7 pase 6 The Herald, Friday, June 6, 1980

~ Christian Reformed, mostly the Dutch: |

By KEITH ‘ALFORD
- Special to the Herald
Sometimes churches have
something in their physical
structure that is almost a
symbol of the particular
emphasis of that
congregation. The Christian
Reformed Church at the
corner of Sparks Street and
Straume Avenue in Terrace
ig = sone of those.

When this reporter when tc
interview. the Reverend S.
Yan Daafen, I went to the
church, only to be informed
that he was still at home.
“Home” turned out to .be
directly across the street
from the church. Van
Daafen's office is in the
house basement. I didn’t
know it at the time, * but
already the key to how this
church sees itself was
already unfolding.

The Christian Reformed
Church is organized on the
presbyterial system of
church government, Each
local church is governed by
elders and deacons; and is
autonomous. There are,
however, associations
beyond the local group.

In the Christian Reformed
Church the next level is that
of “classis" (or what other
similar Protestant groups
would call presbyteries).
There are 25 presbyteries in
North America, British
Columbia constitutes one
“elassis", Once a year all
the classis on this continent
sent representatives to the
Synod, which generally
-meets in Grand Rapids,
Michigan where the

~ denomination's seminary is
located.

-There are also
associations with NAOARC,
an grouping of evangelical,
presbyterian structured
denominations which meets
once every two years; as
well as with the Reformed
Evangelical Synod, a similar
body on an international
scale with member churches
jn the Netherlands, S. Africa,
Australia, etc, The Christian
Reformed Church does not
belong to the World Council
of Churches,

With such similarities to
the Presbyterian Church
why is there not
amalgamation? Largely

cent:

individual testimony of faith,
‘or by. instruction in the faith,

followed by a credible public

testimony of faith and
demonstration that one
understands and accepts the
tenets of the Christian
Reformed ~ tradition.
Following which baptism is
received, if the individual
has not been a member of
any church previously.
The: members of. the.
Christian Reformed
congregation ‘take part. in
mrany of our town's social
services, . although the
church itself says it has no
formal socia) program.
‘There is a Christian School

. which occupies a large part

of the church structure, but

' ¥an Daalen is quick to point
out that the school is not an ,

extension of the church, but

’. gather an separate entity.

“The Christian Reformed
Church believes in
separation of church and
school,” says Van Daalen.
In fact, the school merely
rents its space there. “At a
greatly reduced rate
because the church“ also

advocates very strongly at
the same time Christian -

education. The students
break down into 70 per cent
coming from the Christian
Reformed church and 30 per
from other

-denominations,

The Rev. Van Daalen in his home across the street. He belleves
secularism Is a problem. ©

because the Christian
‘Reformed Church's origin
was very much tied to one
national structure, that of
the Netherlands, an area of
the world that received the
teaching of John Calvin with
great enthusiasm. It was

- brought to North America in

the 1800's and the 1940's by
waves of immigrants from
the Netherlands. A national
language and customs kept
this church distinct as much
‘as any doctrinal differences.

Van Daalen sees his
church as being marked by a
belief that the Bible is the
ultimate authority in all
things. The Christian
Refarmed Church accepts

such creeds as the ¢ Apostle’ 5,
but in addition has three that
are probably unique unto
itself. Not often, but
sometimes, these creeds
have been changed, if
someone can present proof

from an interpretation of.

scripture that indicates they
should be altered to be in
greater conformity with the
Bible.

Van Daalen sees new
demands being placed upon
the church. Ali from

“secularism” or “the me

generation’. Its a philosphy

marked by ‘no consistent
ethical principles”, one that
advocates ‘‘selfishness”’,
and “‘causes both problems

and apathy”. - Because of
“secularism” It “‘is more
difficult today to live a

Christian lifestyle” than

previously. .

As proof of this viewpoint,
Van Daaten points to the fact
that today the church is seen
as being Middle Class to the
point of identification.
also says that if this con-
tinues “beyond a certain
point it will be Christian
suicide”.

But some people resist. -
Such as the 50 families or 250
members of his church. One
can become a member here
by a letter of transfer from
another Christian Reformed
church accompanied by

- stands on

He.

‘Van Daalen is very

definite about what is that -

hallmark of his church. It
‘the infallible:
World of God.” ‘We accept
scripture as the scripture
writers intended it to be
cheard." What that means in
partis that the creation story
is accepted literally, but the
time span of seven days is
not insisted upon. “The
original manuscripts are
without error”.

Christ is seen as the centre
of the entire Bible, the Old
Testament being a prelude to
the New.

Christianity is seen as a
covenent faith, beginning
with the covenent of grace
that God offered to Abraham
and which received its final
fullfilment in Christ. Van
Daalen says, “when man
obeys the covenent he ‘is
blessed.” -

Most of all, Van Daalen

He takes: a break here from his Japan. mission

By GAIL DOTINGA
Herald Staff Writer

This Sunday will mark the.

27th anniversary of Donnel

‘McLean mission work in the
Far East.

McLean, a missionary
with the Assembly of God
Church, was in town last
week visiting his relatives,

’ Bob and Shirley Sutherland.
During his stay here, he
talked about his work and
iife in the Far East.

Although he has spent the
majority of his time church
pioneering in Japan, he also
went te Taiwan to work with

WORD of GOD

5th Commandment

Honor thy father
and thy mother:
_ that thy days may °
be long upon the
land which the Lord
thy God giveth

thee.
Exodus 20:22

agroup of people, who at one
time were head hunters.

“I enjoyed working in-

Taiwan immensely,’ said
McLean. "Their life style
reminded me of that of the
Indians on the west coast of
Canada where I grew up. It
made me feel at home,”
The standard of living for
these people is still quite
primitive, in some cases he
had to hike into the villages

because there were no roads. -

In Japan he concentrates
his mission work on places
that do not have churches.

