Steve, why don't you
tell us what it was like
00:00:21.42\00:00:25.52
as your family pioneered
00:00:25.55\00:00:28.12
ministry at
Harbert Hills Academy?
00:00:28.16\00:00:31.79
My Father showed
up at Madison College,
00:00:31.83\00:00:35.16
came from California
at the young age of 18.
00:00:35.20\00:00:38.23
He left California with
just a few dollars in his pocket
00:00:38.27\00:00:40.80
enough for a bus ticket
to get across the country
00:00:40.84\00:00:43.47
and to Madison.
00:00:43.51\00:00:44.94
He showed up there and he said,
00:00:44.97\00:00:46.71
"Well, here I am, I'm
ready to go to school."
00:00:46.74\00:00:48.84
He was accepted into college.
00:00:48.88\00:00:50.71
And sure enough, they let him in
00:00:50.75\00:00:52.71
with just a few
dollars in his pocket,
00:00:52.75\00:00:54.35
he began to work his
way through school there.
00:00:54.38\00:00:57.05
My Mother showed
up from Massachusetts.
00:00:57.09\00:00:59.65
She had been raised.
00:00:59.69\00:01:01.02
Her Father was in the Navy
00:01:01.06\00:01:02.39
and had moved all
over the countryside.
00:01:02.42\00:01:04.19
At the age of 15, she had
become converted to Adventism
00:01:04.23\00:01:08.60
through a friend of hers.
00:01:08.63\00:01:10.27
She was the only
Adventist in her family
00:01:10.30\00:01:12.40
but she felt impressed
00:01:12.43\00:01:15.44
when it was
time to go to college
00:01:15.47\00:01:16.87
that she should try to go
00:01:16.91\00:01:18.24
to a Seventh-day
Adventist College.
00:01:18.27\00:01:20.48
Because the family
didn't have a lot of money,
00:01:20.51\00:01:22.61
she ended up at Madison College
00:01:22.64\00:01:24.41
and she was taking
the nursing course there.
00:01:24.45\00:01:27.85
And her and my
Father became acquainted.
00:01:27.88\00:01:30.02
Eventually, they were married.
00:01:30.05\00:01:32.45
One day, they were
sitting in chapel together
00:01:32.49\00:01:34.66
and as the custom was for
many chapel services at Madison,
00:01:34.69\00:01:39.79
one of the things
they did regularly
00:01:39.83\00:01:42.13
was they made an appeal
for new work to get started.
00:01:42.16\00:01:47.44
And so, Mr. William E. Patterson
00:01:47.47\00:01:50.11
was standing up in front of
the auditorium in chapel there
00:01:50.14\00:01:53.24
and he was saying, "You
know, we're going to start
00:01:53.27\00:01:55.44
some new work
00:01:55.48\00:01:56.81
and we have a vision
to start a new school
00:01:56.85\00:01:59.71
and I'm going
to need some help."
00:01:59.75\00:02:02.08
And he began to
describe his vision
00:02:02.12\00:02:04.55
of what he wanted to
do in helping young people
00:02:04.59\00:02:07.09
and to earn their
way through school
00:02:07.12\00:02:09.79
and to plant an institution
00:02:09.82\00:02:12.19
where there was no
Seventh-day Adventist presence.
00:02:12.23\00:02:15.56
And as I heard the story,
00:02:15.60\00:02:18.40
my Mother elbowed my
Father in the ribs and said,
00:02:18.43\00:02:22.67
"Louis, I think that's us."
00:02:22.70\00:02:24.77
And of course,
with a little elbowing,
00:02:24.81\00:02:27.14
you usually get up, right?
00:02:27.18\00:02:29.04
And so my Father and
my Mother went forward
00:02:29.08\00:02:31.71
and dedicated themselves
00:02:31.75\00:02:33.08
to helping to begin the
work of this institution.
00:02:33.11\00:02:36.92
This was in 1951, in
the late part of 1951.
00:02:36.95\00:02:42.82
And Mr. Patterson went
to Hardin County, Tennessee.
00:02:42.86\00:02:46.80
Now Hardin County, Tennessee
is an interesting place,
00:02:46.83\00:02:49.20
there was no
Seventh-day Adventist
00:02:49.23\00:02:50.83
presence in that county.
00:02:50.87\00:02:52.20
In fact, there was no
Seventh-day Adventist presence
00:02:52.23\00:02:55.27
in about nine counties
surrounding Hardin County.
00:02:55.30\00:02:58.81
But God had not
left this place forsaken.
00:02:58.84\00:03:01.54
Several years before that time,
he had sent two colporteurs
00:03:01.58\00:03:05.01
working their way through
Madison to Hardin County.
00:03:05.05\00:03:07.92
And these two young
men went to the county,
00:03:07.95\00:03:10.29
and there was something
very interesting going on
00:03:10.32\00:03:12.49
in the county as
they were getting ready
00:03:12.52\00:03:14.46
to do their colporteuring.
00:03:14.49\00:03:15.82
And they found out
00:03:15.86\00:03:17.19
there was a high
profile murder case going on.
00:03:17.23\00:03:19.69
And they both had a
little interest in that
00:03:19.73\00:03:21.60
and so they
said, "You know what?
00:03:21.63\00:03:23.23
We're going to go colporteur
00:03:23.26\00:03:25.03
and then, when we
get down colporteuring,
00:03:25.07\00:03:27.30
we're going to go check and see
00:03:27.34\00:03:28.67
what's going on with this case."
00:03:28.70\00:03:30.34
And so they began to watch
the case as it went through
00:03:30.37\00:03:33.34
and they became
acquainted with the judge
00:03:33.38\00:03:36.08
whose name was Judge Herbert.
00:03:36.11\00:03:38.25
Well, so they were
kind of paving the way.
00:03:38.28\00:03:41.58
And when Mr. Patterson
showed up in Hardin County,
00:03:41.62\00:03:44.62
he said, "I'm needing some
property to start a school,
00:03:44.65\00:03:47.72
who should I see?"
00:03:47.76\00:03:49.29
And someone directed
them to Judge Herbert.
00:03:49.32\00:03:52.66
Judge Herbert sat with
him in his office and he said,
00:03:52.69\00:03:56.36
"Mr. Patterson, I understand
what you're saying here
00:03:56.40\00:03:59.57
and I will be happy to help you.
00:03:59.60\00:04:01.84
Here is a plat of my property,
you go out and pick out
00:04:01.87\00:04:04.77
what you think you need
and let me know what that is.
00:04:04.81\00:04:07.31
And if you do what you
say you're going to do,
00:04:07.34\00:04:10.28
then you can have that property.
00:04:10.31\00:04:12.41
But if ten years from
now, you haven't done it,
00:04:12.45\00:04:15.08
it comes back to me."
00:04:15.12\00:04:16.99
So 220 acres was
donated to the project,
00:04:17.02\00:04:21.19
the Madison College
students came onboard.
00:04:21.22\00:04:23.49
They began to come to
Harbert Hills Academy property,
00:04:23.53\00:04:25.93
there was nothing there.
00:04:25.96\00:04:27.30
They started clearing land,
00:04:27.33\00:04:28.90
they eventually built a little
camp site there and continued.
00:04:28.93\00:04:33.23
There was no electricity,
there was no running water.
00:04:33.27\00:04:35.40
They began to
clear it right away
00:04:35.44\00:04:36.77
and bring the electricity in.
00:04:36.81\00:04:38.44
And eventually, drilled a well
00:04:38.47\00:04:41.24
and actually had
something going on there.
00:04:41.28\00:04:43.65
So it took a little while.
00:04:43.68\00:04:45.18
But God was
blessing in the process
00:04:45.21\00:04:47.18
and people were...
00:04:47.22\00:04:48.55
The students from
Madison would come down
00:04:48.58\00:04:49.98
and they would work there
00:04:50.02\00:04:51.79
and trying to get
something started there.
00:04:51.82\00:04:54.29
Well, it's just
amazing what God does overtime
00:04:54.32\00:04:56.46
and with people
that are willing.
00:04:56.49\00:04:58.13
And Mr. Patterson's
son, David Patterson,
00:04:58.16\00:05:03.47
and my Father
brought their business.
00:05:03.50\00:05:05.93
They were in the
business of rebuilding pianos.
00:05:05.97\00:05:08.24
So they moved
their business there,
00:05:08.27\00:05:09.97
so that there was an Industry
at Harbert Hills Academy.
00:05:10.01\00:05:13.14
My Mother and Mr. Patterson's
wife started a nursing home.
00:05:13.17\00:05:17.05
We were the smallest
licensed nursing home
00:05:17.08\00:05:18.98
in the state of
Tennessee with three beds.
00:05:19.01\00:05:21.12
We laugh about it
today, three little beds there.
00:05:21.15\00:05:24.55
And the funds to build
that first little home there,
00:05:24.59\00:05:28.62
it's called the
Clara Elis Hayes home.
00:05:28.66\00:05:31.06
Mr. Patterson had a
bit interesting background,
00:05:31.09\00:05:33.50
Mr. Patterson Sr.,
00:05:33.53\00:05:35.36
he was an agent for
the Federal Government.
00:05:35.40\00:05:37.57
And his job was to
put people in jail.
00:05:37.60\00:05:40.10
And so it was
rather interesting.
00:05:40.14\00:05:41.94
One day, someone
knocked on his office door there
00:05:41.97\00:05:43.94
at the college and said,
00:05:43.97\00:05:45.31
"Mr. Patterson, I
would like to talk to you."
00:05:45.34\00:05:47.38
He said, "Okay, come in."
00:05:47.41\00:05:48.74
He said, "My
name is Roger Hayes.
00:05:48.78\00:05:50.35
Do you remember me?"
00:05:50.38\00:05:51.71
Mr. Patterson says,
"No, I don't think I do."
