GASTONIA SPANISH COMPANY: A Journey of Faith

On January 18, 2025, members of the Gastonia Hispanic Seventh-day Adventist Church gathered for a special ceremony marking their transition to an organized company. Led by Pastor Ricardo Palacios (pictured right) and Pastor Elias Sandoval, the service was a moment

of joy and reflection, celebrating years of dedication and growth.

The journey began in 2000, when Elias White and his family arrived in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. Finding no Hispanic Adventist church nearby, they attended Shelby Seventh-day

Adventist Church and soon felt called to begin Bible studies. As interest grew, studies expanded to several cities, including Gastonia, Shelby, Kings Mountain, and Charlotte.

The first Hispanic baptisms in the Shelby Church took place in 2002, and as the group expanded, translation headsets and a dedicated meeting space were provided. By 2017,

the group had grown to 45 members and was approved to become a company. However,

unexpected challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, delayed the process.

Due to their growth, the Shelby congregation requested that the Hispanic group fi nd a separate location for worship. Eventually, they were welcomed by Gastonia Church, forming the Kings Mountain Group under Pastor Moises Sauza. Leadership transitioned over time, and in 2023, after an evangelistic campaign, the Kings Mountain and Dallas mission groups merged to form the Gastonia Hispanic Mission Group under Pastor Elias Sandoval.

With steady growth, the request for company status was submitted in June 2024 and approved the following month by the Carolina Conference. The January 2025 ceremony marked the official recognition of Gastonia Hispanic Company, a testament to faith, perseverance, and God’s leading.

—Norma Sandoval