Their chains were fastened tight
00:00:35.63\00:00:40.04
Down at the jail that night
00:00:40.07\00:00:43.30
Still Paul and Silas
would not be dismayed
00:00:43.34\00:00:50.25
They said, it's
time to lift our voice
00:00:50.28\00:00:54.48
And she praises to the Lord
00:00:54.52\00:00:58.72
Let's prove
that we can trust Him
00:00:58.75\00:01:02.62
Come what may
00:01:02.66\00:01:06.43
God wants to hear you sing
00:01:06.46\00:01:10.13
When the waves are
crashing 'round you
00:01:10.17\00:01:13.57
When the fiery
darts surround you
00:01:13.60\00:01:17.17
When despair is all you see
00:01:17.21\00:01:20.84
God wants to hear your voice
00:01:20.88\00:01:24.41
When the wisest man has spoken
00:01:24.45\00:01:27.78
He says, Your circumstance
is as hopeless as can be
00:01:27.82\00:01:34.59
That's when God
wants to hear you sing
00:01:34.62\00:01:41.30
He loves to hear our praise
00:01:50.31\00:01:54.54
On our cheerful days
00:01:54.58\00:01:57.31
When the pleasant times
outweigh the bad, by far
00:01:57.35\00:02:04.25
But when suffering comes along
00:02:04.29\00:02:08.22
And we still
sing Him these songs
00:02:08.26\00:02:12.36
That is when we
bless the Father's heart
00:02:12.39\00:02:19.07
God wants to hear you sing
00:02:19.10\00:02:22.70
When the waves are
crashing 'round you
00:02:22.74\00:02:26.27
When the fiery
darts surround you
00:02:26.31\00:02:29.71
When despair is all you see
00:02:29.74\00:02:33.42
God wants to hear your voice
00:02:33.45\00:02:36.79
When the wisest man has spoken
00:02:36.82\00:02:40.22
He says, Your circumstance
is as hopeless as can be
00:02:40.26\00:02:47.06
That's when God wants to hear
00:02:47.10\00:02:50.87
You sing
00:02:50.90\00:02:54.74
God wants to hear you sing
00:02:54.77\00:03:01.31
When the waves are
crashing 'round you
00:03:01.34\00:03:04.65
When the fiery
darts surround you
00:03:04.68\00:03:08.22
When despair is all you see
00:03:08.25\00:03:13.09
God wants to hear your voice
00:03:13.12\00:03:16.76
When the wisest man has spoken
00:03:16.79\00:03:20.20
He says, Your circumstance
is as hopeless as can be
00:03:20.23\00:03:26.67
That's when God wants to hear
00:03:26.70\00:03:30.77
You sing
00:03:30.81\00:03:33.68
That's when God wants to hear
00:03:33.71\00:03:40.62
You sing
00:03:40.65\00:03:43.72
You sing
00:03:47.56\00:03:51.53
Amen. Amen.
00:03:54.56\00:03:56.50
Good evening ASI.
00:03:56.53\00:03:58.47
We're happy to see
each one of you here
00:03:58.50\00:04:00.40
this evening and
we're looking forward
00:04:00.44\00:04:02.34
to the blessing that
God is going to give us.
00:04:02.37\00:04:04.77
I have with me
this evening, Bill Knott
00:04:04.81\00:04:07.91
and he is the Executive
Editor of Adventist Review
00:04:07.94\00:04:10.55
at Adventist World.
00:04:10.58\00:04:12.11
And I also have
Jared Thurmon with me
00:04:12.15\00:04:13.85
who is Marketing
Director for Adventist Review
00:04:13.88\00:04:16.35
and Director of
Strategy and Innovation
00:04:16.38\00:04:18.45
for something called ARtv.
00:04:18.49\00:04:20.66
So we're gonna find
out a little bit more
00:04:20.69\00:04:22.26
what that's all about.
00:04:22.29\00:04:23.89
And ASI enjoys a
long relationship
00:04:23.93\00:04:26.66
working together
with Adventist Review
00:04:26.70\00:04:29.26
with Bill Knott, with Jared.
00:04:29.30\00:04:30.63
We're thankful for the privilege
00:04:30.67\00:04:32.37
of having them
here this evening.
00:04:32.40\00:04:34.14
Well, you know, I know
that things are getting smaller
00:04:34.17\00:04:36.97
these days, you know,
00:04:37.01\00:04:38.77
the Adventist Review
went from a larger format
00:04:38.81\00:04:41.14
down to a smaller
format and then suddenly
00:04:41.18\00:04:44.25
we just have a little card.
00:04:44.28\00:04:45.61
Is this the new format
for the Adventist Review?
00:04:45.65\00:04:47.92
No, there's no
microchip buried in here
00:04:47.95\00:04:50.15
or in your hand.
00:04:50.19\00:04:51.52
This in reality, this is
just illustrating something
00:04:51.55\00:04:55.56
about how this ministry
has been growing so rapidly
00:04:55.59\00:04:58.69
in the last two years.
00:04:58.73\00:05:00.06
We are a family of
products now, not just one.
00:05:00.10\00:05:03.30
We're called
Adventist Review Ministries
00:05:03.33\00:05:05.53
but we publish
Adventist World Magazine
00:05:05.57\00:05:07.77
which all of you
get in your homes,
00:05:07.80\00:05:09.67
kids view, our product for kids.
00:05:09.70\00:05:12.21
We have large
websites, social media options.
00:05:12.24\00:05:16.75
We are now a family
00:05:16.78\00:05:18.55
that's the oldest
thing in the church
00:05:18.58\00:05:20.25
and also the newest
thing in the church.
00:05:20.28\00:05:22.12
Okay, so what we
can see then is that
00:05:22.15\00:05:24.55
you're actually
partnering with all different,
00:05:24.59\00:05:26.79
other ministries as well.
00:05:26.82\00:05:28.96
I often tell our team,
00:05:28.99\00:05:30.96
we did not build
this organization,
00:05:30.99\00:05:33.19
tithe and the
faithfulness of church members
00:05:33.23\00:05:35.76
built Adventist Review Ministry,
00:05:35.80\00:05:37.40
so it's our job
to shine a spotlight
00:05:37.43\00:05:39.97
on partner ministries
like ASI and help other people
00:05:40.00\00:05:43.04
discover what they're doing
00:05:43.07\00:05:44.57
and how the Lord is
working through them.
00:05:44.61\00:05:45.94
Okay, wonderful.
00:05:45.97\00:05:47.34
Well, Jared, it seems
like your title is actually
00:05:47.38\00:05:49.74
a little bit
different than it was last year
00:05:49.78\00:05:51.25
when you were here.
00:05:51.28\00:05:52.61
Can you tell us
what the changes are?
00:05:52.65\00:05:54.78
Yeah, we've got
something exciting
00:05:54.82\00:05:58.29
and it's not just one
thing, it's really a thought
00:05:58.32\00:06:00.66
of what does tomorrow look like
and how do you serve the church
00:06:00.69\00:06:04.59
and those that we love around us
00:06:04.63\00:06:07.86
through the content
of the Adventist Review
00:06:07.90\00:06:09.80
and all the
things we're working on.
00:06:09.83\00:06:11.17
So I have the privilege and joy
00:06:11.20\00:06:13.64
of agitating and
rattling Bill's cage
00:06:13.67\00:06:17.71
and finding ways in which
we can better serve our church
00:06:17.74\00:06:22.64
and those around us.
00:06:22.68\00:06:24.01
So one of those
things is ARtv. ARtv is...
00:06:24.05\00:06:29.45
I could say it's
inspired somewhat
00:06:29.48\00:06:31.05
by Christ Object Lessons.
00:06:31.09\00:06:34.66
Ellen White says
of Jesus in His day
00:06:34.69\00:06:37.26
that the reason
He spoke in parables
00:06:37.29\00:06:40.33
was because it was
the most popular form
00:06:40.36\00:06:42.63
of storytelling,
especially with the Greeks.
00:06:42.66\00:06:46.07
Okay.
00:06:46.10\00:06:47.44
Well, what we know
from the data today is
00:06:47.47\00:06:50.24
by the year 2020,
8 out of 10 people
00:06:50.27\00:06:53.78
will be using the internet
00:06:53.81\00:06:55.58
and 8 of those people of the 10
00:06:55.61\00:06:58.18
will be using it
on their mobile device
00:06:58.21\00:07:00.72
watching a video
called short form content.
00:07:00.75\00:07:04.99
So ARtv is
really how do we deliver
00:07:05.02\00:07:07.96
this timeless message in
video format, mobile first
00:07:07.99\00:07:13.33
and find ways in
which we can easily share it
00:07:13.36\00:07:15.83
with those around us.
00:07:15.86\00:07:17.20
And we are very excited
that that launches this October.
00:07:17.23\00:07:21.50
Okay, that sounds exciting.
We're looking forward to it.
00:07:21.54\00:07:24.24
Why don't you tell us, Jared,
a little bit about the booth,
00:07:24.27\00:07:26.71
and why people should go
by the Adventist Review booth?
00:07:26.74\00:07:29.28
Yeah, we're very
excited, we've recently finished
00:07:29.31\00:07:31.71
a production and
project with ADRA
00:07:31.75\00:07:35.62
where we sent a team over there
to film in virtual reality.
00:07:35.65\00:07:40.02
And if you'll come by our booth
or you can go by ADRA's booth,
00:07:40.06\00:07:44.36
you'll be able to put
some of these VR goggles on
00:07:44.39\00:07:47.46
and immerse
yourself in the audio
00:07:47.50\00:07:50.43
and the visuals of a
village drilling a well
00:07:50.47\00:07:54.74
and being in that experience.
00:07:54.77\00:07:57.44
Virtual reality has an impact
00:07:57.47\00:07:59.91
where they're
finding psychologically,
00:07:59.94\00:08:02.11
you actually
believe you were there.
00:08:02.14\00:08:04.48
So I want to just
invite you, come by our booth
00:08:04.51\00:08:06.85
and experience what that's like.
00:08:06.88\00:08:09.08
Okay, sounds exciting.
00:08:09.12\00:08:10.92
Well, Bill, I know
that we traditionally have
00:08:10.95\00:08:13.36
thought of Adventist
Review or Adventist World
00:08:13.39\00:08:15.42
as being a way that we
get media out through print.
00:08:15.46\00:08:19.26
But could you
tell us a little bit
00:08:19.29\00:08:20.90
how Adventist Review is changing
00:08:20.93\00:08:22.66
and how it's progressive?
00:08:22.70\00:08:24.53
You know, many
times people think that
00:08:24.57\00:08:27.97
if you're leaning
forward toward new technologies,
00:08:28.00\00:08:31.87
somehow you're leaning
away from biblical truth.
00:08:31.91\00:08:35.51
We've taken it as
a founding principle
00:08:35.54\00:08:37.55
of what we're doing
that we're conservative
00:08:37.58\00:08:39.95
when it comes to
truth, but we're progressive
00:08:39.98\00:08:42.38
when it comes to methodology.
00:08:42.42\00:08:44.05
We've got to find the
ways to deliver to audiences,
00:08:44.09\00:08:47.29
the timeless truths of
scripture in a way that
00:08:47.32\00:08:49.82
they will understand and
will change their thinking.
00:08:49.86\00:08:52.66
So we're not only
print centric now,
00:08:52.69\00:08:55.10
we're developing audio podcasts,
00:08:55.13\00:08:58.13
we're working as Jared has said
in short form on demand video.
00:08:58.17\00:09:02.40
Our social media
program is exploding.
