Welcome back to Panama City.
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I'm walking along a promenade
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that's built on top
of the old city wall
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facing the sea.
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Next up, we
travel to Silver Spring,
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Maryland, in the United States.
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Today is the
first day of spring,
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and I'm here
with my good friend,
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Cheri Peters.
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And her life has been changed
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as a result of
watching Mission Spotlight.
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Cheri, tell us that story.
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Isn't that amazing?
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'Cause even today
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when I realized that you
guys were Mission Spotlight,
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I remember as an addict,
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coming in the
church for the first time
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and sitting there,
I'm barely illiterate,
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I have no idea about anything.
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And I look up and I
see Mission Spotlight
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and there were some people
doing just incredible things.
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And I felt tears
coming down my face.
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I was so overwhelmed.
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And I thought "God, I
know that You love me.
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I get that, my life is changing.
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But someday,
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I don't know how
You're going to do it,
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but I would love to do that."
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And I remember
just having that sense
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as being a missionary somewhere
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and going in and
teaching a language
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or going into bringing water
or working with a tribal group,
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I was so excited.
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And everything in me
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would just wait to watch that
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and people around me
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were just watching
it and no reaction.
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I wanted to sob like a baby.
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I wanted to cry like
that is the coolest thing
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to work for God
and change the world.
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And so I got a
call one day that...
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You're gonna love this,
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I got a call one
day and they said,
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"You know, this
woman is in the hospital
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and their daughter
took over their house,
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and she's like a meth addict,
and she's trashing everything.
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Can you talk with her?"
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And I went over
there thinking like,
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"Okay, I could do that,
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and I'm gonna go
and do some outreach."
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She has four kids
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that they were
horribly neglected.
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The house was filthy.
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She was chain
smoking and high as can be,
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everything was
taped up in the house.
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She was paranoid,
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she taped all the rooms closed
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but three rooms that
they could live in and...
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And I thought,
"What am I gonna do?
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I can't even reach her."
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And I left and
came back the next day
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and I had some sleeping bags
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and I left and
came back the next day,
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and she had sold
all the sleeping bags
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'cause the kids
didn't even have blankets.
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And finally, I
was so angry at her
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'cause her daughter looked at me
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at one point and said
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that she had
been raped that night
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by her mom's boyfriend.
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And I realized
that she wasn't lying,
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but she didn't even
know to be traumatized
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'cause she'd
been so traumatized,
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and I got so angry,
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and I wanted to take this woman
and just grab her by the throat
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and I wanted to just say,
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"Stop, you are
killing your kids,
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you're killing yourself.
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Your mom is in the
hospital trying to recover
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and all she's thinking
about is you in this house."
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And I'm so angry, and
I'm sitting on the floor,
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and I hear God.
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What did He say?
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"Cheri, this is
your mission field."
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No way! You
cannot do this to me.
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I remember saying...
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I've never seen that
on Mission Spotlight,
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and I remember just
being so angry like,
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"I'm not gonna do it.
I don't want to do it."
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And it took me days,
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and I should say weeks or months
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to finally realize that
God knows what He's doing,
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and that's my
love, that's my passion,
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that's where I came from.
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But to look at this huge issue,
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like when you talk
about Mission For The Cities
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'cause you're
also a part of that,
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when you talk about that
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looking at this
huge issue and realizing
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that we have to step
into these very dark places
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and rescue folks.
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Bring them out
and their children out
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and so I just want to
say with Mission Spotlight,
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that it gave me the
desire to reach out,
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it gave me that even...
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Wow, praise God.
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I was dare to even dream
about that maybe someday,
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I could do that.
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I had no idea
what I God had in mind.
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Isn't that amazing
how God's grace transforms
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not only our hearts for mission,
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and it's like a Jonah moment
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where God is
trying to call His people,
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His prophet to
actually have compassion
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for the people in the city.
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So, Cheri, right
now with your ministry
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and what are the opportunities
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for this kind of a call
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that God is calling
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the Adventists
family and believers
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around the world to the cities,
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what are the opportunities now?
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Is this something that is
only that the counselors can do
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or can anyone do
this kind of work?
