¤ ¤
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¤ I want to spend my
life mending broken people ¤
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¤ I want to spend
my life removing pain ¤
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¤ Lord let my words
heal a heart that hurts ¤
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¤ I want to spend my
life mending broken people ¤
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¤ ¤
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Hello and welcome to another
3ABN Today program. We are so
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glad that you've joined us today
You know you're part of the 3ABN
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family and we just want to say
thank you for your prayers and
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your financial support for the
ministry, God's ministry, 3ABN
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You know without you 3ABN would
not be able to reach the entire
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world. And you know what Jill?
Today I'm really excited because
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we have the opportunity,
you have the opportunity to get
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involved in evangelism to Africa
and actually go to Africa. So
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today's going to be a power
packed program. Don't go away.
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This is going to be really fun.
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Absolutely. We're calling
it from spectators to disciple
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makers. What does that mean? You
have to stay tuned and find out
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how we can become
involved in evangelism.
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That's right.
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Our special guest here today is
all the way from Africa. This is
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Pastor Emanuel Pelote. I
hope I pronounced that correct.
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(Perfect) You are assistant
to the president and director of
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communication for the East
Central Africa Division. And
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it's a privilege Pastor
Pelote to have you here today.
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Thank you so much.
It's great to be here.
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And I know you're
all about evangelism.
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Amen, amen it's in our blood.
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Amen. We had the opportunity to
meet with Pastor Pelote before
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we went on the program here
and boy I tell you his eyes just
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light up when we're talking
about evangelism and for this
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incredible opportunity that's
going to take place this next
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year. And so we're going to tell
you a little bit more about it.
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Let's find out a little bit
about you personally. Then we'll
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go to some music and then kind
of dive into the program but...
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Married? Children? (Yes I am...)
You don't look old enough to
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have grandkids but maybe you do.
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Blessings. I have a wife, Karen
Pelote and together we have six
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children. Two are grown, one of
them actually has given us three
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and a half grandchildren. So...
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Three and a half,
they must be pregnant then.
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Three boys and we don't know
what's coming next, the next one
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is on the way. And then we have
two that are college-age and two
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that are just today going off
to start their senior year at
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academy. So we're very excited.
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That's really special. So
you've spent your whole lifetime
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serving in the church. Did
you always want to be a pastor?
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Or what's a little
bit of your history?
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Wow, great question. I...you
know I have always wanted to
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walk with the Lord and serve the
Lord. I really have felt that
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all my life but I made a
covenant I guess with the Lord
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when I was a child and I told
him, I don't want to tell you
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what to do with my life Lord.
I want you to tell me. So if you
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call me to do anything I will be
there. I promise you Lord I will
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say yes. So I went through
school. I went to college and
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even had the opportunity to
go to Andrews University to the
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Seminary as I was running a
software company, a software
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development company.
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Businessman,
you're a businessman.
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Yeah. And so I've had many
businesses over the years. In
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fact I was an ASI president for
the Columbia Union for several
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years before I came to this
position. So I was running my
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business, working with ASI and
many other organizations when
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the Lord called me to come
and be the assistant to the
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president in the East Central
Africa Division. So this is
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actually my first employed
position within the church. We
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felt like it was challenging
because everything was going
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well. The company was going
well Was just really enjoying
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ministry and life. But you
know when the Lord called I said
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listen, Lord, I have been
praying and asking you to do so
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many different things in my
life, in my family's life, in my
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world. And God if you're calling
me now to also help how can I
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say no to you when I'm busy
asking you to help with so many
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other things. So I said Lord,
if this is you I'm happy to do
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anything so we left everything,
came the follow Him...we didn't
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know what to expect. We had
really no plan other than just
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trust the Lord and we believed
he was trustworthy and he has
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been. What year did you move
over there to Kenya and take
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that That was five years ago
in 2018. Everybody said we were
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crazy but you know I think it's
crazy not to trust the Lord when
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he calls. Amen, amen. I know
I had the privilege of meeting
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Pastor Pelote at the booth, the
3ABN booth, there at ASI, and he
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stopped by the booth and he
said we're doing this amazing
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evangelistic opportunity in
the East Central Africa Division
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it will be in July of 2024.
We want to have, I think it's
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30,000 simultaneous evangelistic
sites. And I said, Yes! At 3ABN
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we want to be involved and we
want to showcase this and invite
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people. So we're so excited to
talk about that initiative here
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today.
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Oh absolutely. Yes. I'm thinking
about the initiative of the
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General Conference, I will go.
And so I think about 3ABN, Mr.
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Danny Shelton, of course,
founder of 3ABN. He's always
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talking about the Go Ye, right?
God called all of us to go into
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all the world. So when he
asks the question, when Danny's
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always asking the question, How
many yes's are in the room, he
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said every hand should go up
right. God's called each one of
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us to a mission. It could be in
your neighborhood, it could be
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going to the East Central Africa
Division for this project. The
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Lord knows and I'm thinking
about you too. You were willing.
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You said God I want to be a
vessel that can be used by you
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and look at where God has taken
you and you're happy. I can see
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the joy in your face. But Jill
before we dive into more details
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shall we go to
some music right now.
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Absolutely. We have Carlot Dorve
with us. He's an amazing trumpet
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player. The song he'll be
ministering is The Lord's Prayer
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¤ ¤
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Amen. Thank you so very
much Carlot. Again, he's a great
00:10:03.83\00:10:08.64
friend of the ministry of 3ABN.
What an incredible song, The
00:10:08.67\00:10:11.64
Lord's Prayer. Again we're here
with Pastor Pelote, Pelote, make
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sure I get that right. So
glad that you're here from East
00:10:16.95\00:10:19.55
Central Africa Division.
Tell us a little bit about your
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responsibilities and what
the East Africa Division is all
00:10:22.22\00:10:24.85
about, because some people may
be like what is that a division
00:10:24.89\00:10:27.32
it sounds like there's a divide
Why is the church divided?
00:10:27.36\00:10:31.99
Jesus prayed for unity.
(Yeah Exactly) So let's find out
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a little bit and what your
responsibilities are in the team
00:10:33.76\00:10:35.80
over there, your leadership team
00:10:35.83\00:10:37.57
Well the East Central Africa
Division of the Seventh-day
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Adventist church just means it's
a sector, or a region, of the
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worldwide church of the Seventh-
day Adventist church. And so the
00:10:48.34\00:10:53.58
headquarters for the East
Central African region is this
00:10:53.62\00:10:58.15
division headquarters. Now I
work there as the assistant to
00:10:58.19\00:11:01.42
the president for that region.
In that region, there are about
00:11:01.46\00:11:04.83
410, 420 million people living
in that part of the territory
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(four hundred?) about
410, 420 million people.
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What countries
does that encompass?
00:11:16.40\00:11:18.37
It's 11 countries and it covers
countries like Ethiopia, Uganda,
00:11:18.41\00:11:23.21
South Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti,
Somalia, Uganda, Tanzania,
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Burundi, Rwanda, the Democratic
Republic of Congo, Kenya of
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course where I live. Hopefully
I didn't forget anyone.
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That's a lot of countries.
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It is a lot.
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And so that represents
about 420 million people there.
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Yeah, Yes and so it's a vast
territory but God has blessed
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it. Ah, the Seventh-day
Adventist work has been going on
00:11:54.84\00:11:58.81
in that region for just over 100
years. And within the division
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which was officially organized
20 years ago this year there are
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just over five million Seventh-
day Adventist members in that
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territory.
00:12:16.70\00:12:18.03
Five million Seventh-day
Adventists in this one division.
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That would be the largest
division as far as members...
