Participants: Gary Krause (Host)
Series Code: GMS
Program Code: GMS001003B
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00:03 Welcome back to Vancouver.
00:05 Next stop, we travel to the country of Myanmar, 00:07 where Rick Kajiura visits a centre of influence, 00:10 in the capital city Yangon. 00:12 Rick. 00:14 Thank you. 00:15 We are here in Yangon, Myanmar. 00:18 And I'm in a brand new center of influence 00:21 and with me is Dr. Trele, 00:24 who is a medical doctor here and you are instrumental 00:28 in getting this center set up here. 00:31 Tell us a little bit about 00:32 what are you doing here in this center? 00:35 All right, we call it Newstart Lifestyle Center, 00:40 and then we based on the Newstart principles 00:44 that we want to promote and prevent diseases, 00:49 especially the lifestyle diseases like diabetes, 00:53 hypertension, heart disease, obesity, 00:56 you know that kind of lifestyle diseases. 00:58 So, because in Yangon, I believe, 01:03 the relevance and incidence 01:06 of these lifestyle diseases are increasing 01:08 because the lifestyle in Yangon, 01:11 you know, in Myanmar, 01:13 it's like imitate to the western lifestyle. 01:18 So, so these are the burden that I saw in Myanmar. 01:23 So that, this lifestyle center will prevent or promote, 01:28 you know, prevent the disease 01:30 and promote the health of the community around. 01:33 So these lifestyle diseases as we called them 01:35 like diabetes, hypertension things like that, 01:38 because people are living in the big cities, 01:41 their lifestyle has changed. 01:43 They drive cars, they eat more 01:45 and so they're affected more by these diseases. 01:49 And so, this is a new center. 01:51 How long has the center been here? 01:53 Okay, this was open just yesterday. 01:57 Yesterday? Officially. 01:59 Yeah, but we have been running this center 02:02 with the low profile basis within the church community, 02:06 it's three years ago. 02:07 Okay. Yeah. 02:09 So when you talk about some of these lifestyle diseases, 02:12 what are the things that you are doing 02:13 or teaching to help people learn how to, 02:16 how to deal with them. 02:17 I know one thing we have right here is, 02:20 some exercise machines, 02:21 but can you tell me a little bit about that? 02:23 Sure. 02:24 As I said you before, 02:26 we are based on a Newstart principle. 02:27 So we focus on the Newstart things. 02:30 So, for nutrition we encourage them 02:32 to eat the more vegetables and fruits. 02:35 For nutrition? Yeah, nutrition, exercise. 02:38 You know, exercise. Exercise. Right. 02:40 And then water, drinks enough mineral water. 02:44 Yeah, and exposed to the sunlight for a bit. 02:49 And then two is the temperance, 02:55 so we let them to avoid the harmful things. 02:58 And then we do, to follow the things that do, 03:04 that is good moderately. 03:06 So, this is temperance. 03:07 So temperance is, so that is things like stopping? 03:12 Like, they have to avoid the coffees, 03:14 you know, alcohol, smoking. 03:17 Alcohol and smoking. Yes. 03:19 So, do you help them stop smoking 03:21 if they have a problem? 03:22 Yes, we have a breathe free smoking cessation center. 03:26 A breathe free smoking suggestion center. 03:28 Yeah, yeah, yes. Wonderful, okay. 03:30 So temperance and then-- 03:32 A fresh air, fresh air. Air. 03:36 And so fresh air, we let them, 03:39 let them do the deep breathing exercise daily 03:42 and then we encourage them to make, 03:46 you know, to, we educate them to get a fresh air. 03:50 How they can get the fresh air, you know, through ventilation. 03:54 Yeah, and, rest, proper rest. Yeah, proper rest. 03:59 Proper rest, that include, you know, everything 04:02 and deliberate and also the, also the sleep, 04:10 you know, how to, how they can get the sound sleep. 04:13 And then weekly rest, and the annual rest. 04:17 So, we encourage them to follow these rest principles. 04:22 So I know some of the things that you are doing is, 04:25 we had some soy milk, so what are the things 04:27 that you are doing like soy milk, 04:29 what else are you doing? 04:31 Yeah, we encourage the, to produce our own food 04:36 like a soy milk. 04:38 And then we order the same brown rice 04:41 and also, we, how to say, brown bread. 