Participants: Shelley Quinn (Host), Frank Fournier, Steve Grabiner
Series Code: TDY
Program Code: TDY016061A
|
00:01 I want to spend my life
00:07 Mending broken people 00:11 I want to spend my life 00:17 Removing pain 00:23 Lord, let my words 00:29 Heal a heart that hurts 00:34 I want to spend my life 00:39 Mending broken people 00:45 I want to spend my life 00:51 Mending broken people 01:06 Hello, I'm Shelley Quinn 01:07 and we welcome you once again to 3ABN Today. 01:10 Thank you for joining us for this hour. 01:12 It's going to be a wonderful hour. 01:15 And I want to take this opportunity 01:16 to thank you for your prayers 01:19 and your financial support. 01:21 We have two very special guests with us today, 01:24 and I'm just going to go ahead 01:25 and introduce them before I read the scripture, 01:28 and that is Steve Grabiner, 01:30 who is the president of Outpost Centers International. 01:32 Pleasure to be here. 01:34 Steve, thank you so much for coming today. 01:35 Pleasure. 01:37 And then Frank Fournier, 01:38 who is the vice president 01:40 of Outpost Centers International. 01:42 Happy to be here. 01:43 Well, I consider both of these gentlemen friends 01:46 and just dear brothers in Christ 01:48 and we're so glad you're here. 01:50 Now, I know you've got something special for us, 01:53 but what I want to do is share a scripture 01:55 that I think we all need to be reminded of from time to time, 01:59 and this is Acts 17:26-28. 02:03 Paul is speaking to those who are worshiping 02:08 all kinds of gods and they even got an idol for an unknown God, 02:12 and he say to them that, 02:14 "He God has made from one blood 02:17 every nation of men to dwell on the face of the earth." 02:20 From one blood, that means we all have more in common 02:25 than we have dissimilarities, 02:29 and he said, "He is determined their pre-appointed times 02:31 and the boundaries of their dwellings, 02:33 so that they should seek the Lord, 02:35 in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, 02:39 though He is not far from each one of us, 02:41 for in Him we live and move and have our being." 02:46 And you know, that scripture, 02:48 what it reminds me of is that 02:52 prejudice is such a sin, is it not? 02:55 I mean we are more similar than we are dissimilar, 02:58 and prejudice is actually the root of prejudice is pride 03:03 and pride is the root of the antichrist 03:06 if you think about it. 03:08 So we need to pray and ask God, 03:11 help us to get over our prejudices. 03:13 Help us Lord to love everyone 03:16 and to see everyone as you see them. 03:19 So gentlemen today we're going to be talking about 03:22 an exciting project, 03:25 and before we do that though 03:27 we would like to go to our music 03:30 I think it will get, 03:31 ET is gonna be playing for us on the piano, 03:34 so we will let her do that first 03:36 and then we'll come back 03:38 and get into the wonderful topic 03:40 that we'll talk about today. 03:42 ET is a precious woman of God. 03:44 She is an incredible musician, 03:47 and she's going to play for us right now, 03:49 "How Great is Our God". 08:29 Thank you ET, I wished I had that talent, 08:32 but thank God that she... 08:34 she gives the talent back to the Lord. 08:37 So if you're just joining us, 08:39 our special guests today 08:40 are Steve Grabiner and Frank Fournier 08:43 and they're both with Outpost Centers International. 08:46 Now, Steve, it's been a long time 08:47 since you've been here, 08:49 so let's before we kick off 08:52 and talk about the exciting new project 08:55 that you're here to unveil today. 08:58 Tell us a little bit of your background? 09:01 Sure, it'd be a pleasure. 09:02 I grew up north of New York City 09:05 in a Jewish family. 09:07 And as I was growing up, 09:09 went to Hebrew school in addition to public school. 09:13 And when I was around 10 09:15 my father tragically passed away, 09:18 kind of impacted my life for a number of years. 09:20 In my high school years, 09:23 I was involved in what was fairly common at that time. 09:27 I was involved in the hippie scene 09:29 of the '60s and so on. 09:31 But when I was becoming 20, 09:33 I began to go into a little vegetarian restaurant 09:36 that amazingly was run by 09:38 a group of Seventh-day Adventists, 09:39 and it was through meeting them 09:42 and eating with them and studying with them 09:44 that I became introduced to Jesus Christ as the Messiah. 09:48 Praise the Lord. 09:50 And that made a very dramatic change in my life. 09:53 Okay, so you went from a long, 09:55 a long pony tailed hippie to 09:58 actually you ended up going into school to study theology. 10:04 Tell us about that? 10:05 How did that decision... 10:07 You meet these people just eating at a restaurant 10:10 and it just shows you 10:11 what ministries of health food restaurants can do, 10:15 but you meet these people, you become... 10:18 you fall in love, they introduced you to Christ. 10:20 You fallen in love with Him, accept Him as the Messiah. 10:24 How did you then... 10:25 How did you make that leap to go study theology? 10:29 Well, the movement from first knowing Christ 10:32 to becoming a pastor 10:35 and working in evangelism and in education, 10:39 wasn't so direct. 