Participants: Harbor of Hope, Jimmy Hansen, Revelation Publication Intl., ASI Mid-America, Dr. Brigit Hausted
Series Code: 14ASIC
Program Code: 14ASIC000006A
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00:38 You're on the narrow road,
00:41 and I've been with you all along 00:46 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 01:04 the finish line 01:07 But that's when I carry you 01:12 That's when I carry you 01:16 I have kept you 01:18 through the storms 01:21 You have never been alone 01:24 I'll carry you 01:27 Yes, I will carry you 01:32 When the road is much too hard 01:36 to make it through 01:38 I will carry you 01:49 I'm with you when you're hurting 01:53 I know how hard you try 01:57 To bare your heavy burdens 02:01 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 02:15 to carry on 02:18 But that's when I carry you 02:23 That's when I carry you, 02:26 my child 02:28 I have kept you through the storms 02:32 You have never been alone 02:35 I'll carry you 02:38 Yes, I will carry you 02:43 When the road is much too hard 02:47 to make it through 02:49 I will carry you 02:53 You may not understand 02:56 what's going on 03:00 And you may not have 03:03 the strength... 03:06 ...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 03:28 You have never been alone 03:31 I'll carry you 03:34 Yes, I will carry you, my child 03:40 When the road is much too hard 03:43 to make it through 03:45 I will carry you 03:49 Yes, I will carry you 03:56 I've kept you through the storms 03:59 You have never been alone 04:02 I'll carry you 04:06 Yes, I will carry you, my child 04:11 When the road is much too hard 04:14 to make it through 04:17 I will carry you 04:30 Yes, I will, I promise you 04:35 Yes, I will, 04:38 I will... 04:39 ...carry you. 04:56 ASI ministries, they're so marvelous. 05:01 We hear from far and near, 05:04 members working in the Pacific, 05:07 and members working close by, even Benton Harbor, Michigan. 05:12 I have with me Garren and Bonnie Dent 05:14 from the Berrien Springs area 05:17 and actually you have a business 05:18 right in downtown Berrien Springs, don't you? 05:21 We do. What is your business? 05:23 We have a retail hardware store in Berrien. 05:25 Okay. 05:26 But now you have been as a family 05:27 involved in some Benton Harbor ministry. 05:30 How did that start? 05:32 About 10 years ago, Pioneer Memorial Church 05:35 was on the campus of Andrews University there, 05:38 started, the students had a-- 05:41 impressed by the Holy Spirit 05:42 to simply go to our local intercity 05:45 which is about 12 miles from Berrien 05:47 and just pray with people up and down the streets 05:49 and out of that they developed a little group 05:53 and that group started meeting 05:54 and they rented a church 05:55 and so a little congregation was formed 05:57 as a new plant start group out of PMC. 06:02 And that's called Harbor of Hope. 06:03 Right, now it's called Harbor of Hope, yeah. 06:04 It's in Benton Harbor, doesn't it? 06:05 It does. Yeah. 06:06 So what's the ministry like, Bonnie? 06:09 The ministry has a lot of facets to it, 06:13 primarily what we have is a church service 06:17 and a Sabbath school, then church, 06:18 there's some youth group activities that'd go on, 06:22 they have what's called sidewalk Sabbath school, 06:24 they take a big truck out 06:27 and they do different types of street ministries 06:30 on the street, multifaceted. 06:32 One of the other facets of it is our food program 06:36 and what happens is every Sabbath morning 06:39 we have a breakfast 06:41 and then we have Sabbath school or Bible study 06:45 and then we have church 06:46 and then we have a Sabbath dinner 06:48 and that comprises a very unique 06:51 and diverse and great mix of people. 06:54 We have people that come in off the street tea breakfast. 06:57 We have students from Andrews 06:59 that come to help mentor the kids 07:00 and help teach the kids about the Bible. 07:03 We have our members that have become baptized 07:06 into this congregation 07:08 and so it's a really great mix of people, 07:11 when they come in off the street 07:13 and they're eating breakfast, 07:14 we can sit down and say, hey, how have you been doing? 07:17 Here we have church and we have Bible study, please stay. 07:20 And they'll stay for church 07:22 and that's kind of how we've been involved. 07:24 We were initially involved with sitting with the kids 07:27 and helping teach the kids Bible stories 07:29 and now we've gotten involved 07:31 in the food part of the program. 07:32 And about how many young people and folks 07:34 come in on a typical Sabbath with you? 07:36 Yeah, it varies, 07:38 during the Andrews University school year 07:40 we have closer to more up towards 100 07:42 because a lot of our students at Andrews 07:46 are learning how to do intercity 07:48 ministry through this program, 07:51 but it varies even down to 60 to 100. 07:54 So you started sort of sitting with the kids for a while 07:56 and now you're feeding that group. 07:59 What's it like when the kids, 08:00 young people from the intercity come in 08:02 and even have breakfast with you? 08:04 Yeah, we have a group 08:06 and it's kind of a breakfast group that comes. 08:08 It was started because a lot of the kids 08:10 would come to church 08:11 and they would show hungry 08:12 they would say, I need some to eat. 08:14 And you ask them, 08:15 and truly they haven't eaten since school on Friday. 08:18 They just, home life is such that 08:20 there's not regular meals 08:21 and if they found anything but they could eat it, 08:24 if not then they would come to church hungry, 08:25 they couldn't sit and concentrate for church, 08:27 so we started offering just a small breakfast 08:30 and that's what we do now and then 08:31 the main meal of course is after the sermon. 