Participants: C.A. Murray (Host), Shelley Quinn (Host), Gem Caster, Helen Eager, Jim Rennie, Lena Adams, Melody Mason
Series Code: TDY
Program Code: TDY016070A
|
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. 01:07 Hello, and welcome to 3ABN Today. 01:10 My name is CA. Murray. 01:11 And I thank you once again 01:13 for sharing just a little of your day with us. 01:15 This is a very, very special program, 01:17 because it is ASI rose day and 3ABN gets the opportunity, 01:23 the blessed opportunity to highlight other ministries, 01:27 to give you a peak 01:28 into what other ministries are doing, 01:30 and kinds of things that they're doing for the Lord. 01:32 And when we go to ASI, 01:34 we're always pleased to meet other ministers, 01:38 other ministries see what they're doing 01:41 for the cause of Christ and 3ABN gets interviews, 01:44 3ABN Dare to Dream gets interviews, 01:47 3ABN Latino gets interviews, 01:48 sometimes 3ABN Radio even gets interviews 01:51 as we try to highlight and bring to your attention 01:54 some of the wonderful things 01:55 that God is doing through other supporting ministries 01:58 of the Seventh-day Adventist church. 02:00 So ASI 2016 was held in Phoenix, Arizona. 02:05 Hot and humid temperature of over 100 degrees everyday, 02:10 but there was great excitement in the exhibit hall 02:13 because of what was happening. 02:15 So, our own Shelley Quinn had a chance 02:17 to meet with the number of ministries, 02:19 and we want to bring them to you now. 02:21 The first is a ministry called Karen. 02:23 Karen Outreach Ministry 02:28 and Shelley is gonna talk with Lena Adams 02:31 who is the co-director 02:32 of Karen Outreach Minister, Ministry rather 02:35 which is a ministry on the Thai-Burma border 02:38 and of course, the country of Burma 02:40 is called Myanmar now. 02:43 Lena and her husband were impressed to go there 02:45 to be missionaries. 02:47 After they arrived there 02:49 they were told by the Burmese people 02:51 that they would be robbed, killed or something bad, 02:56 but they knew that God had sent them there for a reason. 02:59 They've been there eight years now, 03:01 and Shelley Quinn had a chance to talk with Lena Adams 03:05 who is the co-director of Karen Outreach Ministry. 03:13 Well, we're here at ASI on the convention floor, 03:16 and we have with us a very special woman, 03:20 a woman of God, her name is Lena Adams, 03:23 and she is with the Karen Outreach. 03:27 Lena, thank you so much for being here today. 03:31 Please tell us your story, how you and your husband 03:36 and your family ended up ministering 03:41 between Burma and Thailand to the Karen people? 03:47 We lived in the mountains of beautiful Montana. 03:51 We were building our beautiful mountain home 03:54 and though I had wanted to be a missionary before, 04:00 now we were comfortable, 04:03 and we had four children my husband and I... 04:09 Emily was 20 years old, 04:11 Maria was 17 just Hannah was nine and Josiah was seven. 04:17 And I had a hard time dealing with the heat 04:20 in August in Montana. 04:22 I thought I was tired 04:25 and I thought our family was not a perfect family, 04:29 not perfect enough to go out abroad 04:31 to be a missionaries anymore. 04:33 All right, but you met someone at a fellowship lunch 04:36 and who changed your mind about that, 04:39 then you went to the Butler Creek 04:42 training camp to, 04:45 you had missionary training for 60 days, 04:47 thinking you were going to go to India, 04:51 but someone came up to you and said, what? 04:55 Said, I feel impressed. 04:57 One of the instructors at the training said, 04:59 "I feel impressed to ask you to go to the Thai-Burma border 05:02 at the school that's called Beletlia school 05:06 in Karen state of Burma. 05:09 And we said we're going to India. 05:12 He said would you please pray about it 05:14 because I feel impressed. 05:15 And so my husband and I went down on our knees 05:18 for the rest of that week, 05:20 and we prayed for God to show us. 05:24 And indeed he did show. He did show us clearly. 05:27 All right, so you ended up going, 05:30 it is the Thai-Burma border and the state is called Karen, 05:36 it's spelled like we would say Karen, 05:39 but these people, there's been a civil war there 05:43 and tell us little bit about the people there? 05:46 The Karen people have suffered persecution, 05:51 the genocide for the last 65 years. 05:54 It's been horrendous for them, 05:56 they've been living like IDPs "Internally Displaced People." 06:03 There is even at here in the Phoenix 06:06 there is many, many immigrants of the Karen. 06:09 There is many refugee camps in Thailand along the border 06:13 that close to us where we live in Thailand, 06:17 there is a large one with at least 140,000 people. 06:21 And when we first came it was a very bad situation, 06:28 today it has improved, there is a peace agreement 06:31 and there is a new government in place in Burma. 06:34 Okay. 06:35 You and your family went thinking 06:37 you would stay for a year, 06:39 it would be good for your children, 06:41 but how many years has it been now? 06:43 Eight years. 06:44 Eight years that you've been there. 06:46 And tell us about the ministry 06:49 that you've had you've started orphanage, 06:52 you've got schools, 06:54 tell us a little about what you're doing? 06:56 Well, after we've been there a short time, 07:00 the school we were involved with on the Burma side 07:03 in Karen state. 07:06 One of our daughters were involved with it, 07:08 actually two of them the older girls. 07:10 And one day when my daughter was over there, 07:14 she called us, 07:15 there was cell phone reception over there, and she said, 07:17 "Mom, the Burmese are coming to attack," 07:20 and so the case that people were freaking out, 07:25 hysteric because they know what happens 07:27 when the Burmese would attack, and so we started to evacuate, 07:33 bring the children the younger ones first 07:36 across the river in a canoe, 07:38 and took them to our small 600 square foot house. 07:43 And we had 120, 07:47 we had a school of 120s boarding students 07:50 from the other side in our hands, 07:52 and after we brought them to the Thai side, 07:57 the Burmese did come and burn down the school. 08:00 So the Burmese, this was part of the genocide 08:03 that they were trying to get rid of all the Karen people. 08:05 Yes. 08:07 So, now you find yourself with a 120 children 08:11 that you have to completely support 08:16 and this was a faith ministry to say the least. 