I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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I want to spend my life
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Removing pain
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Lord, let my words
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Heal a heart that hurts
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I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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Hello! I'm Shelley
Quinn, and we welcome
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you once again to
3ABN Today! We're so glad
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that you've tuned in.
I just want to take this
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opportunity on
behalf of all of us here to
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thank you for your
prayers, your love, and
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your financial
support of God's Mending
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Broken People Network.
Boy, am I excited today,
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because we have three
people on the set with
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us who have all been
broken people who God
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has mended, and He is
using them in exciting
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ways! So, we're
going to first consider a
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scripture- and I
know I use this a lot,
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but... Daniel always
says that the gospel is
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about coming to the
foot of the cross, accepting
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Christ, and in
going, and the blessing is
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on the go. Matthew 20:19
says this; this is Jesus'
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own words: "Go." In
other words, "This is a
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ministry of presence-
a ministry of compassion.
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Go and make disciples
of all of the nations,
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baptizing them in the
name of the Father, the
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Son, and the Holy
Spirit," then, of course, He
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says, "teaching them
to be obey all things I
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have commanded." But
He's saying, "Don't just make
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converts; make people
who understand that there
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is a path of life and
a path of the righteous!
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You're going to be in
the presence of the Lord
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forevermore." So, it's
exciting; it's a wonderful
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scripture. Our
three guests today totally
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understand that, so
allow me, without further ado,
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to introduce our
special guests. First, we have
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Cal Thrash. Cal, thank
you for being here today.
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I am tempted to introduce
you as the president of Uchee
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Pines Institute; but tell us
about your new position. - Okay.
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Well, I am the
development director at Uchee
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Pines. I was the
president for 16 terms-16 years-
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and retired from that
position in 2015. Actually,
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much of what I'm
doing is somewhat similar,
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because I'm still teaching
and I still do some of the
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behind-the-scenes
work that needs to be done,
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and things like visas
and that kind of thing
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for people who are
oversees need to come
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to our student programs,
to our worker programs,
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and that kind of
thing. So, still doing those
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kinds of things,
too, but of course, the
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title "development"
would kind of imply that you're
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developing
something, so we're hoping to
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expand our ministry
as we go along at Uchee
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Pines, and also in
our local area. - Praise
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the Lord. And
speaking of what's going on in
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the local area, we
also have Amy Pershin
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with us. Amy, you are
the personal ministries
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director at Uchee
Pines; is that correct?
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- Not the director,
but I'm a part of the team.
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- Okay. Well,
we're glad to have you
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here. Last, but
certainly not least,
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is Pastor
Christopher Atkinson. Pastor,
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what do you do? What
is your title? Are you
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the pastor at Uchee
Pines Institute? - I am
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blessed to be the
pastor of the Uchee Pines
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Seventh-Day Adventist
Church. I'm also pastor
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of two other
churches in this 3-church
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district which
consists of the Phenix City
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Seventh-Day Adventist
Church and the Eufaula
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Seventh-Day Adventist
Church. God has richly
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blessed me to be
pastoring at Uchee Pines for the
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last 4-and-a-half
years. - Amen. I tell
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you what-in just a
moment, we're going to
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come back and get
your personal story. You'll
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understand just
how much God has richly
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blessed him. But
before we do that, we know
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you love music-and
we all love music here,
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as well-so we have
a very special song by
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Scott Michael
Bennett. He is such a precious
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person, and very
talented on the piano
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and as a singer. He
has a beautiful voice. He's
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going to be singing
"How Deep the Father's
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Love."
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How deep the
Father's love for us
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How vast beyond all measure
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That He should give His only Son
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To make a wretch His treasure
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How great the
pain of searing loss
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The Father turns His face away
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As wounds which
mar the Chosen One
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Bring many sons to glory
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Behold, the Lamb upon that Cross
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My sin upon His shoulders
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Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
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Call out among the scoffers
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It was my sin
that held Him there
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Until it was accomplished
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His dying breath
has brought me life
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I know that it is finished
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I will not boast in anything
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No gifts, no power, nor wisdom
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But I will boast in Jesus Christ
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His death and resurrection
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Why should I
gain from His reward
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I cannot give an answer
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But this, I know
with all my heart
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His wounds have paid my ransom
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Why should I
gain from His reward
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I cannot give an answer
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But this, I know
with all my heart
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His wounds have paid my ransom
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But this, I know
with all my heart
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His wounds have paid my ransom
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Scott Michael
Bennett, thank you for blessing
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our hearts. I know
you were blessed at home,
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as well. Well,
before we get into what's
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going on at Uchee
Pines Institute, that
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song, "How Deep the
Father's Love," has touched
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each one of us
sitting here on set, because
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none of us have lived
that pristine, perfect
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Christian walk. Just
take a few minutes, Cal,
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and tell us about
your personal experience
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with the Lord. -
Well, it's been a growth
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experience, of
course, all along. My parents
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became Adventists when
I was about 5, so I grew
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up in the church.
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Unfortunately, when I
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got to my late
teens, I began to kind of
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think elsewhere, and
I left the church in my
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early twenties. I
was out of the church; I
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ran a business and did
some things during that
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time. Sowed a lot of
wild oats. If anything
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about wild oats,
they tend to grow. I don't
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know if you noticed
that. - Oh, yeah. - When
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some of that came to
fruition in 1992, I was
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rebaptized. - So how long
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were you out of the
church? - It was almost
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15 years. - Almost 15
years. - If you count the
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time that I was
still going to church but
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kind of like,
already gone, yeah; it's
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definitely that
long. Interestingly enough,
00:10:18.15\00:10:21.08
in coming back,
even though I was raised
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in the church, it's
almost like a reboot-
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and you know what I'm
talking about, because
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you forget so
much when you're out of
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the church! Waste
so much time, and it's
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just a cause of
sorrow, all those years that I
00:10:35.46\00:10:39.80
lost. But then it's
a brand-new experience
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beginning again! So,
that's been the experience
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that I've had, that
the Lord wakes me up every
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morning with a
brand-new experience, and that's
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what I'm thankful
for. - Amen and amen. And
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we're so thankful
that He did... Sometimes,
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I'll talk to someone
and they'll say, "Well,
00:11:00.26\00:11:02.26
I'm a third-generation
Adventist." That
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doesn't make you a
Christian. God has no
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grandchildren. He
has children, so because
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your parents were
Christian doesn't mean
00:11:14.00\00:11:15.34
you're necessarily
Christian, even if you
00:11:15.37\00:11:17.51
grow up in the
church, right? We're so glad
00:11:17.57\00:11:20.28
that... One thing I
do believe is, train
00:11:20.34\00:11:23.48
up a child in the
way you should go, and
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when he's older,
he'll not depart from it,
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so seeds were planted.
- Definitely, for those
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parents who have
children that, maybe, have
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left the faith and are
wandering in the world,
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don't give up,
because whatever you put in
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there, it's still in
there! - Amen. - That's
00:11:39.56\00:11:41.96
true for me. I've
always thought that those
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youth that were raised
as Christians- they don't
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ever make really good
worldlings, 'cause they
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know too much!
[laughter] - They try sometimes.
00:11:48.24\00:11:51.17
- That's true. -
Now, we have Amy Pershin.
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Amy, you didn't
grow up with any kind of
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religious...or exposure
to the Bible or Christianity,
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did you? - No. - Tell
us your story. - Well,
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I was born and raised
in Orlando, Florida. My
00:12:05.99\00:12:11.76
parents are
precious people, so they did
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their best to
instill good values in us,
00:12:15.93\00:12:19.07
but I was also
exposed to a very worldly
00:12:19.13\00:12:23.81
lifestyle that involved
a lot of drugs and alcohol,
00:12:23.91\00:12:28.04
so I began these
two things from a very
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early age and developed
an addiction. It really
00:12:33.98\00:12:38.92
caused my life-
especially once I entered
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college-to spiral
out of control; but this
00:12:42.12\00:12:46.19
is what made me cry
out to God one night,
00:12:46.26\00:12:50.33
crying myself to
sleep. - So, you believed
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there was a God, or
were you just searching?
00:12:53.77\00:12:55.94
- I didn't know,
and I wondered if He
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existed. Because I
had hit rock bottom,
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so to say, I lost
pretty much everything.
00:13:02.24\00:13:04.55
I mean, I flunked out
of college, a suspended
00:13:04.65\00:13:06.78
driver's license,
I lost my car, I was
00:13:06.88\00:13:09.62
living with
whoever would take me in. I
00:13:09.68\00:13:13.05
said, "God, if you
exist, why is there
00:13:13.15\00:13:16.12
so much pain in
this world?" and, "I just
00:13:16.22\00:13:17.76
want to be friends
with my mom again," because
00:13:17.83\00:13:20.20
they didn't know what
to do with me anymore.
