What a blessing to be here with you. 00:00:19.38\00:00:21.32 Welcome to ASI. 00:00:21.35\00:00:22.85 We're excited. 00:00:22.88\00:00:24.22 God is going to do some amazing things 00:00:24.25\00:00:25.82 this weekend as we're here together, 00:00:25.85\00:00:28.29 and the Holy Spirit is going to help us to understand 00:00:28.32\00:00:32.39 the specific message He has for us. 00:00:32.43\00:00:34.96 Philip, you've been a long time 00:00:35.00\00:00:36.33 planning for this in the ASI office, 00:00:36.36\00:00:37.97 give a welcome to our people tonight. 00:00:38.00\00:00:39.83 On behalf of the ASI office of the North American Division, 00:00:39.87\00:00:42.67 it's such a pleasure 00:00:42.70\00:00:44.04 to welcome you to the 2019 ASI Convention. 00:00:44.07\00:00:47.41 I can't wait 00:00:47.44\00:00:48.78 to see all of God's richest blessings unfolding 00:00:48.81\00:00:51.81 at this ASI Convention from the exhibit halls 00:00:51.85\00:00:54.78 to especially our members in action stories 00:00:54.82\00:00:57.42 and our speakers. 00:00:57.45\00:00:58.79 It's going to be an awesome time, 00:00:58.82\00:01:00.16 Steve, I'm so excited. 00:01:00.19\00:01:02.36 Andi, you've been coming to ASI for more than a few years. 00:01:02.39\00:01:06.03 Why do you keep coming anyway? 00:01:06.06\00:01:08.53 I also want to welcome everybody. 00:01:08.56\00:01:11.47 My husband and I began coming to ASI 00:01:11.50\00:01:14.10 probably about 15 years ago. 00:01:14.14\00:01:16.27 And we've been hooked ever since. 00:01:16.30\00:01:18.37 The thing that hooked us was the booze. 00:01:18.41\00:01:20.81 Because we recognize something that we never knew before, 00:01:20.84\00:01:23.48 there are ministries out there that we never heard of, 00:01:23.51\00:01:26.95 and that we recognize 00:01:26.98\00:01:28.32 that we can participate in and help 00:01:28.35\00:01:30.29 even if we may not be able to go. 00:01:30.32\00:01:32.52 Also, we became very, very convicted 00:01:32.55\00:01:36.22 that our comfortable lives were too comfortable. 00:01:36.26\00:01:38.79 And so we like being made uncomfortable 00:01:38.83\00:01:41.03 every year, 00:01:41.06\00:01:42.40 to stretch ourselves to beyond what we're comfortable with, 00:01:42.43\00:01:45.43 to witness for Jesus Christ, 00:01:45.47\00:01:47.30 whether that be personal Bible studies 00:01:47.34\00:01:49.14 or going on mission trips. 00:01:49.17\00:01:50.57 My husband is better at doing that than I am. 00:01:50.61\00:01:53.34 But we are just inspired every year 00:01:53.38\00:01:55.18 to really give it all for Jesus Christ. 00:01:55.21\00:01:57.25 And that's why we come to be perfectly honest. 00:01:57.28\00:02:00.28 For those of you who may not know, 00:02:00.32\00:02:01.98 Dr. Andi Hunsaker is our general vice-president. 00:02:02.02\00:02:05.45 And thank you, Andi, for all your service to ASI. 00:02:05.49\00:02:08.46 I know that God is going to bless us this weekend. 00:02:08.49\00:02:10.99 I'm excited to see 00:02:11.03\00:02:13.06 what He's going to do in my own life personally, 00:02:13.09\00:02:16.40 as I listened to the testimonies, 00:02:16.43\00:02:18.93 and as I hear 00:02:18.97\00:02:20.40 what God is doing in other places 00:02:20.44\00:02:22.10 so, God bless us 00:02:22.14\00:02:23.67 as we work together this weekend. 00:02:23.71\00:02:28.24 Why don't you all...? Why don't we stand for prayer? 00:02:28.28\00:02:31.55 Father in heaven, 00:02:35.62\00:02:38.65 I'm just so thankful that we're all here together. 00:02:38.69\00:02:42.16 Oftentimes, we come and we asked to be blessed. 00:02:42.19\00:02:45.86 But this weekend, Lord, we asked to be transformed, 00:02:45.89\00:02:50.00 our theme is business unusual. 00:02:50.03\00:02:54.24 Or too often we come to these meetings 00:02:54.27\00:02:56.40 and we get good ideas and we hear good sermons 00:02:56.44\00:02:59.84 and we're stood in our souls 00:02:59.87\00:03:02.44 but action does not take place. 00:03:02.48\00:03:05.28 So I just pray, Lord, that we will, 00:03:05.31\00:03:08.55 as we listen, as we see 00:03:08.58\00:03:12.05 that we will feel your heart 00:03:12.09\00:03:14.92 that bleeds for the things that happened on this earth. 00:03:14.96\00:03:17.96 We have the ability 00:03:17.99\00:03:19.33 to end the suffering on this earth 00:03:19.36\00:03:21.73 by being totally committed to You. 00:03:21.76\00:03:24.20 So I pray this weekend 00:03:24.23\00:03:25.57 that our commitment will deepen. 00:03:25.60\00:03:27.47 I ask Your forgiveness for being lukewarm. 00:03:27.50\00:03:30.77 And I thank You for Your forgiveness. 00:03:30.81\00:03:32.21 I thank You that You see us and see what we can become 00:03:32.24\00:03:36.44 and are willing to work with us. 00:03:36.48\00:03:38.45 I thank You for ASI as an organization. 00:03:38.48\00:03:41.25 And I just ask for Your Holy Spirit 00:03:41.28\00:03:43.49 to be with not only the speakers, 00:03:43.52\00:03:45.19 but each of us that are here, 00:03:45.22\00:03:46.92 in Your holy name I pray, amen. 00:03:46.96\00:03:50.86 ASI has given me wings, really. 00:03:50.89\00:03:52.76 It's introduced me to people 00:03:52.79\00:03:54.23 both who are now on my board 00:03:54.26\00:03:55.86 serving in incredible capacities, 00:03:55.90\00:03:57.97 but then also 00:03:58.00\00:03:59.33 people who are willing to support the ministry 00:03:59.37\00:04:01.24 and, you know, no money, no mission. 00:04:01.27\00:04:03.20 And I feel like ASI brings people together, 00:04:03.24\00:04:06.17 who have the calling from God to be in ministry, 00:04:06.21\00:04:08.91 and those that have the calling from God 00:04:08.94\00:04:10.28 to be in business, 00:04:10.31\00:04:11.65 and we unite them, and the synergy is so powerful. 00:04:11.68\00:04:14.28 ASI to me over the years 00:04:14.32\00:04:15.98 has been a very strong encouragement spiritually. 00:04:16.02\00:04:19.29 When I come to ASI, 00:04:19.32\00:04:20.92 I go home with a greater passion 00:04:20.96\00:04:23.06 to see God's work finished. 00:04:23.09\00:04:24.59 ASI is a great convention. 00:04:24.63\00:04:27.10 And it's one that you need to be at, 00:04:27.13\00:04:28.60 I mean, if you haven't started something yet, 00:04:28.63\00:04:31.03 maybe you haven't started a ministry. 00:04:31.07\00:04:32.80 Maybe there's a ministry here 00:04:32.83\00:04:34.94 that would like to have you jump on board. 00:04:34.97\00:04:37.31 Or maybe you'll get an idea for a ministry 00:04:37.34\00:04:39.64 that God is calling you to start 00:04:39.67\00:04:41.68 and you might be able to network 00:04:41.71\00:04:43.21 with likeminded individuals 00:04:43.24\00:04:44.78 who can give you tips and pointers on how to do so. 00:04:44.81\00:04:47.45 It's my first ASI and I am so excited to go. 00:04:47.48\00:04:50.69 The reason why I think we should go 00:04:50.72\00:04:52.05 is because anything we can do 00:04:52.09\00:04:53.66 to help us be more equipped in reaching others 00:04:53.69\00:04:56.79 for Christ is a win. 00:04:56.83\00:04:58.46 ASI to me means 00:04:58.49\00:05:00.43 that I can actually grow in Jesus Christ, 00:05:00.46\00:05:03.53 because we hear amazing messages 00:05:03.57\00:05:05.33 and I'm challenged every time. 00:05:05.37\00:05:07.27 And so to me personally, it drives me, it challenges me, 00:05:07.30\00:05:11.17 it pushes me beyond my comfort zone. 00:05:11.21\00:05:13.98 And I've done things I never thought I'd ever do 00:05:14.01\00:05:16.21 and that is go door to door knocking 00:05:16.24\00:05:18.35 in my own neighborhood. 00:05:18.38\00:05:19.75 I can't wait to see you 00:05:19.78\00:05:21.68 at the ASI Convention this year. 00:05:21.72\00:05:24.22 I can't wait to see you at the ASI Convention. 00:05:24.25\00:05:26.79 ASI is amazing. I'll be there. 00:05:26.82\00:05:29.36 I cannot wait to see you at the ASI Convention. 00:05:29.39\00:05:32.69 Philip, we have Soles for Souls. 00:05:36.26\00:05:38.83 What is this all about? 00:05:38.87\00:05:40.20 That's right. 00:05:40.24\00:05:41.57 We're so excited to launch Soles for Souls 00:05:41.60\00:05:43.57 at this ASI Convention. 00:05:43.61\00:05:45.24 It is an opportunity for you 00:05:45.27\00:05:46.71 to take a pair of brand new shoes 00:05:46.74\00:05:49.48 or gently used shoes 00:05:49.51\00:05:51.55 and give it away to make a difference. 00:05:51.58\00:05:53.55 We have a registration, a big beautiful bin 00:05:53.58\00:05:56.95 and I think it's already been filled 00:05:56.99\00:05:59.09 and refilled many times, 00:05:59.12\00:06:01.12 but we want you to give away your shoes, 00:06:01.16\00:06:03.89 your socks, maybe, you know, some people like my wife, 00:06:03.93\00:06:06.53 she says, "I have too many shoes anyways." 00:06:06.56\00:06:08.50 So, you know, she's bringing some extra shoes. 