00:05:51.75\00:05:54.42
He said, "Well,
you put me in jail.
00:05:54.45\00:05:56.52
And I told you
that if ever got out,
00:05:56.55\00:05:58.32
I was going to
come back and see you."
00:05:58.35\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\00:06:07.80
what you're doing
down in Hardin County
00:06:07.83\00:06:09.33
and I want to help you."
00:06:09.36\00:06:11.23
He said, "What do you need?"
00:06:11.27\00:06:12.60
He said, "Well,
we need a building.
00:06:12.63\00:06:13.97
We're gonna start a
little nursing home there."
00:06:14.00\00:06:16.07
He said," Well, how
much is that going to cost?"
00:06:16.10\00:06:18.77
And he pulled out and he
wrote Mr. Patterson a check
00:06:18.81\00:06:20.91
for what he asked for to build
00:06:20.94\00:06:22.28
that first little
building for a nursing home.
00:06:22.31\00:06:24.78
And Mr. Patterson told him,
00:06:24.81\00:06:26.15
"Look, we've got a problem here.
00:06:26.18\00:06:27.58
We can't name this after you."
00:06:27.62\00:06:29.05
His practice was to name things
00:06:29.08\00:06:30.65
after the person
that donated the money.
00:06:30.69\00:06:32.79
He said, "We can't
name this after you
00:06:32.82\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\00:06:37.93
And Mr. Hayes
said, "Well, no problem.
00:06:37.96\00:06:40.00
You can name it
after my Mother."
00:06:40.03\00:06:41.86
And so the Clare Elis
Hayes home was started,
00:06:41.90\00:06:44.23
three residents.
00:06:44.27\00:06:45.80
Now we have 49 residents
and a beautiful facility there.
00:06:45.83\00:06:48.84
God has blessed immeasurably.
00:06:48.87\00:06:50.64
We have about 60 to 80
students in the school,
00:06:50.67\00:06:55.08
we have a farm program,
00:06:55.11\00:06:57.61
and a radio
station broadcasting too
00:06:57.65\00:07:00.88
between Nashville and Memphis
00:07:00.92\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\00:07:15.16
Many people were
coming out of Madison
00:07:15.20\00:07:16.93
doing these amazing things
00:07:16.97\00:07:18.43
all across the south
and around the world,
00:07:18.47\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\00:07:24.67
Madison wasn't an easy place.
00:07:24.71\00:07:26.61
We've heard about that already.
00:07:26.64\00:07:28.61
But I think that
was for a reason,
00:07:28.64\00:07:30.08
because God was
showing people there,
00:07:30.11\00:07:32.38
if it can be done here,
it can be done anywhere.
00:07:32.41\00:07:35.68
You know, Steve, God is racing
up a generation of leaders
00:07:35.72\00:07:40.76
in young people who'll carry
that torch of self sacrifice,
00:07:40.79\00:07:44.99
of commitment, of mission focus.
00:07:45.03\00:07:48.66
And God is racing up
once again in this generation.
00:07:48.70\00:07:53.44
You know one thing though
00:07:53.47\00:07:54.80
that is a little
troubling frankly.
00:07:54.84\00:07:57.97
And that is, that
Madison did not continue,
00:07:58.01\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
00:08:17.33\00:08:19.53
actually lauded as a
model of American education,
00:08:19.56\00:08:23.50
here is an institution
00:08:23.53\00:08:24.87
that spawns scores
of other institutions
00:08:24.90\00:08:28.30
and had hundreds
and hundreds of students
00:08:28.34\00:08:32.27
go out all over the world
00:08:32.31\00:08:33.64
but yet it does not
exist in that same form today,
00:08:33.68\00:08:38.25
what lessons are instructive?
00:08:38.28\00:08:40.52
Well, I think there
are several lessons.
00:08:40.55\00:08:42.88
One of the lessons
that I take from it
00:08:42.92\00:08:45.49
is the great need
of our institutions
00:08:45.52\00:08:48.82
across the country
and around the world,
00:08:48.86\00:08:51.13
whether they're
supporting ministries
00:08:51.16\00:08:52.63
or church owned institutions.
00:08:52.66\00:08:55.50
There is a huge
need for leadership.
00:08:55.53\00:08:58.67
And EA Sutherland
was in his waning years.
00:08:58.70\00:09:03.41
In 1955, EA
Sutherland passed away.
00:09:03.44\00:09:07.34
The school lasted beyond that
for about another nine years,
00:09:07.38\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.
00:09:23.53\00:09:25.53
And as you have mentioned,
00:09:25.56\00:09:27.43
sometimes difficulties in
our life are the best teachers.
00:09:27.46\00:09:32.20
They're very instructive,
00:09:32.23\00:09:33.57
we learn rather quickly
under very difficult conditions.
00:09:33.60\00:09:37.17
And so I would just
challenge our ASI family.
00:09:37.21\00:09:42.88
Some of you are leaders,
00:09:42.91\00:09:44.48
some of you have
leadership ability,
00:09:44.51\00:09:47.25
and God may be calling you
00:09:47.28\00:09:49.02
to step out of your comfort zone
00:09:49.05\00:09:51.25
and to step into
institutional life
00:09:51.29\00:09:53.72
where leaders
are in such demand.
00:09:53.76\00:09:56.09
Just sense being
here at this convention,
00:09:56.12\00:09:59.29
I've had several institutional
leaders come to me and say,
00:09:59.33\00:10:03.06
"Please help us, we need people.
00:10:03.10\00:10:06.03
While it's true,
money is helpful,
00:10:06.07\00:10:08.77
even more helpful
than money is people,
00:10:08.80\00:10:10.94
and we need people
that are dedicated people
00:10:10.97\00:10:13.78
who would come
and put their lives
00:10:13.81\00:10:15.68
into the work that God is
doing in our institution,"
00:10:15.71\00:10:18.41
so it's a huge thing.
00:10:18.45\00:10:19.85
I think there's a
couple of other things though.
00:10:19.88\00:10:24.09
And as far as being instructive,
00:10:24.12\00:10:26.02
I think we need
to be very careful
00:10:26.05\00:10:27.82
with what God gives us.
00:10:27.86\00:10:29.82
Madison had been
in a time of decline
00:10:29.86\00:10:33.90
for a number of years
00:10:33.93\00:10:35.26
and the
facilities were declining,
00:10:35.30\00:10:37.63
and the relationship
with the state demanded
00:10:37.67\00:10:40.17
that they have good facilities,
00:10:40.20\00:10:41.87
and for housing
the nursing students,
00:10:41.90\00:10:44.07
and for teaching,
and things like that.
00:10:44.11\00:10:46.37
The facilities had
been allowed to decline.
00:10:46.41\00:10:49.98
Now this was really at
the very beginning of ASI,
00:10:50.01\00:10:53.72
and so there
was not that kind of
00:10:53.75\00:10:55.95
organization in place
00:10:55.98\00:10:58.15
to help the
institution see the need
00:10:58.19\00:11:00.36
and provide some
of those resources
00:11:00.39\00:11:02.36
for capital improvements
that needed to take place.
00:11:02.39\00:11:05.96
So it's the leadership
issue, capital improvements,
00:11:05.99\00:11:09.60
and sometimes we get distracted
00:11:09.63\00:11:13.74
in an institutional environment.
00:11:13.77\00:11:15.57
We're paying
attention to the minor things
00:11:15.60\00:11:18.21
when we need to be paying
attention to the big things.
00:11:18.24\00:11:21.44
And so that's another thing
00:11:21.48\00:11:23.04
that I think had some impact
on what was happening there.
00:11:23.08\00:11:28.05
So, you know it...
00:11:28.08\00:11:31.05
We do have a need, in fact,
for workers without a question.
00:11:31.09\00:11:35.09
You know Elder Wilson, as
we think about leadership,
00:11:35.12\00:11:38.83
you sit as President
to the General Conference
00:11:38.86\00:11:42.60
of Seventh-day Adventist.
00:11:42.63\00:11:44.37
And leadership is a
need all over the world.
00:11:44.40\00:11:46.97
Share with us just
briefly a few qualities
00:11:47.00\00:11:50.07
that you see in godly
Christian leaders today.
00:11:50.11\00:11:54.24
What are the kind of qualities
that God uses in leaders
00:11:54.28\00:11:59.21
to really take the
church beyond where it is,
00:11:59.25\00:12:01.92
to take an
institution beyond where it is
00:12:01.95\00:12:04.85
for aspiring leaders?
00:12:04.89\00:12:06.99
Essentially, it requires
an absolute faith in God,
00:12:07.02\00:12:12.36
a humble spirit.
00:12:12.39\00:12:14.83
And I tell you,
and I speak to myself.
00:12:14.86\00:12:18.60
All leaders today can be
challenged with the glamour
00:12:18.63\00:12:24.01
or the centrality of position
00:12:24.04\00:12:27.81
and it is only in
humbling ourselves before God
00:12:27.84\00:12:31.31
that we'll see anything
accomplished of any real value.
00:12:31.35\00:12:34.95
If you are a humble leader,
even if you may not be schooled
00:12:34.98\00:12:38.02
in the best
techniques of leadership,
00:12:38.05\00:12:40.86
God will use you just
as He did to the disciples.
00:12:40.89\00:12:44.36
And
self-supporting work and ASI,
00:12:44.39\00:12:48.33
the aspects that we've
been talking about today,
00:12:48.36\00:12:51.40
one of the
greatest characteristics,
00:12:51.43\00:12:53.17
Steve, is really in
terms of leadership,
00:12:53.20\00:12:56.10
people who are willing
to do anything they could
00:12:56.14\00:12:59.57
to advance the work of God.
