Participants:
Series Code: GMS
Program Code: GMS000068B
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00:01 My guest is Dr. May-Ellen Colon
00:02 who is the head of the Adventist Community Services 00:06 for the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 00:08 May-Ellen, thank you for joining us. 00:10 Now, you are dressed a little unusual. 00:12 I know I don't want to be personal 00:14 but you do look a little different. 00:15 Yeah, I look a little different. 00:16 Yes, it looks I am going skiing with the dress on. 00:19 Yeah, well, it is little bit cool today 00:21 but please describe 00:23 what this is that you are wearing. 00:24 Well, of course in work of community services 00:28 I do travel to many places in the world to attend events 00:32 and that our community services part of our churches doing. 00:37 And one real memorable event 00:38 that I went to was in Zambia in 2011 00:43 and I was told there-- we speak for a Dorcas rally. 00:48 Of course Adventist Community Services, 00:50 the official name now is-- 00:52 it is Adventist Community Services 00:54 which replaces the former name of Dorcas and that-- 00:58 in 1972 that happened to try to get-- 01:01 lift the image of community services to not just women 01:06 because Dorcas was often associated 01:07 with only women and to bran it out 01:10 for everybody in the church, male, female, boys 01:12 and you know, young people, everybody. 01:14 So it was changed. 01:16 But Zambia still retains the title Dorcas 01:19 for their community outreach group from the church 01:22 and then they have Adventist Men, too. 01:24 They call it AMO, AMO, Adventist Men's Organization 01:27 and they work together with the Dorcas ladies. 01:31 And the membership of Dorcas and community services 01:35 they wear the logo for community services 01:37 as part of their uniform too. 01:39 And this is their uniform by the way. 01:40 I like it. 01:41 This is why I'm wearing it. They gave it to me. 01:44 Do the men have uniform as well? 01:45 Yes, they do. Yes, they do. 01:47 And-- And this badge is... 01:49 Oh, well, that was the rally I was at. 01:51 It was at Camp Melusa, outside of Lusaka, Zambia 01:55 and we all were at it. 01:57 So what do the Dorcas women do? 01:59 Well, these Dorcas women 02:01 and the men too often partner with them 02:04 are extremely active in their country. 02:06 There is over, what they say 50,000 or 51,000 02:11 I believe church members that are-- 02:12 women church members that are involved in Dorcas 02:15 and then lots of men too in that, 02:18 I don't have the number on that. 02:20 And they could be seen in many-- 02:22 you can go to Zambia and you will see them, 02:24 this blue and white uniform you can go anywhere almost 02:27 and see them in the market places, 02:29 in the hospitals, in the prisons just helping 02:33 where it needed. 02:34 They help at funerals, they are just-- 02:36 they just seem to be everywhere transforming their community 02:40 from the church 02:42 and they also hold meeting even to share the Bible 02:46 and it's a very holistic approach. 02:48 And they have made such an impact in Zambia 02:51 that the president of Zambia noticed, 02:56 His Excellency Banda 02:58 and he decided to come to this rally 03:00 that I attended and they had a limit 03:03 who could come to this rally 03:05 because the camp site can hold just so many 03:08 and during the week there were around 13,000 03:11 that they sat on a big field. 03:12 It was a big field basically with a few trees 03:15 and they sat there all day on their mats 03:17 listening to speakers and the speakers 03:20 we had a little shelter above us but not the audience. 03:24 And on Sabbath there were-- 03:26 they say there were around 25,000 sitting out in the field. 03:29 They had a limited otherwise 03:31 we probably had 50,000 in the camp, 03:33 probably wouldn't been able to hold them all. 03:35 So they take community interaction very seriously? 03:38 Yes, they do. 03:39 In fact, the church is growing so quickly there 03:42 that it's creeping out towards a million now, 03:46 it's 780,000 or something like that. 03:50 And they are making such an impact 03:53 that the president of the country noticed 03:55 and he decided to come to this rally. 