Canadian Adventist Messenger for 1985 - Vol. 54

32 Pages·2013·4.57 MB·English

CANADIAN ADVENeTISrT
June 1985
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A
CANADIAN ADVENTIST
essenQer
From The President's Diary
Volume 54, No. 6, June 1985, Oshawa, °titan
G.E. Maxson/Editor
June Polishuk/Associate Editor
Allan Colleran/Art Director
CONFERENCE EDITORS
L. Larsen/Alberta
M. Tetz/British Columbia
D.M. Maclvor/Man.-Sask.
L. Lowe/Maritime
D. Crook/Newfoundland
E.R. Bacchus/Ontario
C. Sabot/Quebec
Official Organ of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada:
President, 3.W. Wilson; Secretary, G.E. Maxson; Treasurer,
N.W. Klam; Departmental Directors: Education, J.D.V. Fitch;
Personal Ministries and Sabbath School, CS. Greene; Ministerial,
W.R Bornstein; Public Affairs, D.D. Devnich; Publishing
W. Ruba; Youth and Stewardship, P.A. Parks; Trust Services,
F. Lloyd Bell; Consultant to Health Care Institutions,
AG. Rodgers. Issued monthly, annual subscription price in Terry and Steve
Canada 45.00. Out of Union $10.00.
Conference Directory
CANADIAN UNION CONFERENCE - J.W. Wilson, President; D
G.E. Maxson, Secretary; N.W. Klam, Treasurer; 1148 King Street
East, Oshawa, Ontario L1H 11-18. [phone].
ALBERTA CONFERENCE — H.S. Larsen, President; W. Olson, O YOU REMEMBER WHEN TERRY FOX took his last
Secretary-Treasurer; Box 5007, Red Deer, Alberta T4N 6A1.
[phone]. excruciatingly, pain-filled, final step on the Trans Canada
BRITISH COLUMBIA CONFERENCE — G.B. DeBoer, President; Highway east of Thunder Bay? In remembrance, that
P. W. Dunham, Secretary, E. Tetz, Treasurer, Box 1000, Abbotsford,
British Columbia V2S 4P5. [phone]. section is now named "The Terry Fox Memorial Highway."
MANITOBA - SASKATCHEWAN CONFERENCE — D.M.
Hardly had his last halting step died away before another, Steve
Maclvor, President; M.D. Suiter, Secretary-Treasurer; 1004 Victoria
Ave., Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N OZ8. [phone]. Fonyo, stepped into the breach. Imaged in our minds eye we see the
MARITIME CONFERENCE — LG. Lowe, President; M. West-
strate, Secretary-Treasurer; 121 Salisbury Rd., Moncton, N.B. E I E determination, resolution and committed mission which irresistibly
1A6. [phone]. compelled these men rhythmically, fortitudinously ever onward.
ONTARIO CONFERENCE — G.W. Morgan, President; 0. Parch-
ment, Secretary; KR. Heinrich, Treasurer, Box 520, Oshawa, Isaiah 35:8-12 captures our imagination, "And our highway shall be
Pierce OQLMUntEa. BrAiEob CeLl IS,H .SD e7.cAMre. 1tCa. Hr(y4U;1 RG6C).5RH7. J1A.- 1SG0Sr2Oa2yC., ITArTeIaOsuNr e—r; 9C4. 0S aCbho.t ,C Phreasmidbelnyt,; thhiegrhew, aanyd i sa nwoat yfo, ra nthde i tu snhcalella bne, bcuatl lfeodr, tThhee r aWnsaoym oef dH aonldin reesds.e"e mTheids
id v LNoEnWguFeOuUilN, QDuLeAbNecD J A4HN D3M L3A.B (R51A4D)6O5R1 -M42I4S0S.I ON OF SEVENTH- who shall walk there.
