mind.
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