Participants:
Series Code: GYC
Program Code: GYC190004S
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00:32 First person I want to introduce to you
00:34 is Maha. 00:36 Maha, tell me where are you from 00:38 and what do you currently do for work. 00:42 So, I'm Syrian originally, 00:44 and I work as a caseworker and sponsorship developer 00:48 at Kentucky Refugee Ministries. 00:51 As a caseworker, 00:52 what are you doing for refugees? 00:55 So I outreach to churches, faith community groups, 01:00 organizations to co-sponsor our families 01:03 for the first three months of their resettlement. 01:07 So you help families get integrated 01:09 and assimilated into the American culture, 01:13 especially for the refugees who recently arrived. 01:18 Recently, in the past year, 01:20 there's been five or so families from the Congo. 01:25 Can you tell me a little bit more about 01:29 what did you learn 01:30 once you knew more about these families? 01:33 So I received the arrival information 01:35 of five families who are Seventh-day Adventists 01:39 who were supposed to arrive to Louisville, 01:41 and then I looked and searched the Internet 01:44 and I found some Seventh-day Adventist churches here. 01:47 So I outreached to them by showing up on Sabbath 01:51 unexpectedly to Middle Town Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 01:54 and I talked to some members of the congregation 01:57 who actually warmly welcomed me 02:00 and I asked him to co-sponsor one of these families. 02:03 So Maha works for a nonprofit organization 02:06 that helps refugees get resettled, 02:09 but she quickly learned 02:11 that they were all Seventh-day Adventist refugees. 02:14 So then you went and knocked on these churches' doors 02:20 by showing up on the Sabbath. 02:22 You did some research. 02:24 You connected with a local church. 02:26 And then they invited her to a board meeting 02:29 in which they approved to sponsor a family. 02:35 Praise the Lord. 02:36 And that's how I got connected to you 02:38 because when I was praying 02:40 about how can we reach Louisville, 02:43 I was talking to the local churches, 02:45 and one church said, 02:47 "We have a contact. 02:49 We want to connect you with Maha." 02:52 So this week, 02:53 what happened in the homes of three refugee families? 02:58 So I went with this amazing group of people 03:02 who I'm really honored to know, every one of them. 03:06 They've been to the houses or three Congolese families, 03:09 Seventh-day Adventists. 03:10 They've been cleaning, fixing stuff in the house, 03:14 buying things for them, 03:16 vacuum cleaners, fans, lamplight. 03:20 I'm so amazed by the enthusiasm, the energy, 03:24 the honesty that I've experienced. 03:28 This is a rich experience for me more than for them. 03:32 And thank you so much for doing that. 03:34 You're really making this world a better place. 03:37 Thank you. 03:41 So if you look at the screens, 03:44 we can show a few of the photos 03:45 of what the young people did. 03:47 This is a photo of one single mother, 03:52 and this is some of the photos of what happened, 03:56 and we cleaned very practically, 04:01 it wasn't very difficult. 04:03 We just did the task at hand. 04:06 And then we also dropped 8,000 tote bags 04:11 throughout the whole city of Louisville, 04:13 asking for donations to give to refugees 04:17 that would benefit the refugees that you serve. 04:20 So these five Congolese refugees 04:23 will greatly benefit by the outreach 04:26 that we're doing tomorrow 04:28 when you guys go pick up those tote bags back up. 04:33 Now on to my next interview, 04:35 I just wanted to share about more 04:38 about how we can serve using our hands and feet. 04:41 So who are you and how did you get involved? 04:45 My name is Ostap 04:46 and we have a ministry called Build and Restore, 04:49 and we have something 04:50 that we like to share with people. 04:51 It's called physical evangelism, 04:53 how we can work with our hands and feet 04:55 and practically coming 04:57 to support our local churches or schools 05:00 and places of community impact. 05:03 So if we can cue on some of the photos 05:05 of the young people fixing a local church 05:11 that needed a lot of TLC, tender, love and care, 05:16 this is a before and this is the after. 05:20 Complete transformation. 05:22 What's been your experience when you transform churches? 05:27 We have seen 05:28 that not only the building itself 05:30 but the people that are involved, 05:33 the volunteers, the staff at the church 05:36 as well as the members, 05:37 they are impacted again and again 05:39 as they come to a church building 05:41 that's now fresh and clean 05:43 and ready to receive the community. 05:47 As we build our local church, 05:49 it reminds us of our own task to reach out to the community. 05:54 Thank you so much, Ostap, for the work that you're doing. 05:58 Amen. 06:01 Our last, my last interviewee, 06:05 where are you from 06:06 and how many GYCs have you been to? 06:09 Hi, so my name is Tiffany. 06:11 This is my very first GYC and I'm from Orlando, Florida. 06:17 So it was your first time to GYC. 06:20 And you decided to come to a pre-conference. 06:24 What have you learned in your experience coming here? 06:27 Wow. 06:29 Well, there's so much I have learned. 06:31 But I do want to say 06:32 that out of all the years that I have been an Adventist, 06:36 I never knew that there were young people 06:39 such as these who cared so much 06:41 and wanted to serve God so willingly. 06:44 So I just want to thank God for that. 06:46 And just service I was so humbled 06:50 to be a part of this group, 06:51 each young person on this stage 06:53 brought a special dynamic to our mission trip 06:57 and we were able to accomplish so much 06:59 in such a short period of time. 07:03 I see there is a hot pink trash bin 07:05 next to you. 07:07 Can you explain what that's all about? 07:10 Yes. 07:11 Okay, so this trash bin will be placed 07:15 at local Seventh-day Adventist churches 07:17 in the community 07:19 and they will be placed there 07:21 so families who want to donate their tote bags 07:26 can place them in these trash bins 07:30 because we may not be able to reach 07:32 all of the doors tomorrow. 