Participants: Bien Tejano
Series Code: OTR
Program Code: OTR000945
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01:01 Good morning once again, ladies and gentleman.
01:03 I hope you enjoyed the first 01:07 episode that we had this morning and for the next part 01:12 I'd like you to brace yourself again for these are other 01:21 issues that I would like to bring to you 01:23 as witnesses for the Lord. 01:26 You know, as representatives of God and as soldiers 01:32 as Paul calls us, we don't only use one method. 01:37 There are several methods that we use in attacking 01:44 or getting into the objective of the goals that we have, 01:49 and our goals here are bringing souls for the Kingdom. Amen? 01:54 That is our goal. Amen? Amen! 01:57 Please all say "Amen" loud! AMEN! 02:01 You can't be heard in New Zealand! 02:05 You must be heard the whole Australia! 02:07 You know, you don't say, amen... so weak. 02:12 SAY AMEN! AMEN! Praise the Lord! 02:17 As I've said, we use several methods; 02:20 one method that you have just heard a while ago... 02:24 You know, when you use the capacity that you have... 02:29 Like, for instance, if you are an ambassador of your country 02:33 you know where to place yourself what floor you can use. 02:37 Some of you might be thinking, "Oh you can do that Ambassador 02:41 because you are an ambassador. 02:42 But friends, you are also an ambassador and God has given 02:48 you also another set of people to approach. 02:52 You are not expected to approach 02:53 the prime minister of this country. 02:55 Not even to the president of my country, 02:58 you can't get there to the palace... No, you can't. 03:04 Ambassador Tejano can go in and out, 03:06 and that is why he has given me this privilege 03:09 to witness to this people, 03:11 but you can come close to your neighbor. 03:14 If you are a carpenter, you can come close to those people 03:19 who would like their houses to be fixed, 03:21 and that is where you have to unload the mission that 03:24 God has given you. 03:25 If you are a nurse, the moment you touch a patient, friend, 03:29 you have the privilege to tell them about Jesus, Amen? 03:33 You can point to them the Great Physician, 03:36 and if you are a doctor, you don't only open their 03:42 pockets, you also open their hearts... laughter 03:48 You know doctors are known to be wealthy people 03:51 because they get a lot of money. 03:55 I say that because my wife is a doctor... 03:59 I mean, there are doctors who 04:02 are just interested of getting money. 04:04 I'm sorry to tell about this, but I am speaking the reality. 04:07 But there are doctors who don't care whether they can 04:11 make money or not for as long as they can 04:14 share the Word of God. 04:15 This morning, I was so much impressed about 04:18 Dr. Aviles, Sarah, was sharing to the audience... 04:27 Boy... where is she? Is the doctor here? 04:33 You're right there! 04:36 She's a surgeon, right? You are a surgeon. 04:40 I tell you, you can open all the skins of the people 04:45 and put in the Word of God wherever you want. 04:49 Surgeons can command their patients not to say anything 04:53 and not to move... That's their privilege. 04:57 Just like my wife, she is an obstetrician, 05:00 she can't stop the baby coming out with that box of things 05:03 If someone don't listen to her, "I'll not let the baby out." 05:08 You know, I've been watching her deliver babies, 05:11 and I had the privilege of praying for those mothers 05:16 who for like 12 hours, 24 hours, 30 hours, the baby is not 05:22 coming and already pleading, "Please doctor, do a cesarean." 05:25 But my wife doesn't trust that; 05:27 the cesarean is always a good money, but you know, 05:32 I used to pray while I put my hands on their tummy, 05:36 and I have witnessed how the Lord has helped. 05:42 My wife used to work at the hospital before she joined me 05:48 in this foreign service. 05:50 She worked for 18 years, and I've seen a lot of 05:55 babies and mothers coming in and out. 05:57 My wife, for the first part of her medical work, 06:03 we were having a lot of time in our living, 06:10 but she made a commitment to her life, 06:13 maybe because she is the wife of a pastor, 06:17 and maybe because I over-evangelized her. 06:21 That I told her, "You know, it would be good if you can 06:25 do charity work, charity work for the people. 06:29 If you think, you know, when they come to you 06:32 they're pregnant and then they are not actually thinking about 06:35 the baby coming out, but about the money to pay, 06:38 you should be able to read in-between lines, 06:41 and assure them before the baby comes out, 06:43 don't worry about the payment, I'll make it free for you, 06:46 maybe the baby will come easily. Laughter 06:51 And I indoctrinated my wife with that kind of... 06:54 "Please do that," you know. 06:56 And, you know, they will remember you. 06:58 And the mother will tell the child, "You know, child, 07:01 you were delivered FREE of charge, 07:03 and you know who delivered that one - that doctor," 07:06 and you will be remembered as long as that child lives. 07:09 My wife was listening; somehow I think she got the message. 07:14 And you know what happened? 07:15 In that hospital, there were 5 of them, 07:19 5 of them in the hospital... 07:21 So, the arrangement with the hospital is that the doctor 07:27 receives the "P.F." What is P.F.? 07:32 Dr. Aimee? Dr. Aimee knows the "professional fee." 07:38 So 100% of the professional fee goes to the doctor. 07:42 So now they can decide whether 07:43 to make it free or charge them a lot. 07:46 You know what commitment she made? 07:49 She said - "All right." 07:52 All that I think do not have money, 07:56 I'll deliver the child free of charge," and it happens. 