Richardson Church Celebrates 60th Anniversary

RICHARDSON, TEX. – On Sabbath, April 23, 2022, the Richardson Seventh-day Adventist Church, celebrated its 60th anniversary of God’s amazing leading from 1962 to 2022, and to highlight what He has done with this congregation. 

Sue Mathieu, bottom left, has faithfully served the Richardson church through music ministry for the past 35 years. She led a reunion handbell choir during the celebration service. 

The 60th anniversary church choir, under the direction of Elphis Stirewalt, and accompanied by Jackie Tucker, sang “How Great Thou Art” followed by Linda Hanson singing, “Bless This House.” Hanson was accompanied by Mathieu.

Paul Voelker, bottom right, mayor of Richardson, addressed the congregation and recognized the importance of having houses of worship, like the Richardson church, support their community. 

Charter member Nikki Clark Allen, top left, shared the church beginnings. She, along with 46 other members from the Dallas Central Seventh-day Adventist Church, founded the Richardson church on April 28, 1962. John Petchkurow shared highlights from the 1970s, followed by Don and Jody Beck, who presented the history from the 1980s.

Leo Mathieu gave an overview of the 1990s, followed by Euree Estell, who remembered the church choir in the 2000s. Elsa Landazabal reviewed the 2010s, and Marlene Spady represented North Dallas Adventist Academy in Richardson, Tex. The school began in 1984 as Richardson Adventist School.

Newly elected Texas Conference English evangelist and former Richardson church pastor Byron Corbett recognized 18 pastors in attendance, top right, both past and current. He conveyed the church’s gratitude for their leadership during the church’s growth. “Having the privilege to serve this congregation and its wonderful people for the past six-and-a-half years and be part of what God is doing here has been the highlight of my ministry,” Corbett shared. “I believe God has great things in store for the Richardson church as it continues to prepare the world for Jesus’ soon return.”

Since 2000, Richardson church members have planted 13 churches. One of those churches planted four more churches. 

The Lord has mightily blessed this congregation of more than 1,000 members with a vision to tell the world about Jesus through church plants in several suburbs nearby. As they continue to share, the church is now looking to plant a church in the Sachse/Wylie/Murphy area this year. If completed, their total church plants would be 14 churches in 22 years.

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By Sharon Petchkurow

Photos by Brenda Wilson