On today's program 00:00:01.06\00:00:02.09 we'll be talking with Pastor Ted Wilson, 00:00:02.12\00:00:03.31 president of the General Conference 00:00:03.34\00:00:04.90 of Seventh-day Adventist. 00:00:04.93\00:00:06.50 And we'll visit a church in Italy 00:00:06.53\00:00:08.46 to find out the secret to their success 00:00:08.49\00:00:10.81 in reaching their community. 00:00:10.84\00:00:12.48 All that and more, 00:00:12.51\00:00:13.68 coming up next on Global Mission Snapshots. 00:00:13.71\00:00:16.59 Just before He went up to heaven, 00:00:27.91\00:00:30.46 Jesus gave us a command. 00:00:30.49\00:00:33.47 He gave us a mission. Jesus said, go. 00:00:33.50\00:00:38.68 "Go unto all the world telling them of His love." 00:00:38.71\00:00:43.65 This is our mission, this is our global mission. 00:00:43.68\00:00:47.55 Hello I'm Gary Krause 00:00:52.84\00:00:54.05 and welcome to Global Mission Snapshots 00:00:54.08\00:00:56.19 where we give you a glimpse 00:00:56.22\00:00:57.89 of what's happening with Adventist Mission 00:00:57.92\00:00:59.89 around the world. 00:00:59.92\00:01:01.23 Today we'll be talking with Clifmond Shameerudeen 00:01:01.26\00:01:03.97 from the Global Mission Center for South Asian religions 00:01:04.00\00:01:07.49 about how to better understand what others believe 00:01:07.52\00:01:10.91 and more effectively share what we believe. 00:01:10.94\00:01:13.96 And Pastor Ted Wilson talks about how revival 00:01:13.99\00:01:16.50 and reformation is important for mission 00:01:16.53\00:01:19.52 and how mission is important for revival and reformation. 00:01:19.55\00:01:23.61 But first let's visit a church in Italy 00:01:23.64\00:01:26.03 that struggled with a way to start 00:01:26.06\00:01:28.17 when they wanted to reach out to people in their community. 00:01:28.20\00:01:32.19 Milan, Italy, one of the most secularized regions of Europe. 00:01:32.22\00:01:37.48 Home to amazing architecture, 00:01:37.51\00:01:39.76 music, fancy shops, fashion 00:01:39.79\00:01:42.46 and everything that can make your empty heart feel full. 00:01:42.49\00:01:45.82 But at least that's what the people 00:01:45.85\00:01:47.38 who live here would like to think. 00:01:47.41\00:01:49.61 Italy is also home to more than 60 million people. 00:01:49.64\00:01:53.27 And there is only one Adventist for every 69,000 people. 00:01:53.30\00:01:58.06 The Adventist church has had a difficult time growing here. 00:01:58.09\00:02:02.49 We have a very secularized society, 00:02:02.52\00:02:06.80 and this affects society and the church also. 00:02:06.83\00:02:12.39 So it's not easy to come to people 00:02:12.42\00:02:17.29 that think they don't need God don't need religion. 00:02:17.32\00:02:22.19 So we must find strategies to come around all the biases 00:02:22.22\00:02:28.93 and prejudices people have, have in their minds. 00:02:28.96\00:02:33.49 So this is our challenge. 00:02:33.52\00:02:35.87 Hence we see that some results are appearing here and there. 00:02:35.90\00:02:41.34 ( speaking in foreign language ) 00:02:45.80\00:02:51.67 Outside of Milan is the area of Bergamo. 00:02:55.81\00:02:59.92 Here a small Seventh-day Adventist church 00:02:59.95\00:03:02.85 meets each Sabbath. 00:03:02.88\00:03:04.78 The word small can used to describe the building 00:03:04.81\00:03:07.40 that they meet in not the size of the congregation. 00:03:07.43\00:03:10.98 Several years ago the church was small 00:03:11.01\00:03:13.61 and had no growth. 00:03:13.64\00:03:15.43 Church leaders decided to try establishing small groups 00:03:15.46\00:03:18.73 that would use prayer as their outreach to the community. 00:03:18.76\00:03:22.52 The members organized into small groups 00:03:22.55\00:03:24.88 that would meet several times a week in member's homes. 00:03:24.91\00:03:28.70 They would study the Bible 00:03:28.73\00:03:29.79 for a deeper understanding of Jesus 00:03:29.82\00:03:31.81 and His love for them. 00:03:31.84\00:03:33.85 At the same time they prayed that 00:03:33.88\00:03:35.66 God would bring people to them 00:03:35.69\00:03:37.65 so they could share their faith. 