Good afternoon, everyone.
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I hope you all were blessed
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by the seminars
that you attended.
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We're going to start
our GYC Beyond program
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with hymn number
163, At the Cross.
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Alas, and did my Savior bleed?
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And did my Sovereign die?
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Would He devote that sacred head
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For someone such as I?
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At the cross, at the cross
Where I first saw the light
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And the burden of
my heart rolled away
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It was there by
faith I received my sight
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And now I am happy all the day!
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Was it for
crimes that I have done
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He suffered on the tree?
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Amazing pity!
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grace unknown!
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And love beyond degree!
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At the cross, at the cross
Where I first saw the light
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And the burden of
my heart rolled away
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It was there by
faith I received my sight
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And now I am happy all the day!
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But drops of
grief can ne'er repay
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The debt of love I owe
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Here, Lord, I give myself away
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'Tis all that I can do!
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At the cross, at the cross
Where I first saw the light
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And the burden of
my heart rolled away
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It was there by
faith I received my sight
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And now I am happy all the day!
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Good morning, everyone.
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How are you this morning?
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I want to share with you today,
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a project that GYC
has been working on
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for the last two years.
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Today, we're talking
about GYC Ambassador.
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GYC Ambassador
began two years ago
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with the idea of
getting young people together
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in a discipleship
model and encouraging them
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to become active in
evangelism throughout the year.
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We've had a
number of ambassadors.
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The first year we had
over 70 people involved.
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And this year we brought
the number down and had 11.
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God has really
blessed this project.
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And over the last two years,
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we've had a total
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of 333 Bible studies conducted,
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six health expos,
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over 20 prayer
meetings in small groups
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and 36 baptisms.
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Today, I have with you
three of our ambassadors,
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and I just want
to interview them
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and have them share with you
about their experience at GYC.
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So, Seth, what
made you interested
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about joining GYC
Ambassador program?
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Well, so that's
a great question.
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You know, for a
number of years now,
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I've had a goal for myself
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to get more actively
involved in evangelism
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and practical
ministry in my local church.
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And the reason
why, is because if GYC,
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if the experience
that I have at GYC is,
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it doesn't
translate to something
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that takes place
in my daily life,
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if it doesn't affect
and impact my local church,
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then it's
nothing more than simply
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a temporary spiritual high.
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And so that's...
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It was for the
purpose of changing that
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of getting more
actively involved in evangelism
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at my local church
that I decided to get
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to join the Ambassador program.
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Thank you for that.
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What were some of your goals
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that you had in
mind when you joined?
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So as I mentioned,
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the primary goal was
to get actively involved
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in some form of
practical ministry
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and outreach in my local church.
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And so it was through
the Ambassador program
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that I was able
to receive training
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and mentorship.
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And it was through
the Ambassador program
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that I was able to get involved
with a door-to-door survey
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and Bible study program
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that was happening
at my local church.
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And so,
throughout this last year
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just about every week,
myself and an outreach partner,
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we would go
door-to-door knocking on doors,
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signing people up
for Bible studies,
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and actually
dropping those studies off
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and following up and meeting
with people on a weekly basis.
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And when you count, if
including an in home study
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that I was working on
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that I was working on prior
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to when I joined
the Ambassador program,
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we currently have
12 Bible study contacts
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that we're working
with on a regular basis.
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Amen. Thank you for sharing.
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And just one more
question before I go on.
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What was the highlight
for you from your experience?
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One of the highlights for me
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was in fact earlier in the year,
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I had the privilege of being
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as part of the
Ambassador program,
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I had the privilege
of being able to attend
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a weeklong
evangelism training program
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that was held.
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It was hosted by
Pastor Mark Finley
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and his wife in Virginia
at their home church down.
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And it was through that,
it was specifically through
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that evangelism training program
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that I caught a deeper
and much more expansive vision
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for local church evangelism.
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I realize that
probably the greatest need
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that that the young
people who attend GYC
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and I'm speaking of myself,
chief here is to get involved
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in the work of the local church.
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And so I work
with an organization
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called GYC Northwest.
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So GYC affiliate
that covers pretty much
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the almost of the
Northwest United States.
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And so since that point,
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since I attended
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that evangelism
training program,
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I've worked extensively
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with the leadership
team of that organization
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to plan and organize
on projects and events,
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specifically aimed at
getting the young people,
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the Seventh-day Adventists
young people in the Northwest
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more actively
involved in practical
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and ongoing ministry
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and evangelism in
their local churches.
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Okay. Amen.
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And if you're interested
in finding out more about
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what he's
involved in, I know that
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they have information
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at the affiliates'
booth or the GYC booth.
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All right.
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I just wanted to
also introduce Taija Hall.
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And, Taija, you mentioned
to me that one of the things
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you appreciated
about your experience
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was having tools
to reach your goals.
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What kind of tools
were you looking for
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when you joined GYC Ambassador?
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More so the confidence.
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I had some tools
but I didn't feel like
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I have the confidence to
go forward with the goals
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of reaching people for Christ
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and starting Bible studies
following up on contacts.
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And one of the things
that we had was a subscription
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to Audioverse Advance
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which gave us some of the tools
to cultivate Bible studies,
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learn more about
the cycle of evangelism
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as well as Bible study
guides from It Is Written
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that I've been using in
one of my Bible studies.
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All right.
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So after you went to
the Mark Finley retreat,
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what happened to some
of those goals and tools?
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How were you able to
put them into practice?
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I actually came
away with the confidence
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to actually offer Bible studies
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to a girl that
I've been talking to.
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And from that I've been
able to study with not only her
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but her best friend of 15 years.
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So I have two
Bible studies going now.
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Amen. Praise God.
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And our final ambassador
that I want to introduce
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is with me here Joi McClellan.
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And, Joi, when did
you originally start
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with Ambassador?
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So I started
Ambassador two years ago.
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So this past
year is my second year
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with the Ambassador program.
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So you were not just
one year with Ambassador
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but you went for two years.
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I did. I did.
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Why did you decide
to go for a second year
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and what did you gain out of it?
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Right.
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So after the first
year I was just excited
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about Ambassador program,
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but I felt like it
was just the beginning
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that if I was in
it for another year
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that God had something
even more to do with me.
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And so I'm so excited
that I did stay because
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He just really
opened up new opportunities
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and taught me so
much in the second year
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being an ambassador.
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Wonderful.
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So what were some
of those opportunities
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that came into your
life in your second year?
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Right.
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So you all encouraged us
to make goals for the year,
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and so one of the
goals that I made was to
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just really
focus a lot on prayer,
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and I wanted to
start a prayer group
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and so after
coming back from GYC,
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I went back to
school where I attend,
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and I was like, God
show me what I should do,
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how do I get involved
and start a prayer group
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that's kind of scary for me.
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But God just led me
to a group of friends
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and we just
started praying together.
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A group of girls,
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it's like four or five of us
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that we had
prayed together weekly,
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all throughout last semester
from like January to May,
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and it was real
blessing for all of us.
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And then it was summer time,
I was like God, what do I do,
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you know, I'm not
going to get at school,
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I'm not going to be
with the same people.
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How do I continue to
be purposeful in praying
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with other people
for both them and for me?
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And so we went
home and God opened up
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more opportunities to
pray at home with people
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from my church and community
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and then going back
to school this semester,
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it's just really taken
off and our group has grown
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and so many new people
and like, it's my dorm room
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and there's hardly
room to fit us all.
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God is just really
blessing with our prayer group.
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Well, praise God.
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And also when I
was talking to you,
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you mentioned how God took you
00:10:53.52\00:10:55.12
from maybe not being so excited
00:10:55.15\00:10:58.42
or confident
about doing evangelism,
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but He also brought
you into leadership.
00:11:01.26\00:11:02.89
How did that work
in your life? Right.
00:11:02.92\00:11:04.46
So when I started
the Ambassador program,
00:11:04.49\00:11:07.00
the first year I wasn't involved
00:11:07.03\00:11:09.60
in any particular ministry
00:11:09.63\00:11:11.67
or really active doing anything
but when I came this past...
00:11:11.70\00:11:16.60
Near the first year,
the end of that first year
00:11:16.64\00:11:18.24
God opened up opportunity
for me to get involved
00:11:18.27\00:11:20.28
with the GYC affiliate
00:11:20.31\00:11:21.84
Southeast at
Southern Adventist University
00:11:21.88\00:11:24.18
and it's just been a blessing
for me to be able to serve
00:11:24.21\00:11:27.38
and get involved
00:11:27.42\00:11:28.75
in even more ways than ministry.
00:11:28.78\00:11:30.35
Amen.
00:11:30.39\00:11:31.72
You know, what's
so encouraging for me
00:11:31.75\00:11:33.09
when we talk to
these young ambassadors
00:11:33.12\00:11:35.26
is that each and every
one of them has simply done
00:11:35.29\00:11:37.69
what we're all capable of doing,
00:11:37.73\00:11:40.03
making ourselves
available to God to be used,
00:11:40.06\00:11:43.40
and to grow in our
talents and our skills
00:11:43.43\00:11:45.53
and to have more
opportunities for service.
00:11:45.57\00:11:47.80
And God can do it in
them and He can do it in you.
00:11:47.84\00:11:50.71
Thank you.
00:11:50.74\00:11:52.11
For many GYC is a reunion.
00:11:55.24\00:11:59.65
It's inspiration, empowerment.
00:11:59.68\00:12:03.49
It's a chance to stop to think,
00:12:03.52\00:12:07.56
to pray, to seek God,
00:12:07.59\00:12:10.36
a place of conviction,
00:12:10.39\00:12:13.16
conversion, conversation.
00:12:13.19\00:12:16.36
For many, GYC is an
experience that starts,
00:12:16.40\00:12:20.90
peaks and ends in
one four days stretch
00:12:20.94\00:12:24.67
of Christmas break each year.
00:12:24.71\00:12:27.51
But what if I wasn't for?
00:12:27.54\00:12:30.25
What if God wasn't finished?
00:12:30.28\00:12:33.35
What if GYC was
supposed to reach beyond?
00:12:33.38\00:12:37.79
Way beyond one city, 48 hours,
00:12:37.82\00:12:41.89
a couple of thousand people.
00:12:41.92\00:12:45.16
What is GYC?
00:12:45.19\00:12:46.66
GYC is a movement
00:12:46.70\00:12:48.86
and a movement is
made of people in motion.
00:12:48.90\00:12:53.84
Ultimately, GYC is me.
00:12:53.87\00:12:58.17
I am GYC.
00:12:58.21\00:13:00.34
You are GYC.
00:13:00.38\00:13:02.48
For the last 15 years,
00:13:09.92\00:13:12.12
GYC has stood to encourage,
00:13:12.15\00:13:16.19
to equip, and to
inspire young people
00:13:16.22\00:13:18.89
to do something
amazing, radical for God.
