Participants: Gary Krause (Host), Kurt Johnson, Delbert Pearman
Series Code: GMS
Program Code: GMS000029
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00:01 Bibles for children, long distance Bible studies
00:04 and a report on the state of mission today, 00:07 all coming up next on "Global Mission Snapshots." 00:22 Just before He went up to heaven, 00:24 Jesus gave us a command. 00:27 He gave us a mission. 00:30 Jesus said, go. 00:32 "Go unto all the world, telling them of His love." 00:37 This is our mission. This is our "Global Mission." 00:46 Hello, and welcome to "Global Mission Snapshots." 00:49 I'm Gary Krause. 00:50 For more than 70 years the Voice of Prophecy 00:53 has been offering free Bible studies 00:55 to people all around the world. 00:58 Today, we will be talking with Pastor Kurt Johnson, 01:01 who heads up Bible Correspondent Schools for Voice of Prophecy 01:05 and the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 01:07 We will also talk with Pastor Delbert Pearman, 01:10 planning director for Adventist Mission, 01:12 about the state of mission today 01:15 and the challenges we still face. 01:17 And we will find out more about mission to the cities 01:20 and just how the Adventist church 01:22 is addressing that growing challenge. 01:25 But first up, let's see a project to help children 01:28 in the South Pacific have their own Bibles. 01:39 Do you like listening to Bible stories? 01:42 The children here on the islands of the South Pacific 01:44 love to listen to Bible stories. 01:46 Lately, the stories have been even more interesting 01:49 because the teachers have Bible story picture rolls 01:52 with pictures to go along with the stories they share. 02:00 A few years ago children and their parents around the world 02:03 helped collect a special offering 02:05 that helped buy these picture rolls 02:07 for the children's teachers. 02:08 They use them all the time and the children love them. 02:12 The teachers love them too. 02:14 But did you know that even though 02:16 they love hearing the stories, 02:17 most of these children don't own a Bible 02:20 so they can read the stories for themselves. 02:23 In some of the outer villages of the South Pacific, 02:26 if you see ten children only one will have a Bible. 02:31 When grown up's have gone into some of these villages 02:33 to help teach parents how to study the Bible 02:35 with their children, they found out 02:37 that the parents didn't have Bibles either. 02:40 Not only is it important for the children 02:42 to be able to read the stories for themselves, 02:45 many of them will be able to read the Bible to their parents 02:48 who have never learned to read. 02:50 Many children in the more remote villages 02:52 are the first in their families to go to school 02:55 to learn to read and write. 02:57 So, next time you hear a Bible story or pick up your Bible 03:00 remember the children who are hearing 03:03 and seeing the Bible stories in the South Pacific. 03:06 Thank you, for helping others learn about Jesus. 03:17 My guest is Pastor Kurt Johnson, 03:20 who is the Director of the Bible School for Voice of Prophecy 03:23 and for the North-American Adventist Media Centre 03:26 and he also cares for 03:27 Bible Correspondence School around the world. 03:29 Thanks for joining us, Kurt. 03:30 That's a pretty long title, like a busy man. 03:33 Tell us what is a Bible Correspondence School? 03:36 Well, a Bible Correspondence School is basically 03:40 around the world they are in-- located in union offices 03:43 and in many places and media centers 03:46 and we receive Bible lessons requests 03:49 that come to people in communities 03:51 and we send them to them by mail. 03:53 We're also on the study with them on the internet. 03:55 So the correspondence is mail and internet. 03:59 So these Bible lessons are like a question and answer format 04:03 that actually people physically filling and send back in? 04:05 That's correct and so you-- what normally happens is 04:08 if you are a student I would send you probably 04:11 five, six lessons at a time and there is a response sheet. 04:14 So you look up the Bible text, you study it, 04:16 you fill it out, you mail that back in to us, 04:19 we correct it and send you your next lessons 04:21 and at the end you get a diploma. 04:23 And we do the same on the internet 04:25 except, obviously it comes via email or the web 04:29 rather than by a physical mail. 04:31 What a great idea. How did it start? 