Yes, Jesus is coming again!
00:02:26.56\00:02:30.22
Amen!
00:02:30.25\00:02:31.62
That was a thrilling experience
to see Pastor Conda's testimony.
00:02:32.88\00:02:38.29
What a privilege it is to
be part of the Advent movement.
00:02:38.32\00:02:42.97
I want to acknowledge
the presence of our past
00:02:43.00\00:02:51.36
General Conference
president, Elder Paulsen.
00:02:51.39\00:02:55.16
We had him say a
few words last night.
00:02:55.19\00:02:59.45
Thank you, Elder
Paulsen, for being with us.
00:02:59.48\00:03:01.88
It's a wonderful privilege to
be a family in God's presence.
00:03:01.91\00:03:07.85
And that marvelous quartet song,
and that marvelous quartet,
00:03:07.88\00:03:12.23
I call them the
singing secretaries,
00:03:12.26\00:03:15.07
all division secretaries,
singing in those beautiful
00:03:15.10\00:03:19.91
languages.
00:03:19.94\00:03:21.31
And as they were singing, I
saw faces light up because you
00:03:21.34\00:03:24.67
recognized the message.
00:03:24.70\00:03:27.03
What a privilege it is
to be part of a movement
00:03:27.06\00:03:32.46
that is looking
forward to Jesus' soon coming.
00:03:32.49\00:03:37.28
Amen.
00:03:37.31\00:03:38.68
Jesus was being honored on
His triumphal entry to the city.
00:03:38.71\00:03:43.89
He and the large crowd of
people were outside that ancient
00:03:43.92\00:03:48.71
capital of Israel.
00:03:48.74\00:03:50.31
And as they came to the crest of
the hill overlooking the city,
00:03:50.34\00:03:55.19
Jesus stopped.
00:03:55.22\00:03:56.59
There was Jerusalem in all it's
glory reflecting the declining
00:03:56.62\00:04:04.46
sun of the evening.
00:04:04.49\00:04:06.44
The pure white marble of the
temple walls, the gold capped
00:04:06.47\00:04:10.69
pillars created
a dazzling sight.
00:04:10.72\00:04:13.65
As Jesus looked down on the
city, Luke 19:41, 42 record His
00:04:13.68\00:04:21.78
reaction and response.
00:04:21.81\00:04:24.00
Jesus wept for the cities.
00:04:43.97\00:04:47.87
He wept for the
people of the cities.
00:04:47.90\00:04:51.65
He knew what was to
happen in a matter of days.
00:04:51.68\00:04:55.23
He knew the rejection of His
mission and the terrible results
00:04:55.26\00:04:59.17
that would ensue.
00:04:59.20\00:05:00.57
He didn't become
angry or resentful; he wept.
00:05:00.60\00:05:04.68
He wept for the
people of the city.
00:05:04.71\00:05:09.17
He wept with unutterable
sadness because of the lack of
00:05:09.20\00:05:14.40
responsiveness to His love.
00:05:14.43\00:05:16.92
He wept for what was to
become of them because of their
00:05:16.95\00:05:21.12
rejection of Him as the Messiah
and the truth of His word.
00:05:21.15\00:05:28.50
How many of us are
weeping with Jesus today?
00:05:28.53\00:05:33.15
Weeping for the cities
and the people of this world?
00:05:33.18\00:05:37.56
How many of us are looking
upon the cities of this world,
00:05:37.59\00:05:41.68
the globe, with
unutterable love as Jesus did?
00:05:41.71\00:05:47.03
If ever there was a time to
weep with Jesus for the cities,
00:05:47.06\00:05:52.18
the suburbs, and the
people of this world, it is now.
00:05:52.21\00:05:56.51
For centuries most societies
had been agrarian, or rural.
00:05:56.54\00:06:02.11
Most people lived
in the countryside,
00:06:02.14\00:06:04.38
and sought a
livelihood from the soil.
00:06:04.41\00:06:07.06
As of about three years
ago there are now more people
00:06:07.09\00:06:12.77
living in the cities than in
the rural areas of the world.
00:06:12.80\00:06:16.84
One estimate indicates that
by the year 2050 approximately
00:06:16.87\00:06:23.17
seventy percent of the
world's population will live
00:06:23.20\00:06:27.37
in the world's large cities.
00:06:27.40\00:06:31.09
A projected ten billion
people living in the cities.
00:06:31.12\00:06:36.25
Are you weeping
for the cities yet?
00:06:36.28\00:06:38.72
What are you willing to do
for the people of the cities?
00:06:38.75\00:06:43.99
This burden was heavy
on the heart of Christ.
00:06:44.02\00:06:48.95
It's a heavy burden on my heart.
00:06:48.98\00:06:52.63
I want to lay it
on your heart today.
00:06:52.66\00:06:57.20
Matthew 9:35-38, as Ella read it
today, records Christ's ministry
00:06:57.23\00:07:04.48
for the cities and the villages.
00:07:04.51\00:07:06.44
My fellow leaders of the
worldwide Seventh-day Adventist
00:07:42.22\00:07:47.17
Church, God is calling us to
go into the cities of the world
00:07:47.20\00:07:53.39
where the laborers are few
and the harvest is plenteous.
00:07:53.42\00:07:57.30
God is calling us to have
compassion on the multitudes;
00:07:57.33\00:08:01.49
people for whom He wept, died,
rose, and intercedes in the
00:08:01.52\00:08:09.17
Most Holy Place of the
heavenly sanctuary for them
00:08:09.20\00:08:12.16
at this very moment;
00:08:12.19\00:08:13.71
people for whom He is earnestly
looking forward to in returning
00:08:13.74\00:08:19.40
to take them to heaven.
00:08:19.43\00:08:21.08
Are you willing to weep and
work for the people of the large
00:08:21.11\00:08:27.25
cities of this world?
00:08:27.28\00:08:29.01
He calls for us to proclaim
His love, His righteousness,
00:08:29.04\00:08:33.13
His Three Angels' Messages,
His warning to a dying world,
00:08:33.16\00:08:37.47
and the powerful announcement
of, yes, His soon Second Coming.
00:08:37.50\00:08:42.76
He's waiting for us to take up
the role as the uniquely called
00:08:42.79\00:08:48.32
people of God, His
remnant church, fulfilling the
00:08:48.35\00:08:51.88
characteristics
of Revelation 12:17,
00:08:51.91\00:08:55.21
those who keep the commandments
of God and have the testimony
00:08:55.24\00:08:58.72
of Jesus Christ.
00:08:58.75\00:09:00.12
For over a hundred years He,
God, has been asking His people
00:09:00.15\00:09:06.44
to work the cities
according to His methods.
00:09:06.47\00:09:10.58
The Spirit of Prophecy is
replete with instruction about
00:09:10.61\00:09:15.69
the work to be done for
the cities of the world.
00:09:15.72\00:09:18.98
It is a sustainable,
careful, and comprehensive work,
00:09:19.01\00:09:25.42
a work that unites every aspect
of church work in its approach
00:09:25.45\00:09:31.12
to reaching the
multitudes of the large cities,
00:09:31.15\00:09:34.75
and will receive God's blessing
when done according to His will
00:09:34.78\00:09:41.98
with a humble heart.
00:09:42.01\00:09:43.50
101 years ago, in 1910, God
spoke through Ellen White to
00:09:43.53\00:09:51.63
reinvigorate the work in the
cities, and speaks to us today
00:09:51.66\00:09:55.85
in the book,
Medical Ministry, page 304.
00:09:55.88\00:09:59.72
If you haven't
picked up that book lately,
00:09:59.75\00:10:01.49
I invite you to do so.
00:10:01.52\00:10:02.89
It's one of my favorite
Spirit of Prophecy books.
00:10:02.92\00:10:05.35
There is, and I quote,
00:10:05.38\00:10:07.10
If it was true 101
years ago, I'll tell you,
00:10:11.04\00:10:15.10
it is truer today.
00:10:15.13\00:10:17.15
When the cities, well...
00:10:17.18\00:10:19.71
This is God's message for
us today in response to revival
00:10:58.97\00:11:04.36
and reformation.
