Steal away,
00:00:22.75\00:00:26.72
steal away,
00:00:26.92\00:00:30.83
steal away
00:00:31.03\00:00:33.96
to Jesus.
00:00:34.13\00:00:38.43
Steal away,
00:00:38.80\00:00:42.57
steal away home.
00:00:42.77\00:00:48.74
I ain't got long
00:00:49.78\00:00:53.85
to stay here.
00:00:54.25\00:00:59.19
Steal away,
00:01:00.89\00:01:04.06
steal away,
00:01:04.26\00:01:07.83
steal away to Jesus.
00:01:08.10\00:01:14.04
Steal away,
00:01:15.00\00:01:18.81
steal away home.
00:01:19.11\00:01:23.31
I ain't got long
00:01:23.51\00:01:25.98
to stay here.
00:01:26.18\00:01:29.85
My Lord, He calls me...
00:01:34.59\00:01:40.16
He calls me by
00:01:40.76\00:01:43.80
the thunder.
00:01:44.00\00:01:47.60
The trumpet sounds
00:01:47.80\00:01:51.27
within'a my soul...
00:01:51.47\00:01:57.48
I ain't got long
00:01:58.75\00:02:03.39
to stay here.
00:02:03.59\00:02:09.09
Steal away,
00:02:09.29\00:02:13.40
steal away,
00:02:13.60\00:02:17.33
steal away to Jesus.
00:02:17.53\00:02:23.47
Steal away,
00:02:24.41\00:02:28.28
steal away home...
00:02:28.48\00:02:32.68
I ain't got long
00:02:32.88\00:02:35.02
to stay here.
00:02:35.22\00:02:37.35
I ain't got long to stay...
00:02:37.55\00:02:40.16
ain't got long
00:02:40.36\00:02:42.12
to stay here.
00:02:42.32\00:02:47.36
Steal away,
00:02:55.30\00:02:59.34
steal away,
00:02:59.54\00:03:03.11
steal away
00:03:03.35\00:03:06.48
to Jesus...
00:03:06.72\00:03:11.45
steal away,
00:03:11.65\00:03:15.49
steal away home...
00:03:15.69\00:03:21.56
I ain't got long
00:03:23.93\00:03:28.87
to stay here.
00:03:29.07\00:03:35.08
Amen! Thank you His Voice.
00:03:40.68\00:03:43.28
Has it been a blessing so
far our program this afternoon?
00:03:44.42\00:03:47.42
We are going to
introduce to you now
00:03:47.79\00:03:50.19
the third group of
division presidents
00:03:50.59\00:03:52.86
that are with us today:
Africa and the Middle East.
00:03:53.06\00:03:56.90
Our first division
president that I will introduce
00:03:57.73\00:04:00.74
as he comes out
in just a moment.
00:04:00.94\00:04:03.24
Following Steve is
Elder Blasious Ruguri.
00:04:03.64\00:04:06.61
the president of the
East Central Africa Division.
00:04:06.81\00:04:10.48
The ECD is comprised of
the eleven countries in east
00:04:11.25\00:04:14.82
and central Africa:
Burundi, Ethiopia, Eritrea,
00:04:15.02\00:04:18.49
Djibouti, Kenya, Tanzania,
00:04:18.69\00:04:20.46
Uganda, the DRC, South Sudan,
00:04:20.66\00:04:23.16
Rwanda... which you
heard about this morning,
00:04:23.36\00:04:25.06
and Somalia. These countries
have a population of over
00:04:25.26\00:04:28.76
400 million people, and the
Seventh-day Adventist church
00:04:28.96\00:04:32.57
membership is
approximately 3.3 million
00:04:32.77\00:04:35.94
with three union conferences
and eight union missions.
00:04:36.14\00:04:39.31
There are seven Adventist
universities in the ECD
00:04:39.71\00:04:42.71
and it's the home for the
Adventist University of Africa,
00:04:43.01\00:04:45.95
a graduate school serving
the entire African continent.
00:04:46.15\00:04:49.12
The ECD is also very proud of
it's Maxwell Adventist Academy
00:04:49.75\00:04:53.09
that has been a great blessing
for missionaries and their kids
00:04:53.32\00:04:55.66
for quality Adventist
education for many many years.
00:04:55.86\00:04:58.46
The ECD has seven
hospitals serving the people.
00:04:59.19\00:05:02.00
And an interesting fact: I
was actually at their division
00:05:02.20\00:05:04.87
headquarters just a few
months ago with Bro. Steve.
00:05:05.07\00:05:06.94
And Elder Rigourri tells
me that the division office
00:05:07.14\00:05:10.34
on the grounds has over 50
gazelles, at least 3-4 pythons -
00:05:10.54\00:05:14.18
I'm glad I did not meet them -
00:05:14.38\00:05:15.71
and a few other beautiful
animals living in the compound
00:05:16.01\00:05:18.58
very close to
the division office.
00:05:18.78\00:05:20.22
Their greatest challenge is
to break the culture of members
00:05:20.98\00:05:24.09
thinking that the work is
mostly done by the pastors.
00:05:24.29\00:05:27.29
Their vision is to
saturate the whole territory
00:05:27.49\00:05:30.66
of the division
with the Advent message
00:05:30.86\00:05:33.03
and to get everyone
involved in mission.
00:05:33.23\00:05:36.23
Next to Elder
Rigouri is Elder Same Vincent
00:05:37.13\00:05:42.80
who is the Sabbath
School and Personal Ministries
00:05:43.00\00:05:44.91
and Evangelism Director. He
is representing their president
00:05:45.11\00:05:48.28
Elie Weick-Dido, who could
not be with us this afternoon.
00:05:48.48\00:05:51.11
But Elder Vincent, you told
me that there are 22 countries
00:05:51.51\00:05:54.75
in your division with 4
languages spoken primarily:
00:05:54.95\00:05:58.42
French, English,
Portuguese, and Spanish.
00:05:58.62\00:06:01.62
They have a population
of over 250 million people
00:06:01.92\00:06:06.06
and a membership of 700,000.
00:06:06.26\00:06:09.86
The biggest challenge in the
West Central African Division
00:06:10.07\00:06:13.67
is that they want to reach
those countries that are in the
00:06:14.07\00:06:16.81
10/40 window. Their
vision is evangelism, though,
00:06:17.01\00:06:20.28
and they want to double
the membership by 2020. Amen?
00:06:20.48\00:06:23.35
And to do that they are going
to have a special mission focus
00:06:23.55\00:06:26.38
in 2018 where they aim
to have 20,000 evangelism
00:06:26.58\00:06:30.89
sites division wide with
preachers coming from all over
00:06:31.05\00:06:33.56
the world. Their vision
is to encourage their members
00:06:33.76\00:06:37.36
to take part in
Total Member Involvement
00:06:37.56\00:06:40.63
that each member will do their
part to reach their neighbors
00:06:41.00\00:06:43.33
for Christ. Next to him is
Elder Solomon Maphosa who is
00:06:43.73\00:06:48.34
the president of the Southern
Africa Indian Ocean Division.
00:06:48.54\00:06:52.21
SID operates in 23
countries and the islands.
00:06:52.41\00:06:56.14
It is comprised of 10
unions and one attached field.
00:06:56.34\00:07:00.95
And the Lord has blessed this
division with a membership of
00:07:01.15\00:07:03.62
3,514,060 worshiping
in 23,000 churches...
00:07:03.82\00:07:09.39
23, 972 churches
throughout their territory.
00:07:09.59\00:07:12.79
Now their greatest mission
challenge Pastor Mophosa told me
00:07:13.76\00:07:16.77
is in South Africa
where the people struggle
00:07:16.97\00:07:19.47
with many challenges:
drugs, human trafficking,
00:07:19.67\00:07:21.77
economic woes, and violence.
00:07:21.97\00:07:23.61
And in this area they are
praying for a breakthrough.
00:07:24.04\00:07:26.21
In the South African
Union there is a population of
00:07:26.61\00:07:29.14
over 55 million but the
membership is only 150,000.
00:07:29.34\00:07:33.05
This is an area in
need of urgent prayer.
00:07:33.25\00:07:35.82
They want to see South
Africa catch the same fire
00:07:36.22\00:07:38.89
as the other unions have
found across their division
00:07:39.09\00:07:41.12
like in Zambia where the
membership is over 1 million
00:07:41.32\00:07:43.93
in that country alone.
00:07:44.13\00:07:45.46
In 2018 they plan to
have a major mission focus on
00:07:45.79\00:07:49.10
South Africa with church
members partnering together
00:07:49.30\00:07:51.37
with church leaders to
reach the rainbow nation
00:07:51.57\00:07:53.90
with the gospel. Their vision
is to get every member involved
00:07:54.10\00:07:57.81
and participating in
the mission of the church.
00:07:58.01\00:08:00.34
And finally, next to
him is Elder Rick McEdward,
00:08:01.18\00:08:04.28
the president of the Middle
East and North Africa Union.
