Participants:
Series Code: JFAN
Program Code: JFAN000145S
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00:00 (dramatic triumphant music)
00:12 (dramatic triumphant music continues) 00:21 - Hello and welcome to the "Jesus for Asia Now" 00:24 2022 Christmas special. 00:27 I'm Natalie Wood, and my husband Jon is here with me today. 00:30 Hello, love. 00:31 - Hi, darling, how are you? 00:32 - I'm doing fine. - Good. 00:34 - You know, one of the things that's great, 00:35 about the end of the year, 00:37 is we look back at the things 00:39 that we have to be thankful for. 00:41 - Yeah. - And how fast 00:42 this year has flown by. 00:44 - I know, it's so fast. 00:45 I can't believe we're almost to the end of 2022. 00:48 - I know, it's crazy. - Yeah. 00:51 - And we have a few highlights 00:52 that we'd like to share today. 00:53 - Yes. 00:54 - What's our first highlight? 00:55 - Well, it's the Norton family, 00:57 but this is in kind of a prayer walk group, okay? 01:00 So we've done prayer walks in different cities, 01:02 and this is the first city where God answered our prayers 01:06 in a strong and powerful way, 01:07 by bringing the Norton family to that city. 01:10 A city that previously 01:12 had no Adventist presence whatsoever. 01:14 - Right. 01:15 - And so we've got a little clip, 01:17 them talking about the ministry that they're doing 01:19 in this unreached city. - Right. 01:22 - But we do envision 01:24 the ability to continue 01:28 bringing in more kids, 01:30 kids that really need help 01:32 and having a place where they can be safe. 01:35 (gentle melancholic music) 01:37 - God has brought children and staff here. 01:40 But instead of seeing the children as the ministry, 01:44 seeing them as part of the team, 01:47 the ministry team that God is establishing here. 01:50 And so, really trying to instill in each person, 01:54 each of us adults and children alike. 01:56 This passion for taking the gospel out there. 02:01 Big vision wise for the future, 02:04 and however long it is that we have to work, 02:07 would be just that we would be praying for these people 02:10 that even before we would go out 02:12 and talk with them or pray with them, 02:14 or put anything into their hands for them to read, 02:16 that we would be asking for the spirit to go 02:18 and do the softening of the hearts 02:20 and the preparatory work that needs to happen 02:22 for them to sort of have those divine encounters 02:28 that God wants, 02:30 but that we tend to shy away from. 02:33 - And since this video is made, 02:36 they have taken in 11 more children. 02:38 So, how many children do they have currently 02:41 on their property? 02:42 - They have 25. 02:43 - 25 Kids. - Yep. 02:45 - Now, what's so exciting about this, 02:46 isn't just that they're giving these kids a better life, 02:49 but they're protecting them from the flesh trade. 02:52 - Right. 02:54 - So if anybody's really interested 02:55 in saving young girls and young boys from the flesh trade, 03:00 this is the best way to do it. 03:01 Save them and protect them 03:02 before they get into that. - Right. 03:04 - But not only are they saving them from the flesh trade, 03:08 they are introducing them to Christ 03:10 in a family kind of atmosphere. 03:12 - Right, God is really blessing. 03:14 - Definitely. 03:15 - So the next one is another prayer walk. 03:17 - Okay. - And this is Kantharalak.. 03:19 - Okay. 03:20 - We just finished the virtual prayer walk. 03:24 I was walking around so the people could see 03:28 the people that they were praying for, 03:30 the city that they were praying for. 03:31 And it was really a precious, precious time together 03:34 of praying for God to work in this city, 03:38 in the hearts of the people here. 03:40 And as one of the sisters prayed it, 03:42 it just really struck me. 03:43 She was praying about how in the Bible, 03:47 you know, those who were raised from the dead, 03:49 they're dead. 03:50 They cannot cry out. 03:51 They cannot call for help, they're dead. 03:54 But someone else can call and pray, and cry out, 03:57 and raise them up. 03:59 And that's the same here. 04:00 People are spiritually dead. 04:02 They're in spiritual darkness. 04:03 They don't know that there's a God they can cry to 04:07 and receive help, and receive joy and peace, 04:09 and salvation in eternal life. 04:12 And it was just a really, really precious time together 04:15 of praying. 