“We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and his teaching in our past history.”
Testimonies volume 9
“God has given our sanitariums an opportunity to set in operation a work that will be as a stone instinct with life, growing as it is rolled by an invisible hand. Let this mystic stone be set in motion.”
Testimonies volume 7
Looking back it is encouraging to see how God has led a small, uninfluential, money-less, minimally-experienced group of Adventist young people thus far. Let’s never give up on our vision to establish Adventist healthcare systems across Canada initiated by the mysterious power of Adventist sanitariums.
The Mystic stone has been set in motion and it will only continue to grow.
Timeline of Key events
Mid to late 2000’s - GYC shapes a generation
The GYC movement is taking North American Adventist youth culture by storm. Groups of young people from Ontario and Quebec are attending the GYC meetings and are being inspired to dream big for God.
2009 - In This Generation
Young people start a GYC-like youth conference in Ontario called: Eastern Canada Youth Conference. These annual meetings become a networking hub for like-minded youth and young adults from Ontario and Quebec. A common vision is born: The Adventist gospel. To all Canada. In this generation.
2010’s - The Blue Print emerges
A small group of young people connected through the GYC / ECYC movement, are meeting together to pray for revival and studying how to best do evangelism, especially in the large cities. They come across Ellen White’s counsel to establish sanitariums outside every large city, with clinics, vegetarian restaurants and health-focused churches in the cities. One of them is inspired after reading through elder Ted Wilson’s PhD thesis on urban missionary work. This group starts dreaming of what this evangelism template could look like in Ontario. They call the plan: The Blue Print.
Feb 2018 - Centers of Influence Forum with It is Written Canada
GYC Eastern Canada and It Is Written Canada partner to host the Centers of Influence summit. Speakers like David Trim and Gary Krause share about reaching the large cities using Christ’s method of meeting peoples’ needs. The Blue print is reinforced.
Fall 2018/early 2019 - Starting from scratch
To avoid the inertia of trying to change already established churches, a small group of friends from across the GTHA (Pickering, Toronto, Listowell, Hamilton, and eventually even from as far away as Campbellford) start monthly gatherings in Newmarket at a friend’s home. These meetings become the incubator for the Blue print vision.
2019 - Seeking the Money
Needing access to funds, the friends place their hopes on the General Conference Urban Centers of Influence funding initiative. Work on the application begins in earnest. Elder Jakov Bibulovic (then executive secretary of the Ontario Conference, and current President of OC) who also had a similar vision and burden, encourages the group to move forward. As the young people work on other components of the Blue print, Elder Jakov works the levers of power within the denomination to secure the UCI funding. It took much longer than expected but patience eventually will pay off when funding comes in a few years later. Having an ally in church leadership is always a bonus!
2019 - Discovery of Paradise Fields
A close friend meets up with a wealthy Adventist real estate developer in the Hamilton area. He finds out this man runs a large organic farm called Paradise Fields and also plans to build a lifestyle center.
2020 - Meeting at Paradise fields
The real estate developer is seeking a business manager for Paradise Fields. Providentially, one of the young people gets the job. Soon, a meeting is arranged for the group to visit the farm. It was a strange meeting of sorts; an experienced business man in his retirement years facing a group in their early 30’s. But the match was oddly perfect: we brought the energy, he brought the money. Both had a similar vision.
Jan/Feb 2021 - Newmarket Church plant becomes official
The Ontario Conference’s metro north central ministerium votes to officially support the Newmarket church plant. The Newmarket church plant continues to meet in homes and at the Lion’s Hall Community center. They will eventually start doing community outreach programs like Lunch with the Doctor. The first component of the Blue Print is in place.
2021 - You are the King
While driving together, the new business manager of Paradise Fields shares to the real estate developer about the comprehensive Blue print vision. He said: Like Nehemiah, we want to build, but we need a king to support the work. You are the King!
Summer 2021 - The Rawley Five
A group of five hold a weekend retreat at the Rawley Resort in Severn Ontario to lay down plans for the Blue print. They called themselves: The Rawley Five; the inner circle who would steward the implementation of the Blue print.
Fall 2021 - Restore Life health retreat
A 5-day health retreat called Restore Life is held at an Air bnb in Caledon, Ontario owned by the sister of one of our friends. This retreat was pivotal because it brought together for the first time, the core team for future OWIPs. With only 4 patients, it represented small beginnings but in reality it was a big step forward.
Nov 2021 - One Week in Paradise!
30 + Adventists, mostly young people, come together to run the very first One Week in Paradise health program at Camp Frenda for 20 guests. It was a powerful weekend and was evidence that God was moving with the group. Since then, there have been 8 One Week in Paradise retreats and still counting. The sanitarium vision is coming to life!
Jan 2022 - Launch of Lifestyle is Medicine Institute
Sensing a need for more trained clinicians to staff OWIP, the Lifestyle is Medicine Institute is started. The first program launched is the hydrotherapy certificate program with 4 students. Since then, the Hydrotherapy program has trained over 30 Adventist lay members in hydrotherapy.
Dec 2022 - Launch of Clinical Nutritionist program
Lifestyle is Medicine Institute launches a clinical internship to develop the clinical skills of Adventist nutritionists. They use OWIP as the main training ground. 2 students join the initial cohort.
Summer 2023 - Paradise Health Clinic opens doors!
Through funding from the Seventh-day Adventist church and other donors, a new Clinic - Church Center of Influence opens up in Newmarket. It becomes the new home for the Newmarket Adventist church group which had up to this time been worshipping in homes or at the Newmarket Lion’s community center. The Blue Print vision has just become real.
2023 - Launch of Humble Herbals
One of the Rawley Five launches a botanical medicines product line. The vision is expanding and becoming multi-faceted.
2024 - Launch of Paradise HOME
A 3-year training program is launched with the goal of training more entrepreneurial leaders. These leaders will help establish new institutions so that the Blue print vision can expand across Ontario and Canada.
2025 - OWIP goes to British Columbia!
Inspired by OWIP Ontario, the health ministries committee of the BC conference decides to launch their own OWIP at Camp Hope. The first program will be June 2025. The vision has gone national!
2027 - Paradise Retreat
The dream to have a permanent sanitarium in Ontario will become a reality when the Paradise Retreat center opens in Binbrook, Ontario.