Adventist Voices by Spectrum: The Journal of the Adventist Forum

Episode 9 explores apocalyptic theology as an unveiling of what is happening beneath the surface of history and asks how Adventists can read Daniel, Revelation, and other apocalyptic writings in Scripture with moral seriousness beyond calculating end-time dates.

When does staying informed become watching someone else’s suffering for entertainment? A news story leads us to a court video, then to reaction posts, comment sections, and strangers’ theories about what really happened. Reality television invites us into people’s relationships and crises. But what happens when our curiosity becomes a sense of entitlement to someone else’s entire story? In this conversation, the Podly Women examine their own viewing habits through the allegations against Heather Thompson Day and Seth Day, Taylor Frankie Paul’s story on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, and the broader appeal of true crime and online gossip. They consider how social media keeps painful moments circulating, turns viewers into amateur investigators, and exposes children who never agreed to become content. Host Natalie Bruzon joins Sofia Lindgren, Trudy Morgan-Cole, and Ella Quijada for a conversation about journalism’s responsibility to inform without needlessly exposing victims, the difference between accountability and spectacle, and what our consumption does to our empathy. Can we confront abuse and institutional failure while respecting the people whose stories we’re telling? And does having access to something mean we need to watch—or share—it? Content note: This episode discusses child abuse, sexual assault, and domestic violence. Resources: Read SPECTRUM’s reporting: Police Affidavits Allege Heather and Seth Day Complicit in Physical Abuse of Their Daughter Court Documents Detail Child Sexual Assault Allegations Against Seth Day Books mentioned in this episode: Know My Name by Chanel Miller Hollywood, Ending by John Green Subscribe to our YouTube channel here:https://www.youtube.com/@spectrummagazine1969 Follow us on Instagram. If you have questions, observations, or ideas for future episodes, email us at natalie@spectrummagazine.org.

Beyond The Remnant Episode 8 we discuss the Sanctuary Doctrine, focusing on chapters 12 and 13 of Sigve Tonstad's book, Beyond The Remnant.

What parts of a faith stay with you after you leave? In Sally McMillan’s novel My Name Is Allen White, a young man raised in a prominent Adventist family has questions about science that take him beyond the church. His choices strain his relationship with his father, but ultimately, leaving behind certain beliefs does not erase the values and habits that shaped him. Allen’s story is fiction, inspired in part by Sally’s late brother. It also echoes parts of her own journey. Sally left Adventism roughly twenty years ago, then returned to its history, language, and tensions while writing the book. In this PodlyWomen conversation, host Natalie talks with Sally about the family experiences behind the novel, Adventism’s unease with books and ideas that challenge the denomination’s worldview, and how she navigated life after leaving the denomination. What can you carry forward from a religious upbringing, and how do you find community and spiritual meaning when your relationship with that upbringing changes? Resources: Learn more about Sally’s work at sallyjmcmillan.com. Sally’s book is available on BookShop and Amazon. Subscribe to our YouTube channel here:https://www.youtube.com/@spectrummagazine1969 Follow us on Instagram. If you have questions, observations, or ideas for future episodes, email us at natalie@spectrummagazine.org. About Sally McMillan: Sally J. McMillan is the author of My Name Is Allen White, a novel inspired in part by her late brother and her Adventist upbringing. A former communication professor and university administrator, she now writes fiction, essays, poetry, and journalism. She lives in Seattle.

Beyond The Remnant Episode 7 traces the dynamic development of Sabbath theology in Adventist history and meditates on the Sabbath as God’s commitment to the world before it comes with a commandment.

When does one bad decision become an institutional failure? In August, Good Good Golf released an advertisement showing male co-founder Garrett Clark shoving a female golfer-content creator, Alexis Miestowsk, to the ground over a golf club. The video was removed after widespread criticism, but it had already been conceived, filmed, edited, approved, and published. How did so many people fail—or feel unable—to object? Similar questions arise within churches, where spiritual authority, denominational and institutional loyalty, and concern for a ministry’s reputation can make it difficult for women to report harassment or abuse, and even harder for them to be believed. The investigations surrounding retired Adventist pastor John Bridges and the story told in Netflix’s Death of a Pastor’s Wife raise concerning questions about who gets protected when allegations involve pastors or other church leaders. The Podly Women, joined by their first male guest, discuss when individual misconduct points to a larger cultural problem; how institutions normalize, overlook, or conceal harm; and why policies alone cannot protect women when the surrounding culture discourages people from speaking. What would meaningful accountability look like? And what would change if protecting people were treated as central to the church’s mission? Resources: End It Now North America (Seventh-day Adventist initiative to prevent and respond to abuse) National Domestic Violence Hotline Raising Voices (Resources to end violence towards women) Subscribe to our YouTube channel here:https://www.youtube.com/@spectrummagazine1969 Follow us on Instagram. If you have questions, observations, or ideas for future episodes, email us at natalie@spectrummagazine.org. About our panel: Natalie Bruzon is a journalist and editor whose writing explores religion, politics, and life inside—and just outside—Adventism. Trudy Morgan-Cole is a historical fiction author from St. John’s, Newfoundland, and a recently retired educator. Her novels include works set in Newfoundland and reimaginings of biblical stories.

Beyond The Remnant Episode 6 discusses how race, sex, and gender belong in that same conversation in Adventism and why truthful testimony on these topics is key to remnant identity.

Can an imagined story tell the truth? Suspicion of fiction has been part of the Adventist ethos since the denomination’s earliest years. Ellen White warned that fiction could inflame the imagination, distract readers from practical responsibilities, and weaken their interest in the Bible. Generations of Adventists were discouraged from reading novels. Some may even have stories of burning or discarding fictional books we already owned. But was Ellen White condemning all fiction, or the sensational, escapist literature of her time? And what might Adventism have lost by teaching people to distrust imagination? The Podly Women explore their own experiences with fiction in Adventist homes, schools, and churches; the difference between depicting immorality and endorsing it; and whether stories can deepen empathy, complicate our heroes, challenge our assumptions, and reveal truths that nonfiction cannot. Related listening: Romance Novels: Is It Porn? Mentioned in this episode: Watch the video essay Ella discussed Subscribe to our YouTube channel here:https://www.youtube.com/@spectrummagazine1969 Follow us on Instagram. If you have questions, observations, or ideas for future episodes, email us at natalie@spectrummagazine.org. About our panel: Natalie Bruzon is a journalist and editor whose writing explores religion, politics, and life inside—and just outside—Adventism. Trudy Morgan-Cole is a historical fiction author from St. John’s, Newfoundland, and a recently retired educator. Her novels include works set in Newfoundland and reimagining of biblical stories. Ella Quijada is a SPECTRUM Campus Connect columnist studying psychology at Southern Adventist University, with a pre-medical emphasis and minors in Spanish, chemistry, and biology.

