Participants: Gary Krause (Host), Kleber Goncalves, May-Ellen Colón
Series Code: GMS
Program Code: GMS000056
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00:01 A young boy who eavesdropped
00:02 on his babysitters Bible studies, 00:05 a Brazilian Pastor reaching out to post moderns 00:08 and the Adventist Church touching lives in New York City 00:12 all that and much more coming up next, 00:14 on "Global Mission Snapshots." 00:27 Just before He went up to heaven, 00:29 Jesus gave us a command. 00:32 He gave us a mission. Jesus said go. 00:37 Go unto all the world, telling them of His love. 00:42 This is our mission. This is our Global Mission. 00:52 Hello, I'm Gary Krause 00:53 and welcome to Global Mission Snapshots. 00:56 Dr. Kleber Goncalves, director of Global Mission Center 00:59 for Secular and Postmodern Studies, 01:02 preach us what he practices. 01:05 Not only does he have his Ph.D in ministry to postmodern people 01:09 but this is the focus of the church 01:11 that he has planted and pastors in heart of Sao Paulo, Brazil. 01:15 We'll be talking with him today. 01:17 We'll also talk Dr. May-Ellen Colon 01:19 who cares for community services 01:22 for the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 01:25 But first stop, let's visit the city of New York 01:27 to learn more about what's been happening there 01:30 as part of Adventist Churches, 01:32 'Mission to the Cities' initiative. 01:50 As we draw closer to the end of each year, 01:53 we often reflect on recent events. 01:56 In 2013 some of the world's events made people smile 02:01 and laugh, all others caused too. 02:04 Within the Seventh-day Adventist Church 02:06 we are able to look back on our positive efforts 02:08 in New York City. 02:10 Between preaching and personalize ministry 02:12 NewYork is have the opportunity to see God's wonderful message. 02:17 Members, organizations and teams 02:20 work hard to impact this large city. 02:23 The One Year in Mission team is just one example 02:26 of those who spent months in New York, 02:28 contributing to the churches mission. 02:31 Coming together from all regions of the world 02:33 they planned unique events to unite in mission. 02:44 The cooking class was-- 02:46 an event maybe we just wanted to 02:48 use it actually used to get contact 02:50 with community people 02:51 at same time we wanted also to teach them health principles, 02:54 but more importantly we wanted to lead them to God. 02:58 If you think about Christ ministry 03:00 He always met people where they were. 03:02 He fed them first. He didn't try to preach them, 03:04 He didn't try to teach them anything. 03:06 He fed their need, or He supplied the need 03:09 that really helped Him 03:10 to preach them for the most part. 03:14 As a team we worked so hard to get everything ready. 03:18 Each one of us has a different roles. 03:21 We got to dress everyway Wednesday 03:23 but at the end of every Wednesday we are so happy 03:27 and we were so glad to see the reaction of the people 03:32 how they enjoy the class, the food, the fellowship, 03:35 and I think these classes are blessed. 03:39 From week to week it kept getting better 03:41 and so we're really thankful to God for that. 03:44 People in Harlan, they seemed like there are 03:47 so much interested about vegetarian food. 03:50 Whenever I introduced like, 03:52 okay, we have vegetarian cooking class 03:55 and this international chef are from India 03:58 and Mexico they were so much interested in that. 04:04 And that a woman who has been coming to our class 04:06 on a regular basis and say I'm heavy meat either. 04:08 She said I'm about to change my life. 04:10 My life is about to change. 04:13 She said from here and now I'm gonna change they way 04:15 that I do things because I've learned about new start 04:18 and I can't go back to what I was. 04:22 There was one lady, who was old, 04:24 we have a health lecture 04:25 and then she was suddenly interested 04:27 and so she started coming 04:29 and she was little scriptural in the beginning 04:31 but she was there every single time, 04:33 she was one of the once who didn't miss any night. 04:36 And I got to also make friends with her and talk to her. 04:39 It was better than I expected because of the countries 04:43 and the information the learning about the different counties, 04:47 it wasn't just vegetarian, 04:48 it was a vegetarian from all over the world. 