00:11:04.39\00:11:05.86
We are to be reconverted and
to focus on the important issues
00:11:05.89\00:11:10.68
that God has for His
remnant church to address.
00:11:10.71\00:11:14.76
We are to become completely
engaged in our overall
00:11:14.79\00:11:19.42
quinquennial theme and
mission to tell the world.
00:11:19.45\00:11:25.06
We're to be prepared
personally, and corporately,
00:11:25.09\00:11:28.16
by the Holy Spirit in our
devotion and humble submission
00:11:28.19\00:11:33.05
to the will of God.
00:11:33.08\00:11:34.59
The world around us, as I think
is very evident, is crumbling
00:11:34.62\00:11:40.55
and disintegrating: politically,
economically, socially,
00:11:40.58\00:11:45.24
ecumenically, and
in the natural world.
00:11:45.27\00:11:49.32
I believe Jesus
truly is coming again.
00:11:49.35\00:11:55.06
Let's not get caught up in
the Devil's trap questioning
00:11:55.09\00:11:58.45
the fact that Christ's coming
is soon and thereby participate
00:11:58.48\00:12:03.77
in the age-old
complaint recorded by Peter in
00:12:03.80\00:12:08.14
II Peter 3:3-9.
00:12:08.17\00:12:10.45
What is soon?
00:12:10.48\00:12:12.23
Let's not get caught up in that.
00:12:12.26\00:12:13.63
The fact is that
Jesus is coming soon.
00:12:54.31\00:12:58.91
He Himself said three times in
Revelation 22, the last chapter
00:12:58.94\00:13:05.43
of our precious Holy Word.
00:13:05.46\00:13:08.31
Martin Luther, the great
reformer of the Protestant
00:13:11.94\00:13:15.81
Reformation, proclaimed
profound thoughts that are found
00:13:15.84\00:13:18.54
in The Great
Controversy, page 303.
00:13:18.57\00:13:21.18
We are living
at the end of time.
00:13:31.57\00:13:34.32
The signs around us are ominous,
and God is calling each of us
00:13:34.35\00:13:38.98
to be revived and
reformed through His Spirit,
00:13:39.01\00:13:42.39
so we can increase
our work in the cities
00:13:42.42\00:13:45.82
according to His plan.
00:13:45.85\00:13:48.51
When that is done we are
promised that we will see
00:13:48.54\00:13:53.37
a mighty movement such as
we have not yet witnessed.
00:13:53.40\00:13:58.96
Let's pray that the Latter
Rain will fall in abundance
00:13:58.99\00:14:04.17
as we carry out the
work for the cities.
00:14:04.20\00:14:07.27
God's people are to accomplish
this great task through revival,
00:14:07.30\00:14:13.52
reformation, and a quiet
submission to the word of God,
00:14:13.55\00:14:19.43
and counsel from
the Spirit of Prophecy,
00:14:19.46\00:14:23.00
intense prayer for the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit,
00:14:23.03\00:14:26.14
and a willingness
to obey God's commands.
00:14:26.17\00:14:31.25
Now let's move forward
in using Christ's method,
00:14:31.28\00:14:36.13
as indicated in the book,
Ministry of Healing, page 143,
00:14:36.16\00:14:41.42
a familiar
passage to all of you.
00:14:41.45\00:14:43.44
Let's follow Jesus in our
personal spiritual growth,
00:15:01.70\00:15:06.60
and in all that we do for Him.
00:15:06.63\00:15:09.18
Revival and reformation is so
important, and is why everything
00:15:09.21\00:15:15.65
we do this quinquennium
is dependent upon it
00:15:15.68\00:15:19.86
until the Lord returns.
00:15:19.89\00:15:22.07
It is the
foundation of our activity.
00:15:22.10\00:15:25.57
We need the Lord's
power, not our own.
00:15:25.60\00:15:28.36
The Holy Spirit's power
is vital, absolutely vital
00:15:36.47\00:15:41.31
for direct outreach to
the most challenging bastions
00:15:41.34\00:15:45.87
of the Devil's
power: the cities.
00:15:45.90\00:15:48.62
The result of
personal and corporate revival
00:15:48.65\00:15:52.90
and reformation through
the power of the Holy Spirit
00:15:52.93\00:15:56.39
is outreach and evangelism.
00:15:56.42\00:16:00.41
Recently I read a proposed
article by someone who was
00:16:00.44\00:16:04.69
grateful for the call
of revival and reformation,
00:16:04.72\00:16:08.34
but this person
wondered about outreach.
00:16:08.37\00:16:12.00
Apparently we had not
successfully communicated
00:16:12.03\00:16:15.99
that evangelism was part
of the title of revival and
00:16:16.02\00:16:20.67
reformation document that we
voted last year at the Annual
00:16:20.70\00:16:25.32
Council of 2010.
00:16:25.35\00:16:27.16
Revival and reformation has
effected everything we are doing
00:16:27.19\00:16:32.41
including our
overall evangelistic theme of
00:16:32.44\00:16:36.53
"Tell the World", also
The Great Controversy project.
00:16:36.56\00:16:40.21
The projects and work of
our various dynamic departments,
00:16:40.24\00:16:44.03
our administrative activities,
and our institutional
00:16:44.06\00:16:48.10
activities.
00:16:48.13\00:16:49.50
There should be no doubt
that as a product of revival
00:16:49.53\00:16:54.43
and reformation we are calling
for the greatest evangelistic
00:16:54.46\00:16:59.94
explosion and outreach for
the urban and suburban areas
00:16:59.97\00:17:04.42
and centers of the world:
comprehensive urban evangelism
00:17:04.45\00:17:09.76
mission to the cities.
00:17:09.79\00:17:12.17
In addition to reaching rural
areas, which we're quite good at
00:17:12.20\00:17:17.86
through God's power, much
valiant work has also been done
00:17:17.89\00:17:21.69
to reach the cities with
the Three Angels' Messages.
00:17:21.72\00:17:24.82
We've focused on hope for the
big cities, on the 1040 window
00:17:24.85\00:17:30.24
and more.
00:17:30.27\00:17:31.64
The dedicated
regional conferences in the
00:17:31.67\00:17:35.51
North American Division, their
presidents', conference staffs,
00:17:35.54\00:17:39.48
evangelists, pastors,
and members have made unusual
00:17:39.51\00:17:44.51
efforts to reach the urban
centers in their territories,
00:17:44.54\00:17:48.67
and God has blessed.
00:17:48.70\00:17:50.46
Seventh-day Adventist
Church entities around the world
00:17:50.49\00:17:54.33
have given attention to the
challenges of the large cities.
00:17:54.36\00:17:58.59
However, the work in
the cities is not easy,
00:17:58.62\00:18:04.23
and many times we have given
uneven, sporadic, inconsistent
00:18:04.26\00:18:10.29
attention to the enormous
task entrusted to our church
00:18:10.32\00:18:14.72
to work the cities as
God would have them worked.
00:18:14.75\00:18:18.58
That's why, as we
approach Christ's soon coming,
00:18:18.61\00:18:22.86
we are to follow God's
leading in launching an all-out
00:18:22.89\00:18:27.46
evangelistic approach on the
large urban and suburban centers
00:18:27.49\00:18:32.60
of the world with every
type of outreach possible,
00:18:32.63\00:18:36.68
as outlined in the Holy
Word and the Spirit of Prophecy.
00:18:36.71\00:18:40.41
This is a comprehensive
call for mission to the cities.
00:18:40.44\00:18:46.30
The Spirit of Prophecy,
God's practical counsel for His
00:18:46.33\00:18:51.20
remnant church, indicates
a wide variety of outreach
00:18:51.23\00:18:55.72
activities under the
guidance of the Holy Spirit.
