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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I'm Jason Bradley,
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and I'm so glad
that you could join us.
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And you know what?
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I want to share a
scripture with you
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at this very moment.
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It comes from Proverbs 22:6
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and it says "Train up a
child in the way he should go,
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and when he is old he
will not depart from it."
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I am here with the team
from Young Disciple ministries.
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We have Tony Evert,
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he's the design and IT Director.
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you wear multiple hats.
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We have Jessica Pendleton
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who is the Girl's head counselor
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of Young Disciple ministries.
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And we have Amedeo Rondon.
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Yes.
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Did I say it right? Got it.
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All right. And he
is a Young Disciple.
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I am so glad that
you guys are here.
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I think what you
are doing is amazing.
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I've had the
opportunity to sit down with you
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and talk briefly about
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all of the fascinating
things that you have going on
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with leading
young people to Christ.
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But before we jump
all the way in there,
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we want to go to
song to a song rather,
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and with Stephanie
Dawn and is entitled "Be".
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Be here in my eyes
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So others may see
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The beauty and
presence Of Your love
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In one who was blind
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But now believes
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Be here in my heart
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Flow through my
blood Strengthen my soul
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And wash me clean
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A living example
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Of what Your grace has done
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I will walk beside you
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I'll give you my life
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And when others seek To find you
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May I be a light that shines
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Be here in my hands
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Give me Your touch
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Use me to comfort And to build
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Shelter for those
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Who need Your love
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Breathe words to my lips
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So I may speak
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Echo Your truth
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And living words.
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Lord, make me all That I can be.
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I will walk beside you Jesus,
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I'll give you my life
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And when others seek To find you
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May I be the light that shines
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Be here in my heart
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Flow through my blood
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Strengthen my soul
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And wash me clean
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Lord, make me all that
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I can be
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Lord, please make me all that
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I can be
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Wow, what a beautiful song.
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Tony, I wanted to go
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a little bit
into Your background.
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Tell me a little bit
about Your upbringing
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and how you got
involved with Young Disciple?
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So I was raised an Adventist.
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In fact, my grandparents
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were missionaries
to Central Africa.
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My dad was raised
in a mission field.
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On my mom side,
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her great, great grandfather
worked for Ellen White.
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He was her gardener.
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He's mentioned
in one or two places
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in her writings.
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Wow.
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But that
heritage didn't guarantee
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that I would be a Christian
or an Adventist or anything.
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And, I'm really
thankful for my parents
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who instilled in me a desire
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to understand God's Word.
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They taught me
how to study the Bible
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and gave me the interest
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in trying to
figure out salvation
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and making it personal.
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And, it's kind of
my history going up
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when I was 14, 15,
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we were at a
church plant in California
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and we were working
with Young people there,
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and I was one
of the Young people
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at that stage.
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My mom was the
teacher of the junior class
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and we were all just
interested in what was going on.
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It was a very exciting class.
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And that was kind of the roots
of Young Disciple was there in
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and I remember one time
Young people were asking,
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you know we're studying
the Bible stories again.
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Is there something
else that we can...
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Anything else in the
Bible that we can study
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and so we started just
photocopying Bible lessons.
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Wow.
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And for them able to
study and they were...
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They loved it.
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you know, we have people
that would come and visit
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and they were like,
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"Can we use this in our church?"
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Yes.
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And,
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I think God at that
point was planting the seed
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of something to really help
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Young people connect with Christ
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in a more meaningful way.
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Digging deeper, yes.
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Digging deeper into the Bible
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and I think that today,
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the reason why a
lot of Young people
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are leaving the churches
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'cause they don't have
that foundation in God's Word.
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And they know a lot of things,
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they know that we
go to church on Sabbath
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and they know that we...
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But these different beliefs,
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they know that Jesus,
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you know, came to the earth,
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they know that
about David and Goliath
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and they know
about different things,
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but it's sort of like
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this is what my
parents want me to believe.
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Yes.
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My parents challenged me
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to really
understand what I believe
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and we really have a
burden to help other people
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make the religion
their parent's religion,
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say "Is this really
what I want to believe?"
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Yes.
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And, if you have a
foundation in Christ's Word,
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then you can
actually connect with Christ.
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And you could
have something real,
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and it doesn't
have to be fake anymore.
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Absolutely.
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In other words,
you can't live through,
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you know, Bible
says "Oh taste and see."
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And you can't taste and see
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through somebody
else's taste buds, right?
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So you have to develop that
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on Your own
relationship with Christ,
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and so what you're saying is
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you can't have Your
parent's relationship
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with Christ per se,
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you need to have Your
own individual relationship.
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Right and,
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so that's really been our heart
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is to help Young
people connect with Christ...
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Yes.
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For themselves... Yes.
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To really develop a relationship
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that will take them
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through the
difficulties of the teen years
00:10:01.13\00:10:03.47
and really the
rest of Your life.
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If you have the
Word, you've an anchor.
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If Your parents have the
Word, they have an anchor.
00:10:08.80\00:10:10.81
But it's not useful to you
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especially as you
transition to realizing,
00:10:12.57\00:10:15.01
oh, I'm a person,
I'm an individual person.
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Indeed.
00:10:17.48\00:10:19.15
Jessica, tell me a little
bit about Your background?
00:10:19.18\00:10:23.12
Oh, I've been a Seventh-day
Adventist my whole life.
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I was raised in Adventist home.
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I think on all four sides
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I can count fourth,
fifth and sixth generation
00:10:30.36\00:10:34.40
Seventh-day
Adventist so it goes back.
00:10:34.43\00:10:36.43
Unfortunately though, I
grew up in a divided home,
00:10:36.46\00:10:39.33
even though we are Adventist
and had been for generations.
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It was so divided home
and so that left me just
00:10:43.14\00:10:47.94
with a lot of
questions about Christianity
00:10:47.98\00:10:49.78
'cause you see
one thing in public
00:10:49.81\00:10:51.15
and then you see something
else at home and it just...
00:10:51.18\00:10:54.72
I had a lot of questions
00:10:54.75\00:10:56.08
and when I was
about 14 years old,
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I was really struggling.
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Like we had had
some significant changes
00:10:59.52\00:11:01.69
in our family and life
00:11:01.72\00:11:03.73
and my parents had
split up and I was just like,
00:11:03.76\00:11:08.83
I didn't know what
was God, where was God,
00:11:08.86\00:11:11.40
what was there for
me in Christian life.
00:11:11.43\00:11:13.13
And about that time my
church decided to start...
00:11:13.17\00:11:17.87
Try something else
for the Young people
00:11:17.91\00:11:19.24
and so they ended up
ordering Yong Disciple magazine.
00:11:19.27\00:11:21.94
We have never heard of that.
00:11:21.98\00:11:23.35
I had never been interested in
00:11:23.38\00:11:27.32
studying my Bible really,
and somehow I saw these lessons
00:11:27.35\00:11:29.95
and I just took one look at them
00:11:29.98\00:11:31.32
and I was like, "I
think I can do this."
00:11:31.35\00:11:33.86
And I studied
00:11:33.89\00:11:35.42
and that was
really the beginning
00:11:35.46\00:11:36.93
of my own relationship
with God in a powerful way.
00:11:36.96\00:11:42.00
And it was a
few years after that
00:11:42.03\00:11:43.97
that I was able
to attend the camp,
00:11:44.00\00:11:46.74
and that was even more
instrumental in my life,
00:11:46.77\00:11:51.24
just going into a camp
00:11:51.27\00:11:52.84
where everything
about the program
00:11:52.87\00:11:54.21
was to help me develop
my own relationship with God
00:11:54.28\00:11:58.08
and coming from a home
where we had domestic violence.
00:11:58.11\00:12:02.18
We had abuse as
part of it to have people
00:12:02.22\00:12:05.59
that were
showing us a God of love
00:12:05.62\00:12:08.76
was a transformational
and helping me understand
00:12:08.79\00:12:12.56
that God was a loving
Father, He was amazing.
00:12:12.59\00:12:15.20
And, that He was for me,
00:12:15.23\00:12:17.07
it wasn't for other people
that God was actually someone
00:12:17.10\00:12:19.90
I could be close too as well.
00:12:19.93\00:12:22.20
And then, so a few years
down the road things were,
00:12:22.24\00:12:25.61
our family life
continued to get worse
00:12:25.64\00:12:27.61
and my parents are divorcing
00:12:27.64\00:12:28.98
and I was 15 or 18
00:12:29.01\00:12:32.28
so it was just
time to go to college
00:12:32.31\00:12:34.12
and everything's just like,
00:12:34.15\00:12:36.25
everything I
thought was solid was like
00:12:36.28\00:12:38.12
it was worse
than I thought it was
00:12:38.15\00:12:39.49
and just so much
difficulty and turmoil.
00:12:39.52\00:12:43.73
And then, I just remember,
a few years after that,
00:12:43.76\00:12:47.63
praying to God and saying,
00:12:47.66\00:12:49.03
"God, if you have any use for me
00:12:49.06\00:12:51.70
through all this
that I've been through,
00:12:51.73\00:12:53.44
can you just help me
00:12:53.47\00:12:56.57
find the little way
that I can serve you.
00:12:56.60\00:12:58.57
Just some way that
you can still use me
00:12:58.61\00:13:00.48
that all this hardship
isn't gonna be for not that.
00:13:00.51\00:13:03.65
Do you still have a
purpose and a plan for me."
00:13:03.68\00:13:06.25
And it was a few weeks later,
00:13:06.28\00:13:07.92
we had, part of our family
00:13:07.95\00:13:09.28
had moved out
to Washington State
00:13:09.32\00:13:11.09
and it was a few weeks later
00:13:11.12\00:13:12.89
we got a call from
Young Disciple ministries
00:13:12.92\00:13:15.32
and they said,
00:13:15.36\00:13:16.73
"Hey, we have a bumper
crop of campers this year
00:13:16.76\00:13:19.63
and we need counselors,
00:13:19.66\00:13:21.40
and would you be
willing to come and serve?"
00:13:21.43\00:13:23.90
And it was just
like such an answer
00:13:23.97\00:13:26.07
to my prayer like,
"Wow, God can still use."
