Saturdays on East Oakland Avenue
The Johnson City Seventh-day Adventist Church meets on East Oakland Avenue in Johnson City, Tennessee, where a steady Saturday morning rhythm has shaped its life for years. The congregation keeps the seventh-day Sabbath, gathering for Sabbath School at 9:30 a.m. and a worship service at 10:45 a.m. The two services bookend a relaxed morning of Bible study, singing, prayer and fellowship, often followed by a shared meal at noon.
What the Church Believes
The church belongs to the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church, a mainstream Protestant body of about 19 million members, including more than one million in North America. Members believe in one God made up of three persons - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit - and hold that Jesus came to earth, lived a sinless life, died for the sins of the world, and rose again on the third day. After returning to heaven, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit as Comforter and Counselor, and Adventists look forward to His promised second coming.
The congregation also believes that God cares about the whole of human life - the way people live, eat, speak, think, treat one another and care for the world around them. Families, children, work, talents, money and time are all part of His plan. The church's own mission statement is short and direct: "Developing deeper relationships with God and nurturing genuine friendships within our community."
Sabbath School: A Class for Every Age
At 9:30 a.m. on Saturday mornings, the church fills with teachers and students of every age. The Sabbath School program offers a Christ-centered hour of singing, prayer, Bible lessons and activities, divided into classes that meet in different rooms of the building. The verse that hangs over the program is 2 Timothy 3:15, that the sacred writings "are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus."
The children's side of the program is organized by age. Cradle Roll welcomes children up to age 3, Kindergarten serves ages 4 to 6, Primary is for ages 7 to 9, and Juniors covers ages 10 to 14. A separate Youth class gathers ages 15 to 18. Adults split into two tracks. The Sanctuary Class works through the church-wide Sabbath School Quarterly, while the Fellowship Hall Class is currently studying the book "The Path to the Throne of God." Behind the scenes, the program draws on Adventist resources such as GraceLink, Sabbath School Net, Sabbath School U and the Sabbath School and Personal Ministries department.
Worship Service at 10:45 a.m.
Following Sabbath School, the main worship service begins at 10:45 a.m. and runs until about 12:15 p.m. Pastor Rob Lechner preaches most Sabbaths, with guest speakers and lay members filling the pulpit on other weekends. The music ministry's choir leads congregational singing, and the service moves through the rhythms of an Adventist worship gathering. The service is livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel each Saturday morning, so members who are traveling or unwell can follow along from home.
After the service, several Sabbaths each month include a guest luncheon or fellowship lunch in the fellowship hall, giving newcomers and longtime members a chance to sit down together.
Second-Sabbath Bible Study
On the second Sabbath of each month, an afternoon Bible study runs from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Participants bring a sack lunch and dig into topics that Adventists consider foundational for these final days. Steve Braswell leads the discussion, with Ken Cooper coordinating the schedule.
Wednesdays at the Church
The building stays busy through the week. Wednesday mornings bring a Women's Bible Study at 10:00 a.m. In the evening, a Midweek Service begins at 6:30 p.m. and runs until 7:30 p.m., currently held as a prophecy seminar that teaches members how to give their own Bible studies. Choir practice follows at 7:00 p.m. and runs an hour, with the church choir preparing music for upcoming Sabbaths.
Children's Ministries: Adventurers and Pathfinders
Children have a full slate of programs beyond Sabbath School. The Adventurer Club is open to all children ages 6 to 9 and their families, blending Bible learning, nature activities and community service. Pathfinders picks up at ages 10 to 15, expanding the windows on the world through camping, outreach and skill-building, with the dual goal of growing a relationship with God while serving the wider community.
The church also runs a Vacation Bible School each summer, typically held in the evening over one week. Children's resources are shared with families through KidZone, My Place with Jesus and KidsBibleinfo.com, which offers character-building stories and games aimed directly at younger readers.