00:18:55.75\00:18:58.70
These approaches and programs
will involve the use of centers
00:18:58.73\00:19:03.92
of influence, local churches,
church members, teams of young
00:19:03.95\00:19:08.66
people involved in a
variety of outreach initiatives,
00:19:08.69\00:19:12.05
literature evangelism,
small group outreach,
00:19:12.08\00:19:15.44
medical missionary
work, health lectures,
00:19:15.47\00:19:18.43
door-to-door missionary
work, community services, and
00:19:18.46\00:19:22.40
social work that
follow Christ's methods,
00:19:22.43\00:19:25.31
cooperating with Adventist
Community Services and ADRA,
00:19:25.34\00:19:29.85
integrated media
evangelism, counseling centers,
00:19:29.88\00:19:34.00
reading rooms,
Adventist Book Centers,
00:19:34.03\00:19:36.69
Bible studies by members,
young people, and Bible Workers,
00:19:36.72\00:19:40.66
child evangelism, personal
evangelism and witnessing,
00:19:40.69\00:19:44.79
public evangelism, and many
more methods yet to be initiated
00:19:44.82\00:19:49.39
by the Holy Spirit.
00:19:49.42\00:19:50.79
We need pastors and lay
people working together,
00:19:50.82\00:19:54.29
pastors and health
professionals to work together,
00:19:54.32\00:19:57.54
as indicated in
the Spirit of Prophecy
00:19:57.57\00:20:00.01
in a blended ministry.
00:20:00.04\00:20:02.66
We need denominational
organizations, and supporting
00:20:02.69\00:20:06.43
ministries working together
in soul winning for the great
00:20:06.46\00:20:10.96
cities of this world.
00:20:10.99\00:20:12.57
We need thousands of church
members distributing Christian
00:20:12.60\00:20:16.55
literature like
The Great Controversy,
00:20:16.58\00:20:19.43
and the project to distribute
that marvelous book to neighbors
00:20:19.46\00:20:23.32
and friends during 2012 and
2013 that will alert millions
00:20:23.35\00:20:29.86
of people to the
times in which we live.
00:20:29.89\00:20:32.63
It is the book Ellen White
indicated she wished circulated
00:20:32.66\00:20:38.17
more than any other
book she had written.
00:20:38.20\00:20:41.12
It appears at this
point, brothers and sisters,
00:20:41.15\00:20:44.53
that over 150 million copies
of the classic abridged revised,
00:20:44.56\00:20:53.19
or children's versions,
will be distributed worldwide.
00:20:53.22\00:20:57.23
And we praise the Lord for that.
00:20:57.26\00:20:59.14
Amen!
00:20:59.17\00:21:00.54
All of us are to be reading
The Great Controversy this year
00:21:00.57\00:21:04.22
in anticipation of
sharing it next year.
00:21:04.25\00:21:07.95
Nancy and I are
reading it and are thrilled.
00:21:07.98\00:21:11.47
I read from it this morning.
00:21:11.50\00:21:13.97
We need everyone dedicated
to a comprehensive, sustained
00:21:14.00\00:21:19.35
evangelistic outreach that will
replicate the urban evangelistic
00:21:19.38\00:21:24.86
work being done in the city of
San Francisco in the latter part
00:21:24.89\00:21:29.61
of the 19th Century, and the
early part of the 20th Century,
00:21:29.64\00:21:33.63
which Ellen White
called, interestingly,
00:21:33.66\00:21:36.58
a beehive of activity.
00:21:36.61\00:21:39.67
In the Review and Herald
of July 5, 1906 she wrote:
00:21:39.70\00:21:46.19
We need a strategic plan, under
the guidance of the Holy Spirit,
00:23:09.57\00:23:15.54
for every city, in every
country, in every division
00:23:15.57\00:23:20.98
around the world that
will produce this beehive.
00:23:21.01\00:23:25.17
The General Conference has
organized a Comprehensive Urban
00:23:25.20\00:23:29.58
Evangelism Committee
with dedicated leaders who are
00:23:29.61\00:23:33.72
helping to make the
committee come alive.
00:23:33.75\00:23:37.01
Now tomorrow, during the
Annual Council proceedings
00:23:37.04\00:23:40.92
in the council of evangelism
and witness, which will continue
00:23:40.95\00:23:45.33
from last night, and
wasn't last night thrilling?
00:23:45.36\00:23:47.76
to hear those young people,
to hear our church leaders,
00:23:47.79\00:23:52.35
sharing with us
what God has been doing.
00:23:52.38\00:23:55.16
But tomorrow you will hear much
more about the beginning plans
00:23:55.19\00:23:59.29
of mission to the cities.
00:23:59.32\00:24:02.02
Everyone can contribute to
the development of this work
00:24:02.05\00:24:07.13
in progress: the plans
for mission to the cities,
00:24:07.16\00:24:12.79
our departments,
our institutions.
00:24:12.82\00:24:15.47
We are calling for everyone
to participate, young and old,
00:24:15.50\00:24:20.90
those who live in the cities,
those who live in rural areas,
00:24:20.93\00:24:24.95
pastors and church
members, church organizations,
00:24:24.98\00:24:28.08
and church institutions.
00:24:28.11\00:24:29.74
Every member involved in every
possible way for a comprehensive
00:24:29.77\00:24:36.27
urban evangelistic
approach mission to the cities.
00:24:36.30\00:24:41.18
By God's grace, we need
to revive, as our strategic
00:24:41.21\00:24:46.66
planning vice president
Mike Ryan likes to say,
00:24:46.69\00:24:49.31
a culture of involvement.
00:24:49.34\00:24:52.38
Let's dedicate our lives,
our energies, our talents,
00:24:52.41\00:24:58.28
our resources, and our time to
finishing God's work through His
00:24:58.31\00:25:04.73
power so we can go home.
00:25:04.76\00:25:06.85
Christian
Service, page 83 indicates:
00:25:06.88\00:25:10.76
I want us to pray for a
true knowledge of that work,
00:25:37.61\00:25:43.76
and ask for the guidance in
initiating the greatest approach
00:25:43.79\00:25:49.26
to reaching the
cities of the world with the
00:25:49.29\00:25:51.33
Three Angels'
Messages of Revelation 14.
00:25:51.36\00:25:53.95
Our mission to the cities must
be based on Biblical principles
00:25:53.98\00:25:58.50
and Spirit of Prophecy counsel.
00:25:58.53\00:26:01.08
This approach includes the
profound and heavenly inspired
00:26:01.11\00:26:06.02
plan outlined by Ellen White,
which shows an in-out approach
00:26:06.05\00:26:14.31
to the cities.
00:26:14.34\00:26:15.71
Let me explain.
00:26:15.74\00:26:17.11
Inside the city centers we
are to have centers of influence
00:26:17.14\00:26:21.61
which can include churches,
health clinics and centers,
00:26:21.64\00:26:25.27
reading rooms, vegetarian
restaurants, community centers,
00:26:25.30\00:26:29.04
etcetera.
00:26:29.07\00:26:30.44
Outside of the cities we are
to have, what Ellen White terms
00:26:30.47\00:26:33.81
outpost centers which
include training centers,
00:26:33.84\00:26:37.47
for evangelistic workers,
lifestyle health centers,
00:26:37.50\00:26:41.64
and places for urban
evangelistic workers to live,
00:26:41.67\00:26:46.10
or at least to visit, to be
refreshed in a country setting
00:26:46.13\00:26:50.47
close to God's
second book of nature.
00:26:50.50\00:26:53.74
Amen!
00:26:53.77\00:26:55.14
Are we willing to take the
determined steps to put into
00:26:55.17\00:26:59.42
practice God's plans for
the urban centers of the world
00:26:59.45\00:27:03.62
so that a mighty
movement will result,
00:27:03.65\00:27:06.78
or will we turn
and run like Jonah?
00:27:06.81\00:27:13.90
Do you sometimes feel like
that hesitant prophet who found
00:27:13.93\00:27:19.71
himself in the belly of the
whale after resisting God's call
00:27:19.74\00:27:24.56
to preach to that city?
00:27:24.59\00:27:27.22
Now this was a real story,
a real Jonah, a real fish,
00:27:27.25\00:27:33.37
and a real appeal by
God to go to Nineveh.
00:27:33.40\00:27:37.26
Don't discount this story
and others in the Bible as just
00:27:37.29\00:27:42.99
symbolic or allegorical.
00:27:43.02\00:27:45.63
The miracles of
the Bible are true
00:27:45.66\00:27:49.26
and demonstrate God's authority.
