Participants:
Series Code: 14ASIC
Program Code: 14ASIC000005
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00:37 You're on the narrow road
00:41 And I've been with you all along 00:45 This race that you're running 00:49 Is not given to the strong 00:53 I know sometimes you're weary 00:57 And faith is hard to find 01:01 You feel you'll never reach the finish line 01:07 But, that's when I carry you 01:11 That's when I carry you 01:16 I have kept you through the storms 01:20 You have never been alone 01:23 I'll carry you 01:27 Yes, I will carry you 01:32 When the road is much too hard to make it through 01:38 I will carry you 01:48 I'm with you when you're hurting 01:52 I know how hard you try 01:56 To bare your heavy burdens 02:00 I hear you when you cry 02:04 I know sometimes it's easy 02:08 To believe all hope is gone 02:12 When there is no more strength to carry on 02:18 But, that's when I carry you 02:22 That's when I carry you, my child 02:28 I have kept you through the storms 02:31 You have never been alone 02:34 I'll carry you 02:38 Yes, I will carry you 02:43 When the road is much too hard to make it through 02:49 I will carry you 02:53 You may not understand what's going on 03:00 And you may not have 03:03 the strength to be strong 03:14 But, that's when I carry you 03:18 That's when I carry you 03:23 I have kept you through the storms 03:27 You have never been alone 03:30 I'll carry you 03:34 Yes, I will carry you, my child 03:39 When the road is much too hard to make it through 03:45 I will carry you 03:49 Yes, 03:52 I will carry you 03:55 I have kept you through the storms 03:59 You have never been alone 04:02 I'll carry you 04:05 Yes, I will carry you, my child 04:11 When the road is much too hard to make it through 04:17 I will carry you 04:29 Yes, I will I promise you 04:35 Yes, I will 04:38 I'll carry you 04:52 Amen. Amen. 04:58 Good afternoon. 05:00 I want to welcome you all to a special town hall program 05:04 that is coming to you live from Grand Rapids, Michigan 05:07 where we are having our annual ASI Convention. 05:11 And our special guest today are Pastor Dan Jackson, 05:14 the president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church 05:16 in North American known also as the North American Division 05:19 and Pastor Ted Wilson, who is the President 05:22 of the World Seventh-day Adventist Church 05:23 also known as the General Conference. 05:26 And we are very pleased to have you 05:27 as special guests, gentlemen 05:30 and I want you on behalf of the ASI officer group 05:34 welcome you to our convention and glad that you are here. 05:37 And would like have to you give a greeting 05:39 if you would like to to our both audience 05:42 that is watching by television and the live studio audience 05:44 we have here in this hotel. 05:48 Well, its great, great privilege to be here 05:51 at the ASI Convention and to see so many friends 05:55 and those who are very strong supporters 05:58 of God's precious word and the last day message 06:02 for this troubled world of ours and it will be a privilege 06:05 to chat with you today about some of those things. 06:08 We are looking forward to that, Pastor Wilson. Pastor Jackson? 06:10 Its all is good. 06:12 One of the best parts of my job is to meet God's people. 06:17 And so its good to be here 06:19 and I'm thankful for the opportunity to sit 06:23 and talk and discuss issues that are very near and dear 06:27 to the hearts of Seventh-day Adventists. 06:30 And of course, those who are in our studio audience 06:33 today don't need to be told who ASI members are 06:36 but those who are watching on television 06:38 you may need to be reminded, just let you know, 06:41 ASI members are Seventh-day Adventist lay people 06:45 who are business people or who operate ministries. 06:48 And these individuals are here gathered in a convention, 06:52 a series of conferences and meetings 06:54 that are designed to help them 06:56 know how to join together more effectively 06:59 with the leadership of our church. 07:01 And one of the things that in case someone 07:04 who is watching may not even know, 07:05 you may not be a member 07:06 of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, 07:08 I would like to ask you over Jackson 07:10 what is a Seventh-day Adventist? 07:12 Seventh-day Adventist is a Bible believing, 07:16 God fearing individual who has accepted Jesus 07:21 as their Lord and Savior 07:22 and who is committed to the proclamation 07:25 of the grace of God in the context 07:27 of three very special messages found in Revelation 14 07:32 that we call the Three Angels Messages. 07:34 Okay, and that's individually 07:35 now from a world perspective Pastor Wilson, 07:38 what is the Seventh-day Adventist movement? 07:42 Well Dan, it involves over 18 million baptized members 07:50 and many, many more children 07:52 and those who feel some what connected 07:54 to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 07:57 The world church has 13 world divisions 08:00 which are different regional areas 08:03 one of which is the North American Division. 08:06 And we operate in about 208 countries of the world or so. 08:13 Multiple languages, 08:16 helping in the area of better health, 08:20 social activities, helping with young people 08:23 and the challenges they face, 08:25 helping in education and most of all spiritually. 08:29 And of course, that emphasis 08:33 is following in Christ footsteps 08:35 where He ministered to people 08:37 and help people where they were hurting. 08:40 And so we emphasis 08:42 the physical, social, mental and spiritual realm 08:47 and the Seventh-day Adventist 08:48 is one who simply follows God's leading 08:52 and realizes here on this earth its time to share with people 08:56 the good news that Jesus is coming. 08:58 Amen, and one of the things that 09:00 we have been known for is-- I've heard the phrase 09:03 and of course, we are all familiar with it, 09:05 that Seventh-day Adventists are people of the book. 09:09 And when we say the book, we are talking about Scripture. 09:11 And for a Seventh-day Adventist how important 09:15 is the Scriptures, Pastor Jackson? 09:17 You know, Seventh-day Adventism in reality comes 09:20 out of a long heritage of Protestantism. 09:24 And when the reformers back in the 16th century 09:28 talked about the Bible, they talked about it 09:31 as the soul rule of life and faith and practice. 09:37 And for the Seventh-day Adventist 09:39 how important is this book to us? 09:41 We find the grace of God 09:42 and the goodness of God in this book 09:44 and we find those messages that are unique and specific 09:48 that God has asked us to give to the world. 09:51 So, it still is the soul rule of faith and practice. 09:55 If I can just ask-- Oh, yes. 09:58 Probably one of the biggest objectives 10:00 that the devil has is to neutralize 10:03 the effectiveness of the Word of God 10:06 and he can do that in different ways 10:08 helping people to pick apart 10:11 the Bible using their own educated status 10:15 and believing that they know 10:17 how to somehow rearrange things or decide 10:20 for what is truth and what is not. 10:23 Another way is simply to get people 10:25 to ignore the Word of God. 10:27 So you can do it in different ways, 10:29 attacking it or helping even 10:32 Seventh-day Adventist Christians to ignore 10:35 the need to study God's word everyday. 10:40 You know, Dan, I believe that 10:41 the time is coming when all people 10:45 will not be able to trust their senses. 10:49 The devil is very clever, he is very cunning. 10:52 He knows how to fool us, to trick us and if our lives 10:57 and our understanding of God is not based upon this book 11:02 we can so easily be deceived. 11:03 So we can't trust our sense, we have to rely 11:06 on what the Word of God says to us everyday. 11:10 And of course, in the world 11:12 that we are living in there is a cultural shift, 11:14 it's almost like a runaway train 11:17 in some descriptions that I have heard 11:20 and where people are looking at experience in their lives 11:25 and they are actually starting new courses 11:27 without the Word of God. 11:28 It's around us in the culture 11:30 but its' also in Christianity in churches. 