08:34 Now how long have you been involved in this ministry? 08:37 We've been involved for about 10 years now. 08:39 So you've seen some intercity kids growing up? 08:42 We have, it's been very exciting. 08:43 They just, they start as young people 08:45 and of course they're 10 years at least older now 08:49 and some still attend, some do not, 08:52 some attend occasionally 08:54 and we're just praying that a little bit of impact 08:56 we had when they were younger, 08:59 they will stick with them. 09:00 Now when they get a little older, 09:02 you're trying to, you're building relationships, 09:05 you're mentoring them. 09:07 Give us an example? 09:08 Right, well, it kind of has developed 09:11 into a deeper relationships and we kind of saw the need. 09:16 I was sitting with a young girl, 09:19 a pretty young girl 09:21 and we were eating Sabbath dinner together 09:23 and she was new 09:24 and I was talking to her about her life 09:26 and what was going on. 09:28 She was excited about a new job 09:29 but she was expressing to me that she had concerns 09:31 about how she was gonna get to that job 09:33 because she had no car. 09:35 She was gonna get off late and about 10 o'clock 09:38 I had visions of this beautiful young girl 09:40 walking home in the bad part of the intercity 09:43 and when I-- so I said, okay, 09:46 why don't I pick you up and I'll take you home. 09:48 And so that's what I decided to do 09:50 and so in the process when I picked her up, 09:53 she was supposed to count out the drawer 09:55 at the end of her shift 09:57 and literally because of the challenging situation 10:00 she had at school and not being able to learn as well, 10:04 she couldn't even do that skill. 10:05 And it made us aware that there's a huge need 10:08 for these people to be integrated and, 10:12 and that's the purpose of ASI, 10:14 as Christ in the market place. 10:15 So we felt like we need to start mentoring these people 10:18 at my husband's work, 10:20 not just vocationally 10:21 but as you're teaching them these skills 10:24 that relate to their work, 10:25 you can also help them learn Biblical principles 10:29 and you can help them learn about Christ's love 10:32 and you can share that with them. 10:33 And what we found in that process is it, 10:36 they have truly mentored us. 10:38 We have seen huge character flaws 10:40 that we have needed to deal with 10:42 and that Christ has really called us out on through them. 10:46 So it's been a wonderful reciprocal relationship. 10:49 So you're actually bringing some of these young people 10:51 home with your times. 10:53 They are going to work with you during the day, 10:54 you're teaching them responsibility. 10:57 You really are getting close to these young people, 10:58 aren't you? 10:59 What a blessing to do that. 11:01 I think you're living out a bit of Isaiah 58 11:04 right in Benton Harbor 11:06 and praise the Lord for Pioneer Memorial Church 11:08 for doing this initiative. 11:10 What would you say to our ASI family 11:12 from your experience 11:13 that would be an encouragement to us 11:14 for the future? 11:16 I would say that because ASI members 11:19 are in my market place 11:21 whether you own a business or work in a business, 11:23 I would just ask you to pray and ask God 11:26 to give you these relationships 11:28 that will allow you to work. 11:30 We all need to work. 11:31 We all have our responsibilities, 11:33 but how we can integrate that 11:34 with sharing Christ 11:36 and being mentored by these people 11:39 that have life experiences 11:40 that can enrich you while you're mentoring them. 11:42 I would also ask you to pray, 11:44 ask the Holy Spirit 11:46 if you would like to support it financially. 11:48 Every ministry needs financial support. 11:51 You could do that by giving to Pioneer 11:53 and marking it Harbor of Hope Ministry. 11:55 Harbor of Hope. 11:57 If you like to learn more about it tonight 11:58 during the exhibit time, 12:00 come to 732 and the folks will be there with you. 12:04 Thank you so much, Garren and Bonnie. 12:09 Well, let's leave this area now and go up to Minnesota, 12:13 the land of lakes. 12:14 And you're gonna be pretty blessed 12:17 also with Jimmy Hansen. 12:19 So glad to have you out here with us today. 12:21 Thank you. 12:22 Jimmy, you're raised a Seventh-day Adventist, 12:24 is that right? 12:25 I was. 12:26 I come from a third generation family 12:28 of Seventh-day Adventist. 12:30 Well, that's wonderful and that's a privilege. 12:32 Now you told me though that, 12:35 from a youth you had an interest peaked in you 12:39 that is probably not so typical of Seventh-day Adventists. 12:42 Tell us about that? 12:44 When I was a child, 12:45 I heard about a relative that was a deputy sheriff 12:49 and as a child and a boy I dreamt about that. 12:53 And my dreams of becoming 12:55 a police officer became a reality. 12:58 So you persuade course in law enforcement. 13:01 Yes, I did. 13:03 So, do I understand that you, 13:05 you worked as a patrol officer for a while? 13:07 I did. 13:08 I worked on the street as a patrol officer. 13:12 And I've worked at as a police officer 13:16 also at a reservation 13:17 and now as a chief law enforcement officer. 13:20 Okay. 13:21 And an investigator at one time? 13:23 Correct. Okay. 13:24 But you have an interesting background 13:25 up there in Minnesota. 13:26 You never know what happens up in that area, do you? 13:29 Correct. 