Participants:
Series Code: IIWC
Program Code: IIWC202304S
|
00:03 ♪♪
00:43 >> Welcome to It Is Written 00:45 Canada. 00:45 Thank you for joining us. 00:46 Ramogi Nyagudi is an all-star 00:49 Canadian basketball player 00:50 ranked number one in the 00:52 province of Manitoba, Canada. 00:55 >> Sixteen-year-old Ramogi 00:57 stands a solid six feet, nine 01:00 inches tall and is still 01:02 growing. 01:04 Because he has put his faith 01:06 first, Ramogi refused to play on 01:08 Sabbath and miraculously the 01:10 league accommodated his 01:12 convictions, shifting the dates 01:14 and times he was scheduled to 01:16 play so that he could play the 01:18 game he loves and also worship 01:21 the Lord He loves, every 01:23 Sabbath. 01:24 >> Today our special guest is 01:26 Ramogi and the Nyagudi who has 01:28 agreed to honestly share with us 01:30 the serious challenges he is 01:32 encountering in his 01:34 determination to put his 01:35 faith first. 01:37 >> Ramogi, thank you for joining 01:39 us on It Is Written Canada. 01:41 >> Thank you. 01:42 I'm blessed to be here. 01:43 >> Ramogi, let's begin by asking 01:45 you, you are 16 years old, you 01:48 are six feet, nine inches tall, 01:50 which is really tall compared to 01:52 me, I'm, like, looking up at you 01:53 like this. 01:54 How big are your feet? 01:56 [RAMOUGI] Take a wild guess. 01:57 [MIKE] Take wild guess! 01:58 I have no idea. 02:00 I just can't imagine. 02:01 They're just, like, way beyond 02:03 mine, that's for sure. 02:04 >> Yeah, they're the same, like, 02:06 number as my age. 02:07 So I'm-- they're 16. 02:08 [MIKE] Oh, 16! 02:09 [RENÉ] Oh, wow! 02:10 [MIKE] Wow. 02:11 [Mike & René laugh] 02:12 >> Okay, so let's begin at a 02:15 serious spot. 02:16 Tell us about your family. 02:16 Your family is very important 02:17 to you. 02:19 Where are they from and, 02:21 you know, how did you move to 02:23 Winnipeg? 02:24 >> Yeah, so my parents were born 02:26 in Kenya. 02:28 They travelled all around the 02:29 world, like, so many places that 02:32 they probably haven't even told 02:33 me all the place that they've 02:34 been to, so... 02:35 Yeah, they moved to America 02:38 and settled in Minnesota. 02:40 That's where they got married. 02:41 And then they had me and then 02:43 they also had my siblings there, 02:46 following, like, two, three 02:48 years after. 02:49 So we are, like, from several 02:53 places, well, my parents are 02:55 from several places. 02:56 Me, I was just born in 02:57 Minnesota. 02:57 And then at some point my dad 02:59 was like, "It's time to move out 03:01 of here," so... 03:02 ...we packed our stuff and we 03:04 moved to Manitoba when I was 03:07 around seven years, six, seven 03:08 years old. 03:11 >> And they're very important 03:12 to you, you're very close 03:13 as a family? 03:14 [RAMOGI] Mm-hm, extremely close 03:15 as a family. 03:16 Like, we talk about everything, 03:18 I tell them about everything. 03:19 It took a while for me to, like, 03:21 start opening up, though. 03:23 As you know, teenagers, they 03:25 have all this hormone stuff 03:26 that's going on and stuff 03:27 like that. 03:28 But sort of broke through that 03:30 and was able to talk to my 03:31 parents about certain things 03:33 that I'm doing in my life and 03:35 able to talk to my siblings and 03:36 being able to give them advice 03:37 and hear their stories and stuff 03:39 like that. 03:39 So we have definitely grown 03:42 close over the years. 03:45 >> So Ramogi, your family is 03:47 really critical to your 03:49 identity. 03:50 How important is your church and 03:54 your faith to your identity? 03:57 [RAMOGI] It's probably the exact 03:59 same as my family because they 04:03 have established me in the 04:04 church. 04:05 I was baptized when I was, 04:07 what was I, 13? 04:09 Yeah, I was a very young age 04:10 when I was baptized it means the 04:12 exact same thing. 