A climbing gym helps connect people 00:00:07.44\00:00:10.11 to the church in Thailand. 00:00:10.14\00:00:12.24 A 10k run helps plant a church in Ecuador 00:00:12.27\00:00:15.78 and a unique church in Spain. 00:00:15.81\00:00:18.11 All of this and much more coming up next. 00:00:18.15\00:00:20.68 Hello and welcome to Mission 360°. 00:00:52.58\00:00:54.52 I'm Gary Krause. 00:00:54.55\00:00:55.95 Today's program is coming to you 00:00:55.98\00:00:57.59 from the city of Chicago in the United States, 00:00:57.62\00:01:00.89 and it was right here back in the late 1800s 00:01:00.92\00:01:03.96 that the Chicago Medical Mission 00:01:03.99\00:01:05.66 was established. 00:01:05.69\00:01:07.03 The story goes that Dr. John Harvey Kellogg 00:01:07.06\00:01:09.40 came down from Battle Creek, 00:01:09.43\00:01:11.27 spoke to the police chief 00:01:11.30\00:01:12.63 and said please take me to the dirtiest, 00:01:12.67\00:01:14.64 most wicked part of the city. 00:01:14.67\00:01:16.71 And that's where he established the mission, 00:01:16.74\00:01:19.14 and it had all sorts of activities 00:01:19.17\00:01:21.01 to help the poor, the needy, alcoholics, prostitutes, 00:01:21.04\00:01:25.08 the unemployed, the homeless, and they did a wonderful work. 00:01:25.11\00:01:28.62 But Ellen White became increasingly concerned 00:01:28.65\00:01:31.42 in the way that it was advocating medical mission 00:01:31.45\00:01:34.22 above normal mission, 00:01:34.26\00:01:36.22 the way that it was downplaying 00:01:36.26\00:01:37.86 the name Seventh-day Adventist, the way that it was putting 00:01:37.89\00:01:41.36 all the resources into one place. 00:01:41.40\00:01:44.23 And so eventually this wonderful ministry folded, 00:01:44.27\00:01:48.24 but the ministry of centers of influence 00:01:48.27\00:01:50.24 still has life. 00:01:50.27\00:01:51.67 And Ellen White constantly talked about the need 00:01:51.71\00:01:54.91 to have various types of small centers in urban areas 00:01:54.94\00:01:58.81 to serve as a spring board 00:01:58.85\00:02:00.52 for putting Christ's method of ministry into practice. 00:02:00.55\00:02:03.52 And we'll be looking at all types of mission 00:02:03.55\00:02:05.15 on today's program. 00:02:05.19\00:02:06.62 The first stop, let's travel to Quito in Ecuador. 00:02:06.65\00:02:09.96 In Quito, Ecuador's capital city, 00:02:12.53\00:02:14.73 a 10 kilometer race 00:02:14.76\00:02:16.10 was just what a group of young Adventists needed 00:02:16.13\00:02:18.67 to help them plant a church. 00:02:18.70\00:02:22.00 The idea came from a small group of youth. 00:02:22.04\00:02:24.81 We used to gather together here in my living room, 00:02:24.84\00:02:27.71 and we used to say, 00:02:27.74\00:02:29.31 besides just being together 00:02:29.34\00:02:30.91 and learning from each other's experiences, 00:02:30.95\00:02:33.92 we need to do something else. 00:02:33.95\00:02:37.12 They decided they were going to plant a church 00:02:37.15\00:02:39.69 in an unentered part of the city. 00:02:39.72\00:02:41.66 This is a small valley, 00:02:41.69\00:02:43.83 but we have a couple of churches. 00:02:43.86\00:02:46.39 And this neighborhood was isolated. 00:02:46.43\00:02:50.17 So we decided that this neighborhood 00:02:50.20\00:02:52.83 that is it's alone, they need their own church. 00:02:52.87\00:02:56.97 We knocked on doors and asked, 00:02:57.01\00:02:58.74 "Do you want to study the Bible?" 00:02:58.77\00:03:00.41 It was a bad idea. 00:03:00.44\00:03:01.91 The people responded, "No, we don't even know you. 00:03:01.94\00:03:04.95 Who are you? What do you want?" 00:03:04.98\00:03:06.95 So we got together again, 00:03:06.98\00:03:08.45 and we plan how we could reach the people. 