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The Road of Death

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Elsen Wight’s story

Elsen grew up in Kenya. When she was 22, she got her first job and moved to a new town. One day, she decided to visit her roommate’s workplace in the evening and needed to take public transportation to get there. In Kenya, there isn’t a bus system with regular stops. Instead, passengers board minivans that taxi them to their destinations. Drivers only stop when asked to.

Elsen started her trip around 6 p.m., and it was already getting a bit dark. She was travelling alone and felt that she could make it there before sunset. But instead of taking her regular stop, she decided to take a stop near downtown.

By the time she arrived at her destination, it was pitch dark. There were no street lights in the area—just an overpass, a pedestrian bridge, and lights in the distance.

She got out of the minivan and began to walk on the side of the road towards the lights. She was nervous walking alone but found some relief when she saw someone walking towards her on the pedestrian bridge. There seemed to be a second person as well, although it was hard to tell in the dark—everything just looked like moving shadows.

She thanked God that she was not alone. Moments later, she encountered the person coming towards her. It was a teenager, a homeless young man. He passed her, said “Hey Madame,” and grabbed her arm. She tried to break his grip while the other person started running towards them.

All of a sudden, she found herself face down on the street with two young men on her back. She started screaming. One man dug his nail into her throat to try to silence her.

Elsen noticed her phone had fallen a few metres in front of her. With all the strength she could muster, she yelled, “Get my phone!”

Both men got off her and ran towards the cell phone. She got up and ran as fast as she could in the direction of the lights. She only stopped running when she found herself under a street light. She was dirty and smelly, and her neck was bleeding.

All she remembered was her mother’s phone number, so she asked those nearby if she could borrow a phone to make a call. But after looking at her appearance, everyone she asked said no.

She walked to her workplace and used her manager’s phone to call her mother and tell her what had happened. Her manager said that the God she served protected her because that road was known for being extremely dangerous, leading to the deaths and rapes of many people.

Elsen knew at that moment that God was watching over her, and she has been convicted of His watchful care in her life ever since.

Michelle Solheiro resides in Edmonton, Alta., and wears many hats, with her most cherished being wife and mother.

Source: https://adventistmessenger.ca/features/the-road-of-death

The Relay of Faith

By

I’m sure most of us are familiar with relay racing. It involves a team of runners and usually a baton. Each team member runs as swiftly as they can to pass the baton to the next runner. Sometimes there are fumbles and stumbles along the way. But I’ve never seen any team give up. They work together to complete the race, crossing the finish line with the baton in hand.

            Much like relay racers passing the baton, we believers pass on truths from generation to generation. We “run with endurance the race God has set before us” (Heb. 12:2, NLT), receiving truth passed to us and sharing our experiences and learnings as we move forward.

            At South Stukely Seventh-day Adventist Church (Que.), this spiritual race can be traced back to the beginning of the Adventist movement in Canada. In the oldest Adventist church in Canada, you get a strong sense of the continuity of our faith. In an unbroken relay spanning almost 150 years, the members of South Stukely have passed the baton of God’s promises and truths for generations.

            In 2027, the church members will celebrate their 150th anniversary. It’s a celebration we can all join as we remember our shared heritage and our hope for Jesus’ soon return.

            Today, Adventist churches dot the nation from coast to coast to coast. But the beginnings of Adventism in Canada are humble, tucked into a region known as the Eastern Townships, an anglophone pocket in southern Quebec. The Adventist movement reached into Canada from this unexpected corner of the country.1 

            As a small village of just a little over 1,000 residents,2 South Stukely is perhaps the last place you would expect the beginnings of a church that would eventually span the nation. But God is fond of using the small to accomplish the great.

            In 1877, a little group of believers gathered in South Stukely every Sabbath to worship, study, and encourage one another. Since then, worshippers have come together for nearly 150 years, or over 7,000 Sabbaths.

            But how did the initial small family of believers learn of and accept the Adventist faith? For that story, we need to wind the clock back further than 1877. We need to go to 1835.

            Just over the border from Eastern Townships, William Miller was preaching in various churches in Vermont and across New England. His heart burned with the conviction of Jesus’ soon return and the necessity of sharing the news as far and wide as possible.3

            One audience he wished to reach, however, was not so far removed. Miller’s sister, Anna Atwood, lived with her husband, Joseph, in the Eastern Townships area.

            In 1835, Miller visited his sister and her family. While visiting, he was invited to preach several sermons throughout the Eastern Townships region. Over five years, Miller visited Eastern Townships three times. During these visits, he planted seeds of truth regarding Jesus’ imminent return.

