¤ I want to spend my
life mending broken people ¤
00:00:04.70\00:00:15.38
¤ I want to spend
my life removing pain ¤
00:00:15.41\00:00:26.15
¤ Lord let my words
heal a heart that hurts ¤
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¤ I want to spend my
life mending broken people ¤
00:00:36.97\00:00:57.22
¤ ¤
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Hello and welcome to 3ABN Today.
I'm Jason Bradley and I'm so
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glad that you've decided to join
us once again as you do each and
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every day. Thank you for
your prayers and your financial
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support that makes programs like
this possible. Today we're going
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be talking about some amazing
things that are taking place in
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Europe. And here with
me, I have Joakim Hjortland.
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Did I say that right?
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You did well. Thank you.
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That was a nice way of saying no
but you made it. Thank you. It's
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great to have you here. You're
the director of AFCOE in Europe.
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And I want to like get into your
testimony, find out a little bit
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about your background and your
journey and how you got involved
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but we're going to be blessed in
song first and we're going to be
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blessed in song by Hope
Vasquez and she will be singing
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In Christ Alone.
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¤ ¤
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¤ In Christ alone
my hope is found ¤
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¤ He is my rock,
my strength, my song ¤
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¤ This
cornerstone, this solid ground ¤
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¤ Firm through the
fiercest drought and storm ¤
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¤ What heights of
love, what depths of peace ¤
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¤ When fears are
stilled, when strivings cease ¤
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¤ My comforter, my all in all ¤
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¤ Here in the power
of Christ, I stand ¤
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¤ ¤
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¤ In Christ alone
who took on flesh ¤
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¤ Fullness of God
in helpless babe ¤
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¤ This gift of
love and righteousness ¤
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¤ Scorned by the
ones He came to save ¤
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¤ Till on that
cross as Jesus died ¤
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¤ The wrath of
God was satisfied ¤
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¤ For every sin
on Him was laid ¤
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¤ Here in the
death of Christ, I live ¤
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¤ ¤
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¤ There in the
ground, His body lay ¤
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¤ Light of the
world, by darkness slain ¤
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¤ Then bursting
forth in glorious day ¤
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¤ Up from the
grave, He rose again ¤
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¤ And as He stands in victory ¤
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¤ Sin's curse has
lost its grip on me ¤
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¤ For I am His and He is mine ¤
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¤ Bought with the
precious blood of Christ ¤
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¤ No guilt in
life, no fear in death ¤
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¤ This is the
power of Christ in me ¤
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¤ From life's first
cry to final breath ¤
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¤ Jesus commands my destiny ¤
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¤ No power of
hell, no scheme of man ¤
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¤ Can ever pluck
me from His hand ¤
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¤ Till He returns
and calls me home ¤
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¤ Here in the love
of Christ, I'll stand ¤
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Wow, that is such a beautiful
song with a powerful message.
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It's almost like the gospel
contained within a song. Joakim
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I want to find out a little bit
about your background. Were you
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always a Christian. What
was your upbringing like?
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Grew up in an Adventist
Christian family but I like to
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say that God has no
grandchildren, He only has
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children. To me, I would
say when I was 17 years old
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God drastically changed
the direction of my life.
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My big passion was
to win soccer games,
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score soccer goals and pursue my
dream to become a professional
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soccer player. But God changed
my passion towards winning souls
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for Him and when you think about
it to be ambassadors for Christ
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there's no greater privilege,
no greater joy, nothing more
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exciting nothing more meaningful
to be involved with and since
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then I like the acronym FAITH
stands for Fantastic Adventures
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In Trusting Him. Since
then basically, God has led me
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through so many faith
adventures in His service.
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Yes, yes, absolutely. So how
did he grab hold of your life
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because you wanted to be this
famous you know super successful
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soccer player. How did
God grab ahold of your life?
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Good question. It was a process.
It took some years but I started
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to read the Bible every day. I
read through the Bible in a year
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I joined a Bible study group
in Bible prophecy. I attended a
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camp meeting, some inspiration
week of prayer, some powerful
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preaching, like appealing to
you to commit your life to serve
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God and I'm like whoa God is
the same today. He wants to use
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us. The Book of Acts. We can
continue writing that book you
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know. Things like that.
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Did some of the lessons that you
learned as a child, did those
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come into play later on in life?
You know, did you fall back on
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the teachings of your parents?
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I'm very thankful for everything
I learned. It's definitely a
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solid foundation and many
principles. It helped me in so
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many ways for sure.
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Okay, now Europe. Let's
talk about Europe a little bit.
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Europe used to be a
Christian stronghold didn't it?
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Yeah. Europe and Scandinavia
used to start strong, it used to
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be a Christian stronghold
and during the protestant
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reformation of course God worked
powerfully in Europe, also in
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Scandinavia specifically.
There's an interesting statement
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in the book The Great
Controversy that talks about
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the role of Sweden. It was the
armies of Sweden that enabled
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Germany to turn the tide
of popish success, to win
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toleration for the
Protestants... and to restore
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the liberty of conscience
to those countries that had
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accepted the Reformation.
So the armies of Sweden had an
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important victory there but also
during the Advent movement. You
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have read probably about Advent
the child criers in Sweden and
we had 100s of them
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that were miraculously used by
God to preach the Advent message
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right and some of them are
quite close to where I grew up.
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A fascinating story is how God
used those children to proclaim
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the message but also later
on in the Advent movement as it
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started to develop and spread
the first official missionary
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sent from the Adventist church
was sent to Europe and the first
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actually publishing house
started outside of the U.S.
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outside of East Scandinavia. Not
only that the first publishing
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house, the first publication
periodical that was not in
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English was in the Scandinavian
language, the first Adventist
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school, the first Adventist
Sanitarium outside of America
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all of this was in Scandinavia.
So Europe and Scandinavia
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started strong but unfortunately
that's not where we are today.
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When you look at Europe today
you see that it's not what it
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used to be. For instance Ellen
White says that...she wrote
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actually in her time already
she said 20 could be more easily
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reached in America than one here
she said of Europe. It's exactly
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the same today but probably
about some parts of the world
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for sure and when you look at it
actually, in Europe, there are
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742 million people today and
only 309,000 Adventists so that
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is 0.04 percent of the
population in Europe are
Adventists and it's
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similar in Scandinavia and
in three countries. In Denmark
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there are about 10,000
Adventists in all of those
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countries. And so among
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the Adventists in Europe the
Adventist identity is quite weak
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and also the continent is very
secular. Actually when you look
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at secularism the two most
secular continents in the world
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is Europe and Australia. And
I did a little bit of research.
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I've had my statistics like this
before but I found out according
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to the worldpopulationreview.
com Sweden is the second-most
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most secular countries all over
the world and according to a
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2023 Gallup International Survey
Sweden was the country with the
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highest percentage of sickness
and stated that they do not
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believe in God. So the situation
today is quite difficult in
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Europe. It's quite tough.
It's not what it used to be. We
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started very strong but we
are not there today. I think I
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should probably not say this but
I think it's time to make Europe
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and Scandinavia a great
success. Not really. But to make
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Christianity (multiple voices)
To make Jesus and His end time
00:11:01.19\00:11:05.86
message (indistinct)
00:11:05.89\00:11:07.23
Amen, amen. So what do you think
happened. Where did the fall or
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or the disconnect take place.
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That's a good question. Actually
recently I read about this book
00:11:14.07\00:11:18.17
The Nation That Forgot God.
About Sweden. I'm sure it's a
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long process and I think
he talks about he wrote that
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PhD about this. I
think he talks about
00:11:24.65\00:11:26.31
the influence of the
government and socialism.
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I think that's is
at least part of it.
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But we are one of the few
countries with crosses in the
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flag today but um yeah.
Something I like to say also
00:11:34.19\00:11:40.26
today. I don't know if you
know how to make the devil mad.
00:11:40.30\00:11:42.20
How do you make
the devil mad, tell us.
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There are several
things but one thing...
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Well let me start by saying
this Do you know what Jesus,
00:11:46.74\00:11:50.51
Luther, Hitler, Ellen White
and the Jesuits have in common?
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I have no idea.
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They all viewed education
as vitally important. They all
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really valued that education
played a key role in what they
00:12:02.95\00:12:06.76
accomplished for good or
for bad You know look at Jesus'
00:12:06.79\00:12:10.06
education was specifically a
mission training but a crucial
00:12:10.09\00:12:13.53
role in Jesus' ministry and
the founding of the church. It's
00:12:13.56\00:12:16.23
estimated that he spent 70 to 90
percent of his time with the 12.
