November 1996 Spectators Not Wanted by Claude Sabot, Secretary Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Canada
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CANADIAN ADVENTIST November 1996 Spectators Not Wanted by Claude Sabot, Secretary Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada eing a spectator isn't all bad. replaced with another. The picture 2. Spiritual gift—Spiritual gifts are Watching a master craftsman may be very simple, perhaps only a more familiar to us, as many shape hot liquid glass into a tree in a field under a blue sky. But if churches have already been stunning bowl. Smiling as a even one of the plain blue pieces is involved in workshops that help B missing, the picture is flawed. nervous ten-year-old performs in the members identify how their indi- school band. Cheering on profession- The picture can change when you vidual talents can be used in al athletes as they strive to deliver add new pieces. With the new pieces church administration, mainte- their best performances ever. Being a you may expand the scene to include nance, youth programs, personal spectator can be enjoyable, worth- a weathered barn, distant hills, a contacts, and more. while, and rewarding. winding river. So it is with the 3. Temperament—We each have dif- But in our church, I believe there church-the ministries offered by the ferent ways of approaching tasks is no place for spectators, only partic- church will change with the addition and different styles of operating. ipants. In Romans 12 and 1 of new members. By recognizing our own tempera- Corinthians 12, the church is com- How can we discover our min- ments, we will understand why pared to a body with different mem- istry? By exploring and identifying we react in certain ways or are bers and senses, where each individ- our passion-where to serve; our spir- frustrated by other's styles. ual part has an essential role in con- itual gift-what to do where we serve; Understanding and accepting the tributing to the well-being of the and our temperament-how to serve. temperaments of those around us whole. Without exception, we should 1. Passion—Passion is what gives us will build unity. each have a ministry in our church. energy, the activities that we look I know a couple who are blending Members give many reasons for forward to spending time on. God their talents to reach out to young their reluctance to be involved in asks us to serve in projects that are people. The husband's passion is church ministries and activities: enjoyable for us. Unless we serve water skiing, and his spiritual gift is • "I'm too busy during the week; I in the areas of our passion, we will teaching. His wife's spiritual gift is have no energy left to serve in not maintain our involvement for hospitality. So every weekend they the church." very long. invite young people out for water • "I'm afraid to fail and be criti- skiing lessons, followed by time in cized by the brothers and sis- the evening to share the Word of ters." God. This couple looks forward to • "I feel inadequate to serve; I It 16 the weekends and enjoys every have no talents to contribute to S02 minute of the time they spend in the ministries offered in the mowfaMrPairgprowwwwm their ministry. church." My dream is that every member of • "I feel as though I have no talent the church will find a ministry that whatsoever." matches his or her passion, spiritual I like to compare the church to a gift, and temperament. To help you PIERCE puzzle, where each piece is needed to ID in this quest, you may obtain materi- DAV al called Connection, which is avail- complete the picture. Even if you - only have a small puzzle, each piece to able from Advent Source in Lincoln, fills a specific spot and cannot be Pho Nebraska. 2 Messenger/November 1996 — Cover : Canadian Union College oef 93' lax is Cre-atiox g J.D. Victor Fitch Volume 65, No. 11, November 1996, Oshawa, ON June Polishuk / Copy Editor "For this is of redemption. This is the object of educa- Allan Colleran / Art Director what the Lord tion, the great object of life."6 Robin Carby / Associate Art Director says—he who cre- Seventh-day Adventist education, di- CONFERENCE EDITORS ated the heavens, vinely revealed to Ellen White, is a central / Alberta he is God; he part of God's plan for the salvation of Ken Wiebe / British Columbia who fashioned souls. It must, therefore, be an integral Dan Jackson/ Manitoba-Saskatchewan Robert Lehmann / Maritime and made the part of the mission of the church. David Crook / Newfoundland earth, he found- Parents and teachers may have the joy Dirk Zinner / Ontario ed it; he