Episode 5 examines whether health is a theological concern, why the body is a sacrament, and who the health message really is for.

Is Nara Smith a tradwife? Not according to her. Nara’s recent interview with Alex Cooper on Call Her Daddy reignited the internet’s debate over whether she has built her brand on tradwife aesthetics while rejecting the label, and whether her denial amounts to gaslighting her audience. The Podly Women use Smith’s interview and this summer’s buzziest novel, Yesteryear, as launching points for a broader conversation about tradwife culture. Is it an ideology, an aesthetic, or both? Why has it become so appealing, and what messages does it carry about femininity, womanhood, and a woman’s identity? Join the Podly Women as they explore the cultural phenomenon of traditional womanhood, and what we lose when a complicated conversation becomes a label. Subscribe to our YouTube channel here:https://www.youtube.com/@spectrummagazine1969 If you have questions, observations, or ideas for future episodes, email us at natalie@spectrummagazine.org About our panel: Natalie Bruzon is a journalist and editor, a mom of two young kids, and a Union Adventist University grad.  Ezrica Bennett, a writer and graduate student at Claremont School of Theology, Oakwood University grad.  Trudy Morgan-Cole is a noted historical fiction author and a recently retired educator and Andrews University grad.  Sofia Lindgren is a fabulous twenty-five-year-old, office manager of SPECTRUM Magazine, and Pacific Union College grad.

In Episode 4, we discuss why the Greek “pistis Iēsou Christou” should be translated as “the faithfulness of Jesus Christ,” rather than “faith in Jesus Christ,” and how that reshapes our understanding of God.

Episode 3 discusses good Sabbath theology, which begins with the Sabbath healings in the Gospel of John.

Episode 2 unpacks the complex sources and component parts of prevailing conceptions of Adventist identity, and considers Tonstad's meditations on what lies at the heart of a biblical "remnant" identity and how an Adventist "remnant" community must move in the world.

Hey Daddy Gang, is Alex Cooper lying to you? That’s what Allie Beth Stuckey and other conservatives seem to be saying after Cooper announced her pregnancy. Cooper, who built a career talking openly about sex, dating, and hookup culture, is now married, pregnant, and seemingly happy. For some critics, that happy ending does not fit the story women are supposed to be told. This week, the Podly Women gather to talk about the expectations placed on women. Does doing everything “right” guarantee marriage, motherhood, stability, respectability, or success? And what does doing everything right even mean for a woman? Listen as three women from different stages of life discuss hookup culture, pregnancy rage, purity culture, the conservative and liberal expectations placed on women, and the troubling idea that a beautiful life must be earned. About our panel: Natalie Bruzon is a journalist, editor, and mom of two young kids, a Union Adventist University grad.  Trudy Morgan-Cole is a noted historical fiction author and a recently retired educator and Andrews University grad.  Sofia Lindgren is a fabulous twenty-five year old, office manager of SPECTRUM Magazine, and Pacific Union College grad.

In Episode 1 we introduce a number of key themes in the book, beginning with the ways in which ethnicity and culture shape religious identity and how tribal gods may resurface even after we have chosen a new identity in Christ. Shandelle Henson is an emeritus professor of mathematics and retired professor of ecology at Andrews University, and currently a co-mentor of Education for Ministry through the School of Theology at Sewanee, University of the South. Julius J. Nam is an attorney and an Adventist historian based in Loma Linda, California. Sigve Tonstad is a physician, specialist in internal medicine, New Testament scholar with a PhD from the University of St. Andrews, author of several books, and research professor of biblical interpretation at Loma Linda University.

Drawing on his education and healthcare admin experience, Michael Nixon discusses his SPECTRUM monthly column series, The VP Files, in which he shares important personal and professional moments in the recent history of Andrews University. We discuss his administrative work leading diversity and culture work on the campus, as well as the right and wrong ways to discuss politics and religion

The Podly Women return for part two of their conversation on modesty culture and beauty standards. In this episode, they unpack the beauty standards women are taught to chase and the ideals we all feel beholden to: the “prepubescent” look and where that trend comes from, the convergence of complementarianism and the “soft” aesthetic, aging gracefully, sacred bodies, and, yes, even the fascism of it all. Along the way, they ask the larger question: Is a woman’s purpose to be small and beautiful, or are we meant for more? Taglines: What happens when beauty standards, modesty culture, and theology all conspire to make women small? What if women were made for more than being small, pretty, and palatable? A conversation about sacred bodies, aging, beauty, control, and the systems that are telling women to disappear. The fascism behind beauty standards. Panel: Ezrica Bennett, a writer and graduate student at Claremont School of Theology, Oakwood University grad.  Natalie Bruzon, journalist, editor, and mom of two young kids, Union College grad.  Trudy Morgan-Cole, noted historical fiction book author and recently retired educator, Andrews University grad.  Ella Quijada, a writer and undergraduate studying science at Southern Adventist University

This week, the Podly Women gather to talk about modesty: the good, the bad, and the complicated. Together, they reflect on the messages women receive in church spaces about clothing, bodies, and temptation, and ask how those teachings shape the way women move through the world while often assuming men’s responsibility for their own behavior. The conversation remains nuanced—can modesty still hold meaning apart from shame or policing?—and explores what a healthier, more honest approach to women’s bodies might look like. Modesty teaching in the church lets men off the hook while asking women to carry responsibility for everyone else’s thoughts and behavior.  Modesty culture acquits men of sexual misconduct before they even commit it by placing the burden of blame on women.  As women, we can create a different culture for one another by empowering each other to see our bodies with more freedom, more dignity, and a more generous understanding of beauty. Ezrica Bennett, a writer and graduate student at Claremont School of Theology, Oakwood University grad.  Natalie Bruzon, journalist, editor, and mom of two young kids, Union College grad.  Trudy Morgan-Cole, noted historical fiction book author and recently retired educator, Andrews University grad.  Makayla Mattocks, poet, editor, Oakwood University grad. Ella Quijada, a writer and undergraduate studying science at Southern Adventist University

In this conversation on the Podly Women podcast, author Trudy J. Morgan-Cole and Sofia Lindgren, office manager of SPECTRUM Magazine, join journalist Natalie Bruzon to discuss her recently published Substack article, “I’m Sorry, but It Is Porn.” The three women explore the impact of romance literature, what makes content pornographic, and how to safeguard children against the prevalence and normalization of explicit content.

