On today's program
00:00:01.06\00:00:02.09
the booming city
of Lagos, Nigeria
00:00:02.12\00:00:04.47
with more than
21 million people,
00:00:04.50\00:00:07.19
a man named Friday
learns about the Sabbath,
00:00:07.22\00:00:09.91
and the director of
the Adventist churches
00:00:09.94\00:00:12.39
Mission to the
Cities' initiative
00:00:12.42\00:00:13.97
talks about
Mission to The Cities.
00:00:14.00\00:00:16.16
All that and much
more coming up next
00:00:16.19\00:00:18.49
on "Global Mission Snapshots."
00:00:18.52\00:00:20.31
Just before He
went up to heaven,
00:00:30.69\00:00:33.47
Jesus gave us a command.
00:00:33.50\00:00:36.42
He gave us a
mission. Jesus said, go.
00:00:36.45\00:00:41.54
Go unto all the world,
telling them of His love.
00:00:41.57\00:00:46.53
This is our mission.
This is our "Global Mission."
00:00:46.56\00:00:50.47
Hello, I'm Gary Krause
00:00:56.19\00:00:57.55
and welcome to
Global Mission Snapshots.
00:00:57.58\00:01:00.21
The
international mission landscape
00:01:00.24\00:01:02.07
is a complex mix of cultures,
00:01:02.10\00:01:04.71
peoples, beliefs,
places and stories.
00:01:04.74\00:01:08.18
Stories of people
answering God's call
00:01:08.21\00:01:10.89
to carry the good
news to every country,
00:01:10.92\00:01:13.85
language and people.
00:01:13.88\00:01:15.54
Today you can
visit any major city
00:01:15.57\00:01:17.61
and find people from
almost every country of globe.
00:01:17.64\00:01:22.33
On today's
program we'll visit Greece
00:01:22.36\00:01:24.29
to find out how a
Nigerian immigrant
00:01:24.32\00:01:26.83
discovered the Sabbath.
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We'll also talk with
video producer Earley Simon
00:01:28.36\00:01:31.04
about his trip to Lagos,
00:01:31.07\00:01:32.31
Nigeria one of the fastest
growing cities in Africa.
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And we'll talk to
Dr. Gerson Santos,
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director of the Global
Mission Urban Ministry Center
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who also heads up
the Adventist churches
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Mission to the
Cities' initiative.
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But first up, let's
meet a family in Serbia
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who dreamed of having a
church in their own hometown.
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When they were growing up,
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cousins Magdolna and
Eva heard the grown ups
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talk about their dream
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of having an
Adventist church in their town.
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The two grew up in
Bajmok, now part of Serbia,
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not far from the
Hungarian border.
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Auntie Helen's dream was would
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we ever have a church in
Bajmok where they all born.
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Magdolna moved to Australia
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but she never
forgot her hometown
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and her family's dream.
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During a recent
visit to Bajmok, Magdolna
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and Eva sat and sang together
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in their newly finished church
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and they remember that dream.
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They all dream that one day
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we will not come
together in somebody's kitchen
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but we will have a
little church to come together.
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Magdolna
remembers when her aunt died
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and left her some money.
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She and other relatives
asked Eva to not send money
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but to build a church.
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And so the dream
started to become a reality.
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Friends and family hitched in.
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Joseph, who was an
elder for a long time Subotica
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who Joseph Palcovich,
who passed away already.
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He worked tirelessly
on this church building.
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He was not well
himself but we never paid him,
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he would never
take any money for it.
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And other people
started helping too.
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Eva's husband
was also supportive
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even through he is not a member.
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He had his friends on lunch
and he turned to one of them
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who was a factory
manager who build furniture,
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"What about you?"
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And he said, "What about me?"
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He said, "These
people build the church,
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can't you donate something?"
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He said, "What can I do?"
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And then of course the
man turned to Eva and myself
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and we said, "Well,
we need lots of things
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but amongst the lot of things
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we need a
pulpit." "Oh, what's that?"
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Eva quickly ran
to get a broacher
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and showed him a
picture of a simple pulpit.
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"Oh, that's a pulpit."
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He said, "Oh,
something like that I can make."
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And we asked him how
much that would cost?
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He said, "Nothing,
that will be my donation."
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A man who had
nothing to do with our church
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but a friend of Eva's husband.
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All the pews in the
church were also built
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by Eva's husband's friend.
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And though he
charged for the materials
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he didn't' charged
anything for the labor.
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Magdolna and her family
haven't stopped dreaming.
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Now their dream is
that the church will grow.