04:52 At the end our goal was to introduce Jesus 04:55 to the new start and then at the end 04:58 all we had a trust in God. 05:00 We thought about how can we connect 05:01 this food activity to Christ. 05:04 The best part is we don't have to do something great, 05:08 we can do small little things and do it with all your heart 05:12 and God can bless that little, amazing. 05:23 This team of youth spent months 05:26 forming personal relationships with their neighbors 05:28 and finding ways to contribute to their community. 05:31 They have already gone back to their home countries 05:34 and or bringing a fresh perspective 05:36 on Mission to the Cities. 05:38 Compassion Day is just one of many events 05:41 they can replicate back home. 05:44 It's also what we can talk about 05:47 how to show Jesus loves 05:49 but we keep talking without much doing. 05:55 A group of young people 05:57 thousands and thousands of young people coming in. 06:00 We had little people, big people, 06:02 older people doing things, 06:04 that just sort of impacted New York in a dynamic way. 06:08 I think that we use the world compassion 06:09 that's way we think it's a box that we just place it there 06:11 and everything is compassionate. 06:13 I think compassion is like butter 06:15 you have your bread and then you spread 06:16 the compassion on out. 06:18 And everyone that came there from different places, 06:20 they ever bringing with them that compassion butter 06:22 and wherever they went 06:23 they were just messing it around. 06:25 It's living in way that shows 06:28 Jesus love in a real and practical way. 06:33 The air about it been at the park, 06:36 walking across the bridge 06:37 and then when we convened it was just-- 06:39 you could feel it was a-- 06:40 it was a different kind of spread around us 06:43 and it was really, really awesome. 06:45 People they like to be successful, 06:49 so as you pray with people 06:51 and the touch their needs almost of people they like it. 06:55 So when they knew that it is praying with people, 06:58 I knew that one is so nice for me and nice for them too. 07:02 I would like to take this compassion movement 07:05 and use it back home in little acts of kindness, 07:09 little acts of generosity, little acts of love, 07:12 that we can show people try 07:14 and implement for compassion moving back home, 07:16 and maybe we can march across Nelson Mandela Bridge. 07:23 It's not just an event, it's not a day, 07:25 it's not a weekend, its a lifestyle. 07:28 The whole idea of compassions something 07:30 that I can take back home 07:32 because its so easy to just been ask the people essentially, 07:35 stop and talk to someone, 07:37 take the time to give them the time of day, 07:40 help someone across the street, 07:41 take their groceries to the house, 07:42 just the small things. 07:44 So it's about living and locking compassion all the time. 07:48 This Christian youth as Adventist youth 07:50 being available to do such an activity on the Sabbath 07:54 where we become the sermon 07:55 that's what Compassion Weekend was all about. 08:06 In 2014 the Seventh-day Adventist Church plans 08:10 to branch out to various cities around the world. 08:14 We will focus on one city from each region of the world. 08:17 City such as Tokyo, London and Mumbai 08:20 are just a few plan for 2014. 08:24 One city in each region 08:25 is just the start of this church initiative. 08:28 Between now and 2015 one city in each union 08:31 will be chosen and beyond that one city in each conference. 08:35 By 2015 more than 650 of the world's major cities 08:39 will have an opportunity to know Jesus in a way 08:42 they may not have ever known Him before. 08:45 More than half of the world's population now lives in city. 08:48 So the urban areas are where we need to be. 08:52 These are urban areas are an important part 08:54 of the work Christ is called us to do. 08:58 As we move forward let us be encouraged to do 09:01 amazing things through Christ. 09:03 Please pray for Mission to the Cities 09:05 and thank you for supporting the mission 09:08 of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 09:18 My guest is pastor Kleber Goncalves 09:20 who is the director of the Global Mission Center 09:22 for Secular and Postmodern Studies 09:24 and he also pastors an Adventist Church 09:27 in downtown Sao Paulo. 