04:14 God is a very important aspect 04:16 in my life because He's brought 04:18 me to the point in which I am 04:19 here today that I don't think 04:23 anyone else could have ever 04:24 helped me with that. 04:26 And I don't attribute anything 04:27 that I've done to myself because 04:29 I, realistically I've done 04:31 nothing, it's all God. 04:33 And I just want to-- I just 04:35 thank my parents for that, for 04:37 establishing me in this church 04:39 or in the Seventh-day Adventist 04:40 Church to be able to understand 04:42 that it's not me, it's God. 04:45 >> And what about the Sabbath, 04:47 Ramogi? 04:48 [RAMOGI] Sabbath? 04:49 Sabbath is a very important 04:50 thing. 04:51 It seems that this commandment 04:53 is the one that is neglected a 04:55 lot, but then also highlighted a 04:58 lot that the only commandment 05:00 that people don't follow. 05:02 And it's a very interesting, 05:06 like, argument around the 05:08 Christian world. 05:09 And I just feel like it's 05:11 important to find that rest, 05:14 find that time where you can be 05:15 able to reset yourself and find 05:16 yourself in God. 05:18 So I see the Seventh Day as a 05:20 very important thing in my life. 05:23 [MIKE] Let's go back to 05:24 basketball. 05:25 When did you first begin 05:27 playing basketball? 05:28 At what age? 05:29 >> It was probably, I would say, 05:31 two or three years after I moved 05:33 to Manitoba. 05:34 I was originally a 05:35 football player, 05:36 but my dad saw that I 05:38 was gonna be extremely tall and 05:39 they said, "There's no way that 05:41 you're playing football." 05:42 And my mom did not like the 05:43 concussions and the injuries 05:45 there, even though I kept 05:46 pressing over it and saying that 05:47 "Oh, I can do it, I can do it," 05:49 but she said no. 05:50 So I moved to basketball and 05:53 I've been training since I was 05:56 nine, ten, but not necessarily 05:59 with a trainer, just doing my 06:00 own thing, just running around 06:03 shooting the basketball. 06:04 I haven't actually had, like, 06:05 professional training done with 06:06 me, so all that I've learned and 06:09 all I've done is by myself. 06:10 And yeah, the hoop at the front 06:13 of my house, so... [laughs] 06:14 >> Your dad was a basketball 06:15 player? 06:16 [RAMOGI] Yeah, he was, yeah. 06:17 So was my mom, too. 06:20 He said that he was one of the 06:21 best in Kenya. 06:22 I still don't believe it. 06:24 [Mike laughs] 06:25 So I need to see, like, actual 06:27 newspapers and stuff like that 06:29 before I actually believe him, 06:30 say that he was one of the best. 06:31 Well, my uncle, so he said he 06:33 was better than my dad, that I 06:35 don't even-- I don't believe 06:36 that even more, so... 06:38 I'm gonna have to ask the family 06:40 around to see if it's actually 06:42 true or if they're just lying 06:43 to me. 06:46 >> My name is Robert Nyagudi and 06:49 I am Ramogi's Father. 06:51 My wife is not here with me. 06:52 My wife is-- her name is Martha. 06:55 And we are originally from 06:58 Kenya, moved to the United 07:00 States. 07:02 So we've lived in the United 07:03 States for a number of years and 07:05 then moved to Canada. 07:08 My family, we have a family in 07:11 Kenya and I have a brother in 07:14 Winnipeg here with me and I have 07:16 other family members in Sweden. 07:19 And so we somehow spread all 07:21 over, but family is very 07:23 important to us, certainly 07:26 important to me and my own 07:29 family, my children, my wife, 07:33 are very key in my life. 07:34 I really love them. 07:36 I love my wife and my children 07:38 and I would like to make sure 07:40 that I am always in their lives. 07:42 I played basketball. 07:44 I played basketball in 07:45 high school. 07:46 I went to an Adventist school 07:48 called Kamagambo High School, 07:50 and I played basketball there. 07:53 I would like to believe that I 07:54 was a very good basketballer, 07:57 but I didn't go as far as 07:59 perhaps Ramogi is now headed, 08:02 where he is headed. 08:03 I know my brother did play 08:05 college basketball and he was 08:06 pretty good. 08:08 He was better than me, but I 08:09 would like to believe that I'm 08:11 better than him. 08:11 So you know, basketball has 08:14 become now part of our lives as 08:17 Ramogi starts to play 08:18 basketball, travelling with him, 08:21 watching his games. 