Hello again, and welcome
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to another exciting
segment of "engage."
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My name is Jay
Rosario. I'm your host.
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And in this program
we're attempting to address
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some of the most
relevant and challenging issues
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facing young adults
trying to be successful
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in the Christian
experience all over the world.
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Joining me today is my
good friend, Dan McGrath.
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Dan, how is it
going? Pretty good, Jay.
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How're you
doing? Doing all right.
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Dan, what're we
talking about today?
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Well, today, we're talking
about how many young people
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go to public
universities after high school.
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Many of them are
losing their faith.
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We want to
figure out why this is
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and how we can prevent it today.
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And that's why we've
invited our good friend,
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Kayla, here today.
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Kayla, come on out.
We're glad to have you.
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Hi, guys. How're you doing?
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Kayla, thank you
for being with us.
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Now, Kayla, I have
actually had the privilege of
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working together
with you at GYC, Espanol
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and you were the vice president,
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serving as the
vice president of GYC.
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We're actually from
the same background.
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Kayla's parents are
from the Dominican Republic.
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Uh, so we have a
special program today.
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This is like family,
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you know, more like
with a cousin or something.
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So, Kayla, for
those who don't know you,
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tell us a little
bit about yourself.
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I grew up mostly in Rhode Island
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so I've to mention that.
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But my family is
currently living in Tennessee.
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I studied undergrad
at Harvard University.
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And I'm currently a student
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at Andrews University studying
International Development.
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Wow. I feel very intimidated
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all of a sudden
now, how about you?
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I'm okay. To be
honest, I'm okay.
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I feel intimidated.
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So, Kayla, in this discussion,
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we're going to be
talking a little about,
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kind of the dynamics
for a Christian young adult
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in kind of
academia, in a secular public
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and maybe even
private environment.
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Tell us a little bit
about your experience
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in environment
such as, the Harvard.
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I mean, is Harvard a place
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where a lot of Christians go to?
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I mean, what's Harvard like?
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There're a lot of
Christians on campus.
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But because it is a secular
University and very secular,
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it's a dangerous
place for Christians.
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I grew up going
to public school.
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So I had an idea
of what was out there
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but nothing can really
prepare you for everything
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that is on a University campus,
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the freedom that
young people have.
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And so there's a
little bit of everything.
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The parties, the
unbiblical teachings,
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the drugs, the
alcohol, there're everything
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and so it's a
very dangerous place
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for a young person-- a
Christian young person to be.
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Well, the majority of
Adventist young people,
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probably over 70% go
to public universities
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when they finish high school,
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whether they go
to a public school,
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public high school, or
an Adventist high school.
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70% of them go to
public university.
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And many of them when they
go there, lose their faith.
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But you evidently
went to, you know, Harvard,
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one of the best
public schools in the country
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and you're a
very strong Christian.
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So tell us a little
about your experience there
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and what it was like.
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I should just say it
is a private university
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but it's secular.
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And yeah, it's
only by the grace of God
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that I survived as a Christian.
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Um, I think that especially
coming out of high school,
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I was very--I had a
very un-firm character,
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passive, wanting to
please, wanting to belong,
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and all of these things
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and so it's a
sort of environment
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where someone like me who
hasn't very firmly decided
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on who I am necessarily
and what my purpose is,
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to get carried away by
the things that are available,
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the things that are out there.
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But God put
certain people around me.
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He had put certain
decisions in my heart
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that I didn't
want to stray from.
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And it does remind me,
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not that I thought of
it so much at that time
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but it does remind me
of the story of Daniel.
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I just want to read that
one verse from the Bible.
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Daniel what Chapter?
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Chapter 1. Chapter 1.
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Daniel Chapter 1 and verse 8.
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Daniel and his
friends were taken
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to kind of the
University of Babylon.
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God allowed them to be there
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and God does allow us
to come into these places.
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And it says in verse 8,
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"But Daniel
purposed in his heart
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that he would not defile himself
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with the portion of
the king's delicacies,
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nor with the
wine which he drank,
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therefore he requested
the chief of the eunuchs
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that he might
not defile himself."
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And it was because
Daniel had decided in his heart
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before getting to this place,
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before anything
was offered to him,
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that he was able to resist,
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the temptations
that were about him.
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And one of the things
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that I like about the
story of Daniel is that,
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you know, he
purposed in his heart,
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like you said, to
not eat this king's food.
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But he also, it wasn't
just about survival for him.
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I mean, he was surviving
but it was also about him,
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you know letting his life shine.
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In verse 20 the Bible says,
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"And in all matters of
wisdom and understanding,
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about which the
king examined them,
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he found them ten times better,
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ten times better in
wisdom and understanding
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than all the magicians
and astrologers around him."
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And then in the next chapter
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he's also, you know,
better in the spiritual matters.
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And so it's not
just about surviving.
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It's also about, you
know, letting your life shine.
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What was your experience,
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you know, were you
active in ministry?
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Or were you just kind
of hiding under a bushel?
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What was it like as a Christian,
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as a Seventh-day Adventist?
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It is intimidating
being on this campus
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as it can be
for any young person
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starting at a university campus.
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You need to make
friends, you need to figure out
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your studies and everything.
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And my first
year, I was only about
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an hour and a
half away from home.
