2008 Church Anniversary Celebration
"25 Years – Still Holding On" was the theme for the quarter century anniversary for the West End SDA Church. From Monday, August 11 until Sabbath, August 16, the church celebrated this historic milestone. The nightly services featured former Pastors Fred Parker, Mason West, Al Freeman, with Earnest Young wrapping up the event on Friday night and Sabbath morning.
The church has come a long way since the “Big Red Tent” where Evangelist Oscar Lane conducted the tent effort that led to the baptism of over 1,350 souls. After the tent meeting closed, the congregation held services in various edifices, and even worshipped on cinder blocks on the church lot until the church building was completed in 1989.
During the 25th Anniversary, the church took time to remember the past, celebrate the present and anticipate the future. Complete with beautiful decorations, extraordinary programs, commemorative ad books and special presentations, the celebration was indeed a grand occasion. On Sabbath evening, all musical groups of the church lended their voices in a concert to culminate the festivities.
Senior Pastor Calvin B. Preston proclaimed “In order to appreciate the future it can only be understood in light of the past. Look how far God has brought us and look how far we’ve come. Standing in the shadows of the Almighty, we can’t do anything but give Him praise.”