Well, Night
Light is coming to you
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live from Puerto Rico
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and it's been a
beautiful time here, hasn't it?
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We have had a great time.
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The church is lovely,
the people are lovely,
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the island is lovely,
the weather is lovely,
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it's been lovely all
around, as I say, "todo bien."
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Yeah, I don't
know what that means
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but I will tell you
that we have really enjoyed
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ministering here because
that's what we've been doing.
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Night by night
we've been having our
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"Anchors of Truth" series.
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I preached on the opening night,
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John Dinzey last night,
and then John Lomacang tonight.
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You're on tomorrow
night. Tomorrow night.
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And so be sure to
tune in for those.
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They're at 6 P.M. central time
during this particular series.
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We've moved things
around a little bit
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because we are two hours ahead.
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Of the rest of our
family there in Illinois,
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so we've had to
make some adjustments.
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In fact, it's 10 P.M. here.
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And this is beyond my
bedtime, I guarantee you,
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because-- I'm ready
to take a little rest.
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So if we seem a little sluggish,
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please understand
we've a long day today
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and it's still
going into tonight
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and we're not exactly people
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that are accustomed to
working after 10 o'clock.
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No, not in southern Illinois,
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we tend to go to
bed kind of early.
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That is true and also correct.
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We need to
introduce-- we've got our buddy
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at the other end of
the table who's gonna
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help us out a
little bit, Jorge Jaque
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who is the production
manager for 3ABN Latino.
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He wears another hat tonight,
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he's going to be our
translator, our traductor,
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for those who have a
little trouble with English,
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as we have a lot of
trouble with Spanish. Yes.
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He may help us
even as he helps them.
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Yes, and he is our
friend and our buddy
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and we
appreciate Jorge very much.
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And, you know, 3ABN
Latino has had a very important
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ministry here in
Puerto Rico for a long time.
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Pastor John Dinzey
has been coming here
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and I think that he is certainly
well known here in Puerto Rico.
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Yeah. One of the
things we want to do tonight
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is give you a
taste of the flavor
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of the work of
God on this island.
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As we've come here,
we've done some production,
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Jorge has been here, as we said,
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John he has been here,
the work is going great guns.
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We want to give a little flavor
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of some of the
things that are happening.
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We'll meet some of the
conference and union officials,
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we'll talk about the
school, the hospital,
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this beautiful
church and the media center.
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So we're gonna be
running people in and out,
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back and forth,
sitting in that empty chair
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just between Jim and Jorge there
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because we got
a lot to show you.
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Maybe you will be inspired
as you listen to their stories.
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We've got some
testimonies, some miracles,
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a number of
really wonderful things
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that are happening here
on the island of Puerto Rico.
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And the
Adventist church is doing
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a powerful missionary work here.
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We're gonna talk to
the leaders of the church
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and some of the
members and hear their stories
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and testimonies, and I
think you'll be inspired
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when you hear and know and
see and understand the work
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that is being done here because
God is doing a great work here
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and certainly a great
work around the world.
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You know, the amazing
thing is what we have seen,
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it is tremendously successful,
the work of God is, here.
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But it's right on
the verge of explosion,
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of really taking off,
and that's exciting to us.
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We think with the --with media
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and with the
evangelism that they do,
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with the whole
situation they have set up here,
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the organization and how it
has functioned all these years.
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We're going to
see, in Puerto Rico,
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a great explosion and
see the work finished here,
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I believe in a very short time.
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You know, you
talk about explosion.
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The first night we
came, I drove up with Jorge
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in the car and I let
him drive my rental car
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and you know we'll takeoff--
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the way he was
flying up this hill,
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I thought we are gonna
take off there for a while.
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But he knows this
hill very, very well.
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Want to give you
just a little vista,
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a little look at where we are.
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We're in the Bella Vista church.
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I guess it's about
two thirds of the way
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up this
mountain, I can dare say.
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Yeah. Beautiful views.
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Joel, if you run
that-- beautiful views,
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this is heading up the hill.
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This is where Jorge and I
flew up couple of nights ago.
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And the church
is sort of perched
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on the hill next to the
school, next to the hospital.
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They're all sort
of tucked together.
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Really, really
beautiful views as you can see,
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just kind of a nice place to be
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and you got a little
rai shower every afternoon.
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Yeah. In Mayaguez
which is kind of nice.
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It cools it off.
It does cool it off.
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This is the church,
just a nice looking building.
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Yes. And we've had a great time.
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And we're gonna talk
about the media center
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that is housed here,
that's a satellite truck
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that we are broadcasting from,
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now even as you
speak, just below the church.
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This is sort of
looking out from the balcony
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of the church
itself, and beautiful views
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out to the ocean out there.
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So this is a nice place to be,
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kind of a nice place
to spend the Sabbath, Jim.
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Yes, it really is. Yeah.
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And I've been here before,
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I came about 10
years ago and visited--
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we were very
impressed with this whole city.
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You know, sometimes we tease
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a little about
Adventist ghettos.
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Well, this is
quite a ghetto. Yeah.
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And it's-- it's very, very nice.
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Beautiful place,
tropical, and the climate great
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and it's just a beautiful
place, as you see this church.
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We're right now on the
platform here of the church.
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It is a beautiful edifice. Yes.
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We've sort of
stolen our anchors set,
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which is sort of
up behind us still,
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but we're on the
platform and a beautiful--
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Jorge, we haven't
let you talk too much.
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Give us your impressions,
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you've been here a
lot more and lot longer.
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I preached in this
church about 12 years ago,
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but you've done
some production here,
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the flavor of the people,
the times, as you see it.
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Well, I would like to, first,
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to list
something that you missed
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and your list of
lovely things in Mayaguez
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and Puerto Rico
is the lovely food.
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Amen. I agree. We
had plenty of that.
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And yeah, we have
been working since probably
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2 years ago with the
Bella Vista media center,
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here, located at
the Bella Vista church.
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And, well, we have
accomplished, really--
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as we are really
impressed because there's
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a lot of good
talent, good people,
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willing to go the extra mile
and do some program with that.
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They support us,
they bring music,
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preaching,
teaching, several things
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that we have been able to do
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and it's a joy
working with this media center
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with all the
leadership of this church.
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Pastor German Parra
has opened the church
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and we are
going to have him here
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in this table and we'll enjoy--
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I am sure that we're
gonna continue enjoying
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more productions
made from this church.
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Jim, this, as you
know, is an unusual situation
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because you have a
church that is undertaking to do
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a media center, out of a church.
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It's unusual to
have that kind of vision
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and the kind of
funding to do that,
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as you well know, it's
not a cheap enterprise.
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But they have
undertaken to do that
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and have begun to produce things
already out of this church.
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And there's a radio station
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that we're gonna talk
about in a little bit,
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so this is quite
an enterprise here.
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Yes, it really is, and
we were on radio yesterday.
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Well, we talk
about that little later
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because they do have
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a great radio
ministry here on the island.
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So we've got some
exciting things to talk about.
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Yeah, and I think
we got to launch into--
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let's call, first,
the Union President.
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He's kind of the head
guy here, the El Jefe.
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This is Jose Alberto
Rodriguez, I like that.
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Jose Alberto Rodriguez,
President of the Union,
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the Puerto Rican Union
and we're gonna ask him
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come up and we'll talk
to him just a little bit.
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All right. Welcome.
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Pastor, good to have you.
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First of all, we want to ask,
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what is the
membership of your union?
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The membership in
Puerto Rico is 37,000 members.
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Praise the Lord.
And how many churches?
00:09:03.16\00:09:06.30
And we have 325
churches and congregations.
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Praise the Lord.
