Participants: C.A. Murray (Host), Jim Gilley (Host), Gordon Bietz, Steven Ruf
Series Code: NLLA
Program Code: NLLA012703
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00:26 Good evening, we're coming to you tonight
00:28 from the campus of Southern Adventist University. 00:31 It's a beautiful campus, isn't it C.A.? 00:34 It is really a gorgeous campus 00:35 and the weather has been great and the meetings thus far 00:39 that we're here for, we'll talk about 00:40 that little bit have been great also. Yes. 00:42 And we're just glad to be at Southern. 00:44 We really are. 00:45 This is a place that has a great deal of history 00:48 and a place particularly that we as 3ABN feel very close too. 00:53 Because two of our founding board members, 00:57 first board of directors are from this area. 01:02 Ellsworth McKee, the former president 01:05 retired now of Mickey Foods and Bill Hulsey, 01:09 who had a large business here 01:11 in the cabinet manufacturing business for number of years. 01:15 And these men serves very faithfully 01:18 and still serve on our board. 01:20 Although Bill is now emeritus, 01:22 but Ellsworth McKee still comes 01:25 and is a part of the 3ABN Board of Directors. 01:29 I saw, Jim, as we're driving and I saw a building, 01:32 the Hulsey Wellness Center for health. That's right. 01:34 And I suspect that's named after the Hulsey's. Absolutely. Yeah. 01:38 The Hulsey family has been very generous with this university. 01:42 And this is a university that has grown over 3,000 students. 01:46 And tonight we saw a great number of them, 01:50 even though this was test week. 01:52 There was a ton of young people here 01:56 and enjoying the ultimate purpose 01:59 which we'll be talking about little bit later on. 02:02 And I hope that most of you probably saw 02:05 the ultimate purpose tonight and you were blessed 02:08 as we were blessed by the message 02:11 that Pastor Doug Batchelor brought to us. 02:13 Yeah, and Doug is gonna be with us in just a little bit. 02:15 We've got the president Dr. Bietz, 02:17 and we're gonna talk with him. 02:19 Steven Roof, Doug Batchelor, so we're gonna talk about 02:21 a number of things tonight as we're here on this campus, 02:23 take advantage of being in the academic setting. 02:25 We got a dotter, was it cross our T's and dot our I's 02:28 and speak correctly now that we're back on campus, Jim. 02:30 Absolutely, and sort of behave ourselves, 02:34 if that's possible. If that's possible. 02:36 Right, right. Yes, indeed. 02:37 We enjoy the Night Light program because the Night Light program 02:41 is different from anything that we do. 02:44 We talk about some of the current issues 02:47 that are facing Christians around the world, 02:50 that are facing Seventh-day Adventist in particular. 02:53 We've talked at times about creation, evolution. 02:56 We will touch on some other subjects tonight 03:00 that may be somewhat controversial. 03:03 Well, please understand and occasionally 03:05 we do get letters from people saying, 03:07 well, you seem to be taking one side or the other, 03:09 in most instances we try to be very fair. Very true. 03:13 And let us many different opinions 03:16 be offered as we feel are reasonable. 03:19 Now, we've always felt that the burden 03:22 of Night Light is to just shine light on a subject. 03:25 That's right. Pro, con whatever 03:26 to help you make your decision because 03:28 as we sort of walk this road that leads to glory. 03:30 There are number of things that the church is facing has faced, 03:33 will face again as we move through time 03:37 that we need to talk about that. 03:39 We need to sensitize the church body too in the world 03:42 and in the church and that's what Night Light 03:44 was designed to do, to bring these subjects to light 03:48 and to discuss them, so that the people of God 03:50 are informed and made aware. 03:52 You know, some of you realize and remember 03:54 that Night Light began in 2010, in Atlanta, Georgia. 03:59 This was at the General Conference session. 04:02 We were there night after night and we had two sessions. 04:06 We had an earlier session that we did 04:08 when it was unbelievably hot. 04:11 And then we had a later session that we did 04:14 after meeting each night. 04:15 We did it live and it was at least somewhat cooler. 04:19 But we were on the hill overlooking the Georgia Dome 04:25 and with a beautiful view of the skyline of Atlanta, Georgia. 04:30 And it was in that setting that the whole concept 04:34 began of this type of program. 04:37 We don't just do Night Light's all the time, 04:39 we do it when we're in a special place. 04:40 This week we are here on the campus 04:43 of Southern Adventist University. 04:45 Next week we're going to be at Oakwood University, 04:50 in Huntsville, Alabama. 04:52 And also next week there will be an Anchors of Truth, 04:56 it will be Anchors Away, it will be in Huntsville 05:01 and we'll have different speaker every night. 05:04 That is going to be very interesting anchors 05:08 coming from Oakwood, lot of good music. 05:11 What's the name of the choir? The Aliens. 05:14 They're going to be singing for us. They will be singing. 05:15 University choir, a number of groups are going to be there. 05:18 So you want to look forward to that. 05:19 I need to thank you, man, for something. 05:22 What's that? I'll do it on public television. 05:25 I had a surgical procedure just some weeks ago 05:28 right after our camp meeting. 05:30 As many of you know, we were suffering from prostate cancer, 05:34 had gone out to Eden Valley and really changed lifestyle, 05:39 eating habits and arrested it but didn't cure. 05:42 And the doctors finally said, 05:43 well, you've go to deal with it, 05:45 so we had successful surgery. 05:46 The pathology report was excellent. 05:49 The cancer is all gone and we are praising the Lord. 05:51 But the first face I saw when I came 05:54 out of surgery was that of Jim Gilley. 05:57 You know, you are undern, you wake up 05:59 and this is the face that you see. 06:00 Oh, man, that's enough to make you wanna go back to sleep. 06:04 But I will not tell you all the things 06:07 he said to me at that particular time. 06:08 And I deny every one of them. 06:10 I was under anesthetic, I'm not responsible. 06:12 I did tell him I loved him. 06:13 Yeah, that was the first time. 06:15 Yeah. Then the next thing he said, 06:17 I don't even like you. 06:18 So we had a great time. 06:21 He doesn't recall any of that at least he says he doesn't-- 06:24 Selective memory, I just, I don't recall any of that, 06:26 I admit to nothing. Yeah. 06:28 But it's good to have friends who are praying for you 06:30 and I want to thank all of those who did pray. 06:32 J.D. and Shelley Quinn came and stayed with my wife 06:34 Irma while we were in surgery. 06:35 Jim and Camille were in the room when we came out 06:37 and God is good, things are working well. 06:40 But we mentioned this because of this reason. 06:42 Even today I was talking with some individuals 06:46 who are facing that prospect and many times 06:51 I don't know what happens with those guys, 06:53 sometimes when we hear certain words 06:54 we kind of shy away from it. 06:56 Even next week I'm going to be talking 06:57 with a person whose numbers are rising 06:59 but just doesn't want to do anything. 07:01 And, gentlemen, I would say to you 07:03 and I have talked with many, many, many men 07:05 in the years that had the cancer. 07:09 Get to a good doctor, get to a Christian doctor. 