It's time for members in action.
You know wherever I travel
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in the world it's such a
privilege to meet different
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Adventists out there helping
people and making a difference
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in their lives. And tonight
I have with me Jonathan, who is
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the President of ADRA. Maybe
tell us what ADRA stands for.
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ADRA is Adventist
Development and Relief Agency
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Ok and that sounds pretty
good. How many countries are we
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working in? ADRA currently works
in 139 countries around the
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world. And you know wherever
I travel the world I find ADRA
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people doing different projects.
I remember we worked in Zambia
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They were working there and all
over the world. 139 different
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countries. Yeah. And you know
our global impact is round about
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20 million lives a year that we
are able to touch and introduce
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in a practical way the love of
Jesus. I see. So what are some
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of the ways that ADRA really
gets involved. Give us some
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examples of, you know you roll
up your sleeves, what are you
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doing in 139
different countries typically?
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Sure. It's very difficult to
say typically. I mean one of the
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main sectors that we
work in is what's called WASH
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Water, Sanitation and Health.
The average distance that a
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woman walks every day to fetch
water is 6 kilometers in Africa
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They walk, it adds up to be 200
million hours a day, that women
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have to use to fetch water.
To put that into perspective
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that is greater than the
entire workforce of France.
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You could build the Empire
State Building 28 times a day
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in the number of hours of labor
that it takes women just to
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walk to fetch water. More people
in this world have access to a
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mobile phone than have
access to safe sanitation.
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That's amazing. So
you get involved in water.
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In what ways? Digging
wells? Yeah, we dig wells. We're
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bringing safe water sometimes it
might be in a mountain situation
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So we'll pipe the water
from the top of the mountain
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from the original source
to the villages down because
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each village along the
way sort of uses the water for
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their food, but they also
use it for other things and the
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villages down the bottom
are getting unsafe water.
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You know I've been to
communities where I've asked
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them how many of you have
lost children due to water borne
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diseases and every single
family has lost between 2-3
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children to water borne diseases
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So not only do you have
to dig wells, provide wells
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and so forth, you have to train
people how to take care of water
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We train them in how to
wash their hands, we train them
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how to actually monitor
the water. Having fresh water
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sometimes as you drill down in
a well, it sometimes gets heavy
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metals and so forth. So we
give them kits. We come back
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we make sure that they're
doing all the tests properly
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the system is still working
properly. We set up a little
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management committee so that
the village takes responsibility
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for themselves with that water.
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This is a serious project
and a long term one. It is.
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How about hunger? Hunger is such
a big thing around the world
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today in certain parts
of the world, especially.
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Well you know hunger is a huge
issue. There's over a billion
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people tonight who are hungry.
Who are starving and a lot of
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that portion is in West Africa.
So to give you a really positive
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example, I look at an example
that we did in Nepal about
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60 kms away from Khatmandu.
So we went in, they had
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shortage of food. So we went in
and trained them in agriculture
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techniques and every family
got a garden and then they were
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growing extra food so
they could actually sell that
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to people who came from
Khatmandu to buy the produce
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And then when some of them
went to Khatmandu they found out
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that what they were being paid
was very minimal compared to
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what they were getting, you know
what it was being sold in the
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market. So they said, well
can you help us to establish a
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Growers Co-op. So we taught
them literacy, numeracy and we
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helped them set up a little
Co-op and they were able to
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get their produce to
market and a greater return.
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So then with the return they
said, we'd like to improve our
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community. We'd like to
build a new bridge. We'd like to
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put a clinic in. So they costed
that out, it was about $150,000
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So we helped them to set up a
savings program and instructed
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them how to do fund raising
and gave them a little bit of
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seeding money and within about
12 months they had raised the
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150,000 and put in the new
bridge, put in a new clinic
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and then they came back
and said, you know we'd like to
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build a school and we'd
like to do this and they came up
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with a list that
was a million dollars.
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Well they didn't come back to
us Because they didn't need to
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They did it all themselves.
We've moved on to another area
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and it was just sustainable.
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Now you know as I've
seen in different countries
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and you mentioned Africa
particularly, there seems to be
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that starvation period. It
seems like there's a lot of food
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there's no food. Have you
been able to address that?
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We have. You know what we
try to do is we try to look at
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ground sources. Sometimes we
might have to use treadle pumps
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we bring drought resistant
cropping and we work with it
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so that the families would plant
something and then they'd eat it
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and then there'd be a starvation
period till it rained again.
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If it didn't rain
they wouldn't have food.
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So once we've identified
the ground water source
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we've taught them cropping
techniques, but we teach them
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variety of foods. Because you
know if you're in East Africa
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they grow maize. If you're
in West Africa they grow rice
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But where's the nutritional
balance. So we teach them
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variety of foods, we teach
them nutrition and then when we
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leave every family has a
garden which sustains them
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in food all year round.
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Tremendous work that
you're doing. Now it's one thing
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to have these on-going projects
country after country after
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country but ADRA also is a
disaster relief organization
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What about catastrophic events?
Are you addressing some of those
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Yeah. We have a global response
team which we work altogether
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as ADRA. So when there's a
major disaster I will send one
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team in, a rapid response team
to assess and find out what's
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needed. We'll raise the money,
we'll go in and we'll respond
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but we'll be there five years
later. So we actually don't
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live in those disasters. So you
think of many of the disasters
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Typhoon Hyan that
happened maybe three years ago
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we're still working in those
communities until they're fully
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recovered, till the economy is
established, till they're back
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in their businesses.
Some agencies go in short term
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but we stay in for the long haul
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And you were involved in Nepal
in the earthquake and so on
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and you're still working there?
Yeah. You know those long term
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relationships are very important
and very significant because
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how do you build relationships
with people. It's when you
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build relationships with people
that you become relevant in
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their lives and that's when they
ask you the important questions
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about what drives you and that's
when you can get into your
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spiritual conversations. To go
in and out is great. It fits a
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short-term need but if we want
to be present in their lives
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and truly show the love of
God then we've got to be present
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in long-term to build
those long-term relationships.
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You mentioned to me it's getting
tough to work in some of the
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countries, there's a lot
of polarization and attitudes
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What can we do about that?
Well you know I think at the
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moment we're facing a unique
time in world's history where
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we are facing a whole lot
of xenophobia, where people are
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saying, look it was not in
my backyard I'm not interested
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There's a lot of hate talk
that's going around the world
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And we won't get into it
cause we're running out of time
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but what we'd really like
you to do is to come around and
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when we look at these things,
we look at hunger, we look at
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thirst. We look at the hate
that's happening in the world
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at the moment. And where
is the voice of Jesus Christ?
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Who is preaching love in the
communities? So we'd like you
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to come and visit our booth
and stand up and say enough is
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enough. We'd like to take your
picture and we have a constant
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collage going of people here who
say, We are ready to be a part
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of the solution in this broken
world and to make a difference
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and enough is enough and I'm
going to be part of the solution
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Total Member Involvement
is really what it's all about
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So come and
join us in our booth.
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Jonathan Duffy thank you so
much for ADRA and the work that
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you're doing and come by the
exhibit and we'll take you up
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on that. Thank you so much.
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So next I'd like to invite two
individuals to come out and join
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us and tell us about a unique
ministry. You know sometimes
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when you get involved in helping
in some kind of a ministry
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you're first kind of a learner
and then you get a vision of
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of your own and it just
has a birth and a growth and so
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I have here Dawn Lewis and Floyd
Courtney. Come on up here and
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let's cozy up a bit and we'd
like to hear a little bit more
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about Jump Start Free Health
Clinic. Now we have to go back
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to Your Best Pathways to Health
which was born just about two
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years ago helping in
the metro plex communities
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San Francisco, Oakland, Los
Angeles and down in San Antonio
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Texas, in your territory.
