As you're well aware,
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we're living in
unprecedented times.
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Join us now for
Today special program.
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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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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, friends.
Welcome to 3ABN Today.
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My name is John Lomacang,
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and I have my
beautiful co-pilot with me,
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my wife, Angela. Good
to have you here, honey.
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I'm happy to be here.
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Praise the Lord for
another beautiful day.
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And we thank you
for tuning in today.
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That's right.
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And we're going to be
talking about a program
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that I know is
going to challenge you
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because each one of
us has a purpose in life,
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but not everyone
knows what that purpose is.
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And I'm just going to
narrow it right there.
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We're going to be talking about
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how every one of
you can get involved
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in some aspect of
working for the Lord.
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And our guest today
is no stranger to 3ABN,
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and I'd like to go ahead
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and just give you
a peek at who he is.
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I'm not going to talk
about what he's going to do
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and what he's doing,
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but good to
have you here, Steve.
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It's good to be
here with you at 3ABN,
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one of my
favorite places to come.
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That's right.
Always good to have you.
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Anytime you come
and people might say,
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"I know exactly
who Steve Dickman is."
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But we have a
little twist today,
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so we're going
to hold off on that.
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But thank you for
being willing to come
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and be a part of the
family on a continuous basis.
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No problem.
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Well, just to get
to the point, honey,
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what music do we have today?
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This song is a beautiful song
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and this is
something we all need.
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And it's called Give
me Jesus by Layke Jones.
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In the morning when I rise
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In the morning when I rise
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In the morning when I rise
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Give me Jesus
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Give me Jesus
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Give me Jesus
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You can have all this world
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But give me Jesus
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And when I am alone
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Oh, when I am alone
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And when I am alone
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Give me Jesus
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Give me Jesus
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Give me Jesus
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You can have all this world
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But give me Jesus
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And when I come to die
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Oh, when I come to die
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And when I come to die
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Give me Jesus
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Give me Jesus
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Give me Jesus
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You can have all this world
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You can have all this world
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You can have all of this world
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But give me Jesus
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Thank you, Layke.
And thank you, Tim.
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Both of those young men
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are very good
ministers of music.
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Yes, beautiful.
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And the song is very appropriate
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to what we're
talking about today
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because what we're
talking about today,
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we need... Jesus.
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We need Jesus to be
actively operating in
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and through our lives.
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And once again, good
to have you here, Steve.
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It is certainly good
to be here with you today.
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Now give us a little
bit of your background.
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A lot of people
when they see you say,
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"Oh, I know Steve from ASI."
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You were the
President of ASI at one time,
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but just bring us up-to-date
on what's happened in your life
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and how you've allowed the Lord
to still continue to guide you.
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So I served as
President for ASI for six years.
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That's three two-year terms
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and that was, you know, a
little opportunity for me,
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I call it, in other
words, a little challenging.
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But God is good.
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And when I started
that work with ASI,
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I almost complained
to the Lord and said,
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"Lord, this is a little much."
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But He told me, "No, I
have this under control here.
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Don't worry about it.
I've got it under control."
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He said, "Even the young
men are going to fall down
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and get weary,
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but those who wait upon the Lord
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are going to
renew their strength."
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So that's God's promise to me
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and God has been
faithful, and really love ASI.
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I'm no longer
serving as President
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but I love ASI.
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It's a great concept and
it's a powerful ministry.
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However, in the last few
months of my service with ASI,
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I was approached
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by Outpost
Centers International,
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OCI to ask if I would serve
as the new President for OCI.
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Steven Grabiner,
the former president
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was stepping aside.
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They were looking for
someone to fill that slot.
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I had been serving as
Chairman of their board
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for about 10 years
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so I was already very
familiar with the organization.
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And the Lord, kind
of, set this up in a way
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because the
relationships that I had
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built as President of ASI,
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really were
transferable to the work of OCI,
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and so it was a God thing.
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I wasn't looking
for something to do
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in addition to what
I was already doing,
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but God said, "No, I
want you to serve here."
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And so I said, "Praise the Lord.
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Let's do this together."
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Okay. Okay.
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Now, why is there a
need for an organization
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such as OCI?
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Well, think
about it for a moment,
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we have a world with
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almost 8
billion people on it now
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according to the
latest population statistics.
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We're talking about a planet
with about 8 billion people.
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On that planet, we
have an organization
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called the
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
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We have about 21 million
or 22 million members now.
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Praise God for that. Amen.
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But do you know that
since January of 2021
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until the present time,
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about 64 million new people
have arrived on planet earth?
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Oh my!
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That's not just the arrivals.
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That's the arrivals
minus those who have passed.
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So that's the net
gain in population
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over the period of
what, nine months, 10 months.
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So that's a lot of
people arriving on planet earth.
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When you compare that number
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with the number of
Seventh-day Adventist,
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it's about three times more
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than we have the
Seventh-day Adventist,
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and that's just in
the last 10 months.
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So the work before us
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of getting the
three angels' messages
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to the entire world is huge.
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It's not going to
be done by human power,
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we know that.
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It has to be a God thing,
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but human beings
have a part to play.
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We must do our part.
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And so OCI...
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Is a laypeople really.
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The essence of it is
it's a lay-led organization
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with the capacity,
the opportunity to work
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in every part of the world
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as long as we
have good relationships
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with the church.
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Right. Okay.
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And so, OCI wants to inspire
this generation of laypeople
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to help finish
the work of spreading
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the three angels'
messages to the world.
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When you're in ministry,
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and I think you can
probably identify with this.
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A lot of times
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if you're by
yourself doing something,
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you think maybe your
problems are your problems,
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and you're the only one
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that has these
kinds of problems.
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Right.
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However, when you get together
with a family of people,
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other ministry
people and began to talk,
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you realize that
problems are problems
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and they run the gamut.
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They're essentially the
same across the ministry lines.
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All right.
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So it's a real
encouragement to you.
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And so OCIs are
family of ministries,
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who have a passion
to support the work
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of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church
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to help accomplish mission.
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The current strategic plan
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of the Seventh-day
Adventist Church is,
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I will go.
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That's the theme
of it, right? Yes.
00:10:06.43\00:10:07.77
I will go.
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Well, we believe
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that the laypeople need to
be saying that differently.
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They need to be
saying not, "I will go,"
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but they need to
be saying, "I am gone.
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I am on my way."
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Yes, I like that. Amen.
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That I had the challenge.
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I'm not going to
say at some future time
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I will do this.
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I'm going to
say, "Now is the time.
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Let's do this now.
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I'm on my way." Right.
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So you don't
wait for some crisis,
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like a evac team
or to happen to say,
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"Okay, well now,
the hour has come to go
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and get involved."
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So that's
describing the mission of OCI
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to work along with
the organized church
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around the world,
maintain good relationships.
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And what actually does OCI do?
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Let's just focus on that
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because we say, "Okay,
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if they work in
along with the church,
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what makes the difference
between the two of those?"
00:11:01.09\00:11:04.63
Okay.
00:11:04.66\00:11:05.99
So OCI, the function of OCI
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is to be able to
help supporting ministries
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led by laypeople in
every country of the world
00:11:14.60\00:11:18.87
to actually have
sustainable lay ministries.
00:11:18.91\00:11:22.14
Now, when you
look at lay ministry,
00:11:22.18\00:11:24.28
a lot of times
people look at it and say,
00:11:24.31\00:11:27.12
"Well sure, if someone
would give me a budget,
00:11:27.15\00:11:30.25
I could do such
and such." Right?
00:11:30.29\00:11:32.55
The concept of OCI
is the Paul concept.
00:11:32.59\00:11:36.06
Take your tent making skills,
go to where God calls you,
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and begin to minister to people.
00:11:40.10\00:11:42.90
Paul supported himself.
00:11:42.93\00:11:45.07
Laypeople that
have skills of business
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and entrepreneurship
and other things
00:11:48.70\00:11:51.37
can be effective in ministry
while supporting themselves,
00:11:51.41\00:11:55.81
and it doesn't take the
budget away from the church.
00:11:55.84\00:11:59.68
Given this 8 billion
people that we need to reach
00:11:59.71\00:12:02.32
with the three angels' messages,
00:12:02.35\00:12:04.45
that's a pretty high task.
00:12:04.49\00:12:06.25
It's going to take more money
00:12:06.29\00:12:07.62
than the Seventh-day
Adventist Church has.
00:12:07.66\00:12:09.46
It's going to take more people
than our currently pastors.
00:12:09.49\00:12:14.00
If we said,
"Well, let's just pay
00:12:14.03\00:12:15.36
people to do it."
00:12:15.40\00:12:16.73
There's not enough money.
00:12:16.77\00:12:18.10
If we said, "Just
let the pastors do it."
00:12:18.13\00:12:19.93
There's not enough pastors.
00:12:19.97\00:12:21.30
There's about
22,000 ordained pastors
00:12:21.34\00:12:23.71
within the
Seventh-day Adventist Church,
00:12:23.74\00:12:25.27
wrapped around this globe
00:12:25.31\00:12:26.64
in different parts of the world,
00:12:26.68\00:12:28.01
so there's just not enough.
00:12:28.04\00:12:29.44
That's right.
00:12:29.48\00:12:30.81
We need to
involve the laypeople.
00:12:30.85\00:12:32.45
I remember somebody
sent me a letter once
00:12:32.48\00:12:34.75
because I made a
statement on air,
00:12:34.78\00:12:37.85
which I think
it fits right here.
00:12:37.89\00:12:39.62
I said, "I need less
members and more workers."
00:12:39.65\00:12:43.09
And somebody took
me to task on and say,
00:12:43.12\00:12:45.33
"You know not
everybody's worker."
00:12:45.36\00:12:47.63
I tend to defer on that
00:12:47.66\00:12:49.60
because Ephesians 2:10,
"For we are His workmanship,
00:12:49.63\00:12:53.94
created in Christ
Jesus for good works,
00:12:53.97\00:12:57.04
which God prepared beforehand
that we should walk in."
