Steve, why don't you
tell us what it was like
00:00:21.35\00:00:25.45
as your family pioneered
00:00:25.49\00:00:28.02
ministry at
Harbert Hills Academy?
00:00:28.06\00:00:31.73
My Father showed
up at Madison College,
00:00:31.76\00:00:35.06
came from California
at the young age of 18.
00:00:35.10\00:00:38.13
He left California with
just a few dollars in his pocket
00:00:38.17\00:00:40.70
enough for a bus ticket
to get across the country
00:00:40.77\00:00:43.37
and to Madison.
00:00:43.44\00:00:44.84
He showed up there and he said,
00:00:44.87\00:00:46.61
"Well, here I am, I'm
ready to go to school."
00:00:46.64\00:00:48.74
He was accepted into college.
00:00:48.78\00:00:50.61
And sure enough, they let him in
00:00:50.68\00:00:52.61
with just a few
dollars in his pocket,
00:00:52.65\00:00:54.25
he began to work his
way through school there.
00:00:54.28\00:00:56.95
My Mother showed
up from Massachusetts.
00:00:57.02\00:00:59.55
She had been raised.
00:00:59.59\00:01:00.99
Her Father was in the Navy
00:01:01.02\00:01:02.36
and had moved all
over the countryside.
00:01:02.39\00:01:04.16
At the age of 15, she had
become converted to Adventism
00:01:04.23\00:01:08.53
through a friend of hers.
00:01:08.56\00:01:10.23
She was the only
Adventist in her family
00:01:10.27\00:01:12.33
but she felt impressed
00:01:12.37\00:01:15.37
when it was
time to go to college
00:01:15.40\00:01:16.81
that she should try to go
00:01:16.87\00:01:18.21
to a Seventh-day
Adventist College.
00:01:18.24\00:01:20.44
Because the family
didn't have a lot of money,
00:01:20.48\00:01:22.54
she ended up at Madison College
00:01:22.58\00:01:24.35
and she was taking
the nursing course there.
00:01:24.38\00:01:27.78
And her and my
Father became acquainted.
00:01:27.82\00:01:29.95
Eventually, they were married.
00:01:29.98\00:01:32.39
One day, they were
sitting in chapel together
00:01:32.42\00:01:34.59
and as the custom was for
many chapel services at Madison,
00:01:34.62\00:01:39.73
one of the things
they did regularly
00:01:39.76\00:01:42.03
was they made an appeal
for new work to get started.
00:01:42.06\00:01:47.37
And so, Mr. William E. Patterson
00:01:47.40\00:01:50.04
was standing up in front of
the auditorium in chapel there
00:01:50.07\00:01:53.14
and he was saying, "You
know, we're going to start
00:01:53.17\00:01:55.34
some new work
00:01:55.38\00:01:56.71
and we have a vision
to start a new school
00:01:56.78\00:01:59.61
and I'm going
to need some help."
00:01:59.65\00:02:02.05
And he began to
describe his vision
00:02:02.08\00:02:04.52
of what he wanted to
do in helping young people
00:02:04.55\00:02:07.06
and to earn their
way through school
00:02:07.09\00:02:09.76
and to plant an institution
00:02:09.79\00:02:12.16
where there was no
Seventh-day Adventist presence.
00:02:12.19\00:02:15.50
And as I heard the story,
00:02:15.53\00:02:18.33
my Mother elbowed my
Father in the ribs and said,
00:02:18.37\00:02:22.60
"Louis, I think that's us."
00:02:22.64\00:02:24.71
And of course,
with a little elbowing,
00:02:24.74\00:02:27.08
you usually get up, right?
00:02:27.14\00:02:28.98
And so my Father and
my Mother went forward
00:02:29.01\00:02:31.65
and dedicated themselves
00:02:31.68\00:02:33.01
to helping to begin the
work of this institution.
00:02:33.05\00:02:36.85
This was in 1951, in
the late part of 1951.
00:02:36.89\00:02:42.76
And Mr. Patterson went
to Hardin County, Tennessee.
00:02:42.79\00:02:46.76
Now Hardin County, Tennessee
is an interesting place,
00:02:46.80\00:02:49.10
there was no
Seventh-day Adventist
00:02:49.13\00:02:50.73
presence in that county.
00:02:50.80\00:02:52.13
In fact, there was no
Seventh-day Adventist presence
00:02:52.17\00:02:55.17
in about nine counties
surrounding Hardin County.
00:02:55.20\00:02:58.71
But God had not
left this place forsaken.
00:02:58.74\00:03:01.51
Several years before that time,
he had sent two colporteurs
00:03:01.54\00:03:04.98
working their way through
Madison to Hardin County.
00:03:05.01\00:03:07.88
And these two young
men went to the county,
00:03:07.92\00:03:10.29
and there was something
very interesting going on
00:03:10.32\00:03:12.45
in the county as
they were getting ready
00:03:12.49\00:03:14.42
to do their colporteuring.
00:03:14.46\00:03:15.79
And they found out
00:03:15.82\00:03:17.16
there was a high
profile murder case going on.
00:03:17.23\00:03:19.66
And they both had a
little interest in that
00:03:19.69\00:03:21.53
and so they
said, "You know what?
00:03:21.56\00:03:23.16
We're going to go colporteur
00:03:23.20\00:03:24.97
and then, when we
get down colporteuring,
00:03:25.00\00:03:27.24
we're going to go check and see
00:03:27.30\00:03:28.64
what's going on with this case."
00:03:28.67\00:03:30.27
And so they began to watch
the case as it went through
00:03:30.31\00:03:33.27
and they became
acquainted with the judge
00:03:33.34\00:03:36.01
whose name was Judge Herbert.
00:03:36.04\00:03:38.18
Well, so they were
kind of paving the way.
00:03:38.21\00:03:41.52
And when Mr. Patterson
showed up in Hardin County,
00:03:41.55\00:03:44.55
he said, "I'm needing some
property to start a school,
00:03:44.59\00:03:47.66
who should I see?"
00:03:47.69\00:03:49.22
And someone directed
them to Judge Herbert.
00:03:49.26\00:03:52.59
Judge Herbert sat with
him in his office and he said,
00:03:52.63\00:03:56.26
"Mr. Patterson, I understand
what you're saying here
00:03:56.30\00:03:59.47
and I will be happy to help you.
00:03:59.50\00:04:01.80
Here is a plat of my property,
you go out and pick out
00:04:01.84\00:04:04.74
what you think you need
and let me know what that is.
00:04:04.77\00:04:07.28
And if you do what you
say you're going to do,
00:04:07.31\00:04:10.25
then you can have that property.
00:04:10.28\00:04:12.38
But if ten years from
now, you haven't done it,
00:04:12.41\00:04:15.05
it comes back to me."
00:04:15.08\00:04:16.99
So 220 acres was
donated to the project,
00:04:17.02\00:04:21.16
the Madison College
students came onboard.
00:04:21.19\00:04:23.46
They began to come to
Harbert Hills Academy property,
00:04:23.53\00:04:25.89
there was nothing there.
00:04:25.93\00:04:27.30
They started clearing land,
00:04:27.30\00:04:28.83
they eventually built a little
camp site there and continued.
00:04:28.86\00:04:33.17
There was no electricity,
there was no running water.
00:04:33.20\00:04:35.34
They began to
clear it right away
00:04:35.37\00:04:36.71
and bring the electricity in.
00:04:36.77\00:04:38.37
And eventually, drilled a well
00:04:38.41\00:04:41.18
and actually had
something going on there.
00:04:41.21\00:04:43.61
So it took a little while.
00:04:43.65\00:04:45.11
But God was
blessing in the process
00:04:45.15\00:04:47.12
and people were...
00:04:47.18\00:04:48.52
The students from
Madison would come down
00:04:48.55\00:04:49.92
and they would work there
00:04:49.95\00:04:51.72
and trying to get
something started there.
00:04:51.75\00:04:54.22
Well, it's just
amazing what God does overtime
00:04:54.26\00:04:56.39
and with people
that are willing.
00:04:56.42\00:04:58.06
And Mr. Patterson's
son, David Patterson,
00:04:58.09\00:05:03.47
and my Father
brought their business.
00:05:03.50\00:05:05.90
They were in the
business of rebuilding pianos.
00:05:05.93\00:05:08.20
So they moved
their business there,
00:05:08.24\00:05:09.94
so that there was an Industry
at Harbert Hills Academy.
00:05:10.01\00:05:13.11
My Mother and Mr. Patterson's
wife started a nursing home.
00:05:13.14\00:05:17.05
We were the smallest
licensed nursing home
00:05:17.08\00:05:18.95
in the state of
Tennessee with three beds.
00:05:18.98\00:05:21.08
We laugh about it
today, three little beds there.
00:05:21.12\00:05:24.52
And the funds to build
that first little home there,
00:05:24.55\00:05:28.59
it's called the
Clara Elis Hayes home.
00:05:28.62\00:05:31.03
Mr. Patterson had a
bit interesting background,
00:05:31.06\00:05:33.50
Mr. Patterson
Sr., he was an agent
00:05:33.53\00:05:36.13
for the Federal Government.
00:05:36.16\00:05:37.53
And his job was to
put people in jail.
00:05:37.57\00:05:40.04
And so it was
rather interesting.
00:05:40.10\00:05:41.87
One day, someone
knocked on his office door
00:05:41.90\00:05:43.77
there at the college and said,
00:05:43.81\00:05:45.14
"Mr. Patterson, I
would like to talk to you."
00:05:45.17\00:05:47.34
He said, "Okay, come in."
00:05:47.38\00:05:48.71
He said, "My
name is Roger Hayes.
00:05:48.74\00:05:50.31
Do you remember me?"
00:05:50.35\00:05:51.68
Mr. Patterson says,
"No, I don't think I do."
00:05:51.71\00:05:54.35
He said, "Well,
you put me in jail.
00:05:54.38\00:05:56.45
And I told you
that if ever got out,
00:05:56.48\00:05:58.25
I was going to
come back and see you."
00:05:58.29\00:06:00.29
Well, at that
point, Mr. Patterson became
00:06:00.32\00:06:01.82
just a little bit
nervous wondering what was next.
00:06:01.86\00:06:04.59
But he said," No, I've
heard about what you're doing.
00:06:04.63\00:06:06.43
Don't worry, I've heard about
00:06:06.46\00:06:07.76
what you're doing
down in Hardin County
00:06:07.83\00:06:09.30
and I want to help you."
00:06:09.33\00:06:11.20
He said, "What do you need?"
00:06:11.23\00:06:12.57
He said, "Well,
we need a building.
00:06:12.60\00:06:13.94
We're gonna start a
little nursing home there."
00:06:13.97\00:06:16.04
He said," Well, how
much is that going to cost?"