            Over the years, these seeds took root. Interest in Miller’s message grew. People asked questions and searched their Bibles. Building on Miller’s momentum, other speakers took up the baton of truth run by Miller, visiting the region to speak and share literature.

One such speaker was Josiah Litch. People came in the hundreds from as far afield as 12 to 15 miles to listen to his lectures. He wrote, “The seed sown by Brother Miller in this vicinity in past years is now springing up and bearing abundant fruit.”4

            After fervent excitement and anticipation for Jesus’ second coming, new Advent believers in Eastern Townships were not spared the desolation of the Great Disappointment in 1844. Nor were they sheltered from the animosity poured out by secular newspapers and occasional violence from other Christians who had rejected the Millerite message. As in other areas of North America, many abandoned the message.

            Runners in the relay of faith had fumbled, and even stumbled, in their understanding of the Bible. But some held on to their convictions. They returned to their Bibles with redoubled efforts. With the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit, they sifted truth from human error in interpretation. They emerged with a deeper understanding of God and His Word. 

            A spiritual descendant of these tenacious believers was Augustin C. Bourdeau. In 1855, at the age of 21, he accepted Sabbatarian Adventist beliefs and began preaching his new faith in small towns in his native Quebec and Vermont.5

            In 1875, through his ministry, Bourdeau advanced the relay of faith in Eastern Townships. Thanks to the seeds planted by William Miller—nurtured by many leaders such as the Whites, who visited the region three times, and nourished by individual study and prayer—the region was ripe for establishing churches.

            In 1877, Bourdeau helped to officially organize the South Stukely Seventh-day Adventist Church. At first, the 16 members met in homes. Before long, the church family felt the necessity of having a church building of their own. Andrew Blake, one of the earliest members of the church, donated land for the undertaking. In 1883, the new church was dedicated.

            The following year, the first Adventist school in Canada was founded, teaching students from the second floor of the church. The school remained open until 1924.

            The church building has been in continuous use ever since its doors first opened. Its minimalist aesthetic, favoured by the early Adventists, imparts an atmosphere of calm and rest. Generations have lifted their prayers in the small sanctuary, their songs echoing off the wooden walls. Worshippers can appreciate the continuity of faith from pioneers to today, the baton of truth passed from generation to generation.

            Victor Dingman, church elder, remembers a time when the church faced significant challenges: “I grew up in this church, but was there a future here? At 50 years old, my wife and I were the youngest members. I thought to myself, Will Canada’s oldest church die?”

            Danièle Starenkyj has been a member of South Stukely for 40 years. She and her late husband were part of efforts to revive the church from barely surviving to the vibrancy it enjoys today. “We have constantly looked forward while never forgetting our roots,” Mrs. Starenkyj shared.  

            Dingman said, “Today, with all the new families, it is an answer to prayer. Our pews are full. As elder, I look out from the pulpit to a church family young and vibrant.”

            Mrs. Starenkyj added, “The church is packed. We constantly have new persons and new families coming to our services characterized by dignity and good spiritual preaching. We love being together, and often we stay for lunch and share our concerns, troubles, and hopes.”

            Church member Karine Coulombe said, “I have three teenagers. The church embraces them and includes them in activities and different functions of the church. This is quite significant to me because it’s such a small congregation and yet everyone takes part. If you come to South Stukely, you’ll always find a place to fit in, and that is very important.”

            Jo-Anne Anderson, who has attended South Stukely for nearly 40 years, added, “We enjoy the best Sabbath schools, Sabbath lunches, heartfelt testimonials, and intercessory prayers. The children and youth are a great blessing to everyone. We are a group of people from all different cultures and walks of life, each bringing something very special to the mix and adding to the joy! In all honesty, we are very blessed.”

            Today, the church welcomes 60 to 75 members and regular visitors. With a capacity of only 50 people, church services get very snug, with attendees crowding onto wooden pews and overflowing onto folding chairs. Church members make space for visitors by viewing services livestreamed on a screen in the basement.

            At a time when churches of all denominations are closing their doors across the nation, the South Stukely Seventh-day Adventist Church remains open. It even has ambitious expansion plans.  

            In an interview with Radio-Canada, Dingman explained, “We lack space for people to come each Sabbath. We’ve come to the point where we don’t have enough space for the new members who try to come. This is why we need this expansion.”

            Dingman added in another reflection, “Our challenge is to protect the heritage of the building while adding an extension to meet our growing needs. Will the little white church on the hill stand until the coming of the Lord?”

            “I am looking forward to the expansion,” Karine Coulombe said. “It will help us receive more people and to expand our influence in the community. We still have so much to do!”