04:17 And I'm so looking forward to seeing 04:19 what God is going to do here 04:22 because of those prayers. 04:25 - We love these prayer walks. - Yes. 04:26 - And we had another one. - Yes. 04:28 - This year. - Mm-hmm. 04:29 - And so we have a little clip from that one. 04:31 - Okay. 04:32 (gentle serene music) 04:37 - Let's not be afraid, 04:39 but just have faith in the Word of God 04:41 and what he's gonna be doing today. 04:43 So, go ahead and let's begin and pray, 04:46 and let's see what God does here 04:49 in this big 180,000 population 04:53 district of Bangkok. 04:56 (gentle serene music continues) 05:04 - [Prayer Member 1] Lord, here is a place, 05:05 where people are eating and drinking, 05:08 and marrying, and giving in marriage, 05:09 and they have no idea what's coming upon the world. 05:12 But Lord, they need help. 05:14 They need hope. 05:15 And so we're praying, Lord, 05:16 for this city that is destined for destruction, 05:19 that you would destine for salvation. 05:22 - [Prayer Member 2] I would like to claim Joshua 1:3, 05:26 wherever You will, that the soul of Your foot, 05:29 I have already given unto You. 05:31 We put our foot on Bang Khun Thian, 05:34 we Father, we claim these people for Your kingdom. 05:38 - I look at some of those buildings 05:40 and it's like, you know, they're apartment complexes, 05:42 and so many people live there 05:43 that have never had an opportunity. 05:45 - It's hard to grasp the idea of somebody 05:48 that's never heard the name of Jesus Christ. 05:49 But we've talked to people, 05:51 and, "Have you," you know, 05:52 "How old were you when you heard the name of Jesus?" 05:54 "I was 40 years old." - Yeah. 05:56 - "How did you hear?" 05:57 "Well, the first time I heard, 05:58 was when a missionary couple came 06:00 and planted a church here." 06:02 So there was an intentional outreach to that community, 06:06 and that's how she heard. 06:07 And so this needs to happen many, many, 06:10 many more times than what we see happening. 06:12 - Mm-hmm. - Today. 06:13 - The next little highlight we have, 06:14 - Mm-hmm. - is about another way 06:16 of getting the gospel out. 06:18 - Yes. 06:19 - You know, in America we have literature 06:21 that we can pass out. 06:23 But over here, 06:24 we haven't had anything in the local language, 06:28 other than like one or two, or three, 06:30 you know, Ellen White Books. 06:33 I was deeply impressed that we need to get the message 06:37 before the people. 06:38 And I was impressed that we needed to write. 06:41 So Jason actually, 06:44 he had been impressed that he needed to write, 06:47 and he had written a small book, 06:49 and he asked if I would help out with the printing of it. 06:53 So I offered to type it out on the computer 06:56 and get a printer 06:57 so that we could start publishing it. 07:01 - And can you imagine 07:02 that over the course of this last year, during 2022, 07:05 they've handed out way over a hundred thousand 07:09 of these little booklets? 07:10 - Wow, and they have a big vision. 07:12 - Yes. - There are a few books 07:15 that are translated that need printed. 07:17 - Mm-hmm. - They're like, 07:18 "We could use a million dollars-" 07:20 - Yes. - "Worth of printed 07:21 materials right now." 07:22 - That's right. 07:23 - And so it's a big prayer. - Yeah. 07:25 - But God's will is for His Word to go 07:28 like the leaves of Autumn. 07:29 - And I think it's because we have a short time left. 07:32 It's a short time that God wants to accomplish a major work. 07:36 - So our next one- - Uh-huh. 07:37 - Is from Bangladesh about Bible workers. 07:39 - Okay. 07:40 - There was a group of about 40 Bible workers 07:44 that were part of a project 07:45 that was run by the previous Union Mission president, 07:48 but the funding for that was running out. 07:50 - Hmm. 07:51 - And they wanted these workers 07:52 to be able to keep up their ministries. 07:55 The church in Bangladesh doesn't have a lot of funding 07:58 to hire pastors and teachers. 08:01 They have a college there where they train people 08:04 for jobs like that, 08:05 but they just don't have enough money 08:06 to hire as many people as needed. 08:08 So, this project was supposed to help with that. 08:11 And then the funding was ending, 08:12 so they needed new sponsors. - Hmm. 08:14 - And so we went to go see some of the Bible workers 08:17 and find out more about what that need was, 08:19 so that potentially we could take them on. 08:22 - Okay, all right. 