Well, we do
welcome you back and we--
00:00:13.40\00:00:17.28
you wanted to say something.
00:00:17.31\00:00:18.68
Yeah, I wanted to credit myself.
00:00:18.71\00:00:20.08
I think I said
there was an earthquake
00:00:20.11\00:00:21.48
and I did mean tornado.
00:00:21.51\00:00:23.41
I bet the earth
did quake though.
00:00:23.44\00:00:25.19
I'm sure the
earth did move. Yeah.
00:00:25.22\00:00:27.15
It was really
quite, quite something.
00:00:27.18\00:00:29.33
Given the ferocity of that event
00:00:29.36\00:00:32.73
it is a blessing of the
Lord that that-- Oh, yes.
00:00:32.76\00:00:35.20
I'd say
relatively few people died.
00:00:35.23\00:00:37.38
We're talking 100,
less than 200 thus far but
00:00:37.41\00:00:40.68
just a massive, massive storm
00:00:40.71\00:00:42.54
that went
through Joplin, Missouri.
00:00:42.57\00:00:44.87
Yes. Yeah.
00:00:44.90\00:00:46.27
Well, listen, our guest
has arrived in the studio.
00:00:46.30\00:00:48.66
And we're going to invite him
to come right on into the table.
00:00:48.69\00:00:52.67
And he was at
Joplin last few days.
00:00:52.70\00:00:58.97
Thank you, Elder
Jackson, good to see you.
00:00:59.00\00:01:01.52
And thanks for
coming to Thompsonville
00:01:01.55\00:01:05.40
and join us and speaking out
00:01:05.43\00:01:08.15
to our television audience
around the world tonight
00:01:08.18\00:01:11.93
and we appreciate
your message very much.
00:01:11.96\00:01:13.88
Thank you. And--
00:01:13.91\00:01:15.44
We've got to make a quick start.
00:01:15.47\00:01:16.84
We've got to get a mic on you
00:01:16.87\00:01:18.27
and he came in
without a microphone.
00:01:18.30\00:01:20.88
And I know you didn't
bring yours from across the way.
00:01:20.91\00:01:23.00
So let's--let's get a
mic on you so we can hear you
00:01:23.03\00:01:26.21
'cause I know
you've got a lot to say.
00:01:26.24\00:01:28.04
And so we need to
hustle and do that.
00:01:28.07\00:01:30.33
This is live television.
00:01:30.36\00:01:31.73
Every now and again it doesn't
go quite as it should have gone.
00:01:31.76\00:01:35.26
But we need to get a mic
on you. We need to get a mic.
00:01:35.29\00:01:39.22
I was too quick
on bringing him in.
00:01:39.25\00:01:41.87
but I thought sure that he
would still have that mic on
00:01:41.90\00:01:45.64
but that's all right.
00:01:45.67\00:01:47.04
No, we got to get--
we got to get a mic on.
00:01:47.07\00:01:48.44
And they'll bring it on in.
00:01:48.47\00:01:49.96
But we're just so happy that
Pastor Jackson can be with us.
00:01:49.99\00:01:55.53
He was elected at the
last General Conference
00:01:55.56\00:02:00.28
and by the way
it was at that time
00:02:00.31\00:02:02.07
that we came up with
the Nightlight format. Yeah.
00:02:02.10\00:02:05.76
Where you and I
would talk to individuals
00:02:05.79\00:02:10.30
who were sitting
at table like this.
00:02:10.33\00:02:12.97
At General Conference we
were up on a hill. Oh, yeah.
00:02:13.00\00:02:16.09
Overlooking the
beautiful dome there,
00:02:16.12\00:02:21.45
Georgia Dome and also
overlooking the city of Atlanta.
00:02:21.48\00:02:24.89
Yeah. You could see
C.A. there in the background.
00:02:24.92\00:02:27.29
Yeah, that's where
Nightlight was born.
00:02:27.32\00:02:28.73
That's where it was born.
00:02:28.76\00:02:30.13
And it was a warm summer
night, every night nearly.
00:02:30.16\00:02:35.36
Warm summer
afternoon, every afternoon.
00:02:35.39\00:02:38.87
But you know something?
00:02:38.90\00:02:40.27
We look back on those
days as very precious days.
00:02:40.30\00:02:42.91
Yeah, we were talking about
that just the other day. Yeah.
00:02:42.94\00:02:44.56
It was lot of fun.
Yeah, it really was.
00:02:44.59\00:02:46.08
We got to--this is where we
first interviewed Elder Jackson.
00:02:46.11\00:02:50.51
We talked to you there
00:02:50.54\00:02:51.91
and then we've
talked to you at ASI.
00:02:51.94\00:02:57.28
And there may be
another place or two
00:02:57.31\00:03:00.36
that where we've
had opportunity to chat
00:03:00.39\00:03:03.22
but we've just
have really appreciated
00:03:03.25\00:03:05.41
your availability
and your openness,
00:03:05.44\00:03:08.11
and your willingness
to come and to be with us.
00:03:08.14\00:03:11.32
It's good to be with you.
00:03:11.35\00:03:12.72
And I know there
are a lot of questions.
00:03:12.75\00:03:15.37
We've just opened it up
to our people to send us
00:03:15.40\00:03:18.65
email questions if they have any
00:03:18.68\00:03:20.81
for the North
American division president.
00:03:20.84\00:03:23.48
And we also want to talk
00:03:23.51\00:03:26.05
very much about
the media imperative.
00:03:26.08\00:03:30.93
Before we go to the media,
00:03:30.96\00:03:32.33
I think, we need to
just get a little flavor
00:03:32.36\00:03:34.32
'cause you did just
get back in from Joplin.
00:03:34.35\00:03:38.03
What did you see?
What's the church doing?
00:03:38.06\00:03:40.10
What's going on, on the ground?
00:03:40.13\00:03:41.52
Give us a little flavor of what
you experienced there in Joplin.
00:03:41.55\00:03:46.37
Well, you know, I
experienced a lot of shock,
00:03:46.40\00:03:48.52
I will tell you that.
00:03:48.55\00:03:51.11
You know, the most
amazing part of it is that
00:03:51.14\00:03:53.24
you enter into
the city of Joplin
00:03:53.27\00:03:55.43
and everything seems good.
00:03:55.46\00:03:58.16
There are banks and
drugstores and fast food outlets
00:03:58.19\00:04:02.27
and people driving
around like it was normal.
00:04:02.30\00:04:05.52
And then you just
move a little beyond
00:04:05.55\00:04:09.20
the entrance into the
city and all of a sudden
00:04:09.23\00:04:13.67
you come to a
line of demarcation.
00:04:13.70\00:04:16.81
That tornado cut a
swath a half-a-mile wide
00:04:16.84\00:04:19.39
and six-miles
long through that city.
00:04:19.42\00:04:22.13
And the
devastation was absolutely--
00:04:22.16\00:04:25.30
I've never seen anything like--
00:04:25.33\00:04:26.70
and I've seen the devastation
of the tsunami in Asia.
00:04:26.73\00:04:31.67
I've seen the
devastation of Hurricane Katrina
00:04:31.70\00:04:35.79
in New Orleans but when I
drove through the streets,
00:04:35.82\00:04:39.13
last night, of Joplin I was just
horrified to be honest with you
00:04:39.16\00:04:43.91
that a force of nature
could take solid buildings
00:04:43.94\00:04:48.02
and just reduce
them to matchsticks.
00:04:48.05\00:04:51.93
We had the opportunity
last night to spend some time
00:04:51.96\00:04:55.13
with a few of our
members from Joplin.
00:04:55.16\00:04:57.72
One family
there lost their home.
00:04:57.75\00:05:01.03
It was completely destroyed.
00:05:01.06\00:05:02.70
But you know a deaf niece
00:05:02.73\00:05:08.95
felt something was happening
and took her little cousin
00:05:08.98\00:05:12.58
and took her into
the bathtub of that home.
00:05:12.61\00:05:15.69
And those two little children
00:05:15.72\00:05:17.56
rode out that tornado
in a bathtub and survived.
00:05:17.59\00:05:21.33
Praise God. Where they
the only two at home or...
00:05:21.36\00:05:23.81
They were the only two at home.
00:05:23.84\00:05:25.21
The parents were
out at the time. Yeah.
00:05:25.24\00:05:27.06
And they managed to
survive. There's one toddler--
00:05:27.09\00:05:31.13
But she sensed
something was going on.
00:05:31.16\00:05:33.08
She sensed
something was going to happen
00:05:33.11\00:05:34.69
and so she took her
cousin and then went
00:05:34.72\00:05:36.71
and sat in the bathtub.
00:05:36.74\00:05:38.88
And, you know, the
interesting thing is
00:05:38.91\00:05:40.42
that house was just demolished
00:05:40.45\00:05:42.61
but the walls in the ceiling
over the bathroom stayed intact.
00:05:42.64\00:05:46.79
Praise God. So, you know--
00:05:46.82\00:05:49.24
I mean, you wish
you can tell that story
00:05:49.27\00:05:51.63
for the other 121 and the
700 who're still missing. Right.
00:05:51.66\00:05:55.13
But we went to Joplin last
night and not for a photo-op,
00:05:55.16\00:06:00.55
not to do anything other than
to pray with our members there,
00:06:00.58\00:06:05.31
to tell them that their
church stands behind them
00:06:05.34\00:06:07.48
and that we're with them.
00:06:07.51\00:06:09.28
Also, there last
evening was Sun Kwon,
00:06:09.31\00:06:13.51
the head of Adventist Community
Services for North America. Yes.
00:06:13.54\00:06:17.65
And a team of six who are there
on the ground prepared to work.
00:06:17.68\00:06:22.96
FEMA has appointed ACS
as the coordinating agency
00:06:22.99\00:06:28.52
for all of the warehousing. Yes.
00:06:28.55\00:06:29.92
For everything that comes
in, every donation. Right.
00:06:29.95\00:06:32.53
They will sort it out
and they will distribute it.
00:06:32.56\00:06:34.94
So I'm glad
that we can be there.
00:06:34.97\00:06:37.73
I'm glad that we have
people who are willing to come
00:06:37.76\00:06:41.17
and assist in that
project. Praise God. Wow.
00:06:41.20\00:06:43.68
Now as far as the
church is concerned
00:06:43.71\00:06:45.08
have you lost any buildings?
00:06:45.11\00:06:46.51
Any particular reports
of Adventist being involved?
00:06:46.54\00:06:50.23
Do we know anything about that?
00:06:50.26\00:06:51.63
We know that some--
00:06:51.66\00:06:53.03
this family lost
their home, completely gone.
00:06:53.06\00:06:57.36
Some others had minor damage.
00:06:57.39\00:06:59.69
The church itself had
a few shingles blown off
00:06:59.72\00:07:02.63
and a little bit of glass broken
00:07:02.66\00:07:04.75
but really nothing structural,
nothing substantive at all.
00:07:04.78\00:07:08.25
Well, that's a miracle. Yeah.
00:07:08.28\00:07:10.21
It really is. Yeah.
00:07:10.24\00:07:11.66
Yeah, well, so you've been there
00:07:11.69\00:07:14.51
and then you went some
other places in Oklahoma
00:07:14.54\00:07:18.81
or you haven't been to those?
00:07:18.84\00:07:20.21
Not yet. Okay.
00:07:20.24\00:07:21.61
Not yet. All right.
00:07:21.64\00:07:23.49
Well, it's been
a year almost. Yes.
00:07:23.52\00:07:26.99
Since you've been
elected president. Right.
