Ontario Students Attend NAD ACF Institute 2025
Ontario attendees pose for a group picture with Institute speaker Roy Ice.
The University of Washington in Seattle buzzed with purpose from July 28 to August 3, 2025, as 100 students, campus leaders, and pastors converged for the NAD Adventist Christian Fellowship Institute. Among them, 15 students from the Ontario Conference, led by Pastor In Pyo Hong, carried the torch of faith under the theme “Life at the Center.” What unfolded was a week of heart, hustle, and holy moments—a collision of ideas, worship, and transformation that could’ve been scripted by providence itself.
Each night, Pastor Roy Ice, host of Lifestyle and founder of The BibleLab, led interactive Bible discussions and devotionals that cut through the noise of modern life. His words didn’t just land; they sparked. Ontario’s students didn’t just listen, they led. They offered raw, heartfelt testimonies that hushed the room. They steered nightly praise and worship, their voices rising like a tide. They guided prayer walks across campus, weaving faith into the concrete and ivy. And they networked fiercely, swapping ideas with student leaders from across the NAD, building bridges for campus ministry.
The ACF Shark Tank, sponsored by NAD Chaplaincy, NAD Health, NAD Youth, and AdventHealth, was a crucible of innovation. Five Ontario student leaders pitched bold visions for their campus ministries. Tyson McGann, representing ACTS ACF, clinched $700 USD for an international dinner to unite diverse students. Tahîm Tanis, Maya Rampersad, and Jessica Oluikpe from ACF York at York University secured $2,000 USD for a pancake breakfast to fuel students during exams. These wins weren’t just dollars, but were votes of confidence in Ontario’s vision to reach campuses with practical love.
The crescendo of the week came on Sabbath where by the river near campus, where two students—one from the University of Washington, another from the University of Wisconsin—surrendered their hearts to Jesus and were baptized. Ontario students, instrumental in crafting an atmosphere of worship, stood witness to this sacred moment.
Beyond the sessions, the week pulsed with life. Late-night games of mafia and hide-and-seek forged bonds. Early morning sunset walks stirred souls. Shared meals with students from Tennessee, Florida, Atlanta, Utah, and Nevada turned strangers into family. Ontario’s ACF leaders left Seattle empowered, their mission clear: reach the campus, change the world, and live with Jesus at the center of their lives.