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 program.
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My name is Jill Morikone.
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And we're so glad
that you have taken time
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from your day to sit
down and to join us today
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or maybe you're
driving in your car
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and you're listening
to this program just now.
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I love the 3ABN Today
program because we get to share
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what God is doing
in people's lives,
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how He rescues us,
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how He heals us and
mends us and restores us.
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And then how, in
turn that many times
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turns into ministry.
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So the ministry that
we are featuring today
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is no exception.
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Before I introduce
our special guest today,
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I wanna share a
scripture with you.
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I was gonna read Jeremiah 31:3,
and you know that scripture.
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"The Lord has
appeared of old unto me saying
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I've loved you with
an everlasting love."
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And that scripture is beautiful.
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But we're going back a
chapter to Jeremiah 30:17.
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The prophet says, "I
will restore health to you,
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and I will heal
you of your wounds,
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says the Lord,
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because they called
you an outcast saying
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this is Zion.
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No one seeks her."
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The ministry we're
talking about today
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helps people who
might feel like an outcast
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or might feel a
little bit marginalized.
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I'm speaking of
Singles Ministry.
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And we have two
incredible guests with us today.
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I want to introduce to
you Brother Bob Merrills.
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And it is a
privilege to have you here.
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I know that you are
with the Singles Ministry
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at the
Georgia-Cumberland Conference,
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and we're just so
glad to have you here.
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Thank you. Nice to be here.
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I remember the
first time we met,
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I think it was at
the 3ABN Camp Meeting.
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And I remember you
came up to me and said,
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"I am Brother Bob, the Bookman.
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So why do you call yourself
Brother Bob, the Bookman?
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I spent 40 years
in the publishing work
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in the States and overseas.
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Oh, wow.
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So by publishing
work, you sold books?
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I'm talking
about colporteur work.
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Okay.
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I was a commercial
photographer before that.
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And I spent three years in it.
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And God said, "Now you
know what I can do with you."
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My pictures were
in Reader's Digest,
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Sports Illustrated.
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I had arrived as a photographer.
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And God said, "I
want you to leave it.
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I want you to go
back sell those books.
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You were selling in college."
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Oh, wow.
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And I thought I'd be
home in three or four years.
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So I didn't think
it was a big sacrifice,
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but it's been over 50.
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Wow.
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And you answered the call of God
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and stepped into that.
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Well, we'll get more of
your story in just a minute.
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Sitting next to you
is Brother Wes Tucker.
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And you are also
with the Singles Ministry
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of the
Georgia-Cumberland Conference,
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and we're so
glad to have you here.
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And this is not your
first time at 3ABN, is it?
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No.
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No, we had an interview 7 or
8, maybe 10 years ago, actually,
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of our Singles Ministry
and work that we were doing,
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and now it's
continued since then.
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Amen.
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And I know you'd
served as the President,
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is that right of
the Singles Ministry
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for
Georgia-Cumberland Conference?
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Yes, for many years.
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Okay.
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I've been involved
with the Singles Ministry
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about 20 years.
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And Singles
Ministry is important to me.
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Amen. Amen.
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It is important to me.
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So let's take it
back just a little bit.
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Tell me how you
first became involved
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in Singles Ministry.
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We'll start with
you, Brother Bob.
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And maybe just a little bit.
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I know you told us you
were a colporteur and stuff,
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but tell us just a little
bit of your story from the past.
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And then how you
first even became involved
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in Singles Ministry.
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Well, probably my
Christian walk started
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when I was in the army.
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It was right up the road here
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in 101st Airborne Fort Campbell.
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And I was a prodigal,
running away from myself.
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And it was there that God
got a hold of me, build up.
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It's Kentucky town
secretary mentored me
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and brought me into
a living relationship
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with Jesus Christ.
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And it's been
with me ever since.
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Wow.
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No, I'm not
saying I was perfect.
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I'm saying that I love Jesus
and wanted to walk with Him.
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Amen.
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And as that went on,
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after I went to
college and got married,
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went full time into
the colporteur work.
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Like I mentioned, I
spent a number of years there.
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When I came back from Africa,
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my family was
traveling through Oklahoma
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and we had a
terrible automobile accident.
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One of those accidents
you hear about that you think
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never would happen to you.
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But it killed
my 15 year old son,
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put my 20 year
old boy's eye out,
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took my wife's nose off.
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It's been 25 years and
you can see the emotion.
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Yeah.
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And I don't talk
about it in a long time
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that comes back.
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And my baby... I'm so sorry.
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Which was Bethany Joy,
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was the one that
crawled out of the ditch
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backup under the
highway, early in the morning,
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right at dusk,
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and laid out on the freeway.
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And somebody saw her
and thought it was a doll.
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How old was she?
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Seven, eight. Oh, wow.
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And...
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So she was
crawling out for help or...?
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Yeah, we were down.
You couldn't see us.
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You would have
drove by us all day long.
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You wouldn't have
seen us down there
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if you really weren't looking.
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But because she crawled out
and lay down on the highway,
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that's what
brought the helicopters
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and help and everything.
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And, but through that
people told me, they said,
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you know, after an
accident like that,
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you'll be lucky to
hold your family together.
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Even the Catholic
sister in The Big Pink Hospital
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there in Oklahoma,
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told me that this kind of trauma
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is hard on a family.
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Oh, yeah.
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And we were all
carrying a lot of pain and hurt.
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My daughter lost
her twin brother.
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Yeah.
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Not really a twin,
they were six years apart,
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but they were always together.
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She lost him.
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So he was 13, your son who died?
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Probably. No, well, he was 15.
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So they were even wider apart.
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Okay.
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So she may have
been eight, but whatever.
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They were...
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But long story short, was that,
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that people saying you won't.
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Ten years later my wife left.
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And I remember Sabbath
morning I went to church,
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knowing that
Sunday she was coming
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with a U-Haul truck to move out.
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And I went to
the pastor and said,
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"Can I tell the church?"
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It was a small
church 80, 90 people.
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And I said, "Can I
tell the congregation,
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what's happening?"
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He said, "Bob,
that's family stuff.
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You don't share
that with the church."
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Oh.
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I said, "Pastor, and
I looked right at him."
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I said, "I don't
have a family anymore."
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Yeah.
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And he was kind of taken back.
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He excused himself.
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He come back and he
said, "Here's the mic,
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go down to the
platform, you can share."
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And I started to share.
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And as I started
to share, I broke.
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I got enough out that
she was coming Sunday,
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she was gonna move
out, get her possessions.
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And I couldn't talk.
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There was a man in the
middle of that congregation
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that was a visitor from...
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I've never seen him before,
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he was out of his seat,
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standing beside me
put his arms around me.
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And he said, "You don't
have to go through this alone.
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I'll be here with you.
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I'll be there at 7
o'clock tomorrow morning
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before they come.
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And I'll stay until they leave."
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I'm thinking, "Who is this?
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Is this an angel?
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Who are you?"
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He was a man that was
dating somebody on the mountain.
00:09:04.67\00:09:09.38
He had been a high
government man himself.
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And he had gone through a
terrible divorce in Arizona.
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And he knew the pain that I had.
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My little church
could not be with me.
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You know, they
just didn't know how.
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But God brought him.
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And that's the
beautiful part of this story.
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"I will never
leave you," he says.
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Yes.
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And I believe that he had
that man and that audience,
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that day.
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And I think
that's the God we serve.
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Amen.
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And I think, as I think about us
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being here and talking now
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that no matter what we are,
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if we're in a
relationship with Jesus,
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He's promised to go through it,
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doesn't mean it's gonna be easy.
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Yeah.
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That's an incredible testimony.
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You know, I've known
you for several years
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and I never knew all
those details of that testimony.
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But to think that God sent
that man there to the church
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just at that time,
00:10:03.60\00:10:05.10
when you need it as it were,
the hands and feet of Jesus.
00:10:05.13\00:10:08.27
Amen.
00:10:08.30\00:10:09.64
Because we know that He says,
00:10:09.67\00:10:11.01
he never leaves us
and He never forsakes us.
00:10:11.04\00:10:13.07
But sometimes you
need Jesus with skin on it,
00:10:13.11\00:10:16.95
someone who would be there
with you at that dark moment
00:10:16.98\00:10:20.42
and bring you through.
00:10:20.45\00:10:22.05
That's incredible.
00:10:22.08\00:10:23.42
What about you, Brother Wes?
00:10:23.49\00:10:25.05
What is your story?
00:10:25.09\00:10:26.42
Well, I was born in a
small town in Arkansas.
00:10:26.45\00:10:31.43
We were raised
Baptists, we went to church.
00:10:31.46\00:10:34.33
But I can't really
say as a child that I had
00:10:34.36\00:10:36.90
a lot of thought
about religious things.
00:10:36.97\00:10:39.47
And, but my mother
was a prayer warrior.
00:10:39.50\00:10:45.51
And she studied her
Bible, she loved the Lord.
00:10:45.54\00:10:49.61
And she was studying.
00:10:49.64\00:10:51.68
And Daniel and Revelation was...
00:10:51.71\00:10:54.62
She was having a hard
time understanding Daniel
00:10:54.65\00:10:56.42
and Revelation.
00:10:56.45\00:10:57.82
And she wanted to understand.
00:10:57.85\00:11:00.16
Yeah.
00:11:00.19\00:11:01.52
And one day, she was at church,
00:11:01.56\00:11:03.63
she asked the
pastor some question
00:11:03.66\00:11:05.56
that she had on
something she was studying.
00:11:05.59\00:11:08.43
And for whatever
reason and I don't know why.
