Participants:
Series Code: AWR
Program Code: AWR360004S
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00:02 From the close walls
00:04 and barbed wire fences of North Korea 00:06 to the rich culture of Nepal, 00:08 discover how lives are being transformed 00:10 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 00:24 how Adventist World Radio is Touching Lives 00:27 with the everlasting gospel. 00:29 This is AWR360°. 00:48 AWR began in 1971 00:51 with a mission to spread the gospel message 00:53 to hard to reach places. 00:57 Nearly 50 years later, this is still our mission. 01:02 Broadcasting from strategic locations 01:05 around the globe, 01:06 AWR can be heard in over 100 languages 01:09 via shortwave radio 01:10 with a special focus 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 01:23 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 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 excited for its success 02:11 at touching more lives than ever. 02:13 Only a handful of stories from North Korea make it out, 02:16 but the few that do spur us on. 02:19 The following is one fam. 02:31 One night at my church, 02:32 an unfamiliar woman entered and sat near the back. 02:35 Her face poured hard lines hiding her youth. 02:39 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, she said. 03:01 "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 I'm hiding the steer woman found a radio 03:27 and tuning had stopped when she heard bits 03:29 of the 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 03:43 as she learned about the One who left all 03:46 and died for her salvation. 03:49 A longing was born in her heart to one day go back and share 03:53 what she was learning with her family and friends 03:56 in North Korea. 03:59 We studied the Bible together for one week 04:01 and she soaked up every word. 04:04 You could feel the Holy Spirit's presence 04:07 in the room. 04:10 After this week of studying, a secret baptism was held. 04:15 All the doors and windows were closed 04:16 and everyone sang hymns softly so as not to be hurt. 04:21 And in a lonely bathtub, 04:23 this North Korean lady was baptized. 04:30 With tears 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 off on foot that very night. 04:58 Sometime later, I received the phone call. 05:01 The voice on the other line said in whisper. 05:04 "I have safely arrived to the border. 05:06 Tonight is the night. 05:08 Please pray for me." 05:11 All I could think about 05:12 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 05:23 but was found by Chinese soldiers 05:26 who sent her back to her country of birth 05:29 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. 05:43 "Even if I am captured, 05:46 I will die with the hope of salvation." 05:51 She sought freedom 05:53 and what the North Korean soldiers did not realize 05:56 is she found it. 06:00 True freedom in Jesus Christ 06:04 and no one could take this from her. 06:12 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 06:27 about Jesus soon coming. 06:33 Another country 06:35 where it is difficult to be a Christian 06:36 lies in the very heart of the 10/40 window. 06:43 Come with me as we travel 06:44 to see the impact of Adventist World Radio 06:47 in this region. 06:53 Sandwiched in between two giants, India and China, 06:56 lies a land that is distinct in culture. 06:59 From its crowded streets with peaceful mountains 07:02 this is a country 07:03 that is teeming with color and full of exotic flavors. 07:07 Yet, it is filled with hopeless, 07:10 poverty stricken people. 07:15 Steeped in superstition, 07:17 81% of this population is Hindu, 07:20 9% Buddhists, 5% Muslims, 07:23 with sadly only 1% Christian. 07:27 God is at work though 07:28 and light is beginning to pierce the darkness. 07:31 We are in Nepal and this is AWR360°. 07:50 I have come to Nepal to see for myself 07:52 how God is working in the lives of the Nepali people 07:55 through Adventist World Radio. 07:58 One of the first people I meet is Vikram, 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 a 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, 08:16 my family became some of the first Christians 08:18 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 a home 08:26 with other Christians, angry villagers surrounded, 08:30 broken and beat the Christians 08:32 with stones and pieces of metal. 08:35 Fortunately, I was spared, 08:37 perhaps because I was just a boy. 08:40 But my father and mother were badly injured. 08:43 As soon as it was safe, 08:45 our family fled the village never to return. 08:49 After they attacked us, we moved to a city of Itahari, 08:54 which was far from the dangers of our last village, 08:57 but even though I was no physically safe, 09:00 I began to feel that my Christian work was lacking. 09:04 There was a spiritual emptiness in my life 09:07 that could not seem to be filled. 09:10 Vikram's mother was also struggling 09:12 with these same feelings that something was missing. 09:16 One day she accidentally discovered Ashako Bani, 09:20 the Voice of Hope radio. 