Welcome to Issues and Answers. 00:00:27.82\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\00:00:36.77 He's the publishing director for South Central Conference. 00:00:36.80\00:00:39.70 He's a graduate of Oakwood University 00:00:39.73\00:00:41.60 and Andrews University 00:00:41.64\00:00:42.97 and he is here to give us practical tips 00:00:43.00\00:00:45.31 on how to get involved in the Mega Book Ministry. 00:00:45.34\00:00:49.64 Welcome to the program, Java. 00:00:49.68\00:00:51.01 Hey welcome. Thanks for having me. 00:00:51.05\00:00:52.38 God bless you. 00:00:52.41\00:00:53.75 So tell me now, 00:00:53.78\00:00:55.32 have you done Mega Book Ministry yourself? 00:00:55.35\00:00:57.95 Yes, I actually have. 00:00:57.99\00:01:00.06 God has blessed me for the past 15 years 00:01:00.09\00:01:03.32 to be involved in the Mega Book ministry. 00:01:03.36\00:01:07.30 Oh really, so tell me how did you get involved 00:01:07.33\00:01:10.87 as a literature evangelist 00:01:10.90\00:01:12.53 you know from the early days until now? 00:01:12.57\00:01:14.57 I'm glad you asked. 00:01:14.60\00:01:15.94 It's a real phenomenal story 00:01:15.97\00:01:17.94 that still brings tears to my eyes. 00:01:17.97\00:01:20.78 You know my first couple years at Oakwood University 00:01:20.81\00:01:24.71 were almost like my wonder years. 00:01:24.75\00:01:26.85 I started to go to school. 00:01:26.88\00:01:29.52 I chose a degree field that I really have a passion for. 00:01:29.55\00:01:34.56 I really didn't know who I wanted to be just yet 00:01:34.59\00:01:38.13 and of course like the prodigal son, 00:01:38.16\00:01:40.23 I squandered my first two years there. 00:01:40.26\00:01:42.66 I squandered my time, my mom's money, 00:01:42.70\00:01:44.93 and you know got involved into activities 00:01:44.97\00:01:48.20 that kind of just made me not want to really be in school. 00:01:48.24\00:01:52.91 But praise the Lord for a praying mother. 00:01:52.94\00:01:55.14 Amen. 00:01:55.18\00:01:56.51 Yes, my mom, she prayed for me 00:01:56.54\00:01:58.45 and I went back home for about a few months 00:01:58.48\00:02:02.58 and I continued to go down this prodigal lifestyle 00:02:02.62\00:02:07.49 that I was leading. 00:02:07.52\00:02:08.86 And God met me on that road 00:02:08.89\00:02:11.46 and during that process, 00:02:11.49\00:02:13.96 it was almost like He knocked me off of my feet. 00:02:14.00\00:02:16.73 On several occasions, 00:02:16.77\00:02:18.10 major events happened in my life 00:02:18.13\00:02:20.47 that just brought me to a point of submission. 00:02:20.50\00:02:23.10 You know when I was younger, 00:02:23.14\00:02:24.47 my grandmother used to watch wrestling and... 00:02:24.51\00:02:28.74 Your grandmother? Yeah, my grandmother. 00:02:28.78\00:02:31.11 I used to sit down there by the side of her bed 00:02:31.15\00:02:34.02 and we would watch people on wrestling. 00:02:34.05\00:02:37.12 Great figures, I am sure you would know 00:02:37.15\00:02:38.49 if I would call them. 00:02:38.52\00:02:39.85 And, you know, they would put each other in a hold 00:02:39.89\00:02:43.69 and once they got their hold on you 00:02:43.73\00:02:46.46 where there was a leg lock, you know, 00:02:46.49\00:02:49.00 or a choke hold you know. 00:02:49.03\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 their hand kept falling that meant you were out. 00:02:53.64\00:02:56.10 And that's what God did to me, you know. 00:02:56.14\00:02:57.71 I just gave up, I just said you know what, 00:02:57.74\00:02:59.67 I am not fighting God anymore. 00:02:59.71\00:03:01.64 I said God just come into my heart, 00:03:01.68\00:03:03.24 come into my life and never before... 00:03:03.28\00:03:07.08 I remember it after I gave my life to the Lord, 00:03:07.12\00:03:09.98 I had this awesome experience with Jesus 00:03:10.02\00:03:12.55 but yet I still had this void 00:03:12.59\00:03:14.82 because again I wasn't in school. 00:03:14.86\00:03:16.66 So I was going to work 00:03:16.69\00:03:18.69 but I didn't have that quite purpose in my life. 00:03:18.73\00:03:21.80 And I remember like it was yesterday. 00:03:21.83\00:03:24.00 One morning I could remember the blue and yellow flags 00:03:24.03\00:03:27.87 that were flying, still do, 00:03:27.90\00:03:30.24 at Oakwood University during registration 00:03:30.27\00:03:32.87 and alumni weekend. 00:03:32.91\00:03:34.48 And I began to bawl and weep 00:03:34.51\00:03:38.21 because of that opportunity that I had squandered 00:03:38.25\00:03:40.38 and I asked God, I said God please allow me 00:03:40.42\00:03:43.39 an opportunity to go back to school. 00:03:43.42\00:03:45.62 And I kid you not, 00:03:45.65\00:03:47.52 immediately as I was praying that prayer, 00:03:47.56\00:03:50.99 tears in my eyes, 00:03:51.03\00:03:52.56 my mother called me and I tried to wipe my eyes 00:03:52.59\00:03:57.43 because I didn't want my mom to know I was crying. 00:03:57.47\00:03:59.23 I didn't want her to ask me for what reason. 00:03:59.27\00:04:01.17 And she told me that I had a scholarship 00:04:01.20\00:04:03.27 to go back to Oakwood. 00:04:03.30\00:04:05.17 That was the first time 00:04:05.21\00:04:06.61 I had a real direct encounter with God 00:04:06.64\00:04:09.64 where I prayed and He answered. 00:04:09.68\00:04:13.01 And I called my job and said, you know what, 00:04:13.05\00:04:16.28 I got a scholarship to go to school. 