00:07:27.02\00:07:29.46
And what is, sort of, your plan
00:07:29.49\00:07:33.20
or where you're headed with
the outreach of this division?
00:07:33.23\00:07:38.14
You know, I believed
00:07:38.17\00:07:40.10
that the North American
Division has amazing potential.
00:07:40.13\00:07:44.59
God has gifted the
church throughout Canada,
00:07:44.62\00:07:48.89
the United States and
Bermuda with huge resources
00:07:48.92\00:07:53.67
that if they were
properly utilized--
00:07:53.70\00:07:56.38
and that is not to say that
there haven't been great efforts
00:07:56.41\00:07:59.34
and that people haven't
been doing great things.
00:07:59.37\00:08:01.47
Don't
misunderstand me but, you know,
00:08:01.50\00:08:04.27
I believe Jesus is coming soon.
00:08:04.30\00:08:06.75
And I believe the time
has come for us to begin
00:08:06.78\00:08:10.33
to remember the fact that
we are stewards of God's goods.
00:08:10.36\00:08:14.43
Praise God. And
stewards of God's assets,
00:08:14.46\00:08:17.15
his resources, both
human and financial.
00:08:17.18\00:08:20.25
So what we have been
doing through the last year
00:08:20.28\00:08:22.60
and what we continue to do
00:08:22.63\00:08:24.95
is we are developing a
strategic plan called REACH.
00:08:24.98\00:08:28.22
Okay. Now the General
Conference, of course,
00:08:28.25\00:08:31.04
has called for
revival and reformation
00:08:31.07\00:08:33.29
and the North American
Division is supportive of that,
00:08:33.32\00:08:36.12
fully supportive.
00:08:36.15\00:08:37.52
So we are looking at
the word 'REACH,' however.
00:08:37.55\00:08:40.75
The 'R' in that--and we use
the word REACH as an acronym.
00:08:40.78\00:08:45.26
And the 'R' in that word
00:08:45.29\00:08:47.87
for us stands for revival
and transformation. Okay.
00:08:47.90\00:08:52.34
And we are talking
about transformation
00:08:52.37\00:08:54.64
as we look at the
other four letters, E-A-C-H.
00:08:54.67\00:08:57.79
We're talking
about the transformation
00:08:57.82\00:09:00.21
of the North American Division.
00:09:00.24\00:09:01.91
The 'E' in that word stands
for education for discipleship.
00:09:01.94\00:09:07.27
We are committed to doing
all that we can for our primary,
00:09:07.30\00:09:12.25
secondary schools
and our higher ed.
00:09:12.28\00:09:15.84
to ensure that we come
back again to the idea or that
00:09:15.87\00:09:20.07
we intensify 'cause this is
happening in many, many places.
00:09:20.10\00:09:23.28
We intensify the idea that
Adventist Christian education
00:09:23.31\00:09:27.04
isn't just to
give somebody a diploma
00:09:27.07\00:09:29.50
or that the education program
that we have in our homes,
00:09:29.53\00:09:32.98
in our Sabbath schools is
designed to help young people
00:09:33.01\00:09:36.86
become disciples of Jesus.
00:09:36.89\00:09:39.01
So that is the
focus of education.
00:09:39.04\00:09:41.07
So that's the 'E.'
R-E. 'A' is for alignment.
00:09:41.10\00:09:45.33
Alignment in the
way we focus as--
00:09:45.36\00:09:49.52
or as we look at our
world evangelistically.
00:09:49.55\00:09:52.90
Alignment in our churches.
00:09:52.93\00:09:55.64
You know we have many different
messages being preached today.
00:09:55.67\00:09:59.59
That's true.
00:09:59.62\00:10:00.99
And we're
committed as a division
00:10:01.02\00:10:03.94
to encourage our
congregations and our pastors
00:10:03.97\00:10:07.68
to intensify again their
discovery in the word of God.
00:10:07.71\00:10:13.06
To see that those 28 fundamental
beliefs that we uphold
00:10:13.09\00:10:17.84
and that we cherish as Adventist
aren't something that--
00:10:17.87\00:10:21.76
well, there is no
option on them as I see it.
00:10:21.79\00:10:23.77
They're not up for
negotiation. Right. Right.
00:10:23.80\00:10:26.42
And we want everybody
to dust off their Bible,
00:10:26.45\00:10:29.17
to get back into the word
of God and become aligned--
00:10:29.20\00:10:34.15
With the purposes of
God through the basis
00:10:34.18\00:10:37.15
that we follow--the basis
that we find in God's word
00:10:37.18\00:10:40.40
and in the Spirit of Prophecy.
00:10:40.43\00:10:41.90
You know, we've felt
that same call and we began
00:10:41.93\00:10:46.30
with our pillars of the
Christian faith last year.
00:10:46.33\00:10:50.58
Did the first half,
00:10:50.61\00:10:52.65
about 14 or 13 or
14 of those last year.
00:10:52.68\00:10:56.46
And now this year we're doing
00:10:56.49\00:10:58.08
the rest of the 28
fundamental beliefs. Praise God.
00:10:58.11\00:11:01.26
Because we feel like, as you do,
00:11:01.29\00:11:03.94
that we must not
get away from these.
00:11:03.97\00:11:08.72
These are truths that God has
given us to give to the world.
00:11:08.75\00:11:12.69
Absolutely. Absolutely--
00:11:12.72\00:11:14.09
And we want to
continue to sound them
00:11:14.12\00:11:16.10
with the trumpet
that it's sure. And--
00:11:16.13\00:11:19.54
I couldn't agree more with you.
00:11:19.57\00:11:21.27
Now let me finish. All right.
00:11:21.30\00:11:22.71
The 'C,' you know, the
R-E-A. Now we come to 'C'.
00:11:22.74\00:11:26.50
Community involvement,
00:11:26.53\00:11:28.08
Community Outreach
and Evangelism. Yes.
00:11:28.11\00:11:30.80
You know, evangelism is the
lifeblood of the church. Yeah.
00:11:30.83\00:11:34.52
And we've done some interesting
things in the last year
00:11:34.55\00:11:37.65
and intend to do many,
many more interesting things.
00:11:37.68\00:11:41.12
You know, this February
00:11:41.15\00:11:43.64
I had the privilege
of being in Houston. Yes.
00:11:43.67\00:11:46.23
And that's some of
your old stomping grounds.
00:11:46.26\00:11:47.87
Well, Texas, that's
right. Texas. Mm-hmm.
00:11:47.90\00:11:50.05
You got to be a special
person to be a Texan, C.A.
00:11:50.08\00:11:53.37
We don't have to
be but it sure helps.
00:11:53.40\00:11:56.60
We--well, my wife
and I arrived in Houston
00:11:56.63\00:11:59.45
on an evening when there
was an ice storm in Houston.
00:11:59.48\00:12:03.55
Oh, yeah. Oh, yes.
00:12:03.58\00:12:04.95
And, you know, we-- I
woke up in the morning
00:12:04.98\00:12:06.35
and I looked out at
the road, at the freeway
00:12:06.38\00:12:08.14
which was right
outside the window of our hotel
00:12:08.17\00:12:09.93
and I said, "It's
very silent out there."
00:12:09.96\00:12:13.17
They had closed down
all the roads. Quite sure.
00:12:13.20\00:12:15.43
We were supposed to
start an evangelistic meeting
00:12:15.46\00:12:17.67
that Friday evening. Yes.
00:12:17.70\00:12:19.36
And, you know, that
was a big thing to overcome
00:12:19.39\00:12:21.56
but then they phoned us
at our hotel room and said,
00:12:21.59\00:12:24.17
"Well, you know,
00:12:24.74\00:12:26.11
we won't be able to
start the meetings tonight."
00:12:26.14\00:12:28.06
Hmm. Wow.
00:12:28.09\00:12:29.46
Someone had gone
behind the church
00:12:29.49\00:12:30.86
and cut six of
the leading lines,
00:12:30.89\00:12:34.20
the electrical
lines into the church,
00:12:34.23\00:12:36.24
and tried to steal the
copper out of them. Oh, wow.
00:12:36.27\00:12:38.97
So we had to wait
until Saturday night
00:12:39.00\00:12:41.62
till we started but-- Yeah.
00:12:41.65\00:12:43.47
You know, there were
130 evangelistic meetings
00:12:43.50\00:12:47.40
going on concurrently
in the city of Houston.
00:12:47.43\00:12:51.47
You know what
they're telling me now?
00:12:51.50\00:12:53.40
Is that so far 800
people have been baptized--
00:12:53.43\00:12:56.79
Yeah, praise God-- In
some of those meetings.
00:12:56.82\00:12:58.19
So we praise God. Amen.
00:12:58.22\00:12:59.59
So one of the things that
we're dreaming about is that
00:12:59.62\00:13:02.08
we will find models
like the Houston model
00:13:02.11\00:13:05.74
and transplant
that into other cities--
00:13:05.77\00:13:08.81
Throughout North America. Right.
00:13:08.84\00:13:10.59
You know, Jesus is coming
and we have to have an urgency
00:13:10.62\00:13:13.50
for community outreach
and evangelism. Amen. Yes.
00:13:13.53\00:13:16.15
And that community
outreach can also include
00:13:16.18\00:13:19.09
many other facets of our work.
00:13:19.12\00:13:20.84
We have a great
plan called "Step it Up."
00:13:20.87\00:13:25.78
I think I'm getting it wrong
and probably our health director
00:13:25.81\00:13:28.51
will get after me
but it's patterned after
00:13:28.54\00:13:31.43
the Let's Move
Initiative that Michelle Obama
00:13:31.46\00:13:34.28
initiated in the
United States. All right.
00:13:34.31\00:13:36.34
But our health
director has taken that
00:13:36.37\00:13:38.06
and she has
raised significant money.
00:13:38.09\00:13:39.72
And she is going to challenge
00:13:39.75\00:13:41.98
Adventist
throughout North America
00:13:42.01\00:13:44.82
to get involved
in health. All right.
00:13:44.85\00:13:46.85
And to walk and so we're
going to step it up. Amen.
00:13:46.88\00:13:50.21
So community outreach,
there are many facets to it.
00:13:50.24\00:13:53.18
But that is the 'C'. Yes.
00:13:53.21\00:13:56.76
The 'H' is
another significant one.
00:13:56.79\00:13:58.98
And, you know,
Jim, one of the things
00:13:59.01\00:14:03.36
that we're called upon
in the last days of history
00:14:03.39\00:14:06.82
prior of Jesus return is that
we be transparent as a church.
00:14:06.85\00:14:11.88
The 'H' stands for healthy
administration and management.
00:14:11.91\00:14:17.37
We are committed to encouraging
every one of our conferences,
00:14:17.40\00:14:23.44
our unions, even
our local churches
00:14:23.47\00:14:26.93
to look at the way they
are running the organization
00:14:26.96\00:14:30.73
they're responsible for.
00:14:30.76\00:14:32.85
It's important that
we do that. Yes, it is.
00:14:32.88\00:14:35.37
You know, I'll
be honest with you.
00:14:35.40\00:14:37.19
On June 28 I was elected
00:14:37.22\00:14:38.92
president of the North
American Division. Okay.
00:14:38.95\00:14:41.52
And from that day till this,
00:14:41.55\00:14:43.60
I believe that God has asked me
to be a steward of that office.
00:14:43.63\00:14:48.18
He didn't give it to me.
I don't own the presidency.