09:22 The radio programs drew her in 09:25 and she began faithfully listening every day. 09:29 Her heart was being spoken to 09:30 by the words coming across the radio waves. 09:33 Before long, she was bringing the entire family together 09:38 to listen to the broadcast. 09:41 We like what we heard and we were touched 09:43 by the messages of salvation and hope. 09:46 The relationship with Jesus was forming in our hearts 09:49 and our lives began to change through this radio program. 09:53 Vikram's family contacted the radio station 09:55 and were directed 09:57 to the nearest Adventist Church, 09:58 a 45-minute bus ride away. 10:01 And yet they gladly made the journey each Sabbath. 10:11 One day the pastor encouraged me 10:13 to attend the Adventist youth training school 10:15 located in Nepalgunj, 10:17 but I was stubborn and did not want to go. 10:20 However, my mother prayed 10:22 that I would have a change of heart 10:23 about attending this training school. 10:26 Her prayers worked. 10:28 Looking back, I fear to think where my life would be 10:32 if I had not made the decision to go. 10:35 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, 10:43 I was offered a job 10:45 to be the driver for Pastor Umesh Pokharel, 10:47 the very man whose voice brought hope 10:50 for our family through Adventist World Radio. 10:57 Vikram now travels throughout Nepal 10:59 with Pastor Umesh 11:00 as he preaches, gives Bible studies, 11:03 and visits the many members and listeners here. 11:09 Even though he has been offered other worldly jobs 11:11 that pay more, 11:13 Vikram has made his decision 11:14 to continue working for the Lord 11:15 and dedicate his life to the Lord's work 11:18 in any way he can. 11:23 Adventist World Radio not only changed my life 11:26 and provided me with a good job in ministry, 11:29 it also led me to my wife. 11:31 My heart is no longer empty but full and fulfilled. 11:38 Ray and I both love to sing. 11:40 We often shave special music at various churches. 11:43 We visit to share with others 11:45 about what Jesus has done for us. 11:52 I praise the Lord 11:53 for the impact AWR had on my family 11:56 and continues to have on me today. 11:58 I have truly found direction and a purpose for my life. 12:02 Thanks to Adventist World Radio. 12:07 Nepal has a population of 29 million people, 12:13 only 5,000 of which are Adventists 12:16 Jesus is coming soon 12:17 and the doors of opportunity are open today 12:20 that soon may close. 12:22 Now is the time 12:23 to be involved and spreading the gospel 12:25 like never before. 12:28 How can you help to spread the gospel 12:30 in these difficult to reach places? 12:32 Here are two practical ways. 12:34 First, pray. 12:35 Prayer is the most powerful thing 12:37 that you can do and everyone can do it. 12:39 And second, visit awr.org 12:42 where you can help to expand the reach 12:44 of AWR's broadcasts around the world 12:47 by your generous donations. 12:58 I grew up in Indiana 12:59 and I've been a farmer all my life. 13:02 My father every time we'd play in a field, 13:06 when we got through, 13:07 we'd always kneel down and pray that we've done our part 13:10 now the Lord would do His, 13:12 and He always come through. 13:17 After praying about it, 13:19 my wife and I decided to do a gift annuity 13:22 through Adventist World Radio. 13:24 It goes to people that normally is not gonna hear 13:28 and that's what our 13:30 three angels' messages all about 13:32 to every nation, kindred, and the people. 13:36 When you're a farmer, 13:38 you don't have a retirement plan. 13:40 It was a good way to supplement our retirement. 13:44 It's been a blessing to us 13:45 and I know it's gonna be a blessing 13:47 to those others around the world. 13:54 Our next stop takes us halfway across the world 13:57 to the beautiful country of Argentina. 14:03 Today, we are traveling 14:04 to the city of Villa Carlos Paz, Argentina. 14:08 As the gateway to the charming Punilla Valley, 14:10 this city is the most visited tourist destination 14:13 in the entire province. 14:17 Lake San Roque provides a beautiful setting 14:20 for a variety of water sports 14:22 and the surrounding hills and valleys 14:23 are ideal for hiking, biking, and rock climbing. 14:28 After driving along the beautiful lake, 14:30 we head out of town 14:31 in search of Eduardo Batty Stagey's home. 14:36 I find Edwardo working his backyard 14:39 and he kindly invites me inside. 14:41 We sit down and he begins to tell me his story. 14:48 A few months ago, 14:49 I was going through some hard things 14:51 and feeling like my life wasn't on the right path. 14:54 I felt a calling for something more, 14:57 something better, 14:59 but I didn't know what that was. 15:08 One day as Eduardo was walking home from work, 15:11 he stepped into a bookstore. 15:15 He wasn't sure what he was looking for, 15:17 but he felt drawn inside for some reason. 