I'm so happy that
you could join us today.
00:01:02.96\00:01:04.66
And our guest is
Pastor Paul Ratsara and he
00:01:04.69\00:01:09.50
is from the African-
Indian Ocean Division,
00:01:09.53\00:01:14.34
Southern-Africa
Indian Ocean Division,
00:01:14.37\00:01:17.61
which is a division of
the Seventh-day Adventist
00:01:17.94\00:01:20.31
Church and he's a
leader, and we welcome you,
00:01:20.34\00:01:22.58
thank you, we're so
happy that you could be here.
00:01:22.61\00:01:24.68
Yeah, glad to be here. Yeah,
00:01:24.71\00:01:26.78
Bible says here in
First Timothy the third
00:01:27.08\00:01:30.19
chapter says, this
is a faithful saying.
00:01:30.22\00:01:32.19
"If a man desires
the position of a bishop,
00:01:32.62\00:01:35.26
he desires a good work."
00:01:35.79\00:01:38.39
And that is your
position, you are,
00:01:38.96\00:01:41.30
you might say a
bishop over a territory of
00:01:42.10\00:01:45.67
God's Church. And so,
00:01:45.70\00:01:48.40
Bible says that
that's a good work.
00:01:48.84\00:01:50.64
And then in that
same chapter Acts,
00:01:51.17\00:01:54.51
the next
chapter, chapter 4 verse
00:01:54.54\00:01:56.61
12 it says, "Let no one despise
00:01:56.64\00:01:59.81
your youth, but be an example
00:01:59.85\00:02:01.88
to the believers in
word, in conduct, in love,
00:02:01.92\00:02:04.59
in spirit, in
faith, and in purity."
00:02:04.62\00:02:07.36
And you have
always worked well with
00:02:07.99\00:02:11.49
young people, yes,
yes. And you've been a
00:02:11.53\00:02:14.63
youth leader and been
involved with youth and
00:02:14.66\00:02:18.63
we're gonna talk a
little bit about some of the
00:02:18.67\00:02:21.60
things that God
has been doing in your
00:02:21.64\00:02:24.07
division and also
some of the things that He
00:02:24.11\00:02:28.28
has been doing through
young people that you've
00:02:28.31\00:02:30.98
been ministering
with and to. Yes. And so,
00:02:31.01\00:02:33.62
that would be an
exciting study as we
00:02:33.65\00:02:36.95
talk together and I'm
looking forward to it.
00:02:36.99\00:02:39.72
Well, listen I know
that some of you are facing
00:02:40.32\00:02:43.06
giant problems and
some of them involve youth,
00:02:43.09\00:02:46.59
young people,
your children. And so,
00:02:47.23\00:02:50.10
we're praying that
the Lord will reach down
00:02:50.13\00:02:54.87
and touch those young people.
00:02:54.90\00:02:56.27
We're gonna have
a special prayer for
00:02:56.30\00:02:57.84
them right now.
And there are others
00:02:57.87\00:02:59.94
of you that are
having real health challenges
00:03:00.04\00:03:02.61
and other
challenges that have come
00:03:03.35\00:03:05.31
into your life. And right now
00:03:05.35\00:03:07.42
whatever your burden
is, we want to lay it
00:03:07.45\00:03:10.25
on the Lord, shall we bow our
00:03:10.29\00:03:11.62
heads in prayer.
Our Father and our God,
00:03:11.65\00:03:14.19
we are just thank
you Lord that we can come
00:03:16.12\00:03:17.69
to you and
prayer, knowing that you
00:03:17.73\00:03:20.30
really do hear us
and you really do answer
00:03:20.33\00:03:23.03
and that you have
the ability to hear every
00:03:24.10\00:03:27.30
person in the world
that cries out to you and
00:03:27.34\00:03:30.04
right now Father,
I know that there are
00:03:30.77\00:03:33.84
so many that are
watching by television,
00:03:33.88\00:03:35.88
listening by radio
that have real crisis
00:03:35.91\00:03:40.75
in their lives, not
just something small,
00:03:40.78\00:03:43.72
but something big.
I pray Lord that you
00:03:43.75\00:03:47.29
will be with each
one, let them lay these
00:03:47.32\00:03:51.73
burdens at your
feet, take these burdens
00:03:51.76\00:03:55.00
we pray and relieve these folks.
00:03:55.03\00:03:57.83
Thank you Lord for
all that you do for us,
00:03:58.67\00:04:00.97
in Jesus name, amen. Amen, amen.
00:04:01.97\00:04:06.37
Well, before we get
into our discussion I hope
00:04:06.57\00:04:10.05
that we can enjoy
some really good music.
00:04:10.08\00:04:12.38
And Emily Felts
Jones is going to,
00:04:12.55\00:04:15.15
to bring us some good music.
00:04:15.18\00:04:17.05
She is a good friend
of 3ABN and she comes here
00:04:17.09\00:04:19.95
often and we enjoy
her music so very much.
00:04:19.99\00:04:24.03
Right now, she is going to do
00:04:24.46\00:04:25.96
the song "Down Under."
00:04:25.99\00:04:28.23
When I was a child
I spoke like a child,
00:04:40.88\00:04:45.48
and did all the
things children do.
00:04:45.91\00:04:49.75
I laughed and I
played, worked and obeyed,
00:04:50.52\00:04:55.66
Learned about God as I grew
00:04:55.69\00:05:00.33
I learned I'm not worthy,
00:05:00.36\00:05:02.73
my life stained with sin,
00:05:02.76\00:05:04.97
but it can be whiter than snow
00:05:05.43\00:05:10.11
For Jesus poured out
his own life to begin,
00:05:10.41\00:05:14.98
a river where sweet mercy flows
00:05:15.34\00:05:18.71
I want to go down,
down, down in the water
00:05:18.75\00:05:24.69
I want to be clean, so clean.
00:05:24.72\00:05:28.46
From this day
forward, I want to go under,
00:05:28.49\00:05:33.80
under, under the
love Plunged in his mercy,
00:05:33.83\00:05:39.43
washed in the blood.
That day of my birth,
00:05:39.47\00:05:46.37
here on this earth is
only a story that's told.
00:05:47.18\00:05:53.08
Today I begin,
I'm born once again
00:05:53.88\00:05:58.42
and this my moment to hold.
00:05:59.05\00:06:03.16
So send down you
spirit and circle this place,
00:06:03.59\00:06:08.46
let glory light like a dove
00:06:08.83\00:06:12.73
Cover my past in
those steams of your grace
00:06:13.67\00:06:18.01
and merry my life with your love
00:06:18.04\00:06:21.78
'Cause I want to go
down, down, down in the water
00:06:21.81\00:06:27.98
I want to be clean, so clean.
00:06:28.02\00:06:31.65
From this day forward,
I want to go under, under,
00:06:31.69\00:06:37.99
under the blood
Plunged in his mercy,
00:06:38.03\00:06:43.03
washed in the blood.
Oh come down dear father
00:06:43.06\00:06:48.54
and stay for a
while, say once again you're
00:06:48.57\00:06:53.41
pleased with your child.
00:06:53.44\00:06:56.31
'Cause I want to go
down, down, down in the water
00:06:56.81\00:07:03.39
I want to be clean, so clean.
00:07:03.42\00:07:06.76
From this day
forward, I want to go under,
00:07:07.19\00:07:11.93
under, under the
blood Plunged in his mercy,
00:07:11.96\00:07:18.97
Oh plunged in his mercy
and washed in the blood.
00:07:20.24\00:07:27.74
Well, thank you
Emily, I appreciate that song
00:07:32.55\00:07:34.58
so much. Well, Pastor Paul is so
00:07:34.62\00:07:38.12
good to have you here, it's,
00:07:38.49\00:07:40.36
it's good to be
here. Over the years we've
00:07:40.39\00:07:42.62
seen each other at
different meetings of the
00:07:42.66\00:07:44.73
General Conference
and the foot places and,
00:07:44.76\00:07:46.63
and it's just good
though to be able to sit
00:07:46.66\00:07:48.93
here and visit.
And to have the people
00:07:48.96\00:07:51.23
at home joining
our visit together.
00:07:51.27\00:07:53.23
Now, you're the
President of the Southern-Africa
00:07:53.80\00:07:56.44
Indian Ocean Division.
