Adventist Christian Fellowship Chapters Make a Difference
SAN ANTONIO, TEX. – Arturo Montoya (pictured above) holds a dual appointment as an associate professor in the departments of civil and environmental engineering and mechanical engineering at the University of Texas San Antonio (UTSA). He is also an elder at the San Antonio Scenic Hills Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Sharing about his time at Columbia University in the city of New York, he recalled finding himself in transition. Away from his family and in a big city, he felt young, alone and susceptible to all kinds of influences.
Thankfully, Montoya found Adventist Christian Fellowship (ACF), a gathering of college and university students hosted by New York Manhattan Church of the Advent Hope Seventh-day Adventist Church. “Without that group,” he shared, “I don’t know where I would be right now.” The group was an oasis for Montoya where he discovered belonging, connection and purpose.
When Montoya moved to San Antonio, one of the first things he did was search online for a local Seventh-day Adventist Church.
“It was a little awkward at first,” he recalled. “No one really said hi or talked with me. I sat in the back and made my rounds. But I knew that I wanted to get used to this place, to connect, belong and serve eventually.”
After persevering for a few months, he connected with a few young adults and began to serve, eventually as an elder for the church. Montoya is now collaborating with Texas Conference Young Adult Ministries to relaunch the ACF chapter at UTSA.
Approximately 80 percent of high school graduates are currently on public university campuses looking to belong, connect and serve with fellow young adults. We need to be intentional about creating and providing safe spaces for students to learn and grow.
Currently, we have 16 public campuses with an ACF presence. There is also a Texas Conference ACF Retreat scheduled for Feb. 10-12, 2023, in the San Antonio area.
To learn more about Adventist Christian Fellowship (ACF), an official organization endorsed by the North American Division encouraging campus ministries programs on non-Adventist college and university campuses, visit YoungTexasAdventist.org/acf or email: ACF@txsda.org.
By Justin Yang
Young Adult Ministries Director
