Participants: Gary Krause, Nancy Kyte, David Trim
Series Code: GMS
Program Code: GMS000024
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00:01 We are here in Thailand right now,
00:02 a country that is well known for its name, 00:05 the land of smiles. 00:07 It's hard for the church to do work here. 00:09 It's a bit challenging. 00:11 But we are here to meet some people 00:13 who are making a difference and to hear 00:15 about the kind of the work that they are doing 00:17 in this urban city of Bangkok. 00:19 Welcome to Global Mission Snapshots. 00:33 Just before He went up to heaven, 00:36 Jesus gave us a command. 00:39 He gave us a mission. 00:42 Jesus said "Go, go unto all the world, 00:46 telling them of His love." 00:49 This is our mission. 00:51 This is our Global Mission. 00:58 Hello, I am Gary Krause 01:00 and welcome to Global Mission Snapshots. 01:02 Did you realize that as many as one billion people 01:05 in today's world don't have access to basic medical care? 01:10 On today's program we will be looking 01:12 at what Seventh-day Adventists are doing to help 01:15 provide clinics in remote areas. 01:17 We will also be traveling to Russia, 01:19 Thailand and the South Pacific and we will be talking 01:22 with David Trim the director of Archives, Statistics 01:25 and Research for the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 01:29 We will be talking about various aspects of mission. 01:32 This and so much more coming up right here 01:34 on Global Mission Snapshots but first lets look 01:38 at healing South Pacific. 01:44 On this early morning a mission pilot warms up his plane, 01:48 he is preparing for the day. 01:50 As he flies over some of the most remote jungles 01:53 of Papua New Guinea, he prays 01:55 for the great need in this region. 02:00 The people here are in need of medical attention. 02:03 As the pilot approaches a village 02:05 he knows that God is working here. 02:07 In Mengino village the Seventh-day Adventist 02:09 has set up a small medical clinic. 02:12 This clinic offers the people 02:14 in the village medical attention. 02:16 The people here constantly struggle with such things 02:18 as malaria, broken bones, the flue and pregnancies. 02:23 For a majority of these people this is only access 02:26 to medical care they will ever have. 02:28 You can begin to see 02:29 the importance of this service. 02:37 People travel great distances on foot 02:39 from other villages to the Mengino clinic. 02:42 Roy Lowly walked here with his parents from other village. 02:45 They came in search of treatment for his mother 02:47 who was not feeling well. 02:49 After trekking for hours through the jungle to get here, 02:52 this family is very appreciative of the work being done 02:55 and hopes for a clinic in their village someday. 02:59 We have a privilege to have the SDA mission 03:03 to come up here and set this hospital 03:07 so that all the people around the bush places like here, 03:13 we usually come and take medicine here for treatment. 03:21 As the mission pilot prepares to leave he sees first hand 03:24 the work the God is doing here. 03:26 These clinics are an opportunity for the people 03:29 in the village to see Jesus. 03:31 The work here is plentiful and the Mengino clinic 03:33 struggles to tend to the high demand 03:35 of those seeking medical attention. 03:38 The Mengino clinic is just one example 03:40 of the clinics through out the South Pacific region. 03:43 Other clinics in Papua New Guinea 03:44 in the small island of Tanna face the same challenge everyday 03:49 as you can see this is a big challenge here. 03:53 This quarter a portion of your 13th Sabbath Offering 03:56 will go to help build remote medical clinics in areas 03:59 where people are in great need. 04:02 These clinics will help hundreds of people 04:03 through out the South Pacific region. 04:06 Please pray for the work being done here and thank you, 04:09 for your support of mission. 04:20 My guest is Nancy Kyte who is a colleague of mine 04:23 from the office of Adventist Mission at the Adventist 04:26 world headquarters and Nancy Kyte 04:28 is marketing for Adventist Mission. 04:29 Welcome, Nancy. 04:30 Thank you, Gary. 04:31 Now, before we start talking about Thailand, 04:34 you are the recent author of a cookbook entitled-- 04:38 A Taste of Travel. A Taste of Travel. 04:40 Now this is exclusively soups and stews 04:46 from how many countries? 04:47 For more than a 130, they are all vegetarian. 04:49 Now I have to ask you, what motivated 04:52 you to do cook book from a 130 countries of the world? 04:56 Well, I have to say that I had the idea had its beginnings 04:59 even back when I was a little girl. 05:01 Basically I loved the mission stories at Sabbath school 05:04 and that's something that I have carried 05:06 with me all my life and now it's, 05:08 I have just kind of turned that into a cook book. 05:10 Fantastic. Well, I will talk a little bit 05:12 more about that later. Okay. 05:14 Let's go to Bangkok, Thailand 05:15 one of the world largest cities and for several years 05:19 now Global Mission has been focusing on church planting 05:22 in the city because it has presence there for more than 05:24 a hundred years but only a handful of believers. 