01/05/2023
TODAY IN CHURCH HISTORY
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
21st May, 2023 marks the 160th Anniversary of the organization of the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church which took place in 1863. The SDA Church can trace its root from the Millerites Movement and the Great Advent Awaking which began in 1831 under the leadership of William Miller (1782-1849) in America.
The name Millerites Movement became known as the Advent Movement and later assumed the name the Sabbatarian Adventists. In the middle of the 1830’s, William Miller had the initial support of Pr. Charles Fitch (1805-1844), Pr. Dr. Josiah Litch (1809-1886) and Pr. Joshua V. Himes (1805-1895). He preached in several areas including Boston-Massachusetts, Washington D.C., New York and New Hampshire. Joining of this team by Joseph Bates in 1839 was a plus for the Movement.
After the great disappointment on 22nd October, 1844 in connection with the second coming of Jesus Christ, the Advent Movement re-organised itself and moved away from setting of dates for the second coming of Jesus Christ. The vision received by E.G. Harmon (E.G.White) (1827-1915) and her subsequent contributions and marriage to James White (1821-1881) on 30th August 1846 was a sign of great things to happen, through the immense contribution of this couple. This movement which became a church has a group of people as founding fathers and not a single founder.
The writing of tracts and magazines by James White as well as Uriah Smith with the support of J.N. Andrews and others helped in spreading the Advent message quickly from 1947 to 1950 onwards. There were some publications in 1847 but the “Present Truth” published in July, 1949 became the first magazine of the Sabbatarian Adventists. John N. Loughboroug (1832-1924) the first Adventist Historian also contributed in keeping a systematic records of the church. Hiram Edson (1806-1882) was a great preacher who introduced the sanctuary doctrine in the church. Elon Galusha (1790-1856) was also a minister and a lawyer for the Sabbatarian Adventists. Due to the growth of the church, there was the need for church organization with a new name. David Hewitt proposed the name Seventh-day Adventists which portrays the core beliefs of the church and was fully endorsed by the leadership of the church. So, this new name came to replace that of the Sabbatarian Adventists in the year 1860. The Seventh-day Adventist Church had its first conference called the Michigan Conference in October, 1861 with Joseph Bates as Chairman and Uriah Smith as Secretary. Again, from 20th - 23rd May, 1863 all the six conferences at the time came together to form the General Conference and had the first General Conference (G.C.) Session at Battle Creek, Michigan, USA.
These six conferences were Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, and Wisconsin. During this Session the first three officers of the General Conference were elected. John Byington became the first G.C. President with Uriah Smith as Secretary and E.S. Walker as Treasurer. Twenty (20) delegates represented the six conferences with 3,500 members for the 1863 General Conference Session at Battle Creek, Michigan. The SDA Church is distinct from other Christian Churches because of its beliefs and emphasis on the Seventh-day Sabbath, Doc trine of the Heavenly Sanctuary, The Second Coming of Jesus and the Millennium, and finally the Spirit of Prophecy / status of the writings of E.G. White. Fast forward, the SDA Church is found in over 200 countries and now has membership getting to Twenty-two million (22,000,000) worldwide. The SDA Church is particular about human health and wholistic education. Also, the Seventh-day Adventist educational system is the second largest Christian School System in the world.
To God Be the Glory (SDAH 341).
Pastor Kojo Polley-Kwofie, Ghana; [email protected]