07:35 Yes, so tomorrow, outreach is going to be... 07:38 Outreach Training is going to start at 10:30. 07:41 What time? 10:30. 07:44 So that means you need to be here by 10:15. 07:48 And before you come 07:49 on the Outreach Training right here, 07:53 please use the restroom first 07:56 and you also 08:00 if you are not going on Outreach, 08:02 you need to stay in the hall 08:03 until everybody has left for Outreach. 08:07 We hope to see you. 08:09 We're excited to go back into the community 08:11 to serve it willingly 08:13 and to benefit refugees in Louisville. 08:17 Blessings. 08:33 What was he thinking 08:36 That day 08:42 Throwing himself 08:44 In the way 08:50 The death decree Was meant for me 08:54 I should've been on that tree 08:58 The Son of God 09:01 Was slain 09:06 He took my sins away 09:10 And saved me by His grace 09:14 He could've called Thousands of angels 09:17 But instead 09:20 In our sins died for me 09:23 Nailed to a cross on Calvary 09:27 Spotless was He born 09:31 And spotless was 09:33 He turned for me 09:36 He gave me His life 09:39 Despite the pain and strive 09:45 Besides the thorns 09:46 And the hands so scarred 09:49 A countenance That's been so marred 09:53 Blood and water from His side 09:57 Because he died 09:59 Of a broken heart 10:06 But King of kings calls us 10:09 Friend 10:14 Endured the Christ 10:16 Till the end 10:21 He thought of the reward 10:23 He thought of you 10:25 Gave the power to choose 10:29 He is the life giving bread 10:37 He borrowed all our sins 10:41 Wouldn't let the devil win 10:44 He could've called Thousands of angels 10:47 But instead 10:50 In our sins died for me 10:53 Nailed to a cross on Calvary 10:58 Spotless was He born 11:02 And spotless was 11:03 He turned for me 11:06 He gave me His life 11:09 Despite the pain and strive 11:15 Besides the thorns And the hands so scarred 11:19 A countenance That's been so marred 11:23 Blood and water from His side 11:27 Because He died 11:29 Of a broken heart 11:36 He knelt in Gethsemane 11:40 He thought of you and me 11:43 His mind was set Only go forward 11:47 I want to bring My children upward 11:51 No more suffering, no more pain 11:55 For you I'm glad to save 12:03 I died for you 12:06 Beaten bad and blue 12:10 Spotless was I was born 12:14 And Spotless was I turned for you 12:18 I gave you My life 12:21 Despite the pain and strive 12:27 Besides knowing Most would just reject me 12:31 Knowing My children would not accept Me 12:35 But knowing I'd be with my bride 12:39 I chose to die 12:45 In our since died for me 12:49 Nailed to a cross on Calvary 12:54 Spotless was he born 12:58 And Spotless was He turned for me 13:02 He gave me His life 13:06 Despite the pain and strive 13:12 Besides the thorns And the hands so scarred 13:17 A countenance That's been so marred 13:21 Blood and water from His side 13:25 Because He died 13:27 Of a broken heart 13:33 Because He died 13:35 Of a broken heart 13:42 He chose to die 13:44 Of a broken heart. 14:15 Can we say aloud amen 14:18 to that beautiful message in song? 14:20 Amen. 14:22 One of the verses 14:23 that we were claiming this morning 14:25 as we gathered together in the prayer room at 5:45 14:30 was this beautiful verse in Luke 11:13, 14:33 "If you then, being evil, 14:35 know how to give good gifts to your children, 14:37 how much more shall your Heavenly Father 14:39 give the Holy Spirit for them that ask Him!" 14:42 Friends, a lot of peoples' lives 14:44 have been changed in the prayer room 14:46 and one of those friends 14:47 I call her not my friend right now 14:49 but my sister, 14:51 as her life has been changed in the prayer room 14:52 is my sister Meztli. 14:54 How many times have you been in GYC? 14:56 So this would be my third year here. 14:58 Why do you keep on coming back to GYC? 15:00 What is your favorite part of GYC? 15:02 United prayer. 15:03 No doubt about it. 15:05 Yes, we might spare 15:06 a couple of minutes in the morning, 15:08 but you come out of there feeling so blessed. 15:11 Tell them about what you have told me 15:13 how United Prayer or how intercessory prayer 15:16 changed your life. 15:17 Of course. 15:19 So three years ago, 15:20 I was a very lukewarm Christian. 15:23 I had made decisions that took me away from God, 15:26 so far away 15:28 that when I came to my first GYC, 15:31 I didn't feel like I belong here. 15:32 I felt a hypocrite. 15:34 I felt fake. 15:36 And soon on onward, 15:39 I started getting spiritual warfare. 15:42 Everything that could go wrong went wrong. 15:45 It was so bad 15:46 that I wasn't only ready to leave GYC 15:49 but I was ready to leave the church. 15:51 I wanted to tap out. 15:52 But in those dark moments, 15:54 Jesus reached out to me and I was convicted, 15:57 and I realized that the only way 15:59 that we could overcome was through prayer. 16:02 So I ran, I bolted. 16:04 I bolted to the prayer room. 16:06 And at that moment I saw Gem and I begged for some prayer. 16:10 I just knew that that was something 16:11 that I could not do alone. 16:13 Soon on after intercessory prayer started, 16:16 and I can tell you, after that date, 16:19 after that last Amen, 16:21 I was reminded of who I belong to, 16:23 the King of kings, my Father, 16:25 and He promised me that there was so much more 16:28 and that that identity of being a hypocrite 16:30 He could change. 16:32 Amen. 16:34 So what happened to you afterwards? 16:35 Yeah, so a huge transformation. 16:38 I let a lot of things go. 16:39 I had to be all in for Jesus. 16:41 I soon started volunteering for the Pathfinders 16:43 and Adventurers group at my local church. 16:45 And not only that 16:47 but recently we have a small movement 16:48 going on with young-adults 16:50 as the Seventh-day Adventist Church 16:52 back in Milwaukee. 16:53 Wow. 16:54 So I know that some of the people here 16:56 that the Lord has brought to GYC 16:58 at the same situation 16:59 like you were in three years ago, 17:01 by the way, friends, three years ago, 17:03 this is not the same person 17:04 that I'm spending time with right now. 17:06 It's a totally different person. 