05:27 What did you find when you visited there? 05:29 Well, first of all I found out that the Global Mission pioneers 05:32 are very busy and not only are they busy 05:35 they are well liked by the people they associate with. 05:39 Okay, I am going to stop you there. 05:40 Global Mission pioneers define for me what a pioneer is? 05:43 A pioneer is a person who works in his or her own culture. 05:48 They work frontline. 05:49 This is not a-- a missionary type of situation. 05:53 Although they go into areas 05:54 where there is no Christian presence. 05:56 Right and so the church planting. 05:58 Exactly Because you met 05:59 some of these pioneers and some of the people 06:02 had been working with? 06:03 Yes, and you know, it's a blessing 06:06 to me some of the pioneers because we see how inspired 06:09 they are but this time we had a chance to meet 06:11 some of the people that they have gotten to know first hand 06:14 and its exciting to see how their work 06:18 has made such a difference. 06:20 I met a lady by the name Effan and she her husband 06:26 was very ill and so they had to move away from their small town 06:30 they moved towards the outskirts of Bangkok 06:33 so that they can be near the veterans hospital. 06:35 And so while he was getting care there they were forced to live 06:39 or I shouldn't say force but economically 06:42 they had to live in an area that was, that was affordable. 06:45 So they lived in a slum area 06:47 she was able to find a place to live. 06:49 Her husband was admitted to the hospital 06:52 for a long term care. 06:53 While she was living at this village, 06:57 there was a rice distribution program sponsored by the church 07:01 and so she showed up on the day that the rice 07:03 was going to be distributed to pick her allotment. 07:06 And there on the table along side the rice she spotted 07:11 a picture it was picture of the Ten Commandments. 07:15 Mosses receiving the Ten Commandments, 07:17 and that immediately resonated with her because back 07:20 when she was 13 years old she saw 07:22 an old Hollywood movie called the Ten Commandments. 07:24 Oh, well. And she had never really 07:26 had an opportunity to learn how to read very well 07:29 and so she was very visually oriented. 07:34 So she saw the picture of the Ten Commandments 07:36 and she asked what it was all about and they told her 07:38 that there were Bible lessons being taught at the preschool 07:42 in the evenings after, after the classes were shut down. 07:45 So she immediate wanted to go to these classes 07:49 and learn more about these pictures 07:51 and they had a picture rolls there. 07:53 We sometimes thing there is no place for picture rolls 07:55 anymore but for certain places its, 07:58 its extremely appropriate. 08:00 So she went, she loved the stories, 08:03 she got to know the pastor and some of the church members, 08:06 the Global Mission pioneers that would come. 08:08 And she began to learn more about the Bible 08:13 and her faith began to grow at the same time 08:16 her husband's health started to weaken 08:18 and because they weren't near any family 08:20 they had to travel and relocate to be near this hospital. 08:24 She was really struggling. 08:26 And medicine that she-- herself needed 08:29 often would cost a day's wages. 08:31 So she was starting to fell little overwhelmed. 08:35 So the pastor and the pioneer and the church members 08:38 began to go with her to the hospital 08:40 and visit her husband. 08:41 They began to care for him, visit with him, support her 08:45 emotionally and to even helped her with some of her cost 08:49 for medicine and so on. 08:51 So they were able to help her in a very practical way 08:55 and then when her children that last were able to afford 08:58 the trip to Bangkok to see how their father was doing, 09:02 they were comforted-- comforted--comforted because 09:05 the Christians in the neighborhood 09:07 were helping their mother and they felt relieved 09:10 to it that she was being cared for. 09:13 So that was one of the ladies that I met. 09:15 Very nice, you got another story for me. 09:17 I do. Good. 09:19 This lady Effan became baptized just in the spring of last year. 09:23 And then when she would sit out 09:25 in front of her house on a little plastic chair 09:27 she would started to chat with some of the neighbors 09:29 and she made a friend called Fallon Wong another lady 09:33 who lived in the neighborhood. 09:35 And you know they would chat as neighbors 09:37 do and I had a chance to meet this lady 09:41 and talk with her a little bit. 09:43 She shared how she came from a very poor family 09:46 from the country side and her job 09:49 growing up was to her-- the cattle 09:51 that her family owned. 