Participants: C. A. Murray (Host), Hong Zhi Jiao, Bin Yi Shen, Daniel Jiao
Series Code: TDY
Program Code: TDY015053A
|
00:01 I want to spend my life
00:07 Mending broken people 00:12 I want to spend my life 00:18 Removing pain 00:23 Lord, let my words 00:29 Heal a heart that hurts 00:34 I want to spend my life 00:40 Mending broken people 00:45 I want to spend my life 00:51 Mending broken people 01:06 Hello, and welcome to "3ABN Today." 01:08 My name is C.A Murray. 01:10 This particular program is some 5 years in the making. 01:13 We only get to do it after a General Conference 01:15 when we get to meet people from around the world 01:17 to tell us how God has blessed their ministries. 01:20 First up, Jiao Hong Zhi, Shen Bin Yi, 01:25 and Daniel Jiao from China, 01:28 talking about suffering for the Lord, 01:30 suffering for your faith 01:31 and ultimate victory in Jesus Christ. 01:34 Danny Shelton had a chance to do this interview. 01:43 It's great to be here 01:44 at the General Conference session 01:46 because we can meet brothers and sisters 01:48 from all around the world. 01:50 Sitting next to me is Daniel. 01:52 Daniel, you're from China? 01:54 Yeah, yes. 01:55 And you're the secretary of the... 01:56 Chinese Union Mission. 01:58 Union Mission, there in Hong Kong. 01:59 Yes. 02:00 I've been to Hong Kong, such a beautiful city. 02:02 How do you pronounce your last name? 02:04 Jiao. Jiao. 02:05 Daniel Jiao. 02:07 And would you introduce your parents to us? 02:08 Yeah, this is my father, his name is Hong Zhi. 02:14 You should always say last name first, 02:15 so then say Jiao Hong Zhi. 02:17 That's my mother, her name is Shen, 02:21 last name is Shen, Shen Bin Yi. 02:24 So you use, even though they're married, 02:26 in America we use the same husband-wife names. 02:29 Yes. She keeps her maiden name. 02:31 Yes, in China usually, even after you're married, 02:34 you still... 02:35 she still keep her name. 02:38 Oh, that's interesting, very interesting. 02:40 We're very happy to have you here today. 02:45 And may I call you pastor? 02:50 And is your father physician, too? 02:52 Uh, he was a physician but he's retired. 02:55 Yes, he's retired. 02:57 But did he become formally a pastor 02:58 or was he just a missionary? 03:00 Yes, he was ordained as a pastor. 03:01 Oh, ordained, so-- 03:06 Well, how about this, I'll call you brother. 03:10 We are brothers and sister in the Lord. 03:12 Yes. 03:14 We're so glad that you're here today. 03:17 And we wanted to take just a few moments 03:19 to get a little bit of your testimony 03:21 being born and raised in China. 03:32 How did you become Seventh-Day Adventist? 03:51 At that time, he said that his parents 03:56 brought them to the church 03:58 but he didn't have a lot of understanding of the belief. 04:03 Okay. 04:17 After he got into the Medic school in Shanghai, 04:21 the second year of his study in the Medical school, 04:25 he felt the moving of the Holy Spirit 04:29 and he was really drawn to following Jesus. 04:34 Okay, so what happened in Medical school? 04:38 Now did he have freedom 04:41 to worship on the Sabbath, then? 05:03 And initially they applied to the school, and the school, 05:09 after a while they said that, "It's okay." 05:15 Initially they allow him to keep the Sabbath. 05:18 Okay. 05:43 At that time he was thinking about his life. 05:47 He said, "When I graduate from Medical school, 05:51 then may be I'll get married, then may be I'll have children. 05:55 Now, I'll continue the work. 05:56 One day I will die." 05:57 And he thought about life 06:00 that doesn't seems to have lot of meaning. 06:02 Oh. 06:04 At that time so he is thinking, 06:05 "What exactly the meaning of my life?" 06:14 And at that time, the Holy Spirit moved him. 06:17 He felt that, "If I am in Jesus, 06:20 and be in God, 06:22 and God within Jesus, then there is love, 06:25 and love is eternal life." 06:33 So after that my life really, his life changed. 06:39 And whenever I meet people, I will tell that, 06:43 "You need to come and believe in Jesus, 06:45 the good news of Jesus Christ." 06:50 At some point, tell us how you met your wife. 07:12 When he was studying in the Medical school, 07:15 the last year of his Medical school, 07:20 the school said that, 07:22 "We can no longer allow you to keep the Sabbath." 07:40 And they said that, 07:41 "If you don't come to school on Sabbath, 07:46 then you have to drop out." 07:47 So he continued to apply, to be off on Sabbath, 07:52 but eventually the school said that, 07:54 "You can no longer keep the Sabbath." 07:56 And he had to drop out of the school. 08:08 After he left the Medic school, 08:11 he devoted his time in a church. 08:14 At that time in Shanghai, the church in Shanghai, 08:17 they have about seven or eight young people together. 08:19 Mm-hmm. 08:35 So at that time, when he was in the church, 08:38 he met my mother. 08:40 Oh, okay. 08:41 She was working in a hospital, but also had difficulty 08:48 keeping the Sabbath 08:49 and eventually she had to choose 08:52 either go to work on Sabbath or quit her job. 08:55 And she also quit her job. 08:57 And so both of them, 08:59 they were in the church, together. 