Participants:
Series Code: ASIC
Program Code: ASIC000015A
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00:21 Steve, why don't you tell us what it was like
00:25 as your family pioneered 00:28 ministry at Harbert Hills Academy? 00:31 My Father showed up at Madison College, 00:35 came from California at the young age of 18. 00:38 He left California with just a few dollars in his pocket 00:40 enough for a bus ticket to get across the country 00:43 and to Madison. 00:44 He showed up there and he said, 00:46 "Well, here I am, I'm ready to go to school." 00:48 He was accepted into college. 00:50 And sure enough, they let him in 00:52 with just a few dollars in his pocket, 00:54 he began to work his way through school there. 00:57 My Mother showed up from Massachusetts. 00:59 She had been raised. 01:01 Her Father was in the Navy 01:02 and had moved all over the countryside. 01:04 At the age of 15, she had become converted to Adventism 01:08 through a friend of hers. 01:10 She was the only Adventist in her family 01:12 but she felt impressed 01:15 when it was time to go to college 01:16 that she should try to go 01:18 to a Seventh-day Adventist College. 01:20 Because the family didn't have a lot of money, 01:22 she ended up at Madison College 01:24 and she was taking the nursing course there. 01:27 And her and my Father became acquainted. 01:30 Eventually, they were married. 01:32 One day, they were sitting in chapel together 01:34 and as the custom was for many chapel services at Madison, 01:39 one of the things they did regularly 01:42 was they made an appeal for new work to get started. 01:47 And so, Mr. William E. Patterson 01:50 was standing up in front of the auditorium in chapel there 01:53 and he was saying, "You know, we're going to start 01:55 some new work 01:56 and we have a vision to start a new school 01:59 and I'm going to need some help." 02:02 And he began to describe his vision 02:04 of what he wanted to do in helping young people 02:07 and to earn their way through school 02:09 and to plant an institution 02:12 where there was no Seventh-day Adventist presence. 02:15 And as I heard the story, 02:18 my Mother elbowed my Father in the ribs and said, 02:22 "Louis, I think that's us." 02:24 And of course, with a little elbowing, 02:27 you usually get up, right? 02:29 And so my Father and my Mother went forward 02:31 and dedicated themselves 02:33 to helping to begin the work of this institution. 02:36 This was in 1951, in the late part of 1951. 02:42 And Mr. Patterson went to Hardin County, Tennessee. 02:46 Now Hardin County, Tennessee is an interesting place, 02:49 there was no Seventh-day Adventist 02:50 presence in that county. 02:52 In fact, there was no Seventh-day Adventist presence 02:55 in about nine counties surrounding Hardin County. 02:58 But God had not left this place forsaken. 03:01 Several years before that time, he had sent two colporteurs 03:05 working their way through Madison to Hardin County. 03:07 And these two young men went to the county, 03:10 and there was something very interesting going on 03:12 in the county as they were getting ready 03:14 to do their colporteuring. 03:15 And they found out 03:17 there was a high profile murder case going on. 03:19 And they both had a little interest in that 03:21 and so they said, "You know what? 03:23 We're going to go colporteur 03:25 and then, when we get down colporteuring, 03:27 we're going to go check and see 03:28 what's going on with this case." 03:30 And so they began to watch the case as it went through 03:33 and they became acquainted with the judge 03:36 whose name was Judge Herbert. 03:38 Well, so they were kind of paving the way. 03:41 And when Mr. Patterson showed up in Hardin County, 03:44 he said, "I'm needing some property to start a school, 03:47 who should I see?" 03:49 And someone directed them to Judge Herbert. 03:52 Judge Herbert sat with him in his office and he said, 03:56 "Mr. Patterson, I understand what you're saying here 03:59 and I will be happy to help you. 04:01 Here is a plat of my property, you go out and pick out 04:04 what you think you need and let me know what that is. 04:07 And if you do what you say you're going to do, 04:10 then you can have that property. 04:12 But if ten years from now, you haven't done it, 04:15 it comes back to me." 04:17 So 220 acres was donated to the project, 04:21 the Madison College students came onboard. 04:23 They began to come to Harbert Hills Academy property, 04:25 there was nothing there. 04:27 They started clearing land, 04:28 they eventually built a little camp site there and continued. 04:33 There was no electricity, there was no running water. 04:35 They began to clear it right away 04:36 and bring the electricity in. 04:38 And eventually, drilled a well 04:41 and actually had something going on there. 04:43 So it took a little while. 04:45 But God was blessing in the process 04:47 and people were... 04:48 The students from Madison would come down 04:50 and they would work there 04:51 and trying to get something started there. 04:54 Well, it's just amazing what God does overtime 04:56 and with people that are willing. 04:58 And Mr. Patterson's son, David Patterson, 05:03 and my Father brought their business. 05:05 They were in the business of rebuilding pianos. 05:08 So they moved their business there, 05:10 so that there was an Industry at Harbert Hills Academy. 05:13 My Mother and Mr. Patterson's wife started a nursing home. 05:17 We were the smallest licensed nursing home 05:19 in the state of Tennessee with three beds. 05:21 We laugh about it today, three little beds there. 05:24 And the funds to build that first little home there, 05:28 it's called the Clara Elis Hayes home. 05:31 Mr. Patterson had a bit interesting background, 05:33 Mr. Patterson Sr., 05:35 he was an agent for the Federal Government. 05:37 And his job was to put people in jail. 05:40 And so it was rather interesting. 05:41 One day, someone knocked on his office door there 05:43 at the college and said, 05:45 "Mr. Patterson, I would like to talk to you." 05:47 He said, "Okay, come in." 05:48 He said, "My name is Roger Hayes. 05:50 Do you remember me?" 05:51 Mr. Patterson says, "No, I don't think I do." 05:54 He said, "Well, you put me in jail. 05:56 And I told you that if ever got out, 05:58 I was going to come back and see you." 06:00 Well, at that point, Mr. Patterson became 06:01 just a little bit nervous wondering what was next. 06:04 But he said," No, I've heard about what you're doing. 06:06 Don't worry, I've heard about 06:07 what you're doing down in Hardin County 06:09 and I want to help you." 06:11 He said, "What do you need?" 06:12 He said, "Well, we need a building. 