Participants: C.A. Murray (Host), Shelly Quinn (Host), Alexis Hurd-Shires, Fred & Isatta Coker, Richard Bland
Series Code: TDY
Program Code: TDY015075A
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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 00:30 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 01:07 Hello and welcome to 3ABN Today. 01:08 I'm C.A. Murray, and thank you once again 01:10 for sharing just a little of your day with us. 01:13 And this is a very important program, very exciting one, 01:15 because we get to travel from the United States 01:17 to West Africa to Beirut, Lebanon of all places, 01:20 as we see people who are doing great things 01:22 for the cause of Jesus Christ. 01:24 We've heard a lot about Syria as of late, refugees, 01:27 pouring out of Syria moving into Europe. 01:30 But the refugee problem in Syria has been going on 01:32 for quite sometime. 01:34 Today, Shelley Quinn, 01:35 gets a chance to interview Alexis Hurd-Shires. 01:38 She is the young woman 01:39 who helped start an Adventist learning center, 01:42 an elementary school for refugee children 01:45 in of all places, Beirut, Lebanon. 01:50 Again, we're coming to you 01:52 from the floor of the convention hall 01:54 here in San Antonio, 01:56 at the 2015 General Conference Session. 01:59 And we have with us today a very lovely young lady, 02:02 who is doing an incredible humanitarian 02:06 and educational work in Beirut, Lebanon. 02:09 Let me introduce you to Alexis Hurd-Shires. 02:13 Alexis, we are so glad you are here with us today. 02:16 Thank you so much for having me. 02:17 Well, before we get into the work you are doing now, 02:21 just tell us a little bit about your background 02:24 and how you ended up in Beirut, Lebanon? 02:27 Well, you know, I was raised 02:31 traveling all over the countryside 02:33 in the United States, because my father was a pastor. 02:36 And that's why I love traveling 02:38 and I love going different places. 02:40 Because of that love for travel, 02:41 I have done all kinds of different projects. 02:43 I worked at an orphanage in Romania. 02:46 I worked at a school in Guyana, South America 02:49 to some troops down into Mexico 02:51 and traveled all over the place. 02:53 So, of course, when the opportunity came 02:54 to go to Beirut, 02:55 I jumped at the idea of going and being in another culture, 02:59 experiencing new places, and seeing what I could do 03:02 to meet the needs of the people there. 03:04 Well, it's fascinating to me. 03:05 Now you work under the Middle East North African Union. 03:09 And the program is I guess we could call it 03:13 a centers of the influence Program. 03:16 You are running an Adventist learning center, is it called? 03:21 Yes, the name of our project is Adventist Learning Center. 03:24 Okay, tell us a little bit 03:25 about what you're doing in Beirut? 03:27 What I'm doing in Beirut right now is 03:28 I have a school for Syrian refugees, 03:32 for those of you who follow the war, 03:34 you know, that's been going on for four years now in Syria. 03:37 And because of that it's very dangerous for people 03:40 to stay many times in the communities 03:42 that they grew up in. 03:43 May be their home is destroyed now, 03:45 may be it's not safe because there is fighting near by so, 03:48 they leave as quickly as they can to neighboring countries. 03:51 And then Lebanon is an ideal choice 03:54 because it's right in the edge of Syria. 03:57 So, when they get to Lebanon that-- 03:59 as refuges they are living 04:00 in these tiny one room apartments. 04:03 Not knowing any one, not being able to connect. 04:06 So, when I went to Beirut in 2013, 04:09 I did a needs assessment to see what were the needs of the area 04:12 and what could I do as an individual 04:15 and what could I do, 04:17 what kind of a center could I create 04:18 that would meet the needs of the local community. 04:21 Because that's the idea of a center of influence, 04:23 is to give us an opportunity to interact day to day life 04:29 with the people around us, 04:30 instead of just thinking about ourselves. 04:32 But you know, really reach out to the community. 04:34 So, from my needs assessment I found that 04:36 there is hundreds of thousands of Syrian children 04:39 that are unable to get into local schools, 04:42 one of the main reasons 04:44 is because there's simply so many of them 04:45 and the schools aren't equipped to handle them. 04:47 The other reason is because 04:49 of huge lapses in education, you know. 04:51 You think they've been out of school 04:53 for two to four years may be that's because 04:56 there is no longer school in their area, it was bombed. 04:59 May be their teachers fled, may be they were just scared 05:01 to send their kids to school, you know, when there is war, 05:04 you don't want to send your kids out 05:05 where you don't know where they are. 05:06 You want them home with you. 05:08 And then on the top of that in Syria, 05:10 education is completely in Arabic, where as in Lebanon, 05:13 it's all French or English education 05:15 with very little in Arabic. 05:17 So, they weren't equipped 05:19 to join into the Lebanon schools 05:20 and there wasn't space for them. 05:22 And these places that did have space were the private schools, 05:25 but they don't have money. 05:26 If you can't afford to feed your kids 05:28 how you're gonna send them to school. 05:30 So, God worked in amazing ways 05:33 and within three months of arriving 05:34 we're able to open the doors to our center. 05:37 And so your center, you're taking students, 05:40 children of how, what age group? 05:43 We have kids between six years old 05:45 and twelve years old at the center. 05:47 We have 70 of them. 05:49 Now when they come, 05:50 many of them had never had any English. 05:52 Is that correct? 05:54 When they come, almost all of them 05:56 have never had any English 05:57 and what's more, because of the work 05:59 some of them who are even eight or nine years old 06:02 have never been into school in their entire life. 06:04 So their first educational experience is at our center. 06:08 Now, let's talk about the culture because in Syria, 06:13 people are members of the very tight knit group 06:17 and there are so many different sects. 06:19 When they go to Lebanon, is one of the reasons 06:22 you said that they stay to themselves quite often, 06:26 is this just the fear of other Syrians or what? 06:31 No. 06:32 You know, when you flee a war situation 06:34 and there are so many different factions 06:36 you don't know who you can trust. 06:38 And so, they are coming to a foreign country, 06:41 full of people who they don't know, 06:44 they are foreigners they're not wanted to the same extent 06:47 as they would be in their own homes, you know. 06:49 These are the ones that are coming in 06:51 and don't have a place and of course, 06:53 there's people that took compassion on them 06:55 but it's also very hard to just come in 06:56 and integrate into a new society 06:58 when you have nothing. 07:00 So, as you mentioned there is a lot of fear. 07:02 When we were going out and meeting people, 07:04 we met women after women that said you know, 07:07 "I haven't been out of my house in two weeks." 