00:08:04.41\00:08:07.25
Now MENA is not a division
but it is a special special area
00:08:07.45\00:08:11.05
of the world as Elder Wilson
referenced in the beginning.
00:08:11.25\00:08:13.22
It has the most vast territory.
00:08:13.42\00:08:16.09
And the Middle East and North
Africa Union formed in 2011
00:08:16.62\00:08:19.76
is comprised of 20 countries
with over 500 million people.
00:08:19.96\00:08:24.00
99% of MENA is Muslim.
00:08:24.50\00:08:27.64
The geography of the church
ranges from Morocco on the west
00:08:28.04\00:08:31.07
to Iran in the east
and includes countries of
00:08:31.27\00:08:33.48
the Arabian Peninsula and Turkey
00:08:33.68\00:08:35.41
in addition to the northern
parts of Cyprus and Sudan.
00:08:35.61\00:08:38.05
It includes the Biblical
lands of Babylon, Egypt,
00:08:38.45\00:08:40.98
Persia which are made of today's
Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Syria,
00:08:41.18\00:08:45.89
and Egypt plus many
locations in Jordan.
00:08:46.09\00:08:48.06
The church has 3,500 members.
00:08:48.46\00:08:52.86
Middle East University is
operated by MENA in Beirut.
00:08:54.56\00:08:57.47
In MENA there is one Adventist
00:08:58.27\00:09:00.97
for every 148,571 people.
00:09:01.17\00:09:06.21
Their mission challenge
is, Pastor McEdward told me,
00:09:07.01\00:09:09.24
there are 48 cities of
1 million people or more
00:09:09.44\00:09:12.71
some of which have never
had one SDA set foot in them.
00:09:12.91\00:09:16.75
And they have four countries
that are war-torn and completely
00:09:17.32\00:09:20.32
unstable. The church is
either illegal or unwelcome
00:09:20.52\00:09:23.56
in almost all of their countries
00:09:23.76\00:09:25.09
and their lack of
human resources means
00:09:25.13\00:09:27.50
that they rely on people
from other nations to come
00:09:27.66\00:09:29.90
and join them so that they
can be a light in a dark place.
00:09:30.10\00:09:32.80
But nevertheless, Pastor
McEdwards' courage is strong.
00:09:33.00\00:09:35.40
And he asked me to express
his appreciation, especially
00:09:35.80\00:09:38.34
to Elder Homer
Trecartin for his sacrificial
00:09:38.54\00:09:40.78
leadership in this field
and to say thank you to you,
00:09:40.98\00:09:43.85
the world-wide SDA church,
00:09:44.05\00:09:45.68
for your tremendous
support of the mission
00:09:45.88\00:09:48.22
in the Middle East
and North Africa Union.
00:09:48.42\00:09:50.82
Thanks, Kyle. Well I want to
tell you... Before I tell you,
00:09:51.02\00:09:54.29
before I start my questions,
00:09:54.49\00:09:56.49
I discussed with my group here
00:09:56.73\00:09:58.96
the question I was going to
ask them just a few minutes ago
00:09:59.16\00:10:01.50
and they all got great
big smiles on their faces.
00:10:01.90\00:10:04.83
They were very
excited about the question.
00:10:05.23\00:10:07.10
It's one of my favorite
questions. In fact Elder Solomon
00:10:07.30\00:10:09.64
said: "Oh good! It's
not a scary question. "
00:10:09.84\00:10:13.04
So they're all
relieved and relaxed
00:10:14.24\00:10:16.28
and I'm looking forward
to hearing their answers
00:10:16.48\00:10:18.28
to this question: Ellen
White has said in several places
00:10:18.48\00:10:22.08
that we should
be "home ere this. "
00:10:22.28\00:10:24.52
And I want to know why do
you think we're still here.
00:10:24.92\00:10:29.09
Is there something we can do?
00:10:29.29\00:10:30.79
Elder Ruguri.
00:10:33.46\00:10:35.00
There is a promise in scripture
00:10:36.80\00:10:39.00
and all of us are
aware of that promise that
00:10:39.40\00:10:42.00
this gospel of the kingdom
00:10:43.07\00:10:45.77
must be preached
to the whole world
00:10:45.97\00:10:49.58
and then the end shall come.
00:10:49.78\00:10:51.61
If the end has not come yet,
00:10:52.48\00:10:54.92
it is because we
have not preached this
00:10:55.12\00:10:58.05
gospel to the whole world.
00:10:58.25\00:10:59.85
I'll start with my own situation
back in the East Central Africa
00:11:00.36\00:11:04.33
Division where Bro.
Kyle just announced that
00:11:04.49\00:11:09.93
the population of the
countries that form ECD
00:11:10.13\00:11:14.84
is over 400 million people.
00:11:15.24\00:11:18.37
Then he said we are
only 3.3 million members
00:11:19.07\00:11:24.11
in the SDA church
in these countries.
00:11:24.28\00:11:27.48
If you calculate the ratio
00:11:28.32\00:11:31.25
you don't want to
even say one more thing
00:11:31.99\00:11:34.92
then you feel like
we have not started
00:11:35.12\00:11:38.26
our work in this territory.
00:11:38.46\00:11:40.46
And I think this
question you are posing to us,
00:11:40.86\00:11:44.87
Andi, is a question that begs
00:11:45.07\00:11:48.20
for all of us to really consider
00:11:48.40\00:11:50.97
whether we are in
serious Lord's business or not.
00:11:51.17\00:11:55.88
For me and my division
00:11:56.28\00:11:58.61
we do not want to
think we can ever rest again
00:11:59.61\00:12:03.28
until we have
covered this great population
00:12:03.99\00:12:08.69
of over 400 million people.
00:12:08.89\00:12:10.83
Now I don't know what
I can say for the past
00:12:11.33\00:12:14.36
but I need to tell this assembly
and those who are watching us
00:12:15.36\00:12:21.00
wherever they are
that it is possible
00:12:21.20\00:12:25.04
for us to do
exactly what Jesus said
00:12:25.24\00:12:28.04
about finishing this work.
00:12:28.24\00:12:29.78
We tried with one of
our unions by involving
00:12:30.45\00:12:34.68
all the members in that union.
00:12:34.88\00:12:37.55
And I will tell you, even
though we wanted to do that,
00:12:37.72\00:12:40.42
we were not still able to do it.
00:12:40.62\00:12:42.49
But we were able to involve
quite a number of lay people...
00:12:42.69\00:12:46.86
something that we
have not done in the past.
00:12:47.03\00:12:49.16
And just in two weeks
00:12:49.56\00:12:51.83
we have been able to generate
this report that has been
00:12:52.23\00:12:55.30
going around where
we baptized 100,000 plus
00:12:55.50\00:13:00.98
people in two weeks.
00:13:01.14\00:13:03.35
Now my common sense tells me
00:13:04.15\00:13:07.78
that if we did that
all through our countries
00:13:08.58\00:13:11.99
in East Central Africa Division
00:13:12.19\00:13:13.96
it will be a surprise.
00:13:16.12\00:13:17.73
And I think if this
happens all around the world
00:13:18.76\00:13:21.70
in a few years we
will have fulfilled
00:13:22.50\00:13:26.17
this desire our Lord
expressed before He left:
00:13:26.37\00:13:30.31
that this message will
have reached the whole world
00:13:30.91\00:13:34.08
and THEN He can come!
00:13:34.28\00:13:36.34
Thank you very much.
Bro. Same. Thank you so much
00:13:36.95\00:13:39.91
for the comment of Sr. White.
00:13:40.12\00:13:42.62
You know, we
constantly like stories.
00:13:42.82\00:13:45.35
Not too long ago
my wife got a message.
00:13:45.95\00:13:50.43
Somebody was telling a story.
00:13:51.09\00:13:53.23
A pastor was driving.
00:13:53.66\00:13:55.43
Then he passed by a poor
person who was stopping him.
00:13:56.20\00:13:59.33
He stopped, and
picked him up in his car.
00:14:00.34\00:14:04.04
And when the person
entered - a poor person -
00:14:04.91\00:14:08.14
the person
started saying: "Yesterday
00:14:08.54\00:14:12.01
God was so much angry with
what is happening in the world
00:14:12.41\00:14:16.92
that He told Jesus:
'Let us stop everything. '
00:14:17.12\00:14:21.46
'Let us end the world. '
00:14:22.49\00:14:24.43
And Jesus said:
'Not now, Father,
00:14:26.93\00:14:30.93
because My own
friends are not all ready. ' "
00:14:31.10\00:14:35.14
"Some of My
friends are not ready. "
00:14:36.47\00:14:40.68
It tells me if we are serious
00:14:42.24\00:14:46.68
is because God still
wants us to be ready.
00:14:46.88\00:14:51.29
He calls for revival.
00:14:51.82\00:14:55.36
He calls for reformation.
00:14:56.22\00:14:58.23
It is time for us as Adventists
00:14:59.06\00:15:03.23
to really be what we say we are.
00:15:04.73\00:15:09.57
To really be
what we are preaching.