09:29 Kleber, thanks so much for joining us. 09:30 My pleasure to be here. 09:32 Now you're originally from Brazil 09:33 but you came to the United State for sometime 09:36 and now you're back in Brazil. 09:37 What took you back to Sao Paulo? 09:39 Actually let me mention a bit what brought me here to the US. 09:44 I was pastoring Sao Paulo downtown, 09:46 close to downtown actually. 09:48 And I felt the needs to understand new ways 09:51 to reach a particular group of people in that city. 09:55 I was working in a church 09:58 with intellectual people involved, 10:01 with high class type of members. 10:04 And the lowest that we want to reach anyone. 10:06 So I said to myself I need to learn 10:09 then we decide it to come to the US or day before that. 10:13 And then we spend almost nine years at Andrews 10:17 but you know, very, very strong way go to-- 10:21 you're my son you go back and you plant a church. 10:25 Okay, so nine years at Andrews University 10:27 where you actually studied 10:28 how to read these sort of people. 10:29 Yeah. Okay. 10:31 I spent quite few years in there preparing. 10:34 I did my master degree and my doctor degree in there 10:37 and then with this dream to go back 10:40 and to plant this church in downtown Sao Paulo. 10:45 Now that takes a lot of planning, right? That's true. 10:49 So did you have a team, 10:50 you're working with how did you start? 10:52 Well, at the beginning there is spiritual experience with God. 10:55 I had no idea with whom to start, 10:58 just myself or my wife. 10:59 I remember the day we arrived 11:02 I just open the windows of the hotel room 11:04 we are staying at the time 11:05 and then I told her, honey, just have a look. 11:09 Where do we go? 11:11 And we're just praying to asking God 11:13 please send us the right type of people, 11:16 people who have passion 11:18 for those who have no idea, who are you? 11:21 And then I started from there. 11:23 I visit a few churches 11:25 and trying to find this type of people 11:27 and the Lord was just guiding them to us 11:30 and that's how we started. 11:31 So you look at of your hotel windows 11:33 to a large city of Sao Paulo city, 11:36 20 million people and you said where do we start? 11:40 So you start with a group of people 11:42 you pray them plant together, what were your first steps? 11:45 Well, at the beginning we were meeting 11:48 every single Sabbath afternoon 11:50 because all of us were attending our own church at that time. 11:53 And we picked one church to attend in the morning 11:55 because of our kids in the afternoon 11:58 we work together praying doing some vision casting with them 12:01 and during in that asking Lord how can we do this? 12:05 And we spent almost six months with no services just us, 12:09 60 people, 16 people at the beginning 12:12 and then after a month I told them you know 12:14 what's now you can invite someone who can help us. 12:17 And then we double then the most people 12:20 in when we were large we were about 12:22 55 people together as the core group for church. 12:26 This is about nine years ago. Nine years ago. 12:28 Yeah, now did you have a church building, 12:30 did you have a rented facility? No, we have to, have to rent. 12:33 At the beginning we rent a kind of convention center very small. 12:39 We spent almost three to four months 12:42 but the church grew so fast we couldn't continue. 12:46 Right now, we are in our fourth facilities 12:49 we have changed four times, 12:51 addresses and because of the growth. 12:55 So how many people can come in worship at one time and-- 12:59 Right now, we have rented as casino 13:03 at downtown Sao Paulo. 13:06 We remodeled the whole thing. Yes. 13:08 We've been therefore a little over four years. 13:10 We can sit close to 500 people in that particular place. 13:14 But we have multiple services on Sabbath. 13:17 Right now we're having four services 13:19 so we can have more people. 13:22 So you have four services in the each Sabbath, 13:26 are they aimed at the same group of people? 13:29 No, we have morning services for church members 13:33 and to do our discipleship 13:34 and in order to refill themselves 13:40 with energy and passion for mission. 13:42 In the afternoon we do 13:44 evangelistic outreach. Okay, okay. 13:48 Because those were-- who we are trying to reach 13:52 we cannot simply ask them 13:54 to come on Sabbath morning. Right. 