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 and welcome
to another 3ABN Today
00:01:10.27\00:01:12.80
program! I'm Jason
Bradley, and I'm excited
00:01:12.90\00:01:15.20
about today's
program, because my guest today
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is a young person
that's on fire for the Lord.
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Wait until you find
out exactly where he is
00:01:22.61\00:01:26.68
practicing
evangelism! My guest today is
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Daniel Fukuda, and he
is with the Japan Union
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Conference with
the Youth Rush Japan
00:01:34.92\00:01:37.29
project. Welcome. - Oh,
thank you. - Good to have
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you here. - It's
good to be here. - Before
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we get into your
journey and your testimony,
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we're going to be
blessed in song by John Stoddart
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singing "I Am Yours."
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I live to praise and give you
glory, all that I have to give
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You take my life and make it
holy; Jesus, my heart is yours
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It is yours I am
Yours, I am Yours
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I live to praise and give you
glory, all that I have to give
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You take my life and make it
holy; Jesus, my heart is yours
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It is yours I am
Yours, I am Yours
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I just want to thank
You, Lord Thank You, Lord
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I just want to thank You, Lord
Jesus, I just wanna thank You
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Release Your
grace Release Your power
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And let it begin in
me Come fill this place
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With Your anointing
Jesus, my heart is Yours
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It is Yours I am
Yours, I am Yours
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And I just want to thank You,
Lord; You've been so good to me
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I thank You, Lord
Oh, I thank You, Lord
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Jesus, I just want to thank You
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'Cause You have come through
and You've kept every promise
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Oh, You have come through, Lord
And You've kept every promise
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You have come through, Lord,
and You've kept every promise
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You have come through, Lord,
and You've kept every promise
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Oh, and I just want to
thank You, Lord; thank You, Lord
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Oh, I thank You, Lord
Jesus, I just wanna thank You
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'Cause You have come through
and You've kept every promise
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You have come through, Lord,
and You've kept every promise
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You have come through,
and You've kept every promise
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You have come through, Lord,
and You've kept every promise
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Oh, and I just want to
thank You, thank You, Lord
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I thank You,
Lord I thank You, Lord
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Jesus, I just wanna
thank You Oh, I thank You, Lord
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Jesus, thank You, Lord
You've been so good to me
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I thank You, Lord
Jesus, I just wanna thank You
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You've been so good
to me I thank You, Lord
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I thank You, Lord
Oh, I, I thank You, Lord
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Jesus, I just wanna thank You
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I just wanna thank You
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I just wanna thank You
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I just wanna thank You
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- Wow. What a beautiful
song. "I Am Yours." And
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most of the lyrics is,
"Jesus, I just wanna thank You."
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We have so much that
we should be thankful for.
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The Lord spared no
expense in saving us,
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and so we need to give
Him all the thanks that
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we can give Him.
Daniel, I'm so excited to have
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you here, because I
think what you're doing
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in Japan is
amazing. But for our viewers
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that don't know, what
is the Youth Rush Japan
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project? - Ah, Youth
Rush Japan is basically,
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simply put, it's youth
rushing. - Okay! - That's
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what it is! Why do
youth have to rush? Well, it's
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because we believe
Jesus is coming soon, so we
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rush and share the gospel,
the good news, to everybody.
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- Now, why is this so
crucial in Japan? - Well,
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in Japan, it's different.
It's not the United States
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of America. In
Japan, less than 1% are
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Christians. - Wow. -
It's not a small country; it's
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a big country, about
half the population of
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US, literally
under, in the state of
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California. - Wow! -
So, that's Japan. - So
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you were telling me
that Tokyo is like the
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biggest metropolis
in the world. Is that...
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- Yes, yes!
Tokyo... There's roughly, in
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the Tokyo area, about
40 million people living
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in Tokyo area. That's
the biggest metropolitan
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area in the world. -
Wow. - I live there. - That
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is huge. Now, you
said 1% or less than 1%?
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- Less than 1% are
Christian. - How many
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would you say are
Adventist? - Statistically,
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Adventists are less
than 1% of the 1%. So,
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.001%. - Wow. Wow.
So, before we even go
00:07:48.46\00:07:54.60
any further into the
Youth Rush and why the
00:07:54.67\00:07:56.81
youth are rushing and
all that stuff, tell me
00:07:56.87\00:07:58.91
about you and your
background. Where did
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you grow up? - Oh, ok.
I am a third generation
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Japanese-American. I
grew up in Loma Linda,
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California. I'm the
youngest of four siblings.
00:08:06.75\00:08:09.72
But, you know,
my parents were not
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Seventh-Day
Adventist. They are now, but my
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mom comes from a
very strong Catholic home,
00:08:16.86\00:08:19.86
Catholic family. My
dad comes from, basically,
00:08:19.93\00:08:24.13
a Sunday church. His
father's a Sunday church
00:08:24.20\00:08:27.64
minister/pastor.
So, both of them, Sunday
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church pastor Protestant,
Catholic... But through
00:08:31.67\00:08:35.11
a series of things, my
dad was going to medical
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school, and his
medical school closed down in
00:08:38.61\00:08:40.68
Oklahoma. It closed
down, and he transferred to
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Loma Linda. They
accepted him, and
00:08:44.19\00:08:46.92
that's how he got
to know Adventism. We
00:08:46.99\00:08:48.96
went through the
Adventist education system. As
00:08:48.99\00:08:52.19
all my siblings
went through this school
00:08:52.23\00:08:54.46
system, they decided to
get baptized. Eventually,
00:08:54.50\00:08:57.00
my parents decided
to get baptized. - Wow.
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So, your dad
embraced Adventism, then your
00:08:59.17\00:09:04.57
mom followed after
he...? - Yes. - Okay, nice.
00:09:04.67\00:09:08.04
- Well, the interesting
thing is, my dad- later,
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I found out. It
took both my parents- it
00:09:10.61\00:09:13.72
took them about 15-16
years to make a decision
00:09:13.82\00:09:17.25
to get baptized after
they went to Loma Linda,
00:09:17.35\00:09:19.69
but my dad said he
accepted the Seventh-Day
00:09:19.79\00:09:23.16
Adventist Church,
like, in a month, but he was
00:09:23.26\00:09:25.89
waiting for my mom
to make a decision. They
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got baptized on the
same day. - Wow. Wow, okay.
00:09:28.10\00:09:31.70
Now, let's transition,
because you got involved
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with Youth Rush,
right?- as a student doing
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literature evangelism.
How old were you then?
00:09:41.21\00:09:44.75
- I first got
involved with the Youth Rush
00:09:44.81\00:09:47.38
program in
California when I was 16. - Wow,
00:09:47.45\00:09:51.02
16 years old.
Okay. And what was the
00:09:51.12\00:09:53.59
typical age range?
- The minimum age was
00:09:53.66\00:09:56.69
16. - Wow, so you got
in at the ground level.
00:09:56.76\00:09:59.83
- Yes. - Okay. Great,
great great, great. And this
00:09:59.89\00:10:02.33
was in Southeastern
California Conference.
00:10:02.40\00:10:06.87
Your life was
changed. What took place? - So
00:10:06.94\00:10:11.51
that year, my older
three siblings... Dave
00:10:11.57\00:10:15.38
first said, "Youth
Rush," and their life
00:10:15.44\00:10:17.51
changed. They began to
read their Bible in the
00:10:17.61\00:10:21.05
morning. I was like,
"Why are they reading
00:10:21.12\00:10:22.58
the Bible in the
morning? Why are they singing
00:10:22.65\00:10:24.55
songs? Like, they
look happy! Okay, what's
00:10:24.62\00:10:26.99
going on here?" I
decided to go to Youth
00:10:27.06\00:10:29.79
Rush the
following year, and my life
00:10:29.86\00:10:32.46
changed. I learned
the joy of service,
00:10:32.53\00:10:35.13
the joy of serving
God. It's fun to serve the
00:10:35.16\00:10:38.70
Lord! - Amen. Yes, it
is. And what a typical
00:10:38.77\00:10:41.44
day look like for you
at Youth Rush? - During
00:10:41.50\00:10:43.71
Youth Rush, we all,
about 20 young people,
00:10:43.77\00:10:47.14
stay in churches in
sleeping bags for 10
00:10:47.21\00:10:49.94
weeks. We have
morning worship together, we
00:10:50.01\00:10:52.68
do training-we train-
we get trained by young
00:10:52.71\00:10:55.75
leaders how to knock
on doors, how to talk
00:10:55.78\00:10:58.02
about the books, we
eat breakfast, we go out
00:10:58.09\00:11:00.69
for 8 hours or so,
knock on doors, come back,
00:11:00.76\00:11:03.16
sleep...and the next
day, same thing. Sunday
00:11:03.22\00:11:07.20
through Thursday.
