Is the mission spirit genetic?
00:00:01.06\00:00:02.98
Perhaps not, but it is possible
00:00:03.01\00:00:05.47
to pass that
spirit on to our children.
00:00:05.50\00:00:08.70
Today, we will meet
one Adventist family
00:00:08.73\00:00:10.56
that seems to have the
mission spirit in the genes.
00:00:10.59\00:00:13.91
Just before He
went up to heaven,
00:00:18.15\00:00:20.59
Jesus gave us a command.
00:00:20.62\00:00:23.55
He gave us a
mission. Jesus said, Go.
00:00:23.58\00:00:28.73
Go unto all the world,
telling them of His love.
00:00:28.76\00:00:33.64
This is our mission.
This is our "Global Mission."
00:00:33.67\00:00:37.55
Hello I'm Gary Krause
00:00:42.78\00:00:44.09
and welcome to
"Global Mission Snapshots."
00:00:44.12\00:00:46.80
On today's program we will
be meeting Myron Iseminger,
00:00:46.83\00:00:50.33
undersecretary of
Seventh-day Adventist church.
00:00:50.36\00:00:53.76
Myron and his family
served as missionaries
00:00:53.79\00:00:55.85
in the Middle East
and most recently in Asia.
00:00:55.88\00:00:59.53
We will also
talk with Laurie Falvo
00:00:59.56\00:01:01.42
about Global
Mission in South Africa.
00:01:01.45\00:01:04.21
If you receive
Global Mission publications
00:01:04.24\00:01:06.45
which you should,
you will see the results
00:01:06.48\00:01:08.59
of some of
Laurie's work every month.
00:01:08.62\00:01:11.15
But first up,
let's meet a family
00:01:11.18\00:01:13.55
with the spirit of
mission in their blood.
00:01:13.58\00:01:15.99
As a physician
as you are trained
00:01:23.03\00:01:26.39
your primary goal in training is
00:01:26.42\00:01:28.47
to take good medical
care of people to make sure
00:01:28.50\00:01:31.66
that their health is
cared for in a proper way.
00:01:31.69\00:01:35.65
But as time has
gone by I realized that
00:01:35.68\00:01:38.61
that's really
not the primary issue
00:01:38.64\00:01:40.98
that my primary goal
is to lead people to Jesus
00:01:41.01\00:01:45.21
and to know Him.
00:01:45.24\00:01:46.91
And so I began to
see medical practice
00:01:46.94\00:01:49.98
as a tool to
lead people to Jesus.
00:01:50.01\00:01:53.47
And so I tried to focus on
00:01:53.50\00:01:56.38
somehow using
my medical practice
00:01:56.41\00:01:59.53
not as-- only as a tool
00:01:59.56\00:02:00.99
to help people
have a healthier life
00:02:01.02\00:02:02.73
and to recover from disease
00:02:02.76\00:02:04.46
but even more
importantly to come to know
00:02:04.49\00:02:07.20
the one who can
provide eternal life.
00:02:07.23\00:02:11.28
Greg, our oldest he has
always wanted to be a physician.
00:02:11.31\00:02:15.13
He has ended up
being trained as a surgeon
00:02:15.16\00:02:17.05
and served overseas
in many different places,
00:02:17.08\00:02:19.65
most recently in Cameroon.
00:02:19.68\00:02:21.27
I'd say it was probably
somewhere in high school
00:02:28.33\00:02:30.34
that I decided that I
really wanted to be a missionary
00:02:30.37\00:02:35.16
and specifically a physician.
00:02:35.19\00:02:36.53
I guess it was in
medical school in Loma Linda,
00:02:41.63\00:02:43.65
where it was really
solidified and I choose to be
00:02:43.68\00:02:46.04
part of the Deferred
Mission Appointee Program.
00:02:46.07\00:02:47.99
I did three years of residence--
00:02:54.02\00:02:55.51
three and half
years of residency
00:02:55.54\00:02:56.90
in family practice training
00:02:56.93\00:02:58.77
and haven't seen anything here
00:02:58.80\00:03:01.05
that I ever saw in
family practice training.
00:03:01.08\00:03:03.02
As a missionary my
goal is too pronged,
00:03:05.95\00:03:08.21
I mean of course I'm a physician
00:03:08.24\00:03:10.28
so I want an aspect
00:03:10.31\00:03:11.52
I want to reach
their physical needs
00:03:11.55\00:03:14.80
but more importantly
00:03:14.83\00:03:16.00
we need to reach
their spiritual needs.
00:03:16.03\00:03:18.52
And there are certain
people at the hospital
00:03:18.55\00:03:21.06
that we've been
able to minister to
00:03:21.09\00:03:23.34
and we have seen
people that have had tetanus
00:03:23.37\00:03:26.28
who have been sick in
hospital for many weeks
00:03:26.31\00:03:31.34
and then for a long
recovery period after that.
00:03:31.37\00:03:34.87
And with time and praying
every single day with them,
00:03:34.90\00:03:38.25
they have come to know Jesus
and give their heart to God
00:03:38.28\00:03:41.90
and I think that's
the most encouragement
00:03:41.93\00:03:44.71
is individual lives
that have been changed.