13:55 Before them they are seeing 13:56 what the Sabbath is it's almost impossible. 13:58 So you have up to 1,200 people coming now every Sabbath. 14:03 Now we looked at those number we rejoice but tell me-- 14:06 tell me the story of someone 14:08 whose life has been effective through, you know this well. 14:11 Well, there was a guy his name is Daniel, 14:14 he was with us from the beginning. 14:16 A friend invited him to come but Daniel had a problem for us 14:21 because he was not even Christian. 14:23 He didn't believe in God. 14:25 He was very open person 14:28 but didn't believe in the Bible or not even Jesus. 14:31 He didn't have any clue who was Jesus. 14:34 But he was someone who's willing to, 14:37 he was willing to help 14:39 that's correct of postmodernist 14:40 they want to help. 14:42 And he begun to helping us 14:43 with the computer systems we had in the church 14:45 and then he became common man 14:47 and for almost, almost two years, 14:49 he was helping us without accepting Christ. 14:53 One day he can say, pastor, I have a good news for you. 14:55 Said, what happened, Danny? I accepted Jesus. 14:59 And I told to him how come? 15:00 And then he told me you know what? 15:02 Every day my family they get together 15:05 because they were messianic as a family. 15:08 They pray for their own Messiah, eastern type of Messiah. 15:12 We have to pray every day 15:13 at 6 in the morning to our Messiah. 15:17 But I noticed in the Bible that your Messiah prayed for me. 15:22 The Jesus pray in John 17 15:24 in that experience changed completely 15:27 his idea of Christ and God. Then he accepted Christ. 15:31 He was baptized became our production director, 15:34 he is so faithful Seventh-day Adventist. 15:37 So from his initial contact 15:39 through the baptism how long was that? 15:40 Almost two years. 15:42 So actually for postmodern people 15:44 that's relative quick. It can be a lot longer, right? 15:46 Actually our average has been 18 to 24 months. 15:49 I said right, okay. 15:50 One-and-half to two years, 15:52 but we have cases that it took almost four years for decision. 15:56 So one of the-- it mean correct statistics, 15:58 they don't like to be pushed for decision like that. Yeah. 16:02 So you just give them room to experience 16:05 and to have to this strong, while you're looking at God 16:08 and accepting His ways to their lives. Fantastic. 16:12 Kleber, thanks so much for sharing with us. 16:14 Pleasure to be here with you. 16:15 And viewers at home, 16:17 Nova Semente Church in Sao Paulo. 16:19 You can go to their website www.novasemente.org. 16:23 You can watch Kleber preach. 16:25 You will see the worship services 16:27 and catch some of the inspiration. 17:17 My guest is Dr. May-Ellen Colon 17:19 and she is the director of Adventist Community Services 17:23 for the world church. 17:24 But we want to focus on today May-Ellen, 17:27 is your mission experience 17:29 and that's been in various parts of the world. 17:31 But West Africa, when did you go there? 17:34 We went there-- we went there in 1988. Okay. 17:38 And when we got married my husband I 17:41 we had wanted to do it a lot sooner 17:43 but we get--put our name and after we got marriage 17:46 and calls kept coming and it was they were quite 17:49 the right time things are going on in our life 17:52 where it wouldn't work ago at certain times. 17:55 But this one finally came to go to Cordoba 17:59 to be part of the newly establish division 18:02 and called African Indian Ocean Division. 18:04 Now did you speak French? 18:06 Well, before we ended up in Cordoba 18:10 they banished us to France for a while 18:12 and went to Cologne 18:13 for several months and took French. 18:16 Then when we arrived in Cordoba, 18:19 the French there have such a completely different accent 18:21 we are say, this is the French we learned? 18:23 The same language? 18:24 Yeah, they had just the whole new rhythm 18:27 now we finally got used to it. 18:28 Okay, and so your husband Gaspar was caring for 18:31 health missionaries for that region. Yes, yes. 18:33 You were caring for family ministries. 18:35 Yes, and Gaspar also worked with me in that 18:38 even though I spent most of the time on it. 18:40 Good, so you worked as the family-- 18:42 Yeah, well, you know 18:43 when you're working with family ministries 18:45 you should present as a family seminars. 18:47 Exactly, exactly. 