I want to spend my life
00:00:01.60\00:00:06.80
Mending broken people
00:00:07.40\00:00:12.27
I want to spend my life
00:00:12.34\00:00:17.91
Removing pain
00:00:18.65\00:00:23.18
Lord, let my words
00:00:23.82\00:00:28.76
Heal a heart that hurts
00:00:30.03\00:00:33.96
I want to spend my life
00:00:34.46\00:00:39.37
Mending broken people
00:00:40.30\00:00:44.74
I want to spend my life
00:00:45.67\00:00:50.55
Mending broken people
00:00:51.28\00:00:56.05
- Hello, and welcome once again
to [the] 3ABN Today program!
00:01:10.97\00:01:14.44
I'm Shelley Quinn. -
I'm JD Quinn. - And we are
00:01:14.54\00:01:16.71
so glad that you're joining
us. We have a very inspiring
00:01:16.84\00:01:21.14
interview today. But first,
I want to take the opportunity
00:01:21.24\00:01:25.51
to thank you so much for
your prayers and your love
00:01:25.65\00:01:29.28
and your financial support
of 3ABN. This is the Mending
00:01:29.42\00:01:32.79
Broken People Network;
and what a privilege it
00:01:32.89\00:01:37.29
is to work for God.
Before we introduce our guest,
00:01:37.39\00:01:41.50
let me read a scripture
that you will understand
00:01:41.60\00:01:44.63
better as we get
in-why I've chosen this one as
00:01:44.73\00:01:48.20
we get into our program.
But it is Micah 6:8-I love
00:01:48.30\00:01:53.61
this-"He has shown you,
O man, what is good, and
00:01:53.71\00:01:57.45
what does the Lord require
of you but to do justly, to
00:01:57.51\00:02:02.82
love mercy, and to
walk humbly with your God?"
00:02:02.92\00:02:08.06
And you know, humility,
walking humbly, is learning
00:02:08.32\00:02:11.03
to depend totally on
God- but to do justice, love,
00:02:11.13\00:02:16.87
mercy, and walk
humbly. It's just our joy today
00:02:16.93\00:02:20.94
to introduce to you our
special guest...and that
00:02:21.00\00:02:25.14
is Jonathan Duffy, a
dear brother in the Lord who
00:02:25.24\00:02:29.28
is president of the Adventist
Development and Relief Agency.
00:02:29.34\00:02:34.85
And we're glad
you're here! - Lots of great
00:02:35.48\00:02:39.15
pleasure to be here, I
can tell you. - Well, I
00:02:39.22\00:02:41.32
have to say, just speaking
with you for a few moments
00:02:41.42\00:02:44.23
in the green room,
I've already learned- you
00:02:44.33\00:02:46.39
have totally changed my
vision and my understanding
00:02:46.49\00:02:51.33
of-we're going to call it-
ADRA (Adventist Development
00:02:52.13\00:02:56.00
and Relief Agency)-also
known as ADRA. But before
00:02:56.10\00:03:00.71
we get going, I know
you love music, I know YOU
00:03:00.78\00:03:04.98
love music, and we
know you love music. So JD,
00:03:05.01\00:03:08.48
who is singing for
us today? - Well we're
00:03:08.52\00:03:10.85
very blessed today
to have Wintley Phipps,
00:03:10.89\00:03:12.72
and he's going to be
singing, "Glorious Church."
00:03:12.79\00:03:15.26
Beautiful.
00:03:15.32\00:03:16.99
The shining jewel
of the ancient world
00:03:34.41\00:03:40.02
Babylon worshiped gods of stone
00:03:40.62\00:03:46.25
Power and pride were evil twins
00:03:47.22\00:03:52.73
That ruled her heart and throne
00:03:53.23\00:03:58.80
She was likened to a harlot
00:04:01.90\00:04:07.28
Fornication was in the wine
00:04:07.68\00:04:13.52
That filled the cup
from which she drank
00:04:13.92\00:04:20.16
Sins of every kind
00:04:20.36\00:04:27.20
The golden head
of Daniel's vision
00:04:40.61\00:04:46.11
Would topple given time
00:04:47.02\00:04:52.32
As would nations,
kings, and merchants
00:04:52.92\00:04:58.19
Intoxicated by her wine
00:04:58.39\00:05:04.83
The prophets tried to warn her
00:05:08.20\00:05:13.24
Heed the writing on the wall
00:05:13.58\00:05:18.88
Turn from her
wicked ways before the day
00:05:19.28\00:05:25.45
The wrath of God would fall
00:05:26.22\00:05:33.70
Oppressor of God's people
00:05:34.90\00:05:40.24
Babylon, so powerful and strong
00:05:41.30\00:05:46.24
She thought she was invincible
00:05:46.88\00:05:52.45
But God would prove her wrong
00:05:52.91\00:06:02.26
An angel filled with glory
00:06:11.03\00:06:16.04
Shall descend with
a shout, proclaimed,
00:06:16.67\00:06:23.24
"Babylon the Great is fallen
00:06:23.38\00:06:28.58
She will die in sin and shame"
00:06:28.88\00:06:37.39
Another voice from heaven
00:06:37.96\00:06:43.30
Will be heard across the earth
00:06:43.57\00:06:48.87
To give a warning
loud and clear to those
00:06:49.20\00:06:55.64
Who claim to be God's Church
00:06:55.94\00:07:03.82
"Come out of her, My people
00:07:04.89\00:07:10.89
Be not partakers of her sin
00:07:11.26\00:07:16.36
For I'm coming back
for a glorious Church
00:07:16.56\00:07:22.27
Undefiled; impure within
00:07:22.94\00:07:28.78
To him who worships
Me in spirit and truth
00:07:28.88\00:07:34.88
And is faithful to the end
00:07:35.02\00:07:39.62
I will say, 'Well done;
00:07:39.72\00:07:45.19
A crown of life you've won;
00:07:45.43\00:07:50.93
Come sit and reign with Me
00:07:51.40\00:07:56.67
Throughout eternity'
00:07:57.34\00:08:02.54
Thus saith the Lord"
00:08:03.14\00:08:10.45
"To him who worships
Me in spirit and truth
00:08:11.35\00:08:17.69
And is faithful to the end
00:08:17.93\00:08:22.63
I will say, "Well done;
00:08:22.96\00:08:28.00
A crown of life you won;
00:08:28.57\00:08:34.01
Come sit and reign with Me
00:08:34.64\00:08:40.25
Throughout eternity
00:08:40.82\00:08:46.05
Thus saith the Lord
00:08:47.29\00:08:56.20
For thine is the kingdom
00:08:57.27\00:09:03.47
And the power
00:09:03.81\00:09:06.84
And the glory forever
00:09:07.28\00:09:17.19
God's glorious Church
00:09:19.05\00:09:27.60
Amen, amen"
00:09:28.03\00:09:37.97
- Whoo! That's a two-hander,
for sure. [laughter] - There's
00:09:43.41\00:09:46.82
singing, and then there's
singing. [laughter] - You know,
00:09:46.88\00:09:49.65
it's easy to see why he
has been invited to sing
00:09:49.75\00:09:53.12
for, I don't know,
the last six presidents of
00:09:53.22\00:09:55.99
the United States? - 6 to
7. - And what a blessing that
00:09:56.09\00:09:59.03
Wintley uses his gifts,
his talents, for the Lord.
00:09:59.13\00:10:03.33
- Amen. - Amen. -
Great preacher, too. - Yes,
00:10:03.43\00:10:05.97
he is. Well, if you are
joining us just a little
00:10:06.07\00:10:09.07
late, our special
guest today is Jonathan Duffy
00:10:09.20\00:10:12.91
who is the president
of ADRA. And I have to
00:10:13.01\00:10:16.08
say, what a pleasure
it is to get to know you
00:10:16.18\00:10:19.55
and to find how you are
using YOUR gifts for the
00:10:19.68\00:10:23.99
Lord. Jonathan, you shared
just a little with us earlier
00:10:24.05\00:10:26.99
in the green room.
Tell us about your growing
00:10:27.09\00:10:29.69
up years, because I
think the Lord has had His hand
00:10:29.79\00:10:32.73
on your life from early
on. - [chuckles] He has.