            With an expected capacity of 115 people, the expansion will accommodate current attendees with room for anticipated growth. Its style will mimic the original church building. The expansion can accommodate community services, while the heritage building will be transformed into an exhibition hall.

            In the same Radio-Canada interview, Francois Rhéaume, the mayor of South Stukely, said, “In regards to the expansion, it’s interesting for the community, because we may benefit from it as a local community centre.”

            André L’Espérance, local councillor of South Stukely, said, “The community centre we currently have is not heated in winter. Meanwhile, this expansion will be heated. This offers the community some very interesting possibilities.”

            “The people of South Stukely are happy that this church is part of the patrimoine, the heritage of Quebec and even Canada,” said Claude Trépanier, pastor. “They’re happy that we will be working with them. They’re charmed by the fact that they can have a place with heat in the winter to conduct community activities. For us, this is good because this is what community service is all about.”

            As an exhibition hall, the heritage building will capture the history of the Adventist Church in the region of Quebec-Eastern Canada. As a well-preserved building, it is a worthy stop for anyone who wishes to trace the roots of the Adventist faith in Canada and indeed in North America.

            With its heritage deep in the roots of Canadian Adventism, this church holds historical significance to Adventists across Canada. Its uninterrupted use for nearly a century and a half and its growth today offer inspiration and lessons to churches across the country.  

            Trépanier aims to break ground for the expansion this summer. He hopes the project will be completed in time for the church’s 150th anniversary. To accomplish this, it will take a concerted effort of believers.

            By God’s blessing, members and friends of the South Stukely church will gather in 2027 to celebrate 150 years and dedicate the new expansion. Heritage will meet modern day. Roots will nurture new fruit. And the relay of faith will pass the baton of truth until Jesus comes.

To learn more about the church, please visit https://southstukelyqc.adventistchurch.org/!

Heather Grbic is a writer and member of the Toronto Yugoslavian Seventh-day Adventist Church

1 Denis Fortin, Adventism in Quebec: The Dynamics of Rural Church Growth, 1830–1910 (Berrien Springs, MI: Andrews University Press, 2004).

2 According to Statistics Canada, the population was 1,142 as of the 2021 census.

3 Denis Fortin, “The World Turned Upside Down: Millerism in the Eastern Townships, 1835–1845,” https://www.andrews.edu/~fortind/AdventismWorldUpsideDownJETS.htm. Originally published in Journal of Eastern Townships Studies (Fall 1997).

4 Ibid.

5 Denis Fortin, “Bourdeau, Augustin Cornelis (1834–1916),” in Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists, by General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/assets/pdf/article-790F.pdf 

 

Source: https://adventistmessenger.ca/news/the-relay-of-faith

When Surrender is Gain

By

By Heather Grbic

https://anchor.fm/s/eb777ff4/podcast/rss

They were strange, alarming times. COVID-19 swept the globe at a threatening rate. A pandemic was declared, and we were plunged into a period of lockdowns, closures, restrictions, and the unknown.

            But in Saint-Georges, Que., a lovely voice pushed back against the uncertainty. From her home, young Audréanne Cloutier surrendered her gift of music to God, so He could use it to bless others. She began a project of recording hymns with her piano. These were originally intended to be shared with her home church, a few local churches, and friends during the pandemic. But she never imagined how God would grow her simple project into something that would reach others around the world.

            At 19, Audréanne makes an impression. She is a well-spoken woman with humble confidence and a generous heart. Her love for God and serving others is inspiring.

            One of Audréanne’s unique ways of serving is through her music. She has always been musical. With a laugh, she talked about how when she was as young as two, she would try to find the rhythm of songs and sing along.

            “I started taking piano lessons at about eight years old,” shared Audréanne. “At first, I didn’t like it that much. But I started really loving piano when I started playing by ear. I was maybe 10 or 11 years old. I started being able to play by ear with chords that I learned myself.”

The freedom of playing by ear opened a new world of possibilities for Audréanne. “That’s when I started playing hymns. Before, hymns were way too difficult for me. But with chords and by ear, it became possible.”

            By 14, Audréanne was playing piano for her church, the Saint-Georges Seventh-day Adventist Church. When the pandemic hit, she found a way to continue ministering musically for online services.

            “I just started recording hymns on the piano so it would help these churches. I would record the piano and make a video with the lyrics for the hymns and share them with the churches to use these videos in place of a pianist. I also recorded the same thing but added my voice so people could follow and learn the songs if they didn’t know them. That’s how it started. Churches that did services on Zoom, especially, would use the video, and everyone could sing at home with their microphones off and just follow along.”