07:12 Pray way through, don't be paralyzed by fear. 07:16 Get the treatment, do what you have to do. 07:18 Trust God, you know, we talk about trusting God. 07:21 We go to church, we pray, we sing. 07:23 There are times when you got to sort of cash 07:24 in on that relationship. 07:26 This may be for you one of those times. 07:29 Trust the Lord and move forward. 07:30 Don't be paralyzed but fear-- by fear but trust the Lord 07:34 and get the kind of medical help that you deserve. 07:37 And God will indeed be with you. 07:38 You had a major surgery some years ago. 07:40 That's right. Open heart surgery and God is with you. 07:42 And very definitely so and what a difference 07:46 life has been for me after that. 07:48 You know, amazing thing, you sometimes want to procrastinate. 07:51 Yeah. I procrastinated that surgery 07:54 until the doctor said, you've reached 07:57 the end of procrastination. 07:59 You procrastinate another three months 08:01 and you will not be alive. Uh-huh. 08:03 Now, there comes a time, gentlemen, 08:05 when procrastination has to end. 08:09 And if you are facing something like this, 08:12 we encourage you to do something about. 08:14 It's amazing, C.A. we want to procrastinate good things. Yes. 08:18 And we want to do bad things immediately. 08:20 I mean, we get those done efficiently and quickly. Yes. 08:24 We'll do something quickly 08:26 that we will regret the rest of our lives sometimes. 08:29 But I'm urging you to do what you need to do and to seek 08:35 the medical help that you need to seek. 08:37 And C.A. knows, he's been talking to several people 08:40 individually and some of you're watching tonight. 08:43 And we know that you do need to make this decision. 08:48 In fact we have a guy right behind that camera 08:50 that may be thinking about this decision. 08:54 Yeah, we have that conversation --that's right-- 08:55 Lucas one of our great volunteers 08:57 on camera tonight. And we love this guy. Yeah. 08:59 We really do. We were speaking to him 09:01 as much as we are to anybody else here today. 09:04 And there are many people like, 09:05 you know, who are in that category. Yeah. 09:07 Get the help that you need 09:08 and there are great Christian physicians. 09:10 We've got great Adventist hospitals. 09:12 Get advice, get the help, get healthy, 09:15 so you can serve the Lord faithfully. 09:17 You know, we've got a special offer tonight. 09:20 I have something in my office hanging on my wall, 09:24 I read it several times, some times a week, 09:28 several times a week, sometimes a couple of times a day, 09:32 at least parts of it. 09:33 I'm not going to read, try to read all of it 09:34 but this is keep about your work. 09:37 Now the copy that was given to me was given to me 09:40 by E. E. Cleveland and but also 09:44 H.M.S. Richards quoted this often. 09:48 And this is keep about your work 09:51 "The Lord has given every man his work. 09:53 It is his business to do it, the devil's business 09:56 to hinder him if he can. 09:58 So, sure as God has given you a work to do, 10:01 Satan will try to hinder you. 10:03 He may present other things more promising, 10:05 he may allure you by worldly prospect, 10:08 he may assault you with slander, 10:10 torment you with false accusations, 10:12 set you to work defending your character, 10:16 employ pious persons to lie about you, 10:19 and excellent men to slander you. 10:22 You may have Pilate and Herod, 10:24 Ananias and Caiaphas all combined against you, 10:28 and Judas standing by to sell you for 30 pieces of silver. 10:32 And you may wonder why all of those things come upon you. 10:37 Can you not see that the whole thing is brought about 10:41 through the craft of the devil, 10:42 to draw you off from your work 10:44 and hinder your obedience to God?" 10:47 Now I'm gonna read more of this to you throughout the night, 10:49 but I want you to have your own copy. 10:52 And you can have it by simply 10:54 calling 618-627-4651. 11:01 And just ask them to send you a copy of this, 11:05 it's suitable for framing. 11:07 It is a beautiful job. 11:09 Greg Marconi and our art department 11:11 have put this together, printed it for us and we are really-- 11:15 I am really happy for this. 11:17 It's better than the copy I've got. 11:19 I'm gonna take mine out and put this one in. 11:22 But I want to send it to you 11:25 and it's absolutely our free gift to you. 11:28 There are a number of other passages this is really-- 11:31 I'm looking at this is really, really well done. 11:33 You can also get this by emailing us freeoffer@3abn.org 11:39 freeoffer one word freeoffer@3abn.org 11:43 and we'll get this and mail it to you. 11:45 This is something you want to put up on your, 11:46 you know, your refrigerator or your wall 11:48 and sort of just read it to yourself, 11:50 rehearse it in your mind. 11:51 Great encouragement and we'll be glad to send it to you. 11:54 Well, we read it well. 11:55 Well, when you come to university 11:57 one of the things you want to do 11:59 is talk to the university president. Indeed you do? 12:02 And I have known this man for a number of years 12:05 and we're going to invite Gordon Bietz, Dr. Gordon Bietz, 12:09 the President of Southern Adventist University 12:12 to come and to join us here at Night Light 12:15 at this particular time. Dr. Bietz, welcome. 12:19 We're happy to have you with us. 12:22 Good to see you. Okay. Okay. 12:25 Well, thanks very much. Well, this is a beautiful campus. 12:28 Absolutely. And we've noticed that a lot of changes, 12:34 every time I come by here, there's something new, 12:37 something taking place. Yeah. 12:40 I just noticed even today that you moved 12:43 your radio station to another location. 12:46 We've doubled our enrolment in the last 12:49 number of years, about 14 years. 12:51 There are 3,300 students now. 12:53 3300--Praise God. Praise God. 12:55 And that requires dormitory space and renovation of housing, 12:58 and more class rooms, and teacher's offices. 13:01 Wow. So there's a lot of construction going on. 13:03 Yeah, it really is. Let's get some history. 13:05 How old is the campus, 13:06 how long have you been on this particular footprint? 13:08 Just a little history of the school itself. 13:10 I was afraid you're gonna ask me how old I was? 13:12 That's why I was little concern there you said how old. 13:14 How old is the campus? 13:16 1912, it's when we moved here from Graceville 13:19 and from Graceville it was in 1892 13:22 when the campus was kind of founded. 13:25 But they came to this location purchasing a farm in about 1912. 13:30 So it's been here, well, 100 years or so. All right. 13:33 Now, when did McKee Foods move 13:36 into this general area, did you know. 13:38 I think that was in the early 50s' and the plant 13:42 that they operated on our campus, 13:43 we actually built for them and its only this year 13:47 that they finally vacated that plant 13:49 and they are moving to more efficient facilities 13:52 but they've been connected with the university for many years. 13:56 Yes. I think they've moved here primarily 13:59 to take advantage of student labor and so forth. Yeah. 14:03 In doing the baking. Yeah. 14:05 Well, the Lord has certainly blessed 14:07 that organization and I first became acquainted with them 14:12 in 1960, in fact just at the time when they started 14:16 using the brand name Little Debbie. 14:18 And my father-in-law, Roy Thurman 14:21 was the pastor here at that time. 14:23 And in fact he was the pastor when they brought the church. 