13:30 Now, I come from a small town, it's called Dunlap, Tennessee, 13:33 and we have only about 5,000 people. 13:36 Tell me about Akeley, Minnesota? 13:38 Let's reduce that by about... 10? 13:43 10, go back to 10%. 500? 13:46 About 5 to 600 in the winter time 13:49 and maybe tripled that in the summer time. 13:51 So you really get to know your community. 13:54 I know each one of them almost. Wow. 13:56 How did you get involved in that community though? 13:59 I was recruited actually by a citizen 14:02 to come and apply there when there was an opening, 14:06 when I was working as an investigator. 14:08 So you were interviewed and they hired you? 14:10 Correct. And how many years ago? 14:12 And that has been about five years ago now. 14:15 Okay. 14:16 Now do you go to church in Akeley? 14:19 I do not. 14:21 I got to church in Wadena 14:22 which is about an hour from where I work. 14:25 Okay. 14:26 But you had a burden for the town you work at. 14:29 Correct. 14:30 To help people that maybe spiritually open. 14:34 How did your home church get involved in that? 14:38 My home church has evangelism outreach programs 14:42 and one of the programs 14:43 they have done over the last three or four years 14:47 is supply Great Controversy with the church 14:52 and the members whoever would like to pass them out. 14:56 And the church pays for them 14:58 and orders them and supplies them. 15:01 So you have some in your office? 15:03 I have some in my office as well as my vehicle. 15:06 And some in the police car. Yes. 15:08 So as you're out serving the public, 15:12 you're looking for an opportunity 15:13 to place the Great Controversy in people's hands? 15:16 When somebody shows a desire for a hope 15:20 or something better than this life has to offer, 15:23 then I get into action and they get a book of Hope. 15:28 What do you think about that ASI? 15:29 Amen? 15:30 The Chief of the police giving out Great Controversy. 15:33 That's a blessing. We're so glad to hear that. 15:36 Tell us what it's like when you meet people. 15:39 Give us an example of some that you've been 15:41 able to impact through your police ministry? 15:43 I'll share with you a call that I received. 15:47 It's been a little over a year ago 15:49 about a lady that needed medical attention 15:52 and I was called in and I received that call 15:55 and went to the call 15:57 and found a lady sitting along side the road 16:00 that when you're in Minnesota 16:01 and it's March and it's 40 above that's a nice day. 16:05 And she was out for a walk. 16:08 So medically everything was fine, 16:11 but something told me to go check on her 16:13 in a couple of days to see how things were. 16:16 And I did, and she was not home. 16:19 And I went a few days later 16:20 and I went back two or three times 16:22 and each time spoke with her husband and at... 16:27 I would say two or three other times 16:29 her husband had some questions concerning Bible truths. 16:33 The fourth time I went back Shirley was there. 16:37 We laugh about it now. 16:38 She was there all the other three times too. 16:41 But she was little apprehensive with the uniform, 16:46 but she asked if I could come back 16:47 and give her some more information 16:50 concerning questions she had about the Bible. 16:53 And they decided to move across town. 16:56 She had invited me over to their new house 16:58 with her grandchildren Les and Lyn, 17:01 while we talked about Bible questions and answers. 17:05 Today she is going to church with her grandchildren 17:10 and she is studying to be baptized. 17:12 Amen. Isn't that a blessing? 17:15 Well, chief, what can you say 17:16 to our ASI family about ministry? 17:21 Number one thing that I see today 17:23 is the urgency of the hour. 17:27 And the urgency of the hour is God calling 17:29 each and everyone of us to do this work. 17:32 And if He can use a person in uniform 17:36 at 1 a.m. in the morning 17:37 to share the love of Jesus in front of a bar, 17:42 He can use anybody. 17:44 And I didn't choose this, 17:45 God chose me or I won't be doing it. 17:48 And when He chose me, He also opened up doors 17:52 and I'll share this with the audience 17:54 that wherever He plants you it's already blooming 17:58 and it's a wonderful thing. 17:59 Thank you, chief. 18:01 May God bless you and your ministry in Minnesota. 18:03 Thank you. 18:06 Now we'd like to tell you about a ministry 18:08 that is impacting people all over the world 18:13 by the tens of thousands 18:16 and I can't wait to be able to tell you more 18:19 about this from Merlin and Vonda Beerman. 18:23 So glad to have you here. 18:24 Now this both combined 18:25 a couple of ministries together. 18:27 Vonda is a soloist who actually will be 18:31 singing for us in a little while this evening. 18:34 She's been on 3ABN with Quiet Hour. 18:37 And as they have had her music ministry 18:40 and as Merlin has helped her, 18:43 another ministry grew out of that called 18:45 Revelation Publication International. 18:48 It sounds amazing, Vonda? How did that happen? 18:52 You mean how did it come out of a music ministry? 18:54 Yeah. Yeah, that's true. 18:56 He was helping you. That's kind of a good question. 18:58 Well, I have the privilege of sharing the love of Jesus 19:03 through music and song and I love my job 19:06 and I can't believe that the doors, 19:09 so many doors that have been open 19:11 all over the world including prison doors. 19:15 And one of our favorite things to do is to go into the prisons 19:19 and as I give a concert and men and women's hearts 19:24 are being led to the Lord through these songs. 