(upbeat powerful music) 00:00:00.66\00:00:03.87 - Hello and welcome to Jesus for Asia Now. 00:00:21.45\00:00:23.92 Today I'd like to introduce you to my friend Christina, 00:00:23.92\00:00:26.45 who recently spent some time in India 00:00:26.45\00:00:28.52 with our Bible workers and evening schools. 00:00:28.52\00:00:30.76 And she's got an amazing story to share with us today. 00:00:30.76\00:00:34.30 Hi Christina, welcome to the show. 00:00:34.30\00:00:35.90 - Hi Natalie, thank you. 00:00:35.90\00:00:37.30 - So glad you could be here today. 00:00:37.30\00:00:38.63 - Thank you. 00:00:38.63\00:00:40.17 - It's gonna be awesome because I love this story. 00:00:40.17\00:00:42.44 It's great. 00:00:42.44\00:00:43.54 So you were recently in India. 00:00:43.54\00:00:46.74 How long were you there? 00:00:46.74\00:00:48.11 - I spent three weeks in India, 00:00:48.11\00:00:49.64 visiting the Bible workers and the evening schools. 00:00:49.64\00:00:52.05 - Okay, and was this your first time in India? 00:00:52.05\00:00:55.62 - No, it wasn't. 00:00:55.62\00:00:57.05 It was my second time. 00:00:57.05\00:00:58.55 - So tell me a little bit about your first time 00:00:58.55\00:01:00.36 because I know there was a major difference for you. 00:01:00.36\00:01:03.66 - Yes, the first time I went was several years ago 00:01:03.66\00:01:06.66 and my kids were with me, so they were very young then. 00:01:06.66\00:01:10.03 And so not only is it a culture shock 00:01:10.03\00:01:13.37 to go to another country, when you're traveling 00:01:13.37\00:01:17.37 with young children, you're not only looking out 00:01:17.37\00:01:19.87 for yourself, you're looking out for them too 00:01:19.87\00:01:21.98 and not wanting anything to happen. 00:01:21.98\00:01:23.95 And also, as a mother, you're providing, 00:01:23.95\00:01:25.75 wanting to provide and take care of them. 00:01:25.75\00:01:28.32 - So the first time you were there, 00:01:28.32\00:01:29.98 describe for me that culture shock kind of experience 00:01:29.98\00:01:34.59 that you had. 00:01:34.59\00:01:35.92 - Everything is very different from what's normal to us. 00:01:35.92\00:01:38.69 Nothing is normal. 00:01:38.69\00:01:40.30 The food is different, the transportation is different, 00:01:40.30\00:01:43.63 you see so many more people than we see 00:01:43.63\00:01:46.84 here in America. 00:01:46.84\00:01:48.10 - There's poverty. - Crowds everywhere 00:01:48.10\00:01:49.84 and mass poverty, the slums, the hut dwellings 00:01:49.84\00:01:54.34 that people live in, the shacks, 00:01:54.34\00:01:56.38 and sometimes it's right next to very nice places. 00:01:56.38\00:02:01.35 It's just so different. 00:02:02.22\00:02:03.79 - And the sounds are different, everything. 00:02:03.79\00:02:05.55 - The smells, the sounds, yeah. 00:02:05.55\00:02:08.39 - So when you were there the first time 00:02:08.39\00:02:10.29 all that shock was, 'cause it was a new place. 00:02:10.29\00:02:14.30 - Right and we were just trying to, 00:02:14.30\00:02:15.60 you kinda get in survival mode where you're just trying 00:02:15.60\00:02:19.00 to survive from day to day. - I can do this. 00:02:19.00\00:02:21.87 - And every day is a totally new experience. 00:02:21.87\00:02:24.44 Nothing is normal, nothing is the same 00:02:24.44\00:02:26.78 as the day before. 00:02:26.78\00:02:28.14 - And soon I'll get to leave this place, I hope. 00:02:29.64\00:02:32.08 And go back to what I know. 00:02:32.08\00:02:34.22 - Yeah 00:02:34.22\00:02:35.28 - I know that factors in a lot of times. 00:02:35.28\00:02:36.55 You just trying to survive until you move on 00:02:36.55\00:02:39.32 to the next place or maybe back to the familiar. 00:02:39.32\00:02:42.32 - Definitely. - So this time-- 00:02:42.32\00:02:43.76 - That was my experience the first time. 00:02:43.76\00:02:45.73 - Okay, so this was time was different for you. 00:02:45.73\00:02:48.23 In what way was it different? 00:02:48.23\00:02:50.57 - I think this time I didn't experience the culture shock 00:02:50.57\00:02:54.80 because this time I had a place in my brain 00:02:54.80\00:02:57.07 that I could file India. 00:02:57.07\00:02:58.57 So I, you know I just, it was India, it was where I was 00:02:58.57\00:03:02.38 and this is how India is and so I wasn't in this, 00:03:02.38\00:03:05.95 "How do I survive in this environment?" 00:03:05.95\00:03:09.12 It was just I was there and I was more comfortable. 