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Joseph always said,
"If this church is small
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we will push out that back wall
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and we come
towards this back building.
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So we build a bigger church.
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May God help us that
church will be made bigger
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that there will be
no room in this church.
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Before Jesus come
that it will be too full
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that we have to make it bigger.
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This is the little
church that is here in Bajmok.
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Please pray for Eva
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and for the small
group of believers.
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And please pray
for other small groups
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who are dreaming of a
church in their town or village.
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And I feel very
happy that the dream
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of my ancestors come true.
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It's my pleasure to
welcome Pastor Gerson Santos.
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Gerson, thank you for
joining us. Thank you.
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You have a
passion for urban mission
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and you are the director
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of our newest
Global Mission center
00:06:02.81\00:06:05.23
for urban ministry.
00:06:05.26\00:06:07.78
Why is urban
mission so important?
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Why is it such a priority?
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I believe the
main reason is that
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because we have more
people live in the cities
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than any place
else in the world.
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I mean, the population,
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the urban
population is growing so fast.
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Another reason
is that large cities
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present a lot of challenges
but also ministry opportunities.
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So I guess these
are the main reason.
00:06:28.82\00:06:31.98
Now more than 100
years ago Adventist
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found a leader
prophet Ellen White,
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said that the church
had neglected the cities.
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Did we fixed that, did
we stop neglecting them?
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I don't think so, okay.
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Considering large cities
and when you see even though,
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even areas that
the church is growing
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when you compare the growth,
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the fast growing
rate of the urban areas
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with the church growth
we are not following that.
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So they still
have a lot to be done.
00:07:00.69\00:07:03.14
And I think if
she was alive today
00:07:03.17\00:07:06.30
she would give us
even stronger advice
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to focus the series and
start new ministries it says.
00:07:09.62\00:07:14.18
You know, our focus has
tended to be on rural areas,
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villages, small town
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because it's easier,
it's more comfortable,
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that's what we are
more familiar with.
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And do we need different
methodology for the cities
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or do we do the same
thing that we do in rural areas?
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I believe that the
principles are same.
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I mean, Sister
White just emphasize
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so many times the
method that will bring
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to success is
following Jesus method.
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I really don't think
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its different
working in countryside
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or in an urban area if
we follow the principles.
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Of course we have to apply
to different settings. Right.
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Can you give me some
examples of Adventists
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who are involved
in urban mission?
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Well, I could give you
so many. Let me take one.
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I, not long ago, a
couple of years ago
00:08:03.75\00:08:06.66
I met Gabriel and Miguel.
00:08:06.69\00:08:10.21
These two young men
they formed a small group,
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the group grew a little bit more
00:08:12.51\00:08:14.13
but they start
with 12-15 young people
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and they decide to make
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a difference in a poor
area of Orlando, Florida.
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Orlando is well knows
as a you know, theme parks,
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people coming from all over
the world to visit the city.
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But there are some
areas that are dangerous
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and some how neglected.
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And they focus on this
specific area of South Orlando
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that there are so many
needs in the community.
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And they-- to
give you an example
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there are
several hotel buildings
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that they have been converted
into condominium apartments.
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And then you'll face a whole
family living in a small room.
00:08:52.93\00:08:57.40
And sometimes single parents
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and sometimes even have a
grandparents living together
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with a couple of kids.
00:09:02.30\00:09:03.47
So they select
some of those buildings
00:09:03.50\00:09:05.88
and with this
team of missionaries
00:09:05.91\00:09:08.84
they visit those families
00:09:08.87\00:09:11.39
trying to have some
information about how many kids,
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you know, if they are of
school age things like that.
00:09:15.26\00:09:17.95
And then they start
providing assistance, tutoring,
00:09:17.98\00:09:22.50
after school
program, food is they need,
00:09:22.53\00:09:26.02
back to school parties
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they organized
couple of times already.
00:09:27.34\00:09:29.41
At the end of the summer
they put together a big party
00:09:29.44\00:09:32.53
in that condominium
and receive donations
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from people and
agencies in the community.
00:09:35.44\00:09:38.35
And brought like
hundreds of backpacks
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full of new school material
for the kids. Is that right?
00:09:41.02\00:09:43.70
So they have, they
catalog all the families,
00:09:43.73\00:09:46.88
number of children, school age
00:09:46.91\00:09:48.87
and they try as much as they can
00:09:48.90\00:09:50.31
to prepare those backpacks
00:09:50.34\00:09:51.59
for the kids to
go back to school.
