Amen! You sound
wonderful this morning
00:02:32.11\00:02:34.48
and we want to make a
special welcome to all those
00:02:34.68\00:02:36.79
who have come to
worship with us this morning
00:02:36.99\00:02:39.35
from the Phoenix area.
00:02:39.55\00:02:40.89
Our next song this
morning is number 619,
00:02:40.96\00:02:44.19
Lead On, O King Eternal.
00:02:44.39\00:02:47.36
We are leading...
we're marching forward.
00:02:47.56\00:02:49.46
Can you say
"Amen" to that? Amen!
00:02:49.66\00:02:51.33
Let us sing this beautiful hymn:
00:02:51.53\00:02:52.87
Lead On, O King Eternal.
00:02:52.93\00:02:54.27
Amen! You may be
seated; thank you very much.
00:05:17.15\00:05:19.51
Welcome,
everyone, to ASI at worship.
00:05:26.25\00:05:29.22
That's a welcome
to the 3ABN audience;
00:05:30.59\00:05:32.73
that's a welcome to our
live audience here in Phoenix.
00:05:32.93\00:05:36.26
You know, at our convention
we hear a lot of wonderful
00:05:37.17\00:05:40.27
testimonies. We
hear heavenly music.
00:05:40.47\00:05:44.54
We meet and make friends.
00:05:45.27\00:05:47.48
We learn about
ideas for ministry.
00:05:48.34\00:05:51.15
But the high
point of ASI is worship.
00:05:51.88\00:05:56.65
And just as we gather
here today to worship together
00:05:57.75\00:06:00.96
our Redeemer and our Creator
00:06:01.32\00:06:03.66
one day we will
stand on the sea of glass
00:06:04.06\00:06:08.66
before the throne of God.
00:06:09.06\00:06:10.73
And we will not be alone
because with us before God then
00:06:11.70\00:06:16.97
will be the
seraphim, the cherubim,
00:06:17.71\00:06:21.64
and ten thousand
times ten thousand angels
00:06:22.04\00:06:25.58
praising and adoring God.
00:06:25.98\00:06:28.58
These angels are in a
holy alliance with us here
00:06:29.38\00:06:34.22
in this world to work unitedly
for the salvation of souls.
00:06:34.42\00:06:39.29
And they, like us, will
rejoice for all eternity
00:06:40.16\00:06:45.57
for every decision
that is ever made for Christ
00:06:45.97\00:06:49.77
through our
witnessing in the marketplace.
00:06:50.17\00:06:53.31
That's right, Brother
Norm. Happy Sabbath everyone!
00:06:53.71\00:06:56.18
How many of you believe
that Jesus is coming soon?
00:06:57.28\00:06:59.61
Amen! And that we
are all called and chosen
00:06:59.81\00:07:02.32
and committed to taking
this gospel to the world?
00:07:02.52\00:07:04.85
You know, there is nothing
more special, Norm, than to be
00:07:05.25\00:07:08.52
at an ASI Convention. Amen!
To be with people who are all
00:07:08.72\00:07:11.19
committed to that
task of helping save souls
00:07:11.39\00:07:13.56
so that they will be
with us on that sea of glass.
00:07:13.76\00:07:15.56
You know, sometimes people ask:
"What is the benefit of being
00:07:16.06\00:07:19.63
a part of ASI? What is
the benefit of joining ASI? "
00:07:19.83\00:07:22.67
Well brothers and sisters,
this morning the benefit
00:07:23.14\00:07:25.97
is being able to be equipped to
share the gospel with the world.
00:07:26.17\00:07:30.25
That's right. To be a part of
a like-minded body of believers
00:07:30.45\00:07:32.75
that are totally sold out to
take the three angels' messages
00:07:32.95\00:07:35.88
in this generation to
every nation, tribe, tongue,
00:07:36.08\00:07:38.12
and people. So we want to
invite you this morning...
00:07:38.32\00:07:40.96
There are some here...
Some of you would qualify
00:07:41.16\00:07:43.53
to be ASI members.
Business owners, professionals,
00:07:43.73\00:07:45.89
or ministry leaders. We want
to invite you to find out more
00:07:46.09\00:07:49.20
about becoming a member of ASI.
00:07:49.40\00:07:51.00
We have a slide we're going to
show on the screen at this time
00:07:51.50\00:07:53.54
and you can find it in
your program guide as well.
00:07:53.74\00:07:56.10
We want you to text this number
00:07:56.30\00:07:58.41
to find out more information
00:07:58.61\00:07:59.94
about being a part of ASI.
00:07:59.97\00:08:01.31
You can text
JOIN; you can text ASI;
00:08:01.34\00:08:02.84
you can text Happy
Sabbath. Just text something
00:08:03.04\00:08:04.85
to 301-844-6035
00:08:05.05\00:08:08.42
and we will get you information
00:08:08.62\00:08:09.95
about becoming a member of ASI.
00:08:10.15\00:08:11.55
But, Norm, whether
you're a member of ASI or not
00:08:11.95\00:08:15.46
all of us are one family.
00:08:15.66\00:08:17.99
We are all united in our
calling, united in the fact
00:08:18.19\00:08:21.96
that God has chosen us
and given us the strength
00:08:22.16\00:08:24.63
to commit to taking
the three angels' messages
00:08:24.83\00:08:27.64
to the world in this generation.
00:08:27.80\00:08:29.57
One of the ways that we
do it, especially in worship,
00:08:31.34\00:08:34.51
is through the
foolishness of preaching.
00:08:34.71\00:08:37.18
Who would want to sit
and listen to someone talk
00:08:38.15\00:08:40.65
for a half hour or an hour?
00:08:40.85\00:08:42.22
Except when the Holy Spirit is
present, wonderful changes occur
00:08:42.42\00:08:46.22
in our hearts and in our minds.
00:08:46.42\00:08:47.82
And the chosen
speaker of this hour
00:08:48.02\00:08:50.63
is John Bradshaw. John
is the speaker/director
00:08:50.83\00:08:54.33
of It Is Written television.
00:08:54.60\00:08:56.26
And we pray that the
Spirit of the Most High God
00:08:56.67\00:09:01.00
will use him today to be a
channel of blessing for us.
00:09:01.50\00:09:06.47
Amen.
00:09:06.68\00:09:08.01
Our choral call to
worship this morning invites
00:09:11.28\00:09:14.32
everyone to
participate in singing.
00:09:14.52\00:09:16.99
I invite you to stand. Everyone:
please stand and join us
00:09:17.19\00:09:19.99
as we sing our choral call
to worship: We Will Glorify.
00:09:20.19\00:09:23.93
All the ladies. We will
glorify the King of kings,
00:09:38.77\00:09:44.68
we will glorify the Lamb.
00:09:44.88\00:09:48.95
We will glorify
the Lord of lords
00:09:49.35\00:09:53.56
who is the Great I AM.
00:09:53.76\00:09:58.59
Lord Jehovah reigns in majesty,
00:10:01.63\00:10:06.50
we will bow before His throne.
00:10:06.70\00:10:10.64
We will worship
Him in righteousness,
00:10:10.84\00:10:15.14
we will worship Him alone.
00:10:15.54\00:10:20.32
He is Lord of
heaven, Lord of earth...
00:10:24.25\00:10:28.46
He is Lord of all who live.
00:10:28.66\00:10:32.93
He is Lord above the universe:
00:10:33.33\00:10:37.40
all praise to Him we give.
00:10:37.60\00:10:42.80
Hallelujah to the King of kings,
00:10:50.81\00:10:55.05
Hallelujah to the Lamb!
00:10:55.25\00:10:59.32
Hallelujah to the Lord of lords
00:10:59.52\00:11:03.99
who is the Great I AM.
00:11:04.19\00:11:09.00
Hallelujah to the King of kings,
00:11:11.00\00:11:15.17
Hallelujah to the Lamb!
00:11:15.37\00:11:19.81
Hallelujah to the Lord of lords
00:11:20.01\00:11:24.28
who is the Great I AM.
00:11:24.48\00:11:29.95
We will glorify
the King of kings,
00:11:36.26\00:11:40.60
we will glorify the Lamb.
