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
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 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.
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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