The Otsego Seventh-day Adventist Church is ready to open its doors to its 150 years of history.
Pastor Michael Taylor said, “We’re opening the doors and letting everyone know, ‘Hey, we’re still here, and we’ve been a part of the community for a century-and-a-half.”
To celebrate, the church will offer open house-style tours of the recently renovated building on Saturday, Aug. 19, from 9 to 10 a.m. and again at 2 to 3:30 p.m. In between, the church will offer a special worship program featuring a message from Lake Union Conference President Don Livesay and a vegetarian meal for attendees. The church is at 218 S. Farmer St.
Taylor said the church recently installed new carpet, painted, replaced many fixtures and fixed up the bathroom.
“It’s really special to celebrate the 150th anniversary; as I understand it, it’s one of the oldest buildings in town,” Taylor said.
The Otsego Seventh-day Adventist Church was officially founded On Dec. 28th, 1861, with 33 members signing the initial charter.
Taylor writes, in his summary of the church’s history at http://otsegosda.org/, that while they didn’t yet have the current building, “They did have something in common with us: they were thoroughly committed to proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to sharing His ways, and to preparing people for His Second Coming.”
The congregation rented space at the home of John D. Person—for $.75 per meeting, Taylor notes—until they voted in 1866 to start the search for land for a church. While the records are unclear, it was built in 1867. The Allegan church lent the Otsego congregation $100 to help finish construction.
Early notable additions included the installation of electric lights in 1907 and additional hitching posts for horses in 1908. By 1947, it was wired for electricity throughout the building.
In 1976, the church increased the size of the balcony and added a new foyer, among other renovations. Air conditioning was added in 1981.
The church installed its Baptistery in 1982.
Taylor said before this year’s work, he was impressed by what a structural engineer told members after an inspection.
“He said he hopes to look as good as this building when he’s 150,” Taylor said.
The building is no spring chicken, however. Taylor has been pastor of the Otsego congregation for four years and recalled pointing out there appeared to be a curtain rod spanning two walls without a curtain.
“I remember suggesting we take it down, and members of the congregation said, ‘That’s not a curtain rod. That’s a bolt between two plates and is holding the walls up.” It had been installed after cracks had begun forming in the back wall.
“It’s held together fairly well,” Taylor said.
He said he is optimistic for the future of the church in Otsego, especially in continuing its Adventist Community Services, a program in operation since the early 1980s. The volunteer-run program provides clothing and other household items for people in need in the community.
“Last year, it served 2,000 people,” he said. “That has a longstanding relationship in the community and we need to continue to be active in building relationships with our community.”
As he states on the church’s website, “God is still working. As we celebrate highlights, and are reminded of lowlights, we see The Almighty driving us forward as a community. He’s not done with us yet...
“We’re still growing. Our vision is to be a church that is growing inward, growing outward, and growing upward.”
.