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Alva Johnson – Let’s Dig Deeper

Sitting in the nosebleed section of the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, Missouri, my eyes panned the spectacular pageantry below. Nationals from across the globe decked in traditional garb. Colorful flags floating gracefully across the stage. Faces beaming with pride for church and country.

For attendees of the 2005 General Conference Session of Seventh-day Adventists, it was the moment that we had all been waiting for – a Parade of Nations to celebrate Adventism’s global diversity, and we were not disappointed.

From Panama to Papua New Guinea, Mongolia to Mozambique, Nigeria to New Zealand, representatives from each of the denomination’s 13 divisions paraded on stage to much pomp and circumstance, as compatriots in the bleachers cheered enthusiastically for their countries.

However, no group shouted louder than Seventh-day Adventists from the English- and French-speaking Caribbean, who let out a collective roar when Jamaica, Haiti and Guyana were called. That is when my eyes first opened to the true impact of Adventism in the Caribbean basin, the region of the denomination’s greatest success, according to some experts.

I am a fourth generation Adventist, with roots in Nevis and Antigua, where my great-great grandparents were among the first on their islands to embrace the Adventist faith. I am also a curious journalist who has written extensively about race, demographics and Caribbean culture over the decades.

I witnessed the demographic changes within the Adventist denomination first-hand, and I have long wanted to document them in a way that enhances the discussion about race, not only in the church but also in America generally.
Now, as an assistant professor at Southern Adventist University, I have the privilege of conducting this research with an amazing group of students.

Through “Investigating Diversity: Exploring Race, Gender and Unity in the Adventist Church,” we begin that journey

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Kiaya Simone – Pushing the Conversation

Hi! I am Kiaya Robertson. However, per my byline, I go by Kiaya Simone. I am 19 years old and was born in the beautiful city of Atlanta, Georgia. I, along with my younger brother, was raised in a home of two loving parents.

My mother originally grew up as a Seventh-day Adventist and is now non-denominational, while my father grew up Baptist and now identifies as non-denominational as well.

I am a broadcast journalism major and a political science minor. My ultimate goal is to become a news anchor, international correspondent, or political correspondent for a broadcast company.

Some things that I enjoy doing in my free time are reading memoirs and any kind of fiction, singing, writing, listening to and discovering new music. I also enjoy swimming competitively.

As a communication major and practicing Adventist, I recognize how paramount it is to bring forth a balanced perspective when focusing on community and church. I believe that the Lord wants us to join in harmony, reason with one another, and shed light on how differently we think while making an effort to understand each other. There are so many different people around the globe that identify themselves as Adventist and really want to be a part of the church community.

I believe many members want to see a reflection of themselves in culture. They want to understand why diversity in age, gender, and ethnic background is crucial to our religious practice. I feel that with this platform, I have an opportunity to help bridge that gap, or at least start pushing the conversation.

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Natalia Perez – Complex Identity in a Complex Church

Hello! My name is Natalia Perez. I grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts, and ventured down to the adorable little city of Chattanooga, Tennessee, to pursue a writing degree.

Growing up amid Puerto Rican and Dominican cultures, my parents have fueled my rich background. Since I was raised in a bubble of Latinos for the greater part of my years at home, I didn’t really become culturally aware until I moved down South, where people, including my own people, question my ethnicity often and seem surprised when I speak Spanish fluently.

This forced me into cultural self-discovery, a switch between not only identifying as a Latina, but an Afro-Latina, a Latin American woman with prominent Afrocentric features.

Aside from my complex racial identity, I’m a passionate journalist and a second-generation Adventist who’s still discovering tons about race, gender, ethnic/people groups and how we all come together to make one church.

Understanding a diverse community is wonderful and necessary for our growth as a church. With our blog, we hope to intentionally raise awareness about the diversity within our people groups, our cultural backgrounds, and our stories.

Let’s navigate together.