Participants:
Series Code: MTS
Program Code: MTS002204B
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00:15 Welcome back to San Diego and more specifically
00:18 to Constitution Square in the downtown city. 00:22 Next up, I'd like to share 00:23 an interview I did not so long ago 00:25 with a very interesting man in Spain. 00:28 Javier Tello has a tremendous story 00:31 and let's watch that now. 00:33 My guest is Pastor Javier, 00:35 who is the coordinator for global mission 00:37 and church planting here in Spain. 00:39 Pastor Javier, thanks for joining us. 00:41 Now you have an amazing story of how you became a Christian. 00:46 Please tell us about that? 00:49 Well, I heard the gospel many years ago. 00:52 I was in the military. 00:59 I was a sergeant in the army, a helicopter pilot. 01:09 I worked in the group called El Cupido. 01:14 We had a lot of helicopters and we did reconnaissance, 01:18 attack missions and transport. 01:25 I dreamed to become an army commander. 01:28 But what happened was that a soldier 01:30 came into my barracks. 01:32 And he told me this strange thing. 01:34 He had to keep the Sabbath... 01:39 because he was a Seventh-day Adventist. 01:42 I immediately refused to allow him. 01:49 He was under my command, 01:51 and there was no one higher than myself and my captain. 01:54 I told the soldier, 01:56 he needed special permission for something like this. 02:01 So he showed me a lot of papers, 02:03 saying that God had communicated to the church 02:06 through His Word, 02:07 through the Word of God, the Bible. 02:10 And he had to obey and keep the Sabbath. 02:16 This made me feel very angry. 02:18 I went to my captain to share this problem of a soldier 02:22 who wanted to rest on Saturday. 02:24 In my heart, I made evil plans against this man. 02:28 I was really angry. 02:35 My captain took the problem into his hands. 02:38 He went to the courtroom to investigate 02:40 the implications of this request. 02:49 At that time, the Constitution was already in place in Spain. 02:54 It was around the year in 1981. 02:56 By this time, we already had the Constitution 02:59 and according to the Constitution, 03:01 the soldier had the right to rest on the Sabbath day. 03:07 My soldier had the right to rest on the Sabbath day. 03:11 Oh, this infuriated me even more. 03:14 Then I began to persecute the soldier in a terrible way. 03:17 I often instructed him for long hours. 03:20 For any silly reason he would be arrested. 03:23 He was always put in a difficult situation. 03:26 I was markedly against this man. 03:29 There came a time 03:31 when the soldier was so troubled 03:33 and so committed to the Lord 03:35 that he did phenomenal things 03:37 that triggered a change in me. 03:40 So I spoke with a soldier and said, 03:43 "Soldier Martinez, tell me, why are you this way? 03:48 Why are you so obedient to whatever I tell you?" 03:52 The men replied, 03:54 "The Lord gives me the strength, 03:56 the strength and the spirit to serve my country here." 03:59 His response was strange to me. 04:02 Then he picked up the Bible. 04:04 He opened it and told me about Jesus. 04:07 When I faced this exemplary man 04:10 and experienced such a true character, 04:14 all my barriers were knocked down. 04:15 Napoleon was one of my role models 04:18 as a strategist. 04:19 Also Julius Caesar, Romu, Alexander the Great, 04:24 but I had never thought of a fined figure 04:27 such as that of Jesus. 04:30 The soldier introduced me to Jesus 04:32 by being in a living example. 04:34 His conduct convinced me. 04:37 When we studied the Bible, 04:39 he demonstrated to me 04:41 that Jesus is the Savior of the world. 04:45 I then left the army. 04:47 Well, rather than leaving it, I changed my army. 04:51 I no longer was a soldier in the Spanish Army. 04:55 Then I became a soldier in Jehovah's army. 04:59 I left all behind because now I was convinced 05:02 that I had to follow Jesus. 05:05 So, I worked no longer in the army. 05:08 I started to study theology. 05:11 And I invited soldier Martinez to come to my baptism. 05:15 It was a special time 05:16 when my wife, my daughter, and I 05:18 were going to be baptized. 05:20 The soldier couldn't believe it himself. 05:23 He said, "It's impossible that 05:25 this sergeant has been transformed." 05:28 My soldier and friend attended my baptism. 05:31 I feel that the Lord said to me, 05:33 "Now, you are My soldier." 05:36 Later, when I studied theology, 05:38 the Adventist Church hired me as a pastor. 05:40 Today, I am here serving, thank God 05:43 that He used that soldier as His instrument. 05:46 Soldier Oscar Martinez is the man 05:48 who brought the gospel to me. 05:50 Now, I happily share this message 05:53 with everyone I meet, yes, to all around the world. 05:56 So from atheist to Seventh-day Adventist pastor, 06:00 where, what is the motivation? 06:02 Why do you have such a passion for planting churches 06:05 and being involved in mission? 06:09 My motivation to plant churches 06:11 has come from those very moments. 06:14 I see that there are many people in darkness 06:17 without any light. 06:19 So I prayed to the Lord, 06:21 that I may be a light as that soldier 06:24 who came to my barracks and enlightened me, 06:28 and taught me God's way 06:30 that our Lord will use me to do the same thing to others. 06:34 Since those days, 06:35 my dream is to plant new churches 06:38 in places where there has never been 06:40 an Adventist presence, 06:42 places where this light has never shined. 06:45 This is my job. 06:47 I labor constantly to reach this goal. 06:50 My prayer is for God's Holy Spirit 06:52 to be able to accomplish this mission. 06:56 I want to do what the Lord has commanded me 06:59 and indeed He gives me what I asked. 