Participants:
Series Code: AWR
Program Code: AWR360005A
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00:02 Adventist World Radio is serving millions of people
00:05 all over this world. 00:07 Travel with me as I visit the remote 00:09 mountain villages of Nepal, 00:11 the vast plains of Africa, 00:14 through the bustling cities of Japan 00:16 and the beautiful country of Argentina. 00:20 Discover how lives are being transformed 00:23 by the everlasting gospel. 00:25 This is AWR360A°. 00:46 Sandwiched between two giants, 00:48 India and China lies a land that is distinct in culture. 00:52 From its crowded streets to its peaceful mountains, 00:55 this is a country that is teeming with color 00:58 and full of exotic flavors. 01:00 Yet, it is filled with hopeless, 01:03 poverty stricken people. 01:08 Steeped in superstition, 01:10 81% of this population is Hindu 01:13 9% Buddhist, 5% Muslim 01:17 with sadly only 1% Christian. 01:20 God is at work though and light is beginning 01:23 to pierce the darkness. 01:24 We are in Nepal and this is AWR360A°. 01:38 I have come to Nepal to see for myself 01:41 how God is working in the lives of the Nepali people 01:44 through Adventist World Radio. 01:47 Today, we are in search of the remote mountain village 01:49 of Sanachok, home to the Chepang people. 01:54 The past 10 hours, we have travelled by jeep 01:58 on treacherously steep and windy roads. 02:01 At the town of Manahari, you leave the jeep for a bus. 02:04 This bus takes us up a flooded river bed. 02:10 It's a strange feeling to see water rushing by 02:13 outside my bus seat window. 02:17 The bus takes us as far as it is able to go. 02:20 And now, we must walk. 02:22 For over two hours we trek, 02:27 crossing streams and hiking through terrace fields of corn, 02:31 higher and still higher we climb. 02:38 Finally, we reached the village of Sanachok. 02:41 It was with a feeling of amazement 02:43 and relief that I catch my first glimpses 02:46 of these precious people that I've heard so much about 02:50 and come so far to find. 02:54 They lead simple yet rigorous isolated lives, 02:58 cooking basic meals over open fires, 03:01 living in thatched huts and daily working in fields, 03:04 carved into the mountainside. 03:06 Because many cannot read or write, 03:09 the radio is their primary window 03:11 to the outside world. 03:15 One day, I turned my radio to a station 03:18 I had never heard before called Ashako Bani 03:20 or Voice of Hope. 03:22 I listened closely as health, 03:24 family life and the Christian faith 03:26 were being discussed. 03:28 As the program ended, 03:29 I quickly took down AWR's contact information. 03:33 Surendra and the pastor at the AWR studio 03:36 began talking on a regular basis. 03:38 Sometimes, several times a day. 03:40 Surendra began to share 03:42 what he was learning on the radio 03:43 with his fellow villagers and family, 03:45 particularly his father, 03:47 the community's spiritual leader. 03:50 I was once the witch doctor for our village. 03:54 But I realized its limitations when my two sons died. 03:58 I tried everything in my power to heal them 04:01 with my witchcraft. 04:03 Pralad became depressed and discouraged, 04:06 until one day a man visited their village 04:09 and taught him about Jesus. 04:11 Ever since then, he has been 04:12 seeking truth from God's Word. 04:17 I am so grateful to be out 04:19 from under the spells of witchcraft 04:21 and be freed by Bible truth. 04:23 I thank God everyday that my son introduced me 04:27 to Adventist World Radio. 04:41 It has changed my spiritual walk 04:43 to become a Seventh-day Adventist. 04:47 Through Adventist World Radio, God transforms. 04:50 He not only changes the village spiritually, 04:52 God improves all aspects of one's life. 04:57 When we listen to the radio, 04:59 we not only learn about the Bible, 05:01 we also learn about health, 05:03 cleanliness, and family life principles. 05:06 This has been a great blessing to us. 05:09 I now realize that my body is a temple of God, 05:12 He wants me to keep my body clean inside and out, 05:15 as well as my home and surroundings. 05:20 Adventist World Radio 05:21 not only provides the gospel message, 05:23 but the local staff also supplies basic food items 05:26 during particularly difficult times, 05:29 like the devastating earthquake that struck Nepal in 2015. 05:35 Most importantly, today, 05:37 due to your generous donations to AWR's broadcast, 05:40 there is a growing community of believers 05:43 who are eager to be baptized 05:45 and are preparing for Jesus' soon coming. 