We have not forgotten you, that is the message that the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the United States has for Adventist students attending public colleges and universities.

With 106 Adventist colleges and universities globally, the Adventist church makes no secret that it prefers its students attend Adventist schools. However, an estimated 60,000 to 70,000 Adventist students attend public colleges and universities in the United States, according to Gary Councell, associate director of Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries (ACM) at the church’s world headquarters.

Former director of the world church’s Education Department, Humberto Rasi, estimates that at least 30 percent of students on secular campuses worldwide leave the church.

Faced with that sobering statistic, the worldwide church has made many efforts to remind students that they are still a part of the church, and that they have not been forgotten just because they don’t attend Adventist schools.

In 1987 the church formed the Adventist Ministry to College and University Students (AMiCUS), a ministry to connect with students on public campuses. Its aim is to “provide continuing support to those seeking to minister to the spiritual, intellectual and social needs” of Adventist students in secular colleges and universities, according to the Adventist Ministry on the Public University Campus handbook. AMiCUS publishes Dialogue, a quarterly magazine for students, organizes retreats and seminars and places chaplains on campuses.

There have been similar efforts in the United States to minister to and support Adventist students on public campuses. “But there are no [official] Adventist chaplains on any of the public campuses in the United States today,” says Councell. “So we rely on students to start up their own on-campus ministries with resources and support of local church leaders, conferences and ACM.”

James Black, Youth Ministries director for the Adventist church in North America admits that previous efforts to reach out to students on public college campuses has been “splintered.”

He explains, “We’ve been in denial regarding the number of students we have on public university campuses. The truth of the matter is because of our quest to keep Christian education at the forefront we have done a disservice to our students and young adults who attend public schools because we have been trying to protect Christian education.

The reality is they are members of our church and whether they go to our schools or to public universities we have a responsibility to minister to them. There is no excuse for the neglect of the past,” says Pastor Black.

In an attempt to correct that “neglect,” the North American Division linked the Youth Ministries Department in North America and Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries and formed Adventist Christian Fellowship (ACF) in 2005. ACF places scores of Adventist student associations under one umbrella organization and provides resources to help those in ministry on public campuses. Pastor Ron Pickell is the ACF coordinator.

“This is our first major deliberate attempt to reach out to our students attending public colleges and universities,” says Black.

Although ACF is in its infancy, its leadership is already developing plans to keep students on public campuses connected to the church through a student Bible kit.

Councell explains that a small kit will be given to each student who goes off to a public college or university. The kit would include: a modern translation of the Bible, Steps to Christ by Ellen G. White, a subscription to Dialogue magazine, a change of address card and CD of church resources for students.

The kit is modified from an idea that came about during World War II and continues to this day. ACM provides a similar kit for Adventists joining the armed forces, said Councell.

“It is one thing that is deeply appreciated and has kept members linked to church. You wouldn’t believe the number of people who hang on to these kits and keep them for years,” he said.

The kit should be ready by May, the start of high school graduation season in the U.S. Councell says students will receive the kits much like soldiers often do. He said, “Ideally pastors know who graduating seniors are and can present the kit in a brief ceremony before they go off to school.”

“These students are our future leaders of the church for the next 30 years; we cannot afford to write them off, nor do we want to,” said Councell.

For more information see the AFC Web site: