Participants:
Series Code: TDY
Program Code: TDY017107A
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00:01 I want to spend my life
00:07 Mending broken people 00:12 I want to spend my life 00:19 Removing pain 00:24 Lord, let my words 00:30 Heal a heart that hurts 00:35 I want to spend my life 00:40 Mending broken people 00:46 I want to spend my life 00:51 Mending broken people 01:10 Hello, and welcome to 3ABN Today. 01:13 My name is CA Murray, and allow me once again 01:15 to thank you for sharing just a little of your day with us, 01:18 so thank you as always for your love, your prayers, 01:21 your support of Three Angels Broadcasting Network 01:23 as together we seek to warn the world, 01:26 and encourage men and women to the fact that 01:28 Christ is coming soon, 01:30 and we must be prepared for that day. 01:32 But while we are preparing for that day, 01:34 Christ has called us to live and to occupy 01:36 and to the very best we can to be the hands and feet 01:40 of Jesus here and now on planet earth. 01:42 That's what this program is all about. 01:44 We're gonna be talking about ADRA, 01:47 The Adventist Development 01:49 and Relief Agency International, 01:51 and we're gonna kind of walk over through that. 01:53 My guest is Jonathan Duffy. 01:55 Jonathan, good to have you here. 01:57 Pleasure to be here, CA. 01:58 Now, let me start right off by saying that lilting ascent 02:02 that we just heard tells me you're not from Brooklyn. 02:06 I'm a little further south. Yeah. 02:10 Down in Australia. Indeed, in Australia. 02:12 Where in Australia? In the. 02:14 Well, I grew up in Adelaide in South Australia, 02:16 but I spread my professional career between 02:19 Melbourne and Sydney in the last 15 years 02:22 before I moved to the US were spend in Sydney. 02:25 Adventists home growing up? It was. 02:27 I was born to Adventist parents. 02:29 My father was a teacher in the Adventist school system. 02:31 My mother was a nurse. Ah, okay. 02:34 Adventists home, brothers and sisters? 02:36 I've got one sister, two brothers. 02:39 And you're where in that line? I'm the baby. 02:43 No matter how old you are, you're always the baby. 02:45 Yes, always the baby. Always the baby. 02:47 They say many things about the baby 02:48 that baby can go into many, many 02:50 different kinds of directions. 02:53 It is one thing, Jonathan, as you well know 02:56 to grow up in Adventist home, it is another thing 03:00 to know Christ for yourself. 03:04 I mean, you can have your accouterments 03:05 of Adventism. 03:07 But it's one thing to be surrounded by Adventism, 03:10 another thing to be Adventist or to be in Christ. 03:14 When did that realization come to you? 03:16 And ask that and light us with things we talked about 03:17 because you were a... 03:20 I don't want to say nayer doer, but you were working your way 03:22 to be a pretty good footballer, Australian who is footballer. 03:25 But some of that was kind of truncated 03:26 because you couldn't play on Sabbath. 03:28 But walk me through that and then when Christ became 03:30 real to you as a person? 03:32 Well, you know, it's difficult to actually say 03:35 when Christ became real to me as a person. 03:39 And while I did grow up in an Adventist home, 03:42 I grew up in a fantastic local church. 03:45 And right from the young age that local church gave me 03:47 responsibility. 03:49 I remember, you know, 03:51 I was a deacon at the age of 15 or something 03:55 and my dad thought, "Wow, that was bit young, 03:56 you know, should they be asking you to do that." 03:59 But, you know, when your church notice you, 04:01 wouldn't that create a community around about you. 04:04 When the adults in your church community 04:06 model Christ to you, 04:08 then that shapes the way you are 04:11 for the rest of your life. 04:12 The opportunities they gave, you know, 04:14 I've had the opportunities to speak to large audiences, 04:18 to give speeches all over the word, 04:19 to meet presidents of countries. 04:21 And really, when they got me to stand up in Sabbath school, 04:25 you know, on Mother's Day, and Father's Day, 04:26 and recite poems and gave me responsibility to things. 04:28 I understand, yes. 04:30 So I grew up within that community. 04:32 And I think that, you know, as I matured, 04:35 I was fortunate enough that I got the chance 04:38 to take on more responsibility. 04:40 So at the age of 18 when I graduated 04:42 from high school and went to university, 04:45 then I was given the opportunity 04:46 to provide youth leadership within other conference 04:49 in South Australia and to start to put on youth 04:51 for other activities and lead out in summer camps, 04:54 and one of those things that would shape you 04:56 for your future. 04:58 And I think, you know, that's what make Christ 05:01 always just an integral part of my life. 05:04 You know, I chose baptism at the age of 13 years of age. 05:07 I think a pivotal time for my career 05:10 was when I was working 05:12 at a residential healthcare center. 05:14 I was running the church home in Yarra Valley in Victoria. 05:18 They earned a residential lifestyle health center 05:21 and health resort. 05:22 They had a hospital attached which also ran 05:24 drug and alcohol rehabilitation. 05:26 And people who come to a health resort 05:29 don't just come to get healthy. 05:30 They start to talk to you about diet or exercise 05:33 or something else. 05:34 We tried falling down on little bit lately. 05:36 But you know the reality is that 05:39 once you start talking to them, they talk about life, 05:41 and they talk about all their issues. 05:42 And so, they are consumed all the time. 05:45 And I needed a break, you know, 05:46 the church was selling the facilities, 05:48 what was my next step in life. 05:50 And I took time out and I thought, 05:51 I've got to get some time. 05:53 I hadn't had annual leave, and so I chose to rode my bike. 05:56 I was living in Melbourne, back to Adelaide 05:58 where my parents live. 05:59 So it was only a short ride. 06:01 It was only about 500-600 miles. 06:04 And so I decided that, I did some family things 06:07 and family vacations but I said, you know, 06:09 sometimes your ministry drains you 06:13 and it's a great gift, but sometimes 06:16 you get so busy in the gift, you forget to give up. 06:18 Yeah, it pulls from you, it does 06:19 when you can't play football. 06:21 And so, you know, I took that time and I said, 06:22 I'm riding my bike 'cause I want to learn this. 06:24 And, you know, if we have time I could just fill the hour 06:28 with what happen to me on that journey. 06:30 Or the people whose lives I was in contact with, 06:32 with the changes, and I'm thinking, 06:34 I'm trying to get away from all these need, 06:37 but I constantly reminded and, you know, 06:39 I didn't know what my future was. 06:41 I didn't know where my career was gonna go when they sold. 06:43 I was beginning to get lucrative offers from, 06:46 you know, Hilton to set up a new spa resort for them... 06:50 Now, you were in college or done with college? 