11 Reasons People Become Seventh-day Adventists  

There are numerous reasons people join a church or faith community. Searching for theological truth, being part of a support network, wanting to get to know people with shared values, etc.

But what is it about Seventh-day Adventism that draws people in? What is it about this specific Protestant Christian denomination that inspires people from all around the world to become baptized members?

Before we get into the answer to this question, however, let’s be clear that salvation comes through accepting Jesus Christ—a personal decision that happens on an individual level. So this isn’t about joining a “right” or “wrong” community of believers, as far as anyone’s eternal destiny is concerned.

But there are profound, interesting, and beautiful reasons people join and remain in a church family, such as the Seventh-day Adventist Church. So let’s explore some of them.

• The benefits of joining a faith community
• Great things about being a Seventh-day Adventist
  • 1) Adventists find hope in having a relationship with Jesus
  • 2) Adventists find reassurance in the picture of a loving God
  • 3) Adventists make the Bible the foundation of their beliefs
  • 4) Adventists enjoy a weekly Sabbath rest
  • 5) Adventists value and promote whole-person health
  • 6) Adventists support Christian education
  • 7) Adventists value humanitarian work and human rights
  • 8) Adventists promote good stewardship
  • 9) Adventists are made up of a diverse, global community
  • 10) Adventists believe in present truth
  • 11) Adventism offers hope for the “end times” (Second Coming)
• How to join the Adventist Church

Let’s start with the basics.

What are the benefits of joining a faith community?

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Community is a big part of who we are. We all seek to find belonging, whether that’s with our family, friends, peers, co-workers, or any group of people we share parts of our lives with.

It’s natural to long for genuine connection with others, and we start to feel more comfortable when it seems like we’ve found “our people.” Most of these bonds are created by having something significant in common with others, whether that’s by sharing interests or values.

Faith communities work the same way. They can give you a sense of belonging by providing a place where you can learn together and talk about shared beliefs or values—all while feeling supported and heard.

Being a part of a faith community can also help:

• Improve your health and mental well-being: Studies show that being a part of a faith community can improve one’s overall health, reporting that people tend to have lower rates of depression, suicide, and substance abuse than those without a faith community.¹
• You have a larger impact: You can make a substantial difference for more people by pooling together your time, efforts, gifts, and resources to aid evangelistic efforts or participate in humanitarian projects. Studies also indicate that people who belong to faith communities have higher rates of participation in volunteer service and civic duties.²
• You cope with stress: Studies show that those in faith communities have lower stress levels and often rely on their faith community to help them manage their stress.³
• You experience deeper happiness: Studies show that those in faith communities report feeling happier and more content than those who don’t belong to a faith community.⁴
• You find a sense of purpose: Those who belong to faith communities often feel they have a greater sense of purpose.⁵ Many people find this purpose by supporting and promoting the values of their congregation and encouraging others in the development of their faith.
• You grow in your faith: Dialogue with other members could help challenge your own ideas and bring about new insight, helping you broaden your understanding of your beliefs. Being around others who believe what you do can also provide consistent examples of what it looks like to live out those beliefs.

And while most faith communities can offer these benefits in some way, let’s look at the cherished parts of Adventism that have prompted many people to join the denomination.

Great things about being a Seventh-day Adventist

Adventist churches and communities are diverse in many ways. They can vary in size, location, worship style, and in their collective personalities, cultures, and backgrounds. But there are several common reasons we find our faith to be so enriching and beneficial.

1) Adventists find hope in having a relationship with Jesus

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Adventists are Christians first. We believe that every human being can be saved by their faith in Jesus, specifically in accepting Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross.

This belief reassures us that there’s nothing we can do on our own to earn God’s favor (Ephesians 2:8,9). But we can claim Jesus’ sacrifice and receive the forgiveness He so freely gives (1 John 1:9; Ephesians 1:7).

We find comfort in the fact that Jesus not only forgives us, but helps us overcome the sins we struggle with day by day. And when we choose to follow His will, the Holy Spirit provides us with guidance so we can continually grow in our faith (John 15:5; 1 John 3:9).

