Participants:
Series Code: OTR
Program Code: OTR000933
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01:03 Let us bow our heads together.
01:07 Our heavenly Father, 01:09 it has been such a privilege to be here, 01:13 to praise Your name and song, to hear the wonderful things 01:19 that You are doing around the world. 01:22 And, Lord, we're so blessed by You 01:28 to be able to be a part of Your great commission. 01:34 As we prepare to hear more 01:36 of the wonderful things You do, Lord, 01:39 and as we prepare to study a word 01:41 we do not want to go forward with out Your Holy Spirit 01:45 in our hearts leading our minds in our midst, Lord. 01:50 Please fill these place with Your Holy Spirit. 01:53 And, Lord, there are more brothers and sisters 01:58 and children of God watching, 02:01 may Your Holy Spirit visit them as well 02:05 and may we know that You've been with us today 02:09 and may others know when we go forth from here. 02:14 In Jesus name, amen. Please be seated. 02:39 Without Him 02:41 I could do nothing 02:47 Without Him 02:50 I'd surely fail 02:55 Without Him 02:58 I would be drifting 03:04 Like a ship without a sail 03:13 Jesus, O Jesus 03:21 Do you know Him today? 03:25 Do not turn Him away 03:29 O Jesus 03:34 My Jesus without Him 03:40 How lost I would be 03:47 Without Him 03:49 I would be dying 03:55 Without Him 03:58 I'd be enslaved 04:04 Without Him 04:06 Life would be hopeless 04:12 But with Jesus 04:14 Thank God I'm saved 04:21 Jesus, O Jesus 04:29 Do you know Him today? 04:33 You can turn Him away 04:37 O Jesus 04:42 My Jesus 04:46 Without Him 04:49 How lost I would be 04:55 Jesus, my Jesus 05:05 without Him 05:08 How lost I would be 05:38 Our panelists today are Sikhu Hlatshwayo. 05:42 She's the vice president for resources 05:44 for the Generation of Youth for Christ. 05:46 She's involved with campus ministries 05:48 on public university campuses all over Michigan. 05:51 She was born in the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe 05:55 and then grew up in Bulawayo. 05:57 And after winning a scholarship to study 05:59 in Victoria, British Columbia, 06:01 she did the same and graduated 06:03 from Wellesley College in Boston. 06:07 Wendell Lawrence is a dental surgeon 06:11 and he practices in Southfield, Michigan. 06:13 He was born in Trinidad. 06:15 He's been ASI member for eight years 06:17 and he's on the board of AMEN, 06:20 the Adventist Medical Evangelism Network. 06:23 Patty LaVanture directs cooking schools 06:25 at Country Life Natural Food in Pullman, Michigan. 06:29 She grew up in a Catholic communion, 06:31 later was trained by Mark Antino Finley in Chicago. 06:36 And she is assisted in training wellness centers, 06:39 equipping overseas missionaries plus 06:41 inspiring lay people and pastor's wives 06:44 and equipping churches and outreach. 06:47 Elizabeth Gonsalves-Remington from Long Island, New York, 06:51 She is the president of the ASI Chapter 06:54 in the northeast 06:55 and she directs a home health care agency 06:58 and visiting nurse agency of a 150 staff on Long Island. 07:03 Her heart is for building 07:04 and equipping Christian schools in her native Guyana, 07:08 where the institution is grown from 100 students 07:11 to over 350 now. 07:13 Bill Dull leaves in Calcutta, India 07:16 for last 15 years for he and his wife Lois, 07:19 have established and operate two orphanages 07:22 filled with the 170 children, 07:25 three Bible seminars with 80 students 07:28 and midwifery training program for village midwives. 07:32 Has been an ASI member since 1979 07:35 and has taught medical missionaries 07:37 in a number of places across North America 07:40 and other places in the world and now in India. 07:42 And the reason that we've come together today 07:45 is to review with you the wonderful lesson 07:50 that we've had about the compassion of Jesus Christ 07:53 and we think about the quote of Emma Lazarus 07:57 on the base of the Statue of Liberty, 07:58 "Give me your tired, your poor, 08:00 your huddled masses yearning to breathe free" 08:03 sounds much like the situation of mankind 08:06 2,000 years ago in Palestine and how does it apply today. 08:12 "Give me your tired, your poor" does that apply to us today? 08:15 Amen. 08:17 Jesus said, "Come unto me, all ye that labor 08:19 and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 08:21 Take my yoke upon you, and learn with me, 08:25 I meek and lowly in heart 08:26 and you will find rest for your souls." 08:29 Every part of his ministry was motivated by compassion. 08:33 You've may heard popular 3ABN personal Cheri Peters says 08:38 "Don't forget God is crazy about you." 08:41 What was it about Jesus and His ministry? 08:44 What was it about His ministry that large crowds, 08:47 great multitudes would flock to see Jesus? 08:52 I mean, the Bible said that many tried to touch Him 08:55 because they felt that power was coming out of Him to heal. 09:00 So, He drew attention 09:02 because power was coming out of Him. 09:04 Anybody else? Sikhu? 