10:40 Okay. 10:41 After my conversion, 10:43 I went away to college for little bit, dropped out, 10:45 and then worked in a supporting ministry, 10:48 the individuals that were running the restaurant, 10:50 they're all lay people, 10:51 and that's what's really exciting is that 10:53 God's given every Christian something to do for Him. 10:56 Amen. 10:57 And so I worked with some other lay people 11:01 in the ministry in Michigan 11:02 and then from there I worked 11:04 with the conference in the Boston area. 11:07 We worked in evangelism, 11:08 help raising up a couple of churches 11:10 in the Boston area, Waltham and Braintree. 11:14 From there I became a pastor studied, 11:18 went got my degrees in theology 11:21 and end up getting a doctorate in theology 11:25 and writing a book on Revelation actually. 11:26 Wonderful. 11:28 And then how did you become 11:30 or how did you come 11:31 and it was what year 2002, 11:35 when did you come to OCI? 11:38 Well, I worked for OCI in Africa. 11:41 I was director of a project there called Riverside Farm. 11:44 And then when I left Africa in 2006, 11:47 I started working as the vice president of OCI... 11:49 In 2006. 11:51 And then about four and a half, 11:52 five years I became the president of OCI. 11:54 Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. 11:55 And it's been a great journey. Okay. 11:57 It's amazing how God leads us in different ways. 12:00 Amen. 12:02 That's a fascinating history, 12:04 but we're gonna come back 12:05 and OCI is Outpost Centers International. 12:08 We'll introduce that ministry to you in just a moment. 12:10 But, Frank, now you're now stranger to 3ABN, 12:14 you've been here quite often, 12:15 you've done a little series on 3ABN. 12:18 As a matter of fact, 12:20 from heaven's point of view on Prodigal Son, 12:22 so but tell us because things keep changing in your life. 12:27 I think last time you were here, 12:28 were you the president of Adventist Layman Services 12:32 and Industries or I don't know... 12:34 I was president of ASI for four years, 12:37 and at the same time I was president of Eden Valley, 12:40 a lifestyle center. 12:42 Yes. 12:44 So I don't know that I ever heard your testimony. 12:46 Give us just a little bit of your growing up? 12:49 Yeah, well, I grew up in the Roman Catholic home 12:52 in French, Canada. 12:55 And sometime in my early 20s, 12:57 I began to wonder 12:59 or maybe I began to be drawn more closely by the Lord, 13:03 somehow became interested in reading the Bible 13:06 and I began to do that. 13:08 And as soon as I started reading the Bible, 13:12 I came to the conclusion that 13:14 I wasn't smart enough to determine 13:16 who was right and who was wrong, 13:19 and so I got on my knees 13:21 and talk to the Lord about He teaching me individually. 13:24 Amen. 13:26 Because I couldn't trust myself to the priest 13:29 for he's interpreting the Bible for me 13:32 or a Baptist minister for that matter or anybody else, 13:35 because everyone says they have the truth 13:38 and so I just asked the Lord to teach me. 13:40 Amen. 13:41 And the interesting thing about that is that He did, 13:45 doctrine by doctrines, 13:46 several doctrines until I began to pray 13:49 that He would lead me to the true church. 13:51 And when he did 13:52 which I believe today is a Seventh-day Adventist Church. 13:55 Everything He had taught me as an individual 13:57 apart from anyone else turned out to be the same thing 14:01 as the same doctrines 14:02 as I found in the Adventist Church. 14:04 Oh, how I identify with that, 14:06 because when the Lord called me to full time ministry, 14:09 He just definitely... 14:10 I guess I was more hard headed. 14:12 Well, no, actually I was praying 14:13 what do you want me to teach, 14:14 and you know, 14:16 He impressed the thought upon my mind, 14:17 forget what you think, you know, 14:19 come sit at my feet and I will teach you, 14:21 and that's exactly what happened to me. 14:23 Every doctrine that He was teaching me 14:26 from the Sabbath whatever it had to do the truth, 14:29 the state of the dead, anything. 14:30 It was just like I'm out 14:32 teaching them everywhere and thinking 14:34 Lord, where is there a church that believes this 14:37 and that's how...fascinating. 14:39 Well, you know, even to this day 14:41 it blows me away. 14:42 Amen. 14:43 That I don't remember one thing 14:45 that I had thought I had learned 14:47 that I had to change, 14:49 because He was guiding, He was teaching, 14:52 and when I came to the Adventist church, 14:54 it was exactly the same. 14:56 Well see now, I had everything, 14:57 He was teaching me all these doctrines 14:58 but the one thing I was praying for is Lord, 15:01 I don't understand Revelation 15:03 so I learned that actually through watching 15:05 and started tuning into 3ABN 15:07 and found out Adventist believed 15:09 everything that God was teaching me, 15:11 and then I was learning that Daniel unlocked Revelation, 15:15 so it's fabulous. 15:16 So, Steve, tells us about Outpost Centers International, 15:21 we call it OCI for short, but they began in 1982, 15:25 and what is the purpose of this ministry? 15:27 OCI exists... 15:30 Well our vision for OCI is that in every country of the world 15:34 there should be lay people engaged in ministry. 15:37 And so our vision is to see all around the world, 15:40 small family ministries, larger institutions 15:44 doing supporting work for the church. 15:47 Wherever there is a Seventh-day Adventist, 15:48 there should be a Seventh-day Adventist 15:50 lay person engaged in ministry. 15:51 Now explain what you mean by lay person, 15:53 somebody watching may not know? 15:54 Thank you for that clarification. 