My guest is Pastor Kumar Dixit,
00:00:01.86\00:00:03.90
who is the senior pastor
00:00:03.93\00:00:05.27
of the Oakridge Seventh-day
Adventist Church in Vancouver.
00:00:05.30\00:00:08.10
And he is also the
Ministerial Association Director
00:00:08.14\00:00:10.71
for the Conference
of Seventh-day Adventist
00:00:10.74\00:00:13.21
here in British Colombia.
00:00:13.24\00:00:15.74
Kumar, thanks for
joining us. Thank you.
00:00:15.78\00:00:17.11
You also used to be my pastor.
00:00:17.15\00:00:18.48
I did. I did the
best that I could.
00:00:18.51\00:00:19.91
Yeah, thank you so much.
00:00:19.95\00:00:21.68
Kumar, I want to
talk to you about
00:00:21.72\00:00:23.25
one of the biggest challenges
that we are facing as a church.
00:00:23.28\00:00:26.42
And actually
combines into two challenges.
00:00:26.45\00:00:28.06
One is, the growing
number of secular people
00:00:28.09\00:00:31.36
who live life
without reference to God.
00:00:31.39\00:00:34.63
And that thing combines with
the challenge of urban areas
00:00:34.66\00:00:36.97
where a lot of
these people tend to live.
00:00:37.00\00:00:39.83
How would you describe
the challenge that we face?
00:00:39.87\00:00:42.87
Gary, I was at the
Apple store just last week
00:00:42.90\00:00:45.81
trying to get some help.
00:00:45.84\00:00:47.21
And I had two Bible
apps that weren't opening up.
00:00:47.24\00:00:50.48
And I had another
Bible reference library
00:00:50.51\00:00:52.35
that wasn't opening up.
00:00:52.38\00:00:53.72
And so the Apple
genius was sitting next to me
00:00:53.75\00:00:55.78
and she kind of noticed
that I had a lot of Bible stuff
00:00:55.82\00:00:58.79
that I needed help with.
00:00:58.82\00:01:00.16
And I kind of sheepishly
looked at her and I said,
00:01:00.19\00:01:02.46
I'm a pastor.
00:01:02.49\00:01:03.83
And she said oh, she said,
00:01:03.86\00:01:05.46
she said I have
never seen a Bible before.
00:01:05.49\00:01:07.73
And it was a very first
time that she had seen a Bible.
00:01:07.76\00:01:10.30
Now, let me remind you,
it wasn't my paper Bible,
00:01:10.33\00:01:12.53
it was the Bible on my screen.
00:01:12.57\00:01:14.57
And so I kind of just
gave her very quick over review
00:01:14.60\00:01:16.57
that there's 66
books in the Bible
00:01:16.60\00:01:18.21
and this is the word of God.
00:01:18.24\00:01:19.57
And as I was talking to her,
00:01:19.61\00:01:20.94
she had no clue
what I was talking about.
00:01:20.98\00:01:22.91
And so I said to
her, I said Elena,
00:01:22.94\00:01:26.01
have you ever
been to church before?
00:01:26.05\00:01:28.18
And she said, "No, I've never
even walked into a church."
00:01:28.22\00:01:30.92
And I said, "Have
you ever even wondered
00:01:30.95\00:01:33.82
if there is a God or fell like
there's a void in your life?"
00:01:33.86\00:01:37.19
She said, No, I'm actually
quite happy with my life."
00:01:37.23\00:01:40.20
I mean, years ago we assumed
00:01:40.23\00:01:41.80
everybody had some
kind of belief in God.
00:01:41.83\00:01:44.23
And at least,
00:01:44.27\00:01:45.93
at least felt some
kind of void in their life.
00:01:45.97\00:01:47.84
But this young
woman really represents
00:01:47.87\00:01:49.94
what we call secular
people in today's age.
00:01:49.97\00:01:53.78
They don't even know about God,
00:01:53.81\00:01:55.18
they don't even
know the story of Jesus.
00:01:55.21\00:01:57.05
And so that's really,
really great challenge
00:01:57.08\00:01:59.41
that we are facing as a church.
00:01:59.45\00:02:01.28
Yeah, and what you describe
there, it's kind of like,
00:02:01.32\00:02:04.45
how do you sell food to
somebody who is not hungry?
00:02:04.49\00:02:08.36
That's right. That's right.
00:02:08.39\00:02:09.72
And you know, just to go on
with that story, I did ask her.