00:10:32.79\00:10:36.67
I grew up in an Adventist
home. And you know, that
00:10:37.37\00:10:41.00
can be a blessing and a
curse, I guess. For some
00:10:41.10\00:10:44.07
people, they sort of grow
up within the Lord without
00:10:44.14\00:10:46.37
ever really having an
experience...but I was
00:10:46.44\00:10:50.25
very blessed. My father
was a church school teacher,
00:10:50.35\00:10:53.52
a principal in some
of the schools that he
00:10:53.62\00:10:55.68
worked in, my mother was
a nurse, and I was blessed
00:10:55.85\00:10:59.75
with a fantastic home
church. That home church
00:10:59.85\00:11:03.12
from a young age gave me a
responsibility, they ignored
00:11:03.19\00:11:06.43
when I made mistakes,
they just kept elevating the
00:11:06.53\00:11:09.66
responsibility... I remember
I was on the church board
00:11:09.76\00:11:12.37
at 17 years of age,
which some people thought was
00:11:12.47\00:11:15.14
young. But they just
kept growing me and giving me
00:11:15.20\00:11:18.07
more experience and had
significant people around
00:11:18.21\00:11:21.51
me-Pathfinder
leaders, youth leaders-just...
00:11:21.61\00:11:24.75
You know, some of the
church people... I remember
00:11:24.85\00:11:26.95
a very staid couple
in church-one of the most
00:11:27.05\00:11:30.59
prim and proper
people that you know. I was
00:11:30.65\00:11:33.82
made a deacon at about
16 years of age, and that
00:11:33.92\00:11:37.09
meant I didn't have
to sit with my parents. I
00:11:37.19\00:11:39.06
could sit in the crowd
room and open the door when
00:11:39.13\00:11:40.96
someone came late.
And Mr. Banks, who was one
00:11:41.06\00:11:44.50
of the staid members of
the church, would tell me
00:11:44.57\00:11:46.63
jokes during church.
And what he showed me was,
00:11:46.74\00:11:49.10
he showed me he's
human; showed me that you can
00:11:49.20\00:11:51.41
appear to be a very
poised, proper Christian, but
00:11:51.54\00:11:54.51
underneath it all,
you are real and you're a
00:11:54.64\00:11:57.21
person. And the modeling
that I got from all those
00:11:57.31\00:12:00.22
people really shaped
me in terms of who I am
00:12:00.32\00:12:03.08
today. - And you
know, you said earlier that
00:12:03.18\00:12:07.16
this loving church
that- and, oh, please listen-
00:12:07.26\00:12:10.93
they gave him responsibility,
and he grew up with a heart
00:12:11.03\00:12:14.66
for service for the
Lord. And so as you were
00:12:14.73\00:12:18.53
propelled then into university,
kind of tell us a little bit
00:12:18.63\00:12:22.14
more about how the Lord
led. - Sure. So, you know,
00:12:22.27\00:12:25.57
I went to university. My
goal was- one of my teachers
00:12:25.67\00:12:28.74
said to me- I was going
to go to Avondale College,
00:12:28.84\00:12:31.35
the church's university-
and they said, "You know
00:12:31.45\00:12:34.52
Jonathan, we have no one
in our education system who
00:12:34.58\00:12:36.95
teaches physical education
and health. Have you thought
00:12:37.05\00:12:40.22
about doing those things?
You know you're a sportsman,
00:12:40.29\00:12:42.36
an athlete-why don't
you think about doing that?"
00:12:42.46\00:12:44.89
So I entered into
that with the thought that
00:12:44.99\00:12:47.36
I would enter into education;
and I did end up teaching
00:12:47.43\00:12:50.67
for two years. But
really, I was called into health
00:12:50.77\00:12:53.17
ministry. And so, my background
is an exercise physiologist.
00:12:53.27\00:12:57.11
I did extra units in biology
and physiology and so forth
00:12:57.21\00:13:00.48
and sort of grew me
into the health industry.
00:13:00.58\00:13:03.55
I ended up at one
stage running a residential
00:13:03.65\00:13:06.41
lifestyle center. It
was running conjunction with
00:13:06.51\00:13:10.19
a hospital that specialized in
drug and alcohol rehabilitation.
00:13:10.29\00:13:13.66
We had some of the wealthiest
people in Australia come and
00:13:13.72\00:13:16.93
be our guests. They
loved it because they could go
00:13:16.99\00:13:20.50
to flash (fancy) places,
but it was a business card and
00:13:20.60\00:13:23.23
who they were. But here,
they took off their masks
00:13:23.30\00:13:25.40
and they were just
real, they were vulnerable,
00:13:25.53\00:13:27.60
and I just wanted to
touch their lives in a
00:13:27.70\00:13:30.41
very special and a
very real way of who they
00:13:30.51\00:13:32.47
are and what makes
them tick and the challenges
00:13:32.57\00:13:34.71
and be vulnerable. And so
I could fool many of them.
00:13:34.81\00:13:38.41
You know those times you're
envious because you look at
00:13:39.98\00:13:42.85
wealth? And here I am at
church, working not necessarily
00:13:42.95\00:13:45.85
on a corporate way
to... - And they're arriving
00:13:45.99\00:13:47.99
with Ferraris... - Ferraris,
and you know some of them
00:13:48.09\00:13:51.39
would take me for- we were
in a mountain area, so we'd
00:13:51.46\00:13:54.96
go about setting a
few records on some of the
00:13:55.06\00:13:57.13
mountain roads. [laughter]
Eventually, sadly, through
00:13:57.20\00:14:01.34
a series of events,
the church had to sell the
00:14:01.44\00:14:03.84
facility. I'd sort of
grown in my responsibility;
00:14:03.91\00:14:07.88
I was the director.
People come in 2-3 days and
00:14:07.94\00:14:11.31
one leave with hope. How
to give them hope? Something
00:14:11.41\00:14:16.55
to go home to feel like,
"I can go home and life's
00:14:16.62\00:14:18.55
going to be better." So
it was tiring. God gives
00:14:18.65\00:14:22.22
us a ministry, He gives
you a gift; and sometimes
00:14:22.32\00:14:24.69
you get so busy in the
gift, you forget the Giver.
00:14:24.76\00:14:27.36
- Mmm. - And I was feeling
quite burnt out. I hadn't
00:14:27.46\00:14:29.73
been able to take
annual leave because I had no
00:14:29.80\00:14:32.07
one to fill in for the
last three years. And then
00:14:32.13\00:14:34.50
they were selling it,
and where was my life going
00:14:34.60\00:14:36.07
to go from here? I was
getting job offers from
00:14:36.20\00:14:39.21
some of the corporate
people I knew. The big
00:14:39.31\00:14:41.44
money that sometimes you
dream about- and sometimes
00:14:41.54\00:14:44.05
you wonder, "Am I
really worth that?" And it's
00:14:44.15\00:14:46.45
nice for your own
self- value that somebody
00:14:46.55\00:14:48.82
would put a price on
you. But was that really what
00:14:48.88\00:14:51.92
I wanted? So I took a
family holiday, and we
00:14:52.02\00:14:54.52
went away just to reconnect
as a family. I did all the
00:14:54.62\00:14:57.13
jobs I was supposed to do
at home, and then I decided,
00:14:57.23\00:14:59.79
"This is my time to restore
my relationship with God."
00:14:59.89\00:15:02.33
So I took a bike ride from
Melbourne to Adelaide and back,
00:15:02.43\00:15:06.13
just because I knew when I
was on my bike, I had no one to
00:15:06.23\00:15:08.90
talk to; I could talk to
God. - That's what, 500 miles?
00:15:09.00\00:15:11.04
- It was 500 miles
each way. [laughter]
00:15:11.17\00:15:15.68
Just a series of
events happened along the way.
00:15:15.74\00:15:18.18
I was put in touch
with lives of people.
00:15:18.28\00:15:20.65
I thought I was on a holiday,
but I kept bumping into the
00:15:20.75\00:15:23.25
people in need and
so forth. And at the end
00:15:23.35\00:15:25.95
of the ride, I realized
that, really, what drives
00:15:26.05\00:15:29.06
me is I want to be an
agent of hope and healing.