And Friday, we do laundry
00:11:07.26\00:11:09.16
and clean the church
and something like that.
00:11:09.23\00:11:12.67
- And how have you
seen lives transform?
00:11:12.77\00:11:14.70
Back then when you
were 16. What stories
00:11:14.80\00:11:17.11
do you have of lives
being transformed, or
00:11:17.21\00:11:19.54
any miracle stories
that you have. - Well,
00:11:19.61\00:11:24.68
especially this
literature evangelism work- I'll
00:11:24.71\00:11:27.98
be honest. It's
not easy work, knocking
00:11:28.05\00:11:31.15
on strangers' houses
and telling them about
00:11:31.25\00:11:33.96
Jesus. You meet
friendly people, but you meet
00:11:34.02\00:11:38.26
not-so-friendly
people. You meet all kinds of
00:11:38.29\00:11:41.16
people, so it really
kind of challenges your
00:11:41.23\00:11:44.60
character, challenges
your attitude towards-
00:11:44.67\00:11:47.30
"Am I sure about this
gospel? Am I sure about
00:11:47.37\00:11:50.07
this Jesus
Christ, following Him?" It
00:11:50.11\00:11:52.84
challenges me and it
challenges everybody,
00:11:52.91\00:11:55.01
so... By the end of
the summer, our faith,
00:11:55.04\00:11:58.35
it's personalized.
We have all kinds of
00:11:58.38\00:12:01.85
experiences of answer
to prayer. I've had people-
00:12:01.88\00:12:06.35
I go to the door and
right at that moment,
00:12:06.42\00:12:08.86
they're like, "Oh, I
was just praying that
00:12:08.89\00:12:10.66
someone would come!"
They were JUST praying
00:12:10.76\00:12:13.76
for God to help
them. I met this one lady.
00:12:13.83\00:12:16.60
She was thinking about
suicide. She was crying
00:12:16.67\00:12:20.14
out to God. Right as
she was crying out to
00:12:20.20\00:12:23.97
God, I knocked on
her door and I stuck
00:12:24.04\00:12:26.44
the book called
Peace Above the Storm, and
00:12:26.51\00:12:28.81
she was like, "This
is an answer to prayer."
00:12:28.88\00:12:30.88
So, those kinds of
experiences happen all
00:12:30.98\00:12:33.48
the time. - Yeah,
which is absolutely
00:12:33.52\00:12:35.35
amazing. I can see
how that could strengthen
00:12:35.42\00:12:37.19
your faith. For
those of our viewers that
00:12:37.25\00:12:39.45
don't know what
literature evangelism is, 'cause
00:12:39.52\00:12:42.89
I know you said
that you knock on doors
00:12:42.96\00:12:44.69
and all that stuff,
but what is literature
00:12:44.76\00:12:47.50
evangelism? -
Literature evangelism, simply
00:12:47.60\00:12:50.63
put, is using
literature to do evangelism.
00:12:50.70\00:12:54.74
Basically, using
literature to share about the
00:12:54.80\00:12:57.21
gospel, share about
Jesus Christ, share about the
00:12:57.24\00:12:59.94
Bible. - So, do you
hand these books out
00:13:00.01\00:13:02.24
or are you selling
these books, or how does
00:13:02.31\00:13:04.15
that... - Yes, for
literature evangelism,
00:13:04.25\00:13:07.12
of course, you can
pass out free distribution,
00:13:07.18\00:13:10.15
free literature,
but colporteuring the
00:13:10.22\00:13:12.65
Youth Rush, we go
door to door and we
00:13:12.72\00:13:14.79
sell these books.
The reason we sell these
00:13:14.86\00:13:17.39
books is, when
people pay for the books,
00:13:17.46\00:13:20.13
they tend to
cherish the books more; they
00:13:20.20\00:13:22.13
tend to actually read
the books, because they're
00:13:22.20\00:13:25.17
actually paying for it,
like, "Okay, I better read."
00:13:25.23\00:13:27.30
- Yes. So, they see the
values. Yes, absolutely.
00:13:27.37\00:13:31.74
And so, your role as
project leader in the
00:13:31.81\00:13:36.38
Japan Youth
Rush... What does that look
00:13:36.44\00:13:39.48
like? What's your
day look like? - [laughs]
00:13:39.55\00:13:43.35
Every day's an
adventure. Basically, Youth Rush
00:13:44.45\00:13:49.46
did not exist in
Japan when I went there. We
00:13:49.56\00:13:53.50
started from 0, from
scratch. I was there,
00:13:53.56\00:13:58.67
and I prayed, "How
can we recruit young
00:13:58.77\00:14:01.14
people? How can we
start this program?" So, a
00:14:01.20\00:14:03.20
lot of communication,
a lot of recruiting, and
00:14:03.27\00:14:05.77
figuring out how to
knock on doors in Japan-
00:14:05.84\00:14:09.24
in the secular
country of Japan. - How DID
00:14:09.31\00:14:12.45
you recruit the young
people? - Over in Japan,
00:14:12.55\00:14:15.95
as mentioned, very
few Christians... In
00:14:16.95\00:14:19.69
fact, the average
church in Japan, last time I
00:14:19.75\00:14:22.82
checked, was 69
years old. So, you don't
00:14:22.92\00:14:27.26
have many young
people in Japan. - Whoa, wait
00:14:27.33\00:14:29.43
a minute, wait a
minute. - The average age...
00:14:29.50\00:14:31.47
was 69 years old?
- Yeah. Not many are
00:14:31.57\00:14:34.04
so- but we have a lot
of faithful 90-year-olds
00:14:34.14\00:14:36.60
and 80-year-olds
still active in the church.
00:14:36.67\00:14:39.34
- That's a
blessing. Man, so there's not
00:14:39.41\00:14:43.35
a lot of young
people... But there are a lot
00:14:43.45\00:14:45.55
of young people in
Japan, but just not in
00:14:45.61\00:14:48.62
the church. - Yes.
Not in the church, yeah.
00:14:48.68\00:14:50.09
- Okay. And that's
where we want them,
00:14:50.15\00:14:51.49
to be in the church.
- Yes! That's what we
00:14:51.52\00:14:52.85
need. - So, it
must've been an uphill battle,
00:14:52.89\00:14:54.82
a challenge, to
get these young people
00:14:54.86\00:14:57.03
involved. I'm
sure there was a lot of
00:14:57.09\00:14:59.33
prayer involved. - Yes,
a lot of prayer. In fact,
00:14:59.39\00:15:01.96
our first Youth Rush
program, we had 7 young
00:15:02.03\00:15:05.87
people... Just 7, kind
of like the 7 samurais;
00:15:05.93\00:15:09.07
the 7 young people.
Through their testimonies,
00:15:09.14\00:15:13.17
through their
experiences, they brought their
00:15:13.27\00:15:15.44
friends, and they
brought their friends,
00:15:15.48\00:15:16.85
so through that, it's
been expanding. In the
00:15:16.91\00:15:18.81
last two years we've
been doing [Youth Rush],
00:15:18.88\00:15:20.88
we had over 100 young
people go through this
00:15:20.92\00:15:22.45
program. - Wow! 100
young people! - Over 100,
00:15:22.55\00:15:25.62
yeah. - That is amazing.
- God is good. - Yes He is,
00:15:25.72\00:15:29.29
and I can only
imagine how lives have been
00:15:29.36\00:15:31.03
transformed, because
they answered the call
00:15:31.09\00:15:34.10
that God has placed
on their lives. We have-
00:15:34.16\00:15:37.90
well, we have a couple
video rolls, two videos,
00:15:37.93\00:15:40.07
but I want to show
this first one (it's a
00:15:40.17\00:15:43.51
shorter one). We're going to
go to that right now. - Okay.
00:15:43.61\00:15:46.98
Translation: "Signs"
00:16:22.14\00:16:23.48
- That looks
intense. - Yeah, it's a little
00:16:43.53\00:16:47.17
bit intense. -
Yeah. There's a sense of
00:16:47.27\00:16:49.87
urgency! - Oh, yeah.
