The appointment comes following the announcement of former ministerial secretary Pastor Brendan Pratt who has accepted the call to be the new director of the global mission centre for secular and post-Christian mission and associate ministerial secretary for the AUC.
Pastor Peterson comes with a diverse range of experience starting out as an intern at Kellyville Seventh-day Adventist Church and then senior pastor for Chatswood Seventh-day Adventist Church in Sydney, before becoming the director of Sabbath School and stewardship at Greater Sydney conference and then director of Sabbath School, Stewardship and Personal Ministries at the AUC up until 2021 where she became director of Sabbath School, Stewardship and Associate Ministerial Secretary.
AUC President Pastor Terry Johnson said, “God has a plan for each of our lives and it’s wonderful to see how God has directed the ministerial pathway for Pastor Lyndelle Peterson.”
Pastor Johnson continued, “From internship to senior pastor of the Chatswood church in Sydney, departmental roles at the Conference and Union where she has excelled including as the associate Ministerial secretary where she’s learned and gained experience in the requirements necessary to lead across our nine conferences with the excellent ministerial team leaders that we are blessed with. May the Lord continue to bless her ministry as He’s expanded the scope of His calling in her life.”
Replacing Pastor Peterson as stewardship and Sabbath school director is Pastor Nicu Dumbrava who is currently serving as personal ministries director and pastor for Hughesdale Seventh-day Adventist Church in Melbourne, Victoria. Pastor Dumbrava will continue serving as personal ministries director while also undertaking this new role.
Pastor Dumbrava served as pastor for the South NSW Conference for eight years before moving to WA where he served as pastor and personal ministries, church planting and Sabbath school director. In 2021, he became personal ministries director for the AUC.
“Sabbath School and Stewardship has been ably and innovatively led by Pastor Lyndelle and we know that the same will be true of Pastor Nicu who has a proven track record in SNSW, WA and Victoria in Personal Ministries along with having led that department for the last three years,” said Pastor Johnson. “These are two important departments at the heart of discipleship and Nicu is excited about the opportunity. We wish God’s blessing on him!”
]]>Children’s ministry directors from across the South Pacific Division (SPD) are thrilled and very motivated to enable families and churches to effectively utilise these new resources. Seventeen church leaders met at the Australian Union Conference (AUC) office in Melbourne on March 7–8 to be trained by Nina Atcheson, the curriculum manager.
The Alive in Jesus curriculum incorporates best educational practices and a deep understanding of faith development to enable parents and Sabbath school teachers to lead kids into a dynamic, mission-focused and lifelong relationship with Jesus. The Bible is the foundation of the new curriculum, with three key pillars of grace, character development and mission.
Colleen Savage (NNSW) said she is so impressed with the new curriculum. “They have really thought about everyone’s needs, cultures and backgrounds,” she reflects. “The best thing is that it keeps pointing our kids to Jesus’ love and grace through exploring Bible stories and service to others. It couldn’t have come at a better time for our churches.”
Sylvia Mendez (AUC) observed, “We are excited by what we saw and can’t wait to be part of the rollout starting in 2025 for Babies and Beginners.”
“Kids in New Zealand today need hope, direction and a purpose,” said Pastor Ben Martin, South New Zealand Conference president. “The Alive in Jesus curriculum offers all three as pillars of lessons, which excites my ministerial team.”
Ruthy Batu (Central Papua Conference) said, “Alive in Jesus is a ‘rich’ curriculum that makes the Bible stories come alive. It enhances biblical literacy and provides a pathway for children to make appropriate decisions for baptism.”
“We were challenged to consider what our churches would be like without children’s Sabbath school,” reflected Agnes Kola (Papua New Guinea Union Mission). “It struck me that Alive in Jesus is an essential key to the future of our Church.”
“For us in the Trans Pacific Union Mission,” said Loleth Worwor, “our children will be led to become vibrant disciples of Jesus through the Alive in Jesus curriculum with the help of the Holy Spirit.” Tafonga Pita (TPUM) added, “Nina’s training presentations gave us powerful insight into why we have Sabbath school and how we can bring about growth in grace, character and mission.”