06:14 We're gonna start a little nursing home there." 06:16 He said," Well, how much is that going to cost?" 06:18 And he pulled out and he wrote Mr. Patterson a check 06:20 for what he asked for to build 06:22 that first little building for a nursing home. 06:24 And Mr. Patterson told him, 06:26 "Look, we've got a problem here. 06:27 We can't name this after you." 06:29 His practice was to name things 06:30 after the person that donated the money. 06:32 He said, "We can't name this after you 06:34 because you're a gangster." 06:35 He said, "I can't have that on the campus." 06:37 And Mr. Hayes said, "Well, no problem. 06:40 You can name it after my Mother." 06:41 And so the Clare Elis Hayes home was started, 06:44 three residents. 06:45 Now we have 49 residents and a beautiful facility there. 06:48 God has blessed immeasurably. 06:50 We have about 60 to 80 students in the school, 06:55 we have a farm program, 06:57 and a radio station broadcasting too 07:00 between Nashville and Memphis 07:02 and all those rural areas out there. 07:05 There are four churches that exist in that local area now. 07:08 And it's not all because of what happened there, 07:10 but Madison had a part to play in this. 07:12 They were inspiring lay people to do amazing things. 07:15 Many people were coming out of Madison 07:16 doing these amazing things 07:18 all across the south and around the world, 07:20 it's just amazing. 07:21 And I believe that God had a plan. 07:24 Madison wasn't an easy place. 07:26 We've heard about that already. 07:28 But I think that was for a reason, 07:30 because God was showing people there, 07:32 if it can be done here, it can be done anywhere. 07:35 You know, Steve, God is racing up a generation of leaders 07:40 in young people who'll carry that torch of self sacrifice, 07:45 of commitment, of mission focus. 07:48 And God is racing up once again in this generation. 07:53 You know one thing though 07:54 that is a little troubling frankly. 07:58 And that is, that Madison did not continue, 08:02 Madison closed. 08:04 Is there a reason for that? 08:06 Are there any instructive lessons 08:08 that the church can learn today 08:10 from the fact that, 08:12 here is an institution that was reported about 08:14 in Reader's Digest, 08:15 here is an institution 08:17 that the United States Education Department 08:19 actually lauded as a model of American education, 08:23 here is an institution 08:24 that spawns scores of other institutions 08:28 and had hundreds and hundreds of students 08:32 go out all over the world 08:33 but yet it does not exist in that same form today, 08:38 what lessons are instructive? 08:40 Well, I think there are several lessons. 08:42 One of the lessons that I take from it 08:45 is the great need of our institutions 08:48 across the country and around the world, 08:51 whether they're supporting ministries 08:52 or church owned institutions. 08:55 There is a huge need for leadership. 08:58 And EA Sutherland was in his waning years. 09:03 In 1955, EA Sutherland passed away. 09:07 The school lasted beyond that for about another nine years, 09:11 but leadership is so extremely important. 09:15 And this was one of things, one of the qualities 09:18 that I believe God was engendering in the people 09:21 that came to Madison 09:23 because the conditions were difficult. 09:25 And as you have mentioned, 09:27 sometimes difficulties in our life are the best teachers. 09:32 They're very instructive, 09:33 we learn rather quickly under very difficult conditions. 09:37 And so I would just challenge our ASI family. 09:42 Some of you are leaders, 09:44 some of you have leadership ability, 09:47 and God may be calling you 09:49 to step out of your comfort zone 09:51 and to step into institutional life 09:53 where leaders are in such demand. 09:56 Just sense being here at this convention, 09:59 I've had several institutional leaders come to me and say, 10:03 "Please help us, we need people. 10:06 While it's true, money is helpful, 10:08 even more helpful than money is people, 10:10 and we need people that are dedicated people 10:13 who would come and put their lives 10:15 into the work that God is doing in our institution," 10:18 so it's a huge thing. 10:19 I think there's a couple of other things though. 10:24 And as far as being instructive, 10:26 I think we need to be very careful 10:27 with what God gives us. 10:29 Madison had been in a time of decline 10:33 for a number of years 10:35 and the facilities were declining, 10:37 and the relationship with the state demanded 10:40 that they have good facilities, 10:41 and for housing the nursing students, 10:44 and for teaching, and things like that. 10:46 The facilities had been allowed to decline. 10:50 Now this was really at the very beginning of ASI, 10:53 and so there was not that kind of 10:55 organization in place 10:58 to help the institution see the need 11:00 and provide some of those resources 11:02 for capital improvements that needed to take place. 11:05 So it's the leadership issue, capital improvements, 11:09 and sometimes we get distracted 11:13 in an institutional environment. 11:15 We're paying attention to the minor things 11:18 when we need to be paying attention to the big things. 11:21 And so that's another thing 11:23 that I think had some impact on what was happening there. 11:28 So, you know it... 11:31 We do have a need, in fact, for workers without a question. 11:35 You know Elder Wilson, as we think about leadership, 11:38 you sit as President to the General Conference 11:42 of Seventh-day Adventist. 11:44 And leadership is a need all over the world. 11:47 Share with us just briefly a few qualities 11:50 that you see in godly Christian leaders today. 11:54 What are the kind of qualities that God uses in leaders 11:59 to really take the church beyond where it is, 12:01 to take an institution beyond where it is 12:04 for aspiring leaders? 12:07 Essentially, it requires an absolute faith in God, 12:12 a humble spirit. 12:14 And I tell you, and I speak to myself. 12:18 All leaders today can be challenged with the glamour 12:24 or the centrality of position 12:27 and it is only in humbling ourselves before God 12:31 that we'll see anything accomplished of any real value. 12:34 If you are a humble leader, even if you may not be schooled 12:38 in the best techniques of leadership, 12:40 God will use you just as He did to the disciples. 