Seventh-day Adventist Church
1. Before it was "Adventist" or Sabbath keeping Adventist, it was "Christian."
2. It celebrates a history that has emphasized "freedom."
3. It welcomes and grows from diversity within its membership.
The Christian Roots of Seventh-day Adventism
The local church where "Christian," "Advent," and "Sabbath" combined was established by
Christian Connection believers, a religious body that in the mid-nineteenth century was fifth in
membership within the United States.
Members of the Christian movement sought biblical authority for every aspect of belief. They
wanted "no creed but the Bible." Thus, if they were convinced from the Scriptures of the literal soon
advent of Christ and the continuing validity of the seventh day Sabbath, their heritage demanded
acceptance.
Because William Miller, a well-known Baptist preacher, exhibited profound knowledge of the
Scriptures as he lectured upon the literal soon advent of Christ, scores of Christian Connection
churches and many of its ministers and leaders became "Adventist" in the late 1830s and 1840s.
The Washington, New Hampshire, Christian Connection church by the early 1840s was an
"Adventist" church.
Social, Organizational, and Theological Freedom
Another element of the Seventh-day Adventist heritage from "Christians" involves the Seventh-day
Adventist emphasis upon freedom.
Washington, New Hampshire, was the initial town in the United States to name itself after George
Washington, and it took that name in 1776, the year of the American Revolution. Its very birthplace
seemed a call to personal freedom.
"Christians," as did Seventh-day Adventists from their earliest days, actively sought freedom for all
and worked toward abolition of slavery as well as roles for women in the church, and fostered a
strong opposition to formalized church creeds.
Freedom was also emphasized through an orientation toward temperance and health reform.
Proper care of the physical frame would yield a clear mind with which to perceive scriptural truths.
Thus within nineteenth-century Adventism one finds strong anti-slavery actions, women licensed as
ministers, and health reform principles that included abolition of alcohol and tobacco within the
membership.
Religious freedom came to mean more than the separation of church and state. It also implied a
right to read the Scripture for oneself and come to conclusions not bound by creedal
presuppositions. The "present truth" perspective assumed that new insights would arise as
Seventh-day Adventists continued to study the Scriptures. The prophetic guidance of Ellen White
within the movement solidified this perspective of social, organizational, and theological freedom.
A Diverse Movement
The Washington, New Hampshire, roots also illustrate the diversity within the heritage of
Seventh-day Adventists. It was Rachel Oakes, a Seventh Day Baptist, that convinced some of the
members of the Washington church about the continuing validity of the seventh-day Sabbath. Not
all mid-nineteenth century churches would give a fair hearing to the insights of a woman. Besides
that, Thomas Preble, who attended that church and wrote an influential tract on the seventh-day
Sabbath, was a Freewill Baptist. Frederick Wheeler, who served as their pastor, was a Methodist
minister. We thus have substantial diversity within that original church. At least five different
religious faiths formed the first Sabbath keeping Christian Adventist church. Within that diversity,
however, unity over central issues prevailed.
Shortly after settling on a denominational name in 1860, Seventh-day Adventists began to talk
about a worldwide movement. After all, didn't Christ urge to "go ye into all the world, and preach
the gospel to every creature" and didn't Revelation talk of "the everlasting gospel" to be
proclaimed to "them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and
people"? In 1861 it was discovered that at least five in Ireland were practicing Seventh-day
Adventists. But how could a group of only a few thousand perform the task of worldwide
evangelism? The denomination was officially organized on May 21, 1863, when the movement
included some 125 churches and 3,500 members. By 1864 Michael Belina Czechowski, a former
Catholic priest, decided to spread the Seventh-day Adventist message throughout Europe. In 1874
the church was ready to send abroad its first official missionary, J. N. Andrews, who left the United
States for Switzerland. By the end of the century Seventh-day Adventism had become worldwide in
scope.
Today some 10 million Seventh-day Adventists have established themselves in virtually every
country of the world. Less than 10 percent of Seventh-day Adventists live in the United States.
While ethnically diverse, they remain united over the everlasting gospel, the basic Christian
message of salvation through faith in Christ. Unity prevails also over the other central teachings of
their Christian heritage.
The Heritage Continues
While Seventh-day Adventists arose within an apocalyptic movement that stressed the nearness of
the Second Advent, their "Christian" heritage emphasized the down-to-earth implications of the
ministry of the Saviour. The tension between "today" and "later" gives a unique power to the way
Adventists serve in their communities. It has focused the energies of church members into
education, publishing, the healing arts, community service, and any other activities that allow them
to talk about their faith while improving the lives of their neighbors.
One result of this desire to touch lives for God is that Adventists have built thousands of schools
around the world. It also means that Seventh-day Adventist physicians and medical institutions
serve individual needs in more than 98 countries, giving the highest possible quality of personal
care whenever people hurt. These physicians, nurses, therapists, and other medical workers have
dedicated their lives to providing physical healing so that each person can live the best possible
life. Using modern medical knowledge and carefully developed skills, these workers touch
thousands of lives each day, bringing healing and hope into families around the world.