The comfort and joy we find in Jesus encourages us to introduce others to Him by spreading the Gospel around the world. We hope that as many people as possible will be able to find comfort in Him, realizing that we don’t have to be slaves to this world and its fleeting, unrealistic expectations (Romans 6:15-23). We hope everyone can experience the profound peace that comes from putting our trust in Jesus alone (Philippians 4:7) while looking forward to the day He returns.⁶

2) Adventists find reassurance in the picture of a loving God

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Adventists believe God gave humanity free will. This is a necessary ingredient for complete, unconditional love. God does not force us to accept Him.

He also wants our love to be genuine—given freely because we truly want to spend eternity with Him.

We even believe God shows love in the way He ultimately treats the people who refuse to follow Him.

Adventists do not believe in an eternal hell, or a place where the wicked are sentenced to remain alive to be tormented throughout eternity.

Instead of giving an everlasting life of suffering to those who reject Him, they will cease to exist upon their deaths.⁷

We emphasize that every human being is a unique and loved child of God, so making them endure pain forever and ever with no way of redemption doesn’t align with His character (John 3:16; 2 Peter 3:9).

There will come a time when God puts an end to all sin. And at this time, only those who continue to embrace sin will be put to death by His hand (Revelation 20:14). Nonexistence is the final consequence of choosing a life without their Creator and Sustainer.

We recognize the sadness of any human being becoming forever lost to sin, which is why we take our mission to spread the Gospel seriously. And doing so, we look forward to the day Jesus conquers evil once and for all, allowing us to live eternally on the new earth, free from sin, pain, sadness, and death. And we believe this is the life God wanted for us all along.

3) Adventists make the Bible the foundation of their beliefs

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Adventists believe God reveals the essential truth of life through the Bible. As the ultimate spiritual authority and the written revelation of who God is, Scripture is the foundation of all our beliefs (2 Timothy 3:16; John 17:17).

Our commitment to regular study of the Bible has even helped us better understand the major prophecies within it that affect our lives today and in the future.

Historically, we’ve been interested in learning what the Bible has to say about the end times and Christ’s Second Coming.

In fact, our denomination grew out of our founders’ efforts to better understand what Scripture had to say about Jesus’ return.⁸

By asking the Holy Spirit to guide them as they engaged in intense study, they produced an official summary that describes our beliefs as a Christian, Protestant denomination.

The Adventist Church’s General Conference President (at the time of publishing), Ted Wilson, explains that:

“The Church’s first formal statement of beliefs was published in 1872, titled, ‘A ‌‌Declaration of the Fundamental Principles Taught and Practiced by the Seventh-day Adventists.‌‌’ It listed 25 points drawn from Bible study, and begins with the statement that ‘we wish to have it distinctly understood that we have no articles of faith, creed, or discipline aside from the Bible,‌’ explaining that it was ‘a brief statement of what is, and has been, with great unanimity, held by [Seventh-day Adventists].‌‌’”⁹

And as the Adventist Church continued collectively studying the Bible throughout the years, this list of beliefs would expand to become our current 28 Fundamental Beliefs.¹⁰

Today, our study of prophecy throughout the Old Testament and the New Testament gives us hope that we can rely on God to bring us through the events of the end times that precede His return.

We also look to the Bible to learn the essential principles of leading a meaningful, productive, enjoyable life, day by day.

That’s why we emphasize the importance of individual prayer and Bible study. We want church members to learn for themselves what the Word of God says.

We even have Sabbath schools where people meet at their local church every Saturday to discuss the Bible and ask questions. This study time helps us grow in biblical wisdom and in our relationship with Jesus.

4) Adventists enjoy a weekly Sabbath rest

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The world we live in is always pushing us to maintain that work grind, going above and beyond and facing physical and emotional burnout in return for monetary and professional success.

Between work, school, family, social obligations, and household chores, it can feel like you hardly have a chance to stop and catch your breath. Or to pause and appreciate all these things you have in your life. But busy weekdays can spill over into packed weekends, and before we know it, another week has gone by.

Wouldn’t it be great to know there was a time set aside for rest, so you could go on a hike or a picnic, visit people, or maybe even just sit and look out your window without having to feel like you’re in a hurry to get to the next thing?