08:21 Yes. 08:22 Tell us how God provided for you? 08:25 Well, in the beginning we used my husband's saved retirement, 08:32 and once that were gone we would pray to God, 08:37 "God, please" we were actually pretty desperate, 08:39 even though we have a faith based ministry 08:41 and we believed in that, we actually, 08:43 the beginning did not believe at all in asking for money. 08:46 And so we ask God please provide 08:50 because we don't have anything more. 08:52 And so one day ADRA called us and said, 08:55 could we bring by 08:57 an 80 year old Japanese gentleman, 08:59 and we said sure. 09:01 And so they came to visit an hour later, 09:03 and as this man steps out of his car together 09:07 with the ADRA people, 09:09 I felt impressed to lower myself before him 09:12 and he smiled so delighted at me, 09:16 and I was wondering what did I just do, 09:18 why did I do this, later I asked him, 09:20 how do you Japanese greet each other, 09:22 because that's not the way the Karen 09:24 or the Thai greet each other. 09:26 And he said we do just what you just do to me, 09:29 and I knew God had done that. 09:30 Amen. 09:31 Actually felt like we were on holy ground. 09:33 God was there, this was a Buddhist man, 09:36 but within a short time we showed him around, 09:39 I just told him I'm embarrassed, 09:41 because we had to tarp over, burn tarp over our kitchen, 09:44 we had one toilet for all these people 09:47 in out house, we had... 09:49 it was very, very rough. 09:51 And so he said, "Oh, don't be embarrass, 09:53 it's very beautiful." 09:55 And he said what's your budget 09:57 and I said we don't have a budget. 09:59 We just look for ways, yes. 10:02 And he said well make a budget 10:04 because we're going to make a decision. 10:06 And so we made up a budget 10:07 for what we thought our needs were for the 120 children 10:10 we also did a medical ministry and we share that with him 10:14 and they came back to us 10:15 and they said, we're covering it all. 10:17 Oh, praise the Lord. 10:18 And we were so excited for what God was doing. 10:21 So God provided for a 120 but something happened 10:24 and that 120 increased in a hurry, 10:26 tell us about that? 10:28 Yes. 10:29 My husband and I went away for a week, 10:33 and when we came back 10:34 to what now was called Sunshine Orchid. 10:41 There was a children looking at us from everywhere, 10:43 new children. 10:44 Children that we did not recognize, 10:46 ragged children, barefoot children, 10:50 and it was about 160 of them. 10:52 So you went from 120. Yes. 10:55 To 280 just in that week's time. 10:58 Yes. 11:00 So it was still a faith based ministry, wasn't it? 11:02 Very much. Yes, it was. Yeah. 11:04 Well, let me ask you, you have how many schools now? 11:07 We are no longer with our original school 11:10 the Sunshine Orchard school, 11:12 we are starting to raise up another school 11:15 similar to this one, because every vision, 11:17 every dream burden we had that God placed in our hearts 11:20 for Sunshine Orchard has been fulfilled. 11:23 And it's now a 10th grade school, 11:25 it has vocational training, it has Bible health training, 11:29 one year training, it's a thriving school 11:33 and other missionaries have come to help 11:36 and we realized we were no longer needed 11:39 and God gave us another school on the Burma side. 11:43 And so we have another school of 130 boarding students. 11:47 Now this is a rough little needy school like ours 11:52 was when we first were involved with it. 11:53 You like the challenge obviously. 11:55 Yes, it's perfect with face cut. 11:57 But, now you also are supporting teachers 12:00 from refugee schools, is this correct? 12:02 Yes. 12:03 The refugee camp schools, 12:05 how many teachers are you trying to support? 12:06 We're trying to support 60 teachers in all. 12:08 Sixty teachers. Yes. 12:11 And then how many orphans did you have on top of that? 12:13 We only have about 20 orphans in our home. 12:16 Oh, you had 20 orphans in your little home. 12:18 Yes. 12:20 And then you've got how many students 12:22 in these schools, 12:23 if you count in the refugee schools and together... 12:25 There's about over 1000 students 12:27 in the refugee camp schools and in ours 130. 12:32 And so, yes, the teachers in the refugee camp 12:38 has not been paid, 12:40 only the minimum that will help them to survive 12:45 through the last few years 12:47 and we were asked would you please help us, 12:50 by that person in charge of the refugee camp 12:52 the Adventist work in the refugee camp, 12:54 we gulped and realized, we help one of the schools 12:58 for the last one and half years, 13:00 and we thought 13:02 you really should help the others too 13:03 and somebody needs to step out in faith to do that. 13:05 Amen. 13:07 So, Lena, essentially you and your family 13:11 left a very comfortable lifestyle 13:17 thinking you were going for a year, 13:18 you're building your dream home in the mountains, 13:20 you're thinking you're going over for a year and you know, 13:23 I have to say that there is so many parents 13:25 who've found that if they want to make sure 13:28 that their children are firmly anchored in the faith, 13:30 they will take them on a missionary trip, 13:32 because it always it's very effective when children, 13:36 it's a wake up call 13:37 and it seems that children lose that self centered focus 13:42 and become more interested in what the Lord's work is. 13:45 Amen. 13:46 So you went there 13:48 and now you find yourself sleeping on the ground, 13:51 eating rice and curry for every meal. 13:55 In the middle of civil war, 13:57 you told me an interesting story 13:58 before we sat here about your son 14:00 when he was quite young and the bullets are whizzing by 14:04 and you asked him to count the bullets 14:09 to try to get his mind on just something else, 14:11 tell us about that? 14:13 When we first got there, 14:14 everyone told us including church 14:17 the natives everyone, 14:19 you'll be killed, you'll be robbed 14:21 or you'll be kidnapped living here. 14:23 And we knew God had lead us there with a certainty, 14:26 there was no doubt about it, and so we stayed 14:31 but I was afraid, my husband was not afraid 14:33 but at night I would lay awaken, 14:35 I would what's that, what's that, that's a gunshot. 