Adventist Communicators Get pleasure from a Weekend of Learning, Networking, and Sunny Skies at La Sierra University – North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists

The twenty sixth annual Society of Adventist Communicators (SAC) Convention, held October 16-18, 2025, at La Sierra University, introduced collectively greater than 225 communication professionals, college students, educators, and church leaders from throughout the North American Division. Under Southern California blue skies and virtually too-good-to-be-true climate, the gathering served as a hub for skilled improvement, inspiration, networking, and collaboration.

The occasion kicked off Thursday afternoon with the opening common session held within the Hole Memorial Auditorium. Attendees had been warmly welcomed by Christon Arthur, president of La Sierra, who supplied a particular message for communicators. Current NAD communication director Kimberly Luste Maran interviewed Bryant Taylor, Southern Union Conference communication director and authentic TechTalk professional and host. Taylor shared how the concept happened with former NAD communication director George Johnson Jr., and media producer Chip Dizard.

Emcees Courtney Herod, affiliate director of communication for the Carolina Conference and SAC vp for communication, and communication skilled and award-winning filmmaker/producer Rachel “Rynn” Scribner launched the varied segments and audio system, together with Merlinda Balmas, Warner Bros. international and worldwide model partnerships administration, and Tanya R. Cochran, Ph.D., professor of English and communication at Union Adventist University.

The night concluded on the Zapara School of Business with a “Meet the Firms” job truthful, a partnership between La Sierra University and SAC. Though primarily geared towards college students and native job seekers, with the addition of SAC exhibitors, the truthful gave all attendees a possibility to community. 

The opening reception included a catered pasta and pizza dinner from a neighborhood Italian restaurant that arrange its wood-burning ovens proper outdoors the Troesh Conference Center on the School of Business. The relaxed outside ambiance inspired connection amongst longtime colleagues and first-time contributors alike. During his welcoming remarks, John Thomas, dean of the Zapara School of Business, emphasised the significance of constructing relationships as a key to skilled and private success. 

Over the next days, attendees participated in a spread of breakout classes protecting social-media technique, podcasting, branding, pictures, media relations, and digital storytelling. Friday’s actions opened with the favored TechTalk, and a keynote tackle by speaker and guide Seth Yelorda, who spoke on tips on how to lead with readability.

Yelorda emphasised the significance of clear, correct communication to keep away from confusion and encourage purposeful motion, and the necessity for communication professionals to replicate on and outline their core goal — their “true north” — to information their work.

“At my core, I want others to know that I helped people recognize that they are created for purpose and called by God,” Yelorda mentioned about his personal “true north.”

A brand new ingredient in 2025 was the Advanced Practice Track (APT), open by registration solely to directors and communication administrators employed by the church, that goes past primary communications to cowl weightier subjects. The idea for this pilot was launched by the Pacific Union Conference, and Ray Tetz, director of communication and neighborhood engagement for the union, alongside together with his staff, supplied not solely the framework but additionally many particular contributors, together with union and native convention management. Of word, Arthur, and Pacific Union president Brad Newton and govt secretary Sandra Roberts, participated in one of many panels. 

The first of the three APT classes lined the RESPECT Index, which is a framework for constructing belief, readability, and impression. The second session provided a candid have a look at how communicators and administration can collaborate extra successfully, particularly throughout high-pressure conditions. Finally, the third session, with church employed attorneys, lined the legalities and moral issues surrounding rising applied sciences, specifically synthetic intelligence, and their impression on communication throughout the church.  Among the important thing takeaways from these classes is that communicators play an important position in serving to leaders refine and focus their messaging and making certain that statements align with the group’s mission and imaginative and prescient. Communication administrators acquire credibility once they exhibit competence, particularly once they provide directors contemporary, professional views. 

In the rising know-how session, it was famous that institutional insurance policies will probably change into commonplace as AI affect expands.“For a church who believes it won’t be deceived, we’re gullible,” mentioned one of many contributors, relating to AI’s energy to blur fact and actuality. Ultimately, the session framed know-how not as a menace however as a instrument for use properly. Understanding each its limits and its promise permits communicators to serve the mission with discernment and integrity.

There had been quite a few different classes taking place concurrently on subjects corresponding to social media, podcasting, and pictures, all introduced by specialists. 