00:06:08.53\00:06:11.23 I brought some extra shoes, 00:06:11.27\00:06:12.77 and we're giving it away to some homeless shelters 00:06:12.80\00:06:15.67 right here in Louisville. 00:06:15.70\00:06:17.54 So we're gonna make a difference. 00:06:17.57\00:06:18.97 While we're here, 00:06:19.01\00:06:20.34 we're making an impact right here in this city. 00:06:20.38\00:06:22.74 Isn't that exciting to hear ASI family? 00:06:22.78\00:06:25.38 We're gonna do something right here in our own town 00:06:25.41\00:06:28.78 that we're hosting the convention. 00:06:28.82\00:06:30.59 We praise God for this. 00:06:30.62\00:06:32.22 You know, I did a little bit of research 00:06:32.25\00:06:33.99 and I found out that there are nearly 7,000 00:06:34.02\00:06:37.23 homeless people 00:06:37.26\00:06:38.59 that are here in Louisville. 00:06:38.63\00:06:40.13 Wow! 00:06:40.16\00:06:41.50 It's an amazing, amazing number. 00:06:41.53\00:06:43.03 So we're partnering 00:06:43.06\00:06:44.40 with the Wayside Christian Mission, 00:06:44.43\00:06:46.23 which is actually just down the street from us 00:06:46.27\00:06:48.90 here on Jefferson Avenue. 00:06:48.94\00:06:50.97 So it's an exciting project. 00:06:51.01\00:06:53.01 Anything else that you want to tell anyone 00:06:53.04\00:06:55.81 how they could get involved? 00:06:55.84\00:06:57.41 We, you know, maybe you forgot or maybe you are, 00:06:57.45\00:07:00.98 you know, didn't remember to bring a pair of shoes. 00:07:01.02\00:07:03.32 It's not too late. 00:07:03.35\00:07:04.99 You know, if you look through your shoes 00:07:05.02\00:07:06.49 and you have a extra pair of shoes 00:07:06.52\00:07:07.86 that you think you don't need, 00:07:07.89\00:07:09.42 or if you want it to go to Payless 00:07:09.46\00:07:11.89 and buy a cheap pair of shoes 00:07:11.93\00:07:13.66 and give to someone, 00:07:13.70\00:07:15.26 you know, it really could make a difference 00:07:15.30\00:07:16.87 'cause a lot of homeless people don't have shoes. 00:07:16.90\00:07:19.53 And we want to make a difference 00:07:19.57\00:07:21.20 and socks as well. 00:07:21.24\00:07:22.57 Definitely. 00:07:22.60\00:07:23.94 I just also want to mention the impact 00:07:23.97\00:07:26.81 that this can make, 00:07:26.84\00:07:28.18 you know, at our local home church. 00:07:28.21\00:07:30.98 We like to do ministry 00:07:31.01\00:07:33.78 to the people that are around, and it's amazing 00:07:33.82\00:07:37.69 what a new pair of shoes and socks 00:07:37.72\00:07:40.06 can really do for someone. 00:07:40.09\00:07:42.22 We often take it for granted, don't we? 00:07:42.26\00:07:44.49 I mean, just think about the shoes 00:07:44.53\00:07:46.06 that you're wearing right now. 00:07:46.09\00:07:47.70 Do you appreciate them? 00:07:47.73\00:07:49.43 Yes. 00:07:49.46\00:07:50.80 We can do a lot 00:07:50.83\00:07:52.17 just by a simple task of helping someone 00:07:52.20\00:07:55.07 with a new pair of shoes. 00:07:55.10\00:07:56.44 So we want to encourage you to get involved. 00:07:56.47\00:07:59.27 We're gonna have the booths here, 00:07:59.31\00:08:01.61 or the receptacles all the way until Sunday actually. 00:08:01.64\00:08:05.71 So all the way through the convention, 00:08:05.75\00:08:07.92 we want to encourage you, if you've not yet done so, 00:08:07.95\00:08:10.79 please get one, two, ten pairs of shoes 00:08:10.82\00:08:14.82 and help someone here in Louisville. 00:08:14.86\00:08:16.56 And, you know, there's an Instagram wall 00:08:16.59\00:08:18.53 like right down the hall from registration, 00:08:18.56\00:08:21.50 it's set up with beautiful flowers 00:08:21.53\00:08:23.47 and some shoes. 00:08:23.50\00:08:24.97 And you could take pictures 00:08:25.00\00:08:26.47 and put on social media as well, 00:08:26.50\00:08:28.37 once you donate your shoes. 00:08:28.40\00:08:29.80 So thank you so much. 00:08:29.84\00:08:31.17 So we want to encourage you all to use that wall 00:08:31.21\00:08:33.81 and what hashtag are you gonna put 00:08:33.84\00:08:35.94 on your social media? 00:08:35.98\00:08:38.51 Excellent. 00:08:38.55\00:08:39.88 ASI19. 00:08:39.91\00:08:41.25 Wonderful. Thank you, everyone. Thank you. 00:08:41.28\00:08:42.82 The more and more I've worked with teams, 00:08:49.76\00:08:51.43 the more I realize that truly together 00:08:51.46\00:08:53.50 everyone does achieve more. 00:08:53.53\00:08:56.40 And I've thought about this a lot. 00:08:56.43\00:08:57.77 I thought about the question why a team? 00:08:57.80\00:09:01.14 Why doing something bigger than myself 00:09:01.17\00:09:03.37 is something that that I couldn't do on my own. 00:09:03.41\00:09:06.94 And the more I thought about it, 00:09:06.98\00:09:08.31 the more I realized that as I joined things 00:09:08.34\00:09:11.25 that are bigger than myself, 00:09:11.28\00:09:13.01 I start realizing that I can't do it myself. 00:09:13.05\00:09:15.68 And I have to depend on people around me 00:09:15.72\00:09:18.35 to get larger jobs done. 00:09:18.39\00:09:20.72 Which really ends up feeding the humility in me 00:09:20.76\00:09:24.29 and killing the selfishness and killing the pride, 00:09:24.33\00:09:27.50 which is what Jesus' mission is all about, 00:09:27.53\00:09:30.57 to get rid of me and to fill me up with Him. 00:09:30.60\00:09:33.84 So I think it's awesome to work on a team, 00:09:33.87\00:09:36.37 'cause I truly believe that when we work together, 00:09:36.40\00:09:38.77 we achieve more, 00:09:38.81\00:09:40.28 and our hearts are made more like Jesus. 00:09:40.31\00:09:42.64 I come to ASI to be inspired, 00:09:51.22\00:09:53.42 to be informed, to be motivated. 00:09:53.46\00:09:55.82 To realize that we're all part of a great movement, 00:09:55.86\00:09:58.36 not just making a living 00:09:58.39\00:10:00.36 but making a difference for the kingdom of heaven. 00:10:00.40\00:10:03.06 It's a wonderful thing not to pretend like 00:10:03.10\00:10:05.70 you know everything. 00:10:05.73\00:10:07.44 Here's a ministry tip, a business tip too, I'm sure, 00:10:07.47\00:10:10.24 and that is to surround yourself 00:10:10.27\00:10:12.44 with good people. 00:10:12.47\00:10:13.91 People who can challenge your ideas, 00:10:13.94\00:10:15.94 people who can inform you, 00:10:15.98\00:10:17.81 help you craft new strategies. 00:10:17.85\00:10:20.92 I've been blessed in my new assignment 00:10:20.95\00:10:22.58 as President for Hope Channel 00:10:22.62\00:10:24.29 to have an executive coach and a media coach. 00:10:24.32\00:10:27.16 You say, "Derek, why do you need so much help?" 00:10:27.19\00:10:29.46 The answer is we desire to be excellent for God. 00:10:29.49\00:10:33.16 So here's the ministry tip for you. 00:10:33.19\00:10:35.13 Don't pretend you know everything. 00:10:35.16\00:10:37.23 Surround yourself with good people. 00:10:37.27\00:10:39.10 And when amazing results come, share all of the honor around 00:10:39.13\00:10:43.27 and give most of the honor to God. 00:10:43.30\00:10:45.24 Once again, 00:10:50.88\00:10:52.21 it's one of my favorite parts of the program, 00:10:52.25\00:10:54.75 Members In Action. 00:10:54.78\00:10:56.12 Don't you like hearing the stories 00:10:56.15\00:10:57.72 from the front lines and so tonight, 00:10:57.75\00:10:59.65 we have here with us, Karen Holland, 00:10:59.69\00:11:02.06 the President of Oklahoma Academy. 00:11:02.09\00:11:04.96 Juliette, a student there, 00:11:04.99\00:11:07.00 and Cliff, one of our instructors. 00:11:07.03\00:11:09.73 So, Karen, I have a question for you 00:11:09.76\00:11:11.40 as we get started. 00:11:11.43\00:11:12.77 How do you instill within the students 00:11:12.80\00:11:15.97 and the staff there at Oklahoma Academy 00:11:16.00\00:11:18.27 to love mission service? 00:11:18.31\00:11:21.14 Wow, that's a great question. Thank you for asking it. 00:11:21.18\00:11:24.71 It's a great privilege to be here 00:11:24.75\00:11:26.41 and to be able to share with you. 00:11:26.45\00:11:27.78 Thank you for that opportunity. 00:11:27.82\00:11:30.39 How do you instill... Let me rephrase that question. 00:11:30.42\00:11:34.29 How do you move a person 00:11:34.32\00:11:36.56 from self absorption to self sacrifice? 00:11:36.59\00:11:40.66 Is that what you're asking? Yes, definitely. 00:11:40.70\00:11:43.10 So really, that's the work of the Holy Spirit. 00:11:43.13\00:11:46.53 Nobody can actually do that for anybody else. 00:11:46.57\00:11:50.67 The love of service is something that is caught, 00:11:50.71\00:11:54.11 it's not taught. 00:11:54.14\00:11:56.18 And so we have to model it. 00:11:56.21\00:11:59.85 We have to have staff... 00:11:59.88\00:12:01.22 at Oklahoma Academy we have staff who love people, 00:12:01.25\00:12:04.32 who love students, who love working with students, 00:12:04.35\00:12:07.86 who love mission work 00:12:07.89\00:12:10.03 and who live mission work. 00:12:10.06\00:12:12.43 And it's through that modeling then 00:12:12.46\00:12:14.80 that we're able to pass that on to our students. 