00:12:57.07\00:13:01.58
So it's like saying,
"I have 60 employees,
00:13:01.61\00:13:06.05
but only 22 of them work."
00:13:06.08\00:13:07.52
Well, you better
quit paying them then.
00:13:11.25\00:13:13.99
Exactly.
00:13:14.02\00:13:15.42
Can you have 40
employees just taking up space
00:13:15.46\00:13:18.79
because 20 of them
know what they have to do
00:13:18.83\00:13:20.43
and they just do it?
00:13:20.46\00:13:21.80
We have 50 employees,
but only 20 of them work.
00:13:21.83\00:13:24.07
What kind of company
success would you look for?
00:13:24.10\00:13:27.94
And I think a lot of people...
00:13:27.97\00:13:29.30
And my wife and I
because we've been in ministry
00:13:29.34\00:13:31.67
for as many years as a
pastor and pastor's wife.
00:13:31.71\00:13:34.91
We have seen that
00:13:34.94\00:13:36.28
a lot of people
just like sermons.
00:13:36.31\00:13:38.51
They like good programs.
00:13:38.55\00:13:40.15
They like good music.
00:13:40.18\00:13:41.52
It's like all the people
that come to the restaurant,
00:13:41.55\00:13:42.98
but none of them want to cook.
00:13:43.02\00:13:44.92
And not that they have
to cook but everybody has...
00:13:44.95\00:13:47.32
If I'm hearing you correctly,
00:13:47.36\00:13:48.76
the mission is not
just for the pastors.
00:13:48.79\00:13:50.43
No.
00:13:50.46\00:13:51.79
The mission is for
those who are called by God.
00:13:51.83\00:13:53.46
You know I say it this way.
00:13:53.50\00:13:55.16
You can take your Bible
00:13:55.20\00:13:56.83
and I challenge you to do
this if you're watching today.
00:13:56.87\00:13:59.63
Pick up your Bible, go
from Genesis to Revelation,
00:13:59.67\00:14:04.04
read the Bible and find out
00:14:04.07\00:14:07.18
if the people in the Bible
00:14:07.21\00:14:09.68
were the only
ones called by God.
00:14:09.71\00:14:13.25
No, the Bible was written
for all people in all time.
00:14:13.28\00:14:16.55
It's God's message to me today.
00:14:16.58\00:14:19.69
And so when I read
verses of Scripture,
00:14:19.72\00:14:21.62
like John 15:16,
00:14:21.66\00:14:24.79
and God spoke to
me through this verse,
00:14:24.83\00:14:26.66
and He said this.
00:14:26.70\00:14:28.23
He said, "You
have not chosen me,
00:14:28.26\00:14:32.07
but I have chosen you."
00:14:32.10\00:14:34.87
You know sometimes I
think we get that turned around.
00:14:34.90\00:14:36.54
We think, "I'm
doing some favor to God
00:14:36.57\00:14:39.17
by giving my service
to Him or something."
00:14:39.21\00:14:41.74
You know, that's backwards.
00:14:41.78\00:14:43.18
It is. That's right.
00:14:43.21\00:14:44.55
No, God found me,
00:14:44.58\00:14:46.38
He chose me and it was His work.
00:14:46.41\00:14:51.85
When I cooperate with Him,
00:14:51.89\00:14:54.26
there's this
transformation of my thinking
00:14:54.29\00:14:57.39
that He says, "I
didn't just choose you."
00:14:57.43\00:15:01.16
The verse goes on to
say, "But I ordained you.
00:15:01.20\00:15:04.30
You should go
and bring forth fruit
00:15:04.33\00:15:07.14
and that your
fruit should remain."
00:15:07.17\00:15:08.50
That's right.
00:15:08.54\00:15:09.87
God's idea is
00:15:09.90\00:15:11.24
that every single person
has been called to ministry.
00:15:11.27\00:15:14.74
I mean, you can
read it in Peter,
00:15:14.78\00:15:16.44
you can read it in Isaiah,
you can read it in Jeremiah,
00:15:16.48\00:15:19.95
you can read it in
almost every book of the Bible,
00:15:19.98\00:15:22.12
every story is
speaking to us as individuals.
00:15:22.15\00:15:26.55
And Jesus Himself
didn't let us off the hook.
00:15:26.59\00:15:30.49
When He was ready to
leave, what did He say?
00:15:30.53\00:15:32.36
He said, "Go ye..." Who's ye?
00:15:32.39\00:15:34.03
Why stand you gazing? Yeah.
00:15:34.06\00:15:36.80
It's time to do
something. That's right.
00:15:36.83\00:15:38.93
And so this idea
00:15:38.97\00:15:40.90
that every single
individual has been called
00:15:40.94\00:15:43.77
is something I think
we've missed just a little bit.
00:15:43.81\00:15:46.44
That's right. Wow!
00:15:46.47\00:15:50.48
Now, looking into the future,
00:15:50.51\00:15:52.91
what would you envision for OCI?
00:15:52.95\00:15:57.55
So, OCI has a vision
00:15:57.59\00:16:00.09
and the vision is that
there would be a network
00:16:00.12\00:16:05.06
of sustainable lay ministries
00:16:05.09\00:16:07.53
in every country of the world.
00:16:07.56\00:16:10.63
Now, 235
countries are identified
00:16:10.67\00:16:14.60
by the United Nations.
00:16:14.64\00:16:16.71
The Seventh-day
Adventist Church,
00:16:16.74\00:16:18.07
by the most
recent statistical report
00:16:18.11\00:16:20.64
has a work in 212
of those countries.
00:16:20.68\00:16:24.08
That means
there are 23 countries
00:16:24.11\00:16:26.51
with no Seventh-day Adventist
identified work or presence.
00:16:26.55\00:16:31.12
Now, is it possible
there could be a believer,
00:16:31.15\00:16:33.72
a Seventh-day
Adventist in some of those 23?
00:16:33.76\00:16:35.82
Yes.
00:16:35.86\00:16:37.19
But is there a thriving
network of lay ministries
00:16:37.23\00:16:42.23
working in those countries?
00:16:42.26\00:16:43.60
The answer is no.
00:16:43.63\00:16:45.13
Now, some of
them are pretty tough.
00:16:45.17\00:16:47.30
I mean, think about it.
00:16:47.34\00:16:48.67
Just say, North Korea
00:16:48.70\00:16:50.04
and see what comes to your mind.
00:16:50.07\00:16:51.41
Oh, boy.
00:16:51.44\00:16:52.77
Say Iraq, say Iran, say
Syria, say some of those names
00:16:52.81\00:16:57.61
that are just kind of stunning.
00:16:57.65\00:17:00.72
While when you
look at the presence
00:17:00.75\00:17:02.55
of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:17:02.58\00:17:05.09
in the 10/40
Window, it's pretty minimal,
00:17:05.12\00:17:08.02
honestly.
00:17:08.06\00:17:09.39
That's right.
00:17:09.42\00:17:10.76
I mean, 550 million people
00:17:10.79\00:17:14.10
scattered across
20 something countries
00:17:14.13\00:17:17.47
and really, only three
or four of those countries
00:17:17.50\00:17:20.70
have a very minimal presence
00:17:20.74\00:17:24.57
of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
00:17:24.61\00:17:27.78
So when you think
about what people are doing,
00:17:27.81\00:17:30.55
and how that work is
going to go forward...
00:17:30.58\00:17:33.42
A couple of days
ago, as a matter of fact,
00:17:33.45\00:17:34.88
maybe two or three days ago,
00:17:34.92\00:17:36.79
we were reading a
devotional together,
00:17:36.82\00:17:38.95
and it was by a man by
the name of Oswald Chambers.
00:17:38.99\00:17:41.82
And he said, "How dare we talk
00:17:41.86\00:17:44.49
of making a
sacrifice for the Son of God?
00:17:44.53\00:17:47.83
He saved us from
hell and total destruction
00:17:47.86\00:17:50.40
and we talked about
making a sacrifice for Him."
00:17:50.43\00:17:53.03
But in fact,
what you're saying is,
00:17:53.07\00:17:55.54
the Lord has
called every one of us.
00:17:55.57\00:17:57.84
The "Go ye" or the
"Go" is not for the pastors,
00:17:57.87\00:18:03.61
or the people
that are highly trained
00:18:03.65\00:18:05.61
because every one
of us can be involved
00:18:05.65\00:18:08.15
in some capacity or the other,
00:18:08.18\00:18:10.39
which will take
me to this question.
00:18:10.42\00:18:13.66
How does OCI operate to
help facilitate division of OCI?
00:18:13.69\00:18:19.66
So OCI has three strategies.
00:18:19.69\00:18:22.20
We've tried to narrow it down
so we can focus on the things
00:18:22.23\00:18:25.00
that we think
are really important.
00:18:25.03\00:18:26.80
The first strategy we
believe will be successful,
00:18:26.84\00:18:30.01
is to inspire this
generation of laypeople
00:18:30.04\00:18:35.54
to get engaged in mission.
00:18:35.58\00:18:38.18
So how do we inspire laypeople?
00:18:38.21\00:18:40.82
It's first of all, to help
them understand their calling.
00:18:40.85\00:18:45.05
So programs like this,
00:18:45.09\00:18:46.79
and other opportunities
for the OCI leadership team,
00:18:46.82\00:18:51.56
to help encourage laypeople
that they can do something.
00:18:51.59\00:18:56.60
Everyone can do something.
00:18:56.63\00:18:58.53
Everyone is called to mission,
inspiring them with that idea.
00:18:58.57\00:19:02.60
So the inspiration
is something that...
00:19:02.64\00:19:06.64
In all of these things
that I'm going to mention,
00:19:06.68\00:19:08.78
I want to just
say, first of all,
00:19:08.81\00:19:10.81
these are not human task.
00:19:10.85\00:19:12.95
They are God things.