00:09:51.62\00:09:53.33
I mean, this is just one example
of how, you know, we can be--
00:09:53.36\00:09:57.31
we can make a difference
in a community in need. Yeah.
00:09:57.34\00:10:00.93
Now just when we've
talked before you've mentioned
00:10:00.96\00:10:03.21
the importance of
small group ministry.
00:10:03.24\00:10:06.13
Can you give me an
example of where's that working.
00:10:06.16\00:10:08.73
Oh, there are so many place
I could give you an example.
00:10:08.76\00:10:11.29
Let me tell you one--
00:10:11.32\00:10:12.44
there is one specific
place that is amazing.
00:10:12.47\00:10:14.79
I mean, James is a businessman.
00:10:14.82\00:10:17.92
He's a CPA, has
an accountant firm
00:10:17.95\00:10:21.57
and his wife is a
public school principal.
00:10:21.60\00:10:26.47
And they bought into
this small group ministry
00:10:26.50\00:10:30.08
long time ago,
they are really experts.
00:10:30.11\00:10:31.99
They train--they equip people
to do small group ministries.
00:10:32.02\00:10:36.62
And a couple of
years ago they developed
00:10:36.65\00:10:38.80
a strong small group ministry
in their own local church.
00:10:38.83\00:10:42.41
But after while they recognize
00:10:42.44\00:10:45.03
that it would be more
effective to reach out people
00:10:45.06\00:10:47.78
that were already
attending the small group--
00:10:47.81\00:10:50.16
visitors attending small groups
00:10:50.19\00:10:51.54
and integrate
there in the church
00:10:51.57\00:10:52.87
if they plant their own church.
So this is what they did.
00:10:52.90\00:10:56.08
With two small groups of about
00:10:56.11\00:10:57.44
seven or eight church members
00:10:57.47\00:11:00.63
they start
implementing small groups
00:11:00.66\00:11:02.71
so the purpose of bringing
the guest to a new church plant.
00:11:02.74\00:11:06.23
And this is what they did.
00:11:06.26\00:11:07.45
This church is a
little bit over a year now
00:11:07.48\00:11:10.32
and they reach out so
many families already.
00:11:10.35\00:11:15.74
They have an attendance
that is probably four,
00:11:15.77\00:11:18.38
five times bigger
than the membership.
00:11:18.41\00:11:20.42
They're being able to
bring new people for the church
00:11:20.45\00:11:23.89
and they are very
focused and empowered
00:11:23.92\00:11:28.83
and equip people to become
leaders in their own community
00:11:28.86\00:11:31.90
through small groups.
This is just one example.
00:11:31.93\00:11:35.21
James and his wife,
they are doing an amazing
00:11:35.24\00:11:38.20
work to the small
group ministries. Fantastic.
00:11:38.23\00:11:41.03
Now, Gerson, you
are the secretary
00:11:41.06\00:11:43.33
for the Greater
New York Conference,
00:11:43.36\00:11:45.31
you direct this center
00:11:45.34\00:11:47.02
but you also find time
for personal involvement.
00:11:47.05\00:11:50.42
Why is that so important?
00:11:50.45\00:11:51.87
Well, I really,
this is my real call.
00:11:51.90\00:11:53.99
I mean, I am doing
some work for the church
00:11:54.02\00:11:56.56
because I've
been hired to do that.
00:11:56.59\00:11:58.99
But my personal call is
first of all being disciple
00:11:59.02\00:12:03.46
and also I--I also
believe that God called me
00:12:03.49\00:12:07.09
for a special ministry
to helping others to find
00:12:07.12\00:12:10.30
their function in
within the church,
00:12:10.33\00:12:13.95
in Jesus' body as
part of the family of God.
00:12:13.98\00:12:18.31
And so this is what
I really enjoy doing.
00:12:18.34\00:12:20.93
So sometimes my assignment
coincides with my call
00:12:20.96\00:12:26.26
and this is when we
have real fun in ministry.
00:12:26.29\00:12:29.54
But I would say my
real call is to help others
00:12:29.57\00:12:32.50
to know Jesus
better and to be equip
00:12:32.53\00:12:35.80
to help others also. Fantastic.
00:12:35.83\00:12:37.96
Gerson, thanks so
much for joining us.
00:12:37.99\00:12:39.66
You're very welcome.
00:12:39.69\00:12:40.78
And viewers at home,
00:12:40.81\00:12:42.11
please pray for
Mission to the Cities,
00:12:42.14\00:12:44.59
the greater urban areas
that Jesus loves so much.
