Ministry is happening everywhere at Loma Linda Academy. From the Campus Ministry Center comes a plethora of ministries that are run by and for the students of LLA.
Last year, LLA decided to become more intentional about ministry opportunities and training on the campus. Campus Pastor Tim Gillespie started a class that dealt with the philosophy and practice of ministry.
Twelve incoming seniors were hand-picked to run six different ministries: Praise and Worship Music Ministry, Inreach Ministry (taking care of the student body and faculty), Bible Study/Baptismal Ministry (students studying with other students in preparation for baptism), Witnessing Ministry, Peer Ministry, and Audio/Visual Ministry.
The first 12 students helped lay a foundation for those who would follow. Since that first class, 40 other students (including the current class) have been involved in the ministry leadership program at LLA. The ministries have expanded to include a ministry director (MD) for communication, and two MDs for a praise dance ministry.
The ministry leadership program has influenced the school in a variety of ways. After just one year, there were more than 60 applicants for the 15 openings. Each week, the MDs run Bible studies, oversee chapels, coordinate community service opportunities, run the Students Against Drunk Driving/Destructive Decisions chapter, put together music and prepare musicians, work with the drama team, coordinate prayer at the pole, work on programs for national day of prayer, put together drum competitions, organize car shows, edit video, train audio technicians, create training events for student speakers, help coordinate international outreach trips to Mexico and Jamaica, and the list goes on.
The ministry leadership program has helped to change the culture of worship at LLA. Now, when the praise band begins, more than 300 students, over half of the total student population 9-12 grades, come to the front of the auditorium to spend time in fellowship and praise of God.
It is not uncommon to see those involved in the prayer ministry praying with teachers and students at any given time of the day. “We just thought the teachers would like to know that they are prayed for, and decided to make sure that each faculty member was assigned a prayer warrior to pray with them,” says Nicole Bhojwani, first semester Inreach Ministry director.
“As we see students become more and more enabled and impassioned to do ministry, we see the attitude of the whole school become more Christ-centered,” says Vice Principal Dee Dee Schilt.
“We have a wonderful opportunity to train and enable ministry on all different levels of development,” says Gillespie, “as well as become a training field for young adults interested in ministry as a career opportunity and as a calling.” Seeing the potential, the spiritual life committee recently proposed to the board that they seek funding for three taskforce workers, one for each of the campuses at LLA.