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I believe at the moment this
is the largest division in the
00:12:23.84\00:12:26.44
world, yes, yeah. The Lord's
really been doing a really
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tremendous work. But the
challenge that we have that we
00:12:30.55\00:12:35.15
feel before I tell you even
about the leadership because I
00:12:35.18\00:12:38.25
want to be sure and convey that
the heart feeling that I get
00:12:38.29\00:12:43.59
from our leaders. Their feeling
is yes we may be the largest
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division but the work is far
from finished. And you know they
00:12:48.93\00:12:53.77
have such a zeal and such a
passion. I mean all three of our
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officers are serious evangelists
and they feel like complacency
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is the last place we want to be.
We really want to grow and...
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I can see them here.
So who are we looking at?
00:13:05.58\00:13:07.58
So in the center, there is the
President of the division. This
00:13:07.62\00:13:11.45
is Dr. Blassis Raguri and he
has been a strong leader in that
00:13:11.49\00:13:18.83
division. He has been the
President, now this is his third
00:13:18.86\00:13:22.86
term as the
president. And then there's...
00:13:22.90\00:13:26.57
Strong support
then from the people?
00:13:26.60\00:13:28.97
And he...this is a very Spirit-
led man. I have to tell you.
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It's something that's hard
to explain. You know the title
00:13:35.38\00:13:37.95
doctor doesn't capture it. This
man really hears from God and
00:13:37.98\00:13:43.55
it's pretty amazing. The
secretary of the division is
00:13:43.59\00:13:48.32
Dr. Mousa Mitcaro and he
was recently elected to that
00:13:48.36\00:13:54.20
position last year at the
General Conference session and
00:13:54.23\00:13:57.90
then...
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Is he the one on
the left in the picture?
00:14:00.37\00:14:01.70
Yes he's the one to the...on
the right. He's to the left of
00:14:01.74\00:14:06.27
Pastor Raguri. And then the
tallest of the three is Pastor
00:14:06.31\00:14:13.88
Havimanna, Jerome Havimanna.
He is executive treasurer there.
00:14:13.92\00:14:17.32
Okay. Wow. Fantastic. What a
blessing to have a leadership
00:14:17.35\00:14:20.26
team that's in harmony, going
for the same goal, all about
00:14:20.29\00:14:23.43
evangelism and this initiative
that we just mentioned, I think
00:14:23.46\00:14:26.66
you said you want 30,000,
is that right, simultaneous
00:14:26.70\00:14:30.47
evangelistic series going on?
That's an incredible undertaking
00:14:30.50\00:14:34.67
It's amazing.
00:14:34.70\00:14:36.04
It is very extraordinary. Let me
I'll tell you a little bit of a
00:14:36.07\00:14:39.71
story behind the scenes, kind of
what happens here. So every year
00:14:39.74\00:14:43.95
the world church leaders always
gather at the world headquarters
00:14:43.98\00:14:48.18
which is in Maryland in the
United States. So these officers
00:14:48.22\00:14:51.92
were all in Maryland and they
called us all that were still in
00:14:51.95\00:14:59.96
Kenya, they called us one day
while they were under conviction
00:15:00.00\00:15:03.77
at these meetings of the General
Conference, and they said listen
00:15:03.80\00:15:08.20
we feel led strongly to do an
extraordinary work for the Lord
00:15:08.24\00:15:14.31
between now and 2025. And we
didn't even know what to say, we
00:15:14.34\00:15:21.58
just knew it was a God-size
vision but it turned out to be
00:15:21.62\00:15:25.12
this incredible campaign that
we're calling ECD, Evangelistic
00:15:25.15\00:15:30.46
Impact 2025. And so I've already
shared with you the work has
00:15:30.49\00:15:37.17
been there for just over 100
years and now there are these
00:15:37.20\00:15:43.57
five million you know wonderful
hard-working members in that
00:15:43.61\00:15:46.84
territory. But the officers are
saying now No we don't have 100
00:15:46.88\00:15:54.08
years to wait for the return of
Jesus. We want to see the Holy
00:15:54.12\00:15:58.22
Spirit fall and Jesus be able to
come as soon as possible. And so
00:15:58.25\00:16:03.79
they have issued the call that
every member of the church go
00:16:03.83\00:16:09.66
from being spectators to actual
disciple-makers and we double
00:16:09.70\00:16:13.97
the size of the membership in
this division from five million
00:16:14.00\00:16:18.21
to 10 million members by 2025.
00:16:18.24\00:16:21.41
Oh, that's an impressive
goal. (multiple voices)
00:16:21.44\00:16:25.48
This is a God-size vision. So
we are fully dependent upon the
00:16:25.51\00:16:32.29
Holy Spirit to see a work like
that done and we know that the
00:16:32.32\00:16:36.29
Holy Spirit doesn't just work
through church leaders, not just
00:16:36.32\00:16:39.79
through pastors but through the
entire body of Christ and so the
00:16:39.83\00:16:44.93
entire campaign centers on the
idea of every single believer
00:16:44.97\00:16:49.17
who trusts in the name of Jesus
to receive the gifts and the
00:16:49.20\00:16:54.91
empowerment of the Holy Spirit
to share their testimony, their
00:16:54.94\00:16:58.58
witness, their walk with Christ,
with one family member, one
00:16:58.61\00:17:04.85
neighbor, one coworker, one
friend. Every year just share
00:17:04.89\00:17:09.39
your faith and help them to meet
Jesus every year. We want every
00:17:09.42\00:17:15.16
member winning one soul every
year and just nurturing them as
00:17:15.20\00:17:19.13
their friend every year.
So that's the vision of how we
00:17:19.17\00:17:26.07
would go from five million
to 10 million members in three
00:17:26.11\00:17:30.28
years.
00:17:30.31\00:17:31.65
Total member involvement,
each member being involved in
00:17:31.68\00:17:33.98
evangelism.
00:17:34.02\00:17:35.35
This is total member involvement
This is the priesthood of all
00:17:35.38\00:17:38.05
believers really writ large. And
so the campaign next year, we're
00:17:38.09\00:17:44.89
calling it ECD Homecoming Impact
2024 and we're having several
00:17:44.93\00:17:54.94
campaigns in the division where
it's not the church that is
00:17:54.97\00:17:58.77
having programs and we're asking
members to support It's actually
00:17:58.81\00:18:02.14
now turned on its head. We're
asking the members to go out and
00:18:02.18\00:18:07.18
share their faith with their
community and the church is now
00:18:07.22\00:18:14.79
creating programs and
initiatives to support them to
00:18:14.82\00:18:19.46
help them to harvest those souls
that they have been praying for
00:18:19.49\00:18:22.70
and serving and witnessing to
all this time. So this campaign
00:18:22.73\00:18:28.97
for next year has really already
begun. Church members are
00:18:29.00\00:18:33.48
already out witnessing to so
many different people but we are
00:18:33.51\00:18:38.01
organizing a large harvest
campaign and this campaign we
00:18:38.05\00:18:42.85
just want the entire world. It
won't just be pastors preaching
00:18:42.88\00:18:45.85
We're asking for Spirit-filled
church members who love the Lord
00:18:45.89\00:18:50.66
to come and just share a message
of faith and belief that Jesus
00:18:50.69\00:18:56.46
is returning soon. That message
needs to be proclaimed but it's
00:18:56.50\00:19:00.64
going to be over 30,000
evangelistic campaigns from July
00:19:00.67\00:19:06.07
6 to July 20th. I think it's the
largest campaign that has ever
00:19:06.11\00:19:10.65
happened in the history of our
church, maybe of any church ever
00:19:10.68\00:19:15.35
So we're really all ready.
Prayer is the key. Already we
00:19:15.38\00:19:19.79
are praying heavily over this.
00:19:19.82\00:19:21.46
So this is July 6
through July 20 next year, 2024.
00:19:21.49\00:19:25.79
That's right, that's right.