14:29 Yes. As you know? That's right. As you pastored that church. 14:31 Yes, I pastured, it began in 1981. 14:33 Okay. And then you went from there to be president of the-- 14:38 I pastored the church for 13 years 14:39 and was President of the Georgia Cumberland Conference 14:41 for three and then for 15 years 14:44 now I've been with the university. 14:45 At the university. 14:47 And now tell us a little bit about yourself. 14:50 Where are you from originally and your father? 14:52 Well, my father R.R. Bietz was Union President 14:56 in the Pacific Union and then a General Conference 14:59 Vice President for a while. Okay. 15:00 Past away few years ago at 99. 15:03 Wow. So I'm hoping I've good genes. Yes. 15:07 But I grew up in California when my dad was out 15:10 there pastored in Northern California, 15:12 all of my ministry until we moved back here. 15:14 Gary Patterson invited me back here 15:17 to pastor the Collegedale Church. 15:19 So we lived in the same house for over 30 years. 15:21 Is that right? And, you know, we need a fire or a move 15:25 'cause we filled our house out with-- 15:28 And that in the circles 30 years in the same house 15:30 as he is way to accomplishment. 15:31 Yeah, as a pastor, yeah that's amazing. 15:33 I think you and Max Trevino 15:35 probably may have hold the record. 15:36 May be, that's possible. Between the two of you. 15:38 But, so you have been president here, 15:42 you've seen this university grow, 15:44 in fact you saw it changed from college to a university. 15:48 That happened just about the time I became president. 15:51 Okay. And then you had a--how many members about, I mean-- 15:55 Well, about 1,500, 1,400 students at that time. 15:59 And has 3,300 students today. 16:02 Well, that's just fantastic. 16:04 What are some of the majors that you offer, 16:06 you know, and beyond the college level. 16:08 Well, the primary masters degrees that we have. 16:11 We're starting a Computer Science Master's Degree 16:13 actually right now this fall. 16:16 And so that will be another one that we're adding, 16:18 but we have Master's of Education, 16:20 of course Master's in Religion. 16:23 We have Master's in Social Work. 16:25 And we have some others that I'm not thinking of right now. 16:31 Okay, all right. 16:33 Well, listen, you have been here for a little while, 16:37 what are some of the major challenges 16:41 that a university such as Southern faces? 16:44 Can you imagine 3,300 children from 3,300 different homes, 16:50 with 3,300 different value systems. Yeah. 16:55 And bringing them together on a campus 16:57 and seeking to bring conservative coherence 17:01 of Seventh-day Adventist lifestyle and so forth, 17:03 that's a challenge. It is. 17:05 It's a challenge. Fortunately I believe our institution 17:09 attracts a genre of student that is committed 17:14 to the kind of ministry that we seek to provide. 17:17 Praise God. And they create a peer group 17:19 that encourages other students. 17:22 And so I think we have created a really positive atmosphere 17:26 that upholds Seventh-day Adventist standards and values. 17:29 So you have a nucleus of students 17:32 that really kind of hold the concept together? 17:37 In reality I think the culture of the institution is determined 17:42 as much by the students as it is by 17:44 the faculty and staff. 17:45 And so we attract those kinds of students, 17:47 so they built the culture. 17:49 We have over a 100 student missionaries, 17:51 you know, they come back every year having gone 17:54 the student missionaries 17:55 and they help create that culture. 17:58 We have 300 students this year applied 18:02 to do Share Him evangelistic crusades. 18:04 Oh, praise God. Next summer and we can't handle that many. 18:07 Wow. But we will send out a lot of students 18:10 to do Share Him evangelistic campaigns. 18:13 They come back, they have that excitement and that enthusiasm. 18:16 And so they really create the atmosphere 18:18 and ambience on the campus, 18:20 I think that's a real positive asset. 18:22 You know, you said a couple of terms 18:24 that sort of just resonated in my head. 18:26 First of all you said conservative approach 18:28 to learning and to the Adventist culture 18:31 if I can use the terminology. 18:33 When we think of Southern, you brought my step son 18:35 here several years ago. 18:37 And he was-- he now works at 3ABN 18:41 and perhaps in all departments, so you got him straight. 18:43 But he was in that position should I, should I not, 18:46 kind of marginal. Yeah. 18:48 Knowing about the Lord, 18:49 but not really having a personal one on one relationship 18:51 and it was in his two years here that we saw a right turn, 18:56 as we say left turn but actually right turn. 18:58 So there was something even then about the culture of the school 19:01 and the kinds of students you were then attracting 19:03 and are now attracting that seem to give 19:06 a flavor of, we're coming here to learn about the Lord, 19:10 to learn the Lord for ourselves 19:11 and then go out to serve the Lord. 19:13 So that is a credit to what you're doing 19:14 and the kinds of students that this college, 19:17 this university seems to attract. 19:18 There is a significant study done by man 19:22 named Austin entitled "The Four Critical Years" 19:25 who indicates that the single most determining factor 19:29 in values, development, 19:30 for a 18 to 22-year-old is the peer group. Agreed. 19:34 That they associate with. 19:36 Exactly. You develop the kind of peer group 19:38 that builds spiritual Christian Seventh-day Adventist 19:42 values and other kids go along, it builds. 19:47 I pay you then this compliment because some of our best 19:50 at 3ABN have sat in this hall, we got. Yeah. 19:53 I'm gonna miss somebody Michael Yang and Joe Baker, 19:56 you got Nicole, Kai Warren, Ariel, probably we gonna leave 20:00 somebody out but everybody we've gotten from you 20:02 have been really fine workers and they've come 20:05 with a working relationship with Jesus Christ, so we want more. 20:08 If you got some more, send us we'll take them. 20:09 Well, they're all looking for jobs. 20:11 In fact we have an intern beginning right now 20:13 that's just coming from here. 20:15 Well, interestingly enough today I was talking to the managing, 20:20 well, I don't know if he is a manager 20:21 but he is an employee of the local NBC affiliate. 20:25 They were out here recruiting students as interns 20:28 and one of the gentlemen said that when they get a application 20:33 from someone from Southern Adventist University, 20:35 it goes to the top of the pile right away. 20:36 Oh, praise God. Because the students from Southern 20:39 are just great, great students. 20:42 Yeah, that must make you feel really good about 20:44 what you're doing and the kind of products you're turning out. 20:46 Right, absolutely right. 20:47 You know, one of the questions that a lot of people 20:51 are asking today is, where does this campus stand 20:55 on the teaching of creation and evolution? 20:59 As you and all of us know, there have been some of our schools 21:03 that where there has been talk other than 21:07 a literal six day creation. 21:10 What has been the position of Southern? 21:14 All of our faculty and our biology department 21:18 in particular are very committed to the, the creation, 21:24 fiat creation and the non-evolutionary 21:27 approach to a microevolution but that God 21:31 called everything into being. 