15:58 In God's church he's organized 16:00 that you would have people in position, 16:03 ministers, teachers, pastors, 16:06 but the vast majority of the church is made up 16:09 of the everyday man and woman, 16:11 child that goes to church and has a normal job, 16:15 and God's call is for all of us to have a part 16:18 in the great commission. 16:20 And so OCI exists to help 16:23 the bulk of the church members 16:25 realize their calling where do they fulfill 16:29 their part in the great commission. 16:31 So we call those church members 16:33 and those people lay people 16:35 not that they should be reclined 16:37 'cause they should be up and going, 16:38 the blessing is on the go, right? 16:40 That's right. All right. 16:41 So these are lay ministries and we believe 16:43 and OCI's mission is to have something in every country. 16:47 Right, so we're network organization, 16:50 we try to encourage new ministries to get started 16:53 in countries where there aren't ministries already. 16:56 We give support to existing ones. 16:59 We do education, training, 17:01 leadership support for these ministries 17:04 and it's really exciting. 17:05 Currently there is 120 ministries 17:08 in 44 different countries you know, 17:10 expanding the globe, 17:12 and it's just really exciting to see 17:14 young people getting engaged, 17:17 realizing that God has call on their life, 17:19 and how they can use their business skills in evangelism. 17:24 How can they use their everyday work 17:28 as an outreach for evangelism? 17:30 And some of them were called 17:32 how can I devote my life full time 17:36 in a entrepreneurial way to do ministry? 17:40 Okay, so you said young people, 17:41 but it's not specifically for young people... 17:44 No, of course not young. 17:45 Tell us, just kind of give us, 17:47 one of you tell us a little bit 17:48 about the range of the ministries 17:51 because you have institutional ministries 17:54 that you support or network, 17:57 and then you also have little family ministries, 18:00 so give us kind of a range? 18:01 Hey, Frank, why don't you talk a little about Columbia, 18:04 the ministries there? 18:06 Well, we have several ministries in Columbia 18:09 and most of them have been there 18:11 for a quite a while 18:13 because OCI has been around for quite a while. 18:15 And they range everything from health food stories 18:21 to farms and lifestyle centers and everything like that, 18:26 and besides that we have also over there 18:30 one ministry that deals with young people 18:34 who have been in trouble, drug addicts and whatever 18:37 and they take them on and they minister to them. 18:40 It's amazing the conversions that you get 18:42 even from a ministry where you would think, 18:45 it's so difficult to do and so hard to get through, 18:48 but it works, you know, 18:49 the Lord's power is always surprising. 18:52 Yes. Yeah. 18:54 So you're not just in Columbia, where else are you? 18:56 No, many places in South America, 18:58 but take something very different 19:00 than what Frank just shared in Prague, 19:03 in Czech Republic, very western secularized city. 19:07 We have four health food store, restaurants 19:10 Country Life they are called, and as well as a... 19:14 Which God used as a tool to convert you? 19:17 A Country Life restaurant that's exactly right, 19:19 and so there are other people 19:21 like I was coming into that those restaurants 19:24 or those stores, 19:25 meeting individuals, 19:28 they worship on Sabbath, 19:29 they have like a little worship 19:31 in the restaurant on Sabbath, 19:33 so they are using different avenues, 19:36 so you have Columbia, South America, Western Europe, 19:40 in Indonesia there is a group of individuals 19:44 who have a small health food store building, 19:47 and then above the health food store 19:49 in the second floor is a doctor's office. 19:52 People come to the health food store 19:53 and they go to the doctor's office, 19:55 and then above that floor they have little church, 19:58 and then above that floor they have a prayer room, 20:00 and therefore these in Indonesia, 20:02 very strong Muslim country, 20:04 and yet these dedicated individuals, 20:06 they're trying again to fulfill the gospel commission 20:11 using their talents and their abilities. 20:13 With a great deal of success, I understand. 20:14 Yes, yes. 20:16 They are doing a fantastic job, fantastic. 20:18 So then and you have in Africa, it's... 20:20 they're around the world, 20:21 but tell us about the Riverside Farms? 20:23 Riverside Farm is a beautiful place, 20:26 probably one of most beautiful places in the world. 20:28 I realize I'm prejudice, 20:30 lived there for about 10 years, close to 10 years, 20:33 and it's on the banks of the Kafue River. 20:35 And Riverside is a very diverse organization. 20:39 They have a lifestyle center, 20:41 so that they can reach 20:42 the middle and upper class Zambians. 20:44 Then they have an educational program 20:47 where they teach evangelism and farming 20:50 and tailoring as skill sets for different people. 20:54 Then of course, they have a very large farm 20:56 which is their means of self support. 20:58 And the farm generates the income 21:01 for their evangelistic and educational outreaches. 21:04 Beautiful place. 