Participants:
Series Code: AWR
Program Code: AWR360009A
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00:01 Adventist World Radio
00:02 is proclaiming Jesus' soon return 00:05 all over this world. 00:07 Follow along as I am travelling 00:09 to uncover the incredible stories of lives transformed 00:12 through the airwaves. 00:14 From the dangerous red zone in Madagascar 00:17 to terrorists in the Philippines, 00:19 the three angels' messages are encircling our globe. 00:23 Madagascar is one of the poorest countries 00:26 in southern Africa. 00:27 But despite this in 1996, 00:30 church leaders managed to step out in faith 00:33 to establish one of the very first 00:36 Seventh-day Adventist FM stations in Africa. 00:39 Today, there are more than 22 FM stations 00:43 covering the urban areas 00:45 and this combined with two hours 00:47 of daily shortwave broadcast. 00:49 This has triggered the birth of over 40 churches 00:53 with just a handful of paid staff 00:56 and the hundreds of committed volunteers, 00:58 God is using AWR in a mighty way 01:02 to proclaim the good news of Jesus' love 01:05 and His soon coming. 01:07 I am in Madagascar and this is AWR360°. 01:29 I used to hate the Adventists. 01:34 If they had evangelistic series, 01:36 I would throw stones on the roof. 01:50 One day Tisholavo watched as many beautiful young ladies 01:54 walked into the Adventist meetings, 01:56 an idea popped into his head. 01:58 I need a good wife he thought, maybe I can find one here. 02:07 He entered the meeting and sitting in the back 02:10 surveyed his options. 02:12 One girl stood out to him. 02:13 And after the meeting, he introduced himself. 02:18 I didn't tell her about my bad past 02:20 and I started praying to impress her. 02:23 We were married soon after, but instead of marriage 02:27 and a beautiful wife fixing my problems, 02:29 things got worse. 02:31 Tisholavo had a criminal record which caught up to him 02:35 and after being found guilty of murder, 02:38 he was placed on the most wanted list, 02:41 realizing his situation, 02:43 Tisholavo fled to a remote forest. 02:52 He lived here for four years. 02:58 I was living like an animal in the woods. 03:01 I had made a mess of my life 03:03 and felt like there was no hope for me. 03:09 Like the prodigal son, 03:10 who realized he had nothing to lose, 03:12 Tisholavo ventured out of the forest, 03:15 knowing his family had surely abandoned him, 03:17 he went to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 03:20 An elder met him and assured Tisholavo 03:22 that his place was in the church, 03:24 and he was always welcome. 03:27 These words brought a glimmer of hope to his heart. 03:31 Though the church elder was very welcoming, 03:34 the other members avoided me. 03:36 My past began to haunt me again and in fear, 03:40 I returned to the woods. 03:48 But this time, 03:49 Tisholavo took something with him to the woods, 03:53 a radio. 03:56 This was his only connection to the outside world. 03:59 And he listened eagerly to different programs. 04:11 One day, he stumbled across an AWR broadcast. 04:16 The word stirred his soul 04:18 and he became to fall in love with the Jesus 04:21 who would forgive a sinner like him. 04:28 Excited about his new friend Jesus, 04:30 Tisholavo began inviting other thieves and criminals 04:33 in the area to come and hear the AWR programs too. 04:38 Convinced of their salvation through the blood of Jesus, 04:41 Tisholavo and 15 other ex-criminals 04:45 came out of the woods and were baptized 04:47 into the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 04:52 Together with my friends who were once thieves, 04:55 we built a church 04:57 where we all worshiped together on Sabbath. 05:04 Today, Tisholavo also leads out in a small group study 05:07 where they listen to AWR programs 05:10 and pray together. 05:15 Tisholavo preaches like John the Baptist, 05:17 wherever he goes and he's often called apostle 05:21 by those who know him. 05:24 AWR changed my life. 05:27 Through it, I found forgiveness and hope. 05:51 As Christians, our family is much larger 05:53 than our immediate biological family. 05:55 In fact, we have brothers and sisters 05:57 that live in more than 200 countries 05:59 all around the world. 