Participants: Jim Ayer
Series Code: MW
Program Code: MW000032
|
00:01 She went to church on a regular basis.
00:03 She prayed to icon after icon but she found no help 00:06 neither did her alcoholic husband, 00:08 but stay tuned because you're going to find out 00:10 a miraculous story. 01:14 Jerusalem is a very sacred and holy place to many faiths. 01:17 The Christians, the Muslims, the Jewish people, 01:21 even the Baha'i faith. 01:22 Right behind me is the Russian Orthodox Church 01:24 there on the Mount of Olives. 01:26 You'll notice the four smaller pinnacles 01:28 those represent the gospel messages 01:30 the four men of the gospel, the taller one Jesus Christ. 01:38 They're everywhere in Russia, they're beautiful. 01:41 Everywhere the eye looks they dazzle the senses, 01:45 they dazzle the mind, 01:47 the icons, the gold, absolutely everything. 01:51 For 1100 years, the Russian Orthodox Church 01:55 has really help sway over governments and people. 02:00 It's one of the most powerful things in all of Russia. 02:08 Nadezhda, did I say your name correctly? 02:11 Nadezhda. 02:13 Nadezhda, we're in your home church 02:15 but I didn't even know where you're church is, 02:17 what's the name of your town here? 02:22 I live in Novomoskovsk and I go to that Adventist Church. 02:27 Okay, now who are these cute little girls with you? 02:32 These are my grandkids. 02:34 Oldest one Nastia, she is three and half years old 02:38 and she has been going to church with me 02:40 for two and half years. 02:47 And my other one is almost two years old 02:50 and she comes to church with us just like the rest. 02:57 That's absolutely wonderful, 02:58 that makes you feel good doesn't it? 03:02 Of course, I am very happy. 03:05 Happy because my daughter got baptized a year ago. 03:10 So your daughter is also baptized? Yes. 03:13 Now you always wanted to be Christian though 03:16 and it sounds like you had several different jobs, 03:20 could you share a little that with me. 03:24 Thank God that He leads us through that troubles 03:28 and give us the strength in different situation. 03:32 Thank God He found us in this planet. 03:41 I was off course and didn't believe in God 03:46 but I did find Him seven years ago, thank God. 03:51 What was your life like before that, 03:52 would you share a little, not to glorify 03:55 but just so our viewers can hear a little 03:58 more of that story to know what God brought you out of. 04:07 Before I started going to church I tried to solve 04:11 all my problems with the strength that I had. 04:23 I had a lot of problems. 04:25 One of my biggest problem was in my family 04:29 my husband drunk and I tried to find a way 04:32 out of this situation. 04:44 Thank God, when I came to this church 04:47 I gain peace and now I have happiness. 04:53 It's difficult for you but I appreciate you're sharing. 04:56 Is there anything that changed in this 04:59 or how long did this go on? 05:05 When I started visiting the Adventist Church 05:09 I mean my husband did continue drinking. 05:26 We had fights in the family over Saturdays 05:30 because I wouldn't go to that garden, 05:33 I wouldn't work in the house or anything. 05:36 He restrict me to join choir practice. 05:39 He was against my studying the Bible and sometimes 05:44 he wouldn't even let me come home. 05:59 And then he understood that I will go to church either way 06:04 and he realized that for me it's a way to feel life. 06:09 And now he started changing under the Sprit of God. 06:26 I pray for him and so does the whole church, 06:30 he is now changed. 06:37 Now if I can go back just for a moment 06:39 because you said you tried to solve the problems yourself. 06:43 How do you solve those problems yourself? 06:45 What did you try and do because I know 06:46 many women have got this problem? 06:53 I tried solving this problems, we even got in fights. 07:06 I went to the Orthodox Church for help 07:09 they said this is your cross. 07:18 The Russian Orthodox Church can trace its roots 07:20 to the earliest known organized Christian community in Kiev 07:23 as early as the first half of the Tenth Century. 07:27 In 957, Olga the region of Kiev 07:30 was baptized in Constantinople, 07:32 followed by the baptism of Vladimir, Olga's grandson. 07:36 As a result Christianity was accepted as the state religion. 07:42 In 1448, the Russian bishops in Moscow 07:44 elected their own patriarch and was no longer 07:47 subject to the church in Constantinople. 07:51 As you can see AWR is frontline mission radio. 07:55 Our first priority is to travel where missionaries cannot go. 08:00 We broadcast thousands of hours each day 08:02 in seventy major languages of the world. 