00:09:02.44\00:09:05.14
We continue to publish
00:09:05.17\00:09:06.98
the most widely spread magazines
00:09:07.01\00:09:08.81
in the Adventist church,
00:09:08.84\00:09:10.18
but it's a range of
things, it's a family of things,
00:09:10.21\00:09:12.65
because our goal
isn't just to reach readers,
00:09:12.68\00:09:16.12
it's viewers, readers, listeners
00:09:16.15\00:09:18.19
anyone who we can put
the good news in front of.
00:09:18.22\00:09:20.52
Amen.
00:09:20.56\00:09:21.89
It's a blessing
to be here every year
00:09:21.92\00:09:23.83
with Adventist
Review in this partnership.
00:09:23.86\00:09:25.66
I know that we've had
the privilege of partnering
00:09:25.69\00:09:28.13
for a number of years now,
and I'd like to ask you, Jared,
00:09:28.16\00:09:32.13
why do you come every year?
00:09:32.17\00:09:33.50
How is the ASI
Convention a blessing to you
00:09:33.54\00:09:36.20
and to Adventist Review?
00:09:36.24\00:09:37.91
I have found
over the last 10 years
00:09:37.94\00:09:40.34
coming to ASI and now
with our Adventist Review team.
00:09:40.38\00:09:44.51
We come here for the best ideas.
00:09:44.55\00:09:47.08
We come here to inspire people
00:09:47.12\00:09:49.32
and we come here to be inspired.
00:09:49.35\00:09:52.69
What the seminars
give us is a blessing,
00:09:52.72\00:09:55.46
what is done on this stage
is a blessing, but I often find
00:09:55.49\00:09:58.96
it's those short
conversations in the halls
00:09:58.99\00:10:01.56
and at lunch and at
dinner that make me want to say,
00:10:01.60\00:10:04.83
"I want to be an
Adventist this week, this year.
00:10:04.87\00:10:08.17
I want to be on
fire for the Lord
00:10:08.20\00:10:09.90
and I want to
come back next year
00:10:09.94\00:10:11.57
and experience that again."
00:10:11.61\00:10:12.94
So that's why we come. Amen.
00:10:12.97\00:10:14.31
We get amazing
stories from here,
00:10:14.34\00:10:16.01
people walking the
halls who stop and say,
00:10:16.04\00:10:18.41
"Could I talk to
you for a moment?"
00:10:18.45\00:10:19.85
And suddenly unfolds a story
00:10:19.88\00:10:22.02
that we want to
tell the world about.
00:10:22.05\00:10:23.65
It's a story of
faith or courage,
00:10:23.69\00:10:26.22
sometimes challenge
with daunting circumstances.
00:10:26.25\00:10:29.12
Those are stories
that inspire believers
00:10:29.16\00:10:31.19
literally around the world
00:10:31.23\00:10:32.56
that come out of
this convention every year
00:10:32.59\00:10:34.76
and that's one of the
big reasons we're here.
00:10:34.80\00:10:36.30
Amen.
00:10:36.33\00:10:37.67
I want to thank both of
you for partnering with ASI.
00:10:37.70\00:10:40.30
We're so happy
for the relationship
00:10:40.34\00:10:41.80
with Adventist Review,
Adventist World and ARtv
00:10:41.84\00:10:44.54
and everything
that's moving forward.
00:10:44.57\00:10:45.97
Thank you. Thank you. God bless.
00:10:46.01\00:10:48.21
What this dying world could
use is a willing Man of God
00:11:09.40\00:11:15.60
Who dares to go
against the grain
00:11:15.64\00:11:19.17
And works without applause
00:11:19.21\00:11:24.31
A man who'll raise
the shield of faith
00:11:24.35\00:11:27.52
Protecting what is pure
00:11:27.55\00:11:30.85
Whose love is tough yet gentle
00:11:30.89\00:11:34.36
A man whose word is sure
00:11:34.39\00:11:38.56
God doesn't need an orator
00:11:38.59\00:11:42.76
Who knows just what to say
00:11:42.80\00:11:46.10
He doesn't need
authorities to reason Him away
00:11:46.13\00:11:52.74
He doesn't need an army
00:11:52.77\00:11:56.51
To guarantee a win
00:11:56.54\00:12:00.22
He just needs a few good men
00:12:00.25\00:12:06.86
Men full of compassion
00:12:06.89\00:12:09.86
Who laugh and love and cry
00:12:09.89\00:12:13.63
Men who'll face eternity
and aren't afraid to die
00:12:13.66\00:12:20.44
Men who'll fight for
freedom and honor once again
00:12:20.47\00:12:27.24
He just needs a few good men
00:12:27.28\00:12:33.82
He calls the broken derelict
00:12:33.85\00:12:37.39
Whose life has been renewed
00:12:37.42\00:12:40.89
He calls the one
who has the strength
00:12:40.92\00:12:44.53
To stand up for the truth
00:12:44.56\00:12:48.03
Enlistment lines are open
00:12:48.06\00:12:51.33
And He wants you to come in
00:12:51.37\00:12:55.00
He just needs a few good men
00:12:55.04\00:13:01.61
Men full of compassion
00:13:01.64\00:13:04.68
Who laugh and love and cry
00:13:04.71\00:13:08.45
Men who'll face eternity
and aren't afraid to die
00:13:08.48\00:13:15.26
Men who'll fight for
freedom and honor once again
00:13:15.29\00:13:22.16
He just needs a few good men
00:13:22.20\00:13:28.74
Men full of compassion
00:13:28.77\00:13:31.94
Who laugh and love and cry
00:13:31.97\00:13:35.41
Men who'll face eternity
00:13:35.44\00:13:38.78
And aren't afraid to die
00:13:38.81\00:13:43.92
Men who'll fight for
freedom and honor once again
00:13:43.95\00:13:50.53
He just needs a few good men
00:13:50.56\00:13:57.50
He just needs a few good men
00:13:57.53\00:14:04.11
He just needs a few good men
00:14:04.14\00:14:11.08
Amen.
00:14:17.02\00:14:19.99
Hello, ASI family members.
00:14:20.02\00:14:22.66
I love coming to ASI.
00:14:22.69\00:14:25.49
So many of us have an
amazing stories, don't we?
00:14:25.53\00:14:29.26
You go down
through the exhibit hall,
00:14:29.30\00:14:30.83
it's one story after another.
00:14:30.87\00:14:33.44
And tonight is
Members in Action.
00:14:33.47\00:14:36.60
We're going to hear
some of those stories
00:14:36.64\00:14:38.11
and get to know some of
our wonderful ASI members,
00:14:38.14\00:14:41.28
and the closest one to
me is Dr. Brian Schwartz
00:14:41.31\00:14:44.48
who is from Dayton, Ohio.
00:14:44.51\00:14:46.92
He's a physician
at Kettering Hospital.
00:14:46.95\00:14:49.52
I understand that you
pray with all of your patients.
00:14:49.55\00:14:53.62
How that in the world
did you start doing that?
00:14:53.66\00:14:57.63
Well, thank you, Esther.
00:14:57.66\00:14:58.99
So that was a big
change in my thinking,
00:14:59.03\00:15:02.83
so when I
started off in medicine
00:15:02.86\00:15:05.03
and after going to
Adventist Medical School,
00:15:05.07\00:15:07.70
I was not personally comfortable
00:15:07.74\00:15:09.24
praying with patients.
00:15:09.27\00:15:10.64
But around 2004-2005,
00:15:10.67\00:15:12.94
there was a group that
formed one of the ministries
00:15:12.97\00:15:16.08
of ASI called AMEN,
00:15:16.11\00:15:17.51
The Adventist
Medical Evangelism Network.
00:15:17.55\00:15:19.81
We were challenged
by Pastor Mark Finley
00:15:19.85\00:15:21.85
to just start having
a spiritual conversation
00:15:21.88\00:15:24.22
with our patients.
00:15:24.25\00:15:25.79
And I came back
from that meeting
00:15:25.82\00:15:27.62
convicted and
changed and realized that
00:15:27.66\00:15:31.09
I needed to start doing that.
00:15:31.13\00:15:32.46
And so I would pick out
a patient here and there
00:15:32.49\00:15:34.20
and start praying with them,
but I was picking out the ones
00:15:34.23\00:15:38.10
I thought would
respond at first.
00:15:38.13\00:15:39.70
But after a while
I became convinced
00:15:39.73\00:15:41.44
that I needed to pray
with every single patient.
00:15:41.47\00:15:44.94
That is something
we all can do, right?
00:15:44.97\00:15:47.91
No matter what it
is, whether a physician,
00:15:47.94\00:15:49.98
or a fire chief,
or a police officer,
00:15:50.01\00:15:54.05
we can always
pray with somebody.
00:15:54.08\00:15:56.52
And so tell me, you
were telling me about
00:15:56.55\00:15:58.45
a fire chief and some
prayers that you had with him?
00:15:58.49\00:16:02.36
So having started
praying with my patients,
00:16:02.39\00:16:05.09
this just
revolutionized my practice.
00:16:05.13\00:16:07.56
It used to be
that I would go to work
00:16:07.60\00:16:11.20
that was where I worked,
I would do Sabbath school
00:16:11.23\00:16:14.40
and help out at
church, I go on mission trips,
00:16:14.44\00:16:16.77
but this has changed my
practice into a ministry.
00:16:16.81\00:16:19.37
And I realize that I have
people from all walks of life
00:16:19.41\00:16:22.41
that come to my office.
00:16:22.44\00:16:24.45
I don't have to go out
there to pass out literature,
00:16:24.48\00:16:26.41
I don't have to go
out there to meet them,
00:16:26.45\00:16:27.78
they're coming to me.
00:16:27.82\00:16:29.15
And so one of them is the
chief of the fire department
00:16:29.18\00:16:32.45
in one of our area cities.
00:16:32.49\00:16:35.32
He needed heart
surgery and as my habit is,
00:16:35.36\00:16:39.19
we made the visit.
00:16:39.23\00:16:41.06
We got the right
referrals and then I said,
00:16:41.10\00:16:42.96
"By the way, one of
the things I offer to do
00:16:43.00\00:16:44.60
with all my
patients is to have a prayer.
00:16:44.63\00:16:46.20
Would you like
to have a prayer?"
00:16:46.23\00:16:47.80
And he got tears in his eyes
00:16:47.84\00:16:49.44
and just held my hand
and when we got done praying.
00:16:49.47\00:16:51.17
He said, "Can you
just pray one more time?"
00:16:51.21\00:16:53.14
And he just really was touched
by it and appreciated that
00:16:53.17\00:16:57.48
and then it
seemed like that was it.
00:16:57.51\00:17:00.05
But what I'm convinced that
this does is it opens the door
00:17:00.08\00:17:03.05
for them to realize
that I am a safe person
00:17:03.08\00:17:05.59
to have a
spiritual conversation with.
00:17:05.62\00:17:07.62
And so two years later,
00:17:07.66\00:17:09.02
after he's recovered
from surgery, he comes in,
00:17:09.06\00:17:11.79
he's got probably the
third patient from the end
00:17:11.83\00:17:14.56
and he's like, "Doc,
you're a spiritual person.
00:17:14.60\00:17:17.83
Can I ask you a question?"
00:17:17.87\00:17:19.63
And all of a sudden he asked me,
00:17:19.67\00:17:21.00
"How do you know
that the Bible is true?"
