Participants:
Series Code: ASIC
Program Code: ASIC180015A
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00:19 Good afternoon, ASI.
00:23 How was your lunch? 00:25 Well, we're in for a blessing. 00:27 Aren't we, Philip, this afternoon? 00:28 Absolutely. I can't wait. Amen. 00:31 Now, Philip, this is your first ASI 00:33 with being an officer with this. 00:35 How does it feel? 00:36 It feels incredible 00:37 to see God's amazing blessings here at ASI. 00:41 Amen. 00:43 Now this afternoon, we have a very special program for you. 00:47 You may or may not know 00:48 that ASI is a department of the North American Division, 00:53 and as such we work together 00:55 with the North American Division. 00:57 And this program, this afternoon, 00:58 we'll showcase how we work together. 01:01 You know, it tells us in John 17 01:04 that when there is unity among us, 01:07 the world will know that in fact, 01:09 Jesus Christ was sent. 01:11 So is a testimony to who Jesus Christ is 01:14 when we can all work together. 01:16 And we hope that the program this afternoon 01:19 will inspire you to go home and work with your churches 01:22 as you are ASI members. 01:24 And now, Philip, why don't you open this up with prayer? 01:28 All right, let us pray. 01:30 Father God, we're so grateful 01:32 that we have this privilege of coming 01:34 to be inspired, to be touched, 01:36 to be moved by Your Holy Spirit at this ASI convention. 01:41 We thank You for the incredible blessings 01:44 we've experienced thus far. 01:45 We thank You for calling each one of us 01:48 to be ministers for You. 01:50 We thank You for the opportunity 01:51 we have as Seventh-day Adventist Christians 01:54 to get involved in Total Member Involvement 01:58 that every single person can get actively involved 02:01 in the mission of the church. 02:03 We pray that You will empower us and equip us 02:06 to use our gifts and talents for You. 02:09 And we pray that we will leave this place energized 02:11 and ready to do all we can to hasten 02:14 the soon coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 02:18 This is our prayer. 02:19 Now bless our program this evening. 02:21 In Jesus name we pray, Amen. 02:26 Okay, let's stand again 02:27 as we sing our opening song tonight, 02:30 "My Maker and My King." 02:38 My Maker and my King 02:42 To Thee my all I owe 02:46 Thy sovereign bounty is the spring 02:49 Whence all my blessings flow 02:52 Thy sovereign bounty is the spring 02:55 Whence all my blessings flow 03:02 The creature of Thy hand On Thee alone I live 03:09 My God, Thy benefits demand More praise than I can give 03:15 My God, Thy benefits demand 03:19 More praise than I can give 03:26 Lord, what can I impart 03:29 When all is Thine before? 03:32 Thy love demands a thankful heart 03:35 The gift, alas! how poor 03:39 Thy love demands a thankful heart 03:42 The gift, alas! how poor 03:49 O! let Thy grace inspire My soul with strength divine 03:56 Let every word and each desire And all my days be Thine 04:02 Let every word and each desire 04:06 And all my days be Thine 04:13 Please be seated. 04:22 Good afternoon, ASI. 04:24 The intention of this program 04:26 is to show some of the unique collaborations 04:30 that are happening not only here in the United States, 04:33 but around the world between lay people 04:36 and the Seventh-day Adventist Church 04:39 on the topic of mission. 04:41 This afternoon our first story comes to us 04:43 from the country of Romania. 04:46 I have two gentlemen here with me this afternoon, 04:49 Reinhard Suciu, who is the director, 04:52 the development director for this project in Romania, 04:57 and also Eduard Calugaru. 04:59 I'm not sure, if I've said that exactly right, 05:01 but you'll forgive me for my pronunciation, 05:04 who is a pastor and also serves as a treasurer 05:08 for the Romanian union. 05:10 He also serves in Romania 05:13 as the ASI representative 05:17 to help coordinate the work of ASI in Romania. 05:21 So it's a blessing to have both of these gentlemen 05:23 here with us today 05:25 as we talk about this very unique project. 05:30 So tell us, Reinhard, what is the purpose? 05:34 The project is a hospital, right? 05:37 What is the purpose of this hospital in Romania? 05:42 Well, the main purpose of the hospital 05:45 is gonna be mission. 05:47 Of course, 05:50 we want to continue the teaching 05:52 and healing of Jesus Christ. 05:56 We want to treat the person as a whole 06:00 as body, mind, and spirit. 06:03 Most of the hospitals are treating the disease. 06:08 So we want to try to treat the person. 06:11 Now this is the disease. 06:13 Also, 06:16 in the minds of some of us, 06:19 there's a conflict between these two approaches on cancer 06:25 about the natural approach and the classical approach. 06:29 We want to do something unique. 06:32 We want to do something new 06:34 and put these both of them under the same roof. 06:39 So let's just back up just a little bit, Reinhard. 06:43 So a cancer hospital in Romania, 06:47 why did you choose a cancer hospital? 06:52 What reason would there be 06:54 that Romania needed a cancer hospital? 06:58 The people in Romania, and actually in Eastern Europe, 07:03 they suffer because of cancer, 07:05 just like the other people around the world. 07:08 The thing is that they need higher quality treatment, 07:13 they need screenings, 07:15 they need to be treated, 07:18 as I said before, like a whole. 07:21 And in Romania, the health system... 07:25 Let's put it this way, it's not that good. 07:28 So we want to bring a higher quality treatment 07:33 in Romania. 07:35 And then there is no Adventist Hospital in Eastern Europe, 07:39 none of... 07:40 So there is no Adventist Hospital 07:42 in all of Eastern Europe. 07:43 There isn't actually. 07:47 So this is a real opportunity to do something 07:50 in terms of health care in Eastern Europe as a whole. 