00:04:16.32\00:04:18.69 If I don't come back in three days then 00:04:18.72\00:04:22.22 I ask that you accept this is my resignation. 00:04:22.26\00:04:25.03 And so, as I was preparing to go back to Oakwood, 00:04:25.06\00:04:28.43 I heard God speak to me again, and this is what he told me. 00:04:28.46\00:04:32.10 He said, "I have something special for you to do." 00:04:32.13\00:04:36.50 My eyes lit up. 00:04:36.54\00:04:37.87 I was excited because I was beginning 00:04:37.91\00:04:39.77 to be aligned with my purpose. 00:04:39.81\00:04:42.04 And that semester, I was just looking, 00:04:42.08\00:04:45.75 what was it that God would have me to do. 00:04:45.78\00:04:47.62 I was looking for that voice. 00:04:47.65\00:04:49.18 And I can remember it like it just happened today, 4 a.m. 00:04:49.22\00:04:53.39 in the morning that spring semester, 00:04:53.42\00:04:56.46 I was about to go back home to the people 00:04:56.49\00:04:58.83 I had just up and left in my life. 00:04:58.86\00:05:00.90 And I met a gentleman there at a vending machine 00:05:00.93\00:05:05.83 and this individual said Brother Madison... 00:05:05.87\00:05:09.47 It's 4 a.m. in the morning. 00:05:09.50\00:05:11.44 I had just packed my clothes up to go home. 00:05:11.47\00:05:13.41 Are we dreaming or is this real life 00:05:13.44\00:05:14.78 4 a.m. in the morning? 00:05:14.81\00:05:16.14 This is reality. 00:05:16.18\00:05:17.51 You know that the life of a college student 00:05:17.55\00:05:18.88 can really go into the wee hours 00:05:18.91\00:05:21.32 but I had just finished up all my assignments, 00:05:21.35\00:05:24.09 and I was packing my clothes, and I was about to retire, 00:05:24.12\00:05:27.39 but I wanted to get something to drink. 00:05:27.42\00:05:28.76 And I met this guy, he asked me, he said, 00:05:28.79\00:05:30.49 we have one more spot to go to New Orleans 00:05:30.53\00:05:34.43 to go on a literature evangelism program. 00:05:34.46\00:05:38.00 Right then I became angry. I was upset. 00:05:38.03\00:05:40.84 I was furious because that voice 00:05:40.87\00:05:42.57 that I had been becoming accustomed to I heard 00:05:42.60\00:05:45.77 as this gentleman was speaking to me. 00:05:45.81\00:05:48.08 It wasn't him I was hearing but it was God. 00:05:48.11\00:05:51.65 Wow. And I didn't want to go. 00:05:51.68\00:05:53.65 And I said you know what the first thing 00:05:53.68\00:05:55.28 I'm going to think about in the morning 00:05:55.32\00:05:56.69 is what I'm going to do. 00:05:56.72\00:05:58.05 Well long story short, the first thing that I heard 00:05:58.09\00:06:01.69 when I woke up in the morning 00:06:01.72\00:06:03.06 wasn't the voice of God saying go to New Orleans. 00:06:03.09\00:06:05.43 It was a friend saying when are we going to Atlanta, 00:06:05.46\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\00:06:11.73 I think God wants me to go to New Orleans. 00:06:11.77\00:06:14.14 Let me call you back and pray on it. 00:06:14.17\00:06:15.70 I decided that moment to go to Louisiana, New Orleans. 00:06:15.74\00:06:20.98 I didn't call anybody. 00:06:21.01\00:06:22.54 I cut my phone off. 00:06:22.58\00:06:24.15 I didn't tell anybody where I was going. 00:06:24.18\00:06:26.31 My mom was waiting on me all day. 00:06:26.35\00:06:28.28 But I was a no show. 00:06:28.32\00:06:29.85 And it wasn't until 9 p.m. 00:06:29.88\00:06:32.05 that night I showed up 00:06:32.09\00:06:33.42 at the church called New Life Seventh-day Adventist Church, 00:06:33.46\00:06:36.73 there in New Orleans and I called my mom and said, 00:06:36.76\00:06:39.43 Mom, I decided to go and tell other people about Jesus 00:06:39.46\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\00:06:46.53 as a literature evangelist 00:06:46.57\00:06:48.37 and from that experience again I heard God during that week 00:06:48.40\00:06:54.54 telling me that He was calling me into ministry. 00:06:54.58\00:06:57.45 And so it's been a beautiful experience since then. 00:06:57.48\00:07:00.62 So now, I have this great relationship with Jesus 00:07:00.65\00:07:03.79 and I've got purpose in my life. 00:07:03.82\00:07:06.35 And from that moment I started sharing 00:07:06.39\00:07:08.29 God's word through literature. 00:07:08.32\00:07:09.86 Wow, so you started, that's an amazing story to me. 00:07:09.89\00:07:13.19 So you went from New Orleans, 00:07:13.23\00:07:16.60 so what did you do next after that? 00:07:16.63\00:07:18.57 Did you continue with the literature ministry or... 00:07:18.60\00:07:23.20 How did you get to where you are now... 00:07:23.24\00:07:24.67 You're the publishing guy... Yes. 00:07:24.71\00:07:26.54 Okay, you're the publishing man for South Central Conference 00:07:26.57\00:07:28.68 from no I'm not going to go to New Orleans 00:07:28.71\00:07:30.98 to publishing guy. 00:07:31.01\00:07:32.35 How did that happen? 00:07:32.38\00:07:33.72 Well, you know, God is amazing and it makes me, 00:07:33.75\00:07:35.72 it humbles myself every time when I'm think about the text 00:07:35.75\00:07:38.42 when the Bible says the steps of righteous 00:07:38.45\00:07:40.22 man or woman are ordered by the Lord. 00:07:40.26\00:07:42.96 We don't know what that next thing is 00:07:42.99\00:07:45.43 that God has for us in our life. 00:07:45.46\00:07:47.13 But we'll never know 00:07:47.16\00:07:48.50 if we're not willing to take the steps 00:07:48.53\00:07:50.00 that He is telling us right now in our lives. 