Participants: Gray Krause (Host), Myron Iseminger, Bill & Trixy Coldwell
Series Code: GMS
Program Code: GMS000017
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00:01 A church reaching out to their community after disaster strikes
00:04 and a medical missionary couple 00:06 in the West African country of Cameroon, 00:08 coming up next on Global Mission Snapshots. 00:14 Just before He went up to heaven, 00:16 Jesus gave us a command. 00:19 He gave us a mission. Jesus said, Go. 00:25 Go unto all the world, telling them of His love. 00:30 This is our mission. This is our "Global Mission." 00:40 Hello, I'm Gary Krause 00:41 and welcome to Global Mission Snapshots. 00:44 On today's program we'll meet Christina 00:46 a returned missionary, 00:48 who shares a touching story of how she reached out 00:51 to a family in their time of loss. 00:54 We'll also be talking with Myron Iseminger, 00:57 undersecretary 00:58 for the Seventh-day Adventist Church 01:00 and a former missionary. 01:02 But first up, let's find out 01:04 how a congregation of Seventh-day Adventist 01:07 reached out to others in the aftermath of a tornado. 01:11 On April 25 to 28, 2011 a strong series of tornadoes 01:17 swept through seven states 01:18 in the south eastern part of the United States. 01:22 More than 330 tornadoes were observed 01:25 and more than 320 people lost their lives. 01:30 Hardest hit was the state of Alabama, 01:33 where more than 280 people died. 01:36 The cities of Tuscaloosa, 01:38 Birmingham and Huntsville were hardest hit. 01:41 For many it was a day they will never forget. 01:44 On April 27, 01:46 that was really a day that changed 01:48 a whole lot of people's perspectives, 01:51 not only physically but also spiritually as well. 01:56 Adventist Community Services along with many local 01:59 Seventh-day Adventist churches immediately sprang into action 02:03 and answered the call for help. 02:05 Local pathfinder groups helped to deliver 02:07 food and water to the affected areas. 02:10 Church members also worked in their local communities 02:13 to help those in need. 02:15 Pratt City on the outskirts of Birmingham, Alabama 02:19 faced some of the worst devastation 02:21 caused by the storms. 02:23 More than 200 homes were destroyed 02:25 in a few short minutes 02:27 forever changing the lives of those who live there 02:30 and those who responded. 02:33 Your heart go out to the people, 02:36 it helps you to grow as a Christian 02:38 and it also allow you to be 02:42 a better witness to the people 02:45 you've been through the couple of days 02:47 and so I was just excited to go out and help 02:51 and be like a missionary to the poor. 02:55 Adventist members were not immune to the damage 02:58 that the storm brought to Birmingham. 03:00 Many lost their homes 03:02 but they still made the best of the situation. 03:06 One of the members at our church was Abel, 03:08 he lost his home but he was able to help 03:11 rescue other people out of their homes 03:13 in light of the tornado that came. 03:18 Because we could begin hearing the cries 03:20 of our neighbors help, help, help. 03:23 So I ran across the street 03:26 and the neighbors directly across from me 03:28 their house had pancaked on top of them 03:31 because they were told to go out to the basement of your home, 03:33 but if you do that typically if something is going to fall 03:37 is gonna fall on top of them. 03:38 And I began to dig through the rubble 03:40 and I got a mother and her son out 03:42 because her husband who was a doctor 03:44 was working at one of the local hospitals. 03:47 Adventist Community Services was able to arrange 03:50 the use of a large warehouse in Birmingham 03:53 to help coordinate the sorting and distribution 03:55 of the relief supplies that were being donated 03:58 to those in need. 04:00 Wayne Blanding serves 04:01 as the coordinator of the warehouse. 04:04 Well, we distribute from here 04:06 everything from food items to personal care items 04:11 to large items like mattresses, water, tarps 04:17 with the whole spectrum it comes through here. 04:21 The tornado changed many people's lives, 04:24 both in good and bad ways. 04:27 But for those who were involved 04:29 in helping their local community, 04:31 they came away with a new sense of pride in their church. 04:35 And I think that's just the general 04:37 question attitude that which we have. 04:39 I think beyond being Adventist 04:41 our call is to be great Christians. 