Four students join the Adventist faith at La Sierra

It has become a tradition at La Sierra University to hold a campus baptism ceremony in the spring of each school year. June 6, 2025, marked the most recent of these pivotal events.

The June campus baptisms are typically held on Founder’s Green in a baptismal pool built into an outdoor stage area. A campus chaplain typically performs the baptisms and occasionally an ordained campus member.

The students participating in the ceremony are lined up in white robes, waiting to be next. The ambience is curated for the event, with a music-led worship beforehand. Guests bring blankets and chairs to make the lawn more comfortable. While the ceremony in June might be intentional in timing for students graduating that same month, it is also a perfect time for students just starting their college experience. The ceremony displays their commitment to the journey and faith found at La Sierra University. 

Jason Decena, La Sierra University’s campus chaplain, was involved in the process leading to the students’ decisions and was also involved in baptizing them. 

“This is the day that I look forward to the most of our entire school year,” he said. “On this day, students make the decision to live the rest of their lives with Jesus. 

“During college, students are in the process of making weighty life decisions––‘who do I want to be/become? Who will I partner with? What should my career be? What major will help me get to where I want to be? What is God calling me to do in life? Of all the decisions that students make, I believe that the decision to live life with Jesus is the most important and impactful,” Decena said. “It's always a privilege to be able to have conversations with students about their decisions and study the Bible together as they work out their decision and any questions that they may have. 

"…this moment symbolized a renewal of faith, purpose, and identity in Christ.” – Cheyenne Hinojosa, criminal justice major

“Watching God work in the lives of these students feels sacred, as if sitting on the front row of a conversation between them and God,” Decena continued. “However, baptism is a starting line, not a finish line. As much as there are conversations leading up to the day of baptism, we do our best to stay connected with students through their inchoate discipleship such that they can continue their spiritual growth. Several returning students have continued with what I've called ‘Baptized Bible Study,’ and we've had ongoing conversations as they grow in in their incipient faith,” he said.

Cheyenne Hinojosa is an undergraduate student at La Sierra University going into her sophomore year, majoring in criminal justice. The baptism was a deeply meaningful and emotional step for her. It represented a personal decision to grow closer to God and fully embrace a spiritual foundation in her life. 

“I’ve been on a journey of personal growth, and this moment symbolized a renewal of faith, purpose, and identity in Christ,” she said. “It was about truly committing to a path led by God.” She didn’t grow up with a strong religious structure but has always believed in God. Over time, her faith has grown more personal and intentional, she says. 

“Choosing to be baptized on the La Sierra campus in June felt incredibly special, as it wrapped up my first year at the university and represented a significant time in my life as a young adult,” said Hinojosa. “This university has been such an important part of my personal and academic journey, and I felt a strong sense of community and support here. Being surrounded by friends, mentors, and a campus family that values faith made it the perfect place to take this step for me. I’ve grown so much since I first started at La Sierra and I'm looking forward to what’s ahead.”

Her connection with Seventh-day Adventism began when she started attending La Sierra. For Hinojosa, “being part of an Adventist university has exposed me to new ways of understanding faith and living out Christian values. I’ve learned a lot through classes, worship services, and relationships I’ve cultivated here, and that has played a big role in shaping my spiritual journey.”

Alexander Navarro is a recent graduate of the Class of 2025 who completed his undergraduate degree in health science: public health. The baptism moment brought meaningful reflection on accepting his calling to pursue higher education. As a first-generation member of his family to obtain a university degree, Navarro understood his academic potential. Not only did he obtain a degree, but graduation was a sentimental moment stemming from a sense of belonging to the La Sierra community where he felt inspired to accomplish purposeful work which he seeks to bring to the rest of the world. 

“I immediately began to feel the gaps of my imperfect soul becoming fulfilled by God's Word.” Alexander Navarro, health science graduate

During Navarro’s childhood, his parents took him to a Catholic church until he entered middle school. “At that time, it only meant participation, where I had not yet found value in any sense of religion. However, I did find my way through my appreciation of nature, which guided me to question the purpose of my existence. This was the start of my spiritual journey,” he said. “Back then, I only learned internal validation of my own thoughts but never got the chance to externalize my value as a whole in a greater vision [or] purpose until I came to La Sierra University.” 

Before coming to La Sierra University, Navarro had never heard of the Adventist denomination, practices, or belief system. He was familiar with the words of God and Jesus from the Catholic church but never sought value in placing them or any belief into meaningful practice in his life.

“Firstly, I did not intend to get baptized or consider the opportunity when I simply attended the baptism ceremony on Founder's Green to celebrate those who were already getting baptized,” he said. “It was only until the pastor called out if anyone was feeling their moment to become baptized. After I raised my hand and said yes, I immediately began to feel the gaps of my imperfect soul becoming fulfilled by God's Word.

“When the pastor called to anyone who was ready, it made me realize an important part of why I was inspired in this journey,” he continued. “I believe that life's most precious moments happen in the most unexpected times, where it seems that you cannot understand everything until you're left with awe and fulfillment. For the longest time, I've wrestled with questions about my life, where I was under a cracked foundation yet to be restored. I believe life does place you in your unique foundation, and I find it in my desire to live to bring meaningful value into this world [as] I build my monument on God's foundation,” Navarro said.