Just before He went up to heaven, 00:00:04.87\00:00:07.33 Jesus gave us a command. 00:00:07.36\00:00:10.26 He gave us a mission. 00:00:10.29\00:00:13.01 Jesus said go, go unto all the world, 00:00:13.04\00:00:17.84 telling them of His love. 00:00:17.87\00:00:20.44 This is our mission, this is our Global Mission. 00:00:20.47\00:00:24.36 Hello, and welcome to Global Mission Snapshots, 00:00:30.03\00:00:32.39 I'm Gary Krause. Thanks for joining us. 00:00:32.42\00:00:35.61 Coming up on today's program, we visit house churches in Cuba, 00:00:35.64\00:00:39.17 a church plant in China and we talk to 00:00:39.20\00:00:42.03 Pastor Milton Adams about Simple Church, 00:00:42.06\00:00:45.05 a home church movement that's reaching people 00:00:45.08\00:00:47.72 who would never step inside the four walls of a church, 00:00:47.75\00:00:51.61 all this and much, much more on Global Mission Snapshots. 00:00:51.64\00:00:56.54 With each day that passes, 00:00:56.57\00:00:58.30 the need for adequate church and school structures increases. 00:00:58.33\00:01:02.15 Thousands of congregations are worshipping 00:01:02.18\00:01:04.19 under little more than the shade of a tree. 00:01:04.22\00:01:07.18 Children are trying to learn in less than ideal situations. 00:01:07.21\00:01:10.86 The need is immense. 00:01:10.89\00:01:13.64 So many congregations are meeting in facilities like 00:01:13.67\00:01:17.30 we're in right now, under trees, under some little lean-to, 00:01:17.33\00:01:21.96 to create a kind of a community in terms of church 00:01:21.99\00:01:27.01 is pretty difficult when you are simply 00:01:27.04\00:01:29.45 having to dodge the raindrops. 00:01:29.48\00:01:31.44 The worldwide need for Adventist Churches seemed daunting, 00:01:31.47\00:01:35.03 but the creation of the one-day church 00:01:35.06\00:01:37.59 brought hope to congregations praying for a church home. 00:01:37.62\00:01:41.23 The one-day church provides a steel structure and roof, 00:01:41.26\00:01:44.57 something that most congregations cannot afford. 00:01:44.60\00:01:47.91 The local members finished the building 00:01:47.94\00:01:49.63 with readily available materials. 00:01:49.66\00:01:52.20 To have a permanent place like a one-day church 00:01:52.23\00:01:55.17 is a dream come true for most places in very rural settings 00:01:55.20\00:01:59.99 and there are thousands of these locations. 00:02:00.02\00:02:03.16 The one-day church is a partnership 00:02:03.19\00:02:05.13 between Maranatha Volunteers International 00:02:05.16\00:02:07.53 and Adventist-Laymen Services and Industries or ASI. 00:02:07.56\00:02:11.90 Fabrication of the church begins in Minnesota 00:02:11.93\00:02:14.99 in a factory conceived and built 00:02:15.02\00:02:16.86 by church member Garwin McNeilus. 00:02:16.89\00:02:19.45 Steel is fabricated and loaded into containers for shipping. 00:02:19.48\00:02:23.22 The containers are transported to ships 00:02:23.25\00:02:25.16 that take them all over the world. 00:02:25.19\00:02:30.34 Workers inspect the containers 00:02:30.37\00:02:31.83 when they arrive and take inventory. 00:02:31.86\00:02:34.41 The steel is loaded on to trucks for transport to church sites. 00:02:34.44\00:02:38.57 And just like the name implies 00:02:38.60\00:02:40.97 a one-day church is actually completed in one day. 00:02:41.00\00:02:46.48 After seeing the success of the one-day church concept, 00:02:46.51\00:02:49.53 ASI and Maranatha created the one-day school. 00:02:49.56\00:02:52.85 A classroom that includes walls, doors, 00:02:52.88\00:02:55.22 windows, floor and even desks, 00:02:55.25\00:02:57.53 everything you need to hold classes. 00:02:57.56\00:03:00.19 The one-day school can be used in different 00:03:00.22\00:03:02.02 configurations to provide an effective elementary 00:03:02.05\00:03:04.78 or secondary school campus. 00:03:04.81\00:03:07.65 Since the program began the one-day church 00:03:07.68\00:03:10.02 and school project has stretched across the globe 00:03:10.05\00:03:12.51 from Latin America to Africa, to India and the South Pacific. 00:03:12.54\00:03:17.29 In Ecuador, 91 one-day churches 00:03:17.32\00:03:19.70 are complete and 80 more are in process. 00:03:19.73\00:03:22.89 The churches act as a catalyst 00:03:22.92\00:03:24.57 as the members go on to complete the buildings. 00:03:24.60\00:03:27.31 The congregations grow as a result 00:03:27.34\00:03:29.31 and soon new churches are needed. 00:03:29.34\00:03:32.93 In Haiti, the one-day church 00:03:32.96\00:03:34.64 has been critical in helping the Adventist Church recover 00:03:34.67\00:03:37.20 from that earthquake in 2010. 