Participants: Bill Santos
Series Code: IIWC
Program Code: IIWC201123
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00:02 >>Bill: On today's "It Is Written" television
00:03 program we have our friends from ADRA joining 00:05 us who will be bringing us some very interesting and 00:08 exciting news about what has been going on in the 00:09 country of Thailand. Now joining us on the set, 00:14 also, is Christian recording artist, 00:16 Christine Wolman. You're not going to want to 00:17 miss this program. 'It is Written' will be 00:22 back in one minute. 00:36 >>ANNOUNCER: IT HAS STOOD THE TEST OF TIME... 00:39 GOD'S BOOK, THE BIBLE. 00:43 STILL RELEVANT IN TODAY'S COMPLEX WORLD. 00:47 IT IS WRITTEN . . . 00:50 SHARING MESSAGES OF HOPE AROUND THE WORLD. 01:05 Well, let me welcome our viewers to this week's 01:06 television program. Thank you for joining us and let 01:08 me welcome my two guests James, I'm going to go 01:12 ladies first. 01:12 Welcome Christine Wolman, Christian recording artist 01:15 and our friend James Astelford from ADRA, 01:15 Adventist Development Relief Agency. Thank 01:20 you both for joining us >>James: Good to be here. 01:23 >>Christine: Good to be here. >>Bill: You know, we 01:24 like to do these programs every so often just to 01:25 remind our viewers of some of the work that's going 01:28 on around the world as ADRA partners, in this 01:29 case, with Christine on some exciting projects 01:33 in Thailand, I believe, we'll hear about that in a 01:37 minute, to alleviate suffering. And there is 01:38 so much suffering in the world. Thank you, 01:42 thank you. I think it's important that folks be 01:45 reminded as to what is happening around the world 01:46 and the responsibility that each one of has 01:50 as Christians to help our fellow man. But Christine 01:54 let me start with you because folks already know 01:55 James. Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where 01:59 are you from? >>Christine: I was born in London, 02:02 England. Most people don't realize that but I 02:03 was >>Bill: I'm not sure I knew that. >>Christine: 02:07 can talk with a British accent. >>Bill: (laughter) 02:09 >>Christine:.too. Anyhow, but I've lived most of my 02:10 life right here in Canada from age 6 in Toronto, 02:14 mainly in Winnipeg. I grew up in a Christian home and 02:21 had wonderful experiences with that. In my teenage 02:22 years, I became quite distant from what 02:27 was going on in the church There were a lot of things 02:34 that happened to me that I was very, I couldn't 02:35 understand why it was happening to me and one 02:40 of the things you'll hear later why I'm so excited 02:42 about working with ADRA is because I myself was 02:44 sexually mistreated. And so I can relate to what 02:52 I'm deemed with right now, with ADRA. At eighteen I 02:57 was engaged to a CFL football star and that 02:58 didn't work out so I ran away to this beautiful 03:04 island in the Caribbean where I started singing 03:08 as, not a Christian artist. Anything but 03:09 Christian. Travelling all over with a 12-man brass 03:15 band. Well, man, I was the only woman in that group 03:21 and God made, God lead me on an incredible journey 03:22 of faith back then. At that time I was Agnostic. 03:29 I didn't really know where my place was in life but 03:34 God showed me that He could use me in a powerful 03:35 way. >>Bill: Well, you are a gifted, gifted musician. 03:39 I've heard sing many, many times and have been moved 03:43 by that. So, this is interesting. So, you're a 03:44 young woman. You're being successful 03:50 singing, popular music >>Christine: Yes. >>Bill: 03:53 Not Christian music. 03:54 >>Christine: Reggae, Calypso, and popular music 03:56 as well. >>Bill: So what turned it around for you? 03:57 What brought you back? 04:01 >>Christine: I had this extremely fearful 04:02 attitude. I just didn't know what was going to 04:09 happen. I knew there was something more than just 04:12 what was, what I was doing, singing. Singing 04:13 was everything to me. 04:16 Music was just my way of escaping the many sorrows 04:17 that I had faced in my life and the challenges 04:22 but it wasn't enough. I was searching and crying 04:30 out to God, if you're there God, show me and 04:31 if you don't show me I'm going to blame you if 04:35 I go to hell. That was my prayer. And I am so 04:39 thankful where God has lead me and I can tell 04:40 you, I never want to go back to that life, ever 04:45 again. >>Bill: Now, at some point you feel 04:49 inspired to write a special song.