00:13:20.30\00:13:22.40
- Yeah. I know it's
painful to even think
00:13:22.46\00:13:27.54
back sometimes, isn't
it? But, when you lost
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your car, you had to
start riding a bicycle.
00:13:30.34\00:13:33.24
What happened? - That
was the turning point.
00:13:33.31\00:13:36.64
It really changed
everything. I can see
00:13:37.85\00:13:40.95
why the Lord gave us
the laws of health, one
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of them being
exercise. They are each equally
00:13:44.82\00:13:47.46
important. All of
that exercise over 6
00:13:47.52\00:13:53.03
months- I was in the
best shape I had ever
00:13:53.09\00:13:55.53
been, and it really
cleared my mind that
00:13:55.60\00:13:59.47
I went from not
caring about my health
00:13:59.57\00:14:01.84
or what I ate to
making the decision to become
00:14:01.90\00:14:06.17
a vegetarian
because I felt sorry for the
00:14:06.27\00:14:08.58
animals. It also
made me, begin, searching
00:14:08.68\00:14:13.88
religions. I was
questioning my friends
00:14:15.02\00:14:17.75
who were going to
churches about what they
00:14:17.85\00:14:20.26
believed and I
wanted to go to church with
00:14:20.39\00:14:21.96
them; but my search,
of course... The enemy
00:14:22.02\00:14:25.96
knows how to come in
and try to direct that
00:14:26.06\00:14:28.40
search, so I
bought a book on Buddhism.
00:14:28.46\00:14:30.47
I was very much
going- I believe I went to
00:14:30.53\00:14:33.50
the New Age
direction because of the way
00:14:33.54\00:14:35.47
I changed my appearance.
I was a very much New
00:14:35.54\00:14:38.44
Age look. But the
Lord, He came in at just
00:14:38.47\00:14:41.71
the right time. I
was just window shopping
00:14:41.78\00:14:46.08
one day, and I
came across an office
00:14:46.15\00:14:50.19
that was for
natural remedies, because I
00:14:50.29\00:14:52.29
also started
becoming interested in that
00:14:52.35\00:14:54.32
because my mom had
some experience with it.
00:14:54.36\00:14:57.43
It was really the Holy
Spirit to just put those
00:14:57.46\00:15:00.33
interests in my
heart. I was just so open
00:15:00.40\00:15:04.43
at that time. Praise
God He was able to get
00:15:04.53\00:15:07.04
me. I walked in
and there was a flyer
00:15:07.14\00:15:10.37
on the desk. No one
was there. The flyer
00:15:10.47\00:15:13.34
talked about
natural remedies AND God. I
00:15:13.41\00:15:15.78
remember
thinking, "Wow!" because I
00:15:15.84\00:15:17.18
wanted to learn
about both. - Amen. - The
00:15:17.21\00:15:19.85
man came out, he took
me back to his office,
00:15:19.91\00:15:22.55
and we talked for
a long time. I asked
00:15:22.68\00:15:24.55
him, "Can I volunteer
here before my regular
00:15:24.62\00:15:28.29
job? Because I
really want to learn more."
00:15:28.36\00:15:30.36
He turned out to be a
Seventh-Day Adventist,
00:15:30.43\00:15:32.46
so he knew what
he was doing, and the
00:15:32.49\00:15:34.36
rest is history. -
God was directing. You
00:15:34.40\00:15:36.50
remind me so much of a
precious friend of mine.
00:15:36.53\00:15:38.43
You have such a
sweet and caring and loving
00:15:38.47\00:15:41.10
spirit. She just is
the picture of purity.
00:15:41.20\00:15:47.04
My friend,
likewise, came out of drugs
00:15:47.14\00:15:50.31
and alcohol. It's so
astonishing to me how
00:15:50.38\00:15:55.02
God can totally
change us. 2 Corinthians 5:17
00:15:55.08\00:16:00.49
says, "We are new
creatures in Christ
00:16:00.59\00:16:04.09
Jesus." I know you
made a statement when
00:16:04.16\00:16:08.36
we were in the green
room. What did you say?
00:16:08.46\00:16:10.77
- I often think about
where I have come from
00:16:10.83\00:16:16.37
and how many times
the Lord has saved my life
00:16:16.44\00:16:20.18
because I put
myself in so many dangerous
00:16:20.28\00:16:23.85
positions because
of the drug and alcohol
00:16:23.91\00:16:26.41
life. I'm just
grateful that He saved me from
00:16:26.51\00:16:34.52
the enemy to destroy
me. - I think what you
00:16:34.59\00:16:37.86
said in the green
room was, "I'm so grateful
00:16:37.93\00:16:39.79
to be alive." If
YOU are going through
00:16:39.89\00:16:42.96
something right
now where you look and
00:16:43.06\00:16:45.37
you think, "Man, I
ought to be dead. With
00:16:45.43\00:16:49.94
what I've done, it's
amazing..." but you're
00:16:50.01\00:16:52.91
not sure God's in
your life, let me tell
00:16:53.01\00:16:54.81
you something: He
has been protecting you.
00:16:54.88\00:16:57.55
He's trying to lead
you; and just like Amy, He
00:16:57.61\00:17:00.68
can give you a new
life. That's the beautiful
00:17:00.75\00:17:04.12
thing about God.
All right, Christopher.
00:17:04.22\00:17:07.96
Now, you're a
pastor. Surely, you grew up
00:17:08.02\00:17:11.36
on the straight and
narrow. - I only wish.
00:17:11.43\00:17:15.96
I give God thanks and
praise for His goodness
00:17:16.06\00:17:19.67
and His mercies as
my salvation is only
00:17:19.73\00:17:22.00
through Him and
because of Him. I grew up in
00:17:22.10\00:17:24.91
Kingston,
Jamaica, Aldistom to be
00:17:24.97\00:17:27.51
exact, and I grew up
amidst gang violence.
00:17:27.58\00:17:32.45
I like to say I
came from the gang to the
00:17:32.51\00:17:36.22
ministry. What
happened was that at the age
00:17:36.28\00:17:40.69
of 17 years old, I
was on the verge of just
00:17:40.76\00:17:44.59
wasting away my
life. I either took prison
00:17:44.69\00:17:46.90
or to death, to
the grave, like many of
00:17:47.00\00:17:51.73
my friends. I remember
sitting in the front of
00:17:51.80\00:17:54.67
my mom's front
yard one summer after a
00:17:54.77\00:17:59.04
horrible high
school experience. I was
00:17:59.11\00:18:02.78
there, wondering what
else is going to happen
00:18:02.84\00:18:04.71
with my life. I
heard... This is Jamaica now,
00:18:04.78\00:18:09.28
so the preachers
can preach outside. They
00:18:09.32\00:18:11.69
put up loud speakers.
It's kind of just going
00:18:11.75\00:18:14.49
everywhere in the
community; praise God
00:18:14.52\00:18:16.32
for that! So,
that hit me and my mom,
00:18:16.39\00:18:19.66
sitting there at my
mom's. For two weeks,
00:18:19.69\00:18:23.40
I sat there,
listening to the gospel. - Over
00:18:23.50\00:18:26.53
a loudspeaker. - Just
me and God. Two weeks-
00:18:26.63\00:18:30.71
and Pastor Steele
was the preacher's name;
00:18:30.77\00:18:34.01
East Jamaica conference-
and he was speaking on,
00:18:34.08\00:18:37.98
I remember the
topic that gripped me was,
00:18:38.11\00:18:40.98
the mark of the
beast and the Sabbath. I
00:18:41.05\00:18:43.52
said, "I've never
heard this truth before."
00:18:43.62\00:18:45.79
So, I took my little
blue Bible from my mom's
00:18:45.89\00:18:48.82
bedside table and I
started thumbing through
00:18:48.89\00:18:52.09
it for two weeks
with this preacher from
00:18:52.16\00:18:54.13
wherever in the
community. God gripped my heart;
00:18:54.20\00:18:57.97
but sometimes, you
need a little push, a little
00:18:58.03\00:19:01.10
help, to get
from where you are to
00:19:01.20\00:19:03.10
where you need to be.
So, a friend came to me
00:19:03.17\00:19:05.84
with the best of
intentions and he
00:19:05.94\00:19:09.04
said, "Hey, Chris.