06:03 We want to remember them in our state plan. 06:06 We can help you with that process. 06:07 Just call 800-337-4279 06:11 toll free or log on to awr.org. 06:19 Adventist World Radio has been broadcasting 06:21 God's last day message to the unreached people groups 06:25 of the world in their own languages 06:27 from its very beginning. 06:29 AWR began 48 years ago in 1971. 06:32 And our mission and vision 06:34 have grown beyond all expectations. 06:38 I believe Jesus is coming very, very soon 06:41 and all God's people must take part 06:42 in spreading the gospel all around the world, 06:45 all around this old ball of mud. 06:47 Our expanded focus of AWR360° broadcast to baptism 06:51 reaches people not only through the radio, 06:54 but also through most media platforms, 06:56 cell phone evangelism and mobile medical clinics. 07:00 Now incredible results are happening 07:01 all over the world 07:03 because of this enhanced direction 07:04 which by the way was the dream of Allen Steele, 07:07 the founder of Adventist World Radio. 07:10 One of those meetings took place one year ago 07:13 on the island of Mindoro in the Philippines. 07:16 Along with the broadcast, many meetings took place 07:19 and more than 2,000 were baptized. 07:22 Then soon after over 77 new villages 07:26 turned their lives over to the Lord 07:28 as the layman radio hosts kept preaching. 07:31 But then some of the new listeners 07:33 made a surprise visit 07:34 to one of our AWR radio broadcasters, Robert Dulay. 07:40 As he was biking home one day, 07:42 he saw four strangers at his front door. 07:46 They told him they were rebels. 07:49 On March 29, 1969 07:52 the New People's Army was formed. 07:54 Armed with weapons, 07:56 they gradually infiltrated the country. 07:59 Their goals have been to overthrow the government 08:02 and establish a Maoist style communist regime. 08:07 They regularly ambushed police and military forces. 08:11 Are these men and women to be feared for the brutality 08:14 to be rejected and abandoned? 08:17 Or is God calling His faithful 08:19 to go out into the highways and byways to preach there too. 08:23 They pleaded with us to send someone 08:25 to the village to preach. 08:27 As they had been listening to the radio 08:29 and wanted to know more about Jesus. 08:32 It is now four months later, 08:34 AWR360° is heading to the forbidden mountain area 08:38 in the midst of where these rebels live. 08:42 Where Jesus went, He often healed those around Him. 08:45 In like manner, we are bringing in a team of medical laymen 08:49 who are committed to following God's healing message 08:51 across the Philippines. 08:54 Helping take the medical supplies 08:55 to the staging point is the Philippine military, 08:58 the Fourth Division Scorpion unit. 09:01 Seeing the good work that AWR has done 09:03 in reaching the rebel soldiers, 09:05 they put forth their full support 09:07 of what we are doing. 09:09 They load the supplies and before we head out, 09:11 we have a prayer, AWR, 09:14 the medical laymen and the military, 09:17 all praying hand in hand to our God 09:20 for His blessing in what we're about to do. 09:23 Finally, after a long and difficult drive, 09:26 we reached the staging point. 09:28 As we wait, we noticed many porters 09:30 coming down the trail. 09:32 They will help carry the supplies 09:34 the rest of the way up the mountain. 09:36 This will be a long trip with a very heavy load. 09:40 Some of the porters are members of the rebel group. 09:44 Once again we have a prayer 09:46 and then the supplies are loaded 09:48 for the journey ahead. 09:50 We say goodbye to the laymen and the villagers 09:52 as they make their way up the trail. 09:55 It will be a tiresome trek through the jungles, 09:57 rivers, and mud. 10:00 It will take at least eight hours 10:02 for some to reach the village. 10:04 For others it will be an overnight walk. 10:09 The next morning we board a small mission helicopter 10:12 and it takes us to the top of the mountain. 10:15 I smile as I relive God's miracles 10:18 in how He reached 10:19 the rebellious militant minded soldiers 10:22 that we were about to meet face-to-face. 10:26 As the helicopter comes to a halt, 10:28 I look at the crowd gathered before us. 10:30 They are lit with smiles. 