00:03:37.68\00:03:39.89 For several months this continued 00:03:39.92\00:03:42.21 and then people from outside the church 00:03:42.24\00:03:44.03 started attending the small groups. 00:03:44.06\00:03:46.62 These new arrivals were co-workers 00:03:46.65\00:03:49.14 and mutual friends 00:03:49.17\00:03:50.32 who wanted to find a deeper meaning in their lives. 00:03:50.35\00:03:53.53 Slowly, the small church started to grow. 00:03:53.56\00:03:57.38 Sabbath school became a time 00:03:57.41\00:03:58.90 of deep spiritual study and prayer. 00:03:58.93\00:04:01.97 The small groups would meet 00:04:02.00\00:04:03.53 in their own Sabbath school groups 00:04:03.56\00:04:05.56 and then pour over the Scriptures together. 00:04:05.59\00:04:08.66 Then the last 15 minutes of Sabbath school 00:04:08.69\00:04:11.41 were dedicated to praying in small groups. 00:04:11.44\00:04:14.62 These groups would pray for God to bring new people to them, 00:04:14.65\00:04:18.46 people who were also searching for the truth in Jesus. 00:04:18.49\00:04:22.97 Soon the church had more than doubled in size 00:04:23.00\00:04:25.67 and had quickly outgrown its small building. 00:04:25.70\00:04:29.40 Today there are 11 lay leaders at the church 00:04:29.43\00:04:32.54 and each one is in-charge of a small group. 00:04:32.57\00:04:35.53 There is even talk of starting a church plant 00:04:35.56\00:04:37.95 in another nearby community 00:04:37.98\00:04:39.79 to alleviate the crowded church each Sabbath. 00:04:39.82\00:04:42.70 God has truly answered the prayers 00:04:42.73\00:04:45.15 of the Bergamo church. 00:04:45.18\00:04:46.66 In the mission of the church 00:04:50.15\00:04:51.90 the gospel has not completed its mission 00:04:51.93\00:04:55.12 until in the church between the members 00:04:55.15\00:04:57.60 in its totality has accepted the character of Christ. 00:04:57.63\00:05:01.13 In such a way when we meet one time per week 00:05:01.16\00:05:04.19 after we can meet two times per week. 00:05:04.22\00:05:06.31 Sometimes people meet three, four, five times per week. 00:05:06.34\00:05:09.30 We eat together, we enjoy together, 00:05:09.33\00:05:11.47 we sing together, and we also weep together. 00:05:11.50\00:05:13.95 And in such a way the Lord will put people in His church. 00:05:13.98\00:05:17.78 Your prayerful support of the mission offering 00:05:20.35\00:05:22.79 helps provide resources to small churches like Bergamo 00:05:22.82\00:05:27.28 as they strive to reflect the character of Christ 00:05:27.31\00:05:30.65 and bring the members of their community to Jesus. 00:05:30.68\00:05:34.73 Thank you, for supporting the mission 00:05:34.76\00:05:37.18 of the Seventh-day Adventist church. 00:05:37.21\00:05:41.33 Our guest today is Elder Ted Wilson 00:05:41.36\00:05:43.93 who is president of General Conference 00:05:43.96\00:05:45.71 of Seventh-day Adventist. 00:05:45.74\00:05:47.43 Thanks for joining us, Pastor Wilson. 00:05:47.46\00:05:50.02 Revival and reformation is something 00:05:50.05\00:05:52.14 that I've heard you talk about many, many, many times. 00:05:52.17\00:05:54.94 Why is that such a central theme for you? 00:05:54.97\00:05:58.88 Well, thanks Gary, for asking that question 00:05:58.91\00:06:00.92 because really at the very foundation 00:06:00.95\00:06:04.82 of all that we are 00:06:04.85\00:06:07.92 and hope to be has a Seventh-day Adventist church 00:06:07.95\00:06:11.84 and as a people on the road towards eternal life 00:06:11.87\00:06:16.09 by God's grace we need to be 00:06:16.12\00:06:20.09 so sensitive to the impression of the Holy Spirit 00:06:20.12\00:06:23.31 because I believe we're living 00:06:23.34\00:06:25.21 in the last days of earth's history. 00:06:25.24\00:06:28.03 I believe Bible prophecy explains to us 00:06:28.06\00:06:31.40 that the next great event that is going to take place 00:06:31.43\00:06:35.74 when you study the Book of Daniel 00:06:35.77\00:06:39.23 and chapter 2 and the statue 00:06:39.26\00:06:42.36 and all the different kingdoms. 00:06:42.39\00:06:44.09 The last thing that is going to come is going to be 00:06:44.12\00:06:47.75 a stone not cut out by hands 00:06:47.78\00:06:51.65 that is gonna come down 00:06:51.68\00:06:52.89 and representing the kingdom of God 00:06:52.92\00:06:54.53 and its going to smash the statue. 