08:23 My younger son 08:24 plays basketball. 08:26 My daughter, she struggles 08:29 whether she wants to play 08:30 basketball or she loves 08:32 volleyball, so she's in between. 08:34 So in our family, basketball is 08:36 definitely something that, you 08:38 know, brings us all together. 08:42 >> Ramogi, can you tell us about 08:44 your accomplishments in 08:46 basketball? 08:47 [RAMOGI] Yeah, so just recently 08:48 we won the provincial 08:49 championship for my high school 08:51 at St. Paul's and I also got the 08:53 MVP and all-star for that, for 08:56 the game and the whole season. 08:59 I also got Player of the Year 09:00 award for that season, for all 09:02 of Manitoba. 09:03 And then also we won last year, 09:06 too, provincial champions again. 09:09 That's the game I did not play 09:10 because it was on Saturday and 09:13 the timing and all that just did 09:15 not work out, so... 09:18 I was a bit sad to not play in 09:20 that game, but I'm glad that 09:22 we won. 09:23 And also I was selected for Team 09:26 Canada last year, U17, but I 09:29 didn't really make the team 09:31 because of the fact that most of 09:32 the games are on Saturday. 09:34 But if that was not the case, I 09:35 would have played for last year 09:38 in Spain and this year I also 09:40 got selected for U19, which was 09:42 two years up. 09:43 Sadly I got cut, but it's-- it 09:46 was a great experience to be 09:47 able to play against players 09:49 that were going into D1 colleges 09:52 right after. 09:53 Also having, like, NBA talent in 09:55 that realm, too. 09:56 So it was quite interesting, 09:58 so... 09:59 I've been blessed over the past 10:01 couple of years basketball-wise, 10:02 yeah. 10:04 [RENÉ] That must've been quite a 10:05 challenge for you, playing with 10:07 two levels higher. 10:08 You said U19. 10:10 So that must have been quite 10:12 challenging for you. 10:13 >> Yeah. 10:14 Mentally, physically, they're a 10:16 lot bigger, a lot stronger 10:18 than me. 10:18 And being able to hold my own 10:20 was quite interesting. 10:22 And the fact that I actually 10:23 couldn't hold my own in that 10:25 environment. 10:27 >> So it's very demanding 10:29 on you. 10:30 Do you enjoy the game? 10:31 [RAMOGI] Oh, I love the game. 10:32 I love playing it, I love being 10:35 around it, I love talking it. 10:37 I love everything in that 10:39 aspect. 10:40 Like, there's a lot of things 10:43 that people would say that would 10:46 not allow me to enjoy the game, 10:49 but at the end of the day, it's 10:51 one of the things that clears my 10:53 head, it's one of the things 10:54 that allows me peace within all 10:58 the destruction and stuff in 10:59 this world. 11:01 So I really enjoy the game. 11:03 [RENÉ] So you're playing it to 11:04 de-stress too, and you're having 11:06 fun at the same time. 11:07 [RAMOGI] Mm-hm. 11:09 It's more like a two-in-one 11:10 thing. 11:11 So yeah, I really enjoy it. 11:14 >> Ramogi, you mentioned that 11:15 faith is critical to your 11:17 identity. 11:19 Are there any Bible characters 11:21 that you can identify with? 11:23 >> Yeah, the three Hebrew boys 11:25 my dad mentions to you. 11:27 I do relate with them because 11:29 they, like me, have been thrown 11:32 into fire because of the stuff 11:35 that they did. 11:36 They did not bow down and 11:38 worship the idol. 11:39 I did not play on Saturday. 11:41 I was put in the situation where 11:43 I had to choose between faith or 11:44 basketball and... 11:47 ...I feel like they have a lot 11:50 in common with what I螁done. 11:53 Just not to their severity of 11:57 the situation, but for me it's-- 11:59 I feel like it's similar. 12:03 >> My son identifies with these 12:06 three characters Shadrach, 12:08 Meshach, and Abednego, perhaps 12:10 mostly because I talk about it 12:12 quite a bit. 12:13 And also because I see his life 12:18 mirroring the same kind of 12:20 situation. 