I've heard there are some
00:19:09.14\00:19:11.45
good-looking Adventist
girls over there!" What
00:19:11.48\00:19:15.42
did I do? I said,
"Oh, yeah! I'm going to go
00:19:15.48\00:19:17.05
do that." Anyway,
after kind of- they
00:19:17.09\00:19:21.92
were struggling
with God through the
00:19:21.99\00:19:23.32
scriptures, we
went down there. I had a
00:19:23.36\00:19:26.63
conviction in my
heart, but the wrong impulses,
00:19:26.70\00:19:29.73
still. God still
used that. I got there
00:19:29.80\00:19:34.07
and I sat for
another week, wrestling with
00:19:34.14\00:19:37.07
this preacher's
voice in my ears and the
00:19:37.14\00:19:41.34
Holy Spirit in my
heart. I spent two
00:19:41.41\00:19:43.71
sleepless nights going
through my life and the
00:19:43.78\00:19:47.08
different mistakes and
sins that I'd committed,
00:19:47.15\00:19:49.52
just repenting to the
Lord and saying, "God,
00:19:49.58\00:19:51.72
I'm sorry." The Holy
Spirit kept on saying to
00:19:51.79\00:19:54.39
me, "That's not
enough. That's not enough.
00:19:54.46\00:19:56.59
That's not enough."
I was wondering, "What
00:19:56.69\00:19:59.19
else can I do,
Lord?!" He said, "Baptize. You
00:19:59.26\00:20:04.43
need to be rebaptized."
So, I walked in amidst
00:20:04.50\00:20:07.67
lots of friends,
lot of folks who were
00:20:07.77\00:20:11.64
part of gangs and
different criminal
00:20:11.71\00:20:13.54
activities. They were
at this canvas cathedral
00:20:13.61\00:20:17.78
meeting for their
own purposes and reasons,
00:20:17.85\00:20:19.91
but I walked through
and the devil wouldn't
00:20:20.02\00:20:22.38
let me go. I gave
myself to the Lord and
00:20:22.45\00:20:26.79
I went into that
little change room that night
00:20:26.86\00:20:29.36
to change into that
baptismal robe to be
00:20:29.42\00:20:32.13
baptized. As I sat
there with all intention
00:20:32.19\00:20:36.53
and purposes to go and
do this, I sat, changed,
00:20:36.60\00:20:39.53
sat there, and all
of a sudden, my body
00:20:39.63\00:20:42.04
couldn't move. My
mind was still working;
00:20:42.10\00:20:46.11
I wanted to get
up. They were knocking
00:20:46.17\00:20:48.21
on the door.
"We're ready for you." I
00:20:48.24\00:20:49.58
couldn't get up.
Pastor Steele was in the
00:20:49.68\00:20:51.88
baptismal pool.
Couldn't get up. I prayed in my
00:20:51.95\00:20:55.35
mind. I said,
"Lord, if you will give me
00:20:55.42\00:20:58.02
the power to move
from here to there, I'll
00:20:58.09\00:21:01.09
never leave you
again." I felt when my body
00:21:01.19\00:21:03.66
just freed up, and I
started making little
00:21:03.73\00:21:06.93
moves towards the
pool. It has been the best
00:21:07.00\00:21:10.97
experience I ever
had, and God has been
00:21:11.03\00:21:13.17
leading me ever since.
After that, my ministry
00:21:13.23\00:21:17.61
became a very public
ministry. Matthew 28:19...
00:21:17.64\00:21:24.31
I turned back to
the gangs and I became a
00:21:24.38\00:21:28.28
street preacher, so
I preached everywhere-
00:21:28.38\00:21:30.39
on every corner-
wherever. - With a
00:21:30.45\00:21:32.79
loud speaker? - With a
loud speaker and without.
00:21:32.85\00:21:34.99
- I love it. - So, it
was like John the Baptist
00:21:35.06\00:21:38.86
saying, "Repent." I
did that and I preached
00:21:38.96\00:21:42.90
to the same folks that
I was with. Sad to say,
00:21:42.93\00:21:47.00
I buried many, many
of them. Today, I only
00:21:47.07\00:21:50.41
have two childhood
friends who are still
00:21:50.51\00:21:53.64
alive. - Well, I'm
just saying... Praise
00:21:53.71\00:21:56.38
God. He got a hold of
you. - God be praised.
00:21:56.44\00:21:59.88
- God has brought you
together at Uchee Pines
00:21:59.95\00:22:03.89
Institute. Give us just
a brief history of Uchee
00:22:03.95\00:22:06.72
Pines, 'cause many of
you, if you've been 3ABN
00:22:06.79\00:22:11.13
viewers for a long
time, will remember
00:22:11.19\00:22:13.90
Dr. Agatha Thrash
from Uchee Pines Institute.
00:22:13.96\00:22:17.93
She had a program called,
"Help Yourself to Health."
00:22:18.00\00:22:20.34
She was on for many,
many years. I know when
00:22:20.44\00:22:23.71
I first started
watching 3ABN, she was on. Tell
00:22:23.77\00:22:27.28
us a little about
Uchee Pines. - Well, most
00:22:27.34\00:22:30.25
people know somewhat
now of our international
00:22:30.35\00:22:32.51
kind of influence,
but you know we didn't
00:22:32.58\00:22:34.48
start off that way.
We started, basically,
00:22:34.55\00:22:38.92
just looking for a
piece of property out
00:22:39.02\00:22:40.69
on the country so we
could move out of the
00:22:40.76\00:22:42.09
city and have a
place to grow some food and
00:22:42.12\00:22:43.96
that kind of
thing. It has become Uchee
00:22:43.99\00:22:46.66
Pines. The ministry
began in 1970; started
00:22:46.73\00:22:54.44
with just our
family. So for a while there,
00:22:54.50\00:22:57.61
everything that
happened was in our home. We
00:22:57.67\00:23:01.64
had- from the
start, Mom and Dad had
00:23:01.71\00:23:04.81
patients that they
were helping that just lived
00:23:04.91\00:23:07.88
with us in our
home. And of course, that
00:23:07.95\00:23:09.72
grew into: we needed
a lifestyle center and
00:23:09.78\00:23:12.15
so forth, but the
first building that we had on
00:23:12.19\00:23:14.42
campus-and I have
a slide of that, too-
00:23:14.49\00:23:16.79
that building was,
what we call now, the
00:23:16.86\00:23:20.00
chapel. You see Mom
there talking to one of
00:23:20.06\00:23:23.20
the builders.
They were building that
00:23:23.26\00:23:25.10
building and it was
the first building. Well,
00:23:25.17\00:23:26.77
we didn't call it the
chapel then; we called
00:23:26.87\00:23:28.47
it the 'cafetorium,'
and the reason we called
00:23:28.54\00:23:30.27
it that was because
we ate there and we had
00:23:30.34\00:23:32.14
educational functions
there. The first thing
00:23:32.21\00:23:36.44
was a day camp for
overweight girls, so
00:23:36.51\00:23:39.11
we trucked them out
there and they'd eat
00:23:39.21\00:23:43.59
with us and pray with
us and sing with us and
00:23:43.69\00:23:46.45
go out and
exercise with us, and they
00:23:46.52\00:23:48.22
lost weight! It was
an amazing thing that
00:23:48.29\00:23:50.56
happened there. That
building has been kind
00:23:50.63\00:23:53.03
of our all-purpose
building now for all
00:23:53.09\00:23:54.80
these years. The
lifestyle center is the...
00:23:54.86\00:23:59.50
- Now, explain
that, because we have some
00:23:59.60\00:24:01.30
people that are
watching or listening on the
00:24:01.37\00:24:03.94
radio that may
not understand what a
00:24:04.01\00:24:06.47
lifestyle center is.
- Okay. It's a little
00:24:06.54\00:24:10.55
bit difficult, in a
way, to describe, because
00:24:10.65\00:24:13.18
it's not one thing.
I used to tell people
00:24:13.28\00:24:16.35
it's like a
glorified wellness center, but
00:24:16.45\00:24:18.59
some people say,
"Well, it's more like a med
00:24:18.65\00:24:20.49
spa." Not really.
We practice natural
00:24:20.56\00:24:24.53
remedies at our
lifestyle center where people
00:24:24.59\00:24:26.76
can come and stay
with us for the 17-day
00:24:26.80\00:24:28.40
program, but the
unique part of it is
00:24:28.46\00:24:32.73
that we bring the
spiritual element into
00:24:32.80\00:24:34.94
it. We really believe
in the prayer of faith.
00:24:35.00\00:24:36.84
Without prayer,
there is no real healing.
00:24:36.91\00:24:39.84
So, even if a
person is physically healed
00:24:39.94\00:24:42.84
by, oh,
exercising, and maybe changing
00:24:42.91\00:24:45.51
their diet and some of
those things... There's
00:24:45.61\00:24:47.62
still the emotional
and the spiritual side
00:24:47.65\00:24:50.65
that has not been
really addressed. So, that's
00:24:50.69\00:24:53.56
the part that we
are hoping people will
00:24:53.62\00:24:56.52
experience. Many
people who have come from
00:24:56.62\00:24:59.73
all over the world
said, "Yes; I am closer
00:24:59.79\00:25:02.56
to God. Even if I
don't experience the level
00:25:02.63\00:25:06.53
of healing that I was
hoping for, still, I'm
00:25:06.63\00:25:08.87
closer to the Lord."