08:05 AWR has the capability and capacity of blanketing 08:08 almost 80% of the world's population. 08:12 Not only do we broadcast via shortwave radio, 08:15 but our signal is on over 1000 FM and AM stations 08:19 around the world as well. 08:21 Our podcast subscribers, internet users, 08:23 satellite downlinks are growing rapidly. 08:26 Evidence by the hundred thousand plus e-mails, 08:29 letters, and phone calls we receive each and every year. 08:33 Yes, AWR is your mission radio. 08:36 No walls and no borders. 08:38 For AWR that means change lives and change hearts 08:41 around the world, because God is using 08:44 the airwaves of AWR to reach people everywhere. 08:51 Here is another story of hope from Adventist World Radio. 08:56 Kaluram was a poor field laborer near Gujarat in India. 09:00 Finding his work tedious Kalu purchased a small radio 09:03 to relieve the boredom. 09:05 One day, he came across a program talking about Jesus. 09:08 It was from Adventist World Radio. 09:10 After listening for a few days, Kalu looked for a pastor 09:14 who could tell him more about Christ. 09:16 Soon convinced of the Christian truth 09:18 Kalu was baptized and became an outreach leader 09:21 in his hometown and the surrounding area. 09:24 Witnessing in predominantly Hindu towns is not always safe 09:28 and Kalu was once attacked 09:29 when approaching a town to preach. 09:32 However, through the efforts of Kalu and the volunteers 09:35 he has trained nearly 1,000 people 09:38 have accepted Christ. 09:40 Adventist World Radio shares the hope of Christ 09:44 with millions of people everyday. 09:47 For more information, visit awr.org. 09:56 Orthodox believe holds that the Orthodox Church 09:58 is Christianity's true holy and Apostolic Church. 10:02 They trace their origins directly to the institution 10:05 established by Jesus Christ. 10:08 The Orthodox Church beliefs are based on the Bible 10:11 and on tradition. 10:13 The head of the Orthodox Church is the patriarch. 10:16 Matters relating to faith are decided by Ecumenical Councils 10:20 and are considered invaluable. 10:24 The worship services are interactive between the priest 10:26 and the congregation and their liturgy 10:29 includes an elaborate system of symbols 10:32 meant to convey the content of the faith. 10:36 Icons and sacred images are illuminated by candles 10:40 and adorn every part of the church 10:42 and many homes of the parishioners. 10:46 Icons are an essential part of the Orthodox Church. 10:49 The icons are not realistic but symbolic art. 10:53 Their functions are to express 10:54 the theological teaching of the church. 10:58 Through out history icons have been controversial. 11:01 Leo III made attempts 11:03 to eliminate the veneration of icons, 11:05 and the movement intensified under Constantine V 11:08 with violent prosecution of the Monastic clergy. 11:12 After the controversy of icons 11:14 in the Eighth and the Ninth centuries 11:16 the Orthodox Church formulated 11:18 the doctrinal basis for their veneration. 11:21 Since God had assumed the material form 11:23 of the person of Jesus Christ, he could also be represented 11:26 in art forms as well. 11:29 It appears that the Eastern Orthodox 11:31 veneration of icons has survived the controversy intact. 11:36 Many Western Christians see very little difference 11:38 between veneration and worship of icons and saints. 11:43 So you were a member of the Russian Orthodox Church? 11:50 Yes, I went to the Russian Orthodox Church. 12:04 I came, I prayed, and read, 12:07 but there was still no change in my family. 12:16 So you found yourself going down, down, down, down. 12:19 At what point did that turn around? 12:28 Probably the impact of the Holy Spirit. 12:40 He even started asking me to pray for him 12:43 and at times we prayed together. 12:53 Too bad my son doesn't go to church with me 12:57 and same for my husband 12:59 but its all matter of time I think. 13:10 I am going to continue praying. God has no limit. 13:16 Your husband began asking you to pray for him? Yes. 13:22 The term icon comes from the Greek meaning image 13:25 and is associated with the religious work of art 13:28 most commonly a painting from Eastern Orthodox Christianity. 13:33 The belief is that icons bring the worshipers 13:35 into the presence of those who are in heaven 13:38 that is Christ, the saints, and the angels. 13:42 They believe that these icons do more than visually 13:45 remind the viewer of the saints in heaven 13:48 but they act as windows into heaven. 13:58 The seven branch candle stick 14:00 that gave light to the sanctuary, 14:02 they call it the Menorah. 