Well, we're
certainly living in a crisis
00:00:07.10\00:00:09.64
and it's a very volatile time.
00:00:09.67\00:00:12.27
Something is changing every day.
00:00:12.31\00:00:14.88
We have seen
supplies and groceries
00:00:14.91\00:00:17.38
run out in supermarkets.
00:00:17.41\00:00:19.41
It's been
unbelievable. We need help.
00:00:19.45\00:00:23.25
Child Impact has over
3,500 needy children in India,
00:00:23.28\00:00:28.66
Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri
Lanka, Nepal, and Zambia.
00:00:28.69\00:00:33.90
And when the virus
00:00:33.93\00:00:35.26
had cease
Adventist mission schools,
00:00:35.30\00:00:37.63
then their challenges
will be far bigger than ours.
00:00:37.67\00:00:41.37
And not being able
to get toilet paper
00:00:41.40\00:00:43.87
will be the
least of their worries.
00:00:43.91\00:00:47.31
In most cases, they are on
00:00:47.34\00:00:49.71
or below the
poverty line right now.
00:00:49.74\00:00:53.25
There are huge hygiene issues
00:00:53.28\00:00:56.05
and constantly
they lack simple soap
00:00:56.08\00:00:59.29
and as well shortages on
the basic food like rice,
00:00:59.32\00:01:03.06
it will rise in costs.
00:01:03.09\00:01:05.19
And the schools
00:01:05.23\00:01:06.56
can hardly afford that cost now.
00:01:06.59\00:01:09.23
We must do something.
00:01:09.26\00:01:11.00
Each year, we
have our rice appeal.
00:01:11.03\00:01:13.70
So, this year, it's
going to be the rice
00:01:13.74\00:01:16.81
and health appeal.
00:01:16.84\00:01:19.37
We're going to supply
bulk rice to the schools,
00:01:19.41\00:01:22.74
ensuring the kids eat
and save the school's money.
00:01:22.78\00:01:26.72
And we've done that every year
and we appreciate your support.
00:01:26.75\00:01:30.52
We're going to give every child
00:01:30.55\00:01:32.55
and staff on these
schools some bars of soap,
00:01:32.59\00:01:36.69
and we're also
going to give them
00:01:36.73\00:01:38.29
a health education pamphlet
for them and their families.
00:01:38.33\00:01:43.77
Many simply
don't wash their hands,
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but in this crisis,
00:01:46.43\00:01:47.97
we must help and try
to give some education.
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Fortunately, in
most remote areas,
00:01:52.47\00:01:55.28
it has not struck yet,
00:01:55.31\00:01:57.08
but when it does,
there will be a huge effect.
00:01:57.11\00:02:00.98
I know we're suffering.
00:02:01.02\00:02:02.88
But at this time,
00:02:02.92\00:02:04.25
could we simply
help over 20,000 kids
00:02:04.29\00:02:07.32
and 150 mission schools?
00:02:07.36\00:02:10.26
If it's successful,
00:02:10.29\00:02:11.79
we will widen the support
00:02:11.83\00:02:13.56
to other
Adventist mission schools.
00:02:13.60\00:02:17.07
The appeal ensures
that the kids are fed
00:02:17.10\00:02:20.04
and saves the
school's high expense.
00:02:20.07\00:02:23.04
And it also gives
the kids some soap
00:02:23.07\00:02:26.21
and ensuring some
basic simple education.
00:02:26.24\00:02:31.65
I know we're in tough times,
00:02:31.68\00:02:33.65
but could you simply
help in some small way?
00:02:33.68\00:02:36.85
Please go to our website,
00:02:36.89\00:02:38.79
childimpact.org
00:02:38.82\00:02:40.92
or give us a call on a week day.
00:02:40.96\00:02:44.73
I know it's hurting us,
but most of us will survive.
00:02:44.76\00:02:48.76
Could we please try
and help these kids?
