Participants:
Series Code: MTS
Program Code: MTS002204A
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00:09 A Moldovan bar becomes an urban center of influence,
00:13 a high ranking military official 00:15 is baptized in Spain, 00:17 and a Global Mission pioneer ministers in Ethiopia, 00:20 coming up next. 00:46 Hello and welcome to Mission 360. 00:48 I'm Gary Krause. 00:49 Today's program is coming from Santiago, Chile. 00:53 And this is a bustling city and this is a winter's day 00:57 but plenty of sunshine 00:58 and here in the Plaza de Armas, 01:00 we see hundreds of people 01:02 coming together and the city chess club meets 01:05 here on the corner of the plaza, 01:07 and these public spaces 01:09 are very common in colonial cities 01:11 in South America. 01:13 On today's program, we'll be looking at mission 01:15 right here in Santiago, 01:16 but we'll also be travelling around the globe. 01:19 But first up, 01:20 let's visit a center of influence in Moldova 01:23 that formerly was a bar. 01:28 This building used to be a noisy bar. 01:31 But then the Adventist Church 01:32 had kingdom focused plans for it. 01:35 The bar has since been transformed 01:37 into an urban center of influence 01:39 or UCI in the heart 01:40 of Moldova's capital city Chisinau. 01:43 Your generous giving 01:44 to Global Mission helps support this UCI, 01:47 which offers life changing opportunities 01:49 to the community. 01:50 The bar has been disruptive to the neighborhood atmosphere, 01:53 but today the community members 01:54 appreciate the holistic programs 01:56 and medical services available here 01:58 and get involved regularly. 02:00 At the front of the building, 02:02 you'll find volunteers distributing 02:03 and selling books on health and spirituality. 02:06 They greet passersby, 02:08 and welcome them to join a variety of classes 02:10 and events throughout the week. 02:12 Most of the volunteers 02:14 are from different religious backgrounds, 02:16 but they fully believe 02:17 in the work the local Adventists 02:18 are doing in this neighborhood. 02:21 Some days they even walk 02:22 around to the nearby apartment buildings, 02:24 inviting the residents to join the week's programs. 02:28 Today, Global Mission pioneer Svetlana 02:31 is conducting an exercise class outside. 02:34 People are constantly coming 02:35 by to enjoy the center's many different activities, 02:38 such as natural cosmetics on Sundays, 02:41 and singing groups on Thursdays. 02:45 After stretching and exercising, 02:47 visitors make their way inside 02:49 to join another group learning about healthy eating. 02:52 They taste different foods 02:53 and talk about the benefits of a balanced diet. 02:57 As they learn, they also have a chance 02:59 to befriend others who live in the area. 03:05 During the day, this building also operates 03:08 as a doctor's office and a dental clinic. 03:11 Vyacheslav is the medical doctor 03:13 serving this office. 03:15 When he was younger, he was addicted to drugs, 03:17 and nobody believed he had any potential. 03:20 But one day he met an Adventist who wanted to be his friend. 03:24 This new friend made Vyacheslav feel cared for 03:27 and encouraged him to read the Bible. 03:29 Taking his friends advice, 03:31 Vyacheslav sat in the corner 03:32 of a bar night after night and read the Bible. 03:36 He enjoyed the stories 03:38 and over time he realized, 03:40 he didn't want that lifestyle anymore. 03:43 Vyacheslav accepted Jesus in his heart 03:46 and began to attend medical school. 03:48 Despite many challenges, 03:50 he passed at the top of his class 03:52 and now works 03:53 in the Global Mission Urban Center 03:55 of Influence during the week. 03:56 On Sabbath, he is also the church pastor. 04:00 Vyacheslav frequently invites his patients 04:02 to take part in the center's activities, 04:04 including the regular Bible studies, 04:06 and many of them do. 04:08 Some visitors who come for the center's other programs 04:11 also want to come back to learn about the Bible. 04:15 Because of Svetlana's and Vyacheslav's efforts, 04:18 the dedication of the center's staff, 04:20 and volunteers, and your support, 04:23 the church's congregation has grown. 04:26 Church members in Moldova 04:27 thank you for supporting Global Mission. 04:29 Please continue to pray for 04:31 and give to Global Mission projects like these. 04:37 I'm in a center of influence in Santiago, Chile. 04:41 And my guest is Dr. Francisco 04:44 who lives in this neighborhood 04:46 and actually made connection 04:48 to the Adventist Church 04:50 through this center of influence. 04:51 Dr. Francisco, thank you very much 04:53 for talking with me. 04:54 Thank you. 04:55 Describe what you do 04:57 and how long you have lived here? 05:30 So when you came to this centre 05:32 describe what happened? 06:05 So, Doctor, you are a philosopher, 06:07 did you ask this young man some difficult questions? 06:10 Yeah, yeah. 07:41 So, Dr. Francisco, you and your wife 07:44 started coming to some classes here. 07:47 How did it affect your life coming to the center? 08:33 Now what about your wife and your family? 08:37 How have they been involved? 09:36 You were baptized a few months ago. 09:40 Describe how it felt to be baptized? 10:37 Wonderful. Gracias, Doctor. 10:39 Thank you for sharing with us today. 10:41 Thank you very much. Thank you. 10:42 And please pray for centers of influence here in Chile, 10:47 throughout South America, and around the globe. 10:49 In large cities of the world they are touching lives 10:52 following Christ' method of ministry, 10:55 reaching people from all different backgrounds, 10:58 all different walks of life. 10:59 We'll be back with more Adventist Mission 11:01 right after this break. |
Revised 2020-07-23