00:03:37.23\00:03:40.02 143 buildings were constructed in the aftermath of the quake 00:03:40.05\00:03:44.10 and used as shelters, churches, schools and clinics. 00:03:44.13\00:03:48.23 Today, more than 15,000 people worship in these buildings 00:03:48.26\00:03:52.23 and 5,000 students needing them for school. 00:03:52.26\00:03:56.02 Maranatha has partnered with ADRA 00:03:56.05\00:03:57.72 to build 100 one-day schools in Haiti. 00:03:57.75\00:04:01.86 Maranatha has completed 115 one-day churches in India, 00:04:01.89\00:04:06.41 another 125 will be built this year. 00:04:06.44\00:04:09.86 Several one-day school campuses have been constructed. 00:04:09.89\00:04:13.17 In Malawi, Maranatha found that 00:04:13.20\00:04:15.40 church members had ready access to brick 00:04:15.43\00:04:17.54 and could finish their churches. 00:04:17.57\00:04:19.40 The critical component they lacked 00:04:19.43\00:04:21.09 was the steel structural system and roof. 00:04:21.12\00:04:23.94 Maranatha has completed 605 churches in Malawi 00:04:23.97\00:04:27.79 and most are being completed by the congregations. 00:04:27.82\00:04:32.09 More than 670 one-day churches 00:04:32.12\00:04:34.91 have been built throughout the country of Mozambique. 00:04:34.94\00:04:38.17 The buildings are creating a foundation 00:04:38.20\00:04:40.22 which will help the Adventist Church 00:04:40.25\00:04:41.68 grow rapidly in this country. 00:04:41.71\00:04:44.93 Maranatha has worked with 00:04:44.96\00:04:45.99 several ASI partner organizations 00:04:46.02\00:04:49.24 to build churches in Zambia, Kenya, Congo and Chad. 00:04:49.27\00:04:53.11 One-day churches have made a large impact in Zambia. 00:04:53.14\00:04:56.21 In a Livingstone area more than 00:04:56.24\00:04:57.54 100 one-day churches have been built 00:04:57.57\00:04:59.74 and two large school campuses 00:04:59.77\00:05:01.63 are operating successfully. 00:05:01.66\00:05:03.95 So far more than 2,300 one-day churches 00:05:03.98\00:05:07.63 have been constructed worldwide. 00:05:07.66\00:05:11.10 Innovations such as the one-day church 00:05:11.13\00:05:13.21 and one-day school have expanded 00:05:13.24\00:05:15.51 the ability to respond to the ever growing need 00:05:15.54\00:05:18.26 for church structures and Christian education. 00:05:18.29\00:05:22.11 Because of the one-day church more than 300,000 people 00:05:22.14\00:05:26.31 are now worshipping in structures 00:05:26.34\00:05:27.72 that properly represent the God we serve. 00:05:27.75\00:05:31.55 Because of the one-day school 22,000 children 00:05:31.58\00:05:35.15 will have a place to learn and grow. 00:05:35.18\00:05:37.54 The one-day project is just beginning 00:05:37.57\00:05:39.74 to touch the overall need. 00:05:39.77\00:05:41.86 Maranatha has received requests 00:05:41.89\00:05:43.78 for more than 100,000 one-day churches 00:05:43.81\00:05:46.47 and 80,000 one-day schools. 00:05:46.50\00:05:48.84 So far work has begun in 22 countries 00:05:48.87\00:05:51.74 with plans beginning in many more. 00:05:51.77\00:05:55.14 The one-day church is not just a steel structure, 00:05:55.17\00:05:58.87 it is a soul winning tool. 00:05:58.90\00:06:01.82 The one-day school is not just about learning the ABC's. 00:06:01.85\00:06:06.11 It is a place where children are introduced to Jesus. 00:06:06.14\00:06:09.60 By constructing these buildings, we are planting 00:06:09.63\00:06:12.13 tangible signs of hope in thousands of places 00:06:12.16\00:06:15.73 all around the world. 00:06:15.76\00:06:19.94 Maranatha Volunteers International 00:06:19.97\00:06:22.33 is a vital partner with Global Mission around the world 00:06:22.36\00:06:26.11 focusing on mission and I'm delighted to welcome 00:06:26.14\00:06:28.82 Don Noble, who is the president of Maranatha. 00:06:28.85\00:06:31.25 Don, good to see you again. 00:06:31.28\00:06:32.35 It's always great to be here with you, Gary. 00:06:32.38\00:06:34.09 And what an inspiring video about the One-Day Church. 00:06:34.12\00:06:37.60 Now, this is something that started as a, 00:06:37.63\00:06:40.48 sort of like a vision but seems to just growing, 00:06:40.51\00:06:42.64 growing and growing. 00:06:42.67\00:06:44.08 Well, the reason it's growing is primarily 00:06:44.11\00:06:46.00 because of the response to the church. 00:06:46.03\00:06:47.67 Around the world the requests 00:06:47.70\00:06:49.66 that have come to us have been phenomenal. 