00:11:41.00\00:11:45.33
We will glorify
the Lord of lords
00:11:45.73\00:11:50.27
who is the Great
00:11:50.67\00:11:53.51
I AM.
00:11:53.71\00:11:59.65
Amen!
00:11:59.85\00:12:01.58
We're thankful to be here today.
00:12:09.52\00:12:11.29
Let's bow our heads and
thank our Heavenly Father
00:12:11.49\00:12:13.80
for His blessings.
00:12:14.00\00:12:15.33
Dear Father, as we're coming
to worship You this morning
00:12:16.53\00:12:19.77
we want to thank you especially
for all this time together.
00:12:19.97\00:12:23.41
It's been a wonderful week,
00:12:23.81\00:12:25.51
and as we wrap up
our networking together
00:12:25.91\00:12:28.18
and learning of other
ways to work with sharing Jesus
00:12:28.38\00:12:32.15
in the marketplace I
pray that You'll guide us
00:12:32.35\00:12:34.78
to those special
appointments that we need:
00:12:34.98\00:12:37.09
someone who will encourage us;
someone who we can encourage;
00:12:37.49\00:12:41.36
someone we can mentor;
someone who will mentor us.
00:12:41.56\00:12:45.79
I pray that we go away
from this special service
00:12:46.19\00:12:49.16
with a blessing in our hearts.
00:12:49.36\00:12:51.37
We want to share
Jesus everywhere.
00:12:51.77\00:12:53.94
And if every SDA
business and professional person
00:12:54.14\00:12:58.87
were sharing Jesus
how soon You could come.
00:12:59.27\00:13:02.44
Thank you, Father. In
Jesus' precious name we pray,
00:13:02.94\00:13:06.21
Amen. Be seated.
00:13:06.61\00:13:09.28
We have the privilege
to sing one more time.
00:13:18.09\00:13:20.56
I invite you to
sing with us number 21:
00:13:20.96\00:13:23.06
Immortal, Invisible...
God Only Wise. Please stand.
00:13:23.26\00:13:27.34
Amen. You may be seated.
00:16:21.81\00:16:23.51
In the very heart of Africa
00:16:31.72\00:16:34.29
lies the nation of Rwanda.
00:16:34.49\00:16:36.73
Despite a darkened past
00:16:38.33\00:16:40.46
a new light is beginning to dawn
over this land of a thousand
00:16:41.06\00:16:44.43
hills as a bold new
initiative of the SDA church
00:16:44.63\00:16:48.57
is being implemented
in unprecedented ways.
00:16:48.77\00:16:51.67
This is the story of
TOTAL MEMBER INVOLVEMENT.
00:16:53.38\00:16:57.65
In a country ravaged
by pain a few years ago
00:17:13.13\00:17:15.66
the SDA church is bringing hope.
00:17:15.86\00:17:18.10
This is one of the most exciting
events that I've attended.
00:17:18.30\00:17:22.04
East Africa is
excited about TMI.
00:17:22.44\00:17:26.04
Here in Rwanda what
we're witnessing is something
00:17:26.24\00:17:27.98
that is unprecedented
in the Adventist church.
00:17:28.18\00:17:30.35
In this whole country
people feel that God is out
00:17:31.71\00:17:34.72
for something huge. This
is TOTAL MEMBER INVOLVEMENT.
00:17:34.92\00:17:39.65
Two thousand years ago
Jesus launched a program...
00:17:59.91\00:18:02.91
actually it's the Great
Commission and we all know it.
00:18:03.11\00:18:05.61
Matthew 28: Go and
preach and teach and baptize
00:18:05.81\00:18:08.48
and disciple. And
because of that Great Commission
00:18:08.68\00:18:11.09
we're all excited and
interested here in Rwanda
00:18:11.29\00:18:13.39
about TOTAL MEMBER INVOLVEMENT.
00:18:13.59\00:18:15.22
We have seen
church members take off
00:18:15.42\00:18:17.99
with this incredible idea
of TOTAL MEMBER INVOLVEMENT.
00:18:18.19\00:18:21.43
They have gotten so
involved themselves.
00:18:21.63\00:18:23.16
They have given cows
away; they've given goats away;
00:18:23.37\00:18:25.83
they've given sheep
away. Literature distribution,
00:18:26.03\00:18:28.27
Bible
studies... health outreach,
00:18:28.47\00:18:30.94
community services.
They made banners, scarves,
00:18:31.14\00:18:35.38
T- shirts... all kinds
of things to promote TMI.
00:18:35.58\00:18:39.58
The people who are members here
take the time to invite their
00:18:39.78\00:18:43.55
friends. The church leaders
follow up with the people
00:18:43.75\00:18:47.29
to make sure they're
ready to be baptized.
00:18:47.49\00:18:49.86
So it's really a team effort.
00:18:50.06\00:18:52.33
Not only are the
Rwandans involved in doing TMI
00:18:54.23\00:18:57.40
but the General Conference
staff is excited and interested
00:18:57.60\00:19:00.34
to be involved here and
model what we are talking about
00:19:00.54\00:19:03.51
back in Silver
Springs, Maryland.
00:19:03.71\00:19:05.17
The Lord wants to use
everyone. Pastors, lay people,
00:19:06.84\00:19:10.51
EVERYONE in this great effort.
00:19:10.71\00:19:13.05
Church members have been
energized that they are taking
00:19:18.65\00:19:20.96
ASI New Beginnings
sermons and preaching
00:19:21.16\00:19:23.93
and are excited about reaching
friends and neighbors for Jesus
00:19:24.13\00:19:27.03
and bringing them to
some of the TMI meetings.
00:19:27.23\00:19:29.53
For a long time the work has
been in the hands of the pastors
00:19:30.27\00:19:33.27
and the lay people have
been "spectating" by and large.
00:19:33.47\00:19:37.27
But now everybody
has a role to play.
00:19:37.91\00:19:41.54
Everybody has
somebody they can reach.
00:19:41.94\00:19:44.08
Every church member
now has understood that
00:19:44.88\00:19:47.62
wherever he is he
will be trying to reach one
00:19:47.78\00:19:50.62
and bring one.
00:19:50.82\00:19:52.35
There are over
2,200 evangelistic sites
00:19:55.26\00:19:59.09
here in this beautiful
but small country of Rwanda
00:19:59.29\00:20:03.06
and we are only two
of those 2000+ sites.
00:20:03.26\00:20:07.67
A few of those
sites have young people
00:20:09.10\00:20:12.34
from the United
States, people from Europe.
00:20:12.54\00:20:15.34
I am 12 years old and I
preached here in Rwanda.
00:20:17.05\00:20:20.42
I was so excited
when I made my first call
00:20:20.62\00:20:23.49
and hundreds of
people came forward.
00:20:23.79\00:20:25.79
It was very exciting!
00:20:25.99\00:20:27.46
This is my first time preaching
00:20:28.36\00:20:31.36
doing anything like this.
00:20:31.56\00:20:33.36
It is the most fulfilling
experience that I have ever had.
00:20:33.56\00:20:36.97
I rely on God but here
you really like rely on God
00:20:38.17\00:20:41.60
to speak through you, to
use you in any way possible.
00:20:41.80\00:20:44.87
And it's limitless what He
can do with a willing soul.
00:20:45.27\00:20:47.81
Before I came on
this mission trip
00:20:51.38\00:20:53.58
I was feeling
very cold spiritually.
00:20:53.78\00:20:56.18
Like: "OK, is this
all to Christianity? "
00:20:56.38\00:20:59.02
But the first night I
saw that God had a purpose
00:21:00.22\00:21:03.69
on why I was there. God
has really shown His love
00:21:03.89\00:21:07.26
to me. I have
seen that He is real
00:21:07.46\00:21:10.30
because you see Him moving
in the hearts of other people.
00:21:10.50\00:21:13.50
And when you see the changes
that are happening in their life
00:21:13.90\00:21:16.94
you can't doubt that He
can do the same for you.
00:21:17.14\00:21:20.08
Every night thousands of people
are making decisions for Christ.
00:21:21.54\00:21:24.71
These wonderful people
are ready to be baptized
00:21:25.81\00:21:29.15
and to join this
great Advent movement.