08:02 Since there are 5 doctors and they have the same arrangement, 08:08 it's almost like everyone is competing to get more patients. 08:13 More patients, more money, right? Simple arithmetic, simple 08:20 And then how can you make money 08:22 when you are making so many free? 08:25 So that was another irony. 08:27 But I said, "You do it," the Lord will bless us." 08:32 And I tell you, my wife just became very popular 08:36 among the poor people. 08:39 Among all those poor people, the word spread out 08:44 in that Caloocan City, you know, it's a big city in Manila. 08:47 It just spread out even out to Paranaque, out to Passi, 08:51 all the Metro Manila and in Metro Manila 08:53 you have 24 million people and it spread out to the 08:58 Seventh-day Adventist Community. 09:00 When they see people living in a makeshift 09:03 and all the squatters area, they would say, 09:05 "You know you can deliver your child free," 09:10 and it spreads out. 09:12 But the good thing is this, when one pregnant woman 09:16 comes to the hospital and she delivered her child 09:21 free of charge, when she goes home, this woman will start 09:28 to talk to all these people who have money and when she comes 09:31 back for a check up, she will bring like 09:33 5 or 10 pregnant women with money! 09:38 And you could imagine how many patients my wife has to deliver. 09:44 That's why for the past 18 years I pleaded with her "stop it now, 09:50 stop - no more - no more, you have to join me 09:57 because we will phase another ministry." 09:59 And so my wife, since I joined the Foreign Service, 10:03 she stopped practicing as a doctor. 10:07 Now what is the point I'm driving here? 10:09 With so many methods that we use, I'm telling you 10:12 the church has used a very effective method, 10:16 and Ellen G. White called this as what? John... 10:24 She called this as what? Come on church... 10:29 Please don't disappoint me, you're bright students here. 10:34 You look so bright, I don't know what's inside of you. 10:38 Come on! Ellen White calls this as what? 10:43 Look at my hands, what is this? 10:48 What is this first? Is this the right hand? 10:52 I want to test your senses. What is this? Left hand! 10:57 And what is this? Right hand! 10:58 And Ellen G. White said, "The right hand of the gospel 11:01 is what?" "Medical ministry." 11:06 Friends, the church has advanced so fast because our church 11:12 was able to use this instrument. 11:14 This is the opening words of the gospel. 11:18 And Ellen White said... 11:20 I have a very old book here, but it's all listed about 11:24 Medical Ministry... it's just old. 11:25 When people look at this, say, "What is the Ambassador doing, 11:29 doesn't he have money on him to buy a new one?" 11:32 Friends, I cannot depart from this. 11:34 It has been here with me for the past 28 years. 11:38 And what I read in here is just instruction for the church 11:41 and Ellen G. White said, "Every member of the church 11:45 should become a medical missionary worker." 11:49 If you are a member of this church, 11:53 God expects you to be His right arm of the gospel! 11:58 And to tell you the truth, the reason why I have an 12:01 easy access to these people in high places like 12:05 the president, kings and prime ministers is because 12:08 when we have the opportunity, when we run out of conversation 12:12 of politics, I don't have so much facts about politics, 12:16 about the economy, about diplomacy... 12:18 I'm a poor pastor, I started from grassroots. 12:21 But, when I ran out of all these issues, 12:24 I turned to the health message and everyone of them 12:28 would just open their eyes and..."Ohhh, I have rheumatism" 12:35 "Can you help me cure this?" 12:41 I am talking about my President... See? 12:46 "How can you help me?" 12:48 Because you can see him on television, 12:50 he is walking like this... 12:52 And he pretended to be... back straight. 12:56 And then in our personal, "Please, how can you help, 12:59 very painful." 13:01 Then started talking... "You know, Mr. President, 13:05 there is a simple way of relieving the pain, 13:09 and that is hydrotherapy." 13:12 "You can soak your leg up to here in your bathtub, 13:16 with hot water coming in and then soak it again 13:20 in cold water and then alternate and you will have this 13:25 hydrotherapy treatment." 13:27 And he tried it and said, "It's working." 13:31 Now we have something to talk about. 13:34 Simple, just water. 13:36 You have the water in your faucet anywhere you go. 13:39 You have all this, God provided so that it can be used 13:43 for any opportunity that you can present the gospel. 13:47 And you know, this president, I ended up having him 13:53 operated in "Hong Kong Adventist Hospital." 14:01 And when he was operated, he called me and he said, 14:04 "How can I join the Seventh-day Adventist Church?" 14:13 Isn't that amazing, it's so amazing! 14:16 And I just say, "It's simple, simple methodology 14:22 of presenting the gospel." 14:23 Of course we have our sanitariums, hospitals all over, 14:29 but we have a responsibility as a church. 14:33 You and I can be partakers of this as we present the gospel. 14:37 Pastor Bartolome was saying, "Oh I found one technique." 14:42 Those who are having nose bleeds... come here, come here, 14:45 come here, come here! You come here... you come here. 14:49 Where is your key? Here. 14:51 All right, put it right here. I think I'm having nosebleeds. 14:55 How many times? Just two times. 14:58 Oh come on, drop it, drop it. 15:00 You drop it like that see. Oh come on, I'm wired... 15:05 All right. It's very effective. 