Believing Christians throughout the ages, beginning about 200 A. D. to the present, have hoped for the return of our Lord to Earth to set up His Kingdom that shall never end. An Advent Awakening spread through Europe in the early 1800’s. Its followers believed that the return would be about 1843. In America this movement was led by William Miller (1782 – 1846). Miller was a Baptist minister who had about 700 clergy and 50,000 lay people converted to his beliefs. When Jesus did not return at the specified time, the movement broke down and five small sects emerged. One was the Advent Christian Church. The Blessed Hope was brought to Collettsville, N. C., by O. F. Goodwin, a millwright, who came there to construct a mill and began to discuss it with local folk. In response to their request, he recommended Reverend John A. Cargile of Stephenson, Alabama, as a prophet of the Faith who would bring the Word to them. Reverend Cargile’s first sermon was preached in Pat Coffey’s apple orchard since the house was too small to accommodate the crowd. On September 12, 1875, Berea Advent Christian Church was organized. Among the charter members were John Henry Setzer I (his wife Martha was added later) and William and Jane Starnes Setzer. The message in the Collettsville church spread to other communities.
first church originating from it was Tabernacle Advent Christian Church in Lenoir. John Henry Setzer I, Callie Setzer, William Setzer, Augustus Setzer, and Robert Setzer were among the charter members of the Catawba Valley Advent Christian Church in Burke County, which stood on a knoll overlooking Highway 181 (in the same area that the Morganton radio station is located now). This church was founded in 1897. In 1911, after a tent revival which brought in fourteen new members, the 181 church was torn down and moved to 215 Erwin Street to a newly purchased lot. It was re-erected there, including the original bell, which was pulled each Sunday. In 1938, this building was remodeled inside and rock veneered outside. This edifice is now used by other denominations as a place of worship. It is now one hundred five years old and is written up in the historic room at the Morganton Public Library, although its true beginnings and age are not stated. In 1963, the First Advent Christian Church was moved to a new location at 211 Lenoir Road, not too many miles from its joyous beginning..........Courtesy of Mildred Arrowood
In 2006 we made a much needed expansion by adding a huge multipurpose auditorium, a larger kitchen, a formal vestibule, and more space for classroom activites. Photos of our facility can be found here: <<>>
