When the COVID-19 pandemic forced schools to transition into virtual classes, Adventist Christian Fellowship (ACF) student leaders at Middle Tennessee State University also decided to end the meetings for the school year. However, one of the visitors who had become a friend of the group at the end of the fall semester suggested continuing with the meetings virtually, just like the classes. That was the beginning of a virtual ACF.
One Friday night, leaders received about seven prayer requests before the meeting even started. Among them was “Hillary,” a former student leader of the University of Kentucky (UK), now living in Boston, Mass., continuing her education. She had been hospitalized, but from her hospital bed joined the Zoom ACF meeting.
Another student leader from UK, a visiting research Ph.D. student from Australia and originally from China, joined the ACF Zoom meeting from Australia. Her research time at UK was cut short due to the pandemic. “Jia” met Christ through the underground church in China, and met the Seventh-day Adventist Church through an Adventist Public Campus Ministry group in Australia. She had told the group that Christianity in China is very secretive, and it was hard for her to get to the underground church since no one trusted her. She shared that experience due to a question from “Ninon,” an exchange student from France. Ninon was introduced to Christianity through ACF at Middle Tennessee State University. She asked the group for help in identifying the true church and when Jesus would return to Earth.
Virtual meetings have allowed ACF to reach students near and far. In normal circumstances, many of them wouldn’t have been present. This has provided a place for community among the young people. ACF is not only a local ministry, but also a global one: Reach a Campus — Reach the World!
Kentucky-Tennessee | July 2020
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