21:06 I have some dear friends, 21:07 I just give a shout out to Hein and Melissa, 21:10 who are also, they are around a more... 21:13 they are in that same area or they're in Africa 21:15 and it's a more of a family based, 21:18 but they've started the school there, 21:19 and then they have boat where they take, 21:22 they go up and down 21:23 ministering to the needs of the people in the area. 21:26 And it's just OCI, I have met so many people 21:29 and so many ministries and I've interviewed 21:31 so many ministries who will say, 21:34 well, we're members of Outpost Centers International, 21:37 so it's a great way that 21:39 people can instead of having to go to... 21:43 instead of going through the 501c3, 21:46 they can just have people donate through you. 21:49 Sure, the foreign introduce a lot of those organizations 21:53 run their donations through OCI. 21:55 We're privileged to do that for them. 21:57 And again, 21:59 we also try to help new ministries 22:01 get started and sit on the lot of boards, 22:03 trying to give council, try to help guide people 22:06 in different kind of difficult situations, 22:10 but what's really exciting is the work 22:12 that all those ministries were doing. 22:13 I mean we sit in the office, 22:16 well, we travel actually a lot, 22:17 but our office is in Tennessee, it's a small office. 22:21 The vibrancy of the organization is the work 22:25 that the ministries are doing. 22:26 Absolutely. 22:28 And it's thrilling to see it growing all around the world. 22:30 It is growing, I was gonna say if you... 22:32 I know that, I don't know what your schedules like, 22:35 but I think I travel a lot, and I think, 22:37 Frank, you probably do more international travel 22:39 than anybody I've seen. 22:41 Now, if you think this is exciting and it is. 22:47 They're getting ready or they had just kicked off 22:50 or are in the process of launching 22:52 I'll say a new ministry in Israel. 22:57 Why I know with you with a Jewish background, 23:01 this must be so exciting for you, 23:04 so before you explain to us 23:08 what this ministry is in Israel, 23:10 tell us why you feel now is the time? 23:14 So it's a mixed answer. 23:17 Clearly there is a very personal aspect of that 23:20 and again being born Jewish, 23:22 I lived in Israel before my conversion. 23:26 And I always had this desire to see something start there. 23:31 And in the early 1900s 23:35 Ellen G. White was addressing 23:37 a General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. 23:40 And in that conference she made up specific appeal 23:44 to her hearers to the church at large 23:47 to not neglect the work for the Jewish people. 23:51 Can I read that quote, 23:52 because I actually carry that in my Bible, I too. 23:57 We've been to Israel for the last five years, 24:00 and also have a heart for those people. 24:02 What she wrote was 24:03 in the gospel's closing proclamation, 24:06 God expects His messengers to take particular interest 24:10 in the Jewish people. 24:11 Many of the Jews will see the Christ of the gospel 24:15 in the pages of the Old Testament 24:17 and will grasp how the New Testament 24:19 explains the old. 24:21 They will recognize Christ as the Savior of the world. 24:26 So the first part of that phrase, 24:27 would you read it again? 24:29 In the gospel's closing proclamation 24:31 God expects His messengers 24:33 to take particular interest in the Jewish people. 24:37 So in the gospel's closing proclamation 24:40 I think as you and your viewers will understand, 24:43 we live in that time. 24:46 Yes, we do. 24:47 And again she read that 24:49 or she spoke it to the General Conference session 24:51 in the nearly 1900s, 24:53 it's passed due for the church at large to say, 24:58 this is a group of people that need particular work. 25:02 And so in Israel, for example 25:04 there are 900 plus or minus church members 25:07 in the Seventh-day Adventist church there 25:09 and yet only a handful of Israeli born 25:13 Seventh-day Adventists. 25:15 There is one Israeli born Seventh-day Adventist pastor. 25:20 And now the church bought a building 25:22 in outside of the old city of Jerusalem 25:24 in the early 1900s to do this work. 25:27 So we had a foothold 25:29 or a presence there for a long time, 25:32 yet I think all of us would recognize 25:34 the work hasn't advanced the way we would desire. 25:37 Several years ago, Richard Oliver 25:39 who was then the field president 25:41 for the Israeli field came to OCI and said, 25:44 would you come help 25:46 start a health outreach in Israel. 25:48 So OCI partnered with Herghelia, 25:51 which is a lifestyle center in Romania own by Dr. Nick Dan, 25:56 and with one in Moldova run by his sister Magdalena Dan 26:00 and with another organization 26:02 called Health Education Resources 26:05 by Charles Cleveland, and we formed a little team, 26:07 went to Israel and did a health expo 26:09 in the city of Haifa, 26:11 and it was very well received. 26:14 From that we launched a health club 26:16 which meant every Sunday afternoon for several years, 26:21 then we rented a facility 26:23 to try to start a lifestyle session 26:26 and we had about 15 guests come 26:29 Israeli secular individuals. 26:32 Came, loved the program, 26:34 and for the past six years, 26:35 we've been looking for the right place. 26:37 Amen. 26:38 So God has definitely led you to the right place, 26:44 the ministry before we actually look at the pictures of this, 26:47 let's talk about what ministry your are beginning there 26:52 that you are launching kind of debt tailing off 26:57 which you've already done with the health. 