- Absolutely. So going
00:16:49.90\00:16:52.74
out and knocking on
the doors, distributing
00:16:52.77\00:16:54.14
the literature and
all that stuff. Now,
00:16:54.24\00:16:58.65
in the States, in the
US, you went to school
00:16:58.71\00:17:02.08
for theology,
correct? - Yeah. I studied
00:17:02.15\00:17:03.95
theology for a year
at Southern University.
00:17:03.99\00:17:08.12
But while I was
there- I love reading. I was
00:17:09.12\00:17:12.76
reading the books
called The Publishing
00:17:12.83\00:17:14.63
Ministry, Colporteur
Ministry, Book Education...
00:17:14.66\00:17:18.03
As I was reading, I
was like, "Hold on, hold
00:17:18.10\00:17:19.73
on, hold on, I better
get involved in publishing
00:17:19.80\00:17:22.20
work and literature
work!" and I decided
00:17:22.27\00:17:24.97
to quit theology and
go to a Bible college
00:17:25.04\00:17:30.41
called SOULS West. It's
a Bible college emphasizing
00:17:30.45\00:17:34.55
literature
evangelism. - Wow. And what are
00:17:34.65\00:17:37.22
some of the other
things that they teach there?
00:17:37.29\00:17:39.55
- They also teach
you how to be a Bible
00:17:39.65\00:17:41.66
worker, leadership...
The SOULS West, S-O-U-L-S
00:17:41.76\00:17:46.29
West, Seventh-Day
Adventist Outreach
00:17:46.36\00:17:48.66
Leadership
School... So it emphasizes
00:17:48.80\00:17:51.27
leadership. It's a
college where they try to
00:17:51.37\00:17:54.24
train young leaders.
So, we have classes on
00:17:54.30\00:17:57.41
leadership,
literature evangelism, working
00:17:57.47\00:17:59.47
in Bible work... -
Nice. And so, upon completion
00:17:59.54\00:18:02.54
of that program,
you received a call from
00:18:02.61\00:18:05.41
Japan Union? -
After that, I Bible-worked
00:18:05.51\00:18:11.32
for one year over here
in California, and as I was
00:18:11.39\00:18:16.89
doing Bible work
there, I got a call from Japan
00:18:16.96\00:18:19.86
Union, asking,
"Hey, can you implement
00:18:19.93\00:18:22.36
the things you
learned at SOULS West? Can you
00:18:22.43\00:18:25.07
start Youth Rush?
Can you help with the
00:18:25.17\00:18:26.97
youth church here and
discipleship program?"
00:18:27.04\00:18:29.84
- Wow. - I was
like, "Oh, hold on, okay,
00:18:29.90\00:18:31.27
okay!" and I
prayed and went. - Man, so
00:18:31.34\00:18:34.74
they gave you a big
project right out of
00:18:34.78\00:18:36.95
the gate! But I'm
sure God clearly equipped
00:18:37.05\00:18:40.72
you to take that
on. - Yeah. I mean, one
00:18:40.78\00:18:43.99
thing I learned from
those experiences, God
00:18:44.02\00:18:46.55
can use anybody. I
mean, He used me! I was
00:18:46.59\00:18:48.99
only 22 years old
when I received the call.
00:18:49.02\00:18:52.03
- See, now that's
inspiring, because
00:18:53.63\00:18:56.36
you are a young
man. How old are you now?
00:18:56.46\00:18:58.60
- I'm 25 right
now. - 25 right now. And
00:18:58.67\00:19:01.70
you're the
project leader over there.
00:19:01.80\00:19:04.04
- Yes. - It's
inspiring, because no matter how
00:19:04.07\00:19:06.81
young a person is,
they can get involved in
00:19:06.88\00:19:09.78
ministry and SHOULD
get involved in ministry.
00:19:09.84\00:19:12.11
God has a calling on
each one of our lives.
00:19:12.15\00:19:14.52
I'm glad that you
answered yours, man.
00:19:14.58\00:19:17.29
I'm glad that you
answered yours. We
00:19:17.35\00:19:19.75
have some pictures.
I'd like to take a look at
00:19:19.85\00:19:22.62
the first picture.
Why don't you tell us a
00:19:22.76\00:19:25.83
little bit about
that picture? - Okay. This
00:19:25.89\00:19:30.77
picture is actually
from Kagoshima. It's the
00:19:30.83\00:19:33.84
southernmost part
of Japan. I mean, the
00:19:33.90\00:19:36.50
most southern part
is Okinawa islands,
00:19:36.57\00:19:38.11
but Kagoshima. We
had about 25 young
00:19:38.17\00:19:43.18
people for this
program. These are high school
00:19:43.28\00:19:46.88
and college
students. It was hot! We had
00:19:46.92\00:19:51.45
volcanoes there, so
it's hot! - Oh, wow!
00:19:51.52\00:19:54.46
- Yeah. It was
intense. The volcanoes were
00:19:54.52\00:19:58.33
right there, so sometimes,
the air wasn't the best.
00:19:58.39\00:20:01.66
- Yeah. - But these
guys ran door to door, shared
00:20:01.76\00:20:05.70
the gospel... We had
some good experiences.
00:20:05.73\00:20:09.74
In fact, we sold a lot
of Great Controversies.
00:20:09.84\00:20:12.24
A lot of Great Controversy-
for whatever reason,
00:20:12.31\00:20:15.24
these young people,
they're like, "I want
00:20:15.31\00:20:17.61
to sell the Great
Controversy! I want
00:20:17.68\00:20:19.31
to sell them!" We
gave worships on Great
00:20:19.38\00:20:21.65
Controversy theme
and, "Agh, I want to sell
00:20:21.72\00:20:23.99
this book!" And this
one girl... It was her
00:20:24.05\00:20:28.16
first time doing
Youth Rush, and her goal
00:20:28.22\00:20:30.73
that day was
like, "I'm going to sell
00:20:30.79\00:20:32.69
Great Controversy!
I've been doing this
00:20:32.79\00:20:34.30
for two weeks
already; I haven't sold The
00:20:34.36\00:20:35.76
Great Controversy!
I'm going to sell the
00:20:35.83\00:20:37.47
Great Controversy!"
- Uh-huh! - I mean,
00:20:37.57\00:20:39.53
she was, fooogh! She
was determined! Well,
00:20:39.60\00:20:43.71
that day, she met
a grandpa who went to
00:20:43.77\00:20:46.57
an English school a
long time ago run by
00:20:46.64\00:20:49.34
an Adventist church
a long time ago, and he
00:20:49.38\00:20:52.48
was like, "Oh,
Adventist! Ok!" And then they
00:20:52.55\00:20:54.65
began to converse. She
showed The Great Controversy,
00:20:54.72\00:20:57.65
but he showed no
interest. Like, "Ah,
00:20:57.75\00:21:00.59
Christianity. It
doesn't make sense.
00:21:00.66\00:21:04.09
Buddhism makes more
sense." That's what he
00:21:04.16\00:21:06.59
said. It turned
her on. She said, "Hold
00:21:06.66\00:21:10.00
on, hold on,
Grandpa!" and she began to talk
00:21:10.03\00:21:12.40
about the origin of
sin, creation, everything!
00:21:12.43\00:21:15.44
Boom boom boom
boom boom boom, and the
00:21:15.47\00:21:17.07
grandpa's like,
"Okay, okay, okay! Got it;
00:21:17.14\00:21:18.54
I'll buy this book,
and I'll read it." And
00:21:18.64\00:21:21.44
that was the story.
- Praise the Lord that
00:21:21.51\00:21:23.41
she was persistent
and didn't give up on
00:21:23.48\00:21:25.58
the grandpa! That
is amazing. What are
00:21:25.65\00:21:28.98
some other stories
that you have? - There are
00:21:29.02\00:21:31.79
other
experiences, not in Kagoshima.
00:21:31.85\00:21:35.66
We'll go down south
more. How about Okinawa?
00:21:35.69\00:21:38.29
In Okinawa, we had...
There, it's an island,
00:21:38.36\00:21:43.93
and this one girl...