07:54 I really liked what you said 07:55 when you said it's unique from the standpoint 07:58 that you're putting under the same roof 08:00 the best practice for modern, 08:02 what we call modern medicine practice. 08:04 That's true. 08:06 And also the best practice for lifestyle medicine 08:09 both under the same roof. 08:10 This is a very unique approach to treating cancer. 08:14 I'm not sure 08:16 if there is actually any other hospital in the world 08:18 that has this exact approach. 08:20 I know here in Florida, we have the Adventist health system, 08:23 and we have creation health 08:24 associated with our hospital here. 08:27 And both elements are given some emphasis. 08:30 But as far as having both under the same roof 08:33 and the same direct management, 08:34 I think this is quite unique. 08:37 Actually, as far as we know, 08:38 there is no hospital doing this around the world. 08:42 So this is going to be a first time thing. 08:45 And we would like to be an inspiration for others 08:48 also regarding this. 08:51 Now, you folks will notice that there's an empty chair 08:54 here on the platform today. 08:57 And that's for a couple of reasons. 08:59 One of our interviews has more people. 09:02 But in this interview this afternoon, 09:04 we wanted to have Dr. Hart here with us. 09:06 And many of you know Dr. Hart, 09:08 he is the president of Loma Linda University. 09:11 However, his schedule prevented him 09:13 from being here with us today. 09:15 But he sent a little statement about this project because Loma 09:18 Linda has been a collaborator 09:22 in helping to develop this concept 09:25 and to put it together. 09:26 And I just wanna read this afternoon 09:28 the statement that Dr. Hart sent to me. 09:31 He said, "Loma Linda University Health 09:33 is pleased to collaborate with colleagues in Romania 09:37 to develop an Adventist Cancer Hospital. 09:40 They already have an attractive piece of land 09:43 and are developing a viable business plan. 09:45 It is clear 09:47 that the country is ready for specialist hospitals 09:51 and we are supportive of this project moving ahead." 09:55 So Dr. Hart's saying, yes, 09:57 he wants to see this project move ahead as well. 10:00 So we have a very unique hospital 10:02 that is being developed there. 10:04 How did this come about? 10:05 Where was the idea? 10:08 Where this came about from? 10:13 I would like to tell you my opinion... 10:20 And I would like to spread this idea. 10:26 I think that for the first time that idea came about in heaven. 10:31 Amen. 10:36 It was there for the first time and then it came to us. 10:45 In Romania, we have many Adventist physicians... 10:51 Many students. 10:56 There are many Adventist work in the health... 11:03 And they've seen this need. 11:10 Few years ago, 11:11 approximately three years ago... 11:14 People of Romania, they came out on the streets... 11:20 And they had some demonstrations there. 11:28 And they shouted we want hospitals not churches. 11:36 People saw this need in Romania. 11:42 The Adventist Church saw this need. 11:50 But they want to emphasize 11:52 the role that ASI had in this project. 11:57 ASI puts together these groups in the church. 12:01 The people... 12:04 The church administrators... 12:11 The Adventist physicians in Romania... 12:17 And from the dream, it has become a real project. 12:22 Okay, that's amazing. 12:24 So ASI actually played a role 12:26 in helping to bring together the physicians 12:28 and the church administration to talk about this project. 12:32 And I know ASI played a role 12:34 in the funding of this project as well 12:36 and helping to generate some funds. 12:40 In the end though the project will be owned 12:43 by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, right? 12:47 Yes, that is correct. 12:49 So the project will be 12:50 owned by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 12:52 So what we're seeing here today 12:54 is a very unique collaboration that has occurred between 12:58 the lay people of the church, the physicians of the church, 13:02 and the administration of the church, 13:04 and not only just in the country of Romania 13:07 but collaborating across the world 13:09 with Loma Linda University and developing this concept 13:13 and bringing together this very unique project. 13:16 So I know that there's a lot of stories you could tell, 13:19 but tell us a story 13:20 about how this project got started with the land 13:25 and how God worked there, 13:26 so that you can have the land you needed. 13:35 The most important thing for a project 13:37 is to know that God is with you. 13:43 It doesn't have to be just a nice dream, 13:46 but you have to know that 13:47 God is leading you step-by-step. 13:55 When we decided on 13:57 where the project is going to happen... 14:03 Romanian Adventist businessman 14:05 donated four hectares of land... 14:11 and he said this is my contribution 14:13 to this project. 14:17 We said, well, four hectares, it's enough for us. 14:21 We said thank you and we moved on. 14:29 But a neighbor from around there, 14:32 a neighbor of the land that we had now... 14:38 He was a non-Adventist, 14:39 and he found out that we want to build a hospital over there. 14:44 And he said, 14:45 "I want to donate a piece of land 14:47 for this hospital." 14:50 It was 7,500 square meters. 14:58 And there was another person 15:00 that donated approximately 3,000 square meters. 15:05 So we have now 15:08 a little over five hectares of land. 15:12 And we said, "Oh, that's more than enough for us." 15:15 It's good. 15:21 But in a couple of days 15:23 some documents came for us from the government... 15:28 And they had some conditions for us 15:32 for building the hospital. 