Senior Pastor Dennis Stirewalt DANIEL WOLOWICZ/Acorn Newspapers Dennis Stirewalt, senior pastor at Camarillo Seventh-day Adventist Church, explains the foundation of his church’s doctrine in simple, straightforward terms.

“The Bible, and the Bible only, is the basis of our doctrine,” said Stirewalt, who came to Camarillo six years ago after serving as an associate pastor in Tennessee.

He and his wife of 42 years, Rashelle, lived 30 years in a small town just outside of Nashville, where Stirewalt worked as the principal of an Adventist grade school.

Stirewalt said although he initially resisted the idea of becoming a pastor—his first job was a probation officer—he eventually proceeded with his ministry work and in 1990 became the pastor of a small 68- member church in Virginia.

Since he came to Camarillo in 2004, Stirewalt said the church’s membership has grown to about 540 members.

“If you want a church full of joy, this is it,” the pastor said. “It’s not based on a feeling. It’s based on a relationship with Jesus. It’s the anchoring in Jesus that gives us the joy.”

Although completed in late 1974, the church on Las Posas Road held its official opening on July 4, 1975.

Stirewalt said a positive attitude is as important in his role as a pastor as sharing his Christian values.

“If my attitude isn’t reflecting (Jesus), people aren’t going to be drawn to Him,” he said. “Like I’ve said many times, happiness is a choice.”

One of the defining beliefs of the Adventist church is to keep the Sabbath—from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown—as a time of rest, reflection and prayer.

“On the Sabbath, it’s the time for the church family to come together, especially on Saturday morning,” he said.

“We encourage people to keep those activities on Sabbath different from those that we would do on other days of the week. It’s a special time. It’s a time of coming together for learning, for spiritual growth . . . It should also be a time to connect with God’s nature.”

Stirewalt believes each of the church members should take an active role in preaching the gospel.

“Every member is encouraged to be a disciple of Jesus and to be one of His ministers,” said Stirewalt, the father of two grown sons and the grandfather of five. “I’m just one member of this church and all of us have the same responsibility of taking God’s good news of the life saving news of Jesus Christ to our community.”

Closely linked to Protestant beliefs, the Seventh-day Adventist Church originated in the mid-19th century and was officially established in 1863 in New England.

A hierarchal church with its headquarters in Maryland, the Adventist church has a worldwide membership of nearly 16 million people with more than 65,000 churches in over 230 countries, according to the official Adventist website.

Recognized for its broad network of private schools—approximately 5,600 schools, colleges and universities worldwide— the Adventist Health System also maintains 38 hospitals nationwide, including Simi Valley Hospital.

There are another 130 Adventist hospitals outside the U.S. with a reported 448 additional medical clinics and dispensaries.

Adventists also advocate healthy eating, including a vegetarian diet, and an active lifestyle. According to studies conducted by the church, on average, Adventist men in California lived 7 years longer while women lived an additional 4 years longer.

Camarillo Seventh-day Adventist Church, 3975 Las Posas Road, begins its Saturday services with a 9 a.m. breakfast. Bible study follows at 9:30 a.m. A worship service is at 10:45 a.m. For more information, call (805) 482-4632 or visit the church’s website at www.camarillo.adventistfaith.org.