Participants:
Series Code: IWTC
Program Code: IWTC000009A
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00:08 Over the past 60 years, there's been a massive decline
00:11 in foreign missions. 00:15 I'm sharing the gospel through church planting. 00:19 In the 1930s, if somebody gave $10 in tithe, 00:21 it gave an additional $6 in foreign missions. 00:24 Today, just $0.28. 00:27 We're doing the best we can with what we have, 00:30 but I'm still not satisfied. 00:31 Over 2 billion people in the world today 00:33 still have no access to the gospel. 00:36 God's crazy in love with the Thai people, 00:38 and I sense His Spirit hovering over the city. 00:41 I've come to Bangkok, Thailand 00:42 to discover the truth about foreign missions. 00:45 Come with me as I follow my good friend 00:47 Pastor Doug Vann in his everyday life 00:49 as a frontline missionary. 00:51 I prayed for God's biggest dream 00:52 and He gave me this city of 12 million. 00:57 Welcome to my world. 01:11 And today, we're on our way to the Chinese church 01:14 and we'll have a citywide evangelistic meeting 01:17 that will be starting tomorrow night. 01:19 And so the team is going this morning 01:21 to have a time of prayer, a time of planning, 01:25 and then also we'll be inviting the neighbors. 01:27 I'm expecting to meet people that God has already 01:31 invited to be His sons and daughters. 01:34 Who'd you bring with you? 01:37 I brought today some trouble makers. 01:39 So one of the trouble makers is behind the camera right now. 01:43 Another trouble maker is missionary Reben Huliar. 01:49 He's one of our church planters. 01:51 Another trouble maker out there, 01:53 her name is Mrs. Htee Groom. 01:56 Look at this bus. It has a flat tire. 01:58 And here in the city, anytime you see a bus 02:01 with a branch that's a clue that it's broken down. 02:07 There's a code button here that when you press, 02:11 it moves the mirrors out. 02:14 But this one mirror has a problem 02:17 'cause it's fired. 02:18 Is this mirror good? Yeah, this one's good. 02:22 Oh, cool. Do that again. 02:27 The motor cycle... Do that again. 02:28 The motor cyclers really like this 02:30 when you go by and do this. 02:34 We don't have that in America. 02:36 Where's the nearest church from here? 02:39 The nearest church from here... 02:41 We've been traveling for about an hour in traffic now 02:45 and we have not passed a single church. 02:52 Like down that street, is there a church down there? 02:54 Probably not. Yeah. 02:56 Probably not. That's probably safe to say. 02:58 How many districts are there? 03:01 Kat, I think there's over... 03:06 Yeah, you're going to show this to a few people, aren't you? 03:08 There's lot. 03:09 Are there any districts 03:10 that actually haven't heard the Gospel yet? 03:13 It's safe to say 03:14 that there are probably many districts 03:17 in Bangkok that have never heard the gospel. 03:22 Looks like a wealthy city. 03:24 Bangkok is a city of contrasts. 03:26 We have incredible wealth 03:29 as well as and there is extreme poverty. 03:36 We're here at the Seventh-day Adventist Church 03:38 and which right next to Public University campus. 03:42 And one idea to reach this city or reach the hundreds 03:49 or the tens of thousands of students 03:51 at this school is to have like a smoothie shop 03:56 where you can have fruit smoothies 03:58 and then through friendship evangelism, 04:03 you can then share the message of hope. 04:06 So why don't you? 04:08 That's a good question, why don't we do that? 04:11 And although, we have an imagination to do that, 04:15 we're facing a lack of resources. 04:18 And so as result, we do what we can with what we have. 04:22 Oh, wait, I thought a lot of money 04:23 went overseas to missions. 04:27 Lot of peoples think that a lot of money 04:28 goes to overseas in missions but the reality is... 04:35 Quite different. 04:36 Yeah, it's a different story so. 04:38 We're here, so let's go. 04:40 We will have this meeting to glorify your name, 04:44 to praise thee. 04:46 I wanted to start today's time together in 1 Samuel 14. 04:53 So if you open your Bibles. 04:54 "And between the passages by which Jonathan sought 04:57 to go over unto the Philistine garrison..." 05:00 We are like this Jonathan and his armor-bearer. 05:05 And we're facing a challenge right now 05:08 of how to reach this city for Christ. 05:10 This is a city of 12 million 05:12 and how many of us are here today? 05:14 Seven. 