14:38 And we left for a short time again at that time 14:42 and I didn't want to go back down to the border 14:45 I said, Paul, my husband I said, 14:47 I don't want to go back, I'm just tired of being afraid. 14:50 I said to God, I'm not going back, 14:53 I was praying for God to deliver me 14:55 from having to go back down there. 14:57 And I opened my Bible and it doesn't happen, 15:02 I don't know if it ever happened, 15:03 but since that time or before that 15:05 but it was highlighted 15:07 and it was Acts 18:21, 15:14 it said, go back, no one will set upon you to hurt you 15:18 because I have many people in that city 15:20 or in that area I took it as, 15:22 and so I went back with complete peace, 15:24 I was never afraid again. 15:26 And I knew God had a work for us to do, 15:28 and so anyway there we are and this, 15:32 they're shooting, they're shelling, 15:34 the motors are starting to vibrate our house, 15:37 it's very close to the border. 15:39 And we had extremely sick child, 15:43 my youngest daughter, 15:45 and we couldn't leave the house, 15:46 my husband would leave them in the morning 15:48 to go and take people to the hospital, 15:50 but we couldn't leave so my son he was seven he said, 15:54 mom do we have to be here I'm afraid 15:57 and I said Josiah, let's make a game out of it, 16:01 count the bullets. 16:02 Count the bullets. Yes. 16:04 And he got to 40 and said, do I have to count more, huh? 16:07 Yes. And he overcame his fear. 16:09 But now you have these children who had spent eight years there 16:13 and your oldest is now 20... 16:15 Twenty seven. 16:16 And how old is Josiah now? He is 16. 16:19 Okay, so now they are 16 to 27. Yes. 16:22 What kind of effect has missionary work out on them, 16:25 are they anxious to come back to the States? 16:27 No, they're all... 16:30 the two youngest ones have immerse to the point 16:32 where they are actually called the white Karen children 16:35 or people, that's their life, that's home, 16:39 our son is still being, he's still going to school. 16:43 Praise God. 16:44 Our 17 year old daughter is heavily involved with us 16:47 in ministry. 16:49 Our 24 year old, 16:53 she is also very involved. 16:57 Praise God. Yes. 16:59 Well, thank you so much 17:00 for what you're doing for the glory of the Lord. 17:02 If you would like to know more about the Karen Outreach, 17:07 you can go to their website, it's Karen, 17:11 this is the Karen state Karenoutreach.org 17:17 and perhaps you would be 17:20 as so brave as to volunteer and help them 17:23 or may be the Lord is leading you by the Holy Spirit 17:26 to support this work. 17:28 It is an incredible work and we know it's of God. 17:32 Thank you so much for joining us. 17:34 Amen. 17:35 How good to know that when God calls you 17:37 to far away places, 17:38 He sustains you through the work 17:41 and He amplifies us call by giving us victory 17:43 wherever He sends us. 17:45 Up next is an interview that Shelley Quinn did 17:48 with Melody Mason and Gem Castor. 17:51 Their burden is revival and reformation, 17:55 particularly revival and reformation 17:57 in the Philippines. 17:59 Youth conferences that have been very powerful 18:01 in the Philippines, and youth for Christ. 18:04 And one of the things you realize and recognize 18:06 when you leave the United States 18:07 is that the church gets remarkably younger. 18:10 Young people are fulfilling positions of trust 18:12 and responsibility in the church 18:14 particularly in a country like the Philippines, 18:16 young people are standing upfront, 18:18 standing up for the Lord 18:19 and doing a marvelous work for Him. 18:21 Again Shelley Quinn had a chance 18:23 to interview Melody Mason and Gem Castor. 18:28 Now joining us at the booth, 18:29 we have two of the prayer volunteers. 18:32 Well, actually one that's with the GC prayer ministry 18:35 and one that volunteers and they are prayer warriors 18:40 and we're very excited to be talking to them today 18:43 about the revival and reformation initiative. 18:46 First we have Gem Castor. 18:48 Gem, welcome we're so glad you stopped by the booth. 18:50 Oh, I'm so glad to be here. 18:53 And you are a missionary led by faith and you said, 18:57 from month to month God just lead you 19:00 from one country to another, is that correct? 19:02 Yes, only by God's grace. 19:04 He leads me to... 19:06 If I'm in the US almost every week 19:08 or almost every two weeks 19:09 He brings me to another place or another state. 19:11 Oh, how wonderful. All of His provision. 19:13 Amen. Amen. 19:15 Now, you work as a volunteer 19:18 with GC prayer ministry, is that correct? 19:19 Yeah. Okay. 19:21 Well, we'll come back to more of that, 19:22 but then we also had with us Melody Mason. 19:25 Melody and I are sisters in Christ, people look at us 19:28 and they think we are sisters anyway 19:30 as we're both six footers, aren't we? 19:32 That's right. 19:33 Now, Melody, you have... 19:35 you're with the GC and what is your title there? 19:39 I'm actually working 19:40 with revival and reformation initiatives, 19:43 so I assist Janet Page 19:44 as the overall prayer coordinator for the GC 19:46 and I work with her with the GC prayer ministries, 19:49 and then just resource development 19:51 for revival and reformation, so lot of exciting things. 19:54 Amen. 19:55 Well, we want to talk today 19:56 about this revival and reformation initiative, 20:01 tell us what's going on in the Philippines? 20:04 No. 20:06 I love to talk about what the Lord has been doing 20:09 in the lives of these young people, 20:11 and we have seen that the promise is really sure 20:15 and I was so inspired about the promise 20:18 that Melody wrote in her book. 20:20 Can I read it? Surely. 20:21 It's found in Desire of Ages, it says, 20:23 "He is ready to supply every soul 20:25 according to their capacity to receive." 20:28 And this thing just blew my mind. 20:30 We have a capacity to receive, 20:32 and then the more I read about it 20:34 and I want to know what is this capacity 20:35 and it says, in Desire of Ages 300, 20:39 "From the soul that feels its need nothing is withheld." 20:43 Amen. 20:44 And our capacity is our need, is our desperation 20:49 so going back to the experience of the youth 20:52 in the Philippines, 20:53 we have seen that the promise is so sure 20:56 that revival comes in answer to prayer, 20:59 and we have seen youth conferences 21:01 that are being led 21:03 and sustained by prayer like 2014 21:06 when we had this youth conference, 21:09 every morning at 5 am around like 50 21:12 or less than that numbers of young people 21:15 who comes and gather together and pray 21:17 and the result was powerful. 