12:22 But also the reason why I talk 12:23 about it is because my mother 12:25 talked to us about it, talked to 12:27 me specifically about it, and 12:29 she didn't-- not lose or she did 12:33 not miss a chance every time to 12:36 let us know that times are gonna 12:38 be hard and there are times that 12:40 you're gonna be tested and there 12:42 are times that you're gonna be 12:44 facing somewhere a fiery furnace 12:47 And that could be in different 12:50 kind of situations. 12:54 It may not be a fire, but it 12:56 might be your job, it might be 12:58 your career, it might be 12:59 something that you have to 13:01 choose between serving God and 13:04 serving man or something else, 13:06 whatever it is. 13:08 Ramogi has an important decision 13:10 to make in his life as he 13:12 continues to play basketball. 13:14 There are decisions that we will 13:16 have to make because some of 13:18 these games are played on the 13:20 Sabbath. 13:21 Will he play on the Sabbath? 13:23 That will be a decision that he 13:24 will have to make. 13:26 And prayerfully we will consider 13:28 this with, you know, praying for 13:30 him, there are a lot of people 13:32 who are praying for him to make 13:33 this decision, to make the right 13:34 decision. 13:36 And so just like Shadrach, 13:37 Meshach, and Abednego, who were 13:40 put in a position where they had 13:42 to make a choice, but they were 13:44 more resolute. 13:45 They talked to the king with a 13:48 lot of respect, but they were 13:50 more resolved. 13:51 They said, "Oh, King, we don't 13:53 have to, you know, argue about 13:55 this matter with you. 13:57 We are decided. 13:59 It is not a matter of us arguing 14:01 within our minds, whether 14:03 negotiating within our minds 14:05 this is resolve." 14:06 So I pray that the Lord will 14:08 impress upon Ramogi to be just 14:10 like Shadrach, Meshach, and 14:12 Abednego, having resolutely made 14:15 that decision that they will not 14:17 bow down, but they will 14:19 serve God. 14:21 I had to make that decision 14:24 about Sabbath many different 14:25 times. 14:27 One that I can remember right 14:28 now is about my job. 14:31 I had to give up my job because 14:33 of the Sabbath. 14:34 I had a boss who, first of all, 14:37 when I got into this company, I 14:40 was not necessarily working on 14:42 the Sabbath, I would work after 14:44 the Sabbath. 14:45 I would work all the Sundays 14:47 because I was available just 14:49 because I needed the Sabbath. 14:51 And at some point a new boss 14:54 came in. 14:55 And when this new boss came in, 14:56 he asked me why I'm not working 14:59 those hours. 15:00 And I did explain to him that 15:03 this was something that we had 15:05 made an arrangement with the, 15:08 you know, previous 15:08 administrator. 15:10 But he made the decision that we 15:12 are-- I'm gonna have to work on 15:13 those hours and I said no. 15:15 And he gave me some time. 15:17 He said, "I'm gonna give you two 15:18 weeks to think about it." 15:20 And I told him, "I don't need 15:22 two weeks. 15:23 This is a decision that had been 15:24 made long time ago before I even 15:26 came to this company." 15:28 But he went ahead and just told 15:29 me, "You go to think about it." 15:31 So a week after he comes to me 15:34 and asks me, "Have you made this 15:36 decision yet? 15:37 Is there anything that you have 15:38 decided?" and I said "This 15:40 decision had been made. 15:42 I am not thinking about it." 15:44 And he told me, "Whichever way, 15:46 I still give you another week." 15:48 That week rolls in and he asks 15:50 me the last day, he said, he 15:51 comes to me and he asks me, 15:53 "This is the last day, what are 15:54 you gonna to do?" and I said, 15:57 "I'm ready to go now if you want 15:59 me to go, but the decision was 16:01 made already." 16:02 So he told me, "It's all up 16:05 to you." 16:06 I said, "Well, so if you want me 16:08 to go, I can go now, or I can 16:10 finish my shift and then go." 16:13 And he told me, "It's all up 16:14 to you." 16:15 And then I finished my shift and 16:17 I walked out that job. 16:19 I wrapped up everything, 16:21 balanced all the accounts, 16:22 and I walked out of that job 16:24 and never turned back. 16:26 And so, yes, I have gone through 16:27 this and I believe that many 16:30 Christian, Sabbath-keeping 16:31 Christians who are facing such 16:33 kind of things, and Ramogi will 16:35 face it, too. 16:37 [MIKE] So you got conflicting 16:40 loves going on in your life. 16:41 You love your family, you love 16:43 your church, your faith, you 16:45 love God, and you love 16:46 basketball. 