Participants:
Series Code: TDY
Program Code: TDY018006A
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00:01 I want to spend my life
00:07 Mending broken people 00:12 I want to spend my life 00:18 Removing pain 00:23 Lord, let my words 00:29 Heal a heart that hurts 00:34 I want to spend my life 00:40 Mending broken people 00:45 I want to spend my life 00:51 Mending broken people. 01:09 Hello, and welcome to 3ABN Today. 01:12 We're so glad that you've tuned in 01:14 and just want to take this opportunity 01:16 on behalf of all of us who are at 3ABN 01:19 to thank you for your prayers and your financial support 01:22 of this ministry. 01:24 As we always say 01:25 and don't think we're just saying this to be tried, 01:28 we couldn't do this without you 01:30 and we're so thankful 01:32 that we particularly want to thank all of our blessings 01:35 on the Go Team members. 01:38 I wanted to share a scripture with you 01:40 and before I introduce our topic, 01:42 and you will see why 01:44 as soon as we start interviewing our special guest. 01:50 It's easy to see when we look around 01:53 that end times are here 01:55 and it's not just the church that's saying this, 01:58 it's not just based on Bible prophecy. 02:01 I mean that's what I base mine on, 02:03 but we see the scientists, 02:06 and the people, the scholars, 02:08 and the academicians of this world 02:10 saying earth cannot be sustained. 02:13 I mean, we're out of time, folks. 02:16 But when we look at the signs of the time 02:18 and we think of everything that Jesus said 02:21 about wars, and rumors of wars, and earthquakes, and famines, 02:25 and droughts, 02:27 the thing that is the most impressive sign to me 02:31 is Matthew 24:14. 02:33 And He says, 02:35 "This gospel of the kingdom 02:37 will be preached in the world as a witness to all nations, 02:42 and then the end will come." 02:46 It is this generation 02:50 that now has the ability to get the gospel 02:54 to all of the nations, 02:56 including nations that are close, 02:58 like the Islamic nations and China. 03:01 This is something that is so important for us 03:05 as people to recognize that the end is near 03:10 but we want to do our part 03:13 in helping usher in the second coming 03:18 of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 03:20 And our special guest today is doing just that. 03:24 Let me introduce you to Jeremy Everhart, 03:27 who is the principal 03:29 of the Taiwan Adventist International School. 03:34 Jeremy, thank you for coming all the way from Taiwan. 03:37 I appreciate it. My pleasure. 03:39 Now our weather is a little different in Taiwan, 03:41 is it not? 03:43 That's for sure. 03:44 My blood is starting to thin. 03:45 I grew up in New York but the more I've been there, 03:47 I come back for the winter times. 03:49 It's just chills me. 03:51 It does indeed. 03:52 Well, we are so excited to hear what your ministry is doing 03:58 and how you are reaching beyond the church 04:01 into unorganized territories. 04:04 And we'll describe all of that 04:06 and explain it in just a moment. 04:08 But before we get going, I know you like music, 04:12 we all love music 04:14 and we all love the musical guest 04:17 is going to sing for us right now 04:18 and that is Dr. Yvonne Lewis Shelton. 04:22 And Yvonne is a precious woman of God, 04:26 a dear sister and a dear friend. 04:29 And she is going to be singing for us 04:33 "In Christ Alone". 04:51 In Christ alone my hope is found 04:57 He is my light, my strength, my song 05:02 This Cornerstone, this solid ground 05:07 Firm through the fiercest drought and storm 05:12 What heights of love, what depths of peace 05:18 When fears are stilled, when strivings cease 05:23 My Comforter, my All in All 05:28 Here in the love of Christ I stand 05:41 In Christ alone, who took on flesh 05:47 Fullness of God in helpless babe 05:51 This gift of love and righteousness 05:57 Scorned by the ones He came to save 06:02 'Til on that cross as Jesus died 06:07 The wrath of God was satisfied 06:12 For every sin on Him was laid 06:18 Here in the death of Christ I live 06:43 There in the ground His body lay 06:49 Light of the world by darkness slain 06:54 Then bursting forth in glorious Day 06:59 Up from the grave He rose again 07:04 And as He stands in victory 07:09 Sin's curse has lost its grip on me 07:15 For I am His and He is mine 07:20 Bought with the precious blood of Christ 07:33 No guilt in life, no fear in death 07:39 This is the power of Christ in me 07:44 From life's first cry to final breath 07:49 Jesus commands my destiny 07:54 No power of hell, no scheme of man 07:59 Can ever pluck me 08:02 from His hand 08:07 Till He returns to take me home 08:13 Here in the power of Christ I'll stand 08:18 No power of hell, no scheme of man 08:23 Can ever pluck me from His hand 08:33 Here in the power of Christ 08:42 I'll stand 08:56 Absolutely, what a beautiful message 08:58 in Christ Alone. 09:00 And we just want to thank Yvonne for that. 09:02 Well, if you tuned in just a few moments late, 09:05 our special guest is Jeremy Everhart, 09:08 and he is the principal 09:10 of the Taiwan Adventist International School. 09:15 Before we talk about what God is doing in your area, 09:21 I just want to hear 09:23 and would like you to share how you ended up there. 09:26 I know you grew up in an Adventist Christian home. 09:29 Yes. 09:30 But when did your relationship with Christ 09:33 really become personal? 