05:51 So far we have 31 families, including 17 families 05:56 from our own small village 05:58 who are preparing for baptism 05:59 into the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 06:08 As we began our descent down the mountain, 06:11 I cannot help but seeing Nepal's 29 million people 06:15 scattered among the hills 06:16 and valleys of this beautiful land. 06:18 There are only 5000 Adventists in Nepal, 06:21 but there are countless others 06:23 who are longing to know more 06:24 about Jesus if they only have the chance. 06:29 Jesus is coming soon 06:31 and the doors of opportunity 06:32 are open today that soon may close. 06:35 Now is the time to be involved 06:37 in spreading the gospel like never before. 06:42 Will you continue helping us to spread this gospel message 06:45 to countries like Nepal? 06:47 Thank you for your prayers and support. 06:55 Come with me to the continent of Africa 06:58 as I'm tracing the stories of those 07:00 being reached through the broadcast 07:02 of Adventist World Radio. 07:07 Welcome to Zambia, a land of smiling faces, 07:10 impressive waterfalls, 07:12 wide expanses, and wild animals. 07:15 I am here to document 07:17 the work of Adventist World Radio 07:18 and how the Lord is using our broadcast 07:21 to touch the lives of people here. 07:23 Hi, I'm Cami, and this is AWR 360A. 07:34 Today, we are travelling out of town 07:36 on bumpy dirt roads 07:37 to find Debby and hear his story. 07:42 Debby lives in a mud hut 07:43 surrounded by fields and gardens. 07:46 Several of his children and grandchildren 07:48 live nearby adding joy to his days. 07:55 It is very peaceful here 07:57 and Debby tells us with a grin 07:59 that this is his favorite place to be. 08:03 After showing us his beloved radio, 08:05 Debby begins to tell his story. 08:13 I attended a Catholic school growing up 08:16 and soon became a devote Catholic. 08:21 Time passed. 08:22 Debby married and ten children were born to them. 08:26 After years in the Catholic Church, 08:29 Debby began questioning 08:30 some of the foundational doctrines 08:32 he had been taught. 08:34 As he began to study the Bible for himself, 08:36 Debby saw in the Ten Commandments 08:38 that God forbids the worship of idols. 08:41 This and other beliefs 08:43 caused Debby to question his Catholic faith. 08:45 And before long, he left the church. 08:51 In search of truth, 08:52 Debby joined one denomination after another, 08:55 always leaving with unanswered questions, 08:57 unsatisfied with the interpretations 08:59 of scripture he found. 09:03 One day, while listening to the radio, 09:05 Debby stumbled across an AWR broadcast. 09:09 He listened eagerly 09:11 as a Bible based message was preached. 09:14 Maybe this was what he was looking for. 09:23 I was so intrigued 09:24 with the Adventist World Radio program 09:27 and every day after listening, 09:29 I would go to my Bible and study for myself to see 09:32 if what I heard was true. 09:38 As Debby continued listening and studying, 09:41 he came to understand new truths 09:44 and his many questions were finally being answered. 09:49 To his surprise, Debby learned that 09:51 the day of worship was changed 09:52 by the Catholic Church from Saturday to Sunday 09:55 and that the seventh day Sabbath 09:57 was created as a memorial of creation 09:59 and kept holy by Jesus 10:01 and His disciples as an example for us. 10:05 The law of God wasn't changed after all. 10:08 Debby soon found 10:09 a local Seventh-day Adventist Church 10:11 and began attending regularly with his children. 10:14 After years of searching and visiting 10:16 so many different churches, Debby finally felt at home. 10:21 Before long, Debby 10:23 and seven of his children were baptized 10:25 in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 10:27 They happily attend church together every Sabbath 10:30 and Debby is now a deacon, serving his church faithfully. 10:34 Having finally found Bible truth, 10:36 Debby loves to share with others 10:38 what he has learnt. 10:40 He hopes that one day soon, his wife, 10:43 other children and many friends would join him in the faith. 10:49 Debby shared with us 10:51 that one of his favorite verses is John 8:32 10:54 which reads 10:55 "You shall know the truth 10:57 and the truth will set you free." 11:02 I'm so thankful for the work of Adventist World Radio 11:05 and for the Bible messages that lead me to the truth 11:09 and set me free. 11:13 Will you join us in spreading the gospel message 11:15 filled with peace and hope to countries like Zambia? 