Rogue Valley Adventist Academy celebrated 100 years of Adventist education in the southern Oregon valley during the third annual Valley-Wide Church service late in August. Valley-Wide Church, which began as a regional convocation service in 2024, brought together more than half a dozen area churches this year for worship, fellowship and, of course, haystacks.
Over the past century, the Adventist School in the Rogue Valley has gone through many incarnations, beginning as Rogue River Academy from 1926–1956, then Rogue River Junior Academy from 1956–1993, then Rogue Valley Adventist School from 1993–2004 and, finally, RVAA from 2004 to the present day. Some of the gathered visitors included alumni now past their 90th birthdays as well as three former principals representing years of service dating back to the 1980s.
“We have lots of alumni here in the valley and so many others we wanted to reach out to, as well,” said Brad Bennett, RVAA principal. “Our school is in such a beautiful location here in Jacksonville. We’re on 30 acres of what used to be a pear orchard. We thought, ‘What if we could get our alumni involved and make more out of the weekend event?’”
The event began Friday evening with vespers on the school lawn. David Davies, former RVAA principal, shared a message of reflection with stories about the impact Adventist teachers have had on his life over the years. During his years as teaching principal, Davies played a pivotal role in helping bring 12 grades of education to the Rogue Valley.
On Sabbath, Darold Bigger, Walla Walla University Church interim administrative pastor, spoke about the parallels between God’s leading of the Israelites and the many miracles experienced in the Rogue Valley that have allowed Adventist education to continue through so many generations of students. Bigger spent a large part of his life at RVAA during the 1950s.
Bennett has worked at the school for 30 years in various positions. Looking toward the future, Bennett shared, “I hope that God will continue to use our school in whatever shape or size it needs to be in order to point lives into a walk with Jesus Christ. I hope it can really be a place that introduces students to Jesus as we move forward into this new century, for however long is needed before His imminent return.”
More photos of the event can be seen at nwadvent.st/rvaa100.
RVAA celebrates 100 years of Adventist education during an August event.
Educators are honored with the annual beginning of the school year prayer of blessing during the service.
Generations of families attend to celebrate the momentous occasion.
Churches from across the Rogue Valley gather for Valley-Wide Church late each summer.
Yearbooks from the past allow alumni to connect and youngsters to giggle at students of the past.
After the service, attendees enjoy a haystack luncheon.
Lunch tables line the school's breezeways.