09:52 She didn't have a chance to ever go to school 09:55 so she also did not have a chance to read 09:57 but she would chat with her friend Effan and Effan 10:01 would tell about these wonderful stories she was hearing 10:04 and these pictures that she was also seeing. 10:07 So Fallon Wong also decided to go these meetings 10:10 that were held at the preschool. 10:12 And I asked her I said what really made 10:16 you want to take these Bible classes 10:19 and learn more about spiritual things? 10:21 And right away she said I was concerned about eternal life. 10:25 So she was very afraid what would happen 10:28 to me when I died. 10:29 And so when I went to these Bible classes 10:32 I started to learn that God has a place for me 10:35 and when my time comes I had a place to be when God 10:40 resurrects me, I have a place to be there 10:42 where I will be happy. 10:43 I have friends there and I will be looked after. 10:45 Fantastic To her that was extremely 10:48 important and she was baptized just one month ago. 10:51 Fantastic, Nancy, thank you so much. 10:53 We could listen to more stories. 10:55 Next time. Yeah, those at home thank you 10:57 so much for your continuing support for Global Mission 11:00 pioneers around the world they need your prayers. 11:36 My guest is Dr. David Trim, an historian 11:39 who is the director of Archives, Statistics, and Research 11:43 for the Seventh-day Adventists church based 11:45 at the world head quarters in Washington D.C. 11:48 Dr. Trim, thank you very much for joining me. 11:49 It's a pleasure to be with you again, Gary. 11:51 Today we are going to be talking about the Middle East. 11:54 Yes. Now the Seventh-day Adventists 11:56 churches had a presence there for how long? 11:59 Since, well the first missionaries they were 1879 12:02 they leave in 1882 and don't go back 12:05 again until about 1890. 12:07 And so we have roughly a 120 years 12:09 of constant presence in the Middle East and sadly 12:13 we don't have a huge amount at the end to show for that. 12:16 We earn quite a lot of property and a quite number of buildings, 12:20 unfortunately we don't have the people to fill them 12:23 and I think we have to be honest about that and say 12:25 this is an area where we have to do better. 12:27 This is an area with 250 million people 12:31 and most of them have never even heard of Jesus. 12:34 Much less of the Seventh-day Adventists church 12:36 because it's such a heavily Islamic area. 12:39 Now, David, recently the Adventist church 12:43 has done some restructuring organizationally 12:46 and to help us being more effective in, 12:49 in this area of the world, what's, what is being done? 12:52 Well previously Gary, various parts of North Africa 12:56 and the Middle East were divided amongst 12:58 several of that world divisions but historically 13:01 they had been once Middle East Division 13:03 and some of your viewers may remember 13:05 that from Sabbath school lessons in 13th Sabbath 13:07 since they held in the past, 13:08 there was a Middle East division from 1950 to 1970. 13:12 And when we looked at it historically 13:14 we realize that the church had done best in the Middle East 13:17 when the whole of the Middle East was under 13:21 one structure that could operate very strategically with planning 13:24 for dealing within a area that has you know, 13:26 the same language almost across in Arabic the same culture, 13:31 the same predominant religion and so there is the realization 13:35 that probably the decision in the Middle East division 13:37 in 1970 had been the wrong one and we should go back 13:40 to having all that territory dealt with as a unit. 13:44 And so that was what was done. 13:46 All of North Africa, all of the Middle East 13:51 including Turkey and Iran 13:52 which had been in separate areas, 13:54 these are all been put together now. 13:56 And I think you know that we-- we hope into pray 14:01 but I think there is reason to be optimistic for the future. 14:05 Now, this new union Middle East North Africa union. 14:08 Yes I saw some plans 14:11 that they have sent into head quarters, 14:13 well they have a very ambitious goal to start for example, 14:16 dozens of urban centers of influence 14:19 where they can serve the needs of the community. 14:23 They have sent out a very intentional plan. 14:26 Yes, and I think that's one reason we can be optimistic, 14:29 but you know again this in some way 14:30 is learning from the lessons of history. 14:32 Yeah When the church in Egypt 14:35 first started to grow it's under the leadership 14:37 of a missionary called George Keough 14:39 who very emphasized that you have to connect 14:41 with people and meet their needs. 