19:28 My husband and I felt this need to continue to, 19:33 to nurture them. 19:34 And it was there that a Bible study based 19:39 on the Steps to Christ book was created 19:43 and all that my husband finished the rest. 19:46 So were you giving out Steps to Christ 19:48 in the prison sometimes? 19:50 Yes. 19:51 We would pass them out and the prisoners would say, 19:54 oh, they would write us back and say, this is a great book, 19:57 but I don't understand all the big words. 20:00 So make long story short, we made a paraphrased 20:03 Bible study out of Steps to Christ. 20:06 And in the focus of our ministry now is to, 20:11 it's very simple to follow 20:13 with the gospel commission taken to the world. 20:16 So you put together Steps to Christ 20:18 as kind of a lesson, a Bible study lesson for them. 20:21 How did that end up getting into this 20:23 Revelation Publications International? 20:26 Well, overtime and praise God and all glory to Him. 20:31 The study guides eventually spread, 20:33 people started asking for them 20:34 and pretty soon the ABC's were hearing them 20:36 and a lot of the bigger ministries. 20:38 And distribution within the United States 20:41 was pretty good. 20:42 But then people from outside the United States 20:45 would contact by email or phone and once they found out 20:49 that the cost of shipping was more than the book, 20:51 most of them wouldn't buy. 20:53 And so one day I'm on my knees in my office with a world map 20:58 and I'm just praising or just pleading with God, 21:00 please, take these to the world, 21:03 by the power of Your Holy Spirit give me wisdom. 21:05 And in that conversation with God, 21:07 He impressed me to make a website 21:10 and we have a graphic of that here. 21:12 It's bible-lessons.org. 21:15 And He impressed me to put these Bible studies 21:17 in every language possible 21:18 at this website for free download. 21:21 Well, in my limited knowledge at the time I'm asking, 21:24 oh, Lord are You sure? 21:26 But I'll do it. 21:27 But anybody who knows anything about the internet, 21:29 you know, you either have to know 21:31 somebody's address to get to their website 21:33 which nobody is gonna know mine. 21:35 Or somebody does a search engine search 21:39 and some little guy like me is gonna be on page 15, 21:43 so who is gonna go to page 15 to download the Bible studies. 21:46 But I was faithful to Lord, I said okay. 21:48 Sure enough, the first year there was about 30 there 21:51 and the next year maybe 50 some, 21:53 another year or two tick by. 21:55 And one day a neighbor came over 21:57 and he was telling me about his lottery business 21:59 and he told me how he made a ad in Google 22:02 and you make a little ad. 22:04 We got a graphic of that too if they can show that. 22:08 And these are the very ads where we used 22:09 that first day by the way, 22:11 and you can make a picture ad or a text ad 22:14 and in that ad you set up key words 22:16 where if people are searching for free Bible studies, 22:19 then your ad will pop up 22:21 and then you give Google a daily budget 22:23 and they charge your credit card every time 22:25 somebody goes to your website. 22:27 We thought, what we have to lose? 22:28 We'll make a little ad, we put $5 on it and see what happens. 22:32 So we did that. 22:33 Within the next morning, seven hits. 22:37 I thought praise the Lord, 22:38 that's more than we get in three months, 22:40 this is awesome. 22:41 Well, it gets better, a lot better. 22:44 And by the way that was $5, four people. 22:47 You know here four people somewhere in the world 22:50 looking to know the Lord 22:51 and I can give that to them for a dollar and a quarter. 22:54 Well, the next day there was 30 some, 22:56 the next day 60 some, next day 120 23:00 and the numbers keep going up, 23:02 finally the number is leveled off 23:03 and I'm going, what's going on? 23:04 And then I figured out, 23:05 well, Google is not gonna advertise for free, right? 23:08 Once the money spent, 23:09 they are not gonna put your ad up anymore. 23:11 So Von and I started getting excited 23:13 and started putting our personal money in this 23:15 more and more and upping the budget each day 23:17 and pretty soon there was 500, 700, 1,000 in a day... 2,000. 23:24 Then the day of Pentecost here, 3,000. 23:27 We're just, Praise the Lord. 23:29 In one day? In one day. 23:31 Praise the Lord. 23:33 How long ago was that? 23:35 This has happened-- this took off about 2 ½ years ago. 23:38 And to this point 23:40 we have a graphic of that too of a world map. 23:43 Anywhere you see color on that map, 23:46 God has heard my prayer and taken these to the world. 23:49 Can you say amen. 23:50 And you can look at a world map like that 23:52 just about any day of the year and it will look the same. 23:56 There's two countries that I can see, 23:58 one is North Korea where internet is blocked 24:00 and there's somewhere in the Sahara Desert 24:02 which probably not internet. 24:05 But God is good. 24:06 So Google ads has opened up the store for you. 24:09 Now when we were back, backstage you were showing me 24:12 right now 147 people are at this very moment 24:16 on your website, this second. 24:18 This very second. 149? 24:21 How many yesterday? 24:23 Yesterday was a record, about 16,000. 24:26 In one day on the internet. And I want to say this. 24:29 Our budget typically is about with-- 24:32 We're a non-profitable. 24:34 We have a few donors that help, 24:35 it's usually about 3,000 a month 24:38 and we're averaging about 4,000 hits a day. 24:40 About two months ago somebody hands me a check for $7,000, 24:43 so the budged has been up. 24:45 In the last couple of days because I wanted to come 24:47 and make a point that this is something 24:49 that each one of you could be doing. 