E Come to Ihe Stories of Spiritual Journeys and Shared Goals in Our Multicultural World
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L.' L-. t 1 L I 1. I.! L tb.. I I. La LE Ly_t e come to ihe Stories of spiritual journeys and shared goals in our multicultural world Every More than 34,000 children die each day in developing countries from hunger-related causes. That's 1,417 deaths 60 Seconds every hour ...24 children every 60 seconds. Please give a generous gift to ADRA's Disaster and Famine Relief Offering. ADRA is counting on you! You may send your donation to the address below or call 24 Children Die our toll-free number to donate by phone. 1-888-274-2372 Disaster and Famine Relief Offering 1148 King Street East, Oshawa, Ontario L1H 1H8 May, 1997 We're Helping Reverse Heart Disease! Traditional solutions to coronary artery disease, such as bypass surgery and angioplasty, only buy time in most cases. We use a comprehensive lifestyle approach to help you reverse your heart disease for life. 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Operated by Seventh-day Adventists A Preventive Care Provider Lifestyle Center of America provides life changing programs for preventing and reversing: Heart Disease • Diabetes • High Blood Pressure • Excess Weight • Stress Related Illnesses • Smoking Cessation 2 May 1997 Messenger Cover photo © P. Lacroix/The Image Bank HEART TO HEART Lessons from the North Country ulticultural ministries was not surprise her. She fully expected to be both instituted and commis- treated that way by Jews. Nevertheless m sioned by Jesus two thousand she fell at Jesus' feet, crying, "Sir, help years ago. There are four recorded occa- me." sions in the gospels on which Jesus min- "It is not right to take bread from istered to non-Jews. The first was to the children and throw it to the dogs," Jesus woman at the well at Sychar in Samaria pressed, to which she quietly answered, (John 4:5-42); the second was at "That's true, Sir, but the dogs eat scraps Caperneum when He healed the centu- from the Master's table." She was used rion's servant (Luke 7:1-10); the third to being compared to dogs; the Jews did was in the region of Gergasa when He it all the time. ministered to the demon-possessed With extraordinary kindness Jesus (Mark 5:1-20). looked at her and exclaimed, "What Just north of Palestine was a country faith you have! Your wish is granted." At called Syro-Phoenicia. Here Jesus met that very moment her daughter became the desperate needs of a woman whose well. daughter was hopelessly tormented by All along Jesus had planned to help an evil spirit. This was the fourth occa- the woman, and He would have done sion on which Jesus deviated from the so immediately except that He had cer- norm that regulated the religious tain lessons to teach His disciples, and requirements of His day to lift the bur- He used this eloquent demonstration to den of a soul in need (Matthew 15:22- impart them. Jesus had shown the disciples 28). As the weeks, months, and years The Phoenicians were of the old passed away they began to understand how cold and heartless they Canaanite race, of Hamitic descent. The the lessons Jesus had taught them in the Jews of Palestine held them in ridicule, North Country. He had shown them were toward foreigners and made unfair judgments about them, and how cold and heartless they were toward considered them less than human. But foreigners and other people who were other people who were not like Jesus desired to teach His disciples that not like them. They began to see the God cares for each person. He has no great blessings they had received and the them. They began to see the favorites. The blessings of salvation are needs of people who were hungry for for every soul. the same good news. Meanwhile, in the great blessings they had A certain gloom had settled into the North Country, there was now a new received and the needs of home of this Syro-Phoenician woman as believer who understood what God is Jesus crossed the border for Tyre and like, because she had met His Son and people who were hungry for Sidon in the North Country. While that experienced His tender compassion, worried mother, who really knew almost kindness, care, and amazing love. the same good news. nothing about God, was longing to Just like in Jesus' time, exclusiveness meet Jesus, He was on His way to meet today is a barrier to the advancement of her. She was the very reason He was the gospel. Since we believe that God's going. With Him were His trusted remnant church is made up of "every twelve, looking somewhat scornfully at nation, tribe, people, and language" the unbelievers of the region. When she (Revelation 7:9), we too must be willing appealed to Jesus for help, they request- to welcome into our midst people of ed Him to send her away, saying, "Her quiet different cultural experiences than crying embarrasses us." our own. The gospel is all inclusive. by Rick Bacchus President of the The initial response of Christ that Jesus Christ is Lord of all, and Calvary Ontario Conference He was sent to the house of Israel did includes each human being. ■ May 1997 Messenger 3 MULTICULTURALISM FEATURE elcome to the Jamily anada is home to people with incredibly diverse backgrounds and C experiences. From the third- genera- tion Manitoba farmer who inherited his land, equipment, and house from his par- ents, to the Vietnamese refugee who arrived alone in Canada at the age of 14 and was adopted by a Canadian family, no two sto- ries are alike. In light of this diversity, how do we forge bonds with our neighbors and build communities — work communities, social communities, and church communities? The approach varies with individuals, circumstances, and eras. Sometimes we highlight our similarities and intermingle on common ground, while at other times we define our unique traits and choose to identify with a particular group. Thirty or more years ago, new citizens strove for assimilation into the local culture, working to master English or French, downplaying their native heritage, and struggling to inte- grate into largely homogenous communi- ties. Today, cultural preservation and multi- 4 May 1997 Messenger Jtories o s "ritual urne skired goal; in our multicultural' work/ ple allegiances are the norm, and it is the third- or fourth-generation Canadians who are challenged to welcome a sometimes bewildering variety of newcomers and learn to recognize and respect their traditions. What do these shifts mean for churches? Well, this may be an instance where the answer doesn't have to be "either/or." Across Canada, numerous Adventist ethnic groups are thriving; some of these include West Indian, Asian, Filipino, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, and North American Indian churches. In other congregations, the church family includes individuals from a dozen or more countries. Churches are also finding opportunities for pooling resources in joint outreach activities, with the common goal of intro- ducing people to God and His all-encom- passing love. In the process, members and visitors alike are discovering that the desire for a connection with God transcends cul- tural experiences and boundaries. And they are reminded that in God's family, everyone belongs. • May 1997 Messenger 5 Tincouver ,LimworA 2eaps 2ei,varcis he recent evangelistic series A Great Multitude Attends creation vs. evolution seminar presented held in Vancouver is both a Who were these people? by Walter Veith last January. The ,..T testament to inter-church Well, there was a woman who had Amazing Discoveries committee mailed cooperation and a vivid example of the been studying for 18 months with out invitations to all of the Veith meet- multicultural composition of the another denomination, but who now ing guests, asking them to attend the Adventist church in Canada. excitedly proclaims that she learned Schreven meetings. Fifty of them accept- Earlier this year, ten churches in the more in four nights than all those ed that invitation. Lower Mainland jointly sponsored a months of study. Prophecy Lecture series hosted by Leo There were Muslims, one of whom People Need the Lord Schreven of It Is Written. With only tested the Bible and decided he wanted People reaching people. That's the secret three months to prepare for the meet- to be a Christian — a momentous step of success. The majority of the visitors ings, the Vancouver Central, for a Muslim believer. who attended were there through the Westminster, Surrey, Vancouver Korean, There was an Ethiopian group of invitation of friends or family. In fact, a Vancouver Hispanic, Vancouver believers who first heard Leo Schreven number of them were the friends and Filipino, White Rock, Richmond, speak in Calgary and who took advan- families of people who were baptized at Coquitlam, and North Shore churches tage of hearing him again now that they the last Leo Schreven meetings held in banded together and allocated responsi- have moved to the Lower Mainland.