09:35 When you're growing up in a church, 09:36 you see your family members, you see your parents, 09:40 doing the church things 09:41 and you want to be a part of that. 09:43 But I didn't really have 09:45 maybe the relationship that I thought I should have. 09:49 When I was in the academy, Houston Academy, 09:51 we were on a class trip to Dominican Republic 09:54 as a mission trip and we helped build a church there, 09:56 and it was at that point that I could really feel 09:59 that there's something more to life 10:01 than the things that I saw every day. 10:02 Amen. 10:03 And the world vision there kind of really settled into me. 10:07 Praise God. So how did you end up in Taiwan? 10:11 Graduated from Anderson University, 10:13 taught for two years in New York State, 10:16 but I just felt like I needed something more than that 10:18 and I got a call to go to Russia. 10:21 I was in Russia for a year, 10:23 and then I got a call to go to Taiwan 10:25 and I thought, oh, I can continue on, 10:27 just keep going from country to country 10:28 and then that was back 2004, I've been in Taiwan ever since. 10:32 Wonderful, and I know that there in Taiwan 10:35 you met your beautiful wife. Absolutely. 10:37 And you have a five year old son. 10:39 Get this, his five year old son Evan 10:42 speaks both English and Mandarin 10:45 and when mama prays in Mandarin, 10:48 he is translating line by line for daddy in English. 10:52 And I think that's amazing. 10:54 He is just a real... 10:57 He's obviously a very bright young man. 10:58 He is. Yeah, and your joy. 11:01 So tell us about the Taiwan Adventist School, 11:06 you were on the campus of the university there? 11:10 Yes, we have Taiwan Adventist College, 11:12 it's been there for many years. 11:15 And they tried to be just, 11:16 you know, similar to when we think of union 11:18 or other Seventh-day Adventist Colleges. 11:21 But the government had a lot of restrictions 11:23 of what you could do 11:24 and so they eventually gave up accreditation. 11:27 Okay. 11:28 And then all they could really do 11:31 was do a theological seminary. 11:34 So now the college is a theological seminary 11:37 and it's in the middle of Taiwan 11:39 and they were having difficulties 11:42 due to the constraints that the government provided. 11:46 So then they built our school, 11:48 Taiwan Adventist International School, 11:50 because they needed to have funds to help do the work 11:53 that the college is already doing. 11:55 All right, so what is the population of the school 12:00 of which you are the principal, 12:01 The Taiwan International School? 12:03 Yes. 12:05 We are now hovering mostly around 75 to 80 students. 12:08 And this is the upper grades? 12:11 We do grades 7 to 12. 12:13 Seven to twelve. 12:14 Now, what is the population of your school? 12:19 Can you give us a break down on the demographics? 12:22 So our school caters mostly to the more affluent families. 12:27 And so they come in from all over Taiwan, 12:30 we're a boarding school. 12:32 Students stay on our campus 12:34 and we provide weekend programming 12:36 and spiritual programming for them. 12:38 And majority of them are not Christian, 12:40 they come to our school 12:42 to go to universities in the United States and Canada 12:45 or other places around the world, 12:47 and they come to our school 12:48 because we are associated 12:50 with the Griggs International Academy. 12:52 So when they finish our program, 12:54 then they have that diploma through Griggs. 12:57 And then most of them then are, 12:58 obviously their second language is English. 13:00 That's right, absolutely. 13:02 Okay. And tell us about... 13:07 Now, how many, what percentage did you say were Christian? 13:10 So our whole group, 13:11 we have roughly 12 to 15% that are Christian. 13:15 And about 6 to 8% who are SDA. 13:18 And so Seventh-day Adventist Christians. 13:20 Seventh-day Adventist, yes, thank you. 13:21 Uh-huh, okay. 13:22 And that gives you then a great opportunity 13:28 for evangelism right within your school? 13:31 Absolutely. 13:33 Ours teachers are missionaries. 13:34 When they come to work here, 13:36 they come because they want to work with our students 13:38 and they have a heart to work with them 13:41 in which our students don't necessarily come 13:44 because we are Christian. 13:46 They are just looking at what we can provide for them 13:48 for their future. 13:50 And so it's been a challenge and also a blessing 13:54 to work through God 13:55 in which to find ways to show who God is 13:57 and what love He has for them. 13:59 Amen. 14:01 Now you have your regular curriculum 14:04 throughout the school week 14:06 but then you said you had weekend programs. 14:08 Tell us about that. 14:09 So our students are addicted to their phones, 14:12 it's just a simple fact. 14:13 I think that's universal, isn't it? 14:15 And, you know, we see how much harm it does for them. 14:19 Yeah. 14:21 And we want to provide holistic programming 14:24 that doesn't just meet their academic needs, 14:27 but their spiritual and their health 14:29 and so we have thing for Friday night. 14:32 Our vespers program, 14:33 we do Sabbath morning program, 14:35 we do the church service for them. 14:37 And we have sundown vespers for them 14:39 just every single weekend. 14:41 Okay, now you have affluent students 14:46 coming from a non-Christian background, 14:48 so how do you break them 14:51 of that selfish 14:54 and materialistic outlook on life? 14:58 Yeah, first we... 15:00 We're just kind of doing 15:01 the traditional international school thing. 15:03 Bringing them in, teaching them the best we can 15:06 and hoping that they can gain something from that. 15:09 But we made a fundamental change 15:12 in the last couple of years. 15:14 We did small groups as our vespers 15:18 in our Sabbath school program. 15:20 Instead of just having a group presentation for them, 15:22 we bring them into our homes, we cook food for them, 15:26 we eat together and we pray together 15:29 and we study God's word 15:30 for both our vespers 15:32 and for our Sabbath morning program. 