Participants: Steven Grabiner
Series Code: OCIR
Program Code: OCIR000012
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00:15 The Rocky Mountains stretch hundreds of miles
00:19 from Canada in the north to New Mexico in the south. 00:23 These towering majestic peaks have an effect on many 00:28 of drawing their hearts and minds up to God. 00:33 Join us today as we visit an OCI ministry 00:37 nestled in the foothills of the Rockies. 00:54 The territory that now comprises the state of Colorado 00:57 is filled with natural beauty. 00:59 Tourists and outdoor enthusiasts 01:03 come to this state year around. 01:05 The territory was originally the home of a variety 01:09 of Native American tribes 01:12 among who were the Arapaho, 01:15 the Comanche, the Shoshone and the Cheyenne. 01:19 In the 1850s, a huge demographic shift 01:24 took place in Colorado. 01:26 Gold was discovered along the Platte River. 01:30 At first the discovery of gold was small 01:33 and almost inconsequential 01:36 but then in 1858, 01:38 a major discovery was unearthed. 01:42 Those individuals that came to Colorado 01:44 were called the '59ers. 01:47 They were seeking wealth and treasure. 01:50 Today, many people come to Colorado 01:53 for a different kind of treasure, 01:55 the enjoyment of being out of doors, 01:59 the challenges of hiking some of the peaks in the Rockies. 02:03 Eden Valley Institute and Lifestyle Center 02:06 assists those who were seeking 02:09 for the treasure of good health. 02:14 This year is our 50th anniversary 02:16 so the purpose was established a long, long time ago. 02:20 And they started with a nursing home 02:22 which developed into retirement center 02:25 and then we expanded to have a lifestyle center. 02:27 And really behind all of that 02:29 the purpose is to reach the community somehow 02:33 with the gospel using whatever avenues at our disposal. 02:37 And right now I think are most effective approach 02:40 to ministry is the lifestyle center. 02:42 We've had a lifestyle center here for 20 or 25 years, 02:46 it's been very successful. 02:48 We've been blessed, the Lord has done a lot 02:50 for us through us it's been wonderful. 02:53 And because science advances, because knowledge advances, 02:58 we keep getting new techniques and new approaches 03:02 and we're putting them all in the same buildings 03:04 and the buildings are becoming very crowded. 03:07 Right now the patients have to shuttle back 03:09 and forth between two buildings. 03:11 They have to go to one for meals, 03:13 they have to go to another one for lectures, 03:15 men's treatment is in one building, 03:17 women's treatment is in one building. 03:19 And so we really have a- 03:20 a sense that a new bigger 03:24 one building, one floor lifestyle center 03:28 would be very, very ideal. 03:30 And so we're working with the county, 03:32 we've got our master plan approved by the county 03:36 and I would hope within two years 03:39 to have a new lifestyle center. 03:43 A lifestyle center is a place 03:46 where we receive people who have degenerative diseases, 03:50 especially for cancer. 03:52 And we would like to bring their lifestyle into harmony 03:56 with God's program of healing which is very, very natural. 04:01 So we have a couple of doctors on staff 04:03 and we have therapist and we use massage 04:05 and we use hydrotherapy treatments, 04:08 hyperbaric chambers and fasting and juicing and supplements 04:14 we use everything we can use 04:16 in an effort to help the people with their health. 04:19 But the main ingredient in all of this is the aid 04:23 what we call the eight laws in health. 04:27 We have a little rock garden it has "New Start." 04:30 Those described the eight laws of health that we use here. 04:35 The 'N' stands for nutrition 04:36 and we tend to emphasize nutrition a lot 04:39 because it's one of the main ingredients 04:42 where America is really kind of gone off track. 04:46 Exercise is the 'E,' it can decrease your risk of cancer. 04:50 It can decrease your risk of the current cancers 04:53 if you've overcome cancer. 04:55 Water, is encourage as well drinking plenty of water. 04:59 The 'S' stands for sunshine, 'T' is temperance, 05:02 avoiding completely all things that are bad, 05:05 cigarette smoking, alcohol, caffeine. 05:07 And we get to the 'A' which is fresh air. 05:10 'R' is for rest and lastly, trust in God. 05:15 Stress has been shown to- 05:17 to affect our ability to fight diseases, 05:20 infectious diseases, cancer diseases. 