Welcome to Issues and Answers. 00:00:28.02\00:00:29.42 Today we're going to be talking about Mega Book Ministry. 00:00:29.46\00:00:34.00 And our guest today is Java Madison. 00:00:34.03\00:00:36.60 He's the publishing director for South Central Conference. 00:00:36.63\00:00:39.77 He's a graduate of Oakwood University 00:00:39.80\00:00:41.54 and Andrews University 00:00:41.57\00:00:42.90 and he is here to give us practical tips 00:00:42.94\00:00:45.27 on how to get involved in the Mega Book Ministry. 00:00:45.31\00:00:49.61 Welcome to the program Java. Hey. Welcome. 00:00:49.64\00:00:51.38 Thanks for having me. God bless you. 00:00:51.41\00:00:53.05 So tell me now, have you done Mega Book ministry yourself? 00:00:53.08\00:00:58.09 Yes, I actually have. 00:00:58.12\00:01:00.16 God has blessed me for the past 15 years 00:01:00.19\00:01:03.36 to be involved in the Mega Book ministry. 00:01:03.43\00:01:07.40 Oh really, so tell me how did you get involved 00:01:07.40\00:01:10.93 as a literature evangelist 00:01:10.97\00:01:12.50 you know from the early days until now? 00:01:12.53\00:01:14.54 I'm glad you asked. 00:01:14.57\00:01:15.90 It's a real phenomenal story 00:01:15.94\00:01:17.87 that still brings tears to my eyes. 00:01:17.91\00:01:20.78 You know my first couple years at Oakwood University 00:01:20.84\00:01:24.71 were almost like my wonder years. 00:01:24.75\00:01:26.92 I started to go to school. 00:01:26.98\00:01:29.58 I chose a degree field that I really have a passion for. 00:01:29.62\00:01:34.52 I really didn't know who I wanted to be just yet 00:01:34.56\00:01:38.19 and of course like the prodigal son, 00:01:38.23\00:01:40.16 I squandered my first two years there. 00:01:40.20\00:01:42.53 I squandered my time, my mom's money 00:01:42.56\00:01:45.03 and you know got involved into activities 00:01:45.07\00:01:48.20 that kind of just made me not want to really be in school. 00:01:48.24\00:01:52.84 But praise the Lord for a praying mother. 00:01:52.87\00:01:55.41 Yes my mom she prayed for me 00:01:55.44\00:01:58.28 and I went back home for about a few months 00:01:58.31\00:02:02.55 and I continued to go down 00:02:02.58\00:02:05.52 this prodigal lifestyle that I was leading. 00:02:05.55\00:02:08.36 And God met me on that road and during that process, 00:02:08.39\00:02:13.93 it was almost like He knocked me off of my feet. 00:02:14.00\00:02:16.63 On several occasions, major events happened in my life 00:02:16.67\00:02:20.30 that just brought me to a point of submission. 00:02:20.34\00:02:23.07 You know when I was younger, 00:02:23.10\00:02:24.44 my grandmother used to watch wrestling and... 00:02:24.47\00:02:28.98 Your grandmother? Yeah, my grandmother. 00:02:29.01\00:02:31.05 I used to sit down there by the side of her bed 00:02:31.08\00:02:33.92 and we would watch people wrestling. 00:02:33.98\00:02:36.69 Great figures. 00:02:36.75\00:02:38.09 I'm sure you would know if I would call them. 00:02:38.12\00:02:39.62 And, you know, they would put each other in a hold 00:02:39.65\00:02:43.69 and once they got their hold on you, 00:02:43.73\00:02:46.39 where there was a leg lock, 00:02:46.43\00:02:48.40 you know, or a choke hold you know. 00:02:48.43\00:02:50.70 They would hit the canvas 00:02:50.73\00:02:52.07 and then they would raise their hand up 00:02:52.10\00:02:53.60 and if the hand kept falling that meant you were out. 00:02:53.67\00:02:56.00 And that's what God did to me, you know. 00:02:56.04\00:02:57.54 I just gave up. 00:02:57.57\00:02:58.91 I just said you know what, I'm not fighting God anymore. 00:02:58.94\00:03:01.58 I said God just come into my heart, 00:03:01.61\00:03:03.24 come into my life and never before... 00:03:03.28\00:03:07.12 I remember it, after I gave my life to the Lord, 00:03:07.15\00:03:10.09 I had this awesome experience with Jesus 00:03:10.12\00:03:12.45 but yet I still had this void 00:03:12.49\00:03:14.76 because, again, I wasn't in school. 00:03:14.79\00:03:16.83 So I was going to work 00:03:16.86\00:03:18.79 but I didn't have that quite purpose in my life. 00:03:18.83\00:03:21.86 And I remember like it was yesterday. 00:03:21.90\00:03:23.87 One morning I could remember the blue and yellow flags 00:03:23.93\00:03:27.84 that were flying, still do, at Oakwood University 00:03:27.87\00:03:31.51 during registration and alumni weekend. 00:03:31.54\00:03:34.51 And I began to bawl and weep because of the opportunity 00:03:34.54\00:03:39.38 that I had squandered. 00:03:39.41\00:03:40.78 And I asked God, I said God please allow me an opportunity 00:03:40.82\00:03:44.05 to go back to school and I kid you not, 00:03:44.09\00:03:47.62 immediately as I was praying that prayer, tears in my eyes, 00:03:47.66\00:03:52.49 my mother called me and I tried to wipe by eyes 00:03:52.53\00:03:57.40 because I didn't want my mom to know I was crying. 00:03:57.43\00:03:59.07 I didn't want her to ask me for what reason. 00:03:59.10\00:04:01.10 And she told me that I had a scholarship 00:04:01.14\00:04:03.27 to go back to Oakwood. 00:04:03.30\00:04:05.27 That was the first time 00:04:05.31\00:04:06.68 I had a real direct encounter with God 00:04:06.71\00:04:09.71 where I prayed and He answered. 