Participants:
Series Code: GYC
Program Code: GYC180005A
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00:32 I would invite you to join us in standing
00:34 as we sing our theme song, "This Witness I Will bear." 01:00 Have you heard the story told 01:05 Of the Man whose heart was sold 01:09 To save my dying soul? 01:13 Oh, what love untold 01:18 To the end He's always sought me 01:22 To the end He's always loved me 01:27 To the end I long to follow 01:31 For He bore my cross of sorrow 01:35 I will stay here in the hollow of His care 01:42 And I will go anywhere, to the end 01:49 This witness I will bear 01:54 To the end 02:03 In the grove I heard Him say 02:07 "Oh my Father please just stay" 02:12 Through broken hearted pain 02:16 He did pave the way 02:21 To the end His heart is faithful 02:25 To the end His hand is able 02:29 To the end I can now follow 02:34 For He bore my cross of sorrow 02:38 I will stay here in the hollow of His care 02:44 And I will go anywhere, to the end 02:52 This witness I will bear 02:57 To the end 03:05 As they took Him off to die 03:10 There His friendship I denied 03:14 Forgiveness in His eyes 03:18 He did not despise 03:23 To the end His love constrains me 03:27 To the end He has restored me 03:32 To the end I will still follow 03:36 For He bore my cross of sorrow 03:41 I will stay here in the hollow of His care 03:47 And I will go anywhere, to the end 03:54 This witness I will bear 03:59 This witness I will bear, to the end 04:17 Happy Sabbath. 04:21 Isn't it a blessing for us to spend this Sabbath together 04:24 singing, praying, and learning from God's Word? 04:27 I've been blessed today. 04:29 As we begin this afternoon's service, 04:32 I would like to read the scripture 04:33 that will go with our message 04:35 and it's found in Romans 10:13-15. 04:40 Romans 10:13-15, 04:43 and I will be reading from the New King James Version. 04:46 It reads, 04:48 "For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. 04:53 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? 04:57 And how shall they believe in Him 04:59 of whom they have not heard? 05:02 And how shall they hear without a preacher? 05:05 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? 05:09 As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those 05:13 who preach the gospel of peace, 05:16 who bring glad tidings of good things!" 05:19 Amen. 05:21 Hello everyone, my name is Karisse McLarty. 05:24 I have the great opportunity 05:26 of introducing the speaker for this evening. 05:29 Her name is Tara. 05:30 Now Tara, she was born and raised in California. 05:35 She was born to a family that had to flee 05:38 from overseas as refugees. 05:41 And they came over here about 50 years ago. 05:43 And this built in her resilience and persistence. 05:47 Though her family did not know what they were gonna do 05:50 or where they were going to live, 05:52 they continued to persevere. 05:55 After college, Tara went over to Loma Linda 05:58 to get a degree in public health, 06:01 with a concentration on health education. 06:03 Now this is where I met Tara. 06:05 Tara and I had to take a class called epidemiology. 06:08 If any of you who've had that class, 06:10 it's not the easiest one. 06:12 Now one day, I decide and sit next to her, 06:15 and we started to talk 06:16 and then after that she couldn't get rid of me. 06:18 We were in class together, 06:19 vespers, church, cafeteria, everywhere. 06:23 If you saw her, then you saw me. 06:25 And she didn't know at the time, 06:27 but she came into my life in a time 06:29 when things were a little difficult, 06:32 and she into being a prayer, 06:34 and to an answer to prayer that I never did actually pray. 06:37 Now if you know Tara, then you know that 06:39 she is a loving and caring person. 06:41 She's reliable, passionate, and she is someone that 06:45 wants to serve God with all of her heart. 06:48 When she left Loma Linda, 06:50 she went back to northern California, 06:51 and she began to help out with GLOW. 06:54 With GLOW, she was able to help translate 06:56 some of the tracts into Hmong. 07:00 She was able to help people 07:01 all around the world to be able to understand more about God. 07:05 And with GLOW she also led out on 10 different mission trips, 07:08 and one of these was to Pennsylvania 07:11 when the pope came to America. 07:13 She was able to see 07:15 a prophecy fulfilled in front of her. 07:17 She also went to Romania 07:18 to help out with the mission trip there. 07:21 With GLOW she was able to help them to pass out 07:24 eight million GLOW tracts. 07:26 That's amazing, right? 07:28 Now, even though 07:30 she has been involved with those other things, 07:32 she continued on, now she is involved with GYC. 07:36 Her passion for winning souls for Christ 07:39 and showing God's love 07:40 is what drives her from day to day. 07:43 Now, Tara is someone that wants to show God's love to everyone. 07:47 One of her favorite verses is, 07:49 "My little children, these things I write to you, 07:53 so that you may not sin. 07:54 And if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, 07:57 Jesus Christ the righteous." 