Participants: Gary Krause (Host), Kurt Johnson, Gerson Santos
Series Code: GMS
Program Code: GMS000041
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00:01 A Chinese restaurant in Japan's larger city,
00:03 an elementary school in Kenya, Discover Bible schools 00:07 and the challenges of urban mission, 00:09 all that and more coming up next 00:12 on Global Mission Snapshots. 00:24 Just before He went up to heaven, 00:27 Jesus gave us a command. 00:30 He gave us a mission. Jesus said, go. 00:35 "Go unto all the world telling them of His love." 00:40 This is our mission, this is our Global Mission. 00:49 Hello I'm Gary Krause. 00:51 Welcome to Global Mission Snapshots. 00:54 In the late 1930s a pastor in Williamsport, Pennsylvania 00:58 kneeled away to follow up with people 01:00 who'd show an interest in studying the Bible 01:03 after hearing his radio broadcast. 01:06 So he adapted a set of Bible study lessons 01:08 and started a 23 lesson Bible correspondence course. 01:13 Soon other Adventist radio ministries 01:16 were offering Bible correspondence courses. 01:19 Today the Discover Bible Schools are still sending out 01:22 thousands of lessons and providing lessons online. 01:26 Today we'll be talking with Pastor Kurt Johnson 01:29 who heads up, the Discover Bible Schools. 01:32 We'll also be talking with Gerson Santos, 01:35 Director of the Global Mission Center for Urban Ministries. 01:39 And we'll visit a Chinese restaurant in Tokyo, Japan. 01:43 But first up Baraton International School 01:46 in the country of Kenya. 01:55 Here on the campus of Baraton University 01:58 in the country of Kenya is the B.I.S. school. 02:02 This school serves the children 02:03 of university students and the community. 02:07 Shadrach is six years old. He is a student at B.I.S. 02:11 He loves to play with his friends 02:13 and participate in school activities. 02:20 Every day Shadrach walks a great distance to school. 02:25 He's committed to learning because he has dreams 02:27 of being a pilot and a doctor someday. 02:31 You can see that there are few mistakes, isn't it? 02:34 Yes. And the first one is-- 02:36 This is Abigail, she is 13 years old 02:38 and also attends B.I.S. 02:41 Her parents are students at the Adventist University. 02:44 Abigail loves to learn here. 02:47 Both Shadrach and Abigail study hard in their school. 02:51 Each day both students walk home for lunch. 02:54 There isn't enough space to prepare food 02:56 for all the students. 02:58 So only a few students at the school 02:59 are able to stay for lunch the rest walk home, 03:03 sometimes more than two kilometers each way. 03:06 The road is long and its poor condition 03:09 makes it a difficult walk for the children. 03:17 After lunch students return to their classrooms. 03:20 The classrooms are in poor shape 03:22 and when it rains sometimes water comes inside. 03:26 These conditions make it hard to learn. 03:30 As you can see the students here are eager to learn 03:34 but their facilities are not up to standard. 03:38 They need a place where they can learn comfortably 03:41 without having to worry about the weather 03:42 and the journey home for lunch. 03:45 A portion of your 13th Sabbath offerings 03:47 will help build new classrooms 03:49 and a cafeteria for the students here. 03:52 Students like Shadrach and Abigail 03:54 will be able to stay happily at the school for the day. 03:58 Part of the offering also goes toward building 04:00 married student housing for the University students. 04:03 So children like Abigail 04:05 can live closer to the school she loves. 04:08 Please pray for the projects in Kenya 04:11 and pray for the students at B.I.S. 04:14 Thank you, for your support of the mission 04:17 of the Seventh-day Adventist church. 04:23 My guest is Pastor Kurt Johnson 04:25 who cares for Bible correspondence schools 04:27 of the Seventh-day Adventist church around the world. 04:30 Thanks, Kurt for joining us. 04:32 You have so many wonderful stories 04:34 about how Bible school lessons 04:37 are touching lives around the world 04:38 and for this time that we have together 04:41 I just want to hear good stories. 04:43 I love telling good stories. 04:45 The first story I want to share with you Gary, 04:47 is about a man named Howard. 04:49 And it comes out of Kentucky. 04:51 Howard and his wife were going behind grocery stores 04:55 looking in dumpsters, trying to find 04:58 cans and bottles for recycling. 05:00 And one day behind a grocery store in Lexington, Kentucky, 05:04 Howard was looking through the trash 05:06 and he found a lesson Discover Bible School guide. 05:09 And he picked out lesson up, look at it said to his wife, 05:13 "This looks interesting. 05:14 Think I'll take it home and study it. 05:16 But we need a Bible." 05:18 And two days later, guess what? 05:21 They found a Bible in the trash can if you can imagine. 