Yes. And I'm going to ask
00:07:56.47\00:08:00.08
you to put a
picture on the screen map,
00:08:00.11\00:08:03.01
so that people can see
what that territory looks
00:08:03.04\00:08:08.32
like and the
headquarters is located
00:08:08.35\00:08:11.09
in Johannesburg,
yes Johannesburg,
00:08:11.12\00:08:13.39
Pretoria between
Pretoria and Johannesburg. Okay,
00:08:13.42\00:08:16.19
yes. And that covers
that whole territory of
00:08:16.22\00:08:20.56
Southern-Africa and
what called the Indian Ocean,
00:08:20.60\00:08:23.90
Indian Ocean
Division. Right, yes.
00:08:23.93\00:08:25.97
Actually the
Southern -Africa Indian Ocean
00:08:27.14\00:08:30.34
Division is one of
the 13 divisions in
00:08:30.37\00:08:33.68
Adventist Church. By the way,
00:08:33.71\00:08:37.25
I'm glad to be here
and it's a joy, thank you,
00:08:37.85\00:08:41.48
to be part of this program.
00:08:41.52\00:08:43.12
So, the Southern-Africa
Indian Ocean Division
00:08:44.25\00:08:46.72
as I said, it is the one
00:08:46.76\00:08:48.66
of the 13
divisions of the world.
00:08:48.69\00:08:51.23
We have 23
countries and territories,
00:08:53.23\00:08:57.33
we called them
territories instead of country
00:08:57.37\00:09:01.00
field because they
are some of our countries,
00:09:01.04\00:09:05.74
they are part of the
bigger countries like
00:09:05.77\00:09:07.71
for example, the
island of Reunion
00:09:07.74\00:09:11.71
is part of France.
France is at the north,
00:09:11.75\00:09:15.55
but Reunion is like
a state of, of France.
00:09:15.58\00:09:20.12
Okay. So, it is, it
functions like a country,
00:09:20.16\00:09:23.56
but it is part of a
bigger country like Santolina
00:09:23.59\00:09:26.83
where Napoleon was sent, exiled.
00:09:26.86\00:09:29.86
It is in our
division small island,
00:09:30.37\00:09:33.03
but we have big
countries like South Africa,
00:09:33.07\00:09:36.94
we have Zambia,
Angola, Zimbabwe, and Botswana
00:09:37.64\00:09:42.18
and the Island of Madagascar,
00:09:42.21\00:09:44.18
23 countries and
territories as a whole.
00:09:44.21\00:09:49.35
And we have 2.5 million
members in that division,
00:09:50.79\00:09:57.03
wow! 2.5, 2.5
million. Yes, 2.5 million
00:09:57.06\00:10:01.23
in the last statistics.
00:10:01.26\00:10:07.64
churches and
companies, many congregations in
00:10:08.10\00:10:11.57
that country. Wow! That's quite
00:10:11.61\00:10:13.54
a group isn't it?
Yeah, is just a, it is quiet.
00:10:13.58\00:10:16.61
We, we, John Lomacang
and his wife Angie headed
00:10:16.64\00:10:22.88
over with the
Maranatha Group to build some
00:10:22.92\00:10:26.39
churches there.
Maranatha has been
00:10:26.42\00:10:28.02
very involved in
building churches in
00:10:28.06\00:10:29.76
your division, about
how many have they build?
00:10:29.79\00:10:31.93
Actually we're so blessed Jim.
00:10:32.86\00:10:35.06
The fact that our
partners, we call them our
00:10:36.73\00:10:40.17
partners in mission, yes,
00:10:40.20\00:10:41.67
they're helping us Maranatha,
00:10:41.70\00:10:43.67
Light Bearers and
ASI group and Remnant
00:10:44.41\00:10:49.34
Publications and
Maranatha and many more.
00:10:49.38\00:10:53.42
Yes. So, Maranatha volunteers,
00:10:53.92\00:10:57.39
they have built so far
more than 300 churches.
00:10:57.99\00:11:02.89
Wow! Yes, in
Mozambique and now they are in,
00:11:02.92\00:11:07.03
in Zambia, the group
that you're talking about;
00:11:07.10\00:11:10.93
they're going to Zambia
after leaving this city,
00:11:10.97\00:11:14.87
burning the name
of their pioneer.
00:11:16.84\00:11:19.41
David Livingstone,
the city is Livingstone
00:11:20.51\00:11:22.98
in Zambia. So,
it has been a great
00:11:23.01\00:11:26.51
blessing and we
thank God for, amen,
00:11:26.55\00:11:30.12
for the ministries
and those partners in
00:11:30.15\00:11:33.52
mission we, we are blessed
00:11:33.56\00:11:35.42
by their efforts
and their support.
00:11:36.12\00:11:38.86
Two point five million
members in that division,
00:11:38.89\00:11:42.23
yes. It seems to me
like it was only a few years
00:11:42.26\00:11:45.43
ago that they had a
million members about how
00:11:45.47\00:11:48.77
long has it taken you to go from
00:11:48.80\00:11:50.67
1 million to 2.5 million?
00:11:50.71\00:11:52.94
Actually, as you
remember the work in Africa
00:11:53.04\00:11:57.25
was restructured,
relined used to be
00:11:57.28\00:12:01.08
two African- based division,
00:12:01.12\00:12:04.82
the one was in the
West, but it crossed actually
00:12:05.62\00:12:11.19
even the continent and
reached out the islands,
00:12:11.96\00:12:14.93
so that arrangement
was a little bit difficult,
00:12:14.93\00:12:17.33
right. So, the
church decided to divide the
00:12:17.37\00:12:20.94
continent of Africa,
the Sub Saharan Africa
00:12:20.97\00:12:24.01
into three
divisions. One we called the
00:12:24.04\00:12:28.68
West-Central Africa Division
00:12:28.71\00:12:32.15
and over the
base, the headquarters
00:12:32.18\00:12:36.32
is in Abidjan,
Ivory Coast. And one,
00:12:36.35\00:12:39.25
call it
East-Central Africa Division
00:12:39.29\00:12:42.62
in Nairobi, yeah.
And our division is the
00:12:42.66\00:12:45.66
Southern part of
the continent of Africa.
00:12:45.69\00:12:48.66
We've the islands
in the Indian Ocean,
00:12:49.63\00:12:52.20
so one we're
organized and that was in 2002,
00:12:52.23\00:12:56.84
but it functioned
in January, 2003. Okay.
00:12:56.87\00:13:01.01
And we were just
about 1.7 million, yes,
00:13:01.04\00:13:06.11
1.7 million,
alright, now praise the Lord
00:13:06.15\00:13:08.82
we are 2.5. Wow! That's amazing.
00:13:08.85\00:13:11.42
Are they planning
any further divisions,
00:13:11.92\00:13:14.72
any newer divisions for the,
00:13:15.72\00:13:17.73
continent of Africa have,
00:13:17.76\00:13:19.23
have you heard a
General Conference,
00:13:19.26\00:13:20.73
have you heard of the
thinking about spinning
00:13:21.20\00:13:24.27
off another
division or, or what?
00:13:24.30\00:13:26.07
As far as I know I
think the structure we have
00:13:27.50\00:13:30.54
now it works
fine, it works fine,
00:13:30.57\00:13:33.14
it works fine, it is actually a
00:13:33.17\00:13:36.11
God given idea, yeah,
because the proxibility,
00:13:36.14\00:13:40.85
the accessibility is just good.
00:13:40.88\00:13:44.45
And we are very happy
about the organization,
00:13:44.49\00:13:47.72
okay, so I don't see
us multiplying or adding,
00:13:47.76\00:13:51.86
but we are open to the, yeah,
00:13:52.63\00:13:54.30
leading of the, the Holy Spirit.
00:13:54.30\00:13:56.23
Sure, absolutely.
Well, I saw you not long ago
00:13:56.26\00:14:00.77
we were in
Louisville, Kentucky, yes,
00:14:00.80\00:14:03.91
and we were at the
Generation of Youth
00:14:03.94\00:14:06.88
for Christ, yes, which is an
00:14:06.91\00:14:08.44
exciting
gathering, it is yes. And,
00:14:08.48\00:14:11.48
and I saw you there
and you were on a panel
00:14:11.51\00:14:15.72
with some other
leaders of the church, yes.
00:14:16.48\00:14:18.95
And tell me a little
bit about the youth and
00:14:19.55\00:14:23.83
your involvement
with youth movements.
00:14:23.86\00:14:25.69
Yeah, yeah I, I
like youth, young people.
