Content Creators Challenged To See Themselves As Ministers On A Mission
Glowsticks were used as a reminder that to shine bright, sometimes you have to be a little bit broken at Creator Summit. [Photo: Adventist News Network]
Participants leave with renewed sense of purpose and vision for OneVoice27.
As the Creator Summit concluded, participants said they were returning home with renewed purpose, stronger global connections, and a clearer vision for using digital platforms to advance the church’s mission in their local contexts.
For Josué Benjamín Rosario, a 22-year-old content creator from Mexico City, Mexico, the summit reaffirmed that every piece of content should ultimately point people to Christ.
Josué Benjamín Rosario from Mexico said Creator Summit gave him confidence that the Church values digital ministry and wants to inspire young people in Mexico to share the Adventist message. [Photo: Libna Stevens/IAD]
“I think I should talk more about Jesus—more Christ-centered,” Rosario said. “Now all my topics have to be around Jesus.”
He said the experience also gave him confidence that the church values digital ministry and inspired him to encourage more young creators in Mexico to intentionally share the Adventist message through social media.
From Norway, podcast creator Kristen Hverdags said one of the summit’s greatest blessings was discovering a worldwide community of Adventist creators who share the same mission.
“I felt at home,” she said. “I met people who do the same things I do, who have the same struggles, and we could learn from each other.”
Kristen Hervdags is a podcast creator from Norway who discovered a worldwide community through Creator Summit. [Photo: Libna Stevens/IAD]
She said the experience strengthened her resolve to mentor young creators in Norway and encourage them to use their gifts to reach others with hope.
For Sofia Balogh, a 15-year-old content creator from Brazil, the summit confirmed that God can use young people to influence their generation.
Chosen among a group of influencers from South American Division, Balogh said she left encouraged by the relationships she built with creators from around the world and reminded that ministry begins by listening to God’s voice.
“I think the first calling that we have is to listen,” Balogh said. “Then we can continue and do the work and do everything that He needs us to do—to be His voice.”
Sofia Balogh from Brazil was encouraged by the relationships she built at Creator Summit. [Photo: Keila Trejo/IAD]
She also embraced the vision of the OneVoice27 initiative, saying that everyone, not only digital influencers, has a responsibility to share Jesus. “If you have a phone, then do it with it,” she said. “We really need to move.”
In Germany, Manuel Füllgrabe, recently began leading a digital church for people disconnected from traditional congregations. He said the summit broadened his understanding of digital mission and the importance of collaboration among creators.
“What I’m definitely taking away with me is the idea behind OneVoice27, unity and cohesion in diversity,” Füllgrabe said.
He plans to encourage greater cooperation among German-speaking Adventist communicators and help creators see digital media as an essential mission field rather than a secondary ministry.
Manuel Fullgrabe is a pastor from Germany who learned skills to grow his digital church. [Photo: Libna Stevens/IAD]
“We have to explore new media. We can’t stay stuck,” he said. “We have to reach out. Because that’s where people are.”
For Sang-jin Han, a video producer from Seoul, South Korea, the summit offered a new perspective on digital evangelism in a culture where few Adventists openly create faith-based content online.
“Attending the Creator Summit made me realize just how diverse the creator space really is around the world,” Han said.
Inspired by creators from other divisions, Han said he hopes to help build a community of Adventist content creators in Korea while encouraging young people not to be afraid to publicly share their faith.
Sang-Jin Han is a video producer from Korea who wants to encourage faith-based content creation after Creator Summit. [Photo: Libna Stevens/IAD]
“At first I was afraid to show my face online,” he admitted. “But after being here, I totally changed my mind.”
Han plans to begin by launching pilot initiatives through his local church and working with church leaders to identify and equip a new generation of Korean creators.
On the last day of the summit, General Conference president Erton Köhler encouraged participants to leave with a renewed commitment to use their creative gifts in advancing the church’s mission, reminding them that their influence extends far beyond social media.
“If we start to share the things we live—our convictions, Jesus, OneVoice27—we can’t imagine how many people can be reached,” Köhler said.
Participants left Creator Summit with renewed hope and passion for creating faith-based content. [Photo: George Nelson]
He also reminded creators that they are part of a worldwide church family united by a common purpose despite its cultural diversity.
“I prefer to see our denomination not as a denomination, but as a family. We have the same Father, the same homeland, the same message, the same hope, and the same mission,” he said, encouraging attendees to preserve the spirit of unity they experienced throughout the summit. “We are different, but we have the same goal, the same objective, the same Father. We are family.”
Köhler thanked the participants for dedicating their talents to God’s work, assuring them that their ministry is valued by both the church and God.