00:06:54.56\00:06:57.49 Well, we're living I think in the very, very end tips 00:06:57.52\00:07:01.14 of the toes of that statue 00:07:01.17\00:07:03.60 and the next thing that's gonna happen 00:07:03.63\00:07:05.33 of enormous magnitude is Christ soon coming. 00:07:05.36\00:07:09.02 However He hasn't come yet 00:07:09.05\00:07:10.74 and that's the burning question that many Christians have. 00:07:10.77\00:07:14.34 I mean, the Lord said 00:07:14.37\00:07:15.91 He was gonna come but He hasn't come in yet. 00:07:15.94\00:07:19.40 How do we then allow the Lord to help us 00:07:19.43\00:07:22.84 in this great mission 00:07:22.87\00:07:24.02 and prepare ourselves personally 00:07:24.05\00:07:26.22 for what He wants to see happen through us? 00:07:26.25\00:07:29.19 Now He could have sent entire compliment of angels 00:07:29.22\00:07:35.04 from heaven and done everything necessary 00:07:35.07\00:07:37.62 but He's using us. 00:07:37.65\00:07:39.70 He wants us to be part of the mission of the church. 00:07:39.73\00:07:43.01 He wants the universe to see 00:07:43.04\00:07:45.81 what a loving kind open approach 00:07:45.84\00:07:50.82 from heaven towards creatures 00:07:50.85\00:07:53.33 or His creation will do in allowing people 00:07:53.36\00:07:56.72 to make a free choice to serve Him 00:07:56.75\00:07:59.93 and to be part of the mission. 00:07:59.96\00:08:01.57 In order to have that kind of experience though 00:08:01.60\00:08:04.45 we need to humble ourselves 00:08:04.48\00:08:06.08 before the Lord and allow the Holy Spirit 00:08:06.11\00:08:07.92 to really work in our lives. 00:08:07.95\00:08:10.29 And that's what revival and reformation is all about. 00:08:10.32\00:08:13.98 This isn't something that some committee 00:08:14.01\00:08:16.07 at the General Conference cooked up, 00:08:16.10\00:08:17.68 a nice little phase. 00:08:17.71\00:08:19.43 This is from scripture, 00:08:19.46\00:08:21.93 its part of the experience of the Christian 00:08:21.96\00:08:25.45 and of the believer, all the way through the Bible. 00:08:25.48\00:08:28.07 It is heavily emphasized in the Spirit of Prophecy 00:08:28.10\00:08:31.80 that we need to be revived 00:08:31.83\00:08:33.63 and then we need to changed or reformed. 00:08:33.66\00:08:36.02 And that doesn't happen by our own power, 00:08:36.05\00:08:38.44 it's by being in connection with the Lord. 00:08:38.47\00:08:40.42 By spending time in Bible study. 00:08:40.45\00:08:43.19 In studying materials that are gonna lead us 00:08:43.22\00:08:45.80 close to the Lord like Spirit of Prophecy 00:08:45.83\00:08:48.03 and other materials. 00:08:48.06\00:08:50.49 Spending time in intense prayer with the Lord, 00:08:50.52\00:08:53.28 pleading for the Latter Rain of the Holy Spirit 00:08:53.31\00:08:56.46 and that the Lord will use us on an every day basis. 00:08:56.49\00:09:00.81 And it really means coming closer and closer to the Lord. 00:09:00.84\00:09:04.93 So as Philippians 2 says, 00:09:04.96\00:09:07.44 "Let this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus." 00:09:07.47\00:09:10.37 Well, how do you do that? How does that happen? 00:09:10.40\00:09:13.54 In the Book of 2 Chronicles Chapter 7 00:09:13.57\00:09:17.80 and verse we like to emphasize in this area, verse 14. 00:09:17.83\00:09:23.03 God was speaking directly to King Solomon 00:09:23.06\00:09:26.00 at the time of the consecration 00:09:26.03\00:09:29.13 of the temple. 00:09:29.16\00:09:30.62 And the Lord is speaking and He says, 00:09:30.65\00:09:33.34 if My people which are called My name 00:09:33.37\00:09:35.96 and then there are four verbs that happened 00:09:35.99\00:09:38.82 that are listed here. 00:09:38.85\00:09:40.26 Humble themselves, pray, seek My face, 00:09:40.29\00:09:43.93 turn from their wicked ways. 00:09:43.96\00:09:46.53 So first of all we need to humble ourselves 00:09:46.56\00:09:48.63 and realize that we are in great need of the Lord. 00:09:48.66\00:09:51.31 In fact the Spirit of Prophecy tells us 00:09:51.34\00:09:54.17 that revival is our greatest need. 00:09:54.20\00:09:57.20 To be revived in the Lord, 00:09:57.23\00:09:58.68 not just once or twice but every day. 00:09:58.71\00:10:01.45 To humbly submit ourselves 00:10:01.48\00:10:03.46 and then of course we need to be praying, 00:10:03.49\00:10:05.40 we need to be people who are vitally involved 00:10:05.43\00:10:08.44 in intercessory prayer 00:10:08.47\00:10:10.53 and asking the Lord to use us in a powerful way. 00:10:10.56\00:10:14.77 Then of course as we seek His face or His word, 00:10:14.80\00:10:18.56 He will help us to know 00:10:18.59\00:10:19.77 what we are supposed to do in His service. 