Participants:
Series Code: ASAP
Program Code: ASAP000002
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00:12 When Jesus was on this earth,
00:14 the invitation that was often heard 00:16 coming from His lips was come. 00:18 If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 00:21 If anyone is hungry, let him come 00:23 and eat of the bread of life. 00:25 Hello, I am Bruce Bauer and over the next few minutes, 00:28 I would like to share with you 00:29 how Jesus is still extending this invitation 00:33 and not only to you and to me. 00:35 I have some exciting stories 00:36 about how this wonderful messages reaching out to people 00:39 living in some of the most remote villages 00:41 in the country of Vietnam. 00:43 I love it that we serve a God who is so invitational, 00:47 so warm, so loving, so ready to fill our thirsty hearts 00:52 with the kind of living water that satisfies the emptiness 00:55 and hunger in our lives. 00:58 But there is something else 00:59 about these invitations of Jesus 01:00 that I find very, very heartwarming. 01:03 Jesus never limited His offer to a select group of people. 01:07 Even though Jesus had come 01:09 as the Messiah to a chose nation, 01:11 He still gives His invitation to us all. 01:14 "If anyone is thirsty He said, let him come to me and drink." 01:20 Although some of the Jews may have been shocked 01:22 when they heard this invitation 01:23 that Jesus was giving to all peoples of the earth, 01:26 this was no new message. 01:28 Almost seven centuries earlier 01:30 God had extended the same invitation 01:33 when He spoke through the Prophet Isaiah. 01:35 "All you who are thirsty, come to the waters, 01:39 and you who have no money, come buy and eat! 01:43 Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. 01:47 Surely you will summon nations you know not, 01:50 and nations that do not know you will hasten to you, 01:53 because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, 01:57 for he has endowed you with splendor." 02:00 Just after Jesus cleansed the temple the second time, 02:03 He gathered the people around Him 02:04 and began to tell them 02:05 what it would be like at the every end of time. 02:09 One of the signs that Jesus told them about 02:11 was how this invitation of Isaiah 55 02:14 would be taken to the entire world. 02:17 He said, "And this gospel of the kingdom 02:20 will be preached in the whole world 02:22 as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." 02:27 As I think about the exciting things 02:28 that have been happening in the country of Vietnam 02:31 over the last few years. 02:32 It thrills my heart to see how rapidly 02:34 this prophecy of Jesus is being fulfilled. 02:47 It was not too long ago that Christian evangelists 02:50 looked at Vietnam as a dark country 02:53 where the people were steeped in Buddhism, 02:55 Confucianism and ancestor worship. 02:57 And where they would be totally unreceptive 03:00 to the invitations of Jesus. 03:05 And then with the institution of Communism 03:07 at the end of the war in 1975, 03:09 Vietnam closed itself off to most of the world. 03:13 Christianity was associated with western thinking 03:16 and was considered dangerous to the new communistic state. 03:26 Thirsty eight of the 45 Adventist churches 03:28 scattered throughout the country 03:29 were closed by the new government. 03:32 And those that were allowed 03:33 to stay open were closely monitored 03:35 and regulated by members of the communist party. 03:38 Well, Christianity was not completely banned, 03:40 the communist party did everything 03:42 they could think of to discourage the faithful. 03:45 Work schedules were arranged 03:46 to interfere with church attendance. 03:49 Many members suffered job discrimination 03:51 for attending church services. 03:53 Pastors were arrested and put in prisons 03:55 and reeducation camps. 03:57 Although most of these pastors have been released. 04:00 The authorities continue to detain 04:02 Christian workers without trial. 04:04 Evangelism, well that's against the law. 04:07 Simply gathering together in home study groups 04:10 in many parts of the country was banned 04:11 for fear that people may be 04:13 plotting against the government. 04:15 There was hope that within a matter of few years 04:17 Christian groups would completely die out 04:19 and all religions would give away 04:21 to the new doctrines of communism. 