04:43 And in the calling of Christianity, 04:46 and not only in forms of Adventism 04:48 but it makes our Adventist church 04:49 stand out so much more not only 04:51 because of the message that we preach 04:54 but the way that we live. 04:56 We were alive, they were folk who were in danger. 04:59 So it was not even a second thought to try to help 05:01 because again that's what we're 05:03 here for to help one another. 05:04 Your support of the world budget and the mission offerings 05:08 help to support organizations like 05:10 Adventist Community Services as they strive 05:14 to reach out to a world in need. 05:16 Thank you for supporting 05:18 the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 05:28 It's my pleasure to introduce Bill and Trixy, 05:30 who are working as missionaries 05:34 in the country of Cameroon in Africa. 05:37 Thanks very much for joining us. 05:38 You know, the word missionary 05:40 has a bit of a negative feel for lot of people 05:43 because of, you know, 05:44 in past history and even today sometimes 05:47 people are not very sensitive of other people's culture 05:51 and come and hit people over the head with the Bible. 05:53 I'm guessing that's not your approach to ministry. 05:57 I don't believe-- No, it is not, it is not. 06:00 Let me just get a bit of context 06:02 here that Bill and Trixy are working at a hospital, 06:05 a mission hospital in the Cameroon. 06:07 And I guess most of your day is just busy, busy, busy 06:12 seeing patients and making sure 06:14 everything flows correctly. 06:16 Largely, I would say Trixy, has the patient for. 06:20 My day has seeing patients. 06:23 And my day is looking 06:26 at how we were growing making sure 06:30 we're breaking even, what do we need to do 06:33 to make movement towards the future. 06:35 And so for me that's been creating mission statement, 06:38 we are looking at value statements, 06:40 things that will last long after we go 06:44 and that don't even represent us but the institution. 06:48 Wonderful. Yeah. 06:49 So, Trixy, you could have settled 06:52 in the United States of America, worked as a doctor. 06:55 You could have had a very comfortable life 06:57 earning more money than I do. 06:59 But why did you choose to go to Africa 07:02 to work at a mission hospital? 07:05 I have always wanted to go since undergraduate 07:08 and I felt that God gave me a desire, 07:13 He put that in my heart and He kept that desire going 07:17 through medical school 07:19 and even through residency training. 07:22 And, you know, God fulfills you where you are. 07:26 And I might just think that's where He has called me for now 07:29 and I'm happy where He called me. 07:33 Now, Loma Linda University is a tremendous support 07:37 for Adventist Mission around the world. 07:40 How did it help you spiritually and in your goals? 07:46 Loma Linda is a very nurturing environment 07:49 for teaching young doctors how to interact 07:55 with patients and colleagues on multiple levels 07:59 including how to minister to people 08:01 spiritually, physically, mentally. 08:05 It also leaves you with people in your life 08:08 that you will forever be in contact with, 08:10 mentors, friends, colleagues 08:13 that are always there you know, 08:16 there are people I know for the rest of my life. 08:19 And so that's a big support as well. 08:21 Sure. 08:22 The day to day rush of your work, 08:26 there must be times when you get discouraged. 08:29 How did you, I mean, are there times when 08:31 you are lonely or why am I here, 08:34 do you have those moments? 08:35 Yes, we do. Sure. 08:37 Don't know about lonely 08:38 but definitely why am I here? 08:41 What gets you through that? 08:45 I mean, part of it is 08:47 for me it's looking back and going, okay, 08:51 this is where God called me and looking back and seeing 08:55 how He calls us, that's pretty miraculous. 08:57 If you look at all the various steps 08:59 that brought us to Cameroon and that have kept us there. 09:01 It's just amazing. 09:03 So part of it is just looking back 09:05 and being very sure that this is where God's called us. 09:08 And part of it, you know, 09:10 it's just also trying to step back sometimes 09:13 and you know, do your own 09:15 personal searching on your own talk with God. 09:20 And then also from friends, friends and family, 09:24 colleagues, you know, 09:27 there are people sometimes you just have to reach out to 09:30 and it would be like why am I doing this again? 09:33 Can you share a story of someone 09:37 where you feel that you were able to make 09:38 a positive impact on through your ministry there? 