Participants:
Series Code: GMS
Program Code: GMS001104B
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00:16 I am delighted to have as our guest
00:18 Pastor Randy Elliot, 00:20 who is the only native Seventh-day Adventist pastor 00:23 ministering to a native community currently, 00:26 here in Canada. 00:27 Thanks for joining us. Yes. 00:28 Randy, tell me, please describe the native community 00:32 where you are ministering. 00:34 Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw is two communities 00:36 that we put together, two peoples put together. 00:39 And there's been a lot of challenges with that, 00:42 and it is been deemed 00:44 the most harmed community in Canada. 00:45 And so, some of the challenges are pretty unique. 00:49 The most harmed community, disclosed what that mean? 00:52 Well, when they put people together 00:54 they put them on another peoples land, 00:57 and then the people, 00:58 that when they put them together 00:59 they didn't get along to well 01:01 and then they have both two other communities 01:02 that weren't too happy with that. 01:04 So it was not very nice for that people, to be there. 01:09 Now what about your church community, 01:11 describe that. 01:13 My church family? Yeah. 01:15 Well, our church is right on the edge of the reserve, 01:18 just before it crosses over the bridge. 01:20 And so it's a, it's a good place, 01:22 people just drop in on Sabbath and especially on potlucks. 01:26 They drop in there and, 01:29 you know, we have people come in, 01:30 some of them kind of off the street 01:32 and they just come in and fall asleep in there. 01:34 And we find out later that they feel safe in there. 01:37 Oh, that's beautiful. 01:38 So Randy, can you describe someone 01:41 who's life has been touched through Jesus. 01:44 Well, one man that I worked with him, 01:47 I was helping build a drum log for group called Sacred Wolf, 01:54 and the man came over and he described 01:56 that he was hereditary chief as well. 01:58 And so and a carver. 02:01 And so that was my introduction to him. 02:04 And he was, I understood later following native spiritualism, 02:09 not Christianity, 02:10 he wasn't interested in Christianity. 02:13 To make it short, he got cancer 02:15 and round up a Victoria and then came back, 02:19 and they brought him back to pass, to die. 02:24 And so I was asked up to see him, 02:25 and I went up to see him, 02:26 and him and his wife were there, and he said, 02:30 Randy, can you tell me 02:33 what the bible says about death? 02:35 And I had prayer about whether 02:37 I should bring my bible in and then I felt that no, 02:40 I'll leave my bible in the truck. 02:42 So I went in and talk to him and I was like, oh, no! 02:45 Oh, Lord help me. 02:47 So anyway, what came to my mind was, 02:51 in alcoholics anonymous they have some descriptions 02:54 on two different roads, 02:56 the red road and the black road. 02:58 And I said this is the way it is, 03:00 I said death from the bible is like a black road. 03:04 If he don't make a decision for the creator God, 03:07 you'll be automatically on the black road. 03:09 But if you, 03:13 make that decision, you're still on it. 03:15 But if you make a decision for the red road, 03:17 I said the creator offers us eternal life 03:20 and we'll have perfect bodies. 03:22 So I said, the choice is simple, that's it. 03:23 I said I am not forcing you, but I said, 03:25 there is the choices right there, simplely. 03:28 And he goes, I want eternal life. 03:30 So we had the sinner's prayer right there, 03:33 and then I went away and came back 03:39 couple days later, he was still alive. 03:41 He said, Randy, there's one more thing 03:42 that's been on my heart. 03:44 And I said, sorry, you don't have to tell me. 03:46 I said that's the spirit that's letting you know. 03:48 But I said, we'll have prayer. 03:50 So we prayed and then we left. 03:54 And then the next day he passed away. 03:57 And so, he is buried traditional way, 04:01 and they put them in a sealed box in a tree, 04:04 up in Nakwaxda'xw Nations. 04:06 Wow. So, yeah. 04:07 Wonderful. 04:09 So, Randy, what are the unique challenges 04:11 that you face ministering in a native community? 04:15 Helping the people understand that God loves them. 04:19 Right. Yeah. 04:20 And there was a discovery you, yourself made 04:22 just a few years ago, right? 04:23 Yes. 04:25 Because I was raised in Seventh-day Adventist church, 04:28 my mother was Seventh-day Adventist, 04:29 my father was not. 04:31 And he was an alcoholic. 04:34 And so I've seen two sides. 04:38 And so that was my struggle and it wasn't until 04:42 I was probably I guess recently, 04:47 because I continue to look, I was searching, 04:49 what was important to me was truth. 04:52 And that just kept, and I believed that 04:53 when I look back, the spirit was still calling me 04:55 to take a look, you know. 04:58 And I had given up at one point 04:59 and then the spirit called me back 05:01 and in a lodge one day and told the medicine man, 05:05 and the medicine man said I have a message 05:07 for the next person which was me, and he said, 05:09 you must return your spirituality. 05:12 So I came back, 05:15 make assure that there's lots to do it 05:17 but I came back, and it was not easy, 05:19 but God showed me. 05:22 I asked Him to show me how to love Him, 05:27 and he did. 05:28 And how did that changed your life? 05:32 That change, I understood born again. 05:37 I didn't understand that it is so real. 05:40 You can't tell anybody else about born again 05:44 unless they experience it for themselves. 05:47 Everything changes. 05:50 So how do you pass on that, 05:53 that sense of God loves them too, 05:55 to your community? 