00:15:10.11\00:15:13.78
We need not only to
preach but we need to live
00:15:14.18\00:15:18.45
the real life of Jesus Christ.
00:15:18.85\00:15:21.85
And because Christ
wants us to be like Him
00:15:22.52\00:15:26.52
if we allow Him,
if we belong to Him,
00:15:27.49\00:15:31.99
if our hearts can change,
00:15:32.39\00:15:35.10
if we can allow the Holy
Spirit to really take control
00:15:35.30\00:15:40.20
of everything that we do,
00:15:40.40\00:15:42.90
then we will be called
ambassadors for Christ.
00:15:43.67\00:15:47.38
And as ambassadors for Christ
00:15:48.01\00:15:50.11
we will go out
there not only to talk
00:15:50.31\00:15:54.18
but to really
represent Christ as He is.
00:15:54.38\00:15:58.29
Once we were ever to do so
00:15:59.19\00:16:01.49
not only we as members
of the church will be ready
00:16:02.16\00:16:06.03
but many more people will
be attracted to this gospel,
00:16:06.23\00:16:12.70
this special message that
was given to us as a church.
00:16:12.90\00:16:15.74
It is so good! We are
proud to be Adventists.
00:16:15.94\00:16:19.31
It is good to be a SDA.
That is the real church of God.
00:16:19.71\00:16:24.05
When God looks at the earth
00:16:24.25\00:16:27.12
He is pleased to have people
who are called SDA church.
00:16:27.32\00:16:33.29
So: reformation,
revival. Real Christian living.
00:16:33.49\00:16:38.86
Then Total Member Involvement.
00:16:39.39\00:16:42.06
In our division, this is the
message of the new leadership.
00:16:42.26\00:16:46.90
All of us
submitting ourselves to God
00:16:48.47\00:16:52.17
and working for Him.
Amen! Thank you so much.
00:16:52.37\00:16:54.81
You see the
enthusiasm? Elder Solomon.
00:16:55.01\00:16:57.51
Well next time I will be
very careful when they ask me
00:16:58.55\00:17:02.12
questions before I come here.
00:17:02.32\00:17:05.49
You get to meet
your question here.
00:17:05.69\00:17:08.12
But I believe very very strongly
00:17:08.32\00:17:11.93
that one of the reasons
that Christ has not come
00:17:12.33\00:17:18.27
is maybe that we as
leaders have not led the church
00:17:18.47\00:17:22.90
the way God expects
us to lead the church.
00:17:23.10\00:17:26.44
We have tried to do
all the work ourselves
00:17:27.28\00:17:30.88
while the church members
just sit and watched us fail
00:17:31.08\00:17:35.85
to do the work.
00:17:36.05\00:17:37.39
I believe... And when I read
Ellen White I don't hear her
00:17:37.62\00:17:42.09
saying that it is us,
the powerful ministers,
00:17:42.29\00:17:46.26
who will finish the
work while the members sit.
00:17:46.46\00:17:49.70
I hear her saying
"I saw these things. "
00:17:49.90\00:17:53.50
Saints is more
than just a pastor.
00:17:53.70\00:17:56.91
She saw the members
going from city to city
00:17:57.11\00:18:00.91
from village to village
with the Spirit the Latter Rain
00:18:01.11\00:18:05.65
that we are praying for.
00:18:05.85\00:18:07.25
Maybe why the Latter
Rain has not yet fallen
00:18:07.45\00:18:10.22
is because we are
still doing it wrong.
00:18:10.42\00:18:13.02
I hear people what the
church is now doing to try
00:18:13.22\00:18:18.79
and help the church do
this business the right way
00:18:18.99\00:18:24.33
to take ministry where
it belongs... the member
00:18:24.53\00:18:28.07
to also know that their
role is to share the gospel.
00:18:28.47\00:18:33.68
In our division
3.5 million members.
00:18:34.18\00:18:38.81
You have members who are active
00:18:39.01\00:18:41.95
and maybe some of them feel
guilty that they are playing
00:18:42.15\00:18:46.02
a role that is not theirs.
00:18:46.22\00:18:48.19
You know? But they
shouldn't be feeling guilty.
00:18:48.39\00:18:52.99
It's because we have even
called ourselves ministers
00:18:53.19\00:18:56.83
and they are the lay members.
00:18:57.03\00:18:59.63
And yet the Bible and
Ellen White do not say that.
00:19:00.30\00:19:03.94
We need to take the
ministry back to the members
00:19:04.34\00:19:08.74
so that they know
that they ARE the ministers
00:19:08.94\00:19:12.01
and that the gift of the
Spirit that is given to us
00:19:12.21\00:19:16.12
is to train them and
equip them for ministry
00:19:16.32\00:19:20.39
according to the Word of
God. I believe when we do that
00:19:20.59\00:19:23.86
and we pray... I don't believe
the Holy Spirit will come
00:19:24.26\00:19:27.23
or come later and bless us
as we sit in our living room
00:19:27.46\00:19:31.30
and enjoy watching television.
00:19:31.50\00:19:33.74
I don't think it
will happen that way.
00:19:33.94\00:19:35.97
When the Spirit of God
fell on the Day of Pentecost
00:19:36.17\00:19:39.74
they did something: they
stood up; they talked about it;
00:19:39.94\00:19:44.28
they did something for God!
3,000 conversions in one day!
00:19:44.48\00:19:48.35
The Spirit of God will not
fall upon a church that's just
00:19:48.65\00:19:52.42
sitting. You cannot arm your
soldiers for them to just sit
00:19:52.62\00:19:56.49
home and do nothing. You
arm them to go to battle!
00:19:56.73\00:20:00.13
I want to believe God
operates on the same principle.
00:20:00.53\00:20:04.33
If I'm wrong I hope I'm
not going to be censured.
00:20:05.53\00:20:08.34
But that's the... That's
the point! That's the point!
00:20:08.54\00:20:11.37
I believe it with all my heart.
00:20:11.57\00:20:13.44
We are not doing church
right. Let's do church the way
00:20:13.64\00:20:15.98
the Lord wants it
done. All of us! TMI!
00:20:16.18\00:20:20.28
In our division we call
it One Member/One Soul. Amen!
00:20:20.48\00:20:25.25
Thank you. Elder McEdward.
00:20:25.45\00:20:27.52
In at least two of the
divisions that have spoken
00:20:28.49\00:20:31.23
they have a thousand times
the membership that we have
00:20:31.43\00:20:34.30
in our union. Oh boy! Umm.
00:20:34.50\00:20:37.67
And yet our union I think
is probably double the size
00:20:38.37\00:20:41.47
of the divisions in
terms of population.
00:20:41.67\00:20:43.67
We could sit here and count to
00:20:43.87\00:20:45.77
148,000 people one by one
00:20:45.97\00:20:49.34
before we find one SDA.
00:20:49.54\00:20:51.55
Our problem about
the coming of Christ
00:20:55.08\00:20:57.92
is not an external problem.
00:20:58.99\00:21:00.66
It's not about the challenge.
It's an internal problem.
00:21:00.86\00:21:02.72
It's about us and our hearts
00:21:03.26\00:21:05.29
and whether we are
willing to stand behind
00:21:05.49\00:21:09.50
God's call in each of our lives
00:21:09.70\00:21:12.37
to go where He sends us
00:21:12.57\00:21:14.00
instead of repeating the
message over and over again
00:21:14.40\00:21:17.47
to those who have already heard.
00:21:17.64\00:21:19.01
That challenge is
mine and it's yours.
00:21:22.31\00:21:24.45
And my heart is very tender
00:21:24.85\00:21:28.45
for the 70% of
500 million people
00:21:29.02\00:21:32.15
who never have
met a Christian person
00:21:32.35\00:21:34.49
of any denomination.
00:21:34.99\00:21:37.29
We need prayer.
00:21:41.43\00:21:44.37
We need to be filled
with the Holy Spirit.
00:21:44.77\00:21:46.90
We need to pour
resources from the world church
00:21:47.77\00:21:50.74
as is happening but even more
00:21:50.91\00:21:53.24
into territories like the
Middle East and North Africa.
00:21:54.11\00:21:57.58
And we need every member
of the world church saying:
00:21:59.01\00:22:01.28
"What can I do for those
that do not yet know Jesus
00:22:01.48\00:22:04.92
even in a most
basic message form? "
00:22:05.12\00:22:08.29
I think it's us - here -
00:22:09.49\00:22:12.29
it's our duty,
our responsibility
00:22:12.49\00:22:15.33
to respond to God's call and
to say: "Lord, what can I do? "
00:22:15.73\00:22:19.27
Thank you so much.
00:22:19.67\00:22:21.07
I really appreciate
your candor... the answers.
00:22:21.47\00:22:24.87
And certainly I think we
can all take the challenge
00:22:25.07\00:22:28.08
that the problem
is within ourselves.
00:22:28.28\00:22:30.51
And so I appreciate your
answers; I appreciate your
00:22:30.98\00:22:33.58
participation. I just pray
for each one of us that we will
00:22:33.78\00:22:37.35
examine our own selves
and figure out why is it
00:22:37.55\00:22:41.06
that there is indeed a
delay. Thank you gentlemen.