15:28 As he searched the shelves, 15:30 his eyes landed on a certain book. 15:41 Somehow, I knew this was what I had been searching for. 15:49 Eduardo started reading the Gospels first 15:51 and sometimes would find himself crying 15:53 because he felt God was speaking to him so clearly. 15:59 I came to realize 16:00 that the trials I was going through 16:02 were the means chosen by God 16:04 to refine me and make me a better person. 16:08 It was so clear. 16:14 As Eduardo grew in his spiritual walk, 16:16 he decided to search for Bible messages 16:18 on the radio. 16:20 He started listening to the radio on his commute 16:22 to and from work each day. 16:25 He tried many stations 16:26 but was always drawn back to one, Nuevo Tiempo, 16:30 Adventist World Radio in Argentina. 16:34 I was so impressed by the music 16:36 and biblical preaching I found on Nuevo Tiempo. 16:39 Theirs was the only station 16:41 that consistently filled my soul. 16:44 I felt a connection with the various presenters 16:48 as if they were speaking directly to me. 16:50 It's like I am in the presence of God 16:52 when I am listening. 16:55 One day Eduardo met another AWR listener 16:58 named Jorge Liando. 16:59 They were on similar life journeys 17:01 and their friendship group 17:02 as they encouraged one another 17:04 in their newfound faith in radio station. 17:09 One day his friend Jorge called excitedly 17:11 to share how he had just texted Nuevo Tiempo 17:14 and signed up for the Bible studies 17:16 they were offering. 17:17 He encouraged Eduardo to sign up too. 17:21 He wrote down the number and called right away. 17:25 Not only did Eduardo receive free Bible studies in the mail 17:29 but Nuevo Tiempo also arranged for a local lay church member 17:32 to study with him twice a week. 17:36 It is a beautiful thing 17:38 to find a true connection with God. 17:41 I thank Adventist World Radio 17:43 for helping to lead and guide me 17:45 in my new walk with God. 17:49 Thanks to your support of AWR. 17:51 Eduardo is now a faithful member 17:53 of the Seventh-day Adventist Church 17:55 and serves as a deacon in his local congregation 17:58 in Villa Carlos Paz. 18:04 Through Adventist World Radio, 18:06 many others have been changed and transformed 18:09 here in Argentina and around the world. 18:12 It is through your prayers and generous support 18:14 that all of this is made possible. 18:25 As Christians, our family is much larger 18:27 than our immediate biological family. 18:29 In fact, we have brothers and sisters 18:31 that live in more than 200 countries 18:33 all around the world. 18:37 We want to remember them in our estate plan. 18:40 We can help you with that process, 18:41 just log on to awr.org. 18:51 Join me as I travel 18:52 to one of the largest urban centers on the planet, 18:55 to see how God can set a nation on fire 18:58 for sharing the gospel in their own country. 19:07 Consisting of nearly 7,000 islands 19:10 and home to the largest city on Earth, 19:12 Japan is a nation 19:14 full of rich history and culture. 19:24 As I explore the city, 19:25 I am amazed by not only its huge population 19:29 but also its affluence. 19:32 Of this nation's 127 million people 19:35 an estimated 91% of the population 19:38 considers themselves Shinto or Buddhist, 19:41 even if they rarely visit the temple. 19:46 As little as 2% claim some form of Christianity 19:50 and among them, 19:51 the Seventh-day Adventist Church 19:53 has a membership of only 14,000. 19:59 And the sobering reality is that as of late, 20:02 this number has been declining, not growing. 20:06 So what can be done to help turn these statistics around? 20:10 God had a plan for this country. 20:12 Surprisingly, the solution lies in an unlikely series of events 20:17 in the Philippines. 20:25 The big question is how can we train, equip, 20:28 and excite Japanese pastors 20:30 to preach evangelistic series in their own country next year. 20:34 The answer is here in the Philippines, 20:37 the Mindoro for Christ event. 20:39 Adventist World Radio's goal 20:41 was to ignite both Japan and the Philippines 20:44 at the same time with a fire of evangelism. 20:47 Could this be done simultaneously? 20:49 Most thought it wouldn't work, but Adventist World Radio, 20:52 AWR moved forward in faith. 21:04 This island is one of the most promising 21:06 in all of the Philippines. 21:09 Oriental Mindoro is home to over 800,000 people, 21:14 most of whom make their living by fishing along the coast 21:17 or farming in the rice fields. 21:20 The mountains are full of countless 21:22 unreached villages. 21:24 But that is all about to change 21:26 because of what God is about to do 21:29 through Adventist World Radio. 21:33 Three months ago, AWR started broadcasting 21:37 that we were gonna be holding evangelistic series 21:39 Mindoro for Christ. 21:41 The people that came to do those evangelistic series 21:44 were mostly Japanese pastors, 21:48 most of them had never preached a series before. 21:51 It was almost to be a field school of evangelism 21:56 for Maranatha Japan, 2018. 22:00 Well, in doing this, laymen got involved 22:03 and began broadcasting every day 22:06 9 radio stations, 4 people each, so 36 laymen. 