00:03:09.12\00:03:11.59 And so this time I got to connect with the people more 00:03:11.59\00:03:14.52 and to hear their stories and to see them 00:03:14.52\00:03:16.49 as individuals in a way that I didn't the first time. 00:03:16.49\00:03:19.56 - So having been there once and gone through the, 00:03:19.56\00:03:23.43 "What is this place like, you know, 00:03:23.43\00:03:25.90 "what are these people like?" 00:03:25.90\00:03:27.24 All of that kind of learning, understanding, 00:03:27.24\00:03:30.54 then you could settle down a little bit to the next level 00:03:30.54\00:03:34.61 and say, "What are these people really like? 00:03:34.61\00:03:36.44 "What is their lives really like?" 00:03:36.44\00:03:38.81 You know, make it more of an individual story 00:03:38.81\00:03:40.92 instead of like a, "Wow, this is all new to me." 00:03:40.92\00:03:44.92 - Yes, very much so. 00:03:44.92\00:03:46.59 - Wow, so I know you've got one particular story 00:03:46.59\00:03:49.79 you wanted to share today and it's a long story. 00:03:49.79\00:03:52.13 But first I wanted to ask you what was it 00:03:52.13\00:03:54.56 that impacted you the most about meeting the Bible workers 00:03:54.56\00:03:57.60 in particular? 00:03:57.60\00:03:58.83 'Cause that's what we're talking about today. 00:03:58.83\00:04:00.80 - Yes, what impacted me most was their commitment 00:04:00.80\00:04:04.24 and dedication. 00:04:04.24\00:04:05.71 Their belief in the power of prayer 00:04:05.71\00:04:08.74 and that they stand on Bible promises and they have 00:04:08.74\00:04:11.41 a faith that I don't see here in America. 00:04:11.41\00:04:15.35 - Wow, yeah, I'm always amazed 00:04:15.35\00:04:17.82 to see how dedicated they are. 00:04:17.82\00:04:19.62 You know, the fact that we stop for prayer 00:04:19.62\00:04:21.62 on the side of the road with somebody 00:04:21.62\00:04:23.02 and they'll take their shoes off on the side of the road, 00:04:23.02\00:04:24.99 no matter what is on the ground there. 00:04:24.99\00:04:27.66 So yeah, it's amazing to see. 00:04:27.66\00:04:32.30 - Yes, we heard stories and met people 00:04:32.30\00:04:34.60 that worked day and night. 00:04:34.60\00:04:35.70 I mean they were very committed, 00:04:35.70\00:04:38.21 starting their days very early in the morning 00:04:38.21\00:04:40.18 and sometimes even answering the phone 00:04:40.18\00:04:43.31 to give a Bible study at 2:00 a.m. 00:04:43.31\00:04:45.38 - Wow, so we wanna start telling this story, 00:04:45.38\00:04:48.05 this Bible worker, because it's a long story. 00:04:48.05\00:04:50.55 How long has this story been going on? 00:04:50.55\00:04:53.05 - The story covers about 10 or 11 years. 00:04:53.05\00:04:56.32 - Wow, mostly one village though, right? 00:04:56.32\00:04:59.06 - Yes. - Okay and what is her name? 00:04:59.06\00:05:01.63 - Her name is Mary. 00:05:01.63\00:05:03.00 And the picture here is from the village 00:05:03.00\00:05:05.57 where we met her and heard her story. 00:05:05.57\00:05:07.54 - Okay, so this was a while ago that this story starts. 00:05:07.54\00:05:09.80 - Yes. 00:05:09.80\00:05:10.84 - Okay, so they first got the village. 00:05:10.84\00:05:12.84 She became a bible worker for this village. 00:05:12.84\00:05:15.81 And how many people were coming to church then? 00:05:15.81\00:05:18.61 - They would attend church with only one other family. 00:05:18.61\00:05:20.92 So just two families every sabbath at church 00:05:20.92\00:05:23.45 and yet they started doing a lot of ministry, 00:05:23.45\00:05:26.59 trying to reach the neighbors. 00:05:26.59\00:05:29.59 And visiting with them and stuff but no one was being, 00:05:29.59\00:05:32.59 no one was receptive or started coming to church. 00:05:32.59\00:05:35.76 - Wow, so they appreciated the ministry maybe 00:05:35.76\00:05:38.07 or whatever help they were giving them? 00:05:38.07\00:05:40.04 - Right. 00:05:40.04\00:05:41.14 - But didn't wanna come to the church. 00:05:41.14\00:05:42.87 - Right, I think they were very involved 00:05:42.87\00:05:45.41 in their own church, probably too. 00:05:45.41\00:05:47.24 - Okay, some of these are, 00:05:47.24\00:05:48.88 is this a predominantly Hindu village? 00:05:48.88\00:05:50.61 Do you know? 00:05:50.61\00:05:51.95 - I believe this is primarily a Sunday keeping village. 00:05:51.95\00:05:54.95 - Okay. 00:05:54.95\00:05:56.25 Okay, so they're there and they're doing all this ministry 00:05:56.25\00:05:58.19 but nobody's coming to church. 00:05:58.19\00:05:59.85 - Right. 00:05:59.85\00:06:01.32 - I know you kinda compared that to your own experience 00:06:01.32\00:06:03.43 in church. 00:06:03.43\00:06:04.83 - Yeah, it made me think as I was listening to the story 00:06:04.83\00:06:06.96 how we do a lot of ministry in our communities 00:06:06.96\00:06:11.33 and neighborhoods near our churches 00:06:11.33\00:06:14.17 but we don't really have souls, or very few that come 00:06:14.17\00:06:18.74 into the church. 00:06:18.74\00:06:20.14 I honestly can't remember any people that have come 00:06:20.14\00:06:22.18 into our church as a result of our local outreach efforts. 