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See, Jim, the figures we
had are already old stuff.
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Yeah. Stuff I
got off the website.
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Right. He's grown since then.
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Yeah, we can praise the
Lord for that. That's right.
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Well, you can talk into the mike
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because they'll
hear it both ways.
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I want to know
how long he's been
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the president of the union.
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Five and half years, already.
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Praise the Lord. All right.
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How old is the
Puerto Rican union?
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When did the work start here?
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We have around 12 years since
we were organized as a union.
00:10:07.53\00:10:11.02
Before, we were part
of the Antillean Union.
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In Puerto Rico we're
divided in four conferences.
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The Bella Vista Hospital
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and also the Adventist--
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the Antillean University
that belongs to the union.
00:10:37.77\00:10:42.20
And also a clinic
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and we also--
we're gonna have tonight
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the executive
director of the hospital.
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And he will give
us more information
00:11:03.83\00:11:05.21
regarding the hospital
and work in the community.
00:11:05.24\00:11:10.23
Our island is a very
missionary-minded church.
00:11:14.18\00:11:17.89
And every Puerto Rican
00:11:23.34\00:11:24.71
has a loving soul,
by the grace of God.
00:11:24.74\00:11:28.71
And that makes us a
little bit different
00:11:33.91\00:11:35.90
from other
countries in the world.
00:11:35.93\00:11:38.50
And you may be asking yourselves
00:11:42.59\00:11:45.03
about the membership here.
00:11:45.06\00:11:46.73
And our first act of--
00:11:49.76\00:11:54.13
loving act is
church the American people.
00:11:54.16\00:11:57.51
Because we baptized our members.
00:12:00.32\00:12:03.22
And then they
immigrate to the United States.
00:12:05.84\00:12:08.50
We have around
25,000 Adventist members
00:12:11.83\00:12:16.11
in United States
from Puerto Rico.
00:12:16.14\00:12:19.62
So he's sending missionaries
to the United States.
00:12:19.65\00:12:22.26
We're not sending
missionaries, they are.
00:12:22.29\00:12:24.09
Many of them will come back,
00:12:30.44\00:12:31.82
but some others
will stay there forever.
00:12:31.85\00:12:34.17
So our membership is
kind of flowing membership.
00:12:38.92\00:12:42.94
But even so this is
somewhat problematic.
00:12:49.11\00:12:53.28
Our church is still
very missionary oriented.
00:12:53.31\00:12:58.56
In the concept of big cities.
00:13:01.40\00:13:04.23
In this context,
world church has launched
00:13:13.97\00:13:17.36
this project of
reaching big cities
00:13:17.39\00:13:21.81
over 5 million population.
00:13:21.84\00:13:24.69
In our island we have
3.9 million population.
00:13:29.17\00:13:32.88
And we have converted this
3.9 million in one big city.
00:13:37.77\00:13:44.41
We want to reach them and
evangelize those 3.9 millions.
00:13:47.98\00:13:51.96
So that big city will be
reached by the gospel of Christ.
00:13:56.15\00:13:59.38
That's why we have
a systematic program,
00:14:04.90\00:14:07.48
evangelistic program,
that we have in place.
00:14:07.51\00:14:10.35
Ninety percent of our churches
have satellite antennas.
00:14:15.21\00:14:19.43
We launched-- we inaugurated
00:14:24.26\00:14:25.96
that part of our
evangelism last Sabbath
00:14:25.99\00:14:30.13
with the coming
of Elder Ted Wilson.
00:14:30.16\00:14:32.49
And on March
21, well, we started
00:14:38.21\00:14:40.87
an evangelistic campaign
with Elder Alejandro Bullon.
00:14:40.90\00:14:44.06
That will be broadcasted to
all the churches in Puerto Rico.
00:14:47.62\00:14:50.63
And so instead of
having an audience
00:14:54.49\00:14:56.36
of 20,000 people in a coliseum.
00:14:56.39\00:14:58.53
We'll be in the local churches.
00:15:00.45\00:15:02.17
So the brethren can benefit
of this in their local churches.
00:15:06.21\00:15:10.53
And that cycle would continue
in 2013 with Pastor Rojas.
00:15:15.38\00:15:19.32
And Pastor Robert Costa.
00:15:21.14\00:15:22.58
And then we'll end on
2014 with Pastor Mark Finley
00:15:28.34\00:15:32.40
here in the west
sides of Puerto Rico.
00:15:32.43\00:15:33.80
I wanted to stop for a
second because he's got--
00:15:33.83\00:15:35.61
I like that idea of
using-- looking at the whole
00:15:35.64\00:15:40.17
island as one big city and
attacking it as one big city
00:15:40.20\00:15:45.01
and you've got some
heavy hitters coming in.
00:15:45.04\00:15:48.74
If I can use that
terminology, I mean,
00:15:48.77\00:15:50.14
you've got
Bullon, you got Costa,
00:15:50.17\00:15:52.00
you got Mark Finley, you
got our buddy Jose Rojas.
00:15:52.03\00:15:54.09
So truly your union
is missionary-minded
00:15:55.88\00:16:01.52
to reach all of Puerto Rico.
00:16:01.55\00:16:02.97
We've an idiosyncrasy
problem in this country.
00:16:11.30\00:16:14.56
With the groups that
come in on a yearly basis.
00:16:17.83\00:16:20.57
And although Puerto
Rico is a very small island.
00:16:25.02\00:16:28.48
We have many countries of
the world represented here.
00:16:31.00\00:16:35.14
It is a little
bit difficult to reach
00:16:41.82\00:16:43.94
all those people with
the gospel of Jesus Christ.
00:16:43.97\00:16:47.55
So we are preparing
different ministries
00:16:54.30\00:16:56.54
of the union to
reach all these people.
00:16:56.57\00:16:59.03
So the evangelistic
campaign with Pastor Rojas,
00:17:07.84\00:17:11.01
Pastor Bullon, Pastor
Costa, and Pastor Mark Finley
00:17:11.04\00:17:13.78
will be to
evangelize those local churches.
00:17:13.81\00:17:16.80
And the
interesting and nice part
00:17:27.75\00:17:32.11
about this whole
idea is that you, 3ABN,
00:17:32.14\00:17:36.30
will be part of this project,
reaching out to many people
00:17:36.33\00:17:41.62
and by broadcasting
this event to the world.
00:17:41.65\00:17:47.56
You know, Camille and I
have driven around quite a bit
00:17:47.59\00:17:51.78
and we drove by
the new union office.
00:17:51.81\00:17:55.24
And it's a very
beautiful office.
00:18:06.45\00:18:08.28
Last Sunday we
had the opportunity
00:18:11.72\00:18:13.58
to dedicate this new building.
00:18:13.61\00:18:16.86
We are preparing
mentally and emotionally
00:18:25.76\00:18:28.80
for that harvest of the 10%.
00:18:28.83\00:18:31.54
One day, we want to be
300,000 Seventh-day Adventists.
00:18:34.73\00:18:37.92
Praise the Lord.
By the grace of God.
00:18:37.95\00:18:39.66
And I'll tell you,
that is good stewardship
00:18:39.69\00:18:43.47
because it's in a good location,
on a major thoroughfare.
00:18:43.50\00:18:48.50
It is advertising to
everybody that drives by,
00:18:48.53\00:18:53.18
plus it has great value,
when you ever wanted to sell it,
00:18:53.21\00:18:59.39
it'll be worth a lot
more even than the investment.
00:18:59.42\00:19:02.29
So having looked at it I say,
"Wow, that's good thinking."
00:19:02.32\00:19:06.06
Amen. I like that.