00:12:14.83\00:12:18.93 But the other thing that you have to have 00:12:18.97\00:12:20.30 is you have to have opportunity. 00:12:20.34\00:12:22.84 They have to have opportunity to serve, 00:12:22.87\00:12:25.17 opportunity to do something 00:12:25.21\00:12:27.38 and so at Oklahoma Academy we've given them 00:12:27.41\00:12:29.84 a myriad of programs that they can be involved in 00:12:29.88\00:12:33.42 for mission service. 00:12:33.45\00:12:34.78 We work alongside Messiahs Mansion, 00:12:34.82\00:12:36.55 which is the full scale model of the Mosaic Sanctuary. 00:12:36.58\00:12:39.99 We have a canvassing program, 00:12:40.02\00:12:41.72 we have a vocational program 00:12:41.76\00:12:43.19 that teaches the hands-on aspect 00:12:43.22\00:12:45.83 of working with people and blessing, 00:12:45.86\00:12:48.63 and being a blessing. 00:12:48.66\00:12:50.03 We have a music program, an outreach program. 00:12:50.07\00:12:52.80 And just this year, 00:12:52.83\00:12:54.30 we are more fully developing 00:12:54.34\00:12:57.51 our mission aviation program. 00:12:57.54\00:12:59.84 We're so excited 00:12:59.87\00:13:01.21 about this opportunity for young people. 00:13:01.24\00:13:03.01 And I wanted Cliff Brooks, 00:13:03.04\00:13:04.38 our mission aviation program director 00:13:04.41\00:13:06.11 to just speak about that a moment. 00:13:06.15\00:13:08.85 Right. 00:13:08.88\00:13:10.22 And this year Oklahoma Academy 00:13:10.25\00:13:12.15 is implementing a mission aviation 00:13:12.19\00:13:13.86 training program. 00:13:13.89\00:13:15.22 You know, God is so good, isn't He? 00:13:15.26\00:13:16.59 Amen. 00:13:16.62\00:13:17.96 He blessed me with the opportunity 00:13:17.99\00:13:19.33 to go overseas 00:13:19.36\00:13:20.70 and serve our Seventh-day Adventist Church work overseas 00:13:20.73\00:13:23.47 through mission aviation, 00:13:23.50\00:13:24.90 and I praise God for that opportunity 00:13:24.93\00:13:26.33 and it's exciting. 00:13:26.37\00:13:27.70 God gives us exciting things to do in His service. 00:13:27.74\00:13:31.07 And at Oklahoma Academy, 00:13:31.11\00:13:32.84 God has given me the privilege of now sharing that passion 00:13:32.87\00:13:36.38 with the next generation. 00:13:36.41\00:13:37.75 So we have a plan to teach kids, 00:13:37.78\00:13:40.02 things that kids really enjoy getting engaged in doing, 00:13:40.05\00:13:42.68 I mean, aviation, how cool is that? 00:13:42.72\00:13:44.45 You know, it's so much fun, 00:13:44.49\00:13:45.82 and we can do it in God's service. 00:13:45.85\00:13:47.66 And that's just a lot of fun. 00:13:47.69\00:13:49.19 That's fantastic. 00:13:49.22\00:13:50.56 Thank you so much for sharing that, Cliff. 00:13:50.59\00:13:51.93 Now, let's come back to the mission service aspect. 00:13:51.96\00:13:54.80 I understand you just recently came from a mission trip. 00:13:54.83\00:13:58.97 Where did you go and what did you do? 00:13:59.00\00:14:00.54 We went to Cuba. 00:14:00.57\00:14:02.24 Cuba? Yes. 00:14:02.27\00:14:03.61 How did you possibly get into Cuba? 00:14:03.64\00:14:06.04 Well, our music director is Cuban. 00:14:06.07\00:14:09.98 And she and her family were visiting in Cuba, 00:14:10.01\00:14:12.65 with family, in Cuba. 00:14:12.68\00:14:14.58 And the conference president of the conference there 00:14:14.62\00:14:18.22 said to her, 00:14:18.25\00:14:20.16 "When are you coming back to Cuba? 00:14:20.19\00:14:22.69 We would like to have you come back 00:14:22.72\00:14:24.69 and do music and do evangelism." 00:14:24.73\00:14:26.90 And so she came back to the school 00:14:26.93\00:14:28.66 and she gave us that vision. 00:14:28.70\00:14:31.90 And we prayed and we said, 00:14:31.93\00:14:33.97 "Yes, this is something that we want to do." 00:14:34.00\00:14:36.97 So we connected ourselves together 00:14:37.01\00:14:39.94 with Henry and Arlene Stubbs 00:14:39.97\00:14:43.24 from the World Youth Group, 00:14:43.28\00:14:44.71 who have an amazing work in Cuba 00:14:44.75\00:14:47.02 and amazing experience. 00:14:47.05\00:14:48.88 They have the structure, the groundwork, 00:14:48.92\00:14:51.25 if anybody wants to work with them 00:14:51.29\00:14:52.95 they're at booth 302. 00:14:52.99\00:14:55.06 And they're just wonderful people to work with 00:14:55.09\00:14:57.23 and an organization to work with. 00:14:57.26\00:14:59.03 And it was a blessing to work with them. 00:14:59.06\00:15:01.33 So that's how we got there. 00:15:01.36\00:15:02.70 That's fantastic. 00:15:02.73\00:15:04.07 And did you have any challenges getting visas 00:15:04.10\00:15:06.53 or how did that all work out? 00:15:06.57\00:15:10.17 Actually, yes, we got our first... 00:15:10.21\00:15:13.71 I think it was 25 visas. 00:15:13.74\00:15:16.85 But then the next group of seven 00:15:16.88\00:15:19.58 they would not give a religious visa for. 00:15:19.61\00:15:22.78 And then what? 00:15:22.82\00:15:24.42 Well, and then what we prayed 00:15:24.45\00:15:26.29 and we decided to go on a tourist visa. 00:15:26.32\00:15:29.62 Okay. 00:15:29.66\00:15:31.13 The power of prayer. 00:15:31.16\00:15:32.49 Yes. And then you just go by faith. 00:15:32.53\00:15:34.16 That's right. And it worked out. 00:15:34.20\00:15:36.77 Praise God. Praise God. Yes. 00:15:36.80\00:15:38.40 So how was music involved in this trip? 00:15:38.43\00:15:41.40 So we took our corral and our bell choir to Cuba 00:15:41.44\00:15:45.47 and the very first weekend we were there, 00:15:45.51\00:15:47.31 we did five concerts across Cuba. 00:15:47.34\00:15:50.95 And I've asked Juliette to tell us 00:15:50.98\00:15:52.75 about that first concert. 00:15:52.78\00:15:55.18 So our first concert was an experience. 00:15:55.22\00:16:00.16 And we had gotten there that day, 00:16:00.19\00:16:01.96 we had started traveling at 12 am that morning 00:16:01.99\00:16:04.56 and we were tired. 00:16:04.59\00:16:05.93 And it was just after dinner and none of us knew 00:16:05.96\00:16:08.86 that we were gonna do this concert, 00:16:08.90\00:16:10.23 at least I didn't know. 00:16:10.27\00:16:11.83 And they tell us it's 7 pm, 00:16:11.87\00:16:13.70 and we have a concert that's starting at 7 pm. 00:16:13.74\00:16:17.14 And so we arrived at the church two hours later 00:16:17.17\00:16:19.77 to find a church packed with people 00:16:19.81\00:16:22.41 expecting a concert from us. 00:16:22.44\00:16:24.98 And on that car trip there and I had a very surreal moment 00:16:25.01\00:16:28.22 where I talked with God 00:16:28.25\00:16:30.02 and I was just praying and connecting myself with Him 00:16:30.05\00:16:33.42 because He had done so much for us 00:16:33.46\00:16:35.86 just to get us to that point. 00:16:35.89\00:16:37.83 And I knew He was gonna bless us. 00:16:37.86\00:16:39.69 And so when we got to the church, 00:16:39.73\00:16:41.06 we had to set up the bell choir, 00:16:41.10\00:16:43.13 it was very different conditions. 00:16:43.16\00:16:45.87 But also the piano was out of tune 00:16:45.90\00:16:47.30 and everything was crazy, 00:16:47.34\00:16:48.67 but the first few notes of that opening song, 00:16:48.70\00:16:50.94 it was as if the angels of heaven 00:16:50.97\00:16:52.31 were singing with us. 00:16:52.34\00:16:53.68 I'd never heard her sing so well. 00:16:53.71\00:16:55.58 Amen. 00:16:55.61\00:16:56.95 That is so exciting to hear. 00:16:56.98\00:16:58.31 Music does us a powerful thing to touch the lives of people. 00:16:58.35\00:17:02.48 So you had a fantastic time on that trip? 00:17:02.52\00:17:04.65 Oh, I love Cuba. I would love to go back. 00:17:04.69\00:17:06.99 You're ready to go back? Anytime. 00:17:07.02\00:17:08.82 Praise the Lord. Amen. 00:17:08.86\00:17:10.36 So the service has been instilled. 00:17:10.39\00:17:12.46 That's fantastic. Amen. 00:17:12.49\00:17:13.90 So another question for you. 00:17:13.93\00:17:15.86 We understand that this was evangelistic kind of program. 00:17:15.90\00:17:19.70 Did you all stay together or how did you organize? 00:17:19.73\00:17:24.24 Well, there was 30 some of us it would be difficult 00:17:24.27\00:17:27.08 to take all of that many people to one place. 00:17:27.11\00:17:29.48 So we divided up into six groups. 00:17:29.51\00:17:33.55 And each group had a Cuban people 00:17:33.58\00:17:38.92 that were working with us, 00:17:38.95\00:17:40.29 they had a translator, they had a Bible worker, 00:17:40.32\00:17:42.79 they had people that helped feed us. 00:17:42.82\00:17:45.56 And then we had our group, we had the evangelists, 00:17:48.56\00:17:51.13 we had the health talk person, 00:17:51.17\00:17:55.77 we had the children's meetings, and together 00:17:55.80\00:17:59.17 in six different cities we did evangelism. 00:17:59.21\00:18:01.88 Praise God, we just want to thank you so much 00:18:01.91\00:18:04.41 for your willingness to go and to serve. 