26:59 And Ellen White said that 27:02 the health message is the right arm of the gospel, 27:05 and we can see that when people 27:07 especially the Jewish people who, 27:09 they're precious people, they are very loving people, 27:12 but they are also very close minded. 27:16 I heard a great quote, I just love this quote, 27:20 and I don't know who said it, 27:21 but I just heard somebody repeated. 27:23 It's a preconceived opinions 27:26 effectively insulate the mind against truth, 27:29 so you have to break down the barriers 27:33 for someone who has been taught that Christianity is wrong, 27:37 that Christ was an impostor 27:42 and you have therefore 27:45 the health message is a way that you can reach out 27:48 and touch people without offending them, 27:51 touch their hearts for change. 27:53 So explain what the ministry is, 27:55 then we'll look at the pictures of where God has led you. 27:58 So our vision, we realize that 28:02 it would be very difficult to minister 28:04 to the Orthodox Jews, very hard. 28:08 So our focus really is on the secular Israeli 28:12 which is majority of the country, 28:15 and we really want to serve them 28:18 in a health line, 28:21 and so our vision is to operate a... 28:24 It's called a healthy bean breakfast 28:28 where somebody comes they want to go on vacation, 28:31 get out of the city from away from Tel Aviv. 28:34 And they want sometime away, 28:36 they come to our healthy bean breakfast let's called it. 28:38 And we give them a good healthy diet. 28:42 We have lectures available for them, 28:45 massage offered for them, 28:47 cooking classes so that they can help 28:50 prepare their next meal, prepare lunch, 28:52 and through this avenue of both educations and classes, 28:57 the massage, some water treatments, 29:00 good diet to begin to break down 29:03 some of those prejudices 29:05 and to really show this community 29:08 that people are interested just in serving them. 29:11 And if they come 29:13 and they are there for a short period of time, 29:14 a couple of days, week, ten days and move on and think, 29:17 well, that was a real blessing. 29:19 Well, that's a step. 29:20 It's a very different ministry 29:23 than a 12 week evangelistic series for example. 29:27 Yes. 29:29 This is gonna be a very long term, 29:31 let's make friends, let's draw close to people, 29:35 let's win their confidence and then try to introduce them 29:40 to Jesus Christ, Jesus as a Messiah. 29:43 This is a very effective, Frank, 29:46 I call it friendship evangelism, 29:48 but that's very effective isn't it Frank, 29:51 when you're just reflecting the love of Jesus Christ. 29:54 And I know Magdalena Dan quite well, 29:56 and Magdalena has told me that 29:59 she's with Herghelia in Romania. 30:03 And she has said that they get some people 30:06 that are coming in there 30:07 who as she's treating them being so kind to them. 30:11 It's like why are you, it's everybody here so nice. 30:14 Why are you so loving and so caring? 30:16 And so it opens up doors, 30:18 actually, you don't have to just, 30:20 Frank and I were talking before the program that, 30:24 you know, some people take the approach 30:27 when they learn truth that they just want to go out 30:29 and beat people over the head with the Bible. 30:32 And you couldn't beat somebody over the head 30:34 with a violin to convince them how beautiful the music is. 30:39 You can't beat people over the head 30:41 with the Bible to convince them of the love of God. 30:44 But when you just reflect, 30:47 when you let the love of God be in your heart 30:50 and the Holy Spirit's indwelling you 30:52 and you reach out and do what Jesus would do, 30:54 that's very effective, isn't it? 30:56 Well, you know, 30:58 we talk about going in there gently 30:59 and that's our purpose, that's what we're going to do, 31:02 but we're living in the last days 31:05 and gentle is going to be more urgent 31:08 as we go on very soon, 31:10 I don't know what the Lord is going to do. 31:12 We're going to go in there and try to make friends in 31:15 and be as congenial as we can to win them. 31:18 Well, let me tell you something. 31:20 If we're living as closely to the second coming of Jesus 31:23 as we think we are, 31:25 there is going to be a push 31:27 by the Holy Spirit towards the Israeli people, 31:31 and we just want to be part of it. 31:33 I don't know what the Lord is going to do 31:36 but we're going to be there available, 31:38 and if we are available 31:40 then we'll let you know how it turns out, 31:42 we'll come back. 31:43 Okay. 31:45 Well, and I may be over there. 31:46 Well, we'll look for you. 31:47 We... 31:49 J.D and I have had the distinct, 31:52 just joy and privilege of going to Israel 31:55 for the last five years and it's a beautiful place. 31:58 But you mentioned 31:59 you've been looking for a place for six years, 32:02 it is not easy to find 32:04 real estate to purchase in Israel. 32:06 There are several obstacles 32:08 to purchasing a place in Israel. 32:11 First of all there are restrictions. 32:16 Land is very expensive and very rare. 32:19 You don't find the large open spaces 32:21 like you do in the United States. 32:23 And we looked at a facility 32:26 in the northern part of the country 32:27 and found out there were some legal complications with it. 32:30 The owner had built not on his property 32:34 and we found that in actually 32:37 in several properties that we looked at. 32:39 What's really exciting about this property 32:42 is that the ministry, 32:45 the property rather is privately owned. 32:48 The majority of all the land in Israel is actually 32:51 owned by the government. 