Schools, hospitals, clinics, and health food factories are just one small corner of the Seventh-day
Adventist commitment to improving lives. There is much more:
1. Wherever disaster strikes, ADRA, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency, joins hands
with other organizations to provide clean water, food, clothing, housing, and care.
2. Adventist publishing houses produce inspirational books, textbooks, Bible commentaries, health
books, and dozens of specialized magazines in scores of languages each month. These are then
delivered to millions of homes around the world, providing quality reading and information that
improves lives.
3. Local Adventist churches serve their communities by providing recreational and social activities
for children and teenagers, vocational and evening education programs for adults, and spiritual
programming and health clinics for all.
4. On a worldwide scale, the church's mission activities are exemplified in the Global Mission
initiative-to reach the unreached peoples of the world for Christ.
5. Summer camps offer all sorts of activities-from horseback riding and waterskiing to crafts and
dozens of other youth activities in country environments in which children feel safe and loved.
These activities are combined with a witness for God's message to make people whole-physically,
mentally, socially, and spiritually.
6. Use of modern technology also describes Adventist commitment to mission and presence in the
society with messages of "Good news." Numerous radio studios dot the Adventist broadcasting
map around the globe. The same goes for production of television and other media programs. The
church's interest is best exemplified in a satellite broadcast system with more than 14,000 downlink
sites, and the television 24/7 global broadcasting network for homes, the Hope Channel.
Too often it's easy to see all of this as just activities of the institutions and organizations of the
church. But the Seventh-day Adventist Church is far more than its organizational structure and
institutions. The Adventist Church is people, individual members who have caught a vision and who
have chosen to live out that vision for Christ, as His hands of hope.
Copyright © 2010, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists ®
12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904, USA 301-680-6000
1. Before it was "Adventist" or Sabbath keeping Adventist, it was "Christian."
2. It celebrates a history that has emphasized "freedom."
3. It welcomes and grows from diversity within its membership.
The Christian Roots of Seventh-day Adventism
The local church where "Christian," "Advent," and "Sabbath" combined was established by
Christian Connection believers, a religious body that in the mid-nineteenth century was fifth in
membership within the United States.
Members of the Christian movement sought biblical authority for every aspect of belief. They
wanted "no creed but the Bible." Thus, if they were convinced from the Scriptures of the literal soon
advent of Christ and the continuing validity of the seventh day Sabbath, their heritage demanded
acceptance.
Because William Miller, a well-known Baptist preacher, exhibited profound knowledge of the
Scriptures as he lectured upon the literal soon advent of Christ, scores of Christian Connection
churches and many of its ministers and leaders became "Adventist" in the late 1830s and 1840s.
The Washington, New Hampshire, Christian Connection church by the early 1840s was an
"Adventist" church.
Social, Organizational, and Theological Freedom
Another element of the Seventh-day Adventist heritage from "Christians" involves the Seventh-day
Adventist emphasis upon freedom.
Washington, New Hampshire, was the initial town in the United States to name itself after George
Washington, and it took that name in 1776, the year of the American Revolution. Its very birthplace
seemed a call to personal freedom.
"Christians," as did Seventh-day Adventists from their earliest days, actively sought freedom for all
and worked toward abolition of slavery as well as roles for women in the church, and fostered a
strong opposition to formalized church creeds.
Freedom was also emphasized through an orientation toward temperance and health reform.
Proper care of the physical frame would yield a clear mind with which to perceive scriptural truths.
Thus within nineteenth-century Adventism one finds strong anti-slavery actions, women licensed as
ministers, and health reform principles that included abolition of alcohol and tobacco within the
membership.
Religious freedom came to mean more than the separation of church and state. It also implied a
right to read the Scripture for oneself and come to conclusions not bound by creedal
presuppositions. The "present truth" perspective assumed that new insights would arise as
Seventh-day Adventists continued to study the Scriptures. The prophetic guidance of Ellen White
within the movement solidified this perspective of social, organizational, and theological freedom.
A Diverse Movement
The Washington, New Hampshire, roots also illustrate the diversity within the heritage of
Seventh-day Adventists. It was Rachel Oakes, a Seventh Day Baptist, that convinced some of the
members of the Washington church about the continuing validity of the seventh-day Sabbath. Not
all mid-nineteenth century churches would give a fair hearing to the insights of a woman. Besides
that, Thomas Preble, who attended that church and wrote an influential tract on the seventh-day
Sabbath, was a Freewill Baptist. Frederick Wheeler, who served as their pastor, was a Methodist
minister. We thus have substantial diversity within that original church. At least five different
religious faiths formed the first Sabbath keeping Christian Adventist church. Within that diversity,
however, unity over central issues prevailed.
Shortly after settling on a denominational name in 1860, Seventh-day Adventists began to talk
about a worldwide movement. After all, didn't Christ urge to "go ye into all the world, and preach
the gospel to every creature" and didn't Revelation talk of "the everlasting gospel" to be
proclaimed to "them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and
people"? In 1861 it was discovered that at least five in Ireland were practicing Seventh-day
Adventists. But how could a group of only a few thousand perform the task of worldwide
evangelism? The denomination was officially organized on May 21, 1863, when the movement
included some 125 churches and 3,500 members. By 1864 Michael Belina Czechowski, a former
Catholic priest, decided to spread the Seventh-day Adventist message throughout Europe. In 1874
the church was ready to send abroad its first official missionary, J. N. Andrews, who left the United
States for Switzerland. By the end of the century Seventh-day Adventism had become worldwide in
scope.