05:23 And when we try to shoulder the responsibilities 05:25 that only God can shoulder, 05:27 we're gonna fail and we're gonna come under stress. 05:30 We have an hour's devotion with everyone everyday 05:34 and the whole effort is to get to increase their faith. 05:41 Because if a person will be very positive, 05:43 if a person will be optimistic, 05:44 if they will have confidence in faith 05:46 and in the God outside of themselves 05:49 then they can find healing. 05:52 Probably 60% to 70% of our patients 05:54 are now cancer patients. 05:55 And it's so amazing cancer is just the pandemic. 05:59 I mean, I-you know, they say heart disease is the number one 06:04 but I think cancer's going to be soon overtaking that 06:07 and we've been reading lot of other studies 06:09 that suggests that that's really a reality. 06:11 Obesity is rampant, diabetes is rampant, 06:13 osteoporosis is rampant, heart disease is rampant- 06:17 its epidemic and lifestyle changes need to be made. 06:21 In 1900 lifetime risk of getting cancer is just one in forty. 06:26 By 1945 it was one in twenty. 06:30 And now it's around one in three people, 06:32 in their lifetime can expect to get 06:35 like form of some form of cancer. 06:38 We have established a reputation 06:40 for being very aggressive in dealing with cancer. 06:43 And there's been a degree of success 06:46 and that- it is finding its way out there. 06:50 What we do mostly here 06:52 is to boost people's immune systems. 06:56 You know, God has designed our bodies to heal itself. 06:59 And our immune system is just amazing. 07:02 It's the most powerful agent for healing more than drugs, 07:08 more than anything that man can do. 07:11 Everybody has cancer cells in their body, everybody, 07:14 it doesn't matter who 07:15 but if your immune system is compromised for whatever reason, 07:19 environmental, lifestyle, stress, 07:22 you know, whatever the reason is 07:24 if your immune system is compromised 07:25 and the cancer overcomes you. 07:27 One of the couples that came this session 07:29 is Pete and Martita. 07:31 They're fully immersed in the program, 07:34 they're participating 100%. 07:36 And we really, really like patients like that 07:39 because they get the best results. 07:42 I found out about it probably late September of 2011 07:47 I had diagnosis of cancer and it was- 07:51 it was not a good prognosis either. 07:54 So it was kind of tough and we were- 07:56 I was able to a find a procedure that would help, 08:01 you know, help with the cancer treatment. 08:03 I had the procedure done and came back 08:05 and everything seemed to be pretty good 08:07 but I wanted to follow up with some post care so to speak 08:12 and so we decided to come here. 08:14 And I was having some problems or some issues with the- 08:17 from anxiety and stress as a result of the- 08:20 everything that I'd gone through 08:24 or we had gone through together. 08:26 He had cancer 19 years ago almost 20. 08:30 At that time he was also given a poor prognosis. 08:35 And that with no hope and this second time around 08:41 it was a devastating for us to hear that this cancer, 08:45 a different type of cancer had come about. 08:49 And in the professional opinions expressed by the physicians 08:52 that we saw, 08:53 this was also very poor 08:55 and there was nothing to be done. 08:59 We brought it before the Lord and He has been so merciful 09:03 and given us every opportunity and we feel that Eden Valley 09:07 has been the place for us, it opened up the doors 09:13 and has brought about so much restoration 09:16 in every aspect spiritual, physical, mental, emotional. 09:19 That-we praise God for everything. 09:24 We've been very impressed 09:25 and very blessed with the staff here 09:27 and the people that are involved in the organization. 09:30 They do-they really are caring and they really look after 09:34 you know your needs when you're here. 09:36 You know, they- they make you feel as home 09:39 as much as they possibly can. 09:41 They become like family after a short while. 09:45 Our goal is to have patients experience 09:49 a lifestyle change here 09:52 and learn how to do it so that they can continue it at home. 09:56 So we have cooking classes, 09:58 we have lectures to encourage them 10:00 as to why these things work 10:01 and how they can shown to be working. 