Da DAY ADVENTISTS — D. Crook, President; B. Christenson, We too have a thrilling mission — the glorious Gospel to all the
otia, by ANecwtinfogu Snedclarnedta ArLyl- CTe r2egNas8au. rl(e7 r0D; 91)05i67r 6F-e4re0cs5ht1w.o artery R oad, St. John's, wwoerreld o. uOru Tr epriroyn Feeorxs., Awnodrk eearcsh a nodf ulasy "menefne,e wblheod haanvdeo dpeafsescetdiv aew aas yit, tmheayy
va Sc Freomr etmheb eirn tfhoer mChautirocnh aonfd m itesm inbsetirtus taionnds finri epnredpsa rwinhgo w wililss ha ntod aHpopleinaer,s"s .i"s , if you please, a Steve Fonyo, traveling the "Highway of
nd, No AAleLgdavBceEineRtsi.Ts tA C ChuOrNchF E- RBEoNx C50E0 C7,O RRePdO DReAeTr,I AONlb eorft ath Te 4SNev 6eAnt1h.- day plaHceesr,e t ow bee a trhee, rae rpeamirenra noft, tpheec burleiaacr hp,e tohpe lree,s ctoarlleerd o tfo p "abthusi ltdo tdhwe ewlla isnt.e"
grou TAHdEve BnRtisITt CIShHu rCcOh L- UP.MOB. BIAo xC O10R0P0O, ARAbbToItOsfNo rodf, tBhe.0 S Vev2eSn t4hP-d5a.y A chosen people for God's last message to earth.
mp MANITOBA CONFERENCE CORPORATION of the Seventh- As with Steve, we shall persevere with resolution, determination
a day Adventist Church - 1004 Victoria Avenue, Saskatoon,
C Saskatchewan, S7N OZ8. and fortitude in completing Matthew's Gospel Commission. The ful-
h MARITIME CONFERENCE CORPORATION of the Seventh-day
s fillment of this mission for each of us, as British Columbia's President,
a Adventist Church Inc. - 121 Salisbury Road, Moncton, N.B. El E
w
g 1A6. Gary DeBoer, commented recently is, "not an option, but a God-given
Pu OANdvTeAnRtisItO C ChOurNchF E- RPE.ON.C BEo xC O52R0P, OORshAaTwIOa,N O onft atrhieo SLe1vHen 7thM-d1a.y responsibility."
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at SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH IN CANADA - 1148 God's remnant world-wide church?
ers SKEinVgE SNtrTeHet- DEaAsYt, OAsDhVawEaN, TOInStTa rCioH LU1RHC 1HH i8n. Newfoundland and Very few churches are world-wide in scope and mission. Most are so
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u 940 Ch Chambly, Longueuil, Quebec J4H 3M3.
o Let us join hands and hearts together to fulfill I Corinthians 2:9, "Eye
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— " Printed by Maracle Press Limited. Second class mail hath not seen, nor ear heard . . ."
o registration number 0912. Address all enquiries to 1148 May I invite you to read the entire article "Our World Church on
hot King Street East, Oshawa, Ontario LIH 1H8. page 3.
P
r ve ISSN 0702-5084
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2 MESSENGER/JUNE 1985
OUR WORLD WIDE CHURCH
(A condensation of the 11:00 a.m. service at the 47th BC Session)
J.W. Wilson
ELEGATES TO BRITISH well as eating and drinking. Let us refrain
COLUMBIA's 47th Session, from going overboard. Keep an open mind
"No matter if
Dvou are a marathon runner. to further information and facts. Before we
You have been running now for about 100 there are hard times, criticize, let's be certain we are qualified to
years, and with every passing year you are criticize. Most critical letters reveal quickly
we must keep positive.
looking bigger and better. that the individual is not qualified to
It was in 1877 that you were organiza- With every trial criticize because of a lack of the necessary
tionally linked with Washington and Oregon facts to pronounce an opinion.
