Stay tuned to meet a man who is letting his light shine 00:00:01.36\00:00:03.70 for his people and his Government. 00:00:03.73\00:00:05.80 My name is Yvonne Lewis 00:00:05.83\00:00:07.44 and you're watching Urban Report. 00:00:07.47\00:00:09.34 Hello and welcome to Urban Report 00:00:31.49\00:00:34.00 my guest today is the Honorable Ben Micah 00:00:34.03\00:00:37.33 Minister for State Enterprises and Public Investments 00:00:37.37\00:00:41.04 in Papua New Guinea. 00:00:41.07\00:00:42.40 I met him at the 60th Annual General Conference 00:00:42.44\00:00:46.04 in San Antonio, Texas, 00:00:46.07\00:00:47.64 let's take a listen to his story. 00:00:47.68\00:00:49.64 It is my privilege to be sitting here 00:00:49.68\00:00:56.28 with the Honorable Ben Micah, 00:00:56.32\00:00:58.39 he is the Minister for Public Enterprise 00:00:58.42\00:01:01.19 and State Investments for Papua New Guinea 00:01:01.22\00:01:03.96 did I get that right? Yeah... 00:01:03.99\00:01:06.29 Thank you so much. Thank you, thank you. 00:01:06.33\00:01:09.86 May I call you Brother Ben? 00:01:09.90\00:01:11.23 May I just call you Brother Ben? 00:01:11.27\00:01:13.37 Yes, yes... yes... yes... yes... Okay, great, great... 00:01:13.40\00:01:14.74 Brother Ben, you have such an intriguing story 00:01:14.77\00:01:19.41 I just have heard just a little bit of it 00:01:19.44\00:01:22.58 but I know that our Urban Report Viewers 00:01:22.61\00:01:25.75 want to know... they're very curious people 00:01:25.78\00:01:28.88 and they love these testimonies 00:01:28.92\00:01:31.35 of people that have had strong journeys 00:01:31.42\00:01:34.59 I just want to hear about your testimony 00:01:34.62\00:01:37.76 we want to hear your testimony. 00:01:37.79\00:01:39.83 So, where were you born? 00:01:39.89\00:01:41.70 Definitely I was not born in Chicago, 00:01:41.73\00:01:44.83 or New York, I was not born in the city 00:01:44.87\00:01:47.87 yeah, I was born in a small town called Kavieng. 00:01:47.90\00:01:52.14 Where is that? 00:01:52.17\00:01:53.51 In the Province of New Island in Papua New Guinea. 00:01:53.54\00:01:56.11 So you are a native from New Guinea. 00:01:56.14\00:01:59.98 Yes, I am an indigenous Papua New Guinean 00:02:00.02\00:02:06.09 from a village called Tasitel in an island 00:02:06.15\00:02:12.19 much, much closer to 00:02:12.23\00:02:15.53 the territory of Guam... US Territory 00:02:15.56\00:02:18.27 than to the capital of 00:02:18.30\00:02:20.04 Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby, 00:02:20.07\00:02:21.50 my island is further north of Port Moresby. 00:02:21.54\00:02:25.87 I was born on the 22nd of December, 1959, 00:02:25.94\00:02:30.25 to a God-fearing Seventh-day Adventist mother 00:02:30.28\00:02:34.92 called, Moni, and my father was Micah, 00:02:34.95\00:02:40.76 Moni and Micah, and they were missionaries 00:02:40.79\00:02:46.56 for the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 00:02:46.59\00:02:48.80 So, Adventism has been in New Guinea for many years 00:02:48.83\00:02:54.67 the message has been brought there 00:02:54.70\00:02:56.07 many, many years ago? 00:02:56.10\00:02:57.51 For more than a 100 years, yes. 00:02:57.54\00:02:59.17 Are there many Adventists in New Guinea? 00:02:59.21\00:03:01.84 Papua New Guinea has got more Seventh-day Adventists 00:03:01.88\00:03:06.51 than any other Country 00:03:06.55\00:03:07.92 within the South Pacific Division. 00:03:07.95\00:03:09.85 Really? 00:03:09.88\00:03:11.35 Of the Seventh-day Adventist Church 00:03:11.39\00:03:12.72 roughly about 300,000 to 400,000 members 00:03:12.75\00:03:18.16 Praise the Lord. 00:03:18.19\00:03:19.53 and another 200,000 backsliders. 