00:14:27.23\00:14:32.00
Actually my
ministry I started with youth
00:14:32.03\00:14:36.74
ministry as Youth
Director and then Director
00:14:36.77\00:14:40.24
of Campus Ministry,
yes, taking care of 12,
00:14:40.28\00:14:46.48
6 actually universities.
And helping the young
00:14:46.51\00:14:51.45
people to, to be strong in
00:14:51.49\00:14:54.19
the faith and also to
win the other young people
00:14:54.22\00:14:58.16
in those universities.
Yes. So, youth is very
00:14:58.86\00:15:02.86
close to my heart.
I do believe that we,
00:15:02.90\00:15:09.74
we need to do the best we can,
00:15:09.77\00:15:14.98
to take care of our youth. Yes.
00:15:15.64\00:15:17.95
And as you said we
were so pleased and
00:15:17.98\00:15:21.78
we're still very pleased to,
00:15:21.82\00:15:24.42
to see the growth
of GYC, the Generation
00:15:24.45\00:15:28.42
Youth for, for
Christ, for Christ.
00:15:28.46\00:15:33.96
Because they're really
doing a wonderful work to,
00:15:36.13\00:15:40.64
to see these young
people committed to the Lord
00:15:40.67\00:15:44.74
and committed to
their mission of the church,
00:15:44.77\00:15:47.28
we've humbled hearts and just,
00:15:48.31\00:15:50.35
just to share the
Gospel. So, I, I was so moved
00:15:50.38\00:15:55.52
by that experience I, it, it, it
00:15:55.55\00:15:58.59
brought a lot of
hope, but we have a hope
00:15:58.62\00:16:03.02
for our young
people. When we think of,
00:16:03.06\00:16:07.03
of the young people
of youth and the church,
00:16:09.00\00:16:12.57
the Christian
church, the Christianity,
00:16:13.47\00:16:16.37
we cannot
really remove the young
00:16:18.04\00:16:20.88
people from the, the
church of the history.
00:16:20.91\00:16:24.25
The, the owner and
the founder of the church
00:16:25.38\00:16:28.05
Jesus Christ himself
was a young man and He
00:16:28.68\00:16:32.39
started his
Public Ministry at the
00:16:32.42\00:16:35.39
age of 30, yeah,
that is young, yes it is,
00:16:35.42\00:16:39.16
he is a young adult, right. So,
00:16:39.19\00:16:41.70
He started the
church, He is the owner of the
00:16:41.73\00:16:44.20
church and then
throughout history we,
00:16:44.23\00:16:47.70
we see young people
playing vital role when
00:16:47.74\00:16:53.07
it comes to the
church. For example,
00:16:53.11\00:16:55.21
the key reformers
they were young people,
00:16:56.18\00:17:00.08
young adults and the
pioneers of our church.
00:17:00.72\00:17:05.15
Ellen G. White she
was called when she
00:17:05.19\00:17:07.76
was a teenager.
Yes. James White,
00:17:07.79\00:17:09.86
the all the
pioneers, that's right,
00:17:09.89\00:17:11.76
most of them they were young.
00:17:11.79\00:17:13.76
So, I believe Jim that
young people is playing,
00:17:14.60\00:17:21.30
the youth is playing
a vital role and we'll
00:17:22.37\00:17:25.67
continue to play a
vital role in this church,
00:17:25.71\00:17:29.78
started with young
people and we cannot think of,
00:17:29.81\00:17:34.18
of, of the end
without the young people.
00:17:34.22\00:17:38.59
It's very true in
fact when you think about
00:17:38.62\00:17:40.39
the disciples, yes,
they were young people,
00:17:40.42\00:17:42.92
they were young
people, yeah, yes that's true.
00:17:42.96\00:17:45.56
So, God is using
them. What do you see the
00:17:45.59\00:17:48.70
role of young
people in the church?
00:17:48.73\00:17:51.13
How do you see the role?
00:17:51.17\00:17:52.57
The role of young
people in the church,
00:17:53.44\00:17:55.70
sometimes we hear
people saying that the young
00:17:56.81\00:18:01.08
people are the
Church of tomorrow,
00:18:01.11\00:18:03.48
but in fact they
are actually the Church
00:18:04.61\00:18:07.45
of today as well.
In some divisions for
00:18:07.48\00:18:11.59
example upto 70% of the
membership they're young,
00:18:11.62\00:18:17.19
yeah, in my division.
The Southern-Africa Indian
00:18:17.73\00:18:20.60
Ocean Division we
can say between 65 to 70%
00:18:20.63\00:18:26.00
they are below 35. Wow! So,
00:18:26.03\00:18:28.90
that alone tells us a lot, yeah,
00:18:28.94\00:18:32.67
of the role of young
people in the church.
00:18:32.71\00:18:35.81
Right. So, they are
actually not only the
00:18:35.84\00:18:38.05
Church of
tomorrow, but they are the
00:18:38.08\00:18:40.58
Church of today,
so their role is to
00:18:40.62\00:18:45.09
go deep into the
mission of the church,
00:18:46.09\00:18:47.99
they're part of us,
they're part of this.
00:18:48.02\00:18:50.69
And actually they give
vigor into the, to the,
00:18:50.73\00:18:55.50
the church into the
outreach give more life
00:18:55.53\00:19:01.44
into the church.
They, they play that role,
00:19:01.47\00:19:05.17
it is, it is so
nice to have them.
00:19:06.24\00:19:08.38
You know, you were in Louisville
00:19:09.74\00:19:11.75
with GYC and you spoke
to them and you had some
00:19:11.78\00:19:16.22
seminars on
leadership and spirituality.
00:19:16.25\00:19:19.09
What, what did you tell them?
00:19:19.12\00:19:20.46
Well, yeah they
have asked me to,
00:19:21.26\00:19:24.16
to have these
seminars, actually in leadership
00:19:24.19\00:19:26.90
as you say and, and
spiritual and spirituality,
00:19:26.93\00:19:30.40
the power, the
whole, the power of the
00:19:30.43\00:19:33.44
Holy Spirit. I have noticed
00:19:33.47\00:19:37.07
that these young
people they need mentors. Yes
00:19:37.11\00:19:42.08
They like to do
things very fast and active,
00:19:43.28\00:19:47.78
but deep down in their
heart and they said it,
00:19:48.28\00:19:50.79
they need mentors. So,
they've asked me to help
00:19:50.82\00:19:54.99
them to develop
this topic of leadership.
00:19:55.02\00:19:59.49
So, I told them
that we need them,
00:19:59.53\00:20:03.50
because we do believe
that a success with that
00:20:04.80\00:20:08.44
a success is a
failure. Yeah. So,
00:20:08.47\00:20:11.11
this is the time
for us as a church to
00:20:11.14\00:20:14.11
be so intentional, so
deliberate in training
00:20:14.14\00:20:18.81
our young people in leadership.
00:20:19.48\00:20:21.88
I summarized when
it comes to leadership.
00:20:21.92\00:20:24.92
A leadership can
be summarized in three
00:20:25.72\00:20:27.99
aspects actually
first, to love God sincerely
00:20:28.02\00:20:33.86
with all of our heart,
00:20:33.90\00:20:35.20
meaning to be a good leader,
00:20:35.36\00:20:37.63
we have really
to, to have the strong
00:20:37.67\00:20:41.14
relationship with God,
that is the key because
00:20:41.17\00:20:45.74
you can learn all the
techniques and everything,
00:20:45.77\00:20:48.54
but if we don't love
God that will just be
00:20:48.58\00:20:52.95
an empty thing, yes.
So, I told them that to be
00:20:52.98\00:20:56.99
a leader you must be led by God.
00:20:57.02\00:21:00.46
Yes, yes, so you need
to have the leadership of
00:21:00.49\00:21:04.16
God to be connected with God.
00:21:04.19\00:21:06.73
So, first is to love
God, that is spirituality.
00:21:06.76\00:21:11.33
And the third one
is to, to love people,
00:21:11.97\00:21:16.14
just to love, love the followers
00:21:16.81\00:21:18.87
and love the
community, asking God to,
00:21:18.91\00:21:21.78
to help us to have this love,
00:21:21.81\00:21:24.28
this Godly love.
Jesus Christ we're
00:21:24.31\00:21:30.55
still worshiping Him
now because He died for us.
00:21:30.59\00:21:34.76
Yes. He, He had that
love and He still has it.
00:21:34.79\00:21:37.76
So, as a leader
we need to ask God to
00:21:38.29\00:21:41.70
give us this love,
a loving sacrifice.