00:19:12.98\00:19:15.18
When's the last time
00:19:15.22\00:19:16.55
a human was really able
to inspire another human
00:19:16.58\00:19:19.49
to do something for God?
00:19:19.52\00:19:21.69
You know, you hit
the nail on the head
00:19:21.72\00:19:23.66
when you said,
00:19:23.69\00:19:25.03
"This sacrifice
that Christ has made
00:19:25.06\00:19:28.16
is the real inspiration.
00:19:28.20\00:19:30.27
It's the real inspiration."
00:19:30.30\00:19:32.50
So as we read the scriptures,
00:19:32.53\00:19:35.30
and as we see God doing
what He has done for us,
00:19:35.34\00:19:39.61
we realize there's
nothing we could do
00:19:39.64\00:19:41.98
that would even put
a pebble in the water
00:19:42.01\00:19:45.35
to make a wave of some
nature compared to that.
00:19:45.38\00:19:48.78
So there's really
nothing we can do,
00:19:48.82\00:19:51.42
but God through
us can do things.
00:19:51.45\00:19:53.46
Yes.
00:19:53.49\00:19:54.82
So to inspire this
generation of laypeople,
00:19:54.86\00:19:57.09
we can do something together.
00:19:57.13\00:19:58.83
Praise God, right?
00:19:58.86\00:20:00.26
Praise God for the opportunity.
00:20:00.30\00:20:01.66
Amen.
00:20:01.70\00:20:03.03
You know, I think
there is an element
00:20:03.06\00:20:04.40
of sacrifice to it
though, and that's God ordained.
00:20:04.43\00:20:08.40
Yes, it is.
00:20:08.44\00:20:09.77
It says that we are called
to this fellowship with Christ
00:20:09.80\00:20:12.97
in His sacrifice,
00:20:13.01\00:20:14.91
and that's where our
highest joy will come from.
00:20:14.94\00:20:17.25
People want to be
happy, go do something for God.
00:20:17.28\00:20:20.38
That's right.
00:20:20.42\00:20:21.75
That's why the
Apostle Paul, Romans 12,
00:20:21.78\00:20:23.65
"Present your body
as a living sacrifice."
00:20:23.69\00:20:26.32
And a living sacrifice,
00:20:26.35\00:20:28.26
really, if you think
of the word sacrifice
00:20:28.29\00:20:30.66
in and of itself,
00:20:30.69\00:20:32.03
is in fact, giving of oneself.
00:20:32.06\00:20:34.60
That item of sacrifice,
00:20:34.63\00:20:37.00
it does not belong
to itself any longer.
00:20:37.03\00:20:39.90
It is being offered to God.
00:20:39.93\00:20:42.30
And so when we live our
lives as a living sacrifice,
00:20:42.34\00:20:45.07
we're saying, as Paul says,
00:20:45.11\00:20:47.24
"You know that you
were bought with a price."
00:20:47.28\00:20:49.78
So if somebody purchases
you or purchases your freedom,
00:20:49.81\00:20:53.98
or are paying you
an eternal dollars,
00:20:54.02\00:20:57.65
how much do you
owe that individual?
00:20:57.69\00:20:59.69
At what point can you
really return enough to say,
00:20:59.72\00:21:02.06
"Well, I've
already paid my debt.
00:21:02.09\00:21:03.46
I know you're
giving me eternity,
00:21:03.49\00:21:04.83
but I think 60 hours is enough.
00:21:04.86\00:21:06.86
I'm done."
00:21:06.90\00:21:08.23
That's why it
always irritates me...
00:21:08.26\00:21:09.60
My wife knows this
00:21:09.63\00:21:10.97
because I like to do
my frustrations at home.
00:21:11.00\00:21:14.27
He does.
00:21:14.30\00:21:15.64
But it always
irritates me when people say,
00:21:15.67\00:21:17.01
"Well, I know I
filled in office last year,
00:21:17.04\00:21:19.37
but I just want
to relax this year.
00:21:19.41\00:21:20.74
I don't want to do
anything this year."
00:21:20.78\00:21:22.11
He wants some time off. What?
00:21:22.14\00:21:23.48
Yes. It's like...
00:21:23.51\00:21:24.85
So, what if Jesus took time off?
00:21:24.88\00:21:27.18
"I really don't feel like
doing much ministry this year.
00:21:27.22\00:21:30.35
I don't have a three
and a half year stand
00:21:30.39\00:21:31.72
but I need one year just
to chill out in Capernaum.
00:21:31.75\00:21:36.29
No, we have to.
00:21:36.32\00:21:38.86
There's a passage
I want you to share
00:21:38.89\00:21:41.06
this, John 9:4.
00:21:41.10\00:21:42.43
You brought that up.
00:21:42.46\00:21:43.97
"I must work the works of Him
that sent me while it is day.
00:21:44.00\00:21:49.54
The night cometh
when no man can work."
00:21:49.57\00:21:52.64
It is coming.
00:21:52.67\00:21:54.01
You know reality night,
we associate with darkness.
00:21:54.04\00:21:59.05
And if there was ever
a time in earth's history
00:21:59.08\00:22:02.08
when it looks dark
around us spiritually speaking,
00:22:02.12\00:22:05.72
I think it's now.
00:22:05.75\00:22:07.09
Amen.
00:22:07.12\00:22:08.46
I mean, just have to listen,
you don't have to listen.
00:22:08.49\00:22:11.33
You hear it,
00:22:11.36\00:22:13.29
whether you want
to hear it or not.
00:22:13.33\00:22:14.66
The world is a pretty dark place
00:22:14.70\00:22:17.07
spiritually speaking,
00:22:17.10\00:22:18.43
and it seems like everything
has gone off the rails.
00:22:18.47\00:22:21.34
I know.
00:22:21.37\00:22:22.70
You know, what an opportunity
to be a little light?
00:22:22.74\00:22:25.31
What an opportunity
00:22:25.34\00:22:26.68
to put some light in our corner,
00:22:26.71\00:22:29.71
you know, hold up our candle.
00:22:29.74\00:22:31.75
Even if it's just a
candle, let's hold it up.
00:22:31.78\00:22:33.11
A little light, yeah.
00:22:33.15\00:22:34.78
You know, Steve, I
want to bring this point out
00:22:34.82\00:22:36.79
that you paint so beautifully
00:22:36.82\00:22:39.09
because our audience,
those who are watching
00:22:39.12\00:22:40.59
and listening to the program,
00:22:40.62\00:22:41.96
I'm sure they're part
of the vacuum of the world.
00:22:41.99\00:22:44.66
Everybody is a
part of the vacuum.
00:22:44.69\00:22:46.19
What is that vacuum?
00:22:46.23\00:22:47.56
Get up every day, go to work,
get my work done, come home,
00:22:47.60\00:22:50.83
get my paycheck at
the end of the week?
00:22:50.87\00:22:52.60
As a young man...
00:22:52.63\00:22:55.00
You know the story
where the young man,
00:22:55.04\00:22:57.21
his father said,
00:22:57.24\00:22:59.71
"When are you going to
make an impact on the world?"
00:22:59.74\00:23:01.61
And he said, "Which world?"
00:23:01.64\00:23:03.71
And so that's the reality.
Many people want the impact.
00:23:03.75\00:23:06.82
What is the
standard dream of everyone,
00:23:06.85\00:23:09.58
live your life, get
an education, get a job,
00:23:09.62\00:23:12.65
get a nice house, get married?
00:23:12.69\00:23:15.16
And what was the
question he kept asking him?
00:23:15.19\00:23:16.52
He kept saying, "Then what?"
He said, "Well, get a job."
00:23:16.56\00:23:21.10
Then what? Get married.
00:23:21.13\00:23:23.20
Then what? Get a family.
00:23:23.23\00:23:25.07
Then what? Have
some children, I guess.
00:23:25.10\00:23:28.67
Then what? Retire.
00:23:28.70\00:23:31.77
Then what? I don't know.
00:23:31.81\00:23:34.48
And so with the father...
00:23:34.51\00:23:35.84
The young man
kept asking his father,
00:23:35.88\00:23:37.21
"Then what?"
00:23:37.25\00:23:38.58
And he said, "Dad, I
want to make an impact
00:23:38.61\00:23:40.35
on the next world to
come, not just this world."
00:23:40.38\00:23:44.55
And there are many people
that are in that vacuum of,
00:23:44.59\00:23:47.79
they get two cars in the garage,
00:23:47.82\00:23:49.22
they got the house.
00:23:49.26\00:23:50.59
And maybe some of you,
00:23:50.63\00:23:51.96
depending on where
you are in the world,
00:23:51.99\00:23:53.33
may not have even those things
00:23:53.36\00:23:54.70
but you are so busy
getting ready for this world
00:23:54.73\00:23:57.53
and all that has to offer,
00:23:57.57\00:23:58.90
and pulling
everything out of the bank
00:23:58.93\00:24:01.10
that you need to
enjoy your vacation
00:24:01.14\00:24:02.67
and all those
things that we forget
00:24:02.70\00:24:05.57
that one of our main concerns
and OCI is involved in this.
00:24:05.61\00:24:09.88
I'm a pastor.
00:24:09.91\00:24:11.25
We want to work
along with people like you
00:24:11.28\00:24:14.05
to inspire our
membership and every age group,
00:24:14.08\00:24:18.45
that you may not be
able to do everything
00:24:18.49\00:24:20.29
but you can surely do something.
00:24:20.32\00:24:22.76
Speak to that.
Even if you could pray.
00:24:22.79\00:24:25.46
Even if you
could... Say it honey.
00:24:25.49\00:24:26.83
Even if you
could pray, even that.
00:24:26.86\00:24:28.20
That's right.
You can do something.
00:24:28.23\00:24:29.73
You know, God doesn't call us
00:24:29.76\00:24:31.67
all to the same work.
00:24:31.70\00:24:33.03
No.
00:24:33.07\00:24:34.40
And that's good because
then we would be kind of...