17:08 So what is your message for them? 17:09 Yes. 17:10 So if anyone is feeling in those same shoes, 17:14 if you have one foot in, one foot out, 17:16 if you are doubting your faith, if you feel like, 17:19 "No, I shouldn't have come here at GYC," 17:21 let me tell you, you are not alone. 17:24 I welcome you to open your hearts 17:25 and let Jesus come in. 17:27 Please come to prayer. 17:29 And it's okay for you to ask for help. 17:31 Look around you, look to the person next to you. 17:34 We can pray for you and we can intercede with you 17:36 and I promise you not only did God change me 17:40 but He can change you as well. 17:41 Amen. 17:43 From the person who needed prayer 17:44 is now the one giving prayer. 17:46 Amen. 17:47 So this time we'll spend only a few seconds of prayer 17:52 while my sister Abigail and my brother Austin 17:55 will lead us into a song. 17:56 Please sing with us 17:58 and let's spend a few seconds in prayer. 18:01 Let's be on our knees. 18:09 Please join us. 18:11 Oh my God 18:14 Let me see Your Strength 18:17 In moments I can't feel You 18:24 Oh my God Let me know the length 18:29 Your power and mercy go to. 18:35 Grant me the victory That's not in my hand 18:41 I'll trust You To help me to stand. 18:51 Yes, Dear Father, we cannot do it without You. 18:54 So, Lord, I pray 18:56 that You please pour Your spirit upon us. 18:59 Help us to cling upon You, 19:00 help us to run to You 19:01 the way that woman ran to Jesus 19:05 and touched the hem of His garment. 19:07 Give us the courage. 19:09 Give us the strength to reach out. 19:11 We ask this in the name of Jesus, amen. 19:15 Grant me the victory That's not in my hands 19:21 I'll trust you To help me to stand. 19:27 Amen. 19:53 I've tried to stand my ground 19:56 I've tried to understand 19:59 But I can't seem to find 20:01 My faith again 20:06 Like water on the sand 20:09 Or grasping at the wind 20:12 I keep on falling short 20:17 So please be my strength 20:23 Please be my strength 20:28 'Cause I don't have any more 20:33 I don't have any more 20:52 I'm looking for a place 20:55 Where I can plant my faith 20:58 One thing I know for sure 21:03 That I cannot create it 21:06 And I cannot sustain it 21:09 It's Your love That's keeping me 21:14 So please be my strength 21:20 Please be my strength 21:25 I don't have any more 21:30 I don't have any more 21:37 And at my final breath 21:40 I hope that I can say 21:43 I fought The good fight of faith 21:48 I pray your glory shine 21:50 In this doubting heart of mine 21:53 And all would know 21:56 That You 21:59 You are my strength 22:05 You are my strength 22:10 You and you alone 22:15 You keep bringing me back home 22:20 O 22:22 You are my strength 22:28 You are my strength 22:32 You and You alone 22:37 Keep bringing me back home 22:43 It's You and You alone 22:49 You keep bringing me back home. 23:17 Good evening, GYC. 23:20 I hope that you had a major blessing 23:23 at the seminars today 23:26 and that you're ready for Outreach tomorrow. 23:28 Amen. Amen. 23:29 Amen. 23:34 Young people, rightly trained, 23:38 can change the world. 23:40 Amen. 23:41 Do you believe this? 23:42 I believe that education is paramount 23:45 to the success of our church. 23:47 The Seventh-day Adventist church 23:49 has associations 23:51 with over 8,500 educational institutions 23:55 with over 1.95 million students across the world. 24:02 You can believe in those statistics, 24:03 I got them straight from Wikipedia. 24:07 Of all the churches in the world 24:09 that we have the largest network 24:11 of educational institutions 24:13 behind only the Catholic Church. 24:15 But, friends, numbers are not enough. 24:18 We have a mission. 24:20 The true objective of education is to restore 24:23 the image of God in the soul, 24:26 and working within education, 24:28 I see just how difficult this can be. 24:31 This is something that we cannot do 24:33 in our own strength. 24:35 Many months back in preparing for this message, 24:38 I came across a quote 24:40 by the great German reformer Martin Luther. 24:45 He says, "I am much afraid 24:47 that the universities will prove 24:51 to be the great gates of hell, 24:55 unless they diligently labor 24:57 in explaining the Holy Scriptures 24:59 and engraving them in the hearts of the youth. 25:01 I advise no one's to places 25:03 child where the scriptures do not reign paramount. 25:06 Every institution in which men are not unceasingly occupied 25:10 with the word of God shall become corrupt." 25:15 From the title for this evening's message 25:17 is The Great Gates of Hell. 25:21 Let's pray. 25:22 Father in heaven, we pray for Your presence, 25:25 for Your spirit and for Your power. 25:27 In Jesus name, amen. 25:31 I believe that Adventism 25:32 is where identity can be found in the three angels' message, 25:35 the everlasting gospel. 25:37 Can you say amen? 25:39 You cannot discuss the history nor the present of our church 25:43 without this chapter. 25:44 It is absolutely fundamental to who we are, 25:46 to what we are, to when we are, and why we are. 25:50 And I think that we will do our best 25:52 that putting it to memory 25:54 for it is in the first angel's message 25:56 when the words, "Fear God and give Him the glory 25:58 for the hour of His judgment has come" 26:00 that Josiah Fitch was awakened, 26:03 that William Miller was given added impetus 26:05 to preach the message of the Lord, 26:08 and that the hand that heralded the birth 26:10 of the great Advent movement. 26:13 Ellen White stated 26:14 that the theme of greatest importance 26:17 is the third angels' message, 26:19 embracing the messages of the first and second angels, 26:23 all should understand the truths 26:24 contained in these messages 26:26 and demonstrate them in the daily life 26:28 for they are, listen to this, 26:29 essential to salvation. 26:33 What does this have to do with education? 26:36 For Sister White says 26:37 that the true objective of education 26:39 is to restore the image of God in the soul. 26:43 That is the gospel. 26:46 The third angel's message is not a complex one. 26:48 It is about receiving the seal of God in the mind. 26:52 It is about the mind being transformed 26:54 into the very mind of Christ 26:57 and that, my friends, is also the work of education. 