00:11:08.46\00:11:11.47
But he told her, "Don't
worry about those books.
00:11:11.50\00:11:14.47
They're not inspired anyway."
00:11:14.50\00:11:16.20
Oh, wow.
00:11:16.24\00:11:17.67
Well, that ended my
mom going to his church,
00:11:17.71\00:11:21.18
needless to say,
00:11:21.21\00:11:22.54
because she wouldn't gonna
go listen to anyone talk to them
00:11:22.58\00:11:24.35
think the Bible was inspired.
00:11:24.38\00:11:25.88
Right. You know.
00:11:25.91\00:11:27.25
And so for three or four years,
we didn't attend any church.
00:11:27.32\00:11:31.12
But my mom continued to pray
and my mom continued to study
00:11:31.15\00:11:34.96
and anybody that came by
that talk about the Bible,
00:11:34.99\00:11:38.16
she would invite
them in, you know,
00:11:38.19\00:11:40.60
'cause she was ready to
talk about the Bible anytime.
00:11:40.63\00:11:43.90
And one day, a salesman comes
by selling Bible story books.
00:11:43.97\00:11:49.64
Well, of course,
she invited him in.
00:11:49.67\00:11:51.94
And I mean, really I
think she would have invited
00:11:51.97\00:11:55.14
the devil in to talk
about the Bible, you know.
00:11:55.18\00:11:58.01
She'd invite anyone who
had to talk about the Bible.
00:11:58.05\00:11:59.88
But anyway, she comes in.
00:11:59.91\00:12:01.72
And of course, in the
midst of their conversation,
00:12:01.75\00:12:04.02
she's starts asking
him some of these questions
00:12:04.09\00:12:06.55
about Daniel and Revelation.
00:12:06.59\00:12:08.69
And he says, "You know,
00:12:08.72\00:12:10.33
our church is having
a series of meetings.
00:12:10.36\00:12:12.96
And the whole focus
00:12:12.99\00:12:14.93
of that is on
Daniel and Revelation,
00:12:14.96\00:12:16.70
you might like to come."
00:12:16.77\00:12:18.67
Well, we went.
00:12:18.70\00:12:20.84
And at the end
of those meetings,
00:12:20.87\00:12:24.41
my mom and my older brother
00:12:24.44\00:12:25.87
joined the
Seventh-Day Adventist Church.
00:12:25.91\00:12:28.48
And that next year,
00:12:28.51\00:12:29.84
he's there talking
about Church school
00:12:29.88\00:12:32.31
and Christian education.
00:12:32.35\00:12:34.65
And mom bought into all of that,
00:12:34.68\00:12:37.32
and he's off to academy.
00:12:37.39\00:12:40.96
And during that next year,
00:12:40.99\00:12:42.69
my older sister
and I were baptized
00:12:42.72\00:12:45.36
into this
Seventh-Day Adventist Church
00:12:45.39\00:12:47.43
and the next year,
00:12:47.50\00:12:48.90
in the summer, we had to go,
00:12:48.93\00:12:50.47
we headed off to
Highland Academy.
00:12:50.50\00:12:53.00
And of course, she told me that,
00:12:53.03\00:12:54.50
"If you don't like it,
00:12:54.54\00:12:55.87
you can come home
after a couple of weeks."
00:12:55.90\00:12:57.24
I don't really think she was
telling me the truth in that,
00:12:57.31\00:12:59.47
because I don't
think she expecting me
00:12:59.51\00:13:00.88
to come back home.
00:13:00.91\00:13:02.28
But at any rate, that decision
was a turning point in my life.
00:13:02.31\00:13:09.08
The road I was going
down was not a good road
00:13:09.12\00:13:12.75
and that decision made
a total change in my life.
00:13:12.79\00:13:16.29
Amen.
00:13:16.32\00:13:17.66
And I met my future
wife at Highland Academy.
00:13:17.69\00:13:23.23
After school, we were married
00:13:23.26\00:13:25.17
and totally
involved in the church,
00:13:25.20\00:13:27.17
and she was a
Sabbath School Teacher,
00:13:27.24\00:13:31.77
I was an elder in the church.
00:13:31.81\00:13:35.08
Anything that had to do
with outdoor activities,
00:13:35.11\00:13:38.51
church campouts, or whatever,
00:13:38.55\00:13:40.55
we were involved in
planning or helping to plan
00:13:40.62\00:13:43.02
that because that's something
that we really enjoy doing.
00:13:43.05\00:13:46.05
And after 27 years,
00:13:46.09\00:13:49.32
our marriage ended in a divorce.
00:13:49.36\00:13:52.43
And after our break up,
00:13:52.46\00:13:56.20
about a month, maybe afterwards,
00:13:56.23\00:13:57.70
I come to church one day
00:13:57.73\00:13:59.07
and a lot of
people were not there.
00:13:59.10\00:14:02.04
I'm thinking,
"Where's everybody?"
00:14:02.07\00:14:04.11
And I asked, "Oh, they're
camping over in the Smokies."
00:14:04.14\00:14:08.81
And it hit me
like a ton of bricks.
00:14:08.84\00:14:10.35
I was speechless.
00:14:10.38\00:14:11.88
Here for...
00:14:11.91\00:14:13.25
Over 20 years, I've
been a member of this church
00:14:13.28\00:14:15.18
who was always been involved
in outdoor stuff camping
00:14:15.22\00:14:19.15
and what have you.
00:14:19.19\00:14:20.79
And I wasn't even
asked if I'd like to attend.
00:14:20.86\00:14:25.29
I totally felt,
left out and forgotten.
00:14:25.33\00:14:29.76
Yeah.
00:14:29.80\00:14:32.37
And the pain that I've
felt through that experience
00:14:32.40\00:14:39.07
has really shown me
00:14:39.11\00:14:42.64
what a lot of
Singles experience.
00:14:42.68\00:14:45.38
Yeah.
00:14:45.41\00:14:46.75
And this has really been
the catalyst that develops
00:14:46.82\00:14:51.05
this desire in me
for Singles Ministry,
00:14:51.09\00:14:54.69
and to be a
blessing for Singles.
00:14:54.72\00:14:58.06
And I'll have to say to anyone,
00:14:58.09\00:15:03.60
we all need to be
involved in ministry.
00:15:03.67\00:15:07.57
Some way, somehow,
00:15:07.64\00:15:09.94
if we're wanting
to be like Christ,
00:15:10.01\00:15:11.64
we need to do what Christ does.
00:15:11.67\00:15:13.78
And He ministers
to people every day.
00:15:13.81\00:15:15.81
Amen.
00:15:15.84\00:15:17.18
And that's why I'm here.
00:15:17.25\00:15:19.45
Amen.
00:15:19.48\00:15:20.82
Well, that's an
amazing testimony.
00:15:20.85\00:15:22.38
As you both were talking,
00:15:22.42\00:15:23.79
I was thinking of what Paul says
00:15:23.82\00:15:25.59
in 2 Corinthians 1,
that God comforts us,
00:15:25.62\00:15:29.92
so that then we can extend
that comfort to someone else.
00:15:29.96\00:15:35.06
Not that we have any
comfort of ourselves,
00:15:35.10\00:15:37.73
but God works to heal us.
00:15:37.77\00:15:40.04
And then it pours through
us, to minister to someone else.
00:15:40.07\00:15:44.54
So whether you're sitting
at home and you're saying,
00:15:44.57\00:15:46.78
I'm single, I've
never been married,
00:15:46.81\00:15:48.58
and I always
wanted to be married,
00:15:48.61\00:15:50.98
or I just lost my
spouse to a divorce,
00:15:51.01\00:15:54.55
or a death, or we are separated.
00:15:54.58\00:15:58.32
There's lots of
pain in this world.
00:15:58.35\00:16:01.06
And this Singles Ministry
is an incredible ministry
00:16:01.09\00:16:05.03
that God uses to
work to bring healing.
00:16:05.06\00:16:08.43
You all have a video
that you brought with us.
00:16:08.46\00:16:11.90
Elder Ron Smith is the President
00:16:11.93\00:16:14.57
of the Southern Union.
00:16:14.60\00:16:15.94
Dr. Ron Smith is the
President of the Southern Union.
00:16:15.97\00:16:19.64
And let's take a look
at that video right now.
00:16:19.67\00:16:22.61
Is it possible to
be single and happy?
00:16:29.22\00:16:33.36
Perhaps you as I have noticed
the bumper sticker entitled,
00:16:33.39\00:16:37.53
happiness is being single.
00:16:37.56\00:16:40.10
If happiness is being single,
00:16:40.13\00:16:42.33
why do these people look so sad?
00:16:42.36\00:16:45.13
Many display that
bumper sticker logo,
00:16:45.17\00:16:47.70
but have miserable and
unhappy written on their faces.
00:16:47.74\00:16:51.84
How can this unhappiness really
be minimized among singles?
00:16:51.87\00:16:55.91
Preferably, some
suggestions might be helpful.
00:16:55.94\00:16:59.55
Firstly, change
church attitudes.
00:16:59.58\00:17:02.78
You know something is
wrong with the church that sees
00:17:02.82\00:17:05.12
single adults as misfits,
00:17:05.15\00:17:07.39
has no place in the
body for unmarried people,
00:17:07.46\00:17:10.63
or lacks programs to
meet the needs of singles
00:17:10.66\00:17:12.93
and shows no
understanding whatsoever,
00:17:12.96\00:17:15.26
or desire to
understand their struggles,
00:17:15.30\00:17:18.27
especially if the
single person is divorced.