21:33 We have every Friday, in fact today a group met, 21:36 the biology teachers and the religion faculty 21:40 meet together every Friday for a sack lunch 21:42 to discuss these issues. 21:44 And they have ongoing conversations about it. 21:47 We have actually on the biology floor in our biology building, 21:52 we've built a museum 21:54 to illustrate intelligent design. 21:56 So as students go in, they can be inundated 22:00 in a sense by the approach of the intelligent design. 22:04 Do you think that perhaps some of the growth 22:06 that you had in recent years may have been as a result 22:10 of people knowing they can safely send 22:13 their young people to this university? 22:15 I think that's part of it, certainly. 22:17 And there are some places where right now 22:21 they don't feel as safe about sending them. 22:24 Yes, and I don't want to be critical 22:27 of some of the other institutions. 22:28 There are different approaches. 22:31 There are different needs in some parts 22:33 of the country as well. 22:35 And I think they all are seeking 22:36 to in their best way serve their constituency. 22:40 But I think your point is well taken that we do have 22:42 a attraction for parents who are looking for, 22:46 I think more conservative approach. 22:48 I know that my children are now educated 22:50 and I'm looking towards grandchildren. Yeah. 22:53 And their education, but I'll assure you of one thing 22:56 that I would strongly encourage my grandchildren 23:02 to be in a program where they don't have to fight against 23:07 a teachings that are other than what our church believes. 23:12 And particularly a Sabbath keeping group 23:14 such as Seventh-day Adventist to teach other than 23:19 the Seventh-day literal creation. 23:22 We--are all of a sudden totally out of our philosophy 23:26 of where we even-- why we even exist? 23:30 And so I would--I think that rather than taking a chance 23:36 on sending my child in an environment 23:41 where they're saying, well, let's examine 23:43 this or let's examine that. 23:45 I would rather send him to where they say, 23:48 this is what we believe and they stand by what we believe. 23:51 And I think most parents feel that way 23:53 and that's why they have faith in you here. 23:56 I do think it's also important for us 23:58 to teach evolution, to teach the issues. 24:03 For them to know what it is. 24:04 To know what it's about. 24:05 And to be able to comeback. 24:07 To be able to deal with it. 24:08 That's right. Because I think that if they don't confront 24:12 some of those issues in the supportive environment. 24:15 Right. They'll be blown away 24:16 when they go outside of that environment. Exactly, exactly. 24:18 And so we do and have on occasion brought in actually 24:22 an evolutionist teacher to present his opinion to a class 24:29 and then have conversation with the students 24:31 after that and discuss that. 24:32 I've mentioned this before on the air 24:34 but when Richard Dawkins was on with Bill O'Reilly 24:40 they had a series of discussions on Bill O'Reilly's program. 24:44 And when it came down at the end, 24:47 O'Reilly said to Dawkins, you have not convinced me 24:52 and what is more I see that evolutionists all disagree 24:57 with each other on the amount of time and on the methods, 25:00 and what happened, and this and that. 25:02 And he said, you know, until you fellows get this thing together, 25:05 I'm gonna stick with the biblical account. 25:08 And I think that it is good for our young people to know, 25:15 but also to have the answers as to why these don't hold water. 25:22 You know, one of my arguments in a sense for the six day creation 25:28 is that Jesus is very clear that He doesn't spend 25:33 two million years recreating me. Right. 25:35 When the resurrection comes. That's right. 25:37 When the resurrection comes I want it now. Yeah. 25:39 Yes, sir. And Jesus also said, 25:42 "If it were not so I would have told you." Yeah. Yeah. 25:45 And He had every opportunity to tell us that creation 25:49 was not so and He never did. 25:51 In fact He seem to put His stamp 25:54 of approval on it. Absolutely. At every step. 25:56 So if you believe in Jesus, then and you believe 26:00 that the Ten Commandments was written by the finger of God. 26:03 You have ample biblical information there to face you-- 26:08 While you were here I would encourage you to go 26:09 through the museum, it's very fascinating. 26:12 Yeah. We have a great museum over there that illustrates 26:15 the importance and the-- intelligent design issues. 26:18 Yeah, I want to get back to something that Jim talked about 26:20 just a little bit ago because you've been here now 15 years 26:23 as president and each position 26:26 carries with it's own attendant challenges. 26:29 Pastoring, one set of challenges. 26:31 Teaching, one set of challenges. 26:33 Conference president, another set of challenge 26:35 and of course president of educational institution. 26:38 What do you see now are the greatest challenges? 26:41 I want to go back to that and add 26:43 to that what has been the change in the student 26:46 mindset over those 15 years? 26:48 I mean, we're now in the I generation, 26:50 iPad, iPod, iPhone, yeah, yeah, you know, we've got I's. 26:53 So the technological curve has changed just a little bit, 26:58 but as you look back over those 15 years 27:00 what kind of job was coming then 27:02 as oppose to what's coming now? 27:03 Well, clearly the culture is challenging our young people. 27:07 Yes, yes. I think that across the board 27:10 because of it's acts accessible, you know, 27:13 we don't for instance want them to have and have never 27:17 allowed them to have televisions in the room 27:19 but if you have a computer in the room, 27:21 I mean, you know, it's all there. 27:24 I mean anything on the internet is there. 27:25 You can screen all you want off the internet, 27:27 but there are ways to get around some of that and so I think 27:32 that we need to be teaching more of the values 27:35 in strengthening their core convictions 27:38 for internal resistance to some of the things that the culture 27:41 is trying to cramp down their throats. 27:43 I think that's more of a challenge today 27:45 than it was 15 years ago. 27:49 Other challenges certainly I think higher education 27:53 itself is challenged today by the internet courses 27:57 that are being offered for free across the country. 28:00 And education in the future is going to be challenged. 28:04 I believe we will always have a place for a living, 28:07 learning, residential environment where we can pass 28:10 the mantle of faith from the older generation 28:13 to the younger generation. 28:14 You don't sing in the choir on the internet very well. 28:18 You don't play in there intramurals very well. 28:20 You don't have the experience of the living learning 28:23 environment in the dormitory. 28:25 And so I think there always be a place for a place 28:27 like Southern Adventist University. 28:29 But we are challenged by some of the internet courses 28:32 that were kids can pick up a lot of education 28:35 without coming to the school. 28:39 You know, there are a lot of issues that face this church 28:43 today and we mention the creation evolution issue. 28:48 More recently there has been the issue of women's ordination 28:52 that has been around before, it was dealt with it in Utrecht 28:56 at the General Conference session. 28:58 I think there was another session may be Indianapolis 29:02 that they dealt with it. 29:03 And, and then it's--it disappeared 29:05 for a little while from the agenda. 