11:18 Please pray for the work of Adventist World Radio 11:21 and consider contributing today. 11:26 Follow me as I travel to hear the story 11:28 of one specific couple, living in Romania, 11:32 whose lives were impacted 11:33 by the work of Adventist World Radio. 11:43 It all started one day at work. 11:45 As I was switching lines at the train yard, 11:48 I saw a co-worker listening to the radio on his cell phone. 11:51 I reached for my phone and began searching too. 11:55 That was when I found Adventist World Radio 11:57 and became a faithful listener. 12:02 I heard preaching from the Bible, 12:04 learned about the Sabbath and many other new things. 12:07 A strong desire for truth from God's Word 12:10 was born in my soul and my prayer became... 12:12 I want to know more, God. 12:15 Peace began to fill my heart. 12:17 But my home was in turmoil. 12:21 My wife and two daughters were confused 12:24 since I had taught my family to Pentecostal faith, 12:27 but was now bringing home new and contradicting truths. 12:30 My wife refused to even visit an Adventist Church with me. 12:34 So I went alone that first Sabbath. 12:37 I was welcomed so warmly and felt genuine Christian love 12:40 unlike I had ever experienced before. 12:43 Eventually, my family agreed to let the pastor visit 12:46 and help answer their questions. 12:49 As soon as he arrived, the questions began to flow. 12:52 Before long, our whole family began baptismal classes. 12:56 Ended May of 2015, my wife and I, 12:59 along with our oldest daughter were baptized 13:01 into the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 13:04 A few days ago, our younger daughter 13:05 was finally baptized. 13:07 We are praising God. 13:12 Since being baptized, 13:13 I had become very active in our local church, 13:16 even preaching occasionally. 13:18 I continued to spread the word about Adventist World Radio. 13:22 My wife says, I can't keep quiet about it 13:24 and it's probably true. 13:26 Thanks to the work of AWR, 13:28 we are now a united family 13:30 waiting for the soon return of Christ, our Lord. 13:39 I grew up in Indiana, 13:41 and I've been a farmer all my life. 13:44 My father, every time we'd plant a field, 13:47 when we got through, 13:49 we'd always kneel down and have prayer. 13:50 We'd done our part, now the Lord would do His, 13:53 and He always come through. 13:59 After praying about it, 14:00 my wife and I decided to do a gift annuity 14:03 through Adventist World Radio. 14:06 It goes to people that normally is not going to hear. 14:10 And that's what our 14:12 three angels' message is all about, 14:13 to every nation, kindred, tongue and people. 14:18 When you're a farmer, 14:19 you don't have a retirement plan. 14:22 It was a good way to supplement our retirement. 14:25 It's been a blessing to us. 14:27 And I know it's gonna be a blessing 14:28 to those others around the world. 14:37 I'm headed to one of the largest urban centers 14:39 on the planet to see 14:41 how God can set a nation on fire 14:44 for sharing the gospel in their own country. 14:54 Consisting of nearly 7,000 islands 14:57 and home to the largest city on earth, Japan is a nation 15:02 full of rich history and culture. 15:11 As I explore the city, I am amazed 15:14 by not only its huge population but also its affluence. 15:19 Of this nation's 127 million people, 15:22 an estimated 91% of the population 15:25 considers themselves Shinto 15:27 or Buddhist even if they rarely visit the temple. 15:34 As little as 2% claim 15:36 some form of Christianity and among them, 15:39 the Seventh-day Adventist Church 15:40 has a membership of only 14,000. 15:46 And the sobering reality is that as of late, 15:49 this number has been declining, not growing. 15:54 AWR is committed to using our resources 15:56 to help bring revival to Japan 15:58 and the stories like Pastor Obara's 16:01 that give us great courage and hope along the way. 16:06 My father Esau grew up in the northern part of Japan. 16:10 His family were farmers. 16:11 But my dad got tired of the country life 16:14 and moved to Tokyo when he was 20. 16:16 He got a good paying job, 16:18 but unfortunately spent all his money 16:20 on cigarettes and alcohol. 16:23 Smoking and drinking took its toll on Esau's body 16:28 and soon he found himself sick and in the hospital. 16:32 There was nothing to do, 16:33 but lay in bed and listen to the radio. 16:39 My father loved listening to Japanese pop music, 16:42 but one day when he was tuning his radio, 16:44 he heard a different kind of music. 