Participants:
Series Code: GMS
Program Code: GMS000904A
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00:09 Hundreds of centers of influence have been
00:11 established in cities all around the world, 00:15 including here in Mexico City. 00:17 Centers of influence, 00:18 urban Mission and much more coming up next. 00:26 Just before He went up to heaven, 00:28 Jesus gave us a command. 00:31 He gave us a mission. 00:34 Jesus said, "Go." 00:37 "Go unto all the world." 00:39 Telling them of His love. 00:41 This is our mission. 00:44 This is our Global Mission. 00:52 Hello and welcome to Global Mission Snapshots, 00:54 coming to you today from Mexico City in Mexico. 00:58 Behind me you'll see the site of the first 01:01 Seventh-day Adventist Church here in this city. 01:04 Of course, this is not the original building 01:06 but there's a lot of Adventist history 01:08 right here in this area. 01:10 In fact, Adventist work began in the city 01:12 with a center of influence in 1899. 01:16 Pastor George Cavernous, 01:18 who had been the principal of the Battle Creek School, 01:21 came to me to this country as a missionary 01:23 a few years earlier. 01:25 And then with two assistants came to Mexico City 01:28 and started the work with a center of influence. 01:31 It was an English language school. 01:34 And at this school, they mingled with people, 01:37 they became friends they showed sympathy, 01:40 they ministered to needs. 01:41 They won confidence 01:43 and soon people were following Jesus 01:45 and joining the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 01:47 On today's program will be focusing 01:49 on centers of the influence, 01:51 we'll see more on today's program 01:52 but first up, let's travel 01:54 to a totally different part of the world. 02:03 Twenty five years ago, the world church established 02:06 the office of Global Mission, with a specific mandate, 02:10 plant new Seventh-day Adventist churches 02:12 in the most challenging, unreached areas of the world. 02:19 The church has tripled in size since Global Mission began. 02:23 Thousands of new churches have been planted in new areas. 02:27 People from hundreds of different cultural 02:29 and religious backgrounds 02:30 have found hope and joy in Jesus Christ. 02:33 And yet, the rapidly growing urban areas 02:36 in all countries of the world 02:37 continue to present a huge and unique challenge. 02:42 About two hundred years ago, just three percent 02:44 of the world population was living in the cities. 02:46 Now we have more than half of the people in the world 02:49 live in urban areas. 02:51 In a couple of decades, we're going to have 02:53 three quarters of the whole population 02:55 in the world leaving those major cities. 02:58 When Global Mission began, there were ten cities 03:01 with more than ten million people, mega cities. 03:04 Today, that number has nearly tripled and continues to grow. 03:09 As Jesus crested that hill 03:12 and looked at the City of Jerusalem, 03:16 the Bible says, "He wept." 03:20 I want to implore each of you to weep 03:24 for the people of the cities of this world. 03:27 And do more than weep. 03:29 Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the power to join 03:32 in comprehensive urban evangelism, 03:35 to reach these precious souls of these many cities. 03:40 More than 100 years ago, Ellen White wrote, 03:43 "We must do more than we've done 03:45 to reach the people of our cities. 03:48 Over and over again the light has been given me 03:50 that we should establish in all our cities small plants 03:55 which shall be centers of influence. 03:58 Jesus loves the cities. 04:00 And the reason He does 04:02 is because that's where people live. 04:05 And Jesus loves people. 04:07 In Matthew 9:35, the Bible says, 04:09 "And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, 04:12 preaching in their synagogues, 04:14 teaching and healing the diseases of the people." 04:18 Jesus had a comprehensive plan of physical, mental, 04:21 spiritual and emotional wholeness for the cities. 04:24 Today, hundreds of urban centers of influence, 04:27 including Adventist Mission's Life Hope centers 04:30 are putting Christ method of ministry into action 04:33 around the world. 04:34 Many of these focus on health and wellness, 04:37 offering health screenings, health food, 04:39 cooking and exercise a massage therapy. 