24:50 We up the budget. 24:51 Yesterday was a record at 16,000. 24:54 And here's the par on that slide. 24:57 To-date 4.4 million people at the website in two years. 25:02 In two years, amen, everyone? 25:04 The way this can be applied to each of your ministries here. 25:07 When somebody goes on there looking for truth, 25:10 they need to find every one of our ministries on page one 25:13 and it can happen. 25:14 Come to our web, our booth 115 25:17 and we would be glad to talk to you about it. 25:20 We have some little tracks, we're giving out for free 25:23 that have the website if you want to point 25:24 some people to this for free Bible studies. 25:27 That's a network, you can go by 25:28 and see his booth and learn more 25:30 how to use the internet to reach so many people. 25:32 Thank you so much for sharing. This is amazing. 25:39 Isn't it amazing to see 25:40 what God is doing all around the world? 25:42 It's just one of my favorite parts of ASI 25:46 is doing members in action 25:48 and hearing the stories of how God is at work. 25:50 Have you been blessed this evening 25:52 by the stories you have heard? 25:53 Amen. 25:54 Well, we're not quite finished yet. 25:56 Just a couple of more stories 25:58 and I have here with me this evening 26:00 Mark Cromwell who is Vice President 26:02 for the Mid-America Chapter of ASI. 26:05 And Jane Smith on this side 26:07 who is our Vice President for membership there. 26:10 And Vivian Neuharth who is a new member of ASI. 26:14 So welcome her as a new member this evening, right? 26:17 Amen. Thank you. 26:19 Now I understand that the Mid-America Chapter did 26:24 an interesting event for their Spring Conference. 26:26 Vivian, tell us what was happening at that event? 26:29 We had an awesome program. 26:31 And for my first one in the Mid-America, 26:33 it was wonderful. 26:34 We had like 1,200 people show up. 26:37 We did it in a town called Lees Summit, Missouri 26:40 and we had Doug Bachelor 26:41 and Scott Ritsema as our speakers 26:44 and so it drew a large crowd. 26:47 Well, now, Vivian, I know how these things work 26:50 and even if you have Doug Bachelor 26:52 as your speaker and jest you up, 26:53 you're not necessarily going to get a crowd 26:55 even though he is a wonderful speaker 26:57 and does have some attraction. 26:59 What else was done as pre-work to this event? 27:02 Well, I think Jane might have some input on that. 27:05 Thank you. 27:06 Yes, we went to all the churches in Kansas City 27:10 and we spoke to the pastors and the board members. 27:14 And we ask them if they would be 27:15 willing to close their churches for our ASI 27:18 and worship all together in one location 27:21 on the Sabbath that we had that. 27:23 And it was a powerful moving experience, 27:25 and we had over 1,200 people there. 27:27 Wow. 27:28 Over 1,200 people and so the ASI event, 27:33 all the churches closed, everybody came together, 27:35 what was that experience like? 27:37 Well, it was powerful and you get to see 27:40 how this is bigger than just one small little church 27:43 especially being here 27:44 that you can see that this is a movement, 27:47 and the Lord is working to get this message 27:49 spread throughout the world. 27:50 So I understand you had some exhibitors there too, 27:52 how did that work out? 27:53 We had 18 exhibitors 27:55 and it was such a powerful event 27:57 that we're gonna have the ASI Mid-America 27:59 Conference in Kansas City again next year. 28:02 And all 18 exhibitors are coming back and more. 28:06 Praise the Lord. 28:07 And so, working with the local church 28:10 and getting these things to happen, 28:12 Mark, I know that there is some other things 28:14 going on behind the scenes 28:16 because that's quite a feat to get like 28:18 what 14 churches to close down and come to one venue. 28:22 You know, it was such a blessing 28:24 that we were able to organize in the way 28:26 that we did and I thank, 28:28 you know, I give thanks to our team 28:30 and everybody that contributed their time 28:34 and their knowledge and what we did those people 28:36 that we recruited out of the churches were, 28:39 we went to the pastors 28:40 and really wanted people that were on fire. 28:42 We needed help to pull of this convention in Kansas City. 28:45 We really wanted ASI to leave a footprint 28:48 behind, just come do an event and leave. 28:50 So we really got people that really were talented, 28:54 really on fire, wanted to make this thing work. 28:57 And as a result of that organizing committee 28:59 they stayed together and are forming a group 29:03 that's going to be a grassroots 29:05 lay person's effort to form small study groups, 29:10 a small per groups all over the city 29:12 and using these events 29:14 because we're having ASI back again 29:16 to get those people that are coming. 29:18 We had over 200 visitors that we weren't prepared for. 29:22 And so this time when we-- 29:24 we're gonna announce it to their Christian community 29:26 and their community at the Kansas City 29:28 to come back and join us again 29:30 and this time we're gonna be prepared with people 29:33 that are going to help them connect with us better 29:37 and get to know us, form a relationship with us, 29:40 so we can mentor them into our church. 29:42 So, this working together with all these churches, 29:45 does this have a name, 29:46 is there something you're calling this now. 29:48 Yeah, we're Adventist United, 29:51 we converse through and had a meeting 29:52 and everybody bounce names off the wall 29:55 and this is what we were, we're Adventist, 29:58 we're united in our message. 