00:19:25.83\00:19:28.16
So we were mentioning at the
beginning of the program about
00:19:28.20\00:19:29.63
you our viewer/listener, family
of 3ABN how you can get involved
00:19:29.66\00:19:33.44
So kind of tell us how
they could get involved, because
00:19:33.47\00:19:36.20
you're actually talking about
you need people again three_
00:19:36.24\00:19:38.74
around the world to come to
the East Central Africa, right?
00:19:38.77\00:19:42.04
Yeah actually...
00:19:42.08\00:19:43.41
To preach evangelistic series.
00:19:43.45\00:19:44.81
Absolutely...
00:19:44.85\00:19:46.18
Or be involved some way.
00:19:46.21\00:19:47.55
Yes. Or there are other
people that may be called to
00:19:47.58\00:19:50.65
do other things. Pastor
Raguri is issuing his personal
00:19:50.69\00:19:55.42
invitation to 8,000 of
our church members from around
00:19:55.46\00:20:00.80
the world to come from outside
of our division to assist us,
00:20:00.83\00:20:06.94
to lead these evangelistic
campaigns. You know this
00:20:06.97\00:20:10.04
vision is from God. It's
not about our division. This is
00:20:10.07\00:20:15.41
about the body of Christ coming
together in unity and in power
00:20:15.44\00:20:19.41
to impact the world. You know
we you know coming from you know
00:20:19.45\00:20:24.52
America everybody could probably
tell that my accent is not
00:20:24.55\00:20:27.46
exactly Kenyan or Ethiopian
right? So I was born and raised
00:20:27.49\00:20:32.26
here in the United States and
you know I have seen all of the
00:20:32.29\00:20:38.70
infomercials about Africa needs
this and that and so forth. All
00:20:38.73\00:20:41.40
of these things all of my life.
But you know the answer for
00:20:41.44\00:20:46.24
Africa, the answer for the
problems in Africa and in Asia
00:20:46.27\00:20:50.71
and in America and South
America, everywhere, it's not to
00:20:50.75\00:20:55.32
be found in government, it's not
to be found in policies or you
00:20:55.35\00:20:59.95
know and as good as it is to
protect the environment and all
00:20:59.99\00:21:05.49
these different things, the
answer for the world is Jesus.
00:21:05.53\00:21:08.36
Yeah, that's right, amen.
00:21:08.40\00:21:09.73
It's in the transformation
in hearts that change people and
00:21:09.76\00:21:15.07
families and then churches and
communities are transformed. The
00:21:15.10\00:21:21.11
Lord loves every human being
on this earth. We are all his
00:21:21.14\00:21:25.08
children and he wants to be
reunited with us. And when the
00:21:25.11\00:21:29.28
Lord is able to do that one
thing we will see nations change
00:21:29.32\00:21:32.42
we will see Africa change. And
so this grand invitation from
00:21:32.45\00:21:38.16
Pastor Raguri is for people to
come and help us and I tell you
00:21:38.19\00:21:44.07
when people from the African
community hear that someone has
00:21:44.10\00:21:47.94
traveled from somewhere to come
and just minister to them. I've
00:21:47.97\00:21:52.57
never really seen such gratitude
and joy in people than I've seen
00:21:52.61\00:22:00.28
there. And I've been in so many
different parts of the world but
00:22:00.32\00:22:03.28
there is something special
about that gratitude that people
00:22:03.32\00:22:07.89
express when you come to serve
them there in Africa. So he's
00:22:07.92\00:22:12.19
invited people to come. I think
many more people will come and
00:22:12.23\00:22:15.93
hear the gospel simply because
they're saying wow someone from
00:22:15.96\00:22:19.63
Germany, someone from Japan,
somebody from Canada and from
00:22:19.67\00:22:24.67
Mexico has come to share the
gospel with us. We have to come
00:22:24.71\00:22:27.98
and see this. So it's a grand
invitation from Pastor Raguri
00:22:28.01\00:22:32.88
and the division is saying this:
To anyone that the Holy Spirit's
00:22:32.91\00:22:36.82
speaking to you maybe even right
now we want you to feel welcome
00:22:36.85\00:22:42.96
to town. We're asking you to
go to ECDhomecoming.org because
00:22:42.99\00:22:49.16
there's a website set up
there with a personal invitation
00:22:49.20\00:22:50.77
direct from the president
of the division and he'll share
00:22:50.80\00:22:54.50
probably much more eloquently
than I can his invitation for
00:22:54.54\00:22:59.27
people to come. And there's
a form that people can fill in.
00:22:59.31\00:23:01.88
just telling us a little bit
about themselves so that we can
00:23:01.91\00:23:06.15
know about them and try to
see which countries would be the
00:23:06.18\00:23:10.89
best fit for them and then we
can get back to them about how
00:23:10.92\00:23:14.49
they can participate.
00:23:14.52\00:23:16.39
So I want to talk the person
at home right now that'd saying,
00:23:16.42\00:23:18.09
No, I feel impressed to be
a missionary. I want to be a
00:23:18.13\00:23:21.03
missionary. Maybe this is
an opportunity. I'm just not a
00:23:21.06\00:23:23.16
speaker I'm just not a preacher.
Maybe they're only wanting like
00:23:23.20\00:23:26.53
ordained pastors to come. Is
that true? Or is this for any
00:23:26.57\00:23:30.97
lay evangelist for the Lord?
00:23:31.01\00:23:34.08
Listen, you know, I don't think
you know when we get to heaven
00:23:34.11\00:23:36.51
I don't think you know when the
Lord calls us all home, He's not
00:23:36.54\00:23:40.38
going to have a section in
heaven for the ordained pastors
00:23:40.42\00:23:44.29
or over here an elected church
leader, or were you...You know
00:23:44.32\00:23:47.72
these are all...the Lord just
simply says you know I knew you.
00:23:47.76\00:23:52.79
You were my friend. I have a
relationship with you. You were
00:23:52.83\00:23:56.60
willing to surrender all to
Jesus. And the Bible actually
00:23:56.63\00:24:01.74
says don't worry about what
you're going to say if you are
00:24:01.77\00:24:04.77
called before kings. Don't
even worry about that. The Holy
00:24:04.81\00:24:08.78
Spirit will give you what to say
So this is actually...if you've
00:24:08.81\00:24:12.91
ever wanted to grow in your
faith, if you ever wanted to
00:24:12.95\00:24:16.25
grow in your faith, you can't
grow in your faith until you put
00:24:16.28\00:24:20.06
your faith is put to the test
and you actually say yes to the
00:24:20.09\00:24:24.23
Holy Spirit. Yes I will go and
you're in a situation that is
00:24:24.26\00:24:28.16
beyond your capacity, beyond
your control. You're having to
00:24:28.20\00:24:32.13
stress yourself a little bit
and say Lord I trust you that in
00:24:32.17\00:24:35.77
this situation you're going
to come through and you begin to
00:24:35.80\00:24:40.54
give what the Holy
Spirit has given to you.
00:24:40.58\00:24:43.18
Question for you: So has your
faith been tested because you
00:24:43.21\00:24:48.02
moved, big move right? So Tell
us a little bit about that. I
00:24:48.05\00:24:50.49
know you've also been
challenged your faith.
00:24:50.52\00:24:53.52
No doubt, for sure. When I
went...I left, really I think
00:24:53.56\00:24:58.99
God probably said I was a little
too comfortable. You know when
00:24:59.03\00:25:02.26
we're comfortable we tend
to rely on ourselves and trust
00:25:02.30\00:25:06.84
ourselves and trust the money we
have in our bank account, or you
00:25:06.87\00:25:10.31
know I've got these friends and
I've made a nice life for myself
00:25:10.34\00:25:12.77
and I don't have to...you know.