That’s a big part of why God made the Sabbath.

Adventists believe God set aside Saturday, the seventh day of the week, as a day when we can stop our work and actually enjoy the world He made for us. A time for us to pause and recognize that we have a Creator who loves us infinitely (Genesis 2:1-3; Exodus 20:8-11). A time when we can be intentional about enjoying the little things in life that otherwise fly under our radar.

Taking a Sabbath break gives us the opportunity to:

• Go to church
• Read the Bible
• Commune with God in prayer
• Fellowship with our church family and our community
• Spend time in nature
• Enjoy quality time with our family or friends

And that’s not all. Keeping the Sabbath regularly offers us many mental and physical health benefits.

Several studies report that Sabbath-keeping can help decrease anxiety and stress.¹¹

Regular rest has also been shown to strengthen the immune system, improve metabolism, decrease blood pressure, and help relieve chronic pain.¹²

We enjoy Sabbath rest because it provides us with peace and physical rejuvenation.

But, above all, we enjoy Sabbath because it’s time we get to spend with God. And there’s always more to learn about Him!

5) Adventists value and promote whole-person health

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Adventists recognize the way our overall health can impact our well-being, happiness, and ability to do the work we’re called to do.

That’s why many Adventists strive to adopt healthy lifestyles. We’re specifically interested in ones that promote:

• Eating a nutritious, plant-based diet
• Drinking water
• Breathing fresh air
• Getting plenty of exercise

However, we aren’t just concerned about physical health. We also strive for optimal mental and spiritual health. Each of these three types of health has a significant impact on our overall quality of life (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 3 John 1:2).

Studies on Blue Zones—a select group of locations around the world where residents exceed the average life span—report that the only Blue Zone in the United States is in Loma Linda California, where most of the population are Adventists.¹³

Though our primary goal is to spread the Gospel, our emphasis on health is all about helping people enjoy longer, healthier, more fulfilling lives.

That’s why, on top of simply treating patients, many of the 650 Adventist medical facilities around the world teach people about the benefits of adopting a healthy lifestyle and preventing serious health conditions.¹⁴

6) Adventists support Christian education

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Adventists believe that education is more than just textbooks and quizzes and listening to a teacher talk. Knowing facts is indeed essential, but we want students to grow in wisdom as well as knowledge.

That’s why Adventists promote whole-person education on each of our campuses. Rather than just meeting academic standards, our schools want students to understand how they can uniquely contribute to the world around them. This includes biblical and spiritual instruction, so they can know not only what the Bible says (Proverbs 22:6), but how we can recognize God’s role in all the subjects they study.¹⁵

Students at Adventist schools learn biblical morality, teaching them how to treat others and how to look at the world through a biblical lens. And most importantly, they are introduced to Jesus and encouraged to build a relationship with Him.

These things are so important to us that we’ve established Adventist elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, and colleges to provide high-quality Christian education to students around the world.

Our school system has grown so much that we’re the second-largest Christian education system in the world.¹⁶ (And the largest Protestant Christian school system.)

We also encourage extracurricular involvement. Local churches offer a variety of youth programs like Adventurers, Pathfinders, Vacation Bible School, and Sabbath School. These provide opportunities for young people to apply what they learn in school while becoming more involved in their communities.

7) Adventists value humanitarian work and human rights

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Doing our part to relieve the pain and suffering we see in the world is a call we take seriously (Deuteronomy 15:11; Isaiah 1:17; Proverbs 3:27; Proverbs 19:17; Matthew 5:42; Luke 3:10-11; Galatians 5:13; Galatians 6:2; Hebrews 13:16). As Jesus taught, we want to provide for those in need (Matthew 25:31-46).

In our desire to serve others, our Church has established several humanitarian programs, some of the most notable being the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), Adventist Community

Services (ACS), and Adventist Health International (AHI). These organizations provide disaster relief, community support, development programs, and need-based efforts to people across the globe.

We also promote these principles of compassion, hospitality, and helpfulness in our local congregations as we serve our communities through volunteer work.

And as part of caring for others, we strive to safeguard human rights.

