Welcome back to Amsterdam.
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And behind me you can
see the iconic Rijksmuseum,
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which is a
famous museum right here
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in the heart of Amsterdam.
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And it contains 1
million works of art,
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of course, only
about 80,000 are displayed
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at any given time.
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Next up, we
travel to South America
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to learn about a pioneer
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Seventh-day
Adventist missionary.
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My guest today
is a regional editor
00:00:30.99\00:00:33.19
of the Encyclopedia
of Seventh-day Adventist.
00:00:33.23\00:00:36.10
This new research project
00:00:36.13\00:00:37.73
is overseen by the
Office of Archives,
00:00:37.77\00:00:39.87
Statistics, and Research
at the General Conference.
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It will include
many entries of interest
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for our church around the world
00:00:45.81\00:00:47.24
including mission
stories and mission work.
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Our guest today is Pastor Plenc
00:00:50.71\00:00:53.05
from the South
American Division.
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Welcome to Mission 360 TV.
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Pastor, Plenc,
00:00:58.02\00:00:59.35
what missionary are
you going to talk to us
00:00:59.39\00:01:00.72
about today?
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When we talk about
the history of the church
00:01:04.19\00:01:06.16
in South America,
00:01:06.19\00:01:07.73
it is inevitable to remember
the first pastor of the church
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officially sent to those lands
to organize the mission work.
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And I'm talking about
Pastor Frank Westfall,
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an American missionary
who worked for many years
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in South America.
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Where and when did
this missionary serve?
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Pastor Westfall was
born in the United States.
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His family
descended from Germany,
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which is precisely the
reason why he was chosen.
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His ability to
not only speak English
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but also German
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since the people he
was going to connect
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were of German
descent, who came from Russia.
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Pastor Westfall also
studied in the United States.
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He was a student
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at Battle Creek
College in Michigan
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and worked as a
pastor and administrator
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in the United States.
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He came from
Wisconsin and was chosen to work
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in South America.
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He worked there in two stages.
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First in what they
call the East Coast mission.
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He had to carry
out the first task.
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He organized the
first churches in Argentina,
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Brazil, Paraguay.
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In Paraguay, he
worked from 1894 to 1900,
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then he returned
to the United States
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due to health issues.
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He stayed there for four years
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and then
returned to South America.
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His destination was Chile.
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And he dedicated
his time until 1920,
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1921 to work in Chile.
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And then after that
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he returned to
the United States.
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In fact, he
continued to work for a while
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in Los Angeles, California.
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So we're talking about
an international missionary
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and a true
pioneer for South America.
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What were the mission needs
in the area where he served?
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Well, he worked
in a very wide area.
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And as we said he first
worked in the United States,
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then he went to settle
in Buenos Aires, Argentina
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to contact people
or groups of people
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who were
already Sabbath keepers.
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And who had
learned about the message
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through magazines or
colporteurs who came later.
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But he already
knew about those groups
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and had contacted
them through letters.
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So he went directly to organize
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the first churches in Argentina.
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The church of Crespo in
the province of Entre Rios,
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the church of San Cristobal
in the province of Santa Fe,
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and the church of Buenos
Aires, capital of Argentina.
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Then he moved to Brazil
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where he organized the
first church in Brazil.
00:04:07.71\00:04:10.81
Then he went back to Argentina
and then he moved to Uruguay,
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where he organized the
first church in Uruguay.
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So he was a missionary
who worked in that area,
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after that he worked
for many years in Chile.
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Can you share a brief story
of Westfall's life with us?
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Pastor Westfall's
story is a very interesting
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and rich story.
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He was a highly valued,
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much loved
missionary with a family
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fully committed to
the mission of the church.
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When he went
from the United States
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to South
America as a missionary,
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he was about 35 years old.
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He had a wife and
two little children.
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Maria Thurston accompanied
him with their two kids.
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And he dedicated time
to make extensive trips
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through South America.
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He was a great
preacher, a great evangelist,
00:05:02.63\00:05:06.53
and a great
church administrator.
00:05:06.57\00:05:10.17
So he in addition to organizing
the ecclesiastical part,
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he founded the
first church institutions,
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especially the higher
education institution,
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River Plate University.
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Okay.
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In your personal opinion,
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what contribution
to Adventist Mission
00:05:32.49\00:05:34.43
did he make?
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I think that Pastor
Westfall's greatest contribution
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was making the
first contact with people
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who were
interested in the message,
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which they knew
through publications,
00:05:45.27\00:05:47.24
baptizing them,
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organizing the first churches
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and encouraging the
birth of new institutions.
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Pastor Plenc,
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what did you personally find
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inspiring about this
missionary in his life?