16:49 How does that work? 16:50 What does that look like? 16:51 If you were asked, how would you 16:53 define the word, "love," and 16:55 what does that look like 16:56 in action? 16:58 [RAMOGI] Yeah, that's a tough 17:00 question, but... 17:02 ...I'd say sacrifice 17:04 because for all of those things, 17:05 I had to sacrifice something. 17:07 For my family I had to sacrifice 17:09 my time, for basketball I had to 17:11 sacrifice my physicality, my 17:13 mental strength. 17:15 For God I to have to sacrifice 17:17 the world. 17:18 There's so many things in this 17:19 world that are attractive, but I 17:23 have to sacrifice that to know 17:25 that because God is the one 17:28 thing in my life that is really 17:31 the most important, towering 17:32 over all of the stuff that you 17:34 just mentioned. 17:35 So sacrifice is the most 17:37 important, for love. 17:39 >> I really like that answer. 17:42 Sacrifice is really dying to 17:44 self, isn't it? 17:45 And putting that as number one. 17:48 I like the fact that you put God 17:49 in the centre spot, right, like 17:51 in the top position because 17:53 we're talking about eternity 17:55 and... 17:57 ...good answer. 17:59 Ramogi, how much do you 18:00 sacrifice of your time when 18:03 you're not at school to play 18:04 basketball? 18:06 [RAMOGI] It's a lot of hours. 18:07 The math is too hard for me to 18:09 do in my head so I'll just think 18:11 about it in a day. 18:13 So I play Sunday to Friday and 18:18 the summer, I'm normally playing 18:20 by myself so I'm out in the 18:21 driveway, so I would probably do 18:23 one hour in, one hour inside, 18:26 one hour back again, one hour 18:27 inside. 18:28 So I'd say, like, half my day 18:30 I'm just spending playing 18:31 basketball outside and that's 18:33 for six days in the week. 18:36 So add that up for three months. 18:39 [MIKE] Yeah. 18:40 >> It's significant amount of 18:41 basketball that I'm playing. 18:42 >> So there's a lot of energy 18:43 being expended there. 18:45 I'm guessing the time that 18:46 you're inside you're eating. 18:47 [RAMOGI] Mm-hm. 18:48 [laughter] 18:49 >> You put a lot of time. 18:50 [RAMOGI] Yeah. 18:51 >> And it's a big bill for your 18:52 parents, right? 18:53 >> Oh, yeah, significantly it 18:55 is, yeah. 18:56 >> What about cross-training, 18:57 Ramogi? 18:58 Do you spend a lot of time in 18:59 the gym? 19:01 >> Not as of recent, but I know 19:05 that I'm gonna have to do a lot 19:06 more of lifting during the 19:08 summer and do a lot more running 19:11 to help keep my stamina up. 19:14 Because that's the one thing 19:15 that coaches enjoy about me is 19:16 the fact that I can just run 19:18 back and forth forever, so... 19:21 That's-- I need to start doing 19:23 that in the next couple weeks, 19:26 next couple of months. 19:27 So yeah. 19:29 >> Ramogi, earlier on you 19:31 mentioned the three Hebrew boys 19:33 in the Bible and it reminds me 19:36 of the rich young ruler who came 19:38 to Jesus wanting eternal life 19:41 and Jesus offered him a place on 19:44 His team of disciples. 19:46 But Jesus told him that he had 19:48 to sell everything he had, take 19:51 that money and give it to the 19:53 poor and then he would have a 19:56 place on His team of disciples. 19:59 Can you relate to this story? 20:02 [RAMOGI] I mean, not to the 20:04 money-wise, but I can relate to 20:06 this story as giving up 20:08 basketball, because I'll look at 20:12 that and people will say that 20:13 that's easy. 20:14 Just give it up because you 20:15 know you have eternal life. 20:16 But being in that position of 20:18 having both, it's kind of a hard 20:22 thing to weigh out your 20:23 decisions because you have all 20:25 this, all these personal things 20:27 that you have, giving that away 20:29 to something in the unknown. 