T H G I F E TH N I W T ’ N I COULD Celebrating 140 years of Hope
In this issue August 2026
WHAT IN THE WORLD 04 WHAT ARE YOU LIVING FOR? 12 Why many people reach life goals yet still feel unfulfilled.
THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION 18 A world voyage reminded me that this life, however beautiful, is only the beginning.
GROWING WITH OUR AGEING PARENTS 24 Why it often sneaks up on us.
A PLACE TO CALL HOME: ROBBIE’S STORY 30 How compassion and community can carry someone through a dark season.
FINDING GOD ON THE MOON
What Artemis missions reveal about our search for meaning beyond Earth.
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CONNECTION BEFORE CORRECTION 44 Creating the conditions for children to reflect and grow.
IS YOUR TEEN IN AN AI RELATIONSHIP? 38 The terrifying rise of AI companion bots.
WHAT KIND OF GOD MAKES A WORLD LIKE THIS? 46 Making sense of the beauty—and tragedy—of our world.
“MEET YOU THERE” 52 Reclaiming connection in a distracted world.
A CHANCE TO START OVER 54 Change is rarely easy, but baptism shows why some
STRONG UNTIL I WASN’T
changes are worth the cost.
What I learned training to be a fighter didn’t prepare me for life.
Simple tips for eating seasonally and nourishing your
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EATING SEASONALLY THIS WINTER 60 body through the colder months.
SUDOKU AND CROSSWORD PUZZLE 62 @SIGNSMAG
Knowing the cosmos In his book Cosmos, Carl Sagan famously wrote, “Every one of us is, in the cosmic perspective, precious. If a human disagrees with you, let him live. In a hundred billion galaxies, you will not find another.” Life is precious. Every plant, animal and human—all living things are precious, and fragile. This is perhaps most keenly felt in times of loss, when the illusion of stability and control are violently torn away to reveal the naked truth: that we are all vulnerable, and that in a moment, everything you hold dear can be taken away. Those who have undergone great loss tend to say the same things: “Treasure the time you have with those you love”; “Take more risks”; “Don’t take life for granted”. In this issue of Signs of the Times, we’re celebrating life—and acknowledging its fragility. On p6, Bruce Manners explores the recent NASA mission to the moon and the role faith plays in our imagination of the cosmos. On p24, Carmen Lăiu confronts an often-ignored reality: the mortality of our parents. On p32, Jeshua McPhail reflects on a life desperately searching for meaning, and how God showed up for him in the most unexpected way. Finally, on p46, Braden Blyde confronts an issue many Christians are uncomfortable to face: how do we conceive of a just God in a world filled with beauty . . . but also so much suffering? Sagan also wrote, “We are a way for the cosmos to know itself.” I’d take that one step further by asserting, “Jesus is the way for us to know the cosmos”. No matter how fragile life is, I’m comforted by knowing that God values us enough to give us His Son so that one day, all life will find its fullness in His glory. May you know that and may it bring you joy.
JESSE HERFORD Associate Editor
VOL 140 NO 7
ISSN 1038-9733 EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER Brad Kemp EDITOR Jarrod Stackelroth ASSOCIATE EDITOR Jesse Herford ASSISTANT EDITOR Zanita Fletcher COPYEDITORS Melody Tan Tracey Bridcutt GRAPHIC DESIGN Theodora Pau’u Talia Valderrama PHONE +61 2 9847 2222 EMAIL info@signsmag.com WEBSITE signsmag.com ADDRESS Adventist Media PO Box 1115, Wahroonga New South Wales 2076 SUBSCRIPTIONS Kelli Geelan PHONE +61 3 5965 6300 Australia/New Zealand, $A28/$NZ30; South Pacific countries, $A41; Other countries $A51 Published since 1886, Signs of the Times is printed 11 times a year by the Seventh-day Adventist Church and is registered as a periodical. Seventh-day Adventist Church (SPD) Limited ABN 59 093 117 689 NOTE The inclusion of a person or their image within does not imply their endorsement of the Seventh-day Adventist Church or its beliefs. Unless otherwise stated, Bible verses are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, Anglicised. Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc®. Used by permission of Hodder & Stoughton. All rights reserved worldwide. COVER IMAGE: Talia Valderrama
WHAT IN THE WORLD
Gloriavale documentary reopens old wounds NEW ZEALAND
A new documentary series is bringing renewed attention to Gloriavale, the isolated religious community on New Zealand’s west coast that has faced long-running allegations of control, abuse and cover-ups. The series includes interviews with former members
and archival material, exploring how daily life inside the community has been shaped by strict hierarchy, gender roles and obedience to leadership. For viewers, the story raises difficult questions about the difference between healthy spiritual community and coercive control— and what it takes for people to rebuild their lives after leaving. —People Magazine
Gen Z Australians look for meaning at church
THOMAS TUCKER, BIEN ARTS—UNSPLASH & WIKICOMMONS
A growing number of young Aussies are showing renewed interest in church. Recent reporting points to university and youth groups seeing more young adults attend gatherings, ask questions and search for spaces where they can talk openly about relationships, mental health and the future. While Australia is often described as secular, this trend suggests that for many young adults, church is not simply about belief, but about finding a place to belong.—Adelaide Now
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IMAGE SOURCES
AUSTRALIA
Pope Leo XIV warns that AI must serve people, not power WORLD
Pope Leo XIV has used his first major teaching letter to warn that artificial intelligence could deepen inequality, weaken human relationships and concentrate power unless it is guided by clear ethical boundaries. The encyclical calls for technology to be placed at the service of human dignity, solidarity and the common good rather than for profit, domination or war. It also urges governments and tech companies to take seriously the risks of AI. The message adds a major spiritual voice to one of the defining questions of the age: not just what machines can do, but what kind of people we want to become.—AP News
US military cuts recognised faith list, raising questions about belonging UNTED STATES
The US Department of Defense has reduced the number of religious identities service members can officially record, cutting a list of more than 200 options down to 31. The list includes the Seventhday Adventist Church, but many previously-recognised faiths have now been excluded. Officials say the move is intended to simplify the system and help chaplains provide clearer support. But critics say removing specific identities—including atheists, pagans, Wiccans and Unitarian Universalists—could leave some service members feeling unseen. —Military.com
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FINDING GOD ON THE MOON “Faith has always gone to space. Artemis II shows how much it has changed.” Jack Jenkins, Religious News Service, April 7, 2026.
NASA.COM
BRUCE MANNERS
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