05:16 So it's like an impossible challenge 05:18 but God has put a dream and imagine, 05:21 He's given an imagination 05:22 for these two men to go and conquer, 05:25 just like He's given that same imagination, 05:28 that same dream in our hearts today. 05:30 But they are doing an impossible task 05:33 with very few 05:36 and there's personal sacrifice involved, 05:39 because what, they're going to have to climb 05:43 this thorny sharp rock. 05:46 And guess what? 05:47 Pastor CC Toren, do you ever feel 05:49 that you're sacrificing 05:51 to spread the gospel in the city? 05:53 Yeah. 05:55 Yeah, it's causing you your blood, sweat, and tears. 05:58 Yeah. Embarrassed. 06:01 And people laugh at us, insult us, something like that. 06:05 That's right. 06:07 And so whether they laugh or they insult us, 06:12 we still have been given a task to do. 06:17 And that is to still love them, respect, 06:20 but then also to point them to Jesus Christ. 06:24 Jesus has come to save the Thai people 06:27 and He loves them. 06:28 And so out of that love, we go not to conquer them, 06:32 not to kill them as we hear in the story, 06:35 but to win the battle against darkness, ignorance, 06:41 and against self. 06:42 And guess what? 06:44 That battle is also in here, in my heart today. 06:46 We can win this city for Jesus Christ. 06:49 We can make a difference. 06:51 The gospel can penetrate every part of this city 06:55 and make a difference. 06:56 Bring healing to the families to bring the gospel 07:00 and to prepare this city 07:01 for the soon return of Jesus Christ. 07:06 There's another group of beings who are stronger, 07:10 who are smarter than we are as humans, 07:13 who are equally planning, and that's the forces of evil. 07:18 Then here, he is quoting Satan. 07:20 "But," Satan said, "the sect," or that group, 07:23 "of Sabbathkeepers we hate, 07:24 they are always working against us, 07:26 and taking from us our subjects, 07:28 to keep the hated law of God. 07:30 Go and make the possessors of lands and money, 07:33 make them drunk with cares. 07:36 See if you can make them place their affections 07:39 upon these things, and we will have them yet. 07:42 They may profess what they please, 07:44 only make them care more for money 07:48 than for the success of the kingdom of God 07:52 or Christ's kingdom 07:53 or the spread of the truths we hate. 07:55 Present the world before them in the most attractive light, 07:58 that they may love and idolize it. 08:01 We must keep in our ranks 08:04 all the means that we can gain control. 08:07 The more means the followers of Christ 08:09 devote to His service, 08:10 the more they will injure our kingdom 08:12 by getting our subjects. 08:14 Discourage and dishearten their ministers, 08:16 for we hate them. 08:17 Present every plausible excuse to those who have means, 08:21 lest they hand it out. 08:23 Control the money matters if you can 08:25 and drive their ministers to want and distress. 08:27 This will weaken their courage and zeal. 08:30 Battle for every inch of ground. 08:33 Make covetousness and the love of earthly treasures 08:36 the ruling traits of their character. 08:38 As long as these traits rule, salvation and grace stand back. 08:45 Crowd every attention around them, 08:47 and they will be surely ours." 08:48 Remember, this is Satan 08:51 talking to their legions of angels, 08:56 the evil angels there. 08:57 "And when any shall attempt to give," funds, 09:01 "put within them a grudging disposition, 09:05 that they may just five sparingly." 09:08 This council here, I shared to you 09:11 to pull back the curtain 09:13 to look behind the scenes of the enemy. 09:18 We are nothing, we are no one, 09:21 but in Christ we are more than conquerors. 09:27 So I want us to see that contrast. 09:31 I need us to have the time of prayer. 09:34 We need to pray for our leaders within the church. 09:37 We need to pray for the leaders 09:38 who we will meet today. 09:40 But I also want to pray for one another 09:42 that we can be in one. 09:43 I also want to pray for those people God is working on, 09:49 because I know it's rainy season 09:50 and every time I see the rain fall 09:54 and flood the city, 09:57 I long for the Spirit of God to come and break the city, 10:02 to break the pride, to break the arrogance, 10:05 to break the blindness. 10:08 And that's just within us as Christians 10:13 as well as then to break the hearts, 10:15 to melt the hearts of the Thai people 10:18 of the city with the love of Jesus Christ 10:20 that they can be prepared for Christ's soon coming. 