and setback, there can
to become the North Pacific Conference. In Did you hear of the man who claimed to
1886, a comment was recorded in the B.C. come blessings." love his family and then ran an ad in the
legislature, "There are some people in this paper publishing all the faults and failures
province who honestly believe that our of his wife and children? Love covers, love
Saturday was the real original Sunday." protects, love cherishes, love wants the
By 1887, the first visible entity in B.C. theirs, the Holy Spirit is sent to make that object of its affection to look good.
was the North Pacific Tract and Missionary faith a fact. If we love the church, the total spectrum
Society. Pitched tents in numerous centers In Inter America, 65% of the baptisms of our thinking will not be caught up in
magnetically drew thousands to the per- have come directly from laymen's work. doubting, blaming and bad-mouthing what
ceived "circus." They found bears, lions, Zechariah 4:6 says it all. "Not by might, not the church may do. Some people would
leopards, goats and dragons — our first by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of have us think that a recession hit heaven.
Revelation Seminar! hosts." Let's catch our second wind and It is thrilling to see God take hold and do
In December of 1889 the Victoria Daily Fonyo our way to the finish line. with ease that which seems to be im-
Times recorded that the Adventists had The affluent 70's are behind us. The mid- possible. The church is God's organization.
purchased a lot, and the church built in 80's are here with myriads of challenges. The problem is that it is filled with human
Victoria was the first Adventist Church in What we do here in this 47th Session will beings and is operated by imperfect mortals.
Western Canada. demand the best of our spiritual and moral We need to keep the church close to
The following year, 1890, evangelists energies, our finest skills and talents and Jesus.
were busy opening up the work in Van- our resources. Ridding the church of sinners will not
couver and by 1899 the"saints" in Nanaimo When the challenges come, we must not clean it up nearly as much as it will clean it
were busy protesting, of all things, Saturday let ourselves by psyched into turning upon out. The church is for strength, salvation,
elections. ourselves and accepting the status quo or hope and love.
The second B.C. Session was held in even defeat. In Matthew 25 the one talent man was
Penticton June 8-18, 1922. By this time The revival of our spirits here today condemned because he didn't invest his
there were 17 churches, such as Victoria, have to be more than a muscle spasm. No money. As a rule, the church has been
Nanaimo, Nelson, White Rock, Vernon, matter if there are hard times, we must keep known for its prudent and wise invest-
Kelowna plus three in Vancouver. A year positive. With every trial and setback, there ments. In the business world, the church
later Armstrong, Bella Coola, Rest Haven can come blessings. enjoys a "blue chip" reputation.
and Silver Creek were marvelously added. No matter what, God still lives and is still Do you know why? Because the church
Parallel accounts could he recounted for upon His throne. Hope for the best, prepare does not default. We stand by our commit-
every conference across Canada. Every for the worst and take what comes with a ments. We pay our bills. We do, learn from
union, every division has its cherished grin. A balanced attitude toward life requires our mistakes. We do become stronger and
heritage. We are so grateful for the direction a sense of humour. wiser. Do we really feel good down deep
given in I Corinthians 12. That counsel has Lincoln knew that people thought he when we turn away from appeals for time,
preserved the unity of our World Wide was homely. In debate, Stephen Douglas talent, and treasure to help finish God's
Church and led us into the 1,000 Days of called Lincoln two faced. His reply, "Now I work?
Reaping. leave it with my audience, if I had another The best investment is still in the Lord's
Only heaven's approval could ever have face, do you think I would wear this work. One banker said, "No one is perfect.
given credence to receiving 1,000,000 new one!" Some you win, some you lose. I just wish I
members in the body of Christ in 1,000 Disappointments and frustrations come owned a bank with the same SDA on it!"
Days. Victory is here and the General and go, but God still rules in the heavens. "The truth is soon to triumph gloriously
Conference Session now tells us to what Totally dedicated, wholly committed, the and all who now choose to be labourers
extent. Christian can bear anything in the name of together with God will triumph with it." 9T
The great evangelistic victories of the Christ because we have His sure and 135.
