Spiritual Life

MAA is committed to providing an atmosphere and learning experiences that will enable each student to achieve the spiritual excellence of which he/she is capable.

Each student will be encouraged to:

1. want to begin and/or maintain a friendship with Christ.
2. grow in ability to reflect the qualities of God's character: love for others, kindness, unselfishness, patience, and tolerance.
3. recognize and improve his/her personal talents for the purpose of helping others.
4. establish the habits of self-discipline necessary for success in all endeavors.
5. come to understand, by personal experience, salvation by faith.
6. grow in knowledge of Scripture.

Tools for achieving these goals include:

1. personal devotions
2. worship services
3. Bible classes
4. modeling of Christlike characteristics in the lives of committed Christian faculty, staff, and students
5. rural setting in which an atmosphere conducive to quiet time with God may be more readily established
6. planned opportunities for student ministry to others, including participation in meetings, outreach, mission trips, etc.
7. an atmosphere conducive to worship and spiritual growth on the Sabbath and all other days.

A Growth Experience

MAA is a Christian school. Every activity is planned to enhance spiritual growth. Being a Christian is accepting a lifestyle committed to continual growth in Christ. It is not a state of being or attaining an objective.

Since it is a growth experience, all who call themselves Christians will be at different levels of growth. This will most likely be true for each student and staff member at MAA. Therefore, we all should be careful not to permit a spirit of criticism or self-pride to disrupt each individual's personal growth. We must rather encourage one another to keep our relationships with Jesus growing in order to achieve the character development He wants for us.

Personal Devotions

Just as it is impossible to grow physically without a balanced diet, so it is with spiritual growth. You cannot have someone else eat your food for you and expect to live. Neither can you live very long without breathing. Reading from the Bible or a devotional book is spiritual food for the soul and mind. Prayer is breath to the spiritual life.

When we realize the necessity of spending some time each day with God on a one-on-one basis, we will make it our highest priority. Students may think the daily schedule at Milo is so full that it doesn't allow time for personal devotions. Life in the adult world will be equally as busy. The secret is to develop the habit of making time to spend with God. Spiritual growth cannot be attained without it.

Worship Services

Worship services at MAA are designed to be a time of praise, worship, and inspiration. Services include dormitory worship, Friday vespers, Sabbath School, church services, and additional meetings on Sabbath, as well as special weeks of spiritual emphasis.

To receive the greatest personal benefit, as well as to show reverence we are quiet and attentive in all meetings. We enter quietly and remain inside until dismissed. We take care of personal needs before the service so that we do not need to leave during the meeting. Young men and women sitting together do not lean against each other.

When on campus, village students are required to attend and participate in worship services.

Sabbath

The gift of the Sabbath carries a very special meaning for those who have experienced the blessings it brings. Creation of an atmosphere which enhances the Sabbath experience is a very important goal at Milo.

We welcome the Sabbath hours with a vespers worship on Friday evening and close them with Sunset Meditation at sundown on Saturday evening. All dormitory residents are expected to join in these times of worship.

During these special hours, we put aside all secular activities and devote our energies to developing strong and healthy relationships with God and with the people around us.

We do this by attending the services, and on a voluntary basis, participating in Sabbath afternoon activities. These may include a nature hike, informal sing, Bible games, outreach in the community, discussion groups, etc. Village students are invited and encouraged to be a part of Sabbath activities on campus.

We give visible evidence of our respect for our Maker in our choice of attire during the Sabbath hours. Guidelines appear in the dress code section of this handbook.