00:03:44.74\00:03:46.94
Cristy, our middle daughter
also wanted to be a physician
00:03:54.95\00:03:57.93
since she was young
00:03:57.96\00:03:58.99
and served in
Malamulo Hospital in Malawi.
00:03:59.02\00:04:02.57
I love the chance
to come to a place
00:04:14.77\00:04:18.94
and care for people who no
one out there really caring for.
00:04:18.97\00:04:24.63
I find that intensely satisfying
and I think that's why
00:04:24.66\00:04:28.98
I've always wanted to do this.
00:04:29.01\00:04:30.79
If you stop working at home,
00:04:30.82\00:04:33.16
your patients get upset
and they go see someone else.
00:04:33.19\00:04:35.93
Here people die
and I think that's what
00:04:35.96\00:04:38.75
I find truly
gratifying about being here.
00:04:38.78\00:04:43.11
I feel like it touches
into what Jesus talked about
00:04:43.14\00:04:45.74
when He saw the multitudes
and He had compassion on them.
00:04:45.77\00:04:49.66
I think that's really
what it comes on too for me.
00:04:49.69\00:04:52.99
We always think of
blessings as being safe
00:04:53.02\00:04:55.33
or happy or things like that.
00:04:55.36\00:04:58.18
But, I think you can
be blessed by loneliness
00:04:58.21\00:05:00.26
and by being homesick.
00:05:00.29\00:05:02.65
I think God Jesus will
bless you in a different way
00:05:02.68\00:05:05.09
and by being here I'm
getting to be molded by God
00:05:05.12\00:05:10.09
and you don't often get to see
that very clearly in your life.
00:05:10.12\00:05:13.07
The Heather our youngest
has taken a different track.
00:05:17.57\00:05:21.64
She really was not
interested in medicine,
00:05:21.67\00:05:23.32
which was fine with us,
so she trained as a teacher
00:05:23.35\00:05:26.44
and taught
elementary school for many years
00:05:26.47\00:05:29.27
and now is married to a
pastor and she and her husband
00:05:29.30\00:05:33.14
are pastoring
four churches in Kansas
00:05:33.17\00:05:36.97
and I guess I see that,
00:05:37.00\00:05:38.41
she is just as much a
missionary as our other children
00:05:38.44\00:05:41.42
because she is
there helping people
00:05:41.45\00:05:43.88
spreading the gospel
just in a different form.
00:05:43.91\00:05:46.71
I mean that is
God's mission to go over
00:05:46.74\00:05:49.73
and help people wherever we are.
00:05:49.76\00:05:51.53
Whether we are here in the US
00:05:51.56\00:05:52.80
or whether we are out of the US
00:05:52.83\00:05:54.55
go and help people and
teach them about the Lord
00:05:54.58\00:05:57.86
as well as helping
their physical well beings.
00:05:57.89\00:06:01.30
There are certain
people that I felt
00:06:08.71\00:06:12.82
I have made a real
difference in their life
00:06:12.85\00:06:17.01
both in a physical
aspect and in being able to have
00:06:17.04\00:06:21.47
the chance of
witnessing to them.
00:06:21.50\00:06:24.82
Since I have been here
00:06:24.85\00:06:25.88
probably the
verse that come to me
00:06:25.91\00:06:27.29
the most to me is 1 John 3:18
00:06:27.32\00:06:30.67
and that says,
"My dear brothers,
00:06:30.70\00:06:33.65
let us not love
in word or in tongue
00:06:33.68\00:06:36.33
but in deed and in
truth" and that's really
00:06:36.36\00:06:39.41
what I have been talking
to my employees here about.
00:06:39.44\00:06:41.98
Let's love in truth
each other our patients,
00:06:42.01\00:06:45.66
let's really show
what God is like here.
00:06:45.69\00:06:50.14
Donna and I have learned
to pray for our kids a lot
00:06:50.17\00:06:53.19
and say Lord, we can't
take care of these kids,
00:06:53.22\00:06:55.64
we can't provide for them,
00:06:55.67\00:06:56.95
You are gonna have
to take care of them
00:06:56.98\00:06:58.18
I'll overdo in Your work.
00:06:58.21\00:07:00.05
You go to the point
where you realize Lord,
00:07:00.08\00:07:02.90
they are Yours
they are not ours.
00:07:02.93\00:07:04.60
They never will be ours
they have always been Yours.
00:07:04.63\00:07:07.82
And You let them go,
00:07:07.85\00:07:09.43
that doesn't mean
you don't miss them,
00:07:09.46\00:07:10.84
that doesn't
mean it doesn't hurt,
00:07:10.87\00:07:12.60
that doesn't mean you don't
miss family times with them
00:07:12.63\00:07:14.98
special
occasions like Thanksgiving
00:07:15.01\00:07:16.66
and Christmas or you know Easter
00:07:16.69\00:07:19.03
or things like that
are family traditions
00:07:19.06\00:07:21.71
but you realize
that they are doing
00:07:21.74\00:07:24.46
something far more
valuable that's eternal.