21:19 The next year, the young people 21:21 who comes every 5 am increased to 200. 21:24 Oh, how wonderful. 21:25 And it's more powerful and we never even imagine that, 21:28 that could... 21:30 All the while we thought that, 21:31 that was the peak of the experience 21:33 and then just a few months ago 21:34 when Melody was there when she shared her testimony 21:37 and Melody was so intrigue, 21:39 Gem I want to see what that experience 21:43 that you're talking about 21:44 and when she was there the young people 21:46 who came every morning were more than 400. 21:49 Praise God. 21:50 It was amazing for me actually to visit the Philippines 21:54 because I've heard all these amazing testimonies 21:56 about how God is working in the hearts of young people 21:58 and bringing them personal revive 22:00 and they're excited for mission 22:01 and all these different things happening, 22:03 and so I'm like, I want to go and see, 22:05 is this really like they're saying is good as they say, 22:08 and I was just blown away, God is just doing 22:10 and He's working all around the world 22:12 with His young people just bringing them to life 22:15 and giving them a mission, 22:16 but it was really special to be able 22:18 to be part of the Philippines Youth for Christ event 22:21 and see what God was doing 22:22 and praying with those 400 young people, 22:24 I was just like, I felt like, 22:26 like Queen Sheba talking the Solomon like... 22:28 Yes. 22:29 You didn't tell me how, you know, 22:31 of what God is doing and so, there're so many testimonies. 22:35 Yeah, and there is one young person 22:37 who came to the Philippine Youth for Christ last year 22:40 and he has this burden now to pray for his church 22:43 because back in the southern part of the Philippines 22:45 there is a lot of churches, but the problem was, 22:48 there is a lot of backsliders... 22:50 A lot of so, what? 22:51 Backsliders, backslidden members, 22:54 and so he had his burden, 22:56 his family is mostly backslidden, 22:58 so when he went back to his hometown, 23:02 he began praying and he said, "No, this is not enough, 23:05 I'll bring a friend with me to start praying, 23:07 and his friend invited to other friends 23:10 and they did not just pray once a day, 23:12 but they prayed seven times a day. 23:14 Together? Together. 23:16 Wow. That's impressive. 23:17 The result was two weeks later 23:19 more than 30 backslidden members 23:23 came back to church. 23:25 Glory to God. Including his family members. 23:28 Glory to God, so that show... 23:30 really that gave me just the goose bumps, 23:33 because it shows the power of prayer, 23:35 it shows the power of intercessory prayer. 23:38 You know, when the Lord said in Isaiah 59, 23:41 is it 16 where he said 23:42 that the Lord looked and wondered 23:45 to why there was no intercessory, 23:47 and I think He's wondering 23:49 why people don't care enough to pray 23:51 or they don't believe 23:52 that He's got the power to deliver, 23:54 so it's amazing what God does in answer to prayer. 23:58 Yes. Amen. 24:00 Our capacity to receive is not that much 24:03 because we don't need Him that much, 24:06 but when we are so desperate of Him, 24:09 He just pours His spirit, He pours the answer so much. 24:12 So what you're, Gem, 24:14 is we don't recognize how much we need it. 24:16 Yeah. Yeah. 24:18 And we did put God in a box often 24:20 when we pray our little bitty self centered prayers, 24:22 asking Him to bless our plans 24:25 rather than asking Him what are His plans. 24:28 So now you've also got some amazing testimonies 24:31 about some pastors 24:33 who have been from other denominations 24:36 who have been baptized now 24:38 and serving as Seventh-day Adventist pastors. 24:41 Yes, this is kind of an ongoing story, you know, 24:44 over the last five years the revival and reformation 24:47 branch of the ministerial association to GC 24:50 has just been promoting prayer and Bible study 24:52 because we know that, that's the key 24:54 to get people revived 24:55 and once we're revived personally, 24:57 we're gonna want to share with others, 24:59 and so part of that initiative we have the 777, 25:03 you know, praying for the Holy Spirit... 25:05 Now, let's there, 25:07 we're talking to a lot of our audience 25:09 may be Adventist, 25:11 but the majority are probably not, 25:13 so explain what the 777 is? 25:15 So the 777 is basically 7 am and 7 pm 25:19 we're praying for the outpouring 25:21 of the Holy Spirit seven days a week. 25:22 That's amazing. Yeah, it's just pleading. 25:25 You know, God has promised in the last days Joel 2 25:28 and other places throughout scripture 25:29 that He's gonna pour out His Spirit, 25:31 and that's what we're really seeking for, 25:33 we know that, that is our greatest need. 25:35 Amen. 25:36 And you know, how I pray that, Melody, I always pray, 25:39 Lord, pour out Your Spirit 25:41 on all who call up on Your name. 25:43 Lead us into greater truth because there are many 25:47 who are calling on the name of the Lord 25:49 who really don't know about Jesus Christ, 25:51 but we're seeing how God is giving people visions, dreams 25:55 and we're seeing people convert 25:57 from some of the other world religions. 25:59 Amen. Yes. 26:00 And there is people of other faiths 26:02 and we know that this is so exciting because... 26:05 so this group started in Kenya, 26:06 they were actually doing 777 26:10 and then they were also part of the 10 days of prayer event 26:13 which is something else we promote with the GC. 26:16 Every January 26:17 churches will host 10 days of prayer in the churches, 26:20 also pleading for the Holy Spirit 26:22 and just for greater unity in our churches 26:24 and things like this, so this group was praying, 26:26 it was small group and then our last year 26:29 we actually had an initiative of 100 days of prayer 26:32 was leading up just some big meetings 26:33 that we had with the world church 26:35 and just praying that God will lead his leaders, 26:37 hold up their arms, 26:39 and so this group was taking part of that, 26:41 and over the 100 days the group grew, 26:43 it was initially like 50 or 100 26:45 and then they had 400 people that it have room problems, 26:48 so they had to move to a larger facility, 26:50 God was blessing, it was powerful. 