10:03 In lifestyle programs many times we'll ask patients 10:05 "You know, hey how many think you're gonna have no problem 10:07 continue this when you leave?" 10:09 And 90% of them raise their hand 10:11 because it's so easy in a setting like this. 10:14 And say well, actually the 10 % are probably 10:16 they're more correct. 10:17 And so we say, you know, we would like while you're here 10:21 to connect into a power that can help you maintain 10:25 the choices you've made 10:26 and that's where spiritual component comes in. 10:28 We found a lifestyle program without a spiritual emphasis. 10:33 leaves patients with the knowledge of what to do 10:35 but without any power from God to continue 10:37 on what they're- what they are deciding to do. 10:41 There are some people who come here and they don't know 10:43 that they've come for spiritual healing. 10:47 We've had experiences with people 10:50 who have been Christians all their lives 10:53 but when they get to the end of life or somebody have- 10:56 they have cancer all of a sudden they start to question 10:59 whether they really have salvation or not. 11:02 And a huge fear enters their hearts. 11:06 And I believe with all my heart 11:08 that the Lord has able to give us the words to speak 11:11 and of course there's all the promises 11:12 of God in the gospel itself. 11:14 And somehow the Lord has been able to use us 11:18 in giving people the assurance that they lack when they come. 11:22 The Scriptures have a very specific power within, 11:26 a power to convince and convict and to give assurance 11:30 and seeing that I do the devotional 11:33 with the lifestyle guests and I specifically aim 11:37 at making the gospel as attractive and as simple 11:41 and as understandable and as applicable as I can 11:44 to these lifestyle guests 11:45 I get a monthly dose 11:48 of my own medicine, not my medicine 11:50 but it's the medicine I dish out in any case. 11:53 And really I don't- I don't know 11:56 if there's anything that's more of a blessing to me than that. 12:02 A change in diet is an important part 12:04 of the lifestyle program. 12:06 The guests are taught 12:07 how to prepare a variety of different foods 12:10 and as importantly how to incorporate 12:12 a lot of fresh foods into their menus. 12:16 To help facilitate that 12:19 Eden Valley's farm provide fresh organic produce. 12:23 In addition the farm provides a bridge to the local community. 12:28 The neighbors are able to come and participate 12:31 in Eden Valley's U- Pick program. 12:34 The team attends various local farmers markets 12:38 providing produce to a wider audience. 12:41 In this way Eden Valley's farm 12:44 serves as a ministry to the guests 12:47 as well as reaching out to the local neighbors. 12:52 We've always wanted to keep the farm going. 12:56 First of all as an educational tool 12:59 but it turns out to be far more than just that. 13:03 We want to learn to grow our own food 13:05 we know there's coming a time 13:06 when we're gonna need to grow our own food. 13:09 Well, of course, we have the lifestyle center 13:11 and it's the center of everything 13:14 that we do pretty well here. 13:16 But the organic farm plays a huge part 13:19 and it's going very, very well. 13:20 We've got one of the best farmers I've seen so far. 13:23 We have Japanese eggplant here 13:27 and I have two different varieties of bell peppers. 13:31 And I have another Italian eggplant over there 13:34 and another variety of bell peppers in the other side. 13:38 And on that side I have Brandywine tomatoes, 13:42 black cherry tomatoes, yellow cherry tomatoes, 13:44 red cherry tomatoes and then I have slicing tomatoes. 13:48 We supply our lifestyle center with fresh produce. 13:54 Mainly we try to grow everything that our lifestyle center use 13:58 as they buy a lot of stuff for their programs 14:01 and we grow mainly everything they use 14:04 except for their fruits. 14:06 And then the remaining 14:07 we send them to the local farmers markets. 14:11 Agriculture is the ABC of our education program. 14:14 But it's really hard to make money on it. 14:15 But we had to farmers market that we supplied last year 14:20 and we actually made money. 14:22 The country store makes money every month, 14:24 it's stuck away in a corner of her campus 14:27 but it's in the black every month. 14:30 We want to eventually move it out to our road 14:35 so that it's more visible. 