15:34 It's one of the major changes we've done. 15:36 The other thing that we've done 15:37 that we think it's really important 15:39 is we instituted mission trip and community service trips 15:42 for our students. 15:43 As they're serving their community 15:45 and other countries, 15:47 they see the need throughout there 15:48 and the changes of themselves take place 15:50 due to simply the service they provide. 15:52 Amen. 15:53 I think you brought some pictures, 15:55 well, I know you did. Yes. 15:56 Let's look at some pictures and we'll see 15:57 some of the community service projects 15:59 that you are doing. 16:00 Okay, so there's first one. 16:03 So our students go on Thanksgiving 16:07 and do their trip. 16:09 Take the vacation time, they pay for it 16:12 and they went here 16:13 and they have been doing vacation Bible schools 16:16 on the east coast of Taiwan. 16:17 Wonderful, wonderful. 16:19 And then the next picture? 16:24 This house has an old gentleman that was living here. 16:27 You might see him there on the right side. 16:29 He was, he had this big house 16:31 but the condition of the house was so bad, 16:33 he was living literally in a 8/8 sector. 16:35 Okay. 16:37 And so through that, our students went there 16:39 and did a lot of renovations, and scraping, and painting, 16:43 and they made his house livable again. 16:45 Praise God, 16:46 so you're teaching them in a very practical way. 16:49 Absolutely. Now what are they doing here? 16:51 This is a program 16:53 we've been doing since year one. 16:54 And this is at a nursing home at a town nearby 16:58 and these retirees and other individuals 17:02 are kind of away from society. 17:04 They are stuck here in this building, 17:06 nothing to do but watch TV. 17:08 And so we go there every year 17:10 and we write programming where our students intermix 17:13 and they do activities together with the patients. 17:16 Wonderful. 17:18 We do vacation Bible schools 17:20 in all of our mission and community service trips, 17:22 and so our kids are not just teaching English 17:25 but they are teaching the stories of the Bible 17:28 to these students 17:29 at the elementary schools that we go. 17:31 So certainly this must be reaching some hearts. 17:33 Yes, that's right. 17:35 Okay, and then I think we had a few more pictures. 17:37 Yes. 17:41 This is a picture of our small group 17:43 and so each teacher will have 17:46 roughly between 6 to 12 students 17:48 that they have every weekend 17:50 both for the vespers and the Sabbath school, 17:53 and they pray, and they study the Word together, 17:55 and they develop that relationship 17:57 to show how God's love works in their own lives, 18:00 our students can work from that. 18:02 Amen. Now how many... 18:05 Oh, this is your week of prayer, isn't it? 18:08 We had two week of prayers every year 18:10 and we invite special guests, 18:12 and when we pray and we sing together, 18:15 and they share God's word 18:16 and a lot of students' lives have been changed. 18:20 Yes. 18:22 I remember, it was the week of prayer last year 18:24 and we made a call, 18:25 "Who would be interested in having Bible studies." 18:27 Yes. 18:29 I think roughly 30 students stood up saying, 18:31 "We just want to study and see who God is." 18:34 Praise God. Now, before we go to the next picture, 18:38 what are the religions of Taiwan? 18:43 What is it, is it mostly Buddhists? 18:45 Yes, primarily Buddhists, 18:47 and we also have Taoists, 18:48 and we have local religions, 18:51 they focus on heroes of the past. 18:54 And then there's a mixtures thereof. 18:56 All right, so for some of them 18:57 this is the first time they've ever heard the gospel. 19:00 Yeah, we had a chaplain who came in this last year 19:03 and he did survey of our students, 19:04 "Where did you hear about Jesus?" 19:06 And a large percent of them put 19:08 well, when they came to Taiwan Adventist School, 19:11 that's when they first learned about Jesus. 19:13 So how do their parents feel 19:15 as their lives are being touched 19:18 by the good news of the gospel 19:20 and they are wanting to join the church. 19:21 How do their parents feel about this? 19:23 Some are supportive, 19:25 because they see the positive influence 19:26 on their lives, 19:28 they have told us, "I've seen my child change. 19:30 He struggled in school, 19:32 he had fights with his classmates, 19:33 he couldn't work with the teacher 19:35 and he's come here 19:36 and I've seen this change and I'm happy for that." 19:38 Others have said, "Sorry. 19:40 I know, my son is asking to be baptized 19:42 but let's not premise." 19:44 So but you know the good thing is that 19:47 once that seed is planted... 19:48 Right. 19:50 Mama and papa can't keep them from ever, forever. 19:52 For eternity. 19:53 Yeah, 'cause it if your heart's been given to the Lord, 19:58 you can be converted before your baptism 20:00 that you're hoping. That's right. 20:02 So how many do you usually graduate each year, 20:05 what is your graduating class? 20:07 It varies, 20:09 this year, we'll have roughly 12 students who are graduating. 20:11 Okay. And then... 20:13 And this is the class that graduated this last year. 20:16 All right. 20:17 And we're so excited to see them come back 20:19 and visit us 20:20 and we asked them, "What do you see a difference, 20:22 now that you are out in the world, 20:24 what do you see the difference between the teachers you've had 20:26 in the universities, 20:27 and the teachers you've had here at TAS?" 20:30 And they said, "You know what, 20:31 those teachers out in the world just don't care for us, 20:33 they don't mentor us, 20:35 they don't really worry about how we're doing," 20:37 as they've experienced at our school. 