00:06:16.07\00:06:18.74
And he pulled out and he
wrote Mr. Patterson a check
00:06:18.77\00:06:20.88
for what he asked for to build
00:06:20.91\00:06:22.24
that first little
building for a nursing home.
00:06:22.28\00:06:24.75
And Mr. Patterson told him,
00:06:24.78\00:06:26.11
"Look, we've got a problem here.
00:06:26.15\00:06:27.55
We can't name this after you."
00:06:27.62\00:06:29.02
His practice was to name things
00:06:29.05\00:06:30.62
after the person
that donated the money.
00:06:30.69\00:06:32.75
He said, "We can't
name this after you
00:06:32.79\00:06:34.16
because you're a gangster."
00:06:34.19\00:06:35.52
He said, "I can't
have that on the campus."
00:06:35.56\00:06:37.89
And Mr. Hayes
said, "Well, no problem.
00:06:37.93\00:06:40.00
You can name it
after my Mother."
00:06:40.03\00:06:41.80
And so the Clare Elis Hayes home
00:06:41.83\00:06:43.63
was started, three residents.
00:06:43.67\00:06:45.67
Now we have 49 residents
and a beautiful facility there.
00:06:45.70\00:06:48.77
God has blessed immeasurably.
00:06:48.80\00:06:50.57
We have about 60 to 80
students in the school,
00:06:50.61\00:06:55.01
we have a farm program,
00:06:55.04\00:06:57.55
and a radio
station broadcasting too
00:06:57.61\00:07:00.88
between Nashville and Memphis
00:07:00.95\00:07:02.58
and all those
rural areas out there.
00:07:02.62\00:07:05.35
There are four churches that
exist in that local area now.
00:07:05.39\00:07:08.36
And it's not all
because of what happened there,
00:07:08.39\00:07:10.46
but Madison had a
part to play in this.
00:07:10.49\00:07:12.19
They were inspiring lay
people to do amazing things.
00:07:12.23\00:07:15.13
Many people were
coming out of Madison
00:07:15.16\00:07:16.90
doing these amazing things
00:07:16.97\00:07:18.40
all across the south
and around the world,
00:07:18.43\00:07:20.34
it's just amazing.
00:07:20.37\00:07:21.70
And I believe
that God had a plan.
00:07:21.74\00:07:24.64
Madison wasn't an easy place.
00:07:24.67\00:07:26.57
We've heard about that already.
00:07:26.61\00:07:28.58
But I think that
was for a reason,
00:07:28.61\00:07:30.05
because God was
showing people there,
00:07:30.08\00:07:32.35
if it can be done here,
it can be done anywhere.
00:07:32.38\00:07:35.65
You know, Steve, God is racing
up a generation of leaders
00:07:35.68\00:07:40.76
in young people who'll carry
that torch of self sacrifice,
00:07:40.79\00:07:44.96
of commitment, of mission focus.
00:07:44.99\00:07:48.60
And God is racing up
once again in this generation.
00:07:48.63\00:07:53.40
You know one thing though
00:07:53.44\00:07:54.77
that is a little
troubling frankly.
00:07:54.80\00:07:57.91
And that is, that
Madison did not continue,
00:07:57.94\00:08:02.44
Madison closed.
00:08:02.48\00:08:04.61
Is there a reason for that?
00:08:04.65\00:08:06.48
Are there any
instructive lessons
00:08:06.51\00:08:08.75
that the church can learn today
00:08:08.78\00:08:10.62
from the fact that,
00:08:10.65\00:08:11.99
here is an institution
that was reported about
00:08:12.02\00:08:14.42
in Reader's Digest,
00:08:14.46\00:08:15.92
here is an institution
00:08:15.96\00:08:17.29
that the United
States Education Department
00:08:17.36\00:08:19.53
actually lauded as a
model of American education,
00:08:19.56\00:08:23.47
here is an institution
00:08:23.50\00:08:24.83
that spawns scores
of other institutions
00:08:24.87\00:08:28.27
and had hundreds
and hundreds of students
00:08:28.30\00:08:32.24
go out all over the world
00:08:32.27\00:08:33.61
but yet it does not
exist in that same form today,
00:08:33.68\00:08:38.21
what lessons are instructive?
00:08:38.25\00:08:40.52
Well, I think there
are several lessons.
00:08:40.55\00:08:42.85
One of the lessons
that I take from it
00:08:42.88\00:08:45.45
is the great need
of our institutions
00:08:45.49\00:08:48.79
across the country
and around the world,
00:08:48.82\00:08:51.09
whether they're
supporting ministries
00:08:51.13\00:08:52.59
or church owned institutions.
00:08:52.63\00:08:55.43
There is a huge
need for leadership.
00:08:55.46\00:08:58.60
And EA Sutherland
was in his waning years.
00:08:58.63\00:09:03.44
In 1955, EA
Sutherland passed away.
00:09:03.47\00:09:07.34
The school lasted beyond that
for about another nine years,
00:09:07.41\00:09:11.88
but leadership is
so extremely important.
00:09:11.91\00:09:15.42
And this was one of
things, one of the qualities
00:09:15.45\00:09:18.82
that I believe God was
engendering in the people
00:09:18.85\00:09:21.86
that came to Madison
00:09:21.89\00:09:23.49
because the
conditions were difficult.
00:09:23.56\00:09:25.53
And as you have mentioned,
00:09:25.56\00:09:27.40
sometimes difficulties in
our life are the best teachers.
00:09:27.46\00:09:32.17
They're very instructive,
00:09:32.20\00:09:33.54
we learn rather quickly
under very difficult conditions.
00:09:33.57\00:09:37.14
And so I would just
challenge our ASI family.
00:09:37.21\00:09:42.84
Some of you are leaders,
00:09:42.88\00:09:44.45
some of you have
leadership ability,
00:09:44.48\00:09:47.22
and God may be calling you
00:09:47.25\00:09:48.98
to step out of your comfort zone
00:09:49.02\00:09:51.22
and to step into
institutional life
00:09:51.25\00:09:53.69
where leaders
are in such demand.
00:09:53.76\00:09:56.06
Just sense being
here at this convention,
00:09:56.09\00:09:59.26
I've had several institutional
leaders come to me and say,
00:09:59.29\00:10:03.00
"Please help us, we need people.
00:10:03.03\00:10:05.97
While it's true,
money is helpful,
00:10:06.00\00:10:08.70
even more helpful
than money is people,
00:10:08.74\00:10:10.87
and we need people
that are dedicated people
00:10:10.91\00:10:13.74
who would come
and put their lives
00:10:13.78\00:10:15.61
into the work that God is
doing in our institution,"
00:10:15.64\00:10:18.35
so it's a huge thing.
00:10:18.38\00:10:19.78
I think there's a
couple of other things though.
00:10:19.81\00:10:24.05
And as far as being instructive,
00:10:24.09\00:10:25.95
I think we need
to be very careful
00:10:25.99\00:10:27.76
with what God gives us.
00:10:27.79\00:10:29.76
Madison had been
in a time of decline
00:10:29.79\00:10:33.86
for a number of years
00:10:33.90\00:10:35.20
and the
facilities were declining,
00:10:35.23\00:10:37.53
and the relationship
with the state demanded
00:10:37.57\00:10:40.07
that they have good facilities,
00:10:40.10\00:10:41.77
and for housing
the nursing students,
00:10:41.80\00:10:43.97
and for teaching,
and things like that.
00:10:44.04\00:10:46.27
The facilities had
been allowed to decline.
00:10:46.31\00:10:49.88
Now this was really at
the very beginning of ASI,
00:10:49.91\00:10:53.65
and so there
was not that kind of
00:10:53.68\00:10:55.85
organization in place
00:10:55.88\00:10:58.05
to help the
institution see the need
00:10:58.09\00:11:00.36
and provide some
of those resources
00:11:00.39\00:11:02.32
for capital improvements
that needed to take place.
00:11:02.36\00:11:05.93
So it's the leadership
issue, capital improvements,
00:11:05.96\00:11:09.53
and sometimes we get distracted
00:11:09.56\00:11:13.70
in an institutional environment.
00:11:13.74\00:11:15.50
We're paying
attention to the minor things
00:11:15.54\00:11:18.14
when we need to be paying
attention to the big things.
00:11:18.17\00:11:21.38
And so that's another thing
00:11:21.41\00:11:22.98
that I think had some impact
on what was happening there.
00:11:23.01\00:11:27.98
So, you know it...
00:11:28.02\00:11:30.99
We do have a need, in fact,
for workers without a question.
00:11:31.02\00:11:35.02
You know Elder Wilson, as
we think about leadership,
00:11:35.06\00:11:38.76
you sit as President
to the General Conference
00:11:38.79\00:11:42.50
of Seventh-day Adventist.
00:11:42.53\00:11:44.27
And leadership is a
need all over the world.
00:11:44.30\00:11:46.87
Share with us just
briefly a few qualities
00:11:46.90\00:11:49.97
that you see in godly
Christian leaders today.
00:11:50.04\00:11:54.14
What are the kind of qualities
that God uses in leaders
00:11:54.21\00:11:59.11
to really take the
church beyond where it is,
00:11:59.15\00:12:01.88
to take an
institution beyond where it is
00:12:01.92\00:12:04.82
for aspiring leaders?
00:12:04.85\00:12:06.96
Essentially, it requires
an absolute faith in God,
00:12:06.99\00:12:12.33
a humble spirit.
00:12:12.36\00:12:14.76
And I tell you,
and I speak to myself.
00:12:14.83\00:12:18.53
All leaders today can be
challenged with the glamour
00:12:18.57\00:12:23.97
or the centrality of position
00:12:24.01\00:12:27.74
and it is only in
humbling ourselves before God
00:12:27.78\00:12:31.25
that we'll see anything
accomplished of any real value.
00:12:31.28\00:12:34.88
If you are a humble leader,
even if you may not be schooled
00:12:34.92\00:12:37.95
in the best
techniques of leadership,
00:12:37.99\00:12:40.82
God will use you just
as He did to the disciples.
00:12:40.86\00:12:44.29
And
self-supporting work and ASI,
00:12:44.33\00:12:48.23
the aspects that we've
been talking about today,
00:12:48.26\00:12:51.30
one of the
greatest characteristics,
00:12:51.33\00:12:53.07
Steve, is really in
terms of leadership,
00:12:53.10\00:12:56.00
people who are willing
to do anything they could
00:12:56.04\00:12:59.47
to advance the work of God.
00:12:59.51\00:13:01.61
So leadership
certainly has to be humble,
00:13:01.64\00:13:04.65
it has to be knowledgeable,
00:13:04.68\00:13:06.72
it has to be completely
leaning upon the Lord Himself,
00:13:06.75\00:13:11.69
and it has to be creative.