Feedback from parents has already been overwhelmingly positive. In January 2023, five churches in the SPD were included in a global pilot of the curriculum. Data was gathered from around the world to help shape the resources. More than 95 per cent of the 826 global respondents indicated that they really appreciated Alive in Jesus. One parent from the SPD stated, “This new curriculum is beautifully written and illustrated. I love that there is something to read every day.” Another reflected, “There’s so much variety in the activities. The object lessons were fantastic! Having the craft laid out for us was awesome.”
Pastor Uili Mauga (Victoria) says, “I love that this curriculum encourages parents to be involved in their children’s spiritual growth.” Pastor Daron Pratt (Greater Sydney Conference) says, “Alive in Jesus will be a game changer for our kids. We all need to invest in this resource.” Pastor Andrew Olsen (WA) agrees: ”I love the practical, hands-on elements that are included in the Alive in Jesus curriculum.”
You will hear more about this new curriculum in coming months. For now, check out the inspiring overview brochure, video and lesson samples at aliveinjesus.info.
Ask your church pastor, head elder and worship leaders to screen the promotional video for this exciting new curriculum, which is available on the website, during your next Sabbath worship service.
Dr Sven Ostring is the director of ministry and strategy for the South Pacific Division.
]]>Bread
During the last supper, Jesus shared a meal with the disciples before His crucifixion. With rich symbolism from Passover, the unleavened bread represents God’s deliverance of His people. Jesus infused it with more meaning. “And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me’”—Luke 22:19,20.
Wine
Jesus also shared a cup of wine with the disciples during the last supper. “Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom’”
—Matthew 26:27–29.
Cross
A symbol of God’s love for us through the sacrifice of His son.
“So Jesus said, ‘When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him’”—John 8:28,29.
Tree or wood
Other than the cross made of wood, Jesus‘ sacrifice restored our access to eternal life, symbolised by the tree of life which was lost because of Adam and Eve‘s disobedience. “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed”—1 Peter 2:24.
Crown of thorns
Intended to humiliate and degrade, His crown of thorns was the consequence of our sins. “When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, ‘Here is the man!’. As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, ‘Crucify! Crucify!’”—John 19:5,6.
Nails
A stark reminder of the pain Jesus endured for us. “After they had nailed him to the cross, the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice”
—Matthew 27:35 (NLT).
Empty tomb
Jesus conquered death, which meant we could have life. Thank you Lord! “Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow”
—Matthew 28:18–22 (NLT).
Lamb
A pure sacrificial offering, representing Jesus and His act of love for us. “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’”—John 1:29.
Foot washing
An act of humility, love and service which Jesus participated in with His disciples during the last supper. “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you”—John 13:14,15 (ESV).
I’m sure you’ve experienced the calm before a soul-crushing experience. A deadline approaches, bad news is coming. A trail difficult and devastating is before you and you’re not sure where you’ll find the strength for it. Perhaps it’s the funeral of a loved one, a doctor’s appointment to receive test results or a court date. Darkness and fog swirl around the corners of your perception as you fight to put one foot in front of the other or to fight back tears or to fight for breath.
In John’s recounting of events, he—more than any other disciple—puts flesh on the bones of those hours between the ominously named “last” supper and the events of the cross. Many of us find ourselves in those uncertain hours of waiting for the hammer to fall, as Jesus did in the garden and as the disciples did during the dark Sabbath hours. God feels distant or even dead and we don’t know where to find the strength to carry on.
How Jesus spent those hours is informative and, if we meditate here for a moment, possibly even transformative.
Serve others:
Jesus chose this time to wash the feet of His disciples. It was a common practice in a dusty, rural setting to wash your feet before dinner or when coming in from wandering, but Jesus took it upon Himself to wash everyone else. If you or I knew we were about to face what He did, we might be a bit self-absorbed, wrapped up in our own thoughts, eager to skip the service aspect. Let everyone deal with themselves, we might think. We’ve got to prepare what we’re going to say at this important dinner. But no. To Jesus, this was important, serving others even in the shadow of death. “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him” (John 13:15,16).
