Who are.... Seventh-day Adventists?

Seventh-day Adventists are a Christian community of faith who believe that every human being has great value in the sight of God. We believe that God is best revealed to us in the person of His Son Jesus Christ, who lived as a human being, died on a cross for our sins and was raised from the dead to give us assurance of eternal life. Seventh-day Adventists believe that the Holy Bible is the sole guide and rule of faith for believers. We believe that God loves people, because, as the Bible declares, ‘God is love.’

 Our name expresses two of our most prominent beliefs. The ‘Seventh-day’ refers to the Sabbath, Saturday, which God instituted at creation, which is also one of the Ten Commandments, and which was kept holy by Jesus Christ, our supreme example, during His time on earth.

 The word ‘Adventist’ refers to our belief in the soon advent, or Second Coming of Jesus Christ, when God will bring an end to pain and suffering in this world and take His children home to heaven.

 We take a holistic view of life, believing that there is a very strong connection between our physical body and our spiritual experience. We therefore promote a healthy, well balanced way of life comprising of good nutrition, exercise, service to others and faith in God. We believe that prevention is better than cure, so we choose to avoid those substances which are harmful such as alcohol, nicotine and other recreational drugs.

 However, we also believe in the benefits of modern medicine, and manage the largest Protestant Health System in the world, operating more than 170 hospitals around the globe. Adventists also value good education, operating the largest Protestant education system in the world with more than 7,000 schools globally.

 In harmony with Jesus Christ’s instruction to His followers, the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist church is to take the good news about God to the whole world. Of the 232 countries recognized by the United Nations, Seventh –day Adventists currently have an established present in 206 of them. Even in those countries where we don’t have churches, the Adventist movement seeks to help people through ADRA – the Adventist Development and Relief Agency, which provides humanitarian aid and disaster relief in times of need.

 Seventh-day Adventists believe that human beings were originally made in the image of God, but, because of sin, (rebellion against God), that image has been obscured. Jesus Christ came to earth to restore the incomplete, insecure and broken.

 Only by connecting with God can mankind achieve their true potential. If a part of that potential is the promise of everlasting life, then nothing can be more important.

 If you would like to know more, or if you would like to contact the Seventh-day Adventist church in Bendigo then please call: +61412093115