Participants:
Series Code: OTR
Program Code: OTR000751
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01:00 Good afternoon,
01:01 and welcome to the ASI National Convention 01:04 in Dallas, Texas. 01:06 I hope you've enjoyed the program so far. 01:09 And we have a very special program this afternoon, 01:12 entitled "Compelled to Tell." 01:16 We're gonna hear a lot of great stories 01:19 of sharing Christ in the marketplace. 01:21 Please bow your heads for prayer. 01:25 Dear Heavenly Father, 01:27 we want to thank you for the opportunity 01:29 of being here today 01:30 or listening on 3ABN. 01:37 We're in the world's final hours. 01:41 And we're gonna hear 01:43 some awesome testimonies this afternoon 01:45 of how Your people are sharing Christ 01:47 in their marketplace. 01:49 Please guide their words, Lord, 01:51 and help us to gain a blessing from what they have to say. 01:54 And help us to find something 01:55 that we can take home to our ministry. 01:59 We ask this in Jesus name, amen. 02:08 Good afternoon. 02:10 Good afternoon. 02:11 ASI has chosen for its convention 02:14 for its term theme Tell Them Now. 02:17 To be in harmony with the Tell The World initiative 02:20 sponsored by the General Conference 02:21 of Seventh-day Adventist. 02:23 I have two distinguished gentlemen 02:24 here with me. 02:26 And we'd like them to just give us some information 02:27 about this Tell The World initiative. 02:30 So I'd like to start with Pastor Finley 02:32 and ask first, why Tell The World? 02:35 You know, when the General Conference 02:38 began to think and pray 02:39 about what goals it would like to achieve 02:42 for the coming quinquennium, what initiatives. 02:45 We sought God earnestly. 02:48 In 1818, William Miller began to study the Bible. 02:53 And by 1831, 02:56 he had become convinced that Christ was coming, 02:59 and He was coming soon. 03:01 As he prayed about his personal responsibility, 03:05 the Lord impressed him with three words, 03:09 Tell The World. 03:11 He tried to shake it. 03:12 But this prophetic conviction of destiny moved his heart, 03:17 and the spirit convicted him Tell The World. 03:21 It is out of the context of early Adventist history. 03:25 It's out of the context 03:26 of communicating God's last day message 03:29 to the world, 03:31 that the Seventh-day Adventist Church 03:33 has a message to proclaim. 03:36 And a job that was not fully done 03:39 over 160 years ago 03:41 is to be finished in this generation. 03:44 So Tell The World, Debbie, is not man's idea. 03:47 It's not something dreamed up by a group of administrators. 03:50 It is a divinely inspired idea 03:53 planted in the heart of William Miller years ago 03:57 that it's to be completed in this generation. 04:00 Well, now ASI has really tried to capture the emphasis 04:04 that it seems is right there with that Tell The World. 04:06 But, Mike, let me ask you what's the urgency contained 04:10 in this particular initiative? 04:12 Well, you know, Tell The World, 04:14 as Mark has said is not really a man's idea 04:17 nor is it a new idea. 04:19 The Seventh-day Adventist Church 04:21 has always been about mission. 04:24 It's not a new thing. 04:25 It's part of our culture. It's what we were. 04:28 When you look at that little group 04:29 that started this, to proclaim this message 04:32 in the northeastern part of the United States, 04:35 and it was just a small group. 04:39 And you watch and look 04:40 how that message spread across America. 04:44 And as you would look in the archives 04:46 of the General Conference, 04:48 and see the letters written 04:49 to Ellen and James White, that said, "Come to Iowa. 04:52 Come to Montana. 04:54 Come to Oregon. Come to California. 04:55 We have started a group, 04:57 come and help us organize the church." 04:58 It's that drive permission 05:00 and the urgency of the time that drove them. 05:03 And then, of course, in the 1880s, 05:05 it came to the attention of the church at that time 05:08 that it wasn't just a message to go to the United States, 05:11 but it was a message 05:12 that was to go around the world. 05:14 And then began the missionary movement. 05:16 And we know that as we look at the world, 05:18 and we see how the beginnings, it was a miracle. 05:22 You know, we're organized into 13 divisions 05:25 around the world. 05:26 North America is one of them. 05:28 And in those 13 divisions, 05:29 it's interesting to note 05:30 that in 12 of them, it was lay people 05:33 who took the message their first. 05:35 It was not paid workers, lay people. 05:37 And today, you find that there are people 05:40 like George Ripple in South America 05:43 still buried on the continent there, 05:45 waiting for Jesus to come. 05:46 He's a lay person from Kansas. 05:48 In 1894, they went to South America. 05:51 The people that lie in St. Lucie College cemetery, 05:54 the original people that went to Africa, lay people. 05:57 You look at Abraham Luruli 05:58 that lies in Hong Kong today, a lay person, 06:01 that he's lying there waiting for Jesus to come. 06:03 And so as we come to this today, 06:05 this is a history of mission that we have in this church. 06:08 Why I understand it. 06:10 Now I understand why we have the Tell The World 06:12 as the name of the initiative. 06:14 And I got a picture of the urgency 06:16 that it's buried somehow in our history. 06:19 But please forgive me if I ask Pastor Finley, 06:22 isn't this the same old 06:23 with just a new title pasted in front of it? 06:26 Well, Debbie, Tell The World 06:29 is the broadest initiative ever launched 06:31 by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 06:33 The first principle of Tell The World is this, 06:37 that by the year 2010, 06:40 we believe that a praying church, 06:43 a witnessing church filled with the Holy Spirit, 06:46 a church that's actively involved in the world, 06:49 a church that's reaching out 06:50 to its community with personal and public evangelism, 06:53 and that's planting churches, 06:55 we believe that the entire world 06:58 and every person in it 07:00 can know the three angels' messages. 07:03 So for the first time in Adventist history, 07:05 we have said that we are a generation 07:08 of leaders, pastors, and church members 07:11 who believe specifically that we can accomplish the task 07:16 through the Spirit of God in this generation. 07:18 That is not the status quo. 07:20 That is unique. 