00:02:48.80\00:02:50.97
Well, here I am
00:03:03.71\00:03:05.05
at the Kellogg-Mookerjee
Memorial Seminary
00:03:05.08\00:03:08.12
in rural Bangladesh.
00:03:08.15\00:03:10.02
So, on a busy road,
00:03:10.05\00:03:11.62
you can hear the cars
going backwards and forward.
00:03:11.65\00:03:14.36
But inside this
gate is a real treasure.
00:03:14.39\00:03:17.43
There's over 400 children
and an Adventist Mission School
00:03:17.46\00:03:21.43
and Child Impact
sponsors many of them.
00:03:21.46\00:03:24.40
In Bangladesh,
00:03:30.31\00:03:31.64
religion is a large
factor in daily life.
00:03:31.67\00:03:34.58
A 2003 survey found that
00:03:34.61\00:03:36.48
religion is the first choice
00:03:36.51\00:03:38.08
of identification by
Bangladeshi citizens,
00:03:38.11\00:03:41.15
and the country
has a 99.9% religious
00:03:41.18\00:03:44.42
adherence rate.
00:03:44.45\00:03:46.19
But the
circumstances on the ground
00:03:46.22\00:03:47.86
are more complicated.
00:03:47.89\00:03:50.63
Muslims account
00:03:50.66\00:03:51.99
for over 90% of the
population in Bangladesh,
00:03:52.03\00:03:55.10
with Hindus occupying another
00:03:55.13\00:03:56.67
8.5%, Christians account
for 0.37% of the population.
00:03:56.70\00:04:02.60
Religious liberty is
extensively protected
00:04:06.74\00:04:09.08
by law in Bangladesh,
00:04:09.11\00:04:10.75
but the culture
makes practice of religions
00:04:10.78\00:04:12.88
other than Islam difficult.
00:04:12.91\00:04:15.85
Riots against
Hindus have occurred
00:04:15.88\00:04:17.89
as recently as 2014
00:04:17.92\00:04:20.06
and Bangladesh places
26th on the world watch list
00:04:20.09\00:04:23.86
of Christian persecution.
00:04:23.89\00:04:27.36
The government
regularly takes action
00:04:27.40\00:04:29.36
against religious
converts and proselytization.
00:04:29.40\00:04:32.90
Adventism occupies one
of the smallest portions
00:04:32.93\00:04:35.44
of the country with a
mere 32,000 adherence.
00:04:35.47\00:04:39.37
That's one out of
every 5,000 people
00:04:39.41\00:04:42.04
and growth is slow.
00:04:42.08\00:04:43.45
We have students
00:04:43.48\00:04:45.25
from all castes,
Catholic, Baptist,
00:04:45.28\00:04:47.58
Oxford, Methodist,
Adventist, we have also students
00:04:47.62\00:04:52.39
from many Hindu backgrounds
00:04:52.42\00:04:55.29
and we have very few
students from Muslim background.
00:04:55.32\00:04:59.59
Among the few Adventists
00:04:59.63\00:05:00.96
in Bangladesh
is a Bible salesman
00:05:01.00\00:05:02.43
named Anton Burgie,
00:05:02.46\00:05:04.20
whose daughter, Adrina,
00:05:04.23\00:05:05.67
has just begun
her studies at KMMS.
00:05:05.70\00:05:09.50
Adrina is five years old
00:05:09.54\00:05:11.21
and the
youngest of three sisters
00:05:11.24\00:05:12.87
by ten years.
00:05:12.91\00:05:14.48
She is very shy.
00:05:14.51\00:05:15.84
But she brightens up
when you get to know her.
00:05:20.95\00:05:23.02
Adrina's household is very large
00:05:28.09\00:05:30.03
and her father's
salary is not high enough
00:05:30.06\00:05:32.19
to allow her to attend
school without assistance.
00:05:32.23\00:05:35.76
As a Child Impact
sponsored student,
00:05:35.80\00:05:38.13
Adrina is able to
attend KMMS freely.
