Tacoma South Side Church celebrated 100 years of ministry this fall.
“One hundred years ago men and women, led of the Lord, had a vision to see that a message of warning, hope and love be proclaimed to the people of Tacoma,” said David Moench, current pastor.
The Scandinavian Adventist Church of Tacoma, Wash., organized on Dec. 22, 1907, with 27 charter members (church records were first kept in Swedish). Since then, 26 pastors, interns and chaplains have served the congregation in three church facilities.
Three Adventist churches/companies started out of Tacoma South Side: the Graham Church (in partnership with Puyallup Church) in 1986; Voice of Hope in 1997; and South Side Samoan Company in 2005.
Tacoma South Side is also celebrating the re-opening of Tacoma Adventist Christian School. This year, the school is offering kindergarten through second grade with teacher/principal, Karen Schwartz. The school plans to grow grade by grade in future years.
At the rededication service, Doug Bing, Washington Conference vice president for administration, challenged the congregation to be more like Jesus, to be a light in the community, and to remember the unique message of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. “I echo what others say in that I hope we’ll celebrate the next 100 years in eternity.”