07:09 "I haven't been out of my house in three months." 07:11 "We just don't know who is out there. 07:14 We don't know who is accepting of us. 07:15 We don't know where the resources are 07:18 and what to do. 07:19 We're just trying to like 07:20 stick our family together and survive." 07:22 So, did you go door to door to encourage students 07:25 or how do you get your students? 07:27 Well, initially as I mentioned I did a needs assessment. 07:29 So, I sat down with the community leaders 07:32 and said what's the needs of your community 07:33 and then once we targeted the Syrian refugees, 07:36 I just started going 07:37 house to house with my translator, 07:39 sitting down with them 07:40 saying what was your experience coming to Lebanon. 07:42 What are the needs that you have? 07:44 And so from our initial interviews with families, 07:46 that's how we got the students of our first year. 07:50 And because of now the reputation of our school, 07:53 we don't have to go looking for students anywhere. 07:55 I mean, as a matter of fact, 07:57 I have a waiting list of a 150 and we only have 70 places. 08:01 And there is even more that have come and said you know, 08:03 we can't put our name on the list because out of 150 08:06 you're never gonna get to us any way, 08:07 so what's the point. 08:09 So there is a huge need in our community alone, 08:11 there is probably some four or five thousand kids 08:13 that are just not in education, any kind of education. 08:16 And that's really sad. 08:17 Tell us what you do with those children when they come in, 08:20 they've not been exposed to English. 08:22 Are most of your class English and French or... 08:25 We don't teach any French. 08:27 Because I'm from the States and I don't know French 08:29 and I've cultivated an English speaking staff for myself. 08:33 Actually, we have a really multi-cultural group. 08:35 We have staff from Lithuania, Romania, Egypt. 08:40 I have one Syrian as well, one from Nigeria, 08:43 one from America, very multi-cultural staff. 08:46 So, the kids come in 08:47 and education is primarily in English. 08:50 Except for Arabic class, everything else 08:53 we teach them in English 08:54 and they may not understand everything. 08:56 But the beautiful thing is because of this project 08:58 we have some big sisters and some moms 09:01 that are desperate to be part of what we are doing. 09:03 And some of them have come to some ESL classes. 09:06 So when we need help in the classes, 09:08 they can help us with the translation, 09:10 so that children understand 09:11 and then they have an opportunity 09:13 to be busy in doing something as well. 09:15 So how fast do they progress, when you take a child 09:18 that's been out of school 09:19 or may be never been to a school? 09:21 But may be if they're one of the older children 09:23 they may have been out of school two to four years. 09:26 How fast do they progress? 09:28 Well, you know the main barrier is teaching them English. 09:31 But once they get English, 09:33 we're able to move fairly quickly. 09:35 When we started in 2013, none of the kids, 09:37 no matter if they were six or twelve, 09:39 could pass a third grade test. 09:41 So, basically our first year, everyone started between 09:44 kindergarten and third grade, even if they were the big kids. 09:48 The bid kids progress very fast. 09:50 In two years time they finish third, fourth, fifth and sixth. 09:55 And now we're trying to support them 09:57 getting into regular schools 09:58 because our school only goes to sixth grade. 10:01 So, we're trying to see what we can do to help them 10:04 be able to attend local schools. 10:06 So let's talk about that just a little bit. 10:07 When they have finished the sixth grade level, 10:12 the option is to go to a private school 10:15 basically because... 10:16 Basically the public schools are full. 10:19 They are-- I've had a couple of kids 10:20 who've been able to get in but the majority will not. 10:22 So, either and God forbid, their education stops 10:27 or we find other schools, 10:30 private schools that are willing to accept them, 10:31 the problem there is funding because our school is free 10:35 but the other schools aren't free. 10:36 So, you're looking at anywhere 10:38 from $1500 to $3000 a year for them to go to school. 10:42 And there are schools that are open and willing to take them 10:45 but and they will give them discounts but it's not enough 10:47 when you are refugee and you can't feed your family 10:49 and you can't afford to pay the rent 10:51 how could you send your child to school. 10:53 So, we're praying so much for doors to open for the kids 10:56 from our oldest class who finish sixth grade 10:58 be able to go to school. 11:00 But now we understand the educational part, 11:02 let's talk about the breaking down of barriers. 11:09 Well, are you finding that the community now 11:12 is becoming more trusting? 11:14 You an American and a lot of them 11:16 think very highly of Americans 11:18 but are they becoming more trusting? 11:21 Is there interaction among the families? 11:23 Is there interaction among you in the families 11:25 on a personal level? 11:27 Well, you know, our really large component of what we do 11:30 is not only to provide the service of education 11:33 but to have social interaction with the family. 11:35 So as I said we started out 11:36 by doing visits with the families 11:38 and just meeting them where they were. 11:39 And we found a group of people traumatized by the war 11:43 who are scared to go out of their houses 11:45 worried about what other people thought. 11:47 Even some of them who were out in the community 11:49 and didn't have good experiences 11:51 interacting with the locals 11:52 who were very suspicious 11:54 but as they spent time at the school, 11:57 as you mentioned not only 11:58 did they come closer to each other 11:59 but they came close to us. 12:01 In Syria it's a very-- 12:03 like the rest of the Middle East 12:04 they are family oriented society. 12:06 So they went from having big families 12:08 or you know everybody on your street, 12:10 you do things together to suddenly being 12:12 these isolated groups of one family here, 12:15 one family there, another family here. 12:17 And not only isolated from their own communities 12:19 but in a culture they didn't understand 12:23 to the same degree even though it's close. 12:25 So because of the school we've kind of been 12:28 this melting part where families from all over Syria 12:31 different parts you've never known each other before. 12:33 Syrians and Kurds have just come together 12:36 and got to know each other and to see that, you know, 12:39 you don't have to be in my family for me to love 12:41 and to trust you and to watch the relationships form 12:45 between the women and between the children. 12:47 Yeah, for kids it's easy but for the adults to say, 12:50 you know, I'm from Damascus 12:51 and I may be have never been to Aleppo 12:53 but you are from Aleppo and I like you 12:56 and we have something in common. 