Maritime Pulse Page 4 December 2014 Education play room, a teaching kitchen and drama room. When Paul Llewellyn, Superintendent finished the church will have a beautiful school house for their children to come together to learn (lets face it—one Fredericton Home School of the best teachers a child can have is their own parent!). One of the great privileges of working for our confer- One neat aspect of the school is that the teaching kitchen ence in the Education Dept is that you get to see first- will double as a classroom for health classes that the church hand the wonderful benefits of Christian Education. I will put on in the future. In fact, the whole school house will get really excited when I see parents doing everything be a wonderful neutral ground for community people to come they can to give their children the best Christian in and take classes and learn about healthy lifestyles and education they can. Here is a great example of parents other such helpful courses. and a church putting their full resources forward to The home school group is already making inroads and a give their kids a great Christian education. name for themselves with other home school groups in the The Fredericton church has taken a novel approach Fredericton area. Please keep them in your prayers as they to having a school for their church. The church has a reach out to the community and as they move forward with number of parents that are homeschooling their own giving their children a great Christian Education. children and wanted to see if it would be possible to If you would like more information on this endeavour please have a school of their own. Knowing that the Maritime contact Mallory Bulmer via her Facebook page. Conference is on a very tight budget they proceeded to move forward to give their kids the best Christian Sandy Lake has been very busy this school year. I will let education that they could. them fill you in on all the details. Thank you to Heather D. The families that are home schooling now meet Harrington for putting together the news.  together in the former Community Service building News From Sandy Lake Academy directly across the parking lot from the church. They 40th Anniversary and Alumni Weekend come together every school day so that their children ―The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled (all relatively close in age) can enjoy school together. with joy‖ (Psalm 126:3). Each parent takes turns teaching and monitoring the Sandy Lake Academy‘s 40th Anniversary and Alumni Weekend classroom and the kids get the opportunity to play held October 3-5 was an amazing, uplifting event! It was a and learn together in a well-supervised learning time of looking back at what the Lord has accomplished in our environment. Adventist academy in as well as a time of looking The small group of parents along with help from forward to continued Christian education for our youth. the church is renovating the old Community Service Elder Gordon Pifher, a building to be a school for their kids. They have a class- founding minister from room in which they meet in already and are building a the Bridgewater district, was the guest speaker for the weekend. On Friday evening, his message emphasized that when God‘s children have a vision and the Lord is behind it, they will begin experiencing many miracles and lives will be changed. He alluded to the story of the paralytic whose friends were willing to do anything, even dismantle a roof, to help their friend meet Jesus. He challenged each attendee with the question, ―Are we so confident that our children will meet Jesus in a very special way at SLA that we are willing to do anything to enable our children to attend?‖ Elder Pifher continued, ―We are celebrating that for 40 years people have said, ‗Whatever it takes— we want our kids at SLA.‘ Hundreds of kids have heard the good news about Jesus. If we want our kids to see a picture of Jesus, God Maritime Pulse Page 5 December 2014 will work miracles to make it happen. When Jesus give dreams and visions. He is continuing to do this at SLA. Lives saw the man at His feet, He said the man would be healed, in part, because of the faith of his friends. have been and are being changed! In conclusion, SLA teachers, Viktoria Brunets and Kristii Rasmussen, played a beautiful violin Jesus looks at the faith of our founders and duet accompanied by Kay Graça. supporters and says, ‗Because of your faith, I A thrilling interview with two of SLA‘s founders, Melvin will perform miracles.‘ ‖ Two lovely musical numbers completed the evening. Boutilier and Verena Longard, revealed many miracles that took place in establishing our school. It all began in 1927 as a church Bill Gay, a long-time supporter of SLA, shared a school in the basement of the Halifax SDA Church with a small beautiful rendition of ―When Jesus Passes By.‖ And enrolment and one teacher. With the nurturing of Pastor Fred the gym resonated with the Slaunwhite family‘s breathtaking harmony as they sang ―When the Roll Crump and school board chairman, Melvin Boutilier, the school grew to 43 children and three teachers by 1970. Elder Percy Is Called Up Yonder.‖ Various members of the Manuel, head of the Department of Education for , Slaunwhite family have attended SLA since it strongly encouraged that a better facility be procured, as the opened 40 years ago. Victor Chant, who has been involved in education church basement was bulging at the seams. After much searching, Elder Manuel located the current for 62 years and is a former SLA principal, presented property of 52 acres on Hammonds Plains Road, bordering Sandy a wonderful Sabbath school lesson highlighting the Lake, not far from Bedford, in Halifax Regional Municipality. truth that Christ crucified is what changes people. He also pointed out James‘ teaching that we must Through a series of miraculous events over a one-and-a half- year period, Mrs. Lively, who was not eager to sell her property, live righteousness by faith—not just know it! came around to being willing to sell her property for $100,000 Following the Sabbath school program, SLA‘s Master- to establish Sandy Lake Academy. Melvin shared that the Halifax Peace choir performed a beautiful hymn of church board gave him a cheque for $10,000. He had no idea consecration, and the elementary group sang ―He‘s Able.