15:35 And one of them was saying this... 15:39 "The minimum piece of land that you need... 15:44 has to be five hectares. 15:47 So God had actually worked all this out ahead of time. 15:51 He knew what the requirement was, 15:53 and he had provided just the right amount of land 15:56 so that you could build the hospital. 15:58 It's amazing. 15:59 The total project for this hospital is about $25 million 16:03 in euros rather, it's about 25 million euros. 16:06 So it's a huge project. 16:07 I understand you're probably 16:09 around 6 million euros committed to this project, 16:11 you're planning on breaking ground in October. 16:14 And I know that God is going to bless this in an amazing way 16:18 as the lay people of the church 16:20 and the administration of the church 16:22 continue to work together in this unique project. 16:27 Friends, today, if you want more information, 16:29 maybe you'd like to go to Romania 16:31 and see this project, 16:32 maybe you'd like to help them in some way, 16:34 booth 1,100 over in the exhibit hall. 16:37 They have a booth set up there, 16:40 and these gentlemen would be happy to share with you 16:42 how God is leading on this project 16:44 as we were telling the story to each other 16:46 and kind of preparing for this. 16:48 There's just a lot more to this story 16:50 lot of miracles that God has done. 16:52 It's amazing to see what God has done 16:53 what He continues to do. 16:55 Thank you for sharing with us today. 16:57 Thank you. All right. 17:01 How deep the Father's love for us 17:08 How vast beyond all measure 17:15 That He should give His only Son 17:22 To make a wretch His treasure 17:29 How great the pain of searing loss 17:36 The Father turns His face away 17:42 As wounds which mar the Chosen One 17:49 Bring many sons to glory 17:59 Behold the man upon a cross 18:05 My sin upon His shoulders 18:12 Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice 18:18 Call out among the scoffers 18:25 It was my sin that held Him there 18:31 Until it was accomplished 18:38 His dying breath has brought me life 18:44 I know that it is finished 18:54 I will not boast in anything 19:01 No gift, no power, no wisdom 19:07 But I will boast in Jesus Christ 19:14 His death and resurrection 19:20 Why should I gain from His reward? 19:27 I cannot give an answer 19:38 But this 19:40 I know with all my heart 19:47 His wounds have paid my ransom 20:00 Amen. 20:01 What a beautiful song there this afternoon 20:05 to know why we're here because Jesus paid our ransom. 20:08 Amen. 20:09 Thank you for that beautiful music. 20:11 This afternoon, I have Manuel and Esther Alva with us. 20:15 And for those of you who are long time ASI members, 20:19 they are no strangers to you. 20:21 You've been a part of ASI for many years. 20:24 I'm not sure I can give you the number, 20:25 maybe you can tell me. 20:28 We're since 2003. 20:30 2003. 20:31 So about 15 years you've been coming to ASI. 20:34 Praise the Lord for that. 20:36 I can remember back 20:37 when you shared a story 20:40 of how that you were having church in your office. 20:45 Now for those of you who don't know, 20:47 both Esther and Manuel are both physicians, 20:51 and they've been practicing medicine 20:54 for a number of years now, 20:56 and they really have a passion for that. 21:00 How many years? Over 20 years in Chicago. 21:01 Over 20 years in Chicago area. 21:04 They have a passion for sharing Christ 21:07 in their marketplace. 21:09 And so that's the story, 21:11 that part of the story is not unique. 21:13 However, I remember the second time 21:15 I heard your testimony 21:17 in which you had, not only had church in your office there 21:22 where you were practicing physician, 21:24 but due to some circumstances, 21:26 you are now having church at a carwash. 21:29 That's right. 21:31 I remember some of those pictures in the early, 21:33 seeing those pictures of having church in a carwash. 21:36 But God has moved you beyond the carwash now 21:39 and has supplied you with a building, 21:42 and you're having church and a... 21:46 Well, I'm going to let you tell us 21:48 where you're having church. 21:50 Yes, the idea was to have a church, 21:54 and medical office, 21:57 and even a vegetarian restaurant 22:00 or a health food store 22:02 because we thought that was the way 22:03 to introduce health to our community, 22:06 which is mainly hispanic in the area where we are, 22:08 which is west of the city limits of Chicago 22:11 in Berwyn. 22:12 But God has some other plans, 22:15 how to attract people 22:16 that could benefit from this endeavor, 22:19 and He supplied us with a young, energetic, 22:22 spirit-filled pastor that said, 22:25 "We're going to do something to bring the community in." 22:28 And the next thing we knew is 22:30 ASI had advertised on their magazine, 22:33 nonprofit, of course, 22:35 I believe it was in New York City 22:36 or something like that 22:39 for people that wanted to run nonprofits. 22:41 So the pastor attended, I want to... 22:43 He came up with a new idea of 22:45 just making this useful for the community, 22:48 a service center for the community. 22:50 So a thrift store was started. 22:53 So you don't start a thrift store 22:55 without a place though. 22:57 What kind of place did God give you? 22:59 Well, we were praying for a long time 23:03 and seeing different buildings, 23:04 one of the brothers was helping as was a realtor, 23:07 and then all of a sudden we came with this building 23:09 which is in route 66, 23:12 the old route 66 arriving to Chicago 23:14 in the middle of a bustling commercial area, 23:16 and he said, "This is the building." 23:18 The price seemed attractive. 23:19 The building was abandoned for two years. 23:21 It used to be a used car dealership, 23:24 before that it was a restaurant and a carwash combined. 23:28 Go figure that. 23:29 But it was abandoned completely. 