“Most missions are con-
centrated in the larger
population centers. I seek
out places with no missions
to preach the word of the
gospel," said McLean.

Currently he is setting up
churches in the western
region of Japan, Hokuriku.

“] went there because in
one area there were §5,00)
people and no church. It’s
one of the hardest areas in
Japan in terms of trying to
Teach the people,”

“It is wealthy with some of
the Jargest houses in Japan
there, educationally it has
the number one high school
in the country.”

McLean is just about

747 Squadron (Terraced

Annual
Inspection

at the

Sunday,

June 8

at 2 pm

Reception ta follow
at the Legion

Pelt ma ® &
DONNEL McLEAN...
... visits family
t ‘

ready to start his third
church in the region. In the
summer months there is a
total of 15 workers in his
proup who go house to house

to talk to the people there.

Ove been very happy
with the reception we're
Betting,” said McLean, "A
lot of people here have never
seen the Bible.”

He expects to be in Japan
for another 12 years before
retiring. In that time he
would like to set up at least
another 10 churches.

After 27 years, McLean
has become accustomed to
the way of life there.

‘In Japan there are
always people around, -

fantastic farmers,

” makes it difficult to seek out
places of quiet.”

“They eat things that we
wouldn't think of, they are
it very
resourceful with nature.”

McLean .went to the
Prairie Bible Institute in
Drumheller, Alberta. He was
$8 per cent sure that he
would go to Mainland China
upon graduating but in 1951
just before he was to go there
all foreign missions had to
leave the country. Later at a
convention he heard a plea
from another missionary
asking for workers to go to
Japan. McLean decided to
answer his call and was
accepted,

TONIGHT'S SPECIAL GUEST:
SINGER

NORMA ZIMMER

WITH

Cliff Barrows and the Crusade Choir,
Geo. Beverly Shea, Tedd Smith,
and John Innes.

Subject: “Birth Pangs of a New World”
Fri, June 6 - 7:00 pm

CFTK-TV CH 3

Sat. June 7 - 7:00 pm

SAYS,
just a creed that leads to a
style of formal wership; but
it permetates everything we
do," If one. is a business
person, “‘one must operate a
Christian business." .

‘It is termed a “world and
life view". Everything is
seen through the scriptures,
all of life becomes religious.

Even something as ‘‘ob-

-Jectivel’ as.math is seen as
having a _ Christian
prospective.

it means that the charch
must speak out politically.

Van Daalen would like to see
a Christian political party in
this country, but realizes
that that is not likely, so the
church speaks out calling the

“Christianity is “not -

nation to hear the word of ©

God.
political

through various
partles,

presenting briels at ‘eom- ©
missions, and through such
things: as° ‘the CJL Foun-
dation,’ :

The ‘Christian Reformed:

Church also gets' involved in

‘other ‘ways ‘such as: apoii-
sering five Vietnamese
“family” groupings Into a
new life here, 7°.

As I was Jeaving ' Van
Daalen’s “house after our
talk, we were standing on his
porch ‘chatting, when 1]

happened to glance across

by

the street at his church, - 1

though it quite’fitting that -'

this quiet, courteous, and at

‘the same ‘time ‘dynamic’
minister should live ‘so close
to his congregation, + ‘Tt:was -
because for him,

fitting,

al a ee el

wlts lime 0 0 call your
Welcome Way Ron Hiost ess:

‘Lois Mohninger °

there is no difference bet- att

ween “church life” and “life

in Beneral!”,..

Evelyn Anweiler * ais '367

“438 i309

1

: : ni
as bs ten ioe:
sy Rev.’ & ee" rs.
a. me il |

- pastor at Glad Tidings Tabernacle

Guitars etc. very welcome _
Sponsored by House of Praise .

Praise Festival |
A gathering of God’ 5
- people for praise & worship

at. the

pt mbyatten ss

Chilliwack B. C.

4

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Lares 8 Uae « te .
1
‘Hifebert j
rap ecet py ot PETA : tt

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R E. M. Lee Tate

“ rr)

Welconies You to Worship

. SACRED | this | ‘ST.MATTHEW'S 7
HEART cot ANGLIC vy
oneal Sanday! cele avenue

_ 635-2313 ‘ - 4726 Lezelle Avénue® «
4836 Straume ; 635-9019 ;
Terrace - . ‘
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rid p.m. ; BAPTIST Sunday Services t,
Saturday evening CHURCH Sunday Schaol. 7
Sunday Masses Paster Paul Mohninger {Adults Discussion. “
9:00 a.rh. Home 635.5309 11:00am, a
11:15 a.m Corner Sparksand Keith 3 Holy Communion for the
7:30 p.m, ‘ family “
9:45 a.m. ~ Minister: . y-
HOUSE Sunday School Reverend Lance Stephens
' OF 11:00 a.m. 625-5855.
PRAISE Morning Worship v.
{ 3406 E by Street CHRIST "
+ | 35-3005 - 695-2657 CHRISTIAN .
see cums | ait
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Sunday Worship Reverend $, Van Daalen wis HermanHagen 4
Thurs. 7-0:30 Sparks Street and B.A. M.Div.0.
Education & Instruction _ Straume Avenue 5-385. :

Aclassfor allages ; CornerSparksStreet

. 10:00 a. m. nek Avenue =
SALVATION Sunday School - Terraced og -
ARMY 11:00 p.m. pane Service A
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unda oan

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Evangllsiic Salvation TAPTIST. =|
ng “SURCH

TUESDAY NIGHT Pasta: “ob Lesyk “CHURCH

7:30 p.m. 1) 68b-c0? ap
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