00:22:41.26\00:22:44.46
Thank you very much. We
have another wonderful testimony
00:22:48.16\00:22:52.53
to share today by a young
woman by the name of Elizabeth.
00:22:52.73\00:22:56.14
Now some of you may be looking
at this young lady and saying:
00:22:56.74\00:22:59.47
"Wait a second...
that's not Elizabeth. "
00:22:59.67\00:23:01.64
Well Elizabeth is a
pseudonym for her real name
00:23:02.24\00:23:05.98
because she is going to
be working in the Middle East
00:23:06.18\00:23:10.42
and representing the
Middle East North African Union.
00:23:10.62\00:23:13.59
So Elizabeth, tell us a little
bit about how did your ministry
00:23:14.09\00:23:18.56
begin? All right... very good.
00:23:18.76\00:23:20.83
How many of you all
want to see Jesus come?
00:23:21.00\00:23:23.16
Amen! How many of you
all want to see the gospel
00:23:23.37\00:23:27.00
go to the Middle
East North Africa region?
00:23:27.20\00:23:29.24
OK... here's the real question:
00:23:30.11\00:23:31.97
how many of you
all are willing to move
00:23:32.17\00:23:35.48
to the Middle East North
Africa region, get a job,
00:23:35.68\00:23:38.11
and share Jesus with your
workmates and your community?
00:23:38.31\00:23:42.45
Not very many hands. All right.
00:23:42.98\00:23:45.22
So I work with the
Middle East North Africa Union
00:23:45.62\00:23:48.12
of the
Seventh-day Adventist church
00:23:48.32\00:23:49.99
and I work with an exciting ini-
tiative called Total Employment.
00:23:50.19\00:23:54.73
And basically my job
is to prayerfully recruit
00:23:54.93\00:23:58.30
mission-minded, Spirit-
filled Seventh-day Adventists
00:23:58.50\00:24:01.04
from around the world to the
Middle East North Africa Union,
00:24:01.24\00:24:04.84
not to be pastors, etc.,
00:24:05.24\00:24:07.21
but to be lay members.
00:24:07.61\00:24:09.04
To be doctors,
dentists, engineers,
00:24:09.24\00:24:12.45
science teachers, high school
teachers, artists, musicians,
00:24:12.65\00:24:16.05
graphic designers. Start a
business... be entrepreneurs.
00:24:16.25\00:24:19.32
Businessmen to reach
out to the local community.
00:24:19.72\00:24:22.59
So this is called Total
Employment and we need you.
00:24:22.99\00:24:25.76
We need you in the audience;
we need you who are watching
00:24:25.96\00:24:28.33
on TV because the gospel
has to go to all the world
00:24:28.53\00:24:31.73
before Jesus
comes. Amen? Amen. Amen!
00:24:31.93\00:24:34.90
Now Elizabeth, it's
very very difficult obviously
00:24:35.40\00:24:38.67
because what is the
major religion in your area
00:24:38.87\00:24:42.81
that you'll be going into?
The dominant religion is Islam
00:24:43.01\00:24:47.68
in our area of the
world, but I am here to tell you
00:24:47.88\00:24:51.39
that the people of
this region are beautiful.
00:24:51.59\00:24:54.02
They have wonderful hospitality
and they are searching
00:24:54.22\00:24:57.66
for something more just like
everyone else around the world.
00:24:57.86\00:25:01.13
I'm also here to tell you
that if you focus on FOX News
00:25:01.33\00:25:05.30
and CNN and what's
happening you will not go.
00:25:05.50\00:25:08.24
But if the Israelites
had focused on Jericho
00:25:08.54\00:25:11.07
instead of the God that could
bring down the walls of Jericho
00:25:11.27\00:25:14.38
they wouldn't have
walked around seven times
00:25:14.58\00:25:16.75
and then the
wall fell down. Amen!
00:25:16.95\00:25:18.68
So I'm calling
you to focus on God.
00:25:18.88\00:25:21.85
For example, Elisha and Gehazi.
00:25:22.05\00:25:24.82
They were surrounded by an army
00:25:26.05\00:25:28.46
but Elisha prayed that
their eyes would be open
00:25:28.86\00:25:31.69
and they had an army
of angels around them.
00:25:31.89\00:25:33.93
We can go anywhere
where God leads us.
00:25:34.10\00:25:36.50
Amen! Well that's
wonderful! Now Elizabeth,
00:25:36.73\00:25:39.13
share a little bit now.
Obviously you're married
00:25:39.33\00:25:42.80
and your husband...
What profession is he?
00:25:43.10\00:25:45.91
My husband is a tentmaker.
00:25:46.31\00:25:48.14
He's part of the
Total Employment Initiative.
00:25:48.54\00:25:51.45
We call lay members tentmakers.
The apostle Paul... he did tents
00:25:51.65\00:25:57.65
and supported himself while
he was ministereing to the local
00:25:57.85\00:26:00.82
people. So my husband
and I... I had a great job
00:26:01.02\00:26:04.73
at a university
in the United States.
00:26:04.93\00:26:07.40
But we saw that there
was this region of the world
00:26:07.60\00:26:10.77
where the people needed
to learn about Jesus Christ.
00:26:10.97\00:26:13.64
And so through prayer
and our family's support
00:26:13.84\00:26:16.34
God led us to the MENA region.
00:26:16.54\00:26:18.64
And my husband, this last
year... For a year and a half
00:26:19.04\00:26:22.48
we were at an
Adventist institution.
00:26:22.68\00:26:24.71
But my husband was
convicted to be a tentmaker
00:26:24.91\00:26:28.28
so he is going to be a
science teacher in North Africa.
00:26:28.48\00:26:32.22
God has clearly
led us to this place.
00:26:32.62\00:26:35.79
And I challenge you to
get on your knees and pray
00:26:35.99\00:26:38.26
"Is God leading me to the Middle
East North Africa region? "
00:26:38.46\00:26:41.26
I want to tell you
after we made the decision
00:26:41.90\00:26:44.53
to transition from one country
in North Africa to another
00:26:44.73\00:26:47.87
I was a little bit nervous.
00:26:48.07\00:26:49.67
I had gotten comfortable in the
first country that we were in,
00:26:50.17\00:26:53.44
and I didn't want to
have to buy new furniture
00:26:53.64\00:26:55.81
and this, that, and the other...
learn a different dialect of
00:26:56.01\00:26:58.65
Arabic. So my husband and I,
we had a special day of fasting
00:26:58.85\00:27:02.58
and prayer. And on this
day God led me to the book
00:27:02.78\00:27:06.99
Christian Service and to a
quote by Ellen White that said:
00:27:07.19\00:27:09.82
"Adventists need to move
out of the Adventist Mecca... "
00:27:10.06\00:27:12.36
I'm paraphrasing.
But the Adventist Mecca
00:27:12.56\00:27:15.10
in the United States and other
places... "and go into dark
00:27:15.30\00:27:18.70
communities as
families, as single individuals,
00:27:18.90\00:27:22.24
and make friends with neighbors
00:27:22.44\00:27:24.11
and work in these different
professions as lay people
00:27:24.31\00:27:27.48
to share Jesus. " So
we first read that quote
00:27:27.61\00:27:29.98
on the day that we
were fasting and praying.
00:27:30.18\00:27:31.98
Secondly, about an hour later
I got a phone call from my dad.
00:27:32.38\00:27:35.68
My dad works at a small clinic
00:27:36.08\00:27:40.16
in the southern part
of the United States.
00:27:40.56\00:27:42.99
And on the day that we
were fasting and praying
00:27:43.19\00:27:45.23
I heard that he
had had a patient
00:27:45.53\00:27:48.70
and she was from the
exact town and country
00:27:48.90\00:27:51.67
that we are going to. And
she lived in my home town.
00:27:51.87\00:27:55.50
And we've been able to meet
with her twice over the summer
00:27:55.70\00:27:58.17
and were able to connect with
her family that still live in
00:27:58.37\00:28:02.08
the country and
city that we're going to.
00:28:02.28\00:28:04.18
So I challenge you
guys: pray. Ask God
00:28:04.31\00:28:07.82
where is He calling me? Could it
be the Middle East North Africa
00:28:08.02\00:28:11.22
region? Because the
Bible says the gospel has to go
00:28:11.42\00:28:14.29
to all the world.
Perfect love casts out all fear.
00:28:14.46\00:28:17.69
We do not have to be fearful;
we do not have to be dismayed.
00:28:17.89\00:28:21.60
So I challenge you
to join our MENA team.
00:28:22.00\00:28:24.67
Thank you...
thank you Elizabeth.
00:28:25.07\00:28:26.40
And tell us in the last
few seconds... share with us
00:28:26.43\00:28:28.80
your website so that
people can contact you
00:28:29.00\00:28:32.44
if they are interested.
Or anyone that's out there
00:28:32.64\00:28:34.94
in the viewing audience
how can they contact you?