04:45 In Jakarta, Indonesia, large apartment buildings 04:48 often have a shopping center on the ground floor. 04:51 Here among the small clothes stores and food shops, 04:54 Adventists are opening centers of influence 04:57 in the form of health kiosks. 04:59 Through this shopping mall ministry, 05:01 visitors can get an electronic health scan, 05:04 have a report emailed to them and get recommendations 05:07 on how to live a healthier life. 05:12 Vegetarian restaurants offer the community opportunities 05:15 for healthier living 05:17 and provide a platform for holistic ministry. 05:20 Vigana in Vaasa, Finland, 05:22 provides a helpful and tasty food buffet. 05:25 But also runs Health Expos, 05:26 Stop smoking clinics and the Bible classes. 05:30 Other centers of influence 05:32 provide the community with homework 05:33 and after school help for children, 05:35 language and skills training classes and counseling. 05:41 In Denmark's capital, Copenhagen, 05:44 Adventists have found a creative way to put 05:46 Christ method of ministry into practice. 05:53 Happy Hand is a second hand shop 05:55 on a busy thoroughfare in the heart of the city. 05:58 But Happy Hand offers 05:59 more than redistributing quality used items. 06:02 It's a center of influence, 06:04 providing a springboard for Adventist to mingle, 06:07 show sympathy, minister to needs, 06:09 win confidence and bid people to follow Jesus. 06:14 I think, I feel that here it's more open. 06:17 It's very public that this is a Christian shop. 06:20 We have Bible verses in the walls 06:21 and it's very clear that this is a place 06:25 where we are Christians and it's very open. 06:28 So it's easier to getting 06:29 to those conversations with people. 06:31 And we also have a poster 06:33 that says that if you want to talk to a pastor, 06:35 you can you can just ask. 06:37 So yes, people do come in here 06:39 and just want somebody to talk to, 06:43 maybe pray for them. 06:45 We have a contact with the people here 06:49 that we get we don't get in church. 06:52 People can come in from the street 06:54 and they can sit down 06:55 and have a cup of our own tea or-- and just be able 06:59 to talk to somebody about anything. 07:02 And we actually reach people here 07:06 and we can do something for them. 07:08 Just for having a second hand shop 07:09 wouldn't be enough for me to participate 07:11 'cause there are lots of those. 07:13 But having this extra aspect really makes it worth it. 07:17 Bea just called me one evening and said, 07:19 "I need volunteers. 07:21 Can you please come and help?" 07:22 And I'm busy. 07:25 We have four kids and my husband is very busy 07:27 so I said, "I don't have the time. 07:30 But I think it's a very important project. 07:32 And I think-- and I can see the vision of it." 07:35 So yes, I'll come and help for three months. 07:38 And that is about two years ago. 07:44 Urban centers of influence provide a platform 07:46 to connect to community needs, 07:48 follow Jesus's example of ministry 07:51 and plant new groups of believers. 07:54 "We are not to wait for souls to come to us. 07:57 We must seek them out where they are. 08:00 When the word has been preached in the pulpit, 08:03 the work has but just begun. 08:05 There are multitudes who will never be reached by the gospel 08:09 unless it is carried to them." 08:15 My guest is Pastor Raul Moscoso, 08:18 who supervises centers of influence 08:21 here in Mexico City. 08:23 Thank you for joining us, Amigo. 08:25 And in this area here we have a community, 08:28 a very diverse community. 08:30 Describe the area in which we are standing. 08:36 Well, we're standing here 08:37 in the historic center of Mexico. 08:39 In this place, you'll find 08:41 the most impoverished people of this nation. 08:44 They're basically four types of people living here. 08:47 And through our center of influence, 08:49 we're able to touch each one of those groups. 08:52 Group number one is composed of street children. 08:55 Then there's the homeless 08:56 like the people right behind us. 08:58 There are also prostitutes, 09:00 they live and work nearby and delinquent kids. 09:03 Now what is the center of influence doing 09:06 to influence the community, to help the community? 09:14 The center of influence is here to help the people. 09:17 We're located in the heart of this place. 