But that is not the place where
00:25:12.81\00:25:17.38
we come into an interface with
Christ himself. You know the
00:25:17.41\00:25:24.69
places, where we meet Jesus, is
outside of our comfort zone. You
00:25:24.72\00:25:28.82
know Jesus was here on the earth
doing the will of his Father
00:25:28.86\00:25:31.76
outside of the comfort zone of
Heaven, you know. So the place
00:25:31.79\00:25:35.30
where we're drawn into a
connection and an interaction
00:25:35.33\00:25:41.17
with the Holy Spirit is a
place that is outside of our
00:25:41.20\00:25:45.34
dependency on the things of this
world. And I can tell you, for
00:25:45.37\00:25:50.25
me going into countries where I
don't speak the language I don't
00:25:50.28\00:25:55.28
know the culture, you know...
and I've heard stories that said
00:25:55.32\00:26:00.69
maybe we'll get to this but
you know you hear stories about
00:26:00.72\00:26:02.92
Africa. You may be concerned.
I'm not sure I can go to Africa,
00:26:02.96\00:26:05.89
that might be you know a little
bit you know...but it's not
00:26:05.93\00:26:09.93
about do I trust Africa, or the
people there or anything. It's
00:26:09.96\00:26:13.80
do I trust Jesus, and I have had
to trust Jesus. And I think we
00:26:13.84\00:26:20.88
don't trust the Lord sometimes
because we never allow ourselves
00:26:20.91\00:26:24.65
to be in a position where
we need to trust the Lord.
00:26:24.68\00:26:27.98
It's stepping
outside of our comfort zone.
00:26:28.02\00:26:29.35
That's great, yeah great advice.
00:26:29.38\00:26:31.39
The Lord is always calling us
00:26:31.42\00:26:33.56
outside of that comfort zone
and the challenge that I have is
00:26:33.59\00:26:38.29
that so often times I have told
the Lord, no I can't do that
00:26:38.33\00:26:42.93
because I'm not...I'm not
comfortable. And the Lord has to
00:26:42.96\00:26:46.94
make us comfortable before we're
going to obey him. The question
00:26:46.97\00:26:50.97
we have to ask is that
really obedience? You know if my
00:26:51.01\00:26:54.18
children say yes Dad I'll obey
you as soon as it's comfortable
00:26:54.21\00:26:58.71
As soon as I have it all figured
out and everything's taken care
00:26:58.75\00:27:01.98
of and I know the end from the
beginning, then Dad I'll do what
00:27:02.02\00:27:08.76
you ask. But I love my children
and I challenge them because I
00:27:08.79\00:27:13.76
want to see them grow. So
they'll never learn to ride that
00:27:13.80\00:27:18.53
bicycle, they will never learn
how to swim and they will never
00:27:18.57\00:27:21.90
know the depths of walking with
the Lord until they dive in with
00:27:21.94\00:27:27.71
both feet and just trust him to
go where you know naturally they
00:27:27.74\00:27:31.21
would not have gone on their own
00:27:31.25\00:27:32.58
Yeah, wow, that's powerful.
Thank you for sharing that.
00:27:32.61\00:27:36.35
You mentioned how it can
seem scary for some people. Oh I
00:27:36.38\00:27:40.22
don't know the country, I don't
know the culture, I don't know
00:27:40.26\00:27:43.02
the language. I'm a little
apprehensive. What would you
00:27:43.06\00:27:46.29
tell somebody who's maybe
thinking of coming and they say
00:27:46.33\00:27:48.90
I want to be involved, I want to
speak, I want to come. Will they
00:27:48.93\00:27:53.00
be...will someone pick them up
at the airport? Will there be...
00:27:53.03\00:27:55.90
What about the practical
logistics. Will someone be with
00:27:55.94\00:27:58.91
them at all times to walk them
through that culture and help
00:27:58.94\00:28:02.11
them acclimate or
who does that work?
00:28:02.14\00:28:04.61
Absolutely, great question.
There's this thing that I
00:28:04.65\00:28:08.15
just...it's called African
hospitality. And let me tell you
00:28:08.18\00:28:12.89
don't know hospitality until
you've experienced that. And yes
00:28:12.92\00:28:16.89
the leaders in the division
are saying if the Holy Spirit is
00:28:16.93\00:28:21.93
calling you and you are invited
to come and lead these campaigns
00:28:21.96\00:28:26.53
ECD, the church, will pick you
up from the airport, carry you
00:28:26.57\00:28:33.27
back and forth
wherever you need to go...
00:28:33.31\00:28:34.94
You don't have to arrange Uber
(multiple voices) and figure
00:28:34.98\00:28:38.15
out how to...okay.
00:28:38.18\00:28:39.95
You don't even need to figure
out arrange food. You know they
00:28:39.98\00:28:43.02
will make sure that you have
good food and let me tell you
00:28:43.05\00:28:45.19
this is good food that you will
have in Africa. I'm telling you
00:28:45.22\00:28:50.33
I love being there. I'm even a
little bit afraid of coming back
00:28:50.36\00:28:54.16
to the States because over there
you know actually, let me tell
00:28:54.20\00:28:59.63
you a funny thing. As a kid and
growing up you know my fear was
00:28:59.67\00:29:03.00
I always heard that there's no
food in Africa, there's no food
00:29:03.04\00:29:05.64
anywhere in Africa. But I
was amazed. I got there. There's
00:29:05.67\00:29:09.18
food everywhere but it was
in the garden this morning and
00:29:09.21\00:29:14.52
today it's in the market. And so
you're eating what is fresh. I
00:29:14.55\00:29:18.92
mean amazing, amazing food.
So trust me. Anybody that comes
00:29:18.95\00:29:23.43
they're going to have excellent
food. I'm speaking as an
00:29:23.46\00:29:27.46
American. I can tell you the
food is excellent. We will feed
00:29:27.50\00:29:31.03
you. We'll even provide a
place for you to stay. The local
00:29:31.07\00:29:34.14
Church, you know whoever's
sponsoring that particular event
00:29:34.17\00:29:37.04
will provide accommodations.
Maybe it's with a host family
00:29:37.07\00:29:40.41
that you know has the
resources to provide the good
00:29:40.44\00:29:45.21
accommodation for visiting
guests or maybe in a hotel. But
00:29:45.25\00:29:48.35
don't worry if some of us may
say listen I really only want to
00:29:48.38\00:29:51.85
stay at the Marriot or whatever
is available. The things that
00:29:51.89\00:29:57.53
the local church is providing
will all be free. But if
00:29:57.56\00:30:01.03
somebody wants an upgrade they
can certainly choose to do that
00:30:01.06\00:30:03.67
on their own if they want to.
There's no problem with that.
00:30:03.70\00:30:06.50
So pay to travel over, you
obviously, pay for the ride to
00:30:06.53\00:30:09.50
get over and then to travel back
home. And also if they want an
00:30:09.54\00:30:12.11
upgrade they can pay for that.
But once they get to Africa
00:30:12.14\00:30:14.31
everything will
be taken care of.
00:30:14.34\00:30:15.84
Yeah and I will give you
for free, I've never seen this
00:30:15.88\00:30:20.52
myself, it's usually in the
States during July, the month of
00:30:20.55\00:30:23.65
July, but every July and early
August there is something that
00:30:23.69\00:30:28.49
is known as the Great Migration
where thousands or millions of
00:30:28.52\00:30:33.66
wildlife they migrating from one
area to another and it's this
00:30:33.70\00:30:38.60
great sight to see. I've never
seen it but next year because of
00:30:38.63\00:30:41.40
this campaign I'm going to
be there in July and when that
00:30:41.44\00:30:44.57
campaign is over I'm going to
go see the great migration. So I
00:30:44.61\00:30:47.71
think people should try that.
I'm certainly going to do it.