00:24:34.44\00:24:37.14
It would be pointless
00:24:37.17\00:24:38.54
for all of us to be
doing the same thing.
00:24:38.57\00:24:40.54
I have friends
00:24:40.58\00:24:41.91
that have been inspired
to do things in ministry
00:24:41.94\00:24:43.78
that I would not even consider.
00:24:43.81\00:24:45.65
I'm just going to
take this opportunity
00:24:48.85\00:24:50.22
to tell this
little story right now.
00:24:50.25\00:24:52.29
I was going to tell it later,
but I'm going to tell it now
00:24:52.32\00:24:54.26
and share it now
because it fits right here.
00:24:54.29\00:24:56.52
I was just in Bolivia recently.
00:24:56.56\00:24:58.66
And we were doing
00:24:58.69\00:25:00.03
a South American
OCI retreat there
00:25:00.06\00:25:04.03
for the ministries.
00:25:04.07\00:25:05.80
And one of these
ministries that came
00:25:05.83\00:25:08.60
was Gospel Aviation Mission.
00:25:08.64\00:25:11.34
They fly an airplane
00:25:11.37\00:25:12.71
to the remote
highlands of Bolivia
00:25:12.74\00:25:15.68
and minister to
those people there.
00:25:15.71\00:25:17.71
Now, they live at
elevations that we avoid.
00:25:17.75\00:25:21.05
Usually, when you go
above certain number of feet,
00:25:21.08\00:25:23.35
you put an oxygen mask on.
00:25:23.39\00:25:24.72
Right.
00:25:24.75\00:25:26.09
But in Bolivia, the
Andes Mountains there,
00:25:26.12\00:25:29.16
there are some very high places.
00:25:29.19\00:25:30.86
There were some Bible workers.
00:25:33.60\00:25:35.93
They're working
at, two young ladies,
00:25:35.96\00:25:38.77
at 8000 feet elevation.
00:25:38.80\00:25:41.34
Okay? Working at that.
00:25:41.37\00:25:43.10
They're working
there in a region
00:25:43.14\00:25:45.54
where it's very difficult
to get from place to place,
00:25:45.57\00:25:49.84
so they had to
learn to ride motorcycles
00:25:49.88\00:25:52.71
to go from place to place.
00:25:52.75\00:25:54.35
The plane can come in
and service and bring things,
00:25:54.38\00:25:56.62
but it can't go from
place to place like that.
00:25:56.65\00:26:01.39
Now, if you're a young lady,
00:26:01.42\00:26:03.12
and trying to do Bible work
00:26:03.16\00:26:05.29
at 8000 feet riding a motorcycle
00:26:05.33\00:26:08.23
in a very difficult situation,
00:26:08.26\00:26:11.20
you think "That's
good, that sacrifice," right?
00:26:11.23\00:26:14.34
That's enough.
00:26:14.37\00:26:15.70
That could be
enough right there.
00:26:15.74\00:26:17.07
Just do that.
00:26:17.11\00:26:18.44
So they
committed a year to do that
00:26:18.47\00:26:19.97
and it was time
for them to decide
00:26:20.01\00:26:21.54
whether they
should commit another year
00:26:21.58\00:26:23.51
or what they were going to do.
00:26:23.55\00:26:25.95
Well, they said,
00:26:25.98\00:26:27.32
"If we're going
to stay another year,
00:26:27.35\00:26:28.68
we only have one request."
00:26:28.72\00:26:31.09
And that request was,
"Send us someplace harder."
00:26:31.12\00:26:35.66
Now, that humbled me.
00:26:35.69\00:26:39.06
I said, "Lord, what am I doing?
00:26:39.09\00:26:43.10
Am I requesting someplace harder
00:26:43.13\00:26:45.37
to sacrifice for you?
00:26:45.40\00:26:47.50
Or do I think what
I've done is enough?"
00:26:47.54\00:26:49.54
This idea that
everyone has a place,
00:26:52.74\00:26:55.78
these two young ladies
00:26:55.81\00:26:57.25
have found
their spot as it were.
00:26:57.28\00:26:59.55
They're ministering to
the, some of the least of these
00:26:59.58\00:27:03.89
in this very difficult region,
00:27:03.92\00:27:06.62
and they say,
"Lord, just one more thing,
00:27:06.65\00:27:08.02
just send us someplace harder."
00:27:08.06\00:27:11.39
And to think about that,
00:27:11.43\00:27:12.96
and they're two young men
00:27:12.99\00:27:14.33
that were working
like at 12,000 feet
00:27:14.36\00:27:17.07
and that's where you
should wear an oxygen mask.
00:27:17.10\00:27:18.63
Oh, yes. You're
just about to pass out.
00:27:18.67\00:27:20.84
At 13, you need it for
sure as there's no options.
00:27:20.87\00:27:24.44
Yes, but no,
they're working at 12,000
00:27:24.47\00:27:28.11
feet
ministering to these people.
00:27:28.14\00:27:31.21
And you're thinking,
00:27:31.25\00:27:32.58
"That some of the
hard places of the earth,
00:27:32.61\00:27:34.88
where the gospel needs to go.
00:27:34.92\00:27:36.65
Though, these souls
are just important to God
00:27:36.69\00:27:38.85
as any other souls."
00:27:38.89\00:27:40.29
Now, not everybody is
going to be called to do that.
00:27:40.32\00:27:42.66
That's right. True.
00:27:42.69\00:27:44.03
Okay, they don't
have... They're not equipped.
00:27:44.06\00:27:45.43
I'm not equipped to be honest.
00:27:45.46\00:27:48.93
Don't send me to 12,000 feet,
00:27:48.96\00:27:51.10
or I will have to take
the oxygen mask with me,
00:27:51.13\00:27:55.14
or either that I'll
just take one step a day,
00:27:55.17\00:27:57.57
you know, kind of
thing. Take one step a day.
00:27:57.61\00:27:59.04
So, you know,
00:27:59.07\00:28:01.38
but everyone is called
to something different.
00:28:01.41\00:28:03.48
That's right.
00:28:03.51\00:28:04.85
So to say that we're not called,
00:28:04.88\00:28:06.92
I think, is to say the
scriptures are not true.
00:28:06.95\00:28:10.05
So if we're going to agree
that the scriptures are true,
00:28:10.09\00:28:12.59
then we're called and
each of us to do something.
00:28:12.62\00:28:15.12
Maybe it's to go to
your neighbor's door
00:28:15.16\00:28:16.49
and knock on it.
00:28:16.52\00:28:17.86
That actually might
require more courage
00:28:17.89\00:28:20.30
than going to the
highlands of Bolivia
00:28:20.33\00:28:23.97
if you're really afraid
00:28:24.00\00:28:25.33
of going to
your neighbor's door.
00:28:25.37\00:28:28.24
But it can be something simple.
00:28:28.27\00:28:30.31
It could be prayer,
just like you said it.
00:28:30.34\00:28:32.51
We need a bank of
people who are always praying
00:28:32.54\00:28:37.08
for the work that is
going on, on the frontlines
00:28:37.11\00:28:41.48
because Satan is
always on the attack.
00:28:41.52\00:28:42.85
Yes, always.
00:28:42.88\00:28:44.42
You're right, Satan is always...
00:28:44.45\00:28:45.79
Always on the attack.
Yeah, he never lets up, never.
00:28:45.82\00:28:49.62
Now, how is OCI
positioned to help ministries?
00:28:49.66\00:28:54.90
So, one of the
primary functions of OCI
00:28:54.93\00:28:57.60
is to help the
ministries for sure.
00:28:57.63\00:28:59.90
So we can give counsel,
we can give encouragement,
00:28:59.93\00:29:04.24
people that are thinking
00:29:04.27\00:29:05.61
of starting a
ministry would call us.
00:29:05.64\00:29:06.98
We've written some documents
on how to start a ministry.
00:29:07.01\00:29:10.31
But even if you read those,
00:29:10.35\00:29:12.08
you're still kind of
walking in the weeds.
00:29:12.11\00:29:14.92
You need some
encouragement along the way
00:29:14.95\00:29:17.85
that yes, if God is calling
you step out and do this.
00:29:17.89\00:29:21.46
And so just yesterday...
00:29:21.49\00:29:23.39
In fact, I know
00:29:23.43\00:29:24.76
there were a
couple of conversations
00:29:24.79\00:29:26.19
happening from our office.
00:29:26.23\00:29:27.83
Our OCI Vice President,
James Hartley told me.
00:29:27.86\00:29:30.97
He said, "I've got
two phone conferences
00:29:31.00\00:29:32.47
this afternoon,
00:29:32.50\00:29:33.84
where people want to know
00:29:33.87\00:29:35.20
how to get started in ministry."
00:29:35.24\00:29:36.57
Oh, nice.
00:29:36.60\00:29:37.94
And I got a text message
from a young lady I know,
00:29:37.97\00:29:39.77
just a night or two ago,
she said, "Please, call me.
00:29:39.81\00:29:42.74
I want to know
00:29:42.78\00:29:44.11
how to get started in ministry."
00:29:44.15\00:29:45.75
So we know there are...
00:29:45.78\00:29:48.28
This need is there for people
00:29:48.32\00:29:50.15
to know how to do
ministry more effectively.
00:29:50.19\00:29:52.65
And so OCI helps ministries
understand best practice.
00:29:52.69\00:29:57.96
There are some
things in ministry
00:29:57.99\00:29:59.33
you shouldn't do, okay?
00:29:59.36\00:30:03.13
And there's some
things you should do.
00:30:03.16\00:30:05.00
So we focus on
developing the ministries
00:30:05.03\00:30:08.14
and helping them to
understand what's best practice.
00:30:08.17\00:30:11.17
How do we see that?
00:30:11.21\00:30:12.54
How do we follow
that in the world today?
00:30:12.57\00:30:14.84
How do we, more effectively,
work alongside the church?
00:30:14.88\00:30:19.11
Sometimes there's tension.
