Participants: Greg & Jill Morikone (Host), Jonathan Hill & Natalie Wood
Series Code: TDY
Program Code: TDY016034A
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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 00:29 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, friends, welcome to another 3ABN Today program. 01:09 We're so glad that you're able to join us today. 01:12 Thank you for letting us come into your home 01:14 or may be you're driving along in your car 01:16 and listening to this on the radio. 01:17 Thank you for allowing us to come into your home or car, 01:20 wherever that is each and every day. 01:21 You know, we appreciate your prayers 01:23 and your financial support of the ministry of 3ABN. 01:26 You know, we say that it seems like on every program 01:29 but we truly are grateful because if it weren't for you 01:33 and without the Lord Jesus Christ, 01:34 3ABN would not be here. 01:36 So it's a team, truly is a team. 01:37 And so Jill and I are glad to be joining you today. 01:40 We have some exciting guests with us 01:42 which Jill will introduce in just a moment. 01:44 But it has to do with missionaries, 01:47 real life missionaries. 01:48 We have them here in our studios today. 01:50 And, you know, when I was a kid there was a hardback book 01:54 that my mom would read to me before I could read, 01:57 and it wasn't entitled When Tommy Goes To Africa. 02:01 And I'll say, Mom, read that book again. 02:03 So she read the book When Tommy Goes To Africa, 02:06 and I enjoyed those missions stories. 02:08 Well, today, we're not talking about Africa, 02:11 we're talking about another part of the world 02:13 that has some... 02:14 that this person will be 02:15 sharing some great missionary stories from. 02:17 And it's always neat to see how God is leading 02:20 and working not only maybe here in the United States 02:24 but in other parts of the world. 02:25 But I want to encourage you too because you know, 02:27 you can always listen to a program like this 02:29 and say, oh, well, 02:30 that's there, I'm here, wherever your home is and say, 02:34 ah, that's great, I'll never be able to be a missionary, 02:37 like I never went to a foreign land as a missionary. 02:39 But you know what, 02:41 when God calls you to be a missionary, 02:42 you can be right where you are. 02:44 So it could be New York, 02:45 it could be out in the country somewhere. 02:47 My parents live in West Virginia, 02:48 could be West Virginia, California, 02:50 anywhere in the world. 02:51 Wherever God has placed you, 02:52 that's your opportunity to be a missionary. 02:54 So take heart, we're going to hear about 02:56 missions stories around the world, 02:57 but also you can be a missionary where you are. 02:59 So who do we have with us today? 03:01 Hey, man, I'm excited about the program 03:02 and the missionaries 03:04 that we have here in the studio. 03:05 That's right. 03:06 We'll start at the far end, here we have Natalie Wood, 03:08 and you and your husband John Wood 03:11 are no stranger to 3ABN. 03:13 In fact, Natalie, you, you used to work here, 03:16 you and your husband. 03:17 Yeah, John did, 03:19 John worked here full time in 1998 to the year 2000. 03:24 Okay. And I remember you guys. 03:25 Yeah? 03:26 Because I came in 1999, you were here. 03:29 And I remember, 03:30 now for those of you that have followed 3ABN for many years, 03:32 do you remember the open called 03:34 3ABN On The Road? 03:36 Your husband put that together, 03:38 and I always remember that one 03:39 where the lid of the trunk, so to speak is closing here, 03:44 and you see a face. 03:46 That's your husband, that's John Wood's face. 03:48 Yeah, I was on the road with the truck 03:50 when he was doing that open, 03:51 and so he put that face in so I could see him. 03:53 Wow. Yeah, that's great. 03:55 Now, Natalie, you are co-founder 03:57 and your husband is president of Jesus for Asia. 03:59 Right. 04:00 And we want to unpackage that story what Jesus For Asia does, 04:03 we're going to talk about them 04:04 and the story of Jesus For Asia, 04:06 what they're doing with mission work 04:08 around the world, especially in Asia. 04:10 And we have a special guest who is a foreign correspondent 04:13 for Jesus for Asia, that's Jonathan Hill. 04:16 And, Jonathan, we're so glad to have you here as well. 04:18 I'm happy to be here. 04:20 And... 04:21 Your work started to hear your stories 04:22 and how God has worked in your life 04:24 because you've been a part of Jesus For Asia for how long? 04:27 Just over two years. 04:29 And I know that God has some mega work. 04:32 God has done some amazing things in your life 04:34 and you've experienced an amazing things 04:36 what God has done for you absolutely, 04:38 so we'll un-package that soon. 04:39 And we have some wonderful, those mission stories. 04:41 Oh, my. 04:42 And what God is doing in your life. 04:43 And he has some miracle stories, 04:45 so we're excited about this program. 04:47 We have a scripture first 04:48 and this is I asked Jonathan what scripture he would like. 04:52 And he said this is one that has been, 04:54 I don't know if it's a mission statement or something 04:56 that has been a call on his life. 04:58 And he'll talk about it more during the program. 05:00 But the scripture is Matthew 28:18-20. 05:04 Oh, yeah. 05:06 The Bible says, 05:07 "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, 05:09 'All authority, or King James says all power 05:12 has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 05:15 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, 05:19 baptizing them in the name of the Father 05:21 and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 05:24 teaching them to observe all things 05:27 that I have commanded you. 05:28 And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world." 05:32 Today we could say even to Asia, God is with us. 05:36 Before we hear their story, 05:38 we're going to go to our music at this time. 05:41 We're blessed to have Sandra Entermann here with us 05:44 and we always love to hear her music. 05:46 The anointing of the Holy Spirit is on her. 05:48 And Sanya Kantarovsky is going to be on the piano, 05:52 and the song they're going to be 05:53 ministering to us now is entitled 05:55 "I am willing, Lord." 06:25 Sometimes when I am down 06:31 And I don't feel like you're around, 06:35 oh Lord 06:38 Feelin' so sorry for me 06:44 Not knowing that all the while 06:47 You're working to see 06:50 if, 06:52 when I'm put thru' the fire 06:56 I'll come out shining like gold 07:01 Oh Lord, 07:05 please don't ever stop working with me 07:09 'Til you see 07:11 I can be all You want me to be 07:21 I am willing, Lord 07:27 I am willing, Lord 07:33 To be just exactly 07:36 what You want me to be 07:46 I am willing, Lord 07:52 I am willing, Lord 07:57 To be just exactly 08:00 what You want me to be 08:10 Often when I ask why 08:15 Teach me then on You to rely, oh Lord 08:22 You surely know what is best 08:27 May I learn that in confidence and strength I can rest 08:34 Then, leaning fully on You 08:40 My questions fall one by one 08:45 Dear Lord, 08:48 Please don't ever stop working with me 08:52 'Til you see I can be all You want me to be 09:04 I am willing, Lord 09:10 I am willing, Lord 09:15 To be just exactly what You want me to be 09:28 I am willing, Lord 09:33 I am willing, Lord 09:39 To be just exactly what You want 09:44 To be just exactly what You want 09:50 I want to be just exactly what You want 09:56 Need to be 10:18 Wow. 10:19 Amen. What a powerful song. 10:21 "I am willing, Lord." 10:22 Praise the Lord. 10:23 You know, we're talking about missions today 10:25 and being willing 10:27 to do whatever God is asking each one of us to do. 10:31 And so I just pray, I know, you the same. 10:34 Amen. 10:35 Want to be willing, Lord, 10:36 to do whatever you're asking us to do. 10:38 So again we have missionaries. 