CELEBRATING A CENTURY:
Three Churches Honor Their History On October 22, 2022, three churches in the Southeastern California Conference (SECC) celebrated big-number anniversaries with special services, events, and guests. 31st Street church: 100 years “It’s the mother church,” commented Rashad Burden, lead pastor of the 31st Street church in San Diego. The two other predominantly Black Adventist churches in the city were birthed from 31st Street. “There’s something special about being the place where so many people met Jesus.” The 31st Street church has been celebrating their 100th anniversary all year, starting in March with a series of sermons presented by former 31st Street pastors. They also started a Friendship Walk, in which, one Sabbath a month, members walk a mile or two around the neighborhood after church and engage with their neighbors. A 100-mile walking challenge over the year emphasized the church’s health ministry program, and several members have already surpassed the 100 miles. During what the church called “Homecoming Weekend” in October, beloved former pastors spoke
and provided music for services, and the congregation enjoyed a special gala Saturday night at the Legacy Center in downtown San Diego. The culminating event was a field day on Sunday, complete with food, games, and community. “Looking into the future, we are truly focused on manifesting our mission through our ministries,” Burden said. “We’re not a megachurch, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do mega-ministry.”
Crestline church: 107 years
Originally, this congregation thought they were celebrating 100 years in 2020. As they waited out the pandemic, however, further research revealed that the church was actually founded in 1915, making their eventual celebration in 2022 their 107th anniversary. “This building was actually once the local bar,” shared Pavel Rudoy, pastor of the Crestline church. “Our Sabbath service speaker, SECC President Jonathan Park, talked about churches that have become other things, like libraries and restaurants. He pointed out how wonderful it is that within the walls where people used to imbibe alcoholic spirits, it is now the Holy Spirit filling those here.” Rudoy feels Crestline church is unique in the sense that it gives the favorable impression of being far removed from the city, with 88 curves leading up the mountain 31st Street church members gather for the Friendship Walk.
48 Pacific Union Recorder
Southeastern California Conference