00:04:09.74\00:04:13.11 I called my job and said, you know what, 00:04:13.15\00:04:16.35 I got a scholarship to go to school. 00:04:16.38\00:04:18.72 If I don't come back in three days 00:04:18.75\00:04:21.02 then I ask that you accept this is my resignation. 00:04:21.06\00:04:25.09 And so, as I was preparing to go back to Oakwood, 00:04:25.13\00:04:28.40 I heard God speak to me Again, and this is what he told me. 00:04:28.43\00:04:31.93 He said, I have something special for you to do. 00:04:31.97\00:04:36.27 My eyes lit up. 00:04:36.30\00:04:37.64 I was excited because I was beginning 00:04:37.67\00:04:39.81 to be aligned with my purpose. 00:04:39.84\00:04:42.01 And that semester, I was just looking, 00:04:42.04\00:04:45.71 what was it that God had for me to do. 00:04:45.75\00:04:47.42 I was looking for that voice. 00:04:47.48\00:04:49.12 And I can remember it like it just happened today, 00:04:49.15\00:04:52.05 4 a.m. in the morning that spring semester, 00:04:52.09\00:04:56.46 I was about to go back home to the people I had just up 00:04:56.49\00:04:59.39 and left in my life. 00:04:59.43\00:05:01.00 And I met a gentleman there at a vending machine 00:05:01.03\00:05:05.93 and this individual said Brother Madison... 00:05:05.97\00:05:09.34 It's 4 a.m. in the morning... 00:05:09.37\00:05:11.51 I had just packed my clothes up to go home. 00:05:11.54\00:05:13.14 Were you dreaming or was this real life? 00:05:13.17\00:05:14.74 It was 4 a.m. in the morning. This is reality. 00:05:14.78\00:05:16.75 You know that the life of a college student 00:05:16.78\00:05:18.91 can really go into the wee hours 00:05:18.95\00:05:21.12 but I had just finished up all my assignments 00:05:21.15\00:05:24.19 and I was packing my clothes and I was about to retire, 00:05:24.22\00:05:27.36 but I wanted to get something to drink. 00:05:27.39\00:05:28.72 And I met this guy, he actually said 00:05:28.76\00:05:30.53 we have one more spot to go to New Orleans 00:05:30.56\00:05:34.20 to go on a literature evangelism program. 00:05:34.20\00:05:37.77 Right then I became angry. 00:05:37.80\00:05:40.10 I was upset, I was furious because that voice 00:05:40.14\00:05:42.60 that I had been becoming accustomed to I heard 00:05:42.64\00:05:45.87 as this gentleman was speaking to me. 00:05:45.91\00:05:48.14 It wasn't him I was hearing 00:05:48.18\00:05:50.35 but it was God and I didn't want to go. 00:05:50.41\00:05:53.58 And I said, you know what, the first thing 00:05:53.62\00:05:55.25 I'm going to think about in the morning 00:05:55.28\00:05:56.69 is what I'm going to do. 00:05:56.75\00:05:58.09 Well long story short, the first thing that I heard 00:05:58.12\00:06:01.72 when I woke up in the morning 00:06:01.76\00:06:03.09 wasn't the voice of God saying go to New Orleans. 00:06:03.12\00:06:05.49 It was a friend saying when are we going to Atlanta, 00:06:05.53\00:06:08.36 which is where I'm from. 00:06:08.40\00:06:09.90 And I told him, I said you know what, 00:06:09.93\00:06:11.70 I think God wants me to go to New Orleans. 00:06:11.73\00:06:13.94 Let me call you back and pray on it. 00:06:13.97\00:06:15.77 I decided that moment to go to Louisiana, New Orleans. 00:06:15.80\00:06:21.08 I didn't call anybody. I cut my phone off. 00:06:21.11\00:06:24.15 I didn't tell anybody where I was going. 00:06:24.18\00:06:26.38 My mom was waiting on me all day 00:06:26.41\00:06:28.28 but I was a no show. 00:06:28.32\00:06:29.95 And it wasn't until 9 p.m. that night 00:06:29.98\00:06:32.59 I showed up at the church 00:06:32.62\00:06:33.96 called New Life Seventh-day Adventist Church 00:06:33.99\00:06:36.73 there in New Orleans. 00:06:36.76\00:06:38.09 And I called my mom and said, Mom, I decided to go 00:06:38.13\00:06:41.50 and tell other people about Jesus 00:06:41.53\00:06:43.03 on my spring break program. 00:06:43.06\00:06:44.53 And that was my first experience 00:06:44.57\00:06:46.57 as a literature evangelist 00:06:46.60\00:06:48.44 and from that experience again I heard God 00:06:48.47\00:06:52.34 during that week telling me 00:06:52.37\00:06:55.24 that He was calling me into ministry. 00:06:55.28\00:06:57.51 And so, it's been a beautiful experience since then. 00:06:57.55\00:07:00.75 So now, I have this great relationship with Jesus 00:07:00.78\00:07:03.82 and I've got purpose in my life and from that moment 00:07:03.85\00:07:07.09 I started sharing God's word through literature. 00:07:07.12\00:07:10.06 Wow. So you started... 00:07:10.09\00:07:12.23 That's an amazing story, that's amazing. 00:07:12.26\00:07:14.23 So you went from New Orleans... 00:07:14.30\00:07:16.33 So what did you do next after that? 00:07:16.36\00:07:18.60 Did you continue with the literature ministry or... 00:07:18.63\00:07:23.30 How did you get to where you are now? 00:07:23.34\00:07:24.84 You're the publishing guy. 00:07:24.87\00:07:26.21 Okay, you're the publishing man for South Central Conference. 00:07:26.24\00:07:28.74 From no I'm not going to go 00:07:28.78\00:07:30.25 to New Orleans to publishing guy. 00:07:30.28\00:07:31.85 How did that happen? Well, you know, God is amazing. 