Participants: Gary Krause (Host), Ricky Oliveras, Terri Saelee
Series Code: GMS
Program Code: GMS000002
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00:07 I am Dan Weber the video producer
00:09 of the Office of Adventist Mission. 00:11 I am in Chiclayo, Peru and we've come here 00:13 to take a look at the church planting. 00:15 This is a town of over 10,000 people 00:17 but because of the church planting the small groups here 00:20 they are now 150 small churches 00:22 that have sprung up in this area. 00:24 Welcome to Global Mission Snapshots 00:26 where we take you to the frontline of mission. 00:32 Just before He went up to heaven 00:35 Jesus gave us a command. 00:38 He gave us a mission. 00:41 Jesus said "Go, go unto all the world 00:45 telling them of His love." 00:48 This is our mission, this is our Global Mission. 00:58 Hello, I am Gary Krause 00:59 and welcome to the Global Mission Snapshots 01:01 where we visit frontline mission around the world. 01:05 When Global Mission began more than 20 years ago 01:08 it focused the church on the most unreached people groups 01:12 and areas of the world 01:14 and that still our only focus. 01:17 But sometimes we forget that many of these groups 01:19 are right in our own front yard. 01:22 Today we will be talking with Terri Saelee, 01:24 Refugee and Immigrant Ministries coordinator 01:27 for the Adventist church in North America. 01:30 Terri spent several years with refugees in Thailand. 01:33 Today she and her husband are working with refugees 01:36 and immigrant groups right here. 01:39 We'll also be visiting South America 01:41 and we'll meet an inspiring little girl 01:44 sharing her faith with her friends on the Amazon River. 01:47 But first let's visit Southeast Asia 01:50 and the country of Malaysia 01:52 where Global Mission Pioneers are sharing Jesus love 01:55 among the lone houses. 01:58 In 1963 Pacific Press 02:01 published the book Nyla and the White Crocodile. 02:05 The book tells the story of a young girl 02:07 who lived along at the Tatau River in Sarawak Borneo. 02:11 Written by a missionary, 02:12 it tells the story of early attempts 02:14 to spread the gospel among the Dayak tribes 02:17 and the people who overcame superstition 02:20 and fear to live new lives in Jesus. 02:23 Today these same tribes 02:25 still live along the waters of the Tatua River. 02:28 For many their lives haven't change much 02:31 since the first Adventist missionaries 02:33 traveled up to this river more than 75 years ago. 02:37 Many of them still live in fear of spirits. 02:40 We still need to share the message of the gospel 02:42 with these beautiful people. 02:44 Time may have passed, 02:46 but some things haven't changed. 02:50 Sarawak located on the island of Borneo in Southeastern Asia 02:54 is home to more than 2.5 millions people. 02:58 The majority of their population belongs to the Dayak Iban tribe. 03:03 Many of them still live in traditional long houses. 03:06 These communal buildings provide a safe 03:09 and secure environment for the tribe's people. 03:12 They work together in small open spaces in the jungle 03:15 growing produce that they can sell in the local markets. 03:19 They fish the rivers and tap the rubber trees 03:22 that are plentiful in the dense jungles. 03:25 All of their shared activities 03:27 create a strong tightly knit family environment. 03:30 Outsiders are welcome 03:32 as long as they're willing to take part in the work 03:34 and become part of the family. 03:37 Recently the Adventist church 03:39 sent Global Mission Pioneer's to live and work 03:42 among the people of long houses. 03:45 These dedicated young people are devoting a year or more 03:48 of their lives to help spread the gospel 03:50 among the Iban people. 03:52 They become part of the community 03:54 and work to help better the lives of their new family. 03:57 They work with the members of the long house 03:59 and come to know them as friends. 04:02 They're welcomed and allowed to become 04:04 part of the long house family. 04:06 Eventually they are trusted 04:08 and have opportunities to share the gospel. 04:11 They hold Bible studies and introduce Jesus to people 04:14 who are excited to learn 04:16 about the God who loves them 04:18 and wants to change their lives for the better. 04:22 The Dayak people live simple lives. 04:25 They live off at Jungle 04:27 and their culture is based on their environment. 04:30 They are animists and live in fear of the spirit world. 