16 September 2009

South Brisbane church celebrates 110 years

Brisbane, Queensland
Charmaine Davison

The South Brisbane Adventist church celebrated its 110th anniversary on August 8. The church was established as a result of a vision had by Ellen White at the first camp-meeting, held in Queensland from October 13 to 21, 1898.

The church was formally organised in 1889, with believers meeting in homes prior to that. On October 14, 1898, a newspaper in the area reported there to be "approximately 175 [Adventists] living in Queensland." Around 30 of these members formed the original South Brisbane church.

A £100 donation from Mrs White, which was "a donation from me as the Lord's steward," started the construction of the church, which was finished in 1899. The church was
first used on March 18 that year, with the formal dedication service on April 1.

A church school was opened at the rear of the church in 1914. It later closed in 1926.

In 1952, a Russian church group began to meet in the church each Sabbath afternoon. The general church membership also saw healthy growth in the 1950s. By 1961,
the church membership had grown to 180 people and a new building on a different street was purchased to cater to this growth.

The church was filled to capacity for the 110th anniversary program, with church pastors and members past and present in attendance. A number of church diginitaries
were in attendance, including Pastor Neil Watts, president of the Adventist Church in South Queensland. Former church pastors Ray Fraser and Bruce Roberts led the program.

Current pastors Ted White and Joseph Khabbaz were joined in the church service by former pastors Keith Miller, Ian Johnston, Ken Martin and Pastor Watts to bring a message about faithfulness and hope for the future.

Attendees of the program said it was "uplifting" and "glorious."

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