00:07:31.88\00:07:34.42 It humbles myself every time 00:07:34.45\00:07:37.09 when I think about the text from the Bible says 00:07:37.12\00:07:39.22 the steps of a righteous man 00:07:39.25\00:07:40.66 or woman are ordered by the Lord. 00:07:40.69\00:07:43.06 We don't know what that next thing 00:07:43.09\00:07:45.26 is that God has for us in our life. 00:07:45.29\00:07:47.40 But we'll never know if we're not willing to take the steps 00:07:47.40\00:07:49.96 that He is telling us right now in our lives. 00:07:50.03\00:07:52.50 Wow. Say that again. 00:07:52.53\00:07:53.90 That's powerful, that's powerful. 00:07:53.94\00:07:55.27 You know, the steps of a righteous man or woman 00:07:55.30\00:07:56.67 are ordered by the Lord. 00:07:56.71\00:07:58.04 We don't know everything that God has in store for us, 00:07:58.07\00:08:01.18 but we'll never know what it is that 00:08:01.21\00:08:02.81 God has in store for us if we're not willing 00:08:02.84\00:08:05.08 to take those small steps now. 00:08:05.11\00:08:07.15 By his grace I could go through so many accounts in my life 00:08:07.18\00:08:11.29 where if I hadn't taken that small step. 00:08:11.32\00:08:14.02 For example, I would have never met my wife. 00:08:14.09\00:08:16.62 Praise the Lord. 00:08:16.66\00:08:18.19 I'm glad that I took that small step. 00:08:18.23\00:08:20.23 You just never know God's plan 00:08:20.26\00:08:21.76 but you've got to take the small step 00:08:21.80\00:08:23.37 and that's what I did. 00:08:23.40\00:08:24.73 and since then I decided this one thing, 00:08:24.77\00:08:27.67 that I was going to be committed to follow that voice 00:08:27.70\00:08:31.51 until he tells me to do something different. 00:08:31.54\00:08:35.04 And 15 years later, 00:08:35.08\00:08:36.58 he hasn't told me to do anything different 00:08:36.61\00:08:38.51 and that's why I'm still in the publishing ministry today. 00:08:38.55\00:08:42.05 Wow, that is, what a wonderful story. 00:08:42.08\00:08:45.19 So you're the person now 00:08:45.22\00:08:47.06 that's in charge of helping other students? 00:08:47.09\00:08:49.49 Yes, you know, I live my life now 00:08:49.52\00:08:52.29 to see God manifested in the lives 00:08:52.33\00:08:56.50 of other young people 00:08:56.53\00:08:58.33 like I've come to see him manifested in my life. 00:08:58.37\00:09:02.54 I had no clue that these decisions 00:09:02.57\00:09:05.41 to serve the Lord in mission work 00:09:05.44\00:09:09.18 was critical to the development of who I am today. 00:09:09.21\00:09:12.98 I serve the Lord by His grace faithfully 00:09:13.01\00:09:16.02 and so my passion today is to provide 00:09:16.05\00:09:19.82 and foster an atmosphere where other young people 00:09:19.85\00:09:22.72 can come to know God in their life 00:09:22.76\00:09:25.89 through an atmosphere of mission service oriented acts 00:09:25.93\00:09:30.20 of love to other people. 00:09:30.27\00:09:32.70 That's where the purpose 00:09:32.73\00:09:35.50 I have now in my life was developed 00:09:35.54\00:09:37.87 and I know that's critical for other young people 00:09:37.91\00:09:40.88 to come to know God 00:09:40.91\00:09:44.38 by being in these type of missionary programs. 00:09:44.41\00:09:46.82 So that's why I love literature evangelism 00:09:46.85\00:09:48.82 and I love the Mega Book Ministry 00:09:48.85\00:09:50.22 because it provides purpose for individuals 00:09:50.29\00:09:53.09 that are seeking God in their life. 00:09:53.12\00:09:55.26 So in other words, a person, 00:09:55.29\00:09:57.43 a young person doesn't have to be totally perfect? 00:09:57.46\00:10:02.86 You're saying that you see this ministry 00:10:02.90\00:10:05.30 as being able to help invest in that young person's life 00:10:05.33\00:10:10.31 as well as to draw them closer to God? 00:10:10.37\00:10:13.11 Yes. See you cannot know what it is God is calling you 00:10:13.14\00:10:21.05 to become, right, unless you are submitted totally to Him. 00:10:21.08\00:10:27.42 Paul said it to Timothy in this way. 00:10:27.46\00:10:29.12 You have to stir up the gift that's in you. 00:10:29.16\00:10:31.36 And one of the ways that the gift that God places 00:10:31.39\00:10:34.13 through the Holy Spirit in the lives of everybody 00:10:34.20\00:10:37.10 is stirred up is when you are living your life 00:10:37.13\00:10:41.54 as Jesus did for somebody else. 00:10:41.57\00:10:44.44 And that's what happens when you are involved 00:10:44.47\00:10:47.11 in missionary service 00:10:47.14\00:10:49.11 and the best place to start it is in our schools. 00:10:49.14\00:10:52.15 That's where it started for me. 00:10:52.18\00:10:54.15 Wow. Boy I tell you, I'm a firm believer 00:10:54.18\00:10:57.02 in the Mega Book Ministry. 00:10:57.05\00:10:58.39 Yes Ma'am. 00:10:58.42\00:10:59.75 And my daughter wanted to go to France to Cologne 00:10:59.79\00:11:03.53 and she was trying to figure out how to get there 00:11:03.56\00:11:05.86 and she ended up going through the publishing ministry 00:11:05.89\00:11:08.06 where she was able to go out 00:11:08.10\00:11:09.80 and become a part of this Mega Book program. 00:11:09.83\00:11:12.10 So I want you to tell us about the Mega Book program 00:11:12.13\00:11:16.04 and what you're doing. 00:11:16.07\00:11:17.57 I see that cool T- shirts over there. 00:11:17.61\00:11:19.27 You've got gear. You know just break it on down. 00:11:19.31\00:11:22.81 Just tell us all about what's involved 00:11:22.84\00:11:25.25 because there's a lot of mystery. 