10:33 We are welcomed and the natives eagerly give us a tour. 10:36 It's amazing to see how these precious people live. 10:40 Then I sit down with Efren, 10:42 the first one who started listening to AWR. 10:47 My life was always on edge. 10:50 I did many things I would rather not talk about, 10:53 but one day as I was listening to the radio, 10:57 something different came on. 10:59 It was AWR's Health Program. 11:03 As I listened, 11:04 I discovered that these people were helping many 11:06 with their health problems. 11:08 They also talked about the supreme healer, 11:10 one whose life was devoted to others rather than himself. 11:15 This thought appealed to him 11:17 and he felt the need to share it with others. 11:20 Then he began to wonder, who are these people 11:23 who are sharing this loving message? 11:26 He knew he had to find out for himself. 11:29 I had to know more. 11:31 So I sought out the speaker of this program. 11:34 I sent fellow members of my unit to invite him 11:37 to the mountaintop. 11:39 The road they took down many times 11:42 had been used to hurt or injured, 11:44 but this time it was different. 11:47 My friends asked him, 11:49 "Please, come preach to us in the mountains." 12:03 As they met, a friend shared 12:06 how he has a desire to learn more about Jesus 12:10 and AWR360° was happy to oblige. 12:14 Many laymen pastors 12:16 also climbed the mountain to preach. 12:19 And soon many new rebels heard about God 12:22 through the radio and Bible studies. 12:26 And they too have a need to share it with others. 12:31 And then the day came when Efren himself 12:33 walk down the mountain with one final request. 12:39 I want to be baptized and so do many others. 12:44 And so on top of this once dangerous mountain, 12:48 laymen doctors healed those who were sick 12:51 and the mouths were cleaned by the volunteer dentists. 12:55 Our AWR360° team spoke with many villagers 13:00 and prayed with many more. 13:02 Additional rebels arrived 13:04 because they were interested in witnessing 13:07 what was going on. 13:09 Our team preached to them and then it was time to baptize 13:12 those who had made their decision for Christ. 13:16 It was a joyous walk to the baptismal site. 13:19 And I believe all of heaven was rejoicing with us 13:23 as we watch Pastor McKey baptized 13:26 five rebel generals along with 60 other soldiers. 13:32 These men who were once killers in the land 13:35 have now die to self. 13:37 They have laid down their earthly weapons 13:39 and exchange them for a heavenly reward. 13:44 What I witness today was truly a miracle. 13:48 In one of the most dangerous places on earth, 13:51 Adventist World Radio boldly went forth, 13:54 so yearning ears could hear the mercy 13:57 and forgiveness of Jesus. 13:59 Lives were changed for eternity. 14:02 And now many more have a new hope of heaven forever 14:06 and this is only the beginning. 14:15 Travel with me from the war torn mountains 14:17 in the Philippines, 14:18 to the island of Okinawa, 14:20 to witness how one man's loyalty to God is tested 14:24 under extreme circumstances. 14:32 I am in Japan standing on Hacksaw Ridge. 14:37 This is where the true story of Desmond Doss, 14:40 a Seventh-day Adventist stood boldly for God 14:43 and his convictions. 14:45 He was here in Okinawa 14:46 during the bloodiest battle of World War II 14:49 and saved 75 men without firing or carrying a gun. 14:54 As an army medic, 14:55 he singlehandedly evacuated the wounded 14:58 from behind enemy lines. 15:00 Braved fire while attending to the soldiers 15:02 and was even wounded by a grenade. 15:04 But God preserved his life. 15:07 Desmond was loyal to God 15:09 and is a witness to the whole world. 15:12 What is more important than being loyal to our Redeemer? 15:15 All through the ages, God has had moral heroes, 15:18 and he has them now. 15:20 Just like Desmond Doss, 15:22 AWR listeners from around the world 15:24 are taking their stand for Jesus at all costs, 15:28 even at the risk of their own life. 15:30 We must stand up for all God's truth 15:33 and live a life of prayer, Bible study 15:35 and witnessing to others. 15:37 Friends, we need a generation of believers 15:40 who are not ashamed of the gospel, 15:42 an army of believers that hate to be lukewarm 15:45 and will stand on God's Holy Word above all else. 15:48 Friends, we need to learn to fight on our knees. 