04:34 Their whole world is guided by the omens and signs 04:37 that are common place in the jungle. 04:40 When they become Christians they lead a new life 04:43 free of the fears of their past. 04:46 They live in peace. 04:49 The Global Mission Pioneers 04:51 who live and work in the long houses 04:53 have proven to be very successful. 04:56 It's common to have 04:57 more than 50% of the long houses inhabitants 04:59 decide to join the church after a year's time. 05:03 A single Global Mission Pioneer can often reach out 05:07 to two or three long houses in a year. 05:11 After decision has been made to follow Jesus 05:14 a local pastor will come and hold Evangelistic meetings. 05:18 After the meetings the baptismal services held in a local river. 05:22 Often members of the long house 05:24 will line the edges of the river to watch the baptismal service. 05:29 Thanks to your mission offerings and support of Global Mission 05:33 lives are being changed in Sarawak. 05:36 Jesus calls us to spread the gospel to all the world. 05:40 The Global Mission focuses on the unreached areas of the world 05:43 that are proven to be difficult places to work. 05:47 By using local members 05:49 who are familiar with the local culture and customs 05:52 Global Mission is able to reach out 05:54 to people in these unreached areas. 05:58 Thank you for your support and prayers for Global Mission. 06:02 Please pray for the thousands of pioneers all over the world 06:06 who have dedicated their lives 06:07 to sharing God's love in tough and trying circumstances. 06:12 Thank you for helping to tell the world about Jesus. 06:27 Well, from the long houses of Malaysia 06:30 we now travel to the refugees camps of Thailand. 06:33 And my guest is Terri Saelee. 06:35 Thank you, Terri, for joining us today. 06:37 It's a privileged to be here. 06:38 Now you head up Immigrants and Refugee Ministries 06:41 for the Adventist Church in North America. 06:43 What does that mean? 06:45 Well, first of all it means helping us 06:48 to be aware of who refugees are, 06:50 why they are here 06:52 and then facilitating ministries through them. 06:55 And that involve so much there are so many needs, 06:59 but they are so eager to hear the gospel. 07:01 So if we can find someone 07:03 who can speak their language, who already believes in God, 07:07 the word spreads like wildfire. 07:08 And when they discover a relationship with Jesus 07:13 they can't help to share it and it just spread. 07:16 Yeah, now when did you start 07:19 your interest in these people goods? 07:23 Well, I was not aware of refugees 07:27 until I was a student at Union College 07:30 and on the bulletin board I saw a little notice 07:34 looking for people with cars 07:35 who would be willing to take Cambodian refugees 07:39 to the worship service in their language. 07:43 Dr. Beatrice Neal and Elder Raphael 07:48 were doing out-- 07:50 they had been missionaries in Cambodia 07:52 and they were doing a worship service 07:56 for Cambodian refugees there. 07:58 And so well, I have a car and free on Sabbath afternoons 08:01 so I signed up and that was 08:04 my first experience with refugees. 08:07 I went to pick up these families and the children. 08:10 They were so excited they come running out 08:13 barefooted in the snow 08:16 and that was my first contact. 08:18 And when it wasn't-- 08:19 actually it was test week of that year. 08:23 I felt impressed to call 08:26 that vice president of the college at that time 08:28 whose now actually president of Union College 08:33 Dr. John Wagner. 08:35 I felt impressed to call him on a totally unrelated topic 08:40 and he said, well, I have you on the phone 08:41 of you have you ever thought of overseas service. 08:44 And I said, well, I had 08:47 because friends wanted me to be a student missionary, 08:49 but I council with people prayed about it 08:52 and felt that I should wait a little while. 08:57 So, but he said, would you be willing to come 09:00 to my office and talk about it. 09:01 And when he told me about refugees 09:03 and they brought people from Vietnam 09:07 I just knew that this was a call from God. 09:11 And I didn't say so then I said I'll pray about it. 09:15 But God showed me through all kinds of little providences 09:19 that this was His will. 09:21 And so you went as a volunteer to where? 09:24 I went to work in the refugee camps in Thailand. 09:29 There are several but I work primarily initially in Ubon. 09:33 I went for six months ended of staying four years. 09:38 It was a life changing experience. 