My guest is Dr. May-Ellen Colon
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who is the head of the
Adventist Community Services
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for the
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
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May-Ellen, thank
you for joining us.
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Now, you are
dressed a little unusual.
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I know I don't
want to be personal
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but you do look
a little different.
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Yeah, I look a little different.
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Yes, it looks I am going
skiing with the dress on.
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Yeah, well, it is
little bit cool today
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but please describe
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what this is
that you are wearing.
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Well, of course in
work of community services
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I do travel to many places
in the world to attend events
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and that our community services
part of our churches doing.
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And one real memorable event
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that I went to
was in Zambia in 2011
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and I was told there--
we speak for a Dorcas rally.
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Of course
Adventist Community Services,
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the official name now is--
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it is Adventist
Community Services
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which replaces the
former name of Dorcas and that--
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in 1972 that
happened to try to get--
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lift the image of community
services to not just women
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because Dorcas
was often associated
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with only women
and to bran it out
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for everybody in the
church, male, female, boys
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and you know,
young people, everybody.
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So it was changed.
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But Zambia still
retains the title Dorcas
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for their community
outreach group from the church
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and then they have
Adventist Men, too.
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They call it AMO, AMO,
Adventist Men's Organization
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and they work together
with the Dorcas ladies.
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And the membership of
Dorcas and community services
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they wear the logo
for community services
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as part of their uniform too.
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And this is their
uniform by the way.
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I like it.
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This is why I'm
wearing it. They gave it to me.
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Do the men have uniform as well?
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Yes, they do. Yes, they do.
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And-- And this badge is...
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Oh, well, that was
the rally I was at.
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It was at Camp Melusa,
outside of Lusaka, Zambia
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and we all were at it.
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So what do the Dorcas women do?
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Well, these Dorcas women
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and the men too
often partner with them
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are extremely
active in their country.
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There is over, what
they say 50,000 or 51,000
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I believe church
members that are--
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women church members
that are involved in Dorcas
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and then lots
of men too in that,
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I don't have the number on that.
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And they could be seen in many--
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you can go to Zambia
and you will see them,
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this blue and white uniform
you can go anywhere almost
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and see them in
the market places,
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in the hospitals, in
the prisons just helping
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where it needed.
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They help at
funerals, they are just--
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they just seem to be everywhere
transforming their community
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from the church
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and they also hold
meeting even to share the Bible
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and it's a very
holistic approach.
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And they have made
such an impact in Zambia
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that the
president of Zambia noticed,
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His Excellency Banda
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and he decided to
come to this rally
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that I attended
and they had a limit
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who could come to this rally
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because the camp
site can hold just so many
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and during the week
there were around 13,000
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that they sat on a big field.
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It was a big field
basically with a few trees
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and they sat there
all day on their mats
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listening to
speakers and the speakers
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we had a little shelter
above us but not the audience.
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And on Sabbath there were--
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they say there were around
25,000 sitting out in the field.
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They had a limited otherwise
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we probably had
50,000 in the camp,
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probably wouldn't
been able to hold them all.
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So they take community
interaction very seriously?
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Yes, they do.
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In fact, the church is
growing so quickly there
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that it's creeping
out towards a million now,
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it's 780,000 or
something like that.
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And they are
making such an impact
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that the president
of the country noticed
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and he decided to
come to this rally.
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So on Tuesday that
week he came in person
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and made a speech there
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and personally
thanked the church,
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the Adventist
church for the difference
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they are making in this country.
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And on Sunday of that
same week the you know,
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following Sunday he invited
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about a 100 of the
Zambia union church leaders
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to come to his
residence equivalent
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to White House in America
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and so I was about ready
to fly to another country
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but I said, well, I
can stay for a part of it.
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And so I joined them
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and there was
this big, big setup
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on the lawn of the
president's residence,
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look like a big
wedding or something
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and I said, who
is getting married
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or whatever and he
said, oh, that's for you all,
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you know, we were told.
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And so they had
a big meal for us
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and it's just amazing you know,
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the impact that being involved
in the community can do,
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when it's done in a
united way and a consistent way.
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And we see the role of
Dorcas women all through Africa.
00:05:00.93\00:05:04.34
Yes, and I go to other countries
00:05:04.37\00:05:06.58
and Dorcas is very
active or community services.
00:05:06.61\00:05:09.75
It's kind of
Dorcas/community services
00:05:09.78\00:05:11.89
kind of interchangeable.
00:05:11.92\00:05:13.52
And yes, I just
in Malawi last summer
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and they
powerful there you know,
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doing a wonderful work in
some of these other countries
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that they just take
it very, very seriously.
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Now, you have a
story from Swaziland.
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Yes, well, do I
have time to sunrise it?