00:05:38.17\00:05:40.94
Well, for a
number of our programs,
00:05:40.97\00:05:43.41
we're going to introduce
you to some sponsored children
00:05:43.44\00:05:48.08
and we're at KMMS
School in rural Bangladesh.
00:05:48.11\00:05:51.91
And we want to
introduce you today
00:05:51.95\00:05:54.35
to one of our youngest children,
00:05:54.38\00:05:56.65
the name's Adrina and
this is her sister Andrika.
00:05:56.69\00:06:02.36
My name is Adrina.
00:06:02.39\00:06:05.19
Now, these kids haven't
seen many foreigners before
00:06:25.31\00:06:28.62
and they're pretty shy.
00:06:28.65\00:06:30.19
So, when a big male
foreigner comes along,
00:06:30.22\00:06:33.36
it's a bit of a
traumatic experience.
00:06:33.39\00:06:35.89
And so, she was
very unhappy and crying
00:06:35.92\00:06:39.33
but now she's got
her sister with her
00:06:39.36\00:06:41.46
and she's much more settled.
00:06:41.50\00:06:44.70
What is your favorite class?
00:06:44.73\00:06:46.07
Thank you.
00:07:03.75\00:07:07.59
His father selling
the religious books,
00:07:07.62\00:07:10.59
Bibles and the song books.
00:07:10.63\00:07:13.46
So, by that way, he
is operating his family.
00:07:13.50\00:07:19.43
But that is not enough.
00:07:19.47\00:07:20.97
She has two elder sisters.
00:07:21.00\00:07:23.61
And one sister,
she completed her HSC.
00:07:23.64\00:07:27.28
After completed her HSC
00:07:27.31\00:07:28.64
because of financial
problem, she got married.
00:07:28.68\00:07:33.01
And another sister is
staying in this boarding school
00:07:33.05\00:07:38.12
and now this year,
she's in standard nine.
00:07:38.15\00:07:41.82
Several times, I
talked with her that
00:07:41.86\00:07:44.89
do not do any mistakes
like your elder sister.
00:07:44.93\00:07:49.66
So, after completing HSC,
00:07:49.70\00:07:54.14
you will go to the Bosque
00:07:54.17\00:07:55.90
and you will get
the proper education.
00:07:55.94\00:07:59.24
Nowadays, for the
girls and for the boys,
00:07:59.27\00:08:02.54
they're getting the opportunity
00:08:02.58\00:08:05.88
over there for doing nursing.
00:08:05.91\00:08:08.82
So, this is their
one time of opportunity
00:08:08.85\00:08:10.59
because in our country,
00:08:10.62\00:08:13.32
that profession is
mostly needed in our country.
00:08:13.36\00:08:17.03
While Andrina's
parents keep the faith,
00:08:17.06\00:08:19.23
many students at KMMS
00:08:19.26\00:08:20.60
come from other
religious backgrounds.
00:08:20.63\00:08:23.33
Without an
ability to afford tuition,
00:08:23.37\00:08:25.47
many unreached parents,
00:08:25.50\00:08:27.40
who might send their children
to Adventist schools don't.
00:08:27.44\00:08:31.31
Sponsorship incentivizes parents
00:08:31.34\00:08:33.14
to send their
children to Adventist schools,
00:08:33.17\00:08:35.84
when they would have
limited interest otherwise.
00:08:35.88\00:08:38.98
There are many
religious activities at KMMS.
00:08:39.01\00:08:41.88
We have a baptism
class every Friday
00:08:41.92\00:08:45.32
after a vesper meeting.
00:08:45.35\00:08:46.82
So, at least 70,
80 or 100 students,
00:08:46.86\00:08:49.92
they have regular baptism class.
00:08:49.96\00:08:52.96
How many students get baptized?
00:08:52.99\00:08:55.50
You know, this year,
we baptized around 33.
00:08:55.53\00:09:00.74
We had a two
weeks of prayer meeting
00:09:00.77\00:09:03.77
and we don't force them.
