(somber music)
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- Hello, and welcome
to "Jesus for Asia Now."
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I'm Natalie Wood,
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and my husband, Jon,
is here with me today.
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Hello, love.
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- Hi, darling.
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- So we're going to
the Philippines today.
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- We are, yes.
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- So where in the
Philippines are we going?
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- A very unique place.
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So the
Philippines has 7,500 islands,
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okay? - Okay.
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- [Jon] And the big island
in the south is called Mindanao.
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- [Natalie] Okay.
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- [Jon] And the
southwest corner of that island
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is the Zamboanga
Peninsula Mission.
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- Okay. - ZPM.
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And off the
tail-end of that peninsula
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is a bunch of islands,
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and the farthest island
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is like a 3 1/2 hour
boat ride to Malaysia.
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- Okay.
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- The Malaysian part
of the Island of Borneo.
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- Okay.
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- So it's way out on the tips.
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- Okay.
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- We've shared about
those islands before,
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specifically the
Tawi-Tawi Island.
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- Right.
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- The Zamboanga
Peninsula Mission
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includes the land
side and all the islands.
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- So we're talking about
Bible workers from there today.
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- Yes, we have
Bible workers down there.
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- Okay.
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- And these are special
because I met Pastor Ronnie
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many years ago.
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He heads up the Adventist-Muslim
relation work in that area,
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and he's had great success
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in how to
connect with the Muslims.
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They're our
closest world religion
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than any other world religion.
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You've got Hindus
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which do not
recognize anything in the Bible,
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you've got Buddhist that
also do not recognize the Bible,
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but Muslims recognize
Abraham as our father,
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and Allah is the God of Abraham.
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And so, there's
connections there.
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Now, what's
interesting is the Adventists
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have a little more of
an inroad with the Muslims
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than other Christians,
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because Muslims are very
strong against eating pork.
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- [Natalie] Right.
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- And we don't eat pork.
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- Right. (Jon chuckles)
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- And we don't worship idols.
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- Right.
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- And so, the Sulads,
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which is a group of
volunteer missionaries,
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have been going into
this area for quite some time,
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but it came to the point
where they needed pastors.
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- Right.
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- And it's a very poor mission,
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so they appeal to Jesus for
Asia to sponsor some pastors.
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- So we have a video?
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- We have several videos.
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I gotta say that
this video is focused
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on a unreached people group.
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So it's not
necessarily a specific religion.
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It's just a
different people group,
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and this people group has
very unique characteristics
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about it.
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And it's really
hard to talk to them.
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Even though they understand
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the national
language a little bit,
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it's really hard to
reach them unless...
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And they have very
unique customs to themselves.
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And so, our pastor is
actually from this people group.
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And so, that's how he's able
to go in and work with them,
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and tell them about
Jesus so easily and so well
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is because he's the
only pastor from that group.
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And so, this is a
little bit of his story.
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- Okay.
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(somber music)
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(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
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- [Interpreter] The
Chavacano-speaking people
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have their own culture,
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and if you don't
know their culture,
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the gospel can't penetrate.
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- Formerly, the Chavacano
group is a language group
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which are
basically Animists also.
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Some of them have been
converted to Christianity
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by way of Catholicism,
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but the majority of
the Chavacano are basically
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Animists. - And
even the Chavacano,
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it's also another challenge
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because we have about
a million of Chavacano
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where we have only
one Chavacano pastor
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that is working
in their community.
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(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
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- [Interpreter]
Seventh Day Adventist
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have reached
many Chavacano people.
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Some of them,
especially the first converts
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understand the Cebuano language.
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But the recent
converts speak only Chavacano
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and they cannot
understand Cebuano.
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(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
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A Hymnal and
Bible are in Cebuano.
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(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
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And they can't understand that.
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- We are gaining grounds
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because they've
seen the Adventist phase.
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And so many of them
are converted to Adventist,
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and that's why we
have seven congregations,
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in various spaces,
seven different areas.
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And we only have one worker,
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one JFA worker
to shepherd those.
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(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
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- [Interpreter] My
purpose is to reach out
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to the Chavacano people,
this is why I studied theology.
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Pastor Fernando told me
to take the theology course
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at Mountain View College
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because we have many people
to reach out to in Zamboanga.
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- Unfortunately we have
one graduate from theology
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who is a pure Chavacano.
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Somehow he was
able to go to school
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in spite of the poorness, he
has become a working student.
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And so we decided that we
would hire him to take care
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because he's a
ministerial graduate,
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so we asked that
we hire him under JFA
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to take care of
the Chavacano group.
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(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
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- [Interpreter] If
there are sponsors,
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if there are people who
want to reach the Chavacano,
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we have plenty of
ministries we want to do
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but we need financial
help for these activities.
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That is one area
where we are lacking.
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- Why only one?
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We don't have the funds.
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(somber music)
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- This is a really
beautiful opportunity
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where we have a place
where there's believers
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that can do the work,
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they just don't have
the funds to go and do it.
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Like gasoline to
get there, vehicles,
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materials to
share, that kind of thing.