00:17:21.04\00:17:23.84
And that turned in
from a 10 to 15 minute visit
00:17:23.87\00:17:26.31
to a 45 minute visit
00:17:26.34\00:17:27.68
where my nurse had to
come knock on the door and say,
00:17:27.71\00:17:29.34
"Doc, you've got a
couple more patients to see."
00:17:29.38\00:17:31.65
And I pray with him
again and he thanked me
00:17:31.68\00:17:34.55
and he just had an
interest in the Bible
00:17:34.58\00:17:37.65
for the first time.
00:17:37.69\00:17:39.29
Next year, he came back,
"Doc, you're smart person.
00:17:39.32\00:17:42.49
You believe in
creation, tell me why?"
00:17:42.52\00:17:45.39
And so it just opened
the door for him to see that
00:17:45.43\00:17:48.33
I was somebody in the
community that he could go to
00:17:48.36\00:17:51.13
and ask those kind of
questions when he was searching
00:17:51.17\00:17:53.60
in his own heart.
00:17:53.64\00:17:56.50
It's simple, isn't
it? Just gaining trust.
00:17:56.54\00:17:59.44
Now, you pray with
all of your patients?
00:17:59.47\00:18:01.74
Does that mean that
you don't have any patients
00:18:01.78\00:18:03.48
that are people who
don't believe in God?
00:18:03.51\00:18:07.12
So, yeah, it's a
very good question.
00:18:07.15\00:18:08.65
So at first I selected a few,
00:18:08.68\00:18:12.35
pretty soon I started
offering to all my patients
00:18:12.39\00:18:14.79
because if I missed one
that I had prayed with before
00:18:14.82\00:18:17.03
they got really
upset the next time.
00:18:17.06\00:18:19.49
And literally, in
the last 10 years,
00:18:19.53\00:18:21.16
I've had maybe a
dozen patients say,
00:18:21.20\00:18:23.13
"No, I don't want a prayer.
00:18:23.16\00:18:24.50
We'll make a
little MP in the charts,
00:18:24.53\00:18:25.97
so I don't keep
nagging them over and over.
00:18:26.00\00:18:29.54
But I've prayed
with the Jewish rabbi.
00:18:29.57\00:18:34.58
In fact, real quick
I'll tell that story.
00:18:34.61\00:18:36.61
He needed a
pacemaker, he was in his 80's,
00:18:36.64\00:18:40.25
he decided you know what,
00:18:40.28\00:18:41.62
I'm not having
any more procedures,
00:18:41.65\00:18:43.25
I'm just going to die,
just let me go to hospice.
00:18:43.28\00:18:46.65
But my partner said, "Well,
00:18:46.69\00:18:48.19
just talk to Dr.
Schwartz about it."
00:18:48.22\00:18:49.56
And I came in and
talked to him about it,
00:18:49.59\00:18:50.93
he wasn't
having, he's just like,
00:18:50.96\00:18:52.39
"No, I don't want to have
anything to do with that."
00:18:52.43\00:18:54.50
So I got done, I
said, "By the way,
00:18:54.53\00:18:55.86
one of the things I
offer to do is have a prayer.
00:18:55.90\00:18:58.77
Would you mind if I
had a prayer with you?"
00:18:58.80\00:19:01.04
And I prayed the way I
pray a Christian prayer,
00:19:01.07\00:19:03.97
and when he got all
done he had tears in his eyes
00:19:04.01\00:19:06.47
and he said, "You know,
00:19:06.51\00:19:08.71
I'll go ahead and
have that pacemaker."
00:19:08.74\00:19:10.65
And we've gotten to
be friends over the years
00:19:10.68\00:19:12.65
and he then
confided to my wife later
00:19:12.68\00:19:15.35
that when I walked
in the room he was like,
00:19:15.38\00:19:16.95
"There's no way I'm
having that pacemaker."
00:19:16.99\00:19:18.99
When I prayed with
him, the thought that went
00:19:19.02\00:19:20.66
through his brain was,
praise God I found a doctor
00:19:20.69\00:19:23.66
who doesn't think he's God.
00:19:23.69\00:19:25.69
And it really
transformed our relationship
00:19:25.73\00:19:28.93
and he was wide open to having
00:19:28.96\00:19:30.30
spiritual conversations.
00:19:30.33\00:19:32.87
Well, that's wonderful
00:19:32.90\00:19:34.24
and there's another
story you want to share.
00:19:34.27\00:19:36.74
We have a couple of
minutes left or less,
00:19:36.77\00:19:38.97
would you like to tell us about
a Muslim person that you...
00:19:39.01\00:19:42.28
So this isn't directly related
to sharing with patients,
00:19:42.31\00:19:45.11
but at Kettering Medical Center
we have a fellowship program,
00:19:45.15\00:19:47.52
so we train
doctors who have finished
00:19:47.55\00:19:49.98
their residency
in internal medicine
00:19:50.02\00:19:51.59
then they can go on and
specialize in cardiology.
00:19:51.62\00:19:53.69
And then an
additional year past that
00:19:53.72\00:19:55.52
is an
interventional cardiologist,
00:19:55.56\00:19:57.26
and I'm the director
of the interventional
00:19:57.29\00:19:58.63
cardiology fellowship.
00:19:58.66\00:20:00.00
So my fellows just see
me interacting with patients
00:20:00.03\00:20:02.93
before every case,
before every procedure,
00:20:02.96\00:20:04.90
I offered to pray with
them, Mohammad is Muslim
00:20:04.93\00:20:08.50
and a very
devout, very kind hearted.
00:20:08.54\00:20:11.81
And I just got to really
appreciate him through the year
00:20:11.84\00:20:14.31
but one of my
partners Dr. Hahn and myself
00:20:14.34\00:20:16.78
decided partway
through the year, last year,
00:20:16.81\00:20:18.55
that we'd start a
Bible study group.
00:20:18.58\00:20:20.45
And we were going to show
00:20:20.48\00:20:21.82
the Thunder in the
Holy Land video series,
00:20:21.85\00:20:23.89
invite our patients to
come to the hospital to a room
00:20:23.92\00:20:26.69
that we had to do these.
00:20:26.72\00:20:28.26
And Mohammad being
just a really helpful guy
00:20:28.29\00:20:30.03
saw me rolling the television
00:20:30.06\00:20:31.96
and the video
machine down to a room.
00:20:31.99\00:20:34.96
He says, "Oh, Dr. Schwartz,
let me get that for you.
00:20:35.00\00:20:36.46
Let me get that for
you, I'll set it up."
00:20:36.50\00:20:37.83
And he didn't
know what we were doing
00:20:37.87\00:20:39.77
but he came, he set
it up and I just said,
00:20:39.80\00:20:41.74
"Oh, Mohammad,
why don't you stay,
00:20:41.77\00:20:43.10
we're having a Bible study."
00:20:43.14\00:20:44.47
And he stayed and
he watched the video
00:20:44.51\00:20:46.34
and then we talked about it,
00:20:46.37\00:20:47.91
and week after
week after week he came,
00:20:47.94\00:20:50.35
he set it up pretty soon
it turned into a discussion
00:20:50.38\00:20:53.15
where this is what we
believe as Christians,
00:20:53.18\00:20:54.88
what do you think about that?
00:20:54.92\00:20:56.35
And we had this
back and forth dialogue
00:20:56.38\00:20:58.45
where he was very, very open.
00:20:58.49\00:20:59.82
I was able to give him a
copy of the Great Controversy
00:20:59.85\00:21:01.82
and he really appreciated that.
00:21:01.86\00:21:03.36
And by the time that
he graduated a year later
00:21:03.39\00:21:05.59
and he's now practicing
in a nearby town he said,
00:21:05.63\00:21:08.93
"Dr. Schwartz, I
just want to thank you
00:21:08.96\00:21:11.20
for sharing Jesus with me."
00:21:11.23\00:21:13.74
He said, "I believe
that Jesus is the Messiah
00:21:13.77\00:21:16.30
that He is coming back
soon and when He comes back
00:21:16.34\00:21:18.44
I'm going to be ready."
00:21:18.47\00:21:19.81
And so just a few months
ago, he's often at practice,
00:21:19.84\00:21:24.78
he is very
respected in this community,
00:21:24.81\00:21:28.92
he sent me a
check blank in the line
00:21:28.95\00:21:32.59
but he sent me a
check for $3,000 and said,
00:21:32.62\00:21:34.92
"Dr. Schwartz,
please just send this
00:21:34.96\00:21:36.42
to that ministry
that you talked about
00:21:36.46\00:21:38.69
were physicians go
overseas and help people."
00:21:38.73\00:21:40.56
The Adventist
Medical Evangelism Network,
00:21:40.60\00:21:42.63
and so he's
funding our ministries,
00:21:42.66\00:21:44.77
he's been touched
by just the fact that
00:21:44.80\00:21:46.77
I took the time
to pray with patients
00:21:46.80\00:21:48.67
and then took the time
to just almost nonchalantly
00:21:48.70\00:21:51.61
just share Jesus with him
and it's had a huge impact.
00:21:51.64\00:21:55.01
Amen. Isn't that wonderful?
00:21:55.04\00:21:57.45
That's something
that each one of us
00:21:57.48\00:21:58.81
can do, is it not?
00:21:58.85\00:22:00.18
For just a few seconds
when you pray with somebody,
00:22:00.22\00:22:01.92
they are looking to God.
00:22:01.95\00:22:04.19
That's very powerful.
00:22:04.22\00:22:05.55
So we have this physician here.
00:22:05.59\00:22:06.96
We also have another
couple of physicians,
00:22:06.99\00:22:09.46
tell us a little
bit about yourself,
00:22:09.49\00:22:10.83
tell us your names?
00:22:10.86\00:22:12.69
I'm Carlos Irizarry, this
is my wife Kathy Irizarry,
00:22:12.73\00:22:16.87
we're both family
practice physicians.
00:22:16.90\00:22:19.50
We worked in Puerto
Rico in a mission term
00:22:19.53\00:22:21.87
for about six years,
00:22:21.90\00:22:23.61
then moved to Minden, Louisiana
00:22:23.64\00:22:25.34
where we
practiced, private practice,
00:22:25.37\00:22:27.54
for almost 25 years.
00:22:27.58\00:22:29.64
And we retired
recently in this past December.
00:22:29.68\00:22:34.02
Oh, you're retired.
00:22:34.05\00:22:37.02
That means you're
picking up some new hobbies,
00:22:37.05\00:22:39.99
you're going on vacations,
00:22:40.02\00:22:41.36
spending some time
with grandchildren, right?
00:22:41.39\00:22:44.03
Well, that's obviously
what we were wondering about.
00:22:44.06\00:22:47.73
What are we going
to do when we retire?
00:22:47.76\00:22:49.50
And there were two
things that crossed our minds,
00:22:49.53\00:22:52.03
two considerations.
00:22:52.07\00:22:53.80
One was we wanted to be
near an Adventist College
00:22:53.84\00:22:56.60
to benefit from the
energy of the young people
00:22:56.64\00:23:00.71
and programming that
they would have there.
00:23:00.74\00:23:03.41
Also we wanted to have a
home that would have enough room
00:23:03.45\00:23:07.65
so that we could
invite guests who were,
00:23:07.68\00:23:10.39
and accommodate
guests who were interested
00:23:10.42\00:23:12.55
in learning to live
a healthy lifestyle.
00:23:12.59\00:23:15.02
I need to define
a healthy lifestyle.