1,000 Days were not possible in past years. eternal promise. The Lord inquires, "Whom shall I send?"
We believe that when God's children We are counselled to be "temperate in Those who sacrifice for the truth's sake
accept the belief that great conquests can be all things," and this includes attitudes as reply, "Here am I send me!"
MESSENGER/ JUNE 1985 3
Each summer, over 200 Canadian young people attend our blind camps.TT
Here is how one camper felt: "I've enjoyed going to the camp each year.
you people have made me feel very happy and joyful."
What Pastor
Vandeman
Attacked:
Would
Pastor George Vandeman, speaker
of the Seventh-day Adventist tele-
cast, IT IS WRITTEN, was injured
You Say?
during an attack at his home, April
11. He was treated at a nearby
hospital and released after 24 hours
of observation. Physical injuries
were not severe.
Pastor Vandeman's son, Ron, is
in custody in connection with the
R.D. Pifer
incident. He has suffered from a
Manager, Canadian Operations, Christian Record Braille Foundation
condition for the past 22 years
0 which has been controlled by
medication. Following a bout with
NCE EACH YEAR IN camp each year ... You people have made hepatitis in March, a physician
EARLY JULY, the corporate me feel very happy and joyful." Much of
removed his regular medication.
Church of the North Amer- that inspiration, we willingly share with the
Ron was staying at his parents
ican Division is invited to participate in the dedicated staff who operate each of the
operation of Christian Record Braille camps whose facilities we use. home in Thousand Oaks, California,
Foundation. All gifts received from this Last summer, it was my pleasure to at the time of the incident. Prompt
source are placed in a special account to attend the northernmost chapter of NCBC - intervention by a long-time family
fund the preparation of: at Tukoskoye in Alaska. While not in our
friend, Harold Reiner, who pro-
Doctrinal Bible Correspondence Union it is a neighbour, and we wish to
Courses close this article by sharing a poem written videntially drove by as the incident
Publication of Review and Herald in by Tom Wilkinson, RN. who served as our occurred, calmed the son.
braille Camp Nurse there. Here is his thought Pastor and Mrs. Vandeman are
Publication of Sabbath School lessons in provoking verse: deeply thankful for the outpouring
braille or records of love and concern from friends
Other miscellaneous church related WHO IS BLIND?
around the world.
materials
I have met someone who is blind
This year, 1985, as we invite you to share This has raised a question in my mind.
your portion of the Lord's storehouse with Why Dear Lord Can't they see? LEGAL NOTICE
CRBF, we would like, in turn, to share some This is the answer He gave to me: MARITIME CONFERENCE
of the scores of comments received with last They're not Blind - COPORATION OF THE
year's offering. But it's you. SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
From Ontario - "May our dear God For you can't see what is true.
bless all the great work you are doing." They need not see things of This earth, Notice is hereby given that a special
From Manitoba - "My 84 year old sister For there is little here of worth. general meeting of the Maritime Conference
gave me a gift of $20.00. Since I'm getting a But they see with their hearts; Corporation of the Seventh-day Adventist
pension, I'm sending her gift on to you." Not the outside of men, Church Incorporated will be held at the
From Alberta - "Here's my gift to help But the inner parts. Seventh-day Adventist Campground at
you who are helping the blind so much. Thus they can see what you cannot. Pugwash, N.S. on the 28th day of July 1985
May God bless you." And they remember things at the hour of 1:30 p.m. Atlantic Standard
From B.C. - "In tribute to those who That you've forgot: Time.
gave of themselves that our disabled loved The songs of birds The purpose of the session is as follows:
ones could live happier, healthier lives." And the wind. (1) to elect the board of directors for the
And this interesting letter "... so this The laughter and voice of a friend. ensuing term
tiyem (time) sending this gifth (gift) with a So don't you say (2) to amend the constitution
prayer That God Blessem (will bless them "They cannot see" (3) to transact such other business as
and mutlyplyem (multiply them) To His Their hearts see more than thee. may come before the Corporation.