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And then we-- - A
way to pay to live.
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- [Jon] Yeah, eat. - Food.
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Yeah, for food and
for housing or whatever.
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- Right, and then
we have the believers
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in the western
world that have funds
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that for a very
small monthly cost
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can support somebody
full-time over there.
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- Right.
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- $150 is what they make there.
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This is what this pastor makes.
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- Right.
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- For the majority of
us in the western world,
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$150 is something
that we could handle.
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- And even if we
can't pay the whole 150,
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God adds our 10 or
our 20 or whatever it is.
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- [Jon] Sure. -
To the other tens
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and twenties, and he
makes up the difference.
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- Absolutely.
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- God always
provides for his workers.
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But it's such a privilege
that it isn't a huge amount.
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And many people can be involved.
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- [Jon] Right. -
In sponsoring them.
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- And this is what
drives the growth of the gospel.
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It's the local
churches that are established
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and they have the pastors,
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if we just leave it there,
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then it stays the
same over the 10, 20 years,
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it will grow locally.
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But these new areas,
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the new people groups,
new regions, new islands,
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those won't be
reached by the local church.
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It's as we send funds to
workers that are willing to go.
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And thankfully, and there's
a lot of places in the world
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that there is no workers.
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- Right, there's
nobody local that could go.
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- Exactly.
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- So thankfully he at
least was able to go to college
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and become a
ministerial graduate.
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- [Jon] Yeah.
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- And so that we could sponsor
him to be a pastor there.
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- Yeah, so these places where
there are already believers
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that are willing to go
and that's an opportunity.
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- Right.
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- So we're just so thankful
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that we have several workers
now that are being sponsored
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and there's more available.
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- Right.
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- If we had more
funds to send them.
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- So what's our next video?
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- This is a Bible worker
in the Island of Basilan.
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- Okay. - [Jon] Okay.
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(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
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- [Interpreter] They
rarely send missionaries here
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because it is far and dangerous.
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(somber music)
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- 70% are Muslim within here
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and then 30% are a
variety of Christian.
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But Muslims have
different tribes.
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Here, one of the native
indigenous tribe is Yakan.
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(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
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It's not a typical
place, where you have to deal
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with Christians who
believe God or Jesus.
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Here you have to
break the barriers.
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It's not really your
religion you are carrying,
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but it's the love of God.
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When they will see that,
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that's the time that
they will be friends with you.
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So the most
important kind of missionary
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that we are doing here
really is friendship ministry.
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That's really how we
reach the Muslim people.
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(somber music)
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(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
00:09:00.70\00:09:01.84
- [Interpreter] We go
to islands, we feed people
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and give school
supplies to the children.
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Especially to the Samal tribe.
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(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
00:09:08.21\00:09:10.81
There was only about 500 to $600
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provided for evangelism.
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- We have to go
through like medical mission,
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medical outreach, feeding,
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and stuff like that before
we can win their confidence.
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But like Jesus
said in the Bible,
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that we have to feed
their needs and analyze
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and then we have to
win their confidence
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and then then you
can minister to them.
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- We make--
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- [Interpreter] We
make bridges not walls.
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- Walls.
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- It's 1993, I think, or 1994.
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That was the last time
they sent us missionaries.
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But we would
really feel grateful,
00:09:48.85\00:09:52.05
personally, I would
really feel grateful
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if they will send
more missionaries.
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I think there's nothing wrong
00:09:58.56\00:10:01.10
with the young people
who are very supportive
00:10:01.10\00:10:03.77
or very zealous
or very passionate
00:10:03.77\00:10:06.30
but if we receive (speaks in
foreign language) missionaries
00:10:06.30\00:10:11.37
they can also educate
the young people here.
00:10:12.51\00:10:15.01
Like (speaks in
foreign language) train
00:10:15.01\00:10:16.38
with the young
people to be missionaries.
00:10:16.38\00:10:18.88
I've been praying this
for like 10 years already.
00:10:18.88\00:10:20.98
But when you pray,
God has His own timeline.
00:10:20.98\00:10:24.92
(somber music)
00:10:24.92\00:10:27.59
(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
00:10:28.99\00:10:31.63
So that Jesus will come
(speaks in foreign language).
00:10:31.63\00:10:34.13
Jesus can come quickly if
we will really help each other
00:10:35.63\00:10:38.83
in the finishing of His work.
00:10:38.83\00:10:42.00
(somber music)
00:10:42.00\00:10:44.54
- So here we have a couple
that are working there all alone
00:10:48.44\00:10:52.38
on that entire island.
00:10:53.28\00:10:54.85
And the burden of the
work is heavy on their hearts.
00:10:54.85\00:10:57.79
- Yeah, it sounds like there's,
00:10:57.79\00:10:59.59
you have to
pray your way through
00:10:59.59\00:11:01.12
how to reach the people there.
00:11:01.12\00:11:03.22
There's a lot of opportunity,
00:11:03.22\00:11:04.59
but there's also a lot of
thoughtfulness in the work.
00:11:04.59\00:11:08.90
- Yeah.