12:57 So you have seen barriers come down 12:59 and I believe didn't you tell me 13:00 before we came in our pre-interview 13:03 you mentioned something about you have been 13:05 to their homes for dinner that they are inviting you. 13:07 Right now this is the month of Ramadan, 13:10 we have I think half of the month last left 13:11 so before I got to the States here-- 13:15 Ramadan is a time when you call your family together 13:18 and you break the fast every evening. 13:21 And every single evening before I arrived here I have families 13:24 asking me please, come to my house for Ramadan. 13:26 So we go about sunset and we sit on the floor 13:29 and we put out the food and we contribute to each other 13:32 and we sit and we talk and we play games 13:34 and we just have fun as a family 13:36 and we had over and over people tell us, 13:39 we don't have family here but we have you. 13:42 And they know you are an Adventist so you are-- 13:44 They knew that we are Adventist. 13:46 Now let me ask you about your greatest challenge. 13:48 I know that you've had-- it's been two years so far 13:53 you've had a staff of five teachers 13:55 but I understand that right now its some of those 13:59 are having to move on. 14:00 So what are some of your 14:02 greatest challenges for the coming year? 14:04 For sure right now my greatest challenge is 14:06 I need to find few more teachers for next year. 14:10 In the past God has always provided 14:12 so I know He is gonna do it this time 14:14 but just looking for some people 14:17 that have a heart for showing love to others 14:21 and for teaching, for meeting with different people 14:25 from different cultures and spending time with them. 14:27 That's one of our greatest challenges 14:30 at the school itself. 14:31 And then I think that I know your school is well funded 14:35 and you're offering those services free 14:37 but from time to time there is other humanitarian needs 14:40 that need to be met. 14:41 You know, living as a refugee is not easy. 14:43 Yes. It's not easy at all. 14:46 It's been so sad to watch 14:47 some of the families have gone back to Syria 14:49 because they couldn't afford to survive. 14:51 So we have from time to time when receiving donations 14:54 and then we are able to help with rents or buy a bag of food 14:58 or it was really awesome 15:00 when they first came we got some donations. 15:02 We were able to buy mattresses 15:03 so they didn't have to lie on the floor. 15:06 Winter time we were able to buy shoes for the kids. 15:09 They walk some of them 20 minutes to school 15:11 every day or more. 15:13 So being able to have a pair of waterproof shoes 15:15 to just walk back and forth is so important. 15:18 So for sure our school 15:20 is 100 percent provided for by the union 15:23 but when it comes to meeting 15:24 the individual needs of the people 15:26 that's where we are really at a disadvantage. 15:29 Alexis, I'm so proud of you 15:30 and I know your parents are as well 15:32 because this whole idea was started by Homer Trecartin, 15:38 who is the union president 15:40 for the Middle East and North Africa Union. 15:42 His idea of centers of influence 15:45 and they are making a difference 15:47 because people are getting to know Adventist 15:49 and they are beginning to love Adventists because of this. 15:52 And I love the work that you are doing. 15:54 If you think that-- 15:57 if God is stirring your heart right now, 15:59 the Holy Spirit is whispering in your ear 16:02 that may be you would like to go 16:04 and give a year or two years of service 16:06 and become a teacher 16:08 at the Adventist learning school in Beirut. 16:11 God can use in a major way 16:13 and you can go to the Facebook page, 16:15 Alexis has a Facebook. 16:17 It's facebook.com /adventistlearningcenter, 16:24 facebook.com /adventistlearningcenter. 16:30 There you can see the employment opportunities 16:34 as well as maybe you would like to support 16:37 some of the other humanitarian needs 16:40 that like for shoes or for food somebody. 16:43 We just want to thank you so much for joining us and, 16:46 Alexis, thank you for the work that you are doing. 16:48 Thank you for having me. Amen. Amen. 16:53 In the month since that interview was taped 16:55 of course the Syrian refugee problem 16:57 has really mushroomed and grown and grown. 17:00 But you are so proud to see young people, 17:02 Seventh-day Adventist young people 17:03 who are rolling up their sleeves and getting involved. 17:06 She is right there on the borders of Syria in Lebanon, 17:09 in Beirut teaching and training and lifting up Jesus. 17:14 That is so powerful and so wonderful. 17:16 Next up, Fred and Isatta Coker and their children are brining 17:22 the gospel to the Susu in Guinea, West Africa. 17:27 Fred is a former animist and Isatta is a former Muslim. 17:31 Together they are working to lift up the name of Jesus 17:34 and doing a great work among the people in Susu. 17:44 Again we are coming to you 17:45 from the floor of the convention hall 17:47 here at the 2015 General Conference Session 17:50 in San Antonio and we have-- 17:53 we are hearing such exciting stories 17:56 about what Adventist missionaries are doing. 17:59 We have a lovely couple with us today, 18:01 their names are Fred and Isatta Coker. 18:04 And they are missionaries 18:06 working with Adventist Frontier Mission. 18:09 They are working on the Susu, 18:12 Susu project in Guinea, West Africa. 18:16 What I would like to do before we get rolling 18:19 on this exciting project and all the stories 18:22 we have is tell our viewers how you both being Muslims 18:28 ended up Seventh-day Adventist Christians. 18:31 Fred, we will start with you. 18:33 Well, my journey to be a Christian 18:36 is a very exciting one. 18:41 I grew up in a Muslim home with my grandmother 18:44 and she takes me to the Mosque everyday 18:49 but she had faith in an Adventist school 18:52 and we were just a short distance 18:54 from the Adventist school in Bo, Sierra Leone. 18:58 And I did my primary education there 19:01 and but I was never interested into church 19:05 because of the messages that we get from the mosque. 19:10 And as I was growing up I had a few gang members 19:14 that will go to the church on Saturdays 19:21 and steal mangoes and fruits from the church yard. 19:25 And the first mandate that went from the church was, 19:32 "When you get those boys beat them up." 19:35 But the mission president's wife Mrs. Palmer at that time, 19:39 Pastor Palmer his wife was just so sweet and she said, 19:46 "I have something to do with these kids. 19:48 Don't beat them up." 19:49 She started with a very inspiring 19:53 Bible Sabbath school class under the mango tree. 19:58 Right under the mango trees? 20:00 Well, because we went there 20:01 our main goal was to get mangoes 20:04 and right under the mango tree 20:06 she had felt and Bible story lined up 20:10 on a mat on the floor on the ground 20:14 and when they catch us they would bring us to her 20:18 and they would bring us to her 20:20 and she would give us Bible lessons 20:22 under that mango tree. 20:24 And then my friends and I were-- 20:28 we began to go there not only for the mangoes 20:30 but also to hear this Bible stories. 