Participants:
Series Code: HIM
Program Code: HIM001102S
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00:07 Well, we're certainly living in a crisis
00:09 and it's a very volatile time. 00:12 Something is changing every day. 00:14 We have seen supplies and groceries 00:17 run out in supermarkets. 00:19 It's been unbelievable. We need help. 00:23 Child Impact has over 3,500 needy children in India, 00:28 Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Zambia. 00:33 And when the virus 00:35 had cease Adventist mission schools, 00:37 then their challenges will be far bigger than ours. 00:41 And not being able to get toilet paper 00:43 will be the least of their worries. 00:47 In most cases, they are on 00:49 or below the poverty line right now. 00:53 There are huge hygiene issues 00:56 and constantly they lack simple soap 00:59 and as well shortages on the basic food like rice, 01:03 it will rise in costs. 01:05 And the schools 01:06 can hardly afford that cost now. 01:09 We must do something. 01:11 Each year, we have our rice appeal. 01:13 So, this year, it's going to be the rice 01:16 and health appeal. 01:19 We're going to supply bulk rice to the schools, 01:22 ensuring the kids eat and save the school's money. 01:26 And we've done that every year and we appreciate your support. 01:30 We're going to give every child 01:32 and staff on these schools some bars of soap, 01:36 and we're also going to give them 01:38 a health education pamphlet for them and their families. 01:43 Many simply don't wash their hands, 01:46 but in this crisis, 01:48 we must help and try to give some education. 01:52 Fortunately, in most remote areas, 01:55 it has not struck yet, 01:57 but when it does, there will be a huge effect. 02:01 I know we're suffering. 02:02 But at this time, 02:04 could we simply help over 20,000 kids 02:07 and 150 mission schools? 02:10 If it's successful, 02:11 we will widen the support 02:13 to other Adventist mission schools. 02:17 The appeal ensures that the kids are fed 02:20 and saves the school's high expense. 02:23 And it also gives the kids some soap 02:26 and ensuring some basic simple education. 02:31 I know we're in tough times, 02:33 but could you simply help in some small way? 02:36 Please go to our website, 02:38 childimpact.org 02:40 or give us a call on a week day. 02:44 I know it's hurting us, but most of us will survive. 02:48 Could we please try and help these kids? 03:03 Well, here I am 03:05 at the Kellogg-Mookerjee Memorial Seminary 03:08 in rural Bangladesh. 03:10 So, on a busy road, 03:11 you can hear the cars going backwards and forward. 03:14 But inside this gate is a real treasure. 03:17 There's over 400 children and an Adventist Mission School 03:21 and Child Impact sponsors many of them. 03:30 In Bangladesh, 03:31 religion is a large factor in daily life. 03:34 A 2003 survey found that 03:36 religion is the first choice 03:38 of identification by Bangladeshi citizens, 03:41 and the country has a 99.9% religious 03:44 adherence rate. 03:46 But the circumstances on the ground 03:47 are more complicated. 03:50 Muslims account 03:52 for over 90% of the population in Bangladesh, 03:55 with Hindus occupying another 03:56 8.5%, Christians account for 0.37% of the population. 04:06 Religious liberty is extensively protected 04:09 by law in Bangladesh, 04:10 but the culture makes practice of religions 04:12 other than Islam difficult. 04:15 Riots against Hindus have occurred 04:17 as recently as 2014 04:20 and Bangladesh places 26th on the world watch list 04:23 of Christian persecution. 04:27 The government regularly takes action 04:29 against religious converts and proselytization. 04:32 Adventism occupies one of the smallest portions 04:35 of the country with a mere 32,000 adherence. 04:39 That's one out of every 5,000 people 04:42 and growth is slow. 04:43 We have students 04:45 from all castes, Catholic, Baptist, 04:47 Oxford, Methodist, Adventist, we have also students 04:52 from many Hindu backgrounds 04:55 and we have very few students from Muslim background. 04:59 Among the few Adventists 05:01 in Bangladesh is a Bible salesman 05:02 named Anton Burgie, 05:04 whose daughter, Adrina, 05:05 has just begun her studies at KMMS. 05:09 Adrina is five years old 05:11 and the youngest of three sisters 05:12 by ten years. 05:14 She is very shy. 05:20 But she brightens up when you get to know her. 05:28 Adrina's household is very large 05:30 and her father's salary is not high enough 05:32 to allow her to attend school without assistance. 05:35 As a Child Impact sponsored student, 05:38 Adrina is able to attend KMMS freely. 05:40 Well, for a number of our programs, 05:43 we're going to introduce you to some sponsored children 05:48 and we're at KMMS School in rural Bangladesh. 05:51 And we want to introduce you today 05:54 to one of our youngest children, 05:56 the name's Adrina and this is her sister Andrika. 06:02 My name is Adrina. 06:25 Now, these kids haven't seen many foreigners before 06:28 and they're pretty shy. 06:30 So, when a big male foreigner comes along, 06:33 it's a bit of a traumatic experience. 06:35 And so, she was very unhappy and crying 06:39 but now she's got her sister with her 06:41 and she's much more settled. 06:44 What is your favorite class? 07:03 Thank you. 07:07 His father selling the religious books, 07:10 Bibles and the song books. 07:13 So, by that way, he is operating his family. 07:19 But that is not enough. 07:21 She has two elder sisters. 07:23 And one sister, she completed her HSC. 07:27 After completed her HSC 07:28 because of financial problem, she got married. 07:33 And another sister is staying in this boarding school 07:38 and now this year, she's in standard nine. 07:41 Several times, I talked with her that 07:44 do not do any mistakes like your elder sister. 