Participants: Gary Krause (Host), Wagner Kuhn, Rick McEdward
Series Code: GMS
Program Code: GMS000028
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00:01 Russia and Japan, small groups, big cities
00:04 and the Apostle Paul's real profession 00:07 coming up next on Global Mission Snapshots. 00:21 Just before He went up to heaven Jesus gave us a command. 00:26 He gave us a mission. 00:29 Jesus said "Go, go unto all the world, 00:34 telling them of His love." 00:37 This is our mission. 00:38 This is our Global Mission. 00:46 Hello, I am Gary Krause 00:47 and welcome to Global Mission Snapshots 00:50 where we take you around the world 00:52 to experience mission in action. 00:55 On today's program, we'll meet to two little girls 00:57 who learning to trust God as they live with their parents 01:00 who are sharing God's love with people in Tokyo, Japan. 01:04 It's one of the world's most populated cities 01:07 and its home to some 13 million people. 01:10 Only two percent of Japan's population 01:12 consider themselves to be Christians. 01:15 We'll also be talking with Dr. Rick McEdward, 01:17 is the Director of the Global Mission Study Centers. 01:20 And he will talk about the Adventist churches plan 01:23 to bring mission to the great cities of the world. 01:27 Dr. Wagner Kuhn, associated professor of World Mission 01:31 at the Seventh-day Adventist Seminary 01:33 who will also join us to tell us 01:34 what the Apostle Paul's profession has 01:37 to do with mission today. 01:39 But first up, let's see how woman in Russia 01:42 is using her home to minister to a small group of people. 01:51 I have a friend, her name is Olesya 01:54 and she invited me to this group. 02:00 Some time ago my house was damaged in a fire, 02:03 and the church helped me rebuild part of it, 02:05 and I decided that I would like to have 02:07 this house dedicated to God and to serve Him. 02:10 So for the past year I have been inviting 02:12 a small group to come and meet in my house. 02:16 Olesya lives in the town of Krasnoyarsk, 02:20 deep in the heart of Siberia. 02:23 Life here can be cold, 02:25 and for the small number of Seventh-day Adventist 02:28 that make their homes here, 02:29 reaching out to others has not been easy. 02:32 But then a new approach was taken, 02:35 one that has proven to be successful. 02:41 At our church we were discussing ways 02:44 that we can share our love for God 02:45 and our friendship with others. 02:47 One of my friends suggested that we have a small group meeting. 02:51 Because of our group, now Ruslan and Margeurita 02:53 are the fruits of our meetings 02:55 and I am so happy that they have joined us. 02:59 Ruslan is the newest member of the group to join the church, 03:03 and he started attending the group for a specific reason. 03:10 I came to this group because they were studying the Bible. 03:13 Now God is my life and my friend. 03:16 Getting a small group established isn't an easy task, 03:20 so the group was thankful 03:22 for some help in the beginning. 03:27 When we started our group, our pastor, Vladimar, 03:30 joined us and it helped to get us going. 03:32 It was very helpful. 03:37 This group is successful because they are united: 03:40 and are like a family. 03:42 They help each other and I am sure 03:43 that if something were to happen to one of them, 03:46 the others would support them 03:48 and help each other grow spiritually. 03:51 The members of this group have been changed 03:53 through their new friendships, 03:55 as well as the continual study of the Holy Scriptures. 04:02 God has changed me a lot 04:03 because before I never used 04:05 to listen to other people's opinions. 04:07 I was selfish and everything was my way. 04:10 But when I went to church and got to know God, 04:13 I can now listen to people and consider their opinions. 04:18 Small group evangelism has proven to be successful 04:22 all over the world. 04:23 For many it is the best way to truly grow the church 04:28 and build strong congregations. 04:34 I am sure that this model of outreach 04:36 is one of the best ways to reach people 04:38 and grow as a church. 04:40 People become like a family 04:42 and their relationships help to unify the church. 04:46 The church members who started the small group 04:49 are happy that they have found a way 04:51 to reach out to those people in their community 04:53 who are searching for the truth. 04:56 For Ruslan and Margeurita, 04:58 their lives have been touched by people 05:01 who were willing to let them into their church family. 