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.
00:01:08.56\00:01:11.80
I'm Jason Bradley.
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And I'm so excited
that you could tune in
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today on this
very special program.
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We have Dr. Neil Watts,
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and he is the Field Director
of Volunteers In Action.
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Welcome to the
program, Dr. Watts.
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Thank you. It's
great to be here.
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It's great to have you here.
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This is my first time
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having the opportunity
to sit down with you.
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And I'm looking forward to
diving into this interview.
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But prior to that we're
going to be blessed in song
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by Sandra Entermann.
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And she'll be
singing, "Who Am I.
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Who am I,
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that the Lord of all the earth
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Would care to know my name
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Would care to feel my hurt?
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Who am I,
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That the bright and morning star
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Would choose to light the way
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For my ever wandering heart?
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Not because of who I am
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But because of what you've done
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Not because of what I've done
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But because of who you are
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I am a flower quickly fading
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Here today and gone tomorrow
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A wave tossed in the ocean
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A vapor in the wind
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Still you hear
me when I'm calling
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Lord, you catch
me when I'm falling
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And you've told me who I am
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I am yours
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Who am I,
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that the eyes that see my sin
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Would look on me with love
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And watch me rise again?
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Who am I,
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that the voice
that calmed the sea
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Would call out through the rain
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And calm the storm in me?
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Not because of who I am
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But because of what you've done
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Not because of what I've done
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But because of who you are
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I am a flower quickly fading
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Here today and gone tomorrow
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A wave tossed in the ocean
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A vapor in the wind
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Still you hear
me when I'm calling
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Lord, you catch
me when I'm falling
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And you've told me who I am
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I am yours
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Not because of who I am
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But because of what you've done
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Not because of what I've done
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But because of who you are
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I am a flower quickly fading
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Here today and gone tomorrow
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A wave tossed in the ocean
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A vapor in the wind
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Still you hear
me when I'm calling
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Lord, you catch
me when I'm falling
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And you've told me who I am
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I am yours
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I am yours
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I am yours
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Whom shall I
fear, whom shall I fear?
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'Cause I am yours
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Wow, thank you Sandra
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for that beautiful,
beautiful song, who am I?
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Who am I?
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All right, then it is in Christ.
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All right, Dr. Neil.
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Amen. Amen.
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You're also a pastor.
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Correct? I am.
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I'm semi-retired,
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but I'm still pastoring
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and work as an area mentor
for pastors in a conference.
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Okay, so tell me a little
bit about your background?
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Well, I started in
ministry back in 1971.
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And I've worked over
time since up until now.
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Fortunately, God's blessed
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and I started off
as a young pastor,
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as an evangelist
and then into youth work
00:07:06.96\00:07:09.29
and then send out to the...
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What we call the mission
field of the South Pacific.
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Yeah, okay.
00:07:13.73\00:07:15.06
And I spent a total of
11 years in various roles
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in the Pacific
islands of Papa New Guinea,
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Solomon Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu,
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some of those places,
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which are part
of the mission field
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of the South Pacific division.
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Wow! What was Fiji like?
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Oh, Fiji is a wonderful place
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and I was teaching
there at our college,
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Fulton College,
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and also as the church
pastor of the college there.
00:07:40.99\00:07:44.33
Before that I was a missionary
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that used to go
around the islands
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in mission boats, and
canoes, and little planes
00:07:47.73\00:07:50.47
and so forth
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in remote villages.
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I did that for
three or four years.
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And then I came to the
capital of Papua New Guinea,
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Port Moresby and was evangelist
and university chaplain...
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Wow. Before then moving to Fiji.
00:08:03.55\00:08:06.15
Wow.
00:08:06.18\00:08:07.52
So you've had quite the career
00:08:07.55\00:08:08.88
you've been traveling,
traveling a little bit.
00:08:08.92\00:08:10.82
I have, yes.
00:08:10.89\00:08:12.22
After that I
came back to Australia
00:08:12.25\00:08:14.76
and went back again
to Papua New Guinea.
00:08:14.79\00:08:17.43
When Pacific Adventist
College or now university opened
00:08:17.46\00:08:21.33
and was church pastor there
00:08:21.36\00:08:23.47
and also a
theology teacher there.
00:08:23.50\00:08:26.37
Wow.
00:08:26.40\00:08:27.74
And then went back to Australia,
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I became a departmental leader,
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Union ministerial secretary
and church ministries director.
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Wow.
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And from there became a
president in South Australia.
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And from there, I was called out
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to the Pacific Islands again.
00:08:42.28\00:08:45.32
And this time it was
to the Western Pacific.
00:08:45.35\00:08:47.89
And I was a
union president there
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for three years.
00:08:50.76\00:08:52.09
Wow. What was
your childhood like?
00:08:52.13\00:08:54.20
Childhood was
growing up in Perth,
00:08:54.23\00:08:55.83
in Western Australia.
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Fairly poor
background, working class family
00:08:58.13\00:09:01.00
and my mother was a
Seventh-day Adventist,
00:09:01.04\00:09:03.27
my father belonged
to the Salvation Army.
00:09:03.30\00:09:05.84
Okay.
00:09:05.87\00:09:07.21
And we prayed for him, asking,
00:09:07.28\00:09:11.28
you know, he had
Bible studies for years,
00:09:11.31\00:09:13.42
but resisted that.
00:09:13.45\00:09:14.78
But eventually
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when I was just
entering my teens,
00:09:16.18\00:09:18.62
he and I both went to
an evangelistic series
00:09:18.65\00:09:20.69
and I decided that I
had to make up my mind,
00:09:20.76\00:09:24.16
what to do,
00:09:24.23\00:09:25.99
because I used to
go with him on Sunday
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and my mother on Sabbath.
00:09:27.83\00:09:29.30
Oh, okay.
00:09:29.33\00:09:30.67
And so I began
studying for myself
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to find out
what's the real truth
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and I decided to be baptized.
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And praise God, my
father was baptized with me.
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Praise the Lord.
And one of my brothers.
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Praise the Lord.
That was wonderful.
00:09:41.68\00:09:43.55
And now you're with
Volunteers In Action.
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VIA for short, right?
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Yes. That's right. Okay.
00:09:48.58\00:09:49.92
Tell me about VIA?
00:09:49.95\00:09:51.52
What do you do
00:09:51.55\00:09:52.89
and how did you
get involved with them?
00:09:52.92\00:09:56.12
Well, first of all,
00:09:56.16\00:09:57.79
VIA started about 22 years ago,
00:09:57.83\00:10:01.53
with a lay couple in Brisbane,
00:10:01.56\00:10:04.30
and in Queensland, Australia.
00:10:04.33\00:10:07.14
And Cliff and Val
Morgan was the name
00:10:07.17\00:10:10.01
and Cliff was a retired
government school principal
00:10:10.04\00:10:13.68
and teacher.
00:10:13.71\00:10:15.04
And he came out to the
islands for some reason
00:10:15.08\00:10:17.65
and saw the great need
00:10:17.68\00:10:19.01
and realize that there's no way
00:10:19.05\00:10:21.65
the missions with
their small budgets
00:10:21.68\00:10:24.12
and the amount of resources
00:10:24.19\00:10:25.55
they had could really
carry the work forward
00:10:25.59\00:10:28.76
and really fulfill our mission.
00:10:28.79\00:10:30.96
And so he got the
vision from the Lord
00:10:30.99\00:10:33.43
that he should try
00:10:33.50\00:10:34.96
and start up an organization
that would support lay pastors,
00:10:35.00\00:10:39.70
because there weren't
enough trained pastors
00:10:39.73\00:10:42.24
to carry out the work
00:10:42.27\00:10:44.11
and to fulfill all the
needs of those islands,
00:10:44.14\00:10:46.88
and Papua New Guinea
00:10:46.91\00:10:48.24
especially is a huge
place with 8.5 million people
00:10:48.28\00:10:52.11
and villages
scattered all over the mountains
00:10:52.15\00:10:54.22
and everywhere.
00:10:54.25\00:10:55.85
And so we needed
a lot more workers,
00:10:55.88\00:10:59.12
and the only way we
could fulfill the mission
00:10:59.15\00:11:01.49
that we've been given
is to have lay pastors.
00:11:01.52\00:11:04.59
And so he raised up an
organization called VIA,
00:11:04.63\00:11:07.66
Volunteers In Action.
00:11:07.70\00:11:09.26
And eventually,
00:11:09.30\00:11:11.33
it's built up to
about 126 sponsors
00:11:11.37\00:11:16.91
and about 26 churches.
00:11:16.94\00:11:18.74
Wow.
00:11:18.77\00:11:20.11
And this small group
support almost 400 VIAs
00:11:20.18\00:11:23.48
throughout the islands.
00:11:23.55\00:11:24.88
Wow. Yeah.
00:11:24.91\00:11:26.25
So it's a big burden
00:11:26.28\00:11:27.62
for just a small
number of people.
00:11:27.65\00:11:30.29
Yes.
00:11:30.32\00:11:31.65
The VIAs are
supported with a small stipend,
00:11:31.69\00:11:34.82
just enough to buy
essentials basically.
00:11:34.86\00:11:36.86
Uh-huh.
