Participants: Gary Krause (Host), Justus Devadas, Ted Wilson
Series Code: GMS
Program Code: GMS000703B
|
00:04 Welcome back,
00:05 within the Seventh-day Adventist Church, 00:08 the 13th Sabbath Offering has iconic status. 00:12 For many, many years, 00:13 Adventists have been giving generously 00:15 to 13th Sabbath Offerings. 00:17 These are collected, as the name suggests, 00:20 every 13th Sabbath, at the end of each quarter of the year. 00:24 And these offerings are given 00:25 for very specific projects around the world. 00:29 It could be to start a new school or a new hospital, 00:32 to help with community outreach, 00:34 various special projects 00:36 that get extra funding to help them do their work. 00:40 Your offerings make a difference 00:42 in the lives of thousands of people around the world. 00:46 Coming up next, let's see how 13th Sabbath Offerings 00:49 will be making a difference in Taiwan 00:51 as three new urban centers of influence are established. 00:59 In Taiwan, a large group of friends 01:01 is meeting at a local Seventh-day Adventist Church. 01:04 Not all of these friends are Adventist members, 01:07 but all feel welcome to attend. 01:10 It has become known as the All Generations Center. 01:13 This group is made up 01:14 of elderly members of the community. 01:17 They meet together as part of a regular program 01:19 run by the church. 01:21 This program has been active for almost 10 years now. 01:25 The Taiwanese government recognizes what they do 01:27 and supports their programs. 01:29 Pastor Tom is in charge of running the program 01:32 and planning the activities. 01:34 Many lonely, old people. 01:38 They don't have nobody take care of them. 01:41 So the government needs the church 01:43 to serve, to help, to support them. 01:47 Many of those who come don't have family in the area. 01:50 They don't have people to help take care of them. 01:52 So you can imagine their excitement 01:54 when they get together and socialize. 01:56 The church provides a healthy lunch for the group. 01:59 Pastor Tom makes sure to jump in his car 02:01 to visit the homes of those 02:03 who are not physically able to attend. 02:09 He spends some time at their homes, 02:11 hand delivers meals, and prays with them. 02:14 Aside from lunch, the group also enjoys exercising, 02:18 blood pressure checks, crafts, and music. 02:29 This center of influence has bridged a gap 02:31 to allow people to attend church on Sabbath. 02:34 Before this program began, 02:35 community members were not sure what to think about Adventists. 02:39 They would not come to my church, never. 02:44 But when we started this service, 02:46 the All Generations Center, they came. 02:51 Easily, because we took care of them. 02:57 Through this kind of service they will open their mind 03:01 and make friends with us. 03:03 Through this ministry, people are getting to know 03:06 Jesus and are happier with their lives. 03:20 Throughout Taiwan the Adventist church 03:22 has established Centers of Influence 03:25 to meet people's needs. 03:26 In this community, 03:27 it meant creating the All Generations Center. 03:35 In other communities, education is a challenge. 03:38 Yulin Chong attended this after-school program 03:41 run by the Adventist Church. 03:43 The program helps tutor kids 03:45 who may need help and direction. 03:48 Yulin struggled in school and had a difficult home life. 03:52 He faced a lot of trouble in his earlier years 03:55 and it caused a lot of confusion 03:56 of what to do with his life. 03:58 After attending the after-school program, 04:01 Yulin learned about Jesus and found purpose in his life. 04:05 Now, he is a tutor and helps kids 04:07 who were once in his position. 04:09 People all over the world are in need. 04:12 Each community has different needs. 04:14 Centers of Influence around the world 04:16 are helping touch lives in their communities. 04:18 A portion of your mission offerings will help support 04:21 Centers of Influence in Taiwan. 04:23 Please pray for these projects. 04:26 Pray that they may grow 04:27 and continue to be a light in this world. 04:30 My guest is Dr. Justus Devadas 04:32 who is the vice chancellor of Spicer Adventist University. 04:36 Doctor, thank you so much for joining us. 04:38 Thank you very much. 04:39 And what an amazing time 04:41 this is, to celebrate 100 years. 04:43 Yeah, indeed, we're on top of the world. 04:46 Now, as you look at past-- at the past 100 years, 04:50 obviously you don't remember it all, 04:52 but what would you say are the major contributions 04:55 that Spicer has made here in India? 04:58 Well, till, say about 15 years back, 05:02 Spicer was the only degree giving in college 05:06 of the Adventist Church in the entire division. 05:09 Spicer was the only college. Okay. 05:11 So if you look at the work force, 05:14 probably the highest percentage came out of Spicer. 05:19 Whether it's a division president, 05:21 or a unions, or conference presidents, 05:23 most of them who had studied at Spicer 05:26 and teachers, or accountants, anything. 