12:44 And self-supporting work and ASI, 12:48 the aspects that we've been talking about today, 12:51 one of the greatest characteristics, 12:53 Steve, is really in terms of leadership, 12:56 people who are willing to do anything they could 12:59 to advance the work of God. 13:01 So leadership certainly has to be humble, 13:04 it has to be knowledgeable, 13:06 it has to be completely leaning upon the Lord Himself, 13:11 and it has to be creative. 13:14 And the Lord intends for us to use creative ideas 13:17 and our own initiative, 13:20 and He will add His blessing to what happens. 13:24 Another huge factor in leadership today is faith. 13:28 Faith in the wonderful remnant understanding 13:33 of God's precious prophetic movement 13:36 and that God truly will be the leader. 13:39 You know, this morning, we had a powerful sermon 13:42 to help us to understand not to place 13:46 our trust in ourselves or in what we can do, 13:50 but to lean completely on God's power to accomplish it. 13:54 And not only God's power, 13:56 but God's way of accomplishing it. 13:58 Amen. Amen. 13:59 And of course, as we read in the Spirit of Prophecy, 14:01 we have so much instruction 14:03 about how God wants to accomplish His work. 14:07 We need to have faith to follow it. 14:11 You know, Charles, 14:13 God trains leaders in a variety of ways, 14:17 and let's get back to some of that early history 14:20 and discover how God trains leaders. 14:23 Elder Finley, when Walla Walla and when Emmanuel Missionary, 14:27 and when Madison each started, 14:29 they each started very much in privation and difficulty. 14:33 There were few bathtubs, there was no air conditioning, 14:37 in many cases there was no heat, 14:40 there was no excess money. 14:42 They made do with whatever they had on hand. 14:46 The first year at Madison, 14:48 they had corn and cows. 14:54 They sold butter to get flour. 14:56 The diet was corn bread and milk toast. 14:59 And to introduce some variety into the diet, 15:02 they created brewis. 15:05 Brewis was when you broke your toast into smaller pieces 15:09 before you pour down the skim milk. 15:14 And when they were tempted to complain, 15:17 Ed would remind everyone that the children of Israel 15:20 ate manna for 40 years, they could manage for one. 15:27 I would like to close my remarks 15:29 with these words from Lida Scott. 15:32 When she was reporting 15:34 to the assembled representatives 15:35 from the units in 1934, and I'm now quoting, 15:41 "Recently, some of the graduates 15:44 of Madison College have had real experience 15:47 in helping to establish a unit in Alabama. 15:50 Working in cooperation with the Mississippi, 15:52 Alabama Conference, none are promised salaries. 15:57 These, they must earn for themselves. 16:01 Two others of our graduates 16:02 have gone to two little church schools 16:04 in needy Mississippi areas. 16:08 As an encouragement to those who are studying 16:10 the self supporting cooperative plan of units, 16:13 I would say this, 'There are units needing re-enforcements, 16:18 there are places still available 16:20 to earnest groups of people capable of working together 16:24 effectively in co-operation 16:26 and able to procure for themselves.' 16:32 The Lord has faithful men and women 16:34 with money being prepared in hidden places 16:39 who will respond to his call in the fullness of time. 16:43 And to illustrate, 16:45 I came across one of these hidden ones this year. 16:48 She said to me, 'If some with vision or will, 16:52 and the muscle will respond, I will furnish the money.' 16:59 She could not get young folks with the will to work 17:02 and the determination to stick it out through thick and thin. 17:06 This woman had been waiting and praying for 20 years. 17:16 'It is easier to raise the means 17:21 than it is to raise the men.' 17:26 The night is coming when no man can work. 17:30 Before the shadows deepen into darkest midnight 17:32 the world has ever seen, 17:34 some must call, answer the call 17:39 saying, 'Here am I. 17:41 Send me.'" 17:43 Amen. Amen. 18:19 The Savior has come in His mighty pow'r 18:22 And spoken peace to my soul 18:25 And all of my life from that very hour 18:29 I've yielded to His control 18:31 I've yielded to His control 18:35 Oh, it is wonderful! 18:38 It is marvelous and wonderful 18:41 What Jesus has done for this soul of mine! 18:44 The half has never been told 18:48 Never been told it is wonderful 18:50 Oh, it is wonderful! 18:52 It is marvelous and wonderful 18:56 Wonderful what Jesus has done for this soul of mine! 19:01 Oh, the half has never been told 19:06 Never been told 19:10 From glory to glory 19:12 He leads me on 19:13 From grace to grace every day 19:16 And brighter and brighter the glory dawns 19:20 While pressing my homeward way 19:22 While pressing my homeward way 19:26 Oh, it is wonderful! 19:29 It is marvelous and wonderful 19:32 What Jesus has done for this soul of mine! 19:35 The half has never been told 19:39 Never been told it is wonderful! 19:41 Oh, it is wonderful! 19:43 It is marvelous and wonderful 19:46 Wonderful what Jesus has done for this soul of mine! 19:52 Oh, the half has never been told 19:57 It is wonderful! 20:02 Wonderful, it is wonderful! 20:04 It is marvelous and wonderful 20:08 What Jesus has done for this soul of mine! 20:11 The half has never been told 20:14 Never been told 20:16 It is wonderful! 20:17 Oh, it is wonderful! 20:19 It is marvelous and wonderful 20:22 Wonderful what Jesus has done for this soul of mine! 20:28 Oh, the half has never 20:31 The half has never, the half has never 20:38 Been told 20:42 Never been told 20:59 What are we going to do? 21:01 Who's going to start another Madison? 21:06 How are we going to continue God's work? 21:10 And the need is huge around the world. 21:13 And as you've heard us talk just a little bit about this, 21:15 the need for leadership is huge 21:18 but God is challenging individuals. 21:21 I recently attended the Madison College alumni, 21:25 they've been closed for over 60 years, 21:28 but they still have an alumni meeting in June of each year 21:32 where the graduates get together 21:34 and they talk about their experience 21:36 that happened to them there at Madison. 21:40 Today, as never before, God is calling for workers, 21:45 He is calling for people who will enter His vineyard 21:48 and do His work. 21:50 You know, it's relatively inviting and comfortable 21:55 to move into a community 21:57 where there are many other Adventists, 21:59 and they're kind of, you know, plant yourself there 22:02 and attend the local Seventh-day Adventist Church 22:05 and sit in the pew. 22:07 It just gets kind of comfortable, doesn't it? 22:10 Well, I believe we're at a time in earth's history 22:12 where God is calling us to do 22:13 something more than keep the pews warm 22:17 in these larger communities. 