The first Seventh-day Adventists in Atlanta were Charles F. Curtis and George A. King, who came in 1885 as colporteurs selling the books Daniel and the Revelation by Uriah Smith, and Sunshine at Home. They returned north with enthusiastic reports of future prospects for the South. Later, Curtis was asked to head a city mission in Atlanta; his newly acquired bride was the Bible instructor. In 1887, the Atlanta mission was closed because of a depression, and the workers moved to a less expensive home and conducted Sabbath and week night meetings there. Later, the headquarters was moved to the southeast section of the city where a church was organized in the fall of 1888.

A few years later, Curtis realized the need of medical work, so he attended Emory University here in Atlanta, and added M.D. to his attainments. He operated a private treatment sanitarium in East Lake around the year 1903. The first Sabbath School was held with six adults and six children at the home of Dr. Curtis at 80 Plum Street, near the present Coca-Cola home plant in 1887. The first minister was Elder S. H. Lane, who came that same year. A church was organized the following year (1888) and had as their meeting place the home of Dr. Curtis, who now lived at the corner of South Boulevard and Bryan Street. Some time later, they moved services to the St. Paul Methodist Church on Grant Street.

THE FIRST CHURCH

The first church building was erected about the year 1892 on Fair Street, now Memorial Drive, near the corner of Cherokee Avenue. The first large evangelistic effort was conducted by Elder Carlyle B. Haynes in the old Baptist Tabernacle in 1912. A few years later, a large tent was placed at the junction of the Peachtrees (Peachtree Street and West Peachtree) and there was a large attendance. Elder Haynes also held meetings in 1917 in the Grand Theater. It was necessary to close the doors when the theater became filled, and hundreds were turned away. At this time the church building facing Grant Park, on the corner of Cherokee Avenue and Orleans Street, was built. Brother Jasper Shirley was the builder, with Brother Dupree and Brother S. H. Lilly laying most of the bricks. Meetings were later held in the Lyric Theater, and at Cable Hall on week nights. About 120 new members were added by these efforts. Dr. John Russell Mitchell acted as pastor for a number of years, with O. B. Crary serving part of the time as assistant pastor and choir leader.

The first regular pastor appointed by the Georgia Conference was Elder A. B. Russell, whose wife, Clara Jacobs Russell, was one of the first teachers of Oakwood School after its founding in Huntsville, Alabama. The medical work was used as an entering wedge by Dr. Curtis, who had a small sanitarium near East Lake golf course, and Dr. J. H. Neal, who operated a sanitarium in West End. Dr. Andrews had a sanitarium at 243 South Boulevard. In 1939, Elder J. L. Shuler had a tabernacle erected on Peachtree Street near Crawford Long Hospital. It was necessary to have double sessions on Sunday nights in order to accommodate the large audiences. Approximately 120 new members were added at this time.

Looking forward to the prospect of additional members, a new church building was being erected at Peachtree Street and Beverly Road. In 1949, Elder M. K. Eckenroth. of the General Conference Ministerial Association. held meetings in the City Auditorium, which brought an increase in membership to both the Atlanta churches. Pastors who served the Cherokee Avenue church were: Elders A. B. Russell, B. H. Shaw, A. H. Cone, John H. Behrens, C. C. Ellis, Ned Ashton, Paul Scoggins, S. M. Schleifer, Lindsay Semmens, W. J. Keith, W. B. Johnson.

THE KIRKWOOD CHURCH

In December 1950, Elder Willard B. Johnson became the pastor. He led out in buying the Kirkwood Baptist church building at 112 Howard Street. It was a very spacious building, having over 100 rooms in addition to the sanctuary, and aided materially in the expanding church program. Soon after moving there, a new church was organized in West End. Over half its members were from the Kirkwood congregation. God blessed and soon more members were added than had transferred to the Cascade Road church. Elders Raymond Numbers and John L. Hayward were pastors of the congregation at Kirkwood.