Pray for others:
The worst challenges in my life usually bring me to my knees. My prayers are more regular and seem more desperate when things are not going well. Just before an important decision or after a disheartening disappointment, I’m seeking wisdom, answers and help. Yes, Jesus prays for Himself, but only that God will be glorified through Him. He spends much more of His time praying for others, first for His disciples and then for all who believe. In His most difficult moments, Jesus prayed for me, that I would be with Him and see His glory (John 17:24). It’s amazing.
Be with others:
Many of us withdraw from others when the going gets tough. Stress and pressure can cause us to isolate from others, a vicious cycle that breeds loneliness and poorer health outcomes. I’m guilty of this myself. I tend to try to carry every heavy load alone. And stress is exacerbated by isolation. Jesus did spend time in His last moments alone but He also made sure He was surrounded by His closest friends. He urged them to love one another (John 15:12), He encouraged and comforted them (John 14:1–3; 15–30), He prayed for them, ate with them, and even made provisions for His mother to be looked after when He knew He would no longer be able to (John 19:26,27).
Jesus spent His darkest hours with a focus on others. If I live my life with the same focus, perhaps the next time I face trials, I will be better equipped to face them like Jesus did.
]]>If I were to ask you to reconstruct the series of decisions that changed a simple order of tea to a decadent slice of cheesecake and indulgent hot chocolate, would you be able to? Better yet, could you justify it to yourself, were you able to separate your baser urges from your more high-minded health ideals? Chances are, if you were to pose the same question to philosophers, theologians or social scientists, they’d have a range of theories as to why you chose what you chose. Some may point to social conditioning, original sin, your “shadow” or any number of other factors. If, on the other hand, you were to ask professor of biology and neurology Robert Sapolsky, he’d tell you that you didn’t have a choice at all. He’d say that everything you’ve ever done or ever will do has already been set in stone and that you’re merely an actor playing a part that’s already been written. If you think I’m being hyperbolic, I’m not. In his book Determined: Life Without Free Will, Sapolsky claims that “all we are is the history of our biology, over which we had no control, and of its interaction with environments, over which we also had no control, creating who we are in the moment”. Try printing that on a t-shirt. I don’t think you’d sell many. Which decisions, he asks, are not influenced by your parentage, ancestry, the weather, your health, politics, plus about a million other tiny factors. “Find me the neuron,” he demands, “that had an action potential for no reason, where no neuron spoke to it just before.”1 In other words, what part of a person’s brain contains the potential to act independent of any previous experience, influence or suggestion? Every newborn giraffe, every lover’s kiss, every earthquake, every political assassination—every single act of change is brought about by factors outside the control of both humans and nature. Like a clock wound by invisible hands, everything has been, well, determined.
As a Christian and Arminian, the concept of free will is incredibly important to me. That you and I are free to choose how we live our lives—and faith—is fundamental to my faith, as well as the faith of millions. The notion that we are mere products of our biology, ancestry and environment is likely a bridge too far for most believers. Curiously, Sapolsky doesn’t engage the theological perspective in Determined. That is, aside from a small footnote in the first chapter where he lists several tired theories on God and the nature of His agency in the universe. Outside the book, I’ve heard him trot out the familiar arguments against religion. Namely, that religious affiliation is largely geographical. In other words, you’re more likely to be Evangelical Christian if you were born in Lebanon, Kentucky, and more likely to be Muslim if you were born in Beirut, Lebanon (sadly, there’s no Kentucky in Lebanon). It’s a familiar refrain, though it doesn’t consider outliers like immigration or evangelism. It’s tempting, as a Christian, to simply dismiss Sapolsky. After all, how can a secular biologist, in good faith, grapple with theological truths Christians have held for centuries? I’m talking specifically about sin, the satan, the Kingdom of God, atonement and most audaciously, the resurrection of Jesus. However, I think if we entertain the notion of hard determinism, if but for a moment, it may have something to teach us about faith.
To me, the most compelling aspect of Sapolsky’s theory is how our life is affected by a multitude of factors outside our control. From our hereditary, culture, family upbringing, down to our DNA, these all affect any number of positive, and negative, proclivities. Whether you are prone to addiction, or obesity, or anti-establishment thinking, or heart disease, or pessimism; they all come pre-loaded. Your genetic code is just as likely to turn you into a kleptomaniac as it is to give you male pattern baldness. Sorry kid, it’s just your luck of the draw. The biblical writers seemingly agree when they speak of the problem of sin. The prophet Jeremiah famously lamented the nature of the human heart, calling it “deceitful beyond cure” (Jeremiah 17:9). The apostle Paul in the New Testament echoes this by saying, “Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12). Though we aren’t to blame for Adam’s sin, we all share in its consequences. The fate of humanity, seemingly, determined. As Paul says a little later, “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).