00:06:22.18\00:06:27.25 - Wow and then I know that as you watch this story 00:06:28.62\00:06:32.02 and we're gonna share some video with our viewers here 00:06:32.02\00:06:34.02 in a minute but you also saw her heart for the villagers. 00:06:34.02\00:06:39.09 - Yes, after doing ministry and not seeing any results, 00:06:40.50\00:06:44.63 they were crying. 00:06:44.63\00:06:47.24 She shares how her husband and her cried 00:06:47.24\00:06:50.41 and prayed and just were agonizing over 00:06:50.41\00:06:53.58 not having any souls come to their church. 00:06:53.58\00:06:56.98 And wanted God to show them what they needed to do. 00:06:56.98\00:07:00.45 - All right, let's play that video now. 00:07:00.45\00:07:02.42 - We went out and we did a lot of ministry 00:07:04.99\00:07:07.32 happening there but no one turned to our church. 00:07:07.32\00:07:10.56 Me and my husband used to pray about it, 00:07:11.63\00:07:12.33 we used to cry sometimes and wonder what's happening, 00:07:13.66\00:07:16.56 why is there no souls? 00:07:16.56\00:07:18.57 God answered our tears, God gave a plan for us. 00:07:21.10\00:07:25.11 We started to associate with one family. 00:07:25.11\00:07:27.64 They had a problem and they shared with us. 00:07:30.48\00:07:33.18 We said, "We will come to your home 00:07:36.02\00:07:37.35 "and we want to pray in your home 00:07:37.35\00:07:39.29 "for 40 days every morning." 00:07:39.29\00:07:41.02 - Five to six. 00:07:41.02\00:07:41.82 - Five o'clock to six o'clock. 00:07:41.82\00:07:43.22 We used to get up in our homes four o'clock. 00:07:45.96\00:07:48.66 Me, my husband, the pastor and two other children. 00:07:48.66\00:07:52.37 4:00 a.m. we used to get up as a family. 00:07:55.34\00:07:57.64 We go on a vehicle, we go and pray for their family 00:07:57.64\00:08:00.38 at five o'clock. 00:08:00.38\00:08:01.24 We went with our children so that the malefactors 00:08:03.91\00:08:07.82 did not disturb us. 00:08:07.82\00:08:09.05 The first admission was given by the house lady 00:08:12.22\00:08:15.26 and soon after the head of the family 00:08:15.26\00:08:17.19 also sat in the prayer. 00:08:17.19\00:08:18.69 Then slowly the children turned in. 00:08:18.69\00:08:20.56 - Wow, five o'clock in the morning 00:08:21.56\00:08:23.06 and they had to get up at four to travel there. 00:08:23.06\00:08:26.47 - Right. 00:08:26.47\00:08:27.84 She had to get her family up and probably fed breakfast 00:08:27.84\00:08:31.47 and take them all with her, her children 00:08:31.47\00:08:33.41 and her husband with. 00:08:33.41\00:08:34.44 - Wow, that's dedication, amazing. 00:08:34.44\00:08:38.15 - Amazing dedication. 00:08:38.15\00:08:39.75 - And they love telling people about Jesus 00:08:39.75\00:08:43.65 and it's amazing. 00:08:43.65\00:08:45.62 - Yes. 00:08:45.62\00:08:47.02 They certainly see the value of a soul. 00:08:47.02\00:08:49.52 So this picture is of the lady who first requested 00:08:50.89\00:08:53.60 the 40 days of prayer. 00:08:53.60\00:08:54.66 She's in the pink sari standing next to me. 00:08:54.66\00:08:57.50 - Okay, wow, that's neat. 00:08:57.50\00:08:59.60 So after they started this 40 days of prayer, 00:08:59.60\00:09:02.47 she talks about it in the next section of the video, 00:09:02.47\00:09:04.54 how they decided to introduce them to the 28 Bible doctrines 00:09:04.54\00:09:09.24 that we believe in. 00:09:09.24\00:09:10.61 - Yeah, so it was going very well and so around day 10 00:09:10.61\00:09:13.52 or 15, they started doing Bible studies in addition 00:09:13.52\00:09:16.48 to just praying every morning. 00:09:16.48\00:09:18.75 - Wow, let's watch that video now. 00:09:18.75\00:09:20.39 - As the days passed by one week, 10 days, 00:09:23.29\00:09:25.09 15 days, we started to teach the 28 Bible doctrines 00:09:25.09\00:09:28.86 each day a doctrine. 00:09:28.86\00:09:30.40 They have been regularly going to a Pentecostal church 00:09:30.40\00:09:32.80 that is nearby. 00:09:32.80\00:09:33.94 They began to question us, "Our pastor did not teach us 00:09:36.94\00:09:40.14 "our church did not have an awareness of all these things, 00:09:40.14\00:09:43.28 "so we are encouraged," and they are more interested 00:09:43.28\00:09:45.71 in Bible studies. 00:09:45.71\00:09:47.42 - So they used the opportunity to pray together 00:09:47.42\00:09:49.88 as an opportunity to start sharing truth. 00:09:49.88\00:09:52.29 - Yes. 00:09:52.29\00:09:53.09 - That's really powerful. 00:09:53.09\00:09:54.42 - Yes that all went very well and the lady was converted 00:09:54.42\00:09:56.76 and baptized. 00:09:56.76\00:09:57.69 - Wow. 00:09:57.69\00:09:58.59 That's really neat and then what happened next? 00:09:59.69\00:10:02.96 'Cause there's more to this story, right? 00:10:02.96\00:10:04.90 - Much more. 00:10:04.90\00:10:06.03 - All right, well let's keep showing the video. 