00:12:44.62\00:12:47.33
To find out more information
go to missiontothecitiess.org,
00:12:47.36\00:12:51.52
missiontothecitiess.org.
00:12:51.55\00:12:53.40
Earley Simon is a video producer
00:13:38.69\00:13:41.06
with the office
of Adventist Mission
00:13:41.09\00:13:42.93
and also the
producer of this program,
00:13:42.96\00:13:45.42
Global Mission Snapshots.
00:13:45.45\00:13:47.23
Earley, thanks for joining us
00:13:47.26\00:13:49.24
for coming from behind
the camera to share with us.
00:13:49.27\00:13:52.96
You are a video producer,
00:13:52.99\00:13:57.10
you work on things such as
the Adventist Mission DVDs.
00:13:57.13\00:13:59.92
So you are
constantly gathering stories.
00:13:59.95\00:14:02.83
How does it affect you to,
to actually witness first hand
00:14:02.86\00:14:06.49
various mission activities?
00:14:06.52\00:14:08.87
It's hard to admit
but when I join the office
00:14:08.90\00:14:11.28
of Adventist
Mission about a year ago
00:14:11.31\00:14:12.90
I didn't know
much about mission.
00:14:12.93\00:14:14.53
And through threes
trips I've learned so much
00:14:14.56\00:14:17.15
and I am so
impress with the work.
00:14:17.18\00:14:19.48
It's defiantly something
anybody would want to support
00:14:19.51\00:14:21.55
if they get involve with it,
00:14:21.58\00:14:22.69
if they find out
what the church is doing
00:14:22.72\00:14:24.51
in this different
regions of the world.
00:14:24.54\00:14:26.37
Good. I am glad to hear that.
00:14:26.40\00:14:27.60
Now you recently
went to West Africa
00:14:27.63\00:14:30.37
and to the country of
Senegal to the capital Dakar.
00:14:30.40\00:14:34.27
What did you, what
did you go to visit there?
00:14:34.30\00:14:37.24
We went there as part of the,
00:14:37.27\00:14:38.44
what we call the 13th
Sabbath offering trips.
00:14:38.47\00:14:40.33
We go there to
visit some of the projects
00:14:40.36\00:14:42.59
that the church
will be sponsoring
00:14:42.62\00:14:44.57
throughout the Pacific water.
00:14:44.60\00:14:46.30
And when we
visited there was a school,
00:14:46.33\00:14:49.06
there's a school there
that's receiving funding
00:14:49.09\00:14:50.78
from the 13th Sabbath offering.
00:14:50.81\00:14:52.74
And this is not
an ordinary school
00:14:52.77\00:14:54.22
it's a very special school.
00:14:54.25\00:14:55.28
It's a center of Dakar,
00:14:55.31\00:14:56.95
it appeals to the
wealthy of that area
00:14:56.98\00:14:59.58
and to other people as well.
00:14:59.61\00:15:00.88
But it was
impressive to see that
00:15:00.91\00:15:02.32
many of the local
businessman and the people there
00:15:02.35\00:15:05.62
that are high in government,
00:15:05.65\00:15:06.97
they bring their
kids to this school.
00:15:07.00\00:15:09.34
The area is not
a Christian area,
00:15:09.37\00:15:11.43
there are other
religions there in this place.
00:15:11.46\00:15:14.59
And but even so a lot
of these are the people
00:15:14.62\00:15:17.29
value Adventist education there
00:15:17.32\00:15:18.99
because of the high morals,
they way they teach the kids.
00:15:19.02\00:15:21.91
It's a smaller school
00:15:21.94\00:15:23.23
so there's a lot of personal
contact with each student.
00:15:23.26\00:15:26.60
And so we went to
visit this one project.
00:15:26.63\00:15:28.44
They have a primary
school, kindergarten
00:15:28.47\00:15:30.96
and they are
beginning a secondary school.
00:15:30.99\00:15:32.47
And with the offering
they will expand the school
00:15:32.50\00:15:34.50
so that they can
have, teach more classes.
00:15:34.53\00:15:37.85
For those viewers who don't know
00:15:37.88\00:15:39.13
when you talk about
13th Sabbath offering,
00:15:39.16\00:15:41.04
what is this?
00:15:41.07\00:15:42.44
The 13th Sabbath
offering is an offering
00:15:42.47\00:15:45.31
that's taking every quarter
at the last Sabbath of the month
00:15:45.34\00:15:50.37
and this offer goes to
help projects like schools,
00:15:50.40\00:15:53.23
churches, health institutions,
radio stations, TV stations
00:15:53.26\00:15:58.15
it's probably had
sponsored some in the past.
