Participants:
Series Code: AWR
Program Code: AWR360004A
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00:02 From the closed walls and barbed wire fences
00:04 of North Korea 00:06 to the rich culture of Nepal, 00:08 discover how lives are being transformed 00:11 through the work of Adventist World Radio. 00:14 We will travel to Argentina, 00:16 explore the massive cities of Japan, 00:18 and journey to the peaceful islands 00:20 of the Philippines. 00:22 Join me as I discover how Adventist World Radio 00:26 is touching lives of the everlasting gospel. 00:29 This is AWR360A°. 00:48 AWR began in 1971 with a mission 00:51 to spread the gospel message too hard to reach places. 00:56 Nearly 50 years later, this is still our mission. 01:03 Broadcasting from strategic locations 01:05 around the globe, 01:06 AWR can be heard in over 100 languages 01:09 via shortwave radio with a special focus 01:11 on the 10/40 Window. 01:14 Our network also includes over 1,000 FM/AM/DAB 01:18 and internet stations. 01:21 AWR is expanding to all media platforms 01:24 such as Facebook Audio, YouTube, 01:26 and AWR Cell Phone Evangelism. 01:30 Our motto, no walls, no borders, no limits. 01:34 This year our special focus is North Korea. 01:40 Home to 25 million people, 01:41 the country right behind me hardly needs an introduction. 01:44 But behind the political military headlines 01:47 that reach our shores, 01:48 we can only imagine 01:50 how the millions of common North Koreans 01:52 are starving for a hope, truth and a better life. 01:55 Like many other radio programs in North Korea, 01:58 our AWR broadcast have often been jammed. 02:03 We recently began a new high power AM broadcast 02:07 into North Korea from Mongolia. 02:09 And we are so exited for its success 02:11 are touching more lives than ever. 02:14 Only a handful of stories from North Korea make it out, 02:17 but the few that do spur us on. 02:19 The following is one of them. 02:31 One night at my church, 02:32 an unfamiliar woman entered and sat near the back. 02:36 Her face poured hard lines hiding her youth. 02:40 I wondered who she was. 02:42 This stranger sat alone on a pew, 02:45 and after everyone had left, the pastor joined her. 02:50 "I escaped North Korea," she admitted. 02:53 "And I'm not safe here in China either, 02:57 but I have one request," 02:58 she said, "Will you baptize me?" 03:06 "Do you even know what baptism means?" 03:08 I questioned. 03:10 "Yes." 03:12 Was her resolute response. 03:14 "I learned about Jesus through the radio." 03:23 While in hiding, this dear women found a radio, 03:27 and tuning it stopped when she heard bits 03:29 of a familiar Korean language. 03:33 It was the Voice of Hope through Adventist World Radio. 03:38 This discovery soon turned her loneliness and fear 03:42 into courage and hope as she learned 03:44 about the one who left all and died for her salvation. 03:49 A longing was born in her heart to one day go back 03:53 and share what she was learning 03:54 with her family and friends in North Korea. 03:59 We studied the Bible together for one week, 04:01 and she soaked up every word. 04:05 You could feel the Holy Spirit's presence 04:08 in the room. 04:11 After this week of studying, a secret baptism was held. 04:15 All the doors and windows were closed, 04:17 and every one sang hymn softly so is not to be heard. 04:21 And in a lonely bathtub, 04:23 this North Korean lady was baptized. 04:30 With tear stained cheeks and joyous eyes, 04:33 she declared her allegiance to God alone. 04:39 After her baptism, 04:40 she expressed her desire for freedom 04:42 and the ability to study the Bible 04:45 at the Adventist University in South Korea. 04:48 She set her front foot that very night. 04:58 Sometime later I received the phone call, 05:01 the voice on the other line said and whispered, 05:04 "I have safely arrived to the border, 05:07 tonight is the night. 05:09 Please pray for me." 05:11 All I could think about 05:13 were the eight strands of barbed wire. 05:15 Would she make it? 05:19 Unfortunately, 05:21 she did not cross the border that night, 05:24 but was found by Chinese soldiers 05:26 who sent her back to her country of birth, 05:30 where she was executed. 05:33 I was so saddened to receive this news. 05:36 I would never see those joyful eyes again. 05:41 I remember what she had told me, 05:44 "Even if I'm captured, 05:46 I will die with the hope of salvation. 