10:39 Tell us who we have with us today. 10:40 We do. 10:42 We have Natalie Wood with Jesus for Asia 10:43 and Jonathan Hill who is a foreign correspondent 10:45 for Jesus for Asia. 10:47 Now if our friends at home 10:48 may be haven't heard about Jesus for Asia, 10:51 may be they didn't catch a program 10:52 you and your husband John are on before, 10:54 or aren't familiar with some of the programs 10:55 that we actually air on 3ABN that you all produce. 10:58 Tell us just a little bit about what Jesus for Asia is? 11:03 We are a ministry, we work in India, Thailand, 11:05 the Philippines, Cambodia and several other countries 11:10 that we don't talk about too widely 11:13 because of the situation there. 11:14 More closed. 11:16 Yeah, more closed, 11:17 not necessarily as close to some areas but more close. 11:19 Can you go through those countries again? 11:21 What were they again? 11:22 India. India. 11:24 Thailand. Two. 11:25 Philippines. Three. 11:26 Cambodia. Four. 11:28 And then there's... Others. 11:29 Yeah. 11:31 Okay, so you must have a massive staff 11:32 then because that's 11:33 you're not just talking little-bitty cities, 11:35 these are countries. 11:36 Right, well, we do have local people that work with us. 11:38 That's our, that was how we started actually 11:40 was doing the local Bible workers in India. 11:42 And now we have over 200 Bible workers in India. 11:46 And then we have work also now, yeah, we have children's work, 11:50 we have evening schools and orphanage, 11:52 and a widow's sewing school in India. 11:55 And then in Thailand we have a media team, 11:57 staffed mostly by local people there in various, 12:00 working in various languages. 12:02 And then we have some missionaries 12:04 that are there from America working there. 12:08 And then in the Philippines, 12:09 we have a media team that we work with also 12:12 and we have some Bible workers. 12:14 And one of our friends from Idaho 12:16 claimed the South Philippines for his inheritance, 12:18 so he and his wife are working there 12:20 and they have Bible workers that they work with. 12:22 And so they're in a dangerous area, but anyway. 12:26 The scope of the ministry is incredible. 12:28 Yeah, we have over 40 projects now. 12:30 So it's kind of to narrow it down, 12:32 it's a little bit hard but 12:35 our focus so to speak, 12:37 our challenge is to enable people 12:40 to spread the gospel, 12:41 whether they're local worker 12:42 or a foreign worker that wants to go. 12:45 And so that's what we do. 12:47 And we also, 12:48 the Lord has asked us to be part of asking North America 12:51 to be involved with missions again. 12:52 And we'll talk about that a little more. 12:54 Sure. 12:55 But basically our church here in North America 12:57 has for a large part abandoned 13:00 without even realizing the foreign mission field 13:03 and that's something that people if they knew 13:06 it wouldn't be that way. 13:07 But because of the lack of 13:09 actual missionaries in the field 13:11 people believe the age of missions is over, 13:13 the age of missionaries is over, 13:15 but there's large portions of the vineyard 13:17 where little to nothing is happening. 13:20 There are places where things are happening, 13:22 praise the Lord for that, 13:23 which encourages all of us, you know. 13:26 But there's a lot more need out there. 13:27 Well, I think it's neat too because 13:29 when we hear stories like 13:30 we're going to hear from you Jonathan, surely. 13:31 You know that's encouraging because when people have 13:33 the missions stories like I mentioned the book earlier 13:35 When Tommy Goes to Africa, 13:36 it seems like there was a lot of missionary books 13:38 because my mom had a lot of old books, 13:39 and most of them were mission books. 13:41 Yes, yeah. 13:42 We had the Eric B. Hares 13:43 and some of those other ones, 13:45 great mission stories which then puts missions 13:46 sort of on the forefront. 13:48 And missionary spoke at camp meetings. 13:49 You had Josephine Cunnington Edwards, 13:52 telling mission stories, she's hysterical. 13:53 I met her once. 13:55 And Eric B. Hares. Yeah. 13:56 Oh, really? 13:58 I don't think I ever saw her in person but 14:00 challenged by her stories you know. 14:02 And all the Norman Young Burt books and you know, 14:04 all these ones and yeah, 14:06 there's a lack now of stories coming back from the field 14:09 because there aren't as many missionaries out there. 14:11 So part of your work with Jesus for Asia 14:13 is to bring that back to the States 14:15 to show the need, is that correct? 14:17 Right, right, to show the need, yes. 14:19 So then has missions been 14:21 a big burden of you and your husband 14:22 because I know you were here at 3ABN so quickly, 14:24 I know we want to get to Jonathan. 14:25 But you went from 3ABN... 14:27 To PUC, John was teaching there 14:29 in the film and television department, 14:31 and while he was there, 14:32 he started taking his students overseas to a mission project 14:35 that didn't have any exposure whatsoever 14:37 to get funding or you know, 14:39 things like that and they would do 14:41 what they called Video Student Missionary Programs. 14:42 Okay. 14:44 And so they would do a little taping 14:46 and make a short video about the project 14:48 and then people could see it and therefore 14:50 learn about it, pray for it, 14:52 and become involved in other ways. 14:53 Wow. So... 14:55 So then a fire was lit then when you made those trips? 14:59 Yes, he did. We need to start on own. 15:00 He did. 15:02 Yeah, James and I didn't go, 15:03 the children and I didn't go 15:04 until they were four and six, and then we went to India. 15:07 Wow. Yeah. 15:08 That's great. But... 15:09 So Jesus for Asia is how old then? 15:11 How long is it approximately? 15:12 Eleven years, we started in 2005. 15:15 Yeah, fantastic. 15:16 So... 15:17 And you spend how much of your time overseas, 15:19 how much of your time here in the States? 