04:23 And at first it appeared as though 04:25 the plan of the communist leaders would succeed. 04:27 Many Christians either fled the country 04:29 or gave up their faith. 04:31 The official Seventh-day Adventist church in Vietnam 04:34 has seen very little growth since 1975, 04:37 and its membership is just under 6,000 people 04:41 in a country whose population is over 82 million. 04:45 It would seem however 04:46 that God has another plan for Vietnam. 04:49 The one who is not willing that any would perish 04:52 will not let the end come without extending 04:54 His invitation of love to the thirsty souls of Vietnam. 04:59 In 1995 05:01 a Vietnamese Seventh-day Adventist church group 05:03 from Southern California 05:05 began producing a Christian Vietnamese 05:07 radio program called Peace and Happiness. 05:11 Penetrating the country by shortwave radio 05:13 from the Adventist World Radio facility located in Guam. 05:17 Peace and Happiness has been bringing 05:19 the good news of God's love 05:20 to the people of Vietnam for almost 10 years. 05:24 Everyone involved with the program 05:26 has been astonished 05:27 at the amazing response of the people 05:29 who were thought to be unreachable. 05:31 From the very first broadcast, letters poured 05:34 requesting literature and Bible studies. 05:37 Within a very short time word was received 05:40 about how entire Protestant church groups 05:42 were not only listening to the broadcasts 05:45 but were making changes in their lives 05:47 based on the clear Biblical presentations 05:49 being aired on the program. 05:51 Because of the broadcast, 05:52 many pastors of evangelical groups 05:55 became convinced of the teaching 05:56 of the Seventh-day Sabbath 05:58 and presented their new understanding to their members. 06:01 In many cases entire churches have become 06:04 Sabbath keeping Christians. 06:06 While the official Seventh-day Adventist church in Vietnam 06:10 has to keep its distance from these new phenomena 06:12 in order to maintain its legal status in the country. 06:16 This group of Sabbath keeping Christians 06:19 represents a new unofficial or underground Adventist moment 06:23 that is growing at a very rapid pace. 06:26 I would like you to meet some of the pastors 06:28 that had become part of this new moment. 06:30 For their safety we are changing 06:32 their names and obscuring their faces. 06:34 Nguyen Van Tam is a dedicated district leader 06:37 of over 600 church members. 06:40 He has had an interesting life journey. 06:42 Listen as he tells his story. 06:50 My name is Nguyen Van Tam and I was raised as a Catholic. 06:55 In 1985 I became a Protestant Christian 06:58 and committed my life to the Lord's service. 07:01 Four years later I became pastor 07:03 for the unified church in Vietnam. 07:06 Through the years I received many promotions 07:09 and became a member 07:10 of the administration of the church. 07:12 I had learned about Adventists in 1998. 07:15 a friend of mine who lives in the U.S. 07:17 sent me a book entitled 'The Truth of the Sabbath.' 07:20 At first I read the book 07:22 with the intention of proving it to be false. 07:24 But after much studying I determined it was a truth 07:28 and couldn't provide any sound arguments 07:30 against keeping the Sabbath. 07:32 About the same time I began listening 07:34 to the Peace and Happiness radio broadcast. 07:37 I listened critically at first not seeking to hear the truth 07:40 but to expose the false teaching of the organization, 07:44 but the more I listened the more convinced I became. 07:48 I had been contentious 07:49 about obeying the Ten Commandments. 07:52 But this book and radio broadcast helped my realized 07:54 that I was excluding the fourth commandment. 07:57 I was greatly troubled by that. 07:59 Finally I accepted God's word 08:01 and became one of the first pastors in my church 08:04 to convert to the Seventh-day Adventist faith. 08:06 My congregation was shocked. 08:09 There were accustomed to hear me speak out 08:10 against the Seventh-day Adventist moment. 08:13 And they knew I had planned to publish a book 08:15 to expose the truth about Adventism. 08:18 And now here I was joining them. 08:20 I boldly proclaimed my faith 08:22 and announced that I was leaving my pastorate. 08:25 My family was shaken 08:27 when I accepted the Seventh-day Adventist faith. 08:29 I have four brothers who are all Protestant pastors 08:32 and their opposition to my conversion 08:35 created a rift in the family. 