00:07:24.49\00:07:26.84
I'm happy to
welcome my colleague
00:07:45.94\00:07:47.89
and friend
Pastor Myron Iseminger
00:07:47.92\00:07:50.18
who is the undersecretary
for the World Church.
00:07:50.21\00:07:53.10
Now, Myron, that means
that you give leadership
00:07:53.13\00:07:56.64
to the mission program
over the church in many ways
00:07:56.67\00:08:00.19
but you don't just sit at
the desk thinking about policy.
00:08:00.22\00:08:04.36
You have actually
experienced mission service
00:08:04.39\00:08:06.39
and it goes a long way back.
00:08:06.42\00:08:08.07
When did you first remember
being interested in mission?
00:08:08.10\00:08:13.19
Well, Gary, I grew
up in a Christian home
00:08:13.22\00:08:15.62
and I remember I love
to read mission stories.
00:08:15.65\00:08:19.06
And I had never really thought
that I would go as a missionary
00:08:19.09\00:08:23.98
until my oldest sister
spent a year as a volunteer
00:08:24.01\00:08:27.63
in Japan teaching English.
00:08:27.66\00:08:29.86
And it was during that year
00:08:29.89\00:08:31.25
I saw what a
difference it made in her life
00:08:31.28\00:08:34.28
that I vow that I was
going to do the same thing.
00:08:34.31\00:08:38.49
So I took a year out of
my university experience
00:08:38.52\00:08:41.98
and went to a part of the world
00:08:42.01\00:08:43.85
that I had always
been interested in
00:08:43.88\00:08:46.05
actually I was
living in Jerusalem.
00:08:46.08\00:08:48.05
Oh, wow. What did you do there?
00:08:48.08\00:08:50.99
We also had an
English language school
00:08:51.02\00:08:53.04
there at that time.
00:08:53.07\00:08:54.40
It was in east Jerusalem
00:08:54.43\00:08:55.64
so I was mostly
teaching Palestinian students
00:08:55.67\00:08:59.28
and during that
year for the first time
00:08:59.31\00:09:02.54
I put myself in
their place. Right.
00:09:02.57\00:09:06.03
And I thought, wow how
would my life be different
00:09:06.06\00:09:09.73
if I had been
born into their home?
00:09:09.76\00:09:13.42
Would I--would anyone
have told me about Jesus?
00:09:13.45\00:09:17.32
Would I have had
the peace and happiness
00:09:17.35\00:09:19.98
that came from
being a Christian?
00:09:20.01\00:09:22.29
And after that year
I went back committed
00:09:22.32\00:09:25.50
to wanting to go for a
longer mission service.
00:09:25.53\00:09:29.06
Wow, so you were like just
a teenager back then? Right.
00:09:29.09\00:09:33.76
So, what was the next step?
00:09:33.79\00:09:35.84
Well, as I was dating my wife
we talked about mission service
00:09:35.87\00:09:42.39
and she also was willing to go.
00:09:42.42\00:09:44.22
She had never been
out of her home country
00:09:44.25\00:09:47.44
here in the US.
00:09:47.47\00:09:48.81
But we had an opportunity
after our daughter was born.
00:09:48.84\00:09:54.06
She was a couple of
years old and we got to go back
00:09:54.09\00:09:57.17
to the Middle East
this time to Egypt.
00:09:57.20\00:09:59.89
Now, that's a
fascinating country.
00:09:59.92\00:10:02.53
It is, it's--
the history is rich,
00:10:02.56\00:10:05.94
the people we fell
in love with the people,
00:10:05.97\00:10:08.27
the food but as
far as Christianity
00:10:08.30\00:10:13.88
and mission, it's a little more
difficult country to work in.
00:10:13.91\00:10:19.12
Now that's an understatement.
00:10:19.15\00:10:21.13
The Adventist Church
has been present in Egypt
00:10:21.16\00:10:23.36
I guess for more
than 100 years now
00:10:23.39\00:10:27.23
but what are the main
challenges we face in Egypt?
00:10:27.26\00:10:31.17
Well, officially
the country is more open
00:10:31.20\00:10:36.85
than many in the Middle East
00:10:36.88\00:10:38.93
but of course there
is still the distinction.
00:10:38.96\00:10:41.65
If you are born a Christian,
you can remain a Christian.
00:10:41.68\00:10:45.02
If you are born into
the predominant religion
00:10:45.05\00:10:47.49
of that area then it's expected
00:10:47.52\00:10:50.05
that you will remain so.
00:10:50.08\00:10:52.16
Right and to be an Egyptian
00:10:52.19\00:10:53.86
is to remain in
that religion. Right.
00:10:53.89\00:10:55.90
So what did you do
when you were in Egypt?
00:10:55.93\00:10:58.19
Well, I worked
for our church office
00:10:58.22\00:11:01.33
there in administration treasury
00:11:01.36\00:11:05.08
and so I didn't
have a lot of it,
00:11:05.11\00:11:07.89
time to spend in the
frontlines as we would say
00:11:07.92\00:11:12.58
as in some other
areas of the world.
00:11:12.61\00:11:14.86
But we spent a lot of
time getting acquainted
00:11:14.89\00:11:18.62
with the people there.
