The Woodland church celebrated its 150th anniversary on October 22.
According to Daniel Garza, district pastor of the Woodland and Vacaville churches, “The sanctuary was absolutely packed, spilling into the foyer for the program. Cars filled the parking lot and ran down the street.”
Active since 1872, Woodland has a unique history tracing back to the beginning of Adventism in California. The first church building was built in 1873, and in 1913 the members built a small school offering kindergarten, academy, and a vocational school.
The Woodland church has a history of being community relevant. It started in 1959 by opening the Community Clothes Closet. Later, it partnered with the county court system to provide supervised visitation for non-custodial parents. During the pandemic, the church members developed an interactive online media ministry for homebound members.
Garza continued, “We were thrilled to have our guest speakers trace the history of the Woodland church and give inspirational messages. Our members were absolutely thrilled and honored by this anniversary and are motivated to continue serving their community.”
Featured in Northern Lights • October 27, 2022