00:10:19.80\00:10:23.64 And then as we become filled with His power 00:10:23.67\00:10:27.24 we will turn from our own desires 00:10:27.27\00:10:30.50 and participate in the mission of the church 00:10:30.53\00:10:34.39 which is to do God's will 00:10:34.42\00:10:36.57 rather than our own selfish desire. 00:10:36.60\00:10:39.62 So really revival and reformation 00:10:39.65\00:10:41.79 is a very important step in preparing 00:10:41.82\00:10:46.29 for what I believe is soon to come. 00:10:46.32\00:10:49.51 The Book of Joel talks about 00:10:49.54\00:10:51.65 the incredible outpouring of God's spirit 00:10:51.68\00:10:55.39 that is gonna come upon His church, 00:10:55.42\00:10:58.07 upon older ones, upon younger ones. 00:10:58.10\00:11:00.56 People who are gonna be ready to proclaim 00:11:00.59\00:11:03.57 that the loud cry that final cry to the world 00:11:03.60\00:11:07.92 that Jesus loves you 00:11:07.95\00:11:09.57 that He has paid the price for you, 00:11:09.60\00:11:11.35 that His righteousness is all sufficient for you, 00:11:11.38\00:11:14.94 that His judgment has come 00:11:14.97\00:11:16.81 but you can be hidden securely in Him 00:11:16.84\00:11:20.32 and not have to worry about the judgment. 00:11:20.35\00:11:22.75 If you are humbling yourself before Him 00:11:22.78\00:11:25.29 to warn people to stay away from churches 00:11:25.32\00:11:30.35 or bodies that might be teaching 00:11:30.38\00:11:32.92 something other than what the Bible teaches 00:11:32.95\00:11:35.36 and to identify with the wonderful loyal sign 00:11:35.39\00:11:40.25 that God has His Seventh-day Sabbath 00:11:40.28\00:11:42.98 rather than worshipping on another day 00:11:43.01\00:11:45.33 which He never sanctified. 00:11:45.36\00:11:47.02 But the seventh-day Sabbath is His sign. 00:11:47.05\00:11:49.46 And when we proclaim these with love 00:11:49.49\00:11:52.03 and when we are able through humility to humble ourselves 00:11:52.06\00:11:57.08 before the Lord and say, "Lord, use me" 00:11:57.11\00:12:00.48 you better believe 00:12:00.51\00:12:01.73 that He is going to use you in a powerful way. 00:12:01.76\00:12:04.13 So really revival and reformation 00:12:04.16\00:12:06.38 is simply preparing ourselves to be used by God 00:12:06.41\00:12:10.53 so that we can invite others to see Him very, very soon. 00:12:10.56\00:12:15.10 So the link between mission 00:12:15.13\00:12:16.88 and revival and reformation is integral. 00:12:16.91\00:12:19.60 It's complete, it's seamless. Okay. 00:12:19.63\00:12:22.63 You've got-- you got to have this revival 00:12:22.66\00:12:25.38 and this humility before the Lord 00:12:25.41\00:12:28.91 and allow Him to work through you 00:12:28.94\00:12:31.11 and that propels you into the mission. 00:12:31.14\00:12:33.40 Pastor Wilson, thank you so much for joining us today. 00:12:33.43\00:12:35.72 A couple of years ago 00:13:21.77\00:13:23.09 I read in academics study of the number of Muslims, 00:13:23.12\00:13:29.42 Hindus and Buddhists in United States 00:13:29.45\00:13:34.05 who say that they don't know even one Christian. 00:13:34.08\00:13:38.09 This is like 40%, 30% varies 00:13:38.12\00:13:41.81 but these are people who we meet every day, 00:13:41.84\00:13:43.85 we may see them in the store, 00:13:43.88\00:13:45.12 they may drive us in a taxi, they may feed us at a-- 00:13:45.15\00:13:49.54 service at a restaurant 00:13:49.57\00:13:51.47 but they say they don't know even one Christian. 00:13:51.50\00:13:54.42 Well, the Global Mission Centers are established 00:13:54.45\00:13:57.92 to help us find better ways 00:13:57.95\00:14:00.86 to connect with, to communicate with 00:14:00.89\00:14:02.69 and build bridges with people from other faiths. 