"And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.  Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:...But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself." Daniel 1: 5-6, 8.

For some reason, I was under the impression that the type and quality of social interaction in graduate school would be an improvement over the general trends of undergraduate life.  So far, I appear to have been misguided in that assumption.

Our first day of orientation, our peer advisors started informing us of all the orientation activities that were planned for 1Ls, and every single one of them involved alcohol.  It seems now that we are in a setting where everyone is of age, there are no bars (no pun intended) holding back.

That day, I went to collect my school provided lunch.  Our group was one of the last to go through line.  I saw a sign that said TUNA, another that said ROAST BEEF, and another that said TURKEY.  I started heading to the tables on the other side of the room when one of the administrators barked at me, "its same thing over there." 

"Is there a vegetarian option?"  I responded.  "Oh," she said scanning the signs.  "I guess we ran out."

When Daniel asked, he got 10 days of veggie food.  I had to pick turkey off of a sandwich to eat it.  Good thing they only provide food the first day.

But that doesn't take care of the alcohol problem.  Every Thursday afternoon the student association provides a keg for the consumption of the student body.  Every Thursday evening they have an event called "Bar Review" which has nothing to do with the state bar and everything to do with becoming highly inebriated. 

It frustrates me to see how easily the devil has snared people up, that he has found such an effective mechanism that it has worked for almost as long as time sin has existed on this earth.

On Friday evening, there was a "potluck" for our group at one of the member's house.  Being a good Adventist, I assumed that meant lots of food and a laid back atmosphere.  As soon as I arrived there, pasta dish in hand,  I realized that while that's how it would start, it would soon evolve into those drinking parties I made a point of avoiding during undergrad.

But I started looking around the house.  The people in the middle of the room were the ones with the drinks in their hands.  But out along the edge of the room were several young ladies, uncomfortably looking at the scene around them.

So before I made an early exit, I made friends, steering the conversation until I got the confirmation from each of them that I suspected, they don't drink either. 

It's funny.  While in school, if you don't drink, it's almost like you are a part of Non-Alcoholics Anonymous.  You don't drink, but you don't talk about it either for fear of the stigma of social rejection. 

But in these young ladies I saw the desire for social acceptance.  That's why they came to the potluck in the first place, looking for new friends.  They also don't want to compromise by taking even one drink. But they are afraid to be bold about their lifestyle choice.

In this already I see God opening a door to ministry.  Being a Sabbath-keeping vegetarian makes me weird enough.  I'll wear the target for the non-drinkers too.  And hopefully my willingness to be counter-cultural will give them the courage to be more bold about their beliefs.

We are starting to plan alternate social activities that do not involve alcohol for this group of individuals.  My prayer for this is twofold.  One, that by the grace of God, over our time here we can change the culture of this school. 

Secondly, I believe God used common ground in being non-drinkers to bring me to these young ladies.  While being social is important (especially for a group of people who will likely see no one but each other until December), I pray that God helps me exert my influence in such a way that its social to save. 

Non-Alcoholic.  Not Anonymous.  Dare to be a Daniel.

CAMPUS (Center for Adventist Ministry for Public University Students) has been overwhelmed by the enthusiastic response from students and young people to raise $1m in one month.

THE LATEST

Seven days ago CAMPUS requested your help to procure a facility for its Missionary Training Program and other activities.  Miraculously a three-story, 32+ room building opened up in Ann Arbor, near the University of Michigan campus. Originally listed at $2.5 million, the property is now slightly below $1 million. CAMPUS was one of nine other groups that expressed strong interest in the property.

On Monday (July 14) CAMPUS made a bid on the property, explaining why CAMPUS's use of the facility would greatly contribute to the need spiritual, social, and physical needs of public university students.

On Friday (July 18), CAMPUS was notified that it's offer was being seriously considered. The owners, however, requested CAMPUS (i) to increase its earnest money (a small advance payment that confirms a contract) from $10,000 to $30,000 and (ii) to agree to come up with the full amount for the property in 30 days, instead of 45 days.

On Monday (July 21), CAMPUS was informed that a decision would be made on our bid today (July 22) and be notified on Wednesday morning (July 23).

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO

1. Pray that, if procuring this property is the Lord's will, God would move upon the hearts of the decision makers. If God has a different facility in mind, He must steer us in that direction. Regardless, pray that the Lord would provide a much-needed facility for our Missionary Training Program and the other evangelistic and ministry activities.

2. Pray that the Lord help us raise $1m in 30 days for this particular property or the needed resources for any other facility.

3.  We need your generous contribution today.  Send us your generous financial support to procure this property or a comparable one.  We believe that there are students, graduates/alumni, parents and people of good will who can easily help us raise the $1m within 30 days.  You can send your tax-deductible contribution in two ways:

Donate online at: www.umich.edu/~asforc/CAMPUSstory.html.
Make your checks to:  CAMPUS Project, P. O. Box 19009, Lansing, MI 48933

4. Pass this information to all friends and loved ones to ask them to act. Here are additional reasons why CAMPUS is counting on your prayers and generous financial support:
"CAMPUS has earned the trust of young people as a place where lives are transformed.
It is a Center where brilliant and godly Seventh-day Adventist leaders are developed to engage the world of secular campuses and win souls for Christ.

• It is the birthplace and sponsor of GYC (Generation of Youth for Christ), a thriving, grassroots, revival movement organized and led by Adventist young adults.
  
• It has a biblically-grounded philosophy and methodology of ministry.
  It is the only Seventh-day Adventist secular campus ministry with a viable, sustainable, carefully-planned, and year-round program of training for students (e.g., LEADS Conference, ExCEL Program, Annual Retreats, publications, etc.).
  
• It has succeeded in creating a spiritual movement of young people which is Bible-based, mission-driven, and racially-diverse.
  
• It is fulfilling E. G. White's 1895 statement that ministry to secular campuses is "a work [that] must be done, and it will be done by those who are led and taught of God" (3SM 234). Interestingly, this statement was made in connection with The University of Michigan! Thus, CAMPUS may be seen as a fulfillment of a 100-year old prophecy."
  

By the end of this week, we shall notify you of how we are doing in the fundraising effort.
For further information, contact CAMPUS at info@campushope.com / (734) 332-7955 or contact Dr. Pipim at skpipim@gmail.com / (734) 646-7775. Thank you for your prayers and generous tax-deductible financial support.

"The shortness of time demands an energy that has not been aroused among those who claim to believe in present truth" (MM 321).
Samuel Koranteng-Pipim, PhD
Director, CAMPUS