00:15:29.16\00:15:32.59
- Amen. - I could chase
money, but what did that
00:15:32.69\00:15:35.40
really get me? A
bigger house? A flasher car?
00:15:35.50\00:15:37.90
But at the end of your
life, what's the legacy?
00:15:38.03\00:15:40.74
What do you leave
behind? - Amen. - You know? How
00:15:40.84\00:15:42.94
have you lived your
life? How have you touched
00:15:43.00\00:15:44.47
your life in a way
that actually leads people
00:15:44.57\00:15:46.91
to the greater
healing that God has for them?
00:15:47.01\00:15:49.34
- Amen. - And that
became the basis of my ministry
00:15:49.44\00:15:52.11
from there forth. -
Amen. - I hope that there's-
00:15:52.25\00:15:54.08
a lot of young
people are listening to what
00:15:54.15\00:15:56.62
you're saying. The last
5 minutes is packed with
00:15:56.69\00:15:59.35
wisdom that could
take a book of 500 pages to
00:15:59.49\00:16:03.26
explain what you just
did. And you certainly...
00:16:03.36\00:16:07.20
You're a gentle
giant type of person. You
00:16:07.30\00:16:10.90
just are so likeable
because you have paid
00:16:11.00\00:16:13.77
your dues. - It's
God. - It is God. - And you
00:16:13.87\00:16:17.97
know, how wonderful that you
were given this responsibility
00:16:18.07\00:16:22.88
in this loving community
that obviously shaped you,
00:16:23.01\00:16:28.28
because being given the
opportunity that you were
00:16:28.38\00:16:31.62
to go into the corporate
world to make 3-4 times
00:16:31.72\00:16:34.39
what you were making...
You know, a lot of people
00:16:34.46\00:16:36.96
would say, "Hey, I've
paid my dues; I've done
00:16:37.06\00:16:41.06
my part. Now I'm going
to let my family- we'll be
00:16:41.16\00:16:45.10
affluent like the rest
of these people." But at the
00:16:45.20\00:16:48.34
end of the day, more
money doesn't make you happy.
00:16:48.44\00:16:50.97
- It doesn't. - And
so, you have a heart for
00:16:51.07\00:16:52.81
God, and... Oh, our
time just went chk, chk, chk,
00:16:52.91\00:16:55.94
chk too quickly! Let's
just kind of fast-forward.
00:16:56.04\00:16:59.61
We're not going to
go through the story of
00:16:59.71\00:17:01.38
how you became president
of ADRA, but we just wanted
00:17:01.48\00:17:06.32
to have a little of that
personal flavor so people
00:17:06.42\00:17:09.02
can understand what
you're doing with ADRA now. You
00:17:09.12\00:17:13.33
have taken many hospitals
and other institutions and
00:17:13.40\00:17:17.80
revamped them, but
let's talk about what you are
00:17:17.90\00:17:21.74
doing with ADRA to rebrand
ADRA. - Can I say one thing
00:17:21.84\00:17:26.64
quickly, though? It's a
worldwide ministry. - It
00:17:26.78\00:17:30.35
is. - So I mean, here
you're going from Australia
00:17:30.45\00:17:32.71
now to a worldwide ministry,
and you cover, say, 130
00:17:32.78\00:17:39.05
countries? - We have 131
registered countries, but
00:17:39.15\00:17:43.22
we're in 140 countries.
- 140 coun... Now let's
00:17:43.29\00:17:46.63
pick up now. - Okay. -
'Cause this is a worldwide
00:17:46.73\00:17:49.76
stage that we're on
right now. - It is! And ADRA
00:17:49.86\00:17:52.37
impacts between 15 and 20
million lives per year. So,
00:17:52.47\00:17:57.27
that's an enormous
number of lives that you touch
00:17:57.41\00:17:59.71
in a very real, sustainable
way: that you give them
00:17:59.81\00:18:03.38
food, you give them
shelter; you give them something
00:18:03.48\00:18:05.38
which helps them,
their immediate family, but
00:18:05.51\00:18:08.45
you've reset it so
that then their children and
00:18:08.52\00:18:11.22
future generations have
a future. - And let me hit
00:18:11.32\00:18:14.69
the pause button here,
because when I was first-
00:18:14.79\00:18:17.63
I asked somebody,
"Well, what is ADRA?" when I
00:18:17.73\00:18:19.83
was new in the church.
They said it was Adventist
00:18:19.89\00:18:22.33
Disaster and Relief-but
that's incorrect. It's
00:18:22.43\00:18:25.57
Adventist Development
and Relief. And about
00:18:25.63\00:18:29.40
70% of their portfolio,
the projects that they
00:18:29.47\00:18:32.14
do are all long-term
sustainable development
00:18:32.24\00:18:37.88
projects. Most people
think of you as disaster
00:18:37.98\00:18:41.88
relief. So, it's
yours... - So, let me give you a
00:18:41.95\00:18:46.22
short story that maybe
helps us understand that.
00:18:46.32\00:18:48.69
- Sure. - So, we
went into a community in
00:18:48.79\00:18:50.53
Camp Bentiu? that had a
scarcity of food. So, we worked
00:18:50.63\00:18:55.00
with them, we taught
them cropping techniques, we
00:18:55.10\00:18:57.23
identified groundwater
sources, we helped them
00:18:57.33\00:18:59.70
to develop food all
year round so they had a
00:18:59.73\00:19:02.67
variety of food-'cause
often in some countries,
00:19:02.70\00:19:06.01
it's only one type of
food, the crop that they
00:19:06.11\00:19:08.74
grow-so, a variety of
nutrition so their children
00:19:08.84\00:19:11.75
grow up healthy and
strong, reach their potential...
00:19:11.81\00:19:14.25
We often talk about stunting,
but often we associate it
00:19:14.82\00:19:17.82
with height-but it's
also intellectual stunting. So
00:19:17.92\00:19:20.86
how do we help them reach
their potential? So, we helped
00:19:20.96\00:19:24.46
them with cropping, and
then they had excess food.
00:19:24.53\00:19:27.40
So we taught them literacy,
numeracy, we helped them
00:19:27.50\00:19:30.37
to get a small co-op and
get their goods to market,
00:19:30.47\00:19:33.64
which created income
for the families and income
00:19:33.74\00:19:36.60
for the community. And
then the community said,
00:19:36.71\00:19:39.27
"Well, you know"... At
the peak of the season, they
00:19:39.37\00:19:41.74
had 12 truckloads of vegetables
going out a week. So, they
00:19:41.81\00:19:45.58
said, "We need to improve
the road and the bridge."
00:19:45.71\00:19:47.85
So they decided they
needed to do some improvements
00:19:47.95\00:19:50.72
in their community,
so they asked, "How do we
00:19:50.82\00:19:52.72
fundraise?" So, we
worked with them and we helped
00:19:52.79\00:19:55.39
them to work out how
to fundraise, how to save,
00:19:55.49\00:19:57.89
and they were able to
achieve $100,000. - Wow!
00:19:57.99\00:20:01.70
- To improve some of their
community. Then, basically-
00:20:01.80\00:20:04.47
and I'm jumping over
a number of years-they
00:20:04.57\00:20:07.10
came back with
another plan. They wanted a
00:20:07.20\00:20:09.40
clinic, they wanted
a school, they wanted
00:20:09.50\00:20:11.64
to do improvements
in their community. And
00:20:11.71\00:20:13.74
their plan now was around
$500,000-$700,000, but they
00:20:13.81\00:20:18.31
didn't need us; they
did it without us. We'd
00:20:18.38\00:20:20.25
moved to another community.
- Praise the Lord! - That
00:20:20.35\00:20:22.15
was sustainable. And
that's really what we aim to do,
00:20:22.25\00:20:26.79
even with emergencies.
The idea is that you do
00:20:26.86\00:20:29.59
disaster risk reduction,
you work with the local
00:20:29.66\00:20:32.13
churches so you've got
local people who can respond
00:20:32.23\00:20:34.43
in the case of a disaster.