05:52 She sought freedom, 05:54 and what the North Korean soldiers 05:55 did not realize is, she found it. 06:01 True freedom in Jesus Christ 06:05 and no one could take this from her. 06:13 There are many others who are also seeking freedom. 06:16 Will you join us in setting the captives free? 06:19 By God's grace, with your support, 06:22 AWR will fulfill this dear woman's dream 06:25 to tell the people of North Korea 06:28 about Jesus' soon coming. 06:34 Another country where it is difficult 06:36 to be a Christian lies in the very heart 06:38 of the 10/40 Window. 06:43 Come with me as we travel to see the impact 06:46 of Adventist World Radio in this region. 06:53 Sandwiched between two giants, 06:55 India and China lies a land that is distinct in culture. 06:59 From its crowded streets to its peaceful mountains, 07:03 this is a country that is teeming with color 07:05 and full of exotic flavors. 07:08 Yet, it is filled with hopeless, 07:11 poverty stricken people. 07:15 Steeped in superstition, 07:17 81% of this population is Hindu, 07:20 9% Buddhist, 5% Muslim 07:24 with sadly only 1% Christian. 07:27 God is at work though 07:29 and light is beginning to pierce the darkness. 07:32 We are in Nepal, and this is AWR360A°. 07:50 I have come to Nepal to see for myself 07:53 how God is working in the lives of the Nepali people 07:56 through Adventist World Radio. 07:58 One of the first people I meet is Bikram, 08:01 a young man who has dedicated his life 08:03 to serving the Lord here in Nepal. 08:08 I grew up in the small village in eastern Nepal, 08:11 about 150 kilometers 08:13 from the capital city of Kathmandu. 08:15 When I was 12 years old, 08:17 my family became some of the first Christians 08:19 in our village. 08:20 Because of our Christian faith, 08:22 we were despised by our fellow villagers. 08:25 One night while meeting in the home 08:27 with other Christians, 08:28 angry villagers surrounded it. 08:30 Broken and beat the Christians 08:32 with stones and pieces of metal. 08:35 Fortunately, I was spared, 08:38 perhaps because I was just a boy. 08:40 But my father and mother were badly injured. 08:44 As soon as it was safe, 08:45 our family fled the village never to return. 08:50 After they attacked us, 08:51 we moved to a city of Dhikura, 08:54 which was far from the dangers of our last village. 08:58 But even though I was now physically safe, 09:01 I had began to feel 09:02 that my Christian walk was lacking. 09:05 There was a spiritual emptiness in my life 09:08 that could not seem to be filled. 09:11 Bikram's mother was also struggling 09:13 with these same feelings that something was missing. 09:17 One day she accidentally discovered Ashako Bani, 09:21 the Voice of Hope radio. 09:23 The radio programs drew her in, 09:26 and she began faithfully listening every day. 09:29 Her heart was being spoken to 09:31 by the words coming across the radio waves. 09:34 Before long, she was bringing the entire family together, 09:38 to listen to the broadcast. 09:42 We like what we heard, and we were touched 09:44 by the messages of salvation and hope. 09:47 A relationship with Jesus was forming in our hearts 09:50 and our lives began to change through this radio program. 09:53 Bikram's family contacted the radio station 09:56 and were directed to the nearest Adventist Church, 09:59 a 45 minute bus ride away 10:01 and yet, they gladly made the journey each Sabbath. 10:11 One day the passer encouraged me 10:13 to attend the Adventist Youth training school 10:16 located in Nepalgunj. 10:18 But I was stubborn and did not want to go. 10:21 However my mother prayed 10:22 that I would have a change of heart 10:24 about attending this training school. 10:26 Her prayers worked. 10:28 Looking back, I feared to think where my life would be 10:33 if I had not made the decision to go. 10:36 God began to work mightily in my life 10:38 during those four months of training. 10:40 Not only was my faith strengthened, 10:42 but at the end of my training 10:44 I was offered a job to be the driver 10:46 for Pastor Umesh Pokharel, 10:48 the very man whose voice brought hope for family 10:51 through Adventist World Radio. 10:57 Bikram now travels throughout Nepal 10:59 with Pastor Umesh as he preaches, 11:02 gives Bible studies 11:03 and visits the many members and listeners here. 11:09 Even though he has been offered other worldly jobs 11:12 that pay more, 11:13 Bikram has made his decision 11:15 to continue working for the Lord 11:16 and dedicate his life to the Lord's work 11:18 in any way he can. 11:24 Adventist World Radio not only changed my life 11:27 and provided me with the good job in ministry, 11:30 it also led me to my wife. 11:32 My heart is no longer empty, but full and fulfilled. 