00:13:18.93\00:13:23.16
But as we've looked
at the last 15 years
00:13:23.20\00:13:25.50
at the last 16
conferences including this one,
00:13:25.53\00:13:28.84
we've discussed and
we thought about it,
00:13:28.87\00:13:30.71
and we've come
to the realization
00:13:30.74\00:13:32.07
that really out of
the last 16 conferences
00:13:32.11\00:13:36.48
all you've had is
maybe three at most
00:13:36.51\00:13:38.55
that were at least
in name mission focused.
00:13:38.58\00:13:41.88
Yes, we've had
mission as a sub-theme
00:13:41.92\00:13:43.35
every year we go out,
every year we send buses
00:13:43.39\00:13:45.55
and we do things for God.
00:13:45.59\00:13:48.52
But that's just not good enough.
00:13:48.56\00:13:50.13
We need to do more than that.
00:13:50.16\00:13:51.86
This past week we
were thrilled to partner
00:13:51.89\00:13:54.16
with Pathway to Health,
and to see thousands of people
00:13:54.20\00:13:56.36
radically impacted for
the rest of their lives
00:13:56.40\00:13:58.47
almost instantly,
people who had surgeries,
00:13:58.50\00:14:00.44
people who had all
sorts of problems come in
00:14:00.47\00:14:02.90
and leave, enriched
00:14:02.94\00:14:05.74
and knowing that God loves them.
00:14:05.77\00:14:09.14
We need to be able
to do more just as much.
00:14:09.18\00:14:10.98
This is why we've had Ambassador
00:14:11.01\00:14:12.38
for the last two years.
00:14:12.41\00:14:13.75
This is why we
spent so much time
00:14:13.78\00:14:15.42
trying to look at different ways
00:14:15.45\00:14:17.75
that we can empower
each and every one of you
00:14:17.79\00:14:19.72
to be involved in ministry.
00:14:19.75\00:14:22.66
And so we thought about
it and we're terminating
00:14:22.69\00:14:25.36
the Ambassador project
because it was such a success.
00:14:25.39\00:14:28.36
And you will say,
"Why would you end it?"
00:14:28.40\00:14:29.83
Because we need
to do something more,
00:14:29.86\00:14:31.40
we need to go beyond.
00:14:31.43\00:14:34.64
And that is exactly
00:14:34.67\00:14:36.04
why we as GYC have
started GYC Beyond.
00:14:36.07\00:14:38.71
We want to go beyond
just the annual conference.
00:14:38.74\00:14:42.28
And movement, it's a movement
of young people, we're moving,
00:14:42.31\00:14:46.01
we're doing something
not just for four days
00:14:46.05\00:14:49.25
but 365 or 366
if it's a leap year.
00:14:49.28\00:14:53.92
And so we have realized
it can't continue like this,
00:14:53.96\00:14:57.03
we want to do more.
00:14:57.06\00:14:58.69
We have to do more year round.
00:14:58.73\00:15:03.03
And so as GYC leadership,
00:15:03.06\00:15:04.47
we have been
praying and thinking
00:15:04.50\00:15:05.90
how can we empower you
00:15:05.93\00:15:07.94
to be able to do
ministry where you are?
00:15:07.97\00:15:11.27
It doesn't matter
if it's small or big.
00:15:11.31\00:15:14.08
Do something.
00:15:14.11\00:15:15.44
Something is always
better than nothing.
00:15:15.48\00:15:17.85
Amen?
00:15:17.88\00:15:19.21
And God can
bless small endeavors
00:15:19.25\00:15:21.22
and make them
wonderful and successful.
00:15:21.25\00:15:24.22
And we as GYC,
we have been praying
00:15:24.25\00:15:25.82
and we have been
putting together resources,
00:15:25.85\00:15:28.82
partnering with other ministries
00:15:28.86\00:15:30.63
and speakers,
00:15:30.66\00:15:31.99
providing resources for
you throughout the year.
00:15:32.03\00:15:34.73
So that you are
empowered inspired
00:15:34.76\00:15:36.83
and guided to do some
kind of personal ministry
00:15:36.87\00:15:40.10
in your local church.
00:15:40.14\00:15:41.47
Wherever you are, on
your campus, in your school,
00:15:41.50\00:15:44.17
even in your family
00:15:44.21\00:15:46.17
but it is a
decision we have to make.
00:15:46.21\00:15:48.54
And I want to be real with you.
00:15:48.58\00:15:49.91
Every year we make appeals.
00:15:49.94\00:15:51.28
We had an appeal this
morning for missionary service
00:15:51.31\00:15:54.22
and appeals for
following God's will
00:15:54.25\00:15:57.15
but this appeal, the
decision you make has to go
00:15:57.19\00:15:59.62
beyond this conference.
00:15:59.65\00:16:01.89
As we go throughout the year,
00:16:01.92\00:16:03.26
we have to remember
what decision we have made,
00:16:03.29\00:16:05.33
and ask the Lord to guide
us into the right direction.
00:16:05.36\00:16:09.16
And we want to see next
year, we want to come back
00:16:09.20\00:16:11.37
and see what God will do.
00:16:11.40\00:16:13.47
So my question to
you is, who is GYC?
00:16:13.50\00:16:17.34
I am. Who is GYC?
00:16:17.37\00:16:18.71
I am GYC.
00:16:18.74\00:16:20.11
Amen.
00:16:20.14\00:16:21.48
So this year what
we're trying to do is
00:16:21.51\00:16:22.84
to once again
00:16:22.88\00:16:24.21
make as many
resources available as possible.
00:16:24.25\00:16:26.75
And we've got our
website gycweb.org/beyond
00:16:26.78\00:16:29.92
that we've set up
to show a little bit
00:16:29.95\00:16:31.65
of what's been done
over the last few years.
00:16:31.69\00:16:33.32
The number of baptisms,
the number of doors knocked on
00:16:33.36\00:16:36.62
and to just give you an
idea of what GYC has done,
00:16:36.66\00:16:38.83
not only at our
conference but even through
00:16:38.86\00:16:42.10
a small number of people
00:16:42.13\00:16:43.47
who were involved in
the Ambassador program.
00:16:43.50\00:16:45.63
And so what we're
going to be doing is
00:16:45.67\00:16:47.00
we're going to be
offering a podcast twice a month
00:16:47.04\00:16:50.11
which will be there to equip
00:16:50.14\00:16:51.57
and train you in different ways.
00:16:51.61\00:16:52.94
How can I be involved?
00:16:52.97\00:16:54.31
Maybe I don't
like door knocking,
00:16:54.34\00:16:55.71
maybe I can't do evangelism
in the traditional sense,
00:16:55.74\00:16:58.98
but how can I be
involved in whatever trade I do
00:16:59.01\00:17:01.58
with what I like to do?
00:17:01.62\00:17:03.05
How can I use that
for God in ministry?
00:17:03.08\00:17:05.39
And so we're going
to be trying to use that
00:17:05.42\00:17:07.49
as an avenue
00:17:07.52\00:17:08.86
by which you can
be more involved.
00:17:08.89\00:17:10.33
We also have a workbook
00:17:10.36\00:17:11.69
that we're going
to be putting together
00:17:11.73\00:17:13.06
month by month,
00:17:13.09\00:17:14.43
every week you
can do a couple pages
00:17:14.46\00:17:15.80
with activities that
will help you succeed,
00:17:15.83\00:17:17.87
and ultimately we
want to be a support to you
00:17:17.90\00:17:20.44
as an executive committee,
00:17:20.47\00:17:22.17
as the organizers
of this conference.
00:17:22.20\00:17:24.17
And so we've set up a page,
00:17:24.21\00:17:25.61
if you open your phone
up, you look on Facebook,
00:17:25.64\00:17:28.18
you'll see there's
a group GYC Beyond.
00:17:28.21\00:17:31.41
It's a subgroup
under our main page.
00:17:31.45\00:17:33.75
It's a group and
you can join that page.
00:17:33.78\00:17:36.05
And if you have questions,
00:17:36.08\00:17:37.42
if you're trying to
do something in ministry,
00:17:37.45\00:17:38.79
you can post there
00:17:38.82\00:17:40.16
and we will make
ourselves available
00:17:40.19\00:17:41.52
to try answer
questions to help support
00:17:41.56\00:17:43.63
and lift what
you are trying to do.
00:17:43.66\00:17:45.73
Because ultimately who is GYC?
00:17:45.76\00:17:48.90
I am. Amen.
00:17:48.93\00:17:50.27
That's right.
00:17:50.30\00:17:51.63
I want to share with you a quote
00:17:51.67\00:17:53.00
that really has guided
00:17:53.03\00:17:54.37
the GYC movement over
the past couple of years,
00:17:54.40\00:17:55.74
it's from the book
Education, page 262.
00:17:55.77\00:17:58.91
"Success in any line
demands a definite aim.
00:17:58.94\00:18:01.88
He who would
achieve true success in life
00:18:01.91\00:18:04.31
must keep steadily in view
the aim worthy of his endeavor.
00:18:04.35\00:18:08.68
Such an aim is
set before the youth,
00:18:08.72\00:18:12.55
GYC, of today.
00:18:12.59\00:18:14.92
The heaven-appointed
purpose of giving
00:18:14.96\00:18:16.83
the gospel to the
world in this generation
00:18:16.86\00:18:19.26
is the noblest that can
appeal to any human being.
00:18:19.29\00:18:23.37
It opens a field
of effort to everyone
00:18:23.40\00:18:25.17
whose heart Christ has touched.
00:18:25.20\00:18:27.47
Friends, what would happen
00:18:27.50\00:18:29.70
if we make ourselves
available for that noble aim?
00:18:29.74\00:18:32.87
Let's go beyond
00:18:32.91\00:18:34.68
and let's come
back by God's grace
00:18:34.71\00:18:36.78
at next year's GYC
00:18:36.81\00:18:38.15
and have a soul
winning celebration.
00:18:38.18\00:18:41.15
Let's have baptisms of GYC
00:18:41.18\00:18:43.18
and let's bring people
that we have won for Christ
00:18:43.22\00:18:45.45
to GYC next year.
00:18:45.49\00:18:46.89
Who is GYC?
00:18:46.92\00:18:48.66
I am. I am.
00:18:48.69\00:18:50.06
Amen. Amen.
00:18:50.09\00:18:52.03
Seven years ago,
00:18:57.07\00:18:59.23
I was a young person
without any experience,
00:18:59.27\00:19:02.84
talents, skills or
abilities that I knew of.
00:19:02.87\00:19:08.21
But I had a desire to serve God
00:19:08.24\00:19:10.58
and so I asked Him to
give me an opportunity.
00:19:10.61\00:19:15.02
The very next week my
opportunity came to me
00:19:15.05\00:19:18.22
in the form of an invitation
00:19:18.25\00:19:20.09
to pass out evangelistic flyers.