            One day Audréanne was struck with inspiration.

“I thought, ‘Since I’m making videos, why not make them public?’” Up to this point, Audréanne had shared the songs directly with the churches and friends. “If others find them and use them, then that’s good. My goal was to produce music for French-speaking people because there’s nothing available on the internet. You search for a [Christian] song in English, and you’ll find tons of versions of it. You search the song in French and there’s almost nothing. I thought this can’t stay like that! We need to have more content in French.”

Audréanne began her YouTube channel. Visitors are greeted with this message: “This channel’s goal is to present Jesus through music. Whether it’s through hymns, scripture songs, or any other song, and whether it’s in French, English, or Spanish, the purpose remains the same. May every listener be blessed! Audréanne is a 19-year-old girl who loves serving the Lord with her whole heart. Her desire through this channel is to publish beautiful Christian music in French especially.”

Over time, Audréanne’s number of subscribers to her channel steadily grew.

“I did not expect anything big. But my younger brother, Xavier, was so encouraging. At first, I had a few subscribers—my close friends and a few people from the church. But after a little while, I started having more and more subscribers. My brother was telling me, ‘You’re going to reach 1,000 subscribers for sure.’ When it happened, I was really surprised! How do 1,000 people want to listen to what I’m doing? It’s not that good, and it’s not that important. But as time passed, I realized there were more than 1,000 people who wanted to listen. Currently, right now, I’m at 6,000 subscribers! It really has grown more than I imagined.”

A long, long time ago, another young person also surrendered his talents to God’s purposes. Young David sang on his harp while watching his father’s flock. Like Audréanne, David’s music was something personal for a small few. But God had a higher calling for the gifts He gave David, as He undoubtedly does for Audréanne’s talents. God took David’s music from the fields to the king’s court. Similarly, He is growing Audréanne’s ministry from a local few to a global community.

Most of these viewers are not even in Canada but hail from other countries in the francophone world. From France, Switzerland, various countries in Africa, and elsewhere, viewers tune in to Audréanne’s channel and her beautiful renditions of beloved French hymns.

“I never imagined that it would get this big,” Audréanne said with amazement. “People from other countries can enjoy these hymns because they don’t have anything else available on the internet. So, anything they can find they just jump on it, and they’re thankful for it. For me, it’s a blessing that people can be touched by this music.

“Many people comment to say thank you, and they use it in their church – which was my goal at first. But they also use it for their family worship. Other times they say they use it for their personal devotions, or they just listen and sing along while they’re praying. Many people have said that they use it in different situations. I am grateful that they benefit from this in different contexts.”

Scrolling through the videos and their comments, you get an idea of just how much this ministry means to those who listen.

“I am moved,” one viewer commented. “May God be praised for your tireless efforts.”

“Thank you, you help us during our evening prayers,” shared another viewer.

After watching one of her hymns, one viewer wrote, “Beautiful close to the Sabbath. May everyone be blessed.”

Some viewers discovered her channel during a challenging time and found comfort and renewed confidence in God from the lyrics and music.

“This song gives me hope,” one viewer confided.

“Thank you for this beautiful hymn that is particularly dear to me,” another viewer commented. “It helps me through difficult moments. I just found this version. Be blessed.”

“Thank you, a beautiful reminder to hold on to faith during this health crisis,” wrote a viewer.

            Audréanne began this project over three years ago. She set a goal of publishing at least one new hymn every Friday night, in time for the start of Sabbath.

“At one point I would publish two videos per week. That was a really busy time for my channel! I don’t know how I did it. I think because I was still in high school, it wasn’t as busy a time.”

 Even as her life is busier now with classes, exams, and other projects, she still tries to find ways to maintain her schedule. During breaks from school, she pre-records as many hymns as she can, then schedules them to release weekly.

But hymns are not all Audréanne shares on her channel. Around the time that she was experimenting with at-home recording equipment such as mics and sound editing software, her brother Xavier was studying videography. They decided to blend their two skills to create stunning music videos.

Audréanne explained, “A few months after starting the hymns, I started to do music videos—just cover songs, songs that I liked, songs that people asked for. My brother, Xavier, filmed them. My brother has filmed and edited each of my music videos.”

            In the beginning, filming the music videos was a full family affair.

            Audréanne spoke warmly of that time. “When I started, I didn’t have my driver’s license. So my parents would come with [Xavier and me], and my younger sister, Laurie, would come. I have really good memories of the whole family being together. I would sing, my brother would film, and my sister and parents watched. And often they would be freezing in the snow—it was really, really cold. You can’t see them in the video,” she laughed, “but behind him, my parents and sister were running around in the snow trying to keep warm!”