04:46 Okay. Yeah. 04:47 And also, even though we can produce the organic food 04:50 yet we do collect things that organically grown. 04:57 Yeah, the fruits and vegetables, we bought it. 05:01 Okay, now you only opened yesterday, 05:04 but are you hearing from people 05:06 that there is an interest in the center yet? 05:08 Yes, yes. Okay, so what are they saying? 05:12 Especially, yesterday program, we saw people are coming, 05:16 especially the middle class and high class. 05:19 So they know about health, 05:21 they are more aware of the health. 05:24 So they want to know the, how to prevent the disease, 05:28 you know, how to get well soon, so, that they are, 05:31 they are educated, at this area. 05:35 People living around here are educated, 05:36 so they, yeah they're very interested to our program. 05:40 Wonderful. Yeah. 05:41 If people around the world 05:42 could pray for something for this center, 05:44 what would you ask them to pray for? 05:45 Yes, please. 05:47 I would like to request to pray for this center, 05:50 especially, we have just started. 05:53 So we need to do, 05:54 we need to develop things to be neat and tidy 05:57 and to extend the program 05:59 so that it would become the center of influence. 06:03 So that people will seek 06:04 that our program will influence them 06:06 and so then we can influence them 06:09 and then through this center of influence, 06:12 we get to know people more 06:14 and then we can share the love of God more. 06:17 Now, you have some dreams for the future for this place. 06:20 What are your hopes and dreams for this place? 06:21 Yeah, we have a problem beside this area. 06:26 We are planning to set up a food store 06:33 and a physiotherapy department and vegetarian restaurant. 06:37 Because vegetarian restaurant, 06:38 we have the Chinese vegetarian restaurant here, 06:41 but they are not healthy. 06:42 Very oily and they look, use a lot of MSG. 06:45 So we want a really healthy vegetarian restaurant. 06:49 So when you open the vegetarian restaurant 06:51 let me know, I have to come back. 06:52 Sure, please come. Welcome. 06:56 Oh, it's really wonderful to see what you are doing here, 06:59 you know, you know, the city has grown tremendously 07:02 and like cities all over the world. 07:05 You know, centers of influence can make a tremendous impact. 07:09 Dr. Trele, thank you very much for joining us and back to you. 07:17 Next stop, we travel to the capital city of Uruguay, 07:20 where a center of influence 07:22 works closely with the radio station. 07:27 Located in South America, 07:28 Uruguay has one of the largest urban populations 07:31 on the planet with more than 75 percent 07:34 of Uruguayan's living in cities. 07:36 When it comes to religion, Uruguay is widely considered 07:39 the most secular nation in the region. 07:41 Yet people in Uruguay enjoy a stable government 07:44 and the lowest level of crime in South America 07:47 making this nation, a bit of heaven on earth. 07:51 After many years of decline, 07:53 the Adventist Church in Uruguay is experiencing sizable growth. 07:58 Thanks to church planting, centers of influence 08:00 and a local radio station 08:02 that broadcast over a large portion of the country. 08:07 Nuevo Tiempo radio station at 101.3 FM, 08:11 plays a major outreach role 08:12 in the secular country of Uruguay. 08:14 This station is well-known and respected 08:17 for providing outstanding programming 08:19 in the areas of health and wellness, 08:21 marriage and family, 08:22 biblical study and practical Christianity. 08:25 Throughout this country, the Nuevo Tiempo brand 08:28 is visible at every Seventh-day Adventist church 08:31 and center of influence through large signs, 08:33 featuring the radio station's name and logo. 08:36 This connection between the local Adventist churches 08:39 and the radio station has made a positive impact 08:41 on church attendance, baptisms and retention. 08:45 As listeners hear the beautiful music 08:47 and thoughtful devotionals, 08:48 they are invited to contact the radio station 08:50 for Bible studies and a personal follow up. 08:54 From Matias Vigil, the personal touch 08:56 is an essential part of serving people and making friends. 