22:18 We are being called to go to places 22:21 where there is no Seventh-day Adventist work, 22:23 hundreds and hundreds of cities and towns across this nation, 22:26 thousands of cities, and towns, and villages across the world 22:30 needing someone to come 22:32 and give them the good news of the gospel. 22:35 Well, the good news is, 22:37 today that the work that God is calling people to do 22:41 is being responded to. 22:43 We are not in a situation 22:46 where no one is responding to that call. 22:49 We have several stories we want to tell you today. 22:52 The first story comes from the country of Romania. 22:55 I think we have some folks from Romania here today. 22:58 The little school is being started there 23:00 is called the Integritas, 23:02 and they read the book Madison, God's Beautiful Farm, 23:06 and they began to search for what they might do 23:09 to fulfill that kind of vision for education. 23:12 And as they were searching and praying, 23:16 I went at one point to talk with them and encourage them 23:19 in their quest to start something there in Romania. 23:23 And they took me to a piece of property on a hillside there 23:26 and said, "We're going to start something here." 23:28 It's amazing what God is doing there. 23:30 "We're going to start something here." 23:31 I said, "It's a beautiful piece of property, 23:33 it's a lovely place to start a little school." 23:35 They said, "That's what we would like to do." 23:37 And so we began to encourage them, 23:40 and to pray with them, 23:42 and to give them some counsel, and they began to work. 23:46 And we're going to show you 23:48 just a short video clip right now 23:50 about the work that is happening in Romania, 23:52 the beginning of this little school there. 23:55 And I say little school, 23:56 you will see when they show the video 23:59 that God is really blessing there. 24:01 And again, what did they do? 24:04 They started reading the book, they started reading the books, 24:07 God's Counsel, the book on education, other books. 24:10 And they said, "We've got to do something." 24:12 And God inspired them to do something. 24:14 And so we are going to ask them to roll that video right now. 27:00 Things haven't changed, have they? 27:02 Success depends on following God's plan. 27:06 And I would challenge you, my friends, 27:07 to continue to allow God to speak to you 27:11 about what He wants you personally to do. 27:13 We have another story today, 27:15 we are going to share actually four more stories. 27:17 So get ready for four more great stories 27:19 about what God is doing around the world 27:21 with starting new things 27:23 and impressing people to do something for Him. 27:27 I would like to invite Wes Stabel to join me here. 27:30 This story comes to us from Arkansas. 27:35 Anybody here from Arkansas today? 27:39 Wes, you're here from Arkansas. Oh, yeah. 27:41 Amen. 27:42 Now, Wes, you at one point 27:48 were a chicken farmer. 27:50 Yes, sir. 27:51 What happened with it? 27:53 I don't think you're a chicken farmer anymore, 27:55 tell me about that? 27:57 Well, I had always, in my life, 28:00 felt like I was a failure at witnessing. 28:04 And I wanted to do something for God in witnessing 28:08 but I didn't know what to do. 28:09 We had tried so many things. 28:11 I felt like if God handed out report cards, 28:15 I would have an A in prayer, an A in Bible study, 28:18 and a D minus in witnessing. 28:21 And I wanted something to happen. 28:24 So you were open to the leading of the Holy Spirit. 28:28 Your little church appointed you to an office. 28:31 What did they ask you to do? 28:32 They asked me to be 28:34 the Personal Ministries Director of our church. 28:35 Now that sounds pretty innocent, 28:38 just be the Personal Ministries Director. 28:40 What did God do with that opportunity? 28:42 Well, I had never been Personal Ministries Director before, 28:46 and when I took the position, 28:48 I am not the kind that wants to just stand in a podium 28:52 and read the conference papers. 28:54 And I wanted something to happen, 28:56 so I had read an article in the Northern Union paper 29:03 about a Bible worker going to a church in Minnesota. 29:08 And I thought that's what we got to do, 29:14 we need a Bible worker, 29:16 we need a full-time person to come and stir us, 29:20 and get us going in this church, 29:22 I want something to happen. 29:24 So you are looking for a Bible worker, 29:26 did you find one? 29:27 Yes, we did. But it was a difficult task. 29:30 We had found that the Bible worker 29:33 that went to Minnesota 29:34 had come through Luis Torres School in South Dakota. 29:39 And so I called him and he said, "No, Wes," 29:42 he said, "These people don't just come here 29:44 and take training and then hope to find a place to go. 29:48 They're sent by a church, and they're trained, 29:50 and they go back to their church. 29:52 Actually, he thought he found me someone 29:54 and then we got disappointed 29:56 and it didn't happen. 29:58 So who did you end up getting? 30:00 Okay, I just wish, I need two hours to tell the story... 30:04 But I wish... 30:06 That's okay, we got four more minutes, don't worry. 30:08 You have to keep track of the time 30:10 but, God providentially brought us. 30:13 If we can put on the screen 30:15 the picture of these two people, 30:18 Daniel and Nerida McKibben, 30:21 they were people that we knew nothing about. 30:27 And those people came 30:28 and when I took them through the church 30:30 and through the fellowship hall, 30:32 I heard Neruda say to Daniel, 30:34 "Daniel, we could do our treatments in this room." 30:38 And I'm thinking, "What! 30:40 Bible workers don't do treatments." 30:42 And I said, "Treatments, what?" 30:45 And she says, "Well, we're medical missionaries as well." 30:48 So you not only got a Bible worker 30:50 but you got medical missionaries. 30:51 We got two medical missionaries and of the finest order I say, 30:55 "Well, what qualifies you to do medical work?" 30:59 And that's when I found out 31:01 that Daniel was a licensed massage therapist, 31:04 he had been in charge 31:06 of the Lifestyle Center at Eden Valley 31:08 for seven years 31:09 and Neruda was a doctor. 