Pastor Ted Wilson, president
of the General Conference
00:00:01.06\00:00:03.39
of Seventh-day Adventist
00:00:03.42\00:00:04.76
remembering his
time as a missionary
00:00:04.79\00:00:07.24
and one of the longest serving
00:00:07.27\00:00:08.81
Adventist
volunteers in the world.
00:00:08.84\00:00:11.08
All that and more coming up next
00:00:11.11\00:00:13.27
on Global Mission Snapshots.
00:00:13.30\00:00:15.05
Just before He
went up to heaven,
00:00:26.58\00:00:29.07
Jesus gave us a
command. He gave us a mission.
00:00:29.10\00:00:34.85
Jesus said, "Go,
go unto all the world,
00:00:34.88\00:00:39.58
telling them of His love."
00:00:39.61\00:00:42.20
This is our mission.
This is our Global Mission.
00:00:42.23\00:00:46.20
Hello, I am Gary Krause
00:00:51.45\00:00:52.62
and welcome to
Global Mission Snapshots.
00:00:52.65\00:00:55.43
Every year the
Seventh-day Adventist church
00:00:55.46\00:00:57.77
sends out thousands of
cross cultural missionaries
00:00:57.80\00:01:01.19
and volunteer missionaries
00:01:01.22\00:01:02.59
to work in
countries all over the globe.
00:01:02.62\00:01:05.78
On today's program
we'll be meeting missionaries
00:01:05.81\00:01:08.38
and former missionaries who
will share their experiences
00:01:08.41\00:01:11.99
and some of the
lessons they learned
00:01:12.02\00:01:13.87
while serving God
far from their homes.
00:01:13.90\00:01:17.56
We'll also talk
with Pastor Ted Wilson,
00:01:17.59\00:01:20.02
the president of
the General Conference
00:01:20.05\00:01:22.08
of Seventh-day Adventist
00:01:22.11\00:01:23.27
about his experiences in
West Africa and Euro-Asia.
00:01:23.30\00:01:28.06
We'll also talk
with Dr. Richard Elofer
00:01:28.09\00:01:30.05
who grew up in
Morocco, served in Israel
00:01:30.08\00:01:33.42
and now lives in France.
00:01:33.45\00:01:35.44
And we will meet an
American medical missionary
00:01:35.47\00:01:37.53
who not only serves in Thailand
00:01:37.56\00:01:40.08
but had to pass
his medical boards
00:01:40.11\00:01:42.84
in the Thai language.
00:01:42.87\00:01:45.07
But first let's meet Helen Hall,
00:01:45.10\00:01:47.41
perhaps the church's
longest serving volunteer.
00:01:47.44\00:01:51.09
If you have just a
roof over your head
00:02:12.09\00:02:14.06
and enough space, you can work
00:02:14.09\00:02:17.25
and the kids come home.
00:02:17.28\00:02:18.49
I get a great deal of
pleasure when I see kids.
00:02:28.19\00:02:30.85
We've come from a family
00:02:30.88\00:02:31.91
where no one's
ever been to school
00:02:31.94\00:02:34.25
and that they are the first ones
to go through the grade six,
00:02:34.28\00:02:37.37
then they are the first
ones to finish year twelve
00:02:37.40\00:02:39.72
and then they are the
first ones to go to college.
00:02:39.75\00:02:44.04
Adventist volunteer services
00:02:44.07\00:02:46.05
or AVS is an
opportunity for people
00:02:46.08\00:02:49.07
to serve in a
mission setting globally.
00:02:49.10\00:02:51.91
This can include a
huge variety of jobs.
00:02:51.94\00:02:56.82
Helen Hall is an AVS worker,
originally from Australia,
00:02:56.85\00:03:01.06
now working in an
Adventist school in Asia.
00:03:01.09\00:03:03.98
She runs the school that ranges
from grades one to twelve.
00:03:04.01\00:03:07.86
Her dedication
and passion to the job
00:03:07.89\00:03:10.05
has allowed hundreds
of children to graduate
00:03:10.08\00:03:12.74
and move on to opportunities
00:03:12.77\00:03:14.48
they might never
have had otherwise.
00:03:14.51\00:03:17.21
(Speaking in foreign language)
00:03:17.24\00:03:21.37
The mission at this
school is for students
00:03:24.62\00:03:26.65
to receive a
quality Adventist education,
00:03:26.68\00:03:29.00
both
academically and spiritually.
00:03:29.03\00:03:32.01
But most of the students
here are not Christians,
00:03:32.04\00:03:35.14
making it hard to
reach them spiritually.
00:03:35.17\00:03:38.58
It's very difficult for
Buddhist to become a Christian.