Glory." How I would like to be able to Members of the Corporation are the
express myself so eloquently in a language It is our joy and pleasure to be able to members of the Maritime Conference
that is not my mother tongue! conduct the ever growing work of CRBF for Executive Committee, licensed and cre-
An important feature of CRBF for nearly the more than 5000 Canadians currently dentialed ministers and first elders of all
20 years is National Camps for Blind receiving our services. It is also our joy to duly organized S.D.A. Churches in the
Children. Each summer, over 200 Canadian see the ever growing response from the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia
young people (another 1500 attend in the readers of Messenger in support of these and Prince Edward Island.
U.S.) attend our blind camps. Here is how services. We wish God's richest blessing on LG. Lowe, president
one camper felt: "I've enjoyed going to the each one of you. Matt. Weststrate, secretary-treasurer
MESSENGER/JUNE 1985 5
SEVEN DAYS AFTER THE EQUALITY SECTION (15) of the Canadian
D. Douglas Devnich
Charter of Rights and Freedoms came into force on April 17, 1985, the
Supreme Court of Canada performed its crowning act of justice by
upholding the freedom of conscience and religion as prescribed in the
Constitution Act.
In the unanimous decision
RECOUNTING of April 24, 1985, the
Justices of the Supreme
sE
Court ruled that the Lord's
(cid:9)
THE DEMI Day Act, 1.907 is uisn c fo nstit(cid:9)utional an d n o
longer any fforce or effect.
'S icn Aandavdean tistchur c h
Since 1981 the Seventh-

CANADA day
i(cid:9)
has trained
AN
i ts eye on developments
A e
arising out of a resurgence of
SUNDAY L
nforcement and, at the same time,
opposition to Sunday legislation in
Canada. Retail businesses across the land began to defy the archaic law
of 1907; counter actions were taken by trade unionism, religionists
and "do-gooders" to stop the trend toward "secularizing" Sunday. A
multitude of court actions were initiated to penalize violators of
Sunday observance in an effort to stop the presumed erosion of family
life; to stop the growing threat against labour interest and to prevent a
further weakening of the citizens' commitment to Sunday quietude in
church and at home.
Quietly, but forthrightly, the Adventist Church through its Public
Affairs office asserted itself to elucidate in the courts and legislatures
the real issues at stake — the preservation of freedom of religion and
the disentanglement of the State from the affairs which belong to the
Church. Now, the longstanding position of Adventism in the matter of
religious freedom and the consequential offensiveness of Sunday laws
to that principle, has been vindicated by Canada's highest court of
justice.
Chief Justice Brian Dickson who wrote the decision, firmly
addressed those who have insisted that a national Sunday law is
appropriate in Canada. He said,
"To accept that Parliament retains the right to compel universal
observance of the day of rest preferred by one religion is not
consistent with the preservation and enhancement of the multi-
cultural heritage of Canadians."
Then as if to nail down the court's decision securely, he emphasized
that the Act creates a climate hostile to, and gives the appearance of
discrimination against those Canadians who observe a day other than
Sunday.
Perhaps the consummate statement on Church-State relations
given by the Court is this:
"What may appear good and true to a majoritarian religious group,
or to the state acting at their behest, may not, for religious reasons,
be imposed upon citizens who take a contrary view. The Charter
safeguards religious minorities from the threat of 'the tyranny of the
majority.' "
On the point of defining the meaning of freedom of religion, a
matter of great importance in applying the Charter of Rights and
6 MESSENGER/JUNE 1985
and his representation of the Seventh-
Freedoms, the Court was profound in its
day Adventist Church. The lawyer,
clarity.
nearly dumbfounded, then stood in his
"A truly free society is one which
place to report that he was not there to
can accommodate a wide variety of
represent the Church and that he
beliefs, diversity of tastes and pur-
would need permission to do so since
suits, customs and codes of conduct.