00:09:03.81\00:09:05.74
Many of them are
moved by Holy Spirit
00:09:05.77\00:09:08.24
whenever the speaker comes.
00:09:08.28\00:09:10.05
The sponsorship
is very important
00:09:10.08\00:09:13.11
for Bangladesh,
00:09:13.15\00:09:15.05
because here is
the needy children,
00:09:15.08\00:09:18.65
they need to go to school.
00:09:18.69\00:09:22.02
Many students out there,
00:09:22.06\00:09:24.13
they don't have
opportunity to go to school.
00:09:24.16\00:09:27.23
So, it's really
helping our country
00:09:27.26\00:09:30.33
and even the church
00:09:30.37\00:09:33.44
has great work through schools.
00:09:33.47\00:09:38.01
Our schools is a
mission outreach,
00:09:38.04\00:09:41.24
where whoever can
come and study here,
00:09:41.28\00:09:47.22
and the
sponsorship is helping so much
00:09:47.25\00:09:51.75
to have the growth of the church
00:09:51.79\00:09:56.73
and children and
the young people,
00:09:56.76\00:09:59.43
while they are
coming in this school,
00:09:59.46\00:10:01.56
they're really falling in love
00:10:01.60\00:10:04.17
with Jesus and accepting
Jesus as their personal savior.
00:10:04.20\00:10:08.64
It's really marvelous work.
00:10:08.67\00:10:10.74
So, preparing for this
world and the world to come.
00:10:10.77\00:10:15.64
Students were not instructed
to adhere to Adventism
00:10:15.68\00:10:18.41
are presented with
access to the Christian message
00:10:18.45\00:10:21.08
and opportunities to learn more.
00:10:21.12\00:10:24.29
Current religious views
00:10:24.32\00:10:25.65
are well
ingrained into the culture
00:10:25.69\00:10:27.29
and any change is
met with resistance.
00:10:27.32\00:10:30.36
Time and time again,
more success has been seen
00:10:30.39\00:10:32.79
through
education and the influence
00:10:32.83\00:10:34.40
that children
have on their families
00:10:34.43\00:10:36.10
compared to
having more churches.
00:10:36.13\00:10:39.23
KMMS has seen a lot
of success in that way.
00:10:39.27\00:10:43.57
We are helping to
witness to these children
00:10:43.61\00:10:45.67
who otherwise
would have no future,
00:10:45.71\00:10:47.88
as well as a different
mindset with their upbringing.
00:10:47.91\00:10:51.51
This education brings
up biblical principles
00:10:51.55\00:10:53.75
of order and cleanliness.
00:10:53.78\00:10:55.78
Children are taught to do chores
00:10:55.82\00:10:57.42
and maintain their grades.
00:10:57.45\00:10:59.62
They have study
time to make sure
00:10:59.65\00:11:00.99
they focus on their homework.
00:11:01.02\00:11:02.72
They have religious services
that help them get to know God
00:11:02.76\00:11:05.76
and learn more about the Bible.
00:11:05.79\00:11:08.06
These lessons become habits
00:11:08.10\00:11:09.76
and lifestyles
that transfer over.
00:11:09.80\00:11:12.63
Many current
Adventists in Bangladesh
00:11:12.67\00:11:14.57
found their faith
through education,
00:11:14.60\00:11:16.50
and now work at the institutions
00:11:16.54\00:11:18.14
of the church to
further the gospel.
00:11:18.17\00:11:21.28
Our visit to
KMMS occurred shortly
00:11:21.31\00:11:23.21
before the students
00:11:23.24\00:11:24.58
were dismissed for winter break.
00:11:24.61\00:11:26.01
And one night,
the female students
00:11:26.05\00:11:27.38
went door-to-door across campus
00:11:27.42\00:11:29.25
performing the
Bengali equivalent
00:11:29.28\00:11:30.92
of Christmas caroling.