16:46 It was strange music and it drew him in 16:49 and he wanted to hear more. 16:53 After being released from hospital, 16:55 Esau continued listening to this new station 16:58 and soon he heard about 17:00 an upcoming evangelistic meeting 17:02 at a nearby Adventist Church. 17:06 My father faithfully attended those meetings, 17:08 and at the end of that series 17:10 my father made a decision to be baptized. 17:14 But his new commitment to Jesus would force 17:17 Esau to make some significant sacrifices. 17:21 Japanese highly value work 17:23 and taking Sabbath off was not an option. 17:26 Either my father could keep the Sabbath 17:28 or keep his job, but not both. 17:31 He chose the Sabbath. 17:33 But sadly, this brought shame 17:35 and embarrassment to his family. 17:37 They could not understand his new diet, way of life, 17:41 and why he would quit his job. 17:44 Esau stuck to his new convictions 17:46 in the face of adversity though, 17:48 and the Lord honored him for it. 17:52 Soon, Esau was offered a job 17:54 as a janitor at the Adventist hospital, 17:57 which he gladly accepted. 17:59 After further training, 18:00 Esau went from janitor to working 18:02 in the physical therapy department, 18:05 a job he thoroughly enjoyed until his retirement. 18:09 My father loved to tell people about Jesus. 18:12 And through his influence led more than 18:15 20 different patients to Christ during his years 18:18 working at the hospital. 18:19 He had a positive influence on many lives including my own. 18:25 If it wasn't for my dad and the Lord working 18:27 through Adventist World Radio, 18:29 I definitely would not be a pastor 18:32 or especially a conference president 18:34 here in Japan today. 18:41 Isn't it amazing how the Lord works. 18:43 He took Obara's father who was a young drunkard 18:46 and through the Holy Spirit and AWR, 18:49 now his son his helping to lead the work here in Japan. 18:54 A few months ago, Pastor Obara 18:56 preached his very first 18:57 evangelistic series in partnership 19:00 with AWR on the Island of Mindoro, in the Philippines. 19:04 He joined in baptizing over 1,400 precious souls. 19:09 Because of this experience, 19:11 Obara along with many other pastors remaining 19:14 are excited to see how God will impact Japan. 19:20 The spirit of revival has been sparked 19:23 and now more than ever before, Japan is ready 19:26 for the final push of evangelism 19:28 before Jesus comes. 19:30 Will you join us in this mission? 19:32 There are two things you can do. 19:34 First, pray. 19:36 Pray for the work here in Japan 19:38 and other difficult to reach places. 19:40 And second, visit awr.org 19:43 where you can help expand the reach of AWR's broadcast 19:46 by your generous donations. 19:50 Will you join us in continuing this spark of revival 19:53 here in Japan and around the world? 19:56 Thank you for your prayers and support. 20:08 As Christians, our family is much larger than 20:11 our immediate biological family. 20:13 In fact, we have brothers and sisters 20:15 that live in more than 200 countries 20:17 all around the world. 20:20 We want to remember them in our estate plan. 20:23 We can help you with that process. 20:25 Just call 800-337-4279 toll free 20:30 or log on to awr.org. 20:38 Journey with me as I travel half way 20:41 around the world to explore how God is working through 20:44 Adventist World Radio to advance His kingdom. 20:50 When we landed in beautiful Argentina 20:52 to film specific people's testimonies 20:56 on how Adventist World Radio 20:57 had changed and impacted their lives. 21:00 We had no idea how, God was about to surprise us 21:03 on our very first Sabbath there. 21:06 I love God's surprises. 21:09 Upon arriving in Cordoba, 21:11 Argentina's second-largest city, 21:13 we were excited to meet out 21:14 with the local broadcasters 21:16 and see firsthand the work of AWR's Nuevo Tiempo. 21:21 We learned that there are Nuevo Tiempo churches 21:23 scattered across this city. 21:25 The contact information for six local churches 21:28 is given on the radio broadcast 21:29 and people are encouraged to visit. 21:32 This is proven effective 21:34 and many listeners show up each Sabbath. 21:37 This Nuevo Tiempo Church has seen dramatic growth 21:40 in its two year existence. 21:42 Over 60 people crowd in each Sabbath morning. 21:45 The majority of whom initially came to church 21:48 from hearing about it on the radio. 21:53 Members actively follow up 21:55 with Bible studies and baptisms follow. 