09:42 Wow. One? 09:48 Well, I think you probably have more health stories. 09:52 Health stories, yes. 09:53 But you have many people 09:54 you have also impacted. 09:56 A lot of for me because I don't 09:59 do the health sector. 10:03 It's looking at the conversations. 10:07 And sometimes you don't realize 10:09 the impact you have until much later 10:12 and sometimes through someone else 10:15 and so when you have the opportunity 10:19 to explore life with someone. 10:25 One of our volunteer friends, 10:30 independent volunteers, atheist 10:33 and she was having dinner with us and saying, 10:37 I needed you today 10:39 because there were these two people conversing 10:43 and they were basically beating each other up with the Bible 10:45 and I know enough to know that it's about love. 10:50 I need a Jew there to help 10:53 give me the right text you know, 10:55 to help and so then you have over dinner 10:59 basically invitation to Bible study without Bible study. 11:02 Yeah. 11:03 And those happen actually more often 11:05 than I actually have counted. 11:07 I mean, it's frequent, 11:08 where you just have the opportunity 11:10 to explore what the scripture says 11:14 about love and compassion and service. 11:16 Great. 11:18 Thank you so much for joining us today. 11:20 I appreciate your sharing with us. 11:21 Thank you. 11:22 And to viewers at home, please, 11:25 remember people such as Bill and Trixy, 11:28 who are in the frontlines of mission 11:30 face challenges everyday. 11:32 They need your prayers, they need your support. 12:13 My guest is Pastor Myron Iseminger 12:17 who is the undersecretary for the General Conference 12:20 of Seventh-day Adventist. 12:22 This means Myron, that you are very involved 12:24 in the mission program of the church around the world. 12:28 I had a lot of questions to ask you but first up, 12:30 what's this shirt that you are wearing? 12:32 Well, this shirt comes from the Philippines 12:35 and it looks cool and it is a little cooler 12:38 than wearing a jacket but it is their formal wear. 12:41 Yes, so you get to preach in that 12:42 when you are in the Philippines. 12:43 That's right, no ties there. 12:45 Any plans for introducing that to the United States? 12:47 I would love to. 12:49 I wear this often as I have an opportunity. 12:51 I'm sure you do. 12:52 Now you were working for sometime in Southeast Asia. 12:56 You were based in the Philippines but your 12:59 jurisdiction was much of Southeast Asia. 13:02 Now what was your role there? 13:05 My role was more of a supportive role. 13:08 I got the privilege of supporting the missionaries 13:11 who are working across that region of the world. 13:13 That which brings up an interesting point 13:16 that many of our missionaries are involved in 13:18 what we call frontline work 13:19 in terms of their church planting. 13:21 They are starting new groups, groups of believers, 13:23 there are overseeing pioneers etcetera. 13:26 But others like you were in that area were 13:30 playing a support role, how do you keep your, 13:32 the balance between a desk job 13:35 but still being involved in mission? 13:38 Well, one thing I did besides, 13:40 you know, the normal day to day 13:42 getting acquainted with your neighbors 13:44 and the people you interact with 13:46 was that I tried every year 13:47 to conduct at least one series of evangelistic meetings 13:51 somewhere within the region. 13:52 Okay, tell us a bit more about that. 13:55 Well, I had some great experiences. 13:58 One year we started the night after the largest typhoon 14:02 for years that come through Manila 14:05 and so we spent a whole week without electricity. 14:09 So we ran our power basic projector off of the car 14:16 and then inverters there. 14:18 And that was an interesting experience. 14:20 Oh, sure. 14:22 But another year I went down 14:24 to the southernmost island of the Philippines, Mindanao 14:28 and had a series of meetings there 14:31 based on the academy campus. 14:33 And it was a great experience. 14:36 There were of course a lot of young people 14:39 coming to the meetings. 14:40 It was right at the close of the school year, 14:42 so many of them were quite busy with their studies, 14:46 but we also had a lady that brought 14:48 a whole jeepney load of college students 14:52 that were finishing up. 14:54 And there was one in particular that really 14:59 stood out in my mind and experience I had there. 