Adventist Journey

Stories of the Adventist Journey

This monthly magazine has been designed to encourage all of us to follow our Lord on the path that He’s laid before us. While we all have unique experiences in life, as we follow Jesus all our paths merge into His. Keep on His path; and welcome to the Adventist journey.

Adventist Journey Cover - July/August 2025

Adventist Journey 07-08/25

Dr. Pamela D’Souza-David was born into an Adventist family and always “knew” Jesus was there, often praying and connecting with Him. She moved to Hong Kong from India when she was very young and eventually settled in the United States. A self-proclaimed “biology nerd” D’Souza-David thought she would become a pediatrician but a brief conversation with another student had her thinking ophthalmology–which meant harder exams and a major shift. She wasn’t sure what to do until she heard a Sabbath sermon by U.S. Senate Chaplain Barry Black on prayer and prayed. She put in the work, tested, and got a score higher than she had prayed for. But it wasn’t smooth sailing as D’Souza-David joined the workforce and then later attempted to start her own practice while balancing family life and dealing with COVID-19 pandemic closures. D’Souza-David is featured on the cover of the July/August 2025 Adventist Journey magazine.

Adventist Journey 06/25

Bizu Silwal is an Adventist who is passionate about serving as a Nepalese Refugee Ministry leader in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He joined the Adventist Church as an adult after searching for God through a few different paths. Silwal is featured on the cover of the June 2025 Adventist Journey magazine.

More Stories

Adventist Journey 05/25

Southern Adventist University college student Heidi Burke was born into a Seventh-day Adventist Church family and immersed in all the typical activities: Sabbath church attendance, Pathfinders, going to church school. She didn’t really feel like she “belonged” until she went to college and had to advocate for herself as an adult. “Accessibility isn’t something that is just going to happen” was Burke’s takeaway during her first week of college. While she advocates for accessibility at Southern, her mission as an advocate for accessibility will move beyond her campus. Burke is featured on the cover of the May 2025 Adventist Journey magazine.

Mavis Major on AJ Cover

Adventist Journey 04/25

Dr. Mavis Major’s family became Adventist when she was young due to an Ingathering visitor who ended up doing Bible studies with her mom. Her mom was later recruited to work at Oakwood University (then Oakwood College), so the family moved from Delaware to Alabama. Her early years were not easy and Major, a social worker by training, had to learn how to rely on God—and how to forgive herself for not being “perfect.” One of her biggest strengths is compassion for those hurting. Majors is featured on the cover of the April 2025 Adventist Journey magazine.

Adventist Journey 03/25

Richard Green grew up in the church but took a detour in his faith journey in his teen and young adult years. Several people came into his life that inspired him to seek God and service, including an elderly woman, “Grandma,” who inspired him with an “impossible” dream to help an orphanage in Uganda. Living in the mission field now in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, with his family, Green believes that we all have a God-given purpose and he finds joy in serving. Green is featured on the March 2025 Adventist Journey magazine.

Adventist Journey 02/25

Lilian Oketch is a business owner and entrepreneur living in Des Moines, Iowa. Oketch, an immigrant, married at a very young age. After Bible studies, Oketch decided to get baptized. Later, as a mom going through a divorce, she worked a cleaning job to make ends meet. She heard God’s voice while cleaning (and praying) the Adventist church — a clear message that she was to open a cleaning business that would help not only her family, but people in the community. She listened and registered her company in 2018. She employs nine employees. Oketch is featured on the cover of the February 2025 Adventist Journey magazine.

Adventist Journey 01/25

Although Jessica Moon was very involved in the church growing up in Canada, going through an illness in her teen years grew her personal relationship with Jesus and fortified her faith. Seeing God work in her life also helped her stay committed to the goal of becoming a teacher. She and her pastor husband have always accepted God’s call in ministry, even if it meant leaving their home/country. Moon is featured on the cover of the January 2025 Adventist Journey magazine.

Jonathan Calderon standing in front of church

Adventist Journey 12/24

An interview with Jonathan Calderon, elementary school teacher, Kennewick, Washington

Connie Hall in the AJ Cover

Adventist Journey 11/24

Connie Hall was born into an Adventist family with a pastor father and teacher mother. She had a passion for teaching, particularly for helping others learn, and went into education, including a first job working at the YWCA with children. It hasn’t always been easy, but Hall, the Nevada 2023 Teacher of the Year, firmly believes that we cannot walk in our own strength, “you have to walk in the strength of God everyday.” Hall appears on the cover of the November 2024 Adventist Journey magazine.

Heidi Jackson smiling on the cover

Adventist Journey 10/24

Heidi Jackson is the community outreach pastor for the Arlington Seventh-day Adventist Church in Texas. But she wasn’t always a pastor. In fact, not too long ago she was working as a nurse — until she couldn’t ignore the call of God any longer. Jackson is featured on the October 2024 Adventist Journey magazine, and in an article inside.

Ezer Lin-ao

Adventist Journey 09/24

Born into an Adventist family, Ezer Lin-Ao is a nurse living in Arkansas. He is also involved in serving his church, something that started with Lin-Ao when he was young and growing up in the Philippines. His call to ministry, and service, goes back to his literature evangelism days in college. The Lord continued to lead him into nursing. Lin-Ao is featured on the cover of the September 2024 Adventist Journey magazine.

Woman smiling and looking towards the camera in business attire.

Adventist Journey 07-08/24

Nitza Salazar grew up Adventist. As a “troubled teen” her relationship with God really strengthened as she attended an Adventist school — and in her young adult years she was fully committed to serving Him. She didn’t know that would one day involve working with special needs children and creating a program for them and their families to participate in a one-of-a-kind, inclusive Christmas program where the kids could use their talents to shine. Salazar is featured on the July-August 2024 Adventist Journey magazine.