00:28:35.14\00:28:37.75
What's your
website? Our website is
00:28:37.95\00:28:40.22
for Total Employment
which again is lay members
00:28:40.42\00:28:43.18
coming to the Middle East
North Africa. We help you find
00:28:43.39\00:28:45.75
a job. We help you
learn the language.
00:28:45.95\00:28:47.89
We are here to support you.
00:28:48.09\00:28:49.42
But it's temena.net
00:28:49.56\00:28:52.99
temena.net
00:28:53.33\00:28:56.63
And you can also come to
our booth which is booth 700.
00:28:56.83\00:28:59.83
God bless you! God
bless... thank you.
00:29:00.10\00:29:02.67
All right. Thank you, Barbara.
00:29:05.14\00:29:07.78
Praise the Lord for
what's happening in MENA.
00:29:08.71\00:29:10.48
How many of you are
going to pray for that region
00:29:10.68\00:29:12.01
of the world?
Let's pray for them.
00:29:12.05\00:29:14.48
We are ready for our final
group of our division presidents
00:29:14.88\00:29:18.05
this afternoon. And now we're
going to turn our attention
00:29:18.25\00:29:20.92
closer to home to the Americas.
00:29:21.12\00:29:23.06
And our first
division leader is going to be
00:29:23.46\00:29:26.73
Elder Leon Wellington who is the
vice president and ASI secretary
00:29:26.93\00:29:32.20
from the
Inter-American Division.
00:29:32.40\00:29:34.07
He is representing
president Israel Leito
00:29:34.27\00:29:36.71
who could not be with us today.
00:29:36.91\00:29:38.24
But the Inter-American Division
consists of 38 countries
00:29:38.34\00:29:42.21
including
Mexico, Central America,
00:29:42.41\00:29:44.58
Venezuela, Colombia, and
all the beautiful islands
00:29:44.78\00:29:47.72
of the Caribbean.
00:29:47.92\00:29:49.25
The IAD has 24 unions with
a membership of 3.8 million
00:29:49.28\00:29:53.96
members and growing in
more than 21,000 congregations.
00:29:54.16\00:29:58.19
They speak many languages
00:29:58.59\00:29:59.93
but they operate principally
in English, Spanish, French,
00:30:00.00\00:30:03.43
and Dutch. Their members
are actively embracing TMI
00:30:03.63\00:30:07.40
through the division's emphasis
on "Lord, Transform Me. "
00:30:07.60\00:30:11.24
They have 14 active ASI chapters
00:30:11.64\00:30:14.61
that are impacting their
countries and communities
00:30:14.81\00:30:17.21
in positive ways. In
fact, their ASI convention
00:30:17.41\00:30:20.58
is just two
weeks away in Colombia.
00:30:20.78\00:30:22.45
Their lay members are very
involved in mission and are
00:30:23.12\00:30:25.69
enthusiastically working
and waiting for the return
00:30:25.89\00:30:28.46
of Jesus Christ.
00:30:28.66\00:30:29.99
Next up is Elder
Erton Kohler, the president
00:30:30.23\00:30:33.40
of the South American Division.
00:30:33.60\00:30:35.86
The South American Division
is the church office that
00:30:36.26\00:30:38.83
coordinates the
work in eight countries:
00:30:39.03\00:30:41.27
Brazil, Argentina,
Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile,
00:30:41.47\00:30:45.97
Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador.
00:30:46.17\00:30:48.11
There are 320 million people
that inhabit these countries
00:30:48.31\00:30:52.95
and the South American Division
is a family of more than
00:30:53.35\00:30:56.05
2.4 million members with
27,000 churches and companies.
00:30:56.25\00:31:01.52
They have 5,000 pastors
00:31:01.96\00:31:04.06
and an educational
system with 320,000 students
00:31:04.26\00:31:08.10
in 888 schools,
academies, and universities.
00:31:08.30\00:31:11.43
The South American Division
is also a very young and dynamic
00:31:12.03\00:31:15.17
division. Of their
membership almost 60%
00:31:15.37\00:31:20.84
of them are under 35 years old.
00:31:21.01\00:31:23.31
So they are strongly
focused on communication
00:31:24.65\00:31:27.48
to present the gospel.
Over 500 people work in their
00:31:27.68\00:31:30.59
media center which is actively
promoting the gospel through
00:31:30.79\00:31:33.72
television,
radio, and the Internet.
00:31:33.92\00:31:35.69
Their greatest challenge
is to involve every member
00:31:36.29\00:31:39.49
with the mission of the church.
00:31:39.69\00:31:41.00
They accomplish this through
a vision for discipleship
00:31:41.46\00:31:44.03
that
encompasses three key areas.
00:31:44.23\00:31:46.33
Number one: communion
with God... spiritual life.
00:31:46.53\00:31:48.80
That's the foundation. Number 2:
integration and relationships.
00:31:49.00\00:31:52.21
They focus on small
groups as the bridge.
00:31:52.41\00:31:54.31
And number 3: the
focus is their mission.
00:31:54.51\00:31:57.68
And their initiative My
Talent, My Ministry is that
00:31:57.88\00:32:01.48
everyone finds their talent
to reach others for Christ.
00:32:01.68\00:32:04.99
It's another way of saying TMI.
00:32:05.19\00:32:06.76
The vision is that each
member, each church, and each
00:32:06.96\00:32:10.03
institution works
together to prepare disciples
00:32:10.23\00:32:13.26
to meet the Lord in
the clouds of heaven.
00:32:13.50\00:32:15.73
And finally I'd like to
introduce to you the president
00:32:16.26\00:32:19.67
of the North American Division:
my boss, Elder Dan Jackson.
00:32:19.87\00:32:23.04
And he is there next to Steve
00:32:23.87\00:32:26.17
and I will say only good
things because he is my boss.
00:32:26.37\00:32:28.84
We love him, and we
pray for you Elder Jackson.
00:32:30.01\00:32:32.01
The North American Division in-
cludes the countries of Bermuda,
00:32:32.51\00:32:35.75
Canada, Guam, Micronesia,
00:32:36.15\00:32:38.15
and the United
States of America.
00:32:38.35\00:32:40.42
It is home to more
than 1.2 million SDA's
00:32:40.62\00:32:43.99
who represent every
major cultural and ethnic group
00:32:44.19\00:32:46.56
in the world worshiping
in 6,000 congregations.
00:32:46.76\00:32:49.93
The NAD has 60
hospitals, 1,200 schools
00:32:50.33\00:32:53.70
with 15 universities
and colleges and over
00:32:53.90\00:32:56.04
6,000 congregations.
00:32:56.24\00:32:57.77
Recently USA Today recognized
the Seventh-day Adventist church
00:32:58.27\00:33:01.41
in North America as
the most ethnically diverse
00:33:01.61\00:33:04.68
religious denomination
in the United States.
00:33:04.88\00:33:07.42
Even though the North American
Division was the birthplace
00:33:08.15\00:33:10.79
of the SDA church it
wasn't fully recognized
00:33:11.19\00:33:13.99
as a world division until 1985.
00:33:14.19\00:33:16.59
But for more than 150 years the
NAD has joyfully participated
00:33:17.26\00:33:21.53
in the mission of the
church around the world
00:33:21.73\00:33:23.87
as it has spread the gospel
to more than 200 countries.
00:33:24.37\00:33:28.34
The mission statement of
the North American Division
00:33:29.34\00:33:31.47
is to reach North America and
the world with the distinctive,
00:33:31.67\00:33:34.84
Christ-centered
Seventh- day Adventist message
00:33:35.04\00:33:37.11
of hope and wholeness.
00:33:37.31\00:33:38.85
And Elder
Jackson's vision for the NAD
00:33:39.25\00:33:41.38
is to mobilize
every member of the church
00:33:41.78\00:33:43.99
in North America to participate
00:33:44.19\00:33:46.22
in the final thrust of God's
great evangelistic enterprise
00:33:46.42\00:33:49.99
on planet earth.
00:33:50.19\00:33:52.09
Thank you, Kyle. I have mixed
emotions here this afternoon.
00:33:52.76\00:33:56.90
I hear these
reports. I see that we have
00:33:57.33\00:34:00.54
1,200 schools in the
North American Division
00:34:00.74\00:34:03.41
and 800 and
something in South America.
00:34:03.61\00:34:06.78
And 2.4 million and 1.2 million
and these numbers are wonderful!
00:34:06.98\00:34:12.78
But we're talking today - the
thrust of our discussion today -
00:34:13.18\00:34:16.79
is about the unfinished work...
00:34:16.99\00:34:18.82
the unfinished business.
00:34:19.02\00:34:21.02
Gentlemen, today as we
are kind of closing out
00:34:21.42\00:34:24.13
maybe one of the challenging
questions that could be pondered
00:34:24.33\00:34:27.30
and we would like
to seek for your answer
00:34:27.50\00:34:29.80
is to: "What is
that unfinished work? "
00:34:30.23\00:34:33.34
Yes, we've made
a lot of progress.
