+war 4...... a.vowls . ..feeoymo.„
**Cr./4444o, , " 14/16 4,4 4,444 41.411airybig‘m 4444"-‘4.444 WU. /041.404,. .0z
V.; •1f us, with the evaluation that if you want to know who is the most important in God's eyes, remember that 99 "good" church members are about equal to one Prosideni, person who for some reason left the church but came back again. The Church in North ierspcmc America is emphasizing a D. Douglas Devnich project to reclaim inactive and former members. Our better attitude toward sinners will help to bring them home. Y NOW many for some acknowledgement same time. Jesus went so members of the of their solidarity in the far as to say that self- Church in North Faith. They were mutilation of the body is President Calls —America know that the "overcomers" now. more acceptable than the Church prevailing attitude in the Possibly they were about to sinning. Church toward sinners is develop a theology of Notice especially now, "Church pioneers could not changing. Perfection. verses 10 to 14 of the have dreamed 160 years ago The change is more in But, suddenly Jesus passage we are studying. that we would be witnessing keeping with the attitude of shocked them all when He Jesus connected the child such phenomenal growth or Jesus Christ toward sinners. reached out to a nearby He was holding by the how it would be done under It is a conundrum, but child; hugged him or her to hand with a sheep (maybe a the blessing of God," says there have been times when Himself as He pointed out lamb) which has strayed General Conference President sinners have felt more "at that an honest, unaffected, away from the flock. You Robert S. Folkenberg. home" in the presence of accepting child is the best see, we all know that "But here we are, practical- Jesus than they have felt in example of human children can manifest a ly on the eve of the 56th the presence of the "saints" greatness. In fact, so variety of difficult emotions business session of the in the Church. So, many of essential is this attitude in and behaviours. They are Church, recording a baptism them gave up on the adults that we cannot unpredictable at times. every 52 seconds and organiz- Church. It may well be that experience eternal life Easily led. Sometimes they ing four new congregations faithful members of the without first being actuated whine and sometimes they every day somewhere in the Church are now learning by childlikeness (humility). are cranky. As sinners, they world," President Folkenberg that the place for sinners is Just imagine the willingness very easily can get lost. explains. in the Church and in the of the child to be taken by Sometimes our "lambs" "In 1995 we'll have the presence of Jesus. the hand as Jesus led him leave the Church. Yet, often privilege of coming together Let us study together the or her into the discussion they are teachable, waiting again to see how God has us- meaning of Matthew group. to be accepted, ready to ed us to set these records," he 18:1-14. The next thing Jesus did love and to be loved again. says, "and I want to invite (I know it is hard for you to was that He declared how In the teaching of Jesus, you to meet with your Church interrupt your reading of this serious a problem that sin the Church must be like the in business session for plan- article in order to actually pick is. Sin is so horrific that if shepherd who has 100 ning the Global Mission ac- up your Bible and read the an adult even influences a sheep. If one sheep goes tivities until Jesus comes." passage cited, but please do so. child to sin—let us say: to astray, like the shepherd we Set for June 29-July 8, 1995, The meaning of what follows be hostile, to be self-centred must expend every effort to at the Jaarbeurs Convention will be clearer if you read it or arrogant, it is better that find that sheep and bring it Center in Utrecht, Holland, from the Bible first.) the adult would have a rock home. And when it is the Session will be preceded The disciples of Jesus tied to his/her neck and be home, the only attitude and by the quinquennial world evidently were preoccupied thrown into the ocean. Jesus activity permissible is that Ministers' Council June 25-29. with their comparative self- used plain language, didn't we REJOICE! No "Ministers will focus on importance. They had been He? judgmentalism. No 'Jesus, Our Only Foundation: faithful members of the First Let it never be said that criticism. No fault-finding. "Keep watching these pages Church of Jesus Christ and you can have eternal life Amazing, isn't it? Jesus for housing and other informa- in their minds it was time and keep sinning at the stunned the disciples, and tion." 2 MESSENGER/AUGUST 1993 Cover photo—"Alberta Harvest," by Deryk Bodington Religious Beliefs CANADIAN ADVENTIST Accommodated
A complaint for a discriminatory cumstances, employed by the Volume 62, No. 8, August 1993, Oshawa, ON practice that began in 1988 was M.E.A. and the I.L.A. should also brought to a successful conclusion be accommodated on an in- June Polishuk/Editor in Saint John, N.B. recently. dividual basis. It was also agreed Allan Colleran/Art Director A Canadian Human Rights in the settlement that both Robin Carby/Associate Art Director Tribunal which was to have begun respondents will pay an equal on May 3, 1993 was cancelled. amount in compensation to the CONFERENCE EDITORS In the settlement, negotiated by complainants. Bryan Lee/Alberta David Crook/Newfoundland Margaret Rose Jamieson, legal It is because of precedent-setting Ron Watts/British Columbia Jim Jeffery/Ontario counsel for the Canadian Human cases such as Renaud, and Lester Carney/Manitoba-Saskatchewan Rights Commission, between O'Malley that cases such as this Georges Hermans/Quebec William Jones, Fred Keirstead and can be settled without going Robert Lehmann/Maritime Roy Totten, Seventh-day Adven- through the whole legal system tist longshoremen and the I.L.A. and it is only through the vigilance and the M.E.A. (International of members such as these that This Issue Longshoremen's Association and freedoms we have enjoyed can the Maritime Employer's Associa- continue to be enjoyed by others tion) it was agreed that the prac- in the future. tice of being charged for time William Jones, President's Perspective taken off for their Sabbath obliga- Secretary, D. Douglas Devnich 2 tion would be discontinued, and Religious Liberty and that others who might find Communications themselves in similar cir- St. John SDA Church Annual ADRA Appeal Church Ministries Directors 4-6
Health-Wise: Mercury Madness It Is Written/Destiny Coverage Raymond 0. West, M.D. 7
CHCH Hamilton Sunday 8:00 AM Project Reclaim 7 CHAN Vancouver Sunday 8:00 AM CITV Edmonton Sunday 9:30 AM ATV Atlantic Region Sunday 10:00 AM Faith Triumphant in Albania CFQC Saskatoon Sunday 8:00 AM Sandy Edwards 8 CKY Winnipeg Sunday 9:30 AM Note—CHCH in Hamilton, CHAN in Vancouver and CITV in Edmon- Canadian students ton are CANCOM networks covering hundreds of communities across ADRA Canada: Canada through Cable and repeater stations. volunteer for ADRA in Thailand Alicia Homer 10 PROGRAMS TITLES FOR SEPTEMBER
September 5 Surviving the Lion's Roar Mark Finley September 12 Lenin's Hills Henry Feyerabend September 19 Russian Crusade Mark Finley PLUS September 26 The Bible and Science Henry Feyerabend It Is Written/Voice of Prophecy Coverage 3 Voice of Prophecy Canadian Union College 11, 24 SUNDAY Parkview Adventist Academy 12