00:07:50.03\00:07:52.37 Wow. Say that again. 00:07:52.40\00:07:53.74 That's powerful, that's powerful. 00:07:53.77\00:07:55.10 You know the steps of righteous man or woman 00:07:55.14\00:07:56.67 are ordered by the Lord. 00:07:56.71\00:07:58.04 We don't know every thing that God has in store for us. 00:07:58.07\00:08:01.01 But we'll never know what it is that 00:08:01.04\00:08:02.84 God has in store for us 00:08:02.88\00:08:04.21 if we're not willing to take those small steps now. 00:08:04.25\00:08:07.92 By his grace I could go through so many accounts in my life 00:08:07.95\00:08:11.15 where if I hadn't taken that small step, 00:08:11.19\00:08:14.06 for example, I would never met my wife... 00:08:14.09\00:08:16.42 Wow. Praise the Lord. 00:08:16.46\00:08:18.06 I am glad that I took that small step. 00:08:18.09\00:08:20.10 You just never know God's plan 00:08:20.13\00:08:21.70 but you've got to take the small step 00:08:21.73\00:08:23.33 and that's what I did. 00:08:23.37\00:08:24.70 And since then I decided this one thing 00:08:24.73\00:08:27.60 that I was going to be committed to follow that voice 00:08:27.64\00:08:31.64 until he tells me to do something different 00:08:31.67\00:08:34.98 and 15 years later 00:08:35.01\00:08:36.48 He hasn't told me to do anything different 00:08:36.51\00:08:38.45 and that's why I'm still 00:08:38.48\00:08:40.18 in the publishing ministry today. 00:08:40.22\00:08:42.05 Wow, that is, what a wonderful story. 00:08:42.08\00:08:44.59 Yes. 00:08:44.62\00:08:45.95 So you are the person now 00:08:45.99\00:08:47.32 that's in charge of helping other students? 00:08:47.36\00:08:49.36 Yes, you know I live my life now 00:08:49.39\00:08:52.26 to see God manifested 00:08:52.29\00:08:55.36 in the lives of other young people 00:08:55.40\00:08:58.20 like I've come to see him manifested in my life. 00:08:58.23\00:09:02.40 I had no clue that these decision 00:09:02.44\00:09:05.34 to serve the Lord in mission work 00:09:05.37\00:09:09.11 was critical to the development of who I am today. 00:09:09.14\00:09:12.95 I serve the Lord by His grace faithfully 00:09:12.98\00:09:15.95 and so my passion today is to provide 00:09:15.98\00:09:19.82 and foster atmosphere 00:09:19.85\00:09:21.26 where other young people can come to know God 00:09:21.29\00:09:24.19 in their life through an atmosphere 00:09:24.23\00:09:27.20 of mission service oriented acts of love to other people. 00:09:27.23\00:09:32.57 That's where the purpose I have now 00:09:32.60\00:09:36.04 in my life was developed 00:09:36.07\00:09:37.71 and I know that's critical for other young people 00:09:37.74\00:09:40.84 to come to know God 00:09:40.88\00:09:44.25 by being in these type of missionary programs. 00:09:44.28\00:09:46.82 So that's why I love literature evangelism. 00:09:46.85\00:09:48.68 And I love the Mega Book Ministry 00:09:48.72\00:09:50.22 because it provides purpose for individuals 00:09:50.25\00:09:53.09 that are seeking God in their life. 00:09:53.12\00:09:55.22 So in other words, a person, 00:09:55.26\00:09:57.49 a young person doesn't have to be totally perfect? 00:09:57.53\00:10:02.76 You're saying that you see this ministry 00:10:02.80\00:10:05.30 as being able to help invest in that young person's life 00:10:05.33\00:10:10.34 as well as to draw them closer to God. 00:10:10.37\00:10:12.64 Yes. 00:10:12.67\00:10:14.01 See you cannot know 00:10:14.04\00:10:17.81 what it is God is calling you to become, right, 00:10:17.85\00:10:23.32 unless you're submitted totally to Him. 00:10:23.35\00:10:26.12 Paul said it to Timothy in this way, 00:10:26.15\00:10:29.06 you have to stir up the gift that's in you. 00:10:29.09\00:10:31.19 And one of the ways that the gift 00:10:31.23\00:10:33.06 that God places through the Holy Spirit 00:10:33.09\00:10:34.86 in the lives of everybody is stirred up 00:10:34.90\00:10:38.17 is when you are living your life 00:10:38.20\00:10:41.50 as Jesus did for somebody else. 00:10:41.54\00:10:44.44 And that's what happens 00:10:44.47\00:10:45.84 when you are involved in missionary service 00:10:45.87\00:10:49.11 and the best place to start is in our schools. 00:10:49.14\00:10:52.21 That's where it started for me. 00:10:52.25\00:10:53.78 Wow. 00:10:53.82\00:10:55.15 Well, I tell you, I'm a firm believer 00:10:55.18\00:10:57.09 in the Mega Book Ministry... 00:10:57.12\00:10:58.45 Yes, Ma'am. 00:10:58.49\00:10:59.82 And my daughter wanted to go to France to Cologne... 00:10:59.85\00:11:02.52 Okay. 00:11:02.56\00:11:03.89 And she was trying to figure out how to get there. 00:11:03.93\00:11:05.93 And she ended up going through the publishing ministry 00:11:05.96\00:11:08.13 where she was able to go out 00:11:08.16\00:11:09.86 and become a part of this Mega Book program. 00:11:09.90\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. 00:11:19.31\00:11:21.08 You know just break it on down. 00:11:21.11\00:11:22.91 Just tell us all about what's involved 00:11:22.94\00:11:25.25 because there's lot of mystery, 00:11:25.28\00:11:26.82 you know, some people think, oh, it's just for some. 00:11:26.85\00:11:28.28 But you know... 00:11:28.32\00:11:29.65 Well, let me share this with you, 00:11:29.68\00:11:31.32 service to Jesus is for everybody. 