Michigan—The boys' animated conversation behind a closed dorm room door surprisingly has nothing to do with the females across campus. Their muted voices rise and fall, but all are definitely tuned in. If you could put your ear to the door, you would hear the sound of pages turning and earnest discussion. If you could turn the doorknob and stick your head in, you would see a group of boys flopped on bunks, stretched out on the floor, or leaning back in a chair, all with Bibles in their hands. If you could see what God sees, you would see the Holy Spirit in great measure. This is an example of one of many groups belonging to Flame Keepers at Great Lakes Adventist Academy (GLAA).

Flame Keepers started in 2002 when Jeremy Hall,* the head dean, became concerned over the spiritual low that often follows Week of Prayer. As he sat at his desk, deep in thought as to how to keep the fire going, Richard Ongwela, boys’ club pastor, came by. It was a divine appointment. As Hall and Ongwela shared the same concern and talked extensively about their ideas for keeping the campus spiritually vibrant, Flame Keepers was born—a grass-roots, dorm-based, student-led, hall-by-hall, Bible study group.

Hall and Ongwela chose a group of young men, committed to spiritual leadership, to be lay pastors in the dorm on various halls. These Flame Keepers are assigned, two per hall, to reach out to struggling students, conduct Bible studies, and facilitate prayer.

Daniel Barlow, a graduate of GLAA, wrote a charter for Flame Keepers. The students involved receive Flame Keepers T-shirts to encourage a tangible sense of meaning. Flame Keepers provides further evidence young people are effective in reaching their peers. Their influence is often at a level not available to a chaplain or teacher. Flame Keepers take personal risks to step out and serve their fellow students. Their commitment, sincerity, and willingness to serve have a profound impact on their peers.

When the leaders of the Flame Keepers showed the ’04 Revival! series by Doug Batchelor during dorm worship, six young men decided to commit to a personal walk with God. When they designated a day of fasting and prayer for a fellow student diagnosed with cancer, it resulted in spiritual renewal for students and staff, and the doctors indicated the cancer went into remission.Things have not always gone smoothly for the Flame Keepers. As can be expected the enemy has attempted to step over their efforts and spread discouragement, but the boys have held true. Despite many obstacles, Flame Keepers has been a consistent factor in the boys’ dorm over the past few years. Not only are these young men maintaining the spiritual flame, but the fire is spreading!

Flame Keepers is now a viable program in the girls’ dorm! The spiritual outreach is now campus-wide and emphasizes a one-on-one relationship with Jesus through personal devotion and prayer time. It is having powerful results and provides a place where young people can share and find support for all of life's challenges.

Steven Coy, junior, says he has been very blessed to be a part of the study group on junior hall. “I really enjoy being able to discuss Bible topics with my friends and talk about how it applies to our daily lives.”

Graduations come and go, but the flame continues to burn bright. “There is so much I could say, but in short, it is absolutely faith-strengthening and encouraging to see the commitments young people are making to God and the way He is using them to finish up His work,” Hall said.

We would all do well to follow the Flame Keepers' motto text: “Choose you this day who you will serve; as for me and my house we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).

Arlene Leavitt, Great Lakes Adventist Academy assistant development director

*Jeremy Hall is now the campus chaplain and Bible department chairman at Great Lakes Adventist Academy.