00:30:19.15\00:30:20.48
It is the business model. Yeah.
00:30:20.52\00:30:22.38
Some of the things
that have already been tried
00:30:22.42\00:30:23.99
and didn't work...
00:30:24.02\00:30:25.35
Don't try that
again. Don't try that again.
00:30:25.39\00:30:27.29
That's a good one.
00:30:27.32\00:30:28.66
Now, what about Bible studies
00:30:28.69\00:30:30.66
and things like that and tracts?
00:30:30.69\00:30:33.16
Do you supply
that or the church?
00:30:33.19\00:30:34.86
How does that work?
00:30:34.90\00:30:36.23
Mostly those come from
OCI ministries themselves
00:30:36.26\00:30:38.67
producing things.
00:30:38.70\00:30:40.04
So if you look at the
list of OCI ministries,
00:30:40.07\00:30:42.80
there're printing
ministries, there are schools,
00:30:42.84\00:30:45.97
there are adult
training ministries,
00:30:46.01\00:30:48.21
there are lifestyle centers,
00:30:48.24\00:30:50.15
there are
vegetarian restaurants,
00:30:50.18\00:30:52.51
there are...
00:30:52.55\00:30:53.88
You name the, kind
of, the radio ministries,
00:30:53.92\00:30:56.08
and you just keep naming
00:30:56.12\00:30:57.65
the different
kinds of ministries.
00:30:57.69\00:30:59.45
And out of those 220 ministries,
00:30:59.49\00:31:01.52
there's a lot of representation
of different things
00:31:01.56\00:31:03.89
that people are doing.
00:31:03.93\00:31:05.73
So it's a very
broad spectrum of people,
00:31:05.76\00:31:09.00
who have started things
that God has called them to do,
00:31:09.03\00:31:12.43
and they are now
working together though,
00:31:12.47\00:31:15.64
with others.
00:31:15.67\00:31:17.11
I saw the power of
this when I was in Bolivia.
00:31:17.14\00:31:19.91
These ministries
are, kind of, isolated.
00:31:19.94\00:31:21.74
Some of them working way
out in the middle of nowhere,
00:31:21.78\00:31:24.81
the joy that was on their face
when they could get together,
00:31:24.85\00:31:28.78
when they could sit down
beside someone in ministry
00:31:28.82\00:31:32.65
and say,
"Brother, you're got to need
00:31:32.69\00:31:34.02
to pray for me.
00:31:34.06\00:31:35.39
I've got some real
challenges right now."
00:31:35.42\00:31:37.99
And to see them
praying together,
00:31:38.03\00:31:40.56
laughing
together, crying together
00:31:40.60\00:31:42.76
about some other challenges.
00:31:42.80\00:31:44.73
This is the essence of a
family that works together
00:31:44.77\00:31:48.57
and OCI provides that platform.
00:31:48.60\00:31:52.17
We organize a
regional conference,
00:31:52.21\00:31:55.44
or retreat time.
00:31:55.48\00:31:56.95
We invite them to come.
00:31:56.98\00:31:58.91
So we play that role,
train them for best practice,
00:31:58.95\00:32:02.98
but then make sure
you get them together
00:32:03.02\00:32:05.09
so that they can
share and encourage
00:32:05.12\00:32:07.16
and empower each other
through what they're doing.
00:32:07.19\00:32:09.42
So you have retreats. Mm-hmm.
00:32:09.46\00:32:11.33
Okay. I like that.
00:32:11.36\00:32:12.69
I'm listening to that.
00:32:12.73\00:32:14.06
That was a very good
question you asked, by the way
00:32:14.10\00:32:15.50
because people think,
pastors, for example...
00:32:15.53\00:32:20.37
You know, we
have pastors' retreat,
00:32:20.40\00:32:23.61
women's ministries,
women's ministries retreat,
00:32:23.64\00:32:25.54
men's ministries retreats.
00:32:25.57\00:32:27.44
So OCI, Outpost
Centers International,
00:32:27.48\00:32:31.55
they gather
together various times,
00:32:31.58\00:32:34.05
to say, "Well,
00:32:34.08\00:32:36.38
so you're working at 8,000 feet,
00:32:36.42\00:32:38.49
and you want a harder field.
00:32:38.52\00:32:39.85
Tell me what that's like."
00:32:39.89\00:32:41.79
And the other guy
says, "I'm a pilot.
00:32:41.82\00:32:43.93
I fly into 14,000 feet,
and we drop off supplies."
00:32:43.96\00:32:47.60
And then you begin to realize
00:32:47.63\00:32:50.73
that, "Wait a minute,
00:32:50.77\00:32:52.93
I'm praising God for
the commitment I'm making
00:32:52.97\00:32:56.91
because you are at
14,000 feet, I'm just at 8,000."
00:32:56.94\00:33:00.64
Or it could be like you said,
00:33:00.68\00:33:02.01
"It doesn't even have to
be at any altitude at all.
00:33:02.04\00:33:03.95
But I've known my
neighbor for seven years now,
00:33:03.98\00:33:07.32
I've got to do other than
help them cut their grass.
00:33:07.35\00:33:11.15
I got to talk to
them about Jesus.
00:33:11.19\00:33:12.52
How do I do that?"
00:33:12.55\00:33:14.09
And some of those are real fears
00:33:14.12\00:33:15.56
that people have,
00:33:15.59\00:33:17.23
that they feel...
00:33:17.26\00:33:18.59
And I've often
said, so how would you...
00:33:18.63\00:33:21.83
I could give the answer
00:33:21.86\00:33:23.20
but I want you to do that today.
00:33:23.23\00:33:24.57
How would you
encourage a person that said,
00:33:24.60\00:33:26.53
"Okay, what will OCI teach me
00:33:26.57\00:33:29.47
when it comes to
reaching my community?
00:33:29.50\00:33:32.41
What could they tell me?"
00:33:32.44\00:33:34.41
So the first
thing that we would do
00:33:34.44\00:33:36.41
is we would tell them to pray.
00:33:36.44\00:33:38.25
Okay. Okay.
00:33:38.28\00:33:39.68
Because their calling
to reach their community
00:33:39.71\00:33:42.78
might be
different than my calling
00:33:42.82\00:33:44.39
to reach their community
00:33:44.42\00:33:45.75
because everyone is
gifted individually.
00:33:45.79\00:33:47.46
We know that.
00:33:47.49\00:33:48.82
The second thing we
would encourage them to do
00:33:48.86\00:33:50.73
is actually go
into the community
00:33:50.76\00:33:52.23
and ask the
community, "What are your needs?
00:33:52.26\00:33:54.66
How can we help you."
00:33:54.70\00:33:56.50
To do some surveying,
look in your community and say,
00:33:56.53\00:33:59.53
"What's happening here?
00:33:59.57\00:34:00.97
How can we help you?"
00:34:01.00\00:34:02.60
And the third thing
we'd encourage them to do
00:34:02.64\00:34:04.57
is actually
take that information
00:34:04.61\00:34:07.08
and do something with it.
00:34:07.11\00:34:09.04
At OCI we have the three S rule.
00:34:09.08\00:34:11.75
What's that?
00:34:11.78\00:34:13.11
Now, the three S rule is,
00:34:13.15\00:34:15.68
if God is impressing on you
that you should do something,
00:34:15.72\00:34:20.56
don't wait for your
first million dollars
00:34:20.59\00:34:22.42
before you decide to do it.
00:34:22.46\00:34:23.79
Okay. I like that.
00:34:23.83\00:34:25.16
Okay?
00:34:25.19\00:34:27.33
If you read the Bible,
00:34:27.36\00:34:29.40
you'll find that
God asked individuals,
00:34:29.43\00:34:32.90
"What do you have in your hand?"
00:34:32.93\00:34:34.60
Yes, He does.
00:34:34.64\00:34:35.97
When He came to Moses,
00:34:36.00\00:34:37.34
getting ready to
deliver the children of Israel,
00:34:37.37\00:34:38.84
what did He say?
00:34:38.87\00:34:40.21
He said, "What do you have?"
"I've got shepherd drives."
00:34:40.24\00:34:43.48
God used that rod
to empower ministry.
00:34:43.51\00:34:46.21
Yes, He did.
00:34:46.25\00:34:47.78
When the widow came to find
out what she was going to do,
00:34:47.82\00:34:51.12
she's in a desperate situation.
00:34:51.15\00:34:52.99
She doesn't know what to do.
00:34:53.02\00:34:54.79
Her children are
getting ready to be sold.
00:34:54.82\00:34:57.99
And the prophet tells her what?
00:34:58.03\00:34:59.49
Ask her, "What do you have?"
00:34:59.53\00:35:02.86
She said, "I've
just got some oil,
00:35:02.90\00:35:04.23
one little thing of oil."
00:35:04.27\00:35:05.60
He says, "Oh, no problem."
00:35:05.63\00:35:07.47
He says, "Go and borrow
vessels and just pour it out."
00:35:07.50\00:35:11.04
So God uses what we have.
00:35:11.07\00:35:13.14
Yes, He does.
00:35:13.17\00:35:14.51
So if you're
thinking about ministry...
00:35:14.54\00:35:15.88
And, friends, I just
want to look at the camera now
00:35:15.91\00:35:17.65
and ask you a question.
00:35:17.68\00:35:20.02
If God is inspiring you
00:35:20.05\00:35:21.48
that you need to be personally
doing something for Him,
00:35:21.52\00:35:25.12
what are you waiting for?
00:35:25.15\00:35:26.86
So the first S is start soon.
00:35:26.89\00:35:30.33
Okay, start soon.
00:35:30.36\00:35:33.26
All right.
00:35:33.29\00:35:34.63
The second S is this
idea of what do you have?
00:35:34.66\00:35:37.87
Start simple, okay.
00:35:37.90\00:35:41.24
So what is it that you can do
00:35:41.27\00:35:44.77
soon and simple?
00:35:44.81\00:35:48.54
It doesn't need
to be complicated.