05:07 I am so happy that they have found the truth. 05:10 They both used to be different people 05:12 but now their lives have purpose. 05:14 I used to be the same way when I found my life changed. 05:20 Your mission offerings will provide a new church building 05:24 for the Seventh-day Adventist members in Krasnoyarsk. 05:28 Currently, they have to rent public buildings 05:31 so that their members can meet each Sabbath. 05:33 This new church will provide a stable place of worship 05:38 where they can invite their friends 05:39 and families to worship. 05:42 Please keep the members in Krasnoyarsk in your prayers 05:45 as you give your Mission Offerings this Sabbath. 05:54 It's my pleasure to welcome DR. Wagner Kuhn, 05:56 to our program. 05:58 Dr. Kuhn is at the Adventist Seminary 06:01 in Berrien Springs Michigan 06:02 in the department of World Mission. 06:05 Welcome, Wagner. Thank you. 06:07 What is that in-- involve you? 06:08 You work in the department of World Mission. 06:10 You teach, you research, what--tell us what you do? 06:13 Yes, most of it is-- involves teaching 06:17 but and also reaching as well and providing training 06:20 as church asks us to do. 06:22 Mostly you know going out and interacting with people 06:27 especially for example in a way 06:30 that you involve yourself into mission of God 06:33 and you share with those who are involved out there. 06:38 You know, not necessarily missionaries 06:40 or career missionaries but for example to make us. 06:44 Okay, which is the topic about conversation today 06:48 but before we get to that 06:49 you're from Brazil. Correct. 06:51 You worked in Central Asia, 06:53 you now working in North America. 06:54 Why is mission so important to you? 06:57 I think it is something of the heart, you know. 06:59 It's something that comes by being raised by parents 07:03 who instill new stories of missionaries 07:06 who told you many things about what God has done for you. 07:10 How good God is and what He asks you to do as well. 07:14 So you know this issues of is being a missionary 07:18 came from my parents I believe first in foremost. 07:21 Now you are not the only member of your family 07:23 who has served as a missionary. 07:24 Tells us a little bit about your wider family. 07:27 Well, my older brother Ron, 07:29 you know, he has worked in several countries from Africa, 07:33 South America, Asia, you know, North America 07:37 and he has serve most of his life for with ADRA. 07:40 Another brother of mine has served in Asia, in Mongolia, 07:46 back in South America and now he is again back in Mongolia. 07:50 So I have also served in Central Asia in Nakhchivan, 07:55 you know, the land of Noah. And I served Azerbaijan. 07:58 and I served in North America as well 08:01 with Institute of World Mission 08:03 now with the seminary the Missions Department. 08:05 So it is somehow a business of what God has done. Yeah. 08:11 In us, you know when I praise God 08:13 for that it is certainly a privilege. 08:15 That's wonderful. 08:16 Now we're talking about tent making 08:19 and this goes back to the Apostle Paul. 08:22 What it was the connection there? 08:23 You know, it seems that the Apostle Paul 08:26 comes to Corinth, 08:28 you know, in Acts 8--Acts 18 08:31 and he partners up with Aquila and Priscilla 08:34 and for a close to two years. 08:36 He is a tentmaker, you know, building tents 08:39 actually with the his own hands. 08:41 And as he's done that in that trade 08:44 he shares the gospel. 08:47 Okay, so when we now move it to the 21 Century, 08:52 what is tentmaker it today? 08:54 Well, I think it is doctor, an architect, 08:57 an engineer, a nurse, a truck driver 09:01 anyone who finds access in his own profession, 09:06 you know, access to these in the restricted access country 09:09 and mostly, you know, we're talking about tentmakers 09:13 in certain places 09:15 where you cannot normally go as a missionary 09:17 or as pastor but you go through your profession 09:21 and developing that profession with that skills 09:24 you intentionally aim at witnessing for Jesus 09:28 and making disciples and possibly planting churches 09:32 or growing church. 09:33 Now as part of your work 09:36 you often travel to some of these areas to encourage, 09:39 to help train these tentmakers who are out there. 