04:33 Well, you got to go clear back 1942. 04:37 H.M.S. Richards Sr. was speaker, 04:40 director for the Voice of Prophecy 04:42 and a man by the name of Fordyce Detamore 04:44 who was an evangelist joined the team as the announcer. 04:47 And Fordyce had that idea 04:49 of the correspondence school by mail. 04:51 And so back in 1942, in fact the day was February 1, 1942. 04:57 They began what they call the Bible School of the Air. 04:59 And its an idea that caught on like wildfire. Oh, sure. 05:02 In fact, within the first probably about seven, 05:07 eight months it was like 60,000 requests for Bible lessons. 05:10 Wow. Yeah. 05:12 Now, tell me about how many people 05:14 have graduated over the years? 05:16 Well, in North America we had over 12 million students. 05:22 In fact, back in 2010 we had our one millionth graduate. 05:26 Her name was Victoria Fulbright, 05:28 she was a college student. 05:30 And she said, she doesn't even remember 05:33 how the Bible lesson-- she never even requested it. 05:35 She is not sure how it even ended up in her mailbox, 05:38 except one day she went out there and there it was. 05:42 And at that time in her life, she was growing through 05:44 a very difficult period, she was struggling with lot of issues. 05:48 And the very first lesson was "Can I Believe in God? 05:52 And she picked that lesson up, 05:53 she read it and spoke to our heart. 05:55 It was a message that convicted her 05:57 and so filled out the answer sheet and mailed it back in, 06:00 just like we talked about and got her next lessons. 06:04 And one Sabbath morning she said 06:08 she wasn't quite done with her lessons yet, 06:10 been studying three or four months, 06:13 she got up that day and she was just convicted, 06:15 she needed to go to church and she knew that 06:19 through the correspondence that it was Seventh-day Adventist 06:21 that she was receiving these lessons from. 06:24 And she went to her computer, 06:25 looked up the address of the local church where she lived 06:28 in North Carolina and went to church. 06:32 When she walked in she said 06:34 the church members are very warm. 06:36 The moment she sat down another lady came 06:39 and sat down beside her, introduced herself to her 06:42 and stayed with her the entire time. 06:44 And the pastor, sermon spoke to her heart, 06:47 she kept coming to church and the sprit spoke, 06:50 she made that decision and she was baptized. 06:54 Well, blessings upon that church 06:56 because so often you hear negative stories. 06:58 That's so good to hear a positive one. 06:59 Yeah, I was excited to think you know, 07:01 when you think of the combination there was 07:04 you know, the greeters were warm, 07:06 someone sat down beside her 07:09 and then the pastor ministered to her 07:11 and then the Bible lessons. 07:12 Because you can only do so much from the Bible school 07:17 it takes people on the ground to connect with that 07:20 to bring them into fellowship, that's wonderful. 07:22 I can remember as a kid, 07:24 I did one or two courses just for the fun of it. 07:27 And how many different types of lessons do you have? 07:30 Oh, well, we have in English, we have in North America 07:35 we have about seven different sets that we offer. 07:38 The main ones that we use are the discover guides 07:41 which are full doctrinal course. 07:44 We have kid zone for junior age 07:46 and the we have set on Daniel and Revelation on prophecy. 07:49 Now, we have Shema Yisrael 07:52 which is also for people of Jewish background 07:56 who have an interest in Christianity. 07:59 We have Native New Day which is for Native Americans. 08:04 So these are just some of the other courses, 08:05 some on the life of Jesus. 08:07 We have on our website Bible lessons available 08:11 in about 47 different languages. 08:13 Wonderful and the website is? 08:15 It's BibleStudies.com. 08:17 That's easy to remember BibleStudies.com. 08:20 Now, differ regions of the board church 08:22 would have their own lessons as well in addition? 08:24 That's correct. 08:26 There about a 130 countries that have Bible-- 08:30 the Correspondent Bible Schools around the world. 08:33 And so, each of them within their region, 08:37 each school then would have you know, 08:39 the other lessons in their languages. 08:41 They decide which ones would be the most culturally sensitive 08:45 to their needs and they translate. 08:47 They also make a-- so they are more indigenous, 08:49 you know for the local population. 