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Well, if you can do
it in a minute, yes.
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Well, that was another
one of my many exciting trips
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that I have the
privilege of going.
00:05:32.91\00:05:34.25
I went to a festival of the lady
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for Southern Africa Indian
Ocean in South Africa there
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and another lady there
Mrs. Bosi Vilakati her name was,
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she was retired lady.
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She was at the rally,
at the festival of the lady
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and she shared her story.
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She said, I want to do
something for the Lord,
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I know I still can do something
even though I am retired.
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So she looked around,
didn't have to look far.
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In her neighborhood
where very, very many children
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that had-- they
were victims of the aids,
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they were orphans.
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They didn't have very good food,
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family member would
try to take care of them
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but it was very hard.
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So she started a feeding
program right in her community,
00:06:06.72\00:06:09.27
right in her neighborhood.
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Started off with 50 in 2002
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and she get her own
couple of cooks to help her
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and then by 2012
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when I went
back to South Africa,
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I gave her a call.
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I said, how is it
going, sister Vilakati?
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She says, now I am
doing 300 little children
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and we have a school,
early childhood going education.
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We-- of course we plant gardens
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and we help them with
food and we give our clothes,
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we help with
funerals and now well,
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people started
falling in love with Jesus
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when they saw
Jesus loved them also.
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So now a church has started,
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started with
five, now there's 160.
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Maranatha just build a
church for them last summer.
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Fantastic.
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All from becoming--
all from demonstrating
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the love of God
in the community.
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Wonderful.
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Thanks so much for
sharing with us, May-Ellen.
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You are welcome.
00:07:01.93\00:07:02.98
And Community
Services Church was never meant
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to just be something
contain within four walls.
00:07:05.72\00:07:10.06
Please find how
you might be involved
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in community services.
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Alex, his sister Anna
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and her friend
Marina live in Lviv.
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Lviv is located in the
western side of Ukraine.
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This is a historic
city with lots of color
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and interesting sights.
00:07:32.95\00:07:34.70
Here these three
friends are home-schooled
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by their mom in a
small room full of books.
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They study
together every weekday.
00:07:39.98\00:07:42.06
Some days are a lot of fun
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but some days
just seem unbearable.
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Although Alex loves his
sister and their friend Marina,
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he wishes there were
other boys to play with.
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Even the girls
agree, they feel lonely too
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and want more
children to join them.
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Today, Alex said,
"I want a real school."
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He doesn't know how,
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but he knows he can
ask anything of God.
00:08:04.40\00:08:07.20
The mother is
certain God can help,
00:08:07.23\00:08:08.87
so she prays with the children.
00:08:08.90\00:08:10.80
"Dear Jesus, please we need
an Adventist school here in Lviv
00:08:10.83\00:08:15.33
and lots of children to attend.
00:08:15.36\00:08:17.71
Amen.
00:08:17.74\00:08:19.72
Alex believes in his heart
00:08:19.75\00:08:21.40
and runs to the street
to start inviting children
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to attend their new school
00:08:23.66\00:08:25.12
but the boys
outside say, no way.
00:08:25.15\00:08:28.46
The girls decide to ask
the church members for help.
00:08:28.49\00:08:31.35
But nothing seems to work.
00:08:31.38\00:08:34.34
Building a school
requires good teachers, books,
00:08:34.37\00:08:37.40
and many
classrooms and students.
00:08:37.43\00:08:39.72
How could they even
come up with the space?
00:08:39.75\00:08:42.27
The children are frustrated
and tempted to give up.
00:08:42.30\00:08:45.80
But the next morning,
they receive good news.
00:08:45.83\00:08:49.11
The conference
president is giving
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their entire office
building to become a school.
00:08:50.80\00:08:55.15
They can't believe it.
00:08:55.18\00:08:56.43
This is close to home
and next to their church
00:08:56.46\00:08:58.77
with lots of space to play.
00:08:58.80\00:09:01.82
Almost immediately the
kids from the neighborhood came.
00:09:01.85\00:09:04.88
The school started
with many classrooms.
00:09:04.91\00:09:07.16
And now they have 40 students.
00:09:07.19\00:09:10.37
Here at Lviv Adventist School
00:09:10.40\00:09:12.48
there are many
activities for the children
00:09:12.51\00:09:14.66
and they plan to expand this
to include a secondary school.
00:09:14.69\00:09:18.61
Will you pray that God blesses
00:09:18.64\00:09:20.73
the school and children in Lviv?
00:09:20.76\00:09:23.32
Well, I hope you've
enjoyed our snapshots of mission
00:09:26.22\00:09:29.51
from all around the world.
