“In times like these, you need a Saviour, In times like these, you need an Anchor; Be very sure, be very sure Your Anchor holds and grips the solid Rock.”
This was the theme of the Canadian Field Conference held on September 17–19, 2021.
After two years, it was a blessing to finally be able to have a conference once more. Due to the pandemic, the conference was cancelled in 2020. This year, we were blessed to be able to have about 47 members in the church building, while the majority had to attend virtually due to Covid restrictions, which still are in effect.
On Friday evening, after a warm welcome by Jason Climaco, Nicholas Anca, the new Canadian Field president shared with us the opening meeting.
He encouraged us to remember that this conference is not about the speakers, or leaders, but it is about Jesus. Every week as we attend church, this must be our main reason for attending.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus. In times like these we need Him more than ever. The apostle Paul said that, “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers.“ Ephesians 6:12. How can we fight unless Jesus fights for us?
After Br. Anca’s own baptism, a woman came up to him and told him that the fight has just started. When we leave the world and say yes to Jesus, there is a fight. We need a Saviour in this battle.
Brother Anca then went on to speak of the temptations of Jesus in the wilderness. To be tempted is not sin. Jesus was tempted in all points as we are but He did not sin. After His baptism He was led into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He is our Elder Brother; He took upon Himself humanity to give us a perfect example.
One of the greatest enemies man has to face is the temptation regarding appetite. You do not know how strong the battle is until you are hungry and someone offers you something to eat that is not good for you. Jesus resisted this temptation and will give everyone strength to resist. The devil tempted Eve on the point of appetite and she fell. He told her that God is holding her back. In order to overcome we must know the Scriptures for ourselves. Jesus’ answer to the devil was, “Man shall not live by bread alone. . .” Matthew 4:4. Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.” John 6:35. Let us feed on His word, making time every day, busy as we are, to spend time with Jesus. In times like these, we need to study the Bible more than ever.
Since the devil failed in his first temptation against Jesus, he took Him to the top of the temple and told Him to cast Himself off and the angels would save Him. What was Jesus’ answer? “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord.” Matthew 4:7
As we keep reading in Matthew chapter 4, after the second failure, the devil came with a third temptation (v. 8). He took Jesus to a high mountain, and showed Him all the pleasures of this world. Then he said, “All these things will I give Thee, if Thou wilt fall down and worship me.” (v. 9). Again Jesus resisted and the devil left.
The devil will also leave you alone when you meet him with, “it is written.” It is important to know how to gain the victory in this battle because sometimes we get discouraged. Satan has some special temptation for everyone. But the devil is a defeated foe. He was defeated in heaven and on the earth. Let us boldly take our stand on the side of Jesus.
Brother Elder Hernandez, the Canadian Field Missionary Leader, continued by giving us some words of encouragement. He began by quoting 2 Timothy 3:1. “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.” He began by telling of the experience when his youngest son fell and broke his arm. He was taken to the hospital and an x-ray was taken. The x-ray showed clearly how the bone was broken. Brother Hernandez compared the verses in 2 Timothy 3:2–4 to an x-ray. They are an x-ray of society today. “For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.” This is what a godless world is like. People love themselves, and self-love is at the root of all evil. Each one of us needs to reflect on the type of life we are living now. Think of our attitudes towards church and our spiritual life. How much time do you spend reading your Bible and praying? Often we get so busy with life that these get pushed to the side.
In Psalm 27:7 David prayed, “Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.” David was asking the Lord for help. Not just to listen and do nothing. The word “hear” is an action word. To us also, to hear means to pay attention to what is heard and do something—obey. In 2 Timothy 3:1–5 the people are not listening to the voice of the Lord. They are not paying attention, nor obeying. They are living in their comfort zone.
At this conference the Lord is speaking. Do we hear His voice? It is now time to come to the Lord and listen to what He is telling us. If we come to Him, He will receive us. He died for us and there is not one sin He cannot forgive. We need to reflect on our lives and think of what needs to be fixed. Listen to the voice of the Lord and obey in love.
Sabbath morning brought us together once more. After a lively Sabbath School, Brother Joel Barnedo spoke the Divine Service. He began by reading Psalm 62:8. “Trust in Him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before Him: God is a refuge for us.” We all get disappointed at times and expect better from other people. Perhaps someone failed to greet you in church, or you trained your children to be missionaries and suddenly they have left the church. Jesus was disappointed when those closest to Him forsook Him. James and John were disappointed when the Samaritans did not accept Jesus’ presence among them and reacted quite strongly. They asked Jesus if He would bring fire from heaven to destroy them. Jesus rebuked them and said He did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.
David also faced a lot of disappointments. After killing Goliath and winning many battles for King Saul, Saul was not happy. He was jealous and threw a spear at David. David had to flee for his life and from the king. Even when he became king, David faced disappointments. Absalom, his son, tried to take over his kingdom.
Where can we find peace and security today? Some find comfort and security in a large home. Some find comfort in their career. Some youth think they will have peace in trying new and exciting things. In the height of success, though, things can change. There is no security in the world. People lose their jobs, people get life threatening illnesses. Now where is the security? Material security comes and goes.
We need to trust in the Lord at all times. In the end of time, true Christians will lose everything but it will not affect their righteous character as they have learned to trust in Jesus.
Although David sinned with Bathsheba, he found forgiveness when he repented from the bottom of his heart. Peter denied Jesus and found no peace. He was tormented, yet he found forgiveness also when he repented.