00:11:31.35\00:11:34.79 And the good thing I like about it is 00:11:34.82\00:11:38.16 telling other people about Jesus 00:11:38.19\00:11:40.16 is not some special spiritual gift. 00:11:40.20\00:11:43.23 It's actually a call that everyone is to participate in. 00:11:43.26\00:11:46.74 For example think about it, 00:11:46.77\00:11:48.60 when Jesus met the woman at the well. 00:11:48.64\00:11:52.64 When he told her about her life 00:11:52.67\00:11:55.78 and she came to know him as that life spring, 00:11:55.81\00:11:59.45 that well that never runs dry 00:11:59.48\00:12:01.45 and in her spirit flowed fountains of living water. 00:12:01.48\00:12:05.22 She went immediately, dropped her water 00:12:05.25\00:12:07.72 and she told everybody about Jesus. 00:12:07.76\00:12:11.83 That's what everybody to be involved in. 00:12:11.86\00:12:15.03 And so what you need to understand 00:12:15.06\00:12:16.67 about the Mega Book Ministry, 00:12:16.70\00:12:18.03 it is literature evangelism, 00:12:18.07\00:12:20.80 particularly for young people, all right. 00:12:20.84\00:12:23.51 And I would like to read this quote to you, 00:12:23.54\00:12:26.34 it says, "The very best education 00:12:26.37\00:12:27.94 young men and women can obtain 00:12:27.98\00:12:30.91 is by entering the canvassing field, 00:12:30.95\00:12:33.58 all right, for doing house to house work." 00:12:33.62\00:12:37.75 And why it's so important for house to house work 00:12:37.79\00:12:39.79 is because it's personal ministry, 00:12:39.82\00:12:41.42 all right. 00:12:41.46\00:12:42.79 It's young people who are in our schools 00:12:42.82\00:12:45.03 learning about Jesus 00:12:45.06\00:12:46.39 taking that knowledge from the classroom 00:12:46.43\00:12:48.80 and applying it to everyday life circumstances. 00:12:48.83\00:12:52.23 And so how do you explain 00:12:52.27\00:12:54.50 that God became flesh to a person 00:12:54.54\00:12:58.31 who is hurt because their loved one died? 00:12:58.34\00:13:02.31 How does that translate? 00:13:02.34\00:13:03.68 You've got to come down to their level, 00:13:03.71\00:13:05.25 so it teaches them how to be courteous, 00:13:05.28\00:13:07.62 literature evangelism does. 00:13:07.65\00:13:09.15 It teaches them how to meet all classes of people. 00:13:09.18\00:13:12.59 It allows them to make their faith real. 00:13:12.62\00:13:16.06 See that's the difference. 00:13:16.09\00:13:17.43 See Samuel, the Bible says, 00:13:17.46\00:13:19.09 he was raised in the house of God, 00:13:19.13\00:13:23.37 but he had not yet heard the voice of God. 00:13:23.40\00:13:27.87 So there's a difference from being raised in church 00:13:27.90\00:13:31.71 and coming to know the Lord of the church. 00:13:31.74\00:13:35.91 When I was a literature evangelist, 00:13:35.94\00:13:37.28 it would stump me all the time 00:13:37.31\00:13:38.88 when people would ask me questions 00:13:38.91\00:13:40.45 that I was not prepared for. 00:13:40.48\00:13:43.08 What it did was it allowed me to go back 00:13:43.12\00:13:46.05 and study and ask God, 00:13:46.09\00:13:47.52 God, how could I have reached that person. 00:13:47.56\00:13:50.09 I feel like I lost him. 00:13:50.13\00:13:51.46 I feel like I didn't do well enough. 00:13:51.49\00:13:52.99 In that agonizing, 00:13:53.03\00:13:54.76 God was transferring His feelings 00:13:54.80\00:13:58.13 for lost souls to me and so the hurt of rejection, 00:13:58.17\00:14:03.37 the hurt like when the rich young ruler walked from Jesus 00:14:03.41\00:14:07.34 that Jesus felt the travail of his soul, 00:14:07.38\00:14:09.84 I was able to know what it was like 00:14:09.88\00:14:12.65 for the shepherd to lose a sheep 00:14:12.68\00:14:14.35 or for the woman to lose a coin 00:14:14.38\00:14:16.28 and so my love for souls expanded. 00:14:16.32\00:14:18.62 And this is what literature evangelism 00:14:18.65\00:14:20.56 does for our young people. 00:14:20.59\00:14:22.02 It allows them to come into contact 00:14:22.06\00:14:24.39 with the real heart of Jesus. 00:14:24.43\00:14:26.59 Wow, that is just awesome. 00:14:26.63\00:14:29.06 I like the way you said that it... 00:14:29.10\00:14:31.23 So it's experiential. 00:14:31.27\00:14:33.03 It's experiential. 00:14:33.07\00:14:34.40 So there's not like a class or something 00:14:34.44\00:14:36.64 that a person takes in school 00:14:36.67\00:14:38.21 to be a part of a literature evangelism. 00:14:38.24\00:14:39.57 I'm glad you asked. 00:14:39.61\00:14:40.94 One of the first qualifications 00:14:40.98\00:14:43.65 for becoming a literature evangelist 00:14:43.68\00:14:45.51 is having a desire and love for God. 00:14:45.55\00:14:48.75 If you have experienced the love of God, 00:14:48.78\00:14:51.12 then you can become a literature evangelist. 00:14:51.15\00:14:54.12 Because you have experienced God, 00:14:54.16\00:14:56.12 now you're qualified to go tell somebody else about God. 00:14:56.16\00:14:59.86 Now we do have instructional training. 00:14:59.89\00:15:03.06 We do teach you a canvas. 00:15:03.10\00:15:05.07 We do introduce you to the books 00:15:05.10\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 00:15:08.64\00:15:10.31 about what you haven't experienced yourself. 