The first known Adventist living in Wrens, GA was the late Mrs. Lula Brown who was baptized in 1942. She faithfully attended Ebenezer SDA Church in Augusta, while sowing seeds of truth throughout the Wrens area. In an effort to win her children and others of the community to Christ, she opened her home for Bible Studies conducted by Bro. Payne of Augusta. As a result, her daughter Carrie, her two sons, and grandson were baptized in 1953. Sister Brown was laid to rest from her labors in 1969.
In 1946, the late Mrs. Lucy Graham of Philadelphia, PA (who was traveling from camp meeting in Hawthorne, FL), visited with Sister Brown and decided to relocate to Wrens. Sister Graham was the first known “layperson” in Wrens conducting Bible studies, a Branch Sabbath School in her home, and then renting a downtown building to start a SDA Mission. Several members of the Wrens SDA Church can trace their first contact with Adventism back to Sister Graham. She lived to see the Wrens Church established before she was laid to rest.
In 1968, Bro. Henry Lewis, Jr. and family relocated from Florida to the Lewis family farm in Louisville, GA. They united their membership with Ebenezer in Augusta, but united their efforts with Sis. Graham and the Branch Sabbath School in the Wrens area. Later, the Lewis family was led by God to unite with the small group in Milledgeville, GA. After Sis. Graham returned to Philadelphia, members of the Branch Sabbath School who had joined the church, began traveling to Milledgeville each week with Bro. Lewis in his 1970 van.
Around the same time, Sis. Mary Ann Huff returned to Wrens from Cleveland, OH where she had accepted the Seventh-day Adventist message. She, too, joined in the work in Wrens by giving Bible studies, helping the needy throughout the community during the week, and attending church in Milledgeville each Sabbath with other members of “the Van”. It was just a matter of time until the Lord would call this “Van” church to pull over and park in Wrens, GA.
The call came in October 1975 when Pastor Dennis Ross, Jr., conducted a two-week revival in Wrens and baptized 37 souls. With the van church parked, the faithful Sabbath keepers in Wrens ceased commuting to Ebenezer, and the 105th SDA Church of the South Atlantic Conference was formed. The church was officially voted and established in Wrens on the first Sabbath of January 1976. Finally, in 1979, a church building was erected in Wrens and occupied after grand opening services on January 19, 1980.
God’s leading in the establishment, growth, and progress of Wrens SDA Church has continued under the leadership of a number of pastors including: Pastor Emmanuel Jackson, Pastor Richard Long, Sr., Pastor Earl J. Lewis, Sr., Pastor Nathaniel Hollis, Sr., Pastor C. Dunbar Henri (Interim), Pastor Drake Barber, Sr., Pastor Dante Tobias, Pastor Gary Jouett, Pastor Ronald J. Wright, Sr., Pastor Stephan J. Davis, and currently Pastor Edward Hall. Thus, the Lord established and sustained His church in Wrens, GA.
“To God be the glory, for the things He has done!”