Adventist faith on campus
Patrick Timmis
Issue date: 3/11/10 Section: Focus
Sophomore Erin Hotchkiss isn't quite your typical Seventh Day Adventist - she attends Hillsdale College, for one thing. Most children who grow up in Adventist schools enroll in Adventist colleges, but she sought a different atmosphere.
"I'm not like the typical, 'Look at me and this is Adventism,'" she said. "That's what I call myself but I'm not 100 percent that's what I believe," she said.
Hotchkiss still takes her faith seriously. She believes in Jesus. She believes in a divinely-inspired Scripture. She believes in the validity of prophecy. She also believes the Sabbath is on Saturday, the "Seventh Day."
"Not that people who go to church on Sunday are going to Hell or anything, that's not what I believe," Hotchkiss said.
Hotchkiss said she believes Jesus is revisiting Earth soon, the "advent" in "Adventism." She said part of this event is what Adventists call the "Great Controversy," a battle between the forces of good under God and the forces of evil under Satan.
God will win this battle, but she believes much suffering and struggle will occur before the victory.
"It sounds like a, 'Oh, you're crazy, Lord of the Rings kind of thing,'" Hotchkiss said.
Sophomore Abba Kidenda, also a Seventh Day Adventist, said the Great Controversy applies to our daily lives as well.
"We believe that there is a constant fight between the Devil trying to turn you to evil, and you're trying to work for God, so there is a constant battle in your lifetime," Kidenda said.
Many Christians believe when people die, their souls instantly enter the afterlife. Kidenda disagrees.
"When you die, you are totally dead until Jesus comes," she said.
Once this occurs, she said, the souls will enter Heaven.
Another facet of Seventh Day Adventism is a concern for healthy living and temperance. Neither Hotchkiss nor Kidenda eat pork, for instance.
"You're body is the temple of the Lord, so you take care of it," Kidenda said.
Seventh Day Adventism also has rules concerning drinking.
"One big thing that differentiates [us], which is interesting because I'm Greek [Chi Omega], obviously, is that we don't drink alcohol at all," Hotchkiss said.
No one in her sorority has ever encouraged her to drink, however. Hotchkiss said she believes people respect her more because of her deeply-held convictions.
Kidenda and Hotchkiss said one of the biggest challenges facing them in their faith is the lack of a Seventh Day Adventist community in Hillsdale. There is one Adventist church in the area, but neither drives.
"I just decided that I'm going to focus on my own personal walk," Hotchkiss said.
"I'm not like the typical, 'Look at me and this is Adventism,'" she said. "That's what I call myself but I'm not 100 percent that's what I believe," she said.
Hotchkiss still takes her faith seriously. She believes in Jesus. She believes in a divinely-inspired Scripture. She believes in the validity of prophecy. She also believes the Sabbath is on Saturday, the "Seventh Day."
"Not that people who go to church on Sunday are going to Hell or anything, that's not what I believe," Hotchkiss said.
Hotchkiss said she believes Jesus is revisiting Earth soon, the "advent" in "Adventism." She said part of this event is what Adventists call the "Great Controversy," a battle between the forces of good under God and the forces of evil under Satan.
God will win this battle, but she believes much suffering and struggle will occur before the victory.
"It sounds like a, 'Oh, you're crazy, Lord of the Rings kind of thing,'" Hotchkiss said.
Sophomore Abba Kidenda, also a Seventh Day Adventist, said the Great Controversy applies to our daily lives as well.
"We believe that there is a constant fight between the Devil trying to turn you to evil, and you're trying to work for God, so there is a constant battle in your lifetime," Kidenda said.
Many Christians believe when people die, their souls instantly enter the afterlife. Kidenda disagrees.
"When you die, you are totally dead until Jesus comes," she said.
Once this occurs, she said, the souls will enter Heaven.
Another facet of Seventh Day Adventism is a concern for healthy living and temperance. Neither Hotchkiss nor Kidenda eat pork, for instance.
"You're body is the temple of the Lord, so you take care of it," Kidenda said.
Seventh Day Adventism also has rules concerning drinking.
"One big thing that differentiates [us], which is interesting because I'm Greek [Chi Omega], obviously, is that we don't drink alcohol at all," Hotchkiss said.
No one in her sorority has ever encouraged her to drink, however. Hotchkiss said she believes people respect her more because of her deeply-held convictions.
Kidenda and Hotchkiss said one of the biggest challenges facing them in their faith is the lack of a Seventh Day Adventist community in Hillsdale. There is one Adventist church in the area, but neither drives.
"I just decided that I'm going to focus on my own personal walk," Hotchkiss said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
jb
posted 3/11/10 @ 9:01 PM EST
I think that the common misconception is that even though the Adventists have a false prophet in Ellen White, and even though they are taught that Jesus is Michael the Archangel, and even though they teach that unless one observes the Old Covenant of the 10 commandments (the law) one cannot be saved, that somehow they have the same faith as orthodox Christianity. (Continued…)
Aimee
posted 3/22/10 @ 9:37 PM EST
The 7th Day Adventist Church is located near Hillsdale College not further to walk from the college than to come downtown or go the video store. SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
517-439-2694
31 VINE STREET HILLSDALE, MI 49242
(Between Union and Oak Streets)
I am sure if either young lady made contact that other church goers might give them a ride to church for worship. (Continued…)
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