20:34 But because of the Islamic influence in my upbringing 20:37 I was never interested and half of my members, 20:41 my gang members became Seventh-day Adventists. 20:44 And I continue on my life 20:47 and I went to the Adventist secondary school, 20:52 Milton Comprehensive Secondary School 20:55 but I was never interested 20:57 until when war broke out in Sierra Leone 1991. 21:01 Iran to Guinea as a refugee and there our stepfather 21:07 who was a colporteur 21:11 decided to just group us together 21:13 and give us Bible stories and Bible lessons. 21:18 We were doing it in the morning, 21:20 in the afternoon, and in the evening. 21:22 That was the only thing that we had to do there, you know, 21:25 and he took our name to the Conakry mission 21:29 and we got baptized my wife and I the same day. 21:32 That's my journey as a Seventh-day Adventist. 21:37 Praise the Lord. 21:38 And I know for you, Isatta, that you grew up in a Muslim-- 21:42 your father was a devout Muslim 21:44 but your brother became a Christian 21:47 or was interested 21:49 and he is the one who influenced you. 21:51 Yes. 21:54 It was very interesting 21:55 because it was one day he came over to me 21:58 because he had this girlfriend who always comes over to me. 22:01 So when the girlfriend is ready to go, 22:04 he kind of like accompany the girl. 22:06 So one day he was passing in a corner 22:10 and he saw this church 22:11 and most time they kind of like lean on the walls of the church 22:14 and start discussing with his girlfriend. 22:18 And one day he started hearing all this preaching 22:22 because it is a church and it's a Pentecostal church. 22:26 So he was very excited and he came running to me 22:29 because my brother and I were very close. 22:32 So he came running to me, he said, mom, 22:34 because he called my mommy. 22:36 "Something very interesting 22:37 do you want us to exploit." 22:39 I was, "what is it?" He said, "It's a church. 22:43 Come on let's go, let's go and see what is in there." 22:46 So we went he and I at first, the first time he and I went 22:50 but I was a little bit scared. 22:52 I was very scared of my dad 22:54 because we are completely Muslims 22:56 and every morning my father wake us up, 23:00 my father wake us up to do our prayers 23:03 and so it was scary for me. 23:06 I told my brother, I said, 23:07 "Don't you think this is gonna be a problem for us?" 23:10 So he was like, "Let's just hide and keep going. 23:13 Our father will not know anything." 23:15 So we kept on going, going. 23:17 So one day we decided to give our life to Jesus. 23:20 So we got baptized but by then I was dating a guy 23:23 and he too he was coming from a Muslim background. 23:26 So he ends up-- because of me 23:28 he started coming over to the church. 23:30 So he and I got into a fight for one reason or the other. 23:33 He said, "I should not go back to the church." 23:35 But by then I was so into the service and everything 23:39 so I said, "You cannot stop me to go to church. 23:41 I'm gonna go to church. 23:43 This is my salvation. It is not your salvation. 23:46 So let me go to church." 23:47 So one day he was angry at me when I went to church 23:51 so he slapped me actually. 23:54 He slapped me actually and he was very angry with me. 23:58 So finally I went he told my dad about it 24:00 because he knew if he tell my dad about it 24:03 my dad is gonna be angry at me. 24:04 So he told my dad and my dad was very angry 24:07 and he just slapped me on my face 24:10 and he had a big ring and my face, 24:13 my nose actually got dent because of that. 24:15 And so your father actually kicked you out of the house 24:19 because of this but the point is we want to get to your story 24:22 about what you are doing now. 24:24 The point is the seeds for you were planted 24:28 under the mango tree. 24:29 The seeds for you were planted hopefully by your brother 24:34 and now you are both Christians and you are working in Guinea 24:39 to educate Muslim children 24:43 but at the school it's the Fria Adventist School. 24:48 This is the Susu Project. Yes. 24:50 There the parents know that 24:54 when they send children to your school 24:57 although they are completely Muslim 24:59 they have to sign on something understanding that they are 25:02 going to be trained in the Bible 25:04 and you are going to pray with them. 25:06 Tell us about the school. 25:08 Well, this school started in 2005 with Coleman's 25:15 and we-- I was actually a Bible teacher 25:21 when the school started 25:22 and Marc Coleman was there, director of the school. 25:26 And we and with the help of Angel, 25:31 Angel Johnson who was working 25:33 with the Adventist Mission too 25:35 we decided to have 25:37 rules and regulations that all-- 25:41 every parents will read 25:43 before they enroll their children into our school. 25:47 And in that it is boldly written 25:49 that Bible is part of the curriculum 25:52 that they accept when they 25:54 enroll their children in our school 25:56 they will be praying as we do as Christians 25:59 and they will be studying the Bible. 26:01 And these parents consent and most of them signed 26:06 and if you don't sign the consent form 26:08 will not allow your child in our school. 26:10 Yeah, your school girls from kindergarten 26:14 through the 12th grade through high school-- 26:16 That's right. Yes. 26:17 And you teach biology, physics, everything. 26:20 And Bible. And Bible. 26:21 That's right. 26:23 Now what kind of an influence did has this had 26:26 or impact has this had on the children? 26:29 Are the parents noticing a difference in their children 26:32 when they have been taught the Bible? 26:33 Yes. 26:34 In fact, that's the reason why the school is growing 26:37 as we teach the children our morals 26:40 and we teach them how 26:43 to live a life the way of God. 26:49 We are seeing the effect 26:52 of the Word of God in their lives. 26:54 Their parents are seeing it and they tell their friends oh, 26:58 my child is in that school and, you know, 27:01 this boy was troublesome and was doing this and that 27:03 and that and that but now he is changed. 27:06 You know, that school is good. 27:08 They don't only teach but they also train our children 27:11 and from five students 27:14 now we are talking about 300 students. 27:17 So it's having a positive influence 27:20 and one of the striking one 27:24 is most recently we have five graders, 27:26 six graders who sat the national exams 27:30 to go to junior high school. 27:32 And these six graders put Jesus to test. 27:35 They actually fast and pray and they want Jesus 27:40 to let them pass their exams. 27:43 All of them. Yes. 27:44 If Jesus do then He is God. 27:47 And each time we teach them Bible when they go home they 27:50 will take them to their Quranic school to water down 27:55 whatever we have given them. 27:56 But the thing that Jesus is the answer 28:00 to every problem remains in their head 28:03 and so they organize themselves 28:06 and at the end of the day 28:07 when the results came out all of them, 28:10 13 of them passed their exams 28:12 and they start sending texts to their teachers, 28:15 "Jesus is alive. Jesus is alive." 28:17 Very sweet. 