21:58 Everyone is involved 21:59 and their rains of joy and harmony 22:02 seldom felt in churches today. 22:05 We were warmly welcomed with smiles 22:07 and kisses and were thrilled to soon realize 22:10 there would be a baptism that day. 22:12 We watched as the vows were said 22:14 and two teenagers were lowered into the water. 22:19 When the young man arose, and with tears in his eyes, 22:22 began embracing the other tearful church members. 22:25 We knew there must be a story behind this one. 22:31 So we invited Laotaro over to tell us more. 22:44 At 17 years of age, Laotaro lives at home 22:47 with his parents and younger brother. 22:50 Though the family considered themselves Catholic, 22:52 Laotaro does not remember Jesus ever being spoken of. 22:58 My life was a mess. 23:00 Boxing, parties and dancing consumed me. 23:04 I wasn't happy though. 23:05 I felt bad about my life and myself. 23:09 And anger often raged in my heart 23:11 which led to fighting with others. 23:15 Something happened though 23:16 that would change Laotaro's life forever. 23:21 Members of the Nuevo Tiempo Church invited Laotaro 23:24 and his mother to a small group Bible study in their home. 23:29 I listened to the Bible study and I was fascinated 23:32 by the things, they were sharing. 23:35 When they invited me to church, 23:36 I went and met other youth of my age. 23:41 I felt a peace inside and wanted to learn more. 23:47 But trials were about to befall this teenage boy. 24:03 If my father found me studying the Bible, 24:06 he would give me a bunch of chores to do. 24:09 He wasn't happy about me 24:11 attending the Adventist Church either and tried to keep me 24:13 from going by giving me a long list of work 24:16 that had to be done 24:18 in his mechanic shop on Sabbath. 24:21 In attempts to obey his earthly father 24:24 and his heavenly father, 24:25 Laotaro would wake up extra early on Sabbath mornings 24:28 and work quickly 24:30 to accomplish everything on the list 24:31 so he could go to church. 24:36 Laotaro hated to break God's Sabbath. 24:39 While he worked, he would talk to God 24:41 and ask for His forgiveness. 24:45 While attending church and studying the Bible, 24:48 I was convicted about many things 24:50 and had lots to give up. 24:54 Boxing was my passion. 24:56 But I realized, for the first time, 24:58 that my body is a temple of God. 25:00 And that I was harming myself and others through fighting. 25:05 I also had to say no to parties and dancing. 25:09 My old friends don't understand. 25:10 They try even harder to get me join them 25:13 in doing drugs and other bad things. 25:15 But I had found a better life. 25:22 Laotaro has experienced a complete transformation. 25:26 Now instead of fighting with his parents and siblings, 25:29 he enjoys helping them home doing laundry, 25:32 washing dishes, cooking 25:33 and playing with his little brother. 25:36 He also finds ways to help his neighbors 25:38 and others in need. 25:42 Laotaro is happy instead of angry now. 25:45 He longs to share Christ's love and the testimony 25:48 of his transformed life with others. 25:52 Not only have I changed, but my family is changing too. 25:55 My mother and brother are also doing Bible studies. 25:58 And my father is softening as well. 26:02 Laotaro's father did not come to his baptism last Sabbath, 26:05 but he hopes and prays that one day soon, 26:08 his whole family will attend church together. 26:14 My baptism was so special. 26:17 I feel like a new person now. 26:20 I would like to say to other young people 26:22 that life is not all about sports, 26:24 parties or dancing. 26:25 There is something better. 26:28 True peace and happiness comes only 26:31 from knowing and following Jesus. 26:35 My heart was touched as I listened to Laotaro share. 26:39 And I had tears in my eyes as he talked of the sacrifices 26:42 he has made simply to attend church each Sabbath. 26:47 I think about those I know back home. 26:50 I think about myself what sacrifices do we make. 26:55 The story of Laotaro has also given me 26:57 a deeper understanding of the work 26:59 of Adventist World Radio. 27:02 It goes far beyond the one person 27:04 who listens and is later baptized. 27:07 For that one person goes on to share with other people 27:10 and the influence widens in listening. 27:15 Thank you for supporting Adventist World Radio. 27:19 Your donations and prayers 27:21 literally change lives. 27:25 From broadcast to baptism, 27:27 to baptism to baptism, 27:30 this is AWR360A°. |
Revised 2022-08-03