Adventist Mission
in the West African
00:00:01.06\00:00:02.92
country of
Benin, a mission plane
00:00:02.95\00:00:05.04
making a difference
in the South Pacific
00:00:05.07\00:00:07.57
and the Global Centre for
Adventist Muslim Relations,
00:00:07.60\00:00:11.12
all that and much
more coming up next on
00:00:11.15\00:00:13.88
"Global Mission Snapshots."
00:00:13.91\00:00:15.78
Just before He
went up to heaven,
00:00:26.02\00:00:28.61
Jesus gave us a
command. He gave us a mission.
00:00:28.64\00:00:34.32
Jesus said, "Go.
00:00:34.35\00:00:36.69
Go unto all the world,
telling them of His love.
00:00:36.72\00:00:41.64
This is our mission.
This is our Global Mission."
00:00:41.67\00:00:45.75
Hello, I'm Gary
Krause and welcome to
00:00:50.88\00:00:52.81
Global Mission Snapshots.
00:00:52.84\00:00:54.92
On today's
program, we'll introduce you
00:00:54.95\00:00:57.02
to people on the
front lines of mission,
00:00:57.05\00:00:59.77
finding new and fresh ways
to share the old, old story.
00:00:59.80\00:01:04.03
Today we'll be
talking with Nancy Kyte
00:01:04.06\00:01:06.15
about the country of
Benin in West Africa.
00:01:06.18\00:01:09.44
We'll see how
some Korean Adventists
00:01:09.47\00:01:11.70
are literally touching
the lives of lepers in China.
00:01:11.73\00:01:15.71
And we'll talk
with Lester Merklin,
00:01:15.74\00:01:17.39
director of the Global Centre
for Adventist Muslim Relations.
00:01:17.42\00:01:22.31
But first up, let's
visit Papua New Guinea
00:01:22.34\00:01:25.00
where we'll see a mission
plane in action and learn about
00:01:25.03\00:01:28.13
how Thirteenth Sabbath Offerings
are making a difference.
00:01:28.16\00:01:32.11
It's early morning before dawn.
00:01:33.90\00:01:36.08
The Adventist aviation
plane is parked in the hangar.
00:01:36.11\00:01:39.37
Daniel, our pilot arrives
and gets the aircraft ready
00:01:39.40\00:01:42.79
for its first mission today.
00:01:42.82\00:01:44.88
Fasten your seatbelts
as we taxi to the runway.
00:01:44.91\00:01:48.00
This is another
day of mission service.
00:01:48.03\00:01:50.82
We are flying
northeast over Papua New Guinea
00:01:53.79\00:01:56.63
at an altitude of 10,000 feet.
00:01:56.66\00:01:59.25
It's fairly warm in the plane
00:01:59.28\00:02:00.74
and it's a gorgeous
morning out the window.
00:02:00.77\00:02:04.34
Papua New Guinea
is one of the most
00:02:04.37\00:02:06.01
culturally
diverse places on earth
00:02:06.04\00:02:09.00
with pristine teeming
jungles, jagged mountains,
00:02:09.03\00:02:13.82
deep valleys and
turbulent rivers.
00:02:13.85\00:02:17.06
It's one of the least developed
00:02:17.09\00:02:18.73
and most traditional
countries on this planet
00:02:18.76\00:02:21.75
where people
live much as they have
00:02:21.78\00:02:23.47
for thousands of years.
00:02:23.50\00:02:25.21
And we're on our
way to a remote place
00:02:25.24\00:02:27.96
in the highlands of New
Guinea to visit a small village.
00:02:27.99\00:02:31.38
Look down, there it is.
00:02:34.53\00:02:36.28
We're approaching
our first destination.
00:02:36.31\00:02:38.82
The villagers are
always happy to see us.
00:02:38.85\00:02:41.79
These two children
even made model airplanes
00:02:41.82\00:02:44.36
as a sign of admiration
for the aviation service.
00:02:44.39\00:02:48.09
The cargo is
quickly unloaded here
00:02:48.12\00:02:50.29
and we are off to
our next appointment.
00:02:50.32\00:02:52.31
The Seventh-day Adventist plane
00:02:55.64\00:02:57.19
travels to local
towns and villages
00:02:57.22\00:02:59.20
where it is very
hard to reach with food,
00:02:59.23\00:03:01.76
supplies and
medicines for the clinics.