09:40 Okay, now life changing in what way? 09:43 Some how working with people who are less fortunate, 09:46 who have been through so much and yet are so cheerful 09:51 and happy and humble and respectful and appreciative 09:57 it just can't help but changing their life. 09:59 And I remember one experience 10:01 a young man about 17 said, can I share my story with you 10:05 and that was a treat because on another occasion 10:09 I was teaching English and Bible. 10:12 In the English class I taught, you know, I really don't know 10:14 what these people have been thorough really. 10:17 So I'm just gonna dedicate a class to talking about it. 10:19 And so as introduced him and I said so tell me 10:22 why did you leave your home country? 10:25 And they started laughing. 10:28 And I was puzzled and a young man 10:30 who was kind of the spokesman for the group 10:33 spoke up and he said we're laughing so we don't cry. 10:36 And I realized that wasn't a class time topic, 10:41 but it was a treat on occasion 10:45 when individuals willing to share their story. 10:48 And this young man said, 10:50 I was ten and my sister was seven 10:53 when the communist officials for the new government 10:58 came captured my parents 10:59 who had good jobs in the government 11:01 in the capital city of Laos 11:03 and I knew I was the man at the house now 11:08 and I had to take care of my sister. 11:10 And so I thought what can I do 11:11 and he realized well, we have a bathtub 11:15 which most people in our country don't have. 11:17 I can maybe use that to raise fish 11:19 to sell at the market and care for my sister. 11:23 Well, he tried his best 11:24 but he realized that it wasn't enough 11:28 and so they found someone willing 11:30 to take them across the Mekong River. 11:33 They left the car parked in the driveway 11:35 good home and he said, I've never seen my parents again, 11:38 I haven't heard, I don't know if they are dead or alive, 11:41 I don't know if I'll ever see them again, 11:43 but I'm so glad that communism came into my country. 11:48 And my mouth must have dropped open 11:50 because I couldn't imagine losing my parents 11:53 and being glad that for the circumstances 11:57 the caused it and he said, 12:00 because if communism had not come into my country 12:03 I never would have learned about God. 12:09 That taught me has nothing else 12:12 how much it means to these people to learn 12:15 about the heavenly Father, 12:17 to be able to have a relationship with Him. 12:19 And that just gave everything I had been doing more meaning 12:24 and that was one of many little things God used till later 12:29 impress me that that should be my life work. 12:33 Thank you, Terri. 12:34 Now for people who are interested 12:37 to learn more about the ministry 12:39 here in North America maybe how they can be involve 12:41 is there a website that they can go to for more information? 12:44 Yes, refugeeministries.org. 12:46 refugeeministries.org. Fantastic. 12:49 Thank you so much for joining today, Terri. 12:51 It's been a privilege thank you. 12:53 And please do take the time 12:55 to look up the website refugeeministries.org 12:59 to find out what is happening 13:00 in ministry to refugees and immigrant peoples 13:04 and also to see how you can personally be involve. 13:07 I read some statistics recently 13:10 that said that 88% of Hindus in North America 13:14 say I don't know even one Christian, 13:18 88%, 64% of Buddhists living in North America 13:24 say I don't know even one Christian, 13:27 32% of Muslims say exactly the same thing. 13:32 So we you see these people in our communities, 13:34 sometimes they drive us in taxi cabs, 13:36 they serve us in restaurants, 13:37 we bump into them in the street, 13:40 but this almost like they are invisible 13:41 to Christians in this country and around the world. 13:45 But God calls us to ministry 13:47 to the least of these 13:49 to people who He cares so much about. 13:51 Next stop let's travel just a little bit further 13:54 from Thailand to Cambodia. 14:06 These are the streets of the Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 14:10 a rough place to live 14:12 especially for young immigrant children. 14:15 The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Cambodia 14:17 is striving to make a difference among these desolate children 14:22 when no one else not even their parents seem to care. 14:26 Street children are often sold into the underground sex trade 14:30 to help pay off their parents gambling debts. 