Really, it's up to God
00:25:08.94\00:25:10.97
as to when He wants
to heal us. He always
00:25:11.04\00:25:12.94
wants to heal us.
The question is, is it
00:25:12.97\00:25:15.08
right now or is it
a little bit later?
00:25:15.11\00:25:16.71
That's what we have
to find out. - I do know
00:25:16.75\00:25:19.98
that there's been
many people who've gone to
00:25:20.05\00:25:22.58
the Uchee Pines
Lifestyle Program, and perhaps,
00:25:22.68\00:25:26.15
they were diabetic
or they suffered high
00:25:26.22\00:25:29.46
blood pressure...some,
even, cancer patients
00:25:29.52\00:25:31.99
that I've met
who've seen dramatic
00:25:32.06\00:25:36.00
improvement. So,
it's a wonderful program;
00:25:36.06\00:25:39.47
but you also train
people there, don't
00:25:39.53\00:25:42.77
you? Tell us about
that. - The training
00:25:42.80\00:25:44.67
programs, of course,
are both in the lifestyle
00:25:44.77\00:25:47.24
center, then we also
have training programs
00:25:47.31\00:25:49.51
for younger individuals,
or those of all ages,
00:25:49.61\00:25:52.61
really, who would
like to learn how to do
00:25:52.68\00:25:55.02
this, so you can
duplicate the program.
00:25:55.08\00:25:57.72
- So, massage
therapy, hydrotherapy...
00:25:57.79\00:25:59.95
- Yes. Right. The
types of therapies
00:25:59.99\00:26:01.89
that we use, that
of course, the unique
00:26:01.96\00:26:03.49
combination is with
the prayer faith and
00:26:03.53\00:26:06.53
with the Bible
work... So, it's, in a way,
00:26:06.59\00:26:09.16
kind of like a
Bible worker and a massage
00:26:09.23\00:26:12.00
therapist with a
little bit of shoe leather
00:26:12.07\00:26:16.47
mixed in there, so
all of that together is
00:26:16.54\00:26:20.11
the type of
training that we're looking
00:26:20.21\00:26:22.24
for people to- and of
course, the idea is not
00:26:22.28\00:26:26.31
just overseas
(although there's a lot of call
00:26:26.38\00:26:29.42
for missions
overseas that need people who
00:26:29.48\00:26:32.42
can look around and
use whatever remedies
00:26:32.49\00:26:34.86
are available to them
locally), but also here
00:26:34.92\00:26:37.86
in the United
States- it's amazing how many
00:26:37.89\00:26:39.56
people are just
so... There's so much need!
00:26:39.59\00:26:42.00
There's never a lack
of need. So, if a person
00:26:42.06\00:26:44.83
knows just simple
little things that they
00:26:44.87\00:26:46.74
can do there in
their home, nothing
00:26:46.80\00:26:48.60
expensive,
nothing that takes a lot
00:26:48.67\00:26:51.27
of training to do,
but just something that a
00:26:51.37\00:26:53.38
person can do
that's a simple and natural
00:26:53.44\00:26:55.38
thing, what we
call lifestyle medicine,
00:26:55.44\00:26:57.55
right there in
their home, that can make
00:26:57.61\00:26:59.35
all the difference
in the world! - Amen
00:26:59.38\00:27:01.15
and amen. Well,
it's a wonderful program.
00:27:01.22\00:27:03.52
We're excited
that you're here today.
00:27:03.59\00:27:06.76
You're really doing
some community outreach.
00:27:06.82\00:27:11.13
I think, Amy, this is
where you are primarily
00:27:11.19\00:27:14.33
involved is in this
personal ministries.
00:27:14.40\00:27:17.37
Tell us about what
you're doing in the
00:27:17.43\00:27:20.47
community, because you
can have an international
00:27:20.57\00:27:24.27
ministry where
people are coming from all
00:27:24.31\00:27:26.37
around the world,
and the people just right
00:27:26.47\00:27:30.25
across the field
from you may not know
00:27:30.35\00:27:32.71
who you are and
what you do. So, tell us
00:27:32.78\00:27:35.65
what the personal
ministries is all about.
00:27:35.72\00:27:37.92
- It was about 2015
that I felt impressed
00:27:39.22\00:27:44.43
to do some
outreach on Thanksgiving.
00:27:44.49\00:27:46.80
We stumbled across
this ministry in the
00:27:46.90\00:27:51.43
local city of
Columbus, Georgia. It turned
00:27:51.50\00:27:58.67
out to be a women
and children's shelter
00:27:58.74\00:28:02.41
and a drug recovery
center for women. So,
00:28:02.48\00:28:06.25
I spoke to the
programs coordinator. I said,
00:28:06.31\00:28:10.75
"We could teach
classes here!" I sent her a
00:28:10.82\00:28:14.22
list of classes we can
teach, and the director
00:28:14.26\00:28:17.86
just really was
very happy for this. So,
00:28:17.93\00:28:21.66
we have been
teaching class there every
00:28:21.76\00:28:23.60
Tuesday evening.
Also, we've been able to
00:28:23.70\00:28:27.24
teach on the
weekends. The classes we teach
00:28:27.34\00:28:30.61
are Bible and
health, cooking classes; we
00:28:30.67\00:28:33.48
do children's
programs. Then, there was a time
00:28:33.54\00:28:37.81
that I thought, "I
would like to be able
00:28:37.88\00:28:39.98
to maybe come and
have us cook here for maybe
00:28:40.05\00:28:43.52
a week, a
healthier diet, so the women
00:28:43.59\00:28:45.45
could experience it."
The director said, "I'll
00:28:45.49\00:28:47.99
do something even
better. I will let
00:28:48.06\00:28:50.36
you do a whole one-week
camp at our campgrounds,
00:28:50.43\00:28:55.53
and you design
it, you plan it: the
00:28:55.63\00:28:59.23
meals, the
program..." I had never done
00:28:59.33\00:29:01.60
anything like
this before! So that's
00:29:01.67\00:29:04.71
what we did. We had
the students come out.
00:29:04.84\00:29:06.84
We stayed with
the women and children
00:29:06.91\00:29:08.91
at the campsite,
and it was an amazing...
00:29:08.98\00:29:12.81
- I think you've
got a picture of that,
00:29:12.91\00:29:14.25
didn't you? - Not
for here, I guess, but
00:29:14.28\00:29:17.29
I do have
several pictures. We have
00:29:17.35\00:29:20.39
a picture of doing
a cooking class there
00:29:20.49\00:29:22.19
with the women.
It's been a wonderful
00:29:22.26\00:29:27.93
experience,
because my background with
00:29:28.03\00:29:29.90
drugs and alcohol. So,
for the Lord to give me
00:29:30.00\00:29:31.83
this ministry...
When they find out that I
00:29:31.93\00:29:34.04
come from that, they
can relate to me. They
00:29:34.14\00:29:36.40
open up. They have
come to Uchee Pines
00:29:36.47\00:29:38.34
to two of our
seminars; the women come and
00:29:38.41\00:29:40.48
have sat and
listened to the seminars. They
00:29:40.58\00:29:44.05
have been so
exposed to so much without
00:29:44.15\00:29:47.42
us having to preach
to them the doctrines-
00:29:47.52\00:29:49.88
just showing them
the love of Jesus. - You
00:29:49.92\00:29:52.32
know what, I think
that's when, like a said,
00:29:52.42\00:29:54.52
Jesus said, "Go."
It's a ministry of presence
00:29:54.62\00:29:58.59
and compassion. This
is the way He ministered.
00:29:58.69\00:30:03.37
So now, you also began
ministering in somebody's
00:30:03.47\00:30:08.44
home. Tell us
about that. - With our
00:30:08.50\00:30:10.74
neighbors, I've
always loved outreach and
00:30:10.87\00:30:14.94
ministry, so I'm
always thinking of
00:30:15.01\00:30:17.55
ways. "How can I do
it?" I thought to do
00:30:17.61\00:30:21.55
a food drive where we would go
00:30:21.62\00:30:24.05
door-to-door to our
neighbors to collect
00:30:24.09\00:30:25.92
the non-perishable
foods and bring them
00:30:25.99\00:30:27.62
to the human
resources of the local city. We
00:30:27.72\00:30:31.46
came across one
family who was actually
00:30:31.53\00:30:34.23
really in need
right in our neighborhood.