And yet, I contend that the way of Jesus upsets the rigidity of hard determinism and invites us into a way of being human that can change even our strongest genetic preconditioning. One chapter after the previous passage in Romans, Paul reflects: “I do not understand my own decisions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate” (Romans 7:15). Sounds like hard determinism to me. I don’t understand why I’m prone to certain behaviours—behaviours that I hate. I’m sure all of us can relate. “Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (7:24,25) The “wages of sin” is death, “But the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
The good news of Jesus is that we don’t have to surrender to our predetermined nature. The sinful body we all live in is destined for death. It is the logical endpoint for all of us if we allow our code, handed down to us from our ancestors, to run the program to its conclusion. Through Jesus, we are not just offered a chance to have our sins forgiven; we are offered the opportunity to re-write our internal code. “And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with him, when he forgave us all our trespasses
. . .” (Colossians 2:13) If hard determinism is all there is to our life’s trajectory, how do we explain Christianity? How can we explain drug addicts never getting another craving when they give their lives to Jesus? How can we explain a young person breaking free from generational dysfunction to become the first person in their family to get a university degree? How can we explain former atheists having such radical transformations that they become devoted Christians? Sapolsky might cynically assert that the latent potential lay within the individual, the individual’s environment and/or the individual’s ancestry to create such a change, even if the potential was invisible to all, including the individual. I’d argue, as many theologians more sophisticated than me also would, that the process of responding to Jesus and becoming a disciple is a much more mysterious, yet nevertheless just as profound, process. As New Testament theologian NT Wright says of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus: “The larger reality is that something has happened within the actual world of space, time, and matter, as a result of which everything is different”.2 The world cannot continue as usual because as a result of Calvary, the world has changed. By extension, the people who follow Jesus have also been changed through the resurrection and now participate in changing the world. I don’t know about you, but that’s the kind of world I want to live in.
1. Robert Sapolsky, Determined: Life Without Free Will. Penguin Random House, 2023, 14.
2. NT Wright, The Day the Revolution Began. HarperCollins, 2016, 156.
Jesse Herford is the associate editor, Signs of the Times.
]]>The South Pacific Division (SPD) held a re-entry retreat to welcome the missionaries home and help with their reintegration into Australia. Led by mission service and support manager Carol Boehm, the retreat provided a space to thank the missionaries for their service, celebrate what they have achieved, debrief their experiences, equip them for the future and to worship.
According to Mrs Boehm, many missionaries return home and expect to slot back into their old life, but things have changed, friends have moved on and they’ve missed a lot of “life” with their family. She encourages them to see the next chapter as a re-appointment and not a “coming home”, as many find it difficult to pinpoint where “home” is.
“Many people find that re-entry is harder than heading out to service,” said Mrs Boehm. “Reverse culture shock is a real thing.”
Long-time missionaries David and Carol Tasker were among those attending the retreat. The couple is retiring after 50 years of denominational employment, most recently at Pacific Adventist University in Papua New Guinea (PNG) where Carol served as director of research and postgraduate studies and David as the dean of the School of Humanities, Education and Theology.
The other recently returned missionaries were Kaye and Kevin Judge, and Suraj and Gillian Grolimund. The Judges have returned from roles at Sonoma Adventist College in PNG: Kaye as the staff development and quality assurance officer and Kevin as the human resources and student service officer. The Grolimunds were serving at ADRA in Laos: Gillian was the country director and Suraj a project manager. Australian chaplains Allan and Wendy Walshe also attended the retreat.
Mrs Boehm is keen to encourage everyone to remember that we are all called to be missionaries.
“We’re all called to get out of our boat and ‘walk on water’—which of course is only ever possible if our eyes are fixed on Jesus,” she said. “Living a life of service doesn’t need to happen overseas—although it might, and if God calls you there don’t hesitate. But it may mean walking across the street to your neighbour, across the hall to your work colleague or across the country to an old friend or acquaintance. It’s time we embrace all that being a missionary means so we can spread the good news and finally and genuinely go home.”