00:12:16.26\00:12:20.87
His priority was not so much
reaching the masses as it was
00:12:20.90\00:12:25.37
training the few and working on
instead of addition, he focused
00:12:25.41\00:12:28.84
on multiplication. Paul's
Ministry in the early church the
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taking of the gospel to the
world in one generation. Maybe
00:12:33.21\00:12:36.05
recently I started with the book
of Ephesians, I noticed very
00:12:36.08\00:12:40.76
interesting in Acts 19 it
talks about how Paul is teaching
00:12:40.79\00:12:44.36
at the school of Tyrannus. He's
teaching there for two years and
00:12:44.39\00:12:47.90
the result says that all
of Asia was reached with the
00:12:47.93\00:12:51.20
gospel, Asia Minor today. But
as a result of his training in
00:12:51.23\00:12:54.84
that school whatever he taught
that mission training basically
00:12:54.87\00:13:00.34
reached...led to reaching a
large area with the gospel. And
00:13:00.38\00:13:03.08
then of course when we look
at the reformation, education
00:13:03.11\00:13:05.31
played an important role.
00:13:05.35\00:13:06.68
Also in the counterreformation
actually when the Jesuits from
00:13:06.72\00:13:09.52
the Catholic church
tried to destroy what had been
00:13:09.55\00:13:12.35
accomplished through the
reformation, they focused
00:13:12.39\00:13:15.59
a lot on education. Also in the
beginning of the Advent movement
00:13:15.62\00:13:18.59
we are told very interesting,
that when it comes to the
00:13:18.63\00:13:21.96
finishing of the work education
will play a clear role.
00:13:22.00\00:13:25.33
Ellen White says that with
such an army of workers as our
00:13:25.37\00:13:28.77
youth how soon the message will
reach the world long-distance
00:13:28.80\00:13:31.11
will return.
00:13:32.94\00:13:34.28
She said things like in
Evangelism p. 109 she says
00:13:34.31\00:13:35.71
things like one
00:13:35.74\00:13:37.15
worker that is trained can
accomplish more than 10 workers
00:13:37.18\00:13:40.12
without training. And there's
one statement in the Ministry of
00:13:40.15\00:13:43.62
Healing that is very interesting
She says many would be willing
00:13:43.65\00:13:47.42
to work if they were taught
how to begin. They need to be
00:13:47.46\00:13:52.26
instructed and encouraged. I
think that's true. Sometimes we
00:13:52.29\00:13:54.03
go to maybe somebody watching
the experience, you go somewhere
00:13:54.06\00:13:57.40
you hear an inspiring message
like man I want to work with
00:13:57.43\00:14:00.47
God. I want to win souls. And
you want to do something but the
00:14:00.50\00:14:02.74
problem many times is we are
willing but we don't know how
00:14:02.77\00:14:07.68
to do it, you know.
00:14:07.71\00:14:09.81
You know what else too? I think
that sometimes we end up in the
00:14:09.84\00:14:13.68
situation where we become
overwhelmed and we start...we
00:14:13.72\00:14:16.55
get into this place of analysis
paralysis. And so we're starting
00:14:16.58\00:14:22.19
to look at all these things like
should I do this or should I go
00:14:22.22\00:14:25.29
in this
direction so we don't move.
00:14:25.33\00:14:27.96
We have to do it perfectly,
right. Yeah. So I like to tell
00:14:28.00\00:14:32.77
people hey if you want to make
Satan mad you know one of the
00:14:32.80\00:14:36.47
best things you can do is to
go to our mission school. It's
00:14:36.77\00:14:41.28
played an essential role up
through history and it will do
00:14:41.31\00:14:43.11
in the closing work on this
earth. If you want to make a
00:14:43.14\00:14:47.18
difference in this world, if you
want to serve God, if you want
00:14:47.22\00:14:48.78
to live for what really matters,
go to a mission school. On the
00:14:48.82\00:14:52.79
other hand if you want to
live a boring life, a normal
00:14:52.82\00:14:55.06
ordinary life, without purpose,
00:14:55.09\00:14:57.96
without meaning, I have a
health tip for you, don't go
00:14:57.99\00:15:00.23
to a mission school,
don't learn how to work for God,
00:15:00.26\00:15:02.93
don't learn how to win souls.
00:15:02.96\00:15:04.30
Yes, yes, yes, no we want
that exciting lead people to
00:15:04.33\00:15:08.37
Christ life.
00:15:09.30\00:15:10.64
That's what it's all about
I love that, I love that. So
00:15:10.67\00:15:13.21
let's talk about
AFCOE. What is AFCOE about?
00:15:13.24\00:15:16.48
Maybe we can start with...I have
a short promo over there video
00:15:16.51\00:15:19.35
that we could roll.
00:15:19.38\00:15:20.95
Absolutely. Let's take
a look at that video now.
00:15:20.98\00:15:22.78
¤ ¤
00:15:22.82\00:15:32.09
The early church consisted of
thousands of active lay people.
00:15:32.13\00:15:35.06
that was personally
sharing the good news
00:15:35.10\00:15:36.77
about God. What if
the same can happen today?
00:15:36.83\00:15:43.97
At AFCOE we have great classes
ranging on topics from Spirit of
00:15:44.01\00:15:48.44
Prophecy to personal evangelism.
Another big blessing is to be
00:15:48.48\00:15:54.25
around people that are mission
minded people that are willing
00:15:54.28\00:15:57.55
to do the mission work and put
in practice everything that they
00:15:57.59\00:16:00.19
learned in classes.
00:16:00.22\00:16:01.76
Before coming to AFCOE I didn't
know how to do mission work.
00:16:01.79\00:16:05.93
And I was afraid to do it. But
now I know. I'm no longer afraid
00:16:05.96\00:16:12.20
Have you ever asked yourself how
could I be able to do that, to
00:16:12.23\00:16:16.74
be able to share
God's love for others.
00:16:16.77\00:16:19.31
I have never grown so much in
my life for fear can possess me,
00:16:19.34\00:16:23.85
from discouragement,
perseverance and from insecurity
00:16:23.88\00:16:28.35
to leadership skills.
00:16:28.38\00:16:30.39
It's been such an incredible
blessing so see how when we ask
00:16:30.42\00:16:34.72
God to send us people, He'll
be faithful and true and He will
00:16:34.76\00:16:39.83
send us people at the
right time in the right place.
00:16:39.86\00:16:42.06
Leading a person to find what
you've found in Jesus, there's
00:16:42.10\00:16:47.64
nothing better than that.
00:16:47.67\00:16:49.94
If there's one thing I've
learned about AFCO is that the
00:16:49.97\00:16:52.11
harvest is great,
00:16:52.14\00:16:53.48
it's truly plentiful
and empowered by the Spirit
00:16:53.51\00:16:56.71
harvesting doesn't
have to be difficult.
00:16:56.75\00:16:59.01
By taking part in God's work
and seeing all the wonderful
00:17:00.02\00:17:03.59
and powerful
00:17:03.62\00:17:05.25
things are that He has
done my faith has grown
00:17:05.29\00:17:07.72
like never before.
00:17:07.76\00:17:09.16
Inspiration tells us that when
the members of the Church of God
00:17:09.22\00:17:10.83
do their part the whole world
would soon be reached and the
00:17:13.83\00:17:18.00
Lord will return to this earth
in power and great glory. Now
00:17:18.03\00:17:23.10
it's exciting to see how God is
working across Europe and around
00:17:23.14\00:17:26.94
the world today to raise up
such an army of workers. Now my
00:17:26.98\00:17:33.28
question to you is this: Do
you want to be a part of this?
00:17:33.31\00:17:42.29
¤ ¤
00:17:42.32\00:17:47.13
Wow, I love that. What would you
add to that? What is the vision
00:17:47.16\00:17:50.63
motto, what is the
program at AFCOE all about?
00:17:50.67\00:17:53.57
Yeah, good question. So it's
a four-month missionary training
00:17:53.60\00:17:57.84
program based in South Sweden
you can see the map up here,
00:17:57.87\00:18:02.11
very close to Denmark.