00:23:15.06\00:23:18.63
Ellen White
delineates that very well
00:23:18.66\00:23:21.23
the components of that in
her book Ministry of Healing,
00:23:21.26\00:23:24.53
page 127 where she
says, "Pure air, sunlight,
00:23:24.57\00:23:28.40
abstemiousness, exercise, rest,
00:23:28.44\00:23:32.87
proper diet, water,
trust, and divine power."
00:23:32.91\00:23:36.48
These are the true remedies.
00:23:36.51\00:23:38.21
Now we've tried to
teach these to our patients
00:23:38.25\00:23:41.65
and have been
extremely gratified
00:23:41.68\00:23:43.79
to see
significant benefits in those,
00:23:43.82\00:23:47.09
there're relatively
few who have listened
00:23:47.12\00:23:49.56
and made changes in their lives.
00:23:49.59\00:23:52.19
Now we want to take
this to the next level
00:23:52.23\00:23:55.13
and invite people into our home
so that we can better help them
00:23:55.16\00:24:00.24
to internalize these concepts
by actually putting them
00:24:00.27\00:24:04.24
and getting their
hands into it, so to speak.
00:24:04.27\00:24:07.88
So rather than just
listening to lectures,
00:24:07.91\00:24:10.81
we want to have them actually
practice shopping for the food.
00:24:10.85\00:24:15.98
They will
prepare many of the meals
00:24:16.02\00:24:19.25
and they will learn
what it means to make time
00:24:19.29\00:24:21.92
in their day for
exercise and devotionals.
00:24:21.96\00:24:25.46
Okay, so home.
00:24:25.49\00:24:28.00
Kathy, he's talking about
inviting people into your home?
00:24:28.03\00:24:31.67
What does that look like?
00:24:31.70\00:24:33.37
Looks like fun. All right.
00:24:33.40\00:24:36.04
You know, it's
really interesting
00:24:36.07\00:24:38.67
our home/Ouachita
Healthy Living Center.
00:24:38.71\00:24:44.41
It's just an amazing
thing that it's coming around,
00:24:44.45\00:24:46.98
I don't know if it's up
there, it is on the screen.
00:24:47.02\00:24:49.98
This is a work of the
Lord, He planned our retirement,
00:24:50.02\00:24:55.66
He's given more than
we could ask or think,
00:24:55.69\00:24:58.43
in providing for us a
place where we will live
00:24:58.46\00:25:04.50
and be able to
also have this plan
00:25:04.53\00:25:07.37
of a healthy living center.
00:25:07.40\00:25:09.74
It has been constructed
and is at getting finished.
00:25:09.77\00:25:14.61
With the
partnership of Ouachita Hills,
00:25:14.64\00:25:18.81
many hours of labor
go into the construction.
00:25:18.85\00:25:22.48
We've been in Louisiana
for a good part of that time
00:25:22.52\00:25:25.82
and it's just interesting to me
00:25:25.85\00:25:29.72
that so many hands
have been involved,
00:25:29.76\00:25:32.53
I think just about
every academy student,
00:25:32.56\00:25:35.73
every college
student has been involved
00:25:35.76\00:25:38.23
in the building of this place
00:25:38.27\00:25:40.47
and the staff,
they've all been involved.
00:25:40.50\00:25:42.50
But not only that,
00:25:42.54\00:25:45.14
Brother Steve Dickman
brought a team of young people.
00:25:45.17\00:25:48.48
I think they
represented several academies
00:25:48.51\00:25:50.81
and they came and
labored put up sheetrock,
00:25:50.85\00:25:53.72
that was wonderful.
00:25:53.75\00:25:55.38
So we have
this, now it's located
00:25:55.42\00:25:58.79
on property
belonging to Ouachita Hills,
00:25:58.82\00:26:01.32
and I think some
people may not know
00:26:01.36\00:26:03.43
what Ouachita Hills is.
00:26:03.46\00:26:04.86
So this is a school that
has both an academy and college.
00:26:04.89\00:26:10.47
It's located in a beautiful spot
00:26:10.50\00:26:13.50
in Arkansas close
to Amity, Arkansas,
00:26:13.54\00:26:17.87
and you can look
that up on your map.
00:26:17.91\00:26:20.08
So this is our
plan and the center,
00:26:20.11\00:26:22.78
it's nearing completion
but not quite there yet.
00:26:22.81\00:26:26.75
We want to have people
living in the home with us,
00:26:26.78\00:26:29.75
we have a large common
area, the pictures down,
00:26:29.78\00:26:31.92
but the large common area
has very ample kitchen counters
00:26:31.95\00:26:38.26
and stuff so people
can be really involved
00:26:38.29\00:26:40.73
in a large open living room
00:26:40.76\00:26:43.00
where we can have
instruction given.
00:26:43.03\00:26:46.30
So instead of going to a class
00:26:46.33\00:26:48.64
where they learn
about healthy living,
00:26:48.67\00:26:50.57
whether be a cooking
class or just, you know,
00:26:50.61\00:26:52.91
there's a lot of different
healthy living programs
00:26:52.94\00:26:55.14
that are out there right now.
00:26:55.18\00:26:56.51
So you're talking
about putting people
00:26:56.54\00:26:57.88
in a home setting,
00:26:57.91\00:26:59.28
so that way they
can practice cooking,
00:26:59.31\00:27:01.05
they can practice
sleeping, for somebody like me
00:27:01.08\00:27:03.49
that could be a
struggle getting that rest.
00:27:03.52\00:27:06.05
But, you know,
you're putting them outside,
00:27:06.09\00:27:07.46
and you mention
that there is a garden
00:27:07.49\00:27:08.82
in the backyard so
they can go outside
00:27:08.86\00:27:10.23
and get that
sunshine, fresh air,
00:27:10.26\00:27:11.63
and little exercise,
and learn how to garden.
00:27:11.66\00:27:13.73
That garden is not there yet,
00:27:13.76\00:27:16.23
but we want
there to be a garden,
00:27:16.26\00:27:18.70
and we hope to be able to
include all of these phases
00:27:18.73\00:27:22.00
that will include the
eight natural remedies
00:27:22.04\00:27:25.51
that they will live
that lifestyle with us
00:27:25.54\00:27:28.14
for the time that
they stay in our home,
00:27:28.18\00:27:30.51
which would be
maybe a week session.
00:27:30.55\00:27:32.61
But I wanted to
say one other thing,
00:27:32.65\00:27:34.32
in addition to be able to enjoy
00:27:34.35\00:27:36.38
this opportunity
in our retirement,
00:27:36.42\00:27:39.89
we will also be able
to teach on the campus
00:27:39.92\00:27:42.09
and that gives us more exposure
00:27:42.12\00:27:43.46
to these wonderful young people,
00:27:43.49\00:27:44.93
which is just such a thrill.
00:27:44.96\00:27:46.36
Amen.
00:27:46.39\00:27:47.73
And enjoy all the
programs on the campus.
00:27:47.76\00:27:49.63
Right.
00:27:49.66\00:27:51.00
So now when do you plan
to have your first session?
00:27:51.03\00:27:53.44
You said it's not finished yet.
00:27:53.47\00:27:55.77
It's not quite finished
yet, it's getting there.
00:27:55.80\00:27:58.64
We also still have
to give further work
00:27:58.67\00:28:01.04
to preparing for the sessions,
00:28:01.08\00:28:03.35
so right now our target date
is to have our first session
00:28:03.38\00:28:07.95
somewhere in early 2018.
00:28:07.98\00:28:10.82
Okay, wonderful.
00:28:10.85\00:28:12.25
So how can these
people that are here
00:28:12.29\00:28:14.72
or watching on 3ABN,
00:28:14.76\00:28:16.86
how can they get
more information from you?
00:28:16.89\00:28:19.26
Just come to the
Ouachita Hills booth,
00:28:19.29\00:28:22.13
that's number 706.
00:28:22.16\00:28:23.83
It's 607.
00:28:23.87\00:28:25.20
Excuse me, 607, 607,
Ouachita Hills, booth 607.
00:28:25.23\00:28:29.67
Okay, wonderful.
00:28:29.70\00:28:31.04
You need to visit them and
find a little bit more about it.
00:28:31.07\00:28:33.34
Now, I want to go to Mindy.
00:28:33.38\00:28:34.84
Now, we were just talking
about opening up your home
00:28:34.88\00:28:37.25
for, you know, to do this
healthy living instruction.
00:28:37.28\00:28:41.98
But what if there isn't a home?
00:28:42.02\00:28:43.95
What if you're living in a tent?
00:28:43.99\00:28:45.72
And so we're going to be
hearing from Mindy Thygeson
00:28:45.75\00:28:49.96
who is with Impact
Hope, and let's go ahead
00:28:49.99\00:28:52.79
and play the video right now
00:28:52.83\00:28:54.16
so they can see
what we're talking about.
00:28:54.20\00:28:55.53
My name is Lia and my
parents go to Africa a lot.
00:28:55.56\00:28:59.23
There was a war that made people
00:28:59.27\00:29:02.30
have to run away
from their own homes
00:29:02.34\00:29:04.84
and live in another country.
00:29:04.87\00:29:07.51
People who have
to leave their homes,
00:29:07.54\00:29:12.61
have been living in
Rwanda refugee camps
00:29:12.65\00:29:16.18
for over 20 years.
00:29:16.22\00:29:19.42
They even have only enough money
00:29:19.45\00:29:22.42
for one meal a day.
00:29:22.46\00:29:24.99
They have to hike to get water
00:29:25.03\00:29:29.66
and there are no
lights and no showers.
00:29:29.70\00:29:32.97
They can only go to school
until ninth grade in the camps.
00:29:33.00\00:29:39.44
When my mom and dad
heard about these people,
00:29:39.47\00:29:43.55
they were sad
because most of the people
00:29:43.58\00:29:46.88
are Seventh-day
Adventist like us.
00:29:46.92\00:29:49.65
You can raise your hand.
00:29:57.06\00:29:59.06
Almost all of them.
00:29:59.09\00:30:02.56
My mom and dad started something
00:30:02.60\00:30:05.30
called Impact Hope.
00:30:05.33\00:30:06.70
They're trying to raise money
00:30:06.74\00:30:08.07
to send kids to
go to school onwards,
00:30:08.10\00:30:10.54
so they can get jobs,
00:30:10.57\00:30:13.14
so they can take
care of their families.
00:30:13.17\00:30:15.74
As far as
refugees are concerned,
00:30:15.78\00:30:18.51
we were all hopeless
00:30:18.55\00:30:21.05
but you have come to support us.
00:30:21.08\00:30:24.29
With this, we would
like to show you that
00:30:24.32\00:30:27.62
we are going to
work hard and succeed,
00:30:27.66\00:30:31.03
not only in school,
but even in everyday life.
00:30:31.06\00:30:36.87
Hoping that you
are going to be the one
00:30:36.90\00:30:40.64
who will help us in
order to fulfill our dreams.
00:30:40.67\00:30:46.01
There are lots more kids
who want to go to school,
00:30:46.04\00:30:50.05
will you help us?
00:30:50.08\00:30:51.88
Okay, now we're talking
about refugees from Congo
00:30:56.08\00:31:01.46
and Rwanda, correctly?
00:31:01.49\00:31:03.66
Okay, let me ask you...
00:31:03.69\00:31:05.83
The video talked about
this but how many people
00:31:05.86\00:31:07.63
are we talking about?
00:31:07.66\00:31:09.16
There's
approximately 80,000 people
00:31:09.20\00:31:12.27
who are living in the
Congolese refugee camps
00:31:12.30\00:31:15.20
in Rwanda,
00:31:15.24\00:31:16.84
but the thing that
caught our attention is well,
00:31:16.87\00:31:21.78
we knew about the
genocide that happened in Rwanda
00:31:21.81\00:31:24.15
in 1994.