32:52 This land is privately owned 32:54 which gives us a bit more freedom 32:57 to run this kind of healthy bed and breakfast 33:00 that we're talking about. 33:01 And again it's very unique... 33:03 When you say healthy bed and breakfast, 33:05 it's a lifestyle center on a small scale, 33:06 is that what you're saying? 33:08 That's exactly. All right. 33:09 I just want to make sure. 33:10 Right, it's healthy bed... 33:13 what we're zone for, 33:15 let's say is a bed and breakfast 33:18 and our intention is to be creative 33:23 in how we bring in a lifestyle session 33:26 within the parameters of what we have permission to do. 33:29 Well, you know, 33:30 what people don't realize is that if you, 33:33 it's really difficult to find properties, 33:37 it's even more difficult to build in Israel 33:39 because if you buy land, 33:41 if you stick a shovel in the ground, 33:43 I guarantee you you're going to turn up 33:45 some kind of an artifact... 33:46 Archaeological missions. 33:48 And yeah, and so everything 33:50 it seems like every building project is just 33:53 put on hold as soon as they start digging 33:55 because they're finding things 33:56 but so you were searching for six years, 33:59 and from what I have seen, 34:01 God took you to the perfect property. 34:04 Let's look at the pictures of what you have purchased 34:08 in the Galilee area. 34:09 Now this is Migdal, is that correct? 34:11 That's correct. 34:12 Just near the Sea of Galilee, 34:14 the northern part of the Sea of Galilee 34:16 not too far from Capernaum 34:17 where the Sermon on the Mount was, 34:19 and this is just a picture of the surrounding area 34:22 beyond the hill not too far away is Nazareth. 34:25 And then in the front part of the picture 34:28 are these mango trees which form a mango orchard 34:31 that surrounds the property. 34:32 So you're looking right off the balcony there... 34:34 That's correct. 34:36 And then this is from the balcony as well. 34:38 One of the others shots of the mango orchard 34:40 which is really important 34:42 because the mango orchard on two sides are 34:45 kind of dedicated in memorial of Holocaust victims, 34:49 victims of the World War II. 34:51 And so nobody is going to build there 34:52 which is tremendously encouraging, 34:54 gives us a little bit of space. 34:55 Oh, this is a beautiful home. 34:57 This is from the back front of the property 35:01 through that field, 35:02 then you can see the mangoes again 35:05 just coming up to the property. 35:06 Now how big is the property? 35:08 I mean how big is the house? 35:09 So what the house itself 35:11 has four bedrooms and three bathrooms, 35:13 and then it has five guest rooms 35:15 and just above the white wall 35:17 in the picture are those five guest rooms 35:19 and each guest room is equipped for 35:23 with Jacuzzi and full bed, and en suite. 35:26 So that's where the guests would be staying. 35:29 So the four bedrooms would be used for staff. 35:31 Staff or we could also use them, 35:33 this is a living room, 35:34 we're probably doing lectures on the property. 35:36 Okay. 35:39 And that's one of the en suite chalets 35:43 we could call them or zimmers 35:45 as they call them there in Israel. 35:46 Lovely. Yeah. 35:47 Very nicely done 35:49 and this is a place where we'll be doing 35:52 again maybe some lectures, the swimming pool, 35:54 there's a Jacuzzi, exercise as well. 35:57 it's very beautiful and being up on the hill, 35:59 it gets a nice cool breeze which is very exciting. 36:02 And you're very close to the Sea of Galilee which... 36:05 We are and so there is a shot from the Sea of Galilee. 36:08 It is very clear day, very unusual, 36:10 but that's Mount Hermon in the distance Anti-Lebanon. 36:14 I say, I've just been blessed to be. 36:16 We've had beautiful weather, I think on every trip. 36:20 I've done ten tours of Israel and every trip except one, 36:24 and it was just one bad day, you know, 36:26 so we've been very blessed. 36:27 That's a beautiful spot, 36:29 and I think that the Lord certainly, 36:31 it was worth waiting the six years for that spot. 36:35 And what was very exciting is 36:36 when I came to see it and others have come to see it, 36:40 we all felt this is the place. 36:43 We're all very convinced 36:46 this is where God wanted us to have this, 36:48 and it's been amazing now pouring of support 36:51 from donors to help us purchase it 36:53 but it's been very exciting to see 36:55 all the pieces finally coming together. 36:58 So you've been there personally and seen this, 37:00 have you as well, Frank? 37:02 No, I haven't, I am just waiting. 37:03 You're just waiting. He's waiting. 37:04 That's right. 37:06 And this is something that is opening 37:08 when you're opening soon. 37:10 We're taking up possession in August the next month 37:13 and will begin in September. 37:15 Wonderful. Very exciting. 37:17 That is, it's a beautiful facility 37:19 so who will be yours. 37:22 How are you staffing there? 37:24 So we have a group of individuals 37:26 that are Israeli citizens 37:28 who have been trained at Herghelia, 37:31 the lifestyle center in Romania 37:32 and have worked in partnership 37:34 with our lifestyle center in Ukraine, Novi Obihody. 37:38 So there is some Ukrainians living in Israel. 37:41 Novi Obihody, our home... 37:43 Novi Obihody, well... 37:45 Our home, sorry 37:47 and so there's Israelis citizens 37:51 who are from Ukraine, from Romania, 37:55 from Russia who are living in Israel 37:58 as well as Israeli citizens excuse me, 38:01 Israeli natural born citizens, 38:03 who are helping make up the team 38:05 that's going to run the project. 