00:17:18.30\00:17:21.37
These attitudes
can be challenged
00:17:21.40\00:17:23.10
from the pulpit.
00:17:23.14\00:17:24.91
Married persons
gonna be encouraged
00:17:24.94\00:17:26.91
to welcome
singles into the church
00:17:26.98\00:17:28.91
and into their homes.
00:17:28.94\00:17:31.18
It might be
helpful to remind people
00:17:31.21\00:17:32.68
that Jesus and Paul were single.
00:17:32.71\00:17:35.82
They might not be
welcome in some churches today.
00:17:35.85\00:17:38.99
Certainly they would
be unacceptable to many
00:17:39.02\00:17:41.26
who maintain a strong prejudice
against single pastors.
00:17:41.29\00:17:45.83
As Christians, we find
ultimate security in Christ
00:17:45.86\00:17:48.53
and not in local congregations.
00:17:48.56\00:17:50.77
But believers do
need one another.
00:17:50.80\00:17:53.44
Many would agree
for singles especially
00:17:53.47\00:17:56.04
our home is the church.
00:17:56.07\00:17:57.87
Our family is the
body of believers.
00:17:57.91\00:18:00.61
No definition of family
can be called Christian,
00:18:00.68\00:18:03.45
which does not
include single people.
00:18:03.48\00:18:06.25
There may be a place in
the church for Valentine's
00:18:06.28\00:18:08.45
or Sweethearts banquets,
00:18:08.48\00:18:10.49
couples clubs,
00:18:10.52\00:18:11.85
and family
related church programs.
00:18:11.89\00:18:13.86
But too often, these exclude,
overlook or put down singles.
00:18:13.89\00:18:19.23
Probably most
organizers of these activities
00:18:19.26\00:18:21.56
have no intention of
excluding the unmarried.
00:18:21.60\00:18:25.07
More often there is
non-awareness of the singles
00:18:25.10\00:18:27.84
in the congregation.
00:18:27.87\00:18:29.47
Pastors, elders,
other church leaders
00:18:29.50\00:18:32.04
and members of the
congregation should all remember
00:18:32.07\00:18:35.34
that single
people are significant
00:18:35.38\00:18:37.25
and equal members
of the body of Christ.
00:18:37.28\00:18:40.32
Unmarried adults should have
full acceptance of the church.
00:18:40.35\00:18:44.32
Secondly, I wanna suggest
that we ought to seek to build
00:18:44.35\00:18:47.39
stable marriages and families.
00:18:47.46\00:18:48.86
You know many
singles are afraid to marry
00:18:48.89\00:18:50.76
and others live difficult
lives as single parents
00:18:50.83\00:18:53.60
and divorced people
00:18:53.63\00:18:54.96
because believers
often have distorted
00:18:55.00\00:18:57.50
and non-Biblical
views of marriage.
00:18:57.57\00:19:00.54
Teaching about healthy marriage
and families may be an indirect
00:19:00.57\00:19:03.71
or effective way
to prevent problems
00:19:03.74\00:19:06.47
that singles' and
married people both face.
00:19:06.51\00:19:09.61
To reduce the
increasing incidence
00:19:09.64\00:19:11.55
of divorce among believers,
00:19:11.58\00:19:13.72
to cut down the
number of unfulfilling
00:19:13.75\00:19:15.82
status quo marriages,
00:19:15.85\00:19:17.89
and to help singles
00:19:17.92\00:19:19.25
get a more balanced
perspective on family,
00:19:19.29\00:19:22.36
the church can do a few things.
00:19:22.39\00:19:25.16
Restate its
commitment to the family
00:19:25.19\00:19:27.30
and to the
institution of marriage.
00:19:27.33\00:19:30.67
The church can
give strong, clear,
00:19:30.70\00:19:32.30
Biblical teaching and
preaching on marriage,
00:19:32.33\00:19:35.17
the family, as
well as singleness.
00:19:35.20\00:19:38.87
Encourage fathers to be
more active in parenting,
00:19:38.91\00:19:42.51
and couples to be more
involved in marriage building.
00:19:42.54\00:19:46.41
Discourage thinking that
creates unrealistic ideals
00:19:46.45\00:19:50.19
about marriage, as
well as the family,
00:19:50.22\00:19:53.25
or encourages
child centered marriages.
00:19:53.29\00:19:57.03
The church can
also teach communication
00:19:57.06\00:19:58.69
and conflict resolution skills.
00:19:58.73\00:20:01.80
These are a few things
that we can think about.
00:20:01.83\00:20:04.90
We can encourage singles as well
00:20:04.93\00:20:06.50
to make
decisions and to be active.
00:20:06.53\00:20:09.40
Singleness
problems can be prevented
00:20:09.44\00:20:11.17
when unmarried people
are helped to trust God
00:20:11.21\00:20:14.08
for their
present and future needs,
00:20:14.11\00:20:16.34
to honestly face and attempt
00:20:16.38\00:20:17.91
to deal with their
personal problems and struggles
00:20:17.95\00:20:20.65
to reach out to others
00:20:20.72\00:20:22.05
in a spirit of
giving and friendship,
00:20:22.08\00:20:24.45
to evaluate their
life goals periodically,
00:20:24.49\00:20:27.26
and to work on
developing a balanced life
00:20:27.29\00:20:29.92
that combines
worship, work, play, rest,
00:20:29.96\00:20:33.60
and periods of both
socializing and solitude.
00:20:33.63\00:20:37.10
Often when people
are active and involved
00:20:37.17\00:20:39.00
in meaningful
ministry to others,
00:20:39.03\00:20:41.47
there's less time or
reason to dwell on problems.
00:20:41.50\00:20:45.37
I wish to express
my acknowledgement
00:20:45.41\00:20:47.38
and appreciation
for Bob Merrill's
00:20:47.41\00:20:49.38
for his unswerving dedication
00:20:49.41\00:20:51.41
and commitment
to Singles Ministry
00:20:51.45\00:20:54.62
and the
Southern Union Territory.
00:20:54.65\00:20:57.72
That's a great video.
00:20:57.75\00:20:59.89
Special thanks to
Dr. Ron Smith for that.
00:20:59.92\00:21:04.96
It seems like
the issue of singles,
00:21:04.99\00:21:07.50
especially within the church,
00:21:07.53\00:21:09.73
would be
something that we could say
00:21:09.76\00:21:11.27
is largely overlooked.
00:21:11.30\00:21:12.63
Would that be accurate?
00:21:12.67\00:21:14.04
I would think so.
00:21:14.07\00:21:15.40
Okay.
00:21:15.44\00:21:16.81
I would think so.
00:21:16.84\00:21:18.17
Through the years
talking to a lot of singles,
00:21:18.21\00:21:23.68
we...
00:21:23.75\00:21:25.55
Many talk about
basically of being overlooked.
00:21:25.58\00:21:32.15
How can we work to
change church attitudes?
00:21:32.19\00:21:34.19
I was taking notes
since he was talking
00:21:34.26\00:21:36.02
and it seemed like
that was his first point,
00:21:36.06\00:21:38.33
was to change church attitude.
00:21:38.36\00:21:40.40
So how can we even
begin that process?
00:21:40.43\00:21:43.10
Or what does that look like?
00:21:43.13\00:21:44.57
I think that most
people would say what,
00:21:44.60\00:21:51.14
we don't have an
attitude against singles.
00:21:51.17\00:21:54.31
But actions speak
louder than words.
00:21:54.34\00:21:58.21
And we can say a lot of things.
00:21:58.25\00:22:00.92
But the actions
that come through,
00:22:00.95\00:22:03.52
as singles are in some
sense ostracized and overlooked.
00:22:03.59\00:22:09.86
I don't think that the church...
00:22:09.89\00:22:13.73
You know, there's a
lot of people in the church
00:22:13.80\00:22:15.56
that are single.
00:22:15.60\00:22:16.97
Yes.
00:22:17.00\00:22:18.33
And Dr. Ron Smith
told me that something like
00:22:18.37\00:22:22.44
half of his constituents
300,000 people are single.
00:22:22.47\00:22:27.41
Now that includes
no doubt, college kids.
00:22:27.48\00:22:30.05
Right.
00:22:30.08\00:22:31.41
But even if you took off 50%,
00:22:31.45\00:22:33.92
and said that 25% are adults,
00:22:33.95\00:22:38.49
30 or 40, and up,
that's a lot of people.
00:22:38.52\00:22:42.69
And if you took half of that,
00:22:42.72\00:22:45.23
and said that
00:22:45.26\00:22:48.03
they're very comfortable,
00:22:48.06\00:22:49.56
they're very
contented, they're solid.
00:22:49.60\00:22:53.44
But if you just
took that half of that,
00:22:53.47\00:22:56.54
and said those
people are crying inside,
00:22:56.57\00:22:59.27
they're lonely.
00:22:59.31\00:23:00.68
How many times I
have gone to church, left.
00:23:00.71\00:23:05.11
I do a lot of visiting,
00:23:05.15\00:23:07.02
out trying to spark
up interest in this.
00:23:07.05\00:23:10.22
And so I tell my own church,
I pay my tithes and offerings,
00:23:10.29\00:23:12.89
but I'm not here every week.
00:23:12.92\00:23:15.72
But I've been there
the last couple of weeks,
00:23:15.76\00:23:18.16
because I wanted them to know,
00:23:18.19\00:23:19.53
I'm gonna be here
00:23:19.56\00:23:20.90
and I want them
praying for this.
00:23:20.93\00:23:22.43
Wes and I are really
concerned about this subject.