00:03:01.79\00:03:04.57
By plane we can
cover distances in an hour
00:03:04.60\00:03:08.07
where it would have
taken weeks in the past.
00:03:08.10\00:03:10.61
And for some
villages it's the only way in
00:03:10.64\00:03:13.76
as there are no roads.
00:03:13.79\00:03:16.31
On our next stop we
will surprise the people
00:03:16.34\00:03:18.61
with a very
unique gift, a lawnmower.
00:03:18.64\00:03:21.42
It may seem a trivial
tool but to the local people
00:03:21.45\00:03:24.88
it will provide a way to
maintain their surroundings,
00:03:24.91\00:03:27.73
gardens, plantations
00:03:27.76\00:03:29.61
and even a clear
runway for the plane.
00:03:29.64\00:03:32.64
They seemed very
excited with the new gift.
00:03:32.67\00:03:35.07
And after a simple demonstration
00:03:35.10\00:03:37.23
they are equipped
to continue the work.
00:03:37.26\00:03:41.51
On our last leg of our trip
we will pickup bags of crops.
00:03:41.54\00:03:45.61
The airplane will transport
the merchandise to the city
00:03:45.64\00:03:48.45
and bring back means to provide
for this community's survival.
00:03:48.48\00:03:52.05
Your mission offerings supports
projects like these everyday
00:03:57.08\00:04:00.94
and it helps thousands
of people to get connected
00:04:00.97\00:04:03.46
with the
Seventh-day Adventist church
00:04:03.49\00:04:05.33
and experience
firsthand the love of God.
00:04:05.36\00:04:08.71
Please pray and continue
to support Adventist mission.
00:04:08.74\00:04:12.61
Dr. Lester
Merklin is the director
00:04:16.43\00:04:18.30
of the Global Centre for
Adventist Muslim Relations
00:04:18.33\00:04:21.49
and he is also our
guest on today's program.
00:04:21.52\00:04:24.36
Lester, thank you
so much for joining us.
00:04:24.39\00:04:27.23
Just a few minutes ago,
I was talking with someone
00:04:27.26\00:04:29.56
who said to me, you
know, one of the problems
00:04:29.59\00:04:31.85
in the Adventist
Church is that so many people
00:04:31.88\00:04:34.02
have negative
feelings about Muslims.
00:04:34.05\00:04:36.18
And I think that
this is fair across
00:04:36.21\00:04:39.07
the spectrum of
Christian Churches.
00:04:39.10\00:04:42.48
Why do you think that there is
00:04:42.51\00:04:43.66
this feeling of
antipathy toward Muslim?
00:04:43.69\00:04:49.54
Oh, obviously
there is a long history.
00:04:49.57\00:04:53.53
Ever since way back
to the nation of Israel
00:04:53.56\00:04:57.99
in the Old Testament
times and on through history
00:04:58.02\00:05:01.81
there has been tensions,
00:05:01.84\00:05:05.13
but that has been
really exasperated
00:05:05.16\00:05:07.32
in our own lifetime with
wars, with misunderstandings,
00:05:07.35\00:05:14.43
with sides being
taken and even though
00:05:14.46\00:05:17.79
the Christian world and
the Muslim world will say,
00:05:17.82\00:05:21.18
"Hey, we're re based on
peace and not forcing anybody
00:05:21.21\00:05:26.68
to believe like we believe."
00:05:26.71\00:05:29.58
But humans are humans
00:05:29.61\00:05:32.27
and we start
marking of our turfs.
00:05:32.30\00:05:36.38
And today it's
certain, it's quite strong,
00:05:36.41\00:05:41.87
especially since
9/11 and that's not just
00:05:41.90\00:05:44.67
from an Adventist or
a Christian viewpoint.
00:05:44.70\00:05:47.86
The Muslims in North
America, especially the ones
00:05:47.89\00:05:50.51
that I've talked to
in the Detroit area.
00:05:50.54\00:05:54.40
They are very concerned
by what that kind of action
00:05:54.43\00:05:59.27
caused in people's
mind about Islam as a whole.
00:05:59.30\00:06:04.32
And of course, not all Islam,
00:06:04.35\00:06:07.20
not all every Muslim is the kind
00:06:07.23\00:06:09.46
that's going to do
those kinds of things,
00:06:09.49\00:06:12.06
but that's the image we get,
00:06:12.09\00:06:13.56
that's the media
that is presented
00:06:13.59\00:06:16.32
because it
makes headlines. Yeah.