00:03:38.61\00:03:42.63
And if they do it too quickly
00:03:42.66\00:03:45.09
then it causes big
problems in their family
00:03:45.12\00:03:48.99
but if they wait and
go little more slowly
00:03:49.02\00:03:51.73
then they can get by.
00:03:51.76\00:03:54.58
Helen's experience
has taught her what works
00:03:54.61\00:03:57.02
and what doesn't work
in reaching the students.
00:03:57.05\00:03:59.55
She has had
quite a bit of success
00:03:59.58\00:04:01.19
in teaching her
students about Jesus.
00:04:01.22\00:04:06.16
Well, in a normal day
00:04:06.19\00:04:07.86
we try to get everybody
worship by 8:30 or 8:20
00:04:07.89\00:04:11.83
and then we just go
through the classes.
00:04:11.86\00:04:14.36
We've got a lot of teachers here
00:04:21.71\00:04:23.10
who when they came
to us the students,
00:04:23.13\00:04:25.47
none of them were
from Christian homes.
00:04:25.50\00:04:28.70
And they are
wonderful workers now.
00:04:28.73\00:04:33.28
After students graduate
00:04:33.31\00:04:34.79
they will usually
go on to university.
00:04:34.82\00:04:37.17
After university graduation
00:04:37.20\00:04:39.14
some students agreed
to come back to the school
00:04:39.17\00:04:41.68
and work for a
certain number of years.
00:04:41.71\00:04:44.01
This is how Helen
is guaranteed workers
00:04:44.04\00:04:46.33
to keep the school running.
00:04:46.36\00:04:47.59
She teaches right along
with the other teachers.
00:04:58.91\00:05:01.57
Students pay close attentions
to the valuable lesson
00:05:01.60\00:05:04.43
she gives in a variety of
topics including sciences,
00:05:04.46\00:05:08.05
English, math and the Bible.
00:05:08.08\00:05:10.94
Attu is a graduate
from Helen's school.
00:05:25.92\00:05:28.94
He now works in villages
telling people about Jesus.
00:05:28.97\00:05:32.38
Attu has helped start multiple
churches in these villages.
00:05:32.41\00:05:36.18
The villagers love
hearing stories from the Bible.
00:05:36.21\00:05:39.22
Most of them are hearing
00:05:39.25\00:05:40.28
the name of Jesus
for the first time.
00:05:40.31\00:05:42.88
Attu knows that
God has blessed him
00:05:52.66\00:05:54.67
with the opportunity to do this.
00:05:54.70\00:05:57.14
He gained a
strong grasp on the Bible
00:05:57.17\00:05:59.09
while at Helen's school
00:05:59.12\00:06:00.15
and is now passing on
his knowledge to others.
00:06:00.18\00:06:03.35
He is just one of many graduates
00:06:03.38\00:06:04.98
using what they have learned
in school for God's glory.
00:06:05.01\00:06:07.96
Despite all the
success from this school,
00:06:14.63\00:06:16.81
the challenges are big.
00:06:16.84\00:06:19.20
In addition to
religious barriers,
00:06:19.23\00:06:21.31
things such as
financial resources,
00:06:21.34\00:06:23.52
shortage of education materials
00:06:23.55\00:06:25.46
and even lack of space
are constant challenges.
00:06:25.49\00:06:28.75
But when these
challenges surface,
00:06:28.78\00:06:30.82
Helen looks to someone
00:06:30.85\00:06:31.88
she knows can pull
through the situation.
00:06:31.91\00:06:35.08
When you get
discourage the Lord sends us
00:06:35.11\00:06:37.72
some blessing or something
00:06:37.75\00:06:39.08
and then you know
that He's still with us.
00:06:39.11\00:06:42.09
No man has got wisdom
enough to know what to do.
00:06:42.12\00:06:45.74
Only God can know and
God is just how we should go.
00:06:45.77\00:06:50.66
As you can see the
work of an AVS worker
00:06:50.69\00:06:53.70
has the power to change lives.
00:06:53.73\00:06:56.75
They can teach
people about Jesus
00:06:56.78\00:06:58.89
and set them on the right path.
00:06:58.92\00:07:01.49
Helen is just one of many
AVS workers around the world
00:07:01.52\00:07:05.23
facing the
challenge of mission daily.
00:07:05.26\00:07:08.19
Please pray for these workers.
00:07:08.22\00:07:10.64
And thank you for
supporting the mission
00:07:10.67\00:07:13.02
of the
Seventh-day Adventist church.
00:07:13.05\00:07:14.97
My guest is Dr. Richard Elofer
00:07:27.62\00:07:29.82
who is the director of the World
00:07:29.85\00:07:32.09
Jewish Adventist
Friendship Center.