Today some 10 million Seventh-day Adventists have established themselves in virtually every
country of the world. Less than 10 percent of Seventh-day Adventists live in the United States.
While ethnically diverse, they remain united over the everlasting gospel, the basic Christian
message of salvation through faith in Christ. Unity prevails also over the other central teachings of
their Christian heritage.
The Heritage Continues
While Seventh-day Adventists arose within an apocalyptic movement that stressed the nearness of
the Second Advent, their "Christian" heritage emphasized the down-to-earth implications of the
ministry of the Saviour. The tension between "today" and "later" gives a unique power to the way
Adventists serve in their communities. It has focused the energies of church members into
education, publishing, the healing arts, community service, and any other activities that allow them
to talk about their faith while improving the lives of their neighbors.
One result of this desire to touch lives for God is that Adventists have built thousands of schools
around the world. It also means that Seventh-day Adventist physicians and medical institutions
serve individual needs in more than 98 countries, giving the highest possible quality of personal
care whenever people hurt. These physicians, nurses, therapists, and other medical workers have
dedicated their lives to providing physical healing so that each person can live the best possible
life. Using modern medical knowledge and carefully developed skills, these workers touch
thousands of lives each day, bringing healing and hope into families around the world.
Schools, hospitals, clinics, and health food factories are just one small corner of the Seventh-day
Adventist commitment to improving lives. There is much more:
1. Wherever disaster strikes, ADRA, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency, joins hands
with other organizations to provide clean water, food, clothing, housing, and care.
2. Adventist publishing houses produce inspirational books, textbooks, Bible commentaries, health
books, and dozens of specialized magazines in scores of languages each month. These are then
delivered to millions of homes around the world, providing quality reading and information that
improves lives.
3. Local Adventist churches serve their communities by providing recreational and social activities
for children and teenagers, vocational and evening education programs for adults, and spiritual
programming and health clinics for all.
4. On a worldwide scale, the church's mission activities are exemplified in the Global Mission
initiative-to reach the unreached peoples of the world for Christ.
5. Summer camps offer all sorts of activities-from horseback riding and waterskiing to crafts and
dozens of other youth activities in country environments in which children feel safe and loved.
These activities are combined with a witness for God's message to make people whole-physically,
mentally, socially, and spiritually.
6. Use of modern technology also describes Adventist commitment to mission and presence in the
society with messages of "Good news." Numerous radio studios dot the Adventist broadcasting
map around the globe. The same goes for production of television and other media programs. The
church's interest is best exemplified in a satellite broadcast system with more than 14,000 downlink
sites, and the television 24/7 global broadcasting network for homes, the Hope Channel.
Too often it's easy to see all of this as just activities of the institutions and organizations of the
church. But the Seventh-day Adventist Church is far more than its organizational structure and
institutions. The Adventist Church is people, individual members who have caught a vision and who
have chosen to live out that vision for Christ, as His hands of hope.
Copyright © 2010, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists ®
12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904, USA 301-680-6000
<--------William Miller
<--------The First Seventh-day
Adventist Church Ever In
Washington New Hampshire
Adventist Church Ever In
Washington New Hampshire
<---------Ellen G. White
<-------J.N. Andrews
History Of The Adventist Church
For More Information On The
Seventh-Day Adventist Church
Click The Link Below.
Seventh-Day Adventist Church
Click The Link Below.
Free Book Offer. Get the
fascinating story of the full recovery
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apostolic times, to the great
Reformation of the 16th century, to
today. Clearly presented,
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work. By W.L. Emmerson.
Email us your shipping address and
your name to
BrokenAdventist@live.com Be sure to
tell us what book you want and it will
be mailed out ASAP.
fascinating story of the full recovery
of the 'faith, which was once
delivered unto the saints' from
apostolic times, to the great
Reformation of the 16th century, to
today. Clearly presented,
well-documented, excellent historical
work. By W.L. Emmerson.
Email us your shipping address and
your name to
BrokenAdventist@live.com Be sure to
tell us what book you want and it will
be mailed out ASAP.
Free Book Offer Love is under siege
in a great cosmic war between good and
evil. Learn more of this battle for human
hearts with an emphasis on end-time
prophecy. A classic unlike anything else
you've read. By Ellen G. White. Email
us your shipping address and your
name to BrokenAdventist@live.com Be
sure to tell us what book you want and it
will be mailed out ASAP.
in a great cosmic war between good and
evil. Learn more of this battle for human
hearts with an emphasis on end-time
prophecy. A classic unlike anything else
you've read. By Ellen G. White. Email
us your shipping address and your
name to BrokenAdventist@live.com Be
sure to tell us what book you want and it
will be mailed out ASAP.
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