15:21 Most of our time right now is in America 15:23 because of the burden that the Lord has placed on us 15:25 to get North America involved, 15:28 and He's been enabling us to send people like 15:30 Jonathan over to see the work and to report on the work. 15:33 So our trips end up being John goes at least once a year, 15:37 usually twice or three times 15:38 for administrative trips and things like that. 15:40 Amen. 15:41 As far as reporting, we have Jonathan now. 15:42 Amen. 15:44 So, Jonathan, have you always had missions 15:46 as a burden like a fire in your soul to be a missionary? 15:50 You know, it's interesting 15:51 when we were talking about the mission books 15:52 because I grew up on mission books. 15:54 Did you, really? I read all those books. 15:55 All right. 15:57 We would read them as a family. Let me shake your hand. 15:59 Yeah, I was so inspired myself. 16:02 Oh, yeah, and that was, you know, 16:03 that was in the forefront and very much there. 16:07 And having that background with the mission stories 16:10 and then also going to faith camps 16:14 that Jesus for Asia put on 16:15 which is just saturated with missions, 16:17 and missionaries, and faith, and it's just amazing. 16:20 And they're held here in the States, the faith camp? 16:22 Yes, in the States and also some overseas. 16:23 We've had some in Asia, 16:25 in Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia. 16:27 Like a weekend experience? 16:28 Yeah, Wednesday through Sunday noon. 16:30 Right, yeah. 16:31 Wednesday evening. 16:32 So through that the mission books 16:35 and the camp meeting, 16:36 since I was 10, 16:38 I wanted to be a missionary. 16:39 Wow. 16:41 I made that decision, I want to be a missionary, 16:42 that's what I want to do. 16:43 Amen. 16:45 And, you know, I was very active in the church, 16:47 I played piano, I did different things, 16:50 Sabbath schools, and you know, you name it, I probably did it. 16:53 I was very active through my teen years 16:57 but I was empty inside. 16:59 Even though you were active. 17:01 Even though I was active, I was doing things, I was busy, 17:04 but when it came right down to it, 17:05 there was a hole inside of me, I wasn't filled. 17:09 Wow. 17:10 And I realized that 17:11 I was trying to take things from the world 17:13 to fill that hole. 17:15 So even though I was active, 17:16 even though I wanted to be a missionary, 17:19 I hadn't really surrendered myself to God. 17:23 And it wasn't until I made that surrender 17:25 that I experience that joy and peace 17:27 that only Christ can give. 17:28 Wow. 17:29 Did you feel in your heart 17:31 that you were holding something from God, 17:32 like He was calling for something 17:34 and you were saying, no, 17:35 I don't want to give that to you 17:36 or do you even know you hadn't surrendered? 17:39 A little bit of both. 17:41 I knew that I wanted to have a little taste of the world, 17:46 I didn't go away, I wasn't doing drugs, you know. 17:49 But I was trying to take things from there to fill that. 17:54 I knew that 17:55 the only way I could have that peace was total surrender 17:58 but I wasn't ready to make that, 18:00 I didn't want to do that just yet. 18:03 And once I did then everything changed. 18:06 How old were you when you made that choice, 18:08 just totally surrender to Jesus? 18:12 Well, I first went overseas when I was 18 18:14 and that was really the start of the journey 18:17 of complete total surrender to God's leading in my life, 18:20 whatever that may be. 18:23 So when you were 18, was this Jesus for Asia, 18:26 is this or there's some other mission experience or... 18:29 It wasn't through Jesus for Asia, 18:30 my brother was actually in Africa, 18:33 starting up a TV station and he needed help. 18:35 So I went there for three and a half months 18:37 and then my first time in Asia. 18:40 John and Natalie were doing a vision trip, 18:43 which is basically they go to Thailand, Cambodia, 18:45 India two months, travel around, 18:47 see a bunch of different projects 18:49 to plant that vision in people's minds 18:52 of the need and of the joy of service. 18:54 Amen. 18:55 And so I went there, we went through Thailand, 18:58 and one of the first experiences that I had there 19:01 which was in Bangkok, and I have a picture of that. 19:03 Bangkok is this massive, massive... 19:06 I've never been to Bangkok. 19:07 Oh, there we go. Oh, my. 19:08 Huge. 19:10 Over 12 million people. 19:11 Wow, it's very developed. Yeah. 19:14 Very much so, looks like something 19:15 you see in the States. 19:16 Yeah, yeah. 19:18 It was, it was amazing to be there 19:19 and it was like two days after 19:20 we got there and you know, 19:22 we were meeting up with a group and everything, 19:23 and we went out, 19:25 we visited some tourist spots and we, 19:27 you know, at the end of the day came back to the hotel. 19:30 And I was sitting in my hotel, 19:31 thinking about the day and the different things I saw, 19:34 I thought, you know, 19:36 I wonder if I saw a Christian today. 19:40 Wow, what a thought? 19:42 I never had to think that before 19:43 because I've never been in a place where, 19:44 you know, there's no Christians. 19:47 But I seriously had to think, 19:49 I wonder if I saw a Christian today. 19:52 What is the religion of those in Thailand? 19:54 Buddhist. 19:56 Mostly Buddhist, there are animist pockets, 19:59 but mostly Buddhist. 20:00 Mostly Buddhist, okay. 20:01 So back to you, you had this thought, 20:03 I wonder if I even saw a Christian. 20:04 Yeah, and it was, it was just like this... 20:07 whoa experience, like, really? 20:10 You know, this places is... 20:11 because I've heard you know, 20:13 the mission stories and we had missionaries 20:14 coming to church and everything, I heard, 20:16 you know, there's people that don't know about Jesus, 20:18 but I hadn't seen them. 20:20 When I saw them, I wonder, if I saw a Christian today. 20:23 And it's just totally... 20:25 whoa. Yes. 20:26 So what did that do for you, that thought? 20:27 It really, it really changed, 20:29 it started to change the way I thought 20:32 about missions and about life. 20:35 Had you made a total surrender before that point 20:37 or were you still in the process? 20:39 In the process. Okay. 20:41 I'm sorry, Natalie, go ahead. That's okay. 20:42 One of the things that we say, you know, 20:46 it's a perspective of the world 20:48 that we don't get here in America. 20:50 And I call it God's reality. 20:52 Mrs. White particularly says 20:53 that God sees all the suffering of every human, 20:57 you know, all at the same time 20:58 and if we could understand what kind of, you know, 21:01 thing that is, it would, it would break us. 21:04 I mean, we wouldn't be able to handle it. 21:05 And so we say it's God's reality. 21:08 And so when we take people on vision trips, 21:10 we want to show them God's reality, 21:11 God's reality is that more people live like them 21:14 than live like us. 21:16 More people don't know Him 21:18 than you know, we have ever seen. 21:20 So, you know, it's just the opening of the eyes, 21:24 kind of thing to see that perspective. 21:25 Absolutely. 