00:14:48.21\00:14:51.80
And I need to be
faithful to God's call to ensure
00:14:51.83\00:14:56.40
that we are being
honest with our people
00:14:56.43\00:14:58.35
and open with our people,
that we are doing everything
00:14:58.38\00:15:01.45
we can to utilize the resources,
the finances that God gives us.
00:15:01.48\00:15:06.50
Absolutely. For His cause
00:15:06.53\00:15:08.07
so that we can see
God finish His work.
00:15:08.10\00:15:11.09
So that's the R-E-A-C-H.
00:15:11.12\00:15:13.74
'R' is for revival
and transformation.
00:15:13.77\00:15:15.99
The E-A-C-H is
for the transformation
00:15:16.02\00:15:20.31
of our members throughout
North America and for me.
00:15:20.34\00:15:23.75
So that's one of the
things that we have been up to
00:15:23.78\00:15:26.88
as we have planned and dreamed
00:15:26.91\00:15:28.87
not only about the
present but about the future.
00:15:28.90\00:15:31.78
Elder, I wanted to just
mind the 'H' just a little bit.
00:15:31.81\00:15:34.00
Because, of course, when
we talk about transparency
00:15:34.03\00:15:36.14
folk always like to know
where the money is going. Right.
00:15:36.17\00:15:38.74
But are you envisioning
more than that as far as
00:15:38.77\00:15:42.00
how elections
are done, what we do,
00:15:42.03\00:15:43.89
the kinds of
decisions that we make,
00:15:43.92\00:15:45.29
the kinds of things we say?
00:15:45.32\00:15:46.69
Is it targeting finances
per se or is it finances plus
00:15:46.72\00:15:50.31
a whole constellation of things?
00:15:50.34\00:15:52.92
It is targeting
everything so that we develop
00:15:52.95\00:15:55.50
a culture of
transparency within the church.
00:15:55.53\00:15:58.23
You know, this
is a very heavy year
00:15:58.26\00:16:00.60
for the North American
Division and for every division
00:16:00.63\00:16:02.85
around the world because
following General Conference,
00:16:02.88\00:16:06.16
you know, we have
General Conference last year
00:16:06.19\00:16:08.38
but this year all of
our union conferences
00:16:08.41\00:16:10.91
have constituency meetings.
00:16:10.94\00:16:13.16
I want to tell
you what I am telling
00:16:13.19\00:16:14.88
nominating
committees as we sit together.
00:16:14.91\00:16:18.27
I tell them, "If you
have come into this room
00:16:18.30\00:16:22.35
looking for a man
00:16:22.38\00:16:24.23
then you don't
belong here. Get out." Aha.
00:16:24.26\00:16:26.97
"If you have come
here to seek God's will
00:16:27.69\00:16:32.82
then you're in the
right place because God knows
00:16:32.85\00:16:35.94
who needs to be an
officer in this union.
00:16:35.97\00:16:39.05
God knows that already.
00:16:39.08\00:16:40.83
Your job and mine is to
connect with the will of God
00:16:40.86\00:16:44.66
so that we can put
the very most spiritual,
00:16:44.69\00:16:48.07
highly spiritual emphasis
on the way we elect people."
00:16:48.10\00:16:51.66
Now you're positioned as North
American Division president.
00:16:51.69\00:16:55.57
You would be the chairman
00:16:55.60\00:16:56.99
of each of those
nominating committees.
00:16:57.02\00:16:59.07
That's correct. That's correct.
00:16:59.10\00:17:00.68
So that's a very
important position.
00:17:00.71\00:17:02.81
You know, I tell people
00:17:02.84\00:17:04.41
I didn't come here to
tell you who you need to elect.
00:17:04.44\00:17:07.46
The North American Division
does not have an agenda.
00:17:07.49\00:17:09.88
We will not have agendas
on who ought to be elected
00:17:09.91\00:17:13.30
and the membership of our church
00:17:13.33\00:17:16.31
as they commit
their lives to God,
00:17:16.34\00:17:18.08
as we all
commit our lives to God
00:17:18.11\00:17:20.05
have the opportunity
to connect with God to--
00:17:20.08\00:17:23.34
you know I-- this
has been my message.
00:17:23.37\00:17:25.66
We are preparing
for the final thrust
00:17:25.69\00:17:29.30
of God's work on planet
earth before Jesus comes.
00:17:29.33\00:17:32.37
Praise God. We're
preparing for that.
00:17:32.40\00:17:34.10
And so when we meet together
in constituency meetings
00:17:34.13\00:17:37.01
we're attempting
to position the church
00:17:37.04\00:17:38.87
for that final thrust.
00:17:38.90\00:17:40.74
So we don't want to mess around
00:17:40.77\00:17:42.15
and bring politics
and nonsense into that.
00:17:42.18\00:17:45.98
Actually, currently
there's a large number
00:17:46.01\00:17:50.82
of new union presidents. Yes.
00:17:50.85\00:17:53.73
Throughout the
division. Is that correct?
00:17:53.76\00:17:55.14
Yes, yes, there are.
00:17:55.17\00:17:56.54
You know, I got to the place
not so long ago, Brother Jim,
00:17:56.57\00:17:59.55
where I looked at
all the union presidents
00:17:59.58\00:18:01.40
that were there
and I said to myself,
00:18:01.43\00:18:04.92
"I've been here longer
than any of them." Yes.
00:18:04.95\00:18:07.66
And it just felt
like I was a kid--Yeah.
00:18:07.69\00:18:10.79
A few years ago.
That I was the new guy.
00:18:10.82\00:18:12.47
Right. But there
has been a transition.
00:18:12.50\00:18:14.34
There has. Yes, there has.
00:18:14.37\00:18:15.74
Now how many unions
do we have in there?
00:18:15.77\00:18:17.14
We have 9 unions in the
North American Divisions.
00:18:17.17\00:18:18.54
How many constituencies
have you been at so far?
00:18:18.57\00:18:20.58
Four so far. We have five to go.
00:18:20.61\00:18:22.48
Five to go. Yeah.
00:18:22.51\00:18:23.88
If we can live through that
00:18:23.91\00:18:25.28
it will be quite
an accomplishment.
00:18:25.31\00:18:26.68
Yes, it will.
00:18:26.71\00:18:28.08
And you have new presidents
in the South Western Union.
00:18:28.11\00:18:29.99
South Western Union.
Central--in Mid-America.
00:18:30.02\00:18:32.95
Mid-America, Tom Lemon. Uh-huh.
00:18:32.98\00:18:35.37
And relatively new
at Pacific Union. Yes.
00:18:35.40\00:18:41.14
Relatively new. And
North Pacific Union.
00:18:41.17\00:18:45.12
Max Torkelsen. And
that's fairly new--
00:18:45.15\00:18:47.43
That's fairly new. Yeah.
00:18:47.46\00:18:49.16
And the Lake Union.
And Don Livesay. Yes, yes.
00:18:49.19\00:18:53.52
And so there are a number
of relatively new presidents.
00:18:53.55\00:18:59.08
Yes. Yes. And--
00:18:59.11\00:19:00.48
I never thought I'd look
at myself as the old guy, Jim.
00:19:00.51\00:19:03.62
You know it's
almost come to that. Yeah.
00:19:03.65\00:19:06.53
Sooner or later it
does. Yes, it does.
00:19:06.56\00:19:09.71
And we've been talking
about changes and challenges.
00:19:09.74\00:19:11.74
We want to talk about
some things that have been
00:19:11.77\00:19:13.14
happening just
recently but I want to ask you
00:19:13.17\00:19:14.54
one of those kind of
introspective questions.
00:19:14.57\00:19:15.94
We toss that
every now and again.
00:19:15.97\00:19:17.49
You've been at this
job just about a year.
00:19:17.52\00:19:22.18
How has Don Jackson's-- Dan.
00:19:22.21\00:19:26.96
Dan Jackson's opinion,
view of the church changed,
00:19:26.99\00:19:32.74
grown, expanded from being
00:19:32.77\00:19:36.02
president of
the church in Canada
00:19:36.05\00:19:38.65
to being president of
the North American Division?
00:19:38.68\00:19:40.99
Seeing what you've seen,
experiencing what you have
00:19:41.02\00:19:44.16
experienced over
these last 12 months
00:19:44.19\00:19:47.10
how has your vision
of the church changed,
00:19:47.13\00:19:49.95
if indeed it has? How so?
00:19:49.98\00:19:53.16
Well, you know, I will tell you
00:19:53.19\00:19:54.68
that it was wonderful
working in my homeland.
00:19:54.71\00:20:00.15
And I was very
grateful to be there.
00:20:00.18\00:20:02.62
It was a great privilege.
00:20:02.65\00:20:04.40
And I tell people all the time,
00:20:04.43\00:20:06.72
you know, "I am a
guest in the United States.
00:20:06.75\00:20:09.49
And I am grateful to the
government of the United States
00:20:09.52\00:20:12.74
for letting me be here."
00:20:12.77\00:20:14.66
But, you know, one of the
things I am finding out is that
00:20:14.69\00:20:18.05
everywhere we go we
have wonderful people.
00:20:18.08\00:20:22.08
Praise God. You know,
we have wonderful systems.
00:20:22.11\00:20:24.22
And it is true that
we have some challenges.
00:20:24.25\00:20:28.38
And the challenges in
the North American Division
00:20:28.41\00:20:31.02
never seem to be
of the tiny variety
00:20:31.05\00:20:33.36
that you can just deal with.
00:20:33.39\00:20:34.76
Well, let's take care of
this in the next two minutes.
00:20:34.79\00:20:37.71
You know? Yeah.
00:20:37.74\00:20:39.19
And on top of that we are
frail human beings, right?
00:20:39.22\00:20:42.01
Yes. We recognize that.
00:20:42.04\00:20:43.60
Though God has asked us to lead,
00:20:43.63\00:20:45.73
again we are
stewards of those offices
00:20:45.76\00:20:48.31
and yet many of the
issues that we face--
00:20:48.34\00:20:51.51
I want to tell you,
brethren, we get on our knees.
00:20:51.54\00:20:55.17
And we acknowledge God
to be sovereign Lord of all
00:20:55.20\00:20:58.70
and the only one
capable of giving
00:20:58.73\00:21:02.50
or of imparting the
wisdom that we need to carry out
00:21:02.53\00:21:06.36
the activities of the
North American Division.
00:21:06.39\00:21:08.80
This job is too
big for any of us, C.A.
00:21:08.83\00:21:12.95
I am not a big enough man
00:21:12.98\00:21:14.85
to take care of
the spiritual needs
00:21:14.88\00:21:17.10
of the North American Division
unless I find my ability
00:21:17.13\00:21:22.09
to lead in connection with God.
00:21:22.12\00:21:25.50
So, you know, it's true.
00:21:25.53\00:21:27.48
We have some challenges
and they are great challenges.
00:21:27.51\00:21:30.07
But I want to tell you,
00:21:30.10\00:21:31.47
we have way more
good things than bad.
00:21:31.50\00:21:33.99
We have some
wonderful, wonderful people.
00:21:34.02\00:21:36.10
And I--and so how
has my view changed?
00:21:36.13\00:21:39.37
While it certainly has
expanded but as it's expanded
00:21:39.40\00:21:43.73
I've looked at
this wonderful field
00:21:43.76\00:21:45.52
and I've said to myself,
00:21:45.55\00:21:47.27
"Man, if we could pull
this all together by God's grace
00:21:47.30\00:21:50.21
through the Holy Spirit"-- Yes.