It's like Scandinavia in modern
00:18:02.14\00:18:05.51
Europe and in one sentence
well our slogan is basically
00:18:05.55\00:18:10.29
Training Tomorrow's Soul Winners
Today. Training Tomorrow's Soul
00:18:10.32\00:18:13.59
Winners Today. That's very much
the focus. It's a very practical
00:18:13.62\00:18:17.03
program. It blends classes and
lots of practical outreach by
00:18:17.06\00:18:20.30
going out where we're reaching
people. And there's been
00:18:20.33\00:18:23.26
exciting classes on an
interesting topics we are
00:18:23.30\00:18:26.74
covering in the course and
here are some of them: Personal
00:18:26.77\00:18:30.21
and Public Evangelism, Bible
Boot Camp, Gaining Decisions,
00:18:30.24\00:18:33.34
Spirit of Prophecy, Daniel and
Revelation. Exciting biblical
00:18:33.38\00:18:36.51
topics that are
important for our time.
00:18:36.54\00:18:37.88
But I can very much
focus on the Practical.
00:18:37.91\00:18:41.25
And it's all in
English. Both the program the
00:18:41.28\00:18:44.89
classes the outreach works well.
It's a university town. Most
00:18:44.92\00:18:49.42
Swedes understand English pretty
well so English works really
00:18:49.46\00:18:50.96
well. I have a few pictures also
just to give you a glimpse of
00:18:50.99\00:18:55.70
how it looks like.
00:18:55.73\00:18:57.17
So yeah here are some pictures
from the previous courses and
00:18:57.20\00:19:03.51
the last course, some of
that and some of the activities
00:19:03.54\00:19:05.81
and some snapshots basically
00:19:05.87\00:19:10.41
and two of the students
last year also got baptized.
00:19:10.45\00:19:15.38
I have a picture of that as
well. So lots of nature, lots of
00:19:15.42\00:19:17.85
outreach (indistinct). Yeah
00:19:17.89\00:19:20.89
Here's two of the students who
got baptized. Daniel and Lucas.
00:19:20.92\00:19:23.26
Actually, Lucas has no Christian
background at all. Swedish
00:19:23.29\00:19:26.56
family. He through
YouTube basically got converted.
00:19:26.59\00:19:29.90
Then he heard about
through Amazing Facts
00:19:29.96\00:19:32.47
he heard about AFCOE
Europe in Sweden, actually
00:19:32.50\00:19:34.80
three hours away from where he
lived. So he came to us and got
00:19:34.90\00:19:38.14
baptized. Now he's a powerful
preacher, he's a Bible worker
00:19:38.17\00:19:40.38
Yeah, it's fun to see. It's a
great time, great fellowship and
00:19:40.41\00:19:46.95
like one of the former students
put it, he said: Are you bored?
00:19:46.98\00:19:55.29
Go to AFCOE, he said.
That was his brief testimony.
00:19:55.32\00:19:58.93
Other testimonies someone said,
00:19:58.96\00:20:01.76
this was the most
powerful experience of my life.
00:20:01.80\00:20:03.97
I have tears in my eyes when
I think about how good God is to
00:20:04.27\00:20:07.70
me for sending me here. The
training course was excellent
00:20:07.74\00:20:11.14
and I'm beginning to gain
confidence which is something
00:20:11.17\00:20:13.38
big for me. This experience
inspired me to decide to share
00:20:13.41\00:20:16.98
the gospel with all of my
friends that show interest in it
00:20:17.01\00:20:18.35
and commit my life fully to
God and his work. I absolutely
00:20:18.38\00:20:21.48
recommend this program. So we
praise God for what he has done
00:20:21.52\00:20:24.55
so far and we have a great team
Obviously, it takes a team to do
00:20:24.59\00:20:31.33
all of these things. Here is the
Board from the beginning of this
00:20:31.36\00:20:36.03
year. Some of the faces here.
Shawn Ostrum Amazing Facts. He's
00:20:36.06\00:20:39.90
on our board. Also Bobby Schlund
00:20:39.93\00:20:41.77
is the Union President in
Sweden We're happy for the
00:20:41.80\00:20:43.77
cooperation with the church and
00:20:43.81\00:20:46.68
then there is a general
(indistinct) which is a kind of
00:20:46.71\00:20:50.55
an ex-convict courtroom
which I wish they wouldn't
00:20:50.58\00:20:52.51
be here but great soul-winners
experience in God's work.
00:20:52.55\00:20:56.58
Yes absolutely. You know one of
the things that I love is that
00:20:56.62\00:20:59.05
not only are you teaching in the
classroom and all of that but
00:20:59.09\00:21:02.99
you guys are also bonding
outside of the classroom and
00:21:03.02\00:21:05.86
forging those long-lasting
relationships and making a
00:21:05.89\00:21:08.73
difference for Christ.
Tell us how it started.
00:21:08.76\00:21:12.57
Yeah, it's a long story. I will
give you the short version of
00:21:12.60\00:21:15.60
it. Basically Don and Jonathan
for 10 years they have wanted
00:21:15.64\00:21:19.91
to start a
00:21:19.94\00:21:21.28
mission school. They've been
involved in Bible work and soul
00:21:21.31\00:21:23.68
winning and mentoring
people and shared resources. But
00:21:23.71\00:21:28.18
basically, in 2021, we teamed
up. I came back from America, I
00:21:28.22\00:21:31.69
had been studying there and
we decided to team up to work
00:21:31.72\00:21:34.02
together to start a mission
school. As many times it's good
00:21:34.06\00:21:39.79
to do we started small, simple
and soon after we decided to
00:21:39.83\00:21:43.23
do this. Actually, here you see
one of the first buildings we
00:21:43.26\00:21:47.67
had, it is very humble place.
Very nice place out in the
00:21:47.70\00:21:51.94
Sweden. It's like two summer
cabins so It's a bit cold in the
00:21:51.97\00:21:55.51
winter. They are simple
conditions, we had the living
00:21:55.54\00:21:59.05
room and eating room in the same
room with the same tables for
00:21:59.08\00:22:01.98
classes and
eating. But it worked out.
00:22:02.02\00:22:04.62
We had the first class. We had
seven students. We did not have
00:22:04.65\00:22:09.92
much time to prepare. Seven
students from six countries.
00:22:09.96\00:22:13.60
We actually got the key
00:22:13.63\00:22:14.96
to the last house the day
the students arrived and we
00:22:15.00\00:22:19.97
really had to...we got the bank
account when it was one month
00:22:20.00\00:22:21.37
left on the course. And we
had two volunteers. It was an
00:22:21.40\00:22:24.97
interesting beginning.
But pioneer, it has the charm
00:22:25.01\00:22:28.38
and God blessed
00:22:28.41\00:22:30.75
and we considered him in
everything throughout the
00:22:30.78\00:22:32.21
process. You know one
thing we have a prayer meeting
00:22:32.25\00:22:36.12
with the extended team.
00:22:36.15\00:22:37.49
One thing we prayed for was a
van. Two days later a van I've
00:22:37.52\00:22:41.72
never seen was parked outside
the AFCOE place and was donated
00:22:41.76\00:22:44.76
to us. We're very thankful for
to God for getting us that van.
00:22:44.79\00:22:49.16
And since we started, we
started small but it has been
00:22:49.20\00:22:53.03
growing ever since. And one of
the students from the first year
00:22:53.07\00:22:56.34
Nadja is her name, she has
an exciting testimony. She was a
00:22:56.37\00:22:59.44
18 when she came. It was a
miracle how she ended up there
00:22:59.47\00:23:02.61
but that's another story. Anyway
she was 18. After the course she
00:23:02.64\00:23:05.98
went back to Austria where she
is from and she was on fire. She
00:23:06.01\00:23:09.88
started preaching in the church
you know and she revived the
00:23:09.92\00:23:12.95
Church and engaged them in
evangelism. She preached like
00:23:12.99\00:23:15.42
a couple of times every month
for the next half a year like in
00:23:15.46\00:23:18.99
different churches when she came
back and people made decisions
00:23:19.03\00:23:22.66
through her preaching. She was
giving Bible studies to lots of
00:23:22.70\00:23:25.33
people. And less than a year
after she came to AFCOE they had
00:23:25.37\00:23:31.54
11 baptisms, one of them is the
next one on the picture that you
00:23:31.57\00:23:34.28
saw there a girl with a Catholic
background. Four of those 11
00:23:34.31\00:23:40.02
people she started with in this
camp were baptized with a local
00:23:40.05\00:23:44.09
church and one of them was a
Catholic background, young lady,
00:23:44.12\00:23:48.52
and yeah it's an interesting
story. So they studied for many
00:23:48.56\00:23:50.83
months so they prayed for
her and she actually got a dream
00:23:50.86\00:23:53.50
in the end that helped her
00:23:53.53\00:23:55.40
like God spoke to her through
a dream as well and convinced
00:23:55.43\00:24:00.04
her this is the place I want you
to go. I want you to join this
00:24:00.07\00:24:01.94
church and it
was exciting to see.