27:01 It was envisioned in 1872 that Ellen White wrote it 27:05 comprehends speaking of education, 27:07 the practice of temperance of godliness, 27:10 of brotherly kindness 27:12 and love to God and to one another. 27:14 And in order to attain this object, 27:16 the physical, the mental, the moral, 27:19 and religious education of children 27:21 must have attention. 27:24 Friends, I hope that this is not new to you, 27:26 but I fear that it might be. 27:28 The purpose of education 27:31 and the purpose of school is to save souls, 27:36 your soul, your friend's soul, 27:38 your classmate's soul, your teachers' soul, 27:40 and your community's soul. 27:43 God can save by few or by many, 27:46 but He has blessed us 27:47 with such educational institutions 27:50 because His desire is to save by many. 27:54 This is why the very first Adventist schools were erected 27:57 with this missionary focus. 28:00 Yes, they offer language courses, 28:02 of course, so that you could communicate 28:03 the gospel effectively. 28:05 Did they offer practical trade training? 28:07 Yes, so that you can support yourself in the gospel work. 28:11 Adventist education had a focus, 28:14 a mission, a theme, 28:16 with such an army of workers as our youth, 28:19 rightly trained, 28:20 might furnish how soon the message 28:22 of a crucified risen 28:23 and soon coming Savior 28:25 might be carried to the whole world. 28:28 Friends, I ask you, does that exist today? 28:31 Do our schools bear the name of this God given movement? 28:35 Do they still have this philosophy 28:37 built into the dorms? 28:39 Does it bring focus to the classroom? 28:41 Does it unite the student body in mission? 28:43 I fear that at times it does not. 28:47 The quote that I just read concludes 28:49 how soon might come the end, 28:51 the end of suffering and of sin. 28:54 But it seems to me 28:56 that sometimes the goal of education 28:58 looks like it's not to get rid of sin 29:00 and bring this world to an end 29:01 but rather to make 29:03 our experience in it more comfortable. 29:06 As the great reformer Langston once said, 29:07 "Religion cannot be maintained without schools." 29:12 And if you're on the opinion 29:13 that the church may be struggling then 29:15 by default, 29:16 our educational institutions cannot be reaching 29:19 the goals and standards that heaven desires. 29:24 A brief history, mind you, 29:25 is littered with great schools 29:27 that eventually lost their greatness, 29:29 some of which don't even exist anymore. 29:32 If you trace the lines through history, 29:34 if you look at places such as Battle Creek, 29:36 if you look at Madison, 29:38 if you go even before the Advent movement 29:39 and look at Bible schools such as Oberlin College, 29:42 and a little further back, even Harvard, 29:44 you will see a pattern and a trend. 29:48 When these educational institutions 29:50 ceased in making the scriptures their core textbook, 29:53 God's blessing upon them also slowly ceased. 29:57 Friends, when sociology begins to trump 30:00 theology, 30:01 we are sliding down the slipperiest of slopes. 30:04 Over time, 30:06 many of our great Protestant universities 30:08 dispelled their Christian undertones 30:10 in favor of funding an worldly acclamation. 30:15 In Testimonies volume five, 30:16 we're told that the Lord never designed 30:18 that our colleges should imitate 30:20 other institutions of learning, 30:22 the religious elements 30:23 should be the controlling power. 30:27 Friends, a true Christian school 30:28 not only has the Bible in its curriculum 30:30 Bible principles of the guise of the student's life 30:33 and the spirit of the Bible 30:35 is the sole inspiration of the school. 30:37 The school must be more than a place 30:40 for the distribution of information. 30:44 We're told that the world does not need 30:46 so much men of great intellect as much noble character. 30:51 Sister White says 30:52 that character building is the most important work 30:55 ever entrusted to human beings. 31:00 What the world I believe needs to see today 31:03 is the power of the gospel. 31:05 And that is most clearly seen 31:07 when the character of Jesus Christ 31:09 is reproduced in His people. 31:12 But to what end 31:14 does our education work towards today? 31:17 Very often, I believe 31:19 it is towards the uplifting of self. 31:21 We usually go to school not for the Lord 31:24 but for ourselves. 31:26 The focus shifts from salvation to success. 31:30 Friends, I believe that success in heaven 31:32 looks very different to success on earth. 31:39 Friends, I believe 31:41 that God wants to bless our institutions, 31:44 but heaven places no value in worldly success. 31:46 It cares not about our cause or our homes. 31:50 It cares not about our income or our status, 31:52 its agencies are moved 31:54 no more for those that have PhD's 31:56 than those that have never been to school. 31:59 Heaven places value in character. 32:04 That's why it's the only thing we're going to take with us. 32:07 Jesus Christ came to set us free 32:10 from the bondage and slavery of sin. 32:12 But so often we enslave ourselves to wealth 32:15 and material things, 32:16 when a fire is coming, friends, 32:17 that is so hot 32:19 that not even the purest gold will stand in its place. 32:23 And if you think 32:24 that perhaps we do have the right focus, 32:26 let me ask you a question, 32:28 with all of the Adventist young people 32:30 we have in schools, 32:32 how many Adventist businesses are we producing? 32:37 You tell me 32:38 whether we are truly educating people 32:40 to take forward the work of the Lord 32:43 or whether we are just teaching them 32:44 how to make money for the world. 32:47 Character is to be the focus 32:49 of our educational institutions, 32:52 character. 32:53 My fear though is that on many grounds, 32:55 academics is beginning to trump discipleship. 33:00 I remember being in church 33:01 and witnessing the return of one of my friends 33:03 after they had spent four years in school, 33:05 they come back with a degree, 33:07 pulled up to the front of the sanctuary 33:08 and given a rousing applause 33:10 because they have found success. 