00:11:36.93\00:11:38.26
So they really
sacrifice to take on this role.
00:11:38.29\00:11:41.03
Some of them do it for years.
00:11:41.06\00:11:43.10
And it's a challenge for them,
00:11:43.13\00:11:44.67
they really have to
work hard and sacrifice.
00:11:44.70\00:11:47.57
Yes.
00:11:47.64\00:11:48.97
And apart from that,
00:11:49.00\00:11:53.58
you know, we cover the big areas
00:11:53.61\00:11:57.15
I'm not sure, the
map has been shown,
00:11:57.18\00:11:58.85
but it covers
especially Papua New Guinea,
00:11:58.88\00:12:02.18
Solomon Islands,
Vanuatu, Kiribati, Nauru,
00:12:02.22\00:12:06.02
and we do have a few
in other islands as well,
00:12:06.05\00:12:08.06
just we're expanding as we go.
00:12:08.09\00:12:10.53
But that's the main area,
00:12:10.56\00:12:12.39
so there are lots of needs
00:12:12.43\00:12:15.36
in those particular
areas of the Pacific.
00:12:15.40\00:12:19.20
And...
00:12:19.23\00:12:20.57
How do you determine
what those needs are?
00:12:20.64\00:12:23.04
What's the process there?
00:12:23.07\00:12:25.01
Well, the process basically
is some of them fairly obvious.
00:12:25.04\00:12:30.15
They need books.
00:12:30.18\00:12:32.15
They need Bibles,
they need other resources.
00:12:32.18\00:12:35.42
And in my role
as a field officer,
00:12:35.45\00:12:38.72
I go around and visit with them
00:12:38.75\00:12:41.02
and encourage them and
train them and so forth.
00:12:41.06\00:12:43.02
And also ask them what
are the needs they have.
00:12:43.06\00:12:46.73
So you'll see some of
them on the screen later,
00:12:46.80\00:12:49.36
but some of them
are books, Bibles,
00:12:49.40\00:12:53.74
maybe lanterns,
00:12:53.77\00:12:55.10
so they can see at night.
00:12:55.14\00:12:56.47
Okay.
00:12:56.50\00:12:57.84
Some might be utensils they need
00:12:57.87\00:12:59.21
for building
their house like a saw,
00:12:59.24\00:13:02.34
to be able to cut timber.
00:13:02.38\00:13:05.41
Some of them need bicycles.
00:13:05.45\00:13:07.32
We've even been,
00:13:07.35\00:13:08.68
being able to provide
some with motorcycles...
00:13:08.72\00:13:11.45
Oh, wow. Through a good donor.
00:13:11.49\00:13:13.12
Wow.
00:13:13.15\00:13:14.49
But we can't do much of that.
00:13:14.52\00:13:15.86
But mostly it's a
smaller, cheaper items.
00:13:15.89\00:13:19.13
So it's essentially,
00:13:19.16\00:13:20.80
it's implementing Christ method.
00:13:20.83\00:13:22.96
Right?
00:13:23.00\00:13:24.33
You establish
relationships with the people,
00:13:24.37\00:13:26.00
you determine
what their needs are,
00:13:26.03\00:13:29.04
and then you meet those needs.
00:13:29.07\00:13:31.77
And then you lead
them to Christ, correct?
00:13:31.81\00:13:33.48
Yeah.
00:13:33.51\00:13:34.84
Well, that's the work
of the VIAs to do that.
00:13:34.88\00:13:37.48
Yes.
00:13:37.55\00:13:38.88
And you've heard of TMI,
00:13:38.91\00:13:40.62
Total Member
Involvement, of course?
00:13:40.65\00:13:42.15
Yes.
00:13:42.18\00:13:43.52
That's very much a thing
out in the Pacific Islands,
00:13:43.59\00:13:46.12
they really taken on board.
00:13:46.15\00:13:47.49
Gotcha. Gotcha.
00:13:47.56\00:13:48.89
And so the VIAs themselves
plus other church members,
00:13:48.92\00:13:52.26
they do a lot of work
00:13:52.29\00:13:53.73
in meeting
people in the villages
00:13:53.80\00:13:55.23
and helping them
with practical needs.
00:13:55.26\00:13:58.40
And then eventually,
00:13:58.43\00:14:00.17
hopefully winning
them to come to meetings
00:14:00.24\00:14:02.44
or Bible studies
and to be baptized.
00:14:02.47\00:14:04.61
Amen.
00:14:04.64\00:14:05.97
Now, how has God
blessed this ministry?
00:14:06.01\00:14:09.14
Well, He's
blessed it in many ways.
00:14:09.18\00:14:11.05
I mean, we have,
00:14:11.08\00:14:12.81
for example, on the screen,
00:14:12.85\00:14:14.35
you'll see a
picture of a baptism.
00:14:14.38\00:14:15.98
This is just one
of many that happened.
00:14:16.02\00:14:19.62
In fact, every year
00:14:19.65\00:14:20.99
about 3,500 people are baptized
00:14:21.02\00:14:25.39
through the work of
these Volunteers In Action.
00:14:25.43\00:14:28.06
Wow.
00:14:28.10\00:14:29.43
And it's amazing.
00:14:29.46\00:14:30.80
The work is
growing there so rapidly.
00:14:30.87\00:14:34.74
The local missions can't keep up
00:14:34.77\00:14:36.50
with the amount
of church buildings
00:14:36.54\00:14:40.41
that they need,
00:14:40.48\00:14:41.81
plus the amount of
pastors to care for them.
00:14:41.84\00:14:46.01
They don't have the money,
00:14:46.05\00:14:47.42
and they don't have
the resources of manpower
00:14:47.45\00:14:50.09
or women power to do it.
00:14:50.12\00:14:52.62
So this is where
VIA comes into play
00:14:52.65\00:14:56.09
because we're able
to provide lay pastors,
00:14:56.12\00:14:59.83
who can go into remote areas.
00:14:59.86\00:15:02.53
They can work hard in places
that most ordained pastors
00:15:02.56\00:15:06.57
probably wouldn't want to go,
00:15:06.60\00:15:09.17
and where we
don't have enough anyway
00:15:09.20\00:15:10.61
to send them there.
00:15:10.64\00:15:12.34
And so they do a tremendous work
00:15:12.37\00:15:15.11
in building up the church.
00:15:15.14\00:15:18.25
And in the next few years,
00:15:18.28\00:15:19.95
we're gonna have thousands
of new evangelistic programs.
00:15:20.02\00:15:23.69
And it's going to
be a real challenge
00:15:23.72\00:15:27.79
to build church buildings
00:15:27.82\00:15:29.96
and to provide, nurture,
00:15:30.03\00:15:31.73
and pastoral care
for all of these...
00:15:31.76\00:15:34.50
Hopefully, they're planning
00:15:34.53\00:15:35.86
on trying to have
30,000 more baptisms
00:15:35.90\00:15:38.87
in the next year or two.
00:15:38.90\00:15:40.24
Yes. So it's a great challenge.
00:15:40.27\00:15:42.57
But apart from supplying VIAs
00:15:42.60\00:15:47.08
for outreach,
00:15:47.11\00:15:48.44
we also supply
roofs for local churches.
00:15:48.48\00:15:52.41
Okay.
00:15:52.45\00:15:53.82
And we have a picture,
00:15:53.85\00:15:55.18
I think that will show us
00:15:55.22\00:15:56.89
what we do is send out
00:15:56.92\00:15:59.19
or get them to
buy a metal roofing
00:15:59.22\00:16:02.72
for local churches.
00:16:02.76\00:16:04.69
The old thatched churches,
00:16:04.73\00:16:06.33
which you'll see
in the next picture,
00:16:06.36\00:16:08.16
they last for a little
while, but don't last forever.
00:16:08.20\00:16:12.50
Okay.
00:16:12.53\00:16:13.87
And so, we're
trying as much as possible.
00:16:13.94\00:16:15.74
And over the last,
00:16:15.77\00:16:17.31
I think it's about 19 years
00:16:17.34\00:16:18.74
we've supplied
00:16:18.77\00:16:21.08
1200 to 1300 church roofs.
00:16:21.11\00:16:24.51
Wow, 1200 to 1300?
00:16:24.55\00:16:26.72
Yeah. Wow.
00:16:26.75\00:16:28.08
And so it's about
one every 5.7 days
00:16:28.12\00:16:30.92
I think someone has calculated.
00:16:30.99\00:16:32.99
So it's been a great ministry
00:16:33.02\00:16:35.19
to give people
a place to worship
00:16:35.22\00:16:37.76
where they're not gonna
get wet when they sit inside.
00:16:37.79\00:16:40.50
Yes.
00:16:40.53\00:16:41.86
And it's going to be
something that they can rely on
00:16:41.90\00:16:43.23
for many years.
00:16:43.26\00:16:44.60
Yes.
00:16:44.63\00:16:45.97
In that last picture,
you saw a group of people
00:16:46.00\00:16:47.87
in front of that old church
00:16:47.90\00:16:49.24
and they've been
asking for a roof
00:16:49.27\00:16:52.11
for that bush material church.