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And it's a lay ministry.
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What's really interesting to me
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when I think about
reaching out to the cities is,
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they're so
hungry and they're so...
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Need is so great,
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but they actually need someone
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that knows how to
dialogue with them.
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And so our need is
to learn to dialogue,
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to learn about friendship,
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to learn to look at people
and know that you like them.
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At my first camp meeting,
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I joined a witnessing class
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'cause I thought, you know,
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I'd be good at witnessing
to the homeless, you know?
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'Cause I was homeless 10 years,
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and so I joined this
class and at one point,
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I teared up and I thought,
"Do you even like them?"
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Oh, wow.
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Because if you don't
like them, don't talk to them,
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we're hurt enough,
we're damaged enough.
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And so being able
to teach the church
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how to work with the cities
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but also to let
people know in the cities
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is that God is crazy about you.
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Amen. That He want...
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He has a plan for your life,
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He wants you to step
out of all that dysfunction
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and literally watch a
few Mission Spotlights
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and get to work.
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Well, praise God.
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And that's amazing how
when Jesus in Matthew 9,
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it talks about how
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that when He saw the multitudes,
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He had compassion.
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And so that's where we need
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that as
basically the first we need
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that heart transplant.
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So then that way
we can see people
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whether they're with addictions,
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whatever they are as Jesus did.
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Can I say one more
thing? Please, please.
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That in this generation,
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people from 35
years old to 2 years old,
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are becoming so
addicted to their devices,
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they're changing
their neural chemistry.
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So when somebody says,
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"Oh, they're
getting pregnant less,
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they're having
sex on their phones."
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They're doing less drugs.
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That's true
because their addiction
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is their devices.
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And it's changing
their neural chemistry
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just the same so even us
when we step into the cities
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if we don't know that,
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we're going to be
impotent in what we do.
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So we have to
educate ourselves and say,
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"What is that in
need?" And they are lost.
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They are in their
room on their devices,
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head down, it is crazy.
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But we have the answer,
we have a health message.
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It's amazing, amazing.
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Thank you, Cheri.
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It was amazing to
hear these opportunities
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as well as how God called
you to be an urban missionary.
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I want to thank our
viewers and ask an appeal to you
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to have Christ
heart for the cities.
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When Jesus saw the multitudes,
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the Bible says
that He had compassion
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and we know that
compassion only comes
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from a heart transplant
from our Lord Jesus Christ.
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So if you've been
touched by Cheri's story,
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you can check out
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more mission
stories like this online,
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go to our website
that's listed below.
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And I know that
God will bless you.
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This is Pastor Doug
reporting for Mission 360.
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God bless.
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If you missed any of the stories
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here on Mission 360,
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you can always go to m360.TV.
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There you'll find stories
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from this program and much more.
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I would be dead by now
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because I tried to
kill myself multiple times.
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I couldn't think of the future.
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I just thought of the
present what was tormenting me,
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and how I would kill myself.
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Deeply depressed,
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Consuelo
abandoned her belief in God.
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She tried to start over
enrolling in nursing school
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and wanting to do
something different
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with her life,
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but her past weighed
on her wherever she went.
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After class one day
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a professor
noticed something was wrong
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and told her about the
local Urban Center of Influence.
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Consuelo visited the center
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where she met
Michelly and Angie,
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Adventist volunteers
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with one year
in mission program.
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She enjoyed talking with them
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and decided to
take a Portuguese course
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offered here.
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Over time,
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Consuelo became
friends with the volunteers.
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In what I saw, how they acted,
00:08:05.65\00:08:09.45
what they said, and
everything they did,
00:08:09.48\00:08:13.36
I felt the
presence of God in everyone.
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In the Adventist volunteers
who are here, I saw this.
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Each time she
returned to the center,
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she felt as if her deep
wounds were being healed.
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They welcome me with open arms.
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I found another family
here, another home here.
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The volunteers began
talking to her about God.
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And it was the
first time in a while
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Consuelo felt ready to
talk about spiritual topics.
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She asked for a Bible study
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where she gradually
developed a new understanding of
00:08:46.09\00:08:49.09
and relationship with God.