00:19:06.09\00:19:07.64
We never thought
about selling that,
00:19:13.33\00:19:15.47
but we're gonna buy
everything around it.
00:19:15.50\00:19:18.08
We've got some
video of that office.
00:19:18.11\00:19:20.17
We want to run
that now so you can see,
00:19:20.20\00:19:21.72
it's a really beautiful office
and that's the new building
00:19:21.75\00:19:25.82
and it's on a main thoroughfare,
you cannot miss it.
00:19:25.85\00:19:28.42
Really beautiful
building. Right. Yeah.
00:19:28.45\00:19:30.88
When did you start to
build this, when was it begun?
00:19:30.91\00:19:33.91
A year and half
ago. So it went up fast.
00:19:35.69\00:19:39.16
In 18 months--
00:19:40.37\00:19:41.74
We have in 18 months took us
00:19:45.13\00:19:47.01
to have the
building completely finished.
00:19:47.04\00:19:50.08
We have an
amphitheater inside to--
00:19:55.30\00:19:57.56
we're gonna use it for seminars.
00:19:57.59\00:19:59.37
And we have a
space dedicated for ADRA.
00:20:02.12\00:20:04.99
And also we have a
space allocated for
00:20:12.30\00:20:15.10
the virtual university of
the inner American division.
00:20:15.13\00:20:20.08
And also we have a space to
do cooking shows in the future.
00:20:23.35\00:20:29.26
We want this building
to speak to the people.
00:20:32.43\00:20:34.84
There's a space
that we've always
00:20:42.99\00:20:44.75
want to keep is the room
that we named "Alberto Fischer."
00:20:44.78\00:20:50.01
He was the first missionary
who step in this land.
00:20:53.43\00:20:57.11
And he rests here in Mayaguez.
00:20:59.28\00:21:01.48
We'll never forget
because he never went back home.
00:21:05.79\00:21:09.18
When Jesus come he
will be resuscitated
00:21:14.51\00:21:19.60
and will go heaven with us.
00:21:19.63\00:21:21.44
And also the building will have
a big screen in the outside.
00:21:26.27\00:21:30.91
There will be
continually put in programs
00:21:35.86\00:21:39.45
that will show
what we-- our beliefs.
00:21:39.48\00:21:42.11
Announce the second coming,
00:21:48.00\00:21:49.51
the Ten
Commandments, salvation plan--
00:21:49.54\00:21:52.47
The opportunities for
evangelism are just limitless.
00:21:54.61\00:21:58.79
They really are. It's
unbelievable and I saw it.
00:21:58.82\00:22:01.61
The minute I saw that building,
00:22:01.64\00:22:03.29
I knew God's gonna use
that to help in the explosion
00:22:03.32\00:22:07.57
here of our membership in
Puerto Rico. I believe that.
00:22:07.60\00:22:13.10
Some day we are hoping to be
able to inaugurate a TV studio.
00:22:16.75\00:22:21.59
We're giving the first steps.
00:22:23.55\00:22:25.05
So we hope 3ABN will
be part of the project.
00:22:31.92\00:22:34.99
All right. Amen.
00:22:35.02\00:22:36.39
Thank you so much.
00:22:38.27\00:22:39.64
Pastor, thank you for spending
a little bit of time with us.
00:22:39.67\00:22:43.35
We see that your
building is missionary minded,
00:22:43.38\00:22:46.92
Jim, I think you can see that,
00:22:46.95\00:22:48.32
it's not just
an office building.
00:22:48.35\00:22:49.83
Oh, no. It's a missionary set.
00:22:49.86\00:22:51.23
See, this is what
I love about it, C.A.
00:22:51.26\00:22:53.79
It's not stuck off somewhere
where people can't see it.
00:22:53.82\00:22:57.79
Amen. Yeah.
00:22:57.82\00:22:59.19
Sometimes we build
offices out in the country
00:22:59.22\00:23:01.80
or if they'd even
built it here, by the school,
00:23:01.83\00:23:04.62
I think it would have been bad.
00:23:04.65\00:23:06.58
But they built it
right on the thoroughfare
00:23:06.61\00:23:09.42
where everybody can see it.
00:23:09.45\00:23:11.94
And so it is a
witness all day long,
00:23:11.97\00:23:16.28
every day and
they're even continuing
00:23:16.31\00:23:19.24
to make that a greater witness.
00:23:19.27\00:23:21.53
So I just believe
God's really been leading us.
00:23:21.56\00:23:24.33
Pastor Rodriguez,
thank you so very much.
00:23:24.36\00:23:26.28
We are gonna call the treasurer
00:23:27.84\00:23:29.21
who had to pay for
that building. Yeah.
00:23:29.24\00:23:32.03
Luis Rivera Maldonado to
come up and talk with us.
00:23:32.06\00:23:35.14
Somebody had to find
the money for that building
00:23:35.17\00:23:37.26
and try to exercise that vision.
00:23:37.29\00:23:38.85
And I also found
out that Pastor Luis
00:23:38.88\00:23:41.58
is also the
communication director,
00:23:41.61\00:23:43.41
that's my old job in the
conference, for the union.
00:23:43.44\00:23:48.33
So this is not a tall man,
but mighty in stature I think.
00:23:48.36\00:23:51.83
All right. Yes.
00:23:51.86\00:23:54.70
Pastor, it's
good to have you here.
00:23:54.73\00:23:56.10
Yes, and you are the treasurer
00:23:56.13\00:23:57.57
and also
communications director.
00:23:57.60\00:23:59.79
Yeah, it's my
pleasure. All right.
00:23:59.82\00:24:02.53
Well, listen, give us a
little bit of the overview.
00:24:02.56\00:24:07.00
I understand that when they were
00:24:07.03\00:24:11.50
having the president
of the general conference
00:24:11.53\00:24:13.44
here and you had
sort of the opening
00:24:13.47\00:24:15.72
that the banker
was there as well
00:24:15.75\00:24:17.96
and they said this
building is paid for.
00:24:17.99\00:24:21.94
Is that right?
00:24:21.97\00:24:23.34
That is correct.
God has blessed us.
00:24:34.60\00:24:37.48
In this building
we have zero debt.
00:24:37.51\00:24:40.96
You were mentioning about
stewardship a minute ago. Yes.
00:24:40.99\00:24:45.36
The location of our building
00:25:01.53\00:25:03.50
is a very privileged
one and that is important.
00:25:03.53\00:25:08.19
The bankers were very interested
00:25:16.81\00:25:18.99
and even loan us the
money to build the building.
00:25:19.02\00:25:23.49
But we made an
analysis and we decided no,
00:25:27.78\00:25:30.57
we have to pay it off.
00:25:30.60\00:25:32.10
All the money that
goes to pay for interest,
00:25:41.97\00:25:44.81
we can use it in a
different project like--
00:25:44.84\00:25:47.42
Like communications projects.
00:25:47.45\00:25:49.71
Amen. Yes, it is.
00:25:49.74\00:25:51.29
I noticed that your building
is fairly near a large mall.
00:25:51.32\00:25:56.55
Was that intentional?
00:25:56.58\00:25:57.95
Because you get a lot of
traffic going by your building.
00:25:57.98\00:25:59.83
You got a great big mall
00:25:59.86\00:26:01.33
right across from your building.
00:26:01.36\00:26:03.41
Thousands of cars go
by and because that is
00:26:09.65\00:26:14.03
a very important avenue
corridor in the country.
00:26:14.06\00:26:16.95
Everyone has to go through--
00:26:24.65\00:26:27.06
by the building when we
take our kids to school.
00:26:27.09\00:26:30.48
Many people ask us,
"What were you had in mind
00:26:42.97\00:26:45.56
when you build this building?"
