Participants: Steven Grabiner
Series Code: OCIR
Program Code: OCIR000002
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00:17 Although OCI members are located in many different countries
00:21 and engage with a variety of cultures 00:24 they share the same purpose. 00:27 Today, will be visiting two dynamic ministries 00:32 both run by teams of enthusiastic young people 00:35 that are committed to training others 00:38 to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:41 Join us as we visit these vibrant ministries. 01:00 From its very beginning a missionary spirit 01:03 has been the driving force 01:05 in the Seventh-day Adventist church. 01:07 From its very inception 01:09 young people have been the heart 01:11 and soul of this worldwide movement. 01:15 In the late 1800s that spirit drove missionaries 01:19 from the United States around the world. 01:22 In 1878, John G Matteson pioneered 01:27 the work of Adventism in Scandinavia. 01:31 Today at Matteson Mission School 01:34 that original spirit that prompted 01:37 early Adventists pioneers to give themselves 01:40 for the sharing the gospel lives on. 01:43 Their aim is to infuse their students with the vision 01:48 of bringing the gospel to the world in this generation. 01:52 Matteson started in 1986 like formally you could say, 01:59 it was already in the, in the thought 02:00 of Gunner Gustoffson the founder for over 20 years before that 02:04 and he realized that the work is not gonna be done 02:08 if we just continue as we are. 02:11 And you see it over and over again 02:13 the young people use their talents 02:15 that God has given them He will give them more. 02:19 And as I look back on 25 years 02:22 actual experience with this project 02:25 I can clearly say that it was God 02:28 that establishes this school. 02:31 The purpose of Matteson Mission School is to train young people 02:36 and instill in them a wish to become missionaries, 02:41 to become full-time engaged for the Lord. 02:43 Matteson is a training school. 02:47 We train missionaries for life 02:49 and we want that our graduates 02:50 would become resources for existing ministries 02:53 or instrumental in starting new ones, 02:55 preparing for Christ's second coming. 02:59 We usually take 12 students 03:01 this year we have had so many applicants that we took in 13. 03:05 You get to know each other very well in this process 03:09 and in doing so you also get to know God very well. 03:13 It's a family like atmosphere, pretty soon they feel that, 03:18 that they're part of a family. 03:19 It's not just a school 03:21 and there's the closeness between teachers and students 03:25 and we eat together, have worship together, 03:29 do outreach and work together, 03:31 also they take turns cooking the meals 03:33 and preparing that. 03:35 So very much functions like a family 03:38 which makes the environment safe in a way, 03:41 to be honest with themselves and with each other. 03:46 Then of course the Word of God is the center of all 03:49 we do as the guide and as a help. 03:52 The greatest change in the students 03:54 throughout the year that I can see is 03:57 how they when they come they think they have a lot 04:01 to offer to God with their talent 04:03 and all that they have acquired throughout the years 04:06 and then getting to know God closer and closer 04:08 they realize who they actually are 04:10 and how they are more a hindrance in God's work 04:14 if they don't give up self 04:16 and to be able to observe that is so rewarding. 04:20 What has kept me here for a number of years is the fact 04:24 that I see the difference it makes in young people's life. 04:28 It made a difference in my own life 04:29 when I came here as student first many years ago 04:32 and I've see similar change happen 04:36 in young people throughout the years 04:39 and that's worth much more than money, 04:40 much more than any career to that God actually 04:46 can do something for young people 04:48 and become real to them. 04:52 I came to Matteson 04:53 because I realized in this last year, 04:58 when I was a student missionary in Africa 05:00 that I need more training to reach people 05:03 and to tell them about God. 05:09 It is like a little family in Matteson, 05:11 we only 12 students 05:13 plus the student leaders are around 20 people 05:17 and praying together and singing together 05:19 and studying the Bible together it's just so nice. 05:23 When I was in Africa, I didn't have this 05:26 because I was the only student missionary 05:29 and it was a good experience 05:30 but it is also very nice to exchange thoughts 05:34 and to talk about God with other people in your age 05:38 and not only being alone all the time 05:41 The aspect that makes Matteson so unique 05:44 is basically the holistic approach. 