00:06:49.69\00:06:52.19 So it's apparent that there, that this is meeting a need, 00:06:52.22\00:06:55.56 the idea was how in a world can we provide church homes, 00:06:55.59\00:07:01.75 schools for so many people in a growing church, 00:07:01.78\00:07:05.76 primarily in the developing world. 00:07:05.79\00:07:07.39 How could we do that on a quick basis? 00:07:07.42\00:07:10.43 In fact, you can see on the screen here 00:07:10.46\00:07:13.35 of the number of requests we currently have in our office. 00:07:13.38\00:07:16.35 There's over 100,000 churches 00:07:16.38\00:07:18.92 and over 80,000 school classrooms. 00:07:18.95\00:07:22.32 That should take a few weeks to do. 00:07:22.35\00:07:24.45 Well, you know, to be completely honest 00:07:24.48\00:07:26.42 these numbers haven't in all places been 00:07:26.45\00:07:29.78 varied specifically to see whether 00:07:29.81\00:07:32.95 those numbers will come out. 00:07:32.98\00:07:35.07 But I can tell you that in lot of places 00:07:35.10\00:07:38.49 those numbers are accurate. 00:07:38.52\00:07:40.24 And it's, so you say to yourself, 00:07:40.27\00:07:42.05 okay, you have 180,000 requests. 00:07:42.08\00:07:45.24 Sometimes people laugh about that, 00:07:45.27\00:07:47.77 but frankly it's exciting. 00:07:47.80\00:07:49.89 Because it says, the church leaders 00:07:49.92\00:07:51.38 around the world can see the need 00:07:51.41\00:07:53.45 and the value of having a church home 00:07:53.48\00:07:56.77 and what it does is, it causes 00:07:56.80\00:07:58.00 the church missionaries to grow to become a solid witness, 00:07:58.03\00:08:01.17 inspires the people and more growth 00:08:01.20\00:08:03.56 and it's pretty neat, in fact we've already seen 00:08:03.59\00:08:07.38 a couple of generations so to speak of this 00:08:07.41\00:08:10.34 in just two and a half years. 00:08:10.37\00:08:11.85 Ecuador, we built the first one-day church in Ecuador 00:08:11.88\00:08:16.05 and I was just with the president, 00:08:16.08\00:08:19.42 president was honored down there and he said, 00:08:19.45\00:08:21.38 it's been a revolution for us. 00:08:21.41\00:08:23.41 He said, every week the people bring me new requests, 00:08:23.44\00:08:27.68 places that they've purchased land, 00:08:27.71\00:08:30.57 get us more of these one-day churches 00:08:30.60\00:08:32.56 and we'll finish them up. 00:08:32.59\00:08:34.05 And he said, I can't get anymore. 00:08:34.08\00:08:36.07 I said, you are heretic. 00:08:36.10\00:08:39.78 Yeah, they said, where is your faith? 00:08:39.81\00:08:41.02 But, listen, we have to have these churches 00:08:41.05\00:08:43.52 so and then those create more, more requests for churches, 00:08:43.55\00:08:47.29 that's kind of what's happening around the world, 00:08:47.32\00:08:48.71 it's exciting to see. 00:08:48.74\00:08:50.10 I didn't realize what the impact would be but it's neat. 00:08:50.13\00:08:55.06 Now, what difference are these churches 00:08:55.09\00:08:58.10 making in their communities? 00:08:58.13\00:09:00.45 Well, I'll give you an example, Brazil. 00:09:00.48\00:09:04.50 One place in Brazil we were up in the north 00:09:04.53\00:09:06.23 where we built a one-day church. 00:09:06.26\00:09:08.78 The folks have been walking 10 kilometers every week 00:09:08.81\00:09:12.58 to go to church and there is now 00:09:12.61\00:09:15.05 eight or ten were walking every week and they said, 00:09:15.08\00:09:18.17 please can we have one of these in our town. 00:09:18.20\00:09:20.20 So we put a one-day church in their town, 00:09:20.23\00:09:23.24 they finished it up nicely and now 00:09:23.27\00:09:25.73 just in matter of weeks later, we've 60 people meeting 00:09:25.76\00:09:31.12 and they expected to continue to grow. 00:09:31.15\00:09:33.08 So, you know, it's a witness in the community 00:09:33.11\00:09:36.34 on a regular basis, 24 hours a day. 00:09:36.37\00:09:38.59 It says, God is here, come and worship Him. 00:09:38.62\00:09:42.80 And it's it gets the people excited too 00:09:42.83\00:09:45.34 because they reach out to their neighbors 00:09:45.37\00:09:47.10 more than they probably would have if they hadn't 00:09:47.13\00:09:49.25 had a physical place, a place to meet. 00:09:49.28\00:09:53.23 Now, Don, how does it work 00:09:53.26\00:09:54.39 from requests to actually having it built? What's the process? 00:09:54.42\00:10:00.86 Well, I'll tell you it takes more than one day. 00:10:00.89\00:10:04.57 This, you know, the one-day program 00:10:04.60\00:10:06.65 started as kind of a brainchild working together 00:10:06.68\00:10:11.15 of the church and ASI and Maranatha. 