00:24:01.97\00:24:04.57
So God's hand has been all in
this, I mean, from the van being
00:24:04.61\00:24:08.14
parked outside that's incredible
You just prayed for a van and
00:24:08.18\00:24:12.21
then the van is parked outside.
Yes, that is absolutely amazing.
00:24:12.25\00:24:16.05
Tell us about the church plant
because you're working with a
00:24:16.08\00:24:19.05
new church plant, correct?
00:24:19.09\00:24:20.79
Yes we are working with the
Lund church and South Sweden.
00:24:20.82\00:24:25.69
It's actually a newly planted
church. It's two years old
00:24:25.73\00:24:32.27
actually and it's actually the
first planted church in Sweden
00:24:32.30\00:24:36.00
in like 10-plus years.
It's not very common to
00:24:36.04\00:24:37.67
plant new churches.
00:24:37.71\00:24:39.04
It's a small church with like
26 members, very young, only two
00:24:39.07\00:24:42.81
people above 50 average maybe
a bit less if you count the kids
00:24:42.84\00:24:46.41
But probably the most
evangelistically active church
00:24:46.45\00:24:51.79
in the Nordic countries, I would
say. It's a great church to work
00:24:51.82\00:24:55.76
a very good synergy with the
school. And it's interesting.
00:24:55.79\00:25:00.33
According to statistics from the
Swedish Union 2021, 20 percent
00:25:00.36\00:25:05.73
of all Bible studies conducted
by laypeople in this Swedish
00:25:05.77\00:25:08.60
Union of the Adventist Church,
20 percent of Bible Studies are
00:25:08.64\00:25:12.14
conducted by this small church.
So there's something about how
00:25:12.17\00:25:16.64
active this church is something
about how you could do much
00:25:16.68\00:25:18.28
more in Sweden if
00:25:18.31\00:25:19.71
you learned how to do it. You
know one of our inspirations for
00:25:19.75\00:25:25.42
our school is you know Ellen
White talks about the best way
00:25:25.45\00:25:27.69
to conduct a school is to
00:25:27.72\00:25:30.36
have it combined with this work
in the city where you have this
00:25:30.39\00:25:34.36
outreach going on and
you combine a school with...
00:25:34.40\00:25:37.90
That works really
well in this church
00:25:37.93\00:25:39.93
following this
evangelism cycle all the time
00:25:39.97\00:25:42.90
and Christ's method. We were
joining hands and reaching the
00:25:42.94\00:25:47.24
the city there.
00:25:47.28\00:25:49.31
Yes. So how did the church plant
come about? Like what did that
00:25:49.34\00:25:53.35
look like? Give us
a glimpse into that.
00:25:53.38\00:25:56.92
Yeah. One thing that's
interesting about that it was it
00:25:56.95\00:26:01.16
actually started by a student
you know it's a university town
00:26:01.19\00:26:03.73
a student from
00:26:03.76\00:26:05.39
Africa. You know before
Europe used to send all these
00:26:05.43\00:26:09.60
missionaries around the world
but here we actually had an
00:26:09.63\00:26:12.23
African student that started
a little Bible study group that
00:26:12.27\00:26:16.24
eventually turned off into a
church plant from the neighbor
00:26:16.27\00:26:20.48
church. They were praying for
the city and like we should do
00:26:20.51\00:26:22.88
something and eventually some of
the families decided to move to
00:26:22.91\00:26:27.22
this church to start the
plant something new there.
00:26:27.25\00:26:31.72
Now at AFCOE, you believe
that you need a discipleship
00:26:31.75\00:26:36.76
revolution. Tell us a little bit
about that. What is that? What
00:26:36.79\00:26:39.89
does that look like?
00:26:39.93\00:26:41.26
Yes. You know Revelation
22 verse 17 we read about...
00:26:41.30\00:26:47.54
The Spirit and the Bride
say come and let him who hears
00:26:47.57\00:26:51.31
say, come. And let him who
thirsts come. Whoever desires
00:26:51.34\00:26:56.11
let him take the water of life
freely. So in other words God's
00:26:56.14\00:27:00.38
plan is when we hear the gospel
invitation, he who hears let him
00:27:00.42\00:27:03.89
say, come. He wants us to pass
that invitation on to others
00:27:03.92\00:27:06.72
that they can pass it on to
others. So that's kind of God's
00:27:06.76\00:27:10.03
plan and I think in the early
church they followed that plan.
00:27:10.06\00:27:12.13
And that was one of the keys
to their success. You know, I
00:27:12.16\00:27:15.40
mentioned in the video Acts
Chapter 8 in the beginning there
00:27:15.43\00:27:18.03
you see how all of the members
of the church are scattered
00:27:18.07\00:27:21.50
abroad and all of them are
preaching the gospel. The word
00:27:21.54\00:27:24.11
is evangelist, it's
00:27:24.14\00:27:25.47
sharing the gospel with
their mouths. The leaders are
00:27:25.51\00:27:27.54
stuck in Jerusalem but the
members they are spreading out
00:27:27.58\00:27:30.15
sharing the gospel. You
know I like this illustration.
00:27:30.18\00:27:34.02
Imagine you have
one super Evangelist,
00:27:34.05\00:27:35.92
says super Mark
Finley or something
00:27:35.95\00:27:37.42
over here and he's reaching
a thousand people every day. In
00:27:37.45\00:27:41.82
year he's like baptizing 365,000
people. Imagine if you have one
00:27:41.86\00:27:47.16
guy that can do that every day.
But on the other side here you
00:27:47.20\00:27:51.87
have one active lay person
but that person reaches one soul
00:27:51.90\00:27:56.00
each year. But not only that he
doesn't stop there. He teaches
00:27:56.04\00:28:00.21
that person to do the same.
So after one year you have two
00:28:00.24\00:28:03.41
people, after two years you have
four people, after three years
00:28:03.45\00:28:06.55
you have eight people. Now
when you look at this model
00:28:06.58\00:28:11.25
illustration after 10 years of
work Super Mark Finley the total
00:28:11.29\00:28:16.76
amount of converts will be 3.65
million people after 10 years.
00:28:16.79\00:28:22.90
While in this group, the active
members, well they are starting
00:28:22.93\00:28:26.00
to get something going but
they will only have reached 1024
00:28:26.03\00:28:30.81
people only.
it's also in 10 years.
00:28:30.84\00:28:33.71
How long time do you think
it would take before this group
00:28:33.74\00:28:38.61
with active laypeople will be
bigger than this group? Guess.
00:28:38.65\00:28:42.95
No idea. How long?
00:28:42.98\00:28:44.45
It would be basically 24 years
24 years it would actually have
00:28:44.49\00:28:50.03
doubled, it's 23.something
and then it's doubling. For this
00:28:50.06\00:28:54.10
group to reach the entire world
it would take more than 19,000
00:28:54.13\00:28:58.23
years to reach the total world
population. For this group in
00:28:58.27\00:29:03.77
33. something years the whole
world would have been reached.
00:29:03.81\00:29:06.94
So this illustrates the power of
active members, multiplication.
00:29:06.98\00:29:12.08
So how are you figuring it
out. So with that group are you
00:29:12.11\00:29:16.42
saying because they're not
trained properly. They were just
00:29:16.45\00:29:20.16
reached baptized and that's it.
And then this group was trained,
00:29:20.19\00:29:24.26
and you know they're becoming
disciples and going out and
00:29:24.29\00:29:28.36
multiplying. Basically having,
of course, hopefully for these
00:29:28.40\00:29:31.87
people instead of adding.
Sometimes that happens. We add
00:29:31.90\00:29:34.34
people to the church but
they don't bring in new people.
00:29:34.37\00:29:36.54
We have to nurture them.
