Adventist Stories

Aren was recently invited on the popular Adventist podcast Seeking What They Sought to talk about Adventist Stories. Why this show matters, and why honest storytelling is an important way forward for the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. We thought you might enjoy the conversation.

Check out Seeking What They Sought for more great podcast episodes, or watch their episodes on their YouTube channel.

To learn more, including guest profiles and episode transcripts, visit our website adventiststories.buzzsprout.com, or follow us on Instagram @AdventistStories. Thank you to Blue Dot Sessions, Stellwagon Symphonette, the Pacific Union Conference, and Growing Young Leaders. Please subscribe to our show and leave a rating and review to help us reach more people. We appreciate your support.

We are making a bold request: 5-10 minutes of your time to give feedback on season one. It would really help us out. Also, everyone who completes the survey enters a random drawing where three winners will receive $100 gift cards. But we know you'd do it simply out of the goodness of your heart.

Season One Survey Link

In order to enter, you must have listened to a minimum of four episodes in full and submit by the September 1 deadline. Limit one entry per person. We also would love you to give a rating and review on your podcast platform.

To learn more, including guest profiles and episode transcripts, visit our website adventiststories.buzzsprout.com, or follow us on Instagram @AdventistStories. Thank you to Blue Dot Sessions, Stellwagon Symphonette, the Pacific Union Conference, and Growing Young Leaders. Please subscribe to our show and leave a rating and review to help us reach more people. We appreciate your support.

Stories of Adventist youth pastors that travel through time.

• "Father's Day" - When Benji was starting out in his career, he had a confrontation with a student he's never forgotten. Now, years later, we get the full story--plus a little more. (11 mins)
• "Faife'au" - For our final story in Season 1, we hand the mic over to somebody else. He takes us on a weeklong journey that goes behind-the-scenes, on the stage, in front of the camera, and everything in between. (50 minutes)

To learn more, including guest profiles and episode transcripts, visit our website adventiststories.buzzsprout.com, or follow us on Instagram @AdventistStories. Thank you to Blue Dot Sessions, Stellwagon Symphonette, the Pacific Union Conference, and Growing Young Leaders. Please subscribe to our show and leave a rating and review to help us reach more people. We appreciate your support.

Stories of Adventists feeling socially self-conscious.

• "The Fumble" - When Aren was new to Adventism, he did something after school one day that he's never gotten over. Which leads to another question: what about the person he did it to? (7 minutes)
• "Adventist Embarrassment" - A collection of embarrassing stories, from school to church to children's choir, and how each person decided to respond in their moment of shame. (22 minutes)

To learn more, including guest profiles and episode transcripts, visit our website adventiststories.buzzsprout.com, or follow us on Instagram @AdventistStories. Thank you to Blue Dot Sessions, Stellwagon Symphonette, the Pacific Union Conference, and Growing Young Leaders. Please subscribe to our show and leave a rating and review to help us reach more people. We appreciate your support.

Stories of younger generations speaking directly to the Adventist Church.

• "Dreams and Hopes" - Last year Pastor Aren tried something new, unsure of how it'd go. What resulted were some of the most insightful and profound words he'd ever heard from Gen Z teenagers. (7 minutes)
• "Dear Church" - Carla became a record setting athlete in both academy and college. She continued to excel as an adult, until one tragic night changed everything. The story of one of Adventism's greatest competitors discovering how strong she and her community truly are. (29 minutes)

Warning: Today's episode includes description of a violent act, starting at the 21:13 mark. Carla describes the moment she was the victim of a drive-by shooting. Take caution in deciding whether to listen.

You can find more episodes of Dear Church on both Apple and Spotify.

To learn more, including guest profiles and episode transcripts, visit our website adventiststories.buzzsprout.com, or follow us on Instagram @AdventistStories. Thank you to Blue Dot Sessions, Stellwagon Symphonette, the Pacific Union Conference, and Growing Young Leaders. Please subscribe to our show and leave a rating and review to help us reach more people. We appreciate your support.