00:30:34.33\00:30:37.30
We were able to
donate the food to them,
00:30:38.73\00:30:41.00
and it opened the
door for so many ways
00:30:41.07\00:30:45.17
to minister to
other people. So, we have
00:30:45.24\00:30:48.11
been able to do
children's program
00:30:48.18\00:30:49.74
in their home (and
there's a picture of
00:30:49.81\00:30:51.61
that). The little
boy, that night, said,
00:30:51.65\00:30:55.98
"Daddy, will you
pray with me?" The father
00:30:56.05\00:30:58.79
had never prayed
with the boy, and that
00:30:58.85\00:31:01.02
was just so
precious. As a result, the
00:31:01.09\00:31:03.73
mother, who's seen
the picture on the chair
00:31:03.79\00:31:07.36
holding her son,
calls me often, saying, "Can
00:31:07.43\00:31:13.30
you help this
friend?" or "Can you help that
00:31:13.37\00:31:15.24
friend?" There's a
picture of one of the men.
00:31:15.30\00:31:18.94
He was living in
very poor conditions-no
00:31:19.01\00:31:23.18
electricity, he had
a burn accident, fire
00:31:23.28\00:31:26.61
accident-so we went
to him and we helped
00:31:26.68\00:31:30.35
him as much as we
could and we brought
00:31:30.45\00:31:31.82
him to our
lifestyle center. There's my
00:31:31.89\00:31:33.79
husband and one of
our medical personnel at
00:31:33.86\00:31:36.39
the lifestyle
center, cleaning him up with
00:31:36.46\00:31:38.43
aloe and bandaging
him. We've been able to
00:31:38.49\00:31:43.80
also- she called me
again. "I have a friend
00:31:43.87\00:31:47.00
who's handicapped. He
needs his yard cleaned
00:31:47.04\00:31:49.34
up, because
otherwise, the city is going to
00:31:49.40\00:31:51.87
fine him a lot of
money." So we were able to
00:31:51.91\00:31:55.24
get several people
together. There's a
00:31:55.31\00:31:57.28
picture of that.
We went and we just
00:31:57.31\00:31:59.58
cleaned up his
yard. When we went inside
00:31:59.65\00:32:02.15
to pray with him, he
said, "How much can I
00:32:02.22\00:32:04.15
pay you?" We
said, "Nothing." He just
00:32:04.22\00:32:06.35
cried. There's been
many other experiences
00:32:06.42\00:32:10.99
where she has called
us and we've been able
00:32:11.09\00:32:14.23
to help the people
in the community as
00:32:14.33\00:32:16.50
a result. -
That's wonderful. Then,
00:32:16.56\00:32:18.97
Christopher, I
know that... They're at
00:32:19.03\00:32:23.91
Uchee Pines. It's
interesting, 'cause
00:32:24.01\00:32:25.71
we're seeing this
at several lifestyle
00:32:25.74\00:32:27.38
centers that God
is working the same
00:32:27.48\00:32:29.64
thing where,
suddenly, it's, "All right. We
00:32:29.74\00:32:32.55
need to have
involvement in the community." I
00:32:32.68\00:32:36.72
think that's...
People can hear- you've got
00:32:36.79\00:32:40.36
a wonderful reputation.
They hear about this,
00:32:40.46\00:32:42.52
but it's not until
you can touch their lives
00:32:42.56\00:32:45.39
personally that you
can see that change in
00:32:45.46\00:32:48.96
your own
backyard. So, you started a
00:32:49.00\00:32:51.43
citywide day of
prayer. Tell us about that.
00:32:51.53\00:32:54.24
- Yes. Similar to
what Amy just said, there
00:32:54.30\00:32:59.77
is a Spirit-a
sweet, sweet Spirit-moving
00:32:59.87\00:33:04.01
through the
church. The Lord laid on my
00:33:04.08\00:33:07.35
heart what sister
White said-that the
00:33:07.42\00:33:10.49
arm and the body of
the church must work
00:33:10.55\00:33:12.82
together. Right
arm, which is the medical
00:33:12.89\00:33:15.82
missionary work, and
the body, which is the
00:33:15.89\00:33:17.89
church itself. We
ought to do that work with
00:33:17.99\00:33:20.56
compassion for the
people. So, we started
00:33:20.63\00:33:24.83
the whole process of
needs-oriented ministry.
00:33:24.93\00:33:27.87
So, we canvassed
the community. "What are
00:33:27.97\00:33:31.84
the needs in the
community?" One of
00:33:31.91\00:33:34.38
the needs that
were there was that
00:33:34.44\00:33:37.75
the teachers needed
somebody to say they
00:33:37.81\00:33:40.75
are special. We
started speaking to the city.
00:33:40.82\00:33:44.45
As we were working
on that, there was a
00:33:44.52\00:33:48.42
special day coming
up with the city. This
00:33:48.49\00:33:50.76
was a prayer day, and
all the other churches
00:33:50.83\00:33:53.90
were involved. We sat
with the church members,
00:33:54.00\00:33:56.53
with my district,
and we said, "What can
00:33:56.63\00:33:58.50
we do as
Seventh-Day Adventists to impact
00:33:58.60\00:34:01.77
our community?" The
long and the short of
00:34:01.84\00:34:05.47
it is, we got
three different areas in
00:34:05.57\00:34:09.58
the city. Our church
was reorganized to be
00:34:09.61\00:34:13.52
a prayer station so
people could drive in,
00:34:13.58\00:34:16.82
get prayer, get
somebody praying for them, get
00:34:16.89\00:34:21.92
Bible passages, get
literature... And also,
00:34:22.02\00:34:24.73
we would give them
a gas card for needy
00:34:24.83\00:34:26.76
families who
needed some gas, so we'd
00:34:26.86\00:34:29.33
give them gas
cards. That was going on.
00:34:29.40\00:34:31.73
We ended church a
little bit early that
00:34:31.83\00:34:33.57
Sabbath, and that
is what we were doing
00:34:33.70\00:34:35.10
all day. Before noon
that day, we had already
00:34:35.14\00:34:40.44
ministered to over
500 people. Now, this
00:34:40.51\00:34:45.08
was happening in
three different locations in
00:34:45.11\00:34:47.22
the city, so we
were also asked to be in
00:34:47.32\00:34:50.29
the park with all
the other churches. - I
00:34:50.35\00:34:52.42
just want to hit the
pause button, 'cause it
00:34:52.52\00:34:54.12
just hit me. You
ministered to over
00:34:54.19\00:34:56.96
500 people in one
day? - In one day.
00:34:56.99\00:35:00.40
- And they were
driving up to you! - Yes.
00:35:01.53\00:35:03.77
- That's amazing! -
The amazing part about it
00:35:03.87\00:35:07.20
was the response of
the people, because we
00:35:07.27\00:35:09.20
would be
inviting people and their
00:35:09.34\00:35:12.07
members
standing on the roadside.
00:35:12.14\00:35:13.88
I think we had some pictures of
00:35:13.91\00:35:15.74
us praying with
the policemen. I said
00:35:15.84\00:35:21.58
this at the
meeting: we were praying for
00:35:21.65\00:35:23.42
police to clowns,
because clowns would come up
00:35:23.49\00:35:26.09
to us and they were
crying, "My family's
00:35:26.19\00:35:27.89
broken, and so forth
and I would have to hold
00:35:27.99\00:35:30.16
the clown?" I'd pray for them.
00:35:30.26\00:35:32.06
The police would
come- the same thing. We
00:35:32.13\00:35:33.90
had that going on.
We ministered in- that
00:35:33.96\00:35:38.23
was one
location; 500 people! Other
00:35:38.30\00:35:41.04
locations, we
couldn't count. Just prayer.
00:35:41.10\00:35:44.04
We weren't selling
anything; we weren't
00:35:44.11\00:35:45.67
doing anything. We
were just praying for our
00:35:45.71\00:35:47.44
city: prayer
for teachers, prayer
00:35:47.54\00:35:49.38
for policemen, prayer
for firefighters, prayer
00:35:49.41\00:35:52.51
for the city.
They knew us by how we
00:35:52.61\00:35:55.45
cared. - Amen. Amen.
And how precious. Now,
00:35:55.52\00:36:00.32
you did something for...
What was it? A back-to-school
00:36:00.36\00:36:03.26
school project? -
Yes. The back-to-school
00:36:03.36\00:36:06.70
project and what
we have been doing is
00:36:06.73\00:36:09.80
that we are called
by God again, Matthew
00:36:09.90\00:36:14.44
28:19, to go. If we
go, they'll come. Now,
00:36:14.54\00:36:19.37
when we go, they
have their things that we
00:36:19.47\00:36:22.91
have to answer-their
questions to answer-
00:36:22.98\00:36:24.95
their needs that are
there. With the back-to-
00:36:25.01\00:36:27.98
school program, we
went into the poor areas
00:36:28.05\00:36:33.72
of the community
where people had some real
00:36:33.79\00:36:37.03
needs. They're
unable to find dinner that
00:36:37.09\00:36:44.17
evening; unable
to send their kids to
00:36:44.20\00:36:46.27
school; real needs.