00:11:25.28\00:11:27.02 Some people say oh it's just for some. 00:11:27.08\00:11:28.42 But you know... 00:11:28.45\00:11:29.78 Well, let me share this with you. 00:11:29.82\00:11:31.39 Service to Jesus is for everybody. 00:11:31.42\00:11:34.79 And the good thing I like about it 00:11:34.82\00:11:36.36 is telling other people about 00:11:36.39\00:11:39.63 Jesus is not some special spiritual gift. 00:11:39.66\00:11:43.30 It's actually a call that everyone is to participate in. 00:11:43.33\00:11:46.87 For example, think about it, 00:11:46.90\00:11:48.57 when Jesus met the woman at the well. 00:11:48.60\00:11:52.57 When he told her about her life 00:11:52.61\00:11:55.74 and she came to know him as that life spring, 00:11:55.78\00:11:59.45 that well that never runs dry 00:11:59.48\00:12:01.62 and in her spirit flowed fountains of living water 00:12:01.65\00:12:05.22 she went immediately, dropped her water 00:12:05.25\00:12:07.79 and she told everybody about Jesus. 00:12:07.82\00:12:11.93 That's what everybody is to be involved in. 00:12:11.96\00:12:14.86 So what you need to understand about the Mega Book Ministry, 00:12:14.93\00:12:17.97 it is literature evangelism, 00:12:18.00\00:12:20.74 particularly for young people, all right? 00:12:20.80\00:12:23.67 And I would like to read this quote to you. 00:12:23.71\00:12:26.14 It says the very best education young men and women 00:12:26.17\00:12:29.28 can obtain is by entering the canvassing field. 00:12:29.31\00:12:33.68 All right. For doing house to house work. 00:12:33.72\00:12:37.82 And why it's so important for house to house work 00:12:37.85\00:12:39.79 is because it's personal ministry. 00:12:39.82\00:12:41.79 All right, it's young people who are in our schools 00:12:41.82\00:12:45.06 learning about Jesus taking that knowledge 00:12:45.09\00:12:47.60 from the classroom 00:12:47.60\00:12:48.93 and applying it to everyday life circumstances. 00:12:48.96\00:12:52.13 So how do you explain 00:12:52.17\00:12:54.50 that God became flesh to a person who is hurt 00:12:54.54\00:12:59.11 because their loved one died? 00:12:59.14\00:13:02.41 How does that translate. 00:13:02.44\00:13:03.78 You've got to come down to their level, 00:13:03.85\00:13:05.31 so it teaches them how to be courteous, 00:13:05.35\00:13:07.72 literature evangelism does. 00:13:07.75\00:13:09.25 It teaches them how to meet all classes of people. 00:13:09.28\00:13:12.62 It allows them to make their faith real. 00:13:12.65\00:13:16.12 See that's the difference. 00:13:16.16\00:13:17.53 See Samuel, the Bible says, 00:13:17.56\00:13:19.13 he was raised in the house of God, 00:13:19.16\00:13:23.43 but he had not yet heard the voice of God. 00:13:23.47\00:13:27.84 So there's a difference from being raised in church 00:13:27.87\00:13:31.81 and coming to know the Lord of the church. 00:13:31.84\00:13:35.81 When I was a literature Evangelist, 00:13:35.84\00:13:37.21 it would stump me all the time 00:13:37.25\00:13:38.78 when people would ask me questions 00:13:38.81\00:13:40.42 that I was not prepared for. 00:13:40.48\00:13:43.02 What it did was it allowed me to go back 00:13:43.05\00:13:46.02 and study and ask God, 00:13:46.05\00:13:47.42 God, how could I have reached that person. 00:13:47.46\00:13:49.99 I feel like I lost him. 00:13:50.03\00:13:51.36 I feel like I didn't do well enough. 00:13:51.39\00:13:52.99 In the agonizing, God was transferring 00:13:53.03\00:13:57.23 His feelings for lost souls to me 00:13:57.30\00:14:00.24 and so the hurt of rejection, 00:14:00.27\00:14:03.41 the hurt like when the rich young ruler walked from Jesus 00:14:03.44\00:14:07.38 that Jesus felt, the travail of his soul, 00:14:07.41\00:14:10.05 I was able to know what it was like 00:14:10.08\00:14:12.75 for the shepherd to lose a sheep 00:14:12.78\00:14:14.55 or for the woman to lose a coin 00:14:14.58\00:14:16.32 and so my love for souls expanded. 00:14:16.35\00:14:18.42 And this is what literature evangelism 00:14:18.45\00:14:20.66 does for our young people. 00:14:20.69\00:14:22.09 It allows them to come into contact 00:14:22.12\00:14:24.36 with the real heart of Jesus. 00:14:24.39\00:14:26.70 Wow, that is just awesome. 00:14:26.73\00:14:29.00 I like the way you said that it... 00:14:29.03\00:14:31.27 So it's experiential. It's experiential. 00:14:31.30\00:14:34.00 So there's not like a class 00:14:34.04\00:14:35.87 or something that a person takes in school 00:14:35.90\00:14:38.17 to be a part of a literature evangelism. 00:14:38.21\00:14:39.54 I'm glad you asked. 00:14:39.57\00:14:40.98 One of the first qualifications 00:14:41.01\00:14:43.71 for becoming a literature evangelist 00:14:43.75\00:14:45.45 is having a desire and love for God. 00:14:45.48\00:14:48.72 If you have experienced the love of God, 00:14:48.75\00:14:51.02 then you can become a literature evangelist. 00:14:51.05\00:14:54.26 Because you have experienced God 00:14:54.29\00:14:56.09 now you're qualified to go tell somebody else about God. 00:14:56.12\00:14:59.89 Now we do have instructional training. 00:14:59.96\00:15:03.10 We do teach you a canvas. 00:15:03.13\00:15:05.00 We do introduce you to the books 00:15:05.03\00:15:07.24 that you're going to show 00:15:07.27\00:15:08.60 because you can't tell somebody else about 00:15:08.64\00:15:10.61 what you haven't experienced yourself. 