26:52 In this group we have Adventists, 26:54 we have people from other denominations 26:56 and faiths attending, 26:57 and there was a group of pastors 27:00 from other denominations that were part of this group, 27:02 and they asked the coordinators, 27:03 they said, "You know, this is amazing. 27:05 Can you, could you study with us and share with us 27:08 what Seventh-day Adventist is all about? 27:11 And so they did like a three day study session 27:14 and there were like 30 pastors that were involved in this. 27:17 And at the end of that time, 27:19 16 of them actually made the decision 27:20 to become baptized... 27:22 Praise God. 27:23 As Seventh-day Adventist and now they are in the process 27:25 of transitioning to be Seventh-day Adventist pastors 27:29 many of them, and some of them are actually, 27:30 some of their congregations have actually moved with them, 27:32 they actually became 27:34 Seventh-day Adventist congregations 27:35 but the story is ongoing. 27:37 This happen, started happening, you know, 27:39 about a year ago now, and now a year later, 27:41 we've had another 16 to 17 that have been baptized 27:45 so it's over 30, 30 some pastors 27:48 that have been baptized. 27:49 It's just amazing the revival 27:52 they're experiencing there in the church. 27:54 And you know this shows 27:56 that when we pray God brings down barriers. 27:59 Yes. 28:01 You know, He helps us lose our prejudice 28:05 and someone had said, 28:07 I think I don't know who to credit this to 28:09 but I heard it just once but its stuck in my mind, 28:12 someone had said that preconceived ideas 28:15 effectively insulate the mind against truth, but I think, 28:21 isn't that a wonderful statement 28:22 and how true, but I think that as you unite in prayer, 28:27 in the presence of the Lord, 28:29 God brings down those preconceived idea, 28:32 the barriers, the prejudices 28:34 and that's why you're seeing such an amazing response. 28:38 Well, I know that both of you... 28:40 How did you get started, Gem, in the prayer ministry? 28:43 Oh, that is a whole sermon. 28:46 Well, then give me a one minute reader's digest version. 28:52 My prayer life before was like five minutes a day total 28:58 for the whole day, and I was in a very difficult situation 29:02 during one particular time 29:06 and somehow I was made to go to join a prayer session 29:11 in a prayer room, 29:12 and then right there in that prayer room, 29:15 I refused to be there 29:17 but I know it was the Lord's plan 29:20 to bring me there. 29:21 The moment I got in that prayer room, 29:23 I went on my knees, I really was not in the mood to pray 29:27 but the moment I began praying the Lord 29:29 began to break my heart. 29:31 And I have experienced something 29:33 that I have not experienced before, 29:34 I experienced healing... 29:35 Amen. 29:37 From the hatred, from all the disappointment, 29:40 all the negativity that I feel. 29:42 And then one thing that came to my mind 29:44 is that every Seventh-day Adventist Christian 29:47 or every person needs to experience this. 29:50 And one thing that stuck to my head as well, 29:52 this is the reason why that the Lord is not coming 29:57 because we have this barrier that we have put in between us 30:01 and this needs to be broken, 30:03 this could only be broken by humbling ourselves 30:06 before the Lord. 30:08 And there's something that's so powerful, 30:10 even though you are praying by yourself, 30:11 you were in an atmosphere of united prayer 30:13 and the presence of the Lord was already there, 30:16 so when you got on your knees that day, 30:18 God was able to reach your heart in a rapid way 30:22 so there really is something powerful 30:24 about having that holy atmosphere. 30:26 I know that... 30:28 You see this happening with so many people, 30:29 it's just phenomenal... 30:31 And I know that you, Melody, I've heard stories 30:34 of how you will go to the General Conference 30:36 before the annual meetings and go through the rooms 30:38 and pray over every seat and pray, and I believe that, 30:42 that is your breaking through something, 30:46 you're breaking the powers of darkness around, 30:49 so that God can really get in, that's exciting. 30:52 You know, virtual 30:53 we've received a measure of the Holy Spirit 30:54 but we're to continually ask for more. 30:56 Oh, absolutely. And so that is my burden. 30:58 God is working with the church 31:00 but we want to see Him bring even greater blessings. 31:02 Amen. 31:04 And we can only be filled with the Holy Spirit 31:05 to the degree we're emptied of self. 31:07 And isn't it amazing how self can rear 31:10 its ugly little head. 31:12 We can quench the spirit like that, 31:15 I shouldn't laugh about it but it is funny 31:16 cause' we all experience it. 31:18 No, so true. We all experience it. 31:20 Well, I just want to thank you so much both of you 31:23 for your dedication to the ministry of prayer. 31:27 There are people who as their prayer lives are growing 31:31 don't always jump in to teach everybody else, 31:35 but thank God that God has His people 31:38 who are teaching others to pray 31:41 and the revival and reformation of the General Conference, 31:44 this has been and we've seen some amazing results 31:47 around the world. 31:49 And we thank you both so much. 31:51 Just want to encourage you at home 31:54 that Jesus said in Luke 11:9, to ask and keep on asking, 31:59 to seek and keep on seeking, to knock and keep on knocking. 32:02 And He said that if we being evil 32:06 know how to give good gifts to our children, 32:08 in verse 13 he said, 32:10 "How much more will the heavenly Father 32:13 give the Holy Spirit 32:14 to those who ask and keep on asking." 32:17 So this isn't just a one time prayer, 32:19 you should pray every morning before you even get out of bed, 32:23 pray for the Lord to lead you, 32:25 to fill you afresh with the spirit 32:27 and lead you and guide you. 32:28 And then, you know, what? 32:31 You'll pray with power, 32:32 when you pray by the power of the Holy Spirit. 32:36 Thank you so much for joining us. 32:39 Well, what a powerful work, and again the young people 32:41 taking lead in doing the work of God 32:44 and just standing up 32:45 and we're there just a couple years ago, 32:47 we are working at a church and all of the singing, 32:51 all of the music, all of the preaching, 32:53 all of the work was being done by young people under 30, 32:56 many under 25, some under 20 32:59 who are leading out in the work of God 33:00 and bringing their friends and when we began to baptize 33:03 I say 80, 85 percent of the people we baptized 33:06 were young people who were brought to Christ 33:08 by other young people. 