21:27 So what happened next? 21:28 So you have this amazing thought 21:30 and this is all part of your process 21:31 of the surrender to the Lord and to your mission service. 21:34 So what happened? 21:35 Yeah, well, after that it was, it was, you know, 21:37 that little spot, that little thought 21:40 but it just kind of was rolling around in my head 21:42 the remainder of the trip. 21:43 And we spent a month in India 21:45 and I've a picture of an Indian village. 21:46 Okay. 21:47 One that we were at and... 21:49 What a contrast? 21:50 Yeah. Wow. 21:52 Yeah, big contrast. 21:53 But you know, we had this big group 21:54 and we would travel by bus from, 21:56 you know, place to place. 21:58 And I remember sitting, it was dreadfully hot this day, 22:01 you know, there was no AC, It was just murderous. 22:04 And we're just going through these villages 22:08 and I would pass a village, pass another village, 22:11 and I think 22:13 I wonder if they ever had a Christian live there. 22:15 Wow. 22:16 I wonder if they ever heard about Jesus, 22:18 because there's more than 400,000 villages in India. 22:21 Four hundred thousand villages? 22:22 Villages that have no Christian presence. 22:24 Wow. 22:26 My goodness. 22:27 Just driving, you know, 22:28 and it was the same thing as Ban... 22:30 it was like, whoa, 22:32 this is a whole different world over here. 22:34 Okay, so numbers, that's villages, so numbers, 22:37 do you have any numbers 22:38 as to what that represents for as people, 22:39 you have 400,000 villages? 22:41 So, I mean not on there's millions... 22:43 Yeah, there's millions. 22:45 That have no Christian experience. 22:47 And they say that 30 to 40 percent of Indians 22:49 would accept the gospel if someone told them. 22:51 They would. 22:53 Would accept the gospel if someone told them. 22:55 You know, this is heavy. 22:56 I'm just sitting here thinking, I'm in my little bubble, 23:01 you know, just thinking, oh, I'm spreading the gospel, 23:04 I'm reaching out for Jesus. 23:07 And there's people who never even heard of Jesus. 23:09 But would. 23:10 But would if someone would go. 23:11 That's powerful. 23:13 Wow. Wow. 23:14 Praise the Lord. 23:16 That, I mean, it's speaking to my heart 23:18 and I hope it's speaking to your heart at home too 23:20 that there's people, millions, billions of people. 23:23 Wow. That's incredible. 23:25 You know, they say that 23:27 there's 2.74 billion people in the world today 23:30 have no access to the gospel. 23:32 2.7 billion? 23:34 There's no scripture in their language, 23:36 no portion of the scripture, there's no missionary, 23:38 there's no, you know, there's no access. 23:41 Nothing. 23:43 I mean, we can go to a bookstore, 23:44 we can go, you know, anywhere. 23:46 Many places in the world, they have, you know, 23:48 some access but there's... 23:50 Yeah, it's really, 23:52 there's a lot of people out there that don't... 23:54 There's a huge need. 23:55 Right, exactly. 23:57 Massive. 23:58 And that's part of our burden. Amen. 23:59 You know, and sometimes 24:01 I believe it can almost get overwhelming like, 24:02 oh, my we're just one, you know, just that, 24:04 you know, I'm one, you're one, you're one, but... 24:07 Yeah, you asked earlier how much staff we have. 24:09 We actually have, 24:11 we have one full-time bookkeeper, 24:13 we just started a part-time bookkeeper to help 24:15 because things are increasing. 24:16 We have a gentleman that does mission awareness for us 24:19 which is our development officer so to speak. 24:22 And John and I, and at this point 24:24 that's that we have one volunteer, 24:26 that's a part-time volunteer 24:27 and then we have Jonathan in the field. 24:29 So that's it for the home office so to speak. 24:31 Yeah, absolutely. 24:33 But you know, I think what's neat though is that 24:34 God is making a difference. 24:35 Yes, it's Him that makes the difference. 24:37 They use this analogy a lot of that storm 24:38 that blew all the starfish up on the beach 24:40 and the dad and the little boy 24:41 walking along and little boy felt bad 24:43 for the starfish that were washed up on the sand, 24:45 so he threw one back in and then he throw another one. 24:47 And the dad said, well, stop doing this son, look at, 24:49 there's thousands across this beach, 24:52 it doesn't make any difference. 24:53 And the little boy said, oh, Daddy, it does, 24:54 it made a difference for this one, 24:56 he picked up another starfish 24:57 and threw him back in the ocean. 24:59 So we do our part. Amen. 25:00 God has given you a burden. 25:01 And it's God that... 25:03 there's a quote in Ellen White, 25:04 she says that our part is infinitesimally small... 25:06 no, immeasurably small, is what she says. 25:08 So our part really is nothing, it's God that does everything, 25:11 but He needs the willing hands and feet. 25:13 Amen. That's right. 25:14 You know, that's our part is to be 25:15 the willing hands and feet as the song said, I am willing. 25:18 Yeah, He needs a surrendered heart, 25:20 which God was leading you on this journey. 25:21 That's right. 25:23 So you're going through India and 400,000 villages. 25:27 Yeah, it totally changed the way I looked at my life, 25:30 because I had heard about these people 25:32 but I hadn't seen them, and when I saw them 25:34 it made me realize 25:36 it doesn't matter 25:38 if I want a good job in America, 25:40 a nice house, a nice car, 25:42 a nice family, that doesn't matter. 25:44 Because there's people on the other side of the world 25:46 that have never heard the name of Jesus. 25:51 I cannot live my life as I want 25:54 when they don't know about Jesus. 25:56 So that has to be my focus, 25:58 that has to be my number one ultimate goal in life 26:01 is to fulfill the commission that God gave us. 26:04 So God kept speaking to you through this trip 26:06 like the Holy Spirit working in your heart through this, 26:08 you call it the vision trip, 26:10 through the vision trip to make that complete surrender, 26:12 to give yourself fully to the service of Him. 26:15 Amen. Amen. 26:18 That's powerful. 26:19 So then your journey continues on then 26:21 to becoming part of then Jesus for Asia? 26:23 Right. 26:25 The next year, 26:26 in January 2014 I joined Mission TV, 26:30 Jesus for Asia. 26:31 Mission TV is a project of Jesus for Asia. 26:33 Because you have the media background, right? 26:35 You... 26:36 Well, I didn't really have a media background 26:38 but I had a desire to be in media. 26:39 Okay. Amen. 26:41 And I had talents, I was really into photography 26:43 and so I was leaning in that direction. 26:46 That's one thing that we do is we allow volunteers to come 26:49 and they learn from John. 26:50 That's right, John is very talented. 26:51 Yeah. 26:53 Absolutely, he is. Yeah. 26:54 And so I went kind of as a intern you might say. 26:58 I started out as a video editor, 27:00 that's all I did, three weeks later 27:02 I was directing shows. 27:03 Three weeks? Live shows. 27:05 Not because I was qualified 27:06 but because I was the only one that could. 