08:52 Wonderful, share with us another story of someone 08:55 who's life has been touched. 08:57 You know, about just a few weeks ago 09:00 I came back from a World Bible School meeting 09:03 that we have every five years. 09:04 In fact, you've attended that one 09:06 in South Africa five years ago. 09:08 And we get together and we talk about 09:10 strategies of working with radio and television ministries 09:14 and as far as the follow up and from India 09:17 one of the stories that's just were shared. 09:19 They just opened a new language school Marathi, a language. 09:23 And what took place there, there was a gentlemen 09:26 he's about 25 years old a salesmen 09:29 and by chance he was listening to the radio 09:32 and he came across Adventist World Radio 09:34 and he said that the music and the speaking 09:38 just touched his heart, it spoke to him. 09:41 And as he listened to that music 09:44 and that sermon they also offered free Bible guides. 09:47 He sent for the lessons, he studied them 09:49 and went and began to visit other churches in cities 09:53 trying to find out more about the message. 09:56 And God began to speak to his heart 09:58 and he made a decision and was baptized. Fantastic. 10:01 Kurt, thanks for joining us today. 10:03 Our viewers at home, biblelessons.com. 10:06 Wonderful stories of lives being changed 10:08 through Bible correspondence schools. 10:59 My guest is Pastor Delbert Pearman, 11:01 who is the Planning Director for the office of Adventist Mission. 11:05 One of my colleagues. 11:06 Welcome, Delbert. Thank you. 11:07 Now, Delbert, you and your family have severed 11:10 as missionaries in many parts of the world 11:12 tell us a little about where you have served. 11:15 Well, before I was married right after graduating from Oakwood, 11:19 I went to Malawi as an accountant 11:22 at a leprosy project run by Malamulo Hospital 11:26 and from there I received an apatite for mission service 11:32 and after that I always said I wanted to be a missionary. 11:35 Well, the opportunity to get back into mission service 11:38 came after 12 years of marriage where I went to Sri Lanka 11:44 as a treasurer for the Sri Lanka mission. 11:47 And had a wonderful experience from there 11:50 after almost four years to the Middle East there 11:54 and worked in Lebanon, Jordan 11:59 and occasionally traveled through Syria. 12:02 And then after that I got a call to Ethiopia 12:05 and served as a mission service, served a mission service. 12:09 After that I got a call to the United States 12:12 as a conference treasure and then to the General Conference 12:15 so I had opportunity of working 12:17 among many different people groups 12:21 and got a fascination a personal interest in World missions 12:26 and that's where my mission journey has taken me. 12:28 So, you've served in Africa, Asia, the Middle East 12:31 and now in your current position, 12:33 you are looking at the over view of mission 12:36 and you see lots of Global Mission projects coming in. 12:39 When you look at the state of mission today 12:41 for the Seventh-day Adventist Church 12:42 what are some of the bright sports, 12:44 where do we see mission growing strongly? 12:47 Well, we do see Mission going strong 12:50 in the Southern Hemisphere, especially in Africa, 12:54 South America, Inter-America and these countries 12:57 were traditionally missionaries were sent 13:00 but now they're very strong there. 13:02 I see opportunities for us now in the urban centers, 13:08 tremendous opportunities are waiting for us 13:10 in those areas there. 13:12 But we are very strong and in the Isles of the Pacific, 13:15 the Islands of the Atlantic, the Caribbean 13:18 and through out the islands we're very strong in those areas 13:21 so missions are going well there. 13:23 So, you mentioned one of the-- I like the way you put it 13:27 the opportunities, you know, 13:29 depending on how you look at it, the challenges of urban mission. 13:33 What are some of the other areas that we see as-- 13:38 areas that we need to address more strongly? 13:40 Well, in addition to reaching the cities 13:44 approximately two-thirds of the world's populations 13:47 are non-Christian and so we have an obligation 13:51 to take the gospel to every nation, kindred, 13:53 tongue, and people that includes non-Christians. 