Participants:
Series Code: IWTC
Program Code: IWTC000010A
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00:08 Over the past 60 years,
00:09 there's been a massive decline in foreign missions. 00:15 I'm sharing the gospel through church planting. 00:19 In 1930s, if somebody gave $10 in tithe, 00:22 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, 00:29 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. 00:35 God's crazy in love with the Thai people, 00:38 and I sense His Spirit hovering over the city. 00:40 I've come to Bangkok, Thailand to discover the truth 00:43 about foreign missions. 00:45 Come with me as I follow my good friend Pastor Doug Venn 00:48 in his everyday life 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. 01:10 I'm excited but I'm exhausted. 01:13 It's now the day of the start of the evangelistic meetings. 01:17 These were the times that I am reminded of 01:21 how shorthanded we are. 01:22 We are mobilizing everyone in the city. 01:27 There are schools, our church members, 01:29 the churches, and the other institutions, 01:32 and that's exciting. 01:35 But right now, as we're right in the midst of about to start, 01:39 like tonight evangelistic meeting start, 01:43 we still have a week's worth of work. 01:47 There is a picture over there. 01:50 Which picture? That panorama, Bangkok. 01:56 A friend of mine gave it to me, 01:57 and it's a reminder of how big this city is, 01:59 as well as it's a reminder that Christ died for this city, 02:03 and that Christ called me here 02:06 to share the gospel to the city. 02:09 What do you think of when you see it? 02:11 Actually, you know, it's cool to kind of see 02:14 all the tourist areas that are marked. 02:16 But I actually envisioned over there 02:18 in that part of the city on this side 02:20 is the church plant and, you know, 02:22 I'm seeing one of the ladies and her daughter, 02:25 they were just about Thais just a few weeks ago. 02:28 And so when I see this picture, I don't see the buildings, 02:31 I don't see the pollution, you know, the tourist sites. 02:37 I'm looking at specific people, 02:39 and there's millions of them in this city. 02:41 There's church plants, 02:43 there's little groups all across the city, 02:44 and I just wish that we could have more, 02:47 so that way, more people could know Jesus Christ. 02:49 How many church plants are there? 02:51 Right now, there's 22. 02:53 Twenty two. Yeah. 02:55 Oh, that should do it. 02:58 This is part of our project, or we are part of this project. 03:02 The Hope for Big Cities was a project they took up 03:05 several world offerings, and we're a part of this. 03:08 Yeah, here, you can see from this quote 03:11 November 11, 1909. 03:13 "The Lord has been calling our attention 03:14 to the neglected multitudes in the large cities, 03:18 yet little regard has been given to the matter." 03:21 And so this has been something where, 03:23 it was cool when I showed this video 03:26 at my church in America. 03:30 I didn't realize that it was actually God calling us. 03:34 So you showed this before you... 03:36 I showed this video before we even... 03:40 Before we were the one's to be called, 03:42 but we got to go. 03:44 Yeah, time to eat. When is the last time you ate? 03:46 I think I ate... 03:49 You had breakfast? 03:50 I don't know, I don't remember. 03:54 What is a missionary? 03:56 Is it only someone who lives in a bamboo hut 03:58 and has to put up with mosquitoes, and malaria, 04:00 and bugs in their food, 04:02 with no electricity or running water? 04:04 Who ministers only to uneducated simple people, 04:07 living in tribes in the jungles? 04:09 Today, the majority of the world's population 04:12 lives in cities. 04:13 For example, here in Bangkok, there are 12 million people 04:17 in 50 districts with 1000s of communities, 04:20 and the vast majority of them 04:22 have no access to the gospel of any kind. 04:25 In fact, in many big cities in Asia, 04:27 it is quite rare to stumble across the name of Jesus, 04:30 let alone any of His teachings. 