38:06 And of course, Magdalena Dan will be helping 38:09 and giving some guidance with it 38:11 to the operation of it as well. 38:13 Wonderful, and this is going to be something 38:15 that as you say, I know we keep saying, 38:17 it's going to be something gentle, 38:18 you're starting slowly, 38:20 but I agree with what Frank just said while ago is that, 38:23 as fast as things are happening, 38:25 it's wonderful when you have in place 38:30 that connection the friendship with people. 38:33 And then when something does happen, 38:35 and we've seen this in our own lives just did. 38:37 If you develop that friendship, some kind of tragedy comes, 38:40 they turn to you 38:42 because they know there's something different. 38:43 And then they're very quickly ready to accept the Lord 38:47 and then we know God's going to do a great work in Israel 38:49 before He returns. 38:50 Amen. Amen. 38:52 So, yeah, just the point 38:53 that you said about the importance 38:55 of making connections with people, 38:57 friends with people 38:58 so that when a crisis does come, 39:00 they know who to turn to 39:02 and what questions to ask, 39:04 and that you're there ready with an answer. 39:07 But unless we are very intentional, 39:09 how can I make a bridge with this group of people 39:12 that are very different than I am? 39:14 How can somebody reach this community 39:18 we won't be there? 39:19 We won't be prepared when that crisis comes, 39:21 so it's very important for each of us 39:23 to take advantage of the opportunities 39:26 before us in our own sphere 39:28 to think, okay, 39:29 what's my part of the great commission. 39:31 How can I impact people in my community in my life? 39:34 And as Frank mentioned earlier, 39:36 when things really begin to accelerate 39:39 in a spiritual way in Israel, 39:41 we want to have our presence there. 39:43 Absolutely, absolutely, so it sounds very exciting. 39:47 What are some of the other plans 39:48 that OCI has on your calendar? 39:54 Well, one of the things that we do 39:55 as well to help minister to the organizations. 39:58 We have leaders retreats, 40:01 and we've started these retreats in different countries 40:06 and so every year, 40:08 well, this year I think we're going to have eight 40:11 so different retreats in different places 40:14 in Mexico, Colombia, 40:16 Bolivia, Southeast Asia, 40:20 and these are all ways of trying to strengthen 40:22 and minister to those organizations to men and women 40:26 in the churches in those areas 40:27 that are looking for God's guidance 40:30 to get them into ministry. 40:31 Praise the Lord. 40:33 So have you launched, 40:35 I mean you're getting ready to launch the Israel project, 40:38 have you launched other new ministries 40:39 in the last year? 40:42 New ministries have become part of OCI 40:45 and in several different places, 40:48 but this is a major ministry 40:50 that OCI has really been engaged with it helping launch. 40:52 So you're not always then, 40:54 it's not always the incubation stage for OCI. 40:58 Sometimes, it's somebody that's already incubated 41:00 and then they come and join you 41:02 so that they can have a network of support. 41:04 We actually rarely launch anything 41:07 that's not been our... 41:08 Okay. This one is special. 41:09 Well, that's right. 41:11 And when you see an opportunity like we've just had. 41:15 We just jump on it because it's important. 41:18 This is something, you know, you can't, 41:20 we talk about knowing Israelis 41:23 as if they were someone out there 41:24 but you can't read your Bible all your life 41:26 and not identify with Israel, you just can't. 41:29 Everyone identifies with Israel 41:31 who has been reading their Bible. 41:32 And so it makes it 41:34 universally important in this world. 41:36 And, you know, I'll tell you something, 41:38 it's, there's... 41:40 I don't know if you're ever going to open it up 41:42 to where somebody could come 41:43 and visit if they're from the States 41:45 but your lifestyle center there are your 41:48 healthy bed and breakfast, excuse me. 41:50 But there's nothing like a trip to Israel 41:54 to make the Bible come alive. 41:55 Amen. 41:57 It's just something that you don't, 41:58 you cannot imagine so much history 42:00 happened in such a tiny little place, 42:03 you know, it's very fascinating. 42:05 It is, and having gone to Israel many times, 42:09 having lived there 42:11 and then gone there many times 42:12 over the past several years for this purpose. 42:14 It's very intriguing to bring somebody 42:17 and show them some of the places, 42:19 you know, the stones from the... 42:21 where the temple was overthrown 42:23 and just realized, you know, 42:24 this is a fulfillment of prophecy, 42:27 and that's astounding to us and particularly to see 42:31 how God has worked through archaeology 42:36 to confirm what we read in scriptures. 42:40 Over again, you know, 42:42 new archaeological discoveries like, 42:43 yes this is... 42:45 This is recently in the last few years, 42:46 they've had all these discoveries on David 42:49 where before it was kind of like 42:50 did he even really exist... 42:51 That's right. 42:53 David, you know so, it is fascinating 42:54 and what happens is archaeology seems to just, 42:58 continue putting the naysayers in their place does it good. 43:04 Yeah, it's great. 