Participants:
Series Code: MTS
Program Code: MTS002501A
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00:06 A hospital funded by your 13th Sabbath Offerings,
00:09 a unique center of influence in Bangkok, Thailand, 00:12 and a pioneer in Kenya. 00:14 All this and much more coming up next. 00:54 Hello and welcome to Mission 360. 00:57 Today's program is coming to you 00:58 from the campus of Andrews University, 01:01 here in Berrien Springs, Michigan, United States. 01:04 This is a historic campus. 01:07 In fact, its fore bearer, 01:09 The Battle Creek College began in 1874 01:13 and moved to this campus here in Berrien Springs in 1901 01:18 and became known as Emmanuel Missionary College. 01:21 And this is actually the oldest Adventist college 01:24 in the world. 01:25 And it's been a landmark of Adventist education, 01:28 which of course is now the second largest 01:31 Christian educational system in the world. 01:34 In late 1950s, there were plans made 01:37 for the Adventist Theological Seminary 01:39 to join with the Emmanuel Missionary College, 01:41 and that happened in 1960 when it moved to this campus 01:45 and it became known as Andrews University. 01:47 It's a long history, it's a rich history, 01:49 but it's made what this place is today, 01:52 a center for training people for mission and for service. 01:57 We'll be looking more 01:58 at what's happening here at Andrews 02:00 and mission around the world today. 02:02 But first up, let's travel to Tanzania 02:04 to meet a woman who has been touched 02:07 through the ministry of a hospital 02:09 that was supported by your 13th Sabbath Offerings. 02:16 Adventists in Mwanza, Tanzania sold cows, goats, 02:20 and other possessions to build a new medical facility 02:23 to replace the small overcrowded Adventist clinic. 02:27 Oh, we have a lack of space for admission of patient. 02:32 That's why we try to build this facility here. 02:36 Knowing this was a big dream, in 2013, 02:39 they asked for your help through prayers and donations 02:42 to the 13th Sabbath Offering. 02:44 We appealed them to support us in offering, in prayers, 02:50 in order to complete this project. 02:53 I think when we are dealing with patients, 02:55 people may see Jesus through these projects, 02:57 through these services that we are doing. 03:06 Your generous giving to the mission offering 03:08 helped build a beautiful medical facility 03:10 that is spreading a message of hope 03:12 to the people of Mwanza. 03:14 The medical staff's dream is now reality 03:17 as they admit patients into the facility. 03:20 So many people began coming here 03:22 that they not only use the new hospital building, 03:24 they even had to expand the existing clinic. 03:27 People come to this clinic because it's known as a place 03:30 with caring doctors and nurses 03:32 and the staff take pride 03:33 in their approach to medical care. 03:35 The compassion that is in this hospital, 03:38 the way we handle patient is different. 03:41 We don't handle them like customers 03:43 or people who bring to us money. 03:46 We handle them with care, their safety, 03:49 and their well-being is our priority. 03:53 Each morning, hospital staff meet in an unfinished space 03:57 for devotional time. 03:58 This hospital is different 04:00 because first we start with prayers in the morning. 04:03 And personally, if I miss them in the morning, 04:07 my day's usually not the same 04:10 compared to when I wake up early 04:12 and I come early 04:14 to the morning devotion every day. 04:16 So when we start with prayers, 04:18 it's like Holy Spirit is with us 04:20 when we see patients. 04:23 Angela had a tumor growing in her stomach 04:25 that caused her pain for two years. 04:28 All she could do was lie in bed. 04:30 She didn't know where to go for help, 04:32 until someone told her about the Adventist Hospital. 04:37 Before I came here, I was hopeless. 04:40 I thought I was going to die. 04:41 But when I came to this hospital, 04:43 I felt well again completely. 04:47 Hospital staff prayed for Angela. 04:50 And after intense surgery, 04:51 doctors successfully removed the tumor. 04:54 I felt hope after the doctors came in. 04:57 They didn't sleep day or night for me. 05:01 Although she still needs to take it easy, 05:04 Angela is now able to perform household tasks 05:07 that she wasn't able to do for the last two years. 05:10 She and many other patients excitedly tell others 05:13 about their experience in the hospital. 