05:47 You know, it's called the Bible school 05:49 and when you're thinking about schools 05:51 you think about having lectures. 05:52 Sitting there the teachers in front of you 05:55 explaining that things may be writing something on the board 05:58 but this is a school where you use all of the talents 06:02 that God has given you. 06:04 Everything that we learn if it's in Bible, 06:06 evangelism, leadership or agriculture 06:09 there should be practical assignments 06:10 where the students can put in practice what they learn. 06:13 We also have a just practical part 06:16 where the students work for the foundation for 10 hours 06:19 where they use their hands 06:20 and through this experience do character building, 06:24 being together with students and staff. 06:27 This year we harvest a lot of onions, 06:30 normally we have also pumpkins, 06:32 we have potatoes, we have tomatoes. 06:35 So when you work with plants 06:36 you learn take care of things, 06:38 you learn patience, endurance 06:40 and all these wonderful character traits 06:43 and that's what we focus on also at the school 06:47 Yeah, this is a wonderful balance, 06:49 it gives you more energy for the theoretical hours 06:52 for the classes for the lectures 06:55 and at the same time practical work trains your mind. 06:59 We have a compost plant which is the tiny industry, 07:03 its part of the practical work for the student. 07:07 What we basically do we get some branches 07:10 and we chop them in small pieces 07:11 and they stay there for a while, 07:13 they start to ferment. 07:14 Yeah, in one or two years it's finished 07:18 and then we also we shift it ourselves 07:20 and then we pack it in bags. 07:22 And then the springtime we go 07:23 and deliver to people and sell it. 07:26 And that's it's a little bit a way 07:28 of how we get money to school 07:31 to help the institution. 07:32 It's also we reach out to the community. 07:35 That's also the concept of the school 07:37 here to try to reach out in every aspect. 07:40 For example we have now- 07:41 last week we had a Thanksgiving feast 07:43 so we are inviting a lot of people from the community 07:46 and then just sharing about how great God is actually to us 07:50 and how grateful we can be. 07:52 Being a student at Matteson is a blessing. 07:56 You are in nature and you see how things grow 07:59 and you learn so many things from a small plant 08:03 and you see God's hand working in nature 08:06 and you have time to reflect on the classes, 08:09 you have time to pray, 08:10 you have time to think about yourself, 08:12 your character and what you can change with God's help. 08:16 Yeah, I really enjoy it. 08:19 What motivates the team at Matteson 08:22 is the vision of training young people 08:24 to share the gospel with the world in this generation. 08:29 The theoretical education is put to a practical use 08:33 in a variety of evangelistic opportunities. 08:37 Evangelism is an important part on the program 08:40 and the students are involved with outreach in various ways. 08:45 We try to have a holistic outreach program 08:48 where throughout the year 08:49 we have a whole evangelistic cycle 08:52 that we go through with the students, 08:54 we go and ask for money for ADRA 08:56 and then we started doing surveys 08:58 and inviting people for Health Expo, 09:00 actually a survey designed 09:01 to invite people to the Health Expo 09:03 and we've seen great results with that. 09:06 People are actually interested, in the Health Expo's 09:11 they get to their blood pressure measured them 09:14 and their cholesterol check 09:15 and they get the step test done 09:18 to check how their physical condition 09:20 and they get to learn about natural health keys. 09:24 At the Health Expo we invite them to cooking courses 09:28 or Christian fellowship groups 09:30 and then of course evangelistic campaigns 09:32 that we also do and towards the end of the year 09:35 we also have the massage classes 09:37 where the students to learn how to massage 09:39 and we've seen wonderful results in that 09:41 because that prejudice is broken down 09:44 when you actually getting contact to touch people 09:47 and that has been a great blessing 09:50 to the students as well. 09:52 The outreach activities at Matteson 09:54 they motivate me to get out of the comfort zone. 09:57 Very often these encounters 09:58 with people are very inconvenient. 