00:19:20.12\00:19:23.12
And despite the
hot summer's afternoon,
00:19:23.16\00:19:26.19
I will never forget the
joy that was in my heart
00:19:26.23\00:19:29.96
as I passed out flyer
after flyer after flyer.
00:19:30.00\00:19:33.94
I was overjoyed
because God had given me
00:19:33.97\00:19:37.37
a chance to be used by Him.
00:19:37.41\00:19:40.54
Over the years God has
taken me and despite my flaws,
00:19:40.58\00:19:44.98
my weaknesses and my failures,
00:19:45.01\00:19:47.82
He's grown me and
taken me to places
00:19:47.85\00:19:50.52
that I could
never imagine possible.
00:19:50.55\00:19:53.19
And not only that, but
He has given me the ability
00:19:53.22\00:19:56.96
to work for Him in ways
that I'm passionate about
00:19:56.99\00:20:00.00
and that are important to me.
00:20:00.03\00:20:02.40
I stand before you a
very different person
00:20:02.43\00:20:04.93
to who I was seven years ago,
00:20:04.97\00:20:06.90
simply because in
being used by God,
00:20:06.94\00:20:10.27
He has changed me.
00:20:10.31\00:20:12.27
This afternoon I want
to share three main ideas
00:20:12.31\00:20:16.11
that I believe will
help you get started
00:20:16.14\00:20:18.01
on an incredible journey.
00:20:18.05\00:20:20.22
And not only do I
think these will help you
00:20:20.25\00:20:22.18
get started in service for God,
but if you're already active,
00:20:22.22\00:20:26.42
I believe they will
keep you in service for God.
00:20:26.45\00:20:29.82
The first idea that I
want to leave with you,
00:20:29.86\00:20:32.76
is you are not a big deal.
00:20:32.79\00:20:36.77
But you are.
00:20:36.80\00:20:38.70
I think so many
times we bring the world
00:20:38.73\00:20:41.50
and its
principles into ministry.
00:20:41.54\00:20:44.67
You know, the world's
values being seen, being heard,
00:20:44.71\00:20:48.61
the world values
power and authority.
00:20:48.64\00:20:53.21
And perhaps this
is why I had a friend
00:20:53.25\00:20:55.75
who once shared with me,
00:20:55.78\00:20:57.12
his ambition to become
00:20:57.15\00:20:58.72
the next general
conference president.
00:20:58.75\00:21:02.36
In fact, he even mentioned
00:21:02.39\00:21:03.96
that he wished
the Adventist church
00:21:03.99\00:21:05.59
would have open elections
00:21:05.63\00:21:07.60
in a similar way
to political parties.
00:21:07.63\00:21:10.87
I must admit, my
friend later changed his mind
00:21:10.90\00:21:13.30
and repented of his desires,
00:21:13.34\00:21:15.60
but his desire is
not really that unique.
00:21:15.64\00:21:19.87
Even if you and
I are not as bold
00:21:19.91\00:21:22.68
about sharing our
visions with others.
00:21:22.71\00:21:26.31
How many of us confuse
our desire for ambition
00:21:26.35\00:21:29.28
and success with our
desire to serve Jesus.
00:21:29.32\00:21:35.09
You know, Jesus
had this same problem
00:21:35.12\00:21:37.13
to address with His disciples.
00:21:37.16\00:21:39.66
So many times His disciples
00:21:39.69\00:21:41.73
were fighting amongst themselves
00:21:41.76\00:21:43.43
over who was greatest?
00:21:43.47\00:21:45.13
Who had the most importance?
00:21:45.17\00:21:47.37
Who would be closest
00:21:47.40\00:21:49.84
to the king in
the heavenly kingdom?
00:21:49.87\00:21:52.94
In response to this,
Jesus shared with him
00:21:52.97\00:21:56.38
His principles of the
Kingdom of God and ministry.
00:21:56.41\00:21:59.78
In Matthew 20: 25-28,
00:21:59.81\00:22:04.12
Jesus said, "Ye
know that the princes
00:22:04.15\00:22:06.86
of the Gentiles
exercise dominion over them,
00:22:06.89\00:22:10.73
and they that are great
exercise authority upon them,
00:22:10.76\00:22:16.00
but it shall
not be so among you,
00:22:16.03\00:22:20.10
but whosoever will
be great among you,
00:22:20.14\00:22:22.54
let him be his minister,
00:22:22.57\00:22:24.67
and whosoever will
be chief among you,
00:22:24.71\00:22:27.14
let him be your servant.
00:22:27.18\00:22:29.41
Even as the Son of Man
came not to be ministered unto
00:22:29.44\00:22:33.82
but to minister
and to give his life
00:22:33.85\00:22:36.79
a ransom for many."
00:22:36.82\00:22:39.45
Do you have any
idea what servants do?
00:22:39.49\00:22:43.32
Servants work hard
without recognition,
00:22:43.36\00:22:46.49
without appreciation,
and without applause.
00:22:46.53\00:22:50.13
Servants are
essentially invisible.
00:22:50.17\00:22:53.77
You and I are not
ready for ministry
00:22:53.80\00:22:57.27
until we are
willing to be invisible,
00:22:57.31\00:22:59.61
so that God can
be seen through us.
00:22:59.64\00:23:02.94
You are not a big deal.
00:23:02.98\00:23:06.38
And yet you are.
00:23:06.41\00:23:09.05
I will explain.
00:23:09.08\00:23:10.42
In Testimonies,
volume 8, page 16,
00:23:10.45\00:23:12.35
Ellen White states,
00:23:12.39\00:23:13.72
"All who are ordained
unto the life of Christ
00:23:13.76\00:23:16.46
are ordained for the
work of the salvation
00:23:16.49\00:23:18.83
of their fellow men.
00:23:18.86\00:23:20.36
The same longing of soul
that he felt for the saving
00:23:20.40\00:23:22.93
of the lost is to
be manifest in them.
00:23:22.96\00:23:26.50
Not all can fill the same place,
00:23:26.53\00:23:28.87
but for all there
is a place and a work.
00:23:28.90\00:23:31.97
All upon whom God's
blessings have been bestowed
00:23:32.01\00:23:35.28
are to respond
by actual service,
00:23:35.31\00:23:38.65
every gift is to be employed
00:23:38.68\00:23:40.68
for the
advancement of His kingdom."
00:23:40.72\00:23:43.45
It doesn't matter
how important you are
00:23:43.49\00:23:46.55
or how unimportant you are,
00:23:46.59\00:23:48.86
if you are
unwilling to work for God,
00:23:48.89\00:23:53.09
there is a place
missing in his service.
00:23:53.13\00:23:55.86
You are important to him.
00:23:55.90\00:23:59.67
The second idea that I
want to leave with you tonight
00:23:59.70\00:24:01.87
is to go out and
find opportunities.
00:24:01.90\00:24:05.87
Sometimes people come
to me and they ask me,
00:24:05.91\00:24:07.78
"How do I get
involved in outreach?"
00:24:07.81\00:24:10.75
I think one of the best ways
00:24:10.78\00:24:12.15
is to start right where
you are in your local church.
00:24:12.18\00:24:17.15
Why not try talking to an
elder or a board representative
00:24:17.19\00:24:20.22
and ask them what kind of
opportunities already exists
00:24:20.26\00:24:24.23
and are waiting to be filled?
00:24:24.26\00:24:27.13
I want to warn
you that sometimes
00:24:27.16\00:24:29.23
those
opportunities that are available
00:24:29.26\00:24:31.73
may not be what you
initially desire or want.
00:24:31.77\00:24:35.77
Perhaps your church
wants a greeter or someone
00:24:35.80\00:24:38.84
who can wash dishes
but as we said before,
00:24:38.87\00:24:42.94
we're not a big deal.
00:24:42.98\00:24:45.48
Did you know that a greeter
is one of the first people
00:24:45.51\00:24:48.12
to meet these non
Adventists who walk into church?
00:24:48.15\00:24:51.42
And a dishwasher is
doing ministry for God
00:24:51.45\00:24:54.59
if they are
allowing non Adventist
00:24:54.62\00:24:57.26
and Adventist to meet together
00:24:57.29\00:24:58.69
and fellowship over a good meal.
00:24:58.73\00:25:01.63
We need to be willing to do
00:25:01.66\00:25:03.13
those invisible boring task
00:25:03.16\00:25:07.17
before God can give us more.
00:25:07.20\00:25:10.91
I think often
people want to start off
00:25:10.94\00:25:15.04
in a leadership position,
00:25:15.08\00:25:17.31
but did you know
that for every one minute
00:25:17.35\00:25:19.21
of stage time at GYC,
00:25:19.25\00:25:20.98
there's at least 100
hours of boring spreadsheets,
00:25:21.02\00:25:26.19
phone calls, meetings,
late nights and stress.
00:25:26.22\00:25:30.93
And if you
wonder about that time
00:25:30.96\00:25:32.36
I actually calculated it.
00:25:32.39\00:25:36.93
I remember a few years ago,
00:25:36.97\00:25:39.47
I was helping with an
evangelistic campaign.
00:25:39.50\00:25:42.47
And one of the jobs
that I had was to organize
00:25:42.50\00:25:45.67
the music for every night.
00:25:45.71\00:25:48.64
I didn't have too much trouble
for the first few nights,
00:25:48.68\00:25:51.65
but at one particular weekend
00:25:51.68\00:25:53.55
I couldn't seem to find
anyone to fill those positions.
00:25:53.58\00:25:57.25
Everyone I talked to
gave me the same reply,
00:25:57.29\00:26:00.16
I would love to come
00:26:00.19\00:26:01.52
but there's an AFM missionary
speaking at another church
00:26:01.56\00:26:04.59
and global missions.
00:26:04.63\00:26:07.00
I'll come another night.
00:26:07.03\00:26:09.36
I later found out
00:26:09.40\00:26:10.73
that some of
those people went down
00:26:10.77\00:26:12.27
and made a commitment
00:26:12.30\00:26:13.80
to be involved in
overseas missions,
00:26:13.84\00:26:16.00
but I always found it ironic
00:26:16.04\00:26:18.04
that they were more
willing to serve God overseas
00:26:18.07\00:26:20.98
than in the small
opportunities at home.
00:26:21.01\00:26:24.25
Someone told me once
00:26:24.28\00:26:25.61
that everyone
wants to be a missionary
00:26:25.65\00:26:27.05
where they aren't.
00:26:27.08\00:26:30.25
Let's be willing to do
those small things for God
00:26:30.29\00:26:33.42
and do what's
needed right where we are.
00:26:33.46\00:26:35.72
And allow Him to grow us
00:26:35.76\00:26:37.49
and give us His
opportunities as we follow Him.
00:26:37.53\00:26:41.96
Another way to
find opportunities
00:26:42.00\00:26:43.53
is to sit down
and brainstorm ways
00:26:43.57\00:26:46.20
that you can reach
others using skills and talents
00:26:46.23\00:26:49.10
you already have.