So, initially, we did a
00:36:46.33\00:36:49.37
citywide health
expo. My Uchee Pines church
00:36:49.40\00:36:52.97
and the other
churches, we grouped together.
00:36:53.04\00:36:54.48
We did a free citywide
health expo with doctors
00:36:54.54\00:36:57.41
and everyone. So,
while I'm there, this was
00:36:57.48\00:36:59.95
coming onto school.
I said, "A lot of these
00:37:00.02\00:37:02.48
parents are asking
about school stuff."
00:37:02.58\00:37:04.65
So we said, "Let's do
something about that."
00:37:04.72\00:37:06.89
- The school stuff
they're talking about...
00:37:06.96\00:37:08.32
Affording school
supplies. - Affording the
00:37:08.42\00:37:10.83
supplies for
school coming up. So we
00:37:10.89\00:37:13.23
said, "We will do a
back-to-school program."
00:37:13.29\00:37:16.00
We grouped
together and we gave away
00:37:16.03\00:37:18.97
a hundred backpacks
and school supplies to
00:37:19.07\00:37:22.77
100 needy families.
God was richly blessed.
00:37:22.80\00:37:26.61
The parents were
blessed. - Here, we
00:37:26.68\00:37:30.25
see all your
backpacks stacked up. I bet that
00:37:30.31\00:37:34.32
was a real
blessing. How wonderful that
00:37:34.38\00:37:39.49
you're doing all
of these things in the
00:37:39.55\00:37:41.09
community and
that people know Uchee
00:37:41.16\00:37:43.99
Pines is really a
ministry that's an
00:37:44.06\00:37:48.66
ambassador for the
Lord. We're talking
00:37:48.73\00:37:52.87
about the history
since 197... - 1970, coming
00:37:52.93\00:37:59.17
up on 5 decades
now. - Are you still in
00:37:59.27\00:38:03.28
the cafetorium?
[laughter] - Well,
00:38:03.35\00:38:06.18
we still have worship
there, but it's been the
00:38:06.25\00:38:11.12
dream, of the
Thrash family, anyway, the
00:38:11.19\00:38:15.02
father had this
dream. Since the beginning
00:38:15.06\00:38:17.39
that we would have a
church either on-campus
00:38:17.46\00:38:20.43
or close to campus.
We have been worshiping
00:38:20.50\00:38:24.73
there in...it's
now called the chapel.
00:38:24.77\00:38:27.74
But, you know
what's interesting is, the
00:38:27.84\00:38:29.87
history... For a long
time, we did not worship
00:38:29.94\00:38:32.67
in that building,
because we have the
00:38:32.74\00:38:35.01
school in that
building also. So, we've thought
00:38:35.08\00:38:37.71
that in order to
really have a place of
00:38:37.81\00:38:40.28
worship, we actually
were able to work out
00:38:40.38\00:38:42.28
with Oswichee
Baptist Church over
00:38:42.35\00:38:43.99
in Fort Mitchell.
We would walk there
00:38:44.05\00:38:45.49
every Sabbath
morning, five miles over to
00:38:45.55\00:38:48.16
Fort Mitchell. At
that time, there was
00:38:48.19\00:38:49.59
no traffic. In
fact, if a car came along,
00:38:49.66\00:38:51.69
Dad would say, "Oh,
my. We have a traffic
00:38:51.76\00:38:53.09
jam." There was a
period of time where
00:38:53.13\00:38:56.67
we worshiped there, I
believe, several months
00:38:56.73\00:39:00.00
before we could move
our school out of that
00:39:00.04\00:39:02.40
building. So, the
idea is that we need to
00:39:02.50\00:39:05.31
have a building
that is dedicated to the
00:39:05.34\00:39:08.28
worship of the
Lord. Also, something that
00:39:08.34\00:39:10.98
is enough removed
from the campus that
00:39:11.18\00:39:14.28
we can use as a
community center and
00:39:14.32\00:39:17.19
a center of
outreach, and sometimes, people
00:39:17.29\00:39:19.45
are intimidated coming
to campus for services.
00:39:19.52\00:39:21.26
- You're right. -
If we have something
00:39:21.32\00:39:23.46
that's right there on
the road where they're
00:39:23.49\00:39:25.49
at, it helps to do
the outreach that they're
00:39:25.56\00:39:28.73
hoping to do.
Before I forget it, too, I
00:39:28.80\00:39:31.47
wanted to mention
our radio station. We've
00:39:31.53\00:39:34.80
had a radio
station, now, for... Oh, my.
00:39:34.84\00:39:36.77
It's been well over
10 years. - Hopefully,
00:39:36.81\00:39:38.41
it's a 3ABN... - It
is a 3ABN affiliate! So
00:39:38.47\00:39:41.51
I thought you would
like to know that we
00:39:41.58\00:39:43.61
have had many stories
of outright conversion
00:39:43.68\00:39:46.82
stories from the
radio station, from the
00:39:46.88\00:39:49.75
programming. When
you can't do anything,
00:39:49.82\00:39:52.05
when it's late at
night or whatever time it
00:39:52.09\00:39:55.16
is, you know the
broadcasting ministry
00:39:55.26\00:39:56.93
is still preaching and
still talking to people
00:39:57.03\00:39:59.46
and still
reaching people out there.
00:39:59.53\00:40:01.06
- It is so amazing.
The local pastor here-
00:40:01.13\00:40:03.23
we have, of
course, 3ABN radio in the
00:40:03.30\00:40:05.23
area. Probably once
a month, he's writing
00:40:05.30\00:40:08.40
me, saying,
"Somebody came in ready to be
00:40:08.50\00:40:11.21
baptized! They've
been listening to 3ABN
00:40:11.31\00:40:13.17
radio." Even if
they don't really even
00:40:13.24\00:40:14.88
know about 3ABN TV,
they've got the radio.
00:40:14.94\00:40:17.75
- They say, "I'm
ready. I'm ready to join
00:40:17.81\00:40:19.21
your church!" - So,
what are you going to
00:40:19.31\00:40:21.35
do? I know you're
here to talk about...
00:40:21.42\00:40:24.05
This is your dream,
this is your vision,
00:40:24.15\00:40:26.45
and this is what
they have. Already, you're
00:40:26.55\00:40:30.19
laying a foundation
for this. Where will this
00:40:30.26\00:40:33.33
new church building
be? - It's amazing how this
00:40:33.40\00:40:36.43
worked out. Right there
on the corner, we thought
00:40:36.50\00:40:41.77
about putting a
sign for Uchee Pines. I
00:40:41.80\00:40:45.07
was thinking, it'd
probably be good if
00:40:45.17\00:40:47.14
we could actually buy a
little piece of property
00:40:47.21\00:40:48.88
there that
wouldn't change owners and
00:40:48.94\00:40:51.25
somebody'd say,
"Move your sign." - So when
00:40:51.31\00:40:52.71
you say, "On the
corner," how far is that
00:40:52.75\00:40:54.08
from Uchee Pines? -
It's a couple of miles
00:40:54.12\00:40:56.48
off-campus at the
main road that runs
00:40:56.55\00:41:00.69
in front of Uchee
Pines Rd. I went to see
00:41:00.76\00:41:04.69
the owner. The
owner said, "It's amazing
00:41:04.76\00:41:08.00
that you would come
to talk to me, because
00:41:08.06\00:41:09.40
we had just
decided- we don't have any
00:41:09.43\00:41:10.83
children-we just
decided to sell that
00:41:10.90\00:41:12.33
property! You're
the first one- we JUST
00:41:12.40\00:41:15.00
made the decision
and we wanted to sell the
00:41:15.10\00:41:17.61
property!" Well, long
story short, the church
00:41:17.67\00:41:19.67
was able to
purchase that. - Isn't God's
00:41:19.71\00:41:21.84
timing perfect? - That
property has been there,
00:41:21.91\00:41:25.68
purchased and ready
to go. Well, this time,
00:41:25.75\00:41:29.55
now- it's now time
for us to move forward,
00:41:29.62\00:41:32.29
and we're seeing that
things are really picking
00:41:32.35\00:41:34.19
up steam. In fact,
we've got some video
00:41:34.22\00:41:37.49
of what's
happening right now. There's
00:41:37.56\00:41:41.60
been some earth
moving around and site
00:41:41.66\00:41:46.47
preparation, I guess
you could say, that's
00:41:46.57\00:41:48.90
been doing- it's
exciting for us to see
00:41:48.94\00:41:51.24
that there's
actually something happening,
00:41:51.31\00:41:52.77
because I can tell
you: after having years
00:41:52.81\00:41:54.44
and years of
thinking about it and praying
00:41:54.51\00:41:58.21
for it and actually
giving to the project,
00:41:58.28\00:42:00.92
to see that there
are things actually
00:42:00.98\00:42:02.62
happening there has
been a real blessing.