00:02:09.76\00:02:11.09
I said, "Would you
like to come and check out
00:02:11.13\00:02:12.46
what a church is like?"
00:02:12.49\00:02:13.83
And she said,
"Yeah, I think I would."
00:02:13.86\00:02:15.20
And so I invited
her and she said,
00:02:15.23\00:02:18.23
"Any time you come
back, you invite me
00:02:18.27\00:02:20.07
and I'll come to your church
00:02:20.10\00:02:21.44
because I'm just
curious to know what it's like.
00:02:21.47\00:02:23.17
And that's what
Vancouver is like.
00:02:23.20\00:02:24.54
It's one of the most
secular societies in the world.
00:02:24.57\00:02:27.98
People are not
just post Christians.
00:02:28.01\00:02:30.61
They don't even know
what Christianity is.
00:02:30.65\00:02:32.75
In fact, the city
of Vancouver says,
00:02:32.78\00:02:35.85
the latest polls say that
00:02:35.88\00:02:37.62
only three out of 10
people even believe in a deity.
00:02:37.65\00:02:41.42
And we are not
talking about just Jesus,
00:02:41.46\00:02:42.79
we're talking about
Buddha, we're talking about,
00:02:42.82\00:02:44.16
you know a Hinduism.
00:02:44.19\00:02:45.53
People don't even
believe in a deity whatsoever
00:02:45.56\00:02:47.90
and so they're so far removed
00:02:47.93\00:02:49.83
that you cannot go
after them and say,
00:02:49.86\00:02:52.37
I want to explain
the Sabbath to you
00:02:52.40\00:02:54.00
because they don't even
know what the Sabbath is
00:02:54.04\00:02:56.37
in relationship to who Jesus is.
00:02:56.40\00:02:58.54
Now, here's one of
the challenges of course
00:02:58.57\00:03:00.51
is that much of our outreach
and our evangelistic program
00:03:00.54\00:03:05.41
assume that the
people believe the Bible.
00:03:05.45\00:03:08.52
And so, when I guess
00:03:08.55\00:03:10.85
when we look at the
history of the Adventist church,
00:03:10.89\00:03:12.52
most of our new
believers have come from
00:03:12.55\00:03:14.32
other Christian
churches of anonymous.
00:03:14.36\00:03:15.99
Yes. So what do we do?
00:03:16.02\00:03:18.23
You had to start
from the very beginning.
00:03:18.26\00:03:19.89
Let me give you an example.
00:03:19.93\00:03:21.90
In my church
00:03:21.93\00:03:23.26
I preach with
slides every single week.
00:03:23.30\00:03:26.10
And then there's a
Bibles in every one of my pews
00:03:26.13\00:03:29.10
And I use "The New
Living" translation Bible
00:03:29.14\00:03:31.87
because it's the easiest version
00:03:31.91\00:03:33.48
for new people to understand.
00:03:33.51\00:03:36.31
And then, when I say
turn to Joshua Chapter 9,
00:03:36.34\00:03:38.21
I don't just assume
people know where Joshua is.
00:03:38.25\00:03:41.05
On my slides it says, page 752.
00:03:41.08\00:03:44.85
So people now
are not embarrassed
00:03:44.89\00:03:46.86
because they're so
biblically illiterate,
00:03:46.89\00:03:48.69
it helps them find
where it is in scripture.
00:03:48.72\00:03:51.73
So you have to really assume
00:03:51.76\00:03:53.40
people have zero
understanding of the Bible
00:03:53.43\00:03:55.96
and start from
the very beginning.
00:03:56.00\00:03:58.93
But you are talking about people
00:03:58.97\00:04:00.37
who have actually taken
the step to be in the pews.
00:04:00.40\00:04:03.27
But there are lot of
people who never even walk
00:04:03.30\00:04:05.51
through the doors of a
church because that's a barrier,
00:04:05.54\00:04:08.11
it's a cultural
barrier, whatever.
00:04:08.14\00:04:10.15
How do we connect
with those people?
00:04:10.18\00:04:12.35
The greatest way to
connect with these people
00:04:12.38\00:04:14.88
is through friendship.
00:04:14.92\00:04:16.79
People will see
Jesus in your life
00:04:16.82\00:04:19.89
and they want to know about it.
00:04:19.92\00:04:21.26
Now, I don't want to discount
00:04:21.29\00:04:22.79
flooding your
neighborhood with postcards
00:04:22.82\00:04:25.29
or invitation bills
or knocking on the doors.
