Black History Sabbath
Author:
February 06, 2026
Throughout Scripture, God calls His people to remember where they came from and why they exist. Black History Month gives us an opportunity to remember how faith and conviction shaped the beginnings of the Adventist Church.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church was founded in 1863 during the Civil War, when slavery was still legal in the United States. Our church founders—James White, Ellen G. White, and Joseph Bates—were abolitionists who believed slavery was wrong. Joseph Bates even refused to take communion with slaveholders. Our first General Conference president, John Byington, helped run the Underground Railroad.
Today, being an abolitionist sounds heroic, but back then it wasn’t popular. Many churches rejected abolitionists because they were seen as radical and disruptive. Adventists chose to stand for what was right, even when it cost them.
Black History Month isn’t just about race, nor is it only for Black members. It’s about remembering our Adventist roots—showing compassion, valuing every person, and living out the gospel of Jesus. That calling still belongs to us today.
This Sabbath, we invite you to join us for a special Black History Sabbath, featuring meaningful music and a timely message from Dr. Rudy Peters titled “Faith That Survived the Furnace.” His message will remind us that the gospel reveals not a distant God, but an engaged one—who enters human suffering, stands with the oppressed, and turns scars into hope for us all.
Hope to see you there as we worship our Lord together!
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