27:09 It's funny how life puts us in a situation sometimes. 27:13 Yeah. Yeah. 27:14 It's either sink or swim, but when Jesus is in control, 27:16 you're going to swim and make it. 27:17 Right. Right. 27:18 And if you have a problem, 27:20 it's okay because God's in charge, 27:21 you need to just say okay, Lord, 27:23 just help us with this problem. 27:25 Yeah. 27:26 So I was there for about five months 27:29 and I was really feeling like 27:31 I was making a difference, I was, you know, 27:33 things were working out, I was making, 27:35 I felt like I had a place. 27:37 And then I get this email, 27:39 "We need you to come to Thailand 27:40 and teach English, like next week." 27:42 And this came from John and Natalie. 27:44 One of our missionaries... 27:46 Okay. In Thailand. 27:47 One of the missionaries in Thailand. 27:48 They had an emergency need and they needed me. 27:50 I was like, okay, Lord, you know, 27:52 I'm willing 27:54 but this doesn't fit into the whole media talent thing. 27:58 Yeah. 27:59 Teach English, you know. Right. 28:01 It's a bit different than directing the program. 28:02 Right, right. Yeah, a television program. 28:04 And so, I was, I just said, Lord, 28:06 if you want me to go, 28:07 you need to provide the ticket to get me there, I'm willing. 28:12 He provided someone to pay for the ticket. 28:14 Amen. 28:15 And in 20 days, I was there in the jungle 28:17 and I have a picture of one of the buildings there. 28:19 This jungle school with the Sharon family. 28:21 It was just... Wow. 28:23 You can see it's jungle, it's primitive. 28:25 It's a bamboo building. 28:28 We live eight kilometers down the river, 28:30 I had to learn to drive the boat in three days. 28:31 Just incredible experiences. 28:34 And this is not your normal American boat, 28:36 let me just tell you that. 28:37 Okay. 28:38 So it's not like a nice speedboat 28:40 that you see on a... 28:41 No, I wish we had a picture of it 28:42 but it's what they call a long tail boat. 28:44 So it's actually a long boat 28:46 and then the engine is actually at the end of a large shaft. 28:50 Well, the engine is... 28:52 On the boat. 28:53 You have a handle and then this pole 28:55 goes out with the propeller. 28:56 Oh, my goodness. 28:58 Basically, so that when the water gets low 28:59 you can lift it out if you need to, 29:01 you know like that. 29:03 But it gives you enough body work. 29:04 So in 20 days you came from, okay, 29:06 you were in the United States, right? 29:07 Right. Okay. 29:09 So in 20 days you were living in this hut, 29:11 is it right, that we just saw? 29:12 Right. 29:13 And you learned to drive a boat 29:15 that I don't even quite picture in my mind, right? 29:18 Yeah. That sounds pretty difficult. 29:20 Shocked. And you began teaching English. 29:22 Yeah. Right. 29:24 Yeah, it was, it was totally different primitive, 29:27 there's no cell coverage, we had a solar panel for power. 29:30 What, no cell phones? 29:31 No cell phones, no WiFi. 29:33 The coconuts didn't give off a very good WiFi signal. 29:35 They didn't. They didn't. 29:36 Yeah, it was just... 29:37 yeah. 29:39 So how did you feel, 29:40 because I mean, that's a big shock. 29:41 I mean, 20 days? 29:43 Folks, I mean that's not much time, 29:44 you think 20 days, that's less than one month. 29:45 You went from living with basic anything 29:47 that you needed to there. 29:48 So how did you feel? 29:50 I mean, you felt God calling you... 29:51 Absolutely. Peace, you felt peace? 29:52 I felt peace only because I knew God was calling me. 29:55 That was the only reason because, you know, 29:57 it was a little uncomfortable, I'll say that. 30:00 But I got used to it 30:01 and I learned to really enjoy it. 30:03 Amen. 30:05 And it was, it was, I was so much happier, 30:08 you know, over there. 30:10 I was, it was just so fulfilling to me to be there 30:14 and to be in that environment. 30:18 I'm sure you must have some amazing stories. 30:19 Yes. 30:20 I mean, because, yeah, being there in the bush, 30:22 I mean which is called the bush or the jungle. 30:23 Jungle, yeah. 30:25 Surely, I'm sure you've got something to share with us. 30:26 I want to hear a story. 30:28 Absolutely, I got a story for you. 30:29 All right. 30:30 So the Sharon family, their youngest son, 30:32 his name is Travis Sharon. 30:33 And he has his own school that's separate from the school 30:35 that I was at, you saw a picture. 30:38 And I took my camera 30:39 and I was going to do a couple of videos just to, 30:42 you know, keep the media up 30:44 and I was there anyway, so why not. 30:46 So I decide I was going to go with Travis 30:48 to go and visit his school. 30:50 Well, we went on a motorbike and I have a picture of that. 30:54 A thousand kilometers. Oh, wow. 30:56 Okay, what is that, I mean, 30:57 I am not too good at the metric system. 30:59 Six hundred miles. Six hundred miles. 31:00 Six hundred miles? On this motorbike here. 31:01 On that motorbike right there. 31:06 Okay, so I know what saddle sore means. 31:08 It made worth a ride. 31:10 I've never ridden 600 miles on a bike, 31:11 my motorbike like that. 31:13 Yeah, it was amazing. 31:16 And the story that I want to tell you is 31:19 on the way to that school. 31:20 We traveled for about 12 hours in one day 31:24 and we stopped at a pastor's house 31:25 to spend the night. 31:27 And so he laid out some mats 31:29 and by 9 o'clock we went to sleep. 31:33 And the next thing I know I'm sitting up 31:38 and all I know is that there's something 31:40 back here that hurts really bad. 31:44 On the back of your neck. 31:45 Back of my neck, right back here. 31:47 Now do you sleep with mosquito netting over there or... 31:49 That house, they had screen 31:51 so we didn't have mosquito nets. 31:52 Okay, okay. 31:54 You sleep in a regular nice bed 31:55 with the mattresses and everything? 31:57 Some pillows. About that big. 31:59 Okay, just a couple of inches. 32:00 Yeah, on the floor mattress it was a tile floor. 32:03 So a pretty nice house by standards over there. 32:07 And so I wake up 32:08 and there's this thing back here 32:09 that hurts really bad. 32:11 And before I even think or wake up 32:12 to think about anything, 32:13 I'm just you know, taking a swat at it 32:16 and it was still there. 32:18 And so I did it again and it let go. 32:23 Let go. 32:24 It let it go and I hear something 32:26 moving away from me. 32:27 Now what did it feel like, furry? 32:29 I didn't feel, all I knew is it hurt really, really bad. 32:33 That was all that I... 32:34 I mean, I'm still waking up, you know. 32:36 And so I hear moving away and I'm like, 32:37 I've got to figure out what this is. 32:38 Absolutely. 32:40 So I grab my flashlight 32:41 and I shine it over where I heard the noise, 32:44 and I see a snake about that long. 32:45 Oh, wow. 32:48 Now I... It had bitten you? 32:49 It had bitten me. 32:50 Oh. 32:52 Now, I've been hearing stories about this snake, 32:54 you take two steps you're dead if it bites you. 32:56 They call it the two-steps snake. 