00:03:08.48\00:03:11.15 And we start asking the community 00:03:11.19\00:03:12.75 about their needs. 00:03:12.79\00:03:14.12 And we found a lot of problems. 00:03:14.16\00:03:15.49 One of the most important necessities was health. 00:03:18.19\00:03:22.33 So we plan to have a free consultations, 00:03:22.36\00:03:24.67 lab test and a health fair. 00:03:24.70\00:03:26.84 After much planning, 00:03:29.97\00:03:31.31 the group calculated the cost of a health fair 00:03:31.34\00:03:33.27 and found it would be about $3000 USD, 00:03:33.31\00:03:36.71 but the group of young people and students 00:03:36.75\00:03:38.51 couldn't afford to contribute that much. 00:03:38.55\00:03:41.35 Every Wednesday they went jogging together 00:03:41.38\00:03:43.39 as a group activity. 00:03:43.42\00:03:44.85 As they prepared for the weekly jog, 00:03:44.89\00:03:46.69 someone came up with the idea to use their activity 00:03:46.72\00:03:49.82 as a way to raise funds. 00:03:49.86\00:03:52.06 They began organizing a 10 kilometer race 00:03:52.09\00:03:54.63 where people can register and pay a small fee to enter. 00:03:54.66\00:03:58.10 Any earnings from the race 00:03:58.13\00:03:59.53 could go towards the cost of the health fair. 00:03:59.57\00:04:02.17 We started like just young people making plans. 00:04:02.20\00:04:05.97 And we started like, you are going to do this, 00:04:06.01\00:04:08.54 you're going to do this and I felt like 00:04:08.58\00:04:12.18 I was doing something big for Jesus. 00:04:12.21\00:04:15.22 I took that as a big responsibility. 00:04:15.25\00:04:18.42 I thought that is a good, is a big job, 00:04:18.45\00:04:20.89 it's a great opportunity to do something useful 00:04:20.92\00:04:23.69 for the Lord. 00:04:23.73\00:04:25.06 We have never done any race like this before. 00:04:25.09\00:04:27.63 We didn't even know where to start. 00:04:27.66\00:04:30.23 Well, we decided to do it and set a date in one month. 00:04:30.27\00:04:34.20 I don't know how God helped us through this, 00:04:34.24\00:04:36.50 because the permits to close the streets, 00:04:36.54\00:04:38.87 many times you need a year to get permission, 00:04:38.91\00:04:41.94 but we did it. 00:04:41.98\00:04:43.41 As a result of the race, 00:04:50.79\00:04:52.22 they raised the money to conduct a health fair 00:04:52.25\00:04:54.69 and start their church plants. 00:04:54.72\00:04:56.49 And they also kept contact 00:04:56.52\00:04:57.89 with many of the race participants. 00:04:57.93\00:04:59.93 Each participant received a book 00:04:59.96\00:05:01.50 included in their registration called the Power of Hope. 00:05:01.53\00:05:05.17 These events opened doors to the community. 00:05:05.20\00:05:07.94 And they studied the Bible 00:05:07.97\00:05:09.30 with anyone who showed interest. 00:05:09.34\00:05:11.07 They found a building to rent for church 00:05:11.11\00:05:13.17 and were finally ready to open their own doors. 00:05:13.21\00:05:16.44 And we opened the first Sabbath. 00:05:16.48\00:05:18.38 And it was only us, 00:05:18.41\00:05:19.81 but we continued with the Bible studies, 00:05:19.85\00:05:22.08 and we began seeing people come little by little. 00:05:22.12\00:05:25.45 Noemi and Miguel own a bakery next to the church. 00:05:25.49\00:05:28.76 Sometimes during the week, people from the church 00:05:28.79\00:05:30.73 went to buy things from their store, 00:05:30.76\00:05:32.59 and one day Noemi asked them about the church. 00:05:32.63\00:05:35.80 She was invited to study the Bible with them 00:05:35.83\00:05:37.93 the next Sabbath. 