00:13:26.10\00:13:29.10
Like even if I can
just serve these two weeks,
00:13:29.14\00:13:32.07
and it can just be a
tangible reminder to me
00:13:32.11\00:13:34.71
that God can use me
00:13:34.74\00:13:36.08
that I can still be His that
00:13:36.11\00:13:37.85
He can turn the hardship
into something beautiful.
00:13:37.88\00:13:41.65
And so I did and it
was amazing experience.
00:13:41.68\00:13:43.89
And, it was about,
somebody there found out
00:13:43.92\00:13:46.35
that I had some
accounting experience
00:13:46.39\00:13:48.92
and they asked
me, they were like,
00:13:48.96\00:13:52.36
"Would you be willing,
00:13:52.39\00:13:53.73
we might be needing
an accountant soon."
00:13:53.80\00:13:56.26
And I was thinking like,
00:13:56.30\00:13:57.63
I really wanna work with people,
00:13:57.67\00:13:59.20
and I want to
get more education,
00:13:59.23\00:14:00.57
I wanted to finish college
00:14:00.64\00:14:02.64
and that was
just important to me
00:14:02.67\00:14:04.91
and so I said no.
00:14:04.94\00:14:07.21
And they asked
again and I said no,
00:14:07.28\00:14:09.41
it's not what I'm
interested in doing,
00:14:09.44\00:14:10.95
and I wanna work for God
but I really have these things
00:14:10.98\00:14:13.72
that are really important to me.
00:14:13.75\00:14:15.95
And so, shortly after that,
00:14:15.98\00:14:20.36
I had given them my final
no and I just thought like,
00:14:20.39\00:14:24.33
"Lord, I don't feel I
have peace about this.
00:14:24.36\00:14:27.73
I don't know
where you want me to go,
00:14:27.76\00:14:29.40
what you want me to do."
00:14:29.43\00:14:31.13
And so I just prayed again
00:14:31.17\00:14:32.60
and I just knelt
on by my bed and said,
00:14:32.63\00:14:34.87
"Lord, here's all my plans
and you know where I've been,
00:14:34.90\00:14:37.87
what I've been through,
00:14:37.91\00:14:39.44
you know where I
can best serve you.
00:14:39.47\00:14:40.98
Can you just make
it really clear for me
00:14:41.01\00:14:42.98
because I don't know?"
00:14:43.01\00:14:44.58
Yes.
00:14:44.61\00:14:45.95
And I was expecting Him
to just open up the door
00:14:45.98\00:14:48.12
in another area
and that next morning,
00:14:48.15\00:14:50.92
first thing the next morning,
00:14:50.99\00:14:52.32
I get a call from
Tony and he's just like,
00:14:52.35\00:14:54.89
"I know you already said no,
00:14:54.92\00:14:56.73
but I just felt like
00:14:56.76\00:14:58.09
we should just
call you one more time
00:14:58.13\00:15:00.13
and just say are
you willing to come?"
00:15:00.20\00:15:03.00
And so I was like,
well, this is God's answer.
00:15:03.03\00:15:06.13
I just knew right away.
00:15:06.17\00:15:07.97
And so I went and interviewed
00:15:08.00\00:15:10.81
and Mr. Evert, he's
the ministry director.
00:15:10.84\00:15:12.97
He interviewed me and he said,
00:15:13.01\00:15:14.88
I just need you to
know that coming here,
00:15:14.91\00:15:18.38
we need an accountant,
00:15:18.41\00:15:20.02
we need somebody to do
all the behind the scenes work
00:15:20.05\00:15:22.25
and we see that you
are qualified to do that.
00:15:22.28\00:15:24.62
But we need you to realize
00:15:24.65\00:15:26.05
there's mission
trips that happen,
00:15:26.09\00:15:27.56
we need you to run the office.
00:15:27.59\00:15:28.99
you don't need to come
disillusioned feeling like
00:15:29.02\00:15:31.56
I wanna come be part of
these and we need you here.
00:15:31.59\00:15:34.63
We know how
you'd be disappointed
00:15:34.66\00:15:36.00
so you won't be able
to involved with camps,
00:15:36.03\00:15:37.83
you won't be able to
go on the mission trip,
00:15:37.87\00:15:39.20
you won't get to travel.
00:15:39.23\00:15:40.57
you will keep the backbone going
00:15:40.64\00:15:41.97
while we do all those things.
00:15:42.00\00:15:44.34
And so I was like,
hmm, now there's a new thing
00:15:44.37\00:15:47.28
because I really
want to work with people
00:15:47.31\00:15:49.01
and I like that
this is a sacrifice.
00:15:49.04\00:15:52.25
But I was just like,
00:15:52.28\00:15:53.62
I could see God
saying so clearly go forward,
00:15:53.65\00:15:55.55
this is what I have for you.
00:15:55.58\00:15:57.72
And so, I was just like,
"I'm willing to do that."
00:15:57.75\00:16:02.29
And it was so amazing
00:16:02.32\00:16:03.66
because God
opened up a way for me
00:16:03.73\00:16:05.29
to get my bachelor's degree
in business administration
00:16:05.33\00:16:08.76
from online university
00:16:08.80\00:16:10.37
and just a couple
of years debt free
00:16:10.40\00:16:12.13
like working for a ministry
that just doesn't happen.
00:16:12.17\00:16:14.24
Oh, that's beautiful for sure.
00:16:14.27\00:16:15.67
And so that was a
huge blessing to me.
00:16:15.70\00:16:18.47
And then also
too, as time went on,
00:16:18.51\00:16:22.68
I found out that warning
00:16:22.71\00:16:25.48
that you're not
gonna be able to travel,
00:16:25.51\00:16:26.92
you're not gonna be involved.
00:16:26.95\00:16:28.58
It was like, "Hey we
think you might be a good fit
00:16:28.62\00:16:30.99
to be more involved with
camp," and eventually ended up
00:16:31.02\00:16:34.19
that I'm the
girls' head counselor.
00:16:34.26\00:16:35.69
So I'm right in camp
00:16:35.72\00:16:37.06
during camp
working with the girls
00:16:37.13\00:16:38.73
and I have so many opportunities
00:16:38.76\00:16:40.80
to work with girls that
come from troubled homes,
00:16:40.83\00:16:43.20
that come from abuse,
00:16:43.23\00:16:44.57
that come from domestic violence
00:16:44.60\00:16:46.74
that are
questioning their worth,
00:16:46.77\00:16:48.77
their value, everything,
00:16:48.80\00:16:50.84
and to me I'm just like,
00:16:50.91\00:16:53.78
"God knew so much better
than I could have ever dreamed
00:16:53.81\00:16:58.78
of where I could be
happiest serving Him."
00:16:58.81\00:17:00.15
Yes.
00:17:00.22\00:17:01.55
And that's incredible about you.
00:17:01.58\00:17:02.92
What's incredible
about Your journey is
00:17:02.95\00:17:04.29
you actually read the
Young Disciple's magazine,
00:17:04.32\00:17:07.86
so it played a crucial
role in Your development
00:17:07.89\00:17:11.03
and Your
relationship with Christ,
00:17:11.06\00:17:12.76
then God brought you around
00:17:12.79\00:17:15.66
to working with
the organization,
00:17:15.70\00:17:17.90
with the ministry.
00:17:17.93\00:17:19.33
That is incredible.
00:17:19.37\00:17:21.67
Amedeo, I know
we have to dig deep,
00:17:21.70\00:17:24.37
we have to go back many years
00:17:24.41\00:17:26.98
to get into Your
history and Your past?
00:17:27.01\00:17:32.71
So tell us a little
bit about Your background?
00:17:32.75\00:17:35.22
So I've grown up
Adventist all my life.
00:17:35.25\00:17:39.62
And the reason I say
that is, as I was growing up,
00:17:39.65\00:17:43.96
I realized that my family
also realized along with me,
00:17:44.03\00:17:47.33
that the only difference
00:17:47.40\00:17:48.73
between us and
other people was that
00:17:48.76\00:17:50.10
we went to church on Saturdays.
00:17:50.13\00:17:51.77
And that we didn't
eat pork, that was it.
00:17:51.80\00:17:55.60
But, as I remember I was 11,
00:17:55.64\00:17:58.87
actually I was 12 and
it was New Year's day,
00:17:58.91\00:18:01.44
and we're
sitting down on the porch
00:18:01.48\00:18:02.81
and my sister's
like, "you know what?
00:18:02.84\00:18:04.58
We got to read the Bible."
00:18:04.61\00:18:05.95
I can see we all
wanted, you know, dive deep,
00:18:05.98\00:18:07.42
let's read the Bible.
00:18:07.45\00:18:08.78
We decided we're
gonna read the Bible,
00:18:08.82\00:18:10.49
and we went
through major changes
00:18:10.52\00:18:11.85
and we realized, okay,
00:18:11.89\00:18:13.22
we need to be more
sincere in our walk.
00:18:13.25\00:18:16.16
And during this
time as a Young person,
00:18:16.19\00:18:18.46
I have had the
Sabbath school lessons
00:18:18.49\00:18:20.50
and I grew up
with the quarterlies.
00:18:20.53\00:18:22.83
I remember went one
day to my mom and said,
00:18:22.86\00:18:24.30
"Mom, I wanted to
do something deeper.
00:18:24.33\00:18:26.60
Like I know
about Noah and the Ark,
00:18:26.63\00:18:27.97
I've heard it since
I was three years old,
00:18:28.00\00:18:29.34
but who was Noah?
00:18:29.37\00:18:31.07
What was his faith based upon?
00:18:31.11\00:18:32.44
you know stuff like that. Yes.
00:18:32.47\00:18:33.81
My mom said,
"Okay, it's okay, son,
00:18:33.88\00:18:35.21
I'll find you something."
00:18:35.24\00:18:36.78
And she ended up
finding Young Disciple magazine.
00:18:36.85\00:18:39.58
I remember my first
shipment I got it and I thought,
00:18:39.61\00:18:41.82
"Whoa, this is cool."
00:18:41.85\00:18:44.99
I opened the
lessons and they were deep.
00:18:45.02\00:18:46.76
They were exactly what I needed.