09:06 I think in addition to that 09:08 I gonna return to John Chapter 9. 09:10 In John Chapter 9 we've the story of the gentleman 09:13 who was blind all his life and then he was healed 09:16 and then when he is taken in before the Sanhedrin 09:20 and they have a problem with the fact 09:21 that he believes Jesus to be prophet. 09:23 In chapter 9 verse 35 it says that 09:27 "Jesus heard that they had cast Him out" 09:29 they had cast Him out of synagogue 09:31 "and when he had found him, he said unto him, 09:34 Dost thou believe on the Son of God?" 09:36 So that Jesus who had a personal interest 09:39 in this gentleman who was being ostracized 09:41 for his faith in God 09:42 and because of that personal interest 09:44 that Jesus took in individuals it made people draw-- 09:49 people were drawn to Him because of that 09:51 because He individually cared about their needs. 09:53 Bill? 09:55 One of the things that I've noticed is that 09:58 when you pay attention to children 10:01 the parents and older people really take note 10:05 and Jesus said, "bring them to Me." 10:07 He held them on His knee, He blessed them 10:10 and the people really took note of His compassion 10:13 for even the little children. 10:15 Patty? 10:16 Well in Isaiah 53 it talks about 10:19 how Jesus had no form or comeliness 10:22 and He had no beauty that we would desire Him. 10:25 But when I think about Jesus 10:27 there must have been some thing amazing, 10:30 some love that emanated out of Him through His eyes, 10:34 through His tone of the voice that just drew people to Him. 10:37 This amazing love that they could sense 10:40 otherwise He wouldn't have be able to appeal 10:42 to individuals and crowds alike. 10:46 Elizabeth? Okay. 10:49 You know, very often people are drawn 10:51 and enthuse by good oratory. 10:54 We've read so many places 10:56 that Jesus was such a wonderful speaker. 10:59 We read about the gentleness of His voice. 11:02 And what was most interesting is the where he taught. 11:06 He used the things that people were accustomed to. 11:09 He used the very things that they did from day to day, 11:13 planting and all the other things 11:15 to bring home a very and much more powerful point. 11:20 Now what I like most about it He could have all the oratory, 11:25 all the good speech and if it was not accompanied 11:29 by those personal compassionate times 11:33 He spent with people it might not have meant us much 11:37 as all the good speaking how canon will do. 11:42 How can we apply these compassionate, 11:44 love and action in the mission were we live and work? 11:52 Have you thought about that the power of His love 11:55 and compassion is really what it was that drew people, 11:59 even though people came for a variety of reasons. 12:02 According to Mark 5 and Mark 6 and John 12, 12:06 it says that spiritual hunger is something that drew them. 12:10 They came to be heal, they had a medical need, 12:13 they were seeking political solution, 12:16 they were desiring relief from a foreign occupying power 12:19 that they were under their pressure 12:22 and some came merely out of curiosity 12:25 but what was it the phrases said 12:28 about the way the crowds came to see Him? 12:31 What was the observation that phrases said? 12:35 In today's language we'll say the world 12:38 has gone mad after Him. 12:40 He was very much like a super star of His day. 12:44 Multitudes came from all around. 12:46 It was not from the particular town 12:48 that He was speaking in at that time. 12:51 The Bible says, I think its Mark says 12:53 that they came from Jerusalem, from Judea, 12:56 from Samaria, from Galilee, from every part 13:00 and I want you to remember 13:02 it's not like today were you took your car 13:05 and you drove from Orlando or you drove from my Miami 13:09 or you drove from wherever you came from. 13:12 They came by foot in hot deserts 13:17 and whatever they heard about and whatever the people thought 13:20 when there was-- in His presence 13:23 was strong enough to keep those multitudes 13:25 coming day after day and the Babylon so said 13:30 some followed Him from town to town 13:32 because they just couldn't get enough 13:35 of what He had to say. 13:37 Have you ever thought what is your motive 13:40 for following Jesus? 13:43 I mean, Jesus said to disciples, follow Me 13:46 and I'll make you fishes of man. 13:48 So I think that our motive should be 13:50 to make fishes of man for Him and the same energy 13:56 that we put into serving others 13:59 would be the savings of our own souls. 14:03 Bill? 14:04 The same way Jesus took the little children, 14:07 He took me. 14:10 Well, you know, when we think about 14:13 we go to church some times because of custom, 14:16 because of family, because of habit 14:19 and when we stop and ask that question, 14:21 why is that that I follow Jesus? 14:23 What is that draws me? Sikhu. 