00:05:37.97\00:05:39.37 As her faith grew, 00:05:39.40\00:05:40.84 she prayed that Miguel would go to church with her, 00:05:40.87\00:05:43.61 but he showed no interest. 00:05:43.64\00:05:45.37 After a few months as a birthday gift, 00:05:45.41\00:05:47.94 he agreed to join her for one Sabbath only. 00:05:47.98\00:05:52.15 My first impression was that I didn't know anybody, 00:05:52.18\00:05:55.15 but everybody knew me. 00:05:55.18\00:05:57.15 They called me by name and said, "Miguel, welcome." 00:05:57.19\00:06:01.22 I felt an immense love. 00:06:01.26\00:06:03.69 Miguel wanted to learn more. 00:06:03.73\00:06:05.69 So he and Noemi 00:06:05.73\00:06:07.06 asked for Bible studies at home. 00:06:07.10\00:06:08.90 Eventually they gave their hearts to Jesus 00:06:08.93\00:06:11.47 and were baptized. 00:06:11.50\00:06:12.90 Their bakery is now closed on Saturdays. 00:06:12.93\00:06:15.30 But business has doubled on Sundays. 00:06:15.34\00:06:17.74 It's a radical change. 00:06:17.77\00:06:19.44 When we were not baptized, 00:06:19.47\00:06:21.08 when we didn't know the church, 00:06:21.11\00:06:22.81 we had a lot of problems. Now it's different. 00:06:22.84\00:06:25.81 We studied together, go to church together, 00:06:25.85\00:06:28.45 sing, and pray to God. 00:06:28.48\00:06:31.42 Miguel and Noemi's family is just one example 00:06:31.45\00:06:34.39 of those who have come to know the love of Jesus, 00:06:34.42\00:06:37.56 and they're excited to share what they've learned. 00:06:37.59\00:06:39.93 In my house we have a small group 00:06:39.96\00:06:42.03 that meets once a week. 00:06:42.06\00:06:43.43 Our goal as a family is to share God's Word 00:06:43.47\00:06:45.93 with other families 00:06:45.97\00:06:47.30 so they can know God as we know Him. 00:06:47.34\00:06:50.81 About 10 people have been baptized as a result, 00:06:50.84\00:06:53.64 and now Global Mission is helping 00:06:53.68\00:06:55.31 this new church plant in this major city. 00:06:55.34\00:07:00.05 Church members pray that their efforts 00:07:00.08\00:07:01.98 through total member involvement 00:07:02.02\00:07:04.05 will continue to spread God's love 00:07:04.09\00:07:06.65 throughout the community. 00:07:06.69\00:07:09.12 The dream is that this church can grow 00:07:09.16\00:07:11.49 and we can all see each other in heaven. 00:07:11.53\00:07:14.20 I feel satisfied with my work in here, 00:07:14.23\00:07:17.43 I feel very grateful with God 00:07:17.47\00:07:20.50 because I see how I can make a difference in this place, 00:07:20.54\00:07:24.81 but I can serve Him. 00:07:24.84\00:07:27.11 It feels good to serve Jesus. 00:07:27.14\00:07:30.68 Please pray for mission to the cities 00:07:30.71\00:07:32.81 which focuses on reaching people 00:07:32.85\00:07:34.55 in the largest cities in the world. 00:07:34.58\00:07:36.99 Thank you for your support 00:07:37.02\00:07:38.35 of Global Mission church planting projects 00:07:38.39\00:07:40.46 in urban areas like Quito. 00:07:40.49\00:07:42.59 My guest is Dr. Manuel Alva 00:07:46.23\00:07:48.50 who is here at a Center of influence 00:07:48.53\00:07:50.97 in the suburbs of Chicago. 00:07:51.00\00:07:52.80 Dr. Alva, thanks so much for joining us. 00:07:52.83\00:07:55.00 Now this is quite a Center. 00:07:55.04\00:07:56.47 Can you describe where we are and what this is? 00:07:56.50\00:07:59.74 Yes, right now we're on the middle 00:07:59.77\00:08:01.61 of the Adventist Community Services thrift store. 