00:23:22.46\00:23:26.20
And that...
00:23:26.23\00:23:27.57
But there's a lot of people
00:23:27.64\00:23:29.27
that lot of families all go off,
00:23:32.61\00:23:35.11
they go to each other's
home, they go home for dinner,
00:23:35.14\00:23:37.88
we know about that,
because we used to do it.
00:23:37.91\00:23:39.68
Right.
00:23:39.71\00:23:41.05
But as a single
people, a lot of times
00:23:41.08\00:23:43.15
that doesn't happen.
00:23:43.18\00:23:45.22
And so there's loneliness.
00:23:45.25\00:23:47.46
And it's those things
that the Singles Ministry
00:23:47.49\00:23:50.73
reaches out to.
00:23:50.76\00:23:52.33
Let Wes go on,
he's all down here.
00:23:52.36\00:23:55.06
Even when we talk
about Singles Ministry
00:23:55.10\00:23:59.23
and talk to somewhat,
"Oh, that's a dating thing."
00:23:59.27\00:24:02.44
And that seems
to be the concept.
00:24:02.47\00:24:05.64
You know, I mean,
there's Women's Ministry,
00:24:05.67\00:24:07.81
there's Men's Ministry...
00:24:07.84\00:24:09.54
There's Family Ministry.
00:24:09.58\00:24:11.58
When you talk about
Women or Singles Ministry,
00:24:11.61\00:24:14.45
oh, that's a dating
thing, we don't do that.
00:24:14.48\00:24:17.02
We know, we can be a
ministry for Singles,
00:24:17.09\00:24:21.66
to help hurting people.
00:24:21.69\00:24:23.73
And our goal is to
be a family type setting
00:24:23.76\00:24:28.43
where people can
come and feel safe
00:24:28.46\00:24:30.87
and not feel threatened.
00:24:30.90\00:24:32.87
And yes, people do date.
00:24:32.90\00:24:35.94
And yes, people do get married.
00:24:35.97\00:24:37.97
That's something that happens
with single people, you know,
00:24:38.01\00:24:40.48
from time to
time, and that's okay.
00:24:40.51\00:24:42.24
Right.
00:24:42.28\00:24:43.65
But we can be a ministry
to minister to hurting people
00:24:43.68\00:24:47.82
and be open to the needs.
00:24:47.85\00:24:52.09
And I think that
our church at large
00:24:52.12\00:24:55.49
could be more open to the needs.
00:24:55.52\00:24:57.23
And I think that's
what Ron Smith is saying.
00:24:57.26\00:24:59.69
That, a lot of times,
they're not invited maybe
00:24:59.73\00:25:02.30
because they're not even
recognized in the church.
00:25:02.33\00:25:04.80
Right.
00:25:04.83\00:25:06.17
Overlooked.
00:25:06.20\00:25:07.54
And sometimes it's
not even purposeful.
00:25:07.57\00:25:09.00
I don't think it's
where people are saying,
00:25:09.04\00:25:10.41
"Well, we're gonna marginalize
or push single people aside."
00:25:10.44\00:25:13.68
It's just
everything in our society
00:25:13.71\00:25:15.41
is geared toward the family.
00:25:15.44\00:25:16.78
So you might not
even think of that.
00:25:16.85\00:25:19.05
When we think of
how many churches
00:25:19.08\00:25:20.98
are small...
00:25:21.02\00:25:22.58
Now we're from the...
00:25:22.62\00:25:24.09
We act...
00:25:24.12\00:25:25.45
We are active in
the Chattanooga area,
00:25:25.49\00:25:27.86
and there's probably at least
00:25:27.89\00:25:30.33
40 churches in a 25 mile radius,
00:25:30.36\00:25:33.06
at least 30.
00:25:33.09\00:25:35.93
But they're small.
00:25:35.96\00:25:37.60
And where do they
go if they're single?
00:25:37.63\00:25:40.04
Their little church,
00:25:40.07\00:25:41.40
there's probably not somebody
you know that... that's...
00:25:41.44\00:25:45.34
But God has
given me the idea of...
00:25:45.37\00:25:49.08
I've done a lot
of research online,
00:25:49.11\00:25:51.91
called a number of conferences,
unions across North America,
00:25:51.95\00:25:55.62
the Adventists of
what they're doing
00:25:55.65\00:25:57.49
with singles.
00:25:57.52\00:25:59.02
I've called Baptist, Moody,
00:25:59.05\00:26:01.66
and I've been to
Methodist churches,
00:26:01.69\00:26:05.16
Baptist churches to
see what they're doing.
00:26:05.19\00:26:07.93
And something that
I think is beautiful,
00:26:07.96\00:26:10.37
but it's hard for
our people to see it.
00:26:10.40\00:26:14.37
And that is, I would
like to see a Central Church
00:26:14.40\00:26:18.44
in a large area,
like Nashville, Atlanta,
00:26:18.47\00:26:22.51
Knoxville, Chattanooga,
00:26:22.54\00:26:25.58
where there's a Mother Church
00:26:25.61\00:26:27.42
that has a Sabbath School Class,
00:26:27.45\00:26:29.65
a small groups class, that...
00:26:29.68\00:26:32.79
If I'm from Timbuktu,
00:26:32.82\00:26:35.72
I know that I can go there
and there will be something,
00:26:35.76\00:26:38.59
there will be fellowship,
00:26:38.63\00:26:40.30
there can be
something that I can work with
00:26:40.33\00:26:42.13
and identify with.
00:26:42.16\00:26:44.07
That's gonna be a hard
thing to move from the people
00:26:44.10\00:26:48.04
that I've been talking to.
00:26:48.07\00:26:49.67
But I think God
would like to see
00:26:49.70\00:26:51.91
something like that.
00:26:51.94\00:26:53.38
And if anybody's out
there, that's got interest,
00:26:53.41\00:26:56.28
I would love to encourage that.
00:26:56.31\00:26:59.28
But that goes along with
what I think he's talking about.
00:26:59.31\00:27:02.68
You're changing our
attitude towards single.
00:27:02.72\00:27:07.66
And it's true,
there's a lot of us
00:27:07.69\00:27:09.02
that would like to get married.
00:27:09.06\00:27:10.93
But more than being married,
00:27:10.96\00:27:15.76
is that we are like...
00:27:15.80\00:27:17.17
I like what Wes says,
00:27:17.20\00:27:18.77
we're there to help
those that are hurt.
00:27:18.80\00:27:20.67
Yes.
00:27:20.74\00:27:23.24
So would you say
that is the purpose
00:27:23.27\00:27:24.84
of Singles Ministry?
00:27:24.87\00:27:26.88
If I were to ask
you to distill down,
00:27:26.91\00:27:29.28
and what is your purpose
for the Singles Ministry,
00:27:29.31\00:27:31.65
the
Georgia-Cumberland Conference,
00:27:31.68\00:27:33.15
and by extension, it could
be spread around the world,
00:27:33.18\00:27:35.72
I guess.
00:27:35.75\00:27:37.09
But what would be that purpose?
00:27:37.12\00:27:40.26
To be that, that place
00:27:40.29\00:27:43.73
that people can
come and feel safe...
00:27:43.76\00:27:46.16
That's good.
00:27:46.19\00:27:47.53
Not feel threatened,
00:27:47.60\00:27:49.10
not feel like they have
to be in a dating situation
00:27:49.13\00:27:52.53
to date somebody.
00:27:52.57\00:27:54.70
But they can if they like
to, you know, that's fine.
00:27:54.74\00:27:58.37
But they don't
have to feel that...
00:27:58.41\00:28:01.28
They don't have the
stresses of going to a function
00:28:01.31\00:28:04.95
and interacting with people,
00:28:04.98\00:28:07.12
other single people
from a friendship basis,
00:28:07.15\00:28:10.59
instead of from
a dating situation.
00:28:10.62\00:28:12.39
Right.
00:28:12.42\00:28:13.76
And that makes it
easier for a person, I think.
00:28:13.79\00:28:19.89
And I hope so anyway.
00:28:19.93\00:28:21.40
Absolutely.
00:28:21.43\00:28:22.76
You know.
00:28:22.80\00:28:24.17
God created us
to be in community.
00:28:24.20\00:28:25.53
Yes.
00:28:25.57\00:28:26.90
And so if you create
a community of friends,
00:28:26.94\00:28:29.10
a community of
that ministry together,
00:28:29.14\00:28:32.17
what are some of
the things that you do
00:28:32.21\00:28:33.78
with the Singles Ministry there?
00:28:33.81\00:28:35.38
Can I just... Please, yeah.
00:28:35.41\00:28:36.95
Before we'd jump into that,
00:28:36.98\00:28:38.45
going back to what
Dr. Ron Smith said.
00:28:38.48\00:28:41.15
He said that the
home is the church
00:28:41.18\00:28:46.39
to a single person,
00:28:46.42\00:28:47.76
that's our
family, it's the church.
00:28:47.79\00:28:50.13
And if we can't identify
there, if we can't fit in...
00:28:50.16\00:28:55.76
Now, you know, single people,
they're all over the church.
00:28:55.80\00:29:00.84
And they operate and
they come with smiles,
00:29:00.87\00:29:03.30
but they...
00:29:03.34\00:29:04.81
they may not...
00:29:04.84\00:29:06.98
They may not be functioning.
00:29:07.01\00:29:08.81
So these
activities that we go...
00:29:08.84\00:29:11.71
I think you're gonna go
into will help us to identify,
00:29:11.75\00:29:16.69
and this is where
that church structure
00:29:16.72\00:29:18.65
that I'm talking
about provides that.
