Participants:
Series Code: OTR
Program Code: OTR000835
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01:01 You know we serve a risen savior, did you know that?
01:04 Isn't that good news? He's alive today 01:07 and I know he is alive because he lives in here, 01:10 that's how you know it. He's in the world today, 01:15 no matter what anybody may say, he lives. 01:32 I serve a risen Savior He's in the world today. 01:39 I know that He is living, Whatever men may say. 01:47 I see His hand of mercy; I hear His voice of cheer; 01:54 And just the time I need Him He's always near. 02:02 He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! 02:09 He walks with me and talks with me 02:13 along life's narrow way. 02:17 He lives, He lives, salvation to impart! 02:25 You ask me how I know He lives? 02:32 He lives within my heart. In all the world around me 02:48 I see His loving care, 02:51 And though my heart grows weary, 02:55 I never will despair; I know that He is leading, 03:03 Through all the stormy blast; 03:06 The day of His appearing Will come at last. 03:12 He's coming my friends. 03:13 He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! 03:21 He walks with me and He talks with me 03:25 along life's narrow way. 03:28 He lives, He lives, salvation to impart! 03:37 You ask me how I know He lives? 03:44 He lives within my heart. 03:56 Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian, 03:59 Lift up your voice and sing 04:03 Eternal hallelujahs To Jesus Christ the King! 04:10 The Hope of all who seek Him, 04:14 The Help of all who find, None other is so loving, 04:22 So good and the kind. 04:25 He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! 04:33 He walks with me and talks with me 04:36 along life's narrow way. 04:40 He lives, He lives, salvation to impart! 04:49 You ask me how I know He lives? 04:56 He lives within my heart. 05:10 That is my testimony this morning, 05:12 may God richly bless you. Amen. 05:17 Good morning and welcome to ASI, 05:20 how are all of you this morning? 05:23 Bow your heads with me for prayer. 05:26 Dear heavenly Father we are thankful to be here 05:28 at ASI this morning, we are thankful for the 05:31 testimonies we are about to hear how lives 05:35 have been changed actual miracles Lord. 05:38 Please be with these people that are 05:40 about to share with us. Give them peace 05:42 in their heart as they honor and glorify you Lord 05:47 and we thank you that ASI has 60 years of service 05:52 for you Lord, but we don't want 70, 05:56 please come soon Lord, in Jesus name, amen. 06:09 Good morning, good to see all of you this morning. 06:13 I'm so privileged to be here this morning, to share 06:16 another one of our favorite parts of ASI right? 06:20 This is the time period where we see what 06:22 our members in action are really doing. 06:25 So this morning my real distinct pleasure to 06:29 introduce to you 3 members of the corporation of BMW, 06:34 aren't you impressed? Yes, these are all my 06:39 Korean friends from Bicycle Ministry to the world and 06:43 Family Building Ministry also known as BMW and FBM. 06:51 Jessica, how did you get involved in this ministry? 07:03 [Foreign Language]. 07:17 We started by God's grace. Higher. 07:19 Yes, I know we started because after hearing 07:23 how pastors in Africa were walking everywhere, 07:27 taking care of 10 or 20 churches and hearing 07:30 the difficulties that they were having with 07:34 the transportation, we started this ministry. 07:37 How many years ago did this happen? 07:42 [Foreign Language]. 07:44 This ministry started four years ago. 07:47 Jessica is the daughter of Pastor David Jim, 07:54 that is Pastor Jim and this is his daughter 07:57 and about four years ago they found out that 08:01 all these pastors had no way to get to their places. 08:04 They had no idea that ASI was doing 08:08 a Bicycle Ministry in Africa, did they? 08:11 Nothing at all, this is the first time you've 08:12 heard about it. Isn't it? Yes. 08:15 Okay, so how did you find out which people 08:19 actually needed anytime, any of these bicycles? 08:22 [Foreign Language]. 08:33 We met pastors from Africa who were 08:36 studying in Philippines. And all of this came about 08:40 because of your interest in, how did you find out 08:45 about these people in Africa, you found 08:48 all of them through the school in the Philippines 08:52 and when you started there, where did it spread 08:56 from Africa where also has this spread this ministry? 09:02 [Foreign Language]. 09:09 The work that started in Africa, now it's spreading 09:12 to South America and Asia as well. 09:14 And I understand you have a picture of some of 09:16 these bicycles and that you also have been 09:21 involved in digging wells in Africa, is that correct? 09:25 Yes. Alright and you know ASI has been involved 09:29 in sending bicycles to Africa but we have never 09:33 thought of paying for somebody 09:36 to have a horse or a donkey. 09:38 I understand you even help people find a horse 09:41 or a donkey to get to places where 09:43 no one else can get, is that right? 09:45 That's true, that's correct. 09:47 Because we've seen so many roads that bicycles 09:51 can't reach, they requested us for mules and horses. 09:55 So we are providing those transportations as well. 09:59 And how do you get the money to pay for 10:02 all these thousands of bicycles. 10:06 [Foreign Language]. 10:12 Because of the language limitation we could reach 10:15 out to only Korean communities so far, 10:18 so Korean STA members from US 10:21 and Korea have been helping us. 10:24 Okay and you are also building medical clinics. 10:27 Yes. [Foreign Language]. 