I went door to door with
00:21:44.97\00:21:48.80
this one student,
'cause I go door to
00:21:48.87\00:21:52.31
door with
different students; make sure
00:21:52.41\00:21:53.74
they're okay
knocking on doors, make sure
00:21:53.78\00:21:56.44
they're handing the
books right... We met
00:21:56.51\00:21:59.91
this grandma. She
wasn't Christian, of
00:21:59.98\00:22:04.89
course. At the end
of the conversation, she
00:22:04.95\00:22:07.92
was really
touched, especially when we
00:22:07.99\00:22:09.66
prayed for her. She
was really touched. It
00:22:09.72\00:22:12.36
was her first
Christian prayer ever. When we
00:22:12.43\00:22:15.16
offered to pray, she
was like, "Is it okay
00:22:15.23\00:22:16.97
here?" It was
like, "Yeah, right here,
00:22:17.03\00:22:18.37
right now!" She was
touched and she said,
00:22:18.40\00:22:21.10
"Hold on." She went
to her kitchen and she
00:22:21.20\00:22:24.24
got three mochi
(these are rice cakes). Three
00:22:24.31\00:22:27.48
mochi and three
drinks- plum juice drinks. I
00:22:27.54\00:22:32.31
was like, "Oh, it's
fine! Two's fine! Just
00:22:32.38\00:22:34.32
us two." She's
like, "No, no, no. This is
00:22:34.38\00:22:36.45
for your God! Serve
it to your God." I was
00:22:36.52\00:22:39.55
like, "Oh!" It's a
Japanese custom where
00:22:39.62\00:22:41.62
you serve food to
the gods, so it's like,
00:22:41.72\00:22:43.56
"Serve it to your
God." But bottom line, she
00:22:43.63\00:22:46.29
was thankful for the
prayer and the interactions.
00:22:46.39\00:22:49.60
I'm sure something
touched her. - Well,
00:22:49.73\00:22:52.53
praise the Lord. I'm
glad she was touched by
00:22:52.63\00:22:54.14
you sharing. You
know, we have some more
00:22:54.20\00:22:56.60
pictures. I want to
go through those, too.
00:22:56.71\00:22:58.37
Let's take a look at
this next picture, and
00:22:58.47\00:23:00.98
tell us what's going
on there. - Ahh, this
00:23:01.04\00:23:05.25
one, actually,
they're holding a little
00:23:05.31\00:23:07.32
certificate. That's
actually a certificate -
00:23:07.42\00:23:09.38
one year in mission.
It's an initiative by
00:23:09.48\00:23:13.66
General
Conference Division right now
00:23:13.72\00:23:16.66
where young people
dedicate one year doing
00:23:16.73\00:23:20.86
ministry or serving
God. For Japan, Youth
00:23:20.93\00:23:25.37
Rush is part of
one year ministry. What
00:23:25.43\00:23:28.20
that means is,
Youth Rush program itself
00:23:28.27\00:23:30.34
is only three
weeks. We have three-week
00:23:30.41\00:23:32.54
blitzes, three-week
literature door-to-door
00:23:32.61\00:23:35.38
programs February,
March, July, August,
00:23:35.44\00:23:38.48
and September - 5
times a year. Some people
00:23:38.55\00:23:41.25
join all five times.
Some people just join
00:23:41.32\00:23:44.32
one or two (it depends
on their school schedule).
00:23:44.39\00:23:47.46
Our goal is, after
they do Youth Rush, we
00:23:47.52\00:23:51.69
encourage them to be
part of the local church.
00:23:51.73\00:23:55.66
We encourage them,
wherever they go, to
00:23:55.76\00:23:58.03
serve the Lord.
They don't need to knock
00:23:58.10\00:24:00.54
on doors; they have
all the doors they can
00:24:00.57\00:24:03.74
knock on - doors of
their friends' hearts!
00:24:03.81\00:24:05.97
They can knock on
their hearts. So, we
00:24:06.04\00:24:08.61
encourage them. We
equip them how to give
00:24:08.68\00:24:10.41
Bible studies, how
to start small groups in
00:24:10.45\00:24:12.71
that sense. So, we
try to make this Youth
00:24:12.78\00:24:15.55
Rush a beginning,
a starting point for
00:24:15.62\00:24:18.09
them. - Yeah. So,
it's not the ending; it's
00:24:18.15\00:24:20.52
just the beginning
where they come and
00:24:20.59\00:24:22.82
get equipped,
then they go out to all
00:24:22.92\00:24:25.43
of their communities
and share the gospel.
00:24:25.49\00:24:28.50
Let's look at our
next picture and see what
00:24:28.56\00:24:31.40
we've got here. -
Ah, this is Kobe. Kobe
00:24:31.43\00:24:37.27
Adventist Church.
Here, they look very relaxed,
00:24:37.34\00:24:42.51
happy... This
program, oh man. They got along
00:24:42.61\00:24:47.08
very well. They had a
really good time. I've
00:24:47.18\00:24:52.09
heard from the
leaders there, they really had
00:24:52.15\00:24:57.03
a really good
prayer life. They took time
00:24:57.13\00:25:00.40
praying together
morning and evening.
00:25:00.50\00:25:03.57
The group prayed
together. They really
00:25:03.67\00:25:05.63
valued the
importance of prayer. And these
00:25:05.70\00:25:08.04
participants that
went through this program,
00:25:08.10\00:25:10.31
they're like,
"It's the first time I've
00:25:10.41\00:25:11.77
ever prayed like
this." It's like, wow. Prayer
00:25:11.84\00:25:14.78
is powerful. -
Yeah! And so how did they
00:25:14.84\00:25:17.65
see prayers answered?
Do you have any stories
00:25:17.71\00:25:19.78
of how they saw the
prayers answered? - Yes.
00:25:19.81\00:25:21.82
The area there-
I'll be honest. It wasn't
00:25:21.88\00:25:24.32
the easiest area.
Very difficult. We had all
00:25:24.39\00:25:28.09
kinds of religions;
you name it. All kinds
00:25:28.16\00:25:31.33
of religions,
knocking on doors of that
00:25:31.49\00:25:35.13
region. So, the
moment we knock, they're not
00:25:35.20\00:25:38.90
very open. No, not
very receptive, so it was
00:25:38.97\00:25:43.61
difficult. Without
prayer, you can not
00:25:43.67\00:25:45.97
knock on those
areas. It's not a small
00:25:46.04\00:25:49.14
village; it's a
major town, Kobe. So, they
00:25:49.21\00:25:52.41
really prayed.
They had some powerful,
00:25:52.51\00:25:54.42
divine
appointments. Powerful, divine
00:25:54.48\00:25:56.82
appointments, for
they meet people that
00:25:56.89\00:25:59.25
are not Christians
that ask for Christian
00:25:59.29\00:26:03.36
literature, that
ask for Bible studies,
00:26:03.43\00:26:05.59
that ask for that
literature. So, it
00:26:05.63\00:26:07.80
was amazing. - Nice.
Nice, man. And have you
00:26:07.86\00:26:10.70
seen the church grow
as a re- let's say you
00:26:10.77\00:26:16.27
go to Okinawa or
you go to some of these
00:26:16.37\00:26:19.64
other areas. Have you
seen growth within the
00:26:19.71\00:26:22.71
church as a result
of reaching out to these
00:26:22.78\00:26:24.85
communities? -
Yeah, very good question.
00:26:24.91\00:26:27.05
There are
several purposes for this
00:26:28.52\00:26:30.49
literature evangelism
program-especially the
00:26:30.55\00:26:33.32
student literature
evangelism program.
00:26:33.39\00:26:35.32
One is, of course,
evangelism. We share
00:26:35.39\00:26:40.60
the gospel. It's
like planting seeds, but
00:26:40.63\00:26:43.77
it's very, very rare
for someone to accept
00:26:43.83\00:26:47.44
the gospel
immediately. It's very rare. For
00:26:47.50\00:26:50.27
example, I knock
on their door and they
00:26:50.34\00:26:51.97
immediately say,
"Oh, I accept this! Let me
00:26:52.04\00:26:54.28
get baptized!"
It's very rare for that
00:26:54.34\00:26:55.84
to happen. It
happens, once in a while. The
00:26:55.94\00:27:00.82
reason for this work
is to train the young
00:27:00.92\00:27:03.02
people to have
them get to know Jesus
00:27:03.08\00:27:06.55
Christ on a
personal level by working for
00:27:06.62\00:27:08.56
the Lord. But to
answer your question,
00:27:08.62\00:27:10.99
yes, we have had
Bible study interests. Also,
00:27:11.06\00:27:15.70
we have had church
members that haven't
00:27:15.80\00:27:18.93
been going to
church for a long time. We
00:27:19.03\00:27:21.37
visit the neighborhood,
and they start coming.
00:27:21.44\00:27:24.01
- Nice. - They
started coming. So, these
00:27:24.11\00:27:26.81
long-time absent
church members started coming.