07:02 Because now I have in my hands the power to do, 07:05 to carry out His mission of bringing the gospel 07:08 to every nation, tribe, and tongue. 07:10 It is a very great satisfaction for me 07:13 to have Jesus in my heart 07:15 and share Him with others. 07:18 Thanks, Pastor Javier, for that great testimony. 07:21 When he was working in the military, 07:23 I'm sure he had no idea 07:25 that he would ever end up 07:26 being the Adventist Mission director in Spain. 07:29 Well next up, let's travel to Ethiopia 07:32 and meet a Global Mission pioneer. 07:45 Berhanu has been preaching in Ethiopia since he was a boy. 07:49 After University, he received the opportunity 07:52 to serve as a Global Mission pioneer, 07:54 and he jumped at the chance. 07:56 When Berhanu arrived as a pioneer to this town, 07:59 there were no Adventists. 08:01 He began mingling in the community 08:03 and as he got to know the people, 08:04 he invited them for a Bible study. 08:06 Now an Adventist group meets often 08:09 in a small rented building. 08:21 One of Berhanu's favorite things to do 08:23 is sing and play his guitar. 08:25 And today he sings one of his favorite songs. 08:28 The words translate to, we must wake up. 08:30 Jesus is coming. 08:38 After the song, Berhanu shares a message from his heart. 08:41 Most of the people who attend 08:43 work on government farms in the area, 08:45 and many are far from home and family. 08:48 It is easy to feel lonely and isolated here. 08:51 So Berhanu has focused on gathering the people 08:54 and building a sense of community and friendship. 08:57 After a long workweek, 08:59 the people enjoy hearing his messages. 09:02 Solomon is one of these individuals. 09:05 He moved to this town to work on a farm, 09:07 but he found it to be very lonely. 09:10 One day he ran into Berhanu on the street. 09:12 As the two of them talked, 09:13 they realized they were from the same village. 09:16 They instantly became friends, 09:18 and Solomon joined the small group meetings. 09:21 As Solomon continued attending, 09:23 this new congregation became like his extended family, 09:26 and Berhanu's words constantly tugged at Solomon's heart. 09:30 God's love and the group's family atmosphere 09:33 filled a hole that was missing in his life in this new town. 09:37 He decided to give his life to God, 09:39 and he's become a permanent member of this congregation. 09:42 Berhanu regularly meets with this group, 09:45 and also walks two hours to meet with another group. 09:48 His work can be tireless and challenging, 09:50 but he finds hope and strength in Jesus. 09:54 Berhanu is just one of hundreds of Global Mission pioneers 09:57 around the world. 09:59 Please pray for them 10:00 as they lead people to know Christ. 10:02 Pray that these pioneers can overcome the challenges 10:05 they face in their territories. 10:07 Thank you for your support in sending pioneers 10:10 into the field. 10:32 Well, I'm so glad that you were able to join me 10:34 today on Mission 360. 10:36 And I hope that you've enjoyed our 360 degree view of mission 10:40 around the world from Ethiopia to Spain, 10:43 from Moldova to Chile. 10:45 You know, increasingly our mission 10:46 is becoming an urban one. 10:48 Researchers tell us that by the year 2050, 10:52 two out of three people on planet earth 10:54 will be living in cities. 10:56 What a tremendous challenge. 10:58 Thank you so much for your support of mission. 11:00 Thank you for your prayers, 11:02 for your financial gifts 11:04 and for your personal involvement. 11:06 It does make a difference. 11:07 As a small thank you 11:09 for your participation in mission, 11:10 I'd like to send you an Adventist Mission pen. 11:13 This Adventist Mission pen 11:15 will remind you of mission every time you write something. 11:18 Well for Adventist Mission, I'm Gary Krause, 11:21 and I hope that you can join me next time 11:23 right here on Mission 360. 11:25 One, two, three, four. 11:28 Walk into the glory Of my Father 11:33 Giving power and courage For each day 11:38 Living by is worth For every moment 11:43 Shining from the source Of light above 11:47 So we'll shine, shine Shine, shine 11:50 We get courage from my Lord 11:52 So the friends Who come around you 11:55 Will receive the maker's light 11:57 So shine, shine Shine, shine 12:00 It is the maker's will 12:02 That as we sees thou 12:03 We shine wherever you go 12:06 Let's get the courage 12:12 Being light to everyone You sure know 12:17 Got a blessing So go Lord Jesus 12:22 Lord, I led to new friends Makes him choose 12:27 Hold on to the light That comes to you 12:31 So we'll shine, shine Shine, shine 12:34 We get courage from my Lord 12:36 So the friends Who come around you 12:39 Will receive the maker's light 12:41 So shine, shine Shine, shine 12:44 It is the maker's will 12:47 That as we sees thou We shine wherever you go 12:51 Let's get the courage 12:56 So shine, shine Shine, shine 12:59 We get courage from my Lord 13:02 So the friends Who come around you 13:04 Will receive the maker's light 13:06 So shine, shine Shine, shine 13:09 It is the maker's will 13:12 That as we sees thou We shine wherever you go 13:16 Let's get the courage 13:21 So shine, shine Shine, shine 13:24 We get courage from my Lord 13:27 So the friends Who come around you 13:29 Will receive the maker's light 13:33 So shine, shine Shine, shine 13:35 We get courage from my Lord 13:38 So the friends Who come around you 13:40 Will receive the maker's light 13:42 So shine, shine Shine, shine 13:45 It is the maker's will 13:47 That as we sees thou 13:49 We shine wherever you go 13:52 Let's get the courage 14:18 Amen. |
Revised 2020-07-23