Texico Churches Hold Mortgage-Burning Ceremonies

CORRALES, N.M. – This past summer, Texico Conference leadership and respective church leaders participated in two mortgage-burning ceremonies, one on June 15 in Taos, N.M., and the other on July 27 in Carlsbad, N.M. Both ceremonies were held during Sabbath morning services.

The roots of Adventism in Taos trace back to the early 1900s, with significant growth occurring in the mid-20th century. In 1978, the Taos group officially became a company, supported by a dedicated leadership team. The congregation continued to grow, leading to the construction of a new church wing in 1986 and the dedication of a full church building in 1988.

Over the years, the Taos Bilingual Seventh-day Adventist Church thrived in their new building, which served as their home for nearly two decades. Their journey includes repairing water damage in 2020 and successfully paying off their mortgage.

In Carlsbad, the Adventist movement began in 1950 with the first public evangelistic meeting, leading to the formation of a small group. By 1951, the Carlsbad Bilingual Seventh-day Adventist Church had acquired land and raised funds to build their first church, which was dedicated in 1952. This marked the beginning of an Adventist community in the area. The Carlsbad church grew over the years, establishing a school in 1953 and hosting successful evangelistic campaigns that welcomed many new members.

In 2000, a new church facility was built. In 2019, a Spanish-speaking group (that had been meeting in a home) joined the Carlsbad congregation, demonstrating the power of prayer and God’s guidance. The Carlsbad church is now bilingual.

The Taos and Carlsbad churches have rich histories of faith and resilience. Their recent mortgage-burning ceremonies celebrate not only financial milestones, but also the dedication of their members and the unwavering support of the Texico Conference.