By Hagersville Seventh-day Adventist Church
To The Haldimand Press
HAGERSVILLE—It was a day of rejoicing on April 2, 2022 when Hagersville Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church began a new journey in a community that never had an Adventist church in its history, and we are now inviting area residents to our first anniversary service at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 8, 2023.
It was a reportedly stormy day when All Saints Anglican Church first opened on March 19, 1870. It became the gathering place for Hagersville’s “Church of England people” and home to generations who shared fellowship and served the community. After 155 years, in September 2021, the congregation of All Saints gathered for the last time.
For new residents hailing from the GTA now living on David Street, the ‘for sale’ sign was a welcome sight as they felt God called them to preserve this beautiful church for His purpose. Pastor Evadne Henry of Port Dover, and a member of the Meadowvale SDA, put an SOS call out to several people of faith to “claim” the property. Fervent prayer ensued with her husband Albert Henry, Volence and Rose Drummond, Kim and Kenroy Jones, Patrick and Aulet Smith, the Lead Pastor, Asha-Dane Duncan, prayer team of the Meadowvale SDA, and Joan Wilkinson, who had began praying even before knowing that others had interest. Some physically marched around the building, while others prayed in their ‘closets’.
Since the real estate market was operating at a peak, one of the David Street residents, Sis Kimberly Spencer-Jones, presented a proposal to the All Saints Anglican Church. It was rumoured that the church would be sold to a developer whose plan was to demolish it and build residential condos.
“We write this letter in a gesture of good faith that the Lord through you may grant us a favourable decision on this offer. We are earnestly praying for the Lord’s favour in allowing us to continue this monumental legacy of family, community, and worship that commenced over 155 years ago with the All Saints Anglican Church. We identify that this must be an extremely emotional decision; therefore, we take heart in honouring the pioneers for making this church home to the many families throughout Hagersville…. We solicit your blessing to grant us the opportunity to perpetuate this heritage of serving our community in worship and togetherness while emphasizing spiritual/social programs geared towards the many families and seniors that have contributed unwaveringly to this church/community,” she wrote. “We are cognizant of the ageing church population that sacrificed time and resources to construct such an excellent place of worship and community; as a result, we intend to have resources weaved into our programs that will attend to their continued spiritual/social needs. Our innate God-given desire is to create further opportunities for existing and new community members to integrate into the legacy of togetherness and preserve the heritage instituted…. We lived vicariously through the plethora of memories garnered as we sought to learn about All Saints Anglican Church…. Our imaginations were truly paved with the joys mentioned in the memories shared.”
The proposal was accepted by All Saints Anglican Church and with great faith and financial sacrifice, including members mortgaging their primary property and maximizing their credit cards, Hagersville Seventh Day Adventist Church was born. Our first service was held on April 2, 2022.
We were privileged to have our first baptism when a community member, Tanya Berfelz, dropped off food for our food bank. She stated, “I was so warmly welcomed by Tony, prayed over by Joan and Kimberly, and had bible study with our Bible Worker, Maxine.” She also states that the CARE (Care; Act; Restore; Encourage/Educate) she has received has transformed her life. She “found a new life” the day Pastor Asha-Dane Duncan baptized her. Tanya is now our member responsible for the food bank.
Many are now engaged in Bible today and recently Dina Koutsoukos has been attending with her granddaughters. Tanya introduced her and to Tanya’s surprise, Dina showed up to church on a day that Tanya was ‘battling with discouragement’. Seeing Dina in church cheered her heart and her resolve to continue to trust God no matter what. She exclaimed, “I love this church; I love these people who encourage and show care for me. Inspiring Sabbath school led by Kenroy and Hilton serves to encourage and educate. Praise and worship by Rose, Kimberly, and Patricia uplift the heart. Aulet and her team provide delicious vegetarian lunches served weekly to all attendees encouraging healthy dietary lifestyle changes. With many generous donations, Volence, Hilton, Patrick, and Mathias ensure that the security system and furnace are upgraded and functioning efficiently.”
Hagersville CARE will commemorate the first anniversary on April 8. Elder in charge, Volence Drummond, states that the “Passion of Christ lives out at Hagersville SDA Church because Jesus cares” for us, as seen is his life, death, resurrection, and soon coming. Christ’s sacrifice was the first example of love and care and Hagersville CARE is responding to this great commission which states: Matthew 28:18-20, Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 22:37-39 KJV Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