10:01 You don't know what to say, 10:02 you're struggling with finding the right words 10:04 and we share that in the evening with the other students 10:08 and this strengthens my faith. 10:12 I had desire to use some more time with God, 10:16 get my training. 10:18 So I went in the Matteson Mission School last year. 10:21 Now I'm a Bible worker here in Arvika. 10:24 Arvika is a place in Sweden it's not far from the border. 10:28 We actually were in Norway 10:29 and we go over to border to Arvika 10:32 and do mission work there 10:34 and we've done that over six years now 10:38 to establish a little church group, 10:40 a church plant there 10:42 because there was no Adventists in that, in that city. 10:45 The work here in Arvika is closely connected 10:48 to Matteson Mission School. 10:50 They try to come here once a month 10:54 and they preach and have Sabbath school. 10:57 And this week we have a special week 10:59 where they here for five days doing Health Expo's 11:02 and I think its definitely very good for the students 11:05 to come to a real mission field 11:08 and meeting real people 11:09 so it's very practical training. 11:12 You know, Scandinavia is not an easy place to work 11:14 but we've just seen the first baptism 11:16 now of our first Arvika church member you could say. 11:21 It's just wonderful to see how people also do take the decision 11:25 and become members of the church. 11:29 It's a privilege to see even though 11:30 it takes a lot of work and a lot of time. 11:33 It's a worth the effort. 11:36 Just to be in that kind of environment 11:38 at the Matteson Mission School for one year 11:40 was a big help to get ready to do something like this. 11:44 It's really a special kind of fellowship 11:46 you get being with other people 11:48 who really encourage you in your walk 11:51 and just doing all kinds outreach 11:54 you get more used to focusing your life into mission work. 11:59 Missionary spirit that motivated John G Matteson 12:03 and other early Adventist pioneers continues 12:07 to live in the hearts of young people today. 12:10 Matteson Mission School is a testimony 12:13 to the enduring power of the spirit of sacrifice. 12:17 In a moment we will visit another OCI Ministry 12:20 in which the missionary spirit continues to thrive. 12:32 When you think of missionary what do you picture? 12:35 For many people the image of a doctor teacher 12:38 or pastor in a remote country comes to mind. 12:41 But the truth is God needs people 12:43 with many different skills in His work 12:45 both around the world and close to home. 12:49 At OCI, we're passionate about helping 12:51 to connect mission minded people 12:53 with our network of more than 80 ministries. 12:56 Each project aims to share the Gospel in practical ways 12:59 and they need skilled workers of all types. 13:02 Mechanics, gardeners, cooks 13:04 and designers just to name a few 13:06 and of course they also need teachers and doctors. 13:10 If you're interested in serving in an OCI Ministry 13:13 visit our website for a list of current opportunities 13:16 or call our office we'd love to talk to you. 13:26 The energy and vitality of youth 13:29 is both inspiring and contagious. 13:33 There's a certain enthusiasm and dynamism 13:36 that helps young people to attempt the impossible 13:40 and then turn that into a reality. 13:43 That's very evident at the next OCI Ministry 13:46 we will be visiting. 13:47 VIDA International located 13:50 in the central mountainous region a Honduras is doing 13:54 what they can do to bring new life to the local community. 13:59 Not being a Seventh-day Adventist, 14:01 I ended up attending an Adventist academy 14:04 Laurelbrook Academy in Dayton, 14:05 Tennessee and there by taking part in the program 14:11 I was introduced to all of the Adventist doctrines 14:15 and eventually I accepted the Adventist faith 14:17 and decided to get baptized there at Laurelbrook Academy. 14:21 I ended up going to a Bible school 14:24 in Norway called the European Bible School 14:26 and there I felt that the Lord 14:29 was giving me all the tools that I needed to be able 14:31 to start something over here Honduras. 