Participants: Gary Krause (Host), G.T. Ng, Myron Iseminger, Ted Wilson
Series Code: GMS
Program Code: GMS000101B
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00:01 Welcome back to "Global Mission Snapshots"
00:02 as we continue our tour 00:04 of the General Conference building, 00:06 the headquarters of the Seventh-day Adventist Church 00:08 here in Silver Spring, Maryland. 00:10 The Hope Channel wing is the newest extension 00:12 of the General Conference building. 00:14 Here is the studio where they record popular shows 00:17 such as Let's Pray, Cross Connection, 00:19 and Hope Sabbath School. 00:21 Another studio in the building 00:22 is the Communication Department Studio. 00:25 Each week Adventist News Network is recorded right here. 00:29 The building also includes the offices of 00:31 hundreds of General Conference employees, 00:33 who work hard to ensure religious liberty, education, 00:36 healthcare, and much more 00:38 for millions of Seventh-day Adventists 00:40 and millions in the community worldwide. 00:43 Next up, let's visit Secretariat 00:45 which among many other things 00:46 sends missionaries all around the world, Rick. 00:50 Thanks Gary. 00:51 We're outside the office 00:53 of the secretary of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 00:55 Let's just go inside and see if he's there. 01:00 Hi Doctor Ng and Myron. 01:03 How are you doing? Good. Good to see you. 01:04 Good to see you too. 01:06 I'll introduce you real briefly to our viewers today, 01:10 this is Doctor G.T. Ng, the secretary 01:13 of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists 01:16 and this is Myron Iseminger 01:17 who's the undersecretary of the World Church as well. 01:22 And I'm wondering, Doctor Ng, would you tell us 01:25 what is Secretariat? 01:28 What is Secretariat for our viewers? 01:31 Well, that's a term that very few people understand. 01:35 But Secretariat primarily is an organization 01:38 that oversees the missionary activities of the Church 01:42 throughout the world. 01:43 We facilitate, we motivate, 01:46 we do some funding of the mission enterprise 01:50 around the world. 01:51 And this painting here depicts in a nutshell 01:55 the current emphasis of the church 01:57 and that is city evangelism, 01:59 urban mission in major capitals around the world. 02:04 And three angels, 02:06 being multicultural is a depiction of the diversity 02:12 that we see in this church. 02:14 Thank you, Doctor Ng, 02:16 but there is another side of Secretariat, right? 02:18 And Myron, maybe you'll tell us a little bit about 02:20 the other side of Secretariat. 02:23 Well, mission is certainly the most exciting part, 02:26 but somebody has to take care of the policies 02:30 and the minutes and agendas 02:32 and so forth to keep the church running. 02:35 And so that's traditionally also been 02:38 the function of Secretariat, 02:40 membership records and those sorts of things as well. 02:44 Let's go see some of the areas. 02:45 You know there's so much 02:47 involved in mission for the church 02:49 but one of the biggest areas is here 02:52 in the International Personnel Resources and Services, 02:57 otherwise known as IPRS. 02:58 But that's too much, 03:00 but maybe Myron and Dr. Ng, 03:04 would you tell us a little bit about 03:06 what International Personal Resources and Services does? 03:09 Sure, well the name is quite descriptive 03:11 but when we talk about resources and services, 03:14 we're talking about things, treasury functions, 03:18 payroll, and so forth as well as 03:21 all of logistics to get them out into the field. 03:24 Getting who out? 03:25 These are the missionaries. Okay. 03:28 The international personnel. 03:30 And who do they work for largely? 03:33 Obviously they're based in local regions and institutions, 03:39 but they maintain a connection with this office 03:44 because of their cross-cultural work 03:47 and being away from home. 03:49 In this kind of regard, Doctor Ng, 03:52 about how many cross-cultural workers 03:54 these international personnel do we have around the world? 03:57 Roughly 400-- 04:00 Families. Families. Yeah. 04:01 But with wives, spouses working we have close to 900. 04:06 Wonderful, okay, that gives us a good overview. 04:08 Let's sort of go into Adventist Mission. 04:11 You know, in my world 04:13 this is probably the most exciting area, 04:15 this is Adventist Mission. 04:16 That's right. 04:18 I like time here of course there's a lot going on here. 04:23 Maybe you can share with us a little bit about 04:25 what is happening and what kind of things, 04:28 activities and stuff that Adventist Mission is doing? 04:30 Well, Adventist Mission has done a great job 04:33 in advertising or showcasing 04:37 what the church has been doing around the world. 04:40 In terms of magazine, they have the Mission 360 magazine. 