00:12:59.61\00:13:01.64
So leadership
certainly has to be humble,
00:13:01.68\00:13:04.68
it has to be knowledgeable,
00:13:04.71\00:13:06.72
it has to be completely
leaning upon the Lord Himself,
00:13:06.75\00:13:11.72
and it has to be creative.
00:13:11.75\00:13:14.19
And the Lord intends
for us to use creative ideas
00:13:14.22\00:13:17.76
and our own initiative,
00:13:17.79\00:13:20.13
and He will add His
blessing to what happens.
00:13:20.16\00:13:24.27
Another huge factor in
leadership today is faith.
00:13:24.30\00:13:28.10
Faith in the
wonderful remnant understanding
00:13:28.14\00:13:33.41
of God's precious
prophetic movement
00:13:33.44\00:13:36.28
and that God truly
will be the leader.
00:13:36.31\00:13:39.65
You know, this morning,
we had a powerful sermon
00:13:39.68\00:13:42.38
to help us to
understand not to place
00:13:42.42\00:13:46.09
our trust in
ourselves or in what we can do,
00:13:46.12\00:13:50.33
but to lean completely on
God's power to accomplish it.
00:13:50.36\00:13:54.66
And not only God's power,
00:13:54.70\00:13:56.33
but God's way of
accomplishing it.
00:13:56.36\00:13:58.57
Amen. Amen.
00:13:58.60\00:13:59.93
And of course, as we read
in the Spirit of Prophecy,
00:13:59.97\00:14:01.90
we have so much instruction
00:14:01.94\00:14:03.57
about how God wants
to accomplish His work.
00:14:03.61\00:14:07.04
We need to have
faith to follow it.
00:14:07.08\00:14:11.01
You know, Charles,
00:14:11.05\00:14:13.58
God trains leaders
in a variety of ways,
00:14:13.62\00:14:17.59
and let's get back to
some of that early history
00:14:17.62\00:14:20.12
and discover how
God trains leaders.
00:14:20.16\00:14:23.32
Elder Finley, when Walla Walla
and when Emmanuel Missionary,
00:14:23.36\00:14:27.16
and when Madison each started,
00:14:27.20\00:14:29.63
they each started very much
in privation and difficulty.
00:14:29.66\00:14:33.64
There were few bathtubs,
there was no air conditioning,
00:14:33.67\00:14:37.17
in many cases there was no heat,
00:14:37.21\00:14:40.04
there was no excess money.
00:14:40.08\00:14:42.78
They made do with
whatever they had on hand.
00:14:42.81\00:14:46.78
The first year at Madison,
00:14:46.82\00:14:48.75
they had corn and cows.
00:14:48.78\00:14:54.06
They sold butter to get flour.
00:14:54.09\00:14:56.49
The diet was corn
bread and milk toast.
00:14:56.52\00:14:59.09
And to introduce some
variety into the diet,
00:14:59.13\00:15:02.66
they created brewis.
00:15:02.70\00:15:05.50
Brewis was when you broke
your toast into smaller pieces
00:15:05.53\00:15:09.84
before you pour
down the skim milk.
00:15:09.87\00:15:14.74
And when they were
tempted to complain,
00:15:14.78\00:15:17.81
Ed would remind everyone
that the children of Israel
00:15:17.85\00:15:20.72
ate manna for 40 years,
they could manage for one.
00:15:20.75\00:15:24.22
I would like to close my remarks
00:15:27.22\00:15:29.82
with these
words from Lida Scott.
00:15:29.86\00:15:32.69
When she was reporting
00:15:32.73\00:15:34.13
to the assembled representatives
00:15:34.16\00:15:35.76
from the units in
1934, and I'm now quoting,
00:15:35.80\00:15:41.70
"Recently, some of the graduates
00:15:41.74\00:15:43.97
of Madison College
have had real experience
00:15:44.01\00:15:47.31
in helping to
establish a unit in Alabama.
00:15:47.34\00:15:50.55
Working in cooperation
with the Mississippi,
00:15:50.58\00:15:52.61
Alabama Conference,
none are promised salaries.
00:15:52.65\00:15:57.62
These, they must
earn for themselves.
00:15:57.65\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\00:16:08.33
As an encouragement
to those who are studying
00:16:08.36\00:16:10.83
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\00:16:18.71
there are places still available
00:16:18.74\00:16:20.44
to earnest groups of people
capable of working together
00:16:20.48\00:16:24.11
effectively in co-operation
00:16:24.15\00:16:26.95
and able to
procure for themselves.'
00:16:26.98\00:16:32.15
The Lord has
faithful men and women
00:16:32.19\00:16:34.72
with money being
prepared in hidden places
00:16:34.76\00:16:39.79
who will respond to his
call in the fullness of time.
00:16:39.83\00:16:43.73
And to illustrate,
00:16:43.77\00:16:45.10
I came across one of
these hidden ones this year.
00:16:45.13\00:16:48.60
She said to me, 'If
some with vision or will,
00:16:48.64\00:16:52.81
and the muscle will respond,
I will furnish the money.'
00:16:52.84\00:16:59.28
She could not get young
folks with the will to work
00:16:59.31\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
00:17:16.20\00:17:21.30
than it is to raise the men.'
00:17:21.34\00:17:26.31
The night is coming
when no man can work.
00:17:26.34\00:17:30.01
Before the shadows
deepen into darkest midnight
00:17:30.05\00:17:32.71
the world has ever seen,
00:17:32.75\00:17:34.42
some must call, answer the call
00:17:34.45\00:17:38.99
saying, 'Here am I.
00:17:39.02\00:17:41.82
Send me.'"
00:17:41.86\00:17:43.73
Amen. Amen.
00:17:43.76\00:17:45.29
The Savior has
come in His mighty pow'r
00:18:19.46\00:18:22.70
And spoken peace to my soul
00:18:22.73\00:18:25.90
And all of my life
from that very hour
00:18:25.93\00:18:29.10
I've yielded to His control
00:18:29.14\00:18:31.77
I've yielded to His control
00:18:31.81\00:18:35.74
Oh, it is wonderful!
00:18:35.78\00:18:38.48
It is marvelous and wonderful
00:18:38.51\00:18:41.58
What Jesus has done
for this soul of mine!
00:18:41.62\00:18:44.65
The half has never been told
00:18:44.69\00:18:48.29
Never been told it is wonderful
00:18:48.32\00:18:50.83
Oh, it is wonderful!
00:18:50.86\00:18:52.49
It is marvelous and wonderful
00:18:52.53\00:18:55.96
Wonderful what Jesus has
done for this soul of mine!
00:18:56.00\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\00:19:10.75
From glory to glory
00:19:10.78\00:19:12.25
He leads me on
00:19:12.28\00:19:13.82
From grace to grace every day
00:19:13.85\00:19:16.92
And brighter and
brighter the glory dawns
00:19:16.95\00:19:20.12
While pressing my homeward way
00:19:20.16\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\00:19:29.36
It is marvelous and wonderful
00:19:29.40\00:19:32.37
What Jesus has done
for this soul of mine!
00:19:32.40\00:19:35.44
The half has never been told
00:19:35.47\00:19:39.07
Never been told it is wonderful!
00:19:39.11\00:19:41.64
Oh, it is wonderful!
00:19:41.68\00:19:43.28
It is marvelous and wonderful
00:19:43.31\00:19:46.85
Wonderful what Jesus has
done for this soul of mine!
00:19:46.88\00:19:52.79
Oh, the half has never been told
00:19:52.82\00:19:57.43
It is wonderful!
00:19:57.46\00:20:02.06
Wonderful, it is wonderful!
00:20:02.10\00:20:04.93
It is marvelous and wonderful
00:20:04.97\00:20:08.17
What Jesus has done
for this soul of mine!
00:20:08.20\00:20:11.34
The half has never been told
00:20:11.37\00:20:14.84
Never been told
00:20:14.88\00:20:16.21
It is wonderful!
00:20:16.24\00:20:17.71
Oh, it is wonderful!
00:20:17.75\00:20:19.15
It is marvelous and wonderful
00:20:19.18\00:20:22.68
Wonderful what Jesus has
done for this soul of mine!
00:20:22.72\00:20:28.69
Oh, the half has never
00:20:28.72\00:20:31.33
The half has
never, the half has never
00:20:31.36\00:20:38.33
Been told
00:20:38.37\00:20:42.04
Never been told
00:20:42.07\00:20:46.54
What are we going to do?
00:20:59.45\00:21:01.82
Who's going to
start another Madison?
00:21:01.86\00:21:06.06
How are we going to
continue God's work?
00:21:06.09\00:21:10.17
And the need is
huge around the world.
00:21:10.20\00:21:13.17
And as you've heard us talk
just a little bit about this,
00:21:13.20\00:21:15.90
the need for leadership is huge
00:21:15.94\00:21:18.11
but God is
challenging individuals.
00:21:18.14\00:21:21.78
I recently attended
the Madison College alumni,
00:21:21.81\00:21:25.48
they've been
closed for over 60 years,
00:21:25.51\00:21:28.82
but they still have an alumni
meeting in June of each year
00:21:28.85\00:21:32.75
where the graduates get together
00:21:32.79\00:21:34.79
and they talk
about their experience
00:21:34.82\00:21:36.76
that happened to
them there at Madison.
00:21:36.79\00:21:40.73
Today, as never before,
God is calling for workers,
00:21:40.76\00:21:45.23
He is calling for people
who will enter His vineyard
00:21:45.27\00:21:48.14
and do His work.
00:21:48.17\00:21:50.71
You know, it's relatively
inviting and comfortable
00:21:50.74\00:21:55.38
to move into a community
00:21:55.41\00:21:57.01
where there are
many other Adventists,
00:21:57.05\00:21:59.35
and they're kind of, you
know, plant yourself there
00:21:59.38\00:22:02.82
and attend the local
Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:22:02.85\00:22:05.79
and sit in the pew.