00:15:10.34\00:15:12.77 So we do go through some formal training, 00:15:12.81\00:15:14.44 but most importantly Jesus, 00:15:14.48\00:15:16.28 we're told is the master teacher. 00:15:16.31\00:15:19.71 It's like on-the-job training. 00:15:19.75\00:15:21.38 You get to meet Jesus in action 00:15:21.42\00:15:24.69 as He is already engaged in the lives of people 00:15:24.72\00:15:27.66 that you're going to knock on their door. 00:15:27.69\00:15:29.92 What you find out is that Jesus is already there 00:15:29.96\00:15:33.46 and more so importantly you're learning something 00:15:33.50\00:15:36.60 more than you're telling somebody else about Jesus. 00:15:36.63\00:15:40.34 So the young people are benefiting from like you said, 00:15:40.37\00:15:44.21 they take it from the classroom 00:15:44.24\00:15:45.71 what they're learning at school 00:15:45.74\00:15:47.08 and then they're actually able to apply it. 00:15:47.11\00:15:49.34 And they're getting public speaking skills, 00:15:49.38\00:15:52.55 courtesy, how to relate socially to, 00:15:52.58\00:15:55.05 like you said, all walks of life. 00:15:55.08\00:15:56.42 Exactly. 00:15:56.45\00:15:57.79 I can tell you right now that 00:15:57.82\00:15:59.15 young people watching the show 00:15:59.19\00:16:00.52 and seeing that gear over there, 00:16:00.56\00:16:02.42 they're going to want to know one question. 00:16:02.46\00:16:03.79 How do I get those clothes? 00:16:03.83\00:16:05.59 How do I get that shirt? 00:16:05.63\00:16:07.53 How do I get all that, you know? 00:16:07.56\00:16:09.46 That's kind of exciting, nice logo and everything. 00:16:09.50\00:16:10.87 Yes. Tell us about that? 00:16:10.90\00:16:12.67 What is that all about? I'm glad you asked. 00:16:12.70\00:16:14.07 Now, this is Youth Excel Scholarship Program 00:16:14.10\00:16:19.27 because this ministry has two purposes. 00:16:19.31\00:16:22.11 The first purpose we are told is to instruct the students 00:16:22.14\00:16:26.08 that they are laboring for the advancement 00:16:26.11\00:16:29.52 of the kingdom of Christ. 00:16:29.55\00:16:31.42 This is paramount. 00:16:31.45\00:16:32.79 This ministry is about mission, 00:16:32.82\00:16:35.59 it's about sharing the gospel of Jesus. 00:16:35.62\00:16:37.49 So first, we're advancing God's kingdom 00:16:37.53\00:16:39.59 and secondly we are raising donations 00:16:39.63\00:16:43.33 from the books that we share 00:16:43.37\00:16:44.83 to help us go to school. 00:16:44.87\00:16:46.43 And so one of the challenges in my life is that 00:16:46.47\00:16:49.50 I couldn't go to school 00:16:49.54\00:16:50.87 because I had wasted all my mother's money. 00:16:50.91\00:16:54.21 So she said done. 00:16:54.24\00:16:55.58 She was done, she was tapped out. 00:16:55.61\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\00:17:01.82 so that I could learn how to earn funds for myself 00:17:01.85\00:17:06.52 by sharing my passion for Jesus. 00:17:06.55\00:17:08.42 And when you have a passion for Jesus, 00:17:08.46\00:17:10.66 the funds come naturally 00:17:10.69\00:17:12.29 because God wants us to share this ministry 00:17:12.33\00:17:15.83 more than we want to share it. 00:17:15.86\00:17:17.77 And so then He equips you with a uniform. 00:17:17.80\00:17:19.80 Good, I'm going to come over. Come on over. 00:17:19.83\00:17:21.34 All right, I'm going to come over and check it out. 00:17:21.37\00:17:23.24 Let's see here now. 00:17:23.27\00:17:24.71 'Cause I'm also a teacher and I've got students 00:17:24.74\00:17:26.78 that would like to know about all of this good stuff. 00:17:26.81\00:17:28.24 Yes. 00:17:28.28\00:17:29.61 So tell me about this one first. 00:17:29.64\00:17:30.98 What is this? 00:17:31.01\00:17:32.35 Well, first of all this is your ID badge, 00:17:32.38\00:17:34.88 because we want to be professional. 00:17:34.92\00:17:37.22 And so, this allows people to identify you 00:17:37.25\00:17:40.19 with a bonafide, legitimate organization, 00:17:40.22\00:17:42.69 because there are so many scammers that are out there. 00:17:42.72\00:17:45.29 People are nervous when you come to their door 00:17:45.33\00:17:46.96 so we want to dispel and break down any barrier. 00:17:47.00\00:17:50.43 So you have an ID badge that has a number 00:17:50.47\00:17:52.73 that you can contact the main office. 00:17:52.77\00:17:54.70 It has a website address where people can go 00:17:54.74\00:17:57.51 and even donate after 00:17:57.54\00:17:59.37 you have shared books with them. 00:17:59.41\00:18:00.74 Okay now. How about this one? 00:18:00.78\00:18:02.11 I'm going to come down a little bit 00:18:02.14\00:18:03.55 because I don't want to take away 00:18:03.58\00:18:04.91 from this great looking shirt here. 00:18:04.95\00:18:06.48 Now this is a shirt that allows you to breathe. 00:18:06.51\00:18:10.42 It says Youth Excel Scholarship Program. 00:18:10.45\00:18:14.79 So we want you to excel in their spiritual life, 00:18:14.82\00:18:17.36 we want them to excel in their educational work. 00:18:17.39\00:18:19.89 We want them just to excel as people, loving people. 00:18:19.93\00:18:24.03 You know, there's an idea that's out there now, 00:18:24.07\00:18:27.50 character versus content, all right? 00:18:27.54\00:18:30.84 So basically businesses are more concerned 00:18:30.87\00:18:34.94 that you have character development, 00:18:34.98\00:18:36.95 all right, than the content of knowledge 00:18:36.98\00:18:40.15 that you have acquired in school. 