00:31:24.18\00:31:25.98
But we didn't
realize what happened next,
00:31:26.01\00:31:28.72
so the genocide spilled
over into neighboring countries
00:31:28.75\00:31:31.75
including Zaire,
which is now the Congo.
00:31:31.79\00:31:34.72
The perpetrators of
the genocide in Rwanda
00:31:34.76\00:31:37.43
fled for their lives fearing
that they too would be killed
00:31:37.46\00:31:40.93
for what they had done.
00:31:40.96\00:31:42.60
And so they fled
into Tanzania and Burundi,
00:31:42.63\00:31:45.57
but in Zaire where they came,
00:31:45.60\00:31:47.97
they came across
a group of people
00:31:48.00\00:31:49.47
who are the same tribal systems
as those found in Rwanda.
00:31:49.50\00:31:53.31
And so when they saw the
lush farmlands in the Congo
00:31:53.34\00:31:59.58
and the herds of cattle
and these people were the ones
00:31:59.61\00:32:03.55
who were being killed in Rwanda.
00:32:03.59\00:32:06.39
They began genocide again.
00:32:06.42\00:32:09.02
Well, this area
that was targeted
00:32:09.06\00:32:11.09
had been
proselytized by evangelist,
00:32:11.13\00:32:14.36
Adventist
evangelists in the early 1900's.
00:32:14.40\00:32:18.10
So this whole area was primarily
00:32:18.13\00:32:20.40
Seventh-day
Adventist Christians.
00:32:20.44\00:32:22.50
So this led to an
influx of refugees into Rwanda,
00:32:22.54\00:32:26.91
and at times there
were around 100,000, right?
00:32:26.94\00:32:30.88
Currently, there
is 80,000 refugees
00:32:30.91\00:32:33.92
and around 80% and higher.
00:32:33.95\00:32:36.42
And in some cases, in some camps
00:32:36.45\00:32:38.79
100% of them are
Seventh-day Adventist.
00:32:38.82\00:32:42.12
So my husband and
I when we heard this,
00:32:42.16\00:32:45.09
we felt very compelled
to do something about it.
00:32:45.13\00:32:49.20
I'm a nurse and my
husband's a businessman
00:32:49.23\00:32:51.77
but, you know, we
prayed to do something
00:32:51.80\00:32:54.47
involving
missions, and we felt like
00:32:54.50\00:32:56.94
God was calling us to take
part in helping in some way
00:32:56.97\00:33:01.88
for these Adventist people,
our brothers and sisters.
00:33:01.91\00:33:05.11
Right, and I think
that's a good point is that
00:33:05.15\00:33:07.18
we're not talking about people,
00:33:07.22\00:33:10.09
we're talking about
brothers and sisters.
00:33:10.12\00:33:12.22
And they are family,
00:33:12.25\00:33:14.09
and when you're
sharing the story with me,
00:33:14.12\00:33:15.46
it really touched my heart
because we were talking about
00:33:15.49\00:33:17.36
our brothers and sisters.
00:33:17.39\00:33:18.73
It could easily be
any one of us here.
00:33:18.76\00:33:20.43
And so what are you doing?
00:33:20.46\00:33:25.53
Well, we found
out, as we learned more
00:33:25.57\00:33:27.70
about the conditions in the camp
00:33:27.74\00:33:29.27
and the
situations with the students
00:33:29.30\00:33:31.61
and the young people,
00:33:31.64\00:33:33.04
we found out that ADRA
Rwanda is actually in the camp
00:33:33.07\00:33:36.41
and they provide
education up to the ninth grade,
00:33:36.44\00:33:39.65
but after that
there's no funding
00:33:39.68\00:33:41.22
for further education.
00:33:41.25\00:33:43.28
And so my husband and
I started an organization
00:33:43.32\00:33:46.29
called Impact Hope,
00:33:46.32\00:33:48.32
and we're sending
students from the camps
00:33:48.36\00:33:51.89
to grades ten through twelve,
00:33:51.93\00:33:53.96
plus, one year of
technical training
00:33:54.00\00:33:56.16
to Adventist
boarding schools in Rwanda.
00:33:56.20\00:33:59.53
So it's been a really
great thing for the students
00:33:59.57\00:34:03.61
and also to help
the Adventist schools
00:34:03.64\00:34:06.17
in Rwanda as well.
00:34:06.21\00:34:08.08
We have a picture up
about this young lady
00:34:08.11\00:34:10.55
with the mattress.
00:34:10.58\00:34:11.95
Can you tell us a
little bit about that?
00:34:11.98\00:34:13.31
So for $600 a school
year we can take one refugee
00:34:13.35\00:34:18.15
and put them into an
Adventist boarding school
00:34:18.19\00:34:21.09
in Rwanda and they say,
"You've taken us to Europe."
00:34:21.12\00:34:24.06
Because the
contrast between the camps
00:34:24.09\00:34:26.29
and these humble
Adventist boarding schools
00:34:26.33\00:34:28.53
is so extreme,
that they feel like
00:34:28.56\00:34:30.87
they've really been transported
to a different country.
00:34:30.90\00:34:34.07
And we're just so happy
00:34:34.10\00:34:35.44
because they
have this confidence
00:34:35.47\00:34:38.57
and they feel that
their dreams have come true,
00:34:38.61\00:34:41.64
the dream that they
never would have anticipated.
00:34:41.68\00:34:45.98
Especially, the fact that
they're in Adventist school
00:34:46.01\00:34:49.42
is especially great.
00:34:49.45\00:34:50.82
Well, the last picture
that you saw was Elaine.
00:34:50.85\00:34:53.89
She is one of our shining stars
00:34:53.92\00:34:55.59
and she's in
technical school right now,
00:34:55.62\00:34:58.09
she graduated last year.
00:34:58.13\00:34:59.89
And now she's taking sewing.
And she sees the potential now.
00:34:59.93\00:35:03.70
She has a future and
she can, she knows it
00:35:03.73\00:35:06.33
she doesn't have to
remain in the refugee camps.
00:35:06.37\00:35:09.14
She doesn't have to
continue this cycle,
00:35:09.17\00:35:11.97
and so she's just incredibly
grateful for the opportunity
00:35:12.01\00:35:15.91
to earn money to make a living
00:35:15.94\00:35:18.15
and to provide
for not only herself
00:35:18.18\00:35:20.25
but her future family.
00:35:20.28\00:35:22.15
So we're really
excited about the impact
00:35:22.18\00:35:24.19
and I don't think
we'll really understand
00:35:24.22\00:35:26.42
the full impact
until we go to heaven.
00:35:26.45\00:35:28.72
Absolutely, absolutely
00:35:28.76\00:35:30.09
because you're not
giving them only hope,
00:35:30.13\00:35:32.09
but you're also
helping them get a livelihood.
00:35:32.13\00:35:34.73
And you're
putting them in a position
00:35:34.76\00:35:36.67
where they can
actually do mission work,
00:35:36.70\00:35:38.57
and that's something
that we need to remember to.
00:35:38.60\00:35:41.47
So this has only been
going on for about two years
00:35:41.50\00:35:43.81
and you tell me
that about 410 students
00:35:43.84\00:35:46.91
already have been
impacted, is that correct?
00:35:46.94\00:35:48.68
That's right, we
have 410 students
00:35:48.71\00:35:51.15
and they're all
sponsorship based
00:35:51.18\00:35:53.35
so we're just, we
would always encourage anyone
00:35:53.38\00:35:56.75
who's interested in
taking part of this program
00:35:56.79\00:35:59.39
and becoming a
sponsor to come to our booth
00:35:59.42\00:36:03.09
at number 404.
00:36:03.12\00:36:05.16
It's called Impact Hope.
00:36:05.19\00:36:06.76
You can also
find us on our website
00:36:06.80\00:36:09.06
at impact-hope.org.
00:36:09.10\00:36:12.07
And we'd love
to grow the numbers
00:36:12.10\00:36:14.74
and help more of our
Adventist brothers and sisters
00:36:14.77\00:36:17.84
for only $50 a month.
00:36:17.87\00:36:19.87
Thank you so much.
00:36:19.91\00:36:21.71
Thank you very much.
00:36:21.74\00:36:23.08
And so I really
appreciate all of you
00:36:23.11\00:36:24.55
sharing your stories tonight
00:36:24.58\00:36:26.01
and I'm sure that many
of us have been blessed
00:36:26.05\00:36:27.52
and hopefully we can go
home with some new ideas
00:36:27.55\00:36:30.39
as to how we can
impact the community
00:36:30.42\00:36:31.95
around us as well.
00:36:31.99\00:36:33.36
I remember when I went
to my first ASI Convention,
00:36:36.89\00:36:40.23
I actually didn't have
any idea what ASI even was.
00:36:40.26\00:36:44.23
I only went
because I had a friend
00:36:44.27\00:36:46.20
that was going who invited me,
00:36:46.23\00:36:48.57
but when I went to ASI,
00:36:48.60\00:36:50.24
it opened my eyes to a world
that I didn't know existed.
00:36:50.27\00:36:54.71
To be honest, I didn't know that
00:36:54.74\00:36:57.31
there were all these ministries,
00:36:57.35\00:36:58.71
all of these people just
doing these different things
00:36:58.75\00:37:00.98
for the Lord, and it made
a strong impact on my life.
00:37:01.02\00:37:04.65
In fact, I can
trace my first desires
00:37:04.69\00:37:08.92
to go into doing more ministry
for God to seeing that ASI.
00:37:08.96\00:37:13.70
And people that I met
who were working with ASI,
00:37:13.73\00:37:16.77
working with the
Youth for Jesus programs,
00:37:16.80\00:37:19.03
and other things like that
that I would have had no idea
00:37:19.07\00:37:22.34
about had it not been for ASI.
00:37:22.37\00:37:25.67
I sense a need in
our church for a way
00:37:25.71\00:37:30.28
that people can come together,
00:37:30.31\00:37:32.71
for a place to
belong in the church.
00:37:32.75\00:37:35.05
I feel like
sometimes, it gets portrayed
00:37:35.08\00:37:38.39
like the epitome of
Adventism is going to church
00:37:38.42\00:37:41.86
and paying tithe
and maybe participating
00:37:41.89\00:37:43.96
in outreach sometime.
00:37:43.99\00:37:46.33
But in my personal experience,
it's so much more than that,
00:37:46.36\00:37:49.10
and there are so many
of us that are striving
00:37:49.13\00:37:51.23
in our daily lives to
do things for the Lord
00:37:51.27\00:37:53.30
but where do we fit?
00:37:53.34\00:37:55.50
Where do we come together?
00:37:55.54\00:37:56.87
I mean how do we get
reinspired, and network,
00:37:56.91\00:38:00.88
and get the
support that we need?
00:38:00.91\00:38:03.11
And I see that as a huge need,
00:38:03.14\00:38:06.31
I see that is something
that if we could really form
00:38:06.35\00:38:09.08
that kind of network
and do this together,
00:38:09.12\00:38:12.02
that all of us could benefit,
that all of us could grow,
00:38:12.05\00:38:15.62
and feel like we mean
something in the church.
00:38:15.66\00:38:19.46
Like we have a purpose, we
have a place in the church,
00:38:19.49\00:38:22.43
and that God is
going to really be able
00:38:22.46\00:38:25.53
to use not just the
pastors, not just the elders,
00:38:25.57\00:38:30.11
but those of us in everyday life
00:38:30.14\00:38:33.04
to do something for Him.