20:39 So that really took heart for a lot of our teachers 20:42 and encouraged the work that we're doing. 20:44 Amen, and it's such an exciting work 20:46 because it's not just academic 20:48 but you are reaching them on a spiritual level. 20:51 And then teaching them to have a world view 20:56 that is not just so boxed in a selfish way 21:00 that you're just focusing on self. 21:02 What I'd like to do, it's such a beautiful campus. 21:05 We're gonna show just a couple of clips 21:08 from some videos you brought 21:09 and then we'll continue on to the big project. 21:12 Okay. 21:13 But here's some of the video. 21:17 Now what's going on here? 21:18 So this is our Christmas program 21:21 and it's not your traditional Christmas program. 21:23 Obviously. 21:24 We present Jesus' total life, from birth to resurrection. 21:28 Okay. 21:29 Each grade level will develop their own skit, 21:33 their own dialogue, based solely on scripture. 21:37 Praise God. 21:38 And then we invite the community, the parents. 21:41 The purpose is not to have a Christmas celebration, 21:44 the purpose is telling the community 21:46 and the non-Christians 21:47 why we celebrate Jesus' birth 21:50 because they don't have that concept. 21:52 And the thing about it is 21:56 our students are mostly not Christian, 21:58 their English may be not so strong 22:01 so they have to repeat and repeat 22:03 these Bible inspired passages again and again 22:07 so they can speak them out at the presentation. 22:09 Give glory to God. 22:10 What does that do on their spiritual wellbeing 22:13 when they are being, you know, exposed to God's Word 22:16 over and over and over again 22:17 and the most important story that can be presented. 22:20 So do you get good attendance at these events? 22:23 We always worry about that, we send out the invitations 22:25 and we say, "Who's gonna come?" 22:28 And this last time I stood up, I give them a welcome, 22:30 it was okay. 22:32 I sat down at the end of it I want to thank them for coming 22:36 and the whole auditorium was filled 22:38 and we're floored by the attendance this year. 22:40 Praise God. 22:41 So you're saying that it's not just Adventists 22:43 that are rushing 22:44 in the last moment of these events. 22:47 Well, this is a very special way 22:50 of getting it into the children's hearts, 22:52 since they are the one's writing the script 22:53 from the Bible, 22:55 and as you said, 22:57 confessing this word over and over again. 22:59 That kind of gets it into their memory 23:02 so that's an exciting way. 23:04 Have you had, 23:05 what is the reaction of the parents 23:08 and the local people to this? 23:12 We find interesting is that 23:13 the parents will come and be supportive 23:15 because their child is presenting. 23:18 And because it's in English, 23:19 then they feel proud that their child can go up there 23:22 and speak that to everybody. 23:24 They might not totally understand the impact 23:26 what they're speaking on their lives 23:28 or how that might affect them as well. 23:30 Yes, yeah, okay. 23:32 And now you brought another clip, did you not? 23:34 Yes, and this is connecting 23:36 with our community service projects. 23:38 All right. Then we'll look at that now. 23:42 This is at the nursing home? 23:43 This is at the nursing home, yeah. 23:45 Ah, it's precious. 23:47 I bet the nursing home residents 23:50 are excited to see the young kids come. 23:53 Every year it's a struggle for our kids at first. 23:56 They don't know how to react, they don't know how to help, 23:58 they don't know how to serve their needs, 24:00 they're frightened of it. 24:02 But then once it get going, 24:03 then suddenly I've seen 24:05 students you might not think care too much, 24:09 they really want to help 24:11 and make the life of these patients 24:13 more comfortable. 24:14 Glory to God. 24:16 All right, so essentially at the... 24:19 or the Taiwan Adventist International School, 24:24 the concept it was developed so that, 24:27 you obviously, if you are reaching out to the affluent, 24:30 you are getting a certain fee that is paid 24:35 by these affluent people 24:36 and that is what is helping to support the college. 24:39 Tell us a little more about the Taiwan Adventist College? 24:43 It's more of a seminary now, tell us about their program? 24:48 Yeah, they used to be more 24:50 based on the Taiwanese population, 24:53 but then in more recent years they've been opened up 24:55 and they are accepting students from China 24:58 from our Seventh-day Adventist churches 25:00 that are speckled throughout that. 25:02 So the work that they are doing is not just working in Taiwan 25:05 but it's also over in East Asian countries 25:09 that where Chinese is the main language. 25:11 Okay, so we are going to... 25:14 We're restricted 25:16 as to how often we can mention that nations names, 25:18 so we will refer to it as unorganized territories, 25:23 and explain that terminology, unorganized territories? 25:28 So back 60 years ago, 25:30 some major political changes took place in China, 25:34 and at that point 25:35 the church can no longer be involved in the work 25:38 that's been done there. 25:40 So there are still churches there 25:43 but they have no organization. 25:45 Okay. 25:46 So we call that then the unorganized territories. 25:48 So these churches are 25:52 essentially teaching the doctrines 25:54 of the Seventh-day Adventist church 25:56 to the best of their abilities. Yes, right. 