And helping thousands of people
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So I think you were
both involved in San Antonio
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That's correct. And you gave
medical services to anyone for
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free. How many
people were served there?
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6000. 6000, isn't that amazing?
And then a year later or so you
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people got free medical care.
That is correct. And so you left
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there with a vision, we need
to do this in our own territory
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in the South West part of
the country. That's correct.
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We're gonna roll the
video to show what you did just
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last month, a few weeks ago
and let's look at that and we'll
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come back and
comment in just a minute.
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The city of Killeen
nestled in Bell County, Texas
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is home to more
than 138,000 inhabitants.
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Its diverse population of
military, college students
00:10:21.82\00:10:26.19
and retirees make it a great
place for many to call home
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Many travelers from all walks
of life have decided to stay
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This city whose motto is
"The City Without Limits"
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became the site for a
project without limits.
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Jump Start Free Health Clinic
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The vision began with a
challenge made to Dr. Laila
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Lewis, to make an impact at
home instead of going abroad
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to meet the needs of people
without adequate health care
00:10:54.75\00:10:58.05
Bridges to Health in the Bay
Area and Pathway to Health in
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San Antonio led the way for the
opportunity to serve in a bigger
00:11:04.99\00:11:09.63
capacity. Dawn Lewis after
volunteering in San Antonio
00:11:09.66\00:11:14.70
could not put the experience
out of her mind. Seeing so many
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lives changed, she made a
commitment to give back and
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use the talents
God had given her.
00:11:22.88\00:11:25.98
This was the inspiration to
bring this event to Killeen, TX
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Funding and support
began pouring in and there was
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no turning back. After nearly
a year of prayer and planning
00:11:38.89\00:11:44.00
Jump Start Killeen opened its
doors on July 14th at 7:00 am
00:11:44.03\00:11:49.00
The first day drew crowds
that exceeded all expectations
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Nearly 700 volunteers met
the physical, spiritual and
00:11:53.78\00:11:58.51
emotional needs of
many. I'm from Arkansas
00:11:58.55\00:12:02.68
Oregon, Missouri, British Virgin
Islands, Tonga and South Pacific
00:12:02.72\00:12:06.59
I'm from Texas, Texas,
viva Mexico, Wichita Kansas
00:12:06.62\00:12:10.46
Tennessee, Texas,
Michigan, Honduras
00:12:10.49\00:12:14.73
As patients walked through the
doors of the convention center
00:12:16.73\00:12:19.90
they were greeted by
friendly faces, anxious to help
00:12:19.93\00:12:23.14
and ready to serve. Patients
were personally escorted
00:12:23.17\00:12:27.04
to their respective
areas. Dental, medical, pharmacy
00:12:27.08\00:12:33.31
vision, physical therapy,
pediatrics, massage therapy
00:12:33.35\00:12:39.39
life style and nutrition,
mental health counseling
00:12:40.92\00:12:46.23
Other services available
included haircuts, day care
00:12:46.26\00:12:50.10
and laboratory work. As patients
waited they were surrounded by
00:12:50.13\00:12:56.04
inspirational music and readily
accessible prayer warriors
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The floods of people who poured
into the convention center
00:13:01.04\00:13:04.11
and the armies of volunteers
was a perfect union to change
00:13:04.15\00:13:07.78
lives. But really, isn't
that what it's all about?
00:13:07.82\00:13:11.65
As Christians we're
called to be as Christ
00:13:11.69\00:13:15.62
to heal the broken
hearted and bind their wounds
00:13:15.66\00:13:18.99
We can tell
people that we love them
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but it's another
thing to show them.
00:13:48.56\00:13:51.53
Amen, isn't that beautiful?
00:13:55.63\00:13:57.37
You know my wife and I
just participated in our first
00:13:58.03\00:14:00.34
Pathway in West
Virginia a couple weeks ago
00:14:00.37\00:14:02.84
Floyd this is an amazing
undertaking. 700 volunteers?
00:14:02.87\00:14:06.94
That's right. We were trying
for 500 but the Lord blessed us
00:14:06.98\00:14:10.65
with nearly 700 volunteers.
Medical, covering everything
00:14:10.68\00:14:14.48
lay people, that's right.
What did you learn having put
00:14:14.52\00:14:18.15
together your own
program in the South West.
00:14:18.19\00:14:20.32
I believe this is the most
effective way I have ever seen
00:14:20.36\00:14:24.39
to touch all strata of society
with one program. And also
00:14:24.43\00:14:28.86
it's exciting to see people who
have been patients, or had been
00:14:28.90\00:14:33.74
working beside you or not
of our same church. But they're
00:14:33.77\00:14:37.11
saying I want to
help you spread the Gospel
00:14:37.14\00:14:40.31
And the bottom line you found
also when everything seemed
00:14:41.14\00:14:44.51
to go wrong,
this runs on prayer.
00:14:44.55\00:14:48.02
So many times we saw
seemingly everything cut off
00:14:48.05\00:14:51.82
and then we go to pray and
the Lord would just open up
00:14:51.85\00:14:55.12
the doors. This is complex,
I mean you're doing little
00:14:55.16\00:14:57.39
surgeries, you're doing
dental work, all these things
00:14:57.43\00:15:00.06
something can go wrong easily
00:15:00.10\00:15:01.96
That's right. Prayer
helped you through it. Exactly!
00:15:02.00\00:15:04.90
Extremely important. Dawn
you caught a vision for this and
00:15:04.93\00:15:08.30
Your husband is a surgeon,
and you're his assistant, You're
00:15:08.34\00:15:12.21
a physician's assistant.
And what has this done for you
00:15:12.24\00:15:15.78
and even your church. You
mentioned some things to me
00:15:15.81\00:15:17.95
that were interesting. Well once
I had participated in Pathway
00:15:17.98\00:15:22.52
I just, everything
just reignited in me
00:15:22.55\00:15:25.85
to want to do God's work. And
after connecting with Floyd and
00:15:25.89\00:15:32.19
the South Western Union ASI
I looked at our church and I
00:15:32.23\00:15:36.67
said, you know everybody in
this building can be relevant
00:15:36.70\00:15:40.24
in God's work and I saw it
as an opportunity, and in fact
00:15:40.27\00:15:44.01
that is what happened. The
church has reignited. Everyone
00:15:44.04\00:15:48.21
participated and everyone
has that mission spirit now.
00:15:48.24\00:15:53.05
So they catch the idea
this is something I can do too.
00:15:53.08\00:15:56.79
Absolutely. Well we're so happy
for the Jump Start program you
00:15:56.82\00:16:00.69
folks have done and the Pathway
program and we're thankful that
00:16:00.72\00:16:06.73
be treated otherwise. Thanks
so much for sharing. Thank you.
00:16:06.76\00:16:12.73
My next guest is taking us far
out of the country back overseas
00:16:13.94\00:16:20.58
not like ADRA in 139 different
countries but in a part of the
00:16:21.64\00:16:26.21
Pacific that most of us
have probably never been to
00:16:26.25\00:16:29.22
but is just as needy.
Where are we talking about?
00:16:29.25\00:16:32.25
Chuck, we're talking
about the Republic of Kurubas
00:16:32.65\00:16:35.52
This is our 20th anniversary of
taking our first medical teams
00:16:35.56\00:16:39.76
into that remote South Pacific
country to provide medical and
00:16:39.79\00:16:43.47
dental care for those forgotten
islands in the South Pacific
00:16:43.50\00:16:47.24
Now if we didn't know Kurubas
would we know it by some other
00:16:47.27\00:16:50.64
name? Well, the Gilbert Islands.
Okay and that's not on the
00:16:50.67\00:16:55.41
top of our list but that's
a little closer. That's right.
00:16:55.44\00:16:57.81
How did this ministry get
started to those, how many
00:16:58.18\00:17:00.48
islands are out there by the
way that you're dealing with?
