Heart to Heart
"For in due season we shall reap..."
By Ron Watts, President, British Columbia Conference
okichiishii,s father was a justice done. He appealed his acquit- feet by six, he was happier than if liv- drunkard. At age 13 he decid- tal, according to the provisions of ing in the largest house. He wrote that ed to steal rather than starve. Japanese law. When the case was the joy of each day was very great due Stealing led to gambling; gam- reheard in the appeal court, Ishii was to the grace and favour of Jesus. T sentenced to death. Such is the amazing power of the bling to more theft. After the age of 19 he spent more than 20 years behind The whole of Japan was aware of word of God in scripture! prison bars! the proceeds through the daily press. We print our Bibles on the finest His life of crime reached a climax A Christian lady, Caroline India paper. But the Bible is much when he murdered the Geisha girl MacDonald, determined to visit this more than black ink on fine white who waited on him in a teahouse near man in prison and share the gospel paper! It is the powerful, life-giving, Tokyo! So cleverly did he cover it, no with him. life-changing word of God. Received one suspected him. On New Year's Day she sent a spe- into the heart, it brings faith in Jesus Later, while in prison on another cial meal to him in prison. This con- Christ as Saviour and leads to a life of charge, he overheard his fellow pris- tinued daily for three days. Then she repentance and obedience to His will. oners discussing the teahouse murder. sent him a copy of the New As Caroline MacDonald was He was surprised to learn another Testament. At first he declined to read impressed to send him a copy of man—an innocent man—would be it, but sheer boredom brought him scripture, I pray that every member of put to death for his crime! around. our church, every believer in Christ, His sense of honour could not When he read how Jesus was will do their utmost to help the word allow that to happen. He confessed declared innocent by Pilate, then sen- of God get into the hearts of others. his guilt for the crime and began to tenced to death, his sense of justice We never know which verse will be labour to establish the other man's was again outraged! Then he read the the one that explodes in a sinner's innocence. He was not believed. To words of Jesus in Luke 23:34, "Father, heart. We can do this by sharing scrip- secure his own conviction he admitted forgive them for they know not what tural tracts or inspiring books, by he had murdered several others and they do." He stopped. Those words invitations to the place where the gave details of those offences. stabbed him to the heart like a large word of God is proclaimed or small His trial dragged on for months. It nail! The love of Christ was powerful- group fellowships, by sharing our tes- was one of the most baffling cases of ly revealed to him. timony of what God's word has done criminal record in Japan. At last he Through that sentence he was led in our lives, plus a hundred other was found "not guilty"! He was so to the Saviour. His hard heart was ways. distressed he could not sleep, thinking changed and he repented of all his "And let us not be weary in well another man must take the penalty for crimes. doing: for in due season we shall his crime. He urged his lawyer to From then until his execution, he reap, if we faint not." Gal. 6:9. leave no stone unturned in getting kept a journal. In his narrow cell, nine
2 Messenger/July 1995 Cover Photo: "Summer Retreat"Emerald Lake, B.C. by Deryk Bodington. that I have commanded you" (Matt. CANADIAN ADVENTIST 28:19); and "I can do all things through Freedom Christ." s er Church members continue to develop and refine holiday celebrations to bring Volume 64, No. 7. July 1995. Oshawa, ON the spirit of God-directed gratitude and June Polishuk / Editor Rings outreach into their merrymaking. Allan Colleran / Art Director For some church members a play may Robin Carby / Associate Art Director be "the thing." In 1977 the Beverly Hills Church in Chicago performed in the CONFERENCE EDITORS Don King / Alberta Eternal Daley Center a play that I had written. Ron Watts / British Columbia The play, "Real Freedom," attracted and Lester Carney / Manitoba-Saskatchewan by Faith Crumbly held the audience because the theme knit Robert Lehmann / Maritime David Crook / Newfoundland together a sense of patriotism and the Jim Jeffery / Ontario desire for a quality of health that enables Claude Richli / Quebec This month church members through- one to fully enjoy freedom. out the North American Division are In 1993 "Real Freedom" was short- gearing up for freedom celebrations. ened and adapted by Florence Johnson On July 1, 1867, the Dominion of for use by Adventist Youth Societies Canada was created by the terms of the (Cornerstone Connections youth resource British North America Act. Popularly magazine, second quarter 1993). called Canada Day, July 1 is a time of In 1994 the Vegetarian Supper Club of patriotic programs and activities. Hagerstown, Maryland, a friendship The Declaration of Independence evangelism group, adapted the play for a Heart to Heart (from British rule) was adopted by the performance in the City Park. This time Ron Watts 2 Continental Congress of the United States dietary options were written into the on July 4, 1776. Flag raisings, parades, script, and the audience was invited to Freedom Rings Eternal 3 and fireworks displays are common attend a vegetarian tasting event follow- "Fourth of July" activities. ing the performance. From that outreach, ADRA Appeal 4 Citizens of the 20 inhabited islands of two members of the community joined Bermuda, a self-governing British colony, the supper club and have maintained ties Canadian Union College 7-11 celebrate the emancipation of African with the club for more than two years. slaves with the Cup Match Celebration. The Pembroke Church in Bermuda Healthwise: Can Anything Judith Kerr tells me that the holiday falls tailors their Cup Match celebrations to Good ... on the last Thursday and Friday before strengthen their members' family life. Raymond 0. West, M.D. 12 the first Monday in August-August 3 and Darrell's Island is a favourite camp site 4, this year. The traditional two-day crick- off the mainland where church members Dr. Kay's Q & A 13 et match will be the main event. refresh themselves in all dimensions, Our celebrations reflect our character rather than get caught up in the secular and values. Allowing for temperament activities of Cup Match. and personality differences, cultural Canadian believers have a various PLUS mores, spiritual health, and personal avenues for outreach open to them dur- agendas, the most interesting distinction ing the holiday. Youth of the Immanuel Christian Record Services 12 between celebrants seems to arise from church in Ontario all ready have a choir Kingsway College