September 2024
NEVER SAY NEVER
“There are two things I will never do: become a pastor or live in Africa.”
I was a teenager when I witnessed someone decide to go into the ministry; I thought: What a waste of a life!
Then, I listened to the story of a family who served as missionaries in Africa and faced some of the most torturous hardships.
That’s when I decided: I will never live in Africa or serve the LORD as a pastor.
Fast forward.
I lived 15 years in Africa, working as a preacher and teacher, and I’m convinced my life could not, and would not, have been more rewarding if I had done anything else.
To top it off: I hated public speaking. I thought I was going to throw up every time I had to speak in front of a crowd, yet I now do public speaking for a living, and I have trained countless young people how to speak proficiently.
I recently interviewed Pastor Shawn Boonstra, and he told me a similar story: “If I get invited to speak somewhere and there’s a thousand people sitting in the
audience, I die a small death inside. I don’t want to go out there. I don’t like crowds. I am an off the charts introvert. As a kid, whenever I could get away with it, I would excuse myself from the table and go sit in the stairwell and read a book. I adore books. Books are my best friend.”
That’s where Shawn and I differ. I rank higher as an extrovert on personality tests, and I am dyslexic, so reading was never my strong point. Yet God made me an English teacher, a pastor, and a writer.
How does that work?
Shawn explained: “I do not love public speaking, and I’m sure God’s laughing saying, ‘Yeah, I’m going to put you in something where you have to live outside
of your comfort zone.’ I don’t like getting up front. There’s only one reason I do what I do, and it’s because so many people are living an existence with zero hope. Nothing. They don’t know how to fix what’s going on… or how to survive this year’s crisis. They don’t know if they’re just marking time until they fall into … I mean, we’re all on this people mover, and you can’t get off, and there’s a casket at the end. And when you land in that casket, you want to know the answer to the question: “So why was I here?” And you can know that answer, and I will not let people go to the grave without hope if I can help it. So, I will go on gritting my teeth and praying desperate prayers backstage and doing this because… How do you not? How do you not? Jesus said, ‘Look at the crowds. They’re like sheep without a shepherd.’ And aren’t we? Aren’t we? I was there. I was a sheep without a shepherd.”
That’s why every It Is Written Canada speaker—including Henry, Shawn, Bill, Chris, René, and myself—have continued to keep the fire burning. This year marks the 50th Anniversary of this media ministry that began with a fire the LORD ignited in Henry Feyerabend’s heart so many years ago.
We invite you to watch the various programs we will air to celebrate our 50th Anniversary this season on CTV and dozens of other networks world-wide or
online, and perhaps even attend one of the six weekend rallies we will hold across the country during the months of September and October 2024.
Here are the locations and dates if you wish to attend one of the six It Is Written Canada weekend rallies:
1. September 21st, 2024
Spirit of Truth SDA Church
701 Pasqua Street
Regina, SK
2. September 28th, 2024
Sandy Lake Academy
435 Hammonds Plains Road
Bedford, NS
3. October 5th, 2024
Bowmanville SDA Church
1345 Lambs Road
Bowmanville, ON
4. October 12th, 2024
Westminster SDA Church
7925 10th Avenue
Burnaby, BC
5. October 19th, 2024
Henderson Highway SDA Church
1314 Henderson Hwy
Winnipeg, MB
1920 13 Avenue NW
Calgary, AB
– Mike Lemon
Upcoming Episodes
SEPTEMBER 7
Ultra-endurance Christian
Chris Bennett is a Civil Engineer and an avid cyclist. In fact, Chris enjoys cycling so intensely that he has taken on some of the world’s most beautiful, most demanding, and longest cycling trails, tracks, paths, and lanes connected by enjoyable wilderness roads. Chris excitedly shares how cycling is a key part of his Christian walk.
SEPTEMBER 14
Are you Healthy?