>>Christine 04:50 Yes. >>Bill:.about reaching out to others 04:55 in - where did that inspiration come from? 04:59 >>Christine: Well, first of all, I'm just going 05:00 to back up a little bit.>>Bill: Sure. 05:02 >>Christine:.because when I came back to the Lord I 05:05 thought, well what am I going to do? All I could 05:06 do was sing. I had been trained to sing and I 05:09 couldn't think of anything else except for nursing 05:13 because I've always enjoyed the fact that I 05:14 could help people through that area. So I studied 05:18 nursing but there was something inside me that 05:24 always said, no, you can always sing and glorify 05:25 God. You don't have to glorify the Devil. God 05:30 is to be praised and you should be doing that. So, 05:33 I was very compelled that I needed to do more than 05:35 just sing in my local church, to do more for 05:40 the Lord. But through my nursing I saw a lot of 05:44 suffering.>>Bill: Yes, I can imagine 05:45 >>Christine:.and through the travels that I had 05:48 been on and I saw a lot of suffering. And I thought, 05:54 God, what can I do, through the singing and 05:55 through the experiences that I've seen, to help 06:00 people? And I got down on my knees, literally, and I 06:06 prayed, please God, help me write a song that 06:07 will reach out and touch others. Others will be 06:11 blessed. Others will become more aware of 06:14 what's happening in the world. You know, we, in 06:15 North America, we live like kings and queens. 06:19 >>Bill: Absolutely. 06:19 >>Christine: We have little idea of what 06:22 goes on if you're not travelling outside of 06:26 Canada and the States and parts of Europe. And 06:27 I wrote this song and I said, Lord, if ADRA could 06:32 use this song, please Lord, you be the catalyst 06:37 to get it moving. And I did not go to ADRA; I just 06:38 simply prayed an earnest, heartfelt prayer and wrote 06:46 the song called "Reach" >>Bill: Well, we have the 06:49 privilege of listening to that song, right now. 07:07 >> Take a moment; 07:11 So many hungry mouths to feed; 07:15 Such disaster, 07:19 oh, can't you see their desperate need; 07:23 Stop a minute; Look into their eyes; 07:32 Feel their pain, can't you hear their 07:33 pleas, their cries. 07:41 Reach for the hand that is reaching out to you; 07:47 See how their lives are being broke 07:48 and torn in two; 07:57 Come join the vision, make that decision; 08:05 Show that you care, 08:07 be the answer to their prayer; 08:12 and reach for the hand that is 08:13 reaching out to you. 08:29 Yes, it's urgent, 08:32 so many lives are being lost; 08:36 make a difference, 08:40 what will really be the cost; 08:44 Touch a life, 08:48 make a brand new start, 08:52 Show God's love and end a fragile heart. 09:00 Open the door, please don't walk the other way; 09:08 help someone, bring relief today. 09:15 Reach for the hand that is reaching out to you; 09:21 see how their lives are being broke 09:22 and torn in two; 09:30 come join the vision, 09:34 make that decision; 09:38 show that you care, 09:40 be the answer to their prayer 09:47 And reach for the hand, 09:51 why don't you reach for the hand, 09:55 reach for the hand that is reaching out to you. 10:16 >>Bill: That was a beautiful song and if 10:17 you're goal was to touch someone it did, it did 10:19 touch me. >>Christine: Praise the Lord. >>Bill: 10:22 Now, James, you hear this song.>>James: I 10:22 heard.>>Bill:.for the very first time and what do 10:26 you think when you hear it >>James: Well, I happened 10:27 to buy one of her CD's, actually I bought two or 10:28 three of her CD's in the music store and I picked 10:31 up on this one particular song. And I listened to 10:36 the words and I thought, sounds like she's writing 10:37 about what we do, the work of ADRA. How do I contact 10:41 such an important music star and say, this really 10:47 sounds like.so Christine and I got into contact 10:48 and I said this is such a great song, I just wish 10:52 you had been thinking about ADRA, to which she 10:56 replied, Yes, I was. 10:57 >>Christine: There are some key words in there 11:00 that are definitely ADRA. >>James: So, then 11:01 we got together with a videographer of ours and 11:04 said, can we, can we make a music video out of this 11:08 which is what we just saw. 11:09 >>Bill: Yes. >>James: And, of course, that got my 11:12 thinking, you know, we really need more 11:13 ambassadors like Christine through their 11:18 music.