You do your first immediate
00:20:34.53\00:20:37.23
response, you do the
recovery, then you lead
00:20:37.33\00:20:39.83
to the long-term sustainable
development, and you don't
00:20:39.93\00:20:43.10
leave that community
until that community is fully
00:20:43.20\00:20:45.61
restored. And so,
with the work that we try
00:20:45.67\00:20:49.68
to do, we try to be very
present in the communities
00:20:49.74\00:20:53.01
in a very real way so
that when we leave them,
00:20:53.11\00:20:55.78
what we have is something
sustainable whether that's
00:20:55.88\00:20:58.19
transitioning from a
disaster to development
00:20:58.29\00:21:00.72
or whether that's
just going into issues that
00:21:00.79\00:21:02.82
are food-scarce...
But the big challenge for
00:21:02.89\00:21:05.53
us is to say, "Well, so
what?" You know? "There's
00:21:05.59\00:21:09.26
many agencies that do
that, so why do we need
00:21:09.33\00:21:11.50
the Adventist Development
and Relief Agency? What
00:21:11.60\00:21:15.40
makes you different because
you're Adventist? What makes
00:21:15.47\00:21:17.84
you different because you're
a faith-based organization?"
00:21:17.91\00:21:21.01
And that's where we wanted
to push a reset button. So,
00:21:21.11\00:21:25.28
the corporate sort of look
at their mission statements
00:21:25.38\00:21:28.95
and their vision statements,
but a lot of people never
00:21:29.05\00:21:31.29
remember them. So the
trend now is to have one
00:21:31.39\00:21:33.99
statement: a purpose
statement. So we said,
00:21:34.06\00:21:36.39
"What is the purpose
of ADRA?" So we looked
00:21:36.46\00:21:38.76
at that, we came up- "To
serve humanity so all may
00:21:38.83\00:21:43.00
live as God intended. -
That's incredible. - Say
00:21:43.13\00:21:47.10
that again, now. -
To serve humanity so all
00:21:47.20\00:21:50.01
may live as God intended.
- Amen. - So I can go in
00:21:50.11\00:21:53.64
and I can provide what
we call "food security,"
00:21:53.74\00:21:56.11
agriculture, I can provide
livelihoods, I can provide
00:21:56.24\00:22:00.72
shelter... I can provide
all those physical needs.
00:22:00.82\00:22:03.32
But how does that
affect the whole person? Every
00:22:04.09\00:22:06.79
person is a spiritual
being. Now, they may have their
00:22:06.89\00:22:09.66
own definitions of
what spirituality means or
00:22:09.72\00:22:12.56
their own definitions
of who God is; but for me,
00:22:12.63\00:22:15.36
as ADRA, the Adventist
Development Relief Agency,
00:22:15.46\00:22:18.57
I understand who God is,
and I'm driven by the fact
00:22:18.67\00:22:21.50
that I want everyone to
reach the potential that
00:22:21.60\00:22:23.87
God has for them. [Amen.]
And I allow them the scope
00:22:23.97\00:22:27.98
of what that means to
them...but I'm there to
00:22:28.04\00:22:30.71
serve them more. So
in times of disaster, for
00:22:30.81\00:22:33.42
example, I can
rebuild your house, but you're
00:22:33.52\00:22:36.79
broken! Physically,
emotionally... You've
00:22:36.89\00:22:39.65
lost family members. If
you're a spiritual person,
00:22:39.75\00:22:42.69
you'd say, "Well where
was God in all of this?
00:22:42.76\00:22:44.89
Why am I being punished?"
How do I restore the whole
00:22:44.99\00:22:47.53
person? What is the
special source that we offer as
00:22:47.63\00:22:51.93
part of being a faith-based
organization that makes
00:22:52.03\00:22:56.10
a difference? And
that's really the challenge for
00:22:56.20\00:22:58.51
us to be able to define
that, to be able to know
00:22:58.64\00:23:01.21
how to program that,
to be able to know how to
00:23:01.28\00:23:03.24
measure that, to demonstrate
the difference. - And that's
00:23:03.35\00:23:05.88
an amazing impact...
I mean, your statement,
00:23:05.98\00:23:09.05
your purpose statement, has
an impact that I would imagine
00:23:09.15\00:23:13.12
even if I were
Muslim or Buddhist, I have
00:23:13.22\00:23:16.86
some kind of sense-
what percentage of the
00:23:16.99\00:23:22.13
world population has a
religious affiliation? - So,
00:23:22.23\00:23:26.43
the world's population
is 84.9%. - 84.9% has some
00:23:26.53\00:23:33.38
type of religious affiliation.
Now, they may not know
00:23:33.48\00:23:37.68
God is the God of
love we do, but they all
00:23:37.81\00:23:40.82
believe that there is
a god, perhaps, that is
00:23:40.92\00:23:44.29
directing them. And
the statement that you are
00:23:44.39\00:23:48.52
there to fulfill- say
it again!-your purpose.
00:23:48.62\00:23:53.23
- To serve humanity so
all may live as God intended.
00:23:53.33\00:23:56.26
- To live as God intended.
So, that is open whether
00:23:56.36\00:24:00.64
I am Muslim or
Buddhist. And then when I get to
00:24:00.67\00:24:07.11
know you, I'm going to
see your God is different.
00:24:07.21\00:24:09.88
- Yes; exactly. -
So, you've also changed
00:24:09.98\00:24:12.35
your logo. - We
have. So, just as you read
00:24:12.45\00:24:15.95
in Micah chapter 6
verse 8, we wanted to found
00:24:16.05\00:24:19.52
ourselves in Scripture,
and so we looked at it.
00:24:19.62\00:24:22.36
And in Micah 6:8,
what does God ask of us?
00:24:22.42\00:24:25.96
He asks us to act
justly, to love mercy, and to
00:24:26.06\00:24:30.40
walk humbly with our
God. And so, we chose justice,
00:24:30.53\00:24:34.60
mercy, love. - Amen. -
So what can we stand on?
00:24:34.74\00:24:37.81
Because the Adventist
Development Relief Agency
00:24:37.91\00:24:40.84
is not separate to the
church; it IS the church.
00:24:40.94\00:24:43.41
It is part of the Adventist
church. So as a church,
00:24:43.51\00:24:46.72
when we make a public
statement, our engagement
00:24:46.82\00:24:48.92
with community at
large, when we want ourselves
00:24:48.98\00:24:51.95
to be agents of hope
and healing in a brokenness
00:24:52.05\00:24:54.72
that exists within this
world, then what statement
00:24:54.82\00:24:57.66
do we want to make other
than the fact that we stand
00:24:57.73\00:25:01.10
for God's justice? - Amen.
- That our hearts are broken
00:25:01.16\00:25:04.63
by the things that break
His heart? And we respond
00:25:04.73\00:25:08.70
out of love. Not
because we're better people, but
00:25:08.74\00:25:11.57
because God first
loved us. - Amen and amen!
00:25:11.67\00:25:14.61
I think that you
brought a short video on this.
00:25:14.68\00:25:17.35
So, what we're going
to do right now is look at
00:25:17.45\00:25:21.58
this justice, mercy, and love.
00:25:21.68\00:25:24.59
- Amen and amen. I love
that this is Scripture-based.
00:26:29.15\00:26:32.25
Now, you are taking-
let's say that you are
00:26:33.05\00:26:37.06
beginning- you are someone
who thinks outside the box.
00:26:37.19\00:26:41.03
And Jonathan, you
have actually sat with the
00:26:41.10\00:26:47.34
church and have come up
with this, finally gained
00:26:47.40\00:26:51.64
approval to launch
an advocacy program...
00:26:51.71\00:26:55.98
Explain what ADRA is
going to be doing there.
00:26:56.08\00:26:59.31
- Well, you know,
often I'm challenged by the
00:26:59.41\00:27:02.62
thought that ADRA is the
church-the church is ADRA.
00:27:02.72\00:27:06.35
How do I get people to
understand their responsibility
00:27:06.76\00:27:10.53
to their community-to the
neighbors at large? We live
00:27:10.63\00:27:13.50
in a broken world!