00:03:19.56\00:03:21.13 Wow! praise the Lord that the message has gotten there 00:03:21.16\00:03:25.73 and that there are a lot of Adventists there 00:03:25.77\00:03:27.77 that's a blessing. Yes. 00:03:27.80\00:03:29.97 Tell us about yourself, 00:03:30.01\00:03:31.34 you grew up in a God-fearing home 00:03:31.37\00:03:33.38 I was an Adventist in my mother's womb. 00:03:33.41\00:03:38.45 okay, all right, all right, and so, 00:03:38.48\00:03:42.05 did you go to Adventist Schools? 00:03:42.08\00:03:45.49 Of course, I started from Kindergarten 00:03:45.52\00:03:50.49 and Primary and Sabbath School and I went from Grade one 00:03:50.53\00:03:59.60 in Seventh-day Adventist Primary Schools 00:03:59.63\00:04:03.00 to High School and to College at Fulton College in Fiji. 00:04:03.04\00:04:09.04 Wow! and so you went from Adventist Elementary Schools 00:04:09.08\00:04:14.12 to High School to College... Yes. 00:04:14.15\00:04:16.69 did you ever go to a Secular Institution? 00:04:16.72\00:04:19.89 Did you go to a State School or... 00:04:19.92\00:04:23.09 Yes... I taught for one year 00:04:23.12\00:04:26.76 because I went to train as a teacher 00:04:26.80\00:04:29.36 at Fulton College, and then after that 00:04:29.40\00:04:31.93 I decided to change career, 00:04:31.97\00:04:36.74 so I went to the University of Technology, 00:04:36.81\00:04:40.18 a State University in Papua New Guinea 00:04:40.21\00:04:43.68 and took up a degree in Accountancy 00:04:43.71\00:04:48.18 but unfortunately or fortunately 00:04:48.22\00:04:52.29 whichever way... 00:04:52.32\00:04:54.06 I look at the way I have traveled 00:04:54.09\00:04:56.73 unfortunately, because I never really practiced accounting, 00:04:56.79\00:05:03.26 because while I was still at the University, 00:05:03.33\00:05:06.84 I became involved in Student Politics 00:05:06.87\00:05:11.07 and I became General Secretary 00:05:11.11\00:05:15.48 of the National Union of Students in 1985, 00:05:15.54\00:05:19.28 in 1986, I became President of the National Union of Students 00:05:19.31\00:05:23.99 which is a National Student Organization 00:05:24.02\00:05:27.66 for the whole Country, 00:05:27.69\00:05:29.02 and then in 1987, I became a member of the 00:05:29.06\00:05:33.40 International Union of Students Executive 00:05:33.43\00:05:37.77 representing Asia and the Pacific. 00:05:37.83\00:05:39.37 So that was the beginning of your political journey 00:05:39.40\00:05:42.90 in College. Yes. 00:05:42.94\00:05:44.57 Yes, so, I've been in politics now for most of my life 00:05:44.61\00:05:48.44 without a Political degree. 00:05:48.48\00:05:50.38 Wow! wow... 00:05:50.41\00:05:52.98 I went to University to study to be an Accountant, 00:05:53.01\00:05:56.08 I did not work as an Accountant only for two years 00:05:56.12\00:05:59.12 the rest of my life has been in politics. 00:05:59.15\00:06:01.22 Isn't that amazing, 00:06:01.29\00:06:02.79 so, what did you find was the difference 00:06:02.82\00:06:06.09 between Adventist Schools and the State School, 00:06:06.13\00:06:09.40 did you find that there was a big difference 00:06:09.43\00:06:13.03 in the education, in the educational experience 00:06:13.07\00:06:16.60 between the two? 00:06:16.67\00:06:18.01 I learned a lot from the Adventist Education System 00:06:18.04\00:06:21.48 for which I give credit 00:06:21.54\00:06:22.88 because I started Boarding in an Adventist Primary School 00:06:22.91\00:06:31.99 when I was ten years old, can you believe? 00:06:32.02\00:06:35.09 You started doing what? 00:06:35.12\00:06:36.46 When I was ten years old, I went into Boarding 00:06:36.49\00:06:39.13 in an Adventist Primary School away from my village. 