00:10:11.18\00:10:15.27 ASI? 00:10:15.30\00:10:16.78 The Adventist Laymen Service and Industries, 00:10:16.81\00:10:18.77 they actually do the manufacturing, 00:10:18.80\00:10:21.36 so the buildings get manufactured in Minnesota 00:10:21.39\00:10:23.90 and containerized and shipped to 00:10:23.93\00:10:25.24 different places in the world. 00:10:25.27\00:10:27.11 And some places it's easier than others. 00:10:27.14\00:10:30.11 Imports issues are probably 00:10:30.14\00:10:32.25 one of the biggest issues that we face but, 00:10:32.28\00:10:35.30 so a request comes from different 00:10:35.33\00:10:37.52 parts of the world and depending on 00:10:37.55\00:10:38.97 how far they are down the queue, 00:10:39.00\00:10:43.13 we try to get them on the list to help them 00:10:43.16\00:10:45.85 and then we have to deal with right leadership 00:10:45.88\00:10:47.65 to go and oversee the construction, 00:10:47.68\00:10:49.36 so we're working in little over 20 countries right now 00:10:49.39\00:10:53.93 with the one-day program. 00:10:53.96\00:10:55.50 And the local people are involved in the construction? 00:10:55.53\00:10:58.91 The idea here was that the locals 00:10:58.94\00:11:01.60 should do as much as they can 00:11:01.63\00:11:03.98 because you can't give a 100% 00:11:04.01\00:11:06.94 to each location and meet 100,000 requests. 00:11:06.97\00:11:10.18 It takes too long, it's too much money. 00:11:10.21\00:11:12.17 So locals should do and finish 00:11:12.20\00:11:14.44 according to their local customs and their culture. 00:11:14.47\00:11:17.11 And so that's what happens. 00:11:17.14\00:11:18.35 The basic one-day church structure 00:11:18.38\00:11:20.93 is the structural frame and the roof. 00:11:20.96\00:11:24.59 And then the local are supposed to finish it. 00:11:24.62\00:11:26.81 Some places we finished it completely, 00:11:26.84\00:11:28.98 some places we provide a little bit more, 00:11:29.01\00:11:31.00 some places they do everything from the structure and roof, 00:11:31.03\00:11:35.09 depending on the agreement that we make 00:11:35.12\00:11:36.27 with the church in that particular area. 00:11:36.30\00:11:38.89 The idea is that locals put their own sweat, 00:11:38.92\00:11:42.24 their own life into it and often times 00:11:42.27\00:11:46.46 this creates synergy and a union and a bond 00:11:46.49\00:11:49.95 among the members they didn't have before. 00:11:49.98\00:11:51.87 And so it's actually working out 00:11:51.90\00:11:54.50 better than I thought it would. 00:11:54.53\00:11:55.56 Yeah, it gives them a sense of ownership. 00:11:55.59\00:11:57.63 Absolutely, Absolutely. 00:11:57.66\00:11:59.72 Now, for people who want to learn more about 00:11:59.75\00:12:02.10 the one-day church program, 00:12:02.13\00:12:03.84 they can just go to your website at maranatha.org? 00:12:03.87\00:12:06.09 Absolutely, maranatha.org. 00:12:06.12\00:12:08.95 And people can go and put them up too, 00:12:08.98\00:12:12.37 getting volunteers involved in the program 00:12:12.40\00:12:14.69 is an important aspect of it. 00:12:14.72\00:12:17.17 Yeah, that could be fun. Well, it is. 00:12:17.20\00:12:19.54 It's different. Yeah. 00:12:19.57\00:12:20.87 But you see the buildings go up faster 00:12:20.90\00:12:22.46 than it did before so it has that satisfaction also. 00:12:22.49\00:12:26.38 Yeah, Now, Don, when I first saw 00:12:26.41\00:12:29.73 Maranatha in action it was in Cuba. 00:12:29.76\00:12:32.32 You just came back there just a couple of days ago. 00:12:32.35\00:12:34.15 Two days ago. 00:12:34.18\00:12:35.21 Two days ago and now what's happening there now? 00:12:35.24\00:12:38.05 Well, you know, the church is vibrant. 00:12:38.08\00:12:40.16 When we first started there 18 years ago 00:12:40.19\00:12:42.17 there was less than 10,000 members 00:12:42.20\00:12:45.51 and today they meeting on Sabbath morning 00:12:45.54\00:12:50.07 throughout the country and it of course 00:12:50.10\00:12:52.59 they had a few people who would go out of the country too 00:12:52.62\00:12:54.15 over those years. 00:12:54.18\00:12:55.55 But, so it's actually greater growth than that 00:12:55.58\00:12:58.86 but it's a vibrant church, my standing is it's 00:12:58.89\00:13:02.30 the largest single protestant church in the country. 00:13:02.33\00:13:07.16 There is a few others, Pentecostals whatever 00:13:07.19\00:13:10.00 but they split into different segments. 00:13:10.03\00:13:12.38 But it's vibrant growing group I can tell you. 00:13:12.41\00:13:15.36 I heard the amens just this last Sabbath 00:13:15.39\00:13:17.39 and the people are excited 00:13:17.42\00:13:20.72 to be Seventh-day Adventist Christians. 