Previous Newsletter November 2003
"A Fresh Wind Blowing"
Speech reviewed by Laura Hofstede
On March 30, 2004, Pastor David Reimer, Interim Deputy Leader of the Christian Heritage Party, spoke at the Yellowhead Riding annual general membership meeting. An enthusiastic speaker, Mr. Reimer started his speech by citing examples that illustrate the increasing moral degradation of our country. Since 1988, 2 million babies have been murdered in Canada. That is equal to the whole population of Manitoba and Saskatchewan. In January of 1999, when faced with legislation to redefine the traditional view of marriage, 4 out of 5 MPs voted against the bill. Only four and a half years later, when the same issue was again on the floor, the Speaker of the House had to break the tie. But, Mr. Reimer encouraged us, this legislation does not reflect the views and beliefs of the people of Canada. In Ontario, Dr.Joseph Grubb, CHP candidate in York-West, from a multi-ethnic church, conducted an unbiased survey, going door-to-door asking the question, Do you agree with same-sex marriage, yes or no? Over 80% of the 100+ people interviewed were opposed.
Mr. Reimer encouraged us to pray for and encourage our candidates and leaders. The upcoming election is perhaps the most critical in our nation's history, said Mr. Reimer. "Now is the time to stand up", he said. If we don't fight now, we will lose our freedom to speak out on these matters, specifically with Bill C-250, the hate-speech bill, coming up. If the Prime Minister calls the election in the fall, the CHP will have many more candidates and be much better prepared than it is now. But, said Mr.Reimer, "there is a fresh wind blowing." There has been a revival of interest in the CHP all over Canada. Right now, the Christian Heritage Party has over 70 candidates. All of them are declared, but some are still undergoing the CHP integrity analysis. In Manitoba, 7 out of 14 ridings already have a candidate. Here in Alberta 5 out of 28 ridings have a candidate. Interest has also grown in the Maritimes. One man there has pledged to find 11 CHP candidates for Nova Scotia. In Saskatchewan, Harold Stephan,a businessman from Caronport in the Palliser riding and a member of the Christian Motorcycle Association, will run as our candidate. The youngest candidate is Peter Vogel, who at 18 years old is planning his campaign in Ontario. Former national leader Ed Van Woudenberg is considering running against Svend Robinson in the Burnaby-Douglas riding.
Mr. Reimer then went on to speak about "the Power of One". Using examples from the Bible, Mr. Reimer demonstrated that throughout history one person doing the will of God has always made a difference. A few of his examples were Joseph in the court of Pharaoh, whom God used to save His remnant; Daniel, who had such a relationship with God that he treasured it above the threat of death; Queen Esther; David and Goliath.
He also highlighted some negative modern examples of the power of one. One diseased cow shut down an entire industry. One man, Svend Robinson, brought in a private member's bill legalizing homosexual marriages and Bill C-250 (legislation to include sexual orientation).
A positive example Mr. Reimer spoke of is Tagak Curley, a Christian MLA in Nunavut. As a sovereign territory, Nunavut's government functions differently than the provinces, not with a majority versus opposition government, but by working together until there is agreement. Although Mr. Curley lost the election for premier, there was a positive side to it: he was free to introduce legislation declaring that Nunavut would uphold traditional values, language, culture and a common faith in God. This was unanimously accepted, and may one day be used to keep the federal government from imposing same-sex marriage laws on Nunavut.
Although not a CHP MLA, Mr. Curley is an excellent example of the power of one. Following this example, it is our responsibility as citizens of Canada to exercise this power, whether as voters or candidates, or simply by spreading the word about Canada^Òs only party based on Biblical principles. And with the blessing of God we will make a difference.
CHP Candidates Nominated for Alberta
Jacob Strydhorst - Yellowhead Riding
Jacob Strydhorst was born in Neerlandia, Alberta on November 20, 1943, the ninth of thirteen children. Having completed grade ten, he worked for his father in the mixed farm operation. In 1968, he bought the farm from his parents and has since expanded the land base, but specialized in dairy and grain, and more recently has added some beef cattle.