00:11:08.90\00:11:10.27
- So this next video is
more about the same couple
00:11:10.27\00:11:12.30
that we just saw.
00:11:12.30\00:11:13.23
- [Jon] Okay.
00:11:13.23\00:11:14.57
- I am a registered
nurse, a nurse by profession,
00:11:14.57\00:11:18.21
I graduated in
Mountain View College 2008
00:11:18.21\00:11:21.11
and I made a promise to God
00:11:21.11\00:11:22.64
that if I (speaks in
foreign language) board exam,
00:11:22.64\00:11:25.51
I will be a missionary for life.
00:11:25.51\00:11:27.45
But I forgot about my promise.
00:11:27.45\00:11:30.15
(somber music)
00:11:30.15\00:11:32.99
But God called me again.
00:11:32.99\00:11:34.39
2011, I joined
1,000 Missionary Movement,
00:11:34.39\00:11:37.99
was sent to South Korea
00:11:37.99\00:11:40.93
after how many years I
went back here my hometown.
00:11:42.30\00:11:45.17
And then I suddenly realized
(speaks in foreign language),
00:11:45.17\00:11:48.24
I've been going to other
countries, to other provinces,
00:11:48.24\00:11:53.21
but I never really
served here in the Basilan,
00:11:54.61\00:11:56.75
so that really, I think it was,
00:11:56.75\00:11:59.11
I believe it was God telling
me and impressing my heart.
00:11:59.11\00:12:03.62
Now serve your own island,
(speaks in foreign language).
00:12:03.62\00:12:07.49
So after I married, my
husband also is a missionary,
00:12:07.49\00:12:11.33
we decided (speaks
in foreign language).
00:12:11.33\00:12:12.96
(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
00:12:14.73\00:12:19.77
- [Interpreter] This is
challenging for ministry
00:12:20.90\00:12:21.74
and for our work.
00:12:21.74\00:12:23.27
- Problem is--
00:12:23.27\00:12:24.77
- [Interpreter] The
problem is because this place
00:12:24.77\00:12:26.17
is so far from the mainland,
it is a very critical place.
00:12:26.17\00:12:30.15
The culture here is very strict
00:12:31.51\00:12:32.81
when it comes to Christianity
and the Muslim culture.
00:12:32.81\00:12:36.35
(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
00:12:36.35\00:12:37.99
- It's not a very conducive
place to do missionary.
00:12:37.99\00:12:41.02
But I always
believe in the saying
00:12:41.02\00:12:43.12
that there's no bad mission
field for good missionaries.
00:12:43.12\00:12:48.16
(somber music)
00:12:49.10\00:12:51.77
And I'm just thankful,
00:12:51.77\00:12:53.40
because the moment we
arrived here last year to serve,
00:12:53.40\00:12:58.11
God has been blessing us so much
00:12:59.04\00:13:01.71
and we realize there's
really a big work to do here
00:13:01.71\00:13:06.01
and I was born here for
that very divine I know reason
00:13:06.01\00:13:11.09
and that is to share his love.
00:13:13.82\00:13:15.86
(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
00:13:15.86\00:13:20.00
It's one of our vision is
to have a center for influence.
00:13:20.00\00:13:24.23
(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
00:13:24.23\00:13:25.30
It's very difficult
you to reach out to them
00:13:25.30\00:13:28.30
and do bible studies.
00:13:28.30\00:13:29.57
So the only way it's
either we can have a school
00:13:29.57\00:13:32.71
because it is really our dream
00:13:32.71\00:13:34.18
to have an Adventist school here
00:13:34.18\00:13:36.71
or a center for influence good.
00:13:36.71\00:13:41.12
So that we can do like
maybe healthy products.
00:13:41.12\00:13:44.49
That's what we
are promoting here.
00:13:44.49\00:13:46.62
Healthy products and healthy
living or healthy restaurant.
00:13:46.62\00:13:51.03
Because that's the only
way we can link our beliefs
00:13:51.03\00:13:54.73
to the Muslim brethren.
00:13:54.73\00:13:56.67
(somber music)
00:13:56.67\00:13:59.33
- So here's a lady
that graduated as a nurse
00:13:59.33\00:14:02.70
and she's working as a
bible worker for $150 a month.
00:14:02.70\00:14:06.27
- Yeah.
00:14:06.27\00:14:07.11
- [Jon] Amazing.
00:14:07.11\00:14:08.08
- Yeah, she really cares though.
00:14:08.08\00:14:09.54
You can see, you
can hear it in her voice
00:14:09.54\00:14:11.75
that she really
cares about her people.
00:14:11.75\00:14:13.88
- [Jon] Yes.
00:14:13.88\00:14:15.02
- And that's such
a beautiful thing.
00:14:15.02\00:14:16.45
- And she's being creative.
00:14:16.45\00:14:17.59
She's thinking of
ways to really reach them.
00:14:17.59\00:14:19.72
- Yeah. - A school
00:14:19.72\00:14:20.72
or a center of
influence or a restaurant.
00:14:20.72\00:14:22.66
- Yeah.