11:33 And one of the things that we are gonna do here 11:35 there are elephants in the room 11:37 and we are gonna be talking about the elephants 11:39 that are in the room because these are real issues. 11:43 One of the things that we have all seen this summer 11:46 is the announcement church after church, 11:50 now I'm not talking about Seventh-day Adventist churches 11:51 I'm talking about other Protestant denominations. 11:54 There have been news releases after news release 11:57 of different groups that are now saying 11:59 we are going to embrace what is commonly talked about 12:03 as the gay marriage issue or LGBT issues. 12:07 And that popular thing-- 12:09 in fact, there's only one denomination 12:11 that did not go that way from all the announcements 12:13 that have been made this summer. 12:15 But where do Seventh-day Adventist stand 12:17 with regard to issues-- well, I guess, 12:21 I would talk about it in terms even in larger, 12:23 the whole arena of human sexuality. 12:26 We have people that are talking about 12:28 pornography and pornography addictions 12:30 especially among certain age groups of people, 12:34 also the gay lifestyle, the gay marriage et cetera. 12:36 How does that relate 12:38 in Seventh-day Adventist thinking and leadership? 12:41 How you look at that? 12:42 And I would ask you at first, Elder Wilson. 12:45 Well, interestingly 12:46 the Seventh-day Adventist world church 12:50 had a conference in Cape Town, South Africa 12:54 in a month of March of this year 12:57 where we focused upon 13:00 this particular aspect of human sexuality 13:04 and in particular homosexuality and some of those aspects. 13:10 And the Seventh-day Adventist Church 13:12 is very clear on its position regarding homosexuality 13:19 and areas related to that. 13:22 We stand firmly upon the Word of God. 13:26 We stand firmly upon what Scripture says 13:29 that variants of what God's idea 13:34 is they are not what God wants. 13:37 We are opposed to that type of lifestyle. 13:41 Now, that doesn't mean that we come at it 13:43 from a very self righteous position 13:45 because there are people who are involved 13:49 in heterosexual activity 13:51 that is very much out of line with Scripture. 13:54 And so we have to be very clear that we support 13:58 what God intended for human beings 14:01 and that was a man and a woman would be married 14:05 and form a family 14:08 and God will bless that family and that relationship. 14:11 Now regardless of what situation 14:15 people may face, God has a solution 14:19 and an answer to bring them back into a wholeness. 14:23 And so another aspect of the conference 14:25 that we had in Cape Town 14:28 was to help our church understand that 14:30 we need to reach out to people everywhere 14:35 who are facing challenges and difficulties 14:38 and to remind them and ourselves 14:40 that Jesus, has the power to help us 14:45 to live a victorious Christian life in Him. 14:49 And so I think 14:50 the Seventh-day Adventist Church 14:51 is quite clear on our biblical stand 14:55 and also on how we want to reach out to people, 14:58 not in a self-righteous way but pointing people to the one 15:01 who can give us victory and that's Jesus Christ. 15:06 You know, I think one of the teachings 15:07 of the Scriptures is that, God does give free choice. 15:14 If you read Roman's Chapter 1 15:15 it's a very serious discussion of what happens 15:19 when men take their choice 15:21 and run contrary to the will of God. 15:24 I don't believe the time will ever come 15:28 when the Seventh-day Adventist Church would 15:30 or should move away from this book. 15:33 But I thank to every human being 15:36 we have another mandate that expresses to them 15:41 that when Jesus died upon the cross 15:43 He did two things-- more than two things 15:46 but two things that I want to mention. 15:49 He overcame the power of the grave. 15:53 So no matter what happens in my life 15:56 if I die in the faith of Jesus, I know He will raise me again. 16:00 But the second thing that Jesus did 16:02 at Calvary was to overcome sin. 16:07 So that for every person, 16:08 no matter how pained they are right now, 16:11 how challenged they are right now, 16:14 the reality is that Jesus offers freedom 16:16 to every human being. 16:18 And I think our approach to this whole question 16:21 we need to, we need to acknowledge 16:23 that if there is any hierarchy of sin 16:26 the number one on the list is pride. 16:31 However we reach out to every person acknowledging that 16:35 the Word of God sets a standard for us 16:38 and we are never to compromise on this standard. 16:41 So we pray for those individuals 16:44 who maybe caught in certain sexual problems, 16:48 whether heterosexual, homosexual, 16:51 whether its a problem with pornography 16:53 we need to pray and reach out to them 16:55 with the love of God assuring them 16:57 that they can have victory. 16:59 Go ahead, please. 17:00 Jackson made a very important point there that 17:03 we need to reach out with the love of God. 17:05 So compassion and love is very important 17:08 but then again God's word says something. 17:12 and so God has to help balance that in a beautiful way, 17:16 but never should we be a mean spirited or angry, 17:21 we should reach out in true Christian love pointing people 17:25 to the source of all victory, Jesus. 17:28 And of course, one of the things that 17:29 the devil has done in his entire great controversy plan 17:34 is to try to normalize sin anyway that he can 17:38 and I'm thinking right now Pastor Jackson, you mentioned, 17:41 you know, someone who might be struggling 17:43 with the pornography addiction 17:44 and incidentally that's just a male only issues. 17:48 The statistics show that there are a number of females 17:50 that are caught in that as well. 17:52 And if there is someone here in this audience 17:54 or someone who is watching us right now 17:56 that maybe struggling with that and feeling ashamed or sorry 17:59 and not knowing what to do, 18:01 what would you say to that person, Pastor Wilson? 18:04 Well, first of all I think one has to recognize 18:08 that there is a being and that is God himself 18:14 who wants to create a restoration 18:17 of wholeness in all of our lives. 18:20 And so God first of all needs to be looked at is someone 18:24 who can really help in a situation like this. 18:28 And anyone who is suffering 18:29 from that kind of an addiction or that challenge, 18:32 they need to recognize that the first thing 18:35 they need to do is to come to God 18:38 and accept that God will help them 18:40 and give them assistance and encouragement. 18:43 But I would like to encourage anyone 18:45 who is facing some of those challenges to be able to go 18:49 to Seventh-day Adventist websites, 18:51 to be able to also contact the Seventh-day Adventist 18:54 pastor or church leader, a local church leader 18:58 who can then put them in touch with very competent individuals 19:03 who can help them work through 19:06 some of those challenging situations. 19:08 Because one of the worst things 19:10 that a person face, faces in a situation like that 19:14 is that they feel rejected, cut off, 19:17 or that there is no hope and there is a lot of hope. 19:20 Yes, there is hope. 19:21 Pastor Jackson, would you like to add to that? 19:22 Well sure, You know, years ago 19:25 Del Delker sang a song and the words, 19:28 first words or the chorus was 19:30 "Never give up, Jesus is coming. 19:32 It's the darkest just before dawn." 19:34 And it is true. 19:35 We live in the context of the eminent return of Jesus 19:39 but for the person who is struggling, 19:42 who feels as Elder Wilson had said on their own 19:44 and isolated, you are not alone. 19:47 You are not alone, because Jesus has promised 19:51 to be with you in that situation 19:54 and He will give healing 19:56 if you surrender your life to Him. 19:58 You know, the Scripture say, you will search Me 20:01 or seek for Me and you will find Me, 20:04 when you search for Me with all your heart 20:06 and I will be found of you, says the Lord. 20:09 So, no matter how deep the problem 20:11 or how in mesh the habit God can give deliverance. 