Greetings Church Family,
I would like to emphasize the significance of the Sabbath School Ministry to our Church and the broader community. To illustrate its impact, I will share a pertinent story. In the early 1900s, Anna Knight, a devoted Seventh-day Adventist African American, educator and missionary, walked dusty roads in the southern United States with her Bible tucked under her arm and a burden for souls in her heart. Born to formerly enslaved parents, Anna believed deeply that Sabbath School was more than a program—it was a lifeline. In small churches and rural communities, Black believers often lacked access to formal education. She helped organize and teach Sabbath School classes that opened Scripture to children and adults alike. She patiently explained the lessons, encouraged questions, prayed with families, and used Sabbath School as a training ground for faith, literacy, and leadership. Through her quiet faithfulness, many learned not only how to read the Bible, but how to love it—and live it. Anna Knight’s story reminds us that Sabbath School has long been a sacred space of empowerment, discipleship, and hope, especially within the Adventist experience. It is essential to recognize that the effectiveness of Sabbath School hinges on adhering to the divine principles of genuine discipleship, which encompass Bible study and prayer, fellowship, and mission. The early church exemplified this framework and serves as a foundational model for our practices today.
Recently, the Sabbath School Ministry has been sharing its plans for this year and beyond. I am grateful for the leadership of Sister Nilmini and her team. This past Sabbath, one of the Sabbath School Superintendents, sister Jennifer Peart, delivered a powerful presentation on “Sabbath School Alive.” It was well attended by both the superintendents and several Sabbath School facilitators. We were reminded that Sabbath School ministry is essential to us as Seventh-day Adventist Christians because it is the heartbeat of our discipleship and mission—the place where truth is not only taught but lived. Each Sabbath morning, we gather as learners at the feet of Christ to recap the lesson study together and allow the Holy Spirit to shape our beliefs, deepen our faith, and transform our character. Sabbath School grounds us in the great themes of Scripture—Creation, Redemption, the Sabbath, the sanctuary, and the soon return of Jesus—while nurturing genuine fellowship, accountability, and prayer. It is where believers of all ages are discipled, new members are anchored in God’s truth, and the church is equipped to serve and witness in a broken world. Through Sabbath School, the church is strengthened from the inside out, becoming not just informed, but prepared, united, and mission-focused as we await the blessed hope of Christ’s return. Let us continue to support the Sabbath School Ministry as we dedicate and commit ourselves to the work of the Lord.
Happy Sabbath! God bless you all!
Dr. Pastor Evadne Henry