The simple answer to this question is Yes! Seventh-day Adventists do celebrate Easter.  Adventists observe this holiday in the same manner as the Christmas holiday. As Seventh-day Adventists, we believe in the birth, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus. Therefore, while the world may engage in the cultural traditions of this holiday, Adventists use this time in ministry to evangelize to others and point them to that blessed hope of the resurrection. This message of the birth, crucifixion, and resurrection of Christ is creatively conveyed throughout our churches via the spoken word, musicals, and plays, based on biblical scripture.

Fundamental Beliefs #9 of the Seventh-day Adventists church explains the message that Adventists proclaim during Easter. It says, "In Christ's life of perfect obedience to God's will, His suffering, death, and resurrection, God provided the only means of atonement for human sin, so that those who by faith accept this atonement may have eternal life, and the whole creation may better understand the infinite and holy love of the Creator.

This perfect atonement vindicates the righteousness of God's law and the graciousness of His character; for it both condemns our sin and provides forgiveness. The death of Christ is substitutionary and expiatory, reconciling and transforming. The bodily resurrection of Christ proclaims God's triumph over the forces of evil, and those who accept the atonement assures their final victory over sin and death.

It declares the Lordship of Jesus Christ, before whom every knee in heaven and on earth will bow. (Gen. 3:15; Ps. 22:1; Isa. 53; John 3:16; 14:30; Rom. 1:4; 3:25; 4:25; 8:3, 4; 1 Cor. 15:3, 4, 20-22; 2 Cor. 5:14, 15, 19-21; Phil. 2:6-11; Col. 2:15; 1 Peter 2:21, 22; 1 John 2:2; 4:10.).

Seventh-day Adventists believe in the Communion and the Ordinance of foot washing. This service is observed during the Easter holiday as it signifies that we no longer require animal sacrifice to cleanse us from our sins. The death of Christ was the perfect sacrifice, and therefore Communion represents the extent of Christ's love of humanity and His power to cleanse us of our sins forever.

In ancient times the religious culture of the Saxon tribes of northern Europe celebrated the Easter holiday in honor of a German goddess of spring. These tribes used symbols, such as rabbits and eggs, in their celebrations. This pagan form of worship is against the teachings of the Seventh-day Adventist church as we believe there is one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Therefore, Adventists do not use these symbols in their worship services.

So, as we celebrate during this Easter Holiday, let us observe what Christ did for us on the Cross of Calvary many years ago. Let us celebrate our salvation IN CHRIST JESUS by sharing HIM wherever we go.

- Pastor Kenny Deveaux, President, South Bahamas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists