Saturday (Sabbath), October 14 was a high day in the history of Adventist Record magazine as a special program was held to celebrate its 125th anniversary.

The event, at Wahroonga Seventh-day Adventist Church in Sydney brought together past and present members of the Record family — those who have contributed to the ministry of Record over the decades — for a day of reflection and thanksgiving. Those who couldn’t attend in person were able to watch on the livestream.

Highlights of the morning service included video messages from former long-time Adventist Review editor Bill Knott, ex-Record editor James Standish, and former assistant editor Gary Krause.

“I am delighted to be congratulating Adventist Record for 125 years of service to this union, this division, and frankly, the whole world, because we all read your content even if we sometimes wish we had written it ourselves,” Knott said in his video message. “The reality is it’s been such a solid source of good information, high quality journalism, great graphics. There are times as an editor when I have wished that my stuff looked so good.”

Current Record editor Jarrod Stackelroth presented a thought-provoking sermonette titled “What God Has Done.” News editor Juliana Muniz and assistant editor Danelle Stothers provided a life sketch outlining Record’s rich history, while former editorial assistant Scott Wegener engaged the audience — both young and old — with a children’s story that explained the process of producing the Record.

Following the worship service, attendees enjoyed a fellowship lunch, including the cutting of an anniversary cake.

Highlights of the afternoon program included video messages from the Trans-Pacific Union Mission and the Signs Publishing team, and a prayer of thanks and rededication of Record by South Pacific Division president Glenn Townend.

Former SPD president Barry Oliver presented a keynote address on “Record and the Mission of the Church,” while former editor Bruce Manners gave a talk on Record editors past and present.

“The existence of the Record for 125 years demonstrates the importance of good communication in the context of the mission of the church,” Oliver said in his presentation. “The strategic focus put in place in the early years continues to serve the church well and while ever the Record directs attention to the primary mission of the Church and its members it will have a place in the life of the Church in the South Pacific.”

Townend extended his congratulations to Record for 125 years of ministry: “During that time you’ve told our story — the story of God working in the South Pacific Division — and that’s what the Record is all about, telling our story, our testimonies, our challenges, what we face, and then also what God is doing amongst us.”

Reflecting on the heritage of Record, Stackelroth said there is much to celebrate. “It is important to recognize where we’ve come from, to celebrate the contribution Record has made to the Adventist Church in the South Pacific Division, and to rededicate the work to God as we keep on telling stories of what God has done.

“It was great that some former staff and editors could attend and even two of the late [former editor] Bob Parr’s daughters came to represent their dad. That was special.

“Adventist Record is unique in the world church as a division-supported magazine that is provided to church members free, and we are so blessed and privileged to be part of it.” 

The original version of this story was posted by Adventist Record.