“The photography workshop opened doors for me in relation to technical execution in things like flash photography and strobe lighting,” mentioned Jacob Capiña, a pupil double majoring in movie and multimedia communication at Pacific Union College, who attended Ronald Pollard’s two-part pictures seminar. “It also provided me with the psychological framework to approach photography; the ability to communicate a story and capture someone’s moments so they can look back on it for generations to come.” 

In between classes, contributors loved La Sierra’s campus and delicate autumn climate, together with visits to the on-campus Museum of Natural History, the Bandstater Art Gallery, and the Center for Near Eastern Archeology. 

Friday afternoon, going into Sabbath, attendees loved an outside vegetarian taco dinner catered by a neighborhood Mexican meals cafe earlier than heading into the convention heart to start the Festival of the Sabbath, sponsored by the Pacific Union Conference. The focus of Friday and Sabbath providers was Sabbath itself and what it means for humanity. 

The Friday night program, which additionally drew a couple of neighborhood members, included a  sermon by Kendra Haloviak Valentine, who at the moment serves as professor of New Testament research within the H.M.S. Richards Divinity School at La Sierra University. 

In his Sabbath morning tackle, Sigve Tonstad, assistant professor, medication, and analysis professor in theological research at Loma Linda University, inspired attendees to view Sabbath not a lot as a commandment but additionally a dedication and memorial; a memorial not within the sense that Jesus is gone however as a reminder that He is current. 

“We create memorials for those who are not with us anymore, for those who are absent. … And that doesn’t work for the Sabbath. If the Sabbath actually connotes presence, that He is here, He is not absent,” Tonstad mentioned. 

The weekend culminated on Saturday night with the annual SAC awards banquet, recognizing each pupil {and professional} communicators for excellence in writing, design, video, and digital media. Honorees had been celebrated for creativity, technical talent, and dedication to advancing mission-driven storytelling.

The awards ceremony concluded with the presentation of the SAC Lifetime Achievement Award to Tetz for his vital contributions and impression on the earth of Adventist communication.

Before presenting Tetz with the award, a number of people shared their ideas on the impression his mentorship and management meant to them, together with Julio Muñoz, affiliate communication director for the North American Division; Alberto Valenzuela, affiliate director of neighborhood engagement and communication for the Pacific Union and editor of the Recorder, and Connie Vandeman Jeffery, affiliate director and host of “All God’s People.” 

The night’s tackle was given by Kevin Lampe, co-founder of Kurth Lampe Worldwide, a strategic communication agency. One of his notable profession highlights is working with then-Senator Barack Obama in 2004, making ready him for what would change into a pivotal keynote tackle. Lampe’s tackle targeted on the ability of claiming “yes.”

“Every one of us is here because of a series of ‘yeses’ that we have said throughout our lives. Maybe you said yes to an education, yes to your faith, yes to working in a field that sometimes nobody else wants to work in,” he mentioned. 

Lampe then famous that he was the place he was due to saying sure to a number of life-changing alternatives, simply as Obama mentioned sure to delivering the keynote tackle that will finally change the course of his life. 

“[In the future], you’ll be asked so many questions, and you’ll think to yourself, can I really do this? Am I talented enough? Am I capable? And, can this make a difference?” Lampe mentioned. “I know you will pray and seek guidance. And I know that guidance is going to take you to a place where you say yes, and you can change the world.”

The weekend concluded with attendees heading again to their respective mission fields, armed with actionable data to strengthen communication packages, in addition to new and renewed skilled friendships and ministry partnerships.

Reflecting on the occasion, Maran, who can be govt director for SAC, mentioned, “We were pleased to provide inspirational general sessions, informative and educational workshops, unique worship programs, local media tours and rich networking opportunities. We’ve received lots of positive feedback.” 

She added, “I am very thankful for the hard work of the NAD communication, event management, professional services, Adventist Learning Community, and production services teams , the SAC board, the Pacific Union Conference, and La Sierra University. I am grateful for God’s leading as we leaned on Him in order to create a program that not only honors our calling as we serve Him through our communication roles, but also encompasses our enduring theme: Purpose. Passion. Partnership.”

Maran additionally shared insights on how communicators can steadiness the technical aspect of communication with the religious aspect, corresponding to fact, mission, and character. 

“We have a wonderful message for the world, centered on Christ and our distinctive, biblically-based Adventist beliefs. Marrying strong communication strategy and implementation with our faith and mission means that we should be able to unmistakably deliver that message,” she mentioned. “The balance lies in not forgetting the mission and message while using the appropriate technology to deliver that message in an attractive manner.”