33:13 The problem though and I know this 33:14 because they told me this 33:16 is that in the same place they found success, 33:18 they lost Christ. 33:21 Friends, it is no victory to achieve worldly status 33:25 and miss out on a heavenly one. 33:29 What about the students 33:30 that leave to secular universities 33:32 and they drop out 33:33 because they just see 33:35 they can't maintain their faith, 33:36 they're not strong enough yet, 33:37 and they come home 33:39 and they sit at the back of the church, 33:40 where's their applause? 33:42 Friends, their applause is in heaven. 33:45 I believe it is the responsibility 33:47 of our schools to place character building 33:49 at the very epicenter of all that they do. 33:52 But for some, what matters most is money 33:56 that we need to keep the school afloat. 34:00 Friends, with all due respect, 34:02 those that have money 34:04 are not keeping our schools afloat. 34:07 God is keeping our schools afloat. 34:10 If we have schools 34:12 still standing in today's world, 34:13 it is not 34:14 just because of the hard work of staff 34:16 and it is not just because of the investment 34:17 of some of our faithful members. 34:19 It stands because God holds it up. 34:22 It stands because He believes 34:23 that they can still be effective training centers 34:25 for our young people today. 34:27 But if all we look at our enrollment numbers 34:29 and financial standings and grades, 34:31 friends, we completely missed 34:32 the point of Adventist education. 34:36 It is not the Lord's will 34:37 that our schools be so academically rigorous 34:40 that one cannot find time for prayer, 34:42 that one spiritual life is crowded out 34:44 by textbook and papers, 34:46 that degrees and diplomas are put before devotion 34:50 and dedication to the cause of Christ. 34:53 We must understand 34:54 that whilst it is admirable 34:56 to have a large number of institutions 34:57 across the world 34:59 to have graduates becoming doctors 35:00 and working for large firms if we have failed, 35:04 if we have not given them everything in ensuring 35:07 that when our young people leave our schools, 35:10 they do so with the strongest relationship 35:12 with Jesus that is possible to them. 35:15 Can we win every soul? Of course not. 35:17 But not even Jesus wins every soul. 35:20 That's not the goal. 35:23 The goal is to make an effort for every soul. 35:26 And so to my fellow educators, I ask you, 35:30 do your students see Jesus in you? 35:33 Are they encouraged to follow Christ, 35:35 not just because of how you teach 35:36 but how you live? 35:38 To my principals and my head teachers, 35:41 do your staff members follow you 35:42 because they know God is leading you? 35:44 Or do they follow you because they're afraid 35:46 if they stand up, they'll lose their position. 35:49 To my presidents and my board members, 35:51 have you analyzed and scrutinized 35:53 every single aspect of the institutions you oversee 35:57 to ensure that this school 35:59 is working towards training young people 36:02 to not just work for God but to live for God. 36:08 Now I don't believe 36:10 that the finger need only be pointed 36:11 at our schools. 36:17 I think maybe we need to point it 36:22 a little closer to home. 36:24 The Bible says in Proverbs, 36:26 "Train up a child in the way that he should go, 36:28 and when he is old, he will not depart from it." 36:32 That is speaking about a child that is being trained 36:34 before he goes to school. 36:36 Solomon is in a sense 36:38 surmising that the success of the school 36:41 first depends on the success of the home. 36:45 It's at home that we are taught to love God. 36:48 It is at home 36:50 that these principles are applied 36:51 on these young growing minds. 36:54 It's every parent's dream 36:56 that a child would truly confess 36:58 their love for God. 37:00 But oftentimes that confession of love comes 37:02 because they have been taught to love. 37:07 Friends, I'm afraid to say 37:09 that homeschooling your children is not enough. 37:13 I appreciate that some mothers and even some fathers 37:16 have given up their jobs and their careers 37:18 to educate their children at home. 37:20 But simply homeschooling is not enough. 37:22 Simply having the child at home 37:24 during hours of schooling is not enough. 37:27 They need attention, they need training, 37:29 and they need the love of God 37:31 and they needed when it is not just convenient 37:33 for their parents. 37:35 Homeschooling 37:36 does not automatically equal righteousness. 37:40 Some of us are so concerned 37:42 with not sending our children to school, 37:45 yet they stay at home 37:47 and all they witness is Mum and Dad 37:48 arguing and fighting 37:50 if they even witness Mom and Dad at all. 37:54 In that case, send them to school. 37:58 It is the responsibility I believe of every parent 38:00 that bears the name of Christ 38:02 to devote themselves 38:04 to the training of their children. 38:06 Listen to what I said, 38:07 the training of their children 38:11 because a lot of parents are out there 38:12 training other people's children 38:14 and expecting the academies to train this. 38:18 The problem is that by the time 38:19 your children get to our academies, 38:21 they're already 14, 15 and 16 years old, 38:24 their characters, their habits, their beings are formed. 38:29 And I'm grateful for a platform such as GYC 38:32 so that something like this only has to be said once. 38:35 Adventist education 38:37 was never meant to come back Adventist homes. 38:41 Our pioneers did not sacrifice everything 38:44 in building these schools 38:45 so that our parents could neglect 38:47 their God given duty of raising a child in the hope 38:50 that an underpaid Adventist teacher 38:52 will pick up the slack. 38:56 I've seen this, I've witnessed it for years, 38:58 I've witnessed as the staff 39:00 that I worked side by side 39:01 with give their lives 39:03 trying to correct the crippling habits 39:05 that have been formed 39:07 because of the negligence in the home. 39:09 The number of young men and women 39:11 that eventually reach our schools 39:13 that are already addicted to movies and music 39:16 and video games is heartbreaking. 