00:29:18.69\00:29:22.12
It becomes like a home,
00:29:22.16\00:29:23.63
your church family
that becomes like a home.
00:29:23.66\00:29:24.99
The church
family becomes family.
00:29:25.03\00:29:26.36
Yes.
00:29:26.39\00:29:27.73
I know through Singles
Ministry that I have friends
00:29:27.76\00:29:31.03
that are closer to me
00:29:31.07\00:29:33.54
than actually
my immediate family
00:29:33.57\00:29:35.40
in some instances.
00:29:35.44\00:29:36.91
Through the years I've
developed a relationship
00:29:36.94\00:29:39.21
and a friendship and
they're very close to me.
00:29:39.24\00:29:43.65
And I praise God for them.
00:29:43.68\00:29:45.01
Amen. Amen.
00:29:45.05\00:29:47.32
That's wonderful.
00:29:47.35\00:29:49.22
Do you have anything else, Wes,
00:29:49.25\00:29:50.79
before we move on
to the activities?
00:29:50.82\00:29:52.15
I don't want to
cut off. No, go ahead.
00:29:52.19\00:29:53.56
Okay.
00:29:53.59\00:29:54.92
So moving on to
some of the activities,
00:29:54.96\00:29:56.29
what are some of the activities
that you're involved in,
00:29:56.32\00:29:58.09
in the Singles Ministry
and to create that family
00:29:58.13\00:30:00.90
or that home as you say?
00:30:00.93\00:30:02.26
We do a lot of things,
but I miss you... you jump in.
00:30:02.30\00:30:06.00
Go ahead.
00:30:06.03\00:30:07.54
But you know, we
have a game night.
00:30:07.57\00:30:09.57
We've had Friday
night, worship time together.
00:30:09.60\00:30:13.21
I love it.
00:30:13.24\00:30:14.58
We've had special
nights where we may go through
00:30:14.61\00:30:18.45
some special
character development videos
00:30:18.48\00:30:23.62
and things that help us to
improve, Gary Smalley tapes,
00:30:23.69\00:30:27.06
key to a golden relationship
and stuff like that.
00:30:27.09\00:30:30.56
And those have been good.
00:30:30.63\00:30:33.26
And we have...
00:30:33.29\00:30:36.23
But I think there's
room for a lot of things.
00:30:36.26\00:30:39.43
I'd like you, Wes,
00:30:39.47\00:30:40.84
to go in and
share some of the more,
00:30:40.87\00:30:45.54
some of the activities.
00:30:45.57\00:30:47.31
Yeah, we generally have
a retreat once a quarter.
00:30:47.38\00:30:51.41
Nice.
00:30:51.45\00:30:52.78
Like a weekend, weekend retreat.
00:30:52.81\00:30:54.98
And we bring in a
special speaker for the weekend.
00:30:55.02\00:30:58.25
And we're all at some place,
00:30:58.29\00:31:00.16
you know where
just singles coming.
00:31:00.19\00:31:02.02
And singles come from all over
00:31:02.06\00:31:03.43
to come to some
of these functions,
00:31:03.46\00:31:05.46
Sturty Lodge is one
00:31:05.49\00:31:06.90
that has always been a big deal.
00:31:06.93\00:31:10.07
It's up in...
00:31:10.10\00:31:11.43
in a wreck close to
the Appalachian Trail
00:31:11.47\00:31:13.64
up in the North
Carolina, Tennessee border.
00:31:13.67\00:31:16.81
And October,
00:31:16.84\00:31:20.68
I don't have the
date right at hand.
00:31:20.71\00:31:22.04
I don't either but in
the fall of every year.
00:31:22.08\00:31:23.48
In the fall? Okay.
00:31:23.55\00:31:24.88
If you have an interest
in something along that line,
00:31:24.91\00:31:27.65
send us an email,
00:31:27.68\00:31:29.02
we can send you a brochure
that has our activities,
00:31:29.05\00:31:31.25
things that are coming up.
00:31:31.29\00:31:34.06
This year here in
just a couple of weeks,
00:31:34.09\00:31:36.49
we have the 50 plus camp
00:31:36.52\00:31:39.16
at Indian Creek Camp
that we're gonna be a part of,
00:31:39.19\00:31:43.13
those are on a quarterly basis.
00:31:43.16\00:31:45.33
We have local events,
00:31:45.37\00:31:46.74
but then we have
the special events
00:31:46.77\00:31:48.27
that are quarterly type things.
00:31:48.30\00:31:50.21
And we have a camp out
at Cage Cove in spring.
00:31:50.24\00:31:54.11
You know, just the things to,
00:31:54.18\00:31:58.41
where singles can get
together and socialize.
00:31:58.45\00:32:01.75
And Wes has even
taken us backpacking.
00:32:01.78\00:32:05.05
Wes likes to backpacking
00:32:05.09\00:32:06.42
and I've gone on a
couple of them with him.
00:32:06.45\00:32:08.82
And we've, we have a fun time.
00:32:08.86\00:32:12.13
Can people come in from...
00:32:12.16\00:32:13.50
Excuse me a second.
00:32:13.53\00:32:14.86
Can people come
in from other areas
00:32:14.90\00:32:16.23
or do they have to
live in Tennessee or...
00:32:16.26\00:32:17.60
We would love them...
00:32:17.63\00:32:18.97
Anywhere. Anywhere.
00:32:19.00\00:32:20.34
We've had them out, you know,
00:32:20.37\00:32:21.70
I've invited folks
from California to come.
00:32:21.74\00:32:23.61
So I've talked
with a lot of folks
00:32:23.64\00:32:25.74
and they're saying let
us know when it's happening.
00:32:25.77\00:32:27.91
Michigan, we've
invited them down.
00:32:27.94\00:32:30.15
And we're hoping
that through this,
00:32:30.18\00:32:32.05
it will stimulate a
national increase in it.
00:32:32.08\00:32:36.79
We realized that with
singles, as they get married,
00:32:36.82\00:32:40.36
the whole
leadership may fall apart.
00:32:40.39\00:32:42.06
But if it's in
these church structures,
00:32:42.09\00:32:43.83
like I'm thinking...
00:32:43.86\00:32:45.19
Yes. They will...
00:32:45.23\00:32:47.53
And I don't
think it would be bad
00:32:47.60\00:32:48.96
to have married couples
00:32:49.00\00:32:51.17
leading those small groups
and Sabbath school classes
00:32:51.20\00:32:55.57
to give a more permanent fixture
00:32:55.60\00:32:58.71
so that it'll be
there year after year.
00:32:58.74\00:33:02.01
I would like to...
00:33:02.04\00:33:03.68
We did a couple of years ago,
I was feeling lonely myself.
00:33:03.75\00:33:08.35
And I just felt like
there would be enough people
00:33:08.38\00:33:13.02
that would like to come
to a Christmas Day function.
00:33:13.05\00:33:17.83
And yet, that means
that most of us as singles
00:33:17.86\00:33:22.10
are traveling off to families
and we weren't able to do it.
00:33:22.13\00:33:26.40
But I was able to get
00:33:26.43\00:33:28.77
Jamie Jorge and Steve Darmody
00:33:28.80\00:33:33.68
to come and put
musical concert on
00:33:33.71\00:33:36.31
at the first Chattanooga church.
00:33:36.34\00:33:38.75
And we invited
everybody to come in.
00:33:38.78\00:33:41.68
We had probably 100,
150 people that came.
00:33:41.72\00:33:46.65
And I've got a
little video of that.
00:33:46.69\00:33:48.66
Yes. And I would...
00:33:48.69\00:33:50.63
Can we play that
video? Let's do that.
00:33:50.66\00:33:52.06
Absolutely. Let's take
a look at that video now.
00:33:52.09\00:33:54.03
I feel
privileged to have been here
00:34:44.31\00:34:46.82
and put on this concert
00:34:46.85\00:34:48.85
for the Singles Ministry
group of this conference.
00:34:48.88\00:34:52.65
And the reason is, all of us
go through challenges in life.
00:34:52.69\00:34:56.83
All of us would like to be
able to spend a time of year
00:34:56.86\00:34:59.43
such as this with friends
00:34:59.46\00:35:01.36
and loved ones
and family especially,
00:35:01.40\00:35:04.30
but some may not
have that opportunity.
00:35:04.33\00:35:06.84
And so putting on this program
was really a wonderful idea
00:35:06.87\00:35:10.84
ministry and outreach.
00:35:10.91\00:35:12.81
And for me to be a
part of it, it was an honor.
00:35:12.84\00:35:15.91
I remember the
days when I was single.
00:35:15.94\00:35:18.11
I remember the days
when I was divorced.
00:35:18.15\00:35:20.42
And so to know that
people are thinking about those
00:35:20.45\00:35:24.42
who have gone
through challenges,
00:35:24.45\00:35:26.32
makes it a little
easier to get through.
00:35:26.35\00:35:29.49
So may the Lord
bless this ministry
00:35:29.52\00:35:31.63
and everybody involved.
00:35:31.66\00:35:34.93
Thank you so much, Jamie.
00:35:34.96\00:35:36.30
What a powerful testimony
to know that he's giving back
00:35:36.33\00:35:39.60
of his time and his talents
to the Singles Ministry there.
00:35:39.63\00:35:45.04
It's wonderful, the
activities that you have.
00:35:45.07\00:35:47.08
I know they are also
involved in mission trips
00:35:47.11\00:35:49.88
and we wanna get
to that right away.