00:18:04.45\00:18:07.88 Can you say amen to that? 00:18:07.92\00:18:09.62 Praise God. Thank you so much. 00:18:09.65\00:18:11.22 We appreciate it. 00:18:11.25\00:18:12.59 Amen. Thank you. 00:18:12.62\00:18:13.96 Okay, we're gonna have a video in just a moment. 00:18:19.46\00:18:21.83 We were waiting for that. 00:18:21.86\00:18:23.30 But with me here is Josh from Heritage Academy. 00:18:23.33\00:18:27.50 And we are so glad you have an affiliate, 00:18:27.54\00:18:30.21 as I was doing some research. 00:18:30.24\00:18:32.11 What's the affiliate about? 00:18:32.14\00:18:33.81 Yes, Heritage Academy has a disaster response ministry. 00:18:33.84\00:18:37.78 In our disaster response ministry 00:18:37.81\00:18:39.71 we have an affiliate that we call to serve 00:18:39.75\00:18:41.98 and that's where we work with disaster response. 00:18:42.02\00:18:45.15 And we send our students into disaster zones. 00:18:45.19\00:18:48.96 So we had a chance to go to Panama City, Florida, 00:18:48.99\00:18:52.79 and we worked with six other academies 00:18:52.83\00:18:54.63 and Southern Adventist University 00:18:54.66\00:18:56.70 and deployed there. 00:18:56.73\00:18:58.07 So they focus on trainings and deployment. 00:18:58.10\00:19:00.90 And they help us with logistics, 00:19:00.94\00:19:03.30 such as lodging and meals, 00:19:03.34\00:19:05.47 and communication 00:19:05.51\00:19:07.94 with organizing 150 volunteers 00:19:07.98\00:19:10.95 all at the same time. 00:19:10.98\00:19:12.31 That's amazing. 00:19:12.35\00:19:13.68 So there was last year, several large hurricanes. 00:19:13.72\00:19:18.09 But there was one in particular that you were called to go to. 00:19:18.12\00:19:22.26 Tell us about that? 00:19:22.29\00:19:23.63 Yes, it's interesting to share with you 00:19:23.66\00:19:26.16 that we got a chance to go to Panama City, Florida. 00:19:26.19\00:19:29.33 And our main purpose of going there 00:19:29.36\00:19:31.13 was to work on pods, 00:19:31.17\00:19:33.94 point of distribution, 00:19:33.97\00:19:35.30 and it's basically like a drive-thru 00:19:35.34\00:19:38.74 grocery store. 00:19:38.77\00:19:40.11 So when people would come up with their cars, 00:19:40.14\00:19:41.84 they would tell us how many people 00:19:41.88\00:19:43.21 were in their family. 00:19:43.24\00:19:44.58 And then we had a chance to load them up 00:19:44.61\00:19:47.08 with what we call MREs or Meals Ready to Eat. 00:19:47.12\00:19:51.25 And then we pass them out bottled water by the case. 00:19:51.29\00:19:54.96 And from that experience, 00:19:54.99\00:19:56.52 we also had people that would come by 00:19:56.56\00:19:58.89 and drop off donations for people 00:19:58.93\00:20:01.86 that needed cleaning supplies, or clothes, 00:20:01.90\00:20:04.47 or anything outside of just MREs and water. 00:20:04.50\00:20:08.97 So we had a chance to work with the National Guard. 00:20:09.00\00:20:12.54 And we had three different pods that we worked with them, 00:20:12.57\00:20:16.71 and three that we helped set up 00:20:16.75\00:20:18.38 so we were running six pods in total. 00:20:18.41\00:20:21.08 That's fantastic. 00:20:21.12\00:20:22.45 So, Josh, I got the thumbs up that our video is ready. 00:20:22.48\00:20:26.49 So let's see if we have our video to watch 00:20:26.52\00:20:31.23 and then we'll come back to the interview. 00:20:31.26\00:20:32.83 In Florida, one of our major jobs 00:20:35.86\00:20:37.97 was to handle pods 00:20:38.00\00:20:39.73 and pods stands for point of distribution. 00:20:39.77\00:20:42.07 And each pod there was a variety of different supplies 00:20:42.10\00:20:44.74 that survivors might need such as food, water, ice, 00:20:44.77\00:20:48.14 baby supplies, hygiene care and cleaning supplies. 00:20:48.18\00:20:50.88 And our job was basically to man these pods 00:20:50.91\00:20:53.01 and give people what they needed. 00:20:53.05\00:20:54.42 It's so awesome seeing someone practicing their faith, 00:20:58.89\00:21:00.79 you know, after this disaster, and that blessed me. 00:21:00.82\00:21:04.93 So I helped her and we worked 00:21:08.26\00:21:09.60 until everything needed was done. 00:21:09.63\00:21:11.87 After I prayed with her, 00:21:11.90\00:21:13.37 and she cried and thanked me for my help. 00:21:13.40\00:21:15.84 But the next day, she came back again 00:21:20.08\00:21:21.41 and she said, "Hey, 00:21:21.44\00:21:22.78 can you please pray for my neighbor, 00:21:22.81\00:21:24.15 I really want you to pray for my neighbor. 00:21:24.18\00:21:26.01 The prayers you prayed for me, 00:21:26.05\00:21:27.42 they helped me and comforted me a lot." 00:21:27.45\00:21:29.65 So I prayed the shortest and sweetest prayer I could. 00:21:33.05\00:21:36.16 And when I opened my eyes, 00:21:36.19\00:21:38.13 all of them were in tears and crying. 00:21:38.16\00:21:40.20 And I remember being shocked 00:21:40.23\00:21:42.56 because I didn't think it was that good of a prayer. 00:21:42.60\00:21:45.77 And it just reminded me 00:21:45.80\00:21:47.14 that when God tells you to do something, 00:21:47.17\00:21:49.00 you should do it and the guy was like, 00:21:49.04\00:21:51.31 "You don't understand. 00:21:51.34\00:21:52.67 When people see us, 00:21:52.71\00:21:54.84 they don't see good, they see bad 00:21:54.88\00:21:56.61 and the fact that you're a young lady 00:21:56.64\00:21:58.01 and you saw goodness, we will never forget." 00:21:58.05\00:22:00.78 So when God tells you to do something, 00:22:00.82\00:22:02.62 it's really important that you do 00:22:02.65\00:22:03.99 what He tells you to do. 00:22:04.02\00:22:06.82 And I'm crying because you guys are here. 00:22:06.86\00:22:09.69 I'm not crying because of the house. 00:22:09.72\00:22:12.23 Money will take care of it, but money can't replace this. 00:22:12.26\00:22:14.96 Okay, Josh, that was some powerful moving videos. 00:22:38.12\00:22:41.12 So how many people were impacted 00:22:41.16\00:22:44.03 by this particular outreach? 00:22:44.06\00:22:45.79 Yeah. 00:22:45.83\00:22:47.16 So through the six different pods that we had, 00:22:47.20\00:22:48.53 we were servicing about 3000 people at each pod. 00:22:48.56\00:22:52.07 So somebody would drive up to the pod, 00:22:52.10\00:22:54.34 and they would ask, we would ask them 00:22:54.37\00:22:55.84 how many people are in their family 00:22:55.87\00:22:58.24 and that would help us to know 00:22:58.27\00:22:59.77 how much food to give them on a daily basis. 00:22:59.81\00:23:02.24 And so we would say that in total, 00:23:02.28\00:23:05.11 maybe about 15,000 people a day. 00:23:05.15\00:23:07.28 And so while we were there, 00:23:07.32\00:23:08.65 we had a chance to pray with each of those vehicles 00:23:08.68\00:23:11.92 that came through. 00:23:11.95\00:23:13.36 And so through that experience, 00:23:13.39\00:23:16.93 the National Guard got to witness our students 00:23:16.96\00:23:19.56 helping out in the community. 00:23:19.59\00:23:20.93 And there's a few stories that I like to share with you. 00:23:20.96\00:23:23.33 And one of those stories is 00:23:23.37\00:23:27.14 we got pulled off of one of the pods. 00:23:27.17\00:23:29.24 And so we had been there for about a week 00:23:29.27\00:23:31.21 and we went somewhere else to another pod. 00:23:31.24\00:23:33.38 And we came back to the pod 00:23:33.41\00:23:36.11 that we were working at the next day 00:23:36.14\00:23:37.75 to continue to help out. 00:23:37.78\00:23:39.58 And the National Guard 00:23:39.61\00:23:40.95 was very thankful that we were there 00:23:40.98\00:23:43.02 and I asked 00:23:43.05\00:23:44.65 what was the big difference for them, 00:23:44.69\00:23:46.05 and they said that the people that were coming through 00:23:46.09\00:23:48.02 were complaining and they were frustrated, 00:23:48.06\00:23:50.66 and they were struggling with them 00:23:50.69\00:23:52.73 cooperating very well. 00:23:52.76\00:23:54.20 And I asked him, "Why do you think that is?" 00:23:54.23\00:23:55.86 He says, "Well, they wanted... 00:23:55.90\00:23:57.23 They kept asking where all the kids were?" 00:23:57.27\00:23:59.17 And so they said they just serve with a smile. 00:23:59.20\00:24:01.90 They're always there to encourage you and help you. 00:24:01.94\00:24:04.84 And then at another pod that we had a vehicle drove up. 00:24:04.87\00:24:08.54 And she asked the question, 00:24:08.58\00:24:10.75 "Is this the pod where you pray with people?" 00:24:10.78\00:24:13.31 And, of course, that has a huge impact. 00:24:13.35\00:24:16.28 And we got to see the work of the Holy Spirit. 00:24:16.32\00:24:18.82 And then finally, 00:24:18.85\00:24:21.19 the last story that I really like to share with you is 00:24:21.22\00:24:25.16 our group was having worship 00:24:25.19\00:24:26.53 at one of the pods that evening, 00:24:26.56\00:24:28.76 and it was on a Friday night, 00:24:28.80\00:24:30.13 and they asked the National Guard 00:24:30.17\00:24:31.53 to come and sit with them and join in them in worship. 