00:29:36.57\00:29:38.91
We should nurture them, to train
them to become disciple-making
00:29:38.94\00:29:41.01
disciples. There are some
actually, a few statements that
00:29:41.04\00:29:46.51
I think are really inspiring,
well actually, I guess I
00:29:46.55\00:29:52.95
mentioned it. Acts of the
Apostles, 111: When the members
of the church of God
00:29:52.99\00:29:55.66
do their appointed work the
whole world will soon be warned.
00:29:55.69\00:29:59.09
And then it says, it is a fatal
mistake, this is page 110. It is
00:29:59.13\00:30:03.87
a fatal mistake to suppose that
the work of soul-saving depends
00:30:03.90\00:30:06.94
alone upon the ministry.
Sometimes we think ah that's
00:30:06.97\00:30:11.37
only for the pastor, it's only
for the Bible workers. But we
00:30:11.41\00:30:16.41
are told, actually one more
statement from Ellen White. She
00:30:16.44\00:30:17.78
Ministry 97 she says, How
can the great work of the third
00:30:17.81\00:30:23.18
angel's message be accomplished?
It must be largely accomplished
00:30:23.22\00:30:27.66
by persevering individual effort
by visiting the people in their
00:30:27.69\00:30:33.29
homes. In other words, a
big part in the finishing of the
00:30:33.33\00:30:35.76
work would be personal ministry
personal evangelism. Yet this
00:30:35.80\00:30:40.84
great super evangelist you know
we had Paul and Peter, and they
00:30:40.87\00:30:43.71
did great work at
that time but a key
00:30:43.74\00:30:49.08
secret, a key...essential
component to the finishing of
00:30:49.11\00:30:51.81
the work is a personal effort.
It's multiplication, it's
00:30:51.85\00:30:55.05
discipleship revolution that we
need to see and that's the key
00:30:55.08\00:30:59.69
thing that we
want to contribute to.
00:30:59.72\00:31:01.06
Absolutely. In addition to that,
I want to add this right here,
00:31:01.09\00:31:03.46
this Matthew 28 verses 18-20:
And it says: And Jesus came and
00:31:03.49\00:31:07.53
spoke to them saying All
authority has been given to me
00:31:07.56\00:31:09.43
in heaven and on earth. Go
therefore and make disciples of
00:31:09.46\00:31:13.03
all the nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father and of
00:31:13.07\00:31:15.90
the son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all
00:31:15.94\00:31:19.61
things that I have commanded you
and Lo I am with you always even
00:31:19.64\00:31:22.68
to the end of the age. Amen. It
doesn't say go pastors. You know
00:31:22.71\00:31:28.15
We're all given that
responsibility. It's The Great
00:31:28.18\00:31:31.92
Commission and we need to be out
there spreading the gospel. So I
00:31:31.95\00:31:34.49
love, I love that discipleship
revolution. I think that is
00:31:34.52\00:31:38.09
absolutely incredible. What
are the students doing today?
00:31:38.13\00:31:41.60
Yeah, I'll share some more
testimonies. Some of them are
00:31:41.63\00:31:46.30
Bible workers. Some are...
actually one is serving with
00:31:46.33\00:31:49.24
AFM. Another one is going
next year many are involved with
00:31:49.27\00:31:53.11
Impact. Actually a week ago they
had the Impact in Sweden. It was
00:31:53.14\00:31:58.91
started by one of our alumni's
half of their team is AFCOE
00:31:58.95\00:32:03.95
alumni's. And they're actually
some are involved with Impact
00:32:03.99\00:32:08.02
Denmark Impact which is
basically mission trips across
00:32:08.06\00:32:10.49
Europe inspiring people to serve
God. Then you have there are
00:32:10.53\00:32:16.56
some other quite
00:32:16.60\00:32:18.13
recent testimonies. One is a
story of Emma and Jonas. It's
00:32:18.17\00:32:22.74
quite nice testimony. So both
of them were students. And then
00:32:22.77\00:32:28.64
also, they were Bible workers
with AFCOE living to this spring
00:32:28.68\00:32:31.55
And one thing well Emma prays
also so she used to think that
00:32:31.58\00:32:35.88
she's from Spain, She used
to think that you know winning
00:32:35.92\00:32:40.09
souls, you know leading someone
to make the decision is for the
00:32:40.12\00:32:42.52
pastor, that's the Bible worker.
But now she has learned, no it's
00:32:42.56\00:32:46.16
not only them. It's a privilege
we can also take part in. And
00:32:46.19\00:32:50.93
God has blessed her Bible
studies, she was a student
00:32:50.97\00:32:52.30
last year and several of the
people, one person she studied
00:32:52.33\00:32:55.97
with is Marcus from
Argentina and God really
00:32:56.00\00:32:59.47
transformed his life.
00:32:59.51\00:33:00.84
His mom was a mess. She had been
praying for him for years, now
00:33:00.88\00:33:03.41
his life is transformed.
00:33:03.45\00:33:04.78
He wants to get
baptized. He is actually coming
00:33:04.81\00:33:06.25
as a student this fall and he's
really keen on coming. He really
00:33:06.28\00:33:10.45
he wants to learn how he can do
the same, as how he can spread
00:33:10.49\00:33:13.66
it to others. Another person
she studied with and again
00:33:13.69\00:33:15.86
it's a team
effort through students
00:33:15.89\00:33:17.26
that were involved
there but he has worked as a
00:33:17.29\00:33:21.13
businessman close to
AFCOE house, Daniel is his name,
00:33:21.16\00:33:24.57
He also has said he wants to get
baptized. And you can imagine
00:33:24.60\00:33:27.00
if she would have this thought
I mean that's what a pastor
00:33:27.04\00:33:29.30
needs for a Bible worker,
she would have missed that
00:33:29.34\00:33:31.54
that wouldn't happen Jonas too.
00:33:31.57\00:33:33.68
Actually, he's from
Finland. He's a young man.
00:33:33.71\00:33:35.34
And he was not an Adventist
at all. And he actually came to
00:33:35.38\00:33:39.71
this Adventist restaurant
in Finland and he started Bible
00:33:39.75\00:33:42.58
studies with my colleague
Jonathan Carlson and he became
00:33:42.62\00:33:45.95
an Adventist. And he came as
a student, then he stayed around
00:33:45.99\00:33:49.12
as an outreach coordinator the
next year and he had some great
00:33:49.16\00:33:53.86
Bible studies when he was here.
He started really with 10-15
00:33:53.90\00:33:58.03
people. One of the interesting
one's was he used to go to
00:33:58.07\00:34:01.87
Hillsong for a while so during
AFCOE he visited the Hillsong
00:34:01.90\00:34:06.31
Church in the area and he
started to connect with some of
00:34:06.34\00:34:07.68
of the people there. So he
started a Bible study group with
00:34:07.71\00:34:09.64
like 10 young adults from
Hillsong and they were hungry
00:34:09.68\00:34:12.95
for the word. You know they get
the music, they get other things
00:34:12.98\00:34:15.32
but they were really hungry for
the word of God and as he was
00:34:15.35\00:34:19.55
studying with them then you
know they get him on the floor.
00:34:19.59\00:34:21.56
They're so excited. They were
like hey give us another Bible
00:34:21.59\00:34:23.32
study, give us another one. They
wouldn't let him go and so they
00:34:23.36\00:34:26.63
started studying several Bible
studies every week. They were
00:34:26.66\00:34:29.43
like hungry and hungry and one
of them next course, which is
00:34:29.46\00:34:34.04
the last one we had we came as
a student to AFCOE actually and
00:34:34.07\00:34:37.97
then he started giving Bible
studies to others and has helped
00:34:38.01\00:34:41.11
leading several people to
decisions for Jesus. And it's
00:34:41.14\00:34:45.21
just fun to see these several
generations. As someone is
00:34:45.25\00:34:50.32
reached then they lead someone
else and they start to pass on
00:34:50.35\00:34:52.42
to others. And that's very
much in our DNA, that's what we
00:34:52.45\00:34:55.99
need as a church
00:34:56.02\00:34:57.36
that's what being a Christian
really is. I don't know if you
00:34:57.39\00:35:00.16
heard about the difference
between a member and a
00:35:00.20\00:35:03.67
missionary. (Break that down).
It's quite interesting. It goes
00:35:03.70\00:35:07.90
like this. Members soak,
missionaries seek. Members seek
00:35:07.94\00:35:13.24
missionaries serve. Of course
sometimes missionaries sit also
00:35:13.27\00:35:18.58
right. Members give offerings
Missionaries are offerings.