15:07 And you tried it? I tried it with my granddaughter 15:10 yesterday. Yesterday, no right now 15:13 can we try it? Let your nose bleed now 15:15 so that I can... Okay... 15:17 Look at this, you might laugh, but there might be some 15:21 scientific effect on this because you know 15:25 when you put anything like metal on your body, 15:29 the electrical changes, whatever this is, might happen, 15:34 but, you know, I'm not even surprised about that. Why? 15:39 Actually, you can even drop this one and the bleed 15:43 in the nose will stop. Laughter 15:47 You know why? Yesterday, if you remember my message, 15:53 Jesus even used His saliva. 16:02 But anything can be used to advance the work of God. 16:06 So I am saying that you who are engaged in witnessing, 16:10 friends, prepare yourself with a humble knowledge in health, 16:16 simple home remedies, hydrotherapy, massage, 16:21 maybe a counsel, maybe taking blood pressure. 16:25 In fact, if I am a propose, pastor in massages, 16:28 whenever we again have this kind of gathering like this 16:33 as you do it, division-wide, I would propose if you have 16:37 like 5 days or 4 days gathering, please let us have one day 16:43 for community service. 16:46 That would become more memorable to all of us 16:48 rather than you guys just be sitting there and we are 16:51 talking here and you go home and you forget what we said. 16:55 But when you are involved, now in the new technology, 16:59 no matter how good is the thing, 17:01 if you don't have on-hands practice, 17:04 you forget everything. 17:06 So I propose, next time around, maybe our next, 17:09 maybe in New Zealand or anywhere else around the world, 17:13 please make use of it, maybe we can visit 17:16 the president or your prime minister or your governor, 17:19 or your mayor in this community and tell them that 17:24 this is what we do, and maybe in few hours 17:27 we spend like distributing "Steps to Christ," 17:29 get 50,000 copies, distribute them. 17:31 We go home, we are satisfied, 17:33 we did a lot of job for the Lord! Amen! 17:35 Use so many methods on how we can carry out 17:40 this message of salvation, that is the health ministry. 17:46 You know when I was... sorry, were running out of time here, 17:52 but when I first became a pastor, I graduated from 17:59 "Mountain View College," I was assigned in a village where the 18:02 bulk of Catholicism was started in the Philippines. 18:07 That was the place where Magellan landed. 18:10 You know Magellan started Christianity in the whole region 18:14 of Asia. All right? 18:17 So he landed in Homonhon Island, and if you go to 18:22 Homonhon Island, there are huge, big Catholic Churches. 18:27 One of my professors at Mountain View College 18:29 always gave lectures and the class said, 18:31 "Oh, I have been assigned to this island for 10 years, 18:36 and not a single sick soul really accepted Jesus Christ, 18:42 14 years of his pastoral work... 18:45 And I kept saying, I was still sitting in his class and said, 18:49 "Lord, please don't assign me there." Laughter 18:53 Because, you know, young students, you are afraid 18:55 to take those risks. 18:58 Then after my graduation, the first letter I received 19:01 from the Mission said, "You are assigned on the 19:04 Island of Homonhon... I almost melted. 19:10 But you know, when you make a commitment to the Lord, 19:12 and we sing, "Lord send me wherever You want me to go." 19:17 So I went there, I was assigned as a young pastor. 19:21 I got my Bible... always wore like - you know, PACK! 19:29 And I memorized a lot of texts here, 19:32 and I was thinking the moment someone comes and 19:36 initiate any debate, I will bombard them with all 19:41 the texts that I have here. 19:42 You know, a young pastor is also aggressive. 19:45 I said, "Come on, tell me your doctrine and I'll attack you 19:49 head to foot." 19:50 But when I arrived in that community, 19:54 when they learned that I was a Seventh-day Adventist pastor, 19:59 they started to shun away from me. 20:02 When they saw me, they would try, when I'm walking on the 20:06 street, they would detour, and I was really hurt, you know, 20:11 for the first 6 months of my ministry in that village. 20:15 Now I started to understand my professor why he was 20:17 not able to convert one, and I was so hurt, 20:21 I said, "Oh Lord, what shall I do?" 20:27 When I was at Mountain View College, I learned how 20:32 to do some simple home remedies and treatment, 20:36 so I started to put aside a little for a while, my Bible, 20:45 and I started walking around the community 20:49 trying to hear if there are some people who are sick, 20:53 and finally, I heard someone, a very prominent family, 20:59 he has rheumatism, arthritis, 21:05 so I said, "I know how to do that - hydrotherapy." 21:08 So I went there and said, "I hear that you have problem 21:12 with your knees and your ankles." 21:14 "Oh yes, so painful I cannot move." 21:17 I said, "Do you have a bucket or a pail?" He said, "Yes." 21:21 Kindly boil water. 21:23 You know, when you do some kind of things 21:26 you just act as if you're a professional, 21:29 even if this is your first time to do it. Laughter 21:33 But be sure that you practice it at home... Okay? 21:37 So they listened and the daughter prepared 21:40 and boiled it and everything, so I soaked the leg. 21:43 And while he was there sitting, "Oh, I'm starting to get relief 21:48 from all this pain." 21:49 So I did it 2 times, 3 times, 4 times, 21:52 and then massage a little bit and then went back home. 21:56 The following day, I came back again - he was smiling! 22:00 I thought, "Lord, thank you, maybe he is relieved." 22:03 He said, "You know, last night, your sturdy hand, 22:05 I was able to sleep... good, good!" "Well we'll do it again!" 22:09 So we did it again and this time neighbors 22:13 were really trying to peep into the windows, they were watching. 22:16 So I did it seriously as if I'm a professional, you know, 22:22 "arbularyo"... but with all my praise, Lord, 22:26 I am not an "arbularyo," please. 