14:43 You couldn't go to them and tell them 14:44 what their needs were accepting the sense of need in Jesus, 14:47 we are obviously beyond that. 14:50 And it was about connecting with them and helping them 14:53 in their lives and when people saw that the missionaries 14:57 were genuine wanting to be you know, 14:58 to be part of their lives. 15:00 You know I talked to Egyptians who can remember missionaries 15:03 of the 50s who went out into the fields with them 15:06 to help them grow their crops. 15:07 Europeans never did that because Europeans and Americans 15:10 of that time were arrogant. 15:11 And that made a huge impact that people still remember 15:15 that was that why they become baptized. 15:17 So this is that lesson but then we also, 15:19 you know in the 60's there was a man called Robert Darnell, 15:22 who was passionate about mission and the church 15:25 the Middle East division paid for him to do a PhD on Islam 15:29 and he traveled around the whole region 15:32 investigating the history, the culture and he identified 15:36 a series of methods that he believed 15:38 would be more effective. 15:40 And it was a recognition Gary, that you can't go into a large 15:44 Muslim city in the Middle East and conduct public evangelism 15:47 in the way that you would in North America. 15:50 It was a recognition that if you want to talk to Muslims, 15:53 to make friends with them, you have to be sensitive, 15:55 you know, you have to be sensitive to peoples ideas 15:59 and the way they brought up where ever you go. 16:01 And so it wasn't the matter of saying where on you are going 16:05 to talk to other Christians which is sometimes 16:07 been our history in the Middle East. 16:09 We have to be honest you know sometimes in the past 16:11 we concentrated on trying to convert people 16:14 from the native Christian churches to Adventism 16:16 and that's we are introducing into a fuller and richer form 16:20 of Christianity of course a truer form. 16:23 But these people were already Christians 16:25 and we were not breaching not--we were not even 16:28 talking very often to Muslims. 16:29 And so that was where Darnell he said here are methods 16:33 that we could use to talk to Muslims to make friends 16:35 so that we can be witnessing to everyone in that vast region. 16:40 Yeah, so he was a very creative person. 16:42 Darnell was an exceptionally creative person 16:44 and you know in the GC archives in Washington 16:47 which I have the privilege to direct. 16:48 We have some of the documents that he created. 16:51 A book of sermons, a book of sample sermons 16:54 that were sort of sensitive to the--the context 16:57 which any pastor could use to preach. 17:00 You know trying to give resources 17:02 in that way and unfortunately 17:05 for various reasons the church sort of lost sighted 17:09 some of those methods that he pioneered in the mid 70's 17:12 and I think its really fruitful that we are reengaging 17:15 of that and rediscovering it. 17:17 Yeah, I think when we look at the Global Mission 17:19 study centers today I think they have inherited 17:22 some of that tradition of local Contextualization 17:25 talking to people in their language. 17:27 I think that's right, Gary, and you can trace 17:29 that very directly in that Darnell certainly 17:32 knew and influenced men like Borge Schantz Whitehouse 17:36 and several who were directors 17:37 of the Centre for Islamic Studies, its founded. 17:42 But I think you are right there is a wider inheritance 17:45 as well of that concert. 17:47 In some parts of the world you can just stand up the front 17:50 and preach your people and in other places 17:52 that isn't going to work, so you don't give up though. 17:55 You find ways of talking to people connecting with them 17:58 and telling them about Jesus Christ. 18:00 David, thank you so much. 18:01 It's a pleasure, Gary. 18:02 I wish we had a lot more time to talk to Dr. Trim 18:05 but our history as Seventh-day Adventists is very rich. 18:09 We draw from the tradition of Christianity in general plus 18:12 our own particular history and we pray that God 18:15 will continue to give us fresh methods to touch people for Him. 18:27 This is Alexander. 18:29 He serves as the head of elder of the Tomsk 18:32 Seventh-day Adventist church in Serbia, Russia. 18:35 Alexander loves to help lead the small group of believers, 18:39 every Sabbath they meet in a small house church 18:43 down the back alley on the outskirts of town. 18:46 More than a 120 people pack into a room 18:50 not much bigger than a living room. 18:52 They read the Bible, studying God's word 18:55 as they grow closer to Jesus. 18:57 Many members in congregation has seen tremendous 19:01 changes takes place in their lives. 19:03 But none has created an impact as the change 19:07 that took place in Alexander's. 19:12 (Speaking in Foreign language) 19:14 For the first five years of my marriage every thing 19:16 was fine with my husband, 19:18 but then he started to drink alcohol. 