13:56 So we do have an obligation to take the gospel to them 14:00 and there are opportunities that are opening up 14:03 because of Global Mission focusing on these people groups 14:07 and these religious segments that we are able to reach them. 14:12 Now, Global Mission as we all know 14:16 focuses on church planting in new areas. 14:19 You get to meet some Global Mission Pioneers. 14:21 Can you tell me about the work of pioneers? 14:24 Yes, pioneers are people, from within the community 14:29 who in turn dedicate their time to reach, 14:33 un-reached people within their people group. 14:36 And there are lots of opportunities available. 14:40 I can think of one. 14:42 I just recently traveled to one country 14:45 where there was a pastor of another church. 14:49 He attended one of our Adventists schools 14:52 because he wanted to prefect his abilities in agriculture. 14:57 Many of these pastors and all the churches 14:59 are self supporting pastors. 15:01 And while he was there he became attracted 15:04 to the Advent message. 15:06 Was converted baptized gave up his agricultural pursuits 15:10 and returned back to his village as a Global Mission pioneer 15:14 and he has raised up a church. 15:16 And so we see opportunities for people to work 15:19 among their own to carry the gospel to them. 15:23 Now, projects from different parts of the world 15:27 come across your desk regularly. 15:30 How many projects does Global Mission support? 15:33 Well, in the past when you look at going back 15:37 may be ten or more years 15:38 we have supported over 14,000 projects. 15:42 Today, we have 3,500 active Global Mission pioneers 15:48 actively at work in 106 countries around the world 15:51 and these are countries which are traditionally challenging 15:55 to Christianity but yet there they are carrying the banner 15:59 of Christ soon return to their own people. 16:03 Now, these Global Mission Pioneers, 16:05 how are they supported financially? 16:08 Well, we have a sharing program 16:10 where the divisions would contribute a certain amount, 16:15 the General Conference contributes a certain amount 16:17 and the unions and many times 16:18 the local conferences will contribute. 16:20 So we have a shared program. 16:22 Okay, so--so I'm going to interrupt you there 16:24 interpret this for any viewers who are familiar with the world, 16:28 the Seventh-day Adventist World Church 16:29 is divided up into regions, 16:32 and so we have 13 regions actually 14 regions now 16:36 and then underneath that there are some further organization. 16:39 So each level is contributing to the project. 16:41 Yes, to the project. 16:42 Yeah, it is makes it a shared vision 16:45 and also there is ownership, so that when the church 16:49 a new church as established already that local conference 16:53 is ready to embrace that is part of 16:54 the sisterhood of churches' local conferences. 16:57 And then we can release those projects to that organization 17:03 and those funds can be used 17:05 to establish new projects in new areas. 17:08 So it's a ongoing our program. 17:11 So there is a lot to be done, Delbert. 17:13 Yes, yes, we still have quite a challenge 17:16 ahead of us as I mentioned. 17:19 Over three quarters of the population of the world 17:21 are non-Christian and so this our burden 17:24 to carry the gospel to them. 17:26 Delbert, thank you so much for joining us today. 17:28 Yes, thank you. 17:30 Pastor Pearman has given us 17:32 an overview of the challenge that remains. 17:35 We are thankful for what God is doing 17:36 in so many parts of the world. 17:38 We rejoice to hear of large baptisms 17:40 but there are so many areas that still we need 17:44 to under the blessing of the Holy Spirit 17:46 be faithful in going to share the wonderful love of Jesus. 17:50 Please continue to remember in your prayers 17:54 Global Mission Pioneers, 17:55 missionaries the board range of mission work of the church. 18:01 What do you mean you don't have time? 18:02 She's your child too. 18:04 You know, this really isn't fair to me. 18:06 Please don't leave me as the single parent here. 18:10 No don't hang up, don't hang up. 18:11 No, no, no, don't hang up. 18:13 Don't hang up. 18:17 Taxi. 18:24 Hey mom, it's me. 18:25 I was hoping that we could talk. 18:27 I'm just in a bind right now and I'm feeling so helpless 18:30 I don't know what to do. 18:32 Please call me as soon as you get this 18:34 because I really need to talk to you. 18:54 About four years ago the world reached a very interesting point 18:59 where it crossed the point of having 19:01 50% of the world's population 19:04 living in these large metropolitan areas of the world. 