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North American Regional Voice for 1987

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North American Regional Voice for 1987 OFFICIAL ORGAN OF TILE NORTH AMERICAN REGIONAL CONFERENCES OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS NUMBER 2 VOLUME 9 APRIL, 1987 South Central's New Office Building COVER STORY FUTURE OFFICE BUILDING PLANNED FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL CONFERENCE The work of the Seventh-day Adventist Church among Black people in the United States of America had its beginnings in the South Central Conference territory near the close of the nineteenth century when laymen moved to share the "truths" of the Bible with this people whose roots were in slavery for centuries. E. B. Lane, one of these burdened souls, began his teachings of the "return of Jesus to earth" at a railroad station near Edgefield Junction, TN. in 1873 just thirteen miles from Nash- ville. The foundation of the building in South Central ground breaking for new office. which they met is still in place, although the building has long since been demo- When its memberships and financial church which made it necessary for the lished, but flowers that were planted there income had reached significant levels over church leaders to restudy some of the then still bloom every Spring. the next two decades, some of the leaders requests that had been made earlier by the Some of the adherents who believed made requests that offices and confer- "colored" leaders in 1929, thus, colored and accepted these teachings were the ences be provided that would give stronger conferences were set up by the body to parents of Thomas and Jonathan Allison leadership roles for this rapidly growing serve the colored members of the Seventh- along with their children. They travelled group in the church—they wought to day Adventist Church in the United States over 30 miles each week from Clarksville develop "role models" that would bring of America. To be totally integrated into the to attend the services. Their children were, future growth and strength to making ready system of and organization of the church Thomas A. Allison who serves as one of this people to meet the Lord. This request was the request at this time, however, the the original members of the famous Fisk was denied. The year was 1929. leaders in the main stream of the work took Jubilee Singers group that sang before the As time moved along there were certain an alternate route and organized seperate kings and queens of Europe, but who later racial incidents that took place in the conferences which came to be known became a minister of the Seventh-day The fires of evangelism became rampant as "the Regional Conferences" of the Adventist denomination. His sister, Flor- in America as hundreds of the sons and North American Division of the Seventh- ence later moved to Los Angeles, California daughters of former slaves sought freedom day Adventist denomination. Seven con- where she became a teacher in the public of mind, body and soul by accepting the ferences were brought into being to give school system and dedicated her life to the Biblical teachings and beliefs of this new leadership for Blacks. The year was 1945. teaching for over 50 years. Another brother, religious group which taught a hope in the Struggles for these groups of leaders Jonathan remained near the old home blessed "return of our Lord and Saviour" were not a few. Money with which to place, but later moved to Denver, CO to earth a second time but also the wor- operate was sparce, workers with which where he completed his high school edu- shipping on Saturday, healthful living and to get the job done were few in number cation at the age of over 80 years. A foster eating along with a longing to accept the and challenges were many, but the valiant son, Samuel J. Thompson whom the philosophies of Christian Education. leaders, with a trust in the Lord, with songs Allisons reared became one of the original The joys of their new spiritual freedoms of hope and assurance and with a strong 16 students to arrive at the Huntsville and beliefs were not without some testing determination to succeed, went forward to School that was established in Huntsville, of their souls through the "race relations" get the job done for Jesus was soon to AL by the Seventh-day Adventist denom- of some of the members of the main body come. ination in 1896. of believers. However these trusting souls In the South Central Conference, H. R. The South Central Conference can right- held to the teachings of the Word and a Murphy, the first president and V. Lindsay, fully be called the "Cradle of Black trust in God to see them through. They the first secretary/treasurer and their ex- Adventism". From its small beginnings the kept their eyes on the prize. ecutive committee did not find it easy to work soon spread northward to Lousivil le By the end of the first decade, the band secure a place in which to establish their and Bowling Green, Kentucky and then to had reached remarkable proportions to offices. Nashville, TN was the city that was Lexington and to Morristown, Knoxville the extent that the church fathers moved to chosen to be the conference headquarters and Harriman, TN. and finally across the establish the first semblence of an organ- whose territory was to cover the states of continent and around the world. However, ization to strengthen the work among its Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Missis- it must be noted that by the distribution of Black believers whose number was over sippi and Northwest FL. Ellen G. White had literature by sea-going vessels, Adventism 900. The organization became known as stated earlier that: "Our brethren selected had begun to be taught in the Carribbean "the Negro Department". The year was Nashville as a center for work in the South Islands and in Africa also. 1909. because the Lord in His wisdom directed Page 2 Cover Story April 1987/North American Regional Voice them there. It is a favorable place in which Evangelism, church growth, christian are being operated, six housing projects to make a beginning. Our workers will find education and lay and literature ministries for senior citizens and the homeless have it easier to labor in this city for the colored were uppermost in the planning of these been constructed throughout the states in race than in many other cities of the South. leaders. Jobs were provided for new min- the South; almost 200 pastors, teachers, In this city much interest is taken in the isters and teachers; hundreds of laity en- literature evangelists and office workers colored people by those not of our faith. In tered the literature ministry, new territory are serving the church throughout the and near the city are large educational was entered with tent meetings each territory; more than 50 physicians and institutions for the colored people. The summer and literature became spread dentists are serving throughout the con- influence of these institutions has prepared "like the leaves of autumn". The work ference; God's truth is marching onward. the way for us to make this city a center for among Blacks began to flourish. The The tith income for 1986 was $4,343,000.00. our work." membership grew to over 3,000 in the Yes, the work in the South Central Con- Those beginning days of the South territory. ference has been blessed of God and His Central Conference are memorable. No By 1954 Elder H. R. Murphey and Elder purposes for His people in the Southland office building was opened to these youth- W. W. Fordham, the president of the are being realized. ful leaders in 1945, plus, they did not have Southwest Region Conference with offices When the workers and community that kind of money to pay for such sur- in Dallas, TX, exchanged places of leader- leaders came together in Jan. 1987 the roundings, thus, Elder and Mrs. Louis B. ship. Murphy became the president of the ground was broken for a new office build- Reynolds, the editor of the Message Southwest Region Conference and Ford- ing from which to direct the work of the Magazine, opened their doors of their ham became the president of the South conference. This facility is to be construc- home on Hawkins Street and from their Central Conference. ted by Elder W. 0. Freeman, one of the dwelling the conference began to function The times were changing and the birth pastors who has been blessed with build- to serve its 2,600 constituents who lived in of the "freedom movement" had come into ing skills. The facility is to house the the central South. L. B. Reynolds had come being for Blacks and had its roots in administative and departmental offices, to Nashville from the mid-west to serve as Nashville and in Montgomery. Through the Adventist Book Center and have a the editor for this new journal that was to evangelistic meetings held by E. E. Cleve- chapel that will seat 150 people and will be help Black youths to "work their way land, C. S. Myles, D. B. Reid, J. G. Thomas, used to hold the workers' meetings and through school". H. R. Murphy had come B. W. Abney, C. A. Lynes, E. F. Carter, and other gatherings. Construction is to begin from Birmingham, AL where he had served E. T. Mimms the conference membership by early Spring with a completion date that as the "state director" for the colored work had climbed to over 4,000. Cleveland had has been set for early 1988. To God be the in the states of Alabama and Mississippi.
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