14:03 It was destroyed long ago but the temple institute 14:06 here in Jerusalem has been commissioned to restore 14:10 all the parts of the sanctuary, why? 14:13 Because they are looking for the Messiah still to come. 14:16 Tell me the point where you heard about Bible studies. 14:22 I understand you brought some Bible studies 14:24 to share and show me. 14:30 Yes, I passed Bible study classes. 14:36 At first I passed a class called "That's what the Bible says" 14:41 before you get baptized. 14:49 Later after attending church 14:51 they offered a class called "New Life." 14:56 I was happy that these courses 14:59 were so interesting, very interesting. 15:04 How did you ever find our AWR Studio? 15:06 Did someone tell you or how did you come across, 15:09 did you listen to radio or what? 15:12 Yes, at church my sister offered me 15:15 to pass these classes, 15:19 so the expansion of my understanding 15:22 and a bigger range of you and life 15:26 and for me it was very interesting. 15:29 What does the AWR program mean to you today? 15:35 These courses were very interesting. 15:38 I was surprised that every little book was different 15:42 and had its own little topic. 15:44 It was very interesting. 15:53 When I first came to church 15:55 I didn't know the Bible very much 15:57 and they helped me better understand the word of God. 16:02 Does your husband listen to AWR with you? 16:06 I don't know if he listens or not. 16:09 Hasn't come that far yet? 16:13 Sometimes we watch Christian movies. 16:17 Now your life from praying to icons looking for help there 16:22 to a real love of Jesus Christ, 16:25 tell everybody out there that's watching, 16:27 what does--what should that mean to everybody? 16:30 I mean that's powerful that you were here 16:33 and now you're here. 16:35 Why should everybody do the same thing? 16:41 We need to find the living God 16:43 and we don't need to be searching far. 16:46 He is close to us. 16:48 He is our life just turn to Him with a prayer 16:52 and he will answer your prayer. 17:02 Right now I work at the shoe store 17:05 and a lot of people come in and I can't see 17:08 that they have a lot of problems 17:10 not just over shoes but with other things. 17:20 God gives me the chance to talk to them 17:24 and I have the opportunity to offer suggestion 17:27 for an easier life. 17:34 Now I have amazing job and my boss is Adventist 17:39 and now our store celebrates Saturdays. 17:49 We have the Ten Commandments hanging 17:51 and we listen to Christian music CD's 17:55 with all our songs and I have newspaper out. 18:03 Do we call that making waves? 18:05 You're really influencing others telling others about Jesus. 18:08 I imagine you're sharing the Bible studies in AWR also. Yes. 18:15 Got to ask one more thing, you said something earlier 18:17 about Christ is not in the eye. 18:19 Can you tell me just a little bit more 18:21 about what you meant by that? 18:23 This means that our God is a living God. 18:27 He was raised from the dead and He listens 18:31 and answers our prayers. 18:33 And to Christ every life is important. 18:37 He loves everyone, every problem, 18:40 no matter what the problem is. 18:43 With our own power we can't solve them. 18:46 To us it's not possible but to God everything is possible, 18:52 even the kids know and I just want everyone to find God, 18:58 so everyone can live in happiness and the peace, 19:03 so that they can solve the problems through God 19:07 because with God everything is possible. 19:11 Now you brought your daughter along today. 19:13 Do we get to see your daughter for a moment today? 19:15 Yes. Oh, good, good. 19:17 Well, let's look--I look forward to that. 19:20 Through the radio wave of AWR, 19:22 God is reaching people around the world. 19:26 We would like to offer you an edition of Making Wave. 19:29 It's four of our episodes brought to you 19:30 from around the world. 19:32 God speaking to hearts--the hearts 19:34 of the listeners of AWR, exciting stories. 19:37 We hope that you'll share those with friends and neighbors, 19:40 acquaintances, anyone you come in contact with. 19:42 Join us to make waves. It's completely free. 19:45 Right now the information is on your screen. 19:49 For your free no obligation DVD 19:51 write to Adventist World Radio, 12501 Old Columbia Pike, 19:56 Silver Spring Maryland 20904 20:00 or call 1-866-503-3531 20:05 or log on to www.awr.org/MWDVD. 20:12 Be sure to request offer number 10, 20:15 that number again is 1-866-503-3531. 20:23 Here is another story of hope from Adventist World Radio. 20:27 Juang lay wide awake in his dark jail cell. 20:31 A Chinese man imprisoned in Thailand. 20:34 He had no family or friends to visit him. 20:37 Recently Juang had begun listening to the programs 20:40 of Adventist World Radio. 