00:06:39.16\00:06:42.70 Boarding? 00:06:42.73\00:06:44.47 Boarding School, where we live in the School, 00:06:44.50\00:06:46.70 Oh, Boarding School, yes, yes... 00:06:46.74\00:06:50.07 so I learned a lot of things how to take care of my clothes, 00:06:50.11\00:06:57.21 At ten, you were in Boarding School? 00:06:57.25\00:07:00.78 correct... yes... Wow! 00:07:00.82\00:07:02.85 and all the way up to College, and I think, you know, 00:07:02.88\00:07:06.02 we had Work Parades at the school 00:07:06.05\00:07:09.06 where we worked, when I went to High School, 00:07:09.09\00:07:11.53 for four years, at Kambubu High School 00:07:11.59\00:07:13.73 we had a farm and so, for the four years I was there, 00:07:13.76\00:07:19.47 I worked on the farm, I worked in the poultry, 00:07:19.53\00:07:21.94 I worked as a janitor, I also worked in the gardens 00:07:22.00\00:07:31.15 cleaning up flowers and 00:07:31.18\00:07:35.08 doing beautification and things like that, 00:07:35.12\00:07:38.32 and then when I went on to College in Fulton, 00:07:38.35\00:07:41.49 I also worked on the farm, I learned how to milk cows, 00:07:41.52\00:07:46.06 I learned how to ride a horse, 00:07:46.09\00:07:47.70 and I worked in the Fruit Department, 00:07:47.73\00:07:52.33 on pineapples and oranges and so I learned a lot of things 00:07:52.40\00:07:58.51 hands on... once I was learning things economically 00:07:58.54\00:08:02.28 in the classroom. Yes. 00:08:02.31\00:08:03.65 So I credit the Seventh-day Adventist System 00:08:03.68\00:08:06.82 because I think that education system 00:08:06.85\00:08:08.75 still continues in a lot of our schools, 00:08:08.78\00:08:10.65 Yes. and it teaches holistic 00:08:10.69\00:08:13.52 approach to training to a lot of kids 00:08:13.56\00:08:18.73 much more than State Schools, 00:08:18.76\00:08:20.66 where the Government pays for everything 00:08:20.70\00:08:23.00 and they only sit in a classroom to learn 00:08:23.03\00:08:25.00 so, I... 00:08:25.03\00:08:27.14 I must credit the 00:08:27.17\00:08:29.94 Adventist Education System for, let's say, 00:08:29.97\00:08:34.71 preparing me for a lot of the things 00:08:34.74\00:08:37.21 in my leadership to this day. 00:08:37.25\00:08:38.91 Yes, while we were talking, I was thinking 00:08:38.95\00:08:42.48 about what you were saying 00:08:42.52\00:08:46.15 because one of the things that we know about education, 00:08:46.19\00:08:50.36 is it's not just about academics 00:08:50.39\00:08:52.83 it's about developing character, 00:08:52.86\00:08:55.23 it's about developing a work ethic 00:08:55.26\00:08:57.77 and so what was happening with you was 00:08:57.80\00:09:00.24 in addition to the academics, you were learning a work ethic 00:09:00.27\00:09:05.01 you were working in the garden with the cows 00:09:05.04\00:09:08.14 and, I mean, as a janitor and all of these different things 00:09:08.18\00:09:11.81 developing character. Yes. 00:09:11.85\00:09:13.88 One of the things that... 00:09:13.92\00:09:15.68 there's an author that I interviewed once, 00:09:15.72\00:09:17.85 and he wrote a book about how children succeed, 00:09:17.89\00:09:21.26 and the most successful children 00:09:21.29\00:09:24.19 are the children who have developed their characters 00:09:24.23\00:09:28.43 in addition to the academics 00:09:28.46\00:09:31.63 and that is what it seems that happened to you. 00:09:31.67\00:09:35.14 You developed character and your academics. 