Ezrica Bennett [author of the recent hit article, “Thirty, Single, and Feeling (Pluri)Potent”] hosts a wide-ranging conversation on singleness, church culture, purity messaging, and what it means to build a meaningful life outside the “marriage as finish line” narrative. Joined by Natalie Bruzon, Trudy J. Morgan-Cole, and Ella Quijada, the group talks candidly about the pressure cooker of Adventist dating culture, the ways purity culture can distort intimacy and consent, and how women’s friendships and broader community can offer deep, sustaining love. Across generations and life stages, they wrestle with grief, freedom, and the ongoing work of “doing something while you wait”—not as waiting for a spouse, but as living fully in the present, with agency and spiritual depth. Ezrica Bennett graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biology from Oakwood University. She has worked as a book editor for the Loma Linda University School of Medicine and has written for the Adventist Review and the Southeastern California Conference. She is a writer, public speaker, and coach, passionate about working with young adults to help them navigate life and faith, and a youth elder at the Loma Linda University Church.  Natalie Bruzon is a web producer for SPECTRUM, editor of SPECTRUM'S short news section, The Current, and the managing editor of the SPECTRUM journal. Her writing explores religion, politics, and life inside (and just outside) Adventism.  Trudy Morgan-Cole is a writer of historical fiction from St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. She is the author of several works of historical fiction set in Newfoundland, as well as several novels re-imagining Bible stories, including Esther: A Story of Courage, and James, the Brother of Jesus. In 2025, Trudy retired after a forty-year career in education and is now, finally, a full-time writer.  Ella Quijada is a Campus Connect Columnist for Spectrum. She is studying psychology at Southern Adventist University with pre-medical emphasis and triple Spanish, chemistry, and biology minor.

President of Antillean Adventist University Edwin Hernández talks about the new $5 million grant the school received to tell its Christian educational mission, how it connects to the stories of Puerto Rico, and its post-hurricane diaspora in Florida. We also discuss the state of Adventist education, how its institutional identities need to change, and his thoughts on the Super Bowl halftime show featuring Bad Bunny.  Before recently becoming president of Antillean Adventist University, Hernández was the executive director of the Louisville Institute, based out of the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and served as president and provost at AdventHealth University. His career includes positions as senior program officer at the DeVos Family Foundations, founding director of the Center for the Study of Latino Religion at the University of Notre Dame, program officer at The Pew Charitable Trusts, and assistant professor of sociology at Andrews University. Hernández earned his PhD and MA in sociology of religion from the University of Notre Dame, an MDiv from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University, and a BA in theological studies from La Sierra University.

In this episode of Adventist Voices I talk with Chris Blake about his book Imagine Life. We explore issues of justice, joy, and creativity that he tells stories about. We also talk about why he doesn’t really care about heaven, preferring to focus on the New Earth, and what the JustLove Collective is doing next.

In season 2 Episode 4, spiritual care practitioner and researcher Zach Hair shares what spiritual care actually is and why it matters. He unpacks the distinction between chaplaincy, pastoral leadership, reflecting on how spiritual care creates a safe space for people of any faith or none to explore meaning, values, grief, and identity. Zach shares his journey from a fundamentalist background and pastoral ministry into healthcare spiritual care, shaped by clinical training, humility, and deep self reflection. In a world where traditional religious language often creates barriers rather than healing, Zach invites listeners to reconsider what it means to be present with one another, and how spiritual care forms us into more grounded, compassionate humans.

In season 2 episode 4, Simone shares her journey from law school to the fitness and consulting world, reflecting on how her third-generation Adventist upbringing shaped, but never confined her path. In speaking about outgrowing traditional Adventist spaces, she candidly shares about her search for intellectual and spiritual openness. Through exploring themes of inclusive community, Adventist identity, and the difference between church membership and authentic spiritual life, Simone reflects on embodiment, self-acceptance, and the mind-body connection. Offering insight into how faith, identity, and lived experience meet in her ongoing journey toward wholeness.

Alexander Carpenter inaugurates Spectrum’s new series on the arts with an interview with filmmaker  Rian Johnson. He directed Star Wars: The Last Jedi and created the Knives Out mystery series on Netflix. Alexander asks the former evangelical about his classic “Fly” episode from Breaking Bad and about all the Catholic iconography in Johnson’s new theologically rich mystery, Wake Up Dead Man.

On Season 2, Episode 2 of Adventist, Eh? Dr. Harry O. Maier, a professor of New Testament & Early Christian Studies at Vancouver School of Theology, shares his journey from aspiring Lutheran pastor to professor. He highlights the importance of early church history in shaping Christian faith, the richness of diverse traditions, and the need to move beyond narrow denominational thinking. Noting how much is lost when 2,000 years of theological conversations are overlooked. One of Dr. Maier's main area of study is the exploration of the Book of Revelation as a message of hope, love, and justice rather than fear. Emphasizes faith as needing to be historically grounded, denominational inclusive, and actively engaging the needs of the world.

Pastor Kimberly shares her journey from growing up as a Canadian Adventist pastor’s daughter with Jamaican roots to creating House of Women, an online ministry that empowers women through biblical storytelling, resilience, and sisterhood. She reflects on the joys and pressures of church life, her shift from traditional ministry into new forms of spiritual leadership, and her commitment to reinterpreting biblical women through her new book, The Sisters Stay Dropping Gems. Rooted in Adventist values yet unafraid to step beyond church walls, Kimberly invites others to embrace healing, creativity, and bold new approaches to ministry.

Due to the denominational pause on its distribution, Reclaiming the Prophet might be the hottest book few have read. Its editor, historian Eric Anderson, talks about the book’s origins, the impressive pedigree of its contributors, the puzzling controversy surrounding it, and why good scholarship leads to healthy spirituality.

Welcome to Adventist News & Views, your source for the latest information and insights shaping the Adventist conversation. Hosted by Jacklyn Frias.   Here are the highlights of this week:  The 2025 Annual Council concludes with global leaders renewing calls for integration, mission focus, and spiritual courage. At Southern Adventist University, students react to the unexpected end of a $3 million DHSI grant, after the U.S. Department of Education discontinued race-based funding for Minority-Serving Institutions. In Part 1 of her reflection series, Ezrica Bennett dives into the spiritual and emotional challenge of loving across political divides. Iceland Adventists issue a rare statement calling for peace, prayer, and humanitarian support amid the ongoing crisis in Gaza. A new book review connects Defy to Adventist values, urging moral courage and the power of principled refusal. This week’s Sabbath School lesson reflects on God’s guidance through the Jordan crossing—reminding us to trust divine leadership in times of uncertainty.

Welcome to Adventist News & Views, your weekly source for the latest information and insights shaping the Adventist conversation. I’m your host Jacklyn Frias. Written and Produced by Stanton Witherspoon. Brought to you by Spectrum.