‖ where he would find the other $90,000 within 30 days. President Jim Wilson, Floyd Coolen and Melvin stood on the point and During the worship service, Gordon Pifher shared prayed that God would make it possible to purchase the property. that Christian education is only strong when we put Just days later, in an unscheduled Kingsway board meeting, into place big dreams and aspirations. SLA is a living demonstration that God is good. It is living proof Melvin was presented with a cheque for $90,000. The General Conference had earmarked these funds for Canada and they had that ―If God be for us, who can be against us?‖ become available at exactly the right time! The foundation was (Romans 8:31). SLA is a growing, dynamic school. poured, and a year later when they were ready to begin building, It is a mission field in which to share the good news of salvation with the world. Just as God placed the they were informed that there was a steel shortage in Canada. It would be a 14-month wait to obtain steel. Miraculously, there right people at the right time to establish SLA, He was a cancellation for a steel order and the company bumped will continue to place the right people at the right SLA‘s order to Number 3. Two and a half weeks later the steel place at the right time to make sure that His work is carried out. Referring to 1 Samuel 17, Pifher was delivered! Two years later, in 1974, the building was completed and the first classes were held in the new school. declared that God placed David specifically to fight In 1975, the dedication took place with Sandy Lake Academy the giant and He will send the right people to fight operating as a full-fledged 12-grade academy with five teachers. SLA‘s giants. If we are aggressive in defeating the giants against Christian education, God is with us. Verena‘s responsibility as chairlady of the Founding Finance Committee was largely to raise funds to build the school. She No other can be victorious when God is on our side! and Thelma Boutilier began catering wedding receptions. Verena In closing, he challenged everyone at SLA to love as also sold Regal products, sold a cook book, held auctions and God loves. The power of love will grow any class- room and school for God. He earnestly encouraged organized bake sales. At one event, in a bidding war, she sold a lemon pie for $500! To raise funds to build the dormitory, pop each one to ―keep your eyes on Jesus. With your cans were collected which brought in $10,000. The estimated eyes on Him, you can never fail.‖ cost of building the school was $1,000,000, but it only cost This message was complemented by two stirring $268,000 which was paid off in just three years! musical selections performed by Sandy Lake Academy students. The elementary students sang about Principal Chris Dupuis also presented SLA‘s exciting and challenging vision for future growth within the five pillars of Samuel willingly answering God‘s call and Master- SLA‘s mission: Peace choir shared an inspiring piece ―Behold, He • Extraordinary Spiritual Program Cometh!‖ The offering collected on Sabbath to help establish the new Junior Primary program totalled • Exceptional Academic Program • Outstanding Music Program $1,000.00! • Excellent Practical Skills Program At sundown, in a short worship thought to close • Terrific Health and Fitness Program the Sabbath, Gordon Pifher quoted Acts 2:17, ―I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh…your young men Although Sandy Lake Academy faces giant obstacles, as David faced Goliath, we are assured that ―If God is for us, who can be will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.‖ against us!‖ (Romans 8:31). Chris Dupuis quoted Jeremiah 29:11, He reassured us that although keeping a vision alive ―For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to is not easy; in these last days God will continue to Maritime Pulse Page 6 December 2014 prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope Grade 12 Trip to CUC and a future.‖ Bill Gay sang a lovely song he composed, As is our annual custom, the Grade 12s at Sandy Lake high-lighting the miracles at SLA. In closing prayer, Robert Academy planned a trip to Canadian University College Beanlands, secretary of the Founding Finance Committee, (CUC) for College Days, Oct. 26-29. Navigating the air- reminded attendees that we have nothing to fear for the ports at unearthly hours only added to the overall en- future, unless we forget how we‘ve been lead in the past. joyment of the journey. When we arrived in , The weekend culminated in loads of fun activities, enter- a bus was there to greet us, as well as students from a taining games and tasty food at the SLA Fall Carnival. couple other SDA schools. Our first experience in Eager participants crowded into the gym to enjoy numerous was a shopping adventure at West Edmonton activities including face painting, throwing wet sponges at Mall. Once all had spent their fortunes, we continued to friends and competing in a washer toss game. Many thanks CUC where we enjoyed a delicious meal with welcoming go to John and Dawn Graves for the incredible amount of dorm residents. The next few days consisted of lectures, work and planning they put into this event! In all, $900.00 activities and social opportunities to help us get a feel was raised for SLA‘s spring mission trip! for what university life would be like. As our visit came We would also like to say a big thank you to each one who to an end and we drove to airport, we reflected attended and participated in the 40th Anniversary celebration! on our CUC experience. We returned home with a more Junior Primary Program optimistic and educated view of a future at Canadian Our Junior Primary program is thriving and debt-free! University College. -–David Tingley, Gr. 12 The cost of implementing this new program has been Grade 11 Field Trips completely covered through generous donations! God is On Oct. 28, the Grade 11 students and some of the blessing our school! Grade 12 students who didn‘t attend College Days at Annual Fall Fun Fest CUC, visited the Community College water- On Oct. 17, SLA held its Annual Fall Fun Fest. For our first front campus and the NSCC campus in Dartmouth. activity, we were given half a paper plate to color and They also visited a corn maze in Truro where they paper legs and other shapes to make turkey hats. courageously searched for a way through the maze in the chilly rain. Then, on Nov. 14, the Grade 11 class toured Mount St. Vincent University‘s campus. These trips were great and gave us a glimpse of how much these colleges offer so close to home. --Kyleigh Harrington, Gr. 11 Operation Christmas Child