07:23 Well, now I've got it. 07:24 You know, Debbie, that was a little weak 07:26 on the amen there. 07:27 You know, we're in Texas and things happen big in Texas. 07:32 So, you know, I'd like to... 07:33 We're reaching every person in the world with the gospel. 07:36 What can you say about that? 07:37 Amen. 07:39 Every continent, every province, 07:42 every city, every village, 07:44 every street, every person, Debbie, 07:46 that is not the status quo. 07:48 Well, now this is interesting to me 07:50 because, especially as ASI as you know, 07:53 we have our unique ways of doing things, 07:55 our different approaches. 07:57 Is there a way that everyone can be involved 07:59 in this Tell The World, tell them now piece? 08:01 Absolutely. 08:03 I think that there will be going 08:04 through the various aspects of Tell The World. 08:06 There are actually seven goals. 08:08 We'll talk about them individually. 08:09 And when you look at those seven goals, 08:12 it's not just one method. 08:15 You know, we're advised through the writings of Ellen White 08:17 and also through scripture 08:18 that we should have a multitude of methods. 08:21 And so that's what we're gonna be talking about. 08:23 But the very first one that we want to focus on 08:26 is actually the most important one. 08:28 And it is the one where we talk about 08:30 studying the Bible and praying. 08:32 I don't know how else to describe it. 08:34 I looked at some information not long ago 08:36 that indicated that about half of the Seventh-day Adventist 08:39 in the world have a consistent Bible study program 08:41 and prayer program. 08:43 I want to talk to you as a pastor right now. 08:46 We need to be concerned about that percentage. 08:49 It needs to increase. 08:50 And so our first objective is to take a look 08:53 at that particular goal on the spiritual aspect. 08:57 But as an introduction to this, 08:59 we want to take a little time here 09:01 and show you a video that introduces Tell The World. 09:05 So, please enjoy that with us if you would, 09:07 and then we'll come back and look at it piece by piece. 09:11 The mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church... 09:14 Is to communicate to all peoples, 09:17 the everlasting gospel... 09:19 Of God's love. 09:21 In the context of the three angels' messages 09:25 of Revelation 14:6-12. 09:29 And as revealed in the life, death, resurrection, 09:32 and high priestly ministry of Jesus Christ... 09:35 Leading them to accept Jesus as personal Savior and Lord. 09:39 And to unite with His remnant church. 09:42 And to nurture believers as disciples. 09:45 In preparation for His soon return. 09:48 We have a mission to reach the world. 09:50 But do we have a plan to reach the world? 09:54 Tell The World is a bold new plan 09:56 to give every person in the world 09:57 the opportunity to know Jesus by the year 2010. 10:02 It has seven key parts. 10:05 Tell The World has always... 10:07 Mission has always been the agenda of the church. 10:10 And we are constantly looking for the most attractive, 10:13 the most effective way of doing it and saying it. 10:18 Tell The World expands the mission of the church. 10:21 It is an expression of a large vision 10:25 of what we might be able to do. 10:26 Imagine a church that is involved 10:28 in Bible study and prayer, and planting churches 10:31 involved in 400,000 evangelism meetings, 10:35 going to large cities, involved in their community, 10:39 being conscious as a corporate body 10:42 that we have to go to every person in the world. 10:45 To challenge at least 65 percent 10:47 of church members to commit themselves 10:49 to daily devotion and prayer. 10:51 With this daily Bible study, 10:53 you have to do with telling others about Jesus. 10:57 It takes energy from the Lord 10:59 to have courage to witness to somebody. 11:03 You only derive the image to go out 11:06 from your daily devotions with the Lord. 11:10 That's how critical the daily devotions are. 11:14 To inspire at least 40 percent of church members 11:16 to become actively involved in their community. 11:20 How does community outreach make a difference? 11:23 Somebody has said once that one of the reasons 11:27 the church doesn't reach the community 11:29 is because the church doesn't reach out 11:30 into the community. 11:32 You don't reach unless you reach out into it. 11:34 You know, many people say, 11:35 "Well, the community is not interested." 11:37 How do you know it's interested or not 11:38 unless you're giving it an opportunity to respond? 11:41 Challenging at least five million members 11:43 to win one person for Jesus in the next five years. 11:47 I would just be delighted 11:49 to see five million of our church members 11:52 taking the trouble and feeling compelled by Christ 11:57 and sensing the presence 11:59 of the equipping of the Holy Spirit to do it 12:01 so that they actually would try. 12:04 Let the spirit work on the end 12:07 probably just become involved and try. 12:10 To start new congregations in at least 27 12:13 of the world's largest cities. 12:16 How does hope for big cities fit into this plan? 12:20 Christ wants us to go into the cities precisely 12:24 because people in need of His salvation 12:27 are there in large numbers. 12:29 And cities are growing every day. 12:30 Half the world lives there right now. 12:32 In just a few years, 12:33 it's gonna be many times more than that. 12:35 And so if we're going to reach the world, 12:38 we have to address these environments. 12:41 To plant 20,000 new congregations 12:44 around the world. 12:46 Well, will 20,000 new congregations 12:48 provide the church? 12:50 Twenty thousand congregations 12:52 planted then in the next five years 12:54 is not an easy task. 12:57 Many of those congregations will be planted in places 13:00 where we have never gone before. 13:02 And we ask, 13:04 "Well, how's it going to be done?" 13:05 Well, some of it will be done 13:06 by our missionary force that's out, 13:09 more than 800 missionaries serving around the world. 13:12 They're working on the front line. 13:14 But we also know that they're going 13:15 to be working hand in hand with the large cadre 13:18 of global mission pioneers. 13:20 To involve every church and outreach, 13:23 leading to 400,000 evangelist outreach 13:25 and discipleship programs, 13:27 including 100,000 youth programs. 