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It helped me in
every way to be here.
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I saw the love of God,
00:08:55.86\00:08:58.20
the grace of God
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that I hadn't
seen anywhere else.
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I found myself growing
closer and closer to God,
00:09:02.30\00:09:06.31
believing in Him and
having more faith in Him
00:09:06.34\00:09:09.88
during the time I was here.
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Since then,
Consuelo was baptized
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and joined the
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
00:09:14.42\00:09:16.85
She now volunteers
her time at the center
00:09:16.89\00:09:18.85
doing medical
consultations for free.
00:09:18.89\00:09:21.62
Like Consuelo, there are many
00:09:21.66\00:09:23.39
who are looking
for community and love.
00:09:23.43\00:09:25.86
But most people are
too suspicious of religion
00:09:25.89\00:09:28.40
to seek these things
in a traditional church.
00:09:28.43\00:09:30.97
Many people come to
this place with a vision,
00:09:34.40\00:09:37.84
maybe a little distrusting
00:09:37.87\00:09:39.34
because they don't really know
00:09:39.37\00:09:40.74
what we will ask for afterwards.
00:09:40.78\00:09:44.21
But when they see a
different environment
00:09:44.25\00:09:46.21
where there is only
empathy, love and friendship,
00:09:46.25\00:09:49.38
they completely
change their vision.
00:09:49.42\00:09:52.45
They are very grateful
00:09:52.49\00:09:53.82
and bring more
people to participate.
00:09:53.86\00:09:57.29
By serving the community,
00:09:57.33\00:09:58.66
the Adventist learned
what people in the area
00:09:58.69\00:10:00.80
we're interested in.
00:10:00.83\00:10:02.16
The center runs various classes
00:10:02.20\00:10:03.70
and activities
for the community,
00:10:03.73\00:10:05.33
including
Portuguese and English lessons,
00:10:05.37\00:10:07.54
healthy cooking
demonstrations, crafts,
00:10:07.57\00:10:09.97
and a variety of
exercise classes.
00:10:10.01\00:10:14.31
We've seen the
effect of Christ's method
00:10:14.34\00:10:16.34
on people's life
00:10:16.38\00:10:17.71
because we see a community today
00:10:17.75\00:10:19.98
open to the Adventist church
00:10:20.02\00:10:21.88
that was not easy
to reach in the past.
00:10:21.92\00:10:24.79
Because when you
have your religion,
00:10:24.82\00:10:26.65
you guard your world,
00:10:26.69\00:10:28.29
and you don't want
anyone to invade your life.
00:10:28.32\00:10:31.56
The centers of influence
are breaking down barriers
00:10:31.59\00:10:34.83
not just here,
00:10:34.86\00:10:36.26
but when we're meeting
them at home with their families
00:10:36.30\00:10:39.40
and that's where we
can apply Christ's method.
00:10:39.43\00:10:43.47
Through genuine
care for the people,
00:10:43.51\00:10:45.47
this center has
touched the hearts
00:10:45.51\00:10:46.98
of many in the community.
00:10:47.01\00:10:48.64
The results have exceeded
the volunteer's expectations.
00:10:48.68\00:10:52.05
We've seen how this ministry
00:10:52.08\00:10:53.75
isn't just good
for the community,
00:10:53.78\00:10:55.68
it's also good for the churches.
00:10:55.72\00:10:57.72
It's reviving the
Adventist members.
00:10:57.75\00:11:00.12
We've had a
revival within the church.
00:11:00.16\00:11:03.02
Please pray
00:11:03.06\00:11:04.39
for Urban Centers
of Influence like this.
00:11:04.43\00:11:06.86
Pray that through
friendship and compassion,
00:11:06.90\00:11:09.36
people will see a
glimpse of Jesus' love.
00:11:09.40\00:11:12.47
Thank you for
helping us transform lives
00:11:12.50\00:11:14.90
through your gifts
00:11:14.94\00:11:16.27
to Global Mission
projects like these.
00:11:16.30\00:11:18.37
Well, I hope that you've enjoyed
00:11:30.69\00:11:32.02
today's 360 view of
mission around the world.