00:18:40.18\00:18:41.85 There are so many professionals today 00:18:41.88\00:18:43.65 who have the content, 00:18:43.69\00:18:45.09 but they don't have the character and so this... 00:18:45.12\00:18:48.62 This is another shirt? 00:18:48.66\00:18:49.99 Yes, now this is our shirt that we like to go have fun, 00:18:50.03\00:18:52.79 all right. 00:18:52.83\00:18:54.16 So let me just say this. 00:18:54.20\00:18:55.93 We invite students on their off seasons 00:18:55.96\00:18:59.77 when they're not in school 00:18:59.80\00:19:01.40 because Spirit of Prophecy tells us 00:19:01.44\00:19:03.07 that when the school is out, 00:19:03.10\00:19:05.47 the student should go into more practical fields of labor 00:19:05.51\00:19:08.64 doing house-to-house work as a literature evangelist. 00:19:08.68\00:19:10.75 So on their spring breaks, on their summer breaks, 00:19:10.78\00:19:13.88 which is a 10 week program. 00:19:13.92\00:19:15.48 So for 10 weeks 00:19:15.52\00:19:16.85 we'll house you, we'll feed you. 00:19:16.89\00:19:18.75 Really? Yes. 00:19:18.79\00:19:20.12 House you, feed you? House, feed. 00:19:20.16\00:19:22.12 So let me see now. So the parents... 00:19:22.16\00:19:23.89 This is interesting. Yes. 00:19:23.93\00:19:25.73 Let me come over here and get little closer. 00:19:25.76\00:19:27.66 Okay, so you house the kids? 00:19:27.70\00:19:29.03 Yes. 00:19:29.06\00:19:30.40 You feed them? Yes. 00:19:30.43\00:19:31.77 You transport them to where they need to go? 00:19:31.80\00:19:33.40 Yes. Really? 00:19:33.44\00:19:34.90 All we ask is that they show up. 00:19:34.94\00:19:36.87 Okay, tell me about this bag here, 00:19:36.91\00:19:38.41 I'm going to pull this out a little bit 00:19:38.44\00:19:40.21 before we get into these cool little books here. 00:19:40.24\00:19:42.88 The Mega Book program is what we're talking about. 00:19:42.91\00:19:45.18 I'm really excited about this. 00:19:45.21\00:19:46.78 Okay, tell me about this bag? 00:19:46.82\00:19:48.15 So this is our bag. 00:19:48.18\00:19:50.75 This is the bag that holds and house the literature, 00:19:50.79\00:19:53.46 all right? 00:19:53.49\00:19:54.82 It has our logo on it. 00:19:54.86\00:19:56.19 It allows our students to look professional. 00:19:56.22\00:19:58.99 Here is... 00:19:59.03\00:20:00.36 What's this here? Is this a walkie talkie? 00:20:00.40\00:20:01.73 Yes. 00:20:01.76\00:20:03.26 They get a walkie talkie too? 00:20:03.30\00:20:04.63 They get a walkie talkie too. 00:20:04.67\00:20:06.00 It takes a lot of funds to actually make this work. 00:20:06.03\00:20:08.60 These are high frequency, business radios, all right? 00:20:08.64\00:20:12.47 And so, we can get about a five mile radius. 00:20:12.51\00:20:15.14 So this is for safety because we want to make sure 00:20:15.18\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\00:20:20.62 And so God has really been blessing. 00:20:20.65\00:20:22.08 So they have a bag. 00:20:22.12\00:20:23.45 They have an ID badge. 00:20:23.49\00:20:24.82 They also have a radio and they have a shirt. 00:20:24.85\00:20:27.66 Now do they go by themselves 00:20:27.69\00:20:29.02 or are they in groups or partners 00:20:29.06\00:20:30.96 or how does it work. 00:20:30.99\00:20:32.33 You know, you're talking about cities. 00:20:32.36\00:20:33.70 That's kind of a big deal, safety issues. 00:20:33.73\00:20:35.73 Safety is important, and so this is how it works. 00:20:35.76\00:20:37.80 The concept is community. 00:20:37.83\00:20:39.93 We go and minister in community 00:20:39.97\00:20:41.97 so a band of seven students 00:20:42.00\00:20:44.44 will go to a targeted area in the city. 00:20:44.47\00:20:47.34 A lot of times we'll link up with local area pastors. 00:20:47.38\00:20:50.35 Because not only are we sharing literature, 00:20:50.38\00:20:52.25 we're also gaining Bible studies. 00:20:52.28\00:20:54.38 We're also offering prayers. 00:20:54.42\00:20:56.25 We're also passing out advertisement 00:20:56.28\00:20:58.09 for any evangelistic or community 00:20:58.12\00:21:00.22 outreaches of those churches. 00:21:00.26\00:21:01.86 All right, so these are some of the things that we do. 00:21:01.89\00:21:05.06 So we go out in community in a band of seven. 00:21:05.09\00:21:07.76 The leader goes and monitors each student's activity, 00:21:07.80\00:21:12.47 so we may place them say in a parking lot, 00:21:12.50\00:21:15.57 some type of business. 00:21:15.60\00:21:17.31 We may place them in a small enclosed subdivision 00:21:17.34\00:21:20.61 one way in and one way out and we keep track. 00:21:20.64\00:21:23.28 Most of the time I'll position people 00:21:23.31\00:21:25.31 on either side of the street 00:21:25.35\00:21:27.22 so they can always keep each other in contact view. 00:21:27.25\00:21:30.79 And in worst case scenario, 00:21:30.82\00:21:32.15 they're not in each other's view, 00:21:32.19\00:21:33.52 the leader who is driving up and down the roads 00:21:33.56\00:21:35.72 has the radio and we stay in contact that way. 00:21:35.76\00:21:38.09 Ooh, that's pretty good. Yes. 00:21:38.13\00:21:39.49 So now these books, tell me a little about... 00:21:39.53\00:21:43.03 These are the Mega Books right here? 00:21:43.06\00:21:44.40 Yes. Okay. 00:21:44.43\00:21:45.93 So one of my favorite. I see you have one. 00:21:45.97\00:21:48.37 That's one of my favorite... Bible Answers. 