06:52 This is when I'm about 10, about 15 years into my career, 06:57 20 years into my career. 06:59 And that ride, you know, people begin to, 07:01 like I used to work with the wealthiest people 07:03 in Australia, they were my clients. 07:05 You look, what they've got, you think, 07:08 be nice driving a Ferrari or to live in a big house. 07:11 But that journey just got me reconnected and got me, 07:14 you know, founded, what did I want in life. 07:15 And as I met people on the way 07:17 and was able to impact their lives, 07:19 it reminded me that I'm here to serve. 07:22 And I put to bed any aspirations 07:24 that I wanted to go and chase the big dollars. 07:27 And I think ever since and I felt really settled 07:29 into serving a God and whatever He wants for me. 07:33 I've never worried about what it's gonna pay 07:35 or whatever else, it's just like 07:38 as long as the way God wants me to be... 07:40 And so in my adulthood I actually see that 07:43 as my pivotal moment. 07:44 You know, it was a middle window, 07:47 I didn't want to get rained on and you know, 07:48 you can see rain coming towards you, 07:51 and I never got wet. 07:52 Rain came almost to the fences on the side of the highway 07:56 and I didn't get wet. 07:58 I parked my bike on the shelter, 07:59 poured with rain when I ate, I came out, it stopped raining. 08:02 God was present in a special way 08:05 that just touched my life and... 08:07 So that alone kind of focused you and settled you. 08:09 Let me ask you this because, 08:12 and you've almost pre answered my question 08:14 because you got involved into church so early 08:16 and so strong, and it parallels my experience in the church, 08:20 Emmanuel Temple Church in Buffalo. 08:21 They took the young people, they made them 08:23 deacons fairly early on, 08:24 they gave them responsibilities. 08:25 They gave them reasons to be in the building 08:28 on Sabbath functioning not just sit there, and I, 08:31 but I suspect that you didn't really have time 08:34 to have what we might call wilderness years, or years 08:37 when you were kind of running away from the Lord 08:38 doing your thing because you were involved 08:39 so early so often. 08:41 Yeah, and I think that, you know, that's interesting 08:44 because when you look for, you know, 08:45 what was that real pivotal moment. 08:47 It wasn't during my growing up years. 08:49 It was actually when I was working for the church 08:51 and I was very involved and, you know, 08:54 you can be over consumed. 08:56 And sometimes we get so busy 08:58 that we lose our spiritual connection, 09:00 and so it was really in that busyness of my ministry 09:04 that I became more aware of the fact that 09:07 don't let the busyness take you away 09:09 from your relationship. 09:10 Well said. 09:12 And that's really was the pivotal thing 09:13 that I've had to learn from that. 09:15 You know, I had a big job in ADRA, 09:17 but the reality is what that reminds me 09:20 is my dependence upon Christ. 09:21 Upon Christ, well said. 09:22 Your actual college area study is in? 09:26 My area, original degree was in the area 09:29 of physical education, and human biology, 09:31 and exercise physiology. 09:33 Yeah. 09:35 Where and when did you meet your wife? 09:37 I met my wife when I first graduated. 09:39 The church offered me a job at this health resort 09:41 which I left and went to work for Sydney Adventist Hospital, 09:44 came back to for couple of years 09:46 and she was a pharmacist at the hospital there. 09:49 So, you know, I met her while she was off 09:51 trying to peddle drugs. 09:57 Indeed. 10:01 Did you know kind of early on or did it had to sort of 10:03 grow on her and grow on you? 10:05 Well, it actually grew on me. 10:08 So she doesn't like me telling this story, 10:11 but she was going through a hard time in life 10:13 and I was the youth leader in the local church 10:15 and I thought, you know, you should always be inclusive 10:17 of people so, you know, I made sure that 10:20 she was included in all of the things 10:21 and, you know, that she had a community there 10:24 to support her at the time that she needed it 10:26 and, you know, I thought 10:28 I was just being a good Christian guy 10:30 and she thought I was interested. 10:33 And the rest is history. 10:35 And the rest is history, indeed. 10:37 How long ago did you come to the States? 10:40 Five years ago. 10:41 So not that long. No. 10:43 Now, was it a big change for you? 10:45 You know, the biggest change for me, I mean, 10:48 Australia in the '60s was little Britain 10:51 and TV came and we became little America. 10:55 So when moving to the States 10:57 was not such a big cultural change 10:59 but the interesting things, things you don't think about 11:02 is trying to get your car insurance. 11:05 Because suddenly they are asking me 11:08 for $500 a month car insurance and I'm saying, I'm not, 11:12 I've already bought the car, I don't need to lease it. 11:14 I just want insurance, you know. 11:15 Oh, but you don't have a driving record. 11:17 I said, "I have a perfectly good driving record." 11:19 You know, what they say to me, "Well, you know, 11:21 what about your credit card? 11:23 Well, you've got no credit history." 11:24 I said, "Well, look here's the letters from my bank 11:25 in Australia. 11:27 You know, I've got a perfect credit record." 11:29 No, no, you've got to start from the scratch. 11:31 Well, how do I get a credit rating? 11:33 They said, "You got to borrow money." 11:34 I said, "I don't want to borrow money" you know. 11:36 Well, then give us your money and we'll loan it back to you. 11:39 I said, "You're lying, I said, that's not business." 11:45 You know, when you think about those little day to day 11:48 sort of rubber meets the road kinds of activity 11:50 that you've got to do when you're establishing yourself 11:51 in a brand new country. 11:53 Exactly. Yeah, yeah. 11:54 Did you have children when you came over? 11:55 I did. 11:57 Both my children were still in Australia, 12:00 or actually my daughter was in Namibia. 12:02 So my son is still living in Australia, my daughter, 12:07 you know, followed after me a little bit. 12:08 She did journalism. 12:10 She did sports journalism actually. 12:12 And then she... 12:14 And she also did lower degree. 12:16 And so she wanted to sort of work in sports, 12:20 and by the time she finished university, 12:22 she was convicted in wanting to make 12:24 a difference in the world in human right. 12:25 So she worked for Transparency International 12:29 which is a big international human rights group 12:31 and did an internship in Berlin 12:33 and she lived for two years in Namibia 12:35 working with the local NGO group 12:37 on human rights advocacy, 12:39 and then she ended up coming to work for ADRA 12:42 and works at ADRA International. 