Participants:
Series Code: MTS
Program Code: MTS002803B
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00:19 Welcome back to Paris
00:21 and behind me 00:22 or more accurately around me is the Louvre, 00:25 which is the largest museum in the world. 00:28 And every year it has more than 9 million visitors, 00:31 and I think most of them are here today. 00:33 Next up, we travel to Silver Spring, Maryland. 00:36 Hi, I'm here with the special guest today, 00:39 Dr. Linda Koh, 00:41 who is the Director of Children's Ministries 00:44 for the Seventh-day Adventist Church globally. 00:47 Now, this year is a very special year 00:50 for children's ministries. 00:52 What is the special occasion this year? 00:54 Well, this year 00:55 is the Children's Ministry Department 00:57 celebrating 25 years as a food department 01:01 because it was voted at the GC session 01:03 in Utrecht in 1995. 01:05 Right. 01:06 So, at the GC session 2020, at Indianapolis, 01:10 we will celebrate 25 years of Children's Ministry 01:13 in our Seventh-day Adventist Church. 01:14 Now, of course, there are children 01:16 lot longer than that, 01:17 but that was a special emphasis then on Children's Ministries. 01:22 So tell me what's happening in Children's Ministries, 01:24 and in particular, 01:25 what are children doing for mission? 01:28 Well, children, 01:29 we not only want to nurture their faith, 01:31 and help them grow 01:33 and accept Jesus as their special friend, 01:35 but we especially want to encourage our children 01:37 to be involved in the mission of the church. 01:40 So in this last 25 years, 01:43 we started out with, you know, service projects 01:46 and things of that sort. 01:47 But it really came out to the highlight later on 01:49 as we add on Global Children's Day, 01:53 where they go out and serve the community, 01:55 about the same time as we have Global Youth Day 01:58 and so but beyond that, 02:01 we find that even during the daily life of the children, 02:04 we want to emphasize TCI. 02:07 Our church have been talking about TMI 02:09 total member involvement, 02:11 but now we say total children involvement. 02:13 So children are involved in giving Bible studies. 02:16 Children involved in fundraising, 02:19 and then be involved in mission projects 02:21 and service to the community. 02:22 So we're really excited 02:24 that our children are now really highly motivated 02:27 to feel that they are part 02:28 of our Seventh-day Adventist Church. 02:30 Now, where you said, children giving Bible studies, 02:33 so is that to the children, or to adults, or to both? 02:36 They do that. 02:37 For example, we have this girl Elena Pallino from Colombia. 02:42 She is outstanding. 02:43 She's only 11 years old, 02:45 but she loves to give Bible study 02:48 and to share Jesus with her friends. 02:50 So she joined the program in the inter-American Division, 02:54 they called it talking backpack. 02:57 With a backpack full of materials, 02:59 they go and share Jesus with others. 03:01 And she runs a small group every Friday evening. 03:04 So talking backpack 'cause it has the gospel, 03:06 all kinds of material about learning about Jesus 03:09 in a backpack, and the kids can just take that. 03:12 And they've got our children ready to go on how to witness. 03:14 Right. 03:15 And then they also inspire other children 03:17 who come to her small group. 03:19 They were given other backpacks, 03:21 and they will not and share with other friends. 03:23 So it is a really rippling effect 03:25 to see the children sharing Jesus, 03:28 not only from their small group, 03:29 but they start going out to the other places. 03:33 So they're going out, 03:34 and then they're teaching their friends about Jesus, 03:37 they then take their own backpack and go out. 03:39 Correct. Wow! 03:41 That's incredible. 03:42 So what other things are happening 03:44 in other parts of the world? 03:45 Do you have more stories you can share? 03:47 Yes, we have children, 03:48 like we have the little trumpets. 03:49 You know, we have a group in Philippines, really strong, 03:52 they are being trained how to preach, 03:55 how to go from door-to-door, 03:58 inviting people to come to evangelistic meeting 04:01 to join health courses. 04:03 And so, that's what they been doing. 04:04 So every summer, we have a young pastor 04:07 who would teach these young kids 04:09 and they preach not just memorizing sermon, 04:12 but they learn to look at the major texts, 04:15 their favorite texts, 04:16 and just talk through things 04:17 about how they can share the gospel. 