43:05 Well, we're very excited about this ministry 43:09 and I know that, 43:10 if particularly Jim Gilley were here, 43:11 he would be... 43:13 he'd be doing that with two handers. 43:16 What we'd like to do is give people an opportunity 43:19 to get in touch with you. 43:21 If they would like to, 43:23 if you'd like to support this ministry in any way 43:26 or perhaps if you've got just you're in ministry 43:31 and you're thinking, 43:32 "Hey, we need to talk to somebody about 43:36 maybe networking with them." 43:38 So we've got these opportunities 43:40 for leadership retreats 43:41 or people who we can turn to. 43:43 Here's how you can get in touch 43:45 with Outpost Centers International. 43:50 OCI is a spiritual brotherhood of ministries 43:53 striving toward the common goal 43:54 of taking the gospel to the world. 43:56 If you like to support Outpost Centers Internationally, 43:59 you can do so in a variety of ways. 44:02 You can write to them at 5132 Layton Lane, 44:05 Apison, Tennessee 37302. 44:08 That's 5132 Layton Lane, 44:11 Apison, Tennessee 37302. 44:14 You can call them at 423-236-5600. 44:18 That's 423- 236-5600. 44:22 You can also visit them online at OutpostCenters.org. 44:26 That's OutpostCenters.org. 44:35 I'm sure that they'd love to hear from you 44:37 and that they can help you. 44:39 In fact, Steve, tell us a little 44:41 if say I have a ministry and I'm thinking, 44:44 do I have... 44:47 I need some help. I need some support. 44:49 If I just call you, 44:50 what is the process of becoming a member of OCI? 44:54 Where the process of becoming a member 44:56 as the organization needs to exist for a year 44:59 and we actually have two categories of membership. 45:02 There is a full member which would be somebody 45:05 that had their own nonprofit 501c3 45:08 or an equivalent outside the United States. 45:11 Or then there are these smaller family ministries, 45:13 you mentioned, Hein and Melissa 45:16 along the banks of the Zambezi River. 45:18 Again smaller family organization. 45:21 And we're there to support both of those organizations, 45:24 both of those kind of outreaches 45:26 in any way we can, 45:28 so we'll, we like to tell their stories. 45:30 We do P.R. for them. 45:32 We would pass through donations for them 45:34 or not pass through donations, 45:36 we would handle donations for them. 45:38 And again try to help in any, 45:40 in any way that's our reason for existence, 45:42 that's our passion is to be able to help individuals 45:46 see where God is calling them into ministry. 45:51 So if a person wanted to be a member, 45:53 they'd have to be in existence for a year, 45:55 fall into one of those two categories 45:57 and then simply contact us. 45:59 Incidentally I should say that we help ministries 46:01 long before they become members. 46:04 Sometimes somebody will call us, 46:05 well, I'm not quite formed yet, 46:07 or I have this question or I'm thinking of doing this. 46:10 We help throughout the whole process. 46:12 We're really there to be a resource 46:14 and if we can't answer certain questions, 46:17 we'll try to guide them in a direction 46:20 that maybe they can find answers. 46:21 That's an exciting resource to have available 46:24 for the Adventist community. 46:26 Now before we go to our newsbreak 46:28 just a thought from you please, 46:30 Frank, you were with OCI before 46:33 and then you went 46:35 and did your stint at Eden Valley 46:38 and ASI president, 46:40 now you're back with him. 46:41 Why? Why did you come back? 46:45 Well, actually I received the call, 46:47 this fellow sitting beside me. 46:50 When we heard that my wife was coming home from Africa, 46:53 and we had the idea of how she would relate 46:56 to being home and all the rest, 46:58 somebody saw an opportunity I think. 47:00 And I, we, my wife and I received the call 47:05 to go and work at OCI. 47:07 Steve and I have been friends for a long time. 47:09 We work well together and so that's why I'm there. 47:13 But why do you find I know there's, 47:15 it's more than just you all being friends. 47:17 There's something that 47:18 you find exciting about going outside, 47:23 thinking outside the box, 47:24 reaching outside of your own backyard. 47:28 Well, you know, right from the beginning, 47:29 I became a Seventh-day Adventist 47:31 on September 14th, 47:32 that's at least the day I was baptized in 1974. 47:37 Okay, and since that time 47:40 as matter of fact, it was, 47:41 it was less than eight months later I was part of this 47:44 group of supporting ministries 47:46 which eventually became Outpost Centers, OCI. 47:49 So I've been involved with this for a long-long-long time. 47:53 And I have seen the Lord working among lay people. 47:57 It's just a burden to see people get involved. 48:00 You know my background, you know, 48:02 I grew up like I said before a Roman Catholic 48:05 but I worked in the mines till I was 27, 48:08 and when I had an opportunity to work for the Lord, 48:13 OCI was the opportunity. 48:16 And I've been with it a long time 48:18 and I just have a burden to see everyone 48:21 get involved in the Lord's work. 48:23 If they can't, 48:24 if they can't be a pastor in a church 48:26 or a colporteur or whatever else they may be, 48:28 they can come to us. 48:30 Amen, you preach it, brother. 48:32 Well, we're going to have another song right now 48:35 by ET Everett. 48:37 She's going to play for us, "Because He Lives". |
Revised 2016-09-19