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So I went home
every single weekend.
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And I cried every
Sunday going back to school.
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That might not be
everyone's experience but--
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I wasn't so involved
in ministry at that point.
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But I knew that I wanted
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to maintain my
Christianity on campus.
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And so I looked for
Christian groups on campus.
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I didn't know any
Adventists on campus.
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So I went to a Christian
student group's meeting
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and from there God
orchestrated things
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so that some of the leaders
introduced me to an Adventist,
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former
graduate, recent graduate.
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And through him,
I was able to start
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going to Bible
studies during the week.
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And that really
was a great help,
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it was, it was,
getting into the word of God
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but even at that point I
didn't have so much of the,
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the mindset that
this is a mission field
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and I'm a
representative of Christ here.
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It was sort of like yes,
maintain your Christianity,
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be a good girl.
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And kind of going from there,
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but I had an experience
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especially in my
junior year of college,
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I decided to study abroad
in the Dominican Republic.
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Um, while, I was
there-- Hometown.
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Yes. Santo
Domingo. Santo Domingo.
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When I was there,
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I saw the young
people that were there,
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they were, they were
studying the word so much.
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They were so committed to
sharing what they were learning.
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Was this a public university
or was it a private one?
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I was, I was mainly at a church
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but most of the young people
went to a public university.
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And they were concerned about
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letting their lives shine there.
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So it started to
make an impact on me.
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And when I got
back to my university,
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I started to stay on campus more
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because I realized
that I needed to go
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more deeply into the word.
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And the people on
campus were doing that.
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And we studied
about the names of God.
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And it was such a
powerful Bible study for me.
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We and, as I
continued to study there,
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some friends introduced me
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to powerful messages from GYC.
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I'm sure many have heard of it.
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And ministries at campus,
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which we'll talk
about later, I guess.
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And it started to, to
wake me up to the fact
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that I'm a representative
of Christ on the campus.
00:08:03.96\00:08:06.65
And it's not just
about surviving as we said
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but letting, representing Jesus,
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letting Jesus show to others.
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Now, of course, we
were talking about Daniel,
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you mentioned, you know,
the University of Babylon
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and of course with
Daniel's circumstances,
00:08:19.11\00:08:21.56
he really didn't
have much of an option.
00:08:21.57\00:08:22.93
He was under
captivity and he kinda had to go
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wherever it was
that it was available.
00:08:25.36\00:08:27.81
But you mentioned a 70 percent?
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Over 70
percent. Over 70 percent.
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Why do you think, Kayla,
00:08:31.85\00:08:33.97
that such a large percentage of
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of our young people do
go to public university?
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cWhat is it about
public universities?
00:08:40.94\00:08:42.76
Why is that?
00:08:42.77\00:08:44.40
Private is the finances,
the practical aspect of it.
00:08:44.41\00:08:48.79
But also, lot of young people
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have these
desires to leave home.
00:08:50.73\00:08:53.23
Right. Start
grow up independent.
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Independent, independent.
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Be their own person,
make their own decisions.
00:08:57.20\00:08:59.91
And some just wanna have that,
some have these aspirations
00:08:59.92\00:09:05.26
and think that the
public university somewhere
00:09:05.27\00:09:08.13
that will get them
bit more in contact
00:09:08.14\00:09:10.19
with the world and--
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Right, more job opportunities.
00:09:11.20\00:09:12.22
Opportunities
that are out there.
00:09:12.23\00:09:14.16
They decide to
go there. Awesome.
00:09:14.17\00:09:16.28
So, Kayla, when
you went to Harvard,
00:09:16.29\00:09:18.93
tell us what your
devotional life was like?
00:09:18.94\00:09:21.85
When I started,
00:09:21.86\00:09:23.86
my--I was used to
reading devotional books
00:09:23.87\00:09:28.32
in the mornings and
things my family had taught us
00:09:28.33\00:09:33.71
and my brother, sister
and I and at my church.
00:09:33.72\00:09:37.38
And so every once in a while
00:09:37.39\00:09:38.64
I would read the devotionals
00:09:38.65\00:09:40.10
and I made sure to
pray before I went to bed.
00:09:40.11\00:09:42.99
And I went to, receive
the Sabbath on Friday nights
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and went to
church, you know the usual.
00:09:46.91\00:09:48.82
But I didn't have that
regular daily need to study
00:09:48.83\00:09:54.35
the word of God, to
pray, to connect with the Lord.
00:09:54.36\00:09:57.80
Um, and it
wasn't-- it was really
00:09:57.81\00:10:01.75
a blessing to have my parents.
00:10:01.76\00:10:04.34
Because they understood
00:10:04.35\00:10:05.35
the difficulties
I was going through
00:10:05.36\00:10:08.03
and they decided to
pray with me every morning.
00:10:08.04\00:10:12.69
And that sort of
got me more on there.
00:10:12.70\00:10:14.70
Later on, in my junior
year-- after my junior year,
00:10:14.71\00:10:19.64
I went
canvassing for the summer.
00:10:19.65\00:10:22.60
And it was a really
wonderful experience.
