Adventist Voices by Spectrum: The Journal of the Adventist Forum

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.