05:29 That was still about 15 years back. 05:32 So it's basically trained workers 05:34 for the Adventist Church. 05:35 Yes, not only for India, 05:37 we have had students from foreign countries. 05:42 But from the time the college came into being, 05:44 way back in 1915, when it moved here in 1942, 05:48 we were the only institution in the city of Pune, 05:50 who had foreign students studying here. 05:53 And then we produced ambassadors 05:56 from different countries, 05:58 one of the GC vice president is Spicer graduate, Jeffrey. 06:01 You know, and there are many more. 06:05 Besides, the Spicer made a distinct contribution 06:08 to the city of Pune 06:10 by its very existence in this city of the culture 06:13 we've produced here. 06:14 You know, we started several industries in Spicer 06:18 which was never heard of. 06:20 We also so first bakery in this city, 06:22 we were also the first to major agricultural farm, 06:26 modern farm in this region. 06:29 We used to educate farmers from the local areas on modern 06:34 and advanced kind of farming. 06:36 So it's had its own role to play in Pune, 06:43 in Maharashtra, in India. 06:44 Because our student graduates 06:46 went and started hunts for schools. 06:48 So that became you know, something. 06:50 Spicer is a tremendous place. 06:52 So you're training teachers as well. 06:54 Oh, yeah. 06:55 So what is the philosophy that guides this school? 07:00 Well, the Adventist philosophy of education, 07:02 we are mission oriented people. 07:04 Now the college was started for-- 07:06 to produce workers for the church 07:10 and also, you know, people to find jobs elsewhere. 07:16 But, you know, the Indian education system 07:19 is British based education system. 07:21 Very structured, we cannot do this way that way. 07:25 Probably for years we were the only liberal arts 07:27 educational institutions in this country. 07:32 You know, and then we introduced 07:36 work education program, students could ask to work. 07:40 We paid them but then a part of the academic program 07:43 while probably American collages 07:44 have given up, we still do that. 07:46 You know, even we've put that 07:47 as an innovative program in the University Charter, 07:51 that everyone has to work, you know. 07:53 So it's based on Sister White's philosophy of education 07:57 to the fullest, you know. 08:00 A holistic education. Oh, yes, yes. 08:02 Now the name Spicer, coming of course from Pastor Spicer, 08:06 how does that-- how do you look on that name? 08:10 Well, you know, Elder Spicer never worked at Spicer College. 08:14 He worked at the division 08:15 and he was one of those pioneers, 08:18 when the first Adventist school 08:20 was established in India, in Karmatar, 08:24 where several of our missionaries 08:27 were even killed due to smallpox, 08:30 but he was there. 08:31 He did not run, he didn't run away, 08:33 he stayed back and said look, the waves maybe defeated 08:38 but the current will win, current of God will win. 08:40 You know, that's how-- And then his statements rather say, 08:43 there is no position or authority in the church, 08:45 there are positions of only of service. 08:47 You know, this is what we hear of him-- he-- you will see 08:52 hundreds of children named Spicer even today. 08:54 Is that right? 08:56 You know, it was the name 08:58 Spicer was given in respect of him 09:00 but then that name is synonymous 09:03 with this Christian institution 09:04 in the city of Pune, Maharashtra in India. 09:07 Christians, all denominations know about Spicer. 09:10 Yes. We have a very special place. 09:14 So I, in fact, I tried to get somebody from the Spicer family 09:18 to come for the centennial, couldn't make it, you know. 09:21 But otherwise that name is very special to us. 09:23 Even though we, from the college 09:25 we went to, an university, 09:28 they said we will keep that name 09:30 but bring the name Adventist in between, 09:32 so it is Spicer Adventist University. 09:34 Okay, and I said it wrong before, I said, 09:35 Spicer Memorial, it's Spicer Adventist. 09:37 Yeah, given out the Memorial and brought Adventist. 09:39 Because I, for one, want to know 09:41 people to know that this is a Adventist institution. 09:45 Yes, yeah. 09:46 We'll stand for Adventist principles whatever may come. 09:50 It doesn't bother whether we are big or small 09:53 but we'll stand for the Adventist 09:54 philosophy of education. 09:55 So I'm totally committed for that. 09:57 Wonderful. 09:58 As you look to the future, 10:00 Dr. Devadas, what would be your hope 10:02 that this school will continue to contribute? 10:08 Dr. Gary Krause, you know, 10:09 the Adventist kids in India had suffered for years 10:14 and years for want of an Adventist university 10:17 because they go to the secular universities, 10:20 they find difficult time to manage with the Sabbath issues, 10:24 they move with the different group of people, 10:26 their ethos change. 10:28 Now with our university, we can only grow. 10:31 Yes. We can only grow. 10:33 We look forward, you know, 10:35 the Southern Asia has 1.7 million membership 10:38 and then you know, that many youngsters are there. 