00:10:22.61\00:10:25.39
I'm canvassing,
selling books, Christian books
00:10:25.40\00:10:30.17
and that experience
really solidified in my mind
00:10:30.18\00:10:34.92
the need to have constant
00:10:34.93\00:10:37.58
daily devotional
time with the Lord.
00:10:37.59\00:10:40.84
I think it's interesting, Dan,
00:10:40.85\00:10:41.86
if I can just say something
00:10:41.87\00:10:43.12
that it seems
like that those two--
00:10:43.13\00:10:44.95
very two interesting
dynamics that she mentions about
00:10:44.96\00:10:47.42
how to have a devotional life.
00:10:47.43\00:10:48.99
It seems like your parents were
00:10:49.00\00:10:51.76
definitely high
influential in your spiritual
00:10:51.77\00:10:54.59
well being even
though you were--
00:10:54.60\00:10:56.38
they weren't in
close proximity to you.
00:10:56.39\00:10:58.11
And I think this
speaks a lot about
00:10:58.12\00:11:00.01
the importance of parents
in spite of your young adult
00:11:00.02\00:11:03.28
being far away in schools,
that you still have influence.
00:11:03.29\00:11:06.27
You still have a role,
not only in your prayers,
00:11:06.28\00:11:08.08
but maintaining touch.
00:11:08.09\00:11:09.08
And obviously that
was a blessing for you.
00:11:09.09\00:11:10.79
And also being
involved in service,
00:11:10.80\00:11:13.01
getting involved being active,
00:11:13.02\00:11:14.52
because I think we
just-- literature evangelism.
00:11:14.53\00:11:16.06
Yeah, literature
evangelism is gonna be
00:11:16.07\00:11:17.38
involved in school so, yeah.
00:11:17.39\00:11:19.12
I also like that,
you know, you brought out
00:11:19.13\00:11:20.97
that your
devotional life wasn't quite
00:11:20.98\00:11:23.94
as good in the
beginning and you had struggles.
00:11:23.95\00:11:26.69
You had, you know,
spiritual struggles that,
00:11:26.70\00:11:28.79
you know everyone
deals with that university.
00:11:28.80\00:11:30.79
But your junior year
and your senior year,
00:11:30.80\00:11:33.02
obviously it went a
little differently right? Yes.
00:11:33.03\00:11:35.57
And was it more, you were
more sure of what you're doing.
00:11:35.58\00:11:39.09
You were more firm
in what you believed.
00:11:39.10\00:11:40.47
Or what was the
tangible difference?
00:11:40.48\00:11:43.71
It was being more sure
00:11:43.72\00:11:46.43
that the things
I've been taught,
00:11:46.44\00:11:48.77
the beliefs that I
have as a Christian,
00:11:48.78\00:11:51.21
as a Seventh-day
Adventist are true.
00:11:51.22\00:11:54.69
And they are powerful.
They are life changing.
00:11:54.70\00:11:56.61
Not just for me
but for others as well.
00:11:56.62\00:11:59.39
And even, even with
that, I knew that there was,
00:11:59.40\00:12:03.52
that there was
something missing.
00:12:03.53\00:12:05.25
What would've happened to you
00:12:05.26\00:12:06.53
if you stopped
having devotionals?
00:12:06.54\00:12:07.80
I don't know. Scary thought.
00:12:10.47\00:12:12.76
I would've crashed. I
know that I would have.
00:12:12.77\00:12:16.39
So it seems that somehow
00:12:16.40\00:12:18.40
being in spite of the
surroundings of being highly,
00:12:18.41\00:12:22.90
you know, the
possibilities of worldliness,
00:12:22.91\00:12:25.67
the possibilities of
addictions or what not,
00:12:25.68\00:12:27.74
even though they
were so prevalent,
00:12:27.75\00:12:29.23
it seemed like your
devotional experience
00:12:29.24\00:12:32.53
is what kind of, was the motor,
00:12:32.54\00:12:34.61
was the engine that
kind of kept you alive.
00:12:34.62\00:12:36.77
But it wasn't just
your devotional experiences
00:12:36.78\00:12:39.64
also tapping into the
right outward kind of outlets
00:12:39.65\00:12:45.14
and not only, of
course, you mentioned service
00:12:45.15\00:12:48.24
but from the sounds
of it, it seems like
00:12:48.25\00:12:49.98
you got involved
with the right crowd
00:12:49.99\00:12:52.78
who were spiritually uplifting,
who kind of took you in,
00:12:52.79\00:12:56.18
if I understand correct, I
think that, you mentioned that
00:12:56.19\00:12:58.08
that there was a
group of students
00:12:58.09\00:12:59.28
that were in the
word and that's how
00:12:59.29\00:13:00.46
you got exposed to the GYC. Yes.
00:13:00.47\00:13:02.26
So I think there're
several practical things
00:13:02.27\00:13:03.67
that we could definitely address
00:13:03.68\00:13:05.21
that if you're a young
person in a public university
00:13:05.22\00:13:08.70
and you're struggling,
you're trying to maintain
00:13:08.71\00:13:10.27
your Christian experience,
try and get involved.
00:13:10.28\00:13:12.88
Do something. Look for
a campus Christian club
00:13:13.51\00:13:17.74
that you can get
involved in whatever.
00:13:17.75\00:13:19.51
And also look for the
right choice of friends.
