History of the Santa Cruz SDA Church
The first known Adventist in Santa Cruz was Jacob Vincent Woolford, who sold "Bible Readings " and "Daniel and the Revelation" in Santa Cruz from July to September of 1891. James Pearson also joined him in selling books in August and September of 1891. Jacob became a Seventh-day Adventist in 1877. The closest churches at the time were in Gilroy and San Jose.
A colporteur by the name of Saunders came to Santa Cruz early in the year 1894, and came in contact with Mrs. Annie Rowe and Mrs. Howell. They were anxious to see the work progress and contacted the Conference. As a result, Elder D.C. Hunter was sent to Santa Cruz.
The Santa Cruz Church was formally organized on March 31, 1894 by Elder Hunter with fourteen charter members. The organizational meeting and regular services were held in a hall on Lincoln Street. Later the new church met at a hall on Bulkhead Street.
Elder Charles Taylor came to Santa Cruz on December 15, 1906 and expressed an interest in expanding the work in Santa Cruz so long as the congregation would work along with him and support the endeavor. He was particularly interested in building a place of worship for the growing congregation. At their Annual Business meeting on December 31, 1906, the church unanimously voted to build a new church and strengthen the work in Santa Cruz. By this time the church membership had grown to about 50 members. After several building plans were considered, it was decided to make an offer to purchase the Baptist Church at 429 Pennsylvania Avenue for $1,200.
The offer was accepted and with redecoration, repairs and other expenses the total cost came to $1,514.71. In 1922 the church building was expanded and in 1935 two rooms were added to the rear. It continued to serve as the church's home until 1954.
Shortly before Elder E.M. Sorenson's retirement in September of 1949, he called a business meeting and discussed his desire to see a new church building. A committee was seated to consider the proposal and formulate plans to proceed. Two lots on Cayuga Street were purchased for $6,000. Fundraising goals were reached in March of 1953 and dedication of the land and groundbreaking ceremonies were held on May 31, 1953. Building progressed on schedule and debt-free dedication ceremonies were held on June 26, 1954. The membership of the congregation during this building project was about three hundred members.
The next major expansion of the church properties was the addition of John Sundean Hall in 1966. Located on the north side of the church property it provides on-site facilities for fellowship, socials, and wedding receptions and is complete with kitchen and additional classroom. In 1974, the Dorcas Society (now known as Community Services) moved from the old Soquel-Santa Cruz Junior Academy building on Rodriguez street to the new building located at the back of the property at 1024 Cayuga Street.
With very few cosmetic changes, the sanctuary remained the same for forty years. Carpeting was added and the platform expanded in the 1980s. Then in the early 1990s visionary leaders proposed updating and beautifying the sanctuary. The renovations committee worked with Myrna Baldwin, a professional interior designer, to develop a design that would retain the stately character while enhancing its beauty. Once the changes were completed, the sanctuary was rededicated on October 3, 1993. The most recent addition to the renovations project was the replacement of the original amber glass windows with stained and painted glass windows. A key consideration was producing windows that complemented the window at the front of the sanctuary and properly represented the church's beliefs. The chosen theme was the life of Christ.
Eight events in His life and ministry were chosen to portray this theme. Starting from the rear left as you enter the sanctuary and progressing to the front and then returning to the rear around the right side of the sanctuary the windows tell the life of Christ from his birth through his crucifixion and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. It is our hope that all who enter here will see Jesus' life and ministry portrayed not only in the windows but in the teachings of the church and the lives of the members as well. In 2008, fencing was added to keep out vandals with the story of Creation as the theme. Renovation of the back building was done about 2013. The two rooms at the back of the Sanctuary were added about 2016.
In 1992, the church adopted a mission statement developed by the board with the leadership of Pastor John Sweigart. It states: "The mission of the Santa Cruz Seventh-day Adventist Church is to share the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ in the context of the three angels' message (Rev.14:6-12) locally and globally. We believe God will empower us to carry out His mission by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in each believer's life. We will strive to accomplish this mission through our: Spiritual Gifts and Small Group Ministries, Personal and Public Evangelism, Christian Education and Corporate Worship and, Healthful Living and Community Service Programs." Later it was discovered that this mission statement very closely resembles one that was adopted by the church in 1928 under the pastoral leadership of Elder L. E. Falkenberg.
Though the church has struggled at times, it has also had some very great victories. Ellen White in Life Sketches wrote: "In reviewing our past history, having traveled over every step of advance to our present standing, I can say, Praise God! As I see what the Lord has wrought, I am filled with astonishment, and with confidence in Christ as leader. We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past history. We are debtors to God to use every advantage He has entrusted to us to beautify the truth by loveliness of character, and to send the message of warning, and of comfort, of hope, and love, to those who are in the darkness of error and sin." (Life Sketches p. 196)
Our church has not lost its vision. It has not forgotten how the Lord has led in the past. We are holding on to His teaching. And as it has been from the day the first fourteen members signed the church charter, this congregation is dedicated to proclaiming the everlasting gospel, God's message of warning, hope, love and comfort to all the world in the power of the Holy Spirit in earth's final days.
~History put together by John Sweigart~