14:37 Now you know that we can reach out 14:38 to a wider scope of customers, 14:40 and that is the community service too. 14:43 You know, everything that we do 14:45 we want to be an outreach somehow. 14:47 We also have a U-Pick program 14:49 where people from the community come 14:51 and get involved they come and pick their own stuff. 14:54 You know, Eden Valley is sort of known for U-Pick. 14:56 We actually went out to the community 14:58 and we did a community survey 14:59 and most of them knew 15:02 what Eden Valley's U- Pick program was 15:04 and they wanted that again. 15:05 So last year we started the U-Pick program 15:08 but on a limited basis. 15:09 But this year we're going to expand it 15:11 and we've already sent out flyers to the community 15:14 and yeah they're- they're interested. 15:17 We have this greenhouse 15:20 and then we have another three greenhouses down here 15:24 a little smaller than this one plus the orchard up here, 15:28 we just started this year and the raspberry patch. 15:31 Out in the field we have conventional produce 15:35 like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage. 15:38 It produces for the lifestyle guests 15:40 organic, fresh vegetables, 15:44 you know, almost all the year 15:46 and that's a huge boom when you can do that. 15:50 And then of course we can sell it to the neighbors 15:52 and stuff like this. 15:54 So it's-it's outreach, its outreach far more than 15:57 we understand, just doing it. 16:01 And we're anticipating using it 16:04 of course in the education program 16:05 and the lifestyle guests, they get to see what's going on, 16:09 they get to eat the food, we get the benefit. 16:11 Many of the guests that visit Eden Valley's Lifestyle Center 16:16 find the treasure of restored health. 16:19 When we return, we'll explore another avenue 16:23 in which Eden Valley uses the healing arts 16:25 to communicate the gospel of God's grace. 16:31 Pain, suffering and hopelessness 16:34 are everywhere we look. 16:36 As Christians we know that the ultimate answer is Jesus. 16:39 We are called to bring people to Him 16:42 as well as to share His love in practical ways. 16:45 Can you imagine the difference it would make 16:48 if every church member did all that we can 16:51 to share our hope. 16:52 That's what OCI is all about. 16:54 Lay people using their skills 16:57 to reach their communities and bring change, 17:00 whether through lifestyle centers or schools, 17:03 restaurants or clinics. 17:05 The methods are diverse but the goal is the same, 17:08 to bring hope and healing to our dying world. 17:11 In order for this work to continue, 17:13 prayer, workers and funding are all necessary. 17:17 When you support OCI, 17:19 you support the work of more than 80 ministries 17:22 around the world. 17:24 For more information about how you can become involved, 17:27 please contact us anytime. 17:32 In order to broaden their outreach, 17:34 the team at Eden Valley has incorporated 17:37 an educational component into their ministry. 17:41 Utilizing their farm, 17:44 practical skills taught in the wellness center 17:47 as well as classroom activities 17:50 their aim is to equip their students 17:53 with the necessary tools 17:55 that they can be effective servants for Christ, 17:58 wherever He leads them. 18:00 We used to have an education program here 18:02 it called the World Mission course. 18:04 We would train young adults 18:05 in everything that we thought 18:08 would equip a person in the mission field. 18:13 So there would be natural remedies 18:15 and there would be hydrotherapy, massage 18:17 and there would be agriculture 18:18 and they would also do evangelism. 18:21 Eden Valley used to be known for their World Missions course. 18:24 And it had sort of two tracks to it. 18:27 There was agriculture missionary 18:29 and medical missionary training. 18:30 And the agriculture missionary training used to be huge. 18:34 And so we want to restart our education program 18:38 not focus so much on agriculture to the extent that it was 18:42 but we are going to have two tracks for people. 18:45 People can come and learn about 18:47 agriculture missionary programs or medical missionary. 18:51 But both programs are going to be very heavily 18:55 mixed in with evangelism. 