00:30:47.74\00:30:50.01
Wow. Yeah, praise the Lord. I
think about this opportunity and
00:30:50.05\00:30:54.55
it's absolutely incredible. So
again maybe give us that website
00:30:54.58\00:30:56.82
We say oh wow that sounds really
good. I missed the website. What
00:30:56.85\00:30:59.32
is that again? They can find
more information, fill out the
00:30:59.35\00:31:01.89
application.
00:31:01.92\00:31:03.26
ECDhomecoming.org. There
it is on the screen right now.
00:31:03.29\00:31:07.06
ECDhomecoming.org Now what
about the preaching. I know some
00:31:07.10\00:31:11.50
campaigns people follow...I'm
just throwing this out like a
00:31:11.53\00:31:15.10
Share Him campaign or other
campaigns where all the speakers
00:31:15.14\00:31:19.61
are kind of following the same
outline. Are you going to have
00:31:19.64\00:31:22.18
something like that for all
30,000 sites or do people just
00:31:22.21\00:31:26.28
pick and choose or how is
that orchestrated and set up.
00:31:26.31\00:31:29.52
We're very excited about
that aspect of this campaign.
00:31:29.55\00:31:33.02
Normally we do and I've done
Share Him, I've done Share Him
00:31:33.05\00:31:37.23
in the past and it's
been excellent. I was in the
00:31:37.26\00:31:39.66
Philippines for that. It's a
great program. We're going to
00:31:39.69\00:31:42.80
do something similar to that.
This time we're going to have a
00:31:42.83\00:31:48.27
campaign that is really tailored
to speak to the heart needs of
00:31:48.30\00:31:53.01
people who are Indigenous
to that region. So people from
00:31:53.04\00:31:56.31
Africa are really going to
hear how does the gospel really
00:31:56.34\00:32:01.65
issues that they are dealing
with as Africans growing up in
00:32:01.68\00:32:06.42
their nations. We're asking
for people to come and preach at
00:32:06.45\00:32:10.23
either in English or we will
have translators prepared for
00:32:10.26\00:32:14.96
them. But if there are people,
maybe they're originally from
00:32:15.00\00:32:19.17
the East African areas and
they speak one of the languages
00:32:19.20\00:32:22.80
there then they won't need a
translator. They'll welcome to
00:32:22.84\00:32:25.57
come and preach in their
language. But we will have a
00:32:25.61\00:32:27.74
full series that is been
produced by the division that
00:32:27.78\00:32:31.98
they can share, they don't have
to plan really anything. They
00:32:32.01\00:32:37.09
can just prayerfully study those
things, pray, and ask the Lord
00:32:37.12\00:32:40.39
to really do something in their
discipleship, to even transform
00:32:40.42\00:32:43.69
them so that they come back home
they will be even more powerful
00:32:43.73\00:32:48.86
agents and soldiers for Jesus
Christ in their home area than
00:32:48.90\00:32:53.47
even they will have been able to
be even in Africa. We're looking
00:32:53.50\00:32:58.31
for a world transformation
by the power of the Holy Spirit.
00:32:58.34\00:33:00.68
What are some of the specific
means, you referenced that. I'm
00:33:00.71\00:33:04.51
so glad that it's going to be
tailor-made specifically for the
00:33:04.55\00:33:06.95
culture and the people and that
you've already prepared it or
00:33:06.98\00:33:09.68
will have prepared it by next
year. But what are some that you
00:33:09.72\00:33:12.32
referencing needs, what are some
of the specific needs for the
00:33:12.35\00:33:15.26
people there?
What do they deal with?
00:33:15.29\00:33:17.56
Well you know in fact
let me go into a previous
00:33:17.59\00:33:22.33
question you said along
with this one. Because you were
00:33:22.36\00:33:26.33
asking me about some of
the concerns that people have
00:33:26.37\00:33:29.44
sometimes going to Africa and
you know rumors and all those
00:33:29.47\00:33:33.21
things. We want to really
address those things. You know
00:33:33.24\00:33:38.68
you hear in Africa about you
know there are wars and you know
00:33:38.71\00:33:44.45
different problems of violence.
You hear about corruption, you
00:33:44.49\00:33:47.16
hear about you know starvation
and all those different kinds
00:33:47.19\00:33:50.13
of things that are happening.
Well those kind of things do
00:33:50.16\00:33:53.50
happen even everywhere around
the world but it was something
00:33:53.53\00:33:58.13
that was in my mind before I
went for sure. But the gospel
00:33:58.17\00:34:03.00
has a remedy for those things.
This was not God's plan for any
00:34:03.04\00:34:09.51
human being to ever have to
deal with. And so the answer to
00:34:09.54\00:34:16.75
corruption, to crime and all
those things are found in the
00:34:16.79\00:34:19.62
gospel in Africa you think about
tribes and different countries
00:34:19.65\00:34:25.16
and maybe tribal warfare,
tribalism and those things
00:34:25.19\00:34:31.30
really are there but does the
gospel has an answer for that?
00:34:31.33\00:34:34.74
Absolutely. Yes.
00:34:34.77\00:34:36.10
Does it speak to that? You
know there's tribalism actually
00:34:36.14\00:34:38.04
everywhere in the world possibly
except for the United States.
00:34:38.07\00:34:42.71
We know we're just a global
melting pot. But the whole world
00:34:42.74\00:34:48.88
is tribes. And I really didn't
appreciate that until I lived in
00:34:48.92\00:34:52.22
that context you know for this
long. The gospel has an answer
00:34:52.25\00:34:56.89
for that in Genesis. God
made one humanity. You know the
00:34:56.93\00:35:01.16
answer to racism, the answer
to all those things is that. And
00:35:01.20\00:35:04.47
But people are growing up
in these different cultures. We
00:35:04.50\00:35:08.70
don't necessarily appreciate
that. So we want to make sure
00:35:08.74\00:35:12.47
that we deal with that issue.
We want to deal with the issues
00:35:12.51\00:35:15.51
of poverty or lack
of opportunity or even
00:35:15.54\00:35:20.45
corruption where there's pay to
play and bribery and all those
00:35:20.48\00:35:23.02
kinds of things. Can the work
that the Holy Spirit is doing
00:35:23.05\00:35:28.29
in this world actually address
real-world problems, economic
00:35:28.32\00:35:34.13
problems. How do I feed my
children or get a good education
00:35:34.16\00:35:37.73
for them? How can they become
meaningful citizens and helpful
00:35:37.77\00:35:42.74
citizens in the world? We
believe that the gospel has an
00:35:42.77\00:35:45.54
answer for that. These are top
priority questions that people
00:35:45.57\00:35:48.34
have in Africa and we want to
make sure that we are practicing
00:35:48.38\00:35:53.85
Christ's method of reaching
the world which is mingling with
00:35:53.88\00:35:57.89
people as ones who are concerned
for the needs of the people on
00:35:57.92\00:36:03.36
the ground. So those are some of
the top concerns. And we think
00:36:03.39\00:36:07.30
that Jesus has the answer.
We would love for people to come
00:36:07.33\00:36:10.13
share that answer with them.
00:36:10.17\00:36:12.60
Amen! You know how does it look
on the local level as far as
00:36:12.63\00:36:15.24
like the local churches. I've
wondered that. Or like churches
00:36:15.27\00:36:18.44
like every 10 miles or are
churches in some of these areas
00:36:18.47\00:36:21.04
areas of Africa like really
spread out a long way apart
00:36:21.08\00:36:26.82
from each other or is it
rural? Maybe describe the area.
00:36:26.85\00:36:29.68
You know it really varies so
much. You know one of the things
00:36:29.72\00:36:33.82
in the pictures that so many
people may have about Africa
00:36:33.86\00:36:38.53
is that it's all rural and that
there are you know it's just
00:36:38.56\00:36:44.33
cows and zebra
you know everywhere.