00:11:18.65\00:11:21.16
You know,
Mohammad our vegetable man
00:11:21.19\00:11:24.58
we became good friends with
00:11:24.61\00:11:26.19
and they were
just so many instances
00:11:26.22\00:11:29.39
where we could relate on a
personal basis with people.
00:11:29.42\00:11:32.65
Great, so from Egypt
what was the next stage?
00:11:32.68\00:11:36.72
Well, there is one thing
that I want to share about Egypt
00:11:36.75\00:11:41.23
and that was that we
didn't see a lot of results
00:11:41.26\00:11:45.44
from our work and it's
easy to get discouraged.
00:11:45.47\00:11:48.03
We have a lot of missionaries
00:11:48.06\00:11:49.09
that are working in
hard areas like that.
00:11:49.12\00:11:52.00
But it was actually
just a few months ago
00:11:52.03\00:11:54.66
when I got a report
that really encouraged me
00:11:54.69\00:11:57.82
about that time we had spent.
00:11:57.85\00:11:59.83
One of my colleagues
was traveling in Europe
00:11:59.86\00:12:02.82
and ran into a family
00:12:02.85\00:12:04.70
that I had got acquainted
with during that time in Egypt.
00:12:04.73\00:12:08.69
The young man
was raised in a home
00:12:08.72\00:12:12.72
where his mother was Christian
00:12:12.75\00:12:15.47
and his father
was of another faith.
00:12:15.50\00:12:18.89
And so he
struggled what he should do.
00:12:18.92\00:12:22.91
His mother came to our
church I got acquainted with him
00:12:22.94\00:12:26.19
and you know we studied together
00:12:26.22\00:12:28.94
he ask a lot of questions
I answered his questions
00:12:28.97\00:12:31.56
but we lost
contact over the years.
00:12:31.59\00:12:34.50
And it was just this
year that I found out
00:12:34.53\00:12:36.81
through his mother
telling the colleague of mine
00:12:36.84\00:12:39.86
that he had decided to
make a stand for Christ
00:12:39.89\00:12:44.23
and is now a
faithful practicing Christian.
00:12:44.26\00:12:46.98
Now, that's encouraging.
00:12:47.01\00:12:49.29
So, from Egypt
you went to where?
00:12:49.32\00:12:52.60
We came back to
the US by the end
00:12:52.63\00:12:55.36
we had a couple of kids
and for their schooling.
00:12:55.39\00:12:58.10
We worked here for a few years
00:12:58.13\00:12:59.82
but we still had that
burning desire to go out
00:12:59.85\00:13:02.85
and so we did have
an opportunity again
00:13:02.88\00:13:04.83
to go this time to Asia.
00:13:04.86\00:13:06.90
And we enjoyed
our time there again.
00:13:06.93\00:13:10.52
It's a
fascinating part of the world
00:13:10.55\00:13:13.21
and we were able to be
00:13:13.24\00:13:15.01
a little bit more open
in sharing our faith there.
00:13:15.04\00:13:18.06
Yeah, now, that's
where I first met you
00:13:18.09\00:13:20.20
and there the territories
that you are helping care for
00:13:20.23\00:13:24.87
it's a very
diverse mission area.
00:13:24.90\00:13:27.08
You had, you are in the
heart of the 10/40 Window.
00:13:27.11\00:13:30.31
That's right.
00:13:30.34\00:13:32.12
Myron, what have you gained
from your mission experience?
00:13:32.15\00:13:36.71
Well, first I think it
has helped me more than
00:13:36.74\00:13:40.53
I feel it's helped the
people I went to serve.
00:13:40.56\00:13:43.19
And that's the-- the
most interesting thing
00:13:43.22\00:13:45.56
about mission
service, it changes us.
00:13:45.59\00:13:48.39
And when I came
back even from that year
00:13:48.42\00:13:51.28
as a student missionary,
it enforced me to think
00:13:51.31\00:13:55.18
through my
beliefs and to understand
00:13:55.21\00:13:58.87
and improve my
relationship with God.
00:13:58.90\00:14:01.85
But I think it also gave me
00:14:01.88\00:14:04.06
a better
understanding of other cultures
00:14:04.09\00:14:07.39
and that we are all different
00:14:07.42\00:14:10.36
but God all created
us with a need for Him.
00:14:10.39\00:14:13.82
And that's really what
missionaries are out there doing
00:14:13.85\00:14:17.86
is they are telling
people what that empty spot in
00:14:17.89\00:14:20.50
their heart is and
that's of course is Jesus.
00:14:20.53\00:14:24.76
Now, the
Seventh-day Adventist church
00:14:24.79\00:14:27.98
still sends missionaries.
00:14:28.01\00:14:30.40
I'm surprised how
often I get the question,
00:14:30.43\00:14:32.76
does a church
still sends missionary.
00:14:32.79\00:14:34.44
How many do we send?
00:14:34.47\00:14:36.19
Well, it depends on what
classification of missionaries.
00:14:36.22\00:14:39.91
When you are
talking career missionaries
00:14:39.94\00:14:42.72
we have right now, I
think 453 families filling
00:14:42.75\00:14:48.82
I think 700
posts around the world
00:14:48.85\00:14:51.88
of course husband and
wife are being some of those.