00:21:50.24\00:21:51.72
And empower these people
00:21:51.75\00:21:53.57
to get involved
in a more intense way
00:21:53.60\00:21:56.55
with the work of the gospel,
00:21:56.58\00:21:58.50
you know, God is going to do
00:21:58.53\00:22:00.20
something great
in this division.
00:22:00.23\00:22:01.76
Yeah. Right. You
know, you ought to do this.
00:22:01.79\00:22:03.16
Crow just a little bit.
00:22:03.19\00:22:04.56
You know, over the past
year I'm sure the Lord has put
00:22:04.59\00:22:06.82
something in your
path, in your mind.
00:22:06.85\00:22:08.84
Something you've
dealt with that really
00:22:08.87\00:22:10.29
sometimes you want to sit back
and pop your suspenders and say,
00:22:10.32\00:22:12.51
"This is why I'm a Seventh-day
Adventist," you know?
00:22:12.54\00:22:14.83
Give us one of
those kind of experience.
00:22:14.86\00:22:16.31
Oh, man. You know,
let me tell you one story.
00:22:16.34\00:22:21.74
And, you know, I have often
said that it is our lay people,
00:22:21.77\00:22:26.52
working outside of the
cameras and beyond the pulpits
00:22:26.55\00:22:31.02
and so on, who really are the
heart and soul of the church.
00:22:31.05\00:22:35.64
Amen. Now we've got a
brother in the city area
00:22:35.67\00:22:39.87
who lives outside
the city of Chicago,
00:22:39.90\00:22:41.77
a gentleman by the
name of Frank Torbert.
00:22:41.80\00:22:44.03
He's 88 years old.
00:22:44.06\00:22:46.41
Eight years ago he
was driving his wife
00:22:46.44\00:22:51.22
to take her to a nursing home.
00:22:51.25\00:22:53.00
She was very, very ill,
has some serious problems.
00:22:53.03\00:22:57.02
And the Lord said, "Now, Frank,
00:22:57.05\00:22:58.75
you take her home and
take care of her yourself."
00:22:58.78\00:23:01.42
Now this brother has continued
to do that all through the years
00:23:01.45\00:23:04.08
but let me tell you
what else he's been doing.
00:23:04.11\00:23:07.29
Not only is he a
loving and faithful husband.
00:23:07.32\00:23:11.17
But this man 20
years ago made a decision
00:23:11.20\00:23:14.56
that every week he would buy
00:23:14.59\00:23:18.92
10 boxes of Bible answers.
00:23:18.95\00:23:22.58
That man only leaves his
house today for two reasons.
00:23:22.61\00:23:29.54
He phones the ABC and places
his order for those books.
00:23:29.57\00:23:32.35
And then he
goes, one time a month,
00:23:32.38\00:23:34.93
he goes and gets 10
boxes of Bible answers.
00:23:34.96\00:23:38.09
Now he's 88 years of
age and he's on a pension.
00:23:38.12\00:23:42.78
But he spends $500 a
month on Bible answers. Wow.
00:23:42.81\00:23:48.59
Now on Sabbath
there's extra help
00:23:48.62\00:23:50.66
that comes in to help his wife.
00:23:50.69\00:23:54.58
And so on Sabbath
he leaves the home
00:23:54.61\00:23:56.22
and goes right into
the core of Chicago,
00:23:56.25\00:23:59.90
into the inner-city
where there is trouble
00:23:59.93\00:24:03.44
and he hands out
Bible answers. Bless his--
00:24:03.47\00:24:06.79
In his little church
about half of the people
00:24:06.82\00:24:09.93
who go there trace their
introduction to Adventist
00:24:09.96\00:24:13.75
to some guy in
the streets of Chicago
00:24:13.78\00:24:15.66
handing them a
Bible answers. Praise God.
00:24:15.69\00:24:17.29
I want to tell you I praise
God for those kind of stories.
00:24:17.32\00:24:20.78
Yes, indeed. Those are
the real heroes of the faith.
00:24:20.81\00:24:22.72
Amen. Yes, they are.
They are the real heroes.
00:24:22.75\00:24:24.82
And we can duplicate that
picture over and over again.
00:24:24.85\00:24:27.62
There are people
all across this division
00:24:27.65\00:24:30.79
who are doing exploits for God.
00:24:30.82\00:24:32.46
But they don't
often get into the camera.
00:24:32.49\00:24:34.39
Yes. No. Into the
light of the camera.
00:24:34.42\00:24:36.89
So that's one
thing that makes me
00:24:36.92\00:24:40.05
delighted and happy to
be a Seventh-day Adventist.
00:24:40.08\00:24:42.85
To know that I
am a brother-- Yes.
00:24:42.88\00:24:44.26
To Frank Tolbert in Chicago--
A fellow like that. Amen.
00:24:44.29\00:24:46.44
Amen, Praise God.
Great story, great story.
00:24:46.47\00:24:49.41
We will keep him in prayer.
00:24:49.44\00:24:50.81
What are some of the
opportunities that you see
00:24:50.84\00:24:55.82
and would like to
be able to--you know,
00:24:55.85\00:24:58.29
always money usually
prevents us from some things
00:24:58.32\00:25:01.98
or a number of things but what
are some of the opportunities
00:25:02.01\00:25:04.95
that you see for the
church in North America?
00:25:04.98\00:25:08.05
You know, I will
tell you what I think
00:25:08.08\00:25:09.45
are the greatest opportunities.
00:25:09.48\00:25:13.20
Our people are
beginning to stir.
00:25:13.23\00:25:16.85
Our people are beginning to say,
00:25:16.88\00:25:20.76
"We want to be
united in the gospel." Amen.
00:25:20.79\00:25:24.70
"And begin to finish the work."
00:25:24.73\00:25:26.76
You know, I had a very,
very interesting conversation
00:25:26.79\00:25:30.44
not so long ago.
00:25:30.47\00:25:32.27
I was invited by the
vice presidents for mission
00:25:32.30\00:25:36.75
of the Adventist Health
Systems of all the hospitals.
00:25:36.78\00:25:40.32
And they asked me to
come and talk with them.
00:25:40.35\00:25:44.68
First they said, "We just have
20 minutes to talk with you."
00:25:44.71\00:25:48.14
But when I sat in front
of them I said, "You know,
00:25:48.17\00:25:51.41
I didn't come here with a speech
and I don't have an agenda
00:25:51.44\00:25:54.11
but I think you
do so let's talk."
00:25:54.14\00:25:56.66
You know, we
spent two hours talking.
00:25:56.69\00:25:59.57
And the leaders of
mission in our hospital systems
00:25:59.60\00:26:02.14
said to me,
00:26:02.17\00:26:03.54
"We want to be involved
in the work of the church.
00:26:03.57\00:26:06.85
We want guidance and
assistance from the church."
00:26:06.88\00:26:09.79
And we're finding that
not only in our hospitals
00:26:09.82\00:26:13.11
but in our
schools, in our churches.
00:26:13.14\00:26:15.22
So that's a huge opportunity.
00:26:15.25\00:26:18.58
You know, another
opportunity that we have--
00:26:18.61\00:26:20.38
we just spent a couple of
days in Ontario, California--
00:26:20.41\00:26:24.34
Oh, yes. Talking about media.
00:26:24.37\00:26:26.87
And, you know, we
want to praise God.
00:26:26.90\00:26:29.78
And, C.A., you were there.
You saw that scene of the--Yes.
00:26:29.81\00:26:33.78
We called all of the retired
folks and the current folks
00:26:33.81\00:26:37.90
and the active
folks involved in media
00:26:37.93\00:26:40.20
and anyway up on the platform.
00:26:40.23\00:26:41.60
And we've got a picture.
Brother, if you can put it up.
00:26:41.63\00:26:44.40
It was so impressive for me
00:26:44.43\00:26:46.90
to stand with
that group of leaders
00:26:46.93\00:26:49.51
who have served the
Lord so well and so long
00:26:49.54\00:26:52.03
and so faithfully in media.
00:26:52.06\00:26:55.17
Just--you name the name
going all the way back of those
00:26:55.20\00:26:58.18
that were there,
C.D. Brooks was not there
00:26:58.21\00:27:00.40
but great men and women of God
00:27:00.43\00:27:03.11
who have been used by
theLord over the years.
00:27:03.14\00:27:04.51
It was really quite
humbling to stand on that dais.
00:27:04.54\00:27:06.04
Now we just really
praised God for that. Yeah.
00:27:06.07\00:27:10.36
And we owe a
huge debt of gratitude
00:27:10.39\00:27:12.77
to the leaders of
our Media Ministries
00:27:12.80\00:27:16.01
whether that be the
production of one program
00:27:16.04\00:27:18.59
or a studio or
whatever it has been.
00:27:18.62\00:27:23.04
We really praise God for that.
00:27:23.07\00:27:24.69
And, you know,
it really goes back
00:27:24.72\00:27:26.09
to Elder. H.M.S. Richards. Yes.
00:27:26.12\00:27:28.02
First one that was actually
involved in Media Ministry.
00:27:28.05\00:27:32.96
And then Figuhr came
along and then one by one--
00:27:32.99\00:27:36.63
Yes. Those programs were headed.
00:27:36.66\00:27:38.68
George Vandeman moved in.
00:27:38.71\00:27:40.85
And then there successors
have come along--Yeah.
00:27:40.88\00:27:42.98
And continued those ministries.
00:27:43.01\00:27:45.28
And then Danny Shelton in
1984 began this ministry. Right.
00:27:45.31\00:27:49.86
Which has over 25 years
00:27:49.89\00:27:52.35
and the impact
that we just are amazed
00:27:52.38\00:27:56.33
by the impact around the world
00:27:56.36\00:27:57.93
that we get the
feedback from 3ABN.
00:27:57.96\00:28:02.10
And, of course, we
carry those programs.
00:28:02.13\00:28:05.14
"It is Written," "The
Voice of Prophecy" and so forth.
00:28:05.17\00:28:08.71
So it is an amazing thing
00:28:08.74\00:28:11.92
that God has done in
reaching out with media.
00:28:11.95\00:28:14.80
And I think we've
only begun. I do too.
00:28:14.83\00:28:17.92
You know, I tell
people all the time
00:28:17.95\00:28:21.16
the church is a miracle. Yes.
00:28:21.19\00:28:24.16
People tend to think
that the way we're structured
00:28:24.19\00:28:26.44
organizationally that
the guys in one level can--
00:28:26.47\00:28:29.68
or what we call level.
00:28:29.71\00:28:32.06
I'd really like to
call it ripple, you know,
00:28:32.09\00:28:33.84
because you throw the stone
into the water and the ripples,
00:28:33.87\00:28:37.71
the waves go out but
people tend to think well,
00:28:37.74\00:28:40.40
you know, at one level
they can just crack the whip
00:28:40.43\00:28:42.24
and the next part of the
ripple they just have to answer.
00:28:42.27\00:28:46.11
That's not true right
down to the local church.
00:28:46.14\00:28:48.36
This church functions on
the basis of cooperation.
00:28:48.93\00:28:53.41
And the guidance
of the Holy Spirit.
00:28:53.44\00:28:54.89
So the church
itself is a miracle.
00:28:54.92\00:28:56.30
I will say when you get to
100 people in the same room
00:28:56.33\00:28:59.16
and they don't rip each others
face off, that's a miracle.
00:28:59.19\00:29:02.30
But you know
the-- but the fact is
00:29:02.33\00:29:05.88
that the Media Ministries--
00:29:05.91\00:29:09.56
and you've just
mentioned it for 3ABN.