15:02 Tell me about that? Okay. 15:05 We had been going through the series for probably 15:09 about ten nights total and I had scheduled a night off. 15:14 Well, the pastor came to me and said 15:16 the people don't want a night off, 15:18 they want, you know, to hear another sermon. 15:21 And so I prayed about it and said well, 15:24 what topic should I preach about? 15:26 The previous weekend I preached about baptism 15:29 and had a call and many of the young people 15:33 had come forward to be baptized 15:35 and we had a small baptism there, 15:37 but I felt impressed to preach again explaining 15:42 the importance of baptism and we actually 15:44 focused on Paul and Silas 15:47 when they were in jail in Philippi. 15:49 The earthquake came, the jailer was ready 15:53 to kill himself 'cause he was sure 15:55 that his prisoners had escaped 15:58 but when he found that they were all there, 15:59 Paul had a chance, a teachable moment 16:02 and he was converted 16:04 but he wanted to be baptized that night, 16:07 they couldn't wait until the next day. 16:09 And so as I shared that I again called 16:12 and this time one of the students 16:15 that had not come forward before came forward, 16:18 her name was Jenalyn. 16:20 And I found out later that she had been raised 16:24 in an Adventist home but had drifted away. 16:28 She gotten into college 16:30 and just too many things happening. 16:33 Her final exam was the following day 16:36 and she was planning to go back to her home territory 16:40 which was quite sometime place away. 16:43 And but that night the Holy Spirit 16:46 really spoke to her and as a pastor 16:50 visited with her after the call, 16:52 he found out that she wouldn't be there to be baptized later on 16:57 and that story that you know, 17:00 there is water, let's be baptized 17:03 really touched her heart. 17:04 And so she asked can I be baptized tonight. 17:07 We went and checked the baptistery 17:10 because we didn't know if there was water there, 17:12 but there still was water from few days before 17:15 when we had conducted the baptism 17:17 and the choir was still there practicing, 17:20 so they gathered around 17:22 and we were able to baptize her that night. 17:25 She of course knew the beliefs and doctrines 17:30 but really the Holy Spirit spoke to her 17:33 and it's so neat to be a channel 17:36 that the Holy Spirit can work through. 17:38 And just icing on the cake 17:40 when we were filling out the paper work you know, 17:42 she put down her birth date and so forth 17:45 and I looked at the date and I realized 17:48 that that date was her birthday. 17:50 So it was not only her birthday 17:53 but it was her new birth day as well. 17:58 Wonderful. 17:59 This sort of memories that you cherish 18:01 from your time in mission service. 18:04 Myron, the Seventh-day Adventist church 18:06 runs a large mission program. 18:09 How do we care for missionaries? 18:10 For example, how are missionaries 18:12 prepared before they sent overseas? 18:14 One of the programs we have is 18:18 part of the Institute of World Mission. 18:20 And there is a quite extensive training 18:23 that goes to the missionaries before they go. 18:26 They spend at least three weeks 18:28 in a live in program that teaches them 18:31 how to relate to the culture and so forth. 18:34 We also give opportunity for language study 18:39 which varies on the length of time for that. 18:42 Okay, now when they are in the field, 18:45 what sort of support do we provide? 18:48 Well-- We pay for them? 18:50 Right. Yeah. We support them. 18:52 We try to visit them when we have opportunities 18:55 and we do give them opportunity 18:59 to have a vacation every year to go back 19:03 and spend some time with their families 19:04 who are also sacrificing when the missionary 19:07 goes out you know, 19:09 grandparents can't see their grandkids and so forth. 19:12 Now what about them when they finally come home, 19:15 do we do anything to help them 19:17 prepare for coming back home? 19:19 We do also again through the Institute of World Mission 19:22 have a reentry seminar that many of them 19:25 are able to participate in and they have said 19:29 that that's very important as well, 19:31 the reverse culture shock of coming back to your culture. 19:34 Myron, thank you so much for sharing with us today, 19:37 I appreciate it. 19:38 And viewers at home, please remember 19:41 the missionaries around the world in your prayers 19:45 and there are so many opportunities for missionaries, 19:49 but we don't have the funding in place. 