09:19 And we provide the people with food, 09:22 with clothing and items that they may need 09:25 during the cold days of winter or hot summer days as well. 09:31 Now we just made a number of young men to hear 09:35 what-- can you share a story of somebody 09:39 whose life has been touched through the center? 09:42 Well, we have worked with a number of people. 09:46 We simply help the prostitute to come out of the streets. 09:49 Her husband was the one 09:51 who forced her into prostitution. 09:53 And when they came into the center, 09:55 we began building a relationship 09:57 and helping them. 09:59 They made a beautiful decision to change their lives 10:02 and today, this lady has a daughter. 10:04 They attend the center of influence 10:06 and are helping other ladies in a similar condition, 10:09 to come out of this work 10:10 and stop what's causing society, 10:13 and themselves a lot of harm. 10:15 Wonderful. Thank you, Pastor. 10:16 We're going to come back 10:17 to the center later this evening 10:19 and we're going to see the center in action. 10:21 Okay. 10:24 Well, it's Tuesday evening here 10:25 in the center of influence in Mexico City. 10:28 And it's alive and bustling 10:30 and Pastor, describe what we're seeing here. 10:35 This is the first center of influence in Mexico City. 10:39 We work with the people who live in the streets. 10:42 Each Tuesday and Sabbaths, we invite them in to feed them. 10:47 For many other people here, this is their only meal today. 10:52 This is our mission service 10:54 towards people who are less fortunate. 10:57 Wonderful. 10:58 Now, can you share an experience 11:01 of how someone's life 11:02 has been touched through this center? 11:08 Yes. 11:09 We have good experiences to share. 11:12 We have been privileged to help change people's lives. 11:16 And even to be baptized some friends right here. 11:19 They have accepted Jesus and left their addictions. 11:23 Since many of them are either drug or alcohol addicts. 11:27 The people you see here have lost their homes 11:30 or have been forced out of them. 11:32 So we begin a thorough work with them. 11:35 First, by meeting their physical needs. 11:37 We provide them food and clothing. 11:40 Then we help them with tools, 11:43 so that they can change habits and transform their lives. 11:46 You will notice that some here tonight 11:49 have already accepted Jesus and are reshaping their ways. 11:53 They chose a new direction, 11:55 and are living a new phase for their own good, 11:58 but also for the benefit of society, 12:00 and because they want to live in the kingdom of God. 12:04 So, Pastor, can we meet one of these people, please? 12:07 Yes, of course. 12:08 I would like to introduce you to a friend. 12:11 He decided to change his life. 12:13 Let's ask him. 12:15 My dear friend, what changes have happened in your life 12:18 here at this center 12:19 and how do you feel 12:21 about the activities we do for you? 12:28 I feel appreciative. 12:30 And I feel the support of God in this center. 12:33 In reality, when someone lives in the street, 12:36 one feels very alone and unsheltered. 12:39 Society many times does not understand our condition. 12:43 But we learn to trust God and to rely on him 12:46 with the help of the pastors of the center, 12:49 who encourage us to follow the Lord at all times. 12:53 In your opinion, 12:54 does this center help your friends 12:56 and all of the people around us? 12:57 Yes. 12:59 I believe this really helps, 13:00 especially, in supporting us to reach our goals. 13:03 Although, hard to believe, 13:05 we also have dreams and goals in life. 13:07 Many times these goals seem hard. 13:10 But it's not impossible. 13:12 I know that with God, in time we can get there. 13:16 It's hard but with God, we keep moving. 13:20 Very well. 13:21 Pastor Gary, you have seen with your own eyes 13:23 that the people here, 13:25 in their own way, they love the Lord. 13:28 We also love them. 13:30 And we want to celebrate the first Center of influence 13:33 here in Mexico City, 13:35 that is here to support them and to help them 13:38 out of the difficult times they are living in. 13:42 Wonderful. Gracias. 13:43 Centers of influence, 13:45 putting Christ method into practice, 13:48 mingling, showing sympathy, ministering to the needs, 13:51 winning confidence and leading people to Jesus. 13:53 Don't go away 13:54 we'll be right back after this break. |
Revised 2015-11-30