00:24:31.57\00:24:35.30 So they were singing songs, 00:24:35.34\00:24:36.67 but then they started asking a lot of questions about 00:24:36.71\00:24:39.07 why they were doing what they were doing. 00:24:39.11\00:24:40.88 And as the National Guard got to know us a lot better. 00:24:40.91\00:24:44.41 They were really interested in our church. 00:24:44.45\00:24:47.92 And so as they got to know us, 00:24:47.95\00:24:50.45 they wanted to see the whole school group. 00:24:50.49\00:24:52.39 So they came to the pod 00:24:52.42\00:24:54.06 where we were working at the Panama City 00:24:54.09\00:24:55.89 Seventh-day Adventist Church and as we were there, 00:24:55.92\00:24:58.46 they really got to know us 00:24:58.49\00:25:00.86 and I think are excited to see how God has been working. 00:25:00.90\00:25:03.97 Josh, this is so exciting to hear 00:25:04.00\00:25:06.60 what God is doing. 00:25:06.63\00:25:07.97 How many people did you say per day? 00:25:08.00\00:25:10.21 About 3000 per day at each pod. 00:25:10.24\00:25:12.61 At each pod? So about 15,000. 00:25:12.64\00:25:14.14 Fifteen thousand, what an evangelistic series? 00:25:14.18\00:25:17.68 Isn't that amazing? 00:25:17.71\00:25:19.05 God is so good. Thank you, Josh, for your work. 00:25:19.08\00:25:21.82 If people want to learn more about Heritage Academy, 00:25:21.85\00:25:24.82 can they find you here? 00:25:24.85\00:25:26.19 Yeah, we have a booth that's right over here 00:25:26.22\00:25:27.79 and you can go to our website it's just Heritagetn.org. 00:25:27.82\00:25:32.09 Thank you so much. We appreciate your service. 00:25:32.13\00:25:34.86 Thank you. 00:25:34.90\00:25:36.93 So our next member in action is going to be coming 00:25:36.97\00:25:41.74 from DayStar Academy. 00:25:41.77\00:25:44.47 Where is DayStar? 00:25:44.51\00:25:46.34 Castle Valley, Utah. 00:25:46.37\00:25:47.71 Castle Valley, Utah. Yes. 00:25:47.74\00:25:49.64 So how is everything out in the desert? 00:25:49.68\00:25:53.42 Beautiful. Is it really? 00:25:53.45\00:25:54.82 Yes. That's fantastic. 00:25:54.85\00:25:56.18 This time of year we get lots of rainbows. 00:25:56.22\00:25:58.45 So we are so encouraged and so excited 00:25:58.49\00:26:02.56 that you're here with us, Sonia. 00:26:02.59\00:26:04.03 And who do you have with you? 00:26:04.06\00:26:06.03 Rebecca Stone? 00:26:06.06\00:26:07.40 Oh, fantastic. This is my daughter. 00:26:07.43\00:26:09.36 Now, Rebecca, I want to ask you a couple of questions here. 00:26:09.40\00:26:12.73 Okay. 00:26:12.77\00:26:14.10 I understand that you went on a mission trip recently. 00:26:14.14\00:26:16.34 Where was that? 00:26:16.37\00:26:17.71 We went down to Kinlichee, Arizona in February 2018. 00:26:17.74\00:26:21.78 February 2018. You went to where? 00:26:21.81\00:26:24.31 Kinlichee, Arizona. 00:26:24.35\00:26:25.88 Okay, I'm not sure where that is. 00:26:25.91\00:26:27.32 But what is there? What took you there? 00:26:27.35\00:26:29.48 It's on the Navajo Reservation. 00:26:29.52\00:26:31.19 And we were working in the church there painting it 00:26:31.22\00:26:34.29 and doing a VBS. 00:26:34.32\00:26:35.66 You were painting and doing a VBS. 00:26:35.69\00:26:38.19 And what specifically were you involved in mostly? 00:26:38.23\00:26:43.16 I was involved in supervising the painting of the inside. 00:26:43.20\00:26:47.44 Wow, that's fantastic. 00:26:47.47\00:26:48.90 What a wonderful opportunity. 00:26:48.94\00:26:51.04 And question for you. 00:26:51.07\00:26:53.68 Do you do these kind of mission trips 00:26:53.71\00:26:55.31 on a regular basis? 00:26:55.34\00:26:57.25 DayStar has taken at least five mission trips 00:26:57.28\00:26:59.95 to the Navajo Reservation that I know of. 00:26:59.98\00:27:02.28 I don't know if there's more. 00:27:02.32\00:27:05.02 Her senior year was the second to the last one. 00:27:05.05\00:27:07.62 And then this last year in April, 00:27:07.66\00:27:09.29 we had another mission trip down there 00:27:09.32\00:27:10.96 to Kayenta, Arizona. 00:27:10.99\00:27:13.90 Nancy Crosby, 00:27:13.93\00:27:15.26 the Native American ministries Director for the Pacific Union 00:27:15.30\00:27:18.67 directed us to that spot to do 00:27:18.70\00:27:23.24 to help with some projects that were needed in that area. 00:27:23.27\00:27:26.47 One real problem is food security. 00:27:26.51\00:27:31.71 So she wanted to see trees get put in that 00:27:31.75\00:27:34.65 were fruit and nut trees. 00:27:34.68\00:27:36.02 That was a big thing. 00:27:36.05\00:27:37.85 And there were 23 trees that we put in 00:27:37.89\00:27:40.69 with hand tools in to very hard ground. 00:27:40.72\00:27:44.69 The students 00:27:44.73\00:27:46.06 got a good exercise program doing that. 00:27:46.09\00:27:47.43 In Arizona... 00:27:47.46\00:27:48.80 Yes, yes. You're planting fruit trees. 00:27:48.83\00:27:50.63 Fruit and nut trees, yes. 00:27:50.67\00:27:52.00 Now when I see in my mind's eye, 00:27:52.03\00:27:54.17 this is the desert 00:27:54.20\00:27:55.54 that we're talking about, right? 00:27:55.57\00:27:56.91 They put in an irrigation system also. 00:27:56.94\00:27:58.41 Okay. Yes. 00:27:58.44\00:27:59.77 Fantastic. 00:27:59.81\00:28:01.38 Along with that there were projects 00:28:01.41\00:28:03.28 like cleaning up trash 00:28:03.31\00:28:04.65 around the outside of the fence line, 00:28:04.68\00:28:06.61 hauling off some tires, 00:28:06.65\00:28:08.92 doing some landscaping in the front of the church... 00:28:08.95\00:28:11.92 weeding their raised gardens, 00:28:15.02\00:28:16.79 which are also a part of that food program. 00:28:16.83\00:28:19.06 Having raised gardens there at the church. 00:28:19.09\00:28:21.60 Organizing their darkest room, things like that, 00:28:21.63\00:28:24.33 and on Sabbath, they had the opportunity 00:28:24.37\00:28:26.63 to split into two groups. 00:28:26.67\00:28:29.20 One group went to Page, Arizona, 00:28:29.24\00:28:31.11 one stayed in Kayenta. 00:28:31.14\00:28:32.47 And the students did the sermon, 00:28:32.51\00:28:35.71 children's story, 00:28:35.74\00:28:37.08 those kind of things for the church services there. 00:28:37.11\00:28:39.78 So they were very, very involved in this project. 00:28:39.81\00:28:43.79 How long was it again, how long was your mission? 00:28:43.82\00:28:46.32 We were there for one week. 00:28:46.35\00:28:47.69 For one week. Okay. 00:28:47.72\00:28:49.62 And if people want to learn more about DayStar, 00:28:49.66\00:28:54.56 where would they go? 00:28:54.60\00:28:56.43 Booth 563. 00:28:56.46\00:28:58.80 Five sixty three, fantastic. 00:28:58.83\00:29:00.84 And where are the booths, everyone? 00:29:00.87\00:29:03.30 That's right, we want to encourage you again to come. 00:29:03.34\00:29:06.84 Now tell us a little bit more about 00:29:06.88\00:29:08.98 how these kind of mission trips impact you personally, 00:29:09.01\00:29:12.95 I want to hear from Rebecca. 00:29:12.98\00:29:14.48 How did it impact you personally? 00:29:14.52\00:29:16.32 What did it do in your personal life? 00:29:16.35\00:29:19.15 It helped me to want to be a better student, 00:29:19.19\00:29:21.32 because as you're trying to teach people, 00:29:21.36\00:29:23.99 look young kids, 00:29:24.03\00:29:25.36 you realize the frustration teachers can have 00:29:25.39\00:29:27.76 when their students misbehave. 00:29:27.80\00:29:29.73 And so it helps, 00:29:29.76\00:29:31.10 it helped me to want to behave better 00:29:31.13\00:29:32.50 for my teachers. 00:29:32.53\00:29:33.87 And it also gave me appreciation 00:29:33.90\00:29:35.60 for the life I have. 00:29:35.64\00:29:37.97 Fantastic. 00:29:38.01\00:29:39.34 So for all of the educators that are here, 00:29:39.37\00:29:41.31 did you hear that? 00:29:41.34\00:29:42.68 One of the best ways to impact students 00:29:42.71\00:29:45.78 is to help them serve other people. 00:29:45.81\00:29:48.58 Praise God for that, Rebecca, we're so glad, 00:29:48.62\00:29:50.95 we're praying for you 00:29:50.99\00:29:52.32 as you continue on in your life. 00:29:52.35\00:29:54.16 What about you? 00:29:54.19\00:29:55.52 How do these mission trips impact you personally? 00:29:55.56\00:29:59.39 I really appreciated seeing what it did 00:29:59.43\00:30:01.46 in the lives of the students. 00:30:01.50\00:30:04.73 They could have a tendency 00:30:04.77\00:30:06.10 maybe to not work as well together 00:30:06.13\00:30:08.47 but when they had a passion, and they saw a vision, 00:30:08.50\00:30:12.14 they got excited. 00:30:12.17\00:30:13.51 And it was so fun to see them get excited 00:30:13.54\00:30:15.48 and want to help and be on fire for helping. 00:30:15.51\00:30:18.98 And anyway, I just love to see that in them 00:30:19.01\00:30:21.65 and it works something in me. 00:30:21.68\00:30:23.05 I realized that kids need these opportunities, 00:30:23.08\00:30:25.99 it makes a difference. 