I grew up on missionary campuses, mostly in Asia, even though my family was from Europe. One or both of my parents had always worked for the church, and for the most part, they loved it. I loved it too. Life felt like an adventure—full of community, faith, and a sense of purpose. I was always a natural skeptic, but I believed—and still believe—in the Adventist message. I felt like my best self in that environment.
Then, everything changed.
Due to political machinations far beyond my 11-year-old control, both of my parents lost their jobs. For a year, we struggled—traveling the world, trying to find a foothold again. Eventually things settled, and we ended up back in the West at another church institution.
That year rattled me. I lost faith—not in God, but in the institution itself. I saw the politics, the human flaws behind what we often present as a godly ideal. And yet, my faith didn’t break. It matured. It became more my own.
This is part of why I created BarelyAdventist decades later. This blog, this page, this small corner of the internet is my way of staying connected to the church I love while being honest about the reality of human institutions. It’s my way of saying you can serve, contribute, and grow in faith without being consumed by institutional politics.
A tent-making approach, if you will—living your calling, supporting the mission, but staying true to your conscience.
Thank you for being part of this community. I hope this can be a space where faith and honesty coexist, and where we can wrestle together with what it really means to be Adventist in today’s world.
❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️
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