I interviewed Stephen N. Allred, director of government relations for the Church State Council, the religious liberty office of the Pacific Union Conference. Allred is a licensed attorney and ordained minister we discuss the upcoming webinar, Advocacy at the Margins: Observing & Defending in Immigration Court. We also discuss why the Pacific Union includes social justice as part of its religious liberty mission and how the Sabbath commandments and Jesus’s statements about heaven predicate obedience and righteousness with care for social outsiders.  Steve served as a pastor in the Northern California Conference for over 14 years, including his time at seminary, and then practiced law for nearly a decade. He has written for several periodicals and is the author of the book Do Justice: The Case for Biblical Social Justice. Steve received a Master of Divinity from Andrews University in 2005 and a Juris Doctor from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in 2012.   This online info session is open to anyone. The goal is to equip participants to attend immigration court as observers, understand courtroom dynamics, and foster a consistent, supportive presence. Attorneys who register can receive CLE credit on how to represent respondents at their initial appearances to ensure cases are not prematurely/summarily dismissed due to lack of representation or procedural missteps. Sept. 28 at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time.

Spectrum Scholar Summer Intern Andrew Francis discusses his reporting on the growing controversy sparked by new Oakwood University President Gina Spivey-Brown’s focus on enforcing old student handbook bans on anklets, bracelets, crop tops and other forms of banned dress and adornment. We also discuss nineteen year old Francis’s experience on the Spectrum team at the GC Session and his plans as managing editor of The Student Movement as he completes his education in communication and behavioral science at Andrews University this December.

Drawing from our SPECTRUM’s presence at the 2025 General Conference Session, Editor-in-Chief Alexander Carpenter and Correspondent Samuel Girven discuss our in-person impressions of new General Conference President Erton Köhler, the fundamentalist focus on vaccination and jewelry, and how the communication landscape of the denomination might transform the meaning of the local church. Yes, change happened in St. Louis, but toward what end?

Steve Matthews is the CEO of ADRA Canada, he shares about his journey into humanitarian leadership, ADRA’s global mission, and efforts to connect more deeply with local churches. Steve discusses the challenges of fundraising amid economic uncertainty and media influences. Along with the importance of transparency, ADRA's strategic plan to enhance church and community relevance. Highlighting local engagement initiatives based on cultural sensitivities and actual needs. Steve introduces ADRA Canada’s new social enterprise, Hope Harvest, which sells ethically sourced Ghanaian cashews to fund community projects and provide fundraising opportunities for churches and youth groups.

Dr. Mary Beth Werdel is the director of the Mental Health Counseling and Spiritual Integration and Pastoral Care programs at Fordham University. During this conversation, she shares about the powerful intersections of spirituality, trauma, and healing. Drawing from her background in mental health counseling and her doctoral research on post-traumatic growth, she explores how spiritual and psychological experiences are deeply intertwined in the human journey. Unpacking the concept of post-traumatic growth, the dangers of spiritual bypassing, and the unique challenges trauma presents in caregiving settings. Dr. Werdel highlights the transformative potential that can emerge from suffering, when met with presence, compassion, and informed care. Check out her latest book on post-traumatic growth.

Dr. Shane Sinclair is a professor with the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Calgary and director of the Compassion Research Lab. In addition to overviewing the power that compassion holds, He shares his journey from clinical chaplaincy to groundbreaking research in oncology and palliative care on the topic of compassion. Sinclair unpacks what compassion really means, beyond pity or empathy, as a relational and often holistic response to suffering. He explains why compassion is hard to define, harder to measure, and yet essential for meaningful patient care. He also highlights how the EnACT program from the Compassion Research Lab, is a groundbreaking training tool designed for real-world clinical impact while being informed by science.

Dr. Stéphane Beaulieu is the Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at Burman University. In this conversation he shares his remarkable journey from working as a truck driver and high school dropout in Québec to achieving his doctoral degree. He recounts how his conversion to Adventism in his late teens sparked a passion for learning, leading him to pursue pastoral ministry. Now leading the only Adventist religious studies department in Canada, Stéphane discusses the unique vision of Canadian Adventist education, emphasizing contextual ministry, mentorship, and practical experience. He addresses the complexities of training pastors in a secular accreditation environment, the integration of theory and practice, and the challenges of attracting young people to ministry in an era marked by cultural shifts and perceived decline in church relevance. Candid and thoughtful, Stéphane offers a hopeful yet realistic look at the future of church leadership and theology training in Canada.

Akeem Ambrose is the elementary P.E. teacher and athletic director at Crawford Adventist Academy in Toronto, Ontario. In this conversation he explores the transformative power of sports in Adventist education. Akeem shares the origin story and vision behind the Ontario Adventist Sports Association, and challenges the traditional hierarchy of learning by championing the gym as a space where A-grade character is built. He speaks candidly about the life lessons students gain through sports, namely discipline, perseverance, and goal-setting, while also highlighting the struggles Adventist schools face in embracing modern opportunities, including athletic scholarships and extracurricular expansion. More than competition, Akeem sees sports as a culture of community, relationships, and worship, a space where students can honour God, connect with peers, and show non-Christian students the heart of faith through sports. Plus, don’t miss his latest creative project: Mr. Ambrose, a brand-new animated YouTube series that brings faith-based storytelling to life from the very gym where so much of this journey begins.

Gerald Chipeur, KC, is a lawyer based out of Calgary, Alberta. In this conversation he reflects on his continuing four-decade legal career, exploring the intersections of administrative law, religious freedom, and constitutional interpretation in Canada. Sharing how the Canadian government interacts with religious citizens through regulation, and human rights. Gerald gives personal and faith-based insights on justice, ethical responsibility, and the importance of resolving disputes outside the courtroom. This episode unpacks how Canadian law continues to navigate the delicate balance between faith and fairness in a multicultural society, showing that there can be positive outcomes for governments to be in dialogue with faith communities.

Pastor Rhoda, who serves in Vancouver, British Columbia, shares her path to becoming a female pastor in the Canadian Adventist Church, from her background in education to her calling into ministry. She explores the significance of representation in leadership, the distinction between ordination and commissioning, the power of inclusive language in worship, and the importance of reexamining biblical translations that have historically diminished the roles of women. The conversation highlights the tension between tradition and progress, and suggests practical steps for fostering a more inclusive church community.

Peter Noteboom, the current General Secretary of the Canadian Council of Churches and Co-Chair of the Canadian Interfaith Conversation, shares his experiences and perspectives on ecumenism, emphasizing the importance of unity, peace, and love in the Christian faith. He highlights that the Christian witness can be strengthened when individuals deeply engage with their own denominational traditions. In this spirit, he calls on the Adventist Church in Canada to contribute its unique voice to the work of the Canadian Council of Churches.