20:17 Amen, I want to move on to another topic 20:20 because our time will get away from us. 20:21 One of the areas we got many questions 20:26 had to do with the women's ordination issues 20:29 that is before the church right now 20:31 and I have a question 20:32 I would like to ask in this way. 20:35 You know, many of our lay people 20:37 may not be fully understanding the process 20:41 that the church uses to wrestle 20:43 with these kind of issues, 20:44 we know that there are commissions that have met, 20:47 we know that this coming fall there will be Annual Council 20:50 where I'm certain that this will be discussed. 20:53 And of course, next year at this time 20:55 we will have already been through 20:56 the General Conference session of 2015 in San Antonio. 21:00 My question and I would like 21:01 for both of you to be able to respond to this is, 21:04 what will be the impact upon the church? 21:08 And I'm gonna start with your Pastor Jackson, 21:10 what will be the impact 21:12 upon the church in North America, A, 21:15 if the church votes to ordain women 21:18 and B, if the church votes not to ordain women? 21:22 What would be the impact 21:24 of the decision of upon North America? 21:26 But Dan, I want to profess my comment by saying 21:29 that I believe there are God fearing, 21:33 God honoring, Bible believing Seventh-day Adventists 21:38 who find themselves on both sides of the equation 21:42 and I think we need to look at it from that perspective. 21:45 Okay. 21:47 No matter what the outcome 21:49 of the Annual Council and the General Conference 21:52 there will be individuals in North America 21:55 and I'm speaking only for North America 21:57 but I'm assuming in other parts of the world too. 22:00 Now that will be highly disappointed 22:02 regardless of the outcome. 22:05 There is not just one point of view 22:09 I don't think in most divisions, 22:11 I don't-- well, let's not get into that. 22:13 But in North America 22:14 there is not just one point of view. 22:18 So no matter which way the discussion ends 22:21 there will be some great disappointment. 22:24 I will tell you plainly two things. 22:27 Number one, I believe that 22:30 God has given us the inalienable right 22:33 to make choices, to look into His word, 22:36 to study it and understand it. 22:38 And as we do that 22:42 we need to surrender our lives to God 22:44 and give our lives to Him. 22:46 But when it comes this matter of what will be the impact, 22:50 I think that there will be some fundamental decisions 22:54 that all of us will have to make. 22:56 Everyone of us no matter 22:57 which side of the equation one might sit 23:00 and that is we will have to make a decision, 23:04 is this God's church or isn't it? 23:06 Did God call me into this movement? 23:09 So the impact I believe or at least the impact maybe 23:16 that there is a lot of disappointment, 23:18 there maybe some anger, there maybe alienation 23:22 and so on and yet what do we do about that? 23:25 That is my issues at this point 23:28 in response to your question. 23:30 What do we do about that? 23:32 We anchor in Jesus Christ. 23:36 We acknowledge that this is His church, 23:40 this is His movement 23:42 and we come to the place where we say, 23:45 I want to be a part of the movement 23:49 that heralds the messages of the three angels 23:52 and no matter what happened at a General Conference 23:56 or an Annual Council 23:58 let me focus on the driving mission 24:01 of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 24:04 Pastor Wilson, from a world perspective 24:07 what is the implication? 24:09 Whether we vote yes, to ordain women 24:11 or no, not to ordain? 24:14 Well, let me paraphrase that by saying 24:15 that we are carrying out a very careful process 24:18 to make sure that what is done 24:20 is being fair to all parties concerned 24:24 and those who hold differing opinions. 24:27 We have groups that have of course, 24:31 especially one group recently 24:32 that is very carefully studied from Scripture 24:36 and from the writings of Ellen White 24:39 and in much prayer to decipher exactly what the positions are? 24:44 Well, people end up holding different positions. 24:46 So how do you move that process along? 24:49 And we will be providing materials 24:53 of different perspectives 24:54 to all of the delegates coming to the Annual Council. 24:57 Those who are official representatives 25:01 at the Annual Council, 25:04 members of the General Conference Committee 25:06 and we will be engaging 25:08 in some very careful prayer approaches 25:12 and a listening to each other. 25:14 Now one of the main things 25:15 that we want to do is to make sure 25:17 that people don't become too over anxious and emotive 25:22 because this is a very challenging subject 25:25 and people can become extremely almost angry 25:31 on either side of the question. 25:34 And we want the Holy Spirit's presence 25:36 in a very careful way as I think all do. 25:40 So the process will be very carefully done, 25:43 we will be listening, we will be praying, 25:46 we will be talking and no one by God's grace 25:50 will be shown any kind of depreciation 25:54 for their own self worth and their own positions. 25:59 We are looking towards a situation 26:04 where we will probably have to take some kind of a vote. 26:07 We don't have the luxury of having the high priest 26:11 with the Urim and Thummim and asking a question. 26:14 We don't have a living prophet with us to ask. 26:17 We do have the Holy Spirit 26:19 and the Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth. 26:23 What I think is the most important thing 26:25 even beyond what will be decided 26:28 is as Pastor Jackson has said, how will you react? 26:33 One way or the other 26:34 regardless of what decision is taken, 26:37 will you understand 26:39 that you are part of the body of Christ. 26:41 And that there is a bigger challenge 26:44 and opportunity for the church 26:46 and that is the proclamation of the Three Angels' Messages. 26:50 Are you willing to be part of that 26:52 even though you may not agree whether decision 26:55 that's been taken one side or the other? 26:59 And I think as we move into this 27:00 we are going to be emphasizing more and more 27:03 the need for unity in the church 27:06 and not for disgruntle groups to run off 27:09 into one corner or off into their own directions. 27:12 And you know, one wonderful thing 27:15 recently Pastor Jackson and I got together 27:18 and we had a real time 27:20 when we just talk to each others hearts. 27:24 And we may not agree 27:26 on every single little thing in live 27:28 but we are agreed on the very important fact 27:31 that we must be united in the mission of the church 27:35 and the prophetic mission God has given to this church. 27:39 And so we are excited about that aspect. 27:42 So I ask for your prayers 27:43 as we move into this whole process 27:46 and ask that the Holy Spirit will give us true compassion 27:50 and understanding for each other 27:53 but then to live with the vote that's taken. 27:56 And I guess I would ask our audience today. 27:58 How many of you will be praying with Pastor Jackson 28:02 and Pastor Will on this process. 28:03 Thank you. all of these people here 28:05 and I'm sure those who are watching from home, 28:08 you will be praying as well. 28:10 I want to move to another question that's coming in. 28:12 By the way so you know, 28:13 we've had I think of 60 or 70 questions 28:15 that have been submitted to us. 28:17 We are not able to get to everyone, 28:18 we grouped them in different ones 28:20 but that came up is interesting. 28:22 And the question is what about this rumors 28:25 that we hear that the NAD, the North American Division 28:28 maybe moving or planning to move out of the GC building. 28:33 Elder Jackson? 28:34 Well, that's a fair question 28:35 and I don't think it needs any speculation. 28:41 You know, every organization needs to grow 28:47 and needs to do what I call self differentiate. 28:51 The General Conference and the North American Division 28:55 and I think Elder Wilson 28:56 is the one who uses the word have enjoyed 29:00 for many years a symbiotic relationship. 29:03 I don't see the need for that to end. 29:07 I don't believe that a desire to move 29:10 to another location is a reaction 29:12 to the General Conference or a wild child saying 29:17 we are gonna go and do what we want. 29:19 But every organization has need for its own structure 29:23 and its own delivery of mission. 