00:06:16.35\00:06:19.44
Now obviously we
try to build bridges
00:06:19.47\00:06:22.81
of understanding
between Christians
00:06:22.84\00:06:25.15
and between Muslim, but
there are major differences.
00:06:25.18\00:06:27.55
What are some of the major
differences in their beliefs?
00:06:27.58\00:06:31.36
Well, the things that
that have kept a Muslim
00:06:31.39\00:06:36.76
from
understanding or a Christian
00:06:36.79\00:06:38.94
stands in their faith
is especially things like
00:06:38.97\00:06:42.49
our understanding of God
being visible in its three
00:06:42.52\00:06:49.21
that the trinity concepts here.
00:06:49.24\00:06:51.65
And we can understand that.
00:06:51.68\00:06:53.27
That's hard to
understand how you can really
00:06:53.30\00:06:56.31
believe in one
God and yet he seems
00:06:56.34\00:06:58.80
to presented
Himself in three persons.
00:06:58.83\00:07:02.21
And so that that
would be item number one
00:07:02.24\00:07:05.44
that would cause a Muslim to say
00:07:05.47\00:07:08.17
Christians really
can't be monotheist,
00:07:08.20\00:07:11.92
they can't really
believe in one God
00:07:11.95\00:07:14.01
even if they claim to.
00:07:14.04\00:07:16.28
So that's, that's a major item.
00:07:16.31\00:07:18.45
And then the concept that Jesus
00:07:18.48\00:07:22.50
who is very highly
respected in Islam--
00:07:22.53\00:07:25.62
And seen as a prophet.
00:07:25.65\00:07:26.92
And seen as a
prophet, by some of them
00:07:26.95\00:07:29.34
even the highest prophet.
00:07:29.37\00:07:31.45
Even though the Quran
says there are no differences
00:07:31.48\00:07:33.85
between prophets still
He is a prophet that healed,
00:07:33.88\00:07:37.05
He is a prophet
00:07:37.08\00:07:38.11
that had a special
relationship with the God.
00:07:38.14\00:07:39.97
The Quran says he is a
prophet who came from God.
00:07:40.00\00:07:43.14
So those things
we could say, yes,
00:07:43.17\00:07:45.51
we have similar
ways of looking at Jesus,
00:07:45.54\00:07:48.49
but the idea that God
would have to work out a plan,
00:07:48.52\00:07:52.69
where God would have a
death to cover our sins
00:07:52.72\00:07:57.53
that is very hard for our
Muslim neighbors to understand.
00:07:57.56\00:08:01.65
God is God.
00:08:01.68\00:08:03.54
And if we say we're sorry,
00:08:03.57\00:08:06.05
He has the right
to be able to say,
00:08:06.08\00:08:07.56
"Okay, I'll forgive you." Right.
00:08:07.59\00:08:09.50
And I can
understand that that concern
00:08:09.53\00:08:14.95
when they have not
heard the whole reason of
00:08:14.98\00:08:17.53
why we understand Jesus' death.
00:08:17.56\00:08:20.38
As I understand it
part of role of the centre
00:08:20.41\00:08:23.53
that you direct is to
help us explain more clearly
00:08:23.56\00:08:27.65
and more attractively
why we believe the way we do,
00:08:27.68\00:08:30.83
so that Muslims
can understand it.
00:08:30.86\00:08:32.26
Sure, I would say
our two biggest reasons
00:08:32.29\00:08:34.31
for being a
centre is, number one,
00:08:34.34\00:08:36.14
to help Adventist understand
who their Muslim neighbor is
00:08:36.17\00:08:40.44
so that they can be the friends
00:08:40.47\00:08:41.75
that a Christian ought to be.
00:08:41.78\00:08:43.48
And secondly, that
the Muslim can understand
00:08:43.51\00:08:46.12
who Adventists
are and our standard
00:08:46.15\00:08:53.95
being
completely submitted to God
00:08:53.98\00:08:55.67
and doing what God wants us to
00:08:55.70\00:08:57.20
and preparing for the judgment
just like they understand.
00:08:57.23\00:09:00.74
And therefore we
can have that friendship
00:09:00.77\00:09:03.24
even though we see
some things very different.