Kyle Hausmann-Stokes talks about his new film, My Dead Friend Zoe, which explores his own experience as a U.S. Army veteran and draws attention to the ways that violence and mental health issues impact friendships and families.  I first met Kyle on a humanitarian effort to help migrants several years ago and continued to admire his creative talents and how his personal values drive his work. The film, which stars Sonequa Martin-Green, Natalie Morales, Gloria Reuben, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Morgan Freeman, and Ed Harris, shows how great storytelling can help difficult conversations turn into opportunities for shared grace and understanding.

Jocelyn Bell is the editor and publisher of Broadview, a Canadian faith-based magazine and media organization. With roots dating back to 1829, Broadview is the oldest continuously published magazine in North America. Broadview covers national and international issues related to spirituality, justice, and ethical living. Jocelyn reflects on the publication’s rich history while also addressing the modern challenges faced by faith-based media.

Zach Lambert is the lead pastor and co-founder of Restore, a church based in Austin. He emphasizes the importance of building inclusive communities where everyone feels valued, shifting the spiritual focus away from belief statements to a centering on Jesus. Zach encourages Christ followers to assess faith by its fruits, in both personal and communal introspection. He also advocates for a holistic approach to scripture, offering thoughtful engagement rather than outright dismissal. His upcoming book presents solutions to harmful Bible interpretations, providing a path toward deeper, more meaningful understanding.

Rev. Dr. Ross Lockhart is dean of St. Andrew’s Hall and professor of Mission Studies at Vancouver School of Theology. He is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church in Canada. Noticing that fewer and fewer people are interested in Christianity, Ross uses his doctrinal research to ask, "What, then, does church mission look like?" He shares that as Canada moves further toward secularization with its history of colonialism, the question is no longer, is Christianity true? but rather, is Christianity any good?

Terry Shaw, president and CEO of AdventHealth (revenue $21 billion), shared with Spectrum why his Climate Resilience Plan improves whole-person care. He also explained why government funding of health and humanitarian work is essential.  Reflecting on his 40-year career with the now 100,000 employee network stretching from Florida to Colorado, he shared how an internship inspired him and how his focus on extending the healing work of Jesus inspires his leadership.

Thandazani Mhlanga is a pastor in the British Columbia Conference, and also serves as a hospital chaplain. Through his passion for humanity he notices how Canadian society has mastered the art of virtue & moral signaling. This mismatch of saying the right thing but not doing the right action shows that the church may not be ready to embrace all people. Thandazani reflects on Jesus’ sermon on the mount, noting that Christ’s words were, “blessed are the peacemakers,” not “blessed are the peace talkers.” In his media channels, Never Black and White and Inspired Passions, Thandazani aims to show the beauty of truly seeing people.

Dr. Melodie Roschman is a writer, academic, and the daughter of an Adventist pastor. Her ongoing research focuses on the intersection of popular culture and gender with right wing American Christianity. In our conversation, she reflects on her experiences as a young queer woman growing up in the Adventist church in Canada, as well as the links she sees between her personal experience and research. We talk about the relationship between personal and group identity, and ask questions of how we collectively navigate differences while struggling to agree on fundamental definitions.

Paul Llewellyn is the president of the Adventist Church in Canada. Coming from a teaching & youth ministry background, he shares about how the most important jobs of the church are the local pastors and teachers. Paul highlights the need for cultural understanding in ministry, along with the challenges of the Church in Canada being a small but significant part of the North American Division. Describing how the importance of focusing on Jesus and not getting distracted by other issues must be maintained for effective ministry.

David Hayward pastored in Eastern Canada for 30 years. During which he noticed a growing desire to be more open about spirituality and to empower people away from spiritual dependency. This evolved into his creator's title of NakedPastor. Called such because David seeks to tell the naked truth, no matter how vulnerable it feels. During our conversation he shares more about the role of open dialogue through art aimed at activating Jesus’ message of “my burden is light.”   To check out more, find NakedPastor at (web) nakedpastor.com (Instagram) @nakedpastor Books: The Liberation of Sophia Without a Vision My People Prosper   (Spectrum book review)

Dr. Loren Agrey is the current president of Burman University, located in central Alberta, Canada. He shares about his journey from being a teacher, to a principal, then into higher educational teaching and academic administration and ultimately to now leading the only Adventist university in Canada. Dr. Agrey highlights the immeasurable resolve of early Adventists in starting the school, along with current challenges it faces. He also details the unique ways Burman U offers advantages to students, Adventist and non-Adventists alike. Dr. Loren's webpage: https://www.burmanu.ca/directory/loren-agrey

Spectrum is excited to launch a new podcast series called Adventist, eh? With host Kevin McCarty. This Canadian based series seeks to engage in conversations about the spiritual and cultural landscape of the Great White North. Guests include Adventists and non-Adventists who bring various unique views on what it means to be religiously minded in Canada.  Kevin is a staff member at Spectrum who is a regular host on Adventist Voices, along with his first series called Integrating Self. He completed his undergraduate degree in educational and social studies at Trinity Western University, having also attended both Walla Walla University and Burman University. Since then, he has held various jobs, including youth work and teaching. Along with experiences in preaching and being a church board member. Next he then graduated with his masters in Indigenous and Interreligious Studies from the Vancouver School of Theology, a Christian ecumenical seminary in British Columbia. Kevin is currently working towards his second master's degree pastoral leadership along with his certification as a spiritual care practitioner. His Spectrum page can be found here.

JustLove Collective's co-leaders, Chris Blake, retired pastor and educator, and Dr. Dilys Brooks, campus chaplain at Loma Linda University, share the beginnings of this movement to bring about social change through the context of Adventism. They note how Jesus' life was filled with both love and justice, a model that is rooted deeply in neighborly love. JustLove Collective is a non-profit, international gathering of Adventist activists dedicated to bringing people from all walks of life together for a deep encounter that leads to action. Check out JustLove's Website and the latest issue of Pulse Magazine.

Amy Leach discusses her new book, The Salt of the Universe: Praise, Songs, and Improvisations (Farrar, Straus & Giroux 2024). We discuss freedom, fundamentalism, and the Ellen White/Ted Wilson prohibition of pickles.  Leach grew up in Texas and earned her MFA from the Nonfiction Writing Program at the University of Iowa. Her work has appeared in The Best American Essays, The Best American Science and Nature Writing, and numerous other publications. She is the recipient of a Whiting Writers' Award, a Rona Jaffe Foundation Award, and a Pushcart Prize. She is also the author of Things That Are (Milkweed 2012) and The Everybody Ensemble (Farrar, Straus & Giroux 2021). She lives in Montana.

From Australia, Signs Publishing Book Editor Nathan Brown talks about his latest book, Do Not Be Afraid, the Adventist adult daily devotional for 2025. Inspired by Jesus’s repeated comforting words and his own graduate research, Brown “reminds us that even in a world drowning in fears, we can rise above them and live lives characterized by courage and confidence.” We also explore his two decade career as a prolific man of letters and his new activist work with the JustLove Collective.