33:10 And when you have a church 33:11 of such strong youth participation, 33:13 you know that the church is in very good hands. 33:15 Well, our next interview features two people 33:18 that you know well, one perhaps a little better than the other. 33:21 The ministry is very familiar to you, 33:23 it is Asian Aid which comes on every Friday evening 33:27 here on 3ABN. 33:29 You may know Jim Rennie a little bit better 33:32 than Helen Eager, 33:33 because Jim's face appears on the broadcast 33:35 a little bit more, 33:37 but the real energy behind the work 33:40 is our great friend 33:42 who we love so much Helen Eager. 33:44 Now I'll tell you little secret. 33:45 When we were in Phoenix this past ASI, 33:49 they were saying publicly that Helen was going to retire. 33:52 In fact they had a big banquet, big thing for her, 33:56 but she told me off to the side just very quietly, 33:58 she said I'm not retiring, 34:00 Jim's trying to get me to retire 34:01 cause' I worked at this so many years, 34:03 they think I'm tired, but I'm not tired at all. 34:05 Now, Helen Eager is up in the age little bit, 34:07 but she has the strength of 10,000 34:10 and the will and the love for this ministry, 34:14 so I rather believe that even though some people are saying 34:17 that she needs to take it easy, 34:18 I don't think Helen Eager is gonna take it easy at all. 34:20 I think she's gonna keep on working for the Lord 34:23 as long as her strength last. 34:25 Asian Aid gives us hope 34:26 by fostering permanent positive change 34:29 in the lives of disadvantage children 34:31 and their communities. 34:33 Asian Aid is celebrating their 50th anniversary this year. 34:38 Helen Eager has given her all to Asian Aid. 34:41 She is as I say still the driving force. 34:44 She along with Jim Rennie and a host of volunteers 34:47 and the host of servants in these countries 34:49 where they were do a fantastic work for the Lord. 34:52 You're gonna like this one. 34:54 These are two great people who are doing something great 34:56 for the cause of Christ. 34:57 Helen Eager, Jim Rennie interviewed by Shelley Quinn. 35:03 You know, it is amazing what the Lord can do 35:07 to our hearts individually and through us 35:11 when we will commit our talents to Him. 35:15 And we are here today to honor the Lord 35:18 for what he Has accomplished 35:20 through a very committed individual 35:23 and you all probably are very familiar with her 35:25 if you have watched Asian Aid on 3ABN. 35:30 We're here to speak with us today is Helen Eager, 35:33 and Helen is the co-founder of Asian Aid. 35:35 We also have Jim Rennie, 35:37 who is the CEO of Asian Aid USA. 35:41 And we just want to welcome you both here to the floor. 35:46 Jim, I'm gonna start with you actually 35:49 and then we're gonna come back to Helen, 35:50 because I know Helen's humility 35:54 and I know she doesn't like to be talked about 35:57 but, Helen, I just want to assure you, 35:58 we're not trying to lift you up, 36:01 but rather we're lifting the Lord high 36:03 for how He used you. 36:05 Asian Aid is celebrating their 50th anniversary. 36:09 Tell us just a little 36:10 of what the work that's going on in India? 36:14 Well, Asian Aid was started in Australia 50 years ago. 36:18 The USA has been going about 12 years I think, 36:22 and so I stood back and just looked at the work 36:26 that Helen has done 36:28 and to say it in a few words is very, very difficult, 36:32 because she is a very humble lady 36:34 and I don't think we've spoken enough 36:37 about the momentum and the push. 36:41 She pushes things, 36:42 she spots a need where we would not see it, 36:46 and she has given momentum 36:49 as I've said to the work in India and Nepal, 36:53 Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, 36:55 but very strongly India and Nepal. 36:58 And in the period 37:00 from when Helen start up with Asian Aid to now, 37:03 I estimate that for women's prolapse 37:07 and health operations in Nepal 37:10 which is critical to these women. 37:13 Yes, it is. 37:14 These are over 11,000 women who had the operation 37:18 and then in itself is a dramatic impact 37:21 when you think about 11,000 women 37:24 having their lives changed. 37:26 It's very difficult to know the number of children 37:29 that have been sponsored in that time. 37:32 And tell us little how Asian Aid works 37:36 what the mission of Asian Aid is, 37:38 so people who are not familiar with your ministry... 37:41 Well, our actual activity is child's sponsorship. 37:44 We take a child based on need 37:46 and put them in an Adventist school, 37:48 so we're giving them an education, 37:51 we're introducing them to Jesus 37:53 and we're giving support to the mission school. 37:56 Now, right now, 37:57 Asian Aid USA has about 3,500 sponsored children 38:02 in India, Nepal, Bangladesh and now, Myanmar, 38:06 and Asian Aid Australia probably has over 6,000. 38:10 So right now 38:11 and the work that Helen help set up right now 38:15 there's 10,000 in classrooms. 38:17 And I estimate that over the time 38:19 it's easily over 50,000 children 38:24 have had an education through our sponsorship system. 38:28 Praise God. 38:29 And I estimate once again that, you know, 38:32 it's 40 to 60 million dollars 38:36 that have gone to Christian and Adventist education. 38:40 So that's wonderful anchor, 38:42 but it doesn't underestimate the energy, 38:45 the inspiration and the spirituality 38:49 that Helen has delivered in these lives. 38:51 You know, Helen, I know someone who went to India with you 38:55 and she told me that you were like, 38:58 and I know you do not gonna like this comparison, 39:00 but she said you were like the Mother Teresa of India. 39:03 She said that everywhere you went 39:05 that there were not just children 39:08 but adults who look to you as a mother. 39:12 You work so many years there, and you've seen children 39:16 who have come into this program ragged, hungry with no hope, 39:23 I mean street children who have gone through the system now, 39:27 been educated and it really made something of their lives. 