00:15:10.64\00:15:12.54 So we do go through some formal training, 00:15:12.57\00:15:14.48 but most importantly Jesus, we're told, 00:15:14.51\00:15:17.45 is the master teacher. 00:15:17.48\00:15:19.68 It's like on-the-job training. 00:15:19.71\00:15:21.38 You get to meet Jesus in action 00:15:21.42\00:15:24.59 as He is already engaged in the lives of people 00:15:24.62\00:15:27.56 that you're going to knock on their door. 00:15:27.59\00:15:29.89 What you find out is that Jesus is already there 00:15:29.92\00:15:33.40 and more so importantly you're learning something 00:15:33.43\00:15:36.63 more than you're telling somebody else about Jesus. 00:15:36.67\00:15:40.24 So the young people are benefiting 00:15:40.30\00:15:41.74 from like you said, they take it from the classroom 00:15:41.77\00:15:45.64 what they're learning at school 00:15:45.67\00:15:47.04 and then they're actually able to apply it. 00:15:47.08\00:15:49.21 And they're getting public speaking skills, courtesy, 00:15:49.24\00:15:53.28 how to relate socially to, 00:15:53.31\00:15:54.88 like you said, all walks of life. 00:15:54.92\00:15:56.38 Exactly. 00:15:56.42\00:15:57.75 I can tell you right now 00:15:57.79\00:15:59.12 that young people watching the show 00:15:59.15\00:16:00.59 and seeing that gear over there, 00:16:00.62\00:16:02.39 they're going to want to know one question. 00:16:02.42\00:16:03.76 How do I get those clothes? How do I get that shirt? 00:16:03.79\00:16:06.86 How do I get all that, you know? 00:16:06.93\00:16:09.23 That's kind of exciting, nice logo and everything. 00:16:09.26\00:16:11.37 Yes. Tell us about that? 00:16:11.40\00:16:12.73 What is that all about? I'm glad you asked. 00:16:12.77\00:16:14.34 Now, this is Youth Excel Scholarship Program 00:16:14.37\00:16:19.27 because this ministry has two purposes. 00:16:19.31\00:16:22.21 The first purpose we are told is to instruct the students 00:16:22.24\00:16:26.08 that they are laboring 00:16:26.11\00:16:27.88 for the advancement of the kingdom of Christ. 00:16:27.92\00:16:31.32 This is paramount. 00:16:31.35\00:16:32.69 This ministry is about mission, 00:16:32.72\00:16:35.59 it's about sharing the gospel of Jesus. 00:16:35.62\00:16:37.53 So first, we're advancing God's kingdom 00:16:37.56\00:16:39.73 and secondly we are raising donations from the books 00:16:39.76\00:16:43.93 that we share to help us go to school. 00:16:43.97\00:16:46.43 And so one of the challenges in my life 00:16:46.47\00:16:48.60 is that I couldn't go to school 00:16:48.64\00:16:50.77 because I had wasted all my mother's money. 00:16:50.81\00:16:54.34 So she said done. 00:16:54.38\00:16:55.71 She was done, she was tapped out. 00:16:55.74\00:16:57.65 She didn't have any more money. 00:16:57.68\00:16:59.01 And so, that's why God introduced me to this ministry, 00:16:59.05\00:17:01.92 so that I could learn how to earn funds 00:17:01.95\00:17:05.55 for myself by sharing my passion for Jesus. 00:17:05.59\00:17:08.52 And when you have a passion for Jesus, 00:17:08.56\00:17:10.66 the funds come naturally because God wants us 00:17:10.69\00:17:14.76 to share this ministry more than we want to share it. 00:17:14.83\00:17:17.87 And so then He equips you with a uniform. 00:17:17.90\00:17:19.83 Good, I'm going to come over. Come on over. 00:17:19.87\00:17:21.34 All right I'm going to come over and check it out. 00:17:21.37\00:17:23.20 Let's see here now. 00:17:23.24\00:17:24.67 'Cause I'm also a teacher and I've got students 00:17:24.71\00:17:26.68 that would like to know about all of this good stuff. 00:17:26.71\00:17:28.18 Yes. 00:17:28.21\00:17:29.54 So tell me about this one first. 00:17:29.58\00:17:30.95 What is this? 00:17:30.98\00:17:32.31 Well, first of all this is your ID badge, 00:17:32.35\00:17:34.95 because we want to be professional. 00:17:34.98\00:17:37.29 And so, this allows people to identify you 00:17:37.32\00:17:40.16 with a bonafide, legitimate organization. 00:17:40.19\00:17:42.72 Because there are so many scammers that are out there. 00:17:42.76\00:17:45.29 People are nervous when you come to their door 00:17:45.33\00:17:46.83 so we want to dispel and break down any barrier. 00:17:46.90\00:17:50.27 So you have an ID badge that has a number 00:17:50.33\00:17:52.50 that you can contact the main office. 00:17:52.53\00:17:54.74 It has a website address where people can go 00:17:54.77\00:17:57.47 and even donate after you have shared books with them. 00:17:57.51\00:18:01.24 Okay now. How about this one? 00:18:01.28\00:18:02.61 I'm going to come down a little bit 00:18:02.64\00:18:03.98 because I don't want to take away 00:18:04.01\00:18:05.35 from this great looking shirt here. 00:18:05.38\00:18:06.75 Now this is a shirt that allows you to breathe. 00:18:06.78\00:18:09.95 It says Youth Excel Scholarship Program. 00:18:09.98\00:18:14.89 So we want you to excel in their spiritual life, 00:18:14.92\00:18:17.36 we want them to excel in their educational work. 00:18:17.39\00:18:19.79 We want them just to excel as people, 00:18:19.83\00:18:22.43 loving people. 00:18:22.46\00:18:24.07 You know, there's an idea that's out there now, 00:18:24.10\00:18:27.57 character versus content, all right? 