00:27:49.29\00:27:52.10
Believe in the
authenticity of the word of God,
00:27:52.13\00:27:55.81
and the Spirit of Prophecy.
00:27:55.84\00:27:58.36
God's word speaks clearly to
us and shows He is in control,
00:27:58.39\00:28:04.16
and that we are to follow
His instructions and live life
00:28:04.19\00:28:08.84
to the fullest.
00:28:08.87\00:28:10.24
Let us participate
in Revived by the Word,
00:28:10.27\00:28:13.93
as outlined last night.
00:28:13.96\00:28:16.07
Testimonies to Ministers
and Gospel Workers, page 113,
00:28:16.10\00:28:20.58
indicates the following:
00:28:20.61\00:28:21.99
God's Word is foundational
for all that we accept, believe,
00:28:42.58\00:28:47.99
and stand for as truth, and
for revival and reformation.
00:28:48.02\00:28:53.81
Unfortunately, Jonah
didn't fully accept God's word
00:28:53.84\00:28:58.58
because of fear.
00:28:58.61\00:29:00.41
However, he quickly learned to
cry to the Lord out of the belly
00:29:00.44\00:29:07.24
of Seoul as
recorded in Jonah 2:2,
00:29:07.27\00:29:11.91
and God heard his voice.
00:29:11.94\00:29:13.35
God will do the same for
us when we cry to Him for help
00:29:13.38\00:29:20.30
with mission to the cities;
our mission to the Nineveh's
00:29:20.33\00:29:25.75
of our day.
00:29:25.78\00:29:27.15
We, along with Jonah can
say, as recorded in Jonah 2:6,7:
00:29:27.18\00:29:33.04
Brothers and Sisters, when we
get afraid, when we get hesitant
00:29:49.93\00:29:53.66
about our mission to the
cities, let us remember the Lord
00:29:53.69\00:30:00.99
and plead with Him in prayer
to open the way before us.
00:30:01.02\00:30:04.96
God will point us in the
direction of the urban centers
00:30:04.99\00:30:09.62
of the world as He did
when Jonah 2:10 records that...
00:30:09.65\00:30:15.80
The Lord then charged
Jonah the second time to go to
00:30:24.16\00:30:27.64
the city and proclaim
the message of salvation
00:30:27.67\00:30:31.50
indicated in Jonah 3:2, 3.
00:30:31.53\00:30:34.70
The results of Jonah's
preaching, blessed by the
00:30:47.97\00:30:51.80
Holy Spirit, were
extensive and heart changing.
00:30:51.83\00:30:56.21
The city repented!
00:30:56.24\00:30:59.03
Of course, the preacher Jonah
still had not learned his lesson
00:30:59.06\00:31:04.13
of compassion for
the people of the city,
00:31:04.16\00:31:07.51
and felt hurt that God
did not destroy the city
00:31:07.54\00:31:11.23
as He had predicted.
00:31:11.26\00:31:12.90
Jonah even became despondent
over a plant that withered
00:31:12.93\00:31:18.69
and died; showing more pity
on the plant than the people
00:31:18.72\00:31:23.90
of the city.
00:31:23.93\00:31:25.30
I want to challenge us today.
00:31:25.33\00:31:27.15
Where is our pity? on
the city or on ourselves?
00:31:27.18\00:31:34.54
God spoke directly to
Jonah, and speaks to us today
00:31:34.57\00:31:39.11
in Jonah 4:11.
00:31:39.14\00:31:40.60
And it tells us:
00:31:40.63\00:31:43.33
Today God is calling the
Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:31:53.47\00:31:56.92
to bring spiritual discernment
to the millions of people
00:31:56.95\00:32:01.42
in the cities of the
world as represented by that
00:32:01.45\00:32:04.30
great city Nineveh.
00:32:04.33\00:32:05.76
Now what message and
understanding of scripture
00:32:05.79\00:32:10.08
will we bring to
the cities of the world?
00:32:10.11\00:32:13.23
What power will drive
mission to the cities?
00:32:13.26\00:32:17.18
The power is not in
human beings, in committees,
00:32:17.21\00:32:21.07
in policies, in presidents,
in officers, or departments.
00:32:21.10\00:32:26.89
The power of truth
presented is in the word of God,
00:32:26.92\00:32:33.37
in the Spirit of
Prophecy, in earnest prayer,
00:32:33.40\00:32:37.03
and in the power
of the Holy Spirit.
00:32:37.06\00:32:39.71
Amen!
00:32:39.74\00:32:41.11
The truth presented to
the cities will portray Christ
00:32:41.14\00:32:45.73
and His eternal, saving
love in the plan of salvation.
00:32:45.76\00:32:49.27
It will show that an all knowing
God, the Father, God the Son,
00:32:49.30\00:32:53.93
and God the Holy Spirit,
have existed from eternity
00:32:53.96\00:32:58.02
and into all eternity.
00:32:58.05\00:33:00.18
It will lift up
Christ's righteousness,
00:33:00.21\00:33:02.70
His Three Angel's
Messages of Revelation 14,
00:33:02.73\00:33:06.05
and His soon Second Coming.
00:33:06.08\00:33:07.79
It will point people
to the true worship of God
00:33:07.82\00:33:10.74
and the keeping
of His Commandments,
00:33:10.77\00:33:12.66
including the
precious fourth Commandment,
00:33:12.69\00:33:15.47
as an eternal sign of loyalty:
the seventh-day Sabbath,
00:33:15.50\00:33:20.16
the capstone of His
creative power on this earth
00:33:20.19\00:33:23.94
in six literal days.
00:33:23.97\00:33:25.42
Recently the small sixty member,
rural Andrews North Carolina
00:33:25.45\00:33:32.63
Seventh-day Adventist Church
decided to organize a Sabbath
00:33:32.66\00:33:36.75
celebration; sixty members!
00:33:36.78\00:33:39.25
They invited community people
and Seventh-day Adventists.
00:33:39.28\00:33:42.70
About 1,400 people showed up,
including some community guests.
00:33:42.73\00:33:50.19
The sacred and rest of the
Sabbath is vitally important
00:33:50.22\00:33:55.96
to the people of the cities.
00:33:55.99\00:33:58.44
Our advent message will point
to the mortality of our lives,
00:33:58.47\00:34:02.73
and warn people about mystical
beliefs and spiritualism.
00:34:02.76\00:34:06.56
It will bring new life
through an emphasis on healthful
00:34:06.59\00:34:09.51
principles and health reform.
00:34:09.54\00:34:11.78
It will share the
magnificent sanctuary message
00:34:11.81\00:34:14.83
pointing to the Lamb of
Calvary, and our High Priest
00:34:14.86\00:34:18.92
who is interceding for us during
this Investigative Judgment
00:34:18.95\00:34:23.35
in the Most Holy Place
in the heavenly sanctuary.
00:34:23.38\00:34:26.48
It will portray the unique
calling of the Seventh-day
00:34:26.51\00:34:30.28
Adventist Church as
God's humble, remnant people,
00:34:30.31\00:34:34.85
who proclaim with love a
prophetic warning message
00:34:34.88\00:34:39.08
as we unselfishly serve others.
00:34:39.11\00:34:42.52
It will shield us from ecumenism
00:34:42.55\00:34:45.17
and give us the power to
proclaim the distinctive,
00:34:45.20\00:34:48.81
historicist, prophetic messages
of Daniel and Revelation.
00:34:48.84\00:34:53.68
Our Biblical message to
the cities will unite us as a
00:34:53.71\00:34:57.81
worldwide people and guard
us from isolating ourselves from
00:34:57.84\00:35:03.21
society and from each other.
00:35:03.24\00:35:05.05
Our message to the cities of
the world is that another city
00:35:05.08\00:35:10.46
is coming; the New Jerusalem,
a city of safety, hope,
00:35:10.49\00:35:15.35
and refuge with
God as it's center.
00:35:15.38\00:35:18.68
The real answer to all
the woes, and afflictions,
00:35:18.71\00:35:23.17
and difficulties of today's
earthly cities is the soon
00:35:23.20\00:35:27.99
Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
00:35:28.02\00:35:30.33
Amen!