00:13:11.72\00:13:14.16
And the Lord intends
for us to use creative ideas
00:13:14.19\00:13:17.73
and our own initiative,
00:13:17.76\00:13:20.10
and He will add His
blessing to what happens.
00:13:20.13\00:13:24.23
Another huge factor in
leadership today is faith.
00:13:24.27\00:13:28.04
Faith in the
wonderful remnant understanding
00:13:28.07\00:13:33.34
of God's precious
prophetic movement
00:13:33.38\00:13:36.21
and that God truly
will be the leader.
00:13:36.24\00:13:39.58
You know, this morning,
we had a powerful sermon
00:13:39.61\00:13:42.32
to help us to
understand not to place
00:13:42.35\00:13:46.02
our trust in
ourselves or in what we can do,
00:13:46.05\00:13:50.29
but to lean completely on
God's power to accomplish it.
00:13:50.33\00:13:54.56
And not only God's power,
00:13:54.60\00:13:56.23
but God's way of
accomplishing it.
00:13:56.26\00:13:58.47
Amen. Amen.
00:13:58.50\00:13:59.83
And of course, as we read
in the Spirit of Prophecy,
00:13:59.87\00:14:01.87
we have so much instruction
00:14:01.90\00:14:03.54
about how God wants
to accomplish His work.
00:14:03.61\00:14:07.01
We need to have
faith to follow it.
00:14:07.08\00:14:10.95
You know, Charles, God trains
leaders in a variety of ways,
00:14:10.98\00:14:17.59
and let's get back to
some of that early history
00:14:17.62\00:14:20.09
and discover how
God trains leaders.
00:14:20.16\00:14:23.29
Elder Finley, when Walla Walla
and when Emmanuel Missionary,
00:14:23.32\00:14:27.13
and when Madison each started,
00:14:27.20\00:14:29.56
they each started very much
in privation and difficulty.
00:14:29.60\00:14:33.60
There were few bathtubs,
there was no air conditioning,
00:14:33.64\00:14:37.11
in many cases there was no heat,
00:14:37.17\00:14:39.97
there was no excess money.
00:14:40.04\00:14:42.71
They made do with
whatever they had on hand.
00:14:42.74\00:14:46.72
The first year at Madison,
00:14:46.78\00:14:48.68
they had corn and cows.
00:14:48.72\00:14:54.02
They sold butter to get flour.
00:14:54.06\00:14:56.42
The diet was corn
bread and milk toast.
00:14:56.46\00:14:59.03
And to introduce some
variety into the diet,
00:14:59.06\00:15:02.63
they created brewis.
00:15:02.66\00:15:05.47
Brewis was when you broke
your toast into smaller pieces
00:15:05.50\00:15:09.80
before you pour
down the skim milk.
00:15:09.84\00:15:14.71
And when they were
tempted to complain,
00:15:14.74\00:15:17.78
Ed would remind everyone
that the children of Israel
00:15:17.81\00:15:20.72
ate manna for 40 years,
they could manage for one.
00:15:20.75\00:15:24.19
I would like to close my remarks
00:15:27.19\00:15:29.79
with these
words from Lida Scott.
00:15:29.82\00:15:32.66
When she was reporting
00:15:32.69\00:15:34.10
to the assembled representatives
00:15:34.10\00:15:35.70
from the units in
1934, and I'm now quoting,
00:15:35.73\00:15:41.64
"Recently, some of the graduates
00:15:41.67\00:15:43.91
of Madison College
have had real experience
00:15:43.97\00:15:47.24
in helping to
establish a unit in Alabama.
00:15:47.28\00:15:50.51
Working in cooperation
with the Mississippi,
00:15:50.55\00:15:52.55
Alabama Conference,
none are promised salaries.
00:15:52.58\00:15:57.55
These, they must
earn for themselves.
00:15:57.59\00:16:01.59
Two others of our graduates
00:16:01.62\00:16:02.96
have gone to two
little church schools
00:16:02.99\00:16:04.53
in needy Mississippi areas.
00:16:04.56\00:16:08.30
As an encouragement
to those who are studying
00:16:08.33\00:16:10.80
the self supporting
cooperative plan of units,
00:16:10.87\00:16:13.64
I would say this, 'There are
units needing re-enforcements,
00:16:13.67\00:16:18.67
there are places still available
00:16:18.71\00:16:20.41
to earnest groups of people
capable of working together
00:16:20.48\00:16:24.08
effectively in co-operation
00:16:24.15\00:16:26.92
and able to
procure for themselves.'
00:16:26.95\00:16:32.12
The Lord has
faithful men and women
00:16:32.15\00:16:34.69
with money being
prepared in hidden places
00:16:34.72\00:16:39.76
who will respond to his
call in the fullness of time.
00:16:39.79\00:16:43.67
And to illustrate,
00:16:43.73\00:16:45.07
I came across one of
these hidden ones this year.
00:16:45.10\00:16:48.54
She said to me, 'If
some with vision or will,
00:16:48.57\00:16:52.74
and the muscle will respond,
I will furnish the money.'
00:16:52.77\00:16:59.21
She could not get young
folks with the will to work
00:16:59.25\00:17:02.18
and the determination to stick
it out through thick and thin.
00:17:02.22\00:17:06.65
This woman had been waiting
and praying for 20 years.
00:17:06.69\00:17:13.03
'It is easier to raise the means
00:17:16.16\00:17:21.27
than it is to raise the men.'
00:17:21.30\00:17:26.27
The night is coming
when no man can work.
00:17:26.31\00:17:29.98
Before the shadows
deepen into darkest midnight
00:17:30.05\00:17:32.68
the world has ever seen,
00:17:32.71\00:17:34.38
some must call, answer the call
00:17:34.42\00:17:38.95
saying, 'Here am I.
00:17:38.99\00:17:41.79
Send me.'"
00:17:41.82\00:17:43.73
Amen. Amen.
00:17:43.76\00:17:45.26
The Savior has
come in His mighty pow'r
00:18:19.46\00:18:22.66
And spoken peace to my soul
00:18:22.70\00:18:25.87
And all of my life
from that very hour
00:18:25.90\00:18:29.07
I've yielded to His control
00:18:29.10\00:18:31.74
I've yielded to His control
00:18:31.77\00:18:35.71
Oh, it is wonderful!
00:18:35.74\00:18:38.45
It is marvelous and wonderful
00:18:38.48\00:18:41.55
What Jesus has done
for this soul of mine!
00:18:41.58\00:18:44.62
The half has never been told
00:18:44.65\00:18:48.26
Never been told it is wonderful
00:18:48.29\00:18:50.83
Oh, it is wonderful!
00:18:50.86\00:18:52.46
It is marvelous and wonderful
00:18:52.49\00:18:55.90
Wonderful what Jesus has
done for this soul of mine!
00:18:55.93\00:19:01.74
Oh, the half has never been told
00:19:01.77\00:19:06.51
Never been told
00:19:06.54\00:19:10.78
From glory to glory
00:19:10.81\00:19:12.25
He leads me on
00:19:12.28\00:19:13.85
From grace to grace every day
00:19:13.88\00:19:16.92
And brighter and
brighter the glory dawns
00:19:16.95\00:19:20.12
While pressing my homeward way
00:19:20.19\00:19:22.79
While pressing my homeward way
00:19:22.82\00:19:26.59
Oh, it is wonderful!
00:19:26.63\00:19:29.33
It is marvelous and wonderful
00:19:29.36\00:19:32.33
What Jesus has done
for this soul of mine!
00:19:32.37\00:19:35.40
The half has never been told
00:19:35.44\00:19:39.04
Never been told it is wonderful!
00:19:39.07\00:19:41.61
Oh, it is wonderful!
00:19:41.64\00:19:43.24
It is marvelous and wonderful
00:19:43.28\00:19:46.82
Wonderful what Jesus has
done for this soul of mine!
00:19:46.85\00:19:52.75
Oh, the half has never been told
00:19:52.79\00:19:57.43
It is wonderful!
00:19:57.46\00:20:02.00
Wonderful, it is wonderful!
00:20:02.03\00:20:04.87
It is marvelous and wonderful
00:20:04.90\00:20:08.10
What Jesus has done
for this soul of mine!
00:20:08.14\00:20:11.27
The half has never been told
00:20:11.31\00:20:14.78
Never been told
00:20:14.81\00:20:16.14
It is wonderful!
00:20:16.18\00:20:17.65
Oh, it is wonderful!
00:20:17.68\00:20:19.08
It is marvelous and wonderful
00:20:19.11\00:20:22.62
Wonderful what Jesus has
done for this soul of mine!
00:20:22.65\00:20:28.62
Oh, the half has never
00:20:28.66\00:20:31.26
The half has
never, the half has never
00:20:31.29\00:20:38.23
Been told
00:20:38.27\00:20:41.94
Never been told
00:20:41.97\00:20:46.44
What are we going to do?
00:20:59.35\00:21:01.79
Who's going to
start another Madison?
00:21:01.82\00:21:06.03
How are we going to
continue God's work?
00:21:06.06\00:21:10.13
And the need is
huge around the world.
00:21:10.17\00:21:13.10
And as you've heard us talk
just a little bit about this,
00:21:13.13\00:21:15.84
the need for leadership is huge
00:21:15.87\00:21:18.04
but God is
challenging individuals.
00:21:18.07\00:21:21.71
I recently attended
the Madison College alumni,
00:21:21.74\00:21:25.41
they've been
closed for over 60 years,
00:21:25.45\00:21:28.75
but they still have an alumni
meeting in June of each year
00:21:28.78\00:21:32.69
where the graduates get together
00:21:32.72\00:21:34.72
and they talk
about their experience
00:21:34.76\00:21:36.69
that happened to
them there at Madison.
00:21:36.73\00:21:40.66
Today, as never before,
God is calling for workers,
00:21:40.70\00:21:45.13
He is calling for people
who will enter His vineyard
00:21:45.17\00:21:48.04
and do His work.
00:21:48.07\00:21:50.64
You know, it's relatively
inviting and comfortable
00:21:50.67\00:21:55.28
to move into a community
00:21:55.31\00:21:56.91
where there are
many other Adventists,
00:21:56.98\00:21:59.25
and they're kind of, you
know, plant yourself there
00:21:59.28\00:22:02.78
and attend the local
Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:22:02.82\00:22:05.75
and sit in the pew.
00:22:05.79\00:22:07.36
It just gets kind of
comfortable, doesn't it?
00:22:07.39\00:22:10.13
Well, I believe we're at
a time in earth's history
00:22:10.16\00:22:12.39
where God is calling us to do
00:22:12.43\00:22:13.80
something more
than keep the pews warm
00:22:13.83\00:22:17.17
in these larger communities.