00:04:25.33\00:04:27.30
I think those
all have relevancy.
00:04:27.33\00:04:29.50
But the greatest way
is to really help people
00:04:29.53\00:04:32.23
come to know Jesus is by having
a relationship with people.
00:04:32.27\00:04:34.97
So we have to
encourage our Adventist members
00:04:35.00\00:04:37.41
to make friends with people
who don't know about Jesus.
00:04:37.44\00:04:40.18
Right.
00:04:40.21\00:04:41.54
Well, I can
remember, maybe two years ago
00:04:41.58\00:04:43.14
I was with a group of pastors
00:04:43.18\00:04:44.68
and I was teaching a
seminar on something.
00:04:44.71\00:04:46.35
And I asked, please
get out a piece of paper
00:04:46.38\00:04:48.68
and just list down your,
00:04:48.72\00:04:50.25
your 10 top non
Christian friends.
00:04:50.29\00:04:54.66
And I saw the pens come out,
00:04:54.69\00:04:56.02
paper come out and
no one was writing.
00:04:56.06\00:04:58.39
And it's a challenge for me to,
00:04:58.43\00:05:00.23
it's so easy to get
caught up in what we're doing.
00:05:00.26\00:05:02.40
But it's so fundamental to build
00:05:02.43\00:05:04.50
friendships with non believers.
00:05:04.53\00:05:05.90
Let me give you a great thing
00:05:05.93\00:05:07.27
that we are doing at our church.
00:05:07.30\00:05:08.64
It's called
'Wednesdays Together".
00:05:08.67\00:05:10.21
And we do it in the winter time
00:05:10.24\00:05:12.34
when the people
are kind of bored.
00:05:12.37\00:05:13.71
They don't have a
lot of things to do.
00:05:13.74\00:05:15.31
And we have about 12 classes
00:05:15.34\00:05:17.88
that we offer on
Wednesday nights.
00:05:17.91\00:05:19.51
And we say, come to church,
00:05:19.55\00:05:21.45
we're gonna
have the most amazing
00:05:21.48\00:05:23.02
vegetarian meal
that you can come to.
00:05:23.05\00:05:25.19
And then, after
that you break up
00:05:25.22\00:05:26.76
and take different classes.
00:05:26.79\00:05:28.12
And we offer painting class,
00:05:28.16\00:05:29.49
we offer a
photography class, a film class.
00:05:29.52\00:05:32.03
We offer a prayer
class, how to pray?
00:05:32.06\00:05:34.30
We offer a theological class.
00:05:34.33\00:05:36.03
So this year I did one
on the Book of Revelation.
00:05:36.06\00:05:38.73
There are so
many different classes
00:05:38.77\00:05:40.10
that you can take, take.
00:05:40.14\00:05:41.47
And then people
invite their friends.
00:05:41.50\00:05:42.87
And rather than saying, I
like you to come to my church
00:05:42.90\00:05:45.17
and hear our pastor preach.
00:05:45.21\00:05:46.57
But they says, hey,
00:05:46.61\00:05:47.94
wouldn't you love to
learn to play guitar,
00:05:47.98\00:05:49.31
why don't we
all join this class?
00:05:49.34\00:05:50.85
And for 10 weeks we now
are in community together.
00:05:50.88\00:05:54.25
And all of a
sudden now people realize
00:05:54.28\00:05:56.15
that Christians
are not angry people.
00:05:56.18\00:05:59.02
They are not people
who hate everybody else.
00:05:59.05\00:06:01.09
But they're actually
a great group of people
00:06:01.12\00:06:02.52
who can, who you can
really build community with.
00:06:02.56\00:06:05.06
Wonderful.
00:06:05.09\00:06:06.43
Kumar, thank so much
for sharing with us today.
00:06:06.46\00:06:08.06
Thank you.
00:06:08.10\00:06:09.43
And please pray for those people
00:06:09.46\00:06:11.47
who do not know Jesus Christ.
00:06:11.50\00:06:13.67
And pray that we will
find new and creative ways
00:06:13.70\00:06:16.81
to follow Christ method of
mingling, showing sympathy,
00:06:16.84\00:06:19.54
ministering to
needs, winning confidence
00:06:19.57\00:06:21.78
and bidding
them to follow Jesus.
