Artificial Intelligence (AI) can now write an article based on a style and topic of your choice that is almost undetectable. The ramifications of this type of technology are enormous.
We have seen a lot more of our faith become digital and virtual in recent years, and AI will surely impact the church and communication. It was tempting to try to understand the technology to test it using this editorial (on an experimental basis, of course), but I’ll stick to the old way for now!
AI is just the latest in a long line of changes that we have seen and will continue to see in our lifetime. The world I was born into is a very different world from the one we inhabit now.
You can probably understand. The Internet has just turned 40 (January 1, 1983).
However, I didn’t have internet at home until high school, and even then it was limited, slow, and dial-up. It was also provided by dad’s work so wasn’t available 24/7, only when he brought his laptop home. The internet has changed the world, just as AI and virtual reality will continue to change it.
Adventist Registrythe magazine of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific Division, and many other Adventist publications have not been immune to these changes.
The old black and white
When I started to Adventist Registry, the magazine was a black-and-white weekly periodical. Since then we have seen Save introduce color, go online, move to a bimonthly publication, move to Adventist Media, and become a cross-platform ministry. Other Adventist publications have followed a similar path.
Reading habits have changed, technology has changed, but people’s need for connection, communication and community has not. Walking into the workplace, I heard about the death of print. Books, magazines and newspapers would be on the way out; the writing was on the wall. Ironically, in ways that perhaps weren’t expected 15 years ago, it was commercial television that nearly died and had to reinvent itself. That’s not to say there aren’t challenges for printing. As I mentioned, reading habits have changed, and even church communications will have to change over time.
But as Adventist members celebrate Records 125th anniversary in 2023, it is worth remembering the contribution the magazine continues to make to the Adventist Church in the South Pacific Division and around the world.
Central Mission
As with other Adventist publications, mission has always been central to Save. If you skim through old magazines, you will quickly realize how important integral mission is to the Adventist Church in the South Pacific, as told in the stories in the magazine.
That hasn’t changed.
Over time I learned that Save and other church publications are only a vehicle to serve people. One of the most important lessons I learned as a Save editor is that people need connection and community.
Disagreement doesn’t have to be the end of the conversation. It takes maturity and sympathy, but we are all created in the image of God and have been called to love one another.
I may not always do things right, but in my job Save editor, I have tried to respond to negative correspondence in a thoughtful and kind manner. I saw the truth in the proverb: “A gentle answer diverts anger.” Fortunately, in the case of Save, not too many people call or write mad about something. However, when they do, I have found that being compassionate and willing to listen – without necessarily agreeing – can often bring reconciliation.
Our human experience is, in many ways, universal. People react when they can relate. The articles that gain the most popularity are those that reflect personal experiences. The news and mission stories we share inspire others to make an impact in their own communities. As the Adventist Church in the South Pacific Division, we can be proud of our investment in maintaining the cohesion and information of our very diverse, multi-ethnic family of churches.
This year we celebrate our Adventist Church in the South Pacific and the impact and contribution Save had. This year we celebrate our history and the legacy of those we follow on mission in our region. Throughout 2023, we will find ways to reflect and appreciate this legacy.
The original version of this comment was posted by Adventist Registry.