In 1953, Sis. Margaret Bowens and Sis. Brown, formerly of New York, studied together to learn more of God's will for their lives. The result brought five new members - Daisy Robinson, Estelle Thomas, Sis. Kelsey, Sis. Cunningham, and Sis. Homley. This small group raised $14,000 which was used to purchase property on Twitty Court in Rock Hill, SC.
They then called the South Atlantic Conference to seek counsel and leadership in moving forward. The conference sent Elder James McCullough and his wife to lead the group in it's infancy stage. The initially worshipped in a neighboring church until it was discovered that they were Sabbath keepers and was not permitted to use the church any longer. They then rotated the worship in each other's homes. Sis. McCullough introduced the group to Elder Clarence Kegler of the Charlotte Berean Church. Elder Kegler then took the responsibility of transporting the group to Charlotte for service each Sabbath.
Elder Arthur Fairfax, a Literature Evangelist for the conference, was led by the Holy Spirit to the Rock Hill area and met the Barnett Family. The family was receptive to the literature made available to them and opened their home for a weekly bible study. Elder Fairfax introduced the Barnett family to Elder Kegler and the small group of worshippers. The group discontinued their weekly visits to Charlotte and started holding Sabbath services in the Barnett home. This small group had now grown into a company of believers.
During the mid-1980s, this company of believers petitioned the conference for a pastor. The conference responded to their request by sending Evangelist J. J. Rodriguez. He pitched a tent on the corner of Saluda and Heckle to preach the good news of Jesus Christ. From this evangelistic crusade which was called The Gospel Explosion, over one hundred believers became Sabbath keepers. Land was purchased on Ogden Road and a church building was quickly under construction. The new body of believers worshipped temporarily in the auditorium of the Emmett Scott Center while awaiting the completion of the new church.
The name "New Life" was selected for the first Seventh-day Adventist church in Rock Hill, SC
On October 17, 1987, Elder R. B. Hairston, who was then the president of the South Atlantic conference, officially declared this new church structure and body of believers a new sister within the conference.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a mainstream Protestant church with approximately 19 million members worldwide, including more than one million members in North America. The Seventh-day Adventist Church seeks to enhance quality of life for people everywhere and to let people know that Jesus is coming again soon.
Adventists believe a Trinity of three persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—make up one God. They made salvation possible when Jesus, the Son, came to earth as a baby in Bethlehem and lived a sinless life in accordance with the Father's will. When Jesus was crucified for the sins of the people of the world and arose from the dead on the third day, victory was won for everyone.
When He returned to heaven following the resurrection, Jesus left the Holy Spirit to serve as our Comforter and Counselor. He promised to return to earth a second time to complete His plan of salvation and take His people to heaven. Adventists are among the believers who look forward to that day.
Adventists believe that God is concerned with the quality of human life, and that everything—the way we live, eat, speak, think, treat each other, and care for the world around us—is part of His plan. Our families, our children, our jobs, our talents, our money, and our time are all important to Him.