Participants:
Series Code: MTS
Program Code: MTS002701B
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00:12 Welcome back to Dublin, Ireland.
00:14 And I'm standing on the McConnell Bridge. 00:17 Now many people believe this bridge 00:19 is actually a perfect square, as long as it is wide. 00:23 But people who have measured it telling me that 00:25 it's actually five meters wider than it is long, 00:29 16 feet wider than it is long. 00:31 And so it has the distinction 00:34 of being the only bridge in Europe 00:36 that is actually wider than it's long, 00:37 just a little bit of trivia for you. 00:38 Next up, we traveled to Nigeria 00:40 to visit a Global Mission pioneer. 00:43 I am here at Babcock University with Victor. 00:47 Victor is a Global Mission pioneer 00:49 not too far away from here. 00:51 Victor became a Seventh-day Adventist 00:53 when he was 19 years old. 00:55 Victor, tell me the story. Tell me what happened. 00:58 How did you meet Seventh-day Adventists? 01:00 How did that happen? I'm proud to that. 01:02 I had never had any personal contact 01:05 with any Seventh-day Adventist or anything of that literature. 01:08 So by God, by His providence saved me. 01:12 I visit my cousins once in a while during my holidays, 01:16 I saw this Amazing Fact Bible study software 01:20 by Doug Batchelor, whom I hope to meet someday. 01:23 And I studied 24 lessons, 01:26 which is own personal story, with his own personal story. 01:30 And I can tell you, I needed no other evidence. 01:33 And that same week, 01:34 I worshiped with the Seventh-day 01:36 Adventist Church. 01:38 That was, I believe their own fellowship 01:40 on campus right there. 01:42 Interesting. 01:44 So how did you become a Global Mission pioneer? 01:46 Yeah. That was last year, 2017. 01:50 Okay. I had resigned from my job. 01:53 I was working at a bank, 01:55 and I was being pressed to do Saturday duties. 01:59 So I decided to leave. 02:01 I left and I was working in a school. 02:05 Before one of our elders in the church, 02:08 who works with the conference here decided 02:11 and started to encourage me to apply 02:13 for the open pioneering position. 02:16 So that was how I became a Global Mission pioneer. 02:20 Okay. Which I really love so much. 02:21 I really love Global... Okay. 02:23 Excellent. Excellent. 02:24 Now you are working not too far from here. 02:27 This is a project that has been going on for a little while. 02:30 But you came, 02:31 I think, you said a year ago, last year. 02:33 September, September 2017. 02:35 Tell me... You're starting a new church. 02:38 Tell me what does your day look like? 02:40 What do you do when you wake up in the morning 02:42 and what does a Global Mission pioneer, 02:45 at least in your case, 02:46 do during the day and during the week? 02:49 It sounds like you have a fairly structured program. 02:51 Yes. 02:53 We start our day by 6:00 we have devotionals together. 02:57 And you said we, 02:58 so there are four of you working? 02:59 Yeah, there are four of us. Four of you working as a team? 03:01 Four of us as a team. 03:02 We could woke up before that 03:04 to have your personal devotionals, 03:05 but by 6:10 everybody would assemble 03:09 at the sitting room then by 9:30 03:12 we go out for visitations and Bible studies, 03:16 then also by 3:30 in the evening, 03:18 we have visitations and Bible studies. 03:20 Okay. 03:21 When you say visitation, tell me what happens. 03:24 You go to a door, you knock on the door, 03:26 how does this work? 03:27 For a new contact, someone whom we never had 03:30 any previous contact, we start with prayers. 03:33 Africans love prayers. Let's pray with you. 03:35 Let's pray for business. 03:36 You see them saying, amen, amen, amen. 03:38 Okay. 03:40 So as time goes on, we introduce Bible Studies. 03:43 Okay. 03:44 Then later we will ask them, why don't you worship with us. 03:47 We have these prayer meetings on Wednesdays. 03:49 You can come and pray as well or Fridays... 03:51 About how long before you invite them like this? 03:54 It varies. 03:55 For some they are like the loamy soil. 03:58 Yeah. They easily grab the... 04:00 Yes, understand. I understand. 04:01 So it could be two weeks or one month 04:03 or there're some we're actually trying to invite right now 04:05 to the church. 04:06 Okay. Okay, good. 04:07 So then you invite them? Yes, we invite them in. 04:11 Presently now we have about 46 in average attendance. 04:15 Oh, okay. 04:17 That's a quite a jump for this project. 04:18 Yes. 04:20 'Cause they were quite a bit fewer than that. 04:22 18.5 as of January. Okay. 04:24 Then July... 04:25 This July we're having 46 as average attendance. 