the Church had earlier been denied
A free society is one which aims at
standing. In what seemed to_ be an
equality with respect to the enjoy-
unprecedented development, the Chief
ment of fundamental freedoms and I
Justice then adjourned the court and
say this without any reliance upon
We wait, suggested to the lawyer that he obtain
s.15 of the Charter. Freedom must
the necessary permission to represent
surely be founded in respect for the we pray, we work the Church for when the Court would
inherent dignity and the inviolable
resume in session the next morning.
rights of the human person. The and we praise
Adventists well recall the outcome
essence of the concept of freedom of
of the case in Alberta, particularly as
religion is the right to entertain such God
Justice Laycraft wrote on behalf of the
religious beliefs as a person chooses,
for liberty of court that the Lord's Day Act is incon-
the right to declare religious beliefs
sistent with the Canadian Charter of
openly and without fear of hin- conscience
Rights and Freedoms.
drance or reprisal, and the right to
Despite the indications of the judicial
manifest religious belief by worship today in our
assessment that the impugned Act was
and practice or by teaching and
land. an infringement of religious freedom,
dissemination. But the concept
contrary interests appealed the decision
means more than that.
Once again to the Supreme Court of Canada. For a
"Freedom can primarily be char-
full year the Court deliberated on the
acterized by the absence of coercion we may sing our
matter. During that time the former
or constraint. If a person is com-
national anthem Justice Roland Ritchie retired from the
pelled by the state or the will of
Court and did not participate in the
another to a course of action or
one step higher final decision as we now have it. He of
inaction which he would not other-
course was the one who had written
wise have chosen, he is not acting of "God keep our land,
the 1963 judgment in the matter of the
his own volition and he cannot be
Lord's Day Act, that it merely imposed a
said to be truly free. One of the glorious and
business inconvenience on non-Sunday
major purposes of the Charter is to
free!" observers and thus he declared it to be
protect, within reason, from com-
valid law in Canada.
pulsion or restraint. Coercion in-
Providentially, and in God's own
cludes not only such blatant forms of
way and wisdom the affairs of state
compulsion as direct commands to
and law have been ordered so as to give
act or refrain from acting on pain of
many an opportunity to think about the
sanction, coercion includes indirect
meaning of this oft-contentious subject
forms of control which determine or
Some have been led to consider which
limit alternative courses of conduct
day is truly the Lord's Day. Some have
available to others. Freedom in a
repudiated clear evidence that the
broad sense embraces both the
Holy Sabbath is indeed the Seventh-
absence of coercion and constraint,
possibly opposite outcome. day of the week. Others remain even
and the right to manifest beliefs and
We now remember how the strongest still, confused, uncertain, and unwary.
practices. Freedom means that,
case in Alberta (The Queen v. W.H. The end of the story has not been
subject to such limitations as are
Smith et. al.) was strangely subverted told. The future promises more debate
necessary to protect public safety,
by an unexpected case (The Queen v. and controversy. The provinces must
order, health, or morals or the
Big M. Drug Mart) in which the Church yet decide how to relate to provincial
fundamental rights and freedoms of
had no opportunity for input at the laws which achieve the same objects as
others, no one is to be forced to act in
lower court level. Then came the did the bygone and now infamous
a way contrary to his beliefs or his
consolidation of many cases under the federal Act of 1907. Another court
conscience."
heading of Big M. The first attempt to case in Ontario is on application to the
This magnificent decision of the intervene in the Appeal Court of Supreme Court of Canada. The question
Supreme Court of Canada stands out, Alberta turned back on the Church as a there is whether or not the Ontario law
perhaps in all the world, as the most great disappointment. We feared that respecting Sunday closing based on a
decisive in pronouncing that religious the important issues would be over- special purpose is valid at all.
liberty is the cornerstone of our looked — so we prayed. We wait, we pray, we work and we
freedoms. It comes at the end of many The Court was in session. The praise God for liberty of conscience
agonizing moments, especially for Seventh-day Adventist perspective was today in our land. Once again we may
Adventists who understood for the last missing. Suddenly, the Chief Justice of sing our national anthem one step
four years how delicately tenuous the the Appeal Court spoke to one of the higher "God keep our land, glorious
issue has been with respect to a lawyers in the court; welcomed him and free!"