31:11 So how did that impact how you got into this thing 31:15 with medical missionary work? 31:16 Because I got involved with these people, 31:18 I wanted to know about medical missionary work. 31:20 I had read about it, never met one in my life. 31:24 And we learned a lot about medical missionary work. 31:27 And while they were there, do we have it on the screen, 31:31 that this couple came in who had a huge cancer 31:35 and he had been to the doctors and the doctors have told him, 31:39 "You got two months to live." 31:41 And I am thinking, you know, there is no hope for this man, 31:46 he was 72 years old. 31:48 And believe it or not, 31:51 in six months time through her natural remedy program, 31:56 he was sent back to the doctors 31:58 and he was told that he was cancer free. 32:01 Amen. Amen. 32:02 And he's returned to our center just recently, 32:04 we're talking about 15 years later, 32:07 he is still cancer free. 32:10 So at that point, you kind of bought in to this thing. 32:13 I did, I'm telling you, that said, "Okay. 32:15 Bye, bye, retirement." 32:17 I was saving that for retirement, 32:19 my hot tub, my motor home, 32:22 we're going to travel the whole United States. 32:24 And I said good bye to that. 32:26 I want to do this work. 32:28 So actually what I hear you saying 32:30 is that God impressed you to take these funds 32:33 you'd save for retirement 32:35 and the church has actually purchased 32:37 a little piece of property, 32:38 they have started a medical missionary center 32:40 across the road. 32:43 It's amazing what God has done. 32:45 It would take me too long to tell you. 32:47 I've got it on a DVD, 32:48 if any of you come by the booth, 32:50 it's 245, you'd hear the whole story there. 32:54 So you have the whole story there 32:56 but let me just ask you a question, 32:57 Wes, as we close out here today. 32:59 I want you to just share with the folks here today, 33:02 how has this changed your personal life 33:05 to get involved like this? 33:07 I was a Laodicean Seventh-day Adventist just living life, 33:12 and it has totally changed me. 33:15 I understand what it means to be born again. 33:18 What's inside of me is to do God's work, 33:22 I have no desire for this world of any kind. 33:27 So a Laodicean Seventh-day Adventist gets impressed by God 33:32 to take his retirement money 33:33 and invest in a wellness center. 33:35 And what I hear you saying today 33:38 is it is just completely altered the way 33:40 you think about life in general. 33:42 This is the greatest retirement that I could ever have. 33:46 I am up there everyday, we have worship at 9:45 every day, 33:52 and then we begin our day. 33:54 But it has been the most wonderful experience. 33:57 God has led me there, I had never in my life prayed, 34:01 "Lord, what would You have me to do in my life?" 34:04 I directed my own life, 34:06 but He took me through this means to this work. 34:10 Wes, what would you say to someone sitting here today 34:14 who, as you have been telling your story, 34:16 they've kind of been feeling like may be the Holy Spirit 34:19 is speaking to them, what would you say to them? 34:21 I would just say pray, "Lord, what will Thou have me to do?" 34:26 God is able. 34:27 He led me at the age of 55 34:30 after I had worn probably five different hats in life, 34:35 and He's put me into this work 34:38 and I'm not going to retire until I die. 34:41 What's the greatest need of Wellness Secrets right now? 34:45 The greatest need that we have, I am looking at all of you 34:49 and wondering, who is there, 34:51 you know, it says in Luke l0:2 34:55 that the harvest is great and the labors are few. 34:59 We need labors, we need at least two more. 35:02 One could be the director of the center. 35:05 If we had more workers, what things we could do 35:10 because we have a beautiful center sitting there, 35:13 ready to go if we had more workers. 35:16 Amen. Thank you so much today, Wes, for sharing. 35:18 God bless you and the work you are doing there. 35:20 Thank you for the opportunity 35:21 and I want to say this is a first time at ASI, 35:25 it has been a blessing to meet and hear the testimonies, 35:28 it has encouraged me, 35:30 God is working and He's going to finish the work. 35:33 Amen. Amen. 35:36 Thank you, Wes. 35:41 Our next story comes to us from two young ladies 35:47 who have been called by God to some very interesting work. 35:52 Now I understand that you're working in a closed country, 35:58 so you won't hear us today talking about 36:01 the name of the country in which you are working. 36:03 We're going to avoid that if we can and... 36:06 But we have Gina. 36:09 Gina, how did God get you involved in this work? 36:13 God is so good. 36:15 I was actually working there as an attorney. 36:18 So you had gone to this country, 36:20 you are working there as an attorney. 36:22 And what, that one thing led to another? 36:26 How did the Lord, was impressing you? 36:28 Yes, just seeing the local people, 36:31 their local struggle, just not for financial meets 36:34 but for the lack of spiritual. 36:36 There was no one really to tell them about God, 36:38 and they didn't have the hope or the resources that we have, 36:41 the things we take for granted. 36:44 Haije, how did you get into this? 36:46 Yes, so I'm a physical therapist 36:48 and I actually took a year off to become an English teacher. 36:53 So you're teaching English 36:55 and she is there working as a lawyer, 36:57 and the two of you got together? 37:00 Yes. 37:01 Well, I'm from California 37:03 and she is from Connecticut, Massachusetts... 37:04 That sounds like a close way to get together. 37:06 And God brought us together in this country. 37:09 So He takes you halfway around the world and put you together. 37:11 Yes. Isn't God amazing? 37:14 Yeah, God's amazing in the way He works. 37:16 Well, so you're there, 37:17 you're thinking about all these things. 37:19 God is impressing you that something needs to be done. 37:22 What exactly did God begin to help you do? 37:26 Yes, so we felt impressed to do three things 37:30 to creatively share the gospel through health, 37:33 a wellness center, education, and farming. 37:36 You know, that sounds something like the little book here 37:39 that I read recently 37:40 called "Madison: God's Beautiful Farm". 37:42 I actually read that a year before I came... 37:44 Oh! You read the book? 37:45 Oh, my! 37:47 And God impressed you through that. 37:48 We need a health worker, agricultural work 37:50 and some education work going on. 37:53 Yes. Okay. So, Gina, tell us. 37:56 You got several things going on here, 37:57 how did that work itself out? 38:00 God is so good because when I went back to the States, 38:02 said we're going to work really hard 38:04 and come up with the money, 38:05 and it's going to take us a while 38:07 but God knew better 38:08 and He said, "No, no, no, I am going to provide for you. 38:11 Because if you pay for this land, 38:13 if you pay for these things, 38:14 you're going to take all the credit 38:15 and this is My ministry." 