00:14:51.91\00:14:54.68
But then we send
volunteer missionaries,
00:14:54.71\00:14:58.38
there are short
term missionaries.
00:14:58.41\00:15:00.34
So there are hundreds more.
00:15:00.37\00:15:02.31
Global Mission pioneers,
00:15:02.34\00:15:03.81
interdivision
missionaries here. Right, right.
00:15:03.84\00:15:07.15
Myron, thank you so
much for taking time
00:15:07.18\00:15:09.33
to share from your own
experience with us today.
00:15:09.36\00:15:12.33
And viewers at home,
yes, the Adventist church
00:15:12.36\00:15:14.95
still does send missionaries
all around the world.
00:15:14.98\00:15:18.14
We like to say from
everywhere to everywhere.
00:15:18.17\00:15:21.24
And as Myron has
pointed out it can get lonely,
00:15:21.27\00:15:24.86
it can get discouraging,
sometimes you don't see
00:15:24.89\00:15:27.80
the sort of
results that you want
00:15:27.83\00:15:29.19
and you wonder
whether this is where
00:15:29.22\00:15:30.68
God has placed you.
00:15:30.71\00:15:31.74
So please continue to
pray for missionaries.
00:15:31.77\00:15:35.29
Pray that God will be with
them, will bless their work,
00:15:35.32\00:15:38.39
will encourage them
and so that they can help
00:15:38.42\00:15:40.79
build God's
kingdom where they are.
00:15:40.82\00:15:42.48
My guest is Laurie Falvo,
00:16:22.66\00:16:24.35
who works with me in the
office of Adventist Mission
00:16:24.38\00:16:26.47
at the General Conference.
00:16:26.50\00:16:28.11
Laurie, you are
involved in communication
00:16:28.14\00:16:30.21
and you do a lot of work on
our Global Mission newsletters.
00:16:30.24\00:16:34.11
How do you feel
when you see these
00:16:34.14\00:16:35.29
church planting stories
come through? Very excited.
00:16:35.32\00:16:38.77
Yeah, people's lives
have been changed. They are.
00:16:38.80\00:16:41.66
Now, you recently
came back from South Africa
00:16:41.69\00:16:44.76
and we hear a lot about
00:16:44.79\00:16:45.82
the Southern half of
the continent of Africa
00:16:45.85\00:16:47.66
where the church is
booming, thousands of baptisms,
00:16:47.69\00:16:50.87
but there is a still a
bit of challenge in mission?
00:16:50.90\00:16:52.90
Of course yes, especially
in our big cities. Yeah.
00:16:52.93\00:16:56.08
On the Sabbath I was
there we were able to visit
00:16:56.11\00:16:58.65
three churches in South Africa.
00:16:58.68\00:17:01.65
At the first one in Pretoria
00:17:01.68\00:17:03.15
we met probably about
ten Global Mission pioneers
00:17:03.18\00:17:06.13
and we were able to
go off into a quite room
00:17:06.16\00:17:08.31
and talk with them about
their work that they are doing
00:17:08.34\00:17:11.09
and their
challenges and their successes.
00:17:11.12\00:17:13.72
And they are doing
some really exciting things.
00:17:13.75\00:17:15.67
They just had a huge
evangelistic meeting series
00:17:15.70\00:17:19.38
where before the meeting started
they studied with 500 people.
00:17:19.41\00:17:23.57
They had a huge health expo
00:17:23.60\00:17:26.01
attended by a 1,100 people
00:17:26.04\00:17:28.59
and after the meetings
they had quite a few baptisms,
00:17:28.62\00:17:31.21
they are still
following up on those.
00:17:31.24\00:17:32.99
But the exciting thing is that
00:17:33.02\00:17:34.51
the people who
have been baptized
00:17:34.54\00:17:36.29
have formed small groups
00:17:36.32\00:17:37.64
and they are now
reaching out to other people
00:17:37.67\00:17:40.34
their friends you know,
the people in their communities
00:17:40.37\00:17:42.73
and a Global Mission pioneers
00:17:42.76\00:17:44.10
are heading up
those small groups.
00:17:44.13\00:17:46.06
So this is, you know the
thing that is so amazing to me
00:17:46.09\00:17:49.30
about South
Africa is these people
00:17:49.33\00:17:51.48
the church members
want to be so involved.
00:17:51.51\00:17:54.49
As soon as they come
in their mind set is,
00:17:54.52\00:17:56.77
how can I be part of this?
00:17:56.80\00:17:58.26
How can I reach
out to other people?
00:17:58.29\00:17:59.74
How can I let them
know what I know and share?
00:17:59.77\00:18:02.46
Now, for some one who
may be viewing this program
00:18:02.49\00:18:05.60
for the first time what
is a Global Mission pioneer?
00:18:05.63\00:18:08.35
A Global Mission
pioneer is a person
00:18:08.38\00:18:10.63
"who kind of like a missionary"
00:18:10.66\00:18:13.94
except that they are
from the area where they work.
00:18:13.97\00:18:17.15
They already know the
language they know the culture
00:18:17.18\00:18:20.33
they work on a small
stipend they serve as--
00:18:20.36\00:18:25.65
in a pastoral role, they
do evangelistic meetings,
00:18:25.68\00:18:29.91
home to home Bible studies.