00:26:45.59\00:26:46.96
This is a representation
of what we believe.
00:26:46.99\00:26:49.47
You know, we've been
here just since Monday
00:26:51.22\00:26:55.44
and we have
driven by the building
00:26:55.47\00:26:57.54
maybe as many as 10 times
just in that length of time
00:26:57.57\00:27:02.22
and we weren't trying
to drive by the building.
00:27:02.25\00:27:04.88
It's just that
if you go somewhere,
00:27:04.91\00:27:06.97
you're gonna use that highway.
00:27:07.00\00:27:08.44
You know, use that road.
00:27:08.47\00:27:09.84
This is one of the main
corridors of this island.
00:27:20.99\00:27:23.52
People who go from the west
toward the east or vice versa,
00:27:23.55\00:27:26.36
they have to use that corridor.
00:27:26.39\00:27:31.01
When people who are vacationing,
00:27:45.49\00:27:47.70
they have to use that corridor
00:27:47.73\00:27:49.48
to go to the most nicest places
00:27:49.51\00:27:52.44
like Cabo Rojo, nice beach area.
00:27:52.47\00:27:56.72
Now your other hat that
you wear, communications--
00:27:56.75\00:28:00.70
as treasurer and also
as the communications,
00:28:00.73\00:28:03.58
can you share some of the things
00:28:03.61\00:28:05.02
that you're
planning or have been doing
00:28:05.05\00:28:08.08
in the matter of communications?
00:28:08.11\00:28:09.86
Being a young person,
God gave me the opportunity
00:28:15.79\00:28:20.80
to be involved in
communication and in media.
00:28:20.83\00:28:24.89
I had some experience
in radio and television.
00:28:29.56\00:28:33.15
And I made an
agreement with the Lord,
00:28:39.29\00:28:41.82
if I had a challenge like
this, I was going to accept.
00:28:41.85\00:28:46.50
As soon as the church invited me
00:28:55.45\00:28:57.69
to be in charge of
the treasury department,
00:28:57.72\00:28:59.92
I immediately also talked
00:28:59.95\00:29:02.04
to the communication director
at that time, to make plans.
00:29:02.07\00:29:05.92
But unfortunate
Pastor Fred D'Souza
00:29:15.70\00:29:17.86
who had a very important
part in our community--
00:29:17.89\00:29:20.75
the development
of the communications
00:29:20.78\00:29:22.33
in our island, he retired.
00:29:22.36\00:29:25.19
And that point, the board
decided that I could serve.
00:29:30.27\00:29:35.57
We've been dreaming
since there--ever since.
00:29:39.13\00:29:41.62
Dreaming about
what God can do to us.
00:29:43.47\00:29:46.98
You know, C.A. you've
been a communications director,
00:29:47.01\00:29:50.78
I've been involved with
communications in a conference.
00:29:50.81\00:29:54.08
Could you imagine that if
you were also the treasurer,
00:29:54.11\00:29:58.15
what are the advantages
that would have been, huh?
00:29:58.18\00:30:02.51
Because it seems like every time
00:30:02.54\00:30:04.17
a communications
director comes up with a plan,
00:30:04.20\00:30:07.01
the treasurer says
we don't have the money.
00:30:07.04\00:30:08.99
But if you are the treasurer,
then you find the money.
00:30:09.02\00:30:11.39
Yeah, if you are the treasurer
and a communications director--
00:30:11.42\00:30:12.85
Right, That's a
pretty good combination.
00:30:12.88\00:30:15.01
It really is. It really is.
00:30:15.04\00:30:16.46
Yeah, I really do.
00:30:16.49\00:30:18.18
So we-- this is exciting.
00:30:18.21\00:30:21.65
And we really are-- we
just cannot get over the work
00:30:21.68\00:30:27.14
here in Puerto Rico
00:30:27.17\00:30:28.54
and how excited we are
to see what's happening
00:30:28.57\00:30:31.81
and how we feel that you
have built a beautiful base
00:30:31.84\00:30:37.60
and now you're ready to really
move forward in a dramatic way.
00:30:37.63\00:30:42.42
I believe you're gonna see
00:30:42.45\00:30:43.82
the membership
of this whole island
00:30:43.85\00:30:45.71
doubled in a very short time.
00:30:45.74\00:30:47.85
I really believe
that with all my heart.
00:30:47.88\00:30:49.93
That's-- it's actually our goal.
00:31:06.79\00:31:08.90
We would like this church should
be duplicated, tripled. Amen.
00:31:08.93\00:31:12.69
And through the work
of the communications
00:31:12.72\00:31:15.80
and publications, we
want to reach everybody
00:31:15.83\00:31:18.14
in this island. Okay.
00:31:18.17\00:31:19.54
Pastor Luis, I want
to ask you one question
00:31:19.57\00:31:20.94
before we let you go.
00:31:20.97\00:31:22.34
As a communications director--
In my wife's country in Panama,
00:31:22.37\00:31:26.26
the Adventists have a very good
reputation among the people.
00:31:26.29\00:31:30.03
They are trusted,
they are respected.
00:31:30.06\00:31:31.69
Is it the same way
here in Puerto Rico
00:31:31.72\00:31:33.14
when you say the name
Seventh-day Adventist?
00:31:33.17\00:31:34.54
Is there a level
of trust and respect?
00:31:34.57\00:31:36.56
What is the reputation
of the Adventist community
00:31:36.59\00:31:38.49
on the island of Puerto Rico?
00:31:38.52\00:31:39.89
Of course, every time that
we have knock at the--any door,
00:31:47.50\00:31:51.09
we have the joy to
have a good reception
00:31:51.12\00:31:54.53
because we have
the good reputation
00:31:54.56\00:31:56.88
among the people here.
00:31:56.91\00:31:58.28
After the missionaries came,
00:32:08.39\00:32:10.04
the first time,
here in Puerto Rico,
00:32:10.07\00:32:13.08
God has given us many
other options and opportunities.
00:32:13.11\00:32:17.22
And the education and health--
00:32:20.79\00:32:23.54
And those institutions--
00:32:30.41\00:32:32.12
education and
health institutions
00:32:32.15\00:32:34.39
have opened doors
for us in the community.
00:32:34.42\00:32:38.08
And another advantage is
that our church has dedicated
00:32:44.67\00:32:48.11
its effort to
the service of the--
00:32:48.14\00:32:49.64
And they opened
doors by the grace of God.
00:32:51.13\00:32:53.33
Praise God. Pastor,
thank you so very much.
00:32:53.36\00:32:56.20
Thank you. That's
right. That's right.
00:32:57.38\00:33:03.41
I've always tried
to make the treasurer
00:33:03.44\00:33:04.89
my best friend in the office
00:33:04.92\00:33:06.55
and it doesn't
always help that much.
00:33:06.58\00:33:11.23
In case Max Trevino is watching,
00:33:11.26\00:33:14.12
he will probably
remember the requests
00:33:14.15\00:33:16.11
that I would make
often to him as a treasurer.
00:33:16.14\00:33:19.09
But he didn't say yes as
often as I wanted him to.
00:33:19.12\00:33:24.25
Well, we'd like to
see Moses Primo coming in,
00:33:24.28\00:33:26.53
have Brian scratching
his head every now and again.
00:33:26.56\00:33:28.42
Moses coming down the hall--
00:33:28.45\00:33:29.82
Listen, we all scratch
our heads if Moses comes.
00:33:29.85\00:33:32.33
Moses is one of
the most valuable men
00:33:32.36\00:33:34.71
anywhere in any ministry.