00:10:06.03\00:10:08.24 - After some days this lady 00:10:12.07\00:10:14.11 have introduced another family to us. 00:10:14.11\00:10:16.08 Soon after we have 10 people who are requesting 00:10:17.98\00:10:20.45 for us Bible studies. 00:10:20.45\00:10:21.85 So 10 people came over to our house, 00:10:21.85\00:10:24.02 we cooked them for the food in the morning breakfast 00:10:24.02\00:10:27.09 and the lunch and they were with us till evening. 00:10:27.09\00:10:29.36 They wanted to know more about Jesus Christ. 00:10:29.36\00:10:31.66 Then they requested come over to our houses 00:10:34.93\00:10:37.13 and have 40 days of prayer. 00:10:37.13\00:10:38.87 So we had 40 days prayer in different houses. 00:10:41.47\00:10:44.47 Totally eight houses in 40 different days. 00:10:44.47\00:10:47.41 - Wow, eight, 40 days of prayer. 00:10:47.41\00:10:52.38 So but we don't know if those were consecutive 00:10:53.88\00:10:56.28 or if they're overlapping, we have no idea. 00:10:56.28\00:11:00.46 - But still, that's a lot. 00:11:00.46\00:11:02.46 - Yes, so they had one Bible study full day 00:11:02.46\00:11:06.93 with these people and then the people started asking for 00:11:06.93\00:11:09.30 the prayer at their houses. 00:11:09.30\00:11:11.47 That's just neat, that's just amazing. 00:11:11.47\00:11:14.44 - Yeah, and to think they fed all these people. 00:11:14.44\00:11:17.61 Breakfast, lunch and possibly dinner too. 00:11:17.61\00:11:20.48 They were there all day and just happy, 00:11:20.48\00:11:23.91 so happy to be able to share the truth with people. 00:11:23.91\00:11:27.68 - Wow, so they started doing all these 40 days of prayer. 00:11:27.68\00:11:30.52 So what happened with all these people that they 00:11:30.52\00:11:32.72 were suddenly doing 40 days of prayer with 00:11:32.72\00:11:34.66 and Bible studies with, what happened to them? 00:11:34.66\00:11:37.13 - Well it resulted in 12 baptisms. 00:11:37.13\00:11:39.69 - Wow, 12 more people? 00:11:39.69\00:11:41.46 - Yeah, their church is growing now. 00:11:41.46\00:11:43.67 - So all these people being baptized, 00:11:43.67\00:11:45.43 what did that do to the former church? 00:11:45.43\00:11:47.70 - It made the pastor very upset. 00:11:47.70\00:11:50.01 And this wasn't just a little bit angry, 00:11:50.01\00:11:52.97 he was threatening them. 00:11:52.97\00:11:54.61 He was gonna beat them or take their life possibly. 00:11:54.61\00:11:57.61 - Wow. 00:11:57.61\00:11:58.45 So what did they do? 00:11:58.45\00:11:59.41 I mean, this is scary, right? 00:11:59.41\00:12:00.98 - What did they do? 00:12:00.98\00:12:02.38 They prayed. 00:12:02.38\00:12:03.28 - Okay, and what did God say? 00:12:04.62\00:12:07.99 Let's watch the video. 00:12:08.82\00:12:10.19 - Yeah, let's watch this video to hear them tell the story. 00:12:10.19\00:12:12.93 - Okay. 00:12:12.93\00:12:13.83 - This Pentecostal pastor was getting mad 00:12:16.46\00:12:19.17 because they came to our church 00:12:19.17\00:12:20.84 and they are searching for our life. 00:12:20.84\00:12:22.70 For those 40 days prayers, one after the other, 00:12:22.70\00:12:24.67 he was searching for us every day 00:12:24.67\00:12:26.81 but praise God, God hid us from that person. 00:12:26.81\00:12:30.91 We prayed, "Lord, you blindfold the people 00:12:33.42\00:12:35.65 "when you did for the, when it was the time of Lot 00:12:35.65\00:12:38.82 "in Sodom and Gomorrah, you blindfold the pastor. 00:12:38.82\00:12:41.22 "We want to do our ministry," 00:12:41.22\00:12:42.42 and God blindfolded the pastor. 00:12:42.42\00:12:44.43 He couldn't see us. 00:12:44.43\00:12:45.89 After two long months, he found us. 00:12:48.23\00:12:50.83 Be brought five people into our homes. 00:12:50.83\00:12:54.34 And then he started to threaten us. 00:12:54.34\00:12:56.17 This is our soul, he belongs to my church, 00:12:59.51\00:13:02.91 how can you take them to your church, 00:13:02.91\00:13:05.21 Seventh-day Adventist Church? 00:13:05.21\00:13:06.72 Then we, after a lot of discussion, we made them to sit 00:13:09.48\00:13:12.49 and he also sat and we gave Bible studies to them 00:13:12.49\00:13:15.69 and said, "If you follow this, we are very happy 00:13:15.69\00:13:18.76 "to give this people to you also. 00:13:18.76\00:13:20.53 "You have the church on Saturday, 00:13:20.53\00:13:22.36 "you have your Bible studies on this things, 00:13:22.36\00:13:24.23 "so we will help you, 00:13:24.23\00:13:25.37 "and we don't disturb your church service." 00:13:25.37\00:13:27.34 And this pastor said that they are depending 00:13:29.90\00:13:32.67 upon their offerings, so it cannot be possible. 00:13:32.67\00:13:35.18 My food is on that, so I cannot do this. 00:13:35.18\00:13:38.58 If you go to their house next time, 00:13:38.58\00:13:41.25 I will do something very dangerous to you. 00:13:41.25\00:13:44.69 There is no guarantee for your lives. 