00:27:26.91\00:27:31.45
Just recently, at
this one church, we had 8
00:27:31.51\00:27:36.08
people throughout the
course of the program,
00:27:36.12\00:27:38.35
but 8 Bible
study interests. These
00:27:38.42\00:27:40.99
are all non-Christian
people signing up for
00:27:41.02\00:27:44.63
personal Bible study.
The pastor of the church
00:27:44.66\00:27:47.30
decided to follow up
on all those studies,
00:27:47.36\00:27:50.17
but what I
appreciate about the pastor...
00:27:50.23\00:27:53.57
He didn't follow
up alone. He asked the
00:27:54.17\00:27:59.27
church members.
He brought 4 church
00:27:59.31\00:28:01.71
members and said,
"Okay, you're giving
00:28:01.78\00:28:03.14
Bible studies to
this person, this person,
00:28:03.21\00:28:05.11
that..." and he
trained the church members. By
00:28:05.18\00:28:08.48
God's grace, out of
the 8, 5 are them are
00:28:08.55\00:28:10.89
still studying the
Bible. Like, they are studying
00:28:10.95\00:28:14.36
the Bible. These are
interests we gain from
00:28:14.39\00:28:17.33
knocking on doors.
- Praise the Lord. So,
00:28:17.39\00:28:20.63
the seed was planted,
the Holy Spirit watered
00:28:20.70\00:28:22.63
that seed and drew
people into the church...
00:28:22.73\00:28:26.97
I'm happy that the
pastor followed up. I mean,
00:28:27.04\00:28:30.44
that's so important,
because you can go into
00:28:30.51\00:28:32.47
the community, but
there has to be that
00:28:32.57\00:28:34.58
follow-up. That
is important. We have
00:28:34.64\00:28:37.41
another picture.
Let's look at this picture
00:28:37.48\00:28:38.98
and see what's going
on in this particular
00:28:39.05\00:28:43.28
setting. - Oh,
actually, this is a picture of
00:28:43.39\00:28:47.09
Okinawa. - Oh, this
is Okinawa? - Yeah, let
00:28:47.16\00:28:49.52
me share one more
story of Okinawa. One of the
00:28:49.62\00:28:52.39
guys there
actually... He was a theology
00:28:52.43\00:28:56.60
major. He knocked on
this door, and he met
00:28:56.67\00:29:01.14
this young person.
They conversed, and he
00:29:01.20\00:29:06.04
decided to invite the
young person to church.
00:29:06.11\00:29:09.61
That very Saturday,
the young person came
00:29:09.68\00:29:13.72
to church! To this
day, that young person keeps
00:29:13.78\00:29:17.45
coming to church every
weekend. He's connected
00:29:17.62\00:29:20.29
to the local church,
so those things happen,
00:29:20.36\00:29:22.72
too! - Praise the Lord.
- It's quite interesting.
00:29:22.79\00:29:24.23
Okinawa, actually...
In the last couple of
00:29:24.29\00:29:27.40
years, we've been
there twice-same area. What's
00:29:27.46\00:29:31.97
interesting is,
repetition deepens impression.
00:29:32.03\00:29:34.97
It really does. We
had these people like,
00:29:35.04\00:29:39.41
"Hey, you guys came
last time," or like,
00:29:39.47\00:29:42.38
"Oh, you came
again. Last time, I didn't
00:29:42.44\00:29:44.95
buy anything, but,
hey, since you came, I'm
00:29:45.01\00:29:48.08
going to buy." Or this
one family... This lady,
00:29:48.15\00:29:54.76
she bought a
vegetarian cookbook, a little
00:29:54.79\00:29:59.03
health book from this
guy. She really enjoyed
00:29:59.09\00:30:03.60
those books. A year
passed, and this guy
00:30:03.67\00:30:07.20
came again!-
knocked on the same door and
00:30:07.27\00:30:09.54
she was like, "I
recognize you!" "Oh, I recognize
00:30:09.57\00:30:11.54
you!" And they
conversed, and she decided to
00:30:11.61\00:30:14.81
buy The Great Controversy
and The Desire of Ages.
00:30:14.84\00:30:17.38
- Wow. So she got
those two books. Those are
00:30:17.45\00:30:20.92
powerful books,
too. We have a video roll
00:30:20.95\00:30:26.99
with testimonies that's
in Japanese, but there's
00:30:27.06\00:30:30.69
English subtitles.
Powerful video. Let's
00:30:30.76\00:30:34.46
check that out.
00:30:34.53\00:30:36.00
Translation: "'Whoa,
seriously?' I think that
00:31:12.20\00:31:14.07
prayer became an
amazing thing to me."
00:31:14.10\00:31:15.97
Translation: "They
told me, 'You're amazing! Do
00:33:09.32\00:33:12.62
your best!" and
bought a book from me.
00:33:12.69\00:33:15.52
- Wow. So, I saw in
that video where there
00:33:50.39\00:33:54.06
were several
testimonies about people buying
00:33:54.13\00:33:57.83
books, the love of
Christ being shared
00:33:57.93\00:34:00.84
with them, and prayers
that took place and all
00:34:00.87\00:34:04.04
of that stuff.
Shows, again, why literature
00:34:04.11\00:34:07.08
evangelism is so
important. Did you
00:34:07.18\00:34:10.15
grow up speaking
Japanese? - No. My
00:34:10.18\00:34:14.05
mom made a rule
in our homes that we
00:34:14.12\00:34:20.46
speak Japanese at
home. So, conversationally,
00:34:20.56\00:34:23.43
like, "Hey, it's
breakfast time!" or
00:34:23.49\00:34:24.83
"Hey, it's time
to eat!" or "Time to
00:34:24.96\00:34:26.63
clean up." Those
conversational Japanese...
00:34:26.70\00:34:29.23
I grew up learning,
but reading and writing
00:34:29.30\00:34:33.03
is a whole different
thing. I mean, I grew
00:34:33.13\00:34:35.97
up in California,
so outside of my home,
00:34:36.10\00:34:38.34
it's English or
Spanish. - And so, yeah, that's
00:34:38.41\00:34:43.01
why I was asking that
question, because now,
00:34:43.04\00:34:44.81
you're in Japan and
where you have to be
00:34:44.88\00:34:48.48
fluent in the language,
I would imagine, reading
00:34:48.55\00:34:51.22
and writing,
especially when you're going out
00:34:51.32\00:34:52.75
to do literature
evangelism. So, how
00:34:52.85\00:34:54.59
did you learn that
and how long did it
00:34:54.66\00:34:58.59
take you to learn?
- You know, I think
00:34:58.66\00:35:00.20
that's part of
God's miracle or God's
00:35:00.26\00:35:02.30
leading. When I went
there, I was like, "Okay,
00:35:02.36\00:35:05.20
if I'm going to work
here, especially if I'm
00:35:05.27\00:35:07.07
going to deal with
books, I better know
00:35:07.14\00:35:08.60
how to read and
write." So, I prayed. All I
00:35:08.70\00:35:13.71
did was- I memorized
a LOT of Bible verses
00:35:13.81\00:35:16.31
in English and
Japanese. So the same verses, I
00:35:16.38\00:35:18.68
memorized,
memorized, memorized. I learned
00:35:18.78\00:35:20.58
the writing system,
I'd practice, practice,
00:35:20.68\00:35:22.75
morning to evening,
all I did was practice,
00:35:22.82\00:35:25.09
practice, practice,
practice. After a month, I was
00:35:25.15\00:35:27.26
able to read and
write. After these
00:35:27.32\00:35:31.99
couple of years, now
I translate different
00:35:32.06\00:35:34.36
materials from
Japanese to English or English
00:35:34.43\00:35:36.53
to Japanese, vice
versa. We just published one
00:35:36.60\00:35:41.14
of the books I translated,
so God is good! - Wow,
00:35:41.20\00:35:44.41
that is amazing!
After a month, and you were
00:35:44.51\00:35:47.81
using the Word of
God? Like, you were reading
00:35:47.84\00:35:50.45
the Bible in
English and then reading it
00:35:50.55\00:35:52.58
in Japanese? -
Yes, same places, yeah.
00:35:52.65\00:35:55.75
- Wow, and you learned
how to read and write...
00:35:55.82\00:35:58.29
You know, that's amazing. - It's
00:35:58.35\00:36:00.59
amazing. It's a
different story. Like,
00:36:00.66\00:36:02.89
"Oh, it's breakfast
time!" or "It's time
00:36:02.92\00:36:04.63
to clean up!"