23:31 Anyways it's pretty good state of this repair. 23:33 And that was the most central position 23:37 that we could be in. 23:39 So God gave you a storefront, carwash, 23:44 automobile store, 23:46 all kinds of things together, 23:47 and now you're turning that into a center of influence 23:51 right there in Chicago. 23:53 And your initial dream was to have like, 23:55 you know, the vegetarian restaurant 23:56 all the stuff going on there, 23:58 those plans have been adjusted just a little. 24:00 I think we have a video right now 24:03 that where we can see 24:04 just a little peek at some of those things that 24:07 that God has given you there. 24:08 Yeah, probably people here in the audience 24:10 or people watching have read the book, 24:14 The Blueprint by Rico Hill and Jared Thurmon, 24:19 which illustrates what our churches should be 24:21 just before Jesus came in, 24:23 a center, a beehive they call it, 24:25 that's the term used by Ellen G White, a beehive. 24:27 This is... 24:29 Well, this is a little beehive there. 24:30 This is a state that it was 24:32 when we first set our eyes upon it. 24:35 We first acquire it. 24:36 The parking lot was somewhat destroyed, 24:41 there were all kinds of leaks from the rain 24:43 inside the building. 24:45 This was a good shell, it's about what? 24:47 10,000... 24:48 Ten thousand square feet. 24:49 Ten thousand square feet of building, 24:51 plus about forty-two spaces for parking. 24:54 And it seemed appropriate for the office, 24:58 for health food store, for church, 25:02 auditorium, and the place, 25:05 the daily nutritional lectures or health education lectures, 25:08 and the stress management lectures 25:10 are run by our pastor can be performed there. 25:15 So this was it. 25:18 That's where we started. 25:20 So God gave you a building there, 25:22 gave you, He supplied a building 25:25 that you could get involved in purchasing for this ministry. 25:29 And you had an energetic young pastor even got training, 25:32 now you have a distribution center 25:34 there we call it a thrift center 25:36 where people can come in and get items 25:38 that are lightly or well used, 25:40 depending on the condition, 25:42 and it's been a blessing there. 25:44 What else is going on inside of that building now? 25:47 Well, we have in this building, the nutrition lectures, 25:51 the clinic, 25:52 there's a family practitioner 25:54 that is Seventh-day Adventist Church. 25:56 Our church is very small, it's about 35, 40 members 26:00 that are attending faithfully every week. 26:03 But among them, we have people that have run 26:06 a vegetarian restaurant and a store. 26:08 We have another lady 26:10 that has massage and spa business in Downtown. 26:14 We have people that are 26:16 electricians, painters, builders. 26:18 So this is the center now a few months after, 26:21 and you can see there's furniture there. 26:23 The warehouse, 26:24 which is not finished is full of donations. 26:28 There's a track that was native by another church. 26:30 This is a place where many churches are converging. 26:33 The white truck was donated by 26:35 one of the churches that Pastor D'Souza has also. 26:38 There is a bus where people are transported 26:41 when they have no transportation. 26:44 The warehouse which is there, 26:46 it's supplied by an organization called 26:49 1-800-GOT-JUNK? 26:51 They have a Seventh-day Adventist under board, 26:53 and they have too many things to donate, 26:55 furniture, and clothing, and electro domestic things. 26:59 So as the ministry develops 27:04 and kind of the Lord sets these things up, 27:06 you're moving forward with that. 27:08 So I just want to kind of review 27:10 clinic and thrift store in the same building 27:14 along with health lectures. 27:17 How many days a week is this church open? 27:22 Well, opens on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, 27:26 all days of the week. 27:27 And we are closing the store with big size, 27:30 closed on Saturday, 27:31 but people are invited to come into Bible lectures 27:35 and a delicious vegetarian meal 27:38 that is served by the church every week, every Sabbath. 27:42 So it's open seven days a week. 27:44 Wow! 27:45 You know, I know a lot of churches that are open 27:47 basically one, maybe one and a half days a week. 27:50 So to say that the facility is open and active 27:52 in the community seven days a week is amazing. 27:55 Now, Esther I know that 27:56 you don't get into a project like this 27:58 without a lot of involvement. 28:00 How has God put on your heart to work in this ministry? 28:05 Well, mostly as a supportive role, 28:08 but I'm there every day pretty much, 28:12 except some Sundays where I stay at home. 28:15 But on the theme of Business Unusual, 28:19 we saw it when we went to seek permits 28:23 with the local government, 28:25 they could not figure out 28:27 how could we have a clinic, a thrift shop, 28:34 a food store, which we are starting, 28:37 small food store, health food store, 28:40 lectures on health in the same building. 28:44 They still could not understand 28:47 how can you do all these things? 28:49 Tell me one thing I understand, but two, three things, 28:53 it's business unusual definitely. 28:57 So the city said as we're discussing this, 29:01 they mentioned this, the city kind of thought 29:03 maybe you're trying to evade taxes 29:05 or something like that, 29:07 but you share them, no, 29:08 this is care for the whole person. 29:11 And it's... 29:12 You know, it's really God's plan, isn't it? 29:14 Yes. 29:15 And I wonder what would happen 29:17 if all of our churches were open seven days a week 29:19 doing some kind of ministry in their community. 