04:44 In terms of the mission spotlight DVD, 04:47 so in that regard they've done a great job. 04:51 Wonderful and we, of course, 04:54 in Adventist Mission are sort of the custodians 04:57 for some of the offerings, mission offerings certainly, 05:01 and we're grateful for the fact that the world church 05:07 has an organization that looks after that. 05:09 In fact the Sabbath School Offering 05:11 is the backbone of the funding 05:16 which we finance missionaries around the world. 05:20 Without Sabbath School Mission Offering, 05:23 we are getting nowhere 05:24 but because of the generosity of our people 05:27 contributing on a regular basis 05:29 Sabbath School Mission Offering, 05:30 we can afford to send missionaries around the world. 05:34 And here we are in the Institute of World Mission. 05:38 Tell us, Pastor Iseminger, 05:40 about the Institute and what it does? 05:43 Well, this is one of the best kept secrets 05:45 of the whole mission family area, 05:48 but I think they're best known for their mission institutes 05:52 where they spent three weeks with the missionaries 05:55 that are going out and training them in cross-cultural issues 06:01 and really giving them the preparation 06:05 that they need to step into the other cultures, 06:07 but they do many other things as well 06:10 relating to helping with the divisions 06:13 and local training. 06:15 Institute is a valuable jewel 06:17 in the whole mission structures of the church 06:21 and what we refer to around here as the mission family. 06:24 Let's go on and make sure 06:26 we don't miss the associate secretaries. 06:28 Yes. And Adventist Volunteers. 06:32 I can see, Dr. Ng, 06:34 that there is far too much for one person here. 06:37 You must have some associates that help you in this work? 06:40 Yes, we do have associate secretaries 06:42 whose responsibility is to recruit and interview 06:49 and screen missionaries for cross-cultural situations. 06:54 Okay. 06:55 Unfortunately none of them are around today, 06:57 but they are out there in the field 07:00 doing what they're supposed to do. 07:01 Great and one of those associate secretaries 07:05 is actually responsible for Adventist Volunteers 07:09 and maybe, Elder Iseminger, 07:11 you could you could tell us a little about 07:14 what Adventist Volunteer Services does? 07:16 Sure, we have more volunteers 07:19 than any of the other areas of mission. 07:21 And that's how I got started, 07:24 so I have a real passion for that as well. 07:27 Volunteers spend anytime you know 07:30 from just a few months to up to a year or two 07:33 and they go out to various tasks. 07:36 Many of them are young people 07:38 but they go clear up to retirees and others. 07:41 And any of our viewers could go to the website and sign up. 07:46 Thank you for your time today, Dr. Ng and Pastor Iseminger. 07:52 It's been really nice to see what the mission family does. 07:56 Is there anything more you want to share with me? 07:58 Well, the church is about mission. 08:01 The reason for the church to exist 08:04 is because there is a job to do 08:07 and this is part and parcel of the Great Commission 08:10 that Jesus has given to us. 08:13 What you see here in this office 08:14 is but a skeleton crew 08:17 here at the General Conference office 08:19 overseeing the work of mission around the world. 08:22 The majority of our workers are on the ground, 08:26 different parts of the world, different areas of the world 08:29 where cross-cultural ministry is taking place. 08:32 Thank you so much for your time 08:34 and for showing us around the mission family 08:36 here at the General Conference, 08:39 but you know you really don't have to work 08:41 at the General Conference to be a missionary. 08:44 You can be a missionary right there in your home, 08:46 in your work, in your own family, 08:48 maybe in your community, 08:50 or on the other side of the world. 08:53 Whatever you do, we are called 08:55 to be Christ's representatives in our world. 08:58 Back to you, Gary. 09:00 And so last, but not least, 09:02 we come to the Ellen G. White Estate 09:04 where we find the painting of Christ 09:06 of the Narrow Way by Elfred Lee. 09:09 This beautiful mural illustrates 09:11 Ellen White's first vision 09:13 and shows a narrow path in which believers 09:15 in the Three Angels' Messages of Revelation 14 09:18 are traveling toward the Holy City. 09:21 Well, our tour is nearly over but our program isn't, 09:24 so next up, let's travel to some 09:26 beautiful islands in the South Pacific. 09:30 Guam Micronesia Mission is the newest territory 09:33 in the North American Division. 09:35 In a region mostly covered by water, 09:38 Guam Micronesia Mission has a footprint as large as 09:41 mainland United States from east to west. 09:45 Vast, beautiful, and full of history 09:48 are these islands in the Pacific Ocean. 09:51 The pictures you see here are simply breathtaking. 