00:07:32.12\00:07:35.07
Previously
Richard juggled this role
00:07:35.10\00:07:37.78
with the role of president
00:07:37.81\00:07:39.40
of the Seventh-day
Adventist church in Israel,
00:07:39.43\00:07:42.04
but we are
delighted that he is now
00:07:42.07\00:07:43.29
full time
focusing on this ministry
00:07:43.32\00:07:45.39
and he is living in France.
00:07:45.42\00:07:46.75
And I am thankful that you
could join us today, Richard.
00:07:46.78\00:07:49.77
You have a lot of experience
in leading out in this work
00:07:49.80\00:07:53.50
but I am interested, Richard,
00:07:53.53\00:07:54.60
to go back, back, back
to how this all happen.
00:07:54.63\00:07:58.39
Where were you born?
What were the beginnings?
00:07:58.42\00:08:01.85
I was born in a Jewish family,
00:08:01.88\00:08:04.43
Orthodox Jewish
family in Morocco,
00:08:04.46\00:08:07.75
Casablanca and many
years ago, of course.
00:08:07.78\00:08:13.40
Not, not so long ago. No.
00:08:13.43\00:08:16.57
And then I was during
the 21 years of my life
00:08:16.60\00:08:23.83
practicing Judaism. Yeah.
00:08:23.86\00:08:26.79
Now you moved to France
00:08:26.82\00:08:27.97
when you were young man. Yes.
00:08:28.00\00:08:29.91
I was about eight
when we moved to France.
00:08:29.94\00:08:32.82
In fact it was not very easy
00:08:32.85\00:08:34.74
for Jews to live
in Muslim countries
00:08:34.77\00:08:38.93
and that's why my
parents and my brothers,
00:08:38.96\00:08:42.09
we had to leave Morocco.
00:08:42.12\00:08:44.58
And of course because Morocco
was a French protectorate
00:08:44.61\00:08:49.26
and was French speaking country
00:08:49.29\00:08:53.28
it was easier for us
to immigrate to France.
00:08:53.31\00:08:57.42
And we have done that
in the middle of the '60s.
00:08:57.45\00:09:01.06
And you started working
00:09:01.09\00:09:02.17
in some area of
business or finance. Yes.
00:09:02.20\00:09:05.57
My first job, yes, was business
on accounting and finance.
00:09:05.60\00:09:11.98
In fact my father was
all of his life in business
00:09:12.01\00:09:17.01
and he wanted to give
me his business after him
00:09:17.04\00:09:20.67
because he told that
I was gifted for that
00:09:20.70\00:09:25.89
and that's why he oriented
me to be trained at school,
00:09:25.92\00:09:30.31
universities in
accounting and finance.
00:09:30.34\00:09:34.09
And suddenly I
change my orientation
00:09:34.12\00:09:38.43
when I discovered who is Jesus.
00:09:38.46\00:09:41.50
And he was not
very happy for that.
00:09:41.53\00:09:43.88
No, I am sure.
00:09:43.91\00:09:44.94
Now there was a young woman
00:09:44.97\00:09:46.79
involved in the mix here
too, right. What happened there?
00:09:46.82\00:09:50.27
Then of course I
married this young woman.
00:09:50.30\00:09:54.23
And she was the one
who introduced you to--
00:09:54.26\00:09:57.01
Not really her
because she was very young
00:09:57.04\00:10:00.17
and she was not yet involved
on committed to the Lord.
00:10:00.20\00:10:05.82
In fact it was her parents
00:10:05.85\00:10:07.74
because I was a
friend of her brother.
00:10:07.77\00:10:13.00
And one day I went to
his home to play guitar
00:10:13.03\00:10:17.48
and to have a fun
time with other friends.
00:10:17.51\00:10:22.24
And then he introduced
me to his parents as a Jew.
00:10:22.27\00:10:27.56
And his parents were Adventists
as they were very interested
00:10:27.59\00:10:32.45
but they didn't say to me
that they were Adventists.
00:10:32.48\00:10:37.11
They just say, "Oh, you
are Jew that is very nice.
00:10:37.14\00:10:41.18
We are spiritual Jews."
00:10:41.21\00:10:43.93
And I've never heard
about spiritual Jews,
00:10:43.96\00:10:47.09
I didn't know what was that.
00:10:47.12\00:10:49.17
And they start to
shares their as a common point,
00:10:49.20\00:10:52.61
in fact that they keep Sabbath,
they eat kosher food etcetera.