00:18:29.94\00:18:32.83
And the goal is to
plant a new church.
00:18:32.86\00:18:34.25
Plant churches, they
raise up new groups of believers
00:18:34.28\00:18:36.64
and then eventually
they plant churches. Yeah.
00:18:36.67\00:18:39.09
Now Laurie, you were telling me
00:18:39.12\00:18:40.15
about one of the
pioneers Jubulani,
00:18:40.18\00:18:42.28
can you tell me his story?
00:18:42.31\00:18:44.26
Yeah, this is a very,
very exciting thing for me.
00:18:44.29\00:18:48.09
There was a
pastor-- he was a pastor
00:18:48.12\00:18:50.34
who was heading
up a Christian church
00:18:50.37\00:18:53.90
of a different
denomination in Johannesburg.
00:18:53.93\00:18:57.34
And somehow he came in contact
00:18:57.37\00:18:59.90
with the concept of
Sabbath being a question.
00:18:59.93\00:19:03.32
Some other Christians
were asking him about it.
00:19:03.35\00:19:06.12
So he wanted to
study this matter out
00:19:06.15\00:19:08.39
and there was a
Global Mission pioneer couple
00:19:08.42\00:19:11.17
that began studying with him.
00:19:11.20\00:19:14.15
Untill they got to
the issue with the Sabbath
00:19:14.18\00:19:17.10
and then they
turned over the meetings
00:19:17.13\00:19:19.51
to Pastor Sibanda and his wife
00:19:19.54\00:19:22.77
who are another
Global Mission couple.
00:19:22.80\00:19:25.83
And they studied
this out together
00:19:25.86\00:19:28.37
and Pastor Jubulani decided that
00:19:28.40\00:19:33.51
he wanted to keep the
Sabbath this was the truth
00:19:33.54\00:19:36.37
but he had a couple
of really huge challenges
00:19:36.40\00:19:38.69
and one was whether
his wife would accept it
00:19:38.72\00:19:40.98
because he and she had
started this church together.
00:19:41.01\00:19:45.60
And he needed her support
00:19:45.63\00:19:47.03
and the other thing is what
to do with his congregation.
00:19:47.06\00:19:50.38
You know his choice was
00:19:50.41\00:19:51.44
he could just
leave them all together
00:19:51.47\00:19:53.12
and but he
didn't want to do that.
00:19:53.15\00:19:55.41
He wanted to share
the message with them
00:19:55.44\00:19:57.55
and give them an opportunity
to make a decision themselves.
00:19:57.58\00:20:00.64
So he asked Pastor
Sibanda and his wife
00:20:00.67\00:20:03.12
to come to their
church on a Sunday
00:20:03.15\00:20:06.06
and talk about
the Ten Commandments
00:20:06.09\00:20:08.30
and the Sabbath which they did.
00:20:08.33\00:20:10.62
The congregation
was very interested
00:20:10.65\00:20:12.65
and they pressed
for them coming back
00:20:12.68\00:20:14.25
the following
Sunday which they did.
00:20:14.28\00:20:17.30
Two weeks later after
meeting on these two Sundays,
00:20:17.33\00:20:20.06
the congregation
looks at Pastor Jubulani
00:20:20.09\00:20:23.14
and says to him what
do we gonna do about this?
00:20:23.17\00:20:27.94
You know we
believe that the Sabbath
00:20:27.97\00:20:29.35
is a Sabbath of the Bible.
00:20:29.38\00:20:33.38
We want to begin worshiping
at, what you're gonna do.
00:20:33.41\00:20:35.96
So he looks at them and he says
00:20:35.99\00:20:37.35
well, actually I
have been waiting on
00:20:37.38\00:20:38.54
you all to make a decision,
00:20:38.57\00:20:39.94
make sure you are
comfortable with this.
00:20:39.97\00:20:42.13
So the very next Sabbath
he puts a sign up on the door
00:20:42.16\00:20:45.83
services will be
held on Saturday,
00:20:45.86\00:20:47.70
we will be closed Sunday.
00:20:47.73\00:20:49.33
And the-- the
entire congregation
00:20:49.36\00:20:51.85
except for a few people
00:20:51.88\00:20:53.67
becomes a
Seventh-day Adventist church,
00:20:53.70\00:20:55.68
they just completely switchover.
00:20:55.71\00:20:57.99
So Pastor Sibanda then
holds an evangelistic series
00:20:58.02\00:21:02.11
and 23 people are baptized
00:21:02.14\00:21:05.24
including
Pastor Jubulani's wife.
00:21:05.27\00:21:09.87
So they are all united in this.
00:21:09.90\00:21:12.38
And then they began
reaching out to the people
00:21:12.41\00:21:14.29
who have left and
over the last few years
00:21:14.32\00:21:17.24
many of those individuals
have comeback as well.
00:21:17.27\00:21:20.31
And the church now is growing
so quickly with the members
00:21:20.34\00:21:24.47
reaching out to the community
00:21:24.50\00:21:26.16
that they have outgrown
the church that they ran
00:21:26.19\00:21:28.14
and they're actually
needing to find a new location.