How do we change that? How
00:27:13.60\00:27:16.63
do we become agents of
hope and healing? For me,
00:27:16.70\00:27:19.63
my desire is not that I
have 22 million Adventists
00:27:19.73\00:27:23.07
around the world cheering
for me, but I have 22 million
00:27:23.17\00:27:25.97
Adventists who see themselves
as agents of hope and healing.
00:27:26.07\00:27:30.05
- Amen. - And so how
do I engage them? And we
00:27:30.11\00:27:32.98
often, we're very comfortable
in talking about being the
00:27:33.08\00:27:35.65
hands and feet of
Jesus, but we rarely talk about
00:27:35.72\00:27:38.55
being the hands and
feet and voice of Jesus. And
00:27:38.65\00:27:41.76
yet, Jesus was a spokesperson.
He spoke up on issues of
00:27:41.86\00:27:45.13
injustice. He spoke against
the ways that were injust
00:27:45.23\00:27:49.36
in His time. And in
fact, He was persecuted because
00:27:49.46\00:27:52.50
He spoke out. I'm grateful
for His death, that He died
00:27:52.60\00:27:56.00
that I might have
life, but these are some of
00:27:56.07\00:27:58.97
the issues that led
there. So I thought, "As a world
00:27:59.07\00:28:01.18
church, how do we actually
give waste to injustice?
00:28:01.28\00:28:05.68
So we looked at it,
and we had a conversation
00:28:07.08\00:28:09.68
with Elder Wilson, the
president of the Adventist
00:28:09.78\00:28:11.72
church, and said,
"What are the issues that we
00:28:11.82\00:28:14.52
can do?" We decided
that we didn't want to be
00:28:14.59\00:28:16.29
combative, that we're
not here to sort of be
00:28:16.36\00:28:19.49
combative; but what are
the issues that we believe
00:28:19.56\00:28:22.46
we could make a just
change in the world around? And
00:28:22.56\00:28:25.93
we looked at the issue
of children out of school.
00:28:26.03\00:28:28.20
At the moment, there are
262 million children in the
00:28:28.27\00:28:32.57
world who should be
in school today that are
00:28:32.64\00:28:34.51
not in school. - Wow. 262
million. - You think of the
00:28:34.61\00:28:37.88
potential loss there
of just incredible things.
00:28:37.95\00:28:42.18
I won't mention it,
but there was a country in
00:28:42.28\00:28:45.15
Africa whose current
president was a refugee.
00:28:45.25\00:28:49.09
He met an Adventist
young person there, and they
00:28:49.19\00:28:53.96
introduce him to ADRA.
He had no clothes; just
00:28:54.06\00:28:56.63
the clothes on his
back. So they took him and
00:28:56.77\00:28:59.17
they got him a
container full of donated goods,
00:28:59.27\00:29:01.87
and he walked away with
his clothes. Those shoes
00:29:01.94\00:29:04.14
lasted him for 7
years. - Oh, my. - And we gave
00:29:04.24\00:29:07.74
him a bag of washing
detergent, and he had
00:29:07.81\00:29:11.68
no future, because he
was just a refugee, displaced
00:29:11.75\00:29:14.65
within his own country.
So, we paid for education.
00:29:14.75\00:29:18.35
Now, with that opportunity,
he's now become the president
00:29:19.29\00:29:22.49
of that African
country. You know, you think of
00:29:22.59\00:29:27.33
the potential for
each of those 262 million
00:29:27.40\00:29:30.17
children's lives who are
lost. I look at some girls being
00:29:30.27\00:29:34.34
sold into marriages as
early as 9 years of age. -
00:29:34.44\00:29:38.17
Oh... That breaks my heart.
00:29:38.21\00:29:41.41
- Some of those girls die
in childbirth, some of them
00:29:41.44\00:29:44.41
can't carry their children
before birth... Some of them
00:29:44.48\00:29:47.05
who DO carry- I was in
Sedan, and I was talking
00:29:47.12\00:29:50.22
to our project manager. I
said to her, "Look, if you
00:29:50.32\00:29:54.29
had free money, untagged
money that wasn't directed"...
00:29:54.36\00:29:58.43
'Cause often, their
money is tagged by government
00:29:58.49\00:30:00.50
that says, "You do this
here, we'll do this here."
00:30:00.60\00:30:02.73
And I said, "What
would you choose?" And she
00:30:02.80\00:30:06.74
said, "I would
treat prolapsed uterus."
00:30:06.80\00:30:10.51
I thought, "That's a
strange thing to say."
00:30:10.61\00:30:12.84
But she said, "We have
thousands of girls in this
00:30:12.94\00:30:15.94
country who were
forced into childhood marriage
00:30:16.04\00:30:17.88
who had children when
their bodies were too young.
00:30:17.95\00:30:20.58
And in their teens,
by the time they've had
00:30:20.68\00:30:22.72
two full-term births,
they're suffering from
00:30:22.82\00:30:25.09
this condition of
a prolapsed uterus.
00:30:25.19\00:30:27.09
They're now seen to be
unclean, they're divorced,
00:30:27.16\00:30:29.72
they're cast away from
their families, they've
00:30:29.82\00:30:32.29
got nowhere to
live, they've got no hope,
00:30:32.39\00:30:34.90
no future because they
were sold into childhood
00:30:34.96\00:30:39.23
marriage just so the rest
of the family could survive.
00:30:39.33\00:30:41.90
So, what if I created a
different future for them?"
00:30:41.97\00:30:44.77
- Amen. - We know
that for every year that a
00:30:44.87\00:30:46.94
girl was in school, we
see a reduction in infant
00:30:47.01\00:30:50.45
mortality. We know that
when girls receive education
00:30:50.55\00:30:53.55
and enter into the workforce
that 70% of their income
00:30:53.62\00:30:56.89
goes to their family
and their community. But for
00:30:56.95\00:31:00.12
miles, only 30% of their
income goes to the family
00:31:00.19\00:31:02.96
and to the community.
[simultaneous chatter]
00:31:03.06\00:31:06.33
- What are males
doing with the other 70%?
00:31:06.39\00:31:08.50
- Well, I hate to say
it, but alcohol, gambling,
00:31:08.60\00:31:12.07
and women seem to be
the top three things. So,
00:31:12.17\00:31:16.87
investing in girls' education...
So in talking with Elder Wilson,
00:31:16.97\00:31:21.38
we decided that education
would be the focus of our
00:31:21.48\00:31:25.45
campaign. If we go back
to our purpose statement,
00:31:25.55\00:31:29.08
"Serve humanity so all
may live as God intended"...
00:31:30.32\00:31:32.89
If we can give
children a proper starting life
00:31:32.99\00:31:35.52
through good nutrition,
through a proper foundation,
00:31:35.62\00:31:38.13
if we can give them the
opportunity for education,
00:31:38.23\00:31:40.56
provide livelihoods for
their families so they'll
00:31:40.66\00:31:42.76
release them for education,
then education is the key
00:31:42.86\00:31:46.13
that unlocks it: the poverty
that breaks the cycle, that
00:31:46.23\00:31:49.90
creates the opportunity,
that doesn't just benefit
00:31:50.01\00:31:52.84
them but it benefits
the future generations.
00:31:52.91\00:31:55.14
- Absolutely. - And
so, if we're looking for
00:31:55.28\00:31:57.28
sustainable change, then
I think as a global church,
00:31:57.35\00:32:00.88
as people who are not
necessarily members of
00:32:00.95\00:32:04.89
our church but just
have a sense of justice and a
00:32:04.95\00:32:07.82
desire for compassion
in the world, you think of
00:32:07.92\00:32:10.86
these 262 million children
and the impact that we can
00:32:10.96\00:32:14.23
have just through
giving our voice. Many of the
00:32:14.33\00:32:17.97
countries have
policies about education, many
00:32:18.03\00:32:20.94
of them have policies
that require a certain
00:32:21.04\00:32:24.71
spend on education,
but they're not meeting it-
00:32:24.81\00:32:27.94
and all we have to do
is ask them and create
00:32:28.04\00:32:31.35
the right voice in a
positive, constructive
00:32:31.45\00:32:34.18
way. Then, I believe
that we can change this world
00:32:34.28\00:32:37.32
and we can give children
the opportunity of a future.