00:21:29.35\00:21:31.89
What we're witnessing
right here on the shores of
00:21:33.12\00:21:35.56
Lake Kivu is representative
of what is happening all across
00:21:35.76\00:21:40.23
this country. A
hundred thousand baptisms,
00:21:40.43\00:21:45.20
the most that's ever happened
in the history of the Adventist
00:21:45.40\00:21:47.14
church. And the
exciting thing is
00:21:47.34\00:21:49.37
this is only the beginning.
00:21:49.57\00:21:51.37
This program is
going to continue
00:21:52.97\00:21:56.08
until Jesus will come again.
00:21:56.28\00:21:58.58
This is so exciting what
has happened here in Rwanda.
00:21:59.65\00:22:02.18
But this is a model
for the world church.
00:22:02.38\00:22:03.82
We don't want it to
end here. It's up to you
00:22:04.02\00:22:05.69
to make it happen in your local
church, your local community,
00:22:05.89\00:22:08.52
your local conference.
00:22:08.72\00:22:10.06
You don't have to do some grand
thing to be involved in TMI.
00:22:10.89\00:22:14.43
It should be part
of your everyday life.
00:22:14.93\00:22:16.87
All of us have
been given opportunities
00:22:18.73\00:22:21.34
and we need to do what
God has called us to do
00:22:21.64\00:22:24.37
to fulfill the mission that
He has given to each one of us.
00:22:25.07\00:22:28.24
What a time to be alive!
00:22:30.81\00:22:33.05
What a time to be part
of TOTAL MEMBER INVOLVEMENT.
00:22:33.45\00:22:37.15
God bless each one of
you as you engage with heaven
00:22:37.55\00:22:41.22
and the power that
the Lord will give you
00:22:41.42\00:22:43.66
to carry this message to
the very ends of this earth.
00:22:43.86\00:22:47.70
Good morning and Happy Sabbath.
00:22:57.17\00:22:58.87
It's so nice to be here on
this beautiful Sabbath morning
00:23:02.28\00:23:05.88
and we want to talk
a little bit more about
00:23:06.28\00:23:08.68
Offerings in Action.
00:23:08.88\00:23:10.22
With me is our world
president, Elder Ted Wilson,
00:23:10.32\00:23:13.86
world president for the
Seventh-day Adventist church.
00:23:14.06\00:23:16.49
And Duane McKey, who is
assistant to the president
00:23:16.89\00:23:20.16
for TOTAL MEMBER INVOLVEMENT.
00:23:20.36\00:23:22.06
Let me ask you
first, Elder McKey,
00:23:22.36\00:23:24.27
what just happened
here with this video?
00:23:24.47\00:23:26.84
Unbelievable.
00:23:27.04\00:23:28.37
I've been a missionary,
worked in Africa since 1975.
00:23:28.40\00:23:31.74
Done lots of mission trips, lots
of evangelism all across Africa.
00:23:31.94\00:23:35.11
I've never seen
anything like this!
00:23:35.31\00:23:37.11
The Holy Spirit was poured out.
00:23:37.31\00:23:38.88
700,000 people were
praying that God would bless
00:23:39.08\00:23:42.95
and God blessed beyond belief.
00:23:43.15\00:23:44.52
And all because of using a
tool like New Beginnings...
00:23:44.82\00:23:48.72
New Beginnings
sermons. Using New Beginnings.
00:23:48.92\00:23:50.26
1,850 lay people preaching New
Beginnings sermons. Praise God!
00:23:50.29\00:23:55.30
Praise God... it's wonderful.
00:23:55.53\00:23:56.87
And then where are
all of these new members
00:23:56.90\00:24:00.54
gonna go to church?
Well, that's a problem.
00:24:00.84\00:24:02.97
We need a thousand
brand new churches there.
00:24:03.17\00:24:05.41
Pray with us that
that will happen soon.
00:24:05.81\00:24:07.51
OK... we are looking forward
to that. We want to make sure
00:24:07.71\00:24:10.25
that they have a church home.
Thank you very much Elder McKey.
00:24:10.65\00:24:13.11
Elder Wilson, tell
us... what does this mean?
00:24:13.82\00:24:15.85
A tool like New Beginnings and
an initiative like the One Day
00:24:16.05\00:24:19.49
Church: what does that
mean for the world church?
00:24:19.69\00:24:21.99
Debbie, before I share that
in a moment I just want to say
00:24:22.49\00:24:26.83
that what happened in Rwanda
was nothing short of the power
00:24:27.03\00:24:32.57
of the Holy Spirit.
Amen! And we are so grateful
00:24:32.77\00:24:35.44
and give all the
glory to the Lord.
00:24:35.64\00:24:37.31
We do also give great
credit to what God did
00:24:38.14\00:24:41.58
through our lay members... Amen!
00:24:41.78\00:24:43.78
TOTAL MEMBER INVOLVEMENT.
00:24:43.98\00:24:46.18
Somehow, the church
members just caught fire
00:24:47.15\00:24:51.45
when they realized that this was
something they were very much
00:24:51.65\00:24:55.49
a part of. And that's what
we're seeing now all across
00:24:55.69\00:24:58.73
this globe. ASI is
helping us to do that.
00:24:58.93\00:25:02.53
In Rwanda
specifically the New Beginnings
00:25:02.93\00:25:06.43
evangelistic series was provided
00:25:06.63\00:25:10.21
to many of those sites
00:25:10.74\00:25:13.81
and in fact I have to tell you
that 2,227 evangelistic sites
00:25:14.01\00:25:18.81
at least 3/4 of them
00:25:19.11\00:25:22.65
were organized and
presented by lay people.
00:25:22.85\00:25:27.29
It was absolutely phenomenal!
00:25:27.69\00:25:29.32
And what did they
use? New Beginnings. Amen!
00:25:29.52\00:25:31.69
New Beginnings has
become a standard, a wonderful
00:25:32.09\00:25:36.63
opportunity for people
to preach the full message.
00:25:36.83\00:25:40.44
I just want to give
you a personal testimony.
00:25:40.84\00:25:42.87
For the last number of years I
have been preaching evangelistic
00:25:43.27\00:25:46.47
meetings, and we have
them planned every year.
00:25:46.68\00:25:49.31
Every time I
preach these messages
00:25:49.51\00:25:51.61
I become
re-converted all over again.
00:25:51.81\00:25:54.88
Everything fits together.
God's Word is so powerful!
00:25:55.08\00:25:58.95
And our lay people
preaching that sense that
00:25:59.15\00:26:02.12
marvelous aspect that they're
part of this great Advent
00:26:02.32\00:26:06.13
movement. Now, when it comes to
all the people who have come in
00:26:06.33\00:26:10.80
because of this effort -
00:26:11.20\00:26:12.70
100,135 people so far...
00:26:13.10\00:26:18.64
and we praise God -
they have to be housed.
00:26:18.84\00:26:21.54
The One Day Church has
been a phenomenal success
00:26:21.74\00:26:25.71
in the areas where
it can be constructed
00:26:25.91\00:26:28.58
and placed in a
very appropriate way.
00:26:28.78\00:26:31.42
The One Day Church
now is positioned to help
00:26:31.82\00:26:35.59
those 100,000
people... many of whom
00:26:35.99\00:26:39.63
are going to find homes
in that wonderful opportunity
00:26:39.83\00:26:43.73
of a One Day Church.
Amen! I just want to express
00:26:43.93\00:26:47.67
enormous appreciation to ASI
00:26:47.87\00:26:51.17
for what they have done
not only in presenting the Word
00:26:51.57\00:26:54.91
but helping to house
and preserve those who are
00:26:55.11\00:26:58.98
the result of the Word.
00:26:59.18\00:27:01.15
Actually, those people are not
just going to be preserved...
00:27:01.35\00:27:06.35
they are on fire
for the Lord. Amen!
00:27:06.76\00:27:09.52
The Rwanda Union has
intended now for the next year
00:27:09.72\00:27:12.69
to do the same thing again.
00:27:12.89\00:27:14.50
Can you imagine?
00:27:14.70\00:27:16.03
Probably another
100,000 if not more!
