Participants:
Series Code: MMS
Program Code: MMS009087S
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00:01 Hi, I'm Hilary Macias with the Maranatha Minute.
00:03 In January, a team of Maranatha Volunteers 00:06 gathered in Cote d'Ivoire to build 00:07 the Abbebroukoi Seventh-day Adventist Church. 00:10 With only 18 people, 00:12 the volunteer team was on the smaller side. 00:14 But the group persevered 00:16 and finished the block work on the building, 00:18 leaving Abbebroukoi a new place of worship. 00:22 The Abbebroukoi congregation 00:23 formerly met in an unfinished structure 00:25 that resembled a patio. 00:27 The poor meeting space drew negative attention 00:30 and made evangelism more challenging, 00:32 especially considering the community is not Christian. 00:35 The new church will not only offer 00:36 an inviting place for worship, 00:38 it will also provide credibility 00:40 for the members 00:41 who are eager to share their faith. 00:43 The congregation is also starting 00:45 a primary school on the property, 00:47 as there are no kindergarten programs 00:48 in the area. 00:50 Watch a video 00:51 about the mission in Cote d'Ivoire 00:52 on your phone or tablet 00:54 by downloading the free Maranatha channel app 00:56 available in the App Store and Google Play. 02:40 This is the Boa Entrada's Seventh-day Adventist Church 02:43 in the country of Sao Tome and Principe. 02:49 For years, 02:50 this growing congregation of believers 02:52 have met in the basement of a housing complex. 02:56 But without a real church worship could be excruciating. 03:01 Yet this is the state of many congregations 03:03 in Sao Tome. 03:05 According to church leaders, 03:06 80% of the congregations in Sao Tome 03:09 do not have a proper place of worship. 03:14 Sao Tome and Principe is a small country of islands 03:17 located off the west coast of Central Africa. 03:20 At one time, 03:22 they were one of the world's leading exporters of cocoa. 03:26 But they have been in an economic decline 03:28 and 50% of the population lives below the poverty line. 03:33 The financial situation is no less true 03:35 for the Seventh-day Adventist membership. 03:39 Members live in humble dwellings 03:41 and generally don't have disposable income. 03:44 So the idea of building churches 03:46 felt like an impossible dream. 03:49 With limited financial resources 03:50 they needed outside help. 03:53 But Sao Tome and Principe is not a well-known place 03:56 and it's one of the smallest countries 03:58 in Africa. 04:00 Who would be willing to help a country 04:02 they had never heard of? 04:04 Finding assistance would take a miracle. 04:07 So the church leaders started with an organization 04:09 that has witnessed plenty of miracles 04:11 over the years. 04:40 After visiting the island to assess the need, 04:42 Maranatha committed to building churches 04:44 and school classrooms 04:46 around the capital city of Sao Tome. 04:49 A little over two years later, 04:51 eight congregations have a new place of worship. 04:55 One of the congregation's with a new church 04:57 is Agua Marcal. 05:00 More than a decade ago, 05:02 this was the start of a new home 05:03 for Manuel Frota and his family. 05:06 But when the construction materials 05:08 were stolen, 05:09 Manuel's meager salary as a shoe cobbler 05:11 could not afford more wood. 05:15 Then a couple years later, 05:17 Manuel, a Seventh-day Adventist 05:19 began hosting Bible studies on his property. 05:22 Soon the meetings grew into actual Sabbath worships 05:25 and the Agua Marcal congregation 05:27 was born. 06:48 It was so impossible 06:49 that they almost didn't believe it 06:51 when they heard Maranatha was coming to Sao Tome. 06:54 Pastor Bonfim admits that people were apprehensive 06:57 and even asked, "Could it be true?" 06:59 Then Maranatha arrived and built them a church. 07:17 Once hidden behind a wall in Manuel's private yard, 07:19 the new church is on a busy road 07:21 across the street from the taxi stop 07:23 which allows for plenty of visibility 07:25 in the community. 07:38 The new church is just around the corner 07:39 from Manuel's house. 07:41 Every Sabbath 07:42 instead of walking across his yard to church, 07:44 he walks out his front gate and down the street. 07:48 When asked if he misses having church in his yard, 07:51 he says, "After so many years it was a little sad at first." 08:22 When we come back, 08:23 we'll visit more churches and the school campus 08:25 where your support has helped to answer prayers. 08:49 Anyone can build a church, 08:51 simply give just $10 each month 08:54 and your donation along with thousands of others 08:57 will fund a new place of worship 08:58 every month. 09:01 The potential for change is all around you. 09:04 All you have to do is look. 09:10 Sao Tome and Principe 09:12 is Africa's second smallest country 09:14 at about a third the size of the state of Rhode Island. 09:17 Most of the world seems unaware 09:19 of this beautiful tropical destination 09:21 and its 200,000 residents. 09:24 Here on these obscure islands 09:26 there is a growing membership of Seventh-day Adventist. 10:05 Yet the Adventist Church in Sao Tome 10:07 has been unable to keep up 10:08 with infrastructure to support the growth. 