05:57 In my community, 05:58 although our people have been judged 06:01 over a lot of things over the past. 06:03 So to just accept them the way they are, 06:07 love them, hug them, 06:09 it's a drunker or whatever it is 06:11 and invite them in, 06:13 pray for them and they love to have prayers. 06:15 And this kinds of show them the love of God, 06:19 they way it was kind of given to me 06:20 and let them know that God loves them. 06:22 I keep telling them that God loves them. 06:25 Yeah. Without strings attached. 06:26 That's right, no strings attached. 06:28 Yeah. 06:30 Randy, thanks so much for sharing with us 06:32 and may God continue to bless your ministry 06:35 among your people. 06:36 Yes. 06:38 And viewers at home, 06:39 please pray for the native peoples 06:41 Pray for randy and what he's doing, 06:42 that God will open up new opportunities 06:45 that they will find, 06:47 that there is a God who loves them, 06:49 no strings attached, and came to this earth 06:52 and showed that love, 06:53 then went all the way to cross. 06:55 Next up, we're going to travel 06:56 very different part of the world, 06:57 down to the Amazon, to see a nurse 07:00 who is showing God's love in very practical ways 07:03 to the people along the river. 07:15 I am a volunteer nurse, working with ADRA. 07:18 I serve in a remote clinic in the Amazon region, 07:21 where I see emergency and clinical cases. 07:25 Well, I am from traditional Seventh-day Adventist family, 07:29 I am a fifth generation Adventist. 07:32 I had the privilege to study at a top university in Brazil. 07:35 At the age of 22, as I was about to graduate 07:39 I knew that I wanted to get into a good residency 07:41 and build a strong career in the nursing field. 07:45 But I also think that at some point in my life, 07:48 I would like to work with the lunches 07:50 serving the needy people along the Amazon River, 07:53 or perhaps some where in Africa. 07:55 I always thought that a missionary life 07:57 is very exciting. 07:58 But I would serve as a missionary 08:00 only when I already had a job and was financially secure. 08:03 I do mission during my vacation breaks. 08:06 But God had a different plan for Samantha. 08:10 Although a student, fresh out of college 08:12 without money or clear direction, 08:14 Samantha prayer for God to guide her future. 08:17 The doors began to fly open, I had no money 08:20 and people started coming to me. 08:22 One person paid for my airfare, another bought my travel bags. 08:26 I had no money for purchasing luggage, 08:28 there was a stranger who simply walked up to me 08:30 and gave me $300. 08:32 So things started happening in a way 08:34 that I could not deny. 08:36 This was God's will for me. 08:39 On the daily basis, 08:41 Samantha cares for the people along the Amazon River, 08:44 in this remote region 08:46 there is little access to health care. 08:48 If the ADRA clinic wasn't here, 08:50 the people would need to travel up to eight hours 08:52 for access to medicine and health professional. 08:55 Samantha fills an important role, 08:58 and through her friendly attitude 09:00 she's awarded gratitude and appreciation. 09:07 They feel very thankful 09:08 because we are in a place of hard access to health cares. 09:14 When I give the people something as simple as pill 09:16 for pain relief or to cure the fever, 09:19 I notice great openness 09:21 and sincere gratitude from them. 09:27 I could not have imagine 09:28 that I would be a missionary volunteer in this way. 09:31 But I see that the things I know, 09:33 and that God gave me the privilege 09:35 to learn throughout my life are useful for them. 09:39 Although, I can only show and teach them basic things, 09:43 they receive it with eagerness and excitement 09:45 and I feel very well to see that I can share this knowledge 09:49 for better life and hope. 09:56 I feel that God didn't bring me here 09:58 to save people, 10:00 but rather for my own salvation 10:03 so that my life could be changed. 10:05 Especially for me and my character 10:08 did He transformed through the lives of the people 10:11 I worked with here. 10:14 And that I was not loosing a year of my life, 10:16 but gain experience and closeness to God, 10:19 getting to know Jesus more intimately 10:21 while I am serving the children, the people. 10:25 And as I realize that God gave me this profession 10:28 and choose me particularly to do his work of service. 10:39 Many Seventh-day Adventists around the world 10:41 choose to live out Jesus' teaching in practical ways, 10:45 by serving, healing and caring for humanity. 10:49 Please pray for the many Adventists volunteers 10:51 working around the world, 10:53 and thanks for helping touch lives. 11:14 Well, that's about it today's program, 11:16 and I hope that you have been challenged 11:18 and inspired by what you have been seen and heard 11:21 from cities such as Vancouver to countries such as Brazil. 11:25 People young and old 11:26 are sharing the light of God's love 11:28 in many, many big practical way. 11:30 And I am gonna thank you 11:31 so much for your continuing support 11:33 of mission around the world 11:35 through your prays, 11:36 through your personal involvement, 11:38 and through your financial support. 11:40 And before we go, I would like to you send a free book. 11:43 If you live in North America, 11:45 please make sure to ask for the IT'S TIME book, 11:48 it's part of the presses, 11:49 voices from the front lines of urban mission. 11:53 This is the new mission for you, 11:54 the huge cities of the world. 11:56 And this book is full of practical examples, 11:59 wonderful stories 12:01 of holistic missions in the cities. 12:03 So please make sure to ask 12:04 for the IT'S TIME urban mission book. 12:07 Well, thanks so much for joining us today. 12:09 For Adventists Mission, I am Gary Krause, 12:11 and I hope you can join me 12:13 next time right here on Global Mission Snapshots. |
Revised 2016-05-12