Prayer, praise and personal reflections marked the 100th anniversary of establishing an Adventist congregation with 28 charter members on the grounds of Paradise Valley Hospital.

Organ, bells, brass instruments and a choir literally vibrated with joy during the Nov. 6 celebration. From a tiny group that first met on the porch of the sanitarium and in its parlor, the church membership has swelled to more than 600 today.

Old-timers who shared personal memories of the PV church and school included Lawrence Ferguson, born at PV hospital in 1910, and Beth McAlexander Chudleigh, whose father began working at the hospital in 1911. “One thing about church when I was a child was that people seemed to have sermon-length prayers,” she recalled, drawing appreciative chuckles from the audience.

Terry Hansen, hospital president, congratulated the church on its 100 years of ministry. He also reported that earlier this year, a birthday party honored the 80,000 babies born at the hospital since it was founded. Ernie Furness, ministerial director, brought official greetings from the Southeastern California Conference officers.

Ellen G. White led the way in purchasing the hospital site in 1904. In view of this, the church invited James Nix, director of the Ellen G. White Estate at the General Conference, as the weekend speaker.

When White visited the site in 1902, she was impressed with the 20-acre plot and 50-room sanitarium built by a Quaker physician, Anna Longshore Potts. The property had been abandoned, however, due to a long drought. Listed for $20,000, the price kept dropping. The Southern California Conference offered encouragement but no money. In 1904, White and Josephine Gotzian put together $4,000 and closed the deal. Trusting in God’s guidance, White instructed that a new well should be dug. It was successful and still provides water for use on the hospital grounds.

Historical Highlights

1904 — Church organizes on Nov. 4 with 28 members

1914 — First church building erected

1929 — Church building enlarged

1954 — Ground-breaking for new church

1956 — Inaugural services on March 10

1958 — New church dedicated debt free

1965 — Major renovation, redecorating

1968 — Pipe organ installed

1990 — Major renovation, redecoration