Kimberly Luste Maran, Assistant Editor

"Hope is a thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings the tune without the words
And never stops at all."
-Emily Dickinson

The rolling wave of people moved in the start-step rhythmic motion that only a vast crowd of single-purposed humanity can produce. The mass grew at regular intervals and swayed gently toward the stadium as, step by step, they got closer to their destination-the "field" of the SkyDome.

Finally veering left and right and down the sidewalk to different gates, the crowd thinned and pulled, resembling the taut strain of an exerted muscle. People found their seats, or milled about the 100 level of the stadium catching up with family and long-lost friends. It was after supper on Sunday, July 2, and the evening presentations were about to commence.

I settled in my seat with the words faith, hope, and love whirling around my mind. During the evening program on the first night of the session, June 29, one of the reports asserted that these three words were the definition and foundation of the Seventh-day Adventist Church-the real reason, purpose, and focus of the church-and the motivations that propel us to share Jesus with others. All the structured elements that comprise the church and its officiating body are important, but secondary. Without faith, hope and love, the work and decisions made for the future of our church will be meaningless. It was with those thoughts churning in my mind that I turned my attention to the stage.

Dedicated Servants
GC president Jan Paulsen, secre-tary Matthew A. Bediako, and treasurer Robert L. Rawson were consecrated during a special dedication service that occurred before the scheduled reports from the Euro-Asia and Northern Asia-Pacific divisions. The litany, written by Gary Patterson, vice president of Adventist Health System, and consisting of speaking assignments for Paulsen, Bediako, Rawson, and others, underscored the awesome responsibilities each official has to God and His people through seven major goals ("hear the word," "acknowledge the call," "accept the challenge," "join the service," "know the mission," "see the vision," and "enter the joy"). The reading also reminded all those present that "man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. . . . Sharper than any double-edge sword, it penetrates even to dividing, soul and spirit, joints and marrow. . . . Everyone who trusts in Him will never be put to shame. The same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him" (based on Deuteronomy 8:3; Hebrews 4:12-14; Romans 10:11, 12, 17).

Several others participated in the reading, including GC women's ministries director Ardis Stenbakken, Patterson, C. D. Brooks, and "The Prophet," portrayed by Adventist Chaplaincy Ministry director Richard Stenbakken. The litany ended with a choral blessing, "The Peace of God."

Near the conclusion of the program, the torches held by each of the three officers were lit. With arm outstretched, Paulsen publically declared that the top governing entity of the church will endeavor to heed the words of the litany, keeping service to the members of the worldwide church paramount.

Growing Numbers in ESD
The Euro-Asia Division offered a report in its vast territory that stretches through 11 time zones and eight and a half million square miles. Through song, video presentation, and personal testimony, those in attendance were able to see the culturally diverse peoples in this region, as well as the enormous potential for an abundance of evangelistic efforts.

Following the video report ESD president C. Lee Huff highlighted the great differences in the division, and also showed great excitement in the possibilities. "We must use a variety of methods of evangelism. The flyers and pamphlets we handed out [when Communism ended] will not work as well now. People are more interested in capitalism, in making money. . . . We have to reach them in different ways."

Olga Pivovarova, a layperson from Russia who devotes herself to evangelism, was interviewed after the video presentation. "I preach only Jesus. I love people, and I love Jesus. I'm not doing something special because thousands do the same. . . . This person will never be silent. . . . I appeal to you to preach Jesus Christ, and when you're home please preach to everyone, to every world."

Colorful People
The Northern Asia-Pacific Division also presented its report on Sunday evening. The report began with a colorful, dramatic introduction of the countries in the division as representatives of each country marched onto the platform, garbed in national dress, and greeted-in varying languages-their brothers and sisters of the world church. A video report, supplemented with words by Northern Asia-Pacific Division president Pyung Duk Chun, proceeded the warm salutation.

The NAPD is the newest division, "born" on January 1, 1997, and many of its members are young: more than 50 percent of members in some of the unions in this division are under the age of 25. This youthfulness and energy were evident throughout the report. "Every year tens of thousands of young people are baptized," the report affirmed. "The most effective means of retaining our young people is to train them for service to others."

The Other Meetings Across Town
Sunday evening concluded with the Northern Asia-Pacific Division's program. Monday morning dawned damp and dreary. Prepared to be rained upon, I ventured out into the streets of Toronto to visit another group of delegates with a different kind of agenda.

I stepped briskly toward the small library lecture hall at Ryerson Polytechnic University. The crowd was moving fast-skipping, cavorting, singing, and laughing as they jaunted down the sidewalk. The delegates and trainers hurried inside, where sound checks were emanating from the stage. People swarmed into the room and quickly settled into seats. The morning presentation of Impact Toronto 2000 was about to commence.

I slid into a blue bucket seat with the words faith, hope, and love churning once again in my mind. I had already seen these in action at the SkyDome-it was obvious how committed, and how much love, faith, and hope abounded in those on the stage the previous night-through the touching reports and the challenge-imbued litany and dedication service. Now, I knew, I'd see them in practical application.

After only a few moments I was overwhelmed at all the energy and activity at IT 2000, a young adult initiative geared toward reaching out to the people in Toronto and teaching unique evangelistic skills for delegates to implement in their own home churches and conferences. [IT 2000 will be covered in various news articles throughout the GC Bulletins.]

Like the other meeting "down the road," winning others to Christ and enlarging our Adventist family was the major prerogative. Combining the practicality and necessity of the business sessions and reports that are the backbone of the GC session with IT 2000's dynamic application of the methods that made the church in the first place makes this church unstoppable. People in Toronto will know we were here-from the large numbers in the SkyDome and from the small groups of young adults blanketing the city with Christ's love. And the people of Toronto will know we are people of faith, love, and hope when we stay here-in hearts and minds and continued ministry-and be the church that never stops, at all.