
Milton Adventist Church Celebrates
Sesquicentennial Anniversary
Milton-Freewater, Oregon—On March 13-14, 2026, the Milton Seventh-day Adventist Church will celebrate 150 years of continuous service in the Walla Walla Valley. This anniversary marks a milestone reflecting a long-standing commitment to faith, education, and community outreach.
Founded in January 1876, the congregation began when the valley was still a frontier of orchards, wheat fields, and small settlements. Early members—many of them farmers and pioneers—established a church rooted in Christian faith and service, laying foundations that have endured for generations.
As the region grew and changed, the church grew alongside it. From the early 20th-century interurban railway to the expansion of agriculture and education in the valley, the Milton church served families on both sides of the Oregon–Washington border. Throughout world wars, economic shifts, and social change, it remained a place of stability, fellowship, and compassion.
Over the decades, the church has supported Christian education, youth programs, and community service initiatives, including food and clothing assistance. Today, it continues to serve a diverse congregation while remaining focused on its mission of sharing Christ’s love with the community.
Weekend Schedule
Friday, March 13
- 7:00 p.m. Heritage Hymns of Praise, Worship, and Hope (First Community Church, 13 SW 8th Avenue, Milton-Freewater).
Sabbath, March 14
- 9:15 a.m. Retro Sabbath School (Song Service; Panel Discussion of the Adult Sabbath School Lesson for March 14)
- 10:50 a.m. Worship Celebration (Pastor Ole Olesen, Speaker)
- 1:00 p.m. Heritage Fellowship Dinner
- 2:00 p.m. Flashback Memories (Special Music, Stories, and more. Special guests: Vixie brothers; Elder Doug Johnson)
- 3:30 p.m. “Touching the Past” —(A guided tour of various locations in Milton-Freewater with historical Adventist presence, including church buildings, schools, camp meetings, streets and roads with Adventist significance, old businesses, graves of Adventist believers across the generations.)
The public is warmly invited to join this weekend of remembrance, gratitude, and renewed vision for the future.