14:33 Without intervention they face a grim future. 14:38 The Adventist church is trying to give them hope, 14:41 trying to change their lives. 14:44 There are street children 14:48 even though they had parents at home, 14:50 but they don't stay at home they all the time on the street. 14:54 The majority of these children are from families 14:57 who have emigrated from Vietnam. 14:59 Neither they nor their parents 15:01 have the ability to read or write. 15:03 Pastor Khan and his small staff work hard 15:06 to help provide even the most basic academic skills 15:10 to these street children. 15:11 The Vietnamese community has embraced the school 15:14 and its efforts to educate their children. 15:17 They have even taken to calling yet the Life Changing School. 15:21 The school has shown dramatic growth since it starts. 15:25 Besides traditional academic subjects 15:27 the school teaches children life skills 15:30 that they can use to help them 15:31 gain employment when they grow up. 15:34 The children here are touched 15:35 by the Adventist church understand the precious gift 15:38 that has been given to them. 15:40 The children said up 15:41 we really need the school to be here, 15:43 to keep us here, to help us to learn 15:47 and to learn a job and to protect us. 15:51 When Jesus Christ was here on earth 15:53 He ministered to people by meeting their needs. 15:56 As Christians, we are called to follow His example 16:00 and to better the lives of those around us. 16:04 Thank you for your support of mission. 16:06 Thank you for your prayers 16:08 for those who need to be reached 16:10 with the message of hope in Jesus. 16:18 My Guest is Ricky Oliveras, 16:20 who is the newest member of the Adventist Mission team 16:23 at the world headquarters of the Adventist Church. 16:26 Ricky, you are a video producer 16:29 and you get to see 16:31 some very interesting mission stories around the world. 16:33 Yeah, so far I've had my-- the opportunity 16:36 to visit the South America Division 16:38 which was my first trip with Adventist Mission 16:41 and it was a very interesting trip. 16:43 Yeah, now you went to Peru, 16:46 tell us about the church in Peru? 16:49 The church in Peru is as really growing. 16:51 Right now they have approaching half a million members in Peru. 16:56 So, the church in Peru 16:57 is very vibrant and growing very well. 17:01 Now how are they growing? Why are they growing? 17:04 They are growing because when I was there 17:06 with Dan Weber, the other video producer, 17:09 we saw a lot of church planting 17:11 and a lot of small groups and it was really interesting 17:14 and exciting to see people 17:17 getting involved in their communities 17:18 and reaching out to people 17:21 that really don't know Jesus at all. 17:23 Now you were telling me about a lady 17:26 who is involved in church planting, tell us about that. 17:29 There was a small coastline town called Huanchaco beach 17:34 and this lady is really reaching out 17:37 to the members of her area by visiting them. 17:40 It started because she moved to this area there was-- 17:43 there were no Adventists, no, there was no church there. 17:47 And so she was kind of sad about that 17:49 so, she wanted to start something. 17:51 And, so she started in house Bible studies 17:54 with the few of her neighbors which grew 17:57 and which lead to her doing some meetings 18:00 and which really gathered some interest 18:02 and from there she's really grasped 18:06 really a lot of interest 18:08 from the community around her where 18:10 they want to know more about Jesus, 18:11 they want her to visit their house 18:14 and explain to her who Jesus is. 18:17 And it's really exciting to see her reaching 18:20 the community and it's really spreading wide. 18:23 So, there are now groups meeting in homes, 18:25 is that how it's happening or? 18:27 Ah, currently, yeah, she is still 18:28 reaching people in their homes 18:30 and visiting people in their homes. 18:32 And they have a meeting area where which is their church 18:36 and so they're meeting in that area. 18:38 But we were there to film what she was doing 18:41 because hopefully a new church will be planted there 18:44 and built there where they can meet 18:46 and little more comfortably and worship together. 18:50 Now this woman is a trained theologian 18:53 from the seminary, is she? 18:55 No, and that's the most exciting part about is 18:57 because you don't need to be 18:59 a trained theologian from the seminary. 