25:58 But, and we hear that it's really growing, 26:03 I mean they're not under a conference, 26:04 they're not under the umbrella of our church 26:07 because the churches aren't illegal 26:10 but the organization 26:11 of any major denominational church is. 26:15 Yes. 26:16 So we hear that they are growing 26:18 but they have a challenge, don't they, 26:20 because there's no one to train their pastors 26:22 and lay pastors. 26:24 Yeah, they have roughly 5,000 ministers. 26:27 And they have 5,000 volunteers, 26:29 now they're laymen who are working 26:31 for these churches. 26:32 Praise the Lord. 26:33 But 90% of them 26:35 have not received any formal training 26:37 regarding our church beliefs, our fundamentals, 26:40 and so they're just doing their absolutely best 26:43 but they don't have the knowledge or the wisdom 26:45 in which to do that. 26:46 So then the Taiwan Adventist College, 26:51 are you seeing people come in 26:53 from the unorganized territories, 26:55 the pastors and the lay ministers, 26:57 are they coming in to be trained? 26:59 We have now roughly 60% of the population 27:02 of the college... Yes. 27:04 Are not from Taiwan. Okay. 27:07 And so they are coming in 27:08 and they are taking the theological courses 27:10 to be trained 27:11 to only go back to the unorganized territories. 27:13 Wonderful, but these are people who can't afford to pay, 27:16 there it go, this is why you have your school 27:20 to help support this work, is that correct? 27:22 Yeah, I believe the colleges, you know, tuitioning, 27:24 if you think from perspective of the United States 27:27 is quite low. 27:28 But because they don't have the funds, 27:30 they pay maybe roughly 20% of their already low tuition. 27:34 Now it doesn't bode well for finances. 27:37 Yeah. 27:38 So what... 27:40 Just give us a little bit more of, 27:44 there's certainly 27:46 an evangelistic outreach program 27:50 that this college... 27:52 Tell us more about the purpose of the college? 27:56 So in 2017, 27:58 they made some serious decisions 28:01 about what the purpose, 28:03 what they're doing with their students 28:04 at the college. 28:06 What their mission is. Yes. 28:07 And so they decided that they are going to be answering 28:11 to the call of General Conference 28:13 of Seventh-day Adventist church 28:14 of doing total member involvement. 28:16 Wonderful. 28:17 And so they did a program for four months 28:21 where each student was extensively trained 28:24 to be able to preach God's word, 28:26 even students who are not going to be pastors, 28:29 even health students, 28:30 even the team of students who are a faculty member, 28:33 those who have not ever preached before, 28:36 they received training for four months. 28:39 Praise God. 28:40 And so then after the four months was over, 28:42 they went out 28:44 not just in Taiwan 28:46 but in the unorganized territories 28:47 and they put on 28:49 I think roughly 73 different evangelistic series. 28:52 Praise the Lord. 28:53 And they went out in teams and they're preaching, 28:57 health talks, 28:59 skits, all these sorts of things, 29:00 so many. 29:02 Amen, and what kind of results did they have? 29:05 That's the thing that's just really surprised me, 29:08 I've been in Asia for some time. 29:10 The church in unorganized territories 29:13 has kind of slowed down in their growth, 29:16 not as expanse as it used to be 29:21 and they had about 1,500 baptisms 29:25 just from the results of these programs. 29:26 Oh, boy, that will revitalize the church, 29:29 so there are, 29:30 even though it is an unorganized territories 29:33 where it's illegal to have, 29:38 "Established Denominational Ties", 29:43 these people, 29:45 when they came in and were baptized, 29:48 there are churches 29:50 that can disciple them to 29:53 so that is not just an emotional decision 29:56 but that they're really gonna be anchored in their decision. 29:59 Yes, we have several different churches 30:01 that are just kind of scattered throughout different areas 30:04 and some of them can be, 30:05 you know, very large in comparison 30:07 that we might think of the church. 30:09 And so they have the ministers there, 30:12 they have the laymen who are volunteering their time 30:14 to meet these needs of these new baptized members. 30:18 You know, I remember him for, Jeremy, 30:20 seeing a clip of one of the churches 30:24 in the unorganized territory that was growing so rapidly, 30:27 this was a few years back. 30:29 And the interesting thing was 30:31 is that the pastor had everybody coming to the church 30:35 at 5 o'clock in the morning to pray. 30:38 And I mean, people were going in 30:40 and praying for an hour. 30:41 So before they made their commute to work, 30:45 but they were praying 30:48 for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, 30:49 they were praying 30:51 for the leading of the Holy Spirit. 30:53 And all that we would get that vision here 30:57 because that's why they were growing 30:59 in such leaps and bounds. 31:01 But there it seems like everything is, 31:05 how can you say this, 31:07 there's a rhythm to every organization 31:11 and sometimes you go through rapid spurts of growth 31:15 and then you kind of have to manage that growth 31:17 and make sure that people are solid, 31:21 but these students then 31:24 that are graduating from the college. 31:27 I imagine, if there's 5,000 ministers 31:32 and 5,000 laymen, 31:34 they can't all make it to the college. 31:35 So is part of the mission of the students 31:40 who graduate from the college with the theological training 31:44 to go back and train others? 31:46 Yeah, so they go back, 31:49 many of them cannot go back to these our churches 31:52 because they already have pastors 31:53 who are working there. 31:55 And this is the part that really touches my heart. 