00:13:20.75\00:13:23.89 You are very modest about this, 00:13:23.92\00:13:25.23 but Maranatha basically came in there 00:13:25.26\00:13:28.25 and I don't want to retrieval but there was a revolution 00:13:28.28\00:13:31.71 for the church with the work 00:13:31.74\00:13:32.87 that you've done in that country. 00:13:32.90\00:13:35.10 Well, one of the things it's hard to internalize 00:13:35.13\00:13:38.55 if you haven't seen it. 00:13:38.58\00:13:39.79 Is that when you have a place to meet 00:13:39.82\00:13:42.30 people will come especially in a country like Cuba. 00:13:42.33\00:13:45.46 They want to know that they can publicly 00:13:45.49\00:13:48.05 get together and worship their God 00:13:48.08\00:13:50.04 and there's their synergy that happens 00:13:50.07\00:13:52.06 among the members and its, 00:13:52.09\00:13:55.53 if you haven't been to one of those dedications of a church 00:13:55.56\00:14:00.32 and you've got a great treaded idea 00:14:00.35\00:14:02.25 but the God is definitely alive and well in a country 00:14:02.28\00:14:05.15 that times has said that there is no God. 00:14:05.18\00:14:07.51 Exactly. 00:14:07.54\00:14:09.34 Don, thanks for joining us today 00:14:09.37\00:14:10.73 and sharing the excitement on mission. 00:14:10.76\00:14:12.41 Absolutely, it's just a privilege. 00:14:12.44\00:14:15.06 Great. 00:14:15.09\00:14:16.12 And viewers at home if you want to learn more 00:14:16.15\00:14:17.70 about the work of Maranatha volunteers 00:14:17.73\00:14:20.23 around the world or to see how you may be 00:14:20.26\00:14:21.70 involved in their program, just go to maranatha.org. 00:14:21.73\00:14:26.76 Next up, let's go to Cuba 00:14:26.79\00:14:28.58 and let's visit some of these houses of lights 00:14:28.61\00:14:32.08 that are beacons throughout their communities. 00:14:32.11\00:14:35.11 On the eastern side of Cuba, near Guantanamo Bay 00:14:42.39\00:14:46.21 is the small town of Buey Arriba. 00:14:46.24\00:14:49.43 A crowd of more than 500 people has gathered 00:14:49.46\00:14:52.16 for the dedication of a new house of light. 00:14:52.19\00:14:56.93 A steady rain falls on the crowd 00:14:56.96\00:14:58.91 as they wait for the service to begin. 00:14:58.94\00:15:01.92 The people tried to stay dry as the ribbon is cut 00:15:01.95\00:15:05.36 and the doors to the new building are pushed open. 00:15:05.39\00:15:09.09 The pews fill up quickly as people 00:15:09.12\00:15:10.84 rushed to find seats before the building overflows. 00:15:10.87\00:15:14.64 The Adventist church in Cuba 00:15:14.67\00:15:16.05 isn't allowed to build new church buildings 00:15:16.08\00:15:19.37 but they are allowed to renovate old ones. 00:15:19.40\00:15:22.59 It just so happens that this pastor's house 00:15:22.62\00:15:26.50 has a living room that will hold 00:15:26.53\00:15:27.96 more than 250 people each Sabbath. 00:15:27.99\00:15:32.52 The church members sing songs of praise 00:15:32.55\00:15:35.05 and gratitude as they show their thanks 00:15:35.08\00:15:37.17 for their new house of worship. 00:15:37.20\00:15:40.78 At the service are representatives 00:15:40.81\00:15:42.87 from Maranatha Volunteers International. 00:15:42.90\00:15:45.90 A lay member organization that's been 00:15:45.93\00:15:48.08 responsible for rebuilding this house of light. 00:15:48.11\00:15:52.66 Marantatha has worked in Cuba for more than 15 years 00:15:52.69\00:15:55.64 and they've worked on virtually 00:15:55.67\00:15:57.51 every building of the Adventist Church in Cuba has built. 00:15:57.54\00:16:02.19 Maranatha has truly caught the global mission 00:16:02.22\00:16:06.10 of the Seventh-day Adventist Church 00:16:06.13\00:16:08.42 and has helped lead the growth in this country. 00:16:08.45\00:16:13.30 The evening ends with a short devotional 00:16:13.33\00:16:15.76 and then the new baptismal tank 00:16:15.79\00:16:17.60 is put into service as 15 people are baptized. 00:16:17.63\00:16:23.59 The rain that soaked the members 00:16:23.62\00:16:25.17 as they waited for their house of light to open 00:16:25.20\00:16:28.52 couldn't put out the flames of faith 00:16:28.55\00:16:30.92 that burn in each of their hearts. 00:16:30.95\00:16:38.00 The Christian church began as a home church 00:16:38.03\00:16:41.29 movement as you read through the Book of Acts. 00:16:41.32\00:16:44.29 Today, of course, we have many church buildings 00:16:44.32\00:16:47.18 around the word and God uses 00:16:47.21\00:16:48.74 so many different ways to reach people. 