wfn.org | "People with a Deadline with Hope to Share"

[APD <APD_Info_Schweiz@compuserve.com>]

July 2,2000
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schäffler, Editor-in-chief
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland 
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
www.stanet.ch/APD/2000/GK 

Adventists: "People with a Deadline with Hope to 
Share"

Toronto, Canada, 02.07.2000/ANN/APD      An 
estimated 50,000 Seventh-day Adventist Church 
members and visitors streamed into the Toronto 
SkyDome on  July 1, to participate in a morning of 
music, worship and fellowship.	

"We come from the four corners of the Earth," said 
Pastor Robert Kloosterhuis, a General Conference 
General Vice President, during the invocation. "We 
have come from Asia, the islands of the sea, Africa, 
Europe, the Americas. And we thank You for the work 
of the Holy Spirit in all the countries of the world."

The diversity of the global Adventist Church family was 
highlighted by Pastor Michael Ryan, General 
Conference General Field Secretary and director of the 
Global Mission initiative.  In places where the Church 
has been established for a 100 years, there is one 
Adventist for every 280 people, he said.  In the 10/40 
window, there's 10,000 for every Adventist. "If you 
want to talk about a church of mission, a church of 
action, I'm happy I'm a Adventist." said Ryan, 
announcing a goal to build 1040 churches in the 10/40 
window.

Pastor Ralph Thompson, keynote speaker and 
outgoing secretary of the General Conference, was 
introduced by General Conference president Pastor Jan 
Paulsen.  Thanking Thompson for his more than 50 
years of service to the Adventist Church, Paulsen 
commended Thompson's "outstanding service and life 
commitment given to God, to God's people and to so 
many of us individually."  

Thompson urged everyone present, and those around 
the world listening on radio or watching by satellite, to 
renew their commitment to unselfish, God-focused, 
service. 

"In all of our Adventist institutions our minds must be 
saturated with this glorious concept of service. You 
must feel this in your bones," said Thompson. "This 
must be the overwhelming characteristic of every 
member and worker in the church today.	Our 
service must be motivated by our faith in God and our 
love for Him."

Every believer has a role to play, said Thompson. "I 
say to you today, the church needs young people--
educated young people," he said, calling on Adventist 
youth around the world to commit their academic 
talents and degrees to God.

Throughout his presentation, Thompson emphasized 
that "We are a people with a deadline."

"The whole world is sitting on a rumbling volcano and 
wondering 'what shall we do?' It's time to tell them of 
our hope." 

"This is no time for timid leadership," said Thompson. 
"We need bold, adventurous leadership, that doesn't 
shy away from untried methods. We must all be active 
participants in the glorious drama of the Advent 
message--'for now is our salvation nearer than when 
we first believed.'"

"We are a people with a future-heaven is our home."

Special music throughout the morning celebration 
included a performance from the renowned New 
England Youth Ensemble, the Oregon Men's Chorus, 
and a Canadian mass choir which was especially 
assembled for the Adventist World Session. The 
Session theme song, "We Have This Hope," was 
dramatically presented by all the assembled musicians 
and the 50-thousand strong massed choir of the 
congregation. [Editor: Bettina Krause for ANN/APD]