Written by: Anaya Parker
The Diversity Educational Exchange Program (DEEP) Sabbath returned to Southern Adventist University’s campus on Sept. 14 after the event was held at Oakwood University last year. DEEP Sabbath aims to bring cultural awareness to students across Adventist colleges, according to a previous Accent article.
Oakwood University is the only university owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist church that is a Historically Black College and University. The university is located in Huntsville, Alabama, about a two-hour drive from Southern. Several of the students who attended DEEP Sabbath are members of Oakwood’s student government, the United Student Movement.
Southern’s Student Association (SA) prioritized bringing DEEP Sabbath back to campus this year, according to Edvan Benitez, SA president and senior theology major. This was important to Benitez to show the inclusivity of Southern and teach students about worship and fellowship between different cultures.
“We made plans, and we arranged the budget, and we fixed a date with Oakwood,” he said. “So we could have it back.”
SA planned the event in collaboration with organizers of the Renewal service at Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists. Oakwood students attended the service, which included a performance from the Merge choir.
“[The choir] was really what I was there for because I knew that Merge was going to be helping with that,” Edward Backer, a Southern senior psychology major, said. “I was excited to listen to some soulful music.”
Several other Southern students spoke about how the music at DEEP Sabbath impacted them, helping build a connection between the two universities. During the song service, the audience, which was composed of Oakwood students and the Southern community, stood and clapped along with the music.
“What I loved most about this was watching Oakwood students, one by one, getting up in praise to God because of the music,” Larissa Deoliveira, junior theology major, said. “And in this crowd of people getting up was the pastor, too. And that feeling and scene of unity just made my heart melt, and [I was] overjoyed!”
Backer stated, “They were clapping, standing up, praising. It was fantastic, and like each time someone stood up I would start to smile more and more cause they were really connecting with the music.”
“At the end, we are here to praise God, and we all praise God in different styles, different ways, and I think there’s beauty in that,” Benitez said.
After the church service, Oakwood students ate lunch with Southern students and community members in the Collegedale Academy gymnasium. Southern’s President, Ken Shaw, and SA helped serve food at the event.
Following lunch, DEEP Sabbath attendees were split into small groups for an afternoon program with activities to help further the connection between Oakwood and Southern students. Each group had a mix of students from both universities. There were several activity stations, including painting, prayer journaling and songwriting, according to Benitez.
“[The students] were able to connect in a small setting,” Benitez said. “And I think that that’s what I love the most – seeing people come together and have fun and for a spiritual purpose, as well.”
There are 13 accredited Adventist universities in the United States, and Oakwood is located closest to Southern, offering the most possibilities for interaction. Some students, such as Backer, said they would be interested in increased interaction with more Adventist universities. There are organizations on campus, such as the Gymmasters and Symphony Orchestra, that travel to other Adventist colleges for performances. However, students who are not involved in those activities have little opportunity to interact with other students who attend Adventist universities.
“Something I have noticed coming here is that we have gotten in this little bubble that we have in Collegedale,” said Backer. “We’re forgetting that there’s a whole world out there, that there are other Adventists out there.”