28:19 Now when it comes to exams I know that there in Guinea 28:25 most of the exams are given on Sabbaths. 28:28 That's right. 28:29 So what did you all do to overcome that problem? 28:33 Well, with the, 28:36 with the Coleman's when they were there 28:38 we had a team meeting and we decided that 28:41 there is something we can do about this Sabbath problem. 28:47 And we prayed about it and we began to brain storm 28:52 and we came up an exam called 28:54 the BDAS in French we call it BDIS 28:58 and it is an exam 29:02 that we decided to put together. 29:06 We have curriculums from France, Guinea and all over 29:12 and we created this exam and our first student 29:18 is now with her husband in Cameroon. 29:22 She had because of Sabbath everyyear for three years 29:26 she was not passing the exams. 29:29 And when we put this test together she passed the test 29:33 and we actually presented the exam 29:36 to the ministry of education who has approved 29:40 and she is now in university 29:43 and we have also tried the same exam in Mauritania 29:47 and it was approved. 29:49 And so we are-- 29:51 the Susu Projects is not only using this exam 29:55 but AFM as a whole wherever there is Sabbath problem 29:59 we try to use this exam to help the young people 30:03 who want to serve God and Sabbath being the problem. 30:07 So this exam is internationally recognized 30:10 that it is not administered on the Sabbath. 30:12 Yes. Exactly. 30:13 Now I know that you have a little over 300 students now 30:17 but at one point you had even more until the Ebola outbreak. 30:21 Isatta, tell us what happened during the Ebola outbreak? 30:25 The Ebola has actually been 30:29 a serious challenge for our projects 30:32 because it's actually touched a core 30:35 of the tradition in Guinea. 30:37 And the Guineans are people who like shaking hands 30:41 and bracing in like little, little group, you know. 30:44 But the government actually said 30:48 it is prohibited right now for people to shake their hands 30:51 and to even come together in a form of a group 30:56 or to even talk to-- to even play around. 30:59 So there were so many things that this, 31:01 the Ebola actually affected. 31:04 So because of some of these issues 31:07 the school has a difficulty, 31:09 because most of the parents are afraid 31:12 to bring their children to school 31:14 thinking that the Ebola will be part of their problem. 31:18 Yes, but now Fria, the area in which you live 31:21 God actually kept His hand over that area, didn't He? 31:25 Yes. 31:26 Even though you had what, close to 700 students 31:29 and a lot of parents who thought 31:31 that government was actually trying 31:34 to inject students with the Ebola disease, 31:37 so a lot of parents removed the children from the school 31:41 but God kept His hand over the area of Fria. 31:45 You had Ebola outbreaks all around your city 31:50 but nothing there in Fria. 31:52 Exactly and the Ebola situation 31:55 is not only the only thing 31:56 that we have seen God's hands in it. 31:59 The school has been-- 32:01 the authorities have attempted to close the school twice 32:05 because we teach Bible and we pray in the school. 32:08 And with prayers God has actually worked miracle. 32:13 Each time the attempt, the Lord will show Himself, 32:16 manifest Himself and there will be ashamed 32:19 and the school is moving and we are growing 32:25 and we thank you all for our prayer for your prayers 32:27 because praying for Guinea, and Liberia, and Sierra Leone 32:32 and that special prayer for Susu project, 32:34 kept Fria out of that grip of Ebola. 32:39 Praise the Lord. 32:40 And also those who had threatened 32:42 to close your school have not. 32:45 So what is your greatest challenge now as a school? 32:49 Our greatest challenge right now for the school 32:52 is having our own school building. 32:56 We have two campuses, 32:58 all of these campuses are rented 33:01 and because of the things that we are doing in town 33:05 and the way we live with people, 33:08 people just love working with us. 33:10 And so this lady rented us both schools to us 33:14 and our challenge is to have our own building 33:17 which it is under construction as we are talking right now. 33:21 And that's our challenge 33:24 and the other challenge that we have too 33:26 is we have less Adventist teachers. 33:29 But the entire administration of the school, 33:32 Seventh-day Adventist, Guinea is a country 33:35 that has between 10 to 20 million people but-- 33:39 And they are mostly Muslims. Ninety percent Muslims. 33:42 Ninety percent Muslims and what is the-- 33:45 are they farmers or... 33:46 They are fishermen and they are business people. 33:49 Okay. 33:51 And but we have professionals who are non-Adventist 33:57 that are teaching hourly basis other subject. 34:01 But for Bible and other things that related to our church, 34:07 we are the ones doing it. 34:10 It's such an exciting project. Yes. 34:12 So what we want you at home to know, 34:16 I guess first, I want to thank you both 34:17 for the work that you are doing. 34:19 But for those of you at home 34:21 if you would like to get more information on this, 34:24 you can go to the Adventist Frontier Mission website 34:29 and it's just simply AF for Frontier, 34:32 AFMonline.org, correct? 34:37 Yes. 34:38 AFMonline.org and click on the Susu Project, 34:44 that's Susu Project. 34:47 So if they-- if you want to see what they are doing 34:50 or perhaps you would like to help, support, 34:52 I know you need more increased funding 34:54 for the building of this new school. 34:57 But it is exciting to see how you are touching 35:01 so many lives and I'm going to say this-- 35:04 I say this often to people 35:06 but I don't believe that Jesus is going to return 35:09 until there is 1.7 billion Muslims out there 35:14 they need to hear the Word of God. 35:16 The Chinese and the Muslims 35:19 are to me the two un-reached territories, 35:22 but people like you are doing a great work 35:26 and we want to thank you. 35:28 And it's exciting that God brought you 35:31 out of the same background 35:33 and now He is using you to reach others. 35:36 I praise God for that. Amen. 35:37 Praise God. Thank you so much. 35:38 We are so glad that you joined us 35:40 and we are going to be having more reports coming soon. 35:46 Well, we've been to Beirut, Lebanon, 35:48 we've been to Guinea, West Africa. 35:51 Now we return home to these United States. 35:55 A long time friend of this ministry Richard Bland, 35:57 he is the president, 35:59 founder of United Prison Ministry International. 36:03 This is a ministry that has been working 36:05 for many, many, years 36:06 and doing such a great work sending out literature 36:09 free to prisons around and across the United States. 36:12 I suspect they've covered most 36:13 if not all of the prisons in this country. 36:16 Richard Bland is a survivor 36:18 and he did that walk of Martin Luther King 36:21 on the frontlines there in Selma, Alabama, in 1965. 36:25 You recall that famous walk. 36:27 If you visit UPMI.org 36:30 and sign up for the dollar a day program, 36:33 he will send you two pictures. 