14:34 We started with Central American Bible School as our initial 14:37 program there wasn't any Adventist presence here before, 14:40 and like El Suyatal there's many other villages around 14:43 and so we have a permanent evangelism department 14:46 and they go out and they do Bible work 14:48 in the village of El Suyatal 14:50 and they also spread out into other communities 14:53 and to church training 14:54 so that these churches then have the tools to be able 14:57 to reach the communities that surround them. 15:00 The primary goal of the school 15:02 is to hasten the second coming up our Lord 15:05 by providing the world with well equipped 15:09 men and women of God, 15:10 who are able to lead 15:12 and then of course on top about 15:14 we are looking to send our missionaries 15:16 to Spanish speaking places. 15:19 Emir is from a nearby village actually 15:23 and now he's here and loving it. 15:30 To be honest the decision to come to VIDA was difficult 15:34 because I didn't know 15:35 what I was supposed to do with my life. 15:39 But I saw something different 15:41 and unique in the staff, 15:43 something that I lacked. 15:47 It's the Central American Bible School in for the first time 15:50 we really are seeing a more broad range 15:53 of nationalities in our student body 15:54 we are very grateful for it. 15:58 Haleigh's family has been a supporter 16:00 of what we're doing here for a long time 16:03 and her coming to this school 16:05 seems to be just the right place 16:06 for her at this time in her life. 16:08 When I was first come here I didn't wanted to come. 16:10 I was like I already told God 16:12 that I would go if He provided the money 16:14 and He provided the money so I came. 16:16 And I didn't really have a relationship 16:19 with Christ now that I'm here 16:21 and I know its the best decision 16:24 because God really have something to show me this year 16:26 and he has allowed me to start a new relationship with Him. 16:31 I was 19 years old, when I started the ministry 16:33 and it was actually very challenging at the beginning 16:36 and so it's really beautiful to see that 16:40 that other young people also have the same vision. 16:42 Young people that are professionals 16:44 and that have many talents 16:46 and they decide to leave all their dreams and desires 16:48 and make this a part of their dream, 16:50 together we're people that have the experience 16:52 and are willing to counsel with us and guide us. 16:56 VIDA means life and so the main purpose 17:00 of what we're trying to do is exactly 17:01 that not just life on this earth 17:04 which is one of the things by satisfying needs 17:06 and at the same time life also refers to the eternal life. 17:11 In English VIDA stands 17:13 for "Integrated Vision for Help and Assistance" 17:16 and so our name tries to embody 17:19 that concept of reaching out in many different ways 17:22 to include many different people. 17:25 It was only five years ago 17:27 where the Adventist church started here in our community 17:30 then the European Bible School came 17:31 and did and evangelistic campaign. 17:34 Pastors where there from all the churches 17:36 Catholic and Evangelical 17:38 and everybody with anxious to get to know 17:40 who the Adventist church was? 17:41 So that was really an exciting moment for evangelism 17:45 for the beginning of evangelism in this community. 17:48 El Suyatal is a little town here 17:50 it's just about a kilometer outside of our project 17:53 and it's a farming town. 17:55 Mostly people you see getting up early 17:58 in the morning to head to their properties, 17:59 work on there beans or their corn or their coffee 18:02 and that's what they do 18:03 or they- that what they live of off. 18:05 Come back in the afternoon 18:07 and enjoy time with their families. 18:09 It's just very much a close-knit community. 18:12 So you just walk into the village 18:14 and you knock on somebody's door, 18:16 you don't even have to knock on somebody's door 18:17 people just greet you 18:18 and welcome you into their home 18:20 and in 10 minutes of knowing you 18:22 they can tell you their whole life story 18:25 and so it is a perfect setting to be able 18:27 to help him them to reach out. 18:29 Our town has Major needs mostly 18:32 in the area of health and education 18:35 and just learning the basic health and hygiene care 18:38 that we all need as human beings. 18:41 We have a dentist that comes every year 18:44 and we have some local Honduran dentist that come, 18:47 the community response very nicely to that. 18:50 So one of our first Bible contacts 18:53 that we had in the community 18:54 where Reina and Alexander Vanegas, 18:57 recently they got married 18:58 and they're making study plans to be baptized 19:02 after being involved here since the beginning. 19:09 Attending church was difficult at first. 