00:18:27.64\00:18:31.01 So basically businesses are more concerned 00:18:31.04\00:18:34.91 that you have character development, all right, 00:18:34.94\00:18:37.88 than the content of knowledge 00:18:37.91\00:18:40.15 that you have acquired in school. 00:18:40.22\00:18:41.98 There are so many professionals today 00:18:42.02\00:18:43.82 who have the content, 00:18:43.89\00:18:45.25 but they don't have the character and so this... 00:18:45.29\00:18:48.79 This is another shirt? 00:18:48.82\00:18:50.16 Yes, now this is our shirt 00:18:50.23\00:18:51.59 that we like to go have fun, all right. 00:18:51.63\00:18:53.90 So let me just say this. 00:18:53.93\00:18:55.90 We invite students on their off seasons 00:18:55.93\00:18:59.73 when they're not in school 00:18:59.77\00:19:01.40 because Spirit of Prophecy tells us that 00:19:01.44\00:19:03.44 when the school is out, the student should go 00:19:03.47\00:19:06.81 into more practical fields of labor 00:19:06.84\00:19:08.78 doing house-to-house work as a literature evangelist. 00:19:08.81\00:19:10.78 So on their spring breaks, on their summer breaks, 00:19:10.81\00:19:13.95 which is a 10 week program. 00:19:13.98\00:19:15.55 So for 10 weeks we'll house you, we'll feed you. 00:19:15.58\00:19:18.92 Really? Yes. 00:19:18.95\00:19:20.29 House you, feed you? House, feed. 00:19:20.32\00:19:21.99 So let me see now. So the parents-- 00:19:22.02\00:19:23.96 This is interesting. Yes. 00:19:23.99\00:19:25.69 Let me come over here and get little closer. 00:19:25.73\00:19:27.66 Okay, so you house the kids? Yes. 00:19:27.66\00:19:30.17 You feed them? Yes. 00:19:30.20\00:19:31.70 You transport them to where they need to go? 00:19:31.73\00:19:33.44 Yes. Really? 00:19:33.47\00:19:34.80 All we ask is that they show up. 00:19:34.84\00:19:36.91 Okay, tell me about this bag here 00:19:36.94\00:19:38.37 I'm going to pull this out a little bit 00:19:38.41\00:19:40.18 before we get into these cool little books here. 00:19:40.21\00:19:43.04 The Mega Book program is what we're talking about. 00:19:43.08\00:19:45.08 I'm really excited about this. Okay, tell me about this bag. 00:19:45.11\00:19:48.12 So this is our bag. 00:19:48.15\00:19:50.69 This is the bag that holds 00:19:50.72\00:19:52.22 and house the literature, all right? 00:19:52.25\00:19:54.46 It has our logo on it. 00:19:54.49\00:19:56.16 It allows our students to look professional. 00:19:56.19\00:19:59.26 Here... What's there here? 00:19:59.29\00:20:00.80 Is this a walkie talkie? Yes. 00:20:00.83\00:20:02.56 They get a walkie talkie too? They get a walkie talkie too. 00:20:02.60\00:20:05.80 It takes a lot of funds to actually make this work. 00:20:05.83\00:20:08.60 These are high frequency, business radios, all right? 00:20:08.64\00:20:12.41 And so, we can get about a five mile radius. 00:20:12.44\00:20:15.08 So this is for safety because we want to make sure 00:20:15.11\00:20:17.65 that our young people are safe, 00:20:17.68\00:20:19.01 that we get them back home to their parents. 00:20:19.05\00:20:20.58 So God has really been blessing. So they have a bag. 00:20:20.62\00:20:23.45 They have an ID badge. 00:20:23.49\00:20:24.95 They also have a radio and they have a shirt. 00:20:24.99\00:20:27.52 Now do they go by themselves or are they in groups 00:20:27.56\00:20:29.92 or partners or how does it work. 00:20:29.99\00:20:31.96 You know, you're talking about cities. 00:20:31.99\00:20:33.46 That's kind of a big deal, safety issues. 00:20:33.50\00:20:35.56 Safety is important and so this is how it works. 00:20:35.60\00:20:37.73 The concept is community. 00:20:37.77\00:20:39.97 We go and minister in community so a band of seven students 00:20:40.00\00:20:44.31 will go to a targeted area in the city. 00:20:44.34\00:20:47.31 A lot of times we'll link up with local area pastors. 00:20:47.34\00:20:50.31 Because not only are we sharing literature, 00:20:50.38\00:20:52.21 we're also gaining Bible studies. 00:20:52.25\00:20:54.35 We're also offering prayers. 00:20:54.38\00:20:56.25 We're also passing out advertising for any evangelistic 00:20:56.28\00:20:59.35 or community outreaches of those churches. 00:20:59.39\00:21:01.82 All right, so these are some of the things that we do. 00:21:01.86\00:21:05.16 So we go out in community in a band of seven. 00:21:05.19\00:21:07.76 The leader goes and monitors each student's activity, 00:21:07.76\00:21:12.50 so we may place them say in a parking lot, 00:21:12.53\00:21:15.37 some type of business. 00:21:15.40\00:21:17.37 We may place them in a small enclosed subdivision 00:21:17.41\00:21:20.54 one way in and one way out and we keep track. 00:21:20.58\00:21:22.98 Most of the time I'll position people 00:21:23.01\00:21:25.35 on either side of the street 00:21:25.38\00:21:27.28 so they can always keep each other in contact view. 00:21:27.32\00:21:30.55 And in worst case scenario, 00:21:30.59\00:21:31.99 they're not in each other's view, 00:21:32.02\00:21:33.52 the leader who is driving up and down 00:21:33.56\00:21:34.92 the roads has the radio 00:21:34.96\00:21:36.46 and we stay in contact that way. 00:21:36.49\00:21:38.19 Ooh, that's pretty good. Yes. 00:21:38.23\00:21:39.56 So now these books, tell me a little about-- 00:21:39.59\00:21:42.96 These are the Mega Books right here? 00:21:43.00\00:21:44.37 Yes. Okay. 00:21:44.40\00:21:45.80 So one of my favorite. I see you have one. 00:21:45.83\00:21:48.24 That's one of my favorite-- Bible Answers. 