07:49 So, after completing HSC, 07:54 you will go to the Bosque 07:55 and you will get the proper education. 07:59 Nowadays, for the girls and for the boys, 08:02 they're getting the opportunity 08:05 over there for doing nursing. 08:08 So, this is their one time of opportunity 08:10 because in our country, 08:13 that profession is mostly needed in our country. 08:17 While Andrina's parents keep the faith, 08:19 many students at KMMS 08:20 come from other religious backgrounds. 08:23 Without an ability to afford tuition, 08:25 many unreached parents, 08:27 who might send their children to Adventist schools don't. 08:31 Sponsorship incentivizes parents 08:33 to send their children to Adventist schools, 08:35 when they would have limited interest otherwise. 08:39 There are many religious activities at KMMS. 08:41 We have a baptism class every Friday 08:45 after a vesper meeting. 08:46 So, at least 70, 80 or 100 students, 08:49 they have regular baptism class. 08:52 How many students get baptized? 08:55 You know, this year, we baptized around 33. 09:00 We had a two weeks of prayer meeting 09:03 and we don't force them. 09:05 Many of them are moved by Holy Spirit 09:08 whenever the speaker comes. 09:10 The sponsorship is very important 09:13 for Bangladesh, 09:15 because here is the needy children, 09:18 they need to go to school. 09:22 Many students out there, 09:24 they don't have opportunity to go to school. 09:27 So, it's really helping our country 09:30 and even the church 09:33 has great work through schools. 09:38 Our schools is a mission outreach, 09:41 where whoever can come and study here, 09:47 and the sponsorship is helping so much 09:51 to have the growth of the church 09:56 and children and the young people, 09:59 while they are coming in this school, 10:01 they're really falling in love 10:04 with Jesus and accepting Jesus as their personal savior. 10:08 It's really marvelous work. 10:10 So, preparing for this world and the world to come. 10:15 Students were not instructed to adhere to Adventism 10:18 are presented with access to the Christian message 10:21 and opportunities to learn more. 10:24 Current religious views 10:25 are well ingrained into the culture 10:27 and any change is met with resistance. 10:30 Time and time again, more success has been seen 10:32 through education and the influence 10:34 that children have on their families 10:36 compared to having more churches. 10:39 KMMS has seen a lot of success in that way. 10:43 We are helping to witness to these children 10:45 who otherwise would have no future, 10:47 as well as a different mindset with their upbringing. 10:51 This education brings up biblical principles 10:53 of order and cleanliness. 10:55 Children are taught to do chores 10:57 and maintain their grades. 10:59 They have study time to make sure 11:01 they focus on their homework. 11:02 They have religious services that help them get to know God 11:05 and learn more about the Bible. 11:08 These lessons become habits 11:09 and lifestyles that transfer over. 11:12 Many current Adventists in Bangladesh 11:14 found their faith through education, 11:16 and now work at the institutions 11:18 of the church to further the gospel. 11:21 Our visit to KMMS occurred shortly 11:23 before the students 11:24 were dismissed for winter break. 11:26 And one night, the female students 11:27 went door-to-door across campus 11:29 performing the Bengali equivalent 11:30 of Christmas caroling. 11:33 Their traditions differ from Western ones, 11:35 but you can see the mixture 11:36 of their religious traditions mixed with other cultures. 11:40 They value religion a lot, 11:41 and it's helping KMMS to bridge the gap 11:43 with the Christian faith. 11:46 It was a great example 11:47 of how the school is involving the students, 11:50 but also how it's sharing 11:51 a different view of Christianity 11:53 that's attainable for these students. 11:56 The caroling was really fun and heartwarming. 11:58 They sing in front of our rooms. 12:00 And even roped us into it for a moment, 12:02 though we weren't quite at their level. 12:05 The funds raised by going door-to-door 12:07 that night were used to make jalebi, 12:09 a Bangladeshi sweet, which was served 12:11 at the next day's church service. 12:14 The atmosphere at KMMS is one of joy and hope. 12:18 And sponsorship allows children to experience it. 12:22 Christianity and the gospel is shining through 12:24 and these students are the future 12:26 of what the church can do in Bangladesh. 12:29 Child Impact's goal is to keep them there 12:31 and to expand the amount of children 12:33 that can be helped. 12:34 Sponsorship can make that goal into a reality. 12:44 A couple of years ago, 12:46 my daughters and I had a wonderful opportunity 12:48 to travel to India. 12:50 And while we were there, 12:51 we met yet another part of our family, 12:53 and that's our sponsored daughter, Sheila. 12:56 We've had the privilege of sponsoring Sheila 12:58 through Child Impact International 13:01 for more than three years now. 13:03 And, you know, while we were there, 13:05 she shared with us that 13:07 her dream was to become a nurse. 13:09 Now, what a wonderful privilege it is for us, 13:12 now as a family, 13:14 to know that she is fulfilling that dream. 13:17 Sheila is now studying to be a nurse. 13:20 She's in college, 13:21 and we cannot be happier for her. 13:24 It's been wonderful to be part of that journey 13:26 with her, and you know, 13:28 sponsoring a child through Child Impact, 13:30 it's made an incredible difference 13:32 for our family. 13:34 And I know that, for you, 13:35 sponsoring a child can make a difference for you, too. 13:38 And most importantly, 13:39 it can make the difference 13:41 in the life of a child every day. |
Revised 2020-04-09