05:17 This hospital has been overloaded 05:20 with God's power. 05:23 I can testify to this because of the services 05:26 I received in my experience here. 05:32 I know the services are excellent 05:34 and I really appreciate what I received. 05:39 And I'm praying for this hospital now. 05:44 The hospital always follows up with its patients 05:46 through a compassion unit. 05:53 This dedicated team makes calls 05:56 and visits former patients to stay connected 05:59 and pray for them. 06:02 I'm proud of this ministry because I see patients change. 06:08 Even last Sabbath, 06:09 I saw a former patient get baptized. 06:14 Their heart was transformed. 06:16 They believed in God, and they're doing very well. 06:21 It's so interesting to see how people change 06:24 from their discouragement 06:25 to a close relationship with God. 06:31 They're growing physically and spiritually here, 06:34 enough that people are being baptized. 06:40 Your contributions 06:41 to the 13th Sabbath Offering in 2013 06:44 have made an impact 06:45 in the lives of many people in Mwanza. 06:48 Patients and staff are grateful for this building 06:50 and how God has used it in powerful ways. 06:53 I thank everyone for what they have contributed 06:57 and I want to assure them that the money they offered 07:02 is really being put in place 07:04 because you see people who really come back to us 07:07 and they say it is good in this place 07:11 who have helped us 07:12 when we come here and get healed. 07:15 And that is not because we have good doctors, 07:17 it's because we have good working in this place. 07:21 Please pray for the work being done in Tanzania 07:23 and for this medical ministry. 07:26 Thank you for helping people like Angela 07:28 and for your continued support of the 13th Sabbath Offering. 07:35 We're on the campus of Andrews University 07:37 and my guest is Michelet William. 07:39 And thank you so much for joining us today. 07:42 And you are a graduate student here. 07:44 And you partly illustrate the fact 07:47 that Andrews University has students 07:49 from all over the world. 07:50 Where do you come from? 07:51 I come from Haiti. 07:53 Okay. And what were you doing there? 07:55 I was working for ADRA. I worked six years for them. 07:58 And then I joined World vision. 08:01 I worked for two years for World Vision 08:02 and then I worked for Plan International, 08:05 in Haiti first 08:06 and then I went to Mali, West Africa. 08:09 And from there, I applied to Andrews 08:11 to do my MD, Master in Divinity. 08:14 And since I've been here on campus, 08:17 now I'm pursuing my PhD in Mission. 08:21 Now why would somebody 08:23 who is involved in international aid work 08:27 decide to come and study theology? 08:31 From the Bible, we can see a connection 08:33 between theology and social work. 08:38 Christ was doing both. 08:40 He came to save people. 08:42 But what He did first, He mingled with them, 08:45 and He showed them compassion. 08:47 He ministered to their needs, 08:49 and then according to what Ellen White says, 08:52 He bid them, follow Me. 08:54 So you see, you need to... 08:56 You know, the soul, 08:58 the salvation of the soul is priority. 09:00 But to reach people, you need first to show them, 09:03 you know, love, sympathy, 09:05 compassion, and meet their needs. 09:06 So this is why 09:07 I've been doing social work for many years. 09:09 And God impressed me 09:11 that I need knowledge in theology. 09:13 And now I'm in a better position 09:15 to combine the two. 09:17 Wonderful. 09:18 So I guess what you're doing now 09:19 is really you're studying Missiology. 09:21 Exactly. 09:22 Yeah, combining the theory and the practice together. 09:26 So when you felt called by God to do some further studying 09:30 and you came here, 09:31 have your expectations been realized? 09:35 Have you found this 09:36 a helpful thing here at Andrews? 09:38 Here at Andrews, it's a great environment. 09:41 And I think it's up to you 09:44 to profit from all the good things 09:47 that are happening here. 09:49 You have, you know, great people 09:51 with a lot of experience 09:52 and you have a lot of resources, 09:54 materials that you can use. 09:56 If you are not really committed, 09:58 you can also go and do things that are not good. 10:03 Some people, you know, 10:04 have had some bad experience here, 10:06 but for me, it has been very positive. 