29:22 We need a lot of volunteers for that. 29:23 And that's why we're blessed to have a pastor 29:26 who has four churches 29:27 and we have an Illinois Conference, 29:30 we've Pastor Aguilera, the president 29:31 that is fully supporting this now. 29:33 Thanks to our pastor that has shown the plan of action. 29:38 We have a union president like Pastor Maurice Valentine 29:40 that is also behind this. 29:42 We're blessed to have all this spiritual leaders heading, 29:46 spearheading this effort. 29:48 So this is because it's not what we would consider 29:51 a regular church building kind of plan. 29:54 How did the conference in the union relate to that? 29:57 How did you get through that, 30:00 you know, to get to this point? 30:02 Well, when you say you wanna do something medical, 30:06 people get nervous as if you get blamed or something... 30:09 There's liability for the whole church corporation. 30:12 But we were counseled to form another nonprofit corporation 30:17 to which the building is owned by. 30:20 This is our church group there. Amen. 30:22 As you see, there are not too many, 30:23 but everyone has a role, 30:25 and we're trying to evolve everyone 30:27 young and old to do this. 30:28 This is where we're meeting. 30:29 Now we're meeting in the warehouse 30:31 because the front, which was the church space 30:33 before the auditorium is now the thrift store. 30:36 So everything is educational. 30:38 We try to educate, educate, educate, 30:40 we do every worship service, 30:42 we do every time that we meet there, 30:44 and the God always brings people. 30:46 This is our health, 30:48 I'm sorry, the nutrition, the cooking class 30:50 that was run last week actually. 30:53 It's good to see that 30:55 our health educator, which is our son, 30:57 and the other members of the church, 30:59 Velorama has run the cooking school. 31:01 They can function without any supervision, 31:03 they just have the days that they have set, 31:05 and they just run the service. 31:07 It's God moving there. 31:09 So I hear Total Member Involvement. 31:11 Amen. 31:12 Which is something that I think all of our churches need. 31:15 Everybody involved in doing something. 31:17 Amen. 31:18 Now, Esther, as we close today, I want you to give a challenge, 31:21 I'm assuming that not everyone here 31:23 is going to go start and center of influence, 31:26 but what would you say to someone 31:30 who they feel like God is calling them to do something 31:32 that is bigger than what they think they can do? 31:35 What would you say to them? 31:37 I would say pray first for guidance, 31:40 and then the Lord will give you an idea what to do. 31:44 Something's easy, simple, something that you can do, 31:47 even if it's juicing, baking bread, 31:51 sharing recipes in your neighborhood, 31:53 something that the Lord puts in your heart 31:56 that you already know how to do. 31:58 And going partnership with your pastor, 32:02 ask him for ideas, don't work by yourself. 32:06 Amen. 32:08 Thank you so much for sharing with us today 32:10 your passion to see the city of Chicago 32:12 be reached for Christ. 32:14 May God bless you, and continue to bless you in your ministry 32:16 and what you're doing there as you do Business Unusual. 32:20 Amen. 32:31 It's hard to take the first step 32:36 When I don't know the way 32:40 Each turn is so uncertain 32:44 I learn to walk by faith 32:49 But You gave me a promise 32:53 That You will never leave 32:58 You will lead and guide me 33:02 Lord I do believe 33:07 Lead me lord 33:12 I will follow 33:17 Lead me Lord 33:21 I will go 33:26 You have called me 33:30 I will answer 33:35 Lead me Lord 33:38 I will go 33:44 Your plans for me are perfect 33:49 I never need to fear 33:53 And though at times I feel alone 33:58 I know that you are near 34:02 My heart just longs to follow 34:07 I'm willing to obey 34:11 Take my hand and guide me 34:16 I follow all the way 34:21 Lead me lord 34:26 I will follow 34:31 Lead me Lord 34:35 I will go 34:41 You have called me 34:45 I will answer 34:50 Lead me Lord 34:53 I will go 34:58 You have called me 35:03 I will answer 35:07 Lead me Lord 35:11 I will go 35:26 Amen. 35:30 Our next story this afternoon showing unusual activity, 35:34 unusual collaboration, 35:35 unusual business comes to us. 35:40 And I have on the platform with me 35:42 Rusty McKee, Dan Houghton, and Elder Mark Finley. 35:45 And I think you can see just by looking at this group 35:48 that there's some unusual things that could happen. 35:52 And so we are excited to have them here with us today. 35:58 You know, there's something about the ASI spirit that 36:03 when the business people see something that should happen, 36:07 they tend to become pretty active, 36:10 and almost get agitated 36:12 if it's not happening quickly, right? 36:14 And this project is an example of that as well. 36:18 Now today, I just want to ask Dan, 36:21 if he would just describe for us, 36:24 just briefly describe this project 36:27 and give us a little bit of background. 36:30 I know there's not much history 36:32 because it's happened pretty quickly, 36:34 but just give us a little description and background. 36:36 I'll do that, Steve. 36:37 We call this our Three Angels' Messages Project. 36:40 And it actually was born six weeks ago. 36:44 Amen. Okay? 36:45 And but it actually goes back a little further than that, 36:48 Rusty McKee and another friend of ours, Brad, 36:51 we were talking about this almost a year and a half ago 36:53 saying, "What can we do to get the three angels messages 36:56 ratcheted up in the attention of our kids?" 36:58 And I think, 37:00 you know, before I go into that description, 37:01 I'd like to have foundation as Rusty's experience, 37:04 and why it's driven. 37:06 He's the catalyst that made this happen. 37:07 All right, Rusty, share with us. 37:09 Well, so on the Sabbath afternoon, 37:11 I love taking hikes in the mountains, 37:14 right there in Collegedale, 37:15 right next to Southern Adventist University 37:18 on these beautiful trails. 