00:13:19.52\00:13:22.37
That would be uplifting to you
00:13:22.38\00:13:23.51
and that will kind of
cater to your spiritual needs.
00:13:23.52\00:13:26.14
Now, one thing that
many people struggle
00:13:26.15\00:13:28.53
with in an university
is the different ideas
00:13:28.54\00:13:30.98
that they get bombarded with.
00:13:30.99\00:13:32.90
Whether its evolution and,
you know, the arguments for it
00:13:32.91\00:13:36.70
or different
ideas, what is it about
00:13:36.71\00:13:41.58
these unbiblical teachings
that draws people away?
00:13:41.59\00:13:44.45
How do you--how do we
avoid being drawn away by them?
00:13:44.46\00:13:48.43
You know, it's
hard to say sometimes
00:13:48.44\00:13:51.06
because we want to
know what's out there.
00:13:51.07\00:13:53.74
We want to be
aware of the dangers,
00:13:53.75\00:13:56.25
the ideas that are
there but the most,
00:13:56.26\00:14:00.38
the best offense
against, against teachings
00:14:00.39\00:14:03.29
that will lead us away
from Christ is the Bible.
00:14:03.30\00:14:07.08
Here, you know, it's
the source of all wisdom.
00:14:07.09\00:14:11.14
And when we make that effort to,
00:14:11.15\00:14:16.26
to know what the God says about
00:14:16.27\00:14:18.22
different issues in the world,
00:14:18.23\00:14:19.42
about, about
creation, about science itself,
00:14:19.43\00:14:22.63
about even
interactions with other people.
00:14:22.64\00:14:26.37
Then we can, then
we're set on the right path
00:14:26.38\00:14:28.89
and we know that
even if we hear these,
00:14:28.90\00:14:30.99
these very logical,
reasonable sounding arguments
00:14:31.00\00:14:33.81
on campus, we know that,
00:14:33.82\00:14:35.61
wait, I have to check
what the Bible says, compare.
00:14:35.62\00:14:38.95
And then we'll follow
it from there and judge,
00:14:38.96\00:14:42.16
then make the choice for myself,
00:14:42.17\00:14:43.75
use the God
given ability to think.
00:14:43.76\00:14:48.20
So because the
Bible was your standard
00:14:48.21\00:14:49.93
and because you
made a firm decision
00:14:49.94\00:14:51.30
that you know, I'm
gonna check everything,
00:14:51.31\00:14:53.17
everything must kind
of line up with the word,
00:14:53.18\00:14:56.07
that's what gave you
the ability to filter.
00:14:56.08\00:14:58.29
So it may be
philosophies and ideologies
00:14:58.30\00:15:00.43
that were contrary to scripture
00:15:00.44\00:15:02.09
and I guess the opposite
of that is just as true.
00:15:02.10\00:15:04.46
If you're a young person that
is not grounded in the word,
00:15:04.47\00:15:07.78
you're not
familiar with Bible truth.
00:15:07.79\00:15:09.40
It's gonna be very
easy to get confused
00:15:09.41\00:15:12.06
and your faith is
definitely gonna be shaken up.
00:15:12.07\00:15:14.24
And you know, I
had some experiences
00:15:14.25\00:15:17.14
where I heard things going on.
00:15:17.15\00:15:20.17
I remember very
distinctly one of my classes,
00:15:20.18\00:15:22.63
it was a sociology class.
00:15:22.64\00:15:24.54
And the teaching assistant
00:15:24.55\00:15:27.49
and students were in
conversation about Christians
00:15:27.50\00:15:30.72
and the things
that Christians do
00:15:30.73\00:15:33.19
and I disagreed with it
that I didn't know when--
00:15:33.20\00:15:37.15
what to say, when to say it,
00:15:37.16\00:15:39.17
and I didn't say anything.
00:15:39.18\00:15:40.36
And I felt horrible after that.
00:15:40.37\00:15:42.96
And I told a friend about it.
00:15:42.97\00:15:44.95
And he said, you
know, things like
00:15:44.96\00:15:47.07
that have happened to me before
00:15:47.08\00:15:48.96
and the best thing
that I have done is to study
00:15:48.97\00:15:54.23
to ask the Lord to
show me, you know, how,
00:15:54.24\00:15:56.72
how I can prepare myself.
00:15:56.73\00:15:58.92
There's a verse in the Bible
00:15:58.93\00:16:00.35
if we can turn to
1 Peter Chapter 3.
00:16:00.36\00:16:03.49
1 Peter Chapter 3 and verse 15.
00:16:07.47\00:16:12.21
It says, "But sanctify
the Lord God in your hearts,
00:16:12.22\00:16:15.04
and always be ready to
give a defense to everyone
00:16:15.05\00:16:17.70
who ask you a
reason for the hope
00:16:17.71\00:16:19.31
that is in you
with meekness and fear."
00:16:19.32\00:16:22.06
And that's the
advice that he gave me,
00:16:22.07\00:16:23.79
prepare yourself,
study to show yourself,
00:16:23.80\00:16:25.72
approve unto God.
00:16:25.73\00:16:27.70
And so that you'll be ready
00:16:27.71\00:16:28.81
if the similar situation
comes up in the future,
00:16:28.82\00:16:31.44
to give an answer
with meekness and fear.