00:35:48.58\00:35:51.28
No.
00:35:51.31\00:35:52.65
Some people say,
00:35:52.68\00:35:54.02
"Well, when I build
my lifestyle center,
00:35:54.05\00:35:55.65
I'll start helping people
with lifestyle challenges."
00:35:55.68\00:35:58.69
That's a lot of
money and a lot of time.
00:35:58.72\00:36:00.42
That's a few million
dollars and a property
00:36:00.46\00:36:02.52
and a bunch of staff
and that kind of thing.
00:36:02.56\00:36:06.06
Well, how about
go to your neighbor
00:36:06.09\00:36:07.63
and pray with
them about problems
00:36:07.66\00:36:09.80
they may be
experiencing with their health?
00:36:09.83\00:36:13.03
So start soon, start
small and start simple.
00:36:13.07\00:36:17.61
Those are the three S's.
00:36:17.64\00:36:21.14
So don't wait.
00:36:21.18\00:36:22.51
Start soon, start
small with whatever you have
00:36:22.54\00:36:24.95
and make it simple.
00:36:24.98\00:36:26.95
Little is much
when God is in it.
00:36:26.98\00:36:28.32
Yeah, because it
doesn't get any better
00:36:28.35\00:36:33.22
if you're waiting.
00:36:33.25\00:36:34.59
No, that's true.
00:36:34.62\00:36:35.96
And, you know, we have that.
00:36:35.99\00:36:37.33
And I'm so glad
you identify that
00:36:37.36\00:36:38.69
because we have
members at our church
00:36:38.73\00:36:41.66
that are involved that way.
00:36:41.70\00:36:43.47
As matter of fact, I got a text
00:36:43.50\00:36:44.83
from one of my
members yesterday.
00:36:44.87\00:36:46.87
And when we were
involved in ministry away,
00:36:46.90\00:36:50.54
they said, "We're
ministering to our neighbors.
00:36:50.57\00:36:54.18
We introduce
ourselves to our neighbors.
00:36:54.21\00:36:58.51
And we found out
what their needs are,
00:36:58.55\00:37:01.42
came to find out that
00:37:01.45\00:37:03.12
they were not connected
to any particular church.
00:37:03.15\00:37:05.65
The wife was a
Christian, the husband wasn't
00:37:05.69\00:37:07.96
and we led the
husband to the Lord
00:37:07.99\00:37:11.83
before he passed away."
00:37:11.86\00:37:14.10
And then they said, "Well..."
00:37:14.13\00:37:16.43
So here's my role... I'm
kind of using an example.
00:37:16.46\00:37:17.97
Oh, yeah.
00:37:18.00\00:37:19.33
So my role is, "Well, Pastor,
00:37:19.37\00:37:22.87
can you give me some an outline
00:37:22.90\00:37:25.47
of what to say to this couple?
00:37:25.51\00:37:28.41
How to lead them to the
Lord." Okay, here's an outline.
00:37:28.44\00:37:32.98
I'll modify this
for your personality.
00:37:33.01\00:37:36.18
Okay, "Pastor, they just
want a graveside service."
00:37:36.22\00:37:38.95
Do you have an outline
for gravesites service?
00:37:38.99\00:37:40.32
Yes, you help with that.
00:37:40.36\00:37:41.69
Okay, great.
00:37:41.72\00:37:43.06
And now I just got a text,
00:37:43.09\00:37:45.09
"Okay, now the wife is remaining
00:37:45.13\00:37:48.26
so she wants you to
come and bless her home.
00:37:48.30\00:37:51.60
When could you come with me?"
00:37:51.63\00:37:53.23
Notice that, that's
happening right here.
00:37:53.27\00:37:55.24
That's what we're
talking about, simple.
00:37:55.27\00:37:57.11
Start soon, start
simple, start small.
00:37:57.14\00:37:59.81
It doesn't have to be gigantic.
00:37:59.84\00:38:02.04
And that was a
beautiful comparison
00:38:02.08\00:38:03.71
but that's the, kind of, thing
00:38:03.75\00:38:05.08
that we're
talking about here today.
00:38:05.11\00:38:06.45
You can say,
"Well, I could do that."
00:38:06.48\00:38:08.52
Somebody might say,
00:38:08.55\00:38:09.88
"Well, my
neighbor's lawn is always...
00:38:09.92\00:38:11.65
and they're too old to do it."
00:38:11.69\00:38:13.76
Start soon, if
they have a lawn, right?
00:38:13.79\00:38:16.42
Exactly.
00:38:16.46\00:38:17.79
"Can I cut your
lawn for you?" "Yeah."
00:38:17.83\00:38:19.89
"Can I help you
with your groceries?
00:38:19.93\00:38:22.20
I'm going to the store."
00:38:22.23\00:38:23.63
If you live in a rural area,
00:38:23.67\00:38:25.00
and there are people around you,
00:38:25.03\00:38:26.63
"I'm going to... Do
you need something?"
00:38:26.67\00:38:28.04
"Sure."
00:38:28.07\00:38:29.40
Just make connections on levels
that people have personalities
00:38:29.44\00:38:32.74
to be able to do that.
00:38:32.77\00:38:34.11
That's, kind of,
what I'm hearing you say?
00:38:34.14\00:38:36.24
You know, it's interesting
that God does not leave us
00:38:36.28\00:38:40.45
to our own devices.
00:38:40.48\00:38:42.58
He gifts us individually
00:38:42.62\00:38:45.05
and then He inspires us
with what we need to be doing.
00:38:45.09\00:38:49.52
Many times though, and
I'm guilty of this myself,
00:38:49.56\00:38:52.39
I've been hesitant
to obey God's command.
00:38:52.43\00:38:55.56
"Oh, Lord, is that You speaking
or is that somebody else?"
00:38:55.60\00:39:00.74
It was my thoughts.
00:39:00.77\00:39:02.10
Are these just my thoughts
00:39:02.14\00:39:03.47
or is this You
really speaking to me?
00:39:03.51\00:39:05.57
So I think we need to
be less hesitant to obey,
00:39:05.61\00:39:08.81
if it's in
harmony with God's Word.
00:39:08.84\00:39:10.75
I mean, if we're
not going off the rails,
00:39:10.78\00:39:12.98
and we shouldn't be doing that.
00:39:13.01\00:39:15.45
But if it's in
harmony with God's Word,
00:39:15.48\00:39:17.95
then we need to move
forward, take a step.
00:39:17.99\00:39:20.26
And the children of Israel
00:39:20.29\00:39:21.62
are standing on
that side of the Jordan,
00:39:21.66\00:39:23.53
they had to step into the water
before the waters would open.
00:39:23.56\00:39:25.63
Oh, yes, they did.
00:39:25.66\00:39:27.10
They had to take a step.
00:39:27.13\00:39:28.86
They had to start that
first, that journey was a step.
00:39:28.90\00:39:32.80
Step of faith.
00:39:32.83\00:39:34.17
So I think that's for us too.
00:39:34.20\00:39:36.57
I don't want to run past that
00:39:36.60\00:39:38.31
because here's
this huge body of water
00:39:38.34\00:39:41.94
standing before
many of us in ministry.
00:39:41.98\00:39:45.71
And we might say,
00:39:45.75\00:39:47.08
"How are we going to get
through that ocean of ministry?
00:39:47.12\00:39:51.85
Who's going to move that river?"
00:39:51.89\00:39:54.66
And the Lord says,
00:39:54.69\00:39:56.02
"Well, I'm not going to move
it if you're not going to move."
00:39:56.06\00:39:58.56
So if we move, the
Lord moves in our behalf.
00:39:58.59\00:40:04.07
He takes care of the obstacles,
00:40:04.10\00:40:05.93
if that's what
I'm hearing you say.
00:40:05.97\00:40:07.30
Now, here's another
concept I find in Scripture,
00:40:07.34\00:40:09.67
and I find also in the counsel
00:40:09.70\00:40:11.11
we have through
Spirit of Prophecy.
00:40:11.14\00:40:13.48
And that is, God
cannot work with us
00:40:13.51\00:40:16.38
if we're standing still.
00:40:16.41\00:40:18.35
Okay, so if you
think about that,
00:40:18.38\00:40:21.08
think just of a ship.
00:40:21.12\00:40:22.72
Can you steer a ship
if it's standing still?
00:40:22.75\00:40:25.15
No. You can't,
very good question.
00:40:25.19\00:40:27.39
It depends on
the ship's movement
00:40:27.42\00:40:30.33
for the rudder to have
its effect of steering.
00:40:30.36\00:40:33.80
So it's better
to make a mistake.
00:40:33.83\00:40:35.86
And I hate to say this,
but the truth is in the Word,
00:40:35.90\00:40:39.23
it's better to do
something than to do nothing.
00:40:39.27\00:40:42.24
Amen.
00:40:42.27\00:40:44.11
Now, that's challenging
00:40:44.14\00:40:45.47
because what if I
do the wrong thing?
00:40:45.51\00:40:47.11
Oh, I see.
00:40:47.14\00:40:48.48
Many of us are afraid,
00:40:48.51\00:40:49.84
"I'm going to make some
kind of terrible mistake.
00:40:49.88\00:40:51.68
I'm going to
ruin somebody's life.
00:40:51.71\00:40:53.52
Something terrible
is going to happen."
00:40:53.55\00:40:56.32
But God, somehow...
00:40:56.35\00:40:59.69
It's better for Him if
I'm moving doing something.
00:40:59.72\00:41:02.52
Exactly.
00:41:02.56\00:41:03.89
Then He can say,
"Well, that's not exactly
00:41:03.93\00:41:05.26
what I wanted you to do.
00:41:05.29\00:41:06.63
But now I can help you
because you did something
00:41:06.66\00:41:09.16
and you learn from
that so I can help you.
00:41:09.20\00:41:11.27
We can steer you a
little in this direction."
00:41:11.30\00:41:13.34
As Danny says, "The
blessings is," what?