00:08:01.64\00:08:05.35 Yes. It's called Treasure Hunt. 00:08:05.38\00:08:08.68 Jesus is our best treasure and the Word of God 00:08:08.72\00:08:10.39 is but to people outside, 00:08:10.42\00:08:12.85 they can come here and find bargains. 00:08:12.89\00:08:15.72 Good quality clothing 00:08:15.76\00:08:17.19 and home utensils at a cheap price, 00:08:17.23\00:08:21.20 they got a friendly staff and something to read, 00:08:21.23\00:08:25.03 something to take home and read. 00:08:25.07\00:08:26.77 And they want to know why is this closed on Sabbath 00:08:26.80\00:08:28.64 since it's the day of most activity? 00:08:28.67\00:08:31.37 And we let them know why. 00:08:31.41\00:08:33.34 They get invited to come to church meetings, 00:08:33.38\00:08:36.95 and the potlucks that we have here every Sabbath. 00:08:36.98\00:08:38.78 Right. 00:08:38.81\00:08:40.15 So we're in a thrift store here, 00:08:40.18\00:08:42.18 which is like the store-front but as we go through here, 00:08:42.22\00:08:44.95 the Center has many different aspects. 00:08:44.99\00:08:47.46 So let's go and have a look through here. 00:08:47.49\00:08:49.99 So this is on a very busy road here. 00:08:50.03\00:08:51.99 That's old route 66. 00:08:52.03\00:08:54.33 The one that run from Chicago to here. 00:08:54.36\00:08:55.70 Yes, yes, yes. 00:08:55.73\00:08:57.17 And so we come through here and now we're into the clinic. 00:08:57.20\00:09:00.50 Yes. 00:09:00.54\00:09:01.87 So this connects, 00:09:01.90\00:09:03.24 the two are connected in so far 00:09:03.27\00:09:04.61 as you have the same vision, you have the same purpose. 00:09:04.64\00:09:09.48 Now describe this clinic to me. 00:09:09.51\00:09:11.55 Well, you came here because other doctors sent you. 00:09:11.58\00:09:14.58 You usually a member of the Hispanic community 00:09:14.62\00:09:17.12 around here 00:09:17.15\00:09:18.49 and you come to check your insides, 00:09:18.52\00:09:22.12 your stomach or your bowels. 00:09:22.16\00:09:23.96 We don't do that here, we just interview them here. 00:09:23.99\00:09:26.06 Yes. 00:09:26.09\00:09:27.43 And we do 00:09:27.46\00:09:28.80 a lot of a big component of health education. 00:09:28.83\00:09:32.23 If you know that a lot of people 00:09:32.27\00:09:34.04 in our community, 00:09:34.07\00:09:35.40 especially Hispanics in this country 00:09:35.44\00:09:37.27 have fatty liver cirrhosis, high cholesterol, diabetes, 00:09:37.31\00:09:42.78 high blood pressure. 00:09:42.81\00:09:44.25 So by just coming 00:09:44.28\00:09:46.61 and being interviewed for a colonoscopy, 00:09:46.65\00:09:49.32 we avoid these problems and we just tell them, 00:09:49.35\00:09:51.99 "Do you want to change your health or not?" 00:09:52.02\00:09:54.56 Many respond to the challenge. 00:09:54.59\00:09:55.92 They come to listen to the health lectures 00:09:55.96\00:09:58.59 or to the cooking classes, 00:09:58.63\00:10:00.73 or when they have a severe illness 00:10:00.76\00:10:04.77 is when they remember and then they come. 00:10:04.80\00:10:06.43 So it's just a matter of patience then? 00:10:06.47\00:10:08.37 Reminding them that their solution 00:10:08.40\00:10:10.14 for their daily health problems. 00:10:10.17\00:10:11.87 Yes. 00:10:11.91\00:10:13.24 Now, Doctor, you're a gastroenterologist. 00:10:13.27\00:10:17.21 What gets you involved in the Center of influence? 00:10:17.25\00:10:19.81 Why aren't you just off to the hospital 00:10:19.85\00:10:21.38 somewhere making a lot of money? 00:10:21.42\00:10:23.18 Well, I will just want everyone in this neighborhood, 00:10:23.22\00:10:26.86 in this community to meet Jesus 00:10:26.89\00:10:29.79 and to have enjoy better health. 