00:17:00.52\00:17:02.55
We have 26 inhabited islands
that are spread across the
00:17:02.58\00:17:05.75
Pacific, almost the same
are as our continental U.S.
00:17:05.79\00:17:09.89
And you're trying
to work that territory?
00:17:09.92\00:17:11.96
It's a big territory. Now like
your Pathway to Health or the
00:17:11.99\00:17:15.73
Jump Start Program, your
focus is also medical isn't it?
00:17:15.76\00:17:19.00
That is correct. The health
ministry is the leading wedge
00:17:19.03\00:17:23.94
to get into some of these
islands that we would not have
00:17:23.97\00:17:27.74
access to if it weren't
for our medical teams going out
00:17:27.78\00:17:30.25
Now, the Pacific and these
islands, they gotta be beautiful
00:17:30.28\00:17:34.68
Paradise with problems.
Ah, paradise with problems?
00:17:35.48\00:17:38.79
That's right. Oh my but you have
beaches? Oh, white sandy beaches
00:17:38.82\00:17:42.66
beautiful little islands covered
with palm trees, it doesn't come
00:17:42.69\00:17:45.69
much better than that. Simple
living. What could go wrong?
00:17:45.73\00:17:47.96
What could go wrong?
Well lack of transportation
00:17:48.00\00:17:50.73
lack of medical care. Lack
of a knowledge of our Savior
00:17:50.77\00:17:55.00
is a problem. And so, spiritual
knowledge is one but the level
00:17:55.04\00:18:00.48
of health is another problem.
There's not much medical care
00:18:00.51\00:18:03.08
That's right. There are no
doctors in those outer islands
00:18:03.11\00:18:05.85
So, when Mr. Craig Scott,
the founder of Search for One
00:18:05.88\00:18:09.32
researched that area, found it
was the least developed of any
00:18:09.35\00:18:13.15
of the South Pacific countries,
had the highest infant mortality
00:18:13.19\00:18:16.86
the shortest life expectancy,
he focused his efforts on
00:18:16.89\00:18:21.46
setting up Search for
One to serve those islands.
00:18:21.50\00:18:24.43
So you specialize in bringing
teams of physicians, doctors
00:18:24.47\00:18:29.70
dentists, optometrists,
ophthalmologists, nurses
00:18:29.74\00:18:33.74
lab techs short term, go out
and go to the different islands
00:18:33.78\00:18:39.05
and just give people a lot
of help that they wouldn't have
00:18:39.58\00:18:42.65
otherwise. That's right. We take
them resources they would not
00:18:42.68\00:18:45.79
going clear over there
and doing it. That is correct.
00:18:45.82\00:18:51.63
What's your long range goal on
this? Well our long range goal
00:18:51.66\00:18:55.70
is we are planning to set up
a college of evangelism to train
00:18:55.73\00:19:01.67
Bible workers so that as we
leave these villages with our
00:19:01.70\00:19:05.14
medical teams we can plant a
Bible worker there, trained and
00:19:05.17\00:19:10.15
in that country. They know the
culture, they know the language
00:19:10.18\00:19:13.72
they can follow
up with the education
00:19:13.75\00:19:16.18
and teaching other people.
That's so important because
00:19:16.22\00:19:18.42
it's great to come and help them
for a week or two but you wanna
00:19:18.45\00:19:21.89
you wanna go home
thinking that this will continue
00:19:21.92\00:19:25.03
So have you made any
progress toward that?
00:19:25.49\00:19:28.23
Yes we have. We have a
young family that has moved into
00:19:28.83\00:19:34.84
Kurubas this last year.
They have set up a clinic on the
00:19:34.87\00:19:38.41
island of Tarawa and with
the supervision of Dr. Andreason
00:19:38.44\00:19:43.75
out of Delta Junction, Alaska
they are treating the people
00:19:43.78\00:19:48.85
on that island. And it's not
always easy but they're making
00:19:48.88\00:19:53.05
in-roads there. So
she's a nurse, he's a lab tech
00:19:53.09\00:19:55.29
they've got equipment, they're
living there, that's home now.
00:19:55.32\00:19:58.69
That's correct. Must feel
good to see that they're there.
00:19:58.73\00:20:00.96
Absolutely. Now we
have education work. We do.
00:20:01.00\00:20:04.57
The country relies on
the churches to provide their
00:20:04.60\00:20:09.77
secondary education. So the
Catholics have a high school
00:20:09.80\00:20:15.31
the Mormons have a high school
and the SDA church has a large
00:20:15.34\00:20:19.61
boarding academy on an outer
island, the island of Avamama
00:20:19.65\00:20:22.82
Now I think you told me
250 students? 250 students
00:20:22.85\00:20:26.92
in this school. That's a lot
of kids to take care of. That's
00:20:26.96\00:20:29.72
right. Solar power only,
no electricity on the island
00:20:29.76\00:20:33.33
Ok. They're often times short
of food or water. That brings
00:20:33.36\00:20:38.10
us to our conclusion of
Miracle by the Sea. Can you tell
00:20:38.13\00:20:41.37
us that story? Well I have to
make it quick. You didn't give
00:20:41.40\00:20:43.77
me the sermon tonight,
so we'll have to abbreviate.
00:20:43.81\00:20:46.47
Go for it. When we
arrived with our team out there
00:20:46.51\00:20:49.58
three years ago we found
the school was out of food.
00:20:49.61\00:20:53.85
No rice, flour, sugar.
They were relying on the fish
00:20:53.88\00:20:57.92
they could catch and the food
they could get from the bush.
00:20:57.95\00:21:01.06
So myself and Takames,
the boys' dean we arranged for
00:21:01.09\00:21:06.56
a boat to go to Tarawa, found
an outboard motor to fit on it
00:21:06.59\00:21:10.50
and traveled 80 miles across
the open ocean to go get food
00:21:10.53\00:21:13.94
for the school. So we made the
trip over quickly efficiently
00:21:13.97\00:21:18.11
on the way back the seas were
running very high, the winds
00:21:18.14\00:21:21.14
were strong. We carried
extra fuel for that trip
00:21:21.18\00:21:24.45
But on the way we
knew we were running short.
00:21:24.48\00:21:27.22
And 2 o'clock, Friday afternoon
I pulled out my satellite phone
00:21:30.59\00:21:33.76
I called Mission headquarters
I told them we are running late
00:21:33.79\00:21:37.16
we are low on fuel and gave them
our position and to pray for us
00:21:37.19\00:21:42.23
So they quickly
radioed the school out in Cowma
00:21:42.26\00:21:48.50
and the principal got the
message, he called an emergency
00:21:48.54\00:21:52.21
session of the
students that afternoon
00:21:52.24\00:21:54.54
So at 3 o'clock they were
praying for us on the open
00:21:54.58\00:21:57.75
ocean that we would be
able to make it that night
00:21:57.78\00:22:00.02
And by God's grace that last
00:22:00.05\00:22:03.72
tank of fuel went twice
as far lasted 3 times as long
00:22:03.75\00:22:09.56
and took us all the way
to the island. Just a direct
00:22:10.39\00:22:13.66
miracle from God. So what a
rejoicing we had Sabbath morning
00:22:13.70\00:22:17.40
as I was able to walk into
the chapel and tell the students
00:22:17.43\00:22:22.14
how their prayers the day
before had provided a miracle
00:22:22.17\00:22:26.11
brought us in off that rough
ocean with a supply of food
00:22:26.14\00:22:29.64
for the school. And that school
was so generous even though
00:22:29.68\00:22:33.58
they needed all those supplies
they took those supplies out
00:22:33.62\00:22:36.28
and they shared those supplies
with the other villages on the
00:22:36.32\00:22:39.25
island that were
also out of food.
00:22:39.29\00:22:40.66
Tremendous. That was a
happy Sabbath wasn't it?