00:27:16.70\00:27:20.47
In fact, the East
Central Africa Division
00:27:20.67\00:27:22.97
is now planning next
year for five of their Unions
00:27:23.17\00:27:27.14
to do the same approach
where lay people are involved
00:27:27.34\00:27:30.41
in TOTAL MEMBER INVOLVEMENT.
00:27:30.61\00:27:31.98
And in 15
seconds let me tell you
00:27:32.51\00:27:35.42
TMI - TOTAL MEMBER INVOLVEMENT
- is not just public evangelism.
00:27:35.62\00:27:40.09
It is everything
that people do to prepare:
00:27:40.39\00:27:43.49
community services,
literature distribution,
00:27:43.69\00:27:46.09
youth, health outreach...
all kinds of activities.
00:27:46.29\00:27:50.07
We saw prayer
efforts. Janet and Jerry Page
00:27:50.27\00:27:54.10
helped to
organize that initially.
00:27:54.30\00:27:56.64
We had community services
and ADRA working together.
00:27:56.84\00:28:00.38
Everybody working together
doing something for Jesus.
00:28:00.78\00:28:04.18
The Lord is
blessing in a miraculous way!
00:28:04.38\00:28:07.22
Thank you very much Elder
Wilson and Elder McKey - Amen! -
00:28:07.42\00:28:09.85
for sharing with us today. Amen!
00:28:10.05\00:28:11.52
And our offering is
going to keep this going.
00:28:11.92\00:28:14.66
The New Beginnings and
the One Day Church projects
00:28:14.96\00:28:17.23
are overflow
recipients for our offering.
00:28:17.43\00:28:20.16
So as we exceed the
target that we've established
00:28:20.46\00:28:23.23
God can bless even more.
00:28:23.63\00:28:25.53
With me now is Judith Mackie.
00:28:25.93\00:28:28.10
Judith is the director
for Binding Broken Hearts.
00:28:28.30\00:28:31.97
Judy, tell us a little bit
of what Binding Broken Hearts
00:28:32.37\00:28:35.84
is all about. We are a
correspondence ministry
00:28:36.04\00:28:40.98
to inmates. We send
them monthly Bible studies
00:28:41.38\00:28:44.42
and monthly customized letters
00:28:44.62\00:28:47.16
and Bibles when we have them.
00:28:47.36\00:28:49.92
And understanding that...
you're from Wyoming - yes -
00:28:50.33\00:28:53.09
you live in Wyoming... and so
the ministry is centered there.
00:28:53.29\00:28:55.73
You've been in
existence since 2009.
00:28:55.93\00:28:57.93
So... is it just in
Wyoming that this exists?
00:28:58.53\00:29:01.77
No. That's how God surprised us.
00:29:02.64\00:29:05.57
We are now writing
monthly letters to 5,000 inmates
00:29:05.77\00:29:10.05
in 398 facilities in 34 states.
00:29:10.25\00:29:13.55
Amen! That's remarkable!
00:29:13.95\00:29:15.92
You must have a HUGE paid staff
00:29:16.12\00:29:18.15
in order to
accomplish all of this.
00:29:18.35\00:29:19.72
No.
00:29:20.12\00:29:21.46
We have 3 or 4 volunteers
00:29:22.19\00:29:24.49
that do this 2 or 3 times a week
00:29:24.69\00:29:27.30
or full time during the week.
00:29:27.50\00:29:28.96
And our whole church
gets involved once a month
00:29:29.46\00:29:32.63
stuffing
envelopes, stuffing letters
00:29:33.03\00:29:35.04
and getting the letters
prepared for the inmates
00:29:35.24\00:29:37.77
but no one gets
paid except by the Lord.
00:29:37.97\00:29:39.71
Amen! Wow!
That's really something.
00:29:39.91\00:29:42.14
So... you have a
Bible in your hand. I do!
00:29:42.54\00:29:44.85
Could that possibly be
one that gets sent to inmates?
00:29:45.05\00:29:48.38
We do... we have
this Andrews created...
00:29:48.98\00:29:51.49
an Andrews University Study
Bible was created especially
00:29:51.69\00:29:54.39
for inmates. It's only available
for those who do work with
00:29:54.59\00:29:58.33
inmates. And so we do
send this Bible to inmates
00:29:58.53\00:30:02.46
when we have them
when they ask for one.
00:30:02.66\00:30:04.80
That's a beautiful
Bible! That's a... yeah...
00:30:05.00\00:30:08.24
high-quality
leather. This is gorgeous!
00:30:08.44\00:30:12.44
Maybe I'll just
keep this for me...
00:30:12.64\00:30:15.38
Well if you go into the prisons,
Debbie, you're certainly welcome
00:30:15.58\00:30:17.81
to have one. OK... all right.
00:30:18.01\00:30:19.51
All right... Well praise the
Lord. Hopefully I won't have to
00:30:21.38\00:30:23.22
get one that way. All right!
00:30:23.42\00:30:24.95
So tell us about how
do you fill this need.
00:30:25.15\00:30:28.36
Are there a lot of
requests for Bibles?
00:30:28.56\00:30:30.46
Right now we have 2,800
people who are on the list
00:30:30.66\00:30:33.26
waiting for a Bible.
Some of them have been waiting
00:30:33.46\00:30:35.26
since last November.
00:30:35.46\00:30:36.80
We've sent out
over 8,000 Bibles now
00:30:36.87\00:30:39.87
to inmates all over.
00:30:40.27\00:30:41.94
And so as we get
funds we send Bibles.
00:30:42.14\00:30:46.54
So the project for Binding
Broken Hearts this year is to
00:30:46.74\00:30:49.54
fund 1,000 Bibles. So that
will take care of your list?
00:30:49.74\00:30:53.68
Oh no. It will
barely scratch the surface.
00:30:53.88\00:30:55.85
We asked ASI for 1,000 Bibles
because when we put in our
00:30:56.05\00:30:59.12
application we only had 1,000
people on the waiting list.
00:30:59.32\00:31:01.99
Now we have 2,800. As soon
as these Bibles hit the jail -
00:31:02.52\00:31:06.26
we're getting our next order
the end of September - we'll
00:31:06.46\00:31:09.56
start mailing in October -
as soon as these Bibles hit the
00:31:09.76\00:31:13.37
prison we will have 5 requests
for every single Bible that
00:31:13.57\00:31:16.97
goes in. Now how do you
get all of those requests?
00:31:17.17\00:31:19.54
Do you advertise in the
prisons? How do people know
00:31:19.74\00:31:22.01
that you exist? Word of mouth.
00:31:22.21\00:31:24.18
We have never
advertised. We offered one Bible
00:31:24.58\00:31:26.92
to one lady in Missouri.
00:31:27.12\00:31:28.52
She showed her
cellmate, her podmate.
00:31:28.72\00:31:30.85
They move from prison to
prison. They see somebody having
00:31:31.05\00:31:33.82
a Bible. They want one.
They ask where they got them.
00:31:34.02\00:31:36.46
The inmates have to
ask for one themselves.
00:31:36.86\00:31:39.66
Now you have a couple of stories
00:31:39.89\00:31:41.60
so let's listen for one
about Dedrian? Is that his name?
00:31:41.80\00:31:46.00
Detrian. I wrote to Detrian
when he was in our county jail.
00:31:46.20\00:31:49.40
He was not from Wyoming.
00:31:49.60\00:31:51.04
He was passing through;
committed some kind of a felony
00:31:51.44\00:31:54.21
and got put in jail.
00:31:54.61\00:31:56.04
So I wrote to him
for about six months.
00:31:56.24\00:31:57.91
And one Sabbath
I was downstairs...
00:31:58.31\00:32:01.35
And you have to understand, in-
mates don't usually write back
00:32:01.75\00:32:04.75
'cause many of
them have no money...
00:32:04.95\00:32:06.79
It's very expensive to write.
00:32:07.19\00:32:08.86
And I was downstairs
in Sabbath School one day
00:32:09.42\00:32:11.69
and this little - we
have a very old church also -
00:32:11.89\00:32:15.46
tiny little 4' tall lady -
white from the top of her head
00:32:15.86\00:32:20.34
to the bottom of her
feet - came in, follow by this
00:32:20.54\00:32:23.47
linebacker
black man in his 20's.