10:42 After having started this bicycle ministry, 10:45 we've seen too many needs when we got there. 10:48 So we started medical rallies and also God has 10:51 expanded our work to evangelistic meetings 10:55 and also church constructions, 10:57 hospital buildings and scholarship as well. 11:02 Did you guys know that there was actually almost 11:05 a separate ASI within the Korean community 11:07 and none of us ever knew about it. 11:10 This is their first introduction almost to ASI 11:13 and I was interviewing these people last night 11:18 I found out something even more exciting. 11:22 Dr. Sung Um, where do I know you from, 11:28 have I ever met you before? Well, you look familiar 11:32 but I don't think I never met you. 11:35 He is involved with his ministry that are joining 11:37 together they're Family Building Ministry 11:40 that go to all the Korean churches 11:41 in the whole United States. 11:43 He lives how far away from me, where do you think? 11:47 I live in Glendale, California. 11:48 And I live in Glendale, California. 11:52 We are just neighbors. We never met, 11:53 we're neighbors and guess what he has in roads 11:57 to all of the Korean professional people in the 12:01 United States and he and I are going to be 12:03 witnessing and bringing in the Koreans into 12:06 the ASI movement, isn't that amazing? 12:08 Amen, amen. That's our goal. 12:11 I just wanna let you know that you know that 12:13 FBM Ministry, our Family Building Ministry 12:16 is all about building family and this was 12:18 my first time to come here. 12:20 I came to realize that ASI is all about building 12:24 family as well and so we're gonna build 12:26 families together. I am gonna bring all the 12:30 young professionals from all over the United States 12:32 to come and to sense the God's direction in their 12:36 lives and to really come together to finish 12:40 God's work so that he may come soon. 12:43 You know, we know how much the Korean people in 12:45 Korea and in this country are on fire for the Lord. 12:48 We have never tapped into that. 12:50 We've tried really hard to reach the Korean 12:54 and the Asian community in California; 12:56 we have not been able to get through to them 12:58 but now we have this connection, 13:01 the Lord is providing. The other important thing is 13:05 they accept all types of donations specially BMW's. 13:11 We accept car donations. Yes, so as we work 13:16 together I'd like to know what do you think 13:19 we can accomplish in the future if ASI joins 13:23 with the Korean Adventist Community. 13:26 [Foreign Language]. 13:37 With our unity I think we can spread the Gospel 13:39 faster and would see Jesus coming soon. 13:44 Thank you very much, it's been a pleasure. 13:53 You know, young people have been 13:55 the focus of ASI now for about 10 years. 13:59 About 6 years ago in Columbus, Ohio. 14:04 I met for the first time the Oliver Family. 14:08 They came to sing and they sing for us again 14:13 this time and Richard I understand that you came 14:16 with your parents that year to ASI in Columbus, 14:19 is that correct? That's right, 14:20 that was my first year. That was your first year, 14:22 how old were you about at that time? 14:24 I wanna say about 15 may be. About 15 years old, 14:27 so Richard came to ASI and did that inspire you 14:30 or did you get turned on by ASI or did you 14:34 just so to go along your usual way. 14:36 I think what it there for me the most was 14:39 it opened my eyes up to see that it didn't matter 14:42 where you are from or how old you were, 14:45 that God could use you in whatever way he wants. 14:49 So you went on and you are now in college 14:53 and about a couple of years ago I understand 14:56 you and some friends were getting together, 14:59 trying to see what you could do for the Lord 15:01 and as you were brainstorming 15:03 what did you guys come up with? 15:05 we had a group of young people that were meeting 15:08 on Friday nights at our church and we were 15:12 meeting with the sole purpose of coming together 15:14 to pray, to read the Bible and to spend time asking 15:20 God what we could do for Him, for his cause. 15:24 We didn't know what it was and we were just looking 15:27 for the Holy Spirit to just tell us what to do. 15:31 And what did some of your friends decide 15:34 they would like to do? They had a lot of great ideas, 15:38 some of them live closer to the city and they had 15:42 some ideas like going into say a cafe or a bar 15:47 and holding Bible studies there and then inviting 15:50 the people that were already there in the 15:52 establishment to come and join the Bible study 15:55 and then talking to them about God afterwards. 15:57 And I thought this was a great idea but it just 16:01 didn't seem like something I would be 16:03 completely comfortable with. So as you were 16:06 thinking about this and thinking about 16:08 how could you personally witness, what came to 16:11 your mind and how did you decide 16:14 what you decided to do. Well, my initial human 16:18 tendency was Lord, I am out of my comfort zone; 16:23 give me something to do in my comfort zone. 16:26 Little did I know that I would not be in my 16:30 comfort zone if I was witnessing that's just how 16:32 it works I guess. Okay, so what college were you at, 16:36 at this time? I was at Amherst College Amherst, 16:39 Massachusetts half an hour from Chicago. 16:41 And studying what? Psychology, 16:42 I am a Psychology major. Alright, so you are a 16:45 Psychology major and so Psychology majors 16:49 they would probably want to do something in the 16:51 Psychology field right? In asking God 16:56 and the Holy Spirit what I could do I was impressed 17:01 with an idea that was so obvious it made me feel 17:07 humbled and just I couldn't believe that 17:11 it hadn't occurred to me and that was 17:13 I felt the Lord speaking to me saying you are student, 17:16 so witness in your environment. 