09:42 Tells us a little bit about what you do? 09:44 For example, we go to certain places 09:46 and we find ourselves involved into meeting church members 09:52 those who are for example Seventh-day Adventist 09:55 already leaving in those countries 09:58 and you know professionals of all kinds of skills, 10:02 you know, as I mentioned doctors, 10:04 nurses, you have engineers, you have librarians, 10:07 and you have housemaids, truck drivers, businesses. 10:12 And as we meet them we try to come together 10:16 on regular meetings you know two, or three hours a day 10:19 to share to encourage 10:21 and to provide certain specific trainings 10:24 of how to witness cross culturally 10:26 and how to be very sensitive and appropriate, 10:29 you know, effective in the context 10:31 where they are living and witnessing 10:33 or working that's may of fact. 10:36 Excellent, I know that you can't names 10:39 but can you tell us a story 10:41 about the tentmaker and what they're doing? 10:43 Well, recently I met a tentmaker, 10:46 you know, he is a pilot 10:49 and he is a trainer of helicopter pilots. 10:54 So he's there in a certain country in the Middle East 10:58 training and suddenly his boss asks him, 11:02 you need to come and work on Sabbath. 11:05 And he says no, I cannot because I keep the Sabbath. 11:08 I am a Seventh-day Adventist. 11:10 And the boss, you know, an Arabic man demands him 11:14 that he comes on Sabbath to work. 11:16 And he says, no, I cannot, 11:18 you know, I keep the Sabbath as day of rest. 11:22 And sudden, you know, he finds himself 11:24 thinking that he's going to lose his job. 11:27 Finally, you know, after the boss demanding him 11:29 so much about coming and working on Sabbath. 11:32 He says no, you can fire me because I will obey God. 11:36 And so Ed I will call him 11:39 decides not to work on Sabbath. 11:43 And finally the boss comes and calls him and says, 11:47 come with me let's go to my home. 11:50 I need you to talk to you. 11:52 And he faces Ed and says, I never met a person like that 11:57 like that who will be willing to lose his job 12:01 but not to disobey God. 12:05 I need you to work for me. 12:06 And he makes such a friendship 12:09 that the boss this Arab man 12:13 calls him to his home now to witness, 12:17 to pray with him and to talk about 12:20 you know, his believes. 12:21 So this is I call tentmaker who is really willing 12:25 to witness of his belief. 12:27 Fantastic. 12:29 Well, so when you travel you are there to encourage, 12:33 you are that to help them adop to their circumstances better. 12:37 Yeah, wonderful. 12:39 Wagner, thank you for join us today. Welcome. 12:41 Viewers at home, tent making can be a very challenging thing 12:46 for those who are involved in foreign circumstances 12:50 in coaches that may not be overlay open 12:54 to the sharing of the gospel. 12:55 Please pray for them it's very encouraging for them 12:58 to know that there is a world church 12:59 but they are people who care and praying for them. 13:02 If you like more information 13:03 about tent making go to AdventistMission.org. 13:54 My guest is Pastor Rick McEdward, 13:56 who is the director of the Global Mission Study Centers 14:00 and the most recent addition to the Global Mission Study Centers 14:03 is new center aimed at urban mission. 14:06 Rick, welcome to the program. 14:08 Thanks, Gary. 14:09 Why these emphasis on urban mission. 14:11 We seem to be hearing about it 14:13 from the General Conference president 14:15 we read about it in church publications, 14:17 Global Missions talking about. 14:18 Why this emphasis? 14:20 As pretty simple it's where people live. 14:22 As of 2007 more than 50 percent of the world's population 14:28 lives in urban areas 14:29 and we see that all of the largest cities 14:33 of the world are increasing in size. 14:36 But haven't we been ministering in cities 14:39 for the last 100 or so years? 14:41 Well, you know I think we started that way. 14:43 Certainly William Millar and others of the famous 14:48 early Adventist evangelist certainly started that way 14:51 but we have been most successful in the islands 14:54 and in the villages and lot of our mission outreach 14:58 has really been in these kind of rural areas 15:01 and we have neglected the cities partly due to the complexity 15:06 but partly because we are not sure 15:08 we should really be there. 15:10 So when we're looking at mission to the cities 15:13 what sort of approach should we thinking about? 15:16 Well, you know, I think mission to the cities 15:20 really brings us back to what the Lord did. 15:24 Jesus touched people, we think about the story of the leopard. 