The day before, a tiny fledgling group of 20 delegates met and elected John Byington as the first General Conference president. When the next day came, May 21, 1863, it was the order of business to name this small group of believers (approx.. 3,500) who had come out of the Millerite Movement and a severe disappointment; which became the door to a clearer understanding of time prophecy and the ministration that Jesus began in 1844. The name Seventh-day Adventist Church was chosen and still remains today. It is a distinct movement that heralds the 2nd coming of Jesus and had restored the 7th-day Sabbath that was instituted at Creation.
It is 163 years later with over 23 million members worldwide, 28 fundamental beliefs, has a presence in 212 countries as of 2023, using 420 languages, with 1,516,641 primary schools, almost 656,000 secondary schools, 13 colleges and universities, 244 hospitals and sanitariums, 1,707 clinics, 15 orphanages, 21 media centers, and 57 publishing houses and branches, and so on.
This month also marks another anniversary on a local level. Mt. St. Helens erupted 46 years ago on May 18, 1980 and what a spectacle that was! The day before, a 23 year-old college student was baptized against the wishes of her parents and family… and still remains even though
friends were sidetracked and left the church and others have died. There is no other church like this one and even though its members are imperfect and they struggle with today’s distractions and pressures from inside and outside the church, God still blesses it each and every day… especially on Sabbath. Do you sense His presence when you come to church?
Won’t you join me in celebrating the joy of being a member of a worldwide movement that is driven to prepare the world for the 2nd coming of Jesus? Will you join me as we go out to win the confidence of our neighbors, friends, and families where we live and in the Shoreline community at large and introduce them to a loving Savior they can accept and embrace for eternity? MB
It is 163 years later with over 23 million members worldwide, 28 fundamental beliefs, has a presence in 212 countries as of 2023, using 420 languages, with 1,516,641 primary schools, almost 656,000 secondary schools, 13 colleges and universities, 244 hospitals and sanitariums, 1,707 clinics, 15 orphanages, 21 media centers, and 57 publishing houses and branches, and so on.
This month also marks another anniversary on a local level. Mt. St. Helens erupted 46 years ago on May 18, 1980 and what a spectacle that was! The day before, a 23 year-old college student was baptized against the wishes of her parents and family… and still remains even though
friends were sidetracked and left the church and others have died. There is no other church like this one and even though its members are imperfect and they struggle with today’s distractions and pressures from inside and outside the church, God still blesses it each and every day… especially on Sabbath. Do you sense His presence when you come to church?
Won’t you join me in celebrating the joy of being a member of a worldwide movement that is driven to prepare the world for the 2nd coming of Jesus? Will you join me as we go out to win the confidence of our neighbors, friends, and families where we live and in the Shoreline community at large and introduce them to a loving Savior they can accept and embrace for eternity? MB