31:58 They are volunteering their time, 32:01 when they go back to the unorganized territories, 32:03 they are going to be called the dark areas. 32:05 Wow. 32:06 The areas they don't have any sanctioned churches. 32:09 Well. 32:10 And they're gonna be there witnessing to their friends, 32:12 their family doing the little house churches. 32:17 That's going to be what they're going to do. 32:19 Also the college sends their professors 32:24 to the unorganized territories, to the churches 32:27 and they provide theological training 32:30 for the ministers and other individuals there. 32:33 So they actually have 32:35 a percentage of their enrollment 32:37 are actually in the unorganized territories 32:39 even through it's through the Taiwan Adventist College. 32:42 Praise God. 32:44 So how is the... 32:47 In Taiwan it's mandarin, 32:50 what are the languages in China, 32:52 we've got mandarin and... 32:54 And Cantonese and many other variations. 32:56 All right. 32:59 Are they many materials available for public, 33:04 I mean published materials 33:06 to talk about the doctrines of the church or Bible studies, 33:09 do you have plenty of those or what's that like? 33:12 Yes, we have publishing house in Taiwan. 33:15 They're doing great work there. 33:17 We have the Hope Channel in Taiwan, 33:20 they are producing content 33:22 just to be beamed over its unorganized territories. 33:24 Praise the Lord. 33:25 So they see more and more of that taking place. 33:28 Oh, wonderful. 33:29 And is it... 33:32 I'm just gonna ask, 33:33 I know that Taiwan is a very safe place. 33:36 We've had gentleman that used to work here 33:39 in our pastoral department, 33:40 who went over to become a missionary teacher, 33:43 actually worked with you? That's right. Absolutely. 33:46 But I know that's a very safe territory 33:51 but the unorganized territories 33:55 is Eastern Asia, 33:56 is this against the law 33:59 to proselytize or they recognize the churches, 34:03 they don't molest the churches 34:04 so what are kind of the constraints that they have? 34:08 And that's the confusing area, 34:10 it's a very Grey area is how I would describe it. 34:14 Okay. 34:16 There was an event that took place several years ago, 34:18 where a company wanted the property 34:21 of one of our sanctioned churches 34:23 in the unorganized territories. 34:25 They went to the government and said, "We need that." 34:28 So when you say a company, 34:29 you're talking a business operation, okay. 34:30 Yeah, a business company. 34:32 And so the government acted 34:34 and they actually removed the members from the church, 34:39 destroyed the building 34:41 and they were able to then 34:43 build the business there or whatever. 34:44 So the situation... 34:46 So this was an owned property 34:47 by the church. Yes. 34:49 Were they remunerated for this? No. 34:51 No, so it was just basically seized. 34:53 Yes. Okay. 34:54 And so that's the kind of situation 34:56 that they go under. 34:57 We actually had college professors 35:00 at that church, at that time 35:02 and they were seized, and arrested, 35:04 and brought in, 35:05 they realized then they weren't from that nation 35:09 and so they were released and they came back to Taiwan. 35:11 But it can be quite serious there. 35:13 Okay. 35:15 But if you, 35:18 I mean, you're obviously here 35:20 and I think this is so precious, 35:21 you know, we have a number of people 35:23 who come to 3ABN, 35:25 and their main motivation is, 35:28 oh, we're looking for funding 35:30 but when I was speaking with Jeremy earlier, 35:32 he said, "It's not the funding 35:34 that I'm looking for so much as it is 35:37 that we just want missionaries to come over 35:40 to work in this area." 35:42 Because as we read in Matthew 24:14, 35:45 Jesus said that the gospel's gonna be preached 35:47 into all the world 35:49 and then the end will come. 35:51 This is like a final sign 35:54 and so when you are looking at, 36:00 I mean, the appeal 36:01 that you would want to make to people, 36:02 if somebody wants to come over, Taiwan's very safe, 36:06 are you looking for teachers, what are you looking for? 36:09 We have several schools in Taiwan 36:12 that look for what I call foreign teachers, 36:15 not from Taiwan. 36:17 Primarily, we are looking for teachers 36:19 from United States, 36:21 from Canada, places of this nature, 36:24 and every year when I talk to the other administrators 36:27 and saying, "Have you found your teachers for this year?" 36:30 Almost everyone is, "Oh, no. 36:33 We don't have our teachers for this year." 36:35 And that's a concern that we constantly deal with. 36:37 We need teachers who want to come out 36:40 not just to work at a job 36:42 but to work as a missionary 36:44 to teach our students God's love, 36:45 but also have a larger impact not just for our little school 36:50 but also for the support that we've deprived for the college 36:53 and then work that's been done in the unorganized territories. 36:56 Amen. 36:58 Now are you talking about missionaries 37:00 also for the unorganized territories 37:03 or more just for Taiwan? 37:05 Yeah, we're looking just for Taiwan mostly. 37:07 Okay, so I just wanted to clarify that 37:10 because it's not like you're going to be put 37:12 into a dangerous political situation 37:15 because Taiwan is quite safe. 37:17 And it's... 37:20 That's why he married and settled down there. 37:23 I love Taiwan. I know you do. 37:25 All right, so tell us what are some of the... 37:29 We're gonna give our viewers in a moment. 37:31 I just believe with all my heart 37:33 that the reason God sent you in here in the first place 37:36 is 'cause He wants to get the message out. 37:38 There's somebody out here is hearing about this 37:43 and thinking, 37:44 "Lord, is that you talking to my heart?" 