07:59 That's from 1 John 2:1. 08:02 And one thing that Tara said for anyone that want to grow 08:06 and have a stronger relationship with God, 08:08 she recommends that they go on a GLOW mission trip, 08:11 that they have a Bible study 08:13 with at least one person for the year, 08:15 and also that they go canvassing. 08:17 And these are different ways that people can try 08:19 to venture out to have a deeper life with God. 08:23 Now after the special music, 08:25 the next person that you'll hear 08:27 will be none other than my best friend Tara Vang. 08:31 Now, let's bow our heads 08:33 so that we can open up with prayer. 08:37 Dear, Heavenly Father, thank You so much 08:39 for allowing us to be able to come together, God. 08:43 Thank You for just being here in this place, 08:45 and just touching us in many different ways, 08:47 and speaking through all the different people 08:50 that are here, God. 08:51 I'm asking that You please prepare our hearts, 08:54 forgive us for the many times that we have gone astray, 08:56 and done things and our hearts have been hardened, God. 09:00 Asking that You please lead us in the right direction, 09:03 make our hearts of flesh not of stone. 09:05 Let our hearts be open to whatever You have for us, 09:08 the truth and the way that You want us to go. 09:11 God, help us, today we're asking that 09:14 You just take our hearts and our minds, and all of us, 09:17 and just take over, God. 09:19 We're asking You to lead us through this world, God, 09:22 and be our light to this community. 09:25 We love You and we praise You. Amen. 09:44 My peace I give 09:48 unto you 09:52 It's a peace that the world 09:56 cannot give 10:00 It's a peace that the world 10:03 cannot understand 10:08 Peace to know, 10:12 peace to live 10:15 My peace I give 10:20 unto you 10:31 My love I give 10:36 unto you 10:39 It's a love that the world 10:43 cannot give 10:47 It's a love that the world 10:50 cannot understand 10:55 Love to know, 10:59 love to live 11:02 My love I give 11:06 unto you 11:10 It's a love that the world 11:15 cannot understand 11:21 My love 11:25 I give 11:30 unto you 11:40 Good afternoon and happy Sabbath, everyone. 11:43 I'm so glad that you decided to spend your Sabbath afternoon 11:46 to hear me share my testimony. 11:48 My name is Tara Vang, 11:49 and you might know me as the VP of Evangelism for GYC. 11:55 You might even know me as Miss GLOW 11:58 because I do love GLOW tracts and testimonies. 12:02 But today I have something else that I wanna share with you. 12:06 First, I'd like to teach you something. 12:09 I want you to say and repeat after me. 12:12 Zoo Siab. 12:17 Hnub Chib So. 12:21 Turn to your neighbor and say, "Zoo Siab Hnub Chib So." 12:29 You just learned how to say Happy Sabbath in Hmong. 12:34 The Hmong people are an indigenous people group 12:39 from the mountainous regions of Southeast Asia. 12:43 If you look on the screen 12:44 you'll see a country that my parents are from. 12:48 It's the country of Laos. 12:50 Hmong people live in China, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. 12:54 My parents were born and raised 12:56 in the northern villages of Laos, a landlocked country. 13:01 I'm so happy to share about 13:02 how God has mightily worked in my life. 13:06 But this afternoon, 13:07 I'm gonna share about my family's refugee story, 13:11 and how we became Seventh-day Adventist. 13:15 I'm also sharing how one dedicated young person 13:19 going into the 10/40 Window, 13:22 and going into unreached foreign fields, 13:25 has changed the life course of my life, 13:29 my family, and generations to come. 13:33 How one young person has made an internal impact 13:38 on an unreached people group, the Hmong people. 13:42 Before I start my testimony, 13:44 let us begin with a word of prayer. 13:48 Dear, Heavenly Father, if there was ever a time 13:51 I needed the Holy Spirit, it is right now. 13:55 Lord, I pray that Your Holy Spirit 13:57 would be poured upon our entire group here at GYC. 14:02 I pray that everybody would hear Your voice, 14:06 hide me behind the cross, 14:08 and help me to speak words from Your throne room. 14:11 All this I ask in Jesus' name, amen. 14:16 The title of my testimony is 14:19 "To the end, will you go?" 14:23 I'm going to start off with a testimony. 14:27 Do you guys like testimonies? 14:30 I'm going to start off with the GLOW testimony actually. 14:33 So I received a call from a sweet 91-year-old lady. 14:38 It was May 2017. 14:41 I had no idea who she was until she told me her name. 14:46 As soon as she told me her name, I froze, 14:51 and I just couldn't speak. 14:54 The reason why is because I knew who she was. 14:58 I had never met her, but I knew her name. 15:03 I wasn't prepared for this call. 15:04 I silently froze because 15:06 on the back of every Hmong GLOW tract 15:10 is my phone number. 15:11 But don't tell anyone. 