00:32:23.67\00:32:26.98
The contrast
was just so amazing!
00:32:27.38\00:32:29.74
And he had just gotten
out of the county jail.
00:32:30.05\00:32:32.75
He put himself in a situation
where he was totally different
00:32:33.35\00:32:36.18
from anybody in
the congregation.
00:32:36.38\00:32:38.55
And he came down there
and he gave me a big hug
00:32:38.85\00:32:41.52
and he was so
excited. And he said:
00:32:41.92\00:32:44.66
"I want to keep in contact"
and gave me his address.
00:32:44.86\00:32:48.26
Stayed for lunch and church.
00:32:48.66\00:32:50.90
Didn't hear from him again.
I wrote to him every month.
00:32:51.70\00:32:54.64
Three years later I
got a letter and he said:
00:32:55.44\00:32:58.54
"Miss Judy, I fell away. "
00:32:58.94\00:33:01.71
"I got in a bad crowd again.
00:33:01.91\00:33:03.98
But my Mama, two weeks ago,
came in, brought the stack of
00:33:04.18\00:33:08.28
letters that you have
written and said: 'This woman
00:33:08.48\00:33:10.29
cares enough about you
to write to you every month
00:33:10.49\00:33:12.62
so you need to get
your life together. ' "
00:33:13.02\00:33:15.06
So he said: "I am
going to move away
00:33:15.26\00:33:17.23
and I'm going to get
better friends and get my life
00:33:17.43\00:33:18.99
back together. " Amen! Amen!
00:33:19.19\00:33:20.76
Tell us quickly about something
that happened actually at
00:33:20.96\00:33:23.47
this convention. I
went to a lunch meeting
00:33:23.67\00:33:26.74
which I was not
expecting to go to.
00:33:26.94\00:33:28.40
I had five minutes notice.
00:33:28.60\00:33:30.17
For prison ministries?
For prison ministries.
00:33:30.37\00:33:32.67
I went to the lunch meeting.
Sat down at a table with
00:33:33.07\00:33:35.74
a couple of people were
there and they got up and left.
00:33:35.94\00:33:37.85
They said not because we
have bad breath or anything
00:33:38.55\00:33:40.82
but who knows.
00:33:41.02\00:33:42.35
And somebody else sat down there
00:33:42.48\00:33:44.29
and as we were
introducing ourselves
00:33:44.49\00:33:47.06
she was so excited. She said:
00:33:47.46\00:33:49.52
"My husband told me
you were going to be here.
00:33:49.72\00:33:51.69
He is in prison. "
She told me his name.
00:33:51.89\00:33:54.16
"You have been writing
to him for several years. "
00:33:54.36\00:33:56.53
He said: "Be sure you find Judy
and tell her what a blessing
00:33:56.73\00:33:59.20
her letters have been to me. "
00:33:59.40\00:34:00.74
Oh... what a...
Now listen to this.
00:34:00.94\00:34:02.27
"Be sure you find Judy. "
She doesn't know who Judy is.
00:34:02.44\00:34:04.44
How to get in contact with her.
But she sits at the same table
00:34:04.84\00:34:07.74
with Judy so that she can
deliver this message from the
00:34:07.94\00:34:10.48
person you've been
writing in jail. Yes.
00:34:10.68\00:34:12.28
Praise God for what you're doing
through Binding Broken Hearts.
00:34:12.48\00:34:15.22
Thank you very
much Judy. Thank you.
00:34:15.42\00:34:16.75
Now coming to the
podium is Chester Clark.
00:34:19.65\00:34:22.52
And Chester is bringing a
couple of students with him.
00:34:23.16\00:34:25.59
They attend
Ouachita Hills College.
00:34:25.99\00:34:30.10
And we're going to hear a
little bit about this ministry.
00:34:30.50\00:34:33.34
Chester is a
pastor in Dalton, Georgia,
00:34:33.54\00:34:36.24
and sits on the board
for Ouachita Hills College.
00:34:36.44\00:34:38.74
And Chester, I want to ask
you first so why don't you...
00:34:39.14\00:34:41.41
Let's have you come
close. Perfect... OK.
00:34:41.61\00:34:45.11
And tell us a little
bit about Ouachita Hills
00:34:45.31\00:34:48.58
and give us some background
and some context for the
00:34:48.78\00:34:51.45
project that we're
going to be talking about.
00:34:51.65\00:34:53.02
Sure Debbie. Well, Ouachita
Hills College exists to train
00:34:53.22\00:34:55.62
young people as soul winners.
00:34:55.82\00:34:57.56
And it's located
in Amity, Arkansas.
00:34:57.76\00:35:00.16
It offers bachelor's degrees
in secondary and elementary ed.,
00:35:00.36\00:35:04.33
in religion, theology, and
Christian business management.
00:35:04.53\00:35:07.54
And also two-year
degrees in canvassing leadership
00:35:07.90\00:35:10.97
and Bible work. And
you know, since 2003
00:35:11.17\00:35:16.18
Ouachita Hills has
been graduating young people
00:35:16.38\00:35:18.88
and they are today working
for God's church around...
00:35:19.08\00:35:22.72
literally around the world.
00:35:23.12\00:35:24.45
And like Ouachita Hills
Academy which came before
00:35:24.82\00:35:27.89
Ouachita Hills College
is a work-study program.
00:35:28.29\00:35:30.96
It's modeled after Madison
College which was founded
00:35:31.16\00:35:34.00
under the direction of
Ellen White near Nashville, TN,
00:35:34.20\00:35:36.46
in the early 20th century.
00:35:36.67\00:35:38.37
And the major work program
for Ouachita Hills College is
00:35:38.57\00:35:43.04
actually literature evangelism.
00:35:43.24\00:35:45.77
Now I don't know. I'm sure
there's probably quite a few
00:35:45.97\00:35:48.51
people here... I'd like
to see just a show of hands.
00:35:48.71\00:35:50.85
Has anyone here worked
as a literature evangelist
00:35:51.01\00:35:54.42
going door to door?
00:35:54.62\00:35:55.95
Look at all those
hands. Wow! Praise the Lord!
00:35:55.98\00:35:58.02
Anyone here know a family member
or their family who came into
00:35:58.22\00:36:01.86
a knowledge of the
three angels' messages
00:36:02.06\00:36:03.79
through a colporteur?
Through literature evangelism?
00:36:03.99\00:36:06.16
Once again, what an impact
the publishing work has had
00:36:06.56\00:36:10.03
on the
Seventh-day Adventist church!
00:36:10.23\00:36:12.07
And at Ouachita Hills
the students go door to door.
00:36:12.47\00:36:16.44
It's really... I'm just
going to cut to the chase here
00:36:16.64\00:36:18.81
since so many of you
understand the publishing work.
00:36:19.01\00:36:20.98
It's not a win/win situation.
00:36:21.18\00:36:23.71
It's actually a
win/win/win situation.
00:36:24.55\00:36:27.22
And that's because the pub-
lishing work at Ouachita Hills
00:36:27.52\00:36:30.32
College allows
the school to operate.
00:36:30.52\00:36:32.62
That's the major
industry that brings in revenue
00:36:32.82\00:36:35.39
for the school. It
also gives the students
00:36:35.59\00:36:38.59
an income-earning skill.
00:36:38.99\00:36:41.46
And they earn income
which they then use to
00:36:41.86\00:36:44.80
pay towards their tuition.
00:36:45.00\00:36:47.07
And finally, it is also taking
the three angels' messages
00:36:47.47\00:36:51.87
to the world while the
students are in school...
00:36:52.27\00:36:55.18
which is a
tremendous opportunity.
00:36:55.38\00:36:56.88
I can't think of very
many places that a young person
00:36:57.08\00:36:59.18
can go and receive
an Adventist education
00:36:59.38\00:37:01.58
and earn their
way through school
00:37:01.78\00:37:04.12
while working to
finish God's work.
00:37:04.32\00:37:06.89
And that's why we're excited
about the publishing work
00:37:07.29\00:37:09.62
at Ouachita Hills.