22:11 These are local laypeople 22:13 who have an interest in sharing Jesus. 22:16 They volunteer their time, they go into the studios, 22:19 and they talk for two hours. 22:21 These laymen began broadcasting. 22:24 But after three weeks 22:26 of not having a single response, 22:28 they became discouraged. 22:29 They began to doubt the effectiveness of the radio. 22:33 They wondered if anyone was even listening. 22:35 There was no response from the listeners 22:37 and they wondered, "Is this even working?" 22:42 He decided to have a Bible Question of the Day. 22:46 The Question of the Day I think is the most brilliant idea. 22:49 The day before, they would have a sermon like on the day, 22:52 what happens to you when you die. 22:53 The next day then that would be the Question of the Day 22:55 where do you go when you die. 22:57 And the first five people who would call in 22:58 will get a special gift. 23:00 Either cell phone with recorded programs on it, 23:04 a little radio, Steps to Christ, 23:06 as the listener is called in and they had contact with them, 23:10 they would actually go to those villages 23:12 and meet those people personally. 23:17 This is dedication. 23:19 This is people that are not being paid to do this 23:22 but people that love the Lord 23:24 and are doing whatever they can to draw someone to Christ. 23:39 One day while here in Mindoro, we visited the six-day store. 23:43 That's run by two Adventist ladies. 23:45 They're open six days a week, they're closed on Sabbath. 23:48 This mother, daughter duo 23:50 decided to take their little radio, 23:53 set it out in front of their store, 23:54 and it wasn't long before 23:56 people from the mountains started coming down. 23:59 I know there was some 24:01 that were walking one hour every day 24:05 to come down just to listen to the radio. 24:09 The music started coming on, 24:11 and all of a sudden 24:12 everybody's clapping and wondered, 24:15 "Did someone prompt them to clap 24:17 just because we're there?" 24:19 But no, they clap every single day 24:22 when that music comes on 24:24 because they're so excited about the broadcast. 24:32 The year was 1977, we were missionaries in Zaire, 24:35 in the Congo living on the mission station 24:37 in the Kasai. 24:39 I was on safari in de Cassy. 24:40 I was at the village of [inaudible] 24:42 and went to in [inaudible]. 24:44 The next morning when I woke up, 24:45 a lady knocked on my door. 24:47 Her name was Bertha. 24:48 She said, "Pastor, will you baptize me?" 24:49 I said, "Sure. 24:51 Bertha Hub, I'll baptize you, 24:52 but why would you walk 20 miles all night long 24:55 to be baptized?" 24:56 She says something I'll never forget. 24:58 She said, "Pastor McKey, 24:59 I am so sick and tired of this whole world. 25:02 I want to go home and see Jesus." 25:04 I thought I would never see 25:05 that kind of a desire to be baptized, 25:07 that excitement again in my ministry, 25:09 in my life, but it happened. 25:11 It has happened right now here in the Philippines 25:14 are group of people, 25:15 25 of them, walked out of the mountains 25:17 across the jungles, and rivers, and streams to be baptized. 25:22 Twelve of them were baptized. It was so exciting. 25:24 They walked not 20 miles, not 20 miles but 48 miles. 25:29 It was truly unbelievable. 25:31 To baptize these people I had so much excitement 25:34 and desire to see Jesus. 25:42 We are experiencing the outpouring of Holy Spirit 25:44 here on this island. 26:07 We knew we would have success here, 26:09 but we never imagined we would have the success 26:12 that we are having here today. 26:16 Some of these Japanese pastors, 26:18 their entire lives they baptized 26:20 1 or maybe 2 people a year, 26:23 and to be here 26:24 and all sudden have this mass baptism 26:26 where they're baptizing 25, 30 people 26:29 it will change their lives forever 26:31 and they're gonna take that fire, 26:33 and they're gonna go back to Japan. 26:36 To see that person come up out of the water 26:39 was such joy on their face. 26:42 There's nothing like that. 26:44 And you times that by 1,400, 26:47 that's what the Sabbath was like. 26:55 As a result of AWR ministry in Mindoro, 26:58 today we are baptizing more than 1,400 people. 27:04 I thought before that radio would not work here in Mindoro, 27:08 now I believe that God is still working radio 27:12 to reach people 27:14 and to prepare people for His Kingdom. 27:34 Thank you so much for your support 27:35 of Adventist World Radio 27:37 whose Bible programs penetrate all countries 27:40 and through all walls, no borders. 27:43 Thank you for your prayers and for your support 27:45 which make all this possible. 27:47 May God bless you. 27:48 These miracles are not from our grandparents, 27:51 old mission storybooks, no, this is happening now. 27:55 We are reaching the final chapters 27:57 in earth's history 27:59 and God's Spirit has been poured out 28:00 all over this world. 28:02 It's time to take our listeners from broadcast to baptism. 28:07 This is AWR360°. |
Revised 2020-05-07