Turlock Seventh-day Adventist Church celebrated its 100-year history Sept. 9. The day was filled with special events, recognitions and special guests. Don Jacobsen, then president of Adventist World Radio, preached the morning’s sermon. Ruthie Jacobsen, prayer ministries coordinator for the North American Division, spoke at a prayer breakfast on Sunday morning.

A proclamation from the city acknowledged the members' spirit of unwavering faith in God and affirmed their 100-year legacy of positive benefit, unfailing devotion and faithful witness to the community of Turlock, Calif. Their history spans an extraordinary century.

First, the railroad came in the late 1800s. Then irrigation for this agricultural community arrived. The Adventists arrived in 1902 — engineer George Manuel and surveyor John Luyster — to work on the local dam and new irrigation system. One year later, the first Sabbath school began with nine members.

By 1906, the fledgling group had grown to 13 members and the Turlock church was organized. A church school was established in 1908, and they built their first church. Community service (then called Dorcas) and investment projects began in 1909. Evangelistic outreaches sounded the three angels’ messages to the community.

Today, 100 years and 25 pastors later, the Turlock church is strong and growing in their expanding city. Active community outreach now includes secular college ministry at Stanislaus State as well as public evangelism. Family nights each Tuesday with supper, classes and activities for adults and children promote a strong sense of family.

Prayer ministries is central as is the call to take the gospel to all the world. Through the years, members have served in South America, Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, Ethiopia, Nepal, Mexico and Pitcarin. Today, short-term mission trips, sponsored and manned by the members, are an annual event.

Celebrating their first 100 years was a historic homecoming. A committee of eight began organizing in January 2006. The research, exhibit and displays, communication, program needs, a oral history DVD of interviews for Sabbath afternoon, a concert by the Gospel Brass, and a CD of more than 800 pictures quickly spread to a much larger group.

“The whole day was about connecting — people who haven’t seen each other in years, some even 40 or 50 years. It was an atmosphere of a homecoming,” says Wayne Pote, a long-time member.