00:14:02.72\00:14:05.56 And so it's my pleasure to introduce you to your guest, 00:14:05.59\00:14:09.54 Clifmond Shameerudeen who is from the Center 00:14:09.57\00:14:13.02 for South Asian Regions. 00:14:13.05\00:14:15.28 Clifmond, thank you for joining us. Okay. 00:14:15.31\00:14:17.64 This is a very important center because you are representing 00:14:17.67\00:14:21.44 a huge number of people around the world. 00:14:21.47\00:14:24.26 When we look for example the number of Hindus, 00:14:24.29\00:14:26.04 how many people? 00:14:26.07\00:14:28.26 I mean, that no one really knows 00:14:28.29\00:14:30.16 how much Hindus there are. 00:14:30.19\00:14:32.12 But you're talking about close to billion, 00:14:32.15\00:14:35.05 you know 900,000 plus around the world. 00:14:35.08\00:14:39.79 Because Hinduism is not just a religion 00:14:39.82\00:14:41.70 where you can just count, it's actually the way of life. 00:14:41.73\00:14:44.11 Exactly. Yeah. 00:14:44.14\00:14:45.17 And so it's very difficult to put a number. 00:14:45.20\00:14:47.15 But it's many. 00:14:47.18\00:14:49.12 And the thing is we know that a large number of these people 00:14:49.15\00:14:54.12 have never even heard the name of Jesus, 00:14:54.15\00:14:56.17 little known of the Seventh-day Adventist church. That's right. 00:14:56.20\00:14:59.48 So Clifmond, tell us please what other sort of activities 00:14:59.51\00:15:03.45 that you are involved in. 00:15:03.48\00:15:05.29 Well, apart from building bridges 00:15:05.32\00:15:08.63 we feel that this message, 00:15:08.66\00:15:10.17 this gospel that we have is such a powerful thing 00:15:10.20\00:15:13.97 that changes the lives of people 00:15:14.00\00:15:15.26 not just in accepting Jesus Christ 00:15:15.29\00:15:18.11 as their Savior but also their life. 00:15:18.14\00:15:20.46 The way they live, the way they eat. 00:15:20.49\00:15:22.45 And as Adventist we have a holistic message. 00:15:22.48\00:15:25.29 Especially the health message that we have received 00:15:25.32\00:15:28.77 and we have put it into practice in many places 00:15:28.80\00:15:31.73 but at the same time we have neglected in lots of ways. 00:15:31.76\00:15:34.93 And in the Caribbean, in Trinidad 00:15:34.96\00:15:36.97 that has been noticeable. 00:15:37.00\00:15:39.29 Now but before you go on 00:15:39.32\00:15:41.04 you're based in Trinidad. Yes. 00:15:41.07\00:15:42.86 Now why--I would have thought are they people 00:15:42.89\00:15:46.50 from that tradition who live there? 00:15:46.53\00:15:48.62 Yes. Okay. 00:15:48.65\00:15:49.83 And that's all my-- that's part of my story is that 00:15:49.86\00:15:52.36 in the Caribbean, Trinidad, Guyana and Surinam 00:15:52.39\00:15:55.67 as well as some other islands 00:15:55.70\00:15:57.18 there's a large descent and population of people 00:15:57.21\00:16:00.95 that are directly associated with India. Okay. 00:16:00.98\00:16:03.21 You know, just about in the 1800s the British 00:16:03.24\00:16:07.90 who owns and control many of that part of the world 00:16:07.93\00:16:12.36 brought Indians from India 00:16:12.39\00:16:14.32 to work on the sugar plantations. Okay. 00:16:14.35\00:16:17.12 And so that's where 00:16:17.15\00:16:19.23 and that's how I end up in Caribbean. 00:16:19.26\00:16:21.76 So my great grandmother is actually from India. 00:16:21.79\00:16:24.21 Okay. Good. 00:16:24.24\00:16:25.27 Came as a little girl. Okay. That explains it. 00:16:25.30\00:16:27.74 Continue, you're telling me about the health message. Yes. 00:16:27.77\00:16:30.83 And so we focus on using the gospel 00:16:30.86\00:16:34.66 so that they can meet people in ways 00:16:34.69\00:16:36.74 they didn't even imagined 00:16:36.77\00:16:37.80 and that's where the health message comes in. 00:16:37.83\00:16:39.66 In a country where diabetes 00:16:39.69\00:16:41.99 is almost an epidemic where you-- 00:16:42.02\00:16:44.58 if you meet three people, two of them will have it 00:16:44.61\00:16:46.90 or they know somebody who have it 00:16:46.93\00:16:47.96 or they know somebody actually died from it. 00:16:47.99\00:16:50.05 That's how bad it is. 00:16:50.08\00:16:51.63 And but there is not much to be done. 00:16:51.66\00:16:53.40 And so we went into the communities 00:16:53.43\00:16:55.14 and introduced health teaching people 00:16:55.17\00:16:57.63 how to live a better lifestyle using the principles 00:16:57.66\00:17:01.05 that we learn from Ellen White. 