>>Bill: Absolutely. 11:19 >>James:.to tell others about this ministry that 11:21 we're involved with. And so then I asked Christine 11:24 if she'd be interested in reporting on some of our 11:25 project activity in Asia and I don't think 11:30 I had to twist your arm >>Christine: Oh no, not at 11:34 all. >>James: So, we have some very exciting 11:35 projects activity in Asia, in Thailand, particularly. 11:42 So then I asked if you'd go off with our 11:46 videographer. I couldn't join her on this occasion 11:47 but our videographer, who we've seen his 11:50 work on this show before, travelled in Thailand and 11:55 maybe you can tell us.>>Bill: Yeah. Let's 11:56 hear what happened? What is this project? Thailand 11:58 project, what was it all about? >>Christine: Well, 12:01 there's a project that ADRA's doing called eep 12:02 Girls Safe". That's one of the projects that we were 12:05 on when I was there and it's an amazing project. 12:10 Thailand has one of the highest rates for human 12:11 trafficking of young women and girls anywhere in the 12:15 world and it's horrendous And so coming to this 12:21 particular province, Chiang Rai, the province 12:22 of Chiang Rai, ADRA has helped to facilitate and 12:27 put together a shelter for young girls who have been 12:32 taken from their homes, taken from remote areas of 12:33 Thailand and brought into the big cities, like 12:39 Bangkok and beyond for the sole purpose of selling 12:45 sex. These girls are innocent. They are unaware 12:46 of what's happening. In North America and other 12:52 places in Europe, they're marketed as saying these 12:57 girls have no AIDS, they have, they're clean, so, 12:58 you can come and enjoy yourself with these young 13:03 women. I saw girls as young as nine-years-old. 13:08 >>Bill: Oh my goodness. 13:09 >>Christine: In this place that had been rescued, 13:12 literally, rescued from these brothels, from these 13:13 places that they were selling them. And I was 13:18 just overjoyed to see the work that was being 13:22 carried out there and how well-adjusted these young 13:23 women and girls were and how they were being 13:28 treated. It was absolutely incredible. Can I give a 13:32 quick.>>Bill: Yeah. 13:32 Absolutely, please do. 13:33 >>Christine:.story. One girl, I think she was 13:35 about 14-years-old, she looked at me and she said 13:39 to the translator, could you ask her if I could 13:40 call her Mom? And I said, absolutely, I have a 13:43 fourteen-year-old daughter and I can't in my wildest 13:50 nightmares see my daughter being abused that way 13:51 This young girl came up to me and she, literally, 13:57 hugged me tight for half an hour. One of her eyes 14:03 was actually mutilated because she had refused 14:04 some sexual act and that was part of the abuse that 14:09 she had to endure. And just the joy on some of 14:16 these girls' faces, knowing that people are 14:17 making a difference in their lives means all 14:19 the world to these young people. >>Bill: So, James, 14:23 this is Canadian, Canadian money that's helping this 14:24 centre. >>James: Yes in the ADRA network, of 14:31 course, we have this co-operation between 14:35 different ADRA offices and different countries. And 14:36 Canada, Australia and some other donor countries 14:39 are helping to fund this variety of projects that 14:45 are all funded around this central idea in Thailand 14:46 It was interesting that Christine went off with 14:51 an idea for a music video but the song wasn't even 14:56 finished when you went. 14:56 >>Christine: No. It was basically written in 14:59 Thailand as we are experiencing it. I'm 15:00 writing a song as we're experiencing so; it was 15:06 really inspired by just being in Thailand and 15:10 seeing a huge need. It was absolutely amazing and I'm 15:11 so proud and thankful and privileged to have been 15:18 part of that work. >>Bill: How many girls, roughly, 15:20 were at this.>>Christine: About 30, 30 girls that 15:21 were in this particular centre and they're doing 15:27 an amazing job. The girls get education, they get 15:33 schooling, they have food, they have wonderful 15:34 shelter, they've made new friends, they've become 15:37 like a family unit. And they've become quite 15:41 adjusted. They have counselling to help them 15:42 deal with the trauma that they've gone through and 15:45 it's just a tremendous work. I wish people were 15:50 more aware of what's going on in the world with our 15:51 women, with our girls. And it's not just in Thailand. 