00:09:03.27\00:09:06.99
Yeah, now, if
someone's viewing this program
00:09:07.02\00:09:10.21
and they have a Muslim neighbor,
00:09:10.24\00:09:13.88
but they're shy of--
00:09:13.91\00:09:17.59
They're not sure
where they should start
00:09:17.62\00:09:19.20
in talking, you know, that
because I don't want to give
00:09:19.23\00:09:21.10
offence or anything.
00:09:21.13\00:09:22.17
Because as you said they come
00:09:22.20\00:09:23.31
from a different
views in some ways.
00:09:23.34\00:09:26.11
What are some of the things
00:09:26.14\00:09:27.19
we need to keep
in mind in relating?
00:09:27.22\00:09:29.50
I mean, obviously
we need to be human
00:09:29.53\00:09:30.95
and loving and all that, but--
00:09:30.98\00:09:32.16
That's what I was gonna say.
00:09:32.19\00:09:33.56
First of all, Gary,
I think we have to--
00:09:33.59\00:09:36.70
always have to remember
that they're human. Of course.
00:09:36.73\00:09:40.41
Many of them are
maybe a short time
00:09:40.44\00:09:44.05
in America for instance.
00:09:44.08\00:09:46.69
We all know what it's
like when we are in a new area,
00:09:46.72\00:09:49.26
different culture,
different things happening,
00:09:49.29\00:09:51.21
you feel lost and to have a
real live American in Chicago,
00:09:51.24\00:09:56.60
New York, Detroit, Los Angeles
00:09:56.63\00:09:58.69
saying, hey, I'm your neighbor.
00:09:58.72\00:10:01.46
We'll go long
ways to make friends.
00:10:01.49\00:10:05.53
Because they are human
and they have the same needs
00:10:05.56\00:10:08.70
that we have.
00:10:08.73\00:10:10.80
When it comes to cultural ways,
00:10:10.83\00:10:15.37
we need to respect obviously.
00:10:15.40\00:10:18.80
Our culture isn't perfect.
00:10:18.83\00:10:21.42
No one's culture is perfect
00:10:21.45\00:10:22.75
and yet every
culture has good things.
00:10:22.78\00:10:25.93
I'm glad that I spent
six years living in Pakistan.
00:10:25.96\00:10:30.73
I learned some things
about community, friendship,
00:10:30.76\00:10:35.57
social
hospitality that sometimes
00:10:35.60\00:10:38.58
we don't think of here, so--
00:10:38.61\00:10:40.03
And they also have
some very good food.
00:10:40.06\00:10:42.38
Excellent food and we still
eat every chance we can get.
00:10:42.41\00:10:45.80
Lester, thank you so much
for sharing with us today.
00:10:45.83\00:10:48.24
I really appreciate it.
00:10:48.27\00:10:49.95
And if you want to find out
more about these types of things
00:10:49.98\00:10:53.13
that Dr. Merklin has
been sharing with us,
00:10:53.16\00:10:56.51
you can go to our website
at islam.adventistmission.org.
00:10:56.54\00:11:01.96
islam.adventistmission.org.
00:11:01.99\00:11:04.31
And there you'll
find some resources,
00:11:04.34\00:11:05.92
some information that
will help you understand
00:11:05.95\00:11:08.88
more the sort of things
00:11:08.91\00:11:09.95
that Dr. Merklin
has been sharing with us
00:11:09.98\00:11:12.35
because our Muslim
brothers and sisters
00:11:12.38\00:11:14.95
are there to be our friends.
00:11:14.98\00:11:16.87
It's my pleasure to
welcome my colleague
00:12:01.99\00:12:04.49
and friend Nancy Kyte
00:12:04.52\00:12:06.04
who is the marketing
director for Adventist mission.
00:12:06.07\00:12:08.80
Nancy, thanks for joining
us. Thank you for inviting me.
00:12:08.83\00:12:10.98
Now, Nancy, our topic today
is the country of Benin. Yes.
00:12:11.01\00:12:15.34
Now in case there's any viewers
00:12:15.37\00:12:17.53
who may not know
exactly where that is,
00:12:17.56\00:12:19.39
can you describe its location?
00:12:19.42\00:12:21.42
It is in West Africa.
00:12:21.45\00:12:23.56
You know, kind
of where that shape
00:12:23.59\00:12:25.39
that little hump comes out,
00:12:25.42\00:12:26.77
it's right in the
middle part of that,
00:12:26.80\00:12:29.21
it borders the ocean.