22:28 "Arbularyo" is a quack doctor, you know. 22:31 So, I'm just doing this Lord, I know this is scientific, 22:34 You know it... this is professional-one, 22:36 so I was doing that... and then I went back home. 22:40 The third time I came, the morning when I visited him... 22:44 Oh, he was so happy... the whole family. 22:46 I looked at the table, they prepared a nice breakfast 22:49 for me... I said, "Come on, I'm going to eat now." 22:52 So before I started... "Can we eat first?" 22:56 I said, we eat first. Okay... 22:58 I started eating, enjoying nice food, you know. 23:01 Good vegetables and fruits and some fish, 23:04 but I said, "I don't eat this meat." 23:07 I started to inject the message that I had. 23:10 He said, "No, it's very nice, it's pork." 23:14 I said, "Yeah but it might even add to that pain." 23:18 REALLY? I said, "Yes." So he started, "Oh okay." 23:21 "Grandma, don't serve me PORK." "No pork" products. 23:29 All these kinds of meat products "No more meat products!" 23:33 So I started to inject the message. 23:37 But the third time I did give to him," 23:39 I said, "Sir, you know actually the reason why the healing 23:44 is so fast is because after I left your home, 23:48 I went back to my house and I knelt down and prayed 23:53 that the good Lord will help you recuperate." 23:57 And he opened his eyes and said, "Then can we pray here?" 24:01 I said, "Yes." "Okay, let's pray." 24:04 "Okay, let's pray." 24:06 And then I noticed him, he said, "Okay let's pray." 24:09 And then he was moving his chair like this, 24:13 and then I was just waiting for him to knee down... 24:16 "Okay let's pray." Here, here, here, here... Mr. Tejano 24:19 And I saw all the... I thought that I was... 24:27 because it was a good ready position here to kneel down, 24:29 but he was... here, here, okay, okay, okay, okay 24:32 Come on here... here, here. 24:34 And oh, when I looked at all the Santa Maria, everything and 24:39 all the infant Jesus and all the San Pedros and San Juan, 24:43 and, you know, you don't object to that. 24:48 Yeah, of course, I faced them, but I said, "All right you can 24:54 close your eyes if you want." 24:56 He said, "No, I want to see Virgin Mary." 24:58 I said, "Okay, look at her." 25:00 So I just prayed, I prayed. 25:04 I tell you, it just took me 3 months, 25:06 the whole family was baptized. Amen 25:09 The whole family! 25:11 In my 2 years of internship, with the Lord's help, 25:17 and it's there, I was able to establish 7 churches, 25:22 and one church school with 2,000 church members baptized. 25:27 Simple health approach. 25:29 Another method - this communication. 25:33 The Lord has blessed us, this communication, 25:37 this technology. 25:40 We have the 3ABN, Three Angels Broadcasting Network, 25:45 very powerful instrument in reaching a lot of people, 25:49 wealthy people. 25:54 You know, if you happen to go to the Philippines, 25:57 go to the big churches; their services is not only once, 26:01 3 times in the morning because people will just come into 26:06 the church - you don't know their faces. 26:09 Some times I was so amazed, I'd ask, "Who are you?" 26:16 And they would introduce; I'm Agnes? "Oh, you are members 26:22 of this church?" "No, we don't know anybody here." 26:25 "How did you come?" 26:26 "Oh, we were told by Doug Batchelor to look for a 26:31 Seventh-day Adventist Church, or sometimes Mark Finley 26:36 told me that the Sabbath is the true day of worship, 26:41 so we found out that it's the Seventh-day Adventist, 26:43 so we came here." 26:44 "In fact, we are bringing our tithes and offerings, 26:47 we shall report this one." 26:49 I was surprised, you know, and a lot of them, 26:53 They are professional, sometimes I meet them in the palace, 26:56 sometimes I meet them in some working place in high places. 27:00 I said, "Oh brother, why are you here?" 27:02 "Well I was listening to Doug Batchelor, you know..." 27:04 or we listen to 3ABN, do you have that?" 27:07 They are asking me, "What do want us to put 27:09 the 3ABN in the Philippines?" I said, "Somehow, yeah." 27:13 And they said, "Oh boy, this is 27:15 a very nice, very nice broadcast." 27:18 He said, "You know one time, we were having difficulty 27:21 in our home, I could not sleep; there were no more 27:25 television stations operating, so I put on my television 27:28 trying to scan if there is someone operating, 27:31 and I opened at 3ABN and there Doug Batchelor was hammering 27:34 about the Sabbath." 27:36 And I looked at him and then he talked about the food, 27:38 he talked about all this doctrine, 27:40 and I asked my family, and they found Jesus Christ." 27:44 So amazing! Now, in the elite area in 27:48 Makati where the wealthy people are, 27:50 there is a big group now gathering. 27:53 They are multimillionaire people. 27:56 You know the Philippine National Book Store's owner? 27:59 He is one of those there, they are there doing having 28:04 Bible study every morning on Saturday with our 28:08 Conference President, Pastor Gala 28:11 They are studying the Bible, and they said, 28:14 "Pastor Tejano, I'm just so excited, I don't know what 28:17 to do with these wealthy people... 28:18 You know, when they come with all their limousines, 28:21 and all their security guards and all this, and then, 28:24 you know, I have to be very careful about what I say." 28:28 I said, "Go on brother, the Lord has opened the way." 28:31 And this is the power of this communication 28:34 the 3ABN Broadcasting Network. 28:37 Now you have it here in Australia, 28:40 you have it in New Zealand, you have it everywhere. 28:42 Then you say, "Oh pastor, what is our role? 28:45 Of course the 3ABN is broadcasting." 28:46 What is our role, friends? 