04:19 And it's wonderful to see kids going door-to-door 04:22 inviting people to join, 04:24 you know, VOP lessons 04:26 and, you know, health talks and other, that's really great. 04:29 You talked about one of the goals 04:30 of Children's Ministry is to nurture children 04:33 and to help them grow in their faith. 04:35 And it just seems to me 04:36 that when you are sharing your faith, 04:39 at least for me, 04:40 whenever I've had to teach a Sabbath School lesson, 04:42 it's like, I've learned so much, 04:44 and it really helps me personally 04:45 in my spiritual life. 04:47 So I think it's really great that kids are being nurtured, 04:50 but also doing mission themselves. 04:53 Now, Children's Ministries, you know, in the 25 years, 04:58 now, how long have you been involved 05:00 in Children's Ministry? 05:01 Well, I have been the director here at General Conference 05:03 for 16 years. 05:05 But before that year, you were also involved? 05:06 Yes, before that I spent 10 years. 05:07 So say the total time. 05:09 Oh, total time. 05:10 Well, 10 years and 16, 26 and coming to 27. 05:13 So you were 10 when you started? 05:16 No, I was always a college teacher for 22 years. 05:21 And then I love children 05:22 so but when I was called to the division, 05:24 I really enjoy and we moved to the Philippines 05:26 to work at our division 05:28 at Southern Asia Pacific Division. 05:29 Okay. 05:30 So in some ways, 05:32 children's ministries and youth ministries together, 05:34 you've been involved for a long time. 05:36 Now, you talked about the Global Children's Day. 05:39 Now you said that's going out and doing community service. 05:42 So we're talking globally, right? 05:45 Yeah. So how does that work? 05:47 Well, it moves from our different 13 world divisions 05:50 down to our unions and conferences. 05:53 So we encourage each of them 05:54 to continue to bring children now, 05:57 have special projects. 05:59 So I see South Africa, very busy, 06:01 getting kids involved 06:02 and going out to feed the elderly and the homeless. 06:05 And, you know, and they prepare food, 06:07 even taught them how to prepare food. 06:09 So it was really great when I saw them, 06:10 I was so inspired to see children working in a kitchen 06:14 and trying to get food ready 06:16 and pack them and go out and gather clothes. 06:19 And, you know, it's really good, 06:20 even those who are not very well developed countries. 06:24 You know, it's not just a ritual 06:25 to encourage them to share. 06:26 But whatever we have that Jesus said, 06:29 to the one of the least of these my brethren. 06:31 Wow. 06:32 And when it comes to children getting involved, I mean, 06:38 for me, I know that's inspiring to see 06:39 that they can make a difference. 06:41 And I think for them too to see 06:42 that they can make a difference. 06:45 If you could ask people to pray in one sentence, 06:47 what would you ask them to pray for? 06:49 Well, I would ask them to pray that children be filled 06:52 with the power of the Holy Spirit 06:54 to just go out and reach out 06:56 and sharing the Gospel Commission. 06:59 And sharing the Gospel Permission 07:02 and reach out, yeah. 07:04 You know, let's definitely pray for the children. 07:06 And, Linda, thank you so much for taking the time to join us. 07:10 I think it's wonderful 07:12 that it's been 25 years of children's mission, 07:14 I mean, Children's Ministry. 07:15 And I hope that that we continue 07:17 to recognize the importance that children have, 07:20 not only today, but in the future of ministry. 07:21 Exactly, because tomorrow's leaders, 07:25 tomorrow's soul missionaries begin with today's children. 07:29 Begin with today's children. 07:30 I couldn't have said it better myself. 07:32 Thank you, Linda. Thank you. 07:33 And thank you for joining us. 07:35 I'm Rick Kajiura for Mission 360. 07:56 Next up, we travel back to West Africa 07:59 to learn more about this quarter's 08:00 13 Sabbath Offering project. 08:03 Darlington loves playing basketball 08:05 but even though his school has a basketball court, 08:08 he'd rather play at other schools 08:09 because his school's court is dangerous. 08:12 Welcome to the Buchanan Seventh-day Adventist School 08:15 in Liberia. 08:16 Today it's color day, 08:18 students leave their uniforms at home 08:19 and wear colorful outfits 08:21 as they happily offer their lunch money 08:23 to raise funds for a school project. 08:25 This year, their goal is to raise enough money 08:27 for a new bulletin board 08:29 in the school's elementary area. 08:31 Although Darlington came in full uniform today, 08:33 he's still contributed to the project. 08:35 With over 600 students ready to help, 08:38 the bulletin board is sure to be built. 