08:23 So we have a picture. 08:24 - Yeah. 08:26 So this is a smaller group of some of the Bible workers 08:28 that we met while we were there. 08:30 We didn't get to meet all of them, but you know, 08:33 a couple dozen of them we were able to meet 08:35 and do interviews with. 08:36 And that was a huge blessing. 08:38 - Okay, so how many total Bible workers 08:40 are there initially that they were looking for? 08:44 - 40. 08:45 - Okay. - There were 40 Bible workers. 08:47 - We hired 40 at once. 08:49 - And there's so much need there. 08:50 - We've added a few since then, 08:52 but they need more. - Yes. 08:53 - So our next exciting project, 08:55 our highlight from this year- - Mm-hmm. 08:58 - Is from Cambodia. 08:59 - So the Howells have chosen to train these young students 09:04 to speak English, 09:06 so they can go overseas and get an education, 09:08 and come back and bring that advanced training 09:11 back into the church there in Cambodia. 09:14 - Yeah, that'll be such a great blessing. 09:16 - Oh, it'll be huge. 09:17 - All right, let's watch that one. 09:18 - Okay. 09:19 (gentle inspirational music) 09:21 - When we made a decision for them to go to the Philippines, 09:24 I realized we needed to teach them English. 09:26 So in January, everybody moved from Siem Reap to Battambang. 09:30 And we've been living in huts, ever since. 09:33 And we've been teaching them English every day, 09:38 trying to get them ready to go there. 09:41 I do my part, they do their part, and God do the rest. 09:44 (gentle inspirational music) 09:45 - So a typical day, 09:47 we start worship at seven. 09:50 And then by 7:45, 8 o'clock the latest, 09:53 we start English. 09:55 And we go until 11 o'clock. 09:58 And then, we have a two hour lunch break, 10:01 and we go from 1 till about 4:35 o'clock. 10:05 We have worship, and then we're finished for the day. 10:12 And so throughout the day, we're doing dictation, 10:14 we're doing grammar, we're doing phonetics, 10:18 we're doing reading. 10:22 Just about everything you need to learn in English. 10:25 It helps when you have students who want to be here, 10:29 who want to learn. 10:30 It makes the job a lot easier. 10:36 - The Howells are definitely experiencing growth time. 10:38 - Yes. 10:40 - As well as the young people that they're working with. 10:41 - Absolutely. 10:42 So this next project is close to my heart. 10:44 - Yep. 10:46 - We had just finished building our first studio 10:47 in northern Thailand. 10:48 We came home and we showed the show on 3ABN. 10:53 And one of our donors emailed us and said, 10:56 "How much did that studio cost?" 10:58 "How much was the truck?" 11:00 "How much are the, everything included?" 11:03 And so we told them what this, what the amount was, 11:07 and they said, "We've been praying," 11:10 "I've," this is the wife saying, 11:11 "I've been praying that the Lord would develop 11:14 some kind of income that was not our normal flow, 11:20 not the normal way that we could use for God's work." 11:22 - Hmm. 11:23 - "And it looks like He is providing that." 11:25 - Wow. 11:26 - "And so we have funds, 11:27 we would like to sponsor another studio." 11:31 - Wow. (Jon chuckles) 11:33 - But they says, "We're not sure we have it. 11:34 We think we have. 11:35 It looks like it's gonna work, 11:36 but we will let you know as soon as we're sure." 11:40 And so I went back to Thailand. 11:43 While I was stuck in quarantine for 10 days. 11:46 We got the message that 11:49 it was came through. - Those funds were coming. 11:50 - Yes. 11:52 At the end of three weeks, we did our first filming. 11:55 This was a Friday. 11:56 And our first filming was done in Thai. 12:00 - Okay. 12:01 - Our first filming was done in Karen. 12:04 - Okay. 12:05 - And then our first filming was done in Burmese. 12:08 - Wow. 12:09 - So we went from nothing. 12:10 From no- - No facility. 12:11 - No studio, no team, no equipment, 12:16 except, you know, 12:17 the used stuff. - The used. 12:18 - To a studio, a team, 12:22 doing their own production. - Equipment. 12:23 Production. - Filming in three weeks. 12:26 Three weeks from zero to production. 12:28 - That is insane. 12:30 (Jon gasps) 12:31 That is totally a God thing. 12:32 That's why we said this is miracle, 12:34 after miracle, after miracle. 