28:48 You can have the part of this. 28:53 You can have the satellites installed in your house. 28:58 You can have connection with cable and then invite 29:02 your neighbor and perhaps they don't want to come 29:05 because you don't smile too much to them. 29:07 That's what you do sometimes. 29:10 That's why you don't know your neighbor. 29:13 BUT, you can tell them, "Hey, we have a nice 29:16 program on 3ABN, I understand you don't have it here." 29:20 And then you can sponsor one and say, "Would you like 29:23 it if I put one in your house?" 29:26 Who would ever say "No." 29:28 This is a television program, you know, both these 29:31 antenna or receiver and put it in the house, 29:34 and I tell you, friends, when you have it 29:36 installed in your house, you have the 24-hour broadcast 29:39 and the evangelism day and night, 29:42 and I'm doing it now in New Zealand. 29:44 I'm in the Filipino community, 29:46 I said, "Do you have this 3ABN?" "No, we don't have." 29:49 "You like I put one?" 29:51 "Pastor, really?" I said, "Yes." 29:53 "Are you doing that? "Yes." 29:55 "Oh, if it's from you, I will listen day and night." 29:58 So I would have it installed. 30:01 And now in my embassy because there are a lot of 30:04 people coming every day. 30:06 They want to have visa, they need to have renewal 30:09 of all those documents. 30:11 What I did is to put a television station 30:14 right in the waiting area and then I put it on... 30:19 And while they wait, they watch. 30:27 They cannot wait if they will not watch. 30:32 And they are so delighted and happy because 30:35 sometimes they come at the time when there's cooking 30:37 for the mothers... aww, the women do 30:40 "Aww, these are the healthy foods, what channel is this?" 30:46 You know they ask, my consul general 30:50 is watching always, my television, 30:51 I have it in my office and then also in my house 30:55 I installed one so that when I have guests from all over 30:59 some congressman, senators, some guests from 31:02 around the world, they come to my house, 31:04 I would purposely put on the television station, 31:07 and they watch the singing, you know... "Oh they're so 31:10 beautiful, I don't know if there is a 31:11 station like this in my country." 31:14 I said, "You have it there." 31:16 Now look church, I am a believer that 31:20 the Lord is coming very soon. 31:24 But sometimes before the introduction of this 31:26 communication, I said, "How can these things happen 31:31 when the Bible said, "And this gospel of the Kingdom 31:34 shall be preached into all the world, 31:37 and then the end shall come." 31:41 Now, while I was thinking... You know I am the kind of 31:44 pastor who just doesn't accept, that's why I was telling you 31:48 the verse that I cited yesterday about when the Lord said, 31:53 "No one is to be blamed," I really would like to ask 31:56 when He comes again, I said, "Jesus, if only there is 31:59 someone to blame to just tell the people about who really 32:03 sinned, the boy or the parents." 32:06 You know, in the same manner, I was asking... 32:09 and the gospel shall be preached and then the angel come, 32:13 then there are so many people who have not heard 32:15 the word of God; how about in China, 32:17 there are more than 1 billion, India, more than 1 billion. 32:21 The Philippines has just high-rocketed population 32:24 all over the world, you know. 32:27 Oh by the way, the Filipino outside of the Philippines 32:29 have 13 million Filipinos working include you and myself. 32:34 Thirteen million, and thank you for the remittance, on behalf 32:40 of my president, I would like to thank you, 32:43 and on behalf of the government. 32:45 If not for your help and remittance your friends 32:49 and relatives back at home, the Philippines would have 32:51 gone down because you are remitting 12 billion dollars 32:55 every year and thank you very much on behalf of our president. 33:01 We count you as our hero, the silent hero, 33:05 the supporter of our economy. 33:06 Now let me go back to the evangelism... 33:10 that's not my topic, please, just for the sake of my 33:13 president but he is doing good. 33:15 Now, what I was saying is that we can use this as a tool 33:22 in reaching a lot of people, and I was not truly a 33:26 believer when it says, "and the gospel shall be preached 33:29 and then the end shall come." 33:30 I said, "Lord, how can we finish this one." 33:32 But when this communication came into our time, 33:36 mind you friends, I am the number one believer 33:41 of the verse that says, "And the gospel shall be preached 33:45 and then the end shall come." 33:46 And my church... listen, if you will not support and help 33:50 in this evangelism, just the same, the work will be finished. 33:56 But it's a pity if you are not a partaker of this job. 34:00 You will not even enjoy even if you are saved in the Kingdom. 34:05 But when you are a part of the workforce, I tell you, 34:08 you will enjoy singing the song of Moses 34:11 and the song of the Lamb because you have 34:14 something to share on that music and the lyrics 34:19 because you too, yourself, has become an instrument 34:22 for some souls that were brought into the Kingdom of God. 34:26 You can be a part. 34:30 That's why when I started to understand this, 34:34 I said, "Lord, what can we do now, Lord, what shall we do?" 34:40 "Look, in the Philippines, how can we reach these people? 34:44 many of them don't know about Your ways. 34:50 They don't even know about the Sabbath 34:52 which is a sign between You and Your children." 34:56 So I started thinking, "How can we have a television station?" 35:00 I prayed, I talked to the Union president, 35:03 and my Union president said, "Ah Brother Tejano, you are 35:06 dreaming so much, please wake up." 35:10 And I said, "No, look at the other Protestants group, 35:13 they have like 10 hours, 24 hours broadcasts. 