00:35:30.36\00:35:31.73
God is calling us to
work the cities without delay.
00:35:31.76\00:35:34.38
Now I'm going to try
something for a few minutes,
00:35:34.41\00:35:37.38
and I hope you
will bear with me.
00:35:37.41\00:35:39.66
I want you to look at direct
counsel from the Spirit of
00:35:39.69\00:35:43.24
Prophecy on this great cry for
comprehensive urban evangelism
00:35:43.27\00:35:48.80
and the use of medical
missionary work in our approach
00:35:48.83\00:35:52.16
to the cities.
00:35:52.19\00:35:53.56
Follow along with me.
00:35:53.59\00:35:54.96
From Evangelism, page 25:
00:35:54.99\00:35:56.95
I just want to pause and tell
you that next Annual Council
00:39:15.32\00:39:19.14
we will be focusing heavily on
what is medical missionary work,
00:39:19.17\00:39:23.64
and how can every
member be involved?
00:39:23.67\00:39:26.65
Another quotation:
00:39:26.68\00:39:28.53
Don't get confused.
00:39:47.29\00:39:50.43
We're not talking about
fanatical activity and behavior.
00:39:50.46\00:39:54.69
We're talking about God
given instruction to show people
00:39:54.72\00:39:58.61
around the world
that we are His Creation,
00:39:58.64\00:40:02.18
that we believe in the physical,
mental, social, and spiritual
00:40:02.21\00:40:06.60
composite as human beings.
00:40:06.63\00:40:08.58
Now as we unfold and develop
plans together for working
00:40:23.70\00:40:28.35
the cities through the Holy
Spirit's leading, keep in mind
00:40:28.38\00:40:32.43
that there are many cities
that Ellen White talked about,
00:40:32.46\00:40:37.24
but there is one in particular
with symbolic importance.
00:40:37.27\00:40:44.05
I don't mean to show
any disrespect to any city
00:40:44.08\00:40:48.71
around the world, but Ellen
White singled out one city:
00:40:48.74\00:40:52.13
New York City.
00:40:52.16\00:40:54.34
It represents the world since
it has so many nationalities
00:40:54.37\00:40:58.96
and languages.
00:40:58.99\00:41:00.36
It is like a
mini United Nations.
00:41:00.39\00:41:04.03
It is a great center of
finance, banking, trade, art,
00:41:04.06\00:41:07.44
transportation,
fashion, advertising, and media.
00:41:07.47\00:41:10.67
Evangelism, page 384 tells us:
00:41:10.70\00:41:13.73
I want to tell you that much
work has been done in New York,
00:41:35.60\00:41:40.76
but we have yet to see that
city become a symbol of the work
00:41:40.79\00:41:47.78
the Lord desires to
see done in the world.
00:41:47.81\00:41:50.06
When I was a college
student, I appealed to several
00:41:50.09\00:41:53.96
conferences to
sponsor me to the seminary,
00:41:53.99\00:41:56.85
including the
Greater New York Conference.
00:41:56.88\00:41:59.81
My father told me if I really
wanted a challenge I should go
00:41:59.84\00:42:05.10
to Greater New York.
00:42:05.13\00:42:06.50
By God's grace it worked out,
and it changed my life forever.
00:42:06.53\00:42:12.62
I had the wonderful
and challenging opportunity
00:42:12.65\00:42:16.96
to pastor and to serve in
evangelism in the metropolitan
00:42:16.99\00:42:22.22
New York area for
about seven years.
00:42:22.25\00:42:24.89
A few months ago I
visited in California
00:42:24.92\00:42:29.81
with Elder Lloyd
Riley, now about 95 years old,
00:42:29.84\00:42:35.81
who was the conference president
who called me into that work
00:42:35.84\00:42:40.33
in the Greater
New York Conference.
00:42:40.36\00:42:41.93
He and his wife were a strong
encouragement to me and my work,
00:42:41.96\00:42:45.98
and in that
challenging city of New York.
00:42:46.01\00:42:49.26
Thank God for our
retirees and our pioneers.
00:42:49.29\00:42:54.33
Now some people love New
York, and others hate it.
00:42:54.36\00:43:01.14
Graffiti that I saw in New
York captures the challenge of
00:43:01.17\00:43:05.95
living and working in the
large cities of the world.
00:43:05.98\00:43:09.05
It said, "Concrete
Jungle; a hard life".
00:43:09.08\00:43:15.00
There are many good and
bad things about New York
00:43:15.03\00:43:18.77
like any big city.
00:43:18.80\00:43:20.17
But the people are there; people
who need Christ, and the hope
00:43:20.20\00:43:26.00
of this Advent message.
00:43:26.03\00:43:27.82
Since that time I have
always had a strong burden
00:43:27.85\00:43:32.63
for the cities, and for
New York City in particular.
00:43:32.66\00:43:36.16
Selected Messages, or
Selected Passages I should say,
00:43:36.19\00:43:41.01
from Evangelism,
page 385-389 indicate:
00:43:41.04\00:43:46.18
Now today I want
every administrator here
00:44:57.75\00:45:04.50
and around the world to feel
a heavy burden for the cities.
00:45:04.53\00:45:10.62
God will bless our evangelism,
and our plans for the cities,
00:45:10.65\00:45:16.40
as we allow the Holy
Spirit to lead in those plans,
00:45:16.43\00:45:19.74
and follow Biblical and
Spirit of Prophecy counsel.
00:45:19.77\00:45:24.67
It is the reason for
revival and reformation,
00:45:24.70\00:45:31.02
for intense prayer, for
humility before the Lord.
00:45:31.05\00:45:37.28
Let us never ignore God's
pleading with us about the work
00:45:37.31\00:45:41.61
for the cities.
00:45:41.64\00:45:43.01
According to the biography
of Ellen White by her grandson,
00:45:43.04\00:45:47.25
Arthur White.
00:45:47.28\00:45:48.65
Some of us were
privileged to know Arthur White.
00:45:48.68\00:45:52.08
As recorded in Volume 6 of that
series, Ellen White placed the
00:45:52.11\00:45:56.41
burden of New York and the
cities before church leaders on
00:45:56.44\00:45:59.31
June 11, 1909.
00:45:59.34\00:46:02.00
It was just after a
General Conference Session.
00:46:02.03\00:46:04.97
She earnestly appealed
for unprecedented activity to
00:46:05.00\00:46:09.09
evangelize the cities.
00:46:09.12\00:46:10.65
Later she wrote,
(and this is interesting),
00:46:10.68\00:46:13.26
I hope it's not
applicable to us.
00:46:13.29\00:46:16.21
Now in September 1909,
Testimonies for the Church,
00:46:22.39\00:46:26.21
Vol. 9 contained a section
entitled, The Work In the
00:46:26.24\00:46:30.90
Cities. And we're going
to be reading that next week
00:46:30.93\00:46:33.39
in Annual Council.
00:46:33.42\00:46:34.79
It'll take us about
thirty minutes to read it.
00:46:34.82\00:46:36.44
She said, Behold the cities
and their need of the gospel.
00:46:36.47\00:46:40.65
Ellen White's strong
burden would not go away.
00:46:40.68\00:46:45.21
She sent messages to Elder A. G.
Daniels, the General Conference
00:46:45.24\00:46:50.29
president,
asking for more action.
00:46:50.32\00:46:53.23
The General Conference allocated
some funds to city evangelism,
00:46:53.26\00:46:57.93
and to New York City.
00:46:57.96\00:46:59.33
However, Elder Daniels wrote
about the difficulty getting
00:46:59.36\00:47:04.16
qualified workers for the
cities, and didn't engage in
00:47:04.19\00:47:08.02
the work with a full focus.
00:47:08.05\00:47:10.42
Ellen White was frustrated
with the lack of enthusiasm
00:47:10.45\00:47:15.15
and indicated that
something had to be done.
00:47:15.18\00:47:19.40
She complained that the leaders
were not caring for the unworked
00:47:19.43\00:47:22.99
cities as they should be.
