Adventist Public Campus Ministry Celebrates 10 Years of Mission

Summer event in Toronto, Canada, emphasizes the ministry’s distinctive role.

November 3, 2024 | Ontario, Canada | Jabulile Buthelezi-Kalonji, and Adventist Review

The Seventh-day Adventist Church’s Public Campus Ministries (PCM) celebrated its first decade this summer with a special event in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The ministry, part of the Youth Department of the General Conference, sought to remind participants of the rationale for its existence and its achievements as it reaches Adventist students on public campuses.

Under the theme “Empowered by His Spirit: Gratitude, Growing, and Going,” hundreds gathered to recommit to the goals of the ministry, church leaders said. “It’s a rare honor to be able to choose God,” North American Division youth director Tracy Wood reminded attendees. “It’s a rare honor to be able to praise Him on campus.”

Former General Conference (GC) youth director Gilbert Cangy described the precedent that Jesus set for us on discipleship. Cangy outlined the opportunity for embracing Jesus’ model in our journey of servant leadership while being invested with the Holy Spirit for His work as followers of Jesus. “We must proclaim, preach, and demonstrate the Good News to embrace His mission,” Cangy said.

Current GC youth director Busi Khumalo acknowledged PCM directors who have supported the ministry with their leadership over the past decade. He shared appreciation and gratitude to instrumental establishers of Adventist Ministry to College and University Students (AMiCUS) and PCM, reminding the audience of being true to the historical legacy of these ministries.

Khumalo mentioned that around the world, PCM has existed for decades and continues to grow stronger across the Seventh-day Adventist faith. “Each young person, and students in particular, ought to take joy and pride in safeguarding and growing it to higher heights for the glory of God,” he said. Khumalo also added that public campuses are unentered areas, calling on the leaders and local churches to support Adventist students and staff as they minister there.

A Great Potential

According to some projections, the world population of 16- to 30-year-olds is expected to increase to more than a billion in 2063, mainly in Africa. This means that many global business leaders are paying serious attention to the youth cohort, seeing them as an investment, GC associate youth director Pako Mokgwane acknowledged.

“This is a nudge to the church to intensify its efforts on the plight of students, particularly by the local churches near public campuses. It is a call for PCM to intensify around the world and ensure each young person and student is equipped and capacitated to follow the church’s call, ‘I Will Go,’ ” he said.

Guest speaker Jessica Gamez, a young leader involved with PCM, emphasized that young people can be trusted to lead. “Youth involvement in mission work is key,” she said. Gamez also encouraged the PCM family to live out their faith actively on public campuses. “PCM is there to support your spiritual growth and leadership development,” she said.

The tenth-anniversary milestone was an epitome of what happens when the church deliberately zooms into the most urgent needs of students who have chosen Jesus as they struggle with the dynamics of navigating faith, academia, and spiritual health on public campuses. At this celebration, it was clear that PCM remains a unique and imperative vehicle that can be easily accessible and be a solid bridge for students when it matters most.