MISSION 

The Mission of the Salem SDA Church is to share the Christ Centered message 

of God’s love, while preparing people to see Jesus.

VISION 

To Impact the Community for Eternity.

HISTORY
Olive Adriana Bethel Gilbert Thompson was born August 25, 1900 in John Mills, Eleuthra in the Bahamas.  She was sent to Miami, Florida, at a young age and was raised by her aunt and uncle. Initially, a Baptist, she accepted the Adventist message at age of 21. She met and married Malachi Gilbert of West Palm Beach, Florida, a year later and they had eight girls and two boys. In 1933 the family moved to Pompano Beach, and the Gilberts witnessed all over the city.

The Gilberts asked another Sabbath-keeping family, Robert and Florence Perkins Williams, to join them. This move gave the Williams a chance to work on the farms and provide income for their family.  The Gilberts and Williams were members of Bethany Seventh Day Adventist Church in Miami.

In 1938, Sabbath School was officially established in the Gilbert’s home.  Brother Gilbert served as elder and Sister Gilbert was Sabbath school superintendent, Florence Williams was Sabbath school teacher and Elder Robert Williams was the Bible worker. In 1939, other Adventist families (the Starks, Farringtons and Rahmings from Miami; the Penns, Butlers, Nixons and Delafores from Delray; the Adderlys, and Dorsetts, from Florida City), encouraged the membership of the Pompano group to grow.  As the group grew, Elder Abney and his family were sent to pastor the growing flock. His daughter Celia was the wife of well-known evangelist E.E. Cleveland. Elder Abney is credited for renting a church on 8th Avenue and for moving the church family into a church building in the 1940’s.

The first persons baptized into Salem were Francine Gilbert and Violet Gilbert.

Nanny Sankey was also welcomed into the group and through her efforts as a colporteur additional members were brought into the church such as Wiggins and others.

Brother Gilbert became seriously ill and Brother Robert Williams became the elder of the group.  Brother Charlie Williams and a committee met and named the group, “Salem.”  As a young boy living in the Carribean, Charlie Williams knew of a church with that name and always loved it because it meant “peace”.

Elders Jeter Cox and D. L. Crowder followed Elder Abney, the first official pastor. They raised funds and led the members to buy land.  They purchased old lumber from the demolition of the U. S. Army barracks in Boca Raton.  The men built the first church home on 10th Avenue.

Elder H.D. Singleton, President of the South Atlantic Conference came to Pompano in 1949 and organized the Salem group into a church.  In 1950, Salem officially became a part of the sisterhood of churches at the third biennial session of the South Atlantic Conference.

In 1958, Pastor John Simons came and the Pompano and Fort Lauderdale churches were formed into a district.   

Charter and early members were Olive (Gilbert)Thompson, Malachi Gilbert, Daniel Thompson, Florence Williams, Robert Williams, Robert Williams, Jr., Ethel Betty Williams, Frank Williams, Idella Williams (Young), Charles Williams, Mary Lee Williams, Nannie Sankey, Louise Wiggins, W. C. Cooper, Francine Gilbert, Cozetta Gilbert, Olive (Ollie) Gilbert, Violet Gilbert, and Barbara Gilbert.

The church has met in several locations through the years: Eighth Avenue, Northwest 10th Avenue and the current location on Northwest 6th Street. In the late ‘60’s, the members were informed Interstate 95 would go through the Northwest 10th location, and thanks to a large financial settlement and the church members, the current church home was built.

Pastor Benjamin Cummings was the leader at the time, and Pastor R.L. Woodfork, president of the South Atlantic Conference, approved the site. There were many concerts, dinners, and sacrificial giving that brought in funds.  During the construction, the congregation worshiped at Blanche Ely High School from 1974 to 1976 The city of Pompano purchased some of the church property to construct a street next to the church.  In fact, the church opened debt-free after having paid $185,000. Within one year, a fellowship hall and additional bathrooms and an office were constructed.  The City of Pompano purchased part of the church land for a short street and that money was used to purchase pews and pulpit furniture for the new church.  The Prayer Band, led by Sister Florence Williams, donated the organ and the membership purchased carpet and a piano to complete the church. In 1984, the $35,000 mortgage was paid off under the leadership of Elder Hubert Morel Jr. (who later became president of the Southeastern Conference)

The current church building was constructed by Elder Errol Smith of Dania, and the architect was Mr. Merryfield, an Adventist architect from Miami. 

On January 1, 1981, South Atlantic Conference was officially divided and the new Southeastern Conference came into being.  Salem is a member of Southeastern Conference.

Original charter members that are living today are Ethel Betty Williams-Phipps of Syracuse, New York, Frank Henry Williams of San Diego, California. 

The faithfulness of the local elders, members, officers and the work of many pastors have kept Salem burning in the community all these years.  God’s grace and mercy have brought us through.  Pastors who served this great congregation were Pastors Abney, H. D. Singleton, Jeter Cox, D.L. Crowder, Matthew Green, D. E. Davis, Robert Sloane, John Simon, Joseph Hinson, J. Paul Monk, Benjamin Cummings, T.M. Fountain, Edward Dorsey, Willie Taylor, W.C. Byrd, Hubert Morel, Jr., Larry Harris, David Long, Milton Sterling, Gregory Mack, Rupert Bushner, Alex Williams, and the current pastor, Dion Henry.  To God be the Glory. 

Unanimously Voted by the History Committee     

January 11, 2015     

 Members present: Dr. Dion Henry, Janis Irving , John Irving, Lee Ester Jones, Robert McNair, Sammy Merritt,  Kattie Wiggins, and  P. J. Young