09:01 Okay, so eventually you're married 09:04 and then something happened 09:05 only a few months after your marriage. 09:28 Uh, so they were in a church, and eventually about 5 years 09:34 they decided to be married. 09:37 But then the political situation in China 09:40 became really tight. 09:42 People, one by one, were taken into prison. 09:58 The reason that they were thinking about getting married 10:02 was only looking at political situations. 10:06 She was afraid if they don't get married, 10:10 if he has been taken into prison, 10:14 then they will be separated for ever. 10:24 So after they were married for 3 months, 10:28 he was sentenced to labor camp and they were separated. 10:35 Now why? 10:36 Because you wouldn't quit going to church on Sabbath or why? 10:49 There are three reasons for sentencing him. 10:52 One is that he was keeping the Sabbath. 11:10 And secondly, is that they were printing the Conflict series, 11:15 the five volumes of Ellen G. White books, 11:17 just being translated and so they were the first, 11:22 that printing those books 11:23 and sending on to all over China. 11:36 And the third reason is that they talked about that, 11:41 "We need to stand up against the devil." 11:43 They said that, "Word devil, 11:46 are you referring that to the Chinese government?" 11:50 So they said that, 11:51 "No, that's against the government." 11:54 So that's the three reasons that he was being sentenced. 11:57 Okay, all right. 11:58 I want to talk to your mother for just a moment. 12:03 You're married for just 3 months 12:05 and your husband is taken from you, 12:08 that was such a shock. 12:20 Did you know how long he would be in prison? 12:34 Initially she didn't know how long he was sentenced, yes. 12:40 It must've been so hard on you, you're newly-wed, 12:44 love your husband, love Jesus, and now your husband is gone. 12:48 How did you cope with that? 13:08 The reason that I married him was 13:11 that I know that he keeps the Sabbath. 13:14 A person who keeps the Sabbath is a person that's dependable. 13:18 That's why I married him. 13:20 Okay. 13:41 So let me translate, so she said that 13:45 because of this she is not worried 13:48 no matter how long he's being sentenced to prison. 13:53 So she's prepared to wait for him. 13:56 Okay. 13:57 And so she was getting ready to see him last time 14:01 before he is sent away, she said she was prepared 14:05 to say one sentence to him. 14:16 And she knew that 14:18 as they were seeing each other, 14:20 she would only be given ten minutes 14:22 to talk to each other. 14:34 So the first, she told him told him that, 14:37 "I have read this written sentence 14:41 and I know that you're being sentenced for 12 years." 14:44 Wow. 14:54 And she said, 14:56 "You go no matter it's 12 years, 15:01 even it is 20 years, I will still wait for you." 15:03 Wow, that is wonderful, wonderful. 15:06 Now, I want to move, fast forward a little bit. 15:10 So the 12 years are up, you get out of prison, 15:15 what happened next? 15:32 So he was sentenced for 12 years 15:35 but after he got there, 15:37 his sentence was taken off 3 years. 15:40 Okay. 15:42 So he had served about nine years. 15:44 Okay. 15:58 The main reason that his sentence 16:00 was reduced because, 16:02 when they got to the labor camp, 16:05 they were lot of prisoners die, everyday, 16:09 because of malnutrition or other reasons. 16:12 But after he got there he was helping with the clinic, 16:17 for three months nobody died. 16:19 Oh, wow. 16:20 So that was kind of incentive 16:22 to take off three years from his sentence. 16:25 Wonderful. 16:27 And so three years taken off, he served for nine years. 16:33 Wow, amazing story. 16:35 But then you get out of prison, what work did you go into? 16:39 Did you become a doctor? 16:40 Did you continue to preach about the Lord and the Sabbath? 17:22 So while he was at the prison, he started to share his faith 17:29 with those who were still in the prison. 17:46 So after he served his sentence, 17:51 he was not allowed to come back to Shanghai, 17:55 so at that time my mother decided to come 17:58 to the labor camp to stay with him yes. 18:01 Okay. 18:16 So you know, labor camp, even when we were small, 18:21 we kept Sabbath and people wondering, 18:24 "Why they are keeping the Sabbath?" 18:26 So they start to ask questions. 18:28 When people ask, he will share with them 18:32 the reason that he kept the Sabbath. 18:33 Wow. 18:54 At that time, the hospital asked him 18:58 to give some training to the nurses. 19:04 And he said that, "I can give training everyday 19:07 but not on Sabbath." 19:09 And the hospital administration they initially, 19:13 they said, "No." 19:14 They said, "You have to do it on Sabbath." 19:26 So the officials were very angry and he felt that, 19:30 maybe they'll put him back into prison again. 