00:21:41.73\00:21:45.27
Yes. And then
the third one is to,
00:21:45.30\00:21:50.34
to work hard, to
work hard to be so
00:21:51.41\00:21:54.51
committed and to
strive for excellence.
00:21:54.54\00:21:58.71
So, the three things
that I've shared I expanded
00:21:59.21\00:22:02.98
these in many
sessions, but it is to love God,
00:22:03.02\00:22:06.45
to love your fellow
man and to love what
00:22:07.06\00:22:10.36
you're doing, yeah,
the mission of the church.
00:22:10.39\00:22:12.93
And the young
people how do they react to
00:22:14.46\00:22:16.33
that message? It
was an interesting
00:22:16.36\00:22:20.54
thing Jim they,
they were very receptive,
00:22:20.57\00:22:23.57
the questions and
they decided to put it
00:22:23.61\00:22:27.04
into practice they see that,
00:22:27.08\00:22:30.61
this is the right
thing to do and it is
00:22:30.65\00:22:33.48
from the Bible, from the spirit
00:22:33.52\00:22:35.35
of prophecy and the
example of Jesus Christ,
00:22:35.38\00:22:39.55
the leader of all
leaders. Yes. He is the leader,
00:22:39.59\00:22:44.79
isn't He? Yes,
He is our partner,
00:22:44.83\00:22:46.76
He is our example.
Interesting that you had
00:22:46.80\00:22:49.60
mention working
hard as well, yes,
00:22:49.63\00:22:52.93
because sometimes
people forget that good old
00:22:52.97\00:22:58.21
hard work does pay
off. Particularly if you're
00:22:58.24\00:23:01.51
working for the
right thing, yes,
00:23:01.54\00:23:03.78
and when you
mentioned those first two,
00:23:03.81\00:23:05.98
a spiritual experience
for the Lord and what was
00:23:06.45\00:23:10.32
the other one, love, love?
00:23:10.35\00:23:12.75
Love, yes love
our fellow man, yeah,
00:23:12.79\00:23:15.06
and love, we just to
have the love of Christ
00:23:15.09\00:23:17.69
sacrificial love, right, right.
00:23:17.73\00:23:21.03
I remember when I was going to,
00:23:21.50\00:23:23.30
to college there were,
there were fellows that
00:23:23.33\00:23:26.67
made better grades
than some of us did,
00:23:26.70\00:23:29.07
some of us had to
work so many hours to
00:23:29.10\00:23:31.17
go to school.
We did not have the
00:23:31.21\00:23:33.54
study time than
other students had because
00:23:33.58\00:23:36.78
we paid all of
our own way and, yes,
00:23:36.81\00:23:38.95
some of them were there
on scholarships and some
00:23:38.98\00:23:40.85
their parents were
paying their way and so forth.
00:23:40.88\00:23:42.95
And so, I remember
saying to another young
00:23:43.65\00:23:47.76
man and he was older than I was,
00:23:47.79\00:23:49.66
a few years
older, yes. And I said to
00:23:49.69\00:23:52.53
him you know, I don't know how
00:23:52.56\00:23:54.83
we will ever be able
to compete with these
00:23:54.86\00:23:57.13
fellows that have made
such good grades when we
00:23:57.17\00:24:00.44
get into ministry.
And he said, oh! Yeah.
00:24:00.47\00:24:02.50
He said, we know
how to work, yeah,
00:24:03.00\00:24:05.04
we know how to
work hard he said.
00:24:05.07\00:24:07.34
And you will see that
God will reward hard work.
00:24:07.94\00:24:11.35
And I had never thought
of that at all and, yes,
00:24:11.81\00:24:14.98
what he said
proved to be very correct,
00:24:15.85\00:24:18.79
it was
encouraging 'cause we did know
00:24:18.82\00:24:20.72
how to work, we'd had to work
00:24:20.76\00:24:22.09
our way all the way,
yeah, and so many times.
00:24:22.12\00:24:24.69
I had, I had
the same experience,
00:24:24.73\00:24:26.13
same experience,
yes, that's right.
00:24:26.16\00:24:27.66
And so many times
later on in life we saw those
00:24:28.03\00:24:31.60
that have made
such fabulous grades and
00:24:31.63\00:24:34.30
everything and we
said, where are they and,
00:24:34.34\00:24:36.77
and they weren't even
in God's work anymore,
00:24:36.81\00:24:38.81
they were doing
something else or whatever or if
00:24:38.84\00:24:42.31
they were in they
hadn't moved very much,
00:24:42.34\00:24:45.05
they hadn't done very
much because they were
00:24:45.08\00:24:47.58
still studying and
sitting at home and doing
00:24:47.62\00:24:51.42
whatever they
did at home in their
00:24:51.45\00:24:53.96
pastor's study,
but they weren't out
00:24:53.99\00:24:55.86
there knocking on
doors and talking to people.
00:24:55.89\00:24:59.49
And, and doing
that kind of work.
00:25:00.13\00:25:01.96
By the way, when
you were in Louisville,
00:25:02.63\00:25:05.10
you went out with
young people and knocked
00:25:05.83\00:25:08.84
on doors. Tell us
some of those experiences.
00:25:08.87\00:25:11.07
Maybe if you don't
mind I just want to comment
00:25:11.11\00:25:13.61
on the hard work.
Okay. Because this is
00:25:13.64\00:25:15.44
a very important
aspect, yes, actually.
00:25:15.48\00:25:17.55
Our leader one
example of Jesus Christ, yes,
00:25:18.25\00:25:21.35
He worked so hard, yes
He did, He worked so hard.
00:25:21.38\00:25:24.02
Sometimes we tend
to separate things the
00:25:24.55\00:25:28.02
spirituality does not
go with hard work, right,
00:25:28.06\00:25:31.43
but this is a package,
yes, this is a package,
00:25:31.46\00:25:34.03
we cannot talk of
spirituality and then
00:25:34.10\00:25:37.03
someone who's
spiritual and at the
00:25:37.07\00:25:39.07
same time lazy, right, we,
00:25:39.10\00:25:41.37
we cannot think of that, right,
00:25:41.40\00:25:43.07
someone we
spiritual and hating it and
00:25:43.10\00:25:45.87
don't love. And so,
hard work is part of,
00:25:45.91\00:25:49.71
of our Christianity,
yes. Jesus Christ our
00:25:49.74\00:25:54.18
example and He
worked so hard, yes.
00:25:54.22\00:25:57.15
And I, I told to
young people that there's no
00:25:57.19\00:26:02.36
other way then
to work hard, yeah.
00:26:02.39\00:26:05.06
And you pray as Jesus prayed,
00:26:05.09\00:26:06.66
you love as He loved,
asking the Holy Spirit
00:26:07.03\00:26:09.56
to give us that
love, and you work hard as
00:26:09.60\00:26:12.73
He worked hard, yes. So, we,
00:26:12.77\00:26:16.00
we need to insist on
that, we need to go back to
00:26:16.04\00:26:21.14
the value of work,
yeah, it's, it's so important.
00:26:21.18\00:26:26.08
And if you want to
select a good leader
00:26:26.11\00:26:29.78
you have to, to
see how he works, yeah,
00:26:29.82\00:26:33.86
because he has to
lead by example to be
00:26:33.89\00:26:38.89
a good leader,
leading by example,
00:26:38.93\00:26:41.60
through prayer,
through genuine love
00:26:43.16\00:26:46.33
and then through hard work.
00:26:46.87\00:26:48.47
So, now coming to
your question, yes. Yes,
00:26:48.84\00:26:52.44
I had the opportunity
to, to go with the young
00:26:52.47\00:26:58.28
people actually two
years ago in Minneapolis in
00:26:58.31\00:27:05.19
the deep snow I
knocked, I remember
00:27:05.22\00:27:06.55
on the door, that
cold Yeah and it was
00:27:06.59\00:27:08.39
so cold and I, they asked me to
00:27:08.42\00:27:13.16
preach and I know in
the afternoon it will
00:27:13.19\00:27:16.40
be going out,
yeah, and I challenged
00:27:16.43\00:27:18.73
them and said,
yeah I will join you,
00:27:18.77\00:27:20.84
right, and I did.
I was so impressed
00:27:20.87\00:27:25.31
by the commitment of
these young people in
00:27:25.34\00:27:28.28
the deep snow, knocking on door,
00:27:28.31\00:27:30.55
I saw them; I was
one of them, yeah.
