Participants:
Series Code: ASAP
Program Code: ASAP000007
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00:26 It was Saint Teresa of Avila
00:29 who said "Christ has no body on earth 00:33 but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours. 00:38 Yours are the eyes through which Christ's compassion 00:41 for the world is to look out, 00:44 yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good, 00:48 and yours are the hands 00:50 with which He is to bless us now." 00:53 I thank God for the ASAP national missionaries 00:57 who have completely committed 00:59 every aspect of themselves to the work God called them to. 01:04 Their Christ like deeds reveal hearts 01:06 that say "Lord I give You my life so that through it 01:11 You can pour out Your life to a lost and dying world." 01:15 I would like you to meet Saum Lak 01:18 one of ASAP's Cambodian church planters 01:21 who with a burning love for Jesus in her heart 01:24 is being used mightily by God. 01:27 This is her testimony. 01:31 Hello, my name is Saum Lak. 01:34 Before I became a Christian I had a very difficult life. 01:39 My family had disowned me and I was on my own. 01:43 When I found Jesus I gave myself fully to Him 01:48 and I found that I had a new large family 01:52 that accepted me and love me. 01:55 I decided that I wanted to work for God 01:59 and started going to all of the training seminars 02:02 that the church was offering. 02:06 After sometime Pastor Handura asked me 02:08 if I would like to work as a church planter 02:11 and I happily agreed. 02:14 I started visiting all of the people 02:16 in my area especially the poor. 02:19 I have done as much as I could 02:21 and told them about the love of God. 02:25 I praised God that many of them have already accepted Jesus 02:29 and have joined the church. 02:31 We now have 27 members 02:34 coming to the small church above my home. 02:37 I would like you to meet two of the ladies 02:40 that God has brought into my life. 02:42 And how simple acts of kindness 02:45 helped prepared a way for them to accept Jesus. 02:51 Before I met Jesus 02:52 I had many difficulties and worries in my life. 02:55 My husband has gone and I'm all alone. 02:58 I make a living by making small cakes 03:00 and selling them to people 03:02 who walk by me on the sidewalk close to my home. 03:05 The police don't like me selling there 03:06 and they often come by and give me a very hard time. 03:12 One day right after an angry policeman 03:14 had knocked over my stand, 03:16 Mrs. Saum Lak happened to be walking by, 03:18 she came over and talked to me and encouraged me. 03:22 She started visiting me at my home 03:24 and we became very good friends. 03:26 She introduced me to Jesus 03:28 and told me about the great love of God. 03:31 After I accepted Him into my heart 03:34 I received much joy and peace. 03:36 Life is still very hard for me 03:38 but I don't worry so much any more 03:40 and I'm no longer alone. 03:42 I love the fellowship of my church family. 03:49 Hello and thank you 03:50 for the opportunity to share my story. 03:53 I was once married but after I became pregnant 03:56 my husband abandoned me. 03:58 Even after the baby was born 04:00 my husband no longer wanted to accept me 04:02 or the baby, with no place to live 04:05 we wandered the streets of Phnom Penh 04:08 sleeping along the road or empty market stalls. 04:11 We would bath in the river 04:13 and get our drinking water from there. 04:15 Eventually, I send my baby away to live with my mother 04:19 and took a job at a nightclub. 04:21 I turned to the only thing that I knew 04:23 that I could make a little money 04:25 to send it to mother to support my baby. 04:27 I became a prostitute. 04:30 I knew that by doing this I would probably get HIV. 04:34 But at least I will be able 04:35 to make a little money to survive. 04:38 It was a horrible life. 04:39 It was not long before I tested positive for HIV. 04:43 But I continued my work anyway. 04:46 I was so angry at all men 04:48 that I wanted to pass on the HIV 04:50 to as many men as possible. 04:53 One day when I was on my way to work at the nightclub 04:57 I was so lost in my sadness 04:59 that I bumped into a lady on the street. 05:02 I was startled by the encounter. 05:04 She had two lovely young people with her. 05:07 There seemed to be something very different about them. 05:10 I was impressed that this lady 05:12 might have something that could help me. 05:15 I asked her who she was 05:17 and what she and her friends are doing. 