00:30:26.02\00:30:27.36 So these missionary opportunities 00:30:27.39\00:30:29.52 are so powerful. 00:30:29.56\00:30:31.06 Yes. 00:30:31.09\00:30:32.43 And they have done something in DayStar Academy 00:30:32.46\00:30:36.16 to spark the mission fervor. 00:30:36.20\00:30:39.30 Is there anything else, any other experiences 00:30:39.33\00:30:41.60 that you would like to tell us about? 00:30:41.64\00:30:44.31 Well, there was one thing. 00:30:44.34\00:30:46.54 There was a park not very far away 00:30:46.57\00:30:48.44 from where we had the church 00:30:48.48\00:30:50.38 and we would give the kids opportunity 00:30:50.41\00:30:51.88 to go to this park and play around a little bit 00:30:51.91\00:30:56.22 for a little while every day, run off some energy. 00:30:56.25\00:30:59.02 The kids from the community congregated at that park. 00:30:59.05\00:31:02.06 And it was really neat to see how slowly 00:31:02.09\00:31:04.93 but surely the kids started wanting 00:31:04.96\00:31:06.66 to interact with our kids, 00:31:06.70\00:31:08.26 it takes a little bit of time to earn their trust. 00:31:08.30\00:31:11.73 And it was fun to see 00:31:11.77\00:31:13.27 how they would try to interact with our kids, 00:31:13.30\00:31:16.14 they would start throwing a ball at them 00:31:16.17\00:31:17.51 and then throw a ball back. 00:31:17.54\00:31:19.27 That may not seem significant, 00:31:19.31\00:31:21.28 but it seems significant to me 00:31:21.31\00:31:22.64 knowing how reclusive they can be. 00:31:22.68\00:31:25.01 And the kids really enjoyed 00:31:25.05\00:31:27.95 trying to engage the kids at the park. 00:31:27.98\00:31:30.82 And another thing that was good for them 00:31:30.85\00:31:32.39 is going to a flea market which I'll show a picture of, 00:31:32.42\00:31:35.62 and the flea market was educational 00:31:35.66\00:31:39.66 and that they could see some of the culture 00:31:39.69\00:31:41.26 that we were down there to help. 00:31:41.30\00:31:43.77 Okay, so you do have some pictures, 00:31:43.80\00:31:46.00 you can narrate for us these pictures? 00:31:46.03\00:31:49.14 Okay. 00:31:49.17\00:31:51.24 Can see them there? 00:31:51.27\00:31:53.88 All right. 00:31:53.91\00:31:55.24 This is our young people digging the holes 00:31:55.28\00:31:56.81 in the hard ground. 00:31:56.85\00:31:58.18 That does look like hard ground. 00:31:58.21\00:31:59.55 Yes. 00:31:59.58\00:32:00.92 I've planted trees and that looks tough. 00:32:00.95\00:32:02.82 Putting the final touches 00:32:02.85\00:32:04.19 on one of our fruit trees there. 00:32:04.22\00:32:05.85 Wow. Yeah. 00:32:05.89\00:32:07.52 Beautiful. Yeah. 00:32:07.56\00:32:09.42 Moving gravel for the landscape project 00:32:09.46\00:32:11.46 in the front yard. 00:32:11.49\00:32:12.83 Fantastic. 00:32:12.86\00:32:14.20 Front of the church there 00:32:14.23\00:32:15.56 and that's the Navajo flea market 00:32:15.60\00:32:18.07 and some of our students. 00:32:18.10\00:32:19.90 And this is them 00:32:19.93\00:32:21.27 doing special music at a church service. 00:32:21.30\00:32:23.67 Excellent. Yeah. 00:32:23.71\00:32:25.17 Well, we just want to thank you so much. 00:32:25.21\00:32:26.94 And we're praying for DayStar 00:32:26.98\00:32:28.31 and we want to encourage you to continue 00:32:28.34\00:32:30.91 to share the love of Jesus Christ. 00:32:30.95\00:32:32.91 Thank you so much. Thank you. 00:32:32.95\00:32:34.28 Amen. 00:35:40.64\00:35:43.20 Good evening, ASI. 00:35:43.24\00:35:45.74 We are so happy to be able to bring before you 00:35:45.77\00:35:49.31 two projects that will be recipients 00:35:49.34\00:35:51.81 of this year's offering. 00:35:51.85\00:35:54.05 And so I would like to introduce to you 00:35:54.08\00:35:57.15 first... 00:35:57.19\00:35:58.52 Oh, there you are. 00:35:58.55\00:36:01.92 This is Julie McPherson. 00:36:01.96\00:36:03.46 Julie McPherson is the director of Mission North. 00:36:03.49\00:36:06.49 And, Julie, tell us what is Mission North? 00:36:06.53\00:36:08.60 Mission North is a project where we take some young people 00:36:08.63\00:36:11.67 and we go up to the northern Canada 00:36:11.70\00:36:13.54 to the communities of First Nations people 00:36:13.57\00:36:16.27 that have not yet been reached with the gospel, 00:36:16.30\00:36:18.84 and the soon coming... 00:36:18.87\00:36:20.21 news of the soon coming of Jesus. 00:36:20.24\00:36:22.21 Now that's kind of far, 00:36:22.24\00:36:23.61 exactly how far up is the Yukon? 00:36:23.65\00:36:26.48 Well, I live in the southern, 00:36:26.51\00:36:28.82 most southern part of British Columbia. 00:36:28.85\00:36:31.25 But when we go up to where we're going this year, 00:36:31.29\00:36:35.46 it's going to take us four days of driving, 00:36:35.49\00:36:37.69 and then we're gonna have to fly even farther up. 00:36:37.73\00:36:40.60 And we're going to meet other communities along the way 00:36:40.63\00:36:45.43 as we come back down. 00:36:45.47\00:36:47.04 Now, I understand that there are some challenges 00:36:47.07\00:36:49.10 in reaching the First Nation peoples, 00:36:49.14\00:36:50.71 what are those? 00:36:50.74\00:36:52.07 Well, one of the biggest challenges is that 00:36:52.11\00:36:54.84 between the government 00:36:54.88\00:36:56.24 and some of the non Seventh-day Adventist denominations. 00:36:56.28\00:37:01.12 They have over the last hundred years, 00:37:01.15\00:37:04.32 set up residential schools 00:37:04.35\00:37:05.75 and taken the children away from their parents 00:37:05.79\00:37:08.89 in these First Nation communities 00:37:08.92\00:37:11.56 and indoctrinated them 00:37:11.59\00:37:13.50 and abused them, 00:37:13.53\00:37:15.73 and took away their culture and their language. 00:37:15.76\00:37:18.93 And so there's a lot of anger and bitterness. 00:37:18.97\00:37:21.40 And they don't want missionaries 00:37:21.44\00:37:24.04 to come to them. 00:37:24.07\00:37:26.34 I understand it's not really a cakewalk 00:37:26.37\00:37:28.51 going that far north. 00:37:28.54\00:37:30.01 What are some of the other issues? 00:37:30.05\00:37:32.01 Well, when I go up there with some of the young people, 00:37:32.05\00:37:35.08 we don't necessarily have hotels to go 00:37:35.12\00:37:37.02 and stay in, 00:37:37.05\00:37:38.39 or restaurants to eat in. 00:37:38.42\00:37:39.85 We camp 00:37:39.89\00:37:41.22 and we have to cook our food on a camp stove. 00:37:41.26\00:37:45.53 And sometimes 00:37:45.56\00:37:47.36 we don't even have a place to take a bath 00:37:47.40\00:37:49.03 unless it's in the freezing cold lakes. 00:37:49.06\00:37:52.43 Well, that doesn't sound like a lot of fun. 00:37:52.47\00:37:53.94 Do you have a lot of people that went with you last year? 00:37:53.97\00:37:56.71 We had 10 young people 00:37:56.74\00:37:59.84 and we had two adults. 00:37:59.87\00:38:03.38 Yeah. Okay. 00:38:03.41\00:38:04.85 And how does Mission North envision 00:38:04.88\00:38:07.58 overcoming these particular challenges? 00:38:07.62\00:38:10.22 Like what... 00:38:10.25\00:38:12.05 Give us a story of maybe what happened last year? 00:38:12.09\00:38:14.76 Okay, one of the villages that we went into last year, 00:38:14.79\00:38:17.33 it was really quite impressive 00:38:17.36\00:38:19.33 the way the Lord worked it out for us 00:38:19.36\00:38:20.96 because we didn't have an invitation 00:38:21.00\00:38:23.57 to come into this community. 00:38:23.60\00:38:25.37 But my heart was burdened, 00:38:25.40\00:38:27.40 because there had been a fire 00:38:27.44\00:38:28.77 not too far away in another community. 00:38:28.80\00:38:30.77 And I knew that somehow we must be able 00:38:30.81\00:38:33.27 to help these people and bless them. 00:38:33.31\00:38:35.24 So we arrived there sometime in the night, 00:38:35.28\00:38:37.78 and I couldn't sleep in the van, 00:38:37.81\00:38:40.72 and we had no place to set up the tent right away. 00:38:40.75\00:38:43.75 So I took my dog 00:38:43.79\00:38:45.89 and I started walking up and down the road 00:38:45.92\00:38:48.09 all night long 00:38:48.12\00:38:49.96 in front of this village, 00:38:49.99\00:38:51.99 asking the Lord one thing, 00:38:52.03\00:38:53.93 "Please open this village 00:38:53.96\00:38:57.27 so that we can come in and bless these people." 00:38:57.30\00:39:00.77 And the Lord did. 00:39:00.80\00:39:02.14 Because the next morning we went to several 00:39:02.17\00:39:04.07 of the more official looking buildings 00:39:04.11\00:39:06.24 and asked, "Is there anything we can do to help?" 00:39:06.27\00:39:10.45 And they all looked at us funny, 00:39:10.48\00:39:12.25 but finally they said, 00:39:12.28\00:39:13.62 "There's a building over there called The Haven 00:39:13.65\00:39:15.52 which is a social service and health building. 00:39:15.55\00:39:19.42 Ask them if there's anything you can do to help." 00:39:19.45\00:39:21.42 So we went over there, and we asked them 00:39:21.46\00:39:23.36 and this lady came out of the office 00:39:23.39\00:39:24.93 and she sat down behind me and she started laughing. 