00:26:49.14\00:26:50.67
So many times we
picture evangelism
00:26:50.71\00:26:52.84
as door knocking,
00:26:52.87\00:26:54.21
door knocking and
more door knocking,
00:26:54.24\00:26:57.01
but not everyone is
called to be a canvas
00:26:57.05\00:26:59.41
or a Bible worker.
00:26:59.45\00:27:01.55
Everyone has skills and talents
00:27:01.58\00:27:03.08
that fill out the church body
and make up the body of Christ.
00:27:03.12\00:27:07.46
I like to ask
yourself the question,
00:27:07.49\00:27:09.82
what do I spend my time on?
00:27:09.86\00:27:11.56
What am I passionate about?
00:27:11.59\00:27:13.46
And what can I do
00:27:13.50\00:27:15.06
that can reach others using
my already existing talents?
00:27:15.10\00:27:20.20
I know it for myself
00:27:20.24\00:27:21.57
something that I
learned I can do is play music.
00:27:21.60\00:27:25.31
And since these
last seven years,
00:27:25.34\00:27:26.94
I have played religious
music in hospitals for people
00:27:26.98\00:27:30.35
who are suffering and dying.
00:27:30.38\00:27:32.18
I have played on street corners,
00:27:32.21\00:27:33.75
in people's homes, at
weddings and at funerals.
00:27:33.78\00:27:37.62
And over and over again,
00:27:37.65\00:27:38.99
I've seen
people's hearts touched
00:27:39.02\00:27:40.82
and moved to accept Jesus
00:27:40.86\00:27:43.09
or to be more
receptive to His Holy Spirit.
00:27:43.12\00:27:46.46
Anything can be a
part of evangelism
00:27:46.49\00:27:49.20
if it is lived
with the intention
00:27:49.23\00:27:51.47
to reflect Jesus.
00:27:51.50\00:27:54.54
My last idea that I want
to share with you tonight
00:27:54.57\00:27:57.54
is find people who can help you.
00:27:57.57\00:28:01.21
So many times we try to
do evangelism on our own
00:28:01.24\00:28:05.28
and then we become
discouraged and we give up.
00:28:05.31\00:28:09.52
Especially if you're
trying to do something like
00:28:09.55\00:28:11.25
start a small group,
00:28:11.29\00:28:13.05
have at least one or two friends
00:28:13.09\00:28:14.99
who can be accountable to you.
00:28:15.02\00:28:17.29
They can be your prayer partners
00:28:17.33\00:28:19.86
and help you
00:28:19.89\00:28:21.23
when you're feeling discouraged.
00:28:21.26\00:28:24.00
Motivational
speaker Jim Rohn once said,
00:28:24.03\00:28:26.50
"That you were the
average of the five people
00:28:26.53\00:28:29.24
you spend the most time with."
00:28:29.27\00:28:32.07
And at Forbes
magazine and I quote, they say,
00:28:32.11\00:28:34.71
"If you want to be
financially successful,
00:28:34.74\00:28:37.25
surround yourself with those
who are financially successful.
00:28:37.28\00:28:40.85
If you hang out with
people who are broke,
00:28:40.88\00:28:43.32
you'll never learn how people
00:28:43.35\00:28:44.69
who aren't broke
live their lives.
00:28:44.72\00:28:47.16
If you want to
improve your relationship
00:28:47.19\00:28:48.79
with your spouse,
00:28:48.82\00:28:50.16
surround yourself with people
in successful relationships."
00:28:50.19\00:28:53.93
And the Bible supports
this principle and it says,
00:28:53.96\00:28:56.77
"Do not be deceived,
00:28:56.80\00:28:58.27
bad company
corrupts good character."
00:28:58.30\00:29:01.90
We will never be successful
in evangelism and ministry
00:29:01.94\00:29:05.61
if all the people in our
life don't care about it.
00:29:05.64\00:29:09.34
Find those people
00:29:09.38\00:29:10.71
who can teach you skills
that you can go to for advice,
00:29:10.75\00:29:14.68
will give you honest
feedback and support you.
00:29:14.72\00:29:18.49
These people are of utmost value
00:29:18.52\00:29:21.09
in your life.
00:29:21.12\00:29:23.09
These three ideas
that I shared with you
00:29:23.12\00:29:24.59
this afternoon are simple.
00:29:24.63\00:29:27.93
One, be willing to
start with the little things.
00:29:27.96\00:29:31.37
You are not a
big deal, but you are
00:29:31.40\00:29:34.47
because God needs you
and if you were not involved,
00:29:34.50\00:29:38.17
there will always be an
empty place in His work.
00:29:38.21\00:29:42.84
Second is find opportunities
and don't go looking for them
00:29:42.88\00:29:46.35
somewhere far away but
start right where you are.
00:29:46.38\00:29:50.49
And that final point is,
find people who can help you
00:29:50.52\00:29:53.69
and support you,
00:29:53.72\00:29:55.42
because ultimately all
these ideas come down to Jesus
00:29:55.46\00:29:59.43
and Him being the center
of our lives, follow Him,
00:29:59.46\00:30:02.60
minister with His
humility and His character
00:30:02.63\00:30:05.93
and make Him your best friend
and accountability partner.
00:30:05.97\00:30:09.27
I promise you that life lived
00:30:09.30\00:30:11.07
in pursuit of Jesus
is worth the effort.
00:30:11.11\00:30:15.71
Amen.
00:30:15.74\00:30:19.38
That was inspiring, amen?
00:30:19.41\00:30:22.42
I have the
privilege to share with you
00:30:22.45\00:30:24.69
a few more things
00:30:24.72\00:30:27.29
and the segment
they asked me to share on
00:30:27.32\00:30:29.26
is called
guidelines for reaching people.
00:30:29.29\00:30:31.96
And I said, how long do I have?
00:30:31.99\00:30:34.13
They said, "Twelve minutes."
00:30:34.16\00:30:36.77
I said, okay, we are
going to talk about guidelines
00:30:36.80\00:30:39.73
for reaching people
but before we do that
00:30:39.77\00:30:42.20
this really can be
considered GYC's look
00:30:42.24\00:30:45.24
at Jesus and outreach.
00:30:45.27\00:30:46.74
Amen? So who is GYC?
00:30:46.78\00:30:49.24
We all are. We
all are. Yes, we are.
00:30:49.28\00:30:52.11
And we're looking
at Jesus and outreach.
00:30:52.15\00:30:54.05
A few specific
amazing principles
00:30:54.08\00:30:56.58
as what will glean right now
00:30:56.62\00:30:58.35
that you see consistently
in the life of Christ,
00:30:58.39\00:31:01.59
but before we talk
about reaching people
00:31:01.62\00:31:03.73
I must, I must, I must
reiterate the importance
00:31:03.76\00:31:07.66
of your own
communion with Christ.
00:31:07.70\00:31:10.97
It's read in Thoughts
From the Mount of Blessings
00:31:11.00\00:31:13.17
that the soul that
turns to God for its help,
00:31:13.20\00:31:16.37
its support, its power
by daily earnest prayer
00:31:16.40\00:31:20.14
will have noble aspirations,
00:31:20.18\00:31:22.11
clear
perceptions of truth in duty,
00:31:22.14\00:31:25.05
truth in duty,
lofty purposes of action
00:31:25.08\00:31:27.42
and a continual
hungering and thirsting
00:31:27.45\00:31:30.35
after righteousness
00:31:30.39\00:31:31.95
by maintaining a
connection with God
00:31:31.99\00:31:34.42
we shall be able to diffuse
our connection to others.
00:31:34.46\00:31:38.16
Amen?
00:31:38.19\00:31:39.53
So this is the initial principle
00:31:39.56\00:31:41.56
and I'm going to
slip this in here
00:31:41.60\00:31:43.93
out of just the
burden that I carry
00:31:43.97\00:31:46.27
for the prayer meeting.
00:31:46.30\00:31:47.64
How many of you went
00:31:47.67\00:31:49.00
to the prayer room this morning?
00:31:49.04\00:31:50.41
Powerful!
00:31:50.44\00:31:51.77
There are almost,
I think a thousand,
00:31:51.81\00:31:53.98
if Gem is in here, he
can agree in his seat.
00:31:54.01\00:31:57.18
A 1,000 people
in the prayer room.
00:31:57.21\00:31:59.01
Amen? Imagine 2,000 tomorrow.
00:31:59.05\00:32:01.38
I'm going to
encourage you with this.
00:32:01.42\00:32:03.18
Before you start reaching out
to people, get on your knees.
00:32:03.22\00:32:06.52
Amen?
00:32:06.55\00:32:07.89
Go to your local church.
00:32:07.92\00:32:09.26
I'll tell you when I
first became an Adventist,
00:32:09.29\00:32:11.13
I wasn't quite
sure where to start.
00:32:11.16\00:32:13.60
Can any of you relate?
00:32:13.63\00:32:15.30
Where do I go? Where do I begin?
00:32:15.33\00:32:17.77
I see a few hands.
00:32:17.80\00:32:19.13
The first place
was my church bulletin.
00:32:19.17\00:32:22.70
I got the bulletin,
and I looked and I realized
00:32:22.74\00:32:25.64
that they actually have
things going on during the week.
00:32:25.67\00:32:28.91
And so I thought, I'm
going to attend one of these.
00:32:28.94\00:32:31.91
Do you know, friends,
praying in public terrified me?
00:32:31.95\00:32:35.28
So guess what I did
in those prayer meeting?
00:32:35.32\00:32:37.55
I learned that people say amen
00:32:37.59\00:32:39.29
when they agree with the prayer.
00:32:39.32\00:32:40.79
So I was like, "Amen.
00:32:40.82\00:32:43.29
Amen."
00:32:43.32\00:32:44.66
And I said, amen
for the first few months
00:32:44.69\00:32:46.56
before I finally
actually prayed a prayer
00:32:46.59\00:32:48.63
in the prayer meeting.
00:32:48.66\00:32:50.00
Attend prayer meeting,
it's the pulse of the church,
00:32:50.03\00:32:52.27
it's a pulse of
your own spiritual life.
00:32:52.30\00:32:54.44
And really it's the pulse of GYC
00:32:54.47\00:32:56.71
as an entire movement.
00:32:56.74\00:32:59.24
The people, there
are people, friends,
00:32:59.27\00:33:01.14
who want to know about Jesus,
00:33:01.18\00:33:02.84
instead of assuming
that they don't want to know,
00:33:02.88\00:33:05.61
like you're in the grocery store
00:33:05.65\00:33:06.98
and you see that person
00:33:07.02\00:33:08.35
and you maybe have a
glow track and you're like,
00:33:08.38\00:33:10.79
"They probably are
going to reject me."
00:33:10.82\00:33:12.32
Has anyone ever
had that thought?