00:22:17.23\00:22:18.87
We are being
called to go to places
00:22:18.90\00:22:21.20
where there is no
Seventh-day Adventist work,
00:22:21.24\00:22:23.07
hundreds and hundreds of cities
and towns across this nation,
00:22:23.10\00:22:26.68
thousands of cities, and towns,
and villages across the world
00:22:26.74\00:22:30.25
needing someone to come
00:22:30.31\00:22:32.28
and give them the
good news of the gospel.
00:22:32.31\00:22:35.22
Well, the good news is,
00:22:35.25\00:22:37.19
today that the work that
God is calling people to do
00:22:37.25\00:22:41.46
is being responded to.
00:22:41.49\00:22:43.49
We are not in a situation
00:22:43.53\00:22:46.26
where no one is
responding to that call.
00:22:46.29\00:22:49.20
We have several stories
we want to tell you today.
00:22:49.23\00:22:52.20
The first story comes
from the country of Romania.
00:22:52.23\00:22:55.17
I think we have some
folks from Romania here today.
00:22:55.20\00:22:58.37
The little school
is being started there
00:22:58.41\00:23:00.48
is called the Integritas,
00:23:00.51\00:23:02.58
and they read the book
Madison, God's Beautiful Farm,
00:23:02.61\00:23:06.61
and they began to
search for what they might do
00:23:06.65\00:23:09.35
to fulfill that kind
of vision for education.
00:23:09.38\00:23:12.72
And as they were
searching and praying,
00:23:12.75\00:23:16.09
I went at one point to talk
with them and encourage them
00:23:16.12\00:23:19.63
in their quest to start
something there in Romania.
00:23:19.66\00:23:23.20
And they took me to a piece
of property on a hillside there
00:23:23.23\00:23:26.17
and said, "We're going
to start something here."
00:23:26.20\00:23:28.24
It's amazing what
God is doing there.
00:23:28.27\00:23:30.17
"We're going to
start something here."
00:23:30.21\00:23:31.54
I said, "It's a
beautiful piece of property,
00:23:31.57\00:23:33.27
it's a lovely place to
start a little school."
00:23:33.34\00:23:35.78
They said, "That's
what we would like to do."
00:23:35.81\00:23:37.35
And so we began
to encourage them,
00:23:37.41\00:23:40.48
and to pray with them,
00:23:40.52\00:23:42.15
and to give them some
counsel, and they began to work.
00:23:42.18\00:23:46.59
And we're going to show you
00:23:46.62\00:23:48.12
just a short
video clip right now
00:23:48.16\00:23:50.19
about the work that
is happening in Romania,
00:23:50.23\00:23:52.89
the beginning of
this little school there.
00:23:52.93\00:23:55.26
And I say little school,
00:23:55.30\00:23:56.80
you will see when
they show the video
00:23:56.83\00:23:59.37
that God is
really blessing there.
00:23:59.40\00:24:01.90
And again, what did they do?
00:24:01.94\00:24:04.21
They started reading the book,
they started reading the books,
00:24:04.24\00:24:07.48
God's Counsel, the book
on education, other books.
00:24:07.51\00:24:10.18
And they said,
"We've got to do something."
00:24:10.25\00:24:12.35
And God inspired
them to do something.
00:24:12.38\00:24:14.22
And so we are going to ask them
to roll that video right now.
00:24:14.25\00:24:17.19
Things haven't
changed, have they?
00:27:00.95\00:27:02.35
Success depends on
following God's plan.
00:27:02.38\00:27:06.19
And I would
challenge you, my friends,
00:27:06.22\00:27:07.76
to continue to
allow God to speak to you
00:27:07.79\00:27:11.13
about what He wants
you personally to do.
00:27:11.16\00:27:13.63
We have another story today,
00:27:13.66\00:27:14.96
we are going to share
actually four more stories.
00:27:15.00\00:27:17.00
So get ready for
four more great stories
00:27:17.07\00:27:18.93
about what God is
doing around the world
00:27:18.97\00:27:21.70
with starting new things
00:27:21.74\00:27:23.74
and impressing people
to do something for Him.
00:27:23.81\00:27:27.11
I would like to invite
Wes Stabel to join me here.
00:27:27.18\00:27:30.65
This story comes
to us from Arkansas.
00:27:30.68\00:27:34.98
Anybody here
from Arkansas today?
00:27:35.02\00:27:39.29
Wes, you're here
from Arkansas. Oh, yeah.
00:27:39.32\00:27:41.46
Amen.
00:27:41.49\00:27:42.82
Now, Wes, you at one point
00:27:42.86\00:27:48.66
were a chicken farmer.
00:27:48.70\00:27:50.07
Yes, sir.
00:27:50.13\00:27:51.47
What happened with it?
00:27:51.50\00:27:53.30
I don't think you're a
chicken farmer anymore,
00:27:53.34\00:27:55.00
tell me about that?
00:27:55.04\00:27:56.91
Well, I had always, in my life,
00:27:56.97\00:28:00.41
felt like I was a
failure at witnessing.
00:28:00.44\00:28:04.31
And I wanted to do
something for God in witnessing
00:28:04.35\00:28:08.25
but I didn't know what to do.
00:28:08.28\00:28:09.62
We had tried so many things.
00:28:09.65\00:28:11.15
I felt like if God
handed out report cards,
00:28:11.19\00:28:15.09
I would have an A in
prayer, an A in Bible study,
00:28:15.12\00:28:18.93
and a D minus in witnessing.
00:28:18.96\00:28:21.53
And I wanted
something to happen.
00:28:21.56\00:28:24.63
So you were open to the
leading of the Holy Spirit.
00:28:24.67\00:28:28.47
Your little church
appointed you to an office.
00:28:28.50\00:28:31.21
What did they ask you to do?
00:28:31.24\00:28:32.57
They asked me to be
00:28:32.61\00:28:33.98
the Personal Ministries
Director of our church.
00:28:34.01\00:28:35.64
Now that sounds pretty innocent,
00:28:35.68\00:28:38.08
just be the
Personal Ministries Director.
00:28:38.11\00:28:40.12
What did God do
with that opportunity?
00:28:40.15\00:28:41.98
Well, I had never been Personal
Ministries Director before,
00:28:42.02\00:28:46.02
and when I took the position,
00:28:46.05\00:28:48.62
I am not the kind that
wants to just stand in a podium
00:28:48.66\00:28:52.06
and read the conference papers.
00:28:52.09\00:28:54.40
And I wanted
something to happen,
00:28:54.46\00:28:56.50
so I had read an article
in the Northern Union paper
00:28:56.53\00:29:03.10
about a Bible worker
going to a church in Minnesota.
00:29:03.14\00:29:08.24
And I thought
that's what we got to do,
00:29:08.28\00:29:13.98
we need a Bible worker,
00:29:14.05\00:29:16.15
we need a full-time
person to come and stir us,
00:29:16.18\00:29:20.79
and get us going in this church,
00:29:20.82\00:29:22.42
I want something to happen.
00:29:22.46\00:29:24.43
So you are looking
for a Bible worker,
00:29:24.46\00:29:26.26
did you find one?
00:29:26.29\00:29:27.60
Yes, we did. But it
was a difficult task.
00:29:27.66\00:29:30.77
We had found
that the Bible worker
00:29:30.80\00:29:33.10
that went to Minnesota
00:29:33.13\00:29:34.47
had come through Luis
Torres School in South Dakota.
00:29:34.50\00:29:39.31
And so I called him
and he said, "No, Wes,"
00:29:39.34\00:29:42.44
he said, "These
people don't just come here
00:29:42.48\00:29:44.61
and take training and then
hope to find a place to go.
00:29:44.65\00:29:47.95
They're sent by a
church, and they're trained,
00:29:47.98\00:29:50.09
and they go
back to their church.
00:29:50.12\00:29:52.59
Actually, he
thought he found me someone
00:29:52.62\00:29:54.72
and then we got disappointed
00:29:54.76\00:29:56.32
and it didn't happen.
00:29:56.36\00:29:58.26
So who did you end up getting?
00:29:58.29\00:30:00.30
Okay, I just wish, I need
two hours to tell the story...
00:30:00.33\00:30:04.53
But I wish...
00:30:04.57\00:30:05.90
That's okay, we got four
more minutes, don't worry.
00:30:05.93\00:30:08.64
You have to keep
track of the time
00:30:08.67\00:30:10.17
but, God
providentially brought us.
00:30:10.21\00:30:13.74
If we can put on the screen
00:30:13.78\00:30:15.11
the picture of these two people,
00:30:15.14\00:30:18.38
Daniel and Nerida McKibben,
00:30:18.41\00:30:21.45
they were people that
we knew nothing about.
00:30:21.48\00:30:27.36
And those people came
00:30:27.42\00:30:28.76
and when I took
them through the church
00:30:28.79\00:30:30.39
and through the fellowship hall,
00:30:30.43\00:30:32.73
I heard Neruda say to Daniel,
00:30:32.76\00:30:34.60
"Daniel, we could do our
treatments in this room."
00:30:34.63\00:30:38.13
And I'm thinking, "What!
00:30:38.17\00:30:40.07
Bible workers
don't do treatments."
00:30:40.10\00:30:42.74
And I said, "Treatments, what?"
00:30:42.77\00:30:45.01
And she says, "Well, we're
medical missionaries as well."
00:30:45.04\00:30:48.38
So you not only
got a Bible worker
00:30:48.41\00:30:50.11
but you got
medical missionaries.
00:30:50.18\00:30:51.58
We got two medical missionaries
and of the finest order I say,
00:30:51.61\00:30:55.62
"Well, what qualifies
you to do medical work?"
00:30:55.65\00:30:59.15
And that's when I found out
00:30:59.19\00:31:00.96
that Daniel was a
licensed massage therapist,
00:31:00.99\00:31:04.66
he had been in charge
00:31:04.69\00:31:06.26
of the Lifestyle
Center at Eden Valley
00:31:06.29\00:31:08.23
for seven years
00:31:08.26\00:31:09.60
and Neruda was a doctor.
00:31:09.63\00:31:11.07
So how did that impact
how you got into this thing
00:31:11.10\00:31:15.07
with medical missionary work?
00:31:15.10\00:31:16.44
Because I got
involved with these people,
00:31:16.47\00:31:18.31
I wanted to know about
medical missionary work.
00:31:18.34\00:31:20.88
I had read about it,
never met one in my life.
00:31:20.94\00:31:24.11
And we learned a lot
about medical missionary work.
00:31:24.15\00:31:27.85
And while they were there,
do we have it on the screen,
00:31:27.88\00:31:30.95
that this couple came
in who had a huge cancer
00:31:30.99\00:31:35.89
and he had been to the doctors
and the doctors have told him,
00:31:35.92\00:31:39.29
"You got two months to live."