08:37 I had been responsible for overseeing church activities 08:40 in 13 South Vietnam districts and initiated the opening 08:44 of many new churches in the area. 08:46 Not only did my former church disfellowshipped me, 08:49 but they published a document 08:51 using strong language to warn people about me. 08:54 When I became the Seventh-day Adventist 08:56 I prayed for God to show me, 08:57 He was pleased with my decision 08:59 but a sign which could be seen by other people. 09:03 Then I was given the responsibility 09:05 of opening a home church network 09:07 in the southwest and southeast of Vietnam. 09:10 Within a year by God's grace 09:12 500 new members joined the church in my new district. 09:16 We put together a team of 20 salaried Bible workers 09:18 to win souls and started 15 churches. 09:22 After I became a full time worker for God, 09:24 the government refused to renew my citizenship papers. 09:28 This meant I could not establish 09:29 a permanent residence in Vietnam. 09:31 The only documents I can hold is an election card 09:34 and a temporary residency permit 09:36 which I had to renew every six months. 09:39 The government refuses me permanent residence 09:42 in an effort to curtain my church activates. 09:44 But this actually works better for me 09:46 because I'm able to travel all over the country, 09:48 from south to north to do God's work 09:51 without having to ply for a travel permit 09:54 for the government. 09:55 The Peace and Happiness radio broadcast 09:58 along with the mass distribution 10:00 of these publications has helped 10:01 to increase the influence 10:03 and image of the Seventh-day Adventist church in Vietnam. 10:06 There is no way to know the exact number 10:09 of our new church members, 10:10 but the figure is in the tens of thousands of people. 10:13 It has been amazing to see 10:15 whole churches including their pastors 10:17 accept the Seventh-day Adventist teaching 10:19 and became Adventist. 10:21 I would like to use this opportunity 10:23 to thank our donors in the States 10:25 who have supported us. 10:26 Whatever we do in Vietnam for the Lord, we owe to you 10:30 for your financial support and your prayers. 10:33 I have made a commitment 10:34 to do my very best as not to fail you. 10:37 I'm sure that in the near future 10:39 much more work will be accomplished 10:41 to honor our Father in heaven. 10:44 We appreciate the strong dedication 10:46 of pastors like Nguyen Van Tam. 10:50 But there is another pastor I'd like you to meet. 10:52 Pastor Yung is a district leader 10:54 of over 12,000 Adventist believers 10:57 in the central part of Vietnam. 10:59 Here as in many parts of Vietnam, 11:01 the church members suffers 11:02 severe persecution from the local police. 11:05 They will often break into a church service 11:07 being conducted in the home 11:08 and take worshippers off to prison. 11:11 Sometimes they will burn down the house. 11:13 But in spite of this kind of persecution, 11:15 the church continues to grown. 11:17 Listen as Pastor Yung shares his story. 11:24 My name is Yung and I live in the central region of Vietnam. 11:28 I've served the Lord since 1991. 11:31 Even before I became Seventh-day Adventist 11:34 I used to be a leader of a group of Bible workers. 11:37 A few years ago some of them attended 11:39 a Bible training course in Saigon. 11:41 They brought back several publications 11:43 explaining Seventh-day Adventist beliefs 11:45 and shared them with me. 11:47 I strongly opposed these new ideas, 11:50 but after they left 11:52 I studied the publications in great detail. 11:56 In 1999 I began to listen 11:58 to the Peace and Happiness radio broadcast. 12:01 It was a lay pastor friend of mine 12:03 who came over one day 12:04 and showed me how to tune in to the program 12:07 and gave me some more literature. 12:10 After much study I felt compelled by the spirit of God 12:14 to leave the church where I was a pastor. 12:17 It was a difficult decision. 12:20 If I left who would look after my sheep 12:23 and what would the leaders of my church think of me? 12:26 I began sharing the new truth 12:28 I'd found with my church members. 12:31 Even though there were some strong opposition 12:33 by some of the members, God worked on their hearts. 12:36 In the end 600 members of my 700 member congregation 12:41 accepted the Sabbath message 12:44 and came along with me when I resigned. 