00:21:48.27\00:21:49.77 Bible Answers. 00:21:49.80\00:21:51.14 Now, this is very important, Bible Answers, 00:21:51.17\00:21:53.17 it answers questions people 00:21:53.21\00:21:54.54 most commonly ask about the Bible. 00:21:54.58\00:21:56.68 So for example my generation, there's a rapper named Tupac 00:21:56.71\00:22:01.95 that a lot of people may have heard of who has passed. 00:22:01.98\00:22:04.35 He had a question, he had-- Can you hold this one? 00:22:04.39\00:22:06.12 Yes, his question was is there a heaven for a thug? 00:22:06.15\00:22:09.89 Very fundamental Bible question. 00:22:09.92\00:22:13.60 He is basically asking God understanding my lifestyle, 00:22:13.63\00:22:17.70 knowing that you know everything, 00:22:17.73\00:22:20.00 Only You Can Judge Me is one of his favorite songs, 00:22:20.04\00:22:22.24 only God can judge me now. 00:22:22.27\00:22:23.77 He wanted to know God, 00:22:23.81\00:22:25.14 is it possible for somebody like me to be saved. 00:22:25.17\00:22:27.71 What a fundamental question? 00:22:27.74\00:22:29.31 And so, this book right here 00:22:29.34\00:22:31.61 has questions most commonly asked about the Bible. 00:22:31.65\00:22:33.92 One fundamental question 00:22:33.98\00:22:35.32 that's asked is about who is the Creator. 00:22:35.35\00:22:37.75 And so it gives you question in dark print 00:22:37.79\00:22:39.62 and answers come from the Bible. 00:22:39.65\00:22:41.29 So we're going to go through these pretty quickly here now. 00:22:41.32\00:22:43.22 So Man of Peace. 00:22:43.26\00:22:44.59 Man of Peace is one of my favorites. 00:22:44.63\00:22:46.16 This goes over the life of Jesus 00:22:46.19\00:22:48.23 from Matthew, Mark, Luke and John gospels 00:22:48.26\00:22:51.40 and it creates a complete story. 00:22:51.43\00:22:52.87 Watch this, out of 10,000 volumes 00:22:52.90\00:22:54.70 in the Library of Congress on the life of Jesus 00:22:54.74\00:22:57.24 this is the one most read outside of the Bible. 00:22:57.27\00:22:59.34 Wow. This is Desire of Ages. 00:22:59.37\00:23:00.88 Desire of Ages. Look at this. This is beautiful. 00:23:00.91\00:23:04.75 Okay now I've got to tell you this one. 00:23:04.78\00:23:06.11 Yes. The Great Controversy. 00:23:06.15\00:23:08.38 I gave this to someone in Memphis 00:23:08.42\00:23:12.55 who, like you said, 00:23:12.59\00:23:13.96 was not a person with the church. 00:23:13.99\00:23:15.32 Tell us about this book? He loved it. 00:23:15.36\00:23:17.33 He liked the cover, you know, America and all that stuff. 00:23:17.36\00:23:20.00 This is our best seller 00:23:20.03\00:23:22.10 and it's selling by leaps and bounds 00:23:22.13\00:23:23.97 because it's easy to sell it 00:23:24.03\00:23:25.43 because everybody realizes the tension for freedom. 00:23:25.47\00:23:30.01 So many places live without freedom. 00:23:30.07\00:23:32.81 So many countries don't have freedom 00:23:32.84\00:23:35.81 that we in America cherish 00:23:35.84\00:23:37.61 and this book traces the path of freedom 00:23:37.65\00:23:40.78 throughout the annals of history 00:23:40.82\00:23:42.68 but shows us ultimately 00:23:42.72\00:23:44.05 the love of God triumphs in the end. 00:23:44.09\00:23:46.09 And so I love this book. This is a great read. 00:23:46.12\00:23:48.22 This book has helped thousands 00:23:48.26\00:23:49.59 to understand the book of Revelation. 00:23:49.62\00:23:50.96 Wow. So this is all part of it. 00:23:50.99\00:23:52.43 And then of course the last one we have. 00:23:52.46\00:23:54.76 What is this? Living. 00:23:54.83\00:23:56.46 Yes, yes, one of my favorite. 00:23:56.50\00:23:58.53 So in other words, 00:23:58.57\00:23:59.90 is that's what's in the pack that they get. 00:24:00.04\00:24:01.37 That's what's in the bag. 00:24:01.40\00:24:02.74 We're looking at what's actually in the bag. 00:24:02.77\00:24:04.11 Yes, just look in the bag. This one is a part of this? 00:24:04.14\00:24:06.57 Lessons for Living. 00:24:06.61\00:24:07.94 Now Lessons for Living 00:24:07.98\00:24:09.31 is going to be on the parables of Jesus. 00:24:09.34\00:24:11.45 So Jesus, His teachings are lessons 00:24:11.48\00:24:14.22 that actually help your life live out a better existence 00:24:14.25\00:24:18.45 than what you now have. 00:24:18.49\00:24:19.82 Lessons on love, lessons on peace, 00:24:19.85\00:24:21.96 lessons on persistence, lessons on the love of God. 00:24:21.99\00:24:25.19 So many people view God as a harsh God, 00:24:25.23\00:24:27.83 but He is such a God of love. 00:24:27.86\00:24:29.66 How about that book over there? 00:24:29.70\00:24:31.10 Yes, now this is a new one. I like it. 00:24:31.13\00:24:33.17 I mean, there are couple of these here. 00:24:33.20\00:24:34.54 Yes. Okay, tell me about that one? 00:24:34.57\00:24:35.90 This is a book on Happy Couples. 00:24:35.94\00:24:37.27 It actually gives... It's new? 00:24:37.31\00:24:39.04 It's new, yeah, it's new. 00:24:39.07\00:24:40.68 It lets people who are interested 00:24:40.74\00:24:43.61 in courtship, relationships at every level, 00:24:43.65\00:24:46.51 whether it's dating or whether it's in marriage, 00:24:46.55\00:24:49.15 the cycles of relationship, 00:24:49.18\00:24:50.55 how to build effective communication skills. 