14:26 I just want to say that from working with young people 14:29 and being a young person I think sometimes 14:32 because you go to church so much and you here about 14:35 how you follow Christ for the wrong motives 14:36 and that's not good and I completely agree 14:39 but the danger becomes that as a young person 14:42 I don't want to follow Jesus for the wrong motives 14:44 and because I know that my motives are wrong 14:46 I choose not to follow Him at all 14:48 and it may some kind of surprising 14:50 but there are actually lot of young people out there 14:52 who don't want to be a hypocrite 14:54 and that's the reason they don't come to church 14:56 and yet Jesus says come just as you are. 14:59 And even though your motives are wrong 15:00 and you may be coming to church for all the wrong reasons 15:03 but when you're in church 15:04 that's where Jesus can reach you. 15:06 Just come even if you have the wrong motives and pray 15:08 and God is the one who change your motives. 15:11 Yeah, I really appreciate Sikhu bring out that point 15:14 because I think young people are so amazing. 15:17 They can see through so much 15:20 and they don't want to be hypocrites 15:22 but like you said it's better to come 15:25 for the wrong motives then do not come at all 15:27 because Jesus can change our motives. 15:30 And we talked the other day about 15:32 all the different motives 15:33 that people had for coming to Jesus. 15:35 Some wanted physical healings, some wanted spiritual healings, 15:39 some are just curious, some wanted to trick Him. 15:44 They're jealous of the power 15:49 that Jesus had over the people and they wanted-- 15:52 may be they wanted that for themselves 15:53 I'm not sure but they hated Him 15:56 for what they saw in Him rather then loving Him. 15:59 So it's just amazing. 16:00 We do need to search our motives 16:02 but like Bill said Jesus when He came into my life 16:05 and touched me I had to follow Him wherever He led. 16:10 You know, Brother Richard Bland with United Prison Ministries 16:14 with the captive audience that he served, 16:16 he said they can really see through. 16:19 They can tell a phony immediately. 16:21 They have insight to be able to discern 16:25 what a person's real motive is and we need to look and see 16:28 what our motives are really and to be passionate about 16:32 what we live for. 16:35 We live in a very impersonal world today. 16:38 For example, if you got to touch tone phone press one. 16:42 We live in a iPod, ecommerce technological age 16:47 and how is it that compassion relates to a personal touch 16:51 in such an environment that we live in today. 16:55 You know, I missed all the techno buzz 16:59 and the E world we live in, people in society 17:02 are still yearning for that personal touch, 17:07 for their heart fill personal relationship 17:09 that nothing else can replace. 17:11 I think if we do that God is gonna use us 17:14 in a powerful way to touch someone's life 17:17 admits all this technology 17:19 and ecommerce in our society today. 17:22 You know, we can only make a friend 17:23 one at a time, don't we? 17:26 And people do business with people they like. 17:30 And so if we make ourselves available to others 17:33 and win friendships then we have to win a friend 17:36 before we can win a friend of Christ. 17:39 If our life and witness lacks power 17:43 are we misrepresenting the character 17:45 and mission of Jesus? 17:49 Absolutely. 17:51 You know, the Bible talks about how we have-- 17:53 we have this treasure in earthen vessels 17:55 and I think the more we realize are nothingness, 18:00 the more we realize our need for Jesus, 18:02 the more we realize He is our only sufficiency. 18:05 He is all we can give. 18:07 So, if we go to God, just say, Lord, 18:09 I mean empty vessel. 18:11 I have nothing to give except what You put in me, 18:14 we will have what the world needs. 18:17 How is that the personal touch of someone influence you 18:23 to accept Jesus Christ as a personal Savior? 18:28 Well, I could speak from-- I grew up in a Adventist home. 18:32 So, from an early age, 18:34 you know, my parents personal touch 18:35 had a huge influence in me 18:36 making the decision to follow Christ. 18:38 But I particularly remember when I left home 18:41 and I went school in Canada being far away 18:43 from the home for the first time in my life 18:45 I went through some, 18:47 I guess I had to recommit myself to Christ 18:50 and make the decision to keep Sabbath, 18:52 not do home work on the Sabbath day 18:53 and stuff like that. 18:55 Again a challenge that I faced is that 18:57 the school that I went to was about 18:58 30 minutes away from the nearest Church, 19:01 30 minute drive and I had no transportation 19:04 and there was just one particular family 19:06 that took me in as their own and they lived 30 minutes away 19:10 from the Church in the opposite direction. 