00:17:01.08\00:17:03.81 And this has changed the community 00:17:03.84\00:17:05.45 I have some comments that people are sharing, 00:17:05.48\00:17:08.42 so we have being waiting for something like this. 00:17:08.45\00:17:11.22 And we finally found it 00:17:11.25\00:17:12.28 and these are Hindus responding please, 00:17:12.31\00:17:14.04 come back, give us more, this is what we want. 00:17:14.07\00:17:17.71 You know, teach us about how we can be, 00:17:17.74\00:17:19.73 how we can live better, 00:17:19.76\00:17:20.81 how we can take care of our bodies and our families. 00:17:20.84\00:17:24.98 Now when you say you went into the community 00:17:25.01\00:17:26.81 what did you do? 00:17:26.84\00:17:28.52 Well, when we went into the community 00:17:28.55\00:17:30.83 we offered basic things of health screening 00:17:30.86\00:17:33.69 and talking to people, listening to their problems, 00:17:33.72\00:17:36.23 understanding the challenges they have, 00:17:36.26\00:17:38.57 the families are experiencing. How are they dealing with life? 00:17:38.60\00:17:42.11 And so we have eight tables and we used a-- 00:17:42.14\00:17:45.21 the new start approach where we go through 00:17:45.24\00:17:47.74 and we talked about fresh air, 00:17:47.77\00:17:49.03 exercise, health, diet, nutrition. 00:17:49.06\00:17:52.78 All this since we went through with these people 00:17:52.81\00:17:54.34 and then we have the counselor table 00:17:54.37\00:17:57.63 where we have prayer for these people. 00:17:57.66\00:18:01.04 And I have a story as a result of one of these activities 00:18:01.07\00:18:05.59 we have done I met this family 00:18:05.62\00:18:07.99 who was meagerly depressed. 00:18:08.02\00:18:10.02 They have lost a daughter about 3 years prior to that. 00:18:10.05\00:18:14.52 And they have received no help 00:18:14.55\00:18:15.72 and they are about maybe 10 minutes 00:18:15.75\00:18:18.08 from the Adventist church. 00:18:18.11\00:18:19.77 And here's a family and they need some help. 00:18:19.80\00:18:22.79 But they don't-- there's nobody to help them. 00:18:22.82\00:18:24.70 They have been cut off from the entire family. 00:18:24.73\00:18:26.71 Nobody talks to them, they're just isolated. 00:18:26.74\00:18:29.71 And when we met them their lives have changed 00:18:29.74\00:18:32.32 and today they are enrolled in bible studies 00:18:32.35\00:18:35.23 and they have been so excited 00:18:35.26\00:18:37.01 that they have a new family that cares about them 00:18:37.04\00:18:39.74 and does not ostracize them in any way. 00:18:39.77\00:18:42.17 Wow, so how do you make the initial connection? 00:18:42.20\00:18:45.26 You said that you have like tables set up, 00:18:45.29\00:18:47.73 is this on the start of the street or where? 00:18:47.76\00:18:50.33 Oh, this is what we do, we're going to a village 00:18:50.36\00:18:51.62 that we never been to. 00:18:51.65\00:18:52.68 We don't know any one 00:18:52.71\00:18:53.74 and we just drive down the street 00:18:53.77\00:18:54.91 and we stop at homes and we ask the Hindu family 00:18:54.94\00:18:57.81 if we could do a health fair 00:18:57.84\00:19:00.93 or a health activity at their home 00:19:00.96\00:19:02.96 and they said, yes, please, use our home. 00:19:02.99\00:19:05.55 And so that's what we do we pray about it 00:19:05.58\00:19:07.45 and we just stopped at homes 00:19:07.48\00:19:08.74 and we just asked for permission. 00:19:08.77\00:19:10.14 Okay. That's all we do. 00:19:10.17\00:19:12.01 Wow. That's excellent. 00:19:12.04\00:19:13.60 So instead of expecting them to come to you, 00:19:13.63\00:19:15.65 you're actually going to them. That's right. 00:19:15.68\00:19:17.56 We go to them and we mingle with the people 00:19:17.59\00:19:19.51 and associate with them. Yeah. 00:19:19.54\00:19:22.42 How does it making you feel Clif, 00:19:22.45\00:19:24.47 to be involved in this sort of ministry? 