13:31 Four hundred thousand evangelistic campaigns 13:33 sounds like a lot. 13:35 Is this really possible? 13:37 That's a big goal, 400,000. 13:39 But it's achievable. 13:40 If we have 57,000 churches, 13:43 and if each church has one evangelistic event 13:45 each year, just one, 13:47 and you do that for 5 years, that's 280,000. 13:50 If you challenge your young people 13:52 to hold 20,000 evangelistic events a year, 13:54 you've got 380,000-390,000. 13:57 Every year if a church is reaching out 13:58 with some evangelistic event, 14:00 it can be for one week, it can be for two weeks, 14:01 it can be for three weeks, four weeks, 14:03 whatever that church defines, 14:05 but some evangelistic event 14:07 where people are being introduced 14:08 to the gospel each week, 14:10 the spirit will stir up the people, 14:11 bring them to that particular church. 14:14 To creatively use communication channels 14:16 to reach every person of the world 14:18 with the good news. 14:20 The media can reach the masses, can plant seeds, 14:24 that must be watered by the touch 14:27 of the individual one on one. 14:30 We have to remember that with the technology we have today, 14:34 by a variety of media, there is almost no limit 14:39 to which parts of the world you can reach. 14:43 We may not be able to send a minister in, 14:46 but by radio, by television, satellite, 14:49 by the printed page, 14:51 yes, I think it is possible to do this. 14:54 Your involvement is vital. 14:56 Your prayers are needed and your mission offerings 14:59 will help make Tell The World a reality. 15:03 In reality, mission giving has declined 15:06 over the last 25 to 30 years, 15:09 be a very small portion of our tithe. 15:12 If we were to return to even half 15:14 of what the historical levels would it were, 15:17 and we're to give even two percent of our income 15:20 towards entering new areas, 15:23 which would make opportunities available 15:26 that we have never even thought of 15:27 in being able to reach. 15:29 The technology is there, 15:31 the membership around the world is there, 15:33 we've never had an opportunity like this 15:35 to be able to reach the world. 15:37 Tell The World, the gospel message 15:40 to every person on planet earth. 15:43 What a mission, what an opportunity, 15:47 what would you give to make it happen? 16:00 We believe as a church without studying God's Word 16:04 and without having a prayer life, 16:06 could we possibly be a church about its mission? 16:09 I don't think so. 16:10 We went on wrap these goals just as quickly as we can 16:13 and give you a little highlight and what's taking place. 16:16 Dan Houghton, Shelly Quinn, 16:18 you're going to help us a little bit. 16:20 Take us through some experiences here. 16:22 Thank you, Mike. Good afternoon everyone. 16:25 Now Tell The World and Tell it Now is something 16:28 that we've been hearing a lot about. 16:29 But I want you to know 16:30 we're gonna talk a little bit more 16:32 about how it actually 16:33 where the rubber hits the road works. 16:35 And Shelley, I just want to talk to you for a minute. 16:38 People know you because they see you 16:40 on Three Angels Broadcasting Network, 16:41 you have some regular programming. 16:43 But many of these people may not know 16:44 that you have another ministry. 16:45 Yes, I do. 16:47 Would you talk about that ministry 16:48 just a little bit? 16:49 Well, before we came to 3ABN, 16:51 my husband and I had a full time ministry 16:52 called Word Warrior Ministries, 16:55 and you may have heard of Prayer Warriors. 16:56 Word Warrior is all about learning 16:59 to use the Word of God to confess it over your life, 17:03 to pray it back to the Lord 17:05 because Isaiah 55:11 says, 17:07 His word does not return void, 17:08 but it accomplishes every purpose 17:10 for which He sent it. 17:12 And Jeremiah 1:12 says, 17:13 He watches over His word to perform it. 17:16 This was a speaking and writing ministry, 17:19 and we were doing this full time 17:20 before we came to 3ABN. 17:22 And I praise the Lord that Danny Shelton and 3ABN 17:25 gives us the opportunity to continue in this ministry. 17:28 Okay. 17:29 Now, Shelley, you do this ministry 17:31 at Three Angels Broadcasting Network, 3ABN, 17:34 during the week. 17:35 But what happens on weekends? 17:37 What do you and your husband doing on weekends? 17:38 Well, we travel three weekends out of every month. 17:41 We do camp meetings, revivals, 17:43 and prayer retreats, women's retreats, 17:47 and we go out and teach people. 17:49 It's all about teaching people 17:51 how to exalt the Word of God in their lives. 17:55 You know, the banner over our ministry 17:57 is Psalm 138:2, 17:59 and in that scripture, 18:00 the Bible says that God exalts 18:02 His name and His Word above all things, 18:05 and that He magnifies His word even above His name. 18:09 And why do you suppose that is 18:11 because in the beginning was the Word 18:13 and the Word was with God, and the Word was God, 18:15 and He became flesh and tabernacles amongst us. 18:18 So what we do is we go out, and we teach people 18:23 how to overcome their identity crisis. 18:27 Our theme this year is Tell The World 18:29 and Tell Them Now, 18:30 but people don't just want to hear the gospel, 18:33 they want to see it in action. 18:36 And we've got to understand who we are in Christ. 18:39 So many Christians suffer an identity crisis. 18:43 They really don't know who they are in Christ. 18:46 They don't know the power, 18:47 the transforming power of the Word of God. 18:49 And they don't know that they can call 18:51 on the power of the Holy Spirit 18:52 and the power of the Word and go out. 18:55 And God promises, 18:56 He'll give us the tongue of uninstructed disciple. 18:59 So what we try to do 19:00 is teach people the power of the word. 19:03 And the more the word that you hide in your heart, 19:06 the more of the word 19:08 that you confess over your life, 19:09 the more you understand who you are in Christ, 19:11 then you become a powerful witness, 19:13 and you can go out 19:15 and not only tell them with words, 19:16 but tell them in actions 19:18 because 2 Corinthians 3:3 says that we are a letter 19:22 written on the heart from Jesus Christ. 19:24 So the world isn't as interested 19:26 in our words as they are in our actions. 