00:33:34.74\00:33:36.90
And--but we have really--
he has the great ability
00:33:36.93\00:33:43.86
to know exactly where to
spend God's money, and he does.
00:33:43.89\00:33:48.50
He cares more for the
money that anybody I know of.
00:33:48.53\00:33:50.84
He spends wisely.
00:33:50.87\00:33:52.24
But this is--salvation
is very expensive ministry.
00:33:52.27\00:33:55.54
Yeah. It really is.
00:33:55.57\00:33:57.18
Well, tell me
about our next guest.
00:33:57.21\00:33:59.25
Well, we talked about--
00:33:59.28\00:34:01.34
Pastor Luis talks
about the many opportunities
00:34:01.37\00:34:03.66
that the church has here
on the island Puerto Rico.
00:34:03.69\00:34:06.07
And, of course, one
is in the area of health.
00:34:06.10\00:34:08.08
We have been, in fact,
have eaten at the hospital,
00:34:08.11\00:34:11.02
the Bella Vista Hospital.
00:34:11.05\00:34:13.05
And our next
guest is Jesus Nieves
00:34:13.08\00:34:15.96
who is the director, executive
director of the hospital.
00:34:15.99\00:34:19.49
And, you know, you've got this
three-pronged ministry, Jim.
00:34:19.52\00:34:22.14
You've got the
church next to the school,
00:34:22.17\00:34:24.60
next to the hospital. Right.
00:34:24.63\00:34:26.00
All three of them are doing
00:34:26.03\00:34:27.40
a great
missionary work for the Lord.
00:34:27.43\00:34:28.80
And the medical work
is--the spirit of prophecy
00:34:28.83\00:34:31.13
speaks to the right hand
00:34:31.16\00:34:32.95
of the ministry of
God's people. Surely does.
00:34:32.98\00:34:35.48
And reaching
out, helping people,
00:34:35.51\00:34:38.68
this is the work of
Jesus Christ on this earth.
00:34:38.71\00:34:41.26
Preaching the gospel, but
also healing and helping those.
00:34:41.29\00:34:46.07
So we welcome you.
00:34:46.10\00:34:47.78
We're happy to have you with us.
00:34:47.81\00:34:49.18
Thank you. Thank you.
00:34:49.21\00:34:51.19
Now the first question,
the obvious question is
00:34:51.22\00:34:52.78
how big is the
hospital, how many beds?
00:34:52.81\00:34:56.62
Hospital had
182 beds. Wow, okay.
00:35:01.59\00:35:04.84
So it's a fairly--not a
clinic. This is a hospital.
00:35:04.87\00:35:06.48
It's a hospital. Yes, yeah.
00:35:06.51\00:35:09.56
Yeah. And I saw what-- it
looks like you're expanding.
00:35:09.59\00:35:11.54
Are you building on?
00:35:11.57\00:35:12.94
I saw some
additional work going on.
00:35:12.97\00:35:17.16
Currently, we are in a process
of expanding the hospital.
00:35:21.56\00:35:25.41
Because the hospital is
now short in its capacity
00:35:34.20\00:35:38.74
to help everybody and especially
in this current times,
00:35:38.77\00:35:44.51
the people who
come to the hospital
00:35:44.54\00:35:46.81
are increasing in number.
00:35:46.84\00:35:48.21
And that's the
reason why we have short
00:35:58.66\00:36:01.46
and then long term program
00:36:01.49\00:36:03.56
to increase the
capacity of this hospital.
00:36:03.59\00:36:08.66
We are hoping this year we
can add 20 new--28 new beds.
00:36:14.14\00:36:19.36
All right. Well,
that's a beautiful place.
00:36:19.39\00:36:22.87
And we have noticed
every night as we come,
00:36:22.90\00:36:26.53
I've come here to the church,
00:36:26.56\00:36:28.38
that your parking
lot is full, overflowing.
00:36:28.41\00:36:33.09
And there are
people who are driving,
00:36:33.12\00:36:35.33
parking along the road even
00:36:35.36\00:36:37.35
because there's
not adequate room.
00:36:37.38\00:36:39.14
There's so many
people coming to the hospital
00:36:39.17\00:36:41.99
as patients and as visitors.
00:36:42.02\00:36:44.75
Yes, correct. Yes.
00:36:44.78\00:36:46.66
This is a very well known,
has its prestige in this area,
00:36:53.53\00:36:59.76
especially in the
west side of the island.
00:36:59.79\00:37:03.00
The community sees the hospital
00:37:09.58\00:37:11.25
as an institution
of high reputation
00:37:11.28\00:37:14.56
and a service to the community.
00:37:14.59\00:37:16.44
And the tradition is, obviously,
00:37:22.59\00:37:24.59
this hospital was
founded by missionaries.
00:37:24.62\00:37:28.54
And that still stays
with the new generation,
00:37:32.61\00:37:36.12
those who are following
the steps of the founders.
00:37:36.15\00:37:42.67
So it seems, you
know, the hospital
00:37:42.70\00:37:44.07
has a very strong reputation
00:37:44.10\00:37:45.69
in the community
and that you treat
00:37:45.72\00:37:47.56
a number of community residents.
00:37:47.59\00:37:48.96
It's not just an
Adventist hospital,
00:37:48.99\00:37:50.58
but you're reaching
out into the community.
00:37:50.61\00:37:53.08
So the hospital, it is always
an Adventist Institution--
00:37:59.42\00:38:03.46
We're visited by
all different creeds
00:38:10.72\00:38:13.73
and all kind of people
come to our hospital. Yeah.
00:38:13.76\00:38:18.46
While we're rolling that video,
00:38:18.49\00:38:19.86
I want to ask you, while
we take a look at this video,
00:38:19.89\00:38:23.27
does the hospital
have any special programs
00:38:23.30\00:38:26.70
to meet community needs
00:38:26.73\00:38:28.10
or to reach out to the
community in any particular way?
00:38:28.13\00:38:32.94
The hospital has a
program to reach the community.
00:38:37.19\00:38:40.75
In different avenues.
00:38:42.24\00:38:44.50
So health
clinics in the community.
00:38:48.99\00:38:52.92
And another avenue is
the chaplain department.
00:38:55.63\00:38:59.65
Because the chaplain
doesn't only offer a spiritual
00:39:05.42\00:39:10.67
but also emotional support.
00:39:10.70\00:39:13.66
And also the
chaplain is a department
00:39:22.65\00:39:26.90
that help the community
00:39:26.93\00:39:28.94
in identifying
their needs as a service.
00:39:28.97\00:39:33.40
This is the way that we can--
00:39:48.81\00:39:50.18
we are able to reach
different part of the community,
00:39:50.21\00:39:54.92
different religions, and creeds
00:39:54.95\00:39:56.41
and all
different kind of people.
00:39:56.44\00:39:59.47
Excellent, excellent.
00:39:59.50\00:40:00.87
We saw in the video
that was just playing,
00:40:00.90\00:40:03.17
cancer, wound care, a number
of things that are specialized,
00:40:03.20\00:40:09.10
that the hospital takes care of.
00:40:09.13\00:40:12.36
One of the goals, short
term goals for our hospital,
00:40:19.81\00:40:24.20
is to orient or direct the
hospital to the specialization.
00:40:27.86\00:40:35.70
And the--with services that
no other institution offers.
00:40:35.73\00:40:41.20
And the community
need it and it's requiring.
00:40:41.23\00:40:44.78
That is the reason why we have
developed this cancer institute
00:40:55.99\00:40:59.61
and rehabilitation
institute and others.
00:40:59.64\00:41:03.57
You know we--of
course, your purpose
00:41:03.60\00:41:07.11
is to have good medical care.