20:32 As humans, we don't really think 20:35 of going into something unknown 20:37 unless you're an adventurist or 20:40 crazy, might I say it. 20:41 But it's kind of hard to be able 20:44 to put someone in a position to 20:45 be able to put-- give everything 20:47 away to go follow something that 20:49 you don't really know. 20:51 So yeah, it's a hard thing for 20:55 people who have to go through 20:56 that and since I'm have to go 20:58 through it, it's kind of hard 21:00 for me, too. 21:03 >> And I guess the more you 21:04 accomplish or the more you have, 21:07 it doesn't matter, like you 21:08 said, it doesn't have to be 21:09 money, but it could just be a 21:11 talent like you have in 21:13 basketball and you have all 21:14 these accomplishments and... 21:18 ...I guess the more famous you 21:19 become, the more difficult it 21:22 is, too, to give that all up. 21:24 >> Yeah, it is. 21:25 It really is. 21:29 >> My fears as a father is that 21:32 perhaps Ramogi will come to this 21:34 crossroad and choose... 21:37 ...away from God. 21:39 And not just Ramogi, my other 21:41 kids, that they will choose a 21:43 path that would not please God. 21:46 And when I look at that, it 21:49 scares me, but I have no control 21:53 of their lives. 21:55 God has control of their lives. 21:57 And my fear also as a father and 22:00 as a husband, is that I'm gonna 22:02 have to deal with some of these 22:04 things and not knowing how to 22:07 deal with them. 22:08 So I really pray that the Lord 22:09 will give me the strength to 22:12 allow my children to make those 22:14 decisions while I pray for them. 22:17 And I know they are so many 22:18 people, so many people who are 22:20 praying for us, so many people 22:22 who are caring for us, so many 22:24 people who care for my family. 22:27 And I love that. 22:31 >> So as far as accomplishments 22:32 go, Ramogi, how far would you 22:34 like to go? 22:35 What would you like to 22:36 accomplish in terms of 22:37 basketball? 22:38 >> I want to go as far as to get 22:39 into the NBA Hall of Fame, 22:42 because some people want to cap 22:44 it off at D1 College or some 22:46 want to cap it off at playing in 22:47 the NBA. 22:48 I want to go as far as playing 22:49 with the greats and being in the 22:52 goal conversation of the greats. 22:54 And then again, I also want to 22:55 play the best that I could 22:56 possibly play. 22:58 And if that's to be able to get 22:59 into the NBA or play D1, then 23:01 that's what it is. 23:03 And I'm grateful that I can be 23:04 able to even say that as 23:08 a basketball player. 23:10 >> So, Ramogi, final question. 23:13 What are your dreams and what 23:15 would you like to accomplish 23:17 apart from basketball? 23:20 [RAMOGI] I just want to give a 23:21 positive influence into 23:22 the world. 23:23 The world, there's not a lot of 23:25 good people around that are 23:27 trying to have the best interest 23:30 for people. 23:32 I want to be able to make sure 23:33 that people have someone that 23:35 they can look up to that has a 23:36 good interest in what they want 23:38 in their life and show God in 23:41 the-- in that realm, too. 23:44 But also, aside from basketball, 23:45 I also want to become a doctor, 23:47 family doctor specifically, 23:48 because I enjoy all the 23:50 sciences. 23:52 I'm taking all the sciences 23:53 right now. 23:54 It's difficult, but I do enjoy 23:56 being able to understand the 23:59 human body because there's so 24:01 many interesting things 24:02 about it. 24:04 I just look at it and say that 24:06 how can something so small in 24:10 this earth that God created be 24:12 able to have all these different 24:13 functions, all these different 24:14 things a part of it. 24:15 And I see all these things about 24:19 the evolution and stuff like 24:20 that, I-- there's so many 24:22 questions that I can ask about 24:23 it and I just enjoy the fact 24:24 that I can ask those questions. 24:27 >> Ramogi, you are very wise for 24:30 your age and very calm and I 24:34 just enjoy talking to you. 24:35 Before we let you go, I wonder 24:37 if you could pray for 24:39 our viewers. 