The History: Black Adventist Journey
“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase,” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. declared during America’s struggle for equality. That same spirit of stepping forward without seeing the whole path is reflected in the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Founded in the mid-1800s, the church emphasized that faith and service are inseparable. From the beginning, Adventists prioritized education, health, and community care as essential to spiritual life, establishing schools, hospitals, and churches nationwide. In the South, this mission extended to newly freed African Americans, providing access to education, spiritual guidance, and leadership at a time when systemic barriers severely limited opportunities. Adventist churches and institutions also offered spaces for organizing, voter education, and community advocacy, actively shaping race relations and advancing Black culture. This commitment continues today through mentorship programs, healthcare initiatives, disaster relief, and educational support, showing that faith is not only about worship but also about uplifting communities.
Among the institutions born from this mission, Oakwood University, founded in 1896, became a center of learning, worship, and dignity for African Americans. At a time when higher education for African Americans was scarce and often dangerous, Oakwood combined academic rigor with spiritual formation and leadership development, preparing students to confront injustice and uplift their communities. Graduates went on to become pastors, educators, and professionals who brought equality and empowerment into Black neighborhoods. During the Civil Rights era, alumni actively participated in marches, voter registration drives, and local activism, while the renowned Aeolians Choir elevated African American sacred music and cultural pride worldwide. Oakwood’s integration of faith, learning, and service nurtured generations of leaders who embodied Black excellence and transformed their communities, leaving a legacy that continues to inspire me and countless others.
Faith in Action Today
The Seventh-day Adventist Church continues to live out this mission of service, education, and justice. Through Oakwood and partner institutions such as Andrews University and Loma Linda University, Adventists create pathways for Black students to thrive in ministry, health, and education. Loma Linda, recognized globally as one of the world’s five Blue Zones, exemplifies Adventist principles of plant-based nutrition, rest, community care, and service, promoting both longevity and stronger communities, particularly in African American neighborhoods facing healthcare disparities.
Adventist churches invest in community health clinics, food distribution programs, disaster relief, and mentorship initiatives. For African American communities, congregations remain safe spaces of fellowship, dignity, and empowerment. They sponsor youth tutoring, provide scholarships, and advocate for equitable healthcare and opportunities. Adventist ministries emphasize holistic living, showing that wellness, education, and social responsibility are inseparable from faith.
Yet historic congregations face challenges. Rapid urban development and gentrification threaten long-standing Black neighborhoods and churches across the country. Cities including Chicago, Detroit, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles have seen demographic shifts and rising costs that pressure long-standing congregations. These changes threaten community continuity and cultural identity. In Birmingham, the Norwood Church was sold to a developer. Still, Adventist churches adapt—partnering with civic groups, expanding outreach, and reaffirming their role as centers of culture, identity, and justice. In Huntsville, Alabama, the First Seventh-day Adventist Church provided temporary shelter for displaced families. Their work shows that faith preserves tradition while responding to urgent needs today.
My Voice and Empowering the Future
Reflecting on this legacy, I feel inspired to carry this mission forward. Growing up in the church, I absorbed lessons about service. Volunteering at food drives or clean-ups felt routine at first, but seeing the impact on families planted a desire to serve. Many friends and mentors have gone on to create nonprofits and mentorship programs, continuing to help communities today.
African American neighborhoods, in particular, rely on this work. Churches provide education, healthcare access, and advocacy in communities facing systemic barriers, including gentrification that displaces families and threatens neighborhood culture. The church’s ministries help preserve dignity and empower individuals to rise above these challenges.
One of my most unforgettable experiences was the 2024 International Pathfinder Camporee in Gillette, Wyoming. Surrounded by 60,000 Pathfinders from over 100 countries, I witnessed a Guinness World Record service project: thousands of backpacks were packed in under five minutes for children from Wyoming to Micronesia. Seeing each backpack pile up, carrying hope for a child, showed me what faith in action truly looks like. Participating in teamwork activities like LEGO-building and tent competitions was exciting, but it was the service project that left the deepest impression, connecting me to a legacy of empowerment that began at Oakwood and in Adventist congregations decades ago.
Faith, for me, is not just a tradition, it is a call to build, uplift, and advocate. I envision a future where churches and communities work together to ensure progress does not come at the expense of the most vulnerable. I hope to focus on Black communities in Philadelphia, where gentrification threatens long-standing communities, by creating programs that mentor youth, expand educational opportunities, and provide resources to empower the next generation.
The path ahead will not be easy. But history shows that faith is about taking the first step, even when the whole staircase is unseen. With dedication, compassion, and purposeful action, we can build communities where faith preserves our history while shaping a future of hope, equity, and lasting impact.
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Works Cited
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