About Us

The Community SDA Church is serious about the gospel commission given by Jesus. We welcome any and everyone who would like to come and worship with us and learn more about us. Come and be a part of a mission driven church that loves Jesus and reaches out to the lost.

Below is a history of our church here in Meridian.

The Seventh-day Adventist church and its doctrines were first introduced in Meridian, Mississippi by Dr. F. R. Schaeffer, a dentist. Dr. Schaeffer and his family came to Meridian in 1908. They were sponsored by the California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists as missionaries to Mississippi. 

 The first camp meeting held by Seventh-day Adventists in Mississippi was pitched in a grove on 35^th Avenue and 20^th Street. Meridian did not extend beyond this point at that time, although this area was known as the Highland Community. A druggist, Gus Kendall, built his home on this site which is now the location of the Four Square Gospel Church.

 The company of believers was organized to become a church that chartered on August 1 1909. C. M. Whitemarsh sponsored by the Michigan Seventh-day Adventist Church was the first pastor.

 Charter members were: Dr. and Mrs. F. R. Schaeffer, Mr. and Mrs. G. T. Terry, Susie Terry, Mr. and Mrs. George Case, Leroy Roberts, Alice, Francis, Steve, Annie, George and Aaron Case, Mrs. Orris, Mrs. Bernice Culpepper, Miss Fate Stanton, Mrs. J. S. Smith, Mr. and Mrs. George Z Clarke and Mrs. McDonald.

 On August 6 1909, Nancy Mary Smith, Fadette and Parizetta Smith, and Ethel and Gladys Ruth Clark were baptized. Early in 1910, Claude Terry, Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Friberg, Mrs. Sallie Wolfe, Ruth Johnson, Lacy Terry and Grace Stuckey were also baptized into the church. This company of believers met in a hall over Dravin’s Store located on 5^th Street and 23^rd Avenue. Later, they moved into another hall in the Suttle Building, now known as the Larmar Building on 22^nd Avenue and 8^th Street. They then moved to another hall over Christopher’s Grocery on 5^th Street and 40^th Avenue.

 In 1920, W. P. McLennon and his family came to Meridian to hold a series of evangelistic meetings. These meetings were held in a large tent located at 8^th Street and 25^th Avenue. After the meetings were in progress for several weeks the tent was moved to a location on 9^th Street and 26^th Avenue. During this evangelistic series twenty or more members were added to the church. Meetings were then held in the City Hall Auditorium.

 The first Seventh-day Adventist Church in Meridian was then built on the corner of 8^th Street and 38^th Avenue. Elder Mark Wilson was the first pastor of this church. The building consisted of a sanctuary, one large room, two smaller rooms and two bathrooms. The larger room was also used for a school.

 In 1952, Elder J. R. Spangler conducted a four-month evangelistic series, baptizing 68 new believers.

 In 1953, the church was remodeled under the leadership of Elder W. R. May with the help of Mr. Ed Davis and intern W. D. Wampler. The church was enlarged with the sanctuary occupying the entire old structure. Six rooms were added, including a pastor’s study and two bathrooms.

 In 1972, the church building was sold to The Liberty Church.

 In 1973, under the leadership of Elder Milton Reiber, the church started a search for land suitable for a new building. The land on Bounds Road Extension (North Hills Street) was purchased. Elder Reiber designed and contracted the building of the church with much volunteer labor from church members. The first service was held in the new building at 5800 North Hills Street in December, 1975 following the groundbreaking on March 2, 1975. Participating in the groundbreaking ceremonies were Elder W. D. Wampler, President of the Alabama Mississippi Conference; assisted by Elder Kovalski, Mrs. A. H. Friberg, oldest member; and Glen McElroy, youngest member.

 In April 1976, Elder J. R. Spangler was the guest speaker for the Dedication/Homecoming service that was attended by many former pastors and their families.

 In 1998, the church purchased nearby property and built a new school, North Hills Christian, at 5701 North Hills Street.

 In 2006, the Meridian First Seventh-day Adventist Church and North Hills Christian School purchased land on Hwy 39 on which to build new facilities.

 Groundbreaking for the new church and school was in March, 2007. Participating in the groundbreaking ceremonies were Mel Eisele, President of Gulf States Conference; J. C. McElroy, Roger Burke, Church Elders; Troy Peoples, Conference Treasurer; Don Shelton, Ministerial Secretary; and Pastor Carlis Clinton, Community Seventh-day Adventist Church, under whose leadership the facilities were constructed.

 The church and school, renamed the Community Seventh-day Adventist Church and Community Christian School, are now located at 6258 Hwy 39 North, Meridian, Mississippi.

 The school moved to its new building on May 21, 2007 and the church to its new building on July 1, 2007.

 Since that time we have been greatly expanding our ministry to this community and we hope you would like to be a part of what God is doing in us and through us.

 Here is a list of the pastors who have served here in this church.

 

Pastors

 

1908	F. R. Schaefer
1909	M. C. Whitermarsh
1911-1912	L. Marley, Sr.
1913	Henry Balsbaugh
1914	W. P. McLennon
1915	Henry Balsbaugh
1920	W. P. McLennon
1921-1922	Mark L. Wilson
1935	G. F. Graves
1940	W. D. Flemming
1943	E. L. Marley, Jr.
1946	Hoyet Hendersohot
1949	Robert Wood
1951	Wallace J. Lighthall
1953	W. O. Coe
1954-1955	W. R. May
1954	D. Wampler (Inter)
1955	W. E. Peeke
1957	George Stevens
1959	Ray Stephens
1960-1961	O. L. Maize
1962	Don Holland
1963	Robert Youngberg
1965	W. H. Patsel
1969	Walter Brown
1972-1977	Milton Reiber
1972-1973	Anthony Russo (Intern)
1978	Jim Greek
1980-1982	Marvin Whitney
1983-1985	Mike Lombardo
1985-1986	Robert Morton
1986-1987	Jack Nash
1987-1990	David Hartman
1990-1995	Roger Burke
1995-1998	Harold Peggau
1999-2003	Paul LeBlanc
2004-2011	Carlis Clinton
2011-Present	Will Labrenz