30:00 We want to get the message out. 30:02 We believe in small groups and facilitating those 30:05 and small prayer groups is the way to go. 30:07 We need to build relationships 30:09 and so that's what we're doing and we're gonna make it happen. 30:10 So what is ASI Mid-America Union 30:13 doing to train these people so that they can do 30:17 you know great job with these small groups. 30:19 Part of our plan we got a missioning statement 30:23 and a description for an organization 30:25 put together that basically we developed 30:28 three or four curriculums to teach people. 30:31 So we had trainers come in for the four curriculums 30:35 or New Beginnings, Karen Lewis Lifting Up Jesus. 30:40 The eye study program which -- with that. 30:44 And then fourth curriculum which is developed on interest, 30:47 so if we have somebody that has the interest say 30:50 creation or, you know, 30:52 struggling with believing the Bible. 30:54 We're gonna start them at a study at that point 30:56 but this also taught people in that class 30:59 that took that class what was the next progression? 31:02 What was the next logical progression from that interest, 31:05 so you can continue on discover their next interest 31:08 and move in a progressive way in that study. 31:11 So it's really great because everybody 31:13 is kind of on the same page, 31:15 they're not just doing random studies 31:16 so they can send somebody to another study across town, 31:20 it's the same one that they're having here 31:22 and say you have a friend across town. 31:25 And you were like to study that you're taking on 31:28 and you go hey, you get the same study 31:31 right where you live so that's why we're kind of 31:34 keeping it really organized and keeping things rolling. 31:37 Praise the Lord. 31:38 It sounds like ASI is having an impact in that communion, 31:41 community there in Kansas City. 31:43 Vivian tells us a story about someone's life 31:46 who is impacted by this event? 31:48 This is so awesome. 31:51 The last night of our ASI we had gentleman that came by 31:54 as we had already closed and he-- I was showing him. 31:59 I was working with Scott Ritsema 32:00 at the belt of truth 32:02 that he had a booth there and I showed him this tape, 32:04 I said oh, sir, you have just got to buy this. 32:08 Get this media on the brain video tape, 32:11 you will not be sorry. 32:13 So he went ahead and bought it 32:15 and he came back Sunday morning, 32:17 we were already closed. 32:18 We were shutting down. 32:19 And he goes where is this Scott Ritsema guy, 32:21 I want to meet him and I said he's already left. 32:24 And he goes, well, I want to talk to him. 32:27 Well, from that encounter Scott has been on our 32:31 local secular political radio station two times 32:36 they want him back for more. 32:38 And they want him to be teaching prophecy 32:41 on this program. 32:42 Amen. From our get together. 32:44 Amen. 32:45 See how God works when we just step out 32:47 in a little bit of faith for Him now. 32:49 Vivian, you're new member. 32:50 You just joined, it was your first time. 32:52 How did this effect you? 32:54 You know seeing all these booths here 32:56 and to see also at our Mid-America, 32:58 what all our church is doing. 33:01 Wow, we should be so proud as a denomination 33:04 how we are reaching on to the world 33:06 that is starving for us. 33:08 And so what a great opportunity, 33:10 it's been very enriching to me. 33:11 Amen. 33:12 Thank you for sharing with us this evening. 33:15 Amen. Thank you. 33:19 Well, you know, it's such a blessing 33:21 to have these stories that we hear about 33:23 what's happening all around the world. 33:25 And at this point we're going to see a short video clip 33:28 just before our next interview. 33:57 The line began forming 20 hours 33:59 before the doors were scheduled to open, 34:02 residence of the Bay Area eager to be the first in line 34:05 to receive free medical and dental services. 34:09 Spent the night anticipating relief 34:11 with the coming of the dawn. 34:13 They came with pain. They came with questions. 34:17 They came to bring a friend or relative in desperate need. 34:22 By the time the door is opened, thousands have gathered in both 34:25 San Francisco and Oakland, California 34:28 for the Bridges to Health Medical and Dental Clinics 34:31 which promised free of charge services 34:34 on a first come first serve basis, 34:37 organized by the Western US Chapter of Adventist Services 34:40 and Industries or ASI. 34:43 The unprecedented event included the involvement 34:45 in partnership of the Seventh-day Adventist Church 34:48 in both Central and Northern California. 34:51 The churches specific area union headquarters, 34:54 the office of the mayor in both San Francisco and Oakland, 34:58 the department of health and other civic ministry 35:01 and health related organizations. 35:04 Over a three day period close to 500 healthcare professionals 35:08 and volunteer staff, worked tirelessly 35:12 to provide dozens of medical and dental services 35:14 local residents. 35:18 Volunteers, most of whom are members 35:21 of the Seventh-day Adventist church 35:23 came from all parts of North America, 35:26 some even from as far as Saudi Arabia, 35:29 driven by a spirit of service and the desire to meet 35:32 the tangible needs of those who would come. 35:38 The clinics were organized into specific service areas, 35:41 each with its team of specialized 35:43 healthcare professionals and trained volunteers. 35:47 Patients were registered, triaged efficiently 35:50 and escorted to their proper area 35:52 by hospitality volunteers. 