Participants: Gary Krause (Host), Rick McEdward & Greg Whitsett
Series Code: GMS
Program Code: GMS000045
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00:01 On today's program we visit Cleveland, Ohio
00:03 to learn how one pastor 00:05 is touching life's using Christ method. 00:07 And we talk to Dr. Rick McEdward, 00:09 Director of Our Global Mission Centers, 00:11 that and much more coming up next 00:14 on Global Mission Snapshots. 00:27 Just before He went up to heaven, 00:30 Jesus gave us a command. 00:33 He gave us a mission. Jesus said, go. 00:38 Go unto all the world, telling them of His love. 00:43 This is our mission. This is our "Global Mission." 00:52 Hello, I'm Gary Krause 00:53 and welcome to Global Mission Snapshots. 00:56 Each week on this program 00:57 we look at what's happening 00:59 in Adventist mission around the world. 01:01 Global Mission focuses specifically 01:03 on reaching un-reached areas of the world 01:06 and un-reached people groups. 01:08 For many years now we are focused on the 10/40 Window, 01:12 an imaginary rectangle between 10 degrees 01:14 north latitude to 40 degrees 01:17 and stretching from Northern Africa 01:19 through the Middle East into Asia. 01:23 Today, we will be talking with Greg Whitsett 01:25 who is director of the Global Mission Centers 01:27 for East Asian Religions. 01:30 Pastor Whitsett and his family have spent many years living 01:33 and working in South East Asia 01:35 right in the heart of the 10/40 Window. 01:38 We'll also talk with Rick McEdward, 01:40 the director of the Study Centers about their vital work. 01:44 But first let's visit an American pastor 01:47 touching lives in the inner-city 01:49 by following the method of Jesus of mingling, 01:52 showing sympathy, ministering to needs, 01:54 winning confidence 01:56 and bidding people to follow Jesus. 02:01 I was asked to come into the city of Cleveland 02:03 and plant a church. 02:04 And I was told that you need to live in a community 02:08 if you don't plant a church. 02:09 Many pastors don't even live in the communities 02:11 where the churches are. 02:13 So, I live less than a mile from this place. 02:15 I live in the community. 02:16 I shop and walk the streets 02:19 and get engaged in this community, people know me. 02:23 And what we do here won't work everywhere, 02:25 I know that. 02:26 You can't take and replicate this in New York City 02:28 or in Atlanta, Georgia. 02:31 Most of the people that I ministered to here 02:34 would not fit in a traditional, rural, 02:37 small town Adventist church. 02:40 These people are low education, 02:42 low income, then on social services all their lives 02:46 and you are not gonna turn them 02:48 into a middle class educated Seventh-day Adventist. 02:52 The people that I'm ministering too don't get it 02:55 and the won't get it just because I come in 02:57 and give a health seminar or an evangelistic campaign. 03:00 They need me to walk along side of them. 03:02 But I think that what we are doing here, 03:05 at least in Cleveland 03:06 and in the area that I'm familiar with is reproducible 03:11 and it is effective. 03:13 Now as far as baptisms 03:15 and all of that this is a long term ministry. 03:17 Have we got baptisms? Absolutely. 03:20 I have got over the last four years of doing this 03:22 about a dozen baptisms 03:24 that where people have come to me 03:25 and said I want to be a part of this. 03:27 I want to take it through. 03:29 Erick is a great example of a person 03:31 who came in off the streets. 03:33 A person who was an alcoholic and destitute, 03:35 he was homeless and he was impacted 03:39 by our compassion not by our-- 03:41 not by our theological acumen. 03:44 And today, he is just an amazing example 03:49 of what can happen if you spend some time 03:51 and you care about these people. 03:54 I remember when I asked Kevin to baptize me. 04:01 The first time I shook Kevin's hand, it was-- 04:04 there was just something there, 04:05 there was something about this place 04:07 that kept wanting me to come back. 04:12 And I'm glad I did. 04:18 I don't take any credit for my sobriety, it's all God. 04:22 If it wasn't for me letting God in 04:25 and doing what I can't do for myself. 04:28 I wouldn't be sober today. 04:30 I was in church one day during the week working on something's 04:33 and I noticed it was in the winter, 04:35 there were some people out front at the bus stop 04:39 and I asked them if they wanted to come in 04:41 for a hot drink and a pastry 04:42 because I had some left over pastries. 04:45 And that's how the breakfast ministry started about 04:48 two and half years ago. 04:50 It was just simply inviting some cold people 04:52 at the bus stop to come in for a hot drink. 