00:06:21.81\00:06:23.58
Some 85 years ago,
00:06:23.61\00:06:25.35
Leo and Jessie Halliwell
were down in the Amazon River
00:06:25.38\00:06:28.82
and they saw this
river snaking its way
00:06:28.85\00:06:31.19
through thousands of miles
that he saw that the best way
00:06:31.22\00:06:34.22
to bring hope and
healing was through a boat.
00:06:34.26\00:06:36.99
That ministry
still continues today
00:06:37.03\00:06:39.43
as people have
taken on the vision
00:06:39.46\00:06:41.53
for reaching the people
along that wonderful river.
00:06:41.56\00:06:44.13
Let's, watch that video now.
00:06:44.17\00:06:45.77
Traveling
through the Amazon River
00:06:54.01\00:06:55.98
is a unique experience.
00:06:56.01\00:06:57.95
This river stretches 4,000 miles
00:06:57.98\00:07:00.55
and ranges from six
miles wide in dry times
00:07:00.58\00:07:03.75
to 30 miles in the wet season.
00:07:03.79\00:07:06.86
The people living
along the banks of the Amazon
00:07:06.89\00:07:09.36
are named ribereņos.
00:07:09.39\00:07:11.23
They get to
experience raw nature
00:07:11.26\00:07:13.43
in a pristine environment.
00:07:13.46\00:07:15.33
Amair Jesus is a ribereņos
00:07:29.04\00:07:31.88
living on the water side
community of Rosa de Saron.
00:07:31.91\00:07:35.88
He is an active church member
00:07:35.92\00:07:37.59
who strongly
believes he has a part to play
00:07:37.62\00:07:39.89
in fulfilling the
gospel commission of Jesus.
00:07:39.92\00:07:43.06
Amair has accepted the task
00:07:43.09\00:07:45.09
to carry hope
along the mighty Amazon.
00:07:45.13\00:07:49.73
As Amair prepares
to visit a village,
00:07:49.76\00:07:52.33
he first empties the
water from his canoe.
00:07:52.37\00:07:54.80
Then he paddles
to his destination,
00:07:54.84\00:07:56.97
navigating a dangerous
river, full of crocodiles,
00:07:57.01\00:08:00.48
snakes and fish
larger than a human being.
00:08:00.51\00:08:06.58
Amair doesn't
want to waste any time.
00:08:06.61\00:08:09.12
Unless he takes an
active part in mission work,
00:08:09.15\00:08:11.85
how will the love of
Jesus reach the entire world.
00:08:11.89\00:08:15.92
Amair pauses to ask God
00:08:15.96\00:08:17.79
for an abundant
blessing on his efforts.
00:08:17.83\00:08:19.79
He can deliver words of truth
00:08:19.83\00:08:21.96
but only the Holy Spirit
can open the heart to God.
00:08:22.00\00:08:25.83
Today,
00:08:32.37\00:08:33.71
Delarde is going through a
difficult time in her life.
00:08:33.74\00:08:36.75
But the message she
hears ring sweet in her ears.
00:08:36.78\00:08:40.45
Amair shares about a new home
00:08:40.48\00:08:42.78
and a new world where
things are made perfect.
00:08:42.82\00:08:45.65
A place where there is no pain,
00:08:45.69\00:08:47.72
suffering or tears.
00:08:47.76\00:08:50.63
At the end, they pray
together asking God for peace
00:08:50.66\00:08:54.00
and a blessing
upon this household.
00:08:54.03\00:08:56.77
Outside there's a
group of children playing,
00:08:56.80\00:08:59.17
so Amair stops to talk with them
00:08:59.20\00:09:01.00
about God's exciting
plan for each of their lives.
00:09:01.04\00:09:04.71
The ribereņos appreciate
the spiritual nourishment
00:09:04.74\00:09:07.98
and attention they receive.
00:09:08.01\00:09:09.54
This simple visit speaks
to them of a caring Savior.
00:09:09.58\00:09:13.28
First, as we go out to
visit the people in the villages
00:09:17.29\00:09:20.39
we know, we try to
identify needs they have.
00:09:20.42\00:09:24.79
We try to help them a
little as we are able.
00:09:24.83\00:09:28.20
In this way we get
closer to them to make friends.
00:09:28.23\00:09:32.63
Afterwards we present
the word of God to them.
00:09:32.67\00:09:35.80
We know that it's
through the novelette deeds
00:09:35.84\00:09:37.77
that we can break down barriers.
