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The Seventh-day Adventist Church of Orange
History:
The Church of the Oranges Seventh-day Adventist Church traces its beginnings to January 7, 1978, on a cold, snowy morning, when approximately 40 believers from the First Church Montclair, the Morristown Church, and Trinity Temple in Newark crossed over territorial lines. This gathering of 40 members met in a small rented chapel - at the Church at the Crossroads, Oraton Parkway, East Orange - after the culmination of weeks of planning and searching for a place to worship.
From a humble beginning, this small group filled with faith, hope and love has been guided by seven pastors. Each shared in the nurture of the membership and the establishment of a permanent church home which would become a beacon in the Oranges. James Clements, Jr. was the first shepherd of the new company and had a unique way of bringing together people of various backgrounds. His philosophy was typified by his favorite song: In Christ there is no East or West, In Him no North or South. By April 1978 the group had grown to 55 believers and Elder Meade Van Putten, Executive Secretary of the Allegheny East Conference set out to organize the group into a Company. However, upon finding a larger group than anticipated, he instead officially organized the group into a church - The East Orange SDA Church. Pastor Roy R. Brown (1979-1980) came from California to be the first full time pastor and soon a vibrant MV society and Pathfinder club were born. Pastor Harold L. Lee (1980-84) was the third pastor. Under his leadership, the first evangelistic crusade was held and this resulted in a spurt in membership. Pastor Lee also stimulated the Church Building Fund into 6 digits and led the search for and acquisition of the present church building. The building, then the Beth Torah Temple, was appraised for $1.5 million but God's blessings overflowed and the church membership of 300 was able to purchase the building for $0.5 million in 1983. The Baptistry, changing rooms and Treasury Room were subsequently added.
Pastor J. Glenn Roberts was the pastor from 1984-87. He emphasized the ideal of love and the mantra of the church as " A place where people care about people". During his tenure the church completed its first pictorial directory and expanded its outreach programs to include Food Basket and Clothing Distribution and a Senior Citizens' Lunch program. The membership was now 400. Pastor John A. Trusty (1987-93) coming from Chester, PA, was known as the young people's pastor. Evangelism was his emphasis and the late Mable Barbar, the first bible worker, along with the pastor led many to baptism. During his leadership, the church, for the first time, telecast its Sabbath services on channel 32 during prime time Sunday morning. The most significant achievement during this period was the Mortgage burning and Church Dedication on September 12, 1992. In 1994, Pastor St.Clair Phipps, from the Allegheny East Conference Office, replaced Pastor Trusty as Interim Pastor. During this period work was started on the long promoted sanctuary air conditioning system.
In 1995, Pastor Samuel G. Campbell transferred from the West Philadelphia SDA Church to be the pastor. His administrative skill and appreciation for technology led to emphasis on satellite and multimedia projects including Net 96 and 98 and Metro 99 satellite downlinks. Small group ministries were introduced and the acquisition and renovation of 294 Reynolds Terrace provided extended parking, a new home for our community services department and pathfinder and adventurer clubs. Pastor Alfred Johnson III joined Pastor Campbell in 2000 as the first Assistant Pastor providing much needed assistance. He was followed in summer 2001 by Pastor Andre Campbell who enhanced the youth program and ministry efforts of the church. A major renovation project was completed in 2000 that included remodeling and upgrading the interior and exterior of the church and parking facilities. The latest step has been the hosting of a new satellite ABC center on the church premises. The Church of the Oranges has given birth to three congregations over the years: a company of Hispanic believers, the Maplewood Church and the Irvington Church. Of the charter members of the church, eight remain and are still actively committed: Dr. Hazel Nurse-Bey; Fitz and Salia Jones; Cecilia Pascall; Colvin and Eve Philip; Gustavous Thomas and Patricia Reid.
The Church of the Oranges Seventh-day Adventist Church traces its beginnings to January 7, 1978, on a cold, snowy morning, when approximately 40 believers from the First Church Montclair, the Morristown Church, and Trinity Temple in Newark crossed over territorial lines. This gathering of 40 members met in a small rented chapel - at the Church at the Crossroads, Oraton Parkway, East Orange - after the culmination of weeks of planning and searching for a place to worship.
From a humble beginning, this small group filled with faith, hope and love has been guided by seven pastors. Each shared in the nurture of the membership and the establishment of a permanent church home which would become a beacon in the Oranges. James Clements, Jr. was the first shepherd of the new company and had a unique way of bringing together people of various backgrounds. His philosophy was typified by his favorite song: In Christ there is no East or West, In Him no North or South. By April 1978 the group had grown to 55 believers and Elder Meade Van Putten, Executive Secretary of the Allegheny East Conference set out to organize the group into a Company. However, upon finding a larger group than anticipated, he instead officially organized the group into a church - The East Orange SDA Church. Pastor Roy R. Brown (1979-1980) came from California to be the first full time pastor and soon a vibrant MV society and Pathfinder club were born. Pastor Harold L. Lee (1980-84) was the third pastor. Under his leadership, the first evangelistic crusade was held and this resulted in a spurt in membership. Pastor Lee also stimulated the Church Building Fund into 6 digits and led the search for and acquisition of the present church building. The building, then the Beth Torah Temple, was appraised for $1.5 million but God's blessings overflowed and the church membership of 300 was able to purchase the building for $0.5 million in 1983. The Baptistry, changing rooms and Treasury Room were subsequently added.
Pastor J. Glenn Roberts was the pastor from 1984-87. He emphasized the ideal of love and the mantra of the church as " A place where people care about people". During his tenure the church completed its first pictorial directory and expanded its outreach programs to include Food Basket and Clothing Distribution and a Senior Citizens' Lunch program. The membership was now 400. Pastor John A. Trusty (1987-93) coming from Chester, PA, was known as the young people's pastor. Evangelism was his emphasis and the late Mable Barbar, the first bible worker, along with the pastor led many to baptism. During his leadership, the church, for the first time, telecast its Sabbath services on channel 32 during prime time Sunday morning. The most significant achievement during this period was the Mortgage burning and Church Dedication on September 12, 1992. In 1994, Pastor St.Clair Phipps, from the Allegheny East Conference Office, replaced Pastor Trusty as Interim Pastor. During this period work was started on the long promoted sanctuary air conditioning system.
In 1995, Pastor Samuel G. Campbell transferred from the West Philadelphia SDA Church to be the pastor. His administrative skill and appreciation for technology led to emphasis on satellite and multimedia projects including Net 96 and 98 and Metro 99 satellite downlinks. Small group ministries were introduced and the acquisition and renovation of 294 Reynolds Terrace provided extended parking, a new home for our community services department and pathfinder and adventurer clubs. Pastor Alfred Johnson III joined Pastor Campbell in 2000 as the first Assistant Pastor providing much needed assistance. He was followed in summer 2001 by Pastor Andre Campbell who enhanced the youth program and ministry efforts of the church. A major renovation project was completed in 2000 that included remodeling and upgrading the interior and exterior of the church and parking facilities. The latest step has been the hosting of a new satellite ABC center on the church premises. The Church of the Oranges has given birth to three congregations over the years: a company of Hispanic believers, the Maplewood Church and the Irvington Church. Of the charter members of the church, eight remain and are still actively committed: Dr. Hazel Nurse-Bey; Fitz and Salia Jones; Cecilia Pascall; Colvin and Eve Philip; Gustavous Thomas and Patricia Reid.