did not of following God's plan in the salvation of Georges Hermans / Quebec create it to be the young. All, however, cannot afford the empty, but he cost of an Adventist education. God, formed it to be inhabited—he says: I am the again through His servant, revealed a Lord and there is no other."' plan to assist those who were unable to God had a plan for His creation. Man, pay the full cost of their education. This Issue created in the image of His Maker "was to bear God's image, both in his outward God's Plan of Financial Support Heart to Heart resemblance and in his character."2 It was God's plan "that the longer man When Battle Creek College was first Claude Sabot 2 lived, the more fully he should reveal this started, a fund was placed in the Review image—the more fully reflect the glory of and Herald office to assist those who God's Plan in Creation the Creator."3 wished to receive an education but lacked Victor Fitch Man, however, failed to follow God's the means. 3 plan for his life. As a result of Adam and "Some provisions should now be made Eve's disobedience, mankind was con- for the maintenance of such a fund to lend Significant Changes to demned to death. to the poor but worthy students who Income Tax Act desire to prepare themselves for mission- "But divine love had conceived a plan Karnik Doukmetzian 4 whereby man might be redeemed."4 ary work. The youth should have it plain- ly set before them that they must work their own way as far as possible, and thus A Multitude of 7,687 God's Plan of Redemption defray their expenses."7 Man, created by God, could only be In harmony with God's plan for His and Growing redeemed by one who had recreative creation, Canadian Union College has Kay Bacchus 8 power. He who breathed into his nostrils developed The Plan, whereby each of us the breath of life was the only one capable has an opportunity to invest in young of bringing new life. people. The Plan has five areas of empha- The plan was extremely costly. It was sis and allows the giver to choose the area Plus an expression of God's infinite love to fall- of support. Canadian Union College 6,7 en mankind. It required the death of the Each of you has received information Healthwise 10 Son of God. regarding The Plan in a mail—out to your Kingsway Corner 11 To assist in the redemption of fallen home. Conference News 12-19 humanity, God initiated another plan. Will you prayerfully study The Plan, Bulletin Board God's plan, and ask Him for guidance in Anniversaries, Births, Weddings, Tributes God's Plan of Education your gift decision? Only eternity will reveal the results of our giving. Obituaries 20-22 "In the highest sense the work of edu- Thank you for joining me in this vital Classifieds 22-26 cation and redemption are one, for in edu- project for the youth of Canada. Voice of Prophecy 27 cation, as in redemption, other foundation 1 Isa. 45:18 NIV can no man lay than is laid, which is Jesus 2 PP 45 Christ."5 The Canadian Adventist MESSENGER is the official 3 Ed 15 organ of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada. "To restore in man the image of his 4 PP 63 Issued monthly, annual subscription price in Canada maker, to bring him back to the perfection $5 00. Out of union $10.00. Printed by Maracle Press 5 Ed 30 Limited. Second class mail registration number 0912 in which he was created, to promote the 6 Ed 15/16 Address all inquiries to 1148 King Street East, Oshawa. Ontario L1H 1H8 development of body, mind, and soul, 7 CT 70 that the divine purpose in his creation ISSN 0702-5084 might be realized—this was to be the work Messenger / November 1996 3 Significant Changes Made to Income Tax Act Regarding Charitable Donations by Karnik Doukmetzian Legal and Public Affairs Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada The day started innocently enough; it There are those individuals who have • Income $70,000 was supposed to be a typical budget contributed over the years amounts in • Charitable donations $30,000 brought down by the Federal Finance excess of the 20% limit and have been car- • Tax payable before Minister. Little did charities, and those rying those amounts forward year after tax credit $25,478 who financially support those charities, year. With these changes, deductions • Tax credit for donations $14,550 know that the budget would contain the which individuals were unable to fully • Tax payable $11,198 most significant changes since charitable utilize in previous years can be used this deductions were first introduced. The year or in any future year up to the maxi- news which the Minister of Finance pre- mum of 50% of net income.