05:20 Right there on the street 05:21 she began to tell me about how Jesus have changed her life 05:25 and how the Creator God knew me and loved me. 05:29 I wanted to hear more 05:32 and so instead of going to work that night 05:34 I invited her back to my room. 05:37 I was a little surprised 05:38 that these Christians were being willing 05:40 to come to my home. 05:42 Almost everyone in my neighborhood hated me 05:44 and would not speak to me 05:46 because of the work that I did. 05:48 And yet these three were not only talking to me 05:52 but were coming into my home. 05:55 Mrs. Saum Lak and her friends told me 05:57 that God loved me so much 05:59 that He sent His only Son to this world to save me. 06:03 And that He even gave His life for me. 06:06 They told me that if I only accepted Him 06:08 as my Savior repented off my sins and believed in Him 06:13 that He would forgive me and save me. 06:16 They told me that He is a powerful God 06:19 and that He would work in my life 06:21 to make everything better. 06:23 Right there I decided to accept Jesus as my Savior. 06:27 What a difference this has made in my life. 06:30 God has changed my life. 06:32 I'm no longer angry. 06:34 I have peace and joy in my heart. 06:36 My neighbors have noticed the change in me 06:39 and have asked me what happened to me 06:41 that I'm no longer going to work or angry all the time. 06:45 I have told them all about what Jesus has done for me 06:49 and that He can do the same for them. 06:52 Right now, I'm studying the Bible with seven people 06:55 and some of them have started coming to church. 06:58 I thank God for Saum Lak 07:00 and that I bumped into her that day. 07:04 I have much joy in my heart. 07:07 I'm so glad that I can be His servant 07:10 and share good news with the people 07:12 and help changed their lives. 07:15 Please pray for me that my church 07:17 will continue to grow and that I will be able 07:20 to bring many more people to Gods. 07:24 I always thought it would be 07:25 exciting to visit the Bible lands 07:27 and walk where Jesus walked 07:29 so I could have a better understanding 07:31 of what is life here on earth was like. 07:34 But actually I discovered from reading Desire of Ages 07:38 that I have already done so. 07:41 Ellen White writes "We shall find His footsteps 07:45 beside the sickbed, in the hovels of poverty, 07:50 in the crowded alleys of the great city, 07:53 and in every place where there are human hearts 07:56 in need of consolation. 07:58 In doing as Jesus did when on earth 08:02 we shall walk in His steps." 08:05 Would you like to experience the joy of walking 08:09 in His footsteps today? 08:11 You may do this by praying for God to open your eyes 08:14 to those in need right around you. 08:17 Also, please consider joining the ASAP family 08:21 through your prayers, your donations 08:24 or coming with us on our yearly mission trip. 08:28 You may contact us for more information 08:30 or visit our website to learn more. 08:53 It says in Matthew 9:36 08:56 "When He saw the crowds He had compassion on them 08:59 because they were like sheep without a shepherd." 09:04 As Jesus did ASAP compassionately 09:07 responds to the suffering in south East Asia. 09:11 One way is through a project called Stitches for Eternity 09:15 where struggling women learn how to sew 09:17 so they can make a meager living 09:19 for themselves and their children. 09:22 Meet Ly Sareth one woman whose life dramatically 09:25 took a turn after joining this program. 09:31 A few months after our son was born 09:34 my husband started getting sick. 09:37 After doing some tests we found out that he had HIV. 09:43 And we had to sell everything 09:44 we had to pay for the medicines for his onuses. 09:48 We even sold our little home. 09:51 He passed away when our son was just nine months old. 09:55 After my husband died I realized 09:58 I was also getting sick a lot. 10:03 I grew weaker and weaker. 10:05 When I got checked at the hospital 10:07 they told me I was also HIV positive. 10:12 When my family and friends found out 10:14 about my sickness they all abandoned me. 10:17 My own brother and sister did not even want to talk to me. 10:21 When I went out to the field to plant rice 10:24 none of the other field workers 10:25 would want to cook with me or eat with me 10:29 because they were afraid 10:30 that they would catch the virus from me. 10:32 One day I was asked if I would like to join a sewing school. 10:37 I had never sewed before. 10:40 But the other ladies and the teacher 10:41 were very helpful and friendly. 10:45 The other ladies in the program do not look down on me 10:49 because we are all sisters in Christ. 10:52 Most of them have HIV too. 10:55 We worship God together 10:57 and read His words every morning. 11:00 We eat together with joy in our hearts. 11:04 We are learning to sew, 11:06 the blouse I'm wearing I sewed myself. 11:10 One day I hoped to be able to use my new skill 11:14 as a way to provide for my son and myself. 11:18 I thank Jesus for saving my life. 11:21 God is faithful and He answers my prayers over and over again. 11:28 I have been in Cambodia for about five months now. 11:32 During that time we have seen 11:33 some incredible things happening. 11:35 We have seen people living in abject poverty. 11:39 People with next to nothing, no food, no home, no livelihood. 11:45 Many of them shelter under just a piece of tin. 11:48 Some are sleeping on the sidewalk. 