00:47:23.02\00:47:24.64
Shortly after laying some
modest plans for the cities,
00:47:24.67\00:47:29.67
Elder Daniels was in California
and went to Elmshaven,
00:47:29.70\00:47:34.23
Ellen White's home, to report
to her about a reasonable effort
00:47:34.26\00:47:38.92
for the cities that
would encourage her.
00:47:38.95\00:47:41.97
However, she refused to see him.
00:47:42.00\00:47:46.54
The messenger of the Lord
refused to see the president
00:47:46.57\00:47:51.92
of the General Conference,
sending word to him that when
00:47:51.95\00:47:56.16
the president of the General
Conference was ready to carry
00:47:56.19\00:47:59.80
out the work that
needed to be done,
00:47:59.83\00:48:01.72
then she would talk to him.
00:48:01.75\00:48:03.61
Ha, ha, ha!
00:48:03.64\00:48:05.01
Amen!
00:48:05.04\00:48:06.41
Elder Daniels realized
the church had not measured up
00:48:06.44\00:48:09.16
to what God wanted to
see done in the cities.
00:48:09.19\00:48:11.34
He then wrote a humble and
contrite letter to Ellen White.
00:48:11.37\00:48:15.49
He finally received a message
back from her indicating that,
00:48:15.52\00:48:21.49
quoting:
00:48:21.52\00:48:22.89
Amen!
00:48:30.20\00:48:31.57
Ha, ha, ha.
00:48:31.60\00:48:32.97
The message Ellen White had
given on June 15, 1910 declared,
00:48:33.00\00:48:37.68
(here it is, and
this is tough stuff.)
00:48:37.71\00:48:41.62
Obviously, God had
charged that message.
00:48:45.31\00:48:48.51
One of our
wonderful pioneer leaders.
00:48:54.14\00:48:56.11
All of you are placed
in a certain position,
00:49:19.76\00:49:23.31
whether you are elected or not.
00:49:23.34\00:49:26.19
Are you fulfilling that charge?
00:49:26.22\00:49:30.17
Continuing to quote:
00:49:30.20\00:49:32.16
Are you aroused today?
00:49:51.76\00:49:53.43
Am I understanding?
00:49:53.46\00:49:55.93
Elder Daniels thought he
was doing something for the work
00:50:01.82\00:50:04.31
in the cities, but it
was not what God wanted.
00:50:04.34\00:50:07.92
He was shaken with
those messages from the Lord.
00:50:07.95\00:50:11.44
The General Conference finally
established a special committee
00:50:11.47\00:50:16.50
of 17 people to work
on plans for the cities.
00:50:16.53\00:50:21.29
They released Elder Daniels
for one year from his normal
00:50:21.32\00:50:27.72
responsibilities as
General Conference president,
00:50:27.75\00:50:31.25
so that as General Conference
president, he would give
00:50:31.28\00:50:35.19
leadership for the cities.
00:50:35.22\00:50:37.45
He went to New York
City for evangelism,
00:50:37.48\00:50:41.99
and finally fulfilled what
God had intended for him to do
00:50:42.02\00:50:46.68
in evangelistic
work for the cities,
00:50:46.71\00:50:49.71
and it helped to launch a
new day in Seventh-day Adventist
00:50:49.74\00:50:55.46
city evangelism.
00:50:55.49\00:50:56.86
Now standing here
today as president
00:50:56.89\00:51:03.38
of the General Conference,
I do not want to be accused
00:51:03.41\00:51:10.86
by the Lord of dishonoring
Him by ignoring the cities.
00:51:10.89\00:51:14.69
Amen!
00:51:14.72\00:51:16.09
I humble myself before Him and
ask that I might be completely
00:51:16.12\00:51:22.52
converted to God's plans
for the people of the cities.
00:51:22.55\00:51:26.59
Today, along with me, I want
you to share that great burden
00:51:26.62\00:51:35.68
of Jesus for the
people of the cities.
00:51:35.71\00:51:39.53
I've had in my office ever
since I worked in New York City,
00:51:39.56\00:51:44.10
the powerful picture
of Christ of the City.
00:51:44.13\00:51:49.57
Now it's a little bit distant,
and the glare of the lights
00:51:49.60\00:51:53.24
might not be helpful for you to
see it, but that picture on the
00:51:53.27\00:51:58.53
highest easel, it's an old
picture now, that picture has
00:51:58.56\00:52:02.90
hung in my offices in
Abyssal, Silver Spring, Moscow,
00:52:02.93\00:52:07.55
Hagerstown, in
Silver Spring again,
00:52:07.58\00:52:09.80
and now in my current office.
00:52:09.83\00:52:12.18
I also have the same picture,
a smaller one down here,
00:52:12.21\00:52:15.81
facing me every day
as I sit at my home desk.
00:52:15.84\00:52:22.30
Let our hearts cry out to
God on behalf of the millions
00:52:22.33\00:52:28.38
in the cities of the world,
in your division, in your union,
00:52:28.41\00:52:32.92
in your conference, in
your mission, or in your field.
00:52:32.95\00:52:36.65
Our plan is before the end
of Annual Council that we will
00:52:36.68\00:52:41.45
try to provide you with one of
these pictures so that you may
00:52:41.48\00:52:45.72
see the great
needs of the cities.
00:52:45.75\00:52:49.95
As leaders, never ignore our
great task, using every means
00:52:49.98\00:52:57.21
possible for our
mission to the cities.
00:52:57.24\00:53:00.79
Tomorrow morning during
the Council on Evangelism
00:53:00.82\00:53:04.61
and Witness, we will present
the unprecedented mission
00:53:04.64\00:53:08.26
to the cities.
00:53:08.29\00:53:09.66
Of course, our church has
been doing a lot of good things,
00:53:09.69\00:53:13.93
and is currently doing
many good things in the cities
00:53:13.96\00:53:17.51
of the world.
00:53:17.54\00:53:18.91
But in the year 2013 we
will launch a very specific
00:53:18.94\00:53:25.45
comprehensive,
sustained evangelistic approach
00:53:25.48\00:53:30.18
for the world
beginning in New York City.
00:53:30.21\00:53:33.82
We are calling for the
leading of the Holy Spirit
00:53:33.85\00:53:37.18
for a comprehensive
approach that will continue
00:53:37.21\00:53:40.00
until Jesus comes.
00:53:40.03\00:53:42.59
Amen!
00:53:42.62\00:53:43.99
Not a hit and run
approach to evangelism,
00:53:44.02\00:53:45.97
but a long-term, sustained,
Spirit-filled approach.
00:53:46.00\00:53:51.38
We want to start with New York
City since Ellen White indicated
00:53:51.41\00:53:57.31
that it should be a symbol
as to how the rest of the world
00:53:57.34\00:54:00.73
should be worked.
00:54:00.76\00:54:02.13
Since large cities are made
up of many smaller communities
00:54:02.16\00:54:06.34
and neighborhoods, as you
well know, we expect to have
00:54:06.37\00:54:09.39
approximately 150 to
200 evangelistic meetings
00:54:09.42\00:54:15.45
in the metropolitan New
York area from June 7-29, 2013.
00:54:15.48\00:54:22.26
Many preparatory outreach
activities by church members
00:54:22.29\00:54:27.04
will take place in a
comprehensive manner that will
00:54:27.07\00:54:30.51
lead up to June 2013
evangelistic meetings.
00:54:30.54\00:54:35.51
Make no mistake about
it, brothers and sisters,
00:54:35.54\00:54:37.71
we are not talking
about just public evangelism,
00:54:37.74\00:54:40.70
we are talking about a
comprehensive, sustained program
00:54:40.73\00:54:44.36
that will continue
and culminate many times
00:54:44.39\00:54:48.37
in public evangelism.
00:54:48.40\00:54:49.90
We're working closely with
the North American Division,
00:54:49.93\00:54:53.46
with the Atlantic
Union, with the Columbia Union,
00:54:53.49\00:54:56.40
the Greater New York Conference,
the North Eastern Conference,
00:54:56.43\00:54:59.35
the New Jersey Conference, and
the Alleghany East Conference,
00:54:59.38\00:55:02.45
in the detailed planning
for the evangelistic meetings
00:55:02.48\00:55:06.54
in New York.