00:14:22.66\00:14:23.76
- Can you imagine
what she could accomplish
00:14:23.76\00:14:25.16
in Christ with a tool like that?
00:14:25.16\00:14:27.66
- Yeah.
00:14:27.66\00:14:28.46
- That would be amazing.
00:14:28.46\00:14:29.70
(Natalie chuckles)
00:14:29.70\00:14:30.53
It'd be worth it.
00:14:30.53\00:14:31.47
- Right. - Even for one soul.
00:14:31.47\00:14:32.97
So we've gotta
find a way to help her.
00:14:32.97\00:14:34.94
- Yeah, and we need to
pray for the right open doors
00:14:36.27\00:14:38.61
for the right
timing and the right place
00:14:38.61\00:14:40.18
because location is
everything with restaurants
00:14:40.18\00:14:43.78
and different things
like that center of influence
00:14:43.78\00:14:45.81
whatever it ends up being.
00:14:45.81\00:14:47.62
- Yeah, and the
relationships around that.
00:14:47.62\00:14:49.75
- [Natalie] Right.
00:14:49.75\00:14:50.59
- Need to be be right.
00:14:50.59\00:14:51.42
- Right. - Yeah.
00:14:51.42\00:14:52.45
But God knows-- -
So God has to lead--
00:14:52.45\00:14:53.72
- [Jon] Yes. - For sure.
00:14:53.72\00:14:54.72
- Sometimes I think we think
00:14:54.72\00:14:56.29
that we just send the money
00:14:56.29\00:14:57.83
and then Bible work
automatically happens.
00:14:57.83\00:15:00.73
And I think we'll
forget the human cost.
00:15:00.73\00:15:03.80
- Right.
00:15:03.80\00:15:05.17
- Of taking the gospel to
people that don't know him.
00:15:05.17\00:15:07.64
This next video
is about a young man
00:15:07.64\00:15:10.04
who in 2006 was given
a life sentence saying,
00:15:10.04\00:15:13.98
I don't know what
kind of disease he had.
00:15:13.98\00:15:16.21
He doesn't say,
00:15:16.21\00:15:17.35
but he said that he
was given 10 years to live.
00:15:17.35\00:15:19.95
And so he decided that he
might as well live for the Lord.
00:15:19.95\00:15:23.75
- Right.
00:15:23.75\00:15:24.82
- And that 10
years ran out in 2016.
00:15:24.82\00:15:26.99
- Right.
00:15:26.99\00:15:28.09
- And he's still
serving the Lord.
00:15:28.09\00:15:28.89
And so you can see the burden
00:15:28.89\00:15:29.99
that he carries
when he talks about it.
00:15:29.99\00:15:32.79
- So let's play that video now.
00:15:32.79\00:15:34.20
- [Jon] Okay.
00:15:34.20\00:15:35.06
(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
00:15:36.20\00:15:38.00
- [Interpreter] I
was sick and I was told
00:15:38.00\00:15:39.33
that I would die just
the same if I went home.
00:15:39.33\00:15:41.70
(somber music)
00:15:41.70\00:15:44.84
(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
00:15:44.84\00:15:46.57
There were big changes
in my body due to disease.
00:15:46.57\00:15:50.18
Because of life's challenges,
00:15:50.18\00:15:51.71
there seemed to be no more hope.
00:15:51.71\00:15:53.75
If I had gone back to my
home, I would've died anyway.
00:15:53.75\00:15:57.05
(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
00:15:57.05\00:15:58.12
I was told that I
would die within 10 years.
00:15:58.12\00:16:01.36
In 2006 I should have been
dead, but I was still alive.
00:16:01.36\00:16:05.59
(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
00:16:05.59\00:16:06.90
So I said to myself that I
could use my life to serve God.
00:16:06.90\00:16:11.07
I wondered why 2016 came
and nothing had happened to me.
00:16:11.07\00:16:14.70
2021 came, but still
nothing had happened.
00:16:14.70\00:16:17.44
(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
00:16:17.44\00:16:18.71
That is why in my
experience of being sickly
00:16:18.71\00:16:21.61
I have no other ambition
but to serve God and him only
00:16:21.61\00:16:24.55
before I leave
this earthly life.
00:16:24.55\00:16:26.41
(somber music)
00:16:26.41\00:16:28.62
(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
00:16:28.62\00:16:32.75
I decided to settle down
00:16:32.75\00:16:34.16
and my wife joined
me as a missionary.
00:16:34.16\00:16:36.79
(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
00:16:36.79\00:16:38.79
This work is not easy at all.
00:16:38.79\00:16:40.66
Bringing the gospel to
other people is not my talent
00:16:41.96\00:16:44.33
because I am not qualified.
00:16:44.33\00:16:45.87
But I was called
to the work of God.
00:16:45.87\00:16:47.70
(somber music)
00:16:47.70\00:16:48.94
Even if you are not
qualified, He will qualify you.
00:16:48.94\00:16:51.87
I am waiting for 2026,
00:16:53.31\00:16:55.18
the 20th year of the
announced end of my life
00:16:55.18\00:16:57.58
because of my sickness.