00:37:09.82\00:37:11.16
So tell us how this particular
project... It seems like this
00:37:11.36\00:37:14.10
project where we are
providing for an expansion
00:37:14.30\00:37:17.83
of the literature
program there at Ouachita Hills
00:37:18.03\00:37:21.37
is going to be
really significant.
00:37:21.77\00:37:23.94
I mean, it
supports the education,
00:37:24.14\00:37:25.97
the evangelism, and
the colporteuring work.
00:37:26.17\00:37:28.44
It is significant and
it's because, you know,
00:37:28.84\00:37:31.68
ASI has always... I think
one of the strengths of ASI
00:37:31.88\00:37:35.48
is that it seeks to
leverage opportunities.
00:37:35.68\00:37:37.85
And what ASI has seen is that
00:37:38.25\00:37:40.76
if we can strengthen
the industry of the school,
00:37:41.12\00:37:43.69
if we can increase the
margins, if we can make it more
00:37:43.89\00:37:46.70
cost effective to
get more literature out
00:37:47.36\00:37:50.00
then the work can be
finished faster. Amen!
00:37:50.20\00:37:52.47
And you know, last year...
this was last school year
00:37:52.67\00:37:54.80
just to give you an
idea... our students sold
00:37:55.00\00:37:56.57
about $700,000 worth of
literature. And among those
00:37:56.77\00:38:01.28
what we call "message books. "
Those are the Spirit of Prophecy
00:38:01.58\00:38:04.45
books, the books that
contain the Bible teachings
00:38:04.65\00:38:07.65
for our time. Among
those there weren't 10,000
00:38:07.85\00:38:11.55
or 20,000. There
weren't even 50,000.
00:38:11.75\00:38:14.22
There were 82,855 message books
00:38:14.42\00:38:17.56
sold last year by students
during the school year program.
00:38:17.76\00:38:21.66
And it's just that it's just
an opportunity for us to expand
00:38:22.16\00:38:25.30
that program. And what
we're doing is we're building
00:38:25.50\00:38:27.84
a warehouse. Uh-huh. And that
warehouse will allow the books
00:38:28.04\00:38:31.27
to be bought at a
larger and larger volume.
00:38:31.47\00:38:33.74
And we also want to
help other organizations,
00:38:33.94\00:38:37.61
individuals, or institutions
- schools, perhaps -
00:38:37.81\00:38:39.95
who would like to develop
this same type of industry
00:38:40.15\00:38:43.89
'cause we think
that... we're not territorial.
00:38:44.09\00:38:46.49
We want to see lots
of people doing the work!
00:38:46.69\00:38:48.86
This warehouse will allow
the purchase of large quantities
00:38:49.96\00:38:53.96
of books and then the
shipping and receiving
00:38:54.16\00:38:55.86
to be able to distribute
those to those who would like
00:38:56.06\00:38:57.83
to be doing this
type of work as well.
00:38:58.03\00:38:59.97
Excellent, excellent. So
let's hear from your students.
00:39:00.17\00:39:03.00
What kind of experiences might
they be able to share with us?
00:39:03.41\00:39:06.34
Well I'm going to ask
Sarah first to share a story
00:39:06.94\00:39:09.68
of a divine
appointment that she had
00:39:09.88\00:39:13.08
while she was going
door to door and canvassing.
00:39:13.28\00:39:15.55
Well not too long ago I was
dropped off by my canvassing
00:39:16.82\00:39:19.79
leader to do a
strip of businesses.
00:39:19.99\00:39:21.42
And I remember as I was walking
to one of my first buildings
00:39:22.06\00:39:25.09
I was praying. I said:
"Lord, send me to someone
00:39:25.29\00:39:27.33
who is searching for truth. "
00:39:27.53\00:39:28.86
And one of my first buildings
was a large office building.
00:39:29.16\00:39:32.27
And as I walked in
to my first business
00:39:32.47\00:39:34.57
I met a lady named Lynn.
00:39:34.77\00:39:36.27
And as I started canvassing
her and showing her my books
00:39:36.47\00:39:39.31
I could tell that she was
listening but not really paying
00:39:39.51\00:39:42.44
attention until she looked
at my hand set and she saw like
00:39:42.64\00:39:45.18
The Great Controversy
sitting at the top of it.
00:39:45.38\00:39:47.12
And when she saw
The Great Controversy
00:39:47.52\00:39:49.02
her eyes got really big.
00:39:49.22\00:39:50.55
And she gasped and she
said: "I can't believe you just
00:39:50.79\00:39:53.46
walked in with that book!
00:39:53.66\00:39:55.02
I have a picture of it on
my iPad and I was just about to
00:39:55.22\00:39:57.39
order it and then
you walked in with it! "
00:39:57.59\00:39:59.49
Amen! And I was really amazed
and she said: "You know, I get
00:39:59.69\00:40:03.93
devotionals from my church but
I get really bored with them.
00:40:04.13\00:40:06.77
I want something deeper. "
00:40:06.97\00:40:08.30
And as we started
talking another lady walked in
00:40:08.57\00:40:10.94
and joined us, and she hadn't
heard of The Great Controversy
00:40:11.14\00:40:13.54
and so I started
to canvass her on it.
00:40:13.74\00:40:15.54
And as we started
talking about Bible prophecy
00:40:16.04\00:40:17.95
and end-time events the
two ladies looked at each other
00:40:18.15\00:40:21.22
again with amazement and
they said: "You won't believe it
00:40:21.42\00:40:24.42
but just before you walked
in we were talking about end
00:40:24.82\00:40:27.26
time events and
Bible prophecy. "
00:40:27.46\00:40:29.06
And I went through all
the rest of my prophecy set
00:40:29.89\00:40:33.09
and Lynn continued to tell me
00:40:33.29\00:40:35.76
"I've been studying my
Bible trying to understand who
00:40:35.96\00:40:38.80
the antichrist is and
I've been having a hard time
00:40:39.00\00:40:40.84
figuring it out and
this is just what I need. "
00:40:41.04\00:40:43.27
And I continued pulling all the
rest of the books out of my bag:
00:40:44.14\00:40:47.68
Steps to Christ,
Christ Object Lessons.
00:40:47.88\00:40:49.84
The second lady tells me that
she leads out in Bible study
00:40:50.05\00:40:52.91
group - a youth group -
and they're almost done with
00:40:53.11\00:40:55.45
their series and she
didn't know what to do next.
00:40:55.65\00:40:57.55
So I told her how
Steps to Christ helped me
00:40:57.75\00:41:00.32
as a young person to develop
my own relationship with God.
00:41:00.52\00:41:02.86
And to make a long story short,
00:41:03.36\00:41:05.96
a beautiful experience, they
ended up writing out a check
00:41:06.16\00:41:08.36
for seven of our
message books: Steps to Christ,
00:41:08.56\00:41:11.63
Great Controversy,
Christ Object Lessons,
00:41:11.83\00:41:14.97
Ministry of Healing, two
DVDs on the antichrist agenda.
00:41:15.17\00:41:18.31
And as she handed me the check
the first lady, Lynn, looked at
00:41:19.07\00:41:22.64
me and she said: "Not only
did you walk in with this book
00:41:22.84\00:41:25.68
after our conversation, but all
the years that we've worked here
00:41:25.88\00:41:29.15
together this is
only the second time
00:41:29.35\00:41:31.05
the two of us are here together.
00:41:31.25\00:41:32.62
And I never come in on
Wednesday. I was just here
00:41:32.82\00:41:34.76
because my car had
to be in the shop. "
00:41:34.96\00:41:36.49
And she said: "God is so big
00:41:36.69\00:41:38.59
and we minimize His
power in our life so much. "
00:41:38.79\00:41:40.76
And we got to pray together,
and it really touched me
00:41:41.60\00:41:45.27
because she prayed for me first.
00:41:45.47\00:41:46.84
And she prayed that God
would bless my ministry.
00:41:47.24\00:41:50.21
She prayed that God would keep
me from falling prey to doubt.
00:41:50.41\00:41:53.54
And during that time I had been
struggling a lot with doubt.