00:38:33.07\00:38:34.41
With me is Joshua Marcoe,
00:38:38.81\00:38:40.58
he is the technical coordinator
for the Ellen G. White Estate.
00:38:40.62\00:38:44.49
And, Joshua, we're glad
to have you here this morning
00:38:44.52\00:38:46.49
to help us
understand how our offerings
00:38:46.52\00:38:48.82
are being used to
spread the love of God
00:38:48.86\00:38:50.79
and the gospel around the world.
00:38:50.83\00:38:52.43
First tell us,
catch us up a little bit,
00:38:52.46\00:38:55.16
we know that funding has
been received in the past
00:38:55.20\00:38:58.03
to help with translations,
where are we with that
00:38:58.07\00:39:01.94
and what's the
project for this year?
00:39:01.97\00:39:03.91
I'll just give
you a little recap
00:39:03.94\00:39:05.54
of what we did last year.
00:39:05.57\00:39:07.04
To give you an idea,
00:39:07.08\00:39:08.91
we put 48 books
up on our website
00:39:08.94\00:39:13.05
and in our apps
00:39:13.08\00:39:14.55
and they are in 15
different languages.
00:39:14.58\00:39:17.49
I'll just read you through
a few Bulgarian, Chinese,
00:39:17.52\00:39:20.72
Estonian, French, Hebrew,
00:39:20.76\00:39:23.49
Indonesian, Italian, Japanese,
00:39:23.53\00:39:26.09
and a number of others.
00:39:26.13\00:39:27.86
Well, that's wonderful.
00:39:27.90\00:39:29.23
So then this gives people
an opportunity around the world
00:39:29.26\00:39:32.17
to actually access the
writings of Ellen White?
00:39:32.20\00:39:34.77
Yeah, if you've
appreciated reading books
00:39:34.80\00:39:37.57
like Great
Controversy or Steps to Christ
00:39:37.61\00:39:40.18
which actually,
this is 125th anniversary
00:39:40.21\00:39:43.04
of Steps to Christ or
other books like that,
00:39:43.08\00:39:46.31
you can appreciate
that but not everyone
00:39:46.35\00:39:48.68
has those books
in their languages.
00:39:48.72\00:39:50.82
So this is what this
offering is helping to do
00:39:50.85\00:39:54.29
is take the books
that have been translated
00:39:54.32\00:39:56.62
put them into our
apps on our website.
00:39:56.66\00:39:59.43
Then people around the
world wherever they are,
00:39:59.46\00:40:02.36
if they're in their home country
00:40:02.40\00:40:03.73
or here in
America or somewhere else,
00:40:03.77\00:40:05.83
they can get online
and read those books
00:40:05.87\00:40:08.10
in their
language and be blessed.
00:40:08.14\00:40:10.31
Amen, amen.
00:40:10.34\00:40:11.67
How many of you
have your phone with you?
00:40:11.71\00:40:14.28
Do you have your
phone? I see lots of phones.
00:40:14.31\00:40:16.11
How many of you have the
EG White app on your phone?
00:40:16.14\00:40:20.32
Just as many and the Bible,
so we've got the Word of God
00:40:20.35\00:40:23.75
and the Spirit of
Prophecy right at our fingertips
00:40:23.79\00:40:26.89
literally to be able to
share the love of Jesus.
00:40:26.92\00:40:29.72
And so it's wonderful
to know that other people
00:40:29.76\00:40:32.23
around the
world can do the same.
00:40:32.26\00:40:34.30
So what kind of...
00:40:34.33\00:40:36.06
What number of languages
or what kind of languages
00:40:36.10\00:40:38.40
are the target
for this coming year?
00:40:38.43\00:40:40.27
Well, this coming year
we've already accumulated
00:40:40.30\00:40:43.54
enough books to
cover all the funding
00:40:43.57\00:40:46.71
that ASI is going to
give us, so that's great.
00:40:46.74\00:40:49.94
And what we're concentrating
on, not necessarily by design,
00:40:49.98\00:40:53.08
but just by
what we have received
00:40:53.11\00:40:55.42
is primarily Central Asia
00:40:55.45\00:40:57.75
and also some in Central Africa.
00:40:57.79\00:41:00.32
So we're going to be doing
books like in Tajik, in Uzbek,
00:41:00.36\00:41:04.43
in Kazakh, in
Kirghiz, and some in Amharic,
00:41:04.46\00:41:08.36
in Georgian,
Persian or Farsi, Luo,
00:41:08.40\00:41:12.53
Kenya, Rwanda, and Armenia.
00:41:12.57\00:41:15.14
Now did you say Kirghiz? Yes.
00:41:15.17\00:41:17.34
Well, our next interviewees
are actually from Kyrgyzstan.
00:41:17.37\00:41:21.21
So then they will be able
to access Ellen White writings
00:41:21.24\00:41:24.41
in their language as a result
of the offering for this year.
00:41:24.45\00:41:27.98
Absolutely. Oh,
that's wonderful.
00:41:28.02\00:41:29.38
I'm sure that's really
good news for them as well.
00:41:29.42\00:41:31.85
All right, you know what,
Joshua, is there anything...
00:41:31.89\00:41:34.09
This is what I want to ask you.
00:41:34.12\00:41:35.72
In your mind why
is this important?
00:41:35.76\00:41:38.93
Why is this important work,
this is a critically initiative
00:41:38.96\00:41:41.90
for the Ellen White Estate?
00:41:41.93\00:41:44.03
Just something that just
happened to me this week,
00:41:44.07\00:41:46.13
I was visiting with a friend
actually a relative of mine,
00:41:46.17\00:41:49.87
he speaks Malayalam.
00:41:49.90\00:41:52.81
He does not feel comfortable
reading English, I'm sorry,
00:41:52.84\00:41:57.25
but he speaks Malayalam
and we have books in Malayalam
00:41:57.28\00:42:01.05
that are actually in the process
00:42:01.08\00:42:02.62
of being translated and
being put on to our website.
00:42:02.65\00:42:05.52
He will be able to read
the Conflict of the Ages series
00:42:05.55\00:42:08.42
in his language, that
will be a blessing to him
00:42:08.46\00:42:10.89
and he may become an
Adventist as a result of that.
00:42:10.93\00:42:13.26
Amen.
00:42:13.29\00:42:14.63
So it has personal
resonance for you as well.
00:42:14.66\00:42:17.40
Great, thank you
very much, Joshua.
00:42:17.43\00:42:19.03
I appreciate all that you
00:42:19.07\00:42:20.40
and the Ellen G.
White Estate is doing.
00:42:20.44\00:42:22.07
Thank you, and thank you ASI
for your contribution and help.
00:42:22.10\00:42:25.67
And if you want
more information,
00:42:25.71\00:42:27.18
what booth should
they go to for to know?
00:42:27.21\00:42:29.51
Come to booth 723.
00:42:29.54\00:42:31.28
Seven twenty three
for the EG White Estate.
00:42:31.31\00:42:33.75
Thank you very
much, Joshua. Thank you.
00:42:33.78\00:42:36.48
Coming to join
me at the podium now
00:42:36.52\00:42:38.22
as I mentioned before
00:42:38.25\00:42:39.59
are individuals from Kyrgyzstan.
00:42:39.62\00:42:41.52
They're from
the Adventist school
00:42:41.56\00:42:43.09
in Kyrgyzstan
00:42:43.12\00:42:44.46
and I'm really
excited to have...
00:42:44.49\00:42:45.96
These are my new
friends from Kyrgyzstan.
00:42:45.99\00:42:48.23
I don't speak Russian
or any other languages
00:42:48.26\00:42:50.10
that they've got.
00:42:50.13\00:42:51.67
But I'm really
happy that one of them
00:42:51.70\00:42:53.07
at least speaks English.
00:42:53.10\00:42:54.47
So this is Christian Mueller.
00:42:54.50\00:42:57.44
Christian Mueller is the
former development director
00:42:57.47\00:42:59.84
for the school
and next to him is,
00:42:59.87\00:43:02.28
I'll say Galina, we'll
just skip her last name.
00:43:02.31\00:43:06.08
She's a graduate from the school
00:43:06.11\00:43:08.38
and coming from at
the end is our president
00:43:08.42\00:43:12.12
for the Adventist
school in Kyrgyzstan.
00:43:12.15\00:43:14.22
So we want to
learn a little bit more
00:43:14.26\00:43:15.79
about Adventist school.
00:43:15.82\00:43:17.36
First of all tell us,
Christian, where is it?
00:43:17.39\00:43:20.20
How many
students? How many staff?
00:43:20.23\00:43:21.93
Give us kind of the lay
of the land about the school.
00:43:21.96\00:43:24.13
Okay. Good morning ASI.
00:43:24.17\00:43:25.93
I think we are
located in the 10/40 Window
00:43:25.97\00:43:30.44
in Kyrgyzstan in the
Southern Union mission
00:43:30.47\00:43:33.44
in the Eurasia division.
00:43:33.48\00:43:35.58
And the school has
around 360 students right now
00:43:35.61\00:43:40.32
and 70% of them are
from Muslim families.
00:43:40.35\00:43:43.65
It's very interesting because
even though the school name
00:43:43.69\00:43:47.49
is Christian school,
00:43:47.52\00:43:50.06
their parents are
bringing their kids
00:43:50.09\00:43:51.86
because of the
high level of education.
00:43:51.89\00:43:54.56
Oh, wonderful.
00:43:54.60\00:43:55.93
Now I understand
that this school has
00:43:55.96\00:43:58.63
a very interesting distinction
in all of Central Asia.
00:43:58.67\00:44:02.27
Yes, actually it's
the only Adventist school
00:44:02.30\00:44:04.37
in all Central Asia.
00:44:04.41\00:44:06.04
So some of the kids
from the other stands
00:44:06.07\00:44:09.74
they are having
problems with the Sabbath
00:44:09.78\00:44:12.18
and going to school on Sabbath
00:44:12.21\00:44:14.62
because it's an
obligation to do it,
00:44:14.65\00:44:16.52
they are coming to our
school to the boarding school
00:44:16.55\00:44:19.52
so they can
have a good education
00:44:19.55\00:44:21.59
and keep the Sabbath.
00:44:21.62\00:44:22.96
Now you said the other
students from the other stands,
00:44:22.99\00:44:25.13
what are you talking about?
00:44:25.16\00:44:26.49
Well, the union it's
the stands in the union
00:44:26.53\00:44:30.53
are the Afghanistan,
Tajikistan, Kazakhstan,
00:44:30.57\00:44:34.44
Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan,
00:44:34.47\00:44:37.44
Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.
00:44:37.47\00:44:40.14
Okay. I'm impressed that
you remember all those stans.
00:44:40.18\00:44:43.11
The only stan I
know is Stan Smith.
00:44:43.14\00:44:45.21
Oh, that's good.
But that's about it.
00:44:45.25\00:44:47.28
Okay, so tell us a
little bit about the curriculum,
00:44:47.32\00:44:51.02
and since this is a...
00:44:51.05\00:44:53.89
You have mostly Muslim
that are attending the school,
00:44:53.92\00:44:56.83
how do you infuse Christianity
00:44:56.86\00:44:58.93
into the life of
the school there?
00:44:58.96\00:45:01.50
Even though we cannot put Bible
as a part of the curriculum,
00:45:01.53\00:45:06.63
we have everyday
worship first with teachers
00:45:06.67\00:45:10.67
that not all of
them are Christians,
00:45:10.71\00:45:13.11
even Christians.