12:47 I asked God to lead me to other people 12:49 who were thirsty for the truths of the word. 12:53 I was impressed to go to a city where I had worked 12:56 where I knew there were 7,000 church members. 13:00 I shared literature with the pastors of the church there 13:02 and left them several publications. 13:06 A month later they called to invite me back to see them. 13:10 They weren't specific on the phone 13:12 about why they wanted me to come, 13:15 but I just prayed about it 13:16 and headed out immediately to visit them. 13:20 When we met, they told me 13:22 that my presentation had caused them to realize 13:25 what the truth is and that they had listened 13:28 to the Peace and Happiness radio broadcast. 13:31 They were ready to leave their church 13:34 along with 5,000 church members 13:37 and become Seventh-day Adventist Christians. 13:41 In the province where I live, 13:43 we're training our church members 13:45 to go out and give literature to people 13:47 and teach them how to tune in 13:49 to the Peace and Happiness radio program. 13:52 All together we now have over 12,000 church members. 13:58 In my province 13:59 when other denominations came to evangelize, 14:02 they did not have much success 14:05 because of the intense persecution in the area 14:08 by the local government against Christian groups. 14:12 As for us we are determined to spread the truth, 14:16 no matter what the prize. 14:19 My family is watched 14:21 by the local police around the clock. 14:24 At night they post officers to watch my house. 14:28 During the day the police followed me 14:30 when I go and visit my church members. 14:33 If I travel out of their territory, 14:36 they phone ahead to the police 14:37 in the next town to have them keep an eye on me. 14:41 Sometimes I try to lose them 14:43 by riding my bicycle around the city 14:46 before I can go where I need to go. 14:49 I am thankful to God 14:50 that through all of these challenges 14:53 there are many people who support me. 14:56 Even though we have a lot of obstacles, 14:58 our people work very hard 15:00 and the church is continuing to grow 15:03 and the members continue to be spiritually fed. 15:07 Right now we have 160 pastors and volunteers 15:11 serving our 12,000 church members. 15:15 We have a total of 20 districts 15:17 and each district leaders has to cover a very large area. 15:21 Our biggest need is shortwave radio sets 15:24 and Bible literature so we can reach people who live far away. 15:29 We also need sermons on cassette tapes 15:32 in the areas we cannot visit regularly, 15:35 we can give them tapes of sermons and radio programs. 15:39 Sometimes the radio broadcast does not come in clearly 15:42 and people might miss some of the message. 15:45 The sermon tapes carry the message clearly 15:49 and can be used over and over again. 15:52 Everything that we do is not by our power 15:56 but by the power of the Holy Spirit. 15:59 Some of us feel as though we are similar to Saul, 16:03 we used to berate the Adventist church in Vietnam. 16:06 But now we are the workers in the vineyard 16:09 who came at the eleventh hour. 16:12 We have to use everything we have, 16:14 every resource to serve God 16:16 and spread the gospel in Vietnam. 16:19 Please pray for us as we continue 16:22 to spread the message of salvation throughout Vietnam. 16:27 Pastor Yung is a courageous leader for God in Vietnam. 16:31 He knows that the constitution of Vietnam 16:33 guarantees freedom of worship 16:35 and often stands up to the police 16:37 demanding the release of his members from prison. 16:41 Please pray for his safety 16:43 as he continues to share living water to all who thirst. 16:55 One of the most exciting stories 16:57 to come out of Vietnam recently 16:58 is about a large ethnic minority group 17:01 living in the very northern part of Vietnam. 17:04 Sometime ago people in this region 17:06 started listening to the Peace and Happiness radio broadcast. 17:10 They had never heard of the good news of Jesus before 17:12 and were thirsty for a message like this. 17:15 Listen as Pastor Isaiah, 17:17 the Peace and Happiness director and speaker 17:19 tells about this exciting new development. 17:21 Recently, about four months ago, 17:24 one of our church leader in Hanoi, in North Vietnam, 17:29 he said to me that about 100 people, 17:34 the ethnic people from this part of Vietnam, 17:37 they crossed the jungle walk by feet for 600 kilometers. 