Currently, there are 26 families serving in the Pacific Islands as International Service employees, from a variety of places including Australia, Africa, Philippines, Indonesia, Myanmar, Alaska and New Zealand.
]]>Dare to Connect with God is the first in the new Dare to Connect series compiled by personal ministries director Pastor Nicu Dumbrava. This book can be used as a personal study journal, small group resource or discussion guide.
The book is a series of devotionals about prayer written by various people from across Australia. Each devotional ends with a series of questions that encourage the reader to go deeper in their spiritual walk with God.
Personal Ministries Director pastor Nicu Dumbrava said, “This book is a call to unity in prayer of faith for every believer as we ‘renew’ the Advent movement in Australia. The beauty of prayer lies in its individuality.”
Pastor Dumbrava explained that everyone has a distinct way of conversing with God, shaped by their circumstances, needs, or messages they wish to convey. “This little book, will encourage them to dive into scripture and explore 13 significant forms of prayer, while highlighting the diverse ways we can connect with God.”
“The story, as told in the book of Acts, speaks of these ‘new’ believers leaving their prayer gathering, driven, and empowered, sharing their message of Jesus far and wide,” Pastor Dumbrava added.
Dare to Connect with God is available to purchase from your local Adventist Book Centre.
]]>A team led by Avondale University’s Scripture, Spirituality and Society Research Centre director Professor Robert McIver developed a Global Adventist Pastors’ Survey. Some 12,760 pastors—more than 40 per cent of those working in the 13 divisions of the worldwide church (and 90 per cent male)—participated. About 300 were from the South Pacific, where a greater percentage are more educated and experienced.
And happy. While the survey showed many pastors find their work isolating and emotionally and physically draining, this is not necessarily so in the South Pacific. Pastors in this division were generally more positive. “Perhaps our members are more likely to befriend their pastors and call them by their first name,” says Ministerial Association Secretary Dr Darius Jankiewicz.
Pastors in the South Pacific also seemed to have made a healthy shift in pastoral priorities. They still report spending most of their time conducting worship but believe they should be training people for mission. This shift coincides with the church in the South Pacific’s emphasis on discipleship, which emphasises the importance of the pastor being a player-coach, with skills to do ministry and education to train members to do ministry and mission.
The shift is an important one because although almost 90 per cent of pastors worldwide reported having enough time for ministry, they wanted more time. “Everyone has opinions on what should be added, but no-one can agree on what should be removed,” reads the report. The researchers note it would be difficult for pastors to work harder, so they will need to “work smarter.” This could include “building the capacity of” and “empowering” members in ministry and mission. Doing so would “make for a healthier pastor,” says Dr Jankiewicz. “Many work far more than their assigned hours, which is making a significant impact on their wellbeing.”
Pastors in a majority of other divisions reported a strong emphasis on conducting worship and administering the local church. Both are institutional tasks. It would appear these divisions are, the researchers write, “still using the earlier model of ministry borrowed from the dominant Protestant denominations in the United States.” The researchers encourage these divisions to review this model and focus the ministry within the church “on the mission beyond the church.”
Answers to a question about activities the church should be doing revealed “Lead people to accept Jesus as their personal Saviour,” “Prepare people for the soon return of Jesus” and “Share the message and teachings of Jesus with the world” as top-ranking goals. Activities that would reduce poverty, disease and ignorance, encourage ethical living and advocate for justice ranked lowest. When asked if any of the listed activities should not be a goal of the church, a significant number of pastors indicated it was not the role of the church to advocate for justice (16.4 per cent worldwide). Supporting this finding? Pastors in the South Pacific reported involvement in the community is at the bottom of a list of 10 ministry roles. Even in an ideal world, they do not rank involvement in the community in their top three roles. Darius thinks this is because the church has emphasised proclaiming a distinctly Adventist message while leaving advocating for justice to other denominations. But, he says, “the proclamation of the Adventist message goes hand-in-hand with advocating for justice.”