00:35:49.91\00:35:52.25
Before we do, you referenced
all these different activities
00:35:52.28\00:35:55.38
that you're involved in,
people can come from all over,
00:35:55.42\00:35:57.75
is that all on a certain website
00:35:57.79\00:35:59.99
or could people email you
and find those activities?
00:36:00.06\00:36:03.22
Or what's the best way at
the very end of the program,
00:36:03.26\00:36:05.36
we will put up your
contact information.
00:36:05.39\00:36:07.53
But is it on a website
00:36:07.60\00:36:08.93
or how can people
access that information?
00:36:08.96\00:36:11.13
The best way would send an email
00:36:11.17\00:36:13.13
to our email address
00:36:13.17\00:36:14.50
and request our
calendar of events.
00:36:14.54\00:36:17.61
And we update
those every three months.
00:36:17.64\00:36:19.47
Okay.
00:36:19.51\00:36:20.88
So we plan activities
for one quarter at a time
00:36:20.91\00:36:23.85
or three months at a time.
00:36:23.88\00:36:25.58
And anyone can
request that information
00:36:25.61\00:36:29.75
and we'll send it to them.
00:36:29.78\00:36:31.12
Perfect. Okay.
00:36:31.15\00:36:32.49
So we will put up your emails
here at the end of the program
00:36:32.52\00:36:34.26
and people can
contact you for that.
00:36:34.29\00:36:36.22
So let's
transition to mission trips.
00:36:36.26\00:36:38.96
Not only do you do activities
like going outside or camping
00:36:38.99\00:36:42.70
or Christmas concerts,
but you go on mission trips.
00:36:42.73\00:36:45.70
So tell us about that, Wes.
00:36:45.73\00:36:47.17
Well, actually, we
have several ministries
00:36:47.24\00:36:49.80
within our Singles
Ministry that we do.
00:36:49.84\00:36:54.31
And we have sort of
started by accident,
00:36:54.34\00:36:58.68
a Food Ministry
that started in 2009.
00:36:58.71\00:37:04.45
And one of our
singles was collecting food
00:37:04.49\00:37:08.82
from a grocery
store dumpster for singles
00:37:08.86\00:37:12.23
that were having a
hard time having food.
00:37:12.26\00:37:15.23
And she ended up
getting more food
00:37:15.26\00:37:18.00
than she could give
away or than she could use.
00:37:18.03\00:37:21.54
So we started giving
food away and that developed
00:37:21.57\00:37:25.21
into Heavens Bounty.
00:37:25.24\00:37:29.61
And that has
developed to the point
00:37:29.64\00:37:32.85
that we're a member of
the Chattanooga Food Bank.
00:37:32.88\00:37:36.55
And we have distributed
00:37:36.58\00:37:37.92
pounds of food in a year
00:37:37.95\00:37:41.79
through that ministry.
00:37:41.82\00:37:43.16
700,000 pounds of food?
00:37:43.19\00:37:45.06
700,000 pounds of food.
00:37:45.09\00:37:46.90
That's a lot. That is.
00:37:46.93\00:37:48.26
Now does that
food all go to singles
00:37:48.30\00:37:49.63
in particular or no?
00:37:49.66\00:37:51.00
Okay.
00:37:51.03\00:37:52.37
That goes to
anybody in the community.
00:37:52.40\00:37:53.74
We have a storefront,
people come in, and, but,
00:37:53.77\00:37:58.74
now it is grown to the
point that it's beyond the scope
00:37:58.77\00:38:01.91
of what our
ministry can oversee.
00:38:01.94\00:38:05.58
And...
00:38:05.61\00:38:06.95
It involves, if I
can interrupt you, Wes,
00:38:07.02\00:38:09.15
it involves, I think,
00:38:09.18\00:38:11.05
is it three churches
or two other churches?
00:38:11.09\00:38:13.66
I think it's two
other churches...
00:38:13.69\00:38:15.56
Other denomination.
00:38:15.59\00:38:16.93
Other denominations
that come in and help.
00:38:16.96\00:38:19.76
And we were hoping
that one of our local
00:38:19.79\00:38:23.10
Seventh-Day Adventist Churches
00:38:23.13\00:38:24.70
would step up and oversee the...
00:38:24.73\00:38:28.27
they have the
oversight of Heavens Bounty.
00:38:28.30\00:38:31.11
But it doesn't look
like that's going to happen.
00:38:31.14\00:38:33.01
But one of the other
churches is going to step in
00:38:33.04\00:38:35.11
and have the
oversight of that ministry.
00:38:35.14\00:38:37.71
And we praise God for it.
00:38:37.75\00:38:39.28
It's been a
blessing through the years,
00:38:39.31\00:38:40.98
but its 10 years in the
making and it has truly grown.
00:38:41.02\00:38:45.45
And now this year,
00:38:45.49\00:38:48.16
will be my 18th year to
take a mission group to Ecuador.
00:38:48.19\00:38:53.53
Oh, wow, before
we go to Ecuador.
00:38:53.60\00:38:55.00
I just wanna go back.
00:38:55.03\00:38:56.36
So for 10 years, the
Singles Ministry there
00:38:56.40\00:39:00.04
has provided oversight
and has worked in conjunction
00:39:00.07\00:39:03.71
with other churches
for this Food Ministry?
00:39:03.74\00:39:06.17
Yes. That's an
incredible ministry.
00:39:06.21\00:39:09.14
I mean, we could
talk a whole program
00:39:09.18\00:39:10.55
just about that
00:39:10.58\00:39:11.91
and the stories and the outreach
00:39:11.95\00:39:13.42
to the community
00:39:13.45\00:39:14.78
be in the hands
and feet of Jesus.
00:39:14.82\00:39:16.15
I love that.
00:39:16.18\00:39:17.52
Okay, Ecuador. I'm sorry.
00:39:17.55\00:39:19.02
So this is your
18th trip to Ecuador?
00:39:19.05\00:39:21.59
18th trip to Ecuador.
00:39:21.62\00:39:23.53
Actually, no, some
years we did two trips.
00:39:23.56\00:39:27.60
And, but we've
been going for 18 years.
00:39:27.63\00:39:32.20
And
00:39:32.23\00:39:34.37
the years ago,
00:39:34.40\00:39:39.77
there was a lady called me,
00:39:39.81\00:39:41.14
one of our singles and said,
00:39:41.18\00:39:42.51
she would like to go to Ecuador.
00:39:42.54\00:39:43.88
And I asked, "Well,
what do you want to do?"
00:39:43.95\00:39:46.38
"Well, I'll do pedicures."
00:39:46.41\00:39:49.68
Why do people in
Ecuador need pedicure?
00:39:49.72\00:39:51.49
I mean, that was a
thought that came to my mind.
00:39:51.52\00:39:53.12
You know, but Linda was,
that's what she wanted to do.
00:39:53.15\00:39:57.23
And she got the
equipment and all together
00:39:57.26\00:39:59.36
and we went
00:39:59.39\00:40:00.73
and she would search
out the older people.
00:40:00.80\00:40:04.27
And down there they
don't wear shoes a lot of times
00:40:04.30\00:40:06.17
or they wear flip flops or,
00:40:06.20\00:40:07.77
you know they had terrible feet.
00:40:07.80\00:40:09.14
Is this Linda here?
00:40:09.17\00:40:10.51
Where's Linda in
the picture? Yes.
00:40:10.54\00:40:11.87
She is one in the back.
00:40:11.91\00:40:13.24
Okay.
00:40:13.27\00:40:14.61
And the girl in the front
that's working on the feet
00:40:14.64\00:40:17.75
was one of the local
nurses that Linda taught to do
00:40:17.78\00:40:21.65
what she does or what she did.
00:40:21.68\00:40:25.39
And for about seven
years, Linda went with us.
00:40:25.42\00:40:27.66
Oh, wow.
00:40:27.69\00:40:29.02
And she developed cancer
and she's no longer with us.
00:40:29.06\00:40:31.66
But because she had taught
the girls there, what to do,
00:40:31.69\00:40:36.00
now every year our
ministry has foot care.
00:40:36.03\00:40:39.53
And last year we
had six student nurses
00:40:39.57\00:40:41.54
in the morning
00:40:41.57\00:40:42.90
and six student
nurses in the afternoon
00:40:42.94\00:40:44.77
doing just foot care.
00:40:44.81\00:40:46.14
Really?
00:40:46.17\00:40:47.51
Yes, we had like 80
local volunteers working
00:40:47.58\00:40:51.15
with our group there.
00:40:51.18\00:40:52.78
It's just been awesome.
00:40:52.81\00:40:54.52
And the university students
come and they work with us.
00:40:54.55\00:40:59.12
And it's just...
00:40:59.15\00:41:00.66
it's just a blessing.
00:41:00.69\00:41:02.02
That's all I can say.
00:41:02.06\00:41:03.43
But in that time we
have helped remodel or build
00:41:03.46\00:41:08.00
eight churches in Ecuador.
00:41:08.03\00:41:12.10
And if...
00:41:12.13\00:41:14.87
Is this one of
the churches here?
00:41:14.90\00:41:16.50
Actually, this is in Cuba.
00:41:16.54\00:41:19.01
Oh.
00:41:19.04\00:41:20.38
Okay.
00:41:20.41\00:41:21.74
Well, let's come
to Cuba in a minute
00:41:21.78\00:41:23.11
and we'll come back to Ecuador.
00:41:23.14\00:41:24.58
Well, this year, we just
went to Cuba, just got back.
00:41:24.61\00:41:29.55
Actually, the 1st of
June we went to Cuba.
00:41:29.58\00:41:32.82
And we went there to
help remodel a house church...