37:19 And when I see these young folks 37:21 that look like college kids, I'll ask them, 37:23 "Hey, do you guys go to that college over there?" 37:26 And they'll say, "Yes." 37:28 And then I say, "Oh, then are you Seventh-day Adventist?" 37:31 And they say, "Yes." 37:33 And I go, "Oh, I got some more questions." 37:34 I said, "Do you guys believe that... 37:37 Are you guys... 37:38 Do you guys believe that you're Protestant?" 37:40 And there's a pause and most say yes. 37:44 And then I say, "Oh, fantastic, 37:45 so what are you protesting against?" 37:49 What I'm hoping to hear one of these days 37:51 is were protesting anything that is not biblically true, 37:56 haven't heard that yet. 37:57 Well, then I say I got more questions, and I say, 37:59 "Okay, so as Seventh-day Adventist 1 John 4:8, 38:03 you believe God is love 38:04 in everything from everything in His word, 38:07 and what He's done in the past, 38:08 and day and forevermore, is that right?" 38:10 Yes, solid answer. And I always love hearing that. 38:13 Well, then, here's my final question. 38:15 "Now, don't Adventist have this 38:17 first, second, and third angel's message. 38:19 And it's for the last days. It's right before Christ comes. 38:22 And could you share that with me 38:24 and more importantly, 38:26 share it in a way that I hear God's love 38:28 so it draws me to that message." 38:31 And there's a long pause. 38:33 A dozen years, 38:35 many of us and these students have 38:37 Seventh-day Adventist Christian education, 38:39 Why doesn't this flow just from our heart? 38:42 Amen. 38:44 So you saw a need. 38:46 You saw a need for some way to encourage 38:51 this three angels' messages to be highlighted more 38:55 in the teaching process in the classroom. 38:58 So what happened after that? 38:59 Okay, so basically what happens is 39:02 Rusty and our friend, Brad, called me 39:04 about a year and a half ago. 39:05 They were sitting at some place, 39:07 let's call Dan and get him involved in this discussion. 39:09 And so we started talking, I agreed, 39:10 hey, this is a wonderful idea. 39:12 And in our initial stages, 39:13 we were trying to be too complex 39:15 and trying to figure out two sophisticated ways. 39:18 Well, about six weeks ago 39:20 in a conversation I was having between the Sacramento Airport 39:23 and Weimar Institute where I was driving to, 39:25 on a phone call, we started saying, 39:27 "Well, you know, we could do something like this. 39:30 And besides that, the teachers convention 39:31 for every teacher in North America 39:33 comes together for every five years, Steve," 39:36 and that's happening starting actually Monday in Chicago. 39:39 And so we said, "Hey, we could do this." 39:42 And so we said, "Let's just simply take a piece of art 39:46 that Nathan Green had done 39:48 for Doug Batchelor 19 years ago for his Net 99 39:52 of the three angels' messages." 39:54 Nathan's too busy 39:55 he's booked out to 2023 right now. 39:58 But hey, we could actually have another digital artist 40:00 that I know, we can work on this. 40:01 And so within just a matter of a few minutes, 40:05 we came up with a plan, 40:06 and then we began to execute, 40:08 and God began to open every door 40:09 right in front of us. 40:11 The digital artist says, 40:12 "I wish you'd have called me two weeks ago, 40:13 I had time and I..." 40:15 And before we finished our conversation, 40:16 he said, "Okay, I'll do it." 40:17 And he had it done in three days. 40:19 Pastor Mark was over in Greece at the time. 40:21 We said, "Okay, the wording on this, 40:23 we want him to sit down." 40:26 And so he got back on Wednesday. 40:28 And on Wednesday he called me 40:30 from when he got back into the US. 40:34 And I said, "Mark, I got a project, 40:36 and here's what I want. 40:37 I want you to think about 40:38 sitting down in front of your 10 year old granddaughter 40:40 and I want you to summarize and a couple of sentences 40:42 what each of the three angels' messages are," 40:44 and I described what we were coming up with. 40:47 He said, "Well, I'll..." 40:48 He immediately said, he caught the visions 40:50 and said, "Okay, we can do it, 40:51 but I can't do it till Sunday morning." 40:52 I said, "Okay." That was Wednesday evening. 40:54 When I woke up in California, 40:56 West Coast time on Thursday morning, 40:59 I have an email from Mark, 41:00 and he's got the first draft of that done. 41:01 Amen. 41:03 I said, "Wow, this is coming together." 41:04 And then on top of that I called and checked out 41:07 where we could get it printed 41:09 because, you know, we sold our printing company. 41:10 We no longer own Color Press, it's gone. 41:13 But I started making arrangements, 41:14 who could I get to do this, and who would design it, 41:17 and all those pieces fell into perfect line. 41:19 And then the big piece was I called Larry Blackmer, 41:23 the Vice President of education for North America. 41:25 I said, "Larry, we're already going to be 41:27 at the North American Division Teachers Convention 41:29 on some other things with art. 41:31 What do you think about this idea?" 41:33 And he said, "I love it. Let's push it." 41:35 And so bottom line, what's happened, Steve, 41:37 is that we actually have already started shipping 41:41 this set of four posters that you see on the stage 41:44 to every classroom in North America, 41:47 not every school. 41:49 Every school gets a set of these for every classroom. 41:53 And in the meantime, we have contracted... 41:58 We have contracted with a group of educational writers 42:02 that regularly write curriculums, 42:05 and we are creating a two week curriculum. 42:07 In other words, for 10 school days, 42:10 we have a curriculum that will be downloadable 42:12 off the NAD Education a website 42:15 I'm going to tell you about in a minute. 