More Information About The First Black Church
Beginnings
After the Civil War, Seventh-day Adventists were hesitant to venture to the South to tell people about the gospel. After all, the church had just organized in 1863, its resources were meager, and the culture of the South was different from that of Adventists who lived in the North.But Adventists eventually went south in piecemeal fashion.
Elbert Lane
In 1871 white minister Elbert Lane preached at a train depot in Edgefield Junction, near Nashville, Tennessee. A small biracial company was organized around 1883. A few years later, to the chagrin of black members, white Adventist leaders segregated the company to accord with the racial customs of the region.
The Allisons
Nevertheless, the first black Adventist church thrived under its capable black leaders, Harry Lowe and Jennie B. Allison. Its dedicated members formed the nucleus for the work in Nashville, one of the early centers of black Adventism.
Who we are
Office for Regional Conference Ministries
Regional Conferences have positively changed the face of Adventism, and made notable contributions to every facet of the church’s ministry. We also support a variety of ministries and conferences across the United States.