11:50 Some are covering themselves with a bit of plastic. 11:54 Many of these people have no hope for the future, 11:58 no hope for education, no hope for a living 12:01 other than picking up rubbish of the dump 12:04 by the side of the road, 12:06 begging for a few pieces of food. 12:10 While we have been here we have seen out 12:12 church workers working for the Lord in amazing ways 12:16 touching peoples lives and impacting them 12:19 with hope for the kingdom of God. 12:21 Much of the work that's taking place here 12:23 is assisted by ASAP who is funding 12:27 literacy teachers and church planters. 12:31 These people are working together well with our pastors. 12:35 They're working together 12:36 to share the gospel of hope with people. 12:39 The work of sharing the gospel of sharing 12:42 the good news has past from Jesus to His disciples 12:47 to our church planters, 12:49 to our pastors, to our literacy teachers 12:52 and that work is made possible through donations to ASAP. 12:58 We want to thank each donor for their contribution. 13:02 And we want to say to you 13:04 that your contributions are making a difference 13:07 in the lives of men and women here in Cambodia. 13:11 Men and women and children 13:13 who are being touched by the gospel of Jesus 13:17 because of what you are doing. 13:19 Thank you for your support. 13:39 ASAP not only works in Cambodia 13:41 but its active in spreading the gospel in Vietnam, 13:45 Myanmar, Thailand and Laos. 13:47 It is exciting to see how the work of God 13:49 is growing in the communist country of Laos. 13:53 Back in 1992 there were not more than 13:56 20 Adventist believers in the whole country. 13:59 Today, there are more than 14:01 2,000 people who believe in God 14:03 and are now members of the Adventist church. 14:05 Even though ASAP missionaries 14:07 and believers face many hardships 14:09 and struggles for their faith 14:11 they enthusiastically work as Jesus did 14:14 with courage and compassion. 14:16 I would like to introduce to you 14:18 one of the many faithful lay pastors sponsored by ASAP. 14:22 He is from the Hmong ethnic group 14:24 of which there're more than 400,000 residing in Laos alone. 14:29 Pastor Shwedoo Malee once led a Sunday keeping church 14:32 and ministered to his people in the northern part of Laos. 14:36 He has suffered a lot for the Lord. 14:38 And has spent a number of years in prison for his faith in God. 14:43 This is Pastor Shwedoo Malee's story. 14:52 I grew up as an animist and worshipped the spirits. 14:56 I first heard about the good news 14:57 while I was listening to an evangelical radio broadcast. 15:01 I decided to pray to God and learn more about Him. 15:05 One day when I was harvesting my rice crop I was afraid 15:09 I was going to lose my harvest to a bad storm 15:11 that was about to hit. 15:14 I prayed to God for help and He heard my plea 15:17 and saved my harvest from the storm. 15:20 On that day I became a believer 15:22 and gave my life to God. 15:25 I began to study my Bible a lot 15:27 and was particularly impressed 15:29 by the gospel commissioned in Matthew 28:19. 15:33 I felt as though God was calling me through this passage 15:36 and I began to go from village to village 15:39 and telling people about God's love. 15:42 When the local authorities heard 15:44 what I was doing they arrested me 15:46 and put me in jail for a month. 15:49 When they released me they warned me 15:51 that if I continue to evangelize 15:53 then I would be arrested again 15:55 and this time sent to a larger prison 15:58 for a much longer time. 15:59 But I could not keep the good news inside. 16:03 I felt compelled by the Holy Spirit 16:05 to share the gospel and I immediately continued 16:07 my work of evangelism. 16:15 Many families accepted the message 16:17 and became Christians. 16:19 When the authorities heard what I was doing 16:21 they sent the police to arrest me 16:23 and this time I was sentenced to five years in prison. 16:28 This time they put me in chains 16:31 that were very dirty and rusty. 16:33 I still have the scars on my leg from these chains. 16:37 After a few months of being restrained like this 16:41 I was released from my chains 16:43 and sent to a large cell 16:45 where there were about 20 other prisoners. 16:48 During my time in prison 16:49 I had the opportunity to share my faith in God. 16:53 One time there was a young man who became very sick. 16:57 He was not responding at all 16:58 to the medications that they gave him. 17:01 We thought for sure that he was going to die. 17:04 I began to tell him about the power of God to heal. 17:07 And he asked me to pray for him. 17:10 The very next morning, 17:11 he woke up completely recovered 17:13 from his illness full of energy. 17:17 The young man praised God 17:18 and became a believer because of his experience. 17:25 When I was released after serving 17:27 my five year sentence people thought for sure 17:30 that this time I would no longer share my faith. 