10:28 Who will accept those invitations... 10:30 And guide us and lead us as we go out 10:33 and share the good news... 10:38 We are here because of your calling... 10:46 After worship, the team set about 10:48 folding a few thousand invitations 10:50 and then headed out into the community. 10:52 I followed Brother Edwin from the Philippines 10:55 around for awhile but became aware of the fact 10:57 that my presence could raise some suspicions, 11:00 although I kind of tried to be discreet. 11:03 I was amazed at how fast they got these flyers 11:05 into the hands of the people 11:07 and that the people actually read them. 11:10 The team was really on fire. 11:12 That day, they distributed around 2,000 flyers. 11:17 If they could do this everyday five days a week, 11:20 it would only take 23 years to put a flier 11:23 into the hands of the each of the 12 million people 11:25 in Bangkok. 11:29 I'm going to the other side of the road 11:31 because in here, 11:33 some of our companions are here. 11:35 Okay. 11:41 I've met people who have come to Christ 11:43 from the witness of only a flier 11:45 that spelled out the gospel in simplified terms. 11:48 These flyers however are designed to invite people 11:51 to a series of meetings beginning the next day. 11:54 Would they come? 11:56 I was encouraged by how many accepted them 11:58 and begin reading them right away, 12:00 but we would have to wait and see. 12:06 You can see how the young man in the lower right corner 12:09 is watching me. 12:10 What's he thinking, is he getting suspicious? 12:13 This might be his first chance 12:15 to hear about Jesus his entire life. 12:17 And I don't want to mess it up for him. 12:21 So I decided to act like a wandering tourist 12:23 out seeing the sites. 12:24 I began looking around a bit. 12:27 I promptly got lost. 12:34 One, two, three. 12:40 Very good. 12:49 Many people are afraid of the unknown. 12:51 I too began feeling a little nervous. 12:55 But I forced myself to stay out there 12:57 and not go running back to the church. 13:00 Turned out to be actually quite good memories. 13:08 Okay, go that way to get back to the main road? 13:10 Yes. 13:11 Walk to this corner, then turn left, 13:15 walk, you meet the main road. 13:18 Okay. Yeah. 13:20 Thank you. 13:27 Hello, may I take your picture? 13:30 Okay. 13:33 One, two, three. 13:50 Okay, kitty. 13:53 Oh, yeah. 14:24 Lead out pastor, correct. 14:25 Today, we went to give the flyers 14:28 for the ministry in Chinese church. 14:32 Some they did reject 14:34 but most of them accepted the flyers. 14:39 And we were inspired. 14:41 Almost 70% of the flyers were distributed 14:47 by our friends. 14:48 As a group we went. 14:50 For me, personally I work with, 14:53 you know, I'm happy. 14:55 And I'm very inspired 14:58 giving those flyers to the people 15:01 and especially by God's grace, God will work in their hearts, 15:05 and God will soften their heart, 15:09 and maybe they will come, 15:12 and they will listen to the topic, 15:17 to the speakers, 15:19 and maybe sooner or later 15:21 they will accept Christ as their personal savior. 15:24 Very good. Okay. 15:26 You got your Bible, just show me. 15:32 Had a great meal, 15:34 met a new friend the Lord let us to, 15:36 and now it's time to head back to the church. 15:39 So come on. 15:47 We're finding sudden traffic. 15:49 Yeah. 15:51 Is this a parking lot or a road? 15:56 Hello! 15:58 We could stop by and get a squid 16:01 if you want it? 16:02 Yeah, let's eat. 16:03 And finally he's getting a squid. 16:05 I want a yoghurt or a mango smoothie. 16:07 Squid or yoghurt? 16:10 I was looking for a mango smoothie. 16:15 You're not gonna be happy with this. 16:18 No, I'll let her enjoy that, the squid. 16:23 Did she know Jesus? I don't know. 16:27 She has a little amulet on. 17:00 Somebody has to eat that. You ever tasted one? 17:04 I haven't had a chance to taste. 17:06 Did you smelled it? Yeah, I smelled it. 17:09 Does it smell good? 17:13 It's not for me. It must be an acquired taste. 17:17 I haven't acquired yet. 17:18 And it's definitely acquired smell. 17:20 There's some tastes where it's so strong 17:23 that it just takes my breath away. 17:25 It's just like... 17:27 You know, I'm trying to gasp for air and but, 17:32 you know, she liked it. 17:33 Yeah. 17:36 Some people may say the same thing about zucchini. 17:39 Yeah. A plant. 