Salt Lake Central SDA Church Celebrates 100th Anniversary
Celebrating a Century of Faith
Oneil Madden, Pastor of the Salt Lake CentralSeventh-day Adventist Church and Regional Ministries Director, welcoming all attendees to this year’s annual convocation.
One hundred years ago, in June 1924, President Coolidge signed the Indian Citizenship Act, which declared all Native Americans to be American citizens. George Milkan, a center inducted into the American Basketball Hall of Fame and a four-time NBA All-Star, was born in Joliet, Illinois. George H. W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States, was born in Milton, Massachusetts. That same month, a new church community was also established: Salt Lake Central Seventh-day Adventist Church’s journey began a century ago, founded by a small group of African Americans committed to creating a place of worship and community where everyone would be accepted regardless of their ethnic origin.
"We made it this far, by faith,"
During the weekend of June 20 and June 21, 2024, members from across the Nevada-Utah Conference celebrated the 100th anniversary of Salt Lake Central Seventh-day Adventist Church. This milestone not only stands as a testament to the church's resilience but also to God's faithfulness, grace, mercy, and love. The theme embraced by the church this year, "We made it this far, by faith," reflects this resilience. Leon Brown, executive vice president of the Pacific Union, reminded the attendees of the role of God’s love in their journey. “Despite the challenges the church may face,” he said, “we are going to make it because God is madly in love with us.”
Down the memory lane
It was also a time of recollection and reminiscing. Byron Dulan, vice president for regional ministries of the North Pacific Union, shared a personal connection that spans generations: “My father was baptized in this church in 1937. For us to move forward, we have to know our past because we are not just a part of history; we are a part of His (God's) story.”
Earl Canson and Byron Dulan share the importance of remembering history.
Story Time
Karen Schneider, Nevada-Utah Conference Treasurer, shares how the Salt Lake Central Seventh-day Adventist Church helped her family 40 years ago.
“Fitting for his profession, my Dad, a trucker in the 1970s was on the road away from his family a great deal. In those years when it was a quick trip to and from our hometown of Twin Falls, ID, he would take his young family along for a ride. One Friday in 1974 (before I was born), my Mom and Sister joined Dad for a roundtrip ride to Salt Lake City, UT on a Friday. As was often the case, the unexpected occurred and my family found themselves sleeping in the truck that night in Salt Lake City. On Sabbath morning, they determined that even though they were sand blasted from the previous day, the weather cold, and they were tired, it was necessary to go to church. My Dad haled a cab, telling the driver to take them to the closest Seventh-Day Adventist church. The members of that church were welcoming and kind. A living example of Colossians 3:12-13 “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and early loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” In our family, over the decades, this story has been told not only as a reminder of that ‘one time we were stuck in Salt Lake City’, has been used as an example of why we should welcome guests at our own church with kindness and a Sabbath meal. This story has impacted our lives and those we have encountered, showing the kindness shown to us so long ago. That ripple of generosity started at Salt Lake Central Seventh-Day Adventist church in 1974 and continues today. I have the privilege to say thank you for being a true example of God’s chosen people.”
These stories highlighted the church’s role in the personal histories of many families throughout the years but also encouraged the congregation to honor the past while looking forward to the future.
Looking forward
As Salt Lake Central celebrates its centennial, it also looks to the future with hope and anticipation. The church remains committed to its mission of serving God and the community. Initiatives to engage the younger generation, outreach programs, and community services are at the forefront of the church’s vision for the future. Oneil Madden, Pastor of the church, stated his vision to remodel and reopen the fellowship hall: “We want to make this place a community hub where people can come together and get to know each other.”
Virgil Childs, Pacific Union Conference Vice President for Black Ministries, encourages the members to continue to have faith in God and move forward.
The celebration's centerpiece was Virgil Childs' keynote address titled "Skin Deep Religion," delivering a compelling message. Virgil Childs, Childs, Pacific Union Conference Vice President for Black Ministries, urged the congregation to transcend surface-level faith and embrace a profound, transformative relationship with God. Referencing John Collins' 'From Good to Great,' Childs warned, “Good can be the enemy of great,” and challenged the church to strive not just to be a good SDA church but the best church for the community.
The 100th anniversary of the Salt Lake Central Seventh-day Adventist Church is more than a celebration of the past; it is a reaffirmation of faith and community—faith that has sustained it for a hundred years and will continue to do so for many more.