00:36:44.37\00:36:45.87
No so describe that to us
how this church looks now in all
00:36:45.90\00:36:50.41
those communities.
00:36:50.44\00:36:51.81
For sure, there are places where
you will see cows and donkeys
00:36:51.84\00:36:56.08
in the road. You know, you'll
see some of that but there are
00:36:56.11\00:36:58.71
also grand cities. Our largest
city in the East Central African
00:36:58.75\00:37:04.19
territory which is Kinshasa has
over 17 million people in this
00:37:04.22\00:37:10.13
one city. It's a grand urban
you know complex. You know sky
00:37:10.16\00:37:16.63
scrapers, banks, businesses. One
thing that's unique in Africa
00:37:16.67\00:37:21.47
they have this very robust taxi
system using motorcycles. So
00:37:21.50\00:37:29.11
that was new for me. So you
have this grand mixture of urban
00:37:29.14\00:37:33.11
settings and you have very rural
settings and some of our cities
00:37:33.15\00:37:38.89
like Kigali, Rwanda about one-
fifth of that city, one out of
00:37:38.92\00:37:44.66
every five people you run into
in that city is a Seventh-day
00:37:44.69\00:37:48.10
Adventist. Isn't that amazing?
00:37:48.13\00:37:50.10
So a big Adventist
presence there. Wow.
00:37:50.13\00:37:52.00
But there are so many areas
where, in fact, there are some
00:37:52.03\00:37:56.17
areas of our territory you could
spend a year meeting people,
00:37:56.20\00:38:00.14
you'll never meet one. So...
00:38:00.18\00:38:02.94
There's a vast disparity.
00:38:02.98\00:38:04.31
A vast disparity.
00:38:04.35\00:38:07.52
There is only one person who can
really plan how to reach that
00:38:07.55\00:38:11.69
kind of diversity and that's
the Holy Spirit and we're really
00:38:11.72\00:38:14.46
depending on Him.
00:38:14.49\00:38:16.39
So in the cities obviously there
are a lot of Adventist churches
00:38:16.42\00:38:19.23
but in some of these communities
there may not be an Adventist
00:38:19.26\00:38:21.46
church for miles
until the next one then.
00:38:21.50\00:38:24.30
It's very true.
00:38:24.33\00:38:25.67
Are you trying then with this
campaign to actually like build
00:38:25.70\00:38:28.40
new churches or actually just
grow current churches. Now what
00:38:28.44\00:38:31.37
is the thought? Because to have
30,000 evangelistic series going
00:38:31.41\00:38:34.14
on there's going to be growth.
I mean folks you know that right
00:38:34.18\00:38:36.81
We're praying for the
Holy Spirit as the pastor was
00:38:36.85\00:38:39.28
mentioning here and there
is going to be growth so then
00:38:39.31\00:38:42.08
what's the plan? To expand those
churches and make them bigger
00:38:42.12\00:38:44.35
and bigger or to do like branch
I'm calling them like churches
00:38:44.39\00:38:46.89
or Sabbath Schools?
00:38:46.92\00:38:48.26
You know I think that what
we always have to do...The Holy
00:38:48.29\00:38:52.26
Spirit's always going to call
us into a challenge that is way
00:38:52.29\00:38:55.66
bigger than we are. And the
result, the fruit, that the Holy
00:38:55.70\00:38:59.90
Spirit wants to give us is going
to be unmanageable to us and if
00:38:59.93\00:39:03.91
it is manageable by us then
chances are we've not really
00:39:03.94\00:39:07.31
heard him correctly, right?
So what he's calling us into is
00:39:07.34\00:39:13.01
enormous, it's extraordinary.
So we can't tell you that we
00:39:13.05\00:39:17.99
have it all figured out but
here's what we're doing. We've
00:39:18.02\00:39:21.66
decided that we're going to
trust God. We're going to go
00:39:21.69\00:39:23.29
back to the Bible and to his
plan and when you look at the
00:39:23.32\00:39:27.53
New Testament and the Book of
The Acts and the other epistles
00:39:27.56\00:39:30.43
there you see the Holy Spirit
calling them into extraordinary
00:39:30.47\00:39:34.00
mission to reach the world. The
Bible says that thousands were
00:39:34.04\00:39:38.84
coming to the faith every day
and they're a small community
00:39:38.87\00:39:41.58
and it was church members doing
it. And you know some of them
00:39:41.61\00:39:45.51
were just meeting by the river
you know. Some of them were
00:39:45.55\00:39:48.15
meeting in people's houses. Some
of them were you know they would
00:39:48.18\00:39:51.85
go to the temple and come back.
We will probably have lots of
00:39:51.89\00:39:54.66
different scenarios like that
where we just won't have had
00:39:54.69\00:39:57.99
time to build enough churches
for all of those new people but
00:39:58.03\00:40:01.56
it will be member-led, disciple
led, a discipleship-led movement
00:40:01.60\00:40:06.67
that'll be fully organized
as one body in the community of
00:40:06.70\00:40:14.21
believers. Yeah.
00:40:14.24\00:40:15.64
You know I kind of see, I'm kind
of visual. I kind of see like a
00:40:15.68\00:40:18.61
wave, a positive wave,
right, just sweeping across the
00:40:18.65\00:40:20.82
continent of Africa, right,
because you're talking about the
00:40:20.85\00:40:23.35
early Christian church but
just going out, right, going out
00:40:23.39\00:40:26.05
there touching people, making a
difference, converting people by
00:40:26.09\00:40:28.69
the power of the Holy Spirit.
And that's what's going to
00:40:28.72\00:40:30.93
happen here because like what
you say going from five million,
00:40:30.96\00:40:33.40
ten million. When that ten
becomes 20, that 20 becomes 40
00:40:33.43\00:40:36.67
right. I'll have 420 million
people in just East Africa, the
00:40:36.70\00:40:41.20
part we're talking about, right?
That's incredible. That can go
00:40:41.24\00:40:43.81
quickly. I think what you all
are doing is what should be done
00:40:43.84\00:40:45.54
around the world. I mean it
should be done around the world
00:40:45.57\00:40:48.04
because really each one of
us can touch someone and that
00:40:48.08\00:40:50.85
person can touch someone and
wow, the work will go quickly.
00:40:50.88\00:40:53.58
Can I give you a couple of
stories right here? Directly on
00:40:53.62\00:40:58.39
this topic. Now I was not there
at the time. I remember wanting
00:40:58.42\00:41:01.99
to go but I was not able to
go to the country of Rwanda in
00:41:02.02\00:41:06.46
2016. This was done in Rwanda in
2016 where we invited the world
00:41:06.49\00:41:12.80
to come you know. And nobody
knew what to expect. This was
00:41:12.83\00:41:15.64
when the General Conference was
first announcing Total Member
00:41:15.67\00:41:18.81
Involvement, right? And in 2016
the whole world came. I remember
00:41:18.84\00:41:23.58
Elder Wilson was there. Nancy
Wilson preached also, she had
00:41:23.61\00:41:29.55
her own site. I mean...Who had
never preached before. You know
00:41:29.58\00:41:32.95
I don't think she'll mind
me sharing. She was nervous.
00:41:32.99\00:41:35.39
She didn't even
00:41:35.42\00:41:37.03
plan on preaching when she got
there. But the embrace of the
00:41:37.06\00:41:40.90
African community there, Pastor
Raguri himself invited her. He
00:41:40.93\00:41:45.43
said no we need you to preach.
