On June 8, 2025, the Marienhöhe Adventist School Center in Darmstadt, Germany, commemorated its 100th anniversary with a worship service in the morning and a jubilee celebration in the afternoon. The event brought together members of the school community and invited guests.
The day began with a service held in the church center on campus. Both the morning and afternoon programs featured brief interviews with representatives from the school and the Seventh-day Adventist Church, which operates the institution.
Remarks During Worship Service
Christian Badorrek, president of the regional Adventist Conference, described Marienhöhe as “a flagship of the Church in the region and throughout Germany.” He emphasized that the school center is the result of a joint effort by the entire Church. Looking to the future, he expressed his hope that the school and local church community would not settle for the status quo but continue to dream and strive for more.
Dr. Christian Noack, head of the Marienhöhe School Center, shared how the school has influenced him throughout his life. Drawing on the school’s long-standing motto, he hopes that Marienhöhe will continue to be a “school for life” in the broadest sense—a place where many skills and talents can be brought together.
Professor Dr. Roland Fischer, dean of the Theoglogical Seminary at Friedensau Adventist University, studied theology at Marienhöhe when it still had its own theological seminary. This seminary merged with the one in Friedensau, in the early 1990s, and Friedensau gained official state recognition as a university in 1990. Fischer noted how the high-quality theological education at Marienhöhe shaped him and awakened his love for theology. He hopes the school’s educational concept will continue to flourish and that the school and church will maintain a positive influence on their surroundings.
In his sermon, another Marienhöhe-educated pastor, Ralf Schönfeld, used a story from the Old Testament to illustrate how God can bring healing and goodness out of misfortune and tragedy through His grace.
Music and Afternoon Program
For the worship service and celebration, a project choir was formed under the direction of Angela Reich. Alongside the orchestra of the Marienhöhe school and church, they enriched the day with musical performances. The songs included “Freed to Live,” “Come and Praise the Lord,” “God’s Goodness,” and “Symphony of Praise.”
In the afternoon, the school principal, Christian Noack, together with Stefanie Noack-Bürger, a teacher at the school center; and Dr. Thomas Bürger, an educational scientist from the University of Giessen; gave a historical review of the school’s development.
Werner Dullinger, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Germany, spoke of his own theological studies at the former Marienhöhe Theological Seminary, beginning in 1980. He was the first student elected to the leadership of the local Adventist church. For the future, he wishes the school to remain a place where education and values are taught and where innovation is welcomed.
Greetings by Video and Evening Conclusion
Pre-recorded video messages brought greetings and congratulations from leaders of ADRA Germany, the humanitarian arm of the Adventist Church in the region, Hope Media Europe, and other Adventist congregations in Darmstadt.
The day concluded with a group meal on the campus lawn, organized with support from the Middle Rhine Conference. The following day, guests were invited to a shared brunch and campus tour.
To commemorate the anniversary, the school also published a detailed illustrated book titled 100 Years of Marienhöhe – A Chronicle, documenting the institution’s history and development.
The original article was published on the Adventistische Pressedienst. news site. Join the ANN WhatsApp Channel for the latest Adventist news.