00:18:46.79\00:18:49.26
And then the next
quarterly that arrived,
00:18:49.29\00:18:50.83
it announced the
Young Disciple camp.
00:18:50.86\00:18:52.83
And I thought,
"Whoa, this is awesome!
00:18:52.86\00:18:54.33
I wanna go!" Yes.
00:18:54.36\00:18:56.16
Now at this point we
have lived in Florida
00:18:56.20\00:18:58.40
and Young Disciple Camp
was about to happen in a month
00:18:58.43\00:19:00.34
and I was told,
my dad told me, no.
00:19:00.37\00:19:01.70
We're living far down
and we're about to move,
00:19:01.74\00:19:03.41
that won't work out.
00:19:03.44\00:19:04.77
So I just said
okay, you know what,
00:19:04.81\00:19:06.14
I'll think about it.
00:19:06.17\00:19:07.51
A year went by
00:19:07.54\00:19:08.88
and I didn't
really give thought to it.
00:19:08.91\00:19:10.35
But then they
announced Young Disciple again.
00:19:10.38\00:19:12.78
And out of
nowhere I told my parents,
00:19:12.81\00:19:14.15
you know, I'd
like to go this time.
00:19:14.22\00:19:15.98
And they were like
sure, you can go ahead.
00:19:16.02\00:19:17.42
Go, let's do it.
00:19:17.49\00:19:19.25
So I remember
driving into the camp
00:19:19.29\00:19:21.96
and I didn't really
know what to expect.
00:19:21.99\00:19:24.99
I wanted to meet
some more young people
00:19:25.03\00:19:28.00
that were like-minded
and, boy, did I get that.
00:19:28.03\00:19:31.27
I got there and it was so nice,
00:19:31.30\00:19:33.17
my counselors were so
nice to me, my friends,
00:19:33.20\00:19:36.00
the people who were
in my unit were so nice.
00:19:36.04\00:19:38.57
But the one thing
about Young Disciple camp
00:19:38.61\00:19:40.08
that struck me was that.
00:19:40.11\00:19:41.64
As opposed to other
Adventist stuff like that.
00:19:41.68\00:19:45.88
Here they challenged your faith.
00:19:45.91\00:19:48.05
They didn't just
tell you, you know,
00:19:48.08\00:19:49.48
they didn't just
give you the Bible.
00:19:49.52\00:19:51.09
They told you know what,
00:19:51.12\00:19:52.45
you've gotta
find it for Yourself.
00:19:52.49\00:19:53.99
So every morning
like Young Disciple,
00:19:54.06\00:19:55.46
before we start the day we
started out with devotions.
00:19:55.49\00:19:58.49
And they encouraged you,
00:19:58.53\00:19:59.86
just take out
Your Bible and well,
00:19:59.89\00:20:01.86
God inspires you to read it.
00:20:01.90\00:20:04.33
And it was amazing.
00:20:04.37\00:20:05.70
I never really had
such deep devotions in.
00:20:05.73\00:20:08.14
Because of YD,
00:20:08.17\00:20:09.50
I've been able to keep a
habit of doing my devotions
00:20:09.54\00:20:12.94
and, you know,
keeping in the back of my mind
00:20:12.97\00:20:14.81
to continue doing that.
00:20:14.84\00:20:16.68
And, I remember the one thing
00:20:16.75\00:20:18.28
that I could take
away from the camp
00:20:18.31\00:20:19.65
is they don't
want you to just leave
00:20:19.68\00:20:21.95
Young Disciple
at Young Disciple.
00:20:21.98\00:20:23.49
They want you to take
Young Disciple home...
00:20:23.52\00:20:25.22
Yes. And apply it to Your life.
00:20:25.25\00:20:27.69
So because of
that, I was able to...
00:20:27.72\00:20:30.23
Like I said in
maintaining the consistent habit
00:20:30.26\00:20:32.03
and even tossing on my
friends about Young Disciple.
00:20:32.06\00:20:34.73
you were being a disciple?
00:20:34.76\00:20:36.20
Yeah, yeah, I
was being a disciple.
00:20:36.23\00:20:37.97
That's great.
00:20:38.00\00:20:39.33
The good thing
about Young Disciple
00:20:39.37\00:20:40.74
is it doesn't just stop
there around those ages.
00:20:40.77\00:20:43.20
But they have a program
00:20:43.24\00:20:44.71
that's a bit more advanced
if you wanna do some more.
00:20:44.74\00:20:46.51
It's called
Mission Experience. Okay.
00:20:46.54\00:20:48.41
So for one month,
00:20:48.44\00:20:49.78
they take you
to the Philippines,
00:20:49.81\00:20:51.15
where you train,
00:20:51.18\00:20:52.51
they give you a crash
course on public speaking
00:20:52.55\00:20:56.25
and how to dialogue correctly.
00:20:56.28\00:20:58.32
you aced that class, it
seems like I mean I hope.
00:20:58.35\00:21:04.79
And then for two weeks
you get to do some meetings
00:21:04.83\00:21:07.30
and I'll get to
it in a little bit
00:21:07.33\00:21:10.17
so when I heard up
Mission Experience,
00:21:10.20\00:21:12.90
I thought, "Oh,
man, that's four weeks
00:21:12.93\00:21:14.27
in the other side of the world."
00:21:14.30\00:21:15.64
I don't know if I wanna do this.
00:21:15.67\00:21:17.74
But I had some friends
00:21:17.77\00:21:19.14
who'd been on
there and they're saying,
00:21:19.17\00:21:20.51
"Yeah, you should go."
00:21:20.58\00:21:22.01
So I asked my parents
and said, "you know what,
00:21:22.04\00:21:24.05
I really wanna go."
00:21:24.08\00:21:25.65
I know that there's a
cost involved with it,
00:21:25.68\00:21:29.35
but I feel God
inspired me to go.
00:21:29.38\00:21:30.99
My parents told me,
"Go ahead and do it.
00:21:31.02\00:21:32.35
Don't look back."
00:21:32.39\00:21:33.76
And God was able to help me
00:21:33.79\00:21:35.36
raise the funds for
it and it was amazing.
00:21:35.39\00:21:37.96
And this is
exactly what I needed,
00:21:37.99\00:21:39.33
when I was 15 and
I turned 16 there.
00:21:39.36\00:21:41.63
It's perfect for the older Youth
00:21:41.66\00:21:43.00
because they give
you leadership skills.
00:21:43.03\00:21:44.43
Yes.
00:21:44.47\00:21:45.80
There I was able
to gain those skills.
00:21:45.83\00:21:52.04
And when I came back home
from the mission experience,
00:21:52.07\00:21:54.28
I decided, "you know what,
I cannot just leave it here.
00:21:54.31\00:21:56.44
I've gotta do something."
00:21:56.48\00:21:57.81
So ended up leading
some Youth Sabbath's
00:21:57.85\00:21:59.28
of my own local church
00:21:59.31\00:22:00.72
and inspiring the
Youth to do something
00:22:00.75\00:22:02.08
and I tribute it all to God
00:22:02.12\00:22:03.89
of course and to Young Disciple.
00:22:03.92\00:22:05.69
Amen, Amen.
00:22:05.72\00:22:07.46
Well, I can tell that
you are very passionate
00:22:07.49\00:22:09.42
about Young Disciple ministries
00:22:09.46\00:22:11.26
and I'm glad that you came along
00:22:11.29\00:22:13.70
because this is so
nice to hear from people
00:22:13.73\00:22:17.70
that are being
touched by the ministry.
00:22:17.73\00:22:20.67
Tony, what made you decide
to go into design and IT work?
00:22:20.74\00:22:26.68
So when I was nine,
my mom got me a computer,
00:22:26.71\00:22:30.88
this is back in the
dark ages of computers.
00:22:30.95\00:22:35.18
But, you know, in...
00:22:35.22\00:22:37.49
But she was wise,
00:22:37.52\00:22:39.02
and she didn't
just buy me video games,
00:22:39.05\00:22:41.32
she bought me a
book on how to program
00:22:41.36\00:22:43.53
and so I was like,
"Okay, this sounds interesting."
00:22:43.56\00:22:46.03
And so I learnt how to
program and I loved it.
00:22:46.06\00:22:48.93
What was Your first language?
00:22:48.96\00:22:50.90
Basic. Yeah. Basic, okay, okay.
00:22:50.97\00:22:53.23
And In addition to
that I was taking music,
00:22:53.27\00:22:57.34
I was taking piano
00:22:57.41\00:22:59.51
and as I was growing
up, anytime anybody asked me
00:22:59.54\00:23:02.98
"What do you wanna
do when you grow up?"
00:23:03.01\00:23:04.35
I'm like,
00:23:04.38\00:23:05.91
"I'd like to do something
with computers and or music,"
00:23:05.95\00:23:08.88
you know that was kind of
always what was in my head,
00:23:08.92\00:23:11.02
but I had no idea really
what God had in mind for me.
00:23:11.05\00:23:14.89
But I kept, you know,
00:23:14.92\00:23:18.33
God really fostered
00:23:18.36\00:23:20.10
that love of
technology in my heart
00:23:20.13\00:23:22.60
and the love of art and
music and things like that.
00:23:22.63\00:23:24.90
And, when I was 16,
00:23:24.93\00:23:29.60
we moved to the
campus of a college
00:23:29.64\00:23:34.58
and we moved
there on the condition
00:23:34.61\00:23:38.11
that we could do
something like Young Disciple.
00:23:38.15\00:23:40.42
And so they were like,
00:23:40.45\00:23:41.78
"Okay, that's fine,
you raise all the money,
00:23:41.82\00:23:43.42
you do all the work,
we'll let you do that,"
00:23:43.49\00:23:45.09
you know, so... No pressure.
00:23:45.12\00:23:47.26
Yeah. Yeah.
00:23:47.29\00:23:48.66
So as part of my education,
00:23:48.69\00:23:52.73
I was assigned to
work at Young Disciple.
00:23:52.76\00:23:55.30
So my mom and I
00:23:55.33\00:23:56.67
were the first two
people working on it.
00:23:56.70\00:23:58.60
And that's when
God brought together
00:23:58.63\00:24:00.34
that love of
computers, that love of art
00:24:00.37\00:24:02.14
and love of things like that.
