The Statesboro Herald, October 21, 2000

Statesboro Seventh Day Adventist Church

By Dr. John W. Bressler, pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Statesboro

Across from me sat a remarkable young man by the name of Kamil Cak, pronounced Chalk. He became a Christian in 1992. Nothing remarkable about that. He attended Southern Adventist University in Tennessee from 1994 to 1998. Nothing remarkable about that. From 1998 to the year 2000 he went to Andrews University in Michigan where he received a master of divinity degree. Nothing very remarkable about that, either.

Okay, you, say.

Well, in 1993 Kamil came from Slovakia to learn English. He had $100 in his pocket. "I had no money and no food, but I felt God was calling me to the ministry. I thought to myself, 'Does God really want me?' Two months before I was to return to Slovakia, Southern Adventist University in Chattanooga, Tenn., called and said they were impressed with my scholasticism and my work and wanted me to attend. I was certainly surprised but I had to tell  them I couldn't afford it. Doors kept opening and opportunities kept presenting themselves, and I graduated, and here I am."

Remarkable? You'd better believe it!

Kamil and his wife Loretta have been in Statesboro about two months and like every newcomer just have to say, "We love it!" In case I forgot to mention it, Kamil is the new pastor of our local Seventh Day Adventist Church on the corner of East Main and the 301 By-pass. He also pastors the church in Baxley which surely keeps him very busy going back and forth, or  to and fro, or hither and yon.

Since few of  us know little about the Seventh Day Adventists, it may be worthy of a bit of space to enlighten our community about a very fine section of Christ's church.

No, they are not a rock group. They believe in Jesus. They are definitely not a cult. Please do not confuse them with Jehovah's Witnesses.

The Seventh Day Adventists are mainline Protestants coming right out of the reformation just like most of us. They profess the same basic fundamental beliefs as any protestant church , such as: authority of the Bible, the Trinity, the atoning work of Jesus Christ, Divine Creation and the like. "So you are something of a Calvinist, then?," I asked. His eyes lit up and he replied, "Naw, we don't believe in predestination." "Oh, you mean Calvin's supralapsarianism," I said. "Right," he said. Your eyes have not deceived you. What I meant was that neither he nor I believe that some are predestined to Heaven while others are predestined to Hell.

I believe that Kamil said he was a modified Wesleyan. I can live with that.

The longer I spoke with this intelligent young man I realized that we differ very little in theology and doctrine. We do differ in polity and is some of the emphasis placed on various doctrines. For instance, if it were not the fact that these folks worship on what many of us refer to as plain old Saturday, we would not see them as a tad different. Whether you read Genesis 2:3 or Exodus 20:8-10, it is clear that the Bible thought of the seventh day, or Saturday, as the Sabbath. There is strong emphasis on temperance, which means avoidance of all alcohol and tobacco, and moderation in all activities. They also are among some of the healthiest, people in the United States as many are vegetarians and eat a very healthy diet. That takes care of the Seventh Day, but what about the Adventist? Most of us usually think of Advent as the time before Christmas. Advent means arrival. Well, in 1816, a well educated man by the name of William Miller, using the prophecy of Daniel 8:14, believed that Christ would return sometime in the Fall of 1844. While this day came and went without Christ's Advent, many believed that he was mistaken, not in the date, but the interpretation of the date. It was not the date for Arrival but the date of Preparation. While this might have been a point of controversy and dissension by many, out of a small group of devoted Christians came a formal, organization in 1863. It might be a surprise to many to know that the Seventh Day Adventists can boast of some 7 million members worldwide. They have a wonderful history of mission and ministry and are ready to help those in need at a moment's notice.

"We can always argue theology, but no one can argue over what God has done in one's life! We are not different. We care. We are interested in our community. We are here to help any who are in need. Of course, we spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but not to convert to Adventist positions. If you join us, great! First, however, we want to help you establish a firm relationship with Jesus."

Did I say, “Remarkable?" I surely did and I will repeat it. Here is a remarkable pastor who serves a church like yours and mine and is equally proud of the mission and ministry provided by a strong and dedicated congregation. Seventh Day or First Day? I'm not too sure God is as interested in the day as He is in the people.

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