37:46 Saying may be that I need to go and be a missionary teacher, 37:50 and it's a great experience 37:52 if you're young and you're single, 37:54 it's a great experience 37:56 or as our friend who was basically retired 38:00 and on social security, he went over. 38:03 That's right. 38:04 And really enjoyed his time there, 38:06 I think he's still there actually. 38:08 But tell us about some of the upcoming projects, 38:12 what do you see happening for the school? 38:15 We have a very large project 38:18 and then we guys, we went to build 38:20 a whole new school facility and dormitories 38:23 for Taiwan Adventist International School. 38:26 We have always limited 38:27 on how many students we can take 38:29 simply because we don't have this dorm housing 38:31 for the students who want to come 38:33 and that's a very large project 38:35 that we're looking for the future. 38:37 We're also looking for small projects 38:39 such as replacing the gym floor 38:40 and all those little things that go on. 38:43 But I know that God will provide 38:44 and I'm not worried about that 38:46 because as long as we're doing what God wants, 38:48 He'll provide for our needs. 38:50 Amen. 38:51 But the idea of expanding 38:54 the Taiwan Adventist International School grades 38:59 7 through 12, 39:02 the idea of expanding that 39:04 is to get in more tuition paying students, 39:10 who can support the missionary work 39:14 of the Taiwan Adventist College. 39:16 Yes, every year the president, 39:18 the vice president will call me and tell us, you know, 39:20 the only reason why we're able to do this work 39:24 is because this group of dedicated teachers 39:28 are working 39:29 and through their work, students come 39:33 and find value and love 39:35 at Taiwan Adventist International School. 39:37 And those funds are then passed on 39:39 and used to help support the college 39:42 and support the work that's been done. 39:44 You know, to me, that's a really exciting thing 39:47 because usually when you think of being a missionary teacher, 39:51 you are excited just to think, 39:54 well, I can impact the students' life, 39:56 I can impact their family's life 39:59 through that student. 40:00 But here, 40:02 if you go and volunteer as a missionary teacher, 40:06 you are not just impacting the organized church, 40:11 but you are impacting the teaching, 40:16 the training for those who are then going out 40:20 into the unorganized territories. 40:23 Praise God. 40:24 And that is... 40:25 You talk about the ripple effect. 40:27 Yeah, that has changed my perspective on things, 40:29 you know. Absolutely. 40:31 And before we always kind of worry about funds 40:33 instead of organization where are the funds going to. 40:36 When you see this kind of work that's been done, 40:39 that thing suddenly becomes so unimportant 40:43 and the thing that it becomes important 40:45 is where God is leading. 40:46 Yeah. 40:47 Now, you are having some legal issues. 40:53 You said that your wife used to work 40:56 for the government. 40:59 Kind of tell us about that? 41:01 So before I met her, you know, I married up, 41:05 she used to work in the press core 41:08 for a previous president in Taiwan. 41:10 And she helped different politicians 41:13 become elected to their campaigns 41:15 and after we were married, 41:18 she started working for our school here. 41:22 Boy, that was a blessing. 41:23 And thing that really changed 41:25 and made a significant impact on our school 41:28 was before this, 41:29 we were not recognized by the government. 41:32 And it was a problem 41:34 and we didn't know how to orient that. 41:38 But then the government opened up a program 41:41 called Non School Type Institutions. 41:45 We applied for that, 41:47 we sat before the board of education 41:50 for Nantou County. 41:52 And they asked me, 41:53 "Why do you want to have this school?" 41:58 And something rang in my brain that said, 42:01 "I need to tell them this." 42:02 And I told them, 42:04 "We're not stealing students from county schools, 42:07 we have many students in Taiwan who want to go abroad 42:11 for even their high school 42:13 not to mention their university 42:15 but they're going to the States, 42:18 they're going to other places 42:19 and they are not been prepared 42:20 for what they're going to experience there 42:22 and some of them have got involved in drugs and worse. 42:27 And we want to provide a place for them 42:29 to mature and to grow 42:32 so that when they go and experience those places, 42:35 they're ready and prepared." 42:37 And there were some members in that board 42:40 whose own children had gone to the States for college, 42:45 and they said this is what we want. 42:48 And do you need a campus, 42:50 we could even maybe find a campus for you. 42:52 Glory to God. 42:53 We had one and they accepted us, 42:56 and we are actually the only school in Taiwan 42:59 to have the status 43:00 of offering the international high school diploma 43:02 to Taiwanese students 43:04 in this Non School Type Organization. 43:07 And my wife is the main person 43:09 who works the governmental lease 43:10 on with them. 43:12 What a miracle. It's just... isn't it exciting... 43:14 It's amazing. 43:16 You see, you know, a lot of times 43:18 we don't see God orchestrating everything 43:23 until it's done. 43:24 And then you see how He's like this master chess player, 43:27 He's put this piece here and this piece here 43:29 and all of a sudden He's made all these different moves 43:33 and as it comes together, 43:35 it's just a miracle how He's work this out. 43:39 Well, this is all too exciting 43:42 and we're going to come back in just a moment. 