Participants:
Series Code: MTS
Program Code: MTS002701A
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00:08 An Argentinean couple serve as missionaries in Cyprus,
00:11 a center of influence serves the sick in Hungary, 00:15 and a Global Mission pioneer plants churches in Nigeria, 00:18 all this and much more coming up next. 00:55 Hello and welcome to Mission 360°. 00:57 I'm Gary Krause. 00:59 Today's program is coming to you 01:00 from Dublin in Ireland. 01:03 This is a city of more than one million people. 01:05 And it's a very historic city obviously, 01:08 but it's also a young city because it's estimated that 01:12 some 50% of the people living in this city 01:15 are actually under age 25. 01:18 There's a very strong drinking culture, 01:20 a lot of pubs, I read somewhere that 01:22 there was more than 1,000 pubs in this city. 01:24 I also read somewhere that there were 666, 01:27 which may be more appropriate but we'll be looking at 01:30 the challenge of mission here in Ireland, 01:32 and around the world, but first up, 01:35 let's travel to Hungary to visit 01:37 a mobile urban center of influence. 01:41 When doctors told Resta he had type 2 diabetes, 01:44 he didn't know exactly what to do. 01:46 He was immediately put on three medications 01:48 and none of them seem to help. 01:50 Eventually, Resta visited 01:52 a nearby Adventist healthcare clinic. 01:55 At the clinic, they taught me how to change my lifestyle. 01:58 And since then I don't take any medication. 02:00 I eat a vegan diet and I work out a lot. 02:04 Resta's health transformation inspired him to attend 02:07 the Adventist University in Hungary 02:09 to get certified in Lifestyle Consultation. 02:12 Because I have diabetes, I really want to help 02:14 other people with this disease. 02:16 That's my motivation. 02:18 Today, Resta is the coordinator of a Global Mission 02:21 Urban Center of Influence in Debrecen, 02:23 the second largest city in Hungary. 02:26 This center provides a number of services, 02:28 including a salt room, therapeutic massage, 02:31 medical advice for asthma and lung problems, 02:34 and grief and addiction counseling. 02:36 From the first moment they come here, 02:38 we tell them everything is based on Christianity. 02:41 Our base is the Bible. 02:44 The Christian care and professional services 02:46 visitors receive encourage them to return for other programs. 02:51 We are very lucky because God gave us six doctors 02:54 who are church members, and also more than 10 members 02:58 who are working in the healthcare field. 03:02 I think it's a good opportunity for us to help people 03:05 and work together for people. 03:10 I think it's a very important place. 03:12 Because in church, 03:14 we can treat the spiritual health of people, 03:16 and here, we can treat the body 03:19 and give them advice about the body. 03:22 I think this place is like a bridge 03:24 between the people of the city and the church. 03:28 This Urban Center of Influence started through 03:30 total member involvement, 03:32 when Anna-Maria decided to open a small bookstore 03:34 where people could relax, socialize, 03:36 and browse faith based books. 03:40 People don't have proper connections 03:42 with each other, 03:44 they're just rushing all the time. 03:47 We were trying to reach out to those people 03:49 who didn't have proper 03:50 and pure connections with others. 03:53 We wanted to pray with them and for them. 03:57 Through this ministry, 03:59 several people have come to know Jesus. 04:03 There's a woman who had several problems 04:05 and came into the store. 04:08 I was able to recommend some books and support. 04:14 We talked, and I invited her to church. 04:18 And she became a church member. 04:24 It was like a miracle 04:25 how much of a loving atmosphere there was. 04:28 They were very kind to me. 04:30 They offered for me to sit down and talk with them. 04:33 I'm very thankful for the center, 04:35 and I'm thankful I can share my new beliefs 04:38 and love with others. 04:39 Another way Adventist spread love 04:41 is through their annual event called Reach out with Flowers. 04:45 Each year, one of the church members 04:47 grows thousands of daffodils on his land 04:49 and donates them for all the church members 04:51 to give out freely in the community. 04:54 Many people ask "Why we do this?" 04:56 The answer is simple. 04:59 Just because we want to show love 05:02 and be a blessing to people in the city. 05:06 Adventists in Debrecen are trying to connect with people 05:09 in creative ways. 05:11 Whether it's through medical services 05:12 or partnering in city events, 05:14 they want to be involved in the community. 05:17 Please pray that their outreach efforts 05:19 continue to spread the love of Jesus to the people 05:22 of this large city. 05:23 Thank you for supporting Global Mission, 05:26 which supports projects like these 05:28 in cities around the world. 05:43 My guest is Hannah, who is a One Year 05:46 In Mission Volunteer here in Dublin. 05:48 Hannah, thanks so much for joining us. 05:50 Now you are from Australia, 05:52 so I can understand you when you speak. 05:54 And I appreciate that. 05:55 What made you decide to become 05:57 a One Year In Mission Volunteer? 05:59 So I heard about the One Year Mission program, 06:03 I was at a Global Youth Leader Congress last year in Germany, 06:06 and they were promoting it so I thought, 06:07 "Oh, that sounds really interesting." 06:09 And I wanted to do some kind of mission work 06:11 so yeah, I ended up talking to a few people 06:13 and they pointed me towards it. 06:15 And yeah, I ended up here in Ireland. 06:17 Wonderful. Now what were you doing? 