19:42 So he wrote a report, outlining his belief 19:47 to the highest ranking official in the labor camp. 19:59 That he had determination 20:02 that if he cannot keep the Sabbath anymore, 20:05 he was willing to go back to the prison. 20:08 Wow. 20:18 And we were thankful that after he given a report, 20:22 they read his report, and he was given the permission 20:26 to keep the Sabbath. 20:27 Alright, praise the Lord. Yeah. 20:29 I wanted to... 20:30 our time is running short. 20:32 But I want to get to the end at some point the government 20:35 actually then, did they reinstated him, 20:39 what did they do to his sentence? 21:06 So that he had to, eventually he had to, 21:09 small meeting places with about 40 people 21:12 worshipping together in the labor camp. 21:31 So he shared the Sabbath material, 21:34 shared the Bible story with them on Sabbath. 21:50 And a while later, 21:57 in 1983 the labor camp said, 22:03 "We need to reverse your identity, 22:08 before you were prisoner but no longer prisoner." 22:13 Wow, praise the Lord. 22:22 So the Provisional Governor wrote the letter 22:24 to the labor camp said that, 22:27 "This person has wrongfully sentenced, 22:30 you need to use him in the hospital." 22:32 Wonderful, wonderful. 22:41 And they start to rank him 22:44 as one of the government official in the labor camp. 22:56 So all the three reasons 22:57 that he was being sentenced were cleared. 23:01 So they said that those three were not based on facts. 23:10 So he became a official in labor camp. 23:14 And vindicated and it reminds us right now, 23:17 Satan has accused all of us. 23:20 Yes, that's right. 23:21 All the human beings of rebellion against him. 23:25 He's trying to sentence us to death 23:27 but God doesn't allow it. 23:29 In the end, our Creator God vindicates us when we submit 23:34 and commit our lives to the Lord Jesus Christ. 23:36 That's right, that's right. 23:37 Then now, we once again are restored 23:40 to where we were created to be. 23:43 Amen. 23:44 It happened to him in a physical sense. 23:46 We're talking spiritual sense. 23:48 That's right. That's right. 23:49 What a blessing. 23:51 We're out of time but thank you, for being here. 23:53 Thank you, for sharing this great testimony 23:56 of what God has done in your life. 24:23 So we also thank God. We have done nothing. 24:27 Well, all the glory go through God. 24:29 Amen, all right. Thank you so much. 24:39 Williams Costa Jr. is the newly re-elected 24:44 communications director for the General Conference. 24:46 He and Danny Shelton have a long standing friendship 24:49 and relationship. 24:50 Danny got a chance to talk with him 24:52 about new methods of communication 24:54 and how we all can share the Three Angels' messages. 25:03 Well, it's my privilege to have as a guest today, 25:06 Brother Williams Costa Jr. and Brother Costa, 25:10 it's good to have you here. 25:11 Yes. 25:12 And he is the General 25:14 Conference communications director, 25:16 for those of you that don't know exactly 25:19 what that means, it means, he is communication director 25:21 over entire world church of Seventh-Day Adventist. 25:25 What are we, something like 18 million strong now? 25:29 A lot of people, right? 25:31 Today, you know, on the last years, 25:33 communication has changed a lot. 25:35 Yes. 25:36 And today, everybody is a communicator. 25:39 If you have a phone, you can send a message, 25:42 you can have a blog, you can have a site, you can tweet, 25:47 you can have Facebook. 25:48 So on these days it's imperative that we as a church, 25:52 can communicate, can share our message 25:56 so people can understand what is going on. 25:58 Absolutely, and the communication highways 26:01 have broadened so much, and we talked about Daniel, 26:04 "And knowledge shall be increased. 26:06 Many shall run to and fro." 26:08 I met you, I met this Brother 25 years ago in Brazil. 26:12 And then we had hardly any television stations. 26:15 There was no Hope channel. 26:17 I think 3ABN was the only one at the time as far television. 26:21 We had AWR in radio. 26:23 But there were so few ways to communicate 26:27 to the population on earth. 26:29 Now God has brought this technology 26:32 that you're in the best position 26:34 anyone else ever sat in. 26:36 Imagine if you were 26:38 the first General Conference communication director 26:41 and your job was to take the message to the world. 26:43 Yeah, you know, I remember those days when we talked. 26:47 I remember visiting the head quarters of 3ABN, 26:51 much smaller studios, 26:53 lots of dreams, big initiatives. 26:56 But yes, there was a revolution. 26:59 Was there iPhones and iPads and computers and all of this, 27:03 suddenly everybody could take a message 27:07 and do a video and edit and the audio. 27:10 So it's amazing, absolutely. 27:12 Absolutely. 27:13 I wanted to talk to you, of course, 27:15 you're hearing and it's a huge job. 27:16 You not only have all of the entities 27:18 within the church but you have newspapers 27:21 and television stations coming everyday, 27:23 from outside the church 27:25 because we have basically taken over 27:28 San Antonio for our practical purposes. 