00:22:40.69\00:22:43.83
Very Happy Sabbath. Good
church service? Wonderful
00:22:43.86\00:22:46.66
And the kids had food to eat,
absolutely, that wouldn't have
00:22:46.70\00:22:49.36
had otherwise. Did you mention
it was 80 miles that you were
00:22:49.40\00:22:53.27
crossing in that little
boat with 2 tons of food
00:22:53.30\00:22:55.97
Yes. God looked after
you didn't He? Absolutely
00:22:56.00\00:22:59.14
Members in action. You
know it's such a privilege to be
00:22:59.17\00:23:01.48
part of ASI and see regular
people, just us regular people
00:23:01.51\00:23:06.25
catching a vision, hearing a
story like this or one of the
00:23:06.28\00:23:09.42
others and saying there's
something there I could do
00:23:09.45\00:23:12.25
Thank so much Gary for sharing
with us tonight. Thank you
00:23:12.29\00:23:14.72
If you have a heart for missions
come join us in South Pacific
00:23:14.76\00:23:17.66
Thank you, God bless you.
00:23:17.69\00:23:19.36
When I survey
00:24:21.92\00:24:27.80
The wondrous cross
00:24:27.83\00:24:35.40
On which the Prince
00:24:37.31\00:24:42.34
of glory died
00:24:42.38\00:24:50.29
My richest gain
00:24:51.55\00:24:56.39
I count but loss
00:24:57.26\00:25:04.10
And pour contempt
00:25:06.07\00:25:11.27
On all my pride
00:25:11.31\00:25:18.95
Forbid it Lord
00:25:47.21\00:25:52.21
That I should boast
00:25:52.25\00:25:59.55
Save in the death of
00:26:00.26\00:26:07.76
of Christ my God
00:26:07.80\00:26:13.54
All the vain things
00:26:14.34\00:26:19.24
that charm me most
00:26:19.27\00:26:25.88
I sacrifice them
00:26:27.68\00:26:34.29
to His blood
00:26:34.79\00:26:40.70
See from His head
00:27:10.76\00:27:17.00
His hands, His feet
00:27:17.03\00:27:23.24
Sorrow and love
00:27:24.54\00:27:29.84
flow mingled down
00:27:29.88\00:27:37.82
Did e'er such love
00:27:38.72\00:27:42.79
and sorrow meet
00:27:43.32\00:27:49.66
or thorns compose so
00:27:50.57\00:27:56.30
rich a crown
00:27:56.34\00:28:02.08
Were the whole realm
00:28:02.78\00:28:06.85
of nature mine
00:28:07.32\00:28:13.22
That were a present
00:28:15.02\00:28:19.59
far too small
00:28:19.63\00:28:25.33
love so amazing
00:28:26.30\00:28:31.57
so divine
00:28:31.61\00:28:36.75
Demands my soul, my life
00:28:42.92\00:28:52.09
my all.
00:28:52.13\00:29:00.00
Good evening ASI.
00:29:05.47\00:29:07.08
This is our
offering in action segment
00:29:07.91\00:29:11.08
when we highlight for you
projects that will be recipients
00:29:11.51\00:29:14.88
of this year's offering. So we
want you to pay close attention
00:29:14.92\00:29:18.62
These are just a few but
we hope you will be inspired
00:29:18.65\00:29:21.79
and motivated and encouraged
to give sacrificially to support
00:29:21.82\00:29:25.16
these projects. With me is Jim
Rennie. He's the CEO of Asian
00:29:25.19\00:29:29.50
Aid, USA. Jim, tell us a little
bit about what Asian Aid is
00:29:29.53\00:29:34.27
to start there. Well Asian
Aid was first established in
00:29:34.30\00:29:38.01
Australia. I'm a New Zealander
so that's a little different
00:29:38.04\00:29:40.98
and I'm the CEO of Asian Aid,
USA. But this is our 50th year
00:29:41.01\00:29:48.02
Asian Aid's key activity
is child sponsorship. We take
00:29:48.05\00:29:52.45
children based on need and
put them in Adventist Schools
00:29:52.49\00:29:55.49
in India, Nepal,
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka
00:29:55.52\00:29:58.79
and we have about three
and a half thousand sponsored
00:29:58.83\00:30:02.50
children and we have just
entered Myanmar where we have
00:30:02.53\00:30:06.03
600 children in the Adventist
Church there. We also have
00:30:06.07\00:30:12.34
four orphanages and a
blind school and a deaf school
00:30:12.37\00:30:16.61
and we're just expanding into
a couple of things which I'll
00:30:16.64\00:30:20.32
mention shortly. Ok, so we have
some photos. Maybe we could just
00:30:20.35\00:30:23.92
start with those and
you could share with us the
00:30:23.95\00:30:29.92
what they mean and how
they relate to the projects that
00:30:29.96\00:30:32.86
we'll be funding this year.
00:30:32.89\00:30:34.46
Little out of order but
that is the project that we are
00:30:34.50\00:30:39.57
is our Sunrise Orphanage
in India. It's in the country
00:30:39.60\00:30:43.44
it's in a lovely location
and that's just a picture of the
00:30:43.47\00:30:47.34
we have 10 acres of land and
growing our crops. This sort of
00:30:47.38\00:30:53.21
reflects the children in need.
We take children based on need
00:30:53.25\00:30:57.59
and put them in a school.
And we, we don't, we're not
00:30:57.62\00:31:04.29
short of children. We'll just
hold that till we get to the end
00:31:04.33\00:31:07.03
Ok. Alright, so let's just ask
let me ask a little bit about
00:31:07.06\00:31:10.67
the children. You mentioned
that you provide for their
00:31:10.70\00:31:13.87
the children's education.
How do they come to you?
00:31:13.90\00:31:18.11
Where do you find them? Are
these orphans or you said you
00:31:18.14\00:31:20.81
have an orphanage, but
these are children that aren't
00:31:20.84\00:31:22.88
necessarily orphans. No,
the 31/2 thousand that we have
00:31:22.91\00:31:27.32
sponsored are found in various
ways. The school may recommend
00:31:27.35\00:31:31.22
them, the pastor might bring
them. Or we actually go out
00:31:31.25\00:31:34.49
into the community. Our
field officers do and find them.
00:31:34.52\00:31:38.73
And they're given full education
uniform, books in the Adventist
00:31:38.76\00:31:46.33
School. The big difference
with our ministry is that 90%
00:31:46.37\00:31:51.47
of the funds that go to the
country totally go to the school
00:31:51.51\00:31:55.78
So you're educating a child,
you're introducing them to Jesus
00:31:55.81\00:32:00.22
but you're also giving critical
finance to a mission school
00:32:00.25\00:32:04.95
Now let's talk about this
year's project. Is to build a
00:32:04.99\00:32:08.56
multi-purpose building and
how will that enhance the reach
00:32:08.59\00:32:12.53
and the program
for Asian Aid USA?
00:32:12.56\00:32:14.76
Well, at Sunrise Home in
India we have about 160 I guess
00:32:14.80\00:32:21.04
orphans and they live at
the orphanage and each day they
00:32:21.07\00:32:27.04
get in a couple of buses
and go into the Adventist School
00:32:27.08\00:32:30.21
We're facing two challenges.
First of all the government
00:32:30.25\00:32:34.38
is bringing a lot of young
children. This is the campus
00:32:34.42\00:32:39.05
and we're going to build
a building which they don't
00:32:39.09\00:32:41.79
mention right in the
middle of that campus
00:32:41.82\00:32:43.89
but we have another picture
of me with some young children
00:32:43.93\00:32:47.26
So we have two problems.
First of all the Government are
00:32:47.30\00:32:50.37
bringing us a lot of small
children. These are off the
00:32:50.40\00:32:54.34
side of the road, from, from
let's say it's amazing where
00:32:54.37\00:33:00.18
they come from. They don't
speak English. They've never
00:33:00.21\00:33:05.05
learned any, they don't
know how to go to the toilet.