00:16:57.58\00:16:59.15
- [Speaker] 2026.
00:16:59.15\00:17:00.55
- [Interpreter] I am observing
if my body weakens or not.
00:17:00.55\00:17:03.99
(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
00:17:03.99\00:17:05.59
I am wondering when I
will be leaving this life.
00:17:05.59\00:17:08.06
I am only hopeful that God
will sustain me in this work.
00:17:09.82\00:17:12.93
(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
00:17:12.93\00:17:15.50
I have pledged that as
long as God gives me breath
00:17:15.50\00:17:18.20
I will continue to do this work.
00:17:18.20\00:17:20.17
I am not after
the stipend I receive.
00:17:20.17\00:17:22.50
(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
00:17:22.50\00:17:23.61
I do this for
the love of the work
00:17:23.61\00:17:25.24
for many people still
needs to know the truth.
00:17:25.24\00:17:28.38
I have dedicated my all to God
00:17:28.38\00:17:30.71
and I am staying a missionary.
00:17:30.71\00:17:32.18
(somber music)
00:17:32.18\00:17:34.85
- Oh, isn't that powerful?
00:17:35.65\00:17:37.05
- It is, and to think that
he was expecting to die anytime.
00:17:37.05\00:17:41.32
And he's just
like, you know what?
00:17:41.32\00:17:42.72
I might as well serve God
with the time I have left.
00:17:42.72\00:17:45.23
- Yeah.
00:17:45.23\00:17:46.03
- And he's just serving God
00:17:46.03\00:17:47.13
and yeah, he
doesn't share what's wrong
00:17:47.13\00:17:51.13
but he just shares that he's
got a burden that God gave him
00:17:51.13\00:17:55.24
and he's got life
00:17:55.24\00:17:56.77
and as long as he has
life, he's gonna be serving God.
00:17:56.77\00:17:59.31
- [Jon] Right.
00:17:59.31\00:18:00.21
- Which is so beautiful.
00:18:00.21\00:18:01.34
- It is a very beautiful
way to spend your life.
00:18:01.34\00:18:03.71
Even if it's
short in God's service.
00:18:03.71\00:18:06.18
That's probably
why he's still alive.
00:18:06.18\00:18:08.32
- Yeah, we've seen that recently
00:18:08.32\00:18:09.38
with some of our
Bible workers in India.
00:18:09.38\00:18:12.05
They have cancer and
God extends their life.
00:18:12.05\00:18:14.52
- Right.
00:18:14.52\00:18:15.32
- Or completely cures them
00:18:15.32\00:18:16.39
or whatever God
chooses at the time,
00:18:16.39\00:18:18.83
but gives them time to
keep working with people.
00:18:18.83\00:18:22.10
- Absolutely.
00:18:22.10\00:18:23.00
- So, that's beautiful.
00:18:23.00\00:18:24.80
- Yeah, so this
next video that we have
00:18:24.80\00:18:26.63
is the same young man
talking about his work.
00:18:26.63\00:18:30.24
(somber music)
00:18:30.24\00:18:32.91
(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
00:18:47.36\00:18:49.99
- [Interpreter] I have
been close-minded in reaching
00:18:49.99\00:18:51.86
or getting
acquainted with Muslim people.
00:18:51.86\00:18:54.03
(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
00:18:54.03\00:18:55.70
That is why it's been
tough for me in the past.
00:18:55.70\00:18:58.13
(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
00:18:58.13\00:18:58.93
Like climbing a mountain.
00:18:58.93\00:19:00.14
(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
00:19:00.14\00:19:01.60
It isn't easy.
00:19:01.60\00:19:02.74
(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
00:19:02.74\00:19:04.07
It's a real challenge--
00:19:04.07\00:19:05.21
(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
00:19:05.21\00:19:06.37
Especially in this area.
00:19:06.37\00:19:08.01
(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
00:19:08.01\00:19:09.04
I felt scared and angry
00:19:09.04\00:19:10.48
because of my
previous experiences with them.
00:19:10.48\00:19:13.25
(somber music)
00:19:13.25\00:19:15.75
(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
00:19:15.75\00:19:17.29
This area is scary.
00:19:17.29\00:19:18.95
Many people from
different religions
00:19:18.95\00:19:20.69
were killed in this area.
00:19:20.69\00:19:22.72
But we learned that
there is a way to reach them
00:19:22.72\00:19:24.66
through friendship
and we can befriend them
00:19:24.66\00:19:27.76
through health outreach.
00:19:27.76\00:19:29.13
(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
00:19:29.13\00:19:30.70
We can enter their homes.
00:19:30.70\00:19:32.10
(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
00:19:32.10\00:19:33.17
It's not easy to be
accepted in their homes
00:19:33.17\00:19:35.24
if you don't get close to them.
00:19:35.24\00:19:37.04
(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
00:19:37.04\00:19:38.84
But if they find
out that you are kind,
00:19:38.84\00:19:40.94
they will welcome you.