27:31 And so it's all your responsibility 27:34 to try to make sure 27:35 the right information gets disseminated. 27:37 Yeah, the North America division 27:40 and the leaders had a wonderful idea 27:42 to create this Expo, Health Expo, here, 27:45 some months ago. 27:47 Yes. 27:48 And in this Health Expo, there was service for people, 27:52 for the community and all kinds of way. 27:54 So it was more than $20 millions in service. 27:58 Wow. 27:59 And people said, "Well, look, those Seventh-Day Adventists, 28:04 they are our friends. 28:07 And right now that we have this big gathering here, 28:11 it's amazing to see how open and friendly they are. 28:16 Even the news, sometimes 28:17 journalists become tough people, 28:20 but over here after all of this that has been done, 28:24 they are friendly and nice. 28:25 So the communication informing people. 28:29 And now the communication with the media 28:32 and with the people, 28:33 it's something extremely effective. 28:35 Absolutely. 28:37 I'd like to go back some and talk, 28:39 what are lot of the folk may not know about you 28:42 as your musical background. 28:44 When I met you, I was amazed 28:48 that you're Moses Premo and some other folks have said, 28:52 "We have someone in Brazil who's an incredible arranger." 28:55 And the way they said was, "We'll put him up 28:58 against any American arranger that you have, 29:00 any musician you have." 29:02 And I said, "I want to meet this man." 29:03 Oh, man. 29:05 And they said, "His name is Williams Costa Jr." 29:07 And God has gifted him and his family 29:09 tremendous abilities. 29:11 He arranges, he writes music, 29:15 not only writes but he arranges music, 29:17 he directs choirs, and so your music background, 29:21 how did you get from such a musical background 29:24 to the position you're in today? 29:27 Well, my academic foundation was in music. 29:31 I was graduated as piano performer, 29:34 music education, and composition and conducting. 29:39 This is my academic background. 29:41 During 20 years I was a music teacher, 29:43 arranger, composer, et cetera. 29:46 But then I discovered and said, 29:48 "Well, I need to be involved with television 29:50 to promote music." 29:52 There was an opportunity with It is Written at Brazil. 29:57 And I went to It is Written to promote music. 30:00 But in dealing with the mayor and the decisions for Christ 30:05 and all of this, I became converted 30:07 for communication. 30:10 So from there, it's a process. It was a process. 30:13 And you, you, you're a pastor as well? 30:15 Yeah, and then from It Is Written 30:18 I was invited to be responsible for ADSAT, 30:21 that was the previous hope channel in South America. 30:24 Then I went to the communication department 30:26 in South America. 30:28 And then came for the General Conference. 30:30 How long have you been the G.C. General Conference 30:33 communications? Eight years. 30:35 Eight years? Approximately eight years. 30:36 Three years as an associate director 30:38 in communications 30:40 and five years as a communications director. 30:42 Now they are saying to me that I need to stay five years more. 30:45 I don't know, let's see. 30:47 Well, we hope so. You've done an incredible job. 30:50 And again what we've talked about in, 30:52 a lot of our viewers, they love hearing 30:54 from some of our leaders because they sit at home 30:57 and turn on the television, especially younger folk, 31:01 10, 15, 20, 25 years old. 31:04 They don't know that 30, 35 years ago, 31:07 this was not possible. 31:09 Now anywhere in the world, on your phones 31:11 you can look up "3ABN," the hope channels, 31:13 all of these networks anywhere in the world 31:17 and watch Adventist programming. 31:19 And of course, then you have ministries 31:21 within the church like "Amazing Facts," it is written, 31:24 you know, "Breath of Life," all of those. 31:27 The communications, 31:28 it's a matter of keeping everything 31:31 up to this wave so that we're not behind times 31:34 with the rest of the world. 31:36 You know, Danny, I really think that the Lord is raising 31:40 all of these sources, for us to use as tools, 31:44 to share the good news of salvation 31:46 because it's best time for Jesus to come. 31:51 And there is so many things to do. 31:54 So I think that those tools of communication, 31:57 those media platforms are instruments 32:00 that the Holy Spirit will use 32:02 to spread the Three Angels' message. 32:04 And I really congratulate for "3ABN" 32:07 and all the possibilities that you're developing 32:11 to share this good news. 32:13 This is why we exist. Yeah. 32:14 That's the reason 32:16 why we are living here on this earth. 32:19 It's a privilege to be a part of God's remnant church. 32:23 Part of the Seventh day Adventist church. 32:25 We believe God has people in all churches. 32:27 But He always had a church that gives present truth. 