19:29 And so we're trying to have people 19:30 learn how to do this. 19:32 Okay. 19:33 Now, Shelley, Tell The World, Tell Them Now, obviously, 19:36 the Word of God getting into the word 19:38 and being a Word Warrior has impact. 19:39 Amen. 19:41 What kind of impact can you share 19:42 with our audience that your ministry has had, 19:44 where you've actually seen miracles happen 19:46 and impact from Word Warriors? 19:49 Oh, boy. 19:50 Long story short, God changed my life. 19:53 He taught me how to totally rely on Him. 19:56 He changed my husband's life through this practice. 19:59 And God gave me a book called "Exalting His Word." 20:02 That book between what 3ABN published, 20:05 and now it's being published by Pacific Press, 20:07 has sold over 12,000 copies. 20:10 And we have 12,000 Word Warriors out there 20:12 who are beginning Word Warrior Squadron, 20:15 so they teach people in their church. 20:18 I get letters every day, and I get emails every day. 20:21 I've had people call and write to me 20:24 who said that they were really suicidal, 20:27 and they did not understand the joy of Christianity 20:30 until they started this practice. 20:33 We have, the book has been translated into Afrikaans. 20:37 I had one young lady from Africa, 20:39 who was visiting the United States. 20:41 She got a copy of this book. 20:43 And when she went back to Africa, 20:44 she emailed me and said, 20:45 "May I have your permission to translate this?" 20:48 And this one woman has gone all over Africa 20:51 doing Word Warrior seminars, 20:54 and she has sprung up Word Warrior Squadrons. 20:56 And she said they're being changed. 20:59 I had a woman come up to me at the Soquel Camp Meeting 21:01 just a couple of weeks ago. 21:03 And she said, 21:04 "My daughter attended one of your prayer retreats," 21:06 or it was a woman's retreat, actually. 21:08 And she said, 21:10 "It changed her life because listening to you, 21:12 she got a real hunger and thirst 21:15 for the Word of God." 21:16 And she said, "I watched her over a period of three months, 21:19 grow in power and grow in knowing 21:21 who she was in Christ." 21:23 And she said, I sent her off on a missionary trip. 21:25 She was pregnant, she and her husband left. 21:28 And you know what this precious soul told me? 21:30 She said, just a few hundred miles from home, 21:33 a car hit this daughter's car 21:35 killed the baby and the daughter. 21:37 But she came up to me and she said, 21:39 "I'm so glad that yours is the last ministry 21:41 that she attended because God changed her life." 21:44 We hear this over and over again. 21:46 Shelley, if everybody out here wants to become a prayer 21:49 or a Word Warrior... 21:50 Yes. 21:51 They can see you 21:53 at the 3ABN booth tonight I would guess. 21:54 And if they want to know a little bit more 21:55 about that they can stop by and see you, 21:57 and find out how Word Warrior can change your life as well. 21:59 Amen. Thank you very much. 22:01 Thank you, Dan. 22:03 Okay, I'm looking for Dan Vis. 22:07 Dan's coming right now. Come right over here, Dan. 22:10 How are you doing? Doing fine. 22:11 You know, Dan's a pretty good name, isn't it? 22:13 I like the name. Yeah. 22:15 All right. 22:16 Dan, I like the name of your ministry, 22:18 anything that says fast, you know, FAST Ministry. 22:22 That's the name of your ministry. 22:23 So tell us a little bit about that. 22:24 Well, actually, we didn't name the ministry fast 22:26 because we're trying to do things quickly, though, 22:28 that's our ultimate goal. 22:30 But really, our goal is to help people learn 22:31 how to hold fast to the Word of God. 22:34 You may know the verse in Revelation 3:11, 22:36 where it says, "Behold, I come quickly, 22:38 hold that fast, which thou hast, 22:40 that no man take thy crown." 22:41 And so what we're wanting to do is 22:43 help equip people to hold fast to God's Word. 22:45 Okay. 22:46 Holding fast to God's Word, 22:48 what does that have to do 22:49 with Tell The World, Tell it Now? 22:53 Well, we all know that we want to share the message 22:55 with those that are in the world around us. 22:57 And there are so many people 22:58 that need the truth of God's Word. 23:00 But unless we have the Word of God 23:01 first in our own minds and in our own hearts 23:03 where we have a living knowledge 23:05 in the Word of God, living experience, 23:07 how can we really share the message? 23:09 And so we're trying to equip people 23:11 to share the Word of God with others 23:12 by filling it first in their minds. 23:14 Okay. 23:16 Now there are several ways 23:17 that your ministry FAST is doing that. 23:19 One of them, I understand is memorization. 23:21 Describe what memorization is, 23:23 and what kind of impact this having? 23:24 That's correct. 23:26 One of the things that we do 23:27 is we provide Bible training materials 23:29 for people all around the country. 23:30 Actually, we send them around the world, 23:32 help people learn how to memorize scripture. 23:34 We teach people how to remember references, 23:36 memorize verses, WordPerfect, 23:38 learn how to meditate and apply on the word, 23:40 be consistent in memorization, those kind of things. 23:43 Few years back, I went up to Alberta, 23:45 just to give an example. 23:46 I was in Alberta conference, 23:48 and I did a weekend seminar 23:49 on the importance of memorization 23:51 and gave some of these keys. 23:52 They were so excited about 23:54 the power of God's Word in their life. 23:55 They invited me come back about five months later. 23:57 Okay. 23:58 And on my second trip is a different part 24:00 of the province. 24:01 I had a chance to meet some of the people 24:03 that were at the first seminar. 24:04 And one of them came up to me said, 24:06 "You see the little lady over there, 24:07 she was about in her late 70s." 24:08 And I said, "Yeah." 24:10 And she said, "Do you remember her said?" 24:11 I said, "Yeah, I think she was at the last time 24:13 I was up here, right?" 24:14 And she said, "Yes. 24:15 Well, since you left, she was so excited 24:17 about what you taught. 24:19 She got really serious about memorizing scripture." 24:21 And in those five months, 24:23 she had memorized about 400 verses. 24:24 Wow, 400 verses! 24:27 How many of you could claim 24:28 that you would even memorize 100 verses? 24:31 Okay, we need some more memorization. 24:32 And memorization is only part of what you do, discipleship. 