00:27:30.58\00:27:33.62
And, and that really
inspired me to see young
00:27:33.65\00:27:38.85
people and, and then recently
00:27:38.89\00:27:41.99
as we said,
actually it was just amazing.
00:27:42.02\00:27:45.89
They, they brought 38
buses to bring the young
00:27:46.96\00:27:51.80
people to knock on doors, yes,
00:27:51.83\00:27:54.57
but we did not
have enough buses,
00:27:55.67\00:28:00.24
about 400 young people
they had to walk to go,
00:28:00.71\00:28:05.18
to go to their
places, right, of,
00:28:05.21\00:28:07.52
assigned to
them, not enough buses,
00:28:07.55\00:28:09.95
not enough buses.
So, people these young
00:28:09.98\00:28:12.82
people they just loved
to go out and reach out
00:28:12.85\00:28:15.86
to get addresses for
Bible studies and so on,
00:28:16.56\00:28:19.59
it was so inspiring,
I was so revived, yes.
00:28:20.06\00:28:24.43
And, and again
that's work, that's putting,
00:28:24.97\00:28:28.04
that's putting some
feet on, on the, on the,
00:28:28.07\00:28:32.34
the subject of
getting the gospel out.
00:28:32.37\00:28:34.54
It, it definitely,
definitely, yeah. You,
00:28:34.58\00:28:37.01
you know, Dr. Edwin
R. Thiele was professor
00:28:37.05\00:28:40.85
at Andrews, he was towards
00:28:40.88\00:28:42.22
the end of his
years, he was even
00:28:42.25\00:28:43.89
beyond retirement,
he was still teaching at
00:28:43.92\00:28:45.92
Andrews and I was
there. And what a Godly man,
00:28:45.95\00:28:49.89
yes, but a man who
really truly understood
00:28:49.92\00:28:52.93
these principles that
you're talking about and
00:28:52.96\00:28:55.00
how important work was?
00:28:55.03\00:28:58.10
He was giving an illustration,
00:28:58.50\00:29:00.04
he said that one
time when he first started
00:29:00.97\00:29:04.04
teaching at Andrews
it was EMC back in the
00:29:04.07\00:29:06.71
old days when he
first started teaching, yes,
00:29:06.74\00:29:08.91
he said that there
was a fire across the area
00:29:09.28\00:29:13.45
and that was a field
between the college and
00:29:13.48\00:29:16.15
where the house was on fire,
00:29:16.18\00:29:18.92
there were two young
man that ran out of the
00:29:18.95\00:29:21.16
dormitory and they
started running towards
00:29:21.19\00:29:23.06
the fire and one
of them said, wait,
00:29:23.09\00:29:25.99
lets stop and
pray. And the other said;
00:29:26.03\00:29:29.36
no let's pray
while we run. Yes, yes.
00:29:30.17\00:29:32.83
And Dr. Thiele
used that as an example,
00:29:32.87\00:29:35.50
he said we've got to
pray while we run and it's
00:29:35.54\00:29:39.77
amazing as a young
minister, I like that,
00:29:39.81\00:29:42.84
and that's
different. And that just a,
00:29:42.88\00:29:44.65
a young business man
and wherever I've been
00:29:44.68\00:29:46.31
found myself I've
often found my best prayer
00:29:46.35\00:29:49.48
time was in my
car, on my way to try to
00:29:49.52\00:29:52.89
reach somebody for
Christ. And in other words
00:29:52.92\00:29:56.36
praying while
you're running, yes,
00:29:56.39\00:29:58.36
and I think God
honors that kind of thing,
00:29:58.39\00:30:02.20
of course there's
time for us to be quiet
00:30:02.23\00:30:04.03
and come apart,
yes, and you take the
00:30:04.10\00:30:06.10
word of God and
just study and the pray,
00:30:06.13\00:30:08.17
but there is also
the time for action where
00:30:08.20\00:30:11.21
we get out, yes,
and share the Gospel.
00:30:11.24\00:30:14.44
And, and talk to
him like Nehemiah,
00:30:14.48\00:30:16.91
a top leader in the
Bible, he prayed hard
00:30:16.95\00:30:21.68
and he worked hard
and, yeah, He worked
00:30:21.72\00:30:24.85
with people and you,
you, we saw the result.
00:30:24.89\00:30:28.39
Yes, a very
successful result. Yes.
00:30:28.42\00:30:31.76
Well, some of
those young people that
00:30:31.79\00:30:33.86
went out that
afternoon had their whole lives
00:30:33.90\00:30:37.50
changed,
definitely, by what they,
00:30:37.53\00:30:40.24
by going and being
involved in sharing
00:30:40.27\00:30:43.04
the Gospel.
Because the best in reach
00:30:43.07\00:30:45.74
is outreach,
yeah. The best way to be
00:30:45.77\00:30:49.31
strong and the
faith that used to share,
00:30:49.34\00:30:51.68
yes, that faith.
That's right. So, I saw young
00:30:51.71\00:30:54.55
people energized
and talking and very
00:30:54.58\00:30:59.35
enthusiastic by
they're willing by three
00:30:59.39\00:31:02.52
children they went out as well.
00:31:02.56\00:31:04.46
They did really. They
were excited, yeah, yeah.
00:31:04.49\00:31:08.06
How old are you
children? Actually one is 24,
00:31:08.10\00:31:12.03
turned 25 and one is
21, okay, and the last one
00:31:12.07\00:31:19.64
will be 20 this coming February.
00:31:19.67\00:31:22.71
Wow! Yes, and they
enjoyed being involved.
00:31:22.74\00:31:25.65
So, all of them
are young adults.
00:31:25.68\00:31:27.65
Yeah, yeah. And
enjoyed sharing the good news.
00:31:27.68\00:31:31.45
Yes, and then God
has the great story of
00:31:31.49\00:31:35.46
salvation is so
great, definitely.
00:31:35.49\00:31:38.69
And I would say to
those of you at home,
00:31:38.73\00:31:40.26
if you are depressed,
if you are discouraged,
00:31:40.30\00:31:44.30
if you don't have
meaning in your life,
00:31:44.33\00:31:48.04
go visit people,
go to a hospital, yes,
00:31:48.07\00:31:53.24
and just visit
with people and go to a
00:31:53.27\00:31:55.08
nursing home
and pray for people.
00:31:55.11\00:31:57.51
Believe me they'll be
glad that you're there
00:31:57.55\00:31:59.91
or just go knocking
on the doors of people
00:31:59.95\00:32:03.08
and knock on the door and say,
00:32:03.12\00:32:04.45
hey I'm your
neighbor, I just want to come by
00:32:04.49\00:32:06.96
and get acquainted with you.
00:32:06.99\00:32:08.79
And if they don't invite you in,
00:32:08.82\00:32:10.36
have a little prayer
for them right at the door,
00:32:10.39\00:32:12.49
but as you began
to talk to people,
00:32:12.53\00:32:14.93
you began to share with people,
00:32:14.96\00:32:16.83
you'll see what it
will do for you. Yes.
00:32:16.87\00:32:19.30
Because there is something about
00:32:19.33\00:32:20.97
when you go to try
to bless others God
00:32:21.00\00:32:24.24
blesses you. That is
the best way to be blessed,
00:32:24.27\00:32:28.34
yeah, and to be a
blessing. It is, yes.
00:32:28.38\00:32:30.58
You know, in, in
the GYC and with the
00:32:30.61\00:32:33.45
young people,
what were some of the
00:32:33.48\00:32:34.82
things that really moved you
00:32:34.85\00:32:37.49
or impressed you there?
00:32:37.52\00:32:39.65
First of all as I
said, this going out.
00:32:39.69\00:32:44.69
You see, young
people some of them even
00:32:44.73\00:32:48.60
below 18 going out,
preaching the Gospel,
00:32:48.63\00:32:52.93
knocking on
doors, committed to the
00:32:52.97\00:32:56.24
work of God, and
that is, that impressed
00:32:56.27\00:32:58.61
me a lot. Yeah. And
also the, the interest
00:32:58.64\00:33:04.48
they have in the things of God.
00:33:04.51\00:33:07.15
You see, early morning devotion,
00:33:07.18\00:33:10.39
yeah, they were
there. They were there?
00:33:10.42\00:33:13.02
Yes, they were there
and I said, this is good,
00:33:13.05\00:33:17.13
yeah, to see these
young people waking
00:33:17.16\00:33:20.26
up early in the morning, yes,
00:33:20.30\00:33:22.23
for listen to the,
the word of God that
00:33:22.26\00:33:26.33
was impressive. That
age, their enthusiasm
00:33:26.37\00:33:30.81
it is actually, it
gives hope. Yeah, it does.