Stories from the school year, told by those who know it best.

• "Keep in Step" - Se Bin began the school year the same way as always: decorating her classroom. But an accident caught on camera made the start to this year anything but normal. (7 minutes)
• "Back to School" - A lot can happen in a school year. We sit down with some of the experts to hear their favorite moments, what they've learned, and how they've changed over the past ten months. (23 minutes)

Photos from our classroom interviews will be posted on our Instagram page.

To learn more, including guest profiles and episode transcripts, visit our website adventiststories.buzzsprout.com, or follow us on Instagram @AdventistStories. Thank you to Blue Dot Sessions, Stellwagon Symphonette, the Pacific Union Conference, and Growing Young Leaders. Please subscribe to our show and leave a rating and review to help us reach more people. We appreciate your support.

Stories of Adventist women changing the outcome.

• "Over Under" - When he was in college, Adam and his friends came up with an idea for a tournament that was never going to happen. Now, as a professional, Adam decided to give it a try. (9 minutes)
• "In Bloom" - The experience of teenage girls in the Adventist Church varies widely. To some, it's something that deserves a fresh start. The story of one teen girl who became a leader that wanted to create a new opportunity--and the team who eagerly surrounded her. (30 minutes)

To learn more, including guest profiles and episode transcripts, visit our website adventiststories.buzzsprout.com, or follow us on Instagram @AdventistStories. Thank you to Blue Dot Sessions, Stellwagon Symphonette, the Pacific Union Conference, and Growing Young Leaders. Please subscribe to our show and leave a rating and review to help us reach more people. We appreciate your support.

Stories of Adventist endurance in the great outdoors.

• "Winning Streak" - Krista was a nurse with two young children who felt like her life was on fire. On December 31, 2019, she decided to do something about it. What resulted was not what she expected. (7 minutes)
• "Believe The Promise" - After two decades as an Adventist, including 13 years as a pastor, there was one church tradition Aren had still never tried. Then came 2024. He takes us along for a week unlike any he's ever experienced. (31 minutes)

To learn more, including guest profiles and episode transcripts, visit our website adventiststories.buzzsprout.com, or follow us on Instagram @AdventistStories. Thank you to Blue Dot Sessions, Stellwagon Symphonette, the Pacific Union Conference, and Growing Young Leaders. Please subscribe to our show and leave a rating and review to help us reach more people. We appreciate your support.

Stories of lifelong Adventist educators who go the extra mile.

• "The Boys" - Even after decades of teaching, Denine Matsuda was  terrified by what she saw headed for her classroom. She shares her fight for survival. (8 minutes)
• "The Call" - When Aren was 12 he was sent to a strange new school. The night before his first day, something happened that altered that experience, and possibly the rest of his life. He now searches for answers as an adult. (20 minutes)

To learn more, including guest profiles and episode transcripts, visit our website adventiststories.buzzsprout.com, or follow us on Instagram @AdventistStories. Thank you to Blue Dot Sessions, Stellwagon Symphonette, the Pacific Union Conference, and Growing Young Leaders. Please subscribe to our show and leave a rating and review to help us reach more people. We appreciate your support.

Stories of how we invite young people into Adventist church leadership.

• "Just Be" - When he was in college, Pastor Ben Amoah had an idea. It did not go as he planned. Now, years later, he knows who to blame. (6 minutes)
• "A Very Special Person" - Buried deep in the depths of the internet lies a piece of hidden Adventist treasure. The journey to learn more about it may be buried even deeper. Aren tries anyway, and discovers more than he was searching for. (27 minutes)

To learn more, including guest profiles and episode transcripts, visit our website adventiststories.buzzsprout.com, or follow us on Instagram @AdventistStories. Thank you to Blue Dot Sessions, Stellwagon Symphonette, the Pacific Union Conference, and Growing Young Leaders. Please subscribe to our show and leave a rating and review to help us reach more people. We appreciate your support.