00:12:29.24\00:12:30.80
Okay, now some-- 20
something years ago,
00:12:30.83\00:12:34.16
I went to Benin and I remember
00:12:34.19\00:12:35.90
it is being the
capital of voodoo
00:12:35.93\00:12:38.13
and I went to the town of Whydah
00:12:38.16\00:12:41.03
and they have a
temple to Voodoo, etcetera.
00:12:41.06\00:12:43.49
How prevalent is
voodoo is till today?
00:12:43.52\00:12:46.09
Oh, it's still very prevalent.
00:12:46.12\00:12:48.31
And I was told
that many children are
00:12:48.34\00:12:50.28
dedicated to voodoo
just as soon as they're born.
00:12:50.31\00:12:52.98
So it's still
part of their life.
00:12:53.01\00:12:56.35
But the Adventist Church is
very active in that country,
00:12:56.38\00:12:59.35
planting churches.
00:12:59.38\00:13:00.88
Tell me about a
village that you've visited.
00:13:00.91\00:13:03.81
Well, we had a chance to visit
00:13:03.84\00:13:04.96
a village or a city
actually called Parakou.
00:13:04.99\00:13:07.77
Okay, so it wasn't
just a small village?
00:13:07.80\00:13:09.28
No, it was in the
central part of the country
00:13:09.31\00:13:11.43
and we drove, you know,
many hours to get there.
00:13:11.46\00:13:14.61
But it was interesting
because we wanted to see
00:13:14.64\00:13:17.43
this area because 10 years ago
00:13:17.46\00:13:19.22
there was no
Adventist presence there.
00:13:19.25\00:13:21.77
Global Mission
Pioneer had gone there,
00:13:21.80\00:13:25.04
worked hard and
was able to start
00:13:25.07\00:13:27.36
a very small congregation
00:13:27.39\00:13:29.21
and now there is a
thriving church there.
00:13:29.24\00:13:32.38
And the pioneers, he
is still there or is a--
00:13:32.41\00:13:35.75
That pioneer has actually
00:13:35.78\00:13:37.39
gone on to work in other
areas, so there on I think,
00:13:37.42\00:13:40.48
there are
second or third pastor.
00:13:40.51\00:13:42.27
But this pastor
that they have now
00:13:42.30\00:13:43.95
was himself a pioneer in another
area prior to coming there.
00:13:43.98\00:13:48.08
Wonderful.
00:13:48.11\00:13:49.21
For those viewers
who may not be familiar
00:13:49.24\00:13:50.87
with Global Mission
Pioneers, these are lay people,
00:13:50.90\00:13:54.08
who don't have
extensive theological training,
00:13:54.11\00:13:56.32
but they get a basic
training and they go out
00:13:56.35\00:13:58.83
with one goal
and that is to start
00:13:58.86\00:14:00.69
a new Seventh-day
Adventist congregation
00:14:00.72\00:14:03.07
in a new area and they
don't get paid a whole lot,
00:14:03.10\00:14:05.72
they get a living stipend
00:14:05.75\00:14:06.95
which is enough to
put food on the table,
00:14:06.98\00:14:08.80
give them some basic resources.
00:14:08.83\00:14:11.10
And for me, at least
when I meet a pioneer
00:14:11.13\00:14:13.77
it's always an
amazing experience
00:14:13.80\00:14:16.36
because they are sacrificing
on what they're doing.
00:14:16.39\00:14:18.38
They sure are and their
families sacrifices, too.
00:14:18.41\00:14:21.84
Now, Nancy,
they have some plans,
00:14:21.87\00:14:23.88
the church has
some plans in that area?
00:14:23.91\00:14:25.86
Oh, yes, they do.
00:14:25.89\00:14:27.33
As the church has grown
they've tried to see, you know,
00:14:27.36\00:14:30.24
what they can do to impact
the community around them.
00:14:30.27\00:14:34.07
And it's so
happens that at their union
00:14:34.10\00:14:37.57
or at the Benin mission,
00:14:37.60\00:14:39.98
they were also
wanting to figure out
00:14:40.01\00:14:41.54
how can they spread
out their influence.
00:14:41.57\00:14:43.96
How can they help
Adventism grow there
00:14:43.99\00:14:46.95
and they were looking
for a place to put a school.
00:14:46.98\00:14:50.20
They weren't exactly
sure where it should go. Okay.
00:14:50.23\00:14:53.66
Now I'm guessing
it's gonna be in the city.