00:24:02.17\00:24:03.51
And, so I was the
designer on the magazine
00:24:03.54\00:24:07.11
and I was also responsible
for all the technology
00:24:07.18\00:24:09.18
so we started out
with, we needed a computer,
00:24:09.21\00:24:12.31
so I started researching
00:24:12.35\00:24:13.72
what kind of computer do we need
00:24:13.75\00:24:15.82
and pretty soon we realized
00:24:15.85\00:24:17.19
that one
computer wasn't gonna work
00:24:17.22\00:24:18.55
for two or three people to
try to all use one computer.
00:24:18.59\00:24:21.79
And so then it's like,
00:24:21.82\00:24:23.16
okay, so we got all
the files in this computer,
00:24:23.19\00:24:25.26
but we got somebody
else on this computer
00:24:25.29\00:24:26.63
that needs to be working
so I learned about networking,
00:24:26.70\00:24:28.66
and God just
really kept teaching me
00:24:28.70\00:24:31.33
different things
that I needed to know.
00:24:31.37\00:24:34.60
I took a...
00:24:34.64\00:24:35.97
When in college, I
graduated with a degree
00:24:36.00\00:24:38.01
in Christian
Publications management
00:24:38.04\00:24:39.84
which really has nothing to do
00:24:39.87\00:24:41.21
with either IT
or graphic design,
00:24:41.24\00:24:45.25
but God taught
me all along the way
00:24:45.28\00:24:47.42
He put me into the people
who knew how to do things,
00:24:47.45\00:24:50.19
who knew different
aspects of technology
00:24:50.22\00:24:53.15
and somebody that
went to our church,
00:24:53.19\00:24:55.49
worked for Adobe and he said,
00:24:55.52\00:24:57.96
"you know what, you
guys really need to use,"
00:24:57.99\00:24:59.86
at that time it was PageMaker
it's in design you know that.
00:24:59.89\00:25:03.06
He gave us a copy of
it to use and showed us
00:25:03.10\00:25:05.93
how to use it and
just things like that.
00:25:05.97\00:25:07.34
All along the way,
00:25:07.37\00:25:08.70
God opened up the
doors and took that love
00:25:08.74\00:25:10.54
that I have of technology
and music and things like that
00:25:10.61\00:25:13.71
and just said,
00:25:13.78\00:25:15.74
Here's what I want
you to do in My service.
00:25:15.78\00:25:17.55
And for some reason
He put on my heart to be,
00:25:17.58\00:25:20.42
to want to do that
and not just to go out.
00:25:20.45\00:25:23.82
I remember, when I
graduated from college,
00:25:23.89\00:25:27.69
this friend of
ours from Adobe said,
00:25:27.72\00:25:31.36
"Would you like to
come work for Adobe?
00:25:31.39\00:25:34.43
We'll start you at
$75,000 a year," which in '96.
00:25:34.46\00:25:39.70
Oh, that's beautiful.
00:25:39.73\00:25:42.77
And that was not
appealing to me at all,
00:25:42.80\00:25:45.04
you know, for whatever
reason, I was just like,
00:25:45.07\00:25:46.98
"No, God has called me
to do something greater."
00:25:47.01\00:25:49.54
Yes, yes.
00:25:49.58\00:25:52.08
And it's really a privilege
00:25:52.11\00:25:54.05
to have God to be
part of this ministry.
00:25:54.12\00:25:57.92
So I've learnt everything
from wireless networking
00:25:57.95\00:26:00.99
and fiber optics and
data based administration,
00:26:01.02\00:26:03.22
the serve administration.
00:26:03.26\00:26:04.86
All those kinds of
things were fallen to me
00:26:04.89\00:26:06.39
and somehow along
the way God set in
00:26:06.43\00:26:08.23
and here's how
to do these things.
00:26:08.26\00:26:09.60
Yes, which is incredible
00:26:09.63\00:26:10.97
because He was preparing
you for what you're doing today.
00:26:11.00\00:26:14.90
What's it like to
walk in Your purpose
00:26:14.94\00:26:16.81
and Your calling
00:26:16.84\00:26:18.17
that God has
placed in Your life?
00:26:18.21\00:26:20.08
There are so many
people that have the age
00:26:23.14\00:26:25.78
that I'm now sort of
this mid-life crisis.
00:26:25.81\00:26:27.52
When they look back
00:26:27.55\00:26:28.88
and what they've
done with their life.
00:26:28.92\00:26:30.25
And they're like, it
was meaningless, you know,
00:26:30.29\00:26:34.32
and they're like
almost panicking.
00:26:34.36\00:26:38.39
What can I do...? Give
me some meaning to life.
00:26:38.43\00:26:41.33
And I've never felt that.
00:26:41.36\00:26:42.70
I mean, you know,
00:26:42.73\00:26:44.07
I know that God has
called me to be where I am
00:26:44.10\00:26:46.57
and He's given me something
to do that's important,
00:26:46.60\00:26:48.34
is actually helping people.
00:26:48.37\00:26:50.11
And as I look around,
00:26:50.14\00:26:51.54
and I can see the Young
people that are solid in Christ
00:26:51.57\00:26:55.18
that have given
their lives to Him,
00:26:55.21\00:26:56.95
that are in His
Word and understand it
00:26:56.98\00:27:01.55
and have a real
experience in Christ.
00:27:01.58\00:27:03.52
I'm like, that's awesome.
00:27:03.59\00:27:05.75
Yes, yes.
00:27:05.79\00:27:07.26
I had a little part
in that for some reason.
00:27:07.29\00:27:09.09
Yes, yes.
00:27:09.12\00:27:10.83
That is such a
wonderful feelings to know that,
00:27:10.86\00:27:14.53
I mean, you had a part in that.
00:27:14.56\00:27:16.06
And why me?
00:27:16.10\00:27:17.47
I mean, nobody
special, you know.
00:27:17.50\00:27:20.47
We actually have a video
00:27:20.54\00:27:22.40
that I think adds to
what you're saying right now.
00:27:22.44\00:27:24.97
Let's take a look at that video.
00:27:25.01\00:27:28.34
I got involved with YD
when I was 15 years old.
00:27:28.38\00:27:31.51
Before that time, I
really wasn't very spiritual.
00:27:31.55\00:27:35.72
I went to church,
I was involved there,
00:27:35.75\00:27:38.55
my family was home schooling,
00:27:38.59\00:27:39.92
very involved with
many different things,
00:27:39.95\00:27:41.49
but my spirituality
wasn't really that great.
00:27:41.52\00:27:45.33
The first year I came to camp,
00:27:45.36\00:27:47.10
I wasn't excited
about studying the Word,
00:27:47.13\00:27:50.17
I really didn't
have a desire to,
00:27:50.20\00:27:52.67
I wasn't memorizing.
00:27:52.70\00:27:54.40
I didn't really know
how to study the Bible.
00:27:54.44\00:27:57.87
Everything seems
really random and disjointed.
00:27:57.91\00:28:00.41
One of the things
that YD really did for me
00:28:00.48\00:28:02.71
that first year was
the deep Bible study class
00:28:02.74\00:28:05.68
and learning how to get
into the Bible for myself.
00:28:05.71\00:28:08.18
Kneeling in
front of the camp fire,
00:28:08.22\00:28:10.79
the last day of camp,
00:28:10.82\00:28:12.15
it was an appeal for
surrendering those things
00:28:12.19\00:28:14.79
that you hold,
cherish in your heart.
00:28:14.82\00:28:16.66
And at that moment, I
surrendered them to Christ.
00:28:16.73\00:28:21.40
Surrendered them fully.
00:28:21.43\00:28:22.76
When we took the
deep Bible study class
00:28:22.80\00:28:24.63
and began looking at methods
00:28:24.67\00:28:26.23
of how you compare
scripture with scripture,
00:28:26.27\00:28:28.34
I became so excited.
00:28:28.37\00:28:29.87
I went home and I started doing
00:28:29.90\00:28:31.91
all of this
personal Bible study,
00:28:31.94\00:28:33.88
looking up different words,
studying things like faith,
00:28:33.91\00:28:36.21
of righteousness and
these different ideas
00:28:36.24\00:28:38.48
and seeing them
through all of scripture.
00:28:38.51\00:28:40.42
And it changed my life.
00:28:40.45\00:28:41.92
I started having devotions,
00:28:41.95\00:28:43.42
and because I was
in the Word of God,
00:28:43.49\00:28:45.12
I started to have a
relationship with Jesus.
00:28:45.15\00:28:47.56
I studied the
Young Disciple magazine
00:28:47.59\00:28:50.13
and it gave me
that firm foundation,
00:28:50.16\00:28:51.89
it taught me how to study.
00:28:51.93\00:28:53.33
It taught me that
00:28:53.40\00:28:54.73
scripture memory
was a key ingredient
00:28:54.76\00:28:56.87
for overcoming temptation.
00:28:56.90\00:28:59.43
The Young Disciple
ministry's influences my desire
00:28:59.47\00:29:02.64
to be an overseas missionary
00:29:02.67\00:29:04.01
was greatly
encouraged and strengthened.
00:29:04.04\00:29:05.67
The Lord called me to
Cambodia to work in an orphanage
00:29:05.71\00:29:08.88
and also to work
with refugees in Thailand.
00:29:08.91\00:29:12.25
There's no doubt in my mind
00:29:12.28\00:29:13.92
that I would not
be where I am today,
00:29:13.95\00:29:16.52
if it were not
for Young Disciple.
00:29:16.55\00:29:20.89
It's doubtful that I
would even be a Christian today
00:29:20.96\00:29:23.16
to be completely honest
if it weren't for the impact
00:29:23.19\00:29:25.23
that this
ministry has made on me.
00:29:25.26\00:29:26.90
As I look back on the
things that impacted me,
00:29:26.93\00:29:30.20
that prepared me
for that work overseas
00:29:30.27\00:29:32.63
I can say that
probably the biggest influence
00:29:32.67\00:29:35.30
in equipping me for the work
that I'm doing now as a teacher
00:29:35.34\00:29:39.01
has been my time at
Young Disciple Camp.