19:12 They would drive an hour to come pick me up 19:14 and hour back to the church 19:16 and the same thing to drop me back home. 19:18 And that made a huge impact and when I was deciding 19:21 whether or not I was gonna keep the Sabbath or not 19:23 if this family was willing to do that for me 19:26 then I wanted to be faithful to God 19:29 because they were being faithful to me. 19:31 And that was a-- that made a difference in me 19:33 making the decision for Christ to go all the way for Him. 19:36 Amen. Amen. 19:39 Henry, I know for me God sent someone 19:42 into the store were I worked. 19:44 And I was thankful that that person was listening 19:46 to the voice of the Holy Spirit because he had no reason 19:50 to go into the store where I was 19:52 and it was at a time when I was praying 19:54 that the Lord would lead me to the Church 19:56 where He wanted me to be 19:58 and I'm just so thankful for that person touch. 20:03 Yeah, praise the Lord. 20:04 I'm sure that someone was ready at the right time. 20:07 Even a word or date or some literature 20:09 or something is available 20:10 but the personal touch of people 20:12 is really the most significant thing, isn't it? 20:17 "Those who are fighting the battle of life 20:19 at great odds may be strengthened 20:21 and encouraged by the little attentions 20:24 that cost only a loving effort. 20:27 Such a strong helpful grasp 20:28 by the hand of true friend 20:30 is worth more than gold or silver. 20:33 Words of kindness are as welcome 20:35 as the smile of angels." 20:37 According to the Ministry of Healing, 158. 20:39 I know when someone who is working, 20:42 cleaning a restroom at the airport 20:44 or someone who is working at the counter at the airport 20:47 if you say to them, thank you very much 20:49 for the contribution you are making 20:50 or thank you for keeping this place clean 20:52 or you have been an answer to prayer to me today 20:55 to someone that is helped you at a bank 20:57 or some other agency that their faces can just slide up 21:01 and it really is a, it really is a pleasant reaction 21:05 and you can represent in a personal way Jesus Christ. 21:08 Pastor Wintley Phipps likes to say, 21:11 "Never go next door with a tracked in hand 21:14 unless you first been there with a helping hand." 21:18 And I think that that really is true. 21:20 Go stack ward for a neighbor who needs help 21:23 or whatever it might be that they have a need for. 21:26 People were attracted to Jesus 21:28 and they listen with delight according to Mark 12, 21:31 and they were amazed at His teaching. 21:34 How was He able to personally impact 21:37 both individuals and crowds alike? 21:39 He was equally effected-- effective with big crowds 21:44 as well as individuals. 21:45 How was it that He was able to do that? 21:49 We have got a classic example of the woman at the well. 21:53 That was a one on one contact. 21:57 He took the time to talk with her. 22:00 He sure had some foreknowledge because of who He was 22:04 but eventually when He was able to offer her the living water 22:10 she brought many people 22:12 from the village to come and talk to Him. 22:15 You know, it made all the difference there 22:18 the way He dealt with her. 22:19 He could have just said, "Give me some water," 22:22 she gave Him the water, "thank you and left her alone." 22:26 In today's very, very busy world, 22:29 you know, we have a common greeting 22:31 when we reach people. 22:32 How are you doing? 22:34 But how often have we stopped 22:36 for a couple seconds to hear a response 22:39 to that "How are you doing?" 22:41 You do stop sometimes and some of the times 22:44 you have stopped you have to stop the conversation 22:48 because you realize that the people are so hungry, 22:51 people are so wanting to talk to somebody 22:54 and say something that's bothering them 22:57 that the listening ear means a lot. 23:00 I have personally promised myself 23:02 that as often as I can 23:05 and more often than not make the time 23:07 to listen a little bit. 23:09 And when you listen just listening, 23:12 I have been able to say to so many people. 23:15 Well, do you know the Bible says 23:18 "Come unto me, all ye that labor 23:21 and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." 23:24 For me that's the best word 23:26 we can offer to anybody in today's world. 23:29 Today you talk to people and all they say to you, 23:32 "I'm stressed, I'm tired." 23:35 Now this is not the way God intended life to be. 23:38 And I have promised myself 23:40 that by His grace as often as I have the opportunity 23:45 to point someone to somebody, who is really, 23:49 personally and individually interested in our lives. 23:54 And my favorite statement is, God is so interested in us 23:59 and knows so much about us that He knows 24:02 how many grains of hair is on our head. 24:06 I am happy to have such a Savior 24:08 and I just keep asking God to help me, to help me, 24:12 to be like Him where I can touch another life 24:16 to bring others to know Him better. 24:19 Well, following on what you have said, Elizabeth, 24:21 how have the rest of you found the way 24:23 to be able to minister effectively one on one. 24:30 You know, our home has always been our-- 24:35 the centre of our evangelism. 