Published On:Thursday, March 04, 2010

The beginning of the Seventh Day Adventist Movement is attributed to William Miller (1782 - 1849) an American Baptist preacher. In the 1830s, he interpreted Daniel 8.14: "Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed," to mean that the cleansing of the sanctuary represented the Earth's purification by fire at Christ's second coming. The Adventist movement and its observance of the Sabbath was transformed from an obscure, regional movement into a national campaign.

The cause of the Seventh Day Adventists was advanced by Ellen G White. She was a woman of remarkable spiritual gifts who lived most of her life during the nineteenth century (1827-1915), yet through her writings she is still making a revolutionary impact on millions of people around the world. During her lifetime she wrote more than 5,000 periodical articles and 40 books

As a Christian church, Seventh-day Adventists are a faith community rooted in the beliefs described by the Holy Scriptures. Adventists describe these beliefs in the following ways:

God's greatest desire is for you to see a clear picture of His character. When you see Him clearly, you will find His love irresistible. Scripture is a road map. The Bible is God's voice, speaking His love personally to you today. Jesus is the one who never changes in a universe that always does. Jesus is Creator, Sustainer, Saviour, Friend, God's Son, and God Himself! God's vision for you is life as He lives it! God loves you, and wants to give you the highest quality of life imaginable. In the heart of God is a place you can experience as home. God loves you, and wants to spend time with you personally, one on one, as two close friends.

Eternal life, peace, purpose, forgiveness, transforming grace, hope: Everything He promises is ours, because He's offering it and He's shown we can trust Him to do exactly as He promises. Accept His gifts, and you immediately become an active part of His family, and He joyfully becomes part of yours.

In 1893, Seventh Day Adventist Missionary, C H Richards and his wife came to the Bahamas which he reported had a population of about 50,000 - one third of the population was Caucasian and the balance with shades from yellow to black. Richards implied that the Bahamas was a virgin territory and that "no one of whom so far as we know, fully understands and obeys the (Sabbath) truth for this time."

In March of 1895, Mr and Mrs C. F. Parmele, also literature evangelists, under the directive of the Foreign Mission Board, succeeded the Richards in the Bahamas.

Charles Antonio, a shoemaker was the first Bahamian to accept the Seventh-day Adventist message. His son, Brother William W Antonio, was among the first Bahamians to serve on the Bahamas Mission of Seventh Day Adventist Executive Committee.

Pastors Silas N McKinney and Neville E Scavella, were the first Bahamians to train for the ministry. In 1956, upon completion of their theological studies they were employed by the Bahamas Mission. Silas McKinney (1964 - 1976 ) became the first Bahamian President and was followed by Leslie V McMillan (1976 - 1980), Hugh A Roach (1980 - 1986) Silas N McKinney (1986 - 1990), Jeremiah Duncombe (1990 - 1996), Keith D Albury (1996 - January 10, 2003) and Leonard Johnson - January 10, 2003 - to date).

Great things come from humble beginnings. The oldest Adventist Church in The Bahamas is Centreville Church which started on Shirley Street but relocated to the corner of Collins Avenue and 5th Terrace.

The Hillview Seventh-day Adventist Church began as far back as 1942 - Haddassah Poitier then, a member of the Grant's Town Seventh-day Adventist Church invited all of the children in the neighborhood to Friday evening vespers and Branch Sabbath School classes on the following day. In 1952 under the leadership of Elder Mote, Mission President, the company was organised into a church. Charter Members included Haddassah Poitier, Jane Brown, Pearl McMillan and Hamfreth Rahming from the Grant's Town Adventist Church.

The Breath of Life Seventh Day Adventist Church came into being in 1993 following a six-week crusade, held by Dr Charles Brooks, at the H. D. Colburn Auditorium, Wulff Road. Pastor Leonard and Denise Johnson were chosen to lead the fledgling church.

Thus from humble beginnings, the church in the Bahamas began. Today, the Seventh-day Adventist Church is the fourth largest denomination in the country. The total of the Bahamas Conference Membership as of November 5, 2009 was 15,020. There are 44 Adventist Churches and Companies in the Bahamas Conference. Twenty-four are located in Nassau, and 20 are on eight of the central and southern Family Islands. The Islands of Grand Bahama, Abaco, Bimini, and the Berry Islands, constitute the Northern Bahamas Conference.