00:14:53.69\00:14:55.95
You guessed right.
00:14:55.98\00:14:58.09
Now we before we go on to that,
00:14:58.12\00:14:59.96
you brought a video
clip and I want to see
00:14:59.99\00:15:01.95
this video clip
because it's gonna be proof
00:15:01.98\00:15:04.43
that you're
actually there. Oh, yes.
00:15:04.46\00:15:06.77
And that I tried
to do something new.
00:15:06.80\00:15:08.94
I've never done this before.
00:15:08.97\00:15:10.13
Okay, let's see if we
can see this video clip.
00:15:10.16\00:15:11.88
So, yes.
00:15:11.91\00:15:13.01
Describe what we're seeing here.
00:15:15.30\00:15:16.72
Well, these
ladies are pounding yams,
00:15:16.75\00:15:18.93
it's a white yam.
00:15:18.96\00:15:20.66
And I came along we had
just eaten at a restaurant
00:15:20.69\00:15:23.64
and I wanted to say,
you know, I enjoyed the food
00:15:23.67\00:15:28.43
and they were
laughing and I heard pounding
00:15:28.46\00:15:32.05
and I heard chopping noises,
00:15:32.08\00:15:34.22
so I just stuck my
head into wave hello
00:15:34.25\00:15:36.52
and they invited
me to give it a trial.
00:15:36.55\00:15:38.28
And that is hard
work, believe me.
00:15:38.31\00:15:40.83
Well, Nancy, I'm very impressed.
00:15:40.86\00:15:42.78
You look like you're natural.
00:15:42.81\00:15:44.53
Well, it's
actually quite humiliating
00:15:44.56\00:15:46.42
because I thought I
was stronger than that.
00:15:46.45\00:15:49.02
You know, that's hard work
to get the meal on the table.
00:15:49.05\00:15:50.99
Yes, it is.
00:15:51.02\00:15:52.05
So they have plans
to start this school.
00:15:52.08\00:15:54.94
How they're going to do it?
00:15:54.97\00:15:56.10
Well, this is an
interesting thing
00:15:56.13\00:15:57.85
and it just
shows how God is always
00:15:57.88\00:16:00.21
behind the scenes and at work.
00:16:00.24\00:16:02.45
Now there is a
village there and the chief--
00:16:02.48\00:16:06.54
And his councilmen had
been wondering a long time--
00:16:06.57\00:16:09.59
for a long time,
00:16:09.62\00:16:10.73
how can they make thing
safe over their children?
00:16:10.76\00:16:13.29
How can they get a school closer
00:16:13.32\00:16:16.19
so that their children
wouldn't have to walk on
00:16:16.22\00:16:18.17
the busy highway to school?
00:16:18.20\00:16:20.05
There is no school bus.
00:16:20.08\00:16:21.90
Most of the people in
this village don't have cars
00:16:21.93\00:16:24.63
and so there is little choice,
00:16:24.66\00:16:26.70
but for the children to walk
on this extremely busy road,
00:16:26.73\00:16:29.68
I mean they have to
walk on the very edge
00:16:29.71\00:16:32.21
and share the
road with, you know,
00:16:32.24\00:16:35.42
cross country trucks
and motorcycles and so on.
00:16:35.45\00:16:38.88
Their parents are all farmers
00:16:38.91\00:16:41.28
and so they're working
on their crops all day.
00:16:41.31\00:16:44.13
So there is this
worry constantly about them.
00:16:44.16\00:16:48.04
So the chief one
day had a thought
00:16:48.07\00:16:52.00
and he ran up by his
council members and said,
00:16:52.03\00:16:54.15
"You know, I have property.
00:16:54.18\00:16:56.71
I would be willing
to donate some of it,
00:16:56.74\00:16:58.55
if we could get someone
to put a school on there.
00:16:58.58\00:17:01.02
But who are we going to find."
00:17:01.05\00:17:03.43
And this is part of
course that no one knew
00:17:03.46\00:17:05.53
or at least the
chief didn't know
00:17:05.56\00:17:07.33
and that is that
the church officials
00:17:07.36\00:17:10.36
were wondering where
in Benin they would put
00:17:10.39\00:17:12.89
their first
school and of course,
00:17:12.92\00:17:14.51
that was the property
that the chief had been
00:17:14.54\00:17:18.35
willing to gift to them.
00:17:18.38\00:17:19.94
Beautiful property.