00:55:06.57\00:55:08.35
At this point in time I
want to invite presidents'
00:55:08.38\00:55:16.00
and their spouses, if they are
here, of those four conferences
00:55:16.03\00:55:20.61
in New York to come
and join me right now.
00:55:20.64\00:55:22.90
I want us to pray for those
conference presidents' and for
00:55:22.93\00:55:30.13
the two union presidents':
Pastor and Mrs. Earl Knight,
00:55:30.16\00:55:35.41
of the Greater
New York Conference,
00:55:35.44\00:55:36.97
Pastor and Mrs. Trevor Baker
of the North Eastern Conference,
00:55:37.00\00:55:41.00
Pastor and Mrs. Hosea Cortez
of the New Jersey Conference,
00:55:41.03\00:55:45.27
Pastor & Mrs. Charles Cheatam of
the Allegheny East Conference,
00:55:45.30\00:55:49.51
Pastor and Mrs. Don
King of the Atlantic Union.
00:55:49.54\00:55:53.00
And unfortunately, Pastor and
Mrs. Dave Wigley aren't with us
00:55:53.03\00:55:57.94
from the Columbia Union today,
but we will be praying for them.
00:55:57.97\00:56:02.00
I'm going to ask Pastor and
Mrs. Dan Jackson, Elder Jackson
00:56:02.03\00:56:08.32
if you would pray for these
leaders, and their territories
00:56:08.35\00:56:13.14
in the task ahead
for New York City.
00:56:13.17\00:56:16.47
These brothers and sisters,
these leaders represent you
00:56:16.50\00:56:22.80
and your cities in the cities
and territories of the world.
00:56:22.83\00:56:27.32
After we have that precious
prayer, I'm going to appeal
00:56:27.35\00:56:33.25
to you as leaders, and
those that represent the great
00:56:33.28\00:56:39.66
territories of the world.
00:56:39.69\00:56:41.74
Elder Jackson, if you would
pray for these precious leaders,
00:56:41.77\00:56:47.30
and I'm going to ask you to just
remain after this prayer so that
00:56:47.33\00:56:52.47
during the appeal you
will be here on the platform
00:56:52.50\00:56:55.67
as representatives of all this
group who represent the cities
00:56:55.70\00:57:01.75
of the world.
00:57:01.78\00:57:03.15
I'd like you to also remember
in prayer a special request
00:57:03.18\00:57:08.97
for a special friend of many
of us, Elder Phillip Follett,
00:57:09.00\00:57:16.00
who was a general vice president
of the General Conference,
00:57:16.03\00:57:20.33
and also a president
of the Atlantic Union.
00:57:20.36\00:57:23.83
And at this very
moment he is in a
00:57:23.86\00:57:27.24
very serious health condition.
00:57:27.27\00:57:29.96
And I would ask for a prayer
for Elder Follett as well.
00:57:30.00\00:57:35.74
Please bow your heads
as Elder Jackson prays.
00:57:35.77\00:57:39.34
Heavenly Father, You who does
not change with shifting shadows
00:57:48.11\00:57:54.97
but who is the same yesterday,
and today, and forever.
00:57:55.00\00:58:01.81
We come to honor You first
of all today because You are the
00:58:01.84\00:58:08.76
King of Kings, the One who loves
us with an everlasting love,
00:58:08.79\00:58:14.93
the One who came in the
person of Jesus to say that You
00:58:14.96\00:58:21.48
so loved the world that You
would give Your own Son so that
00:58:21.51\00:58:27.84
whoever might believe in
You would have eternal life.
00:58:27.87\00:58:33.64
And Heavenly Father, there are
millions and millions of people
00:58:33.67\00:58:38.32
in our world today who do not
believe, who do not understand.
00:58:38.35\00:58:45.37
And You have called each of
us in this room, as we represent
00:58:45.40\00:58:51.42
17 million people around
the world who have been called
00:58:51.45\00:58:57.63
and who have
accepted Your invitation.
00:58:57.66\00:59:00.06
And You have challenged
us, You have laid a mantle of
00:59:00.09\00:59:06.11
discipleship upon us asking
that we would be Your servants
00:59:06.14\00:59:12.74
to penetrate into
every corner of our world.
00:59:12.77\00:59:17.89
We point out especially
today the city of New York.
00:59:17.92\00:59:24.48
Yes, Lord!
00:59:24.51\00:59:25.88
The multitudes in that city who
are as sheep without a shepherd,
00:59:25.91\00:59:33.64
Yes, Lord.
00:59:33.67\00:59:35.04
who do not know
spiritually their right hand
00:59:35.07\00:59:38.13
from their left.
00:59:38.16\00:59:39.53
Right!
00:59:39.56\00:59:40.93
We know that in that city there
are many other evangelistic
00:59:40.96\00:59:47.71
campaigns going on that
are sponsored by the evil one.
00:59:47.74\00:59:52.88
Yes.
00:59:52.91\00:59:54.28
We come to You today
and we appeal for the power,
00:59:54.31\01:00:03.40
the presence, the
authority of Your Holy Spirit.
01:00:03.43\01:00:09.53
Yes, Lord.
01:00:09.56\01:00:10.93
We call upon You to anoint
the leadership that impacts
01:00:10.96\01:00:17.35
that great city.
01:00:17.38\01:00:19.20
Yes.
01:00:19.23\01:00:20.60
We pray for each
of the conferences,
01:00:20.63\01:00:24.09
we pray for the two unions,
we pray for each of these
01:00:24.12\01:00:30.44
leaders and
their responsibilities.
01:00:30.47\01:00:32.66
Amen.
01:00:32.69\01:00:34.06
I praise You because I know
that each of these men and their
01:00:34.09\01:00:38.11
wives are committed to You.
01:00:38.14\01:00:40.31
Yes, Lord.
01:00:40.34\01:00:41.71
They have dedicated
their lives to service.
01:00:41.74\01:00:43.75
And now we ask that You would
continue to uphold, and bless,
01:00:43.78\01:00:49.97
and energize them.
01:00:50.00\01:00:51.68
Yes, Lord.
01:00:51.71\01:00:53.08
As we work together at
the General Conference,
01:00:53.11\01:00:55.76
the North American
Division, with the unions,
01:00:55.79\01:00:59.38
the conferences, the local
congregations, and the members
01:00:59.41\01:01:03.90
who reside in New York City...
01:01:03.93\01:01:06.39
Yes.
01:01:06.42\01:01:07.79
...we ask that You would
create a path that is so plain,
01:01:07.82\01:01:11.84
and so clear that we will follow
You as the sunflower turns
01:01:11.87\01:01:18.15
to the sun.
01:01:18.18\01:01:19.55
Yes, Lord.
01:01:19.58\01:01:20.95
And Heavenly Father, we
recognize that there is no human
01:01:20.98\01:01:23.58
being, there is no plan, or
process, or policy, or mandate
01:01:23.61\01:01:29.12
that can supplement for our
own revival, our own connection
01:01:29.15\01:01:34.96
with You.
01:01:34.99\01:01:36.36
Yes.
01:01:36.39\01:01:37.76
So we pray, Heavenly Father,
that You would first ensure
01:01:37.79\01:01:39.81
that our lives
are right with You,
01:01:39.84\01:01:41.79
Yes, Lord.
01:01:41.82\01:01:43.19
and then You would flow
Your Spirit in a mighty way
01:01:43.22\01:01:46.28
into that city.
01:01:46.31\01:01:47.68
Yes, Lord.
01:01:47.71\01:01:49.08
And Heavenly Father, we do
pray for the leadership around
01:01:49.11\01:01:52.22
the world, and for
every city in our world.
01:01:52.25\01:01:54.62
Yes, Lord.
01:01:54.65\01:01:56.02
For what is true in New
York is also true in San Paulo,
01:01:56.05\01:02:00.25
and in Kigali, in many
cities around the world.
01:02:00.28\01:02:06.43
Amen.
01:02:06.46\01:02:07.83
And we just pray that Your
Spirit will continue to flow
01:02:07.86\01:02:10.39
and bless in places
like Sidney, and Toronto,
01:02:10.42\01:02:14.07
Yes.