05:24 God helped them find a Bible lesson and a Bible. 05:27 They went home begin studying the lessons. 05:29 A local Discover Bible School in their local church 05:32 had their address on the back of the answer sheet. 05:34 Howard filled it out, sent the answer sheet 05:36 back to the local church and began receiving the lessons. 05:40 After about lesson number nine, 05:43 the church members contacted Howard, 05:45 began to visit with him, answered questions. 05:48 And Howard went to church and today he's a baptized member 05:52 of the Seventh-day Adventist church. 05:54 And when I hear that story or I should say tell the story 05:58 and when I heard it from Howard. 06:01 It said to me, you know that the people 06:03 that threw those lessons away 06:04 and the Bible probably in their mind were saying 06:06 I don't need the religion, I don't need God. 06:08 But in that case they became an evangelist 06:10 because they brought unsupportively they brought 06:13 Howard into a relationship with Jesus Christ. 06:16 Powerful story, I love it. Yeah. 06:18 Now you said there was a lesson number nine 06:20 that church members contacted him, 06:21 is that a way you recommend it as their particular stage. 06:25 Well, yeah, we--we share with them and about that time 06:28 and day or two go visit, 06:29 take them the steps to Christ, get acquainted. 06:32 And see if they can transition 06:33 from their correspondence lesson into a personal study. 06:36 Good, another story. 06:38 I'm gonna share with you my favorite story. 06:40 Lot of stories come and this one is amazing to me. 06:45 Mike Strickland who was 06:46 a Bible School director in England 06:48 who was since passed away shared this story with me. 06:52 Well, we have to go back a long time ago. 06:54 In fact to back to around 1955 the story starts. 06:59 The church members were walking down the street 07:01 it appears putting a Bible study request cards, 07:04 free Bible lessons cards on the doors of all the homes. 07:08 And what it looks like happen was this one family got a card 07:12 probably laid it on the top of their piano. 07:15 As they are sitting there playing their piano, 07:17 there is a vibration that comes out of the soundboard. 07:20 So they pick the card up off the top of the piano 07:23 and began to fold it up to make a wedge out of it. 07:25 And they fold it many, many times 07:27 until they got it just really, really small. 07:29 Took the screw out from the back of the piano 07:32 where the vibration was coming. 07:33 Shove the card in there and ran that screw 07:35 right through the center of that card 07:37 that they made into a wedge. 07:39 It sat in that piano as a wedge for over 25 years. 07:43 And then the owner of the piano sold it. 07:46 The lady that bought it said 07:47 that she played the piano for about three years. 07:50 And after she--three years she called the piano tuner. 07:53 He comes to the house takes back off the piano 07:56 finds this card, unfolds it. 07:59 So now it's almost, you know, 30 years old almost. 08:02 It's got all these holes perforated through it 08:04 because of the screw lays on top of the piano. 08:06 And he finishes his work, 08:08 repairs the soundboard goes home. 08:11 The lady finds the card, 08:13 she picks it up and reads it, free Bible studies. 08:15 And it mentions the areas that they were taught, 08:18 you know that the questions would to be answered. 08:20 Her hearts convicted by the Holy Spirit. 08:22 She sits downs and she writes a note. 08:25 And says, "I don't know if this Bible lessons 08:27 are still available or not but I found this card 08:30 in the back of the piano. 08:32 And she-- if the lessons are available 08:34 I'd like to receive them." 08:35 She mails it and the address is 30 years old 08:38 but our Bible school is you know, 08:40 still existed at that same location. 08:43 And she began receiving the lessons 08:45 and eventually she was visited. 08:47 And the lady and her daughter 08:48 are Seventh-day Adventist church members today. 08:51 Because of a card that was in a piano for 30 years. 08:54 It's amazing story. 08:56 Well, that's a thing this longevity I mean that-- 08:58 as long the card doesn't get destroyed 09:00 it still is a witness. Amen. 09:03 And I share with church members, you know, 09:06 we never know what God's gonna do 09:08 with a piece of literature with a card. 09:10 And so hand those cards out, give them to people, 09:14 put them in a pocket on the airplane. 09:16 Put them in a library book if you check out a book, 09:19 if you when you give a tip at a restaurant, 09:23 lay a card there. 09:24 You never know how that card will touch a life 09:27 and person will respond and study the Bible lessons. 09:31 So a church member who wants to get involved 09:33 in this ministry what can they do? 09:35 Well, if they contact us at the Adventist media center 09:39 in Simi Valley, California, the voice prophecy. 