00:22:05.82\00:22:07.39
It just gets kind of
comfortable, doesn't it?
00:22:07.42\00:22:10.16
Well, I believe we're at
a time in earth's history
00:22:10.19\00:22:12.43
where God is calling us to do
00:22:12.46\00:22:13.80
something more
than keep the pews warm
00:22:13.83\00:22:17.23
in these larger communities.
00:22:17.27\00:22:18.93
We are being
called to go to places
00:22:18.97\00:22:21.27
where there is no
Seventh-day Adventist work,
00:22:21.30\00:22:23.14
hundreds and hundreds of cities
and towns across this nation,
00:22:23.17\00:22:26.74
thousands of cities, and towns,
and villages across the world
00:22:26.78\00:22:30.31
needing someone to come
00:22:30.35\00:22:32.35
and give them the
good news of the gospel.
00:22:32.38\00:22:35.28
Well, the good news is,
00:22:35.32\00:22:37.25
today that the work that
God is calling people to do
00:22:37.29\00:22:41.52
is being responded to.
00:22:41.56\00:22:43.53
We are not in a situation
00:22:43.56\00:22:46.33
where no one is
responding to that call.
00:22:46.36\00:22:49.30
We have several stories
we want to tell you today.
00:22:49.33\00:22:52.30
The first story comes
from the country of Romania.
00:22:52.33\00:22:55.27
I think we have some
folks from Romania here today.
00:22:55.30\00:22:58.47
The little school
is being started there
00:22:58.51\00:23:00.51
is called the Integritas,
00:23:00.54\00:23:02.61
and they read the book
Madison, God's Beautiful Farm,
00:23:02.64\00:23:06.65
and they began to
search for what they might do
00:23:06.68\00:23:09.38
to fulfill that kind
of vision for education.
00:23:09.42\00:23:12.75
And as they were
searching and praying,
00:23:12.79\00:23:16.12
I went at one point to talk
with them and encourage them
00:23:16.16\00:23:19.66
in their quest to start
something there in Romania.
00:23:19.69\00:23:23.26
And they took me to a piece
of property on a hillside there
00:23:23.30\00:23:26.23
and said, "We're going
to start something here."
00:23:26.27\00:23:28.30
It's amazing what
God is doing there.
00:23:28.34\00:23:30.24
"We're going to
start something here."
00:23:30.27\00:23:31.61
I said, "It's a
beautiful piece of property,
00:23:31.64\00:23:33.34
it's a lovely place to
start a little school."
00:23:33.38\00:23:35.84
They said, "That's
what we would like to do."
00:23:35.88\00:23:37.41
And so we began
to encourage them,
00:23:37.45\00:23:40.52
and to pray with them,
00:23:40.55\00:23:42.22
and to give them some
counsel, and they began to work.
00:23:42.25\00:23:46.65
And we're going to show you
00:23:46.69\00:23:48.19
just a short
video clip right now
00:23:48.22\00:23:50.26
about the work that
is happening in Romania,
00:23:50.29\00:23:52.96
the beginning of
this little school there.
00:23:52.99\00:23:55.36
And I say little school,
00:23:55.40\00:23:56.87
you will see when
they show the video
00:23:56.90\00:23:59.47
that God is
really blessing there.
00:23:59.50\00:24:01.94
And again, what did they do?
00:24:01.97\00:24:04.24
They started reading the book,
they started reading the books,
00:24:04.27\00:24:07.48
God's Counsel, the book
on education, other books.
00:24:07.51\00:24:10.21
And they said,
"We've got to do something."
00:24:10.25\00:24:12.38
And God inspired
them to do something.
00:24:12.41\00:24:14.25
And so we are going to ask them
to roll that video right now.
00:24:14.28\00:24:17.19
Things haven't
changed, have they?
00:27:00.92\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\00:27:15.00
we are going to share
actually four more stories.
00:27:15.03\00:27:17.03
So get ready for
four more great stories
00:27:17.07\00:27:18.97
about what God is
doing around the world
00:27:19.00\00:27:21.74
with starting new things
00:27:21.77\00:27:23.77
and impressing people
to do something for Him.
00:27:23.81\00:27:27.14
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\00:27:35.02
Anybody here
from Arkansas today?
00:27:35.05\00:27:39.32
Wes, you're here
from Arkansas. Oh, yeah.
00:27:39.35\00:27:41.49
Amen.
00:27:41.52\00:27:42.86
Now, Wes, you at one point
00:27:42.89\00:27:48.73
were a chicken farmer.
00:27:48.76\00:27:50.13
Yes, sir.
00:27:50.17\00:27:51.50
What happened with it?
00:27:51.53\00:27:53.34
I don't think you're a
chicken farmer anymore,
00:27:53.37\00:27:55.07
tell me about that?
00:27:55.10\00:27:56.97
Well, I had always, in my life,
00:27:57.01\00:28:00.38
felt like I was a
failure at witnessing.
00:28:00.41\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\00:28:21.56
And I wanted
something to happen.
00:28:21.60\00:28:24.67
So you were open to the
leading of the Holy Spirit.
00:28:24.70\00:28:28.50
Your little church
appointed you to an office.
00:28:28.54\00:28:31.24
What did they ask you to do?
00:28:31.27\00:28:32.61
They asked me to be
00:28:32.64\00:28:33.98
the Personal Ministries
Director of our church.
00:28:34.01\00:28:35.68
Now that sounds pretty innocent,
00:28:35.71\00:28:38.11
just be the
Personal Ministries Director.
00:28:38.15\00:28:40.12
What did God do
with that opportunity?
00:28:40.15\00:28:42.02
Well, I had never been Personal
Ministries Director before,
00:28:42.05\00:28:46.05
and when I took the position,
00:28:46.09\00:28:48.66
I am not the kind that
wants to just stand in a podium
00:28:48.69\00:28:52.09
and read the conference papers.
00:28:52.13\00:28:54.46
And I wanted
something to happen,
00:28:54.50\00:28:56.56
so I had read an article
in the Northern Union paper
00:28:56.60\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,
00:29:14.02\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\00:29:27.63
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\00:29:33.13
that went to Minnesota
00:29:33.17\00:29:34.50
had come through Luis
Torres School in South Dakota.
00:29:34.54\00:29:39.34
And so I called him
and he said, "No, Wes,"
00:29:39.37\00:29:42.48
he said, "These
people don't just come here
00:29:42.51\00:29:44.65
and take training and then
hope to find a place to go.
00:29:44.68\00:29:47.98
They're sent by a
church, and they're trained,
00:29:48.02\00:29:50.12
and they go
back to their church.
00:29:50.15\00:29:52.62
Actually, he
thought he found me someone
00:29:52.65\00:29:54.76
and then we got disappointed
00:29:54.79\00:29:56.36
and it didn't happen.
00:29:56.39\00:29:58.29
So who did you end up getting?
00:29:58.33\00:30:00.30
Okay, I just wish, I need
two hours to tell the story...
00:30:00.33\00:30:04.60
But I wish...
00:30:04.63\00:30:05.97
That's okay, we got four
more minutes, don't worry.
00:30:06.00\00:30:08.70
You have to keep
track of the time
00:30:08.74\00:30:10.24
but, God
providentially brought us.
00:30:10.27\00:30:13.78
If we can put on the screen
00:30:13.81\00:30:15.18
the picture of these two people,
00:30:15.21\00:30:18.45
Daniel and Nerida McKibben,
00:30:18.48\00:30:21.52
they were people that
we knew nothing about.
00:30:21.55\00:30:27.42
And those people came
00:30:27.46\00:30:28.79
and when I took
them through the church
00:30:28.82\00:30:30.46
and through the fellowship hall,
00:30:30.49\00:30:32.79
I heard Neruda say to Daniel,
00:30:32.83\00:30:34.70
"Daniel, we could do our
treatments in this room."
00:30:34.73\00:30:38.23
And I'm thinking, "What!
00:30:38.27\00:30:40.17
Bible workers
don't do treatments."
00:30:40.20\00:30:42.84
And I said, "Treatments, what?"
00:30:42.87\00:30:45.11
And she says, "Well, we're
medical missionaries as well."
00:30:45.14\00:30:48.48
So you not only
got a Bible worker
00:30:48.51\00:30:50.21
but you got
medical missionaries.
00:30:50.25\00:30:51.68
We got two medical missionaries
and of the finest order I say,
00:30:51.71\00:30:55.72
"Well, what qualifies
you to do medical work?"
00:30:55.75\00:30:59.25
And that's when I found out
00:30:59.29\00:31:00.99
that Daniel was a
licensed massage therapist,
00:31:01.02\00:31:04.69
he had been in charge
00:31:04.73\00:31:06.29
of the Lifestyle
Center at Eden Valley
00:31:06.33\00:31:08.30
for seven years
00:31:08.33\00:31:09.66
and Neruda was a doctor.
00:31:09.70\00:31:11.13
So how did that impact
how you got into this thing
00:31:11.17\00:31:15.14
with medical missionary work?
00:31:15.17\00:31:16.50
Because I got
involved with these people,
00:31:16.54\00:31:18.37
I wanted to know about
medical missionary work.
00:31:18.41\00:31:20.94
I had read about it,
never met one in my life.
00:31:20.98\00:31:24.15
And we learned a lot
about medical missionary work.
00:31:24.18\00:31:27.92
And while they were there,
do we have it on the screen,
00:31:27.95\00:31:30.99
that this couple came
in who had a huge cancer
00:31:31.02\00:31:35.96
and he had been to the doctors
and the doctors have told him,
00:31:35.99\00:31:39.36
"You got two months to live."
00:31:39.39\00:31:41.66
And I am thinking, you know,
there is no hope for this man,
00:31:41.70\00:31:46.30
he was 72 years old.