11:38 Ray and I both love to sing. 11:40 We often share special music at various churches. 11:44 We visit to share with others 11:45 about what Jesus has done for us. 11:52 I praise the Lord 11:54 for the impact AWR had on my family, 11:56 and continues to have on me today. 11:59 I have truly found direction and a purpose for my life, 12:02 thanks to Adventist World Radio. 12:08 Nepal has a population of 29 million people, 12:13 only 5000 of which are Adventists. 12:16 Jesus is coming soon 12:18 and the doors of opportunity are open today 12:20 that soon may close. 12:23 Now is the time to be involved 12:25 in spreading the gospel like never before. 12:28 How can you help to spread the gospel 12:31 in these difficult to reach places? 12:33 Here are two practical ways. 12:35 First, pray. 12:36 Prayer is the most powerful thing 12:38 that you can do and every one can do it. 12:40 And second, visit awr.org, 12:43 where you can help to expand the reach 12:45 of AWR's broadcast around the world 12:48 by your generous donations. 12:58 I grew up in Indiana, 13:00 and I've been a farmer all my life. 13:03 My father, every time we'd plant a field, 13:06 when we got through, 13:08 we'd always kneel down and have prayer. 13:10 We'd done our part, now the Lord would do His, 13:13 and He always come through. 13:18 After praying about it, 13:20 my wife and I decided to do a gift annuity 13:22 through Adventist World Radio. 13:25 It goes to people that normally is not going to hear. 13:29 And that's what 13:30 our three angels' message is all about, 13:33 to every nation, kindred, tongue and people. 13:37 When you're a farmer, 13:39 you don't have a retirement plan. 13:41 It was a good way to supplement our retirement. 13:44 It's been a blessing to us. 13:46 And I know it's gonna be a blessing 13:48 to those others around the world. 13:55 Our next stop takes us half way across the world, 13:58 to the beautiful country of Argentina. 14:04 Today we are travelling 14:05 to the city of Villa Carlos Paz, Argentina. 14:08 As the gateway to the charming Punilla Valley, 14:11 this city is the most visited tourist destination 14:14 in the entire province. 14:18 Lake San Roque provides a beautiful setting 14:21 for a variety of water sports. 14:23 And the surrounding hills and valleys are ideal 14:25 for hiking, biking, and rock climbing. 14:29 After driving along the beautiful lake, 14:31 we head out of town in search of Eduardo Battystage's home. 14:37 I find Eduardo, working his backyard, 14:39 and he kindly invites me inside. 14:42 We sit down, and he begins to tell me his story. 14:49 A few months ago, 14:50 I was going through some hard things 14:51 and feeling like my life wasn't on the right path. 14:55 I felt that calling for something more, 14:58 something better, 15:00 but I didn't know what that was. 15:09 One day, as Eduardo was walking home from work, 15:12 he stepped into a bookstore. 15:16 He wasn't sure what he was looking for, 15:18 but he felt drawn inside for some reason. 15:29 As he searched the shelves, 15:31 his eyes landed on a certain book. 15:41 Somehow I knew this was what I have been searching for. 15:50 Eduardo started reading the gospels first. 15:52 And sometimes he'd find himself crying 15:54 because he felt God was speaking to him so clearly. 15:59 I came to realize 16:01 that the trials I was going through 16:03 were the means chosen by God, 16:05 to refine me and make me a better person. 16:09 It was so clear. 16:15 As Eduardo grew in his spiritual walk, 16:17 he decided to search 16:19 for Bible messages on the radio. 16:21 He started listening to the radio 16:23 on his commute to and from work each day. 16:26 He tried many stations, 16:27 but was always drawn back to one, 16:30 Nuevo Tiempo, 16:31 Adventist World Radio in Argentina. 16:35 I was so impressed by the music and biblical preaching 16:38 I found on Nuevo Tiempo. 16:40 There was the only station 16:42 that consistently filled my soul. 16:45 I felt the connection with the various presenters, 16:49 as if they were speaking directly to me. 16:51 It's like, I'm in the presence of God 16:53 when I'm listening. 16:56 One day Eduardo met another AWR listener 16:58 named Jorge Leandro. 17:00 They were on similar life journeys, 17:02 and their friendship grew as they encouraged one another 17:05 in their new found faith in radio station. 