00:33:30.84\00:33:34.84
It gives hope. I
was so pleased to see
00:33:34.88\00:33:38.25
the young people.
And so, impressed,
00:33:38.28\00:33:40.55
yeah, yeah. You
know, what amazing thing
00:33:40.58\00:33:43.82
to me is about
6000 young people, yes,
00:33:43.85\00:33:48.79
were there and when
people looked at them
00:33:48.82\00:33:52.56
they said you know,
I was talking to people
00:33:52.59\00:33:55.93
in the hotel and they
said, we can't believe
00:33:55.96\00:33:58.10
these young
people, they were singing
00:33:58.13\00:34:01.17
down there is a big
area bar kind of area,
00:34:01.20\00:34:04.94
yes, and the lobby
out that at one end
00:34:04.97\00:34:07.64
and one end there
is a bar, at the other
00:34:07.68\00:34:09.81
end there is a
little like open restaurant
00:34:09.84\00:34:11.81
type place
where people could buy
00:34:11.85\00:34:13.75
soft drinks and milk
and whatever they wanted.
00:34:13.78\00:34:16.65
And, and there were
a lot of chairs around,
00:34:16.69\00:34:19.45
there was a piano
there, yes, and they
00:34:19.49\00:34:22.32
took over that
piano, really I, good to see
00:34:22.36\00:34:25.59
that, and
started singing Gospel,
00:34:25.63\00:34:27.93
Gospel songs, and
there were several
00:34:27.96\00:34:30.97
probably at
sometimes maybe 200 young
00:34:31.00\00:34:33.27
people sitting
around there singing,
00:34:33.30\00:34:36.30
it's amazing that
pretty soon the bar
00:34:36.34\00:34:40.38
close down, really?
I mean there was nobody
00:34:40.41\00:34:43.58
at the bar. The bartender was
00:34:43.61\00:34:45.68
still there and she
was just sitting back
00:34:45.71\00:34:47.95
and listening to
the young people,
00:34:47.98\00:34:49.58
but there was nobody
there drinking anymore.
00:34:49.62\00:34:52.75
That was
impressive. And, and they were
00:34:52.79\00:34:54.32
just singing about
Jesus Christ, about
00:34:54.36\00:34:58.19
Jesus Christ,
from their hearts, from
00:34:58.23\00:34:59.56
their hearts.
And, and, and the way,
00:34:59.59\00:35:01.46
the look on
their faces and the way
00:35:01.50\00:35:04.03
they dressed and
the way they carry
00:35:04.07\00:35:06.50
their Bibles. You
know, they would come
00:35:06.53\00:35:07.94
in with their
Bibles, yes, and they would
00:35:07.97\00:35:10.14
sit down and
everybody in there looked like,
00:35:10.17\00:35:14.11
yeah, had a Bible,
yes. And they were opening
00:35:14.14\00:35:17.28
it up and whenever
the pastors would give
00:35:17.31\00:35:20.62
out some word and,
and these are mostly
00:35:20.65\00:35:23.65
young people that
were preaching although
00:35:23.69\00:35:25.49
David Asscherick had
the meetings at night,
00:35:25.52\00:35:27.56
yes, they were
fantastic. Oh! Yes,
00:35:27.59\00:35:30.63
yeah. And some of you saw those,
00:35:30.66\00:35:32.53
in fact I've had
people ask me why, why
00:35:32.56\00:35:36.46
did you have to cut
those off? And I, I had,
00:35:36.50\00:35:39.30
I hesitate to take
the time to explain it,
00:35:39.33\00:35:41.64
but when they plan
these meetings they
00:35:41.67\00:35:44.81
tell us, you buy so
much satellite time,
00:35:44.84\00:35:48.31
so we buy the
satellite time and we're not
00:35:48.34\00:35:51.78
the ones turning it
off, it's the satellite,
00:35:51.81\00:35:54.05
the satellite, so
we go ahead and put our
00:35:54.08\00:35:56.95
deal there our, our credits.
00:35:56.99\00:35:59.75
However, we
continued to tape everything,
00:35:59.79\00:36:03.79
so all of it is
available on DVD,
00:36:03.83\00:36:06.96
if you contact us
here you, one of the
00:36:07.00\00:36:09.03
subject you want
to hear all of it,
00:36:09.06\00:36:10.80
you call us at
3ABN and tell them what
00:36:10.83\00:36:14.07
subject you
wanted to hear and they
00:36:14.10\00:36:16.50
will get you a copy
of the DVD that covers
00:36:16.54\00:36:20.58
that particular
service. And we on Sabbath
00:36:20.61\00:36:26.55
morning, we
anticipated that and so,
00:36:26.58\00:36:30.22
we arranged with
the satellite people to
00:36:30.25\00:36:33.39
extend 30 minutes,
but so you have give
00:36:33.42\00:36:35.82
them notice ahead
of time, that's true,
00:36:35.86\00:36:38.39
for them to do
that, and satellite time
00:36:38.43\00:36:40.73
by the way is very expensive.
00:36:40.76\00:36:42.26
So, you don't just
buy it for 24-hours, yes,
00:36:42.30\00:36:44.77
you buy exactly
time you think you need,
00:36:44.80\00:36:47.57
you think you
need. And then we bought
00:36:47.60\00:36:48.94
an additional 30
minutes for Saturday night,
00:36:48.97\00:36:51.57
so that David Asscherick
would not be you know,
00:36:51.61\00:36:54.91
as through
restrained by time because we
00:36:54.94\00:36:58.48
saw that they
were not staying within
00:36:58.51\00:37:01.18
their time
boundaries they, they themselves
00:37:01.22\00:37:03.12
admitting given to us
and said, this is what,
00:37:03.15\00:37:05.82
when we're gonna
start, this is when
00:37:05.85\00:37:07.46
he'll start
preaching, this is when he's
00:37:07.49\00:37:09.29
gonna quit. Holy
Spirit had different ideas
00:37:09.32\00:37:12.06
and so it went longer,
yes. And, and I tell you
00:37:12.09\00:37:16.03
everyone of us
that were there, we were
00:37:16.06\00:37:18.53
just blessed.
I, we were blessed.
00:37:18.57\00:37:21.47
I was blessed, it
was wonderful. Yeah.
00:37:21.50\00:37:25.01
And you know their
theme it is unashamed
00:37:25.04\00:37:28.14
of the Gospel, that's right.
00:37:28.18\00:37:29.51
And that is the
powerful theme meaning,
00:37:29.54\00:37:33.35
they don't just
want to follow the crowd.
00:37:33.38\00:37:35.95
No, they don't
want just be swallowed
00:37:35.98\00:37:39.09
by the culture of
this world, right.
00:37:39.12\00:37:41.19
They want to make
a difference, yeah,
00:37:41.22\00:37:43.16
and they want to
stand for the truth, yes,
00:37:43.19\00:37:46.03
they want to be
strong in Jesus Christ.
00:37:46.06\00:37:48.83
Yeah, and this gave
them, this was where
00:37:48.86\00:37:51.37
they have the courage
to go down into the lobby
00:37:51.40\00:37:54.10
and into the bar,
yes, I mean you know,
00:37:54.14\00:37:56.54
where the bar is
right there close back
00:37:56.57\00:37:58.34
and began to sign,
they were unashamed,
00:37:58.37\00:38:01.31
yes, to sing.
They weren't down there
00:38:01.34\00:38:03.28
singing popular
songs, they weren't down
00:38:03.31\00:38:05.21
there singing
secular songs, they sat down
00:38:05.25\00:38:07.98
there singing
songs about Jesus Christ.
00:38:08.02\00:38:10.65
Yes, yes. And, and
what Christ can do to
00:38:10.69\00:38:13.36
your heart and,
and there were people
00:38:13.39\00:38:16.19
that left, they had
left that bar, but there
00:38:16.22\00:38:18.73
were more people
that came, sat down, yeah,
00:38:18.76\00:38:22.63
and just were
blessed. And that was a
00:38:22.66\00:38:26.47
weekend you
know, around January 1,
00:38:26.50\00:38:29.00
and so there were a
lot of people that were
00:38:29.04\00:38:31.27
partying and, and
they, they came into that
00:38:31.31\00:38:34.94
hotel just carrying
bags full of liquor you could
00:38:34.98\00:38:38.51
see them getting on
the elevators and some
00:38:38.55\00:38:42.35
of those people
though, saw a young people
00:38:42.38\00:38:45.69
that were
serious about Jesus, yes,
00:38:45.72\00:38:48.96
and wow! What an impact.