18:49 Now what are some of the memories 18:50 you have at that time? 18:52 Oh, well I just remember that this was a place, 18:55 our children were four and six. 18:57 These were the formality of the years 18:59 of their lives and-- 19:01 and today they went to French school to start with 19:04 and learned how to read in French before English 19:06 and I was very low to transfer 19:09 and they did they read a fine English. 19:11 They read English fine today and then we at that time 19:16 I remember in the front yard of our home 19:19 we had a little story or for the community children. 19:21 These are the some memories. 19:23 And also our son was baptized there in Obedjiwan. 19:28 And you'll see in the picture this was Baptist tree 19:30 behind the church that we belong to. 19:33 And a memory that really stands out 19:35 from all our trips we took trips 19:38 among the many countries in this division 19:40 which covered West Africa including Rwanda 19:43 and also all the Indian Ocean. 19:46 And one of the many trips we took as a couple was Gabon 19:51 which is on the west coast of center Africa. 19:55 And we were doing there 19:56 but we did many of our other trips 19:58 presenting family ministries, family life seminars 20:02 and this was a series on family wellness 20:05 it was called how to have 20:06 a well family in the factors that-- 20:09 that go into that. 20:10 And this was in Libreville the capital of Gabon 20:15 and they speak French there and as you see in the picture 20:18 you will this of the writing is in French 20:20 on the sign behind the pulpit. 20:23 And a young man attended our seminars he was-- 20:27 he worked in the national radio and TV station. 20:32 And he had reported on many things 20:35 before for the Adventist church in that country 20:38 and so he was called report end. 20:40 And what was happening this time 20:43 and he listened and stayed the whole weekend 20:47 even now he probably didn't have too 20:49 and he got a certificate at the end 20:53 and then he told us, 20:56 I have decided I want to be a part of a church 20:59 that teaches these things. 21:02 And by the abundant life 21:04 and how family can be whole again 21:06 and he said I just want to follow Jesus all the way. 21:10 And he-- we were thrilled. 21:15 Right, just from covering the event he listened and-- 21:18 Yes, and then as we were at the airport he met us. 21:24 And we have said bye at the church 21:26 and he met us and he says, 21:29 well, I have, I have something I want to give you. 21:33 He basically, a chase was going 21:34 because he had try to find this at the airport 21:38 and he had this with him. 21:40 And--and we wanting the meaning of this 21:46 and he says, I want to give you something 21:50 because this is a very precious item 21:55 that my mother gave me these items 21:59 before I went to college. 22:02 She knew I was gonna start a new beginning in life 22:05 and so she wanted to give me something 22:07 and this is a water bottle. This was my water bottle. 22:11 It's like a God, its like nalgene bottle, 22:13 like a water bottle. 22:14 And so I want to give you this 22:16 and this is a mat that he gave me for-- 22:21 for eating you know, to hold my food. I see. 22:25 And in a basket to hold some other food items 22:28 and all this to me has been a symbol 22:31 through the years of new beginnings. 22:33 Ah, fresh starts. Fresh starts. 22:35 You know, I am starting my education a new part of life. 22:38 And now I'm about to start another new beginning 22:41 accepting Jesus with all my heart. 22:45 And--and then I want you to just remember me this way. 22:49 And so he just parted with them. 22:51 Very precious thing and we thanked him 22:55 and we were--we rejoiced with the decision that he had made. 22:58 And so the pastor there gave him Bible studies 23:01 and he eventually he joined the church there. 23:04 And years later we talk to somebody from Gabon 23:08 and asked if they knew him and how he was doing. 23:11 We were told he was a leader in the church there 23:14 and he was doing well. And so it's exiting. 23:17 Just fun memory the stands out 23:19 among many memories in initial service. 23:23 And our children grew up in an environment 23:27 were they were in the minority and they learned 23:31 how to appreciate other call cultures-- 23:33 And what do you experience? 