00:15:58.18\00:16:00.59
In a number of
different projects
00:16:00.62\00:16:01.69
they are very well selected,
carefully selected by the church
00:16:01.72\00:16:04.45
to receive these special,
these are extraordinary funds.
00:16:04.48\00:16:08.23
And so how come
people give to that offering?
00:16:08.26\00:16:10.28
It's very easy, if you attend
00:16:10.31\00:16:11.96
the Seventh-day Adventist church
00:16:11.99\00:16:13.11
you can just pick
up one of the envelops
00:16:13.14\00:16:16.11
and mark that
for the 13th Sabbath
00:16:16.14\00:16:18.01
or you can go
online, which is even easier.
00:16:18.04\00:16:20.24
That's' the way
I'd prefer to do it.
00:16:20.27\00:16:22.07
You can do it anytime.
00:16:22.10\00:16:23.15
You don't have to wait
until the 13th Sabbath.
00:16:23.18\00:16:25.62
And so you get at
adventistmission.org.
00:16:25.65\00:16:27.22
adventistmission.org.
00:16:27.25\00:16:28.28
And there is a
place to donate, yeah.
00:16:28.31\00:16:29.93
And this is a place
for anybody to sponsor
00:16:29.96\00:16:32.52
these missionary projects
00:16:32.55\00:16:33.58
for people to have
education, to have health
00:16:33.61\00:16:36.74
but also to learn about Christ.
00:16:36.77\00:16:39.44
So, Earley, in
this school in Dakar
00:16:39.47\00:16:41.58
did you get to meet any
of the students or staff?
00:16:41.61\00:16:43.98
Oh, I got to meet a lot of
very interesting children there.
00:16:44.01\00:16:47.82
And I go to meet a lot
of the leaders as well.
00:16:47.85\00:16:49.68
Let me tell you
a couple of stories
00:16:49.71\00:16:50.74
because there's
actually a good range of stories
00:16:50.77\00:16:52.78
that we gathered there.
00:16:52.81\00:16:54.05
There is one girl
that didn't have--
00:16:54.08\00:16:56.99
didn't yet go to
the Adventist school,
00:16:57.02\00:16:59.97
she was
attending a public school.
00:17:00.00\00:17:01.65
But she was an Adventist
and she lived out her faith.
00:17:01.68\00:17:03.97
It was very interesting
because she would mingle
00:17:04.00\00:17:06.43
with her classmates
and make friends with them.
00:17:06.46\00:17:08.97
And what she did is this
one day she came to school,
00:17:09.00\00:17:11.50
they had their break.
00:17:11.53\00:17:12.56
That's their
favorite time, they went out,
00:17:12.59\00:17:13.77
they played, they ran around
00:17:13.80\00:17:15.81
and then they had a
little a few minutes
00:17:15.84\00:17:17.11
to get their lunch there
00:17:17.14\00:17:18.99
you know, their meal before
they went back to classes.
00:17:19.02\00:17:21.57
And as they played
and she noticed that
00:17:21.60\00:17:23.04
one of her friend was
sitting in the corner.
00:17:23.07\00:17:24.98
She wasn't really
engaging everyone that day.
00:17:25.01\00:17:28.06
And after they played,
00:17:28.09\00:17:29.23
she approached him and she said,
00:17:29.26\00:17:30.29
hey, why are you
sitting there all by yourself?
00:17:30.32\00:17:32.74
And he said, oh, I
forgot my lunch at home
00:17:32.77\00:17:35.24
and I am really sad about that.
00:17:35.27\00:17:36.30
He was a stronger
guy so you knew that
00:17:36.33\00:17:38.06
we really wanted to you
know, have his meal that day.
00:17:38.09\00:17:41.47
She said, well,
I didn't bring much
00:17:41.50\00:17:42.75
but I'll share that with you.
00:17:42.78\00:17:44.34
So she pulled out just a piece
of bread out of her lunch bag
00:17:44.37\00:17:47.33
and she shared that
with his-- with her friend.
00:17:47.36\00:17:50.24
He was extremely
happy about that.
00:17:50.27\00:17:52.37
And that goes to show,
you know, the Adventist kids
00:17:52.40\00:17:54.31
they educated well,
form emphasis. They are nice.
00:17:54.34\00:17:58.31
they like to give
and they live to mingle
00:17:58.34\00:18:00.04
and make friends in that way.