00:29:09.59\00:29:12.20
But you go back
and look at the way
00:29:12.23\00:29:13.97
that God has blessed
our Media Ministries.
00:29:14.00\00:29:17.67
These things didn't just
happen out of happenstance.
00:29:17.70\00:29:20.33
They didn't occur because
somebody had a bright idea.
00:29:20.36\00:29:22.98
God inspired
men and women-- Yes.
00:29:23.01\00:29:25.24
To reach out to
their world in unique ways
00:29:25.27\00:29:28.13
and then he inspired our
people to help them. Yes.
00:29:28.16\00:29:31.03
And, you know, of
course, in these days
00:29:31.06\00:29:34.29
we're not always
getting traction with our people
00:29:34.32\00:29:36.29
the way we might. Right.
00:29:36.32\00:29:37.95
And by God's grace we need
to re-initiate that spirit of
00:29:37.98\00:29:43.15
we're living in the final days.
00:29:43.18\00:29:44.79
We have media and as you said
00:29:44.82\00:29:47.08
we're just beginning
to see what God can do.
00:29:47.11\00:29:49.62
I believe that as we work
00:29:49.65\00:29:52.58
with every media
ministry in North America
00:29:52.61\00:29:57.20
in a convergence of resources
00:29:57.23\00:30:00.15
where we work
together to proclaim the gospel
00:30:00.18\00:30:02.71
great things will happen. Yeah.
00:30:02.74\00:30:04.41
Now at the media--
at the media summit
00:30:04.44\00:30:06.85
that we recently
had, we really got
00:30:06.88\00:30:11.55
an introduction to
social media. Yes, we did.
00:30:11.58\00:30:15.02
And in talking
about social media,
00:30:15.05\00:30:18.36
please understand
I'm not putting down
00:30:18.39\00:30:20.14
the traditional
media that we have,
00:30:20.17\00:30:22.03
radio, television. Not at all.
00:30:22.06\00:30:24.49
But the fact of the
matter is, that, you know,
00:30:24.52\00:30:28.79
the world that we're living
in today is a changing world.
00:30:28.82\00:30:32.69
You know, that about
98% of young people today
00:30:32.72\00:30:37.37
are connected to social media.
00:30:37.40\00:30:39.84
That's the future. It
is, without any question.
00:30:39.87\00:30:43.85
Now most of these--
and that doesn't mean
00:30:43.88\00:30:46.44
that while we
move into that horizon
00:30:46.47\00:30:48.72
that we downplay the rest.
00:30:48.75\00:30:50.52
But that doesn't mean
because we have the rest
00:30:50.55\00:30:52.30
that we don't move
into the new horizon.
00:30:52.33\00:30:54.80
But you know, that
there are somewhere
00:30:54.83\00:30:57.72
between 80% and 90% of
these young people today
00:30:57.75\00:31:02.61
who are involved in social media
00:31:02.64\00:31:04.51
are never away from
those appendages. Right.
00:31:04.54\00:31:08.54
You know, that cell phone
that you have right there,
00:31:08.57\00:31:10.82
they're never away
from their media instruments
00:31:10.85\00:31:15.31
for longer than a half
hour a day. That's right.
00:31:15.34\00:31:17.93
You know, one father
told me an interesting story
00:31:17.96\00:31:19.75
and it's a great story.
00:31:19.78\00:31:21.39
One father that
told me this story,
00:31:21.42\00:31:22.90
he said, he was walking
by-- he got in late from a trip.
00:31:22.93\00:31:25.83
He was walking by his daughter's
bedroom 3 AM in the morning.
00:31:25.86\00:31:30.31
He heard the bling, bling,
00:31:30.34\00:31:32.85
and he saw his
daughter reach over,
00:31:32.88\00:31:35.34
pickup her cell phone,
look at it and go, "Hmm,"
00:31:35.37\00:31:39.70
text a few words, put it
down and go back to sleep.
00:31:39.73\00:31:42.27
She was talking to
her friend from Ethiopia.
00:31:42.30\00:31:45.24
Wow! 3 o' clock in the morning.
00:31:45.27\00:31:47.66
She just reach
over by and wrote...
00:31:47.69\00:31:50.01
Right. And away we go.
00:31:50.04\00:31:51.54
Yeah. Yeah.
00:31:51.57\00:31:52.94
It was--I felt
that churches becoming
00:31:52.97\00:31:56.81
well aware of new
media, as it is called,
00:31:56.84\00:32:00.79
and determining
we are not going to--
00:32:00.82\00:32:03.33
not only going to
use it, but exploit it,
00:32:03.36\00:32:05.71
I use that in its
most positive term,
00:32:05.74\00:32:07.39
exploit this
media for the gospel.
00:32:07.42\00:32:09.31
You've got
millions of young people
00:32:09.34\00:32:12.11
whose only media
access is Twitter or Facebook
00:32:12.14\00:32:17.24
and we need to be there.
00:32:17.27\00:32:18.64
If they are there
then we need to be there
00:32:18.67\00:32:20.20
with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
00:32:20.23\00:32:21.60
And it was a
wonderful coming out,
00:32:21.63\00:32:23.89
dare I say, of the church.
00:32:23.92\00:32:25.71
All of the media people there,
workshops, working together,
00:32:25.74\00:32:28.86
trying to see how
can we use these things
00:32:28.89\00:32:31.33
for the
propagation of the gospel.
00:32:31.36\00:32:32.90
I wanted to ask
you, what was it that
00:32:32.93\00:32:34.71
drove the
calling of this meeting,
00:32:34.74\00:32:37.67
because I know
there's been a committee,
00:32:37.70\00:32:39.46
a steering
committee, that's been meeting
00:32:39.49\00:32:40.86
and then you have
some plans post meeting,
00:32:40.89\00:32:42.95
but what was going on
that drove you to say,
00:32:42.98\00:32:45.04
hey, we need to sort of
grab a hold of this thing
00:32:45.07\00:32:47.39
and really use
it for the gospel?
00:32:47.42\00:32:48.79
Well, I think the word that
I used earlier is the reason.
00:32:48.82\00:32:52.11
You know, we have
all these resources.
00:32:52.14\00:32:54.51
It seems to me like we've
got media centers everywhere,
00:32:54.54\00:32:57.77
all over North America
we've got media centers.
00:32:57.80\00:33:00.18
We've got a couple in Canada.
00:33:00.21\00:33:01.58
We've got five or six down here.
00:33:01.61\00:33:03.29
And I said to myself,
and we said administratively,
00:33:03.32\00:33:08.51
how can we
capture the imagination
00:33:08.54\00:33:10.75
of all of our
media, pull them together
00:33:10.78\00:33:14.96
and talk about how
do we position our media
00:33:14.99\00:33:20.29
in the most effective way,
00:33:20.32\00:33:22.11
head over the Gospel of Jesus
00:33:22.14\00:33:23.52
in the final
days of human history.
00:33:23.55\00:33:25.37
And that was the reason.
00:33:25.40\00:33:27.03
How can we get people together--
00:33:27.06\00:33:28.99
you know, one of the things--
00:33:29.02\00:33:30.84
you know, we talked about
the "H" Healthy administration."
00:33:30.87\00:33:33.56
One of things that we are trying
to do is to be transparent.
00:33:33.59\00:33:37.72
And in doing that,
we are trying to broaden
00:33:37.75\00:33:40.75
the circle of
counselors in every area.
00:33:40.78\00:33:43.96
So when we thought
about media we said,
00:33:43.99\00:33:45.74
you know, we could sit over here
00:33:45.77\00:33:47.35
and Silver
Spring behind our desks
00:33:47.38\00:33:48.93
and dream some
dreams that would be
00:33:48.96\00:33:50.38
so irrelevant and foolish
that nobody would listen.
00:33:50.41\00:33:53.61
So why don't we get the
people who are involved in media
00:33:53.64\00:33:57.47
to talk to us
about social media,
00:33:57.50\00:34:00.86
about radio and television,
how we can best utilize it.
00:34:00.89\00:34:04.26
So those are the
reasons why it started.
00:34:04.29\00:34:07.41
Jim, one of
things that surprised me,
00:34:07.44\00:34:09.05
and it may have you too
Elder, the power and the--
00:34:09.08\00:34:14.91
I use this term,
stay ability of radio.
00:34:14.94\00:34:18.93
We were given a presentation
00:34:18.96\00:34:20.83
that is saying basically
of all of the major media
00:34:20.86\00:34:24.37
the one that
has been most immune
00:34:24.40\00:34:26.94
to new media has been radio.
00:34:26.97\00:34:29.50
It has affected television some,
00:34:29.53\00:34:31.56
but according to
the statistics we heard,
00:34:31.59\00:34:33.77
radio is just as present
and as strong and as powerful
00:34:33.80\00:34:37.39
as ever and though we need
to move into these new media,
00:34:37.42\00:34:41.29
we ought not leave radio
00:34:41.32\00:34:42.69
because radio is still a
good way to spend your money
00:34:42.72\00:34:45.26
and it has very good impact
in large cities and small.
00:34:45.29\00:34:48.13
Well, you look at each of us.
00:34:48.16\00:34:49.53
When we are in automobiles,
we're listening to radio. Right.
00:34:49.56\00:34:52.38
And even between just the
short drive that I have here,
00:34:52.41\00:34:56.59
I have 3ABN radio
on or a news station
00:34:56.62\00:35:00.88
just in that
short length of time.
00:35:00.91\00:35:03.34
So we've got then-- and
3ABN radio's been growing.
00:35:03.37\00:35:06.46
We have over 200 stations
00:35:06.49\00:35:08.87
and it is just
growing leaps and bounds
00:35:08.90\00:35:12.67
and Jay Christian's doing
such a fantastic job with radio.
00:35:12.70\00:35:16.48
And we have not
forgotten radio here,
00:35:16.51\00:35:19.01
I want you to know that. Yeah.
00:35:19.04\00:35:21.02
Elder, you made a
very powerful opening--
00:35:21.05\00:35:24.06
really key note
address and one of things
00:35:24.09\00:35:26.63
that you tapped again and again,
00:35:26.66\00:35:28.74
the button you--the button
that you pushed again and again
00:35:28.77\00:35:32.88
was the idea and-- and
I'll put it in my terms,
00:35:32.91\00:35:35.24
that we all need to sort
of pull in the same direction.
00:35:35.27\00:35:37.94
That if we're going to do
what Christ has called us to do
00:35:37.97\00:35:41.49
we need to all hitch
our horses, as it were,
00:35:41.52\00:35:45.48
to the same wagon
and pull together.
00:35:45.51\00:35:48.13
Church entities,
supporting entities,
00:35:48.16\00:35:51.79
if we're gonna do
this, everybody needs to--
00:35:51.82\00:35:54.45
and that seems to be a
hallmark of your presidency now,
00:35:54.48\00:35:58.63
that those things
that we're going to do
00:35:58.66\00:36:00.79
we have to drop
the territorial garb
00:36:00.82\00:36:04.88
and all pull in
the same direction.
00:36:04.91\00:36:06.92
Talk to us just a little
bit about that if you will.
00:36:06.95\00:36:09.55
Well, you know, I
believe in the Bible.