23:35 And I'll never be the same 23:37 from this experience and I don't want to be. 23:40 Not, of course not. 23:41 And I'm wearing actually a Nigerian costumes. 23:44 I was gonna ask you from Nigeria. 23:45 And this actually belongs on my head. 23:47 I would like to see it on your head. 23:49 But I didn't want to-- 23:50 I didn't have any Nigerian friends around 23:53 that I had a chance to meet here 3ABN to help put it on. Okay. 23:56 But I know many of you're seeing, 23:58 seeing this lovely head dresses that the Africans, 24:02 the Nigerians and the West Africans wear. 24:04 It is very beautiful. 24:05 It is beautiful. Yes. 24:07 Now, May-Ellen, thank you so much 24:08 for sharing with us today 24:09 just a glimpse of some of your experience. 24:11 Thank you, you're very welcome. 24:13 And viewers at home, please pay for missionaries. 24:16 There are hundreds and hundreds of missionary 24:18 serving in many parts of the world 24:20 often in very challenging circumstances far from home, 24:24 can be lonely but lovely for them to know 24:27 that people are praying. 24:38 This is Niko. 24:40 Niko is from the country of Greece. 24:42 He lives in the big city of Athens. 24:45 Here you can find plenty of places to explore. 24:48 Since both of Niko parents work 24:50 he usually goes to a babysitter during the day. 24:53 He likes to play different games and he loves to draw. 24:57 Not long ago the family that baby-sits Niko 24:59 were studying the Bible with an Adventist pastor. 25:02 They were learning about the exciting stories from the Bible. 25:06 Niko would usually sit on the side and continue to draw. 25:09 Nobody thought he was paying attention 25:11 to the lessons from the Bible studies, 25:13 but he was actually listening to every word. 25:17 One day Niko went home 25:18 until his mom what he had learned that day. 25:21 His mom was surprised when he told her they needed 25:23 to change the food in their diet. 25:25 Hey, mom we are not going 25:27 to have pork anymore or anything, okay. 25:31 He told her he might want to become 25:32 a Seventh-day Adventist. 25:34 Niko asked his mother to a wake him up 25:35 for church the next Sabbath. 25:38 She became curious why her son felt 25:40 so strongly about becoming a Seventh-day Adventist. 25:44 Since she wanted to support his choices, 25:46 she asked him questions. He told her all about the things 25:49 he learned while secretly listening 25:51 to the babysitters Bible studies. 25:53 Everything he told her sounded nice, 25:55 so she decided to join a family for their next Bible study. 25:59 After sometime the babysitters were baptized 26:02 and shortly after Niko 26:04 and his mother gave their hearts to Jesus too. 26:08 Now Niko and his mother study the Bible together. 26:11 They love the new lessons 26:12 they learn each time they read the Bible. 26:15 Please pray for the people in Greece 26:16 who are searching for a friendship with Jesus. 26:19 Pray that they find Jesus 26:21 just like Niko and his mother did. 26:24 Thank you for supporting mission. 26:39 We often feature Global Mission pioneers on this program 26:42 and over the years it's been my privilege 26:44 to meet many of these special people. 26:46 They are humble church members 26:48 usually young people who receive basic training 26:50 and they work within their own cultures 26:53 to plant new groups of believers 26:54 in un-entered areas or people groups. 26:57 If you're interested in meeting 26:59 some of these beautiful Global Mission pioneers 27:01 and learning more about their special work 27:04 we have an offer today a DVD 27:06 that's 100% devoted to Global Mission Pioneer stories. 27:11 This DVD is a wonderful resource. 27:13 It's a truly inspiring tribute 27:16 to these wonderful dedicated church planters. 27:19 So if you live in North America 27:20 just call our toll free number 1-800-648-5824 27:26 or visit our website AdventistMission.org 27:29 and ask for the Global Missions pioneer DVD 27:32 or offer number 310. 27:35 To get this inspirational DVD 27:37 don't forget to clearly stay your name and address. 27:42 So on behalf of Adventist missionaries pastors, 27:45 teachers, and Global Mission pioneer 27:47 serving around the world 27:49 thank you so much for your continuing 27:50 prayers and support. 27:52 And that's it for today's program. 27:54 I hope you can joined me next time 27:56 right here on Global Mission Snapshots. 27:58 Until then God bless. |
Revised 2014-12-17