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Yes, Pastor Westfall
was a very inspiring person.
00:06:06.49\00:06:09.63
I believe that
what has been said
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about him in the books is true.
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He was a true pioneer.
00:06:12.77\00:06:15.74
He was an authentic pioneer.
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He was brave, daring.
He was a good preacher.
00:06:18.81\00:06:21.44
He was a good administrator.
00:06:21.48\00:06:23.78
He was a person
of great challenges.
00:06:23.81\00:06:26.78
He made huge trips
00:06:26.82\00:06:28.15
and he had the
ability to organize
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the first church institutions
00:06:29.62\00:06:31.29
and encouraged
them to go forward
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to fulfill the mission.
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He certainly was
a genuine pioneer.
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Pastor Plenc,
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thank you for introducing
us to Frank Westfall,
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and for helping us to understand
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his contribution to mission
in South American division.
00:06:53.44\00:06:57.05
Thank you very
much. My pleasure.
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Reporting for Mission
360 TV, I'm Laurie Falvo.
00:06:59.71\00:07:03.28
Next up, we traveled to Spain
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to visit a
church plant in Madrid.
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On this quiet
street in Madrid, Spain,
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you can hear the
inviting sound of worship.
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The music is
coming from this building
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where the Alcala de
Henares Adventist Church meets.
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Today is a special Sabbath.
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Some members came to church
early to decorate the stage.
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They're preparing
for a special program
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to celebrate and appreciate
the women of this church.
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It's a bit hard to
imagine this small space
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filled with 100 people,
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but as the
program is about to start
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people come in one by one.
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Before you know it,
the place is so full,
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some members even
have to stand at the back.
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Five years ago,
00:08:02.78\00:08:04.11
this church started
with only three families,
00:08:04.15\00:08:07.22
now around 100
people come every Sabbath.
00:08:07.25\00:08:10.39
Most of that growth
00:08:10.42\00:08:11.75
is because of
their young people.
00:08:11.79\00:08:15.99
The number of young
people attending grew very fast.
00:08:16.02\00:08:19.59
We started with
only seven young people,
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but we dedicated our
time to youth ministries.
00:08:26.57\00:08:29.47
Last year, eight
members were baptized
00:08:36.34\00:08:38.78
and another six
accepted Christ this year.
00:08:38.81\00:08:41.58
The youth gather
in this small room
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to study the Bible.
00:08:47.26\00:08:48.62
The bond among them is evident
as they sing praises together
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and study God's Word.
00:08:52.56\00:08:56.50
We try to be united
and be a big family.
00:08:56.53\00:09:01.04
And, of course,
we're very thankful
00:09:01.07\00:09:02.84
that the whole church
00:09:02.87\00:09:04.21
always keeps us
in their prayers.
00:09:04.24\00:09:05.94
This group finds ways
to meet for any occasion
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throughout the
week, not just on Sabbath.
00:09:20.56\00:09:23.16
This has helped the
young people grow closer.
00:09:23.19\00:09:25.96
They're not afraid to
talk about their lives
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and share their
hopes for the future,
00:09:28.06\00:09:30.00
but they make
sure to have fun too.
00:09:30.03\00:09:32.27
They even started
their own youth choir.
00:09:32.30\00:09:35.24
But as much as young people
are welcome in this church,
00:09:35.27\00:09:38.21
it has presented
them with a problem.
00:09:38.24\00:09:40.61
We have a financial
problem in the church
00:09:43.61\00:09:46.05
because almost half of us
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are young people without income,
00:09:47.72\00:09:50.99
so we don't have enough money
00:09:51.02\00:09:52.39
to keep renting
this place of worship.
00:09:52.42\00:09:55.82
This group is
praying for God's plan
00:09:55.86\00:09:58.13
for their congregation.
00:09:58.16\00:09:59.69
They want to keep growing
00:09:59.73\00:10:01.16
and there's no denying
00:10:01.20\00:10:02.53
the importance of
the youth in the church.
00:10:02.56\00:10:04.83
As youth leader,
00:10:04.87\00:10:06.20
Oliver is
encouraged by what he sees
00:10:06.23\00:10:08.27
and experiences
with the young people.
00:10:08.30\00:10:11.24
It warms my heart
seeing all these young people
00:10:11.27\00:10:14.44
come to church.
00:10:14.48\00:10:15.81
Sometimes we go
to church on Friday
00:10:15.84\00:10:17.85
and stay as long as
we can until about 11 pm.
00:10:17.88\00:10:21.98
On Sabbath, we go to church
and stay there the whole day,
00:10:22.02\00:10:26.45
enjoying worship together.