17:19 Witness in school, I mean how simple does that sound. 17:23 That's right, where are we supposed to witness 17:25 everybody in our market place where we're at. 17:29 Not somewhere else, not go some place where we 17:31 don't know anything about it, witness where you are. 17:34 So what did you do Richard? Oh it dawned on me that 17:37 it wasn't a coincidence that I was alive, 17:39 that I was a student at this time and that 17:41 there were these eople around me that I had 17:43 been put in that position and witness to, 17:45 Amherst college is a Christian school, 17:47 it's not a Seventh-day Adventist school 17:49 and I guess you could say it's not as Christian 17:54 as you would think it is. It's more Christian 17:56 by name, not so much by appearance and action. 18:01 Okay, so tell us what you did? I would stand outside 18:05 after class by the administration building 18:08 where people come in to eat or on their way 18:11 out to class to in from class and I would ask 18:15 if they wanted to pray. And the initial response 18:18 was pray? Why would we wanna pray? Who prays? 18:22 Pray for what? And. This is a Christian college. 18:25 Right and I would just tell them that we can pray 18:29 for anything, it can be school related, 18:31 home related, job related it doesn't matter. 18:34 Wherever you want to pray about, 18:35 we'll pray about it and that's how it started, 18:38 we would do that and over a courses of few days 18:42 people started warming up to the idea and 18:44 you would see soon start to see groups of people 18:49 praying together in the middle of campus 18:50 just completely unbelievable. Well anything 18:54 come out of that, did you make friends, 18:56 did you get any Bible studies started 18:58 out of that or anything. I did I think the first 19:01 encouraging time I had wondering if this was 19:05 having any positive affect, how this was working. 19:08 Was sitting in class and over hearing people 19:11 talking about hey, that weird guy that prays? 19:14 Have you seen him? He is a real nut you know 19:17 but they would and then they would talk 19:19 about it as if, wow I can't believe someone's doing, 19:22 this is great. My friend, she prayed with somebody 19:25 and now things are better for her and 19:28 they really seem to get into it. 19:30 That was really encouraging. 19:31 Well thank you so much Richard, you know 19:33 I think it really is worth it to bring your 19:36 kids to ASI, would you agree? Certainly. 19:38 Okay, have a wonderful life. Thank you. 19:47 Friends, I don't think we can underestimate 19:50 the privilege of bringing our friends with us to ASI, 19:55 especially our children. Good morning. 19:58 Good morning. How are you this morning? 20:00 Marvelous. Marvelous. 20:02 Well I think you are Marvella Burton 20:03 isn't that right? Yes I am. 20:05 Does that have anything to do with 20:06 your ministry Marvella? Absolutely. 20:08 What is the name of your Ministry? 20:10 Marvelous Lifestyle Ministry. And Marvella, 20:14 I understand that you operate a self supporting 20:16 school, can you tell me about that? Yes, 20:20 when I was about 4 years old my mother 20:22 started teaching. She was my first teacher 20:24 and since that time she taught for many years 20:27 and then she went and taught for the 20:29 public school and send us to Oakwood but then 20:32 she reopened the school and now it has been 20:35 in existence for about 40 years. 20:37 What age group do you teach? 20:39 I teach grade 6 and up. And the school itself 20:43 has how many grades? Last year we had 20:46 46 students pre-k through 12. 20:48 And I understand that you are running a school 20:52 for exceptional children is that correct? 20:54 Yes, it's a special education program, 20:57 what makes it special is that we teach true 21:00 Christian education and the students are special 21:03 because they are an heritage from the Lord, 21:05 and we are special teachers because we love 21:09 the Lord and we are missionaries. 21:10 So special education does not have to mean 21:13 that the children are handicapped. 21:15 Oh no, well they are handicapped because. 21:18 Are all children handicapped? 21:19 They come into the world disabled. 21:22 Disabled from what Marvella? Sin. 21:24 That's right, can you tell me how this is affected 21:31 the children that come to you, tell me a little 21:34 bit about some of the children that have been 21:36 affected by this school. Well one story comes 21:39 to mind that involved an 8-year-old boy who came 21:43 to our school and he had been to several schools 21:47 who had said that he could not learn. 21:49 So did he learn anything at your school? 21:51 Boy did he ever learned and then he became a teacher, 21:54 I remember we had a smoking Sam and I was 21:58 teaching a health class about smoking and show 22:01 them pictures of the lungs and told them that 22:04 anybody that smoked had a habit that God 22:07 could deliver them from. And so, he went home 22:10 that night, both of his parents smoked and he 22:13 told his parents what I had said and said that 22:16 Jesus can deliver you, let's pray and so they 22:19 got down on their knees and they prayed. 22:22 They had been smoking 20 years or more. 22:25 That night ended their smoking career and today 22:30 the entire family are Seventh Day Adventist. 