24:36 My wife has been a great blessing. 24:39 And when we were in New York, 24:41 we were in Washington Square Park 24:44 and we had-- we would do park ministry. 24:49 We would sing songs and do health talks and all 24:53 and one of the prostitutes that the park 24:57 she came up to us, she came up to me 25:01 and she said "I'm tired of the life that I am living, 25:05 I would like to come home with you, 25:07 would you take me?" 25:08 And so, we took her out to our home. 25:11 We put her in our home with us, with our children. 25:15 And she just grew unbelievably 25:17 with the morning worships and everything 25:20 and she was with us for several months 25:24 and she eventually wanted to go back to the city. 25:27 We took her back to the city. 25:29 She went back into prostitution. 25:31 But then we were in the park doing park ministry, 25:35 again she came and she said "I don't want this life. 25:38 I want to comeback will to take me back?' 25:40 We said, "Yes, we will take you." 25:42 We took her back into our home. 25:45 And she was with us a short time. 25:47 Three times she went to the park, back to the park. 25:50 But the last time she said "I'll never do it again, 25:54 please take me again. 25:56 I want to change my life. 25:58 I want to follow Jesus all the way." 26:00 And she did. Her life was changed. 26:03 She said "I have a son that I gave away 26:06 when he was born." 26:08 She said "I want to get him back. 26:10 I want raise my boy. I want to be a Christian." 26:14 Arleen changed her life. Praise God. 26:16 She was baptized. 26:18 She became a secretary. 26:25 She-- just a few months ago 26:29 her son wrote me a letter and he said 26:32 "You don't know what you did for our family. 26:35 You changed our entire life 26:37 and I want to thank you for what you did for me." 26:40 Amen. 26:42 It seems that Jesus wants to... 26:49 It seems that Jesus wants to setup 26:51 a branch office in our town, doesn't He? 26:54 Yeah He wants to live in our neighborhood 26:57 and delve in our heart and develop a partnership 27:01 with each one of us 27:03 and pitch His tent in our refugee camp. 27:06 Anyone else have a personal contact like that? 27:10 Well, you know, as a dentist 27:14 when I have patient in the chair, 27:16 I have a very captive audience. 27:17 Indeed. 27:19 And while I'm working on them they can't really say anything. 27:23 So I can give an entire Bible study. 27:25 And when I'm finished then we can ask questions, 27:29 you know, and so from time to time 27:31 I do that in my dental chair and God has brought many people 27:37 to knowledge of Him through this method. 27:40 Amen. 27:43 We really are strategically placed 27:45 for God can hear us, aren't we? 27:46 That's right. 27:48 And, Henry, you know, that's one thing 27:49 that I think about a lot. 27:51 Each one of us is strategically placed, 27:53 it's not about-- there's nobody 27:55 that's more important 27:56 or less important than anybody else. 27:58 It's about God putting each one us 28:01 where you will be in touch with the very people 28:04 that He knows you can be a blessing to 28:07 and also where you are going to receive the very blessings 28:12 and trials that will develop a character in you, 28:15 that the Lord-- that He is just trying 28:16 to paint a picture in everyone of us. 28:19 So, wherever you are you are there 28:21 for all those reasons. 28:24 And don't ever think that your most humble effort are futile. 28:31 I remember as a little guy 28:34 sitting at the knee of my dear grandfather 28:37 after he return from South America 28:39 were he had gone to be the first minister 28:43 of our faith baptizing the first person 28:46 and starting the first Church in Argentina, 28:48 Brazil and Chile where my mother was born. 28:51 And he told about the first series of meetings 28:54 that he had conducted in Punta Arenas. 28:58 Punta Arenas as you know 29:00 is the further most southern city 29:03 in the whole world on the bottom of Chile 29:06 and you face across the sea to the Antarctica. 29:10 And he put up posters and hand bells 29:13 and rented a hall and expected to be able 29:15 to get a good size crowd. 29:18 He didn't know what God would send him. 29:20 But only one lady, one lady 29:24 and her son came to that effort. 29:27 And he went ahead and preached 29:28 as thought there were 100 or 1,000 people there. 29:32 And I didn't know what the outcome of that was 29:35 but it's 1942 or 1943 when he told me that story 29:39 and encourage me never to think that 29:42 what small effort that we are able 29:44 to invest might be able to have a result. 29:48 And a two or three years ago 29:50 my wife and I were in King Texas 29:52 for our 100th anniversary celebration 29:56 of my mother's last cousin who came from Argentina. 30:01 Dr. Herbert Westphal and he was-- 30:05 he recited the Ten Commandments for us in German 30:08 and he sang for us in Spanish 30:10 and he still had his good sense of humor. 