Those are easy Japanese,
00:36:04.66\00:36:06.53
but it's a different
story when you preach
00:36:06.59\00:36:07.93
the Word. You have to
use different words, so
00:36:08.00\00:36:10.83
like, "How am I going
to preach in Japanese?
00:36:10.90\00:36:13.17
I better memorize the Bible."
So, that's what happened.
00:36:13.34\00:36:17.14
By God's grace, I
can preach in Japanese,
00:36:17.24\00:36:20.01
as well. - Yes, that
is amazing. What other
00:36:20.08\00:36:23.61
stories do you
have from your time in
00:36:23.68\00:36:25.78
Japan? - There's a lot
of stories, experiences-
00:36:25.85\00:36:32.35
I mean, just the fact
that we have this Youth
00:36:32.42\00:36:35.39
Rush program in Japan
is a story itself. But
00:36:35.52\00:36:41.20
this one thing we
do... So, what am I doing
00:36:41.26\00:36:46.27
outside of Youth
Rush? February, March, July,
00:36:46.33\00:36:48.94
August, [September], we
have the Youth Rush programs.
00:36:49.04\00:36:52.31
During those
times, I'm with the young
00:36:52.37\00:36:55.28
people. But
outside of those times, we
00:36:55.34\00:36:58.51
plan for the next
event or we recruit,
00:36:58.58\00:37:01.95
or we make materials;
we decide, choose, and
00:37:02.02\00:37:07.06
vote, and help
publish the books that we use
00:37:07.12\00:37:10.26
at doors. We also-
I'm involved with Youth
00:37:10.33\00:37:14.16
Church in Tokyo -
Setagaya Youth Church.
00:37:14.23\00:37:18.13
It's in Tokyo. It
was actually part of the
00:37:18.20\00:37:20.40
13 Sabbath school
offerings last quarter.
00:37:20.47\00:37:24.14
- Okay, okay! - It's
a church plant. We had
00:37:24.21\00:37:28.58
less than 10 people
there a couple years ago.
00:37:28.64\00:37:31.15
In fact, about five
active church members.
00:37:31.21\00:37:33.31
The church was
ready to close down. They
00:37:33.38\00:37:37.49
just did not have
enough manpower to
00:37:37.55\00:37:39.79
keep the church
going. Every week, they had
00:37:39.89\00:37:43.06
a TV screen, and
they watched different
00:37:43.16\00:37:45.13
preachers preach on
the TV screen. That was
00:37:45.23\00:37:47.23
their worship
service. They were ready
00:37:47.36\00:37:49.56
to close down, but
that's when the Union
00:37:49.66\00:37:51.53
president said,
"Hold on. We're going to
00:37:51.60\00:37:53.84
turn this into a
youth church." - Nice. - So,
00:37:53.90\00:37:56.91
myself and another
pastor and his family
00:37:57.01\00:37:59.37
came, and we went
there. God worked; God
00:37:59.44\00:38:03.51
worked, and we have
over 30 people every
00:38:03.58\00:38:05.75
week going to
that church. We have a
00:38:05.81\00:38:08.68
lot of young people.
What I like about this
00:38:08.75\00:38:12.02
church... About half
of the people that come
00:38:12.09\00:38:17.23
to church are not
Adventist. Some of
00:38:17.29\00:38:21.10
them are not
Christians! - Wow. - So, every
00:38:21.16\00:38:23.83
week, it's like an
outreach. It's like an
00:38:23.93\00:38:26.23
evangelistic
series. - Yeah, so they're
00:38:26.30\00:38:28.77
hearing this
precious message for the first
00:38:28.87\00:38:31.11
time in their
lives, some of them. That's
00:38:31.17\00:38:33.54
amazing. - It's a
small church - a very small
00:38:33.61\00:38:36.85
church. 30 people
or so; sometimes 40,
00:38:36.91\00:38:40.15
sometimes 50 - very
small church, but we
00:38:40.22\00:38:42.85
have a lot of
young people, kids coming
00:38:42.95\00:38:44.72
in. It's a nice
opportunity right
00:38:44.79\00:38:48.06
there in Tokyo. -
Absolutely. What's
00:38:48.16\00:38:50.93
your vision for
Youth Rush Japan? - The
00:38:51.03\00:38:53.63
vision for Youth Rush
Japan... Of course. I've
00:38:53.73\00:38:59.83
been there three
years now. The vision is
00:38:59.93\00:39:03.34
for this ministry to
keep going, continuing,
00:39:03.41\00:39:06.24
until Jesus comes -
until probation closes,
00:39:06.31\00:39:09.14
keep knocking on
doors. In order for that to
00:39:09.18\00:39:12.31
happen, we need
to train young people
00:39:12.38\00:39:15.68
to become leaders. So,
right now, we're mentoring
00:39:15.78\00:39:19.22
young leaders,
college students, even high
00:39:19.32\00:39:22.02
school students, to
let them know, "Hey, you
00:39:22.09\00:39:24.33
guys are called to
be leaders." So we teach
00:39:24.39\00:39:28.36
them what it means
to be a leader. What the
00:39:28.46\00:39:30.53
expectations are, and
we give them opportunities
00:39:30.63\00:39:33.20
during the
program. "Hey, you help me
00:39:33.27\00:39:35.20
lead this program. You
help me train the young
00:39:35.27\00:39:37.74
people." Those kinds
of things. The vision is
00:39:37.81\00:39:40.24
to have Youth
Rush programs all over
00:39:40.31\00:39:44.18
Japan - not just
in Japan, but where I
00:39:44.28\00:39:48.22
am at - it's North
Asia Pacific Division.
00:39:48.28\00:39:51.45
We have China,
Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong,
00:39:51.52\00:39:54.02
and Japan and Mongolia
and all those countries!
00:39:54.09\00:39:57.43
We want Youth Rush
Mongolia, Youth Rush
00:39:57.49\00:39:59.19
Korea, Youth Rush
China, Youth Rush Taiwan...
00:39:59.29\00:40:01.23
That's the vision.
- Yes. - We need young
00:40:01.30\00:40:03.63
people to be on
fire. So, what we need is,
00:40:03.70\00:40:05.97
we need young people
to learn Chinese, learn
00:40:06.03\00:40:10.04
Korean. Maybe some
of you who are watching
00:40:10.14\00:40:13.04
who have experience
in Youth Rush or who have
00:40:13.14\00:40:14.81
experience in
literature work, learn Korean!
00:40:14.88\00:40:17.11
Learn Chinese!
Learn Taiwanese! Learn
00:40:17.18\00:40:19.35
Mongolian! You know?
Learn those languages.
00:40:19.41\00:40:21.92
Maybe God is
calling you to start Youth
00:40:22.95\00:40:26.05
Rush there. -
Amen, amen. Yes, because
00:40:26.12\00:40:28.62
this gospel is to
go into all the world.
00:40:28.66\00:40:31.86
Absolutely. So,
what are some leadership
00:40:31.93\00:40:34.50
principles that you
share with these kids?
00:40:34.66\00:40:38.90
What are some
leadership principles
00:40:38.97\00:40:40.34
that you could
share with our viewers?
00:40:40.44\00:40:42.14
- Of course,
leadership principles are very
00:40:42.24\00:40:47.11
different things that
we cover. A lot of the
00:40:47.18\00:40:51.45
things, I actually
base it on the things I
00:40:51.51\00:40:53.75
learned at SOULS
West. I made a little manual
00:40:53.82\00:40:55.92
in Japanese and pass
it out. But as Christian
00:40:56.02\00:41:00.46
leaders, I think
the most important thing
00:41:00.56\00:41:03.32
that I encourage,
I really emphasize
00:41:03.43\00:41:06.03
this, get to know the
Bible. Get to know the
00:41:06.09\00:41:08.66
Bible. Learn how to
study the Bible, give
00:41:08.70\00:41:10.90
Bible studies,
really... I even encourage them,
00:41:11.00\00:41:14.30
"Hey, memorize
Bible verses. That will
00:41:14.34\00:41:15.90
help you." So, their
personal walk with God...
00:41:15.94\00:41:19.57
You can't lead
someone if you don't have a
00:41:19.61\00:41:21.28
personal walk with
God, so start walking with
00:41:21.38\00:41:23.95
God, encourage
others, "Hey, let's walk
00:41:24.01\00:41:26.51
together!" That's
leadership. You start
00:41:26.58\00:41:29.82
walking and encourage
others to start walking.
00:41:29.88\00:41:32.59
Other than that,
we also teach them the
00:41:33.49\00:41:37.63
value of the
health message. A lot of
00:41:37.73\00:41:40.93
the young people,
they don't understand the
00:41:41.03\00:41:43.10
importance of health.