00:18:00.07\00:18:01.58
The second
story that I saw there
00:18:01.61\00:18:03.34
that's worth mentioning.
00:18:03.37\00:18:04.98
This student actually found a
place in the Adventist school.
00:18:05.01\00:18:09.15
He started attending that school
00:18:09.18\00:18:11.46
after trying many other
schools around the area.
00:18:11.49\00:18:14.27
He can't walk, he was
paralyzed from the waist down.
00:18:14.30\00:18:17.51
And when he
attended different schools
00:18:17.54\00:18:19.70
either they won't accept
him or the kids won't make him,
00:18:19.73\00:18:22.87
won't make friends with him.
00:18:22.90\00:18:24.83
In some even the teachers
didn't want him in the class
00:18:24.86\00:18:27.78
because they
can't take him around,
00:18:27.81\00:18:29.69
it was difficult for
them to care for him.
00:18:29.72\00:18:33.13
His parents of course you know,
00:18:33.16\00:18:34.54
they wanted to
find him a good place
00:18:34.57\00:18:35.89
and they tried hard
going from school to school
00:18:35.92\00:18:38.55
until they finally came
to the Adventist school.
00:18:38.58\00:18:40.79
And they treated him very well.
00:18:40.82\00:18:42.76
I actually got there when they
are about to have their break
00:18:42.79\00:18:45.72
and they--I saw the
kids taking their friend
00:18:45.75\00:18:48.05
in a wheelchair outside.
00:18:48.08\00:18:49.60
They went to play
soccer in the court
00:18:49.63\00:18:51.60
and what they did is
because he couldn't run around
00:18:51.63\00:18:53.63
they put him in the goal.
So he came out in his chair.
00:18:53.66\00:18:55.63
He was playing goalie.
00:18:55.66\00:18:56.69
It's one of those short goals
and he was doing really well.
00:18:56.72\00:18:59.57
You could see that
he liked the school.
00:18:59.60\00:19:01.46
And I got to talk to
him and one of the things
00:19:01.49\00:19:03.27
that he said is he
really likes the school.
00:19:03.30\00:19:05.91
He found that as home he
wouldn't want to leave that
00:19:05.94\00:19:09.67
which points back to the
school growing, you know.
00:19:09.70\00:19:12.10
Having secondary
education helps the kids
00:19:12.13\00:19:14.63
where in those later classes
00:19:14.66\00:19:16.30
than now won't
have a place to go
00:19:16.33\00:19:17.80
unless the school
offers a higher grade. Yeah.
00:19:17.83\00:19:21.00
But, I don't know
how much time we have.
00:19:21.03\00:19:22.46
Go ahead. Let me
share one different story.
00:19:22.49\00:19:25.15
The first story you know,
she was mingling making friends.
00:19:25.18\00:19:27.40
The second story,
Adventist kids were meeting
00:19:27.43\00:19:30.11
the needs of the people
like the boy in the wheelchair.
00:19:30.14\00:19:33.02
And the third
story that I thought
00:19:33.05\00:19:34.66
was very impressive
it's about this one man.
00:19:34.69\00:19:36.82
He went to several churches,
00:19:36.85\00:19:38.75
different
churches, denominations
00:19:38.78\00:19:40.03
and in all those churches
00:19:40.06\00:19:41.69
people would ask
him for his money
00:19:41.72\00:19:43.47
because he was a very
wealthy businessman in the area.
00:19:43.50\00:19:46.34
And one day he
visited and Adventist church
00:19:46.37\00:19:47.83
and all he was
looking for is prayer
00:19:47.86\00:19:49.35
and advice for his life.
00:19:49.38\00:19:51.46
He got that there
and at the end he asked,
00:19:51.49\00:19:54.26
"Is there anything
I need to give you?"
00:19:54.29\00:19:55.32
They said, "No, just
come back, join our service."
00:19:55.35\00:19:57.47
And he was so
impressed with that,
00:19:57.50\00:19:58.53
you know, that people
weren't after his money.
00:19:58.56\00:20:01.45
He started
coming to that church,
00:20:01.48\00:20:03.48
he got baptized now
he's Seventh-day Adventist.
00:20:03.51\00:20:05.88
That was one of the
very interesting stories.
00:20:05.91\00:20:08.05
You meet people's
needs, you can make friends,
00:20:08.08\00:20:10.08
you meet their needs,
you win their confidence,
00:20:10.11\00:20:12.84
they become, you know, follower
of Christ. Christ method.
00:20:12.87\00:20:15.38
The church is doing that
in West Africa. Fantastic.