00:35:18.61\00:35:24.62
Members read mission stories.
Members are living missionary
00:35:24.65\00:35:29.72
stories. God wants us all to
experience the blessing, the joy
00:35:29.76\00:35:34.16
the privilege of seeing God at
work. It's when you go out, it's
00:35:34.20\00:35:38.43
when you work for God, that's
when you see answered prayers,
00:35:38.47\00:35:40.24
that's when you will see
miracles, that's when you will
00:35:40.27\00:35:42.20
see the Holy Spirit
at work as never before.
00:35:42.24\00:35:45.47
Absolutely. What are some other
testimonies that you can share
00:35:45.51\00:35:47.88
with us.
00:35:47.91\00:35:49.44
Yes so one that is very new
is Safari, Elliot Safari, one of
00:35:49.48\00:35:55.12
our students in the first
course. During the course, he
00:35:55.15\00:35:57.52
started to study with this
young man in the middle and they
00:35:57.55\00:36:01.46
actually met on a bus. In
America, they don't travel by
00:36:01.49\00:36:03.66
bus so much, but in
Europe we do. They met on a bus
00:36:03.69\00:36:06.53
and they started Bible studies
and they came to some of our
00:36:06.56\00:36:10.40
events and a few weeks ago,
actually right before I left for
00:36:10.43\00:36:13.90
the U.S. he decided to join the
Seventh-day Adventist Church and
00:36:13.94\00:36:18.14
he shared his testimony with the
church and he wants to become,
00:36:18.17\00:36:20.98
they have studied ever since.
We are praying now that those...
00:36:21.01\00:36:24.38
his decision to keep the Sabbath
and that will impact his family
00:36:24.41\00:36:27.75
and friends. Another one,
Jonathan Michael, he's shared
00:36:27.78\00:36:32.39
stuff on YouTube, or
TicTok rather, YouTube as well.
00:36:32.42\00:36:37.96
But it's quite interesting. So
he makes this short apologetics
00:36:37.99\00:36:42.16
so the message is short and it's
actually a big in Swedish, but
00:36:42.20\00:36:46.80
it's a big following 10s
of thousands of views for many
00:36:46.84\00:36:50.61
views and he has some really on
the YouTube and the TicTok he's
00:36:50.64\00:36:54.38
has gotten some very good Bible
study contacts. One of them is a
00:36:54.41\00:36:58.18
group Catholics Orthodox people.
Their brother died and they
00:36:58.21\00:37:03.52
wanted to talk to a pastor
so they reached out to Jonathan
00:37:03.55\00:37:07.32
because they had watched him
online. And so he met them and
led them to the Bible
00:37:07.36\00:37:11.69
studies. They started studying
first, there were like five
00:37:11.73\00:37:15.16
people and eventually it grew to
10 people. And after the study
00:37:15.20\00:37:19.77
about the Antichrist they
decided to leave Babylon, they
00:37:19.80\00:37:23.87
were like I don't, we don't want
to be part of Babylon anymore.
00:37:23.91\00:37:26.04
By the way the three angels'
messages are so relevant today.
00:37:26.07\00:37:28.68
It's coming up in Europe and
Scandinavia. Some people think
00:37:28.71\00:37:31.21
aw It's so relevant
people with all kinds of
00:37:31.25\00:37:35.38
backgrounds when they understand
it if it's presented in a good
00:37:35.42\00:37:38.12
way, in a Christ-centered
way. Anyway so they decided they
00:37:38.15\00:37:41.46
wanted to leave Babylon...This
is the group. They were studying
00:37:41.49\00:37:44.69
for like half a year or so. They
started to pay tithe through the
00:37:44.73\00:37:48.46
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
They started to keep the Sabbath
00:37:48.50\00:37:50.17
One of them is actually donating
to our ministry like $200 each
00:37:50.20\00:37:53.30
month. And several of them
have said they want to become
00:37:53.34\00:37:57.47
Adventist. At least three of
them have said they want to get
00:37:57.51\00:37:58.84
baptized. And one of them
is actually a famous serial
00:37:58.87\00:38:03.55
musician. He actually competed
in the biggest Swedish musical
00:38:03.58\00:38:07.32
competition that is televised
where if you win then you get to
00:38:07.35\00:38:11.39
vision sound contest
as you may have heard of.
00:38:11.42\00:38:14.06
Is it like Syria's Got Talent
or something or what...what do
00:38:14.09\00:38:18.99
you call it.
00:38:19.03\00:38:20.43
It's a bit different. There's
mainly quite professional
00:38:20.46\00:38:22.83
musicians but it's quite...So
then there's one testimony from
00:38:22.86\00:38:26.60
yesterday actually from
the same TicTok channel and so
00:38:26.63\00:38:29.80
this young man, 18-year-old
agnostic young Swedish guy,
00:38:29.84\00:38:37.15
Yohanes is his name. And he
had basically decided to have
00:38:37.18\00:38:41.92
nothing to do with religion,
organized religion One important
00:38:41.95\00:38:44.49
reason is all the bad things
the Catholic Church had done out
00:38:44.52\00:38:47.69
through history. Of course there
are great Catholics and you know
00:38:47.72\00:38:50.59
they do good things also
but anyway he said he didn't
00:38:50.63\00:38:53.16
want to have anything to do with
organized religion. But then God
00:38:53.19\00:38:57.70
started to work in his life. You
know his grandmother died and
00:38:57.73\00:39:00.64
he had some experiences like
maybe there is a God after all
00:39:00.67\00:39:04.44
And he started to watch
Jonathan's TicTok videos. He's
00:39:04.47\00:39:08.34
like man this is logical. This
is very different than...makes
00:39:08.38\00:39:10.81
much more sense... and
when he said something about
00:39:10.85\00:39:18.15
the antichrist and the Catholic
Church, how the Bible prophesied
00:39:18.19\00:39:19.79
how they would do many of these
bad things, he's like maybe it's
00:39:19.82\00:39:23.89
not Christianity I'm against,
maybe it's a false version of
00:39:23.93\00:39:26.49
Christianity. So one day he
reached out to Jonathan. He said
00:39:26.53\00:39:31.33
please can we have that
conversation about the Bible.
00:39:31.37\00:39:33.77
So yesterday they talked for the
first time and Jonathan was able
00:39:33.80\00:39:37.47
to share the Bible study on
Daniel 2 with him and he was so
00:39:37.51\00:39:42.01
amazed. He was so touched at
the end of the study and by the
00:39:42.04\00:39:45.48
end he said to Jonathan he's
like please Jonathan can you do
00:39:45.51\00:39:48.58
me a service. Can you please...
it would mean a lot to me if you
00:39:48.62\00:39:51.75
could study the Bible with
me. And this is an 18-year-old
00:39:51.79\00:39:55.36
like agnostic Swedish guy, he's
like begging, like please can
00:39:55.39\00:39:58.53
you study the Bible with
me. Hungry. Of course. We got to
00:39:58.56\00:40:02.93
pray for him. Anyway God is
working you know. Oh yeah this
00:40:02.96\00:40:08.00
one story. I need to share this
one. There are so many stories.
00:40:08.04\00:40:10.07
Time is running There's time for
this. I'm reminded of one really
00:40:10.11\00:40:15.61
cool story. So this is...his
name is Robin. He's one of the
00:40:15.64\00:40:17.95
members of our church plant.
So basically, Robin lived in one
00:40:17.98\00:40:24.02
of the more dangerous areas
in Sweden. Sweden is usually a
00:40:24.05\00:40:25.95
quite safe country. He used
to be a gangster. He used to be
00:40:25.99\00:40:30.03
into alcohol, into drugs, women
into anything he could like to
00:40:30.06\00:40:34.66
like to do you know as a
teenager, young man in Sweden
00:40:34.70\00:40:37.17
And with that also attending
all the parties...but also crazy
00:40:37.20\00:40:44.84
experience. He was into drug
trafficking, he was into...he
00:40:44.87\00:40:48.91
had been to prison. His dad died
of an overdose and a friend of
00:40:48.94\00:40:55.35
Robin died of an overdose in his
apartment, in Robin's apartment.
00:40:55.38\00:40:58.95
And it's a miracle that Robin is
alive today. Actually one time
00:40:58.99\00:41:02.36
some other people had
placed this bomb outside of his
00:41:02.39\00:41:06.59
apartment literally.
00:41:06.63\00:41:08.26
A bomb outside of his apartment!