00:45:13.14\00:45:14.54
We have 30%
around of them Adventists
00:45:14.58\00:45:17.25
and the rest are Christians
and some of them are Muslims.
00:45:17.28\00:45:20.68
But anyways we get together,
00:45:20.72\00:45:22.18
all together to make
worship every morning,
00:45:22.22\00:45:24.45
and every day also
they have a worship
00:45:24.49\00:45:27.82
with all the students.
00:45:27.86\00:45:29.59
As I was telling you
00:45:29.62\00:45:30.96
this morning part of the project
00:45:30.99\00:45:32.33
and sorry I go
in advance of that,
00:45:32.36\00:45:34.56
it's a place so we can
meet all together for worship
00:45:34.60\00:45:37.40
every day because we
have a very small place
00:45:37.43\00:45:40.47
and for 360 students
we cannot gather them all.
00:45:40.50\00:45:43.94
So we do worship with
first grade to four grade,
00:45:43.97\00:45:46.98
then to fifth to seven,
and so we separate the classes
00:45:47.01\00:45:50.68
so we can get
together for worship.
00:45:50.71\00:45:52.41
Okay.
00:45:52.45\00:45:53.78
So then, this project is
to fund or to help to fund
00:45:53.82\00:45:58.15
the raising up of a
multipurpose center,
00:45:58.19\00:46:00.96
so that you're able
to do things like worship
00:46:00.99\00:46:03.22
and a variety of
other activities.
00:46:03.26\00:46:04.59
Yes, we have one big
project in the school
00:46:04.63\00:46:07.40
that is Community Soccer School.
00:46:07.43\00:46:10.83
You know, I'm from
Argentina so we love soccer.
00:46:10.87\00:46:13.40
So we created
soccer school there
00:46:13.44\00:46:15.90
with 120 kids that are coming.
00:46:15.94\00:46:18.64
We teach them
values not only sports
00:46:18.67\00:46:21.04
but we mentor them.
00:46:21.08\00:46:22.41
Because kids are in the streets,
00:46:22.44\00:46:26.25
they play soccer but
without parents guard.
00:46:26.28\00:46:30.29
So we bring them together,
we take them to camp meetings,
00:46:30.32\00:46:34.89
we teach them the Bible.
00:46:34.92\00:46:36.26
Now we have a small
group with 20 of them
00:46:36.29\00:46:38.63
studying the Bible,
kids from 15 to 16 years old.
00:46:38.66\00:46:41.33
Amen.
00:46:41.36\00:46:42.70
Now you have some pictures
that you want to show us?
00:46:42.73\00:46:44.07
Yes.
00:46:44.10\00:46:45.43
Can you give us some, bit more?
00:46:45.47\00:46:46.80
This is the
multipurpose building
00:46:46.84\00:46:48.17
that we already started in April
00:46:48.20\00:46:51.87
and we hope to
finish for the winter
00:46:51.91\00:46:54.18
because the biggest
problem there is the winter
00:46:54.21\00:46:56.88
and we cannot continue the work
00:46:56.91\00:46:59.01
with the kids during the winter.
00:46:59.05\00:47:00.48
So this is, we are
constructing it right now.
00:47:00.52\00:47:03.79
Okay.
00:47:03.82\00:47:05.15
And this is how we
will finish the view.
00:47:05.19\00:47:07.06
Okay, have a look, wonderful.
00:47:07.09\00:47:08.96
And I think
there is some pictures
00:47:08.99\00:47:10.33
in advance of this
00:47:10.36\00:47:11.69
that showed among a
group of the children
00:47:11.73\00:47:14.20
that, and tell us
a little bit about...
00:47:14.23\00:47:16.67
Yes, it's very interesting
because we have around
00:47:16.70\00:47:19.33
80 nationalities in our school.
00:47:19.37\00:47:22.70
So if you saw the
pictures, you will see
00:47:22.74\00:47:25.04
different type of
faces and it's very nice
00:47:25.07\00:47:29.64
because we can
reach many cultural people
00:47:29.68\00:47:35.35
that is already
living in Kyrgyzstan.
00:47:35.38\00:47:37.05
So this is one
nice part of the school.
00:47:37.09\00:47:39.29
And you will see also
another picture of a building
00:47:39.32\00:47:42.69
that it's already almost
done that is for 300 more kids
00:47:42.72\00:47:46.46
because we are rejecting
around 40 to 50 kids per year
00:47:46.49\00:47:50.57
because we don't
have space for them.
00:47:50.60\00:47:52.70
So thanks to God
and help of many people
00:47:52.73\00:47:56.84
and some of them members of ASI,
00:47:56.87\00:47:59.84
we were able to construct
this building for 300 more kids
00:47:59.87\00:48:03.48
and to expand the school to
almost the amount of members
00:48:03.51\00:48:07.42
of the church in Kyrgyzstan.
00:48:07.45\00:48:08.78
We have 700
members in Kyrgyzstan,
00:48:08.82\00:48:10.39
the whole country.
00:48:10.42\00:48:11.75
And if God is willing,
00:48:11.79\00:48:13.12
we will fill up
the new building,
00:48:13.15\00:48:14.52
we will reach almost 600 kids
that will listen to the gospel.
00:48:14.56\00:48:18.83
So I just want to
ask Constantine Kampen,
00:48:18.86\00:48:21.50
who's the president.
00:48:21.53\00:48:23.03
So I know that
your English isn't good.
00:48:23.06\00:48:25.10
Well, my Russian is
not good, so we're good.
00:48:25.13\00:48:30.31
So let's see, so
how does this work.
00:48:30.34\00:48:32.37
So if your
English isn't very good,
00:48:32.41\00:48:34.44
you rely on Christian to...
00:48:34.48\00:48:38.11
We divide our obligation.
00:48:38.15\00:48:40.05
He speaks, I work. Okay.
00:48:40.08\00:48:43.99
And so and one of the
things that you're wearing
00:48:44.02\00:48:46.79
that you and Galina are wearing
00:48:46.82\00:48:48.72
this is common local dress in...
00:48:48.76\00:48:53.73
If you come in
national holidays,
00:48:53.76\00:48:55.93
you can see people wearing this.
00:48:55.96\00:48:57.30
Okay, okay, all right.
00:48:57.33\00:48:58.67
So I understand that
if you go to their booth,
00:48:58.70\00:49:00.60
you're able to actually
take a picture with them
00:49:00.64\00:49:02.47
in their national
garbs, so that's wonderful.
00:49:02.50\00:49:04.57
Welcome.
00:49:04.61\00:49:06.14
Okay.
00:49:06.17\00:49:07.51
So let's talk to
Galina a little bit.
00:49:07.54\00:49:09.61
Galena, so I understand
that you're a graduate
00:49:09.64\00:49:12.18
of Adventist School Kyrgyzstan?
00:49:12.21\00:49:13.55
Yes.
00:49:13.58\00:49:14.92
How is it that
you came to go there?
00:49:14.95\00:49:16.52
Well, I started
going there when I was...
00:49:16.55\00:49:19.32
Well, I started
school in the first grade
00:49:19.35\00:49:22.02
and my mom put me there
not because it was Christian
00:49:22.06\00:49:24.53
but because the school was
the best school in my town.
00:49:24.56\00:49:28.43
And public schools all
there is not really good
00:49:28.46\00:49:32.07
because the teachers are
not really caring about you,
00:49:32.10\00:49:34.40
they're like just caring
if you give them presents
00:49:34.44\00:49:36.67
or they give
you, sometimes money.
00:49:36.71\00:49:39.04
Because like they're
not getting enough payment,
00:49:39.07\00:49:42.34
and also another
reason my mom put me there,
00:49:42.38\00:49:45.55
is that in Kyrgyzstan
it's really cold in the winter
00:49:45.58\00:49:48.75
and in public
schools in the winter
00:49:48.78\00:49:50.69
like inside of the
school it's really cold.
00:49:50.72\00:49:53.72
So the kids should
wear their coat, and gloves,
00:49:53.76\00:49:56.22
and hats, and everything.
00:49:56.26\00:49:57.83
And so in Adventist school,
it's warm inside in the winters
00:49:57.86\00:50:01.86
so that's why my
mom put me there.
00:50:01.90\00:50:04.77
Safety and warmth
first, absolutely.
00:50:04.80\00:50:07.80
So how was it that you
were introduced to Jesus
00:50:07.84\00:50:10.11
at the school?
00:50:10.14\00:50:12.17
Well, like I know
different but from my family
00:50:12.21\00:50:15.84
because I felt
like I needed something,
00:50:15.88\00:50:18.38
I felt like it's
something I have to know
00:50:18.41\00:50:20.78
like I didn't know what it was.
00:50:20.82\00:50:23.08
Then when I was in
eighth grade, I knew one,
00:50:23.12\00:50:29.09
actually it was
Christian's sister.
00:50:29.12\00:50:31.39
She went there
to be a missionary
00:50:31.43\00:50:34.06
and she gave us
classes in English,
00:50:34.10\00:50:35.86
through there I got to
know, so she ask the girls,
00:50:35.90\00:50:38.77
and once I told them,
00:50:38.80\00:50:40.40
"Hey, let's go to do
something on Saturday.
00:50:40.44\00:50:42.57
Let's go to a
walk or something."
00:50:42.60\00:50:44.91
And they told me
they can't do that
00:50:44.94\00:50:47.11
because they're
going to church on Saturday
00:50:47.14\00:50:49.01
and for me it was
like, you can't think about
00:50:49.04\00:50:52.31
and that's it
like excuse not to go
00:50:52.35\00:50:53.68
it was meant to go
like to work because for me
00:50:53.72\00:50:55.85
to going to
church it's on Sunday.
00:50:55.88\00:50:58.72
And then they told me
about the Adventist Church
00:50:58.75\00:51:01.16
and then I went there
with them and I like that.
00:51:01.19\00:51:04.69
Oh, that's wonderful.
00:51:04.73\00:51:06.43
So that your introduction
to Jesus came from your friends
00:51:06.46\00:51:10.00
there at school?
00:51:10.03\00:51:11.83
Yeah, there actually it
wasn't like a school students
00:51:11.87\00:51:14.67
but they were like just
coming to English classes
00:51:14.70\00:51:16.47
at school in this school.
00:51:16.50\00:51:18.24
Okay, wonderful, wonderful
00:51:18.27\00:51:20.61
and we don't have
a lot of time left,
00:51:20.64\00:51:23.21
but tell me what it has
meant to actually have Jesus
00:51:23.24\00:51:27.32
in your life as a result?
00:51:27.35\00:51:29.45
Well, as I knew
Jesus, and I see like,
00:51:29.48\00:51:32.12
I finally found
what I was looking for
00:51:32.15\00:51:34.36
a whole like, my life
actually and I feel like
00:51:34.39\00:51:40.13
there's nothing
better than knowing Jesus
00:51:40.16\00:51:42.53
and being in church.
00:51:42.56\00:51:43.97
And everything I have now
it's because I know Jesus.
00:51:44.00\00:51:47.04
Amen.
00:51:47.07\00:51:48.40
And now Galina is
studying at Monte Morello,
00:51:48.44\00:51:50.74
she wants to
become an English teacher.
00:51:50.77\00:51:52.47
Amen. Thank you very much.
00:51:52.51\00:51:53.88
Thank you for your
offering in advance
00:51:53.91\00:51:56.64
so that we can help the
Adventist School Kyrgyzstan
00:51:56.68\00:51:59.35
teach others about Jesus.