15:51 There is limitless power in prayer. 15:54 Only the Lord knows 15:55 how many countless lives have been touched 15:58 by the testimony of Desmond Doss 16:00 and the testimonies of AWR listeners. 16:03 You too can make an eternal impact on lives today. 16:07 The Holy Spirit is ready to work through you, just ask. 16:11 I welcome you to our website awr.org 16:15 where you can read miracle stories 16:16 and watch more testimonial videos. 16:19 My friends, remember 16:21 that those who stand for Jesus in these last days, 16:25 He will stand for you in the courts of heaven. 16:27 Just like Desmond's prayer, 16:29 let us each pray please, Lord, 16:32 give us just one more. 16:34 Just one more. 16:39 Now let's travel together to Argentina to witness 16:42 how the Holy Spirit used an AWR broadcast 16:45 to save a man in his darkest hour. 16:50 Adventist World Radio is in Argentina. 16:53 With our many radio stations, 16:54 the message of the Lord is going out. 16:57 And because of the broadcast many churches have started 17:00 thanks to this ministry. 17:05 Sometimes the people discover the radio, 17:07 thanks to a friend. 17:09 Other times it is thanks to godly people 17:11 passing out flyers on how to listen to AWR. 17:15 Today we are in Rosario, 17:17 a city with no shortage of people needing God. 17:23 I am here to meet German. 17:25 As we greeted each other, he began to tell me his story. 17:33 I have many regrets about my past, 17:36 opportunities wasted, relationships broken. 17:40 I know the Lord was trying to call me 17:42 but I just didn't listen. 17:45 German lived a life of earthly pleasures, 17:48 a man of the world. 17:50 He has had multiple marriages and many girlfriends, 17:54 but then he started to date someone different. 17:59 She called herself an Adventist. 18:02 She was different from all the other girls 18:04 I dated. 18:07 She even got him to go to church. 18:13 But then, he did something he would regret. 18:19 He didn't speak to us about what happened, 18:21 but I could see his pain. 18:25 He turned his back on God and went back to the world, 18:29 hoping to block out his regret. 18:32 Life was empty, 18:33 and I felt the worst I had ever felt in my life. 18:38 At work the darkness 18:40 brought back all the bad memories. 18:45 But even in the darkness, God can bring light. 18:54 While on a break at work, 18:56 he decided to listen to the radio. 19:00 As I was tuning, I stopped at a channel 19:03 I never heard before. 19:06 It was AWR Radio. 19:09 And as the music filled the room, 19:10 it also filled his soul. 19:12 He continued to listen day after day, 19:15 and he began to feel Christ's love for him. 19:18 Light was entering his heart. 19:23 I started to see that Jesus had forgiven me. 19:30 Back at home, he started studying his Bible. 19:34 Each passage gave him strength 19:36 to believe his past was forgiven. 19:42 German wanted to know more. 19:50 He went to a local Adventist Church 19:51 requesting Bible studies. 19:55 He was falling in love with Christ, 19:58 and he knew he had to share this message. 20:03 I couldn't stay silent, 20:05 the love of Christ had to be shared to others. 20:11 Even as he was still studying the lessons himself, 20:14 German invited his sister and niece to study with him. 20:18 And soon both he and his sister were baptized 20:20 into the Adventist Church. 20:24 Words cannot express how thankful I am to AWR. 20:29 I am in the church today, thanks to this ministry. 20:34 It is testimonies like these 20:35 that make me grateful for the work of AWR. 20:43 So many people living in darkness 20:46 are searching for hope and truth. 20:48 God is using AWR to light their path. 20:52 Together with your support, 20:54 the gospel is being spread around this world 20:56 like beacons of light, no walls, no borders, 20:59 no limits. 21:01 This is AWR360°. 21:18 I grew up in Indiana 21:19 and I've been a farmer all my life. 21:22 My father every time we plant a field, 21:26 when we got through we'd always kneel down 21:27 and have prayers. 21:29 We've done our part, now the Lord will do His. 21:31 And He always comes through. 21:37 After praying about it, 21:39 my wife and I decided to do a gift annuity 21:41 through Adventist World Radio. 