36:35 One of the Selma walk in 1965 and then 50 years later 2015, 36:40 so you can compare the two. 36:42 But Richard Bland was interviewed 36:44 by our own John Lomacang to talk about the work 36:47 of United Prison Ministries International 36:50 and the great work that they have been doing 36:52 over these many, many years. 36:58 Hello, friends, and welcome 36:59 to the 2015 General Conference session 37:02 here in San Antonio, Texas. 37:04 This is the 60th General Conference Session 37:07 and what makes this so wonderful 37:08 is we are able to connect and reconnect with people 37:11 that have been a part of the ministry of 3ABN 37:14 as is our guest today, our Brother Richard Bland. 37:18 And so let's meet him at this time. 37:20 Good to have you here, Brother Bland. 37:21 Pleasure being here with you. 37:22 You know, you are a long time friend 37:25 and associate and partner with 3ABN. 37:27 We go back always 37:29 and you are also a big city guy from Chicago, 37:32 I'm from New York. 37:33 You know, we are both from the city 37:35 but we are both heading to a city. 37:36 That's right. 37:38 And what I appreciate about your ministry, 37:40 by the way those who are listening 37:41 and watching this program, tell us about your ministry. 37:44 Give us what that UPMI means, what does that mean? 37:46 It means United Prison Ministries International. 37:49 And how long have you been involved in prison ministry? 37:51 This is the 35th year. Thirty fifth. 37:54 Setting the captives free. That's right. 37:56 Now tell me what fuels you to continue 37:59 to go forward in prison ministry? 38:00 There are so many people 38:01 that are being incarcerated on a daily basis. 38:03 What keeps you motivated? 38:05 Oh, what keeps me motivated, I've read in the Bible 38:07 that Jesus cannot come anywhere 38:09 until the gospel is taught everywhere. 38:11 And I want to go home. That's right. 38:13 And I found out something 38:14 if you really want to reach people 38:16 to spread the gospel, reach those incarcerated. 38:19 I can see why now Jesus picked Paul 38:21 to write 14 books in New Testament. 38:23 He was incarcerated. 38:25 I can see why now he picked Moses 38:26 who wrote first five books of the Bible. 38:28 Because those people there they-- 38:30 once their life changed 38:32 they do the things that the God wants them to do. 38:35 So in other words, people that understand 38:36 what it means to be set free 38:38 can also have a passion for setting other people free. 38:40 Exactly right. 38:42 But now go us back to your earlier days 38:43 'cause we've seen you developing through the years, 38:45 we have seen your passion, 38:47 you have a great connection with Danny Shelton, 38:48 the founder of 3ABN and everyone at 3ABN 38:51 has interviewed you except me. 38:52 Even my wife interviewed you. That's so true. 38:54 On radio. Yeah. 38:56 But your stories continue 38:57 and I'm always amazed about the fact 39:00 that you are never disappointed. 39:02 God always provides. 39:04 Tell us about how God makes a difference 39:07 because you are going to some prisons 39:08 where, you know, people are doing life. 39:10 Oh, yeah. 39:11 Some people will never be set free 39:13 from being behind bars. 39:14 What gives you that passion every morning 39:16 to continue going on? 39:18 Well, number one, I see everybody 39:19 through the eyes of Jesus. 39:20 How does Jesus see them? 39:22 He says, "These are the people I came to save." 39:24 See the first prison was this world 39:25 when the Jesus came down here and they-- 39:27 you know, put everybody out of the Garden of Eden 39:29 with guards and so forth. 39:30 That's the first prison. 39:32 But as I think about, you know, I've been involved 39:34 with 76 countries of the world now. 39:36 But just the other day, 39:37 you know, just yesterday, in fact, 39:39 two guys came up for me from Romania 39:41 that who have been imprisoned. 39:43 Now they are ministers in Israel. 39:45 And then I hear stories like this. 39:47 I served with every prison in Russia. 39:49 We started going there in 1991 and Romania, 39:53 I been there 11 times so many places, 39:55 Africa, India and so forth. 39:57 But in America we serve 39:59 every prison in the United States, 40:02 every prison in the United States 40:04 with free material if they write us. 40:06 That's the key. 40:08 And so the material that people receive 40:10 when they are either doing time in a local jail 40:13 or they are serving life. 40:15 Tell me some of the material that you make available. 40:17 Well, our main Bible is the Bible. 40:19 Then we have Bible lesson 40:20 and the next book probably "Desire of Ages" 40:22 that's probably the one. 40:24 And then of course, you have "Steps to Christ" 40:26 then we have what we call Bible Questions Answered. 40:29 That's been a very popular book. 40:30 There's 14 Bible studies in that. 40:32 Excellent book. 40:33 Like Jim Gilley said, your president, he said, 40:35 "That's the best witnessing tool he's ever seen," 40:37 that Bible Questions Answered book. 40:39 You know what, somebody told me this story once 40:41 and I really smiled when I heard it 40:44 that you had a very, you had a friend 40:45 that was very wealthy and he said to you one day, 40:48 "Why don't you ever ask me for money 40:49 to help your ministry?" 40:51 And your response was 40:52 "Why should I ask the steward, I'm gonna ask the owner." 40:55 And it an amazing story. 40:58 Now the reason I bring that up 40:59 is because God has been sustaining 41:01 your ministry for 35 years. 41:04 But I also want you to tell our viewers 41:06 how they can become involved in strengthening the ministry. 41:10 You have something called "a dollar a day" 41:11 talk about that. 41:13 Yeah. 41:14 But you, it's interesting you said that 41:15 because that is true. 41:17 I read everyday Philippians 4:6, 41:20 "My God shall supply all my needs." 41:22 So I ask God to send out the people but I ask Him, 41:25 I don't ask people, I ask God. 41:26 That's right. 41:27 Now just a few years ago, 41:29 well, about a year or so ago 41:30 the Lord impressed me that every Christian 41:32 can give a dollar a day for Jesus. 41:33 That's right. 41:35 So with the dollar a day for Jesus and our ministry 41:37 we can give away 440 Bible studies a month 41:41 with just a dollar a day, $30 a month 41:43 or 15 Bible studies or 10 Bibles. 41:46 So we let people know that. 41:47 So we are looking now 41:48 for at least five million people 41:50 to sign up for the dollar day program 41:52 because post rates-- it's going up quite a bit high 41:55 and then we found out everybody 41:56 that participated in this program 41:58 they get a blessing. 41:59 That's right. 42:01 Now but what we are doing now on top of that, 42:02 to make it really interesting, as you may know 42:04 50 years ago this year 42:06 I was in the Selma Montgomery March. 42:09 I lived in San Diego, California at that time. 42:10 That's right. 42:12 I want to touch on that because a lot of people 42:13 listening to the program 42:15 are right now in our world today 42:17 people have heard, many have heard 42:18 about the movie called Selma. 42:19 That's right. 