32:58 Not the snake that bit me, 32:59 I didn't know what kind it was, 33:00 but they were telling stories about, okay, 33:02 so this specific snake, I forget the names. 33:03 But this snake, this snake, five minutes. 33:06 So these are all over in Thailand. 33:08 Right, dangerous, poisonous snakes. 33:10 So all you know you've been just bitten by a snake. 33:12 Right. And I'm thinking... 33:14 That's terrifying. 33:15 Yeah, and I am thinking 33:17 I wonder if I'm going to die in a few minutes. 33:18 Exactly. 33:20 Well, I never had to think that before, 33:22 you know, I mean, really. 33:23 I wonder if I'm going to die in a few minutes. 33:25 And it was just like, Lord, 33:26 save me, you know, Lord, help. 33:30 And then I was like, okay, I need to wake up Travis. 33:33 Well, Travis is a little bit hard to wake up. 33:34 So I had to get over there, poke him, and yell at him. 33:37 That was Travis, an American missionary. 33:38 Yeah, American missionary. 33:40 All right. 33:41 So he's not a native from Thailand. 33:42 No, no, no, they're missionary. 33:44 So I was trying to wake him up and he wakes up, 33:47 he opens his eyes, he looks at me 33:49 and then he closes his eyes. 33:52 I am like this is not working, 33:55 so I said, Travis, I just got bit by a snake. 33:58 And that guy sat straight up, he looks at me and said what? 34:01 Yeah. 34:03 It woke him up. Of course, yeah. 34:04 Right. 34:05 And so I'm like, yeah, seriously, right back here. 34:07 So I gave him my flashlight, he looks and he says, 34:10 it wasn't poisonous. 34:11 How does he know that? 34:13 He was looking to look at the bit mark. 34:14 At the bit mark, you can tell that? 34:16 Right. Okay. 34:17 So he tells me, he's like, it wasn't poisonous. 34:19 I am like praise the Lord, I'm not going to die, you know, 34:22 this is okay. 34:24 And then he says, actually, I didn't see any bit marks, 34:27 so I think you're just feeling things. 34:30 I am like, oh, trust me I felt it, I felt it. 34:34 Yeah, I'm feeling things all right. 34:36 Right. 34:37 And so he pulled my shirt up so he could see my whole back 34:40 and he said, okay, okay, I see the bit marks, 34:42 you did get bit by a snake. 34:44 I am like okay, so now what, what do we do? 34:45 He's like, go back to sleep. 34:48 I just got bit by a snake in Thailand 34:50 and you're telling me to go back to sleep? 34:52 You need some charcoal. 34:53 We didn't have charcoal, we didn't' have anything to do, 34:55 and it was like, ah, you know. 34:57 Isn't the snake still in the house? 34:59 I went over where the direction the snake was, 35:01 I could not find that snake. 35:02 Okay, for one thing, I knew 35:04 I would not go back to sleep that night. 35:06 Invariably with the snake in the house. 35:09 Well, I couldn't find it. 35:10 Travis went right back to sleep, 35:11 it took me a little bit longer. 35:13 And you went back to sleep? I went back to sleep. 35:14 That's Jesus. Oh, praise the Lord. 35:16 Wow. Yeah. 35:17 Now the thing is 35:19 Travis told me it wasn't poisonous 35:21 but I felt something going in at the, 35:24 where he bit me, you know, like a bee sting, 35:27 you feel it going in, I felt that back here. 35:30 And so I just figured I was imagining things 35:33 because it's a little scary 35:34 to get bit by a snake in, you know. 35:36 Oh, absolute, yeah, in the middle of the night too. 35:38 It will get your brain going. 35:39 And so the next morning 35:40 I wake up, I open my eyes, 35:42 and I'm like, hey... I'm alive. 35:44 I'm alive, exactly, that's my thought, exactly. 35:47 Thank you, Lord, I'm alive. 35:49 And so when Travis woke up I was like, you need to, 35:51 you need to look back here. 35:53 And so he looks again with a flashlight 35:55 and he's really quiet. 35:58 He sits back and I look at him and he says, 36:01 you know what I saw? 36:04 He says, I saw two fang marks. 36:07 You got bit twice? 36:08 No, that means it was a poisonous snake. 36:11 Oh. 36:12 Because their fangs are what inject a venom. 36:13 Okay. 36:15 And I'm like, you mean to tell me 36:16 I got bit by a poisonous snake last night 36:18 and I'm alive right now? 36:20 He was like, I guess so. 36:23 That's God. 36:24 That's totally God. 36:27 And I was going, 36:30 I was going to visit his school to make a video, right? 36:34 I knew right then that Satan tried to take me out. 36:37 Absolutely. 36:39 He did not want that video to happen. 36:40 But God said, you know, you let that snake bite, 36:43 you give a little bit of venom, there was no swelling, 36:46 there was no ill effects or anything, 36:48 just enough to remind me I'm in charge, 36:52 I've got your life in my hands, 36:53 there's nothing that devil can do. 36:55 Amen. 36:56 Reminds me of Paul after the shipwreck. 36:57 Remember, they are standing around the fire, 36:59 warming their hands and there's a snake and they shook it off. 37:01 And they were expecting to fall down dead. 37:03 God worked a miracle. But God had a purpose. 37:05 This is a real life miracle, I mean, right here. Wow. 37:08 Praise the Lord that you're sitting here 37:09 in this chair today. 37:11 Yeah. 37:12 God has a purpose in anointing over your life. 37:14 Absolutely. 37:15 I have to share really quick story, 37:16 it's really neat because he was at 3ABN camp meeting 37:19 not long before he went, 37:20 in fact that weekend before you went, wasn't it? 37:23 Or two weekends before? Yeah, I think. 37:24 Anyway, in the kindergarten class, 37:27 there was one young man in particular from 3ABN's family 37:31 Ben Primo and he met Jonathan 37:35 and we asked them to pray for the missionaries 37:37 and especially for Jonathan 37:39 because Jonathan was about to leave for Thailand. 37:41 And he started praying 37:43 and Moses and his wife would tell us Adima would tell us 37:47 that he wants to pray for every day for the missionaries 37:50 and especially for Jonathan. 37:52 And he was praying for Jonathan 37:53 and so we're thankful, we told them, 37:56 your prayers were part of what saved Jonathan's life. 37:58 Do you know, that's powerful, because God spared your life, 38:02 God has a purpose for you but at the same time 38:04 God calls each one of us 38:06 to intercede on behalf of someone else. 38:09 And in this case, someone young. 38:10 And Ben was little then. Yeah, he was so little then. 38:11 Yes, a child can intercede for others, that's beautiful. 38:15 Anyway. 38:16 Yeah, and there's nothing 38:18 that encourages a missionary more 38:19 than knowing that someone is praying for them every day. 38:21 Amen. Amen. 38:23 Yeah, amen. 38:24 So, Natalie, how did the foreign correspondent begin? 38:27 Because let's, we got to, our time is running away from us. 38:29 I know. We got to switch to that. 38:31 So how did God put it in you 38:33 and John's heart regarding with Jesus for Asia? 38:35 Was it first a dream of yours to do foreign correspondent 38:39 or...? 38:40 Yeah, basically because we saw that there was 38:41 so much need out there 38:43 and there are so few mission stories coming back. 38:44 And it's hard for us to go and, you know, 38:46 get the stories ourselves. 