00:38:48.99\00:38:50.59
It was a, a powerful testimony.
00:38:50.63\00:38:53.26
I wanted just to talk
about one topic about,
00:38:53.29\00:38:57.37
about the young
people, sure, you know,
00:38:57.40\00:38:59.93
some parents they're
heart broken right now
00:39:00.04\00:39:03.47
because they did
their very best to raise
00:39:03.51\00:39:08.28
up children, but
when they reach that age
00:39:08.31\00:39:12.58
of being young
adult and they start to be
00:39:12.61\00:39:15.55
called in Jesus
Christ and start to run away
00:39:15.58\00:39:19.42
from Christ and
leave the church.
00:39:19.45\00:39:21.59
I know that can be very hard.
00:39:21.62\00:39:27.36
So, I just want
to encourage the,
00:39:27.40\00:39:30.07
their parents,
those who are in that
00:39:30.10\00:39:33.60
situation not to be discouraged.
00:39:33.64\00:39:36.40
I have discovered a
text that if you don't
00:39:36.44\00:39:39.21
mind I just want to
share that because it,
00:39:39.24\00:39:44.38
it is real, it is
in Jeremiah, Jeremiah
00:39:44.41\00:39:49.22
chapter 31 and verse 15 to 17.
00:39:49.25\00:39:54.09
Because some
people are, including some
00:39:54.12\00:39:58.26
parents are weeping
and this is a promise
00:39:58.29\00:40:02.36
that parents should
continue to, to pray
00:40:02.40\00:40:07.44
and to hang on and to have hope,
00:40:07.47\00:40:10.04
if that happens
to their children,
00:40:10.07\00:40:12.67
"thus says the
Lord, a voice was heard
00:40:12.71\00:40:16.75
in Ramah,
lamentation, and bitter weeping,
00:40:16.78\00:40:20.32
Rachel weeping for
her children; refusing
00:40:20.35\00:40:24.05
to be comforted
for her children,
00:40:24.09\00:40:26.32
because they are no more."
00:40:26.35\00:40:28.26
Of course this is
quoted in the Old Testament,
00:40:28.29\00:40:30.96
yes, but we can
apply this also when it
00:40:30.99\00:40:34.50
comes to
spiritual death and not only
00:40:34.56\00:40:37.67
physical death,
but spiritual death.
00:40:37.70\00:40:39.97
And thus says the
Lord, "Refrain your voice
00:40:40.00\00:40:44.11
from weeping, and
your eyes from tears:
00:40:44.14\00:40:48.28
for your work
shall be rewarded." Yes.
00:40:48.31\00:40:51.85
What the parents had
did trying to educate
00:40:51.88\00:40:55.95
the children,
there is a promise, yeah,
00:40:55.98\00:40:58.65
that work will be
rewarded says the Lord.
00:40:58.69\00:41:02.99
And they shall come
back, so the children
00:41:03.02\00:41:07.36
He said, they
shall come back, yeah,
00:41:07.40\00:41:09.56
that is a promise
from, from the land
00:41:09.60\00:41:13.70
of the enemy maybe
some of the children
00:41:13.74\00:41:16.24
right now they're
in the land of enemy,
00:41:16.27\00:41:18.87
but there is a
promise here said,
00:41:18.91\00:41:20.81
"They shall come
back." And then verse 17,
00:41:20.84\00:41:24.15
"There is hope in
your future, says the Lord;
00:41:24.18\00:41:28.95
that your children
shall come back to their
00:41:28.98\00:41:33.46
own border." Yes.
So, this is a powerful
00:41:33.49\00:41:36.62
promise that I want to
share with the parents.
00:41:36.66\00:41:39.69
Sometimes the
parents feel guilty,
00:41:39.73\00:41:45.30
said maybe you've
done something wrong, why?
00:41:45.33\00:41:48.67
Why is it that my
child, he does not want to
00:41:48.70\00:41:52.14
go the church
anymore, yeah, and does not
00:41:52.17\00:41:54.38
want to pray, he is
totally far from the Lord.
00:41:54.41\00:41:58.85
And it is a heart, heartbroken.
00:41:58.88\00:42:03.99
You know, I want you
to give us that text,
00:42:04.02\00:42:05.75
what is that
reference again because there
00:42:05.79\00:42:07.72
are parents at home
they need to write this down.
00:42:07.76\00:42:10.59
Yes. And they need to,
to be able to look at up
00:42:10.63\00:42:13.70
and claim that
promise and read that promise,
00:42:13.73\00:42:15.93
yeah, that's in
Jeremiah. It is in Jeremiah and
00:42:15.96\00:42:18.00
chapter 31 verse 15 to
17. Alright verse, yes.
00:42:18.03\00:42:25.34
Alright, so you
write that down Jeremiah,
00:42:25.37\00:42:27.61
the 31st chapter and
verses 15 through 17.
00:42:27.64\00:42:31.68
And the Bible
does promise us that,
00:42:31.71\00:42:33.95
it promises, if we,
we bring our children up
00:42:33.98\00:42:37.12
and I talk to
young man yesterday,
00:42:37.15\00:42:39.15
he is young and
comparison to lot
00:42:39.19\00:42:42.39
of people, he has
been married, he said,
00:42:42.42\00:42:43.96
he is getting married
now for his third time,
00:42:43.99\00:42:46.16
but he told me how
that the Lord had just
00:42:46.19\00:42:50.27
reach down and
say to him, his father
00:42:50.30\00:42:52.37
and mother loved
the Lord, committed
00:42:52.40\00:42:54.27
him to the Lord many years ago,
00:42:54.30\00:42:55.90
but he went to his own way.
00:42:55.94\00:42:57.34
And you know folks,
don't be too hard on
00:42:57.37\00:42:59.07
yourself, remember
Adam and Eve had two
00:42:59.11\00:43:01.34
children and they
didn't have television,
00:43:01.38\00:43:03.85
they didn't have
video games, they didn't
00:43:03.88\00:43:05.65
have anything like
that and yet one of
00:43:05.68\00:43:08.28
those children
followed the Lord and the other
00:43:08.32\00:43:10.69
one was a murderer.
So, you cannot don't,
00:43:10.72\00:43:14.72
don't take, be
too hard on yourself.
00:43:14.76\00:43:17.16
And you know, I
think parents sometimes
00:43:17.19\00:43:20.50
we want to take
too much credit if our
00:43:20.53\00:43:21.96
kids turn out
okay, everyone that take
00:43:22.00\00:43:24.27
too much blame, if
they don't, they're
00:43:24.30\00:43:27.00
free moral
agents, God made them,
00:43:27.04\00:43:29.64
you're a free moral
agent, you can could
00:43:29.67\00:43:32.27
still turn away
from God, no matter
00:43:32.31\00:43:33.74
how old you are,
you could do that,
00:43:33.78\00:43:35.31
if you want too
because God made us
00:43:35.34\00:43:37.01
for moral
agents. However, we know,
00:43:37.05\00:43:40.45
yes, that if
something has spark has been
00:43:40.48\00:43:44.15
put in that heart that
we believe that it will,
00:43:44.19\00:43:50.09
through constant
prayer, we need to
00:43:50.13\00:43:52.03
be praying for
these young people, yes,
00:43:52.06\00:43:54.23
that it will be
faint and that sparkle will
00:43:54.30\00:43:56.43
start to grow
and it will, it will.
00:43:56.46\00:43:58.77
So, this is a
promise, yeah, for those who
00:43:58.80\00:44:00.94
have already left,
but there is another
00:44:00.97\00:44:03.30
promise for those
who are still inside,
00:44:03.34\00:44:05.57
right they're still
in. We, we, we still,
00:44:05.61\00:44:07.71
we need the, the
battle is not over, yes,
00:44:07.74\00:44:10.65
we need to pray, so
I would like to give us
00:44:10.68\00:44:12.75
another, alright,
you see I have claimed
00:44:12.78\00:44:15.85
these promises,
okay, and this one is in
00:44:15.88\00:44:20.49
Isaiah chapter
54, Isaiah chapter 54,
00:44:20.52\00:44:25.19
okay and verse 13,
verse 13 and I read.
