It was a random Google search while she was living halfway around the world that led Ruth Adovelande to Redeemer University. “Interesting, but no” was Adovelande’s first response to the thought of attending a Christian university that she had never heard of; but as Redeemer kept coming up in her search, she became curious and explored the mission. She leaned in to God drawing her towards Redeemer, sensing it was where he wanted her to be.
Growing up in the Republic of Benin, Adovelande had travelled quite a bit with her family, moving to Togo and later living in Ghana. Her father’s work led her family to China where she studied at an international high school before starting at Redeemer in 2022.
Initially, Adovelande says it was exciting to come to Canada on her own and attend Redeemer. However, her first year became deeply overwhelming as she navigated adjusting to a new country, school and culture, thousands of miles away from family. She describes “feeling like a foreigner” and out of place, unsure if it was God’s plan for her to stay at Redeemer.
Although her first year was difficult, she had the support of a great dorm and Residence Advisor through her adjustment, helping her persevere as she sought God’s direction.
Adovelande longed to serve others at Redeemer but didn’t know how she could get involved since she didn’t want to be at the forefront. One by one, she started hearing about different opportunities to get connected on campus, offering her the chance to embrace community and step out of her comfort zone.
She joined Rooted Worship (student-led worship services), serving in hospitality and praying for others. Over the years, she grew in her leadership role here, and by her fourth year she was co-chairing the ministry. She also became involved as an international students advisor, using her own experience to support other international students navigate their transition in Canada.
Getting to meet all the students that I did and the faculty members that I did on campus helped me feel more at home at Redeemer. I got a chance to feel seen but also see others and I think that’s where serving even came in because I was being more present with other people.
Adovelande describes being most proud of the chance to pioneer and co-lead the Black Students Union Club with her friend Deborah Baraka. Through a lot of open conversations, their vision came to life, celebrating diversity across campus and inspiring the start of other cultural groups.
Having served in a multitude of ways, Adovelande was awarded one of the Student Life awards this past year. She shares about how she found community through serving:
“Getting to meet all the students that I did and the faculty members that I did on campus helped me feel more at home at Redeemer. I got a chance to feel seen but also see others and I think that’s where serving even came in because I was being more present with other people. Yes, we’re here for school and we’re here for academics but it is important to be present for the people who are around you to really learn how to pray for others and be there for them. This is being Jesus’ character for others.”
Your work, the things you create, the conversations that you have, they’re all acts of worship towards God.
As a recent digital media and production graduate, Adovelande found spaces at Redeemer and outside class to grow her creative passions and gifts. She describes her love for visual storytelling through photography, movies and television. She has learned through her studies in media that, “the heart that you have throughout the process of what you’re creating is very important.” She says her professors invested in and cared for her, constantly reminding her about the centrality of faith and proclaiming Christ in everything. “Your work, the things you create, the conversations that you have, they’re all acts of worship towards God.”
Looking back on her journey at Redeemer, Adovelande has seen God’s faithfulness and provision, as he formed her trust in him through various seasons. She reflects, “I’m grateful that I took the chance to step out of my comfort zone every place that I could because I [could have] just remained a shy person who didn’t want to try anything. But I’m glad that I had people around me who supported me and helped me with that growth. I’m grateful that I took the full experience and took that moment of my life that was hard to try something new and I just hope that I just never lose that resilience in different parts of my life.”
I think Redeemer is a great place to really challenge yourself. It is a small school but I think that comes with its advantages; there’s a community, you are seen and you have people who genuinely care about you.
With a bright and open road before her, she hopes to continue in visual storytelling as God leads her. She knows that he will align her desires with his plans for her life, just as he did when she first said yes to Redeemer years ago.
“I think Redeemer is a great place to really challenge yourself. It is a small school but I think that comes with its advantages; there’s a community, you are seen and you have people who genuinely care about you. The faculty and staff at Redeemer are so precious. They care about the students and you’re not just a number. You’re someone with a name where people actually genuinely care and I think that is a great place to have people pour out love, different skills and different knowledge and wisdom into you. I’m so grateful that I accepted the opportunity to come to Redeemer.”
Adovelande shares from her heart a prayer that she has for her graduating class of 2026: “Stand firm and stay courageous in Christ. Keep trusting Jesus and what he’s doing in your own personal life and in the world around you…he ultimately knows what he’s doing and he has our lives in his hands.”