00:33:12.35\00:33:14.09
Okay. Yeah, and
you're just like me.
00:33:14.12\00:33:15.79
I'm like, "They're
probably going to say no."
00:33:15.82\00:33:17.79
Instead of assuming that
way, let's pray for a mindset
00:33:17.83\00:33:20.80
that assumes people want
to know the Christ I know.
00:33:20.83\00:33:24.10
Is He worth getting to know?
00:33:24.13\00:33:25.80
He absolutely is.
00:33:25.83\00:33:27.17
So I am praying
that as a young people
00:33:27.20\00:33:30.54
who are in the
Seventh-day Adventist movement
00:33:30.57\00:33:32.94
in remnant church of God
00:33:32.97\00:33:34.31
that we are thinking
these people, they want it.
00:33:34.34\00:33:38.01
Can you imagine?
00:33:38.05\00:33:39.65
I know this person
wants to know about Jesus.
00:33:39.68\00:33:42.92
We know in Luke
10:2, it tells us
00:33:42.95\00:33:45.15
that the harvest is
plentiful but what are few?
00:33:45.19\00:33:48.42
The laborers.
00:33:48.46\00:33:49.82
Imagine, this mass right here
00:33:49.86\00:33:52.53
holy willingly sold
out to labor for the Lord.
00:33:52.56\00:33:56.13
Fire, my friends,
00:33:56.16\00:33:57.87
Pentecost, the latter
rain would be poured out.
00:33:57.90\00:34:01.24
And you know, friends,
we simply offer choice.
00:34:01.27\00:34:05.54
We give them the
option to say, I want Jesus
00:34:05.57\00:34:10.21
or they can out of
their own free will say what?
00:34:10.25\00:34:13.82
I don't.
00:34:13.85\00:34:15.38
But imagine if they
were never presented
00:34:15.42\00:34:17.25
the opportunity
to receive Christ.
00:34:17.29\00:34:20.32
Look at yourself
as a conduit to say,
00:34:20.36\00:34:22.52
"I'm going to give this person
00:34:22.56\00:34:24.03
one more chance to pick Christ."
00:34:24.06\00:34:26.26
Amen?
00:34:26.29\00:34:27.63
That's a heavy
calling on all of our lives,
00:34:27.66\00:34:30.37
but you see one day I prayed
a simple prayer and I said,
00:34:30.40\00:34:33.20
"God, what is it
like to have a day
00:34:33.23\00:34:36.04
where I'm guided
by the Holy Spirit."
00:34:36.07\00:34:38.87
So I prayed that morning,
00:34:38.91\00:34:40.41
Lord, help me to feel
and be guided by Your Spirit,
00:34:40.44\00:34:43.68
and I didn't know
what I was praying.
00:34:43.71\00:34:46.28
But that day I
rode Amtrak back home,
00:34:46.31\00:34:50.09
and I'm sitting
on the Amtrak train
00:34:50.12\00:34:53.59
and I see a woman in two,
00:34:53.62\00:34:56.76
like on the left
side two chairs down
00:34:56.79\00:34:59.19
but she's facing me
00:34:59.23\00:35:00.56
because that's how
the Amtrak is with tables.
00:35:00.60\00:35:02.83
She is facing me
and she is weeping.
00:35:02.86\00:35:06.03
And I'm like, "Oh, poor girl."
00:35:06.07\00:35:09.40
And then I
started reading my Bible.
00:35:09.44\00:35:13.94
And then I kept
reading but then I thought,
00:35:13.98\00:35:16.34
I can't even focus
on what I'm reading
00:35:16.38\00:35:17.95
because here is
this woman crying.
00:35:17.98\00:35:19.68
When you see
someone weeping, friends,
00:35:19.71\00:35:21.52
it's time to be a Christian.
00:35:21.55\00:35:23.45
It is.
00:35:23.49\00:35:24.82
So I continued to read my Bible
and I was in Ecclesiastes 4.
00:35:24.85\00:35:28.66
And it said,
"Behold those who mourn
00:35:28.69\00:35:30.16
and yet there's no
one to comfort them."
00:35:30.19\00:35:33.90
And I said, "Okay, we are
going to talk to this woman."
00:35:33.93\00:35:39.33
So I closed my Bible
and I motioned for her
00:35:39.37\00:35:41.27
to come over to me
00:35:41.30\00:35:42.64
and because I was
too scared to go to her.
00:35:42.67\00:35:44.44
Mercy, the Lord is merciful.
00:35:44.47\00:35:46.27
So she comes over,
she sits in front of me,
00:35:46.31\00:35:49.31
we had the most
powerful conversation.
00:35:49.34\00:35:51.91
She took a Great
Controversy with her,
00:35:51.95\00:35:53.62
we shared about
the love of Christ.
00:35:53.65\00:35:55.12
We had prayer.
She was so thankful.
00:35:55.15\00:35:58.09
Afterwards I was like,
"I almost missed that."
00:35:58.12\00:36:01.72
Next, that same, very same
day I'm at the grocery store
00:36:01.76\00:36:04.13
in a market and I think the Lord
00:36:04.16\00:36:05.49
was trying to teach me
00:36:05.53\00:36:06.90
that we miss so
many opportunities
00:36:06.93\00:36:09.96
that the people want to
know about Jesus, friends.
00:36:10.00\00:36:13.10
He is worth sharing.
00:36:13.13\00:36:14.94
And so I'm walking
out of the grocery store,
00:36:14.97\00:36:17.04
and I see another woman crying,
00:36:17.07\00:36:18.57
I feel like it says
women can cry, pass to me.
00:36:18.61\00:36:22.31
So the woman is walking
out of the grocery store
00:36:22.34\00:36:24.25
and she's Muslim.
00:36:24.28\00:36:25.61
She has the entire
hijab on and she's walking out
00:36:25.65\00:36:28.52
with her grocery cart.
00:36:28.55\00:36:29.88
And she's weeping
00:36:29.92\00:36:31.29
and I walk into
the grocery store
00:36:31.32\00:36:32.65
and then I'm like, "Okay,
00:36:32.69\00:36:34.02
I'm going to try
to learn my lesson."
00:36:34.06\00:36:35.39
So I tap her on the
shoulder and I'm like,
00:36:35.42\00:36:37.39
"Hi, are you okay?
00:36:37.43\00:36:38.89
That's an awful question.
You're obviously not okay.
00:36:38.93\00:36:42.00
Can I give...
00:36:42.03\00:36:43.37
So I stumbled
into this conversation
00:36:43.40\00:36:44.77
but she looked at
me and she was like,
00:36:44.80\00:36:46.80
"Thank you, wow!
00:36:46.84\00:36:48.40
I gave her a hug and said,
00:36:48.44\00:36:50.71
"The God of heaven
and earth loves you.
00:36:50.74\00:36:52.37
And she's like,
"Amen and she walked away."
00:36:52.41\00:36:54.84
I found out that
her father-in-law
00:36:54.88\00:36:56.31
had just died and she said,
00:36:56.34\00:36:57.81
"How do I have to
go grocery shopping,
00:36:57.85\00:36:59.58
I feel like the
whole world should stop."
00:36:59.61\00:37:02.02
Because there was
someone so close to her.
00:37:02.05\00:37:03.89
See there are people
who are hurting and in need.
00:37:03.92\00:37:06.05
So jumping
through, take some notes,
00:37:06.09\00:37:08.36
if you have a piece of paper,
00:37:08.39\00:37:09.72
that's the best way to retain
the information here and here.
00:37:09.76\00:37:12.63
We know that
number one Jesus did
00:37:12.66\00:37:14.76
more reaching out to people
than He did preaching, right?
00:37:14.80\00:37:18.13
Each of you have a sphere
of influence and they say,
00:37:18.17\00:37:20.17
"In any given population,
00:37:20.20\00:37:21.57
about 5% of
those people are ripe
00:37:21.60\00:37:24.47
and ready for harvest.
00:37:24.51\00:37:26.27
So wherever you're at,
they're there, friends,
00:37:26.31\00:37:28.94
and when you find someone
00:37:28.98\00:37:30.31
or begin to pray
specifically for someone,
00:37:30.35\00:37:32.68
know that we do.
00:37:32.71\00:37:34.05
Jesus did far more reaching
out than He did preaching.
00:37:34.08\00:37:36.35
So how do I reach out?
00:37:36.38\00:37:37.72
Did you know you can
have food with people?
00:37:37.75\00:37:40.56
And it's so bonding.
00:37:40.59\00:37:42.26
I know, I'm getting
very practical here,
00:37:42.29\00:37:43.99
but having food with
someone causes a worship
00:37:44.03\00:37:47.83
to take place and a
bonding to take place
00:37:47.86\00:37:49.63
that otherwise
wouldn't, right, Zacchaeus?
00:37:49.66\00:37:52.13
I'm coming to your house today.
00:37:52.17\00:37:53.50
Do you think they just sat there
00:37:53.54\00:37:54.87
and stared at each other?
00:37:54.90\00:37:56.24
No, they had food, my friends,
00:37:56.27\00:37:58.07
and they learned
about the love of Christ.
00:37:58.11\00:38:00.34
Number three,
Jesus looked for people
00:38:00.38\00:38:03.04
who were generally isolated.
00:38:03.08\00:38:05.95
Think of the woman at the
well. Think of the demoniacs.
00:38:05.98\00:38:10.12
You see a person who is alone
at GYC sitting in a corner,
00:38:10.15\00:38:13.46
why not say, "How are you?
00:38:13.49\00:38:14.82
How's your time been?"
00:38:14.86\00:38:16.19
Kind of bold, but I promise you
being uncomfortable can create
00:38:16.22\00:38:20.20
some of the most
beautiful experiences
00:38:20.23\00:38:22.36
in your life.
00:38:22.40\00:38:24.47
Number four, He was simple.
00:38:24.50\00:38:26.90
He didn't have a set approach
to everything He did, right?
00:38:26.94\00:38:29.70
Actually we're told
in the Desire Of Ages
00:38:29.74\00:38:31.11
that every morning He woke
up and received His instruction
00:38:31.14\00:38:34.04
for that day from
His Heavenly Father.
00:38:34.08\00:38:36.71
Imagine a life like that.
00:38:36.75\00:38:39.51
He never had a set speech
or format for reaching people,
00:38:39.55\00:38:42.22
but He was led by the
Spirit of God each day.
00:38:42.25\00:38:44.92
Number five, He
modeled the prayer in fasting.
00:38:44.95\00:38:48.46
Some of you were here last
year where I shared a small bit
00:38:48.49\00:38:51.59
on my younger brother Joey,
who introduced me this morning
00:38:51.63\00:38:54.53
who we decided that
we would pray for him
00:38:54.56\00:38:58.83
and every
Wednesday we would fast.