09:55 As you look in the distance, you can see the sky 09:58 kissing the endless sea in the horizon. 10:01 Here in the calm Pacific Ocean, 10:03 you will find the United States territories of Guam, 10:06 the Federated States of Micronesia, 10:08 Marshall Islands, 10:09 Northern Mariana Islands, and Palau. 10:14 Guam Micronesia Mission is home to roughly 10:17 5,000 Seventh-day Adventists 10:19 who are facing the challenge of reaching 10:21 more than 400,000 people in the different islands. 10:25 To accomplish this mission, 10:26 the Adventist church has established schools, 10:29 churches, clinics, and other institutions 10:32 but there is still so much to do. 10:35 North Americans definitely 10:36 have a needy mission field right in their backyard. 10:43 Let's look at Guam, 10:44 the most developed island in Micronesia. 10:47 Primarily a hub for tourists coming from Japan, 10:50 Guam is an unincorporated territory of the United States. 10:54 Here Adventists are making a significant effort 10:57 to connect with the people 10:58 in a positive and long-lasting manner. 11:02 Healthcare is a key method to engage people, 11:05 help them, and build relationships. 11:08 The Seventh-day Adventist Guam clinic 11:10 has been working since 1955 11:12 to assist Guamanians with physical health, 11:15 mental and spiritual education as well. 11:18 Meet Shishin Myagi. He's one of the doctors here. 11:22 The Guam clinic has a special place in his heart. 11:26 I came here as a medical student 11:28 and I also came here as a resident 11:31 and we just fell in love with this place. 11:33 People are great and there's such a need of doctors here. 11:38 He works here daily, seeing patients 11:41 with all types of needs. 11:42 He is happy to do this work. 11:45 Doctor Myagi believes 11:46 in showing people the love of Christ 11:48 through the quality of care he provides. 11:51 This philosophy of conduct comes from observing others 11:54 who inspired him from a young age. 11:57 At the hospital my father was working at, 11:59 there were so many missionaries there 12:01 and they had a huge impact on me. 12:06 I spent a lot of time with them 12:07 and I always wanted to be a missionary when I grew up. 12:13 In addition to the work at the clinic, 12:16 Doctor Myagi spends some of his evenings 12:18 educating people in the community. 12:20 Through a program called New Start, 12:22 he and his fellow doctors have the opportunity 12:25 to teach the importance of a healthy lifestyle. 12:28 Through nutrition, exercise, hydration, rest, trust in God, 12:33 and other natural resources 12:35 people are regaining control of their weight, 12:37 health, and stability. 12:39 This is a unique opportunity 12:41 to tell people about managing their bodies 12:44 through the gifts the creator has left them. 12:47 First, people have their basic needs 12:50 and we have to reach where they're at 12:54 and providing the medical care is one of the best way 12:57 to witness to the people. 13:00 I find it very, very fulfilling doing the work, 13:03 I found medical work here. 13:05 We have so many opportunities 13:06 to serve the people in this community here. 13:09 Not only in this community but also the surrounding islands. 13:13 The work to connect with people in Guam 13:16 and other Micronesian islands 13:18 continues to penetrate more and more areas 13:21 but there are still so many places to reach. 13:24 Some of the islands that we have, 13:27 you can't enter into the island unless 13:28 you get permission from the king or the high chief. 13:32 And most of the time we get permission 13:34 through the health work, 13:35 otherwise we couldn't get on the islands. 13:38 So, there are many islands, 13:42 that have not been reached right here in Micronesia. 13:46 The healthcare work is an entry point to bless lives, 13:49 earn people's confidence 13:51 and propose a new way of living physically and spiritually. 13:55 Please pray for the severe 13:57 shortage of doctors in the whole island. 13:59 Pray also that the clinic can address this problem 14:02 through their expansion plans 14:03 to more than double the clinic's capacity. 14:06 They need doctors and resources 14:09 to continue serving 14:10 and witnessing to the people of Guam. 14:14 Well, I hope you've enjoyed today's Mission Snapshots 14:17 from around the world. 14:18 From exotic islands in the South Pacific 14:21 to expensive neighborhoods on California's coast, 14:24 men and women are sharing the love of Jesus Christ. 14:28 Please pray for the people and places 14:30 that you see on this program. 14:32 Frontline mission work can be very challenging 14:35 and please pray for Global Mission pioneers 14:38 who are planting new congregations 14:40 in challenging areas of the world. 14:42 Well, for Global Mission Snapshots, 14:44 I'm n Gary Krause. 14:45 And I hope you can join me 14:46 next time on "Global Mission Snapshots." |
Revised 2015-03-05