09:43 If they contact us there and say they like to have 09:45 a Discover Bible School then they can share with them 09:48 how they can receive cards and set up their Bible school. 09:51 And to see what the lessons 09:54 you just go to BibleStudies.com, right? 09:56 Yeah. Yes. 09:58 The BibleStudies.com is our website 10:01 where people can study the lessons online. 10:04 And you can online you can either study 10:06 with an instructor or there are also self training. 10:09 And it's setup to every church member in North America 10:12 they would like to get bible lessons online 10:15 through the internet, they can become an instructor 10:17 and we can help them do that also. Good. 10:20 Give another story in 30 seconds. 10:21 In 30 seconds? 10:23 Well, another trash can story. 10:26 Fred was visiting his daughter in 10:28 you know, apartment complex. 10:30 And as he was leaving he picked the sack of garbage 10:33 sitting by her door and said. "I'll throw this away." 10:35 And so he goes outside flips up the ban of the canister 10:40 and local church has mass mailed on you know, 10:43 Bible study enrollment cards offering free Bible lessons. 10:46 And some of the people had thrown them away 10:48 and they were lying in there on top of the rest of the trash. 10:50 He picked one up 10:52 said this looks interesting, mailed it in. 10:54 He began to study the bible lessons 10:56 and today Fred also had made his decision 10:58 and he accepted Jesus into his life and he's baptized. 11:01 You know, I start tell people Gary, 11:04 that if God can use trashcans, if God can use piano 11:08 I'm sure that God can use you and me. 11:11 Excellent, thank you so much Kurt, for joining us. 11:14 If you'd like to be involved in this ministry 11:16 please contact the address, 11:18 phone number that's on the screen now. 11:20 And pray that many more people 11:22 will be touched for this ministry. 12:11 It's my pleasure to welcome my guest Dr. Gerson Santos. 12:16 Dr. Santos is an administrator, a church leader 12:19 in a greater New York region of the United States. 12:22 And he is also the Director of the Global Mission Center 12:26 for Urban Ministry. 12:28 Thank you so much for joining us, Gerson. 12:30 Well, thank you for having me here. 12:32 You know, urban mission is such a daunting topic 12:36 because we see in growing cities 12:39 most people now living in cities. 12:41 So this is just getting bigger and when we look 12:44 at our mission to share the good news about Jesus, 12:47 you wonder where do you even start. 12:49 New York, tell me about New York. 12:51 Well, New York is an amazing place. 12:54 It's one of the largest city's in the world. 12:57 It's very cosmopolitan and you have people 12:59 from all over the world. 13:01 The people say there are about 800 different ethnicities 13:04 or languages spoken in the city. 13:08 About 60% of population are immigrants. 13:11 So and it's also has-- 13:14 it's very important in terms of communication, 13:16 it's the center of communication, 13:18 news center of the finance in the world. 13:20 So everything that happens in New York 13:22 affects the whole world. 13:24 So we-- it's an amazing city. 13:26 This is definitely I can tell you. 13:29 We receive every year over 15 million of tourists 13:32 are visiting the city. 13:34 And of course has so many challenges. 13:37 We've difference in terms of income, 13:40 you have--you can find the most poor, 13:42 the most rich and you'd find all kinds of challenges 13:46 as urban-- larger to urban area. 13:50 This year has been designated as the special year 13:53 by church leaders to focus on mission in New York. 13:57 What is happening with that? 13:58 Well, that's a good question. Thank you. 14:01 When we heard about this 14:03 initiative of mission to the cities, 14:05 reaching out the large urban, 14:08 you know, areas in the world. 14:09 And the General Conference, the church decided 14:13 to focus on New York as the starting point. 14:16 That was a privilege for us to be, to be part of this. 14:19 And of course you have people they think oh, 14:22 evangelism reaching out, this is about public meetings. 14:25 But it's more-- much more than that. 14:27 I mean, preaching the gospel 14:28 in a public setting is just part of it. 14:31 We develop strategy focusing in, 14:35 starting with spiritual revival. 14:38 Training and equipping, reaching out the community. 14:42 Reaping meetings of course are part of the project. 14:45 And follow what programs for discipleship. 14:48 This is-- I should say, 14:52 comprehensive approach for evangelism, 14:54 evangelism as the cycle and developing different areas 14:57 not just the preaching but also making disciples 15:01 which is our main mandate. 15:05 Gerson, I hold in my hand here this new mission magazine. 