22:34 Isn't that marvelous? And this is a child that 22:39 people had told you was difficult and could not 22:42 learn and he learned how to witness for the Lord. 22:46 And a tag on that was that they sent their relatives 22:51 to our school, three little children and the 22:53 7-year-old girl would go home every Friday and say 22:56 we've got to go to church tomorrow it's Sabbath. 23:00 Well after a couple of years of doing that 23:03 about two summers ago, eight members of her 23:06 family were baptized at a tent 23:07 effort in Huntsville, Alabama. 23:10 So can we witness in every place that we are, 23:12 whether it's a school or business or anything, 23:16 do you feel that way Marvella? 23:17 We must witness. We must 23:18 and Marvella, is this your first time at ASI? 23:22 This is a first convention but I just found out of 23:24 about ASI couple of years ago 23:26 and I joined this past spring. 23:28 So she is a new member, I want you to remember 23:31 to come up and say hello to Marvella. 23:35 Marvella, I understand that you had another 23:39 experience that was really exciting about an 23:41 8th grader, can you tell me about this. 23:44 Yes, I could write volumes about my exciting 23:47 stories but this exciting story was about a 23:51 young man who came from New York and his mother 23:54 wanted him to attend our school so badly but I told 23:57 her that we didn't have a boarding academy. 23:59 So she begged for me to take him into my home 24:03 and so I talked to the Lord and he told me okay. 24:06 The first day he arrived there on the bus, 24:09 I wanted to ship him home and so I called his father 24:13 and said, this is not going to work. 24:16 Now I believe in children being respectful 24:19 and even though he had a street background, 24:21 he had been raised in a Adventist's home 24:23 but he was just off the chain and so the father 24:28 begged and pleaded for me to just give him 24:31 one more chance and today I stand here rejoicing 24:35 in the Lord to let you know that a week later 24:39 I was in the kitchen preparing food and he said 24:41 Mrs. Burton, I want to be baptized, 24:44 I want to be a Christian and I want to be a 24:46 medical missionary. After just one week. 24:48 One week. What did you do? I almost fell out, 24:53 and I am saying okay Lord and then my mind went back 24:57 what if you had send him home. I am so glad 24:59 I can hear the voice of God speaking to me 25:02 and being willing to yield my will to the Lord. 25:07 Well, he stayed with me 2 ½ years and he went 25:10 back home and I just spoke with him 25:15 last week he called me. He keeps in touch, 25:17 he has been in the CNA program. 25:21 He attended our seminar there in job core he found, 25:24 he called me to find the nearest Adventist church 25:27 and he took 6 to 8 young men 25:30 to the seminars every night. 25:33 And today he is preparing to enter the LPN program, 25:39 now when he came to me as an 8th grader, 25:41 he could barely read. I had to send him 25:44 to my mother side, she teaches grades 3 25:46 and up to start him on basic reading 25:49 and spelling skills. He had no Math skills 25:53 and I said how did you get to the 8th grade? 25:55 He said I don't know they just move us to 25:57 the next grade but today he is going to be a nurse, 26:02 can you say amen to that? Amen and Marvella, 26:06 I understand that in your little school there 26:12 that your mother is still working, 26:14 why doesn't she retire? Well she retired from the 26:18 public school system and I guess she remembers 26:21 the story about Moses, until God sits you down, 26:25 you keep on working and she is way up there in age. 26:27 How old is your mother? She is in her 80s. 26:30 Okay, so ASI members, I want you to know this, 26:34 we don't retire. Praise God. 26:36 Okay, thank you very much Marvella. 26:38 You're welcome. God bless. 26:44 As Elder Folkenberg says, we do not discriminate 26:48 on age here at ASI. Good morning. Good morning. 26:53 I have got here with me Jessica and Robert, 26:56 Robert, I can pronounce your last name but Jessica 26:59 I am going to just call her Jessica K 27:02 and this is Robert Kuczek. 27:04 Robert, you're from Poland, is that correct? 27:07 Yes. And what organization are you with in Poland. 27:11 I am involved with ministry called 27:13 Springs of Life Foundation. And what does 27:15 Springs of Life Foundation do? 27:18 Well our goal is to publish books on the health, 27:20 on the Bible and books for the children and since 27:24 I am coming from a Catholic country, 27:26 we would like to place those books 27:27 in every house in Poland. That's wonderful. 27:31 And I understand that you have been very successful 27:35 with the project "The Great Controversy," 27:38 is that right? Well the Lord really blessed, 27:40 it was some years ago we're together with the 27:43 Polish Union when we took up on the 27:45 project of the great controversy. 27:47 Our goal was to publish the 100,000 copies of 27:51 The Great Controversy but the Lord really blessed 27:54 and it came to the point where in our print shop 27:58 we were actually printing 10,000 copies of great 28:00 controversy every second month and it went like 28:03 this for the whole year. As a result until now 28:07 we sold more than close to 200 thousand copies of 28:11 great controversy and the great controversy became 28:14 the fourth best selling book in the country. 28:17 You say the fourth best selling book 28:19 in the whole country? Fourth best selling 28:21 and I am. Of Christian books? 28:23 No, not just Christian books, of all books, 28:25 all commercially published books. 28:28 That's fantastic, isn't it. Alright, 28:33 now I understand that Springs of Life is 28:35 also involved in health ministry and health work. 28:39 Yes, Springs of Life about five years ago took on 28:42 another avenue of our ministry; 28:46 we don't have a lifestyle center. 