00:29:39.04\00:29:43.35
The changes that God
had brought in my heart
00:29:43.38\00:29:48.12
through this place.
00:29:48.15\00:29:49.48
I know it could be happening
00:29:49.52\00:29:50.89
in many, many other young hearts
00:29:50.92\00:29:53.96
to come.
00:29:53.99\00:29:55.32
Wow.
00:30:00.23\00:30:01.56
Tony, there are a
lot of different things
00:30:01.60\00:30:05.13
going on with the
Young Disciple ministries.
00:30:05.17\00:30:07.14
What are some of the facets
of Young Disciple ministries?
00:30:07.17\00:30:11.14
So at Young Disciple,
00:30:11.17\00:30:12.51
we have the Young
Disciple magazine,
00:30:12.54\00:30:14.21
it's a weekly
publication for young people.
00:30:14.28\00:30:16.34
There is Young
Disciple Youth Bible Camp,
00:30:16.38\00:30:19.28
there is the Mission Experience,
00:30:19.31\00:30:21.38
there's Truth for Youth
00:30:21.42\00:30:22.75
which is an
evangelistic series for kids.
00:30:22.78\00:30:24.12
I watch that Truth for Youth.
00:30:24.19\00:30:25.52
And then there's a new program
that right now we're calling
00:30:25.55\00:30:27.39
"Light for Learners"
which is Bible lessons
00:30:27.46\00:30:30.53
for people who are in prison.
00:30:30.56\00:30:32.73
And this all started really
with Young Disciple magazine.
00:30:32.76\00:30:36.30
Like I said, we were
at this church plant,
00:30:36.33\00:30:37.70
we were kind of
photocopying stuff,
00:30:37.73\00:30:39.63
and we really realized
00:30:39.67\00:30:41.04
God wants us to do
something more than that
00:30:41.07\00:30:43.44
and so the Young
Disciple magazine
00:30:43.51\00:30:46.51
at the core of it
is those Bible lessons.
00:30:46.54\00:30:48.91
So in each issue,
right in the center,
00:30:48.94\00:30:52.38
you have a daily Bible study.
00:30:52.41\00:30:54.85
The very first lesson is
on different, every week,
00:30:54.88\00:30:59.02
there's a
different Bible study method.
00:30:59.05\00:31:01.39
So this one is the
verse by verse study method,
00:31:01.42\00:31:03.76
but we go through all
kinds of different ways
00:31:03.83\00:31:05.16
to study the Bible.
00:31:05.19\00:31:06.53
Then each day,
00:31:06.56\00:31:07.90
they have different lessons
that'll help you apply it.
00:31:07.93\00:31:09.73
So up at the top section
we have something that is...
00:31:09.76\00:31:15.24
easy for the younger readers
00:31:15.27\00:31:17.64
and then if you go down
have a study for yourself.
00:31:17.67\00:31:19.61
Here we dig deeper and then
00:31:19.64\00:31:22.04
there's usually
some kind of puzzle
00:31:22.08\00:31:25.05
or an activity that they can do.
00:31:25.08\00:31:27.45
So we try to really catch
the different kinds of learners
00:31:27.52\00:31:30.72
because everybody
comes to God's Word,
00:31:30.79\00:31:33.22
they are blessed, the
Holy Spirit leads them,
00:31:33.25\00:31:35.56
there is...
00:31:35.59\00:31:36.93
There is His grace,
00:31:40.73\00:31:42.13
there's things
that they get out of it
00:31:42.16\00:31:44.27
and you got different
people learn different ways
00:31:44.30\00:31:45.70
and we've realized that, so
we've tried to make a lesson
00:31:45.73\00:31:48.00
that works for
different kinds of young people.
00:31:48.04\00:31:50.54
But then in addition to that,
00:31:50.61\00:31:52.84
we have stories that reinforce
00:31:52.87\00:31:56.64
whatever the topic is
00:31:56.68\00:31:58.01
so if the Bible lesson is on...
00:31:58.05\00:32:01.12
If we're going through
the parables of Christ,
00:32:01.15\00:32:02.98
and maybe the lesson
is on, you know judge not,
00:32:03.02\00:32:08.19
then perhaps will be a
story where somebody learned,
00:32:08.22\00:32:11.06
"Why does the God
says don't do this?"
00:32:11.09\00:32:12.89
Yes, yes.
00:32:12.93\00:32:14.76
In addition to
that, there are articles,
00:32:14.80\00:32:17.37
very often we'll do a
series from the reformation,
00:32:17.40\00:32:21.90
how God brought
light out of darkness.
00:32:21.94\00:32:25.34
There are articles on health.
00:32:25.37\00:32:26.71
There's articles on all kinds
of different topics, editorial,
00:32:26.78\00:32:29.58
something
inspirational about cover.
00:32:29.61\00:32:31.98
So that sort of a brief
overview of the magazine,
00:32:32.01\00:32:34.22
but the whole
magazine really is focused on
00:32:34.25\00:32:36.45
the topic of this Bible lesson
00:32:36.48\00:32:38.29
and helping the young
person to really understand
00:32:38.32\00:32:40.69
how to study the
Bible and through that
00:32:40.76\00:32:42.29
to connect with Christ.
00:32:42.32\00:32:44.63
It almost seems
that it like it shows
00:32:44.66\00:32:46.93
the practicality of
the gospel too as well.
00:32:47.00\00:32:51.43
So we're trying to do more
than just fill in the blanks.
00:32:51.47\00:32:53.64
Like here's a Bible verse
right in the missing words.
00:32:53.67\00:32:56.44
Obviously there are
times when we do that
00:32:56.47\00:32:58.04
but really behind
all of that is the method
00:32:58.07\00:33:00.68
to help young
people say, "Oh, wait,
00:33:00.71\00:33:02.04
I just got something
out of the Bible, didn't I?"
00:33:02.08\00:33:03.65
Yes, yes.
00:33:03.68\00:33:05.01
So we were sending these
00:33:05.05\00:33:06.38
magazines out
all over the country.
00:33:06.41\00:33:08.82
And there were a lot
of home school families
00:33:08.85\00:33:12.15
that were somewhat isolated.
00:33:12.19\00:33:14.99
And we started getting letters
from young people that said,
00:33:15.02\00:33:18.69
you know, none of my friends
are interested in the Bible.
00:33:18.73\00:33:22.30
None of my friends really seem
to care about spiritual things,
00:33:22.33\00:33:24.07
they just wanna have fun
00:33:24.10\00:33:25.43
and they just wanna mess around.
00:33:25.47\00:33:26.84
And, I feel like I'm
the only young person
00:33:26.87\00:33:29.44
that wants something more
than just this out of religion.
00:33:29.47\00:33:34.28
And, we were like,
we see this over here,
00:33:34.31\00:33:37.25
we see this over
here, clearly they're not.
00:33:37.28\00:33:40.82
Let's bring them
together and encourage them,
00:33:40.85\00:33:43.08
teach them
more, help them to see
00:33:43.12\00:33:45.32
that there are 7000 in
Israel it's kind of like,
00:33:45.35\00:33:47.99
like you found out.
00:33:48.02\00:33:49.89
So that was really
00:33:49.92\00:33:51.36
where the idea of Young
Disciple Youth Bible Camp
00:33:51.39\00:33:54.20
came together and so,
00:33:54.23\00:33:56.53
we let the young people know,
we 're gonna have this camp
00:33:56.56\00:33:58.83
and we're like, "How do
you have a camp, right?"
00:33:58.87\00:34:02.04
And again,
00:34:02.07\00:34:03.41
God put us in touch with people
00:34:03.44\00:34:05.24
who knew what they were doing
00:34:05.27\00:34:09.14
and who are willing to help
us sort of establish the things.
00:34:09.18\00:34:13.75
And we brought the
young people together
00:34:13.82\00:34:16.38
and taught them
how to, you know,
00:34:16.42\00:34:19.95
encourage them having devotions,
00:34:19.99\00:34:21.49
taught them more
ideas how to study the Bible
00:34:21.52\00:34:23.26
and opened a different
opportunities for outreach.
00:34:23.29\00:34:28.23
And then, taught them
different life skills.
00:34:28.26\00:34:30.70
Just sort of a
basic introduction
00:34:30.77\00:34:32.40
so would I like to
be a missionary pilot?
00:34:32.43\00:34:35.94
So kind of one of our classes
00:34:35.97\00:34:37.61
was missionary
pilot ground school.
00:34:37.64\00:34:39.87
Would I like to be
medical missionary?
00:34:39.91\00:34:41.31
Would I like to
learn a foreign language?
00:34:41.34\00:34:43.21
We've had all kinds
of different classes.
00:34:43.24\00:34:44.88
Obviously in a week of camp,
00:34:44.91\00:34:46.41
you can't make
somebody proficient in.
00:34:46.45\00:34:49.45
So that's the
duration a week, one week?
00:34:49.48\00:34:51.09
Yeah, the camp is one week long.
00:34:51.12\00:34:52.79
you can't make
somebody proficient at anything.
00:34:52.82\00:34:54.96
But you can give
somebody an experience to say,
00:34:54.99\00:34:57.33
"Wow, I want to pursue this,"
00:34:57.36\00:34:58.69
or maybe God would call
me some other direction,
00:34:58.73\00:35:02.20
both of those are very
useful to young people.
00:35:02.23\00:35:05.20
And as we're bringing
young people together at camp,
00:35:05.23\00:35:07.17
they were doing outreach,
they were learning skills.
00:35:07.24\00:35:09.77
We were like, can
we take this deeper?
00:35:09.80\00:35:12.81
And can we introduce them to,
00:35:12.84\00:35:17.15
you know,
obviously in a camp scenario,
00:35:17.18\00:35:18.98
there's only so
much outreach you can do
00:35:19.01\00:35:20.92
because the day is very full.
00:35:20.95\00:35:22.75
And, you can only go
so far and we're like,
00:35:22.78\00:35:25.55
"Let's do something
a little bit deeper."
00:35:25.59\00:35:26.99
And that's where
the Mission Experience
00:35:27.06\00:35:28.39
kind of grew out of that was
00:35:28.42\00:35:29.76
let's take these young people
00:35:29.79\00:35:31.13
who have learned some skills
and let's like can triple that.
00:35:31.16\00:35:35.70
Both like the testing
and help them experience
00:35:35.73\00:35:39.03
what it is to be on
the frontlines of mission
00:35:39.07\00:35:41.24
in a foreign country.
00:35:41.27\00:35:43.94
And so that's...
00:35:44.01\00:35:45.34
Yeah, it's a lot of times
when you have a mission trip,
00:35:45.37\00:35:48.28
the young people
are in the sidelines
00:35:48.31\00:35:49.64
they're helping.
00:35:49.68\00:35:51.08
And we're like,
"No, we're helping.
00:35:51.11\00:35:53.62
They are in the frontlines!
00:35:53.65\00:35:55.15
We're gonna put them in
and see what it's really like
00:35:55.18\00:35:57.59
to be a missionary
in a foreign country.
00:35:57.62\00:35:59.99
And so they preach the messages.
00:36:00.06\00:36:02.96
They go and visit
people in their homes,
00:36:02.99\00:36:04.59
they're leading out
in children's meetings,
00:36:04.63\00:36:07.43
you know all of these different
things are involved in ministry
00:36:07.50\00:36:09.76
and we are there to mentor them
00:36:09.80\00:36:11.13
and help them
and see that through.
00:36:11.17\00:36:13.10
That's incredible.
00:36:13.13\00:36:14.47
What are some
stories that you can share?
00:36:14.50\00:36:16.91
Maybe of how some lives
have been transformed, Jess?
00:36:16.94\00:36:20.81
Yeah, I go on the
mission trip to the Philippines.
00:36:20.88\00:36:24.51
We just went this
last year for a month
00:36:24.55\00:36:27.25
and one of our participants...
00:36:27.32\00:36:29.68
Well, to start out, I
help with child evangelism,
00:36:29.72\00:36:33.25
and so I led that this
time and I take all my kids
00:36:33.29\00:36:37.63
that are gonna be
doing child evangelism.
00:36:37.66\00:36:39.53
This year we had three
different sites so I had,
00:36:39.56\00:36:42.10
I think six per site and...
00:36:42.13\00:36:45.33
Actually four per site.
00:36:45.37\00:36:47.24
And I just sat them down
and I said, "Here's the deal.
00:36:47.27\00:36:51.54
I can't check up on all of you.
00:36:51.57\00:36:53.48
I can't run around and say,
00:36:53.51\00:36:55.04
did you get your craft supplies?
00:36:55.08\00:36:56.98
Did you put the
scissors in the craft bag?
00:36:57.05\00:36:59.08
Did you get the DVD?
00:36:59.11\00:37:00.45
Did you get the guitar?"
00:37:00.52\00:37:01.92
I can't do that and I
don't want to do that.
00:37:01.95\00:37:04.85
And so we said maybe at home
00:37:04.89\00:37:08.42
you're used to mom and dad
00:37:08.46\00:37:10.03
helping you out and
making sure you did everything,
00:37:10.06\00:37:11.93
but it's time to go
to the next level now.
00:37:11.96\00:37:14.60
And so, what's gonna
happen to your meeting
00:37:14.63\00:37:17.57
if you can't do the craft
or you can't preach the sermon
00:37:17.60\00:37:20.14
or you didn't bring that?
00:37:20.17\00:37:22.64
What about
these young lives that
00:37:22.67\00:37:24.01
may never have another
chance to hear the gospel?
00:37:24.04\00:37:26.27
And you could just
see all of a sudden
00:37:26.31\00:37:27.64
it became more
real to them like,
00:37:27.68\00:37:30.25
"Oh wow, my role is important."
00:37:30.28\00:37:33.72
And at the end,
we had testimonies
00:37:33.75\00:37:35.58
and I'll never forget
how one of the girls said
00:37:35.62\00:37:39.35
you know, she's 15 and
she said, "At our home,
00:37:39.39\00:37:42.76
I've never had this
kind of responsibility."
00:37:42.79\00:37:44.76
And she said, "I was
terrified when you said."
00:37:44.79\00:37:46.90
Looked at me and said,
00:37:46.93\00:37:48.26
"It's up to you to do your part.
00:37:48.30\00:37:49.90
I'm not gonna check up on you.
00:37:49.93\00:37:51.27
Oh, did you remember your part?"
00:37:51.30\00:37:53.20
She said, "I was terrified
like no, send someone else,
00:37:53.23\00:37:56.00
I can't do it.
00:37:56.04\00:37:57.41
I'm too young."
00:37:57.44\00:37:58.77
And then she said, "I
realized, I can do it.
00:37:58.81\00:38:01.68
I can play an important
part in service for God
00:38:01.71\00:38:05.11
and I can bear burdens
and I can be responsible."
00:38:05.15\00:38:08.55
And she says that
was transformative for me
00:38:08.58\00:38:10.69
in my own life.
00:38:10.72\00:38:12.25
And so that was just
such a blessing to us
00:38:12.29\00:38:15.52
to see that young
people wanna bear burdens,
00:38:15.56\00:38:18.56
they want to be
given responsibility.
00:38:18.59\00:38:20.53
They don't want us to
just do everything for them
00:38:20.60\00:38:22.36
and provide programs for them.
00:38:22.40\00:38:24.37
They want to be
placed in roles of service
00:38:24.40\00:38:27.14
and mentored in those
so that they can feel like
00:38:27.17\00:38:29.67
they're a meaningful
part of God's family.
00:38:29.70\00:38:31.84
Absolutely.
00:38:31.87\00:38:33.51
I think that
without that, you know,
00:38:33.58\00:38:36.44
sometimes that relationship
becomes lacking in that regard
00:38:36.48\00:38:39.61
because it's almost as
00:38:39.65\00:38:40.98
if it doesn't apply
to that young person
00:38:41.02\00:38:43.79
because they've got
nothing to do with it per se.
00:38:43.82\00:38:46.76
So that's excellent.
00:38:46.79\00:38:48.12
you also prepared
them for college basically
00:38:48.16\00:38:50.13
and the real world
00:38:50.16\00:38:51.99
by doing those things for sure.
00:38:52.03\00:38:54.23
What are some other stories?
00:38:54.30\00:38:55.63
So I've got one of it. Okay.
00:38:55.66\00:38:57.30
Absolutely.
00:38:57.37\00:38:58.70
So I went this last time also
00:38:58.73\00:39:00.57
with the group in
February to March.
00:39:00.64\00:39:04.01
And I was in the
public evangelism team
00:39:04.04\00:39:05.44
so we're in charge of
giving the adult meetings.
00:39:05.47\00:39:08.11
So how a typical night
would run this year was,
00:39:08.14\00:39:11.68
for one hour there
would be kids meeting,
00:39:11.71\00:39:13.15
then we've a 15 minutes break,
00:39:13.18\00:39:14.65
then we start out
with our adult meetings.
00:39:14.68\00:39:17.49
Throughout the kids meetings,
00:39:17.52\00:39:18.85
we have a lot of attendance
the first night with some kids.
00:39:18.89\00:39:21.72
And you know over
the couple of nights,
00:39:21.76\00:39:23.09
we realized all the
kids were still there,
00:39:23.12\00:39:24.89
they were just kind of
doing their own things,
00:39:24.93\00:39:26.26
they wouldn't pay attention.
00:39:26.29\00:39:27.63
But there's this
one kid in particular.
00:39:27.66\00:39:29.73
He was just always so zoned in
00:39:29.76\00:39:31.83
on the messages
and he was helping out.
00:39:31.87\00:39:34.30
And at some point
he started helping us,
00:39:34.34\00:39:35.97
so when the kids
would become rowdy,
00:39:36.00\00:39:37.34
he'd tell them him like,
"Hey, be quiet, be quiet."
00:39:37.41\00:39:39.74
And it was just amazing
to see his passion for this.
00:39:39.77\00:39:42.41
But had he not stayed
for the adult meetings,
00:39:42.44\00:39:45.58
I probably
wouldn't have seen him.
00:39:45.61\00:39:46.95
But this kid stayed
for the adult meetings.
00:39:47.02\00:39:49.12
Stayed throughout the whole
00:39:49.15\00:39:50.49
two, two and half
hours of the program.
00:39:50.52\00:39:52.39
And because he wanted
to do something deeper.
00:39:52.42\00:39:55.02
So I got to talking with
him and I was praying, "Lord,
00:39:55.06\00:39:58.26
I hope this kid
gets to be baptized."
00:39:58.29\00:40:00.83
And when they give the baptism
appeal, he stood right up.
00:40:00.90\00:40:05.70
The day that I got to see him
get baptized, it was amazing.
00:40:05.73\00:40:10.84
I just can't
explain what joy was.
00:40:10.91\00:40:13.14
He got baptized right around.
00:40:13.17\00:40:14.51
I actually turned
16 there and I say,
00:40:14.54\00:40:16.24
you know my best present
I got was him being baptized
00:40:16.28\00:40:19.65
because it was amazing
and I remember towards the end
00:40:19.68\00:40:22.78
we're able to give
him a Bible and he held it
00:40:22.82\00:40:25.75
and I could see
the tears about to come
00:40:25.79\00:40:27.86
through his
eyes and he was like,
00:40:27.89\00:40:29.22
"Thank you for this Bible."
00:40:29.26\00:40:30.63
And that touched me
because I thought, you know,
00:40:30.66\00:40:31.99
I've got five
different Bibles at home
00:40:32.03\00:40:33.36
and five different translations
from couple of people,
00:40:33.40\00:40:37.73
but do I treasure my Bible
as this kid does in there...
00:40:37.77\00:40:42.64
If you give him just a
note with a scripture on it,
00:40:42.67\00:40:45.47
they're so thankful for it,
so not only did it touch him,
00:40:45.51\00:40:48.84
which I'm glad
but it also touched me
00:40:48.88\00:40:51.38
to treasure my Bible more.
00:40:51.41\00:40:53.15
Wow, that's huge.
00:40:53.18\00:40:54.52
And how old are you right now?
00:40:54.55\00:40:55.88
I'm 16 right now.
00:40:55.92\00:40:57.29
Sixteen and that
moment had such an impact
00:40:57.32\00:41:02.32
on your life as well.