00:20:15.41\00:20:18.05
Earley, thank you so much
00:20:18.08\00:20:19.11
for sharing with
us today. My pleasure.
00:20:19.14\00:20:22.36
Education is just one
aspect of Adventist mission work
00:20:22.39\00:20:25.59
around the world,
add to that medical work,
00:20:25.62\00:20:28.58
church planting,
community services,
00:20:28.61\00:20:31.41
media, the list goes on.
00:20:31.44\00:20:32.78
And if you want to find out
more about Adventist mission
00:20:32.81\00:20:35.48
at any time just
visit our website
00:20:35.51\00:20:37.15
at adventistmission.org.
00:20:37.18\00:20:39.12
There you'll find
stories, pictures,
00:20:39.15\00:20:41.04
videos, missionary blogs,
00:20:41.07\00:20:42.92
everything you need
to know about mission.
00:20:42.95\00:20:44.78
This is Friday Michael
00:20:50.05\00:20:51.99
and here is his
story about the Sabbath.
00:20:52.02\00:20:55.71
Friday grew up in a
Christian home in Nigeria.
00:20:55.74\00:20:58.97
When he finished
school he moved to Greece
00:20:59.00\00:21:00.90
in search of
better opportunities.
00:21:00.93\00:21:03.29
As he arrived he joined
00:21:03.32\00:21:04.66
a Sunday worshipping
church in the city of Athens.
00:21:04.69\00:21:06.93
However, Friday did
not attend services often.
00:21:06.96\00:21:10.48
He was more
concern with money making
00:21:10.51\00:21:12.17
and the church
seemed like a setback.
00:21:12.20\00:21:15.01
Right away things
started to go financially well
00:21:15.04\00:21:17.40
but Friday had no peace.
00:21:17.43\00:21:19.73
He felt something
was missing in his life.
00:21:19.76\00:21:23.10
So at the
beginning of a New Year
00:21:23.13\00:21:24.60
he made a resolution.
00:21:24.63\00:21:26.48
He pledged to
read the Bible more
00:21:26.51\00:21:28.31
and get to know God intimately.
00:21:28.34\00:21:30.99
One day as he was
reading the Book of Exodus
00:21:31.02\00:21:33.21
he was surprised
with God's commandments
00:21:33.24\00:21:35.04
in regards to the Sabbath.
00:21:35.07\00:21:37.93
So he brought up the issue
to his baptismal class teacher.
00:21:37.96\00:21:41.44
Although his class teacher
could not show from the Bible
00:21:41.47\00:21:44.63
he was adamant
that the God had changed
00:21:44.66\00:21:46.23
the seventh-day
Sabbath to Sunday.
00:21:46.26\00:21:50.32
He said that Saturday
worship was only for the Jews.
00:21:50.35\00:21:54.17
Friday struggled
with this in his head
00:21:54.20\00:21:56.38
when suddenly a strange man
in a bus stop approached him
00:21:56.41\00:21:59.39
and asked him,
"Are you a Christian?"
00:21:59.42\00:22:02.54
Friday was startled
by the direct question
00:22:02.57\00:22:04.54
and told the stranger that
he was a confused Christian.
00:22:04.57\00:22:08.18
Then the man said, "You know,
people who worship on Sunday
00:22:08.21\00:22:12.15
are confused about
God's express requirements."
00:22:12.18\00:22:15.74
The man left as
quickly as he came.
00:22:15.77\00:22:18.67
Friday was awestruck
with the stranger's comment.
00:22:18.70\00:22:21.82
Now he was
determined to find answers.
00:22:21.85\00:22:24.25
So he went to a
Sunday church pastor.
00:22:24.28\00:22:28.31
I now brought this issue to him
00:22:28.34\00:22:30.45
and I said, I am having
problem considering the Sabbath.
00:22:30.48\00:22:33.90
Which day is the Sabbath
00:22:33.93\00:22:35.08
because from what I am reading
00:22:35.11\00:22:36.90
in the Bible is seventh day,
00:22:36.93\00:22:39.55
I know its
Saturday. He now said, yes.
00:22:39.58\00:22:43.50
He said you are correct.
00:22:43.53\00:22:46.74
He said, when I
was a young Christian
00:22:46.77\00:22:48.82
I also found this out. So
why do we worship on Sunday?
00:22:48.85\00:22:53.17
He said, look at the world,
everybody worships on Sunday.
00:22:53.20\00:22:59.21
It doesn't matter
which day you worship
00:22:59.24\00:23:01.79
whether Friday,
Saturday, Sunday,
00:23:01.82\00:23:03.99
Monday, Tuesday,
any day it's okay.