00:31:39.33\00:31:41.56
And I am thinking, you know,
there is no hope for this man,
00:31:41.60\00:31:46.20
he was 72 years old.
00:31:46.23\00:31:48.34
And believe it or not,
00:31:48.37\00:31:51.21
in six months time through
her natural remedy program,
00:31:51.24\00:31:55.88
he was sent back to the doctors
00:31:55.91\00:31:58.15
and he was told
that he was cancer free.
00:31:58.18\00:32:01.02
Amen. Amen.
00:32:01.05\00:32:02.38
And he's returned to
our center just recently,
00:32:02.42\00:32:04.92
we're talking
about 15 years later,
00:32:04.95\00:32:07.66
he is still cancer free.
00:32:07.69\00:32:10.43
So at that point, you kind
of bought in to this thing.
00:32:10.46\00:32:12.96
I did, I'm telling
you, that said, "Okay.
00:32:12.99\00:32:15.73
Bye, bye, retirement."
00:32:15.76\00:32:17.77
I was saving
that for retirement,
00:32:17.80\00:32:19.60
my hot tub, my motor home,
00:32:19.63\00:32:21.90
we're going to travel
the whole United States.
00:32:21.94\00:32:24.74
And I said good bye to that.
00:32:24.77\00:32:26.21
I want to do this work.
00:32:26.24\00:32:28.14
So actually what
I hear you saying
00:32:28.18\00:32:30.51
is that God impressed
you to take these funds
00:32:30.55\00:32:33.58
you'd save for retirement
00:32:33.62\00:32:35.02
and the church
has actually purchased
00:32:35.05\00:32:37.35
a little piece of property,
00:32:37.39\00:32:38.72
they have started a
medical missionary center
00:32:38.75\00:32:40.72
across the road.
00:32:40.76\00:32:43.16
It's amazing what God has done.
00:32:43.19\00:32:45.73
It would take me
too long to tell you.
00:32:45.76\00:32:47.30
I've got it on a DVD,
00:32:47.36\00:32:48.73
if any of you come by the booth,
00:32:48.76\00:32:50.33
it's 245, you'd hear
the whole story there.
00:32:50.40\00:32:54.20
So you have the
whole story there
00:32:54.24\00:32:56.04
but let me just
ask you a question,
00:32:56.07\00:32:57.47
Wes, as we close out here today.
00:32:57.54\00:32:59.51
I want you to just share
with the folks here today,
00:32:59.54\00:33:02.24
how has this
changed your personal life
00:33:02.28\00:33:05.65
to get involved like this?
00:33:05.68\00:33:07.52
I was a Laodicean Seventh-day
Adventist just living life,
00:33:07.55\00:33:12.35
and it has totally changed me.
00:33:12.39\00:33:15.22
I understand what it
means to be born again.
00:33:15.26\00:33:18.66
What's inside of me
is to do God's work,
00:33:18.69\00:33:22.13
I have no desire for
this world of any kind.
00:33:22.16\00:33:27.30
So a Laodicean Seventh-day
Adventist gets impressed by God
00:33:27.34\00:33:32.21
to take his retirement money
00:33:32.24\00:33:33.74
and invest in a wellness center.
00:33:33.78\00:33:35.48
And what I hear you saying today
00:33:35.51\00:33:37.91
is it is just
completely altered the way
00:33:37.95\00:33:40.08
you think about life in general.
00:33:40.12\00:33:42.38
This is the greatest retirement
that I could ever have.
00:33:42.42\00:33:46.49
I am up there everyday, we
have worship at 9:45 every day,
00:33:46.52\00:33:52.43
and then we begin our day.
00:33:52.46\00:33:54.30
But it has been the
most wonderful experience.
00:33:54.36\00:33:57.53
God has led me there, I
had never in my life prayed,
00:33:57.57\00:34:01.90
"Lord, what would You
have me to do in my life?"
00:34:01.94\00:34:04.64
I directed my own life,
00:34:04.67\00:34:06.88
but He took me through
this means to this work.
00:34:06.91\00:34:10.65
Wes, what would you say
to someone sitting here today
00:34:10.68\00:34:14.55
who, as you have
been telling your story,
00:34:14.58\00:34:16.72
they've kind of been feeling
like may be the Holy Spirit
00:34:16.79\00:34:19.29
is speaking to them,
what would you say to them?
00:34:19.32\00:34:21.82
I would just say pray, "Lord,
what will Thou have me to do?"
00:34:21.86\00:34:26.33
God is able.
00:34:26.36\00:34:27.76
He led me at the age of 55
00:34:27.83\00:34:30.73
after I had worn probably
five different hats in life,
00:34:30.77\00:34:34.94
and He's put me into this work
00:34:34.97\00:34:37.97
and I'm not going
to retire until I die.
00:34:38.01\00:34:41.61
What's the greatest need
of Wellness Secrets right now?
00:34:41.64\00:34:45.05
The greatest need that we
have, I am looking at all of you
00:34:45.08\00:34:49.05
and wondering, who is there,
00:34:49.08\00:34:51.29
you know, it says in Luke l0:2
00:34:51.32\00:34:55.16
that the harvest is
great and the labors are few.
00:34:55.19\00:34:58.93
We need labors, we
need at least two more.
00:34:58.96\00:35:02.63
One could be the
director of the center.
00:35:02.66\00:35:05.63
If we had more
workers, what things we could do
00:35:05.67\00:35:10.31
because we have a
beautiful center sitting there,
00:35:10.34\00:35:13.48
ready to go if
we had more workers.
00:35:13.51\00:35:16.31
Amen. Thank you so much
today, Wes, for sharing.
00:35:16.34\00:35:18.58
God bless you and the
work you are doing there.
00:35:18.61\00:35:20.52
Thank you for the opportunity
00:35:20.55\00:35:21.88
and I want to say this
is a first time at ASI,
00:35:21.92\00:35:25.22
it has been a blessing to
meet and hear the testimonies,
00:35:25.25\00:35:28.82
it has encouraged me,
00:35:28.86\00:35:30.53
God is working and He's
going to finish the work.
00:35:30.56\00:35:33.73
Amen. Amen.
00:35:33.80\00:35:35.90
Thank you, Wes.
00:35:35.93\00:35:41.37
Our next story comes to
us from two young ladies
00:35:41.40\00:35:47.48
who have been called by God
to some very interesting work.
00:35:47.54\00:35:52.41
Now I understand that you're
working in a closed country,
00:35:52.45\00:35:58.45
so you won't hear
us today talking about
00:35:58.49\00:36:01.19
the name of the country
in which you are working.
00:36:01.22\00:36:03.39
We're going to avoid
that if we can and...
00:36:03.46\00:36:06.93
But we have Gina.
00:36:06.96\00:36:09.53
Gina, how did God get
you involved in this work?
00:36:09.56\00:36:13.77
God is so good.
00:36:13.84\00:36:15.17
I was actually
working there as an attorney.
00:36:15.20\00:36:18.84
So you had gone to this country,
00:36:18.87\00:36:20.28
you are working
there as an attorney.
00:36:20.31\00:36:22.31
And what, that one
thing led to another?
00:36:22.34\00:36:26.35
How did the Lord,
was impressing you?
00:36:26.38\00:36:28.85
Yes, just seeing
the local people,
00:36:28.88\00:36:31.05
their local struggle,
just not for financial meets
00:36:31.09\00:36:34.19
but for the lack of spiritual.
00:36:34.26\00:36:36.59
There was no one
really to tell them about God,
00:36:36.62\00:36:38.69
and they didn't have the hope
or the resources that we have,
00:36:38.73\00:36:41.40
the things we take for granted.
00:36:41.43\00:36:44.50
Haije, how did
you get into this?
00:36:44.53\00:36:46.53
Yes, so I'm a physical therapist
00:36:46.57\00:36:48.47
and I actually took a year off
to become an English teacher.
00:36:48.50\00:36:53.34
So you're teaching English
00:36:53.38\00:36:55.14
and she is there
working as a lawyer,
00:36:55.18\00:36:57.61
and the two of you got together?
00:36:57.65\00:37:00.28
Yes.
00:37:00.35\00:37:01.68
Well, I'm from California
00:37:01.72\00:37:03.05
and she is from
Connecticut, Massachusetts...
00:37:03.08\00:37:04.42
That sounds like a
close way to get together.
00:37:04.45\00:37:06.82
And God brought us
together in this country.
00:37:06.89\00:37:09.06
So He takes you halfway around
the world and put you together.
00:37:09.09\00:37:11.89
Yes. Isn't God amazing?
00:37:11.93\00:37:14.20
Yeah, God's amazing
in the way He works.
00:37:14.23\00:37:16.46
Well, so you're there,
00:37:16.50\00:37:17.90
you're thinking
about all these things.
00:37:17.93\00:37:19.43
God is impressing you that
something needs to be done.
00:37:19.47\00:37:22.24
What exactly did God
begin to help you do?
00:37:22.27\00:37:25.94
Yes, so we felt
impressed to do three things
00:37:25.97\00:37:30.25
to creatively share
the gospel through health,
00:37:30.28\00:37:33.42
a wellness center,
education, and farming.
00:37:33.45\00:37:36.72
You know, that sounds something
like the little book here
00:37:36.79\00:37:39.42
that I read recently
00:37:39.45\00:37:40.79
called "Madison:
God's Beautiful Farm".
00:37:40.86\00:37:42.19
I actually read that
a year before I came...
00:37:42.22\00:37:44.23
Oh! You read the book?
00:37:44.26\00:37:45.73
Oh, my!
00:37:45.76\00:37:47.10
And God
impressed you through that.
00:37:47.13\00:37:48.43
We need a health
worker, agricultural work
00:37:48.46\00:37:50.83
and some
education work going on.
00:37:50.87\00:37:53.10
Yes. Okay. So, Gina, tell us.
00:37:53.13\00:37:56.10
You got several
things going on here,
00:37:56.14\00:37:57.67
how did that work itself out?
00:37:57.71\00:38:00.04
God is so good because
when I went back to the States,
00:38:00.11\00:38:02.64
said we're going
to work really hard
00:38:02.68\00:38:04.18
and come up with the money,
00:38:04.21\00:38:05.71
and it's going
to take us a while
00:38:05.75\00:38:07.48
but God knew better
00:38:07.55\00:38:08.88
and He said, "No, no, no, I
am going to provide for you.
00:38:08.92\00:38:11.22
Because if you
pay for this land,
00:38:11.25\00:38:13.05
if you pay for these things,
00:38:13.09\00:38:14.42
you're going to
take all the credit
00:38:14.46\00:38:15.79
and this is My ministry."
00:38:15.82\00:38:17.16
Okay.