00:41:02.36\00:41:04.56
you know, I think about
when people ask the question,
00:41:04.59\00:41:07.86
where are the
youth in the church?
00:41:07.90\00:41:12.00
There's one right
there and at the camp.
00:41:12.03\00:41:15.97
I mean, there's so
many other young people
00:41:16.00\00:41:20.68
that are on fire for the Lord.
00:41:20.71\00:41:23.55
So what other facets,
00:41:23.58\00:41:25.85
you said
something about prisons?
00:41:25.88\00:41:28.45
Right. Tell me about that?
00:41:28.48\00:41:29.82
So we have a friend that is,
00:41:29.85\00:41:34.42
she's been helping out at camp,
00:41:34.46\00:41:35.79
she's done a lot of
things with the ministry
00:41:35.82\00:41:38.09
and she at her church,
00:41:38.13\00:41:40.10
they have a
prison ministry program.
00:41:40.13\00:41:42.53
And she was
trying different lessons
00:41:42.56\00:41:44.00
and she was really feeling like,
00:41:44.07\00:41:46.23
she was
struggling to find something
00:41:46.27\00:41:47.64
that was a good
fit for the prisoners.
00:41:47.67\00:41:49.00
Sometimes the lessons
would be over their head,
00:41:49.04\00:41:50.61
sometimes it would be
just for whatever reason
00:41:50.64\00:41:53.88
wasn't keeping their attention,
which she thought well,
00:41:53.91\00:41:56.38
we've got all these
Young Disciple Bible lessons.
00:41:56.41\00:41:58.81
They were written for kids,
00:41:58.85\00:42:00.22
but a lot of these are offenders
00:42:00.25\00:42:02.08
are actually young people.
00:42:02.12\00:42:04.45
And she's like,
"Let's give it a try."
00:42:04.49\00:42:06.12
So she took the lessons
in there and they loved them.
00:42:06.15\00:42:10.33
And she was like,
"Can you send me more?"
00:42:10.36\00:42:11.69
And then pretty
since she was like,
00:42:11.73\00:42:14.20
we got a few problems here.
00:42:14.23\00:42:16.50
One of the problems
is this in the lessons,
00:42:16.53\00:42:19.07
there are
pictures of young people,
00:42:19.10\00:42:21.20
has their names,
00:42:21.24\00:42:22.70
and things like
that and she's like,
00:42:22.74\00:42:24.71
"This is not
okay in prison." Yes.
00:42:24.74\00:42:26.78
So we've taken the
lessons, we've edited them.
00:42:26.81\00:42:29.24
We've taken out some
things for example that may say,
00:42:29.28\00:42:31.28
on your way to church practice
your memory text, you know,
00:42:31.31\00:42:34.95
every time you stop at a light,
00:42:34.98\00:42:36.32
say your project
memory verse again,
00:42:36.35\00:42:38.39
you know, and obviously
00:42:38.42\00:42:40.16
that's not gonna work
in a prison situation,
00:42:40.19\00:42:43.09
so we've gone
through edit them down
00:42:43.12\00:42:45.03
and made them appropriate
for use in prisons and so,
00:42:45.06\00:42:47.70
we are just in the
process of building that up,
00:42:47.73\00:42:50.37
building up a series of lessons
so by the time it's done,
00:42:50.40\00:42:54.04
there is going to be
lessons on absolute surrender,
00:42:54.07\00:42:58.51
Steps to Christ,
00:42:58.54\00:43:00.88
different Thoughts
From the Mount of Blessing,
00:43:00.91\00:43:02.81
the Life of Christ,
00:43:02.84\00:43:05.01
a lot of
different topics like that,
00:43:05.05\00:43:06.72
that are really applicable
to people that are behind bars
00:43:06.75\00:43:10.89
and really helping them too.
00:43:10.92\00:43:12.25
In the same way the young people
00:43:12.29\00:43:13.76
are now connecting with
Christ to help them like
00:43:13.79\00:43:15.76
Christ did in that same way.
00:43:15.79\00:43:17.13
So we're in the process of
building that up and we hope
00:43:17.16\00:43:21.33
that soon there'll be
many people across the country
00:43:21.36\00:43:24.00
they're being
blessed in that way.
00:43:24.07\00:43:25.40
Absolutely.
00:43:25.43\00:43:26.77
What's the thought process
00:43:26.80\00:43:28.14
as you're developing
these topics of study?
00:43:28.17\00:43:32.54
What are you thinking about?
00:43:32.57\00:43:35.04
It's a lot of it is prayer.
00:43:35.08\00:43:37.05
It's like, "Lord what do
you want us to talk about?"
00:43:37.08\00:43:39.78
And God says,
"What blessed you?"
00:43:39.81\00:43:42.32
you know it's like well,
00:43:42.35\00:43:44.02
I was blessed by the
Steps of Christ, you know.
00:43:44.09\00:43:46.15
When God goes through and shows
00:43:46.19\00:43:47.56
you here are the steps
to being a real Christian
00:43:47.59\00:43:50.16
or you know, the
importance of surrender,
00:43:50.23\00:43:54.30
and as he brings
things to our attention,
00:43:54.33\00:43:55.86
like this is a
really important topic
00:43:55.90\00:43:58.70
and it really isn't like,
00:43:58.73\00:44:01.34
I'm really wonderful,
00:44:01.37\00:44:02.70
I know everything
that we needs to know.
00:44:02.74\00:44:04.11
It's more like Lord,
what do you want me to say?
00:44:04.14\00:44:05.74
And He puts words in your mouth?
00:44:05.77\00:44:07.11
Yes, yes.
00:44:07.18\00:44:09.08
Jess, how have you seen
00:44:09.11\00:44:12.21
a change in maybe
some of the girls' lives
00:44:12.25\00:44:15.55
that you've counseled?
00:44:15.58\00:44:18.12
I just got a letter
couple of months ago
00:44:18.15\00:44:20.86
from a girl that said,
00:44:20.89\00:44:23.53
"I just want you to know,
00:44:23.56\00:44:25.26
that I thank God every day
for the influence this ministry
00:44:25.29\00:44:28.93
and this camp
has had on my life."
00:44:28.96\00:44:30.67
She said, "I've been
through a lot of abuse,
00:44:30.70\00:44:34.14
and she says I was
cutting, I felt worthless.
00:44:34.17\00:44:38.04
And now it's been, I
think she said six months
00:44:38.07\00:44:41.01
since I've cut myself.
00:44:41.04\00:44:42.91
And she just said
it's transformed my life,
00:44:42.94\00:44:46.01
and I just wanna say thank you
and we see story after story,
00:44:46.05\00:44:49.28
not all from bad homes
00:44:49.32\00:44:50.99
but it's just this reminder
that these young people,
00:44:51.02\00:44:54.26
these precious lambs of God,
00:44:54.29\00:44:57.03
many of them have been
through such hard things
00:44:57.06\00:44:59.13
and many of them are
gonna face significant trials
00:44:59.16\00:45:02.16
as they become adults
00:45:02.20\00:45:03.57
and start making
their own choices
00:45:03.60\00:45:05.00
and to me,
00:45:05.03\00:45:06.60
I feel like one
of my greatest goals
00:45:06.63\00:45:11.67
when working with
these beautiful girls
00:45:11.71\00:45:13.51
is just number one,
00:45:13.58\00:45:15.04
helping them see their worth
and their value in God's eyes.
00:45:15.08\00:45:18.51
So they don't go
seeking for worth and value
00:45:18.55\00:45:20.52
in the wrong places.
00:45:20.55\00:45:21.95
And not only to get
them connected with Christ,
00:45:21.98\00:45:24.52
but to help them understand that
00:45:24.55\00:45:26.49
one of the greatest antidotes
for the pleasure of sin
00:45:26.52\00:45:31.16
is the joy of self
sacrificing service.
00:45:31.19\00:45:33.60
And if they can get
that taste of service,
00:45:33.63\00:45:35.56
that taste of working for God,
00:45:35.60\00:45:37.90
it can just keep
them from all the things
00:45:37.93\00:45:41.17
that Satan would
like to just move them
00:45:41.20\00:45:43.27
right out of the church way,
00:45:43.30\00:45:44.81
and so to see those young people
00:45:44.84\00:45:46.17
and they don't all.
00:45:46.21\00:45:47.71
I mean I cry sometimes
when I see them walk away.
00:45:47.74\00:45:50.85
And yet to see so many
00:45:50.88\00:45:52.61
that are like I
want to serve God.
00:45:52.65\00:45:54.72
I wanna use my talent,
I wanna spend this time
00:45:54.75\00:45:57.29
instead of just goofing
off online and wasting time,
00:45:57.32\00:46:00.26
but really preparing
for life of service to God.
00:46:00.29\00:46:04.43
It's such a
beautiful thing to be part of.
00:46:04.46\00:46:06.23
Yes, amen.
00:46:06.26\00:46:08.20
Tony, what are
some current projects
00:46:08.23\00:46:10.17
that you guys are working on?
00:46:10.20\00:46:13.23
One of the things that kind of
00:46:13.27\00:46:16.47
go out of the
mission experience was
00:46:16.50\00:46:19.47
we realized
there's a lot of research
00:46:19.51\00:46:22.44
that's been done on the people,
00:46:22.48\00:46:23.85
we realized that young people
00:46:23.88\00:46:25.88
who make a decision for
Christ before the age of 12,
00:46:25.91\00:46:29.05
are many times more likely
00:46:29.08\00:46:31.02
for that
decision to be a permanent
00:46:31.05\00:46:32.89
than people who make
that decision later in life,
00:46:32.92\00:46:35.52
and we realized
so often evangelism
00:46:35.56\00:46:39.19
and evangelistic series
is focused on the adults
00:46:39.23\00:46:41.90
and that's awesome
and we need to do that,
00:46:41.93\00:46:43.60
and that's the
example we have in the Bible,
00:46:43.67\00:46:45.87
and yet we also have the example
00:46:45.90\00:46:47.34
of Bible of
ministering to children.