00:10:52.64\00:10:57.97
And I was really
intrigued by this family
00:10:58.00\00:11:04.62
and progressively
00:11:04.65\00:11:06.24
but it took me about
five years to go further
00:11:06.27\00:11:11.37
and to accept
Jesus as the Messiah.
00:11:11.40\00:11:14.52
Because this wasn't just some
sort of intellectual decision,
00:11:14.55\00:11:17.72
I am going to switch here.
00:11:17.75\00:11:19.23
This is a cultural decision
00:11:19.26\00:11:22.89
with the big impact on your
family relations, right? Yeah.
00:11:22.92\00:11:26.03
Yeah, it was a very
difficult point in fact
00:11:26.06\00:11:29.00
because when we are
Jews, we are practicing or not,
00:11:29.03\00:11:34.51
I was in a
practicing family, Orthodox Jews
00:11:34.54\00:11:37.88
but in addition of that there
is a long history of our family.
00:11:37.91\00:11:43.89
There is a culture of course.
00:11:43.92\00:11:47.08
And you know my family
was originally from Spain.
00:11:47.11\00:11:51.38
They were--they went from
one country to another one
00:11:51.41\00:11:55.26
just not to
convert to Christianity
00:11:55.29\00:11:59.02
because with the
inquisition on all these stuff
00:11:59.05\00:12:03.07
it was really
difficult for my family.
00:12:03.10\00:12:05.92
And suddenly my father sees
that his son has accepted Jesus
00:12:05.95\00:12:10.82
and that was very
difficult for him.
00:12:10.85\00:12:13.00
Yeah, I'm sure.
00:12:13.03\00:12:15.11
So, Richard, many years
have gone past since then
00:12:15.14\00:12:18.56
and now you are engaged
full time in this ministry.
00:12:18.59\00:12:21.09
What are the
goals of this center?
00:12:21.12\00:12:24.04
The goal of this center
is to help Jews to discover
00:12:24.07\00:12:28.32
who is Jesus and also
to provide them a place
00:12:28.35\00:12:34.81
where they can worship
God within their culture. Yes.
00:12:34.84\00:12:39.53
That is for us very important
because myself and many Jews
00:12:39.56\00:12:44.34
who have been in the
church, we have suffered that
00:12:44.37\00:12:48.61
we were not really inside
of our culture in this church.
00:12:48.64\00:12:53.67
And today with this ministry
we feel much more comfortable.
00:12:53.70\00:12:58.08
Yeah. Wonderful.
00:12:58.11\00:12:59.37
Richard, for viewers
who want to learn more
00:12:59.40\00:13:01.46
about the center and its work,
00:13:01.49\00:13:03.19
how can they find that out?
00:13:03.22\00:13:04.30
They can come to our website
00:13:04.33\00:13:07.20
jewishadventist.org. Good.
00:13:07.23\00:13:13.05
And they can
find all information,
00:13:13.08\00:13:15.01
they can send
email, they can-- yes.
00:13:15.04\00:13:18.43
Wonderful. Thank you very much.
00:13:18.46\00:13:21.36
Please pray for
Richard and his ministry.
00:13:21.39\00:13:24.17
And don't forget, you can
go to jewishadventist.org.
00:13:24.20\00:13:27.93
Among the many
things that Richard does is
00:13:27.96\00:13:29.79
he produces a weekly newsletter
which is very informative
00:13:29.82\00:13:33.78
and it's very helpful too
for your devotional, devotion
00:13:33.81\00:13:37.29
because it gives some
sort of Jewish background
00:13:37.32\00:13:39.91
and history and context
for the study of the scripture.
00:13:39.94\00:13:43.21
And please pray for all of our
00:13:43.24\00:13:44.82
Global Mission
centers around the world.
00:13:44.85\00:13:47.22
Different ministries reaching
to different people groups
00:13:47.25\00:13:50.28
and sometimes this can
be very challenging work,
00:13:50.31\00:13:52.94
very lonely,
sometimes discouraging us,
00:13:52.97\00:13:55.22
very encouraging to them
to know that you are praying.
00:13:55.25\00:13:58.26
Okay.
00:14:43.48\00:14:44.86
It's my pleasure to
introduce our guest,
00:14:44.89\00:14:47.28
Pastor Ted Wilson
who is the president
00:14:47.31\00:14:49.30
of the General Conference
of Seventh-day Adventist.
00:14:49.33\00:14:51.96
Welcome to our
program, Elder Wilson.
00:14:51.99\00:14:53.68
Thank you, Gary.
00:14:53.71\00:14:54.81
When we think about mission,
it's easy to think about it
00:14:54.84\00:14:57.48
in terms of what
somebody else is doing.