            Even though she is more independent now, Audréanne still has the support of her loving family.

She continues to make music videos, with Xavier as the videographer and editor. Sometimes, she collaborates with Laurie or friends. Even viewers who cannot speak French can enjoy the videos’ beauty.

            Looking ahead, Audréanne plans to continue her music ministry.

            “I think it can’t really stop, honestly,” she said, with energy. “I started this and it’s hard for me to stop. But with life, situations change. We use our time differently. But I still do want to continue doing this. I haven’t considered stopping. I just hope that what I’m doing can keep helping other people and other churches. I hope people can keep enjoying [what’s on my channel]. And I’ll just do my best to do what the Lord calls me to do.”

            Audréanne shared, “I hope this can encourage people to do what they like and to find their place in church. I think there’s a place for everyone. And no matter how young or old, there’s a place for everyone. I just want to encourage people to do what they like and to find their place.”   

Her words are reminiscent of Peter’s: “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. … Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 4:10, 11, NLT).

            Perhaps we like to do something for a reason. Our God-given gifts are for God-given reasons. By developing our gifts and surrendering them to Him, we may discover a purpose we didn’t expect! David surely did not expect that his music, or at least his lyrics, would endure for thousands of years, bringing solace, inspiration, and joy to countless generations.

            Audréanne did not expect her music to touch hearts around the world. Who knows how far it will go? Only God does. What is certain is that the surrender of her talents to God is not in vain. He is already blessing many through her.             There are so many things in God’s kingdom that seem upside-down to what we understand on earth. And this is one of them: with God, to surrender is to gain, and even to gain much more than you could ever imagine.

Source: https://adventistmessenger.ca/features/when-surrender-is-gain

How the Case for Steve’s Conscience Was Won:

By

30th Anniversary of Supreme Court of Canada Sabbath Decision

Thirty years ago, the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) ruled in favour of Larry Steve Renaud’s conscientious stand not to work on Sabbath.[1] The court held both the employer and labour union had to negotiate an accommodation, while acknowledging the employee’s duty of reasonableness in seeking an accommodation. It was a ground-breaking case.

“I learned through this experience that it isn’t easy to stand up for your beliefs,” Steve recalls, “but you need to be able to follow your conscience because that is ultimately where you find peace. Knowing you are obeying God’s law, though maybe difficult, is comforting.”

Originally from Haiti, Steve immigrated to Canada in 1972. In 1980, School District #23 in Kelowna, B.C., hired him as a custodian. Convicted about Sabbath in 1985, a crisis of conscience arose. His beliefs meant he could no longer work Friday evenings after sunset.

Approaching his employer for Sabbaths off, he was told to use up his holiday time. This temporary solution worked for only a few months. The employer suggested contacting the union as any accommodation required changing the collective agreement. The union was displeased he had spoken to the school district first. The union also reasoned changing the agreement for Steve would open the door to similar requests from others.

“I had a difficult time with this,” remembers Steve, “because [the union] made allowances for a co-worker to play music with his band in a bar on multiple Friday nights and that was OK.” So why not allow him to have Sabbath off? He was willing to work Saturday evenings and Sundays to ensure the school was clean for Monday classes, but his suggestion was rejected, in part because the collective agreement required overtime pay for evening and Sunday shifts. Steve was willing to work for regular pay but this accommodation along with other accommodations were rejected by the union that did not want to change its collective agreement. The union threatened a grievance if the school district accommodated him.

With a young family to care for, it was difficult to lose his job. Friends chastised him over his choice. His first duty, they exhorted, was to his family, and he must remain at work until God led him elsewhere. Steve chose to lose his job and honour God.

The intake person at the unemployment office informed him that his dismissal from the school district was wrong. As Steve explains, “One thing led to another as this situation took on a life of its own, as I didn’t plan for this to happen. I was directed to file a complaint with the human rights authorities, and that is where the legal challenge began.”

During the various stages of the legal proceedings, Steve continued to trust God. He admits, “The experience was a bit like a roller coaster ride—ups when the ruling was in my favour and downs when a higher court ruled against me. The case became a part of everyday life, but it didn’t consume me, because I trusted God and knew that He was in control. I was able to enjoy life. My business ventures were pleasurable for me because my little boy accompanied me with my yard maintenance and was often with me selling ice cream. I had the support of my whole family delivering flyers.” No doubt, the ice cream business was a big hit with his family!