00:42:02.68\00:42:05.05
- And to think that
this was your father's
00:42:05.15\00:42:07.02
vision, as well;
right? - That's true. - When
00:42:07.09\00:42:09.62
you see how
exciting- wait a minute. Where
00:42:09.66\00:42:12.26
is Uchee Pines?
What city are we talking
00:42:12.33\00:42:14.30
about? You're outside
of... - We are 100 miles
00:42:14.40\00:42:16.63
southwest of Atlanta,
right outside of Columbus,
00:42:16.67\00:42:19.20
Georgia, over on the
Alabama side. So, we're
00:42:19.27\00:42:21.20
on the Alabama-Georgia
line. - Okay. - Real
00:42:21.27\00:42:26.14
close to Columbus.
And, of course, our
00:42:26.21\00:42:27.54
city mission is
Country Life Restaurant and
00:42:27.58\00:42:30.08
the health food
store over in Columbus,
00:42:30.15\00:42:32.15
Georgia. - Praise God.
- We can talk about that
00:42:32.21\00:42:33.82
for an hour, too.
[laughter] The closest you
00:42:33.88\00:42:38.52
would think-and it's
probably very similar
00:42:38.59\00:42:41.12
to your campus
here- you would think,
00:42:41.19\00:42:43.89
looking at it,
"Well, there's not very many
00:42:43.93\00:42:45.33
people here." But
if you draw a circle
00:42:45.39\00:42:46.90
and look at the
number of people that are
00:42:46.96\00:42:49.60
in this, you're
talking tens of thousands
00:42:49.63\00:42:51.33
of people that are
in the 5-mile or 10-mile
00:42:51.40\00:42:54.27
circle, including
Fort Benning and Fort
00:42:54.30\00:42:57.27
Mitchell and all of
the surrounding area
00:42:57.34\00:42:58.97
there; it's just
exploding with growth.
00:42:59.07\00:43:01.41
We're doing
things here in our local
00:43:01.48\00:43:03.98
area that no one
else is doing. There
00:43:04.05\00:43:05.68
are many
churches around, but we're
00:43:05.71\00:43:07.05
doing things that
no one is doing. So...
00:43:07.08\00:43:09.72
- You are so right
to think that, "If this
00:43:09.78\00:43:12.69
is on the main
road- I mean, if people
00:43:12.75\00:43:14.86
see an
advertisement for some kind of a
00:43:14.92\00:43:17.29
health expo or
something- the community-if
00:43:17.36\00:43:20.80
they know that
they've got to turn and go
00:43:20.86\00:43:22.60
up two miles to
that institute there,
00:43:22.66\00:43:24.83
they're not as likely
that if it's a building
00:43:24.90\00:43:27.24
that they're passing
on a daily basis, see
00:43:27.34\00:43:30.44
this big church
that's all so influencing...
00:43:30.51\00:43:35.01
It does become a
center of influence if
00:43:35.08\00:43:37.01
people feel
comfortable going there! - So,
00:43:37.11\00:43:39.41
Maranatha
volunteers are going to be
00:43:39.48\00:43:41.68
coming. - You're
breaking ground; we
00:43:41.75\00:43:46.09
saw that. -
Actually, we have another
00:43:46.15\00:43:48.59
video. In fact,
Maranatha wants to have the
00:43:48.66\00:43:51.36
foundation already
done, so we've actually
00:43:51.39\00:43:53.53
been able to pump
in that concrete and
00:43:53.56\00:43:56.63
get that
foundation ?. - That's not
00:43:56.70\00:43:58.03
inexpensive, is
it? - No, it isn't! And
00:43:58.07\00:44:01.40
a little bit frightening,
I guess you could say,
00:44:01.47\00:44:03.51
because my
challenge is to really rest in
00:44:03.57\00:44:06.17
faith that the Lord
can take care of these
00:44:06.21\00:44:08.54
things. You'd think that
after being the president
00:44:08.64\00:44:11.41
of an organization
like Uchee Pines for 16
00:44:11.48\00:44:13.18
years that that
would all be just a given
00:44:13.25\00:44:16.45
that you just rely
on the Lord for all your
00:44:16.52\00:44:18.09
needs. - Let me
back up and explain that,
00:44:18.15\00:44:21.56
because I know as a
self-supporting ministry,
00:44:21.62\00:44:24.06
even here at 3ABN,
from month to month, there's
00:44:24.13\00:44:27.40
so many times, I'm sure
for you, it's like, "How
00:44:27.46\00:44:30.37
are we going to
make payroll? What are we
00:44:30.43\00:44:31.90
going to do?" So your
faith is tested from month
00:44:31.97\00:44:36.64
to month, but one
thing we've always found is
00:44:36.74\00:44:39.34
when God says, "Go
forward," He will bring
00:44:39.41\00:44:41.78
in the funds. -
That's right. I've never seen
00:44:41.84\00:44:43.98
Him fail yet. - But have
you learned not to stress
00:44:44.05\00:44:47.35
yet? [laughter] - Now,
that's the challenge. I do
00:44:47.42\00:44:50.89
admire when Peter
was arrested and he went
00:44:50.95\00:44:54.06
to sleep between those
two soldiers- just trusted
00:44:54.12\00:44:56.32
the Lord that everything
was going to work out.
00:44:56.42\00:44:58.16
I'm thinking, "I
think I probably would've
00:44:58.26\00:44:59.96
been having a stress
dream at that moment,"
00:45:00.00\00:45:02.20
or something, but he
didn't. So, to be able to
00:45:02.26\00:45:06.53
trust the Lord-
and He gives us these
00:45:06.57\00:45:09.27
faith experiences in
our past so that we can
00:45:09.34\00:45:12.24
trust Him for
our future, as well.
00:45:12.31\00:45:14.04
So, we're looking
forward to the time here that
00:45:14.58\00:45:19.58
Maranatha can come.
They're going to raise
00:45:19.65\00:45:21.28
the church for us, so
we'll need a lot of people
00:45:21.35\00:45:24.12
to help do that, too.
- Wonderful. So that's
00:45:24.19\00:45:26.05
going to happen in
the next month. I think
00:45:26.12\00:45:27.79
we've got an artist's
rendition of what this
00:45:27.86\00:45:30.83
facility is... Oh,
that's beautiful. - It
00:45:30.89\00:45:34.26
is the Maranatha
plan. - That is going to be
00:45:34.36\00:45:36.50
a beautiful
church... A beautiful facility.
00:45:36.60\00:45:40.60
I believe the
Lord will really bless.
00:45:40.70\00:45:43.30
Does this mean that-
Pastor Christopher-will
00:45:43.37\00:45:46.27
you be moving your
church now there for...?
00:45:46.34\00:45:49.44
- This will become the
Uchee Pines church home,
00:45:49.51\00:45:53.28
so as Elder Kyle
Wrightly said, "We are
00:45:53.38\00:45:56.82
presently worshiping
in one of the general
00:45:56.89\00:46:00.39
buildings on campus,
and we have been doing
00:46:00.46\00:46:02.86
that for 20 odd
years... 23 years." - I hesitate
00:46:02.89\00:46:07.10
to tell you I was
wrong. - As you rightly
00:46:07.16\00:46:10.30
said, "Now is
God's timing, and we're
00:46:10.37\00:46:12.03
rejoicing. We're
rejoicing for the help that we
00:46:12.10\00:46:13.97
have been getting so
far. But above all, I
00:46:14.00\00:46:16.50
am rejoicing for the
fact that God has given us
00:46:16.60\00:46:18.87
a promise. He has
said through His councils
00:46:18.97\00:46:21.91
that those that
are believers must have
00:46:22.01\00:46:24.61
an intention or a heart to
raise up churches. So he said,
00:46:24.68\00:46:29.35
"He will give us the
means." So, we're going forward,
00:46:29.45\00:46:32.42
believing by faith
that our God will do what
00:46:32.52\00:46:34.72
He has promised to
do, so we are here just
00:46:34.82\00:46:38.86
rejoicing in that and
inviting others to join
00:46:38.96\00:46:41.50
with us. I want to
send a message out, also, to
00:46:41.60\00:46:45.93
local churches, small
churches, that you can
00:46:45.97\00:46:50.84
do mighty work-
GREAT work for the
00:46:50.91\00:46:53.44
Lord. The Pen of
Inspiration says,
00:46:53.51\00:46:55.84
"Make your vision
large, because your God is
00:46:55.94\00:46:58.91
large." So, we're
inviting folks to join
00:46:58.98\00:47:01.42
with us in this end-time
mission of sharing truth
00:47:01.48\00:47:04.95
and love with others.