39:19 And oftentimes they arrive more wealthy 39:22 than the non-Adventists. 39:24 How did it come to this? 39:26 How did we get to the point 39:27 where we are allowing the Internet 39:28 to raise our children? 39:33 God forbid that it's because we're busy 39:34 doing the Lord's work. 39:36 Raising our children is the Lord's work. 39:40 There's no point being out there 39:42 saving souls when the one soul 39:44 that you're actually responsible for 39:46 is at home 39:48 addicted to movies and pornography. 39:52 Friends, God is not honored 39:54 when we disown our children for the mission field. 40:00 How do we expect our children to grow up 40:02 loving the Lord and His work 40:04 if all we've shown them 40:05 is that the work is more important to us 40:07 than them? 40:09 How will they love the God 40:11 that seemingly stole their parents? 40:15 And I say that knowing how easy it is 40:18 to fall into that temptation 40:20 because it's easy to be up here and preach and baptize, 40:24 but it's at home where the real work is. 40:27 Friends, let me give you some advice 40:28 if this is your problem. 40:30 Leave the mission field. 40:33 The home is your mission field. 40:36 God will supply that mission field's needs. 40:39 But God has already supplied your children's needs. 40:41 He supplied you. 40:44 Children need their parents so much more 40:46 than they need their teachers. 40:48 But so often the teachers are working 40:49 two jobs. 40:52 The Bible says in the 127 Psalm, 40:55 "As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man, 40:58 so children are of the youth." 41:01 Arrows, 41:02 our young people are weapons. 41:05 If the Bible was written today, 41:06 it might even call them bullets. 41:08 They were created, listen to me, 41:10 they were created to do damage. 41:13 Many new parents have recognized this already. 41:16 The children barely begin to walk, 41:17 and they're already doing damage in the home. 41:21 But it makes sense. 41:22 Our children and our students, our young people, 41:25 you young people are weapons. 41:28 This is why we're told that we have an army of youth 41:33 because we're going to war, 41:34 and one needs weapons when we go to war. 41:36 And I love this analogy 41:38 because I don't know how many of you have fired 41:40 an arrow or shot a bullet, 41:42 but you would have realized that once its set out, 41:46 it rarely changes course. 41:49 You don't see an arrow just shoot out of a bow 41:51 and then eventually take a 90 degree turn 41:53 because it felt like it. 41:55 Arrows go where we aim them bullets go where we aim them. 42:01 And so do young people. 42:03 They hit whatever they're aimed at. 42:06 You don't aim them, they go nowhere. 42:09 And it makes no sense to be pointing them 42:11 towards secularism 42:12 and then just be completely shocked 42:14 when they turn out secular. 42:17 That's where we pointed them. 42:19 The harsh reality 42:21 is that many of our young people 42:22 have left the Lord 42:24 because that's where we shot them. 42:28 They left oftentimes 42:31 not because of the lack of spirituality 42:32 in the church 42:34 but because of the lack of spirituality 42:35 at home. 42:36 The results of Daddy always being at meetings 42:39 and on visitations 42:40 but no time for his sons or daughters. 42:43 The results of Mummy 42:44 being so concerned with cleanliness 42:46 because someone told her 42:48 that cleanliness is next to godliness, 42:50 and she hasn't realized 42:51 that it's the hearts of her children 42:53 that are filthy. 42:57 It's the result of our parents being so conservative 43:01 that we as young people are far more concerned 43:03 with not sinning 43:05 than we always having a relationship with Christ. 43:07 It's the result of our parents being so liberal 43:09 that we think we can just come to Him 43:11 whenever and however we like. 43:15 And then the cherry on this horrible cake 43:20 is the parental pressure to achieve academic success. 43:24 This could be a whole sermon. 43:26 And, parents, please don't think 43:28 this is for someone else. 43:29 It might be for you and young people. 43:31 It might be 43:32 for how you're going to grow up. 43:33 I appreciate the parental desire 43:36 for children to do well in life, 43:37 to prosper and be in good health, 43:39 that's the Lord's will also. 43:42 But when we are extinguishing our children's missionary zeal 43:46 so that we can vicariously live through them 43:48 and take glory in their academic achievements 43:51 to make it feel 43:52 as though we have just rendered some success. 43:54 We have robbed the Lord of a gospel worker. 43:59 I might not make too many friends 44:01 for this statement. 44:02 But young people, your life is not your own, 44:04 but it is also not your parents. 44:08 Obey your parents in the Lord. 44:11 It is your duty to first and foremost follow 44:15 the voice of your God. 44:19 Friends, if we get the home wrong, 44:21 we get the schools wrong. 44:22 If we get the schools wrong, we get the church wrong. 44:24 And I know 44:25 that there are parents out there 44:27 giving their all, 44:28 giving every ounce of their being 44:30 to do all they can to raise children 44:31 in the fear of the Lord. 44:32 God is with you. 44:34 There are single parents out there, 44:36 some divorced, some widowed. 44:38 God is with you. 44:40 This is not an attack. 44:41 This is an alarm. 44:43 It is an alarm that we cannot keep pressing 44:45 the snooze button on. 44:47 And I am pleading with our parents 44:49 and with our educators, 44:50 please take the time to love your young people 44:55 because in my history of being in education, 44:57 that's the one thing that I've seen 44:59 the most broken young people 45:02 because they have not really experienced love. 45:09 Friends, it's my greatest desire 45:12 to see revival and reformation on our Adventist campuses. 45:18 We have some institutions 45:20 that have thousands of students. 45:22 Imagine the work that can be done. 45:24 But, friends, revival does not just happen. 45:26 Revival is not random. 