12:35 - Yes. 12:36 - Because that's, 12:37 it was a miracle that you found that house. 12:39 - Yes. 12:40 - That it was wide enough. - Yes. 12:41 - It was a miracle that he helped you to get the equipment. 12:44 It was a miracle that he provided the workers. 12:46 - Yes. 12:48 - Their heart to serve Him is a miracle. 12:49 - Yes. 12:50 - It's just, yeah. (Jon laughs) 12:51 So many beautiful miracles. 12:53 - One miracle after another. 12:54 - Yeah. 12:55 - I'm still blown away by that whole thing that God did, 12:58 that string of miracles that God did. 12:59 - It's a beautiful thing. 13:00 - Yes, and it's continuing to grow. 13:02 - Right, our next highlight is about Jim and Irene Hill. 13:06 - Uh-huh. - Now, what's special 13:07 about Jim and Irene? 13:08 - Well, Jim and Irene are at the age 13:09 where they should just kick back in an easy chair. 13:12 - Or, you know, 13:13 put around their own garden here at home. 13:15 - But let's look at that video 13:17 and we can see a different story. 13:19 - Okay. 13:20 - One of the things that's particularly true about Asia 13:23 is they have great respect for age. 13:26 - Hmm. 13:27 - So you have an opportunity for influence there 13:30 that you don't have here. - Hmm. 13:32 - And even if you're old enough 13:34 or physically challenged enough 13:36 that you can't do what you used to be able to do, 13:38 it doesn't matter, 13:40 because there are all kinds of younger people over there 13:41 who can work. 13:44 We're going to a school with over a hundred kids 13:47 and we're supposed to develop a work program. 13:50 So we don't have to worry about that. 13:51 (congregate chuckles) 13:52 - So you don't have to work? 13:53 - No, I will work. (Jon chuckles) 13:55 I will work hard, but I don't have to do it all myself. 13:57 - Yeah. 13:58 - But I won't work. 14:00 And that's because I have Parkinson's. 14:02 And I, even though I have Parkinson's, 14:05 it's very slowly progressing. 14:07 And if I go, Jim can go, and Jim can be an influence. 14:11 And regardless of Parkinson's, 14:13 we each have an influence about us- 14:15 - [Congregation] Yeah. - That we share. 14:18 And so I can be a spiritual influence. 14:20 And an example, 14:22 even though I may not be able to function like I once did. 14:24 - [Congregation] Amen. - God doesn't need people 14:26 to do things. 14:28 He needs willing hearts so He can do things. 14:30 - [Congregation] Amen. 14:31 - The man that called us here, 14:33 we asked him what his vision was, 14:34 and he said, "Just live your life. Just be Christian. 14:38 Just be an influence." 14:40 So that's what we're doing. 14:42 - I'm not going to retire. 14:43 That's not part of how I'm gonna live my life. 14:46 You know, all the things that I've seen, 14:48 have sort of anchored this point that people who retire 14:53 and don't engage in some useful activity 14:56 will wither away and die. 14:58 So I don't want to, 15:00 to ever sit in a rocking chair on the porch 15:02 and watch life go by. 15:04 I want to be involved. 15:05 I want to be doing something useful. 15:09 And you know, when I don't have to depend on a paycheck, 15:12 then I can depend on the Lord 15:14 to provide something for me to do 15:16 that'll be useful to Him and to His children 15:19 on this earth. 15:21 - You know, I love what Irene said in the first part there. 15:23 - Mm. - Where she said, 15:24 "God's not looking for people to do things. 15:26 He's looking for willing hearts." 15:28 And I think that is so powerful, 15:30 that concept that He just needs people. 15:33 - Yes. 15:34 - That will humbly do what He's asking them to do, 15:37 no matter what it is, 15:38 no matter where it is. - Mm-hmm. 15:40 And the next project that we're talking about 15:42 is also in Thailand. - Right. 15:43 - And it's a miracle 15:44 because the family that had started this project 15:47 had to go home. 15:48 We weren't sure what was gonna happen, 15:50 but God had everything planned out. 15:51 And the new family, 15:53 the Kennedy's came and were looking for an opportunity 15:56 to serve God. - Right. 15:58 - The potential of this place is un-immeasurable. 16:00 - Right. - Because they're 400 feet 16:02 from a university with over 500,000 students. 16:06 - Let's play that. - Okay. 16:08 - [Natalie] So we're talking about F5. 16:10 - [Jon] Yes. - [Natalie] What is F5? 16:11 - [Jon] F5 is a brand start in America. 