00:21:48.40\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\00:21:53.14 it answers questions people most commonly 00:21:53.17\00:21:55.18 ask about the Bible. 00:21:55.21\00:21:56.75 So for example my generation, 00:21:56.78\00:21:59.45 there's a rapper named Tupac 00:21:59.48\00:22:01.95 that a lot of people may have heard of who has passed. 00:22:01.98\00:22:04.29 He had a question, he had... 00:22:04.32\00:22:05.65 Can you hold this one? 00:22:05.69\00:22:07.02 Yes, his question was is there a heaven for a thug? 00:22:07.06\00:22:09.92 Very fundamental Bible question. 00:22:09.96\00:22:13.50 He is basically asking God understanding my lifestyle, 00:22:13.53\00:22:17.57 knowing that you know everything, 00:22:17.60\00:22:19.87 Only You Can Judge Me is one of his favorite songs, 00:22:19.90\00:22:22.34 only God can judge me now. 00:22:22.37\00:22:23.71 He wanted to know God, 00:22:23.74\00:22:25.07 is it possible for somebody like me to be saved. 00:22:25.11\00:22:27.71 What a fundamental question? 00:22:27.74\00:22:29.34 And so, this book right here has questions 00:22:29.38\00:22:32.21 most commonly asked about the Bible. 00:22:32.25\00:22:33.95 One fundamental question that's asked is about 00:22:33.98\00:22:36.48 who is the Creator. 00:22:36.52\00:22:37.85 And so it gives you question in dark print 00:22:37.89\00:22:39.65 and answers come from the Bible. 00:22:39.69\00:22:41.66 So we're going to go through these pretty quickly here now. 00:22:41.69\00:22:43.22 So Man of Peace. 00:22:43.26\00:22:44.69 Now, Man of Peace is one of my favorites. 00:22:44.73\00:22:46.19 This goes over the life of Jesus 00:22:46.23\00:22:48.26 from the Matthew, Mark, Luke and John gospels 00:22:48.30\00:22:51.40 and it creates a complete story. 00:22:51.43\00:22:52.93 Watch this, out of 10,000 volumes 00:22:52.97\00:22:54.84 in the Library of Congress on the life of Jesus, 00:22:54.87\00:22:57.24 this is the one most read outside of the Bible. 00:22:57.27\00:22:59.17 Wow. And this is Desire of Ages. 00:22:59.21\00:23:00.91 Desire of Ages. Look at this. 00:23:00.94\00:23:03.14 This is beautiful. 00:23:03.18\00:23:04.68 Okay, now, I've got to tell you this one. 00:23:04.71\00:23:06.05 Yes. 00:23:06.08\00:23:07.42 The Great Controversy. 00:23:07.45\00:23:08.78 I gave this to someone in Memphis, 00:23:08.82\00:23:12.55 who, like you said, 00:23:12.59\00:23:13.99 was not a person went to church. 00:23:14.02\00:23:15.36 Tell us about this book? He loved it. 00:23:15.39\00:23:17.43 He liked the cover, you know, America and all that stuff. 00:23:17.46\00:23:19.93 This is our best seller 00:23:19.96\00:23:22.03 and it's selling by leaps and bounds 00:23:22.06\00:23:24.13 because it's easy to sell it 00:23:24.17\00:23:25.50 because everybody realizes the tension for freedom. 00:23:25.53\00:23:29.97 So many places live without freedom. 00:23:30.01\00:23:32.57 So many countries don't have freedom 00:23:32.61\00:23:35.38 that we in America cherish 00:23:35.41\00:23:37.61 and this book traces the path of freedom 00:23:37.65\00:23:40.82 throughout the annals of history 00:23:40.85\00:23:42.75 but shows us ultimately 00:23:42.78\00:23:44.12 the love of God triumphs in the end. 00:23:44.15\00:23:45.92 And so I love this book. 00:23:45.95\00:23:47.29 This is a great read. 00:23:47.32\00:23:48.66 This book has helped thousands 00:23:48.69\00:23:50.03 to understand the Book of Revelation. 00:23:50.06\00:23:51.39 Wow. So this is all part of. 00:23:51.43\00:23:52.76 And then of course the last one we have. 00:23:52.79\00:23:54.96 What is this, living...? 00:23:55.00\00:23:56.33 Yes, yes, one of my favorite. 00:23:56.36\00:23:58.97 So in other words, is that's 00:23:59.00\00:24:00.34 what's in the pack that they get? 00:24:00.37\00:24:01.70 That's what's in the bag. 00:24:01.74\00:24:03.07 We're looking at what's actually in the bag. 00:24:03.10\00:24:04.44 Yes, this is what's in the bag. 00:24:04.47\00:24:05.81 This one is a part of this? 00:24:05.84\00:24:07.18 Lessons for Living. 00:24:07.21\00:24:08.54 Now Lessons for Living is going to be 00:24:08.58\00:24:09.91 on the parables of Jesus. 00:24:09.94\00:24:11.41 So Jesus, His teachings are lessons 00:24:11.45\00:24:14.18 that actually help your life 00:24:14.22\00:24:16.05 live out a better existence than what you now have. 00:24:16.08\00:24:19.55 Lessons on love, lessons on peace, 00:24:19.59\00:24:21.99 lessons on persistence, 00:24:22.02\00:24:23.66 lessons on the love of God. 00:24:23.69\00:24:25.19 So many people view God as a harsh God, 00:24:25.23\00:24:27.76 but He is such a God of love. 00:24:27.80\00:24:29.66 How about that book over there? 00:24:29.70\00:24:31.13 Yes, now this is a new one. I like it. 00:24:31.17\00:24:33.30 I mean, there are couple of these here. 00:24:33.34\00:24:34.67 Okay, tell me about that one? 00:24:34.70\00:24:36.04 This is a book on Happy Couples. 00:24:36.07\00:24:37.44 It actually gives... It's new? 00:24:37.47\00:24:39.11 It's new, yeah, it's new. 00:24:39.14\00:24:40.68 It lets people who are interested in courtship, 00:24:40.71\00:24:44.28 relationships at every level, whether it's dating 00:24:44.31\00:24:47.55 or whether it's in marriage, the cycles of relationship, 00:24:47.58\00:24:50.55 how to build effective communication skills. 