Way back in 1903, the Parmele family decided to build a school along Drift Creek. Using hand-sawn lumber, they built a one-room schoolhouse and hired their very first teacher; Charles Butterfield, to teach a dozen students. Over the years, Lincoln City Adventist School went through several iterations and moved several times before finally landing where it currently stands, as Lincoln City Christian School (LCCS), in 1988. Today, Lincoln City Christian School is a mission field, with most of its students coming from homes who do not come from an Adventist background. Nearly half of its students coming from homes who would not even consider themselves Christian.

In October, LCCS will be celebrating 120 years since its first opening. On Friday, October 6th LCCS community, staff, and friends will kick off a weekend of celebration at the Lincoln City Seventh-day Adventist Church. The weekend will feature special guests who have played a major part in the school’s history over the years, including Elder Ed Keyes, now president of the Arizona Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

“This school has a long reputation,” says Bill Mayne, pastor of the Lincoln City Seventh-day Adventist Church. “We have a lot of students coming from unchurched families and families who aren’t Adventist. Some were former students who are now bringing their kids back for the second generation, so it’s had a lasting legacy. There are grandparents who remember this school from a long time ago and are now sending their grandkids there. It’s had a consistent legacy in our small town of being a place for quality education and a good representation of Christian life.”

The Mayne family currently has two children enrolled at the school themselves. “I’m glad to be part of a school that has opened its arms to the community,” Pastor Bill shared. “We have a pretty broad swath of community families that are giving Adventist education a shot and are finding value in it. I have times where I am out in public and I’ll have a kid yell out to me at the store, ‘Hey, Pastor Bill!’ So, it’s given me a positive connection and the ability to connect with and serve more of the people in our community.”

While Lincoln City School educators are certainly teaching their students many things, the Adventist community in the area is learning a lot themselves from these new connections. “We have quite a few families who move into town and are separated from their faith communities, but have found a welcome home here,” said Pastor Bill. “Because our community is made up of many different denominations, it’s given us as Adventists the opportunity to learn new language and to realize that traditional Adventist language doesn’t mean a lot outside our church walls, so we’re finding new ways to share with people. There’s a lot we have in common, and this has given our community the chance to build friendships and kind of break down those barriers between each other. This has brought people together that may not be together otherwise, so it’s been an eye-opener, but it’s also brought in a lot of pleasant surprises and new, good friendships.”

If you would like to learn more about Lincoln City Christian School’s 120-year celebration or would like to learn more about the school itself, you can contact them at 541- 994-5181.

The celebration will begin at the Lincoln City Seventh-day Adventist Church, located at 2335 NE 22nd St. Lincoln City, Ore., on Friday, October 6th, from 6:00-8:00pm, and will continue with a special church service and lunch the next day.