15:15 I was in disbelief 15:16 when she told me her name was Jean Hall, 15:20 and that her husband's name was Richard Hall. 15:24 I couldn't believe that, 15:26 I would be reconnected with this special couple. 15:29 You see, at 32 years old, 15:31 Richard Hall was a pilot missionary. 15:36 He was the first Seventh-day Adventist 15:39 to step foot into the country of Laos. 15:43 He truly believed in the literal fulfillment 15:46 of Revelation 14:6. 15:49 Let's turn there. I want us to read that. 15:52 Please turn with me to Revelation 14:6. 15:57 If you need some time say, "Have mercy." 16:01 If you're there say, "Amen." 16:05 Revelation 14:6. 16:10 I still hear Bibles turning, I like that sound. 16:16 Elder Richard Hall believed 16:18 in the literal fulfillment of Revelation 14:6. 16:22 And it says, 16:23 "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, 16:26 having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them 16:29 that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, 16:33 and kindred, and tongue, and people." 16:36 See, he was a pilot missionary. 16:40 He wanted to fly, literally, to these places, 16:45 and teach the people about Jesus. 16:50 The purpose of private plane travel in his work 16:53 was to provide the missing link 16:55 of swift transportation in areas where 16:58 near impenetrable distances hinder the spread of gospel, 17:04 where hauled any medical aid 17:06 to those who desperately need it. 17:08 This mission would have been virtually impossible 17:11 if he did not go with an airplane. 17:16 Brothers and sisters, it is past time for the church 17:20 to get up in the air in more than one way. 17:24 In 1958, he baptizes the first Laotian converts. 17:29 Converts most who are Hmong people. 17:33 In 1959, 17:34 he establishes the first church in Laos. 17:41 Thirty two years old. 17:45 Brothers and sisters, we have a choice 17:47 to go to the ends of the earth, just like he did. 17:52 GYC, God is calling you and I to fly in that... 17:56 To the ends of the earth. I truly believe this. 18:01 As soon as Elder Hall buys land and build the church, 18:04 he is soon replaced by a 25 year old, 18:08 Abel Pangans, a single Filipino pastor. 18:12 At 25, he was not the ideal candidate. 18:17 He was single. 18:19 And that was actually why they didn't want him. 18:22 But God still calls single people 18:25 to the mission field. 18:27 Amen? 18:28 But the work was growing and they needed somebody 18:32 to shepherd the new established church. 18:35 He receives the telegram from Elder Hall. 18:38 Get married now, wife follows. 18:43 Basically get married as soon as possible, 18:46 show up to the mission field, then she can come afterwards. 18:50 By God's grace, that's exactly what happened. 18:54 He received the call. 18:55 He was like, "All right, I gotta get married." 19:00 Let me show you some of the things 19:03 that Pastor Pangans did when he showed up to Laos. 19:06 I have some videos that I want you to see. 19:11 If we could show the videos, the first video... 19:13 Pastor Pangan there in the jungles of Laos, 19:16 and let's see if we can roll that beautiful photos. 19:18 Take us through what we're seeing here? 19:20 All right, what we see here is this man went hunting. 19:24 And then he pulled his gun. 19:26 When he pick it up, it went off and hit his shoulder there, 19:32 the bullet went through the front side of his shoulder, 19:36 and then to the back. 19:38 And asked me if I could help him? 19:41 And here going to the village helping them 19:45 with their medical needs. 19:47 This man was bitten by a wild boar, 19:51 and I was asked to help him. 19:53 So I was suturing here in a primitive way. 19:57 But by God's grace, he used the medical missionary work 20:01 to reach the people. 20:03 I have another video I want you to show you 20:05 about what it's like to built jungles in Laos. 20:10 And did you build a school on a flat plane somewhere? 20:13 Did you bring in heavy equipment? 20:14 Did you bring in the large bulldozers? 20:18 Tell us a little bit about how you did that 20:19 and tell us while this film is rolling? 20:21 Well, we had to use 20:23 whatever materials were available, 20:26 so in that village we gathered bamboos 20:30 to split them and use them as roof. 20:33 And then we had to cut down timbers 20:36 to use as post. 20:37 And here are the Hmong people helping me 20:40 to gather this material, 20:42 so we could build a school for them. 20:45 And this, the village chief leading out, 20:49 leading his people to help us 20:51 build a school in their village. 20:54 Now, in a minute we'll see a man with... 20:57 If my memory serves me correctly, there he is. 20:59 A man with a... Gunshot wound. 21:02 With a gunshot wound, so tell us 21:03 a little bit about this man? 21:04 Well, this gun... 21:06 This man with a gunshot wound said, 21:08 "I am well enough. 21:10 I cannot just stand by without helping." 21:14 So he himself started helping us 21:17 to gather materials for the school. 21:20 Amen. 21:22 So was the school ultimately built? 21:23 Tell us just a little bit about how the project was finished? 