Growing up in a Christian home, he has participated in young people's societies, men^Òs Bible studies, choir, and has served and continues to serve on the church council. In the community, Jacob has been involved in the local credit union, co-operative store board, and the Christian Heritage Party Riding Association of Yellowhead.
In the 2000 federal election, he was the CHP candidate for Yellowhead. His involvement had a very positive effect on the other candidates and he was able to challenge them on the importance of building policy on a firm foundation.
In 1977, he married his wife, Sya (nee Spronk) and they have been blessed with four children ages 18 to 25 years. Asked about his reason for being a CHP candidate: "I want to be a voice for those who do not have a voice and to offer the opportunity to establish a government that adheres to absolute standards of right and wrong."
Ken VandenBroek - Lethbridge Riding
Ken VandenBroek was born November 21, 1963, in Medicine Hat, Alberta. Ken's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Evert VandenBroek, farmed in the Medicine Hat area. They moved to Coalhurst, where Ken attended school until Grade 9. Ken started working full-time when he was 15, and has worked at a variety of farms and businesses.
In 1987, Ken married Francina (Fran) Slingerland. They live on an acreage near Shaughnessy with their nine children. Ken currently owns and operates an excavating business, Mini-Ex. Ken has been a member of the Christian Heritage Party since 1988, and has been on the board of the Lethbridge riding for 7 years.
We asked him why he is running in this election. "I am running as a candidate in the next election so that voters who have moral standards based on Biblical principles and believe in personal responsibility have a party to vote for."
Larry Heather - Calgary South-West Riding
Larry Heather (50) was born in Alberta, and has been a resident of the riding of Calgary South-West since 1963. Employed as a shipper/receiver, a Board member of the Canadian Badlands Passion Play where he acts and works in the development of the interpretive centre. Larry is also a co-host of AM1140 radio's Gospel Road program (High River) where he enjoys profiling many interesting Christian ministries and topics. He also is a website builder with several sites on the net and a playwright of three produced two-act dramas.
Larry has many interests and activities. He holds a Bachelor of Religious Education from Briercrest Bible College (Sask.), a Bachelor of Arts in Religion (Theatre Arts) from Rocky Mountain College (Calgary) and a graduate level Diploma of Christian Studies from Regent College in Vancouver. He for many years was President of Christians Concerned For Life in Calgary, and has taken active runs in elections on the civic, provincial and federal levels, previously running for the Christian Heritage Party in Calgary West (1993), and Calgary South (1997). He currently is a Calgary area representative for the Christian Heritage Party Alberta Provincial Board. He enjoys his ministry as a song and drama leader at the Monterey Evangelical Free Church in Calgary and enjoys a solo ministry in special music. "Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the Lord God Almighty will have mercy..." (Amos 5:15a) I believe the most important asset a person brings to the job of Member of Parliament is their desire to see for the citizens they represent the greatest good for the greatest number. This can only be found by returning to the faith of our fathers which built this dominion of Canada on principles of truth and justice. We are facing days where only a solid rock confidence in the wisdom and blessing of the God of the Bible, can be adequate in the face of the terrors of our enemies, and the careless complacency of our friends. This is the challenge I put before the voters of Calgary South-West in the upcoming election.
Edward Spronk - Edmonton East Riding
Ed was born on December 12, 1956, and he was raised in Edmonton, Alberta. He graduated from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology in 1976' Engineering and Design Technology, and went on to become a journeyman carpenter. He married Joanne in 1983 and they have been blessed with five children. He has been a residential contractor since 1980. Ed is a member of the Orthodox Reformed Church in Edmonton, where he has served as both elder and deacon. He was the Riding Chairman for CHP Edmonton-North in 1988.
Why do I want to be a candidate in the next federal election? I am compelled for love of God and my neighbour and also for our country. God has blessed our nation, so I am compelled to respond in thankfulness to God while there still is occasion to do so. I am obliged to resist the evil that I see working in the policies and edicts of our nation.