29:26 The North American Division, you know, just as it says-- 29:31 when you look at the formal title of the NAD 29:34 it is the North American Division 29:36 of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. 29:39 And so there is a natural symbiotic relationship 29:42 and that not to end. 29:44 But yes, to be frank we are contemplating 29:48 a move to another part of either the area 29:52 that we are in right now 29:53 or somewhere in the United States 29:56 where we feel we can deliver the mission 30:01 of God's church to North America. 30:03 This about mission, its not about rebellion, 30:06 it's not about pushing away. 30:08 It is about mission and mission delivery 30:11 and that is a key thing that we are working hard toward 30:15 because we believe Jesus is coming 30:18 and we need to do what is most effective 30:20 and most efficient for His work. 30:22 Okay. Thank you. 30:24 We are not, we are not pushing them out, 30:25 we would like for them to stay but they are looking at it 30:28 and we want the best for the mission-- 30:31 the prophetic mission 30:32 here in the North American Division. 30:35 And we will just leave it in God's hands. 30:38 We'll see what happens. Here's another question-- 30:40 I didn't want to say that the brethren have said to us, 30:44 we don't want you to go 30:46 but we will support you in your move. 30:49 So we are not leaving in any kind of animosity 30:53 or and we are not leaving. 30:55 We are studying it carefully and-- but that's the story. 31:00 Okay, well, now we know, we heard it straight, 31:02 the straight testimony as we say. 31:04 You almost said from the horse's mouth. 31:06 I almost did but I did. I caught myself. 31:10 Another question, do we still believe 31:12 in the Spirit of Prophecy in this church? 31:14 Pastor Jackson, then let's Pastor Wilson to respond. 31:17 You know, I have believed for so many years 31:21 that the greatest unifying force 31:24 in the Seventh-day Adventist Church 31:26 has been the writings of Ellen White 31:29 and I believe that at this very minute. 31:32 We need, we need the counsel that we can give. 31:36 We do believe in Sola Scriptura 31:40 but everything that God gifted us 31:42 was through the writings of Ellen White, 31:45 shines a light on this book. 31:47 And so for us to say in anyway 31:51 well, we can just lay those writings aside 31:55 would be very wrong and inappropriate 31:58 and that would be in my opinion a trick of the devil. 32:02 That gift was given for us till the day 32:07 that Jesus comes, it is a blessing to us 32:10 and it is enlightenment 32:13 as I've said on the Word of God. 32:16 Pastor Wilson? 32:17 One of the very specific characteristics 32:19 of God's last day church 32:20 as outlined in Revelation 12:17, 32:24 there are two of them. 32:25 Keep the commandments of God 32:27 and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. 32:29 And from Revelation 19 verse 10 32:32 we understand the testimony of Jesus Christ 32:34 to be the Spirit of Prophecy 32:36 and we believe that the writings of Ellen White 32:38 were inspired fully by God 32:41 and that they are just as relevant today in 2014 32:46 as they were hundred years ago or more. 32:49 The Lord I think is using today 32:52 even more those precious writings 32:55 to point us back to the Bible 32:57 and to give us practical counsel 32:59 in almost every area of life including Mission to the Cities 33:04 which we may talk about in a few moments. 33:06 How to reach the millions of people 33:09 in these huge metropolitan areas? 33:12 So, yes, the Spirit of Prophecy 33:14 as I like to say is one of God's greatest gifts 33:17 to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 33:18 It is just as fresh today as when it was written. 33:22 Amen. Amen. 33:24 The single area that had the most questions 33:28 that came in during the time 33:31 when people were able to put their questions in 33:33 with this town hall gathering had to do with the whole arena 33:37 and I'm gonna use several different words, 33:39 contemplative spirituality, spiritual formation, et cetera. 33:43 This whole idea of the blending of different, 33:47 different elements together 33:49 in kind of a new age kind of a thing 33:52 and I guess what I want to ask is this. 33:54 What about movements? 33:56 How should, how should Adventists, 33:58 how should we are hear other Adventist relate 34:01 to movements that draw us away 34:04 from the distinctive beliefs in the prophetic vision 34:08 that God has entrusted to us? 34:10 And I'm gonna start with your, Pastor Jackson. 34:14 Can I tell you a story? We love stories. 34:16 It's a funny little story. Okay. 34:18 Years ago I was a baker. 34:20 I used to go into the bakery first thing in the morning 34:22 and I would make mint tarts. 34:26 And the mince tarts, 34:27 you know, were sent from the bakery to the-- 34:30 a restaurant in Downtown Victoria, British Columbia 34:34 where British ladies would sip tea 34:36 and eat mince tarts. 34:38 One day I went into mix 34:40 the mince prior to taking them out, 34:44 they felt a little stringy. 34:46 But I none the less took the materials away, 34:49 then the second day I did the same 34:51 and it was little more stringy. 34:52 By the third day I said, 34:53 something's wrong with the mince. 34:56 You know, I took the whole bucket out 34:59 and I've got a big tray 35:00 and I scooped it out on to the tray 35:03 and discovered there were seven dead mice in the mince. 35:09 Now those ladies in that-- That tea. 35:13 Tea in the downtown Victoria they were sipping their tea 35:16 and they thought they were eating regular mince tarts. 35:20 They looked like mince tarts, they smelled like mince tarts, 35:23 they tasted like mince tarts but they had the addition 35:27 of the entrails of seven mice in them. 35:31 This is true confession time. 35:33 I want you all to hear, this is true confession time. 35:35 You know, you may see things that look like they are truth, 35:41 they may smell like truth, they may feel like truth 35:45 but if they do not sit based on this word 35:49 they are not truth. 35:52 So when there are calls or enticements to embrace 35:57 some other teaching or some other word-- 36:02 we tested on this book and we don't-- 36:05 we never to move away 36:08 from the plain teachings of scripture. 36:10 No matter whether somebody tells us 36:12 they have got a unique way to pray 36:14 or there is a church that is building 36:18 kind of a syncretistic way of embracing 36:21 Islam and Buddhism and Hinduism and Christianity. 36:26 No, no, no, no, rely on 36:29 what is the reliable, God's word. 36:31 So that would be my answer. 36:33 Okay, Pastor Wilson. 36:35 We need to be prepared 36:37 that in the very last days of earth's history 36:40 which I believe we are living in right now 36:43 I believe fully that Jesus is coming soon. 36:46 In these days the devil will try to throw 36:49 every possible curve at anyone who is interested in truth 36:55 and especially at Seventh-day Adventist. 36:58 So there are gonna be all kinds of winds 37:00 or strange aberrant understanding 37:05 of what people think is truth. 37:08 Also there will be renewed efforts 37:12 on the part of the devil to deceive people 37:15 into thinking that there is revival, 37:19 when in reality the revival 37:21 is not based on the Word of God as Pastor Jackson has mentioned 37:25 but it is based upon emotion. 37:28 It is based upon an existential kind of approach. 37:32 We need to be very careful about 37:34 anything that cannot be proven from scripture 37:37 that is not based on a cognitive understanding 37:41 of the Word of God because from day to day 37:43 you can feel all kinds of different ways. 37:46 So there is this tendency today, 37:49 especially with certain charismatic 37:51 and Pentecostal influences as well as new age influences 37:56 that you need to experience something. 