September 15 was a milestone for the El Cajon Church, bringing together members and guests to celebrate their 95th anniversary and to enjoy the grand opening of the new 650-seat sanctuary, located at 1630 E. Madison Avenue.
Bob McClellan, El Cajon City Council member, presented a proclamation from Mayor Mark Lewis, reading in part: "....This church has been serving East County for nearly a century. What began in 1882 as the seed of the third church organized in El Cajon has flourished into a wonderful community of believers dedicated to serving the world...."
Sandy Roberts, executive secretary of the Southeastern California Conference, brought greetings. Philip and Judi Lizzi, former pastors; and Roy Roberson and Chris Ramey, church elders, also participated.
In 1882 Charles Knox, a physician, joined the Adventist church through a revival series held in San Diego by W.M. Healy. In 1908 a Sabbath School was organized, and by 1912 a newly organized church, with A.G. Christianson as pastor, met in the office of Dr. Knox. Later they moved to the El Cajon public library.
In 1923, the small membership, with cash obtained from the sale of a donated ton of hay, plus pledges from members, built a new church near the center of town on the corner of Lexington and Prescott and dedicated it debt-free on December 29. The lot cost $505, building materials, $1,630, and fixtures, $400. The church had $1.05 left in their bank account. The San Diego Evening Tribune stated, "The two preachers helping with the manual labor on the building is an unusual thing at the present time and reminiscent of pioneer days."
Thirty years later, May 1, 1954, a new church with a seating capacity of 450 was built at the same location, at a cost of $60,000. Gerry Chudleigh, Pacific Union Conference communication director says, "I remember as a third-grader watching the original church building being moved on wheels to the back of the property to make room for the new church. The old church became the Pathfinder building and was used for such things as school and Sabbath School classes until the property was sold in 2001."
By the mid 1960s, as the result of ongoing Bible studies in the offices of a group of Adventist doctors, and evangelistic meetings coordinated by Kenneth Livesay, pastor, 450 seats were not enough, according to Irene Priester and Beth Chudleigh, long-time church members. So in the early 1970s, the church built Knox Auditorium on property on the east side of town, under the direction of Ted Cleveland, pastor. The congregation has met in that auditorium/gymnasium since 2001, when they sold their downtown church.
Through the years, the church has focused on its youth, with a Pathfinder program (begun in the late 40's) Adventurers, Little Lambs and a K-8 school.
Much of the growth of the El Cajon Church was the result of public evangelism, so it was not coincidental that current pastor and former full-time evangelist Gary Ford began a Revelation Seminar the night preceding the 95th anniversary and grand opening.
"It was truly the result of the outpouring of the Spirit of God that nearly 200 non-Adventists attended on opening night," he said. "The church is continuing to introduce Jesus Christ to the community through evangelism, youth emphasis, and service."