35:17 They are preaching the gospel; 35:19 we are an organized church, what happened? 35:21 Why can we not put it on?" 35:24 He said, "Aww, that's okay. You know, even if we 35:27 only going to rent by hours, they are chalking up by the 35:29 millions and we cannot afford to operate." 35:32 But you know, down deep in my heart said, 35:34 "You know, the Lord... perhaps some means." 35:36 That was my dream before 3ABN came to the Philippines, 35:42 I said, "Well I hope we can have a television station." 35:46 And he told me, "You know, even in the whole 35:49 Pacific and Asia there is no television station 35:52 owned by the Seventh-day Adventists, 35:53 are you aware of that, Brother Tejano." 35:55 I said, "Yes, but Lord, you know why are all those 35:58 people are having... You know Benny Hinn and all these 36:00 other Protestants - they are making all this evangelism 36:04 by television and radio... Why can't we not do this?" 36:10 Then that was the time I was assigned as an ambassador. 36:18 You know Channel 9 was for sale, owned by the government. 36:23 I approached Channel 9, and they are selling it to us for 36:35 the figure is more of a billion. 36:39 Mr. Tejano I can give you the quotation... 36:41 He said, "More or less roughly, including everything, 36:43 we can give it to you for about 2.5 to 3 billion." 36:46 I said, "Billion?" 36:49 "I don't even have a ticket going to Palawan." Laughter 36:54 And, it's almost impossible because all these things 36:58 are so expensive, very expensive. 37:01 So, I almost dismissed this idea of having a 37:04 television station in the Philippines. 37:07 When I was appointed as ambassador, I happened to 37:12 meet someone who a owns franchise. 37:20 He has a radio station all over the country, he's a wealthy man. 37:25 He owns 13 radio stations in the country, 37:30 and he owns a franchise which was approved by the congress 37:35 during the time of Corazon Aquino and Marcos, 37:40 approved by the congress, approved by the senate, 37:43 but not signed by the president. 37:46 And, it has a timeframe that if it will not be signed 37:49 within that period, that franchise will be cancelled. 37:53 I met this man, we had a dinner. 37:57 He told me, "Yeah, I have radio stations, 38:00 in fact, I have franchise and licenses, but not signed by the 38:04 president." I said, "How would you 38:06 work it?" I said, "Well, if the president will sign this, 38:09 I can put up television station all over the country." 38:12 It so happened at that time, I was appointed as ambassador, 38:15 I said, "Can I try that?" 38:19 He said, "Well, if you can have this signed, 38:22 I'll allow you to use one of the licenses here 38:26 that I have in the whole Philippines." 38:28 I said "Really? Can I try that?" He said, "Yes" 38:34 So I thought... Hold it! 38:36 I said, I want to go to the president." 38:38 You know, the good thing of the ambassador is 38:40 you have the access to the office of the 38:43 president anytime you want. All right? 38:46 So, because I am his and he is my friend, you know. 38:51 So I went there... very funny because when I was a pastor, 38:56 every time I went to the palace, they would search my body 39:00 and examine everything in order 39:03 for me to be able to come inside the premises, 39:06 but when I was appointed ambassador, 39:08 everybody executed the salute and I just nodded them, alright. 39:14 So I went there, I went to the office of the president, 39:17 and then we had pleasantries, talked together, 39:20 and I said, "Mr. President, I have a very important 39:25 purpose and he said, "What?" 39:27 I said, "Mr. President, you know, the Seventh-day Adventists 39:33 would love to have a television station in this country." 39:37 And he looked at me and he said, "Ahhh." 39:41 So I pulled out my letter. I said, "Mr. President, 39:44 this is my letter to you, asking if you can help us." 39:49 And he said, "I understand all the licenses and all the 39:53 frequencies were already assigned all over the country 39:55 a long time ago and there is no more vacancy." 39:57 I said, "Yes, Mr. President, but there is a one that is 40:01 being contested and I know if you will give it to us, 40:10 this will be the only television in the entire country 40:13 of the Philippines that would broadcast on anything 40:18 on community services like anti-smoking... 40:21 he is a chain-smoker, so he opened his eyes, 40:26 anti-alcoholism... he drinks a lot, and then I told him 40:31 and others like, anti-drugs, cooking, all kinds of helpful 40:37 lifestyle will be shown here and not so much 40:41 advertisement, Mr. President." 40:43 He said, "Do you know, this is very expensive." 40:46 And I said, "I know, Mr. President, but you know 40:48 Seventh-day Adventist is a church worldwide. 40:52 We have our members all over the world." 40:55 "Do you think you can afford to put up a station? 40:58 I said, "Mr. President, with God's help 41:01 we will be able to put it up." 41:02 "There is only one available frequency." 41:07 "But there is a franchise, Mr. President, 41:11 to be signed by you." 41:13 And you know, he pulled out his pen and he started 41:16 writing what they call a marginal note. 41:21 See, if this was my letter, he started to write right here, 41:24 and instructed the commissioner and said, "Mr. Commissioner, 41:28 release the license - approved by the President 41:34 of the Republic of the Philippines." 41:36 I tell you, friends, that license was contested with 41:42 4200 applicants, multimillionaire and for you 41:49 to be able to get that license, sometimes you have to give a 41:53 grace money of not less than 41:54 200 million - 300 million to get that. 41:59 It was given to us by the President free of charge. AMEN! 42:03 I brought that letter for the commissioner... 