00:38:17.19\00:38:18.53
And so we got a
call from a person
00:38:18.56\00:38:21.30
who used to live in
that particular area
00:38:21.33\00:38:23.67
that said, "I heard
you're looking for land,
00:38:23.70\00:38:25.60
we should talk."
00:38:25.63\00:38:26.97
And so we met with
her and she said, "Here."
00:38:27.04\00:38:30.64
We were like okay,
so how much do you want?
00:38:30.71\00:38:32.37
And she said," I
wanted to use it for God
00:38:32.41\00:38:34.88
and I want you to use
it to plant mango trees."
00:38:34.91\00:38:37.68
We were like, we can do that.
00:38:37.71\00:38:39.85
So a donation of property,
how big is that property?
00:38:39.88\00:38:44.09
It's almost 20 acres.
00:38:44.12\00:38:45.59
Almost 20 acres.
00:38:45.62\00:38:47.19
But what I want
you to know is that,
00:38:47.26\00:38:48.62
we asked her, "When
did you buy this land?"
00:38:48.66\00:38:51.39
And she said,
"In March of 2014,"
00:38:51.43\00:38:53.70
and that's significant for
us because in March of 2014,
00:38:53.73\00:38:56.73
that's when God
gave us the vision,
00:38:56.77\00:38:58.13
the calling to start
this type of ministry.
00:38:58.17\00:39:00.17
Oh, it's amazing how
God is setting things up,
00:39:00.20\00:39:02.84
planning things ahead of time,
00:39:02.87\00:39:04.27
providing
resources, inspiring people.
00:39:04.34\00:39:07.21
So God's at work
here, He's doing things.
00:39:07.24\00:39:09.88
What are the components
did you add to the farm?
00:39:09.91\00:39:13.88
So every Sunday
there's an English program
00:39:13.95\00:39:15.95
that happens now,
00:39:15.98\00:39:17.32
the beautiful thing about it
00:39:17.35\00:39:18.69
is that it's actually
conducted by the local people
00:39:18.72\00:39:22.56
and they're, of
course, non-Adventists
00:39:22.59\00:39:25.19
but they get to share about God
00:39:25.23\00:39:28.23
through the stories
that they teach in English.
00:39:28.26\00:39:32.00
So about a month ago,
part of the curriculum
00:39:32.03\00:39:34.67
was the story of
the good Samaritan.
00:39:34.70\00:39:37.51
And what she didn't mention
is that our project manager,
00:39:37.54\00:39:40.51
the one that's running this
00:39:40.58\00:39:41.91
up to about a
couple of months ago,
00:39:41.94\00:39:44.45
he was baptized.
00:39:44.48\00:39:45.81
Amen.
00:39:45.85\00:39:47.22
And it's just so exciting
00:39:47.25\00:39:48.58
because, you know, he
was a young Buddhist man,
00:39:48.62\00:39:50.19
he was looking for God.
00:39:50.22\00:39:51.55
And by seeing the testimony,
why are you doing this?
00:39:51.59\00:39:54.26
Why are you giving
so much to these people?
00:39:54.29\00:39:56.62
Because that's
what God wants us to do.
00:39:56.66\00:39:57.99
Amen.
00:39:58.03\00:39:59.36
And it was through that
that led to Bible studies
00:39:59.39\00:40:00.73
and now he's one
of our Bible readers,
00:40:00.80\00:40:03.26
reading Bible
studies every Friday
00:40:03.33\00:40:05.57
in our Oon Jai house,
like we like to call it.
00:40:05.60\00:40:07.87
Amen.
00:40:07.90\00:40:09.24
So God is
setting up things there
00:40:09.27\00:40:10.61
but He didn't stop there,
00:40:10.67\00:40:12.01
He gave you some collaboration
actually with the Government.
00:40:12.04\00:40:15.34
Tell us about, I mean
the Communist Government,
00:40:15.38\00:40:17.75
Non Christian society,
00:40:17.78\00:40:19.61
and God's kind
of set something up?
00:40:19.65\00:40:21.98
So this is like
our third miracle,
00:40:22.02\00:40:24.05
I guess, God is so good.
00:40:24.09\00:40:25.65
We said, "Oh,
we need information
00:40:25.69\00:40:27.06
on how to
collaborate with the Government.
00:40:27.12\00:40:29.99
Let's just go and
pick up some forms,"
00:40:30.03\00:40:31.59
And our friends were
like, "You can't go like that."
00:40:31.63\00:40:34.46
We were going on a mission trip
00:40:34.46\00:40:35.80
so we're not
dressed appropriately
00:40:35.83\00:40:37.20
to meet with
Government officials.
00:40:37.23\00:40:39.07
So we're like we
have nothing to wear,
00:40:39.10\00:40:40.60
so we had to go
borrow clothes, borrow shoes.
00:40:40.67\00:40:43.24
We get there, and we
knock, and we're like,
00:40:43.27\00:40:45.07
"Hi, how do we
partner with the Governor?"
00:40:45.11\00:40:48.41
And then...
00:40:48.44\00:40:50.08
That's a good start for things.
00:40:50.11\00:40:52.41
You should go upstairs,
00:40:52.45\00:40:53.78
and we go upstairs and
as we were going upstairs,
00:40:53.85\00:40:55.98
everyone is looking
at us like we're crazy.
00:40:56.02\00:40:59.02
And then the
director of ministry of health
00:40:59.05\00:41:02.86
of the whole country comes out,
00:41:02.89\00:41:04.23
and he's like, "What
are you girls doing?"
00:41:04.26\00:41:05.73
We're like, "We're looking
to speak to someone in charge
00:41:05.76\00:41:08.13
about collaborating
on a health project."
00:41:08.16\00:41:10.63
He is like, "Hmm,
come to my office."
00:41:10.67\00:41:12.77
So he brings the
deputy ministry of health
00:41:12.80\00:41:15.84
and they're
sitting in the office
00:41:15.87\00:41:17.21
and both of us are there,
00:41:17.27\00:41:18.74
and we just tell them
how much we love the country
00:41:18.77\00:41:21.94
and how much we want to
help, and this is our project.
00:41:21.98\00:41:25.65
And the deputy director
with almost tears in his eyes,
00:41:25.68\00:41:28.92
he said, "That
is my dream, too."
00:41:28.95\00:41:31.02
Amen.
00:41:31.05\00:41:32.59
So you connected with
the Government officials
00:41:32.62\00:41:34.92
and now maybe in
process of getting
00:41:34.96\00:41:37.29
some amazing work
started there in this country,
00:41:37.33\00:41:40.06
God is going to
bless that, I know.
00:41:40.10\00:41:41.56
But I have a
question as we close out,
00:41:41.60\00:41:43.40
I want both of you
to answer this question,
00:41:43.43\00:41:45.20
so you just have a little time
00:41:45.23\00:41:46.57
but how has it
impacted your personal life
00:41:46.60\00:41:49.94
to engage in this kind of work?
00:41:49.97\00:41:52.07
God is so good.
00:41:52.11\00:41:53.44
I always wanted
to be a missionary
00:41:53.51\00:41:54.84
but I couldn't,
00:41:54.88\00:41:56.21
because I wasn't the
teacher or in the medical field.
00:41:56.24\00:41:59.28
And God said, "You don't
need any of those skills,
00:41:59.31\00:42:01.28
you just need to serve me,
00:42:01.32\00:42:02.65
and use your skills to do that."
00:42:02.68\00:42:04.22
And I left the private sector
to go on the public sector
00:42:04.29\00:42:07.72
so I would have, I
still work full time.
00:42:07.76\00:42:09.76
And then my second job is this,
so I work full time for this
00:42:09.79\00:42:13.33
and full time for that
and God has been so good.
00:42:13.40\00:42:16.03
Haije?
00:42:16.06\00:42:17.43
So I grew up, I
was born and raised
00:42:17.47\00:42:18.97
as a Seventh-day Adventist,
00:42:19.00\00:42:21.24
but really
sometimes we go to places
00:42:21.27\00:42:23.00
where things do not make sense,
00:42:23.04\00:42:24.41
so God can
reveal to us His love.
00:42:24.44\00:42:26.68
And the love that
God has revealed to me,
00:42:26.74\00:42:28.98
that is really what
I'm willing to share,
00:42:29.01\00:42:30.61
that's why we
are called Oon Jai.
00:42:30.65\00:42:32.75
Oon Jai means warm heart.
00:42:32.78\00:42:35.88
Do you have a booth here?
00:42:35.92\00:42:37.25
Yes, yeah.
00:42:37.29\00:42:38.62
Our booth is number 420.
00:42:38.65\00:42:40.66
And for more information,
you can go to our website,
00:42:40.72\00:42:43.83
it's OonJai.org.
00:42:43.89\00:42:46.66
Thank you, ladies, so
much for sharing with us today.
00:42:46.70\00:42:48.50
God bless you in
the work you are doing
00:42:48.53\00:42:50.43
and we'll keep
you in our prayers.
00:42:50.50\00:42:53.27
Thank you. Amen.
00:42:53.30\00:42:54.64
I had the
opportunity to go to Uganda
00:43:04.48\00:43:06.82
and I had been asked
00:43:06.85\00:43:08.18
by a farmer's
co-operative to go into villages
00:43:08.22\00:43:10.69
and teach farmers how
to process the soybeans
00:43:10.72\00:43:14.59
that they were
already growing in a way
00:43:14.62\00:43:16.39
that would be
more healthful for them
00:43:16.42\00:43:18.26
and also that they
could start small businesses.
00:43:18.29\00:43:21.10
And what I
learnt when I was there
00:43:21.13\00:43:22.46
is that they
were growing soybeans
00:43:22.50\00:43:24.13
but they weren't giving any
of them to their own children.
00:43:24.17\00:43:27.60
And their children
were actually dying
00:43:27.64\00:43:30.41
and being malnourished
because of lack of protein.
00:43:30.47\00:43:33.64
And so I knew we
had a simple solution
00:43:33.68\00:43:35.88
right there in the community.
00:43:35.91\00:43:37.61
And so we started teaching
them about soaking the beans,
00:43:37.65\00:43:40.88
about boiling
them, making soymilk,
00:43:40.92\00:43:43.45
adding the
byproduct of the soymilk
00:43:43.49\00:43:45.05
right back into the porridge
00:43:45.09\00:43:46.62
that everyone ate for breakfast,
00:43:46.65\00:43:48.29
and about what a difference
00:43:48.32\00:43:49.82
that would make in their health.
00:43:49.86\00:43:51.43
One of the reasons we
focus on world farm families is
00:43:51.46\00:43:54.63
because that is
where the hungry are.
00:43:54.66\00:43:57.57
The World Food Program estimates
00:43:57.60\00:43:59.17
there is 795 million
hungry people in the world
00:43:59.20\00:44:03.00
and 75% of them are
in these rural villages.