00:13:48.26\00:13:50.96 My husband said, "Without the permission of God, 00:13:53.13\00:13:55.50 "you cannot touch even the apple of my eye." 00:13:55.50\00:13:57.93 This pastor was frustrated. 00:14:01.07\00:14:02.40 He went out of the house and he was using all foul language, 00:14:02.40\00:14:06.14 he cursed us and he went out. 00:14:06.14\00:14:07.88 - So one thing we should mention before we go on 00:14:09.01\00:14:12.41 is that this independent pastor, 00:14:12.41\00:14:14.98 that's how he gets his income, from his church members. 00:14:14.98\00:14:18.42 - Right, he's dependent on their offerings for his support. 00:14:18.42\00:14:22.32 - Right, so this is one of the reasons he was so angry. 00:14:22.32\00:14:25.83 - Right. 00:14:25.83\00:14:26.93 - But we wanna go back to this whole thing 00:14:26.93\00:14:28.23 where he's threatening to kill them 00:14:28.23\00:14:30.97 and they pray and God makes him blind. 00:14:30.97\00:14:34.97 - Right, for two months he searched for them 00:14:34.97\00:14:37.57 and was not ever able to find them. 00:14:37.57\00:14:39.84 This isn't a big place. 00:14:39.84\00:14:40.98 - No, no, but it's interesting 00:14:40.98\00:14:45.75 because after two months, then God removed the blindness. 00:14:45.75\00:14:50.55 - Yes. 00:14:50.55\00:14:51.95 - And let him see them, he let him go to their house. 00:14:51.95\00:14:55.66 - Right, and what did they do? 00:14:55.66\00:14:57.79 They said, "Sit down, we're gonna have a Bible study." 00:14:57.79\00:15:01.96 And the husband actually gave them all tracks to read. 00:15:01.96\00:15:04.67 - Yeah, and that comes to the next part of the story 00:15:04.67\00:15:06.97 but one thing I wanna mention, that I took away 00:15:06.97\00:15:10.21 from this video is that he's, they're like, 00:15:10.21\00:15:13.74 you can have a church too. 00:15:13.74\00:15:15.71 We don't mind. 00:15:15.71\00:15:17.31 Just have your church on sabbath and teach these truths 00:15:17.31\00:15:20.58 and then, you know, it's no problem. 00:15:20.58\00:15:22.55 - We won't have any problems. 00:15:22.55\00:15:23.72 You just become Adventist. 00:15:23.72\00:15:25.12 - That was courage from God, I think. 00:15:28.46\00:15:31.19 - Yes, I mean they're in a room with men 00:15:31.19\00:15:33.90 that are about to either beat them or take their lives. 00:15:33.90\00:15:37.00 - Yeah, that was the intent. 00:15:37.00\00:15:38.63 - Yes, so right at the end the men get up and leave 00:15:38.63\00:15:43.27 and they're cursing him, cussing them, 00:15:43.27\00:15:45.87 and the response the pastor gave was like, 00:15:45.87\00:15:48.68 "Without the permission of God, 00:15:48.68\00:15:50.51 "you cannot even hurt the apple of my eye." 00:15:50.51\00:15:53.15 - Yeah, that's really courageous, amazing. 00:15:53.15\00:15:58.22 - Yeah, and such faith to stand on God's Word 00:15:59.35\00:16:00.99 and to know that they're being protected by God 00:16:00.99\00:16:03.99 and even when they're facing losing their lives. 00:16:03.99\00:16:07.96 - Yeah, and the story continues. 00:16:07.96\00:16:10.40 - Yeah. - We've got another video here 00:16:10.40\00:16:12.90 of one of the men that was with that pastor? 00:16:12.90\00:16:15.80 - Right, one of the men who was going to help 00:16:15.80\00:16:19.54 the pastor harm the Bible worker and her family. 00:16:19.54\00:16:23.11 - The pastor has brought five or six members 00:16:26.98\00:16:29.45 from his church to threaten us. 00:16:29.45\00:16:31.99 And among the five, six, and Brother Sendil 00:16:31.99\00:16:34.29 is one among them. 00:16:34.29\00:16:35.39 While the conversation were going on, 00:16:36.99\00:16:40.83 my husband who is a pastor gave some tracts 00:16:40.83\00:16:45.27 to this pastor and the fellow believers. 00:16:45.27\00:16:48.14 Brother Sendil got that tract and read it carefully 00:16:50.74\00:16:53.74 and prayerfully and found out that this is the truth 00:16:53.74\00:16:56.81 and he inquired with the Pentecostal pastor. 00:16:56.81\00:17:00.35 He said, "What is written there is true 00:17:00.35\00:17:02.68 "but we are following the tradition." 00:17:02.68\00:17:05.05 Then Brother Sendil started coming to our church, 00:17:05.05\00:17:08.42 keeping the sabbath regularly. 00:17:08.42\00:17:10.13 And after taking baptism, 00:17:10.13\00:17:13.06 he got many blessings from the Lord. 00:17:13.06\00:17:15.36 - Wow, so he was there to help beat them 00:17:16.73\00:17:19.03 and he got these tracts and then he started reading them. 00:17:19.03\00:17:22.94 - Yes and studying them and praying about 00:17:22.94\00:17:26.61 what he was reading and he began, 00:17:26.61\00:17:28.64 he went to question his pastor about what he was learning. 