21:44 It goes to people that normally is not going to hear 21:48 and that's what our three angels' message 21:51 is all about to every nation, 21:53 kindred, tongue and people. 21:56 When you're a farmer, 21:58 you don't have a retirement plan. 22:00 It was a good way to supplement our retirement. 22:03 It's been a blessing to us. 22:05 And I know it's going to be a blessing 22:07 to those others around the world. 22:15 The Holy Spirit is being poured out all over Madagascar, 22:19 and I am returning to witness 22:21 how the radio is the pioneer of pioneers 22:24 in the most dangerous part of this country. 22:30 Isolated in the Indian Ocean, 22:32 80% of all the animal and plant species 22:35 on this island are found nowhere else in the world. 22:39 From its towering Baobab trees in the desert, 22:41 to the dense rain forest jungles, 22:43 this is a land of wonder. 22:48 Come with me as I discover 22:49 how AWR is reaching 22:51 into the most dangerous part of this country. 22:54 I'm in Madagascar, and this is AWR360°. 23:01 There are three things they hate, cars, military, 23:08 and well dressed people. 23:10 They kill when they see these things. 23:19 They are taught from a young age, 23:22 how to steal cows. 23:25 When they get older, all they do is drink alcohol, 23:29 and steal and kill. 23:33 They are called Dahalo, 23:36 which means bandits in the Malagasy language. 23:49 Who are these Dahalo 23:50 and what the cow thieves have to do with AWR? 23:53 I'm on a journey to find out. 23:57 I am here in Madagascar with Ray Allen, 24:00 one of our vice presidents. 24:02 As we travel, I have learned 24:03 that nearly one-third of this country 24:06 is locally referred to as red zones. 24:09 This amounts to an area the size of South Dakota, 24:12 where the government exerts little or no control 24:16 and where banditry thrives. 24:19 Stricken by poverty, 24:20 the majority of the population in Madagascar 24:22 live on less than $1 a day. 24:27 Deprivation drives theft and the stealing of cows 24:30 and illegal exploitation of natural resources 24:33 is the pulse of the culture in these areas. 24:36 This makes them extremely dangerous 24:38 and difficult for the outside world to reach. 24:44 A Seventh-day Adventist couple named Andrea and Rashu 24:47 are bravely working to share the gospel 24:50 in these remote and dangerous areas. 24:53 Both are nurses 24:54 and through their medical treatment 24:56 of all people including the Dahalo, 24:59 they have influenced in a region 25:01 that many others do not. 25:06 One Sabbath we traveled to a distant village 25:09 and we're surprised to find a group of people 25:13 worshiping together and praising God. 25:20 We have never seen this before and started to ask questions. 25:26 Andrea and Rashu have found out that many years ago 25:29 the group leader discovered an AWR broadcast. 25:41 Fascinated by what he heard, 25:42 he continued listening and soon organized a little group 25:46 that began meeting every Sabbath. 25:48 That group has grown 25:50 and though they have never seen another Adventist met a pastor 25:54 or been to a church before, 25:56 they sing together and teach the truth 25:59 they have heard from the radio. 26:02 And what's more, 26:04 the leader is a converted Dahalo cow thief. 26:10 We could hardly believe 26:11 what we were seeing and hearing. 26:14 Truly, miracles are happening through the radio. 26:26 Isn't God amazing? 26:27 I love what a district pastor here told us. 26:30 He said that he views the radio as the pioneer of pioneers 26:35 in these distant and difficult to reach areas. 26:39 So what do Dahalo and cow thieves 26:41 have to do with AWR? 26:43 They are people whose lives are being touched 26:45 and transformed by Jesus 26:47 and the truth heard on the radio. 26:56 We know there are other stories that have not yet been heard. 27:00 Other Sabbath keeping groups meeting 27:01 unknown to the outside world, 27:04 other cow thieves yearning for truth. 27:07 Thank you for supporting Adventist World Radio 27:10 and helping the good news of salvation penetrate 27:13 into the dark corners of the globe. 27:18 I can't wait for heaven 27:19 to hear more stories like these. 27:22 Together we are making waves, from broadcast to baptism. 27:26 Until next time, this is AWR360°. |
Revised 2020-02-21