12:44 Is that so? 12:45 She's come across but my son's still back 12:47 in Australia. 12:49 Was it rough on your wife making that change, 12:50 where she all for it or was she? 12:52 Well, you know, what's interesting, 12:53 we didn't talk a great deal about it. 12:55 But, by the time the actual, you know, I was asked, 12:59 we were both really led to feel that's way 13:02 God wants us to be. 13:04 So from that point of view, it was an easy decision 13:06 from the point of view with the fact that 13:08 we had elderly parents and, you know, 13:11 in the last four years we've lost all of them. 13:13 And you know, both my parents, her parents, 13:18 leaving the kids behind was tough for her. 13:20 So there's always a transition when you move, 13:22 but there's always a sense of peace 13:24 when you know that you're doing what you should be doing. 13:25 Praise the Lord. 13:27 I've got to ask you then, Jonathan, 13:28 because what in your history, in the trajectory of your life 13:33 led the brethren to call you to ADRA International. 13:36 That's a very specific set of skills 13:39 for specific ministry. 13:40 What commended you to the brethren, 13:42 to that position? 13:43 Well, I was... 13:45 I was the health director for the Adventist church 13:47 for the South Pacific region. 13:50 And as such I was on the board for ADRA Australia. 13:53 And then the position became vacant, 13:55 that we're looking for a new country director 13:58 for ADRA Australia, 13:59 and division president contacted me and he said, 14:01 "We'd like you to take the job." 14:03 Well, I was on a health projectory, 14:05 I've been talking to, you know, the health guys 14:07 at the General Conference and so forth and, you know, 14:11 they said to me, "ADRA is unique. 14:13 You know, ADRA is a business, we need someone, 14:15 you've been involved in health care, 14:17 you've run businesses, 14:19 it's community development and your background. 14:21 I did my masters in public health 14:23 and health promotion. 14:24 And you know, I worked in the Pacific, 14:26 in developing countries 14:27 in primary public health initiatives, 14:29 you understand development theory. 14:32 But I said, "You know, ADRA has a tendency 14:36 towards maybe being a... 14:39 It's an NGO, a non-Government organization. 14:43 Is it really a faith based organization?" 14:46 And we'd like to see ADRA and the church close together. 14:48 I see. 14:50 And so they said, "We think that you've got 14:51 a unique set of skills, we'd like you to come 14:54 and work for ADRA, so you're my boss, you know?" 14:58 And then over the time that I was with ADRA Australia, 15:01 you know, we were able to strengthen 15:02 the national program, we were able to, you know, 15:05 when I left around 25 to 30% of the churches 15:07 were actively involved in their communities. 15:10 We are able to resource someone help him in that. 15:12 We had, ADRA is a strong business model, 15:14 but ADRA is a strong faith based organization. 15:17 And I said, "That's what we would like ADRA 15:19 to look like globally." 15:20 So that was the step really. 15:24 So this idea that ADRA is a, it's a business per se. 15:29 But with strong, faith based, underpinning foundations 15:34 that you want to sort of lift up, 15:36 you want to highlight that idea, 15:37 we're not just out here, we're out here 15:39 'cause Christ sent us out here, 15:40 and we are part of a church group. 15:42 So, you know, if we look at ADRA, 15:43 The Adventist Development and Relief Agency then, 15:46 you know we have 141 country offices around the world. 15:50 We bring 8 to 20 million people a year. 15:52 And we are professional organization, 15:54 we are trusted with significant funding 15:57 by national governments, by multinationals, 16:00 and it is a business in a way. 16:02 But what is its real business, you know, 16:04 what's the mission of the business, 16:05 what's the purpose of the business. 16:07 And so, when I look at what we can accomplish, 16:11 there is much to be proud of what we can accomplish, 16:14 and development is long time sustainable change, 16:17 giving people the resources to be able to create 16:19 a more positive future and being there 16:21 when their lives are in distress 16:23 is a wonderful thing. 16:24 But what does it mean to be the Adventist Development 16:27 and Relief Agency and that's the challenge of it. 16:30 And, you know, if I look at historically, 16:33 if I can take a minute to go through history. 16:35 If we look at social reform in society, 16:38 the abolition of slavery. 16:40 The hospitals were set up by churches 16:43 to serve the community. 16:44 Education was set up by schools, by churches 16:49 to help people educate to lift them into 16:52 more of an opportunity. 16:53 Prisons were set up originally by churches 16:56 in order to create reform. 16:58 So church was a agency of change in society 17:02 and an advocate for positive social change. 17:05 When World War I occurred, what happened was 17:07 with the whole world went to war, 17:09 they sorrowed in such atrocities 17:11 that people say, "We can no longer change society." 17:14 And churches became lifeguards. 17:16 And the lifeguarding is rowing around his boat, 17:18 with this drowning mess of humanity, 17:21 and they're pulling one life at a time 17:23 into the boat to save. 17:24 And then we saw the rise, post war to secularism 17:28 and people wanted to say, we've got the physical world 17:30 and we've got the spiritual world. 17:32 The physical world is a real world, 17:33 the spiritual world is your own personal world, you know... 17:36 Understood. 17:38 What your spirituality of who you understand 17:39 or what doctrines you believe or whatever else, 17:42 but that's your private life. 17:43 The rest of the time you live in a physical world 17:46 which is a world of, you know, 17:47 material things of politics of power. 17:52 And so churches were seen to be that when you're praying, 17:56 when you're doing the sets in your spiritual dimension, 17:58 but the rest of the time you live in a real world 18:01 and they separated it. 18:03 But now, society is actually made a change. 18:05 A few years ago, the German government 18:08 published a paper on the role of religion in development, 18:12 and what they came, have come back to realizing 18:14 is that 85% of the world's population 18:18 is affiliated with some form of religious order. 18:20 Yes. Yes. 18:22 That when we look at the positive change 18:24 within society that the biggest agents 18:27 of change are faith leaders in communities. 18:29 If you look at the Ebola crisis in Sierra Leone and Liberia, 18:34 the government had public health messages 18:36 out there about hygiene, about other things, 18:39 people didn't change. 