Because God has given every human being free will, we believe every person has the right to choose their own religious beliefs (Joshua 24:15).

That’s why the Adventist Church has created the Public Affairs and Religious Liberty organization (PARL).

PARL works to uphold religious liberty on an international scale. It connects with government leaders, hosts events, and creates resources to support the religious rights of everyone, everywhere.

8) Adventists promote good stewardship and taking care of our world

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Adventists believe that all of us have the honor and responsibility of taking care of the resources God has entrusted to us (1 Peter 4:10).

We believe God wants us to be mindful about everything in our care (Genesis 1:26, 28; Psalm 115:16). This includes our money, our time, our health, the things we own, and how we treat the people in our lives.

Though sin has and will continue to wreak havoc on our earthly home, we want to do what we can to ensure a healthy environment for all of this world’s inhabitants.

The General Conference of the worldwide Adventist Church states that Adventists seek to protect the environment by living a “simple, wholesome lifestyle where people do not step on the treadmill of unbridled consumerism, goods-getting, and production of waste.”¹⁷

9) Adventists are made up of a diverse, global community

Though Adventism originated in North America, it has grown to become a global denomination of Protestant Christianity.

Today, Adventist churches or organizations are present in 212 of the 235 countries recognized by the United Nations.¹⁸

We’re encouraged by how many people from so many different countries have become passionate about sharing the Gospel and looking forward to Christ’s soon return.

And because everyone was made in the image of God and deserves a chance to get to know Jesus (Genesis 1:27; Mark 16:15), we prioritize evangelism and international mission work. Embracing Jesus’ call to make disciples, we make it a priority to share the Gospel with anyone, anywhere, whether in word or deed.

All the while, we are careful to respect the cultural differences of the people we come in contact with. While we promote unity in Christ, we do not call for uniformity in traditions or methods. When we share the Gospel or serve others, our focus is meeting people’s current needs while demonstrating and promoting biblical principles. We also remember that we can learn a lot from those we serve.

10) Adventists believe in present truth

Our world continues advancing in knowledge. Just think of how far we’ve come in the field of science. Bit by bit, humanity has made discoveries that deepened our understanding of the world around us.

So what would happen if centuries ago, scientists started to refuse to accept new information, or if they ignored new discoveries in favor of what they’ve already been doing for years? Well, we wouldn’t have our current model of the solar system. We wouldn’t understand the dangers of bacteria and the benefits of sanitation. And so on.

In the same way, while the Bible’s principles are timeless and unchanging, we are always advancing in our understanding of Scripture.

The Bible is complex and multi-layered, and it was written thousands of years ago. Though the truth of Scripture is and has always been present, there are some biblical concepts that took believers a while to collectively acknowledge or put into practice. But as humanity matured and progressed, we began to see things in new ways and understand parts of the Bible more practically and more deeply.

Just think about how Jesus had to reveal the concept of the “spirit of the law” to the Jews (Matthew 22:37-40). Or how Paul had to reveal that the Gospel wasn’t just for the Jews, but for everyone (Galatians 3:28).

There is always more we can learn when it comes to God, life, spirituality, and love.

That’s why we strive to be ever-receptive of the truth God can reveal to us. We uphold the knowledge and understanding we have now, but we are always searching the Bible, looking for ways to grow in wisdom.

In this way, we are determined to ensure our beliefs are never based on rigid creeds or dated traditions, but on the dynamic truth the Holy Spirit reveals to us through Scripture.

It’s this teaching that has helped us keep our foundational beliefs relevant, timely, and personal, leaving room for growth in our understanding of the Bible and our relationships with Jesus.

11) Adventism offers hope for the “end times”

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End-time prophecy can indeed seem unsettling, and sometimes scary. But since the earliest days of the denomination, Adventists have made it a priority to study these passages of Scripture.

The goal? To determine what God wants us to understand about the events preceding His return, and what He wants us to do.

The idea of the world ending understandably stirs up frightening thoughts—but when we drill down to

what’s actually happening on a cosmic, spiritual level, there is reason for significant hope.