00:24:50.59\00:24:52.72 So this is a really hot one here. 00:24:52.75\00:24:54.96 Wow, okay, so we've got Peace in the Storm... 00:24:54.99\00:24:58.29 Peace in the Storm. Prince of Peace. 00:24:58.33\00:24:59.89 Okay, so, now I've got to ask you another question 00:24:59.93\00:25:01.53 that a lot of people want to know... 00:25:01.56\00:25:02.96 And I know I ask these questions too. 00:25:03.00\00:25:05.17 What about the canvas? Yes. 00:25:05.20\00:25:08.10 You know, does a person have to be 00:25:08.14\00:25:09.87 an excellent public speaker 00:25:09.90\00:25:11.44 to be able to be a part of the Mega Book program? 00:25:11.47\00:25:14.51 You know, can people... 00:25:14.54\00:25:15.88 Is there like this mad long thing 00:25:15.91\00:25:17.71 that they've got to memorize? 00:25:17.75\00:25:19.21 Tell us about that? I'm glad. 00:25:19.25\00:25:20.58 First of all I want to let you know this. 00:25:20.62\00:25:23.28 Ellen White says 00:25:23.32\00:25:25.19 that it is not the capabilities you now possess 00:25:25.22\00:25:29.56 or ever will possess that will make you successful. 00:25:29.59\00:25:33.33 It is that which God can do for every believing soul. 00:25:33.36\00:25:39.93 Your key to success in this ministry is your faith. 00:25:39.97\00:25:43.61 That's why I love it 00:25:43.64\00:25:44.97 because it's an exercise in the faith 00:25:45.01\00:25:46.78 and so, yes, you do have to learn to canvas 00:25:46.81\00:25:49.94 but if you believe, there is no limit, 00:25:49.98\00:25:52.91 she says, that you can't achieve. 00:25:52.95\00:25:57.32 The sky is immeasurable which lets us know 00:25:57.35\00:26:02.62 and believe that anybody can do this ministry if you believe. 00:26:02.66\00:26:06.13 There's no limitations on God. 00:26:06.16\00:26:07.80 And so we will teach you to canvas. 00:26:07.83\00:26:09.46 I'm going to drill you, 00:26:09.50\00:26:11.13 I'm going to make you know the canvas. 00:26:11.17\00:26:15.74 I'm going to be rougher on you than somebody else would be. 00:26:15.77\00:26:18.77 Is this a little bit of a boot camp 00:26:18.81\00:26:20.81 in a nice Christian way 00:26:20.84\00:26:22.34 with food and everything and exercise? 00:26:22.38\00:26:25.11 Yes, you get all of that. 00:26:25.15\00:26:26.48 But then you spread the love of Jesus. 00:26:26.51\00:26:27.85 Yes, yes. 00:26:27.88\00:26:29.22 Discipline is one word that a lot of young people lack. 00:26:29.25\00:26:33.02 So they get that also? 00:26:33.05\00:26:34.39 This ministry will show you how to be disciplined. 00:26:34.42\00:26:37.06 For example, you count money every day. 00:26:37.09\00:26:40.36 Yes, we count money. 00:26:40.40\00:26:42.10 Very quickly, it seems we've got 00:26:42.13\00:26:43.47 like a couple minutes left in the show. 00:26:43.50\00:26:45.07 Money, very quickly, 00:26:45.10\00:26:46.63 how much money can a person make doing 00:26:46.67\00:26:48.00 the Mega Book program? 00:26:48.04\00:26:49.37 I'm glad you asked. 00:26:49.40\00:26:50.74 My first time doing it in 10 weeks, 00:26:50.77\00:26:52.21 I raised $8,500... 00:26:52.24\00:26:54.68 Seriously? 00:26:54.71\00:26:56.04 And that was a long time ago. 00:26:56.08\00:26:57.41 Now just recently I had a young man in 10 weeks, 00:26:57.45\00:27:00.42 all right, that's two months, 00:27:00.45\00:27:01.82 I get paid once a month. 00:27:01.85\00:27:03.28 So in two checks, he made $16,000. 00:27:03.32\00:27:07.56 The anointing of God was definitely upon him. 00:27:07.59\00:27:09.29 So there's no limit to what God can do. 00:27:09.32\00:27:12.13 And so I ask and invite all young people to give it a shot. 00:27:12.16\00:27:15.93 Trust me, God is going to treat you better than Starbucks, 00:27:15.96\00:27:19.03 He's going to treat you better than McDonalds, 00:27:19.07\00:27:20.84 any job you can find in any profession, 00:27:20.87\00:27:22.80 I guarantee you, God can beat it. 00:27:22.84\00:27:24.57 You can't beat His giving. 00:27:24.61\00:27:25.94 Well, I tell you, I'm going to talk to the folks at home. 00:27:25.97\00:27:28.88 We'll say okay. Here we are. 00:27:28.91\00:27:30.91 Thank you guys for kind of going around with us today 00:27:30.95\00:27:32.95 as we were talking about the Mega Book program. 00:27:32.98\00:27:35.38 And I got to tell you, my daughter participated in it 00:27:35.42\00:27:37.99 and he is telling the truth. 00:27:38.02\00:27:40.06 In three weeks out with the Mega Book program 00:27:40.09\00:27:42.46 she earned enough money to be able to travel 00:27:42.49\00:27:44.43 over to France for a whole year. 00:27:44.46\00:27:47.23 So just contact us, 00:27:47.26\00:27:51.20 contact Java Madison at South Central Conference. 00:27:51.23\00:27:54.80 You can find out more about the Mega Book program 00:27:54.84\00:27:56.91 or your publishing director. 00:27:56.94\00:28:00.08 Call the conference to find out about 00:28:00.11\00:28:02.64 how does Mega Book program is nation wide. 00:28:02.68\00:28:04.15 Is that right? 00:28:04.18\00:28:05.51 Yes, it's nationwide, if you go to youth excel, 00:28:05.55\00:28:07.68 youthexcel.info, 00:28:07.72\00:28:11.65 Youthexcel.info go there and apply today. 00:28:11.69\00:28:14.36 Thank you so much for coming to the program 00:28:14.39\00:28:16.06 and for joining us today in Issues and answers. 00:28:16.09\00:28:18.19