16:13 And it's all about fitness as an evangelistic tool. 16:17 - [Natalie] Right. 16:18 - [Jon] As a way to bring people in healthy lifestyle, 16:20 activity, adventure. 16:21 Perfect for the location right next to the large university. 16:25 - [Natalie] Right. 16:26 - [Jon] Originally, 16:27 their idea was to either have a fruit smoothie shop, 16:29 a restaurant, or a climbing wall. 16:31 - [Natalie] Right. 16:32 - [Jon] But the Lord- - [Natalie] One of those. 16:33 - [Jon] Yes. (chuckles) 16:34 But the Lord moved them to a building that was so large 16:37 that they could do all of them. 16:39 - [Natalie] Right. (Jon chuckles) 16:40 - I came to Thailand 13 years ago when I was 17 16:43 with my entire family. 16:45 And we came for the first time with one way tickets. 16:48 I was really upset about coming. 16:50 I always say that I came kicking and screaming, 16:53 and it took me a few weeks 16:57 after visiting a little bamboo school. 17:00 And after spending a few days there, 17:02 they asked me if I would stay and teach. 17:05 And after seeing all the little children 17:08 and all they had been through, 17:09 this was in a refugee area, 17:11 I really fell in love with it for myself. 17:13 And I've really never left. 17:17 - So our goal is to have an area 17:18 where college students can come, study, 17:21 play games, we can engage with them. 17:23 Also, we're planning on having English lessons, 17:26 once or twice a week, 17:28 in order to be able to connect with them in that way 17:30 and start developing relationships. 17:32 And secondly of course, 17:34 is just making sure that we get the business 17:36 to a point where it is self-sustaining. 17:39 One of the amazing things 17:40 that was able to come out of Covid 17:42 was Brian had the opportunity to purchase property 17:45 about an hour and a half to two hours south of Bangkok. 17:49 It's an outdoor property 17:50 right next to some amazing rock climbing. 17:52 It's actually where we take people 17:54 to do an intro to rock climbing class, so to speak. 17:58 And so, that property we have a lot of plans for, 18:02 in terms of being able to create somewhere, 18:03 where we can take college students from outta the city, 18:06 go down, do camping trips. 18:08 But that's kind of a future plan. 18:11 And we'll be continuing developing that 18:13 over the next six months to a year. 18:16 But we are really excited to start preparing a place 18:19 where we can reach kids, 18:20 not just on a personal to person level here in Bangkok, 18:23 but actually get them out of the city 18:25 to be able to connect with God through nature. 18:29 - You know, they're running these trips, 18:30 taking 'em out into the mountains and climbing, 18:33 and they get 'em on the end of a rope. 18:34 It's a good opportunity to talk about faith. 18:36 (Natalie laughs) (Jon laughs) 18:38 - Yep. 18:39 Our next one is the miracle that we promised 18:40 at the beginning. - Okay. 18:41 - This is exciting. - Yes. 18:43 (gentle serene music) 18:46 - [Narrator 1] He stopped breathing. 18:47 His wife and children were crying. 18:50 - [Narrator 2] When Mar died, 18:51 I said, "Let me join him." 18:55 - [Narrator 1] They said, "We have lost our father." 18:59 - [Narrator 2] I had completely lost all hope 19:01 of ever seeing him again. 19:04 - [Narrator 1] His body was cold and stiff. 19:06 But I said, "We still have to pray and trust God." 19:10 We must not lose hope 19:11 that he will be given a second chance. 19:13 I prayed, you are the true God that raises the dead. 19:16 I believe you'll bring back his life 19:17 because You have the power. 19:19 But I also added, not because I have the ability, 19:21 but because You have the power. 19:24 As I prayed, the chilling wind entered my head, 19:27 and then filled my whole body. 19:28 It must have been the Holy Spirit. 19:30 I knew then that Mar's life would be restored. 19:33 - [Narrator 2] I was really losing hope 19:34 that he would be revived again. 19:36 - [Narrator 1] "If you were serious 19:37 in wanting your husband to live again, 19:38 you must trust the Lord with all your heart, 19:40 your strength, your soul, and your mind. 19:43 And he will live again," I said. 19:46 Mar's wife was quiet. 19:48 I asked her again, "Do you now believe?" 19:51 She replied, 19:53 "I now really believe that my husband will live again." 