We then divided into groups and participated in an obstacle course. The goal was to get across the course as fast as possible. Each person had to crawl under a table, roll over several times, bounce a ping pong ball on a paddle three times and reach into a slimy pumpkin to dig out a plastic chip before racing back to the start line to drop Every Christmas, Sandy Lake Academy the chip into a bowl for their team. It was really enter- taining and we all had a great time! I‘m already participates in a school outreach project. looking forward to next year‘s Fall Fun Fest. This year the students and area SDA --Samara Belhomme, Gr. 10 churches were invited to support Week of Prayer Operation Christmas Child. A total of SLA‘s Week of Prayer was held October 20-23, 92 shoe boxes filled with toys and useful 2014. Pastor Kevin Scott read to us from the children‘s items were contributed! It is Gospels every day and spoke to us about Jesus‘ marvellous that so many young lives last week on earth. We learned about Jesus as will be impacted by these thoughtful a king, a servant, a friend and comforter, and gifts. Thank you to each one who a falsely accused man. Week of Prayer was a helped us provide a special great learning experience! Pastor Scott Christmas to others around presented a very interesting and intriguing the world! worship thought each day. He did an amazing job of telling us about Jesus‘ last week. -–Hope Dorey, Gr. 10 Maritime Pulse Page 7 December 2014 MasterPeace Bell Choir Performance The senior MasterPeace Bell Choir performed at the Full Gospel Church in Bedford twice in November. The first performance on Nov. 4 was for a seniors‘ dinner for 100 guests. Both bell choirs were invited to play for the chil- dren‘s club‘s Christmas program on Nov. 26. One woman, who attended the seniors‘ dinner, was so impressed with the bell choirs that she arranged for them to play at her home church, Faith Community Christian Reform Church, in Milford on Dec. 5. The bell choirs are looking forward to visiting four more churches before Christmas. They will be at New Minas and Mid- dleton churches on December 6. The following If you are interested in Online Education for your child, Sabbath, December 13, they will perform at please consider the following options that are sponsored New Glasgow and Truro churches. through a limited scholarship at the Maritime Conference SLA Christmas Concert at up to grade 9. For more information on the scholarships Bedford Place Mall (see pg 10 for the scholarship application form), please On Sunday, Dec. 14, at 2:00 p.m. Sandy contact: Jullie Bannister at the Conference office. Lake Academy students will present their Prairie Adventist Christian eSchool Christmas program at Bedford Place Mall. www.pacescanada.org We are excited about this opportunity to West Coast Adventist School Canada reach out to the community! www.wcascdl.ca Info packages available at the conference office for West Coast Adventist School Canada. SLA Annual Christmas Concert Sandy Lake Academy invites you to celebrate the birth of our Saviour at our Annual Christmas Concert on

Thursday, December 18, at 7:00 p.m.

This program will feature: the choir, bell choirs, orchestra and Elementary Christmas skit!

We hope to see you there! 

Maritime Pulse Page 8 December 2014

Maritime Pulse Page 9 December 2014