30:13 He is awaiting the Lords return now. 30:15 But I learned at that time the rest of the story. 30:19 Out of that meeting and Punta Arenas 30:21 the grandpa of Frank Westphal had 30:24 that there came over 200 30:26 Seventh-day Adventist Christians, 30:28 60 or 70 denominational employees, 30:31 two conference Presidents and two Evangelists 30:34 that no doubt contributed the thousands of others 30:37 discovering Jesus Christ. 30:39 So, he won't know that until the kingdom. 30:42 And you and I won't know the results 30:44 of the little things we do 30:45 where God strategically places us 30:48 to be able to come in contact with someone. 30:51 Now Sister Slicker says in her prayer time 30:53 in the morning "Who today Lord? 30:55 Who today?" 30:57 Go and do like wise, dear ones. God bless you. 31:07 Thank you, members. 31:09 You have an opportunity and we have an opportunity 31:13 to make an investment of the time 31:15 that we have been given and the opportunities 31:18 He allows to cross our path 31:20 and there will be people in the kingdom as result. 31:34 At this time you have an opportunity 31:36 to give a Sabbath school missions offering. 31:40 This offering shouldn't be confused 31:42 with the ASI project offering that will be taken later 31:46 and please don't use the envelopes 31:48 that were on the chairs 31:50 when you came into the auditorium. 31:52 This is the offering that you normally give 31:54 at your home Sabbath school and is for the World Missions 31:57 of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 32:00 Thank you for you generosity 32:02 and the ushers will wade on you now. 36:50 Good morning, ASI family. 36:52 Good morning. 36:54 I can't believe eight years ago 36:55 we started taking about New Beginnings DVD project 36:59 and it's been an exiting eight years. 37:03 We worked closely with 37:04 It Is Written in many other organizations 37:07 and I can't believe what the-- how the Lord has blessed. 37:11 Amen. Amen. 37:12 You know, another thing is that we've worked 37:13 with numerous supporting ministries 37:16 partnering together to share the gospel 37:19 throughout the world 37:21 and also a partnership with ShareHim 37:23 as we go to prepare the way for the evangelist meetings 37:27 that take place with ShareHim. 37:29 It's been a wonderful partnership 37:30 and is continuing on with the Lord's blessing. 37:33 We have been working with many great organizations 37:36 and we have been particularly with Jonathan Kuntaraf 37:39 from the world church along with Pastor Mike Ryan 37:43 and, Pastor Mark Finely and it's been blessing 37:46 to see how with laity and the church working together 37:50 the things that the Lord has done. 37:53 And I know that Viorel, I believe is it right now 37:57 as we speak can we safely say 37:59 that someone is learning about Jesus through this program? 38:03 Denzil, I would say that it's safe to say 38:06 that at this very moment and 24 hours a day 38:09 and seven days a week somewhere in the world 38:11 it's learning about God through the New Beginning DVD 38:14 from the laypeople that been trained 38:16 and equipped all around the world. 38:19 How many places have we done this training, Viorel? 38:22 Oh, I hope you don't ask me this. 38:24 We have so many places. 38:26 I cannot tell you exactly the countries 38:28 but we have done over 60 places 38:31 and we trained over 19,000 lay people 38:34 how to do evangelist series. 38:36 Trained and equipped. 38:37 Did you hear that over 19,000 laypeople have been 38:41 trained and equipped to tell others about Jesus. 38:46 You know, Denzil, we never would have dreamed 38:47 this about eight years ago. 38:49 We never would and this morning, 38:51 Dwight, can you-- 38:52 we are gonna highlight a few places 38:54 and, Dwight, would you tell us about those places? 38:57 Thank you so much. 38:58 This morning we are going to highlight places in Mexico, 39:03 in Brazil, in Philippines and share with you a little bit 39:09 of what took place in these particular places. 39:12 And joining me now are Norm and Gail Reitz 39:15 and I am going to ask them to share with us 39:19 first of all from Mexico, what took place there, Norm? 39:23 Mexico City is the largest city in the world 39:28 that has a population of 26 million. 39:31 It's a Catholic country 39:33 but they are two Adventist conferences 39:34 in Mexico City as take a mission 39:37 were last year in the middle of the year 39:39 we trained 170 laypeople to do evangelism. 39:43 Last December there were 500 laypeople 39:47 that came to training in Mexico City. 39:51 In order to get our respective on how it was so effective 39:55 I would like to tell you a story. 39:58 When I was young lawyer working 40:00 for the navy department in Washington 40:03 in that patriotic environment 40:04 I decided to join the Marine Corps 40:07 and as my buddies and I were leaving for boot camp 40:10 from Union Station in Washington DC, 40:13 Major General William Fairborn 40:15 came down to say good bye to wish as well. 40:19 And I learned something that day that applies to ASI 40:23 and that is that in the Marine Corps 40:27 the lowest recruit and the highest officer 40:30 in head quarters are both on the team. 40:35 We are team ASI together. 