And she surrendered to the Holy
00:41:45.47\00:41:48.77
Spirit and when she did she was
blessed. And I believe it was
00:41:48.80\00:41:54.64
something like 400 people were
baptized from her ministry there
00:41:54.68\00:41:58.81
just hers. And overall there
were 110,000 people that met
00:41:58.85\00:42:05.29
Jesus as a result of that
campaign. That was only about
00:42:05.32\00:42:08.89
2,500 evangelistic sites.
00:42:08.92\00:42:12.93
Wow! And 110,000 people there...
00:42:12.96\00:42:15.13
There were 110,000. And there
were only about 300 people that
00:42:15.16\00:42:18.73
came from outside of the
division to come and preach.
00:42:18.77\00:42:20.90
So now we're saying 30,000 and
we're looking for 7,000 or 8,000
00:42:20.94\00:42:28.84
people to come from outside.
And I believe the Holy Spirit's
00:42:28.88\00:42:32.38
really going to move. And I'll
tell you my personal experience
00:42:32.41\00:42:36.48
with that. In 2019 the
East Central Africa Division had
00:42:36.52\00:42:43.22
another campaign similar to the
one in Rwanda. It was not you
00:42:43.26\00:42:48.56
know global invitations like it
was in Rwanda and like it is now
00:42:48.60\00:42:50.67
So this is just people from
within ECD going into another
00:42:50.70\00:42:56.30
territory within that division
and preaching. Now at that time
00:42:56.34\00:43:02.21
that country had I think it
was around 120,000 members or
00:43:02.24\00:43:11.19
somewhere around there. My
numbers are going to be close.
00:43:11.22\00:43:13.66
And the church had been there
for some time but it wasn't
00:43:13.69\00:43:19.69
really growing with power
and passion. The members were
00:43:19.73\00:43:23.87
feeling very overwhelmed with
the size of the mission. There
are about a hundred,
00:43:23.90\00:43:29.74
I believe it's 110 million
people living in Ethiopia. It's
00:43:29.77\00:43:31.64
a huge population. And you know
they weren't really feeling like
00:43:31.67\00:43:38.01
there was a way that they were
going to be able to reach the
00:43:38.05\00:43:40.95
whole country. The entire
division came, people from every
00:43:40.98\00:43:43.92
one of our countries. We took
evangelistic sites, we preached,
00:43:43.95\00:43:48.29
there for two weeks and they
went out during those two weeks
00:43:48.32\00:43:53.56
about 20 or 25 thousand
were baptized at the end of that
00:43:53.60\00:43:58.90
campaign. Let me share with
you what happened as a result of
00:43:58.93\00:44:02.54
that. Because it wasn't
just that campaign. Yes it was a
00:44:02.57\00:44:06.37
jump starts and membership
came. People met the Lord and we
00:44:06.41\00:44:09.98
praise God for that. But the
effects of the Holy Spirit are
00:44:10.01\00:44:14.78
far more powerful when you look
at it from a distance because
00:44:14.82\00:44:19.35
Holy Spirit was just planting
seeds. Since that time the
00:44:19.39\00:44:23.49
members had been inspired.
The members have been working to
00:44:23.53\00:44:28.10
win souls because now their eyes
have been opened. Now they see.
00:44:28.13\00:44:31.87
Wow! God is really going
to do this and we will just be
00:44:31.90\00:44:35.80
faithful and share a message.
So the unions in Ethiopia had a
00:44:35.84\00:44:43.35
plan. Last year they had a plan.
They wanted them to plant I
00:44:43.38\00:44:47.22
think it was about 200 churches
over these next three years.
00:44:47.25\00:44:51.29
These are new churches?
00:44:51.32\00:44:52.65
New churches. They wanted
200 more churches. And they said
00:44:52.69\00:44:56.93
okay this is what we're going
to do and that's big for us but
00:44:56.96\00:44:59.43
we're going to stretch. We're
going do this, but we're not
00:44:59.46\00:45:01.93
not going to do it as a church
leadership. We're going to train
00:45:01.96\00:45:04.77
and ask our church members to
make disciples and we're going
00:45:04.80\00:45:10.27
to start a movement, a disciple
making movement and the members
00:45:10.31\00:45:15.21
have taken that up with zeal
because now they have seen from
00:45:15.24\00:45:19.31
2019 on they have seen the Holy
Spirit is ready to support them
00:45:19.35\00:45:22.62
and instead of taking
three years to plant those 200
00:45:22.65\00:45:27.26
churches, my friends, it has
already been done. It's already
00:45:27.29\00:45:32.33
given them that goal. They've
already planted those and
00:45:32.36\00:45:36.40
they're going for even more now.
So what we're talking about by
00:45:36.43\00:45:40.90
having campaigns like this now
what we're saying is you would
00:45:40.94\00:45:46.04
ever pray that the Lord would
somehow do something to heal and
00:45:46.07\00:45:48.18
bless Africa, that means the
Holy Spirit has called you to
00:45:48.21\00:45:52.61
be part of that solution.
And maybe it's in prayer and we
00:45:52.65\00:45:56.99
that you for praying for Africa
and for the people there. It's
00:45:57.02\00:46:01.29
so important. But through
a campaign like this there's
00:46:01.32\00:46:04.99
something more that we can all
do. We're all called to pray for
00:46:05.03\00:46:09.56
everyone but the
Holy Spirit always
00:46:09.60\00:46:10.93
calls us out of our comfort zone
and you may be called to support
00:46:10.97\00:46:15.77
and help someone else to travel
to come to this campaign. I
00:46:15.80\00:46:20.48
would love to see every church
around the world to pray that
00:46:20.51\00:46:24.45
should we send someone to be
part of this historic event that
00:46:24.48\00:46:28.62
will change the Adventist
movement around the world.
00:46:30.09\00:46:31.99
How can I
00:46:32.02\00:46:33.36
support or send someone. And
for 8,000 of you, 7,000 of you I
00:46:33.39\00:46:39.93
believe the Holy Spirit is
calling you. I think the Holy
00:46:39.96\00:46:42.96
Spirit was calling me even
before I came five years ago.
00:46:43.00\00:46:45.57
And I just maybe wasn't
listening and so now he had to
00:46:45.60\00:46:49.94
come and say no now you leave
everything. Come, I want you to
00:46:49.97\00:46:54.08
work.
00:46:54.11\00:46:55.44
Wow. And look at what the Lord
has done. Were you going to say
00:46:55.48\00:46:58.85
something. Say you brought some
pictures with you too, but go
00:46:58.88\00:47:00.92
ahead, you were going to say
something or do you want to go
00:47:00.95\00:47:02.28
to the pictures.
00:47:02.32\00:47:03.65
Go to the pictures...
00:47:03.69\00:47:05.02
You brought some pictures with
you about some baptisms that are
00:47:05.05\00:47:06.39
happening right now. Let's go
to those. Tell us a little bit
00:47:06.42\00:47:08.19
about what's happening because
this is amazing here, the
00:47:08.22\00:47:11.46
pictures that we're
looking at. Look at this...
00:47:11.49\00:47:15.90
This is Ethiopia and you can
even see the Ethiopian flag on
00:47:15.93\00:47:18.30
the right-hand side of that
picture. These are baptisms and
00:47:18.33\00:47:23.20
in fact, these people come from
the community that is strongly
00:47:23.24\00:47:28.18
non-Christian so none of these
people had even thought about
00:47:28.21\00:47:34.38
being a follower of Jesus
Christ before this campaign.
00:47:34.42\00:47:38.05
You have other pictures too.
00:47:38.09\00:47:39.42
(Yeah.) There are
quite a few. Look at that.
00:47:39.45\00:47:41.79
So this is a community again
of even non-Christians. Very
00:47:41.82\00:47:46.03
difficult to reach non-Christian
communities. This is in Burundi.