Alberta CHP President's Message
Sociologist Daniel Bell defines culture "as an effort to find a coherent set of answers to the existential situations that confront all of us in the passage of our lives." The operative word here is coherent. How do we find a coherent set of answers when the philosophy of our post-modern culture is relativism?
The theory of relativism cannot be true because its underlying premise is that everything is true. To illustrate the irrationality of relativism, the following is taken from Professor Allen Wood's notes of 1993 for a Cornell University philosophy class:
"The problem arises as soon as Protagoras [Greek philosopher] tries either to assert relativism to believe it. To assert a proposition is to say that it is true and its denial false. To believe a proposition is to believe it is true and its denial false. Thus if Protagoras asserts relativism, then he asserts that relativism is true, and that those (such as Plato) who deny relativism say and believe something false. Hence to be consistent Protagoras must concede that the denier of relativism says and believes something true. Consequently relativism is committed to saying that its own denial is true, and in this it refutes itself."
Thus he clearly manifested that relativism is flawed in its very presuppositions and its deductions.
Within our government and courts, we see the dilemma the prevailing philosophy of relativism presents in forming legislation and making court rulings. They cannot protect our children from predators and also protect the Charter rights of the pornographers, paedophiles, and pimps. They cannot sanction "same-sex marriage" and also grant exempting protection to the conscientiously objecting Christian church. They cannot protect the unborn child and the rights of the pro-abortion sector of society. Freedom has boundaries. When we have crossed he boundaries, we are no longer free. Democracy, without the under girding pillars of absolutes to sustain it, will ultimately crumble.
Ravi Zacharias, in his book Deliver Us From Evil, with clarity and insight shows how many of today's popular ideas, seemingly innocent thoughts and ideas, are vandalizing our culture. He calls them moods and they are intrinsically connected to relativism:
Secularization -- the process by which religious ideas, institutions, and interpretations have lost their social significance. The perspective that something is intrinsically good or bad (morally right or wrong) is lost and this mood has led to the loss of shame.
Pluralization -- the process in which there is a number of world-views available and no one view is dominant. This does away with truth; and leads to the loss of reason.
Privatization -- the process that compels individuals to restrict all their religious and spiritual beliefs and keep them to themselves. This conveys the false notion that what a person believes has no bearing on public life or political empowerment. Beliefs are reduced to being considered strictly emotive, and therefore, are no longer given any academic credence; thus leading to the loss of meaning.
The end result of the three moods is that we end up hurting others and ourselves.
Josh McDowell, a Christian author and speaker for Campus Crusade for Christ, succinctly explains "that where relativism is the prevailing cultural philosophy, there can be no justice". Since relativism implies that all ideas are equally true and right and there are no wrong ideas, it must follow that no matter what one believes or says then that belief or statement must be true and right. Justice implies that there is a hierarchy of ideas, and demands conformation to a law established on principles of right and wrong. Therefore, relativism and justice are mutually exclusive. Psalm 11:3 states, "When the foundations be destroyed, what is the Righteous One doing?"
Christ is calling for His own to rebuild the foundations, and He is that foundation: the Way, the Truth, and the Life. The Christian churches are God's ordained institutions of mercy to proclaim this truth to the heart and soul of the nation. Government is God's ordained institution to exercise justice, to reconcile liberty with law. Our Founding Fathers recognized this fact. This is still clearly attested to in the preamble of our Charter, which states, "Whereas Canada was founded upon the principles of the supremacy of God and the rule of law..." Also, the lintels of the Peace Tower are inscribed with three relevant Bible verses: Psalm 72:1 and 8, and Proverbs 29:18.
The Christian Heritage Party is the only federal political party that holds to this fundamental principle and seeks to present this truth to the Canadian voters. We are the only party that is able to give coherent answers to the existential situations that confront us as a society, because we seek to be faithful to our principles bases on the Absolute Truth, the unchanging and objective standard for all mankind.
When the contest comes in the next election, will there be a voice for solid principles in your riding?