As Atlanta grew and many members moved farther out, it was felt that the church needed to relocate in an area which would be more advantageous to evangelistic endeavors. Elder D.G. Anderson was pastor when the church voted to sell after receiving an offer from another congregation to purchase the building for $136,000 with $106.00 in cash and a ten-year mortgage. The mortgage, however, was liquidated in five years. When the church was sold, the congregation moved to the Family Center located on Berne Street, S. E., and remained there for about a year during the construction of a new church building.

THE BELVEDERE CHURCH

After much searching and the blessing of God, a very beautiful tract of land was found consisting of approximately 7 1/2 acres facing Memorial Drive on the north and Covington Highway and Midway Road on the south. This was purchased from Mr. Judson Lanier for $95,000. The property was divided into three parts with approximately 1 1/3 acres facing Memorial Drive going to the Book and Bible House for their new building. The remaining portion was divided with approximately 2 1/2 acres being used for the church building. The remaining portion was to be held in reserve for future development. Now Becker Adventist School stands on that site.

With Elder D. G. Anderson serving as Chairman of the Building Committee, plans were drawn up for the new Belvedere church, and under the blessing of God and building supervision of J. P. Lewis, the church was ready for occupancy in less than a year, in spite of the fact that during construction a strong wind blew down one of the end walls. Carlton J. Martin was in charge of the brick work. The first services were held in the new Belvedere church on October 2, 1965.

Total cost of the church building, together with the furnishings, parking lot, and land set aside for the church school came to approximately $265,000. Upon completion of the church about $150,000 of this remained unpaid, but this debt was liquidated during the pastorate of Elder Perry Green. Also under Elder Green's leadership Atlanta Junior Academy, a ten-grade school, was opened on the property to the rear of the sanctuary.

In 1979, a twelve-grade school was opened on the west side of the city and our school became an eight-grade school. In honor of Elder V. W. Becker, a member of Belvedere church whose life had been dedicated to the work of education, our school is now known as Becker Adventist School.

Pastors who have served Belvedere are: Elders D. G. Anderson, Perry Green, W. J. Henson, Noel Shanko, and David Dobias in 1980. Under his leadership, the church moved ahead spiritually and materially. A family center/gym was built adjacent to the school where Monday night volleyball is a standard event. A shelter for homeless men was opened in 1986 connected to the family center building. During the 1987-88 season (the shelter was open from November 1 to March 31) an average of 30-35 men found shelter from the cold every night and were served over 6,000 meals by our faithful church members. In 1988, Albert M. Ellis became our pastor. During his tenure, the church grew tremendously, becoming more diverse, and really became a model for all churches to follow. However, Pastor Ellis retired in May of 1998, and a sad day it was indeed. After much prayer and in-depth searching and interviewing, Dale Wolfe was chosen to be our new Pastor and God blessed him in a marked way. However, Pastor Wolfe left us in December 2001, due to his father's declining health, so once again we turned to God for His help. After many months, and quite a few interim pastors, the Lord sent Dr. Denton Rhone to shepherd the Belvedere flock in October 2002; he left in 2010. The church marches on with a dynamic and charismatic leader, Dr. Samuel Bulgin (who joined us in 2011) at the helm.

The Belvedere church looks back at over 100 years of witness. It has been privileged to be a "mother church", as members of this congregation have formed part of the nucleus of many Atlanta area churches, nearly all of them with new facilities. Some of these churches are Duluth, Athens, Madison, Atlanta Southside, Stone Mountain and Conyers.

Our church stands as a light on the eastern perimeter of Atlanta, anxious to share the love of Jesus in a meaningful way in our community. Its members want to share the good news of Jesus Christ - One who came to save; One who came to minister; One who is coming soon for His own. God has been good and His blessings have been abundant. We praise His Name today for His marvelous works, and we pray for the continued spirit of sacrifice that the work so nobly begun, may be completed and we may hear from the lips of our Master the words "Well done."