00:19:40.94\00:19:42.08
(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
00:19:42.08\00:19:46.48
- [Speaker] I could not
walk, urinate or defecate.
00:19:48.75\00:19:51.82
It is tough.
00:19:51.82\00:19:53.22
My niece brought me this
guy who gave me herbal medicine.
00:19:53.22\00:19:56.26
(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
00:19:56.26\00:19:58.33
- [Interpreter] How many
months have you been lying down?
00:19:58.33\00:20:00.53
- [Speaker] It
has been eight months
00:20:00.53\00:20:01.96
but now I'm able to walk.
00:20:01.96\00:20:03.67
- [Interpreter] They
know that we are Adventists.
00:20:05.50\00:20:07.47
I didn't hide anything
from them regarding my identity.
00:20:07.47\00:20:10.24
(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
00:20:10.24\00:20:13.68
- [Speaker] I am thankful.
00:20:13.68\00:20:14.84
I thank God and the people here.
00:20:14.84\00:20:17.05
(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
00:20:17.05\00:20:19.71
Praise be to Allah because
you are here to visit me.
00:20:19.71\00:20:22.72
(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
00:20:22.72\00:20:27.22
- [Interpreter] This
work is not just a job
00:20:28.66\00:20:30.73
but a profession
motivated by love.
00:20:30.73\00:20:32.76
(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
00:20:32.76\00:20:33.73
Love for the people in need.
00:20:33.73\00:20:35.96
(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
00:20:35.96\00:20:36.93
Many people are in remote areas
00:20:36.93\00:20:38.53
that we haven't visited yet.
00:20:38.53\00:20:39.97
(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
00:20:39.97\00:20:42.20
They are waiting.
00:20:42.20\00:20:43.51
(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
00:20:43.51\00:20:45.04
Waiting for the people who
will give them the message.
00:20:45.04\00:20:46.34
(speaker speaks
in foreign language)
00:20:46.34\00:20:50.68
Our mission is to reach them.
00:20:54.22\00:20:56.05
(somber music)
00:20:56.05\00:20:58.59
- Wow.
00:21:02.82\00:21:03.63
- It's just really neat to see
00:21:03.63\00:21:05.36
that kind of dedication.
00:21:05.36\00:21:06.59
- Yeah, and the vision
00:21:06.59\00:21:07.66
for the people that
have not yet been reached.
00:21:07.66\00:21:10.03
- Yeah.
00:21:10.03\00:21:10.87
- And so this next video
00:21:10.87\00:21:12.00
is about the
director of overall this work.
00:21:12.00\00:21:14.37
Pastor Ronnie De Vera.
00:21:14.37\00:21:15.70
Several years
ago he had requested
00:21:15.70\00:21:17.54
for a four-by-four vehicle
that he could travel around
00:21:17.54\00:21:21.21
and visit the different
places that he has Bible workers
00:21:21.21\00:21:24.98
and pastors and in
schools and things like that,
00:21:24.98\00:21:27.95
student missionaries.
00:21:27.95\00:21:29.28
And so we spent some time
telling people here in America
00:21:29.28\00:21:32.65
about the need and
praise God people gave
00:21:32.65\00:21:36.59
and provided him an old used
four-wheel drive pickup truck.
00:21:36.59\00:21:41.63
And so this video is
about him driving that truck
00:21:43.06\00:21:45.20
and telling about it
and thanking us for it.
00:21:45.20\00:21:49.20
- Okay.
00:21:49.20\00:21:50.04
(somber music)
00:21:50.04\00:21:52.61
- This territory of ours,
00:21:56.31\00:21:58.45
under the Zamboanga Peninsula
Mission covers five provinces.
00:21:58.45\00:22:02.65
Most of them are
mountainous areas.
00:22:02.65\00:22:04.69
And the roads are terrible,
00:22:04.69\00:22:07.09
many times
possible only by motorcycle
00:22:08.66\00:22:11.93
and so muddy and steep.
00:22:11.93\00:22:14.56
Therefore, it is a necessity
00:22:14.56\00:22:16.80
for a four-by-four
vehicle to visit these places.
00:22:16.80\00:22:20.47
Our missionaries and volunteers
00:22:20.47\00:22:23.14
are scattered all over
these mountainous areas.
00:22:23.14\00:22:27.51
And the only way to
visit them is to go there.
00:22:27.51\00:22:30.31
There is not even
signal for cell phone
00:22:30.31\00:22:33.78
because of remoteness of areas.
00:22:33.78\00:22:36.02
So the only way is to
visit them periodically
00:22:36.02\00:22:39.09
to see how we are and
to obtain their reports.
00:22:39.09\00:22:43.59
And so a four-by-four vehicle
00:22:43.59\00:22:46.06
is of great necessity
and I am very thankful
00:22:46.06\00:22:50.17
that Jesus for Asia has extended
their help to provide one.
00:22:50.17\00:22:55.14
So thank you very
much Jesus for Asia team,
00:22:56.34\00:22:58.47
for providing a vehicle which
will be used for the ministry
00:23:00.04\00:23:04.31
and for the glory of God.