03:57 So on Tuesday that week he came in person 04:00 and made a speech there 04:03 and personally thanked the church, 04:06 the Adventist church for the difference 04:08 they are making in this country. 04:10 And on Sunday of that same week the you know, 04:14 following Sunday he invited 04:16 about a 100 of the Zambia union church leaders 04:21 to come to his residence equivalent 04:24 to White House in America 04:26 and so I was about ready to fly to another country 04:30 but I said, well, I can stay for a part of it. 04:32 And so I joined them 04:34 and there was this big, big setup 04:36 on the lawn of the president's residence, 04:39 look like a big wedding or something 04:40 and I said, who is getting married 04:42 or whatever and he said, oh, that's for you all, 04:44 you know, we were told. 04:46 And so they had a big meal for us 04:49 and it's just amazing you know, 04:51 the impact that being involved in the community can do, 04:56 when it's done in a united way and a consistent way. 05:00 And we see the role of Dorcas women all through Africa. 05:04 Yes, and I go to other countries 05:06 and Dorcas is very active or community services. 05:09 It's kind of Dorcas/community services 05:11 kind of interchangeable. 05:13 And yes, I just in Malawi last summer 05:16 and they powerful there you know, 05:17 doing a wonderful work in some of these other countries 05:20 that they just take it very, very seriously. 05:24 Now, you have a story from Swaziland. 05:26 Yes, well, do I have time to sunrise it? 05:27 Well, if you can do it in a minute, yes. 05:29 Well, that was another one of my many exciting trips 05:32 that I have the privilege of going. 05:34 I went to a festival of the lady 05:35 for Southern Africa Indian Ocean in South Africa there 05:39 and another lady there Mrs. Bosi Vilakati her name was, 05:42 she was retired lady. 05:44 She was at the rally, at the festival of the lady 05:47 and she shared her story. 05:48 She said, I want to do something for the Lord, 05:49 I know I still can do something even though I am retired. 05:52 So she looked around, didn't have to look far. 05:55 In her neighborhood where very, very many children 05:58 that had-- they were victims of the aids, 06:00 they were orphans. 06:01 They didn't have very good food, 06:03 family member would try to take care of them 06:05 but it was very hard. 06:06 So she started a feeding program right in her community, 06:09 right in her neighborhood. 06:10 Started off with 50 in 2002 06:13 and she get her own couple of cooks to help her 06:16 and then by 2012 06:19 when I went back to South Africa, 06:21 I gave her a call. 06:22 I said, how is it going, sister Vilakati? 06:24 She says, now I am doing 300 little children 06:27 and we have a school, early childhood going education. 06:31 We-- of course we plant gardens 06:33 and we help them with food and we give our clothes, 06:37 we help with funerals and now well, 06:42 people started falling in love with Jesus 06:45 when they saw Jesus loved them also. 06:47 So now a church has started, 06:48 started with five, now there's 160. 06:51 Maranatha just build a church for them last summer. 06:55 Fantastic. 06:56 All from becoming-- all from demonstrating 06:57 the love of God in the community. 06:59 Wonderful. 07:00 Thanks so much for sharing with us, May-Ellen. 07:01 You are welcome. 07:03 And Community Services Church was never meant 07:05 to just be something contain within four walls. 07:10 Please find how you might be involved 07:12 in community services. 07:22 Alex, his sister Anna 07:24 and her friend Marina live in Lviv. 07:27 Lviv is located in the western side of Ukraine. 07:30 This is a historic city with lots of color 07:32 and interesting sights. 07:34 Here these three friends are home-schooled 07:36 by their mom in a small room full of books. 07:39 They study together every weekday. 07:42 Some days are a lot of fun 07:44 but some days just seem unbearable. 07:47 Although Alex loves his sister and their friend Marina, 07:50 he wishes there were other boys to play with. 07:53 Even the girls agree, they feel lonely too 07:56 and want more children to join them. 07:58 Today, Alex said, "I want a real school." 