00:36:09.58\00:36:10.97
When the Apostle Peter
describe the church he said,
00:36:14.86\00:36:20.44
you know, you're
a royal priesthood,
00:36:20.47\00:36:23.00
you're a holy nation,
a people called by God
00:36:23.03\00:36:27.01
and we love that
passage and we use that passage,
00:36:27.04\00:36:30.34
but you know right before
that second Peter 2:9 statement
00:36:30.37\00:36:34.85
there is a whole other statement
00:36:34.88\00:36:37.17
that talks about
the household of faith,
00:36:37.20\00:36:39.89
about the fact that God
is building his household
00:36:39.92\00:36:43.31
and Jesus Christ is the
chief cornerstone. Praise God.
00:36:43.34\00:36:47.05
You know, if you were
to build a brick house
00:36:47.08\00:36:52.05
and you put one brick over
here and one brick over there
00:36:52.08\00:36:54.74
and one brick over there
00:36:54.77\00:36:56.31
you're not going to
get much of a house,
00:36:56.34\00:36:57.71
you might a get
a bunch of pillars
00:36:57.74\00:36:59.26
but you're not
gonna get a house.
00:36:59.29\00:37:01.38
And how do you
build a community of faith
00:37:01.41\00:37:05.34
unless people
are joining together
00:37:05.37\00:37:07.87
and sensing that the
greatest potential that we have.
00:37:07.90\00:37:12.40
And I'm not talking
about unity based on
00:37:12.43\00:37:15.48
compromise and so on. Surely.
00:37:15.51\00:37:17.34
But listen, there are
divergences of opinion.
00:37:17.37\00:37:21.64
There are some folks who start
supporting ministries like 3ABN.
00:37:21.67\00:37:25.62
Then you have the
strength of the Hope channel,
00:37:25.65\00:37:29.48
you've the legacy media
ministries of the church.
00:37:29.51\00:37:34.12
They're all wonderful.
00:37:34.15\00:37:35.69
God is blessing
them and everyone can say
00:37:35.72\00:37:39.20
"My, we've seen
miracles" and that's great.
00:37:39.23\00:37:41.61
But I'll tell
you what I believe.
00:37:41.64\00:37:43.60
We haven't seen the
greatest miracles yet
00:37:43.63\00:37:46.16
because God is building a house
00:37:46.19\00:37:48.75
and every block
and every brick--
00:37:48.78\00:37:50.61
you know, I like to
look at like a stone mason.
00:37:50.64\00:37:53.67
You know, a stone
mason builds the stone wall.
00:37:53.70\00:37:55.95
I watched a man do that one time
00:37:55.98\00:37:58.29
and it was an
absolute amazing thing me,
00:37:58.32\00:38:01.43
the straightness
and level of the wall.
00:38:01.46\00:38:04.09
You know, he took some bricks
and he chopped them this way
00:38:04.12\00:38:06.94
or rather stones
and he cracked them
00:38:06.97\00:38:09.72
and broke them and shaped
them and put them in the wall.
00:38:09.75\00:38:12.68
And, you know, God
does that with individuals
00:38:12.71\00:38:14.40
and he does that
with ministry. Yeah.
00:38:14.43\00:38:16.19
But, you know,
none of us, none of us
00:38:16.22\00:38:18.41
is as strong as we might be
00:38:18.44\00:38:21.94
if we would
unite in common cause
00:38:21.97\00:38:25.89
to finish God's
work. Praise God.
00:38:25.92\00:38:27.66
And I have a belief
00:38:27.69\00:38:29.61
that there will be no
reaffirmation than the church.
00:38:29.64\00:38:34.07
When people have
silence, as people say
00:38:34.10\00:38:38.98
well I can't cooperate with him
00:38:39.01\00:38:40.44
because he does that or
him because he does that.
00:38:40.47\00:38:43.61
I believe God
calls and I believe
00:38:43.64\00:38:45.37
Ellen White talks about this.
00:38:45.40\00:38:47.39
We need to link arms together,
layman and pastors, etcetera
00:38:47.42\00:38:53.49
and to link arms and
walk to the kingdom together.
00:38:53.52\00:38:57.09
God wants to pour out his spirit
on His church. Praise God.
00:38:57.12\00:39:00.37
He does. Praise God. Praise God.
00:39:00.40\00:39:01.77
And so that's
what I believe and,
00:39:01.80\00:39:04.69
you know, when
you asked the question
00:39:04.72\00:39:06.09
I just said I believe the Bible.
00:39:06.12\00:39:08.08
'Cause I
believe that's Biblical.
00:39:08.11\00:39:09.58
Well, you can't argue with
00:39:09.61\00:39:11.32
an answer like--once
you say I believe the Bible
00:39:11.35\00:39:13.20
you're going down
the right street. Yeah.
00:39:13.23\00:39:15.20
Having spent two full days,
00:39:15.23\00:39:16.67
and these were long and
intense days, as you will know.
00:39:16.70\00:39:20.04
We ate in the room and
we worked through lunch,
00:39:20.07\00:39:22.61
they were working lunches,
00:39:22.64\00:39:24.67
how did you feel the
message was received,
00:39:24.70\00:39:27.44
that vast group of
media professionals
00:39:27.47\00:39:30.37
some of those guys
because I've known for you,
00:39:30.40\00:39:31.85
we know them all,
00:39:31.88\00:39:33.48
did they buy in to what
was being so do you think?
00:39:33.51\00:39:37.08
Well, you know, that was
the beginning of the process.
00:39:37.11\00:39:39.03
Yes. We're not stopping
the discussion on media.
00:39:39.06\00:39:43.96
It's going to go on.
00:39:43.99\00:39:46.10
I've said to the
folks in my opening remarks,
00:39:46.13\00:39:48.91
you know, there is
some folks who are saying,
00:39:48.94\00:39:52.25
we're hoping that you'll succeed
00:39:52.28\00:39:54.63
and there's other people
who are watching us saying,
00:39:54.66\00:39:56.43
boy, we're
waiting till you fail.
00:39:56.46\00:39:58.74
What I made the
comment at that time,
00:39:58.77\00:40:01.34
you know, "we may
fall down a few times
00:40:01.37\00:40:03.46
or may be a many times,
00:40:03.49\00:40:04.86
but by God's
grace we're gonna get up
00:40:04.89\00:40:06.69
and continue to proceed
until by His grace we succeed."
00:40:06.72\00:40:11.25
I thought most
people were energized by it.
00:40:11.28\00:40:14.91
I think most people started
to dreams some dreams. Oh, yes.
00:40:14.94\00:40:19.36
And, you know, where I
would like to take this next?
00:40:19.39\00:40:22.38
To our college compasses. Amen.
00:40:22.41\00:40:24.37
To talk to our young people.
00:40:24.40\00:40:26.12
Because you know
what I dream about?
00:40:26.15\00:40:27.96
You know, If I was a pastor,
00:40:27.99\00:40:29.74
I would wanna get our people
that come together in the church
00:40:29.77\00:40:32.98
and sit down
behind their laptops
00:40:33.01\00:40:36.63
and learn how to
witness in cyberspace
00:40:36.66\00:40:39.52
for Jesus Christ. Amen.
00:40:39.55\00:40:40.92
I told one of the folks
who was sitting behind me,
00:40:40.95\00:40:42.53
I said, if you
went to your conference
00:40:42.56\00:40:45.04
and you got 50
people, just 50 people
00:40:45.07\00:40:48.51
who would give a half an hour
every week to come to church
00:40:48.54\00:40:51.97
and you would
trained them how do engage
00:40:52.00\00:40:54.72
in a conversation for
Christ in cyberspace. Yes.
00:40:54.75\00:40:59.44
Can you imagine that
would be 100 hours every month
00:40:59.47\00:41:04.57
that people that we don't know
would be a contractor for Jesus.
00:41:04.60\00:41:08.31
We could have such a ground
swell throughout this division,
00:41:08.34\00:41:11.66
everybody using their computer,
going on facebook or twitter,
00:41:11.69\00:41:15.70
talking to people for Christ.
00:41:15.73\00:41:18.00
You know, you don't
have to be a rocket scientist
00:41:18.03\00:41:20.03
to do that or theologian
with Ph.D. in theology. Yeah.
00:41:20.06\00:41:24.50
So, I think some people
started to catch that vision
00:41:24.53\00:41:28.34
and so it was an exciting time.
00:41:28.37\00:41:30.52
Yeah. Jim, let me begin
to throw out statistics.
00:41:30.55\00:41:33.56
One person
said-- an expert said,
00:41:33.59\00:41:35.66
every minute, every 60 seconds,
00:41:35.69\00:41:38.27
24 hours worth of
content is uploaded to Youtube.
00:41:38.30\00:41:42.74
That's every minute,
24 hours worth a viewing
00:41:42.77\00:41:46.17
is uploaded of
every minute of everyday,
00:41:46.20\00:41:48.61
every month, every year.
00:41:48.64\00:41:50.82
So you're talking about
an arenathat is so vast,
00:41:50.85\00:41:54.86
that is so-- it cannot be ignore
00:41:54.89\00:41:57.26
by those of us who love
Jesus. We have to be there.
00:41:57.29\00:41:58.87
You know, we do have individuals
who have got this vision.
00:41:58.90\00:42:03.13
Are doing so-- Michael Shuler
00:42:03.16\00:42:05.84
down in the
Dallas-Fort Worth area.
00:42:05.87\00:42:08.03
Michael is working very hard
00:42:08.06\00:42:10.09
to come up with
different ways of--
00:42:10.12\00:42:13.76
through Youtube but
they're different catch phrases
00:42:13.79\00:42:17.34
that he uses to Google.
00:42:17.37\00:42:19.74
In another words
when they're Googling
00:42:19.77\00:42:21.22
it's different words and
he's studying which words
00:42:21.25\00:42:24.57
are the ones that will
get responses like that.
00:42:24.60\00:42:27.69
And he's getting a
tremendous response.
00:42:27.72\00:42:30.39
I spent more than an hour
on the phone with him recently
00:42:30.42\00:42:33.25
as he was sharing with
me so many of the success
00:42:33.28\00:42:37.23
that there having with YouTube.
00:42:37.26\00:42:39.05
We have another
young man if you remember
00:42:39.08\00:42:40.76
on the program here
that we did an interview with
00:42:40.79\00:42:44.12
and he is getting thousands
and thousands of hits on YouTube
00:42:44.15\00:42:49.16
and even 3ABN if
you go on YouTube
00:42:49.19\00:42:52.56
there are dozens and
dozens of 3ABN sites.
00:42:52.59\00:42:57.91
Many of them
upload it by our viewers
00:42:57.94\00:43:01.74
and some by Michael Prewitt,
00:43:01.77\00:43:04.89
that's who's done so here.
00:43:04.92\00:43:06.59
So you see, Jim, there's
still gonna be an opportunity
00:43:06.62\00:43:08.66
for your musical
career on YouTube.
00:43:08.69\00:43:10.47
You could... I don't think so.
00:43:10.50\00:43:14.55
You know what my
question is C.A.,
00:43:14.58\00:43:16.38
what my challenge is
as I think about this?
00:43:16.41\00:43:19.09
You know, as you mention, Jim.
00:43:19.12\00:43:21.98
H.M.S. Richards came along
and saw the genius of radio
00:43:22.01\00:43:25.53
and how he could
witness for Christ
00:43:25.56\00:43:28.60
and move the
gospel ahead on radio.
00:43:28.63\00:43:32.83
William Fagal, George Vandeman
00:43:32.86\00:43:34.48
and all of those who
have comes since. On and on.
00:43:34.51\00:43:36.38
Saw the potential. Right.
00:43:36.41\00:43:39.21
Here's my
question. Where is she?
00:43:39.24\00:43:42.76
Where is he, the H.M.S.