28:48 We don't have any building to conduct a 28:50 New Start program but we decided to do them 28:53 anyway in a rented places. So, 5 years ago 28:57 we decided to rent the facility and start our 29:01 first 10 day New Start program and what was 29:05 interesting about this we didn't know that 29:07 the Lord will really bless this to the point where 29:10 right now we have people waiting for the program, 29:15 there is no. We are not able to handle more than 29:18 what we are doing. So you have a waiting list 29:20 for your program? Yes. That's fantastic 29:23 and have you had any interesting experiences 29:26 in your lifestyle center, I am sure you've had a 29:29 few and what, how do you reach out to 29:32 the upper class in Poland. Is it through this center? 29:36 Yes, actually this is the way where we can reach 29:39 people who are not, we're from the upper class group 29:44 I could tell you many experiences, many stories. 29:47 What is interesting that for the first, 29:49 during the first five programs that we conducted, 29:53 we already had 5 baptisms. One baptism for 29:57 one program and of course I could tell you 30:00 more stories but I have a friend with me 30:02 who can tell the real story. Right, Jessica 30:05 I understand that a few years ago you suddenly 30:10 heard about this program, how did you 30:12 hear about it the first time? 30:13 Okay, it's quite a long story, but for the 30:16 first time my mom actually heard about the program 30:19 and she signed up for it and the way that 30:22 God has been leading us to this program 30:24 is just amazing. So how long do you think 30:28 the Lord has been preparing you before you 30:30 have even heard about Springs of Life? 30:33 My whole life but I think around 4 years ago 30:38 was the most important time in my life when I 30:41 knew that God is speaking to me personally. 30:44 I guess it all started, I come from a wealthy family 30:48 and a lot of people wonder if I come from such a 30:51 family than why am I searching 30:54 for something more. Do you think that God 30:57 has everybody trying to search for something more, 31:01 is there a place in our heart, in our head 31:03 that we're missing something? 31:05 Jessica was missing something. 31:07 What did you feel you are missing Jessica? 31:09 Well I knew that I am missing somebody that 31:11 I am missing love and I am missing someone 31:14 who really loves me, and this is really amazing 31:16 but at one point of my life I actually wrote a 31:18 letter that someone who I miss so much and I 31:21 didn't know who it was. Who do you think 31:25 it was now? It was Jesus; 31:28 He was putting that in my heart. 31:30 So tell us how you actually got to this center 31:33 or how your mother got to this center and then 31:35 what happened? Okay I'll start perhaps from 31:39 how the Lord was preparing me just before I 31:41 found out about the New Start program, 31:44 this was during my entrance into university 31:47 and at this point of life I was going through 31:50 a huge depression. I really didn't know 31:52 what the sense of life is and I was studying 31:55 and it didn't make sense to me. And so the Lord 31:59 was watching all this and he said okay, 32:01 I can't leave Jessica alone anymore, 32:03 I have to tell her I'm here. So what the Lord 32:07 did is he gave me love and so I was asking 32:10 the question, what is the point of life? 32:12 And the Lord gave me love, so when I found 32:14 love I knew what the sense of life is and I said 32:18 now I know why I am living. So how did you 32:22 get to Springs of Life? Okay, and from that part 32:27 and I was going through an experience, 32:31 because you know when you love someone so much, 32:33 you don't want to miss them, you don't want to 32:35 lose them and me and my boyfriend we were going 32:39 through a hard time and during this time the Lord 32:42 was by my side and I don't know how he spoke 32:45 to me but I just knew that whatever is going on 32:47 it's gonna be okay. And at the same time my mom 32:50 was going through depression as well and 32:52 she found out through her friend. 32:54 She got the number to the Springs of Life Foundation 32:58 and she called them and found out about the 33:00 New Start program and signed up. 33:03 So she signed up and that's how it started. 33:06 And she came back and what did you notice that 33:09 was different about your mom? Everything, 33:12 I was so shocked when I saw mom because she was 33:15 full of peace and she had a new sense of mission. 33:19 She came home and she made us a wonderful 33:22 vegetarian breakfast and this was like 33:24 amazing to me, because beforehand we would 33:27 all just eat separately and then here comes mom 33:29 and she made a wonderful breakfast. 33:31 It was the best breakfast I ate and I was observing 33:34 mom and I am just watching her like this is something 33:37 for me and I am like you know how it is 33:40 when you love someone you want to know 33:41 how to cook the best foods. So I'm like, 33:43 I have to go there and I have to learn how to cook 33:44 the best food. So then you got there and what 33:47 happened once you came to Springs of Life 33:49 and how are you involved now? Okay, so when I got 33:53 there then it was then that I knew that it was 33:57 Jesus speaking to me and I was, I just knew 34:03 it was God who was preparing me all the way 34:05 and I was there with my mom and I was listening 34:09 to the lectures and the person who is giving 34:12 out lectures, my good friend now. 34:16 She had no idea about the impact that the words 34:19 she was saying had on my heart. 