00:17:19.97\00:17:21.11
And they have already
started work on it in faith.
00:17:21.14\00:17:24.81
Some of the
foundations have been built.
00:17:24.84\00:17:27.99
The chief has a real
desire that this church have
00:17:28.02\00:17:31.24
or the school have
electricity because he says,
00:17:31.27\00:17:34.79
"We wanted to be a
light in the darkness."
00:17:34.82\00:17:36.78
Oh, isn't that nice?
00:17:36.81\00:17:37.87
Now he is thinking of
it as being a literal right
00:17:37.90\00:17:40.66
and they want to have classes
for children during the day
00:17:40.69\00:17:43.58
and at night then they
want to have classes for adults
00:17:43.61\00:17:46.10
for literacy programs.
00:17:46.13\00:17:48.82
Right, and of
course, for the church
00:17:48.85\00:17:50.76
it's gonna be a light as well.
00:17:50.79\00:17:52.25
It's going to be a
light also for the church
00:17:52.28\00:17:54.58
and part of the
Thirteenth Sabbath Offering
00:17:54.61\00:17:57.93
in first quarter of
2014 is going to help
00:17:57.96\00:18:01.12
support and fund this school.
00:18:01.15\00:18:03.12
Wonderful.
00:18:03.15\00:18:04.24
Now Adventists education
is all through the world,
00:18:04.27\00:18:09.87
but this is the first school
that would be built in Benin.
00:18:09.90\00:18:12.03
The first school that that
anyone has any recollection of
00:18:12.06\00:18:15.38
and I didn't find any record
00:18:15.41\00:18:17.18
that there had been an
Adventists school there.
00:18:17.21\00:18:19.18
Yeah, and this is in an area
00:18:19.21\00:18:21.31
where Christianity is
not the dominant religion.
00:18:21.34\00:18:23.44
That's true.
00:18:23.47\00:18:24.77
And it is not the dominant
religion and yet they know
00:18:24.80\00:18:27.50
that this will be an
Adventists Christian school,
00:18:27.53\00:18:30.14
they know that there
will be Adventists teachers
00:18:30.17\00:18:32.26
and they are
eager to welcome them.
00:18:32.29\00:18:34.83
Fantastic.
00:18:34.86\00:18:35.89
Nancy, thanks for
sharing with us. Thank you.
00:18:35.92\00:18:39.20
What a tremendous
opportunity to provide education
00:18:39.23\00:18:42.53
for the people in
the city in Benin.
00:18:42.56\00:18:45.89
Please, pray
for this initiative.
00:18:45.92\00:18:47.48
And if you want to find
out more about this project
00:18:47.51\00:18:49.56
as it continues on,
there will be reports
00:18:49.59\00:18:52.11
on our website and you can find
that at adventistmission.org,
00:18:52.14\00:18:55.79
easy to remember,
adventistmission.org.
00:18:55.82\00:18:59.13
(Speaking in foreign language)
00:19:29.86\00:19:33.44
In the country of China,
the situation of the lepers
00:19:33.47\00:19:36.75
has become a great tragedy.
00:19:36.78\00:19:41.31
There are 600 colonies
and more than 250,000 lepers.
00:19:41.34\00:19:46.64
(Speaking in foreign language)
00:20:05.47\00:20:09.69
The first time I saw the lepers
and I looked upon their faces,
00:20:09.72\00:20:14.09
I felt a great
pain inside my heart,
00:20:14.12\00:20:17.79
but I felt called to serve them
00:20:17.82\00:20:19.86
because they are the
sons and daughters of God.
00:20:19.89\00:20:22.75
These people were
abandoned by society
00:20:40.87\00:20:43.77
and they feel
that they don't belong.
00:20:43.80\00:20:46.19
Our goal is to
help them feel special
00:20:46.22\00:20:48.74
that they are loved, but
we also want them to know
00:20:48.77\00:20:52.01
that Jesus made the
ultimate sacrifice for them
00:20:52.04\00:20:55.45
that they are redeemed and
there is a kingdom for them.
00:20:55.48\00:20:58.56
I went to China in 2006
00:21:12.35\00:21:15.37
and saw the
situation with the lepers
00:21:15.40\00:21:18.31
and found out
that not one Adventist
00:21:18.34\00:21:21.09
was working to help them.
00:21:21.12\00:21:23.47
I wanted to do
something to help.