Richards of social media? Yeah.
00:43:42.79\00:43:48.86
Where are those
people? Where are those people?
00:43:48.89\00:43:51.51
They're all over.
They are. Yeah. Yeah.
00:43:51.54\00:43:53.54
And what we need
to do as a church
00:43:53.57\00:43:55.59
is that we need to find them.
00:43:55.62\00:43:57.17
Yes. Yeah.
00:43:57.20\00:43:58.57
And then get them to
cross-pollinate their ideas
00:43:58.60\00:44:01.10
like your friend was
doing with you. Yeah.
00:44:01.13\00:44:02.80
Because, you
know, Ellen White saw.
00:44:02.83\00:44:05.70
I mean, this is
exciting right? Yeah.
00:44:05.73\00:44:07.53
Streams of light
encircling the globe.
00:44:07.56\00:44:09.76
Yes. Yes. Right, right.
00:44:09.79\00:44:11.16
You know, you think--
that story I told you.
00:44:11.19\00:44:14.15
Here's a young woman in her
bed at 3 o' clock in the morning
00:44:14.18\00:44:16.79
talking to
somebody in Ethiopia. Yes.
00:44:16.82\00:44:20.02
You know, think about that.
00:44:20.05\00:44:21.60
All over the world,
Seventh-day Adventist Christians
00:44:21.63\00:44:25.17
using their computers to talk
to people they've never seen
00:44:25.20\00:44:29.07
and they may never see
them until to get to the kingdom
00:44:29.10\00:44:32.57
and the person say it was
you that emailed me. Right.
00:44:32.60\00:44:35.65
That was you that Twittered
me or Facebooked me, right?
00:44:35.68\00:44:37.72
Yeah. Yeah It was you.
00:44:37.75\00:44:39.64
And, you know, that just is
energizing, isn't it? It is.
00:44:39.67\00:44:43.37
This past year,
when they did study,
00:44:43.40\00:44:45.54
they found for the first time
00:44:45.57\00:44:47.52
that the number of television
sets in homes declined,
00:44:47.55\00:44:51.89
by quite a large number actually
if you get the actual stats.
00:44:51.92\00:44:57.59
Meaning that
more and more people
00:44:57.62\00:44:59.33
even are watching television
on their computers. Oh, yes.
00:44:59.36\00:45:03.43
And they get--
they're able to reach out,
00:45:03.46\00:45:07.53
you can watch 3ABN,
you can watch 3ABN Latino,
00:45:07.56\00:45:10.85
you can watch our proclaim,
you can watch our Dare to Dream,
00:45:10.88\00:45:15.22
our sunbeam
channel, and Russian.
00:45:15.25\00:45:18.80
You can watch all of
these on the internet
00:45:18.83\00:45:20.96
as well as
watching on by television.
00:45:20.99\00:45:25.89
And yet this is
something that I believe
00:45:25.92\00:45:32.41
will enable us to really,
actually finish the work.
00:45:32.44\00:45:37.87
You know, we talk about
finishing the work. Right.
00:45:37.90\00:45:40.07
And for
individuals to go into homes,
00:45:40.10\00:45:43.11
it's wonderful, it's fantastic,
00:45:43.14\00:45:46.11
but from media you
can get in there 24/7.
00:45:46.14\00:45:49.45
You can get in there in
the middle of the night.
00:45:49.48\00:45:51.00
If that's when
somebody wants to look and watch
00:45:51.03\00:45:54.01
and you can get behind those
locked gates through media.
00:45:54.04\00:45:59.26
And it's the way I believe that
the Lord is going to proclaim
00:45:59.29\00:46:03.07
this gospel all
around the world. Amen.
00:46:03.10\00:46:04.68
My sister's case and point,
00:46:04.71\00:46:06.25
she lives in an
apartment complex,
00:46:06.28\00:46:07.67
will not allow a satellite dish.
00:46:07.70\00:46:09.48
You know, is one of
the-- won't allow that.
00:46:09.51\00:46:11.01
Cannot get a sun cable.
00:46:11.04\00:46:12.43
She's strictly
computer and she watches 3ABN
00:46:12.46\00:46:14.81
on computer all the time.
00:46:14.84\00:46:16.21
So it is an arena
that we need to be in.
00:46:16.24\00:46:18.11
Elder, before our
time gets away from us,
00:46:18.14\00:46:19.86
I know there's
a number of things
00:46:19.89\00:46:22.21
that you are wrestling
with from your position.
00:46:22.24\00:46:25.46
I said wrestling
with, challenges,
00:46:25.49\00:46:27.10
you know, the Lord give
this opportunity and challenges,
00:46:27.13\00:46:29.38
what are some of the
things, some of the directions
00:46:29.41\00:46:31.09
that the NAD is
gonna to be moving in
00:46:31.12\00:46:33.19
in the next
little bit that you have
00:46:33.22\00:46:35.16
the privilege of watching
us go in that direction?
00:46:35.19\00:46:40.38
I need to understand that
question a little more, C.A.
00:46:40.41\00:46:43.05
You need to get more specific.
00:46:43.08\00:46:44.57
Some of the initiatives that
you're gonna to be fostering
00:46:44.60\00:46:47.66
from a division standpoint,
some of the directions
00:46:47.69\00:46:49.41
that you'd like to
see the division go into.
00:46:49.44\00:46:51.66
Well, you know, we
are going to cooperate
00:46:51.69\00:46:54.42
with the general conference
in a number of projects
00:46:54.45\00:46:57.30
that they initiate the great
controversy project. Oh, yes.
00:46:57.33\00:47:02.05
You know, I heard
our general conference
00:47:02.08\00:47:03.70
president say just
couple a weeks ago,
00:47:03.73\00:47:05.52
that their target, the
target of the general conference
00:47:05.55\00:47:08.94
is for 50
million, great controversy
00:47:08.97\00:47:10.90
is to be
distributed around the world.
00:47:10.93\00:47:13.32
And yet one division,
the South American division
00:47:13.35\00:47:15.66
has made a gold of 38 million.
00:47:15.69\00:47:19.37
Wow. That's amazing.
00:47:19.40\00:47:21.88
You know, and you
know, we need to--
00:47:21.91\00:47:24.64
we need to praise God
and be thankful for 3ABN
00:47:24.67\00:47:28.57
because I know you folks
have been very much involved
00:47:28.60\00:47:31.27
in the distribution
of the great controversy.
00:47:31.30\00:47:32.87
Well, Jack Henderson, a
retired literature minister
00:47:32.90\00:47:38.60
from Florida, called me one day
00:47:38.63\00:47:40.14
and he had this dream.
00:47:40.17\00:47:41.86
And I said, well come on,
00:47:41.89\00:47:43.26
we'll do a
program and talk about it
00:47:43.29\00:47:45.21
and so many people
responded to Jacks appeal.
00:47:45.24\00:47:49.07
And it has just taken off.
00:47:49.10\00:47:51.69
And it's been a beautiful
thing and very inspiring thing.
00:47:51.72\00:47:57.07
Jack and also one
of the other gentleman
00:47:57.10\00:48:01.17
came down from the
review, not long ago,
00:48:01.20\00:48:04.10
and visited with this
about the success of it
00:48:04.13\00:48:08.06
and how many
thousand and thousand
00:48:08.09\00:48:10.80
of these have gone out already.
00:48:10.83\00:48:12.52
Do you know how many
have gone out already?
00:48:12.55\00:48:14.01
I do not know the total.
00:48:14.04\00:48:16.00
They've already
done 1.6 million. Wow.
00:48:16.03\00:48:19.28
And while we were at the
review in Harold Constituency
00:48:19.31\00:48:22.68
about a week ago. Yes.
00:48:22.71\00:48:24.77
They had just brought
in another 35 tons of paper
00:48:24.80\00:48:28.77
to do another 400,000 copies.
00:48:28.80\00:48:30.67
Wow. Praise the Lord.
00:48:30.70\00:48:32.07
So that by the
within the next few months
00:48:32.10\00:48:34.24
they will have already
been two million copies
00:48:34.27\00:48:37.05
of great controversy distributed
in the United State of America.
00:48:37.08\00:48:40.20
Well, Howard Scoggins
was with the with Jack
00:48:40.23\00:48:43.50
the last time they came
down and he was telling us,
00:48:43.53\00:48:46.67
we said, we think you
ought to get ready to print
00:48:46.70\00:48:48.79
2 million because more because--
00:48:48.82\00:48:50.49
Well, and they've done
that. That's what they have.
00:48:50.52\00:48:52.27
They've done 2
million. Praise the Lord.
00:48:52.30\00:48:54.13
And you know, we
were talking about
00:48:54.16\00:48:57.07
another kind of
distribution of the book
00:48:57.10\00:48:59.05
and this is one of them--
00:48:59.08\00:49:00.45
we are taking the
general conference initiative
00:49:00.48\00:49:04.17
and were saying,
hey, we're gonna make this
00:49:04.20\00:49:06.14
a North America
the vision initiative.
00:49:06.17\00:49:07.92
We're gonna do some
of what South America's
00:49:07.95\00:49:10.95
doing where also taking--
00:49:10.98\00:49:12.65
gonna look at the young people's
addition and present that. Yeah.
00:49:12.68\00:49:19.24
Another thing
we've been thinking about
00:49:19.27\00:49:20.88
and we have just got to put
our toe into the water of it,
00:49:20.91\00:49:25.25
but we want an app. Yes.
00:49:25.28\00:49:28.75
A telephone app. Absolutely.
00:49:28.78\00:49:31.13
And we'd like to see
10 million people. Yeah.
00:49:31.16\00:49:34.27
Taking that app. Take
it down on their I thing.
00:49:34.30\00:49:36.09
Take it on their
I pad or I phone.
00:49:36.12\00:49:38.02
Take it down their reader.
00:49:38.05\00:49:39.75
Great. Right.
00:49:39.78\00:49:41.15
And we're also talking
about wouldn't it be great
00:49:41.18\00:49:43.96
if we could get a group
of well known Adventists
00:49:43.99\00:49:49.21
to read about 13
chapters of great controversy
00:49:49.24\00:49:51.86
and have a talking book.
00:49:51.89\00:49:53.78
That would be available
on a website and on the app.
00:49:53.81\00:49:56.67
So that's one of the
things that were doing.
00:49:56.70\00:49:58.54
Great, now how are the great
controversy being distributed?
00:49:58.57\00:50:01.68
Those at are going out,
how are they being distributed?
00:50:01.71\00:50:04.53
Yeah, I think that
they are just going out
00:50:04.56\00:50:06.11
as people are
inspired to get them.
00:50:06.14\00:50:07.98
We have not given
real organization to that.
00:50:08.01\00:50:10.74
Well, Jack has a
program for mailing them? Right.
00:50:10.77\00:50:14.26
And they are being mail.
Yeah. Well, most are being mail.
00:50:14.29\00:50:15.66
For so much they are
doing like a zip code
00:50:15.69\00:50:18.03
at a time and so forth. Right.
00:50:18.06\00:50:19.48
People are taking and
mailing them out. Right.
00:50:19.51\00:50:22.37
And that's
worked. It really has.
00:50:22.40\00:50:24.06
Yes, yes, it has.
00:50:24.09\00:50:26.27
Well, listen, there are so many
different opportunities today.
00:50:26.30\00:50:31.19
You talked about
that Houston model. Right.
00:50:31.22\00:50:34.72
Which I think Dwain Mickey had.