34:21 I just felt something breaking up in me 34:23 and I was sitting there with my mom 34:25 and I started crying and I was crying and crying 34:28 and that was the beginning. And from that point 34:31 on I was just like sponge you know, 34:33 I was so eager to learn everything. 34:36 I was reading all the books that I just got into 34:38 my hands and the Bible; I said we need a Bible. 34:41 And it was so obvious to me because I knew it was 34:44 the voice of the Lord who was speaking to me. 34:47 He was there with me through all 34:48 my experiences; he is with me right now. 34:51 And did you get baptized or anything? 34:54 Yes, two years ago. So two years ago 34:56 you got baptized, praise God. Two years ago. 34:59 And are you anxious to have everybody else 35:02 here about this as well? Absolutely yes, 35:04 I know that there is no greater joy for me 35:08 in my life but to tell people about Jesus 35:11 what he did in my life and that he is near every 35:15 single person, he misses every single one of us 35:17 and this is not the end because he is working 35:19 so wonderfully in my family. I just can't 35:22 express how grateful I am, you know just two weeks 35:25 ago I was praying together with my mom and my dad. 35:28 Four years ago this would be impossible. 35:32 And so I know that the Lord is guiding us. 35:34 So when God reaches into the heart of one person, 35:38 the repel effect goes everywhere, 35:40 goes out to your neighbors, goes out to your 35:42 loved ones, your friends, your family and then 35:45 from there where do you expect it would go Robert? 35:48 Well we hope that there would be many other people 35:51 who will also find the same joy. That's right, 35:55 so we want to pray for Springs of Life Foundation 35:59 and I know that you will be blessed by being here 36:02 and we look forward to seeing you 36:05 and all of your family in the kingdom of heaven. 36:07 Thank you. Thank you ASI. 36:10 You know some 28 years ago Madeline and I attend 36:14 our first ASI convention and there were two things 36:18 that really hooked me onto ASI. 36:21 One was hearing the testimonials, the other 36:24 was hearing the project reports and you know 36:27 that was the thing that really opened my eyes 36:30 to ASI and the potential of working together 36:33 as a group and in our own market places being 36:39 able to be a positive influence and so 36:43 this morning it's a delight to bring you to 36:45 what I consider to be very important 36:48 project reports. Joining me for the 36:51 first report is Steven Grabnier, 36:55 he is Vice President at OCI. Steve, we often hear 37:01 OCI mentioned, some of these folks may not know 37:04 who OCI is and some may. But tell us what 37:09 OCI is about and some of the interesting things 37:13 going on currently. Sure it'll be my pleasure Ray, 37:17 OCI is an acronym like ASI and many people 37:21 don't know what ASI stands for or what OCI stands for 37:25 but OCI stands for Outpost Centers International 37:29 and the name came from a concept found 37:33 in writings of Ellen White where God's people are 37:36 encouraged to minister to the cities through centers 37:40 located out in the rural areas. 37:42 And so Outpost Centers International is a 37:46 network organization of around 37:48 seventy ministries world wide. 37:51 United States, South America, Asia, Africa, 37:54 Europe, Eastern and Western Europe, Australia 37:57 and each of these ministries have a history 38:00 that's actually closely connected to ASI's origins. 38:04 Okay and what are you excited about today, 38:07 you've, I first met Steve in Africa back in 38:11 how many years ago? That was probably 11 years ago. 38:14 And since then Steve and his family were at 38:17 River Side and that was one project that really 38:20 caught my interest early on. So now I had a 38:24 privilege of visiting there, but tell us 38:25 you've been back serving as Vice President 38:27 at the Head Quarters in Collegedale now for 38:30 how many years? About a year and a half. 38:32 About a year and a half, from your perspective 38:33 what is that you are excited about? 38:35 It was just as, as Debbie was sharing yesterday 38:39 her excitement about ASI members, 38:40 OCI members are doing tremendous exciting things 38:44 in a variety of places around the world. 38:47 One of our interesting projects for example 38:49 you'll see it in your brochure is Blue Projects 38:52 down in South America working along the 38:54 Amazon river basin. They have Bible workers, 38:58 lay pastors training, a medical launch 39:01 where they go up and down the river, 39:03 a plane o help them reach the more remote places. 39:07 I remember Ray one time you were visiting 39:09 one of our projects in Tanzania, Kibidula 39:12 and you went out to visit one of the Bible workers, 39:14 how long did it take you to drive out the two. 39:17 You flew out there right? Bill Norton and I flew us 39:20 in there, to place, took this about 20 minutes. 39:23 20 minutes and the Bible workers who took 39:25 their bicycles took about 8 to 10 hours? Something 39:29 like that? 8 plus hours, they got there just 39:31 before Sabbath school, we had breakfast and flew 39:34 over there in 20 minutes. That's right and so 39:37 aviation can be a tremendous help, 39:39 South America, in Africa other parts of the world. 39:43 So our member organizations and again 39:46 we have about 75 different OCI member organizations 39:50 and members of ASI as well and they are doing 39:54 tremendous things, they like to be on the front 39:56 edge of evangelism, an outreach. 40:01 For example one of the most difficult places 40:03 I think we all realize to reach are the cities, 40:06 particularly the secular cities, 40:08 Western Europe for example. 