MESSENGER/JUNE 1985 7
The
Calgary
Fire Department
responded at
approximately
9:24 a.m. . . .
The School Burned
but God Saved His Children
J.D.V. Fitch
Director of Education, Canadian Union Conference
On the morning of March 21, 1985 resource persons.
school started at 8:55 as usual with morning "The public concern has been over-
worship in each classroom at the Calgary whelming." says Mrs. Stanwick "All through
Seventh-day Adventist school. All students the afternoon we received offers of accom-
and staff were on the main floor of the modation, transportation and other assistance.
building. It seems that a tragedy always brings out the
About 9:05 Roger Triebwasser, Grade best in people."
10 teacher, thought he smelled smoke. He During the nine days following the fire
left his classroom to check a stock room and "All the Board and staff of the Calgary Seventh-
a storage room. He also informed the day Adventist School worked long and
Building Superintendent, Mike Paige, of hard to make interim arrangements to
through
the strange odor. He returned to his class to continue the education of the children.
administer a quiz. Looking up, he noticed Only 7 days of school were lost due to the
smoke seeping through the door at the rear the afternoon fire. The Board was able to sign a lease
of the classroom. He immediately sent a agreement with the Calgary Separate
student to press the fire alarm and ordered School District #1 for use of the St. Annes
we received
his students to leave the classroom imme- School at 1010-21st Ave. S.E. until June 30,
diately. 1985.
Almost simultaneously, a student in the offers of The Board, staff, students and church
Grade 5/6 classroom noticed a certain members heart's have been touched by the
"glow" in the gym as he looked out the rear accommodation, compassionate response received from the
door of the classroom which overlooked education community and the community
the upper portion of the east end of the at large. They wish to express sincere
gym. He then called to his teacher, "Mr. transportation appreciation to:
Bugden, the gym is on fire." Mr. Bugden Mr. Graeme Proudfoot and Mr. Gerry
gave immediate orders for his class to and other Arshinoff of the Calgary School Board;
evacuate and went to the hall to call Deputy Police Chief Jim Beatty; Mr.
"FIRE." Graham Douglass, a private developer
assistance."
Almost immediately all the classrooms in Calgary; Mr. Michael Chan and Mr.
filled with thick black smoke. Rob Groves of the Calgary Separate
"The evacuation proceeded exactly the School District #1; and Petro Canada,
way we had rehearsed it in our fire drills," Esso and Gulf Canada Resources for
said principal Dallas Weis. "We are espe- their generous contributions.
cially proud of our students who showed Although the building was insured,
no panic and offered no complaints." The the cost of re-building could be staggering
Board made special mention of two students, due to increased costs of material and
Dwayne Higgins and Stephan Krahmer, labour. Some things, of course, can never be
who carried out their assignments without replaced such as the accumulation of
hesitation. It was their job during all fire personal teaching aids which teachers had
drills to assist a physically handicapped 17 firemen responded to the call. RCMP gathered throughout the years.
classmate out of the building. and City Police were also soon at the Yes, the school building burned, but
Within minutes the building was en- scene. thanks be to God for the protection of the
gulfed in flames. The heat from the fire was The manager of Westward Inn, located children and staff. There is another fire
intense. less than a half mile from the school on Hwy. coming at the end of time. May all of our
The Calgary Fire Department responded 1, opened the doors of the Inn to the staff children receive an education which will
at approximately 9:24 and requested and students. prepare them to also escape that awful
assistance from the Rockyview Fire De- At the Board Meeting on March 21 a destruction. Let us all continue to pray for
partment. They did what they could, but the Search Committee was established to find our brothers and sisters in Calgary and for
heat was so intense and truck water supply an alternate location for the school. Annette all of our children.
was limited. The wind blew the intense heat Stanwick was appointed the official spokes-
over the cistern and attempts to control the person for the media with Peter Miller, The information in this article was taken from news
fire were useless. A total of 9 fire trucks and lawyer, and Dallas Weis, principal, as release articles written by Annette Stanwick.
