At the heart of the Lake Union Herald is telling stories about what God is doing. Just as meaningful is hearing from readers who share how those stories have encouraged their faith and drawn them closer to Him. Sometimes, that encouragement comes to us in the simplest and most personal ways.
One early Monday morning, an enthusiastic voice greeted us on the phone. “Oh, I just love the teachers’ stories.” Doris Ferris called to share how deeply she appreciated the April 2023 issue featuring educators who reflected on why they chose to teach. The issue resonated personally. Her husband, Winston, had spent decades teaching in Adventist schools across the Lake Union. Though he had passed away, Doris, then 91, found joy and encouragement in reading about teachers who continue to serve faithfully despite increased challenges.
Another call came from beyond the Lake Union. A reader from the Pacific Northwest who received the magazine from a friend paused over a story about a Chicago school offering free tuition to families unable to pay. Moved by what she read, she reached out not only to express appreciation but also to partner with the school through a financial gift.
Stories like these affirm why we do this work. Now, 118 years after the Lake Union Herald first launched, or 123 years if you include its forerunner, the West Michigan Herald, the mission continues.
That mission is even more vital in a world crowded with distractions, misinformation, and competing voices. We continue to prayerfully search for ways for our storytelling to remain Christ-centered and relevant. With the urgency of the hour before us, our commitment is clear: keep proclaiming the Three Angels Messages; keep heralding the good news of Christ’s soon return; keep telling the stories of what God is doing in the lives of His children. Why? Scripture powerfully reminds us, “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” Revelation 12:11.
Expanding How and Where Stories are Told
As the mission focus gains momentum, we continually look for ways to grow and improve. One important avenue has been our affiliation with the Associated Church Press, the oldest religious press organization in North America. Alongside training opportunities, we submit our work for professional review to gauge how our journalism measures up. In 2025, the Herald received several writing, design and marketing awards, including recognition as one of the top three denominational magazines in North America. We praise God for this affirmation of our team’s effort in providing professional-level photos, design and writing.
At the same time, the Herald continues its pivot toward digital. We reduced our print schedule from nine issues to eight and reinvested those resources into expanding our digital footprint, with particular focus on reaching audiences under 50. We also began construction on a state-of-the-art studio and are prayerfully working toward fully equipping the space within the year. This will allow us to produce broadcast quality programming and promotional videos that extend the reach of our storytelling.
Beyond the magazine and video content, the communication department has partnered closely with our conferences and departments to promote key events across the territory. A significant milestone came during the 2025 General Conference Session. Over 10 days, we collaborated with our local conference communication directors to create live and recorded productions that highlighted leaders and delegates from our region. The effort generated strong engagement and pushed our Facebook following past 10,000. Growth also continued with the weekly newsletter, now reaching 6,000 subscribers with a healthy open rate above 30%. For those who do not yet receive it, we invite you to sign up at lakeunionherald.org.
Strengthening partnerships with our communication directors remains a priority. We hosted workshops on topics such as social media best practices and crisis communication, and we see great potential in leveraging our collective skills to accomplish more together than we could alone. We also provided training for the North American Division and supported communication efforts at churches, schools, camp meetings and conference events throughout the Lake Union.
Since the last quinquennium, we have had personnel changes. After seven years of dedicated service, Felicia Tonga bid farewell, and we welcomed Ruben Casabona as associate communication director.
Growth Goals
Looking ahead to the next five years, our focus is on expanding our reach. While much of our work has centered on internal audiences, we are developing plans to engage journalists in major media markets such as Chicago, Detroit, Indianapolis, Milwaukee and South Bend. Our goal is to build broader awareness of Adventists and their expertise in areas such as religious liberty, health and education.
We are also excited about deepening our partnership with Andrews University and its communication students. In addition to ongoing collaboration through freelance writing, photography, design and video production, we hope to launch an event that brings together students and other young creatives across the Lake Union to strengthen mentorship and collaboration.
In closing, it remains a privilege to partner with you in telling stories of how God is still at work, still performing miracles and still saving souls. We do not take your trust lightly and we are grateful for the opportunity to share your God encounters. Get in touch with us at herald@lakeunion.org.
Debbie Michel is editor of the Lake Union Herald and Lake Union director of communication
Ruben Casabona – associate director
Katie Fellows – media specialist