21:27 Well, the school was completed not long after that, 21:32 but in gathering the materials like this, 21:34 we're to go through a jungle trails 21:38 infested with bloodsuckers. 21:41 So, if you would see there in one of the scenes, 21:46 I was bitten by a bloodsucker. 21:49 By God's grace, at 25 years old, 21:53 he was doing medical missionary work, 21:56 as well as building schools, and building churches 22:00 for Hmong people in the jungles of Laos. 22:03 My final video is a video of, 22:06 what it's like 22:08 to experience the first church that's built. 22:12 The first Seventh-day Adventist Church in Laos 22:15 was established with more than 40 members, 22:20 mostly Hmong people. 22:21 That's right. 22:22 And there we see, we see that, 22:24 that picture, that first congregation. 22:25 Yes, that's the first 22:27 Seventh-day Adventist Church in Laos, 22:30 in 1959. 22:34 Brothers and sisters, can I get an amen? 22:37 Young people, you can go to the ends of world, 22:41 and do simple things, and just spend time with people 22:44 who do not know Jesus. 22:46 My family was living in the northern parts of Laos, 22:51 and by God's grace 22:53 the two missionaries that would step foot in Laos 22:56 would be able to impact my family. 23:00 My family, 23:01 it took 10 years before they became 23:04 Seventh-day Adventist, but it was not an easy journey. 23:10 My paternal grandfather, 23:12 his name is Gehsing Vang. 23:16 He began seriously considering Christianity 23:19 in the early '70s. 23:22 It was because my dad a young man at that time 23:25 about 21 years old, he was under spiritual attack. 23:31 Every known solution 23:34 to address his spiritual attack in the culture 23:38 led to the idea that he had very little time left to live. 23:42 So my paternal grandfather was not at peace over the fact 23:45 that his one and only son, my dad, 23:50 had such a short time to live. 23:51 He began searching for answers, 23:53 and he decided he must become Christian. 23:57 But he needed time. 24:00 He started out by observing all the missionaries 24:03 in the villages, all the groups of every walk of Christianity. 24:09 He observed for six months. 24:13 And his observations 24:14 and his decisions were based on three things, 24:18 friendliness, faithfulness, and effectiveness. 24:23 Can you repeat that? 24:24 Friendliness, faithfulness and effectiveness. 24:29 Exactly. 24:30 My grandpa, paternal grandpa was looking 24:34 at all the missionaries 24:35 from every Christian denomination, 24:38 looking to see 24:39 whether they were friendly, faithful and effective. 24:42 Did this church or the people representing this church, 24:45 do they really believe in what they taught? 24:48 Were they friendly? 24:50 Were they faithful? 24:52 Because he was facing a life or death situation with my dad, 24:59 his choice would be a life or death situation. 25:04 After six months, by God's grace, 25:06 he chose to be a Seventh-day Adventist. 25:10 The Adventist missionaries genuinely loved 25:13 the Hmong people. 25:14 The Adventist missionaries believed in their teachings, 25:17 they kept the Sabbath, as they taught it. 25:20 When the Adventist missionaries prayed, 25:22 God answered their prayers. 25:25 Their faith worked. 25:28 Immediately when a Hmong person became a Seventh-day Adventist, 25:32 they had to get rid of all the idols, 25:35 and all the altars within the home. 25:38 Immediately, within 24 hours of conversion, 25:43 there was spiritual healing in the home. 25:46 Amen? 25:49 And they began keeping the Sabbath. 25:53 Many other Christian groups did not offer these things, 25:57 they offered community, 25:58 but they did not offer the things 26:00 that my grandfather was wanting. 26:06 After six months, he became a Seventh-day Adventist. 26:10 Amen. 26:12 But this was not just the only issue 26:16 they were facing at that time. 26:18 You see, at this time, there was a war going on. 26:22 It was called the Vietnam War. 26:24 And during this time, 26:26 my family had just become Seventh-day Adventists. 26:30 The Vietnam War was raging in Southeast Asia 26:33 from 1961 to 1975, 26:37 and America was losing the war. 26:41 The Hmong had been recruited by the Americans 26:43 to fight as guerrilla fighters. 26:46 The CIA funded this special operation, 26:48 and they called it the secret war in Laos. 26:52 Because of the operation, 26:54 the Americans needed expert jungle fighters. 26:59 They hired over 300,000 Hmong fighters, 27:03 men and boys, 27:05 50,000 died fighting for the US. 27:09 On April 13, 1975, Saigon fell, 27:13 and America lost the Vietnam War. 27:16 And genocide was declared upon Hmong people 27:20 because we helped Americans. 27:24 As a medic supporting the Americans 27:26 in the Vietnam War 27:27 my dad knew that he would be in danger. 27:30 He, along with my paternal grandfather decided, 27:34 "What are we going to do?" 27:37 But there was one thing they did know what to do. 27:40 And they had just learned how to do it, 27:42 and that was to pray. 27:44 Amen? 27:46 Brothers and sisters, when we don't know what to do, 27:48 we can pray. And God will open doors. 