00:33:05.08\00:33:09.18
They don't know how to wash
themselves and so we haven't
00:33:09.22\00:33:12.75
had the facilities to look
after them. So we've got to
00:33:12.79\00:33:16.42
set up a pre-school and
then at the other end we've got
00:33:16.46\00:33:19.36
another problem of older
children. Could you imagine
00:33:19.39\00:33:23.26
having 20 teenagers at home?
00:33:23.30\00:33:26.67
This slide here, this
home has got 25 teenagers.
00:33:28.40\00:33:31.61
And so keeping them busy, what
do they do in school holidays
00:33:31.64\00:33:35.88
They get bored. They want to
do things. So this building is
00:33:35.91\00:33:39.71
fulfilling a critical role
in giving children something
00:33:39.75\00:33:43.69
the older children want to do
and the younger ones something
00:33:43.72\00:33:47.46
to do, so truly a junior
and senior vocational training
00:33:47.49\00:33:54.93
school. It's a critical
need when you see these kids.
00:33:54.96\00:33:58.43
Well that sounds wonderful. Is
there anything else that you'd
00:33:58.47\00:34:00.77
like to share with us about
Asian Aid USA before you leave?
00:34:00.80\00:34:04.27
Well we've got involved
in two new exciting projects
00:34:04.31\00:34:08.28
The first one is Operation
Child Rescue, where we're
00:34:08.31\00:34:11.95
rescuing children in slums and
trafficking and I'd like you to
00:34:11.98\00:34:16.02
come to our booth and
hear about that. But we've just
00:34:16.05\00:34:19.42
entered Myanmar and Myanmar
is one of the poorest countries
00:34:19.45\00:34:23.73
in the world, over 85% Buddhist
and I'll be honest we've got 600
00:34:23.76\00:34:29.20
kids and 508 sponsors. This
is critical to the church in
00:34:29.23\00:34:33.94
Myanmar. There's only
one Seminary and we've had to
00:34:33.97\00:34:37.94
take over 150 kids school fees
here so that they can stay in
00:34:37.97\00:34:43.51
the Seminary. You can make a
huge difference by sponsoring
00:34:43.55\00:34:48.05
these kids. They're very special
kids and these schools are
00:34:48.08\00:34:51.39
critical to the growth of
the church because they can't do
00:34:51.42\00:34:54.89
public evangelism. So they're
our two new exciting big needs
00:34:54.92\00:35:00.20
OK. So if our ASI family
is interested in sponsoring
00:35:00.23\00:35:05.00
they can get that information
by coming to your booth?
00:35:05.03\00:35:07.14
Definitely, that's what we're
here for. Your booth number is
00:35:07.70\00:35:10.84
I'm not sure but it's in
the middle lane on the right
00:35:10.87\00:35:14.11
Alright. So you can find
that in your program guide.
00:35:14.14\00:35:17.71
Thank you very much Jim
for all you're doing through
00:35:17.75\00:35:20.12
Asian Aid, USA.
00:35:20.15\00:35:21.88
Joshua Marco. Yes, ok. So
Joshua Marco is the technical
00:35:25.09\00:35:29.96
coordinator at the EG White
Estate and this is a project
00:35:29.99\00:35:34.50
that is not new to many of
us. EG White estate has been a
00:35:34.53\00:35:39.03
recipient of past offerings for
the digitization of Ellen White
00:35:39.07\00:35:43.64
books. And that's a really
phenomenal project that we're
00:35:43.67\00:35:48.44
very excited about because
it helps to get the word out and
00:35:48.48\00:35:52.91
the Spirit of Prophecy writings
out to those who otherwise
00:35:52.95\00:35:55.65
would not have access to them.
00:35:55.68\00:35:57.29
So Joshua give us an update.
Where are we with this project
00:35:57.32\00:36:02.06
How many languages to-date
and then we can talk a little
00:36:02.09\00:36:05.69
bit about the current project.
00:36:05.73\00:36:07.26
We've been working on several
languages. We're now in 90+
00:36:07.30\00:36:13.30
languages of the world with
Ellen White materials and we've
00:36:13.34\00:36:17.44
digitized over 700 books. So
we've got a variety of things
00:36:17.47\00:36:22.84
and we're in there but
we're still supposedly somewhere
00:36:22.88\00:36:26.75
around 2000 known translations
that have already taken place
00:36:26.78\00:36:31.45
and so we'd like to get
more of those as well as foster
00:36:31.49\00:36:34.92
new translations
into different languages.
00:36:34.96\00:36:37.99
Now we have some photos that
you can walk through that would
00:36:38.03\00:36:41.56
give us some insight
as to the current project.
00:36:41.60\00:36:44.53
Let's talk about those. I think
the first photo will show us
00:36:44.57\00:36:49.20
these three books and
what does that represent?
00:36:49.24\00:36:51.31
Alright, these are just examples
or sample books of foreign
00:36:51.34\00:36:55.38
language, Ellen White materials.
The first one is a book in
00:36:55.41\00:36:58.88
Malayalam, A Story of Redemption
The next one is Desire of Ages
00:36:58.91\00:37:03.89
in Romanian and the last
one there is The Great Hope in
00:37:03.92\00:37:06.89
Cambodian. So these are samples
of the kind of books that have
00:37:06.92\00:37:10.83
already been published somewhere
in the world. We are then
00:37:10.86\00:37:13.43
digitizing, putting on to
our content management system
00:37:13.46\00:37:18.00
and then they're available via
our websites, our apps so that
00:37:18.03\00:37:21.77
people can download them and
read them in their own language
00:37:21.80\00:37:24.84
So what are the languages that
will be supported by this year's
00:37:24.87\00:37:27.94
offering? This year's offering
is 4 different languages
00:37:27.98\00:37:32.15
Indonesian,
Greek, Polish and Arabic.
00:37:32.18\00:37:36.85
Alright, very good. And
let's go to the pictures again
00:37:36.89\00:37:41.92
and look at, what is
this? This is a screen shot
00:37:41.96\00:37:44.93
of one of the website
and what does this tell us?
00:37:44.96\00:37:51.67
Yes, This is the EGW writings
website. For those of you
00:37:51.70\00:37:55.60
who have seen it, I'm sure
you're familiar on the left hand
00:37:55.64\00:37:58.44
side there you'll see many
different languages available
00:37:58.47\00:38:02.51
So if you're using this website
and you want to use or look at
00:38:02.54\00:38:06.75
Ellen White materials in
different languages or people
00:38:06.78\00:38:09.48
that are overseas somewhere,
we have many languages
00:38:09.52\00:38:12.39
available and this is where you
can search basically all of her
00:38:12.42\00:38:17.49
writings. In fact, in English
now just last year we released
00:38:17.53\00:38:20.83
Letters and manuscripts
collection that was the last
00:38:20.86\00:38:23.53
materials that was not
previously released and so now
00:38:23.57\00:38:27.50
everything that Ellen
White wrote is available on our
00:38:27.54\00:38:31.07
website. And for the
next picture that we have here
00:38:31.11\00:38:35.64
the mobile site. So if you're
on a mobile device you can
00:38:35.68\00:38:38.81
still access through the
internet this site. That's
00:38:38.85\00:38:41.02
right. So if you're using the
web you can get on this mobile
00:38:41.05\00:38:45.25
site, this is what you'd
see and this picture here is our
00:38:45.29\00:38:49.06
apps and that's where we spend
a lot of time in development
00:38:49.09\00:38:52.73
and effort and so if
you have an IOS apple phone
00:38:52.76\00:38:58.23
an Android phone or a
Windows phone, any of those
00:38:58.27\00:39:02.00
3 operating systems we now
have an app for you just need
00:39:02.04\00:39:05.94
to go to your app store on your
device and look for EGW writings
00:39:05.97\00:39:12.28
or Ellen White and you can
install the app and especially
00:39:12.31\00:39:15.92
on Apple look for EGW writings
2 If you don't have 2 you're too
00:39:15.95\00:39:20.82
old!. Now I'm really excited
about this because I, how many
00:39:20.86\00:39:25.69
of you have accessed Ellen
White writings on your phone or
00:39:25.73\00:39:29.96
look at these, look at these
hands. All over the audience
00:39:30.00\00:39:34.14
So really we can carry every
thing with us. We have our Bible
00:39:34.17\00:39:38.04
our Ellen G. White and I
understand then as you go to
00:39:38.07\00:39:41.14
the last picture that it shows
we actually have everything
00:39:41.18\00:39:46.31
you mentioned, having Letters
and Manuscripts that are now
00:39:46.35\00:39:49.32
available? Yes, that was just
released last year as the 100th
00:39:49.35\00:39:54.49
Anniversary after Ellen White's
death and so that collection was
00:39:54.52\00:39:58.53
released as well as some
others that you might have been
00:39:58.56\00:40:02.13
familiar with. The incoming
correspondence from 1833
00:40:02.16\00:40:06.47
to 1915 that comprised of
letters that church leaders
00:40:06.50\00:40:11.71
or lay people or others would
be writing to Ellen White or
00:40:11.74\00:40:15.31
Willie White or those that
were working with her and so
00:40:15.34\00:40:19.45
often times she would respond to
that correspondence, sometimes
00:40:19.48\00:40:23.72
associates would respond.