00:47:46.06\00:47:49.66
And these are...by the way,
these are campaigns, these are
00:47:49.70\00:47:54.20
crowds of people that have been
won to follow Jesus and become
00:47:54.24\00:47:57.44
disciple-makers of Jesus through
relationships with lay members.
00:47:57.47\00:48:01.98
There are people in the hundreds
00:48:02.01\00:48:04.35
I'm trying to remember which
country. I think this might also
00:48:04.38\00:48:07.18
be Burundi. No, no, this
is, it looks like maybe Uganda
00:48:07.22\00:48:11.45
Yeah, that's amazing.
00:48:11.49\00:48:13.99
And these baptisms that we're
seeing here you told us are
00:48:14.02\00:48:16.62
actually from members being
involved, right, going out and
00:48:16.66\00:48:19.83
getting involved in this work.
00:48:19.86\00:48:21.20
This is total member involvement
This is a neighbor that you've
00:48:21.23\00:48:24.50
been praying for. This is
that coworker that you've been
00:48:24.53\00:48:27.77
praying for. You know, this
is that son or daughter, aunt or
00:48:27.80\00:48:31.37
uncle that we've been praying
for and they're coming to the
00:48:31.41\00:48:33.74
Lord as a result of
their supportive campaign.
00:48:33.78\00:48:36.91
Amen. I was just thinking
of Acts 1:8, you shall receive
00:48:36.95\00:48:40.35
power when the Holy Spirit has
come upon you and you shall be
00:48:40.38\00:48:45.02
my witnesses in Judea and
Samaria and to the uttermost
00:48:45.05\00:48:47.82
parts of the earth. And we
just want to encourage you right
00:48:47.86\00:48:50.69
now and let's go to a time of
prayer in just a moment but we
00:48:50.73\00:48:53.46
want to encourage you that we
need to pray for the outpouring
00:48:53.50\00:48:58.27
of the Holy Spirit on this
coming campaign, July of 2024,
00:48:58.30\00:49:04.41
the East Central Africa
Division. The world, the field,
00:49:04.44\00:49:09.41
is ripe for harvest. Where are
the reapers? God is calling you
00:49:09.44\00:49:13.92
God is calling us to become
involved in evangelism. We can
00:49:13.95\00:49:18.35
pray for the outpouring of
the Holy Spirit. We can become
00:49:18.39\00:49:21.76
involved. The Lord is appealing
on your heart right now to say
00:49:21.79\00:49:25.76
Yes I want to be involved
in this evangelistic outreach
00:49:25.79\00:49:30.23
this historic evangelistic
outreach. You can go to
00:49:30.27\00:49:33.80
ECDhomecoming.org, that's
ECDhomecoming.org. You can fill
00:49:33.84\00:49:41.51
out that application and you can
become involved in evangelism
00:49:41.54\00:49:45.71
I just feel in my heart...I know
our schedule is tremendously
00:49:45.75\00:49:48.98
busy but if we can work it out
I would like to come. Oh! and be
00:49:49.02\00:49:55.89
involved you know in that
evangelistic opportunity. But
00:49:55.92\00:49:59.53
let's have a prayer for the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit
00:49:59.56\00:50:03.57
for this upcoming campaign. For
those people who are watching
00:50:03.60\00:50:06.87
or listening right now and
making decisions. Do I want to
00:50:06.90\00:50:10.61
become involved. Is God calling
me. Do you want to pray for us
00:50:10.64\00:50:14.44
today?
00:50:14.48\00:50:15.81
Amen. I'd be very
glad to. Let's pray.
00:50:15.84\00:50:17.18
Heavenly Father, Lord we
love you and we love you simply
00:50:17.21\00:50:24.45
because you have first loved us.
Lord, you've called us into your
00:50:24.49\00:50:29.22
marvelous light, Lord, and
we thank you for all that you've
00:50:29.26\00:50:32.09
been doing for us. But God we
know that you never just bless
00:50:32.13\00:50:37.03
people so that we can be
enjoying our relationship with
00:50:37.07\00:50:40.40
you by ourselves. You always
give us these blessings that we
00:50:40.44\00:50:43.97
might share it with others.
Heavenly Father, I know, I know
00:50:44.01\00:50:48.31
very well that there are so many
people who are experiencing this
00:50:48.34\00:50:51.98
program right now who have needs
of their own. They're asking you
00:50:52.01\00:50:55.85
God to touch their life in some
way. Maybe it's a health problem
00:50:55.88\00:50:59.59
maybe there's an issue in their
marriage or in their family.
00:50:59.62\00:51:02.62
There's somebody that is
crying out God will you bless my
00:51:02.66\00:51:07.36
nation? will you bless my work?
Will you help the world in one
00:51:07.40\00:51:12.67
way or another and the Holy
Spirit has put those burdens on
00:51:12.70\00:51:15.87
us Lord. And we don't know how
we can be a part of what you are
00:51:15.90\00:51:20.41
trying to do in the world. Lord,
all we can do is just call out
00:51:20.44\00:51:24.78
to you and Lord in response God
you call us as well. You say I
00:51:24.81\00:51:32.95
have miracles, great wonders
still to show you. Come follow
00:51:32.99\00:51:38.53
me. I will show you my wonders.
But my wonders are not to be
00:51:38.56\00:51:43.37
seen in your place of comfort.
They're to be seen when you take
00:51:43.40\00:51:48.07
my hand and you go with me on my
mission on my journey as I seek
00:51:48.10\00:51:53.21
to touch the hearts and lives
of billions of people around the
00:51:53.24\00:51:56.28
world. As you pray for the
hungry, as you pray for the
00:51:56.31\00:52:01.35
lost, as you pray for the people
that are struggling in places
00:52:01.38\00:52:03.99
that are difficult I am calling
you to come and walk with me to
00:52:04.02\00:52:12.56
meet the people, to hear their
voices to join me in catching
00:52:12.59\00:52:17.20
their tears. Come with me
and then you will know my heart.
00:52:17.23\00:52:23.14
God, I'm praying for everyone
that is hearing the program or
00:52:23.17\00:52:26.57
watching this program that
you will touch them in a very
00:52:26.61\00:52:30.21
special way. That you will meet
them. Lord that you will draw
00:52:30.25\00:52:34.88
near to them and that they will
experience your power. And Lord
00:52:34.92\00:52:39.35
that you will call them into
a deeper walk with you. Not just
00:52:39.39\00:52:43.93
experience and knowledge of
you but the walk Lord God with
00:52:43.96\00:52:46.96
you. That is the only way to
truly know you. Lord, I ask that
00:52:47.00\00:52:51.93
you will help them to know
clearly, whether or not you are
00:52:51.97\00:52:55.20
calling them to be part of this
campaign, whether it's through
00:52:55.24\00:52:59.67
prayer, whether it's through
sponsoring someone to go or
00:52:59.71\00:53:03.85
whether it's through saying yes
I will go and I'll be a part of
00:53:03.88\00:53:07.82
this thing. And I want you
to teach me Lord how to be a
00:53:07.85\00:53:11.49
disciple maker myself. (Amen,
Thank you, Jesus) Lord, I pray
00:53:11.52\00:53:15.96
that you will bless them
and that they will find healing
00:53:15.99\00:53:19.36
and regeneration Lord God in
you A special touch for the Holy
00:53:19.39\00:53:24.07
Spirit in you as they choose
to come and walk with you.
00:53:24.10\00:53:27.90
Thank you, God.
00:53:27.94\00:53:29.27
Thank you heavenly Father for
hearing our prayers. In Jesus'
00:53:29.30\00:53:32.04
name, Amen.
00:53:32.07\00:53:33.74
Amen. Thank you so very much.
Pastor what we're going to do
00:53:33.78\00:53:37.31
right now is to go to a little
break and we'll be right back
00:53:37.35\00:53:40.75
with some closing comments.
00:53:40.78\00:53:43.55