19:09 The Seventh-day Adventist Church has a very unique 19:12 opportunity of following the Spirit of Prophecy council 19:16 and Biblical principals in reaching 19:19 the people in the cities. 19:21 Ellen White has given tremendous council 19:24 through the inspiration of God 19:26 about how to reach people in the cities 19:27 with sustainable programs, 19:30 programs that will definitely try 19:33 and reach the hearts and the needs of people. 19:36 Our great challenge is to put that together 19:38 in a comprehensive urban evangelism approach 19:42 and we're hoping by God's grace that you will be involved in it. 19:45 That every division, every union, 19:49 every conference and mission, 19:50 every church and church member 19:52 will not only pray for the people in the cities 19:55 but that they will definitely gear themselves towards trying 19:59 to reach those very precious souls 20:02 who simply don't know about Jesus. 20:12 Jesus loves the cities and the reason He does is 20:15 because that's where people live and Jesus loves people. 20:20 In Matthew 9:35 the Bible says, "And Jesus went about 20:23 all the cities and villages preaching in their synagogues, 20:27 teaching and healing the diseases of the people." 20:31 Jesus had a comprehensive plan of physical, mental, 20:34 spiritual, and emotional wholeness for the cities. 20:37 The Seventh-day Adventist church is launching 20:39 a comprehensive plan to reach people in the cities. 20:43 It will begin in New York City, 2013, 20:48 a series of evangelistic meetings 20:50 but before that time each local church 20:52 becoming actively involved, 20:54 pastors and lay people uniting together 20:58 to reach the cities for Jesus Christ. 21:01 Divisions around the world are sending representatives 21:04 to New York City so that they too can participate 21:08 in this comprehensive plan. 21:10 Then, each of the 13 divisions 21:12 will have chosen a particular city. 21:16 Union representatives will come and participate 21:18 in these division meetings then the unions 21:21 and conferences will choose cities. 21:23 In all over 630 cities will be targeted, 21:27 the major cities in the world. 21:30 All of heaven is rejoicing and the Father, Son, 21:34 and the Holy Spirit I am convinced 21:36 are anointing this project with their grace as we reach out 21:42 and touch people in the cities. 21:45 As Seventh-day Adventist leaders 21:47 and Seventh-day Adventist members, 21:48 we often like to focus on the impossibility 21:52 of taking mission to cities and yet we know 21:56 that in our history the Lord has provided us with miracles 22:01 and examples of how this has been possible. 22:03 I think of South America, Inter-America, 22:07 the southern half of the continent of Africa, 22:10 Papua New Guinea, and many places in Asia 22:12 like Korea, the Philippines. 22:14 And you can look at cities, the city of Sao Paulo 22:17 with more than 1,000 churches in that city, 22:19 the city of Lima with hundreds of churches in that city. 22:23 Mexico City we've made advances there 22:26 but what about the 10/40 Window 22:28 where we find multiple millions of people 22:31 living in cities where the predominant religion 22:34 comes from something other than a Christian background. 22:37 Yes, the Lord has given us examples of we can do this. 22:41 I think of Phnom Penh, 22:43 more than 50 worshiping congregations in that city. 22:48 Bangkok, for years we had five worshiping churches, 22:51 today have 13 congregations that are worshiping in Bangkok. 22:56 Jakarta, located in the most populous Muslim country 23:00 in the world more than 100 23:02 Seventh-day Adventist churches in that city. 23:04 India, we have placed churches in many places there. 23:08 You know the Lord has given us plenty of evidence 23:13 that it's possible to go to the cities. 23:15 We can do this but its going to be through 23:18 the power of the Holy Spirit. 23:21 The gospels tell us that when Jesus looked at the crowds, 23:24 He looked at them with compassion. 23:26 And that describes the stance, 23:28 the attitude with which we need to look at the cities. 23:31 Do we simply care for people? 23:33 Do we care for the fact that most people live now in cities 23:37 and most of our church resources are going outside cities? 23:41 Jesus had a particular method for reaching people. 