19:58 - [Narrator 3] The last thing I heard while I was dying 20:00 was my children crying. 20:02 (gentle inspirational music) 20:04 They say that I was dead. 20:06 Before I opened my eyes. 20:08 I saw a stunning bright light. 20:09 And that was why I woke up. 20:14 - [Narrator 1] He was dead for two hours, 20:15 from 3:00 PM until 5:00 PM. 20:19 Then he was raised up. 20:21 Then he stood up and said, 20:23 "I am strong, I am strong, I am no longer sick." 20:29 - [Narrator 3] I was given a second life. 20:33 I am very thankful that God is giving me life again 20:36 and gives me strength so I can worship Him continually. 20:41 - [Narrator 2] I'm so happy that he is alive, 20:43 but this time with the Lord. 20:48 - Praise the Lord. 20:49 That is a such- - That is a highlight, 20:50 not just of 2022. 20:51 This is a highlight of my life. 20:53 - Yeah. 20:54 - To see that God is still alive today, 20:56 still can raise the dead. 20:58 - So the next one we have- - Yes. 20:59 - Is exciting in a different way. 21:01 - This is a school that was established by three churches, 21:04 poor churches in an area 21:06 way up in the mountains of Manipur. 21:09 - Right. - India, over 50 years ago, 21:11 they started this school. 21:13 And praise God, 21:14 they're building a brand new school building, 21:16 a main administration block with classrooms. 21:20 And we just received funding for the last two classrooms 21:24 on the ground level of the school. 21:26 - Right. 21:27 - But let's show them a little clip about this school 21:29 and what it looks like and who's there. 21:31 - Okay. - And how cute the kids are. 21:32 - Oh, yeah, precious. (Jon laughs) 21:37 - Of course, we are getting a lot of pay 21:39 outside of Manipur, outside different places. 21:42 But here I'm getting just a small amount 21:45 with 6,000 to 7,000, maybe. 21:49 We have a better opportunity even till now and then, 21:55 like calling from different places. 21:56 "We need a music teacher, 21:57 we're gonna pay you 50,000 in a month." 21:59 And all those offers are there. 22:01 But I have a duty, 22:03 which I should do for our own church 22:06 and for our own people, 22:07 and for my own people. 22:09 So, I said no to those offers. 22:12 And then I'm here for whatever amount. 22:16 (teacher speaking in foreign language) 22:17 - Teachers are sacrificing only with 50 to $100 a month. 22:21 And knowing that our school has a very less income, 22:25 and the teachers are not getting their salary on time. 22:28 So, you know, 22:29 there comes a time we find very hard 22:32 for our parents to convince them to pay their dues 22:35 or their fees every month. 22:37 And then when the teachers, you know, come and tell. 22:39 Because they come and ask, 22:41 "Sir, we have no option then to ask the money from you." 22:46 But again, I have no resource, no income for the school. 22:49 So like, you know, all those challenges were there. 22:52 - The third one. 22:54 If we have to compare it in terms of money, 22:57 and in terms of value, 22:59 I would say it is very, very hard 23:01 to keep us ourselves motivated 23:04 for this small amount of money, 23:06 that we have to sacrifice the whole day, 23:08 the whole month, the whole year. 23:12 But, knowing that this is the only school, 23:16 and this is the first school 23:20 from this whole area, Khoupum area. 23:22 And knowing that it is an Adventist school, 23:24 and I'm an Adventist, 23:26 so I want this school to keep on going. 23:29 So with whatever I can, 23:32 I want the school to keep on going, 23:35 - [Teacher] Okay. 23:37 - I came to know this is the best school, 23:40 which we can learn a good thing, discipline, 23:43 whatever we need. 23:45 This is a place, I wish we can get. 23:48 - When I see the children smile, 23:51 when they come in and walk in, you know? 23:52 And then knowing if I stopped, 23:56 where these children will go? 23:59 And this is the only Adventist school. 24:02 And me being, becoming an Adventist through school, 24:06 and if I have to give up, 24:08 or if I have to stop, 24:10 and seeing those children again, 24:12 I should never do that 24:13 because those children will lost. 24:17 They will lost. 24:18 (children laughing) (gentle melancholic music) 24:22 - Praise the Lord. - Yes. 24:23 - You know, only God gives that kind of heart. 