On Nov. 14 and 15, the sanctuary of the South Bend First Adventist Church was transformed, not with decorations, but with presence. With expectation. With awe. With beauty.
Church members are used to the predictable rhythm of conference names: Revelation Seminar, Religious Liberty Conference, Mission Congress, Men’s Summit, Women’s Retreat. But The Beauty of God Conference? It landed in ears like an unexpected melody: familiar yet unfamiliar, gentle yet arresting. Beauty? God’s beauty? It felt odd at first, almost out of place in a world overflowing with noise, conflict and endless activity.
But what blossomed from that odd seed would become one of the most unforgettable experiences in the life of an Indiana church.
On Nov. 14 and 15, the sanctuary of the South Bend First Adventist Church was transformed, not with decorations, but with presence. With expectation. With awe. With beauty.
And God met participants there.
The vision, according to South Bend First Associate Pastor Omwocha Nyaribo, was simply “to present Christ to the members and the members to Christ.”
The lineup featured Pastor Danielle Bae; Mark Eaton, executive secretary/treasurer of the Indiana Conference; and Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary professors JoAnn Davidson, Ante Jerončić, Hyveth Williams and David Williams. Local pastors Throstur Thordarson and Omwocha Nyaribo helped host.
Presentations focused on themes of divine beauty, God’s faithfulness and the intersection of art, creation and redemption. Williams’ sermon, “The Beauty of God,” drew from her own story of recovery from addiction and brokenness. Bae’s message on “The Great Controversy Over God’s Beauty” addressed how culture distorts God’s character through false portrayals of beauty.
The conference climaxed during a communion service designed by David Williams that guided the congregation through stations representing Old Testament sanctuary symbols. Members began at the Altar of Burnt Offering, where members wrote their sins, fears, and burdens on slips of paper and cast them into the fire. It was holy. It was freeing.
At the Laver, they washed feet, symbolizing cleansing, humility and new beginnings.
At the Menorah, they lit each other’s candles, passing light from person to person, testifying that divine beauty is never meant to be kept, but shared.
At the Altar of Incense the congregation was invited to come forward and lift their petitions before God. There, the elders gently prayed over them and anointed them, filling the sanctuary with the fragrance of intercession and grace.
At the Table of Shewbread, they received the bread and the wine, symbols of Christ’s body and blood, reminding participants that His sacrifice alone cleanses us from all unrighteousness and invites us into a life made new.
And then participants stood before the Most Holy Place, the congregation lifted their voices in unison, singing “Holy, Holy, Holy,” praising the Lord for the splendor of His beauty. It was a sacred moment, an experience beyond words.
Many wept. Many prayed longer than usual. Many lingered even after the benediction, unwilling to leave the glow of what had just happened.
Jerončić praised the congregation for daring to hold a theology conference at the local level, calling it “an exemplary joining of academy and church.” In a social media post, he wrote, “We need more events like this, where scholars, pastors, church members and visitors can gather to explore the depth and beauty of the Christian faith within the context of worship and discipleship. . . and to do so in ways that rise above culture-war postures. Splendid!”
Davidson told attendees she had “never seen anything like this conference anywhere in the Adventist world,” describing her participation as a delight rather than an assignment.
“It was more than a ritual. More than a service. It was a holy encounter,” one participant said, as many lingered afterward in prayer or silence.
Member Fellie Ogachi said she saw “the beauty of God in the conference itself,” adding that the sanctuary walk was the most meaningful part. “Walking through Old Testament symbols—burning our written sins, cleansing at the laver, pausing at the candlestick to share the light of Jesus—was deeply moving. It reminded me of God’s holiness, grace, and overwhelming beauty.”
Nyaribo said the idea came from a simple conviction: “We will spend eternity discovering God’s beauty. Why not start the class early?”
As the final prayer ended and the lights softened, attendees didn’t rush out. They stayed—some in quiet reflection, others praying together. Many described the weekend as a glimpse of eternity.
Omwocha Nyaribo, with Herald staff