00:10:29.82\00:10:32.99 To be rid of all this malaise, and fatigue, and illnesses 00:10:33.03\00:10:38.00 are attacking our community rampantly. 00:10:38.03\00:10:41.57 I was sick myself. 00:10:41.60\00:10:43.74 I know how it feels to be sick with high cholesterol, 00:10:43.77\00:10:47.11 high blood pressure, and depression, and asthma. 00:10:47.14\00:10:50.05 And thank God by applying 00:10:50.08\00:10:51.45 the easy principles of health, I'm a different person. 00:10:51.48\00:10:56.42 And I have to recognize every day 00:10:56.45\00:10:57.95 and I like to share one or two, 00:10:57.99\00:11:00.19 and I get lot of patients that come here 00:11:00.22\00:11:02.72 and thank God they're responding. 00:11:02.76\00:11:05.13 Fantastic. 00:11:05.16\00:11:06.49 So you have a clinic here, 00:11:06.53\00:11:07.86 we have treatment rooms around those corner. 00:11:07.90\00:11:09.53 And is at the evening 00:11:09.56\00:11:11.73 that you have like your seminars 00:11:11.77\00:11:13.10 and your cooking demonstrations? 00:11:13.13\00:11:14.54 Yes, in the weekends, 00:11:14.57\00:11:16.17 and some evenings we have demonstrations here 00:11:16.20\00:11:19.04 in the auditorium. 00:11:19.07\00:11:20.41 Okay, let's move in here. Look at this. 00:11:20.44\00:11:22.24 After you, Doctor. This is the auditorium. 00:11:22.28\00:11:25.41 Yeah. 00:11:25.45\00:11:26.78 So we have the thrift store, 00:11:26.82\00:11:28.45 Adventist Community Services, 00:11:28.48\00:11:29.82 we have the clinic with all the seminars, 00:11:29.85\00:11:32.45 everything that are connected, 00:11:32.49\00:11:33.92 and this is the auditorium. 00:11:33.96\00:11:35.29 What happens here? 00:11:35.32\00:11:36.66 Here we have lectures, 00:11:36.69\00:11:38.03 we have a screen for audio visual, 00:11:38.06\00:11:39.83 and we have a sound. 00:11:39.86\00:11:42.13 It's usually better at night 00:11:42.16\00:11:43.50 when there's not a lot of light. 00:11:43.53\00:11:44.93 So we conduct held lectures here. 00:11:44.97\00:11:48.20 There's a group that meets weekly here 00:11:48.24\00:11:50.07 called Neurotics Anonymous. 00:11:50.11\00:11:51.91 Neurotics Anonymous? Neurotics Anonymous. 00:11:51.94\00:11:54.28 There is like Alcoholics Anonymous, 00:11:54.31\00:11:55.74 but for people with depression, anxiety. 00:11:55.78\00:11:59.11 The most common things 00:11:59.15\00:12:00.48 that affect neighborhoods here. 00:12:00.52\00:12:02.52 And they can come and share their histories 00:12:02.55\00:12:04.59 and learn about these 12 steps 00:12:04.62\00:12:08.12 which are really biblical steps. 00:12:08.16\00:12:10.36 How you recognize your problem, 00:12:10.39\00:12:12.86 recognize that you can't do anything about it, 00:12:12.89\00:12:15.86 recognize that there's a higher power 00:12:15.90\00:12:17.27 ready to help you. 00:12:17.30\00:12:18.80 And then you ask this higher power, 00:12:18.83\00:12:20.64 please help me. 00:12:20.67\00:12:22.20 And then He helps you recognizing your failures, 00:12:22.24\00:12:26.74 more than what you thought originally. 00:12:26.78\00:12:29.14 You can ask for forgiveness to people you have offended. 00:12:29.18\00:12:32.21 And you learn in humility to live with other people 00:12:32.25\00:12:34.62 and participating in that because all of us 00:12:34.65\00:12:36.69 are not immune to anxieties and stresses of modern life. 00:12:36.72\00:12:41.72 So it's becoming a great help. 00:12:41.76\00:12:43.29 Wonderful. 00:12:43.32\00:12:44.66 And on Sabbaths you have a worshipping group 00:12:44.69\00:12:46.93 here at church plant. 00:12:46.96\00:12:48.30 Yes. Fantastic. 00:12:48.33\00:12:49.80 Yes, about 30 or 40 people that mean we have more chairs 00:12:49.83\00:12:52.33 inside utilize right now for the clinic. 