21 Aug 2025, 12:05ASC is about community building - a vital support network for Adventist students in a secular university, and also an important means of outreach to non-Adventist students through weekly Bible studies and socials.
Graduating with Faith and Fellowship at the University of Birmingham
Every year Adventist students graduate from universities across the UK. This year, it was my turn to graduate from the University of Birmingham (UoB).
It felt surreal to walk up on that stage, shake the provost’s hand, collect my degree certificate, and finally walk beneath our iconic clock tower, Old Joe (if you studied at UoB, you’ll know the tradition). What made the day even more special was seeing Pastor Obinnaya Iheoma - known to many as Pastor Obi - don his mortarboard and join the academic staff on stage in support.
Pastor Obi serves as chaplain for Adventist students at UoB, offering pastoral support and helping to organise the Adventist Students on Campus (ASC) society. This year, he supported three Adventist students in their graduation, alongside a fourth friend of the ASC society whom he met through his bread-baking project to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the university. (More on that here: 125 Loaves for 125 Years).
I have known Pastor Obi since first coming to Birmingham, and it has been wonderful to have both a chaplain and a community of fellow Adventist students to support me throughout my studies. ASC is about community building - a vital support network for Adventist students in a secular university, and also an important means of outreach to non-Adventist students through weekly Bible studies and socials.
For me, the highlight of each week was gathering on Friday evenings at the St. Francis Multi-Faith Chaplaincy for Bible study. I enjoyed it so much that in my second year, I joined the society committee to help run the programme.
Pastor Obi is also well known for his enthusiasm for baking. Throughout the year, he has hosted bread-making tutorials - including sessions during the university’s Welcome Week at UoB’s Welcome Marquee. It’s one of many ways he builds bridges and creates community. If you are a young person planning to attend UoB this September, I strongly encourage you to get in touch with Pastor Obi or the UoB ASC society - you won’t regret it.
ASC, however, is not just at Birmingham. Many universities across the North England Conference (NEC) have thriving, student-led ASC societies. They create a home away from home for Adventist youth and a meaningful platform for outreach. If you are attending a university within the NEC, look for an existing ASC group and consider joining. And if there isn’t one, think about starting one with your fellow students. You never know the eternal impact it could have.
Every year Adventist students graduate from universities across the UK. This year, it was my turn to graduate from the University of Birmingham (UoB).
It felt surreal to walk up on that stage, shake the provost’s hand, collect my degree certificate, and finally walk beneath our iconic clock tower, Old Joe (if you studied at UoB, you’ll know the tradition). What made the day even more special was seeing Pastor Obinnaya Iheoma - known to many as Pastor Obi - don his mortarboard and join the academic staff on stage in support.
Pastor Obi serves as chaplain for Adventist students at UoB, offering pastoral support and helping to organise the Adventist Students on Campus (ASC) society. This year, he supported three Adventist students in their graduation, alongside a fourth friend of the ASC society whom he met through his bread-baking project to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the university. (More on that here: 125 Loaves for 125 Years).
I have known Pastor Obi since first coming to Birmingham, and it has been wonderful to have both a chaplain and a community of fellow Adventist students to support me throughout my studies. ASC is about community building - a vital support network for Adventist students in a secular university, and also an important means of outreach to non-Adventist students through weekly Bible studies and socials.
For me, the highlight of each week was gathering on Friday evenings at the St. Francis Multi-Faith Chaplaincy for Bible study. I enjoyed it so much that in my second year, I joined the society committee to help run the programme.
Pastor Obi is also well known for his enthusiasm for baking. Throughout the year, he has hosted bread-making tutorials - including sessions during the university’s Welcome Week at UoB’s Welcome Marquee. It’s one of many ways he builds bridges and creates community. If you are a young person planning to attend UoB this September, I strongly encourage you to get in touch with Pastor Obi or the UoB ASC society - you won’t regret it.
ASC, however, is not just at Birmingham. Many universities across the North England Conference (NEC) have thriving, student-led ASC societies. They create a home away from home for Adventist youth and a meaningful platform for outreach. If you are attending a university within the NEC, look for an existing ASC group and consider joining. And if there isn’t one, think about starting one with your fellow students. You never know the eternal impact it could have.