10:11 There is story after story 10:13 of how congregations are struggling to find 10:15 a decent place to worship. 10:18 In the town of Angolares 10:19 missionaries brought the Adventist message 10:21 to the community in 1995. 10:24 A small group was formed 10:26 and today there are nearly 70 baptized members, 10:30 but they had no church 10:31 and met in this space below a house. 10:34 During the rainy season, 10:35 water would pool and make the ground muddy. 10:39 At Madalena a group of Adventists 10:41 met in a makeshift structure built in a woman's yard. 10:45 This space works nicely most of the time, 10:47 except when the neighbors crank up their stereos 10:50 or when the rains turn the floor 10:51 into a muddy stream. 10:54 In Folha Fede more than 100 people 10:57 packed into this basement. 10:59 It was crowded. 11:01 The rocky floor made it painful to kneel for prayer 11:03 and the homeowners 11:04 weren't always the friendliest landlords. 11:07 All three of these congregations 11:09 were in need of real churches. 11:11 But without sufficient funds to build, 11:14 all they could do was pray. 11:17 Then Maranatha arrived and things began to change. 11:21 On a Sabbath morning in January, 11:23 the Folha Fede congregation 11:25 is gathered in their basement church 11:27 for the last time. 11:28 Today is the dedication of their new church 11:31 located just down the street. 11:48 This congregation 11:49 has only been meeting since 2017, 11:52 but they are an active group of young people 11:54 who worked hard to purchase and prepare the property 11:57 for Maranatha to build them a church. 12:00 One of the members called the new sanctuary 12:02 a dream come true. 12:06 In Angolares a dream came true 12:08 with the help of an unexpected 12:09 and unlikely community member. 12:12 Julian Deuledier 12:14 lives in the community of Angolares. 12:16 Well, not an Adventist, 12:17 he was familiar with the church. 12:20 He used to see the members gathering 12:21 in the dark muddy space under a house. 12:25 He eventually became friends 12:27 with one of the church members Paulino. 12:30 One day Paulino made a special request. 12:50 Julian had long respect of the kindness and faith 12:53 of the church members, 12:54 so he agreed to sell the prime piece of property 12:56 located just below his home on one condition. 13:09 True to his word 13:11 after Maranatha built a new church in Angolares, 13:13 Julian was baptized on the day of the dedication. 13:45 What's more, he and his friends 13:47 have a beautiful place to worship. 14:10 Churches aren't the only way 14:12 Maranatha has made an impact on the island. 14:15 Schools are a key part of evangelism 14:17 in Sao Tome and Principe. 14:19 Yet there is only one Adventist campus 14:22 in the country. 14:23 The Cosme Mota Adventist School 14:25 is located on the outskirts of the capital city. 14:30 It opened a few years ago 14:31 and it was the first Adventist school 14:33 to open in nearly 50 years. 14:37 In the 1960s and 1970s, 14:38 all private schools were closed 14:40 by the Portuguese communist government 14:42 which had colonized Sao Tome and Principe. 14:46 This included the Adventist school. 14:49 Independence finally came in the 1970s, 14:52 but the Adventist school never reopened. 14:55 Then in 2006, 14:57 the government gave the Adventist Church 14:58 a piece of land 15:00 and invited them to start a school. 15:03 But building a school from scratch was no easy task. 15:06 Sao Tome is struggling economically, 15:09 as is the Adventist Church in the country. 15:13 It took nine years for the church 15:15 to raise enough funds 15:16 to build classrooms and find teachers. 15:20 The Adventist Church managed to build 15:21 a small but nice campus. 15:25 Today, there are 200 students enrolled, 15:28 70 to 80% are not members of the Adventist Church, 15:31 yet parents from all over the island 15:33 send their children to Cosme Mota 15:35 because of the quality teaching and strong moral values. 15:41 The school became so popular 15:43 that the student population soon outgrew their space. 16:10 With limited space, 16:12 the school could only offer up to fourth grade. 16:15 After that children had to transfer 16:16 to government schools. 16:19 Years ago, the government gave additional land to the school 16:22 to expand the campus, 16:24 but without money to build classrooms, 16:26 the lot sat empty. 16:28 Then a few years ago, 16:29 the government made an ultimatum, 16:31 "Build now or return the property." 16:34 That's when the Adventist Church 16:36 in Sao Tome reached out to Maranatha. 16:38 And in 2018, 16:40 volunteers and crews began building the expansion. 16:43 Today there are eight new classrooms 16:45 and three bathrooms, 16:47 thanks to the generosity of Maranatha supporters. 16:50 The bright new buildings 16:52 mean that students don't have to be 16:53 crammed into classrooms 16:55 and there are more grade levels 16:56 for children to continue their education 16:58 at a Christ centered institution. 18:02 When we come back, 18:03 we'll go back to Boa Entrada 18:04 the church in the dank basement of the housing complex. 18:07 We'll hear the story of one member 18:09 who spent years praying for a church 18:11 then forgot about her special request. 