24:35 Talk about discipleship a little bit, Dan. 24:36 That's right. 24:38 We also provide not only memorization training, 24:39 but training in all aspects of discipleship, 24:41 everything from how to study the Bible, 24:43 how to set up a prayer journal, 24:45 how to manage your time, 24:46 how to share your testimony, give a Bible study, 24:48 and many other aspects of discipleship. 24:50 We actually have a 12-month church training curriculum 24:53 that we put together named Project Call. 24:55 We have that going in probably 40 or 50 churches 24:57 around the country including a couple of churches 24:59 in Canada and some in Australia. 25:01 And we're really excited about seeing changes 25:03 in churches as they go through this curriculum. 25:05 Okay. 25:06 And in that result 25:08 when people get into memorizing scripture, 25:09 when they get into discipleship 25:11 and start reaching out and touching, 25:12 they're telling the world and telling them now. 25:14 Absolutely. Isn't that, right? 25:16 When we first did our church training program, 25:17 we did it as a pilot project up in Michigan. 25:20 At the end of our first year, 25:21 we had seven churches went through the program, 25:23 we did an assessment, we sent out evaluation forms, 25:26 want to find out how did it impacted their life. 25:29 When we got all the information back, 25:30 we compile them, went through with the conference, 25:32 we had over 93 percent I think 25:34 were actively involved in ministry 25:36 as a result of that training. 25:37 Okay. 25:39 Now someone here wants to get a little bit more acquainted 25:41 with your ministry, how are they gonna do that? 25:43 Well, you're welcome to come by our booth. 25:44 Our booth is number 530. 25:46 We also have a website www.fast.st, like FAST Street. 25:52 So you can go by our website, 25:53 or you can call us on our 800 number, 25:55 1(800) 501- 4024. 25:57 Okay. 25:59 Now in the few minutes we have left, Dan, 26:00 what is the greatest benefit 26:02 that you have personally experienced 26:04 from Bible memorization? 26:06 You know, there's a great verse in Jeremiah 15:16, which says, 26:10 "Thy words were found, and I did eat them. 26:12 And thy word was unto me 26:13 the joy and rejoicing of my heart." 26:15 And I particularly like that verse. 26:17 There's all kinds of benefits, whether overcoming temptation, 26:19 more faith in prayer, 26:21 being able to have an answer for someone 26:22 when they ask us a question. 26:24 But to me, the greatest joy is just being able 26:25 to take some juicy verses scripture 26:27 and be able to meditate on it, and it just throws our heart. 26:30 Okay. 26:31 Well, I tell you, I like what you're all about. 26:34 And I like the idea of holding fast 26:36 to the Word of God. 26:37 I also like the idea of doing it fast. 26:39 Amen. 26:40 Tell The World, Tell Them Now 26:43 has an implication doing it fast. 26:44 If we can learn how to hold fast 26:46 to the Word of God, 26:47 we're gonna be equipped to be able to work fast 26:49 and share it with others. 26:50 Amen. Thank you very much. 26:51 Thank you so much. 26:53 And let me just share a quick thought. 26:54 I just want to thank ASI so much. 26:55 In the last six, seven years of our ministry, 26:57 there have been several critical points, 26:59 where ASI really came through and was a huge blessing to us. 27:02 And I'm very thankful to all of you. 27:03 Amen. Thank you. 27:05 Thank you, Dan. 27:21 These are periled times we live in 27:26 Trouble everywhere 27:30 Weary hearts will often give in 27:34 To this world's despair 27:39 But high and overall 27:42 Our Father knows our every care 27:47 So in His Book if you will look 27:52 You'll find His promise there 27:59 He who trusts in the Lord 28:03 Mercy shall surround him 28:07 He who trusts in the Lord 28:12 Mercy shall surround him 28:16 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice 28:20 You upright in heart lift up your voice 28:25 For great is His mercy 28:27 Toward all who trust in the Lord 28:41 Soon will be the time 28:44 When we will see the Holy One 28:49 Oh how sweet to know that He'll complete 28:54 What He's begun 28:57 And blessed is the man 29:01 Who stands forgiven in God's son 29:06 And blessed are they who in that day 29:11 Will hear Him say, well done 29:18 He who trusts in the Lord 29:22 Mercy shall surround him 29:26 He who trusts in the Lord 29:31 Mercy shall surround him 29:35 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice 29:39 You upright in heart lift up your voice 29:43 For great is His mercy 29:46 toward all who trust in the Lord 29:55 Gracious is He and slow to anger 30:03 His loving kindness 30:07 Has no end 30:12 With love to embrace both friend and stranger 30:19 He's reaching out to one and all 30:24 who upon His name will call 30:30 For he who trusts in the Lord 30:36 Mercy shall surround him 30:40 He who trusts in the Lord 30:44 Mercy shall surround him 30:48 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice 30:52 You upright in heart lift up your voice 30:57 For great is His mercy 30:59 toward all who trust in the Lord 31:08 Mercy is His reward 31:12 For all who trust for the pure and just 31:16 Who put their trust in the Lord 31:25 Mercy is His reward 31:33 Great is His mercy 31:36 toward all who put their trust 31:42 In the Lord 32:06 Man, can you say amen to that? 32:07 Amen. 32:09 He who you trust, the power behind our religion. 32:14 You know, we're gonna be talking a little bit 32:15 about these seven goals. 32:17 They came to my attention, 32:19 that as I looked 32:20 at certain pieces of information 32:22 that the Seventh-day Adventist Church 32:24 was not real good at getting involved 32:27 in their community. 32:29 Do you realize that worldwide we average 32:31 about 29 percent of people 32:33 who actually have a touch to their community? 32:37 Also another part of Tell It Now, 32:41 Tell The World 32:42 is that we are wanting to have five million lay people 32:46 bring one person to Jesus. 32:48 Now that's not the entire goal for Tell The World, 32:50 that's just one little aspect of it. 32:52 There's public evangelism, reaching out into the city, 32:54 the ongoing program. 32:56 And so this is one little part of Personal Ministries. 33:01 You know, not too long ago, 33:02 I was standing in a city that I choose not to name 33:05 because it's dominated by a world religion 33:07 that is creating quite a bit of interest 33:10 in the world today. 