37:59 Yes, Christianity and an understanding 38:03 of Christ is an experience but it must be based upon 38:06 a firm understanding of the Word of God. 38:10 Now I want to caution anyone 38:13 who is dabbling in aspects of belief 38:17 or understanding that could take them 38:21 away from solid pillars of God's truth 38:24 that will focus on only one particular area of truth 38:29 and not see it in a big picture that will say 38:33 well, if you just repeat these words over and over gain 38:37 or just fix your mind on something 38:39 or allow your mind to become vacant 38:42 and allow God to fill you. 38:45 You got to be very careful about that. 38:47 The Prayer is a directed kind of understanding. 38:51 It is not just a vacating of your mind. 38:54 Because If you take everything out of you minds 38:56 some things gonna go in it. 38:57 and I don't think its gonna go be the Lord. 38:59 So you got to be focusing on those things 39:01 which are honest and true and pure 39:04 as Paul tells us in the Book of Philippians. 39:07 And I think we need to be very careful about areas 39:10 and movements that are gonna take us away 39:14 from a very basic fundament understanding of what is truth. 39:21 Jesus said, if you love Me keep My commandments. 39:25 He didn't say you are going to be saved 39:27 by keeping My commandments 39:28 but if you love Jesus and you understand 39:31 who He is then through His righteousness 39:34 which another subject we need to touch on, 39:37 He will then through the Holy Spirit help us 39:39 to live the Christian life, 39:42 justification and sanctification. 39:45 And movements are a foot 39:47 which will take people away from this precious word 39:50 and a literal understanding of God's word. 39:54 You know, we are told we ought to read the Bible as it is, 39:58 not try to impute all kinds of different ideas to it. 40:02 If there is a mixing of truth 40:05 and a mixing of human understanding 40:08 with the Bible stay away from it. 40:10 If there is something that overly emotional 40:13 and taking you away from a cognitive understanding 40:16 of God stay away from it. 40:18 Stay with God's word and the Spirit of Prophecy, 40:22 you will not be disappointed. 40:24 Okay, now I would assume based upon the answers 40:27 both of you just have just given 40:29 that if someone hears someone say 40:32 well, listen let's go for a whole year, 40:35 no Spirit of Prophecy 40:36 and only talk about the stories of Jesus, 40:38 not the teachings of Jesus but the stories of Jesus. 40:41 What should-- should there be red flags going off 40:43 for that individual 40:44 when they hear something like that? 40:46 Why would you ever want to limit yourself 40:49 to the amount of truth that God has made available? 40:53 I think we need to be individuals 40:55 who will draw on everything possible that is fully truth 41:00 in order to have a full experience in Christ. 41:03 Okay. 41:04 You know, I tell people all the time 41:06 and it is my belief there is only one true north 41:09 in the Seventh-day Adventist Church 41:11 and His name is Jesus. 41:12 However having said that 41:14 I think its important to know that 41:17 Jesus said He would give us the spirit 41:19 and when he the spirit of truth is coming 41:21 will guide you into all truth. 41:24 So to limit ourselves to just one aspect 41:28 to talk about the stories of Jesus 41:30 and not the teachings of Jesus, to say I accept You as Lord 41:34 but I won't let You leave me-- wait a minute. 41:37 You are limiting not only your own exposure to truth 41:42 but you are limiting the access that 41:44 God can have to your mind. 41:46 So for us to say in any sense, 41:50 I'll only read the stories of Jesus 41:52 but I wouldn't then go ahead and take the application that 41:56 the Word of God makes of those stories 41:59 and then implement those things into my own life, 42:01 certainly is I think limiting 42:05 of God's ability to work in my life. 42:08 So and the same is true of the Spirit of Prophecy 42:11 to say, no, I'm gonna exclude, 42:13 I'm only gonna do this one thing 42:14 and I'm gonna exclude this, this and this. 42:19 I would like to be able to give an illustration 42:21 it's just not coming to my mind but it would be unfortunate. 42:24 Anyway I can't think of it right now but... 42:26 Okay. 42:28 Let me also try and encourage people 42:30 to stay away from the fallacy 42:33 that somehow the doctrines of the church, 42:37 in the Seventh-day Adventist Church 42:38 we have 28 fundamental beliefs but somehow those are dry 42:42 and legalistic and really have no relationship to Christ. 42:47 And that all you need to do is just talk about Jesus 42:50 and that's really about the extent 42:52 of what your experience should be. 42:54 I want to tell you that every single one of those 42:58 28 fundamental beliefs has at the center, 43:01 at the core of that belief Jesus Christ who is the word. 43:06 Amen. Amen. 43:07 And if we teach them or we understand them 43:11 in a way where Jesus isn't in the center 43:14 then we need to restudy them again. 43:16 That's right, I think there is lot of people 43:19 that would agree with that just now. 43:21 Now, going back to the talking about 43:24 the contemplative spiritual formation, 43:26 Pastor Wilson, I want to specifically ask you, 43:28 this question has come in that back in 2001 43:32 there was some kind of a committee. 43:33 I think the initials were IBMTE, 43:36 maybe you can tell us what that is. 43:38 But this committee met 43:39 and supposedly passed resolution 43:41 to promote the teaching of spiritual formation 43:43 throughout all of Seventh-day Adventist. 43:44 Would you please address that situation? 43:48 Well, that is absolutely positively incorrect. 43:52 The IBMTE stands for the International Board 43:55 of Ministerial and Theological Education. 44:00 It is a board which was essentially set up 44:03 to help to bring all seminaries and theological schools 44:08 in the Seventh-day Adventist Church 44:10 back to a very firm foundation 44:14 of what Seventh-day Adventist believe 44:16 and to make sure that teachers 44:18 who are involved in that seminary professors 44:22 are very loyal to the teachings 44:24 of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 44:26 Back in 2001 and I was part of that 44:31 as were many, many others 44:33 and I'm still a part of that board. 44:35 They deal with exactly what I was explaining to you, 44:39 trying to help keep seminaries 44:41 and teachers very focused upon the Word of God. 44:45 But back in some of those days 44:48 that the early part of the 21st century 44:52 which is the century we are in right now, 44:55 most people didn't know what spiritual formation meant 45:01 and the words spiritual and formation were simply words 45:05 which sounded good like, 45:08 this is a way to develop your Christian character. 45:11 Only a number of-- a few years ago 45:15 were these words meaning a particular thing. 45:18 I can categorically, absolutely tell you 45:22 that if that language were found in any document 45:25 coming from the General Conference 45:27 and the world field that it absolutely 45:30 had no relevance whatsoever to what people interpret 45:34 to be spiritual formation today. 45:37 Unfortunately somebody who reported information 45:40 coming out of this particular meeting 45:44 use those words in a press release 45:47 and people have pounced on that to indicate that somehow 45:50 the General Conference was promoting that. 45:53 That is absolutely categorically wrong. 45:56 I've already stated 45:58 how it is that we ought to relate to God's word 46:01 and stay away from those influences 46:04 which are going to compromise 46:05 or neutralize God's precious word. 46:09 And I can tell you absolutely that's where I stand personally 46:13 and I know that 46:15 the General Conference does as well. 46:17 Okay, thank you for that clarification. 46:20 We mentioned just a moment ago 46:22 the idea of righteousness by faith and the idea 46:27 and I want to phrase the question this way 46:29 and I'm gonna give it to you first Pastor Jackson, 46:31 and then Pastor Wilson can jump in. 46:33 We obviously understand grace. 46:36 The word grace 46:37 we are all the beneficiaries of God's grace. 46:41 How do we relate 46:43 to the concept of grace in our lives 46:47 together with the concept, 46:49 biblical concept of victorious Christian living? 46:56 God's grace or God in His graciousness 47:01 reaches out to each one of us. 47:04 You know, our natural state we are deters to law 47:09 and we can't live that law. 47:12 So what was weak in the flesh, what the flesh could not do 47:18 God did by sending His son Jesus Christ. 