18:58 Another exciting thing about here at Eden Valley 19:01 and with our education department is the organic farms 19:06 we're integrating that into the program 19:09 so that students can come and get experience, 19:12 hands-on experience in an organic agriculture. 19:16 We want people not just to learn 19:19 about medical missionary and agriculture missionary 19:22 but what to do beyond that, 19:24 to bring the people that they're working with 19:26 to a decision for Christ. 19:29 The main goal is to make people practical 19:33 in the hope that they'll go to the mission field and use it. 19:37 So the name a program is entitled, 19:40 The Well at Eden Valley 19:42 and it stands for Training Health Educators 19:44 With Evangelism Lifestyle and Leadership. 19:48 If you look at John Chapter 4, 19:50 the Samaritan woman she came to the well 19:53 to relieve her physical necessities 19:55 but then she found Jesus there at the well. 19:59 So there's three areas 20:00 that we want to focus on in our in our training 20:02 is not only personal but public and health evangelism 20:06 so that you can go back wherever you work, 20:09 may be in your home church as a Bible worker or overseas 20:13 but you can lead out in evangelism. 20:16 As you look in this world look around what's happening, 20:20 you can see that the times that we live in dictate 20:23 that we need to have a call for action 20:25 that we need to do something, 20:26 we need to spread the three angels messages 20:28 because there's people out there that are, that are open, 20:31 that are hungry, they're waiting 20:33 for somebody to come share the joy, 20:37 the peace, the love of Christ that we have. 20:41 And if we don't do it, who will? 20:44 You know, I worked with ASI Youth for Jesus 20:46 and one of the most common things 20:48 that I've heard from my Bible worker 20:50 was it they wish they could help people in their homes. 20:53 Because so many homes you go into to do Bible studies 20:56 they have health problems, they have health issues, 20:58 they have, you know stress and smoking and alcoholism, 21:02 all those kind of things. 21:03 And so if the Bible workers could learn, 21:08 you know, the basics of medical missionary health 21:11 it would just be huge. 21:13 I find that 21:14 the majority people aren't really open to Bible studies 21:16 but you find the people are really open to health 21:19 and the health message. 21:21 So I think now is a- is a great time 21:25 to be able to take the message of health 21:29 to people in the community. 21:31 And there's a specific quote that I think of, it says, 21:35 "Relive the physical necessities of your fellow men 21:39 and their gratitude will break down the barriers 21:42 and enable you to reach their hearts." 21:44 And so the method is very simple, 21:46 if we can bring health into people's homes 21:49 into people's lives in simple practical ways, 21:53 you know, that will break down barriers 21:55 in people that aren't too readily 21:57 interested in the Bible studies 21:59 and so that we can share 22:00 the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them. 22:05 Because of the fact that people are open 22:07 to the message of health 22:09 we've established a certified wellness coaching program. 22:14 And I think it's really interesting 22:16 that the term wellness coach is really a trending term 22:22 that people are really getting more interested in. 22:24 So what we're doing is we're training medical missionaries. 22:27 But when we go on to the community 22:29 we send them as wellness coaches in order to reach people 22:34 maybe they're not open to Bible studies 22:37 or maybe they're not readily interested in Bible 22:40 or prophecy or anything like that. 22:41 But here's an extra avenue that you come and get trained 22:45 and you can reach people 22:46 by His promises in the spirit of prophecy 22:50 that they will-their hearts will be open to the message. 22:55 I grew up in a in a home 22:58 where everyone was miners and loggers 23:00 nobody went to school, 23:01 there was no highly educated people in the family. 23:05 And so with a family of three kids and a wife 23:08 and a home and everything else 23:10 we had it just didn't seem feasible 23:12 to go and get an education. 23:15 But it wasn't long in studying the scriptures 23:18 we really wanted to be involved in missionary work somehow 23:22 and we found it, we found it at OCI, we found it at ASI. 23:26 You can see the wisdom in the Lord in organizing 23:31 some entities like OCI and ASI 23:34 who could make room for people 23:35 who wanted to serve the Lord 23:37 but did not have the master's degrees or the PhD's. 23:40 There's plenty of places that need workers. 