00:16:31.45\00:16:33.97
Not to enter into controversy,
not to have an argument
00:16:33.98\00:16:37.08
but to put a seed in
the people's minds to say,
00:16:37.09\00:16:40.28
you know, maybe this
truth that was in the Bible
00:16:40.29\00:16:43.66
or this truth that this person
is talking about is valid.
00:16:43.67\00:16:47.26
And the Lord is
the one who waters
00:16:47.27\00:16:49.47
that seed and allows
it to grow in the future.
00:16:49.48\00:16:52.09
I think it is so
critical where you mention
00:16:52.10\00:16:54.32
the second part of that text,
00:16:54.33\00:16:56.40
you know, with
meekness and fear.
00:16:56.41\00:16:57.81
I think some of
other translations says,
00:16:57.82\00:17:00.01
you know, with respect.
00:17:00.02\00:17:01.34
And I think
sometimes as Christians,
00:17:01.35\00:17:02.54
we're kind of viewed
as kind of the people
00:17:02.55\00:17:04.76
that are rough around the edges.
00:17:04.77\00:17:06.28
We're kind of
very narrow-minded.
00:17:06.29\00:17:08.85
We're not very flexible,
00:17:08.86\00:17:10.48
you know, even to
open to other new ideas
00:17:10.49\00:17:12.98
and I think it's so
important in a college setting
00:17:12.99\00:17:15.94
that this text
in the Book of Peter
00:17:15.95\00:17:18.38
is so critical to apply.
00:17:18.39\00:17:19.82
Not only be ready to
defend but also be meek,
00:17:19.83\00:17:24.57
be respectful, be flexible
to other people's ideas.
00:17:24.58\00:17:27.61
It's kind of like a balance.
00:17:27.62\00:17:28.72
It's a really
difficult balance to maintain
00:17:28.73\00:17:30.91
but I think is an important one.
00:17:30.92\00:17:33.35
So obviously, you
know, you graduated,
00:17:33.36\00:17:35.48
you're a solid Christian but
you want to get more training
00:17:35.49\00:17:39.01
'cause I met you
at CAMPUS ministries.
00:17:39.02\00:17:40.77
So tell us a little
about the training you got?
00:17:40.78\00:17:43.91
CAMPUS, you know, the
Center for Adventist Ministry
00:17:43.92\00:17:45.84
to Public University
Students, it's a long acronym.
00:17:45.85\00:17:47.90
So that's another acronym.
00:17:47.91\00:17:48.90
Another acronym that we
have and I rambled through
00:17:48.91\00:17:51.50
that pretty fast but it's
called CAMPUS in Michigan.
00:17:51.51\00:17:55.31
So what was your
experience like there?
00:17:55.32\00:17:57.75
I decided to go because I felt
00:17:57.76\00:17:59.59
that I needed more progress
in sharing the word of God
00:17:59.60\00:18:02.96
and being very
firm in my beliefs.
00:18:02.97\00:18:04.75
And while I was
there, I learned a lot about
00:18:04.76\00:18:08.07
the different teachings of
the Seventh-day Adventist faith,
00:18:08.08\00:18:11.88
more about living
a Christian lifestyle
00:18:11.89\00:18:13.73
and interacting
with students on CAMPUS
00:18:13.74\00:18:15.91
who we worked
with, Adventist students
00:18:15.92\00:18:18.36
and had small groups.
00:18:18.37\00:18:20.19
And we also did outreach.
00:18:20.20\00:18:22.23
We did surveys to enter into
dialogue with other students
00:18:22.24\00:18:28.15
whether we don't know if they
are Christian or not at first,
00:18:28.16\00:18:30.79
but to start talking to them.
00:18:30.80\00:18:33.68
We did massage.
00:18:33.69\00:18:37.03
We're trained in doing
00:18:37.04\00:18:38.53
some simple chair
massages to just reach out
00:18:38.54\00:18:42.21
to the students, show them
00:18:42.22\00:18:43.23
that we care and
had some events on,
00:18:43.24\00:18:47.84
at the University of Michigan,
00:18:47.85\00:18:49.03
and Eastern Michigan University.
00:18:49.04\00:18:51.96
So what kind of, I mean,
00:18:51.97\00:18:53.79
did your vision
change for public university,
00:18:53.80\00:18:56.34
you know, did you
wish you were starting
00:18:56.35\00:18:57.76
your undergrad
again afterwards or,
00:18:57.77\00:19:01.06
you know,
obviously, I don't know
00:19:01.07\00:19:02.70
if anyone wished
that, but, I mean,
00:19:02.71\00:19:06.60
what was the vision that
you got after that training?
00:19:06.61\00:19:11.00
To an extent, I did wish
00:19:11.01\00:19:12.47
that I was back at
school that I could've gone back
00:19:12.48\00:19:15.08
to Harvard and had the
same level of understanding
00:19:15.09\00:19:20.99
and sense of purpose that I had
00:19:21.00\00:19:24.14
when after I went to CAMPUS,
after I got that training.