40:10 So, in Prague we have several restaurants 40:13 reaching out to the secular people in that 40:16 city and they had done a tremendous work doing 40:18 health clubs and education and evangelism. 40:21 Even starting a church, a Sabbath school in their 40:25 restaurant on Sabbath mornings. 40:27 Customers come in, there's no restaurant service 40:30 but there is Bible study, they get a meal and 40:34 through this venue they're able to reach many, many 40:37 souls who otherwise would not come to a 40:40 regular evangelistic series. I am gonna tell 40:43 you another. Sure. Kind of like 40:44 cutting edge one of our ministries, 40:46 just kind of a new baby ministry. 40:48 It's being birth out of Kibidula and it's called 40:51 Congo Frontlines Missions. Now Congo, a huge country 40:55 in central Africa, there is a good sizeable 40:59 Adventist population in certain parts of it but 41:02 in certain regions in Congo it's very, 41:06 the Adventist presence is very small. 41:08 So young man by the name of Keith Moser 41:10 is planning on moving to the Congo to a very humid, 41:13 somewhat dangerous part of the country 41:15 and he is hoping to start a medical outreach, 41:18 evangelistic training, training local workers to 41:22 minister to the people in that area, 41:24 we're really excited to be part of that 41:26 just new birth venture. That's really 41:28 progress isn't it? OCI birth Kibidula 41:31 farms in Tanzania. That's right. 41:33 And now they are birthing. 41:34 And then Kibidula Frontlines Congo Missions, 41:37 Congo Frontlines Missions. Steve, OCI has been a 41:40 member of ASI for a long time. Since our beginning. 41:44 You mentioned that it start kind of parallels 41:47 ASI's, how has the association of OCI with 41:51 ASI affected OCI over the years? 41:55 ASI has been a tremendous blessing to 41:57 OCI and OCI members through both the fellowship 42:01 we get to convention but also financial help 42:03 through the donations that come in. 42:05 If you look in your program there is 42:07 something called the missionary assistance 42:08 program and that's money is that people donate 42:12 that OCI administers for expatiate missionaries 42:17 that are going overseas on a sacrificial wage, 42:20 this helps us give them a little bit to help carry 42:23 their burden while they're there plus gives them a 42:25 little bit of financial help when they come back 42:28 for furlough. So it's, ASI has been a real 42:31 blessing both to OCI and our member organizations. 42:33 And I also think that OCI participation as an ASI 42:37 member has had a positive result as well. 42:40 That's right, I think there is a good 42:41 relationship between the two. Just like to 42:43 close with one thing who really like to help 42:45 people get involved in missions and we like to 42:48 send somebody on an all expenses 42:49 paid on the mission trip. I don't know if anyone 42:51 is interested in that, all expenses paid for a 42:54 mission trip. Stop by the OCI booth and pickup 42:56 your passport and it might give you the opportunity 43:00 to go on an all expenses paid mission trip 43:02 with one of our OCI and ASI project member. 43:05 Do you know the booth number? 43:07 It's right between 200 and 300, we have about 43:10 4 booths together, they're easy to find. 43:11 Alright, look them up, go on a free mission trip. 43:13 Thanks very much. Thanks Steven. Blessings to you. 43:21 Our next two guests are also members of 43:24 an institution, an OCI organization 43:28 Dr. Viriato Ferreira and Pastor Daniel Bastos, 43:34 they are from the country of Portugal. 43:37 You see ASI is indeed an international organization 43:42 Dr. Viriato, what is it that you are doing as an 43:47 ASI, OCI member in Lisbon? What are you upto? 43:53 Well, Brother Ray, about 5 years ago, 43:57 we went to Portugal to try and establish a lifestyle 44:00 center in the school of health evangelism. 44:03 But due to property costs with ASI help we were 44:08 able to open the small clinic in downtown Lisbon, 44:11 right in the heart of Lisbon. Lisbon has about 44:14 3 ½ million people and we thought that in this 44:17 country where most people do not go to church, 44:19 they are closed to any most forms of evangelism 44:23 that medical work once again would be the 44:26 Jesus method to work in that community. 44:29 So we opened that center but another door opened 44:32 which was for us to get involved in health expo's, 44:35 now you will have a chance to see what the 44:38 health expo is if you go to the blue section here 44:42 and to the exhibit hall. Health expo's in Portugal 44:45 have reached in the past 5 years over 65,000 44:49 people and now this has been amazing, 44:52 we were not expecting such a response and what 44:55 has done is helping to break down tragedies. 44:58 It's bringing people from the community that would 45:00 never come to evangelistic series, they come in 45:04 contact with the church and these opens the doors 45:08 for follow up work and I would like to ask by 45:11 my colleague and partner, Pastor Daniel Bastos. 45:14 He is the health expo coordinator for the 45:16 whole country and he has some stories 45:20 to tell you as well. Being a pastor, I am totally 45:25 I'm totally convinced that the health 45:28 way is the only almost way. 45:33 Our country is a very Catholic country and 45:37 becoming more and more secular and so we have 45:42 had these many health expo's like 70 in the 45:46 last 5 years and every health expo we have 45:51 many opportunities to share. Recently, we had a 45:55 health expo where almost thousand people 45:58 sign up for, by a correspondence Bible study. 