17:44 They came to Hanoi and looked for leaders 17:47 from the Peace and Happiness Adventist church. 17:51 When they met some of our people 17:53 they said, "We want to be baptized. 17:56 We have hundreds of thousands of people up here 17:58 and we want you to come and teach us and train us 18:02 and show us how to function as a church." 18:05 And then after that I send some our leaders up there. 18:09 They had to disguise themselves to go to this area. 18:14 They witnessed for themselves that the head of the village 18:19 had a large radio tuned into our radio program. 18:24 And the whole village came 18:26 and worshiped and listened together, 18:29 at least 6,000 people in two or three villages. 18:33 They used to be ancestor worshipers. 18:37 They had no background in Christianity. 18:41 No bibles. Nothing. 18:44 So they only listened to the radio program 18:47 and they became believers in God the creator, 18:49 in Jesus Christ who came down and died for them. 18:54 They know about our beliefs, our doctrines, 18:57 because of what they listened to 18:58 but they don't know how to function as a church, 19:00 how to have a leader and all of that. 19:04 They really need us to come and train them. 19:13 Recently I had to change my strategy in Vietnam. 19:16 What we do is, we try to have a team of evangelists 19:20 to cover whole Vietnam. 19:22 And then we equip them 19:23 with literature, video through CD, and audio tapes. 19:30 So they go out and as they witness 19:33 and enter the new area 19:34 either they give these material to the new people, 19:38 or give these materials to the people 19:41 who already listened to the radio program 19:44 and became believers, 19:45 so we can nurture them and keep them together. 19:48 Last year, one thing I know for sure, 19:50 we had at lease 12,000 baptisms in Vietnam, at least. 19:56 And this work will move forward no matter what. 19:59 It will move forward 20:00 by the power of the Holy Spirit. 20:02 And thank you so much 20:03 for the support from the ASAP donors 20:06 to help us in our initial stage 20:10 to establish the work in Vietnam. 20:24 Adventist Southeast Asia Projects 20:26 has a long history of supporting the work of God 20:29 in Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. 20:33 Through your generous support 20:35 ASAP has been able to plant churches, 20:37 supply materials and cover the salaries 20:40 the pastors and Bible workers 20:41 who are taking the invitation of Jesus 20:43 to the highways and byways of Southeast Asia. 20:47 In the country of Vietnam 20:48 over 200 pastors are receiving direct support from ASAP. 20:54 I would like to introduce you 20:55 to Judy Aitken, Director of ASAP 20:58 and have her tell you more about the exciting things 21:00 that are happening in Vietnam. 21:04 I send my heart out thanks and appreciation to each of you 21:09 who has supported your persecuted family 21:11 of God in Vietnam. 21:13 Your donations and prayers have a profound effect 21:18 on the explosion of the gospel 21:20 that we are seeing in Vietnam today. 21:23 Pastors report that approximately 21:25 445,000 Vietnamese people worship God on Sabbath. 21:31 And this number could be much higher. 21:33 They worship this greatly and designated members' 21:37 homes called house churches. 21:40 Most of these believers have joined the church 21:42 in the last two years. 21:45 These secret groups of believers 21:47 are worshiping in small towns, villages 21:50 and large cities scattered across Vietnam. 21:54 Please keep the Vietnamese pastors 21:56 and this work in your prayers. 22:00 They need you to intercede on their behalf. 22:03 I cannot find the words to do justice 22:06 to what a powerful impact 22:09 and blessing your prayers and donations have. 22:12 By sending support 22:14 for the pastors salaries and Bibles, 22:17 you are advancing the gospel, 22:19 you are building Christ kingdom. 22:23 There are two Adventist groups in Vietnam. 22:27 One is the official Seventh-day Adventist church 22:30 that is registered with the government. 22:33 This church sees little growth as it is under communist watch. 22:37 The other is the underground house churches 22:41 under the leadership of Pastor Isaiah Duong 22:44 and pastors like the ones in this video. 22:48 Because the house church movement is not connected 22:51 with the official Seventh-day Adventist tithes based, 22:55 it depends on nonprofit organization 22:58 such as ASAP for its operating costs. 