00:19:24.15\00:19:27.39
Because it made-- it
makes such a difference,
00:19:27.40\00:19:30.01
on your outlook if
you're going to school thinking
00:19:30.02\00:19:33.40
I'm just going
to go, get a degree,
00:19:33.41\00:19:35.38
get a good job after this,
00:19:35.39\00:19:37.86
it's very different
from going and saying,
00:19:37.87\00:19:39.79
I'm here because I--
God has sent me here,
00:19:39.80\00:19:42.97
yes to learn different
things from different classes,
00:19:42.98\00:19:46.23
different teachers but
mainly so that Jesus Christ
00:19:46.24\00:19:49.72
can be revealed to the
people on this CAMPUS and so.
00:19:49.73\00:19:55.23
But I was, after I
finished, I did have the desire
00:19:55.24\00:20:00.86
to continue
cooperating with CAMPUS ministry
00:20:00.87\00:20:04.50
and then it's
something that I still,
00:20:04.51\00:20:06.83
it's still in my heart.
00:20:06.84\00:20:08.36
Now, Kayla, for
some young person
00:20:08.37\00:20:10.57
that's been
watching this program
00:20:10.58\00:20:11.81
who maybe going to a university
whether secular or private,
00:20:11.82\00:20:15.30
um, how would they get
in touch with this program
00:20:15.31\00:20:18.28
that you were
involved with CAMPUS,
00:20:18.29\00:20:20.51
if they're
interested in more information,
00:20:20.52\00:20:22.18
where can I find CAMPUS?
00:20:22.19\00:20:23.67
CAMPUS, there's a
website campushope.com.
00:20:23.68\00:20:27.99
And you can go there
00:20:28.00\00:20:29.74
and check out some
of the information,
00:20:29.75\00:20:30.98
get in touch with
some of the people.
00:20:30.99\00:20:32.62
And you know CAMPUS isn't
00:20:32.63\00:20:34.08
the only CAMPUS
ministry out there.
00:20:34.11\00:20:36.33
There's a NEW in
the Mid Atlantic.
00:20:36.34\00:20:39.39
And, of course, there's the ACF
00:20:39.40\00:20:42.84
for the North American
Division and so there's--
00:20:42.85\00:20:45.68
there're ways for young
people to get connected.
00:20:45.69\00:20:47.64
They don't need to be alone.
00:20:47.65\00:20:49.19
They might--there might
be other Adventist students
00:20:49.20\00:20:51.19
on CAMPUS that are--
they might be the only one
00:20:51.20\00:20:53.79
but the important thing is,
00:20:53.80\00:20:55.23
you know, trying
to get connected.
00:20:55.24\00:20:56.90
Yeah and that's good.
00:20:56.91\00:20:58.00
I think, you know,
lot of, a lot of times,
00:20:58.01\00:21:01.32
we don't focus on college
students or young professionals.
00:21:01.33\00:21:04.95
And the church,
you know the fact
00:21:04.96\00:21:06.17
that we have
ACF, CAMPUS and a NEW.
00:21:06.18\00:21:08.53
These are all
very new organizations.
00:21:08.54\00:21:11.59
There, you know,
CAMPUS is 10 years old.
00:21:11.60\00:21:13.87
ACF isn't that old and
NEW is a few years old.
00:21:13.88\00:21:16.93
But for years, you
know, this group of,
00:21:16.94\00:21:19.18
this demographic of
people in universities,
00:21:19.19\00:21:21.29
public universities
are going unreached.
00:21:21.30\00:21:23.53
But there is a big need
00:21:23.54\00:21:24.68
because the
majority of Adventists
00:21:24.69\00:21:26.81
are going the
public university route.
00:21:26.82\00:21:29.16
And so it's
encouraging, you know,
00:21:29.17\00:21:30.63
that church is not
taking an interest in this area.
00:21:30.64\00:21:34.82
But we realize
there's so much more to do so.
00:21:34.83\00:21:36.62
If you could tell us, you
know, for the students watching,
00:21:36.63\00:21:41.47
how can they get involved,
00:21:41.48\00:21:42.90
you know, when
they're not in the East Coast,
00:21:42.91\00:21:44.61
or not involved with the
NEW, not involved in CAMPUS,
00:21:44.77\00:21:46.56
not involved with
ACF, there's nothing
00:21:46.57\00:21:47.86
under campus, what do they do?
00:21:47.87\00:21:50.65
The very first thing is
to purpose in their heart.
00:21:50.66\00:21:53.10
And if you're watching
the show especially you have,
00:21:53.11\00:21:56.23
not especially but it
helps to remind us of the sense
00:21:56.24\00:22:00.19
that we're to go
school to share Christ
00:22:00.20\00:22:04.12
and so we need to
begin with that decision,
00:22:04.13\00:22:06.50
I'm going to do within my part--
00:22:06.51\00:22:09.38
what I can to
share Christ with others,
00:22:09.39\00:22:14.00
much prayer that
goes without saying
00:22:14.01\00:22:17.14
and start with
whatever is close to you,
00:22:17.15\00:22:20.07
with your
roommates, with your friends.
00:22:20.08\00:22:22.63
Invite them to study
the word if, you know,
00:22:22.64\00:22:25.84
if that's-- if the
opportunity arises,
00:22:25.85\00:22:29.14
try to find other
Adventist students on campus
00:22:29.15\00:22:32.16
if there are, you
know, Listservs or Facebook.