00:12:52.37\00:12:55.00 So yeah, we have a wonderful time 00:12:55.04\00:12:57.01 and we surely have every Sabbath since we started, 00:12:57.04\00:13:00.94 we have a potluck. 00:13:00.98\00:13:02.74 And it's a healthy potluck. That's good. 00:13:02.78\00:13:06.65 No one has gotten sick, thank God. 00:13:06.68\00:13:08.82 Come here and we get healthy food 00:13:08.85\00:13:10.95 that actually heals your gastritis, 00:13:10.99\00:13:13.52 dilates your blood vessels, 00:13:13.56\00:13:15.16 your blood pressure goes down. 00:13:15.19\00:13:17.53 So it's a good advertisement for our patients that come. 00:13:17.56\00:13:21.36 Or people walk through the store 00:13:21.40\00:13:23.87 that obviously have health problems. 00:13:23.90\00:13:25.53 They're invited to come and just give it a try. 00:13:25.57\00:13:28.04 Many do. 00:13:28.07\00:13:29.60 Some of them never come back. 00:13:29.64\00:13:31.61 But the seed is planted. 00:13:31.64\00:13:33.17 And we know that very soon that seed is going to germinate 00:13:33.21\00:13:35.41 and give fruit for the glory of God. 00:13:35.44\00:13:36.78 Terrific. 00:13:36.81\00:13:38.15 Speaking of which, 00:13:38.18\00:13:39.51 can you tell me a story of someone 00:13:39.55\00:13:40.88 whose life has been changed by coming here? 00:13:40.92\00:13:43.02 Yes, I wish she was here. 00:13:43.05\00:13:44.65 Angelica is the manager of our store right now. 00:13:44.69\00:13:47.49 She had health problems, came to the clinic. 00:13:47.52\00:13:52.03 She realized that there was more 00:13:52.06\00:13:53.70 in the clinic than just health. 00:13:53.73\00:13:56.97 Our chaplain, pastor at that time 00:13:57.00\00:13:59.23 got interested in her and visited her home, 00:13:59.27\00:14:01.84 discovered that she was related 00:14:01.87\00:14:03.61 to Seventh-day Adventist people. 00:14:03.64\00:14:05.61 He started studying the Bible with her. 00:14:05.64\00:14:07.98 She was baptized. 00:14:08.01\00:14:09.94 And then she wanted to serve in some capacity. 00:14:09.98\00:14:14.82 We asked people that come in, what are you good for? 00:14:14.85\00:14:17.05 What is your experience? 00:14:17.09\00:14:18.42 She said, "Well, I have managed a store before." 00:14:18.45\00:14:21.16 We needed someone like that. 00:14:21.19\00:14:23.36 So she's the manager of the store, 00:14:23.39\00:14:25.49 and she's in fire for Christ 00:14:25.53\00:14:26.96 and she will tell everyone that works there. 00:14:27.00\00:14:29.80 You know, give her, give them a pamphlet, 00:14:29.83\00:14:31.73 tell them that they're welcome to come in on the Sabbath 00:14:31.77\00:14:33.70 and enjoy the fellowship and the meal. 00:14:33.74\00:14:35.57 Especially if you're alone in this community, 00:14:35.60\00:14:37.37 if you have no one to look after you, 00:14:37.41\00:14:39.94 no relatives, no friends, here's a place. 00:14:39.97\00:14:41.88 Fantastic. 00:14:41.91\00:14:43.24 Thank you so much for what you're doing here. 00:14:43.28\00:14:45.91 Appreciate what you're doing and may God bless you. 00:14:45.95\00:14:48.28 And viewers at home, 00:14:48.32\00:14:49.65 please pray for this Center of influence. 00:14:49.68\00:14:52.19 Please pray for Dr. Manuel and his wife Dr. Esther 00:14:52.22\00:14:55.12 who is working here as well and the whole team 00:14:55.16\00:14:57.36 as they make a difference 00:14:57.39\00:14:58.73 as they put Christ method of ministry 00:14:58.76\00:15:00.93 into practice right here in this neighborhood. 00:15:00.96\00:15:02.90 We'll be right back after this break. 00:15:02.93\00:15:04.60