04:33 So I'm very interested in learning how those 04:35 who have come to Christ learned about Him. 04:38 Today, we're going to an evangelistic series 04:40 where we'll have a chance to meet some of these people. 04:43 We're here at another night 04:44 of the Chinese Church Evangelism, 04:46 and I just wanted to find out from the team here, 04:50 some of the church planters that are gathered, 04:51 they were here ahead of me, and so they were just kind of 04:55 giving me a bad time on how the boss is here late. 04:59 Pastor Khongrit, 05:00 how many of the five baptismal candidates, 05:04 how many are coming tonight? 05:08 I don't know for sure, 05:09 but I think around four or five. 05:11 Okay, and Erwin, with the timbre group, 05:14 how many people will be coming? 05:17 As of now, have four of us, 05:20 but still the candidates are three. 05:22 Praise the Lord, that's great. 05:24 Edson, how many friends did you guys bring tonight? 05:27 Two. Two, all right. 05:28 Our host church is the Chinese Church, 05:31 and so we have Pastor Songrit, and he has a team, 05:36 and then there's a team of laymen, 05:39 Dr. Supa Chai, and there's Dr. Ayan, 05:42 and some of the others. 05:43 Okay, so here's one of the baptismal candidates, 05:46 and I've asked him how he met Jesus? 05:49 He go to the park to exercise. 05:52 He saw the group of Christians to sing 05:56 and to have activity in the park. 05:58 When he passed through that group, 06:03 he received a handbill, 06:06 and that is the first time he know about Christian. 06:09 How old is he? Thirty one. 06:12 Thirty one, the first time, he learned about Christianity? 06:15 Yes. 06:16 Before that, he didn't know anything about it? 06:20 No, yes. 06:22 Did not know? Yes. He did not know. 06:26 Before he believed in God, he never know about Christian 06:30 before otherwise TV, and video, and radio. 06:36 He didn't know before. 06:37 After that, after he believed that, he knew. 06:40 What about Hollywood? 06:44 He never... 06:46 He don't understand about the meaning of "Oh My God!" 06:51 whatever..." 06:53 In Hollywood, but he don't understand 06:55 what that meant, whatever. 06:57 So he'd hear people taking God's name in vain, 07:00 but he had no idea what they were saying. 07:01 Yeah. 07:03 That's all he knew about Christianity 07:06 is people taking God's name in vain? 07:09 Yes. 07:16 The lady who just was here, came from 07:19 one of the church plants in the city, 07:22 and so we need to see her, you know, 07:24 getting the free eye check up by Dr. Supa Chai, 07:28 and it just brings me such great joy 07:31 to see these people who are experiencing God's love 07:35 in real and practical ways. 07:37 How does community service and meeting personal needs 07:39 make a difference in spreading the gospel? 07:41 My experience here in the city is that, 07:44 unless people know how much you love them 07:46 and experience God's love, they won't listen. 07:50 And so that's where community service 07:52 and that personal work is of utmost importance, 07:56 that's what gives me such great joy 07:58 to see the moms and to see, you know, the young people, 08:01 these college students, the grandmas even, 08:03 and grandpas who are here, and the kids who are 08:07 from the communities that we're working in. 08:09 So that... 08:11 Oh man, that's just... 08:13 But then he does make the appeal, 08:15 "Come and follow me." 08:17 And we're told that Christ method alone 08:18 will bring true success, 08:20 and that He mingled among the people 08:22 as one desiring their good. 08:24 Many people when they want to share the gospel, 08:29 they forget that we're human beings. 08:33 I feel, sometimes, many who present the message 08:36 just think we're like computers, 08:38 and so they just want a doctrine or the teaching, 08:44 you know, the intellectual side only. 08:46 And if you get that, it's connected to life, 08:50 and that life connection is to friendship 08:53 through health ministry, through lifestyle, 08:56 and all these other ways that find the complete 09:00 and relevance here in a Buddhist context. 