It gives you a better picture
00:40:23.75\00:40:27.16
of different circumstances
when Ellen White actually wrote
00:40:27.19\00:40:30.43
something. These often
times some of the incoming
00:40:30.46\00:40:34.36
correspondence that she
would be responding to. So this
00:40:34.40\00:40:38.73
has been greatly enhanced by
the work that your department
00:40:38.77\00:40:42.40
at EG White Estate has been
doing. Very grateful for that
00:40:42.44\00:40:46.07
and thank you very much for
sharing about what we can do
00:40:46.11\00:40:49.68
to make this available to
more people in their language
00:40:49.71\00:40:53.48
Absolutely and let me just point
out, especially with those apps
00:40:53.52\00:40:56.75
there's something unique about
the apps that we were not able
00:40:56.79\00:41:00.19
to do in the past before and
that is obviously you can search
00:41:00.22\00:41:04.83
and read Ellen White's writings
in English and all these other
00:41:04.86\00:41:07.70
languages. The other thing that
you can do is download those
00:41:07.73\00:41:12.67
books and then when you're
not connected to the internet
00:41:12.70\00:41:16.50
which is especially true in the
developing world, you know here
00:41:16.54\00:41:21.01
in America it's not so important
perhaps we're often connected
00:41:21.04\00:41:24.78
all the time or most of the
time but in the developing world
00:41:24.81\00:41:28.08
most of the time you're not
connected. So you can download
00:41:28.12\00:41:31.45
Ellen White writings in your
language and then they're in
00:41:31.49\00:41:35.19
your phone and then you
can search them and read them
00:41:35.22\00:41:37.93
anytime you want to no matter
whether you have connection
00:41:37.96\00:41:40.90
or not. So we've really designed
this especially for people in
00:41:40.93\00:41:45.83
foreign countries and for
people with little to no access
00:41:45.87\00:41:50.37
or I should say little access
to the internet but they can
00:41:50.41\00:41:53.34
get it somewhere in town or
some other location, take it
00:41:53.38\00:41:57.35
home with them and then use
it for weeks and months without
00:41:57.38\00:42:00.92
ever having to be
connected to the internet.
00:42:00.95\00:42:02.85
Excellent, excellent. Definitely
a worthy project. Thank you
00:42:02.88\00:42:06.02
very much Josh. And now finally
for our last offering in action
00:42:06.05\00:42:13.16
segment, Rick McEdward, he's
the President of the Middle East
00:42:13.19\00:42:18.33
North Africa Union. Hi
Rick. How are you? Fine.
00:42:18.37\00:42:22.80
Tell us a little bit about the
Union. What are we looking at
00:42:22.84\00:42:26.57
in terms of scope. Where's
it located, how's the population
00:42:26.61\00:42:29.44
you serve and so on. Well,
the Middle East and North Africa
00:42:29.48\00:42:32.31
Union is 20 countries going
from Morocco across North Africa
00:42:32.35\00:42:38.15
through the Middle East
and up to Turkey and Iran.
00:42:38.19\00:42:41.56
So we have a huge population,
520 million people in a Union
00:42:41.59\00:42:48.20
There's only one Union that's
larger and that's China Union
00:42:48.23\00:42:52.47
but the Middle East
Union has enormous challenges
00:42:52.50\00:42:57.24
Wow! So tell us about some
of those challenges and how it
00:42:57.27\00:43:00.48
relates to the project
you'll be talking about.
00:43:00.51\00:43:02.38
Well one of the challenges
is we have very few people
00:43:02.41\00:43:06.05
on the ground. We have
about 3000, 31/2 thousand church
00:43:06.08\00:43:10.59
members through the
entire region. And 31/2 thousand
00:43:10.62\00:43:14.76
church members to 520 million
people, that creates a challenge
00:43:14.79\00:43:19.93
And not a small one. We
need people, we need airwaves
00:43:19.96\00:43:25.47
we need people who will share
with us. We need every possible
00:43:25.50\00:43:29.64
mechanism for reaching people,
for sharing a faithful witness
00:43:29.67\00:43:33.24
that we can have and of course
the project that we're talking
00:43:33.27\00:43:36.71
about here is part of that.
00:43:36.75\00:43:38.21
And so tell us what is the
project that we're looking at.
00:43:38.25\00:43:40.98
Again translation of Spirit
of Prophecy, specifically the
00:43:41.02\00:43:44.75
Conflict of the Ages series.
Well it's great that Josh was
00:43:44.79\00:43:48.46
just here, this is a perfect
segue cause this just narrows it
00:43:48.49\00:43:52.39
down to 3 languages.
Arabic, Farsi and Turkish
00:43:52.43\00:43:57.37
These 3 languages cover
the vast majority of our Union
00:43:57.40\00:44:03.27
and would be able to
bless millions of people
00:44:03.30\00:44:07.44
Now I know that for us to
have these writings available
00:44:07.48\00:44:12.48
really enhances our study of
the Bible, because that's our
00:44:12.51\00:44:16.62
source of truth, the Bible.
So explain to me how this can
00:44:16.65\00:44:20.09
be useful in a Moslem
country where the Bible is not
00:44:20.12\00:44:25.83
necessarily accepted as
the source of truth. Sure.
00:44:25.86\00:44:28.06
That's a good question. I
saw the hands go up when Josh
00:44:28.10\00:44:31.63
asked how many people are
reading Ellen White's writings
00:44:31.67\00:44:34.47
accessing the website. That
means all of us here have some
00:44:34.50\00:44:39.51
point of contact, right?
Some thing that has inspired us
00:44:39.54\00:44:44.18
and when I read the Bible
and when I read Ellen White's
00:44:44.21\00:44:47.82
writings, I get
inspired to share my faith.