Sya Strydhorst
Edmonton-East Election Readiness Report/
The election team consisting of eight dedicated members continues to meet weekly since the beginning of March. The preparation of three election brochures, its content and targets, consumes much of the time in the meetings.
A dedicated telephone number and e-mail address have been activated and a new web page is under construction. An Auditor and Official Agent have been established. The Candidate continues to study the handbook and three video tapes prepared by the Election Readiness Committee for CHP candidates.
Letters requesting for volunteers to help in the election have been mailed out to the membership in the greater Edmonton area ridings. Some committee members have made personal letters to go out in their various churches to potential members and/or volunteers for their support.
The committee is now in the process of gathering the required number of signatures to file the nomination papers with Elections Canada.
When the election is called we hope to be ready with our volunteers, brochures, signs, and speeches to give the people of Edmonton-East a responsible alternative.
Alberta Provincial President's Report
Sya Strydhorst
As the days lengthen and the temperature grows gradually warmer, we anticipate the arrival of spring, a season of growth and development. As the Alberta provincial board of the CHP, we wish you warm greetings and encouragement.
On February 26 and 27, the CHP National Board met in Welland, Ontario. There were very encouraging developments in the CHP in BC, Toronto, and Halifax.
But much work still needs to be done to increase our membership, organize CHP riding associations where there still are none, raise candidates in preparation for the pending election, and to get the message out that there is still a voice for principled politics.
Even though the government of this nation is a political quagmire, the Christian Heritage Party has continued to stay the course, holding firm to "the supremacy of God and rule of law" clause of the preamble of the Canadian Constitution. And although media has continued to ignore the CHP, those that do know us are bewildered that we are still in existence. We thank you, our members, who have steadfastly continued to give prayerful and financial support and we thank God for you.
With the amalgamation of the two "conservative" federal parties, the "centre" shifts ever more to the left. Depending on who will be elected as the leader of the new Conservative Party, the difference will be only one of degrees, but shift it will. One Canadian Alliance MP stated that if you look at the CA and PC parties constitutionally, there was 95 percent agreement of policies on issues. He only cited bilingualism and sexual orientation in regards to the criminal code as two points of disagreement. He continued, "That's not really that important. What's really important is that we be allowed to vote freely the will of the people who put us in office." The fact that the sexual orientation issue destroys the family, the foundational unit of society, seemed not to be of major concern " that fundamental issue too could be compromised for the sake of getting rid of the Liberals." The Liberals had a leadership convention last November, and Parliament had been prorogued. It used to be that all legislation on the table would die. But under new rules, unfinished legislation may be re-introduced into the House. The battle regarding child pornography, hate crimes legislation, sex offenders registry, decriminalisation of marijuana, and human reproduction technologies continues.
Former Prime Minister Jean Chretien's election promise of Proportional Representation also never materialized.
Given the impasse of political choices, CHP would also like to see growth; so that when the election is called, there will be a pro-life, pro-family option for all the voters on Election Day 2004 in Canada. To date we have four constituencies in Alberta where that option is available: Calgary West, Edmonton-East, Lethbridge, and Yellowhead. If the writ is dropped after April second, Alberta will be officially divided into twenty-eight federal electoral districts. That leaves twenty-four ridings within our province that will not have the opportunity to vote for a political party that has policies that are based on unalterable principles -- unless there are willing and able workers and members willing to take the stand for righteousness in the civil realm.
The Christian Heritage Party has an Election Readiness Team (ERT) that has put together a wonderful package for the candidate: training, speeches, advertisements, mock forums, and other useful material for running an effective election campaign. The one crucial element that the ERT cannot provide for the riding is the candidate and his team. The choice is before you: "Will you do nothing to make a difference -- in effect concur with the direction in which this nation at present is bent?" or "Will you prepare to do your part for the sake of your family, your neighbour, and your Creator God?"
Please feel free to call me, or one of the other board members, if you decide to put feet to the responsible alternative political choice in your constituency.