24:41 There may be someone who's 24:42 looking at their lives and 24:43 thinking, you know, God isn't 24:45 really relevant, He's not 24:47 personal in my life. 24:48 And maybe you could pray for 24:49 people like that, our viewers 24:51 who-- that they may get that 24:54 sense that God is relevant and 24:56 personally desires to be 24:58 involved in their life right 24:59 now, as He did with people in 25:01 Bible times. 25:02 >> Mm-hm, alright. 25:03 Yeah, I can do that. 25:04 Let's pray. 25:05 Dear Heavenly Father, thank you 25:07 for this day. 25:07 Thank you for everybody that is 25:09 watching this stream, Lord. 25:11 I just wanna pray that as we are 25:14 able to grow as Christians, we 25:17 can be able to understand You, 25:19 Lord, and we can also be able to 25:20 choose You and discern good from 25:23 evil, Lord. 25:24 I just want to pray for each and 25:25 every individual that is 25:27 watching this, that they can be 25:29 able to make that own 25:30 discernment for themselves, 25:31 Lord. 25:32 And I just pray that as we're 25:34 coming to the end, I just want 25:37 to pray that You are in 25:40 everybody's lives, Lord. 25:42 I pray that You are with me and 25:45 with everybody that is going 25:46 through their own different 25:48 problems, Lord. 25:49 I pray all these things in 25:50 Jesus' name, amen. 25:51 [MIKE & RENÉ] Amen. 25:53 >> Ramogi, thank you so much for 25:55 joining us on It Is Written 25:56 Canada today. 25:57 >> Thank you for having me. 26:02 >> Friends, perhaps like Ramogi, 26:04 you, too, need practical answers 26:06 that make sense and will give 26:08 you definite direction and 26:10 assurance in making tough 26:12 decisions that will impact your 26:14 life right now and into the 26:17 future. 26:18 >> Our free offer for you is our 26:20 Bible study guides that will 26:21 help you to learn what the Bible 26:24 teaches and how the Bible has 26:25 verifiable answers to life's 26:28 existential questions, including 26:30 God's will for your life. 26:34 [VOICE-OVER] To receive today's 26:35 offer, you can simply go to our 26:37 website at iiw.ca and click on 26:40 the News and Offers tab. 26:42 Again, it's iiw.ca. 26:45 You can also call us at 26:47 1-888-CALL-IIW. 26:50 That's 1-888-225-5449. 26:54 Call any time! 26:56 We can be reached 24 hours a 26:57 day, seven days a week. 26:59 Or if you'd like to write to us, 27:01 our address is It Is Written 27:03 Canada, Box 2010, Oshawa, 27:06 Ontario, L1H 7V4. 27:10 We also want to thank you for 27:11 your prayer requests and 27:12 donations that make it possible 27:14 for us to connect people to the 27:16 abundant life found in Jesus. 27:20 >> Before you go, we would also 27:22 like to invite you to follow us 27:24 on Instagram and Facebook and 27:27 subscribe to our YouTube channel 27:29 and also listen to our Podcasts. 27:32 And if you go to our website, 27:34 you can see our latest programs. 27:37 >> You, too, can experience the 27:38 fullness of life that is found 27:40 in the words of Jesus when He 27:41 said, "It is written, 'Man shall 27:44 not live by bread alone, but by 27:46 every word that proceeds out of 27:48 the mouth of God.'" 27:53 >> I just want to thank all 27:56 the family members and church 27:59 family that has supported us 28:01 over the years. 28:03 I want to thank my wife for 28:05 being strong, for being there 28:08 for us. 28:09 There are times that I have 28:10 agonized about which direction 28:12 this would go. 28:14 I just want to thank God, 28:16 because I have people who are 28:18 praying for us, you know, family 28:20 members who are praying for us, 28:22 my mother, who is constantly 28:23 praying for us. 28:24 And I just want everyone to 28:27 know that we're just a normal 28:29 family who love God. 28:32 And we have a great support from 28:34 the church family and Henderson 28:36 Highway and others around the 28:39 world. 28:40 What I want is to hear those 28:43 words, those beautiful words, 28:45 "Welcome, well done, good and 28:48 faithful servant." 28:51 I am dreaming of that for my son 28:53 and for my family. |
Revised 2023-10-18