In 2016, the Seventh-day Adventist Church accepted an invitation from the president of Rwanda to start a medical school. By 2019, the Adventist School of Medicine of East-Central Africa, or ASOME [a-sow-meh], opened its doors with a clear mission view.

“And with the motto of I will go preach, I will go teach, I will go heal, students go through various courses with lectures that are enthusiastic and involved in making sure that they have the appropriate training to become influential leaders.”

Students from all over Africa are learning and experiencing Adventist education here. The school offers a six year program, plus a one-year internship. Students also receive certifications, such as health leadership.

“If you take a tour around the school, you'll find that the school is equipped with high technology. And all these things are for a better doctor like us. The way they're teaching us is not only to know things academically, but we are also being trained to be the best leaders in the future and also now. Before any lecture in class, the first thing they do is pray and read a verse from the Bible. I have already seen a great future in me and the doctor that I will become in the future because its mission is to train highly qualified medical doctors. And these medical doctors will be providing wholistic Christlike services to the communities.”

Currently, ASOME is located inside the campus of the Adventist University of Central Africa, where there are only four faculty houses. The faculty includes both local and international professors. The school is growing, and more faculty will come over the next few years. There is a need for adequate housing. A place where they can live on campus, while being part of student life.

“Unfortunately, we are living off campus because we don't have a house right now to live on campus. Living 100% here will be totally different because we can share all our time with the students.”

Building faculty housing on campus is a top priority, as there is a direct connection between the faculty’s proximity to the students, and the students’ social, spiritual, and intellectual growth.

“The benefit of having professors within the campus is unique. You have more access to your students. Your students have more access to you. You model to the students. The students get to see what's being modeled not only as a health professional but in your own lifestyle. So having a Sabbath worship, having a Friday worship, having weekend worship, be it in the morning or in the evening with a student having lunch or dinner with them and where they can come and see what's happening. It's a completely different scenario when you have faculty living within the campus to having them outside.”

The 13th Sabbath Offering this quarter will help schools in the East-Central Africa region, including ASOME.

Please pray for the students and faculty at this school. Pray that they can become influential health leaders in their communities, through quality education.

“Thank you for supporting the 13th Sabbath mission offerings for ASOME. God bless you.”