00:31:46.33\00:31:48.44
And believe it or not,
00:31:48.47\00:31:51.31
in six months time through
her natural remedy program,
00:31:51.34\00:31:55.98
he was sent back to the doctors
00:31:56.01\00:31:58.25
and he was told
that he was cancer free.
00:31:58.28\00:32:01.05
Amen. Amen.
00:32:01.08\00:32:02.42
And he's returned to
our center just recently,
00:32:02.45\00:32:04.95
we're talking
about 15 years later,
00:32:04.99\00:32:07.69
he is still cancer free.
00:32:07.72\00:32:10.43
So at that point, you kind
of bought in to this thing.
00:32:10.46\00:32:12.99
I did, I'm telling
you, that said, "Okay.
00:32:13.03\00:32:15.80
Bye, bye, retirement."
00:32:15.83\00:32:17.83
I was saving
that for retirement,
00:32:17.87\00:32:19.67
my hot tub, my motor home,
00:32:19.70\00:32:21.97
we're going to travel
the whole United States.
00:32:22.00\00:32:24.81
And I said good bye to that.
00:32:24.84\00:32:26.27
I want to do this work.
00:32:26.31\00:32:28.21
So actually what
I hear you saying
00:32:28.24\00:32:30.55
is that God impressed
you to take these funds
00:32:30.58\00:32:33.62
you'd save for retirement
00:32:33.65\00:32:35.08
and the church
has actually purchased
00:32:35.12\00:32:37.39
a little piece of property,
00:32:37.42\00:32:38.75
they have started a
medical missionary center
00:32:38.79\00:32:40.76
across the road.
00:32:40.79\00:32:43.22
It's amazing what God has done.
00:32:43.26\00:32:45.79
It would take me
too long to tell you.
00:32:45.83\00:32:47.36
I've got it on a DVD,
00:32:47.40\00:32:48.83
if any of you come by the booth,
00:32:48.86\00:32:50.43
it's 245, you'd hear
the whole story there.
00:32:50.47\00:32:54.30
So you have the
whole story there
00:32:54.34\00:32:56.14
but let me just
ask you a question,
00:32:56.17\00:32:57.57
Wes, as we close out here today.
00:32:57.61\00:32:59.61
I want you to just share
with the folks here today,
00:32:59.64\00:33:02.28
how has this
changed your personal life
00:33:02.31\00:33:05.68
to get involved like this?
00:33:05.71\00:33:07.55
I was a Laodicean Seventh-day
Adventist just living life,
00:33:07.58\00:33:12.39
and it has totally changed me.
00:33:12.42\00:33:15.26
I understand what it
means to be born again.
00:33:15.29\00:33:18.69
What's inside of me
is to do God's work,
00:33:18.73\00:33:22.20
I have no desire for
this world of any kind.
00:33:22.23\00:33:27.37
So a Laodicean Seventh-day
Adventist gets impressed by God
00:33:27.40\00:33:32.27
to take his retirement money
00:33:32.31\00:33:33.78
and invest in a wellness center.
00:33:33.81\00:33:35.54
And what I hear you saying today
00:33:35.58\00:33:37.98
is it is just
completely altered the way
00:33:38.01\00:33:40.12
you think about life in general.
00:33:40.15\00:33:42.45
This is the greatest retirement
that I could ever have.
00:33:42.48\00:33:46.55
I am up there everyday, we
have worship at 9:45 every day,
00:33:46.59\00:33:52.49
and then we begin our day.
00:33:52.53\00:33:54.40
But it has been the
most wonderful experience.
00:33:54.43\00:33:57.63
God has led me there, I
had never in my life prayed,
00:33:57.67\00:34:01.94
"Lord, what would You
have me to do in my life?"
00:34:01.97\00:34:04.67
I directed my own life,
00:34:04.71\00:34:06.91
but He took me through
this means to this work.
00:34:06.94\00:34:10.65
Wes, what would you say
to someone sitting here today
00:34:10.68\00:34:14.58
who, as you have
been telling your story,
00:34:14.62\00:34:16.75
they've kind of been feeling
like may be the Holy Spirit
00:34:16.79\00:34:19.32
is speaking to them,
what would you say to them?
00:34:19.35\00:34:21.86
I would just say pray, "Lord,
what will Thou have me to do?"
00:34:21.89\00:34:26.36
God is able.
00:34:26.39\00:34:27.83
He led me at the age of 55
00:34:27.86\00:34:30.77
after I had worn probably
five different hats in life,
00:34:30.80\00:34:35.00
and He's put me into this work
00:34:35.04\00:34:38.04
and I'm not going
to retire until I die.
00:34:38.07\00:34:41.68
What's the greatest need
of Wellness Secrets right now?
00:34:41.71\00:34:45.11
The greatest need that we
have, I am looking at all of you
00:34:45.15\00:34:49.12
and wondering, who is there,
00:34:49.15\00:34:51.35
you know, it says in Luke l0:2
00:34:51.39\00:34:55.22
that the harvest is
great and the labors are few.
00:34:55.26\00:34:58.99
We need labors, we
need at least two more.
00:34:59.03\00:35:02.66
One could be the
director of the center.
00:35:02.70\00:35:05.67
If we had more
workers, what things we could do
00:35:05.70\00:35:10.34
because we have a
beautiful center sitting there,
00:35:10.37\00:35:13.51
ready to go if
we had more workers.
00:35:13.54\00:35:16.34
Amen. Thank you so much
today, Wes, for sharing.
00:35:16.38\00:35:18.61
God bless you and the
work you are doing there.
00:35:18.65\00:35:20.52
Thank you for the opportunity
00:35:20.55\00:35:21.92
and I want to say this
is a first time at ASI,
00:35:21.95\00:35:25.25
it has been a blessing to
meet and hear the testimonies,
00:35:25.29\00:35:28.86
it has encouraged me,
00:35:28.89\00:35:30.53
God is working and He's
going to finish the work.
00:35:30.56\00:35:33.76
Amen. Amen.
00:35:33.80\00:35:35.96
Thank you, Wes.
00:35:36.00\00:35:41.44
Our next story comes to
us from two young ladies
00:35:41.47\00:35:47.54
who have been called by God
to some very interesting work.
00:35:47.58\00:35:52.48
Now I understand that you're
working in a closed country,
00:35:52.51\00:35:58.52
so you won't hear
us today talking about
00:35:58.55\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...
00:36:03.43\00:36:06.90
But we have Gina.
00:36:06.93\00:36:09.56
Gina, how did God get
you involved in this work?
00:36:09.60\00:36:13.80
God is so good.
00:36:13.84\00:36:15.17
I was actually
working there as an attorney.
00:36:15.20\00:36:18.87
So you had gone to this country,
00:36:18.91\00:36:20.28
you are working
there as an attorney.
00:36:20.31\00:36:22.34
And what, that one
thing led to another?
00:36:22.38\00:36:26.38
How did the Lord,
was impressing you?
00:36:26.41\00:36:28.88
Yes, just seeing
the local people,
00:36:28.92\00:36:31.09
their local struggle,
just not for financial meets
00:36:31.12\00:36:34.22
but for the lack of spiritual.
00:36:34.26\00:36:36.62
There was no one
really to tell them about God,
00:36:36.66\00:36:38.73
and they didn't have the hope
or the resources that we have,
00:36:38.76\00:36:41.46
the things we take for granted.
00:36:41.50\00:36:44.57
Haije, how did
you get into this?
00:36:44.60\00:36:46.60
Yes, so I'm a physical therapist
00:36:46.63\00:36:48.54
and I actually took a year off
to become an English teacher.
00:36:48.57\00:36:53.38
So you're teaching English
00:36:53.41\00:36:55.21
and she is there
working as a lawyer,
00:36:55.24\00:36:57.68
and the two of you got together?
00:36:57.71\00:37:00.28
Yes.
00:37:00.32\00:37:01.65
Well, I'm from California
00:37:01.68\00:37:03.02
and she is from
Connecticut, Massachusetts...
00:37:03.05\00:37:04.39
That sounds like a
close way to get together.
00:37:04.42\00:37:06.82
And God brought us
together in this country.
00:37:06.86\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\00:37:16.50
Well, so you're there,
00:37:16.53\00:37:17.93
you're thinking
about all these things.
00:37:17.97\00:37:19.47
God is impressing you that
something needs to be done.
00:37:19.50\00:37:22.27
What exactly did God
begin to help you do?
00:37:22.30\00:37:25.97
Yes, so we felt
impressed to do three things
00:37:26.01\00:37:30.28
to creatively share
the gospel through health,
00:37:30.31\00:37:33.42
a wellness center,
education, and farming.
00:37:33.45\00:37:36.75
You know, that sounds something
like the little book here
00:37:36.79\00:37:39.45
that I read recently
00:37:39.49\00:37:40.82
called "Madison:
God's Beautiful Farm".
00:37:40.86\00:37:42.22
I actually read that
a year before I came...
00:37:42.26\00:37:44.26
Oh! You read the book?
00:37:44.29\00:37:45.76
Oh, my!
00:37:45.79\00:37:47.13
And God
impressed you through that.
00:37:47.16\00:37:48.50
We need a health
worker, agricultural work
00:37:48.53\00:37:50.87
and some
education work going on.
00:37:50.90\00:37:53.17
Yes. Okay. So, Gina, tell us.
00:37:53.20\00:37:56.17
You got several
things going on here,
00:37:56.20\00:37:57.74
how did that work itself out?
00:37:57.77\00:38:00.04
God is so good because
when I went back to the States,
00:38:00.08\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
00:38:07.52\00:38:08.85
and He said, "No, no, no, I
am going to provide for you.