00:19:24.50\00:19:26.98 Well, it has changed my life because, you know, 00:19:27.01\00:19:29.20 it's as a young boy grown up in the Adventist church. 00:19:29.23\00:19:32.62 I find the Adventist church as an entity 00:19:32.65\00:19:35.00 that is isolated from the community. 00:19:35.03\00:19:37.40 And it does not integrate itself, 00:19:37.43\00:19:38.91 it's just on the farthest end from the community 00:19:38.94\00:19:42.48 and it's there and it's noticeable 00:19:42.51\00:19:44.49 as a strange place. 00:19:44.52\00:19:46.66 And so that's the type of community 00:19:46.69\00:19:48.67 I grew up in, in terms of church. 00:19:48.70\00:19:51.65 And I wonder you know, 00:19:51.68\00:19:52.71 what type of Christ we serve, you know. 00:19:52.74\00:19:56.33 And as I grown up 00:19:56.36\00:19:58.56 God has led me back to the very same thing 00:19:58.59\00:20:00.85 that I have challenges with 00:20:00.88\00:20:03.28 to make a difference, to change and to show 00:20:03.31\00:20:05.38 there's a different way to share the gospel. 00:20:05.41\00:20:07.27 Fantastic, Clifmond, thank you so much for sharing with us. 00:20:07.30\00:20:11.02 A wonderful reminder, thank you, Clif, 00:20:11.05\00:20:12.95 of the basic fundamental building block of Christ method 00:20:12.98\00:20:18.44 and that was not to keep to himself He came to earth, 00:20:18.47\00:20:21.86 He put on human skin, He got His hands dirty, 00:20:21.89\00:20:25.21 He pitched His tent among us as John says. 00:20:25.24\00:20:28.52 And as Clifmond is doing in his territories 00:20:28.55\00:20:31.53 I invite you to pray to God 00:20:31.56\00:20:33.55 and find is there somewhere that you too can be involved 00:20:33.58\00:20:37.41 in the community to mingle for Jesus. 00:20:37.44\00:20:40.39 Welcome to the Vila Cha Church 00:20:48.24\00:20:50.99 located in the country of Portugal. 00:20:51.02\00:20:53.72 This congregation is mostly made up of African members 00:20:53.75\00:20:56.58 who immigrated to Portugal. 00:20:56.61\00:20:59.13 This lively church loves coming together 00:20:59.16\00:21:01.45 to worship each Sabbath. 00:21:01.48\00:21:03.39 Their praise fills the neighborhood 00:21:03.42\00:21:05.06 and now their pews are just as full. 00:21:05.09\00:21:07.92 Their hearts are overjoyed to celebrate the great things 00:21:07.95\00:21:10.52 God does in their lives each week. 00:21:10.55\00:21:13.58 Music is a big part of their celebration. 00:21:13.61\00:21:16.50 On this Sabbath the pastor preaches 00:21:25.26\00:21:27.53 about how to share Jesus with their community. 00:21:27.56\00:21:30.85 The members listened attentive way 00:21:30.88\00:21:32.83 so they can be a good example and love their neighbors. 00:21:32.86\00:21:36.19 Their desire is to put into practice what they preach. 00:21:36.22\00:21:40.43 This is Eli and his mom, 00:21:40.46\00:21:43.04 they are active members in this church. 00:21:43.07\00:21:45.67 Eli takes part in Sabbath school and the main service. 00:21:45.70\00:21:49.50 Each week after church the members 00:21:49.53\00:21:51.07 reach out to the community. 00:21:51.10\00:21:52.44 They split up into groups and pass out literature 00:21:56.76\00:21:59.34 so that the people can learn about Jesus 00:21:59.37\00:22:01.19 and visit their church. 00:22:01.22\00:22:03.46 Both the children and adults are excited 00:22:03.49\00:22:05.64 to share what they know about Jesus 00:22:05.67\00:22:07.37 with their neighbors. 00:22:07.40\00:22:08.62 Each paper they pass out is a chance 00:22:15.23\00:22:17.34 for someone to discover a relationship 00:22:17.37\00:22:19.37 with our Heavenly Father. 00:22:19.40\00:22:21.30 Eli and his friends have fun doing this. 00:22:21.33\00:22:23.92 They enjoy talking with people 00:22:23.95\00:22:25.92 and seeing the reactions to God's message. 00:22:25.95\00:22:28.94 Sometimes this is the opportunity 00:22:28.97\00:22:30.81 to talk about Jesus 00:22:30.84\00:22:32.01 with those who have never heard in before. 00:22:32.04\00:22:34.90 The members also gather food to give it 00:22:34.93\00:22:37.02 to some of the homes they visit. 