A BFA graduate of Southern Adventist University, Darcie Denton is a 25-year-old artist from the Chattanooga area who has had three solo shows and exhibited various works throughout the U.S. Her artwork revolves around themes of sacredness, memory, gratitude, and beauty, and she explores these through paint, print and other traditional media, as well as video documentation of her life experience. A part of the Passionfroot.co, Darcie shares her work and life to an online audience of over 80,000 followers. Her work is on the cover of the next issue of the Spectrum journal. https://www.darciedenton.com/about https://www.instagram.com/passionfroot.co/

Daniel Weber was the Communication Director of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America and is now chair of the Dept. of Visual Art, Communication and Design at Andrews University. We debate about the value and propriety of Adventists making public declarations about their political views, particularly candidate support. In addition, we discuss the history and meaning of Adventist social values, particularly separation of church and state.

Hot off the co-publication of our article with the Miami-Herald on 3ABN, its author, Alva James-Johnson, an award-winning journalist, talks behind the scenes on the story as well as how she become a reporter. We learn about her first publication for Insight magazine, her early work as a beat reporter, why she teaches at Southern Adventist University now, and why she thinks that seeking truth as an Adventist includes asking journalistic questions.

Retired teacher Janice Jensen, a longtime supporter of Spectrum (Advisory Council), recently published a memoir about losing her nine-year old son to drowning and how that changed her in many way, including her beliefs. Now a grief-recovery volunteer faciliator, Janice talks about heartbreak and how she supported her daughter and devastated husband as they struggled to rebuild their lives together. She has taught in Syria, Colombia, Saudi Arabia, Oregon and Washington. Her 2024 book, One Ripple at a Time (She Writes Press) also explores how Janice’s solo visits to over 70 countries caused her to abandon dogma and find new meaning in water, movement, and spirituality.

I talk with Greg Kewdar about his film Sing Sing which will probably be nominated for the Academy Awards. It stars Coleman Domingo plays Divine G, an innocent man incarcerated at the New York prison. He is part of the longstanding Rehabilitation Through the Arts program and it's the men who create in this space that bring the story of conflict and redemption to life.