00:16:52.14\00:16:54.61
And the people in that
church were all brought together
00:16:54.64\00:16:57.58
and build up as a
church by one VIA.
00:16:57.65\00:17:00.98
It just gives you an idea
of what happens in remote areas
00:17:01.02\00:17:04.02
that if a VIA goes in,
00:17:04.09\00:17:06.32
and he befriends the people,
00:17:06.35\00:17:09.06
conducts Bible studies,
00:17:09.09\00:17:10.43
perhaps runs
evangelistic meetings,
00:17:10.46\00:17:12.76
and he builds up a church.
00:17:12.79\00:17:15.33
And as you saw in that picture,
00:17:15.36\00:17:16.90
there are many, many people
00:17:16.97\00:17:18.53
that have been won
to the Lord through
00:17:18.57\00:17:20.37
just that one VIA.
00:17:20.44\00:17:21.97
Yes, yes.
00:17:22.00\00:17:23.34
So they're making a
world of difference.
00:17:23.41\00:17:24.84
Yeah. Yes.
00:17:24.87\00:17:27.11
So, where does
your passion stem from?
00:17:27.18\00:17:29.34
Because you seem like
you're very passionate
00:17:29.38\00:17:31.11
about this particular ministry.
00:17:31.15\00:17:34.45
Well, I started in,
as I mentioned before,
00:17:34.48\00:17:37.59
I've been a
missionary in Papua New Guinea
00:17:37.62\00:17:41.22
and other
places, Solomon Islands
00:17:41.26\00:17:44.03
and before and
Vanuatu and so on.
00:17:44.06\00:17:48.03
And when I was president,
00:17:48.06\00:17:49.60
some years back in
South Queensland Conference,
00:17:49.63\00:17:53.64
Cliff Morgan, the founder of VIA
00:17:53.67\00:17:56.10
was living in that area
00:17:56.14\00:17:58.21
and he would come in
and tell me about it,
00:17:58.24\00:18:00.98
it had only been going then for,
00:18:01.01\00:18:02.51
you know, a
small number of years.
00:18:02.54\00:18:04.41
But he would come in and tell me
00:18:04.45\00:18:06.28
and share about excitement
of seeing what's happening.
00:18:06.31\00:18:09.38
Uh-huh.
00:18:09.42\00:18:10.79
And then each year,
00:18:10.82\00:18:12.82
he and some of
the committee members,
00:18:12.85\00:18:14.36
a small group of people,
00:18:14.39\00:18:16.29
they would come in
and provide a lunch for us
00:18:16.32\00:18:19.19
as office staff in
the conference office
00:18:19.23\00:18:21.60
and share some of the stories
and some of the pictures.
00:18:21.63\00:18:24.63
So I got very
interested in the work.
00:18:24.67\00:18:28.17
I didn't think, I'd
ever be involved in it.
00:18:28.20\00:18:29.87
Uh-huh.
00:18:29.90\00:18:31.24
But what happened
after I semi-retired
00:18:31.27\00:18:34.34
from being a president,
00:18:34.38\00:18:36.04
went into other work,
00:18:36.08\00:18:38.75
pastoral work.
00:18:38.78\00:18:41.25
I was working along one day
00:18:41.28\00:18:43.25
and I got a
phone call from Cliff.
00:18:43.28\00:18:46.45
And he said, look,
00:18:46.49\00:18:47.82
we've just had retirement
from our field director.
00:18:47.86\00:18:51.36
He wants to pull out
00:18:51.39\00:18:52.73
and we thought
you'd be a good one,
00:18:52.76\00:18:54.46
you've had
administrative experience,
00:18:54.50\00:18:56.13
you've lived in the
islands, you can talk pigeon,
00:18:56.16\00:18:59.17
which is a local
dialect or common language.
00:18:59.20\00:19:02.77
Okay.
00:19:02.80\00:19:04.14
You've been a Bible
teacher and administrator,
00:19:04.21\00:19:06.91
would you be prepared
00:19:06.98\00:19:08.31
to take over
Field Director for VIA.
00:19:08.34\00:19:11.11
And so I saw the
Lord's leading in that
00:19:11.15\00:19:14.25
and agreed to it.
00:19:14.32\00:19:16.42
So that's how it happened.
00:19:16.45\00:19:17.79
Gotcha.
00:19:17.82\00:19:19.15
Are you married?
Do you have a family?
00:19:19.19\00:19:20.56
Yes, I've a
wife and two children
00:19:20.59\00:19:22.32
and three grandchildren.
00:19:22.36\00:19:23.73
Nice, nice.
00:19:23.76\00:19:25.09
And so what did your wife say
when you told her about this?
00:19:25.13\00:19:28.83
Because I'm sure you
told your wife about this?
00:19:28.86\00:19:31.93
When I retired
from being president,
00:19:31.97\00:19:33.84
I was due to keep
going for a few years,
00:19:33.87\00:19:35.70
but we had family down south
00:19:35.74\00:19:38.24
and she had said,
00:19:38.27\00:19:40.08
why can't we
retire now and go down
00:19:40.11\00:19:42.24
while our
grandchildren are young,
00:19:42.28\00:19:43.88
and we prayed about it
00:19:43.95\00:19:45.55
and when I was
asked to go down there
00:19:45.58\00:19:48.85
and, you know, be
part of an area mentoring,
00:19:48.88\00:19:53.15
area coaching
program and pastoring.
00:19:53.19\00:19:55.02
She put her arms up in
the air and said, praise God.
00:19:58.06\00:20:02.06
She wanted me to get
out of the full time work
00:20:02.10\00:20:04.83
of administration.
00:20:04.87\00:20:06.20
Uh-huh.
00:20:06.23\00:20:07.57
And,
00:20:07.64\00:20:08.97
so I went down and
did this part time work,
00:20:09.00\00:20:10.34
but it was because I had
worked in the islands before.
00:20:10.37\00:20:15.04
And I had a love for
the people in the islands.
00:20:15.08\00:20:16.61
And I was happy to do it.
00:20:16.64\00:20:18.58
And, she was happy with it.
00:20:18.61\00:20:21.08
She didn't like the idea of me
00:20:21.12\00:20:22.45
being away for
many weeks at a time,
00:20:22.48\00:20:23.99
traveling around,
00:20:24.02\00:20:25.35
but she has been a
good support in that.
00:20:25.39\00:20:28.09
Yeah. Praise the Lord.
00:20:28.12\00:20:30.13
What stories can
you share of lives
00:20:30.16\00:20:32.33
that have been transformed
00:20:32.36\00:20:34.46
or impacted as a
result of this ministry?
00:20:34.50\00:20:38.23
Well, let me...
00:20:38.27\00:20:41.20
I'll give some
specific stories later.
00:20:41.24\00:20:43.17
Let me just go
to the next picture,
00:20:43.20\00:20:45.34
which shows how remote
00:20:45.37\00:20:46.91
sometimes our work is.
00:20:46.98\00:20:50.25
I went to early this
year to the highlands
00:20:50.28\00:20:53.62
of Papua New Guinea,
the Western Highlands.
00:20:53.65\00:20:55.88
And that's very
remote, very rugged.
00:20:55.92\00:20:58.59
And we're able to
charter the mission plane,
00:20:58.62\00:21:01.36
we have one mission plan
00:21:01.39\00:21:02.82
or two is it up
in Papua New Guinea.
00:21:02.86\00:21:04.33
Okay.
00:21:04.36\00:21:05.69
I was able to go out
into some of the remote areas.
00:21:05.73\00:21:08.36
And we went to a place that,
00:21:08.40\00:21:12.33
you know, flying
through these mountains
00:21:12.37\00:21:14.84
and clouds covering
them is quite an experience.
00:21:14.87\00:21:17.81
Some who've done it will know,
00:21:17.84\00:21:19.94
where you can't
see anything down below
00:21:19.97\00:21:21.41
and you know there
are mountains below.
00:21:21.44\00:21:23.45
And the pilot is very
skillful looking for a gap
00:21:23.48\00:21:25.68
and he suddenly goes
down through that gap
00:21:25.71\00:21:27.45
and you come out
00:21:27.52\00:21:28.85
and there's an
airstrip in front of you.
00:21:28.88\00:21:30.42
Yes.
00:21:30.49\00:21:31.82
So we went to this remote place,
00:21:31.85\00:21:33.19
it's just one
example of the kinds of areas
00:21:33.22\00:21:36.36
and ministry that goes on there.
00:21:36.39\00:21:39.03
We were dropping off
00:21:39.06\00:21:40.40
some three
volunteers to spread out,
00:21:40.43\00:21:43.50
they had to walk for two
days to get to their location.
00:21:43.57\00:21:46.77
And they were
going to start work
00:21:46.84\00:21:48.27
in those new areas.
00:21:48.30\00:21:50.51
And when we were there,
00:21:50.54\00:21:55.68
we went then
into another airstrip
00:21:55.71\00:21:57.35
very, very remote one,
00:21:57.38\00:21:59.18
where there was
no mobile phones,
00:21:59.21\00:22:01.65
no connection, no roads out...
00:22:01.68\00:22:04.39
Wow.
00:22:04.42\00:22:06.15
Nothing. They
were just isolated.