35:54 Waiting areas were set up near each service area 35:57 as patients awaited personalized care. 36:02 The services offered were comprehensive 36:04 by any standards 36:05 considering that the clinics were housed 36:07 in multi purpose venues. 36:10 Using high end technology, 36:12 highly skill dental professionals 36:14 provided crowns, fillings, extractions, cleanings 36:18 and necessary root canals. 36:21 Meanwhile on site technicians ensured 36:24 that the equipment was well maintained 36:25 and available at all times. 36:29 Close by patients received eye care services 36:32 including vision testing and free glasses. 36:35 One patient with tears in her eyes explained 36:38 how she would no longer need the large magnifying glass 36:41 she had carried around in order to read. 36:45 In yet another area, residents were able 36:47 to visit one on one with primary care positions, 36:51 who consulted with patients 36:52 and diagnosed a number of concerns. 36:55 Specialized medical services were also available 36:59 including pediatrics OBGYN, STD and HIV screening, 37:04 medical massage, physical therapy, 37:07 x-rays and laboratory services. 37:11 Perhaps the most dramatic example 37:13 of the diversity of services offered 37:15 was the general surgery including an operation 37:19 performed on a patient in order to take out a lipoma, 37:23 the size of a grapefruit. 37:26 And yet it seemed by the event organizers 37:29 led by ASI's Dr. Lela Lewis 37:31 that the Bridges to Health experience 37:33 could and should be even broader. 37:36 In addition to personalized and professional healthcare, 37:39 patients were offered variety of live musical performances 37:42 as they waited. 37:43 School choirs, smaller ensembles, 37:47 solos and instrumentals filled the venues 37:49 as Bay Area residents awaited treatment. 37:52 Patients also had the opportunity 37:54 to take advantage of chaplaincy services 37:56 and those who were there over lunch time 37:59 were offered a free nutritious meal. 38:02 In the end over $5 million in healthcare 38:04 was given to nearly 3,000 residents of the Bay Area 38:09 by close to 500 service oriented 38:11 professionals and staff. 38:14 Those could and should be 38:16 considered tremendously successful results. 38:20 And yet perhaps the greater results 38:22 are the intangible ones, 38:25 the affects in the lives of those who returned home 38:28 and to their communities with less pain and more hope 38:32 and that is a purpose worth pursuing 38:35 and a story worth telling. 38:43 Brigit Hausted and she participated 38:47 in this event in San Francisco 38:49 and we just wanted to get 38:51 a personal perspective from her today. 38:55 Dr. Hausted, I know that you were there 38:57 and you were serving as a-- in the family practice area 39:01 and tell us a story about someone 39:04 whose life was changed by coming to this event? 39:08 Well, let's call the gentleman's name Anthony. 39:12 He was 56 year old man that came in 39:14 and when he came in, he had his bag pack on, 39:17 had something going on in his ears. 39:19 So he came in, I told him I said, 39:21 you need to take that out of your ears. 39:25 So I asked him, do you mind 39:27 if I take a listen to what you're listening to? 39:29 Oh, boy. 39:30 Well, the only problem was that we shared this room 39:33 and there was just a curtain between us and the next room. 39:35 So he started playing his music 39:37 and it was so loud just through his ear bud 39:39 and I said wow, is this what you listen to? 39:44 And then I said to him, I said so tell me, 39:48 why are you here? 39:50 And he said well, I've been two years clean and sober 39:54 and for the last little bit 39:57 I've been having terrible, terrible night terrors. 40:00 I wake up at night with the sweat 40:02 and I just-- he said I find myself 40:04 doing all kinds of strange things. 40:05 I've broken mirrors, windows. 40:07 I found myself laying on top of my roommate. 40:09 So it's definitely creating a problem. 40:12 I would say so. 40:14 So that point I said to him, 40:16 I said now you said you were deacon 40:18 and what, doesn't the Bible say something about 40:22 as a man thinketh in his heart and he finished. 40:25 So easy. Oh, so he knew the Bible. 40:27 He did. All right. 40:28 He knew the Bible. 40:30 He also knew that he finished several of the things 40:34 that I thought and so I looked at him 40:35 I said well, the music that you're listening to 40:39 do you think-- what are those lyrics saying? 40:42 And he says, can't you hear that? 40:44 Honestly I couldn't. 40:45 He said oh, it says you're mine, mine, all mine. 40:49 Oh. 40:50 So I'm thinking night terrors, 40:52 starting to get a little scared myself. 40:53 Actually not really but then I said 40:55 so what else do you listen to? 40:57 He said Michael Jackson. 40:59 Oh, was he a Christian? 41:01 Oh, no-- I said well, what does the Bible say about that? 41:06 And he said-- I said so if he's not a Christian 41:11 whose music are you listening to? 41:13 And he didn't miss a beat. He said Satan's. 41:16 So he recognized that he was treading on Satan's territory. 41:20 Yeah, I don't think he connected those two dots, 41:23 he just thought that he could listen to his music 41:25 and somehow medicine need to help him 41:27 with his night terrors. 41:28 I see. 41:29 So at that point I said well, 41:33 I think we have a bigger problem here 41:35 than just what medicine can treat. 41:38 So I ask our nurse Tammy Masner, 41:39 would you please go get the chaplain. 41:41 So well, she went to go get the chaplain. 