00:38:08.88\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\00:38:21.33
who used to live in
that particular area
00:38:21.36\00:38:23.67
that said, "I heard
you're looking for land,
00:38:23.70\00:38:25.63
we should talk."
00:38:25.67\00:38:27.00
And so we met with
her and she said, "Here."
00:38:27.04\00:38:30.67
We were like okay,
so how much do you want?
00:38:30.71\00:38:32.41
And she said," I
wanted to use it for God
00:38:32.44\00:38:34.91
and I want you to use
it to plant mango trees."
00:38:34.94\00:38:37.71
We were like, we can do that.
00:38:37.75\00:38:39.88
So a donation of property,
how big is that property?
00:38:39.91\00:38:44.12
It's almost 20 acres.
00:38:44.15\00:38:45.62
Almost 20 acres.
00:38:45.65\00:38:47.22
But what I want
you to know is that,
00:38:47.26\00:38:48.66
we asked her, "When
did you buy this land?"
00:38:48.69\00:38:51.43
And she said,
"In March of 2014,"
00:38:51.46\00:38:53.70
and that's significant for
us because in March of 2014,
00:38:53.73\00:38:56.80
that's when God
gave us the vision,
00:38:56.83\00:38:58.20
the calling to start
this type of ministry.
00:38:58.23\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.
00:39:04.31\00:39:07.18
So God's at work
here, He's doing things.
00:39:07.21\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
00:39:13.92\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\00:39:28.26
through the stories
that they teach in English.
00:39:28.30\00:39:32.03
So about a month ago,
part of the curriculum
00:39:32.07\00:39:34.70
was the story of
the good Samaritan.
00:39:34.74\00:39:37.54
And what she didn't mention
is that our project manager,
00:39:37.57\00:39:40.54
the one that's running this
00:39:40.58\00:39:41.94
up to about a
couple of months ago,
00:39:41.98\00:39:44.48
he was baptized.
00:39:44.51\00:39:45.85
Amen.
00:39:45.88\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\00:39:50.22
he was looking for God.
00:39:50.25\00:39:51.59
And by seeing the testimony,
why are you doing this?
00:39:51.62\00:39:54.29
Why are you giving
so much to these people?
00:39:54.32\00:39:56.66
Because that's
what God wants us to do.
00:39:56.69\00:39:58.03
Amen.
00:39:58.06\00:39:59.39
And it was through that
that led to Bible studies
00:39:59.43\00:40:00.76
and now he's one
of our Bible readers,
00:40:00.80\00:40:03.33
reading Bible
studies every Friday
00:40:03.37\00:40:05.63
in our Oon Jai house,
like we like to call it.
00:40:05.67\00:40:07.94
Amen.
00:40:07.97\00:40:09.30
So God is
setting up things there
00:40:09.34\00:40:10.67
but He didn't stop there,
00:40:10.71\00:40:12.04
He gave you some collaboration
actually with the Government.
00:40:12.07\00:40:15.41
Tell us about, I mean
the Communist Government,
00:40:15.44\00:40:17.81
Non Christian society,
00:40:17.85\00:40:19.68
and God's kind
of set something up?
00:40:19.71\00:40:22.05
So this is like
our third miracle,
00:40:22.08\00:40:24.09
I guess, God is so good.
00:40:24.12\00:40:25.72
We said, "Oh,
we need information
00:40:25.75\00:40:27.12
on how to
collaborate with the Government.
00:40:27.16\00:40:30.06
Let's just go and
pick up some forms,"
00:40:30.09\00:40:31.66
And our friends were
like, "You can't go like that."
00:40:31.69\00:40:34.53
We were going on a mission trip
00:40:34.56\00:40:35.90
so we're not
dressed appropriately
00:40:35.93\00:40:37.27
to meet with
Government officials.
00:40:37.30\00:40:39.17
So we're like we
have nothing to wear,
00:40:39.20\00:40:40.70
so we had to go
borrow clothes, borrow shoes.
00:40:40.74\00:40:43.34
We get there, and we
knock, and we're like,
00:40:43.37\00:40:45.17
"Hi, how do we
partner with the Governor?"
00:40:45.21\00:40:48.51
And then...
00:40:48.54\00:40:50.15
That's a good start for things.
00:40:50.18\00:40:52.51
You should go upstairs,
00:40:52.55\00:40:53.88
and we go upstairs and
as we were going upstairs,
00:40:53.92\00:40:56.08
everyone is looking
at us like we're crazy.
00:40:56.12\00:40:59.12
And then the
director of ministry of health
00:40:59.15\00:41:02.89
of the whole country comes out,
00:41:02.92\00:41:04.26
and he's like, "What
are you girls doing?"
00:41:04.29\00:41:05.76
We're like, "We're looking
to speak to someone in charge
00:41:05.79\00:41:08.20
about collaborating
on a health project."
00:41:08.23\00:41:10.67
He is like, "Hmm,
come to my office."
00:41:10.70\00:41:12.83
So he brings the
deputy ministry of health
00:41:12.87\00:41:15.90
and they're
sitting in the office
00:41:15.94\00:41:17.27
and both of us are there,
00:41:17.31\00:41:18.81
and we just tell them
how much we love the country
00:41:18.84\00:41:22.01
and how much we want to
help, and this is our project.
00:41:22.04\00:41:25.71
And the deputy director
with almost tears in his eyes,
00:41:25.75\00:41:28.98
he said, "That
is my dream, too."
00:41:29.02\00:41:31.09
Amen.
00:41:31.12\00:41:32.65
So you connected with
the Government officials
00:41:32.69\00:41:34.99
and now maybe in
process of getting
00:41:35.02\00:41:37.36
some amazing work
started there in this country,
00:41:37.39\00:41:40.13
God is going to
bless that, I know.
00:41:40.16\00:41:41.66
But I have a
question as we close out,
00:41:41.70\00:41:43.47
I want both of you
to answer this question,
00:41:43.50\00:41:45.30
so you just have a little time
00:41:45.33\00:41:46.67
but how has it
impacted your personal life
00:41:46.70\00:41:50.01
to engage in this kind of work?
00:41:50.04\00:41:52.17
God is so good.
00:41:52.21\00:41:53.54
I always wanted
to be a missionary
00:41:53.58\00:41:54.91
but I couldn't,
00:41:54.94\00:41:56.28
because I wasn't the
teacher or in the medical field.
00:41:56.31\00:41:59.38
And God said, "You don't
need any of those skills,
00:41:59.41\00:42:01.32
you just need to serve me,
00:42:01.35\00:42:02.68
and use your skills to do that."
00:42:02.72\00:42:04.25
And I left the private sector
to go on the public sector
00:42:04.29\00:42:07.76
so I would have, I
still work full time.
00:42:07.79\00:42:09.79
And then my second job is this,
so I work full time for this
00:42:09.82\00:42:13.36
and full time for that
and God has been so good.
00:42:13.40\00:42:16.10
Haije?
00:42:16.13\00:42:17.47
So I grew up, I
was born and raised
00:42:17.50\00:42:19.03
as a Seventh-day Adventist,
00:42:19.07\00:42:21.30
but really
sometimes we go to places
00:42:21.34\00:42:23.07
where things do not make sense,
00:42:23.10\00:42:24.47
so God can
reveal to us His love.
00:42:24.51\00:42:26.74
And the love that
God has revealed to me,
00:42:26.78\00:42:29.04
that is really what
I'm willing to share,
00:42:29.08\00:42:30.68
that's why we
are called Oon Jai.
00:42:30.71\00:42:32.81
Oon Jai means warm heart.
00:42:32.85\00:42:35.95
Do you have a booth here?
00:42:35.98\00:42:37.32
Yes, yeah.
00:42:37.35\00:42:38.69
Our booth is number 420.
00:42:38.72\00:42:40.72
And for more information,
you can go to our website,
00:42:40.76\00:42:43.89
it's OonJai.org.
00:42:43.93\00:42:46.70
Thank you, ladies, so
much for sharing with us today.
00:42:46.73\00:42:48.60
God bless you in
the work you are doing
00:42:48.63\00:42:50.53
and we'll keep
you in our prayers.
00:42:50.57\00:42:53.37
Thank you. Amen.
00:42:53.40\00:42:54.74
I had the
opportunity to go to Uganda
00:43:04.51\00:43:06.85
and I had been asked
00:43:06.88\00:43:08.22
by a farmer's
co-operative to go into villages
00:43:08.25\00:43:10.69
and teach farmers how
to process the soybeans
00:43:10.72\00:43:14.62
that they were
already growing in a way
00:43:14.66\00:43:16.42
that would be
more healthful for them
00:43:16.46\00:43:18.29
and also that they
could start small businesses.
00:43:18.33\00:43:21.16
And what I
learnt when I was there
00:43:21.20\00:43:22.53
is that they
were growing soybeans
00:43:22.56\00:43:24.17
but they weren't giving any
of them to their own children.
00:43:24.20\00:43:27.67
And their children
were actually dying
00:43:27.70\00:43:30.47
and being malnourished
because of lack of protein.
00:43:30.51\00:43:33.68
And so I knew we
had a simple solution
00:43:33.71\00:43:35.94
right there in the community.
00:43:35.98\00:43:37.68
And so we started teaching
them about soaking the beans,
00:43:37.71\00:43:40.95
about boiling
them, making soymilk,
00:43:40.98\00:43:43.49
adding the
byproduct of the soymilk
00:43:43.52\00:43:45.12
right back into the porridge
00:43:45.15\00:43:46.69
that everyone ate for breakfast,
00:43:46.72\00:43:48.36
and about what a difference
00:43:48.39\00:43:49.89
that would make in their health.
00:43:49.92\00:43:51.49
One of the reasons we
focus on world farm families is
00:43:51.53\00:43:54.73
because that is
where the hungry are.
