Early morning clouds gave way to bright sunshine on Oct. 26, 2017, as the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America (NAD) welcomed guests to the grand opening celebration and ribbon cutting ceremony at its new headquarters in Columbia, Maryland, United States.
“This is our home…we are delighted you are here,” welcomed Daniel R. Jackson, current NAD president. Jackson described the purpose of the headquarters, saying, “This building does not stand for human progress, for human ingenuity. It stands to serve the purposes of the almighty God.”
More than 600 people gathered for the 2 ½ hour event. Attendees included state and county government officials, NAD employees, the NAD Executive Committee comprised of church leaders from across North America, military chaplains, musicians, former NAD administrators, Adventist HealthCare officials, and other honored guests. A smaller group attended an evening reception also tied to the grand opening celebration.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the main entrance of the headquarters. It included a prayer by former NAD president Don C. Schneider, acknowledgments, a presentation of the state flag from the Maryland Secretary of State John Wobensmith, and the raising of the flags with the Allegheny East Conference Drum Corps and the Beltsville Seventh-day Adventist Church Pathfinder Flag Bearers. Once the ribbon was cut by NAD officers and select officials and guests with commemorative scissors, the crowd streamed through the lobby to the building’s main auditorium and overflow room.
Warm Welcome
Jackson welcomed the congregation to the dedication portion of the event. Highlights of the program included remarks by Dave Weigley, president of the Columbia Union Conference (the Adventist church’s mid-Atlantic region); invocation by G. Thomas Evans, NAD treasurer; a special recognition segment by a G. Alexander Bryant, NAD executive secretary; and dedicatory remarks by Jackson.
The Takoma Academy choir and a Spencerville Adventist Academy musical ensemble performed during the dedication. Adventist pastor and recording artist Wintley Phipps, who has performed for several U.S. presidents and numerous dignitaries during his career, sang “Amazing Grace.” Three video presentations were viewed, including a greeting and prayer from Ted N.C. Wilson, General Conference (Adventist world church) president, a historical perspective with NAD timeline, and a pictorial perspective of the building’s renovation process.
Before Artur Stele, a general vice president of the General Conference (GC), offered the dedication prayer, the NAD officers lead the congregation in a litany of scriptural passages as selected by Shirley Burton, a former communication director for the NAD.
“We dedicate this building to the glory of God the Father, to the honor of Jesus Christ our Savior, and to the praise of the Holy Spirit,” said Stele. He concluded with “Lord, bless all activities done here — to glorify Your name.”
Honored guests included Charles E. Bradford, former NAD president; Schneider; George H. Crumley, former NAD treasurer; Juan R. Prestol-Puesán, former NAD treasurer and current GC treasurer; Scott McClure, son of Alfred C. McClure, former NAD president who passed away in 2006; and Bonita Rodriguez, daughter of Barbara and Robert L. Dale, former NAD secretary.
Community Connection
As the sun slipped in the sky, the complementary late-afternoon reception featured a welcome by attorney Orlan Johnson, director of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty for the NAD; remarks by Maryland Congressman John Sarbanes and Baltimore County Executive Kevin B. Kamenetz; and a message read by a representative for Sheila Jackson Lee, an Adventist and U.S. congresswoman from Texas.
During the evening, Sarbanes shared his engagement with Adventist entities. “When I was a lawyer I represented a number of [Adventist] healthcare organizations across [the country],” said Sarbanes, whose district includes both the church’s world headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, and the new NAD headquarters.
“The Seventh-day Adventist Church makes a huge impression on people because of the extent to which it connects with whichever community it resides in,” Sarbanes said. “This is going to be no exception. You can already tell there’s a sense of connection with the Howard County community. It’s a great match — Columbia is a very diverse place, a lot of different perspectives, a lot of wonderful people, and I think that reflects who the Seventh-day Adventist church is as well.”
Pleased with the Adventist representation in Maryland through the health care system and NAD employees, Kamenetz echoed Sarbanes’ comments. “The church is helping people grow, and improve their lives — who wouldn’t want you as a neighbor?” he said. “It’s great to have you here.”
