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Programs » Center for Evangelism & Faith Integration

Center for Evangelism & Faith Integration

Vision

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19

The vision for CEFI at MBA, based on Matthew 28:19, is to:

  • Create a Christ-centered, relationship-based campus
  • With an emphasis on healthy faith integration (discipleship)
  • And effective evangelism
  • Supporting the Next Generation Pastor and Teacher initiative from the North American Division (NAD).

This vision includes nurturing and equipping students to live out their faith, engage in effective evangelism, and embody the principles of discipleship, as they answer the call of Jesus to go out into the world to teach and baptize.

Mission

The mission for CEFI at MBA is to create and nurture a culture for lasting relationships with Christ and others, while teaching students how to lead others to Christ.

Objectives

The objectives for the Center for Evangelism and Faith Integration at Monterey Bay Academy, based on Acts 1:8, are to:

  • Foster a supportive environment where students can grow in their faith and develop lasting personal relationships with Christ and others.
  • Equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary for effective evangelism and faith integration.
  • Empower students to be witnesses of Christ, beginning in our local community and eventually internationally.
  • Provide opportunities for students to engage in mission work and outreach activities, both locally and globally.
  • Encourage students to live out their faith in all aspects of their lives, embodying the principles of discipleship and evangelism.

These objectives align with the vision and mission of CEFI. 

Making Disciples

Making disciples is a central aspect of the vision and mission of the Center for Evangelism and Faith Integration at Monterey Bay Academy. It involves nurturing and equipping students to live out their faith, engage in effective evangelism, and embody the principles of discipleship. 

  • Following Jesus Christ: A disciple is committed to following the teachings and example of Jesus Christ, striving to live according to His principles and values.
  • Personal Growth in Faith: Discipleship involves a continuous journey of personal spiritual growth, deepening one's relationship with Christ and understanding of His teachings.
  • Spreading the Gospel: A disciple actively participates in the mission of spreading the Gospel, sharing the message of Jesus Christ with others and inviting them to become disciples as well.
  • Nurturing and Equipping Others: Discipleship includes nurturing and equipping others in their faith journey, providing support, guidance, and encouragement to help them grow spiritually.
  • Community and Relationships: Discipleship fosters a community of believers who support and encourage one another, building lasting personal relationships centered on Christ.

These principles emphasize a holistic approach to living out one's faith, integrating it into all aspects of life and actively engaging in the mission of making more disciples. The rest of this document will show how CEFI will encourage and nurture these principles in students’ lives.

Preparation

Following the simple steps of seeking God's guidance (prayer), trusting in His promises, praising Him, and taking action (performing), can bring numerous benefits. These steps help individuals strengthen their faith, build a deeper relationship with God, and experience His presence in their lives. 

Prayer: By praying and seeking God's guidance, individuals can find clarity and direction not only in difficult situations, but in life in general. 
Promise: Trusting in God’s promises provides a sense of peace and assurance, knowing that He is in control. 
Praise: Praising Him, even before receiving answers, fosters a heart of gratitude and worship, replacing fear and anxiety with peace and joy.
Perform: Finally, taking action in faith demonstrates obedience and trust in God's plan, leading to personal growth and spiritual maturity.

Being intentional in implementing the steps to seek God's guidance (prayer), trust in His promises, praise Him, and take action (perform) is the game-changer MBA needs to grow as a Christ-centered, relationship-based school that fosters healthy faith integration (discipleship) and effective evangelism.  Continuing in the document, these four steps will be referred to as “the four Ps.”

Implementing the Four Ps

Prayer: Establish regular prayer sessions for students, faculty, and staff. This can include morning prayers, prayer groups, and special prayer events. Encourage everyone to seek God's guidance in their daily lives and decisions. Specific events may include:

  • Small morning prayer groups in the dormitories for “morning people.”
  • Midweek evening small groups, focused on prayer, such as the midweek spiritual refresher we call the UPPER ROOM, that we have been hosting for the MBA church community from the beginning of this semester (2nd semester 2024-25).
  • Morning Assembly.
  • Weeks of Prayer.
  • Sabbath afternoon nature walks focused on quiet communion with God in His creation.

Trust in God's Promises: Incorporate Bible study sessions that focus on understanding and trusting God's promises. These sessions will be used to teach students how to apply biblical principles to their lives and build their faith. Specific events may include:

  • Using Friday morning assembly time for small group Bible study on a specific topic. Taking into consideration that we are aiming for spiritual revival, we may begin by reading through the book of Acts, then working through a book helping us better understand the promised gift of the Holy Spirit.
  • Dedicating Sabbath School time to studying God’s Word, understanding His promises and learning to trust Him.

Praise: Create opportunities for praise and worship. This can be through weekly chapel services, weeknight worships, and Sabbath music programs. Encourage students to praise God in all circumstances, fostering a heart of gratitude and worship. Specific events may include:

  • Friday evening Vespers.
  • Weeknight worship nights.
  • Special weekend music programs focused on praise more than performance.

Perform: Encourage students to act on their faith by participating in community service projects, mission trips, and evangelistic activities. Provide training and support to help them develop the skills to share their faith confidently and effectively. Although there are more specifics about evangelism later in the document, events may include:

  • Becoming actively involved in local community outreach programs, such as Second Harvest, Watsonville SDA church feeding the less privileged, etc.
  • MBA short- and long-term mission trips.
  • Presenting an evangelistic series.
  • Sharing Biblical information and our own story with the community
  • Creating videos to use as outreach.
  • Starting an online Bible study school that is student led under the supervision of the CEFI director.

 

Evangelistic Program

We are exploring a number of possible evangelistic programs that students might use to reach others for Christ.  Once selected, a training program will be implemented to equip faculty, staff, and student leaders to lead small groups designed to teach the process to the student body.

NextGen Pastors and Teachers

The North American Division (NAD) of Seventh-day Adventists has launched the NextGen initiative to support the next generation of pastors and teachers. This initiative aims to address the shortage of pastors and teachers caused by retirements, resignations, and a decline in the number of graduates entering the field. Additionally, the NAD is working on developing an intentional leadership development plan to ensure a steady pipeline of qualified leaders for the future. 

Through CEFI, MBA will be actively supporting the NAD’s efforts for NextGen pastors and teachers. This will be done by giving students opportunity and structure to develop their spirituality and leadership qualities.

Students will be given the opportunity to lead and speak in a small group as well as presenting in a larger setting. They will also receive hands-on experience through evangelistic efforts. These experiences may be the icebreaker some need to get out of their shell and explore public speaking and teaching.

Program Leadership

Elaine Posthumus is a dedicated teacher whose passion is to share Jesus. She has more than 25 years of experience in fostering spiritual growth and theological understanding among students of all ages. She has experience in Bible teaching on elementary, middle, and high school level; school administration; curriculum development; student and parent support; activity and event planning; public speaking; business management; and improvement planning and implementation.  Elaine earned a Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.) degree from La Sierra University.

Closing

To bring the Center for Evangelism and Faith Integration to life we will need the engagement of willing supporters:  Those willing to pray daily for the students whose lives will be forever impacted by a personal encounter with the Living Savior, and those willing to provide financial support to help us sow seeds of faith that will grow and flourish in the hearts of our students and community. In His grace and through the power of the Holy Spirit, together with your prayers and support, we are confident that we can achieve our mission and make a lasting impact for eternity.