18:40 But when the pastors, and the priests, 18:43 and the imams from the mosques, and the churches, 18:46 and the temples began to convey the message 18:49 and people changed their behavior. 18:50 Well said, yeah. 18:51 So now, they're looking to say, "We can't change the world, 18:55 we can't end poverty, we can't end starvation, 18:58 if we don't learn to partner with faith leaders 19:03 and faith communities." 19:04 And I want to stop you there before we go to our music 19:06 because that gives us a strong pivot 19:08 into what ADRA does. 19:09 And I think that's a good foundation 19:11 because for many, many years the question was 19:13 '70s, '80s, early '90s immediacy and relevancy. 19:17 Is the church relevant, is God even relevant? 19:19 Yes. 19:21 The question has been answered I think to an assurety 19:24 that if we're gonna make some changes, 19:27 church has to be the part of it, 19:28 religion has to be a part of it. 19:30 In fact is the part of it 19:31 weather you recognize it or not. 19:32 And I think that's where you're going with that. 19:34 We want to take this point to go to our special music, 19:36 and then I'm gonna back and sort of 19:37 spend a lot of time. 19:38 Mining this and how ADRA addresses and redresses 19:42 these issues and how Jonathan sort of sits at top of that 19:46 and sort of directs the movements of this really 19:48 God blessed and God used agency. 19:50 Our music today is coming from Valerie Shelton Walker, 19:55 and she's gonna be stringing, singing rather, 19:57 "His Strength is Perfect." 20:14 I can do all things 20:19 Through Christ who gives me strength 20:25 But sometimes I wonder 20:28 what He can do 20:30 Through me 20:36 No great success to show 20:41 There is no glory of my own 20:46 Yet in my weakness He is there 20:51 To let me know 20:56 That his strength is perfect 21:01 When our strength is gone 21:08 He'll carry us 21:11 When we can't carry on 21:19 Raised in His power 21:23 The weak become strong 21:30 His strength is perfect 21:36 His strength is perfect 21:43 We can only know 21:49 The power that He holds 21:54 When we truly see how deep 21:58 Our weakness goes 22:05 That when his strength in us begins 22:11 When ours comes to an end 22:16 He hears our humble cry 22:21 And proves again 22:26 That his strength is perfect 22:30 When our strength is gone 22:37 He'll carry us when we can't 22:43 Carry on 22:48 Raised in His power, the weak 22:54 We become strong 22:59 His strength is perfect 23:04 When our strength is gone 23:10 He'll carry us when we can't 23:17 Carry on 23:22 Raised in His power, the weak 23:28 We become strong 23:33 His strength is perfect 23:42 His strength is perfect 23:47 His strength is perfect 23:53 His strength is perfect 24:06 Thank you Valerie, 24:08 she's a good friend of this ministry, 24:10 her husband Brad Walker, 24:11 director here for many, many years 24:13 and we all love Valerie very, very much. 24:15 My guest is Jonathan Duffy, 24:16 he's president of ADRA International 24:19 and that's what we're gonna talk about. 24:20 And, Jonathan, I want to go to something very quickly 24:23 because there are so many things 24:24 happening around the world that ADRA is a part of, 24:27 but what is very, very close to our heart, 24:30 and in heart of many Americans is Puerto Rico. 24:32 Right. 24:33 So much has happened there, 24:35 and I know ADRA is on the ground. 24:37 So give me just a little flavor of what's going on, 24:39 what ADRA is doing in Puerto Rico. 24:41 So I mean, that's where we weep, 24:42 Puerto Rico was just devastated with Hurricane Irma, 24:47 and so one of the first things is, you know, 24:50 what we do in the immediate response 24:52 and we are able to partner with the local Adventist church. 24:56 The local Adventist church has number of young people 24:58 who are medical cadets, and so they were able to go 25:02 around the communities, treat people with sores 25:04 and things like that on a fairly instant basis. 25:07 The challenge of a disaster is what happens post the disaster. 25:12 And so little things like cuts and so forth 25:15 that would not have been a problem, 25:16 suddenly when you haven't got clean water, sanitation, 25:20 then infection comes out. 25:22 So it's really important to work with them 25:23 and also partner with the church there 25:25 and we're moving some of the waste 25:27 because where there is waste, there's mosquitoes 25:29 so the likelihood of other diseases. 25:32 One of the big challenges has been 25:34 the recovery of safe portable, 25:37 what we call portable safe drinking water, 25:39 and so we've been working around restoring that 25:43 to some of the communities there as well. 25:45 We've been feeding around 40,000 people. 25:49 We've produced, to be able to create their own foods 25:51 and feeding 10,000 people with hot meals as well. 25:56 And the government's given us five schools 25:58 to look after there. 26:00 And, so one of the things in the cases of disaster 26:04 is normal life, it's disrupted. 26:07 So what we don't want is children to miss that stage 26:10 of education in their lives and suddenly they're panelized 26:13 for the rest of their lives because 26:14 they didn't get education. 26:16 So restoring education system is importing. 26:19 I mean, restoring the building is one thing, 26:21 but restoring the schools to be a safe place, 26:24 well not the safe place, 26:26 and how do we provide for the sanitation needs, 26:28 and we have a technical term, 26:30 that's sort of technical cold wash 26:33 which is water sanitation health. 26:35 So in restoring the schools in Puerto Rico, 26:37 we've been working with the government there 26:39 in order to be able to restore safe portable water 26:42 for the kids at school 26:44 and sanitation for the kids at schools. 26:46 So when they go to schools, they're not only given 26:48 the opportunity to experience education 26:50 but they're also kept safe, 26:52 and they're not gonna get sick at school. 26:53 Is your focus Adventist education, 26:55 Adventist schools per se or just any school anywhere? 26:57 No, we work in communities, often what happens 27:00 in the case of a disaster is you're assigned 27:02 a particular region. 27:03 So we are assigned a certain numbers of schools 27:05 that we're responsible for. 27:07 We will treat the Adventist people 27:08 within that community and we will treat 27:10 the non Adventist people within that community. 27:12 So we respond more in a regional level. 27:15 The church itself tends to respond more 27:17 to their members and we tend to be the churches agency 27:20 which helps to the general population, 27:23 and so we have been given a region within Puerto Rico 27:27 which is our region. 