00:22:06.19\00:22:07.86
Once you're there,
00:22:07.89\00:22:09.22
the only way you could get
out was to walk for days on end
00:22:09.26\00:22:11.83
or otherwise,
00:22:11.86\00:22:13.19
get an airplane to come
in, which is very expensive.
00:22:13.23\00:22:15.20
Yes.
00:22:15.23\00:22:16.56
So I met this
family in our next picture,
00:22:16.60\00:22:19.93
which shows this little man
00:22:19.97\00:22:23.64
and his family.
00:22:23.71\00:22:25.74
And what happened there,
00:22:25.77\00:22:27.74
they started this
place or about 11 years ago.
00:22:27.78\00:22:32.48
And he's been there as
a volunteer for 11 years.
00:22:32.51\00:22:34.85
Wow.
00:22:34.88\00:22:36.22
Very little education,
00:22:36.25\00:22:37.59
might have had a
little bit of training,
00:22:37.62\00:22:39.25
but he would go
00:22:39.29\00:22:41.26
and look after
eight different churches
00:22:41.29\00:22:43.36
that he had started.
00:22:43.43\00:22:45.03
The farthest one he had
to go for two days walk,
00:22:45.06\00:22:48.60
just to reach it.
00:22:48.63\00:22:49.96
Wow. Two days walk? Yeah.
00:22:50.00\00:22:52.10
And he had very little
contact with anyone else
00:22:52.13\00:22:55.40
besides the people
in that little village.
00:22:55.44\00:22:58.81
And what was amazing,
00:22:58.84\00:23:00.31
he told me that he
was building a church
00:23:00.38\00:23:03.65
and you would have
seen in that last picture,
00:23:03.68\00:23:06.48
a church that he was building
00:23:06.51\00:23:08.22
and he wanted to
put on roof on it.
00:23:08.25\00:23:12.39
We had supplied some
money for the on roof.
00:23:12.42\00:23:14.99
But unfortunately, he
had to walk for four days
00:23:15.02\00:23:19.03
with some elders of
the church, little helpers.
00:23:19.06\00:23:21.73
Uh-huh.
00:23:21.76\00:23:23.10
Four days to get
to the nearest town,
00:23:23.13\00:23:25.17
where he was able to put
a piece of iron on his back
00:23:25.20\00:23:30.14
and walk four days back
00:23:30.21\00:23:32.57
and put it on the roof.
00:23:32.61\00:23:34.78
And they had to do
that several times.
00:23:34.81\00:23:37.05
Four days there, four days back,
00:23:37.08\00:23:39.58
carrying on their back.
00:23:39.61\00:23:40.95
He would walk four days...
00:23:40.98\00:23:42.32
Yeah.
00:23:42.35\00:23:43.69
And then pick up iron
and then put it on his back
00:23:43.72\00:23:45.82
and then walk four days back.
00:23:45.85\00:23:47.59
Exactly. And did
that several times?
00:23:47.66\00:23:50.13
Yeah. Wow. That's dedication.
00:23:50.16\00:23:52.76
It is, I always really
inspired and felt humbled
00:23:52.79\00:23:55.33
by the dedication and sacrifice
00:23:55.36\00:23:57.80
some of these people give,
00:23:57.83\00:23:59.90
you know, it's amazing.
00:23:59.93\00:24:01.47
That's just one example...
00:24:01.50\00:24:02.84
Yeah.
00:24:02.87\00:24:04.21
Of what happens.
00:24:04.24\00:24:06.24
Yeah, so that was
an inspiring story.
00:24:06.27\00:24:08.58
And I really praise God
00:24:08.61\00:24:10.25
that people are
prepared to do that.
00:24:10.28\00:24:11.95
Yes. You know,
they give up a lot.
00:24:11.98\00:24:14.55
Some of them that I meet with,
00:24:14.58\00:24:16.45
they have children
who need to go to school.
00:24:16.48\00:24:18.52
They don't have enough
money, they live very basically,
00:24:18.55\00:24:22.86
some like him don't have
shops and things to go to.
00:24:22.89\00:24:25.66
And no email or internet,
00:24:25.69\00:24:30.20
no banking facilities,
00:24:30.27\00:24:31.80
they're just out
there in the mountains.
00:24:31.83\00:24:33.74
Wow. And it's really humbling.
00:24:33.77\00:24:36.34
So there's lots of stories
I could tell you about that.
00:24:36.37\00:24:39.81
And so they pretty much
00:24:39.84\00:24:41.48
utilize the
resources that they do have,
00:24:41.51\00:24:43.68
what little
resources they do have
00:24:43.75\00:24:45.55
to accomplish the mission.
00:24:45.58\00:24:48.42
That's right.
00:24:48.45\00:24:49.78
I still can't get
over the four days,
00:24:49.82\00:24:51.55
back and forth,
00:24:51.59\00:24:52.92
carrying iron.
00:24:52.95\00:24:54.42
I mean, it's enough
to just walk four days.
00:24:54.46\00:24:57.46
And this isn't on flat ground.
00:24:57.53\00:24:58.86
This is up
mountains and down mountains,
00:24:58.89\00:25:01.23
and bush tracks
through the jungle.
00:25:01.26\00:25:02.83
Wow.
00:25:02.86\00:25:04.20
You know, it was very
inspiring to hear that story
00:25:04.27\00:25:07.34
and the dedication
of them is amazing.
00:25:07.37\00:25:09.94
Absolutely.
00:25:10.01\00:25:11.34
We supply our resources,
as I said of all kinds.
00:25:11.37\00:25:14.41
And in the next picture,
00:25:14.44\00:25:16.04
I'll show you a group of people,
00:25:16.08\00:25:18.75
VIAs who we met last year.
00:25:18.78\00:25:22.28
Cliff Morgan, by the
way, is one with a white hair
00:25:22.32\00:25:24.22
there in that picture.
00:25:24.29\00:25:25.62
Okay. He's the founder.
00:25:25.65\00:25:26.99
He was 84 years of age... Wow.
00:25:27.02\00:25:29.29
When that picture was
taken, and he was still going.
00:25:29.32\00:25:32.23
Wow.
00:25:32.26\00:25:33.60
And these were a group of VIAs
00:25:33.63\00:25:35.80
that had come from
the Madang Manus Mission.
00:25:35.83\00:25:39.40
There were many more of them
00:25:39.43\00:25:40.84
there on the day
we brought them in.
00:25:40.87\00:25:42.90
We paid for them to come
in, some had to come by truck,
00:25:42.94\00:25:46.98
some had to come in by walking.
00:25:47.01\00:25:49.08
Today some had to
come by canoe or boat.
00:25:49.11\00:25:52.28
And we brought them all together
00:25:52.31\00:25:53.65
for a few days of
training and encouragement
00:25:53.72\00:25:55.48
and sharing resources.
00:25:55.52\00:25:57.95
Five of those men
had to walk for five days
00:25:57.99\00:26:03.43
to get to the meetings.
00:26:03.46\00:26:05.26
And then five
days back home again.
00:26:05.29\00:26:07.93
Wow.
00:26:07.96\00:26:09.30
And the resources,
you might not have seen
00:26:09.33\00:26:10.87
that they are on the picture.
00:26:10.90\00:26:12.23
But, one of the
resources we gave them
00:26:12.27\00:26:13.64
was a rubber sleeping mat.
00:26:13.67\00:26:16.30
Because they were
sleeping at night,
00:26:16.34\00:26:18.21
just on the jungle floor,
and some of them wanted that,
00:26:18.24\00:26:22.04
some of them wanted lanterns,
00:26:22.08\00:26:23.85
some of them had a
little solar panels
00:26:23.88\00:26:26.51
that would give
them light at night.
00:26:26.55\00:26:28.15
Yeah.
00:26:28.18\00:26:29.52
Others wanted saws,
that they could cut timber
00:26:29.55\00:26:32.15
with and build
their house or church.
00:26:32.19\00:26:35.62
But the dedication again,
00:26:35.66\00:26:37.03
five days there
and five days back,
00:26:37.06\00:26:38.96
just to get to the
headquarters of the mission.
00:26:38.99\00:26:42.16
Yeah, it makes me
think about all the things
00:26:42.20\00:26:44.07
that we take for granted.
00:26:44.10\00:26:45.57
Oh, yeah.
00:26:45.60\00:26:46.94
You know, I mean,
walking five days.
00:26:46.97\00:26:50.11
That's incredible. Yeah.
00:26:50.14\00:26:51.61
That's incredible.
00:26:51.64\00:26:52.97
Most of the VIAs are men,
00:26:53.01\00:26:58.11
some are single, but most
are married with families.
00:26:58.15\00:27:00.62
Okay.
00:27:00.65\00:27:01.98
We also have a couple of
single women who are VIAs.
00:27:02.02\00:27:07.19
In our next picture
of a lady called Brenda.
00:27:07.26\00:27:12.29
She went to a
church in a remote area
00:27:12.33\00:27:14.83
of Papua New
Guinea in the Highlands.
00:27:14.86\00:27:17.97
And she came to this church
where there were 34 members.