47:21 And He made us deters in another way. 47:26 We were deters to law but through Jesus 47:30 we become deters to grace. 47:33 God never gives us anything 47:36 that He does not intend us to share 47:40 or to utilize in our personal growth. 47:43 So as God's grace comes into my life 47:46 there must be a response. 47:48 You know, Paul-- Ephesians Chapter 2, 47:51 "For by grace are you saved through faith, 47:54 not of works, it is the gift of God, 47:57 lest any man shall boast." 47:58 Now some folks stop right there but Paul goes on. 48:02 Doesn't he? 48:03 He says "For we are His workmanship, 48:07 created by God unto good works 48:11 that we might fulfill His purposes." 48:14 So as we accept 48:16 the righteousness of Jesus Christ 48:19 it becomes a motivator for us to grow up 48:23 into what the apostle Paul says in Ephesians Chapter 3, 48:27 into the fullness of the stature 48:30 of a man in Christ Jesus. 48:33 So grace not only cleanses us and makes us whole, 48:40 it becomes the basis upon which we grow up into Jesus. 48:45 And that's not legalistic because you and I know 48:49 and that's why it started that way, 48:51 you and I know that naturally speaking 48:54 anytime we take our lives out of God's hands 48:58 we could turn anything upside down and backwards 49:00 and become outright legalists, right. 49:02 That's correct. 49:03 We can't live without the presence of the Holy Spirit 49:08 and the authority of the Holy Spirit leading us 49:11 into the good works that God has created 49:16 in advance for us that we should do them. 49:18 So that would be at least one part of an answer. 49:20 Okay. Pastor Wilson. 49:22 Many times Seventh-day Adventists 49:23 have been accused of being legalist. 49:25 Perhaps because we focus upon 49:28 keeping the Sabbath, the Ten Commandments 49:32 but in reality we can never achieve eternal life 49:36 through a legalistic approach to keeping the commandments. 49:42 This is a magnificent subject of Christ our righteousness 49:45 and I'm so glad that the ASI Convention 49:47 is featuring that here at this convention 49:52 right here in Grand Rapids. 49:54 You know, in Ephesians Chapter 2, it tells us, 49:58 "By grace you have been saved through faith" 50:01 and that not of yourselves. 50:04 The all encompassing righteousness 50:06 of Jesus Christ is the only way 50:10 that any of us will achieve eternal life. 50:14 It is based upon what Christ did for us 50:17 and what He is doing for us. 50:21 It is based upon His justification 50:24 placing a robe of righteousness over us 50:27 which we have nothing to do about 50:30 and then at the same time sanctification 50:33 where the Holy Spirit begins to work in us 50:37 so that we become more and more like Christ. 50:41 It has to do with what Christ did on the cross 50:44 and what He is doing in the most holy place 50:48 in the heavenly sanctuary. 50:49 It says in Hebrews 7:25, 50:54 "He always lives to make intercession for them." 50:58 What a privilege to know that we have a High Priest 51:00 we can come to, we can come boldly 51:02 to the throne of grace because a High Priest, 51:06 Jesus Christ has gone through the process 51:09 of being the sacrifice and now He is the High Priest. 51:13 This is a subject I love to preach on, 51:16 the all encompassing righteousness of Christ, 51:18 our dependence totally upon Him. 51:21 There's one little quotation I want to read, 51:23 it's a one sentence quotation 51:26 from the book written by Ellen White, 51:29 compilation Last Day Events and its page 283. 51:34 Its a marvelous quotation. 51:37 "Christ, only Christ and His righteousness, 51:42 will obtain for us a passport into heaven." 51:48 That's awesome. That's awesome. 51:51 That's not to minimize our daily lives 51:56 in sanctifying process 51:58 that the Holy Spirit works in us in order for us 52:02 to become more and more like Christ. 52:04 It is not diminished that in the least 52:06 but it is all Christ's righteousness. 52:09 And you know that, I think about myself 52:12 and I'm sure that many of the people in our audience 52:14 and many of those of you who are watching from-- 52:16 on television at home or on YouTube, 52:18 on the internet, we wrestle with things. 52:22 Well, this is real life but because the grace of God 52:27 and He is all sufficient for us 52:29 can we expect to live victorious? 52:32 See, the words justification and sanctification 52:34 are great words and they mean things 52:36 but, to me what is it mean to live victorious? 52:40 And I believe I heard you say it normal those words. 52:43 Amen. 52:45 You know, Paul makes the statement 52:48 in Philippians Chapter 1. 52:50 "Be confident of this very thing, 52:52 that He who began a good work and you will also complete it 52:56 until the coming of the Son of Man." 52:58 So can we grow up into Jesus? 53:02 That's His plan 53:04 and we just open our lives to Him 53:06 and say You take me and You use me. 53:08 One little quotation Steps to Christ, 53:10 page 118 she says, 53:13 Christ will never abandon the soul 53:16 for whom He gave His life. 53:19 So that, no matter where we are, 53:20 no matter how we feel, whether we are stumbling 53:23 or we falling God doesn't give up on us. 53:25 We can grow up into Jesus. He will finish what He bean. 53:30 And using that book, Steps to Christ, 53:33 if you look and read carefully 53:35 chapters 7 and 8 carefully read it 53:39 chapter 7 and 8 you will find answers 53:43 to almost every question about 53:46 this beautiful all encompassing righteousness of Christ. 53:49 Amen, you know, one other things 53:51 I want to do is hold up this little book, 53:53 this is the Desire of Ages which if you-- 53:57 if the camera can pull in on this, 53:58 this is a special ASI edition of the book Desire of Ages 54:02 which we focus on as a give away 54:05 and in fact, everyone who is attended 54:07 the ASI Convention here 54:08 this year in Grand Rapids received one copy of this. 54:11 I just want to say that these are available 54:13 by the case to give away 54:15 because the righteousness of Christ 54:17 is beautifully portrayed in this little book 54:19 as well as book Steps to Christ. 54:23 I want to talk about health because we are gonna segue 54:24 into global mission and the mission 54:27 of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 54:28 And Pastor Wilson, what is the role 54:32 of our Adventist health message 54:35 in the whole arena of global mission? 54:37 Then we will talk about get more definitive 54:39 of gone into the nitty-gritty of what global mission means 54:41 but how important is health, 54:42 the health components of our mission? 54:45 Well, 3 John, verse 2 tells us that God wants us 54:49 to be in physical health 54:50 just as we are in spiritual health. 54:53 Christ spent more time healing than He did preaching. 54:59 In other words, the physical body 55:02 which God made is an absolutely important vessel for which God, 55:08 which God wants to use in order to reach other people. 55:12 Our minds are part of the body, 55:14 that's why God has asked us to live healthy lives. 55:19 We do not earn our way to heaven 55:21 by being a vegetarian or a vegan 55:23 or whatever you-- a plant based diet 55:26 that helps us to be in better health 55:29 so that our minds will be in better condition 55:32 to receive the delicate inspiration 55:37 on the nerve endings in the frontal lobes 55:39 of the brain from the Holy Spirit. 55:42 Its so vital that we understand that for us personally 55:46 and that our lives need to be healthfully lived 55:50 so that we can benefit but also to share with others 55:54 that God is in the business of complete restoration 55:58 and physically is one of those distinct points. 56:03 Also everyone seems to be interested in health. 56:06 So God has asked that we use that 56:09 especially in reaching those 56:12 who maybe resistant in other ways 56:14 and that's why its one of the most important ways 56:18 of reaching out as we term it today 56:21 comprehensive health ministry, 56:23 reaching out to people in the community 56:26 in what is also termed medical missionary work, 56:28 something that everyone can be involved with. 56:32 Health professionals and pastors 56:34 need to be working together in a blended ministry 56:36 but everyone in the church 56:39 can be part of a comprehensive approach 56:42 simply sharing with neighbors simple health tips 56:46 as to how something is made them feel better. 