00:34:34.14\00:34:35.57
Yes, we have a lot
of churches and schools.
00:34:35.77\00:34:37.57
But there's something
yet that's unfinished.
00:34:37.77\00:34:40.04
And besides the
numbers or statistics
00:34:40.24\00:34:42.58
what would you say
is that unfinished work
00:34:42.98\00:34:45.61
that we really
need to be focusing on?
00:34:45.81\00:34:48.22
We have to see that in
the context of the mission
00:34:51.65\00:34:55.52
that this church has been given.
00:34:55.92\00:34:57.93
We have a work to do,
and our role as leaders
00:34:58.76\00:35:04.47
is to facilitate this
work by allowing our members
00:35:04.67\00:35:09.57
to become active participants
rather than spectators.
00:35:10.01\00:35:14.18
In our region we have
long realized that this work
00:35:14.61\00:35:20.05
is not going to be finished
00:35:20.25\00:35:21.58
by the employed
workers of the church.
00:35:21.62\00:35:25.35
We have to engage
00:35:25.75\00:35:28.42
the members... the
members at the local level.
00:35:28.62\00:35:34.10
And we do have some
challenges there as well.
00:35:34.46\00:35:37.90
Although the Inter-America
Division is growing, and growing
00:35:38.30\00:35:41.84
pretty fast, we
do have challenges
00:35:42.04\00:35:44.34
because in some
areas we have gatekeepers.
00:35:44.74\00:35:47.84
And for whatever
reason we don't know.
00:35:48.61\00:35:52.75
But we have to
move the gatekeepers
00:35:52.95\00:35:57.45
so that our members can
become even more involved
00:35:57.62\00:36:02.46
than they are.
That's why we are so happy
00:36:02.66\00:36:05.16
for this TMI:
Total Member Involvement.
00:36:05.56\00:36:11.43
Which we have placed
that within a larger context
00:36:11.63\00:36:16.00
of "Lord, transform me. "
00:36:16.81\00:36:19.94
We want each
member to own the mission.
00:36:20.58\00:36:24.81
And so what we are driving
is that personal transformation
00:36:25.11\00:36:30.79
and we use as our
text Romans 12 and verse 2.
00:36:31.69\00:36:36.09
That's what we are using
now to motivate our members.
00:36:37.46\00:36:42.06
Let me try to use my
powerful English now.
00:36:43.47\00:36:46.07
And I think that when I listen
these numbers and ministries
00:36:46.47\00:36:50.71
and activities that we have
00:36:50.91\00:36:52.24
I can imagine that
we are doing our best.
00:36:52.44\00:36:54.78
Everyone: the lay
people, the church.
00:36:55.34\00:36:57.88
But we need to do more.
00:36:58.41\00:37:01.25
In my mind we need two things.
00:37:01.45\00:37:03.45
First of all, we
are working alone.
00:37:03.75\00:37:06.25
We need the Holy Spirit
in the life of our church.
00:37:06.45\00:37:10.16
We are doing and doing
and doing a lot of things
00:37:10.56\00:37:13.46
but with the
power of the Holy Spirit
00:37:14.03\00:37:16.30
we will reach the people
and we can finish the work
00:37:16.70\00:37:19.70
that we received. And the
second, we need to involve
00:37:19.90\00:37:24.11
the church. That's a challenge.
00:37:24.34\00:37:26.44
We need to take up the people
from the comfort and invite them
00:37:26.88\00:37:30.58
to go out to the
church to share the gospel.
00:37:30.78\00:37:33.42
I know that we need to
forget the numbers, but
00:37:34.12\00:37:37.09
please... allow me
to say just one thing.
00:37:37.95\00:37:40.56
Some years ago I
started to do some mathematics.
00:37:41.19\00:37:44.13
And I discovered
that in South America -
00:37:45.19\00:37:47.60
I will use our example -
00:37:47.76\00:37:49.36
if every member works
with one person per year
00:37:49.56\00:37:54.40
giving Bible studies
or preparing that person
00:37:54.60\00:37:57.37
to bring their life to Jesus
00:37:57.57\00:37:59.91
in 9 years we can
reach all our territory.
00:38:00.41\00:38:04.81
And I did the same mathematics
for the global church.
00:38:05.28\00:38:08.08
If every Seventh-day Adventist,
00:38:08.52\00:38:10.52
19 million Seventh-day
Adventists that we have,
00:38:10.72\00:38:12.99
prepared one
person to be baptized
00:38:13.69\00:38:15.72
or studied the
Bible with one person
00:38:15.92\00:38:18.09
in 9 years we can reach
more than 7 billion people
00:38:18.29\00:38:23.03
on the planet. We
have a huge work to do.
00:38:23.23\00:38:26.50
But with the Holy Spirit
and the participation of every
00:38:26.94\00:38:30.51
member in the church
we can finish that work.
00:38:30.71\00:38:33.58
You know, Steve, I don't
think that the work of God will
00:38:36.01\00:38:38.81
be finished anywhere
till it's finished everywhere.
00:38:39.01\00:38:41.38
And I think that as I look
00:38:42.65\00:38:46.52
at what is the unfinished
00:38:46.76\00:38:49.16
business in the church
00:38:49.36\00:38:51.03
obviously it is true: we
need to develop the liaison,
00:38:51.23\00:38:55.76
the strong liaison, between
our pastors and our lay members.
00:38:55.96\00:39:00.37
We need to revisit -
especially in North America -
00:39:00.87\00:39:04.54
because I have a feeling
that these brethren in their
00:39:04.74\00:39:07.44
divisions have
advanced a little more rapidly
00:39:07.64\00:39:10.48
down this area than
we have in North America.
00:39:10.68\00:39:15.12
We need to revisit our theology.
00:39:15.52\00:39:17.42
Now that sounds horrible
and people will get worried
00:39:17.62\00:39:19.82
but I think we need to
revisit I Peter chapter 2.
00:39:20.22\00:39:24.96
And that is the whole
idea that every single person
00:39:25.46\00:39:30.10
is a minister.
Amen! Called by God.
00:39:30.30\00:39:33.07
When you are baptized you become
a minister of the Most High God.
00:39:33.27\00:39:36.57
That... you know...
that's a fundamental step.
00:39:37.31\00:39:40.88
But I also believe...
When I begin to think of
00:39:41.18\00:39:45.05
what is it that really
needs to form a basis of that
00:39:45.75\00:39:51.65
I think of Pastor John
Bradshaw's sermon this morning
00:39:51.85\00:39:56.73
where he quoted the statement
out of Acts of the Apostles
00:39:57.13\00:40:00.20
that the church is the
repository of the riches
00:40:00.60\00:40:05.80
of the grace of Christ
00:40:06.00\00:40:07.70
and through the
church will be manifested
00:40:08.10\00:40:11.97
even to principalities
and powers the final
00:40:12.17\00:40:16.04
and the full
display of the love of God.
00:40:16.24\00:40:19.38
When you look up
the I Peter 4 passage
00:40:19.58\00:40:21.88
that we should show forth
the praises of Him who called us
00:40:23.69\00:40:27.96
out of the darkness
into His marvelous light
00:40:28.16\00:40:31.13
we haven't done
that. We need to be
00:40:32.06\00:40:36.23
lovers of God and lovers of man
00:40:36.43\00:40:40.37
and we need to love
each other in the church
00:40:40.57\00:40:42.97
in spite of our deficiencies.
00:40:43.17\00:40:45.07
Amen. You know, Andi, I'm
really... I've been blessed
00:40:45.94\00:40:50.18
today as we have visited with
our world division presidents
00:40:50.38\00:40:53.98
and we've heard
their heart cry as well.
00:40:54.18\00:40:57.42
I've seen them this afternoon
in a little different light
00:40:58.22\00:41:03.06
than maybe I had before.
00:41:03.26\00:41:05.19
And I appreciate
what we've heard today.
00:41:05.76\00:41:08.53
And you know, it is true
that we have some challenges.
00:41:09.53\00:41:14.34
And I believe if I
have to look at it honestly
00:41:15.14\00:41:18.44
I'll say that that
unfinished business
00:41:18.64\00:41:21.34
should probably begin
with each one of us. Amen!
00:41:21.54\00:41:24.55
Each one of us getting ready
and willing to get down on our
00:41:25.21\00:41:29.15
knees and ask God to
show us in our own hearts
00:41:29.35\00:41:33.42
what He wants to do.
00:41:33.62\00:41:35.39
And to cry out
for the Holy Spirit
00:41:36.02\00:41:38.63
because over and over again
today I've heard that we need
00:41:39.03\00:41:42.20
the Holy Spirit.
And we're told that
00:41:42.40\00:41:47.20
God wants to give us
that gift even more than
00:41:47.40\00:41:50.17
we like to give good
gifts to our children.
00:41:50.57\00:41:53.51
But do we really want the gift?
00:41:55.31\00:41:57.51
Am I really ready
to receive that gift
00:41:58.61\00:42:01.82
and what it
means to me personally?