17:42 So why do you have 17:44 such a desire for yoghurt right now? 17:48 Our dinner was fiery hot 17:51 and I just need something 17:52 to kind of settle down the fire. 17:56 So why did you order that dinner? 17:58 I didn't order it, you did. 18:02 Oh, beautiful. 18:12 They're beautiful. 18:15 Beautiful. 18:16 My wife is here, I'd buy a bunch. 18:18 Care for some beer, guys? Oh, thank you. 18:23 We got an appointment. Where you come from? 18:25 We're from America. 18:27 How about you guys? Thailand. 18:29 Thailand. Are you guys students here? 18:31 Yeah. Yeah. 18:32 Okay, what are you guys studying? 18:33 Architecture. All of you? 18:35 Yeah! Come back for the camp. 18:40 Well, we'll see you guys. 18:42 Maybe we'll see you again tomorrow night. 18:52 All right, see you. Bye-bye. 18:56 What's the percentage of the Christians in Thailand? 18:59 For the whole country, not even 1%. 19:03 Including? Including the Catholics. 19:07 What's the reason for that, you know? 19:09 Most of the Thai will think 19:11 that Buddhism is the best for them. 19:14 It's the best? Yeah. 19:15 Even before I come to a Christian school, 19:18 I thought to myself, 19:20 "I would never become Christian." 19:22 Because in Buddhism, everything's there already. 19:27 Buddhism is the best for me at that time. 19:30 I was 15. 19:31 And our society is very helpful to each other, 19:38 can help each other. 19:39 We don't need Christianity I felt 19:43 when I went to Christian school: 19:46 "I just want education." 19:50 That's what most of the Thai people feel. 19:54 It's the night before the evangelistic meetings 19:57 and we're here at the Chinese church 20:00 and we're working with Pastor Terry Sue 20:04 and the members of the Chinese church 20:06 to get things set up. 20:08 So we've tried different setups, 20:11 and we're still trying to get the stuff worked out. 20:17 Little pressured. 20:42 I'm going crazy. 20:54 We now had audio. Good thing. 20:59 I'm tired, it's been a full day. 21:02 What time is it? 21:05 It's 11 o'clock, 21:06 so we've been here for 14 hours. 21:11 So you're not in charge here. You're just gonna help them. 21:15 Our role here is we're trying to support 21:18 the Chinese church and to support the Thais 21:21 as they are conducting the evangelistic meeting. 21:26 So our team was here today, 21:27 and you know, they'll be here tomorrow night, 21:30 the rest of the week for these meetings. 21:33 And we're trying to help every church across the city, 21:37 establish churches as well as our new church plants 21:40 to then find creative ways to then communicate God's love. 21:45 The fact of Jesus is coming again. 21:47 And that we can have a new identity in Him. 21:51 You get paid overtime? 21:56 I'd love to have 21:58 a $300,000 22:02 importable media system 22:06 where we can come to a place like the Chinese church 22:10 and actually be able to do something. 22:13 But right now we don't 22:18 because we're lacking the funds. 22:20 What's the total budget here in Thailand? 22:23 I can tell you at least for programs, 22:25 I don't know the salaries, 22:27 but the total budget for the Thailand mission 22:31 for 2011 is approximately 1.4 million Baht. 22:37 And so that's around... 22:39 exchange rate is 29 to 30 Baht per dollar 22:42 and so you figure that out. 22:44 That equals about $45,000. 22:48 Divide that by 12 months 22:50 and you have an operating budget 22:51 of less than $4,000 per month. 22:55 Okay. 22:57 Let's take one conference, 22:59 the conference you used to work for, 23:00 what's their yearly budget? 23:04 I think it was... 23:07 Okay, in 2005, 23:10 you know, since you've got me on camera, 23:12 and you're gonna share this with other few friends. 23:15 I'd love to have this conversation with... 23:18 With some research? 23:20 Yeah, with some wikipedia help. 23:23 I want a phono friend here. I need a helpline. 23:27 According to the official church website, 23:29 the tithe and offering in Doug's former conference 23:31 is around 250 times 23:34 that of the Thailand Adventist Mission. 23:36 Yet there are 36 times more people in Thailand. 23:40 Did you know in Thailand, 23:42 it's rude to pick your teeth in public? 23:45 But you can pick your nose. Okay. 23:50 Just for your information. Okay. 23:54 You had the habit or... 23:56 Yeah, in America, it's fine. 23:57 You can pick your teeth, you know, with the tooth pick, 24:00 right, but you got stay away from the mining. 24:04 So it sounds like you would like to use media 24:08 but there's just no funds. 