00:09:37.81\00:09:39.81
So we can bring them the gospel.
00:09:39.84\00:09:44.45
The vast length and the wide
region of the Amazon system,
00:09:44.48\00:09:48.05
makes this a challenging
mission field for Amair
00:09:48.08\00:09:50.75
and the pastors
working along the river.
00:09:50.79\00:09:53.25
But unless they
nurture people regularly
00:09:53.29\00:09:55.72
and disciple them to
bring others to Christ,
00:09:55.76\00:09:58.23
the mission will
not move forward.
00:09:58.26\00:10:01.33
So the local
Seventh-day Adventist leaders
00:10:01.36\00:10:03.80
made plans to
build a floating church
00:10:03.83\00:10:05.77
that can navigate
to the many villages
00:10:05.80\00:10:07.74
along the Amazon River.
00:10:07.77\00:10:09.64
This was
inspired by the mobility
00:10:09.67\00:10:11.71
of Lucero missionary boats.
00:10:11.74\00:10:14.68
Now, a one of a
kind church will float
00:10:14.71\00:10:17.25
to connect ribereņos
to an Adventist pastor
00:10:17.28\00:10:20.18
and active member like Amair.
00:10:20.22\00:10:22.48
Can you imagine a Seventh-day
Adventist congregation
00:10:22.52\00:10:25.49
floating past
villages every Sabbath.
00:10:25.52\00:10:28.09
This may be one of the
world's first floating churches
00:10:28.12\00:10:31.66
navigating the dark
waters of the Amazon River
00:10:31.69\00:10:34.40
with the bright
hope Jesus brings.
00:10:34.43\00:10:38.13
Please pray for
the floating church
00:10:38.17\00:10:40.10
in the Amazon River.
00:10:40.14\00:10:41.47
And remember to support
00:10:41.50\00:10:42.84
the 13th Sabbath
Offering this quarter.
00:10:42.87\00:10:44.61
A portion of the funds
will sponsor construction
00:10:44.64\00:10:47.18
of a floating church
as well as the chapel
00:10:47.21\00:10:49.48
at the Adventist
college in Manaus,
00:10:49.51\00:10:51.78
centers of influence
in Asuncion and Montevideo
00:10:51.81\00:10:55.58
and new church
plans in east countries.
00:10:55.62\00:10:58.59
Thank you for your prayerful
support of Adventist mission.
00:10:58.62\00:11:02.62
Well, that's about
it for today's program
00:11:06.80\00:11:08.56
and I hope that
you've been challenged
00:11:08.60\00:11:10.23
and inspired by what
you've seen and heard.
00:11:10.27\00:11:13.57
From the cities of the
world such as Vancouver
00:11:13.60\00:11:16.20
to the Amazon to
China, all around the world,
00:11:16.24\00:11:19.27
in rural areas and urban areas,
00:11:19.31\00:11:21.54
men and women are
sharing the light of God's love.
00:11:21.58\00:11:24.08
And thank you so much
00:11:24.11\00:11:25.65
for your continuing support
of mission around the world,
00:11:25.68\00:11:29.05
through your
prayers, through your finances
00:11:29.08\00:11:31.59
and through your
personal involvement.
00:11:31.62\00:11:33.82
And if you live
in North America,
00:11:33.86\00:11:35.19
I'd like to send
you a small free gift.
00:11:35.22\00:11:37.03
It's just a
token, a small thank you
00:11:37.06\00:11:39.39
for your continuing
support for mission.
00:11:39.43\00:11:41.50
While stocks last,
we'd like to send you
00:11:41.53\00:11:43.77
an Adventist mission pen,
00:11:43.80\00:11:45.97
complete with the
Adventist mission logo,
00:11:46.00\00:11:47.94
reminder of the
importance of the mission.
00:11:47.97\00:11:50.34
You can use this pen to
write an inspirational book,
00:11:50.37\00:11:53.88
maybe a letter of
encouragement to somebody,
00:11:53.91\00:11:56.28
even a check to Global Mission.
00:11:56.31\00:11:58.58
Just ask for the
Adventist Mission pen.
00:11:58.61\00:12:02.05
For Adventist
Mission, I'm Gary Krause.
00:12:02.08\00:12:03.85
And I hope that you can
join me next time right here
00:12:03.89\00:12:06.39
on Global Mission Snapshots.
00:12:06.42\00:12:08.09