“Are you healthy?” Might seem like an odd question to ask. Surely, it would be easy to know if you’re healthy or not, right? Dr. George Cho helps us see how in many ways, yes, it is easy to know if you are healthy, but in many ways, it is also not.
SEPTEMBER 21
Zero Alcohol
According to the World Health Organization, Canadians drink more alcohol than the global average. According to Statistics Canada, during the pandemic, many Canadians consumed even more alcohol. The common perception is that too much alcohol is bad for you, but in moderation, it’s healthy. Dr. George Cho helps us explore this critical topic.
SEPTEMBER 28
“Is It Really Possible to Lose Weight Forever?”
Dr. Nadine Plummer’s clinical focus is weight loss, and in this episode, she outlines her findings and explains in detail how to lose weight, keep it off, and enjoy the process.
It Is Written Canada Celebrates 50 Years!
It has been 50 years since Henry Feyerabend launched his first TV broadcast in Canada. To celebrate It Is Written Canada’s 50th anniversary, we decided to stage several rallies at various churches across the country during the months of September and October, and we will soon let you know where these rallies will be. To enjoy our classic programs with Pastor Henry Feyerabend, please visit us at iiw.ca and click on IIWC Classics.
Upcoming In-Person Events
September 13 – 15:
Prayer Ministries Leaders’ Training and Retreat – Muskoka Bible Centre
– Huntsville, ON
September 21:
50th Anniversary Rally
Spirit of Truth Church
– Regina, SK
September 28:
50th Anniversary Rally
Sandy Lake Academy
– Bedford, NS
THIS MONTH’S FREE OFFER – No Fear of Failure, by John C. Brunt
Can we ever free ourselves from guilt and failure and our alienation from God and others? The Bible teaches that we can. It declares that God has taken the initiative to reach out to accept us and rescue us through His grace. But often this grace is misunderstood because it sounds too simple to be true. The Bible also talks a lot about the law, and its not always easy to put the two together. Do they oppose each other, or do they play on the same team? This booklet will help you to find the answer to this question.
CREAMY CHAI-SPICED RICE PUDDING
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 cup of cooked brown rice
- 2 cups of unsweetened almond milk or non-dairy milk of
- choice
- 1/4 cup of pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon of chai spice blend (see recipe on right)
- 1 tablespoon of cornstarch + 3 tablespoons of water
- Optional for garnish: coconut flakes, more chai spice blend, chocolate chips, raisins, or chopped nuts.
EASY HOMEMADE CHAI SPICE MIX RECIPE
INGREDIENTS:
- 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons of ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons of ground cardamom
- 2 tablespoons of ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon of ground allspice
- 1 tablespoon of ground cloves
- 1 tablespoon of ground nutmeg
INSTRUCTIONS:
- In a clean, dry bowl, combine all ingredients. Use a spoon or a small whisk to blend the spices together thoroughly.
- Store your homemade chai spice blend in an airtight container, preferably a glass jar with a tight-sealing lid.
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Combine all the Ingredients: Add all ingredients except cornstarch to a medium-sized saucepan and whisk everything together.
- Simmer: Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium-high heat. Then, reduce the heat and allow everything to simmer for 15 minutes. Don’t stir while the mixture is simmering. Be sure and lower the temperature if it begins to boil rapidly.
- Thicken the Pudding: Mix the cornstarch with three tablespoons of water in a small bowl and stir until it’s well combined. Slowly pour into the rice pudding mixture, stirring constantly. Continue to cook over low heat, stirring frequently, until the pudding thickens to your desired consistency.
- Chill: Remove from the heat, transfer the rice pudding into a bowl, and place it in the fridge for at least 2 hours to chill.
- Add Variations: If you’d like to incorporate one of the variations mentioned above (coconut flakes, chocolate chips, raisins, or chopped nuts), do so at this stage by gently folding them into the pudding mixture or topping.
- Serve and Enjoy: Spoon it into individual serving bowls, garnish as desired, and enjoy!