The Campus Ministries Convention (CMC) stands as an annual beacon of spiritual unity and collaboration, bringing together higher-education institutions from across North America. This year, Cohutta Springs Youth Camp in Crandall, Georgia, played host to the gathering, where Southwestern and other sister Adventist universities converged to collectively worship and inspire one another. CMC not only serves as a platform for communal worship but also as a ground for the exchange of ideas and practices among the different Adventist universities. This year's theme centered around Matthew 6:33, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness  and all these things will be given to you as well,". Students from each university delved into discussions, forums, and teachings aimed at fostering a deeper understanding of spiritual identity and purpose. Chaplain Kent Rufo of Southwestern Adventist University, not only brought a delegation of campus ministry leaders but also led a thought-provoking forum titled "Seek First Your Identity In Christ." In his forum, he discussed the importance of having an identity in Christ and how the world affects each of us. “Everything else (the world) is trying to tell you what your identity is. This is why people have identity crises”, stated Pastor Rufo. Freshman, Pre-psychology major Ramile Depaiva describes the experience, “Not as expected, but in a good way! …It helped us disconnect. I made a lot of good friends. I was able to talk to a lot of people who really helped me…. It was really spiritually helpful, in leadership as well.”
Students who have attended, such as Ramile, have also expressed gratitude for the opportunity to welcome other students and inspire interest in participating in these types of conventions. SWAU takes pride in supporting students and faculty like Pastor Rufo and Ramile as they connect to those from across the country, gaining and sharing the practices, knowledge, and ideas to further strengthen their identity in Christ. The university eagerly anticipates more transformative experiences for its students, propelling them toward a better connection to people and Christ.