40:38 You folks provided the money for the Mexico City. 40:42 There is an infrastructure 40:44 that allows arrangements to be made. 40:46 When we went money had to be wired 40:48 by the General Conference. 40:50 We couldn't take 500 DVD players through customs 40:53 so the money had to go there. 40:56 Viorel Catarama made arrangements. 40:58 The Inter-America Division was holy supportive 41:02 of what we were doing. 41:03 They sent Sergio Moctezuma pastor, 41:06 they sent Carlyle Bayne's, ministerial man 41:09 to lend their influence to the media. 41:12 Gail, would you tell us 41:14 as they show the pictures of Mexico 41:15 what subjects we taught at the seminar? 41:19 Well, we gave evangelism God's way 41:22 with combined efforts with pastors and laity 41:27 and we also talked about the power of the Holy Spirit 41:30 an intercessory prayer. 41:33 We also told them how to get an audience 41:38 and then make effective appeals and then we showed them 41:44 how to practice preaching and that was the fun part 41:49 to see them practice the preaching. 41:56 Then we went to Brazil. Dwight was with us in Brazil. 42:00 Well, we found the team that go to Brazil 42:03 that consisted of Norm and Gail Reitz 42:06 and Darcie -- family from Mission Serve 42:13 and we went there to train 300 lay people 42:17 in the city of Fortaleza, Brazil. 42:19 And Norm and Gail share a little bit 42:21 of what took place there in Brazil. 42:24 In Brazil we had a very young audience. 42:27 This group were mostly between the ages of 20 and 35. 42:34 They are traveled up to 250 kilometers 42:37 to come to the meeting. 42:39 We have to turn 40 of them away. 42:42 They love this thing, they were enthusiastic, 42:44 they were energetic and they proved the principle 42:49 of trained the trainer evangelism. 42:52 There are three principles 42:53 that make this kind of training work. 42:56 The first one is multiplication. 42:59 We can go to a meeting, many of you have done meetings, 43:01 ShareHim is doing meetings all the time 43:04 but if we go and train 100 people 43:06 or 200 people or 300 people 43:09 we multiply the benefit tremendously about 43:13 what one meeting will do. 43:15 The second principle of trained 43:17 the trainer meetings is retention. 43:20 If your neighbor, if your fellow worker, 43:23 if somebody beyond culture or beyond language 43:26 is your mentor, is your teacher 43:28 you are more likely to stay in the church. 43:31 They are there to answer your question. 43:32 They are your friends. 43:34 And thirdly the principles of trained 43:36 the trainer evangelism is cost effectiveness. 43:41 You get the lot bigger yield for your investment 43:44 that you put into it. 43:46 Gail, tell about us some of the people that came. 43:48 Oh, we had young people and we had elderly people 43:53 but mostly we had young people that came 43:56 and they were so enthusiastic, 43:58 they were writing all the time taking notes 44:01 and they were especially happy to receive the brochure 44:07 that would go with the DVD. 44:09 his was the new idea that we got from doing 44:15 the one in Mexico City 44:16 because the ones in the Mexico City 44:19 we are larger ones. 44:21 And then we also gave them the DVD 44:24 and these were in Brazilian Portuguese. 44:27 And they where just so happy with these 44:30 and then their DVD sets. 44:33 As far as we know this was the first time 44:35 that the New Beginnings has been 44:38 given out in Brazilian Portuguese. 44:40 There are about 30 languages that have been done 44:43 and so far, as far as I know, 44:44 they haven't have been used in Chinese. 44:48 They are going to be some meanings in China next year. 44:51 But this was the first time for the Brazilian Portuguese. 44:55 Brazil was wonderful experience and they have been working 44:58 and in September ShareHim 45:01 will be conducting reaping meaning. 45:03 So please pray for the people in Brazil as they were 45:07 and the 40 that we had to turn away 45:09 they will be receiving their own personal training 45:14 from the local evangelist that was with us there. 45:17 So they don't be left out either. 45:19 Thank you so much for sharing 45:20 what has been going in Mexico and Brazil. 45:23 Amen. Amen. 45:25 It's exiting to see what's taking place 45:26 all over the world. 45:29 The next place that we are going 45:30 to highlight is Costa Rica. 45:33 And you folks know these, these young folks here, 45:37 Rusty and Joy McKee and we had a great time 45:40 down there in Costa Rica. 45:43 And what we were doing 45:45 was doing the training session we-- 45:48 our goal was 300 45:49 and we had 300 people came for training. 45:52 And then Joy went to Costa Rica 45:56 in last couple of weeks of June, 45:58 the first part of the July 46:00 and she held her own evangelistic meetings 46:02 in connection with ShareHim. 