Our sinful world will end so He can make the New Earth for us, restoring it to Eden-like perfection (Isaiah 65:17; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21). God will destroy sin forever, and there will

“no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain [because] the first things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4, NASB).

And while the world will seem to tear itself apart right before this happens, God gives us the following instructions throughout these prophetic passages:

“Then He said, ‘Watch out that you are not deceived…” (Luke 21:8, CSB).

“You are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, because these things must take place, but the end is not yet” (Matthew 24:6, CSB, emphasis added).

“But when these things take place, stand up and lift your heads, because your redemption is near” (Luke 21:28, CSB).

“But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the dark, for this day to surprise you like a thief. For you are children of light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness. So then, let us not sleep, like the rest, but let us stay awake and be self-controlled. … Therefore encourage one another and build each other up…” (1 Thessalonians 5:4-6, 11, CSB, emphasis added).

“Be on your guard, so that you are not led away by the error of lawless people…but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…” (2 Peter 3:17-18, CSB).

“This calls for endurance from the saints, who keep God’s commands and their faith in Jesus” (Revelation 14:12).

There’s a pattern. All throughout end-time prophecy, Adventists have found that what God actually commands of us collectively can be summed up as:

• Be alert and wary
• Don’t be afraid/trust in Him
• Stand firm in our beliefs
• Encourage one another
• Be patient

And as we do so, we can remember that we serve a God who promises to be with us always (Matthew 28:20), will never leave us (Hebrews 13:5-6), and who gives us strength (Philippians 4:13) and wisdom (James 1:5).

That’s why we collectively emphasize the message of Jesus’ imminent return (Revelation 22:7).

We don’t have to be discouraged by the awful, depressing state of our world. Instead, we recognize that sin is at work in the world so we serve those in need whenever possible. And we do this while upholding and sharing the biggest hope of all—that Jesus’s return could happen at any time, and He will make everything right.

How to join the Adventist church

Currently, over 21.9 million people have decided to become a Seventh-day Adventist Christian.¹⁹

If you’d like to find out more about us, there are many places you can look.

You can find an Adventist congregation in your area and visit one of our church services. Or you can read more about our beliefs, or what a typical Adventist church service is like.

The process for officially joining an Adventist church is likely similar to that of most other Protestant Christian congregations. You’ll talk with one of the local church’s pastors or elders, go over our beliefs and how we live them out, and then you can decide to become baptized or join the church through a profession of faith.

28 Adventist Fundamental Beliefs

15. Baptism
16. The Lord’s Supper
17. Spiritual Gifts and Ministries
18. The Gift of Prophecy
19. The Law of God
20. The Sabbath
21. Stewardship
22. Christian Behavior
23. Marriage and Family
24. Jesus’ Ministry in the Heavenly Sanctuary
25. The Second Coming of Christ
26. Death and Resurrection
27. The Millenium and The End of Sin
28. The New Earth

1. Drevitch, Gary, “The Health Benefits of Congregational life.”Psychology Today. [↵]
2.  “Religion’s Relationship to Happiness, Civic Engagement and Health Around the World,” Pew Research Center. [↵]
3. Ibid. [↵]
4. Ibid. [↵]
5. VanderWeele, Tyler J., “Religious Communities and Human Flourishing,” National Library of Medicine. [↵]
6. “Mission Statement of the Seventh-day Adventist Church,” General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. [↵]
7. Malachi 4:1, 3; Psalm 37:20; Revelation 20:14; Romans 6:23.  [↵]
8. “History of the 28 Fundamental Beliefs,” General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. [↵]
9. Ibid. [↵]
10. Ibid. [↵]
11. “How Regular Sabbath Improves Your Mental and Physical Health,” Newport Beach Christian Counseling. [↵]
12. Ibid. [↵]
13. “Loma Linda, California,” Bluezones. [↵]
14. “Why are Seventh-day Adventists interested in Health?” General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. [↵]
15. “Teaching A Whole Life For A Lifetime,” General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. [↵]
16. “The Adventist Difference,” NAD Office of Education. [↵]
17.  “Environment,” General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. [↵]
18. Hosokawa, “The Seventh-day Adventist Church: 160 years later,” General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. [↵]
19. Ibid. [↵]

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