19:01 You can be any, anybody really can reach out their community 19:06 and have an impact on their community, 19:07 that's the really great part about this. 19:11 Now you're telling me also about a man with a hat 19:14 and some sort of story with that 19:16 and I think we have some video there's to watch as well. 19:19 Tell us the story. 19:20 Well, the story is this man, Philippe, he is-- 19:25 he was a man that was, 19:28 you know, he worked outside in Lima, Peru. 19:30 And he was walking by this story, 19:33 he really likes hats. 19:35 He was walking by a store 19:36 and so he noticed some hats. 19:38 He went in there, bought a hat 19:40 not knowing what it was 19:41 he just thought, it was really cool 19:43 because it was the most expensive hat they had. 19:46 So he bought the hat, he was wearing it around 19:49 and he was in town one day, he saw a-- 19:52 wonderful somebody saw him, 19:53 this man who sells orange juice saw the hat 19:57 and said, "oh, are you an Adventist. 19:59 He said, "what's an Adventist? 20:00 Why are you asking me that?" 20:02 And the man explained, "oh, your hat 20:04 has the Adventist symbol the youth symbol on it. 20:08 And so, he was like, oh, tell me little more about that 20:11 so, the man was witnessed through his purchase 20:15 that he had he had no idea what he had bought. 20:17 And it was pretty cool to see that he learned 20:22 what it was to be an Adventist, 20:23 what Adventism is through his hat 20:26 and through just basically the symbol on his hat. 20:30 And so he ended up having Bible studies-- 20:32 So, he ended up visiting a church first of all 20:35 and then his interest grew 20:37 and he started having Bible studies 20:40 and found a church closer to him 20:42 where he could attend and so now he is attending church 20:45 and this man we met him personally 20:48 and he is just really on fire for God 20:51 and he is really cool to see that. 20:52 And obviously still likes to continue wearing the hat. 20:55 Oh, we saw him he had the hat, 20:57 he even have the receipt from the hat 21:00 when he bought that. 21:01 He was excited and he's just happy 21:05 to share his testimony which was really cool. 21:07 He's very willing to share and he was such a nice man. 21:11 Now when you were down there in South America 21:13 you were looking at some projects 21:16 that the Adventist Churches mission offering program 21:18 particularly the 13th Sabbath Offering 21:20 program that help support. 21:22 Can you tell us about some of those projects? 21:24 Yeah, some of the projects include the story of Eva 21:27 which is the-- the lady 21:28 who is doing Bible studies and church planting. 21:30 So, this is to help build a church 21:33 for these new believers? 21:34 Right, exactly, it's about the church the actual building. 21:38 There were some other projects to build, 21:40 there was another project interesting project 21:42 had an academy in Brazil actually to build a church there 21:48 because they've out grown the facilities they have. 21:51 So, that's needed there 21:53 and there were other building projects 21:55 and just ministries that were that-- 21:59 are gonna need the funds from the 13th Sabbath Offering. 22:01 Okay, so this offering as where Adventists all around the world 22:05 pull the money together and this goes to help mission 22:11 in every part of the world. 22:12 Exactly, each quarter of the year 22:14 the year is divided into four quarters 22:16 each quarter a different division in the world 22:18 is covered in the church joins together 22:23 to donate to that division of the world. 22:25 So we can help fund the project 22:28 that are needed to help reach God. 22:30 Now for some viewers who want to join this to-- 22:33 they're giving mission offerings 22:34 how do they do that? 22:35 They can do it in a local Adventist Church 22:37 but they can also do it online. 22:39 Yeah, they can visit the Adventist mission website 22:42 where they can find different resources 22:44 and links to other ways that they can help others 22:48 donating to the 13th Sabbath Offering, 22:51 donating to different mission, 22:54 you know, mission groups are different things. 22:57 Fantastic. 22:58 Okay, Ricky, thank you so much for joining us today. 23:00 Thank you. 23:01 And viewers at home, please pray for mission around the world. 23:06 You know, we see growth in certain parts, 23:09 we praise God for what's happening 23:10 in Peru, Brazil, other parts. 