27:28 I see, I'm so glad to hear you say that. 27:32 You know, I watch CNN, Fox, MSNBC, ABC, you know, 27:36 you hear all these things and you hear the rub up 27:38 between the government in Puerto Rico 27:39 and the, you know, so many things 27:41 that are going on but you rarely, 27:43 if ever here, that there are NGOs, 27:46 there are church based groups working and doing 27:48 a fantastic work that goes unsung and unheralded. 27:52 Yeah, and you know, what makes me really proud 27:55 about ADRA as well is that 27:57 when we respond to situations like Puerto Rico, 28:00 in three years time you'll find us in Puerto Rico. 28:04 You know, in five years time, hopefully not forever. 28:07 I mean, we've always got a presence here, we have a... 28:09 Yes. 28:11 But the challenge is that sometimes 28:12 when a disaster occurs people come in 28:14 while the cameras are rolling. 28:15 When the cameras aren't rolling, 28:17 and the next piece of news, they're gone, 28:20 but we tend to stay in communities. 28:22 It took us 10 years to pay for all the communities 28:25 to clear it up. 28:28 After the Tsunami that hit Asia, 28:31 it took us five years to finish with the communities 28:34 after Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. 28:37 So we are not just a disaster response organization, 28:40 we are developing organization, that works 28:43 with helping the community to restore completely 28:47 before we actually leave. 28:49 So it's a long term as well as a short term intervention 28:52 which is important. 28:53 That's when you build relationships, 28:54 that's when you have an impact in community. 28:56 Yeah, I remember going in after the earthquake in Haiti 29:01 and I'm trying, Fritz, I'm trying to think of the name 29:04 of the fellow who was in charge. 29:05 Fritz, I'm trying to think of his surname now as well. 29:08 I just call him Fritz. 29:10 Yeah, well that's it, just pick up, 29:11 but how hard ADRA worked there in Haiti 29:15 and for a protracted period of time 29:18 to do what needed to be done, yeah. 29:20 And, you know, I was fortunate too that church had a hospital 29:24 there as well, and it became a great base in helping people 29:28 because you know the disaster was of such a nature, 29:30 there was so much death, there was so much brokenness 29:33 and broken limbs and cuts and things, 29:35 that was the really important part of that 29:38 and then different parts of the church helped with ADRA 29:40 which is this way of church agency. 29:43 And that's where the benefit of being a church agency is 29:46 and you know, doctors in Loma Linda came in 29:48 with orthopedic surgeons and other factors 29:50 and other health systems combined as well. 29:54 And so it became an all of community response. 29:57 Yeah, yeah. 29:58 Let's then, Jonathan, let's do this. 29:59 Let sort of scan the world 30:01 and talk about some other places, 30:03 sadly there are many that ADRA has to step in 30:08 and do its thing, you know, to come in and try to, 30:11 you know, lift up. 30:13 So while we're on sort of the emergency response... 30:17 Yeah. 30:18 The one that's probably the hardest at the moment 30:20 is there are ring of crisis. 30:23 So what we've got us an ethnic group 30:25 living in Myanmar, 30:27 it's been denied citizenship for number of years. 30:30 And, so now they've been forced out. 30:34 And, you know, to sort of paint the picture, 30:37 I don't want to paint too bad a picture in furious... 30:38 Well, if you had the news on, then you've heard Rohingya, 30:41 you've heard... 30:42 When people come in... Yeah. 30:44 You know, they come in with gunships, helicopters, 30:46 blasting rockets, shooting, and all the other atrocities 30:50 that happen with destroying and setting kids on fire, 30:53 when people see this, they run. 30:54 They don't have time to grab anything. 30:56 So now, we've got 800,000 people in Bangladesh. 30:59 And I was just there a couple of weeks ago 31:01 doing a food distribution, so we've been able 31:03 to provide shelter for 12,000 households, 31:06 about 60,000 people. 31:08 We're helping them to build, you know, 31:09 bamboos and sheeting to keep them dry and so forth 31:13 and, you know, last week we've fed 31:16 100,000 people and gave them food 31:19 for two weeks to sustain and the World Food Program, 31:22 WFP, the United Nations gave rice 31:25 and we gave all the other staples 31:26 and that was fortunate in that we, that was private donation. 31:31 So that was where people would help ADRA 31:32 and that's a real way that donations do get there 31:35 and we're able to feed 100,000 people, 31:38 but it comes down to the real life stories. 31:40 And I was talking to the person, 31:42 him and his wife and his four children, 31:44 were in a small little place, it's not particularly big, 31:47 it's one room and that's what their living space is. 31:50 It's got plastic which keeps them dry 31:53 and a mat down, but they're sleeping 31:54 on hard ground. 31:57 And I said, "What was life before this?" 32:00 So, you know, we often don't think of 32:02 what they've lost 'cause, you know, we look at we've got, 32:05 but he owned a business, he had a store, 32:08 they lived in a nice home, they had two bathrooms 32:11 between him, his wife and four children, 32:14 six of them had two bathrooms. 32:16 Now, he shares two bathrooms with 450 people. 32:20 There's no shower facilities or washing facilities 32:23 and, you know, the big challenge 32:26 that we also have is water, 32:28 because there's different refugee camps, 32:30 this particular one is near the coast, 32:32 so when you drill for a well, you get salty water. 32:34 Yes. 32:36 That's a problem for growing crops 32:37 and also you can't drink. 32:39 So with, along with, the United Nations 32:42 were having to ship all the water in 32:44 and we don't actually see 32:46 a short to medium term solution. 32:49 So you imagine this particular camp 32:52 has got around 200,000 people. 32:55 Can you imagine the logistics of having to truck water in 32:58 for 200,000 people. 33:00 So we can probably provide the water that's necessary 33:04 to keep them alive and drink but what about all the bathing 33:08 and the washing of the clothes and everything else 33:11 that goes with that and the hygiene factors of it, 33:14 and that's, that's really this crisis 33:16 and the crisis is created. 33:18 You know, we respond to natural disasters, 33:20 we're responding to floods, we've responded 33:22 to the hurricanes in Puerto Rico 33:24 and other parts of the Caribbean and so forth, 33:27 and provide water and shelter and so forth like that. 33:30 You know, I think there are some pictures, 33:32 I'll put up on the screen of that. 33:34 But what really strikes home is 33:36 we have the largest number of refuges 33:39 in turning this faith is people in the world's history 33:42 and what's caused it? 33:43 Man seeing humanity to man. Yes. 33:46 You know, this is not a natural disaster, 33:47 this is man caused disasters that are causing people 33:51 to flee, to run, to seeing family members lost 33:54 and shot in front of them, the trauma that goes with that. 33:58 And I believe that as a faith based organization 34:02 we have a role to give people hope and healing 34:07 in those circumstances. 