00:11:32.05\00:11:35.79
We've seen how
Global Mission is planting
00:11:35.82\00:11:37.66
new groups of believers
00:11:37.69\00:11:39.03
in some of the most
challenging parts of the world.
00:11:39.06\00:11:41.43
We've seen how
Urban Centers of Influence
00:11:41.46\00:11:43.77
are putting
Christ's method of ministry
00:11:43.80\00:11:45.73
into practice
00:11:45.77\00:11:47.10
in the growing
cities of the world.
00:11:47.14\00:11:48.77
And we've seen how missionaries
00:11:48.80\00:11:50.14
are taking the light of
Jesus love in holistic ways
00:11:50.17\00:11:53.48
to different
places around the globe.
00:11:53.51\00:11:54.94
And I want to thank you so much
00:11:54.98\00:11:57.11
for your continuing involvement
in Adventist Mission.
00:11:57.15\00:12:00.65
I want to thank you
00:12:00.68\00:12:02.02
for your gifts
to Global Mission.
00:12:02.05\00:12:03.82
I want to thank
you for your prayers
00:12:03.85\00:12:05.39
and also for your
personal involvement.
00:12:05.42\00:12:07.72
You're a vital part of
our Global Mission team.
00:12:07.76\00:12:11.23
Well, for Adventist
Mission, I'm Gary Krause.
00:12:11.26\00:12:13.83
And I hope that you
can join me next time
00:12:13.86\00:12:15.83
right here on mission 360.
00:12:15.86\00:12:18.27
You healed my beautiful wife
00:12:45.43\00:12:50.07
You saved my little child
00:12:50.10\00:12:54.27
God You did it just to show
00:12:54.30\00:12:58.31
What a healing God You are
00:12:58.34\00:13:04.15
The saint now has come
00:13:04.18\00:13:07.72
And the pain is far removed
00:13:07.75\00:13:11.39
God all you really show
00:13:11.42\00:13:14.86
Is what a healing God You are
00:13:14.89\00:13:20.60
You are a healer
00:13:20.63\00:13:25.20
Great redeemer
00:13:25.23\00:13:27.94
My doctor, sweet savior
00:13:27.97\00:13:33.24
And with just one word
00:13:33.27\00:13:35.71
You can take control
00:13:35.74\00:13:38.31
And with just one touch
00:13:38.35\00:13:40.88
You can make me whole
00:13:40.92\00:13:43.49
What a healing God You are
00:13:43.52\00:13:49.42
What a healing God You are
00:13:49.46\00:13:54.46
So when the
doctors said They can't
00:13:56.40\00:14:00.54
Lord You said You will
00:14:00.57\00:14:03.81
God You said it just to show
00:14:03.84\00:14:07.28
What a healing God You are
00:14:07.31\00:14:12.91
And all the miracles You've done
00:14:12.95\00:14:16.89
All the healings You display
00:14:16.92\00:14:20.56
God all I want to say
00:14:20.59\00:14:23.83
Is what a healing God You are
00:14:23.86\00:14:29.76
You are a healer
00:14:29.80\00:14:34.77
Great redeemer
00:14:34.80\00:14:37.54
My doctor, sweet savior
00:14:37.57\00:14:42.94
And with just one word
00:14:42.98\00:14:45.65
You can take control
00:14:45.68\00:14:48.25
And with just one touch
00:14:48.28\00:14:50.89
You can make me whole
00:14:50.92\00:14:53.62
What a healing God You are
00:14:53.66\00:14:59.29
What a healing God You are
00:14:59.33\00:15:05.07
You are a healer
00:15:05.10\00:15:09.90
Great redeemer
00:15:09.94\00:15:12.47
My doctor, sweet savior
00:15:12.51\00:15:17.65
And with just one word
00:15:17.68\00:15:20.25
You can take control
00:15:20.28\00:15:22.75
And with just one touch
00:15:22.78\00:15:25.39
You can make me whole
00:15:25.42\00:15:28.92
What a healing God You are
00:15:28.96\00:15:35.53
What a healing God
00:15:35.56\00:15:40.40
You are.
00:15:40.44\00:15:46.34