15:09 Mission 360, I say new because 15:13 it just came off the press last week. 15:15 But mainly this is going to be a digital magazine 15:17 where you can download it on a Kindle, 15:19 your iPads, your iPhone, whatever. 15:22 And you got a mission360mag.org to access this. 15:27 But I'm drawing attention to this because in here 15:30 we have an article on centers of influence. 15:33 Urban centers of influence 15:34 where we can connect with the community. 15:37 Now do you have any centers planned for New York City? 15:41 Yeah. We have a few of them. 15:45 I can share one of them its right in the heart of the city 15:48 and we are planning to remodel and update a building 15:53 that has been used for as our book center, a book store. 15:58 And we are trying to update the building having 16:01 developing kind of light mayo, juice bar at the lobby. 16:07 And we are also starting small group meetings. 16:10 We are planning to have series of seminars during lunch time 16:14 because we are talking right in the heart of Manhattan. 16:17 And we have a lot of people that work in the area. 16:21 They might live outside the city but during lunch time 16:24 they need to take a break anyway. 16:26 So this a good opportunity for us. 16:28 There is another important area I would mention is in Brooklyn. 16:33 Brooklyn has been very affective after the big storm, 16:36 Sandy in the end of last year. 16:39 And when the church mobilize its resources to reach out 16:45 the community and support a community 16:47 that open a lot of doors for us. 16:49 We have community service center there. 16:52 We have a couple of churches in the area. 16:54 And those buildings, I mean they become 16:57 centers of influence in that community. 17:00 When we come back later on, later on when we come 17:03 and invite them for bible studies 17:07 or talk to them about spiritual things 17:09 as we answered their questions I mean, 17:11 those has created a tremendous environment 17:14 and people are just begging us, 17:17 can you give us a little bit more. 17:19 We are eager to learn from the word of God. 17:22 Well, that's exciting. 17:23 I mean the one that you're talking about first 17:25 right there next to Bryant Park, 17:28 opposite to New York City Public Library. 17:30 That's correct. That's the place. 17:32 What is it like three blocks from Times Square? 17:33 I mean it's just a-- 17:34 Yeah, just a few blocks from Times Square. 17:36 And so what we're talking about here is a platform 17:39 to put Christ method into practice 17:41 where we can mingle, show sympathy, 17:43 minister to needs, bring confidence 17:45 and bring people to follow Jesus. 17:49 One of the challenges of the city is its so expensive, right? 17:53 Yeah. You're right. 17:54 This is a--this is probably the main challenge 17:57 we face anything to try to do in the city is high cost. 18:02 And you need to follow, I mean there is no way 18:04 you need to follow all the permits 18:07 and get all the unions involved. 18:09 Especially you know, New York is very union, 18:12 it's strong there. 18:14 And so we're investing quite a much of money 18:18 to try and do update a building. 18:19 One of our main challenges is the elevator. 18:23 This will cost over $100,000 just to update elevator. 18:28 We had some joints from an architect that will cost 18:31 close to $100,000 also to do it and apply for all the permits. 18:35 So before you even get started, 18:37 I mean you already spent 18:39 a couple of hundred thousands dollars. 18:41 So it's unbelievable. 18:43 People may think oh, we just got down to you know, 18:46 just brought a new banner in front of the-- 18:49 of the store but it's, it's not like that, 18:52 it's a little bit more complicated than that. 18:54 But we see a tremendous opportunity also as I said, 18:57 you have right there, you have millions of people 19:00 working or walking distances. 19:01 You receive millions of people every year visiting those sites 19:05 and Bryant Park and public library 19:07 is one of the most visited places in New York City. 19:10 So it's also, it's a challenge but in the other hand 19:13 it's a tremendous opportunity. I mean, we can't miss it. 19:15 We have to take advantage of that 19:17 and offer things that people be you know, 19:19 in need place to recharge their phones, 19:22 you know, free wi-fi, healthy, 19:26 you know, juice or sandwich. 19:28 And spend some time with friends and do some exercise. 19:33 So we need to offer things 19:34 that people will be you know, excited about. 19:37 And as you make those connections 19:38 in small groups can start to be establish. 19:41 I think, it's so exciting, Gerson. 19:42 Thanks so much for sharing with us. 19:45 Viewers at home, please pray for New York City 19:48 and the big cities of the world. 19:49 I'm just so excited about centers of influence. 19:52 We're calling them life hopes and this places 19:54 where we can connect with urban people in the way 19:57 that is meaningful following Jesus' example. 