00:44:47.85\00:44:50.59
I grow deeper in Christ
and it's a tool for me to grow
00:44:50.62\00:44:55.22
and we want every single
Adventist to be productive
00:44:55.26\00:45:00.60
with their faith. Sharing a
hospitality meal, being a friend
00:45:00.63\00:45:05.80
Engaging with people but also
to have those deeply spiritual
00:45:05.83\00:45:09.70
conversations that are
needed. So first and foremost
00:45:09.74\00:45:13.88
it's for us and our growth but
it's needed. But it doesn't stop
00:45:13.91\00:45:19.05
there. Secondly, we can
give to every Christian in the
00:45:19.08\00:45:25.05
Middle East freely. There
are some, not many, but we can
00:45:25.09\00:45:30.39
freely share. But in the world
we live in today, there are
00:45:30.43\00:45:34.43
hundreds of thousands of
people who are turning away
00:45:34.46\00:45:39.60
from their traditional faith
background. They're looking
00:45:39.63\00:45:42.44
for other solutions. We
see terrorism, we see what's
00:45:42.47\00:45:45.11
happening on the news. We see
what's happening, there's people
00:45:45.14\00:45:47.84
turning away and we need the
very basic resources like the
00:45:47.88\00:45:51.75
Waldensians who had something
in their pocket and when the
00:45:51.78\00:45:55.55
spiritual conversation came up
they were able to hand it to the
00:45:55.58\00:45:59.89
person who had interest.
And by doing so those who had an
00:45:59.92\00:46:04.66
interest in growing deeper
in understanding the Bible
00:46:04.69\00:46:07.83
they would have the Desire
of Ages, Patriarchs and Prophets
00:46:07.86\00:46:11.20
Acts of the Apostles.
They could see those stories in
00:46:11.23\00:46:13.77
a new and insightful way
that they've never seen before
00:46:13.80\00:46:17.04
and I believe that this is
not just a nurture tool but an
00:46:17.07\00:46:20.68
important one. It's
an evangelistic tool
00:46:20.71\00:46:23.08
one that many here probably
have been touched by through
00:46:23.11\00:46:26.45
the years. Excellent, excellent.
So it really helps people to be
00:46:26.48\00:46:31.19
a more effective channel of
outreach in evangelism to be
00:46:31.22\00:46:34.56
able to reach their friends.
To be able to share information
00:46:34.59\00:46:37.36
in their language. Excellent.
Is there anything else you'd
00:46:37.39\00:46:40.83
like us to know about this
project? Well, yes. There's
00:46:40.86\00:46:44.27
one other thing. We know
that people from our Region
00:46:44.30\00:46:47.87
Middle East and North Africa
are immigrating around the world
00:46:47.90\00:46:51.64
But those same resources
that will help us will also help
00:46:51.67\00:46:56.14
people in Europe share. People
in New York City, when the big
00:46:56.18\00:46:59.55
New York City project was done
a few years ago, Elder Wilson
00:46:59.58\00:47:02.45
mentioned there's 800 languages
in New York. Well if there's
00:47:02.48\00:47:07.39
800 languages in New
York, these three will bless
00:47:07.42\00:47:11.99
not only New York City but
all the big cities in immigrant
00:47:12.03\00:47:15.10
communities around the US
and in Europe. So this isn't a
00:47:15.13\00:47:18.70
project that will only help us.
It will help pockets of people
00:47:18.73\00:47:22.77
who are crying out for
something fresh, something new
00:47:22.80\00:47:25.64
and we need to give it to
them. Amen, amen. Thank you very
00:47:25.67\00:47:29.24
much Rick. We appreciate,
You're welcome. Thank you.
00:47:29.28\00:47:30.98
So there you have it. This
is our first Offering in Action
00:47:31.01\00:47:35.28
segment. There's something I
want you to keep in mind as you
00:47:35.32\00:47:38.15
listen to the segments
from program to program.
00:47:38.19\00:47:41.02
And that this year we want you
to think and consider that we're
00:47:41.06\00:47:45.26
looking at three things that
we want to do to accomplish and
00:47:45.29\00:47:48.53
support these projects.
We're looking to enhance.
00:47:48.56\00:47:52.53
We want to enhance their
outreach and their evangelistic
00:47:52.57\00:47:55.60
capacity. We want to enlarge
their territory. And we want to
00:47:55.64\00:48:00.64
encourage them to keep
the faith and be faithful and
00:48:00.68\00:48:04.11
and continue doing what they're
doing. So while we may not be
00:48:04.15\00:48:07.98
with them in the efforts that
they are doing, we can certainly
00:48:08.02\00:48:11.75
support them. And so listen
for those things, the theme for
00:48:11.79\00:48:17.19
those three E words - to Enlarge
the territory, to Enhance their
00:48:17.23\00:48:22.46
outreach and evangelistic
capacity and to Encourage them
00:48:22.50\00:48:27.10
to continue giving and sharing
the love of Christ in what
00:48:27.14\00:48:30.77
they're doing. Thank you very
much and we'll see you next time
00:48:30.81\00:48:33.78
for another
Offering in Action segment.
00:48:33.81\00:48:36.01
This morning we have with us
Michael. Michael, what do you do
00:48:40.28\00:48:45.05
I am an engineer
for AT&T in Dallas.
00:48:45.55\00:48:48.62
An engineer for AT&T in
Dallas. Wow, that's amazing.
00:48:48.66\00:48:52.59
But Michael I know that's
not the only thing you do.
00:48:52.63\00:48:56.16
You also have a ministry. Tell
us a little bit about, what is
00:48:56.20\00:48:59.47
the name of the ministry and
what's the focus of the ministry
00:48:59.50\00:49:02.04
Uh, the ministry name is
Online Christian Services.
00:49:02.07\00:49:05.27
And our focus, well our
slogan is Spreading the Gospel
00:49:05.31\00:49:09.91
using today's technologies.
Amen. So you have an online
00:49:09.94\00:49:13.72
ministry. But you know an
engineer for a phone company
00:49:13.75\00:49:18.72
and now you have an online
ministry, tell us how in the
00:49:18.75\00:49:21.79
world did you get
started in ministry.
00:49:21.82\00:49:24.29
Well, uh back in 2012 I was on
a ladder doing some work around
00:49:24.33\00:49:30.33
the house and I fell, broke my
wrist. I was put on disability
00:49:30.37\00:49:34.37
and I was sitting at home doing
nothing. And my father come over
00:49:34.40\00:49:38.57
and said, you know if you're
doing nothing you ought to be
00:49:38.61\00:49:41.34
reading the Bible. So
I took my dad's advice
00:49:41.38\00:49:44.68
So what was your status at that
point? I mean, you're sitting
00:49:44.71\00:49:48.82
on the couch doing nothing
but what was your status at that
00:49:48.85\00:49:51.62
point? I had been
backslidden for two years.
00:49:51.65\00:49:54.12
Ok, so you were an Adventist
but then you were backslidden
00:49:54.16\00:49:58.16
from that and kinda disconnected
and now this injury and your
00:49:58.19\00:50:02.46
dad says, read the Bible. Tell
us about how it went from there
00:50:02.50\00:50:05.83
So I knew my dad was right. The
first two weeks I struggled with
00:50:05.87\00:50:10.81
this. In fact I would pray or
try to pray and everything was
00:50:10.84\00:50:15.91
uh, it was a battle. After
two weeks I finally was able to
00:50:15.94\00:50:21.45
read 15 minutes and then I was
falling asleep. But within two
00:50:21.48\00:50:25.62
months I read through
the entire Bible. Amen, amen.
00:50:25.65\00:50:28.12
And uh through this I got
so excited, so on fire to share
00:50:28.16\00:50:32.59
the Gospel and I started praying
about this. God, I, give me a
00:50:32.63\00:50:37.20
voice, I want to do something
for you. I didn't know what
00:50:37.23\00:50:39.23
it would be. Kyle, what do
you think about that? Give me a
00:50:39.27\00:50:43.10
voice. What kinda prayer is
that? Explain it to me from a
00:50:43.14\00:50:46.27
pastor's standpoint. Well, I
think, I think God was working
00:50:46.31\00:50:50.21
on his heart and he was
open to doing whatever he could
00:50:50.25\00:50:52.48
do to follow God. And I'll be
honest, I think, would you say
00:50:52.51\00:50:57.25
that falling off the ladder was
kind of a divine appointment?
