Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada |
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SDACC Headquarters in Oshawa, Ontario
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| Classification | Protestant |
| Orientation | Adventist |
| Polity | Modified presbyterian polity |
| President | Paul Llewellyn |
| Region | Canada |
| Branched from | Millerites |
| Aid organization | Adventist Development and Relief Agency |
| Tertiary institutions | Burman University |
| Other name(s) | Adventist church, SDA (informal), SDACC, Canadian Union |
The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada (SDACC) is a part of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America. It covers all of Canada and the French islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon. As of 2022, the church in Canada had 388 churches and over 74,000 members.
Contents
History of the Adventist Church in Canada
How the Church Started
The Seventh-day Adventist Church grew from a movement in the 1830s and 1840s led by a preacher named William Miller. He believed that Jesus would return soon. Miller, along with other leaders like Joshua Himes and Josiah Litch, visited Canada to share their message. Miller's sister even lived in Quebec, and Josiah Litch helped lead activities there. Many people in Canada were interested in Miller's teachings. The first big meeting, called a camp meeting, happened in Hatley, Quebec.
After October 22, 1844, when Jesus did not return as expected, many people were disappointed. This event is known as the Great Disappointment. The Millerite movement split into different groups. One group, led by people like Joseph Bates and the White family, started to believe that Saturday was the Sabbath (a day of rest). They traveled to find other Millerites and share this idea.
In the early 1850s, Joseph Bates and Hiram Edson traveled through snowy areas near Lake Ontario to meet with former Millerites. The first Seventh-day Adventist church in Canada was formed in South Stukely, Quebec, on September 30, 1877. It started with 16 members.
How the Church Organized Itself
Over time, the Seventh-day Adventist Church grew and needed a way to organize its churches. In 1901, the church created larger groups called "union conferences" to help manage local churches.
At first, Canada was part of a larger union conference that included parts of the eastern United States. But soon, in 1902, the Canadian Union Conference was formed. It included churches in Ontario, Quebec, the Maritimes, and Newfoundland.
Later, in 1907, a separate "Western Canadian Union Conference" was created for the churches in western Canada. This helped the church grow and manage its activities across the vast country.
To help the church during the Great Depression in 1932, the two Canadian union conferences (Eastern and Western) decided to join together. They formed one large "Canadian Union Conference" to serve all of Canada and Newfoundland. The main office for this new union was in Winnipeg.
In 1986, this organization officially became the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada, a non-profit religious group.
Helping Others and Being Involved
The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada has always been active in helping people and being part of society.
Helping Communities
Adventists believe in healthy living. The church in Canada has worked to promote good health and has run healthcare places, like the former Branson Hospital in Toronto. They also have facilities for seniors in many provinces.
Since 1990, the church has been a member of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. This group works with many faith communities to help feed people in need around the world.
Being Involved in Politics
Sometimes, the church has spoken up about laws. In 1906, Adventists in Canada disagreed with a group called the Lord's Day Alliance. This group wanted to make a law that everyone had to observe Sunday as a day of rest. Adventist leaders met with the Prime Minister, Wilfred Laurier, to explain their views.
Canadian Adventists, who were sometimes arrested for working on Sunday, also supported John G. Diefenbaker. He helped create the Canadian Bill of Rights, which protects people's freedoms, including religious freedom.
Church Membership Growth
This chart shows how the number of Seventh-day Adventist members in Canada has grown over the years.
Leaders of the Church in Canada
The church in Canada has been led by many presidents since it first organized. The current president is Paul Llewellyn.
Other Adventist Organizations in Canada
The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada works with several other organizations:
- Canadian Adventist Messenger (a church magazine)
- Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) (helps people in need)
- Burman University (a university)
- Kingsway College (a college)
- VOAR - Voice of Adventist Radio (a radio station)
- Christian Record Services for the Blind (helps blind people)
- It Is Written Canada (a TV ministry)
- Voice of Prophecy (a Bible study ministry)
Local Church Areas
The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada is divided into seven smaller areas, called "local conferences." Each conference helps manage the churches in its region.
Alberta Conference
This conference covers Alberta and part of the Northwest Territories. It has 68 churches and over 12,000 members. It runs four schools and a camp for meetings and youth.
British Columbia Conference
This conference covers British Columbia, the Yukon Territory, and part of the Northwest Territories. It has 81 churches and nearly 11,000 members. It runs six schools and two camps.
Manitoba-Saskatchewan Conference
This conference covers Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and the Nunavut Territory. It has 35 churches and over 4,000 members. It runs a camp for meetings and youth.
Maritime Conference
This conference covers New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. It has 27 churches and nearly 1,800 members. It runs one school and a camp.
Newfoundland and Labrador Conference
This conference covers Newfoundland and Labrador. It has 8 churches and over 500 members. It runs a radio station and a camp.
Ontario Conference
This conference covers Ontario. It has 133 churches and over 35,000 members, making it the largest conference in Canada. It runs one school and a youth camp.
Quebec Conference
This conference covers Quebec and Saint Pierre and Miquelon. It has 42 churches and over 9,000 members. It runs a media center.
See also
- Seventh-day Adventist Church
- North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists
- It Is Written