04:29 Wow. Okay. 04:31 And so that's on a weekly basis. 04:32 That's on Sabbath, yeah? Yeah, it's on Sabbath. 04:34 On Sabbath, yes. Wow. Okay. 04:36 Now there are some other things that you do. 04:38 You told me about 04:39 what happens on Wednesdays for you. 04:41 What happens on Wednesdays? 04:42 On Wednesdays, we use that day to rest. 04:44 You know, Jesus told disciples, "Tired and you rest a while." 04:48 Okay. 04:49 Sometimes out of zillions 04:52 or out of z we forget our bodies, our health. 04:56 We forget that our health is important. 04:58 So we use Wednesdays to fast and pray. 05:01 Okay. And rest simultaneously. 05:03 Pray for these souls, 05:04 pray for the progress of the church, 05:06 praying for our leaders, 05:07 the conference workers who employed us here. 05:10 Very good. And then Fridays what happens? 05:13 On Fridays, we have Bible studies 05:15 in the evenings. 05:16 But in the daytime, 05:18 we use that day time to reach out 05:19 to the younger to the students. 05:22 That's where I'm so passionate about 05:25 because I never had the privilege 05:27 of someone bringing the message to me. 05:29 I got converted at 19, 05:31 which I will say is too late that was 05:34 I would have had many years of experience 05:36 if I had gotten the message back then. 05:39 So I got when I'm 19, I said, I want each, 05:42 every use and contact needs, 05:45 not to have the kind of experience I had. 05:47 I see. 05:50 Global Mission pioneers 05:52 are funded by people who make donations. 05:56 They make gifts to send, 05:58 to help to pay Global Mission pioneers. 06:01 If you are going to say 06:02 something to the people that help you 06:07 to be a Global Mission pioneer by their funding, 06:09 what would you like to say to them? 06:11 Well, see, they have done one of the best is to me 06:15 because of the experiences I'm having, 06:17 the kind of experiences that Paul had, 06:19 I'm having and I feel so privileged. 06:21 I feel overwhelmed to be in this position. 06:24 So I will say thank you so much. 06:26 Thank you to the sponsors 06:28 and those who will contribute to these projects 06:32 because I know so many had contribution 06:33 as you said. 06:34 May God bless them. 06:36 Their efforts are being multiplied 06:39 in many forms. 06:41 And if they could pray for you, 06:42 what would be the best way that they could pray for you? 06:45 I would ask that let many embrace, 06:48 many of our members to embrace TMI in Nigeria. 06:51 We're having 300,000 Adventists, just had, 06:54 over 300,000 missionaries in Nigeria, 06:58 thing we're having a lesson that's about, 07:01 there'll be TMI in the coming years. 07:03 I want as many as possible to catch this visual, 07:07 to go at self supporting evangelists, missionaries, 07:10 let go lift up we're asking. 07:12 Of course, laborers are plenty, harvest are few, 07:15 because harvest is plenty, but laborers are few. 07:19 Thank you, Victor. 07:20 It was privileged spending this time with you here today. 07:23 It's just wonderful to meet the Global Mission pioneers 07:25 when I get a chance to do that. 07:27 There are so many that I never even get to meet. 07:29 So it's a real privilege for me to be able to do that. 07:32 So thank you for your work, 07:33 thank you for the dedication that you're showing. 07:38 And I just, I pray that 07:39 God is going to bless what you are doing. 07:42 Thank you so much 07:44 for spending this time with us today. 07:45 Thank you for praying for Victor 07:47 and his three other teammates 07:48 as they're planting this church that the Lord would bless them 07:51 that the Holy Spirit would be close. 07:52 I'm Jeff Scoggins from Mission 360°. 07:55 Next up, we traveled to Cyprus 07:57 to visit with two Adventist volunteers. 08:04 We want to make Jesus famous here. 08:07 This is our goal. 08:08 We want the people to see this place 08:11 as a place of refuge, 08:13 as a place where they can find a family, 08:16 as a place where they can find Jesus 08:19 or a peace in the midst of their storm. 08:22 See you. 08:24 Bye-bye. Bye-bye. 08:26 Elias and Melina left their home in Argentina 08:29 and moved to the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. 08:32 They became Adventist volunteers 08:34 and now manage a Global Mission urban center 08:36 of influence called Meeting Point. 08:39 When you are in Christ, 08:41 you are born as a missionary as well. 08:43 So that's why we decided to take this challenge 08:47 of being a missionary. 08:49 We're trying to give 08:50 all we have learned to serve others. 08:54 I think it's important to have the same method that Jesus had. 08:59 First, He related to the person, 09:01 saw their needs and then preached. 