00:21:28.17\00:21:31.17
Well, it seems like they have
00:21:31.20\00:21:32.69
a real
comprehensive plan of follow up,
00:21:32.72\00:21:36.81
not just going to
an evangelistic series,
00:21:36.84\00:21:38.62
baptize them, see you later.
00:21:38.65\00:21:40.72
No, they do, they follow
through with the Bible studies,
00:21:40.75\00:21:45.00
they pray for people,
lot of home visitation.
00:21:45.03\00:21:48.56
Now, you met some
other pioneers as well?
00:21:48.59\00:21:50.81
Well, I talked to
Pastor Sibanda and his wife
00:21:50.84\00:21:53.14
and they have a very
interesting story too.
00:21:53.17\00:21:57.34
After they became Christians
00:21:57.37\00:21:58.71
Pastor Sibanda
was accused of a crime
00:21:58.74\00:22:03.23
that he says he did not
commit and he went to prison.
00:22:03.26\00:22:06.19
He was in prison for quite
a few months, awaiting trail.
00:22:06.22\00:22:10.48
His wife came to visit
him in prison all the time
00:22:10.51\00:22:13.96
and they would get
together on Sabbaths.
00:22:13.99\00:22:16.72
Eventually what happened is,
the wardens got upset about this
00:22:16.75\00:22:20.04
and they told her
she could no longer come.
00:22:20.07\00:22:23.50
His case--there was never
any paper work about his crime,
00:22:23.53\00:22:28.84
the court through his
case out all together.
00:22:28.87\00:22:32.30
The very next Sabbath
after the wardens had told
00:22:32.33\00:22:35.58
Mrs. Sibanda that she
couldn't come to church
00:22:35.61\00:22:37.72
anymore at the prison
00:22:37.75\00:22:39.13
they walked in hand in
hand to begin a prison ministry.
00:22:39.16\00:22:42.43
They felt
impressed while they were
00:22:42.46\00:22:44.08
that they were such a great
need for Jesus in the prison.
00:22:44.11\00:22:47.16
She specifically
ministers to young men
00:22:47.19\00:22:49.18
between the ages
of say 13 and 17.
00:22:49.21\00:22:52.86
Just the young ones.
00:22:52.89\00:22:54.27
And she has seen a
lot of changed lives
00:22:54.30\00:22:57.05
and interestingly
the wardens now call her
00:22:57.08\00:23:01.23
and they tell her
there's somebody here
00:23:01.26\00:23:02.71
you need to come and counsel.
00:23:02.74\00:23:03.82
There is somebody in
here you need to pray for
00:23:03.85\00:23:05.76
and they are
actually inviting them to come
00:23:05.79\00:23:07.45
and to do their
prison ministries.
00:23:07.48\00:23:09.40
So I think he was
cleared of the crime.
00:23:09.43\00:23:11.25
He was.
00:23:11.28\00:23:12.44
In fact he told
me that in hindsight
00:23:12.47\00:23:14.90
he actually feels
like it was a blessing.
00:23:14.93\00:23:16.38
As hard as it was to go
through for both of them
00:23:16.41\00:23:19.20
that it was a blessing from God
00:23:19.23\00:23:21.46
because it began this
whole new ministry for them.
00:23:21.49\00:23:24.86
How do you feel when you
met with some of these pioneers?
00:23:24.89\00:23:29.08
Mrs. Sibanda cried
with me. It was very moving.
00:23:29.11\00:23:32.48
You know she shared
just how hard that was.
00:23:32.51\00:23:35.55
She said that there was a time
that she felt like leaving God,
00:23:35.58\00:23:38.89
leaving the church everything
but then she said I remembered
00:23:38.92\00:23:42.40
Jesus called me out
of the devil dancing
00:23:42.43\00:23:45.60
that I was doing
and I said to Him
00:23:45.63\00:23:48.52
I cannot go back, I must
go forward with Your help.
00:23:48.55\00:23:51.67
Wonderful.
00:23:51.70\00:23:52.83
Laurie, thanks so much
for sharing with us today.
00:23:52.86\00:23:54.80
Thank you, Gary.
00:23:54.83\00:23:55.89
Whenever I meet
Global Mission pioneers
00:23:55.92\00:23:57.54
like Laurie I'm humbled
when I see their sacrifice,
00:23:57.57\00:24:01.09
when I see their
wonderful commitment.
00:24:01.12\00:24:03.07
It can be so challenging
as a pioneer in a new area
00:24:03.10\00:24:06.31
or among a new people group.
00:24:06.34\00:24:08.28
Where do you start,
00:24:08.31\00:24:09.66
it can be lonely,
it can be discouraging.
00:24:09.69\00:24:11.63
So please, continue to pray
for Global Mission pioneers,
00:24:11.66\00:24:15.25
that the Holy Spirit
will be there to guide them,
00:24:15.28\00:24:18.07
to comfort them in
their important work.
00:24:18.10\00:24:19.98
This small group
of believers make up
00:24:31.10\00:24:33.77
the Seventh-day Adventist Church
in Ingwavuma, South Africa.