00:41:08.30\00:41:10.20
But thankfully the police got
there in time. They were able to
00:41:10.23\00:41:11.73
remove it. It's a miracle he's
alive. He's been to prison, all
00:41:11.77\00:41:15.80
of these things. And he told
me a couple years ago he lives
00:41:15.84\00:41:19.17
quite far
00:41:19.21\00:41:20.54
away now but the last time
I met him he told me all about
00:41:20.58\00:41:23.58
40 good friends he had in that
time, 27 of them are dead today.
00:41:23.61\00:41:28.45
All of them below 30 years old,
27 of 40 friends, all of them
00:41:28.48\00:41:34.66
are dead. It's a miracle that
Robin is alive. It's actually
00:41:34.69\00:41:38.13
interesting. So he started Bible
studies with Jonathan when he
00:41:38.16\00:41:39.49
was like 14 years old and he was
amazed by all the prophecies but
00:41:39.53\00:41:43.90
then he stopped. But then like
seven years later or so finally
00:41:43.93\00:41:48.37
Robin got baptized and he said
when he joined our church and he
00:41:48.40\00:41:52.84
said after he got baptized, he
said in God he found something
00:41:52.87\00:41:57.28
better than he found in
all those other things, in the
00:41:57.31\00:41:59.91
alcohol and the drugs and the
parties. He said in God he found
00:41:59.95\00:42:03.49
something that gave him more
peace you know, more meaning,
00:42:03.52\00:42:07.26
more joy, more happiness than
any of those other things can
00:42:07.29\00:42:09.56
give him and he said that he
used to feel this emptiness in
00:42:09.59\00:42:12.86
his heart that nothing could
fill, that nothing could fill,
00:42:12.89\00:42:17.30
but he realized that God is the
only one that can fill it and he
00:42:17.33\00:42:20.97
likes to say that God is better
than the greatest high. You know
00:42:21.00\00:42:24.91
the Bible says he's the Most
High God. And last time I saw
00:42:24.94\00:42:28.41
him he stood up. He shared his
testimony with power encouraging
00:42:28.44\00:42:32.81
others to use Jesus you know.
If God can change someone like
00:42:32.85\00:42:35.88
that in secular Sweden, if God
can reach these kind of people,
00:42:35.92\00:42:39.62
he can reach anyone. He can work
wherever you are in the world
00:42:39.65\00:42:42.42
whatever people, whoever you
are praying for. You might think
00:42:42.46\00:42:45.46
this is a hopeless case but God
is the God of the impossible.
00:42:45.49\00:42:51.17
He can reach anyone.
00:42:51.20\00:42:54.24
Amen. You didn't tell me we
were going to have church today.
00:42:54.27\00:42:55.60
This is great. I'm loving it.
I love it. Look Robin was a very
00:42:55.64\00:43:02.14
influential person and God
grabbed ahold of his life and
00:43:02.18\00:43:06.48
now he can use his influence
for good and for God. This is
00:43:06.51\00:43:12.72
absolutely incredible. I've been
enjoying this so much I can't
00:43:12.75\00:43:15.49
believe our time is dwindling.
How has being a part of AFCOE
00:43:15.52\00:43:20.90
how has that
strengthened your faith?
00:43:20.93\00:43:23.70
It's a good question. It's
really a nice place to be. I
00:43:23.73\00:43:31.54
used to...I'm an electrician
and tent maker. I wanted to have
00:43:31.57\00:43:34.11
something practical. Actually
I worked one year at the mission
00:43:34.14\00:43:37.51
school before I got into
that. If you know anything about
00:43:37.55\00:43:41.28
construction sites, the
atmosphere there compared to a
00:43:41.32\00:43:44.85
mission school is kind of like
night and day. So being at a
00:43:44.89\00:43:49.12
mission school, the environment
is like the closest to the early
00:43:49.16\00:43:52.63
church. You pray together,
you worship together, you go out
00:43:52.66\00:43:56.06
together. It's like you eat
together. It's like really like
00:43:56.10\00:43:59.17
what church was meant to
be. It's so inspiring and you
00:43:59.20\00:44:04.07
encourage each other. If you
have a bad day going outside to
00:44:04.11\00:44:05.61
reach someone, someone else had
a great divine appointment and
00:44:05.64\00:44:08.98
it's like keeping the fire
going. It's really a blessing.
00:44:09.01\00:44:12.11
Hmm. And so you're faith is
growing. You've been seeing all
00:44:12.15\00:44:15.78
of these different conversion
stories taking place. You've
00:44:15.82\00:44:19.82
seen people like Robin and all
of that, how God's grabbed ahold
00:44:19.85\00:44:23.29
of his life. I mean it has to
it has to strengthen your walk
00:44:23.32\00:44:27.83
with the Lord. (Yeah) And really
solidify that. What's next for
00:44:27.86\00:44:33.67
AFCOE Europe?
00:44:33.70\00:44:35.30
Yeah, a good question. So when
I think for the future one thing
00:44:35.34\00:44:39.61
is we want to continue to run
a strong AFCOE course every year
00:44:39.64\00:44:42.68
and that's been the main thing
so far that we're in the mission
00:44:42.71\00:44:45.31
training program. And
actually our goal is to be the
00:44:45.35\00:44:49.98
best soul-winning training
in Europe. And it seems like it
00:44:50.02\00:44:52.62
sounds like a competition but
we want to provide the best we
00:44:52.65\00:44:56.02
can give. And people the last
few months from six countries
00:44:56.06\00:44:59.39
have asked can you do a course
in our country sometime? So
00:44:59.43\00:45:02.03
people already see like well
this makes a difference. Like
00:45:02.06\00:45:06.17
how do you get so many Bible
studies? Another mission school
00:45:06.20\00:45:08.84
director asked me actually
hearing what is happening there.
00:45:08.87\00:45:11.37
We also want to continue with
the AFCOE living program which
00:45:11.41\00:45:14.28
is a Bible worker experience
in a team. That way they get
00:45:14.31\00:45:18.31
mentored after the course. And
then finally one key thing is
00:45:18.35\00:45:22.98
well Amazing Facts they want
us to be like AFCOE Europe like
00:45:23.02\00:45:25.65
Amazing Facts Europe. In
addition to the school they want
00:45:25.69\00:45:29.52
to try to start to translate,
provide, produce evangelistic
00:45:29.56\00:45:33.43
resources and tools in
media. I think there's a great
00:45:33.46\00:45:37.10
potential. I think many more
people could be reached. We do
00:45:37.13\00:45:41.17
a little bit of that today. I
think we could do much more. So
00:45:41.20\00:45:44.97
by God's grace, what has
happened so far has been a big
00:45:45.01\00:45:47.44
blessing but by God's grace,
we want that to be only the
00:45:47.48\00:45:50.75
beginning. We want to push
forward to develop the ministry
00:45:50.78\00:45:54.48
more and more. Amen. And so with
all of those things being the
00:45:54.52\00:45:59.22
case what are some of
your organization's needs?
00:45:59.25\00:46:02.19
Good question. I think right now
two things come to mind. One is
00:46:02.22\00:46:05.49
We need some more monthly
donors. We are looking for 24
00:46:05.53\00:46:10.57
AFCOE elders as I call
it. We have 17 today that are
00:46:10.60\00:46:14.24
contributing $100 per month. And
then the main prayer right now
00:46:14.27\00:46:18.51
is we are praying for our own
facility our own house. So far
00:46:18.54\00:46:21.98
we only rent it so we have to
move out from all these houses
00:46:22.01\00:46:25.41
each year. In order to provide
resources and basic tools if you
00:46:25.45\00:46:28.68
have to move out all the time it
would constantly go to the next
00:46:28.72\00:46:31.35
step in our ministry before
we get our own facilities. So
00:46:31.39\00:46:34.42
that's something we are starting
to look out there, we are
00:46:34.46\00:46:36.73
searching we are praying for
everything we need, we wanted to
00:46:36.76\00:46:39.86
make up the staff. How would you
recommend it because I know you
00:46:39.89\00:46:45.00
give Bible studies and all
of those things, how would you
00:46:45.03\00:46:48.44
recommend that somebody, maybe
they've never opened the Bible
00:46:48.47\00:46:52.07
before. They want to study God's
word. Where would you tell them
00:46:52.11\00:46:55.01
to start? The gospel is probably
a good one, possibly the book of
00:46:55.04\00:46:59.61
Genesis. Actually the book
of Proverbs is great too. Some
00:46:59.65\00:47:04.69
people like that, even atheists
enjoy that one. And then if
00:47:04.72\00:47:10.03
you are open to it to pray that
God will speak to you and he
00:47:10.06\00:47:14.60
will. He wants to do that. Think
of it-it's a message from the
00:47:14.63\00:47:17.37
King and Creator of the Universe
to speak to through this book.