56:49 Walking, exercise, diet, sleep, water, 56:53 whatever it happens to be, health is-- 56:57 the health message is the right arm to the gospel. 57:01 And recently we had an incredible meeting in Geneva 57:04 where representatives 57:05 from all the world divisions met. 57:07 We had about 1,200 people 57:10 so much excitement now about using this 57:13 as the right arm to the gospel entering the cities 57:17 and helping people to better nderstand 57:19 they can have a fuller life physically, 57:22 mentally, socially and spiritually. 57:26 Well, I do want to refer to a firm that 57:29 the health message is the right arm. 57:32 When you look at, when you look at 57:34 the ministry of Jesus and the compassion 57:36 with which He reached out to touch broken 57:39 and bruise people where He healed them 57:42 and He restored them. 57:43 We find a model for ministry, don't we? 57:46 Yes, we do. 57:47 And in north of-- In the North American Division 57:49 recently we've seen some amazing events, 57:53 sponsored one of them by ASI and-- 57:56 Yes, Pathways to Health. Pathways to Health. 57:58 you're gonna hear a lot more about that. 57:59 In San Francisco and Oakland 58:01 where almost four million dollars 58:04 of free medical care was given to that community 58:07 and people lined up, they lined up 58:09 in the streets of that city to receive free medical care, 58:15 people who couldn't afford it. 58:16 You know, I think that's the process 58:19 whereby we reach into people's minds to say, 58:23 in a disinterested benevolence where we say to them, 58:27 God loves you and so do we. 58:30 And so the health message not only in a personal way 58:34 where we take care of our bodies 58:36 and we do our best. 58:38 And health is a continuum isn't it? 58:41 Not everybody is sitting on the same mile marker. 58:46 We all grow at different rates 58:48 but, but not only is it vital to us 58:51 for the reasons Elder Wilson has given 58:53 but it is vital that we share that great news 58:56 that we can have, we can have a better life, 58:58 we can have wholeness in our lives 58:59 spiritually and physically as well. 59:02 And I want to just thank ASI for-- 59:05 There's so many organizations within the ASI family 59:08 that promote the right arm of the gospel. 59:11 They are valued and appreciated and the church wants to work 59:15 much more closely with those entities. 59:18 Amen. We all say amen to that. 59:19 Amen. 59:21 Also you mentioned Bridges to Health? 59:24 Right. 59:25 That is actually going to be taking place again. 59:27 It had happened in San Francisco once 59:29 but in San Antonio in April of 2015, 59:34 ASI members together with everyone else 59:36 who will join will be doing that same health outreach 59:40 in the great city of San Antonio. 59:42 Leading up to a large 59:44 evangelistic meeting in San Antonio 59:46 just prior to the General Conference session 59:49 and we are just delighted that this is being partnered 59:52 with North American Division, 59:53 Southwestern Union of Seventh-day Adventist. 59:56 Its gonna be a phenomenal success in the name of Jesus. 01:00:00 Amen. 01:00:01 And Dan, this is a good time for an ad that says, 01:00:04 we need doctors, dentists, nurses, 01:00:07 physiotherapist to participate in that event. 01:00:11 Because it can only be successful on that basis 01:00:14 but we are making a broad appeal to people to come, 01:00:17 need as many volunteers as medical professionals. 01:00:21 But we are hoping by God's grace 01:00:23 to see a wonderful outpouring 01:00:25 of disinterested benevolence in the city of San Antonio. 01:00:29 And for those dates, for those of you 01:00:30 who might be watching and here in our audience 01:00:32 that would like to be a part of that great event, 01:00:35 if you are a professional 01:00:37 that could add some value to that event, 01:00:39 I want toencourage you to contact our ASI office 01:00:43 and we will have to get a super up 01:00:45 because I wasn't prepared for that ad. 01:00:47 But we want you to contact 01:00:48 our ASI office in Silver Spring, Maryland 01:00:51 if you want to participate in that event. 01:00:55 Now that brings you one last question here. 01:00:58 Well, in fact, I'm gonna skip that question 01:01:00 because of our time, our time is getting away. 01:01:02 Pastor Wilson, I want you to talk first about 01:01:06 the whole idea of global mission 01:01:08 and especially Mission to the Cities 01:01:10 and give the broad global perspective 01:01:13 and Pastor Jackson to bring that home to North American 01:01:15 and this will be probably the last question 01:01:17 we are able to do today. 01:01:20 About four years ago, five years ago 01:01:23 the world pass the mark of more people living 01:01:26 in the metropolitan areas than living in rural districts. 01:01:29 That's the first time it's ever happened. 01:01:32 It will only grow greater. 01:01:35 By the year 2050 or so if the Lord has not returned 01:01:40 I believe He will come very soon. 01:01:42 Yes. 01:01:43 But by that time it will have increased 01:01:46 to at least 70 percent 01:01:50 of the world's population living 01:01:51 in these large metropolitan areas. 01:01:54 The church has initiated 01:01:55 and has very wonderfully accepted 01:02:00 the challenge of Mission to the Cities 01:02:02 of reaching these large metropolitan areas. 01:02:05 Here in North America, all over the world 01:02:08 we are seeing divisions and unions 01:02:11 and local fields take the responsibility 01:02:14 of trying to organize in a creative way 01:02:17 following principles from the Bible 01:02:19 and specific council from the Spirit of Prophecy 01:02:22 as to how we can be able 01:02:24 to penetrate these great cities. 01:02:27 It's just so gratifying to me 01:02:29 to see that church members are taking hold 01:02:31 of this in a very dynamic way. 01:02:35 We do have areas of the world which are heavily influenced 01:02:41 by the Seventh-day Adventist message 01:02:43 and other areas where there is hardly anything. 01:02:47 Just to contrast it, in some places 01:02:51 we may have Seventh-day Adventist 01:02:53 for every 15 or 20 people. 01:02:56 In other places it is an incredible ratio. 01:03:00 In the Middle East there are 500 million people 01:03:04 with perhaps only 2,500 Seventh-day Adventists. 01:03:08 So you see the challenges not only in the 10/40 Window 01:03:12 but also in the developed world. 01:03:15 In fact, Europe itself is now becoming a great challenge 01:03:19 because of its materialistic secular approach. 01:03:23 North America, Australia, New Zealand, places 01:03:27 where development has taken place 01:03:30 and where people have lost perhaps 01:03:33 their first love of the Lord, 01:03:35 we are seeing great challenges as well. 01:03:38 So the Lord is using 01:03:41 so many people to be able to reach 01:03:43 into some of these very challenging areas. 01:03:46 So the mission field is not just over there anymore, 01:03:50 it is everywhere. 01:03:52 Pastor Jackson, specifically 01:03:53 well, whatever else you are gonna say, 01:03:55 how can individuals be involved in global mission 01:04:00 to the cities in North America? 01:04:01 Well, let me begin by saying that 01:04:03 this summer has been an amazing for me. 01:04:08 I've been able to be at 10 camp meetings this summer 01:04:11 and in those camp meetings, you know, what I find 01:04:13 when I travel across our division? 01:04:16 I find that God's people want to be involved. 01:04:21 They want to be a part of the ministry of the church. 01:04:25 So, in every union and conference 01:04:30 in North America-- by the way, 01:04:31 we discovered in the North American Division 01:04:33 not like it was a great discovery, 01:04:35 all we had to do was to go to the people who knew 01:04:39 but we discovered there are 50 cities 01:04:42 in the North American Division 01:04:43 that have one million plus people. 01:04:46 That's an amazing statistic. 