17:10 One day his friend Jorge called excitedly 17:12 to share how he had just texted Nuevo Tiempo, 17:15 and signed out for the Bible studies 17:17 they were offering. 17:18 He encouraged Eduardo to sign up too. 17:22 He wrote down the number and called right away. 17:26 Not only did Eduardo received free Bible studies in the mail, 17:30 but Nuevo Tiempo also arranged for a local lay church member 17:33 to study with him twice a week. 17:37 It is a beautiful thing 17:39 to find the true connection with God. 17:42 I thank Adventist World Radio 17:44 for helping to lead and guide me 17:46 in my new walk with God. 17:50 Thanks to your support of AWR, 17:52 Eduardo is now a faithful member 17:54 of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, 17:56 and serve as a deacon in his local congregation 17:59 in Villa Carlos Pas. 18:05 Through Adventist World Radio many others have been changed, 18:09 and transformed here in Argentina 18:11 and around the world. 18:13 It is through your prayers and generous support 18:16 that all of this is made possible. 18:23 As Christians, our family is much larger 18:25 than our immediate biological family. 18:28 In fact, we have brothers and sisters 18:29 that live in more than 200 countries 18:31 all around the world. 18:35 We want to remember them in our estate plan. 18:38 We can help you with that process. 18:39 Just call 800-337-4279 toll free 18:44 or log on to awr.org. 18:52 Join me as I travel 18:53 to one of the largest urban centers on the planet 18:56 to see how God can set a nation on fire 18:59 for sharing the gospel in their own country. 19:08 Consisting of nearly 7,000 islands 19:11 and home to the largest city on earth, 19:13 Japan is a nation full of rich history and culture. 19:25 As I explore the city, 19:27 I am amazed by not only its huge population 19:30 but also its affluence. 19:33 Of this nation's 127 million people, 19:36 an estimated 91% of the population 19:39 considers themselves Shinto or Buddhist 19:42 even if they rarely visit the temple. 19:48 As little as 2% claim some form of Christianity 19:51 and among them, 19:53 the Seventh-day Adventist Church 19:54 has a membership of only 14,000. 20:00 And the sobering reality is that as of late, 20:04 this number has been declining, not growing. 20:08 So what can be done to help turn these statistics around? 20:11 God had a plan for this country. 20:14 Surprisingly the solution lies 20:16 in an unlikely series of events in the Philippines. 20:26 The big question is, how can we train, equip, 20:29 and excite Japanese pastors to preach evangelistic series 20:33 in their own country next year? 20:35 The answer is here, in the Philippines, 20:38 "The Mindoro for Christ event." 20:41 Adventist World Radio's goal was to ignite both Japan 20:44 and the Philippines at the same time 20:46 with the fire of evangelism. 20:48 Could this be done simultaneously? 20:50 Most thought it wouldn't work. 20:52 But Adventist World Radio, AWR moved forward in faith. 21:05 This island is one of the most promising 21:07 in all of the Philippines. 21:11 Oriental Mindoro is home to over 800,000 people, 21:15 most of whom make their living by fishing along the cost 21:19 or farming in the rice fields. 21:22 The mountains are full 21:23 of countless unreached villages. 21:25 But that is all about to change 21:28 because of what God is about to do 21:30 through Adventist World Radio. 21:34 Three months ago, AWR started broadcasting 21:38 that we were gonna be holding evangelistic series, 21:40 Mindoro for Christ. 21:42 The people that came to do those evangelistic series 21:45 were mostly Japanese pastors. 21:49 And most of them 21:50 had never preached a series before. 21:52 It was almost to be a field school of evangelism 21:57 for Maranatha Japan, 2018. 22:01 Well, in doing this, laymen got involved, 22:04 and began broadcasting every day nine radio stations, 22:09 four people each, so 36 laymen. 22:13 These are local lay people 22:15 who have an interest in sharing Jesus. 22:18 They volunteered their time, they go into the studios 22:20 and they talk for two hours. 22:23 These laymen began broadcasting. 22:25 But after three weeks 22:27 of not having a single response, 22:29 they became discouraged. 22:31 They began to doubt the effectiveness of the radio. 22:34 They wondered if anyone was even listening. 22:36 There was no response from the listeners 22:38 and they wondered, "Is this even working?" 