45:28 We do not believe in a random. 45:29 We are creationists. 45:30 We believe in purpose. 45:32 And we believe in design. 45:33 We believe in intentionality. 45:36 And I believe that something has institutionalized 45:39 as education needs not just revival 45:42 from the bottom down but from the top up. 45:47 Friends, it's not easy being a leader, 45:50 especially in the realms of education. 45:52 You are surrounded by vastly intelligent people 45:57 with great ideas and philosophies 45:59 and sometimes their own agendas. 46:01 I pray daily for revival and reformation 46:03 among the leaders of our institutes. 46:08 But allow me to interject this. 46:10 On the slight chance that school principals, 46:12 board members, and department heads 46:15 might catch this message, 46:16 our schools do not belong to you. 46:19 They belong to God. 46:21 It is your responsibility 46:23 to sit down with the scriptures, 46:24 with your staff members, with the Spirit of Prophecy 46:27 and ask yourself the hard questions. 46:28 Ask yourself 46:30 if the institutions you are a part of 46:31 are leading 46:33 or following the light that God has given us. 46:35 Is the Bible the main textbook? 46:37 And I don't mean is it just in the classroom. 46:39 I mean is it being taught in the classes 46:41 and not just Bible classes. 46:43 Are you using the Bible to teach your math classes, 46:45 to teach your science classes, to teach your English classes? 46:50 Is the education that we give our young people 46:52 actually practical? 46:54 Will it benefit their lives 46:56 because most students are ever learning 46:58 but never come to a truly learning of truth. 47:04 Friends, I fear for our young people 47:06 because I see them all the time. 47:09 I see the stress, I see the pain, 47:12 I see the struggle. 47:14 Sometimes our courses and our curriculum 47:16 are so challenging 47:18 and rigorous academically 47:19 that we leave no vital energy left 47:23 for the students to spend in places 47:24 like the garden, 47:27 the greatest travesty 47:28 that we see agricultural studies 47:30 slowly being weeded out of our curriculum. 47:34 We have robbed our students of a vastly practical education 47:38 and told them that the most merit is found 47:40 in how much information they can memorize 47:42 and regurgitate 47:44 from their professor's PowerPoint slides. 47:47 What happened to not just reflecting 47:49 another man's thoughts? 47:51 What happened to teaching our young people 47:53 to think for themselves? 47:56 Friends, are we producing gospel workers, 47:59 are we producing medical missionaries? 48:01 Or are we just producing pastors and doctors 48:04 because there's a difference. 48:07 I challenge those of you that sit a top 48:09 of these educational institutions 48:11 to come down a little, 48:13 analyze from the bottom up and not just the top down. 48:16 Revival is possible in our campuses 48:18 if that's what all of us desire collectively. 48:23 I spoke earlier of the missionary zeal 48:25 that once a company the early days of our schools. 48:29 Friends, I believe 48:30 that this is truly what we need. 48:33 And oftentimes to bring revival onto our campuses, 48:36 maybe where we should shift our focus 48:38 is revival in our communities. 48:41 What do I mean by this? 48:44 For the past two years, the school that I've attended, 48:46 Weimar Institute 48:48 decided that we were going to take 48:49 our shift and our focus off of ourselves 48:52 and onto our surrounding neighborhoods 48:54 and communities. 48:55 We came up with a program called TCI, 48:58 Total Community Involvement. 49:01 It's a great premise, catch this. 49:03 For one half day of the week, every Wednesday afternoon, 49:07 school stops, everything stops, work stops, 49:10 and we go out into the community 49:12 and we work for them 49:13 in whatever realm they want for free. 49:17 Imagine an opportunity 49:18 to be like Jesus for half a day. 49:23 And it is on the campus 49:24 I believe directly as a result 49:26 of the extraneous outreach work that has been done 49:30 that we have experienced revival inwardly. 49:33 Is there room for growth? Of course. 49:38 But as Ellen White said, 49:39 "The early church oftentimes forgot 49:41 that strength to resist evil 49:42 is best gained through aggressive service." 49:47 Friends, I know 49:48 that not all of you are students, 49:50 not all of you are students in Adventist institutions, 49:52 but wherever you are, this is for you. 49:54 Strength to resist evil is best gained 49:58 through aggressive service 50:00 and so I implore you to serve God 50:02 with all of your heart. 50:05 And to my friends and fellow young people 50:07 holding up the banner in secular universities, 50:10 God is with you. 50:13 Do not forget that the man whose prophecies our church 50:17 is built upon gained His higher education 50:21 in a secular university. 50:23 But please do not believe 50:25 that your calling is any less than the rest of the people 50:28 in Adventist universities. 50:30 Daniel changed the world 50:31 from inside the holes and walls of Babylon 50:35 through making wise choices in social situations 50:39 and spending time in prayer with likeminded friends. 50:44 Friends, we cannot be satisfied with where we are, 50:46 we must go forward. 50:48 We must work for change. 50:49 And as I said last night and I repeat again, 50:52 you can make a difference. 50:54 Your student associations and student leaders 50:57 can make a difference. 50:58 Your small groups and your youth retreats, 51:00 they can make a difference. 51:02 Your conversations in the dorm halls 51:04 and in the cafeteria, 51:05 in the classrooms, they can make a difference. 51:09 And I praise God 51:10 because I know so many out there 51:12 that are making a difference. 51:14 I know so many that are keeping that banner high 51:17 and there are great examples 51:18 and witnesses in the schools in which they study and work. 51:21 Friends, you are doing the Lord's work. 51:24 And we praise God for your faithfulness, 51:26 for your commitment, and for your dedication. 51:29 You are changing lives. 