- I think it begins with
00:47:05.02\00:47:07.26
praying outside
the box. Sometimes, we
00:47:07.29\00:47:10.03
pray these little,
bitty, tiny prayers. I love it
00:47:10.09\00:47:15.60
when somebody just
says, "Lord, what do you
00:47:15.66\00:47:18.43
want me to pray?" If
you ask, the Holy Spirit
00:47:18.50\00:47:20.57
will help you in
your prayer. But ask Him!
00:47:20.64\00:47:23.61
"What should I
be praying for?" And
00:47:23.67\00:47:25.51
God will enlarge your
vision. I mean, it is just
00:47:25.61\00:47:29.34
amazing to me how God
will do that. Then when
00:47:29.44\00:47:34.15
you start praying
for that, if you get the
00:47:34.22\00:47:36.82
faith in your
heart, He will bring it to
00:47:36.92\00:47:39.59
pass. I'm sure
you're not here just to tell
00:47:39.69\00:47:45.59
us the update;
you're looking for funds to
00:47:45.69\00:47:50.00
complete this. You're
looking also for volunteers.
00:47:50.07\00:47:53.84
So, what we want
to do, 'cause I know
00:47:53.94\00:47:57.37
you've got a story I
think you want to tell
00:47:57.44\00:47:58.94
us about a baptism.
What we'd like to do...
00:47:59.01\00:48:01.61
We've got the
address roll, how you can get
00:48:01.68\00:48:04.68
in touch with Uchee
Pines Institute. Many of you
00:48:04.75\00:48:08.82
may have been there
before as the Lifestyle
00:48:08.88\00:48:10.69
Center, and you've
been in their cafetorium,
00:48:10.75\00:48:14.22
now chapel, and
realize how greatly needed this
00:48:14.29\00:48:18.59
facility is. But it's
not just for the institute;
00:48:18.66\00:48:21.73
it is to become a
center of influence for the
00:48:21.83\00:48:25.23
thousands in the
area. And perhaps, the Holy
00:48:25.33\00:48:28.30
Spirit is impressing
upon you now that you can
00:48:28.37\00:48:31.67
give something to
help this dream that's been
00:48:31.74\00:48:35.44
in the making for a
long time; but it's God's
00:48:35.51\00:48:38.25
timing. You know
our experience, and I'm
00:48:38.31\00:48:40.75
sure yours has
been is when it's God's
00:48:40.82\00:48:43.08
timing, He's going
to bring the funds in.
00:48:43.15\00:48:45.49
And that's the good
news! He's got all the
00:48:45.59\00:48:48.96
funds. Of course,
the rest of that story
00:48:49.02\00:48:51.49
is some of them are in
your pocket! [laughter]
00:48:51.59\00:48:54.26
So, what we want to
do... If you maybe would like
00:48:54.33\00:48:56.60
to volunteer in
some way or support this
00:48:56.70\00:49:00.74
project, here's how
you can get in touch with
00:49:00.84\00:49:03.17
Uchee Pines.
00:49:03.24\00:49:05.34
Uchee Pines Institute
is committed to assisting
00:49:07.64\00:49:09.91
people through the
use of simple matro
00:49:09.98\00:49:12.11
methods, using
exercise, vegetarian nutrition,
00:49:12.21\00:49:15.78
hydrotherapy, massage,
and a firm faith in the
00:49:15.85\00:49:19.85
Divine Healer. If
you would like to support
00:49:19.95\00:49:22.42
their ministry or
offer financial support for
00:49:22.52\00:49:25.09
their church-building
project, please visit
00:49:25.19\00:49:27.56
their website: UcheePines.org,
00:49:27.63\00:49:30.17
and click on their
Donate button. That web address,
00:49:30.23\00:49:33.44
again, is UcheePines.org.
You may also call them
00:49:33.50\00:49:37.57
toll-free at (877)
824-3374, or write them at Uchee
00:49:37.61\00:49:44.25
Pines Institute
30 Uchee Pines Road,
00:49:44.28\00:49:47.42
Seale, Alabama 36875.
- You know what I love
00:49:47.48\00:49:53.32
about supporting ministries?
We're self-supporting;
00:49:53.39\00:49:57.29
that means that
you're not funded by the
00:49:57.36\00:50:00.03
church, but we support
the Seventh-Day Adventist
00:50:00.10\00:50:03.03
Church. What I love is
it IS such a faith-growing
00:50:03.13\00:50:06.53
experience, and it's
also one I'm sure you
00:50:06.60\00:50:09.60
all have found
that everybody wears a
00:50:09.67\00:50:11.67
number of hats, right?
Pastor, you wanted to share
00:50:11.77\00:50:15.74
a story about...a young
man, is it? - A young man.
00:50:15.81\00:50:20.02
I am so passionate
about seeing people give
00:50:20.12\00:50:25.09
their lives to the Lord.
We're in the end of days,
00:50:25.19\00:50:28.06
and this is tying in
with our local mission
00:50:28.16\00:50:31.99
of reaching souls;
but also, 3ABN has a part
00:50:32.09\00:50:38.23
to play in this. We
were doing organized
00:50:38.30\00:50:41.54
series-Uchee Pines,
the Phenix City Church-
00:50:41.60\00:50:44.61
and we didn't
have our auditorium, so
00:50:44.67\00:50:46.51
we were back in
Phenix City at their church.
00:50:46.61\00:50:48.91
While we were doing
this, we were at the end
00:50:48.98\00:50:51.61
of the series, and a
gentleman walked through
00:50:51.68\00:50:54.15
the door. Now, I
wasn't the one preaching, so
00:50:54.25\00:50:56.28
I'm sitting at the
back just to see the entire
00:50:56.35\00:50:58.05
congregation. He
walked through the door, he
00:50:58.12\00:51:00.49
was in cut-off jeans,
slippers, his T-shirt,
00:51:00.56\00:51:04.13
and he kind of just
struts straight up to the
00:51:04.23\00:51:06.39
front and he sat,
and I kind of took note.
00:51:06.49\00:51:09.06
When the last altar
call was made, he stood
00:51:09.13\00:51:12.40
up. He stood there
for a little while,
00:51:12.47\00:51:15.07
then he was heading back
out, so I kind of stepped
00:51:15.14\00:51:17.77
into his way and I
said, "What's going on?
00:51:17.84\00:51:20.04
How are you doing?
Did you like the series?"
00:51:20.14\00:51:21.81
"Oh, yeah. Pastor,
I'm ready for baptism."
00:51:21.84\00:51:24.08
Now, I'm going to
call his name, because he
00:51:25.11\00:51:26.45
knows who I'm
talking about. His name is
00:51:26.51\00:51:28.42
Keith Cobbs. Now,
this gentleman... When I
00:51:28.45\00:51:31.59
asked him, "How are
you ready for baptism?"
00:51:31.65\00:51:33.12
He said, "I've
been listening to 3ABN
00:51:33.19\00:51:34.66
Radio." - Praise God.
- "I came to your series.
00:51:34.72\00:51:38.69
It's the same thing
you guys are presenting.
00:51:38.79\00:51:40.56
I believe it's the
word of God. I want to give
00:51:40.63\00:51:42.36
my life to the
Lord." In that one week, he
00:51:42.40\00:51:45.40
was baptized, and
he's now a member of our
00:51:45.47\00:51:47.90
church. God is
amazing, and He wants to do
00:51:48.00\00:51:51.67
magnificent things
through his work. So,
00:51:51.74\00:51:54.48
we're thanking 3ABN
for the work that you
00:51:54.54\00:51:57.21
guys are doing in
keeping with our local mission
00:51:57.28\00:52:00.42
as churches, so we
want to give God thanks for
00:52:00.52\00:52:02.68
that. - I just want
to thank you all. I mean,
00:52:02.75\00:52:05.69
we're not closing
out yet; we're going to
00:52:05.75\00:52:07.12
come back for a
closing thought. What I want
00:52:07.19\00:52:08.96
to thank you all is
for when we're telling
00:52:09.02\00:52:11.89
all these beautiful
truths on the television,
00:52:11.96\00:52:14.33
and people go and reach
out to find an Adventist
00:52:14.36\00:52:18.40
church, I praise God
when they find a church
00:52:18.47\00:52:21.30
that is filled with
love- a church who has ministry
00:52:21.37\00:52:24.81
of helps because
they know that our truth
00:52:24.84\00:52:28.28
and the way the
church is are the same. The
00:52:28.34\00:52:31.91
sad thing is, not
all churches are perfect,
00:52:31.98\00:52:34.48
and when somebody
calls and says, "Well, I went
00:52:34.55\00:52:37.02
to the church and they're
nothing like y'all." Now,
00:52:37.09\00:52:39.15
that's a sad situation.
But we're going to come
00:52:39.22\00:52:41.56
back in just a second
for a closing thought.
00:52:41.62\00:52:44.13
Right now, we want
to go to our news break.
00:52:44.19\00:52:47.20