00:38:58.87\00:39:01.17
We would say, God, this
isn't seeking your favor
00:39:01.20\00:39:03.54
through this
fast but it's saying,
00:39:03.57\00:39:05.31
Lord, I can't
imagine heaven without them.
00:39:05.34\00:39:08.41
And I don't want
to go without them,
00:39:08.44\00:39:09.84
they must be there.
00:39:09.88\00:39:11.21
Amen.
00:39:11.25\00:39:12.58
So pleading with God to reach
specific people in your life.
00:39:12.61\00:39:15.48
I was recently
challenge with a friend of mine
00:39:15.52\00:39:17.29
from high school
who now this year
00:39:17.32\00:39:19.45
I'm praying specifically for,
00:39:19.49\00:39:21.66
Lord willing
she'll be here next year.
00:39:21.69\00:39:23.16
Amen?
00:39:23.19\00:39:25.23
Number six, He
didn't just reach out
00:39:25.26\00:39:29.26
to people on the streets.
00:39:29.30\00:39:30.63
He also went to
those who were around Him,
00:39:30.67\00:39:32.00
His disciples, right?
00:39:32.03\00:39:33.40
So in your local
church, there are people
00:39:33.44\00:39:35.40
who could use your ministry.
00:39:35.44\00:39:37.61
Don't be afraid
to minister, friends,
00:39:37.64\00:39:39.31
you have something to offer.
00:39:39.34\00:39:40.81
And I understand
00:39:40.84\00:39:42.18
that we can smile
at them and help them,
00:39:42.21\00:39:43.85
but in the end
we pray their hearts
00:39:43.88\00:39:45.31
are given to Jesus.
00:39:45.35\00:39:46.72
Amen?
00:39:46.75\00:39:50.05
Number seven, you can give glow.
00:39:50.09\00:39:52.75
I like glow for giving
it at outreach tomorrow.
00:39:52.79\00:39:56.12
But it's also
investing in people
00:39:56.16\00:39:57.73
without expecting a return.
00:39:57.76\00:40:00.76
Number eight, this one is more..
00:40:00.80\00:40:04.10
an example or a suggestion,
00:40:04.13\00:40:05.90
having a prayer
relationship with a person.
00:40:05.93\00:40:07.94
How do I do that for a month?
00:40:07.97\00:40:10.24
Tell them, "Hey,
I'm praying for you.
00:40:10.27\00:40:11.77
Hope everything's okay.
00:40:11.81\00:40:13.74
Occasionally, you
ain't got to do it every day.
00:40:13.78\00:40:16.24
Okay.
00:40:16.28\00:40:17.61
In the second
month, you can be like,
00:40:17.65\00:40:19.28
do you have anything you
want me to pray about it.
00:40:19.31\00:40:21.15
I've been praying for you.
00:40:21.18\00:40:22.52
You'd be surprised
how much they open up.
00:40:22.55\00:40:25.05
And then the third month,
00:40:25.09\00:40:26.42
ask them to
actually pray together.
00:40:26.45\00:40:29.09
You would be so surprised
00:40:29.12\00:40:30.46
how willing people are to
share what's on their hearts.
00:40:30.49\00:40:34.26
And probably the
last and most important
00:40:34.30\00:40:36.53
is Jesus was good environment.
00:40:36.56\00:40:39.47
He said, "I am the light
of the world" in John 8:12.
00:40:39.50\00:40:42.87
"I am the salt of the
earth," in Matthew 5:13.
00:40:42.90\00:40:47.68
These are simple principles
but Jesus was good environment
00:40:47.71\00:40:52.08
everywhere He went.
00:40:52.11\00:40:53.45
What's the
environment like around you?
00:40:53.48\00:40:55.25
What kind of
community do you carry with you?
00:40:55.28\00:40:57.62
The Lord knows we need
Him to shine through us.
00:40:57.65\00:40:59.69
Amen?
00:40:59.72\00:41:01.06
We know for a fact
that it's Christ in us
00:41:01.09\00:41:03.02
that enables us to live
a life holy devoted to Him.
00:41:03.06\00:41:06.26
I'll end with this story as
my time is coming to a close
00:41:06.29\00:41:09.30
that I started
studying the Bible with a lady
00:41:09.33\00:41:12.73
who was, Punjabi, Indian,
00:41:12.77\00:41:17.04
and her religion was Sikhism,
00:41:17.07\00:41:19.27
and we began to
study the Word of God in.
00:41:19.31\00:41:23.65
Some of you may have
heard this testimony,
00:41:23.68\00:41:25.11
but every time I
studied with her,
00:41:25.15\00:41:26.48
she had this like
furrow in her brow.
00:41:26.51\00:41:28.88
I thought she was mad at me.
00:41:28.92\00:41:30.42
I was like, there we go.
00:41:30.45\00:41:32.79
But every week she
wanted me to come back
00:41:32.82\00:41:35.29
and we would go occasionally,
and I remember thinking
00:41:35.32\00:41:37.73
what on earth is
going to reach this lady.
00:41:37.76\00:41:40.60
And one day sitting
in front of her house,
00:41:40.63\00:41:42.06
the verse came into my
mind, "If I am lifted up,
00:41:42.10\00:41:44.47
I'll draw all men unto me."
00:41:44.50\00:41:46.60
We began to pray that
prayer into the life of Ranjeet.
00:41:46.63\00:41:50.04
And we began to incorporate her
00:41:50.07\00:41:52.21
into activities
the church would do
00:41:52.24\00:41:53.78
and she would come and slowly
00:41:53.81\00:41:55.14
that furrow on
her brow went away.
00:41:55.18\00:41:57.61
I'm happy to share with
you after two and half years
00:41:57.65\00:42:00.18
suffer along with
people, my friends.
00:42:00.22\00:42:02.72
After two and a half years,
she was baptized this past May.
00:42:02.75\00:42:06.05
You see power
00:42:06.09\00:42:07.49
when you give
your life to Christ.
00:42:07.52\00:42:09.62
You see power when
you're on your knees,
00:42:09.66\00:42:11.59
and you see power when
you follow the principles
00:42:11.63\00:42:13.83
He followed in reaching people.
00:42:13.86\00:42:16.36
Thank you, Lisa. It's powerful.
00:42:21.10\00:42:25.54
When I was youth director
in the Texas Conference,
00:42:25.57\00:42:27.54
I remember Lisa coming
out, isn't she inspiring?
00:42:27.58\00:42:30.65
Very practical.
00:42:30.68\00:42:32.01
I'm Pastor Gary, the World Youth
00:42:32.05\00:42:33.62
and Young Adult director,
00:42:33.65\00:42:34.98
and I'm really
excited to be at GYC.
00:42:35.02\00:42:36.35
Are you guys happy to be here?
00:42:36.38\00:42:37.99
Amen. Amen.
00:42:38.02\00:42:40.39
You know, I have a theory.
00:42:40.42\00:42:42.42
I don't know if
you agree with me
00:42:42.46\00:42:43.79
on this theory or not,
00:42:43.83\00:42:45.16
but I have a
theory that young people
00:42:45.19\00:42:47.10
were designed by God to
live dangerously for Him.
00:42:47.13\00:42:50.60
I really do. Amen.
00:42:50.63\00:42:53.23
We weren't
designed to play it safe.
00:42:53.27\00:42:54.94
I've found that young
people are attracted to churches
00:42:54.97\00:42:57.84
that live dangerously for God.
00:42:57.87\00:43:00.08
Churches that are
involved in mission
00:43:00.11\00:43:01.58
and causes for the Lord.
00:43:01.61\00:43:03.45
Young people want to be
a part of those churches
00:43:03.48\00:43:05.55
that are living
dangerously for God.
00:43:05.58\00:43:06.92
Amen?
00:43:06.95\00:43:08.28
You know, I have a verse
in the Bible that I think
00:43:08.32\00:43:10.22
kind of proves this theory.
00:43:10.25\00:43:12.35
It's Psalm 127:4,
00:43:12.39\00:43:15.52
it says, "Like arrows
in the hands of a warrior
00:43:15.56\00:43:19.03
are children
born in one's youth."
00:43:19.06\00:43:22.56
Isn't it interesting
that the Bible describes
00:43:22.60\00:43:24.70
young people as arrows
in the hands of a warrior.
00:43:24.73\00:43:29.97
I don't know about you
but arrows are not designed
00:43:30.01\00:43:32.81
to go to safe places, are they?
00:43:32.84\00:43:35.44
Now, maybe in the
hands of an archer maybe,
00:43:35.48\00:43:38.58
because the archer
might be target practicing.
00:43:38.61\00:43:41.28
But that's not
what the verse says.
00:43:41.32\00:43:43.15
The verse says,
00:43:43.18\00:43:44.52
"Young people are arrows
in the hands of a warrior."
00:43:44.55\00:43:46.99
The only time a
warrior uses an arrow
00:43:47.02\00:43:49.32
is to shoot that arrow
into the most dangerous place,
00:43:49.36\00:43:52.53
the front lines of the
enemy's attacking force.
00:43:52.56\00:43:57.20
I believe our young
people were designed by God
00:43:57.23\00:43:59.80
to be sent into the
most dangerous places
00:43:59.83\00:44:02.74
of the earth in His name
to do mighty things for Him.
00:44:02.77\00:44:06.51
Amen?
00:44:06.54\00:44:08.41
So if you're youth
leaders listening right now,
00:44:08.44\00:44:10.48
stop playing around
with your young people,
00:44:10.51\00:44:12.31
it's not your seating capacity,
it's your sending capacity.
00:44:12.35\00:44:17.85
God wants you to send them.
00:44:17.89\00:44:19.92
And when God comes back,
00:44:19.95\00:44:21.29
may He not find your
quiver full of arrows,
00:44:21.32\00:44:23.43
young, youth
leader, and parents.
00:44:23.46\00:44:25.13
May he find the
enemy full of arrows?
00:44:25.16\00:44:28.86
We got to send them.
00:44:28.90\00:44:30.33
Young people, you were designed
to live dangerously for God.
00:44:30.37\00:44:34.04
We need to bring the danger back
00:44:34.07\00:44:35.67
into the
Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:44:35.70\00:44:38.04
We need to be challenging
our young people to go
00:44:38.07\00:44:39.87
into the secular
universities like Daniel,
00:44:39.91\00:44:42.01
and stand true for God
and speak about His love
00:44:42.04\00:44:44.81
and the warning
message that He's given us
00:44:44.85\00:44:46.31
in the three angels' message.
00:44:46.35\00:44:48.18
We need to send our young people
00:44:48.22\00:44:49.62
into the cities
of the world like
00:44:49.65\00:44:50.99
Doug Venn has
been talking about,
00:44:51.02\00:44:52.82
and reach the
people in the cities
00:44:52.85\00:44:54.89
in the various last
days of earth's history.
00:44:54.92\00:44:57.56
I'm gonna be honest with you.