00:43:54.76\00:43:57.67
The World Food Program estimates
00:43:57.70\00:43:59.27
there is 795 million
hungry people in the world
00:43:59.30\00:44:03.04
and 75% of them are
in these rural villages.
00:44:03.07\00:44:06.37
And so with these skills,
00:44:06.41\00:44:09.14
we believe that they
can have an abundant life
00:44:09.18\00:44:12.01
right in the rural area.
00:44:12.05\00:44:13.72
One thing that I love about
00:44:13.75\00:44:15.45
our Farm Stew team is able to do
00:44:15.48\00:44:17.42
especially in the
area of Eastern Uganda
00:44:17.45\00:44:20.52
is to introduce the gospel
to an area that is 80% Muslim.
00:44:20.56\00:44:24.93
These individuals are going out
00:44:24.96\00:44:27.23
and taking the message
deep, deep into the villages.
00:44:27.26\00:44:30.10
I mean, they are really willing
to sacrifice on our behalf
00:44:30.13\00:44:33.94
and on behalf of the villagers
00:44:33.97\00:44:36.20
so that they can bring
the message out to people
00:44:36.24\00:44:38.61
who would never
even get to the big city.
00:44:38.64\00:44:41.48
When I was there in November,
00:44:41.51\00:44:42.84
one of the
places where we trained
00:44:42.88\00:44:44.35
was in a hospital
in a malnutrition ward.
00:44:44.38\00:44:47.48
And the team
didn't even realize it,
00:44:47.52\00:44:49.72
but they planned it
for Thanksgiving day.
00:44:49.75\00:44:52.35
So it's kind of
surreal to be sitting there
00:44:52.39\00:44:55.26
and realizing that here I was
00:44:55.29\00:44:57.79
with these incredibly
malnourished children,
00:44:57.83\00:44:59.63
and all my friends and
family were back here feasting.
00:44:59.66\00:45:02.83
But, you know,
it's too late to wait
00:45:02.86\00:45:05.37
until they get to
the malnutrition ward.
00:45:05.40\00:45:07.50
Two of the children
that I interacted with
00:45:07.54\00:45:09.94
died in the next few days.
00:45:09.97\00:45:11.54
And we believe that if
we can make that effort
00:45:11.57\00:45:14.31
and the expense to
help our team members
00:45:14.34\00:45:17.15
go out deep into the villages,
00:45:17.18\00:45:19.28
those families won't have
come into the malnutrition ward,
00:45:19.31\00:45:21.95
we can prevent
that from happening.
00:45:21.98\00:45:24.22
This team in Uganda has already
trained 13,000 villagers,
00:45:24.25\00:45:28.56
we keep really good records,
and we're going back now
00:45:28.59\00:45:31.86
and visiting
those same villages,
00:45:31.89\00:45:33.23
and getting to see
that impact that we've had.
00:45:33.26\00:45:35.33
So Joy Kauffman is
here with me today.
00:45:38.93\00:45:41.74
She is the
director of Farm Stew.
00:45:41.77\00:45:43.74
But, Joy, tell us how
did God prepare you...
00:45:43.77\00:45:47.98
I mean, I see you in Uganda,
00:45:48.01\00:45:49.61
you're teaching them
how to make soy products.
00:45:49.64\00:45:53.01
How in the world did
God prepare you for that?
00:45:53.05\00:45:55.95
Well, I was born in
the Adventist hospital,
00:45:55.98\00:45:59.22
became a
vegetarian when I was nine,
00:45:59.25\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\00:46:07.90
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\00:46:15.50
through the clinical research
00:46:15.54\00:46:16.87
that was available in
the '70s and the '80s,
00:46:16.91\00:46:19.07
I was studying
in the early '90s.
00:46:19.11\00:46:20.54
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\00:46:24.95
You're born in an
Adventist hospital
00:46:24.98\00:46:26.48
but you never met an Adventist
00:46:26.51\00:46:27.95
until you were 35
years old, this is amazing.
00:46:27.98\00:46:31.62
I think they were
praying though in the hospital.
00:46:31.65\00:46:33.92
They must have been
praying in that hospital,
00:46:33.96\00:46:35.86
and may be even dedicated
you to service or something.
00:46:35.89\00:46:38.89
I hope so. God
reached out to you.
00:46:38.93\00:46:41.13
What was your background
before becoming an Adventist?
00:46:41.16\00:46:43.77
Well, I married into
Mennonite farm family,
00:46:43.80\00:46:46.37
actually I had served
overseas internationally
00:46:46.40\00:46:49.40
with the
Mennonite Central Committee
00:46:49.44\00:46:51.01
and that
prepared me with a heart
00:46:51.04\00:46:52.54
for international development
00:46:52.57\00:46:53.91
which I've had
now for three decades.
00:46:53.94\00:46:56.14
And I just really have this
deep desire to have a message
00:46:56.18\00:47:01.72
for our global church
that has a global reach,
00:47:01.75\00:47:04.19
and that's how Farm
Stew was really born.
00:47:04.22\00:47:07.32
How long have you
been an Adventist?
00:47:07.36\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\00:47:14.80
Some of us here have
been just a little longer
00:47:18.57\00:47:20.64
but it looks like God
has just really taken you
00:47:20.67\00:47:22.60
on the fast pace
here, praise God,
00:47:22.64\00:47:24.61
you've joined
the Adventist church,
00:47:24.64\00:47:25.97
you already have ministry going,
00:47:26.01\00:47:27.34
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\00:47:32.11
Yeah, we're
actually up to 17,000 now,
00:47:32.15\00:47:34.55
I was there a few weeks ago
00:47:34.58\00:47:35.92
and it is just
such a powerful thing,
00:47:35.95\00:47:37.92
these team members, and
these are church members,
00:47:37.95\00:47:40.69
lay church members
like all of us here at ASI
00:47:40.72\00:47:44.23
who are just thrilled to have
the opportunity to be trained
00:47:44.26\00:47:47.23
and equipped with
simple health messages
00:47:47.26\00:47:49.53
that can really help them.
00:47:49.56\00:47:50.90
So we came up with
this acronym Farm Stew.
00:47:50.93\00:47:54.20
And, yes, these are
some of the church members
00:47:54.24\00:47:56.47
I want to
introduce you to, Fiona
00:47:56.50\00:47:58.11
especially in the
front, a new Adventist like me
00:47:58.14\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,
00:48:17.03\00:48:18.36
but what about
this Farm Stew stuff?
00:48:18.39\00:48:19.73
Sounds like we should eat it.
00:48:19.76\00:48:21.60
Exactly, and that's
what I want you to think of,
00:48:21.63\00:48:23.37
something home
grown, something fresh,
00:48:23.40\00:48:25.13
something local.
00:48:25.17\00:48:26.50
So Farm Stew is a
recipe of abundant life.
00:48:26.53\00:48:30.81
Jesus came that
we might have life
00:48:30.84\00:48:32.41
and have it abundantly,
00:48:32.44\00:48:34.11
but for the woman that
has to go walk for half a mile
00:48:34.14\00:48:37.05
to go get water,
00:48:37.08\00:48:38.61
does she really need to
be told go get fresh air,
00:48:38.65\00:48:41.82
sunshine, and exercise?
00:48:41.85\00:48:43.52
Probably not. I think not.
00:48:43.55\00:48:44.89
So we had a few
letters to play with there.
00:48:44.92\00:48:47.49
So we started with farming
00:48:47.52\00:48:48.92
because you have to
be able to grow the food
00:48:48.96\00:48:51.09
in order to eat it.
00:48:51.13\00:48:52.46
In some African countries,
it would cost 52% of the income
00:48:52.49\00:48:55.96
just to get five a day
of fruits and vegetables.
00:48:56.00\00:48:59.03
So we started with Farming,
Attitude, Rest and Meals.
00:48:59.07\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.
00:49:07.28\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\00:49:16.99
Well, we've had a
very powerful impact
00:49:17.02\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
00:49:20.66\00:49:21.99
that excites us most.
00:49:22.02\00:49:23.59
The first Sabbath I
was there five weeks ago,
00:49:23.63\00:49:26.36
there was 29 baptisms.
00:49:26.39\00:49:28.46
And one of the
things I love is that
00:49:28.50\00:49:30.03
we are able to
connect our spiritual health
00:49:30.07\00:49:32.93
and our physical health.
00:49:32.97\00:49:34.30
For example, a seed,
you all have seen seeds,
00:49:34.34\00:49:37.67
did you know that a seed is
a perfect image of the Godhead.
00:49:37.71\00:49:41.01
We have a picture of it here.
00:49:41.04\00:49:42.71
Every seed that can
bring forth life in this soil
00:49:42.74\00:49:45.18
is a three in one
picture of our one true God.
00:49:45.21\00:49:49.08
And Romans 1:20 tells us
that everything in creation,
00:49:49.12\00:49:54.79
the invisible attributes
of God are seen in creation.
00:49:54.82\00:49:57.96
And so we talk about
the health of our bodies
00:49:57.99\00:50:00.90
eating whole
grains and whole seeds,
00:50:00.93\00:50:03.33
and then also for the soil,
00:50:03.37\00:50:05.00
we talk about
improved varieties of plants
00:50:05.03\00:50:08.34
and teaching
vegetable gardening to women,
00:50:08.37\00:50:11.21
we have people that are
not having headaches now
00:50:11.24\00:50:13.81
because they're drinking
water all over the country.
00:50:13.84\00:50:16.75
And we've had
impressions from high to low,
00:50:16.78\00:50:19.85
like the head
commander of the prisons
00:50:19.88\00:50:22.42
who has invited us in.
00:50:22.45\00:50:23.79
He actually is contemplating
becoming an Adventist
00:50:23.82\00:50:26.25
because of sharing the
health message with him.