00:27:18.00\00:27:22.04
And she worked there with them
and with some of the ladies,
00:27:22.07\00:27:25.04
and in one year, they are
able to have 43 people baptized.
00:27:25.07\00:27:29.54
Wow.
00:27:29.58\00:27:30.95
You know, that
increased the church by 126%,
00:27:30.98\00:27:33.28
I think it is.
00:27:33.31\00:27:35.02
It's incredible.
00:27:35.05\00:27:37.82
She's working
with some of the ladies
00:27:37.85\00:27:39.19
in the church now,
they visit villages,
00:27:39.22\00:27:41.32
have Bible studies and so on.
00:27:41.36\00:27:43.93
And they've set a goal
00:27:43.96\00:27:45.29
for 100 more
baptisms by May, next year.
00:27:45.33\00:27:49.56
Wow.
00:27:49.60\00:27:50.97
So that's a commitment.
00:27:51.00\00:27:52.33
That is.
00:27:52.37\00:27:53.70
And she's one of the
few women that do it.
00:27:53.74\00:27:55.64
But there are more and more
who are willing to join too.
00:27:55.67\00:27:58.61
So...
00:27:58.64\00:28:00.08
It sounds like an intense
work, but one that's rewarding.
00:28:00.11\00:28:05.35
It is. It's very rewarding.
00:28:05.38\00:28:07.65
And the
missions are appreciated.
00:28:07.68\00:28:09.35
Yes.
00:28:09.38\00:28:10.72
I have actually one little note
00:28:10.79\00:28:12.95
from one of the
mission presidents
00:28:12.99\00:28:14.36
from the Solomon Islands.
00:28:14.39\00:28:15.72
I'll read it to you. Yes.
00:28:15.76\00:28:17.13
Dear, VIA sponsors.
00:28:17.16\00:28:18.49
I want to gratefully
acknowledge once again
00:28:18.53\00:28:20.40
your kind
assistance to the work of God.
00:28:20.43\00:28:22.96
The VIA program has been a
great blessing to the mission
00:28:23.00\00:28:26.27
because we have a
shortage of full time workers.
00:28:26.30\00:28:29.64
Please convey our sincere
thanks to our supporters,
00:28:29.67\00:28:32.07
and their kindhearted donors
00:28:32.11\00:28:34.08
who contribute
faithfully toward this course.
00:28:34.11\00:28:37.68
Had baptism last
Sabbath, in Honiara,
00:28:37.71\00:28:41.12
organized
churches and companies,
00:28:41.15\00:28:44.29
had a baptism of over 150
00:28:44.32\00:28:46.89
and reports are still coming in.
00:28:46.96\00:28:49.22
Most of these baptisms resulted
00:28:49.26\00:28:51.49
from the work of
our VIA ministers.
00:28:51.53\00:28:54.00
God bless you all. Wow.
00:28:54.03\00:28:55.73
So and I have other letters
00:28:55.76\00:28:57.10
like that from
mission presidents
00:28:57.17\00:28:59.10
because they acknowledge,
that they don't have the money
00:28:59.13\00:29:02.24
or the workers to be
able to fill all the gaps.
00:29:02.27\00:29:05.77
Yes. Yes.
00:29:05.81\00:29:07.81
Yeah, it's very
much appreciated.
00:29:07.84\00:29:09.21
Laborers are few. Yes.
00:29:09.24\00:29:11.38
Indeed, indeed.
00:29:11.41\00:29:12.75
What miracle stories
can you share with me?
00:29:12.78\00:29:15.25
Well, I have a couple of stories
00:29:15.28\00:29:17.29
I could show or tell about.
00:29:17.32\00:29:20.46
First of all,
just a general one,
00:29:20.49\00:29:22.09
there was one
man called, Stephen.
00:29:22.12\00:29:24.76
He used to go around
just with a pictorial aid.
00:29:24.79\00:29:27.13
I don't know if
you've seen them.
00:29:27.20\00:29:28.53
They like a book that
opens up with the pictures
00:29:28.56\00:29:31.40
of the prophecies
and Bible studies.
00:29:31.43\00:29:33.64
Uh-huh.
00:29:33.67\00:29:35.00
And that's all he had. Uh-huh.
00:29:35.04\00:29:36.44
He would just
get people together,
00:29:36.47\00:29:38.57
and sit down and talk with them,
00:29:38.61\00:29:41.14
and tell them stories of
Jesus and then the doctrines.
00:29:41.18\00:29:44.38
And he would start a
church just through doing that.
00:29:44.41\00:29:47.15
Wow. Yeah.
00:29:47.22\00:29:49.18
There's another man who used
to just go around by his canoe,
00:29:49.22\00:29:52.49
and he'd have a raincoat,
he'd put over his supplies
00:29:52.52\00:29:55.09
and he would go from village
to village and talk to people,
00:29:55.12\00:30:00.03
and start new churches.
00:30:00.10\00:30:01.86
Wow. That's
happening all the time.
00:30:01.90\00:30:03.50
There's just so
many stories like that.
00:30:03.57\00:30:05.37
Yes.
00:30:05.40\00:30:07.24
Sorry. What about?
00:30:07.27\00:30:08.60
Oh, no problem.
00:30:08.64\00:30:10.01
What about
casting out evil spirits?
00:30:10.04\00:30:12.81
Yeah.
00:30:12.84\00:30:14.18
Well, there was one
story of a devil priest,
00:30:14.21\00:30:18.38
he was wanting to, you
know, get rid of Adventists
00:30:18.41\00:30:21.75
in his area, and
one of the VIAs came
00:30:21.78\00:30:23.99
and he started to talk with him
and then ran meetings at night.
00:30:24.02\00:30:28.59
And to cut a long story short,
00:30:28.62\00:30:30.63
this devil priest and his family
00:30:30.66\00:30:33.63
gave up all of their things
00:30:33.70\00:30:37.17
that they have in devil worship,
00:30:37.20\00:30:39.03
and came to the meetings
and gave their life to Jesus.
00:30:39.07\00:30:42.70
Wow.
00:30:42.74\00:30:44.11
So that was just a simple story,
00:30:44.14\00:30:45.47
that's happening, you
know, quite regularly.
00:30:45.51\00:30:47.74
Yes.
00:30:47.78\00:30:49.48
There's another man
in the Solomon Islands.
00:30:49.51\00:30:52.05
He was a former drug addict.
00:30:52.08\00:30:54.12
And he would go
around and talk to people
00:30:54.15\00:30:58.09
about the
experience he had with Jesus.
00:30:58.12\00:31:00.76
Run meetings, and again
baptisms in another church.
00:31:00.79\00:31:04.36
It just goes on and on.
00:31:04.39\00:31:05.73
So he went from
former drug addict
00:31:05.76\00:31:07.10
to just being on
fire for the Lord
00:31:07.13\00:31:08.73
and spreading the gospel.
00:31:08.76\00:31:10.60
The next picture I
wanna show you is about a man
00:31:10.67\00:31:12.70
who had some
remarkable experiences.
00:31:12.73\00:31:14.67
This man is called Max.
00:31:14.70\00:31:16.60
Okay. And he's from Vanuatu.
00:31:16.64\00:31:19.04
Now he preached in one
area, which was, I think,
00:31:19.07\00:31:24.25
I won't mention
the name of the church,
00:31:24.28\00:31:25.61
but different denomination.
00:31:25.65\00:31:27.62
And he was so successful under
the power of the Holy Spirit
00:31:27.65\00:31:32.32
that the pastor of that
church said, look, you better
00:31:32.35\00:31:36.19
take over our church
because all of our members
00:31:36.22\00:31:38.96
want to become
Seventh-day Adventists.
00:31:38.99\00:31:40.70
Wow.
00:31:40.73\00:31:42.06
And so, there was a whole church
00:31:42.10\00:31:43.87
that had come over
and they turned that
00:31:43.90\00:31:46.94
other denominational
church into an Adventist Church.
00:31:46.97\00:31:49.34
Wow.
00:31:49.37\00:31:50.71
The whole church
converted to Adventism.
00:31:50.74\00:31:52.11
That's amazing. Yeah.
00:31:52.14\00:31:53.98
That happens quite
a number of times too.
00:31:54.01\00:31:56.68
Yes.
00:31:56.75\00:31:58.08
But on another
occasion, the same man,
00:31:58.11\00:32:00.98
Max was visiting a village
00:32:01.02\00:32:03.05
and they'd been a
lady there who had,
00:32:03.08\00:32:06.62
was trouble having birth.
00:32:06.65\00:32:08.62
She'd been weeks
trying to give birth to a baby
00:32:08.66\00:32:11.26
and the local
doctors and witch doctor
00:32:11.29\00:32:14.00
or whatever kinda doctor it was,
00:32:14.03\00:32:15.36
he said, the baby's dead.
00:32:15.40\00:32:17.30
And there's no hope
00:32:17.37\00:32:18.70
and 'cause she
was so disappointed
00:32:18.73\00:32:21.44
and crying and she was in pain.
00:32:21.47\00:32:24.34
And Max, and one or two others
came along and heard about her.
00:32:24.37\00:32:28.64
Now she had been prayed
for and with by her own church,
00:32:28.68\00:32:33.55
nothing had happened.