00:17:28.64\00:17:32.68 - Wow, I am amazed that the pastor was honest. 00:17:32.68\00:17:36.52 You know, and said, "We're keeping traditions here." 00:17:36.52\00:17:39.62 That's really unusual. 00:17:39.62\00:17:41.29 Usually there's text taken out of context 00:17:41.29\00:17:43.63 or one text without all the other texts in Scripture 00:17:43.63\00:17:46.29 being weighed with it or something like that. 00:17:46.29\00:17:48.70 - Right, they're usually not forthright in saying 00:17:48.70\00:17:51.97 that this is truth and they're not following it. 00:17:51.97\00:17:55.27 He's been blessed in many ways. 00:17:55.27\00:17:57.77 Once he made the decision to commit to keeping the sabbath. 00:17:57.77\00:18:01.08 - Wow, do we have, we have some video about that also. 00:18:01.08\00:18:03.65 - Yes, some more of this. 00:18:03.65\00:18:08.35 - After coming to our church, keeping the sabbath, 00:18:08.35\00:18:12.19 paying the tithe in a well manner, 00:18:12.19\00:18:14.32 God has provided him a suitable companion. 00:18:14.32\00:18:18.03 An Adventist girl, and Adventist nurse. 00:18:18.03\00:18:22.26 He has given to Mr. Sendil as wife. 00:18:22.26\00:18:25.47 Now Mrs. Sendil is in a pregnant stage, 00:18:28.80\00:18:32.27 the month of seven, I think. 00:18:32.27\00:18:36.01 God is blessing them and Brother Sendil's mother 00:18:36.01\00:18:39.85 also took baptism. 00:18:39.85\00:18:40.98 - So he found an Adventist girl and got married 00:18:42.28\00:18:44.49 and now she's seven months pregnant. 00:18:44.49\00:18:47.02 - That's really neat. 00:18:47.02\00:18:48.06 - Yes and his mother was baptized. 00:18:48.06\00:18:51.06 He was able to get a car, which is a huge blessing for them. 00:18:51.06\00:18:56.10 Many people only have motorbikes, 00:18:56.97\00:18:57.90 if not any transportation at all. 00:18:57.90\00:18:59.93 - Right, right. 00:18:59.93\00:19:01.47 And we've got a little video of him, right, 00:19:01.47\00:19:03.77 sharing another blessing. 00:19:03.77\00:19:05.37 - [Christine] Yes. - Okay. 00:19:05.37\00:19:06.78 - My name is Sendil Kumar. 00:19:09.64\00:19:11.25 After coming to the Seventh-day Adventist Church 00:19:11.25\00:19:13.05 and became a member. 00:19:13.05\00:19:15.42 Now I am very peaceful and joy with the Lord. 00:19:15.42\00:19:20.49 After accepting the biblical truth, 00:19:24.63\00:19:27.03 the Seventh-day Adventist Church now, 00:19:27.03\00:19:30.53 my life is entirely changed from the olden days. 00:19:30.53\00:19:34.20 Because of the sabbath I left my job. 00:19:36.07\00:19:38.21 And now I started to do some independent work. 00:19:38.21\00:19:42.81 - Thank you. 00:19:42.81\00:19:44.11 - So he quit his job to keep the sabbath. 00:19:46.92\00:19:49.72 - Yes, and that's a bit thing for them to do 00:19:49.72\00:19:52.02 because most people have to work six days a week 00:19:52.02\00:19:55.72 to be able to earn enough to support themselves. 00:19:55.72\00:19:58.59 - Wow. 00:19:58.59\00:19:59.96 So now he's a Seventh-day Adventist Church member, 00:19:59.96\00:20:02.80 he's supporting the church and encouraging 00:20:02.80\00:20:04.53 the Seventh-day Adventist pastor. 00:20:04.53\00:20:06.53 That's really neat. 00:20:06.53\00:20:07.90 - Yes, she was sharing how he's really become involved 00:20:07.90\00:20:10.57 with the church and is supporting her husband 00:20:10.57\00:20:14.04 and encouraging him. 00:20:14.04\00:20:15.61 - Oh nice, that's really great. 00:20:15.61\00:20:17.81 So from coming to beat them, now he's helping them 00:20:17.81\00:20:22.02 and encouraging them. 00:20:22.02\00:20:22.95 - Yes. - That's awesome. 00:20:22.95\00:20:24.05 Well I know that they, she shared some stories 00:20:24.05\00:20:26.69 that had been affected by another village, also. 00:20:26.69\00:20:30.66 Is there, I think there's a common thread here 00:20:30.66\00:20:33.46 but anyway, they started working in another village as well. 00:20:33.46\00:20:37.10 - Yeah, and this village was 40 kilometers away. 00:20:37.10\00:20:40.14 So it took some effort to get there. 00:20:40.14\00:20:42.17 I mean, I'm not sure if they walked in the hot sun 00:20:42.17\00:20:44.84 or took a motor bike. - Or took the bus. 00:20:44.84\00:20:47.58 - Or a bus, but they, definitely it was a commitment 00:20:47.58\00:20:51.85 to travel to minister to the people in this village. 00:20:51.85\00:20:56.75 - Right, for us 40 kilometers, you know, 00:20:56.75\00:20:59.02 what, 30 miles or something? 00:20:59.02\00:21:01.32 But it's like, for them, if they have to take buses 00:21:01.32\00:21:03.86 and it can be a long journey. 00:21:03.86\00:21:08.66 - Yes, much longer than what it would take us. 00:21:08.66\00:21:11.60 - Yeah, so they're working in this village, 00:21:11.60\00:21:14.44 40 kilometers away, and they start meeting 00:21:14.44\00:21:17.37 with the people, right? 