From the Provincial Secretary's Desk
Nellie Slingerland
Once again we send greetings from the provincial Board. The turmoil around the nation does not forecast much good. The government of this day is full of corruption. It's time the nation looks for better governance. Will you all help to turn the ship of state in the right direction? Our Board is encouraging everyone to get active. Promote the CHP to your friends and family. We must be heard! Mr. Gray, our leader, sends out his messages every week. Please get a copy to stay informed. We may have an election soon, so we have to get the CHP message out. If you would like to meet your Provincial Board members you may come to one of our meetings (4 times a year): Please phone me at (403) 345-3205 and I'll tell you where and when we meet.
Let us be a light for our nation. People must have the opportunity to fulfill their potential, but there is no freedom without responsibility. Freedom is not liberty to do whatever we want, but the liberty to do and become what we ought. Mr. Gray is sending an important and long overdue message for Canadians to insist that our governments and courts STOP acting like enemies of the Judeo-Christian culture that built Western civilization, and restore our God-given liberties.
Hope you all enjoy receiving this newsletter again. Send comments or questions to our board; we love to hear from you.
Alberta Treasurer's Report
Jacob Bosch
Since the last newsletter our bank balance has improved from $400 to $1350.60 as at the end of February. This improvement was mainly due to the advertising that was purchased for our November newsletter and this one. A special thank-you to our advertisers for making these newsletters possible. As we gear up for the next election we would ask you for your financial support. Please either send it to the National Board or to your local Riding Association's treasurer, who will then forward it to the National Board. However since we are planning to run at least 4 candidates in Alberta for the party, they will need funds also. Once the writ is dropped and the candidates have been approved by the returning officer they are able to collect funds, and therefore able to issue tax deductible receipts. We would ask that you support these candidates not only financially, but also prayerfully, and by volunteering your time for their campaigns, especially if they are running in your Riding.
As for the present, the party cannot issue tax deductible receipts, since we lost our registered party status at the last election, as was explained in our previous newsletter. However, we hope to regain this status after the election.
From the Lethbridge President
Barend Van Maanen
Dear CHP Friends!
Another note from down under, in the Lethbridge riding! Yes, we might as well broadcast this first: Lethbridge is also going to have a C.H.P. candidate. We have had a busy winter, phoning all the members to get some feelings and membership renewals, and as the big result, a candidate. April 1 we hope to hold our annual general meeting, and then we will go through nomination and election procedures. This meeting will be at the Sandman Inn in Lethbridge, and I'm sure some of you would like to come down. You can reserve dinner tickets by phoning Nel (403-345-3205) or Barend (403-732-4955).
The big question now is when the election will be called. It is indeed very sad to see the state our government is in today. (I always thought that government was there to serve us, and not the other way around!) And of course, they promise to get to the bottom of the scandal. But I believe that when we put the truth and moral principles away, then only lies will stay.
Dear friends, at election time we all have to make a CHOICE! And that choice is really not that hard; if only we use common sense then all of us must realize that there is only ONE party with moral principles. But we have to do more than that. Help your local board, get involved, recruit some more members, give financial support, all these things are necessary if we want to send MPs to Ottawa. Please think of your children and grandchildren when you donate. What kind of Canada would you like for them? Canada has been richly blessed in the past with an abundance of freedom and natural resources, etc.
Dear friends, please consider prayerfully the urgent need to continue supporting the only federal party that bases all its policies on God's Word. The need has never been greater!
We wish you all God^Òs blessing now and in the future.
Essay Contest
Attention Teachers and Students:
The Alberta Provincial Board for the CHP is planning to sponsor an essay contest in November 2004.
We would like to encourage students to submit a paper on the topic:
Why Canada Needs a Political Party Based on Her Christian Heritage
There will be three prizes awarded according to the following categories:
Grades 5-6 500 words - $50.00 Grades 7-9 1000 words - $100.00 Grades 10-12 1500 words - $200.00Please keep this information in mind when making study plans for the upcoming school year. Information packages will be sent to schools and individuals in the upcoming weeks.
For more information contact:
John and Felicia Wierenga.
Ph/fax 780-674-6906;
email flyingwv@telus.net
Uploaded July 3, A.D. 2004