00:41:13.37\00:41:15.97
"On the go." Yeah.
00:41:16.00\00:41:17.41
And that's
throughout the Scripture,
00:41:17.44\00:41:18.97
the blessing is on the go.
00:41:19.01\00:41:20.48
That's a wonderful concept.
00:41:20.51\00:41:22.81
Let me see,
here's another question.
00:41:22.84\00:41:26.15
What is a specific
example of a ministry
00:41:26.18\00:41:28.28
and how it could be blessed
by joining the OCI family?
00:41:28.32\00:41:33.99
So people might have ministry,
00:41:34.02\00:41:36.06
how could they
expand that blessing
00:41:36.09\00:41:38.49
by joining the OCI family?
00:41:38.53\00:41:41.46
Okay, so the first
blessing from my standpoint
00:41:41.50\00:41:44.37
is that idea of the family.
00:41:44.40\00:41:47.44
By joining an
organization like OCI,
00:41:47.47\00:41:52.07
you are suddenly
introduced to other people
00:41:52.11\00:41:55.74
who are doing ministry.
00:41:55.78\00:41:57.31
And while it may not be
exactly what you're doing,
00:41:57.35\00:42:00.88
those challenges of
ministry run pretty true.
00:42:00.92\00:42:05.59
They're just always there.
00:42:05.62\00:42:06.96
Maybe it's a financial problem.
Maybe it's a people problem.
00:42:06.99\00:42:09.36
Maybe it's
whatever kind of problem,
00:42:09.39\00:42:11.33
but they're across the board.
00:42:11.36\00:42:13.23
When you get
together with your family,
00:42:13.26\00:42:15.46
what does it feel like?
00:42:15.50\00:42:18.07
It's a joyous
day, right? Happy, yes.
00:42:18.10\00:42:19.67
I mean, during the
last year and a half or so
00:42:19.70\00:42:21.87
has been a lot of
isolation through the pandemic
00:42:21.90\00:42:24.27
and we've realized the
benefit of being together.
00:42:24.31\00:42:28.24
We can join online,
we can do things online,
00:42:28.28\00:42:30.58
we can do zoom,
we can do whatever
00:42:30.61\00:42:32.31
but you know, that's
not like being there.
00:42:32.35\00:42:34.68
When you get
together physically...
00:42:34.72\00:42:36.92
And I'm going to go back
to this example in Bolivia.
00:42:36.95\00:42:39.49
We just did this conference
that's fresh in my mind.
00:42:39.52\00:42:43.36
There was one of the ministries
experiencing a real challenge,
00:42:43.39\00:42:47.53
a very
challenging moment in time.
00:42:47.56\00:42:50.50
And the persons were
sharing their testimony.
00:42:50.53\00:42:52.87
And they would
just begin to weep
00:42:52.90\00:42:55.20
as they share their testimonies,
00:42:55.24\00:42:56.57
some of the
challenges they were having.
00:42:56.60\00:42:58.17
And another ministry
leader came up beside him
00:42:58.21\00:43:00.31
and they prayed together.
00:43:00.34\00:43:01.98
You know that's
the kind of thing
00:43:02.01\00:43:04.35
that can happen in a family,
00:43:04.38\00:43:06.25
where you're
together with other people,
00:43:06.28\00:43:08.08
who are
passionate about ministry,
00:43:08.12\00:43:09.75
are sympathetic with you.
00:43:09.78\00:43:11.49
So that is an element that
00:43:11.52\00:43:14.59
it's not some,
kind of, tangible thing
00:43:14.62\00:43:16.83
but it may be
00:43:16.86\00:43:18.19
the most
important thing, actually.
00:43:18.23\00:43:19.73
That's right.
00:43:19.76\00:43:21.26
Now, what other
benefits are there?
00:43:21.30\00:43:23.80
OCI is also a
channel of blessing,
00:43:23.83\00:43:28.84
when I say that
we can receive funds
00:43:28.87\00:43:34.44
and transfer
funds to, at this point,
00:43:34.48\00:43:37.98
pretty much every
country in the world.
00:43:38.01\00:43:39.95
We have a system in place
00:43:39.98\00:43:42.02
so we can receive
donations stateside.
00:43:42.05\00:43:44.29
I see.
00:43:44.32\00:43:45.65
It's not like, "Okay,
I want to send some money
00:43:45.69\00:43:47.02
to this ministry I saw on
3ABN and they're in Africa."
00:43:47.06\00:43:50.83
You know, okay,
how do you do that?
00:43:50.86\00:43:53.19
Well, the ministry
may have a website,
00:43:53.23\00:43:55.23
they may have it all worked out
00:43:55.26\00:43:56.60
and everything may work good.
00:43:56.63\00:43:57.97
But if not, you can go to
OCI and say, "Is this person,
00:43:58.00\00:44:01.90
is this ministry
a member of OCI?"
00:44:01.94\00:44:04.24
"Oh yeah, they are."
00:44:04.27\00:44:05.71
"Fine, then let me
send some funds to you.
00:44:05.74\00:44:09.11
And I want you to transfer
those funds to this ministry
00:44:09.14\00:44:12.85
so that they can
do this project."
00:44:12.88\00:44:15.08
Oh, fine no problem,
we can help you with that.
00:44:15.12\00:44:17.19
I like that.
00:44:17.22\00:44:18.55
And OCI is also the
accountability partner.
00:44:18.59\00:44:22.02
So when those
funds are transferred,
00:44:22.06\00:44:24.16
we don't just
transfer them and say,
00:44:24.19\00:44:25.73
"We wonder what
happened with that money."
00:44:25.76\00:44:27.83
We follow up, they
have to send a report in.
00:44:27.86\00:44:30.70
They have to say specifically
00:44:30.73\00:44:32.10
what they're going
to use the funds for
00:44:32.13\00:44:34.14
and then send pictures or report
00:44:34.17\00:44:36.54
and say, "This
project is now complete.
00:44:36.57\00:44:39.11
Here's the
picture of the building,
00:44:39.14\00:44:40.48
or here's the orphans
smiling after they got water
00:44:40.51\00:44:43.14
or, you know, whatever it is.
00:44:43.18\00:44:45.21
Here's the Bible
workers at 8,000 feet,
00:44:45.25\00:44:47.88
distributing
toothbrushes to children
00:44:47.92\00:44:50.65
that didn't have toothbrushes,"
00:44:50.69\00:44:52.49
whatever it is.
00:44:52.52\00:44:53.86
It gives some
accountability to the ministry,
00:44:53.89\00:44:56.86
and to the donors,
00:44:56.89\00:44:58.23
it gives some
satisfaction as well.
00:44:58.26\00:44:59.69
Right, they know
their funds are not just...
00:44:59.73\00:45:01.66
I know people get
phone calls to donate.
00:45:01.70\00:45:06.03
You know so many scams
00:45:06.07\00:45:07.94
phone calls are going on around.
00:45:07.97\00:45:09.40
Even while our sermon
is going forth on YouTube,
00:45:09.44\00:45:13.91
people are wanting to
have us text money to them
00:45:13.94\00:45:16.24
in their app on their phone.
00:45:16.28\00:45:18.78
You know, "I'm in
this particular state.
00:45:18.81\00:45:20.28
I need this, I need that,
00:45:20.32\00:45:22.05
could you send me
cash through the cash app?"
00:45:22.08\00:45:24.45
And they got all
these ministries to do that.
00:45:24.49\00:45:25.82
And it's kind of like, you
know, what's the word used,
00:45:25.85\00:45:29.59
shake you down.
00:45:29.62\00:45:31.06
And I like to...
00:45:31.09\00:45:32.79
I'm listening to partnership,
00:45:32.83\00:45:35.26
that's the one thing
that OCI offers help.
00:45:35.30\00:45:37.87
If you have challenges,
I talk about my challenges,
00:45:37.90\00:45:40.07
you talk about your challenges,
00:45:40.10\00:45:41.44
we begin to
encourage one another and say,
00:45:41.47\00:45:43.04
"I'm praying for you, brother."
00:45:43.07\00:45:44.41
Or we pray right there.
00:45:44.44\00:45:45.77
The other one,
physical gatherings.
00:45:45.81\00:45:47.41
That's something
that's really encouraging.
00:45:47.44\00:45:49.64
And then funds allocating,
00:45:49.68\00:45:51.71
that's huge
because not everybody...
00:45:51.75\00:45:54.08
And we've had those
situations where people say,
00:45:54.12\00:45:56.32
"How are you going to
send this to that country?"
00:45:56.35\00:45:58.62
We say, "Well, I don't know.
00:45:58.65\00:45:59.99
I mean, somebody
donated all these money."
00:46:00.02\00:46:01.46
Like someone we know,
00:46:01.49\00:46:02.96
they are sending money to
Africa on a regular basis.
00:46:02.99\00:46:06.59
But I said, "To
me, it's not safe.
00:46:06.63\00:46:09.13
You need to go through
a channel that's safe."
00:46:09.16\00:46:11.30
Why, because they're
sending it to an individual
00:46:11.33\00:46:12.67
that they have never met?
00:46:12.70\00:46:14.30
That they don't know?
00:46:14.34\00:46:16.07
And that's not accountability.
00:46:16.10\00:46:17.71
No, that's no
accountability there
00:46:17.74\00:46:19.87
and it's
dangerous, very dangerous.
00:46:19.91\00:46:21.24
Right and they just send
pictures every now and then.
00:46:21.28\00:46:23.71
But we say, "Is
this person connected
00:46:23.75\00:46:25.38
with any particular..."
00:46:25.41\00:46:26.75
"No, this is their
own individual ministry."
00:46:26.78\00:46:28.58
"How do you know that
00:46:28.62\00:46:29.95
they're using
the funds for that?"
00:46:29.98\00:46:31.32
"Well, I take
their word for it."
00:46:31.35\00:46:32.75
That's not what
we're talking about.
00:46:32.79\00:46:34.12
You can take a
picture of anything.