23:45 He looked with compassion 23:47 and then He cared for them holistically. 23:49 Ellen White summarizes it beautifully when she said 23:52 that Christ's method alone will bring true success. 23:56 And she says that first of all 23:58 Jesus mingled with people as one who desired their good. 24:02 Secondly, He showed compassion, He cared for people. 24:06 Thirdly, He ministered to their needs. 24:09 Fourthly, He won confidence 24:11 and then and only then He bid them follow me. 24:16 And today if we are going to reach the cities 24:18 we need to follow Jesus' example. 24:20 There's no rocket science, there's no secret methods. 24:23 It's that holistic ministry that Jesus himself showed. 24:27 He cared for people in a way that touched them physically 24:30 and socially but He also taught them 24:32 about the kingdom that was coming. 24:34 So today, we can't just care for people's physical needs 24:38 and ignore telling them about Jesus. 24:39 That's going to short-circuit the message. 24:42 But we also can't come in and just preach at people 24:45 without caring for them physically. 24:47 It's that holistic ministry that Jesus calls us to 24:50 and it is the only way that will bring true success. 24:54 As pastors we must in our mission 24:57 seek to reach the cities. 24:59 That's a calling that we have. Jesus loved the cities. 25:01 He sent Jonah to get Nineveh and He's calling each of us 25:04 to be involved somehow in reaching over 50% 25:07 of His people that are in the cities. 25:09 And we're not doing as well as we should in many places. 25:11 So I would like to challenge you today to think about 25:14 how and pray about how God can I help, 25:17 how can my church help perhaps reaching the cities? 25:20 Matthew 24:14 says "This gospel of the kingdom 25:23 shall be preached in all the world 25:24 and then shall the end come." 25:26 The fact is as a pastor I didn't expect 25:29 to be here with grey hair. 25:30 I wanted to see Jesus come long ago 25:32 but we're not going home until we reach 25:34 every one of those children He loves 25:35 with the 3 angel's messages and with the opportunity 25:37 to know Jesus and experience a living walk with Him. 25:40 Will you pray about it? 25:41 Will you see what you can do to reach the masses 25:44 of the cities in the days to come? 25:46 As Jesus crested that hill 25:49 and looked at the city of Jerusalem, 25:53 the Bible says, He wept. 25:57 I want to implore each of you to weep 26:01 for the people of the cities of this world. 26:04 And do more than weep. 26:06 Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the power 26:08 to join in comprehensive urban evangelism 26:12 to reach these precious souls of these many cities. 26:17 God bless you in this very important endeavor 26:20 as we look forward to Jesus soon coming 26:23 and where we can meet with people from the country, 26:26 from the rural areas, and the big cities 26:29 and be with our Lord in the New Jerusalem, the Holy City. 26:43 Today, we have a very special offer on 26:46 "Global Mission Snapshots." 26:48 we suspects that our views love mission 26:50 and the different people's cultures 26:52 and places around the world. 26:54 And so if you live in North America and also enjoy eating, 26:58 we would like to send you a free copy of a cookbook 27:01 entitled "A Taste of Travel." 27:04 This beautifully illustrated book features soups 27:07 and stews for more than 130 countries. 27:11 It includes recipes such as sweet mango soup from Jamaica, 27:15 tomato basil soup from Latvia, 27:18 and sweet potato stew from Guyana. 27:21 A Taste of Travel, was written 27:22 by Adventist Mission's Marketing Director, Nancy Kyte. 27:25 So simply call our toll free number at 1-800-648-5824 27:31 or visit our website and ask for A Taste of Travel 27:35 or just mention the soup cookbook. 27:38 This book is completely free although if you also include 27:41 a donation would be happy to receive it. 27:43 But hurry because supplies are limited. 27:46 Don't forget to clearly state your name and address 27:49 and we'll send you a copy while supplies last. 27:52 Well, I hope you've enjoyed our program today 27:55 and I hope it's inspired you to pray for the people 27:58 and places you've seen. 28:00 And a special thank you to those who visit our website 28:03 and support global mission projects. 28:06 Thank you for helping reach the un-reach with hope. 28:09 Until next time I'm Gary Krause, god bless. |
Revised 2014-12-17