38:17 Okay. 38:18 And so we got a call from a person 38:21 who used to live in that particular area 38:23 that said, "I heard you're looking for land, 38:25 we should talk." 38:27 And so we met with her and she said, "Here." 38:30 We were like okay, so how much do you want? 38:32 And she said," I wanted to use it for God 38:34 and I want you to use it to plant mango trees." 38:37 We were like, we can do that. 38:39 So a donation of property, how big is that property? 38:44 It's almost 20 acres. 38:45 Almost 20 acres. 38:47 But what I want you to know is that, 38:48 we asked her, "When did you buy this land?" 38:51 And she said, "In March of 2014," 38:53 and that's significant for us because in March of 2014, 38:56 that's when God gave us the vision, 38:58 the calling to start this type of ministry. 39:00 Oh, it's amazing how God is setting things up, 39:02 planning things ahead of time, 39:04 providing resources, inspiring people. 39:07 So God's at work here, He's doing things. 39:09 What are the components did you add to the farm? 39:13 So every Sunday there's an English program 39:15 that happens now, 39:17 the beautiful thing about it 39:18 is that it's actually conducted by the local people 39:22 and they're, of course, non-Adventists 39:25 but they get to share about God 39:28 through the stories that they teach in English. 39:32 So about a month ago, part of the curriculum 39:34 was the story of the good Samaritan. 39:37 And what she didn't mention is that our project manager, 39:40 the one that's running this 39:41 up to about a couple of months ago, 39:44 he was baptized. 39:45 Amen. 39:47 And it's just so exciting 39:48 because, you know, he was a young Buddhist man, 39:50 he was looking for God. 39:51 And by seeing the testimony, why are you doing this? 39:54 Why are you giving so much to these people? 39:56 Because that's what God wants us to do. 39:58 Amen. 39:59 And it was through that that led to Bible studies 40:00 and now he's one of our Bible readers, 40:03 reading Bible studies every Friday 40:05 in our Oon Jai house, like we like to call it. 40:07 Amen. 40:09 So God is setting up things there 40:10 but He didn't stop there, 40:12 He gave you some collaboration actually with the Government. 40:15 Tell us about, I mean the Communist Government, 40:17 Non Christian society, 40:19 and God's kind of set something up? 40:22 So this is like our third miracle, 40:24 I guess, God is so good. 40:25 We said, "Oh, we need information 40:27 on how to collaborate with the Government. 40:30 Let's just go and pick up some forms," 40:31 And our friends were like, "You can't go like that." 40:34 We were going on a mission trip 40:35 so we're not dressed appropriately 40:37 to meet with Government officials. 40:39 So we're like we have nothing to wear, 40:40 so we had to go borrow clothes, borrow shoes. 40:43 We get there, and we knock, and we're like, 40:45 "Hi, how do we partner with the Governor?" 40:48 And then... 40:50 That's a good start for things. 40:52 You should go upstairs, 40:53 and we go upstairs and as we were going upstairs, 40:56 everyone is looking at us like we're crazy. 40:59 And then the director of ministry of health 41:02 of the whole country comes out, 41:04 and he's like, "What are you girls doing?" 41:05 We're like, "We're looking to speak to someone in charge 41:08 about collaborating on a health project." 41:10 He is like, "Hmm, come to my office." 41:12 So he brings the deputy ministry of health 41:15 and they're sitting in the office 41:17 and both of us are there, 41:18 and we just tell them how much we love the country 41:22 and how much we want to help, and this is our project. 41:25 And the deputy director with almost tears in his eyes, 41:29 he said, "That is my dream, too." 41:31 Amen. 41:32 So you connected with the Government officials 41:35 and now maybe in process of getting 41:37 some amazing work started there in this country, 41:40 God is going to bless that, I know. 41:41 But I have a question as we close out, 41:43 I want both of you to answer this question, 41:45 so you just have a little time 41:46 but how has it impacted your personal life 41:50 to engage in this kind of work? 41:52 God is so good. 41:53 I always wanted to be a missionary 41:54 but I couldn't, 41:56 because I wasn't the teacher or in the medical field. 41:59 And God said, "You don't need any of those skills, 42:01 you just need to serve me, 42:02 and use your skills to do that." 42:04 And I left the private sector to go on the public sector 42:07 so I would have, I still work full time. 42:09 And then my second job is this, so I work full time for this 42:13 and full time for that and God has been so good. 42:16 Haije? 42:17 So I grew up, I was born and raised 42:19 as a Seventh-day Adventist, 42:21 but really sometimes we go to places 42:23 where things do not make sense, 42:24 so God can reveal to us His love. 42:26 And the love that God has revealed to me, 42:29 that is really what I'm willing to share, 42:30 that's why we are called Oon Jai. 42:32 Oon Jai means warm heart. 42:35 Do you have a booth here? 42:37 Yes, yeah. 42:38 Our booth is number 420. 42:40 And for more information, you can go to our website, 42:43 it's OonJai.org. 42:46 Thank you, ladies, so much for sharing with us today. 42:48 God bless you in the work you are doing 42:50 and we'll keep you in our prayers. 42:53 Thank you. Amen. 43:04 I had the opportunity to go to Uganda 43:06 and I had been asked 43:08 by a farmer's co-operative to go into villages 43:10 and teach farmers how to process the soybeans 43:14 that they were already growing in a way 43:16 that would be more healthful for them 43:18 and also that they could start small businesses. 43:21 And what I learnt when I was there 43:22 is that they were growing soybeans 43:24 but they weren't giving any of them to their own children. 43:27 And their children were actually dying 43:30 and being malnourished because of lack of protein. 43:33 And so I knew we had a simple solution 43:35 right there in the community. 43:37 And so we started teaching them about soaking the beans, 43:40 about boiling them, making soymilk, 43:43 adding the byproduct of the soymilk 43:45 right back into the porridge 43:46 that everyone ate for breakfast, 43:48 and about what a difference 43:49 that would make in their health. 43:51 One of the reasons we focus on world farm families is 43:54 because that is where the hungry are. 43:57 The World Food Program estimates 43:59 there is 795 million hungry people in the world 44:03 and 75% of them are in these rural villages. 