00:22:37.05\00:22:39.35 This simple act of kindness helps open doors and hearts 00:22:39.38\00:22:43.62 and can lead to lasting friendships. 00:22:43.65\00:22:46.66 At the end of a day 00:22:46.69\00:22:47.92 the members return to the church. 00:22:47.95\00:22:50.28 Some of them continue singing 00:22:50.31\00:22:52.00 and praising the Lord until the night. 00:22:52.03\00:22:54.75 The congregation shows tremendous faith. 00:22:54.78\00:22:57.68 They are not afraid to share their friend Jesus 00:22:57.71\00:23:00.19 with others in their community. 00:23:00.22\00:23:03.05 Please pray for this church and other churches 00:23:03.08\00:23:05.98 who are reaching their communities around the world. 00:23:06.01\00:23:09.17 And thank you, for supporting the mission 00:23:09.20\00:23:11.46 of the Seventh-day Adventist church. 00:23:11.49\00:23:13.47 We sometimes think of a mission field 00:23:21.51\00:23:23.19 is being on distant islands or in remote villages. 00:23:23.22\00:23:26.61 One of those truth in that more than ever involves history, 00:23:26.64\00:23:29.70 the mission fields are now also in the cities of the world. 00:23:29.73\00:23:33.19 But they're teaming millions of people. 00:23:33.22\00:23:35.82 So please pray for mission of the cities 00:23:35.85\00:23:37.81 such as Lisbon 00:23:37.84\00:23:39.36 as the Seventh-day Adventist church 00:23:39.39\00:23:41.01 plays a special emphasis on planting 00:23:41.04\00:23:43.35 new groups of believers in urban areas around the world. 00:23:43.38\00:23:47.35 If you're watching this program 00:23:47.38\00:23:48.57 chances are you believe in and care about mission. 00:23:48.60\00:23:51.81 Recently, the Seventh-day Adventist church 00:23:51.84\00:23:53.82 started a new mission magazine called "Mission 360." 00:23:53.85\00:23:57.68 If you live in North America 00:23:57.71\00:23:58.89 and would like to receive this new magazine 00:23:58.92\00:24:01.46 as well as news about Global Mission 00:24:01.49\00:24:03.72 just call this toll free number 1-800-648-5824 00:24:03.75\00:24:09.07 or you can visit our website 00:24:09.10\00:24:10.47 at www.AdventistMission.org/offer 00:24:10.50\00:24:15.46 or better yet wherever you are in the world 00:24:15.49\00:24:18.08 you can download the free digital magazine for your iPad, 00:24:18.11\00:24:21.74 Kindle HD or android tablet. 00:24:21.77\00:24:24.57 Just search for Adventist Mission 00:24:24.60\00:24:26.36 or Mission 360 in their app stores. 00:24:26.39\00:24:29.97 Well, thanks for being with us today 00:24:30.00\00:24:31.36 and I hope you can join us next time. 00:24:31.39\00:24:33.52 As we close I hope you will 00:24:33.55\00:24:34.82 prayerfully watch this music video 00:24:34.85\00:24:37.10 featuring the Coral Jovem de Washington 00:24:37.13\00:24:40.10 as they sing "Always with my God." 00:24:40.13\00:24:42.69 I want to be 00:25:16.98\00:25:20.67 always with my God 00:25:20.70\00:25:25.54 And shine His light 00:25:25.57\00:25:28.80 to those who cannot see 00:25:28.83\00:25:34.17 At every moment 00:25:34.20\00:25:37.93 and every place 00:25:37.96\00:25:42.59 Oh, my dear God 00:25:42.62\00:25:45.90 I long for Your embrace 00:25:45.93\00:25:51.28 I want to be 00:25:51.31\00:25:54.90 always with my God 00:25:54.93\00:25:59.90 And share His love 00:25:59.93\00:26:03.44 to those who need the most 00:26:03.47\00:26:08.46 And every moment 00:26:08.49\00:26:12.15 and at every place 00:26:12.18\00:26:17.03 Oh, my dear God 00:26:17.06\00:26:20.46 I long for Your embrace 00:26:20.49\00:26:27.39 Always 00:26:27.42\00:26:30.35 with my God 00:26:30.38\00:26:35.68 Holding His loving hand 00:26:35.71\00:26:42.68 At every moment 00:26:42.71\00:26:46.56 and every place 00:26:46.59\00:26:51.20 Oh, my dear God 00:26:51.23\00:26:54.52 I long for Your embrace 00:26:54.55\00:27:01.82 Always 00:27:01.85\00:27:05.34 with my God 00:27:05.37\00:27:11.30 Holding His loving hand 00:27:11.33\00:27:19.14 At every moment 00:27:19.17\00:27:23.42 and every place 00:27:23.45\00:27:28.74 Oh, my dear God 00:27:28.77\00:27:32.44 I long for Your embrace 00:27:32.47\00:27:40.44 Oh, my dear God 00:27:43.45\00:27:47.18 I long for Your embrace 00:27:47.21\00:27:55.18