Article in the Compass:
“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20)
Every time I read this passage in Matthew, I cannot help but smile. I remember
sitting alone in a room with my guitar and Bible, waiting. A few minutes later,
someone would join me – and after waiting fifteen minutes or more, we
would sing, pray, and do Bible study together – my sister and I. This
was an official meeting of the Seventh-day Adventist Fellowship at Princeton
University. It was Fall of 2002.
The SDA Fellowship at Princeton had originally been founded in 1996 by a group
of students who wanted to build a cohesive and committed community of believers.
They met together for fellowship, prayer, and Bible studies. Unfortunately,
the strength and survival of the group depended largely upon the number of
SDA students matriculating at Princeton each year, and so the group dwindled
dangerously. But God was watching and acting, in His perfect time.
In 1999, a string of divine appointments revealed that there were ten Adventists
on Princeton campus, and during the 2000 - 2001 school year, the late pastor
Brian Han helped the fellowship with its weekly Wednesday night meetings.
The group greatly benefited from his dedication, commitment, and contagious
love for Christ.
But once again, the attendees and numbers dropped. By 2002, where this story
began, sometimes it was down to two or three. But we clung to that promise
in Matthew, and God delivered.
February of 2003 was a milestone in our fellowship history. The University
of Michigan campus ministry came to Princeton to share their experience, advice,
and lend support for the Princeton fellowship. We created a website and email
address and was listed under the University Religious organizations. At the
same time, God led Dr. Annette Santiago-España, counselor at Princeton,
to become the Advisor of the fellowship. She had recently married and moved
to Princeton. Her husband Alex España, Class Dean at Columbia University,
helped the Princeton fellowship unite with the Columbia fellowship, which
he started that year. The timing was absolutely perfect.
September of this year, the SDA Fellowship meetings doubled in number, and
Pastor Johnny Suarez from the New Jersey Crossroads Christian Fellowship is
now in the process of becoming an official University chaplain.
Our fellowship has been growing in number, but also in unity and love. In
addition to our Wednesday night meetings, we have Friday night Prayer &
Share times. We’re planning quarterly service projects and are organizing
for an Intercollegiate Conference in the near future.
We have also been outreaching to the campus and community. On November 16,
we hosted a gospel concert featuring Ysis Espana, a well-known Seventh-day
Adventist singer. Through this event, we made our presence known to the students,
faculty, and staff at this secular University, so hungry for the truth. God
has been opening doors and leading people closer to Him, and it has been wonderful
seeing His promise come true.
Please join us in praying for our Fellowship and for campus ministries everywhere
– pray that we will abound in blessings and that we will be faithful,
just as God has been faithful to us.
This is my prayer for all of us.
-Jinha Kim, Junior at
Princeton University