The Mission:
The South Atlantic Conference empowers and encourages its members to know Jesus and invite others to experience the joy of salvation.
The Vision:
To provide Christ-centered leadership to a spirit-filled membership for God-ordained discipleship.
Organization of the SAC
On December 4, 1945, at 10:00 a.m., the General Conference and Southern Union Conference met at the Berean SDA Church on Ashby Street to organize a black conference. Elder A. F. Hackman, president of the Southern Union Conference, presided over 398 delegates and 19 delegates-at-large. The delegates came from the Colored Departments of Carolina, Florida, and Georgia Cumberland conferences.
Delegates Organized
As the first step in organizing the new colored conference, it was voted that the former colored departments of the Carolina, Florida, and Georgia-Cumberland conferences, together with delegates-at-large, constitute the delegates of the conference organization. The total number of delegates present from churches was found to be 398 with 19 delegates-at-large.
Presidents
From January 1, 1946 to present, we have had nine presidents.
They were:
H. D. Singleton, J. H. Wagner, Sr., W. S. Banfield, R. L. Woodfork, R. B. Hairston, R. P. Peay, V. J. Mendinghall, Elder W. L. Winston and in September 11, 2022, at the 26th Constituency Session, Elder Calvin Preston became the ninth president of the great South Atlantic
Elder H.D. Singleton voted as first President
It was voted that the name of the new conference be the South Atlantic Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Elder H. D. Singleton became the first President of the South Atlantic Conference.
John H. Wagner, Sr.
John H. Wagner, Sr. was the second president of the South Atlantic Conference, he served from 1954-1962.
Warren S. Banfield, Sr.
Warren S. Banfield, Sr. was voted in as the third president of the South Atlantic Conference, he served from 1962-1971.
Robert L. Woodfork
Robert L. Woodfork served from 1971-1980 as the fourth President of the South Atlantic Conference.
Ralph B. Hairston
Ralph B. Hairston served from 1980-1988 as the fifth President of the South Atlantic Conference.
Ralph P. Peay
Ralph P. Peay served for nine years from 1988-1997 as the sixth President of the South Atlantic Conference.
Vanard J. Mendinghall
Vanard J. Mendinghall lead the Conference at the turn of the millennium leading us through uncertainty as we transition from the 1990s to 2011. He held the position for fourteen years from 1997-2011 as the seventh President of the South Atlantic Conference.
William L. Winston
William L. Winston served multiple years as Secretariat under the leadership of Pastor Mendinhall and was voted in as the eight president in 2011. He served the Conference until 2022 and still continue to carry out The Lords work in the South Atlantic Conference.
Calvin B. Preston
Elder Calvin Preston became the ninth president of the great South Atlantic when he was voted in to the prestigious office on September 11, 2022.
Works of our employees
There are men and women who are daily knocking on doors with the good news of our soon coming Lord. Thank God for our Literature Evangelists. South Atlantic’s employees, along with its constituents, are doing an outstanding job for the kingdom of God.
Campgrounds
Our conference center/campground facility, River Oaks Convention Center, is located in Orangeburg, SC, with a 4,100-seat facility, a youth pavilion with a gym that seats 1,100 with five smaller conference rooms. On the grounds, we have an 80-unit motel with two queen beds in each room.