Our History

The Bakersfield Southside Seventh-Day Adventist Church dates back to 1934 when sixteen "Colored" believers were organized into a church. Elder G. N. Banks was sent to pastor this group from 1934-1936. After his transfer, the church was without a pastor for six years. During this time, some moved away, some fell away, and after the church was disbanded, the remaining members attended the Central Church.
In 1942, Elder F. Jenkins came to Bakersfield and conducted a series of evangelistic meetings in a tent pitched east of Highway 99. A number of persons accepted the Adventist message and the group was reorganized as the Berean SDA Church. Of that group, Brother Alvin Jackson is still an active member today.

     Elder R. Berry was appointed to pastor the church from 1943 to 1945. From 1945 to 1947, the church was without a pastor and Brother Alvin Jackson, chosen as the local Elder, took the responsibility of holding the church together.
        Elder Victor Joseph was the next pastor, and served from 1947 to 1949. After he was transferred, the church was again without a pastor, leaving Brother Alvin Jackson to, once more, assume leadership of the church.
          In 1951, Elder Penick came from the Central States to pastor the church, and he remained until 1957. During his pastorate, the little church was remodeled. The members raised the needed funds by picking cotton and gathering potatoes. In 1952, a very nice looking building was dedicated to the service of God. The church was re named the "O" Street SDA Church. By the time Elder Penick moved from the area in 1957, the church membership had grown to over ninety members.
        Elder Earl Canson was called to pastor the church in 1958 . The church building had become too small to meet the needs of the church. So under Elder Canson's leadership, a church building on the corner of 10th and "L" street was purchased, and the congregation changed their name to the Southside SDA Church. In 1962, the church was remolded, and in 1963 it was dedicated. Shortly thereafter, Elder Canson was transferred.

                 Elder Canson was followed by: Elder Ted Jones (1963-1967), Elder Byrel Rivers (1967-1973), and Elder E. A. White (1973). Each of these pastors made significant contributions towards the progress of the church.
        Elder James Jones came from Michigan to pastor the church. Then , one fateful Sunday morning, July 9, 1975, the church caught fire and and burned to the ground. So the Bakersfield Adventist Academy Chapel became the weekly place of worship. Under Elder Jones' administration, the church purchased the present property and erected a multi-purpose building and classroom. This phase was dedicated in 1978. Later that same year, Elder Jones was transferred to the East Palo Alto SDA Church.
    Elder Edward Harvey (1978-1983) and Arthur Bushnell (1983-1985) succeeded Elder Jones as pastors of Southside, serving the church faithfully during their tenure. During these years, the church had a dream to complete phase two of the building project.
        After much prayer and fasting, Dr. D. J. Williams was called to pastor Southside. Under his prayerful leadership, Southside's dream was finally realized. "PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSING FLOW" By the Grace of God, not only did we have a new edifice finished, but the membership continued to grow.
        The church continued to grow with the leadership and evangelist spirit of Pastor Melvin Warfield. We are grateful for the leadership he brought to Southside and grateful for the blessings sent from on high. Quite a number of new members were brought into the Southside fellowship. By 1994, when Elder Warfield accepted a call to pastor in another vineyard, the church had grown to 342 members.
         Elder Earl Canson, Jr., the eldest son of former pastor Elder Earl Canson, Sr., served as our Pastor from 1994 to 2000. Using technology and satellite evangelism as a means of reaching souls in the "90,s" our church grew in just over two and a half years to a membership of 397.

Kevin Rhamie, came to us in 2000 from Palo Alto, CA. You can read about him on the Pastor's page. Our membership in mid- 2003 is 472 members. Through the years, Southside has produced many daughters and and sons who have moved forward in Christ. Under the Spirit of God, the vision of a finished task will be accomplished, the church sanctified, and Christ will indeed be Glorified.