00:24:33.80\00:24:37.63
This group was
formed several years ago
00:24:37.66\00:24:40.23
when two Global
Mission pioneers came
00:24:40.26\00:24:42.40
and started sharing the
gospel with the local community.
00:24:42.43\00:24:46.27
Over the years
the group has grown
00:24:46.30\00:24:48.61
and now they are a
full fledged church
00:24:48.64\00:24:51.22
with more than 80 members.
00:24:51.25\00:24:53.25
They love to sing
00:24:53.28\00:24:54.65
and they love to
hear the message of Jesus
00:24:54.68\00:24:56.88
and the new life
that can be found in Him.
00:24:56.91\00:24:59.44
The church now
has a district pastor
00:25:09.28\00:25:11.22
and the only
problem the church faces
00:25:11.25\00:25:13.49
is a lack of space.
00:25:13.52\00:25:15.58
Currently they are meeting
in the local community building,
00:25:15.61\00:25:18.78
but they have to share the space
00:25:18.81\00:25:20.10
and it gets very crowded,
even for Friday night vespers.
00:25:20.13\00:25:24.03
You should see how packed
they are on Sabbath morning.
00:25:24.06\00:25:27.73
The church's children don't have
a room of their own to meet in,
00:25:27.76\00:25:30.84
so they worship under a tree
00:25:30.87\00:25:33.10
by the side of the
main road through town.
00:25:33.13\00:25:35.70
They also love to
sing and learn about Jesus.
00:25:35.73\00:25:38.95
Your 13th Sabbath Offerings
00:25:47.35\00:25:49.16
will help to
provide a new church
00:25:49.19\00:25:51.21
for the members in Ingwavuma.
00:25:51.24\00:25:53.90
A plot of land has been obtained
00:25:53.93\00:25:55.76
and now all they
need are the funds
00:25:55.79\00:25:57.94
to build their
new spiritual home.
00:25:57.97\00:26:00.62
A small room will also be built
00:26:00.65\00:26:02.39
where the
children can meet as well
00:26:02.42\00:26:04.41
and also have a place
00:26:04.44\00:26:05.60
where they can
invite their friends to come
00:26:05.63\00:26:07.87
and learn about Jesus.
00:26:07.90\00:26:10.14
Your faithful support
of both Global Mission
00:26:10.17\00:26:13.44
and the Mission Offering
has made this project possible.
00:26:13.47\00:26:17.29
Global Mission
provided the workers
00:26:17.32\00:26:19.02
who planted the
seeds in Ingwavuma
00:26:19.05\00:26:21.12
that have now
grown into a full church.
00:26:21.15\00:26:24.53
Now your Mission
Offerings will continue the work
00:26:24.56\00:26:27.38
that was started
by Global Mission.
00:26:27.41\00:26:30.68
Please pray for the
members in Ingwavuma
00:26:30.71\00:26:33.30
as they continue to grow
00:26:33.33\00:26:34.90
and share their newfound
faith with their friends,
00:26:34.93\00:26:38.46
families and neighbors.
00:26:38.49\00:26:41.02
Thank you for your
prayerful support of the Mission
00:26:41.05\00:26:44.53
of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
00:26:44.56\00:26:46.35
Over the years I had a
privilege of meeting hundreds
00:26:53.81\00:26:56.66
of Global Mission pioneers
in various parts of the world.
00:26:56.69\00:27:00.74
They always leave me humbled
with their spirit of mission,
00:27:00.77\00:27:04.54
their spirit of sacrifice.
00:27:04.57\00:27:06.65
If you enjoy stories of pioneers
missionaries and mission
00:27:06.68\00:27:10.65
you want a copy of the
mission stories for kids DVD.
00:27:10.68\00:27:14.72
It's designed for kids
but it's not just for kids.
00:27:14.75\00:27:17.96
So if you live in North America
00:27:17.99\00:27:19.33
and would like a
free copy of this DVD
00:27:19.36\00:27:22.17
simply call our toll
free number 1800-648-5824
00:27:22.20\00:27:28.63
or visit our website and
ask for the Mission Stories
00:27:28.66\00:27:31.46
for Kids DVD or
offer number 304.
00:27:31.49\00:27:36.02
And don't forget to
clearly state your name
00:27:36.05\00:27:38.11
and address and
be sure to mention
00:27:38.14\00:27:40.39
Mission Stories for
Kids DVD or offer 304.
00:27:40.42\00:27:45.55
Well, that's it
for today's program.
00:27:45.58\00:27:47.50
Thanks so much for joining us
00:27:47.53\00:27:48.96
and I hope you
have been inspired
00:27:48.99\00:27:50.95
by what you have seen and heard.
00:27:50.98\00:27:53.00
On behalf of
Adventist missionaries
00:27:53.03\00:27:54.64
and Global Mission pioneers
serving all around the world
00:27:54.67\00:27:58.45
thank you for
your continuing prayers
00:27:58.48\00:28:00.90
and your support
for frontline mission.
00:28:00.93\00:28:03.65
Until next time I'm Gary Krause
00:28:03.68\00:28:05.91
for Adventist
mission. God bless.>>
00:28:05.94\00:28:08.11