51:31 Your sacrifices are recorded in the books of heaven 51:34 and in the changed lives of the young people 51:36 who have come across your path, but we need more. 51:43 And so, students, we must look at ourselves. 51:48 We must look within. 51:51 Revival will not take place on our campuses 51:54 if it does not first take place in our hearts. 51:59 We must ask ourselves, 52:01 "Why are we even choosing to become students?" 52:07 Because some of our priorities are really messed up. 52:11 There's more to life than a degree. 52:14 There's more to life than a 4.0 as glossy as it may look, 52:19 don't let your 4.0 son for four years of studies 52:22 and zero souls brought to the Lord. 52:27 Even when you're in school, work for Jesus 52:30 because whilst you're in school, 52:32 Jesus is working for you. 52:36 So many of our young people are out here, 52:39 spending their health on achieving wealth 52:41 just to spend their wealth 52:43 on re-achieving health or wasting our time. 52:47 To what end? 52:49 So that we can have careers, 52:51 so that we can have cars and houses, 52:54 so that our cars can drive themselves. 52:56 Give me a break. 53:02 You can have more than that. 53:06 You can have more than silver and gold. 53:08 You can have 53:10 more than glossy paper in a frame. 53:15 Friends, there's openings in the Lord's army. 53:24 Students, I hope you listen to last night's message. 53:27 It only takes one. 53:30 One young soul 53:32 filled with the Holy Spirit to the brim 53:34 to enact the greatest of changes. 53:36 And so I implore you, win your school back, 53:39 don't just say, 53:41 "Well, I'm in the third year or my fourth in studies, 53:42 I'm going to leave eventually. 53:44 What does it matter?" 53:45 It matters the legacy you leave behind. 53:48 It matters that the school that you're in 53:49 is better for you being in it. 53:53 If you feel like your school has strayed 53:55 from the educational blueprint 53:57 that this school has been gifted, 53:58 then do something about it. 54:01 It's too easy to sit there 54:03 under the proverbial pomegranate trees 54:05 and blame everyone else. 54:07 One thing I've learned is simple. 54:09 If you're not willing to do something about it, 54:11 then keep this closed 54:13 because your lackadaisical attitude 54:15 surrenders your right to be critical. 54:19 Friends, we're not alone in our desires. 54:21 I believe that the Lord wants to transform 54:24 our educational institutions. 54:27 A complete transformation. 54:29 God will fight for us. 54:32 So I encourage you to pray for your schools. 54:34 Get together with your friends that are likeminded 54:36 and put together strategic plans 54:38 to implement change. 54:40 Dialogue with your leaders, your presidents, 54:43 your student leadership, your pastors, 54:45 your board members, 54:46 work together to make a difference 54:48 to put mission focused Adventist schools 54:51 back on the map. 54:54 And, friends, if you cannot find a school, 54:56 that is following God's plan, build it. 55:05 It was once an outlandish dream 55:08 that Andrews University campus would exist, 55:12 that Southern University campus would exist, 55:15 that Loma Linda, that Oakwood, 55:17 that Walla Walla, that Unasity, that Spicer would exist, 55:21 that NCU, that Helderberg and Bogen Hoffman 55:23 and Colonche and New Bolden, 55:25 Bermine and Avondale would exist. 55:27 They were pipedreams, but the Lord made them happen. 55:33 Maybe we need more schools. 55:37 So as to why it says if a worldly influence 55:39 is the best way in our school, 55:40 then sell it all to the world leaders 55:42 and let them have the entire control. 55:45 And those that have invested their means 55:47 in those institutions 55:48 will establish another school 55:51 to be conducted 55:52 not upon the plan of popular schools, no, 55:55 according to the desires of principals and teachers 55:57 but upon the plan which God has specified. 56:02 I'm not giving up on our schools. 56:05 But I'm also not willing to sit down and watch 56:08 as we become like other schools. 56:11 Adventist education should be having 56:13 a marked difference in the world. 56:16 And in some places it is, 56:17 but we need to turn that dial up. 56:20 Friends, don't give up on our schools. 56:23 Don't stop praying for them. 56:24 Don't stop supporting 56:25 and don't stop supporting those students. 56:30 We have educators all over the world 56:32 that are giving their lives 56:34 for the gospel through our schools. 56:36 I encourage you to support them. 56:40 And so tonight, I have one appeal 56:42 but for two completely different groups 56:44 of people. 56:46 The first is for our leaders, 56:50 our teachers, our presidents, 56:53 our board members, our pastors, our parents, 56:59 our student leaders, all of our educators, 57:04 show tonight that you too desire 57:06 revival and reformation 57:08 on your campuses and in your homes. 57:12 I don't know what that means for you. 57:14 I don't know whether that means revising curriculum. 57:17 I don't know whether that means 57:18 instituting family worship at home. 57:20 I don't know whether that means 57:21 reevaluating your staff members. 57:23 I don't know whether that means 57:24 completely changing your school. 57:28 But if today 57:30 you're in one of those categories, 57:32 if today you sit here as a leader 57:34 and I know that may not be many, 57:36 this is a youth conference. 57:39 But if you're here, my appeal goes to you. 57:45 If the Spirit of God is speaking to you 57:49 to be a part of a movement 57:51 of revival and reformation in our schools, 57:56 I encourage you to step forward this evening. 58:00 I encourage you to stand here at the front 58:03 and let your presence testify 58:06 to those that are underneath you 58:08 that we are in this work together. 58:18 I stand with you. 58:22 I know the high calling that God places on parents 58:26 and on educators. 58:28 I want you to know that your work is not in vain. 58:32 I believe that if our focus is on revival 58:36 within our schools and within our homes, 58:39 we will be home in no time. 58:42 Our homes and our schools will instead be in heaven, 58:46 a foretaste of Eden, 58:50 a re-taste of Eden. |
Revised 2020-08-14