00:41:54.04\00:41:57.01
And I almost cried, and
when I walked out of there
00:41:57.41\00:42:01.42
I randomly... I was so amazed
by how God had answered my
00:42:01.62\00:42:05.25
prayer. And for some
reason I picked up my phone
00:42:05.45\00:42:07.76
and looked at it,
and I had a text message
00:42:07.96\00:42:09.29
from one of my teachers
00:42:09.49\00:42:10.83
telling me I had been on
his mind those past few days.
00:42:11.03\00:42:14.13
And about the time I walked
in he had been praying for me.
00:42:14.33\00:42:16.30
And you know, every time
God does something like that
00:42:17.20\00:42:21.00
for me it just reminds
me of how unworthy I am.
00:42:21.20\00:42:23.47
And I knew that God had
done that not just for her
00:42:23.67\00:42:25.81
but for me. And I feel like
that was God's way of saying
00:42:26.01\00:42:29.01
"You know I care
about people out there
00:42:29.21\00:42:30.88
but I also love you. And even
though you may be struggling
00:42:31.08\00:42:33.62
with doubt I am
still going to use you. "
00:42:33.82\00:42:35.85
Amen. Amen... Amen!
00:42:36.05\00:42:37.79
What a testimony of not only
the impact literature ministry
00:42:37.99\00:42:40.29
has on those we reach
but on those who are doing
00:42:40.49\00:42:43.89
the reaching. Thank
you, Sarah, for sharing that.
00:42:44.09\00:42:46.26
Raoul, share with
us a brief story also
00:42:46.46\00:42:48.96
of a divine appointment you had.
00:42:49.16\00:42:50.50
OK. You know, something that
invigorates me as I canvass is
00:42:50.63\00:42:54.20
Ellen White's statement
when she says there are people
00:42:54.40\00:42:56.14
"wistfully looking to heaven. "
00:42:56.47\00:42:57.97
And I was on a very,
very long street one day
00:42:58.17\00:43:04.11
and I canvassed this lady.
00:43:04.98\00:43:07.75
At first she was quiet. She
was just attentive, listening.
00:43:08.05\00:43:11.42
And at the end of my canvass
I showed her most of my books.
00:43:11.72\00:43:15.29
She... she just
quietly said to me
00:43:15.49\00:43:18.59
"You know, I was on my computer
00:43:18.99\00:43:21.36
a few hours ago, and
I was impressed to pray
00:43:21.56\00:43:25.97
and I asked God to lead
me online to Bible books
00:43:26.17\00:43:30.51
that I needed for
myself and my family
00:43:30.71\00:43:33.07
and three hours later
you are here at my door! "
00:43:33.48\00:43:36.81
Amen! Amen!
00:43:37.01\00:43:38.45
So, wouldn't you call
that a divine appointment?
00:43:38.65\00:43:40.45
And I have to just add this
one thing: Raoul didn't canvass
00:43:40.85\00:43:43.49
this summer. He
worked as a Bible worker
00:43:43.69\00:43:45.39
for actually ASI Youth For
Jesus in Beckley, West Virginia.
00:43:45.59\00:43:50.09
And Raoul tells me that
going door to door canvassing
00:43:50.53\00:43:54.23
helped prepare him to be
an effective Bible worker.
00:43:54.43\00:43:56.73
And thank you for supporting
the publishing work...
00:43:57.13\00:43:59.70
the literature ministry.
Thank you very much Chester
00:43:59.90\00:44:02.07
and students.
00:44:02.27\00:44:03.77
Our last Offering In Action
segment comes from far away.
00:44:07.18\00:44:13.08
And joining me here at
the podium is David Caukill.
00:44:13.28\00:44:16.85
He's a development
director for ICC Australia.
00:44:17.05\00:44:20.52
And tell us what the
focus is of that ministry
00:44:20.92\00:44:23.39
and just give us some
more information about it.
00:44:23.59\00:44:25.99
Before... welcome
to ASI, Happy Sabbath.
00:44:26.19\00:44:28.46
Glad you could make it,
spend a great day with us.
00:44:28.66\00:44:30.90
I've repeated that a thousand
times at the door this morning.
00:44:31.63\00:44:34.17
It's really nice to
be here from Australia.
00:44:34.57\00:44:36.91
But, forget that for a minute.
The focus of our ministry
00:44:37.11\00:44:39.67
is like that: just
making people feel welcome.
00:44:39.87\00:44:42.81
You know, we work with...
if I can paint a little picture
00:44:43.21\00:44:45.65
for you... we work with some
incredibly disadvantaged people:
00:44:45.85\00:44:48.55
children that have been
abused, children that suffer.
00:44:48.95\00:44:52.15
We offer them not
just hope but we offer them
00:44:52.35\00:44:55.36
something that is real...
something that is tangible.
00:44:55.76\00:44:58.26
And working with
survivors of human trafficking
00:44:58.76\00:45:01.96
is something that's
incredibly rewarding.
00:45:02.16\00:45:04.03
And the scope of our programs
run across a few countries
00:45:04.33\00:45:08.07
in Southeast Asia... which
is in our neck of the woods
00:45:08.27\00:45:10.97
as we say in
Australia. So it's exciting.
00:45:11.17\00:45:13.38
And how is it that
these individuals come to you?
00:45:13.88\00:45:16.64
Or how do you find
them? What happens?
00:45:16.85\00:45:19.18
Well, we don't
use a GPS you know.
00:45:19.38\00:45:22.28
We get referrals from
the different agencies:
00:45:22.78\00:45:25.45
government agencies,
village chiefs, village elders.
00:45:25.65\00:45:28.12
And we work with some really
credible partners. One of them
00:45:28.32\00:45:32.03
IJM -
International Justice Mission -
00:45:32.23\00:45:34.33
is a great organization out of
the US that is able to give us
00:45:34.53\00:45:38.77
children and young ladies
who have been rescued in raids
00:45:39.17\00:45:42.44
that they have executed
with local law enforcement.
00:45:42.64\00:45:44.91
But they don't provide any
sort of care program for them
00:45:45.11\00:45:48.24
and so we do the after care.
00:45:48.44\00:45:50.25
So how? This particular project
that we are supporting in this
00:45:51.18\00:45:54.65
year's offering is to expand
this program that will reach out
00:45:54.85\00:45:59.05
and to assist individuals who
are victims of sex trafficking.
00:45:59.25\00:46:03.99
Tell me: how do you
measure your success?
00:46:04.66\00:46:07.50
Is it number of people
you reach? How do you know
00:46:07.70\00:46:10.50
that you're making a difference?
00:46:10.70\00:46:12.03
Sure. Well, there's a number
of ways that you can measure.
00:46:12.07\00:46:14.07
One is you can actually
look back and do some auditing.
00:46:14.27\00:46:17.64
Look back and say: "Well is the
business side of it working? "
00:46:17.84\00:46:20.31
"Are we turning over a profit
00:46:20.51\00:46:21.84
or are we just
consuming donor income? "
00:46:22.01\00:46:23.95
And so we have to be
able to make a profit.
00:46:24.35\00:46:26.21
We're a stand-alone business;
it is a social enterprise.
00:46:26.41\00:46:29.05
So the metrics mean that we
need to create an income stream
00:46:29.35\00:46:32.79
and we need to show a profit.
00:46:32.99\00:46:34.32
The other way is through
the lives of the children
00:46:34.42\00:46:36.42
and the girls that are
coming through themselves.
00:46:36.62\00:46:39.56
And I've had the fortune
of meeting some of these kids.
00:46:39.76\00:46:43.00
They're wonderful,
and a few months ago
00:46:43.20\00:46:45.63
I spent some time
talking with one girl: Abby.
00:46:45.83\00:46:48.97
In fact, she featured in
a small video that was done
00:46:49.17\00:46:52.14
in conjunction with
the Adventist Review.
00:46:52.34\00:46:54.21
A wonderful girl...
incredibly tenacious.
00:46:54.51\00:46:57.11
And she grasped this
program like it was a lifeline.
00:46:57.31\00:47:01.28
And she's worked hard through
it; she's getting educated.
00:47:01.48\00:47:04.89
She uses her fair-trade salary
00:47:05.09\00:47:08.56
to now live independently
with her two little children.
00:47:08.76\00:47:11.46
She'd had an incredibly
miserable life and now she
00:47:11.76\00:47:14.30
feels like she's empowered.