15:58 It's something that's widespread and we need to 16:03 realize if it was our own, we would do something 16:05 about it. And it is amazing what ADRA is 16:10 doing. >>Bill: Well, you know, James, this is part 16:14 of why we continue to have these programs. One of 16:15 the things is to let our viewers know that there 16:19 is this kind of need in the world. As you said, 16:23 Christine, we, you know, we live in this oasis here 16:24 in Canada, where.I mean, we have our 16:30 share of difficulties, no question.>>Christine: Yes. 16:34 >>Bill:.but we live in an oasis, a paradise 16:35 >>Christine: Compared to what we see. >>Bill: 16:37 Absolutely. And sometimes, you know what, we forget 16:39 that there's this suffering. And James, let 16:40 me just tell you, now, we've talked about a 16:43 lot of different ADRA projects, whether it's 16:45 digging wells, or Canadian Food Grains Bank, 16:46 or alleviating hunger but, I'll tell you, this is 16:52 one where as a father of a young girl, one that has 16:56 impacted me. Hats off to ADRA and the fine work 16:57 that you do in helping save the lives of these 17:03 young girls. >>James: And it's not just the saving 17:06 in that rescue sense, Bill, because in keeping 17:07 with ADRA philosophies, it's not just the relief, 17:12 but it's the development >>Bill: Yes. >>James: So, 17:14 this is a huge problem. 17:14 So, how do we solve it? 17:15 Not just by going and trying to rescue girls. 17:19 How do we stop them from getting into the problem 17:22 in the first place? 17:23 >>Bill: Right, right. 17:23 >>James: So, this project that Christine saw was not 17:25 just the rescuing but it was also the educating of 17:29 whole communities on the issue so that they don't 17:30 get caught in the first place. Nearby, 17:34 in Cambodia, we have a very effective project. 17:38 Tackling this issue at the root level, helping 17:39 villagers develop literacy, knowledge, 17:44 getting girls educated so when the fast slick 17:49 salesman comes in from the capital city trying to 17:50 offer a restaurant job to the girls in the capital 17:54 city and offering the parents $50, $100 to sell 17:58 their daughter to this, they don't fall for it 17:59 Because, now, they know, through the ADRA project, 18:03 they've learned of the dangers and the girls are 18:07 protected from getting involved in the first 18:08 place. So, we're trying to come from different angles 18:12 and not just pick up the pieces at the end which is 18:16 so vital for the girls that you saw, but for the 18:17 thousands of girls who never had to face that 18:21 because of the projects we're doing. >>Bill: Now, 18:25 James, let me ask you something. Someone 18:25 watching the program, right now, wants to make 18:28 a donation specifically to this Thailand project, is 18:33 it possible to do that? 18:34 >>James: Or to any of our projects that would be 18:37 protecting a girl. 18:38 >>Bill: Okay. >>James:.in a community sense. Because 18:43 if we can protect a village, that's extremely 18:44 important.>>Bill: Absolutely. >>James:...as 18:48 well as saving the one girl who might.>>Bill: 18:51 They can go on the ADRA website, adra.ca, and 18:52 then specify 'Save a Girl' project or something 18:56 like that and you guys will.>>James: Right. A 19:00 number of projects will show up there and you can 19:01 make a donation for that. 19:03 >>Bill: Now, Christine, you were there. You saw 19:04 it firsthand. >>Christine: Yes. >>Bill: What 19:06 would you say to someone watching, as an appeal to 19:09 them to apply some of the blessings and some 19:10 of the money that God has privileged us with having 19:16 in this country? What appeal would you make to 19:19 someone watching? 19:20 >>Christine: Do you.>>Bill: You saw it 19:22 firsthand. >>Christine: Yes. Jesus said, Unto the 19:23 least of these. If you do it unto me. Pardon me; if 19:25 you do it unto them, you do it unto me. And I think 19:29 that if we put ourselves into their position, in 19:30 their shoes, literally, we cannot refuse that appeal 19:37 to reach out and touch somebody's life, to change 19:44 somebody's life. And we often say we want to 19:45 change that life, one life, one step at a time. 19:49 We don't have to go across the ocean. Just a little 19:55 bit of a donation, a little bit of kindness, 19:56 thinking, empathizing with the people that are 20:02 suffering in so many different ways. All we 20:05 want is for you to reach out and touch somebody in 20:06 a special way by giving even the smallest donation 20:12 to ADRA Canada. >>James: Big donations are welcome 20:16 also. (laughter) >>Christine: Absolutely. 