00:21:17.37\00:21:18.71 - Yup. 00:21:18.71\00:21:19.61 - Okay, and what happens? 00:21:20.61\00:21:22.58 - Well they're meeting with the people 00:21:22.58\00:21:24.41 and doing Bible studies and then they find out 00:21:24.41\00:21:28.42 that the same Pentecostal pastor is working 00:21:28.42\00:21:31.92 in that village too. 00:21:31.92\00:21:33.72 - Oh no. 00:21:33.72\00:21:34.96 - Yeah. 00:21:34.96\00:21:35.86 So one day, apparently, before they got there, 00:21:37.93\00:21:40.43 he had met in the home, met the people in the home 00:21:40.43\00:21:44.67 where they were gonna be doing Bible studies that day 00:21:44.67\00:21:46.97 and we're not sure what he did, 00:21:46.97\00:21:49.40 he said something to them and convinced them not 00:21:49.40\00:21:51.61 to open the door for our Bible worker. 00:21:51.61\00:21:54.41 - Wow, so we have a little video 00:21:54.41\00:21:56.75 where she's talking about that. 00:21:56.75\00:21:58.28 - This was person was behind, the same pastor was behind 00:22:01.85\00:22:04.62 and he searched that home and he said something 00:22:04.62\00:22:07.42 and this time when we went in, 00:22:07.42\00:22:09.39 they closed the door and they did not ask us to come inside. 00:22:09.39\00:22:13.03 They locked the home and they went off 00:22:13.03\00:22:14.63 and we were standing there with that locked door. 00:22:14.63\00:22:18.43 And we were praying, 00:22:18.43\00:22:20.37 "Lord, we have traveled 40 long kilometers one way 00:22:20.37\00:22:22.40 "in this hot sun. 00:22:22.40\00:22:23.54 "We are standing here, now the door is locked 00:22:23.54\00:22:25.51 "and people walked away, we do not know what to do." 00:22:25.51\00:22:27.48 We prayed there. 00:22:27.48\00:22:28.38 God spoke in my heart. 00:22:30.28\00:22:32.15 "You think there is only one home? 00:22:33.38\00:22:35.25 The full area is before you. 00:22:35.25\00:22:37.29 Every home you can go in, try. 00:22:37.29\00:22:39.92 All are hut homes, very small ones. 00:22:39.92\00:22:42.76 We went and gave all the literatures. 00:22:45.03\00:22:47.66 One family requested us to come in 00:22:47.66\00:22:49.63 and we prayed with the family. 00:22:49.63\00:22:50.87 They promised to come to church. 00:22:50.87\00:22:53.50 You know that family who took us? 00:22:56.04\00:22:57.71 Me and that wife went to one home. 00:22:57.71\00:23:00.54 My husband, another male went to another home. 00:23:00.54\00:23:04.01 Till evening, 7:30, we had a home. 00:23:04.01\00:23:06.65 We were sharing God's love. 00:23:06.65\00:23:08.18 God's angels are with us and God is leading us. 00:23:08.18\00:23:11.15 - You have a thought that you've seen 00:23:12.95\00:23:15.42 over and over again in this story. 00:23:15.42\00:23:17.43 - Yes, it's the strong commitment to prayer. 00:23:17.43\00:23:20.33 This story started with 40 days of prayer. 00:23:20.33\00:23:22.83 Well first them praying and crying over the lost souls 00:23:22.83\00:23:25.97 and then 40 days of prayer, repeatedly 40 days of prayer. 00:23:25.97\00:23:29.60 And when they were threatened, prayer. 00:23:29.60\00:23:33.14 When they don't know what to do, they pray. 00:23:33.14\00:23:35.38 And they hear God and they obey. 00:23:36.95\00:23:40.22 - Wow and then God blesses. 00:23:40.22\00:23:42.58 And they can say, "Look what God did." 00:23:42.58\00:23:44.35 Like this whole story they got to share with us, 00:23:44.35\00:23:46.62 look what God did here and look what God did there. 00:23:46.62\00:23:49.39 - Right, nothing is because of any of their efforts, 00:23:49.39\00:23:52.33 God gets all the credit. 00:23:52.33\00:23:54.36 It's all because He's blessing them. 00:23:54.36\00:23:56.53 - Wow and this isn't something 00:23:56.53\00:23:59.00 they have taken on lightly either, 00:23:59.00\00:24:00.30 they've had to make very personal sacrifices 00:24:00.30\00:24:03.00 for this ministry. 00:24:03.00\00:24:04.41 - So yeah, she shares one of those sacrifices 00:24:04.41\00:24:06.54 in this next video. 00:24:06.54\00:24:08.04 - [Natalie] Okay. 00:24:08.04\00:24:09.34 - We couldn't have a good school nearby, 00:24:11.41\00:24:13.68 no Seventh-day Adventist Church nearby, 00:24:13.68\00:24:15.42 schools nearby and so we couldn't educate their children, 00:24:15.42\00:24:18.29 so I took my children and we dropped them in Chennai, 00:24:18.29\00:24:22.49 in my mother home and they are studying there 00:24:22.49\00:24:25.66 and we are ministering in this place. 00:24:25.66\00:24:28.46 In all these challenges, God is still leading us 00:24:31.80\00:24:34.80 and His love is making us to move every day. 00:24:34.80\00:24:38.01 A place nearby (mumbles), God is using us 00:24:38.01\00:24:41.41 though our children are very far, 00:24:41.41\00:24:42.44 we're are studying Bible with 150 children, 00:24:42.44\00:24:46.55 completely for 10 long years. 