27:51 Well, it was a very raining night. 27:55 It was monsoon season. 27:57 They decided they had to go on foot 28:01 when it was monsoon season because it would be harder 28:05 to trace the trail that you walked on, 28:09 and it would be... 28:11 You wouldn't hear 28:12 the leaves crackling under your feet 28:15 because genocide was after them, 28:19 people, soldiers were after them. 28:22 After praying, the Lord revealed to them, 28:25 "Go. Go tonight." 28:29 They packed up what they could carry, 28:31 and they were on foot, and headed towards Thailand. 28:35 They came to the Mekong River, 28:39 which borders between Laos and Thailand. 28:44 To get to Thailand, would have been freedom. 28:49 But during this exodus, 28:52 they could hear soldiers in the distance. 28:55 They kept praying. 28:56 Eventually, my family reached the Mekong River 28:59 and there was a boat keeper. 29:02 My dad decided to hire this boat keeper, 29:06 so that they could carry their group of people 29:09 across the boat, across the Mekong River. 29:15 As they were all scared and drenched in water, 29:20 they all got in the boat. 29:21 There was about 20 people on this exodus with them. 29:26 But as soon as they got in the boat, 29:27 it started to sink. 29:29 There was too many people and the boat was too small. 29:33 Somebody has to stay behind. 29:37 No one wanted to get off the boat. 29:40 If no one gets off the boat, everybody dies. 29:44 No one volunteered. 29:47 Eventually, 29:49 my grandfather Gehsing Vang decides, 29:55 "I'll get off so you can live." 29:59 He along with two others decided to get off that boat, 30:03 so that the first boat trip can make it. 30:06 On that first boat trip with my mom and dad, 30:08 and my oldest brother, they made it safely. 30:12 But on the second trip, 30:14 they heard gunshots 30:16 and that boat never made it. 30:19 My grandfather died, drowning. 30:22 In the horror my parents, 30:26 they lost my grandfather. 30:30 But they went to the Thailand refugee camps. 30:33 They tried to pick up 30:35 what they could do. 30:37 And they waited at the refugee camps. 30:40 They were not allowed to cook for themselves. 30:43 They were not allowed to leave. 30:44 It was like jail. 30:46 They went hungry for days, 30:48 but for two years 30:50 they would be in this refugee camp. 30:52 And then asylum would be granted to them, 30:55 and they would come to America. 30:58 Two years later, another brother of mine, 31:01 my second oldest brother, is added to the family. 31:04 They get asylum to America, 31:07 and they fly to America in 1978. 31:11 And by God's grace, 31:12 they are the first Hmong Seventh-day Adventists 31:16 in America. 31:19 They came to America with no idea 31:22 how to turn a doorknob. 31:23 They did not know a single word of English. 31:26 They didn't know what a toilet was. 31:28 They didn't know what a grocery store was. 31:30 They didn't know what bread was. 31:32 They didn't know anything about this culture 31:35 or this country. 31:37 They didn't know and they were hungry. 31:40 They found friendliness at the hotel 31:43 that they were staying by an African-American janitor, 31:48 who spent more than $19 of his own money 31:51 so that they can have food. 31:54 Amen. 31:56 As soon as my parents landed, 31:58 they settled in the city of Santa Barbara, California. 32:01 My dad wrote a letter 32:04 to the Thailand Adventist Mission. 32:08 He said, "This is where I live. 32:10 Where is the Seventh-day Adventist Church?" 32:12 You see at that time, 32:14 there were other newly arrived Hmong refugees, 32:17 and they were all deciding, 32:19 "Why don't we gather together 32:22 and start a fresh together?" 32:24 But the problem was that 32:26 these refugees were not Christians, 32:29 they still held on to the traditional faith. 32:33 And my parents, they had left the faith. 32:36 So they were at a standstill, what do we do? 32:38 Do we go back to the people we know, 32:40 the culture we know, 32:43 and the people who understand our struggle, 32:46 or do we continue to be Seventh-day Adventist 32:49 as best as we can. 32:51 But by God's grace, 32:54 two weeks after that letter was sent out 32:55 to the Thailand mission, 32:58 there was a knock on the door. 33:00 And there was a pastor, it was the Sabbath day. 33:04 The pastor of the local seventh... 33:06 Santa Barbara Seventh-day Adventist Church 33:08 was knocking on my parent's door 33:11 to pick them up to go to church. 33:14 Amen? 33:15 And they would continue to do this. 33:17 This church would continue to do this for six months, 33:21 picking up my parents every Sabbath, to go to church. 33:26 Brothers and sisters, 33:28 love covers a multitude of sins. 33:32 But love for newly arrived refugees 33:35 help us overcome unimaginable grief, 33:39 unimaginable trauma, and loss. 33:44 I pray our church is still that loving church 33:47 that can do that for refugees. 33:50 We need to do that. 33:53 Refugees long for community. 33:57 They have lost everything that is familiar to them. 34:02 So then this brings in my story. 