42:21 A reenactment of the crossing of the bridge there in Alabama 42:23 when Dr. Martin Luther King was inspired to go forward 42:27 with the mantra "We will be free at last." 42:30 But you, one of the only survivors 42:33 I've seen a picture of you, 42:34 we are gonna show that picture in just a moment here. 42:36 When you were in that crowd there in Selma, Alabama. 42:41 Just go back to that day and tell me what it was like. 42:43 Well, when you say only survivor of the picture 42:45 that we have here of Martin Luther King 42:48 and his wife and Ralph Bunt 42:50 and that little group-- 42:51 And that sort to do. 42:53 That little bit they tell me I'm the only one that's alive 42:54 in that little picture shot. 42:56 Okay, I got you. 42:57 Because I'm sure there's some other people 42:58 like John Lewis and other people that's alive 43:00 but they were not in that frontline there in 1965. 43:04 Now with that I lived in San Diego at the time. 43:07 I was in business then, I was in real estate business 43:09 and when the call went out 43:12 after seeing the Reed get killed 43:15 and Lee get killed and a blind man, 43:18 a blind white man from Atlanta walk in and a one legged 43:23 white man walking from Michigan we got on the plane 43:27 and a bunch of us got on the plane then, 43:29 you know, from San Diego stopped in Hollywood. 43:32 We picked up Peter, Paul and Mary Sammy Davis, 43:34 Little Jr. and lot of the people that we flew down 43:37 for the last day of the march. 43:39 Last two day of prior to the march 43:41 and that's the picture that's you are gonna see. 43:43 But then 50 years later, just a few months ago-- 43:47 that you're speaking about after the movie was made, 43:51 the people that did the movie saw that I had been 43:53 there 50 years ago so there's another shot you are gonna see 43:57 we stand in I guess with Oprah Winfrey. 44:00 Oprah Winfrey, that's right. 44:02 And the crew that did the movie. 44:04 And the featured star that played the role 44:06 that Martin Luther King, Jr. 44:07 And we're gonna make that available to anybody that join, 44:10 go to our website UPMI.org 44:13 and join that one dollar day club. 44:15 See now one of the- my saying is this one dollar 44:18 a day I mean, one dollar a day for Jesus 44:20 everybody can do that. 44:22 Right. 44:23 Some people are giving three dollars a day for Jesus 44:24 which comes about $100 a month. 44:26 Right. Some people give more. 44:27 But all you got to do is click there and every month 44:30 therefore, we will know 44:31 how many millions of books to buy. 44:33 Would you believe already we gave away over 71 million books 44:37 and Bible lessons to men and women in prison free? 44:39 Wow. 44:41 And that happens when people partner with you 44:43 to make a difference in your ministry. 44:45 It's their ministry, it's not our ministry. 44:47 And actually it's God's ministry 44:48 we work on the team. That's all. 44:50 Just to make sure that the people got the website. 44:51 If you think about it, it's UPMI.org. 44:55 United Prison Ministries International.org. 44:59 Now you don't determine how long your ministry is gonna go 45:04 but you are now based on the length of your ministry. 45:06 You are an established institution, 45:09 25 years and above is this-- 45:11 Thirty five years. 45:12 Right. It's 35th year. 45:14 Anything above 25 is an established institution. 45:15 Oh, is that right? 45:16 So you are ten years beyond that. 45:18 Now some of the people who have 45:20 participated with you in ministry. 45:21 Give me some of those names that people that have been 45:23 involved in ministry with you in prison ministry. 45:26 You mean workers in the ministry there? 45:27 Yeah, workers. Workers with you. 45:29 Well, we've had Harry Williams, 45:30 we had a prison warden who even stopped her job, 45:34 Shirlie Lobmiller for 17 years and work with that. 45:37 And then we have, you know, people all participated. 45:40 In fact, if you think about the first time 45:43 Danny told a story we were together 45:46 and already been in Benton, California, he and his brother. 45:50 In fact, we stayed together that night when he first told 45:52 his story on the way to the California 45:54 about his dream, you know, and of course, 45:57 Then we have people like Bill McCater that has helped us 46:00 in the ministry that in turn went over and helped him, 46:03 you know, the foundation. 46:04 So there's so many people, you know, 46:06 that have been involved. 46:08 No you also go to churches 46:10 if they invite you to because a lot of people 46:12 don't have prison ministry in their church. 46:13 That's right. 46:15 And sometimes you accept invitations to go to churches 46:17 to talk about prison ministry and help them establish it. 46:20 Tell me some of the things that besides just giving 46:23 literature and sermons do you also 46:25 include baptisms in your prison ministry? 46:27 No. We don't. 46:29 What we focus on is the Word of God. 46:30 We have known in the prison ministry we go by the book. 46:33 Okay. 46:34 The reason why we've never been kicked out any prison, 46:36 anywhere in the world because if they-- 46:38 if the Bible is there we are there. 46:39 Okay. 46:41 Because we strictly say-- 46:43 the first day we give them is Jeremiah 17:5, 46:46 "Cursed be the man that trust in man." 46:48 I say, I'm a man if you trust me you are gonna be cursed. 46:51 Jeremiah 17: 7 said, 46:53 "Blessed the man that trust in the Lord." 46:54 If you want to be blessed you trust in the Lord. 46:57 Jeremiah 17:9 said, "The heart is deceitful above all things 47:00 and desperately wicked." 47:02 So we say now you can trust yourself. 47:03 They say, yeah. Don't trust another person. 47:05 So that has narrowed them in. 47:07 So this is why we have done so many million Bible lesson 47:10 because nobody kick us out if the Bible is there because 47:12 we stay with the Bible. 47:14 From Genesis 1 to Revelation 22:21 47:17 we tell the prisoner this. 47:18 There are 66 books, there is 1,189 chapters, 47:22 31,173 verses, 773,692. 47:26 We said if you studied that then we will be 47:28 in the same kingdom together. 47:30 But we do come over some that's I found unique. 47:33 We tell if they believe the first two chapters 47:36 of Bible we've been neighbors in the kingdom. Why? 47:39 Because the first two chapters tell you four things. 47:42 Number one, it tell you where you come from, who made you. 47:44 It will tell you what to eat. 47:46 It tells you who to marry and tell you when to worship. 47:48 That's the foundation of the Bible. 47:50 That's amazing. 47:51 Do you know we are the only ministry in the world 47:53 that teaches all four things? 47:55 Okay, go over them again. 47:56 We tell you where you come from, creation. 47:57 Right. Okay. 47:59 And tell you what to eat. Okay. 48:00 And tell you who to marry and tell you when to worship. 48:01 Praise the Lord. 48:03 That's in the first two chapters of Bible. 48:04 Wow. 48:06 And that's the most important 48:07 because God can't even change that. 48:08 Just like you can't change your birthday 48:10 God cannot change the first two chapters of the Bible. 48:11 I like that. I like that. 48:13 Now there are four chapters 48:14 in Bible that has no sin in them. 48:16 The first two and the last two. 48:17 The last two talk about heaven. 