23:12 Other parts of the world for various reasons, 23:16 the church is not growing that the challenge is there 23:19 of how do we make Jesus relevant 23:23 and attractive and meaningful to people 23:25 who come from totally different cultural backgrounds. 23:28 And thank you for your continuing support for mission, 23:32 it make so much of so many things possible. 23:34 Our next story is from the country of Brazil, 23:37 and we go to the Amazon River 23:39 and we meet a little evangelist, Vitoria, 23:43 who knows what Jesus means in her life 23:45 and wants to share that love with others. 23:51 Hello, my name is Vitoria 23:53 I live in Jericho along the river by meek. 23:57 Vitoria lives a simple life 23:59 in the Amazon region of Northern Brazil. 24:02 She lives with their parents and her brother, Daniel, 24:05 along a narrow river 24:06 that's makes its way to the jungle. 24:09 One day a week, Vitoria leaves her small house 24:12 on the edge of the water and climb into a canoe 24:15 with destination of Bible study with her friend. 24:18 Vitoria paddles along the river to pickup her friend 24:21 at her house then continues on to the next house. 24:26 When the canoe is full of her friends, 24:28 they paddle up the river until they come to a path 24:31 that leads them into the jungle. 24:32 They carefully climb up 24:34 the slippery bank trying not to get muddy. 24:36 Tying up the canoe, the friends walk on the fallen logs 24:40 as they make their way to the jungle. 24:42 They need to be careful 24:44 because one little slip 24:46 and they would be up to their knees in mud. 24:49 At the end of the logs 24:50 they come up to a small hut on stilts. 24:53 This was a home of other friend 24:55 who is hosting their Bible study. 24:57 They are glad to see each other again 25:00 and quickly into the house to begin their lessons. 25:03 Vitoria and her brother, Daniel, lead the group in prayer 25:07 and study the lesson prepared 25:09 by the Adventist church in Brazil. 25:11 Vitoria is quick to answer any questions 25:14 that her friends may have. 25:15 Then she leaves them up 25:17 in a singing song of worship in praise. 25:20 As they close their meeting, 25:21 they bow their heads in prayer 25:23 and thank Jesus for loving them 25:25 and giving them the opportunity to worship Him. 25:28 So they're trying to think of an interesting way 25:30 that you can share the love of Jesus with your friends. 25:34 How can you show other people that you love and worship Jesus 25:38 even if you aren't a 10-year-old girl, 25:41 who lives in the jungles of Brazil? 25:44 It was Jesus himself who said a little child shall lead them. 25:49 And it's obviously still true 2,000 years later. 25:53 Just a little kid 25:54 with a heart to tell other children about the Jesus 25:57 she knows and loves. 25:59 And that's what mission is all about simply sharing 26:02 the good news about the God we know. 26:05 The Bible tells us to train up our children 26:07 in the way that they should go 26:09 but how do we instill in their hearts, 26:12 a passion for mission. 26:14 The office of the Adventist Mission 26:15 prepares a range of resources 26:17 to help share mission with our children. 26:20 Mission Magazines, DVD stories aims specifically for kids 26:25 and they help out children look beyond the church walls 26:28 to see a world in need. 26:31 We've also created a resource called Mission Cards for Kids. 26:35 These simple cards help children remember mission stories. 26:39 And if you're living in North America 26:41 we'd love to send you, 26:42 a free sample set of these cards 26:45 that you can share with the children in your life. 26:48 Simply call the toll free number on your screen, 26:51 1-800-648-5824 or visit our website 26:56 and ask for Mission Cards for Kids or Offer Number 302. 27:02 Please remember to clearly state your name and address 27:05 and be sure to mention Mission Cards for Kids or offer 302. 27:10 So, we'll be sure to send you the sample mission cards. 27:14 Again, if you'd like to receive 27:16 a sample set of Mission Cards for Kids, 27:19 just call the toll free number on your screen, 27:21 1800-648-5824 and ask for Mission Cards for Kids 27:28 or Offer 302 or you can visit our website 27:32 at AdventistMission.org. 27:34 Well, that's it for our program for today. 27:37 Thank you so much for joining us. 27:39 And thank you for your continuing prayers, 27:41 support and personal involvement in Global Mission. 27:46 For Adventist mission, I am Gray Krause 27:47 and I hope you can join us next time right here 27:51 on Global Mission Snapshots. |
Revised 2014-12-17