34:04 I grew up in public school all my life. 34:08 I grew up in public housing all my life. 34:11 When I graduated high school, 34:13 I left 34:15 and went to a secular university. 34:17 I also left the church. 34:19 There were so many unanswered questions. 34:22 Why did I grow up refugee? 34:24 Why did I grow up with all these issues, 34:28 trauma? 34:30 I remember attending my first GYC 34:33 and thinking, 34:35 "Wow, there's a biblical reason for godly relationships." 34:40 No one had ever taught me that. 34:43 I didn't grow up with that truth. 34:45 But they convicted me and I purposed in my heart, 34:48 that I would do 34:50 what God would want for me to do for my life. 34:54 Until I graduate school, 34:56 I didn't know 34:59 that God had a plan for my life. 35:00 I went to Loma Linda University. 35:03 And during that time, 35:05 I heard God audibly speak to me for the first time, 35:08 and it changed my life. 35:10 I started praying, 35:11 "Lord, where do You want me to go? 35:13 I'll go to any young adult church service." 35:17 I just asked for two things. 35:19 One, that they would have 35:20 a convicting present truth message 35:23 because that was what I was longing. 35:25 And two, 35:26 please send somebody to invite me to potluck. 35:31 Come on. 35:33 Please, if there is somebody new 35:35 in your church, 35:37 invite them to eat with you. 35:40 Well, I went to Sabbath, 35:42 that first Sabbath while I was at Loma Linda. 35:47 And the speaker was incredible. 35:50 I went home, I was thinking, 35:52 "Oh, I need to go home and study my Bible." 35:54 I was so convicted. 35:56 But then I was, I told the Lord, 35:58 "Well, it was a great message, but no one, 36:02 and there's no one here to talk to me." 36:04 And I'm just... So I started walking away. 36:07 On my way out, 36:09 there was a young lady that stopped me, 36:11 and she asked if I was new, and I said, I was. 36:14 And she said, 36:16 "Would you like to go to potluck 36:18 with my friends and I?" 36:20 Amen. 36:21 God answers very specific prayers. 36:26 This girl would come to teach me 36:29 the sanctuary message. 36:31 Personal Bible studies, young people. 36:34 There's somebody around you that needs to know the Bible, 36:38 personally, one on one, not just Friday's vespers, 36:42 not just on the Sabbath, go some other day of the week, 36:46 and just hang out at Starbucks, 36:48 and study the Bible with somebody. 36:52 When I got home for the first time, 36:54 I stopped my whole family and I told them, 36:56 "You guys, we are Hmong 36:58 and Seventh-day Adventist for a reason. 37:02 There's a reason why we were raised 37:04 in this church." 37:08 I was so thankful for that. 37:13 Then I graduated, 37:15 I went to start working 37:17 in the secular jobs of public health. 37:21 And I remember having a dream, 37:22 and in the dream 37:24 I was standing kind of like on a stage like this, 37:26 and in the crowd was an endless sea of faces 37:29 representing all kindred, all nations, 37:32 all tongues, and all people, 37:34 kind of like this, actually. 37:36 And in my dream though, 37:39 I realized not a single Hmong person 37:42 was in the crowd. 37:43 In the dream, I knew I was preaching 37:45 the three angels' message. 37:47 But not a single Hmong person was in the crowd 37:51 and I knew they were not hearing the message. 37:54 I was devastated. 37:55 I woke up crying from the dream 37:57 and in that time was when I met with the GLOW tract ministry. 38:02 And when I was introduced to this ministry, I was like, 38:06 "We got to translate some tracts into Hmong. 38:08 I can't wait anymore." 38:10 So that's what happened. 38:11 And as I translated, my family and I, 38:14 we all edited the tracts together. 38:18 And suddenly we realized 38:21 this is the most beautiful thing 38:24 we have ever read in our own language. 38:28 And we could share it. 38:29 And as we started sharing, people started calling. 38:33 I wanna come to church on Saturday, 38:35 I want to join you. 38:37 You see, Hmong people, we get together, 38:39 and when we get together, everybody gets together. 38:43 We have festivals, 38:44 and there's 50,000 of us, 100,000 of us, 38:47 and I used to go to be entertained. 38:50 Who doesn't want to be in their cultural attire 38:54 and go to the festivals, 38:55 but now I was going out there to give GLOW tracts 38:59 in every single hand 39:01 and so were my family members. 39:04 We've all... 39:05 We're all trained to pass out GLOW. 39:10 If there's anything that I've learned 39:12 about literature evangelism, 39:13 it is this, 39:15 that outreach is in reach. 39:19 When we go, we are blessed. 39:22 That's why I want you all to go and outreach tomorrow, 39:25 be here at 12 o'clock. 39:27 I remember going on my first GLOW mission trip 39:30 in Philadelphia, 39:31 and it was scary, 39:35 it was devastating, actually. 39:39 I didn't know what I was doing, 39:42 but I knew that there were so many people 39:47 all in the downtown streets of Philadelphia. 