17:34 But I could not keep silent 17:35 about the joy that was in my heart. 17:38 I continued to tell people about the love of God. 17:41 When the local authorities heard about what I was doing 17:44 they began to look for me again. 17:47 I decided it was not safe to stay 17:49 and I moved to the capital city of Laos 17:52 where it was easier to worship God. 17:54 Someone told me about a church in Vientiane 17:57 that keeps the Bible Sabbath the Seventh-day. 18:00 I was very interested and decided to visit the church. 18:04 It was here that I met Pastor Boonpranee 18:07 who studied with me and taught me 18:08 many things from the Bible 18:10 that I had never known before. 18:13 Eventually I accepted the new teachings 18:15 and was baptized into the Adventist church. 18:19 I became concerned about my brothers 18:21 and sisters in my home village 18:23 because I knew that they were suffering 18:24 much persecution from the local authorities. 18:28 With the help of Pastor Boonpranee 18:30 we were able to find a place close to Vientiane 18:33 where we could all settle and live our faith peaceful 18:36 without opposition from the police. 18:39 Most of my evangelical friends 18:42 embraced the truth of the Sabbath 18:44 and became Adventist Christians. 18:47 Here in the provinces around Vientiane 18:50 the police are much more accepting of Christianity 18:53 and I have been free to carry out 18:54 my evangelistic work for the Hmong people 18:57 who have resettled here close to the capital. 19:02 As wonderful as it was to be able to share my faith 19:05 without fear of opposition from the police 19:07 I continued to have a heavy burden 19:09 for the people living back in my home villages. 19:13 Recently Pastor Boonpranee 19:15 and I made a trip there to visit and teach the people. 19:19 In one of the villages where we stopped 19:21 the people were very thirsty for the word of God. 19:24 They assembled the villagers and asked us to preach. 19:28 They had so many questions 19:30 that the meeting continued on into the night. 19:33 Pastor Boonpranee and I took turns 19:36 preaching the good news of God's gift of salvation. 19:40 Three of the families accepted Jesus 19:42 and asked us to help them destroy their spirit houses. 19:47 Knowing that we had to leave they plead with us 19:49 to baptize them before we left. 19:52 We found a quite place 19:53 and there in a mountain stream in the early morning light 19:58 these people gave their lives to God. 20:01 The other villagers then asked us 20:03 to stay another day and teach them some more. 20:07 As much as we wanted to continue to share with these people 20:10 the Holy Spirit impressed us 20:12 that it was no longer safe to stay 20:14 and that we must leave. 20:17 As we were driving back to the main town 20:19 to catch our bus back to Vientiane. 20:22 I received a phone call from the local authorities 20:25 that govern the area of the villagers 20:27 where we had been. 20:28 They said you need to report back to the police station 20:32 and talk to us about the religious work 20:34 that you have been doing in the village. 20:37 Pastor Boonpranee and I were both impressed not to return 20:41 and continued our way to the bus station 20:44 even then it did not seemed safe to get on the bus 20:47 for fear that the police might stop buses 20:50 along the way looking for us. 20:52 We managed to flag down a pick up truck 20:54 that was driving a load of bananas into Vientiane. 20:58 He was able to deliver us safely home. 21:01 We later heard that the police had stopped 21:03 all of the buses and taxis in the area looking for us. 21:08 Thanks to God we escaped on a banana truck. 21:12 I thank God for his protection and guidance. 21:16 I look forward to a day when I can return 21:19 and tell many more people in my village 21:21 about God's Plan of Salvation. 21:27 I would like to express my sincere thanks 21:29 to the donors in America 21:30 who support God's work here in Laos through ASAP. 21:35 It is only through the partnership 21:36 that we have with the ASAP family 21:39 that we are able to support lay pastors like Shwedoo Malee. 21:43 ASAP has given us a lot of help in the last year 21:46 in addition to the salaries of our team of 44 lay pastors 21:50 ASAP has started six new church building projects, 21:54 as well as providing water systems 21:55 for our church members. 21:58 God has truly blessed. 21:59 Your support not only helps us 22:01 with the cost of the evangelism 22:03 but gives us the encouragement 22:04 we need to carry on God's work 22:06 under very difficult circumstances. 22:09 God is using you to show His love 22:12 to the people of Laos 22:13 and we are determined to do our best 22:15 to reach every corner of the country for Him. 22:18 Thank you and may God bless you for your assistance. 22:35 When Jesus came to live on this earth 22:38 he found that people who largely misunderstood 22:41 the ruling principles of God's kingdom. 