00:32:37.42\00:32:40.12
- Amen. And Jonathan,
obviously-what did they
00:32:40.22\00:32:42.42
say?-the way to eat an
elephant is one bite at
00:32:42.52\00:32:45.06
a time. How - I mean, 262
million children - what would
00:32:45.16\00:32:52.50
your vision be to get
people involved? - Well, I think
00:32:52.57\00:32:57.27
they can start by
signing onto our website that
00:32:57.37\00:33:01.41
we have to give
voice, to sign the petition.
00:33:01.48\00:33:03.61
Initially, we will
use the petition to make a
00:33:03.71\00:33:07.62
global statement,
but we'll also work with
00:33:07.68\00:33:09.98
people to address different
policy actions and funding
00:33:10.05\00:33:14.19
opportunities within
their own country. So within
00:33:14.26\00:33:17.06
each country, we're
working with the ADRA director,
00:33:17.13\00:33:20.26
the heads of
Adventist education to identify
00:33:20.36\00:33:23.10
policy changes which
are achievable. We just had
00:33:23.16\00:33:26.94
an advocacy working
group in South Africa where we
00:33:27.04\00:33:31.37
had 10 parted
countries come together. And
00:33:31.47\00:33:34.08
over a period of a
week, we taught them how to do
00:33:34.18\00:33:36.38
advocacy, and we gave
them the skills. And over
00:33:36.48\00:33:40.85
the week, they
developed a strategy, and I was
00:33:40.92\00:33:43.15
just impressed with the
quality of the work they've
00:33:43.22\00:33:47.02
done...but actually, I
left there feeling this
00:33:47.12\00:33:49.89
is achievable. -
Amen. - This is achievable!
00:33:49.96\00:33:52.63
We CAN make a difference!
Our first instinct is to say,
00:33:52.69\00:33:56.06
"What can I do physically?"
But the reality is physically,
00:33:56.13\00:33:59.50
262 million people?-but
voice is often the most
00:33:59.60\00:34:04.47
powerful thing and
yet the most underrated
00:34:04.54\00:34:06.01
thing. - Yes. - And at
least it's a first step
00:34:06.11\00:34:09.28
of direction. I
mean, I can't get the 70%
00:34:09.38\00:34:12.41
that's trickling
down. That's just...that's
00:34:12.48\00:34:15.78
going to waste right
now that just by default,
00:34:15.85\00:34:20.89
goodness would come out
of this. - Yes. - I mean-
00:34:21.36\00:34:24.13
but it has to start someplace.
And I mean, this makes all
00:34:24.19\00:34:27.40
the sense in the world! -
But I imagine in some of these
00:34:27.46\00:34:31.27
underdeveloped countries
that if a family is starving-
00:34:31.37\00:34:37.11
I mean, if they are struggling
day to day-they're probably
00:34:37.21\00:34:40.58
not too keen on education.
But when you go in and
00:34:40.68\00:34:43.71
teach them irrigation
and crop development, once
00:34:43.78\00:34:47.95
they have some
security, then they're more open
00:34:48.05\00:34:50.59
to having their
children educated. - Exactly.
00:34:50.72\00:34:53.12
That's why for
ADRA's program's...
00:34:53.22\00:34:55.52
...primary focus, we've chosen
to look at health, livelihoods,
00:34:57.69\00:35:02.06
and education. -
Okay. - So health: give them
00:35:02.16\00:35:04.67
the proper foundation
of physical, intellectual
00:35:04.77\00:35:08.07
development. Livelihoods:
create the opportunity
00:35:08.17\00:35:11.14
for families to release
their children for education.
00:35:11.21\00:35:14.08
- Amen. I believe,
again, we have a short video
00:35:14.18\00:35:17.71
that we want to show you
on ADRA's advocacy program.
00:35:17.78\00:35:21.98
- Well I don't know
about you, but I had
00:37:41.52\00:37:42.86
a visceral reaction
to the first part of that
00:37:42.89\00:37:44.89
video. And we want to
encourage you to visit
00:37:44.99\00:37:49.26
their website so that
you can sign this petition,
00:37:49.36\00:37:53.17
because as you said, we're
used to talking about being
00:37:53.23\00:37:57.51
the hands and feet of
Jesus, but we also want
00:37:57.57\00:38:00.81
to reflect the voice
of Jesus. So how do we
00:38:00.88\00:38:03.31
do that? - So, we can
go to ADRA.org/inSchool
00:38:03.38\00:38:08.58
and there, you will
find the opportunity to sign
00:38:08.68\00:38:11.85
up. You will also
find that once you sign up
00:38:11.95\00:38:14.92
that with the data that
we've got, you'll be able
00:38:14.99\00:38:18.19
to track how many
people sign on because of you.
00:38:18.29\00:38:20.60
You'll be able to
track by country so that
00:38:20.70\00:38:24.17
when you sign on if
you're from the US, then it will
00:38:24.27\00:38:27.47
add to the numbers in
the US, and you'll be able to
00:38:27.54\00:38:29.24
go to the website and
see how many people from
00:38:29.34\00:38:31.37
various countries are
signing on. So, you can
00:38:31.47\00:38:34.01
get behind all your friends,
and you'll see your numbers
00:38:34.11\00:38:36.31
grow, and you'll see your
country become more dominant.
00:38:36.38\00:38:39.81
- Okay. So Jonathan,
explain one more time,
00:38:39.88\00:38:42.65
'cause sometimes, people
are like, "What am I signing
00:38:42.68\00:38:44.75
on for?" Explain when
you do this what's happening.
00:38:44.85\00:38:48.89
- So, what you are signing
on for is you're signing on
00:38:48.96\00:38:51.06
that you believe that
every child everywhere
00:38:51.16\00:38:53.90
should have the opportunity
to attend school. We are
00:38:54.00\00:38:58.57
using that petition
to take it to old leaders
00:38:58.67\00:39:01.27
to argue for an increasing
funding for education and
00:39:01.37\00:39:05.81
opportunity for
children. - Amen. - And then we
00:39:05.87\00:39:08.51
will work with you to be
able to make specific asks
00:39:08.54\00:39:12.88
of your own national
governments. - Praise
00:39:12.98\00:39:15.45
the Lord, amen. - I think
it's ingenious. - I do, too.
00:39:15.52\00:39:18.85
You know, I don't
want to leave this- one of-
00:39:18.95\00:39:22.66
and you know this is
kind of one of my hobbyhorses-
00:39:22.72\00:39:26.36
if we want to keep our
youth in the church, we
00:39:26.43\00:39:31.70
have to get them involved.
We have to do what Jonathan's
00:39:31.77\00:39:35.97
home church did when he
was a teenager, and they
00:39:36.07\00:39:40.18
gave him responsibility.
They got him invested in
00:39:40.28\00:39:45.31
community service, and
he developed that heart
00:39:45.41\00:39:49.18
for that service and for
the Lord. So, tell us about
00:39:49.28\00:39:52.99
ADRA's program, Connections.
- Sure. So, as you rightly
00:39:53.05\00:39:57.29
point out, young people
need a sense of purpose in their
00:39:57.39\00:40:00.76
lives. - Amen. -
We've taught them how to be
00:40:00.83\00:40:02.83
consumers, but have we
really given them a purpose?
00:40:02.93\00:40:05.47
As parents, we will
work hard for the means for
00:40:05.57\00:40:09.80
their living, but do we
work hard enough to give them
00:40:09.90\00:40:13.07
a meaning to their living?
And a lot of research tells
00:40:13.17\00:40:16.54
us that actually, the
strongest element that
00:40:16.58\00:40:19.51
prevents risk behaviors
of drugs, alcohol, early
00:40:19.61\00:40:22.95
initiation of sex,
and so forth, the issue
00:40:23.05\00:40:25.85
that keeps them strong
in their faith is to find
00:40:25.95\00:40:28.49
a purpose to their
lives. And so, we have initiated
00:40:28.56\00:40:32.29
the ADRA
Connections program where young
00:40:32.39\00:40:34.80
people can sign up,
they can go on mission trips
00:40:34.90\00:40:37.40
with ADRA, they can become
involved in making a difference
00:40:37.50\00:40:40.60
in the world around about
them... We work throughout
00:40:40.67\00:40:44.34
partners so they can link
in to existing development
00:40:44.41\00:40:47.38
and emergency projects
that are already happening
00:40:47.48\00:40:49.84
around the world.