32:30 And so we have a particular message to give to the world, 32:35 and it's Three Angels' messages, 32:36 Fear God and give glory to him. 32:38 You know, for the hour of His judgment is to come. 32:40 It's an in-time's message for an in-time's people. 32:44 And so the position that you're in, 32:47 God has hand picked you as surely 32:50 as He's hand picked out Wilson 32:52 as the president 32:53 because the president without communications 32:57 is just in a little room by himself. 32:59 And so God has set this up. 33:02 We like to say, I'd like to say, 33:04 this has been a setup. 33:05 Sometimes that's negative but it's a setup 33:08 that God has you here, Brother Williams Costa Jr. 33:12 for such an hour as this 33:13 to work not only within the Adventist church 33:16 but then you have to put up with folks like 33:18 "3ABN" coming around and saying, 33:20 "Where can we get involved in this?" 33:22 And so thank you, for allowing us to be a part 33:25 because you mentioned earlier, we're all one. 33:29 Yeah. We have the same message, 33:31 and there's so much communication out there 33:33 but God has raised up "3ABN" 33:36 and I think is I agree with you. 33:38 Technology for radio and television 33:40 is not for the world. 33:42 God has said, Jesus said, 33:43 "Look, I want to come back to this earth. 33:45 I guess I'm gonna have to help my lazy people a little bit." 33:48 They should be out there 33:49 but we'll help them with communications. 33:51 And how many people do you meet that says, 33:54 "I found Jesus through watching hope channel or 3ABN 33:58 or listening to Adventist radio." 34:00 And what an impact that is had 34:02 to think that we're living in a time 34:04 that where as we sat here, the signal goes 22,300 miles 34:08 to space, it's covering nine satellites 34:11 so that anywhere on planet earth, 34:13 any inhabitant continent can be reached, 34:17 not only through 3ABN, 34:18 but hoping all these other channels. 34:20 Absolutely. 34:21 It's an amazing time to be alive. 34:23 But never has a job been more difficult 34:26 and I'm gonna ask my, all or our viewers 34:29 to continually lift you up in prayer. 34:32 Because the message Jesus says, "Go ye into all the world." 34:37 In this sentence, 34:38 He's not only saying to each of us but particularly 34:42 the responsibility on your shoulders 34:45 as World Communications Director 34:48 for the world church. 34:51 I've appointed you for such an hour as this 34:53 so before we shut down here, I want to say a little prayer 34:56 and I'm gonna ask our viewers to pray for you 34:58 because no one knows, 35:00 I've seen him just a little bit, 35:02 this man has gone almost 24x7 it seems like 35:05 if it's phone wasn't shut off right now 35:07 he'd be keep answering it 35:09 because he has so much responsibility. 35:12 At this point, I'm glad that you are not me. 35:14 I can sit back and watch you. Oh, no, it's all been 35:16 a real privilege to me, 35:18 I'd like to congratulate all the viewers. 35:22 And I would like to wish all the vision 35:26 and perception to do the mission. 35:29 Thank you, for your support to this ministry. 35:31 Thank you, for supporting all the initiatives to spread 35:35 the good news of salvation. 35:37 And may God bless you and your dear family. 35:40 Alright, let me say a special prayer for you. 35:42 I'd like our viewers at home to join with us, 35:45 Heavenly Father, 35:46 we just come to You today, we're so grateful 35:48 and so thankful that You've allowed us to be alive 35:51 in these closing moments of earth's history. 35:54 I'm so thankful that You've taken this son of Yours, 35:59 this brother of ours that You have gifted in so many ways 36:03 through music, but most of all for burden 36:07 to take the gospel to all the world 36:09 and that you have lifted him up, 36:11 man has not done it. 36:12 You have put him in a position to disseminate 36:15 this great gospel of the kingdom 36:17 and to all the world before you come back. 36:20 So I pray, You continue to be with him. 36:22 Thank You, how you blessed the last eight years, 36:24 we pray for more blessings this coming five years, 36:27 we pray that to next G.C. session 36:30 could be in heaven as it were. 36:32 Otherwise we could be there and we realize 36:35 that your coming is very soon. 36:36 World events are happening so rapidly. 36:40 Thank You, again for the privilege 36:42 that You have given us, 36:44 the Seventh Day Adventist's Christians to take 36:46 the Three Angels' messages to the world, 36:48 and thank You, for allowing us here, 36:50 "3ABN" to be able to work with this great church 36:53 and with folk like Elder Wilson and Brother Williams Costa Jr. 36:57 that we can join hands together to accomplish 37:00 what You have called us to do. 37:01 We thank You, and give you honor and glory and praise. 37:05 In Jesus name I pray. 37:06 Amen. Amen. 37:07 Amen. All right. 37:09 Thank you very much. 37:14 Did you know that the General Conference 37:15 has its own professional mortgage broker? 