24:25 - Yes. - And He will reward them. 24:27 They may be extremely poor in this life. 24:29 - Yes. 24:30 - Plans are being made 24:31 to make sure that the teachers 24:32 do get a regular, more regular stipend. 24:35 - Yes. - So we're thankful for that. 24:36 - Our last highlight for this time together 24:38 is a little closer to home. 24:40 - We are actually going to Collegedale, Tennessee. 24:43 - Okay, not that far away. 24:44 - So one of the things that people like to see sometimes 24:47 from ministries is kind of behind the scenes. 24:49 - Okay. 24:50 People that come to visit us, 24:51 for example. - Okay. 24:52 - They walk in our office door, 24:54 is the garage door. - Uh-huh. 24:56 - And they walk in through the garage door and they're here. 24:59 - Yeah. 25:00 - They come through here and they go into our office, 25:02 which is one room. 25:04 They see the whole room in seconds. 25:06 - Yep. - And then they're done. 25:08 That's the tour, so- 25:09 - What about the conference room? 25:10 (Natalie chuckles) 25:12 - The conference room? Oh, you mean the dining room? 25:13 - Oh, that yeah, that. 25:14 - Upstairs, yeah. - Uh-huh. 25:15 - And the other- - Yeah. 25:15 The kitchen is right there. 25:17 - Yeah. - Next to the dining room. 25:17 - And the editing room. 25:19 - Yeah, that's the living room. 25:21 - Right. 25:21 - And, (Jon laughs) 25:23 and then we do have an editing office 25:24 that you use sometimes 25:25 one of the bedrooms. - Uh-huh. 25:27 - So yeah, it's pretty short the tour. 25:30 - Yeah. (laughs) 25:31 - We've known for a number of years, 25:33 that in order to grow very much more, 25:36 we would need something else. 25:37 And we finally found something 25:39 that God seemed to be pointing at. 25:42 - Yes. - And what is that? 25:44 - Well, it's this property right down here in Collegedale. 25:46 It's a beautiful 1.5 acre. 25:49 We are beyond, you know, questioning, 25:52 that God has led us to this property. 25:54 - Right. 25:55 - And, put us together with a developer, 25:58 that owns the property, 26:00 that has faith, also. 26:02 - They actually started building. 26:03 The pictures that are showing on the screen, 26:06 show the story of what's been happening. 26:08 - Whoever heard of a developer starting to build on property 26:11 that hasn't been sold yet. 26:13 - Right - Before he's received 26:14 any money yet. 26:15 - Yeah, and so it's been faith challenging for that reason. 26:18 Also, because we don't want funds going to this, 26:22 that should be going out- - To Asia. 26:24 - To the field, yes. - Exactly. 26:26 - Because lives are important to us. 26:28 - What is one promise that God has given you, recently? 26:32 - As I was driving, I was praying out loud. 26:34 - Mm-hmm. - And two things 26:36 came into my mind. - Mm-hmm. 26:37 - One was Jeremiah 33:3, 26:39 which I know it in my head. - Mm. 26:41 - "Call into me and I will answer you 26:43 and show you great and mighty things, 26:45 which you don't know." - Mm. 26:47 - God has shown us that text in several other situations 26:50 where it was like, this is impossible. 26:52 - Yeah. - And then in my head, 26:54 I heard, "Arise and build," 26:55 like a command, 26:56 like, you know, "Do this," 26:58 kind of thing. - Wow. 26:59 - And so after I finished driving, 27:00 I looked it up and it was in Nehemiah 2:20. 27:03 "The God of heaven, He will prosper us, 27:05 therefore we, His servants will arise and build." 27:08 So our part as His servants is to go forward, 27:12 trusting that He's going to prosper us and pay for this. 27:16 And it's been a faith journey. 27:18 It's still a faith journey. 27:19 And every day we go there and we're just like, 27:21 "What is God doing today?" You know? 27:23 - And that's what our message to our audience is, 27:27 is that God is able. 27:30 He is worthy of our confidence. 27:32 He's worthy of our trust. 27:34 - Yeah, well, it is been an awesome reflection. 27:38 - Yes. - Of 2022. 27:39 - Amen. - I'm thankful for this. 27:41 - Yes. 27:42 - If you would like to be part of these highlighted projects 27:45 or any of our other projects, 27:46 please contact us at Jesus for Asia. 27:49 PO Box 1221, Collegedale, Tennessee 37315. 27:55 Call us at 423 413 7321. 27:59 Or visit our website at Jesus4asia.org. 28:04 Merry Christmas and may God richly bless you. 28:06 Until we see you next time on "Jesus for Asia Now." 28:09 (dramatic triumphant music) 28:24 (dramatic triumphant music continues) |
Revised 2022-12-20