00:23:04.31\00:23:06.01
God bless you all.
00:23:06.01\00:23:08.12
(somber music)
00:23:08.12\00:23:10.79
- Usually that thing's
packed out with people,
00:23:11.89\00:23:14.09
young people, older
people going to mission posts
00:23:14.09\00:23:16.69
or carry books or
evangelistic equipment
00:23:16.69\00:23:18.96
to do an evangelistic series.
00:23:18.96\00:23:20.40
And the recent
report I get from there
00:23:20.40\00:23:22.13
is that it's being
borrowed by a lot of pastors
00:23:22.13\00:23:26.17
in the mission
'cause most of them
00:23:26.17\00:23:28.70
don't have the four
wheel drive capability.
00:23:28.70\00:23:30.94
But most of the roads,
especially, out in the mountains
00:23:30.94\00:23:33.78
and stuff, you can only
get there by four wheel drive.
00:23:33.78\00:23:36.58
You saw how
crazy those roads are.
00:23:36.58\00:23:38.81
- Yeah.
00:23:38.81\00:23:39.88
- And they're
actually saying another one
00:23:39.88\00:23:41.82
would be a very nice addition.
00:23:41.82\00:23:44.25
- Okay, so they're
requesting another one.
00:23:44.25\00:23:46.39
- Yeah, now that
one cost about $12,000.
00:23:46.39\00:23:49.46
- Okay. - To buy.
00:23:49.46\00:23:50.79
It was used and they've
had to do some repairs on it
00:23:50.79\00:23:53.43
and everything,
but it's being used
00:23:53.43\00:23:56.10
and it will be used to the max.
00:23:56.10\00:23:59.20
- Right.
00:23:59.20\00:24:00.84
- In fact, they've had to
replace their tires already on
00:24:00.84\00:24:02.20
it. It was down
to the metal ply.
00:24:02.20\00:24:04.91
(both chuckles)
00:24:04.91\00:24:06.11
After only about a
year and a half of use.
00:24:06.11\00:24:09.08
So it's being very well used.
00:24:09.08\00:24:11.41
And you can see how
mountainous those roads are.
00:24:11.41\00:24:14.05
- Yeah, and there's
mountains inside the roads too.
00:24:14.05\00:24:17.79
It'd like all
the dips (Jon laughs)
00:24:17.79\00:24:19.12
and everything they were
going over was very, very bumpy.
00:24:19.12\00:24:22.39
- Yeah, and that was
shot in the dry season.
00:24:22.39\00:24:25.39
- [Natalie] Yeah.
00:24:25.39\00:24:26.73
- In the rainy season,
it's a whole nother story.
00:24:26.73\00:24:28.23
- Yeah, wow.
00:24:28.23\00:24:29.66
- So we're praying
00:24:29.66\00:24:30.97
that we can get them
another vehicle up there.
00:24:30.97\00:24:33.00
'Cause that just
enables so much more ministry.
00:24:33.00\00:24:35.30
- Yeah, to give them the tools
00:24:35.30\00:24:37.31
to enable them to
enable the workers.
00:24:37.31\00:24:40.78
They are support for
so many missionaries,
00:24:40.78\00:24:42.94
pastors, local people.
00:24:42.94\00:24:45.21
- In our future shows, we'll
be talking about the same area
00:24:45.21\00:24:49.15
but talking about the
need for church buildings.
00:24:49.15\00:24:52.09
- Okay.
00:24:52.09\00:24:53.39
- Because it wasn't
mentioned in these videos.
00:24:53.39\00:24:55.29
You hear the Bible
workers in these videos
00:24:55.29\00:24:57.53
talking about the burden
that they have for the people
00:24:57.53\00:24:59.89
but they haven't mentioned
the successes that they've had.
00:24:59.89\00:25:02.86
- Oh, okay.
00:25:02.86\00:25:03.67
- This is an exploding field.
00:25:03.67\00:25:05.17
It's a vibrant growing,
00:25:05.17\00:25:06.67
I was called on a
video call one night,
00:25:06.67\00:25:10.27
for me it was early morning,
00:25:10.27\00:25:11.91
for them, like four
o'clock in the morning
00:25:11.91\00:25:14.04
they were eating breakfast
00:25:14.04\00:25:15.38
and this was like
60 college-aged kids
00:25:15.38\00:25:17.71
volunteering to go as
missionaries for the year.
00:25:17.71\00:25:20.28
It was their launching, it
was four o'clock in the morning
00:25:20.28\00:25:22.72
they were eating
breakfast to go be launched
00:25:22.72\00:25:24.89
into volunteer work among the
islands, the dangerous place.
00:25:24.89\00:25:28.56
These are dangerous places.
00:25:28.56\00:25:29.96
There's some, I say, I
haven't been down there
00:25:29.96\00:25:32.26
because they said, if I
come I'll need a bodyguard,
00:25:32.26\00:25:35.43
I'll need armed escort.
00:25:35.43\00:25:36.87
And so this is not like,
hey, come have a vacation.