24:11 It's just not an option. Yeah. 24:14 I've had some of my Thai leaders say, 24:17 you know, "Let's just focus on what we can do. 24:21 Let's just focus on what we can do what we have..." 24:24 And what can you do, you can just do Bible studies, 24:27 handing a little bit of literature? 24:29 Well, we can hand out literature 24:31 as long as we get it printed 24:33 and we get fund raised for it because otherwise, 24:37 you know, there's no literature. 24:39 No literature, no budget. 24:41 Right, no budget for it, and you know, it just... 24:45 So basically you... 24:47 We can't work. 24:50 I say, you know, God, why aren't there more? 24:55 Why aren't there more people 24:57 who give a care about sharing and living a message of hope? 25:02 If we had additional resources, if we had greater imagination, 25:07 if we had greater manpower, whether volunteers or trained, 25:13 you know, committed people, we could do more. 25:17 We could reach a city. 25:19 We could... 25:20 Do we need to? Do we need to? 25:23 Yeah. 25:25 Hello, yeah, we need to reach the city. 25:30 Why? Jesus is coming soon. 25:33 Yeah, and everyone is going to hell 25:35 because they've not had a chance 25:36 to make a decision on who Jesus Christ is, 25:41 and will they accept Him. 25:43 Well, that's their problem, isn't it? 25:46 That's the attitude that many people have. 25:49 It's that, you know, well, that's their problem, 25:51 you know, they're stupid, 25:53 they live in the city and you know, 25:55 well, they don't even speak English. 25:57 And so, yeah, 25:58 I mean, I face this stereotype all the time, 26:02 you know, when you go back to America. 26:05 They can watch English... 26:07 They can watch English Christian channels. 26:11 Yeah. 26:13 The problem... 26:15 Oh my goodness! Do they? 26:17 Will they? Will they? 26:19 Do they even know they exist? 26:21 You know, can you get it on free TV 26:24 or do you need a satellite dish? 26:26 You need a satellite. 26:27 You know, people I had one person come to Thailand 26:33 and they were flabbergasted, they just completely appalled, 26:37 and they said to me, 26:39 "Why is it that no one speaks English here?" 26:43 Are you serous? 26:44 And I just like, you know, "What are you saying?" 26:49 I said, "Yeah. 26:51 You know, 26:52 how am I gonna spread the gospel? 26:54 I've come here to be a missionary 26:55 but how am I gonna spread the gospel 26:57 when they don't speak English." 27:00 These are the things we battle, you know, these attitudes. 27:06 Can one person make a difference? 27:10 Well, I know that Jesus made a difference in my heart. 27:14 And if God would reach across heaven, 27:18 He would reach across 27:20 the galaxies to California. 27:26 And there, He touched my Mom and Dad, 27:30 and He drew them with His chords of love, 27:32 and as they moved throughout the Northwest, 27:35 then it was through the different people, 27:38 and the churches, 27:40 and the families that befriended our family, 27:43 and it was through that love tractor beamed, 27:47 you know, drawing my family to Him 27:51 that how God touched my heart, and touched my life, 27:57 and how His grace became real for me 27:59 not just an intellectual... 28:02 Concept. Yeah. 28:05 It's not just an idea, 28:07 it's not something that's just in your brain, 28:09 but to actually experience that, 28:11 and so that is constantly with me 28:15 that how if I have that experience, 28:19 how can I not share that with others? 28:26 Did you know that our mission offerings 28:28 have actually been dropping for the last 70 years? 28:32 It really pains my heart to tell you that but it's true, 28:35 but we can change that. 28:36 If every Adventist in North America 28:38 would simply give one dollar a week 28:41 for mission offerings, 28:43 it would double the amount that is now being given. 28:47 Will you join me in that commitment 28:50 to make a difference for Jesus Christ? 28:52 Check it out, adventistmission.org. 28:56 Every person matters to God, 28:57 and every dollar that you give 28:59 for mission helps us to reach one more person. 29:01 And I'm so grateful to everyone who sacrifice for mission. 29:05 One day soon, 29:07 you'll be able to meet the people 29:08 who found Jesus because you gave. 29:18 Next week on, I want this city, 29:20 people have waited for decades to hear the name of Jesus. 29:23 Join us for an event that makes history. 29:27 Watch, I want this city, Wednesday. |
Revised 2017-12-18