Steve retained a legal aid lawyer. The B.C. Council of Human Rights ruled in his favour, but on appeal, the B.C. Supreme Court (BCSC) ruled against him. At that point the legal aid lawyer said he did not have the expertise or financial support to continue the case.

That was when lawyer Karen Scott was retained. Steve had been impressed when he heard Karen speak at Camp Hope about a religious liberty case she had worked on, so he contacted her for assistance. She was in private, solo practice and only six months in after being called to the bar. In other words, she was at the very beginning of her legal career!

She immediately recognized that this case would eventually go to the country’s highest court after the B.C. Court of Appeal (BCCA) hearing. Karen explains, “The SCC had already ruled employers have a duty to accommodate employees’ needs but what is an employer’s duty to accommodate when there’s a collective agreement in place? This was the first time in Canadian legal history this question was before the courts.”

She suggested Steve and his wife, Siegrid, get a more experienced lawyer. Steve recalls, “When I first asked her to take on my case, she felt that she didn’t have the needed experience to properly represent me. My answer to her was that I would rather have a lawyer with faith and trust in God and little experience than a lawyer with much experience but no faith and trust in God.” He remembers she “worked hard and prayed harder, and she was a solid support all the way through. She shared in my disappointments, hopes, and ultimate victory as a friend and not just a lawyer representing my case.”

Karnik Doukmetzian, the Public Affairs and Religious Liberty director of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada (SDACC), agrees: “Karen single-handedly carried the load of this case on Steve’s behalf. A valiant battle to correct a wrong.” Karnik’s office provided Karen with the financial resources she needed to get the job done.

The seven-year legal journey had its difficult moments. Steve struggled with misrepresentations made in court by the employer and union, and his “eyes were opened” when reporters misquoted him. “The first time that happened was such a shock!” he recalls. Then there were natural letdowns when he lost, followed by jubilation when he won. Looking back, he saw it as a net gain for God’s kingdom because he was able to witness to the importance of keeping Sabbath.

When strangers on the street would sometimes recognize him from newspaper articles and call him “Larry,” as the media referred to him, his family and friends teased him endlessly because they all knew him as Steve, which is his middle name and the one he goes by.

At every level he was present to hear the arguments live. From the questions the judges asked, he gained clues as to what the outcome would be. At the BCSC, he noted the derision toward the decision of the B.C. Council of Human Rights. Again at the BCCA the three judges were very sympathetic toward the employer and union. At the SCC, he observed a different demeanour. The judges asked direct and intense questions of the lawyers for the school district and union. “This time they were on the defensive,” says Steve, “and it was very obvious that the judges were leaning in our favour. That was such a wonderful feeling.”

While Steve trusted God, so did Karen. She was acutely aware of the magnitude of the case, recalling “that I had not just the fate of Steve’s future in my hands but the fate of every Sabbathkeeper in the nation. That’s when I prayed even more for God’s guidance and direction as well as asking that He prepare the hearts of the judges to decide in Steve’s favour.”

The night before appearing before the SCC, Karen prayed for wisdom. “I didn’t just want to read my submitted written argument,” she recalls, “but nothing seemed to work. So once again I cried out to God about how important this case was and how I was unable to do anything myself. As I had previously advised clients seeking exemption from union membership, I now claimed His promise in Luke 21:14–15 for the words needed. I am still amazed how God answered that prayer. Suddenly the words just flowed onto my paper. After weeks of struggle, I finally had the oral argument to present to the court.”

Because of the importance of the case, three entities—the Ontario Human Rights Commission, Disabled People for Employment Equality and Persons United for Self-Help in Ontario, as well as the SDACC—were granted permission by the SCC to argue before the court.

Karnik, arguing on behalf of the SDACC, remembers the day of the hearing: “We were all very nervous to be before the highest court in the land, not only to support Steve but the church and our beliefs. It was a privilege for us, as Adventist lawyers, to be before the court.” The victory now stands as the foundation not only for employment accommodation to all religions but also for the rights of accommodation for disabled persons and others.

The Renaud case continues aiding not just those needing Sabbath accommodation but those needing accommodation for other needs such as disability. Unions nationwide now support the case. Some scholars believe the Renaud decision is one reason Canada leads the world in providing positive work environments. God continues, 30 years later, blessing many as a result of Steve’s commitment to honour and obey Him.

Barry W. Bussey is the President and CEO of First Freedoms Foundation (www.firstfreedoms.ca).