19:13 I felt like an orphan 19:15 because I was the only one going 19:20 but when my wife joined the church, I rejoiced 19:23 because we could finally praise God as a family. 19:30 Their son Oscar is now at Laurelbrook Academy 19:34 and so for the whole village 19:35 it was a powerful testimony 19:36 that a young person here with no economic resources 19:41 somehow by a connection 19:43 to God has all of a sudden completely new horizons. 19:48 Through my experience here 19:49 I've learnt that really there's nothing in me 19:51 or in anybody that is ultimate leader. 19:54 The reason why they can be success, 19:56 it has made me trust everyday morning in God. 20:00 You know, He expects the first touch the water 20:02 before He actually parts the sea 20:03 and its a beautiful experience 20:04 to see how in a month to month basis 20:07 He sustains this ministry not just 20:09 with the resources necessary 20:10 but also with the people 20:12 and the energy and the vision 20:14 the constant vision to continue moving forward 20:16 there's nothing else out 20:18 there that interest me more than that having 20:20 that type of relationship with God. 20:23 Honduras is one of the poorest nations 20:25 in the western hemisphere 20:27 almost 60% of the population lives in poverty. 20:31 In such a setting education is very important 20:34 and even though primary school education is free 20:39 an obligatory according to the constitution 20:42 the reality is very different. 20:44 Of those children that enter primary school 20:48 only about 40% complete the grades 20:52 of that only another 30% 20:54 or so move on to secondary school. 20:57 Ultimately only 8% go to the university level. 21:03 Education is increasingly more important 21:05 for the nation of Honduras. 21:08 The opportunities for tourism, 21:10 trade with the United States increases this demand 21:14 not only is there an increasing demand for education 21:18 but a bilingual education 21:20 is becoming more valuable day by day. 21:24 To try to meet that need even in this rural area 21:27 VIDA International has started a bilingual primary school. 21:36 One thing we realized in this community 21:38 is that education is crucial 21:40 and evangelism is extremely effective 21:44 when we're able to work with children. 21:46 So when one of the things that we are really paying about 21:48 was the possibility of starting 21:50 a bilingual elementary school here in our town 21:52 for the kids from our community 21:55 and now the school is growing 21:57 and it really is having a major impact in the community. 22:00 We see, family members coming to church 22:03 because they see what's going on in their children's lives. 22:06 Manuela came to us from Switzerland 22:09 as a short term volunteers 22:11 and in meeting her we realized 22:13 that she was a wonderful person 22:15 to start in elementary school 22:17 so she committed to staying long-term 22:19 to get this project started 22:20 to really work with the children. 22:23 And now we have 29 students 22:25 we have two grades 15 children in kindergarten 22:29 and 14 children first-grade. 22:33 Last year we started 22:34 with three children in kindergarten. 22:37 Eventually reach also into high school 22:39 so that then we would have 22:40 the complete layers of education, 22:42 you know from elementary all the way to the Bible school 22:45 and that we have a new generation 22:47 of young people that would be- 22:50 that would have the vision to do the same thing 22:52 you know to start other institutions 22:54 and to bring people to Christ. 22:56 And other thing that is very important for us is, 22:59 is the more practical aspect of life. 23:02 We do cooking classes with the children every week 23:05 and they just love it, they really love it. 23:08 We have a gardens part 23:10 where we plant lettuce and radish and beans. 23:15 Another aspect is health. 23:17 We believe children should learn early how their body works 23:20 and what they can do to keep their bodies healthy. 23:26 The land that was donated 23:27 we set on about 300 guava trees 23:30 and we also have a tamarind plantation with 1,600 trees. 23:35 We're trying to create a strong industry base 23:38 in agriculture to use some of the things 23:40 that the Lord has already given through these plantations, 23:43 to be able to support 23:44 and sustain all that programs in the ministry 23:47 and at the same time help the community by giving jobs, 23:49 you know, providing employment 23:51 and also training people that they could also do the same. 23:54 Recently we got donated some bakery equipment 23:58 and since we have these fruit trees, 24:01 we process these fruits and we make concentrate 24:04 and that is actually the main thing that we do. 24:07 And now that we have the bakery equipment 24:09 we're trying to unite both of them 24:10 and start baking bread 24:12 and selling out to the community 24:13 and into El Suyatal. 