00:21:23.50\00:21:25.93
We are involved with 18 projects
00:21:52.24\00:21:55.73
and we have more
than 70 volunteers.
00:21:55.76\00:22:01.09
We live among the
people into colony,
00:22:01.12\00:22:03.31
we eat with them, we serve them.
00:22:03.34\00:22:05.40
(Speaking in foreign language)
00:22:09.13\00:22:11.96
Jesus Christ served the people.
00:22:11.99\00:22:14.61
He provided for their needs.
00:22:14.64\00:22:16.95
That is what we
are trying to do here.
00:22:16.98\00:22:19.65
We want to help these people
and to provide for their needs,
00:22:19.68\00:22:23.29
just like, Jesus did.
00:22:23.32\00:22:27.03
So far, 327 lepers
have been baptized.
00:22:27.06\00:22:31.75
My goal is to
train these new converts
00:22:35.00\00:22:37.85
to serve and help other lepers.
00:22:37.88\00:22:40.28
The first time we touched
the wounds of the lepers,
00:23:08.58\00:23:11.93
it helps them to feel
that someone cares about them.
00:23:11.96\00:23:15.11
Through this, we are showing
the love of Jesus to them.
00:23:15.14\00:23:18.56
We are earning their trust.
00:23:18.59\00:23:20.15
If you've enjoyed
these images of mission,
00:23:47.47\00:23:49.46
I'm sure you want a copy of the
new Adventist mission calendar.
00:23:49.49\00:23:53.85
This beautiful
calendar will keep the people
00:23:53.88\00:23:55.90
in places of mission in front
of you everyday of the year.
00:23:55.93\00:23:59.67
So if you live in North America,
00:23:59.70\00:24:00.97
please accept this
free gift as a small thanks
00:24:01.00\00:24:04.08
for your prayers and support.
00:24:04.11\00:24:06.38
Just call toll
free 1-800-648-5824
00:24:06.41\00:24:11.55
or visit our website
00:24:11.58\00:24:12.79
and ask for the Adventist
mission calendar or offer 305,
00:24:12.82\00:24:17.97
that's adventistmission.org
00:24:18.00\00:24:19.83
and ask for the
calendar or offer 305.
00:24:19.86\00:24:24.50
Well, I hope you've
enjoyed today's program.
00:24:24.53\00:24:26.54
Thank you again for
your continuing support
00:24:26.57\00:24:28.93
of Adventist mission
through your prayers,
00:24:28.96\00:24:31.65
personal
involvement and finances.
00:24:31.68\00:24:34.40
As we close, I hope you find
00:24:34.43\00:24:36.13
inspiration from
mission in this video.
00:24:36.16\00:24:39.84
For Adventist
mission, I'm Gary Krause
00:24:39.87\00:24:41.96
and I hope you can
join us next time on
00:24:41.99\00:24:44.17
"Global Mission Snapshots."
00:24:44.20\00:24:45.90
I want to be always with my God
00:25:20.20\00:25:28.20
And shine His light
to those who cannot see
00:25:28.23\00:25:35.11
In every moment
00:25:37.26\00:25:41.09
And every place
00:25:41.12\00:25:45.75
Almighty God
00:25:45.78\00:25:49.10
I long for your embrace
00:25:49.13\00:25:54.26
I want to be always with my God
00:25:54.29\00:26:00.92
And share His love to those
00:26:03.14\00:26:07.23
Who need the most
00:26:07.26\00:26:11.68
In every moment
00:26:11.71\00:26:15.34
And every place
00:26:15.37\00:26:20.06
Almighty God
00:26:20.09\00:26:23.55
I long for your embrace
00:26:23.58\00:26:30.37
Always with my God
00:26:30.40\00:26:38.34
We'll need His lovely hand
00:26:38.37\00:26:45.84
In every moment
00:26:45.87\00:26:49.66
And every place
00:26:49.69\00:26:54.40
Almighty God
00:26:54.43\00:26:57.54
I long for your embrace
00:26:57.57\00:27:05.03
Always with my God
00:27:05.06\00:27:10.79
We'll need His lovely hand
00:27:14.54\00:27:22.27
In every moment
00:27:22.30\00:27:26.50
And every place
00:27:26.53\00:27:31.87
Almighty God
00:27:31.90\00:27:35.33
I long for your embrace
00:27:35.36\00:27:41.61
Almighty God
00:27:46.50\00:27:50.42
I long for your embrace
00:27:50.45\00:27:58.27