Home | Business News | Browse by Publication | T | Texas Monthly

Arlington Seventh-Day Adventist: Arlington/April 28, 2007.

Article Excerpt
Generally speaking, Seventh-Day Adventists don't make much of a splash. Formally organized in 1863 by prophet Ellen G. White and other religious leaders who thought the Second Coming (or Advent) of Christ was imminent, they believe that a literal interpretation of Scripture requires them to worship on Saturday--the biblical Sabbath--and they often lead moderately ascetic lives, eschewing tobacco and alcohol and much of popular culture. They emphasize good nutrition (Adventists gave us Weetabix, Kellogg's Corn Flakes, and granola) and maintain numerous schools and top-quality medical facilities. The denomination claims a worldwide membership of 15.2 million baptized believers, but only 7 percent of those live in the United States, and most congregations here are rather small. So when I learned of an SDA church in Arlington that holds three services on Saturdays, I broke my habit of breaking the Sabbath and joined them for the 11:30 hour.

I arrived just as the 10:15 "Younger Generation" worship was ending. It had packed the sanctuary, which holds about 650 people, and the next service drew at least that many. With...

View this article FREE - Now for a Limited Time, try Goliath Business News
Free for 3 Days!