Indiana's Evansville First Church was organized Sept. 4, 1920 and in the last 100 years the Adventist movement has grown to 10 churches in the Tri-State area and an elementary school. The Tri-State area is comprised of counties in Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois. After the centennial service last Sabbath, worshipers gathered for a group photo. | Credit: StarDrop Photography
Evansville Indiana First Church commemorates 100 years
A series of meeting in the 1800's was the beginning of the work in Evansville.
On Saturday, September 5th, the Evansville Indiana First Church celebrated the 100th anniversary of Adventism in the Evansville area.
The sabbath school hour became the tribute hour and highlights were special music, slide shows of various members and activities we had participated in. Two former Indiana Conference presidents sent videos congratulating the members on 100 years of service in the Evansville community.
Church clerk, Debbie Burns, read minutes of the group becoming a church, from the original September 4, 1920 clerk report. The 18 founding members were very excited to finally become an official church. The report stated, "All were pleased to become a part of the conference whole and to have a new impetus for helping advance the work in their territory."
Indiana Conference President, Vic Van Schaik, shared that a series of meeting in the 1800's was the beginning of the work in Evansville.
Guest speaker Dan Hall was excited to be back in Evansville. He was the pastor from 1983 to 1991. His sermon focused on the Holy Spirit and being ready each day for Jesus to come.
Former Pastor Dan Hall was the guest speaker at the centennial celebration. | Credit: Debbie Burns
After the church worship everyone was invited out to the large banner for a group picture.
Evansville mayor Lloyd Winnenke gave a city wide proclamation naming Saturday, September 5 as "Evansville First Seventh-day Adventist Church 100 year anniversary day". This proclamation was read by Pastor Van Schaik and presented to the church board. Head Elder Kent Hartmann accepted it.
In the last 100 years the Adventist movement has grown to 10 churches in the Tri-State area and an elementary school.
The members continue the ministry of service into our community. Through the years there has been various outreach through stop smoking classes, nutrition, pain support, exercise groups, disaster response, serving meals in the homeless shelter, and cooking classes. The church members are working on a special community outreach project to further celebrate our 100 years.
The church has been getting an updated new look for this celebration. The foyer was totally re-done, the mother's room, and all five bathrooms in the church are being remodeled.
The service was live streamed through YouTube and Facebook. Due to Covid, we had to limit how many people could attend. Many, including quite a few former Adventist watched on the live stream. You can access this on the church's website at www.evansvillesda.org
The local news station also covered the celebration. You can view the story here.
Debbie Burns is the Evansville Church clerk. She and her husband Roger have been members for 41 years.