41:44 I asked him I said, you know, 41:45 there's a scripture in the Bible, 41:47 it's in James 5 and it says is anyone sick 41:50 let 'em call the elders of the church 41:53 and anoint him with oil. 41:54 And the prayer offered in faith 41:55 would make the sick person well. 41:57 So I ask him I said, 41:58 would you be willing to get anointed? 42:01 He looked at me, he didn't miss a beat, he said yes. 42:03 Wow, so he-- he recognize the value of that. 42:06 He did. 42:07 So then it was a bit for the chaplains to come 42:10 and so he said how about this 42:12 while we're waiting for them let's just pray. 42:14 And you and I will both search our own hearts 42:16 and see if there's anything God is asking us to surrender. 42:21 What's interesting was in this time, 42:23 that thank for you that phone ringing 42:24 because it reminded me of something. 42:26 His phone went off 42:27 and it had something terrible obnoxious on there. 42:30 I said oh, my lands 42:31 I think we've got a little clean up work to do here. 42:33 So as I was listening to his music 42:35 I'm like that's got to go. 42:37 So he very faithfully took out his phone 42:39 just started deleting, deleting 42:41 and he deleted his music library 42:44 but then those ringers. 42:46 Oh, I think those ringers need to go too. 42:48 So by the time the chaplain came 42:50 the music had been deleted, he was open. 42:54 And I said did God impress anything 42:56 on your heart to surrender? 42:58 And he said yeah, he said that 43:00 he's been hanging around some people 43:01 that maybe haven't been the best influence 43:04 and he would like to surrender that too. 43:06 So it was really beautiful the chaplains came in, 43:09 one of the chaplains came in with Pastor Allen 43:11 and he shared his story that he used to be 43:14 addicted to alcohol and cigarettes. 43:16 And you know, I think sometimes when we reach out to people 43:18 they see us clean and they're kind of 43:20 but it's amazing what touch can do. 43:23 And so we just reached over and I said, you know, 43:25 I really appreciate you sharing your story. 43:28 Is there something you'd like to tell my friends? 43:31 And so they shared a little testimony 43:33 and we paid over him and that was just amazing. 43:36 It was absolutely amazing how a sense of peace 43:39 just covered him. 43:41 So the work of a physician is not necessarily always 43:45 just prescriptive in nature from the standpoint of, 43:48 you know, drink some more water things like that. 43:51 You were dressing his spiritual health 43:53 in that encounter, that's amazing. 43:55 Now in this process how did that affect you 43:59 personally as a physician? 44:01 What's interesting before we went San Francisco, 44:03 my prayer was God help me to see 44:05 these people like you see them. 44:07 And it's easy to look at people 44:08 and kind of see them from the outside, 44:09 you know, they don't smell right, 44:11 they don't look right. 44:12 They-- but it's like when we were in San Francisco 44:14 these were my buddies. 44:16 I mean, I-- it was really a blessing 44:18 and they can sense that that you care about them. 44:20 Amen. 44:22 So we've got this evening is a report certainly 44:26 on what happened in San Francisco and Oakland, 44:29 but it's also an appeal to you this evening about 44:33 what is about to happen in San Antonio, Texas 44:38 April 8, 9 and 10 of 2015. 44:42 There will be an event in San Antonio 44:45 similar to this event, 44:46 reaching out with free medical care 44:48 to the community there. 44:49 The city has given free use of the Alamodome 44:53 which is the same place the General Conference meetings 44:56 will be held for three days for this event. 44:59 And the city of San Antonio has challenged us 45:02 to serve 6,000 people while we're there. 45:05 What happened in Oakland and San Francisco was 3,000 45:08 and now they're challenging us to serve 6,000 people. 45:12 We're gonna need 1,500 volunteers. 45:15 How many people do we have here this evening? 45:18 Praise the Lord we've got about 1,500, 45:20 I think we all ought to show up and volunteer, 45:22 what do you think? 45:24 Well, if you'll come by booth 212 45:27 over in the exhibit hall, we have a brochure for you. 45:30 And we have a volunteer form that you can sign up 45:33 and join us down in San Antonio, 45:35 April 8-10 for a special blessing 45:38 that God will pour out upon you 45:40 as you're ministering to those in need. 45:42 Thank you this evening. 46:09 Going into this world of sin 46:14 Goodness stops where I begin 46:21 I'm nothing on my own 46:27 And though I try so to be good 46:31 Yet I know I never could 46:38 Deserve the love You've shown 46:44 But in love you found a way 46:52 To pay the debt I could not pay 46:58 You give me your life for mine 47:09 What love divine 47:16 That you would take my sin 47:20 And even call me friend 47:24 And give me your life for mine 47:47 And though You love me like I am 47:52 Still You have a better plan 47:58 You long to make me new 48:05 By Your grace I can be free 48:09 From the sins that hinder me 48:15 From growing more like You 48:21 Plant Your love within my heart 48:29 And cleanse each sinful selfish part 48:36 And give me Your life for mine 48:47 What love 48:49 Divine 48:53 That you would take my sin 48:57 And even call me friend 49:01 And give me your life for mine 49:12 By Your strength I've been healed 49:20 And through Your death my life was healed 49:26 You gave me your life for mine 49:37 What love divine 49:43 That You would take my sin 49:48 And even me call me friend 49:51 And give me Your life for mine 50:02 Your life for mine 50:31 Amen. |
Revised 2015-06-25