00:42:02.02\00:42:04.19
So today as we're here together
00:42:05.12\00:42:07.59
I'm just challenging
you to think about that.
00:42:07.79\00:42:09.69
We're out of time with
our division presidents.
00:42:10.13\00:42:12.19
We're not done yet with the
program, but with our division
00:42:12.39\00:42:15.73
presidents. Thank you so
much for joining us today.
00:42:15.93\00:42:17.80
And we have another story now
00:42:18.20\00:42:20.00
about working
shoulder to shoulder.
00:42:20.20\00:42:21.67
Well we have a wonderful
wonderful testimony here.
00:42:27.68\00:42:31.38
This afternoon we
have Pastor Steven Orian
00:42:31.58\00:42:36.52
and he is the president of the
Arkansas-Louisiana Conference.
00:42:36.75\00:42:41.62
And then we have Magda
Rodriguez. She is the president
00:42:41.82\00:42:45.46
of Ouachita Hills College.
00:42:45.66\00:42:47.56
Now tell us, Magda, what event
happened on your college campus
00:42:47.66\00:42:53.67
that presented a
little problem for you?
00:42:53.87\00:42:56.20
Yes Barbara. As we
presented this morning
00:42:57.11\00:43:01.41
at Ouachita Hills College
canvassing goes beyond selling
00:43:01.61\00:43:05.35
books in order to pay
tuition for our students.
00:43:05.55\00:43:08.58
Canvassing is an essential
component of the Christian
00:43:10.09\00:43:13.86
education of our students.
And one the things that we do
00:43:14.06\00:43:17.33
is that we organize
five canvassing programs
00:43:17.53\00:43:21.30
throughout the year.
00:43:21.50\00:43:23.00
And we... As a leader
I never like to set goals
00:43:23.63\00:43:28.14
for our
students... tangible goals like
00:43:28.34\00:43:31.21
number of books or how
much money we want to bring.
00:43:31.41\00:43:34.78
The goal that I set
in front of the students
00:43:35.48\00:43:37.75
is I want them to be faithful
at each door that they knock.
00:43:37.95\00:43:42.22
I want them to be faithful
at each person that they meet
00:43:42.62\00:43:46.09
and that they do their
best to leave a message book
00:43:46.29\00:43:50.29
in every single hand.
00:43:50.49\00:43:52.03
And one of the
things that we do also is we
00:43:52.36\00:43:56.06
try to make sure that
we cover every single town
00:43:56.26\00:43:59.50
in the territory
that we are targeting.
00:43:59.70\00:44:01.80
And in the state of Arkansas
00:44:02.27\00:44:05.64
we had a challenge with
one town. For multiple years
00:44:05.84\00:44:09.44
we went to the town
and they will not allow us
00:44:09.64\00:44:12.88
to canvass in that town.
00:44:13.08\00:44:14.48
And last year we decided
to go to the same territory
00:44:14.88\00:44:18.12
and we found out
that they came up with an
00:44:18.32\00:44:22.82
ordinance that requires
to fill out an application
00:44:23.02\00:44:28.10
to be able to
canvass for each student
00:44:28.30\00:44:30.57
and $50 for each application.
00:44:30.97\00:44:33.34
And not only that, the criteria
for evaluating that application
00:44:33.94\00:44:39.31
they were not given to
us. The guidelines... nothing.
00:44:39.51\00:44:44.01
It was actually up
to the chief of police
00:44:44.21\00:44:47.08
to decide if we were going to
be allowed to go to that town.
00:44:47.28\00:44:51.29
And even though that town is
really.. it is a small town -
00:44:52.05\00:44:57.09
it's only 5,000 people -
00:44:57.29\00:45:00.23
you know, we felt the
sense of responsibility.
00:45:00.73\00:45:03.87
When we go out
we want to make sure
00:45:04.07\00:45:06.40
that we bring light to those
people that are in darkness.
00:45:06.84\00:45:10.01
And we felt like we needed
help, and that was at that point
00:45:10.51\00:45:14.28
that we reached out to the
Arkansas-Louisiana Conference.
00:45:14.44\00:45:18.11
Tell us just briefly,
Pastor Orian, how did you
00:45:19.15\00:45:23.49
get involved in this
and what were the results.
00:45:23.69\00:45:26.12
You know, the church works best
when the church works together.
00:45:27.76\00:45:31.53
And what affects a
self-supporting institution,
00:45:31.73\00:45:37.07
a supporting
institution of the church,
00:45:37.27\00:45:39.73
also affects the ministries
of a local congregation.
00:45:39.93\00:45:43.04
The impact in one community
can have impact in other
00:45:43.47\00:45:46.64
communities within the state.
00:45:46.84\00:45:48.38
And so we felt it
was extremely important
00:45:48.78\00:45:51.45
that the situation
in Whitehall, Arkansas,
00:45:51.65\00:45:54.78
be resolved favorably
in behalf of the students
00:45:54.98\00:45:57.79
at Ouachita Hills College.
00:45:57.99\00:45:59.49
So with the support of
the North American Division
00:46:00.29\00:46:04.16
the attorney
serving the division,
00:46:04.53\00:46:08.86
Todd McFarland, intervened with
us on behalf of the conference
00:46:09.06\00:46:13.34
and two of the
students who were engaged as
00:46:13.54\00:46:16.30
literature evangelists
00:46:16.71\00:46:18.37
and filed a suit
against the city of Whitehall.
00:46:18.57\00:46:22.31
To make a long story short
00:46:22.71\00:46:24.15
as the date was
approaching for the court
00:46:26.18\00:46:31.75
hearing to take place the
city revised its ordinance
00:46:32.05\00:46:37.96
so that it would accommodate
the literature evangelist
00:46:38.16\00:46:42.26
and for that matter any
other religious organization
00:46:42.46\00:46:46.60
or charitable organization
that would desire to do
00:46:46.80\00:46:49.64
a work such as that.
00:46:49.84\00:46:51.57
So we considered
that a tremendous victory
00:46:51.97\00:46:54.41
in behalf of the church.
And as that case was proceeding
00:46:54.61\00:47:00.25
and news within the
cities of the state heard about
00:47:00.45\00:47:04.99
what was happening in Whitehall
00:47:05.19\00:47:06.79
the city of Fayetteville -
we were told - did some revision
00:47:06.99\00:47:10.16
of their city ordinance so
that it would also accommodate
00:47:10.36\00:47:14.03
literature evangelists
and other such similar work.
00:47:14.23\00:47:17.17
So we consider that
a tremendous victory
00:47:17.37\00:47:19.50
in behalf of the church,
the ability to do ministry,
00:47:19.90\00:47:23.51
to be able to serve not only
by the literature evangelists
00:47:23.71\00:47:27.48
at the college but also
all of our churches as well.
00:47:27.68\00:47:32.95
Praise the
Lord! Praise the Lord!
00:47:33.35\00:47:34.98
Well also just in
the last few minutes -
00:47:35.18\00:47:37.49
the last few seconds -
tell us what were the results
00:47:37.65\00:47:40.19
and what were the
students able to achieve?
00:47:40.39\00:47:43.86
Yes. The week after
that change was made
00:47:44.26\00:47:48.06
our students went to Whitehall.
00:47:48.26\00:47:51.27
And we were able to
canvass the whole city
00:47:51.67\00:47:54.27
and we left actually
1,400 message books behind.
00:47:54.47\00:48:00.51
So I know that the
Lord blessed our efforts.
00:48:00.71\00:48:02.98
Amen! Amen! Well have a
blessed and wonderful evening.
00:48:03.18\00:48:06.75
God bless.
00:48:06.95\00:48:08.28
It's a blessing this afternoon
that we've had the opportunity
00:48:13.59\00:48:16.96
to hear the heart of
our world church leaders.
00:48:17.36\00:48:20.66
Elder Wilson, I was personally
blessed as I was able to
00:48:20.86\00:48:24.60
talk with our division
presidents and to understand
00:48:24.80\00:48:28.14
the heart that
they have for mission.
00:48:28.64\00:48:30.61
And this
afternoon to our ASI family
00:48:31.14\00:48:34.28
I'd like to say just
how much we appreciate
00:48:34.68\00:48:38.01
you inviting your world church
presidents to join us here
00:48:39.38\00:48:43.69
and what that means to us.
00:48:43.89\00:48:45.59
But I want to invite you
to give us a challenge today.
00:48:45.79\00:48:48.16
Just lay before us what
God has put on your heart
00:48:48.66\00:48:53.09
as we look forward to the
work that needs to be finished.
00:48:53.29\00:48:55.96
We are called to proclaim
the three angels' messages.
00:48:57.57\00:49:03.64
We are chosen for a unique
00:49:04.14\00:49:06.81
purpose as God's Advent
00:49:07.11\00:49:10.11
movement. And we are committed
00:49:10.31\00:49:12.88
to Christ and His mission.
00:49:13.08\00:49:15.78
You've heard this afternoon
from these wonderful reports
00:49:16.55\00:49:19.35
and the heartfelt yearnings
00:49:19.55\00:49:23.46
of these division leaders
how God can use all of us
00:49:23.86\00:49:28.63
to accomplish this work.