01:02:14.10\01:02:15.47
and other places.
01:02:15.50\01:02:16.87
And Heavenly Father, we just
turn to You because in our own
01:02:16.90\01:02:20.42
human limitation we do not know
what to do with this vast enemy
01:02:20.45\01:02:26.17
that has come against us.
01:02:26.20\01:02:27.77
Yes.
01:02:27.80\01:02:29.17
But our eyes are upon You.
01:02:29.20\01:02:30.57
Yes, Lord.
01:02:30.60\01:02:31.97
And now Heavenly Father,
we think of one who has stood
01:02:32.00\01:02:35.87
tall for You through many years.
01:02:35.90\01:02:37.83
Yes.
01:02:37.86\01:02:39.23
We think of the gentle
presence, the gentle guidance,
01:02:39.26\01:02:43.28
and the leadership
of Elder Phil Follett.
01:02:43.31\01:02:45.92
Yes.
01:02:45.95\01:02:47.32
Right now he is on a bed
wrestling for his own life.
01:02:47.35\01:02:50.82
Yes, Lord.
01:02:50.85\01:02:52.22
What we pray more than anything
is that Your Spirit will rest
01:02:52.25\01:02:56.52
with him, that that same Spirit
will be felt as one who stands
01:02:56.55\01:03:01.63
beside to give the
very assurance of heaven.
01:03:01.66\01:03:05.17
Yes.
01:03:05.20\01:03:06.57
That he will
understand that You love him.
01:03:06.60\01:03:08.53
Yes.
01:03:08.56\01:03:09.93
Be with him Lord.
01:03:09.96\01:03:11.51
Be with his family.
01:03:11.54\01:03:12.91
Yes.
01:03:12.94\01:03:14.31
Be with those who
love and cherish him.
01:03:14.34\01:03:15.71
Yes.
01:03:15.74\01:03:17.11
And Heavenly Father, our world
president today has counseled
01:03:17.14\01:03:21.57
us, has challenged us.
01:03:21.60\01:03:23.43
We pray that You will
bless him, and that You will
01:03:23.46\01:03:26.41
bless these plans...
01:03:26.44\01:03:27.81
Please.
01:03:27.84\01:03:29.21
...for comprehensive
urban evangelism...
01:03:29.24\01:03:31.95
Please.
01:03:31.98\01:03:33.35
...throughout our world.
01:03:33.38\01:03:34.75
Please.
01:03:34.78\01:03:36.15
We leave ourselves in Your care
today, thanking You that You
01:03:36.18\01:03:37.68
have invited us to crawl right
up into the palm of Your hand.
01:03:37.71\01:03:42.18
Yes, Lord.
01:03:42.21\01:03:43.58
And You've told us
that when we do that,
01:03:43.61\01:03:44.98
no one can take us out.
01:03:45.01\01:03:46.71
Yes, Lord.
01:03:46.74\01:03:48.11
We thank You for these things.
01:03:48.14\01:03:49.51
We praise and honor Your name.
01:03:49.54\01:03:51.14
In Jesus' precious name, Amen.
01:03:51.17\01:03:54.94
Amen!
01:03:54.97\01:03:56.34
Let us pledge ourselves
to pray for these leaders,
01:04:01.71\01:04:07.76
for their pastors,
for their church workers,
01:04:07.79\01:04:11.16
and for their church members.
01:04:11.19\01:04:12.86
By God's grace I pledge myself
and Nancy to hold one of those
01:04:12.89\01:04:21.53
200 evangelistic meetings
in New York City in June 2013.
01:04:21.56\01:04:26.48
Amen.
01:04:26.51\01:04:27.88
We've worked with the 13
division presidents to send
01:04:27.91\01:04:30.52
expert evangelists
from their divisions,
01:04:30.55\01:04:33.30
people who know the
languages of New York.
01:04:33.33\01:04:36.02
You want to know
something interesting?
01:04:36.05\01:04:37.42
You'll see it in
a document tomorrow.
01:04:37.45\01:04:39.02
800 languages are
spoken in New York City.
01:04:39.05\01:04:42.42
We've worked with those 13
division presidents to send
01:04:42.45\01:04:46.13
evangelists from their divisions
to New York City to hold
01:04:46.16\01:04:49.24
evangelistic
meetings with us in 2013.
01:04:49.27\01:04:52.68
Many of my fellow
General Conference officers
01:04:52.71\01:04:55.57
and colleagues will
be holding some of those
01:04:55.60\01:04:57.74
evangelistic meetings.
01:04:57.77\01:04:59.14
Many from the Atlantic and
Columbia Unions, including local
01:04:59.17\01:05:02.58
pastors in the New York
area, will be actively involved,
01:05:02.61\01:05:07.24
and undoubtedly many lay
people are going to be holding
01:05:07.27\01:05:11.18
evangelistic meetings.
01:05:11.21\01:05:12.58
Pastor Mark Finley will
lead an evangelistic field
01:05:12.61\01:05:16.73
School of Evangelism during
those meetings for all of us.
01:05:16.76\01:05:20.63
By God's grace there will
be a marvelous harvest of souls
01:05:20.66\01:05:25.89
in metropolitan New
York, and a continued,
01:05:25.92\01:05:29.92
sustained evangelistic
work in the New York area.
01:05:29.95\01:05:34.50
This is only the beginning.
01:05:34.53\01:05:38.36
Evangelists from the various
divisions, who will have been
01:05:38.40\01:05:41.68
with us in New York, will return
to their home divisions to hold
01:05:41.72\01:05:45.86
evangelistic series and
field schools of evangelism,
01:05:45.90\01:05:50.27
for union and conference
workers in a division designated
01:05:50.30\01:05:54.64
selected major
city in that division.
01:05:54.67\01:05:57.57
Unions, after that, will then
select the city to hold a major
01:05:57.60\01:06:02.47
evangelistic
series and field school.
01:06:02.50\01:06:04.74
Then every conference or
local field will select and hold
01:06:04.77\01:06:08.90
an evangelistic series and
field school in a major city.
01:06:08.93\01:06:12.99
Our humble goal, by God's grace,
will be to reach approximately
01:06:13.03\01:06:19.29
650 major cities of
the world before the next
01:06:19.32\01:06:24.30
General Conference Session in
2015, all based upon the power
01:06:24.33\01:06:30.31
of the Holy Spirit
through revival and reformation.
01:06:30.34\01:06:34.05
Amen.
01:06:34.09\01:06:35.46
The 777 prayer initiative
should focus our attention
01:06:35.49\01:06:39.84
on the incredible
mission to the cities.
01:06:39.88\01:06:43.23
Please pray like never before
for God's work, and the great
01:06:43.26\01:06:50.70
mission to the
cities of the world.
01:06:50.74\01:06:53.44
We are powerless except
as we rely on our chief urban
01:06:53.47\01:07:00.42
evangelist, who as He
looked over Jerusalem wept.
01:07:00.46\01:07:07.71
How many of you, as
God's leaders in this wonderful
01:07:07.75\01:07:14.75
Advent movement assembled
at this 2011 Annual Council
01:07:14.78\01:07:20.23
are willing to accept
the challenge of a sustained
01:07:20.26\01:07:25.64
comprehensive urban evangelistic
outreach mission to the cities?
01:07:25.67\01:07:32.35
Prayerfully decide in your
mind as you listen to the appeal
01:07:32.38\01:07:39.48
of the people of the cities
as Karla Bucklew will share
01:07:39.52\01:07:46.59
with us this special
song entitled Lonely Voices.
01:07:46.62\01:07:53.93
Lonely voices
crying in the cities,
01:08:07.55\01:08:19.55
Lonely voices
sounding like a child,
01:08:19.72\01:08:30.32
Lonely voices
come from busy people,
01:08:30.35\01:08:40.90
too disturbed to
stop a little while.
01:08:40.94\01:08:51.45
Lonely voices fill my dreams,
01:08:51.48\01:09:03.10
Lonely voices haunt my memory.
01:09:03.13\01:09:15.86