00:47:17.40\00:47:19.97
Ask him, what do you want
to tell me through this story.
00:47:20.00\00:47:22.30
Absolutely. What have you found
to be your greatest joy is being
00:47:22.34\00:47:27.11
a Christian?
00:47:27.14\00:47:28.54
One of them is definitely
when you see how God uses you
00:47:28.58\00:47:33.82
to transform
00:47:33.85\00:47:35.18
someone's life and
touch someone's life.
00:47:35.22\00:47:36.55
It's like I have a
friend that is a firefighter,
00:47:36.58\00:47:39.52
imagine you come back
home it's an important
00:47:39.55\00:47:42.46
work, it's a great work,
come back home. What did you do
00:47:42.49\00:47:44.39
today. I saved someone's life.
My brother is a doctor. What did
00:47:44.43\00:47:47.10
you do? I saved someone's
life. That's a noble work,
00:47:47.13\00:47:49.03
that's a great work. We need
00:47:49.06\00:47:50.40
that kind of people. But when
you think of it we are working
00:47:50.43\00:47:53.17
for God, we're into soul-winning
We saved someone's life. We're
00:47:53.20\00:47:56.81
saving their eternal life. We're
leading them to eternal bliss.
00:47:56.84\00:48:00.94
The peace that passes
understanding, it's nothing
00:48:00.98\00:48:06.35
cooler or more exciting.
00:48:06.38\00:48:09.22
Absolutely, absolutely, super
super rewarding. You know as
00:48:09.25\00:48:14.19
you're going out and you're
trying to study with people,
00:48:14.22\00:48:16.96
maybe there's somebody out there
that's saying you know I really
00:48:16.99\00:48:20.66
want to be able to give more
Bible studies or even give a
00:48:20.70\00:48:25.73
first Bible study. How do you go
about establishing that rapport
00:48:25.77\00:48:31.34
with someone to be able to
study God's word with them.
00:48:31.37\00:48:35.21
I think one thing is we have
to be more bold in asking. The
00:48:35.24\00:48:40.62
worst thing that can happen is
to say no. Maybe convince them
00:48:40.65\00:48:43.25
sometimes. Sometimes we get
surprised we think they'll say
00:48:43.28\00:48:45.89
no, and they say yes. And
especially if you pray before
00:48:45.92\00:48:47.99
and would like to give them
a shot It's only one time. You
00:48:48.02\00:48:51.59
don't ask them for 28
Bible studies. Can I show you
00:48:51.63\00:48:54.76
something? Or sometimes can I
tell you about a prophecy or
whatever. Sometimes
00:48:54.80\00:48:57.37
you give them a little
teaser. And then you get going.
00:48:57.40\00:49:01.50
Absolutely. What have you
encountered...so let's say
00:49:01.54\00:49:03.47
you're giving a Bible study.
What are some of the objections
00:49:03.51\00:49:05.74
that you've faced?
00:49:05.77\00:49:07.11
Ah, the common one of course,
is the one that people don't
00:49:07.14\00:49:13.45
believe in God so they don't
trust in the word of God and God
00:49:13.48\00:49:16.35
in general. The problem of
suffering is a big one. And
00:49:16.38\00:49:20.76
sometimes you know you don't
need to be so good. It's easy to
00:49:20.79\00:49:23.32
give a Bible study. Just
get some good resources. Amazing
00:49:23.36\00:49:26.56
Facts Bible study guides for
instance. You can just read it
00:49:26.59\00:49:29.66
together with someone. It's
maybe not the best way but it
00:49:29.70\00:49:31.93
works. The first Bible
study I gave I would have been
00:49:31.97\00:49:35.60
embarrassed today. Basically
we read through the material. I
00:49:35.64\00:49:37.57
didn't know how to do it.
But the guy afterward said, Hey
00:49:37.61\00:49:41.61
can we do this every day? I was
like what. I was surprised. One
00:49:41.64\00:49:44.88
thing that inspired me
to get going is that God can
00:49:44.91\00:49:47.45
bless a bad
00:49:47.48\00:49:48.82
Bible study but he cannot bless
a Bible study that doesn't exist
00:49:48.85\00:49:51.99
Another thing is it's not so
much about ability but rather
00:49:52.02\00:49:55.19
availability
00:49:55.22\00:49:56.56
but then, of course, Ellen White
talks about soul-winning as a
00:49:56.59\00:50:00.50
desire the great desire.
We should try to learn the
00:50:00.53\00:50:02.43
principles as much as possible
where he will make us more
00:50:02.46\00:50:05.53
efficient but you don't learn
to swim by reading a book. It's
00:50:05.57\00:50:08.50
when you get started, that's
when you learn, that's when you
00:50:08.54\00:50:10.41
grow.
00:50:10.44\00:50:11.94
I love that. So basically you're
saying jump in. (Yeah, yeah)
00:50:11.97\00:50:13.88
Jump in and get
going. Get active.
00:50:13.91\00:50:16.95
Find someone who knows something
who knows how to do it. Just
00:50:16.98\00:50:19.28
follow along, and see how they
do it Learn by watching them is
00:50:19.31\00:50:21.95
all. So who would you
say should go to AFCOE?
00:50:21.98\00:50:25.42
I think...in general I think
like every Christian, every
00:50:25.45\00:50:29.36
Adventist should go to a mission
school sometime. It's such a
00:50:29.39\00:50:33.06
blessing. I did it actually
twice myself and I've seen the
00:50:33.09\00:50:35.43
difference it makes in so
many people's lives. I think the
00:50:35.46\00:50:38.63
question shouldn't be should
I but when, where, and how.
00:50:38.67\00:50:41.20
The best time I would say
is after high school but better
00:50:41.24\00:50:45.54
late than never. Last year at
AFCOE we had a student who was
00:50:45.57\00:50:47.81
about 90 years old. So even if
you're older (chuckles) come and
00:50:47.84\00:50:53.15
be blessed and have a great time
of the fellowship. You'll enjoy
00:50:53.18\00:50:56.69
it and you'll be more
useful in the Master's service.
00:50:56.72\00:50:59.72
Amen, amen. Now did you
get to meet this 90-year-old?
00:50:59.75\00:51:01.99
That one no but I met some 60,
70 plus that had come for some
00:51:02.02\00:51:07.00
other classes, yeah.
00:51:07.03\00:51:08.43
Okay. And how do you go
about reaching people with this
00:51:08.46\00:51:11.10
message?
00:51:11.13\00:51:12.47
About the great commission?
00:51:12.50\00:51:14.44
About going to AFCOE, Yeah.
00:51:14.47\00:51:15.80
Yeah, yeah. I do quite some
preaching in different countries
00:51:15.84\00:51:18.44
and I also encourage people to
go to some mission. Actually I
00:51:18.47\00:51:22.91
did for many years before I
started to work on a mission
00:51:22.94\00:51:25.11
school myself because I say, man
this really makes a difference.
00:51:25.15\00:51:28.82
So I often made an appeal. I
think Ellen White talks about
00:51:28.85\00:51:32.25
how we should take advantage
of every opportunity to get a
00:51:32.29\00:51:35.69
preparation for His work.
00:51:35.72\00:51:37.06
Amen, amen. I'm so grateful
for what you're doing. You know
00:51:37.09\00:51:40.76
we're about to take a brief
break. We're going to show you
00:51:40.80\00:51:43.97
how to get in touch, how to
support this wonderful ministry
00:51:44.00\00:51:46.10
and we will be right back.
00:51:46.13\00:51:48.10
If you would like to contact
or know more about AFCOE Europe
00:51:48.14\00:51:54.18
You can write them at
Tallbacksvagen 14, 24796
00:51:54.21\00:51:58.45
Veberod, Sweden. You can
also call them at +46793-064-803
00:51:58.48\00:52:14.50
You can also visit their
website at AFCOE-Europe.com
00:52:14.53\00:52:21.07
Or you can email them
at Hello@AFCOE-Europe.com
00:52:21.10\00:52:30.05