00:14:57.51\00:14:59.42
You kind of almost born into it,
00:14:59.45\00:15:00.99
you're born in the United
States but you grew up in Egypt.
00:15:01.02\00:15:04.33
Tell me about that experience?
00:15:04.36\00:15:07.01
Well, my parents went to
Egypt long before I was born
00:15:07.04\00:15:14.28
and then they took a furlough
00:15:14.31\00:15:15.71
to return back
to the United States
00:15:15.74\00:15:17.97
and 10 days after
they got back I was born.
00:15:18.00\00:15:20.42
Good timing. So, yeah.
00:15:20.45\00:15:21.88
So I wasn't born on the boat.
00:15:21.91\00:15:23.33
But then I was, when I
was about six months old
00:15:23.36\00:15:25.43
they went back to Egypt
00:15:25.46\00:15:26.49
and all my earliest memories
of life are basically Egypt
00:15:26.52\00:15:32.28
and the Middle
East Mediterranean area,
00:15:32.31\00:15:35.77
now that's just
kind of like home. Right.
00:15:35.80\00:15:38.76
And had the privilege of going
back there just very recently.
00:15:38.79\00:15:42.90
And in the last few
years gone back twice to Egypt,
00:15:42.93\00:15:47.21
to Cairo and have
visited in the Middle East.
00:15:47.24\00:15:51.07
And you know, there's just
something about being home.
00:15:51.10\00:15:54.93
You know where
you belong in a sense.
00:15:54.96\00:15:57.41
And the people
of the Middle East
00:15:57.44\00:15:58.66
are just wonderful people,
00:15:58.69\00:16:00.02
so many very sincere,
hardworking, loving people.
00:16:00.05\00:16:06.72
And they are searching for truth
00:16:06.75\00:16:09.75
and that's what we are all about
00:16:09.78\00:16:11.59
as far as being
"missionaries" wherever we go.
00:16:11.62\00:16:15.87
And that was just
a great opportunity
00:16:15.90\00:16:17.45
to grow up in a place like Egypt
00:16:17.48\00:16:19.56
and to experience
a different culture,
00:16:19.59\00:16:21.58
different
language, different setting
00:16:21.61\00:16:24.29
and just to be able to
understand people better.
00:16:24.32\00:16:28.77
And just feel a
part of this world scene.
00:16:28.80\00:16:32.56
Now you were six months
old when you went there,
00:16:32.59\00:16:35.70
you had brothers and sisters?
00:16:35.73\00:16:37.62
I have a younger sister
00:16:37.65\00:16:39.28
and she was born
in Egypt on an island
00:16:39.31\00:16:42.73
in the middle of the Nile. Okay.
00:16:42.76\00:16:44.23
There's a hospital there.
00:16:44.26\00:16:46.47
And yeah, so she's--
she's a real Egyptian.
00:16:46.50\00:16:49.87
Now that--that was a pretty
big step for a young pastor
00:16:49.90\00:16:54.23
and his wife to take a six
month old baby to Egypt, right?
00:16:54.26\00:16:58.24
Well, I mean it all depends,
00:16:58.27\00:17:00.06
you know, when
you are a missionary,
00:17:00.09\00:17:02.19
the three rules
of being a missionary
00:17:02.22\00:17:04.42
are adapt, adapt and adapt.
00:17:04.45\00:17:07.18
So you are just ready
to do that kind of thing.
00:17:07.21\00:17:10.25
And when we, when we
went to West Africa to work,
00:17:10.28\00:17:15.54
my wife and our two children,
00:17:15.57\00:17:17.78
we had two little
daughters like three
00:17:17.81\00:17:22.50
and eight months or so.
00:17:22.53\00:17:24.18
And then another
daughter came along.
00:17:24.21\00:17:26.64
And they grew up in that place
00:17:26.67\00:17:28.31
and they
consider that to be home,
00:17:28.34\00:17:30.09
Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire,
Ivory Coast in West Africa.
00:17:30.12\00:17:34.26
So these experiences are just--
00:17:34.29\00:17:36.61
experiences are
just so enriching.
00:17:36.64\00:17:38.57
And they helped
to build the fabric
00:17:38.60\00:17:41.04
of helping people to look
00:17:41.07\00:17:43.94
to a bigger vision of
what the world is all about.
00:17:43.97\00:17:47.89
So in a sense the
Middle East has kept
00:17:47.92\00:17:50.14
a special part in your life,
00:17:50.17\00:17:52.88
in your heart,
right? Absolutely.
00:17:52.91\00:17:55.12
So more recently
the General Conference
00:17:55.15\00:17:57.90
has re-arrange the territory
00:17:57.93\00:17:59.37
the way the church is
operating in the Middle East.