33:12 But as I stood there, 33:13 I was on my way into a massive slum, 33:17 to go and to observe a ministry 33:21 that was touching the lives of people. 33:23 And I remember opening the door 33:25 and stepping out into kind of a muddy old road, 33:29 slamming the door and then looking out 33:31 and as far as I could see, it was slums. 33:34 And then I noticed on the right hand side, 33:37 that there was a little girl about this tall 33:41 and she had two younger brothers, 33:45 and they were sick. 33:47 And they stood there in the mud 33:48 just having crawled out of a cardboard box. 33:51 And I remember kind of watching them. 33:55 And then I watched as they picked up 33:56 their begging bowls and walked off to the road 34:00 to make their living for the day. 34:02 I asked myself the question, "Who is going to tell them? 34:08 Who's going to tell them?" 34:10 Debbie Young, please come and join me here. 34:13 We want to unwrap this personal witness 34:15 and evolvement in the community. 34:18 Share with us what's happening. 34:21 Well, when we look at community service, 34:22 there are a whole host of things that can happen. 34:25 And I have standing beside me representatives 34:27 from NAPS, 34:28 the National Association for the Prevention of Starvation. 34:31 They are based on the campus 34:33 of Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama. 34:35 And I just want to ask, Taurus, 34:38 tell me a little bit about NAPS. 34:41 And why have you chosen... 34:42 Why has this organization chosen community service 34:46 as your opportunity to connect with the community? 34:49 And tell them about Jesus Christ. 34:51 Well, one reason that we've chosen community service 34:54 as an avenue to reach out to people's 34:56 because we realized that Jesus met people's needs first. 34:59 And once they had confidence in Him and trusted Him, 35:03 then He was able to share the gospel with them. 35:06 So tell me, can you give me some examples 35:07 of how you've done this? 35:09 Do you go and paint people's houses? 35:12 Exactly what is it that you do? 35:14 And I understand you might have some pictures 35:15 to help bring some life to this answer. 35:17 Yes, ma'am. 35:19 We do have some pictures that we brought 35:20 to show the work that we do. 35:22 While we were in the Dallas area, 35:24 working along with ASI Youth For Jesus, 35:26 which is a wonderful organization, 35:27 providing opportunities for young people 35:29 to use their gifts and talents for the Lord. 35:31 We were able to go out into the community 35:33 and help to renovate a lady's driveway, 35:37 the rain would flood her driveway, 35:39 so she wouldn't be able to get into her home. 35:41 So we were able to use as a finished product 35:43 that you see right here. 35:44 And the lady was just so happy, so thankful. 35:46 And one thing that I realized 35:48 is that in doing work for others 35:50 and helping other people in turn, 35:51 you are blessing yourself. 35:53 And so that's just one of the examples. 35:55 We're also able to paint a house 35:56 in the community. 35:58 And again, once you are meeting the needs of the people, 36:01 when it's time to go out 36:02 and pass out invitations to invite people 36:04 to come out to your meetings is much easier 36:07 because they have that confidence in you 36:08 and they trust in you, 36:09 and they're willing now to come out 36:11 and hear the Word of God. 36:12 Well, now tell me 36:14 what kind of responses you may have received 36:16 or how you've been maybe able to introduce Jesus 36:18 as a result of winning this confidence? 36:21 Well, one recent situation took place 36:23 when we went down to Louisiana, Lake Charles, Louisiana, 36:26 right after Hurricane Rita. 36:28 It devastated the place 36:29 and because of our quick response, 36:31 we were able to go inside and work in the community, 36:35 cutting down trees, removing debris, 36:37 and we promised the people that we will come back to them 36:39 during our spring break. 36:41 So we went back again during spring break, 36:43 we went to the schools and visit the young people, 36:45 just trying to encourage them during that time of trouble. 36:48 And at the spring break, we promised them 36:50 that we will come back during the summertime. 36:51 So we came back again during the summer. 36:54 And we were able to hold in advance, 36:55 enlist the campaign 36:57 that resulted in 13 people being baptized, 36:59 given their life to the Lord. 37:01 Amen. Amen. Praise God. 37:02 Yes. 37:03 Well, Tommy, who makes up this NAPS organization? 37:07 Well, it's mainly comprised of Oakwood College students. 37:11 But we also go out and evangelize 37:12 and even the picture that's on the screen 37:14 with the young man being baptized, 37:15 we met him while we were down in Lake Charles, Louisiana. 37:19 After his baptism, he wanted to pursue higher education. 37:22 And he decided to come to Oakwood college, 37:25 he and along with one of his other friends, 37:27 as a matter of fact, they should be 37:28 in the audience right now, 37:29 coming along with us. 37:31 And so that's one of the ways that we recruit people 37:33 as they give their lives to the Lord. 37:35 We enlist them in God's army, 37:37 as well as get providing educational opportunities. 37:39 Excellent. 37:40 Now tell me who are these gentlemen 37:42 standing beside you and why are they up here, 37:43 just kind of holding your hand? 37:45 Well, this is Jane Lubin, and Brian, 37:48 these two young man, 37:50 theology students at Oakwood college. 37:52 And this year, 37:53 they're gonna be postponing their academic pursuits 37:55 to take a year of dedication, 37:57 dedicating their services to the Lord because... 37:59 And they're gonna be working 38:01 the Louisville area this coming fall 38:03 because we're looking forward to working along 38:05 with ASI Youth For Jesus again next summer. 38:08 Again, ASI Youth For Jesus 38:09 is a wonderful, wonderful organization, 38:12 and God is using them. 38:14 And we just are thankful that they have decided 38:16 to include NAPS into this effort. 38:18 And we just look forward to what God is gonna do. 38:20 Well, Taurus, 38:22 I want to thank you and your team and all of those 38:24 who are represented in the NAPS organization 38:26 for using community service, choosing that way, 38:29 that approach to be able to touch people 38:32 and share the life, the love of Jesus Christ. 