Written by: Marian Polanco
While many Southern Adventist University students adhere to the Seventh-day Adventist faith, not all come from the same religious background. A unique group exists at Southern — students who did not grow up in the Adventist tradition yet chose to make this university their academic home.
For senior social work major Adam Bellis, family dynamics shaped his path to Southern. His mother’s remarriage to an Adventist pastor introduced him to the Adventist faith, eventually leading him to convert to Adventism and choose Southern for his higher education. Since he grew up Baptist, his transition to the Adventist lifestyle proved a substantial change.
“I grew up Baptist, heavily involved in the Salvation Army. Life was very different. All weekend I was in sports, Friday to Sunday,” Bellis said. “Hearing people’s stories of how they grew up Adventist was drastically different.”
“All weekend I was in sports, Friday to Sunday. Hearing of people’s stories of how they grew up Adventist was drastically different.”
Upon arriving at Southern, Bellis faced the challenge of adapting to a new religious environment. As a freshman, he grappled with gaps in his knowledge about Adventist doctrines, since he had grown up in a religion with entirely different beliefs. Despite these initial hurdles, Bellis said his interactions with Adventist students, teachers and staff have positively contributed to his sense of belonging within the Southern community.
When asked in what ways, if any, his perspective has been broadened or challenged by interacting with Adventist students, he answered, “Honestly, how people interpret the lifestyle of Adventists. I love my [Adventist] home church; it is more liberal than traditional Adventism. Meanwhile, Southern, in some ways, is more conservative; students are more liberal, while the institution is stricter.”
Sophomore industrial/organizational psychology major Kelsey Bright is a new Adventist who was formerly a Baptist for most of her life.
“Once I became more certain about my Adventist beliefs, I knew my other college options would not fit me well,” she said. “I became friends with someone at my new church who was going to Southern and heard great things about it. I had a good experience when I visited campus with my parents and stayed a night in the dorms with a girl who is now my roommate. After receiving a scholarship that made it affordable, I fully committed to Southern.”
Bright said she came into contact with Adventism when her dad began listening to a Christian radio station without knowing it was Adventist.
“I loved the church I grew up in, and leaving brought deep challenges.”
“When he heard something he didn’t agree with as a Baptist, he studied the Bible and found the Adventist perspective to be biblical,” she said. “My family then began attending the local Seventh-day Adventist church at the end of 2020. It was very difficult for me and took me a long time to accept it for myself, though. I was baptized this past August 2023.”
When asked about common misconceptions she’s encountered regarding her conversion to Adventism and former religion, Bright shared that people sometimes think leaving a long-held faith system behind is easy.
“I loved the church I grew up in, and leaving brought deep challenges,” she said. “It is difficult to understand the struggle without experiencing it personally.
“I have run into many misconceptions about Baptists,” she added. “While there is great variety among Baptists, it is not true that Baptists can’t love Jesus or have a relationship with Him. The majority of my friends and extended family are Baptists, and they love God and seek a deeper relationship with Him. I have not left behind my Baptist friends, and I am so thankful for the way they continue to encourage me in the Lord. We love and serve the same God.”
Despite her inclination toward Adventism, Bright often feels out of place at Southern due to her unfamiliarity with Adventist history and prophetic dates. She mentioned her struggles with feelings of inadequacy and inferiority, which stem from not hearing about Adventist doctrines while growing up.
“People have been kind and welcoming, though,” Bright said. “I’ve been told by others that they wouldn’t have known I didn’t grow up Adventist. I grew up in a strong Baptist family and church.”
“I have not left behind my Baptist friends, and I am so thankful for the way they continue to encourage me in the Lord.”
Bright said she has never felt judged for not growing up as an Adventist. She acknowledges the learning curve for specific Adventist academy acronyms but appreciates the understanding and kindness of her peers.
Bright emphasized the importance of a supportive community in overcoming the challenges of being a new Adventist at Southern.
“I love that I once again have close friends with whom I share the same beliefs; they’re in the Adventist church now,” she said. “It is such a wonderful blessing to be surrounded with like-minded friends who love and serve Jesus, and it has broadened my perspective of the Adventist world.”
For Bright, the experience of keeping the Sabbath with like-minded friends is a blessing unlike any other she has encountered before.