00:44:03.04\00:44:06.34
And so with these skills,
00:44:06.37\00:44:09.11
we believe that they
can have an abundant life
00:44:09.14\00:44:11.98
right in the rural area.
00:44:12.01\00:44:13.72
One thing that I love about
00:44:13.75\00:44:15.42
our Farm Stew team is able to do
00:44:15.45\00:44:17.39
especially in the
area of Eastern Uganda
00:44:17.42\00:44:20.49
is to introduce the gospel
to an area that is 80% Muslim.
00:44:20.56\00:44:24.89
These individuals are going out
00:44:24.93\00:44:27.20
and taking the message
deep, deep into the villages.
00:44:27.23\00:44:30.03
I mean, they are really willing
to sacrifice on our behalf
00:44:30.07\00:44:33.90
and on behalf of the villagers
00:44:33.94\00:44:36.14
so that they can bring
the message out to people
00:44:36.17\00:44:38.54
who would never
even get to the big city.
00:44:38.57\00:44:41.41
When I was there in November,
00:44:41.44\00:44:42.78
one of the
places where we trained
00:44:42.81\00:44:44.28
was in a hospital
in a malnutrition ward.
00:44:44.31\00:44:47.42
And the team
didn't even realize it,
00:44:47.48\00:44:49.65
but they planned it
for Thanksgiving day.
00:44:49.68\00:44:52.29
So it's kind of
surreal to be sitting there
00:44:52.32\00:44:55.19
and realizing that here I was
00:44:55.22\00:44:57.73
with these incredibly
malnourished children,
00:44:57.76\00:44:59.56
and all my friends and
family were back here feasting.
00:44:59.59\00:45:02.80
But, you know,
it's too late to wait
00:45:02.83\00:45:05.33
until they get to
the malnutrition ward.
00:45:05.37\00:45:07.47
Two of the children
that I interacted with
00:45:07.54\00:45:09.90
died in the next few days.
00:45:09.94\00:45:11.51
And we believe that if
we can make that effort
00:45:11.54\00:45:14.28
and the expense to
help our team members
00:45:14.31\00:45:17.15
go out deep into the villages,
00:45:17.18\00:45:19.25
those families won't have
come into the malnutrition ward,
00:45:19.28\00:45:21.92
we can prevent
that from happening.
00:45:21.95\00:45:24.19
This team in Uganda has already
trained 13,000 villagers,
00:45:24.22\00:45:28.52
we keep really good records,
and we're going back now
00:45:28.56\00:45:31.83
and visiting
those same villages,
00:45:31.86\00:45:33.19
and getting to see
that impact that we've had.
00:45:33.23\00:45:35.26
So Joy Kauffman is
here with me today.
00:45:38.87\00:45:41.67
She is the
director of Farm Stew.
00:45:41.70\00:45:43.67
But, Joy, tell us how
did God prepare you...
00:45:43.71\00:45:47.91
I mean, I see you in Uganda,
00:45:47.94\00:45:49.54
you're teaching them
how to make soy products.
00:45:49.58\00:45:52.95
How in the world did
God prepare you for that?
00:45:52.98\00:45:55.88
Well, I was born in
the Adventist hospital,
00:45:55.92\00:45:59.15
became a
vegetarian when I was nine,
00:45:59.19\00:46:01.49
and just became
fascinated in nutrition
00:46:01.52\00:46:03.22
because everyone thought
00:46:03.26\00:46:04.59
I was going to shrivel
up and die of malnutrition.
00:46:04.63\00:46:07.86
They thought I
would be stunted in fact.
00:46:07.93\00:46:10.17
And so I ended up
studying nutrition in college
00:46:10.20\00:46:13.44
and studying all about Adventist
00:46:13.47\00:46:15.47
through the clinical research
00:46:15.50\00:46:16.84
that was available in
the '70s and the '80s,
00:46:16.91\00:46:19.04
I was studying
in the early '90s.
00:46:19.07\00:46:20.51
And you are healthy but
I never met an Adventist
00:46:20.58\00:46:23.45
until I was 35 years old.
00:46:23.48\00:46:24.91
You're born in an
Adventist hospital
00:46:24.95\00:46:26.45
but you never met an Adventist
00:46:26.48\00:46:27.92
until you were 35
years old, this is amazing.
00:46:27.95\00:46:31.59
I think they were
praying though in the hospital.
00:46:31.62\00:46:33.89
They must have been
praying in that hospital,
00:46:33.96\00:46:35.82
and may be even dedicated
you to service or something.
00:46:35.86\00:46:38.86
I hope so. God
reached out to you.
00:46:38.89\00:46:41.06
What was your background
before becoming an Adventist?
00:46:41.10\00:46:43.73
Well, I married into
Mennonite farm family,
00:46:43.77\00:46:46.30
actually I had served
overseas internationally
00:46:46.33\00:46:49.34
with the
Mennonite Central Committee
00:46:49.37\00:46:50.94
and that
prepared me with a heart
00:46:50.97\00:46:52.47
for international development
00:46:52.51\00:46:53.84
which I've had
now for three decades.
00:46:53.88\00:46:56.08
And I just really have this
deep desire to have a message
00:46:56.11\00:47:01.72
for our global church
that has a global reach,
00:47:01.75\00:47:04.22
and that's how Farm
Stew was really born.
00:47:04.25\00:47:07.32
How long have you
been an Adventist?
00:47:07.39\00:47:09.16
A little less than two years.
00:47:09.19\00:47:12.39
Now some of us have
been just a little longer.
00:47:12.43\00:47:14.76
Some of us here have
been just a little longer
00:47:18.53\00:47:20.64
but it looks like God
has just really taken you
00:47:20.67\00:47:22.57
on the fast pace
here, praise God,
00:47:22.60\00:47:24.57
you've joined
the Adventist church,
00:47:24.61\00:47:25.94
you already have ministry going,
00:47:25.97\00:47:27.31
you're in
Uganda, you're working,
00:47:27.38\00:47:28.71
you're training people.
00:47:28.74\00:47:30.08
I heard the video,
13,000 people trained?
00:47:30.11\00:47:32.08
Yeah, we're
actually up to 17,000 now,
00:47:32.11\00:47:34.52
I was there a few weeks ago
00:47:34.55\00:47:35.88
and it is just
such a powerful thing,
00:47:35.92\00:47:37.89
these team members, and
these are church members,
00:47:37.92\00:47:40.66
lay church members
like all of us here at ASI
00:47:40.69\00:47:44.23
who are just thrilled to have
the opportunity to be trained
00:47:44.26\00:47:47.20
and equipped with
simple health messages
00:47:47.23\00:47:49.46
that can really help them.
00:47:49.50\00:47:50.83
So we came up with
this acronym Farm Stew.
00:47:50.87\00:47:54.14
And, yes, these are
some of the church members
00:47:54.20\00:47:56.40
I want to
introduce you to, Fiona
00:47:56.44\00:47:58.04
especially in the
front, a new Adventist like me
00:47:58.07\00:48:01.51
who is now out training.
00:48:01.54\00:48:03.14
And she was really
not having the ability
00:48:03.18\00:48:06.95
to share the
love of Jesus before,
00:48:06.98\00:48:09.12
but now she can do
that in a daily basis.
00:48:09.15\00:48:12.22
Amen.
00:48:12.25\00:48:13.59
So just give us
the acronym quickly,
00:48:13.62\00:48:15.49
what does Farm Stew mean anyway?
00:48:15.52\00:48:16.99
I've heard of Newstart,
00:48:17.06\00:48:18.39
but what about
this Farm Stew stuff?
00:48:18.43\00:48:19.76
Sounds like we should eat it.
00:48:19.79\00:48:21.56
Exactly, and that's
what I want you to think of,
00:48:21.60\00:48:23.37
something home
grown, something fresh,
00:48:23.40\00:48:25.10
something local.
00:48:25.13\00:48:26.47
So Farm Stew is a
recipe of abundant life.
00:48:26.50\00:48:30.81
Jesus came that
we might have life
00:48:30.84\00:48:32.37
and have it abundantly,
00:48:32.41\00:48:34.08
but for the woman that
has to go walk for half a mile
00:48:34.11\00:48:37.05
to go get water,
00:48:37.08\00:48:38.58
does she really need to
be told go get fresh air,
00:48:38.61\00:48:41.78
sunshine, and exercise?
00:48:41.82\00:48:43.49
Probably not. I think not.
00:48:43.52\00:48:44.85
So we had a few
letters to play with there.
00:48:44.89\00:48:47.46
So we started with farming
00:48:47.49\00:48:48.89
because you have to
be able to grow the food
00:48:48.92\00:48:51.06
in order to eat it.
00:48:51.09\00:48:52.43
In some African countries,
it would cost 52% of the income
00:48:52.46\00:48:55.90
just to get five a day
of fruits and vegetables.
00:48:55.93\00:48:58.97
So we started with Farming,
Attitude, Rest and Meals.
00:48:59.00\00:49:02.97
Sanitation,
Temperance, Enterprise and Water
00:49:03.00\00:49:05.87
is our acronym.
00:49:05.91\00:49:07.24
That is so
practical, isn't it? Amen.
00:49:07.31\00:49:09.28
Thank you, Joy,
that's a blessing
00:49:09.31\00:49:11.11
that God has impressed
you to come up with this.
00:49:11.15\00:49:13.65
What impact has this
had in the local community?
00:49:13.68\00:49:17.02
Well, we've had a
very powerful impact
00:49:17.05\00:49:19.25
but I want to talk spiritually
00:49:19.29\00:49:20.62
because that's one of the things
00:49:20.69\00:49:22.02
that excites us most.
00:49:22.06\00:49:23.59
The first Sabbath I
was there five weeks ago,
00:49:23.66\00:49:26.36
there was 29 baptisms.
00:49:26.39\00:49:28.43
And one of the
things I love is that
00:49:28.46\00:49:30.00
we are able to
connect our spiritual health
00:49:30.07\00:49:32.90
and our physical health.
00:49:32.93\00:49:34.27
For example, a seed,
you all have seen seeds,
00:49:34.30\00:49:37.64
did you know that a seed is
a perfect image of the Godhead.
00:49:37.67\00:49:40.98
We have a picture of it here.
00:49:41.01\00:49:42.68
Every seed that can
bring forth life in this soil
00:49:42.71\00:49:45.15
is a three in one
picture of our one true God.
00:49:45.18\00:49:49.05
And Romans 1:20 tells us
that everything in creation,
00:49:49.08\00:49:54.76
the invisible attributes
of God are seen in creation.