44:06 And so with these skills, 44:09 we believe that they can have an abundant life 44:12 right in the rural area. 44:13 One thing that I love about 44:15 our Farm Stew team is able to do 44:17 especially in the area of Eastern Uganda 44:20 is to introduce the gospel to an area that is 80% Muslim. 44:24 These individuals are going out 44:27 and taking the message deep, deep into the villages. 44:30 I mean, they are really willing to sacrifice on our behalf 44:33 and on behalf of the villagers 44:36 so that they can bring the message out to people 44:38 who would never even get to the big city. 44:41 When I was there in November, 44:42 one of the places where we trained 44:44 was in a hospital in a malnutrition ward. 44:47 And the team didn't even realize it, 44:49 but they planned it for Thanksgiving day. 44:52 So it's kind of surreal to be sitting there 44:55 and realizing that here I was 44:57 with these incredibly malnourished children, 44:59 and all my friends and family were back here feasting. 45:02 But, you know, it's too late to wait 45:05 until they get to the malnutrition ward. 45:07 Two of the children that I interacted with 45:09 died in the next few days. 45:11 And we believe that if we can make that effort 45:14 and the expense to help our team members 45:17 go out deep into the villages, 45:19 those families won't have come into the malnutrition ward, 45:21 we can prevent that from happening. 45:24 This team in Uganda has already trained 13,000 villagers, 45:28 we keep really good records, and we're going back now 45:31 and visiting those same villages, 45:33 and getting to see that impact that we've had. 45:38 So Joy Kauffman is here with me today. 45:41 She is the director of Farm Stew. 45:43 But, Joy, tell us how did God prepare you... 45:48 I mean, I see you in Uganda, 45:49 you're teaching them how to make soy products. 45:53 How in the world did God prepare you for that? 45:55 Well, I was born in the Adventist hospital, 45:59 became a vegetarian when I was nine, 46:01 and just became fascinated in nutrition 46:03 because everyone thought 46:04 I was going to shrivel up and die of malnutrition. 46:07 They thought I would be stunted in fact. 46:10 And so I ended up studying nutrition in college 46:13 and studying all about Adventist 46:15 through the clinical research 46:16 that was available in the '70s and the '80s, 46:19 I was studying in the early '90s. 46:20 And you are healthy but I never met an Adventist 46:23 until I was 35 years old. 46:24 You're born in an Adventist hospital 46:26 but you never met an Adventist 46:27 until you were 35 years old, this is amazing. 46:31 I think they were praying though in the hospital. 46:33 They must have been praying in that hospital, 46:35 and may be even dedicated you to service or something. 46:38 I hope so. God reached out to you. 46:41 What was your background before becoming an Adventist? 46:43 Well, I married into Mennonite farm family, 46:46 actually I had served overseas internationally 46:49 with the Mennonite Central Committee 46:51 and that prepared me with a heart 46:52 for international development 46:53 which I've had now for three decades. 46:56 And I just really have this deep desire to have a message 47:01 for our global church that has a global reach, 47:04 and that's how Farm Stew was really born. 47:07 How long have you been an Adventist? 47:09 A little less than two years. 47:12 Now some of us have been just a little longer. 47:18 Some of us here have been just a little longer 47:20 but it looks like God has just really taken you 47:22 on the fast pace here, praise God, 47:24 you've joined the Adventist church, 47:26 you already have ministry going, 47:27 you're in Uganda, you're working, 47:28 you're training people. 47:30 I heard the video, 13,000 people trained? 47:32 Yeah, we're actually up to 17,000 now, 47:34 I was there a few weeks ago 47:35 and it is just such a powerful thing, 47:37 these team members, and these are church members, 47:40 lay church members like all of us here at ASI 47:44 who are just thrilled to have the opportunity to be trained 47:47 and equipped with simple health messages 47:49 that can really help them. 47:50 So we came up with this acronym Farm Stew. 47:54 And, yes, these are some of the church members 47:56 I want to introduce you to, Fiona 47:58 especially in the front, a new Adventist like me 48:01 who is now out training. 48:03 And she was really not having the ability 48:06 to share the love of Jesus before, 48:09 but now she can do that in a daily basis. 48:12 Amen. 48:13 So just give us the acronym quickly, 48:15 what does Farm Stew mean anyway? 48:17 I've heard of Newstart, 48:18 but what about this Farm Stew stuff? 48:19 Sounds like we should eat it. 48:21 Exactly, and that's what I want you to think of, 48:23 something home grown, something fresh, 48:25 something local. 48:26 So Farm Stew is a recipe of abundant life. 48:30 Jesus came that we might have life 48:32 and have it abundantly, 48:34 but for the woman that has to go walk for half a mile 48:37 to go get water, 48:38 does she really need to be told go get fresh air, 48:41 sunshine, and exercise? 48:43 Probably not. I think not. 48:44 So we had a few letters to play with there. 48:47 So we started with farming 48:48 because you have to be able to grow the food 48:51 in order to eat it. 48:52 In some African countries, it would cost 52% of the income 48:56 just to get five a day of fruits and vegetables. 48:59 So we started with Farming, Attitude, Rest and Meals. 49:03 Sanitation, Temperance, Enterprise and Water 49:05 is our acronym. 49:07 That is so practical, isn't it? Amen. 49:09 Thank you, Joy, that's a blessing 49:11 that God has impressed you to come up with this. 49:13 What impact has this had in the local community? 49:17 Well, we've had a very powerful impact 49:19 but I want to talk spiritually 49:20 because that's one of the things 49:22 that excites us most. 49:23 The first Sabbath I was there five weeks ago, 49:26 there was 29 baptisms. 49:28 And one of the things I love is that 49:30 we are able to connect our spiritual health 49:32 and our physical health. 49:34 For example, a seed, you all have seen seeds, 49:37 did you know that a seed is a perfect image of the Godhead. 49:41 We have a picture of it here. 49:42 Every seed that can bring forth life in this soil 49:45 is a three in one picture of our one true God. 49:49 And Romans 1:20 tells us that everything in creation, 49:54 the invisible attributes of God are seen in creation. 