Church celebrates 50 years

On Saturday, 3 December 2011, Charlestown Seventh-day Adventist Church was packed to capacity with present members, past members and friends all helping to celebrate the church’s 50th anniversary.
An extra 100 chairs were borrowed to help seat nearly 300 people for the celebration, which included nine pastors who have ministered to Charlestown, and four student missionaries.

Charlestown Church was officially opened on Sunday, 3 December 1961, with Pastor Jack Kent becoming the inaugural minister. Pastor Harold Hollingsworth, then President of the North New South Wales (NNSW) Conference, was eager to establish a church in the expanding suburb of Charlestown, and so a number of members who previously worshipped at Hamilton Church, as well as a few from Wallsend Church, ventured out to this new development.

It was exciting to witness nine of the original charter members stand and be recognised for their foresight 50 years ago. Merv Paxinos, and Reg and Lillian Moroney are three of these charter members who still currently worship at Charlestown Church.

The church worship program celebrated a number of programs that have made Charlestown special over the years. Pastor Keith Jackson spoke on behalf of the 24 pastors who have either worked full-time at Charlestown Church or as an assistant pastor. It was also special to have two of the very early pastors and their wives in attendance. They were Pastor David Judd (1973-74) and Pastor Les Coombe (1979-80), who turned 96 this year.

Peter Beamish and Bogdan Wawrzonek then spoke about the Charlestown Pathfinder Club. Over the years, this has been a very successful club, and many stories of their exploits were shared while an entertaining audiovisual was shown.

Charlestown Church has hosted one of the most successful student missionary programs, with 27 young people giving a year of their time to come and serve the youth of this Church.

Ross Howard interviewed the four student missionaries currently living in Australia. An audiovisual showing them during their stay at Charlestown and what they look like now, along with their spouses and children.
The program was interspersed with singing and special items showing the great musical talent of Charlestown Church. Pastor Justin Lawman, President of the NNSW Conference, offered a dedicatory prayer on behalf of the Church.

Finally, Casey Wolverton, the third student missionary who came to Charlestown, preached the sermon. He spoke on the effect that this Church had on him as a young person and how his life was changed by the experience of his ministry at Charlestown.

Robyn Nilsson compiled a souvenir booklet displaying historical photos of the original church. It also showed all the pastors and charter members, as well as comments from and photos of all the 27 student missionaries.

It was thrilling to meet with so many past members, a number who had not been back to Charlestown Church for many years. The voices of the congregation really lifted in the Spirit of Praise and Worship with the singing of “It is well with my Soul” as the final song.