The purpose of the Downey-Florence Seventh-day Adventist Church is to proclaim the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ, in its relevancy for today, as expressed in the Bible and our prophetic movement.
Each member, as a minister exercising his spiritual gifts through the power of the Holy Spirit, will be committed to promoting services that will touch their neighbor and the people of the community at their point of need. The church will provide opportunity and training for the utilization of these gifts.
The name “Seventh-day Adventist” is derived from two important Bible teachings.
“Seventh-day” – A reference to Saturday, the seventh day of the week. It was the Roman Emperor Constantine who first changed the day of Christian worship from Saturday to Sunday in 321 A.D. Because there is no Biblical reference for such a change, and because Jesus worshiped on Saturday, Seventh-day Adventists continue to “Remember the Sabbath day.”
“Adventist” – As a reference to the Second Advent of Jesus Christ, this is the greatest hope of mankind. It is possible only because Jesus lived a sinless life while here on earth, offered Himself as a supreme sacrifice, and then was resurrected into Heaven. We believe that eternal life begins through faith in Christ. When we accept His life and death in our place, He promises to fulfill His exciting promise of taking us to Heaven when He comes again.
For an overview about the Seventh-day Adventists, please explore the official Adventist World Church site.
Seventh-day Adventist Church traces its history to the Protestant reformation and the great promise of salvation by faith. The Church was officially established in 1863 by a group of people from many other Christian denominations. These people believed in the Second Coming of Jesus, had a strong desire to understand the prophecies found in the Bible, and believed the seventh day to be the Sabbath.