00:41:32.85\00:41:38.23
Wow.
00:41:38.26\00:41:39.59
..in a little community there.
00:41:39.63\00:41:41.03
And we ended up...
00:41:41.06\00:41:42.43
I mean, we were doing knocking
plaster and stuff off the walls
00:41:42.46\00:41:45.00
and that's what this picture is.
00:41:45.03\00:41:46.37
And but we help
put in the foundation
00:41:46.40\00:41:48.47
and start laying the blocks
for the rear of the church.
00:41:48.50\00:41:51.57
We just about double
the size of the church.
00:41:51.61\00:41:53.68
Oh, wow.
00:41:53.71\00:41:55.04
And Cuba is different,
much different than Ecuador.
00:41:55.08\00:42:00.12
How is it different?
00:42:00.15\00:42:01.65
Well, everything
has to be permissioned
00:42:01.68\00:42:05.02
and what have you.
00:42:05.05\00:42:07.06
And we got there on Monday.
00:42:07.09\00:42:10.23
And we didn't get
the permission papers
00:42:10.26\00:42:12.19
until Wednesday to
actually go to work.
00:42:12.23\00:42:16.10
But we had that 260 people
00:42:16.13\00:42:20.54
that came through a health fair.
00:42:20.57\00:42:22.57
We had about 60 kids
each night and a Bible school.
00:42:22.60\00:42:25.41
Oh, wow.
00:42:25.44\00:42:26.78
And I just got pictures and
now they have all the walls up
00:42:26.81\00:42:30.35
and ready for the
roof on the building.
00:42:30.38\00:42:33.52
And it was truly a blessing.
00:42:33.55\00:42:35.22
And if we had
time we've got miracles
00:42:35.25\00:42:37.52
we could talk about there too.
00:42:37.59\00:42:39.19
But the...
00:42:39.22\00:42:40.96
So tell us at
least one miracle story,
00:42:40.99\00:42:43.02
we wanna hear at least one.
00:42:43.06\00:42:45.39
Well, we were
traveling in a van at night.
00:42:45.43\00:42:49.63
Now you have to
understand in Cuba,
00:42:49.66\00:42:51.63
they have horse and carriages,
they have motorcycles,
00:42:51.67\00:42:54.47
they have cars
and trucks, you know.
00:42:54.50\00:42:57.24
Anyway, our van broke down,
00:42:57.31\00:42:59.07
in the middle of
the road at night,
00:42:59.11\00:43:00.81
and there wasn't any
place to pull off the road.
00:43:00.88\00:43:02.44
Wow.
00:43:02.48\00:43:03.85
So the truck is,
the van is stopped
00:43:03.88\00:43:05.25
in the middle of the
road and no lights, you know,
00:43:05.28\00:43:08.65
and the driver went
back and pulled some boards
00:43:08.68\00:43:12.62
or some lambs and stuff
off the side up onto the road.
00:43:12.65\00:43:16.83
So somebody is
coming down the road,
00:43:16.86\00:43:18.19
they'd hit that
before they'd run in.
00:43:18.23\00:43:20.20
But there was one fellow
came down about half drunk
00:43:20.23\00:43:22.26
and he hit all
that and it kept him
00:43:22.30\00:43:25.13
from running into the van.
00:43:25.17\00:43:26.63
Oh, wow.
00:43:26.67\00:43:28.00
But then the police come along
and "Oh, no, no, no, no, no,
00:43:28.04\00:43:30.34
you can't put that
stuff in the road."
00:43:30.41\00:43:31.81
So they move it
all out the road,
00:43:31.84\00:43:33.17
but they don't stay
with their flashing lights
00:43:33.21\00:43:34.78
to warn anybody
and they drive off.
00:43:34.81\00:43:37.38
Of course we've prayed,
00:43:37.45\00:43:38.78
the God send us
someone that can help us
00:43:38.81\00:43:40.25
and who shows
up but a motorcycle
00:43:40.32\00:43:42.48
with a sidecar.
00:43:42.52\00:43:44.65
Now what help could they be?
00:43:44.69\00:43:46.02
Right.
00:43:46.05\00:43:47.39
They had a rope.
00:43:47.46\00:43:48.79
They tied to the van
and pulled us two miles
00:43:48.82\00:43:50.73
down to a service station
00:43:50.76\00:43:52.13
where we could get off the road.
00:43:52.16\00:43:53.50
Oh, wow.
00:43:53.53\00:43:54.86
A motorcycle with a
sidecar pulled you two miles?
00:43:54.90\00:43:56.97
Yes. Yes.
00:43:57.00\00:43:59.77
God works in mysterious ways.
00:43:59.80\00:44:02.07
But He provides for our needs.
00:44:02.10\00:44:04.11
Yes. He really does.
00:44:04.14\00:44:05.54
Oh, wow.
00:44:05.57\00:44:06.91
Praise the lord. Now
that took place in Cuba?
00:44:06.98\00:44:08.44
That was in Cuba. Wow.
00:44:08.48\00:44:09.81
Wow. Yes.
00:44:09.84\00:44:11.31
In Ecuador...
00:44:11.35\00:44:12.68
Each year that we
have done work there,
00:44:16.08\00:44:19.65
we have raised the funds,
00:44:19.69\00:44:22.36
we have paid for all
the building materials
00:44:22.39\00:44:24.53
that we have used in Ecuador
to do the work that we've done.
00:44:24.56\00:44:27.33
Oh, wow.
00:44:27.40\00:44:28.73
This year, August
29th through September 12,
00:44:28.76\00:44:32.93
we will be helping to
build a church in San Rafael,
00:44:32.97\00:44:36.44
in the Chimborazo
Province in Ecuador.
00:44:36.47\00:44:40.28
And if anyone would have
an interest in going with us,
00:44:40.31\00:44:44.41
get in touch with us.
00:44:44.45\00:44:45.78
So people can come with you,
you will invite people to come.
00:44:45.81\00:44:48.35
Yes, we have
room for people to go.
00:44:48.38\00:44:50.72
Okay. We've had
groups as 30, 40...
00:44:50.79\00:44:53.46
And we've had as many as five.
00:44:53.49\00:44:55.12
Wow. So...
00:44:55.16\00:44:57.73
And God provides
when they had five,
00:44:57.76\00:45:00.30
that's when that
university send all their,
00:45:00.33\00:45:02.73
and they just had more help
and they knew what to do with,
00:45:02.76\00:45:05.30
God is so good.
00:45:05.33\00:45:06.74
So if someone's
going, and they say,
00:45:06.77\00:45:08.94
I wanna go and
I wanna come help,
00:45:08.97\00:45:10.51
but I'm not a builder.
00:45:10.54\00:45:12.14
Are there other qualifications?
00:45:12.17\00:45:13.91
What are your qualifications
00:45:13.98\00:45:15.31
for people to come
and help volunteer?
00:45:15.34\00:45:16.95
Want to go and
want to be involved
00:45:16.98\00:45:18.85
and willing to do
whatever it takes to get
00:45:18.88\00:45:20.82
the job done at a time,
00:45:20.85\00:45:24.19
there's no
requirements really, you know.
00:45:24.22\00:45:26.62
They've had, you know,
that lady that did foot care,
00:45:26.65\00:45:29.09
they've had to do
Vacation Bible School,
00:45:29.12\00:45:32.59
they've done all kinds of
outreach in the community.
00:45:32.63\00:45:36.06
And they've...
00:45:36.10\00:45:37.60
So you can use medical people
00:45:37.63\00:45:38.97
because they will
do some medical...
00:45:39.00\00:45:40.34
We do medical clinics.
00:45:40.37\00:45:41.70
Dental, eye clinics. Oh, wow.
00:45:41.74\00:45:43.07
We gave away glasses...
00:45:43.10\00:45:45.17
The last few
years, because we haven't
00:45:45.21\00:45:47.38
had as many people going,
00:45:47.41\00:45:48.98
we can't take as
much stuff with us.
00:45:49.01\00:45:50.35
Right.
00:45:50.38\00:45:51.71
And they've restricted
now, it used to be 70 pounds.
00:45:51.75\00:45:53.72
Now it's 50 pounds, you
know, all that kind of stuff.
00:45:53.75\00:45:56.55
But God has used.
00:45:56.58\00:45:58.92
He has blessed
us beyond measure.
00:45:58.95\00:46:02.16
And if you've never
been on a mission trip,
00:46:02.19\00:46:05.29
and would like to
go on a mission trip,
00:46:05.33\00:46:08.16
come go with us.
00:46:08.20\00:46:09.63
You will be
blessed beyond measure.
00:46:09.66\00:46:12.03
Amen.
00:46:12.07\00:46:13.64
It just...
00:46:13.67\00:46:16.50
How does going overseas,
00:46:16.54\00:46:19.41
do we mission work
with other believers,
00:46:19.44\00:46:22.91
we could say family,
00:46:22.94\00:46:24.28
we're talking about
creating this unity of family,
00:46:24.31\00:46:26.75
how does that
impact or change your life?
00:46:26.82\00:46:29.38
I know that, of course,
00:46:32.32\00:46:34.26
I've been going
now for 18 years.
00:46:34.29\00:46:39.13
And I know that I
have been, as I said,
00:46:39.16\00:46:42.33
blessed beyond measure.
00:46:42.36\00:46:44.17
And I always tell somebody,
00:46:44.20\00:46:45.53
you'll be more
blessed for going.
00:46:45.57\00:46:49.27
And, you know, my
brother just went with me.
00:46:49.30\00:46:51.34
First time he's ever
going with me to Cuba.