38:34 You know, if I could just make one of the appeal, 38:35 we just want to, first of all, 38:39 appeal to any of the young person, 38:40 all the young people who are watching 38:42 around the world 38:43 to let you know that God has given us gifts. 38:44 He's given us talents, He's given us abilities. 38:47 And one of my favorite writers said 38:48 that young people can reach an audience 38:50 that no other age can reach. 38:52 And so I want to encourage us to use all the blessings 38:56 and all the gifts that God has given us, 38:58 and we invite you to come along 38:59 if anyone's interested, any university students 39:02 or college students or high school age students 39:04 to come and join us in Louisville. 39:06 You can contact us, website is N-A-P-S, 39:08 NAPSoc.org. 39:10 And we look forward to seeing wonderful things 39:12 that God is gonna do in Louisville. 39:14 Thank you very much, Taurus. 39:15 Thank you. 39:23 Joining me at the podium now is Dale Bass. 39:25 He's the director for the ACTS Disaster Relief. 39:27 First tell us, what does ACTS stand for? 39:30 ACTS is Active Christian Team Services. 39:34 And so what does that mean? 39:36 It means getting out there and doing things 39:38 that has always had a need where people are needing water, 39:41 donating food in the midst of a disaster. 39:43 When everything's wiped out, 39:45 you need to get in there with food and water and things 39:48 that they're gonna have to have 39:49 to make them get through the day. 39:51 Now ACTS has also chosen the focus 39:54 or the area of community service 39:56 in order to provide that outreach 39:57 to touch people's lives for Jesus. 39:59 Give us some examples, some story, 40:01 and maybe a couple of stories about how that has happened 40:04 and what the impact has been. 40:06 Okay, Debbie, the one of the exciting things 40:07 that's happened with ACTS Disaster Response 40:10 is we've energized the young people 40:11 from our academies and our colleges. 40:13 When we first responded to Hurricane Katrina 40:15 and went into Bass Memorial Academy, 40:17 we had called on the academies and the colleges 40:20 to send us volunteers to help us 40:22 and in serving the community and rebuilding. 40:24 Well, the colleges and the education department 40:27 responded with 3,000 young people 40:30 in volunteers. 40:32 When we first got in there, 40:33 they're only 26 of us in the team. 40:35 We brought in about 11 semis of supplies, 40:37 and on Wednesday, 40:39 when we were serving the community, 40:40 we saw it wasn't gonna last long. 40:42 When the college students arrived on Friday, 40:45 we had run out of virtually everything, 40:47 35,000 people in the community, 40:49 and they had taken literally everything 40:51 that we had to survive. 40:53 So we asked the young people, we said, 40:55 "Do you believe that God will supply your needs?" 40:58 They said, "Absolutely." 40:59 We said, "All right. That's perfect." 41:01 Because today we're gonna take the last of the water, 41:03 the last of the food, the last of the supplies, 41:06 we're gonna load it in advance, 41:07 and we're taking it out under the community. 41:09 The young people loaded it up, took it out in the community. 41:11 And as they went door to door, 41:13 they went from house to house 41:15 and the people that opened the doors, 41:17 looked at them and they said, 41:18 "Thank you, Lord, for sending us these angels 41:22 to deliver the supplies." 41:23 When the young people came back to campus, 41:25 and they started telling us the stories 41:26 of their experiences for the day, 41:28 it was the most exciting Saturday night program 41:31 I've ever been to. 41:32 Because as these young people came back and begin to tell 41:35 how God had revealed to them the importance 41:39 of their being there, 41:41 it was a miraculous transformation 41:43 within their hearts. 41:44 We were told that as these young people 41:47 went back to the academies and the colleges 41:49 with the stories of their experiences, 41:52 that they energize their campuses, 41:54 and their week of prayer 41:55 and their various other spiritual programs. 41:59 With reports from administration 42:00 of the academies and colleges tell us 42:02 that of the 3,000 young people that responded, 42:06 655 recommitted their lives to Christ. 42:09 Amen. Amen. 42:11 So there was a ripple effect from being involved 42:13 in community service and the people 42:15 who are providing those services. 42:16 Absolutely. 42:17 The young people got a chance to see with their own eyes, 42:20 miracles that were performed that very day. 42:23 And as they saw those miracles performed, 42:25 it changed their lives to realize 42:27 that all the information that they had in their head 42:30 had become a reality 42:31 when they put their hands and feet to work. 42:34 So as they did is they were told in Matthew 25, 42:37 "To feed the hungry, 42:38 to clothe the naked, to give water to the thirsty." 42:41 As they experienced those things, 42:43 Christ changed their hearts. 42:46 And when they went back, they were different people. 42:48 The schools told us, "As the young people came back, 42:52 the students were totally transformed 42:55 from the time when they sent them to us." 42:57 So now they'd become more effective witnesses. 43:00 Absolutely. 43:02 Tell me, Dale, why community service? 43:04 Why is that your heart cry 43:05 to be involved in that particular focus area? 43:08 Debbie, having been a victim of the hurricanes myself 43:12 in the summer of 2004, 43:14 we're wiped out our business completely, 43:17 $15 million citrus business gone in a single day. 43:21 And I began to realize that there's a huge vacuum 43:24 of having someone there immediately to touch you, 43:27 to give you supplies, to give you confirmation. 43:32 And the young people are willing to do that. 43:35 And that we will let them do that, 43:37 then, they can lift up a community higher 43:40 than ever before. 43:41 And as I go through these experiences, 43:43 and I see these young people respond, 43:46 the Holy Spirit fills my heart 43:48 and compels me to continue on with what I'm doing. 43:52 Dale, thank you so much for your work through ACTS. 43:55 Thank you. 44:03 And now we have with me Jean-Guy Tremblay, 44:06 who is with Est Ecrit. 