48:18 The first two talk about creation. 48:20 And God can't even change the first two. 48:21 Well, that's-- see as a preacher 48:23 I'm gonna hold on to that. Oh, yeah. 48:24 I'm gonna use it at some place I'm not gonna tell you where. 48:26 Okay. But that's good. 48:27 The first two chapters where you came from, 48:30 who to marry,what to eat 48:32 And when to worship. And when to worship. 48:33 Wow. 48:35 And we are the-- if you believe those first two chapters 48:36 we will be neighbors in the kingdom, 48:38 I tell everybody that. 48:39 Wow. 48:41 Now what are some of the new goals that you have 48:43 for the future of your ministry? 48:45 What some of the what? 48:46 Some of the new goals or some new things that you are aiming 48:48 at for the future of your ministry? 48:50 Well, the thing about it now, you know, 48:51 with technology now is in the last several years 48:56 we've lost 95 percent of our donors 48:58 because they were older than me. 48:59 Okay. 49:01 Remember, you see, so as new technology now 49:02 so people are doing things differently. 49:04 So this is why we are asking people now I have to pray 49:06 about it by the year ago, 49:08 "Lord, show me what everybody can do." 49:09 He said, "Everybody can give a dollar a day." 49:11 Okay. You see what I mean. 49:12 So they get millions of people to do that 49:14 and they will get a blessing. 49:16 And remember this is prison evangelism. 49:19 I want to you to hear me now, 49:21 so therefore 10 percent of your money belongs to who? 49:24 To the Lord. 49:25 So you can use that for prison evangelism 49:27 because that's what we use it for. 49:29 You see what I mean. 49:30 Some people say, well, it's got-- no, no, 49:33 tithe money, God's money is to be used for evangelism 49:36 that you do evangelism, 49:37 wherever evangelism is going that's God's money. 49:40 So I'm letting people do that. 49:42 They don't have to get extra money 49:43 just divide their money for prisoners. 49:45 Now one out of every six percent in America 49:48 has a relative or friend in prison. 49:50 So therefore, we are helping them 49:53 to change their personal life. 49:54 One thing a warden just told me recently, 49:56 he said, when a man or woman get out of prison 49:59 they do one or two things. 50:01 They either gonna look you up or stick you up. 50:03 Now without Christ they are gonna do what? 50:06 Stick you up. That's guaranteed. Why? 50:08 Because prison teach you more crime 50:10 than more Christ, remember that. 50:12 When they are in prison, this is a fact, 50:15 you talk to any prison 50:16 there they study more crime than more Christ. 50:18 That's amazing. 50:19 So that's why we are there to make sure they study more 50:22 Christ instead of more crime. 50:24 To cut down on the recidivism rate. 50:25 Oh, yeah. 50:27 Don't have them go back. That's right. 50:28 So your message in a nutshell is "If the Son therefore, 50:31 shall make you free, you shall be free indeed." 50:33 Free indeed. Wow. 50:35 I tell you, it's amazing when you think about 50:36 what has happened in your life over the last 35 years. 50:38 That's right. 50:40 You go from real estate and now you are getting people 50:42 ready for some new real estate. 50:43 Oh, real estate that that doesn't deteriorate. 50:46 That's what made me change really 50:47 because that's a-- you know, there is no insurance. 50:51 Everything here on the earth belong to the-- 50:53 I want them in the kingdom. 50:55 And let me add something else to your ministry, 50:57 you give me some nuggets I'm going to use 50:59 but let me give you a couple of other things. 51:00 If people ask you what you do, tell them you sell 51:02 fire insurance and life insurance. 51:04 That's right. 51:06 Prevent from the fire and God will give you life eternal. 51:08 You got to believe that. 51:10 Well, Brother Bland, thank you so much for being here today. 51:11 I'll tell you if you want to say something to motivate 51:14 the people that are watching this program, 51:15 what can you say in a nutshell? 51:17 Well, I want to say this, if they want a real blessing 51:21 do what Jesus tell them to do and that's, 51:24 there are six things in the Bible. 51:25 The six things the last thing Jesus told to do 51:28 was to remember those in prison. 51:29 And I could see why because the prisoner 51:32 is the last person who believed in Jesus Christ. 51:35 On the cross everybody is forsaken but a prisoner. 51:37 Wow. Wow. 51:39 So if you want to reach the city, reach prisoner. 51:41 If you want to reach the world, reach prisoners. 51:43 Well, thank you so much for being here. 51:44 May God bless you so much. We appreciate. 51:46 May God bless you. Don't forget UPMI.org. 51:47 Go to the website look at them. 51:49 Okay, I'll do that. To the dollar a day program. 51:51 Well, friends, you know, we always have something good 51:53 for you here at 3ABN. 51:54 Continue praying for us and United Prison Ministries 51:57 International until we see you again. 52:01 What powerful ministries. 52:02 I'm particularly impressed by these ministries 52:05 that we've highlighted on our show. 52:07 We will talk a little bit more about them in just a little bit 52:09 when we come back from the news break. 52:11 But Beirut, Lebanon long our heartbeat 52:15 a lot of things happening. 52:16 Yeah, you've got Adventist young people there lifting up 52:19 the name of Jesus, dealing with the refugee problem 52:21 as best they can, teaching young people 52:24 some for the very first time in their lives 52:26 sitting in school and learning the language. 52:28 What a powerful, powerful ministry. 52:30 And then we have long wondered how was God going to deal with, 52:35 how is the Lord going to wrestle with the Muslim issue. 52:39 I was gonna say problem or rather say issue. 52:42 Will they get to know about Jesus? 52:44 Will they get an opportunity to hear the word of the Lord? 52:48 Well, there are those who are coming out of that community 52:51 and coming to Christ and then returning to that community 52:54 in an effort to win their fellows to Jesus Christ. 52:57 So Fred and Isatta, we salute them for what must be a very, 53:03 very tough work and a work sometimes that can be taken 53:07 or undertaken at the cost or the peril of your life. 53:11 And so we need to keep on praying for those 53:12 who are working in that 10/40 Window, 53:15 who are working with groups of Muslims 53:18 because it is not an easy work, 53:20 it is not a work where you get large or mass baptisms. 53:23 It is not a work where you get lot of pats on the back. 53:26 It's a work where you dig in, you take Christ with you 53:29 and you do the work that has to be done. 53:31 And of course, United Prison Ministries not only 53:33 have they done work around the country 53:36 they have also done work in Romania 53:38 and many countries in Europe, 53:39 really around the world lifting up the gospel 53:41 in the name of Jesus Christ and passing out literature. 53:43 Well, we are gonna go to our news break then we will back 53:46 and put a little bow on this and end our program. |
Revised 2015-12-17