00:50:34.75\00:50:36.59
Glenn Mckey, was the, you know,
00:50:36.62\00:50:39.38
he was the kind
of the sort buster
00:50:39.41\00:50:42.93
or the he was the
one that was getting
00:50:42.96\00:50:44.97
as all in the corral and
pushing us down the road,
00:50:45.00\00:50:47.06
but the neat thing
about that was that
00:50:47.09\00:50:50.79
he was training people. Yes.
00:50:50.82\00:50:53.45
And, you know, we
have some amazing stories
00:50:53.48\00:50:56.02
that have emerged out of that.
00:50:56.05\00:50:57.42
Out of that series of meeting,
00:50:57.45\00:50:59.59
it was wonderful
because here you had
00:50:59.62\00:51:01.74
a group of lay
people and pastors,
00:51:01.77\00:51:03.86
congregations buying
in, working together.
00:51:03.89\00:51:07.62
One of things we dreaming about
00:51:07.65\00:51:09.16
in the North American
division, is that we can find
00:51:09.19\00:51:11.65
a model of
ministry that we can--
00:51:11.68\00:51:14.88
as I said cross-pollinate
so that we can enter
00:51:14.91\00:51:19.19
into cities like
New York-- by the way
00:51:19.22\00:51:22.59
we have a major
series coming in New York,
00:51:22.62\00:51:24.88
just a four days series
with Frank Gonzalez and LaVoz.
00:51:24.91\00:51:29.85
That is our major project,
Voice of Prophecy and LaVoz
00:51:29.88\00:51:32.91
are actually joining
together to do that one.
00:51:32.94\00:51:35.97
They have already
well over 200 small groups
00:51:36.00\00:51:38.93
working to bring
people to that event.
00:51:38.96\00:51:41.99
But we would like
to see that carried out
00:51:42.02\00:51:44.72
what we didn't
Houston carried out
00:51:44.75\00:51:47.17
on an even more dramatic basis
00:51:47.20\00:51:49.37
in the city of
Las Vegas right now.
00:51:49.40\00:51:51.41
We know, we have got
Babylon Rising. Oh, yes.
00:51:51.44\00:51:54.19
Speaker-director,
John Bradshaw's emailed me
00:51:54.22\00:51:58.23
last night and said, we don't--
00:51:58.26\00:52:00.16
we're just amazed
at wonderful stories
00:52:00.19\00:52:02.61
that we have 2000
people attending. Yes. Yes.
00:52:02.64\00:52:05.12
I was watching a little
of that a little bit earlier,
00:52:05.15\00:52:07.83
they are actually
breaking out into applause
00:52:07.86\00:52:10.29
in the middle of his message.
00:52:10.32\00:52:11.72
There seems to be a
hunger and thirst in that city.
00:52:11.75\00:52:14.05
And he has
touching a chord there.
00:52:14.08\00:52:16.27
In a very, very powerful way.
00:52:16.30\00:52:17.67
Well, I was just
glad that he was finishing
00:52:17.70\00:52:19.26
when I was starting because
I didn't want the competition.
00:52:19.29\00:52:22.43
There would only be the
three people watching me
00:52:22.46\00:52:24.12
and ten thousand watching him.
00:52:24.15\00:52:26.84
Well, I tell you that
one of things that John found
00:52:26.87\00:52:30.18
when he went
there is that we have
00:52:30.21\00:52:32.52
a large viewing
audience in Las Vegas.
00:52:32.55\00:52:35.59
Our low power
station there is very strong.
00:52:35.62\00:52:40.05
So many people in
that area don't have cable,
00:52:40.08\00:52:43.46
don't have direct TV or dish
00:52:43.49\00:52:46.17
or any of the other
satellite television.,
00:52:46.20\00:52:48.99
they simply have rabbit ears
00:52:49.02\00:52:50.89
and we have a low
power station there.
00:52:50.92\00:52:53.16
And they're
baptizing people as resulted
00:52:53.19\00:52:54.92
that every year in Las Vegas.
00:52:54.95\00:52:56.32
Every year around a 100 people
00:52:56.35\00:52:57.72
throughout those
churches that are there.
00:52:57.75\00:53:00.94
I think mountain view
said they do 30 or 40,
00:53:00.97\00:53:03.81
paradise may be about the same
00:53:03.84\00:53:06.15
and Pastor Rock's
church about very close
00:53:06.18\00:53:09.65
to the same
number of people. Amen.
00:53:09.68\00:53:11.05
People every single year
that they're baptizing there.
00:53:11.08\00:53:14.17
And we want to
see that multiple.
00:53:14.20\00:53:15.97
We're gonna do a
conversion to that channel,
00:53:16.00\00:53:20.02
and so it will
have four channels.
00:53:20.05\00:53:22.89
We'll be able to go
out in Latino, in English,
00:53:22.92\00:53:25.74
and our Dare to Dream
and also Proclaim. Amen.
00:53:25.77\00:53:30.16
So we'll be
constantly preaching the message
00:53:30.30\00:53:32.77
there in the Las Vegas area.
00:53:32.80\00:53:35.15
You know, one
of the great things
00:53:35.18\00:53:37.15
about the Las
Vegas event is that
00:53:37.18\00:53:39.97
we have the convergence of
many ministries in that city.
00:53:40.00\00:53:44.31
ASI ministries,
we've got It Is Written,
00:53:44.34\00:53:48.01
Faith For Today. Right.
00:53:48.04\00:53:49.83
All involved,
and there are others,
00:53:49.86\00:53:51.23
forgive me if I'm
leaving something out,
00:53:51.26\00:53:53.20
but again, there's
another model. Right.
00:53:53.23\00:53:56.59
And we want to
look at those models
00:53:56.62\00:53:58.54
and transplant them to different
area is in North America.
00:53:58.57\00:54:01.66
Yeah, Elder, I want to give you
just a word of encouragement,
00:54:01.69\00:54:04.60
we've got a caller, e-mailer.
00:54:04.63\00:54:07.54
"I really like
what's your talking about
00:54:07.57\00:54:09.21
doing the internet and
cyberspace and witnessing.
00:54:09.24\00:54:11.87
We're living in an age
where it's not going to do
00:54:11.90\00:54:15.41
a lot of good going
door-to-door and also dangerous.
00:54:15.44\00:54:19.04
I think this is
really exciting."
00:54:19.07\00:54:20.46
Well, they have sort of touched
a chord, it is dangerous.
00:54:20.49\00:54:22.82
There was a time
when you could go out,
00:54:22.85\00:54:24.55
when we were children,
late at night in gather
00:54:24.58\00:54:26.56
you could knock on doors,
00:54:26.59\00:54:28.27
in some places it's
really dangerous to do that.
00:54:28.30\00:54:30.51
In other places you simply
can't get to the door. Yes.
00:54:30.54\00:54:32.89
Because there's some big doorman
00:54:32.92\00:54:35.06
who's not gonna
let you in. Right.
00:54:35.09\00:54:36.46
But the cyberspace gets
behind all doors and into--
00:54:36.49\00:54:40.05
or and when we heard
that there are young people
00:54:40.08\00:54:43.31
today who are never more
than 30 minutes from this thing.
00:54:43.34\00:54:47.29
That says that's an arena
that we have to get in on.
00:54:47.32\00:54:49.84
You know, I mean you
raise another very good issue,
00:54:49.87\00:54:53.34
I mean, in your
comment, it's true.
00:54:53.37\00:54:55.77
It's very
difficult to go door to door
00:54:55.80\00:54:58.36
and yet we don't
want to ever overlook
00:54:58.39\00:55:00.40
what we've talked about.
00:55:00.43\00:55:01.80
What we've talked about
the great controversy project.
00:55:01.83\00:55:04.09
And the media of
print, or the print media,
00:55:04.12\00:55:08.35
by God's grace that
is one of the things
00:55:08.38\00:55:10.33
that we have been
talking very actively about
00:55:10.36\00:55:12.50
in the North American division.
00:55:12.53\00:55:14.15
How can we once
again encourage our people
00:55:14.18\00:55:18.75
to become
involved in a ministry,
00:55:18.78\00:55:21.67
a literature ministry,
were they are giving out
00:55:21.70\00:55:24.04
tracks and pamphlets and so on.
00:55:24.07\00:55:26.06
We've not move
beyond that print stage,
00:55:26.09\00:55:28.20
we've not. Right true.
00:55:28.23\00:55:29.60
And you know, if you read
the book "Great Controversy"
00:55:29.63\00:55:31.16
and we've been talking about it,
00:55:31.19\00:55:32.56
Ellen White in one of the final
chapters makes the comment,
00:55:32.59\00:55:35.04
"I saw the people
of God with their faces
00:55:35.07\00:55:37.19
lighted up and shining,
00:55:37.22\00:55:38.77
going from
door-to-door." In that idea.
00:55:38.80\00:55:42.17
So well, I think it is
impossible in some areas
00:55:42.20\00:55:45.46
and we need to
pull them all together.
00:55:45.49\00:55:49.05
That's right. Yes.
00:55:49.08\00:55:50.45
Even public
meetings and we should never
00:55:50.48\00:55:53.34
diminish them
because these are places
00:55:53.37\00:55:55.85
where people can
make decisions. Right.
00:55:55.88\00:55:58.08
They watch on
television and they are educated
00:55:58.11\00:56:02.15
or they watch
through the internet
00:56:02.18\00:56:04.45
but they need to go
and be with our people
00:56:04.48\00:56:07.72
and hear the message and accept
the message and receive it
00:56:07.75\00:56:12.06
and the inspiration
of the moment. Right.
00:56:12.09\00:56:15.02
It's just amazing what a
difference that can make.
00:56:15.05\00:56:18.73
Well, our time is
just really getting away.
00:56:18.76\00:56:21.41
It does slip
away very, very fast.
00:56:21.44\00:56:24.28
We do not often have
00:56:24.31\00:56:25.74
the division
president with us. No, we don't.
00:56:25.77\00:56:28.01
Two times in a 12 month periods
00:56:28.04\00:56:29.56
that we are very
humbled and grateful
00:56:29.59\00:56:32.29
that you started
by the cornfield,
00:56:32.32\00:56:34.25
as they say, of
Southern Illinois.
00:56:34.28\00:56:35.65
Well, you know, there
may be another motive to it.
00:56:35.68\00:56:37.36
If I lose my job
maybe you'll hire me here.
00:56:37.39\00:56:39.32
Yeah. We promise
you that that's true.
00:56:39.35\00:56:45.47
But I just want each one of you
00:56:45.50\00:56:48.03
there have been watching tonight
00:56:48.06\00:56:49.78
to know that we want to continue
00:56:49.81\00:56:52.04
uniting together
with God's church
00:56:52.07\00:56:57.02
and moving
forward with this message
00:56:57.05\00:56:59.65
because we believe that
Jesus Christ is coming again.
00:56:59.68\00:57:02.16
He's coming soon. Amen.
00:57:02.19\00:57:03.79
And we wanna
proclaim that message
00:57:03.82\00:57:06.19
with clarity all
around the world.
00:57:06.22\00:57:09.94
Thank you, for
supporting, for standing by
00:57:09.97\00:57:12.44
because it is
with your gifts only
00:57:12.47\00:57:14.79
that we are able to
continue this ministry
00:57:14.82\00:57:17.68
and may God
continue to bless you
00:57:17.71\00:57:19.36
and may you keep on,
keeping on with Jesus Christ
00:57:19.39\00:57:22.98
our Lord, our God, our savior,
our creator. God bless you.
00:57:23.01\00:57:28.42