ai)

Rav. Dr. Timothy Cooke
Contributing Columsist

DURING the spring millions of American high

school students submit applications to the colleges

of their choice, hoping for admission to an institu-
tion that will provide them with the tools to be
successful in a Fclentlessly competitive and increas-
ingly unstable world.

- One young woman attended the college orientation work-

shops, spoke fo various college recruiters, studied the course cata-

logs, visited the respective Web sites and chatted with various
alumni,

After this exhaustive and exhausting process, she had finally
arrived at a decision. She was convinced that out of the 6,000
undergraduate colleges in the United States, onc in distant, rural
Massachusetts was just the one for her.

She dutifully forwarded her transcripts, completed the
Scholastic Aptitude Test, and secured financing, for her proposed
course of study. But she ran into a problem.

Amid all-the essay questions about her avocations and convic-
tions, which she answered at great length, there was one very
direct question on the application form that troubled her decply. It
was one.of the few questions that required a simple yes or no.

‘Are you a ‘leader?

-»She.was an honest and conscientious person and so she). ~
responded no. She mailed her application with the sinking feeling
in hér heart that shie had just destroyed her chance of admissiort to
one’of the most prestigious collégestin New England, 3 place
- where she had pictured her adult life taking shape

' Ir-was, then, with considerable trepidation | that she opened the
tesponse from the admissions committee thrce months later. Te-was
not what she expected: :. au

coed, study’ of the lca forms reveals that this year our col-
lege ‘will have: 1452 new leaders. We are accepting you because we

SUNDAY: ‘WORSHIP
Sunday School & Nursery

HILLSEDE BAPTIST CHURCH

870 Lynn Valley Road, North Van
11 am - Morning Wosship
Nury & Children’s P
Pastore John Hardy, John Cuddeford
- Youth Pastor Ken Best - .

985-1122

"4044 St Georges Avenue
North Vancouver: 985-0408

ily Worship. .
(3 Highway. ]

rogramns to age 12 *

feel it is imperative that we have at least one follower.”
Finding self-contessed followers is not as casy as one might
expect,
College admission officers can testify that we live in a saciety
that places inordinate pressure carly on in fife for young people to
plan ahead, formulate career goals, assert themselves, to be cre-

_, ative, responsible, unique, irreplaceable individuals,

In short, our young people are expected not only to get their
acts together but to be hard acts tu follow.

Even a cursory glance at the mental health statistics for adoles-
cents suggests that many young people are being stressed for suc-
cess, If the information highway is the metaphor for the new econ-
omy, then many will never find the access road.

The Christian gospel has something powerfully meaningful to
say to people of all ages struggling in this cultural climate of high-
est expectation and radical uncertainty.

The gospel runs counter to the secular trend of people invent-
ing their own private universes of meaning where they create their
own definition of success and sacrifice whatever it rakes to be
acknowledged as a [eader in their career.

As Jesus once challenged his listeners, “What good is it for a

HOWE RELAY

for the kids”

man to gain the whole world, yer forfeit his sou”

Tt isa question that needs co be addressed at many stations in
life, not just among college applicants. Christians discern real spiti-
tual leadership among, those who have learned to follow in the way
of Jesus, where self-giving service, compassion and mercy are val-
ued as expressions of the transcendent love of God.

Gentine leadership, which inspires rather thant self promotes,
can be developed in following him, through whom we learn to set
our sights higher than what often passes today for a lifestyle worth
emulating, It is a spiritual education that is open to everyone will-
ing to discover the source of the way, the truth and the life.

— Rev, Dr. Timothy Cooke is the Rector at North Vancotever’s St.
Martin’s Anglican Church

SALAPAG
a

SHOWTIMES «
- Daily:

O% Micnany Jonvan
io PAPA

sarees WE
: svitat OF THE WitD

SHOWTIMES
Daily:
6, 8pm
Add't shows:
Sat & Sun -
12pm

SHOWTIMES
Daity:

7, \Opm
Add'l Shows:
Sat & Sun

.4:45pm

“Addl Shows: .:,
Sat & Sun
am, .1:45, 3:30pm fi:

ange without notice.

at the north end of Canada Place <0.
Call (604) 682-IMAX (4628)

Sunday Celebration Services ~9:00.& F ‘00am

Speaker - Pastor. Owen Scott *
C Full children's’ program offered in botti sete)

1 ~ tynn Malley Futi Gospel Church, 1160 E, 28th St.
North Vancouver, B.C. Ph, 960: OBOT
1 astoral Gtath Owen Scott, Glen Ryland, Marcal Kurtz, Melonla adore ~
"14 Valley Church le made up of ordinary peopie .

whoee lives hive been touched

. Si jouNs ANGLICAN
*200-Hlock West 13th North Van,

"SUNDAY SERVICES: 8 & 10-am
+ Nursery & Sunday School at 10:00

986-1151,

By the person of Jesiis Christ

: music by the:
award-winning Senior and
Junior Treble and Cel

« Choirs with Peter.

” Pastor Jamey McDonald

* Does Jesus ‘Make a ire in
Penge, Lives?.. °°

; -Moming Worshi

10am.

child care. is always provided on Sunday, mornings)

el