15:28 What did He do for the leopard, 15:30 He touched him, He heeled him. 15:32 We think about Jesus by the Pool of Bethesda 15:34 with compassion raising the man up 15:36 who had been waiting for so long. 15:38 We think about Him raising the dead girl 15:41 and the mother-in-law of Peter. 15:44 All of these stories and many others show 15:48 that Jesus was interested 15:49 in much more than just preaching. 15:52 He was actually interested in meeting the physical needs 15:55 which open the door to the spiritual lives. 15:59 Can you give some examples of how urban mission 16:02 is going forward in some parts of the world? 16:05 I am sure, 16:06 I think they are some real exciting ones. 16:08 I think of city of Bangkok, Thailand 16:11 where in 2006 there was five churches 16:16 and now out of as result of partnership 16:19 between local pastors, church members, 16:22 local leaders and some missionaries. 16:25 As out of this partnership there is a 19 or 20 16:28 new congregations that have started 16:31 in the past few years. 16:33 Well, how did that happen? 16:34 It happened as result of meeting practical needs 16:38 with English language, with education, 16:40 with consoling, with health programs 16:44 and all of these programs coming together 16:46 to meet those real needs of people and open it up. 16:49 I know another story 16:50 actually of one pastor in Perth, Australia. 16:53 Over the last eight years has planted five churches. 16:58 And how did he do it? 16:59 He identifies who needs help. 17:02 He goes in system with the pluming. 17:04 He goes in system with their immigrant--immigration papers. 17:08 He helps them with a variety of needs transporting them, 17:11 doing different things, 17:13 and one by one he helps win their hearts 17:16 over to the place where he says 17:18 you know come and follow Jesus. 17:20 Wonderful. 17:21 Now, Rick, from the office of Adventist Mission 17:23 we have an exciting initiative code 17:26 Life Hope Centers which is that name 17:30 for what Ellen White called centers of influence. 17:32 Tell us about this initiative. 17:34 Well, Life Hope Center would really be a place 17:39 where people who may have a barrier 17:42 to come inside of a church with cross on it 17:45 or what people might him that some of these things 17:48 where a person of a another religion 17:50 or a secular person might be able to come in 17:54 and connect with other Christians 17:57 with Adventist who are there to built relationships, 18:00 who are there to do community service, 18:03 who may be-- could be around a cafe 18:06 or a vegetarian restaurant or reading room. 18:10 There is a lot of different ways 18:12 where we can associate with people 18:15 that don't have the stipple problem with them 18:21 or people make come in from the community. 18:23 So it's connecting church members to the community. 18:28 Well, you know, all of is need to be involved 18:30 in gospel commission. 18:31 Ultimately we have had a very successful evangelistic program 18:36 that relies on professionals. 18:38 And what a marvelous invitation God gives us to say 18:42 we want you to come every person, 18:44 every follower of Christ 18:46 and connect with others and be a witness. 18:48 But we haven't always provided 18:51 the right opportunities as a church. 18:53 And this provides an account of a teacher, 18:55 a auto mechanic, a cook, 18:58 a place for connecting with those in the community 19:03 that shows that even though I am disciple 19:05 but not an evangelist. 19:07 I still have the opportunity to share my faith that requires. 19:11 Can you give us an example to where this is happening already? 19:15 Yeah, I will tell you excellent story 19:17 in a largest city. 19:18 One of the world's largest stories--city sorry 19:21 and where a group started a health food store 19:27 with a teaching room upstairs. 19:29 This health food store has a very nice health foods 19:32 and different things and as the community 19:34 has responded to it they've been invited 19:37 to go through health training programs. 19:40 And worship services have been connected with that. 19:44 So here this community center that is multi-tiered. 19:49 A worship, yes, life training, 19:53 life skills and health training and some place 19:56 where people can come and go 19:57 and lot of church members are serving in those locations. 20:00 And so this is a place that is so funded? How is it? 20:04 Actually its supporting itself through selling health foods 20:08 but the marvelous part about it 20:09 is that they have seen a hundreds 20:13 through these ministries of people 20:16 connect with other church members, 20:18 connect with Jesus, 20:20 give their lives to Christ and join the church. 