18:24 Are you an adult 18:26 who still wants to go to summer camp? 18:28 Well, here's your chance. 18:29 From May 12-19, 18:31 Maranatha is looking for volunteers 18:33 to help with renovations 18:34 at Leoni Meadows Camp and Retreat Center 18:36 in California. 18:37 From construction to carpentry, 18:39 to painting and landscaping, 18:41 there are a number of ways for you to help. 18:43 While there, you can also enjoy the beautiful landscape 18:46 of the Sierra foothills, 18:47 and maybe even take a ride on the camp train. 18:50 As with all projects in North America, 18:52 your food and lodging is provided 18:54 in exchange for your service. 18:56 If you're a teenager 18:57 looking for the ultimate summer camp experience, 19:00 check out this year's Ultimate Workout. 19:02 We're headed to Peru from July 16 to 26. 19:05 And we need volunteers to help with construction, 19:08 medical and dental clinics 19:09 and community outreach programs. 19:11 This project is only for high school students 19:13 ages 14-18. 19:14 So if you qualify, 19:16 be sure to register and join us 19:17 for our 30th year of mission adventure. 19:20 Learn more about these projects 19:21 on our website. 19:27 Boa Entrada is a settlement 19:28 located in the northern part of Sao Tome Island. 19:33 This area used to be a plantation 19:35 when Portugal occupied the country. 19:38 Now mansions 19:39 that once belonged to wealthy landowners 19:41 had become a rickety rentals. 19:45 Other buildings at the plantation 19:46 are also serving as housing. 19:50 Life here is simple. 19:52 Most of the people are poor. 19:54 This area is a distance from the city 19:56 and jobs are scarce. 20:04 Ezelda Samedo has lived in Boa Entrada her entire life. 20:09 She is a colporteur 20:10 for the Seventh-day Adventist Church 20:12 and spends many days training and walking 20:14 from door-to-door to share the gospel. 20:18 But Ezelda wasn't always an Adventist. 21:12 Ezelda began watching Novo Tempo, 21:14 the Portuguese language version of the Hope Channel 21:16 which was available on the island 21:18 through an antenna. 21:21 That's where she began 21:22 watching Maranatha Historias de Missao. 21:59 The episodes were so inspiring 22:01 that Ezelda used to cry 22:02 and pray after each program. 22:40 Ezelda used to pray for Maranatha 22:42 and for all the people in need. 22:44 But she would also make one more request for herself. 23:01 Her church met in the dank basement space 23:03 of a large housing complex. 23:05 It was dirty, smelly and noisy, 23:08 hardly a space worthy of the Lord. 23:11 But every Sabbath 23:12 more than 60 people gathered for worship. 23:15 They needed a real church. 23:17 But the group of young people 23:18 could barely afford the poultry rent as it was. 23:22 So Ezelda continue to watch and pray 23:25 until one day her antenna broke 23:27 and she could no longer watch television. 23:30 Eventually, she forgot all about Maranatha. 23:55 Later when Maranatha returned, 23:57 Ezelda was still skeptical 23:59 as to why they were at her church. 24:12 Then at a pastor's house 24:14 she saw an issue 24:15 of Maranatha's volunteer magazine 24:17 with a story about Sao Tome inside. 24:36 The Boa Entrada Church was the first church 24:38 Maranatha completed in Sao Tome. 24:41 Today the new church 24:42 is not hidden away in a basement 24:44 but along the main road. 24:46 Everyone coming in and out of Boa Entrada 24:49 will see the beautiful sanctuary. 25:25 For Ezelda, there is an added benefit. 25:28 The new church is located just 100 yards 25:30 from her home. 25:32 She can be at worship or Bible study 25:34 in just a couple minutes. 25:37 It's a great bonus 25:38 but Ezelda is just thrilled to have an actual church. 25:42 The first Sabbath the group worship in the church 25:44 was a special day for Ezelda. 26:17 This is been the theme of the work in Sao Tome. 26:20 Over and over people have said 26:22 that the new churches have been an answer to prayer, 26:25 a dream come true, a miracle from God. 26:30 After all, it does seem unlikely 26:32 that people would choose to travel to a remote island 26:34 to help strangers in need. 26:38 But the people of Sao Tome were patient and diligent 26:41 in their prayers. 26:42 They believed that God would provide 26:44 in their time of need. 27:06 Today there are eight new churches 27:08 in Sao Tome and eight new classrooms. 27:12 It won't fulfill all the needs for the Adventist Church 27:15 in Sao Tome, but it's a start. 27:17 And each congregation is eager to share their space 27:21 and the gospel message with friends and neighbors. 27:24 Already they are making a big difference 27:26 in their communities. 27:29 Some of these projects still need funding. 27:31 If you are willing to help sponsor 27:33 the cost of construction in Sao Tome, 27:35 contact the number on your screen 27:36 or visit our website to make an online donation. 27:40 Every dollar makes a difference 27:42 in supporting the mission of Maranatha. 27:45 And if you can't help now, 27:46 please pray 27:48 as we have seen from our brothers and sisters 27:50 in Sao Tome, every prayer is heard. 27:55 The Lord never forgets. 27:57 And in time He will answer. |
Revised 2020-10-26