04:55 From that we ended up with our breakfast ministry 04:58 which is now four days a week, we want to make it five. 05:01 We get from 10 to-- today we have 35 people 05:04 show up coming in, we serve them a hot breakfast, 05:08 we try to serve them healthy breakfast. 05:11 Saturdays we still serve a community meal. 05:14 On average we have about a 1,000 community members 05:16 who walk through the door of our church every month. 05:21 Do people have a dependency on us 05:23 because of our services? 05:24 Yes to some extent but they know us by name. 05:30 When people come in today for the food pantry 05:35 and I'm walking around people are calling me reverend, father, 05:38 or pastor or whatever. 05:40 They know who I'm and they know what we are, 05:43 they know the name Seventh-day Adventist. 05:46 They are not turned off by it, they are not offended by it. 05:49 They frequently take our literature. 05:51 We give away cases of literature a month 05:55 because and are for here we have this literature rack 05:57 of all kinds of Seventh-day Adventist literature. 06:00 We give away all kinds of signs of the Times Magazines. 06:04 People know us, they connect the logo 06:07 and the name and they are reading our materials 06:10 and its--work, people are taking because they want it 06:13 not because we send it to their door 06:15 and they threw it away. 06:16 They are coming in and reading our material 06:18 and the reason they are doing that 06:19 is because they've got a relationship. 06:21 They put a face and flushing bones 06:23 to a name Seventh-day Adventist. 06:26 And we have a great reputation. 06:27 We need to keep moving downstairs. 06:30 I have a flyer up here in case any of you are interested. 06:34 We are starting Bible studies 06:36 on Wednesday mornings after breakfast. 06:37 It's opened to everybody, 06:40 so we like to invite you to grab a flyer. 06:43 You are not gonna break into those communities, 06:45 do a big event and then just drive out. 06:50 And if you got a lot of people driving in, 06:52 coming to that church you will never make 06:54 the connections in that we have done 06:57 by being here this ministry of presence. 06:59 And that's-- that's the mentality 07:01 or the message of ministry of healing, you know. 07:06 Jesus method alone is 07:08 that you have to walk along side of these people 07:10 and for some of them for a quite a while 07:11 to build trust, confidence 07:13 so that they can listen to what you have to share. 07:23 In 2007, the world's demographic centre of gravity changed. 07:29 For the first time in that year more people 07:32 where now living in urban areas than in rural areas. 07:35 Some thing that seems you to forget about 07:37 when you are in the 3ABN studio's in Southern Illinois. 07:41 But, Rick, my next guest you are the Director 07:44 of the Global Mission Centers 07:46 and one of the focuses of one of the centers 07:48 is on this very thing urban areas. 07:51 It is, and not only is at a focus but it is a challenge. 07:56 Yeah, a growing challenge. 07:58 You know, I get a chance to visit around 08:03 to some of the world's largest cities 08:05 and I have been stunned to see 08:08 how do we connect with that challenge. 08:11 Yeah, now, Japan for example. 08:13 Yeah, actually, I was recently in Tokyo. 08:16 I have spent several days there 08:18 and you know it's a busy place. 08:22 Right near where we have an Adventist church 08:25 there is probably one of the busiest business districts 08:28 in all of Tokyo. 08:30 But what's unique about this is it has people who dress up 08:34 in different kids of characters. Right. 08:36 There is what they call Manga, Anime, Gothic 08:40 and baby doll and different kids of-- 08:43 they take on different characters. 08:44 They are like tribes. 08:45 Yeah, well and-- and what they do is they-- 08:48 they live a second life on the weekends 08:51 that is totally different from their ordinarily life. 08:53 Some people do it, I think all the time. 08:55 And I started wondering how do we connect? 08:59 And then right next door to this very post-modern group 09:04 are the very traditional Japanese's cultures. 09:06 They traditional dress, they-- 09:09 the places where they show the emperor shrines, 09:12 buying amulets for different solutions 09:15 and you just have to wonder, 09:17 we are right there in the middle of them 09:18 our church is how do we connect with the people 09:22 who are all around us. 09:24 Yeah, that's quite a contrast 09:26 because, the church represents tradition, history, 09:31 a certain way of doing thing 09:33 but you are in the context of a changing demographic. 09:36 Well and not only that but our tradition the way 09:39 we have always done things doesn't even connect 09:41 with their traditional culture, 09:43 so you have these diversions with in. 09:45 How do we prayerfully have a mission that matters? 