Four Habits for Graduates

True education is important to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. When the church was founded, two of its major organizational pillars were the health work and the educational system that it developed during a critical time in church and American history. True education “prepares the student for the joy of service in this world and for the higher joy of wider service in the world to come.”[1] To accomplish its purpose of preparing the student for service in this world, true education is designed to equip the student to be an effective ambassador of Christ’s kingdom to the world by sending forth ministers, educators, medical workers, advocates of human rights, and service workers. In addition to being successful public servants, the students are also trained to be missionaries in whatever fields they choose as a profession. This is how Adventist education is intended to prepare students for successful lives in this world.

Beyond University

More than the development of successful workers in this present life, however, Adventist education considers “the whole period of existence possible to men.”[2] When considering humanity’s purpose of an eternal existence in a future world, true education seeks to shape in the student a worldview that is not temporary, but unending. To accomplish this, the student must not be blinded by current visible realities, but must have faith to see an invisible God. This faith shapes within the student the understanding that human identity can be understood only in the context of a divine Creator, for we cannot fully know who we are if we do not first know who God is.

In essence, education for the Seventh-day Adventist Church is designed to establish within the student a biblical identity of godliness or Godlikeness, while also providing a missional avenue to reproduce that identity in others. This is why the church substantially invests in its students’ educational journey. Operating one of the largest faith-based educational systems in the world, Adventist institutions of higher learning are designed to change the world. The church expands its definition of education by widening its scope beyond learning that takes place in Adventist-owned institutions to include the experiences of both faithful students serving as missionaries on secular college campuses, and of individuals who experience communion with God outside formal learning, in the school of life.

Remaining Faithful in Transition

For students involved in institutionalized learning, practical challenges may arise when transitioning from college to the workforce. For students attending Adventist colleges, it is easy to place spiritual life on autopilot. Because the school offers Bible courses, requires chapel attendance, and provides easy access to church services, the student can unintentionally disengage from investing in their spiritual health. Instead, they may simply go through the motions of being spiritual, not noticing that their grasp of godliness has loosened. One advantage that students on secular college campuses have is that their struggle to remain committed Christians in a secular environment keeps them locked in. Almost daily they must choose to reject the strong currents of university life that are designed to extinguish faith, choosing instead a counterinfluence that leads toward Christ. When their studies are complete, however, and they have matured into adulthood, fatigue can finally settle in, putting them at risk of creeping compromise.

When considering humanity’s purpose of an eternal existence in a future world, true education seeks to shape in the student a worldview that is not temporary but unending.

How can we ensure that the purpose of Adventist education is not lost through the challenges sometimes presented by its process? Here are four habits that may be helpful to graduates transitioning into a new life chapter:

Give.

From the moment we receive our first paycheck, we should commit to giving to the church. This habit provides a dual blessing to the work of God and to the giver. When we contribute financially to a cause, we are more likely to engage with it and hope for its success. Every time we give to the church we should be reminded that we are stewards and not its owners. We give because God has asked this of us, not because we seek to become its stakeholder. The habit of church stewardship is an effective way to shape how we view ourselves, God’s church, and His mission.

Invest in People.

It is impossible to achieve success without the investment of others in our lives. Intentionally investing in others helps to complete the circuit of beneficence. While investing in people we naturally gravitate to is a good place to start, it is also important to consider those who are overlooked or might seem unpromising at first. In some cases young people who look like us find hope in accomplishing or surpassing our achievements. When we invest in them, we give them more than hopefulness; we give them a future.

Read the Bible and Pray.

Many of our personal problems, as well as the challenges that the church faces, could be solved if we dedicated ourselves to studying the Bible and praying habitually. Although like leaven when mixed into flour, we cannot see the immediate impact of these habits in dramatic fashion, studying the Bible and praying daily are producing daily transformation. The transformation that these habits produce shapes how we view ourselves, the world, and the church. They also make us happier, less stressed, and more lovable.

Get Involved.

When we enter the workforce, it is common for us to look forward to restful weekends. We must resist the urge to think that we’ve paid our dues and can now catch up on much-needed rest. Getting involved in church life and ministry should be an important habit that we seek to maintain throughout the rest of our lives. The church is especially in need of gifted individuals who have successful careers. These perspectives strengthen outreach initiatives, church business, worship, and mentorship. When we are involved in our local church as Sabbath School teachers, Pathfinder leaders, school board members, or departmental leaders, etc., we are strengthening our own spiritual walks while impacting the lives of others.

In the end, the purpose of true education within the Seventh-day Adventist Church is not fulfilled merely in academic success or professional accomplishment, but in the formation of character that mirrors the likeness of Christ. As students transition from the structured environment of formal schooling into the varied experiences of adult life, they carry with them the sacred responsibility of continuing the work of restoration—within themselves and in the world around them. The daily practices of giving, investing in others, prayerfully searching the Scriptures, and active church involvement serve as means by which faith is sustained and deepened. When these habits shape both the inner life and outward mission of the believer, the divine aim of true education is realized: preparing men and women not only to serve faithfully in this world, but to live eternally in the world to come.

[1] Ellen G. White, Education (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1903), p. 13.

[2] Ibid.