37:18 I didn't know that for many years but indeed they do, 37:20 the name is Anees Abdelnour, General Conference treasury, 37:25 portfolio manager. 37:27 The General Conference does have investments 37:29 that are used as, to keep up with inflation, 37:32 conservative investments that are made to increase 37:35 the dividends or returns to the church, 37:37 on money that is invested. 37:39 Anees is a professional mortgage broker for the G.C. 37:42 He was shared about the mission project in Jordan, 37:44 where they help deliver food to the people of Jordan 37:47 and help the colleges and those who want to learn 37:51 to work on computers. 37:52 They have helped with health clinics 37:54 and also conducted a youth camp. 37:58 Jim Gilley had a chance to talk with Anees Abdelnour. 38:05 One of the great things about being in San Antonio, 38:09 Texas right now 38:11 at the 60th General Conference session 38:14 is that you see old friends, folks that you've known 38:17 in the past and you run into them in the halls 38:21 and I ran into one, the other day 38:23 and I said, "I want you to come on board," 38:25 because I had heard about 38:27 some things that were taking place in this person's life. 38:30 The guest that I'm going to introduce to you 38:33 is Anees Abdelnour. 38:37 And Anees, we welcome you today. 38:39 My pleasure. We're so happy to have you. 38:41 Now let me tell you a little bit about him 38:44 and how I met him. 38:45 You see, 38:47 when people go to move into Washington, DC 38:49 to be at the General Conference office 38:51 which I was there for five years 38:53 as a vice president. 38:55 I needed a place to stay and of course, 38:59 when you come into the area, no one knows you 39:02 and the General Conference has within its own confines 39:06 a treasury department, 39:07 its own mortgage company so to speak. 39:10 In other words from reserves, they make loans on houses 39:14 that are fully secured. 39:15 Believe me they are very business 39:18 like in that transaction. 39:20 And they make with the money that they have, 39:24 a good mortgage return as a mortgage company would. 39:28 They have a professional running that department 39:32 and it comes under treasury of the General Conference 39:36 but Anees is the professional mortgage banker that does this 39:42 and works as a full time employee 39:44 for the General Conference. 39:46 And Anees, does that pretty well encompass 39:49 what you do there? 39:51 Exactly, among other things, that is what I do. 39:53 Alright. 39:55 But now, Anees has a love for the Lord Jesus Christ. 40:00 He and I, we're just, we're connected. 40:03 There was a connection from just when I sat at the table 40:07 and filled out the paper work and I made my mortgage payments 40:11 on time and so far, 40:13 but the innovation paid that house off. 40:15 But he and I made a connection that was far beyond 40:21 just a business relationship, it was a friendship. 40:25 We see each other in the hall and greet each other there. 40:29 When I found out that Anees is a native of Jordan, 40:33 in the Middle East, the country Jordan, 40:36 what city in Jordan actually? 40:38 Uh, I was born in the capital city of Amman. 40:42 In Amman, Jordan? Yes. 40:43 I've been there a number of times, 40:45 it's a wonderful city where I used to go there often 40:48 and go down to Petra. Yes. 40:50 And made that drive down there and then go back in 40:54 to the Sic back into the Treasury building. 40:58 It's a wonderful city. It really is. 41:00 It's a beautiful thing. 41:02 But even though you live in United States, 41:08 you have a burden for Jordan. 41:11 Tell me a little bit about what you do. 41:13 I have been involved in a mission project, 41:17 God's mission project in the country of Jordan. 41:21 This is how my mother raised me, 41:24 my brother, and my sisters 41:27 to always help others. 41:29 So I connected with Elder Homer Trecartin, 41:33 president of the Middle East, North Africa Union, 41:38 who connected me 41:40 with the leadership of the mission in Jordan. 41:43 So I walk with the youth pastor and the youth in Jordan 41:49 doing what Jesus did on earth. Yes. 41:53 Helping others and building relationships. 41:55 You know, people think, people don't realize 41:58 that Jesus was often in that territory 42:03 because it was kind of an expansion 42:06 of that particular area. 42:08 And he would go over into that area on his travels. 42:11 You can see the travels as you study the new testimony. 42:14 Exactly. Yeah. 42:16 And also, before I get into the details, 42:19 I would like also to comment the G.C Adventist mission 42:23 department because they were a major inspiration 42:27 to me personally. Right, right. 42:30 So tell us a little bit more about the specific work 42:33 that you do there, would you? 42:35 Okay, so what we did there last year in Jordan, 42:39 as we distributed food supplies, 42:44 door to door in very poor neighborhood 42:48 in three different cities in Jordan. 42:50 What kind of food would you take to? 42:52 Just basically-- 42:53 Basics. Basics. 42:55 Rice. Basic food supplies, exactly. 