00:46:34.16\00:46:35.49
Thank you.
00:46:35.52\00:46:36.86
So to know them individually,
and when a person applies,
00:46:36.89\00:46:39.56
there's a process.
00:46:39.59\00:46:40.93
It's not just
that they can apply
00:46:40.96\00:46:42.30
and get approved immediately.
00:46:42.33\00:46:43.67
There's a process.
00:46:43.70\00:46:45.03
We want to know,
00:46:45.07\00:46:46.40
are they working
well with the church?
00:46:46.43\00:46:47.77
Do we have pastoral support,
00:46:47.80\00:46:49.14
you know, that
this is a ministry
00:46:49.17\00:46:50.51
that's working well and
functioning in a good way?
00:46:50.54\00:46:54.04
And so, again,
there's some accountability
00:46:54.08\00:46:56.81
to make sure that
00:46:56.85\00:46:58.18
the ministries are
really aligning themselves
00:46:58.21\00:47:00.58
with the mission of the church.
00:47:00.62\00:47:01.95
Do you have evangelistic series?
00:47:01.98\00:47:04.85
So we have done projects before
00:47:04.89\00:47:06.62
where we have taken and...
00:47:06.65\00:47:09.59
Number of years ago,
00:47:09.62\00:47:10.96
there's a
project like in Honduras.
00:47:10.99\00:47:12.83
We did invite all
the OCI ministries,
00:47:12.86\00:47:14.36
let's just all go to
Honduras, let's do evangelism.
00:47:14.40\00:47:16.40
So I don't know how
many series there was,
00:47:16.43\00:47:18.37
but 20, 30, 40 series
of evangelistic meetings
00:47:18.40\00:47:21.64
held in one
country kind of a focus.
00:47:21.67\00:47:24.04
We haven't done that in a
while but that's the kind of...
00:47:24.07\00:47:26.91
It can be done.
00:47:26.94\00:47:29.01
Mostly at this point,
00:47:29.04\00:47:30.51
we're focused on
helping the ministries,
00:47:30.55\00:47:32.25
inspiring additional
ministries to get started,
00:47:32.28\00:47:35.25
and giving them
tools to empower them,
00:47:35.28\00:47:38.55
and also creating partnerships.
00:47:38.59\00:47:40.62
One of our partnerships
that we're very careful with
00:47:40.66\00:47:44.23
is our 3ABN
partnership, honestly.
00:47:44.26\00:47:46.86
That's right.
00:47:46.90\00:47:48.23
So we want to have a
strong partnership with 3ABN.
00:47:48.26\00:47:52.50
We want to make sure
that we're helping 3ABN,
00:47:52.53\00:47:55.87
and that 3ABN
in this partnership
00:47:55.90\00:47:58.87
we work well together.
00:47:58.91\00:48:00.24
That's right.
00:48:00.28\00:48:01.61
And so, it's just an example,
00:48:01.64\00:48:02.98
we just recently
working in the country of India.
00:48:03.01\00:48:07.25
Now, India is
1.38 billion people,
00:48:07.28\00:48:12.15
okay?
00:48:12.19\00:48:13.52
1.38 billion people,
second most populated country
00:48:13.56\00:48:17.16
on planet earth.
00:48:17.19\00:48:18.53
Second. Yeah, second.
00:48:18.56\00:48:19.89
What's first?
China's first, 1.42 billion.
00:48:19.93\00:48:22.56
So they're
running neck and neck.
00:48:22.60\00:48:24.30
India's
population is growing faster
00:48:24.33\00:48:26.43
so they're going to catch up.
00:48:26.47\00:48:27.80
Pretty soon,
India is going to be
00:48:27.84\00:48:29.17
the most populous
country on planet.
00:48:29.20\00:48:31.07
Okay.
00:48:31.11\00:48:32.44
Well, what are we doing there?
00:48:32.47\00:48:34.14
Do we have a thriving network
of sustainable lay ministries?
00:48:34.18\00:48:37.38
No, but we would like to.
00:48:37.41\00:48:39.75
We just formalized an agreement
00:48:39.78\00:48:42.05
with the Southern Asia division,
00:48:42.08\00:48:44.49
to work with them to help
do this in their division.
00:48:44.52\00:48:47.49
They want it to happen.
00:48:47.52\00:48:48.86
We want it to
happen. Let's work together.
00:48:48.89\00:48:51.43
Let's figure this out.
00:48:51.46\00:48:52.79
How can we help to
inspire more laypeople in India
00:48:52.83\00:48:56.43
to do ministry
00:48:56.46\00:48:57.80
because the power
is not for Americans
00:48:57.83\00:49:00.67
to go to India and do ministry?
00:49:00.70\00:49:02.34
The power is to help
train the people in India
00:49:02.37\00:49:05.91
to do ministry in India.
00:49:05.94\00:49:07.44
In their own
culture they understand.
00:49:07.48\00:49:08.81
They already speak the language.
00:49:08.84\00:49:10.18
They already know the culture.
00:49:10.21\00:49:11.55
They already
understand the challenges.
00:49:11.58\00:49:14.08
You know, they don't have
to go through that process.
00:49:14.12\00:49:16.89
There's a closed
country near India
00:49:16.92\00:49:18.92
that we're currently working in
that has some real challenges,
00:49:18.95\00:49:23.02
but it is a very closed country.
00:49:23.06\00:49:25.46
But God is
opening some doors there
00:49:25.49\00:49:27.73
for ministry through some,
00:49:27.76\00:49:31.07
will say unconventional ways.
00:49:31.10\00:49:34.10
We praise God for that,
00:49:34.14\00:49:36.00
that OCI can be a part
of encouraging ministry
00:49:36.04\00:49:40.18
and working alongside
places where it's just hard.
00:49:40.21\00:49:43.31
Yeah.
00:49:43.35\00:49:44.68
Before we go to our break,
00:49:44.71\00:49:46.05
I want to ask you
a personal question.
00:49:46.08\00:49:47.42
Why do you work with OCI?
00:49:47.45\00:49:49.52
What personal
engagement do you have?
00:49:49.55\00:49:52.75
I know you're the President,
00:49:52.79\00:49:54.46
but how is it
enhancing your own life?
00:49:54.49\00:49:58.93
You know, when I
was praying about
00:49:58.96\00:50:00.83
whether to take on
this responsibility,
00:50:00.86\00:50:04.20
I had to have a
few prayer meetings
00:50:04.23\00:50:06.00
with the Lord.
00:50:06.03\00:50:08.77
Oh, yes.
00:50:08.80\00:50:10.14
And to analyze, "Okay God,
00:50:10.17\00:50:13.21
You've given me
certain gifts and talents.
00:50:13.24\00:50:15.61
You've given me a
certain path in life here.
00:50:15.64\00:50:18.61
This seems to be going
beyond where I was thinking."
00:50:18.65\00:50:23.45
But as I
understood the vision of OCI,
00:50:23.49\00:50:26.72
and as I really
prayed about that,
00:50:26.76\00:50:29.59
I realized that God had
set this up to a degree.
00:50:29.62\00:50:34.06
And that to say no
to God at this point
00:50:34.10\00:50:36.10
would be a very bad thing.
00:50:36.13\00:50:39.77
You know, I felt
like God was calling.
00:50:39.80\00:50:42.94
And when I get
up in the morning,
00:50:42.97\00:50:45.37
and I think about my day,
00:50:45.41\00:50:47.54
and I pray about what
I'm going to do that day,
00:50:47.58\00:50:50.85
I have peace
00:50:50.88\00:50:52.78
because I know the job
is much bigger than I am.
00:50:52.81\00:50:56.35
I don't have the skills,
I don't have the talents,
00:50:56.38\00:50:59.05
I don't have the
abilities to create
00:50:59.09\00:51:01.32
somehow this
network of lay ministries
00:51:01.36\00:51:03.43
in every country of the world.
00:51:03.46\00:51:05.06
This is got to be a God thing.
00:51:05.09\00:51:07.53
And to have the opportunity
to work alongside God
00:51:07.56\00:51:11.87
in these plans,
just it fills the cup
00:51:11.90\00:51:16.84
of knowing that you
have a purpose in life.
00:51:16.87\00:51:20.58
I think you
mentioned that earlier.
00:51:20.61\00:51:22.61
And what we're going to do is
00:51:22.64\00:51:24.31
I want to just
appeal to our viewing
00:51:24.35\00:51:25.95
and listening audience
00:51:25.98\00:51:27.55
because we have
another two minutes segment
00:51:27.58\00:51:29.38
on the other side.
00:51:29.42\00:51:30.75
But you've heard that
00:51:30.79\00:51:32.12
the Lord can use you
in powerful amazing ways.
00:51:32.15\00:51:35.79
We want you to think about
what you've heard thus far.
00:51:35.82\00:51:38.53
And right after our news break,
00:51:38.56\00:51:40.30
we're going to come back
with some closing thought
00:51:40.33\00:51:42.46
to give you some impetus ways
00:51:42.50\00:51:44.77
of how you can
personally get involved.
00:51:44.80\00:51:47.67
Don't go away,
we'll be right back.
00:51:47.70\00:51:50.91
If you would like
to contact or know more
00:51:50.94\00:51:53.04
about Outpost
Centers International,
00:51:53.07\00:51:55.41
you can do so in
a variety of ways.
00:51:55.44\00:51:57.61
You can write to them at
5132, Layton Lane, Apison,
00:51:57.65\00:52:02.08
Tennessee 37302.
00:52:02.12\00:52:05.35
You can call
them at 423-236-5600.
00:52:05.39\00:52:10.79
That's 423-236-5600
00:52:10.83\00:52:16.03
or visit their
website, outpostcenters.org
00:52:16.06\00:52:20.04
That's outpostcenters.org
00:52:20.07\00:52:23.54
or send them an email,
steve@outpostcenters.org
00:52:23.57\00:52:28.38
That's steve@outpostcenters.org
00:52:28.41\00:52:32.31