08:41 Darlington though longs for something more 08:43 than just a bulletin board. 08:45 He's a hard working grade 12 student 08:47 who hopes to study International Peace 08:49 and Conflict Resolution someday. 08:52 While he studies hard and has hopes for the future, 08:54 he still has an interest in things 08:56 like playing basketball. 08:57 Unfortunately, his school's basketball court 09:00 is not very safe to play on. 09:02 It is a gravel, it's not on level ground. 09:05 It hurts many people. 09:07 So where anyone 09:09 who volunteers us to construct a new basketball court, 09:12 then I will play ourselves play basketball. 09:16 The school has plans for a recreational area 09:19 which includes both basketball and volleyball courts. 09:23 Along with this are plans 09:24 to renovate a science laboratory 09:26 and an unfinished auditorium 09:28 to be used as a multipurpose space. 09:30 During big events like graduation, 09:32 the school spends a lot of money 09:34 to rent other auditoriums 09:35 because they don't have a place of their own. 09:38 With new chairs, 09:39 the necessary equipment and a few finishing touches, 09:42 this school could have a functional auditorium 09:45 making it the biggest auditorium in Buchanan. 09:48 It will alleviate most of the problem 09:50 we have with congestion. 09:54 So it will have a great impact for our students 09:56 where we have an environment 09:58 where can assemble freely together as a school. 10:01 More and more parents choose to send their children 10:04 to the Seventh-day Adventist school in Buchanan 10:06 because of the high quality education they provide, 10:09 and the good values they teach. 10:11 A portion of your 13th Sabbath Offering 10:14 this quarter 10:15 will help construct a new recreational area, 10:17 a science laboratory and an auditorium here. 10:21 Please pray for the Buchanan Seventh-day Adventist School 10:24 in Liberia 10:25 as they minister to more students 10:27 provide quality education 10:29 and teach them about the love of God. 10:32 Thank you for supporting the 13th Sabbath Offering. 10:57 Well, that's about it for today's program, 10:59 and I hope that you've been inspired 11:01 and challenged by our 360 degree view of mission 11:04 around the world. 11:05 We've seen how children 11:07 are taking an active part in mission. 11:09 We've seen how your 13th Sabbath Offering projects 11:12 are making a difference 11:13 in different parts of the world. 11:15 And I want to thank you for making this happen. 11:18 If it wasn't for your donations to Global Mission, 11:20 if it wasn't for your prayers, your personal involvement, 11:23 centers of influence would not be 11:25 being established in cities around the world. 11:27 New groups of believers wouldn't be starting 11:30 in different parts of the world. 11:31 So thank you so much for your continuing participation 11:35 in Adventist Mission. 11:36 For Adventist Mission, I'm Gary Krause. 11:38 And I hope that you can join me next time right here 11:41 on Mission 360. 11:53 Currently I feel so small 11:56 Smaller than my trials 11:58 They threaten and intimidate 12:01 My faith has seen some miles 12:03 Because, there has never been a day 12:06 When You have not come through 12:08 My history makes it known 12:11 That You will prove that You're You 12:15 You're never just enough 12:18 You are more 12:20 It won't be my strength 12:24 But Yours 12:25 Forever the same always 12:30 The ages declare 12:33 "You never change!" 12:35 O Father, You're Faithful now 12:39 And You always will be 12:44 Your love is timeless 12:57 Your love has never let me stay 13:00 Worried and afraid 13:02 You use the circumstances that I'm in 13:05 To make me free and brave 13:07 You spin me round to stand and face 13:10 The mountains in my way 13:13 You smile with me as it moves 13:15 When I sing out Your name 13:19 You never just enough 13:22 You are more 13:24 It won't be my strength 13:28 But Yours 13:29 Forever the same always 13:35 The ages declare 13:37 "You never change!" 13:40 O Father, You're Faithful now 13:44 And You always will be 13:48 Your love is timeless 13:54 You will never cease to be 13:56 My every daily bread 13:59 You will always be to me 14:01 My chosen fear in life 14:05 No other pleasure in this world 14:07 Could ever be as great 14:10 Your loving name 14:16 Forever the same always 14:21 The ages declare 14:23 "You never change!" 14:26 O Father, You're Faithful now 14:30 And You always will be 14:34 Forever the same always 14:39 The ages declare 14:41 "You never change!" 14:44 O Father, You're Faithful now 14:48 And You always will be 14:52 Your... |
Revised 2020-09-11