Causes of spiritual decline among Adventist students in selected public universities at Eldoret, Kenya

Abstract

This study investigated the factors influencing Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) students' attendance of church services in selected public universities, focusing on students at the University of Eldoret, Moi University campuses located in Eldoret. The two campuses are Annex Campus and the School of Medicine at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital. The study objectives were to identify the causes of spiritual decline among Adventist students in institutions of higher learning. Second, to recommend the strategies of retaining, maintaining spirituality of the public institutions of learning in Eldoret, Kenya Random sampling was employed to obtain a sample of 196 Adventist students who participated, with data collected through questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The findings revealed that most participants were male, aged 18 22, in their second year, and had been baptized three years ago or more during the time of the study. While the majority of SDA students in public universities were baptized at home churches and had prior church responsibilities. Although 92% of respondents reported at tending church regularly, key reasons for absenteeism included lack of motivation or termed laziness and competing social activities on the Sabbath. Additionally, peer pressure and lack of mentorship contributed to non attendance among students' friends. N otably, 60% of participants acknowledged spiritual decline due to irregular church attendance, with 51.9% perceiving similar effects among their peers. However, university experiences such a church of environment from home to university did not significant ly impact church attendance, while discipleship programs such as mentorship were found to enhance spiritual growth. The study recommends that chaplaincy ministries implement structured mentorship programs tailored for SDA students since this program enhanc e attendance, hence spiritual decline. Addressing peer pressure is one way of reducing spiritual decline, addressing this during discipleship programs enhance d church attendance. Chaplaincy should advise students during mentorship programs to abstain from worldly Sabbath activities. Strengthening discipleship programs, increasing engagement in church activities, and fostering a supportive spiritual environment can help SDA students maintain their faith while balancing academic and social demands.