20:23 Rick, thanks so much for joining us. 20:25 And these Life Hopes Centers, 20:27 urban centers of influence have tremendous potential. 20:30 Ellen White had a vision for seeing small centers 20:34 in urban areas all around the world, 20:37 may be its something that could be started in your area. 20:40 It starts with the needs assessment of the community. 20:43 What are the needs of the people? 20:45 How can we help them? 20:46 How we as church to connect with them? 20:49 And then put cross method into practice 20:51 where we mingle with the people, 20:52 where we show His sympathy, 20:54 where we minister to their needs, 20:56 we win confidence and then we can bid them 20:59 to come and know Jesus Christ. 21:11 Hi, my name is Yana. 21:13 I live in Japan with my father and mother 21:15 and my little sister Chana. 21:18 We came from Taiwan to help tell the people 21:21 in big city of Tokyo about Jesus. 21:26 One day my father called Yana, Chana, 21:29 I forgot the cell phone in the car. 21:31 Can you go get the cell phone for me? 21:34 Chana and I went to the elevator 21:37 and I pressed the button to go down. 21:39 Suddenly the lights went out and the elevator stop moving. 21:43 It was very dark inside the elevator. 21:45 And we were scared. 21:47 We tried to open the door with our hands 21:49 but it wouldn't move. 21:52 "Let's pray," I said to Chana. 21:54 "God will help us open the door." 21:56 And so we closed our eyes 21:58 even though it was very dark in the elevator and prayed. 22:01 Dear Jesus, father asked us to give the cell phone 22:04 and now we're stuck in the elevator. 22:06 Please help us get out of the elevator, Jesus. 22:10 After we said amen we turned to the door 22:13 and as almost no fuss at all the door opened 22:16 and we were able to get out safely. 22:19 We got the cell phone and ran all the way home. 22:24 We told father and mother what had happened 22:26 and then we all praised the God together. 22:29 Father told us that the doors 22:31 we made to be impossible to open with our own hands. 22:35 God must have sent an angel to helps us open the door. 22:39 I am glad God heard us even in the dark elevator. 22:45 Then give your help to children around the world 22:47 saying about Jesus. 22:54 Do you have children or grandchildren 22:56 who might be interested in mission? 22:59 Would you like to help them learn more about other children 23:01 in countries all around the world? 23:04 At Adventist Mission we want our children 23:06 engaged with the international mission of the church. 23:10 So we've created mission cards 23:11 for kids featuring pictures of the children featured 23:15 in the quarterly Children's Mission Magazine 23:17 which is distributed to Adventist churches 23:19 around the world. 23:21 So if you live in North America 23:22 and would like a free sample set of these cards 23:26 just call us or visit our website 23:28 and ask for mission cards for kids 23:31 or ask for offer number 302. 23:34 Please remember to clearly state your name, 23:36 your mailing address and be sure to mention 23:38 mission cards for kids or offer 302. 23:43 Well, thanks for joining us today, 23:44 I hope you've been inspired and challenged 23:46 by what you have seen and heard 23:48 for Adventist Mission I'm Gary Krause 23:50 and I hope you can join us next time 23:52 right here on Global Mission Snapshots. 24:06 You love me so much more than I could ever know 24:12 Your love is deeper than this world will ever show 24:17 And all of life's beauty shines around this moment now 24:22 The sky and the cliffs they seem to change my life somehow 24:28 And I will, will never be the same 24:34 Never be the same 24:38 I will never be, never be the same 24:44 Never be the same ever again 24:53 Here I am waiting Lord, my life is just for you 24:59 Please unfold all the plans that you would have me do 25:04 In all the worlds just a breath and nothing here to stay 25:09 And all of the love we feel will save us anyway 25:14 And I will never be, never be same 25:21 Never be the same 25:25 I will never be, never be the same 25:31 Never be the same ever again 26:07 I will never be, never be the same 26:13 Never be the same 26:17 I will never be, never be the same 26:23 Never be the same ever again 26:31 Ever again 26:37 ever again 26:42 ever again 27:48 Never be the same |
Revised 2014-12-17