38:48 We realize the need to send someone. 38:51 And so John was just like, you know, 38:53 I think we need to enable Jonathan to go 38:54 because he had made these videos, 38:57 we need to show that video of Travis. 38:59 But he had made these videos of Travis 39:01 and he made another one at the other school 39:03 with Travis's parents, 39:05 the Sharon's and just showing the need. 39:08 And people were connecting because of the videos, 39:11 because you can see 39:13 the circumstances where there's a need. 39:15 And so we realize that that was a great need. 39:17 So John asked Jonathan, 39:19 if he'd be willing to consider going. 39:21 Amen. 39:22 So set this video up then for us, Jonathan, 39:25 because you were talking about Travis. 39:27 And Travis is part of these videos, is that correct? 39:29 That's right. 39:30 This was the video that I was going to make 39:33 when the snake bit me. 39:34 It's just excerpts from a longer video kind of to show 39:37 what Travis does a little bit and his burden. 39:41 But it's all glory to God, the video. 39:43 Amen. All right. 39:44 Well, let's go to that video right now. 40:10 Sometimes it's hard being a missionary 40:13 but it's well worth it. 40:26 In America I wasn't helping anyone 40:30 and it was all about me, 40:31 so I wanted to do something to help others. 40:35 Have you ever regretted that decision? 40:37 No, never. 40:41 God has called every one of us 40:43 to share what we know, to whoever we can 40:46 whether it be at home or abroad. 40:49 Very few people take the call seriously. 40:53 We sit back and we say, yes, 40:57 we need to share with our neighbors and our friends, 41:00 we don't need to go far away. 41:03 But yet those close to us we don't even share with. 41:07 We say it to make us feel better. 41:17 It's sad to me when I see that there are not more missionaries 41:22 in these mountains to reach the villagers, 41:25 the people that don't know about God, 41:28 don't know about salvation. 41:31 What if you were the only one 41:33 to take the gospel to a village, 41:36 would you go? 41:45 What are we willing to do for God? 41:52 God has called us to do His work 41:55 and it is up to us to join in the work, 41:58 it will be more joy than we have ever known. 42:11 Amen. 42:12 What a blessing, you did a great job, Jonathan. 42:15 And just to see, it gives you a visual picture, you know, 42:19 of what goes on there of the need, 42:21 and I was blessed just in what Travis shared, you know, 42:24 as far as getting out of our comfort 42:26 and reaching out and being a missionary, 42:28 you know, stepping out for Jesus. 42:30 So a great job with that. 42:32 Now you did that with some outdated video equipment, 42:35 is that correct? 42:37 Yes, it was very, very basic and not adequate. 42:42 Well, it still works great, but... 42:43 God bless. Amen. 42:45 I used what I had and he blessed 42:46 and all the glory goes to Him. 42:48 That all He asks us to do. Right. 42:49 What do you have in your hand, use it for honor and glory. 42:52 Exactly. Yeah. 42:53 So you have a need for new equipment 42:55 or God blessed you with some new equipment? 42:57 Yeah, God, when, as Natalie was saying, 43:00 and when John asked me to be a foreign correspondent, 43:02 I needed new equipment in order to do that. 43:05 And so I begin putting together a list 43:07 and I came up with right around $7,500 to do that, 43:11 to just give me the equipment. 43:13 I need to do it effectively and efficiently. 43:16 And so, I began praying, 43:18 and there was someone who would ask me to go 43:19 and do a video of their project in February. 43:22 And in middle of January 43:24 John says, you need to get a ticket. 43:28 And so, I bought a ticket 43:30 and then I'm thinking, what am I doing? 43:31 I have a ticket but I don't have any equipment 43:33 to do the videos that I'm going to do, you know, 43:36 it doesn't make any sense. 43:37 It's an act of faith. 43:39 But that night, I was really stressed about it. 43:42 I was saying, oh, what is going on? 43:44 The next morning the Lord gave me a promise. 43:46 I was reading Psalms 46, got to verse 10, 43:50 "Be still, and know that I am God, 43:54 I will be exalted among the heathen, 43:56 I will be exalted on the earth." 43:57 And that's exactly, you know, it fits so well. 44:00 And so I said, Lord, I'm gonna take that promise, 44:02 I'm gonna hang on that, I'm waiting, 44:04 I'm being still, I'm waiting for you. 44:07 God had already prepared someone the very next week 44:10 who was praying, Lord, 44:11 what do you want me to do with the $7,000? 44:14 So you needed $7,500. 44:16 I needed $7,500. 44:17 Others had come in, other money had come in 44:19 for that extra $500. 44:21 Sure, but you has someone else praying, God, 44:23 what should I do with this $7,000? 44:25 Right, and then they heard I had a need for $7,000. 44:29 Yeah, he did a Sabbath school presentation 44:31 and raised their hand and said, 44:33 how much do you need? 44:34 Someone. 44:36 And so he said about $7,000 and they knew. 44:39 Yeah, that this is what God wanted them. 44:41 Because, they've been praying themselves, 44:42 God what do I do this? 44:43 Right. 44:45 So that was just a huge conformation. 44:46 Absolutely. 44:48 This is exactly what I want you doing right now. 44:51 And, you know, I just was over in Asia for two months, 44:55 just seeing the way God worked was amazing. 44:57 Seeing the, you know, 44:59 the missionaries in their everyday life doing the work. 45:03 But as I'm over there and traveling between places 45:06 I see there's so many places that there aren't missionaries. 45:12 There are so many people who don't have someone 45:14 who is giving themselves to go and tell them about Jesus, 45:18 and it's heartbreaking. 45:20 Absolutely. 45:21 So you're looking for more missionaries 45:24 then, Natalie, or... 45:25 We are open to God's leading no matter what. 45:28 Yeah, there is a great need 45:29 and if they can go through other organizations 45:32 that's great, you know, 45:33 there's needs at the general conference level, 45:35 there's needs, other ministries have needs. 45:37 And so, yeah, we are willing to talk to people, 45:40 and usually the Lord ends up having us help 45:42 whoever approaches us, so. 45:44 Amen. 45:45 So what would be some of your biggest needs now? 45:47 I mean Jesus for Asia is just an incredible ministry, 45:50 either with foreign correspondent 45:52 or with the overall umbrella of Jesus for Asia, 45:54 what would be some of the needs 45:56 that folk at home can help with? 45:58 Well, there are, he needs more equipment. 46:00 There's certain items that he was not able, you know, 46:03 he weeded out of that list to keep it bare minimal. 46:06 Because we work in television here at 3ABN and $7,500, 46:10 oh, my, I can be using that 46:11 real quick in equipment, television equipment. 46:13 Right. Right. 