00:49:54.79\00:49:57.93
And so we talk about
the health of our bodies
00:49:57.96\00:50:00.90
eating whole
grains and whole seeds,
00:50:00.93\00:50:03.26
and then also for the soil,
00:50:03.33\00:50:04.93
we talk about
improved varieties of plants
00:50:04.97\00:50:08.27
and teaching
vegetable gardening to women,
00:50:08.30\00:50:11.14
we have people that are
not having headaches now
00:50:11.17\00:50:13.74
because they're drinking
water all over the country.
00:50:13.78\00:50:16.71
And we've had
impressions from high to low,
00:50:16.75\00:50:19.78
like the head
commander of the prisons
00:50:19.81\00:50:22.35
who has invited us in.
00:50:22.38\00:50:23.75
He actually is contemplating
becoming an Adventist
00:50:23.79\00:50:26.19
because of sharing the
health message with him.
00:50:26.22\00:50:28.96
So, Joy, we just
have few seconds left
00:50:28.99\00:50:30.59
but tell us, how has this
changed your life personally
00:50:30.63\00:50:34.13
to get involved
in this kind of work?
00:50:34.20\00:50:35.90
Well, I am so blessed.
00:50:35.93\00:50:37.30
It's actually the
Ugandan Adventists
00:50:37.33\00:50:38.70
and their witness that helped me
00:50:38.73\00:50:40.30
cross the line
of faith to baptism.
00:50:40.37\00:50:42.50
I knew I had to be
part of this family
00:50:42.54\00:50:44.61
and I'm so humbled especially
by the East Central Division
00:50:44.64\00:50:47.91
and what they're doing.
00:50:47.94\00:50:49.28
And I just believe
all of our resources
00:50:49.31\00:50:51.15
should be
mobilized to help equipped
00:50:51.18\00:50:53.28
our church members
throughout the world
00:50:53.35\00:50:54.85
so that they can bring
this message to the world.
00:50:54.88\00:50:57.79
I thank you for
letting me share it today.
00:50:57.82\00:51:00.16
What is your website?
00:51:00.19\00:51:01.52
FarmStew.org.
00:51:01.56\00:51:03.09
Do you have a booth here?
00:51:03.12\00:51:04.46
We don't have a booth
yet but next year, I hope.
00:51:04.49\00:51:06.93
All right, praise God.
00:51:07.00\00:51:08.30
Thank you, Joy.
00:51:08.33\00:51:09.66
God bless you and the
work you're doing and multiply.
00:51:09.70\00:51:11.57
Thank you. God bless you.
00:51:11.60\00:51:12.93
All right, okay. Thank you.
00:51:12.97\00:51:14.30
It's a real
blessing today, isn't it?
00:51:19.21\00:51:20.64
I want to read this to you,
00:51:20.68\00:51:22.01
it comes from Christ's
Object Lessons, page 326.
00:51:22.04\00:51:24.58
It says this, "Not more
surely, is there a placed
00:51:24.61\00:51:29.52
prepared for us in
the heavenly mansions
00:51:29.55\00:51:33.32
then is the special
place designated on earth,
00:51:33.36\00:51:37.19
where we are to
be workers for God."
00:51:37.23\00:51:40.26
Have you been impressed today
00:51:48.34\00:51:49.94
with the stories of those
that have made a sacrifice
00:51:49.97\00:51:54.01
who had a passion in
their hearts for Jesus?
00:51:54.04\00:51:57.48
Has that
impressed your heart today?
00:51:57.51\00:51:59.65
You know, I just
met with the two ladies
00:51:59.68\00:52:02.18
from the unentered country
that gave their testimony.
00:52:02.22\00:52:06.62
And as we prayed together,
tears flow down their face.
00:52:06.65\00:52:10.46
And I interpreted
those tears this way,
00:52:10.53\00:52:13.26
they have a
passion for that country,
00:52:13.29\00:52:16.23
they have a great desire to see
men and women in that country
00:52:16.26\00:52:20.14
come to Christ and
be changed by His grace.
00:52:20.20\00:52:24.31
You know, I'm always
impressed with Jesus' statement
00:52:24.34\00:52:28.54
in the Gospel of Matthew 9.
00:52:28.58\00:52:32.95
When the scripture
says in Matthew 9:35 and 36,
00:52:32.98\00:52:37.55
"And Jesus went about
all the cities and villages,
00:52:37.59\00:52:41.16
teaching in their synagogues,
00:52:41.19\00:52:43.93
preaching the
gospel of the kingdom,
00:52:43.99\00:52:46.59
and healing every
sickness and every disease."
00:52:46.66\00:52:49.76
Jesus' ministry was a
comprehensive ministry.
00:52:49.80\00:52:53.27
He cared for people
physically, mentally,
00:52:53.30\00:52:56.94
emotionally, and spiritually.
00:52:56.97\00:52:59.61
Then Jesus makes
this amazing statement.
00:52:59.64\00:53:02.94
"But He saw the multitudes
00:53:02.98\00:53:05.35
and He was moved
with compassion for them
00:53:05.38\00:53:08.25
because they were
weary and scattered
00:53:08.28\00:53:10.52
like sheep without a shepherd.
00:53:10.59\00:53:12.52
And He said to his disciples,
'The harvest truly is plentiful
00:53:12.55\00:53:16.62
but the laborers are few.'"
00:53:16.66\00:53:18.46
How many of you
believe the words of Jesus?
00:53:18.49\00:53:20.50
Do you believe
the words of Jesus?
00:53:20.53\00:53:22.26
The harvest is, what everybody?
00:53:22.30\00:53:24.97
The harvest is, what?
00:53:25.00\00:53:26.74
Plentiful, but the
laborers are, what?
00:53:26.80\00:53:29.10
Few.
00:53:29.14\00:53:30.47
Is God speaking
to your heart today
00:53:30.51\00:53:33.84
to raise up a new
generation of laborers for Him?
00:53:33.88\00:53:38.85
You know, not long ago,
2015, Saint Antonio, Texas,
00:53:38.88\00:53:45.12
there was something going on
00:53:45.15\00:53:46.72
at the General
Conference session
00:53:46.76\00:53:48.22
that you may not
have been aware of.
00:53:48.26\00:53:50.83
ASI sponsored 65
pastors from China,
00:53:50.89\00:53:57.60
from mainland China,
00:53:57.63\00:53:59.00
they come to the
General Conference session.
00:53:59.03\00:54:01.57
ASI raised that money.
00:54:01.60\00:54:03.81
Every
afternoon, we met with them
00:54:03.84\00:54:05.64
and we study the Bible,
00:54:05.67\00:54:07.01
the great prophetic
truths of the Adventist church.
00:54:07.08\00:54:10.18
Many of them had
never had the opportunity
00:54:10.25\00:54:12.61
to have advanced
education before.
00:54:12.65\00:54:16.12
After that time at the
General Conference session,
00:54:16.15\00:54:20.19
we invited them to come
00:54:20.26\00:54:21.59
on an Adventist
history tour with us.
00:54:21.62\00:54:24.43
We traveled to
Washington, New Hampshire
00:54:24.46\00:54:26.56
and studied the Bible Sabbath
00:54:26.59\00:54:28.56
at the first Adventist
Sabbath keeping church.
00:54:28.60\00:54:31.20
We traveled to
William Miller's farm
00:54:31.23\00:54:33.17
and studied the
second coming of Christ.
00:54:33.20\00:54:36.10
We traveled to
Hiram Edson's farm
00:54:36.14\00:54:38.44
and studied the
sanctuary message.
00:54:38.47\00:54:41.71
We traveled to Battle Creek
00:54:41.74\00:54:43.31
and studied the
origin of our health message.
00:54:43.35\00:54:46.41
As we were traveling,
00:54:46.45\00:54:49.02
I had an
opportunity to interface
00:54:49.05\00:54:51.49
with many of these
Chinese brothers and sisters.
00:54:51.52\00:54:56.29
And one young lady
impressed me greatly,
00:54:56.32\00:54:59.83
she was about 5'2"
00:54:59.86\00:55:02.63
and I had to
look down quite a bit
00:55:02.66\00:55:04.40
and she looked up as we talked.
00:55:04.43\00:55:06.84
And through the
Chinese translator,
00:55:06.87\00:55:09.20
I asked her, "What do you do?"
00:55:09.24\00:55:10.74
She said, "I'm a lay person
but I'm a church planter."
00:55:10.81\00:55:14.71
She said, "I've
been in a city in China
00:55:14.74\00:55:17.55
that will remain unnamed,
00:55:17.58\00:55:19.55
that has over a million people,
00:55:19.58\00:55:21.05
no Seventh-day
Adventist when I went there,
00:55:21.08\00:55:23.62
and I've been there now
four years working by myself,
00:55:23.69\00:55:27.92
and I've raised up
an Adventist church."
00:55:27.96\00:55:30.03
I said to her, "What's the most
difficult experience you had?
00:55:30.06\00:55:34.10
What was the hardest?"
00:55:34.10\00:55:35.63
She said "Pastor
Mark, I went there alone.
00:55:35.66\00:55:40.30
I didn't know one
person in that city,
00:55:40.34\00:55:44.17
the nights were horrible.
00:55:44.21\00:55:46.34
I had little
money of self support,
00:55:46.37\00:55:49.31
and I was staying in
a one room apartment,"
00:55:49.34\00:55:52.58
and she said, "the
most horrible thing is,
00:55:52.61\00:55:54.55
when I would go to bed at night,
00:55:54.58\00:55:56.85
and the rats would climb up
on my bed and bite my feet."
00:55:56.89\00:56:02.72
She said,
"Pastor, it was horrible.
00:56:02.76\00:56:05.03
I'd get up at the night
and the rats would scatter."
00:56:05.06\00:56:07.96
I said, "Why did you stay?
00:56:07.96\00:56:10.97
Why did you stay?"
00:56:11.00\00:56:14.14
Because there were people
that needed to know Jesus.
00:56:14.17\00:56:18.77
That is the spirit
of early Adventism,
00:56:18.81\00:56:22.31
that is the spirit of
ASI, the spirit of commitment,
00:56:22.34\00:56:27.22
commitment to a
prophetic message
00:56:27.25\00:56:29.85
that goes to the
ends of the earth,
00:56:29.88\00:56:32.32
that is the spirit of sacrifice,
00:56:32.35\00:56:36.39
that is the spirit
of a new generation
00:56:36.42\00:56:38.66
that God is raising up.
00:56:38.69\00:56:40.03
I love the song,
"Heirs of the kingdom.
00:56:40.10\00:56:42.60
O why do you slumber?
00:56:42.63\00:56:44.97
Why are you sleeping
so near your blest home:
00:56:45.00\00:56:48.90
Wake thee, arouse thee,
and gird on thine armor,
00:56:48.94\00:56:52.64
speed for the
moments are hastening on."
00:56:52.67\00:56:55.31
I want to be a part of
that grand and glorious group.
00:56:55.34\00:56:58.85