“You are important for the church. We need you. Your voice is important—not only for the church, but for God,” he said.
Creator Summit content creators were encouraged to remember that the church is more than a denomination. It’s a family. [Photo: George Nelson]
As creators prepared to return to their home territories, he challenged them to remember that their calling is rooted in Christ rather than in an institution.
“Leave this place with a sense of belonging. You belong to the Lord, and you belong to a cause that’s much bigger than a building or a meeting like this,” Köhler said.
He also reaffirmed the vision behind the General Conference’s OneVoice27 initiative, describing it as an invitation for every church member to participate in proclaiming the gospel through every available communication platform.
“OneVoice27 is a mission for all,” he said. “Literature, social media, television, radio, internet—everything is to be used for the mission.” He urged creators to help promote the initiative by encouraging others to become involved. “Please help announce it, invite others, communicate it. We have something that everyone can be part of because One Voice is mission for all.”
Adventist content creators from the Inter-American Division were able to connect and find encouragement together. [Photo: George Nelson/IAD]
Concluding his remarks, Köhler reminded attendees that their creativity is ultimately a gift from God and encouraged them to faithfully use it in service to others.
“Your gifts came from the Lord. Return them to the Lord,” he said before closing with the promise of 2 Chronicles 15:7: “Be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.”
General Conference communication director, Alyssa Truman echoed the president’s sentiments, challenging participants to view their digital platforms as an extension of ministry and to embrace their role in sharing the gospel online.
Truman reminded attendees that each creator has been entrusted with a unique voice and audience.
“You have a language. You have a responsibility because God gave you that language to share with a dying world the hope that you have in Jesus,” she said.
General Conference communication director Alyssa Truman encouraged participants to see themselves as content creators and ministers. [Photo: George Nelson]
Referring to the church’s global evangelistic emphasis leading up to 2027, she urged participants not to miss the opportunity to use digital media to reach others with the message of Christ.
“September 2027 is coming. The world will not be quiet. Either we miss the chance, or we do something about it,” Truman said.
Building on the previous day’s presentations, Truman encouraged attendees to distinguish between their profession and their mission, reminding them that success as creators should never overshadow their calling as disciples.
“How many of you have confused your mission with your goal? God is calling you to something greater,” she said.
Although Creator Summit officially ended on Thursday, a Friday night vespers and Sabbath worship service were provided to those staying through the weekend. [Photo: George Nelson/IAD]
Her strongest appeal came as she challenged participants to see themselves as ministers in the digital space rather than simply social media personalities.
“You’re not just a content creator—you’re a digital pastor. Preach, teach, baptize. That is what you’ve been called to do,” Truman said. “‘Go ye therefore and teach all nations’ was not just for pastors. That was for each and every person who calls himself a believer in Jesus.”
She concluded by encouraging creators to faithfully use their talents, identify the audiences God has entrusted to them, and begin intentionally sharing the gospel through their digital platforms.
“Use the gifts. Use the talents. Find your unique niche. Don’t hold back. Go all in because that is what the Lord requires from us,” she said.
Jarrod Stackelroth led Friday night vespers with a discussion on the importance of storytelling, describing how testimonies can heal and help others. [Photo: George Nelson]
While the program officially finished on Thursday afternoon, the Communication and Youth departments organized some Sabbath activities for those who were staying until the weekend.
Friday was a day for content collaboration and creativity, as those who stayed were given free time to explore Washington DC or utilize the spaces set up for filming around the General Conference building, while a vespers program followed dinner.
During the Friday night program, a smaller group was led through the importance of storytelling with assistant director of communication for the General Conference Jarrod Stackelroth, describing how testimonies can heal and help. He quoted Psalm 107:2 “Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story, those he has redeemed from the hand of the foe”.
Busi Khumalo preached on the Outfit of the Day trend and the best outfit being the armor of God. [Photo: George Nelson]
Truman then shared some of her own testimony, before attendees were given glow sticks and reminded to shine as the light in their worlds. “Jesus was the light of the world, and we are to shine as well,” she said. “Sometimes we need to be a little bit broken to be able to shine, just like the glowsticks.”
The program wrapped up with attendees standing and waving their glowsticks, singing “I have decided to follow Jesus”.
With some of the content creators leading out in small groups, participants began the Sabbath program walking through six lessons out of the Creation narrative in Genesis 1 and wrestling with the conference theme of “Created to Create”.
General Conference Youth director, Busi Khumalo then preached on OOTD, a social media trend known as “Outfit of the Day”. He reflected on the story of the servant girl who helps in the healing of Naaman and how Christian content creators are called to serve those around them. “The best outfit of the day is the armor of God,” Khumalo said. “We must put it on every day.”