46:14 And the Lord blessed 46:16 and there's equipment out there, 46:17 there's a lot less expensive for what he is doing, you know. 46:19 And it doesn't look like big, 46:21 really good quality stuff either, 46:23 so he can go kind of incognito into places 46:26 and, you know, yeah, 46:28 it looks like he's a tourist more, you know. 46:31 So yeah, he has a need for equipment 46:34 and he does receive a small stipend, 46:36 so if someone wanted to help with that, 46:38 that would be fine. 46:39 There's always needs at Jesus for Asia, I mean, 46:41 we have so many projects, so much going on, 46:44 so if someone has a particular interest, 46:46 if they want to give us a call or email us about it, 46:49 then we can share with them 46:50 what is going on in that particular area of interest, 46:54 where need it most, you know. 46:56 So, Jonathan, you mentioned earlier that you started, 46:58 you got really this, I don't know for the burden 47:01 but just the interest was when you went on this vision trip, 47:06 what do you call is it a vision for Jesus. 47:07 Vision trip, because we realize that... 47:09 You still do that? 47:10 We do occasionally, yeah. 47:12 We realized that when people go on a mission trip, 47:15 two to three weeks, 47:16 it's not long enough to really do mission 47:18 because mission is a lifelong thing. 47:21 So what we can do in two to three weeks is 47:23 we can catch a vision for how big the need is 47:26 and how God can use anybody because He can. 47:29 These missionaries are out there, 47:31 some of them don't even have 47:32 a finished high school education, you know. 47:34 Some of them have collage level but some of them don't. 47:37 But God's using them everywhere, you know, 47:39 where He needs them. 47:41 And so the open heart, 47:42 the full surrender that we've been talking about, 47:45 that's what's needed. 47:46 Wow, that's great. 47:48 So, Jonathan, you caught the vision? 47:49 Absolutely. 47:51 And praise the Lord for that, because you said 47:52 about two years you've been involved with Jesus for Asia. 47:55 So what are you currently doing right now 47:57 then with Jesus for Asia? 48:00 Editing. 48:02 Basically the concept of foreign correspondent 48:04 and what my future holds is going 48:07 to the project of Jesus for Asia to create videos 48:11 so that people in America can connect with the projects 48:14 that are happening, 48:15 but also highlighting where the work is not being done. 48:19 Because if you look at our mission videos 48:21 that you show in church and everywhere, 48:23 it's all about what's being done. 48:25 How often do we something about what's not being done? 48:28 And I think that has part to do 48:30 with why our churches largely abandoned foreign missions. 48:34 Because it gives you subconscious sense 48:37 that there's a lot being done, 48:39 and it's almost done. 48:40 So you're showing the need? 48:42 Right. Wow. 48:43 John took somebody to India once 48:44 and they were there for like a week 48:46 and they're like, where are the missionaries? 48:47 You know, it was like, 48:49 well, there were at that time 48:50 I think six or seven missionaries in all of India, 48:53 you know, and... 48:55 Which is a huge county. 48:56 Or may be missionary families but still, you know, 48:58 it's just there aren't very many out there. 49:02 And then we say, well, 49:03 the natives are taking care of it, 49:04 but there is so much need, so. 49:08 So, Jonathan, if you... 49:09 we have a couple of moments here 49:10 before we go to your address, 49:12 and we'll definitely put that up, 49:13 so you can contact Jesus for Asia for yourself. 49:16 But in the couple of moments we have here, 49:18 could you take a minute or two 49:19 and just talk to someone at home. 49:21 May be it's a young person who is trying to decide, 49:23 do I want to surrender? 49:25 Do I want to give it to Jesus? 49:29 Is God calling me to be a missionary? 49:31 May be it's someone older, 49:32 but someone who is feeling the call of God in their life, 49:34 you want to just talk into the camera to them at home. 49:36 Sure. 49:38 All I have to say is in my experience, 49:42 surrendering 100 percent to God, 49:45 committing myself to the mission of 49:47 what He has called us do is 49:49 the greatest decision I ever made. 49:51 And I know that there are times when we wonder, you know, 49:54 I don't really want to surrender, 49:56 I want to do my own thing, I don't want to just let it go. 50:00 But I can tell you there is no greater joy 50:03 than when you give it all to Jesus. 50:05 And I believe, because you look around 50:07 there's tons of work to be done, 50:09 but we need not be overwhelmed 50:12 because God needs you and He needs me. 50:17 We can't do it ourselves, 50:18 if we surrender ourselves to Him, 50:21 then He can work in us 50:23 and if our whole church is surrendered to Him, 50:26 that work can be finished in no time at all 50:29 and we can go home to heaven. 50:31 Amen. 50:32 Thank you for that. 50:34 It's an incredible testimony. 50:35 My heart has been blessed. 50:37 Mine too, oh, absolutely. 50:39 This hour, it's hard to believe, 50:40 it's almost gone already. 50:42 I like mission stories that is great. 50:44 But it's neat to see how God has worked 50:46 and is currently working in Jonathan's life 50:48 and how he is spreading the gospel 50:50 around the world with Jesus for Asia. 50:52 It's a blessing too to see 50:53 how God is using this powerful ministry for the cause of God. 50:56 Amen. 50:58 And I've just been encouraged 50:59 and inspired in my own walk with Jesus, 51:01 and we pray that you have been as well at home. 51:04 Just get involved in mission work. 51:07 Maybe God has a call in your life 51:08 to get involved in foreign mission work 51:10 and you want to contact Jesus for Asia and say, 51:12 I want to get involved. 51:14 Maybe God has provided you with finances 51:17 that you can contact them and say, 51:19 I want to sponsor Jonathan, 51:21 the foreign correspondent, 51:23 or I want to help with that video equipment, 51:25 or one of the other projects 51:26 that they are currently involved in. 51:29 We want to give you the opportunity 51:31 to contact them for yourself. 51:32 It's gonna have all that information there. 51:35 And we encourage you, 51:37 most of all to pray for this ministry, 51:40 pray for God's protection over them, 51:42 pray for God's anointing over what they will do 51:45 and what they have done. 51:46 We will be right back 51:48 with a few closing thoughts after this. 51:51 Billions of people in Asia still have not heard 51:54 the wonderful news of Jesus Christ. 51:56 If the Holy Spirit impresses you to help, 51:58 then you can write to Jesus for Asia, 52:01 PO Box 1221, Collegedale, Tennessee 37315. 52:07 That's Jesus for Asia, 52:09 PO Box 1221, Collegedale, Tennessee 37315. 52:15 You can call 423-413-7321. 52:19 That's 423-413-7321. 52:23 Or you can visit them online at Jesus4Asia.org. 52:28 That's Jesus4Asia.org. 52:32 Call or write to them today. |
Revised 2016-06-02