Looking Back at the Downers Grove Church by Shirley Newton For 80 men, women and children, there was, what shall we call it, a sense of adventure, a surge of the Seventh-day Adventist mission, right in Downers Grove, Illinois. It was the 5th of November 1960 when a few members from the Hinsdale Church, and [...]

SABBATH AFTERNOON CONCERT Prayer & Welcome – Pastor Christopher Holland Listen Now! [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Solo Piano Give Thanks Canon – Martin Suarez Listen Now! [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Vocal Duet Sing to Jesus Meagan & Mandie Rodriguez – Dina Rodriguez, Piano Listen Now! [Audio clip: view full [...]

Church Reunion Worship Church Reunion Potluck Church Reunion Fellowship

PANEL DISCUSSION Panel Members: Dr. John Baldwin, Pastor Raymond Plummer, Pastor Christopher Holland, Pastor Joseph Arner and Joe Sodora. Panel Discussion 1 – Moderator: David Dye Listen Now! [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Panel Discussion 2 – Moderator: Affif Leonor Listen Now! [Audio clip: view full post to listen] More Pictures:

Welcome to the 40th Reunion Celebration of the Downers Grove Seventh-day Adventist Church. We are very happy that you are with us today. This is a special Sabbath for all of us as we reunite with old friends and take opportunities to make new ones. We also want to give a special welcome to three [...]

Brief history of church (written by pastor C.L. Turner circa 1966).  In addition, I included photo catalog of members of the Downers Grove church at the time.  Included are original photos of the land before construction. (Download PDF file)

This first picture depicts a gathering of the Downers Grove Seventh-day Adventist Church’s Adventist Junior Youth Club.  AJY clubs would later become known as Pathfinder Clubs. The remaining pictures below are of various Sabbath School classes meeting in and around the church.

First Sabbath in the New Church: I had originally thought this picture was taken on the Sabbath in 1971 when the church building was dedicated debt free.  However, after closer examination, I know believe that this picture was taken when 325 people attended the first Sabbath in the new church building on February 10, 1968. [...]

This picture was taken in the gymnasium of the Lester School in Downers Grove.  The church rented this facility after they outgrew their original meeting place.  From the Lake Union Herald, December 14, 1965, Vol. LVII, No. 49, page 13: “Emil Donda has been sparking the Building Fund by circulating a large five gallon bottle [...]

Fellowship Dinner (November 8th) Greetings Church! Let us do all we can to get ready for the 40th Anniversary! We are planning on fellowshipping and feeding many people, and we could use your help to make it happen. Downstairs outside the fellowship hall on the wall is a display with colorful tickets. Pick two tickets [...]