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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-02-02, Page 14OACc ■« «■» Tur PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2000. From the Minister's Study Suffering and death always in the news By Rev. Adrian A. Van Geest Blyth Christian Reformed Church We can’t pick up a newspaper or listen to a news broadcast without being confronted with human suffer­ ing and dying. It may be as a result of an accident or due to domestic violence. It may be because of war­ fare or the outcome of terrorist actions. But suffering and death is always in the news. Not all instances of suffering and death get equal attention in the press. If it happens in North America, it may get front page coverage. But if it takes place in some Third World country it often gets little coverage, even though many more people may suffer and die because of happenings in those places. It also appears that suffering and death resulting from political or mil­ itary action gets far more publicity than the suffering and death resulting from religious persecution. Yet the latter is a major cause of suffering and death in this world. But the sec­ ular press remains mostly silent about that. Being a Christian can oe very cost­ ly to one’s physical and material well-being in most Islamic countries, as it was not so long ago in the Soviet Union. The police will often fail to intervene when Christians are being attacked or their homes are burned down. These acts may not be officially condoned, but the perpe­ trators are rarely brought to justice. And to convert from the Muslim faith to any other religion often means the loss of all rights and makes one subject to the death penalty. Thousands of Christians have been beaten, tortured, jailed, enslaved, murdered, in the last few decades. And in many places the persecution is becoming more severe as time moves on. Dr. Paul Marshall, in his book Their Blood Cries Out docu­ ments this persecution in great detail. It’s nothing new of course that Christians suffer persecution. It began as soon as the apostles openly began to teach about Jesus, that he was raised from the dead and was now the Lord of life. They suffered persecution because they called peo­ ple to repent of their sinful ways and to accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. They proclaimed the truth; that is often hard for people to accept when they are not prepared to seek the truth. The Christians who suffered for their faith in the former Soviet Union or in China, Pakistan, or wherever, were never a threat to their neigh­ bours nor to the cause of justice nor to the well-being of their country. In fact, they were often the most reli­ able citizens. But they were a threat to the powers of darkness that were in command in those places, and therefore they were persecuted so severely. And until the Lord Jesus returns, Christians can expect to see such persecution continue and even esca­ late, because Christians stand on the side of Him who hates ail darkness. But in the end it is the Prince of Peace who will gain the victory over darkness, and those who are not afraid to suffer for walking in the footsteps of Jesus will share in that victory. In the meantime, we who are spared such persecution may not turn a deaf ear to their cries. We ought to pray for them. We should also call on govern­ ments to take up the plight of those who suffer for Christ’s sake. Persecution should never be con­ doned in this world, let alone perse­ cution of those whose sole offense is that they follow Jesus. Wingham hosts Presbyterial Equipped to Serve was the theme for the general meeting of Maitland Presbyterial held in St. Andrew’s Church in Wingham on Jan. 17. Rev. Pearl Vasarhelyi from Holstein brought greetings from Presbytery. Elizabeth Arbuckle introduced Eleanor Ward a retired school teacher from Wingham who works with UFM, the Unevangelized Field Mission in Cuba. She shared her experiences with the people in Santiago de Cuba, Le Habana and Guvimaro. There is 19 per cent literacy in Cuba. The people are very warm and loving. The country is atheist but the Protestant part is growing. The people have food and clothing but they need U.S. funds to provide for their needs. Tourism is an impor­ tant part of the economy and it is constantly growing. Medical sup­ plies are provided by the missionar­ ies and by people who go to work there, building churches and schools. There is one doctor for every 200 people and the abortion rate is at 56.5 per cent. Roll call was answered by about Wingham Hosp. Auxiliary news The Jan. 24 meeting of the Auxiliary to the Wingham and District Hospital was held in the Terrace Room with 15 members present. Helen Daugherty, president, welcomed everyone with a Happy New Year greeting. Speaker Pat Pietrick, Wingham and District Hospital