42:58 Uh, flour maybe. 42:59 Rice, sugar, basic needs, exactly. 43:04 And so we went to poor neighborhood 43:07 and many of those who received the food were Syrian refugees 43:13 who came to Jordan across the border. 43:15 Yes. 43:16 So we went to these homes, we passed the food supplies, 43:22 we prayed for these people, and it was very much rewarding 43:26 and very much appreciated by these people. 43:29 right. Now you mentioned about a man 43:32 who has been sick for four years. 43:34 Tell us about that man. Yeah, we visited a man 43:38 who has been in bed for four years 43:41 and could not walk. 43:42 After we passed the food supplies, 43:46 and we prayed for him, he pleaded for us 43:49 that sometime in the future, 43:51 if we can supply him with a medical bed 43:54 so it will make his life more user-friendly. 43:57 Right. I bet that were raised 43:59 and lowered, and they can adjust it 44:02 to make him more comfortable for a person 44:04 that is to lie on bed 24 hours a day. 44:07 Yes, yes, yeah. 44:09 Have you been able to do that yet? 44:11 We are working on it. 44:12 You're working on it? I'm working on it. 44:14 Now I know that there are a lot of children 44:17 in that part of the world 44:19 and many of them have real needs, 44:21 have you been able to help any other children? 44:24 Okay, one of the things 44:25 that we did last year is we passed 70 backpacks 44:32 full of food supplies to 70 children 44:36 in two different cities in Jordan, 44:38 in Amman and Madaba near Mount Nebo. 44:41 Okay. 44:43 And it was very much appreciated 44:45 and it was passed to very poor children. 44:49 Now Mount Nebo, 44:51 what was the biblical significance of Mount Nebo? 44:54 Madaba, Madaba, near Mount Nebo. 44:57 Okay. 44:58 We'll talk about the matter, 45:01 I know you were not there but you were near there. 45:02 This is where Moses died, right? 45:04 Exactly, exactly. 45:06 So we're dealing in a part of the world 45:09 where the whole message of salvation really began. 45:15 It's coming to Abraham, and then through Moses, 45:20 and then to Jesus, and the message going 45:24 out around the world. Yes, yes. 45:26 Now tell us some more about some of the teaching, 45:30 you had an ability that you've been able to, 45:32 there are a lot of people there that want to learn computers 45:36 and so forth, have you been able to help them with that? 45:38 Yes, I've been to school in Amman, Jordan. 45:42 They have a computer lab so we conducted 45:45 free computer training classes to anybody who wanted 45:49 to learn computers from the community. 45:52 And it was highly accepted and very rewarding to many. 45:56 Have you been able to help some of those 45:58 that particularly involved in our faith 46:02 there to secure computers, to help them with any projects, 46:08 some of the youth group workers. 46:10 We have been hopefully, in the future we will be doing that. 46:12 You're gonna be doing that? But this was the first project 46:14 of this type in Jordan. Right, right. 46:17 And we are working to expand that in the future. 46:21 When will you be going back? 46:23 I will be going back again in September 46:28 and there is a project that we have planned 46:35 in collaboration of the G.C. 46:40 Healthy ministry department and the Middle East 46:42 North Africa union to hold to do what we did last year, 46:47 and also expanded to conduct you know, 46:50 health clinics, health expos in different parts of Jordan. 46:55 Right. 46:56 Now youth camps are really something 46:59 that are non existent in a way. 47:02 But you were able to have a youth camp 47:04 for the young people, right? 47:06 Yes, the conclusion of the mission project last year, 47:09 we organized a youth camp that was attended by 70 youth 47:15 and to reflect on the success of the mission project 47:19 and also reflect on the theme of the camp, 47:23 "Growing in Christ." 47:26 And these young people were there for about how long? 47:29 At the camp for about four days. 47:31 Now what did they do? Where did they have the camp? 47:33 Where is it take place? 47:34 Okay, we held the camp last year 47:38 in a city called Jerash, in north of Amman. 47:42 Yeah. And it's a Greek Roman city. 47:45 And we held it in the mountains of that city, Jerash. 47:51 Now in America, when they have a youth camp, 47:54 what we think of is water skiing 47:56 and we think of horseback riding 47:58 and all that. 48:00 What kind of activities did those youth do? 48:02 Okay, we had meditation sessions, 48:06 hiking, and they organized in groups of ten people 48:13 and they discussed a subject and there was a chaplain 48:20 that came from the Middle East University, 48:23 and he is originally from Argentina. 48:26 But he worked at the Middle East University, 48:28 see, he organized different games 48:31 and spiritual games for the youth 48:34 in different parts of the day. 48:35 Okay, so they are not playing a lot of games, 48:39 they're studying and learning quite a bit. 48:42 Growing, exactly. Yeah. 48:44 Now, but the background of these young people, 48:47 they were church members or were they young people 48:50 from the community? A combination of church members 48:52 and non church members. And how are they selected? 