01:04:49 Yet, one of the other things we know that is that 01:04:51 in the North American Division 01:04:53 whether it is Caucasian or African American, 01:04:58 we are not attracting individuals 01:05:00 who were born in this country to the church. 01:05:05 We have a huge issue here. 01:05:07 So what can people do? 01:05:09 Well, first of all, we need to have an outpouring of prayer 01:05:12 for the Holy Spirit of God to give us 01:05:15 the level of understanding that we need. 01:05:17 Then we need to have willing hearts that say, 01:05:20 man, we are seeing a great focus 01:05:23 coming to our city or our community 01:05:25 how can we participate? 01:05:30 We have recently been reshaping our media ministries. 01:05:35 We did that not to save money 01:05:37 but to focus media 01:05:39 on the large cities in our territory 01:05:43 along with the comprehensive health approach 01:05:45 that Elder Wilson is talking about. 01:05:47 We want to combine in a grand collaboration 01:05:51 everything that we can utilize to zero in on the cities 01:05:56 to reach out to the men and women 01:05:58 of North America for Jesus Christ 01:06:00 and with the message of the Three Angels. 01:06:02 So we've been very intentional about it, 01:06:06 we have started a process called 01:06:07 Transformational Evangelism which looks at two things. 01:06:12 How may we transform the church 01:06:16 into an evangelist agency not just a place 01:06:20 where once every five years we hold 28 nights in whole, 01:06:24 how do we transform the church 01:06:26 and there-- and by doing that 01:06:28 how may we transform our communities 01:06:31 by the grace of God? 01:06:34 And that really is a kind of patchwork felt 01:06:38 of where we are headed in North America. 01:06:40 We are very, very earnest and very desirous 01:06:44 to complete the mission task that God has given us. 01:06:47 Amen, now I'm-- 01:06:48 we have just a few more minutes 01:06:50 so I'm gonna slip one more question in here. 01:06:52 There's been a lot of discussion about publishing 01:06:55 Pastor Jackson, and specially in North America 01:06:57 we know that that one of our publishing houses is closing, 01:07:01 at least that's the report 01:07:02 that we all read and things are changing. 01:07:05 You mentioned media, you mentioned health, 01:07:08 but where does publishing for North America 01:07:10 fit into this global mission for the cities? 01:07:13 Well, first of all let me say that 01:07:16 Ellen White makes the comment 01:07:18 and we believe it that the publishing work 01:07:20 will go on right to the time when Jesus returns. 01:07:23 Amen. 01:07:24 Now she doesn't say the printing work will go on 01:07:26 but she says publishing will go on. 01:07:29 So we have under our wings, we have a publisher 01:07:31 in the North American Division 01:07:33 known as Pacific Press Publishing. 01:07:35 Our dream and we are just in the process, 01:07:38 we headed down the road and then we-- 01:07:41 because we are trying to understand 01:07:42 how may we reintegrate into the minds 01:07:46 of Seventh-day Adventists in the North American division 01:07:49 that its important for you and for me 01:07:52 to be involved in literature ministry. 01:07:55 How can I pick up that track? 01:07:57 How can I get involved with that social media 01:08:01 where I can send things? 01:08:03 You know, it's fascinating that ASI did what they did 01:08:05 by slipping one of these in every packet. 01:08:08 They didn't do it as it gift, they did it as a give away. 01:08:13 So you can give it to someone else, 01:08:16 but the goal in the North American Division is, 01:08:20 how may we utilize the great movements 01:08:25 that have begun with our young people in particular 01:08:27 who in the last few years have given our 01:08:29 68 to 70 million pieces of literature. 01:08:33 How can we bring that together 01:08:36 with, you know, broad perspective 01:08:38 but involve our people even in the local church, 01:08:43 with giving out literature, 01:08:45 truth filled literature to their neighbors and friends. 01:08:48 Jesus is coming soon, we can't afford 01:08:50 to leave anything out of the picture 01:08:53 when we talk about reaching our community for Christ. 01:08:56 Amen, in about 45 seconds Pastor Wilson, 01:09:00 give us a word of encouragement. 01:09:03 Well, one of the most hopeful signs 01:09:08 that Jesus is coming is to see what He is doing in the lives 01:09:13 of thousands of people all over this world. 01:09:18 And Nancy and I have the great privilege 01:09:20 of visiting many countries. 01:09:22 We just come from a fairly long trip recently 01:09:26 and it is marvelous to see what the Lord is doing 01:09:30 to reenergize His people and people in other churches 01:09:35 as they focus upon last day troops. 01:09:39 So the hope that we have in Christ 01:09:42 is truly a remarkable encouragement for all of us 01:09:47 and as Seventh-day Adventist 01:09:49 I think we can absolutely have great assurance 01:09:54 that the best days are ahead even though 01:09:56 they are gonna be the most troubling and challenging 01:09:59 but it means, we can lean on the Lord 01:10:01 in a more powerful way 01:10:03 and that's what He is longing to see it happen. 01:10:07 By God's grace I'm excited and I hope others are 01:10:10 because soon we are gonna see that glorious return. 01:10:14 Amen. Amen. 01:10:15 Now I just want to make a small statement 01:10:18 before we go to the prayers. 01:10:19 We are gonna have a special prayer. 01:10:20 I just want to say that, 01:10:22 you know, new things happen at ASI Conventions. 01:10:25 The DVD project was born here that has gone all over 01:10:28 and many other things you can point to here. 01:10:30 I don't-- I didn't get through of third of the questions 01:10:32 that we had put in here. 01:10:33 So maybe this is the beginning 01:10:35 of something that we will do more often. 01:10:37 How of you like to hear some more questions sometime? 01:10:39 This has been extremely valuable, 01:10:41 and thank you both for participating in this. 01:10:44 And I would like to invite Pastor Jackson, 01:10:47 if you will pray and then if you will do 01:10:49 a short prayer after that. 01:10:50 Just pray for each other, for our ministry, 01:10:52 for the ASI members, for those people 01:10:54 who will be watching this by television. 01:10:56 Would you please? 01:10:59 Oh, God, our Heavenly Father, we thank You and we praise You 01:11:04 cfor the magnificent gift of Jesus Christ, 01:11:07 Your son our Savior. 01:11:09 Heavenly Father, You have called this church 01:11:12 into existence to carry out Your great 01:11:16 evangelistic enterprise on planet earth. 01:11:20 I pray for our colleagues in ministry, 01:11:22 I pray for Elder Wilson for his leadership, 01:11:26 I pray for our colleagues 01:11:27 all around the world in North America. 01:11:31 And Heavenly Father, please take us into Your hand 01:11:35 and bless us with Your presence 01:11:37 and with the outpouring of your Holy Spirit, amen. 01:11:41 Thank you Lord, for the opportunity 01:11:43 of coming to You in a direct connection to heaven. 01:11:47 Help us to remember that prayer is always available to us 01:11:50 and that we need to lean upon You more and more 01:11:54 as we come to the very end of time. 01:11:57 We earnestly ask that You will bless 01:11:59 the ASI organization and all of its various parts 01:12:04 as they seek to share 01:12:06 the precious love of God with others. 01:12:09 We thank You, 01:12:10 for the righteousness of Christ, 01:12:12 the all encompassing nature of God's righteousness 01:12:17 which can bring us into a right relationship 01:12:19 with the Lord now and for eternity. 01:12:23 Lord, I ask that You will bless every viewer today on 3ABN. 01:12:30 Bless each one who is hearing these words 01:12:34 and we ask that You will bring them 01:12:36 to the foot of the cross and a complete understanding 01:12:39 of what truth is 01:12:41 as the Holy Spirit leads their lives. 01:12:44 So Lord, we look to the future now, 01:12:46 we place it in Your hands 01:12:48 and we rest comfortably there even though 01:12:51 we don't know how to precede, we know that You do 01:12:55 and we rest comfortably in Your care. 01:12:59 Thank you, for hearing us. |
Revised 2015-03-12