MESSENGER/JUNE 1985 9
yes
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.v,‘,‘AvN V31. Ce\e‘°4a
Pastor and
Mrs. William A. Fagal,
elm(cid:9) founders of the Faith For
Today telecast. Faith For Today
is both the oldest Seventh-day
Adventist telecast and the longest running
religious program on television.
IY offered on the program. Faith For Today decision was made to begin on film. For a
had no Bible Correspondence School, so time this doubled the workload instead of
the requests were routed to other Bible easing it, as both a live and filmed program
Schools operating in areas where the had to be done each week until several
Jeff Wilson people lived. Because of this, it wasn't until filmed ones were completed. Now mistakes
a year later that the Fagals learned about the could be edited out and programs repeated
Public Relations Director Farrar family. They had watched the very as needed.
first program and written for the lessons. Compared with radio, producing and
After studying, the whole family had been airing a television program has always been
F baptized. It wasn't long until the Faith For a very expensive matter. As the number of
AITH FOR TODAY, THE SEV- Today Bible Correspondence School was homes with television sets increased, station
ENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH'S born to give each viewer personal attention. managers felt growing pressure to up their
irst television ministry, marked In December of 1950 the ABC network profits. With some stations raising their
its 35th birthday on May 21. According to began airing the Faith For Today telecast rates as much as 200 percent in one jump,
founders William and Virginia Fagal, when coast-to-coast. Gradually other stations Faith For Today's expenses were rising
they first began, no one ever dreamed that were added. Requests for Bible lessons and faster than income. For a time the crisis
one day Faith For Today would be the other booklets increased steadily. grew. About the same time, unknown to the
longest-running religious program in the By 1956 the pressure of producing a new Fagals, three Adventist pastors in upstate
history of television. show live every week was taking its toll on New York approached the management of
A lot was at stake when Faith For Today the Fagals and their dedicated staff, and the one station with a special request. Would
first went on the air back in 1950. Television they air the program free? To everyone's
was still in its infancy. Adventist television surprise, they did! Soon other stations
evangelism was only a dream in the minds around the country were approached with
of a few. Church leaders were asking for a the same request, and a number of them put
lot when they invited Pastor Fagal to do the Faith For Today on the air free of charge. By
job. 1962 even WABC, Faith For Today's original
Besides starting a new television ministry, station, had agreed to air the program at no
Fagal was also pastor of the Washington cost. Today, the air time on WABC alone is a
Avenue Church in Brooklyn, New York, gift — worth a quarter of a million dollars a
and speaker on a weekly radio program. year. Faith For Today receives more free air
But, lacking experience in television, he time each year across the country than any
sought the counsel of the staff at ABC who other Adventist telecast.
would be helping produce the program. Faith For Today's growth continued
"Don't preach," they told him. "Tell stories with the move to Thousand Oaks, California,
instead." Thus the decision was made to use in 1972 to become part of the Adventist
living parables — dramatic skits — to Media Center. It was on the huge new
illustrate scriptural points. Pastor and Mrs. sound stage at the Media Center that the
Fagal would close the program with a short award-winning weekly series, "Westbrook
sermonette completing the point made by Hospital," and other programs were filmed.
the skit. Pastor and Mrs. Fagal retired in 1980,
Sixty-six letters arrived that first week — handing over the guidance of Faith For
each requesting the free Bible lessons Pastor Dan Matthews, host of Faith For Today. Today to Elder Dan Matthews. They remain
(cid:9)
Continued on page 14
10(cid:9) MESSENGER/JUNE 1985