34:08 You know, you do good because good is what good people do, 34:13 as I recall the Rohingya population 34:15 is Muslim, are they not? 34:17 That's right. 34:18 All right, and that's one of the reasons 34:20 why they're being driven out of Burma, Myanmar. 34:23 You know, if you've been following this whole thing, 34:25 this is a humanitarian disaster and crisis. 34:28 Yes. 34:30 It makes me very proud of my church and of ADRA 34:34 that even though they're not getting the "kudos" 34:37 you don't see them on, say like news, 34:40 they're on the ground and they're doing it man, 34:42 they're in there, pitching in for the people 34:46 who cannot help themselves and I... 34:48 And this is not a political show, 34:50 but these people are being driven out, 34:53 their villages are being burned, 34:54 their children are being, you know, it's just, 34:56 it's a horrible situation. 34:58 It is so comforting to me to know that ADRA is there. 35:02 And if one of them becomes Adventists or Christian, 35:06 praise the Lord. 35:07 If none of them do, 35:08 we still praise the Lord, because you're doing 35:10 what Christians are supposed to do. 35:11 You're the hands and feet of Christ. 35:12 So I give you kudos for that for what you do. 35:15 Thank you. Yeah. 35:16 That's what drives us, that's what makes us get up 35:18 in the morning, and that's the passion 35:20 that God places in your hearts, 35:22 you know, for me being a, you know, 35:24 the head of a faith based organization, 35:26 the Adventist Development and Relief Agency, 35:29 I don't want 20 million Adventists 35:31 to be proud of an agency, I want 20 million Adventists 35:34 to see themselves as an agent of hope and healing 35:37 in the brokenness that exist. 35:38 Well said. 35:40 I mean, you don't have to go far outside your front door 35:41 to find brokenness. 35:43 And we all need to be agents of hope and healing 35:46 and how do we help the church to understand that role, 35:50 how do we help society at large to understand that role, 35:53 that we have the responsibility 35:55 to love your neighbors as you love yourself. 35:58 Two things, I don't suspect 35:59 we can get into Myanmar and help. 36:02 Is the government of Bangladesh receptive, 36:06 receiving any "static" for the work you're doing, 36:10 are they working with you to help? 36:12 They are working with us to help. 36:13 Praise the Lord. 36:15 So it's a corporation that whenever you do these things, 36:19 if you want to make it sustainable, 36:21 then you actually have to get into a little bit 36:24 of that relationship and work with governments 36:26 and work with United Nations and work with multinationals 36:30 and corporations and so forth. 36:31 You know, it takes a community to surround people, 36:35 to help them in their brokenness. 36:37 And I'm glad that we have a role to do that. 36:40 Not bad that we are acknowledge as the part of that community. 36:43 You know, you think of the privilege 36:45 that it is for us to be able to have that impact 36:49 in a person's life at a point of crisis in their lives. 36:52 If they let you in to be able to help, 36:57 to get over their own fears and to recognize 37:01 that there's love out there. 37:02 And I think, you know, 37:04 we face these times of the world 37:05 when there is too much hate speech out there. 37:08 Oh, yes, very much so. 37:09 And there's too much genderphobia, you know, 37:12 America for Americans, Britain for Britains, you know, 37:15 and all of these other messaging, 37:16 and where is the people who is speaking love? 37:20 Where is the people who say, "Hey, listen, you know what? 37:24 There is hope amongst all of this." 37:26 And that's what it means to be working 37:29 for a faith based organization. 37:30 Yes, yes, praise the Lord. 37:32 I agree so much, and so many things 37:34 are running on in my head that the world 37:36 is really a very small place 37:38 and when somebody bleeds and hurts over there, 37:40 there is a direct line even it's through 37:41 the heart of Jesus to you and they're called 37:45 to try to redress that. 37:47 Let's do this, let's break at this 37:48 and let's run some pictures, 37:50 and let's look at some of the things 37:52 that you're doing, then I want to come back 37:53 and talk about some other hot spots 37:54 that you're addressing. 37:56 So let's go and let's look at some of these graphics 37:57 and give an idea of... 37:59 These is one of the young children 38:01 what we're helping in Rohingya crisis. 38:04 It's nice to see a smile on the face 38:07 despite all the trauma. 38:09 This again is an elderly mother with her grandchild 38:13 in Rohingya crisis. 38:15 The challenge is, you know, where are the parents, 38:18 what happened to them and all those trauma, 38:21 and I think that might be still be that... 38:25 I mean this is... 38:26 I mean, we can take on the picture, 38:27 well, it's such a major, major... 38:30 So let me, you know, 38:31 while we're rolling through those, 38:33 I mean, let me just tell you a couple of stories as well. 38:36 This is the Mexico crisis that we were able to be there 38:39 when the earthquake struck. 38:40 Yes. Yes. Yes. 38:42 And, you know, there are some pictures coming up of 38:45 where we were able to respond in Nepal, 38:48 and we went to a community that have a scarcity of food. 38:53 What we are able to do there was we helped them, 38:55 we taught them agricultural techniques, 38:57 identify ground water sources. 39:00 This is actually Madagascar 39:03 and I traveled with the head of the world food program, 39:06 the United Nations into this area. 39:09 And it has not rained there since 1995. 39:12 Oh my soul. 39:13 And the four wells are drying up. 39:16 Well, three have dried up, and there is only one left. 39:18 And all they got is enough water 39:20 to sustain their life. 39:21 So planting crops and getting food 39:24 is a real struggle for them and you know, 39:27 we've got to bring in new drilling wells. 39:29 We've got to actually drill deeper to get down 39:31 to the ground water. 39:33 You know, what you do when you're out of water there. 39:36 And she said that it was one of the worst cases 39:38 that she's seen, you know, of malnutrition. 39:41 And you look at malnutrition, and you look at, 39:43 you put a band around a child's arm 39:45 and you realize that the development 39:47 is not taking place. 39:48 Is not taking place, yeah. 39:50 And often what we'll see is not shown in these pictures. 39:53 As you see some of these kids so naturally should have 39:56 dark hair and it's orange hair. 39:58 And that's the sign of 40:00 significant nutritional deficiency. 