00:32:33.62\00:32:34.95
The elders of
that church have come,
00:32:34.98\00:32:36.32
nothing had happened.
00:32:36.35\00:32:37.69
Max came along and said,
could I pray for you please?
00:32:37.72\00:32:41.99
Well, he knelt down with
two other helpers with him
00:32:42.02\00:32:45.13
and they prayed to God
that he would help this lady.
00:32:45.16\00:32:49.26
The next morning, the
baby was born alive and well.
00:32:49.30\00:32:53.57
And that's so influenced
the people of that village
00:32:53.64\00:32:57.51
that they just
wanted to hear more
00:32:57.54\00:32:59.64
and this lady
gave her testimony.
00:32:59.67\00:33:02.74
And people wanted
the church built there
00:33:02.78\00:33:04.91
and said, can you
Adventist come and teach us
00:33:04.95\00:33:07.02
the truths of God's Word?
00:33:07.05\00:33:08.45
Wow.
00:33:08.48\00:33:09.82
And, yes, that was amazing.
00:33:09.85\00:33:11.42
And then some months later,
she went to a big Lay Congress.
00:33:11.45\00:33:15.06
Uh-huh.
00:33:15.09\00:33:16.42
She gave her testimony there,
and show the power of God.
00:33:16.46\00:33:20.50
And she's a baptized member
now and praising God for it.
00:33:20.53\00:33:23.37
Wow.
00:33:23.40\00:33:24.73
And then, a few days
later, this same man,
00:33:24.77\00:33:27.64
Max went to another
village where there was a woman
00:33:27.67\00:33:31.04
who had been bleeding, bit
like the woman in the Bible.
00:33:31.07\00:33:34.08
Yes.
00:33:34.11\00:33:35.44
Bleeding for many
months, and it couldn't stop it.
00:33:35.48\00:33:37.98
The local people
couldn't stop it,
00:33:38.01\00:33:40.02
they'd prayed
for her many times.
00:33:40.05\00:33:42.48
And eventually, her
husband wanted to throw her out,
00:33:42.52\00:33:46.22
he thought she was either cursed
00:33:46.25\00:33:47.66
or she was so diseased
that he didn't want her.
00:33:47.69\00:33:50.26
Yeah.
00:33:50.33\00:33:51.66
He was just not gonna
handle it any further.
00:33:51.69\00:33:54.63
Just before that happened,
Max came along and he asked,
00:33:54.66\00:33:58.27
if he could pray for
her, and he knelt down
00:33:58.30\00:34:01.90
and he prayed
for the Holy Spirit
00:34:01.94\00:34:03.51
to heal this lady
in the name of Jesus.
00:34:03.54\00:34:06.68
And within the next 24
hours that bleeding stopped,
00:34:06.71\00:34:11.51
and she was completely healed.
00:34:11.55\00:34:13.42
Wow.
00:34:13.45\00:34:14.78
Her husband was so amazed.
00:34:14.82\00:34:16.15
He said, look, I've
never seen anything like this.
00:34:16.18\00:34:18.42
He said, I'm one of the
leaders of this village.
00:34:18.45\00:34:20.99
Please tell us where you want
some land to build a church.
00:34:21.02\00:34:24.16
We want you to come
and to come to our village
00:34:24.23\00:34:27.00
and start a church.
00:34:27.03\00:34:28.36
Wow.
00:34:28.40\00:34:29.73
What a blessing and
what a witness that was.
00:34:29.76\00:34:31.10
Incredible.
00:34:31.13\00:34:32.47
Yeah, so a lot of
miracle stories taking place.
00:34:32.50\00:34:37.74
Oh, I could tell some more,
I got a few jotted down here.
00:34:37.77\00:34:39.87
I can't remember them all.
00:34:39.91\00:34:41.24
But another man,
another place in Mindy,
00:34:41.28\00:34:45.61
a man called Jack.
00:34:45.65\00:34:47.85
He had just
been there six months
00:34:47.88\00:34:49.62
and he had
baptized seven people.
00:34:49.65\00:34:53.66
And he continued
on with Bible studies
00:34:53.69\00:34:56.66
and 125 Bible studies
00:34:56.73\00:35:01.66
had joined.
00:35:01.70\00:35:03.47
And one of the
converts was a pastor
00:35:03.50\00:35:06.40
from another church.
00:35:06.43\00:35:07.77
Uh-huh.
00:35:07.80\00:35:09.14
And he gave his church to them,
00:35:09.17\00:35:12.04
plus 20 of his
members came along
00:35:12.07\00:35:13.78
and were baptized with him.
00:35:13.81\00:35:15.14
Wow. Just from this one man.
00:35:15.18\00:35:17.88
That's incredible.
00:35:17.91\00:35:19.48
How has your
family been impacted
00:35:19.51\00:35:21.38
as a result of this ministry?
00:35:21.42\00:35:23.39
Because I'm sure
they hear the stories
00:35:23.42\00:35:25.29
that you know that
you share with them?
00:35:25.32\00:35:27.92
Well, my two
children are quite a distance
00:35:27.96\00:35:30.83
from where we live and
they're not involved in,
00:35:30.86\00:35:33.23
I suppose, but I share
where I can the stories,
00:35:33.26\00:35:36.40
but my wife is impacted by it.
00:35:36.43\00:35:38.87
She started a website
called Friends of VIA.
00:35:38.90\00:35:42.37
And she's written some things
about them on the website.
00:35:42.40\00:35:47.94
Has that going.
00:35:47.98\00:35:49.31
But yeah, she's
happy to hear the stories
00:35:49.34\00:35:52.95
and also very happy
when I return safely home...
00:35:52.98\00:35:55.52
Yes, yes.
00:35:55.55\00:35:56.89
From my visits. Yes.
00:35:56.92\00:35:58.32
And how has this
ministry strengthened
00:35:58.35\00:36:00.36
your walk with Christ?
00:36:00.39\00:36:02.36
Well, it's been a
blessing to me it.
00:36:02.39\00:36:05.86
I guess it grounds me,
00:36:05.89\00:36:07.23
you know, I live
in a Western society
00:36:07.30\00:36:09.36
and I go out there and
live in a more primitive area
00:36:09.40\00:36:13.74
or less developed area.
00:36:13.77\00:36:15.44
See the
sacrifice that people make,
00:36:15.47\00:36:18.94
see the faith and
trust they have in God.
00:36:18.97\00:36:21.61
Yeah. See how God's working.
00:36:21.64\00:36:24.28
And the way the church is
growing and it inspires me.
00:36:24.31\00:36:28.18
Yes.
00:36:28.22\00:36:29.55
I feel sad that
it's not the same
00:36:29.58\00:36:31.02
in developed parts of the world.
00:36:31.05\00:36:32.59
Yes.
00:36:32.62\00:36:33.96
You know, North
America, Australia,
00:36:33.99\00:36:35.32
Europe, it's much harder.
00:36:35.36\00:36:37.33
It is.
00:36:37.36\00:36:38.69
But to see the Holy
Spirit working in that way out,
00:36:38.73\00:36:40.06
in that area where people
00:36:40.10\00:36:41.90
give up so much to serve
the Lord is an inspiration.
00:36:41.93\00:36:46.43
Yes.
00:36:46.47\00:36:47.80
And I come home
feeling very grateful
00:36:47.84\00:36:49.90
that I live where I do
and a little humbled that,
00:36:49.94\00:36:55.74
you know, sometimes you
might complain about hardships,
00:36:55.78\00:36:57.95
but it's nothing compared
00:36:57.98\00:37:00.05
to what they have to go through.
00:37:00.12\00:37:01.75
Yes.
00:37:01.78\00:37:03.12
Now being in ministry,
00:37:03.15\00:37:04.49
you know, oftentimes you're
giving and giving and giving.
00:37:04.52\00:37:08.12
How important do
you find it to make sure
00:37:08.16\00:37:11.03
that you have a
strong devotion life
00:37:11.06\00:37:14.93
or devotional life, like
staying in tune with God?
00:37:14.96\00:37:19.43
Well, you have to
stay in tune with God.
00:37:19.47\00:37:21.80
It's easy, sometimes not to,
00:37:21.84\00:37:24.01
to go on your experience
and background and get busy.
00:37:24.04\00:37:28.11
But it's also very important
that we do spend especially
00:37:28.14\00:37:31.08
the first moments of
the day with the Lord.
00:37:31.11\00:37:33.72
Yes.
00:37:33.75\00:37:35.08
And commit your life to Him.
00:37:35.12\00:37:36.45
And thanking for the blessings
and to pray for His work
00:37:36.48\00:37:39.89
that the Holy Spirit will not
00:37:39.92\00:37:41.72
only work in
myself and my family,
00:37:41.76\00:37:43.83
but work in the world
church, so that the gospel
00:37:43.86\00:37:46.70
can go quickly to
places that are difficult.
00:37:46.73\00:37:49.83
Yes.
00:37:49.86\00:37:51.20
And to bless His workers
so they'll have the power,
00:37:51.23\00:37:54.87
the
inspiration, the discernment,
00:37:54.90\00:37:58.14
the wisdom that they need to be
00:37:58.17\00:37:59.77
able to do God's work
in an effective way...