42:16 And out of that material, 42:19 the teachers will have our first and second grade, 42:21 third and fourth grade, fifth and sixth grade, 42:23 seventh and eighth grade, nine through twelve, 42:25 there'll be a separate set of 42:26 lesson plans and study materials 42:28 to go with these posters for the classrooms 42:30 that they can download for free off of the internet 42:32 and use if they want. 42:33 Amen. 42:35 So we have now 42:36 in just a few weeks come together 42:38 with a project that has the potential 42:40 to impact every Seventh-day Adventist student 42:43 in the whole system of education 42:45 within our North American Division. 42:47 That's right, and not only the division, 42:50 but also all of our supporting ministry schools. 42:52 It's amazing what God is doing to bring this about. 42:56 I say that's business unusual. 42:58 Time must be short, God wants to do something. 43:01 This is our last day message. Amen. 43:03 This is not some other message. It's our last day message. 43:07 Elder Finley, I know you're here this afternoon, 43:10 and you have participated in this project. 43:15 You've been a part of this. 43:17 Share with us today how this affects your heart 43:20 as you think about what's happening. 43:22 I've stood on the great platforms of the world 43:24 head over 100 countries, 43:27 and I've seen the power of the three angels' messages, 43:31 touch hearts and change lives. 43:34 Let me tell you a story. 43:37 The World War II ended 43:39 September 2, 1945. 43:43 When the World War II ended, 43:46 there were many Jewish children 43:49 whose parents had been killed in the Holocaust. 43:54 These children during the World War II as Jews 43:57 were taken into Catholic orphanages. 44:00 So at the end of the World War II, 44:02 many rabbis wanted to recover the Jewish children 44:07 from the Catholic orphanages. 44:09 When they went there, the priest said, 44:11 "We have no Jewish children here." 44:13 The rabbi said, "Well, what about the names?" 44:16 They said, "Oh, those are Polish names. 44:18 We can't tell the difference. 44:19 There's no Jewish children here." 44:21 Rabbi Yosef Kahaneman went to a Catholic orphanage 44:24 and was turned away in the morning. 44:27 He went to some of the American soldiers 44:30 who were overseeing that area, and he said, 44:32 "Please, could you get me in at least at night?" 44:35 So they came back, negotiated with the priest, 44:37 and Rabbi Kahaneman was allowed to walk through the orphanage. 44:41 As he was walking through the orphanage, 44:43 he began to sing in Hebrew, 44:46 the Jewish Shema, Deuteronomy 6:4, 44:50 "The Lord our God is One Lord." 44:52 As he began to sing, 44:55 a five year old child began to cry 44:58 and say, "Mama, Mama." 44:59 A nine year old said, "Mama, Mama." 45:02 You see, every Jewish child knew the Shema. 45:07 They had been taught it from their earliest ages. 45:10 It was part of their DNA. 45:12 And Rabbi Kahaneman said, "That's one of mine. 45:14 That's one of mine. That's one of mine." 45:18 What's the Adventist DNA? 45:21 What's the Adventist DNA? 45:24 What is it that should boil the minds of our children 45:27 that should make us a unique people? 45:30 It's a message given, Revelation 14:6, 45:34 "I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, 45:36 having the everlasting gospel to go to the ends of the earth, 45:39 to every nation, kindred, tongue, 45:41 and people saying with a loud voice, 45:44 fear God and give glory to Him, 45:46 for the obvious judgment has come." 45:48 Imagine every Seventh-day Adventist young person 45:52 graduating from an Adventist school, 45:54 eighth grade academy, college, 45:57 coming out with a passion for mission, 45:59 a passion to share the three angels' messages. 46:02 That's what this project is all about. 46:05 Amen. 46:14 Business Unusual 46:16 is the theme of our convention this year. 46:20 But, you know, I think it should be 46:21 the theme of our entire lives. 46:26 These days in which we live 46:28 are different than days in which we've lived before. 46:32 The collaboration that we've exhibited this afternoon 46:35 between the ministries, 46:39 the businesses, the business people, 46:42 the church, the church pastors, 46:45 the church administration needs to be carried on. 46:49 This doesn't need to end here. 46:51 What we're hoping to do is that 46:54 when you leave this place today, 46:56 you will be inspired to go home 46:59 and do something just a little bit different, 47:03 just a little bit unusual, 47:05 just a little bit challenging, 47:07 something that will require just a little bit of sacrifice 47:12 or maybe even a lot of sacrifice 47:17 or maybe even a lot of commitment 47:22 or maybe something that's not just a little bit different, 47:24 but a lot different than what we've done before 47:28 because I believe with all my heart 47:29 that Jesus wants to come soon. 47:34 While He could do all the work Himself, 47:36 He does not do that. 47:38 He allows us as sinful, 47:41 imperfect human beings to have a part 47:45 in what He's doing for the world. 47:48 This afternoon, we're gathered here. 47:52 It's not our closing meeting 47:53 because we have one more meeting after this. 47:56 We have some time to go back to the booth yet 47:58 this afternoon, this evening, 48:01 but I want you to go prayerfully, 48:04 and I want you to go carefully, 48:06 and I want you to begin to ponder, 48:08 "What is God calling me to do as an individual?" 48:14 It would be easy for us today to leave this place and say, 48:18 "Isn't it exciting to see 48:20 what Dan Houghton is doing through Heart Research, 48:23 and Rusty McKee is doing or Elder Finley is doing 48:26 or the Alvas are doing 48:28 or they're happening in Romania. 