20:00 To find out more go to MissionToTheCity.org. 20:04 MissionToTheCity.org and pray for urban mission. 20:14 When Pastor Yu Chuan Fu and his wife Pan 20:16 go to their neighborhood Chinese restaurant 20:19 they get more than a good meal. 20:20 They find friends and a place where they can talk about Jesus. 20:25 Pastor Yu and his family arrived in Japan in 2006 20:29 as part of Global Mission's Pioneer Mission Movement. 20:32 Originally from Taiwan, they were sent to Tokyo 20:35 as missionaries to share Jesus' love 20:37 with people in Japan's largest city. 20:40 When they arrived they found a growing Chinese population. 20:44 Some 120,000 Chinese people 20:47 mingled with the crowds on the streets of Tokyo. 20:50 That's nearly 1/3rd of Japan's Chinese population. 20:54 When Pastor Yu and his family visited the Chinese restaurant 20:57 near their home, they started talking with the owners. 21:00 Mr. and Mrs. Han had moved to Japan 21:03 from the People's Republic of China. 21:05 Back in China less than 3% 21:07 of the 1.3 billion people are Christians. 21:12 After their second visit to the restaurant, 21:14 Pastor and Mrs. Yu invited their new friends 21:16 to visit their church. 21:18 Soon Pastor Yu started studying the Bible with Mr. and Mrs. Han 21:22 often meeting with them in their restaurant. 21:25 Then in December of last year Mrs. Han had to go away, 21:29 she was gone for three months. 21:32 While she was gone Mrs. Yu noticed Mr. Han 21:35 struggling to run the restaurant by himself. 21:38 So she started going to the restaurant 21:40 to lend a helping hand. 21:42 She helped to prepare food, 21:44 waited on tables and washed plenty of dishes. 21:47 Over time they used friendship 21:49 and the Bible studies have touched Mrs. Han's heart. 21:53 Today she is attending the Chinese church 21:56 with Pastor and Mrs. Yu. 21:58 She's still studying the Bible and wants to be baptized. 22:01 Mr. Han stays behind to keep the restaurant open 22:04 but he is still studying the Bible. 22:06 Recently Mr. and Mrs. Han 22:08 dedicated their young son Tanfan to Jesus. 22:12 Please pray for Pastor and Mrs. Yu 22:15 as they work to share Jesus' love 22:16 with people in Japan's largest city. 22:19 And please pray for the Han family 22:21 and those like them who for the first time 22:23 are learning about a God who loves them. 22:26 Thank you, for supporting Global Mission 22:28 in the mission offerings that make mission possible. 22:37 Today we have a very special offer 22:39 on Global Mission Snapshots. 22:42 We know that many of our viewers love mission 22:44 and the different peoples, coaches 22:46 and places around the world. 22:48 And so if you live in North America and also enjoy eating 22:51 we would like to send you a free copy of a new cookbook 22:55 called "A Taste of Travel." 22:57 This beautifully illustrated book features soups and stews 23:01 for more than 130 countries. 23:04 So if you live in North America 23:05 simply call our toll free number 1-800-648-5824 23:11 or visit our website and ask for A Taste of Travel 23:15 or just mention the soup cookbook. 23:17 This book is completely free although if you also include 23:20 a donation we would be very happy to receive it. 23:23 But hurry because supplies are limited. 23:26 Don't forget to clearly state your name and address 23:29 and we'll send you a copy while supplies last. 23:33 Well, I hope you enjoyed our program today. 23:35 And I hope it's inspired you to pray for the people 23:38 in place that you've seen. 23:40 Thank you, so much for your continuing prayers 23:42 and your financial support for Global Mission. 23:45 I'll leave you with this music video and until next time, 23:48 I'm Gary Krause. God bless. 24:07 Let your heart be broken 24:11 for a world in need 24:16 Feed the mouths that hunger, 24:21 soothe the wounds that bleed 24:25 Give the cup of water 24:30 and the loaf of bread 24:35 Be the hands of Jesus, 24:39 serving in His stead 24:47 Here on earth applying 24:52 principles of love 24:56 Visible expressions, 25:01 God still rules above 25:06 Living illustration of the Living Word 25:14 To the minds of all 25:18 who've Never seen or heard 25:27 Blest to be a blessing 25:32 privileged to care 25:36 Challenged by the need 25:40 apparent everywhere 25:46 Where mankind is wanting, 25:50 fill the vacant place 25:55 Be the means through which 25:58 the Lord reveals His grace 26:47 Let your heart be tender 26:51 and your vision clear 26:56 See mankind as God sees, 27:00 serve Him far and near 27:05 Let your heart be broken 27:10 by a brother's pain 27:14 Share your rich resources, 27:18 give and give again 27:26 Add to your believing 27:31 deeds that prove it true 27:36 Knowing Christ as Savior, 27:40 make Him Master, too 27:45 Follow in His footsteps, 27:49 go where He has trod 27:54 In the world's great trouble risk yourself for God. |
Revised 2014-12-17