06:19 So previously, I was working for three years as a chaplain 06:24 and associate pastor at a school. 06:27 We had a campus church as well so yeah, 06:29 I spent three years at the school doing ministry, 06:32 but I thought I wanted to, yeah, 06:34 just have a go at doing mission work 06:36 and working with the community 06:38 and I found out about the Cuisle Centre. 06:40 Wonderful, now what is it 06:41 that attracted you to a center of influence? 06:44 I think it's just, I guess, yeah, reaching the community, 06:48 that's something that I've always wanted to do. 06:51 I heard someone say once, 06:53 "If the church was to cease existing, 06:56 would the community realize that 06:59 that's a reality?" 07:00 And so I thought, yeah, 07:02 I want to do more work with the community. 07:03 And when I look at how Jesus ministered, 07:05 He always touched lives, in whole villages and cities 07:08 and I thought, you know, that's what ministry is, 07:10 and I wanted to do that kind of ministry. 07:13 Terrific, now you're working as a chaplain at a school 07:17 there in Melbourne. 07:18 How... 07:20 In what ways is it different working here in Dublin? 07:23 I think well, 07:25 because with the center of influence, 07:26 it is really outward focus. 07:28 So you're working with people from the community 07:30 and just people in the neighborhood. 07:33 So, I mean, with a school we do similar 07:35 because all the kids come from the same area. 07:38 But I think here it's yeah, 07:40 more broad, I think the scope for... 07:42 with the center of influence. 07:44 Now tell me about the concept of a center of influence. 07:46 How do you see that? 07:48 How do you see it functioning? 07:50 I guess, well, what we've been doing 07:52 so far is just running different types of activities, 07:56 and just finding ways to connect with people. 07:59 We have the knitting class, we have cooking classes. 08:03 So all these different ways to just find ways 08:05 to connect with people, 08:06 I think, yeah, we're just trying to do that 08:08 to reach people in that way. 08:10 Yeah. 08:11 Because from the office of Adventist Mission, 08:15 we see this as one of the key ways 08:17 of being able to start 08:19 new groups of believers in cities 08:20 because that's putting Christ's method 08:22 of ministry into practice. 08:23 Yeah, definitely. 08:24 You actually got a hands on experience here. 08:26 Yes. 08:27 Now, there must be some challenges you face, 08:30 what are some of the challenges you face? 08:31 Challenges? 08:33 I guess, you know, it's always hard to reach, 08:36 I guess the younger generation 08:37 'cause they're more skeptical of religion 08:41 and they are very busy as well so it's always harder 08:44 to get that age group to come and get involved, 08:47 but also being a volunteer, 08:50 being away from families is a bit difficult as well. 08:54 But I thought, you know, it's a, you know, 08:55 a small sacrifice to pay to get more experience 08:58 and to get more understanding of how this ministry runs. 09:00 Yeah. 09:02 So was it a hard decision to give up a paying job 09:06 to 12 months to come to a non-paying job? 09:09 Yeah, it was, I kind of battled with it for a while. 09:14 And I thought, you know, it is a big risk to take. 09:17 But I thought the outcome of what I can get 09:22 from being involved in this ministry 09:23 would outweigh 09:25 just letting go of a stable job. 09:27 So yeah, I'm not sure 09:29 what God's plan is for the future 09:30 but I think this is going to help with, 09:32 I think where He's trying to lead me as well. 09:35 So you went to Avondale College and you studied theology there, 09:38 but now you are getting the education 09:41 of hands on experience 09:43 where you're getting cross cultural as well, 09:44 because you're coming to a different country. 09:45 Yeah, definitely. Yeah. 09:48 What are the rewards that you have found so far? 09:51 What has been the most exciting thing 09:53 of what you're doing? 09:54 I think just seeing the way that the programs we run 09:57 and the activities we have, how they're touching lives. 10:00 There was one lady who came, she moved from the country 10:03 and she said that her husband died, 10:05 she wanted to be somewhere closer to hospitals 10:08 and other services. 10:10 And she found out about our center 10:12 because she lives nearby. 10:14 And yeah, she started coming 10:15 and she started getting involved and yeah, 10:18 really enjoys the friendship that she's built here. 10:20 So that's been inspiring for me to see that, you know, 10:23 it really is working. 10:24 Yes. Yeah, Terrific. 10:26 Now if somebody is watching this program and thinking, 10:29 half thinking, "Maybe I could be a volunteer," 10:31 what would you say to them? 10:33 I say, "Go for it." It is a big step to take. 10:38 But at the same time, 10:39 I think the reward is much greater. 10:42 And they can really get a feel 10:44 for what this kind of ministry is. 10:46 And, you know, if they have a chance 10:48 to oversee they can bring it back to their country 10:50 and apply what they've learnt to where they are. 10:54 Terrific. 10:56 Hannah, thanks so much for sharing with us today. 10:58 I appreciate it. Thank you. 11:00 Please pray for Hannah, 11:02 pray for the center of influence 11:04 right here in the heart of Dublin. 11:07 Because we know that centers of influence as platforms 11:10 for putting Christ's method of ministry into practice 11:13 will bring results in building bridges 11:16 to the community 11:18 and leading people to Jesus Christ 11:19 who loves them so much. 11:21 We'll be right back after this break. |
Revised 2020-05-07