00:24:50.59\00:24:52.75 So this is a really hot one here. 00:24:52.79\00:24:55.12 Wow, okay, so we've got Peace in the Storm-- 00:24:55.16\00:24:58.33 Peace in the Storm. Prince of Peace. 00:24:58.36\00:24:59.69 Okay so I've got to ask you another question 00:24:59.73\00:25:01.60 that a lot of people want to know 00:25:01.63\00:25:03.13 and I know I ask these questions too. 00:25:03.16\00:25:05.27 What about the canvas? Yes. 00:25:05.30\00:25:08.00 You know, does a person have to be 00:25:08.04\00:25:09.77 an excellent public speaker to be able 00:25:09.80\00:25:12.14 to be a part of the Mega Book program? 00:25:12.17\00:25:14.61 You know, can people... 00:25:14.64\00:25:15.98 Is there like this mad long thing 00:25:16.01\00:25:17.71 that they've got to memorize? 00:25:17.75\00:25:19.11 Tell us about that? I'm glad. 00:25:19.15\00:25:20.52 First of all I want to let you know this. 00:25:20.55\00:25:23.59 Ellen White says that it is not the capabilities 00:25:23.62\00:25:28.12 you now possess or ever will possess 00:25:28.16\00:25:31.26 that will make you successful. 00:25:31.29\00:25:33.29 It is that which God can do for every believing soul. 00:25:33.33\00:25:40.00 Your key to success in this ministry is your faith. 00:25:40.04\00:25:43.57 That's why I love it 00:25:43.61\00:25:44.94 because it's an exercise in the faith 00:25:44.97\00:25:46.78 and so, yes, you do have to learn to canvas 00:25:46.84\00:25:49.78 but if you believe, there is no limit, 00:25:49.81\00:25:52.85 she says, that you can't achieve. 00:25:52.88\00:25:57.25 The sky is immeasurable which lets us know 00:25:57.29\00:26:02.76 and believe that anybody can do this ministry if you believe. 00:26:02.79\00:26:06.23 There's no limitations on God. 00:26:06.26\00:26:07.96 And so we will teach you to canvas. 00:26:07.96\00:26:09.73 I'm going to drill you, 00:26:09.76\00:26:11.27 I'm going to make you know the canvas. 00:26:11.30\00:26:15.97 I'm going to be rougher on you than somebody else would be. 00:26:16.00\00:26:18.84 Is this a little bit of a boot camp 00:26:18.87\00:26:20.61 in a nice Christian way with food 00:26:20.68\00:26:23.01 and everything and exercise? 00:26:23.04\00:26:25.05 Yes, you get all of it. 00:26:25.08\00:26:26.41 But then you spread the love of Jesus. 00:26:26.45\00:26:27.95 Yes, yes. 00:26:27.98\00:26:29.32 Discipline is one word 00:26:29.35\00:26:30.69 that a lot of young people lack. 00:26:30.72\00:26:32.89 So they get that also? 00:26:32.92\00:26:34.26 This ministry will show you how to be disciplined. 00:26:34.29\00:26:37.16 For example, you count money every day. 00:26:37.23\00:26:40.40 Yes, we count money. 00:26:40.43\00:26:41.80 Very quickly, it seems we've got 00:26:41.83\00:26:43.16 like a couple minutes left in the show. 00:26:43.20\00:26:45.13 Money, very quickly, how much money 00:26:45.17\00:26:47.14 can a person make doing the Mega Book program? 00:26:47.20\00:26:49.00 I'm glad you asked. 00:26:49.04\00:26:50.37 My first time doing it in 10 weeks, 00:26:50.41\00:26:52.31 I raised $8,500 and that was a long time ago. 00:26:52.34\00:26:57.11 Now just recently I had a young man in 10 weeks, 00:26:57.15\00:27:00.55 all right, that's two months, I get paid once a month. 00:27:00.58\00:27:03.42 So in two checks, he made $16,000. 00:27:03.45\00:27:07.29 The anointing of God was definitely upon him. 00:27:07.32\00:27:09.36 So there's no limit to what God can do. 00:27:09.39\00:27:12.26 So I ask and invite all young people to give it a shot. 00:27:12.29\00:27:15.93 Trust me, God is going to treat you better than Starbucks, 00:27:15.96\00:27:19.10 He's going to treat you better than McDonalds, 00:27:19.13\00:27:20.87 any job you can find in any profession, 00:27:20.94\00:27:22.94 I guarantee God can beat it. 00:27:22.97\00:27:24.81 You can't beat His giving. 00:27:24.84\00:27:26.44 Well, I tell you, I'm going to talk to the folks at home. 00:27:26.47\00:27:29.01 We'll say okay. Here we are. 00:27:29.04\00:27:30.95 Thank you guys for kind of going around with us today 00:27:30.98\00:27:32.95 as we were talking about the Mega Book program. 00:27:32.98\00:27:35.48 And I got to tell you, my daughter participated in it 00:27:35.52\00:27:38.09 and he is telling the truth. 00:27:38.12\00:27:40.09 In three weeks out with the Mega Book program 00:27:40.16\00:27:42.49 she earned enough money to be able to travel 00:27:42.52\00:27:44.49 over to France for a whole year. 00:27:44.53\00:27:47.23 So just contact us, 00:27:47.30\00:27:51.37 contact Java Madison at South Central Conference. 00:27:51.40\00:27:54.84 You can find out more about the Mega Book program 00:27:54.87\00:27:56.87 or your publishing director. 00:27:56.91\00:28:00.14 Call the conference to find out about how... 00:28:00.21\00:28:03.28 The Mega Book program is nationwide, is that right? 00:28:03.31\00:28:05.18 Yes, it's nationwide. 00:28:05.21\00:28:06.55 If you go to youthexcel.info. 00:28:06.58\00:28:12.82 Go there and apply today. 00:28:12.85\00:28:14.32 Thank you so much for coming to the program 00:28:14.36\00:28:16.16 and for joining us today on Issues and Answers. 00:28:16.19\00:28:18.36