00:41:07.14\00:41:09.99
However, as an
Adventist hospital,
00:41:10.02\00:41:14.05
is it-- is it very obvious
00:41:14.08\00:41:17.69
that you have a spiritual
approach in the hospital?
00:41:17.72\00:41:22.44
We have expanded not
only the care of health care.
00:41:32.70\00:41:37.47
but also, we are involved
in the growing of the church.
00:41:43.04\00:41:47.04
And what is-- which
why we're doing this?
00:41:48.04\00:41:50.40
We have established a program
through the chaplain department.
00:41:53.42\00:41:58.01
We have contracted Bible worker,
00:42:01.07\00:42:04.54
full time Bible worker.
00:42:04.57\00:42:06.14
And his job is
00:42:08.95\00:42:12.20
to follow up all this--
00:42:18.84\00:42:21.07
anybody who has been in
contact with the chaplain,
00:42:21.10\00:42:24.02
he will follow up with that.
00:42:24.05\00:42:25.42
We give them Bible
studies in their homes.
00:42:28.27\00:42:31.08
In one year we
have baptized 40 people.
00:42:34.87\00:42:37.79
Praise the Lord. Wow, very good.
00:42:37.82\00:42:39.19
This is the way that
the hospital is involved
00:42:43.54\00:42:46.00
in the spiritual care of--
00:42:46.03\00:42:47.63
Amen. Amen.
00:42:47.66\00:42:49.52
So the hospital
is actually again
00:42:49.55\00:42:52.04
an outreach
missionary center. Yes.
00:42:52.07\00:42:53.90
That doesn't just heal the body
but heals the soul dare we say.
00:42:53.93\00:42:58.63
And directly involved
in 40 baptisms in a year.
00:42:58.66\00:43:02.63
And we have no idea
indirectly. Correct.
00:43:02.66\00:43:05.69
How many they're involved with.
00:43:05.72\00:43:07.72
Very good, excellent.
Yeah, thank you so very much.
00:43:07.75\00:43:13.97
You're doing a great work.
00:43:14.00\00:43:15.37
You know, I want to
ask one more question
00:43:15.40\00:43:16.83
before that mike down,
00:43:16.86\00:43:18.44
because we pass
between your hotel,
00:43:18.47\00:43:20.63
another hospital that
people actually pass hospitals
00:43:20.66\00:43:24.46
sort of down on the
floor, on the table of land
00:43:24.49\00:43:27.74
to come up on the hill
to the Adventist hospital
00:43:27.77\00:43:30.28
is that--is the
reputation that strong
00:43:30.31\00:43:33.53
that people would pass by other
hospitals to drive up the hill--
00:43:33.56\00:43:36.06
Yeah, they drive by at least
00:43:36.09\00:43:37.58
one or two other
hospitals. Yeah, to get up here.
00:43:37.61\00:43:39.67
And there's no bus line
coming up here, Jim. No, no.
00:43:39.70\00:43:41.71
And no train. No.
00:43:41.74\00:43:44.43
If you want to get
here-- You got to be coming.
00:43:44.46\00:43:46.50
You got to be coming, right.
00:43:46.53\00:43:48.77
We're Adventist--
00:43:52.13\00:43:53.92
And the reason why
people comes all the way up here
00:43:59.97\00:44:04.32
and doesn't stop in other places
00:44:04.35\00:44:06.32
because our reputation,
00:44:08.26\00:44:09.63
our quality service.
00:44:10.81\00:44:12.56
And the only way that we
can compete with the competition
00:44:16.37\00:44:19.70
is to offer quality service that
are better than what they offer.
00:44:22.47\00:44:27.52
And offer services
that they don't offer.
00:44:29.36\00:44:31.99
Right. Praise God.
00:44:32.02\00:44:33.64
Amen. Praise God.
00:44:33.67\00:44:35.04
Doing a great,
great work. You are.
00:44:35.07\00:44:37.75
Thank you so very, very much.
00:44:37.78\00:44:39.70
God bless you. And God bless.
00:44:39.73\00:44:43.90
You know, I want to-- I
want to move into education.
00:44:43.93\00:44:48.26
And I want to get this number.
00:44:48.29\00:44:49.66
I got to put my glasses
on and yield to age here.
00:44:49.69\00:44:52.42
Ileana Montalvo Garcia,
00:44:52.45\00:44:57.31
she is director or the principal
of the Bella Vista School,
00:44:57.34\00:45:00.92
but while she is coming,
00:45:00.95\00:45:02.43
Joe, I want you to get
that video of the university
00:45:02.46\00:45:07.15
because we didn't
get a representative
00:45:07.18\00:45:08.55
from the university.
00:45:08.58\00:45:09.95
But I want to just talk a second
about the university also.
00:45:09.98\00:45:12.26
Then we'll talk
about the school.
00:45:12.29\00:45:14.39
And as we look at this--
00:45:14.42\00:45:15.79
because I performed a
wedding of some students
00:45:15.82\00:45:19.69
from that
university few years ago
00:45:19.72\00:45:21.59
and had spent many
hours up on that campus.
00:45:21.62\00:45:24.76
When I was sort of
hanging around there,
00:45:24.79\00:45:27.22
it was still a college.
It is now university, Jim.
00:45:27.25\00:45:30.48
And really great
students, great kids
00:45:30.51\00:45:34.34
and just a
wonderful, wonderful school.
00:45:34.37\00:45:40.12
And we, you know, very
pleased to see the work
00:45:40.15\00:45:45.12
that the school is doing.
00:45:45.15\00:45:46.52
And, of course, one of
the feeder institutions
00:45:46.55\00:45:48.47
to this university
is the grade school
00:45:48.50\00:45:52.85
and high school
that is right here
00:45:52.88\00:45:56.15
on this sort of tri campus
of the church, the school,
00:45:56.18\00:46:00.19
and the hospital on
this beautiful mountain. Yes.
00:46:00.22\00:46:04.41
And so we welcome the
principal that's joining us.
00:46:04.44\00:46:08.42
And this is a
beautiful educational complex.
00:46:08.45\00:46:13.55
When you consider grade school
00:46:13.58\00:46:16.04
and academy and university,
00:46:16.07\00:46:19.35
it's really,
it's quite impressive.
00:46:19.38\00:46:21.45
It really is. Thank you so much.
00:46:21.48\00:46:24.21
Yes, we do try to
make it very significant
00:46:24.24\00:46:28.85
and for the student,
for the community also.
00:46:28.88\00:46:32.11
We have 325 students in our
Bella Vista Adventist Academy.
00:46:32.14\00:46:38.63
And we have pre-k
through 12th grade.
00:46:38.66\00:46:43.15
Okay. Yes.
00:46:43.18\00:46:44.55
All right, 325
students. Yes, sir.
00:46:44.58\00:46:47.35
All right, that's
impressive. Yeah, it is.
00:46:47.38\00:46:49.99
At the end of the day,
you see all the cars lining up
00:46:50.02\00:46:52.07
and people taking their
children to go back down.
00:46:52.10\00:46:53.61
It's really-- Exactly, yes, yes.
00:46:53.64\00:46:55.49
That's quite impressive.
00:46:55.52\00:46:57.09
They line up
like an hour before.
00:46:57.12\00:46:59.78
To come and get
their young people.
00:46:59.81\00:47:01.94
Now what is your background?
00:47:01.97\00:47:03.81
Are you native of Puerto Rico?
00:47:03.84\00:47:05.59
Yes, I am. Yes, I
am from San German.
00:47:05.62\00:47:08.11
I don't know if
you have been there.
00:47:08.14\00:47:10.44
So you stay at
home to teach? Yes.