09:00 Matias was recently baptized and he is already making plans 09:03 to become a pastor. 09:05 In the mean time, 09:06 he manages the center of influence 09:08 on a busy street in Montevideo. 09:10 This facility like other centers in the city 09:13 is known as Nuevo Tiempo's Center of Influence, 09:16 a center that supports and compliments the radio work. 09:21 Here, listeners find a place 09:22 to learn more about the topics they hear on the radio. 09:25 And the atmosphere is welcoming and friendly. 09:28 The center offers the wide variety of free courses, 09:31 like stress management tutoring, 09:33 music lessons, health and wellness seminars, 09:36 Bible studies or simply a caring ear to listen. 09:44 I believe there is a place for everything. 09:47 The church has an important role to nourish people 09:49 who come near the church family. 09:51 But there are people who see a simple sign 09:53 that says church, 09:55 and they would never come close. 09:58 Nonetheless, this group also has needs, 10:00 and we ought to reach them with the hope of salvation. 10:04 For this group of people, 10:06 a centre of influence like, this is perfect. 10:09 It's perfect to get near those 10:11 who have a prejudice against religion. 10:13 People who shun ceremony and the rigid structure. 10:17 So, we seek to meet needs, 10:18 to provide them the things that interest them. 10:21 They become our friends and we can show them 10:23 the love of God. 10:31 There are countless stories of people 10:32 who found hope and Jesus 10:34 because of this center of influence. 10:37 Now it's coming to arrive 10:39 and find people studying the Bible 10:41 or receiving counseling. 10:51 Tonight, friends of this center 10:53 are learning to speak Portuguese. 10:55 Uruguay borders the southern part of Brazil, 10:58 a Portuguese speaking nation, making this a popular class 11:01 and giving the perfect opportunity to meet people 11:04 who might never come near a traditional church. 11:07 Some of the people tonight are already studying the Bible 11:10 and now they are making positive connections 11:12 with new visitors. 11:13 The potential of this center is simply unmeasurable. 11:20 I believe it aligns with the plans of God 11:23 to establish centers of influence. 11:25 Ellen G. White speaks clearly on this topic 11:28 saying that it is important to reach the people 11:30 who had not stepped into a church. 11:33 Centers of influence are the answer to this need. 11:36 They connect people with God. 11:40 Part of your 13th Sabbath Offering this quarter 11:42 will help build and operate centers of influence 11:45 and new churches in too densely populated areas of Montevideo. 11:50 These locations have little or no Adventist presence. 11:53 Please pray for the people of Montevideo. 11:56 Also pray for missionaries like Matias, 11:58 who are engaging people in urban centers of our world. 12:04 Thank you for supporting mission offerings 12:05 and centers of influence like this in Montevideo. 12:14 Well, that's about it for today's program. 12:16 I hope that you've been inspired 12:18 and challenged by what you've seen and heard. 12:20 From cities such as Vancouver, to the more remote area 12:24 such as the school in the Amazon river 12:27 and also to centers of influence 12:29 such as we've seen in Uruguay. 12:31 People all around the world 12:32 are sharing the light of God's love. 12:34 And I want to thank you for your continuing support 12:37 of mission around the world through your prayers, 12:39 through your personal involvement, 12:41 and through your finances. 12:43 Speaking of which, I like to send you this small, 12:46 I guess it's called the money book, 12:47 it says 13th Sabbath Mission Offering money box. 12:50 You can use, use this in Sabbath schools, 12:52 you can use it in your home, to teach your children 12:55 the importance of supporting mission. 12:57 Just, there's a hole in the top here 13:00 and you just put your coins in or your dollars in here 13:02 whatever you have, and collect the money 13:05 that will support mission around the world. 13:07 Well, until next time, I'm Gary Krause 13:09 for Global Mission Snapshots, 13:10 and I hope you can join me right here on this program. |
Revised 2016-02-18