The sights and
sounds of North America,
00:00:16.95\00:00:18.78
a Life and Hope
Center opens in Nazareth,
00:00:18.81\00:00:21.88
and a song that stops a
baby crying coming up next.
00:00:21.92\00:00:25.15
Hello, and
welcome to Mission 360
00:00:50.11\00:00:51.81
coming to you today
from the city of Jerusalem.
00:00:51.85\00:00:54.88
And over here you can see
this ancient limestone wall,
00:00:54.92\00:00:59.05
it's known as the Western Wall.
00:00:59.09\00:01:01.22
It's one of the
retaining walls for the temple
00:01:01.26\00:01:03.53
that Herod the Great built.
00:01:03.56\00:01:05.66
Herod, of course, was
not the nicest person,
00:01:05.69\00:01:07.56
but he was a tremendous builder.
00:01:07.60\00:01:10.60
And this place
here is a sacred site
00:01:10.63\00:01:14.04
for Jewish people.
00:01:14.07\00:01:15.40
It's the holiest
place where they can pray,
00:01:15.44\00:01:18.11
because they see
the Most Holy place
00:01:18.14\00:01:20.21
to which they have no access
as being in the Temple Mount.
00:01:20.24\00:01:24.05
This is actually only
one of four retaining walls,
00:01:24.08\00:01:26.68
but it's special
because it's the one
00:01:26.72\00:01:28.15
that gets them the
closest to the Most Holy Place.
00:01:28.18\00:01:31.95
For a period of 19 years,
00:01:31.99\00:01:33.89
there was no access at all
for Jewish people to this wall,
00:01:33.92\00:01:37.73
and that ended after
the Six-Day War in 1967.
00:01:37.76\00:01:42.03
While on today's program,
00:01:42.06\00:01:43.40
we'll be taking you to
all parts of the world.
00:01:43.43\00:01:45.13
But first up, let's
travel to North America.
00:01:45.17\00:01:47.34
Around the world,
Adventist education serves
00:01:54.54\00:01:57.11
as a platform of opportunity
for thousands of students.
00:01:57.15\00:02:00.75
Schools provide
quality education
00:02:00.78\00:02:03.08
to inspire a brighter future.
00:02:03.12\00:02:05.25
Beyond that,
Adventist education shares
00:02:05.29\00:02:08.32
an even greater
hope with its students,
00:02:08.36\00:02:10.69
a hope in Jesus.
00:02:10.73\00:02:12.96
In many cases,
students have come to know
00:02:12.99\00:02:15.40
a loving God through
caring and thoughtful teachers.
00:02:15.43\00:02:18.50
Across the North
American Division,
00:02:18.53\00:02:20.44
there are more than
1,100 Adventists primary
00:02:20.47\00:02:23.41
and secondary schools.
00:02:23.44\00:02:25.17
This territory spans over
12 time zones from Bermuda
00:02:25.21\00:02:28.91
in the east to
Palau in the west.
00:02:28.94\00:02:31.75
This gives Adventist
schools the opportunity
00:02:31.78\00:02:34.08
to serve students
from various backgrounds
00:02:34.12\00:02:36.05
and communities.
00:02:36.08\00:02:37.42
And the southwestern
region of the United States,
00:02:37.45\00:02:39.59
Holbrook Indian
School focuses on educating
00:02:39.62\00:02:42.52
the local indigenous people.
00:02:42.56\00:02:44.36
This school was
established as a mission school
00:02:44.39\00:02:46.76
for the unreached
native groups of the Southwest.
00:02:46.80\00:02:49.53
The majority of
students who come to Holbrook
00:02:49.56\00:02:51.67
are not Adventists,
00:02:51.70\00:02:53.23
and may have never even
heard the gospel message.
00:02:53.27\00:02:56.64
Many come from environments
00:02:56.67\00:02:58.01
where they face
negative influences,
00:02:58.04\00:02:59.94
and some of these
children grow up thinking drugs,
00:02:59.97\00:03:02.94
alcohol abuse and
neglect are normal.
