Ebenezer Seventh-day Adventist Church reopens after 2021 Christmas fire

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) – On a beautiful sunny Saturday morning in Rochester the start of a new beginning.

The reopening of a longtime church which had sat on Jefferson Avenue before the structure was destroyed in a Christmas day fire in 2021.

The congregation and community at large celebrating a dedication ceremony.

“Now that we have a new beginning here at 2710 Chili Ave. We’ve decided to go back to our roots and pick up the name ‘New Ebenezer Seventh-day Adventist Church.’ It’s the same individuals with the Spirit of Christ it was just again, an opportunity for us to do something different in our new home,” Church Clerk and Communications Coordinator Angela Tucker said.

Pastor Hanson Drysdale lead the service and dedication to the new facility. Attendees took part in prayer, heard testimony, and gathered for refreshments.

The former building on Jefferson Avenue had stood for more than 150 years before the devastating fire rebuilding determined to be too costly.

“The new location was actually shared with us by our previous President of our Northeastern Conference. He had identified a search in assisting us while we were searching for a new facility and landed upon this location, which was a former Presbyterian church. He shared the information with our pastor who then in turn came to take a look at it. We took a tour, and the members loved it,” Tucker said.

Certainly, a steadfast example of resiliency for our community. A big congratulations to the congregation for this important milestone.

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