Our Beginnings
The West Philadelphia Seventh-day Adventist Church was first organized under the name Elmwood First Seventh-day Adventist Church on January 24, 1942. Its formation was the result of Bible studies held in the homes of members of the Ebenezer Seventh-day Adventist Church in Southwest Philadelphia, beginning as early as 1934. The formal effort to plant a church in West Philadelphia began in the summer of 1940, when Elder F.B. Slater conducted a tent meeting at the corner of 84th Street and Bartram Avenue. At the conclusion of the meetings, twelve individuals were baptized, and a storefront at the corner of 86th Street and Eastwick Avenue was secured as a place of worship. Members met there regularly, along with individuals from the Ebenezer SDA Church, until the congregation was officially organized in 1942.
Faith Through Early Challenges
The 34 charter members who formed the fledgling church faced significant challenges during its early years. By 1947, membership had declined to 19, with only 11 active members. However, under the leadership of pastors such as Elders F.L. Bland, A.V. Pinkney, G.E. Peters, C.D. Brooks, and C.L. Brooks, the congregation remained steadfast, resisting efforts to disband, and reunited with the Ebenezer SDA Church.
Growth and a Permanent Home
In 1962, the church purchased a building at 45th Street and Haverford Avenue, where it experienced steady growth. In 1976, under the leadership of Elder George Braxton, plans were initiated to construct a permanent place of worship to accommodate the expanding congregation. Through his strong leadership, the present building—now home to the West Philadelphia Seventh-day Adventist Church—was erected, and today the membership has grown to more than 700.
Our Pastor: Jovan Whyte
About Seventh-day Adventists
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a mainstream Protestant church with approximately 19 million members worldwide, including more than one million members in North America. The Seventh-day Adventist Church seeks to enhance quality of life for people everywhere and to let people know that Jesus is coming again soon.
Adventists believe a Trinity of three persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—make up one God. They made salvation possible when Jesus, the Son, came to earth as a baby in Bethlehem and lived a sinless life in accordance with the Father’s will. When Jesus was crucified for the sins of the people of the world and arose from the dead on the third day, victory was won for everyone.
When He returned to heaven following the resurrection, Jesus left the Holy Spirit to serve as our Comforter and Counselor. He promised to return to earth a second time to complete His plan of salvation and take His people to heaven. Adventists are among the believers who look forward to that day.
Adventists believe that God is concerned with the quality of human life, and that everything—the way we live, eat, speak, think, treat each other, and care for the world around us—is part of His plan. Our families, our children, our jobs, our talents, our money, and our time are all important to Him.