00:03:02.98\00:03:06.21
Their experience at Holbrook
gives them a new perspective,
00:03:06.25\00:03:09.65
where they find
caring teachers and staff,
00:03:09.68\00:03:12.62
a place where
they can just be kids,
00:03:12.65\00:03:14.89
and a place
where they meet Jesus.
00:03:14.92\00:03:17.99
Today, Holbrook
is teaching students
00:03:18.03\00:03:19.59
from grades 1 to
12 in practical ways.
00:03:19.63\00:03:22.36
Their educational
program has four pillars,
00:03:22.40\00:03:25.00
physical health, mental health,
00:03:25.03\00:03:27.34
spiritual health,
and academic achievement.
00:03:27.37\00:03:30.81
Each component is fundamental
00:03:30.84\00:03:32.31
to the student's
learning experience.
00:03:32.34\00:03:34.38
In addition to core subjects,
00:03:34.41\00:03:36.04
they offer classes like
native cultural studies,
00:03:36.08\00:03:38.65
welding,
woodworking, auto repair,
00:03:38.68\00:03:41.55
agriculture,
pottery, and horsemanship.
00:03:41.58\00:03:44.32
They don't want to
be stuck on the race,
00:03:46.45\00:03:48.69
because once you're on
the race you stay on the race.
00:03:48.72\00:03:52.16
And I want to
start something new.
00:03:52.19\00:03:54.66
The one thing my
grandpa taught me
00:03:54.70\00:03:56.23
is that God's there for you,
you just keep looking forward.
00:03:56.26\00:04:01.00
Don't look backwards.
00:04:01.04\00:04:03.20
That's why I came to Holbrook
and Holbrook's been my home.
00:04:03.24\00:04:07.51
When I'm riding horses,
00:04:16.89\00:04:19.75
it just feels amazing
because it's silent, peaceful.
00:04:19.79\00:04:25.19
The only thing you can
hear is just a bird chirping
00:04:25.23\00:04:28.73
and the breeze and the leaves.
00:04:28.76\00:04:31.53
I feel more myself.
00:04:32.93\00:04:36.40
I conquered my fears
and riding horses and stuff.
00:04:36.44\00:04:40.94
And I have no reason
to be scared of a horse
00:04:42.41\00:04:46.31
because they're just horses.
00:04:46.35\00:04:50.62
When I run, it just,
it feels like home to me.
00:05:05.90\00:05:09.27
I just like the smell
of the trees and, you know,
00:05:09.30\00:05:12.84
I can just, I like
the feeling of the dirt.
00:05:12.87\00:05:14.64
My brothers, they
drink and they smoke.
00:05:16.44\00:05:20.75
I don't like that.
00:05:20.78\00:05:23.32
So I tried to get
away from it as possible.
00:05:23.35\00:05:27.52
I decided I wanted
to come to Holbrook.
00:05:27.56\00:05:30.46
And when I got there, I
noticed it was different.
00:05:30.49\00:05:35.66
I noticed the kids there
were a lot more different.
00:05:35.70\00:05:39.07
They weren't so
mean or so irritating.
00:05:39.10\00:05:42.94
The teachers too,
they were really different.
00:05:42.97\00:05:45.41
They didn't seem so mean
00:05:45.44\00:05:46.81
or they just seem calm and nice.
00:05:46.84\00:05:50.98
They really helped
you with all your stuff,
00:05:51.01\00:05:52.61
your education.
00:05:52.65\00:05:55.58
I believe that this school
provided more than just 100%.
00:05:55.62\00:06:00.26
And I like that
and it's awesome.
00:06:00.29\00:06:03.12
Holbrook Indian School
continues to give students
00:06:05.99\00:06:08.36
the chance to
create a better future
00:06:08.40\00:06:10.87
and find hope in Jesus.
00:06:10.90\00:06:12.90
Please pray for
this school and others
00:06:12.93\00:06:15.07
across the North
American Division.
00:06:15.10\00:06:17.07
And thank you for
supporting mission.
00:06:17.11\00:06:20.01
My guest is
Pastor Roger Robertsen,
00:06:20.04\00:06:22.14
who's the president of
the Seventh-day Adventists
00:06:22.18\00:06:24.45
here in Israel.