00:50:57.29\00:50:59.95
Uh yeah you know we
joked about me being pushed off
00:50:59.99\00:51:04.03
and well. I wasn't aware
that that was a job description
00:51:04.06\00:51:09.90
of angels but hey, you
never know. That's right
00:51:09.93\00:51:13.00
Yeah knock the legs off
from under the ladder. So you're
00:51:13.03\00:51:15.47
reading the Bible, God
is working on you and you're
00:51:15.50\00:51:19.21
feeling like He's calling you
to do something So how did that
00:51:19.24\00:51:22.94
look? Uh I started getting
impressions to do a mobile Bible
00:51:22.98\00:51:27.95
Study app Oh so
you're a programmer? No
00:51:27.98\00:51:30.49
You're not a programmer?
No. But you did an app?
00:51:30.52\00:51:32.65
Yes. Could I do an app? Wow.
00:51:32.69\00:51:35.89
I don't think you could Steve.
I'm sorry Steve you've got
00:51:35.92\00:51:38.56
a lot of talent, but anyway
so God impresses you to do this
00:51:38.59\00:51:43.57
app, you're not a
programmer so what did you do?
00:51:43.60\00:51:45.53
I did a lot of praying. Amen.
I talked to my brother who is
00:51:45.57\00:51:50.94
a software programmer and
he pointed me to some software
00:51:50.97\00:51:55.11
he used and every morning I
would get up I would do devotion
00:51:55.14\00:51:59.55
I would pray and pray and
pray and go sit at the computer
00:51:59.58\00:52:03.79
And in about two weeks
I had the first app out
00:52:06.72\00:52:10.43
Amen. And shortly after that
well I spoke with Karen Lewis
00:52:10.46\00:52:17.47
or emailed Karen Lewis so she
gave me permission to use her
00:52:17.50\00:52:20.47
Bible Study Series, Lifting
Up Jesus, and so I did the
00:52:20.50\00:52:25.47
first app in English and then
in Spanish and then in German
00:52:25.51\00:52:29.24
and then about a month after
that was released I noticed
00:52:29.28\00:52:34.02
this app has been
downloaded 300 times
00:52:34.05\00:52:38.75
I think we, Amen Praise the
Lord. Something about YouTube
00:52:38.79\00:52:43.12
you went to YouTube? That
was a little something different
00:52:43.16\00:52:46.49
but whenever I needed
help I would go to YouTube
00:52:46.53\00:52:49.00
and get help from 9-year
olds telling me how to do stuff
00:52:49.03\00:52:52.30
So do we have some graphics?
I think we do. I think we may
00:52:55.54\00:52:58.54
have some graphics.
We put them up there
00:52:58.57\00:52:59.91
There's your website there.
So talk to us just a little bit
00:52:59.94\00:53:03.71
about who this is reaching now.
00:53:03.75\00:53:06.68
Alright. So this app what
the graphic is about Bible Study
00:53:06.72\00:53:12.15
With Me so a month after this
was out Doug and I got together
00:53:12.19\00:53:16.66
and we started putting our heads
together and said, you know
00:53:16.69\00:53:19.59
we can make this app better.
We can make it to where people
00:53:19.63\00:53:22.20
can communicate with each other
can do Bible study with each
00:53:22.23\00:53:25.17
other and this is going through
out the world. I've done Bible
00:53:25.20\00:53:27.97
Studies, well I'm in Dallas,
Fort Worth area. I've done
00:53:28.00\00:53:31.41
Bible Study with a guy in Ohio.
00:53:31.44\00:53:33.64
Several weeks we're doing
studies together, every night.
00:53:33.68\00:53:37.15
I've spoken to people in
Australia, in Africa. I mean
00:53:37.18\00:53:41.95
all over the world. How
many countries are you in now?
00:53:41.98\00:53:44.65
I don't know how many countries.
The graphic that's up right now
00:53:44.69\00:53:48.82
it shows where we have, amen
pinpointed all the downloads
00:53:48.86\00:53:55.16
but that does not have the
information from the Spanish app
00:53:55.20\00:53:57.97
That's just the English version.
So how many downloads has
00:53:58.00\00:54:00.87
your app had? Over 100,000.
00:54:00.90\00:54:03.74
Praise God, Amen. All from
someone who's never developed
00:54:03.77\00:54:06.47
an app before. Right. The Lord
used you Michael. Steve, could
00:54:06.51\00:54:12.18
God use us when we're just
willing? I think God can use
00:54:12.21\00:54:14.98
every single one of us to
do something. Tell me how can
00:54:15.02\00:54:17.75
someone sitting
here today get involved?
00:54:17.79\00:54:19.89
Uh there's a number of
ways. What we have done is we've
00:54:19.92\00:54:23.59
created this in a way to
where well if people have prayer
00:54:23.63\00:54:28.16
requests, they can ask for
prayer requests. We need people
00:54:28.20\00:54:31.23
that will pray for them. Also
we have the need for answering
00:54:31.27\00:54:36.64
Bible questions. Doug
and I, we have day jobs.
00:54:36.67\00:54:39.07
And so at the end of the day we
start this for the remainder of
00:54:39.11\00:54:43.24
the day. So it's for answering
questions, we need people to
00:54:43.28\00:54:47.22
help answer questions. We need
people that will help facilitate
00:54:47.25\00:54:52.62
this in just the manner
of getting people connected
00:54:52.65\00:54:55.92
with other people. Mike,
what's your booth number?
00:54:55.96\00:54:58.66
306. If you need something
to do and you have a computer
00:54:58.69\00:55:02.60
at home, can go online, go
see booth 306. Talk to Michael
00:55:02.63\00:55:05.93
He'll tell you what to
do. God bless you. Amen
00:55:05.97\00:55:08.44
And as we go off, want you
to watch this video reminding us
00:55:08.47\00:55:11.87
that just like Michael found
out all of us are called, chosen
00:55:11.91\00:55:15.71
and by God's grace committed
to sharing the Gospel with
00:55:15.74\00:55:17.91
the world.
00:55:17.95\00:55:20.92
God has called you
and I into His kingdom
00:55:30.39\00:55:37.47
to this movement. He's
chosen us from the foundation
00:55:37.50\00:55:41.50
of the world, Ephesians.
It says that He predestined
00:55:41.54\00:55:45.37
the word predestined doesn't
mean you were predetermined
00:55:45.41\00:55:48.44
whether you're going to be lost
or saved. But before you and I
00:55:48.48\00:55:51.45
were born, you and I were in
God's mind. He called us out of
00:55:51.48\00:55:56.79
darkness into marvelous
light He chose us in eternity
00:55:56.82\00:55:59.92
Why? He's chosen us to be
00:55:59.95\00:56:04.16
A people, a person that
will fully represent His
00:56:04.19\00:56:09.66
character in the
Great Controversy
00:56:09.70\00:56:12.03
Called by God. Qualified by
God Chosen before you were born
00:56:15.24\00:56:20.91
Psalm 139 God says I knew
you before you were conceived
00:56:20.94\00:56:24.28
in your mother's womb.
00:56:24.31\00:56:26.72
You and I don't have identity
crisis. We are somebody in
00:56:26.75\00:56:31.69
Christ. We have a high calling.
00:56:31.72\00:56:33.92
Committed-that's what
God is asking you right now
00:56:33.96\00:56:37.53
Once you recognize
the call He placed upon us
00:56:37.56\00:56:39.89
recognize that we've been chosen
00:56:39.93\00:56:42.26
Now He needs from
you and I a commitment
00:56:42.30\00:56:46.17
Are we willing to surrender,
to commit my life, your life
00:56:46.20\00:56:51.91
to the cause of God. Be
called, be chosen, be committed.
00:56:51.94\00:56:57.88