"Oh, really? Pork? Oh,
00:41:43.16\00:41:46.63
really? Oh, those
are unclean? Oh, okay.
00:41:46.70\00:41:49.17
Oh, alcohol is
not good? Okay, okay!"
00:41:49.20\00:41:51.51
So, those health
messages are also
00:41:51.57\00:41:53.94
important. So, we
teach different principles
00:41:53.98\00:41:57.35
like that and
encourage them. - So, just to
00:41:57.41\00:41:59.98
recap a little bit
of what you're saying...
00:42:00.05\00:42:01.88
Basically, lead by
example. How can you
00:42:01.95\00:42:06.05
lead people to
Christ if you don't know
00:42:06.12\00:42:07.76
Him for yourself?
You gotta study your Word
00:42:07.82\00:42:10.46
before you can teach
the Word, study God's
00:42:10.53\00:42:12.99
Word before you
can teach His Word, and
00:42:13.09\00:42:15.60
you have to take care
of yourself, your health;
00:42:15.66\00:42:20.40
otherwise, you
won't be healthy enough to
00:42:20.50\00:42:23.67
be a leader for other
people. I have an uncle.
00:42:23.77\00:42:27.88
My uncle Arthur. Uncle
Arthur, he would always
00:42:27.94\00:42:33.58
say, "You don't
lead where you don't go,
00:42:33.68\00:42:35.78
and you don't teach
what you don't know."
00:42:35.88\00:42:37.45
- Ohh. - And that
stuck with me over the years.
00:42:37.49\00:42:40.16
You know? How can you
teach somebody something
00:42:40.22\00:42:41.86
that you don't
know and that you don't
00:42:41.92\00:42:43.26
really put in the
practice? And you don't lead
00:42:43.32\00:42:45.36
where you don't go,
you know? You don't tell
00:42:45.43\00:42:47.10
somebody to do
something that you wouldn't
00:42:47.16\00:42:48.73
even do yourself. So,
that really stuck with me.
00:42:48.80\00:42:53.20
Over the years, my
mom teaching me about
00:42:53.23\00:42:56.87
having integrity and
all these other things
00:42:56.94\00:43:00.08
that I'm sure that
you guys are teaching
00:43:00.18\00:43:02.34
over there...
People have to operate with
00:43:02.41\00:43:04.55
integrity and stuff
like that. Yeah, absolutely.
00:43:04.61\00:43:07.75
- I forgot to
mention, the most important
00:43:07.82\00:43:11.39
leadership
principle, in my opinion, is...
00:43:11.45\00:43:14.39
It can be summarized
in a few words. Trust
00:43:14.42\00:43:17.79
God, and dream big!
That's it! Trust God
00:43:17.83\00:43:22.56
and dream big. Proverbs
3:5-7, the famous passage
00:43:22.60\00:43:26.57
says, "Trust in
the Lord with all thine
00:43:26.63\00:43:28.97
heart; lean not unto
thine own understanding.
00:43:29.04\00:43:31.44
In all thy ways,
acknowledge Him, and
00:43:31.51\00:43:33.54
He shall direct
thy path. Be not wise
00:43:33.58\00:43:36.01
in thine own
eyes; fear the Lord and
00:43:36.04\00:43:38.28
depart from evil."
- Amen. - That's it!
00:43:38.31\00:43:42.15
That's the
principle right there. Trust
00:43:42.22\00:43:43.95
God and dream
big. - And clearly, you
00:43:44.02\00:43:49.66
trusted God,
'cause you moved to Japan
00:43:49.72\00:43:51.89
and you're actively
involved in the Youth
00:43:51.93\00:43:56.60
Rush, and now you're
the project leader of
00:43:56.67\00:43:59.10
the Youth Rush! How
did you discover God's
00:43:59.13\00:44:02.10
will, His plan, and
His purpose for your life?
00:44:02.17\00:44:05.07
- You know...this
explanation is still
00:44:05.91\00:44:11.58
stuck in my mind
to this day. God leads
00:44:11.61\00:44:16.08
us a step at a
time. The famous verse,
00:44:16.18\00:44:18.65
Psalms 119:105,
"Thy Word is a lamp unto
00:44:18.69\00:44:21.79
my feet, light
unto my path." It's a
00:44:21.86\00:44:24.33
lamp! Lamps don't
brighten the whole
00:44:24.39\00:44:27.46
room up; it's steps
at a time. Step at a
00:44:27.50\00:44:31.07
time. So, I just,
step at a time, read the
00:44:31.10\00:44:35.00
Bible, study the
Bible, and I ask God, "Hey,
00:44:35.10\00:44:38.64
where do you need
me? Where is the work at?
00:44:38.71\00:44:41.88
Where's the
harvest at?" I said, "All
00:44:41.94\00:44:43.88
right, there? I'm
going there." Step
00:44:43.95\00:44:45.65
at a time. So I
ask God, "Where can You
00:44:45.71\00:44:47.42
use me the most? Where
are You happy the most?"
00:44:47.48\00:44:51.02
I just go where the
need is. - Amen. - And
00:44:51.12\00:44:54.32
clearly, in Japan, less
than 1% is Christian, so
00:44:54.39\00:44:57.09
there's a huge
need. Harvest is great but
00:44:57.13\00:45:00.33
the laborers are
few. - You're absolutely-
00:45:00.40\00:45:02.73
now, do your
parents live in Japan? - My
00:45:02.80\00:45:04.90
parents actually
live in California. - Oh,
00:45:04.97\00:45:07.54
they live in
California. Okay. How often do
00:45:07.60\00:45:09.60
you get to see them?
- Well, I see them once
00:45:09.64\00:45:14.71
a year or so. - Okay.
I'm sure they're proud
00:45:14.78\00:45:18.48
of you and what
you're doing over there in
00:45:18.51\00:45:20.12
Japan. - They seem to
be happy. - Absolutely.
00:45:20.18\00:45:24.05
So, what's next for
you with Youth Rush?
00:45:24.15\00:45:26.89
- With Youth Rush,
right now, we started
00:45:26.96\00:45:33.46
out with just one
program, but we're
00:45:33.53\00:45:35.86
increasing it to
two simultaneous, three
00:45:35.93\00:45:38.10
simultaneous
programs. We're training the
00:45:38.20\00:45:41.07
leaders, so our
next step for Youth Rush
00:45:41.14\00:45:43.84
Japan is to
keep increasing those
00:45:43.91\00:45:46.51
programs, and also
to work together with
00:45:46.57\00:45:50.35
the local church.
We actually have an
00:45:50.41\00:45:52.31
initiative
project called, "All Rush
00:45:52.41\00:45:54.58
Japan." Not "Old
Rush," but "All Rush." A-L-L.
00:45:54.68\00:45:58.39
Because after we
have Youth Rush programs,
00:45:58.45\00:46:01.89
these church
members and other people
00:46:01.96\00:46:03.76
are like, "How can
I get involved? I want
00:46:03.83\00:46:06.33
to get involved."
It's like, yes! We all need
00:46:06.39\00:46:08.70
to get involved. All
Rush Japan is basically
00:46:08.76\00:46:12.97
an evangelism team
at the local church
00:46:13.03\00:46:15.24
level that follows
up on the interests that
00:46:15.30\00:46:18.84
we find during
Youth Rush. They don't
00:46:18.91\00:46:21.54
necessarily
knock on doors. Some of
00:46:21.61\00:46:23.08
them will write
letters to their friends or
00:46:23.14\00:46:24.95
family. They will
pray, they will cook,
00:46:25.05\00:46:26.85
whatever! Whatever
they can, they all rush
00:46:26.92\00:46:29.68
together and share
the gospel. - So in
00:46:29.75\00:46:32.85
other words, this is
an all-inclusive rush.
00:46:32.92\00:46:36.49
- Yes. - No matter
the age... All-inclusive
00:46:36.59\00:46:41.76
rush. - Yeah. -
Nice, nice. So, what does
00:46:41.83\00:46:46.33
that look like- so,
they're writing letters,
00:46:46.43\00:46:48.14
they don't knock on
doors... - They knock
00:46:48.20\00:46:50.24
on doors. - Oh,
they DO knock on doors?
00:46:50.31\00:46:51.94
- But not 8 hours
a day. - Okay. - They
00:46:52.01\00:46:53.51
knock on doors a
couple hours here and there,
00:46:53.61\00:46:55.81
but they don't
run. They take it easy.
