In summer 1907, a city of white tents appeared in Merced, Calif., as Seventh-day Adventists from California and Nevada began a 10-day camp meeting. The event generated front-page local news coverage; the Merced Sun printed daily reports, verbatim sermon reprints and interesting tidbits.

Ellen G. White, conference president W.T. Knox, and others preached powerful sermons on Bible truths such as the second coming, drawing many local people. Twenty individuals were soon baptized and the Merced church was officially organized on Nov. 2, 1907.

Yet Jesus did not come as soon as anticipated. After 100 years, the question "Why are we still here?" is inescapable. Merced's centennial anniversary weekend, Nov. 9 to 11, 2007, sought answers while commemorating God's goodness.

Herbert Douglass' sermon, "Time for Gratitude, Time for Renewal" called the weekend's 350 attendees to a revived hope in Jesus' soon return. On Sabbath afternoon, a panel of five former Merced pastors discussed why Jesus has not returned and what believers' response should be.

"Being here for 100 years is a blessing, but it is also an agonizing burden," reflects Pastor Billy Gager, who joined the Merced Olive East church in July 2007. "It gives me solemn pause to ask what are we doing to hasten the soon coming of Jesus."

A DVD shown Sabbath afternoon traced the history of Adventism in Merced. The film's engaging commentary by Clark McCall, retired pastor, brought to life historic photographs of the initial Adventist camp meeting, the church school from its start the in the late 1920s until today, the four church facilities used through the years, and the exemplary lives of some of the church's longest attending members.

A team of six church members, led by long-time member Edna Mason, organized the centennial weekend which included a Veteran Day's Sunday brunch. "From the very beginning, we prayed that this would be something that would bring honor and glory to God," Mason says.

God answered that prayer in many ways, they decided. Former Merced pastor Richard Kelley (1981-1993) has nearly died from an incurable lung disease several times in the past five years. He shared how each time God preserved his life and how his ongoing service as a hospital chaplain continues to amaze physicians. "We prayed our centennial would be a life changing event," says McCall, "and Kelley's testimony provided the inspiration for that."

Focusing on the future, Gager says, "Christ's resurrection makes possible the gift of the Holy Spirit to live in us, transforming us and empowering us to share the good news with others — our privilege and responsibility until He does come!"