In times like these, we will find rest from our disappointments only in Jesus. Look and live. Our comfort is only in Jesus. When Jesus is in your heart, you will have peace and security.
Brother Morris Lowe began his afternoon meeting by reading from 1 Timothy 4:1. “In the latter times some shall depart from the faith.” Here the Holy Spirit is speaking expressly. In the last days many will depart from the faith and give heed to doctrines of devils.
Noah preached for 120 years, telling people to repent and accept the mercy and salvation that God is offering. Not even one person outside of his family entered the ark. The people laughed and blasphemed God, and they all perished.
The majority of the Christian world today believe that the Ten Commandments have been abolished. This is a doctrine from the devil. Clearly the Bible states in 1 John 3:4 that sin is the transgression of the law, and the law of God includes all Ten Commandments—even the fourth. After Jesus died the disciples continued keeping the Sabbath.
In these last days God has a final message of warning. It is a message of judgement and mercy also. We are living in the last days now and must proclaim the Three Angel’s Messages—with the third one having a terrible warning against those who receive the Mark of the Beast. Not all will worship the beast. There will be a faithful remnant. The remnant will teach the true doctrines of the Bible. May God help us to be a part of the remnant and fearlessly give a warning to the world of the times in which we are living.
Brother Joel Barnedo led out in the blessed service of ordaining Brother Nicholas Anca into the ministry. Brother Anca has been in missionary work for approximately 20 years. He attended mission school for three years in Hungary. Currently he has been working in Canada since December 2010. After giving some timely counsel regarding the duties of pastors and elders, the other pastors present laid their hands on Brother Anca and ordained him into the ministry. Let us pray that the Lord will continue to bless the work of Brother Anca.
Following the ordination was the presentation of Sister Anita Anjelic for baptism. The baptismal questions were asked, and the church was satisfied that Sister Anita has been led by the Holy Spirit in her life and is ready to be a pillar in His church. The baptism took place on Sunday.
One more service closed out our Sabbath day and that service was led by the newly ordained pastor, Brother Nicholas Anca. He began with reading Matthew 16:3. “And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?” Jesus was concerned (Luke 18:8) that when He comes, will He find faith on the earth. Faith is trusting in God in difficult times.
Brother Anca then turned to Matthew 24 where the most well-known signs of the times are recorded. The disciples asked for signs of the end of the world and this was Jesus’ response. We must all understand this chapter. He spoke of the various signs such as wars and rumours of wars, earthquakes, famines, pestilences, and false christs, yet many today do not believe. “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts.” 2 Peter 3:3. Only one sign left to be fulfilled and that is found in v. 14 “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” This, though, is rapidly being fulfilled with modern technology, and on-line services. We see all these signs happening today. We are near the end, but many people still do not believe Jesus is coming soon. “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” Matthew 24:44. Jesus may come when we least expect it. Sadly, many refuse to believe and die without hope.
As we see the signs, we are to make earnest preparation to meet our Lord. In the end of time we will have no protection from this world. Our only protection is in God. The only solution to world problems is Jesus. “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.” 1 John 3:3. May the Lord help us to be ready as we allow the Holy Spirit to sanctify our lives.
On Sunday morning we gathered at the shores of Lake Ontario. The sun was shining, as we witnessed Sister Anita make her covenant with the Lord through baptism. All heaven rejoiced as her old nature was buried in the waters of the lake and a new Anita was born. It was a beautiful ceremony which many members came to witness.
Afterwards Sister Anita was given the right hand of fellowship and welcomed into the family of God by Brother Morris Lowe. Jesus called His disciples and gave them a work to do. His first commission to them was for them to focus on the lost sheep of the house of Israel. There were not many years left before the city of Jerusalem would be destroyed; the time of mercy will have ended for Israel. First, feed the children, and then go to the rest of the world. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations.” Matthew 28:19. We also have been given a commission, and that is to go to the rest of the world. There will be a time when people will be seeking for the word of God and salvation but it will be too late. Baptism is a sign of entrance into His kingdom. They have left off with the world and all their idols. We are to obey the command to come out from the world and be separate.
Brother Joel Barnedo gave the final service for the closing of the conference. He spoke of spiritual death. Life is comfortable. For many in western countries, they have never been brought into captivity or hardship. They did not take their time seriously. They are at ease despite their moral decay.
Sometimes God sends a change. Pharoah only acknowledged the power of God when His son died. King Saul wanted to destroy his successor, who was anointed by God. Then one day he realized he was a fool, but it was too late.
We need to recognize the time in which we are living. Make a decision for God when you are young. Life is short. God brings us trials and hardships to separate the gold from the dross. Frequent unsettled events in our lives will keep us from adhering to the world. Our life can become like stagnant water if we do not move.
There is blessing in change. It develops character. After Moses killed the Egyptian he had to flee from Egypt. He thought he would save Israel by force. What he learned in Pharaoh’s court was useful, but it was not enough. He needed a change.
A good vineyard needs constant pruning. We need more room for the Holy Spirit in our lives. Let Him do His work within us and trust that all that is happening is for our character development, in preparation for salvation.
This concluded our Field Conference. Each one present, on-line or in person, was truly blessed, and it is our prayer that as we share a summary of the messages from the conference, you also will be blessed.
Truly we are living in a time of great turmoil in our world. But we need to have courage and trust in the Lord at all times. “In times like these, I have a Saviour . . . I’m very sure, I’m very sure, My anchor holds and grips the solid Rock.”
Canadian Field Secretary