19:50 Pray that God will provide means for this to happen. 20:05 She had been pushing at home for 10 hours. 20:10 The family brought the woman to the hospital. 20:13 I talk to the nurses they said that they were trying 20:16 to call for a doctor and they couldn't 20:19 find a doctor that could come. 20:26 Kristina Muehlhauser, has just returned 20:28 with her family to their home in Maine. 20:34 For the past seven years she, her husband and their daughter 20:38 have been working as missionaries 20:40 in the country of Uganda. 20:42 Kristina volunteered 20:43 at the government clinic as a midwife. 20:50 Two hours later a doctor arrived 20:52 and they began cesarean operation. 20:56 They put her completely under anesthesia 20:59 and they delivered a healthy fat baby girl. 21:12 And the next morning when I came back, 21:15 I went to check on her and her mother, 21:19 the grandmother of the baby was there 21:22 and the grandmother of the baby 21:23 couldn't speak English but by signs she told, 21:28 you know, showed me the baby 21:30 and with tears that that baby was dead. 21:36 She was in her room with 20 other women 21:39 that had also given birth with their babies. 21:43 And she just was lying on the bed 21:47 with her eyes closed tight 21:49 not acknowledging anyone else in the world. 21:55 I hurried home and got a little hat 22:00 that I had knitted before. 22:02 It's a white hat with two ropes. 22:04 And brought it back and together 22:07 that grandmother of the baby and I was only Christian 22:13 we put the hat on the baby... 22:17 with tears coming down our faces. 22:21 Our hearts and our hands 22:23 touched as we carried that baby to the mother 22:27 and told her to open her eyes and see her baby one last time. 22:32 She opened her eyes saw her baby 22:35 and then she closed them again 22:37 to shut out the world. 23:02 To My gentle searching eyes 23:08 there have been no disguises 23:13 Nothing that you have done 23:17 that you can hide 23:23 I've seen you in your darkness sin 23:26 and know the pain and guilt within 23:30 But the question on your mind 23:33 am I worth saving anyway 23:37 I see you child for who you are 23:40 Know that sin has left its ugly scars 23:44 But I know who you were meant to be 23:47 And my love will set you free 23:53 So come weary child rest beside Me for awhile 24:01 I know your care the burdens that you bare 24:07 Abide in My love hide in My love 24:14 Don't push Me away ashamed and afraid 24:21 I know who you are And I love you anyway My child 24:38 So bring Me all your wants and needs 24:41 I promise they can't burden Me 24:45 Most desperate one cannot exceed My care for you 24:52 And bring Me all your doubts and fears 24:55 The hurt you haven't faced in years 24:59 The wounded heart you stuffed inside 25:02 The tears you've tried so hard to hide 25:09 So come weary child rest beside Me for awhile 25:17 I know your care the burdens that you bare 25:23 Abide in My love 25:27 hide in My love Don't push Me away 25:34 a shamed and afraid 25:38 I know who you are And I love you anyway My child 25:48 So come to Me just the way you are 25:51 Though your fallen hard and wandered far 25:56 Stop trying to be so brave so strong 26:00 It's okay to cry child tears aren't wrong 26:06 So come weary child rest beside Me for awhile 26:15 I know your care the burdens that you bare 26:21 Abide in My love hide in My love 26:28 Don't push Me away ashamed and afraid 26:35 I know who you are And I love you anyway My child 26:45 Yes I love you always My child 27:13 Well, that's it for today's program. 27:15 But before we go if you enjoy seeing people and places 27:19 from around the world, you'd love 27:21 the new Adventist Mission Calendar. 27:23 This colorful calendar will help keep images of mission 27:27 in front of you everyday. 27:28 So if you live in North America, please accept this free gift 27:32 as a small token of our thanks for your support. 27:35 Simply call toll free 1-800-648-5824 27:40 or visit our website and ask 27:42 for the Adventist Mission Calendar or offer 305. 27:47 Don't forget to clearly state your name and address 27:50 and be sure to mention the calendar or offer 305. 27:55 I hope you've enjoyed today's program. 27:58 Thank you again 27:59 for your continuing support of Adventist mission 28:02 through your prayers, involvement and finances. 28:05 For Adventist Mission, I'm Gary Krause 28:08 and I hope you can join us next time 28:10 right here on Global Mission Snapshots. |
Revised 2014-12-17