42:07 Of course the commissioner was not happy, 42:09 but I told him - this is the instruction of the President. 42:11 Quickly it was approved! 42:14 And immediately, since we don't have resources 42:17 on how to put up a television station, I called up 42:20 3ABN in Illinois and I talked to Danny Shelton, 42:24 and Danny said, "If we have the license, next month 42:28 you will have all the equipment brought to your country." 42:31 And in three months' time, they brought the equipment. 42:34 It would be the biggest television station 42:37 in the whole Pacific and Asia, 42:39 and now it is radiating with 80,000 kilowatt power, 42:45 and it is radiating to 24 million people. 42:49 That's why a lot of people are coming in, 42:51 a lot of people coming in. 42:53 We have been operating now for about 10 years now, 42:56 and we were not charged of this license from the owner. 43:00 The owner, himself, was watching the television station, 43:07 the owner himself, the whole family... 43:10 three weeks ago, he was baptized at Loma Linda University, 43:16 the whole family! Audience applause... 43:21 Don't clap first because I'm going to give you a bombshell. 43:29 After this, he called me in New Zealand, 43:35 he calls me now, "brother." 43:37 "Brother Tejano," he said, "I have joined your church, 43:43 and my entire family." 43:45 You know, I could not hold my emotion on the phone. 43:51 I started crying... I said, "Brother Manny, for 10 years, 43:55 I could not resist the truth that your television station 44:01 was broadcasting; I pretended not to listen, 44:06 but every time I opened and checked the frequency 44:09 and the picture whether it's good or not, 44:11 then Mr. Doug Batchelor and Mark Finley, they were 44:14 talking to me directly, and I had to yield 44:19 because I understand that this is the Word of God. 44:22 Now, we've joined your church. 44:24 Thank you, Brother, for being patient with me," he told me. 44:28 Then he started to talk to me and said, 44:31 "I have a problem." I said, "What is this?" 44:34 He said, "I have a cancer." 44:38 And he is having now an intensive treatment in America. 44:45 And now, because this franchise that he owns, this company, 44:51 he has partners, and they want to sell this whole franchise. 44:56 They want to sell it before, I think, I hope not, 45:00 before he passed away. 45:02 The problem that I am now entertaining, 45:05 in fact, I called up Danny, first one I called up Danny 45:08 a few days ago before I came here and almost 45:12 with tearful eyes, I said, "Danny, we cannot let go 45:16 of this television station. 45:18 The tagged price of 4.5 million U.S. dollars. 45:23 Where shall we get that money? 45:25 I came here with a heavy heart, but I know that the 45:31 Lord will hear our prayers. 45:33 I'm just letting you know about this. 45:36 Please pray for this." 45:38 I talked to him earnestly and said, "Brother, 45:41 can you not just donate to the Seventh-day Adventists?" 45:45 He said, "I want you to do that now that we are brothers, 45:48 but I have my partners who partly own." 45:53 I said, "Could you... how about making it a lower price?" 45:58 You know with all the discussion on the telephone, 46:01 we spent about 3 hours... 46:02 He finally said, "Okay, if it will be possible for our church 46:09 or anybody to help, I'll just let it go... I'll convince 46:14 my partners so that you'll just pay for their share, 46:18 and that is 2 million dollars out of 4.2 million," he said 46:23 he can let it go for 2 million. 46:25 And so with this, I said I'm going to bring it 46:30 to the knowledge of our church, and you are the first group 46:33 that I have informed; you are the first group. 46:37 This is a powerful television station in the Philippines, 46:40 friends, and there are few, not only a few, I think 46:44 religious groups who wanted to buy it, 46:48 but Brother Manny who became a member of our church, 46:52 he is resisting not to let go not unless it goes 46:55 to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 46:57 So this is my prayer, please help with this, 47:00 pray for this. 47:01 If God impresses your idea, let it be and guide you 47:05 with the Holy Spirit, but I want you to pray for this. 47:08 This is an instrument that is being used in many ways 47:12 that the Lord can bring souls to the kingdom. 47:17 Church, for the very limited time, let me end up 47:23 with a very, I hope, short story... 47:28 In Papua New Guinea, when I was there as an ambassador, 47:32 I was in my office when all of a sudden, a wife came, 47:39 I could hardly see her eyeballs anymore because the eyes 47:44 were already closed, bulging. 47:47 She has been crying for days and days and days. 47:51 And I don't know if they have watched the television station 47:59 because when I was in Papua New Guinea, the first thing I 48:01 did was also ask the government to give us television license, 48:07 and now it's broadcasting also in Papua New Guinea, 48:09 so it is there already in Philippine and Papua New Guinea, 48:12 but this particular lady, she came to my office and said, 48:15 "Mr. Ambassador, I have a problem." I said "What is this?" 48:18 She said, "You know my husband is in the jail." 48:24 I said, "What happened?" 48:28 She said, "He was charged with bribery." 48:33 "Oh, so how much did he bribe?" 48:39 And then she cried more... 48:42 "No," she said, "He was given a sentence of 12 years 48:47 with hard labor." 48:49 I said, "How much did he bribe?" 48:51 She said, "He bribed only $500." 48:56 And I said, "No wonder why, he should have made it 49:01 $5,000 or $50,000; maybe they got angry 49:06 because your bribe was very small." 49:09 I was joking with her, but this could be the truth, 49:13 because, you know, but he was in things. 