09:04 And so this is where I'm excited that our team here, 09:08 in small ways, is trying to do an integrated approach. 09:12 Now we still have lots to learn, 09:14 and I do wish there were more people in here, 09:18 but I praise God for the team across the city 09:21 who are bringing their friends. 09:41 We're shorthanded. 09:43 We're in the process of trying to gather the sermons 09:47 onto the literature of today media. 09:53 Sometimes, I don't know what's going on, 09:55 and I don't know what I'm doing, 09:56 but we're trying. 09:57 We desperately need the imagination, creativity, 10:00 and skills of the technical people. 10:03 Okay, I got to press the play now. 10:06 Good evening, everybody. 10:08 Good evening. Good evening. 10:10 How are you doing? 10:21 Pastor Doug is here trying to do something 10:23 that's never been done before, 10:24 recording evangelistic series in Chinese and Thai, 10:27 so that more people might have a chance 10:29 to learn of Jesus. 10:30 As far as I know, this will be the first in the world. 10:34 It's hard to imagine, but there's almost 10:36 no Adventist television programs 10:38 or evangelism tools on DVD in Thailand. 10:41 And yet how many series do we have in English? 10:44 Why are we spending so much time 10:46 evangelizing the Christian countries 10:48 and neglecting the others? 10:50 We should do both. 10:52 And there are hundreds of other languages in Asia 10:54 that are also without these tools, 10:56 and yet Doug is here doing it himself. 10:58 We're done. 11:00 Okay, how was tonight? 11:04 It's like a marathon right now, we're kind of running. 11:07 But, you know, I'm tired, the team is tired, 11:10 but to see God working in the lives, 11:13 that just energizes my heart to see God working 11:16 in the lives of the people who have never heard. 11:21 It warms my heart, it energizes me. 11:25 Come with me. 11:34 We're here, Pastor Chanchai and our President 11:38 is able to join us only for tonight 11:40 because of his other duties around the country. 11:42 So he's visiting with Pastor Teddy right now 11:46 and just kind of getting an update so. 11:53 Pastor, what did you see tonight? 11:56 Excellent, yeah, very good. Okay. 11:59 Praise the Lord. 12:00 Did you like the three screens? Yeah. 12:03 The first time that I see is, now there are three 12:08 is very, very nice, very active. 12:12 Do you think there is room and opportunity 12:14 to do more evangelism in Thailand? 12:17 Sure, we are learning. 12:20 We are learning, and we hope that, you know, 12:24 by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, 12:27 we will bring more evangelists come to Thailand, and help us, 12:32 and we also trained our Thai Pastor that, one day, 12:36 we can do our own evangelistic meeting. 12:39 Praise the Lord. Yeah. 12:40 And I have to jump in here, I can't wait to see him doing. 12:46 We are doing together. We are doing together. 12:50 Because God has given this man a heart for evangelism, 12:54 and I can't wait to get that one on DVD, 12:58 and then we can share that around the nation. 13:00 Praise the Lord. Yeah, yeah. 13:02 We work together. 13:24 It's now Sabbath School time. 13:25 I just saw some of the new Christians 13:31 who are part of the church plants come in, 13:33 and they're over there in the back row. 13:35 Every person here is someone that Christ came to save. 13:41 This one guy, Kunhoot is his name or is his nickname, 13:48 and he came to Christ because he picked up 13:52 a piece of literature 13:53 that someone threw on the ground, 13:56 and it was a gospel track, and because of that, 14:00 he came to know Jesus Christ. 14:02 I can't wait to go. 14:03 We should actually go and talk to him now. 14:16 This is Pastor Khongrit, and Pastor Khongrit 14:18 has the privilege of working with this church plant. 14:21 And so here's Kun camp, Kunhoot, 14:25 and his family here, 14:27 and we wanted to get their story 14:29 about these people that his small group 14:32 is going to be baptized. 14:34 How did you know about Jesus? 