23:02 That means that pastors are able to minister 23:05 to the thousands of believers only 23:07 because of people like yourself. 23:09 It costs $50 per month to support one Vietnamese pastor 23:14 to work full time for God. 23:17 There are currently 200 pastors in need of support. 23:21 If you feel impressed 23:23 to send support for a Vietnamese pastor, 23:26 please note that it is truly and answer to prayer. 23:30 I appeal to you to consider being a part 23:33 of this exciting mission in Vietnam. 23:37 Give out your treasure in heaven 23:39 and get involved in giving the precious gift of salvation 23:43 to those desperate and eager to know Him. 23:47 It is my prayer that God will impress 23:50 upon you a burden for this work. 23:53 One Vietnamese Bible cost $5. 23:56 Bibles that are printed in underground printing presses 23:59 continue to be urgently needed. 24:02 There is also a need for a house church repair 24:06 and the training of Vietnamese pastors. 24:09 Just as important as monetary gifts 24:12 is the gift of your prayers. 24:15 Prayer is the foundation of this work. 24:18 Your prayers are key 24:20 to the continued explosion of the gospel 24:23 we are currently seeing in Vietnam today. 24:55 All of the Vietnamese pastors who share their testimonies 24:59 describe the suffering they had to experience 25:01 for their faith in Christ. 25:04 Pastor Duong and his members 25:07 rotate their homes as a place of worship. 25:11 This has not stopped the police from destroying their homes. 25:15 They have had their homes burned three times this year. 25:19 They are interrogated, heavily fined 25:22 and imprisoned by the police on a regular basis. 25:27 While they are in jail, they are often severely beaten. 25:31 Some of the members in this area 25:33 have had their property confiscated 25:36 and they are left homeless. 25:40 The persecuted pastors know the meaning 25:43 of the Apostle Paul's words in Philippians 3, 7 and 8. 25:49 "But what things were gain to me, 25:51 these I have counted loss for Christ. 25:54 But indeed I also count all things loss 25:58 for the excellence of the knowledge 26:00 of Christ Jesus my Lord 26:02 for whom I have suffered the loss of all things 26:05 and count them as rubbish, 26:07 that I may gain Christ and be found in him." 26:10 Adventist pastors and members 26:12 who are suffering and persecuted 26:15 for their faith in Jesus 26:16 also know through their experiences 26:19 the fellowship of Christ suffering. 26:22 By your loving sacrifice to send support 26:26 and through your fervent prayers for these pastors. 26:29 You too enter into the fellowship of Christ suffering. 26:34 On behalf of all those 26:36 who had been reached in the past 26:38 and who will be reached for Christ. 26:41 As a result of your kindness and generosity, 26:44 I sincerely thank you. 26:57 On behalf of the board of directors of ASAP, 27:00 I'd also like to thank you for all that you are doing 27:02 to support God's work in Southeast Asia. 27:05 Every two months ASAP publishes a newsletter 27:09 that shares the exciting developments 27:11 that are happening on the front lines 27:12 of God's work in Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Laos. 27:16 If you would like to receive this free newsletter, 27:19 please contact us with your request 27:21 or the address listed on the screen. 27:28 As we enter the final scenes of God's work on earth, 27:32 it's exciting to be part of his ministry. 27:35 One of the very last passages of scripture says, 27:39 "The Spirit and the bride say, Come! 27:41 And let him who hears say, Come! 27:44 Whoever is thirsty, let him come, 27:46 and whoever wishes, let him take 27:48 the free gift of the water of life.' 27:50 As we work together and taking these 100 invitation of Jesus 27:54 to the thirsty people of Vietnam 27:56 we become a part of that global commission 27:59 that Jesus gave his followers before He left this earth, 28:02 when He said, "Go make disciples of all nations, 28:06 baptizing them in the name of the Father 28:08 and of the Son and the Holy Sprit, 28:11 teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you 28:14 and surely I am with you always, 28:17 to the very end of the age." 28:20 May the Lord bless you as you partner with him 28:23 and taking the message of God's love 28:25 to the people of Vietnam. |
Revised 2014-12-17