00:09:29.54\00:09:31.38
From the bustling
metropolis of Bangkok
00:09:31.41\00:09:34.24
to a remote school in Ukraine,
00:09:34.27\00:09:36.83
people are
experiencing the love of Jesus.
00:09:36.86\00:09:40.32
If you've been
blessed by the stories
00:09:40.35\00:09:41.76
you've heard today,
00:09:41.79\00:09:42.82
you want to receive
today's special offer,
00:09:42.85\00:09:45.05
it's the Mission 360 DVD
00:09:45.08\00:09:47.37
and it's full of mission
stories for kinds, for adults.
00:09:47.40\00:09:51.39
And so if you
live in North America
00:09:51.42\00:09:52.99
please accept this
as our free gift to you.
00:09:53.02\00:09:55.45
Simple call the toll
free number on your screen
00:09:55.48\00:09:58.34
or you can visit us
online at AdventistMission.org,
00:09:58.37\00:10:02.53
just ask for
the Mission 360 DVD.
00:10:02.56\00:10:06.60
And please pray for
the people and places
00:10:06.63\00:10:08.58
that you've seen
on today's program
00:10:08.61\00:10:11.02
and continue to pray for
the global mission pioneers
00:10:11.05\00:10:14.67
who are starting
new congregations
00:10:14.70\00:10:16.62
all around the world.
00:10:16.65\00:10:18.36
Thank you so much for
your continuing prayerful
00:10:18.39\00:10:21.00
and finical support of mission
00:10:21.03\00:10:23.39
that helps make so
much of this possible.
00:10:23.42\00:10:26.26
As we close let
watch a music video
00:10:26.29\00:10:29.07
entitle "Courage to
Stand" with Emily Beth.
00:10:29.10\00:10:33.01
Thanks for joining us today
on Global Mission Snapshots.
00:10:33.04\00:10:36.20
I am Gary Krause and
I hope you can join me
00:10:36.23\00:10:38.33
next time right
here on this program.
00:10:38.36\00:10:41.39
We are called to stand
00:10:47.63\00:10:49.96
For such a time as this
00:10:49.99\00:10:52.38
We must fight for what is right
00:10:52.41\00:10:54.90
And learn to trust in Him
00:10:54.93\00:10:58.19
We have a truth to live for
00:10:58.22\00:11:00.84
A promise to defend
00:11:00.87\00:11:03.25
Stand up tall, stand up proud
00:11:03.28\00:11:05.98
Till the very end
00:11:06.01\00:11:08.67
Stand strong, stand firm
00:11:08.70\00:11:14.46
Press on until the end
00:11:14.49\00:11:16.77
And claim the
promise of His word
00:11:16.80\00:11:20.36
We have got a message
00:11:20.39\00:11:22.68
Let's spread it through the land
00:11:22.71\00:11:25.75
Praying for the courage to stand
00:11:25.78\00:11:33.65
Let's run, but let's not hide
00:11:33.68\00:11:36.33
Proclaiming once again
00:11:36.36\00:11:39.21
To fight for what's right
00:11:39.24\00:11:41.33
Showing love unto all men
00:11:41.36\00:11:44.50
Not fearing what may come
00:11:44.53\00:11:47.15
Nor looking to the past
00:11:47.18\00:11:49.63
Trusting everything we are
00:11:49.66\00:11:52.40
To the One whose love will last
00:11:52.43\00:11:55.09
Stand strong, stand firm
00:11:55.12\00:12:00.84
Press on until the end
00:12:00.87\00:12:03.15
And claim the
promise of His word
00:12:03.18\00:12:06.65
We have got a message
00:12:06.68\00:12:09.07
Let's spread it through the land
00:12:09.10\00:12:12.08
Praying for the courage to stand
00:12:12.11\00:12:17.43
Standing, standing
00:12:17.46\00:12:22.91
Standing on the
promises of Christ my Savior
00:12:22.94\00:12:28.37
Standing, standing
00:12:28.40\00:12:33.23
I'm standing on
the promises of God
00:12:33.26\00:12:38.60
Stand strong stand strong
00:12:38.63\00:12:41.34
Stand firm stand firm
00:12:41.37\00:12:44.51
Press on until the end
00:12:44.54\00:12:46.73
And claim the
promise of His word
00:12:46.76\00:12:50.31
We have got a message
00:12:50.34\00:12:52.70
Let's spread it through the land
00:12:52.73\00:12:55.78
Praying for the courage to stand
00:12:55.81\00:12:59.08
Stand strong, stand firm
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Press on until the end
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And claim the
promise of His word
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We have got a message
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Let's spread it through the land
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Praying for the courage to stand
00:13:16.27\00:13:21.68
Praying for the courage to stand
00:13:21.71\00:13:27.12
Praying for the courage to stand
00:13:27.15\00:13:33.19