“It’s not every day that I’m in a room full of creative minds outside of my own family,” said Tapo Tsikirai, first-time Creators Lab attendee. “I didn’t realize how many people there were out there who had similar interests to mine. There was so much intentionality!"
Tsikirai was one of many people experiencing firsts at Creators Lab this year — both as an attendee and as a lab presenter.
"It reminded me that even in religious settings we should be more intentional about what we do," she said. "Creators Lab challenged me to grow and to surround myself with people who want to be better creators, too. I learned so much from hearing other people’s experiences!”
Taji Saleem, Southeastern California Conference communication director, also attended for the first time.
“What I found most valuable at Creators Lab was the connections made with other creatives from all over,” Saleem shared. “Being able to hear their stories and their passion for creating was a reminder of my purpose and calling to create. It was refreshing to be able to network and partner with other Adventists who speak a similar language of creativity that often gets overlooked or misunderstood. It’s not often that there are avenues for professionals with years of experience to rub shoulders with college creatives who are looking to expand their network and share their skills, as well as learning from other colleagues in different areas.”
The event began Friday night, May 1, 2026 with a welcome vespers, chai from Kevin Wilson, local pastor and content creator, and a chance to connect with others over supper.
On Sabbath, attendees had the opportunity to learn and connect with others. Kat Armas, theologian and Abuelita Faith author, challenged attendees to reflect on their individual impact on their communities. Everett Patterson, BibleProject art director, shared how a small team came together with the goal of exploring the Bible with new eyes and grew into a nonprofit with a team of more than 100, sharing the Bible all over the world in new and creative ways.
Eunice Reyes, Rated V for Vegan content creator, shared how starting a YouTube channel about vegan food and sharing her values through it shaped how she shares her faith with others today.
Benjamin Lundquist, Oregon Conference ministerial and evangelism associate director and Rise and Lead podcaster, and Kaleb Eisele, Oregon Conference communication director, rounded out the afternoon sessions, sharing their experiences in podcasting and challenging listeners to take the ideas they’ve carried and to make them a reality.
After supper and community time Saturday evening, many returned on Sunday morning for a few hours of hands-on learning labs on topics such as creative data management, content creation, filming on a budget and entrepreneurship.
Creators Lab is becoming a hub for digital creators of faith to find in-person community, grow their skills and rediscover a compassionate creator God.
Plans are already underway for next year’s event, which will be held April 30–May 2, 2027 in Gladstone, Oregon, at Holden Convention Center. Watch for more details to come in the first quarter of next year!
Throughout the weekend, attendees connect and share ideas, projects and inspiration.
Benjamin Lundquist, Oregon Conference ministerial and evangelism associate director, (left) and Kaleb Eisele, Oregon Conference communication director, (right) share their experiences in podcasting.
Eunice Reyes, Rated V for Vegan content creator, shares her experience with content creation and its impact on how she shares her faith.