00:23:04.02\00:23:09.01
Friday left the pastor's office
00:23:09.04\00:23:10.85
reluctant to
conform to the crowd.
00:23:10.88\00:23:13.35
A verse found in Ezekiel
20:20 kept coming to his mind,
00:23:13.38\00:23:17.59
"And keep my Sabbath holy
00:23:17.62\00:23:19.12
that they may be a
sign between you and Me."
00:23:19.15\00:23:23.45
God were showing him light
00:23:23.48\00:23:25.49
and unlike his previous pastor
00:23:25.52\00:23:27.69
Friday wanted to
walk in this new light.
00:23:27.72\00:23:31.16
So as he headed
home he saw the bookshop
00:23:31.19\00:23:33.60
where he purchased
his Bible, so he went in.
00:23:33.63\00:23:37.16
The owner of the
bookshop was very friendly.
00:23:37.19\00:23:39.53
He listened to
Friday's questions
00:23:39.56\00:23:41.09
and advised him to visit
00:23:41.12\00:23:42.27
a Seventy-day
Adventist church nearby.
00:23:42.30\00:23:45.12
The man quickly pulled up a map
00:23:45.15\00:23:46.82
and pointed Friday to a Greek
Seventh-day Adventist church.
00:23:46.85\00:23:50.58
That Saturday Friday got ready
00:23:50.61\00:23:52.92
and visited the
Greek Adventist church.
00:23:52.95\00:23:55.76
He felt peace in his heart
00:23:55.79\00:23:57.54
and at the end he was told that
00:23:57.57\00:23:58.68
there was an international
congregation as well.
00:23:58.71\00:24:01.64
He was thrilled.
00:24:01.67\00:24:03.02
He could now learn the Bible
and worship in his own language.
00:24:03.05\00:24:07.74
Friday started attending
the international church
00:24:07.77\00:24:10.22
and began taking Bible studies.
00:24:10.25\00:24:12.72
He found many
answers from the word of God.
00:24:12.75\00:24:15.70
His religious life
has never been stronger.
00:24:15.73\00:24:19.10
Today he reads the Bible
more, understands it better
00:24:19.13\00:24:22.27
and he's defiantly
more intimate with God.
00:24:22.30\00:24:26.27
This Sabbath,
Friday thanks the world
00:24:26.30\00:24:28.78
Seventh-day Adventist church.
00:24:28.81\00:24:30.93
It is your faithful support
00:24:30.96\00:24:32.88
that sponsored an international
congregation in Athens.
00:24:32.91\00:24:36.63
Your prayers have encouraged men
00:24:36.66\00:24:38.71
and women to work with
the immigrants in this city
00:24:38.74\00:24:41.45
and the results are eternal.
00:24:41.48\00:24:43.77
We like to call that
video, Friday's Sabbath.
00:25:03.82\00:25:06.57
What a wonderful story.
00:25:06.60\00:25:08.42
You know, you often hear us
00:25:08.45\00:25:09.54
talking about Global Mission
pioneers on this program.
00:25:09.57\00:25:13.05
Pioneers are church planters
who work in their own culture
00:25:13.08\00:25:16.54
to plant new groups of believers
00:25:16.57\00:25:18.46
in unentered
areas or people groups.
00:25:18.49\00:25:21.21
If you are interested in meeting
some Global Mission pioneers
00:25:21.24\00:25:23.78
and learning
more about their work,
00:25:23.81\00:25:25.82
we have a special offer.
00:25:25.85\00:25:27.59
It's a DVD full of
Global Mission Pioneer stories.
00:25:27.62\00:25:32.31
So if you live in North America,
00:25:32.34\00:25:33.65
please call our toll
free number 1-800-648-5824
00:25:33.68\00:25:39.45
or visit our website
at adventistmission.org
00:25:39.48\00:25:42.45
and just ask for the
Global Mission Pioneer DVD
00:25:42.48\00:25:46.35
or offer number 310.
00:25:46.38\00:25:49.32
Don't forget to clearly
state your name and address.
00:25:49.35\00:25:53.57
So on behalf of
Adventist missionaries,
00:25:53.60\00:25:55.54
pastors, teachers and
Global Mission pioneers
00:25:55.57\00:25:58.78
who are serving in
mission around the world
00:25:58.81\00:26:01.24
thank you, so much for
your continuing prayers
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and financial support.
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Until next
time, I am Gary Krause
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for Adventist
Mission. God bless.
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