00:44:57.59\00:44:58.93
I'm not concerned
about the emerging church,
00:44:58.96\00:45:01.33
I'm concerned about
the submerging church.
00:45:01.36\00:45:05.03
A church that was
like, called like Jonah to go
00:45:05.07\00:45:08.60
into the cities with
the three angels' message
00:45:08.64\00:45:11.31
but instead goes down to Jaba.
00:45:11.34\00:45:14.68
Down into the belly of the boat,
00:45:14.71\00:45:18.45
then down into the sea,
00:45:18.48\00:45:20.12
down into the
belly of the whale.
00:45:20.15\00:45:21.48
A church that's submerging
00:45:21.52\00:45:23.12
is a church that
create an emerging church.
00:45:23.15\00:45:26.65
We need to get serious, folks.
00:45:26.69\00:45:28.72
You were designed by
God to live dangerously
00:45:28.76\00:45:31.23
and that may be
going to another country
00:45:31.26\00:45:33.23
in the 10/40 Window
where they've never heard
00:45:33.26\00:45:35.13
the message of Jesus,
00:45:35.16\00:45:36.50
or it might be right
there in your community
00:45:36.53\00:45:38.33
living dangerously for the Lord.
00:45:38.37\00:45:40.97
But, young
people, you were designed
00:45:41.00\00:45:42.44
to live dangerously for God.
00:45:42.47\00:45:46.04
You say, "Pastor Gary,
where do I go to get started."
00:45:46.07\00:45:48.58
Here's a real simple idea.
00:45:48.61\00:45:51.55
Everybody say,
"Go to the booths."
00:45:51.58\00:45:58.12
Amen?
00:45:58.15\00:45:59.82
There's a bunch of booths
00:45:59.85\00:46:01.19
with tons of
ministry opportunities.
00:46:01.22\00:46:02.56
Check it out.
00:46:02.59\00:46:03.93
Find one that God is
putting on your heart.
00:46:03.96\00:46:05.39
This is where you are
being sent as an arrow,
00:46:05.43\00:46:07.70
and let them train you
and equip you and send you
00:46:07.73\00:46:10.23
into the most
dangerous places of the earth.
00:46:10.27\00:46:12.23
And guess what?
Here's an amazing thing.
00:46:12.27\00:46:14.04
Nothing can happen to
you outside of God's will.
00:46:14.07\00:46:16.77
You don't need to be afraid.
00:46:16.81\00:46:18.14
You are immortal,
00:46:18.17\00:46:19.71
and God, until God
says otherwise, right?
00:46:19.74\00:46:22.38
Take that with a grain of salt,
00:46:22.41\00:46:23.75
but you know what I mean, right?
00:46:23.78\00:46:25.41
Amen?
00:46:25.45\00:46:29.25
You know, we need to rewild
00:46:29.28\00:46:31.22
the Seventh-day
Adventist church.
00:46:31.25\00:46:32.59
Amen.
00:46:32.62\00:46:33.96
You say,
"Pastor, what's that mean?
00:46:33.99\00:46:35.89
Well, in 1995, do you realize
00:46:35.92\00:46:38.49
that Yellowstone
National Park was suffering,
00:46:38.53\00:46:40.96
they were losing a lot
of their wildlife, why?
00:46:41.00\00:46:43.26
Because the deer
population have grown up,
00:46:43.30\00:46:45.67
and the deer were
eating all the berries
00:46:45.70\00:46:47.87
which attracted the
bears and the small rodents.
00:46:47.90\00:46:52.31
The coyotes were eating
up all the rodents as well,
00:46:52.34\00:46:55.38
and so you were losing
the eagles and the hawks.
00:46:55.41\00:46:57.85
It was affecting
the entire terrain
00:46:57.88\00:46:59.41
of Yellowstone.
00:46:59.45\00:47:00.78
And then in 1995, they came
up with a term called rewilding
00:47:00.82\00:47:04.49
and that basically means
bring the wolves back please.
00:47:04.52\00:47:08.89
You know what they did?
00:47:08.92\00:47:10.26
They brought the wolves back,
they had banished the wolves.
00:47:10.29\00:47:13.03
But as soon as they
brought the wolves back,
00:47:13.06\00:47:14.73
guess what happened?
00:47:14.76\00:47:16.63
The wolves began
to eat the coyotes
00:47:16.67\00:47:18.47
which saved the
berries and the small rodents.
00:47:18.50\00:47:21.17
The wolves began to
chase off all the deer,
00:47:21.20\00:47:23.41
they were eating all the foliage
00:47:23.44\00:47:24.77
and messing with the streams
00:47:24.81\00:47:26.17
and chasing off the beavers
and the hawks and all that.
00:47:26.21\00:47:28.88
As these wolves
began to take over,
00:47:28.91\00:47:30.78
as danger began to
come back into Yellowstone,
00:47:30.81\00:47:34.75
the place came alive.
00:47:34.78\00:47:37.39
Need to bring the danger
back into the Adventist church.
00:47:37.42\00:47:40.16
We need to start talking
00:47:40.19\00:47:41.52
about not just
living this life now,
00:47:41.56\00:47:43.43
but preparing
for the life to come.
00:47:43.46\00:47:45.79
Need to be going into
the most dangerous places
00:47:45.83\00:47:47.76
of the earth and
letting people know
00:47:47.80\00:47:49.43
the good news
that we have a savior,
00:47:49.46\00:47:51.50
but the world is
coming to an end very soon,
00:47:51.53\00:47:53.13
we have a savior though.
00:47:53.17\00:47:55.50
This message
must go to the world.
00:47:55.54\00:47:57.14
We need to start
living dangerously again.
00:47:57.17\00:47:59.14
We need to rewild
00:47:59.17\00:48:00.51
the Seventh-day
Adventist church.
00:48:00.54\00:48:02.94
There are places
in the 10/40 Window
00:48:02.98\00:48:04.48
where they have maybe
00:48:04.51\00:48:05.85
900,000 people
and two Adventists.
00:48:05.88\00:48:08.88
Why couldn't we send
teams of young people?
00:48:08.92\00:48:11.65
We need to
bring the wolves back.
00:48:11.69\00:48:13.25
And you say, "Pastor Gary,
00:48:13.29\00:48:15.22
Jesus never said
anything like that, did he?"
00:48:15.26\00:48:18.13
Yeah, He did.
00:48:18.16\00:48:19.49
He said, "I send
you out among wolves."
00:48:19.53\00:48:23.50
Said, "I'm not gonna
send you to easy places,
00:48:26.57\00:48:28.77
I'm sending you into
the enemy's front lines.
00:48:28.80\00:48:31.87
I'm sending you out
where there's wolves."
00:48:31.91\00:48:34.01
And then he said something
very beautiful, He said this,
00:48:34.04\00:48:36.75
"Be wise as serpents
00:48:36.78\00:48:41.22
and gentle as doves."
00:48:41.25\00:48:44.42
One of the things
I've learned about serpents
00:48:44.45\00:48:47.46
is that serpents
are extremely strategic.
00:48:47.49\00:48:51.26
Everybody say
strategic. Strategic.
00:48:51.29\00:48:54.40
This means, they
don't work harder,
00:48:54.43\00:48:56.77
they work smarter.
00:48:56.80\00:48:58.90
They're strategic.
00:48:58.93\00:49:00.27
What He's saying is, "I
send you among the wolves.
00:49:00.30\00:49:02.64
Make sure that
you're strategic."
00:49:02.67\00:49:05.41
And then He says, "Be
wise as serpent and" what?
00:49:05.44\00:49:08.84
"As gentle as the
Holy Spirit, as the dove."
00:49:08.88\00:49:13.31
Be gentle.
00:49:13.35\00:49:15.48
Let them hear in your
life and see in your works
00:49:15.52\00:49:19.12
the love of Jesus Christ,
00:49:19.15\00:49:21.42
but go
00:49:21.46\00:49:22.89
in the most
dangerous places of the earth.
00:49:22.92\00:49:25.79
Where is God
sending you, young people?
00:49:25.83\00:49:28.53
Where does He want you to go?
00:49:28.56\00:49:32.57
It's a famous story.
00:49:32.60\00:49:34.14
You've heard it before, I'm sure
00:49:34.17\00:49:35.70
about these missionaries
00:49:35.74\00:49:37.07
who were planning to go
00:49:37.11\00:49:38.44
into a dangerous
part of the world,
00:49:38.47\00:49:39.81
but they were just
kind of afraid to go in.
00:49:39.84\00:49:41.31
There're so many
obstacles, so many dangers.
00:49:41.34\00:49:43.88
Haven't you noticed that
00:49:43.91\00:49:45.25
whenever you
want to do God's work,
00:49:45.28\00:49:46.61
there's always ten spies
to tell you a million reasons
00:49:46.65\00:49:48.15
why you shouldn't go.
00:49:48.18\00:49:49.52
Amen.
00:49:49.55\00:49:50.89
Where are the
Calebs and the Joshuas.
00:49:50.92\00:49:54.42
Where are the young
people that say, you know what?
00:49:54.46\00:49:57.03
You may say that I
can't reach this country
00:49:57.06\00:49:59.33
or this part of the world
because they're post-Christian,
00:49:59.36\00:50:01.93
post,
post-Christian, pre-Christian
00:50:01.96\00:50:04.47
and all these
reasons why you can't go,
00:50:04.50\00:50:06.43
but Jesus said,
"The harvest is ripe,
00:50:06.47\00:50:09.20
it's the laborers that are few."
00:50:09.24\00:50:10.84
Amen.
00:50:10.87\00:50:13.68
So I'm going to decide
00:50:13.71\00:50:15.04
whether I'm going to listen
to Jesus or the ten spies.
00:50:15.08\00:50:17.15
Jesus says, "Go
because the harvest is ripe"
00:50:17.18\00:50:18.81
You just need to go.
00:50:18.85\00:50:20.18
It's a labor problem,
it's an arrow problem.
00:50:20.22\00:50:22.22
Anyway, back to my story.
00:50:26.92\00:50:28.82
Got to preach in here tonight.
00:50:28.86\00:50:31.06
And I only have
three minutes left.
00:50:31.09\00:50:32.79
Wow, they're tough here,
00:50:32.83\00:50:34.16
they're really
tough here at GYC.
00:50:34.20\00:50:36.67
So these guys
are trying to decide,
00:50:36.70\00:50:39.07
should we go or not go.
00:50:39.10\00:50:42.30
Apparently
according to the story,
00:50:42.34\00:50:43.77
there was a war general
sitting not too far away
00:50:43.81\00:50:47.14
and he turned
to the war general.
00:50:47.18\00:50:49.88
He says, "Sir,
here's the situation,
00:50:49.91\00:50:52.15
and here are the
problems that we're facing
00:50:52.18\00:50:54.58
to go into this
area, it's very dangerous.
00:50:54.62\00:50:57.55
What should we do?"