00:16:48.77\00:16:51.68 We're finding in some environments particularly 00:16:51.71\00:16:54.43 the postmodern and secular environments 00:16:54.46\00:16:56.59 that sometimes people will not walk physically 00:16:56.62\00:16:59.93 into a church building for many, many reasons. 00:16:59.96\00:17:02.79 My guest today is Pastor Milton Adams 00:17:02.82\00:17:05.30 who is a Seventh-day Adventist pastor 00:17:05.33\00:17:07.91 with a passion for home churches. 00:17:07.94\00:17:10.77 Milton, what is the problem? 00:17:10.80\00:17:12.81 Why aren't people coming to churches 00:17:12.84\00:17:15.21 like they used to in North America for example? 00:17:15.24\00:17:18.78 I would hate to oversimplify it 00:17:18.81\00:17:20.91 but in essence I would suggest that 00:17:20.94\00:17:23.46 people are now at the place where they're saying 00:17:23.49\00:17:25.32 I'm interested in God, 00:17:25.35\00:17:26.83 I'm interested in spiritual growth 00:17:26.86\00:17:28.79 but if it requires the religious trappings 00:17:28.82\00:17:32.36 that the last 50 to 100 years have said 00:17:32.39\00:17:35.16 this is the way Christianity works 00:17:35.19\00:17:37.15 they are saying just politely, no thank you 00:17:37.18\00:17:39.28 and they are voting with their feet, 00:17:39.31\00:17:40.83 which means in North America 00:17:40.86\00:17:43.73 about 87 percent of the population 00:17:43.76\00:17:47.20 does not go to church on a given weekend. 00:17:47.23\00:17:50.89 You get into Western Europe 00:17:50.92\00:17:52.56 we're pushing 95 to 98 percent, you get into Australia, 00:17:52.59\00:17:56.80 you get into New Zealand, there is a shift 00:17:56.83\00:18:00.44 away in countries that used to be Christian. 00:18:00.47\00:18:05.05 They are saying no thank you, 00:18:05.08\00:18:06.83 I'm gonna find God in a different way. 00:18:06.86\00:18:10.26 And so what you're saying is that we need to open up 00:18:10.29\00:18:12.93 other avenues for people to come to not learn about God. 00:18:12.96\00:18:16.91 Now, Simple Church is what you call 00:18:16.94\00:18:18.71 this network of home churches? 00:18:18.74\00:18:20.82 Describe for me what Simple Church is? 00:18:20.85\00:18:24.37 Simple Church is a global network of laypeople 00:18:24.40\00:18:28.37 who are saying I'm willing to leave my comfort zone 00:18:28.40\00:18:32.31 to become a missionary in my hometown. 00:18:32.34\00:18:36.65 For of the city environments those are often 00:18:36.68\00:18:39.40 apartment complexes, and we live in a culture now 00:18:39.43\00:18:42.98 where there are gated communities at every corner. 00:18:43.01\00:18:46.71 And how do we reach into those families, 00:18:46.74\00:18:48.96 into those communities? 00:18:48.99\00:18:50.35 When you open up homes in humble low profile venues 00:18:50.38\00:18:55.40 that just say come on over, 00:18:55.43\00:18:57.20 let's study together, let's fellowship together. 00:18:57.23\00:19:00.36 These are what Simple Churches 00:19:00.39\00:19:01.72 are doing is they're kind of getting behind 00:19:01.75\00:19:03.88 the gated communities in ways that are sustainable 00:19:03.91\00:19:07.49 because you don't have to hire professionals, 00:19:07.52\00:19:09.59 you don't have to build buildings. 00:19:09.62\00:19:12.23 Real estate in our city environments 00:19:12.26\00:19:14.02 is skyrocketing and it makes it possible 00:19:14.05\00:19:17.09 and sustainable long term to be missionaries 00:19:17.12\00:19:20.96 in our own home neighborhoods. 00:19:20.99\00:19:23.29 Yeah, when we look at the biggest mission challenge 00:19:23.32\00:19:25.73 facing us today are the cities. 00:19:25.76\00:19:27.22 Yes. 00:19:27.25\00:19:28.28 And if we expect that we'll have 00:19:28.31\00:19:29.60 a church building for every church plan 00:19:29.63\00:19:32.37 is just not going to happen. 00:19:32.40\00:19:33.43 It's a model that's not sustainable. 00:19:33.46\00:19:34.84 Yeah. 00:19:34.87\00:19:35.90 And so Simple Church is not trying to replace that. 00:19:35.93\00:19:39.36 Simple Church comes along as an additional hose 00:19:39.39\00:19:42.51 to help fill up the swimming pool. 00:19:42.54\00:19:44.76 Our goals of the everlasting gospel are the same, 00:19:44.79\00:19:48.58 it's a saying missionaries adjust their methods 00:19:48.61\00:19:52.08 to reach the people. 00:19:52.11\00:19:54.25 That's what we're doing. 