00:17:59.40\00:18:02.08
Can you tell me about that?
00:18:02.11\00:18:03.92
Well the territory from the far
western part of North Africa,
00:18:03.95\00:18:11.19
Morocco, all the
way across to Iran
00:18:11.22\00:18:14.69
which is part
of the Middle East,
00:18:14.72\00:18:16.52
not Arabic speaking,
they speak Farsi there,
00:18:16.55\00:18:19.22
but up to Turkey where
they speak Turkish of course
00:18:19.25\00:18:23.48
but yet highly Muslim
area and down to Sudan.
00:18:23.51\00:18:28.59
That unit, that
portion of the world
00:18:28.62\00:18:31.83
has about 500 million people.
00:18:31.86\00:18:35.59
As far as
Seventh-day Adventist presence,
00:18:35.62\00:18:38.42
we have perhaps
at best about 1,500
00:18:38.45\00:18:43.49
or perhaps 2,000
within that area.
00:18:43.52\00:18:46.68
And so we felt it
was very important that
00:18:46.71\00:18:49.98
we pull that
whole area together,
00:18:50.01\00:18:52.54
parts of it had been assigned
00:18:52.57\00:18:54.26
to different
regional jurisdictions.
00:18:54.29\00:18:58.16
But rather we
should pull that together
00:18:58.19\00:18:59.92
and really focus on
it as a world perspective
00:18:59.95\00:19:04.71
and challenge for
the entire world church.
00:19:04.74\00:19:08.68
We need to pray
for our members there
00:19:08.71\00:19:11.19
and for the people
of the Middle East,
00:19:11.22\00:19:13.16
wonderful people as I said.
00:19:13.19\00:19:15.32
But people who need to know
00:19:15.35\00:19:16.86
of the truth as
it is in Jesus. Yeah.
00:19:16.89\00:19:19.90
Growing up in a
place such as Cairo
00:19:19.93\00:19:23.62
where you got the
vast amounts of people,
00:19:23.65\00:19:26.10
just millions of people.
00:19:26.13\00:19:27.89
How did that shape your
understanding of mission?
00:19:27.92\00:19:31.94
Well, I suppose
in a variety of ways.
00:19:31.97\00:19:34.32
First of all you get used to
thousands of people around you
00:19:34.35\00:19:37.93
and heavy traffic
and interesting culture
00:19:37.96\00:19:41.01
and all of that kind of thing.
00:19:41.04\00:19:44.50
I would say one
of the biggest things
00:19:44.53\00:19:46.44
that had helped in
my life was to realize
00:19:46.47\00:19:51.75
that there are
cultures and settings
00:19:51.78\00:19:55.54
that are perhaps different,
00:19:55.57\00:19:58.76
but actually growing
up by just related to it.
00:19:58.79\00:20:01.81
But they are
different from other cultures
00:20:01.84\00:20:05.19
but in reality if you are kind,
00:20:05.22\00:20:07.46
if you are
genuinely interested in people
00:20:07.49\00:20:10.97
that all of that transcends
culture and differences.
00:20:11.00\00:20:15.23
And so being
Christ like is something
00:20:15.26\00:20:19.10
that can cut across any
barrier that you might meet.
00:20:19.13\00:20:23.89
And I think in
getting a world perspective
00:20:23.92\00:20:27.62
because I think that's
one of the greatest things
00:20:27.65\00:20:29.56
that my parents
provided for me growing up,
00:20:29.59\00:20:33.72
a world perspective.
00:20:33.75\00:20:35.36
I think that
tremendously enriched my life
00:20:35.39\00:20:38.83
and I am forever
grateful to the Lord
00:20:38.86\00:20:41.53
and to my parents
for having grown up
00:20:41.56\00:20:43.87
in a different culture
than let's say my home culture.
00:20:43.90\00:20:47.77
And being able to
just associate with people
00:20:47.80\00:20:50.65
and understand that, you know,
00:20:50.68\00:20:54.06
God can work in many
different areas and He does.
00:20:54.09\00:20:58.80
And it's also the
source of your favorite food,
00:20:58.83\00:21:00.82
I understand. Absolutely.
00:21:00.85\00:21:02.55
My number one food
is Middle Eastern food,
00:21:02.58\00:21:05.96
second is Indian food
and then the rest. Okay.
00:21:05.99\00:21:11.16
Elder Wilson, thank you so
much for joining us today. Yeah.
00:21:11.19\00:21:14.34
And viewers at home,
00:21:14.37\00:21:15.56
please remember the
territories of the world
00:21:15.59\00:21:18.33
where the name of
Jesus isn't heard so much,
00:21:18.36\00:21:21.34
many parts of the world
00:21:21.37\00:21:22.49
where people haven't
even ever heard the name.