00:25:38.23\00:25:41.34
- Yeah, vacation on the island.
00:25:41.34\00:25:43.24
(Jon laughs) Yeah, no.
00:25:43.24\00:25:44.57
- Right, it's let's go
and let's bring the gospel
00:25:44.57\00:25:47.48
to people that
are dying without it.
00:25:47.48\00:25:50.31
- Well, and that's
an interesting point
00:25:50.31\00:25:52.11
because they're going and
they know that it's dangerous,
00:25:52.11\00:25:57.05
but they're going. - Yes.
00:25:57.05\00:25:58.69
- Because God has given
them a burden for the lost.
00:25:58.69\00:26:01.72
- Yes.
00:26:01.72\00:26:02.82
- Because they know
that He's called them.
00:26:02.82\00:26:04.36
- Yes.
00:26:04.36\00:26:05.39
- And therefore
they're in His hands.
00:26:05.39\00:26:06.63
- Right.
00:26:06.63\00:26:07.66
- And that's
where our safety is.
00:26:07.66\00:26:08.96
- Yeah, and we think
about safety in this life.
00:26:08.96\00:26:11.60
- [Natalie] True.
00:26:11.60\00:26:12.67
- But this life is
pretty inconsequential
00:26:12.67\00:26:15.37
compared to the next life.
00:26:15.37\00:26:17.27
No matter how long
we live in this life,
00:26:17.27\00:26:20.04
it'll never compare to
the life that's coming.
00:26:20.04\00:26:22.78
- True.
00:26:22.78\00:26:23.88
- So using this life
that we've been given
00:26:23.88\00:26:26.82
to invest in the future
life is really smart thinking.
00:26:26.82\00:26:30.45
- And even more importantly,
in the future lives of others.
00:26:30.45\00:26:33.56
- [Jon] Yes.
00:26:33.56\00:26:34.66
- Like how many
people can we drag
00:26:34.66\00:26:35.82
into the kingdom with us.
00:26:35.82\00:26:37.33
(both chuckles)
00:26:37.33\00:26:38.13
Not kicking and screaming, but--
00:26:38.13\00:26:39.93
- Happily.
00:26:39.93\00:26:40.93
- Bringing them,
yeah. - Right, yeah.
00:26:40.93\00:26:42.20
And that's our investment.
00:26:42.20\00:26:43.57
See, because
when we get to heaven,
00:26:43.57\00:26:45.63
the relationships
that we've formed here
00:26:45.63\00:26:47.70
that end up with
them being in heaven,
00:26:47.70\00:26:50.44
that's gonna be our reward.
00:26:50.44\00:26:52.11
That's gonna be our great,
obviously next to seeing Jesus.
00:26:52.11\00:26:55.24
- [Natalie] Right.
00:26:55.24\00:26:56.11
- Obviously.
00:26:56.11\00:26:57.25
But it's those
relationships, they're,
00:26:57.25\00:26:59.81
can you imagine when
they come to you and say,
00:26:59.81\00:27:01.55
"Hey, I did, I
was in the library
00:27:01.55\00:27:04.09
"and I saw that
it was your donation
00:27:04.09\00:27:06.65
"that enabled that Bible
worker to come to my door
00:27:06.65\00:27:10.99
"and offer prayer
and that's why I'm here."
00:27:10.99\00:27:13.90
- [Natalie] Yeah.
00:27:13.90\00:27:15.16
- It's like what kind of
friendship are you gonna have?
00:27:15.16\00:27:17.43
(both laughs)
00:27:17.43\00:27:18.90
- For eternity.
00:27:18.90\00:27:20.04
- Absolutely, and
that's the exactly the teaching
00:27:20.04\00:27:22.24
that Jesus had in Luke's 16:9
00:27:22.24\00:27:25.11
where he says, "Make
to yourselves friends
00:27:25.11\00:27:27.21
"of the unrighteous mammon."
00:27:27.21\00:27:29.31
This is our true investment.
00:27:29.31\00:27:31.91
- Right, this is awesome.
00:27:31.91\00:27:33.78
- Yes, and we can do it now.
00:27:33.78\00:27:35.48
- Yeah, I would
like to invite you
00:27:35.48\00:27:37.42
to be a part of
this amazing ministry
00:27:37.42\00:27:39.49
by praying for
these Bible workers
00:27:39.49\00:27:41.49
and for the young people
00:27:41.49\00:27:43.06
that will be going as student
missionaries to these areas.
00:27:43.06\00:27:46.63
If you would like to be
involved, please contact us
00:27:46.63\00:27:49.40
at Jesus for Asia PO Box 1221,
00:27:49.40\00:27:53.70
Collegedale, Tennessee, 37315.
00:27:53.70\00:27:56.50
Call us at (423) 413-7321
00:27:56.50\00:28:00.68
or visit our
website at jesus4asia.org.
00:28:00.68\00:28:04.15
May God richly bless you
00:28:04.15\00:28:05.85
until we see you next
time on "Jesus for Asia Now."
00:28:05.85\00:28:09.55
(somber music)
00:28:09.55\00:28:12.19