40:02 So you take that arm measurements 40:03 and you can see it, 40:05 and Ertharin Cousin who is the head 40:07 of the world food program said this is actually the biggest, 40:10 this really confronted her of all that 40:13 she's seen of these people in Madagascar. 40:17 And, you know, I started to talk about 40:20 the situation in Nepal and so we worked 40:23 with this community that has sacristy of food. 40:25 We help them to develop crops and to grow crops 40:28 and then we're able to give them literacy 40:31 and numeracy and skills and with the excess food 40:35 that they now have from their home gardens, 40:37 we create the opportunity for markets, 40:39 so we realize that people would come and buy produce 40:41 and then when some of them went to Nepal, 40:44 they realized that produce was sold, you know, 40:46 they were only getting a fraction of 40:47 what the food was worth. 40:49 So we gave them literacy and numeracy, 40:51 we help them to set up a little growth co-op 40:53 and in the pick of the growing season, 40:55 were there was 10 trucks a week 40:57 that were taking produce to Nepal 40:59 and that created income. 41:01 Then they said to us, well, you know, 41:02 we would like to improve the roads 41:04 for the trucks to come in. 41:05 We would like a clinic in our community. 41:08 So they wanted to raise money so we told them 41:10 how to raise money and how to save. 41:12 And I think it was around $ 150,000 41:15 that they needed, 41:16 and so they were able to raise that money. 41:18 We get them some seedy money, 41:19 but they were able to raise it themselves. 41:21 And then they had bigger dreams, 41:22 they wanted a school, 41:24 they wanted other community buildings, 41:25 they came up with the list which was now around 41:27 about a million US dollars and, you know, 41:30 they didn't come back to us for that. 41:32 They actually did it themselves. 41:33 We were able to move on to another community. 41:35 So it's 13 years summarized but now that community, 41:38 strong community with community services, 41:41 with schools, with healthcare, and they did it themselves. 41:44 You kind of showed them the way... 41:45 And that's what really what development's about. 41:47 So praise the Lord. 41:48 Having said that, I suspect ADRA is recognized 41:52 by some of these International agencies, 41:54 UN, FEMA, they know what you're doing, 41:57 they have respect for what you're doing. 41:58 They do, you know, and it's humbling for me 42:01 as a president of ADRA to go to some of these meetings 42:04 and so forth and to hear the wonderful things 42:06 that they've got to say about the agency. 42:08 And ADRA has a very, very strong reputation 42:12 in service delivery, in doing projects, 42:15 but we're having to refrain ourselves a little bit as well 42:18 because there is a change in trend from being 42:21 a service delivery agency to be an influencer 42:25 so, you know, you can say, all right, you know, 42:27 we had a five year project in all the homes 42:30 and these 10,000 families now have food. 42:33 So, but what about the rest of the country? 42:34 What have you done to influence public policy? 42:37 You know, could we do it differently in the future? 42:40 And so what we're learning is, 42:41 we're learning to professionalize 42:43 the development work. 42:45 We're partnering with Adventist institutions 42:48 of higher education 42:50 where some Adventist universities 42:51 and others where you're getting into more research. 42:54 You need to be able to produce white papers. 42:56 You need to be at the table when we're thinking, 42:59 what could we do, what is different. 43:00 And if you add that table, then you can influence. 43:02 Precisely. 43:04 And if you believe that you have values 43:05 and you have things to influence, 43:07 then you be at that table. 43:09 And so there is that little bit of professionalization 43:12 and operating on a bigger scale 43:14 that ADRA has always been great at the delivery. 43:17 Yes. 43:18 And, but now we've also got to recognize that we need to, 43:20 what does it mean to be an influence 43:25 and what does it mean 43:26 to give you a voice to something 43:27 because you know, 43:29 we haven't had a strong advocacy department. 43:31 And yet when we look at it, you know, 43:33 we're told scripturally to give a voice to the voiceless. 43:37 And Christ Himself was an advocate for change. 43:40 It really was His advocacy He is speaking out 43:42 that let to His crucifixion, and if I am His follower, 43:46 then how can I remain silent in the world of injustice. 43:49 Yes. Yes. Yes. 43:50 And you now, we can personalize it. 43:52 But you know, look at the scale, 43:53 it takes $8 billion to provide education 43:57 for everybody in the world, but we don't do it. 44:01 Yes. 44:02 Yeah, American's spend $8 billion a year on cosmetics. 44:06 You know, it takes $11 billion a year to provide safe water 44:10 and sanitation for everyone in the world, 44:12 and yet we don't do it. 44:14 Yeah. 44:15 But Americans and Europeans combined spend 44:16 $11 billion a year on ice cream. 44:18 You know, we spend $480 billions a year 44:22 on military, but we don't spend the money that's necessary 44:26 to bring about the social reform. 44:28 And so we live in a society which doesn't like resources. 44:32 But how do we actually become 44:33 an influence within the society... 44:35 Yes. Yes, well said. 44:37 To create, you know this for our men. 44:39 And I believe that, you know we have that role 44:42 as Christians and as agency. 44:44 You know, we don't just serve Christians, 44:46 we serve everybody. 44:47 So everybody, it's true. 44:49 You know, the philosophy that drives me 44:50 is my Christian philosophy, but the reality 44:53 is that we serve everybody 'cause they need it regardless. 44:57 Yes. Yes. The need is there. 44:59 I think I see this, I don't know 45:01 if it's a subtle shift. 45:02 When we think of ADRA, we've always thought of ADRA 45:04 as relief agency coming after a mess and mop up. 45:08 Right. 45:10 You are moving more to the development part, 45:11 that we want to do things that are sustainable long term, 45:14 but also influence the culture so that these countries, 45:18 these governments can help themselves 45:20 and make life better for their own people 45:23 systematically as appose to just putting out fires 45:28 and dealing with crisis. 45:29 So it's... 45:31 Well, the tent is getting bigger, 45:32 the umbrella is getting bigger, 45:34 you are covering more than you were before. 45:35 That is. Yeah. 45:37 And, you know, we unfortunately are part of the global church 45:41 which has, you know, the second biggest 45:44 healthcare system in the world, 45:45 second biggest education system in the world. 45:48 You know, we need to learn how to use those assets 45:52 and how do we as a church at large and Adventists, 45:55 you know development 45:56 and relief agency as its agency. 