14:35 Actually, since my childhood, 14:38 I'm about seven to eight years old. 14:43 I heard about the good news from these Christians. 14:48 And they gave a piece of paper, and that's talking about Jesus. 14:54 Jesus, the Son of God. 14:55 Jesus is... 14:58 He can forgive your sins or something like that. 15:01 So I read the sentence in the piece of paper, 15:05 and I leave it until I'm young 15:12 about 20, almost 22, 23 years old. 15:17 I'm willing to get good life. 15:20 What does it mean good life, this world or next world? 15:25 So I returned to the piece of paper 15:28 that I got the Jesus. 15:30 You kept it? Sorry. 15:32 You kept the piece of paper all those years? 15:34 Yes, yes, I kept it. 15:36 I went to the Sunday Church. 15:40 And I got the good news again. 15:44 They gave me a small book, that's the Bible, 15:47 a New Testament. 15:49 And I read it. 15:51 And I know that, "Oh, this is Jesus." 15:54 It's become to my life. 15:56 My life is changing to the positive. 16:00 It's better and better because He lives. 16:04 So that good news, I would like to share to all the people 16:08 who stay around me, who working with me, 16:11 who is my family. 16:13 Since my childhood, I don't have parents anymore. 16:18 So I was very, very sad about that when I saw some people, 16:23 they stay with their family. 16:28 I'm willing to get it. 16:30 Now Jesus create my life to become a family again. 16:35 And now it's very, very wonderful time 16:41 to stay with the people, 16:43 and to talking about good news to other people, 16:47 and I don't waste the time anymore. 16:51 And now I know the time is Jesus' 16:55 because I'm in His time. 16:57 Jesus is the real God, and He is living now. 17:02 Even if you receive, He will stay with you. 17:05 You can talk with Jesus forever when you are praying, 17:11 you can pray, 17:12 and you can talk everything as you like, 17:18 or something like that. 17:21 He shared this good news with his wife 17:24 who shared it with her sister who, in turn, 17:26 shared it with her co-worker. 17:28 What do you think of Jesus now? 17:40 Her life has hope, and more belief, 17:44 and very happiness, very happiness 17:46 when she knows about Jesus. 17:49 Did she not know about Jesus before? 17:54 Yes. She did. 17:56 Yes. 17:57 And what did she think of Jesus before? 17:59 She thought, "It's not true". 18:03 She only heard only in handbill and booklet, 18:09 only that, that is the Christian. 18:11 So her friend told her about 18:14 what Jesus did in her friend's life? 18:17 Yes. 18:19 So you know Jesus is real? 18:25 Yes. 18:26 And what about her friend? 18:34 Yes. 18:36 How did she find out that Jesus is real? 18:44 Her family invited her to know. 18:48 They've started the main service now, 18:49 leading up to the baptism. 19:01 You see the history, many people, 19:03 they came to power, but they cannot die for us. 19:06 This young lady is doing a live English translation 19:09 for those who don't understand Chinese or Thai. 19:14 No more in darkness 19:18 He's received my son 19:22 All heavens rejoicing 19:26 That's the value of one 19:46 The Holy Spirit has been working 19:52 To soften up their hearts 19:57 All He needs is a willing vessel 20:02 To simply do His part 20:06 Can you imagine up in heaven 20:11 All the joy there'll be that day 20:16 As the sinner bows his head to pray 20:20 Can't you hear the Father say 20:25 Go sound the horn 20:29 Strike up the choir 20:34 A sinner is saved 20:38 Saved from the fire 20:42 No more in darkness 20:46 He's received my son 20:50 All heavens rejoicing 20:54 That's the value of one 20:59 Start construction on His mansion 21:03 There on hallelujah street 21:07 He doesn't know yet what is waiting 21:11 When the Savior he'll meet 21:20 Go sound the horn Go sound the horn 21:24 Strike up the choir Strike up the choir 21:28 A sinner is saved A sinner is saved 21:32 Saved from the fire Saved from the fire 21:36 No more in darkness 21:40 He's received my son 21:44 All heavens rejoicing 21:49 That's the value of one 21:55 All heavens rejoicing 22:03 That's the value of one 22:23 I was just asking her, you know, 'cause... 