23:43 I mean, Jesus Christ said that 23:44 the harvest is great but the laborers are few. 23:47 So there's not a shortage of places where somebody can go. 23:51 There's people out there that need our help 23:53 this is why we're here. 23:55 We're going to be doing 23:56 an evangelistic meeting this fall. 23:58 So we're starting to do 24:00 a community outreach event every six weeks. 24:03 So we've done three cooking schools, 24:06 we've done a simple remedies, natural remedy seminar. 24:10 We've down health emphasis weekends. 24:12 We have a core group of people 24:14 from the community that are coming. 24:16 Every single one they love it. 24:18 And then Messiah's Mansion from Oklahoma Academy is coming, 24:23 they are gonna set up their sanctuary on Interstate 25. 24:27 And there's four area churches that are all involved, 24:30 our church is one of them. 24:32 And that is getting really a response already. 24:36 And will be holding cooking schools, 24:39 medical seminars, agriculture seminars. 24:41 They haven't done an evangelistic program 24:43 in this church for a while. 24:44 So we're really looking forward to that. 24:48 We just hired a young Bible worker 24:51 and we're hoping that she will build up 24:54 a group of people who are really interested 24:57 in knowing the Scriptures. 24:58 We're following that with the Messiah's Mansion 25:01 and we're hoping that's going to draw a lot of interested, 25:04 usually it does and then from that 25:06 we're going to advertise an evangelistic series 25:09 in October based on the sanctuary. 25:12 We have several missions that we're directly involved with. 25:17 We don't really do the management of those ministry 25:20 but we were responsible for raising funds for them. 25:23 So the AIDS orphan program in Tanzania, 25:27 the orphanage program in India, 25:29 the outreach to the Tarahumara Indians in Mexico. 25:33 Dominican Republic, the country life 25:35 and lifestyle center there 25:37 Mount Akagi in Japan. 25:40 You know, these are all ministries 25:42 that really need support. 25:44 And these are ministries that are- 25:47 they're not big, they're not large 25:49 but their ministries that are doing 25:53 a tremendous amount of outreach. 25:56 Well, I'm especially close to the OCI family. 25:59 I had the opportunity of working there, 26:02 personally as the executive vice president 26:04 and even today I'm the board chairman of OCI. 26:08 So there's been a very close, close connection for me to OCI. 26:13 But as an institution it's also invaluable. 26:16 The yearly retreats 26:18 and the networking that we're able to do 26:22 and the family just that by itself would be enough 26:25 to be long to a group of people 26:27 such as Seventh-day Adventist Christians laypeople 26:30 even organized to do as much as we can do 26:34 for the Lord is been huge a blessing, it really has. 26:43 I believe in Eden Valley only because I believe 26:45 that this is where God has set us up. 26:48 This is where God wants to work, 26:49 this is where God has worked. 26:51 There's been a wonderful years at Eden Valley. 26:55 And there's also been years of decline. 26:57 And we are praying in working 27:02 to reestablish Eden Valley on the more solid footing. 27:08 I- we're near, we're close. 27:09 The Lord is blessing more and more and more. 27:14 For fifty years, 27:16 Eden Valley has kept their goals steadfastly in view. 27:20 Their aim is to help restore people to health, 27:24 mentally, physically and of course spiritually. 27:29 They long to introduce the people 27:31 that they meet to Jesus Christ. 27:34 You can have a part in this ministry. 27:37 Perhaps you know someone that would benefit 27:40 from their lifestyle program. 27:44 I encourage you 27:45 to consider what you can do not only to help this ministry 27:49 but the worldwide ministry in OCI. 27:52 We value your support. 27:55 To find out more, please visit us on the web 27:58 at outpostcenters.org or you can send an email 28:04 to info@outpostcenters.org mailto:info@outpostcenters.org 28:09 We'd always like to hear from you in person as well, 28:12 feel free to call us. 28:14 Our phone number is 423-236-5600. 28:21 For OCI Reports this Steven Grabiner. |
Revised 2014-12-17