00:37:59.81\00:38:03.21
Yes. And to nurture the church.
00:38:03.24\00:38:05.21
Amen. Yeah.
00:38:05.25\00:38:06.58
What are some other
miracle stories you can share?
00:38:06.61\00:38:09.52
Okay, well, there
was a man called Clifton.
00:38:09.55\00:38:12.75
Okay.
00:38:12.79\00:38:14.16
He was working in a remote area,
00:38:14.19\00:38:15.52
and he was conducting meetings
00:38:15.56\00:38:16.89
and there was an
old witch doctor there
00:38:16.93\00:38:18.93
and he wanted him to go
away and leave them alone.
00:38:18.96\00:38:22.80
He wasn't wanting
the Adventist message
00:38:22.83\00:38:25.10
to come into that place.
00:38:25.13\00:38:26.84
And so he either cast
the spell or something.
00:38:26.87\00:38:29.57
But the story goes that he,
00:38:29.60\00:38:32.01
I was told he was
sent an evil spirit
00:38:32.04\00:38:35.08
from the witch
doctor to our worker there,
00:38:35.11\00:38:37.45
to try and kill
him and destroy him.
00:38:37.48\00:38:41.95
But the next
morning, the people came along
00:38:41.98\00:38:44.72
and saw that he was still alive
00:38:44.75\00:38:46.09
and they said,
hey, what happened?
00:38:46.12\00:38:48.29
We saw all this
European soldiers
00:38:48.32\00:38:50.96
around you last night.
00:38:50.99\00:38:52.53
Where have they gone?
00:38:52.56\00:38:54.33
They had actually
seen what they thought
00:38:54.36\00:38:56.60
was European soldiers
surrounding his house.
00:38:56.67\00:39:00.27
When the evil
spirits were going to come
00:39:00.34\00:39:02.10
and try and destroy him.
00:39:02.14\00:39:03.51
Wow.
00:39:03.54\00:39:04.87
And so he was able to tell
them that wasn't evil spirits.
00:39:04.91\00:39:07.18
So that wasn't
European soldiers.
00:39:07.21\00:39:09.88
God was
surrounding us with His angels.
00:39:09.91\00:39:12.78
And that story got around
and people were impressed.
00:39:12.81\00:39:16.35
And again,
eventually, that witch doctor
00:39:16.38\00:39:19.82
got changed in his
heart and the people wanted
00:39:19.85\00:39:22.32
to hear more about the
gospel that he was preaching.
00:39:22.36\00:39:26.70
People were
drawn to Christ. Yeah.
00:39:26.73\00:39:28.43
I heard a story
something like that
00:39:28.46\00:39:30.20
from the wartime
in Solomon Islands
00:39:30.27\00:39:33.77
when the Japanese
were fighting in the area
00:39:33.84\00:39:36.40
and they were going to attack
one of our mission leaders.
00:39:36.44\00:39:40.08
And they again saw
his place surrounded
00:39:40.11\00:39:43.08
by what they thought
were soldiers, and ran away.
00:39:43.11\00:39:46.95
There's a couple of stories
in the islands in recent times
00:39:47.02\00:39:49.28
similar thing to that actually.
00:39:49.32\00:39:53.56
There's another place
00:39:53.59\00:39:54.92
where a man called, Nathan Vent.
00:39:54.96\00:39:56.62
And the people
there feared his influence
00:39:56.66\00:39:59.23
and the drunken men
were sent out at night
00:39:59.26\00:40:01.50
to with rocks and
knives to kill him.
00:40:01.53\00:40:05.23
And he, nothing
happened, he slept on.
00:40:05.27\00:40:08.70
And then he woke up
in the middle of night
00:40:08.74\00:40:11.24
and he heard a noise.
00:40:11.27\00:40:13.17
They were throwing rocks
on the local church there.
00:40:13.21\00:40:16.58
And so he ran out
and went into the bush
00:40:16.61\00:40:19.21
and they couldn't
find him and he escaped.
00:40:19.25\00:40:22.18
So I believe God
protected him too.
00:40:22.22\00:40:24.19
Yes.
00:40:24.22\00:40:25.55
Because they were wanting
to kill him and get rid of him.
00:40:25.59\00:40:28.36
Oftentimes, some
of our missionaries,
00:40:28.39\00:40:30.33
they go into new area
and they have to plant
00:40:30.36\00:40:32.73
their own garden, they've
to build their own house.
00:40:32.76\00:40:35.23
Yes.
00:40:35.26\00:40:36.60
And sometimes
people who are against them
00:40:36.67\00:40:39.30
will come and cut
down or burn their house
00:40:39.33\00:40:41.80
or cut down their garden,
00:40:41.84\00:40:43.61
and they go
through real hardship,
00:40:43.64\00:40:44.97
but God looks after them.
00:40:45.01\00:40:46.41
Yes.
00:40:46.44\00:40:47.78
And the plants grow
again and people support them,
00:40:47.81\00:40:50.45
and they're able to
continue on their work.
00:40:50.48\00:40:55.18
There was another, one where,
00:40:55.22\00:40:57.02
as a devil
priest in Bible studies
00:40:57.09\00:40:59.79
were conducted with him again
00:40:59.82\00:41:02.49
and he was again
after a long period,
00:41:02.52\00:41:05.46
willing to give up his
witchcraft and to surrender
00:41:05.49\00:41:09.20
to Christ just
through this one man.
00:41:09.23\00:41:11.97
So that's incredible because,
you know you have a pastor
00:41:12.00\00:41:17.01
and you know the whole
congregation converting,
00:41:17.04\00:41:21.18
and then you have
witchdoctors converting.
00:41:21.21\00:41:25.58
And then I mean,
God is just moving
00:41:25.61\00:41:28.08
in a mighty way
and showing people
00:41:28.12\00:41:30.59
that He wants to do everything
00:41:30.62\00:41:32.32
that He possibly can to
save all those that He can.
00:41:32.35\00:41:37.43
Yeah.
00:41:37.46\00:41:38.79
Now, that's true.
00:41:38.83\00:41:40.20
And there's another story
00:41:40.23\00:41:41.56
of a man from
the Solomon Islands.
00:41:41.60\00:41:42.93
He was a notorious criminal.
00:41:42.96\00:41:45.60
He was a drug addict.
00:41:45.63\00:41:47.54
He would stop
cars on the road with,
00:41:47.57\00:41:51.24
you know, a gun or something
00:41:51.27\00:41:52.61
and he would
steal money from them.
00:41:52.64\00:41:55.31
But eventually one of our
VIAs was able to visit him
00:41:55.34\00:41:59.41
and he talked with him
and shared his testimony
00:41:59.45\00:42:01.55
of what Jesus had done for him.
00:42:01.58\00:42:03.62
And he challenged him and
opened up some Bible texts
00:42:03.69\00:42:06.49
and talked to him
and appealed to him
00:42:06.52\00:42:08.89
to give his heart to Christ.
00:42:08.92\00:42:10.99
And this man changed
and he was converted.
00:42:11.03\00:42:14.00
He became a wonderful
influence in that area.
00:42:14.03\00:42:16.87
And he went and did
discipleship training,
00:42:16.90\00:42:19.00
and he's doing that right now.
00:42:19.03\00:42:20.94
And he wants to be a
missionary for God as well.
00:42:20.97\00:42:23.64
Wow.
00:42:23.71\00:42:25.04
And, again, it's
just one of those stories
00:42:25.07\00:42:27.58
of hundreds that I could
tell of how people have been
00:42:27.61\00:42:30.15
changed by the
Volunteers In Action.
00:42:30.18\00:42:32.55
Yes.
00:42:32.58\00:42:33.92
There's one last story,
which I think is amazing too.
00:42:33.95\00:42:37.89
Not so much in kind of
the miracles of witchcraft
00:42:37.92\00:42:41.02
or evil spirits,
but in a different way.
00:42:41.06\00:42:43.53
And this was up
00:42:43.56\00:42:45.29
in the highlands
of Papua New Guinea
00:42:45.33\00:42:46.70
with one VIA
called Jonathan Hip.
00:42:46.73\00:42:50.47
And he was running meetings
with some other supporters.
00:42:50.50\00:42:53.47
And they had a baptism
call and two former pastors
00:42:53.54\00:42:57.61
from other
churches were baptized.
00:42:57.64\00:43:00.08
And one of them
had served for 32 years
00:43:00.11\00:43:03.68
in his other denomination.
00:43:03.75\00:43:05.95
And he said, all these years
I have never really understood
00:43:05.98\00:43:10.89
how to worship God, I'm not
worshiping God really meant.
00:43:10.92\00:43:13.66
Yeah.
00:43:13.69\00:43:15.02
And he said, now I know.
00:43:15.06\00:43:16.49
And he came along
with some of his members,
00:43:16.52\00:43:19.53
and six of his members
were baptized with him.
00:43:19.56\00:43:22.73
Wow.
00:43:22.76\00:43:24.10
And more studies
are going on now.
00:43:24.17\00:43:26.17
The other pastor
would been 28 years
00:43:26.20\00:43:29.44
in his congregation
00:43:29.47\00:43:30.81
and preaching
with his denomination.