[1] Central Okanagan School District No. 23 v. Renaud, 1992 CanLII 81 (SCC), [1992] 2 SCR 970, https://canlii.ca/t/1fs7w

Source: https://adventistmessenger.ca/news/how-the-case-for-steves-conscience-was-won

For the Sake of God’s Mission

By

For the Sake of God’s Mission

Despite unfavourable circumstances, a 28-year-old young man was adamant about starting to publish a little paper. Unable to walk properly because of a foot injury, he trudged 13 kilometres back and forth between Rocky Hill and Middletown, Conn., in search of someone who’d be willing to produce an eight-page publication and get paid once the money was raised.

How would that become a reality? And why would a gifted speaker who experienced toil on the farm want to use the printing press in the first place? Why go through such challenges? Where did such determination come from? The short answer is God’s mission!

This young man embraced his responsibility as a follower of Christ, the potential of mass communication, and that “the hope of success was in God.”[1] The outcome of such determination was that in July 1849, that young man—James White—held 1,000 copies of the first edition of The Present Truth.

What propelled James White on his bold endeavour has prompted many followers of Jesus to step out in faith to explore current means of mass communication to introduce people to Jesus. In this article, we will focus on some champions in Canada who embodied the words of Ellen White: “God will have men who will venture anything and everything to save souls.”[2]

After going on air for the first time in the late fall of 1929, Pastor Herald N. Williams reported with great excitement, “125 people called me on the telephone during and right after the broadcast.”[3] In the early days of radio, a few visionary workers in Newfoundland recognized its immense potential for spreading the gospel. Through a clear divine intervention, the drawings and the scarce parts of a small transmitter made their way to the living room of Pastor Williams in St. Johns, N.L. Fortunately, the Minister of Import intervened personally and ensured that no duty was charged on the transmitter components coming from the United States into Canada, which made the Bible Study League (BSL) a reality. Later it became the Voice of Adventist Radio (VOAR), which still operates in Canada today and is now known as Lighthouse FM.

            Pastor Williams and many others, such as H.M.S. Richards, who founded the Voice of Prophecy in 1929, as well, explored the medium of radio to reach as many people as possible for Christ. The reality is that going after the lost sheep is not just a church activity; it has deep roots in God Himself and His mission. Christopher J. H. Wright expands this truth in the following way:

It is not so much the case that God has a mission for His church in the world, as that God has a church for His mission in the world. Mission was not made for the church; the church was made for mission—God’s mission.[4]

It is a paradigm shift to realize that the mission does not originate with the church but emerges from the very nature of God. In other words, mission exists because God is a missionary (John 20:21, 22). God the Father sent His Son and the Spirit into the world, and the Father, Son, and Spirit sent the church into the world for the sake of God’s mission, “to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10), reconciling human beings to Him (2 Cor. 5:18–20).

Therefore, joining God in His mission is the ultimate goal of the church, and whatever the church may do, it must be for the sake of God’s mission. Corroborating with this heavenly purpose for the body of Christ, Ellen White wrote: “The church is God’s appointed agency for the salvation of men. It was organized for service, and its mission is to carry the gospel to the world.”[5]

In the early ’70s, Pastor Henry Feyerabend’s radio show, A Voz da Profecia (The Voice of Prophecy), successfully introduced Jesus to the growing Portuguese community in Toronto. Nevertheless, as he visited one of his listeners, a divine insight emerged into how to reach more people for Christ: through a telecast. The Dream-Giver, the owner of the mission, planted a seed in His faithful servant’s heart, and this servant would not let it go until it came to fruition.

Through countless miracles, in fall 1973, the first five-minute episode aired, which led to 29 calls requesting a Bible. “Never again in the time I worked for the Portuguese community in Toronto,” wrote Feyerabend, “was there a lack of interest asking for studies. Never again did we have any trouble attracting new people to evangelistic meetings.”[6] Later on, Feyerabend launched the Destiny telecast in English that eventually merged into It Is Written Canada, which is still a blessing today to the Great White North.

For the sake of God’s mission, Feyerabend made use of and explored another medium for mass communication: television. In a sense, God’s mission has embraced and taken ownership of communication and its wide variety of media as one of the main instruments to accomplish its purpose. Since Jesus commissioned His followers to carry His mission to the four corners of the earth (Matt. 28:18–20; Mark 16:14–18; Luke 24:46–49; John 20:30, 31; Acts 1:8), Christianity has been primarily a religion of communication that places a strong emphasis on (1) the biblical God, who is a communicator by nature and has made use of different mediums (Heb. 1:1–3); (2) the Incarnation and Sacrifice of the Word (John 1:1–14); and (3) the church’s mandate for proclaiming the good news of God’s kingdom (Matt. 28:18–20; 2 Tim. 4:1–5).