45:58 How do we actually play that role because it's a role, 46:00 the commission that we've been given. 46:02 Yeah. 46:03 Two questions I want to get to you and I look that clock 46:04 on the wall is saying, we got to kind of push forward. 46:07 You are reaching out in a special way 46:09 to involve young people in your... 46:10 Yes. 46:12 You know, you and I have grey hair. 46:13 Well, you have grey hair. 46:16 I guess, if I let one hair grow, 46:17 it would be great. 46:19 I am fast using you as my role model. 46:22 But the idea of including young people, 46:24 so that what we are doing is sustainable into the future. 46:26 Talk a little bit about that? Sure. 46:27 So we have launched a program called ADRA connections. 46:31 And it gives young people the opportunity to do 46:33 mission trips with ADRA. 46:35 So they are hosted by their local ADRA office. 46:38 They are given the opportunity to understand the culture. 46:40 They are given the exposure to poverty 46:43 and they're also given the chance to intervene 46:45 and to learn what does it actually mean 46:48 to actually serve and how do we actually impact on it. 46:52 And then, of course, they are given a chance 46:53 to do a little bit of cultural exploration 46:55 and discover it. 46:56 And in fact, you know, next year we are trying 47:00 for a mega program, 47:02 so we are going into the Amazon. 47:05 We are going up the Amazon to a very remote area 47:08 that has no education. 47:09 Wow! 47:10 We are partnering with nine of the Adventist institutions 47:13 of higher education. 47:14 We're gonna be in there for three weeks. 47:16 And in three weeks, we are going to build 47:19 an entire school complex over 12 buildings. 47:22 We are going from K to 12 as we say, 47:25 with classrooms, labs, everything else, 47:27 playfields, and accommodation for the teachers. 47:32 And we are bringing education to this part of the Amazon 47:35 that didn't have ambition at all. 47:36 We are gonna be working 47:37 with around 500 Adventist students, 47:39 who are gonna just revolutionize 47:42 this particular part of the Amazon 47:44 and that's exciting thing 47:45 when you work with young people, 47:47 like who would take on a challenge like that 47:48 except for young people, who have so much energy, 47:51 who aren't concerned about whatever doesn't work. 47:55 Well, they're just gonna make it happen. 47:57 It's gonna work, yeah. Yeah. 47:58 Praise the Lord. 48:00 That's a great thing of young people, 48:01 they got such energy, and such innovation, 48:02 and it's a privilege to be able to provide them 48:05 with some resources and tools to be able 48:06 to actually understand their role that they can make 48:09 a difference in the world. 48:10 One of the things I am discovering again 48:12 and in news that ADRA does so many work, 48:14 has so many things, and has its tentacles 48:17 if I can use that terminology in so many things. 48:19 We think of building, we think of Maranatha 48:21 and those kind of things, but ADRA is doing building 48:23 and that kind of stuff also as part of your overall mandate 48:26 when you come into an area. 48:28 I mean, we tend not to focus a great deal on building, 48:31 but where there's a need, we work with that. 48:33 We are trying to refocus ourselves a little bit 48:36 and that it's very difficult to be a generalist 48:38 to cost everything, 48:40 so what is it that your agency is known for. 48:42 So what we are focusing on is, we are saying, 48:44 "Okay, we are going to develop expertise 48:47 in the areas of health, education, and livelihoods." 48:50 Praise the Lord. 48:51 Now you think that the Adventist church is strong 48:52 in those areas, but, if we can provide good health 48:56 to children when they are born, 48:57 given the opportunity for proper growth, 49:00 for development, for intellectual, 49:02 and for physical opportunities. 49:05 Parents won't really send children to education 49:07 while they are in poverty 49:08 because they need the children to survive. 49:09 That's a yes. 49:11 So we don't do something about 49:12 creating livelihood opportunities 49:13 that the kids don't get the opportunity, 49:15 so give them a good healthy start in life 49:17 where they can have all the opportunities 49:20 that God wants for them to achieve. 49:22 And then create the opportunities 49:23 for the families to be able to free them for education 49:26 and then provide education opportunities, 49:28 'cause education is the key to unlock poverty. 49:31 And overarchingly, you know, 49:34 because we are a faith based agency, 49:36 we are overarching things in sense of well being. 49:38 So how do we restore the wholeness of a community? 49:42 And, you know, the wholeness is not just about food, 49:45 it's about the spiritual development 49:49 of the people as well. 49:50 Now I have a definition of spirituality, 49:53 which is my definition of spirituality. 49:55 But everybody is creating God's image, 49:58 everybody is a spiritual being. 50:00 How do I give them that opportunity to develop 50:03 socially, mentally, spiritually, holistically, 50:06 and that's what I want ADRA to be known as an agency, 50:08 an agency which brings wholeness 50:11 and complete healing to communities. 50:15 And so that's really what we are trying to focus 50:18 here going into the future. 50:19 I have got two things and I am engaging myself 50:22 as my time that I think 50:24 I want you to do on the backend. 50:25 One, what is ADRA doing in the 10/40 Window, 50:28 in those countries where it's tough to work. 50:31 And then we wanted to take a look at 50:32 what is on the docket for the future. 50:35 So before you answer those questions, 50:37 I think we will go to our address roll out. 50:40 Should you want to make contact with ADRA, 50:43 should you want to know more about what they are doing, 50:45 and if you want to give financial support 50:48 to this most worthy of Adventist agencies. 50:52 We're going to give you information, 50:53 here is how you can do precisely that. 50:55 Then we will go to our news break, 50:56 then we will come back 50:58 and we will have Jonathan wrestle 50:59 with those two questions I gave him. 51:00 Just now, the address roll 51:02 and the information that you will need. 51:05 The Adventist Development and Relief Agency 51:08 is the global humanitarian organization 51:10 of the Seventh-day Adventist church. 51:12 Through an international network, 51:14 they deliver relief and development assistance 51:17 to people in more than 130 countries. 51:20 Help ADRA International relief poverty 51:23 and distress and create just a positive change 51:26 by visiting ADRA.org, 51:29 or calling them at 1-800-424-2372. 51:33 You may also write to them at 12501 Old Columbia Pike, 51:38 Silver Spring, Maryland 20904. |
Revised 2018-02-14