00:22:32.17\00:22:34.83
All these wonderful
things out there, networks.
00:22:34.84\00:22:38.27
And getting
together with that group
00:22:38.28\00:22:41.69
especially is a
good way to start out,
00:22:41.70\00:22:44.40
keep ourselves
accountable to each other
00:22:44.41\00:22:46.43
and as the group
grows, there are ways
00:22:46.44\00:22:49.39
to register our
groups on with the university
00:22:49.40\00:22:53.52
to be able to have
resources, get rooms,
00:22:53.53\00:22:57.30
meet together and continue
growing and moving forward.
00:22:57.31\00:23:01.58
You are saying start more
on the grassroots level like,
00:23:01.59\00:23:04.27
you know, if it
was just me and Jay
00:23:04.28\00:23:05.88
here at
university, I'll call up, Jay,
00:23:05.89\00:23:07.63
hey, let's get together
00:23:07.64\00:23:08.76
and study the Bible. -Exactly.
00:23:08.99\00:23:10.00
Invite your
friends, come to my room,
00:23:10.01\00:23:11.60
my dorm room,
let's meet in the hall.
00:23:11.61\00:23:14.33
That's, that's kind
of what we do? Yeah.
00:23:14.34\00:23:15.86
And then when
you got a few people,
00:23:15.87\00:23:16.91
just try to register? Yeah.
00:23:16.92\00:23:19.26
Yeah, slowly though, slowly
it'll build up and spread.
00:23:19.27\00:23:22.27
And I think, you know, this,
00:23:22.28\00:23:23.28
this timeframe of
like university age,
00:23:23.29\00:23:26.30
I think is so critical because
00:23:26.31\00:23:27.70
that's the time
where you're making some of
00:23:27.71\00:23:29.71
the most important
decisions in your life.
00:23:29.72\00:23:31.46
Number one, you're establishing
00:23:31.47\00:23:33.40
what your career is gonna be,
00:23:33.41\00:23:35.82
sometimes, most of the time.
00:23:35.83\00:23:37.87
And also at times,
you're establishing
00:23:37.88\00:23:40.63
who your life
partner is gonna be.
00:23:40.64\00:23:42.11
So it seems like in the--
at the university timeframe
00:23:42.12\00:23:44.30
is the most critical
decisions that you make.
00:23:44.31\00:23:46.82
And I think it's
important for young Christians
00:23:46.83\00:23:49.17
in public campuses to be a light
00:23:49.18\00:23:51.97
and to reach out
because there is somebody
00:23:51.98\00:23:54.58
that's about to
solidify a decision.
00:23:54.59\00:23:56.69
And what best the
most important decision
00:23:56.70\00:23:59.11
than the decision to
commit their lives to Christ.
00:23:59.12\00:24:01.44
So I think it's
such a relevant time
00:24:01.45\00:24:04.31
and such a relevant subject
that we're talking about.
00:24:04.32\00:24:06.02
It's a relevant
time and a great place
00:24:06.03\00:24:08.44
because especially
with public campuses,
00:24:08.45\00:24:11.20
private campuses, I guess too,
00:24:11.21\00:24:13.61
the whole world seems
to come to that place.
00:24:13.62\00:24:16.71
It's a vision
field. Very international.
00:24:16.72\00:24:19.63
Exactly, very sensible word.
00:24:19.64\00:24:21.48
Imagine if, if young people from
Africa, from Asia, from Europe
00:24:21.49\00:24:26.56
come to United
States where you are
00:24:26.57\00:24:28.75
and you're able to
reach them with the word.
00:24:28.76\00:24:30.98
They go back home and
what, imagine what can happen?
00:24:30.99\00:24:33.53
Wow. So it's very exciting idea.
00:24:33.54\00:24:36.09
Yeah, I had an
experience like that.
00:24:36.10\00:24:37.37
Actually at the
University of Michigan,
00:24:37.38\00:24:39.50
I met some Chinese people.
00:24:39.51\00:24:40.50
They didn't speak any Chinese
and I knocked on their door
00:24:40.51\00:24:43.32
and I offered them
Bible studies and they,
00:24:43.33\00:24:44.98
I don't know how,
but they, they said yes.
00:24:44.99\00:24:46.44
So I came back
with my friend Jomo
00:24:46.45\00:24:48.62
who spoke Chinese,
and he was from Florida.
00:24:48.63\00:24:51.61
He wasn't Chinese.
00:24:51.62\00:24:53.54
And we had Bible
studies and, you know,
00:24:53.55\00:24:55.49
they were
reading Genesis and John
00:24:55.50\00:24:57.04
and we're going
through and I had the,
00:24:57.05\00:24:58.35
you know, the
opportunity to see them
00:24:58.36\00:24:59.84
pray for the first time
and accept this truth. Wow.
00:24:59.85\00:25:02.50
And of course that
semester, they were gone.
00:25:02.51\00:25:04.44
And I got an
email one day saying
00:25:04.45\00:25:05.95
they were sharing
what they had learned
00:25:05.96\00:25:07.85
with their
friends back in China.
00:25:07.86\00:25:09.60
You know, somewhere I
can't go and preach the Gospel
00:25:09.61\00:25:11.34
or you can't go there.
