When April 22 was proclaimed Barry Black Day in San Francisco, most people in San Francisco didn’t understand the full significance, but the members of the San Francisco Philadelphian church did. They knew it was their opportunity to be recognized as a church with members who are interested in being of service to their community. This was made evident when the church became the base for Rear Admiral Barry C. Black, 62nd chaplain of the United States Senate.

“He was in the area speaking for Diversity Month at the University of the Pacific and asked to use the Philadelphian church that evening,” says Pastor David Hudgens. “Chaplain Black is not only the first Seventh-day Adventist, but also the first African-American to become the senate chaplain.”

Although church members didn’t have a lot of notice, they prepared 50,000 fliers and arranged to have local organizations help pass them out in the community, including universities and churches.

“It’s an honor to have the chaplain of the U.S. Senate at our church and to open our doors and be of service to our community, which is the paramount thing,” says Hudgens. “We had some interesting dialog with some of the other area congregations. We deliberately wanted them to know we were there to serve the community.”

There were approximately 300 people in the church that evening — 30 to 40 percent were community members. In addition to a sermon from Black, John Harris, senior project manager for the San Francisco mayor’s Office of Community Development and an elder at the Oakland Market Street Adventist Church, presented Black with the mayoral citation.

It marked an important milestone in the church’s history, which is rich in other significant events. The Philadelphian church has a long and rich history in the community. Purchased in 1937, it was considered a preeminent African-American church. But in recent years, the membership has languished, and when Hudgens became pastor in February, the church was averaging 40 to 45 people each Sabbath, which has now grown to 75.

Through service, Hudgens has no doubt that the congregation will continue to grow. To that end, a reaping series is planned for the fall as a follow-up to a special mailing in April. In conjunction with the 100-year anniversary of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, the city’s Adventist churches partnered to send a special edition of the Great Controversy to every home. (The special edition included the last 11 chapters and a new cover.)

Follow-up for requests in more than 10 languages for Bible studies, the complete Great Controversy and the Final Events DVD has kept members busy. At the Philadelphian church, 10 teams of two are visiting homes, making friends for eternity.