24:15 And there are many people even within the Adventist churches 24:17 that are really interested in receiving wholesome bread. 24:22 There are three aims to mission work, right, 24:25 there's the mission the objective, 24:27 there is manpower and there is money 24:30 and I think that manpower is the thing 24:32 that is actually the greatest need. 24:34 There's just a wide array of needs 24:36 that could be met by just about anybody. 24:39 VIDA would not be what it is today 24:41 if we were not for mission trips 24:43 that come every year. 24:44 All the buildings that you see have 24:46 somehow been touched by a group of people 24:48 that have made a sacrifice to contribute 24:51 to what God is doing here. 24:53 Right now we have with us Laurelbrook Academy 24:55 and they're here to build the elementary school 24:58 that started just two years ago. 25:00 And together with Laurelbrook also the European Bible School 25:03 and institutions like ESA not only do they do construction 25:07 but sometimes also they do outreach 25:09 and the cycle just keeps 25:10 on repeating itself again and again. 25:13 Being an OCI member has been a landmark for us 25:17 because we've realized that we're not alone, 25:20 you know, that there's this whole network of other people 25:22 that have very similar struggles, 25:25 have very similar challenges 25:27 and not have to reinvent the wheel 25:29 and get advice from people 25:31 who have done things that work. 25:32 It has been a great blessing 25:34 and great opportunities and how to, 25:37 to also share with these other organizations, 25:39 share ideas and even join up together 25:41 to accomplish other objectives is really a beautiful thing 25:46 and has definitely been a landmark for VIDA. 25:50 There are numerous ways to be involved with VIDA. 25:53 There are many people in this community 25:54 who still have yet to get to know who Jesus is 25:57 and prayers go a long way. 25:59 A couple weeks ago 26:01 I was in the mountain just right here, 26:04 I was praying to the Lord to really telling me 26:07 why He brought me here. 26:09 And as I was in the mountain, 26:12 I was looking at the town 26:13 and the town was bright because all of the lights, 26:16 it was early in the morning 26:19 and God really impressed in my mind 26:22 that this town here it needs to be a light 26:26 for the other towns around here. 26:28 So we are concentrating a lot in helping the people 26:31 that are already in church, the members, 26:33 plus the work that we do through the students, 26:36 we're gonna enlighten this whole village. 26:40 I think that in the Christian experience, 26:42 God gives the opportunity to serve as a blessing 26:47 and to serve in this capacity 26:50 which I believe is the same way that Christ served, 26:53 to be able to walk in the footsteps 26:55 of the Master like that is one of the most fulfilling steps 26:58 I've ever taken in my Christian experience. 27:01 There many people out there that don't know Christ, 27:05 you know, and they have so many needs 27:07 and so the main objective of the ministry 27:09 is to somehow satisfy some of these needs 27:12 that these people might have 27:14 that they might see that there's a God out there 27:15 that cares for them 27:17 and that they might eventually come to Christ, 27:19 and also be themselves motivated to bring 27:22 that which they have received through others. 27:27 Jesus said that He came to bring life 27:31 and to bring it more abundantly 27:33 from the youngest children to those in adult years. 27:37 The team at VIDA is dedicated to communicating Christ's life 27:42 and love to those with whom we come in contact. 27:46 Their vision is to spread the message of Christ grace, 27:50 through Honduras and the surrounding countries, 27:54 you can be a part of this Bible ministry through your prayers, 27:59 your financial support 28:00 or through coming on a mission trip, 28:03 you can contribute to the impact that VIDA is making. 28:07 To find out more about this ministry 28:09 and the other OCI projects around the world, 28:12 visit us at outpostcenters.org, 28:17 or send an email to info@outpostcenters.org. 28:23 For OCI, this is Steven Grabiner. |
Revised 2014-12-17