29:08 In fact I know that Elder Parson told me 29:11 that he sent out questionnaires to the different division 29:14 presidents before the last General Conference in Atlanta 29:19 and he did not even receive very many replies 29:23 from them or even what whether they want to discuss it or not. 29:26 So it was not put on the agenda at that time. 29:29 However it has become right to the forefront now. 29:32 You are I believe chair of a committee 29:37 that's studying it for North American Division, is it true? 29:40 The General Conference has asked that each division 29:43 form a kind of biblical research commission 29:46 or committee to look in to the issue of the theology 29:50 of ordination as well as whether it would be appropriate 29:54 to ordain women to the gospel ministry. 29:57 And so the division has asked me to chair a group 30:00 of about 14 or 15 people that are looking at this issue 30:05 and we've to bring a report 30:07 to the year end meeting, a year from now. Okay. 30:10 As to the consensus that we come to. 30:13 We do not have a unanimity on the group 30:16 that doesn't surprise, does it? 30:17 No, I'm just shocked. 30:21 Now these are administrators, educators? 30:23 There are some administrators, there are some pastors, 30:26 there are some theologians, it's a variety of--variety mix 30:29 that was chosen by 30:32 the North American Division Administrative Group. 30:34 You know, one of the things that has come up 30:37 since this discussion was how ordination actually began, 30:43 then someone pointed out to me, they said, 30:45 there's really no biblical ordination 30:48 and that it was something that arose in the Catholic Church 30:54 to control who was to give the sacraments. 30:57 And that therefore they really questioned 31:00 whether ordination is biblical at all? 31:03 Well, the ordination is not a word in the Bible 31:05 that you would use a lot, 31:07 but there is the laying on of hands. Yes. 31:09 And what does it mean theologically that you lay 31:13 on the hands on someone and that's one 31:15 of the things that we'll be studying. 31:16 I served on the ordination study commission and I think 19, 31:22 late 1980s' that Neal Wilson established. 31:26 We met for three or four or five days out of Cana Springs. 31:31 I have a stack of papers about this high from everybody under 31:35 the sun and we have been collecting those plus more. 31:39 I don't know that we need to do a lot more theological papers. 31:45 We need to come to some consensus 31:47 on the papers that we have. 31:49 It is true that the church has not developed 31:51 a real clear theology of ordination. 31:54 What does it mean? 31:55 Is it simply giving in appointing somebody 31:59 or is it anointing them? 32:02 Is it a sacramental service 32:05 or is it appointing them to a task? 32:08 I think those distinctions need to be clarified 32:10 in terms of what we intended to be. 32:13 Let's talk just a little bit, Dr. Bietz, about the process. 32:16 I know your committee will make a report next year at-- 32:20 Yes. Now is that for all of the division committees 32:22 and then something coherent will be done 32:24 at the general conference? What is the, the process? 32:25 Process then is those reports that are approved 32:28 by each division will go to a larger group 32:32 that is appointed by the general conference 32:34 that represents all the divisions. 32:37 They will then bring a report probably to annual council 32:40 in 14 and then in 15 it would go 32:43 to the general conference session. 32:44 And that will be in San Antonio. Yes. 32:47 And some people have said, the Battle of the Alamo 32:49 will be fought again in San Antonio. 32:53 But it will be quite interesting--I think 32:56 that there are some people who are very concerned 33:01 that individual unions will begin to make decisions 33:06 rather than waiting for that process and waiting 33:11 for it to take place at the general conference, 33:13 are you hearing some of that? 33:15 Yes, certainly, in that there was an appeal even on our 33:18 committee that we should appeal to those unions 33:21 to wait until such time as the full report came out. 33:25 I think those unions feel 33:27 they've waited long enough probably. 33:29 So I'm sure that's there conviction. 33:32 I do wish in some ways that this does not need 33:37 to be the 29th fundamental belief. 33:39 We do not need to rise the stakes 33:42 so high that the unity of the church 33:44 some how must depend on everybody 33:47 coming to a unanimous decision on this issue. 33:51 There are, you know, there are more important issues 33:55 and we're all saved by the grace of the good Lord. 33:58 Amen. And I think we need to focus on that and I'm spreading 34:01 the message and not getting too distracted. 34:04 Yeah. Having spoken about spreading the message, 34:07 you want to make another left turn and swing back 34:08 because you've got a very interesting rather thick 34:11 and impressive book in your hand. 34:13 Tell us a little bit about 34:14 what's in here and what this is all about? 34:16 You know, many times when people appear 34:19 on the morning shows, NBC, you know what they're doing. 34:22 Just for pulling their book. Okay. 34:24 So here's my opportunity. 34:28 It's quite a offer. This is the book, okay. 34:30 All right. Steve Pawluk and I, Steve Pawluk 34:33 is Provost of La Sierra University. 34:35 He was the academic dean here 34:37 at Southern Adventist University for a number of years. 34:40 He is the primary mover behind this, but this book entitled 34:46 is Seventh-day Adventist Higher Education in North America, 34:49 Theological Perspectives and Current Issues. 34:52 And Steve and I have asked a variety of authors to bring 34:57 their perspectives and I'll share just a couple 35:00 of those...authors so you can get it. 35:04 Now, I hold your mic and you can turn. 35:06 Turn the book, here we go. 35:09 We have a section on the theology 35:10 of Seventh-day Adventist Higher Education, 35:12 the value added aspect 35:14 of Seventh-day Adventist Higher Education. 35:16 External perspectives and the future 35:18 of Seventh-day Adventist Higher Education. 35:20 With authors like Digosbern and Randal Wisbey, 35:26 Heather Knight, Don Williams, Bailey Gillespie, 35:29 Douglas Herman, David Thomas, Steve Pawluk, 35:31 Niels-Erik Andreasen and these are chapters of the book. 35:36 Yes. So it was our attempt to seek to crystallize 35:42 and all the chapters here don't agree on the approaches 35:45 but to crystallize some perspectives 35:47 on higher education. 35:49 I don't think that we had done quite enough 35:50 if in this area in the church. 35:53 Well, that's interesting and-- 35:55 And you can get it at the ABC. 35:57 ABC, okay. So if you would like to get a copy 36:01 of that, you go to ABC. 36:03 This is Pacific Press I see? 36:04 Yeah, it was published by the Pacific Press. 36:05 Pacific Press, yeah, all right. 36:08 Well, listen, I think that is much needed and I hope 36:12 that any one who's interested in Adventist education 36:15 will pick up a copy. Well, it stimulates the conversation. 36:17 Yes, it does. Yes, man, that answers a lot of questions 36:20 and maybe even raises some others. Yeah. 36:23 One of the things I think that, that parents 36:25 want to see Adventist education, who know education, 36:29 training children is not cheap, there's an investment there. 