Faith, Fellowship, and the Final Frontier: Pastor Jim Landelius Connects Trekkies with Christ
For Pastor Jim Landelius, faith and science fiction have never been competing interests. Instead, they have provided unique opportunities to build relationships, start conversations, and share the gospel with people who might never otherwise set foot in a church.
His love of Star Trek began early. In 1976, at just 10 years old, he went to see the original Star Trek movie in a theater, beginning a lifelong appreciation for science fiction and its themes of hope, exploration, and humanity.
“I grew up going to Sunday school at a Pentecostal church,” Jim recalls. “But every summer I attended Vacation Bible School at the Seventh-day Adventist Church. They ran a good one! In the Bible Belt, I always thought Adventists were a little strange for keeping Saturday as the Sabbath.”
That perception changed when he was 12 years old. Jim attended an evangelistic series led by evangelist Jim Griffin, determined to prove the speaker wrong.
“My friends and I went with our own Bibles,” he said. “We were going to challenge what was being taught. But we couldn’t argue with the Scriptures that were presented.”
Within a few months Jim joined the Adventist Church. Soon afterward, his mother followed, and eventually the rest of his immediate family became Adventists as well.
For decades, Jim has used his passion for science fiction as a bridge to connect with people outside the church.
“I have always used my love and knowledge of sci-fi to connect with people and share the gospel,” he said. “While my personal standards and understanding are conservative, like Christ, how I deal with people is very liberal.”
That approach has enabled him to build friendships with people from many backgrounds who might not otherwise engage in spiritual conversations. He frequently posts faith-based devotionals on Facebook, where many science fiction enthusiasts and friends follow his reflections and spiritual insights.
Jim believes authentic relationships create opportunities for meaningful witness.
“People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care,” he often emphasizes.
His commitment to service extends well beyond the online world. He has also been actively involved in Oklahoma Conference outreach initiatives such as Meals for Hope. Last year, 11 to 12 churches participated in the program and helping provide 50,000+ meals and food assistance to communities across Oklahoma. Churches from Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and numerous rural communities joined together to serve families in need.
This year, many rural areas received increased support as volunteers traveled significant distances to participate in the outreach. Following a Tuesday meal-packing event with Tulsa Adventist Academy (TSA) students, church members gathered on Sunday, November 1, to prepare and distribute 100,000+ lunches to communities across the state. Organizers noted that many rural churches brought larger groups of volunteers and traveled farther to participate, resulting in increased food distributions to communities that are often underserved.
The outreach continues to grow, with another Meals for Hope event planned in Oklahoma City this December.
Whether writing devotionals, building friendships through shared interests, serving local communities, or leading the congregations in Sand Springs, Sapulpa, and Haskell, Pastor Jim continues to demonstrate that common interests can become bridges to deeper conversations about faith. His ministry reflects a simple conviction: meet people where they are, build genuine relationships, and point them to Christ.
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