09:04 It's basically what we're trying to do, 09:07 use this method. 09:15 Following Christ method of ministry, 09:17 Elias and Melina go door to door 09:19 to find out what kind of programs 09:21 their neighbors are interested in, 09:23 then they can tailor their work to the needs of the community. 09:27 After just a few months in Cyprus, 09:29 the volunteers have started 09:30 a variety of programs at Meeting Point. 09:34 I give nutritional advice, therapeutic massages, 09:37 facial treatments, 09:38 and things to help me grow a little closer to the people. 09:43 These health programs give Elias and Melina 09:45 the opportunity to connect with people 09:47 who otherwise probably wouldn't walk 09:49 into an Adventist Church. 09:57 Although, many people on the island speak English, 09:59 Greek is even more widely spoken. 10:02 The greatest challenge here is the language. 10:05 That's why we are looking forward 10:06 to learn Greek as quickly as possible 10:08 in order to communicate better with people. 10:11 They found creative ways to communicate 10:13 with the Greek speaking visitors, 10:15 like using translation apps on their phones 10:17 or learning common Greek phrases. 10:19 When someone comes to Meeting Point, 10:21 they are greeted by a warm atmosphere, 10:23 refreshments, and books as they wait 10:26 for their health assessment. 10:28 After the assessment, visitors receive an evaluation 10:31 with lifestyle suggestions 10:33 and are encouraged to visit again 10:35 to follow up on their progress. 10:36 Meeting Point is also a place kids love. 10:40 Elias and Melina host a fun activity each week 10:43 and plan to expand the programs. 10:47 There will be a program for kids 10:48 where they will make crafts. 10:51 We will make crafts, follow recipes, 10:53 and playing games. 10:55 There's a fun part in a part where they learn something. 10:59 Today's activity involves 11:01 painting positive messages onto stones. 11:04 The kids love doing crafts like this. 11:06 But the real fun comes 11:08 when they give their creations away 11:09 to strangers on the street. 11:19 People love receiving these precious gifts. 11:22 The kids go home knowing that 11:23 they've spread some joy in the community. 11:26 But we are sure that God is blessing this activity 11:29 because we see the happiness in their faces 11:32 and we are sure that with time 11:34 and patience and love 11:36 and trying to show Jesus to them, 11:39 we will see many results. 11:40 Many people saved by this activity, 11:43 so this is something that makes us really happy. 11:52 Each Sabbath Elias and Melina 11:54 lead the worship service for the church plant 11:56 that gathers in Meeting Point. 11:58 Some of the people here attend regularly, 12:01 while others are just visiting. 12:03 Your prayers and mission offerings 12:05 have played a key role in making this happen. 12:08 I want to give our gratitude to the worldwide church 12:13 because by your support, by your help, by your tithes, 12:16 by your offerings, 12:17 we are making the difference here. 12:20 Thank you for supporting 12:21 the Seventh-day Adventist Church 12:23 and helping Adventist volunteers 12:25 like Elias and Melina 12:26 spread the love of Jesus to the world. 12:38 Well, thank you so much for joining us on Mission 360°. 12:42 And I hope that you've enjoyed our 360 degree 12:45 view of mission around the world. 12:47 We saw Global Mission in action in Hungary. 12:50 and in Nigeria, we stopped off in Cyprus 12:53 and of course, we saw the challenge of mission 12:56 right here in Ireland. 12:57 And it's so encouraging to see good things happening, 13:01 but of course, many challenges still remain. 13:03 And I want to thank you for your continuing support 13:06 of mission through your generous donations 13:09 to Global Mission, through your prayers, 13:12 through your personal participation. 13:14 It does make a difference and things are happening. 13:17 Centers of influence are being started 13:19 in large urban areas. 13:21 New groups of believers are being planted. 13:23 And please continue to pray for mission. 13:26 Well, for Adventist Mission, I'm Gary Krause. 13:30 And I hope that you can join me next time 13:32 right here on Mission 360°. 13:42 Amazing Grace 13:48 How sweet the sound 13:55 That saved a wretch 14:01 Like me 14:08 I once was lost 14:15 But now 14:18 I am found 14:22 Was blind but now 14:28 I see 14:36 Through many dangers 14:43 Toils 14:46 And snares 14:50 I have 14:53 Already 14:58 Come 15:03 T'was Grace 15:07 That brought me safe 15:14 Thus far 15:18 And Grace 15:21 Will lead me home |
Revised 2020-05-07