10:08 I've grown spiritually, emotionally in my walk with God 10:13 and especially 10:14 in my relationship with other people. 10:16 And while here, 10:17 I was able to continue what I've been doing before. 10:21 We've... 10:22 Students, 10:24 we have created a fund. 10:28 We collected money to help people or children 10:31 in Mali and also in Haiti. 10:34 So last year, for example, 10:35 we were able to provide scholarships for 20 children, 10:39 helping them to go to school, 10:41 and through that ministry, 10:42 their parents were able to attend church services 10:46 and some of them got baptized. 10:49 So I praise God for bringing me here 10:53 because while here, 10:54 I think that I'm in a better position 10:56 to make a difference in the world. 10:58 Wonderful. 10:59 So what is the name of this organization 11:01 that you've started? 11:02 Team in Action to Save Kids. 11:05 Team in Action to Save Kids. I love that. 11:08 So you've recruited other students here 11:10 with a goal to help promote this? 11:12 Exactly. 11:14 And last year, we went on a mission trip to Haiti, 11:17 in a community where there is no electricity 11:21 and those kids rely on kerosene lamps 11:25 to study by night and this affected their eyes 11:29 and sometimes there are accidents, 11:33 some houses get burned 11:35 when, you know, the lamps are fell on the floor 11:39 while people are sleeping. 11:41 So in order to prevent those things, 11:43 we collected money to purchase a very effective, 11:48 efficient solar lamp 11:50 that can be powered by solar energy. 11:53 And we went there and we distributed those lamps 11:55 to those kids. 11:56 It was such a blessing for the community. 11:59 And the church, the Adventist church 12:00 in the community was dying. 12:02 Very, very few people come to church. 12:04 We did the distribution of the lamps on a Friday. 12:07 And we invited people to church on Saturday. 12:10 The following day, that Saturday, 12:12 the church was crowded, people flocked to the church, 12:15 and I was preaching. 12:17 And I can see the connection 12:19 between the social action that we did, 12:21 the day before 12:22 and the invitation to come to church, 12:24 people are more willing to follow Christ, 12:27 to follow the gospel 12:28 when they see that you care for their needs. 12:32 Of course, we've known this for many years 12:33 with Christ method of ministry, haven't we, 12:35 so that we have to mingle, show sympathy, 12:37 minister the needs, win confidence, 12:39 but often we skip all those steps, 12:41 and we'd like to come in 12:43 at the last step of bidding, right? 12:44 Yes. That's been our speciality. 12:47 So in your dissertation, 12:49 are you looking at issues like this? 12:50 Tell me what you're doing. 12:52 Yeah, my dissertation will be on social justice 12:56 from missiological perspective. 12:59 It is how to combine, 13:01 you know, evangelism with social action. 13:05 When you go in a community and you see the injustices, 13:09 so should we stay quiet, should we stay silent? 13:12 And when I studied the Bible, 13:14 and even in also the writings of Sister White, 13:18 and I can see that evangelism 13:21 and social action should go together. 13:22 Yes. 13:24 So my dissertation will be a proposal, 13:28 a kind of framework 13:30 how the church can combine both evangelism 13:36 and in social justice activities 13:39 without damaging the reputation, 13:45 and also the mission of the church 13:48 because the Adventist church has a clear mission, 13:52 a clear message for the end time, 13:54 so we need to keep the focus, but while doing it, 13:57 how we can address, you know, the needs they want. 14:00 So this is the focus of my dissertation. 14:02 Wonderful. Merci beaucoup. 14:04 Oh, Je vous en prie. Thank you so much. 14:06 Appreciate you sharing with us today. 14:07 Yes, thank you for having me. 14:09 And viewers at home, 14:10 Michelet represents many students 14:13 who come here, they have the opportunity 14:16 as we've heard to learn more, 14:18 to put a bit more robust theology 14:20 behind what they're doing. 14:22 So they're much more effective 14:23 when they go back out into the mission field 14:26 which is the communities of this world. 14:28 Please pray for Andrews University. 14:30 Pray for the students here from around the world. 14:33 They will continue to be a light for Jesus. 14:35 We'll be right back after this break. |
Revised 2020-04-29