00:11:30.95\00:11:33.19
Their traditions
differ from Western ones,
00:11:33.22\00:11:35.22
but you can see the mixture
00:11:35.26\00:11:36.59
of their religious traditions
mixed with other cultures.
00:11:36.62\00:11:39.96
They value religion a lot,
00:11:40.00\00:11:41.56
and it's helping
KMMS to bridge the gap
00:11:41.60\00:11:43.80
with the Christian faith.
00:11:43.83\00:11:46.13
It was a great example
00:11:46.17\00:11:47.50
of how the school is
involving the students,
00:11:47.54\00:11:50.01
but also how it's sharing
00:11:50.04\00:11:51.37
a different view of Christianity
00:11:51.41\00:11:53.07
that's attainable
for these students.
00:11:53.11\00:11:56.11
The caroling was
really fun and heartwarming.
00:11:56.14\00:11:58.71
They sing in front of our rooms.
00:11:58.75\00:12:00.18
And even roped us
into it for a moment,
00:12:00.22\00:12:02.15
though we weren't
quite at their level.
00:12:02.18\00:12:05.59
The funds raised
by going door-to-door
00:12:05.62\00:12:07.52
that night were
used to make jalebi,
00:12:07.56\00:12:09.32
a Bangladeshi
sweet, which was served
00:12:09.36\00:12:11.73
at the next
day's church service.
00:12:11.76\00:12:14.86
The atmosphere at KMMS
is one of joy and hope.
00:12:14.90\00:12:18.67
And sponsorship allows
children to experience it.
00:12:18.70\00:12:22.04
Christianity and the
gospel is shining through
00:12:22.07\00:12:24.41
and these
students are the future
00:12:24.44\00:12:26.04
of what the church
can do in Bangladesh.
00:12:26.07\00:12:29.04
Child Impact's goal
is to keep them there
00:12:29.08\00:12:31.55
and to expand the
amount of children
00:12:31.58\00:12:33.28
that can be helped.
00:12:33.31\00:12:34.68
Sponsorship can make
that goal into a reality.
00:12:34.72\00:12:37.79
A couple of years ago,
00:12:44.89\00:12:46.23
my daughters and I had
a wonderful opportunity
00:12:46.26\00:12:48.86
to travel to India.
00:12:48.90\00:12:50.37
And while we were there,
00:12:50.40\00:12:51.73
we met yet another
part of our family,
00:12:51.77\00:12:53.80
and that's our
sponsored daughter, Sheila.
00:12:53.84\00:12:56.44
We've had the
privilege of sponsoring Sheila
00:12:56.47\00:12:58.81
through Child
Impact International
00:12:58.84\00:13:01.14
for more than three years now.
00:13:01.18\00:13:03.48
And, you know,
while we were there,
00:13:03.51\00:13:05.38
she shared with us that
00:13:05.41\00:13:07.02
her dream was to become a nurse.
00:13:07.05\00:13:09.82
Now, what a wonderful
privilege it is for us,
00:13:09.85\00:13:12.55
now as a family,
00:13:12.59\00:13:14.46
to know that she is
fulfilling that dream.
00:13:14.49\00:13:17.66
Sheila is now
studying to be a nurse.
00:13:17.69\00:13:20.36
She's in college,
00:13:20.40\00:13:21.73
and we cannot
be happier for her.
00:13:21.76\00:13:24.10
It's been wonderful to
be part of that journey
00:13:24.13\00:13:26.47
with her, and you know,
00:13:26.50\00:13:28.34
sponsoring a child
through Child Impact,
00:13:28.37\00:13:30.84
it's made an
incredible difference
00:13:30.87\00:13:32.61
for our family.
00:13:32.64\00:13:34.04
And I know that, for you,
00:13:34.08\00:13:35.41
sponsoring a child can
make a difference for you, too.
00:13:35.44\00:13:38.31
And most importantly,
00:13:38.35\00:13:39.68
it can make the difference
00:13:39.71\00:13:41.05
in the life of
a child every day.
00:13:41.08\00:13:43.22