00:39:24.96\00:39:28.33 So I turned and I looked at her and she said, 00:39:28.36\00:39:30.67 "Where have you been? 00:39:30.70\00:39:32.13 We've been needing you. 00:39:32.17\00:39:33.64 We've been waiting." 00:39:33.67\00:39:36.07 And I said, "Well, what can I do to help you?" 00:39:36.10\00:39:39.37 And she gave me a key. 00:39:39.41\00:39:41.14 And she said, 00:39:41.18\00:39:42.51 "Go, there's an abandoned building there. 00:39:42.54\00:39:44.35 Go and clean that building with your team, if you would, 00:39:44.38\00:39:48.18 and we have donations coming in 00:39:48.22\00:39:50.69 for all the evacuees from this fire 00:39:50.72\00:39:53.36 that's burning in the next community. 00:39:53.39\00:39:55.96 Would you set up a donation center 00:39:55.99\00:39:59.06 because we need that." 00:39:59.09\00:40:01.06 And so we set to work. 00:40:01.10\00:40:03.93 You know, there was a group of people 00:40:03.97\00:40:06.37 who had also come in from all over Canada, 00:40:06.40\00:40:08.74 a whole bunch of men. 00:40:08.77\00:40:10.31 And they had come to sift the ashes of the homes 00:40:10.34\00:40:13.61 of the people 00:40:13.64\00:40:14.98 that had lost their homes for valuables. 00:40:15.01\00:40:18.38 But they couldn't yet get into that community 00:40:18.41\00:40:20.55 because the fires were still raging. 00:40:20.58\00:40:22.92 And so one of the men said, 00:40:22.95\00:40:24.99 "We've been sent to you because you're in charge, 00:40:25.02\00:40:27.72 what can we do to help you?" 00:40:27.76\00:40:29.42 And I said, "I need trucks." 00:40:29.46\00:40:31.96 He says, "We've got trucks." 00:40:31.99\00:40:33.83 So then they started helping us to build shelves. 00:40:33.86\00:40:37.13 I was able to show them behind this building 00:40:37.17\00:40:39.23 and that building and in this building, 00:40:39.27\00:40:40.90 and this is how you do it. 00:40:40.94\00:40:42.54 And we went to the school, 00:40:42.57\00:40:43.91 we picked up all of the donations 00:40:43.94\00:40:46.01 and we set up the whole donation center 00:40:46.04\00:40:49.18 for them. 00:40:49.21\00:40:50.81 The Lord really blessed in opening the doors for us 00:40:50.85\00:40:54.68 to be able to go in that community. 00:40:54.72\00:40:56.75 Now I understand one of the men said something to you, 00:40:56.79\00:41:00.06 share that with us? 00:41:00.09\00:41:01.52 One of the men who had worked with us 00:41:01.56\00:41:03.86 came to me later and he says, 00:41:03.89\00:41:07.10 "I don't know who you are, 00:41:07.13\00:41:08.73 and the people here don't know who you are 00:41:08.76\00:41:11.27 but I have a question. 00:41:11.30\00:41:13.70 You came into this place, 00:41:13.74\00:41:16.34 and within hours you were in charge 00:41:16.37\00:41:20.41 of this whole village. 00:41:20.44\00:41:22.81 How did you do that?" 00:41:22.84\00:41:25.15 And I said, "There's only one answer to that. 00:41:25.18\00:41:28.22 I spent all night, 00:41:28.25\00:41:30.09 walking up and down the road, 00:41:30.12\00:41:32.15 praying that God would open the village 00:41:32.19\00:41:35.22 so that we could serve the people. 00:41:35.26\00:41:37.29 Amen. Amen. 00:41:37.33\00:41:38.86 Julie, tell us what's in the future 00:41:38.89\00:41:40.66 for Mission North? 00:41:40.70\00:41:42.33 Well, it's really exciting. 00:41:42.36\00:41:44.13 This year 00:41:44.17\00:41:45.50 we're going all the way to the top of the Yukon, 00:41:45.53\00:41:47.27 which is way beyond the Arctic Circle. 00:41:47.30\00:41:49.90 And doing some work up there 00:41:49.94\00:41:54.18 and getting to know the people and making friends up in there 00:41:54.21\00:41:57.01 and then coming back down to different communities. 00:41:57.05\00:42:00.08 But we have had opportunity 00:42:00.12\00:42:04.29 to be able to buy a trailer soon. 00:42:04.32\00:42:07.96 And a dentist has offered 00:42:07.99\00:42:10.49 to completely outfit this trailer 00:42:10.53\00:42:13.09 with all the dental equipment. 00:42:13.13\00:42:14.70 So we will have a mobile dental unit 00:42:14.73\00:42:17.27 to give free mobile dental care 00:42:17.30\00:42:20.54 for all of the communities that we can get to by road. 00:42:20.57\00:42:23.57 Amen. 00:42:23.61\00:42:24.94 Now, I understand you just told me today 00:42:24.97\00:42:27.58 that one of the young people 00:42:27.61\00:42:28.94 that was going to be going with you, 00:42:28.98\00:42:31.01 unfortunately is not going to be able to go 00:42:31.05\00:42:32.75 so you have a vacancy? 00:42:32.78\00:42:35.25 I do. 00:42:35.28\00:42:36.62 Unfortunately, one of my young people 00:42:36.65\00:42:39.95 got injured on her job and is not able to come 00:42:39.99\00:42:43.22 and I have a ticket for her to fly with us. 00:42:43.26\00:42:47.50 But she's not able to use it. 00:42:47.53\00:42:48.86 So if there's any young people who would like to come 00:42:48.90\00:42:51.37 up in that northern northern community, 00:42:51.40\00:42:53.84 the elders told one of my friends 00:42:53.87\00:42:57.67 who related it to me, 00:42:57.71\00:42:59.37 there is the end of the world coming very, very soon. 00:42:59.41\00:43:04.65 But we don't know how to prepare. 00:43:04.68\00:43:08.18 What can we do? 00:43:08.22\00:43:10.29 But who has the answer? 00:43:10.32\00:43:11.75 Yes, we do. 00:43:11.79\00:43:13.12 Amen. Thank you very much, Julie. 00:43:13.15\00:43:14.82 We pray that God will be with Mission North 00:43:14.86\00:43:16.59 as you continue to reach the First Nation people. 00:43:16.62\00:43:18.49 Thank you. Thank you. 00:43:18.53\00:43:21.00 Next coming is Radim Passer 00:43:21.03\00:43:24.83 and his contingent from the Czech Republic. 00:43:24.87\00:43:28.20 And Radim has been to ASI many, many times 00:43:28.24\00:43:32.31 and has been really inspired by the Youth for Jesus Program. 00:43:32.34\00:43:35.68 Radim, tell me what inspired you about that 00:43:35.71\00:43:38.05 and that you want it to take it back 00:43:38.08\00:43:39.91 to Czech Republic. 00:43:39.95\00:43:42.42 Good evening ASI. 00:43:42.45\00:43:45.05 I came first time to ASI in 2003 in Albuquerque, 00:43:45.09\00:43:49.32 and I was inspired and motivated 00:43:49.36\00:43:51.76 amongst other by Youth for Jesus Program. 00:43:51.79\00:43:55.16 And it was my dream 00:43:55.20\00:43:56.53 to bring this program to our county. 00:43:56.56\00:43:59.93 2009, we had first Youth for Jesus Program 00:43:59.97\00:44:04.31 in Czechoslovakia. 00:44:04.34\00:44:06.34 So it means this year it was year number 11. 00:44:06.37\00:44:10.08 And we are so grateful to God 00:44:10.11\00:44:11.65 because we have just 10,000 Seventh-day Adventist 00:44:11.68\00:44:16.62 in Czechoslovakian Union, 00:44:16.65\00:44:19.09 but close to 1,000 young people participated 00:44:19.12\00:44:23.36 in all 11 Youth for Jesus program 00:44:23.39\00:44:26.23 and this brings by three ways, 00:44:26.26\00:44:29.66 benefits to God's work in our county. 00:44:29.70\00:44:32.30 First, 00:44:32.33\00:44:33.67 it is a revival of our churches 00:44:33.70\00:44:36.14 of where this program is happening. 00:44:36.17\00:44:39.54 Secondly, 00:44:39.57\00:44:40.98 it's life changing experience for young people. 00:44:41.01\00:44:44.55 Many of them took a decision to be baptized, 00:44:44.58\00:44:48.58 and they're willing to serve the Lord 00:44:48.62\00:44:52.15 for the rest of the life. 00:44:52.19\00:44:54.06 And the third way, 00:44:54.09\00:44:57.36 it is serving to the community. 00:44:57.39\00:44:59.96 To help people to meet Jesus and His word, 00:45:00.00\00:45:04.30 and that's it. 00:45:04.33\00:45:05.67 So I want to talk with these young people 00:45:05.70\00:45:07.24 'cause they've all been involved. 00:45:07.27\00:45:08.84 And first, Tamar, Tammy, 00:45:08.87\00:45:11.71 tell us some what kind of... 00:45:11.74\00:45:14.44 How is Youth for Jesus 00:45:14.48\00:45:15.81 different than some of the other youth programs? 00:45:15.84\00:45:17.28 What kind of impact is it having on you? 00:45:17.31\00:45:19.61 Well, in my opinion, 00:45:19.65\00:45:21.38 what really makes Youth for Jesus program 00:45:21.42\00:45:23.55 stand out amongst the variety of Czechoslovak youth programs 00:45:23.59\00:45:29.12 is actually the spirituality itself. 00:45:29.16\00:45:32.29 You know, most of the young people 00:45:32.33\00:45:35.33 that come to this program, 00:45:35.36\00:45:38.47 they come from families and generations of Adventists, 00:45:38.50\00:45:43.47 and they may have inherited their religion 00:45:43.51\00:45:47.61 but they're actually lacking their own Christian identity. 