On being a dad Celebrating 140 years of Hope
In this issue September 2026
WHAT IN THE WORLD 04 DISCLOSURE DAY ASKS THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL QUESTIONS 06 Aliens have long been a staple of our media diet. How would we react if we actually encountered one?
THE QUESTION THAT COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING 12 Turning a simple question into a daily practice of care.
I AM YOUR FATHER! 18 How fatherhood changes us.
FIDDLING FOR FUEL
How one viral violin video changed everything for Jonathon
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WHAT I LEARNED WHEN MY MARRIAGE FELL APART 24 Don’t make my mistakes.
OPEN HANDS, WILLING HEARTS 30 Making a difference in Kaitaia
IT ALL ADDS UP 38 Does one puls one equal one? Well, with God it does.
SEVEN PRINCIPLES FOR RAISING BOYS 44 It’s not as hard as you may think.
DON’T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK 52 Not all of our thoughts deserve our trust.
ON BEING A DAD Four grandfathers reflect on the highs and lows of fatherhood.
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GIFTED TO GIVE 54 Our dreams aren’t just for us, they’re for those who come after.
FIVE TIPS FOR A HEALTHY LUNCHBOX 50 Conquer lunch!.
FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA 2
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SUDOKU AND CROSSWORD PUZZLE 62
Taking stock Not everybody does the best they can, but most do. With Father’s Day this month, we’re giving dads a little extra attention in these pages. Yet the people who shape us come in many forms—whether fathers (p18, 46), friends (p12) or the unexpected women who left a lasting impact on our lives (p54). But for a little while now, dads have copped it. The commonly held phrase “daddy issues” speaks to those whose lives have been shaped by difficult relationships with their fathers. It’s often tossed around as a joke, but behind the cliché is a truth: fathers have an enormous influence on their children. Although I have a dad, I’ll never be one. So to put myself in their shoes, I spoke to some who seem to have done a good job. Yet even they have wondered, Did I do enough? Pray enough? Spend enough time with them? (p46). As Josh reflects on p18, many men don’t feel like they’ll ever be good enough for such a responsibility. The reality is that some fathers have caused lasting pain and those stories deserve to be taken seriously. But there are many dads who aren’t perfect, yet are still good dads—many who have quietly spent years working to put food on the table and presents under the tree. We can be quick to blame our dads, forgetting that raising children is hard. I’m not a parent and sometimes I find just looking after myself hard. Expecting someone to be responsible for another person’s life and never make mistakes is an impossible standard. Of course, some hurts need to be acknowledged and some relationships need healing. But if we’re going to take stock of what our dads got wrong, it’s only fair we take stock of what they got right too—because none of us will love perfectly.
ZANITA FLETCHER Assistant Editor
VOL 140 NO 8
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 Are Kiwis becoming lonelier? NEW ZEALAND
Loneliness is increasingly being recognised as a symptom of weakening community life. New Zealand researchers and community organisations have raised concerns that changing family structures, digital habits, financial pressure and the decline of shared social spaces are leaving people without meaningful relationships. The problem is not that people have no contact with others, but that many lack dependable friendships or places where they feel known. The search for a solution is prompting renewed interest in neighbourhood groups, clubs, volunteering and other communities that require people to meet regularly in person. —The Spinoff
UNITED KINGDOM
British Bible sales have reached £6.3 million—an increase of 134 per cent since 2019. Booksellers say much of the new interest is coming from unchurched young people who are reading the Bible as part of a broader search for meaning. The figures don’t prove that Britain is experiencing a Christian revival, but they do suggest that secularisation has not eliminated spiritual curiosity.—The Guardian 4
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JOSHUA SUN, ED ROBERTSON, JEN VAZQUEZ, NIK SCHMIDT—UNSPLASH
UK Bible sales set record
Samoa considers restrictions on non-Christians SAMOA
Samoa’s prime minister has proposed restricting non-Christian religions, arguing that the country’s Christian identity should be protected from extremism and outside influence. Although Samoa’s constitution protects religious freedom, Christianity is also formally recognised as foundational to national identity. The proposal has alarmed religious minorities and political opponents, who argue that the government does
not have the authority to determine which beliefs may be practiced. Muslims have lived in Samoa for more than 30 years but remain a tiny minority.—ABC News
Young Europeans go back to Mass EUROPE
In traditionally Catholic but increasingly secular countries such as Spain and France, a small but noticeable number of young adults are becoming interested in Christianity. Some describe being drawn by music or social media, while others point to loneliness, a sense of emptiness and the desire to belong to a community with a deeper purpose. In France, 42 per cent of adults baptised during this year’s Easter Vigil were aged 18–25. Experts point to two major factors: disenchantment with other institutions, coupled with growing loneliness exacerbated by social media. Maria Salazar, a 23-year-old youth leader in Barcelona, said, “More than looking for faith, we look for a feeling of peace. We live in a microwave society—everything has to be immediate—but the Lord doesn’t work this way.”—Associated Press SEPTEMBER 2026 • SIGNSMAG.COM
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Disclosure Day asks the extra-terrestrial question From xenomorphs to E.T., aliens have long been a staple of our media diet. But if we were confronted with an actual alien, how would we react? MARK HADLEY
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