48:30 It's just so exciting. I'm glad I came to ASI." 48:34 And to go home and do nothing. 48:39 My challenge to you today 48:41 is to not let that happen. 48:44 God wants to use 48:45 every single person gathered here. 48:48 There are no exceptions. 48:51 It doesn't matter whether you're 98 or only 8. 48:56 God wants to use every one of us 48:59 to help get this three angels' message 49:03 to the entire world. 49:05 That's our commission. 49:07 That's our marching orders. 49:09 That's what we need to be doing. 49:12 And to say, we'll wait is a possibility, 49:17 but I don't think it's the right answer. 49:20 I think we need to say, "Yes, Lord, and now. 49:25 Use Me for whatever you want to do, 49:28 help Me that I would just dedicate my life entirely, 49:32 not partially, but entirely to do something for You. 49:37 Even if You make me get out of my comfort zone." 49:40 Amen. 49:42 Today, I thank you for coming. 49:44 Pastor Finley, we're getting raised in this. 49:47 I'm just wondering if you'd be willing 49:48 to pray for us this afternoon, 49:50 a prayer of dedication 49:53 and just, you know, we need. 49:55 I was here at the end of church service 49:58 and I happen to be standing behind the stage. 50:01 But we need that commitment today. 50:05 Would you pray for us? 50:07 Let's bow our heads together. 50:10 Our Father, 50:12 at the cross of Calvary, 50:15 You paid the infinite price for each one of us. 50:19 In there we find forgiveness, and grace, 50:23 and mercy, and power. 50:26 But there we find motivation, 50:29 motivation to share Your love, 50:31 motivation to share Your grace. 50:34 Father, You've equipped each one of us with gifts. 50:39 Those gifts are different, 50:41 each one of us have been gifted in different ways. 50:45 Just now in the quietness of this auditorium, 50:49 the best we know how, 50:51 we surrender our lives to You again, 50:54 we've done it many a times, we do it again this afternoon. 50:58 And we ask You in a special way to impress us 51:01 with what You want us to do, 51:04 impress us how to use the gifts 51:06 You've given us most effectively. 51:09 Impress us as we leave this place, 51:12 how to take another step. 51:14 There's something more, 51:16 much more that You have for us. 51:18 There are new doors of opportunity 51:21 that are opening, 51:22 new vistas for us to march into, 51:28 new horizons for us to cross over. 51:31 Father, grant to us 51:34 the spiritual eyesight to see 51:37 the opening doors of Your providence, 51:41 so that we can be part 51:43 of that message called the three angels' 51:47 to bring the everlasting gospel 51:49 to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. 51:52 So Jesus can come soon, we pray in Christ' name, amen. 51:56 Amen. 52:05 I invite you to sing together with us 52:06 a song of consecration, 52:09 "Take My Life and Let It Be. 52:12 Why don't we stand together? 52:15 Take my life, and let it be 52:20 Consecrated, Lord, to Thee 52:25 Take my hands, and let them move 52:31 At the impulse of Thy love 52:36 At the impulse of Thy love 52:42 Take my lips and let them be 52:47 Filled with messages from Thee 52:53 Take my silver and my gold 52:58 Not a mite would I withhold 53:03 Not a mite would 53:06 I withhold 53:10 Take my love, my Lord, I pour 53:15 At Thy feet its treasure store 53:20 Take myself, and I will be 53:26 Ever, only, all for Thee 53:31 Ever, only 53:34 All for Thee 53:39 Sing the last verse one more time. 53:45 Take my love, my Lord, I pour 53:50 At Thy feet its treasure store 53:55 Take myself, and I will be 54:00 Ever, only, all for Thee 54:06 Ever, only 54:09 All for Thee 54:14 I invite you to bow your heads as we pray together. 54:20 Father in heaven, we are so thankful 54:23 for Your Holy Spirit 54:24 that we see moving all around us. 54:27 We're thankful for the blessings 54:29 that You've showered upon us. 54:30 And we confess, we repent of our lack of faith, 54:35 of what You promised to do in and through us, 54:38 and that You would cover the earth with your glory. 54:42 We pray that You might increase our faith, 54:45 as the disciples prayed, 54:46 that we might enter with You into Your work. 54:50 Wherever we see You working, 54:51 we just pray that You will empower us, strengthen us. 54:55 We want Christ living in us through the Holy Spirit 54:57 that we might see the people around us 55:01 as You see them that we might love them as you love them 55:04 because we don't have that love in ourselves. 55:07 We know that You've loved us with an everlasting love, 55:10 You've drawn us with that everlasting love. 55:12 We know You're drawing them with Your everlasting love. 55:15 And we pray that 55:16 as that love flows through us and into the world, 55:20 that the world we lightened with Your glory, 55:25 that the reward that Christ so richly deserves 55:29 might be His' 55:30 and that He might be able to see 55:35 the travail of His soul and be satisfied. 55:39 We thank you for Your promise. 55:41 We thank You for the three angels' messages, 55:43 which are messages of hope, messages of faith, 55:46 the messages of Your power, the power of Your Word, 55:49 the power of creation and recreation, 55:52 the power to win everyone, 55:57 everyone who will not resist. 55:59 We know, we draw, 56:01 and as we lift up Christ to the world. 56:04 And to this end, Lord, we ask Your blessing, 56:07 we're so glad that we've been able to come together 56:10 and to share this time. 56:11 There's still Sabbath hours left, we pray, 56:13 You'll bless our fellowship, bless our conversation, 56:18 we pray that You'll bring us to meet the people even here 56:21 that we can minister to, we can partner with, 56:24 that Your work can be forwarded, 56:26 and that Jesus can come soon. 56:29 We pray all of these things in His mighty name, amen. |
Revised 2019-01-03