00:45:47.64\00:45:51.71 So they actually have no idea 00:45:51.75\00:45:54.22 how to transfer this Christian theory 00:45:54.25\00:45:56.99 into their practical everyday lives 00:45:57.02\00:45:59.55 and during the last summer, 00:45:59.59\00:46:01.92 I was able to witness 00:46:01.96\00:46:03.46 how these young people they were being pushed out 00:46:03.49\00:46:06.16 of their comfort zone 00:46:06.19\00:46:07.53 because they had to serve 00:46:07.56\00:46:10.30 and accommodate to strangers individual needs 00:46:10.33\00:46:14.20 and somehow that made them turn 00:46:14.24\00:46:17.04 into being codependent on God Himself 00:46:17.07\00:46:22.44 because I was able to see 00:46:22.48\00:46:24.58 how they were actually reading more of the Bible. 00:46:24.61\00:46:28.35 They were interested more in morning devotionals. 00:46:28.38\00:46:33.42 And that itself is something really incredible. 00:46:33.46\00:46:37.23 And actually, 00:46:37.26\00:46:38.59 at the end of their stay, some of them 00:46:38.63\00:46:41.26 because they tasted the atmosphere of heaven. 00:46:41.30\00:46:45.67 They didn't want to leave. 00:46:45.70\00:46:47.04 So they prolonged their stay, and during the second week, 00:46:47.07\00:46:50.11 we actually had 00:46:50.14\00:46:51.47 the total number of 140 participants in total. 00:46:51.51\00:46:54.98 Amen. Amen. 00:46:55.01\00:46:56.98 Dominika, tell us about the two young boys 00:46:57.01\00:46:59.55 in this picture that we're going to see 00:46:59.58\00:47:01.88 that you have a nice testimony about their experience? 00:47:01.92\00:47:05.32 Yes. 00:47:05.35\00:47:06.69 So in the evening, 00:47:06.72\00:47:08.36 we usually at Youth for Jesus, 00:47:08.39\00:47:09.92 we share our testimonies 00:47:09.96\00:47:11.36 and I heard about these two young boys. 00:47:11.39\00:47:14.20 That other group from other town 00:47:14.23\00:47:16.40 was telling us about 00:47:16.43\00:47:17.77 and I had to know them. 00:47:17.80\00:47:19.87 So these boys, 00:47:19.90\00:47:21.77 they showed up at our health expo, 00:47:21.80\00:47:24.31 and not only that, but they became part of us, 00:47:24.34\00:47:28.34 they became friends 00:47:28.38\00:47:29.71 and they showed up every time we were there. 00:47:29.74\00:47:32.21 And they would help us to hand out booklets, 00:47:32.25\00:47:37.15 invitations, even books to people, 00:47:37.19\00:47:40.29 random people on the street. 00:47:40.32\00:47:42.16 And they themselves, 00:47:42.19\00:47:43.53 they show up even on the presentations, 00:47:43.56\00:47:46.63 they attended them. 00:47:46.66\00:47:48.00 So these presentations, 00:47:48.03\00:47:49.96 they are usually conducted and build up for adults, 00:47:50.00\00:47:53.03 but God decided to send 11 00:47:53.07\00:47:56.57 and 8 years old kids. 00:47:56.60\00:48:01.04 So I don't know what God has in mind, 00:48:01.08\00:48:02.64 but it's something incredible. 00:48:02.68\00:48:05.15 And they are always now messaging us 00:48:05.18\00:48:08.52 like "Where are you? 00:48:08.55\00:48:09.88 What are you doing guys? 00:48:09.92\00:48:11.25 And we miss you." 00:48:11.29\00:48:12.82 And I would like to send... 00:48:12.85\00:48:15.42 I would like to read a message. 00:48:15.46\00:48:17.76 Actually today, one of them, Alex, 00:48:17.79\00:48:21.33 he send us. 00:48:21.36\00:48:22.80 He says "Thank you to all Youth for Jesus 00:48:22.83\00:48:26.00 for the best holiday ever. 00:48:26.03\00:48:29.64 You are kind of people I was waiting for so long. 00:48:29.67\00:48:35.08 I really changed when I was with you. 00:48:35.11\00:48:37.91 Before I was so different 00:48:37.95\00:48:40.18 but when I met you, 00:48:40.22\00:48:41.68 I told myself these are true friends. 00:48:41.72\00:48:45.55 I will never forget you 00:48:45.59\00:48:46.92 and you will always have a place in my heart." 00:48:46.96\00:48:50.33 Amen. Amen. 00:48:50.36\00:48:52.16 Radim Jr., 00:48:52.19\00:48:53.96 so tell us about the experience 00:48:54.00\00:48:56.16 that you had personally as a result of Youth for Jesus. 00:48:56.20\00:48:59.43 I would like to share with you my personal, 00:48:59.47\00:49:02.07 short personal experience with Youth for Jesus. 00:49:02.10\00:49:06.14 I was baptized two years ago 00:49:06.17\00:49:08.74 but there was a big problem. 00:49:08.78\00:49:12.51 After my baptism I started to live without God. 00:49:12.55\00:49:16.72 And I didn't want to be with Him, 00:49:16.75\00:49:20.29 I didn't want to listen to Him. 00:49:20.32\00:49:23.19 This year, when I came to Youth for Jesus, 00:49:23.22\00:49:26.70 it changed my mind and my life. 00:49:26.73\00:49:31.33 And Youth for Jesus brought me back. 00:49:31.37\00:49:36.17 And thanks, I am grateful to God, 00:49:36.20\00:49:38.97 that the connection between Him and me 00:49:39.01\00:49:41.74 is stronger than ever. 00:49:41.78\00:49:43.88 Amen, amen. 00:49:43.91\00:49:46.08 And then Lukas, 00:49:46.11\00:49:47.45 Lukas has a personal experience that actually 00:49:47.48\00:49:50.89 transformed the lives of others as well, Lukas? 00:49:50.92\00:49:53.36 Yeah. 00:49:53.39\00:49:54.72 This year on Youth for Jesus, I got baptized. 00:49:54.76\00:49:58.19 As pastor preach about Philip and eunuch, 00:49:58.23\00:50:02.00 there was one young man 00:50:02.03\00:50:04.97 and he was thinking about being baptized. 00:50:05.00\00:50:09.87 And he was praying when he shall do it. 00:50:09.90\00:50:14.58 After my baptism, 00:50:14.61\00:50:16.44 pastor came to the Miro and asked him, 00:50:16.48\00:50:19.75 what hindered you to be baptized? 00:50:19.78\00:50:22.98 And Miro told him nothing. 00:50:23.02\00:50:26.22 After two weeks, 00:50:26.25\00:50:28.76 Miro and five other people get baptized. 00:50:28.79\00:50:34.20 And when we leave, 00:50:34.23\00:50:36.46 some other people asked me 00:50:36.50\00:50:39.03 what they shall to do to be baptized? 00:50:39.07\00:50:42.37 Praise the Lord. 00:50:42.40\00:50:44.01 Amen. 00:50:44.04\00:50:45.37 So Youth for Jesus 00:50:45.41\00:50:46.74 ASI is affecting lives everywhere, 00:50:46.78\00:50:48.71 not just here in the States, 00:50:48.74\00:50:50.08 but also in Czech Republic and Slovakia. 00:50:50.11\00:50:52.21 Thank you. 00:50:52.25\00:50:53.58 I remember when I went to my first ASI Convention, 00:50:56.15\00:50:59.52 I actually didn't have any idea what ASI even was. 00:50:59.55\00:51:03.56 I only went because I had a friend 00:51:03.59\00:51:05.56 that was going who invited me. 00:51:05.59\00:51:07.96 But when I went to ASI, 00:51:08.00\00:51:09.50 it opened my eyes to a world that I didn't know existed. 00:51:09.53\00:51:13.90 To be honest, 00:51:13.94\00:51:15.27 I didn't know that there were all these ministries, 00:51:15.30\00:51:18.01 all of these people just doing these different things 00:51:18.04\00:51:20.18 for the Lord. 00:51:20.21\00:51:21.54 And it made a strong impact on my life. 00:51:21.58\00:51:24.08 In fact, I can trace 00:51:24.11\00:51:26.35 my first desires to go into doing more ministry 00:51:26.38\00:51:30.22 for God to seeing at ASI 00:51:30.25\00:51:32.89 and people that I met who are working with ASI, 00:51:32.92\00:51:36.02 working with the Youth for Jesus programs, 00:51:36.06\00:51:38.39 and other things like that, 00:51:38.43\00:51:39.76 that I would have had no idea about, 00:51:39.79\00:51:42.33 had it not been for ASI. 00:51:42.36\00:51:44.93 I sense a need in our church 00:51:44.97\00:51:49.17 for a way that people can come together. 00:51:49.20\00:51:52.04 For a place to belong in the church. 00:51:52.07\00:51:54.31 I feel like sometimes it gets portrayed 00:51:54.34\00:51:57.68 like the epitome of Adventism 00:51:57.71\00:51:59.58 is going to church and paying tithe 00:51:59.61\00:52:02.18 and maybe participating in outreach sometime. 00:52:02.22\00:52:05.65 But in my personal experience, it's so much more than that. 00:52:05.69\00:52:08.39 And there are so many of us 00:52:08.42\00:52:09.76 that are striving in our daily lives 00:52:09.79\00:52:11.49 to do things for the Lord, 00:52:11.53\00:52:12.86 but where do we fit? 00:52:12.89\00:52:14.70 Where do we come together? 00:52:14.73\00:52:16.06 I mean, how do we get re-inspired 00:52:16.10\00:52:19.23 and networked 00:52:19.27\00:52:20.60 and get the support that we need. 00:52:20.64\00:52:22.50 And I see that as a huge need. 00:52:22.54\00:52:25.67 I see that as something that 00:52:25.71\00:52:27.24 if we could really form that kind of network 00:52:27.28\00:52:29.64 and do this together, 00:52:29.68\00:52:31.38 that all of us could benefit, 00:52:31.41\00:52:33.38 that all of us could grow and feel like, 00:52:33.42\00:52:36.72 we mean something in the church. 00:52:36.75\00:52:38.75 Like we have a purpose, we have a place in the church. 00:52:38.79\00:52:41.72 And that God is going to really be able to use... 00:52:41.76\00:52:46.23 Yeah, not just the pastors, not just the elders, 00:52:46.26\00:52:49.40 but those of us in everyday life 00:52:49.43\00:52:52.30 to do something for Him. 00:52:52.33\00:52:53.67