00:46:51.37\00:46:55.38
And his comment was, you
know, I've given up my mains,
00:46:55.41\00:46:59.11
but I've never given up myself.
00:46:59.15\00:47:02.28
And he was...
00:47:02.32\00:47:03.69
He said, "If you come
back to Cuba next year,
00:47:03.72\00:47:05.59
I'm coming with you."
00:47:05.62\00:47:08.69
Praise God. Yeah, amen.
00:47:08.72\00:47:10.06
You know, but it's a
blessing when we get involved
00:47:10.13\00:47:14.00
with people,
00:47:14.03\00:47:15.36
when we're
ministering to people...
00:47:15.40\00:47:18.13
Yes. Doing the work...
00:47:18.17\00:47:20.14
God does every day,
Jesus does every day.
00:47:20.17\00:47:24.04
But He's using us as His hands
and His feet, His mouthpiece,
00:47:24.11\00:47:30.25
that's what it's all about.
00:47:30.28\00:47:32.88
We have a couple more pictures.
00:47:32.91\00:47:34.32
I think that we need to
show from Ecuador, right?
00:47:34.35\00:47:36.25
Yes.
00:47:36.28\00:47:37.62
Let's see if we can put up
those last couple of pictures.
00:47:37.65\00:47:39.29
This is a roof...
00:47:39.32\00:47:40.79
Last year this
church was one of,
00:47:40.86\00:47:44.39
was the First
Seventh-Day Adventist Church
00:47:44.43\00:47:46.53
built in the
Chimborazo Province in Ecuador.
00:47:46.56\00:47:48.90
So we're 50 years ago.
00:47:48.93\00:47:50.67
The year before
they had asked us
00:47:50.70\00:47:52.70
to come out there
to look at the roof,
00:47:52.73\00:47:57.21
they asked if we'd be willing
to help them replace the roof.
00:47:57.24\00:48:00.91
I asked her, "Are
you willing to take
00:48:00.98\00:48:02.31
the whole roof off the church?"
00:48:02.34\00:48:04.05
Yeah.
00:48:04.08\00:48:05.41
Well, their church is a good
hundred yards up the mountain,
00:48:05.45\00:48:08.48
no road to it.
00:48:08.52\00:48:09.85
Wow.
00:48:09.88\00:48:11.22
And I said, how you
gonna get the materials here?
00:48:11.25\00:48:13.66
We'll get them here.
00:48:13.69\00:48:15.02
Well, they did.
00:48:15.06\00:48:16.39
They carried them
right up that mountain.
00:48:16.42\00:48:17.76
I see that. Wow.
00:48:17.79\00:48:19.13
And we got there
and the week before
00:48:19.16\00:48:22.33
they had taken the
whole roof off the church.
00:48:22.36\00:48:26.00
So they trusted God
that we were gonna get there.
00:48:26.03\00:48:28.64
Yeah. Yeah.
00:48:28.67\00:48:30.01
And in four days,
00:48:30.04\00:48:32.84
we had a roof put
back on the church.
00:48:32.87\00:48:35.78
That Sabbath we had a
meeting in that church,
00:48:35.81\00:48:38.48
let's have Sabbath
services, had a baby dedication,
00:48:38.51\00:48:41.62
and four baptisms that we did.
00:48:41.65\00:48:43.08
Amen.
00:48:43.12\00:48:44.45
It was awesome.
00:48:44.49\00:48:45.82
Oh, that's wonderful. Bob?
00:48:45.85\00:48:47.19
Do we time for another miracle?
00:48:47.26\00:48:48.59
Please.
00:48:48.62\00:48:50.43
I mentioned to you
before that I was a dyslexic
00:48:50.46\00:48:54.36
and went to Andrews University.
00:48:54.40\00:48:56.97
And in that process,
they asked me to come up there
00:48:57.00\00:48:59.57
and coming up there
was a special event,
00:48:59.60\00:49:01.47
I never would have
made it but traveling home
00:49:01.50\00:49:04.71
I got double vision.
00:49:04.74\00:49:06.98
And as I traveled it got worse.
00:49:07.01\00:49:08.51
I stopped at a big hospital.
00:49:08.54\00:49:10.55
I was in the hospital,
00:49:10.58\00:49:11.91
in no time at all and they had
double IV's in the both arms,
00:49:11.95\00:49:14.92
they had EKG all wired up.
00:49:14.95\00:49:17.85
They had me on the
way for a CAT scan.
00:49:17.89\00:49:20.56
And I yelled and asked
if we could have prayer.
00:49:20.59\00:49:23.46
They said, they think
you're having a stroke.
00:49:23.53\00:49:25.59
They think we may, you
have bleeding on the brain.
00:49:25.63\00:49:28.30
And being an older person
they were really concerned.
00:49:28.33\00:49:31.73
Long story short,
they put me in ICU.
00:49:31.77\00:49:34.77
I'm in ICU for three days.
00:49:34.80\00:49:36.47
I get real
acquainted with a nurse.
00:49:36.50\00:49:38.77
And we're talking
about family and stuff.
00:49:38.81\00:49:41.01
And she said, she
went through a divorce.
00:49:41.04\00:49:43.68
She said, and as we talked,
00:49:43.75\00:49:46.15
she opened up and
started sharing with me
00:49:46.18\00:49:48.32
and she had been
through a divorce
00:49:48.35\00:49:50.52
but she had
remarried a real nice guy.
00:49:50.59\00:49:53.22
And now she's...
00:49:53.25\00:49:58.06
going through a lot of stress.
00:49:58.09\00:50:00.10
And the stress was her
husband's youngest son,
00:50:00.13\00:50:03.30
eight years old is dying
of cancer in final stages.
00:50:03.37\00:50:06.84
And she said he's angry.
00:50:06.87\00:50:08.57
He's hard on the kids.
00:50:08.60\00:50:09.94
He's hard on me.
00:50:10.01\00:50:11.34
And he's not doing well.
00:50:11.37\00:50:12.94
And as we're talking, I
said, "Is he like that?"
00:50:12.97\00:50:17.25
And she said, "No."
00:50:17.28\00:50:18.61
I said, "Put
your arm around him,"
00:50:18.65\00:50:20.02
tell him you love him,
00:50:20.05\00:50:21.38
that you're gonna be with him.
00:50:21.42\00:50:22.75
And that you
understand this is not him.
00:50:22.78\00:50:25.79
And she starts tearing up.
00:50:25.82\00:50:29.26
She turns to me
and says, "You know,
00:50:29.29\00:50:32.73
I believe God took
you off that freeway
00:50:32.76\00:50:35.70
to come here to speak to me."
00:50:35.73\00:50:38.90
And she said, "To help us
with what we're going through,"
00:50:38.93\00:50:42.67
because she
texted me two weeks later
00:50:42.70\00:50:45.14
and told me how
valuable that information was.
00:50:45.17\00:50:47.91
The next day when I went
for my MRI and went for the,
00:50:47.94\00:50:54.02
see the eye doctor, they said,
there's nothing wrong with you.
00:50:54.05\00:50:57.59
They said, "Your
vision is good, your..."
00:50:57.62\00:51:00.29
Thank You, Jesus.
00:51:00.36\00:51:02.02
And I'm thinking to
what length will God go
00:51:02.06\00:51:06.46
to help one of
his hurting children?
00:51:06.49\00:51:08.93
And that just happened
in the last three months.
00:51:08.96\00:51:11.13
That's a miracle. That is.
00:51:11.17\00:51:12.50
That's and incredible miracle.
00:51:12.53\00:51:14.17
And it tells me
that God is interested
00:51:14.24\00:51:17.21
in our single
people wherever they are,
00:51:17.24\00:51:20.08
that He wants
to be there for him
00:51:20.11\00:51:22.88
and He will be there for them.
00:51:22.91\00:51:24.25
That's right. Absolutely.
00:51:24.28\00:51:25.61
What we wanna do right now
is put up contact information
00:51:25.65\00:51:28.82
for both Brother
Bob and Brother Wes,
00:51:28.85\00:51:31.22
and the
Georgia-Cumberland Conference,
00:51:31.25\00:51:35.12
the Singles Ministry there.
00:51:35.16\00:51:36.52
If you want to go
on the mission trip,
00:51:36.56\00:51:37.99
if you are interested in
getting out of yourselves
00:51:38.03\00:51:40.73
and helping other people,
00:51:40.80\00:51:42.93
if you are in
pain and in trouble
00:51:42.96\00:51:45.23
and want to reach
out for that help,
00:51:45.27\00:51:47.24
if you want to financially
support what's going on here,
00:51:47.27\00:51:50.91
here is the way that
you can do just that.
00:51:50.94\00:51:56.44
The Singles Ministry of the
Georgia-Cumberland Conference
00:51:56.48\00:51:59.65
is working to
help single people.
00:51:59.68\00:52:02.18
If you would like to
support this important outreach
00:52:02.22\00:52:04.59
or have questions, contact them
at Singles Ministry of the GCC,
00:52:04.62\00:52:10.33
P.O. Box 1361,
00:52:10.36\00:52:13.60
College Dale, Tennessee 37315.
00:52:13.63\00:52:17.57
You can call (423)322-2055.
00:52:17.60\00:52:22.04
(423)322-2055,
00:52:22.07\00:52:26.01
or you can email them at
00:52:26.04\00:52:27.38
SouthernSinglesMinistries@gmail
.com
00:52:27.41\00:52:31.68
That's
00:52:31.71\00:52:33.05
SouthernSinglesMinistries
@gmail.com
00:52:33.08\00:52:37.19