eginnings and endings encase every aspect of our lives. And as we gathered in the Dome for the last Friday evening vesper service of the 57th General Conference, the first day and the last day of the session were on the minds of many.

The business sessions were now behind us. And so also were the many hugs of greeting and the tears of good-byes, embodying the trauma of earthly separations. The music too was done—and the messages, inspiring immediate resolutions with hopes of a new beginning.

For some church leaders new assignments would mean new challenges. For others there were unplanned endings that brought disappointment and probably a reevaluation of the rest of their lives.

For session general manager Linda de León the last day was, undoubtedly, a great relief. The complete focus of her work, particularly the past few months, was illustrated in a conversation we had a few days earlier. “This big black dog had a grip on my arm and would not let me go,” I said, describing a nightmare that I attributed to the long hours and intermittent meals during the session.

“Well, let me tell you my dream,” responded Linda. “I dreamed that 11,000 chairs had been put down in the Dome, but the workers had forgotten the turf.” We laughed, but I read in that comment how encompassing her work had become.

De León was publicly honored with a tribute by the undertreasurer of the General Conference, Bob Lemon. “Planning and organizing a General Conference like this involves hundreds of people over a period of 10 years,” said Lemon. “Linda is the one who carried the major responsibility for keeping the functions going smoothly and all the details cared for.”

Describing De León, Lemon said she exemplified Christian patience and was skillful in working with people. “I doubt that as we leave Toronto, there will be a longer-lasting or more positive influence on people than the Christian witness on those with whom she works.”

John Nixon, the speaker for the Friday evening meeting, presented a message so full of challenges that every one of his 30,000 listeners must have left with at least one in their thoughts. If applause is any indication of enthusiastic reception, this pastor from Oakwood College, in Alabama, seemed to have resonated with the thousands of listeners every few minutes of his sermon.

Rejection of Christ by the church at Christ’s first advent raises questions about His church today, observed Nixon in a not-so-comforting declaration. “Why is there not more weeping and silence and broken hearts over our sins?” “How is it, then, that God’s people in the last days are so conscious for our status if the record of Israel’s failure is recorded for our admonition?”

Continuing his comparison of the first and second coming of our Lord, Nixon said, “We know that Jesus is coming, but do we know the Jesus who is coming?” “Without Jesus, even right doctrine isn’t right.” “While watching the signs and watching the beast, we must not forget to watch the cross.”

“He presented a soul-searching message,” responded Vivian Barron, from Bermuda, when I asked how the message affected her. “It brought you to think about things you hadn’t thought about in a while.”

“Nixon took you to your roots and brought you forward,” said Vivian’s husband, Richard, himself a pastor.

With a great deal of spirit and movement, The Ambassadors, seven men from the Africa-Indian Ocean Division, sang about Ezekiel’s “Dry Bones,” bringing a fitting climax to the evening’s comparison of the connection between the first coming of Christ and the second.

The next morning thousands and thousands entered the Dome to find places for the four hours of Sabbath school and worship. Music quickly brought our thoughts from the outside world to a concentration on Jesus and His gift to us. The Magomeni Heralds, from the Eastern Africa Division, presented their music, using a variety of vocal sound effects. But try as I may to identify the person whose voice gave a drum beat or the one whose vocal accompaniment sounded like “tush, tush,” I was never successful.

The Indonesian Chorale rendition of “And the Glory of the Lord” was accompanied by the reading of the Scripture in French, English, German, Spanish, and Korean, followed by the announcement by Don Jacobsen that the long-awaited permit for the building of the Adventist World Radio transmitter in Italy had been issued with such inspiring preliminaries, the worshipers were ready for the proclamation of the Word by General Conference president Jan Paulsen.

“If the definition of church does not include saving people,” Paulsen asserted in his message, “then we may have saved the structure, but we are no longer useful to God. . . . We must carry each other if need be.” (See his sermon on page 5 of this Bulletin.)

In the afternoon the 300 young people who had ministered in the Impact 2000 program marched onto the stage. Reporting on what had happened in the city during the General Conference session week, two young people conversed.  “How can I put this delicately?” asked one. “Everyone here is so old.” The second one turned to the audience and said, “While you older people were doing the business of the church, we were in the city of Toronto with 22 ministry groups (street artists, mime, drama, kids’ club, games, puppets, crafts, etc.). The response from the city was so astounding.”

In the hour devoted to reports from the youth of the church we learned about the program in the Euro-Africa Division where young people meet for 10 days, then go out on the street to tell others about God. We heard that in 1999 there have been 26,480 Adventist young people in North America involved in evangelism, that Pathfinders celebrated a 50-year birthday, and that a 10-year-old Pathfinder is an elder in a church in one of the world divisions.

President Paulsen gave the final challenge. “I say to you who are young: Be true to Him. He has given you a unique strength and a role. Jesus needs you.”

Sabbath evening two distinguished guests were presented to the congregation. The first was Dr. Alberto de la Hara, the minister of religious affairs for the government of Spain, and identified as a strong supporter of religious freedom. The other was His Worship Mel Lastman, mayor of Toronto.

Reminiscing about the first meeting of the session, Lastman said, “Ten days ago I attended the opening of the session and I presented the keys of the city to church president Jan Paulsen and Orville Parchment [president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada]. I told them the keys represented the highest honor. You have also bestowed your highest honor on our great city. I want to congratulate everyone involved in organizing this huge convention—the largest in the history of the city of Toronto. You brought us the perfect convention despite your size. There were no problems of any kind! You amazed the city! You were perfect guests! We want to host all your conventions and all your meetings. Yours is also a drug-free, tobacco-free lifestyle; and your family values are above and beyond anything I have ever seen. Your young people uphold the Adventist sense of values. You set a great example everywhere you go. Please come back soon!”

The Parade of Nations was, of course, the highlight of the evening. Hundreds of representatives, dressed in the style of their countries, walked across the stage and through the Dome. The security people employed by the SkyDome had some challenges as they attempted to keep the hundreds of amateur photographers from storming the aisles and blocking the parade.

And so, the 10-day session ended—with a challenge from the world president—just as it had begun. “May we go forward in His strength and with the assurance that our destiny is secure in Jesus Christ.”

How could this 10-day period have extended itself, seemingly, longer than any other we have ever experienced? Or how could it have gone so fast that before we knew it, it had ended? Or has it? Would not—could not—the commitment we made, the inspiration we absorbed, the examples of amazing soul winning we have heard about, be just the beginning?

Human birth is a beginning. Death is an ending. Eternity is a beginning with no end. Praise God!