00:50:26.29\00:50:29.02
So, Joy, we just
have few seconds left
00:50:29.06\00:50:30.63
but tell us, how has this
changed your life personally
00:50:30.66\00:50:34.23
to get involved
in this kind of work?
00:50:34.26\00:50:36.00
Well, I am so blessed.
00:50:36.03\00:50:37.37
It's actually the
Ugandan Adventists
00:50:37.40\00:50:38.80
and their witness that helped me
00:50:38.83\00:50:40.40
cross the line
of faith to baptism.
00:50:40.44\00:50:42.60
I knew I had to be
part of this family
00:50:42.64\00:50:44.71
and I'm so humbled especially
by the East Central Division
00:50:44.74\00:50:48.01
and what they're doing.
00:50:48.04\00:50:49.38
And I just believe
all of our resources
00:50:49.41\00:50:51.25
should be
mobilized to help equipped
00:50:51.28\00:50:53.38
our church members
throughout the world
00:50:53.42\00:50:54.95
so that they can bring
this message to the world.
00:50:54.98\00:50:57.89
I thank you for
letting me share it today.
00:50:57.92\00:51:00.16
What is your website?
00:51:00.19\00:51:01.52
FarmStew.org.
00:51:01.56\00:51:03.12
Do you have a booth here?
00:51:03.16\00:51:04.49
We don't have a booth
yet but next year, I hope.
00:51:04.53\00:51:06.96
All right, praise God.
00:51:07.00\00:51:08.33
Thank you, Joy.
00:51:08.36\00:51:09.70
God bless you and the
work you're doing and multiply.
00:51:09.73\00:51:11.63
Thank you. God bless you.
00:51:11.67\00:51:13.00
All right, okay. Thank you.
00:51:13.03\00:51:14.37
It's a real
blessing today, isn't it?
00:51:19.27\00:51:20.71
I want to read this to you,
00:51:20.74\00:51:22.08
it comes from Christ's
Object Lessons, page 326.
00:51:22.11\00:51:24.65
It says this, "Not more
surely, is there a placed
00:51:24.68\00:51:29.58
prepared for us in
the heavenly mansions
00:51:29.62\00:51:33.39
then is the special
place designated on earth,
00:51:33.42\00:51:37.23
where we are to
be workers for God."
00:51:37.26\00:51:40.30
Have you been impressed today
00:51:48.44\00:51:50.01
with the stories of those
that have made a sacrifice
00:51:50.04\00:51:54.08
who had a passion in
their hearts for Jesus?
00:51:54.11\00:51:57.55
Has that
impressed your heart today?
00:51:57.58\00:51:59.75
You know, I just
met with the two ladies
00:51:59.78\00:52:02.22
from the unentered country
that gave their testimony.
00:52:02.25\00:52:06.65
And as we prayed together,
tears flow down their face.
00:52:06.69\00:52:10.49
And I interpreted
those tears this way,
00:52:10.53\00:52:13.29
they have a
passion for that country,
00:52:13.33\00:52:16.30
they have a great desire to see
men and women in that country
00:52:16.33\00:52:20.20
come to Christ and
be changed by His grace.
00:52:20.24\00:52:24.37
You know, I'm always
impressed with Jesus' statement
00:52:24.41\00:52:28.61
in the Gospel of Matthew 9.
00:52:28.64\00:52:33.01
When the scripture
says in Matthew 9:35 and 36,
00:52:33.05\00:52:37.62
"And Jesus went about
all the cities and villages,
00:52:37.65\00:52:41.22
teaching in their synagogues,
00:52:41.26\00:52:43.99
preaching the
gospel of the kingdom,
00:52:44.03\00:52:46.66
and healing every
sickness and every disease."
00:52:46.70\00:52:49.86
Jesus' ministry was a
comprehensive ministry.
00:52:49.90\00:52:53.37
He cared for people
physically, mentally,
00:52:53.40\00:52:57.04
emotionally, and spiritually.
00:52:57.07\00:52:59.71
Then Jesus makes
this amazing statement.
00:52:59.74\00:53:02.98
"But He saw the multitudes
00:53:03.01\00:53:05.38
and He was moved
with compassion for them
00:53:05.41\00:53:08.28
because they were
weary and scattered
00:53:08.32\00:53:10.55
like sheep without a shepherd.
00:53:10.59\00:53:12.55
And He said to his disciples,
'The harvest truly is plentiful
00:53:12.59\00:53:16.66
but the laborers are few.'"
00:53:16.69\00:53:18.49
How many of you
believe the words of Jesus?
00:53:18.53\00:53:20.50
Do you believe
the words of Jesus?
00:53:20.53\00:53:22.33
The harvest is, what everybody?
00:53:22.36\00:53:25.03
The harvest is, what?
00:53:25.07\00:53:26.80
Plentiful, but the
laborers are, what?
00:53:26.84\00:53:29.17
Few.
00:53:29.20\00:53:30.54
Is God speaking
to your heart today
00:53:30.57\00:53:33.88
to raise up a new
generation of laborers for Him?
00:53:33.91\00:53:38.91
You know, not long ago,
2015, Saint Antonio, Texas,
00:53:38.95\00:53:45.19
there was something going on
00:53:45.22\00:53:46.76
at the General
Conference session
00:53:46.79\00:53:48.29
that you may not
have been aware of.
00:53:48.32\00:53:50.89
ASI sponsored 65
pastors from China,
00:53:50.93\00:53:57.70
from mainland China,
00:53:57.73\00:53:59.10
they come to the
General Conference session.
00:53:59.13\00:54:01.60
ASI raised that money.
00:54:01.64\00:54:03.81
Every
afternoon, we met with them
00:54:03.84\00:54:05.67
and we study the Bible,
00:54:05.71\00:54:07.04
the great prophetic
truths of the Adventist church.
00:54:07.08\00:54:10.21
Many of them had
never had the opportunity
00:54:10.25\00:54:12.65
to have advanced
education before.
00:54:12.68\00:54:16.15
After that time at the
General Conference session,
00:54:16.18\00:54:20.22
we invited them to come
00:54:20.26\00:54:21.62
on an Adventist
history tour with us.
00:54:21.66\00:54:24.46
We traveled to
Washington, New Hampshire
00:54:24.49\00:54:26.59
and studied the Bible Sabbath
00:54:26.63\00:54:28.63
at the first Adventist
Sabbath keeping church.
00:54:28.66\00:54:31.27
We traveled to
William Miller's farm
00:54:31.30\00:54:33.23
and studied the
second coming of Christ.
00:54:33.27\00:54:36.17
We traveled to
Hiram Edson's farm
00:54:36.20\00:54:38.51
and studied the
sanctuary message.
00:54:38.54\00:54:41.78
We traveled to Battle Creek
00:54:41.81\00:54:43.35
and studied the
origin of our health message.
00:54:43.38\00:54:46.48
As we were traveling,
00:54:46.51\00:54:49.08
I had an
opportunity to interface
00:54:49.12\00:54:51.55
with many of these
Chinese brothers and sisters.
00:54:51.59\00:54:56.36
And one young lady
impressed me greatly,
00:54:56.39\00:54:59.89
she was about 5'2"
00:54:59.93\00:55:02.66
and I had to
look down quite a bit
00:55:02.70\00:55:04.43
and she looked up as we talked.
00:55:04.47\00:55:06.84
And through the
Chinese translator,
00:55:06.87\00:55:09.24
I asked her, "What do you do?"
00:55:09.27\00:55:10.77
She said, "I'm a lay person
but I'm a church planter."
00:55:10.81\00:55:14.74
She said, "I've
been in a city in China
00:55:14.78\00:55:17.55
that will remain unnamed,
00:55:17.58\00:55:19.58
that has over a million people,
00:55:19.61\00:55:21.08
no Seventh-day
Adventist when I went there,
00:55:21.12\00:55:23.65
and I've been there now
four years working by myself,
00:55:23.69\00:55:27.96
and I've raised up
an Adventist church."
00:55:27.99\00:55:30.06
I said to her, "What's the most
difficult experience you had?
00:55:30.09\00:55:34.13
What was the hardest?"
00:55:34.16\00:55:35.70
She said "Pastor
Mark, I went there alone.
00:55:35.73\00:55:40.34
I didn't know one
person in that city,
00:55:40.37\00:55:44.24
the nights were horrible.
00:55:44.27\00:55:46.41
I had little
money of self support,
00:55:46.44\00:55:49.38
and I was staying in
a one room apartment,"
00:55:49.41\00:55:52.65
and she said, "the
most horrible thing is,
00:55:52.68\00:55:54.62
when I would go to bed at night,
00:55:54.65\00:55:56.89
and the rats would climb up
on my bed and bite my feet."
00:55:56.92\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?
00:56:08.00\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\00:56:18.81
That is the spirit
of early Adventism,
00:56:18.84\00:56:22.34
that is the spirit of
ASI, the spirit of commitment,
00:56:22.38\00:56:27.22
commitment to a
prophetic message
00:56:27.25\00:56:29.88
that goes to the
ends of the earth,
00:56:29.92\00:56:32.35
that is the spirit of sacrifice,
00:56:32.39\00:56:36.42
that is the spirit
of a new generation
00:56:36.46\00:56:38.69
that God is raising up.
00:56:38.73\00:56:40.06
I love the song,
"Heirs of the kingdom.
00:56:40.10\00:56:42.66
O why do you slumber?
00:56:42.70\00:56:45.03
Why are you sleeping
so near your blest home:
00:56:45.07\00:56:48.97
Wake thee, arouse thee,
and gird on thine armor,
00:56:49.00\00:56:52.77
speed for the
moments are hastening on."
00:56:52.81\00:56:55.38
I want to be a part of
that grand and glorious group.
00:56:55.41\00:56:58.91