00:49:28.83\00:49:30.77
Around the world as you
tune in to your own favorite
00:49:31.13\00:49:34.90
newscast or website
00:49:35.30\00:49:38.84
you will see that the world
is literally disintegrating
00:49:39.04\00:49:42.41
around us. What a time for
God's people to step forward
00:49:42.61\00:49:48.55
in a powerful called,
chosen, and committed way.
00:49:48.75\00:49:53.05
The Seventh-day Adventist
message is a unique message,
00:49:54.52\00:49:59.59
a unique movement
on a unique mission.
00:49:59.79\00:50:04.77
We have many things
that we have offered
00:50:05.63\00:50:09.30
our church in terms
of activities to reach
00:50:09.50\00:50:13.38
the millions of
people around the world.
00:50:13.58\00:50:15.71
Mission to the Cities.
My heart and I hope yours
00:50:15.91\00:50:20.42
burns heavily for the people of
these large metropolitan areas
00:50:20.62\00:50:25.39
such as we're in
right now here in Phoenix.
00:50:25.79\00:50:28.29
What are we doing for
the people of the cities?
00:50:28.69\00:50:31.96
How are we using
comprehensive health ministry
00:50:32.16\00:50:35.63
or medical
missionary work to reach people?
00:50:35.83\00:50:38.83
We've heard
wonderful reports here at ASI.
00:50:39.03\00:50:41.67
Pathway to Health and so
many others who are involved
00:50:41.87\00:50:45.07
in this wonderful
outreach of health.
00:50:45.27\00:50:47.61
All of us need to become
involved in every possible way
00:50:47.81\00:50:52.38
to reach people.
00:50:52.58\00:50:54.42
I want to make an appeal...
00:50:55.18\00:50:57.12
an appeal to each of us...
00:50:57.32\00:51:00.46
to remember who is in charge.
00:51:01.06\00:51:05.33
The General
Conference is not in charge.
00:51:07.86\00:51:11.43
The divisions are not in charge.
00:51:11.83\00:51:14.37
ASI is not in charge.
00:51:15.34\00:51:18.21
The Lord Jesus
Christ is in charge. Amen!
00:51:19.11\00:51:23.71
I want us to give God the
glory for all the good things
00:51:24.11\00:51:28.35
that do happen and
never to take to ourselves
00:51:28.55\00:51:32.15
that which God has done for us.
00:51:32.35\00:51:36.16
Briefly in that interesting
story in II Chronicles
00:51:37.19\00:51:40.76
chapter 26 the king - Uzziah,
00:51:40.90\00:51:46.53
who was 16 years old
when he became king -
00:51:46.77\00:51:50.34
reigned for 52 years in
Jerusalem did what was right
00:51:50.84\00:51:54.68
in the sight of God.
And it says in verse 5
00:51:54.88\00:51:58.01
"As long as he sought the
Lord God made him prosper. "
00:51:58.21\00:52:03.59
Unfortunately
it says in verse 15
00:52:05.22\00:52:07.86
that after he had many interest-
ing and creative people,
00:52:08.26\00:52:12.43
skillful people who
created all kinds of things
00:52:12.63\00:52:15.16
that shoot arrows and
large stones, his fame spread
00:52:15.36\00:52:18.77
far and wide and he
became very strong. "
00:52:18.97\00:52:24.44
And the next verse tells us
00:52:24.97\00:52:27.04
"When he was strong
his heart was lifted up. "
00:52:27.24\00:52:32.41
He took upon himself
00:52:35.62\00:52:39.25
to burn incense before
the Lord and only the priests
00:52:40.72\00:52:43.93
were to do
that. May we recognize
00:52:44.13\00:52:47.96
where our strength is to
accomplish all that you have
00:52:48.13\00:52:52.20
heard this afternoon
needs to be accomplished.
00:52:52.40\00:52:55.10
When Paul was praying
"Lord, take away this problem"
00:52:55.94\00:52:58.74
three times the Lord told
him "My grace is sufficient
00:52:58.94\00:53:02.24
for you; My strength is
made perfect in weakness. "
00:53:02.44\00:53:05.55
And finally Paul understood.
00:53:05.75\00:53:07.92
And my appeal to
you as we move forward
00:53:08.12\00:53:10.79
into the enormous challenge
00:53:10.99\00:53:14.06
of reaching the
7.4 billion people
00:53:14.26\00:53:17.73
is that Paul finally admitted
00:53:18.13\00:53:21.20
and we need to
admit it: "When I am weak
00:53:21.40\00:53:26.17
then I am strong. "
00:53:27.10\00:53:29.67
Our weakness in
Christ is made strong.
00:53:30.07\00:53:35.04
And so I appeal to you:
00:53:36.71\00:53:38.51
humble yourselves. I
want to humble myself.
00:53:39.45\00:53:44.72
I want to be part of
revival and reformation.
00:53:45.35\00:53:49.32
I want to take part in
Bible study and prayer.
00:53:51.76\00:53:56.53
I want personally and I
appeal to you to have a focus
00:53:57.20\00:54:01.47
on mission. Don't be
distracted by side issues.
00:54:01.67\00:54:06.24
Focus upon the
mission of the church:
00:54:06.44\00:54:09.04
the three angels' messages;
the 4th angel of Revelation 18.
00:54:09.91\00:54:14.52
Allow the Lord to use
us as we lift up Jesus
00:54:15.38\00:54:20.36
and His righteousness.
As we are faithful
00:54:20.56\00:54:24.56
to Him and to His
Word, and as we become
00:54:24.76\00:54:29.13
involved in Total
Member Involvement.
00:54:29.33\00:54:33.90
Total Youth Involvement.
00:54:34.20\00:54:37.31
Total Family Involvement.
00:54:37.51\00:54:39.67
The other day right here
at ASI I spoke to the Juniors.
00:54:39.87\00:54:42.88
I told them "Total
Junior Involvement. "
00:54:43.08\00:54:46.11
Everybody involved for Jesus.
00:54:46.51\00:54:49.65
That beautiful
statement in volume 9 page 117:
00:54:50.05\00:54:54.29
"The work of God in this earth
00:54:54.69\00:54:56.79
can never be finished until
the men and women comprising
00:54:56.99\00:55:00.16
our church
membership rally to the work
00:55:00.36\00:55:03.50
and unite their
efforts with those of ministers
00:55:03.70\00:55:08.07
and church officers.
" What a beautiful way
00:55:08.27\00:55:12.31
to be shoulder to shoulder
with ASI, with our lay people.
00:55:12.51\00:55:16.75
All of us working together
00:55:17.15\00:55:18.95
to accomplish the
one goal of proclaiming
00:55:19.15\00:55:22.15
Christ's great
salvation to the world
00:55:22.35\00:55:26.42
and the second
coming of Jesus Christ.
00:55:26.62\00:55:29.22
Just a few Sabbaths ago
00:55:30.03\00:55:33.16
a number of us in this
group stood on a promenade
00:55:33.40\00:55:37.47
next to the Sea of Galilee.
00:55:38.53\00:55:41.07
And as we looked
down on the Sea of Galilee
00:55:41.67\00:55:44.34
we watched
about 22 new believers
00:55:44.54\00:55:49.78
being baptized and becoming
members of the SDA church.
00:55:50.01\00:55:54.58
You see, God
intends for His people
00:55:55.18\00:55:57.29
everywhere, including Israel,
00:55:57.59\00:56:00.39
to become members
of this great family.
00:56:00.79\00:56:03.96
As we close this session of ASI,
00:56:04.89\00:56:09.10
and as you go to supper
and then as you continue
00:56:11.20\00:56:15.20
to be part of
this ASI convention,
00:56:15.40\00:56:18.14
just before we leave
I want to appeal to you
00:56:19.01\00:56:22.74
to be part of this
great collaborative effort.
00:56:22.94\00:56:27.32
God's people - His paid workers,
00:56:27.62\00:56:31.82
His lay members
- everyone united
00:56:32.02\00:56:35.69
in God's great
effort to reach this world.
00:56:35.89\00:56:38.66
And as an act of consecration
00:56:39.06\00:56:43.20
as an act of
commitment to this appeal,
00:56:43.87\00:56:47.20
I'm going to ask
that the division leaders
00:56:48.14\00:56:51.84
come a little bit closer
in a little tighter circle
00:56:52.04\00:56:56.08
and our ASI administrative group
00:56:57.21\00:57:00.95
has the privilege of laying
their hands on these leaders:
00:57:01.08\00:57:06.79
a symbol of how all of
us wish to work together
00:57:06.99\00:57:11.69
shoulder to
shoulder in a powerful way.
00:57:11.89\00:57:15.00
Called, chosen, and committed
00:57:15.20\00:57:19.47
as we finish God's work
00:57:19.67\00:57:21.90
through the Holy Spirit's power.
00:57:22.10\00:57:24.31
And let us pray
for the Latter Rain.
00:57:24.47\00:57:27.88