20:42 The message of God's love and forgiveness 20:44 had so much appealed to him 20:46 because he had plenty to be forgiven off. 20:49 Force to become a child soldier in Burma when just 13, 20:53 Juang had committed many terrible sins. 20:55 He escaped into Thailand but quickly wound up in jail. 21:00 Now alone in his cell Juang had ample time to wonder, 21:05 "Would God really forgive him?" 21:10 Adventist World Radio shares the hope of Christ 21:14 with millions of people everyday in their own languages. 21:18 For more information visit awr.org 21:32 As with many doctrines, 21:33 icons have had their share of controversy. 21:36 One notable event was the use of a full face 21:39 image of Jesus on the back of coins 21:41 put in circulation by Justinian II. 21:44 About this time began the Iconoclastic Period 730-787 21:49 when Leo III ordered the removal of an image of Jesus Christ 21:53 over the entrance to the great Palace of Constantinople. 21:58 Creating free standing, three dimensional sculptures 22:00 of holy figures was resisted by Christians for many centuries. 22:05 Out of the belief that deities inhabited Pagan sculptures 22:09 and also to make a clear distinction between 22:12 Christian and Pagan Art. 22:15 To this day in obedience to the commandment 22:17 not to make graven images, Orthodox icons may never be 22:21 more than three quarter base relief. 22:29 Oh, Jim, this is my daughter Maria. 22:33 Hello Maria. Hello. 22:36 So you joined the church with your mother? Yes. 22:40 She's been telling me all these wonderful things. 22:44 Now were you always a Christian? 22:46 I can say that I was a Christian my whole life. 22:50 Maybe not officially but since last year 22:55 yes officially I am a Christian. 22:58 So how did that happen, was that because of your mother? 23:04 No my mom had no effect on me. 23:07 I push her away and I made my own decisions. 23:12 I wanted to call it my own 23:14 and I wanted to do it without her. 23:19 About seven years ago she gave me a Bible as a gift. 23:23 I picked it up for the first time. 23:26 I tried to reading it but it never worked out. 23:31 So I put it on the shelf, so it was on the shelf 23:35 for a couple of years. 23:39 Later I wanted to open it again 23:41 and about a year and half ago I opened it back up 23:46 and started reading it. 23:48 So mother, you've been making waves 23:50 and now your daughter caught in those waves too. 23:53 Yes, but it took some years to see the result. 24:00 So your daughter has been baptized now? 24:02 Yes, last year in the summer she was baptized. 24:06 It was an amazing feeling for her and for me as well. 24:15 This is absolutely wonderful. 24:16 I really appreciate you sharing the story 24:18 and I know--I know you need to go 24:20 but thank you both so much. 24:24 And you keep praying for your husband and your dad. 24:27 God can do mighty things in his life too. 24:30 Thank you. Thank you. 24:38 Thank you, wish you well and it was nice meeting you. 24:44 Nadezhda was basically a religious person. 24:48 But that meant that her only belief 24:50 that she knew was the Russian Orthodox Church. 24:53 So whenever she had a problem or a deep need 24:57 she would go to the church and pray over the icons. 25:01 Icons are pictures or objects or relics 25:03 that are believed to have spiritual power. 25:07 But you know as she did that she found that 25:09 she wasn't getting any answers to her prayer, 25:12 nothing changed and she didn't feel that connection with God. 25:17 Then she heard the voice of hope and from the voice of hope 25:21 she learned that Jesus was not in the objects. 25:26 Jesus was in the heart. 25:28 She said, Jesus is not in the eye but in the heart 25:33 and there she realized that she could pray from her heart 25:37 to the heart of God. 25:39 Nadezhda was so happy to be able to receive spiritual power 25:45 and her prayers began to be answered. 25:48 It was like Jesus who talked with the woman at the well. 25:53 The lady who argued with him about 25:55 whether we should worship in Jerusalem or in Samaria. 25:58 Jesus said the place doesn't matter, 26:00 the things we see don't matter, 26:02 what matters is it we worship in spirit and in truth. 26:07 And so let's keep the voice of hope and truth 26:12 being broadcast to the masses of this world's population. 26:16 AWR is your Mission Radio reaching around the world. 26:20 You'd like to partner with us give us a call 1-866-503-3531 26:26 or you can write us at 12501 Old Columbia Pike, 26:30 Silver Spring, Maryland 20904 26:33 or log on to www.awr.org 26:38 Thank you for watching and please join us again 26:40 for another exciting gospel adventure 26:42 because around the world AWR is making waves. |
Revised 2014-12-17