SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a global community of more than 23 million believers in more than 150,000 congregations and over 200 countries.
We are Christians, doing what we can to share the love of God with every individual we encounter. We believe that Jesus came to this world and lived the perfect, sinless life. We believe that He accepted the death penalty that we deserved so that we could have the reward of eternal life that He deserved. And He did it all because He loved us!
The desire to share the message of salvation with as many as possible has led the Seventh-day Adventist church to actively preach, teach, and evangelize around the world. It has also led to the development of various lines of ministry. Education, healthcare, humanitarian service, foreign missions, and media development represent just a few of the many ministries that aid in fulfilling the special mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Education
The Seventh-day Adventist Church currently operates over 9,000 schools from primary through college, with more than a hundred prominent universities across the globe.
Humanitarian Work
The Adventist Disaster Relief Agency (ADRA) is the global humanitarian arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. ADRA’s work touches millions of lives in more than 130 countries around the world with an on-the-ground approach to offer immediate assistance in times of crisis, and true partnership with the communities served. To date, ADRA has funded more than 1,600 projects and served more than 25 million people in need.
Media
There are seven media ministries operated by the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists. Our mission is to use radio, television, internet, satellite, and other innovative platforms to take people on a spiritual journey that leads them to follow Jesus Christ. Guided by the Holy Spirit, we’re answering the biblical call to “go and teach all nations” by using modern technology to spread the gospel message and uplift humanity. Our ultimate vision is to help hasten Christ’s second coming through effective media ministry that prepares hearts for His return and God’s restoration of all creation.
Healthcare
The Seventh-day Adventist Church operates the world’s largest integrated healthcare network of more than 200 hospitals, plus an additional 1,500 clinics, nursing homes, and orphanages.
Publishing
The history of Seventh-day Adventist publishing began in 1849 with James White’s first periodical, The Present Truth. Prompted by a vision received by his wife, Ellen G. White, who saw the work becoming “like streams of light” circling the globe, the couple initially published with no funds and few followers.
By 1852, believers purchased a hand press and established the first official Adventist publishing house, later known as the Review and Herald, in Rochester, New York, before moving to Battle Creek, Michigan, in 1855. In 1861, the Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association was formally incorporated, preceding even the official organization of the church in 1863.
The movement expanded globally, founding Pacific Press (1874) and international houses in Europe, Africa, and Australia. A major shift occurred in 2014 when Review and Herald ceased its printing operations in Maryland, consolidating production under Pacific Press to adapt to digital trends. As of 2026, the church continues to operate approximately 57 to 63 publishing houses worldwide, integrating digital platforms with traditional print for global evangelism.