22:44 While He was here many of His greatest teachings 22:47 were devoted to leading people 22:48 away from a life of legalism 22:51 to a life filled with love and respect 22:53 for their Heavenly Father 22:56 and for their neighbors especially, those in need. 23:00 This is perhaps no better illustrated than in the parable 23:03 He once told about the end time 23:05 when all the nations shall be gathered before the throne 23:09 and how the people will separated 23:11 before Him like a shepherd 23:13 separates the sheep from the goats. 23:15 Once the separation is complete 23:17 the great shepherd will say with joy 23:20 to His friends and His right hand 23:22 "Come, you who are blessed by my Father, 23:26 take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you 23:29 since the creation of the world. 23:31 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, 23:34 I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, 23:38 I was a stranger and you invited me in, 23:41 I needed clothes and you clothed me, 23:44 I was sick and you looked after me, 23:47 I was in prison and you came to visit me." 23:51 The people are surprised 23:53 for they did not remember ever doing these things. 23:56 And then Jesus explains 23:59 "Whatever you did for one of the least 24:01 of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." 24:06 Have you ever wondered 24:07 what it would be like to be born 24:09 and raised in a different country? 24:12 What would you eat? What would your house be like? 24:15 Would you have the same hopes and fears? 24:18 Welcome to a Southeast Asian country called Cambodia. 24:22 In just a bit you get to meet a Cambodian girl 24:25 who will share what one day of her life is like. 24:29 And as you watch this 24:31 I ask you to think about this one question 24:34 why did God placed me right where I'm at. 24:39 My name is Srey Mao. 24:41 I live in a small house near the city dump of Phnom Penh 24:44 with my mother and two brothers. 24:46 My mother is very poor and the only way 24:49 that we know how to make money 24:50 is by searching for recyclable items 24:52 at the dump and in trash bins. 24:55 Everyday when I get home from school 24:57 I change my cloths and head up 24:58 with my brothers to look for things 25:00 that I can sell to the recyclers. 25:02 Sometimes we get enough to buy some rice to eat 25:05 but many times we do not. 25:16 A couple of years ago my life really changed 25:19 when a school was started near my home. 25:21 Because we were so poor I did not think 25:24 that it would ever be possible for me to go to school. 25:27 We had no money for a uniform and book fees 25:30 but this school is different. 25:32 All of the children in my community 25:34 were invited to attend without any fees. 25:37 They provide the books, supplies, school uniforms 25:40 and a wonderful hot meal everyday. 25:42 I have made many friends here. 25:44 I have learnt to read 25:45 and I'm now enjoying mathematics, 25:47 English and computers. 25:49 One of the things that I like to most about the school 25:52 is that they teach you all about Jesus 25:54 and the stories of the Bible. 25:56 I have accepted Jesus into my heart, 25:59 now I'm much happier in my life. 26:01 I love to sing the songs about Him. 26:04 I hope to be able to continue my studies 26:06 and one day becomes a nurse 26:08 so that I can use my life to serve God. 26:12 Let's go back to that question I asked you earlier. 26:15 Why do you think God placed you right where you are at? 26:18 Could it be that He knew 26:20 you would have a heart like Jesus, 26:22 a heart of compassion for children like Srey Mao? 26:27 You know, I want to see more children like Srey Mao 26:31 have a hope for today and hope for heaven. 26:35 Don't you? 26:42 I thank the Lord for the ASAP Feed and Read Schools 26:46 which show God's character of love 26:48 to the children in the slums of Cambodia 26:50 in such a tangible way that dedicated teachers 26:55 and those who donate to make this project possible 26:58 are fulfilling Jesus command given in John 21:15 27:03 where Jesus said "feed My lambs." 27:07 For $40 you can support a literacy teacher for a month 27:11 and to make it possible for a student 27:14 to attend a Feed and Read School 27:15 it costs only $20 a month. 27:18 To send a gift you can call ASAP right now 27:22 or go online at your convenience. 27:38 Friends, in the final analysis 27:41 we will not be asked if we attend a church faithfully 27:43 nor if we have memorized all the books of the Bible. 27:47 God will be looking to take His friends home, 27:50 those whose hearts beat as one with Him 27:54 those who daily surrender their lives to Jesus 27:57 and reflect His character of love 27:59 to the acts of compassion. 28:01 Jesus says "Inasmuch as you have done it 28:06 unto ye have done it unto me." 28:11 Why not show Jesus how much you love Him by supporting 28:14 one of His representatives in Southeast Asia. 28:17 For more information contact us or visit our website today. |
Revised 2014-12-17