Cynthia Mendoza is a former journalist and freelance author in Southern California. She holds a Bachelor of Arts diploma in Liberal Arts with an emphasis in writing and communication from La Sierra University.

Best Student Print Design: “Highway 66” — Robert Tan, La Sierra University

Best Student Design Campaign: “APIC Brand Campaign 2024–2025” — Kevin Gabriel, Walla Walla University

Best Student Website Design: “Portfolio Website” — Olivia Genobaga, La Sierra University

Best Student Interactive Design: “Modern Makers Mart (App)” — Robert Tan, La Sierra University

Best Student Journalistic Photography: “Erton Köhler, GC President, gifts Ted N. C. Wilson, former GC President, a Bible” — Nathaniel Reid, Andrews University

Best Student Fine Art Photography: “Object of Desire” — Katherine McConnell, Southern Adventist University

Best Student Newspaper: The Chronicle — Emma Mowat and Emmanuel Olivier-Jacques, with author Teresa Bruce, Burman University

Best Student News Writing: “Bracelet Ban, Sabbath Rules, and a Crop Top Stop: Where Is Oakwood’s New President Leading the Campus” — Andrew Francis, Andrews University

Best Student Long-Form Feature Writing: “Faith-7” — Sarah-Marie Scale, Arthur Voaden Secondary School

Best Student Short-Form Feature Writing: “Extra to My Ordinary” — Mikey Ayala, Andrews University

Best Student Audio Podcast: “Reel Talk” — Claudius Emilaire, Andrew Francis, Lia Glass, Melissa Moore, and Ysa Dennis, Andrews University

Best Student Web Video: “Seventy-Five Cents” — Pax Fordham, Hannah Browning, McKenna Cameron, Lexus Ward, and Jordan Braithwaite, Oakwood University

Best Student Short Feature Video: “InsiderNews – Alumni Weekend 2025 with Nate Taylor” —Stebenson Pierre, Nylah DeMar-Jones, Gabriella Belcher, Tianna Liburd, Daniel Johnson, Kevin Velasquez, Kyle Petit, and Joshua Simpson, Oakwood University

Best Professional Design Campaign: “Dakota Adventist Academy Today: A Comprehensive Picture” — Jodi Dossenko, Vernon Herholdt, and Lynnette Struntz, Dakota Conference

Best Professional Interactive Design: “Peninsula Library Friends Foundation Website & Logo Design” — Terrill Thomas

Best Professional Print Design: “Expedition Bible Guides” — Kyle Warren, Kenneth Mayr, and Anya Kinsley, Voice of Prophecy

Best AI-Generated Religious Illustration: “Christ’s Wisdom Ways of Reaching Others” — Rebecca Carpenter, Carolina Conference

Best Professional Journalistic Photography: “50501 Protests – Nashville, TN” — Xander Ordinola, Kentucky-Tennessee Conference

Best Professional Fine Art Photography: “Throwback into the 70s” — Cole Mattox, Pax Fordham, and Jaiyden Elliott

Best Professional Audio Podcast: “Ministry Insights from SermonView: Imposter Syndrome” — Larry Witzel, Khari Dixon, and Gregory Boney, SermonView

Best Professional Video Podcast: “Ministry Insights from SermonView: Multi-touch Marketing for Evangelism” — Larry Witzel, Khari Dixon, and Gregory Boney, SermonView

Best Professional Short Feature Video: “Officers Combined Report” — Michelle Noland, Southern California Conference

Best Professional Web Video: “OU Alumni Weekend Promo Video” — Jonathan Johnson, Richard Hodnett, and Dwyane Cheddar, Oakwood University

Best Long-Form Feature Writing: “The Weight We Bear: A Journey Through Grief and Faith” — Christina Norris (author) and Irisene Douce (editor), Southern Union Conference

Best Short-Form Feature Writing: “Peer Pressure and FOMO” — Laura Machado, LCPC, Potomac Conference

Best News Writing: “Gunman Targets Feather River Adventist School, Wounds Two Students” —Natalie Bruzon, Spectrum Magazine

Reger Smith Cutting Edge Award: “Officers Combined Report” — Southern California Conference

Award of Excellence: “The Weight We Bear: A Journey Through Grief and Faith” — Christina Norris and Irisene Douce

Student of the Year: Sweetheart Salevao, La Sierra University

Young Professional of the Year: Heber Sorto, Texas Conference

Lifetime Achievement Award: Ray Tetz, Pacific Union Conference