49:57 And so we talk about the health of our bodies 50:00 eating whole grains and whole seeds, 50:03 and then also for the soil, 50:05 we talk about improved varieties of plants 50:08 and teaching vegetable gardening to women, 50:11 we have people that are not having headaches now 50:13 because they're drinking water all over the country. 50:16 And we've had impressions from high to low, 50:19 like the head commander of the prisons 50:22 who has invited us in. 50:23 He actually is contemplating becoming an Adventist 50:26 because of sharing the health message with him. 50:29 So, Joy, we just have few seconds left 50:30 but tell us, how has this changed your life personally 50:34 to get involved in this kind of work? 50:36 Well, I am so blessed. 50:37 It's actually the Ugandan Adventists 50:38 and their witness that helped me 50:40 cross the line of faith to baptism. 50:42 I knew I had to be part of this family 50:44 and I'm so humbled especially by the East Central Division 50:48 and what they're doing. 50:49 And I just believe all of our resources 50:51 should be mobilized to help equipped 50:53 our church members throughout the world 50:54 so that they can bring this message to the world. 50:57 I thank you for letting me share it today. 51:00 What is your website? 51:01 FarmStew.org. 51:03 Do you have a booth here? 51:04 We don't have a booth yet but next year, I hope. 51:07 All right, praise God. 51:08 Thank you, Joy. 51:09 God bless you and the work you're doing and multiply. 51:11 Thank you. God bless you. 51:13 All right, okay. Thank you. 51:19 It's a real blessing today, isn't it? 51:20 I want to read this to you, 51:22 it comes from Christ's Object Lessons, page 326. 51:24 It says this, "Not more surely, is there a placed 51:29 prepared for us in the heavenly mansions 51:33 then is the special place designated on earth, 51:37 where we are to be workers for God." 51:48 Have you been impressed today 51:50 with the stories of those that have made a sacrifice 51:54 who had a passion in their hearts for Jesus? 51:57 Has that impressed your heart today? 51:59 You know, I just met with the two ladies 52:02 from the unentered country that gave their testimony. 52:06 And as we prayed together, tears flow down their face. 52:10 And I interpreted those tears this way, 52:13 they have a passion for that country, 52:16 they have a great desire to see men and women in that country 52:20 come to Christ and be changed by His grace. 52:24 You know, I'm always impressed with Jesus' statement 52:28 in the Gospel of Matthew 9. 52:33 When the scripture says in Matthew 9:35 and 36, 52:37 "And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, 52:41 teaching in their synagogues, 52:44 preaching the gospel of the kingdom, 52:46 and healing every sickness and every disease." 52:49 Jesus' ministry was a comprehensive ministry. 52:53 He cared for people physically, mentally, 52:57 emotionally, and spiritually. 52:59 Then Jesus makes this amazing statement. 53:03 "But He saw the multitudes 53:05 and He was moved with compassion for them 53:08 because they were weary and scattered 53:10 like sheep without a shepherd. 53:12 And He said to his disciples, 'The harvest truly is plentiful 53:16 but the laborers are few.'" 53:18 How many of you believe the words of Jesus? 53:20 Do you believe the words of Jesus? 53:22 The harvest is, what everybody? 53:25 The harvest is, what? 53:26 Plentiful, but the laborers are, what? 53:29 Few. 53:30 Is God speaking to your heart today 53:33 to raise up a new generation of laborers for Him? 53:38 You know, not long ago, 2015, Saint Antonio, Texas, 53:45 there was something going on 53:46 at the General Conference session 53:48 that you may not have been aware of. 53:50 ASI sponsored 65 pastors from China, 53:57 from mainland China, 53:59 they come to the General Conference session. 54:01 ASI raised that money. 54:03 Every afternoon, we met with them 54:05 and we study the Bible, 54:07 the great prophetic truths of the Adventist church. 54:10 Many of them had never had the opportunity 54:12 to have advanced education before. 54:16 After that time at the General Conference session, 54:20 we invited them to come 54:21 on an Adventist history tour with us. 54:24 We traveled to Washington, New Hampshire 54:26 and studied the Bible Sabbath 54:28 at the first Adventist Sabbath keeping church. 54:31 We traveled to William Miller's farm 54:33 and studied the second coming of Christ. 54:36 We traveled to Hiram Edson's farm 54:38 and studied the sanctuary message. 54:41 We traveled to Battle Creek 54:43 and studied the origin of our health message. 54:46 As we were traveling, 54:49 I had an opportunity to interface 54:51 with many of these Chinese brothers and sisters. 54:56 And one young lady impressed me greatly, 54:59 she was about 5'2" 55:02 and I had to look down quite a bit 55:04 and she looked up as we talked. 55:06 And through the Chinese translator, 55:09 I asked her, "What do you do?" 55:10 She said, "I'm a lay person but I'm a church planter." 55:14 She said, "I've been in a city in China 55:17 that will remain unnamed, 55:19 that has over a million people, 55:21 no Seventh-day Adventist when I went there, 55:23 and I've been there now four years working by myself, 55:27 and I've raised up an Adventist church." 55:30 I said to her, "What's the most difficult experience you had? 55:34 What was the hardest?" 55:35 She said "Pastor Mark, I went there alone. 55:40 I didn't know one person in that city, 55:44 the nights were horrible. 55:46 I had little money of self support, 55:49 and I was staying in a one room apartment," 55:52 and she said, "the most horrible thing is, 55:54 when I would go to bed at night, 55:56 and the rats would climb up on my bed and bite my feet." 56:02 She said, "Pastor, it was horrible. 56:05 I'd get up at the night and the rats would scatter." 56:08 I said, "Why did you stay? 56:11 Why did you stay?" 56:14 Because there were people that needed to know Jesus. 56:18 That is the spirit of early Adventism, 56:22 that is the spirit of ASI, the spirit of commitment, 56:27 commitment to a prophetic message 56:29 that goes to the ends of the earth, 56:32 that is the spirit of sacrifice, 56:36 that is the spirit of a new generation 56:38 that God is raising up. 56:40 I love the song, "Heirs of the kingdom. 56:42 O why do you slumber? 56:45 Why are you sleeping so near your blest home: 56:49 Wake thee, arouse thee, and gird on thine armor, 56:52 speed for the moments are hastening on." 56:55 I want to be a part of that grand and glorious group. |
Revised 2018-03-22