09:50 Good question, why can't you please answer that. 09:54 Well, actually I do think that in other cities 09:57 we have seen some glimpses or solutions. 09:58 Okay, tell us. 10:00 One of them was in Taipei, Taiwan. 10:02 Taipei is one of the worlds largest cities. 10:05 It's enormous. 10:06 You have Taipei 101 is huge skyscraper, 10:09 one of the largest buildings in the world. 10:10 You have a very technological society 10:14 and there right in the shadow of Taipei 101 10:18 is our Adventist hospital. 10:21 There are coupled with the church 10:23 and the Adventist hospital there in Taipei is ministering 10:29 to the needs of its community. 10:31 I think you brought some pictures of them. 10:32 I did, actually there are some pictures 10:34 and, you know, they have different ways. 10:36 They have a fitness centre and they have you know even-- 10:41 even the mission of the church of the hospital states clearly 10:46 that they are connecting spiritually with people. 10:48 Helping them live a better life. 10:50 They have a fitness centre, 10:52 restaurant, vegetarian restaurant 10:54 they have a way of touching the community through lifestyle. 11:00 And one of the beautiful parts about 11:02 their connecting with lifestyle is that 11:06 they are able to then connect with the neighboring church. 11:09 There is a church, Seventh-day Adventist church 11:11 just across the way it boarders the fence boarders 11:16 and they are able to share together 11:18 and the pastor is involved in the lifestyle centre 11:21 and by being involved people are finding hope 11:23 and truth and coming to know Jesus. 11:26 Because it doesn't matter what cloths you wear 11:28 or what tribe you belong to. That's right. 11:32 We all have health need that's a connecting point. Absolutely. 11:36 There is another one that I would like to share 11:38 and I brought a picture of it. 11:40 I was in Bucharest, Romania few months back. 11:46 And there really close to a very large church 11:52 I met a group of people that were so special. 11:55 This group of people were all focused on developing 11:59 a centre of influence again, 12:01 a centre where that would connect 12:03 to the needs of the community. 12:06 It happened because the man in the picture 12:09 in the wheelchair 12:12 actually some years ago growing up as an Adventist 12:14 but some years ago had a tragic accident 12:16 where he jumped into a pool 12:18 and the pool didn't have much water in it. 12:20 It was supposed to 12:22 and he was paralyzed from the neck down. 12:26 For some years he struggled with his paralysis 12:30 but the Lord gave him a new vision and new heart 12:33 and he decided that he wasn't going to sit there 12:37 and just do nothing. 12:39 God gave him actually a mission to other people 12:42 who have been through tragedies. 12:44 So, he began to write a newsletter 12:45 which developed into a full fledged magazine 12:47 that has a subscription based of 4,000 people around Romania. 12:53 They started having a social get together 12:55 where people with a visual impairment 12:57 or physical handicaps could come together 13:01 and now they have actually started a church. 13:03 On the same campus in the compound there, 13:06 that has about 50 to 70 people coming 13:10 who from a handicap background have become church members. 13:16 Who love the Lord, who have seen a church that reaches out 13:20 and touches the needs of the community 13:22 and this is now been replicated 13:24 around Romanian and other places. 13:25 Great story. Excellent. 13:27 Beautiful, yeah. 13:28 Rick, thanks for sharing with us some of the challenge 13:31 but also some of the directions 13:32 that we can be going and meeting that challenge. 13:35 Appreciate it. Thanks. 13:36 And viewers at home, 13:38 please pray for the mission to the cities, 13:41 what a tremendous challenge 13:42 and if you want to learn more about 13:44 what the Seventh-day Adventist church is doing 13:47 visit missiontothecities.org, missiontothecities.org. 13:51 You will read there about centers of influence 13:53 and many other wonderful initiatives 13:55 to reach the cities with God's love. 15:16 The office of Global Mission is involved 15:18 in many different aspects of ministry 15:20 all connected with church planting 15:22 in new areas among new people groups. 15:25 One of the most significant things 15:26 that we have been doing for the last several years 15:30 is supporting Global Mission Centers 15:33 and I'm delighted to welcome Pastor Greg Whitsett, 15:36 who is director of the Center for East Asian Religions. 15:40 Greg, thanks for joining us. Thank you for having me. 15:42 Now you arrived here last night from how many hours of travel? 15:46 Ah, I don't like to count, it's about 24 hours. 15:49 Yes, you came from Bangkok, Thailand 15:52 and you are looking remarkably bright. 