39:51 And, there were, all I saw prophecy fulfilled 39:54 right before my eyes, 39:56 and it convicted my heart. 39:58 "Lord, I have not done anything to advance Your kingdom, 40:03 take me from where I am and put me where I can be 40:08 because I want to win souls. 40:11 There's too many out there." 40:14 And after that I went canvassing, 40:18 I couldn't go back to my secular job. 40:20 I don't know about you, 40:22 but I need to do something that changes lives. 40:25 That's my kind of... 40:27 I have to be in that field, 40:29 where I know I'm making a tangible impact. 40:31 So I left my secular job and then I went into ministry. 40:35 I went canvassing for the first time, 40:38 and it was the hardest thing I've ever done, 40:40 but it was such a blessing and God was so good to me 40:43 because He even let me experience dump bags. 40:46 Do you guys know what dump bags mean? 40:49 That means they took everything in my books, 40:52 and I was doubting God the entire time, 40:54 and He just kept affirming, affirming, and affirming. 40:59 It's amazing what happens when you put God first. 41:03 GYC, my time is coming to a close, 41:07 but I just wanted to share 41:09 that as I start closing my testimony, 41:12 I wish I could talk to you guys forever. 41:15 I want to read something very special. 41:19 And I titled it, "Thank you." 41:22 You see, as a refugee, 41:25 you don't get to grow up with much. 41:28 But you remember everything that people have done for you. 41:32 So, I just want to read this to you, 41:34 Mom and Dad, 41:35 thanks for raising us around loving church families, 41:39 who spent time with us 41:40 and treated us as their own kids. 41:44 Bill Callidus for knocking 41:45 on my parent's doors every Sabbath, 41:47 to pick up the family every Sabbath for church, 41:51 the first six months of our arrival to America. 41:55 To Mr. and Mrs. Hemorite, for being our second parents, 41:59 driving us everywhere, introducing us 42:01 to the first ever vegetarian burger. 42:07 And Mr. Hecht, sharing with us your favorite topic, 42:11 evidence of God's creation. 42:13 To the Garners for faithfully transporting us 42:16 to church programs, Revelation seminars, 42:19 choir practice, vespers, gym nights and youth church. 42:22 NET 96 with Mark Finley changed our lives forever 42:27 and you took us to every meeting. 42:29 Rachel Vesara and Debbie Nichols 42:31 for your hours of driving us across town 42:34 in a church van to homeless feedings, 42:37 vespers, gym nights, and teaching us about Jesus. 42:41 The Palm family, you're the first family 42:44 that invited us to Thanksgiving dinner, 42:47 and you're the first family 42:48 that brought us kids presents for Christmas. 42:51 We've never forgotten. 42:53 Akiva and the late Babatunde for opening your hearts 42:57 and home for the youth, 42:59 we'll never forget your living room 43:01 on Eucalyptus Drive. 43:04 Tim Bray, Adam Bray, and Tim, 43:06 you for adding humor into our lives, 43:08 and teaching us all how to drive a stick shift. 43:12 Milder Davis for being our Sabbath School teacher, 43:15 and teaching us everything we learned as kids, 43:19 and how to sing Sabbath School songs. 43:22 The list goes on and on and on. 43:26 I wish I could go through it all, 43:27 my time is coming short. 43:30 But I just wanted to share 43:31 that all of us can reach refugees. 43:35 Every single one of us, you know God, 43:38 God allowed us to come to this country 43:40 because as I was reading in the book of Evangelism, 43:44 God in His providence has allowed foreigners 43:48 to come to our land, 43:50 to hear the truth for this time. 43:52 And upon hearing the truth, 43:54 they will be able to communicate it 43:55 to their friends, their family, their community in this country 44:01 and in the country at home. 44:03 That's what's going on right now. 44:05 I have family in Thailand that's helping to share. 44:09 I could share the finances and the blessings 44:12 that God's given me. 44:14 And I can bring Bibles 44:16 to Hmong people across the world. 44:19 What an awesome God I serve, 44:22 to allow me to do such a thing. 44:24 I also want to invite a friend 44:27 that I want you to meet. 44:29 Pastor, please come and join me. 44:32 Friends, I want you to meet someone 44:34 that I met along my journey in ministry. 44:37 Pastor Abel Pangans, 44:40 stand right here. 44:43 Retired, but not tired of the ministry. 44:47 He left everything he knew and was the 25 year old 44:52 that went into the missionary field 44:54 to reach my village. 44:56 His influence has changed my life forever. 45:00 Thank you very much. It's all because of God. 45:05 When you love the Lord supremely, 45:08 when you have a passion to tell others 45:11 that God loves them more than they can understand, 45:15 that passion will give you 45:20 that desire to answer a call whenever you are called, 45:26 you will find it. 45:28 You'll count it not a sacrifice, 45:32 but a joy and a privilege. 45:36 Someone asked me when you were 25 years old, 45:40 why did you choose to go to Laos? 45:43 Well, I said, "Because I love the Lord 45:45 with all my heart." 