46:03 But the thing is, how can we follow this people up. 46:06 Normally what we do we have health expo, 46:10 we invite people for health seminars, 46:13 like health secrets of the Bible, five day plan 46:17 to stop smoking, stress, nutritional seminar 46:20 and then we arrange to meet these people at home 46:24 when we have done the seminars. 46:28 And normally we ask people, what do you feel 46:32 about the seminars, has there anything that 46:35 has touched you? And people opened up 46:38 they we can pray with them, so I firmly believe 46:42 that health work and personal evangelism 46:47 is the way. Now my question is why if it is 46:52 so clear, why so many people are not doing this 46:56 and the answer may come when we don't have a 47:01 training center, where we don't have a lot of 47:04 people knowing and experimenting this. 47:08 Dr. Viriato, I know you mentioned the downtown 47:11 medical center, clinic. Yes. And I know that 47:14 for sometime you've had your eye on some property, 47:18 I understand that there is some good news, 47:20 would you like to share that with us. 47:22 Well this good news, yes we've seen many people 47:24 at the down town medical centre and we have 47:27 wonderful opportunities to pray with these patients 47:30 and it's wonderful to see that when you come 47:33 to a point of need the people just open up 47:36 and if you treat them respectfully and you try 47:39 and help, they just open up to the point that 47:42 I am convinced today. That everybody is 47:45 spiritual, they may be irreligious, they may be 47:48 secular but they have to deal with spiritual issues. 47:50 So well once again with the help of ASI last Thursday, 47:57 that was last week from since last Thursday 48:00 we are able to move into a property that will have 48:04 the lifestyle center where we can follow up 48:06 these patients in the more personal care that we'll be 48:10 giving and also a school of health evangelism. 48:13 We would like to train young people on practical 48:16 lines in evangelism, also practical lines for them 48:19 to get a living to make a living and I tell you 48:21 the projects, the prospects are just opening up. 48:25 This is from Thursday last week and it was with 48:27 ASI's help from last year's offering, which we 48:30 would like to thank you very much in the Lord 48:33 to thank you for your contribution. 48:35 Now, I believe this is going to be a wonderful 48:37 tool for evangelism in Europe and I just want to 48:40 share you that the health expos are now in 48:44 all western countries except for one 48:47 which is Belgium and Luxemburg. 48:49 But Luxemburg is planning a health expo in Belgium, 48:52 I got an email from the health ministries 48:54 personally in that union saying that they are 48:58 planning to have a health expo as well. 48:59 So it's in Switzerland, in Germany, in France, 49:02 in Spain and they are getting exited and they're 49:04 using these method more and more and I believe 49:07 that this center in Portugal is going to 49:10 provide the spiritual bases for follow up of these 49:13 people as well as patient care like we haven't 49:17 been able to do before and you know people 49:21 might say well you know, have you had any 49:23 experience in doing new start programs 49:26 for a week or two? Well we did, we started, 49:28 we rented a hotel and we started doing 49:31 life style programs in the rented hotel 49:34 but let me tell you, it's not the same. 49:37 The team is good but you know the personnel 49:40 in the hotel they don't have the same vision. 49:43 They are out on mission field as well but they 49:45 don't have the same vision, the same care 49:47 for the patients. We are not able to do all 49:50 the treatments that we would like to do. 49:52 So this clinic, this new property will be 49:54 able to do that. Thank you. I don't want you 49:57 to loose the thought, the message that 49:59 Dr. Viriato and Pastor Dan has brought to us 50:03 that the health message can be the entering bridge 50:06 and it can be bridged from medical to spiritual 50:11 and for many people that's the only way 50:13 we will be able to reach them. I also want you to 50:16 take this thought with you from these 50:19 two project reports. These two projects 50:24 represents 70 sum OCI members who are working 50:28 on sacrificial wages and for ASI we consider 50:32 it a privilege to be associated with them 50:34 and our prayers are with each member wherever 50:36 they are this morning, thank you. 50:38 Thank you ASI and thank you. Thank you. 51:06 My Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. 51:13 He leads me beside the still waters. 51:20 Though he prayeth and he gathers 51:24 and foes they oppress. 51:28 I find strength in the hands of our Father. 51:37 We will walk through the valley, 51:41 we will walk in peace. We will walk through 51:46 the valley, believing in God. 51:52 We will walk through the valley, 51:56 we will walk in peace. 52:00 We will walk through the valley, with the God. 52:19 He prepares us a table before all our foes. 52:27 And goodness and mercy are there. 52:34 At the end of the valley in the hands of a boy, 52:41 there forever his goodness will shine. 52:50 We will walk through the valley, 52:54 we will walk in peace. 52:58 We will walk through the valley, 53:02 we will live in God. 53:05 We will walk through the valley, 53:09 we will walk in peace. 53:15 We will walk through the valley, 53:19 We will walk through the valley, 53:23 We will walk through the valley, with the Lord. 53:29 With the Lord. With the Lord. 53:33 With the Lord. With the Lord. With the Lord. |
Revised 2014-12-17