00:21:22.52\00:21:25.14
Pray for our missionary serving,
pray for our church members
00:21:25.17\00:21:29.04
and pray for people that
they will come to know the love
00:21:29.07\00:21:31.42
and the joy of
knowing Jesus Christ.
00:21:31.45\00:21:33.37
My name is Nick Walters
00:21:40.84\00:21:42.49
and I am a missionary
physician here at Bangkok,
00:21:42.52\00:21:45.35
Adventist hospital which is
also known as mission hospital
00:21:45.38\00:21:48.58
or in the Thai
language (speaking in Thai).
00:21:48.61\00:21:52.74
I've been a missionary for,
00:21:52.77\00:21:54.25
this is my 28th
year of mission service.
00:21:54.28\00:21:56.99
To work here in Thailand,
00:21:57.02\00:21:59.18
I needed to get
a medical license
00:21:59.21\00:22:01.35
because I am working
here as a medical doctor.
00:22:01.38\00:22:03.90
The medical exams in Thailand
are in the Thai language.
00:22:03.93\00:22:07.98
To learn an
entirely new language
00:22:08.01\00:22:10.09
with completely
different grammar
00:22:10.12\00:22:12.56
and tones was a
bit of a challenge,
00:22:12.59\00:22:14.93
not just a bit of a challenge
it was an incredible challenge.
00:22:14.96\00:22:18.28
And the Lord worked things out
00:22:18.31\00:22:21.49
in a miraculous way for me
to be able to come to Thailand,
00:22:21.52\00:22:26.07
to be able to study Thai
00:22:26.10\00:22:28.16
and to finally be able to
take the exam and pass it.
00:22:28.19\00:22:32.09
(Speaking in foreign language)
00:22:32.12\00:22:39.26
To put an effort into learning
an entire newly language
00:22:39.29\00:22:43.31
and to take an exam,
00:22:43.34\00:22:44.68
a medical examination
in a written language
00:22:44.71\00:22:47.96
that doesn't use
English characters is,
00:22:47.99\00:22:51.29
is a big risk
00:22:51.32\00:22:52.72
because I could have ended up
00:22:52.75\00:22:54.43
wasting two years
of my life doing this.
00:22:54.46\00:22:58.20
So part of it was the
struggle with wanting to know
00:22:58.23\00:23:03.73
what God's will was for me.
00:23:03.76\00:23:05.99
To trust that God would
00:23:06.02\00:23:08.08
somehow work this
crazy thing that I was doing,
00:23:08.11\00:23:11.34
somehow work it out
00:23:11.37\00:23:12.78
so that way it would
be to glorify His name.
00:23:12.81\00:23:17.15
And it turned out
very positive for me
00:23:17.18\00:23:21.06
and it definitely
glorifies His name
00:23:21.09\00:23:23.90
because I was able to pass
the boards in the Thai language.
00:23:23.93\00:23:27.55
If you'd have ever seen me
00:23:27.58\00:23:28.61
in my Spanish
class in high school,
00:23:28.64\00:23:31.09
you might have wondered
00:23:31.12\00:23:32.15
how is this ever possible
for Nick Walters to do this.
00:23:32.18\00:23:36.22
But anyway, the
Lord did worked it out.
00:23:36.25\00:23:39.27
But many people
think of Thailand,
00:23:39.30\00:23:41.32
oh, that's a
tourist destination,
00:23:41.35\00:23:43.17
how come you went
there as a missionary.
00:23:43.20\00:23:44.98
Isn't that like
paradise to go there first?
00:23:45.01\00:23:48.68
Well, there are some challenges,
00:23:48.71\00:23:52.15
but the ways that I've been able
to help in at the hospital here
00:23:52.18\00:23:57.32
because I have a
personal feeling that people,
00:23:57.35\00:24:00.88
Jesus' example of
healing people physically
00:24:00.91\00:24:03.41
and mentally and
spiritually is very important.
00:24:03.44\00:24:06.42
And I can tell you living
and working in a busy country,
00:24:06.45\00:24:11.65
especially a busy city,
a capital city of Bangkok,
00:24:11.68\00:24:14.51
Thailand, there's
a lot of stress here.
00:24:14.54\00:24:17.00
There are a lot of people
who suffer physical illness
00:24:17.03\00:24:20.18
because of mental and
spiritual problems as well.
00:24:20.21\00:24:23.57
And so because of
that I try very hard
00:24:23.60\00:24:27.71
to help with their healing
not just the physical healing
00:24:27.74\00:24:30.74
but the mental and spiritual
00:24:30.77\00:24:32.57
by bringing those
aspects into their life
00:24:32.60\00:24:35.03
that they may not have even
known they had a problem with
00:24:35.06\00:24:38.85
and to show them that there are
solutions for their problems.