15:53 So thanks for joining us. 15:55 In your work, you are working with people 15:58 who come from a totally different outlook 16:02 and prospective and background 16:03 the most of the people viewing this program. 16:05 Yeah, that's true. 16:07 And one of the challenges as Seventh-day Adventist 16:10 is in these areas how do we mingle 16:13 and how do we connect with people who-- 16:15 who say things differently to us. 16:16 Can you talk to us a little bit about that? 16:19 Yeah, you know, whether it's next door 16:21 the place we've grown up and lived all our lives 16:23 or whesther it's like me living overseas 16:26 somewhere that's very foreign place. 16:29 You know, people are people 16:30 and Christianity is all about being 16:33 a blessing to those around us 16:35 to live in favor with both God and man. 16:38 And so I won the greatest choice of living 16:41 in Asia of course is spending time with our neighbors, 16:45 getting to know them and we do a lot of learning. 16:48 You know, a lot of times as a missionary 16:50 or as someone representing Christ 16:51 who want to do the talking. 16:53 But God has given us two eyes, 16:55 two ears and other sensory organs to-- 16:57 to we have to learn from and only one mouth. 16:59 So it's important to spend time learning 17:02 and one of the things that-- 17:03 that I have learned over the years is that 17:08 there are certain events 17:09 that are really important to Asian's 17:12 and to Buddhists specifically. 17:14 One of the most important event 17:16 actually is the last one in your life your funeral. Yes. 17:20 Because this represents a passage 17:22 from this life to the next 17:25 and so, as Christians it would seem that 17:29 if it's an important time to be with people 17:31 when it's important to them. 17:32 You know, that we should actually 17:33 be with people during those times 17:34 so I found it quite a learning experience 17:38 and also to deepen relationships 17:41 by going to funerals of all things. 17:43 Well, part of the challenge though is 17:46 in the funeral ceremonies 17:48 of some people groups there's parts of it 17:50 that we as Adventist would say, 17:53 hey, that's not the way we want to do things right. 17:55 Oh, of course yeah, that's true. 17:57 But that doesn't-- shouldn't remove from us 17:59 the ability to-- to with respect join in. 18:03 You know, a funeral 18:04 first and far most is a life crisis. Right. 18:08 You know, it's a time when people are mourning 18:12 as the time that they are struggling 18:14 with the loss of the loved one. 18:16 And as I read my Bible I see the Christ was with people 18:20 when they were hurting. 18:22 You know, and so there's a very basic human need 18:25 at that time and certainly Christ would expect us 18:28 to be with hurting people. 18:30 And so when we go to the funerals 18:33 and that sort of thing, we of course wear the things 18:36 that are quite different, you know. 18:38 But I can't resist anymore so to speak you know, 18:42 but it's a good opportunity to represent Christ love. 18:46 Yeah, are there any ways that Adventist are using this 18:52 as a vehicle to connect. 18:54 I mean for Adventists 18:55 who are torn between the heritage 18:58 the way they've always done 19:00 and now they are doing the Christian way. 19:01 How can we try to combine those two together? 19:04 Yeah, this is a great challenge the way you are mentioning here 19:08 because as Christian's we-- we read our scriptures, 19:13 and we emphasize our truths 19:15 and but we are also taught by those who gone before us. 19:18 We are been disciples by other Christians 19:20 and often times of that we weren't even aware of the things 19:23 we pick up just because we value 19:26 those who brought us the good news 19:28 and we picked up things from them. 19:30 And one of the things that has happened over-- 19:33 over a period of decades of course in generations is that 19:36 the church even in Asia has become in a way westernized. 19:42 And this creates a great divide 19:44 not only because of believe system 19:45 but also of lifestyle practice and that sort of thing. 19:48 Some of that is normal but some of that is unnecessary. 19:51 And so funeral has ended up becoming a challenge 19:55 where instead of pulling people together 19:57 it's almost isolating. 20:00 And where Buddhist value 20:01 the inter dependence the cooperation 20:04 and the harmony in the community 20:05 they see Christianity or something coming in 20:07 and dividing their community. 20:09 But it seems that that would be-- 20:11 that would be wise for us to find ways 20:13 that we can participate in these funerals 20:15 to come to minister to people without violating our faith. 