00:47:10.47\00:47:13.17
I was a teacher
for 20 something years.
00:47:13.20\00:47:16.97
It's my best years.
00:47:17.00\00:47:18.37
I have always
thought and I know, Jim,
00:47:18.40\00:47:20.32
you share this that teaching
in the classroom is ministry.
00:47:20.35\00:47:25.00
Oh, yes. You know,
it's true ministry.
00:47:25.03\00:47:27.48
Of the highest
order. Of the highest order.
00:47:27.51\00:47:30.12
What kinds of things
are you doing in the school
00:47:30.15\00:47:32.69
to not only giving them
reading, writing, arithmetic,
00:47:32.72\00:47:35.86
but to make sure that they come
up with a hold on Jesus also?
00:47:35.89\00:47:40.40
Well, we concentrate in
mind, body, and character.
00:47:40.43\00:47:45.82
That is the main thing
that we try to emphasize.
00:47:45.85\00:47:50.58
The mind, the body,
00:47:50.61\00:47:52.94
and the spiritual
part of the student.
00:47:52.97\00:47:55.81
Nonetheless we also
concentrate in service learning.
00:47:55.84\00:47:59.25
We do have to
prepare our students
00:47:59.28\00:48:03.00
for the service in this
life and also for the future.
00:48:03.03\00:48:08.58
So we do have a strong
Bible spiritual emphasis
00:48:08.61\00:48:13.49
in all our classes.
00:48:13.52\00:48:15.40
And we believe that we
are preparing our students
00:48:15.43\00:48:18.73
for eternity through the
vehicle of the academics.
00:48:18.76\00:48:22.96
So that's basically it.
00:48:22.99\00:48:24.41
We are preparing
them for eternity.
00:48:24.44\00:48:27.54
The vehicle math, science,
English, that's our vehicle.
00:48:27.57\00:48:33.10
But the goal really
is eternity. I'm curious.
00:48:33.13\00:48:37.08
When I was chairman of our
school academy in New York,
00:48:37.11\00:48:41.91
we had a large number of
non-Adventist young people
00:48:41.94\00:48:46.13
attending our school.
00:48:46.16\00:48:47.53
There were some who
didn't like that idea.
00:48:47.56\00:48:49.17
But there were others who said
00:48:49.20\00:48:51.64
the community sees the
value of this education.
00:48:51.67\00:48:54.47
So we shouldn't
prohibit them from coming.
00:48:54.50\00:48:56.33
What's your ratio of--
00:48:56.36\00:48:57.73
do you get a large number of
non-Adventist children coming?
00:48:57.76\00:48:59.88
We have 73% of SDAs
and the rest are non SDAs,
00:48:59.91\00:49:04.68
which is a blessing. Yes.
00:49:04.71\00:49:06.41
We've had baptisms, we've
had students that have left,
00:49:06.44\00:49:12.31
you know, for their senior year.
00:49:12.34\00:49:14.71
And afterwards they remember us
00:49:14.74\00:49:17.20
and they bring
their children back to us
00:49:17.23\00:49:20.03
and still they are
not members of the church,
00:49:20.06\00:49:22.64
but they value the
Seventh-day Adventist education.
00:49:22.67\00:49:26.42
So it's amazing how even
that 30% we make a difference
00:49:26.45\00:49:33.11
for the lives of those. Right.
00:49:33.14\00:49:34.80
Praise God, praise God. I
got to ask you a question.
00:49:34.83\00:49:36.88
Kind of tricky one. Okay.
00:49:36.91\00:49:38.29
Is there any student
that stands out in your mind
00:49:38.32\00:49:42.53
as an example of one who
may have come in a little tough,
00:49:42.56\00:49:45.71
little resistant, but
through the grace of God
00:49:45.74\00:49:48.20
and the teachers and the
work, you saw them come around
00:49:48.23\00:49:50.91
and really come
closer to the Lord?
00:49:50.94\00:49:53.72
Well, sir, there--many come
to my mind, but there was one.
00:49:53.75\00:49:58.68
There was one that
in one of our classes,
00:49:58.71\00:50:03.52
he says, "I've learned to pray
00:50:03.55\00:50:07.45
while I was a
student here in the academy."
00:50:07.48\00:50:11.34
And the interesting thing
is that you wouldn't think
00:50:11.37\00:50:15.50
that he was a
praying young man, you know?
00:50:15.53\00:50:20.25
But definitely he learned
how to communicate with God.
00:50:20.28\00:50:23.88
He was-- he had
his moments with God
00:50:23.91\00:50:27.51
even though it didn't show
most of the time, but he did.
00:50:27.54\00:50:32.37
And he stands in my mind, yes.
00:50:32.40\00:50:34.65
Yeah. Praise the Lord.
00:50:34.68\00:50:36.05
Well, that's
really-- pays great dividends
00:50:36.08\00:50:40.13
to see young
people change like that.
00:50:40.16\00:50:43.86
Because that--even though he may
have appeared rough and tough
00:50:43.89\00:50:47.80
and maybe a little worldly,
he began to find the Lord
00:50:47.83\00:50:53.74
and somewhere, sometime,
somehow that will pay off.
00:50:53.77\00:50:58.18
It will, it
will. It really will.
00:50:58.21\00:50:59.76
We also have a
strong music ministry.
00:50:59.79\00:51:02.20
Well, like for example we
have three different bands,
00:51:02.23\00:51:05.44
Elementary,
Intermediate, and Advance.
00:51:05.47\00:51:07.94
And almost 80 students
from our 300 and something
00:51:07.97\00:51:12.43
belong to the band.
00:51:12.46\00:51:13.94
We have choirs,
elementary and secondary choir
00:51:13.97\00:51:17.64
and about 90 students.
00:51:17.67\00:51:19.88
So you can see that most or
more than half of our students
00:51:19.91\00:51:23.92
are involved in the
music ministry of the school.
00:51:23.95\00:51:27.17
So we are very happy for
that. Praise the Lord. Amen--
00:51:27.20\00:51:30.94
You know, as a teacher,
00:51:30.97\00:51:33.77
as a pastor when
I'm finished preaching,
00:51:33.80\00:51:35.90
I think the highest
compliment someone could say
00:51:35.93\00:51:38.30
is not that I enjoyed the
sermon or something like that,
00:51:38.33\00:51:41.82
but that I saw Jesus today
00:51:41.85\00:51:43.74
or you made me see
myself in a new light
00:51:43.77\00:51:45.98
or you made me see the
love of Christ in a new light.
00:51:46.01\00:51:48.69
What would be the
highest compliment
00:51:48.72\00:51:51.25
that a student could pay
00:51:51.28\00:51:52.65
to a principal of a
school, like yourself?
00:51:52.68\00:51:57.43
I think that he saw mercy.
00:51:57.46\00:52:02.14
You know, there
was-- there have been times
00:52:02.17\00:52:05.42
that mercy is not deserved,
if you know what I mean,
00:52:05.45\00:52:10.93
but still we would
try to give a chance.
00:52:10.96\00:52:15.22
We believe that the Lord
is working in mysterious ways.
00:52:15.25\00:52:19.70
And those chances and that mercy
00:52:19.73\00:52:22.91
that is coming from above. Yes.
00:52:22.94\00:52:27.03
Yes, it pays.
00:52:27.06\00:52:29.17
Sometimes, we want to put out
justice rather than mercy and--
00:52:29.20\00:52:34.69
That is true.
And--but mercy is so beautiful
00:52:34.72\00:52:39.59
when it makes a
change in a life.
00:52:39.62\00:52:42.64
And so many of us
have either received it
00:52:42.67\00:52:45.71
or we have seen
others receive it.