39:31 Tell us just from your perspective, 39:34 what these years have meant to you 39:35 and share a few stories about your kids? 39:39 I could tell you stories all afternoon 39:41 but I think actually starting the school 39:45 for the deaf children and the blind children 39:47 was something really special 39:49 and the children from our orphanages. 39:53 It was wonderful to go to UK a couple of years ago, 39:56 and see so many of our young people 39:59 that were at previously Asian Aid actually helping 40:01 to run the Indian churches and that kind of you know, 40:05 the programs there, that was a real thrill. 40:07 And this one or two of them in US 40:11 a lot of the girls completed nursing 40:13 so that kind of gave them an opportunity. 40:15 But you know, some of them have really committed their lives 40:19 to do something especially for God. 40:21 And one of the boys who is a doctor 40:23 is working in an area in India now, 40:26 and he sees all the patients free 40:29 and you know, he just says 40:30 that's what Jesus wants me to do 40:32 and even now he's been offered costly you know, 40:35 big salaries, he wants to do what Jesus would have him do, 40:39 so that is one of the best things. 40:40 Amen. 40:41 You're seeing those children really doing something for God 40:44 with their lives is the best thing. 40:47 I know that my husband and I have been sponsoring a child 40:50 for well, since we first met you, 40:52 I don't know if that was 11 or 12 years ago 40:54 and I know that we've seen, you know, we get the weekly, 40:57 not weekly the yearly updates from 41:01 and he is in medical school I think, 41:03 I don't if it's nursing school or medical school, 41:06 but he has thrived and he's just interesting 41:08 to see how much more each year has much more spiritual 41:12 he has become and his dedication to the Lord. 41:15 Now, this was not without a great deal of sacrifice 41:19 from you and from your husband I should say, 41:22 because you actually live in Australia with your husband 41:26 or that's home, but you spend, 41:29 what at least half the year in India? 41:32 At the moment I'm mostly going to Nepal 41:34 but I used to go to India at least for a few weeks, 41:38 at least six weeks or more every year. 41:41 India, Nepal and Bangladesh mostly 41:44 and I mean in the beginning, 41:45 my husband used to pay all the expenses for me 41:47 to do that you know, for about 12 years 41:49 until Asian Aid got too big and then, you know, 41:52 but just seeing the changes in the children's lives, 41:56 there's just so many of them and it's just so wonderful 41:59 and to hear from them every now and then looks, 42:03 you know some of the blind children, 42:04 the blind children have been really special to me. 42:07 Helen, what would happen to these children 42:10 if they weren't sponsored, 42:13 if you didn't have I mean like the children 42:15 that you don't have enough funds to sponsor, 42:18 what happens to these children? 42:20 Well, I mean some of them would, 42:22 some of them probably would have died, 42:24 because if they've got no parents and no home 42:28 and if they're just begging on the street 42:30 or otherwise they can be trafficked, 42:33 I mean children these days from Nepal 42:36 they even traffic young boys for body parts for transplants, 42:41 so and I mean occasionally children... 42:43 So when you say traffic 42:44 like a lot of the girls are trafficked 42:45 for the sex traffic. 42:47 Yes, into sex trafficking, but I mean even boys, 42:50 people don't usually think boys are trafficked 42:52 but at times they had trafficked 42:54 for may be to work in factories 42:56 which is a project that Jim and Asian Aid 42:59 is trying to get involved in a bit more in India, 43:02 is taking the children out of these factories 43:05 where they're forced to work, when they are only small kids 43:07 you know, at 9, 10 years of age. 43:09 So as well as the sex trafficking 43:11 you know, boys are at risk as well, 43:13 so, you know, for a child just to be a beggar 43:16 or to, you know, the traffic is just, you know, 43:21 it's just horrible to think what could have happened 43:24 to so many of those children. 43:26 And now you actually, 43:28 you and your husband had two daughters 43:30 but you actually adopted several children 43:33 from India, didn't you? 43:34 Yes, we did but that's long ago now. 43:36 Yeah, well that's precious though. 43:38 Jim, I know that you had, 43:41 how many years now have you been working 43:42 with Asian Aid USA? 43:44 Just from the seven years. 43:45 Seven years and I know you've grown 43:47 to love this woman who is now... 43:51 She doesn't like the word retire, 43:53 'cause she says she will never retire 43:55 but that's kind of what you're talking about 43:57 is she is semi-retiring. 43:59 Semi-retiring. 44:00 But I think that when you're working for the Lord, 44:03 as long as He gives you breathe, 44:05 you just keep going, right. 44:07 And I know you won't be abandoning your children there. 44:13 Yeah, that's right. 44:14 So what are some of the future plans 44:17 for Asian Aid? 44:19 Well, we still got our strong sponsorship program 44:23 and I guess our two major new directions 44:26 as Helen mentioned 44:28 where we have established operation Child Rescue 44:30 and it's focused on trafficking rescue, 44:34 baby rescue, and orphan rescue and slum rescue. 44:38 So operation Child Rescue will be a brand 44:41 that we will take to Christianity wide, 44:45 but the other key thing for Asian Aid 44:47 is going into Myanmar. 44:49 Myanmar is the old Burma. Yes. 44:51 And we've just taken 600 children near 44:55 so that's our biggest new venture 44:57 and if I may say our biggest need right now, 45:01 these children, the school system in Myanmar 45:04 is critical to the growth of the church 45:07 and so it's a real need, 45:09 and I've just come back from there, 45:11 it was very exciting and we'll be releasing 45:14 our first Hope in Motion program on 3ABN shortly. 45:18 Amen. That is wonderful series. 45:20 People will love that series. Yeah. 45:22 If someone is interested, 45:24 you can either be a sponsor for a child 45:28 or you can just... 45:30 these new projects you just donate toward that project? 45:35 Yes, there is two ways you can sponsor a specific child 45:39 and or you could either give funds 45:43 to the were needed most fund 45:46 and were needed most fund helps everything we do. 45:49 And we've also got to educate Myanmar fund 45:53 if you really feel committed to helping Myanmar. 