Therefore, the followers of Jesus ought to use communication and its different expressions and media as they join God in His mission. The church is responsible for communicating for a sublime reason and holy purpose. The Remnant should adopt any kind of contemporary or vintage media to collaborate with God’s mission moving forward!

What about the Christian’s personal testimony? Isn’t that enough to communicate the message of the gospel to others? The concept of preaching through actions rather than words is becoming increasingly popular. I do believe that a life’s testimony can have a crucial influence on others. However, it is important to remember that our testimony alone is not enough to communicate the gospel message. The good news is not transmitted by osmosis, where people learn about Jesus as the answer to their deepest needs only because they interact with Christians and witness their lives. Christians should use their testimony to support and enhance their proclamation.

The apostle Paul wrote, “And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?And how shall they preach unless they are sent?” (Rom. 10:14, 15, NKJV).

In 1995, when international evangelist Pastor Mark Finley walked onto the stage in Chattanooga, Tenn., the way the Seventh-day Adventist Church accomplished God’s mission acquired a new potency. With 676 churches connected through satellite broadcast, the first NET satellite uplink opened an era of satellite evangelism, which led in 2003 to the foundation of the official global television network of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the Hope Channel.

Passionate about God’s mission, Pastor Brad and Kandus Thorp oversaw the NET series and nurtured the birth and development of Hope Channel. In personal communication, they shared that the late Pastor Dan Jackson used to tell a story about an encounter he had while shaking hands at the door of one of our churches in Canada one Sabbath morning. Apparently, a woman paused to confront Jackson to express her disapproval of some message on one of our media broadcasts. Just then another, older woman behind them overheard the comment and interrupted the first woman by saying, “But it’s not for YOU! The programs are for non-believers!”

The Thorps categorically affirmed, “Whoever she was, that second church member had the correct perspective on our mission. Our mission is to reach every person in Canada with the three angels’ messages. We must do our part to invite everyone to prepare for Jesus’ second coming!”[7] And for the sake of God’s mission, the Seventh-day Adventist Church has a 24/7 international television network.

Propelled by the divine mission, the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada is launching a new phase of Hope Channel Canada on March 1, 2024, to meet Canadians where they are and proclaim with Canadian content that with Jesus, There is More to Life!

Throughout history, the followers of Jesus have used various means of communication to spread the good news. The church initially relied on oral communication, which later integrated with written communication on papyrus and parchment. Music was also incorporated as a means of communication, followed by visual media such as paintings and sculptures. The advent of printing in the mid-15th century opened doors for publishing books, pamphlets, and papers.

The early 19th century saw the rise of new technologies such as photography (1839), the telegraph (1844), the telephone (1876), and radio (1896), which assisted in mass visual reproduction. Electricity enabled moving pictures when it was linked with photography (1888), which opened the doors to cinema and television. The electronic technologies of the 1980s and 1990s laid the foundation for today’s digital era, challenging the concept of boundaries, speed, and distance and providing the context for globalization. For the sake of God’s mission, Christians have used these and other communication venues. The reality is that the church has remained vibrant by adapting the everlasting gospel message to fit media, the conduit of the day.

Audacity, determination, and vision of using mass communication and its wide variety of media for the sake of God’s mission has been evident throughout the history of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, particularly in Canada in the accounts of Harold Nathan Williams, Henry Feyerabend, and Brad and Kandus Thorp.

Accordingly, upon the shoulders of these faithful servants, and many others, we should venture into all venues of communication, and in particular, digital communication for the sake of God’s mission. In my humble opinion, the church has not explored digital communication platforms to their full capacity, especially the internet and social media. Additionally, new ways of mass communication are on the rise, and I do believe that “for such as a time as this,” when humanity finds itself on the edges of eternity, God would allow, or even inspire, new technologies with fast and wide communication reach to become a reality to finally accomplish His mission.

In this upcoming year, renew your resolution of communicating and supporting the mass media initiatives of presenting Jesus Christ to Canada for the sake of God’s mission.

[1] Arthur L. White, Ellen G. White: The Early Years, 1827–1862, Vol. 1 (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1985), 164.

[2] Ellen G. White, Life Sketches of Ellen G. White (Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1915), 213.

[3] https://lighthousefm.org/history/

[4] Christopher J. H. Wright, The Mission of God: Unlocking the Bible’s Grand Narrative (InterVarsity Press, 2006), 62.

[5] Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles (Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1911), 9.

[6] Henry Feyerabend, Born to Preach (Pacific Press Publishing Association, 2005), 140.

[7] Email communication, Nov. 1, 2023.

Source: https://adventistmessenger.ca/features/forthesakeofgodsmission

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