00:06:24.48\00:06:25.85
Roger, thanks for joining us.
00:06:25.88\00:06:27.68
Now, can you describe
00:06:27.72\00:06:29.15
where the church
headquarters is located?
00:06:29.18\00:06:32.52
Church headquarters is
located in Jerusalem, of course.
00:06:32.55\00:06:35.79
And it's actually right
in the center of everything.
00:06:35.82\00:06:39.43
Because it was
bought in the 1930s
00:06:39.46\00:06:42.26
before the city
expanded too much.
00:06:42.30\00:06:44.93
So right now it
has a prime location,
00:06:44.97\00:06:48.07
perfect.
00:06:48.10\00:06:49.44
So you're just a few minutes'
00:06:49.47\00:06:51.27
walk from the Old
City of Jerusalem?
00:06:51.31\00:06:53.27
That's right.
00:06:53.31\00:06:54.64
Between 5 and 10
minutes according to your speed
00:06:54.68\00:06:57.28
and so on, it's
located right across the road
00:06:57.31\00:07:00.02
from YMCA Incar
00:07:00.05\00:07:02.45
which they call it so
it's a famous location.
00:07:02.48\00:07:05.49
And all the American
presidents who come to visit,
00:07:05.52\00:07:09.22
they stay at King
David, you know...
00:07:09.26\00:07:11.39
Just around the corner.
00:07:11.43\00:07:12.76
Just around the corner.
00:07:12.79\00:07:14.13
Yeah.
00:07:14.16\00:07:15.50
So can you describe for us
00:07:15.53\00:07:17.10
the Adventist
Church here in Israel?
00:07:17.13\00:07:20.14
Adventist Church in Israel
has grown since the 1990s.
00:07:20.17\00:07:25.87
Before that, we
only had some handful
00:07:25.91\00:07:28.58
so of members, 76
members before 1990.
00:07:28.61\00:07:32.75
But due to the
fall of communism,
00:07:32.78\00:07:35.42
people were able to leave
00:07:35.45\00:07:36.79
the former
Soviet Union republics,
00:07:36.82\00:07:39.42
and many of them came to Israel.
00:07:39.45\00:07:43.39
So we had a peak in
2003, some 1,140 members,
00:07:43.43\00:07:49.73
but then they
were able to go back
00:07:49.76\00:07:52.10
to Europe and many left.
00:07:52.13\00:07:53.70
So we were down to 700.
00:07:53.74\00:07:55.57
But now, again, it's growing.
00:07:55.60\00:07:57.54
And now it's
growing in a different way.
00:07:57.57\00:07:59.44
It's growing nationally
here in Israel itself.
00:07:59.47\00:08:03.98
Now, when we
look at the churches,
00:08:04.01\00:08:06.72
are they only in one area?
00:08:06.75\00:08:08.08
Are they distributed widely?
00:08:08.12\00:08:10.09
Yeah, the biblical
expression, of course,
00:08:10.12\00:08:12.02
is from Dan to Beersheba.
00:08:12.05\00:08:13.66
And we are bigger than that,
00:08:13.69\00:08:16.19
because we go all
the way down to Eilat.
00:08:16.22\00:08:18.09
Okay.
00:08:18.13\00:08:19.46
So we're scattered all around,
00:08:19.49\00:08:21.03
but I guess most of
the members are located
00:08:21.06\00:08:24.07
in the Tel Aviv area.
00:08:24.10\00:08:25.53
Right.
00:08:25.57\00:08:26.90
Now, you have
recently established
00:08:26.94\00:08:29.30
what you're calling
Life and Hope Centers,
00:08:29.34\00:08:31.44
what are these and
what are their purpose?
00:08:31.47\00:08:33.31
So the Adventists
around the world are known
00:08:35.08\00:08:37.78
for helping out in
communities and helping
00:08:37.81\00:08:41.42
with education
and different things,
00:08:41.45\00:08:43.52
health programs, and so on.
00:08:43.55\00:08:45.32
And this is really what
we're trying to do here.
