The Seventh-day movement began in North America in the mid-1800s. At the time, thousands of Christians were searching for greater understanding of biblical prophecy. Like the early days of the Advent movement, we have an opportunity to share a message of hope throughout the North American Division.
Has God ordained Sunday or Saturday as His day of worship?
This question led to the humble beginnings of the Seventh-day movement in North America in the mid-1800s. At the time, thousands of Christians were searching for greater understanding of biblical prophecy, and there was a group in the northeastern United States that had recognized Saturday—the seventh day—as Sabbath, the day of worship.
These two pieces, biblical prophecy and the Sabbath, laid the foundation for the Seventh-day Adventist Church. In 1863, the new Sabbath keepers officially organized into a denomination with 3,500 members worshipping in 125 churches.
Today, the North American Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church represents more than 1.2 million members spanning all the way from Bermuda over the mainland to Palau.
There is an incredible amount of diversity in this region and that requires different approaches to outreach. Church members here minister to their communities in various ways. Many follow Christ’s method of ministry, which starts with mingling with people, sympathizing with them, meeting their needs, winning their friendship, and inviting them to follow Christ.
Adventists throughout North America are ministering to native people groups such as Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and First Nations people wherever they are. In places like Alaska, it can sometimes be quite difficult to reach them.
“For village life, I would say the one word that comes to mind is very isolated. Kind of like a third world country. A lot of kids suffer from alcoholic, abusive parents—which is verbally abusive, sexually abusive, physically abusive—and they found safety in the church. That's what Arctic Mission is essentially providing. They're providing safety for kids who have been trying to survive this drug and alcohol epidemic that’s still clutching its nails into the very fabric of Native Alaskan culture and people.”
“The biggest impact that having day camps in the villages gives is showing them that there's a way out of this cycle. Once there’s somebody there to show them, this is what love really is like. Because of the day camps they’re able to get a way out.”
“We have people who can't afford potable water. They come to this facility to get drinking water or they’ve been involved with the food bank program they started here. Our own family has also been recipients of their humanitarian help for our people.”
“Yes, we have an incredible backyard. At the same time we're definitely a mission field on the frontlines.”
In northern Canada, the native population called the First Nations faces similar struggles as the Alaska Natives. Nunavut is the newest, biggest, and most northerly territory of Canada. It’s an immense, sparsely populated area with tundra, rugged mountains, and remote villages that are only accessible by boat or airplane. There is a small group of Seventh-day Adventists in a remote part of Nunavut who have started ministry efforts to reach their neighbors.
Your prayers and contributions through the mission offering fuel the work in difficult-to-reach places like this.
Like the early days of the Advent movement, we have an opportunity to share a message of hope throughout the North American Division. Thank you for supporting the mission work of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
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