43:45 We'll give you the opportunity to see their address 43:49 but first we've got another song 43:51 from our dear sister Yvonne Lewis Shelton, 43:56 and she is going to be singing for us 43:59 "Wonders never cease". 44:22 I heard He walked on water 44:27 And opened blinded eyes 44:31 The deaf were made to hear again 44:37 And the dead were called to rise 44:40 But when I gave Him all my heart 44:45 A greater thing took place 44:49 The Lord of every miracle 44:54 Redeemed me by His grace 45:00 And wonders never cease 45:05 As long as I believe 45:09 And place my life 45:11 Within the nail scarred hands 45:15 That bled for me 45:18 And when I think I've seen His best 45:23 I stand amazed to see 45:29 His glory never ends 45:36 And wonders never cease 45:56 He still walks on water 46:01 To calm my trouble seas 46:03 And in the midst of thunder 46:09 I can hear Him speaking peace 46:12 And though some believe His miracles 46:18 Are just part of yesterday 46:22 I'm living proof 46:24 His changing power will never pass away 46:34 And wonders never cease 46:38 As long as I believe 46:42 And I place my life 46:45 Within the nail scarred hands that bled for me 46:52 And when I think I've seen His best 46:57 I stand amazed to see 47:03 His glory never ends 47:12 Wonders never cease 47:17 As long as I believe 47:21 And I place my life 47:24 Within the nail scarred hands that bled for me 47:30 And when I think I've seen His best 47:35 I stand amazed to see 47:41 His glory never end 47:48 And wonders never cease 47:54 His glory never end 47:59 Oh, no 48:01 And wonders never cease. 48:35 Wonders never cease, 48:36 and you know Jeremy has so many stories about students 48:40 whose lives have been impacted, 48:41 who've turned their lives over to Christ, 48:43 but we don't have time for them all, 48:44 but please share the story of Rocky? 48:47 So Rocky Wang, he actually began our school 48:51 as a third grader 48:52 when we used to have a elementary program there 48:54 and then later on he came back to our high school. 48:58 In grade 11, he wanted to get baptized 49:02 but his family was not interested, 49:04 but he was determined and he argued with his family 49:07 and he convinced them to allow him to be baptized. 49:10 Praise God. 49:11 And I remember very clearly, 49:14 it was our spring break mission trip, 49:17 we went out to the mountains of the aboriginal villages 49:20 and we were not just cleaning up the village, 49:23 we're doing 49:24 the vacation Bible school for the kids 49:26 but we also had a responsibility 49:28 of putting on the church programs 49:31 on either side of the trip, 49:32 so we had two church programs 49:35 and he volunteered, he wanted to preach. 49:38 Glory to God. 49:39 And I'm sitting there in this church program, 49:43 I remember when he was a very little boy 49:46 and now he's upfront, 49:48 and he's preaching God's word 49:50 to our own Seventh-day Adventist members 49:53 in the church. 49:55 You know, it was such a real moment to see, 49:56 "Wow! God, this is You." 49:59 Amen. This is Your love. 50:01 Amen, it must... 50:03 How has it impacted to you? 50:05 How has it changed you personally 50:07 since you've been there? 50:09 I went from thinking 50:11 that I'm coming here as a missionary to help God. 50:18 I went from that to realizing I'm a missionary in Taiwan 50:23 and God's gonna use that to change my life. 50:26 Amen. 50:27 And what He's doing for me cannot be accounted for. 50:30 It may not be a material wealth 50:32 but the blessings that I've received, 50:35 I could never have imagined. 50:38 And I think any missionary, 50:40 maybe they have a similar experience 50:42 that I went through 50:43 or I'm doing something for God 50:45 but actually it's all for me 50:48 and through that His work can be impacted 50:51 on those around us. 50:52 Absolutely, 50:54 I don't know if you know Sergio Bellino, 50:56 but I was interviewing him not too long back 51:01 and he made the most interesting comment 51:03 'cause he is missionary in Africa at a school 51:07 and he said, "You know, it is when we are in service, 51:14 it's easier for God to save us." 51:16 He said, all of us feel like we're going into service 51:19 to be of assistance to the Lord working in His harvest field, 51:23 but he said he realized that 51:25 it was as he went into the mission field 51:27 that God was really doing the salvation work on him. 51:32 I just believe with all my heart 51:33 somebody that's listening is saying, 51:36 you know, "I'd like to be a missionary teacher, 51:39 I would like to go 51:42 and not only impact the students of the community 51:46 but to know that 51:47 even though I'm in the safe area of Taiwan 51:50 that my efforts are funding the teaching, 51:54 the training, seminary training 51:57 for those who are working in the unorganized territories. 52:01 So if you would like to get in touch with Jeremy, 52:05 and or perhaps, 52:06 maybe the Holy Spirit is encouraging you 52:09 to support their expansion program 52:12 for their school, 52:14 here's how you can get in touch with him. 52:18 Are you a certified Adventist teacher 52:20 who longs to do mission work? 52:22 Then please consider 52:23 the Taiwan Adventist International School. 52:26 They also need our support to build new dormitories. 52:29 This important school supports the training 52:31 of East Asian Pastors and ministers 52:34 in the unorganized territory, 52:36 so please visit their website, www.TAIS.tw. 52:42 There you'll find photos of campus life, 52:44 academics and much more. 52:46 Their website again is www.TAIS.tw. 52:51 And it is important to use the www prefix. 52:55 Visit them today. |
Revised 2018-02-14