00:44:25.23\00:44:31.80
"All your children
shall be taught by the Lord,
00:44:31.83\00:44:36.91
yeah, and great
shall be the peace of your
00:44:36.94\00:44:40.41
children." Wow! So, I,
I'm claiming this promise,
00:44:40.44\00:44:46.75
yes. You know, in
my work I travel a lot
00:44:46.78\00:44:50.22
and I said Lord, this
is the assignment that
00:44:50.25\00:44:55.42
you've given me, I
wish I had more time,
00:44:55.46\00:44:57.63
but I'm claiming
this promise, yes,
00:44:57.66\00:45:00.56
see Lord I just want
you to be the teacher
00:45:00.60\00:45:04.20
of my children, yes, to
take care of them, amen.
00:45:04.23\00:45:07.90
And I praise the
Lord for what He has done.
00:45:07.94\00:45:10.97
He'll do it for me.
Yes, for, for those parents,
00:45:11.01\00:45:16.31
the children are
still alright spirituality.
00:45:16.34\00:45:22.18
I would like to
encourage all of us
00:45:22.22\00:45:25.09
to continue to
claim this promise,
00:45:25.12\00:45:27.79
claim this promise
because this is a battle,
00:45:27.82\00:45:30.59
we're in the
great controversy, yes,
00:45:30.63\00:45:32.69
and we, we should not,
should not stop praying,
00:45:32.73\00:45:36.00
let's pray, let's ask
God to, to help and teach
00:45:36.03\00:45:41.57
and to guide, to
protect our children,
00:45:41.60\00:45:45.04
that is our contribution
to the young people,
00:45:45.07\00:45:48.51
just imagine, if
you by the grace of God,
00:45:48.54\00:45:51.65
if you can keep all
the young people of the
00:45:51.68\00:45:54.02
church to be
active, you can think of,
00:45:54.05\00:45:58.95
of the impact of
that, yes, and that is my
00:45:58.99\00:46:02.26
dream, that yes
we're preaching outside
00:46:02.29\00:46:07.10
reaching people,
but we need to emphasize
00:46:07.13\00:46:10.50
also the fact that
we need to keep our
00:46:10.53\00:46:14.07
young people in the
church. Yeah you know,
00:46:14.10\00:46:16.81
we have maybe 20
million roughly members
00:46:16.84\00:46:20.48
something like
that. I heard this and
00:46:20.51\00:46:24.15
I cannot prove this, I
don't, don't contact me
00:46:24.18\00:46:27.12
and ask me for
proof, but I heard it from
00:46:27.15\00:46:29.98
an individual that I
trust and he said that,
00:46:30.02\00:46:32.82
he had figured
that from the beginning
00:46:32.85\00:46:35.96
and this was
several years ago that he
00:46:35.99\00:46:38.06
made this
statement, we maybe had
00:46:38.09\00:46:39.86
12 million at that
time. He said that had we
00:46:39.89\00:46:43.26
kept half of our
young people, half of our
00:46:43.30\00:46:47.07
young people
that we would have had
00:46:47.10\00:46:49.50
at that time over a
hundred million members,
00:46:49.54\00:46:51.84
if we're to just kept
half, really, even around
00:46:51.87\00:46:55.74
young people.
Well, that shows you my
00:46:55.78\00:46:58.45
friend that the
greatest place for evangelism
00:46:58.48\00:47:00.82
starts at home,
doesn't mean you're not
00:47:00.85\00:47:02.42
doing at somewhere
else, but it starts at home,
00:47:02.45\00:47:06.12
thus spend your time,
thus spend all of your
00:47:06.15\00:47:09.32
resources you can
working for the young
00:47:09.36\00:47:12.19
people that are
in your own home.
00:47:12.23\00:47:14.23
But I've really
enjoyed this discussion
00:47:14.30\00:47:16.97
with you and I, I
know that you do love
00:47:17.00\00:47:20.40
young people. I
love young people,
00:47:20.44\00:47:22.74
yeah, yes. And
the young people know
00:47:22.77\00:47:24.77
you love them. In
Minneapolis you were
00:47:24.81\00:47:28.34
one of the
speakers, I remember? Yes,
00:47:28.38\00:47:30.41
it's the divine
service after, yes, yes.
00:47:30.45\00:47:32.81
And they don't
invite very many usually
00:47:32.85\00:47:35.92
it's there, their
own or some of the real
00:47:35.95\00:47:38.42
young preachers and
you know, you're still
00:47:38.45\00:47:40.89
a young preacher, but
you know what I'm saying,
00:47:40.92\00:47:42.96
I thought that was
a great honor that you
00:47:42.99\00:47:45.99
were invited to
be a speaker to those
00:47:46.03\00:47:49.06
young people. Well,
we're praying for your
00:47:49.10\00:47:52.47
ministry. Thank you, so much.
00:47:52.50\00:47:54.40
And that God will
continue to bless all
00:47:54.44\00:47:58.14
that you're involved
with, for your family
00:47:58.17\00:48:02.18
and for those
young men in their 20s,
00:48:02.21\00:48:06.75
thank you, and we
will pray for them.
00:48:06.78\00:48:09.62
Yes I, yeah we, we
need to continue to pray,
00:48:09.65\00:48:15.79
when we look
around for example what is
00:48:15.82\00:48:20.46
going on in Haiti,
we know that we don't
00:48:20.50\00:48:23.83
have much time, and
this is the time for us
00:48:23.87\00:48:26.84
to renew our
commitment to the Lord,
00:48:26.87\00:48:29.37
that's right, and
to, to pray and to do
00:48:29.40\00:48:31.91
our very best and
ask God to fill us with
00:48:31.94\00:48:35.14
the Holy Spirit, so
that their work would
00:48:35.18\00:48:38.88
be done in no time
and we can live this place
00:48:38.91\00:48:42.78
and live the place
prepared by our Father.
00:48:42.82\00:48:47.52
Amen, well thanks
again for, for being with us,
00:48:47.56\00:48:52.39
we're gonna enjoy
some music right now.
00:48:52.43\00:48:56.16
And, and we're going
to listen as Emily Felts
00:48:56.20\00:49:00.27
Jones sings, "No
Way Around The Cross."
00:49:00.30\00:49:04.64
In the beginning,
back when it all began,
00:49:17.79\00:49:23.96
there was a Cross,
drawn on the master plan,
00:49:23.99\00:49:30.33
placed in for until eternity,
00:49:30.37\00:49:35.30
the salvation
symbol for all to see.
00:49:35.34\00:49:41.48
And there's no
way around the Cross.
00:49:41.51\00:49:46.51
All history hangs on
that tree and the shadow
00:49:46.55\00:49:53.05
falls far and wide
and covers humanity.
00:49:53.09\00:50:01.46
You can choose to
ignore but it won't go away,
00:50:01.50\00:50:07.60
it's a part of your
past, it's your future today.
00:50:07.64\00:50:12.44
'Cause there's no
way around the Cross.
00:50:12.47\00:50:18.01
Then there's an ending
for everything that's done.
00:50:22.58\00:50:29.19
And heaven is
earned. Calvary just for one.
00:50:29.22\00:50:35.63
The fate of this
world was decided there,
00:50:35.66\00:50:40.90
right from the
answer shines everywhere.
00:50:40.94\00:50:47.11
'Cause there's no
way around the Cross.
00:50:47.14\00:50:51.48
All history hangs on
that tree and the shadow
00:50:51.51\00:50:58.55
falls far and wide
and covers humanity,
00:50:58.59\00:51:06.70
you can choose to
ignore, but it won't go away,
00:51:06.73\00:51:13.10
it's a part of your
past, it's your future today.
00:51:13.13\00:51:18.04
'Cause there's no
way around the Cross.
00:51:18.07\00:51:22.31
There's no denying
the choice we must make,
00:51:22.34\00:51:29.22
'cause it stands at the end,
00:51:29.25\00:51:32.65
which end, road we take.
00:51:32.69\00:51:37.73
'Cause there's no
way around the Cross.
00:51:39.79\00:51:44.30
All history hangs on
that tree and the shadow
00:51:44.33\00:51:51.37
falls far and wide
and cover humanity.
00:51:51.41\00:51:59.91
We can choose to
ignore but it won't go away,
00:51:59.95\00:52:05.92
it's a part of our
past, it's our future today.
00:52:05.95\00:52:10.89
'Cause there's no
way around the Cross.
00:52:10.93\00:52:15.73
There's no way around the Cross.
00:52:15.76\00:52:20.64
There's just no
way around the Cross.
00:52:20.67\00:52:32.35