In partnership with the Michigan Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Andrews University’s Department of Religion & Biblical Languages conducted its Field School of Evangelism this past May. Under the instruction and guidance of Rodney Palmer, chair of the Department of Religion & Biblical Languages and associate professor of religion, 12 theology students were given opportunities to work with several churches in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States.
The field school is a requirement of the undergraduate theology program. Every other year, Palmer and other program leaders collaborate with different Adventist conferences to provide students with practical experience in preparation for pastoral ministry. The students are assigned to work with different churches and pastors, and over the course of eight to 10 nights, the students preach and minister to the communities they are in.
This year’s field school experience began on May 8 and ended on May 19. In addition to preaching, students performed Bible studies, carried out visitations, and helped to cultivate church communities further. The students also provided services in churches of different cultures and languages, including English, Spanish, and Burmese. At the conclusion of the field school, ten individuals were baptized, and several others requested personal Bible studies.
One field school student, senior Nathaniel Powell, says he heard a call from God to work in theology and ministry. He found the field school experience both informative and challenging. This May, Powell worked at the Wyoming Roger Heights Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church, ten minutes outside of Grand Rapids.
“I learned the importance of visiting with both the members of the church and also with the visitors. In fact, when you leave the pulpit, the first thing you should do is go up to the members, get to know them, and make yourself available to them to answer any questions they may have in the future,” he says.
Powell worked through time constraints to ensure he could visit with as many church patrons and visitors as possible. Although the work was sometimes tasking, Powell has no regrets about participating in the field school and other evangelistic efforts. He hopes to finish his undergraduate degree in the 2024–2025 school year and enroll in the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary to continue his preparation for a career in religious ministry.
Palmer says, “The Field School of Evangelism significantly enhanced our students’ abilities to preach the gospel, collaborate with congregations and lead people into a saving relationship with Jesus. Most importantly, it showcased the passion and dedication of our theology majors in fulfilling the gospel commission of Jesus Christ, guided by the Holy Spirit.”
The Field School of Evangelism alternates between domestic and international locations every two years. Previously, it occurred in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and in 2022, it occurred in Jamaica. The next iteration of the field school will take place internationally in 2026.
The original article was published on the Andrews University website.