00:08:45.35\00:08:48.12
Israel, of course, is a
difficult place to work,
00:08:48.16\00:08:51.09
because there's some animosity
00:08:51.13\00:08:53.73
and some hatred
among people groups.
00:08:53.76\00:08:57.00
And if we can help young people,
00:08:57.03\00:08:59.87
give them a better education,
00:08:59.90\00:09:01.67
they'll have a better life
00:09:01.70\00:09:03.07
and many of them
will stay out of trouble,
00:09:03.10\00:09:05.77
terrorism and stuff like that.
00:09:05.81\00:09:07.78
So we're trying to
help them pick up languages
00:09:07.81\00:09:10.91
and get a good job.
00:09:10.95\00:09:13.15
And, of course,
00:09:13.18\00:09:15.02
we're also trying to
help people get a better
00:09:15.05\00:09:18.15
and richer life health wise.
00:09:18.19\00:09:21.29
So we have health programs
00:09:21.32\00:09:23.02
and we have
educational programs,
00:09:23.06\00:09:25.69
mainly language programs.
00:09:25.73\00:09:28.20
Now, we visited one
of the centers in Haifa
00:09:28.23\00:09:31.87
up in the north.
00:09:31.90\00:09:33.23
And can you describe
the location of that center?
00:09:33.27\00:09:36.91
Well, I usually say
that if I were to look
00:09:36.94\00:09:39.94
at the map of Haifa
00:09:39.97\00:09:41.44
and put my finger
at a specific spot
00:09:41.48\00:09:44.15
where I'd like us
to get the center,
00:09:44.18\00:09:46.72
it would be
right where it is now.
00:09:46.75\00:09:48.72
It's at the foot of
the Carmel mountain range.
00:09:48.75\00:09:53.39
You have the high
temple garden coming down
00:09:53.42\00:09:57.26
and exactly there at the bottom,
00:09:57.29\00:10:00.80
that's where we have
our center right now.
00:10:00.83\00:10:03.57
It's a perfect prime location.
00:10:03.60\00:10:05.23
Wonderful.
00:10:05.27\00:10:06.60
And then the center in Nazareth?
00:10:06.63\00:10:08.40
The center in Nazareth.
00:10:08.44\00:10:09.77
We actually have two
centers now which we opened,
00:10:09.80\00:10:12.57
dedicated yesterday.
00:10:12.61\00:10:14.54
And the one that's downtown.
00:10:14.58\00:10:16.88
That's also right in
the middle of everything.
00:10:16.91\00:10:19.41
There's one place
all tourists go to.
00:10:19.45\00:10:22.48
And that's the
Church of Annunciation.
00:10:22.52\00:10:25.05
When you come down
the road turn right,
00:10:25.09\00:10:27.36
then you have our center there,
00:10:27.39\00:10:28.92
it's right in the
middle of everything.
00:10:28.96\00:10:30.59
Wonderful.
00:10:30.63\00:10:31.96
Now, Roger, your
interest in Israel
00:10:31.99\00:10:34.33
goes back a long way.
00:10:34.36\00:10:35.73
Can you tell us a
little bit about that?
00:10:35.76\00:10:39.03
Yeah, as a Christian,
00:10:39.07\00:10:40.40
I've always been
interested in Israel.
00:10:40.44\00:10:42.54
It's the land of the Bible.
00:10:42.57\00:10:44.31
But in 1976, I was able to
join an archeological excavation
00:10:44.34\00:10:48.58
in Israel in Caesarea actually.
00:10:48.61\00:10:51.01
And since then,
I've been back, I guess,
00:10:51.05\00:10:54.32
about every second year,
00:10:54.35\00:10:55.85
doing archaeology
on the study tours.
00:10:55.88\00:10:58.12
And it's changed and
shaped my life actually.
00:10:58.15\00:11:03.46
Now, when I was younger,
00:11:03.49\00:11:06.96
I used to attend
00:11:07.00\00:11:08.33
what we called
missions in Australia,
00:11:08.36\00:11:09.90
where the public
evangelists would start
00:11:09.93\00:11:12.13
with an archeological
series of meetings,
00:11:12.17\00:11:14.94
and then they move to the Bible.