10:40 India has the highest population 10:42 which is less than 25 years old. 10:44 They all Seventh-day Adventists also, we want them to come. 10:47 We want the education to be provided. 10:49 Then, for international students, 10:52 Spicer will still provide top class Adventist education 10:56 at an affordable price. 10:58 Wonderful. Up next we travel to Japan. 11:10 When you think of Japan, you might imagine the busy, 11:13 crowded streets of Tokyo. 11:15 Or your mind might wander off 11:16 to scenes of beautiful landscapes. 11:19 There is not only diversity in Japan's lifestyle and terrain 11:22 but also in the people who live here. 11:25 Over the years, many South Americans have settled 11:28 into towns and cities throughout Japan. 11:32 Shizuoka is famous for its views of Mount Fuji. 11:35 It has a humid, sub-tropical climate. 11:38 On this Sabbath morning, the rain is holding off 11:40 allowing this congregation to meet 11:42 beside a peaceful lake outside the city. 11:48 This is a unique group in Japan. 11:50 The members of this church come from South America 11:53 and most from Brazil. 11:55 Many of them have lived here for years 11:57 and this is their home. 11:59 They come to work, have a different quality of life, 12:02 and sometime just to have a new beginning. 12:05 Since there is such a large population 12:07 of Brazilians in this area, 12:09 they have formed their own church family. 12:11 The churches atmosphere is friendly and kind 12:14 and all are welcome. 12:17 Brazilians smile a lot. 12:20 They like to hug and they're very friendly. 12:23 They like to make friends 12:24 and they also expect you to come back again. 12:27 Each Sabbath begins with a Sabbath School lesson. 12:30 If you don't speak Portuguese there is still a place for you. 12:34 The classes are divided into Portuguese, Japanese, 12:37 and English speaking groups. 12:38 In general, Japan is a challenging area 12:41 for the gospel to spread. 12:43 Japan is a highly developed country. 12:47 But because of secularism and materialism, 12:50 you know, all these things will hinder people, 12:55 you know, to receive the gospel message, you see. 12:59 You can notice a strong presence 13:01 of these concepts in the cities. 13:03 People are busy and have little time for religion. 13:06 This busy lifestyle even rubs off 13:08 on the Brazilian migrant workers. 13:10 For the church members, 13:11 the time to rest on Sabbath is highly valued. 13:24 Marina is originally from Brazil. 13:27 When she moved to Japan with her husband, 13:29 they were not Adventists. 13:31 Her husband wanted to find a new church in Japan. 13:33 So he started looking and found an Adventist church. 13:36 Marina was against the idea of visiting. 13:39 The first time she went to church, 13:41 she deliberately wore outrageous outfits 13:43 to embarrass him and maybe stop him from going. 13:46 Her husband told her that as long 13:47 as she comes to church it's okay. 13:50 Marina began to feel something change 13:52 and before long, she actually wanted to attend. 13:55 She listened to the messages 13:57 and eventually Marina and her husband were baptized. 14:00 Members like Marina have turned their lives 14:03 around to serve Jesus. 14:08 The mission challenge can be seen around the world 14:11 and especially in places like the 10/40 window. 14:14 Churches like this one in Japan have a great responsibility 14:18 to draw people closer to Jesus. 14:20 A portion of your mission offerings 14:22 will support a multicultural center 14:24 where international members can come together 14:27 and lives can be touched by Jesus. 14:30 Please pray for this church 14:32 and other international churches around the world. 14:35 Thank you for supporting the mission 14:36 of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 14:43 Well, thanks so much for joining us 14:45 today on Global Mission Snapshots. 14:47 I hope that you've been inspired and challenged 14:50 by what you've seen and heard. 14:52 The light of the God's love 14:53 is being spread right here in India 14:55 and also in Northern Asian, in Japan, 14:58 in Korea, in Taiwan, as we've seen. 15:01 Thank you for your continuing prayerful 15:03 and financial support, for mission around the world. 15:07 It is making a difference. 15:09 If you'd like to find out more about 13th Sabbath Offerings, 15:13 just go to our website at AdventistMission.org. 15:16 There you'll find pictures, videos, reports, 15:18 stories of how these offerings 15:20 are making a difference around the world. 15:23 Before we go, I'd like to give you a small special offer. 15:27 It's a book called "A Taste of Travel" 15:30 written by Nancy Kyte, 15:31 marketing director for Adventist Mission. 15:33 It has recipes from all over the world. 15:36 So if you want to try something different try this book. 15:38 It's a small thank you for your continuing support in mission. 15:42 For Global Mission Snapshots, I'm Gary Krause and I hope 15:45 that you can join me next time on this program. |
Revised 2015-06-22