Last year, we did our first
00:40:49.94\00:40:52.65
mega ADRA Connections
trip. So, we worked with
00:40:52.75\00:40:56.08
eight of the
Adventist Universities in North
00:40:56.18\00:40:58.22
America. - I think
you brought some pictures,
00:40:58.35\00:41:00.22
didn't you? Maybe we can
go through those. - Yeah.
00:41:00.29\00:41:01.96
And we went to a community...
- This is where? - We went to
00:41:02.02\00:41:07.20
a community which was
in the middle of the Amazon
00:41:07.30\00:41:11.00
Jungle, and the children
didn't have the opportunity
00:41:11.10\00:41:14.14
for education. And over
two weeks, everyone went
00:41:14.24\00:41:18.57
in. It was a two-day
trip on boats-14 boats to ship
00:41:18.64\00:41:22.71
all these students in
there into the Amazon Jungle.
00:41:22.78\00:41:25.98
And in two weeks, we
built an entire school complex.
00:41:26.05\00:41:28.88
- How nice. - So there
were 12 buildings, there
00:41:28.98\00:41:32.45
were classrooms, laboratories,
there was housing for the
00:41:32.52\00:41:35.59
teachers, and we were
able to construct an entire
00:41:35.66\00:41:39.89
school community for
those children in the
00:41:39.96\00:41:42.96
Amazon Jungle. - That is
amazing. So some of these
00:41:43.03\00:41:46.57
pictures that we are
seeing ARE these young people.
00:41:46.67\00:41:49.67
- And we've worked
in other areas. There's
00:41:49.77\00:41:52.61
videos there with
Honduras and other projects that
00:41:52.71\00:41:56.01
we've had-African projects
and so forth-but we really
00:41:56.08\00:41:59.58
want to give young
people that opportunity to find
00:41:59.68\00:42:02.48
that meaning in their
lives- to realize that you can
00:42:02.58\00:42:06.25
live for yourself, and you
live in a very small community
00:42:06.35\00:42:09.29
in a very narrow way,
or you can live for others.
00:42:09.39\00:42:12.13
And suddenly, you
see a greater purpose for
00:42:12.23\00:42:14.46
yourself and the impact
that you can have. I think
00:42:14.53\00:42:17.37
that- for me personally,
along my journey, what
00:42:17.47\00:42:21.74
has really meant the
most to me is being able to be
00:42:21.84\00:42:25.31
an agent of hope and
healing to other people's
00:42:25.37\00:42:27.54
lives who are broken. I
think if we can give young
00:42:27.61\00:42:30.68
people that opportunity,
then through that service
00:42:30.75\00:42:33.68
I actually find the meaning
to their own lives, as well.
00:42:33.75\00:42:37.05
It resets them for a
life of service as they move
00:42:37.15\00:42:40.66
forward. And so, I
think young people are looking
00:42:40.76\00:42:44.36
for, "Who am I in the
world? Where do I belong?"
00:42:44.46\00:42:47.20
- Absolutely! -
"Would the world be different
00:42:47.26\00:42:49.03
if I wasn't in it?"
And I think if we can help
00:42:49.10\00:42:52.03
them to connect with that
meaning, then I think that
00:42:52.13\00:42:56.10
it's great. Often, we
talk about issues of people
00:42:56.24\00:42:59.91
in poverty; we think
of starving children, we
00:43:00.01\00:43:02.74
think of people in distress
with famines or with major
00:43:02.84\00:43:07.32
storms or earthquakes
or other things...but we
00:43:07.38\00:43:10.25
have a crisis in our
own young people, in our own
00:43:10.35\00:43:13.19
communities, in our
own church communities!
00:43:13.29\00:43:16.42
- Absolutely. We have
seen repeatedly where people
00:43:16.52\00:43:23.10
will send their
children on a mission trip, and
00:43:23.16\00:43:26.27
children are completely
changed by it! We have
00:43:26.37\00:43:30.91
seen this happen so many
times. And one thing that
00:43:30.97\00:43:33.64
I love about our local
church here, Thompsonville
00:43:33.71\00:43:37.25
Adventist Church, is
that even though we don't have
00:43:37.35\00:43:42.32
any wealthy members, I
think that our church has
00:43:42.38\00:43:45.79
sent more kids, funded
more kids, to go on mission
00:43:45.89\00:43:49.36
trips, and we see
children who come back and love
00:43:49.42\00:43:54.56
the Lord and are anxious
to make a difference in the
00:43:54.63\00:43:57.70
world...and that's exciting.
- There's a lot of people
00:43:57.77\00:44:00.87
probably who're questioning
what is their purpose in life-
00:44:00.97\00:44:04.17
and I hope that they will
allow some of your insights,
00:44:04.27\00:44:08.48
as being a mature servant,
and that if you'll take a
00:44:08.58\00:44:14.68
step of faith and
allow Jesus to work the plan
00:44:14.78\00:44:18.52
that He has for your life
that it will be very fruitful
00:44:18.62\00:44:21.66
and make a difference
for thousands and thousands
00:44:21.79\00:44:24.36
of people. When you're
young, you do get caught
00:44:24.46\00:44:30.27
up on this, "I want, I
want, I want"; but the older you
00:44:30.37\00:44:34.00
get, you find out that,
really, "I would just like
00:44:34.10\00:44:36.54
to make a positive difference
in people's lives." - Exactly.
00:44:36.64\00:44:39.97
- You know, I
developed research when I was in
00:44:40.08\00:44:43.75
public health, when I was
the health director for the
00:44:43.81\00:44:46.68
Adventist church for the
South Pacific. And people
00:44:46.75\00:44:50.62
say to me,
"Jonathan, it used to be called,
00:44:50.72\00:44:52.25
'Health and Temperance.'
So what are you actually
00:44:52.32\00:44:54.76
doing to protect
young people from risk
00:44:54.79\00:44:57.16
behaviors?" So, it
actually drove me into research.
00:44:57.23\00:44:59.96
I met a man, Dr.
Gary Hopkins, who was one
00:45:00.06\00:45:03.53
of the professors at Loma
Linda University; came out
00:45:03.63\00:45:06.00
to Australia. We became
close friends, and we were
00:45:06.07\00:45:09.30
with others: Dr. Dwayne
McBride from Andrews and other
00:45:09.40\00:45:12.41
researchers from Andrews
and Loma Linda... All up,
00:45:12.47\00:45:15.41
we've published
around 700 papers on youth
00:45:15.48\00:45:19.25
resilience, and the common
elements are children need
00:45:19.35\00:45:23.55
a sense of longing, they
need a sense of community,
00:45:23.65\00:45:26.02
they need to feel
there's some way. Now sadly,
00:45:26.09\00:45:28.56
some children can grow up
in dysfunctional homes; but
00:45:28.66\00:45:32.09
if they have an
adult who is loving, who's
00:45:32.79\00:45:36.10
accepting of them, then
they can cast a different
00:45:36.16\00:45:38.60
vision for those
children. - Amen. - Yes, amen.
00:45:38.67\00:45:40.77
- And to me, it's
like, I've been blessed by
00:45:40.84\00:45:43.51
adults in my life
who shaped me as a child,
00:45:43.61\00:45:46.11
who gave me a vision
for service. So as an
00:45:46.17\00:45:48.74
adult, what am I
doing to give back to other
00:45:48.81\00:45:51.71
young people who are
seeking that sense of
00:45:51.78\00:45:54.35
community? Children
are chameleons. They take
00:45:54.45\00:45:57.75
on the shapes and
the colors that they need
00:45:57.85\00:45:59.75
to of the community to
where they feel acceptance.