00:24:38.88\00:24:42.91
In fact this has been one
of the most fascinating things
00:24:42.94\00:24:45.96
that I've been able to so.
00:24:45.99\00:24:47.15
My Thai patients will come to me
00:24:47.18\00:24:49.91
and when I say with them,
00:24:49.94\00:24:51.26
you know, I think that
we need to pray together
00:24:51.29\00:24:53.94
because I think you will feel
better after we pray together.
00:24:53.97\00:24:56.31
They say, yes.
00:24:56.34\00:24:57.64
I have never had anyone refuse
00:24:57.67\00:24:59.86
and that's been a
wonderful experience
00:24:59.89\00:25:01.70
working here in Thailand
as people are willing to
00:25:01.73\00:25:04.74
and more than
happy to hear about this,
00:25:04.77\00:25:08.20
this God that loves them.
00:25:08.23\00:25:10.07
My wife and I have
at least once a month
00:25:33.06\00:25:35.85
tried to have a Bible
study at our hospital.
00:25:35.88\00:25:38.09
It's a little more
than a Bible study.
00:25:38.12\00:25:39.86
We feel like they're
almost like our children.
00:25:39.89\00:25:42.85
And so it's been,
00:25:42.88\00:25:44.50
it's been a wonderful
experience to share Christianity
00:25:44.53\00:25:48.93
and also
support the Christianity
00:25:48.96\00:25:50.98
of our Christian students
00:25:51.01\00:25:52.50
but also share it to our
Buddhist students as well.
00:25:52.53\00:25:55.67
Our Adventist church
is growing in Thailand.
00:26:03.17\00:26:05.75
If our members
throughout the world
00:26:05.78\00:26:08.48
could pray for our members
00:26:08.51\00:26:11.18
or people who are struggling
00:26:11.21\00:26:12.45
to become members of
our church here in Thailand
00:26:12.48\00:26:15.46
because for a Thai person
00:26:15.49\00:26:16.78
to chose to become a
Christian is a challenge.
00:26:16.81\00:26:21.29
Former South African President
00:26:35.44\00:26:37.27
Nelson Mandela is
quoted his saying,
00:26:37.30\00:26:39.85
"If you talk to a man in
the language he understands,
00:26:39.88\00:26:42.92
that goes to his head.
00:26:42.95\00:26:44.72
If you talk to him
in his own language,
00:26:44.75\00:26:47.10
that goes to his heart."
00:26:47.13\00:26:48.93
Well, if you're watching
this program chances are
00:26:48.96\00:26:50.97
you believe in and
care about mission.
00:26:51.00\00:26:54.08
Recently the
Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:26:54.11\00:26:55.91
started a new mission
magazine called Mission 360.
00:26:55.94\00:26:59.67
It's a beautiful new magazine
and if you live in North America
00:26:59.70\00:27:03.19
and would like to receive a copy
00:27:03.22\00:27:04.68
as well as news
about Global Mission,
00:27:04.71\00:27:07.16
simply call our toll
free number 1800-648-5824
00:27:07.19\00:27:13.31
or you can visit our website
at adventistmission.org/offer.
00:27:13.34\00:27:17.85
Or better yet
wherever you are in the world,
00:27:17.88\00:27:20.66
you can download the free
digital magazine for your iPad,
00:27:20.69\00:27:24.86
your Kindle HD or
your android tablet.
00:27:24.89\00:27:28.14
Just search for
Adventist Mission
00:27:28.17\00:27:29.89
or Mission 360
in the apps stores.
00:27:29.92\00:27:33.50
Of course you can
always just go to our website
00:27:33.53\00:27:35.60
at adventistmission.org
00:27:35.63\00:27:37.16
and you can view the
magazine there for free.
00:27:37.19\00:27:40.59
Well, that's it
for today's program
00:27:40.62\00:27:42.38
and thanks for
spending time with us today.
00:27:42.41\00:27:45.01
I hope you've been
inspired by what you've seen
00:27:45.04\00:27:47.07
and by what you've heard.
00:27:47.10\00:27:48.60
Thank you for
your continuing prayers
00:27:48.63\00:27:51.34
and support for global
mission around the world.
00:27:51.37\00:27:54.50
For Global
Mission, I am Gary Krause
00:27:54.53\00:27:56.58
and I hope you
can join us next time
00:27:56.61\00:27:58.59
right here on
Global Mission Snapshots.
00:27:58.62\00:28:01.60