00:19:54.28\00:19:56.05 And these Seventh-day Adventist Congregations 00:19:56.08\00:19:58.36 paying tithes, paying offerings, 00:19:58.39\00:20:00.04 just worshipping in a different place 00:20:00.07\00:20:02.65 and in a different way. 00:20:02.68\00:20:04.83 Describe for me what a typical Sabbath is like in your home? 00:20:04.86\00:20:09.25 A typical Sabbath in our home is typically 00:20:09.28\00:20:11.37 a five hour experience which for most people is like, 00:20:11.40\00:20:13.71 whoa, five hours? 00:20:13.74\00:20:15.58 But it's more than just doing church. 00:20:15.61\00:20:18.16 It's a relational informal environment 00:20:18.19\00:20:21.03 that often starts with a breakfast, 00:20:21.06\00:20:23.85 you put a cup of orange juice, 00:20:23.88\00:20:25.99 you put a cup of water in a 300 pound 00:20:26.02\00:20:28.28 football player and they are at ease. 00:20:28.31\00:20:31.89 So we start with a breakfast together, 00:20:31.92\00:20:35.46 it is a wholesome healthy option 00:20:35.49\00:20:38.28 as oppose to the donuts and coffee standard of America. 00:20:38.31\00:20:43.60 And after that and I would say these are all ish. 00:20:43.63\00:20:48.81 Breakfast runs about an hour ish. 00:20:48.84\00:20:51.33 Then there is a time of fellowship 00:20:51.36\00:20:52.93 which involves some singing, 00:20:52.96\00:20:54.26 now that was a learning curve because it didn't matter 00:20:54.29\00:20:56.82 whether we were singing, "Rock of Ages" 00:20:56.85\00:20:59.45 or "Come Now Is The Time To Worship." 00:20:59.48\00:21:01.84 Guess who didn't know any of these songs? 00:21:01.87\00:21:04.62 The secular people. 00:21:04.65\00:21:05.88 So we had to revamp that and realize 00:21:05.91\00:21:08.66 we're gonna start with simple Jesus loves me. 00:21:08.69\00:21:12.35 So we started teaching. 00:21:12.38\00:21:14.09 There is a, I hate to use this term 00:21:14.12\00:21:16.97 because we automatically think of a certain picture 00:21:17.00\00:21:20.81 in our mind but the closest we have, 00:21:20.84\00:21:22.58 we call it God moments, but it's kind of testimonial, 00:21:22.61\00:21:25.75 but it goes way beyond testimonial 00:21:25.78\00:21:27.72 it's truly life sharing. 00:21:27.75\00:21:31.51 There is also what is called a check-in, 00:21:31.54\00:21:33.81 where in our home like this last Sabbath 00:21:33.84\00:21:37.09 there I think about 26 people in our home, 00:21:37.12\00:21:39.61 our home is not a big home, 00:21:39.64\00:21:42.27 but everyone gets to check-in 00:21:42.30\00:21:44.51 how their week went, 00:21:44.54\00:21:46.47 then it shifts into a relational Bible study. 00:21:46.50\00:21:49.80 Now, I don't have the time, 00:21:49.83\00:21:51.28 we don't have the time to expand, 00:21:51.31\00:21:53.74 but when people go to the training webpage, 00:21:53.77\00:21:57.04 there is a whole module in phase 1 training 00:21:57.07\00:21:59.51 that explains what relational Bible study is 00:21:59.54\00:22:02.45 and how it works and how from that venue 00:22:02.48\00:22:06.68 we lead people to Bible studies 00:22:06.71\00:22:09.45 that explain and articulate 00:22:09.48\00:22:12.67 the uniquenesses of the everlasting gospel. 00:22:12.70\00:22:15.34 Great, fantastic. 00:22:15.37\00:22:16.55 We end with lunch, 00:22:16.58\00:22:18.14 the rest of the afternoon is fellowship. 00:22:18.17\00:22:20.50 So typically 10 o'clock to 3 o'clock 00:22:20.53\00:22:23.42 is the normal house church, Simple Church experience. 00:22:23.45\00:22:27.62 Great. That's a nutshell. 00:22:27.65\00:22:29.10 Yeah, now just briefly 00:22:29.13\00:22:31.28 an experience of someone whose 00:22:31.31\00:22:33.05 life has being changed through Simple Church? 00:22:33.08\00:22:35.68 There is a family who has given much of their life 00:22:35.71\00:22:40.68 here recently to adopt, 00:22:40.71\00:22:42.36 not adopting being foster parents. 00:22:42.39\00:22:45.66 This particular husband and wife adopted 00:22:45.69\00:22:48.46 a biological set of kids, four of them, 00:22:48.49\00:22:54.02 had come from very, very difficult background 00:22:54.05\00:23:00.27 and that over the course of about a year 00:23:00.30\00:23:04.11 that family has been part of our Simple Church, 00:23:04.14\00:23:06.69 those kids have started to grow up in Simple Church 00:23:06.72\00:23:09.69 and I just got an email, just a couple of days 00:23:09.72\00:23:14.09 from the father who said, my son, 00:23:14.12\00:23:17.06 who I've been studying the Bible with, 00:23:17.09\00:23:18.96 they use Bible study series called Kid Zone, 00:23:18.99\00:23:22.41 that their oldest son said, daddy, 00:23:22.44\00:23:24.50 I would like to be baptized. 