00:45:59.82\00:46:02.26
How can we, as
Christian adults, create those
00:46:03.02\00:46:07.33
communities of safety
to give them that sense of
00:46:07.40\00:46:10.50
longing?-but then to move
just beyond not just a loving
00:46:10.57\00:46:13.30
community, but a community
which engages with them
00:46:13.40\00:46:16.37
and gives them the opportunity
to serve and to find meaning
00:46:16.44\00:46:19.41
and purpose in their
lives. And if we can combine
00:46:19.51\00:46:21.48
those two things, then
we can change the world.
00:46:21.58\00:46:24.08
- That's right;
amen! And that's what God
00:46:24.18\00:46:26.75
wants us to do. Now,
if someone is interested
00:46:26.82\00:46:30.59
in going on one of
these trips, I'm assuming they
00:46:30.65\00:46:32.92
just go to ADRA.org and
click on your Connections.
00:46:33.05\00:46:36.69
- Yes, and click on
the Connections, and they
00:46:36.79\00:46:38.13
can join up for the next
trip. - Our time is just...
00:46:38.19\00:46:40.73
schwip! Let me ask
you this question, because
00:46:41.30\00:46:43.93
I know you wrote a book
called The Least of These.
00:46:44.00\00:46:47.74
Tell us about this book,
and hey-it's a free book!-
00:46:47.84\00:46:50.81
a book that you can get
at no cost. I believe you
00:46:50.91\00:46:53.54
pay for, perhaps, the
postage...but listen to
00:46:53.61\00:46:56.78
this. - Sure. So in
2019 in the third quarter,
00:46:56.85\00:47:01.75
the Adventist church
has its lesson study series,
00:47:01.88\00:47:05.05
and I wrote a series on
biblical justice. What does
00:47:05.12\00:47:09.96
it mean to be a Christian?
Because I have a great
00:47:10.06\00:47:12.33
passion to connect churches
with their communities...
00:47:12.39\00:47:15.46
you know? - Now say
that again? - I have a great
00:47:15.56\00:47:18.27
passion to connect church
to their communities. - Yes.
00:47:18.30\00:47:21.70
- God's changed my
life; what do I do to change
00:47:23.04\00:47:25.24
the lives of those around
about? We live in a broken
00:47:25.31\00:47:28.34
world. How are we going
to become agents of hope
00:47:28.38\00:47:31.25
and healing? And we
have a great theology around
00:47:31.31\00:47:34.72
preparing for His
coming, but what is our theology
00:47:34.78\00:47:37.52
of how do we occupy until
He comes? How do we become
00:47:37.59\00:47:40.16
salt and light? And
so, Nathan Brown wrote
00:47:40.22\00:47:45.26
a companion book to the
lesson study series (which
00:47:45.36\00:47:48.60
will remain relevant
forever), just challenging
00:47:48.66\00:47:52.37
us as Christians. So
as we grow in Christ, how
00:47:52.43\00:47:55.87
does that engage with
me in being salt and light?
00:47:55.97\00:47:59.47
And so the book is
entitled The Least of These, and
00:47:59.54\00:48:02.44
we're happy to send you
a copy of the book. I think
00:48:02.54\00:48:06.48
it's around $3 in postage
to post it anywhere within
00:48:06.55\00:48:09.72
the U.S., and you can
gain a copy of that book
00:48:09.78\00:48:12.89
by just going to
ADRA.org/LeastBook.
00:48:12.99\00:48:17.96
So, The Least of
These, LeastBook; can't put it
00:48:18.59\00:48:21.36
all in a title. So
ADRA.org/LeastBook,
00:48:21.43\00:48:26.53
and we're happy to give
you a copy of that book.
00:48:26.60\00:48:28.64
The book is really
just about your own personal
00:48:28.70\00:48:31.34
Christian development
of understanding what it
00:48:31.44\00:48:34.01
means to be salt
and light in a dark and
00:48:34.08\00:48:36.48
broken world. - Amen.
Let me ask you a personal
00:48:36.58\00:48:39.31
question. How long
have you been the president,
00:48:39.38\00:48:42.42
or what year did
you become president of
00:48:42.52\00:48:44.45
ADRA? - So, I was
appointed in 2012-October-and
00:48:44.52\00:48:49.09
I arrived in the U.S.
with my visa on January
00:48:49.19\00:48:52.06
2013. - All right.
So, how has being on this
00:48:52.16\00:48:59.43
world stage and accepting
this responsibility from the
00:48:59.53\00:49:04.47
Lord...how has it changed
your life? - It's made me
00:49:04.57\00:49:08.21
more humble. Often, I
think sometimes people think
00:49:08.28\00:49:11.58
because you're the president,
everyone gives you accolades;
00:49:11.65\00:49:15.18
they all talk about you,
they all treat you different...
00:49:15.25\00:49:17.39
But the reality is my
success is the success
00:49:17.49\00:49:20.62
of the person who's
actually on the ground, making a
00:49:20.72\00:49:24.09
difference in those
lives. And any kudos that I have
00:49:24.19\00:49:27.26
comes from them, and
I realize I'm dependent
00:49:27.33\00:49:30.83
upon the success: my success
is only the success of others,
00:49:30.93\00:49:35.20
and our success collectively
is only the success that
00:49:35.34\00:49:39.44
God gives us in
blessing us. - Amen. - And as an
00:49:39.51\00:49:41.91
agency, the more
that we focus, the more we
00:49:41.98\00:49:45.11
change our purpose
statement, the more we
00:49:45.18\00:49:46.95
come connected through
Scripture-through justice,
00:49:47.02\00:49:49.88
mercy, love-the more
that we become focused in the
00:49:49.98\00:49:52.95
very reason of why we
exist, then God blesses
00:49:53.05\00:49:56.46
the agency. - Amen and
amen. - Because there is
00:49:56.56\00:49:59.39
constant change. - Constant
change. - Yes. - There's
00:49:59.49\00:50:03.06
huge amount of
change that we've got to
00:50:03.16\00:50:05.33
professionalize ourselves
as an agency, we've got
00:50:05.43\00:50:07.90
to learn how to not just
be service providers, but
00:50:07.97\00:50:10.81
to be influencers (such
as an advocacy campaign)...
00:50:10.91\00:50:14.54
So, we're constantly
having to reinvent ourselves.
00:50:14.64\00:50:17.98
- It would be
wonderful- there is the change,
00:50:18.08\00:50:21.65
there is the growth
and everything, but it'd be
00:50:21.75\00:50:23.25
wonderful that if we came
back five years from now and
00:50:23.35\00:50:26.76
there was 100,000 people
that still need to be educated
00:50:26.86\00:50:30.83
where we've gone from a
262 million...so. - Exactly.
00:50:30.93\00:50:37.43
- So, wow. - I believe that we
can... We're aiming for 2030...
00:50:37.53\00:50:41.30
- Amen. - ...to have
every child in school...by 2030.
00:50:41.37\00:50:44.54
- Wow. That is-...
You know what, nothing is
00:50:44.61\00:50:48.04
impossible with the
Lord, right? - That's true.
00:50:48.14\00:50:51.01
- Wouldn't that be something?
So, we do want to once again
00:50:51.11\00:50:53.38
encourage you to go
to Adventist.org/inSchool
00:50:53.48\00:51:00.42
and sign that petition,
because these petitions
00:51:00.52\00:51:03.19
will be going before
world leaders and letting them
00:51:03.32\00:51:07.90
know that, "Hey,
people are watching, and we
00:51:08.00\00:51:10.27
believe in education
of the youth." Well, right
00:51:10.37\00:51:13.50
now, what we want to
do is give you the address
00:51:13.60\00:51:17.07
for ADRA, and I
believe that many people are
00:51:17.17\00:51:20.58
being touched by the
Holy Spirit right now to say,
00:51:20.68\00:51:23.88
"I want to support
the Adventist Development
00:51:23.98\00:51:28.32
and Relief Agency,"
and maybe you would like to
00:51:28.42\00:51:32.25
get in touch with Jonathan
personally. Here's how you
00:51:32.35\00:51:36.42
can get in touch with
him, and we'll be right back
00:51:36.49\00:51:38.39
in a moment for a final word.
00:51:38.46\00:51:40.83