00:24:46.55\00:24:48.85 That's called VBS, Vacation Bible School, 00:24:48.85\00:24:52.32 something like that. 00:24:52.32\00:24:53.39 Among the children we got four souls who are grown up 00:24:57.39\00:25:00.43 and next, to another place we got four souls 00:25:00.43\00:25:04.30 and in our church we got eight souls. 00:25:04.30\00:25:06.53 God is still leading us. 00:25:06.53\00:25:07.80 God strengthen our hands to do God's ministry. 00:25:13.98\00:25:16.58 Thank you JFA for your support and prayers. 00:25:16.58\00:25:19.98 - Thank you. 00:25:19.98\00:25:21.52 - That must've been a hard decision. 00:25:21.52\00:25:23.39 - Right, to willingly take your kids eight hours away? 00:25:23.39\00:25:27.26 I mean it was at least an eight hour train ride 00:25:27.26\00:25:29.19 away to live with her mother. 00:25:29.19\00:25:30.86 And then comes back and does ministry 00:25:30.86\00:25:32.56 with all the children in the village. 00:25:32.56\00:25:34.56 Lots of children. 00:25:34.56\00:25:35.96 And we actually met three boys that were, 00:25:35.96\00:25:39.30 that are grown now but remember that very well. 00:25:39.30\00:25:42.54 - Wow. 00:25:42.54\00:25:43.87 - While we were there, after we finished hearing this story, 00:25:43.87\00:25:46.21 the children there, there was lots of children there 00:25:46.21\00:25:48.91 and they went out into the forest 00:25:48.91\00:25:51.25 and picked a branch. 00:25:51.25\00:25:53.38 They like to give gifts to people in India. 00:25:53.38\00:25:55.82 And lots of times we, we were given flowers. 00:25:55.82\00:25:59.72 But because of where they were, the closest thing 00:25:59.72\00:26:01.59 they could come to a flowers, 00:26:01.59\00:26:03.02 was this branch with pink leaves. 00:26:03.02\00:26:05.76 I think they called it a paper rose. 00:26:05.76\00:26:07.96 It was very special for them to give it to me 00:26:07.96\00:26:10.40 and I felt very honored. 00:26:10.40\00:26:12.53 - Ah, how sweet and then you took pictures with them? 00:26:12.53\00:26:15.00 - Yes, I had to have pictures with them. 00:26:15.00\00:26:17.81 Although they were, they like to take selfies 00:26:17.81\00:26:19.84 and have you take pictures of them. 00:26:19.84\00:26:21.74 So that was fun. 00:26:21.74\00:26:23.41 - Okay, so then you got all the first ones 00:26:23.41\00:26:25.88 and then the boys wanted to get in on the action. 00:26:25.88\00:26:28.75 - Yes, I had encouraged them to jump in there too. 00:26:28.75\00:26:31.19 - They were a little shy? 00:26:31.19\00:26:32.55 So having seen and heard, you know, seen the place 00:26:32.55\00:26:37.06 where this story is taken place and met some of the people 00:26:37.06\00:26:39.83 and heard the story firsthand, what impacted you the most? 00:26:39.83\00:26:43.67 - What impacted me most is their complete dedication 00:26:43.67\00:26:47.67 to the Great Commission, to saving souls. 00:26:47.67\00:26:51.37 They didn't hold anything back, 00:26:51.37\00:26:52.74 they were up at 4:00 a.m. 00:26:52.74\00:26:54.71 They took their kids, to be raised by their mother, 00:26:54.71\00:26:59.78 eight hours away. 00:27:00.52\00:27:01.62 They were all in, all in to save the lost 00:27:01.62\00:27:04.89 and God rewarded them. 00:27:04.89\00:27:06.35 - Wow what a blessing it is to hear it first hand 00:27:06.35\00:27:09.89 and to meet these people. 00:27:09.89\00:27:12.06 It was such a blessing and this wasn't just one story, 00:27:12.06\00:27:15.26 we heard so many stories like this. 00:27:15.26\00:27:17.20 I mean, everywhere we went, many stories 00:27:17.20\00:27:20.44 of their dedication, of how they believe so firmly 00:27:20.44\00:27:24.07 in the Word of God and risked their lives to reach souls. 00:27:24.07\00:27:28.54 - Wow. 00:27:28.54\00:27:29.38 - It was powerful. 00:27:29.38\00:27:30.75 - Wow, well thank you so much for being on the show 00:27:30.75\00:27:32.75 with us today and sharing this amazing story. 00:27:32.75\00:27:34.95 - Thank you for having me. 00:27:34.95\00:27:36.28 - I'm so glad you could hear this story today. 00:27:36.28\00:27:39.02 And if you would like to be involved 00:27:39.02\00:27:41.56 with these Bible workers, I encourage you 00:27:41.56\00:27:43.19 to pray for them. 00:27:43.19\00:27:44.83 And you can get in touch with us at Jesus for Asia, 00:27:44.83\00:27:47.83 P.O. Box 1221, Collegedale, Tennessee, 37315. 00:27:47.83\00:27:52.03 Call us at 423-413-7321. 00:27:53.40\00:27:57.87 Or visit our website at jesus4asia.org. 00:27:57.87\00:28:00.84 May God richly bless you until we see you again next time, 00:28:00.84\00:28:04.35 on Jesus for Asia Now. 00:28:04.35\00:28:06.38 (upbeat music) 00:28:06.38\00:28:09.12