46:04 And so we put together this team 46:06 that work so well together. 46:08 Rusty, tell us first about the training. 46:11 You were there with us for the training 46:12 and what was your impression 46:13 and tell us something about that training. 46:15 Thank you so much, Dwight. 46:16 So it's about three months before 46:18 Joy does evangelistic series 46:19 we went down spent all day training 46:23 on DVD home of the evangelism. 46:26 It was the end of the day we were kind of tired, 46:28 ready to go home and all of sudden we realized 46:31 hey, let the church members give it a try. 46:33 So we asked three people to come forward and they did. 46:36 First person went, went to half a dozen slides 46:39 and you could tell things are working, 46:41 responses from the crowd was lot of amen's 46:43 and okay its working. 46:44 Second person went, third person went. 46:47 And also and that third person the slides were done 46:51 but they kept going and going. 46:53 And I'm telling, Joy, Joy, what are we taking about? 46:55 What's he saying? 46:57 Yeah, because you couldn't understand them. 47:00 And so I lean forward to Denzile 47:01 and Denzile saying, you know, asked to turn to the wife. 47:03 What did we do? 47:04 He's still going, what's he talking about? 47:06 And about that time at the corner of my eye 47:08 I saw some movement in aisle so I turned to looked 47:12 an entire family was going forward. 47:16 He had made a call for those to accept Christ 47:19 for the first time. 47:20 My first response was, you know, 47:22 may be step on aisle and say, 47:24 "Hey, hey no, that's just the practice. 47:28 But, you know, God's timing and His word is so true 47:32 He just wants for us to share it. 47:33 And about one and half month later 47:35 we find out that whole family was baptized. 47:40 So you can imagine when we got a report 47:43 just about a week or two later 47:46 that there had already been 137 baptisms 47:49 due to this DVD training in Costa Rica. 47:52 We were thrilled 47:53 and I couldn't wait to get down there 47:56 and work with these evangelists 47:58 in the campaign, ShareHim campaign. 48:00 So upon arrival I met my translator 48:04 and it turns out that she had done 48:06 the DVD series in her own home 48:09 and I believe we have a picture of the translator 48:14 and some of the DVD training. 48:16 And I just wanted to point her out 48:18 and Lisa and her husband Ian. 48:21 Ian actually was an amazing help 48:24 during the campaign. 48:25 He did lot of the music 48:26 and that's him on I guess her left. 48:28 He had done the music and coordinated the PA system 48:32 and I thought what an amazing member of this church. 48:35 It wasn't, I believe it's a second Sabbath 48:38 that you in a ShareHim campaign you preach on stewardship 48:41 and health and it's about tithe 48:43 and you think it's, you know, 48:45 just a good reminder to all the church members. 48:47 Well, after when I went down to greet on the church members 48:49 and here came Ian running down and he said. 48:51 Oh, Joy, thank you, thank you, thank you. 48:53 I need it to hear that sermon. 48:55 Oh, it touched my heart and I said wow, Ian. 48:59 You know, this is the pretty fundamental understanding 49:01 in the Christian church. 49:02 I can't believe that your response. 49:05 He said well, you know, 49:06 I am, actually you might not know this 49:09 but I have been catholic my entire life. 49:12 And I said, oh. 49:13 He said, and I have been struggling 49:14 with alcoholism for several years 49:16 and it's put a strain on past ten years 49:18 of my marriage with Lisa. 49:20 And I said, really. 49:22 And he was like yeah and then, you know, what happen? 49:24 Lisa held these DVD trainings in our home 49:28 and studied with people in our home 49:31 and I decided to get baptized. 49:34 So here only he had been a member 49:36 for about two months and I couldn't believe it. 49:41 And I said, Ian, 49:42 what an amazing testimony you have. 49:44 You need to share this during the campaign 49:46 and he did and I think it touched 49:48 lot of people's life, which-- 49:51 For which I have am thrilled. 49:52 And just keep Ian in your prayers. 49:54 His entire family is Catholic, 49:56 and now he is going down to visit his mother in Belize 49:59 to share his victory over alcoholism. 50:01 She is a devout Catholic 50:02 and he is going to share with her his new beliefs. 50:05 Amen, and did you notice that she said that 50:08 before the meetings even began there were 139 people 50:12 who are baptized including the four 50:17 who came forward that day 50:19 when they were practice preaching. 50:21 What a wonderful blessing. 50:23 And with the conclusion of the evangelistic meetings 50:26 they were nearly 600 that have been baptized 50:29 in that part of Costa Rica. 50:30 Praise the Lord for His blessings 50:33 upon the people there in Costa Rica. 50:35 And thank you so much for sharing with us 50:37 your work with the DVD. |
Revised 2015-10-15