The Seventh-day Adventist History in the Southwest
The Seventh-day Adventist message was preached and taught to Blacks in the territory currently known as the Southwest Region Conference as early as 1876. That same year, the Rust Brothers (lay members) established the first white convert group in Dallas.
What began as small groups of believers scattered across five states has grown into a vibrant conference of over 23,000 members, serving communities across Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.
The Beginning
The Seventh-day Adventist message was first preached to Blacks in the southwestern territory. D.M. Canright documented Eddie Capman conducting night school for Black adults and children three times weekly. That same year, the Rust Brothers (lay members) established the first white convert group in Dallas.
First Black Church Organized
The first Black Seventh-day Adventist church in the region -- Ephesus Seventh-day Adventist Church in New Orleans, Louisiana -- was organized on June 4, 1892, by pastor C.M. Kinney. This landmark event marked the establishment of a permanent Black Adventist presence in the Southwest.
Growth Across the Territory
Reports from 1901 describe converts in Catcher, Arkansas and Houston, Texas. Notable workers included A.C. Chatman, Page Shepard, W.S. North, T.B. Buckner, N.B. King, J.H. Laurence, J.G. Dasent, F.S. Keitts, T.H. Coopwood, Caleb Martin, and John W. Green.
Berean Church Established
The Houston group became Berean Church on February 21, 1921, with 63 members. The church community continued to grow and expand throughout the region, anchoring the Adventist presence in one of the largest cities in the territory.
Southwestern Mission Organized
On December 16, 1946, the Black constituency across Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas formed the Southwestern Mission, effective January 1, 1947.
Initial statistics: 27 churches, 1,700 members, 17 workers, 4 schools, and $70,773.59 in annual tithe.
First officers: W.W. Fordham (President); V.L. Roberts (Secretary/Treasurer); J.H. Jones (Publishing Secretary); Helen Wiggins Beckett (Sabbath School Secretary).
Conference Status Achieved
On January 17, 1950, the organization officially became the Southwest Region Conference. The headquarters has since moved from Oakland Avenue (1947) to South Boulevard (1958) to Lanark Avenue (1968) in Dallas, Texas, where it remains today.
A Thriving Conference
Today the Southwest Region Conference serves over 23,000 members across more than 100 churches and companies. The conference operates 8 Pre-K through 8th-grade schools, maintains a nearly 300-acre campground (Lone Star Camp), and generates approximately $13 million in annual tithe.
Presidential Succession
| Photo | President | Years of Service |
|---|---|---|
 | W.W. Fordham | 1946 – 1954 |
 | W.C. Jones | 1976 – 1985 |
 | R.E. Barron | 1986 – 1990 |
 | R.L. Lister | 1990 – 2000 |
 | B.E. Wright | 2000 – 2012 |
 | S.L. Green | 2012 – 2015 |
 | C. Watkins | 2015 – 2021 |
 | Dr. Carlton P. Byrd | 2021 – Present |