00:46:55.88\00:47:00.32
- A slower pace, a
little bit especially
00:47:00.42\00:47:02.25
with the average age
being 69 and up. Okay. Well, we
00:47:02.32\00:47:07.22
still have 2
pictures left. Wanna take a
00:47:07.29\00:47:10.13
look at one of these
pictures, and then of
00:47:10.16\00:47:12.36
course, you can talk
about what's going on
00:47:12.46\00:47:14.43
in this picture,
then we'll go to the next
00:47:14.53\00:47:16.26
one. - Okay. - So,
what's taking place
00:47:16.33\00:47:19.00
here? - Oh, this one
is actually a picture
00:47:19.07\00:47:21.20
of... We just saw the
video, but this one is actually
00:47:21.27\00:47:26.44
high school
students. It was a program we
00:47:26.54\00:47:30.68
had over in a
prefecture called Saitama (next
00:47:30.75\00:47:34.68
to Tokyo). But here,
yeah. We had a lot of
00:47:34.75\00:47:38.75
energy. Lots of energy.
- That's called Saitama?
00:47:38.85\00:47:41.86
- Yeah, Saitama. - Nice.
So they were very energetic?
00:47:41.96\00:47:45.76
Very
enthusiastic, too, spreading the
00:47:45.83\00:47:48.23
gospel? - Yes. -
Nice. Nice. Let's take a
00:47:48.30\00:47:50.97
look at our next
picture and see what's
00:47:51.03\00:47:53.17
going on. - Oh, this
is actually a picture
00:47:53.23\00:47:54.90
of the leader candidates.
These are young people
00:47:55.00\00:48:00.08
that we selected
out of the 100+ young
00:48:00.14\00:48:02.64
people that went
through these programs. We sat
00:48:02.74\00:48:06.05
down, prayed, and
said, "Hey, these guys,
00:48:06.11\00:48:07.92
let's train them
and encourage them to be
00:48:07.98\00:48:09.92
leaders!" Now, not
all of them will be
00:48:09.98\00:48:11.62
leaders, but we give
them opportunities to
00:48:11.72\00:48:13.96
become leaders. - Nice.
And to prove themselves.
00:48:14.06\00:48:17.03
That's great. That
is great. - And they're
00:48:17.09\00:48:19.46
holding out- the
books that they were holding
00:48:19.56\00:48:21.06
out, that's the
book that I translated
00:48:21.13\00:48:23.77
together with a
fellow friend. - Wow. That's
00:48:23.87\00:48:27.70
amazing. You know,
it's great that you're
00:48:27.80\00:48:29.60
providing them with
leadership opportunities,
00:48:29.67\00:48:33.04
so it's a chance for
them to prove themselves,
00:48:33.14\00:48:35.24
to grow, and all of
those things. So, what
00:48:35.31\00:48:39.61
qualities do you
look for when you guys are
00:48:39.68\00:48:42.78
selecting leaders? -
Of course, one of the
00:48:42.88\00:48:47.89
qualities or experiences,
they have to experience
00:48:47.96\00:48:50.69
Youth Rush Japan;
that's a given. Another one
00:48:50.76\00:48:54.56
is, we're not necessarily
looking for the highest
00:48:54.63\00:48:58.20
seller, you know? Who
can sell the most number...
00:48:58.27\00:49:01.04
Not necessarily
that, but hard work ethic.
00:49:01.10\00:49:04.77
Do they work hard
even if they sell or don't
00:49:04.87\00:49:07.34
sell? Do they have
positive attitudes?
00:49:07.41\00:49:10.68
That's important.
We really look. Do they
00:49:10.75\00:49:12.38
have a positive
attitude, and are they trusting
00:49:12.48\00:49:15.92
God? That's important.
Trust God and dream big.
00:49:15.98\00:49:19.49
So, those two,
basically, really hone in on
00:49:19.55\00:49:22.22
that. - Gotcha.
Those are crucial. What are
00:49:22.29\00:49:24.89
some of your needs
for Youth Rush Japan?
00:49:24.96\00:49:27.53
What are some of your
needs? Is it finances,
00:49:27.60\00:49:29.80
is it volunteers, is
it... I mean, what is
00:49:29.86\00:49:32.97
it? - You know, the
biggest need- thankfully,
00:49:33.03\00:49:36.94
financially,
things are moving forward.
00:49:37.01\00:49:39.97
The Union is on board
and we're moving forward.
00:49:40.04\00:49:43.11
But the biggest
need is we desperately
00:49:44.08\00:49:47.35
need more young
people. The recruiting pool
00:49:47.42\00:49:51.42
is small, so we
need a miracle. We need a
00:49:51.45\00:49:55.02
miracle where there's
hundreds and thousands
00:49:55.06\00:49:57.16
of young people
that join the church, or
00:49:57.23\00:49:59.16
perhaps, maybe people
that are not Japanese.
00:49:59.23\00:50:03.13
Young people that are
not Japanese, consider
00:50:03.20\00:50:06.27
going to Japan and
attend the universities
00:50:06.33\00:50:09.10
and colleges
there, and during breaks,
00:50:09.17\00:50:12.31
you can do Youth Rush
Japan. That's an option,
00:50:12.37\00:50:15.34
too. - Or you can
just have missionaries come
00:50:15.41\00:50:18.21
from the United
States, or wherever around the
00:50:18.28\00:50:20.88
world, to go to
Japan and participate in
00:50:20.95\00:50:24.42
Youth Rush. - That
would be good, too.
00:50:24.52\00:50:25.85
- Nice. - Just be
ready to learn the language.
00:50:25.89\00:50:29.39
- Yes, yes. And
are there people there
00:50:29.46\00:50:32.93
to help them? Like,
if someone wants to go
00:50:32.99\00:50:36.36
to Youth Rush, is
there somebody that can help
00:50:36.43\00:50:39.30
them learn the
language? - You know, at this
00:50:39.40\00:50:42.24
point, we don't have a
solid system or structure.
00:50:42.30\00:50:45.01
That's something
we definitely want to
00:50:45.07\00:50:47.41
create in the
future. So, right at this
00:50:47.48\00:50:51.65
time, you just
gotta study hard yourself
00:50:51.68\00:50:54.28
and memorize
those words. - Well, the
00:50:54.35\00:50:56.79
good thing is is, 1)
they can either do it how you
00:50:56.85\00:51:00.16
did it with a Japanese
Bible and a Bible that's
00:51:00.19\00:51:03.22
in English and
they can take a look at
00:51:03.26\00:51:05.19
the scriptures, or
they can go online.
00:51:05.26\00:51:08.03
Nowadays, we
have access to so much
00:51:08.10\00:51:09.86
information at our
fingertips that they
00:51:09.93\00:51:12.63
can learn online, as
well, if they want to
00:51:12.73\00:51:14.77
participate. Are
there housing opportunities
00:51:14.84\00:51:16.91
over there? Is there
somebody they can stay
00:51:16.97\00:51:18.84
with if they were
to go? - I think there
00:51:18.91\00:51:21.94
are different
churches. I think the best way
00:51:22.04\00:51:26.58
is to enroll in one of
the public universities
00:51:26.65\00:51:29.78
or colleges. You can do
campus ministry and Youth
00:51:29.85\00:51:32.82
Rush together.
[laughter] - Well, look-our time
00:51:32.85\00:51:36.73
is almost up. This
is crazy how fast it
00:51:36.79\00:51:39.39
went by. We're going
to go to your address
00:51:39.46\00:51:41.20
roll and tell
people how they can get in
00:51:41.23\00:51:43.50
contact with you. -
The Lord is blessing
00:51:43.57\00:51:46.60
the efforts of young
people in Japan who are
00:51:46.67\00:51:49.14
doing literature
evangelism, searching
00:51:49.20\00:51:51.24
for souls who are open
and eager to find Jesus
00:51:51.34\00:51:54.14
Christ. Their most
pressing need is for
00:51:54.21\00:51:56.95
more young people to
join him in this effort.
00:51:57.05\00:51:59.41
So if you would
like to come to Japan,
00:51:59.48\00:52:01.62
prepared to learn the
language and witness for
00:52:01.68\00:52:03.92
Christ at the same
time, then Youth Rush
00:52:03.99\00:52:06.49
Japan would like to
hear from you. Daniel's
00:52:06.55\00:52:09.42
email is
YouthRushJapan@adventist.jp
00:52:09.49\00:52:14.76
That's
YouthRushJapan@adventist.jp
00:52:14.86\00:52:19.70