Adventist Church Reaffirms God as Creator on Special Emphasis Day

The IAD celebrated ‘Creation Sabbath’ as an integral part of Adventist faith.

November 6, 2024 | Miami, Florida, United States | Libna Stevens, Inter-American Division News

Seventh-day Adventist leaders recently reaffirmed God as the Creator of the universe during a special live-streamed program titled “Creation Sabbath,” celebrated across the world church. The event, held on Oct. 26, 2024, from Miami, Florida, followed a week of creation-themed activities in Adventist schools and auditoriums throughout the Inter-American Division (IAD) territory.

“Creation Sabbath is a meaningful day that underscores the foundation of our faith and the essence of Adventist education, which seeks to understand the world and life through a biblical worldview,” said Dr. Faye Patterson, education director of the IAD and the event’s main organizer.

The day’s focus was on coming together to celebrate and reflect on God’s wonders in creation, remembering His love and power, which are manifested in nature, she said. “We are not products of chance or purposeless evolutionary processes,” Patterson remarked. “We are intentional beings, created in the image of a loving and caring God, who has a unique purpose for each of us.”

She emphasized that the celebration of creation is more than a reminder of God’s six days of work; it profoundly influences our worldview, our relationships, and our environment, she said. “In our Adventist educational institutions, we emphasize that God designed every aspect of nature—every species, every plant, every facet of life—to reflect His character,” Patterson explained. She added that this understanding of creation instills a sense of responsibility toward the earth and our fellow beings as stewards of God’s creation.

Creation also points us to the importance of Sabbath rest, she continued. “God blessed and sanctified the seventh day after creating the world. The Sabbath is a time to reflect on our identity, our origins, and our Creator. In Adventist education, this principle is observed weekly, teaching students the importance of rest, devotion, and connection with God and His creation,” Patterson noted. “As educators and leaders, we strive for our students to recognize God in everything around them, aspiring for each academic discipline—whether science, history, art, or literature—to reflect divine wonder and design.”

She encouraged educators and members watching the program to remember the privilege of being part of an Adventist family that views education through the lens of God as Creator.

Inter-American Division President Dr. Elie Henry opened his spiritual message by testifying that “God is the only eternal and sovereign God, who fulfills His plan and continues to be actively involved in our lives and in our plans.”  Pastor Henry highlighted Christ’s intimate role in creation, noting, “Divinity was present in the creation of the heavens and the earth.” He pointed out that the Bible reveals key aspects of God’s character: “God is a God of order, for He shaped and gave substance to the earth. He is intimately involved as Creator. God is a God of power, for He spoke, and things came into being. God is light, and in Him, there is no darkness. And God created the seventh-day Sabbath to demonstrate His love, which is one of His fundamental characteristics.”

Pastor Henry concluded by reminding viewers that God will one day create a new earth. “We must continue to talk about and worship our Creator who made the heavens and the earth, and remain faithful in proclaiming His love.”

Dr. Luciano U. González of the Geoscience Research Institute at Montemorelos University then reaffirmed God as the Creator of all things. He explained that God is involved in the lives of His children. Dr. González compared various theories on the origins of the earth, from philosophers like Aristotle and Heraclitus, to the scientific discoveries of atoms, electrons, and protons by figures such as John Dalton and Niels Bohr. He pointed to biblical references of God’s creative power and quoted writings from Ellen G. White, co-founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

“God, the Creator, has the power to transform energy into matter,” said Dr. González. “He has the power for His word, His sound energy, to transform into matter. Creation is so sacred that Genesis 2:3 says, ‘God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all the work of creating that He had done.’”

In his conclusion, Dr. González invited viewers to recognize that, amidst the many philosophers who have sought to exclude God from the equation, we must remain steadfast in our belief in the Creator God.

During the program, a new project called TheoVerse Legacy was introduced. TheoVerse Legacty is a virtual reality platform designed to bring people closer to biblical stories and clarify common questions, such as the creation story. The platform, presented by Dr. Carlos Robles, vice president of institutional effectiveness, strategic planning, and education at the Inter-American Division Adventist Theological Seminary, is divided into three sections: a small museum, an art room showcasing the history of some church pioneers, and a central area with books that, when opened, allows users to step into the story. The project will soon be available to educational institutions.

The online Creation Sabbath event was a key step in encouraging more schools and educational institutions across the IAD to engage in creation-themed activities annually. “Many schools have been highlighting creation, but we want to see all of our schools incorporate it into their curriculum each year for a full week,” said Dr. Patterson.

The Education Department has provided resources for teachers to help students engage in in-depth studies of Genesis, expand their knowledge, and nurture a Christian worldview. The Creation Classroom Packet includes design ideas and decorations for classrooms, science labs, and more.

“This Creation Sabbath is about inspiring our students, teachers, educators, leaders, and members alike,” Patterson concluded, “to deepen our commitment to caring for our planet, building relationships marked by kindness and respect, and living with a profound sense of purpose, knowing we belong to a God who loves us and will soon return.”