48:57 It was promoted in the church and whoever you know, 49:02 chose to come, they come. 49:03 And they were may be bring their neighbors 49:05 or friends or relatives. Friends and relatives, exactly. 49:08 Right. 49:10 Are you planning to do that again? 49:11 We are hoping to do that again and may be not in this 49:16 coming September because they just held 49:18 the youth camp in Jordan, last month. 49:21 But in future trips, and we are planning these trips 49:24 on annual basis. 49:26 We are hoping to do that in the future holding youth camps. 49:29 Okay. And you've mentioned already 49:31 that you are planning more trips over in the future. 49:35 Exactly. 49:37 And I'll also do, would like to mention 49:39 one more thing that we did in Jordan 49:42 is we visited a center for disabled children 49:47 in the capital city of Amman. Okay. 49:49 Now when we talk with somebody we usually ask them 49:52 what can our viewers do to help you with this? 49:55 What can they do? 49:57 Basically they can connect with us either by participating 50:04 in this project. 50:05 They can help financially if they choose to. 50:08 What if you have a qualified person 50:11 that wants to go and help? 50:12 Can they contact you and make arrangements for that? 50:16 As I said you know, we are doing more projects 50:19 in the future, they can contact me, 50:20 and we will work and doing 50:22 a mutual work together in the country of Jordan. 50:25 Yeah, of course I have a great burden 50:28 for all parts of the world but I have a special burden 50:32 for the Middle East. 50:33 I have a special burden for Jordan, for Egypt, 50:37 and I'll be honest with you, more so for Israel than any 50:42 because our work has been so difficult there. 50:45 And I've been connecting a lot with Roger Robertson, 50:47 and we've worked a lot to help that particular work. 50:51 Uh, Lebanon of course, 50:53 we've got other work going on up there. 50:55 I'm not involved personally, but we supported 50:57 and any other part of the Middle East 50:59 where we can support. 51:01 So we're excited about what you're doing there. 51:04 I know that the Middle East North Africa union 51:08 under the leadership of Elder Homer Trecartin 51:10 they're doing a great job and advancing the work 51:14 in that part of the world. 51:15 Amen. 51:16 We're just so happy that this is happening 51:19 and you know, the amazing thing again Anees job 51:22 is not to do this. 51:24 He's not hired to do this. 51:25 This is his volunteer work. 51:28 This is what he does as a lay person. 51:31 This is what he does as a member 51:33 of the Seventh Day Adventist church 51:35 wanting to get the message out around the world. 51:38 The Lord has given him his, 51:40 a burden for his native country, 51:42 the place where he was born and I know that some of you 51:48 are also from Jordan 51:50 and you are watching this program. 51:52 And maybe that's where you were born 51:54 and you'd like to be a part of it, contact Anees. 51:57 We're gonna put up contact information 51:59 at the closure of this segment. 52:01 And I hope that you will feel free to contact him. 52:04 Let him know that you're praying. 52:06 Let him know if there's some way 52:09 that you can support this outreach 52:11 to the people of Jordan. 52:14 You know the Lord Jesus is coming soon. 52:17 He's coming for all of us. 52:20 We must do all that we can to finish the work 52:24 wherever He calls us to go. 52:28 Anees, I'm so happy 52:30 that you could be with us today. 52:32 I'm honored as well. 52:34 And we're gonna continue the prayer 52:36 for the work of all of the Middle East, 52:40 especially that union there 52:45 where the brothers... and we're gonna also be praying 52:48 especially for your outreach into Jordan 52:53 and that it will benefit many souls 52:56 and that many will be in the kingdom as a result. 53:00 Thank you, Anees, for joining us. 53:03 God bless you. God bless you. 53:11 There are many Seventh Day Adventist workers 53:13 at the General Conference and in other areas 53:15 who in addition to their job portfolio carry other 53:20 and wear other hats for their native countries, 53:22 Anees, a native of Jordan has a burden for that country 53:25 and he's working with and through the government 53:29 to work with the people of the country of Jordan. 53:32 The contact information for the General Conference, 53:34 if would you like to be a part of this 53:36 or support this work 53:37 (301) 680-6000 is the number 53:41 of the General Conference head quarters. 53:42 (301) 680-6000. 53:45 Or you can write them at 12501 Old Columbia Pike, 53:49 Silver Spring, Maryland 53:50 And you can make contact with Anees Abdelnour 53:53 and support the country of Jordan. 53:56 Well, we're gonna go to a news break just now, 53:58 then we'll be back to wrap this up. |
Revised 2015-10-05