49:17 And this guy is a CPA, certified public accountant. 49:21 He was the cashier - the reason why he was charged 49:24 was because the owner of the company asked him to deliver 49:29 an envelop and there was a $500 there and he thought 49:34 that it was only a letter of thanks, 49:36 but they interpreted it as a bribe. 49:37 Anyway, in short this guy was jailed and he attempted 49:42 to commit suicide 2 times because when you are 49:46 in that jail friends, you would rather choose death than life. 49:50 So horrible, I mean they just pee and poo on the floor, 49:55 and you live there and you don't even have a place to stay, 49:59 you just sit down... you know it's so horrible! 50:02 I went there myself and the reason why it caught my 50:06 attention because he got blinded. 50:08 His one eye because he was forced to do hard work 50:11 and carry heavy loads, his retina ruptured, 50:16 and that because of infection, it is starting to move 50:19 to the other left eye and then 50:21 finally this guy was almost blind. 50:24 I pleaded to the judge to release him, 50:26 bring him to the Philippines or to Australia 50:29 while he is under treatment, but the jury 50:33 did not like and even the judge. 50:35 Because of my compassion and I was so touched 50:39 ... you know the lady, the wife doesn't leave my office anymore, 50:43 and I was also crying already 50:45 because I saw the children, you know. 50:48 You know when the wife started to relate "we have children," 50:51 you know we already agreed with my children, 50:53 we will commit suicide, all of us." 50:55 "We never expected this life. 50:59 The children agreed that we will all kill ourselves together." 51:03 I was so moved, I cannot stand with those kind of things. 51:07 I went to the judge, asked him... 51:10 Please release that guy, have him treated, 51:12 after the treatment, he can come back and serve. 51:15 "NO!" 51:17 Out of my desperation, I said, "Okay, I will write, 51:23 I'll guarantee, if he will not come, I will pay all the charges 51:27 He said, "No.." "All right, let him out, I'll go to jail." 51:31 He said, "You cannot do that, Ambassador, 51:35 because you cannot be jailed." 51:37 "We know that, we know that you have the 51:39 diplomatic protection and if we jail you, 51:42 we'll be the one to be in jail." 51:43 I said, "Okay, I will make my waiver." 51:45 And I did make my waiver. 51:48 "I waive my privilege as ambassador, 51:52 let him just be treated." 51:54 And this guy was allowed to be free. 51:57 I thought they would put me in... 52:00 He said, "Ambassador no, we will keep your promise here. 52:04 If this guy will not come back, you will be in jail." 52:07 I said, "I accept that." 52:09 So he was escorted to the Philippines with 4 soldiers, 52:13 4 policemen I mean, policemen, 52:16 and he was treated right immediately 52:18 in "Makati Medical Center." 52:19 The whole treatment, there were there, 52:21 and then the policemen got tired, 52:23 they went back home after 3 months. 52:25 After 4 months, the doctor called me and said, 52:28 "Mr. Ambassador, the guy is already healed, 52:31 so I will send him back." 52:35 I said, "Doctor, no he is not yet healed." Audience laughter 52:46 And he said, "No, no, no, he's okay, he is cleared." 52:48 "Look, he is still sick." 52:50 "No, no, I'm the doctor, I'm talking to you now." 52:53 I said, "Doctor, please, he's still... you know, 52:55 he needs further treatment." 52:57 "I'm the specialist!" 52:58 "Doctor, he is still sick, please, look at his other eye." 53:02 "I know it," he said. 53:03 "Doctor, you don't understand me PLEASE!" 53:06 "HE IS STILL SICK... THE MOMENT HE COMES HERE, 53:08 HE'S BACK IN JAIL!" 53:11 He said, "Oh really." I said, "Yes." 53:15 "Can you please have a second, like a second opinion 53:19 like you have to refer him to somewhere else 53:21 so that he will have further treatment?" 53:23 "Yeah, but he's already..." 53:24 "Please not yet, okay, please." 53:26 He understood my message, and I told him 53:31 have him for an opinion back to the United States 53:34 to be sure that he is okay. 53:36 And then he was sent to the United States... 53:40 This guy, instead of having been treated or to the hospital, 53:46 he found a job and he landed a good job in the United States. 53:51 One day, I was called to the palace, Malacañan, 53:59 and I was surprised, the president was sitting, 54:05 and there was the wife who pleaded with me 54:09 in the embassy; she was smiling with her tears, 54:16 and the children were crying. 54:19 And when they saw me, "Madam President, 54:21 this is the one, that's the one, he's the one 54:25 who helped my husband." 54:27 "We never thought that there would be an ambassador 54:30 like that - who is willing to go to the jail 54:32 on behalf of my husband." 54:36 "Madam President, thank you very much... 54:38 With all our lives, we owe it from this man." 54:42 Then I explained to the present, I told him, 54:45 "Madam President, it's always my obsession wherever I can 54:52 be a part in relieving people." 54:54 And the president thanked me very much. 54:57 But the greatest joy I have is that their children 55:01 were sent to the Adventist University in the Philippines, 55:05 and they became baptized Seventh-day Adventists. 55:09 They are nurses now. We praise the Lord! 55:13 God can use many ways and many methods 55:17 for as long as you open your heart 55:21 for the working of the Holy Spirit. 55:24 It is my prayer, church, that we will have this 55:27 opportunity to serve Him. 55:31 In fact, if God impresses you to do His work, 55:34 please don't hesitate because 55:36 the One who is behind you is known as 55:39 The King of Kings and The Lord of Lords. 55:43 God bless you. |
Revised 2015-10-15