00:11:14.97\00:11:16.40
It's kind of
like a natural move.
00:11:16.44\00:11:18.51
Does
archaeology prove the Bible?
00:11:18.54\00:11:21.84
Archaeology helps
illuminate the Bible very often.
00:11:21.88\00:11:26.51
And, you know,
I'm not one of those
00:11:26.55\00:11:30.02
who is trying to prove the Bible
00:11:30.05\00:11:31.82
out of archaeology,
because we are saved by faith.
00:11:31.85\00:11:35.29
And you don't need archaeology
in order to believe the Bible.
00:11:35.32\00:11:38.86
But oftentimes,
you get much closer
00:11:38.89\00:11:42.33
to biblical personalities,
and to the history
00:11:42.36\00:11:46.10
and to the
geography of the Bible.
00:11:46.13\00:11:48.37
So it's a great help in
understanding the Bible,
00:11:48.40\00:11:51.51
and the times in which
people live with and so on.
00:11:51.54\00:11:54.78
Can you give an example
of how archaeology has helped
00:11:54.81\00:11:57.88
for you to illuminate the Bible
or help you better understand
00:11:57.91\00:12:01.98
some passage of Scripture?
00:12:02.02\00:12:03.42
Yeah, just
visiting city of David,
00:12:04.95\00:12:07.99
where I've also been excavating,
00:12:08.02\00:12:10.06
you know, you stand
up there, you look down,
00:12:10.09\00:12:12.16
you have the
Kidron Valley, you see it,
00:12:12.19\00:12:14.56
and you have the whole
discussion of King David
00:12:14.60\00:12:16.83
and Solomon, did they ever exist
00:12:16.87\00:12:19.17
or were they just
local chieftains and so on.
00:12:19.20\00:12:22.60
As you stand there,
and you start looking
00:12:22.64\00:12:25.47
at what we have in
the city of David, now,
00:12:25.51\00:12:28.08
what's been
excavated, it's amazing.
00:12:28.11\00:12:31.55
Walking down, you can
find this huge building,
00:12:31.58\00:12:37.12
the foundation of it,
00:12:37.15\00:12:39.25
where people said
there was nothing,
00:12:39.29\00:12:40.92
archaeologists
said there was nothing.
00:12:40.96\00:12:43.32
A famous British archaeologist
Dame Kathleen Kenyon,
00:12:43.36\00:12:46.93
she was actually knighted
00:12:46.96\00:12:48.80
for her work in
Israel archaeology.
00:12:48.83\00:12:51.47
And she was a
great archaeologist.
00:12:51.50\00:12:54.50
They said there was nothing,
00:12:54.54\00:12:56.37
palace should be
up on top on the city,
00:12:56.40\00:12:59.94
nothing has been
found until Eilat Mazar,
00:12:59.97\00:13:03.24
Israeli archaeologist said
they have not gone deep enough.
00:13:03.28\00:13:07.88
I want to go down to bedrock.
00:13:07.92\00:13:09.78
And that's what she did.
00:13:09.82\00:13:11.35
Early 2000s for three
years, she excavated there,
00:13:11.39\00:13:15.62
and what did they find?
00:13:15.66\00:13:17.76
Huge palatial structure.
00:13:17.79\00:13:20.20
So things sort of fall in
place if you're patient enough.
00:13:20.23\00:13:24.93
Wonderful.
00:13:24.97\00:13:26.33
Pastor
Robertsen, thank you so much
00:13:26.37\00:13:27.74
for sharing with us today.
00:13:27.77\00:13:29.10
Appreciate it very much.
00:13:29.14\00:13:30.47
Thank you for
coming. Welcome back.
00:13:30.51\00:13:31.84
Thank you.
00:13:31.87\00:13:33.21
And viewers at home,
please pray for the work
00:13:33.24\00:13:34.94
here in Israel, the
people here in Israel,
00:13:34.98\00:13:37.11
and we'll be right
back after this break.
00:13:37.15\00:13:39.28