00:23:24.53\00:23:26.84 And so we are just now making arrangements with our neighbors 00:23:26.87\00:23:30.14 who have a pool to use their pool 00:23:30.17\00:23:33.42 which they have graciously allowed us to use in the past 00:23:33.45\00:23:37.46 to baptize this oldest son this month. 00:23:37.49\00:23:41.77 That's the kind of shift. 00:23:41.80\00:23:43.99 It's missionary focus, it's taking families, 00:23:44.02\00:23:49.03 who typically all go their separate ways, 00:23:49.06\00:23:52.20 you go to church and everyone 00:23:52.23\00:23:55.14 is kind of goes in different directions but it's seen, 00:23:55.17\00:23:57.48 this is the responsibility of the priest of the home 00:23:57.51\00:24:02.16 to raise up their family in the ways of God 00:24:02.19\00:24:05.38 and so Simple Church takes that kind of environment 00:24:05.41\00:24:08.92 and does our best, we have a lot to learn yet. 00:24:08.95\00:24:13.15 On how to empower the priesthood of all believers 00:24:13.18\00:24:16.87 that is us, that's what the gospel commission is. 00:24:16.90\00:24:19.97 The gospel commission was given to the lay people. 00:24:20.00\00:24:23.01 Exactly. 00:24:23.04\00:24:24.07 To empower them, to disciple their families 00:24:24.10\00:24:26.67 and disciple people God brings to them. 00:24:26.70\00:24:29.24 Milton, thank so much, for sharing with us today. 00:24:29.27\00:24:31.51 Oh, it's a pleasure. 00:24:31.54\00:24:32.88 And if you are intrigued 00:24:32.91\00:24:34.50 with this concept of Simple Church, 00:24:34.53\00:24:37.14 home churches, just go to adventistmission.org. 00:24:37.17\00:24:40.61 There you'll see a Simple Church logo, 00:24:40.64\00:24:42.76 you can click and find out more information 00:24:42.79\00:24:45.48 about how you too maybe involved 00:24:45.51\00:24:47.24 in this sort of ministry that is proving effective 00:24:47.27\00:24:50.82 in reaching people who may never walk 00:24:50.85\00:24:53.17 through the four walls of a church. 00:24:53.20\00:24:54.98 I often take out and refer to 00:25:27.27\00:25:28.85 what I call the Global Mission blueprint. 00:25:28.88\00:25:31.59 It's a document put together in the late 1980s 00:25:31.62\00:25:34.89 that was the foundation for Global Mission. 00:25:34.92\00:25:37.72 That document lists as one of their 00:25:37.75\00:25:39.87 highest mission priorities in the country of China. 00:25:39.90\00:25:43.72 Today, China remains a huge challenge 00:25:43.75\00:25:46.23 but the church has grown rapidly. 00:25:46.26\00:25:48.71 Thanks to Global Mission Pioneers 00:25:48.74\00:25:50.29 and other church planters, 00:25:50.32\00:25:51.88 hundreds of new groups of believers 00:25:51.91\00:25:53.79 have been started and that's what 00:25:53.82\00:25:55.83 Global Mission is all about, starting new congregations, 00:25:55.86\00:25:59.19 in new areas and among new people groups. 00:25:59.22\00:26:02.71 Not being contend to sit back 00:26:02.74\00:26:05.23 within the four walls of a church 00:26:05.26\00:26:07.49 but to constantly keep our focus on building God's kingdom. 00:26:07.52\00:26:11.81 If you would like to learn more about Global Mission Pioneers 00:26:11.84\00:26:15.89 or what you can do to be involved in church planting, 00:26:15.92\00:26:18.97 make sure you receive our 00:26:19.00\00:26:20.56 quarterly magazine Frontline edition. 00:26:20.59\00:26:23.39 Just visit our website and ask for Frontline edition 00:26:23.42\00:26:26.40 or Offer Number 301. 00:26:26.43\00:26:29.53 Don't forget to clearly state your name, 00:26:29.56\00:26:31.40 full address and be sure to mention 00:26:31.43\00:26:33.98 Frontline edition or Offer 301. 00:26:34.01\00:26:37.42 Again, to receive your free Global Mission Frontline edition 00:26:37.45\00:26:41.03 each quarter simply call the toll free number 00:26:41.06\00:26:43.83 on your screen 1-800-648-5824 00:26:43.86\00:26:48.75 and ask for Frontline edition or mention Offer 301. 00:26:48.78\00:26:53.29 Or of course, you can just visit our website 00:26:53.32\00:26:55.66 at adventistmission.org /offer301. 00:26:55.69\00:26:59.94 Well, that's it for today's program 00:26:59.97\00:27:01.89 and I hope that you've been inspired 00:27:01.92\00:27:03.52 by what you've seen and by what you've heard. 00:27:03.55\00:27:06.35 Thank you for continuing to help. 00:27:06.38\00:27:08.65 The church's mission with your tithes 00:27:08.68\00:27:11.08 and your mission offerings 00:27:11.11\00:27:12.63 and for your continuing prayers for Global Mission. 00:27:12.66\00:27:15.93 For Adventist Mission, I'm Gary Krause. 00:27:15.96\00:27:18.24 And I hope you can join us next time 00:27:18.27\00:27:20.59 for Global Mission Snapshots. 00:27:20.62\00:27:22.29