00:50:57.59\00:51:00.22
The general smiled,
looked at him and said,
00:51:00.26\00:51:03.12
"What are your orders?"
00:51:03.16\00:51:06.03
"What are your orders?"
00:51:06.06\00:51:08.46
There are 30,000 different
denominations in the world,
00:51:08.50\00:51:11.47
and I'm not saying we're
better than everybody else,
00:51:11.50\00:51:13.64
but I can tell you for
certain that God has given us
00:51:13.67\00:51:16.24
a greater responsibility
than every denomination
00:51:16.27\00:51:18.74
in the world today.
00:51:18.77\00:51:20.38
God gave the
Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:51:20.41\00:51:22.18
the very last
message of hope and warning
00:51:22.21\00:51:26.15
before He comes back.
00:51:26.18\00:51:27.62
We know that because right after
00:51:27.65\00:51:28.98
the three angels'
message, we see Revelation 14:14
00:51:29.02\00:51:32.29
which describes
the second coming.
00:51:32.32\00:51:34.02
We've been given
God's famous last words.
00:51:34.06\00:51:36.76
We got to stop being
the submerging church
00:51:36.79\00:51:39.19
and be a
dangerous church for God.
00:51:39.23\00:51:43.53
What are your
orders, young people?
00:51:43.57\00:51:44.90
What are your orders?
00:51:44.93\00:51:46.27
Don't consult
with the ten spies.
00:51:46.30\00:51:47.64
You might even
be one of the spies
00:51:47.67\00:51:49.00
internally
discouraging yourself.
00:51:49.04\00:51:52.54
But God is calling you to go,
00:51:52.57\00:51:53.91
and by the way His
biddings are enablings.
00:51:53.94\00:51:57.08
You may not understand it.
00:51:57.11\00:51:58.45
I just got back
from Malawi, Africa.
00:51:58.48\00:52:00.28
And they were
telling me stories,
00:52:00.32\00:52:01.65
it's been hundreds of years,
or years and years I should say
00:52:01.68\00:52:04.35
since David
Livingstone was there,
00:52:04.39\00:52:07.19
but that man made an impact.
00:52:07.22\00:52:09.02
He went as wise as a
serpent and as gentle as a dove
00:52:09.06\00:52:13.56
and converted many, many people
00:52:13.60\00:52:14.93
because he
acted on God's orders.
00:52:14.96\00:52:18.03
Amen?
00:52:18.07\00:52:19.53
GYC, will you
act on God's orders
00:52:19.57\00:52:21.37
or so you consult
with the ten spies.
00:52:21.40\00:52:23.27
You were designed to
live dangerously for God.
00:52:23.30\00:52:27.01
Amen.
00:52:27.04\00:52:29.88
So, My brother Eric is
going to come out here right now
00:52:29.91\00:52:33.35
I'm sure, and I
want you to reach out
00:52:33.38\00:52:35.62
and grab this card
says, Beyond My Commitment.
00:52:35.65\00:52:40.19
This is really exciting.
00:52:40.22\00:52:42.09
Wouldn't it be awesome if
you come back here next year
00:52:42.12\00:52:45.33
or wherever GYC is going
to be and you bring somebody
00:52:45.36\00:52:47.86
with you that
you've led to Christ?
00:52:47.90\00:52:49.90
Wouldn't that be awesome?
00:52:49.93\00:52:51.67
Wouldn't it be awesome if
starting today like an arrow
00:52:51.70\00:52:53.67
you went into the
most dangerous places
00:52:53.70\00:52:55.10
of the earth and you shared
00:52:55.14\00:52:56.47
the message of
Jesus with somebody,
00:52:56.50\00:52:58.04
won them to Christ, and
then brought them to GYC?
00:52:58.07\00:53:00.84
Eric, tell them
about how that can happen.
00:53:00.88\00:53:03.61
Pull out the card
that you have on your seat
00:53:03.65\00:53:05.35
and take a look at it, it says,
00:53:05.38\00:53:06.95
I, blank, if you take out a pen,
00:53:06.98\00:53:08.88
you can fill in the blank.
00:53:08.92\00:53:10.49
It says, I
commit to making myself
00:53:10.52\00:53:12.39
available for God
00:53:12.42\00:53:13.76
to reach others
through me in 2018.
00:53:13.79\00:53:17.26
I will dedicate my
time, my talents and finances
00:53:17.29\00:53:20.03
for this purpose.
00:53:20.06\00:53:22.46
And then we have
the word like here,
00:53:22.50\00:53:25.23
how to easily like people,
00:53:25.27\00:53:26.77
and some of us maybe
don't like a lot of people,
00:53:26.80\00:53:28.60
but we all have
an opportunity to.
00:53:28.64\00:53:30.94
L stands for what? List.
00:53:30.97\00:53:34.38
List five to seven people
you'd like to see baptized.
00:53:34.41\00:53:38.08
I, intercede for them daily.
00:53:38.11\00:53:40.32
K, kindness shown
through words and accent.
00:53:40.35\00:53:42.48
Finally encourage
Bible studies and decisions.
00:53:42.52\00:53:45.55
I want you to write down five
to seven people, pray and say,
00:53:45.59\00:53:48.12
Lord, who would You have
me to reach this year for You.
00:53:48.16\00:53:51.69
I don't want to come back
to GYC again with no fruit.
00:53:51.73\00:53:54.90
I want to come back
to GYC with someone else.
00:53:54.93\00:53:57.00
I want to be in
heaven someday with heaven
00:53:57.03\00:53:59.03
being a better place
00:53:59.07\00:54:00.40
because of what You
were able to do through me.
00:54:00.44\00:54:02.90
I want the heart
of God to be more full
00:54:02.94\00:54:05.67
because they were
less lost in the process.
00:54:05.71\00:54:08.94
I want to take
heed to that verse in...
00:54:08.98\00:54:13.62
Jude, what is it?
00:54:13.65\00:54:15.72
Jude 1:23 where it says,
"Others save from the fire,
00:54:15.75\00:54:20.96
hating even the garment
defiled from the flesh."
00:54:20.99\00:54:25.06
You know, we
cannot hate the world
00:54:25.09\00:54:26.70
and sin unless we see
what it does to people,
00:54:26.73\00:54:28.86
and as we look at people
and as we try to save them,
00:54:28.90\00:54:31.23
as we study with
them, as we encourage them,
00:54:31.27\00:54:33.34
as we go to our workplace,
our neighbors, our communities.
00:54:33.37\00:54:36.00
As we do things for Christ,
we begin to see how horrible,
00:54:36.04\00:54:38.94
how despicable,
how terrible sin is.
00:54:38.97\00:54:42.14
I'll tell you what,
00:54:42.18\00:54:43.55
I've been
involved in Bible studies
00:54:43.58\00:54:45.18
in places and communities
00:54:45.21\00:54:46.55
I didn't really
want to drive into.
00:54:46.58\00:54:48.68
And as I spend
time with those people,
00:54:48.72\00:54:50.35
like, sometimes you
cringe and you're like,
00:54:50.39\00:54:52.02
I don't really want to be here,
00:54:52.05\00:54:53.39
you know, how could
people get to this place,
00:54:53.42\00:54:55.36
they're in poverty
00:54:55.39\00:54:56.79
and they're
living in circumstances
00:54:56.83\00:54:58.16
that God never
intended for anyone
00:54:58.19\00:54:59.79
to have to go through.
00:54:59.83\00:55:01.53
They're dealing with drugs,
00:55:01.56\00:55:02.90
they're dealing with addictions,
00:55:02.93\00:55:04.27
they're dealing with lives,
00:55:04.30\00:55:05.63
it just quite honestly
is completely miserable.
00:55:05.67\00:55:08.40
And yet we drive
past these communities.
00:55:08.44\00:55:11.24
We work with
people who have lives
00:55:11.27\00:55:13.21
that are just
filled with no meaning,
00:55:13.24\00:55:15.88
filled with
nothing that can really
00:55:15.91\00:55:17.88
get them
through life day by day.
00:55:17.91\00:55:20.92
And so I want to
challenge, you say,
00:55:20.95\00:55:22.28
Lord, I make this commitment.
00:55:22.32\00:55:23.69
I'm going to list by Your
grace five to seven people.
00:55:23.72\00:55:26.79
I'm going to stick
these to my fridge.
00:55:26.82\00:55:28.16
I'm going to look
at it every single day.
00:55:28.19\00:55:30.53
And when I
don't know what to do,
00:55:30.56\00:55:31.89
I'll get on my knees
and I'll pray for someone.
00:55:31.93\00:55:34.06
I was so encouraged
by Lisa this morning
00:55:34.10\00:55:36.36
saying that she prayed
for her brother every day
00:55:36.40\00:55:38.37
to not be able to sleep
and have a good night sleep
00:55:38.40\00:55:41.17
until he became a Christian.
00:55:41.20\00:55:43.10
When was the last time
you prayed a prayer like that?
00:55:43.14\00:55:47.08
I want to challenge you, GYC.
00:55:47.11\00:55:48.68
Who is GYC anyways?
00:55:48.71\00:55:52.11
We are GYC. You are GYC.
00:55:52.15\00:55:57.02
I want to pray a prayer of
commitment over your cards.
00:55:57.05\00:55:59.79
Some of you have
filled them already,
00:55:59.82\00:56:01.16
some of you will fill them out.
00:56:01.19\00:56:03.83
And I just want to encourage you
00:56:03.86\00:56:05.26
to take the time,
pray over your cards.
00:56:05.29\00:56:08.80
I want to encourage you
to get into a group of maybe
00:56:08.83\00:56:10.87
two or three people
however it's comfortable,
00:56:10.90\00:56:13.74
where you're sitting,
say, Lord, here are the names,
00:56:13.77\00:56:15.80
maybe haven't written them down.
00:56:15.84\00:56:17.54
Think of some names,
He'll bring them to mind.
00:56:17.57\00:56:20.04
And say, "Lord,
these are the people
00:56:20.08\00:56:21.71
that I want to see
won in the next year.
00:56:21.74\00:56:24.35
I want to come
back next year GYC,
00:56:24.38\00:56:25.91
we'll have a soul
winning festival of some kind,
00:56:25.95\00:56:27.65
we'll have a plenary session,
00:56:27.68\00:56:29.08
perhaps, where we
will have an opportunity
00:56:29.12\00:56:32.79
to hear the
stories of what God did
00:56:32.82\00:56:35.22
through you this year.
00:56:35.26\00:56:36.62
To find out how
He worked powerfully
00:56:36.66\00:56:40.46
and to celebrate with joy
the baptisms that may even,
00:56:40.50\00:56:43.57
we may even be able to do
some baptisms down pushing.
00:56:43.60\00:56:45.83
We want to see a
baptistery on the stage.
00:56:45.87\00:56:47.54
Amen?
00:56:47.57\00:56:50.67