00:51:59.38\00:52:01.28
Thank you.
00:52:01.32\00:52:02.65
To be at ASI and to hear about
00:52:07.46\00:52:08.82
what God is
doing around the world.
00:52:08.86\00:52:10.19
Amen.
00:52:10.23\00:52:11.56
Well, not far from
the country of Kyrgyzstan
00:52:11.59\00:52:13.76
is an area of the world
00:52:13.80\00:52:15.20
that is a particular
challenge for evangelism.
00:52:15.23\00:52:18.27
And just a few years ago,
00:52:18.30\00:52:19.63
the General
Conference organized,
00:52:19.67\00:52:21.37
reorganized the 20
countries in the Middle East,
00:52:21.40\00:52:24.47
to form the Middle
East and North Africa Union
00:52:24.51\00:52:27.61
with 545 million people.
00:52:27.64\00:52:29.91
It is one of the
most challenging areas
00:52:29.94\00:52:31.81
of the world for evangelism
and with me here today
00:52:31.85\00:52:34.38
is Rick McEdward,
the president of MEAN.
00:52:34.42\00:52:36.62
And, Rick, tell us you
have a guest with you as well.
00:52:36.65\00:52:39.02
Yeah, thanks, Kyle. Yes,
with me is Michael Eckert.
00:52:39.05\00:52:41.69
He is our
publishing ministries director
00:52:41.72\00:52:44.39
in the Middle
East North Africa Union
00:52:44.43\00:52:46.73
and it's fun to be
here with the ASI group,
00:52:46.76\00:52:49.26
we love the enthusiasm
that everybody shares here.
00:52:49.30\00:52:51.57
Amen.
00:52:51.60\00:52:52.93
So, Rick, you
have quite a challenge
00:52:52.97\00:52:54.37
on your hands with MENA.
00:52:54.40\00:52:56.81
I think that's fair to say.
00:52:56.84\00:52:58.77
We have 20
countries as Kyle mentioned
00:52:58.81\00:53:01.74
545 million people,
but 95% of those people
00:53:01.78\00:53:06.31
come from a large
non-Christian religion
00:53:06.35\00:53:10.19
that we hear about in
the news almost every day.
00:53:10.22\00:53:13.99
In our union, we
have one Adventist
00:53:14.02\00:53:17.83
to every 167,000 people.
00:53:17.86\00:53:23.37
In North America, it's
one Adventist for every 294.
00:53:23.40\00:53:28.07
So if every
Adventist in the whole union
00:53:28.10\00:53:31.54
was faithful to share the gospel
00:53:31.57\00:53:34.38
once every single day.
00:53:34.41\00:53:38.05
All those 3,700 members,
it would take us 410 years
00:53:38.08\00:53:42.78
to complete the
simple gospel commission
00:53:42.82\00:53:45.65
that Christ has given us.
00:53:45.69\00:53:47.02
So, Rick, last year in light
of this incredible challenge,
00:53:50.83\00:53:55.90
ASI sponsored a project
as a part of the offering
00:53:55.93\00:53:59.70
to do something
very special in MENA.
00:53:59.73\00:54:02.47
Tell us a little
bit about that project?
00:54:02.50\00:54:04.74
Well, I'll let
Michael explain the project
00:54:04.77\00:54:08.71
and how it makes an
impact in our union.
00:54:08.74\00:54:12.75
As Rick has already mentioned,
we have a tremendous challenge
00:54:12.78\00:54:15.42
and our 20 countries we
have more than seven languages
00:54:15.45\00:54:19.25
that are spoken in
these 20 countries.
00:54:19.29\00:54:21.92
And Arabic,
Farsi, and Turkish alone,
00:54:21.96\00:54:25.76
these three
languages over 500 million
00:54:25.79\00:54:28.73
which is half a
billion people on the planet
00:54:28.76\00:54:31.13
speak that language.
00:54:31.17\00:54:32.80
And Arabic alone is a
little liturgical language
00:54:32.83\00:54:37.07
for 1.6 billion
Muslims on this planet.
00:54:37.11\00:54:41.71
Arabic, and so
our goal was last year
00:54:41.74\00:54:45.81
to produce The
Conflict of the Ages series,
00:54:45.85\00:54:48.95
which are the five
major books of Ellen White,
00:54:48.98\00:54:51.55
Patriarchs and
Prophets, Prophets and Kings,
00:54:51.59\00:54:54.06
The Great Controversy,
The Acts of the Apostles,
00:54:54.09\00:54:56.79
The Desire of Ages in
these three languages.
00:54:56.83\00:54:59.49
And we partnered with
the General Conference
00:54:59.53\00:55:01.36
EG White Estate and with ASI
to make that project possible.
00:55:01.40\00:55:06.87
Can I just
interject here for a moment
00:55:06.90\00:55:10.04
in concert with this project
00:55:10.07\00:55:13.38
an experience
that we had recently?
00:55:13.41\00:55:15.94
There was a young man
from one of our countries,
00:55:15.98\00:55:18.91
the country I
will not disclose here.
00:55:18.95\00:55:21.68
But he was, he had moved
away from his home was in Europe
00:55:21.72\00:55:24.95
and as he was there in
Europe working in the night,
00:55:24.99\00:55:28.82
he got a strong
impression from God,
00:55:28.86\00:55:30.93
"You must go back
to your home country."
00:55:30.96\00:55:33.50
Three times in the night,
00:55:33.53\00:55:35.03
you must go back
to your home country
00:55:35.06\00:55:36.67
and he's like, "Why would I go?
00:55:36.70\00:55:38.23
It's winter there.
00:55:38.27\00:55:39.93
It's raining, there's no
reason for me to go back."
00:55:39.97\00:55:43.67
But he obeyed the
impression that he got from God.
00:55:43.71\00:55:47.74
When he went back,
he was a lot walking
00:55:47.78\00:55:49.98
along the street corner
in one of our largest cities
00:55:50.01\00:55:54.02
in the Middle East
North Africa Union.
00:55:54.05\00:55:55.95
I mean, it's a massive city.
00:55:55.98\00:55:59.02
And as he was
walking, he just happened to be
00:55:59.05\00:56:02.62
between a ferry
terminal and a university
00:56:02.66\00:56:05.49
where we have a
congregation that meets.
00:56:05.53\00:56:09.06
And along the streets near
where the congregation meets
00:56:09.10\00:56:12.50
we have a nice literature
rack and that literature rack
00:56:12.53\00:56:15.84
has several well known titles,
the Seventh-day Adventists,
00:56:15.87\00:56:19.31
it has Bibles,
it has other things
00:56:19.34\00:56:21.44
and because it's
on a busy thoroughfare
00:56:21.48\00:56:24.18
that particular corner
gets thousands and thousands
00:56:24.21\00:56:29.95
of people walking
by every single week.
00:56:29.98\00:56:32.49
So this guy
stopped picked up a book
00:56:32.52\00:56:36.99
and started reading it.
00:56:37.03\00:56:39.83
As he read it his
attention was totally captured
00:56:39.86\00:56:44.43
by what he was reading
00:56:44.47\00:56:46.07
and that book was
The Great Controversy.
00:56:46.10\00:56:48.20
Now after that he said,
00:56:48.24\00:56:50.31
I can't stop, this is addictive,
00:56:50.34\00:56:52.47
he was addicted to
reading The Great Controversy.
00:56:52.51\00:56:55.01
He sat down and
read it in one weekend.
00:56:55.04\00:56:57.25
I don't know how many
of you have tried that
00:56:57.28\00:56:58.75
but that's not an easy task.
00:56:58.78\00:57:00.12
How many of you
read in one weekend?
00:57:00.15\00:57:02.32
That's incredible.
I don't see any hands.
00:57:02.35\00:57:03.89
But there reality was
he came back and he says,
00:57:03.92\00:57:07.46
"What else do you have?"
00:57:07.49\00:57:08.82
And they gave
him some more books.
00:57:08.86\00:57:10.19
And then he went to
our head office and he said
00:57:10.23\00:57:13.03
there has to be
more and so they gave him
00:57:13.06\00:57:14.80
some in English
because he could speak English.
00:57:14.83\00:57:16.83
And little by little
he became so consumed
00:57:16.87\00:57:21.70
with reading Ellen
White and knowing the Jesus
00:57:21.74\00:57:25.01
that she promotes...
00:57:25.04\00:57:26.37
Amen.
00:57:26.41\00:57:28.14
That his life was changed.
00:57:28.18\00:57:30.48
And today he is back
there in that large city
00:57:30.51\00:57:35.18
at that same group
00:57:35.22\00:57:36.69
and he is manning the
booth at the literature rack
00:57:36.72\00:57:39.49
and drawing
people as they walk by
00:57:39.52\00:57:42.72
into a new
relationship with Jesus.
00:57:42.76\00:57:44.19
We are giving away 200
Bibles every single week, Kyle.
00:57:44.23\00:57:48.26
Praise the Lord.
00:57:48.30\00:57:49.63
And we are giving
away 70 Ellen White titles
00:57:49.66\00:57:53.13
whether one of the
ones that we're working on
00:57:53.17\00:57:55.87
or others as a result of
that connection that he had,
00:57:55.90\00:58:01.08
that impression
that he followed,
00:58:01.11\00:58:03.08
God is using it now
to reach out to many.
00:58:03.11\00:58:05.95
And we're seeing the
impact of the Spirit of Prophecy
00:58:05.98\00:58:09.88
in real time in our union,
when people are willing to stop
00:58:09.92\00:58:13.69
and read what they see.
00:58:13.72\00:58:15.06
So, Rick, you're telling me that
00:58:15.09\00:58:16.49
because of what some of
our members gave last year
00:58:16.52\00:58:18.96
here at the ASI offering,
there are people in MENA
00:58:18.99\00:58:21.40
who will be able to
read the Spirit of Prophecy
00:58:21.43\00:58:23.47
for the first time.
00:58:23.50\00:58:24.83
Absolutely. Amen. Amen.
00:58:24.87\00:58:26.20
There's nothing
better than that.
00:58:26.23\00:58:27.57
Rick, finally, how
can our ASI members
00:58:27.60\00:58:30.41
and those watching
us on 3ABN get involved
00:58:30.44\00:58:32.94
with what you're doing in MENA?
00:58:32.97\00:58:34.58
Well, first of all, you
know, everybody can be involved
00:58:34.61\00:58:37.55
because everybody can pray
00:58:37.58\00:58:39.65
and in the Middle
East North Africa Union,
00:58:39.68\00:58:41.78
we believe that God is
moving mountains by prayer.
00:58:41.82\00:58:44.45
So please pray for us,
00:58:44.49\00:58:45.92
but I want to
mention something else.
00:58:45.95\00:58:48.39
There is so much to do,
and we have major cities
00:58:48.42\00:58:54.43
of over a million
people that do not have
00:58:54.46\00:58:56.13
one Seventh-day Adventist
00:58:56.16\00:58:57.80
and we need people
with business background,
00:58:57.83\00:59:00.40
we need people
who are professionals,
00:59:00.44\00:59:02.07
we need supporting ministries
to come into our territory,
00:59:02.10\00:59:05.14
to establish a
lighthouse for God's kingdom
00:59:05.17\00:59:07.78
and to work with
us on how to start
00:59:07.81\00:59:10.28
new fellowship groups
00:59:10.31\00:59:11.65
throughout the Middle
East and North Africa Union.
00:59:11.68\00:59:13.88