I interview journalist Eliza Griswold about her just released book, “Circle of Hope: A Reckoning with Love, Power, and Justice in an American Church.”She embedded for several years with four pastors in Philadelphia and shares on their personal and public struggles as they pursue their radical Christian vision while dealing with the realities of misogyny, racism, and attendance decline.Griswold is currently a contributing writer to The New Yorker and a Distinguished Writer in Residence at New York University. She won the Pulitzer Prize for her 2018 book, “Amity and Prosperity: One Family and the Fracturing of America.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Erik VanDenburgh, president of the Hawaii conference speaks to me while driving a truck and 26 foot trailer to Gillette, Wyoming, to attend the International Pathfinder Camporee. He shares interesting details about the logistics involved in getting over 250 youth and support staff from the islands 3,400 miles across sea and land. A former youth leader, VanDenburgh explains why experiences like this matter and how his clubs are sharing the aloha spirit in Adventism. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I interviewed Alan Reinach, Esq, president of the Church State Council, the education, advocacy, and legal services ministry of the Pacific Union. He is representing his client, Jeffery Lemasters Tahir, who until recently worked security at Disneyland. They talk about the Sabbath observance issues involved in the case and why the Adventist Church takes an interfaith legal and mission approach to religious liberty protections. Reinach is a graduate of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill School of Law in 1987, and of the State University of New York at New Paltz, with special honors in history, in 1984. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During his first week leading La Sierra University, Christon Arthur, PhD, shared his vision for the progressive Adventist culture of the campus, his Caribbean and Catholic upbringing, and his core values of equity and duty.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For a German perspective on Adventism, I talk with Stefan Höschele, Professor for Systematic Theology and Adventist Studies at Friedensau Adventist University. We discuss his new publication, “Interchurch Relations in Seventh-day Adventist History: A Study in Ecumenics.“ Given his background in education in Malawi and Tanzania, we discuss how Africa has shaped his appreciation for Adventism. We also talk about the soul of European Adventism and the problem with evangelistic triumphalism. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this conversation, Ben Archer, an Adjunct Research Fellow at Avondale University, shares about his recently published research on faith engagement in schools. In utilizing a scoping review methodology, Archer presents empirical literature related to faith formation activities with children. Activities covered included prayer, worship, chapel, evangelization, retreats and bible studies. His findings highlight that school-based programs do not appear to have a specific influence on student faith development. Rather it is teacher-student relationships that are the most significant influences in enhancing a student’s faith. Article Cited: Archer, Ben. “Moving From Faith Development to Faith Engagement in Christian Schools: A Scoping Review.” Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care 17, no. 1 (2024): 136–154. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The president of Seventh-day Adventist Kinship International talks about what pride means to him. We discuss how it’s different from the biblical vice of ego and about how some Christians don’t understand what conversion means in terms of sexuality, orientation, and spiritual maturity. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An interview with Marianne Thieme, Dutch political leader, convert to Adventism, and environmental activist. With others, she founded the Party for the Animals in 2009 and was its chairwoman from 2002 to 2010. An attorney who has studied at the Sorbonne and recently at Newbold College, she won election every two years allowing her to serve in the House of Representatives from 2006 until she resigned in 2019. Marianne is now working on a PhD with the goal of drawing on biblical social ethics and Adventist vegetarian thought as she expands her eco advocacy around the world. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Filmmaker Kyle Portbury talks about his film, The Hopeful, which tells the early Adventist story for any audience. The film premiered on 900 cinema screens across North America. In this second part of our conversation, Kyle shares his creative vision and discusses why storytelling matters. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Filmmaker Kyle Portbury talks about his film, The Hopeful, which tells the early Adventist story for any audience. The film premieres on 900 cinema screens across North America on April 17 and 18. Kyle shares how the film came to be and some details about the aestheic and narrative choices he made. The Hopeful is the true story of a community whose lives were transformed as they learn what it means to truly wait for Jesus. This sweeping drama, set in 19th century New England, invites audiences of all ages to imagine how hope can change the world.  In this story the audience sees blossoming the seeds of a new global movement of faith—the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Get tickets here: The Hopeful See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On March 27, 2024, “Testament: Story of Moses” premiered on Netflix. Spectrum correspondent Kevin McCarty interviews series producer Kelly McPherson about the docudrama approach. By using a docudrama (documentary and drama) approach, the viewer is led through the Exodus account in a vivid fashion, while also receiving wisdoms and insights from passionate scholars, theologians, and historians. These speakers represent all three traditions that hold Moses as a prophet, being the Jewish, Christian, and Islamic faiths.By engaging with the story in this manner, McPherson hopes to cause emotional responses in the viewer. For those who may not already know the story to see the enduring quality of it, showing why it still speaks to something within us to this day. And to add new layers and surprises for those who think they might know this epic story.Grounded in the humanness of Moses, this fresh look into one of the most epic stories of all time brings together many elements of storytelling in a new way. The result is an incredible journey for both newcomers and those returning to Moses’ story. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Historian and retired university president Eric Anderson discusses next steps after the Ellen White working conference last fall at Pacific Union College. He discusses the meanings behind the joint statement and makes an argument that appreciating her writing as devotional offers Adventists a way forward. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the third in a three-part series on Sex, Love, and Purity Culture. This episode focuses on next steps in growth and development past Purity Culture. Sofia, Ari, and Kendra are joined by Ezrica Bennett, who graduated with a BS in Biology from Oakwood University. She recently received a Princeton University grant for her ministry work with young adults at Loma Linda University Church. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the second in a three-part series on Sex, Love, and Purity Culture. This episode focuses on the creation of purity culture as well as the history and political ideology behind it. Sofia, Ari, and Melodie are joined by Christina Cannon, who studied at Wycliffe Hall/ University of Oxford and graduated in 2023 in the Scholars Program at Southern Adventist University with a BA in History. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This begins a three-episode conversation about the history, theology, and personal impact of purity culture. Although rooted in socioreligious mores that pre-date the term, purity culture emerged in the 1990s as an evangelical Christian cultural movement. It continues to influence Seventh-day Adventist understandings of dating and marriage, sexual expression and gender identity as well as female modesty and male headship.This limited series, “Sex, Love, and Purity Culture,” introduces our next-gen video podcast called Youth Group which seeks “to look without prejudice at all sides of a subject, to evaluate the merits of diverse views, and to foster intellectual and cultural growth.” That is also a quote from the founding mission statement written on the opening page of the inaugural issue of a journal named Spectrum over fifty years ago. That commitment to creating community through conversation continues today with:Kendra Arsenault, who studied International Development & African American Studies at UCLA and earned an MDiv in Professional Chaplaincy from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University. She has created several popular podcasts and works at Stanford University Medical Center.Ari Bates studied film at Southern Adventist University and is the Creative Director of Aberration Film Studios in Portland, Oregon.Sofia Lindgren graduated in 2023 with a BA in Business Administration from Pacific Union College. She is Spectrum’s Office Manager.Melodie Roschman earned her PhD in English from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Her dissertation is on “Identity, Counternarrative, and Community in Progressive Christian Women’s Memoir.” She was editor of The Student Movement at Andrews University and graduated with a BA in English and Journalism in the J. N. Andrews Honors program. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seventh-day Adventist judge Daniel Nsereko has lived a remarkable life: from humble beginnings in a small rural village in Uganda, to the highest levels of international law in The Hague where he served as a judge on the International Criminal Court (ICC). In this interview he shares his educational and professional journey as well as the moment his ethical consciousness was awakened. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pastor Claval Hunter leads the Berean Transformation Center, a Seventh-day Adventist Church in South Bend, Indiana. He shares how engaging his community on social and political issues transformed his congregation and added missional energy and baptisms.Born in the Bahamas, Pastor Hunter served as the Director of Urban Ministries for the Lake Region Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. He is currently serving as Associate Director of the Andrews University Center for Community Change. He holds a BA in Ministerial Theology from Oakwood University and a MDiv degree from the Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I interview Hanz Gutierrez about his retracted theological teaching endorsement by the General Conference’s International Board of Ministerial and Theological Education. Gutierrez is a longtime Spectrum columnist and chair of the Systematic Theology Department at the Italian Adventist Theological Faculty of Villa Aurora. He recently wrote about the lack of communication and process in this surprising move by the IBMTE and we discuss his experience and his ideas in this special episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the gritty neighbourhoods of Sydney, Australia, Nimrod faced the stark challenges of racial discrimination. Battling racial profiling and mistreatment by white law enforcement, his refuge came when he was invited to his white girlfriend's church. It was within this community that Nimrod discovered God hadn't abandoned him; instead, the church embraced him completely. Fuelled by these transformative experiences, Nimrod dived into theology, ultimately becoming a pastor and currently leading at Church in the Valley. “They bought into my leadership because I learned in university that you can’t truly be who you are when you get out into ministry. Because it’s governed by white men, it’s led by white men, and as a Samoan, there’s no conference where I look at and there’s been a Samoan president, we’re rare, so you can’t dream for that because you don’t see it [in Australia].” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elizabth Pule started her career journey aimed at becoming a lawyer, when an unexpected mission call changed her mind. With support from the Ontario Conference she attended Andrews University to then return to her home church as a pastor. Having had various opportunities as a chaplain, and ministry director, Elizabeth now pastors at the College Heights Church located on the Burman University campus. “I do believe the inclusion of all individuals who are neurodiverse is so important to the body of Christ. We can’t ignore what the Bible says about every single one of us has been gifted a specific role and gift, and we all matter in that body of Christ. I do believe there are forgotten parts in the body of Christ. We need to amend that.”  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Iron Claw (2023) director and writer Sean Durkin talks with Alexander Carpenter about the meaning in his film. In theaters now, the saga of the Von Erich professional wrestling family stars Zac Efron as he seeks to break the tragic curse of his name. The film includes a heaven-like scene of fraternal reunion, and Durkin discusses the mythological references as well as why he thinks wrestling helps us understand the human condition. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Alex now serves as Sligo Church’’s senior pastor. He came to understand God from among diversities of cultures around him while seeing church as a community of God in location. In his academic work and leadership role, Alex seeks to celebrate his past and honour his mother as sources of identity.  “Part of being human gives us the complexity to say maybe religion isn’t just reading something or understanding it, but it’s smelling it, it’s tasting it, it is moving or non-movement and that the world is truly such an enormous neighbourhood.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Growing up in Kenya, Jeanne was confused by God’s calling into pastoral ministry, as she never knew women could be any kind of church leader. With time spent in the USA during her university years, Jeanne came to see the unique ways God equips people for the work He has planned. Returning to Kenya with her Ph.D in urban planning and development, yet choosing instead to be known as pastor Jeanne. “I’m so grateful to God that He took me out of the environment in which I was raised. I loved the environment I was raised in, because it created a wonderful, strong foundation for me in my Adventist faith. However, I was a good Adventist, but I was not a good Christain, and there’s a great distinction between the two.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Growing up in Washington State, Anthony saw two very different cultural sides to Adventism. With a move to Seattle so his father could pastor a mainly black church, Anthony realized how much of his image of church was based off of “white suburbia.” This awakening forced him to search out his own blackness and what it might mean to be Caribbean. “I think this is a borderline universal fear, it’s that fear, like what if I’m myself in front of this new group of people and they don’t accept me? What if I bring my true self, as I actually am, not a projection, but the real me, will I be accepted? Will I be loved? Will I be enough?”  Check out Anthony’s podcast as they ask “What is an Adventist?” Seeking What They Sought Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/seekingpodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Courtney Ray started her academic career with a double major in theology and psychology, becoming an ordained minister of the Adventist church. She now works as a neuropsychologist with her private clinic in the Eastern United States, along with leadership roles within her local church and the Society for Black Neuropsychology.  “I think that you honestly have to disconnect yourself from logic to both be an Adventist and say that women cannot be in ministry. There’s no coherent argument that allows you to hold both those things at the same time.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Happy Pride! I interview Floyd Poenitz, Kinship International's next president, about the organization's multi-decade ministry creating a safe community for LGBTIQ+ Adventists. Floyd shares his story of growing up conservative and coming out and discusses the incredible number of countries that have Kinship members as more and more church members around the world grow to understand their sexual identity. We also talk about a good resource for parents from the North American Division, Kinship's current free book offer, and how Zoom in transforming LGBT+ support groups on Adventist college campuses. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elder Gregory L. Hoenes, PhD, Director of the West Region of the Southern California Conference, talks about his recently completed dissertation in Practical Theology at Claremont School of Theology. Focusing on food and ecological responsibilities, Dr. Hoenes talks about how his conservative upbringing shaped his relationship to nature, how pastoring and eating out in Southern California shaped his research and spiritual practices, and how the activism of woke young people give him hope. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Happy Pride Month! Four years ago Alicia Johnston resigned from her job as an Adventist pastor due to her bisexual identity. This week she joins me to talk about her new book, The Bible and LGBTQ Adventists: A Theological Conversation About Same-Sex Marriage, Gender, and Identity. We discuss why she aimed her book at Adventists with a conservative hermeneutic, what's bringing her joy these days, and how folks can support her project. Alicia's Website Alicia's Instagram Alicia's Twitter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A teacher at South Bay Christian School, near Los Angeles, and a grad student at La Sierra University, Raquel Mentor is also a social media expert who has written for Spectrum. We discuss how she survived poverty while attending university, what she loves about Adventist education, and some tips she’s learned from her social media success. Raquel Mentor's Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I interview Chris Blake, Lead Pastor of the San Luis Obispo Adventist Church, author of numerous books including Swimming Against the Current, Searching for a God to Love, and Reinvent Your Sabbath School, professor emeritus at Union College, and former editor of Insight magazine, about how he’s putting his vision for Adventism into action. An always fun conversation partner, we discuss what he learned playing basketball at Cal Poly, how he joined the church, his longtime advocacy for LGBT+ equality, and what he enjoys about pastoring on California’s central coast these days. Referenced Content: Five Beliefs - SLO Adventist Church Justin Lee Video When Scripture Meets Life: Book Review of Unclobber Enough Room Film Swimming Against the Current by Chris Blake Searching For A God To Love by Chris Blake Reinvent Your Sabbath School by Chris Blake See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Spectrum's Interviews Editor Alita Byrd shares her conversation with composer James Lee III, whose works have been commissioned and premiered by the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Symphony Chorus, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and others. His music has been played at Tanglewood and championed by famed conductor Leonard Slatkin. Some of Lee’s biggest sources of inspiration are the books of Daniel and Revelation, the story of the great controversy, and the second coming of Jesus. Lee is a lifelong Adventist — he attended Andrews Academy and Andrews University before he went to the University of Michigan where he earned his first degree in piano performance and then his masters and doctorate in composition. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bonnie Dwyer, editor of Spectrum, shares key moments in her life that shaped her career as a journalist and leader in the Adventist community. Bonnie discusses her love for the local church, the key first decisions that created the iconic journal, and what she's learned from a career trusting in God and caring for community. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Abraham Joshua Heschel, Jewish rabbi and theologian, civil rights advocate, Holocaust survivor, and champion of interfaith dialogue, is the subject of a new documentary "Spiritual Audacity," produced and directed by Martin Doblmeier of Journey Films. On Sabbath, May 1, Doblmeier discussed the making of the documentary during a special Adventist Forum/Spectrum webinar hosted by the St. Paul/Minneapolis Adventist Forum Chapter and the Minnetonka SDA Church. Alexander Carpenter, host of the Adventist Voices podcast, interviewed Doblmeier and was joined by Loma Linda University theologian Richard Rice, St. Paul Forum Chapter President Gary Blount, and Spectrum editor Bonnie Dwyer. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bonnie Dwyer, Spectrum's editor, and I interview Oscar-nominated filmmaker Tomm Moore, director of The Secret of the Kells (2009) about his new animated movie, Wolfwalkers available to watch via Apple TV. The story takes place in 1650 and follows a spirited Irish girl who fights the control of civilization and finds transformative friendship and spiritual power in the forest among a pack of wolves. We discuss Irish mythology, the beauty of Tomm Moore's hand drawn animation style and how stories connect humans to deeper spiritual truths. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Richard Osborn, PhD, talks about his missionary upbringing, early connection to Spectrum, and how he got his start leading educational institutions. Dick, who recently retired as the Vice President of the WASC Senior College and University Commission and was the former president of Pacific Union College shares some lessons about what’s worked and what hasn’t in schools and Adventist life. Dr. Osborn is Board Advisor/Member: Loma Linda University Health, Los Angeles Pacific University, Pacifica Graduate Institute, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, United States University, University of Silicon Andhra, Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA), Charles Weniger Foundation, NAD Higher Ed Task Force See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I interview a recent student of mine, Pacific Union College graduating senior Morgan Williamson on the state of Adventist education and the future of online learning. We discuss why Adventist and public education matters to her, how her student missionary teaching experience in Fiji influenced her career choice, as well as what she’s learned doing her student teaching online with elementary age students. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Back from a spring break in this weekly podcast, I interview Todd Leonard, Senior Pastor of the Glendale City Church, a beautiful Adventist church that’s been a sanctuary to generations of marginalized believers. We talk about how Todd is transitioning back to in-person worship, how he journeyed from the South to Southern California, his love for community activism, and his new podcast UnCollared https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/uncollared/id1554375187  which he hosts with two other Los Angeles Christian pastors. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week I talk with Kaleb Eisele, creator of Humans of Adventism, about his new ten-part documentary series in which Adventists tell their stories of culture, change, miracles, etc. We also discuss the state of creativity and community-building in the church. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I talk with my wife, Doris Tetz Carpenter, Adventist Health Human Performance Executive (Talent Strategy and Total Rewards), about the tension between the mission and business of faith-based health care. We also chat about how she moved from education to her seventeen-year career in Human Resources and how spending all day in online meetings at home has changed her ideas about work. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.