44:09 Did I say that right? Est Ecrit. 44:11 Okay, close. 44:13 It is written in French. 44:14 And we also have Gordon Gray, 44:16 who's the president of the Quebec Conference. 44:19 And it's interesting that... 44:20 Actually what we're gonna be talking now 44:21 is personal witness. 44:23 Do you know that sometimes 44:24 there is only one way to approach people 44:26 and that's heart to heart with through personal witness. 44:30 So we're gonna learn a little bit about that. 44:32 First, I want to ask you, Pastor Gray, 44:35 I understand that ASI was instrumental 44:38 in providing support so that an outreach 44:41 could happen to an important part 44:43 in the Quebec Conference. 44:46 That's right. 44:47 In 1998, excuse me, 44:50 the Quebec Conference had a project 44:52 to revive the Est Ecrit program. 44:55 It had been before but had died out. 44:57 And so with that project, of course, 45:00 there was a lot of expense. 45:03 And we are so thankful 45:04 that ASI gave us a grant of $50,000 45:08 which made it possible to start this program. 45:10 It's been broadcasting continually 45:12 since October 1998. 45:15 And now, we've had over 13,500 responses 45:19 from various individuals. 45:22 As a result, we have a church in Montreal, 45:26 composed of Quebec law, and about 130 people, 45:31 as well as another group. 45:33 You know, the Quebecois people group 45:34 is a very unique group in North America. 45:37 So we're talking about the French Canadians, 45:39 that particular culture and language group, 45:41 that's important to reach. 45:42 It's a unique culture and a unique language. 45:46 And it is a major challenge. 45:48 Excellent. Excellent. 45:50 We're happy to provide you that support. 45:52 Let me ask you, Jean-Guy, 45:53 if you could share a story with us 45:55 as to how your personal witness engaged someone 45:57 and brought them to Jesus Christ. 45:59 So I'd like to have the first picture 46:02 and show you a nun, a Catholic nun. 46:05 She has been teaching the Bible 46:07 in the Catholic school for 30 years. 46:10 As she was listening the program, 46:12 she became interested. 46:13 And she has four Bible studies. 46:16 And I was correcting the Bible and the course. 46:22 And at the 12 lesson, she had so many questions. 46:26 When I call her, she says, 46:28 "Yes, I'd like to talk with you." 46:30 And we had many Bible studies. 46:33 After a while, she says, 46:35 I'd like to read "The Great Controversy." 46:38 When she read it, she says, 46:39 "This is too much. 46:41 I cannot stand it." 46:42 And she says, 46:44 "Lord, if this man is from you, is a man of God, 46:49 I want him to call me today and this morning, 46:52 otherwise, it's finished." 46:54 You know, how is the Holy Spirit, 46:56 this little voice. 46:58 So I call, and she says, "Why do you call?" 47:00 I said, "I don't know." 47:02 She says, "I do know. 47:04 I'm gonna explain to you later." 47:06 So to make a long story short, 47:09 I like to have the other picture 47:11 that shows what happened. 47:14 She is a Seventh-day Adventist now. 47:16 She has been baptized, 47:17 she's in the church. 47:21 And she has been married. 47:23 She has been baptized. 47:24 Of course, she has been baptized 47:26 and she married a man. 47:29 When I met him, he's Knight Columbus, 47:32 the fourth degree, the highest degree 47:34 you can find in the Catholic Church. 47:37 And he says, "There is only one church, 47:39 this is the Catholic Church. 47:41 I never change. Be sure of that." 47:43 And this man, you can see 47:44 with all these dressing how proud he is. 47:47 He says, "I'm very involved in that church." 47:50 And today, he is the Seventh-day Adventist, 47:53 he is in the church. 47:54 He married that nun. 47:57 And even from Rome, 48:00 she received a letter to say, 48:02 "You don't know what you're doing. 48:03 This is terrible." 48:04 And she says, "Well, I know what I'm doing." 48:07 So he has been baptized, 48:10 both are involved in the church. 48:12 And they were 75 at that time. 48:14 So that means that anybody can change. 48:17 And more than that we have another pictures, 48:20 a girl that I met many years before. 48:23 And when she learned 48:24 that her father was a Seventh-day Adventist, 48:27 she became interested. 48:28 She's baptized. She's in the church also. 48:31 So this is all with you kind of sharing in heart to heart... 48:34 That's right. 48:35 To bring others into the church. 48:37 I've been an evangelist for 18 years, 48:38 knocking at the door. 48:40 So I really enjoyed it. 48:42 Jean-Guy and Pastor Grey, 48:44 thank you so much for sharing with us. 48:46 And thank you. Thank you, Debbie. 48:47 Thank you. 49:04 A mother in North Africa 49:10 Struggles day by day 49:16 Her children labor in the field 49:20 They seldom laugh they seldom play 49:27 A father's heart is heavy 49:33 And his hands are soiled 49:39 The burden that he carries 49:42 Is not the lack of bread 49:47 He wishes for his family something more 49:54 Someone needs to tell them, 49:58 Someone needs to share 50:02 Show them life eternal 50:05 And Jesus' loving care 50:10 Someone needs to sacrifice 50:13 And let the children know 50:18 Someone needs to tell them 50:24 Someone needs to go 50:33 There's a man in Georgia 50:38 His pushing 80 years 50:44 His friends down at the coffee shop 50:48 Don't see his pain or lonely tears 50:56 He has his children somewhere 51:01 So he lingers by the phone 51:07 He's afraid of dying 51:10 But his more afraid of life 51:15 Who will tell him he is not alone? 51:22 Someone needs to tell them 51:26 Someone needs to share 51:29 Show them life eternal 51:33 And Jesus' loving care 51:37 Someone needs to sacrifice 51:40 And let the children know 51:44 Someone needs to tell them 51:50 Someone needs to go 51:59 When Jesus rose victorious 52:03 He spoke His battle plan 52:06 Go down every nation, 52:10 Every woman, every man 52:13 The great commission challenge 52:17 Teach the old and the young 52:20 To the friends at hand to the foreign land 52:24 Every nation, every tongue 52:34 Someone needs to tell them 52:38 Someone needs to share 52:41 Show them life eternal 52:44 And Jesus' loving care 52:49 Someone needs to sacrifice 52:52 And let the children know 52:57 Someone needs to tell them 53:03 Someone needs to go 53:09 Someone needs to tell them 53:16 Someone needs to go 53:29 Amen. |
Revised 2020-02-10