Andrews University Presents IGNITE 2026

From July 26–Aug. 14

The inaugural IGNITE discipleship program took place during summer 2025. (Photo by Alanna Rodríguez Merlos)

IGNITE, a three-week summer discipleship experience hosted at Andrews University, will take place from July 26–Aug. 14, 2026. In addition to offering academic credit to high school and college students, IGNITE is designed as an intentional space for spiritual growth, mentoring and community. It is a place where Adventist faith can take root, friendships can grow and purpose begins to feel real.

“IGNITE is an opportunity for students who desire a deep relationship with God to grow in that relationship,” says Alanna Rodríguez Merlos, director of the program and the Andrews University Discipleship Center. “It helps them understand their Adventist identity and what it looks like to have a daily walk with Christ that can endure hardship and uncertainty.”

The program was created to address a growing need among young people for faith that is both grounded and lived. IGNITE creates an environment where Seventh-day Adventist beliefs are made practical in light of the gospel.

Rodríguez Merlos notes that students often arrive longing for meaningful spiritual friendships. “They don’t leave with just a summer experience,” she says. “They leave with relationships that continue long after the program ends.” IGNITE offers a community where students can learn to understand their faith, experience what it means to truly know Jesus and his righteousness, and explore how to share their faith with Christ at the center.

That sense of belonging and spiritual growth was evident during the program’s inaugural summer last year. Some participants shared that it was the first time they felt free to openly love Jesus while surrounded by peers with the same desire. For many, that community became a source of strength and encouragement. As the program moves into its upcoming sessions, its emphases on community and building Adventist belief continue through intentional mentoring and ongoing support.

IGNITE recognizes that true discipleship does not end when the program concludes. Each group of students is paired with a coach who walks alongside them throughout the summer and continues meeting with them afterward. Ideally, these one-on-one mentoring conversations continue weekly for several months, helping students transition back into their everyday environments with support and accountability.

“Discipleship takes time,” Rodríguez Merlos explains. “Jesus didn’t form His disciples in a short moment, and neither do we. The ongoing relationship is what makes the difference.”

Beyond spiritual mentoring, IGNITE integrates practical elements that help students connect Adventist faith with real life. Through career guidance sessions, students reflect on calling, gifts, and future academic or professional paths. The program also introduces students to digital evangelism, equipping them to engage thoughtfully and compassionately in spiritual conversations using everyday technology. Rather than emphasizing performance, the program focuses on building confidence and discernment, helping students learn how faith naturally shapes the way they relate to others.

For parents, IGNITE offers reassurance as well as opportunity. During the three-week program, students will live on campus in a structured, supportive environment that balances independence with guidance. Rodríguez Merlos emphasizes that the program is built on trust. “We entrust students with responsibility, much like Jesus did with His disciples,” she says. “And they consistently rise to that trust.”

Several parents have seen that the program impacted their children in positive ways. One parent shared that after returning home, her daughter demonstrated greater maturity and independence—qualities that reflect the program’s intentional focus on growth, faith and responsibility.

As organizers prepare IGNITE’s 2026 session, Rodríguez Merlos describes the program as an investment that extends beyond academics. “This is about shaping a foundation that will carry students through college and into life,” she says. “What they gain here has the potential to last far beyond these three weeks.”

For those seeking ways to make Adventism come alive in the light of righteousness by faith and the cross of Christ, IGNITE offers a path forward. Additional program details will be updated on the Andrews website.