08:03 He doesn't know how, 08:04 but he knows he can ask anything of God. 08:07 The mother is certain God can help, 08:08 so she prays with the children. 08:10 "Dear Jesus, please we need an Adventist school here in Lviv 08:15 and lots of children to attend. 08:17 Amen. 08:19 Alex believes in his heart 08:21 and runs to the street to start inviting children 08:23 to attend their new school 08:25 but the boys outside say, no way. 08:28 The girls decide to ask the church members for help. 08:31 But nothing seems to work. 08:34 Building a school requires good teachers, books, 08:37 and many classrooms and students. 08:39 How could they even come up with the space? 08:42 The children are frustrated and tempted to give up. 08:45 But the next morning, they receive good news. 08:49 The conference president is giving 08:50 their entire office building to become a school. 08:55 They can't believe it. 08:56 This is close to home and next to their church 08:58 with lots of space to play. 09:01 Almost immediately the kids from the neighborhood came. 09:04 The school started with many classrooms. 09:07 And now they have 40 students. 09:10 Here at Lviv Adventist School 09:12 there are many activities for the children 09:14 and they plan to expand this to include a secondary school. 09:18 Will you pray that God blesses 09:20 the school and children in Lviv? 09:26 Well, I hope you've enjoyed our snapshots of mission 09:29 from all around the world. 09:31 From the bustling metropolis of Bangkok 09:34 to a remote school in Ukraine, 09:36 people are experiencing the love of Jesus. 09:40 If you've been blessed by the stories 09:41 you've heard today, 09:42 you want to receive today's special offer, 09:45 it's the Mission 360 DVD 09:47 and it's full of mission stories for kinds, for adults. 09:51 And so if you live in North America 09:53 please accept this as our free gift to you. 09:55 Simple call the toll free number on your screen 09:58 or you can visit us online at AdventistMission.org, 10:02 just ask for the Mission 360 DVD. 10:06 And please pray for the people and places 10:08 that you've seen on today's program 10:11 and continue to pray for the global mission pioneers 10:14 who are starting new congregations 10:16 all around the world. 10:18 Thank you so much for your continuing prayerful 10:21 and finical support of mission 10:23 that helps make so much of this possible. 10:26 As we close let watch a music video 10:29 entitle "Courage to Stand" with Emily Beth. 10:33 Thanks for joining us today on Global Mission Snapshots. 10:36 I am Gary Krause and I hope you can join me 10:38 next time right here on this program. 10:47 We are called to stand 10:49 For such a time as this 10:52 We must fight for what is right 10:54 And learn to trust in Him 10:58 We have a truth to live for 11:00 A promise to defend 11:03 Stand up tall, stand up proud 11:06 Till the very end 11:08 Stand strong, stand firm 11:14 Press on until the end 11:16 And claim the promise of His word 11:20 We have got a message 11:22 Let's spread it through the land 11:25 Praying for the courage to stand 11:33 Let's run, but let's not hide 11:36 Proclaiming once again 11:39 To fight for what's right 11:41 Showing love unto all men 11:44 Not fearing what may come 11:47 Nor looking to the past 11:49 Trusting everything we are 11:52 To the One whose love will last 11:55 Stand strong, stand firm 12:00 Press on until the end 12:03 And claim the promise of His word 12:06 We have got a message 12:09 Let's spread it through the land 12:12 Praying for the courage to stand 12:17 Standing, standing 12:22 Standing on the promises of Christ my Savior 12:28 Standing, standing 12:33 I'm standing on the promises of God 12:38 Stand strong stand strong 12:41 Stand firm stand firm 12:44 Press on until the end 12:46 And claim the promise of His word 12:50 We have got a message 12:52 Let's spread it through the land 12:55 Praying for the courage to stand 12:59 Stand strong, stand firm 13:03 Press on until the end 13:05 And claim the promise of His word 13:09 We have got a message 13:11 Let's spread it through the land 13:16 Praying for the courage to stand 13:21 Praying for the courage to stand 13:27 Praying for the courage to stand |
Revised 2014-12-17