Pastor Moe Stiles from Crosswalk Melbourne graduated with a Master of Human Rights this past month. She believes raising awareness of or preventing the exploitation or oppression of others helps us better understand the suffering of Jesus. Advocating for justice is not, she says, “a leftist or political thing to do, it is a Jesus-following thing to do.”
Pastors identified the topics about which they preached most frequently. Three of the five—Salvation through Jesus, Second Coming and Sabbath—are considered essential to Adventist identity and, the researchers write, “differentiates the preaching found in Adventist churches” from “all other Christian denominations.” But the Sanctuary and the Spirit of Prophecy, also considered essential, are among the least frequently preached.
Some responses from pastors in the South Pacific to items about beliefs and practices varied from pastors in other divisions. For example, more of the pastors in the South Pacific strongly disagreed with the statements, “I can only be saved through the Adventist church” and “Following the Adventist health message ensures my salvation.” And more did not accept the statement, “Pastoral ordination limited to males.”
In an encouraging sign, a high percentage of pastors worldwide felt supported by their congregations and leaders. In fact, the report points out that issues identified in secondary literature as potential challenges for pastors “appear to be much less of an issue” for Adventist pastors.
]]>Around 75 people attended the celebration, which started with a focus on the church’s history. Gwen Stevens, a member since 1945, presented a life sketch written by her daughter, church clerk Robyn Stevens.
“She presented this with the help of others whose families have also had a close association with the church over many years,” said Ms Stevens. “There were wonderful testimonies of how God has blessed them and the church.”
Still located at its original site, the church was organised with 17 members on October 27, 1923. In the early years, the church had a close relationship with the Kurri Kurri Hospital. Seventh-day Adventist doctor Henry McMahon, who studied teaching at Avondale and medicine in Melbourne, was passionate about healthcare and education and encouraged Avondale students to study nursing at the local hospital.
The congregation experienced significant growth in the 1950s and ’60s when Dr Allan Hellestrand and his wife Adele, Dr Frank Harrison and Dr Jean Harrison settled in the area and joined the church.
“As our church reached the grand old age of 100 years, some of us can look back and see as many as four or five generations of our families have been part of the growth and fellowship of this church,” said Ms Stevens.
Speaking at the celebration were former North New South Wales Conference president Pastor Adrian Raethel and Kurri Kurri pastor Dr Robert Bolst. Previous pastors also attended the event, including Pastor Wilfred Pascoe, who also took part in the service. Dr Soyhun Eastman and organist Ralph Du Preez provided music.
“Kurri church is still a little church, but it is filled with love, respect and warmth as we gather together each Sabbath,” concluded Ms Stevens.
]]>News editor Juliana Muniz explained the podcast complements Record’s existing news platforms. “We’re always exploring new and effective ways to keep our Adventist community informed and connected. Record Wrap complements our existing news channels—print magazine, website, and weekly email newsletter—by offering an audio option for consuming news. It’s designed our for busy lives, enabling our audience to stay updated and feel closer to our church family, wherever they are.”
Hosted by Mrs Muniz alongside a rotating cast of the Record team, each episode also features an interview that provides deeper insights into the main story of the week. “Record Wrap gives us the opportunity to hear from all the different people directly involved in projects from all corners of our division,” Mrs Muniz added.
Record launched its first podcast in July 2023 with the Record Live Podcast—an audio version of the weekly livestream conversation where editor Jarrod Stackelroth and Signs of the Times associate editor Zanita Fletcher talk about articles that have been in the magazine and interview special guests from areas including theology and social issues.
“Adventist Record is always looking for ways to connect new demographics of people to conversations the church is having. While the print magazine is still a valuable asset, not everyone accesses information through that medium,” said Mr Stackelroth. “Our podcasts give people who prefer to get their information audibly in a chance to connect and help to future proof the ministry by exploring new areas of connectivity with church members and others. We are trying to be in different spaces and places to better serve the whole SPD with Adventist news and views.”
You can subscribe and listen to Record’s podcasts on your favourite podcast platform. Get the main headlines with Record Wrap every Tuesday and listen to new discussions on the Record Live Podcast every Friday. You can also watch Record Live in real time on Wednesdays at 4pm, AEST on YouTube, X (formerly known as Twitter) or Facebook.
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