The First Seventh Day Adventist Church Bemidji was organized in 1918 as an associate of the Seventh Day Adventist organization. Elder M. Ruskjer was the first resident pastor. They met each Saturday in a rented hall to worship according to their beliefs and convictions. Some of the early organizers of the congregation were Mrs. Kate Dybvig, A. S. Ruskjer, Rev. B. O. Engen, Miss Jennie Burgeson, Roy Stebe, Mrs. J. E. Bunker, Mrs. E. A. Tolles of Becida, and Mrs. Vera Wilson.
After a few years, the membership increased in such proportions that it was decided to erect a permanent church building, and in 1925, the needed funds were secured to warrant carrying out the project. Two lots were purchased on the corner of Ninth Street and America Avenue, and actual construction began. Most of the labor was donated by members, as were a large portion of the necessary materials and fixtures. The building was dedicated in May of 1925. The address was 824 America Avenue. Concrete blocks used in the building were manufactured by the Bemidji Brick Concrete Company. The building had a large main auditorium and two class rooms on the main floor, while the basement was left unfinished, but was large enough to expand services.
In 1936, the entire interior of the building was painted and re-decorated and some changes were made to provide a larger auditorium, while the basement was finished and provided space for the church school class rooms. A parochial school was conducted in this space during the winter and spring months.
Elder M. Ruskjer served three years and was succeeded by B. O. Engen, M. E. Anderson, E. L. Sheldon, Henry Grundset, Lawrence Burgeson, W. B. Pontynen, and E. A. Piper.
The Dorcas Society of the Seventh Day Adventist church celebrated the 40th anniversary of its organization in Bemidji in Oct 1967. The work was started by Pastor and Mrs. K. L Sheldon in 1927. In 1959, the Dorcas Society dedicated a building right behind the church on 9th and America. The building was known as the Dorcas Health and Welfare Center with Mrs. Delbert Hall in charge and Mrs. Jack Price, assistant. Mrs. Dorothy Coyle was the leader of the Dorcas Society in 1967. Three charter members of the Society were still living in 1967, namely Mmes. Lena Back, A.L Davis and William Klinger.
In 1974, members George Larson, Don Cooper, Don Larsen, Mrs. Duane Wohlfeil, Pastor E.W. Brown and B.J. Furst of the Seventh-Day Adventist church got together for groundbreaking ceremonies for their new church to be located west of Bemidji on Highway 2. Construction began in July 1974 of the new church building. Board members considered plans for nearly a year for the new structure. It was erected west of the city, on Highway 2, on land donated to the congregation by pioneer member, George Larson.
The Seventh Day Adventist Church traditionally gathered good used clothing for distribution. In 1974, they processed and distributed over 25,000 such items. Their operation was housed in a small structure at the back of the church lot until they moved to a new location in February 1975 at 810 15th Street, under the direction of Mrs. Eldon Johnson. Anyone facing hard times or disaster could come to the center for help. The ladies and men of the Adventist Church completed a project of making quilts for distribution at the center, with 49 quilts finished during the first six weeks of 1975.
In Nov 1977, the “Pathfinders” and younger children of the Seventh Day Adventist Church collected over 700 cans of food and other items to distribute at Thanksgiving time to the needy, shut-ins, handicapped and persons who have lost their homes by fire.