20:17 >>Bill: Yeah. Couldn't have done it any better 20:20 myself. Now, while you were there you were 20:25 inspired to write this song which happens to 20:26 be called.>>Christine: "Change the World." 20:29 >>Bill: Change the World. 20:29 And we're going to have the privilege, right 20:34 now, of watching that wonderfully made video, 20:38 music video. 20:38 Change the World. 20:55 >> There's a voice that's calling 20:55 everyone to action; 21:01 calling us to be His hands, 21:04 calling us to understand; 21:07 The girl's so far from home and the 21:08 one that's all alone, 21:17 think of all the people, this could mean Salvation; 21:27 Now's the time to take a stand; 21:30 For the devastated mother, 21:34 for the girl that sees no future; 21:40 We can change the world for the better; 21:43 We can change their life forever, 21:46 one step, one life at a time; 21:53 We can shine the light of hope, 21:57 believe in our hearts, 22:01 we can change the world together, 22:05 with faith and love, we can change the world. 22:12 We can make their dreams come true, 22:16 We can make their dreams come true, 22:19 just believe we can, 22:26 now's the time to rise and shine; 22:29 For the one that lives in fear, 22:33 for the child that's lost somewhere. 22:42 We can change the world for the better, 22:45 we can change a life forever, 22:49 one step, one life at a time; 22:56 We can shine the light of hope, 22:59 believe in our heart, 23:03 we can change the world together, 23:07 oh, yes, we can. 23:14 We can change the world for the better; 23:17 we can change a life forever, 23:21 one step, one life at a time. 23:27 We can shine the light of hope, 23:30 believe in our hearts; 23:34 we can change the world together, 23:38 with faith and love, we can change the world. 23:45 Yes, we can. 23:50 We can change the world. 24:13 >>Bill: Let us pray. 24:13 Father in Heaven, we want to thank you that in Your 24:16 infinite mercy, and love, and wisdom you inspired 24:17 Christine and James and all the fine people that 24:22 have dedicated themselves to alleviate suffering in 24:28 the world. Father, I think of someone who may be 24:29 watching right now, who's experiencing suffering 24:33 right now, may you attend to them and bring peace to 24:36 their lives. Continue to be with us, bless each and 24:37 every viewer. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen. 24:46 (music) 25:13 >>Bill: If you would like to get a copy of both of 25:14 Christine's music videos on DVD, we'd like to send 25:17 them both as a gift from ADRA Canada. Here is the 25:22 information you need to get your copy. 26:24 >>Bill: Well, Christine, thank you very much for 26:26 being with us. If any of our viewers would like 26:28 to purchase your music, it's available at most 26:32 Christian bookstores? 26:32 >>Christine: Yes, it is. 26:33 >>Bill: Okay. So, but sure to check that out, you 26:36 will not be disappointed Thank you so much for 26:41 being with us. 26:41 >>Christine: Thank you. 26:41 >>Bill: James, thank you again for bringing 26:44 Christine and we look forward to having you back 26:46 again with another interesting project 26:47 >>James: It's great to be on the program. >>Bill: 26:50 Thank you James. Thank you our faithful viewers that 26:53 tune in each and every week. Remember the ADRA 26:54 website, adra.ca. Remember the "It 26:57 Is Written" website, itiswrittencanada.ca. 27:01 Remember to watch our programs on the YouTube 27:02 channel, follow us on Twitter. If the Good Lord 27:09 is willing we will be back here again next week, same 27:11 time, same station. I hope you will join us. Until 27:13 then, remember, it is written; man shall not 27:18 live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds 27:25 from the mouth of God. 27:57 >>Narrator: One in three women around the world 27:58 are victims of physical or psychological repression. 28:00 End it now. More than 135 million girls have 28:08 undergone female genital mutilation and an addition 28:09 2 million girls and women are at risk each year, six 28:14 thousand every day. End it now. In the United States, 28:22 one woman is battered every 15 seconds, 28:23 usually by her husband or boyfriend. End it now. One 28:28 in five women around the world will be the victim 28:36 of rape or attempted rape in her lifetime. End it 28:37 now. Why now? Because we can't wait. |
Revised 2015-02-06