00:25:11.35\00:25:13.16
You know, I guess
now it's a little easier
00:25:13.17\00:25:15.02
but back then, you
know, it was tougher.
00:25:15.03\00:25:17.81
So this is the kind of place
that the universities are like.
00:25:17.82\00:25:21.16
I think, you know,
this subject of being elite
00:25:21.17\00:25:23.50
in campuses, is
not anything new,
00:25:23.51\00:25:27.20
although we've kind
of lost sight of it.
00:25:27.21\00:25:28.56
I think, for whatever reason
00:25:28.57\00:25:31.13
that hasn't been a priority
and I think it should be.
00:25:31.14\00:25:33.22
But when you look at history,
00:25:33.23\00:25:34.37
when you look at some of
the most greatest revivals
00:25:34.38\00:25:36.34
that have taken place,
00:25:36.35\00:25:37.97
most of them have
taken place in campuses.
00:25:37.98\00:25:40.07
You know, you
have John Wycliffe.
00:25:40.08\00:25:41.50
You know, you have Martin Luther
00:25:41.51\00:25:43.59
where they kind of took a stand,
00:25:43.60\00:25:45.84
they purposed in their heart
like Kayla mentioned earlier.
00:25:45.85\00:25:48.25
And because of that one
decision revival spread.
00:25:48.26\00:25:51.93
And I think we are in need of
00:25:51.94\00:25:55.39
another wave of revival
particularly in campuses
00:25:55.40\00:25:58.07
where you have young people
00:25:58.08\00:25:59.23
who are the most
innovative, more creative.
00:25:59.24\00:26:03.12
And if we could once
again, if we can inspire people
00:26:03.13\00:26:05.45
to make decisions in
this time of their life,
00:26:05.46\00:26:07.34
I think it will bless the
future of our young adults.
00:26:07.35\00:26:11.24
It's a good investment
in the church. Absolutely.
00:26:11.25\00:26:13.17
Addressing our college students.
00:26:13.18\00:26:14.95
And that's what we like to see.
00:26:14.96\00:26:16.75
I know, Kayla, you
would agree that we want
00:26:16.76\00:26:18.75
to see a Bible
based Revival Movement
00:26:18.76\00:26:20.72
where every student is
a missionary, right? Yes.
00:26:20.73\00:26:23.05
Somewhere where, you know,
00:26:23.06\00:26:24.12
we can prepare
these secular universities
00:26:24.13\00:26:26.03
for the return of Christ.
00:26:26.07\00:26:27.13
So what is, real
quickly, the greatest conviction
00:26:27.14\00:26:31.03
that you gained from your
time at a public university?
00:26:31.04\00:26:33.89
I realized that,
knowing that it's a place
00:26:33.92\00:26:40.94
where it's so easy
to lose your faith,
00:26:40.95\00:26:43.58
to be let astray.
00:26:43.59\00:26:46.17
I--during one of my
most difficult times,
00:26:46.18\00:26:49.93
I was reading the Book of John.
00:26:49.94\00:26:51.70
The Book of John is
all about believing,
00:26:51.71\00:26:53.86
belief, belief, belief.
00:26:53.87\00:26:55.93
And the passage
that really impacted me
00:26:55.94\00:26:59.68
was where Jesus had been
teaching some difficult things
00:26:59.69\00:27:04.13
to hear to take and
people started leaving Him.
00:27:04.14\00:27:08.19
Jesus asked him-- asked them,
00:27:08.20\00:27:10.28
would you leave Me too
but then Peter answered,
00:27:10.29\00:27:14.19
"Lord, to whom shall we go?
00:27:14.20\00:27:15.43
You have the
words of eternal life.
00:27:15.44\00:27:17.43
And we have come
to believe and know
00:27:17.44\00:27:18.83
that you are the Christ,
the son of the living God."
00:27:18.84\00:27:21.13
It's all about centering
ourselves in Jesus Christ
00:27:21.14\00:27:23.43
remembering that there
is no where else to go.
00:27:23.44\00:27:25.75
He is the one who will
help us to survive on campus,
00:27:25.76\00:27:28.82
to let our lives shine and
go further than we ever imagine.
00:27:28.83\00:27:32.22
Amen. Well, thank
you, Kayla,for being here.
00:27:32.23\00:27:34.01
We're glad that you
can make it. Thank you.
00:27:34.02\00:27:36.42
I appreciate your testimony.
00:27:36.43\00:27:37.82
If maybe you're watching today,
00:27:37.83\00:27:38.84
and you find
yourself a young person
00:27:38.85\00:27:40.72
at a university struggling
with your Christian experience,
00:27:40.73\00:27:43.16
with your faith and
you don't know what to do,
00:27:43.17\00:27:46.12
you're ready to give up.
00:27:46.13\00:27:47.56
Well, we want to
bring you a message of hope
00:27:47.57\00:27:49.27
and encouragement today
00:27:49.28\00:27:50.55
that if you keep pressing on--
keep being faithful to Jesus
00:27:50.56\00:27:53.49
that He will see you
through like He did with Kayla.
00:27:53.50\00:27:55.76
Thank you for
watching. God bless you.
00:27:55.77\00:27:57.79
And we hope to see you
back next time until then.
00:27:57.80\00:27:59.99