The History of the Augusta First Seventh-day Adventist Church
"Our Sacrifice, His Miracle."-- what a title. We in the Augusta First Seventh-day Adventist Church, are building on the dreams and sacrifices of those who have given before us.
When we think about those two Adventist ladies selling the magazine The Watchman (Signs of the Times) in 1922, what a sacrifice they were making of their time and energy. When Mr. Frank Courtney bought the paper and began to study, he had to make another sacrifice. You see, he had been the Mayor of Augusta and Councilman. His life changed. His wife and son never joined him in his new faith.
The first church was at 1824 Walton Way. They soon had a school. Their dream was a big and better church.
In a few years Pastor E. W. Walker moved the church and school to 2350 Walton Way. Bigger and better, but still a dream to let the Augusta area know of the soon coming of Jesus. Teachers like Lola Hammond Newman and Minnie Morris tried to teach our young people back then how to read and write. Students like Frances Huey, Tom Carson, Loretta Allen Haywood, Terry Allen, Jerry Campbell, June Winters Merritt, and Louise Moor. Many more could be named but we wanted you to know that others had dreamed and sacrificed and God had provided a miracle.
In 1965, Augusta First really became big time. Under the leadership of Elder Robert Thompson the church moved by the big city mall on 3 acres. For 10 years the school met in the Sabbath school rooms in the back of the church.
Then in 1977, Elder John Duroe and many of our present members dreamed and sacrificed to have a school and gym next to the church. Through much sacrifice God brought a miracle, our old school.
It was after a fire was set at the school, by the neighbors, (the school records being saved by orange juice containers bursting and putting out the fire near the file cabinets) that we began to dream and plan on moving.
Now we are being asked to sacrifice so that God’s Miracle can keep going. We’re so thankful that those pioneers had a dream and were willing to sacrifice.
When Frankie Dyal cut the ribbon to enter our present church, she said, “How nice it is and how big, if only the early leaders could see this.” She had the joy of worshiping in all four churches. Some of us have been in the last three. Folks, we are still dreaming and sacrificing. Come, grow with us. It’s a Miracle.
When we think about those two Adventist ladies selling the magazine The Watchman (Signs of the Times) in 1922, what a sacrifice they were making of their time and energy. When Mr. Frank Courtney bought the paper and began to study, he had to make another sacrifice. You see, he had been the Mayor of Augusta and Councilman. His life changed. His wife and son never joined him in his new faith.
In a few years Pastor E. W. Walker moved the church and school to 2350 Walton Way. Bigger and better, but still a dream to let the Augusta area know of the soon coming of Jesus. Teachers like Lola Hammond Newman and Minnie Morris tried to teach our young people back then how to read and write. Students like Frances Huey, Tom Carson, Loretta Allen Haywood, Terry Allen, Jerry Campbell, June Winters Merritt, and Louise Moor. Many more could be named but we wanted you to know that others had dreamed and sacrificed and God had provided a miracle. 
In 1965, Augusta First really became big time. Under the leadership of Elder Robert Thompson the church moved by the big city mall on 3 acres. For 10 years the school met in the Sabbath school rooms in the back of the church. 
Now we are being asked to sacrifice so that God’s Miracle can keep going. We’re so thankful that those pioneers had a dream and were willing to sacrifice.
