Brief History

Kingaroy SDA Church

One hundred years ago in 1908, the first Seventh Day Adventists came to the South Burnett. Pastor Hubbard and Brother Harlow ran a series of Tent Meetings in the little township of Coolbunia (yes Coolabunia was a town with a Post office, shop, and houses). As a result of the tent meetings, three families began to meet and worship together.

In 1911 John Ford who was already an Adventist moved to the area. This man was the grandfather of Ron and Norm Ford and was known in the district as Saturday Jack. John Ford studied with people in Kingaroy and so Coolabunia group decided to meet with them in Kingaroy at the home of Mrs Neilson.

By 1938 the Adventist group in Kingaroy had grown so they rented the Odd Fellows Hall in Youngman Street to meet there. The hall was about where Eagle Boys pizza used to be. This was the first public meeting place in Kingaroy. Families attending included Lucas, Bill Smiths, Les Tinworths, Vic Perrets, Dave Barnetts and Fords.

On the morning of Saturday, the 24th of November 1945, the Kingaroy Company held a Baptism at Kingaroy gully off Hodges Road. 16 people were baptized one of which was Ron Ford. Then in the afternoon the President of the South Queensland conference officially organized the Kingaroy Company into the Kingaroy Seventh-Day Adventist Church. There were forty one members plus children.

In 1946 the Kingaroy Adventist Church members decided they wanted to build a church but it was hard to get material as it was just after the war. Land in Avoca Street was donated by Dave and Beryl Barnett and others donated material. The church was built by Vic Perrett at a cost of 1600 pounds. Fred Dahms and Ron Ford were there volunteering their help. The church was opened on the 8th of October, 1947.

After finishing the church, the Kingaroy members decided to build a school. Many of them donated money and timber. The school was built in time to open in 1951. 24 students enrolled the first day and in all 75 students passed through the school before it closed 6 years later due to lack of students numbers.

Early in the Kingaroy church history, JMV, MV, and Dorcas were formed. The church was involved in outreach programs, public meetings, radio programs, show tent outreach, cooking demonstrations, nutrition lectures, stress management, vacation bible schools, and meals on wheels.

In 1963 it was proposed to build a hall for the church containing sabbath school rooms, Dorcas room and kitchen. This was built by Len Tinworth and was completed in 1965. This is the big hall we still use now, but was first built on the Avoca Street property. Lots of good socials and concerts were held in the hall.

By the late 1970's the church had outgrown the building in Avoca Street, and so the members started meeting in the church hall. It was then decided to purchase land at 200 Youngman Street to build a new church. During this transition time, the Kingaroy church members met for about 6 months in the Kingaroy High School Assmebly hall. However, Kindy Sabbath School was held at the home of Stan and Gloria Starkey in Prince street, and Junior and Early teen Sabbath school was held at the minister's house in Webster Street.

On the 20th of January 1984, the church hall was moved from Avoca Street to its current location and a toilet block was constructed. Originally there was a very hot little annex to the toilet block about where the breezeway exists now, and this housed the Junior and Early teens Sabbath school class. The members met for church in the hall while the church was being built over the next few years.

The builders of the new church which is the one in use today were Geoff Cox and Cliff Scott, and a large army of volunteers. This church was built without debt, entirely funded by the church members. A dedication service was held on the Saturday morning of the official opening, and the Destiny singers provided special music. Pr David Lawson gave the dedication address. The official opening was held at 2:30pm on Saturday the 5th of September, 1987, and the opening address was given by the then Premier of Queensland, Sir Joh Bjelke Peterson.

In the coming months, church members got going on laying the cement for the construction of the Library, Sabbath school rooms, and mini Hall. It was all hands on deck and was soon finished and the building completed. Landscaping was done and pavers laid beside the church hall. Gardens were planted and steps put in place to make the grounds look nice.

Over the years, members hold working bees to maintain and upgrade the church buildings and grounds. Church services are held on Saturday each week, and the church and hall is also used for weddings and funerals.

Our Leaders

Except for the pastor, each year our church selects various church members to hold church offices for that year. This current year, 2015, the following outlines the primary church officers for the year. 

Pr Leathan Fitzpatrick

Pastor Gideo OkeseneLeathan & his wife love sharing our best friend Jesus with others and His wonderful, essential end-time message. He firmly believes in seeing impossibilities become possibilities in the South Burnett region through God's grace and power. He hopes and prays that the South Burnett SDA churches will grow in health, unity, love, desire to share and size!.

Myrtle Paulus

Senior Elder John DoeMyrtle is a long-standing member of the Kingaroy church, and also a well-known community member. A quiet achiever, Myrtle loves to share her faith helping the community around her in any way she can.

Dave Renou

Senior Deacon John DoeDave has been a member of our church for a number of years, and is a committed Christian who loves to help out others. .

Darlene Jaeger

Church Secretary John DoeDarlene's secretarial skills are widely recognized and appreciated by our church members.