22:44 He decided to have a Bible question of the day. 22:47 The question of the day, 22:49 I think is the most brilliant idea. 22:50 The day before they would have a sermon 22:52 like on the state of the dead, 22:53 what happens to you when you die? 22:55 The next day 22:56 then that would be the question of the day. 22:57 Where you go when you die? 22:59 And the first five people who would call in, 23:00 we'll give a special gift. 23:02 Either cell phone with recorded programs on it, 23:05 a little radio, a Steps to Christ. 23:08 As the listeners called him 23:09 and they have contact with them, 23:11 they would actually go to those villages 23:14 and meet those people personally. 23:19 This is dedication. 23:21 This is people that are not being paid to do this, 23:23 but people that love the Lord 23:26 and are doing whatever they can to draw someone to Christ. 23:40 One day while here in Mindoro 23:42 we've visited the six day store. 23:44 It's run by two Adventist ladies. 23:46 They are open six days a week, they are closed on Sabbath. 23:49 This mother, daughter duo decided 23:52 to take their little radio, 23:54 set it out in front of their store. 23:56 And it wasn't long 23:57 before people from the mountains 24:00 started coming down. 24:01 I know there were some 24:03 that were walking one hour everyday 24:06 to come down just to listen to the radio. 24:10 The music started coming on, 24:12 and all of a sudden 24:14 everybody is clapping and wondered, 24:17 did someone prompt them to clap just because we're there? 24:20 But no, they clapped every single day 24:24 when that music comes on, 24:25 because they're so excited about the broadcast. 24:34 The year was 1977. 24:36 We were missionaries in this island, the Congo 24:37 living on the mission station in the Kasai. 24:40 I was on safari in Dekese. 24:42 I was at the village of a Kokaloca 24:44 and went to Kirklees Way. 24:45 The next morning when I woke up, 24:47 a lady knocking my door, her name is Bertha. 24:49 She said, "Pastor will you baptize me?" 24:51 I said, "Sure, Bertha, I'll baptize you. 24:53 But why would you walk 20 miles all night long to be baptized?" 24:58 She says something I'd never forget. 24:59 She said, "Pastor McKay, 25:01 I'm so sick and tired of this old world. 25:03 I wanna go home and see Jesus." 25:05 I thought, I would never see 25:07 that kind of a desire to be baptized, 25:09 that excitement again in my ministry, in my life. 25:12 But it happened. It has happened. 25:13 Right now, here in the Philippines 25:15 a group of people, 25 of them 25:17 walked out of the mountains, 25:19 across jungles, and rivers, and streams to be baptized. 25:23 Twelve of them were baptized. It was so exciting. 25:26 They walked not 20 miles,... 48 miles. 25:31 It was truly unbelievable to baptize these people. 25:34 They have so much excitement and desire to see Jesus. 25:43 We are experiencing 25:45 the outpouring of Holy Spirit here on this island. 26:08 We knew we would have success here. 26:10 But we never imagined we would have the success 26:14 that we are having here today. 26:17 Some of these Japanese pastors, their entire life, 26:21 they baptized one or may be two people a year. 26:24 And to be here, 26:26 and all of a sudden have this mass baptism, 26:27 where they're baptizing 25, 30 people, 26:30 it will change their lives forever. 26:33 And they're gonna take that fire 26:34 and they're gonna go back to Japan. 26:37 To see that person come up out of the water 26:41 with such joy on their face, 26:43 there's nothing like that. 26:45 And you times that by 1400, 26:49 that's what the Sabbath was like. 26:57 As a result of AWR's ministry in Mindoro, 27:00 today we're baptizing more than a 1,400 people. 27:06 I thought before that, 27:07 radio would not work here in Mindoro. 27:10 Now I believe that God is still working radio 27:14 to reach people 27:15 and to prepare people for His kingdom. 27:35 Thank you so much for your support 27:37 of Adventist World Radio, 27:38 whose Bible programs penetrate all countries, 27:42 and through all walls, know no borders. 27:45 Thank you for your prayers, 27:46 and for your support which make all this possible. 27:49 May God bless you. 27:50 These miracles are not 27:51 from our grandparents' old mission story books. 27:54 No, this is happening now. 27:57 We are reaching the final chapters 27:59 in earth's history. 28:00 And God's Spirit is being poured out 28:02 all over this world. 28:04 It's time to take our listeners from broadcast to baptism. 28:09 This is AWR360A°. |
Revised 2024-04-02