22:30 In this small group... 22:44 This small group is been working 22:46 to share Jesus Christ. 22:50 And it's just so cool to see with one family, 22:54 and then the work's being multiplied. 22:59 And it's been four long years that they're, you know, 23:04 working to disciple, and so that way, 23:07 it's not just a quick, you know, 23:09 dunking in the water, 23:11 and then it doesn't have any meaning, 23:13 and then they leave through the back door. 23:16 But, you know, the people who've been discipled 23:20 in this small groups are... 23:25 They're real Christians. 23:30 And that's the spirit, it fills me with such joy, 23:34 as I know with the blood, sweat, and tears that the team, 23:38 our teammates poured into these people. 23:44 And I feel like it's the first fruit. 23:48 How do you guys feel to come and listen today? 24:39 It's like we're just starting. 24:42 She's there. I know. 24:46 What did it make you feel like? 24:48 Same way as you feel. 24:55 I'm very blessed. 24:58 It's a great day of my life. 25:02 'Cause his girlfriend, 25:03 through the work of our church planter, 25:05 has accepted Jesus Christ. 25:07 She worked with us, 25:09 without thinking what she was before. 25:13 And here, for one year plus, 25:17 she worked with us without knowing that... 25:20 At the church planting. 25:21 Yeah, without knowing that this is the church. 25:24 She don't bother. 25:26 She was just helping volunteering there 25:27 at the church plant. 25:29 And then now she decided. 25:32 And I'm so happy. 25:36 We pray hard, this city will conquer by God's blessing. 25:40 That's right. 25:42 We'll find more workers like yourself, the others. 25:46 Like you. 25:47 Yeah, hopefully we can find, work hand in hand. 25:51 We will do more of this. That's right. 25:54 Most likely every month. 25:56 Every Sabbath. Every Sabbath it can be. 26:00 God bless. God bless our work. 26:02 Thank you. God bless. 26:11 I know behind the faith curtain, 26:14 heaven is rejoicing. 26:17 Because of all the work which we have had a chance 26:23 to be a part of, but I know, behind the curtain, 26:28 there's also a battle, and that battle is in my heart, 26:34 and I'm not selfish with my time. 26:42 My career, 26:45 my image, you know, grasping for power, 26:48 whatever, that we put it all on the line, 26:55 so that Jesus Christ can be seen, 26:58 and that men and women, boys and girls 27:01 can come to know Jesus Christ and have a heart. 27:15 So this is behind the scenes. 27:27 She's happy. 27:47 Here at the general conference, we have the opportunity 27:50 to review world giving statistics. 27:53 And if you look at those statistics on a graph 27:55 from about 1980 until today, 28:00 the Seventh-day Adventist Church 28:01 in North America gives about $23 million for world mission. 28:06 And it looks like we've held steady, 28:08 but $23 million today based on the inflation rate 28:12 is worth only about $8 million in 1980. 28:18 So actually our mission giving is not flat, 28:21 not going up but dramatically going down. 28:24 Jesus said, "This gospel of the kingdom 28:26 shall be preached all over the world 28:27 as a witness to all nations, and then shall the end come." 28:30 We as Adventists believe we're living on the knife edge 28:33 of the kingdom. 28:34 If there's ever a time to make sacrifices 28:37 for world mission, it's today. 28:40 Your gifts will make a dramatic difference 28:43 for Jesus Christ. 28:44 If you want to learn more, check it out 28:46 at AdventistMission.org 28:48 I'll never forget the people where I met 28:50 when I lived here in Bangkok. 28:52 From the street sweepers, the taxi drivers, 28:55 the mall executives, 28:56 I want all of them to meet Jesus. 28:59 And that's why I'm so grateful for your sacrifice 29:02 for the mission offering, because someday soon, 29:05 you'll meet them too. 29:20 Next week, drive with us to Bangkok 29:21 as we consider the challenge of reaching 29:24 the world's most massive cites watch, 29:26 I Want this City, Wednesday. |
Revised 2017-12-24