Members of the Lincoln Heights Spanish church in Los Angeles, reflecting on their church’s half-century heritage, reached consensus on a key point: The church is more than a building—the church is the members.

This theme was expressed in a video and in remarks by SCC Executive Secretary Velino Salazar. “More than a building, the church is the salt of the earth," he pointed out. "Did the mortgage pay for your salvation? No, the blood of Christ paid for your salvation. According to Matthew 26, when the Lord comes back He will ask us to be accountable for what we did ‘for these little ones.’"

“This congregation gave birth to the El Sereno Spanish church,” Salazar noted, acknowledging its planter, Rosa Marquina, was the first Hispanic woman elder in the area. “The church also gave birth to the East L.A. church. It is time to keep planting!”

A second theme affirmed the purpose of the church. “What I learned when I was brought into the church was, we had one job to do—to save souls,” said Placido Ortiz. “So I shared with a co-worker.”

“That co-worker,” noted Gloria Huerta, wife of Javier Huerta, the current Lincoln Heights pastor, “is my brother-in-law Adelfo. When he became an Adventist, he took the message to the entire family. Now there are six Adventist pastors in the family."

A DVD of the church’s history recounted its beginnings at the Spanish-American church. “We were packed in so tight, like a pack of cigarettes," the narrator exclaimed. "Evangelina Narvaez, one of our original pioneers, decided to sell something to raise money to help. Members sold brooms, tamales—in less than one year, they retired the $69,000 mortgage.

“Charlie Torres was the first to join the charter members. Charlie was a member of the denomination that had rented to our group. When our church bought the property, Charlie said, ‘Wait, you can’t move without me! I’m joining this church!’

“Founding Pastor Fred Hernandez and the members visited the entire neighborhood of Lincoln Heights,” the video’s narrator continued. “With literally every Hispanic country represented in the church, sharing in the community and with relatives drew visitors.”

“We are all gathered together to praise God for the 50th anniversary of our church,” said Alfredo Lee, SCC Hispanic Region director.

Victor Lee, the only living, retired Lincoln Heights pastor, spoke to the packed congregation. “Let’s focus on the solution, the Rock, Jesus Christ,” he said. “Time is so short. Let’s do the work that Jesus called us to do. We need to be ready, not get ready.”