19:23 It caused some problems in our family 19:25 because I didn't like his constant drinking 19:28 and he was not a good example for his young sons. 19:31 And I didn't want them to start doing the same thing. 19:36 (Speaking in Foreign language) 19:39 I grew up in a small village and when I received a job 19:42 working for the communist government I was very proud. 19:47 Then when communism fell I lost my place. 19:51 My pride was gone and I became depressed 19:54 I started to drink heavily. 19:58 One day I decided to kneel down on the floor 20:01 of my apartment and I was crying out to God saying 20:06 if you truly exist then help me. 20:09 You know what is happening with my family. 20:12 A few days later I was given a flyer 20:15 for an evangelistic meeting that was taking place soon. 20:20 The flyer said that if you had any family problems 20:24 do come to the meeting. 20:26 I decided to go because I was praying 20:29 that this was the solutions to all my problems. 20:34 Lubov attended the meetings and soon became 20:37 a member of the Seventh-day Adventists church in Tomsk. 20:40 Alexander didn't like this and he knew 20:43 how to handle the problem. 20:46 (Speaking in Foreign language) 20:49 I was going to save my wife. 20:51 I went to the church to cause a problem 20:53 but when I arrived I was shocked. 20:56 The members were rejoicing that I was there 20:59 and I didn't know what to think. 21:05 I came there as an enemy, I came to create a war 21:09 but God showed me his love through those brothers 21:13 and sisters in the church. 21:15 I decided that I need to follow this lifestyle like my wife. 21:21 Alexander was baptized, and today 21:24 he and Lubov live in a loving Christian home. 21:27 What was once a place poisoned by depression 21:30 and alcohol became a place of love and peace. 21:35 A portion of your mission offerings will go to build 21:38 a new church for Alexander, Lubov and their fellow 21:42 Seventh-day Adventists in Tomsk. 21:44 Their lives were changed and now you have the opportunity 21:48 to help them change the lives of others 21:51 who are searching for peace and love. 21:53 Please pray for our fellow Adventists in Tomsk. 21:57 Please think of them when you are faithfully 21:59 giving your mission offerings. 23:01 Trust in the Lord 23:02 with all your heart 23:06 And lean not on your own understanding 23:12 In all your ways acknowledge Him 23:17 He shall direct your paths 23:23 Do not be wise in your own eyes 23:29 Fear the Lord and depart from evil 23:35 It will be health to your flesh 23:40 And it will be strength to your bones. 23:46 Honor the Lord 23:51 Honor the Lord 23:53 With all you have to offer 23:59 Even small 24:02 Even small 24:04 Is enough to bring honor 24:35 Trust in the Lord with all your heart 24:40 And lean not on your own understanding 24:44 In all your ways acknowledge Him 24:49 He shall direct your paths 24:53 Do not be wise in your own eyes 24:58 Fear the Lord and depart from evil 25:02 It will be health to your flesh 25:07 And it will be strength to your bones 25:14 Honor the Lord 25:17 Honor the Lord 25:19 With all you have to offer 25:25 Even small 25:28 Even small 25:30 Is enough to bring honor 25:36 Honor the Lord 25:39 Honor the Lord 25:41 With your humble service 25:47 Honor the Lord 25:50 Honor the Lord 25:52 This is your purpose 26:30 Well, I hope you have enjoyed the program today. 26:32 One of our guests Nancy Kyte recently 26:35 wrote a cookbook entitled "A Taste of Travel." 26:38 It's a beautifully illustrated book that features soups 26:41 and stews from more than 130 countries. 26:45 And Nancy and her husband personally 26:47 taste tested each one of the recipes. 26:50 Many of them are exotic sounding like sweet mango soup 26:54 from Jamaica, tomato basil soup from Latvia, 26:58 and sweet potato stew from Guiana. 27:01 Today, we have a special offer on this program 27:05 we suspect that our viewers who have mission 27:07 and allow the different peoples cultures 27:10 and places from around the world. 27:11 And so if you live in North America we would like 27:14 to send you a free copy of this cookbook 27:18 simply call our toll free number 1800-648-5824 27:24 or visit our website AdventistMission.org 27:27 and ask for your copy of "A Taste of Travel." 27:31 And if you can't remember that name just say the soup cookbook. 27:34 Supplies are limited. 27:36 This book is completely free but if want to include 27:39 a donation we will be happy to receive it. 27:42 Don't forget to clearly state your name and address 27:45 and we will send you a copy while supplies last. 27:49 Well, thank you, so much for joining us today 27:51 and a special thank you to those who call us or go online 27:55 to financially support global mission around the world. 27:58 You are helping to make a difference and helping 28:01 you reach the unreached with hope. 28:04 Until next time I am Gary Krause 28:06 for Adventist Mission. God bless. |
Revised 2014-12-17