45:47 And as I read Isaiah 6:8. 45:53 When I say I was called us a young man, 45:56 he said, "Here am I, Lord, send me." 46:00 And I responded, when God called me. 46:04 When you love the Lord with all your heart, 46:07 your passion will make you 46:11 to get even married, 46:14 when you are not ready. 46:17 Thank you so much, Pangans. 46:18 When the call was called, was passed on to me. 46:22 A telegram was sent, 46:24 get married now, wife follows. 46:30 I was not engaged. 46:32 But the Lord made it possible 46:34 that after a long, long struggle, 46:39 my girlfriend finally consented 46:43 that we would get married 60 years ago. 46:47 Amen. 46:49 Then 10 days after we were married, 46:52 we were separated. 46:54 I left her to finish her college. 46:57 One more semester, 46:58 I went to Laos and learn to love the Lao, 47:03 the Hmong people, 47:04 although I did not speak the language at the time, 47:07 but your passion for the Lord will make it possible for you 47:12 to learn a language. 47:15 Your passion for the Lord 47:16 will help you to be even a jungle doctor, 47:20 to be a jungle dentist. 47:22 I didn't have any training 47:24 but as a fine instrument in God's hand, 47:27 God made it all, to give... 47:31 I mean, to God, be the glory, the honor, 47:35 the praise for what young people can do 47:38 when they respond to God's call. 47:40 Amen. 47:41 And I just wanna make an appeal. 47:44 Even at this time, 47:45 I'm gonna invite my family on stage. 47:49 And I'm gonna make an appeal for young people. 47:52 This message was not just a message 47:55 to make you feel inspired, 47:57 but we still have so much work to do, 48:00 there's so many people unreached, 48:03 so many in this world. 48:06 I remember getting an email 48:08 from Adventist Frontier Missions. 48:10 Have you guys heard of that ministry? 48:12 I was reading at all the unreached groups, 48:15 and I was crying. 48:17 And the Lord just reveals me, 48:19 "You were once on that list." 48:24 But a young person came, 48:27 he came to reach us. 48:30 Why can't we go, GYC? 48:33 Why can't we go all the way 48:36 so that Jesus can come home? 48:38 You know, we could go home to Jesus. 48:41 Turkey has 76 million people 48:44 and 28 Adventists. 48:49 Mali is the size of California and Texas combined 48:53 and there's only one church. 48:56 Why can't we go? 48:58 What's holding us back? 49:00 Some of you need to change your priorities. 49:02 And as I want, 49:03 I just wanna make an appeal to you, young people, 49:05 if you been touched by my testimony, 49:08 I want you to come forward. 49:10 I want you to say "God, use me, allow me." 49:16 Have you even let God ask you the question? 49:21 If you will go, 49:24 as my family sings this special song of appeal, 49:28 and you feel convicted to come forward 49:30 we wanna scan you, scan your badges, 49:33 and get you connected. 49:35 Please come forward. 49:37 We want to connect you 49:39 and we want to send young people. 49:42 We need to go. 49:54 I dreamed I went to heaven 49:58 And you were there with me 50:02 We walked upon the streets of gold 50:06 Beside the crystal sea 50:10 We heard the angels singing 50:14 Then someone called your name 50:18 You turned and saw the young man 50:20 He was smiling 50:23 as he came 50:26 And he said, "Friend you may not know me now" 50:32 And then he said 50:33 "Wait You used to teach my Sunday school 50:39 When I was only eight 50:43 And every week you would say a prayer 50:47 Before the class would start 50:51 And one day when you said that prayer 50:54 I asked Jesus 50:56 in my heart" 51:00 Thank you 51:04 For giving to the Lord 51:09 I am the life 51:11 That was changed 51:16 Thank you 51:20 For giving to the Lord 51:25 I am so glad you gave 51:31 Then another man stood before you 51:36 And said, "Remember the time" 51:40 A missionary came to your church 51:42 And his pictures made you cry 51:47 You didn't have much money 51:50 But you gave it any way 51:55 Jesus took the gift you gave 51:58 And that's why I'm here today 52:04 Thank you 52:07 For giving to the Lord 52:12 I am the life that was changed 52:19 Thank you 52:23 For giving to the Lord 52:28 I am so glad you gave 52:35 One by one they came 52:38 Far as the eye could see 52:42 Each life somehow touched 52:45 By your generosity 52:50 Little things that you have done 52:53 Sacrifices made 52:57 Unnoticed here on earth 53:00 In heaven now proclaimed 53:06 And I know up in heaven 53:10 You're not supposed to cry 53:13 But I'm almost sure 53:17 There were tears in your eyes 53:21 As Jesus took your hand 53:24 And you stood before the Lord 53:28 He said my child look around you 53:32 For great is your reward 53:39 Thank you 53:43 For giving to the Lord 53:48 I am the life that was changed 53:55 Thank you 53:58 For giving to the Lord 54:03 I am so glad you gave 54:10 Thank you 54:13 For giving to the Lord 54:18 I am the life that was changed 54:25 Thank you 54:29 For giving to the Lord 54:34 I am so glad you gave 54:45 I am so glad you gave |
Revised 2019-04-08