00:10:26.49\00:10:28.36
I feel very good when I see this
00:10:28.39\00:10:30.66
and it helps me
grow spiritually as well.
00:10:30.69\00:10:33.66
Please pray for the
Alcala de Henares Church
00:10:33.70\00:10:36.93
as they continue to
reach out to the young people
00:10:36.97\00:10:39.83
and everyone in their community.
00:10:39.87\00:10:41.97
Well, that's about
it for today's program.
00:10:50.35\00:10:52.21
And I hope that you've enjoyed
our 360 degree view of mission
00:10:52.25\00:10:56.08
around the world.
00:10:56.12\00:10:57.45
We visited an
urban center of influence
00:10:57.49\00:10:59.69
that is having a
positive influence
00:10:59.72\00:11:01.42
in the community
00:11:01.46\00:11:02.79
making those
connections for Jesus.
00:11:02.82\00:11:04.66
We've visited some of
these cities in Europe,
00:11:04.69\00:11:07.80
tremendous mission field.
00:11:07.83\00:11:09.63
And we've seen
how church planting
00:11:09.66\00:11:12.00
is a way that we can
share the love of Jesus
00:11:12.03\00:11:14.37
in a very practical way
that helps grow the church.
00:11:14.40\00:11:17.41
And I want to thank
you for what you are doing
00:11:17.44\00:11:19.54
to be part of
the Adventist Mission
00:11:19.57\00:11:20.91
because every time you give
a donation to Global Mission,
00:11:20.94\00:11:23.68
every time you give
your mission offerings,
00:11:23.71\00:11:25.38
every time you pray for mission,
00:11:25.41\00:11:27.35
you are making a difference.
00:11:27.38\00:11:29.05
And I want to thank you
for your continuing support
00:11:29.08\00:11:31.12
and the way that you keep
the flame of mission alive.
00:11:31.15\00:11:34.39
Well, for Adventist
Mission, I'm Gary Krause.
00:11:34.42\00:11:36.19
And I hope you
can join me next time
00:11:36.22\00:11:38.26
right here on Mission 360.
00:11:38.29\00:11:41.26
You healed my beautiful life
00:12:08.39\00:12:12.93
You saved my little child
00:12:12.96\00:12:17.23
God, You did it just to show
00:12:17.27\00:12:21.17
What a healing God you are
00:12:21.20\00:12:27.08
'Cause status now is gone
00:12:27.11\00:12:30.65
And the pain is far removed
00:12:30.68\00:12:34.25
God, all You really show
00:12:34.28\00:12:37.75
Is what a healing God You are
00:12:37.79\00:12:43.49
You are great Healer
00:12:43.53\00:12:48.13
Great Redeemer
00:12:48.16\00:12:50.87
My Doctor Sweet Savior
00:12:50.90\00:12:56.10
And with just one word
00:12:56.14\00:12:58.67
You can take control
00:12:58.71\00:13:01.24
And with just one touch
00:13:01.28\00:13:03.78
You can make me whole
00:13:03.81\00:13:06.38
What a healing God You are
00:13:06.41\00:13:12.32
What a healing God You are
00:13:12.35\00:13:15.32
So when the
doctor said They can't
00:13:19.43\00:13:23.37
Lord, You said You will
00:13:23.40\00:13:26.77
God, You said it just to show
00:13:26.80\00:13:30.24
What a healing God You are
00:13:30.27\00:13:35.94
God of miracles You of time
00:13:35.98\00:13:39.81
Hearty healings You display
00:13:39.85\00:13:43.49
God, all I want to say
00:13:43.52\00:13:46.69
Is what a healing God You are
00:13:46.72\00:13:52.79
You are great Healer
00:13:52.83\00:13:57.73
Great Redeemer
00:13:57.77\00:14:00.50
My Doctor Sweet Savior
00:14:00.54\00:14:05.97
And with just one word
00:14:06.01\00:14:08.61
You can take control
00:14:08.64\00:14:11.21
And with just one touch
00:14:11.25\00:14:13.88
You can make me whole
00:14:13.92\00:14:16.62
What a healing God You are
00:14:16.65\00:14:22.32
What a healing God You are
00:14:22.36\00:14:28.03
You are great Healer
00:14:28.06\00:14:32.93
Great Redeemer
00:14:32.97\00:14:35.50
My Doctor Sweet Savior
00:14:35.54\00:14:40.68
And with just one word
00:14:40.71\00:14:43.28
You can take control
00:14:43.31\00:14:45.78
And with just one touch
00:14:45.81\00:14:48.38
You can make me whole
00:14:48.42\00:14:51.92
What a healing God You are.
00:14:51.95\00:14:57.86