“I feel a calling from God to be active with everything I’m learning on my journey with Him, and to share that love through service,” shares Christopher Findley, senior theology major at Southwestern Adventist University (SWAU).

While attending SWAU, Findley has served as religious vice president for the student association, worked with small groups for Spiritual Life & Development and led in the school’s canvassing program. His vision stretches far beyond the campus, however; so, when COVID-19 blindsided the world, Findley knew exactly what he had to do. “I didn’t know if this was the end of the world or not, but I wasn’t going to wait around to get started in my ministry.”

Findley’s passion for preaching led him to create and launch AdventPreaching, an online platform with a mission to train and equip others on how to effectively share the gospel of Jesus Christ. One of his initiatives is to interview top preachers within the Seventh-day Adventist Church, including Bill Kilgore, Derek Morris, Ivor Myers, Hyveth Williams, Ted Wilson and more, each focusing on their methods of sharing God’s Word effectively. 

Additionally, Findley and his team have begun conducting seminars and workshops to their global audience, consistently growing their network of pastors and elders—which currently stands at over 1,200—for whom they produce content. In fact, AdventPreaching even provides international scholarships to help theology and education majors in Mexico and the countries of West Africa complete their education.

“It all boils down to this: Preach Jesus,” Findley says. “The goal of every single sermon we preach should be to introduce, abide with and surrender to Christ.”

Findley points out that AdventPreaching is especially helpful in places such as Mexico and the Philippines, where each pastor may serve as many as 50 churches. On-line training resources, such as AdventPreaching, opens doors for anyone to learn how to share the gospel through effective biblical preaching.

“God has placed this on my heart and I’m very passionate about it,” he adds. “It brings me life and joy to follow where He’s led me.”

It wasn’t always that way. At 19, living in Brooklyn, New York, Findley felt God tugging at his heart and, like Jonah, he ran. The siren call of earthly riches and success was more enticing, but he soon realized they weren’t fulfilling. When his younger brother died in a motorcycle accident when Findley was 25, it changed his life.

“My pastor urged me to consider attending SWAU,” Findley recalls. “I asked God what I should do, and He unequivocally told me SWAU was where He wanted me. And so, I went. From the moment I arrived, the doors all started opening. Following Jesus was the best decision I ever made.”

Findley’s short-term goal is to gain experience as a pastor. For his long-term goal, he feels God calling him to dedicate his life to training and equipping leaders worldwide to effectively preach the gospel.

“The least I can do for the Somebody who saved a nobody like me is share Him with the world and help others do the same,” he says. “Our church is filled with young people with ideas and talent,” he says. “God is pouring out His spirit and we must not wait for someone to tell us how to serve God. The time is now, and God will lead the way.”

For more information about studying at SWAU, visit swau.edu. To learn more about how you can grow your faith as an SWAU student, visit swau.edu/slad. To purchase Findley’s book on Amazon, click here.