An organization whose motto “From Everywhere to Everywhere” is demonstrated in its objective of offering opportunities of intradivision and interdivision volunteer missionary service to the youth of the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church.
The AYS program began in 1959 as the Student Missionary program for college students. In 1982 the Student Missionary program was expanded to allow all qualified Seventh-day Adventist youth, students or nonstudents, from 18 to 30 years of age to have the opportunity to serve God and others in many of the countries of the world. Most service requests do not require bilingualism, a college degree, or specialized training in a given field.
All applicants must be baptized Seventh-day Adventists in good and regular standing. If they are students in an Adventist college or university, they are approved by the college/university screening committee. If they are students in institutions of higher learning other than an Adventist institution, or if they are nonstudents, they must receive approval from the local church in which they hold membership.
Each year thousands of Adventist youth enter the AYS program from many of the countries located within the divisions of the world church. They commit themselves to a term of service that is agreeable to the call, which ranges from several weeks up to one year in duration. AYS service requests include work opportunities as teachers, assistant dormitory deans, office secretaries, assistant chaplains, teachers of English as a second language in language schools owned and operated by the church, musicians, and maintenance workers, as well as positions in the fields of agriculture, medical services, business, evangelism, youth ministry, and construction.
If applicants know what type of volunteer service project they wish to engage in and the country in which they would like to work, there is a possibility that it can be arranged. The work assignments of the AYS volunteer are compatible with the applicant’s level of education, skills, and talents.
Generally, upon completion of their term of service, AYS volunteers return home or to the campus to visit churches to report about their volunteer missionary experience and the impact it has had on their life, and to encourage other young people to “go . . . and do likewise.”
The comment made by the majority of returned AYS volunteers is “I will never be the same person I was prior to my mission service.”