Spanish-speaking Church in Australia Celebrates 50 Years of Faith and Mission

Members and leaders remember what God has done as they recommit to mission.

June 9, 2025 | Australia | Dan Carrasco, Adventist Record, and Adventist Review

“Thus far the Lord has helped us” (1 Sam. 7:12) was the theme echoing throughout the Wetherill Park Seventh-day Adventist Church, in New South Wales, Australia, as more than 500 members, leaders, and guests gathered to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church in Australia from May 23 to 25.

The weekend was filled with thanksgiving and reflection, celebrating five decades of faithful ministry, cultural richness and community impact by Spanish-speaking Adventist congregations across the country, even organizers reported. “The program featured uplifting worship services, dynamic musical presentations, heartfelt testimonies, and a powerful sense of intergenerational unity,” they shared.

During the celebration a prayer of gratitude was offered by Alban Matohiti, Greater Sydney Conference president, thanked God for His guidance during the past 50 years and prayed for continued faith and mission in the years to come among the Spanish-speaking population in Australia.

Among the musical highlights was a special performance by members of the original “Spanish Singers,” whose ministry during the church’s early years played a key role in shaping the worship culture and identity of the church in that area.

The celebration also honored individuals who helped establish a Spanish-speaking Adventist church in Australia, such as Ricardo Olivares, the first ordained Spanish-speaking pastor in the Australian Seventh-day Adventist Church. Many who attended the weekend celebrations warmly remembered his pioneering leadership and dedication to pastoral ministry during those first years.

“This 50-year celebration is a testimony of God’s providence and the enduring faith of our Spanish-speaking members,” said Jonathan Valls, event emcee. “As we remember the past, we hold on to the words of Scripture: ‘Thus far the Lord has helped us.’ And we step forward with confidence, knowing that He will continue to lead.”

The weekend concluded with a joyful thanksgiving concert and fellowship luncheon, during which several of the attendees shared stories about the past. They also shared new mission commitments and plans for the regional Spanish-speaking churches in the future.

About the Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church in Australia

Founded in 1975 by Sydney Spanish-speaking Adventist families seeking to worship in their own language, the Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church in Australia has grown into a vibrant national network of congregations who remain committed to gospel mission, community service, and nurturing faith across generations and cultures.

The Wetherill Park church advertises itself as “a Christ-centered, Bible-based community of believers that love God and the people around us.” The congregation, located in a western suburb of Sydney, adds, “We seek to honor Jesus Christ as our Savior in all that we do. We’re not perfect, and believe that being part of a local church is not about religion, not about us, but about having a relationship with Jesus.”

The original version of this story was posted on Adventist Record.