leader of the Rehabilitation Centre was intro­ duced. Pietrick explained many changes in the leadership positions for the Northern System (i.e. Wingham and Listowel Hospitals) for the Huron-Perth Partnership. The positions were outlined and how each served the hospital(s) was explained. Questions from the Auxiliary members were answered. The minutes of the November meeting were read and approved. The decorating committee was thanked for the work at Christmas. Brenda Anger, vice-president, was thanked for presenting the millenni­ um bear to the first baby born at the Wingham Hospital in the year 2000 on behalf of the Hospital Auxiliary. Marion Mackenzie was thanked for the millennium stocking she made in which the first baby was to return home. The Blood Donor Clinic will be held March 9 at F.E. Madill during the afternoon and evening 64 members. Norma Raynard reviewed some new books from the WMS Bookroom. Rev. John Vaudry said grace and lunch was enjoyed. The afternoon session was taken up with the reports of the past year. Lauralee . Cayley and Eileen Chambers shared a dialogue about CGIT and a request was given for donations to the CGIT General Fund for Jamboree 2000. President Norma Raynard gave the invitation to everyone to the spring rally in the Lucknow Presbyterian Church on May 15. The officers for the year were installed by Rev. Cathrine Campbell of Brussels and Belgrave. Erin Crisfield led in the worship, Equipped to Serve. She and her helpers read portions of the Bible and a reading about the Covenant with Cuba. Worship ended with a handwashing ceremony to represent the footwashing of the disciples by Jesus. Officers for 2000 are: honorary president, Mildred Dupont, Belgrave; Erlma Haldenby, Kinlough; president, Shirley McCall, Kincardine; first vice, Marilyn MacIntyre, S. Kinloss; sec­ ond vice, Marjorie Deyell, Belmore treasurer, Eileen Chambers, Ripley; historian, Norma Hartwick, Kincardine. Secretaries are: recording, Mary Wray, Ripley; corresponding, Ethel Baker, Molesworth; adult west, Margaret deBoer, S. Kinloss; adult east, Marjorie Deyell; youth and children, Jean Ross, Whitechurch; Glad Tidings, Isabel Arbuckle, Wingham. Publicity is Joanne Lennips, Lucknow; literature, Norma Raynard, Lucknow; member without portfolio, Agnes Bregman, Teeswater; financial examiners, Edith Simpson, Ashfield; Judy McKenzie, Ashfield. THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA ‘Ijcu (vie welcome thio. Sunday FEBRUARY 6 - EPIPHANY 5 HOLY EUCHARIST Trinity, Blyth St. John's, 9:30 a.m. Brussels Wheelchair accessible 11:15 a.m. Rev. Nancy Beale - Rector - 887-9273 join u& [tn uMn&klp tftib Sunday Morning Worship Service ~ 10 a.m. Evening Worship Service ~ 7:30 p.m. “Whoever believes in the son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him. ” fohn 3:36 BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH i Rev. Adrian A. Van Geest A Hwy. 4, Blyth 523-9233 Wheelchair accessible ij’ Blyth United Church IL Come Worship The Lord With Us Sundays - 11:00 a.m.1 Worship Service & Sunday SchoolftFeb. 6 - Guest Speaker Barb Hicks (Spoony) Feb. 13 - Way Service 7:00 p.m. Minister ~ Rev. Ernest Dow ALL ARE WELCOME SJBfe 523-4224 foil are ‘Welcome at the BLYTH COMMUNITY CHURCH OF GOD 9:45 a.m. - Sunday School for Children and Adults 11:00 a.m. - Morning Worship Bible Studies - Wednesday 10 a.m. & 7:30 p.m. Phone 523-4590 McConnell St., Blyth HURON CHAPEL EVANGELICAL MISSIONARY CHURCH Auburn - 526-7555 PASTOR DAVE WOOD - 523-9017 Sunday Wednesday Friday 8:45 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 11 a.m. 8 p.m. 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Morning Worship Service Family Bible Hour Morning Worship Service Evening Service Family Night (Kids' Club) Youth MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS 11:00 a.m. - Morning Service - Sunday School 9:30 a.m. - Belgrave Service Wheelchair accessible Nursery care available We we/come you to come and worship with us. Rev. Cathrine Campbell - 887-9831 Cornerstone Bible Ethel Communion - 9:45 - 10:30 Family Bible Hour and Sunday School 11:00- 12:00 Prayer & Bible Study Tuesday 8 p.m. John 14:6 - Jesus said, "I am the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE, no one comes to the Father, but through Me." Everyone Welcome For more information call 887-6665 BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA Joan Golden - Supply Minister Church Office 887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wcl.on.ca February 6, 2000 Ethel United Church 9:30 a.m. Brussels United Church 11:00 a.m. February 8th at 7:00 p.m. - “Praying in the Midst of Life” discussion group. All are welcome - Please come and join our learning journey. March 2, 2000 Leap Year Luncheon 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. This will be a hot luncheon for $6.00. Please plan to join us!