00:46:47.37\00:46:49.60
And we realized that,
00:46:49.64\00:46:51.24
it's a lot of
work to put together
00:46:51.27\00:46:53.38
a program for children,
00:46:53.41\00:46:55.61
you know, every
day for like, you know,
00:46:55.64\00:46:58.55
you got a 26 night
evangelistic series
00:46:58.58\00:47:00.32
that's really
hard to put together
00:47:00.35\00:47:02.08
that same kind of
program for children,
00:47:02.12\00:47:03.49
and so we saw the need
00:47:03.52\00:47:05.42
for an
evangelistic series for kids.
00:47:05.45\00:47:07.36
And so, that is
really where the Truth
00:47:07.39\00:47:09.86
for Youth Program
grew out of which is,
00:47:09.89\00:47:11.99
it's a 26 night
evangelistic series for kids
00:47:12.03\00:47:14.53
and it has all the PowerPoints,
it even has scripts.
00:47:14.56\00:47:16.77
you don't even have to
come up with what to say.
00:47:16.80\00:47:19.53
If you can read, you
can present Truth for Youth,
00:47:19.57\00:47:21.80
the crafts are there
on the disk in PDF format.
00:47:21.84\00:47:23.91
you can print them out
using materials and supplies
00:47:23.94\00:47:26.68
that are easy to transport
or easy to obtain locally,
00:47:26.71\00:47:29.31
you can do that.
00:47:29.34\00:47:30.68
There are materials to
take home and things like that.
00:47:30.75\00:47:33.25
So in the Philippines,
00:47:33.28\00:47:35.82
in the areas we've been working
the children speak English,
00:47:35.85\00:47:38.32
they like to speak English,
00:47:38.35\00:47:39.69
they like to do English
craft and things like that.
00:47:39.72\00:47:41.09
So that's great and we've used,
00:47:41.12\00:47:43.16
and people have
used Truth for Youth
00:47:43.19\00:47:44.53
all over the United States
00:47:44.56\00:47:45.89
to do evangelistic
work with children as well.
00:47:45.93\00:47:48.80
But, on our heart it was like,
00:47:48.83\00:47:50.40
the world is bigger than
English speaking countries.
00:47:50.47\00:47:53.20
And so we translated it
into French and into Spanish,
00:47:53.23\00:47:58.67
and it's in the
process of being translated
00:47:58.71\00:48:00.88
into Korean and Swahili,
00:48:00.91\00:48:03.35
and there was a group in Africa
00:48:03.38\00:48:05.21
that wanted to
translate it into Yoruba,
00:48:05.25\00:48:08.28
but the current
project right now
00:48:08.32\00:48:09.95
is in a country that's closed
to the gospel, to evangelism.
00:48:09.98\00:48:14.69
The Adventists in
that country said,
00:48:14.72\00:48:17.23
we're going to do 700
evangelistic series every year
00:48:17.26\00:48:22.96
and we want to
include children's evangelism.
00:48:23.00\00:48:25.03
And we'd like to use Truth
for Youth, and so right now,
00:48:25.07\00:48:28.37
our current project
that we're working on
00:48:28.40\00:48:29.74
is to translate
this into their language
00:48:29.77\00:48:32.34
so that they can use
this in a powerful way.
00:48:32.37\00:48:35.11
I don't know how
you do evangelism
00:48:35.14\00:48:37.38
in a closed country to children.
00:48:37.45\00:48:38.95
I know it's difficult,
00:48:38.98\00:48:40.42
but they have a
heart to do this,
00:48:40.45\00:48:42.18
in spite of the risks
00:48:42.22\00:48:43.59
and they wanna see
children in the kingdom
00:48:43.62\00:48:44.95
and we wanna see
children in the kingdom.
00:48:44.99\00:48:46.32
So we're working
together with translators
00:48:46.35\00:48:48.19
there to bring all the graphics,
00:48:48.22\00:48:49.92
all the craft
everything together
00:48:49.96\00:48:51.89
into that language
to make that happen.
00:48:51.93\00:48:54.90
That is huge.
00:48:54.93\00:48:56.30
What are some of the
needs of your ministry?
00:48:56.33\00:49:00.04
So obviously, right now
that translation project
00:49:00.07\00:49:03.61
is something that is
really on our hearts,
00:49:03.64\00:49:08.84
there is a lot of artwork
00:49:08.88\00:49:10.25
and there's a
lot of cost involved
00:49:10.28\00:49:11.65
with using artwork
00:49:11.68\00:49:13.52
and there's a lot of cost
00:49:13.55\00:49:14.88
involved with translating
and things like that,
00:49:14.92\00:49:18.75
duplicating, making
materials available,
00:49:18.79\00:49:20.66
so right now we're actively
raising funds for this project
00:49:20.69\00:49:26.46
and $45 will give this
entire Truth for Youth series
00:49:26.49\00:49:31.67
in their native language
00:49:31.70\00:49:33.03
to one of the
local workers there
00:49:33.07\00:49:34.87
to use and again
00:49:34.90\00:49:36.30
they're trying to do
700 series every year.
00:49:36.34\00:49:40.08
That's a lot of young people.
00:49:40.11\00:49:41.44
If you do the
math and figure it,
00:49:41.48\00:49:42.81
however many they have we
need to reach those groups.
00:49:42.84\00:49:44.25
That's a lot of young people
00:49:44.28\00:49:45.61
they're gonna learn about Jesus,
00:49:45.65\00:49:46.98
and this is a country
where the young people,
00:49:47.02\00:49:48.95
it's not like our young people
that pretty much everybody
00:49:48.98\00:49:50.92
in America has
heard of Jesus at least,
00:49:50.99\00:49:52.32
a lot of these people
haven't even heard of Him.
00:49:52.35\00:49:54.26
And so, this is an
awesome opportunity.
00:49:54.29\00:49:56.59
And, of course,
all of the things
00:49:56.62\00:49:59.33
we're doing the camp,
00:49:59.36\00:50:00.70
the magazine, the
mission experience,
00:50:00.73\00:50:03.00
all of these
things take money to do.
00:50:03.03\00:50:05.50
and at this point,
about a third of that money
00:50:05.53\00:50:08.40
comes from people who are like,
00:50:08.44\00:50:10.21
I want young people
to connect with Christ.
00:50:10.24\00:50:11.87
I want young people
to be studying the Bible,
00:50:11.91\00:50:13.71
I want young people to be
making religion their own.
00:50:13.78\00:50:17.65
And, we're just so
thankful for the people
00:50:17.68\00:50:20.05
who partnered with
us to make that happen.
00:50:20.12\00:50:22.05
Yes, what about volunteers?
00:50:22.08\00:50:23.99
So every year at camp
obviously we have young people
00:50:24.02\00:50:29.22
that come and
volunteer to be counselors.
00:50:29.26\00:50:32.76
And that's probably
00:50:32.79\00:50:34.56
one of the most
important positions at camp.
00:50:34.60\00:50:37.97
The units that
we have are small,
00:50:38.00\00:50:39.83
we have eight
to ten young people
00:50:39.87\00:50:42.57
with tent on the outside,
00:50:42.60\00:50:43.94
in the tent with two counselors.
00:50:44.01\00:50:45.64
Okay.
00:50:45.67\00:50:47.01
And the job of those counselors
00:50:47.08\00:50:48.94
is giving their
hearts to Christ.
00:50:48.98\00:50:51.58
And so the
counselors come on the Wednesday
00:50:51.61\00:50:53.65
before camp starts,
camp starts on the Sunday,
00:50:53.72\00:50:55.98
and we teach them
here's how to work with hearts,
00:50:56.02\00:50:57.72
here's how to
help our young people,
00:50:57.75\00:51:00.89
here's how to spot things that
would tend to trend downward.
00:51:00.96\00:51:04.73
Here's how to encourage things
that would to trend upward
00:51:04.76\00:51:07.70
and our goal at camp
00:51:07.73\00:51:09.06
and we've been
fairly successful at this.
00:51:09.10\00:51:11.40
It's to have
positive peer pressure.
00:51:11.43\00:51:13.57
Which means,
00:51:13.64\00:51:15.60
we try not to have an
abundance of young people
00:51:15.64\00:51:18.94
who are totally uninterested.
00:51:18.97\00:51:22.81
But, in the situation,
in fact we ask young people
00:51:22.84\00:51:26.11
before they come,
are you least interested
00:51:26.15\00:51:27.98
in becoming more
spiritual you know?
00:51:28.02\00:51:29.48
Yes, yes.
00:51:29.52\00:51:30.89
But what you see is
young person will be like,
00:51:30.92\00:51:32.35
"I don't know about this."
00:51:32.39\00:51:33.76
And they see
everybody else in the tent
00:51:33.79\00:51:35.19
has opened their Bible,
00:51:35.22\00:51:36.62
they're having
devotions, they're praying
00:51:36.66\00:51:38.09
and they're like,
00:51:38.13\00:51:39.53
"I guess it's cool to do that."
00:51:39.56\00:51:41.23
And so, but the
counselors are there
00:51:41.26\00:51:43.10
to make that happen.
00:51:43.13\00:51:44.47
Absolutely.
00:51:44.50\00:51:45.83
Well, we want to go
to a quick address roll
00:51:45.87\00:51:48.87
and news break and
we'll be right back.
00:51:48.90\00:51:50.71
Young Disciple
Ministries began as a magazine,
00:51:55.41\00:51:57.68
but has grown to
include youth camps,
00:51:57.71\00:51:59.85
mission trips,
00:51:59.88\00:52:01.22
music and video
production and much more.
00:52:01.25\00:52:03.25
If you like to find out more
about Young Disciple Ministries
00:52:03.28\00:52:05.92
or if you like to
support them financially,
00:52:05.95\00:52:07.79
visit their
website YoungDisciple.org.
00:52:07.82\00:52:10.13
That's YoungDisciple.org.
00:52:10.16\00:52:12.46
you may also call them
00:52:12.49\00:52:13.83
at (509) 722-4300.
00:52:13.90\00:52:16.56
That's (509) 722-4300.
00:52:16.60\00:52:21.64
Or write to them at
Young Disciple Ministries,
00:52:21.67\00:52:23.91
PO Box 400,
Inchelium, Washington 99138.
00:52:23.94\00:52:28.58