Adventist Heritage Ministry
Encyclopedia
Seventh-day Adventist Church
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
historic sites. Shortly after its founding the organization adopted the motto, "The Past With a Future." The organization did not come under church ownership until 1988.
In 1984 AHM purchased 25 acres (101,171.5 m²) that was originally part of William Miller
William Miller (preacher)
William Miller was an American Baptist preacher who is credited with beginning the mid-nineteenth century North American religious movement now known as Adventism. Among his direct spiritual heirs are several major religious denominations, including Seventh-day Adventists and Advent Christians...
's farm in Low Hampton, New York. Included in this purchase was William Miller's house built in 1815 and nearby Ascension Rock, where local Millerites are reported to have waited for Christ's return on October 22, 1844. In 1985 the organization published the first issue of its periodical, the AHP Bulletin, containing updates and mailed to the organizations supporters.
In 1989 AHM purchased 17 acres (68,796.6 m²) near Port Gibson, New York. Three years later the organization purchased a barn that originally belonged to Luther Edson, Hiram Edson
Hiram Edson
Hiram Edson was a pioneer of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, known for introducing the investigative judgment doctrine to the church.-Early life:Edson's first wife died in 1839, leaving him to care for three children...
's father, dismantled it, and transported it to the Edson farm to be re-erected there.
In 1994 the organization's name was formally changed to "Adventist Heritage Ministry" and initial plans were laid for the development of a Historic Adventist Village consisting of nearly a three block area that included the home of James and Ellen White, the home of Deacon John and Betsey White, the Loughborough property, and the surrounding area.
In 2005 the organization purchased the home of Joseph Bates
Joseph Bates (Adventist)
Joseph Bates was an American seaman and revivalist minister. He was the founder and developer of Sabbatarian Adventism, a strain of religious thinking that evolved into the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Bates is also credited with convincing James White and Ellen G...
in Fairhaven, Massachusetts.
The organization is governed by a board of trustees elected by their constituent organization, the Ellen G. White Estate
Ellen G. White Estate
The Ellen G. White Estate, Incorporated, or simply the White Estate, is the official organization created by Ellen G. White to act as the custodian of her writings, which are of importance to the Seventh-day Adventist Church...
board of trustees.
Board Chairs: Lawrence E. Crandall, 1981-1988; Robert L. Dale, 1988-1997; James R. Nix
James R. Nix
James R. Nix has been director of the Ellen G. White Estate since 2000. Nix graduated in 1969 from La Sierra University with a dual major in history and theology. He later earned masters degrees in divinity and library science. In 1972 Loma Linda University hired Nix to help develop a Heritage Room...
, 1997-present.
Presidents: Lawrence E. Crandall, 1981-1991; James R. Nix, 1991-1995; Alice R. Voorheis, 1995-2001; Thomas R. Neslund, 2001-present.