20:19 You know, same true to-- to what we-- 20:20 what we know is true. 20:22 And so actually one of the things 20:23 that we are doing at the centre is having a discussion. 20:25 What can be done? 20:27 Because right now, a lot of times each-- 20:29 each church, each pastor, each field is doing 20:31 what's right in their own eyes. 20:33 And that may work locally but-- 20:35 overall there is a lot of need of need to find ways how to-- 20:38 how to live in the community to mingle among men 20:41 as people desiring the good of those around us 20:44 and winning their confidence through that. 20:45 Because what you are talking about here 20:47 is the fundamental stage in Christ method, the mingling. 20:52 That's right. That's right. 20:53 And too often we keep that as totally separate. 20:56 That's right and but it's not only a violation 21:01 of honoring God if we participate in things 21:03 we shouldn't but its also a violation 21:06 of what means to be Christian by staying away. Right. 21:08 So it's not one or the other 21:09 it's actually finding a way to do both. Yeah. 21:13 To not compromise our faith 21:14 but the same time to be with people. 21:16 Yeah, well Greg, thanks for giving us 21:18 some sort of an inside in just one area 21:21 that you are wrestling within the centre. 21:23 I appreciate you are sharing. Yeah. 21:25 And viewers at home, 21:27 our Global Mission centers have a tremendous challenge 21:30 that it is a God given challenge 21:31 of how do we make the Christian message 21:34 and way of life meaningful in the context of the people 21:37 that we are reaching. 21:38 And as Pastor Greg has pointed out 21:40 we are not talking about compromising anyway. 21:42 What we are talking about is making the gospel accessible 21:46 and understandable. 21:47 Please pray for Greg and all the Global Mission Centers. 22:06 To My gentle searching eyes, 22:12 there have been no disguises 22:17 Nothing that you have done 22:22 that you can hide 22:27 I've seen you in your darkness sin 22:30 and know the pain and guilt within 22:34 But the question on your mind 22:37 am I worth saving anyway 22:41 I see you child for who you are 22:44 Know that sin has left its ugly scars 22:48 But I know who you were meant to be 22:51 And My love will set you free 22:57 So come weary child, rest beside Me for awhile 23:04 I know your care, the burdens that you bare 23:11 Abide in My love, 23:15 hide in My love 23:18 Don't push Me away, ashamed and afraid 23:25 I know who you are 23:28 And I love you anyway, My child 23:42 So bring Me all your wants and needs 23:45 I promise they can't burden Me 23:49 Most desperate one cannot exceed My care for you 23:56 And bring Me all your doubts and fears 23:59 The hurt you haven't faced in years 24:03 The wounded heart you stuffed inside 24:06 The tears you've tried so hard to hide 24:13 So come weary child, rest beside Me for awhile 24:21 I know your care, the burdens that you bare 24:27 Abide in My love, hide in My love 24:34 Don't push Me away, ashamed and afraid 24:42 I know who you are 24:44 And I love you anyway, My child 24:51 So come to Me just the way you are 24:55 Though your fallen hard and wandered far 25:00 Stop trying to be so brave so strong 25:03 It's okay to cry child tears aren't wrong 25:10 So come weary child, rest beside Me for awhile 25:18 I know your care, the burdens that you bare 25:25 Abide in My love, hide in My love 25:32 Don't push Me away, ashamed and afraid 25:39 I know who you are 25:42 And I love you anyway, My child 25:49 Yes I love you always, My child. 26:17 I Love You Anyway, 26:19 what a wonderful message to share with the world. 26:22 If you are watching this program, 26:24 chances are you believe in and care about mission. 26:27 Recently the Seventh-day Adventist Church 26:29 started a new mission magazine called Mission 360. 26:33 It's a wonderful magazine and if you live in North America 26:36 and would like to receive this new magazine 26:38 as well as news about Global Mission 26:41 just call our toll free number 1-800-648-5824 26:46 or you can visit our website at adventistmission.org/offer. 26:51 Or better yet, wherever you are in the world 26:53 you can download the free digital magazine 26:56 through your iPad, Kindle HD, or Android tablet. 27:01 Just search for Adventist Mission 27:02 or Mission 360 in their app stores 27:05 or you can just go online to advenistmission.org 27:09 and view the magazine right there. 27:12 Well, that's it for today's program 27:14 and thanks for spending time with us today. 27:17 I hope you have been inspired 27:18 by what you have seen and by what you heard. 27:20 Thank you, for your continuing prayers 27:23 and your support for Global Mission around the world. 27:26 For Global Mission, I'm Gary Krause 27:28 and I hope you can join us next time 27:30 right here on Global Mission Snapshots. |
Revised 2014-12-17