Kimberly Luste Maran is the associate director of communication for the North American Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. She is also the editor-in-chief of Adventist Journeymagazine, which is a 16-page publication.
“One of my favorite things about my job is getting to meet and write about people who focus on Jesus, and how to serve others with a Christian spirit. That really rejuvenates me,” said Maran.
Maran has worked for the Seventh-day Adventist Church for more than 20 years in different capacities and levels of its corporate structure. However, when she got out of college after studying journalism and its related fields, she’d had no desire to work for the Church.
She has attended at least a dozen ACP annual conventions since she began her career in religious journalism and says she keeps coming back for the the professional growth she experiences attending workshops.
“I count seeing other publication design and content as a benefit as well,” said Maran. “Learning what challenges we all face regardless of faith—and how those challenges are met—is invaluable. Commiserating with other religious communicators is also good for the soul!”
“I was thinking about getting a job that would lead to a ‘Pulitzer Prize’ or becoming an anchor on TV. That was not meant to be. I can honestly say that God had a reason for me being where I am and doing what I’m doing,” she said. “I’d like to think that I’ve made a positive difference in people’s lives, based on what I’ve written about, what I’ve chosen to cover.”
Maran was born in Puerto Rico but grew up in New Jersey. She, her husband Gideon, and their three children currently live in Maryland.