Health Ministry
The Health Ministry takes seriously the Adventist conviction, drawn from the book Ministry of Healing, that teaching and healing go hand in hand. Its flagship offering is Diabetes Undone, a curriculum developed with Dr. Wes Youngberg that walks participants through nutrition, exercise and lifestyle changes designed to reverse type 2 diabetes and lower the risk of other lifestyle-related diseases. The program can be taken in a group setting at the church or completed at home, and includes a cookbook, workbook and informational videos.
One 91-year-old participant, Tom Zapara, summed up the program's promise: "Six months later, I was declared non-diabetic. I reversed it." Fred and Julie Douville coordinate the ministry at the Johnson City church. The parent organization is Life and Health Network, a nonprofit that produces evidence-based media to help people bring the physical, emotional and spiritual sides of life into balance.
Men's, Women's and Youth Ministries
Men in the church gather around a clear calling: "growing in Christ, in service to others, and following in His footsteps by righteous living, prayer and following Christ's example." The Women's Ministry Department exists to encourage, equip, promote and challenge Adventist women in their daily walk with Jesus Christ and to bring a distinctly women's perspective to the life of the local church. Its vision is built on three movements - nurture ("reaching up with God"), empower ("reaching in with God"), and outreach ("reaching out to God") - and the department marks special days throughout the year, including a Women's Day of Prayer, a Women's Ministries Emphasis Day, the annual Women's Ministries Offering, and the EndItNow Emphasis Day focused on ending violence against women.
The Youth Ministry works under the banner "Ignite, Create, Guide" and points teens to resources such as Insight Magazine, an online publication that offers articles, videos, music, a college guide and prayer support for young adults navigating big decisions.
Music Ministry
The church choir sings on Sabbath mornings and prepares music week by week at Wednesday evening rehearsals. Psalm 95:1 frames the ministry's purpose: "Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation." Singers of all skill levels are welcome, and the choir supports congregational singing throughout the worship service.
Prayer Ministry
Prayer is woven into nearly every program, and the church hosts a dedicated Prayer Ministry page where visitors and members can submit prayer requests. Requests may be made anonymously and can be tagged by category: comfort, death, fear, finances, forgiveness, guidance, guilt, healing, help, hope, salvation, wisdom, worried or other. The page also gathers a set of Scriptures about prayer drawn from Colossians 4:2, 1 Timothy 2:8, Philippians 4:6 and James 5:13.
Personal Ministries and Backyard Ministries
The Personal Ministries department aims to equip and mobilize every church member for service, drawing on the conviction that "the church of Christ is organized for service" and that "every son and daughter of God is called to be a missionary." Members are encouraged to take a Spiritual Gift Survey to find their fit, and the department links the church to a wide library of Bible study resources, including Amazing Facts (a free online Bible school with 24 prophecy lessons), Bibleinfo.com, Bible Research, Christian Record Services for the visually impaired, and Lifting Up Jesus, a 30-lesson series with both a Spanish edition and a children's edition. Daily devotionals such as the Amazing Facts Daily Bible Reading Plan and Revival and Reformation round out the library.
Backyard Ministries is the church's hands-and-feet outreach, summed up in its tagline: "Meeting peoples needs through lending a helping hand." Activities typically include community service projects that connect members with neighbors in Johnson City and the surrounding Tri-Cities area.
Living Springs Christian Academy
The church operates Living Springs Christian Academy, an Adventist school that shares the campus and meets during the week. LSCA offers a Christ-centered education in the Adventist tradition, with a Worthy Student policy and application that families can request through the church office. An LSCA Board meets monthly in the evenings to guide the school's life and direction.
Visiting the Johnson City SDA Church
The church sits at 1910 E Oakland Ave, Johnson City, TN 37601-2126. Sabbath School begins at 9:30 a.m. and worship follows at 10:45 a.m. The midweek service is Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m., with choir practice at 7:00 p.m. and a Women's Bible Study Wednesday mornings at 10:00 a.m. The main church number is 423-283-4776 and the office email is info@johnsoncitysda.org. Members and visitors can give online through Adventist Giving and watch the livestream on YouTube.