36:32 You want a kind of feel when you're out there working 36:35 at second job or putting in an overtime to get your 36:38 child to school, that, that school has your child's 36:41 best interest at heart, that they're gonna come out 36:44 of that school certainly with education 36:46 but with also inspiration and a working 36:49 relationship with God. 36:50 Now, no college can guarantee that, but if you can create 36:53 the atmosphere, the culture where a relationship 36:56 can be forged or formed, then I don't mind working 37:00 that extra job to send my child to that school. 37:02 So for all pulling in the same direction then we can pass 37:05 the torch on to a generation that will carry on 37:08 in the trajectory that we've already been 37:10 traveling in and I think that's important. 37:11 And believe me it's worth the investment. Yes. 37:14 Absolutely worthy investment. 37:16 Nothing is more valuable. 37:19 Our four of our children were educated in our system 37:22 and it was not cheap because 37:26 I was not denominationally employed. 37:28 I did not receive any subsidy whatsoever. 37:33 No discounts and so I will say this--I did for one child right 37:38 at the end but that's all and only a year so there. 37:42 But I'll say this, it was the greatest investment 37:46 we've ever made. 37:47 They went there and at least two cases found, 37:51 their lives made there which is a very important aspect 37:56 of education as well, where I found my wife. 37:59 Southern Missionary College used to be 38:00 Southern Matrimony College. Yes. 38:02 That's what we used to call it. Right. 38:04 Well, the motto of South Western 38:08 where I have did my first two years was where students 38:11 learnt to live and we changed it's where they learned to love. 38:14 And but it was definitely as I think back and Camille 38:20 and I have had 52 wonderful years together. 38:23 I can say that because she's not watching tonight 38:25 and but we've had 52 wonderful years together 38:30 and I've often thought if God hadn't led me to that school 38:36 into that women, I don't know where in the world I'd be, 38:40 but it wouldn't be where I am. 38:42 And so it's so important to spend 38:46 the money and it's amazing. 38:48 So many times we'll say, man, that's gonna cost me 38:51 40,000 bucks or 50,000 or whatever it's gonna be, 38:55 but we don't think a thing about buying a Toyota Sienna 38:58 that's gonna cost as that, we pay that out over 39:01 a few years, but we cringe when we think about spending 39:05 for an education which can effect the child's life, 39:09 their income, their future and salvation 39:14 and their marriage and every other aspect of their life. 39:18 Now you put that number a little high 40 or 50,000. 39:20 Let's go down to 20, okay. 39:22 That's for one year though. 39:23 Yeah. Okay, for one year. 39:26 I was trying to grab you. 39:28 You're trying to get all the way through, all right. Yes. 39:31 But it does, it takes, it does take a little money, 39:34 but you know, amazingly today, there are loans available too. 39:38 And when I was going to school, there were no loans available. 39:41 The average loan that the student graduates 39:44 from Southern with is under $20,000. 39:47 And normally if someone would go by a car for that-- 39:51 Oh, absolutely and not even blink. 39:52 Yeah, and not think about it. 39:54 Right, so it's a good investment. 39:57 We have scholarships, and so forth, 40:00 and so there are ways. 40:02 I tell parents, you know they say, well, 40:04 we just can't afford it. 40:06 Apply, find out if you can afford it. 40:09 Whatever school you are going to, don't just 40:11 threw up your hands and say you can't afford it 40:13 without applying, because there is scholarships, 40:15 there is loans, there is work opportunities. 40:18 There is a hundred different ways. 40:19 And sometimes a student can take a little longer. 40:22 I had to take a whole year out and work 40:24 and there is nothing wrong with doing that. 40:28 And it's dangerous because when I took my year out to work, 40:33 everybody said, you'll never back to school. 40:35 But I was determined to go back to school 40:39 and to get an education so sometimes 40:42 you have to spread it out over a few more years. Thats right. 40:44 And you know kids say some--they were older, 40:49 and they say "Oh, but I am 30-years-old. 40:52 And I will be 34 by the time I had a degree." 40:55 And I usually say look, you're gonna be 34 when you are 34 40:58 anyway and you will be 34 without a degree 41:02 rather than 34 with one. That's right. 41:04 So I really believe in Christian education. Absolutely. 41:10 I could not believe in it more strongly than I do. 41:13 I believe in it so much that I am willing to take on 41:17 any educational place that I honestly feel 41:21 is not--is turning children, our young people away 41:25 bringing doubt in their life. 41:27 I can't stand like that, even though I may love the guys 41:31 that are running the school and I may care for them 41:35 and I may worry about them. 41:38 I have to worry about the student more 41:41 and so I can't--I can't within my soul, just say well its okay, 41:47 if they are teaching things that shouldn't-- 41:49 they have to teach 28, 29 whatever fundamental beliefs. 41:57 I'll stick with 28. Twenty eight. 41:58 We'll stay with 28. Yeah. 42:00 But they need to teach those and to teach them solidly. 42:03 If they are gonna call themselves 42:05 a Seventh-day Adventist school 42:07 and Southern Adventist University 42:09 does that and that's why we can-- 42:13 we can recommend your university without any 42:16 question to our viewers. And we're glad, our viewers. 42:18 Because this is an issue as you can see he has a lot of passion 42:20 for it in our meetings, when we talk about 42:22 what the schools are teaching particularly 42:24 at this level, Jim sort of rises up. 42:27 But I am sure you take that very seriously 42:29 as president of the large school, one of our 42:31 premier school, that's something that is part of your 42:35 dealings every single day I suspect. 42:38 No, it is. It was very important when we hire a faculty 42:41 obviously, that's a very important issue. It is. 42:44 And I know when they were discussing a faculty 42:49 who was teaching just absolute total evolution, 42:55 one of my good friend to as a church leader said, 42:58 well we must be redemptive for the teacher as well. 43:01 Yes, I would fire the teacher first and redeem him later. 43:06 And I am sorry but seriously I can't--if somebody 43:10 serving poison to my kids I can't say, 43:14 well we got to work with this guy. 43:16 You have to stop the poison 43:18 and then you can work with the guy. 43:21 I'd really believe in working with him, I mean believe me, 43:25 I am an evangelist, I'' be out there knocking on his door, 43:28 trying to get him back to church. 43:29 But I want him to come back teaching the truth 43:33 and if I'm little strong, forgive me. 43:35 But I do have strong convictions in this particular area 43:40 and we appreciate what you're doing here. 43:42 And we appreciates your religious department-- 43:44 religion department. Thank you very much. 43:45 And the students that you send us our direction 43:49 are some of our absolute best as we've already stated. 43:52 Well, as I said we have a great group of students 43:55 and they inspire me. Yes. 43:58 And in many ways I think the younger generation today 44:02 is more committed, has a higher level 44:05 of understanding of some of the issues 44:07 than I did when I went to the school a few years ago. 44:10 You know, few years back when I was in Dallas, 44:14 I got acquainted with the surgeon. 