45:56 So that are the three best ways sponsoring a specific child, 46:01 what I call out were needed most, 46:04 so we can use that effectively where it is needed. 46:08 And then now if you feel a calling 46:10 and you read about Myanmar 46:12 we have an educate Myanmar fund. 46:15 Now are those children Burmese children 46:17 or are they? 46:18 Yes. Okay, they're Burmese children. 46:20 Can I just mention one of our boys 46:22 who grew up in our Elim Orphanage 46:24 has just been my principal of the blind school, 46:27 so we're very proud of him too. 46:29 It's lovely to see these young people, 46:31 you know, doing something for God and you know, 46:33 something special it's... 46:35 I thought that was lovely to see him as principal of, 46:39 you know, of the blind school 46:40 which is a special school in my thinking. 46:42 You have faced a lot of challenges, 46:46 you have seen threats even, 46:50 but there's been so much 46:53 God has brought so much of success to this work. 46:57 What's been your most difficult 47:00 and most joyful on the other end of the pole, 47:03 most joyful experience? 47:08 I think just seeing so many children 47:11 that have grown up and that are following Jesus. 47:13 It's the children in our boarding schools 47:15 and in the orphanages that really, you know, 47:18 learn about Jesus, 47:19 because they are there for Sabbath, 47:21 they are there for worships, 47:22 there's children in our day school, it's difficult, 47:24 I mean of course some of them come from Christian family 47:26 so that's different, 47:28 but if they're non Christian, it's hard to have enough time 47:31 to really teach them very much about Jesus, 47:33 but so many children from our orphanages 47:36 and the boarding schools have, you know, really accepted Jesus 47:41 and to me that's a the best thing. 47:44 And you see them share that as they grow up. 47:48 Yes. 47:50 And so each time you take a child 47:53 and you train them up 47:55 in way the Lord would have them trained as they become adults, 47:58 they're so appreciate of that, 48:00 they're turning around and there... 48:02 it's like you have put one up who's gonna go over 48:05 and multiply it and it may be a 100 volt of multiplication. 48:09 Our program that we've got now in Nepal, 48:11 called Three Angels Nepal, 48:13 we've got 12 young people working as home parents, 48:16 accountant, teachers who were Asian Aid students 48:19 so that is special also. 48:20 Oh, that's precious. 48:22 They're giving back now to children that... 48:24 Amen. 48:26 All right, so if someone, 48:27 if the Holy Spirit is moving on someone's heart, Jim, 48:31 and they want to be a part either of educate Myanmar 48:34 or they want to may be, 48:36 be part of the rescue the Child Rescue program 48:38 or sponsor a child, how, tell us about your website 48:42 and how they can sponsor? 48:44 Well, go to our website asianaid.org, 48:47 org so Asian Aid one word.org 48:52 and there is all the information. 48:54 You can get the phone number of the website 48:56 and give us a call. 48:57 You can sponsor a child or donate online. 49:00 So that's asianaid.org. Yes. 49:04 Helen, thank you so much, 49:06 I know you're not through serving, 49:09 but thank you so much for being responsive 49:12 to the call of the Lord, 49:13 there's no doubt He chose you for this ministry 49:17 and you've been so committed through the years 49:19 to these children. 49:20 Thank you for what you've done 49:22 or for what you've allowed God to do through you. 49:25 It's only God blessing. Amen. Amen. 49:28 Jim, thank you so much for the work you're doing. 49:31 And for those of you at home, 49:33 if you're interested in being a part of this inspiring work 49:38 just go to asianaid.org 49:41 Thanks for joining us. 49:43 Wow, 50 years of service in the cause of Christ. 49:46 Now 3ABN is in its 32nd, 49:49 head into its 33rd year of service. 49:51 Asian Aid 50 years of service and Helen Eager right there 49:56 at the beginning and working all of these years 49:58 and she has not lost her vigor, she has not lost her vim. 50:01 She has not lost her love for Christ 50:03 working in really tough places in Nepal, India, 50:08 tough places to work 50:09 and yet the work that Asian Aid does 50:12 is so very, very vital for education, for feeding, 50:17 for stabilization of families 50:19 working with the blind in India, 50:21 just a number of facets... 50:24 orphans and people who don't, young people, children 50:27 who do not have the ability to take care of themselves, 50:29 Asian Aid had stepped in and saved many lives 50:33 and what's interesting 50:34 is that we're beginning to see children 50:37 who've grown up in the Asian Aid program, 50:40 come back and serve in the Asian Aid program 50:43 and so we're saying the second generation 50:45 sometimes the third generation of young people 50:47 whose lives have been touched by the Lord, 50:49 touched by the Adventist church, 50:50 touched by Asian Aid giving back to the system now. 50:54 And you can see it here on 3ABN each and every Friday evening 50:58 just a wonderful program that will touch your hearts 51:02 and do great things for you and through you. 51:05 They deserve your support and after 50 years 51:07 still going strong in the country of India, 51:11 also in Nepal doing a great work for the Lord. 51:13 And I dare say, 51:15 so many of these lives would be lost 51:17 if they had not been touched by Asian Aid and Helen Eager. 51:22 You can still that her eyes have not dimmed, 51:24 what we can say of her, it also said of Moses in a word 51:28 that at a advanced age 51:29 this is not terribly, terribly over 51:31 certainly having worked 50 years she's not tired, 51:33 she's not ready to quit, she's ready to keep on, 51:35 keeping on of course. 51:37 Jim stands by your side, 51:40 Jaime Jorge also works with them 51:42 and John and Angie Lomacang 51:43 spend some time out there with them 51:45 this past couple of years, 51:47 so Asian Aid doing a great work for the Lord 51:49 very, very happy too. 51:51 We're so very, very happy 51:52 rather to see what they are doing 51:54 and how God is blessing that ministry 51:56 and it is one of the programs that is very much loved 51:59 and very much watched here on 3ABN. 52:02 I think just now we will go to our newsbreak 52:07 couple of things happening 52:08 that we want you to be aware of, 52:09 then we gonna come back and sort of wrap this, 52:11 put a little bow on it before we say, good bye. |
Revised 2016-09-29