00:52:45.74\00:52:48.91
We've been in the position
to be able to extend it.
00:52:48.94\00:52:52.20
And when you see that
it does pay off at times,
00:52:52.23\00:52:56.45
very graciously and wonderfully,
it is very rewarding, isn't it?
00:52:56.48\00:53:01.23
It is very rewarding.
00:53:01.26\00:53:02.63
And God help us to
find that very fine balance
00:53:02.66\00:53:07.96
between justice and mercy
00:53:07.99\00:53:09.46
because justice is also a way
00:53:09.49\00:53:12.17
to learn of God's
character. Yes, right.
00:53:12.20\00:53:14.90
But we thank the Lord
00:53:14.93\00:53:16.99
that the times that
we have applied mercy,
00:53:17.02\00:53:20.31
it has been valued.
It has been cherished.
00:53:20.34\00:53:24.86
You know, we--
when I was chairman
00:53:24.89\00:53:27.02
of the board of
Ozark Adventist Academy,
00:53:27.05\00:53:30.05
we had a principal Charles Dart.
00:53:30.08\00:53:32.30
He had been principal
of a number of academies,
00:53:32.33\00:53:34.84
well known in
educational circles.
00:53:34.87\00:53:38.20
Charles exemplified
a merciful principal
00:53:38.23\00:53:42.90
who loved his people so much.
00:53:42.93\00:53:45.22
I tried to see him this weekend
00:53:45.25\00:53:47.87
when we were for a very
short time in Loma Linda
00:53:47.90\00:53:51.76
and went by the
place where he resides
00:53:51.79\00:53:56.03
but he was in the hospital.
00:53:56.06\00:53:57.90
And it was some distance away.
00:53:57.93\00:53:59.44
We were not able to go see him,
00:53:59.47\00:54:00.84
but Charles, if
you're watching we love you
00:54:00.87\00:54:03.98
and we're praying for
you. And we do try to see you.
00:54:04.01\00:54:07.70
But he was a man and
his students will tell you
00:54:07.73\00:54:12.21
that even when he
had to apply justice,
00:54:12.24\00:54:15.66
it was with
tears in his eyes. Yes.
00:54:15.69\00:54:18.47
That sometimes he had
to discipline in a way
00:54:18.50\00:54:22.92
that would maybe separate
00:54:22.95\00:54:24.97
a young man or young
woman from the school,
00:54:25.00\00:54:27.66
but I believe that
God's educational system,
00:54:27.69\00:54:32.53
even though it's
flawed, we are all flawed.
00:54:32.56\00:54:36.33
The pastoral
ministry is flawed as well.
00:54:36.36\00:54:39.67
I still believe it's the best.
00:54:39.70\00:54:41.82
God's system of education
in the Adventist church.
00:54:41.85\00:54:46.74
I've had both public school
00:54:46.77\00:54:49.30
and church school
education in my life.
00:54:49.33\00:54:53.29
And I will tell you,
it was the church school
00:54:53.32\00:54:56.30
that may the impact
on me, spiritually. Amen.
00:54:56.33\00:54:59.34
Amen for that.
00:54:59.37\00:55:00.74
And whenever we
go to the churches,
00:55:00.77\00:55:02.78
we say exactly the same thing.
00:55:02.81\00:55:04.51
Our teachers
are not perfect. No.
00:55:04.54\00:55:06.78
This school
system is not perfect.
00:55:06.81\00:55:08.61
But it's the best
place for your children. Yes.
00:55:08.64\00:55:11.27
And we welcome
them. Yes. That's right.
00:55:11.30\00:55:13.31
And I think that's an
important statement she made.
00:55:13.34\00:55:15.45
It's not perfect.
We're not in heaven yet.
00:55:15.48\00:55:17.87
We're still on earth. Exactly.
00:55:17.90\00:55:19.27
But I believe, I know you agree
00:55:19.30\00:55:21.89
and, Ileana, I'm sure
you agree that church school,
00:55:21.92\00:55:24.92
religious education,
Seventh-day Adventist education
00:55:24.95\00:55:27.06
is better than
public school education
00:55:27.09\00:55:30.43
because you've got
a religious context
00:55:30.46\00:55:32.66
and component that you just
don't have in public school.
00:55:32.69\00:55:35.80
And by the way, I
believe in our system.
00:55:35.83\00:55:38.35
I also believe
in home schooling.
00:55:38.38\00:55:40.08
However, remember this, home
schooling's not perfect either
00:55:40.11\00:55:45.21
because the home isn't perfect.
00:55:45.24\00:55:47.32
And so what we have
to do is keep striving
00:55:47.35\00:55:52.15
to know about Jesus
and to lift Him up. Amen.
00:55:52.18\00:55:55.96
And our educational
system, it is the best.
00:55:55.99\00:56:01.13
And also the friends that
they will make in an academy,
00:56:01.16\00:56:05.22
for instance, will be
friends for a lifetime.
00:56:05.25\00:56:08.23
For a lifetime.
Oh, yeah. That's true.
00:56:08.26\00:56:09.97
I look back at friends
that we even have to this day,
00:56:10.00\00:56:13.10
C.A., people like Harry Grimes
and Dan Buckingham and so forth.
00:56:13.13\00:56:17.78
These are guys
that I met in school,
00:56:17.81\00:56:21.02
in an Adventist school,
00:56:21.05\00:56:22.90
and they are still my friends
after all these many years.
00:56:22.93\00:56:26.30
Last year we celebrated
00:56:26.33\00:56:29.46
the 50 years of the
academy. Oh, that's good.
00:56:29.49\00:56:31.73
And we had several
of our alumni coming in.
00:56:31.76\00:56:36.69
And they have
stayed in communication
00:56:36.72\00:56:40.36
after several years like
you're saying. That's right--
00:56:40.39\00:56:42.67
And they love the
academy and they love the--
00:56:42.70\00:56:45.84
And I also met my wife
Camille in one of our schools
00:56:45.87\00:56:49.12
and we've stayed in
communication for a long time--
00:56:49.15\00:56:53.24
Yes. I'm sure you did.
00:56:53.27\00:56:55.91
Happy for that. Yeah.
00:56:55.94\00:56:57.31
We are coming down to
the close of our first hour.
00:56:57.34\00:57:00.12
In the second hour we
want to spend a little time
00:57:00.15\00:57:02.11
or a good amount of it.
00:57:02.14\00:57:03.51
I'm talking
about the media center
00:57:03.54\00:57:05.04
here at Bella Vista Church.
00:57:05.07\00:57:06.76
They are doing
some wonderful things.
00:57:06.79\00:57:08.29
And this may
give you information
00:57:08.32\00:57:10.37
and surely information on
what you can do in your church
00:57:10.40\00:57:13.85
to reach out to the community.
00:57:13.88\00:57:15.83
Ileana, I want to
thank you so very, very much
00:57:15.86\00:57:18.20
for telling us about
this wonderful school.
00:57:18.23\00:57:21.63
320 plus children, it's a big
school as Adventist schools go.
00:57:21.66\00:57:26.44
But--I'm told
you're doing a fine job,
00:57:26.47\00:57:28.53
and the community is
really being benefited.
00:57:28.56\00:57:30.14
Thank you so much
for the opportunity.
00:57:30.17\00:57:31.64
It's been a pleasure. Thank you.
00:57:31.67\00:57:33.66
Well, listen, we're going to
be back in just a little bit.
00:57:33.69\00:57:36.93
We'll go away from you
00:57:36.96\00:57:38.67
and so you go
get a drink of water
00:57:38.70\00:57:41.67
and come right back join us.
00:57:41.70\00:57:43.65