44:18 He was there during a specialty, I believe he did one in heart 44:22 but he did one at that time an emergency surgery. 44:26 His name was Dwayne Beets. 44:30 I believe you know him. 44:32 I know him quite well, he is my brother, yes. 44:35 A very fine man and I hope he is watching tonight. 44:38 I should have texted him 44:40 and told him to watch, I didn't that. 44:42 Well, we'll find out. 44:43 I was going to do it but I thought we'll test him 44:46 to see if he really is a true viewer. Yeah, okay. 44:48 True viewer, you wouldn't believe it. 44:50 And not give him a lead. 44:51 Well, listen, thank you for coming. 44:53 Well, thank you very much for inviting me. 44:55 Thank you for putting on this program at Southern. 44:58 We appreciate it and our students 44:59 will gain a great benefit. Thank you. Thank so very much. 45:03 We are very appreciative and while you're making 45:06 your way off, we're gonna talk about this offer again. 45:10 And then bring Steven Ruf on. 45:12 And I am gonna read the second part, it says, 45:15 "Keep about your work. 45:17 Do not flinch because the lion roars, 45:20 do not stop to stone the devil's dogs, 45:23 do not fool away your time chasing the devil's rabbits." 45:26 And that part I've heard Elder Richards 45:28 quote so many times. 45:30 "Do your work. Let liars lie, let sectarians quarrel, 45:34 let corporations resolve, let editors publish, 45:38 let the devil do his worst, 45:40 but see to it that nothing hinders you from fulfilling 45:44 the work that God has given you." 45:47 Let us send this to you. 45:48 Call us at 618-627-4651. 45:53 The operators are standing there right now 45:56 or sitting there one or the other, 45:58 but they are waiting for your call. 46:00 Give them a call, let them know that you want a copy of this. 46:03 You may not want it yourself, 46:05 but you may want to give it to somebody. 46:07 You may know particularly a young person 46:09 that needs to keep about their work and I tell you 46:13 when things get going really tough at 3ABN. 46:17 I go, I hate to tell you, I keep this in the bathroom. 46:21 Okay. And I go in there and I read every word of it, 46:26 and then I pray, and I say, Lord help me to keep about my work. 46:32 That's what You have given us to do 46:34 and that's what You want us to do. 46:36 And I want you to have a copy of this. 46:38 Yes, it is a call, Jim, to stay focus and of course 46:41 whenever you're doing the work of the Lord, 46:42 you're gonna be challenged by the devil. 46:44 There are so many times people ask us 46:46 "What kind of challenges do you guys have, 46:48 whether the consistent challenge is funding" Always. 46:51 We just have enough of money to do 46:53 what we need to do but other than that the devil 46:55 has so many ways of trying to hinder 46:58 the work that you are trying to do. 47:00 So we have to stay on our knees constantly every department 47:04 has prayer every morning before we begin our work 47:07 and then on Tuesdays we have a joint prayer.That's right. 47:09 Session where we bring everybody together. 47:11 We start the year of with a day of prayer and praise 47:14 and then throughout the year we have prayer and praise session. 47:17 So we realize that when you are on the front lines, 47:20 you're gonna be assaulted by the enemy and that-- 47:23 those assaults are going to be consistent and persistent 47:27 and the devil has many, many, many, many ways, 47:31 but we are possessed of the belief, 47:35 "That greater is He that is in us 47:36 than he that is in the world." 47:37 And we rely on that and the prayers 47:40 of the saints, we really do. 47:41 Now, sometimes people say, well, your offerings are down. 47:45 No. I hate to tell you. 47:46 I mean I do, I'm proud to tell you this. 47:48 Our offerings are not down, they have never been down. 47:51 Our offerings are up, expenses are also up, 47:56 and we keep our operating expenses down. 48:01 They're actually decreased this last year. 48:04 Its equipment, I am looking into the lens of a camera 48:09 that's over 20 years old. 48:11 Cameras have a life of 7, 8, 10 years maximum. 48:16 We just had to buy five cameras, two quit working, 48:22 one was dropped accidentally and that was destroyed. 48:26 We could not get parts for those, 48:29 but we had to buy five cameras. 48:33 We honestly now they--by buying five, 48:36 Moses got a very good deal on those cameras, 48:38 those were $68,000 cameras, he got them for half price 34,000. 48:44 And they said, "If you'll pay for the four, 48:46 we'll give you the fifth one for free." 48:48 He had to do it. 48:49 He called me, I am driving down the road 48:52 and he tells me I have got this opportunity on these, 48:56 but I have to let him know today because, 48:58 it's the last day of the month, 49:00 and they have to make a decision, 49:02 so we said do it and he did it. 49:07 And so we are exited to have five new cameras 49:10 that are on the way here, 49:12 Now those cameras will be on the truck 49:13 because our truck cameras take really the most beating, 49:16 because they are on the truck, if truck is bouncing along 49:18 the highway and last month during our Anchors, 49:21 we had several cameras go out. Yeah. 49:22 In middle of the broadcast and we sort to work around them 49:25 but those truck cameras have said to us, 49:28 we can't do it any longer. 49:30 Twenty years ago we were brand new, we're not anymore, Yeah. 49:33 So we have to go out and those, but think about it Jim. 49:35 What piece of electronic equipment that you have, 49:37 that you brought 20 years ago that is still functioning. 49:40 Your computer for 20 years ago 49:42 was on the land field somewhere. 49:44 Right, you don't even know where it is. 49:45 Right, precise there's nothing that's been around 49:47 for 20 years, that's electronics. 49:48 So we had to do this and they will be coming 49:51 but they had to be paid for, we brought them on faith 49:53 as we do every thing on faith. We did, absolutely. 49:56 And to be honest with you they are not the absolute, 50:01 they are high definition cameras. Yes. 50:03 But we would like to have bought the next better camera 50:07 but those would have been 68,000. Yes. 50:09 These others, they will support him for at least five years. 50:13 In other words for at least five years 50:15 we have complete support from parts etc. for these cameras. 50:21 But, folks that's just about the life of a camera 50:24 and we've got all of these recorders 50:26 and we're trying to go to digital now. 50:29 This is where our challenge is, it really is. Yeah, it is. 50:33 So thank you for your faithfulness. 50:35 You are the most faithful viewers in the world 50:39 and you've been with us, you've never left us, 50:42 you're like--the lord says, I will never leave you, 50:44 I will never forsake you and our viewers 50:47 have been right there with the Lord. Amen. 50:49 We are going to call out somebody 50:51 now who knows about--when you talk about cameras 50:53 and shelf life of cameras and production, Steven Ruf, 50:56 who I met over years ago at GCTV in Toronto. 51:03 He sent us some of our best guys man, 51:05 we appreciate the work you're doing. 51:07 First give us your title here at the school, 51:09 then we'll start to move from there. 51:10 I am an Associate Professor 51:12 in the School of Journalism and Communication 51:14 here at Southern, I think about 16 years now. 51:17 Praise the Lord. One year longer than the president. 