00:43:30.84\00:43:33.01
And he was moved by
the truth that Jonathan
00:43:33.04\00:43:35.48
and the others were preaching.
00:43:35.51\00:43:37.68
And he talked to his members too
00:43:37.71\00:43:39.45
who encouraged to come along,
00:43:39.48\00:43:41.68
and most of his
church followed them.
00:43:41.72\00:43:43.99
And they were
baptized on the same day.
00:43:44.02\00:43:46.52
Wow.
00:43:46.55\00:43:47.89
And at the end of the meeting,
Jonathan called for a call,
00:43:47.92\00:43:50.76
for people to
come and step forward,
00:43:50.83\00:43:52.39
who'd like to be baptized,
00:43:52.43\00:43:54.20
and 224 came
forward on that day.
00:43:54.23\00:43:58.20
And now they're
working in building up
00:43:58.23\00:44:00.04
new churches and new
villages around that area.
00:44:00.07\00:44:02.54
Yes, yes.
00:44:02.57\00:44:03.91
So God is really
blessing the work out there.
00:44:03.94\00:44:07.64
A lot of growth.
00:44:07.68\00:44:10.85
I wanna talk about, you know,
some of your ministry needs,
00:44:10.88\00:44:13.92
but before we do
that, we're going to go
00:44:13.95\00:44:16.15
to our last song
by Stephanie Dawn
00:44:16.18\00:44:19.45
and it's entitled "Speechless."
00:44:19.49\00:44:21.12
I'm speechless,
00:44:57.03\00:45:01.03
Overcome by joy
00:45:01.06\00:45:04.17
That reaches
00:45:04.20\00:45:08.44
Into my heart so deep
00:45:08.47\00:45:12.71
It's almost too good to be true
00:45:16.88\00:45:21.55
In this quite
00:45:27.56\00:45:31.46
I'm in wonder
00:45:31.49\00:45:36.00
Of Your kindness
00:45:36.03\00:45:41.37
I'm speechless,
00:45:41.40\00:45:45.57
Silenced by how good
00:45:45.61\00:45:49.68
You are to me
00:45:49.71\00:45:53.05
When pain has been
00:45:58.22\00:46:01.19
So shattering
00:46:01.22\00:46:04.26
I could not give it words
00:46:04.33\00:46:10.07
There was comforting to know Him
00:46:10.10\00:46:15.40
That through
Your spirit You heard
00:46:15.44\00:46:21.11
But now it's all the gratitude
00:46:21.14\00:46:26.45
I struggle to express
00:46:26.48\00:46:32.12
My amazement has
00:46:32.15\00:46:34.79
Your overwhelming love
00:46:34.82\00:46:39.73
And faithfulness
00:46:39.76\00:46:44.07
I'm speechless,
00:46:44.10\00:46:47.77
Overcome by joy
00:46:47.80\00:46:50.61
That reaches
00:46:50.64\00:46:54.11
Into my heart so deep
00:46:54.18\00:46:57.71
It's almost too good to be true
00:47:01.48\00:47:06.05
In the quite
00:47:11.83\00:47:16.33
I'm in wonder
00:47:16.36\00:47:21.84
Of Your kindness
00:47:21.87\00:47:27.71
I'm speechless,
00:47:27.74\00:47:32.01
Silenced by
00:47:32.05\00:47:34.72
How good You are to me
00:47:34.75\00:47:40.06
When I compare what I deserve
00:47:44.33\00:47:50.20
To how I've been
00:47:50.27\00:47:52.77
So blessed
00:47:52.80\00:47:57.41
I am in awe,
00:47:57.44\00:48:00.18
That instead of justice
00:48:00.21\00:48:03.28
I find tenderness,
00:48:03.35\00:48:09.22
I'm speechless
00:48:09.25\00:48:11.89
In this quite
00:48:34.81\00:48:36.61
I'm in wonder
00:48:39.85\00:48:45.85
Of Your kindness
00:48:45.89\00:48:51.86
I'm speechless,
00:48:51.89\00:48:56.13
Silenced by
00:48:56.16\00:48:58.80
How good You are to me
00:48:58.83\00:49:03.94
I'm speechless,
00:49:08.71\00:49:15.18
Silenced by
00:49:15.22\00:49:18.35
How good You are to me
00:49:18.39\00:49:25.33
Wow. What a beautiful song.
00:49:35.04\00:49:37.11
Beautiful song. Amen.
00:49:37.14\00:49:39.67
I can't believe
we're almost out of time,
00:49:39.71\00:49:41.98
but I wanna know what
are some of the other ways
00:49:42.01\00:49:45.55
that VIAs used to
reach people with the gospel?
00:49:45.58\00:49:49.88
Well, apart from
what I've mentioned,
00:49:49.92\00:49:51.25
in fact friendship
evangelism and helping people
00:49:51.29\00:49:53.59
and pictorial aids.
00:49:53.66\00:49:55.82
The one that's often
very important in remote areas
00:49:55.86\00:49:59.13
is what we call the God pod.
00:49:59.16\00:50:00.80
Okay.
00:50:00.83\00:50:02.16
It's a little solar powered
thing like a size of a phone.
00:50:02.20\00:50:04.50
Uh-huh.
00:50:04.53\00:50:05.87
And it's made in China,
it's recorded in Israel,
00:50:05.90\00:50:09.60
and then sent to Australia
and then we send it out.
00:50:09.64\00:50:11.91
And on that is
recorded the whole Bible,
00:50:11.94\00:50:14.38
lots of books by
Christian authors,
00:50:14.41\00:50:17.55
there's other lessons
and Bible studies on it.
00:50:17.58\00:50:20.82
And our VIAs go to
places where there's no power,
00:50:20.85\00:50:24.39
and this thing can be
recharged by the sunlight.
00:50:24.42\00:50:27.89
And as far as possible,
give them to each village,
00:50:27.92\00:50:31.33
but they have on themselves
and they let the people listen.
00:50:31.36\00:50:34.83
I wish I had a
photo of them to show you
00:50:34.86\00:50:37.40
where the people are gathering
00:50:37.47\00:50:38.90
around listening
to this little thing,
00:50:38.93\00:50:40.94
hearing the Bible
story and Bible lessons.
00:50:40.97\00:50:43.00
That's incredible.
That's very effective.
00:50:43.04\00:50:45.11
Yes, that's incredible.
00:50:45.14\00:50:46.81
What are some of
your needs as a ministry?
00:50:46.88\00:50:50.55
Well, the
biggest need I think is,
00:50:50.58\00:50:53.55
well, we need
resources, of course,
00:50:53.62\00:50:55.08
but that's a challenge
to get out to the people.
00:50:55.12\00:50:58.55
The most important thing
00:50:58.59\00:51:00.39
I believe is actual
finances or sponsors.
00:51:00.46\00:51:04.03
Yes.
00:51:04.06\00:51:05.39
Because as I said
before, we only have 126 people
00:51:05.43\00:51:08.63
who are sponsoring
all these volunteers
00:51:08.66\00:51:11.80
and next year
and the years to come
00:51:11.83\00:51:13.34
with a great
evangelistic thrust,
00:51:13.37\00:51:15.30
we're gonna need a lot more.
00:51:15.34\00:51:17.01
And so it costs around...
00:51:17.04\00:51:20.31
Well, in
Australian dollars 1500,
00:51:20.38\00:51:22.04
about 1100 US dollars a year.
00:51:22.08\00:51:24.05
That's all it costs to
sponsor a person for whole year.
00:51:24.08\00:51:28.65
They will send you pictures
and reports twice a year.
00:51:28.68\00:51:31.82
And so that's very important.
00:51:31.85\00:51:34.16
The other one is for roofing,
money for roofing irons.
00:51:34.19\00:51:36.73
Yeah.
00:51:36.76\00:51:38.09
Okay, so you also
need volunteers too?
00:51:38.13\00:51:42.33
Yeah.
00:51:42.36\00:51:43.70
Well, we're gonna go
to a quick address role
00:51:43.77\00:51:46.77
and news break and
we'll be right back.
00:51:46.84\00:51:48.77
Volunteers In Action is a group
00:51:51.87\00:51:53.68
of Australian and New
Zealand church members
00:51:53.71\00:51:56.54
who have a heartfelt
burden to see the gospel
00:51:56.58\00:51:58.75
taken into isolated
areas of the Pacific Islands.
00:51:58.78\00:52:02.35
VIA equips committed
National Layman Volunteers
00:52:02.38\00:52:06.69
to work among their own
people by providing them
00:52:06.76\00:52:09.09
with Bibles, bicycles
and roofs for local churches.
00:52:09.12\00:52:12.59
You can visit their website
at VolunteersInAction.com.au.
00:52:12.63\00:52:18.00
You can email Dr.
Watts at nwwatts48@gmail.com.
00:52:18.03\00:52:23.91
You may also write to
them at Volunteers In Action,
00:52:23.94\00:52:27.58
PO Box 577, Spring Hill,
00:52:27.61\00:52:30.48
Queensland 4004, Australia.
00:52:30.55\00:52:33.55