And I remember talking to her
00:47:14.50\00:47:17.80
and she had this big smile
on her face about how wonderful
00:47:18.00\00:47:20.07
it was to now know God.
And she's learning new things
00:47:20.27\00:47:23.30
from the Bible about how
to care for her children,
00:47:23.51\00:47:25.37
herself. And so these
are some of the measurements
00:47:25.77\00:47:28.51
that we will use as well.
It's not just financial metrics
00:47:28.71\00:47:31.35
but they are important. It
is a business we've got to run.
00:47:31.55\00:47:33.75
Um-hmm. So it's wonderful
to know that you're actually
00:47:33.95\00:47:36.18
changing lives not just for now
but you're teaching them about
00:47:36.38\00:47:38.79
Jesus.
Absolutely! OK... wonderful.
00:47:38.99\00:47:40.82
Now, there's actually a
testimony that we can hear
00:47:41.22\00:47:45.69
that gives us some insight
on a personal level about
00:47:45.89\00:47:49.46
what's happening. Should
we call Esther out? Yeah!
00:47:49.66\00:47:52.63
Just before we do it's
probably appropriate that I
00:47:52.83\00:47:56.04
tell you and everybody else -
00:47:56.24\00:47:57.84
all right - that the value
that this program is adding
00:47:58.04\00:48:00.41
means that we have to move
through more of an international
00:48:00.61\00:48:03.18
flavor. So we're going
to dump the Australia thing
00:48:03.38\00:48:06.35
and we are launching a new brand
00:48:06.55\00:48:08.78
which is Venture Global Fund.
00:48:08.98\00:48:10.75
And it adds the real inter-
national dynamic to the program
00:48:10.95\00:48:13.92
that we are running. I see.
So in the next day's look out
00:48:14.12\00:48:16.32
for us with a new name - OK -
but I think we should hear from
00:48:16.52\00:48:19.06
Esther because
she's got the real story.
00:48:19.26\00:48:20.96
OK. Come Esther.
00:48:21.16\00:48:23.30
My name is Esther. When I was 19
00:48:23.50\00:48:27.70
I was trafficked and
forced into prostitution
00:48:27.90\00:48:32.24
from the Philippines to
Japan by the Japanese Yakuza.
00:48:32.84\00:48:37.85
I was tricked; I was kicked;
00:48:39.25\00:48:45.22
I was raped. They did
all sorts of things to me.
00:48:45.42\00:48:48.96
I grew up in a slum of
Davao City, Philippines.
00:48:51.46\00:48:56.50
Every day we just... you
know, struggled for food.
00:48:57.53\00:49:02.20
My parents are animistic...
they worship the spirits.
00:49:04.37\00:49:08.01
And one day my dad was
converted to Protestant
00:49:08.21\00:49:13.62
and since then my
parents are fighting.
00:49:13.82\00:49:17.99
And it got so bad
that they got separated.
00:49:18.39\00:49:21.32
So my siblings and I - I
have five other siblings -
00:49:22.62\00:49:26.06
were put into a
place away from our home
00:49:26.26\00:49:29.90
and just by
ourselves without our mom
00:49:30.30\00:49:34.54
and I had to look after them.
00:49:34.74\00:49:38.14
And my dad just
only came on the weekends
00:49:38.54\00:49:41.44
to give us some
food and supplies.
00:49:41.64\00:49:44.55
And during this
time my dad molested me
00:49:44.95\00:49:51.22
every time he came over.
00:49:51.42\00:49:53.15
I couldn't tell anyone.
00:49:54.16\00:49:55.96
I was so scared
because he used to beat us up.
00:49:56.36\00:49:58.86
And it got so bad
that my siblings and I
00:50:01.96\00:50:05.43
were put into different homes
00:50:05.83\00:50:08.10
so that we can
just have food to eat
00:50:08.30\00:50:10.91
and shelter over our heads
00:50:11.11\00:50:13.58
and we were treated like slaves.
00:50:13.98\00:50:16.04
And we had no
communication with each other.
00:50:16.44\00:50:20.62
At that time I was only 12
00:50:20.82\00:50:23.18
and our youngest was only 2.
00:50:23.39\00:50:26.25
So when I was 18 I got
this opportunity to work
00:50:28.32\00:50:31.79
in Manila. That's
three days by ship.
00:50:31.99\00:50:37.90
And I worked in
return for my college.
00:50:38.20\00:50:43.74
But I was also exploited.
They didn't pay me; they didn't
00:50:44.57\00:50:48.04
do what they promised
so I left that workplace.
00:50:48.54\00:50:53.11
But then I became homeless,
00:50:53.48\00:50:55.98
and that was when I
applied to work as a...
00:50:56.18\00:51:00.26
applied to work in Japan.
00:51:00.46\00:51:02.29
So I was held captive in
Japan and for a few months
00:51:02.49\00:51:07.50
I managed to escape
and I got deported back to
00:51:07.66\00:51:10.43
the Philippines.
00:51:10.63\00:51:12.37
A few years have
passed; God has blessed me.
00:51:17.97\00:51:23.21
Because I was blessed I was...
00:51:23.71\00:51:29.72
I went to Australia to
live and start a new life.
00:51:31.09\00:51:34.26
I studied hard
00:51:35.36\00:51:37.56
and I was able
to finish my studies
00:51:38.36\00:51:44.33
in accounting and I
have my own business.
00:51:44.53\00:51:47.70
And I have been so blessed.
00:51:48.10\00:51:51.74
Also I was successful because
I now had my dream come true.
00:51:53.01\00:51:57.71
I had my own career.
00:51:57.91\00:51:59.25
But then there was
something missing in my life.
00:51:59.51\00:52:02.65
One day one of my clients
00:52:03.69\00:52:07.72
I went to their home office
and they shared Jesus with me
00:52:08.86\00:52:12.73
and I asked if I
could do some Bible studies
00:52:13.03\00:52:15.53
because when I was a
kid I heard about Jesus.
00:52:15.73\00:52:19.27
And so I became...
00:52:20.34\00:52:22.97
So after the studies I
found that they were SDAs.
00:52:24.24\00:52:27.88
And I thought: "Oh, I'll
just do Bible studies because
00:52:28.28\00:52:31.45
this is so weird to go
to church on a Saturday. "
00:52:31.65\00:52:35.28
But then in 2010 I was baptized
00:52:36.85\00:52:40.09
in Salisbury church
in Brisbane, Australia.
00:52:40.29\00:52:45.29
And that year we
had a family reunion
00:52:46.19\00:52:52.13
and I talked to
my dad and I said:
00:52:52.33\00:52:56.50
"Dad, I forgive you
for what you did to me. "
00:52:57.74\00:53:01.81
It was difficult for me
00:53:03.61\00:53:05.75
but I asked God to help me
00:53:06.25\00:53:08.55
to say this thing to my dad
because I hated him all my life.
00:53:10.95\00:53:14.02
I didn't feel
the love of a father.
00:53:14.42\00:53:17.63
But I thank God
that... I didn't realize that
00:53:17.83\00:53:21.50
He actually looked after
me and He watched over me
00:53:21.70\00:53:27.24
all those times... all those
things that had happened in my
00:53:27.44\00:53:29.64
life. And so after that time
00:53:29.84\00:53:35.78
I felt this inner
peace and freedom.
00:53:36.18\00:53:41.28
At that time I
though God had abandoned me.
00:53:41.48\00:53:45.75
But He is amazing with
what He's done to my life.
00:53:48.26\00:53:54.16
So now I advocate
00:53:56.60\00:54:00.10
for helping the oppressed
00:54:00.30\00:54:05.24
people who are...
the children and women
00:54:05.44\00:54:10.28
who have been trafficked.
00:54:10.48\00:54:13.25
Did you know that
there are about over 3,500
00:54:13.45\00:54:17.79
people - mostly women and chil-
dren - that have been trafficked
00:54:19.25\00:54:22.49
every day. So
please help and pray.
00:54:22.69\00:54:26.29
As Christians we
have to do something.
00:54:26.49\00:54:29.40
And thank you for the
opportunity. Thank you.
00:54:29.80\00:54:32.70