51:20 Oh, yeah, that's true but of course 51:21 he was here as the pastor for many years as well. 51:24 Right. I come from a family of pastors. 51:26 My dad was a pastor, my brother 51:29 is in New Haven, Connecticut. Okay. 51:32 But I chose a different path and I spent my early years 51:36 as a reporter working in radio and television. 51:39 And then decided to go to graduate school 51:42 and I've been teaching here ever since. 51:44 I did a wedding with your brother married my step son 51:47 in Massachusetts some years ago. Yes, that's right. 51:50 Kevin Haute is on our staff, so I know the Ruf name 51:53 and of course as I said we work together GCTV in Toronto. 51:57 What are the kinds of things that your department 52:00 is training young people to do. 52:02 Right now, we have about a 130 majors 52:04 and that includes mass communication 52:06 which knows media production and advertising, 52:09 even writing and editing. 52:10 We also have the traditional journalism degree. 52:14 We also have our biggest major public relations, 52:17 a big need for that in our institutions, 52:18 you know, our schools, our church work 52:21 and so, yes we have, you know in any given year, 52:25 you know, 30 or 40 graduates 52:27 going down the isle, looking for jobs. 52:28 Praise God, praise God. 52:30 What is it about from your perspective? 52:32 As I said, I mentioned our number of young people 52:34 that we've got them from Southern. 52:37 And it just so happens that we have this little stream 52:39 of people coming from Southern, but they are hard working, 52:41 they are focused, they have working relation with Christ 52:43 and they've become really invaluable 52:45 if not indispensable to what we do. 52:47 What is it about the culture here from your perspective 52:50 that prepares a young person? 52:52 First of all technically they know what they are doing, 52:54 but they also seem to come with this working relationship 52:57 with Jesus Christ which we value so highly. 52:59 Well, it's integration of faith in learning. 53:01 And you know, you can define that in a number of ways. 53:04 It could be in the classroom, 53:05 you know where the instructors are--you know talking 53:09 about biblical concepts and relating it 53:11 even to technical, you know subjects. 53:13 But it also happens outside the class room. 53:16 You know, where that student may appear in my office 53:19 and really be struggling that week 53:20 with an issue in their family or in a relationship. 53:24 And I can come around my desk and sit down, 53:27 you know, right next to them and say, hey, let's pray, 53:31 you know, let's ask the God for some spiritual healing 53:34 and I think it starts there. 53:36 Praise God. That is wonderful. 53:38 That is powerful too. 53:40 And speak so much for what's going on here. 53:42 As you look at the kinds of young people 53:45 you are getting., Dr. Beat said and-with some sense of pride. 53:50 ABC says, when we see Southern on the applicant list 53:55 that resume kind of floats to the surface. 53:58 How does that kind of thing make you feel? 53:59 Oh, very proud. 54:01 And we really try to work hard with all the employers 54:05 and not only here locally in the Chattanooga area, 54:08 but we work with broadcast stations in a students hometown 54:12 to setup an internship where practicum is we call it. 54:15 To give them that practical experience that's gonna be 54:18 important for getting a job when they graduate. 54:20 It's not only the diploma, but also that practical experience. 54:23 Yes. And ministries like 3ABN is a great source 54:26 of that experience as well. 54:28 Do a number of your young people volunteer or take time 54:31 to do missionary work in addition to because television 54:35 and broadcast of production is high stress. Yes, it is. 54:38 Some very technical things to it, but do they find time 54:41 to sort of integrate that into a sort 54:42 of wider missionary kind of experience. 54:44 They do in a number of different ways. Yes. 54:45 Let me just shore one, or several. 54:48 We have and this has really changed, 54:50 I've seen this trend just in the years 54:52 I have been teaching here. 54:53 We have more students now who are interested 54:55 in traveling overseas and using their skills in mission work, 55:01 for ministry and it amazes me, you know, they want to be go off 55:06 and be a student missionary producing videos in Thailand 55:09 or going down to South America and creating these videos. 55:13 A lot of them end up on your network. Oh, yes. 55:16 And that's just wonderful to see that interest in getting beyond 55:20 just North America but getting international experience. 55:23 And I see that when I was in school, 55:25 you always had missionaries would come in sort of-- 55:28 I don't want to say arm to assist the students, 55:30 but they certain would try to use leverage 55:31 to get kids to go overseas. 55:33 It seems like now there is this almost built in inertia energy, 55:37 let's go and use what we have for those 55:40 who are less fortune who we can help. 55:41 That seems to be part of the culture on this campus- 55:43 It is the mindset of younger generation. Yes, yes, yes. 55:46 To share, to connect with those 55:48 who are less fortunate too, very unselfish. Yeah. 55:51 And that's inspiring to us older folks. 55:54 Praise the lord. Praise that. 55:55 I mentioned that your hair is a little grayer 55:56 than we worked few years ago. 55:58 You said, young people do that. Dr. Bietz here. 56:01 You know some people actually confuse me 56:03 a little bit with looking like Dr. Bietz. 56:05 But I tell him as soon as I open my mouth, 56:07 yeah, there is no confusion there. 56:08 Now where you're from originally your family. 56:10 I grew up here in the south in Tennessee. 56:13 My mother actually was a professor here 56:15 when it was Southern Missionary College, 56:17 she was an English professor. 56:19 And my dad as I said was a pastor. 56:21 So this is kind of home base for me. 56:23 Yeah, those back in the southern matrimonial college days 56:25 I suspect it worked in your family. It did. 56:27 And you know its just-- the cycle continues, 56:30 I have two daughters who are students here now, 56:32 one a freshmen and one a senior and even though 56:35 we live here locally they are- they are leaving on campus 56:38 but we encourage, you know, let them experience the campus life. 56:43 Praise God, praise God. That is great. 56:46 You know while we were here and I mentioned 56:48 we have a sort of dual motto 'cause 56:50 we're also looking for good kids you know. 56:52 So if you any, sent them our way because we can always use 56:55 the interns and employees. 56:58 Your track record is great with us. 57:00 Thank you for that, I appreciate you're thinking of us. 57:02 Praise the Lord. 57:03 We are coming down to the end of our 57:05 first hour there, Brother Gilley. Yes, we are. 57:06 It went pretty fast too. It did indeed go fast. 57:08 We're gonna hold Professor Ruf over to the other side 57:12 but we want to take a quick look at our free offer. 57:15 Remind you, this is a great thing. 57:17 We won't read any thing just now, we'll ready in next half. 57:19 But remind you, if you will call us 618-6274-651, 57:24 618-627-4651, or email freeoffer@3abn.org. 57:30 We'll get this in the mail to you. All right. 57:35 Well listen, you call a friend, encourage him to tune in 57:40 and we will be right back right after this. |
Revised 2014-12-17