00:09:35.17\00:09:39.01 Yes, you know, the Minister for Finance 00:09:39.07\00:09:42.88 of Papua New Guinea, 00:09:42.91\00:09:44.58 the man responsible for looking out for the money of our Country 00:09:44.61\00:09:48.82 also went to Adventist School, he's from a missionary family 00:09:48.85\00:09:53.05 The Honorable James Marape, 00:09:53.09\00:09:55.29 I believe he will be here next weekend, 00:09:55.32\00:09:57.03 he will be interviewed also, 00:09:57.06\00:09:58.53 the Minister for Communication, The Honorable Jim Miringtoro, 00:09:58.56\00:10:02.20 we went to the same High School, 00:10:02.26\00:10:04.43 he's a Minister for Communication 00:10:04.47\00:10:06.53 of the Government of Papua New Guinea, 00:10:06.60\00:10:08.97 we have the Minister for Environment, 00:10:09.00\00:10:11.34 the Minister for Lands, the Minister for Education, 00:10:11.37\00:10:15.24 all Seventh-day Adventists. 00:10:15.28\00:10:16.61 They're all Adventists, They're all Adventists... 00:10:16.64\00:10:17.98 and they all went through the same System 00:10:18.01\00:10:20.12 the Director for Customs, Mr. Kowuropa 00:10:20.15\00:10:22.32 who is also here at the session, 00:10:22.38\00:10:24.29 the Deputy Chief Justice whom you met 00:10:24.32\00:10:26.65 is Seventh-day Adventist, 00:10:26.69\00:10:28.82 the Director of the Internal Revenue Commission 00:10:28.86\00:10:30.86 Ms. Betty Palaso also went through the 00:10:30.89\00:10:33.29 Seventh-day Adventist School System 00:10:33.33\00:10:35.53 so there you are, 00:10:35.56\00:10:36.90 the Country of Papua New Guinea 00:10:36.93\00:10:38.83 is benefitting a lot 00:10:38.87\00:10:41.20 from people 00:10:41.24\00:10:42.80 who have gone through the 00:10:42.84\00:10:44.97 Seventh-day Adventist Education System... 00:10:45.01\00:10:46.74 Yes, yes, amen, amen, so, you went through this System 00:10:46.78\00:10:51.48 you were an Adventist, you went to the State School, 00:10:51.51\00:10:56.18 what happened when you went there 00:10:56.22\00:10:57.72 in terms of spirituality? 00:10:57.75\00:10:59.89 The State University was completely different. 00:10:59.92\00:11:02.19 How so? 00:11:02.22\00:11:03.79 There's really no control, 00:11:03.83\00:11:05.16 here, I was coming from a managed, controlled, 00:11:05.19\00:11:08.06 coordinated environment from education school 00:11:08.10\00:11:11.13 and then I was just like... thrown into the deep end 00:11:11.17\00:11:14.04 where so many things were thrown at me 00:11:14.07\00:11:17.47 especially, I learned to associate with people 00:11:17.51\00:11:20.74 my roommate smoked, 00:11:20.78\00:11:23.08 he drank alcohol, 00:11:23.14\00:11:25.38 my roommate at Fulton College was just like me 00:11:25.41\00:11:28.32 we got up in the morning and had devotion 00:11:28.35\00:11:31.72 and it's a different environment. 00:11:31.75\00:11:34.62 Fulton College was an Adventist School? 00:11:34.66\00:11:36.32 Yeah, but in the State University it's different, 00:11:36.36\00:11:37.69 they put you in a room with somebody completely different. 00:11:37.73\00:11:40.86 Right... 00:11:40.90\00:11:42.23 You see, then, you've got access to everything there 00:11:42.26\00:11:47.30 so, you just now... 00:11:47.34\00:11:49.84 have to swim, 00:11:49.87\00:11:52.31 spiritually you've got to survive 00:11:52.34\00:11:55.68 in the kind of environment with so many new things 00:11:55.74\00:11:59.05 being thrown into your face, 00:11:59.08\00:12:02.08 and so, we begin to also learn about new things 00:12:02.12\00:12:09.49 and associate with professors who are telling us new ideas 00:12:09.52\00:12:13.93 you know, political, philosophical, 00:12:13.96\00:12:15.80 and all kinds of new concepts 00:12:15.83\00:12:19.43 are beginning to come into my head 00:12:19.47\00:12:22.17 and then also the power, 00:12:22.20\00:12:23.71 of standing in front of a microphone 00:12:23.74\00:12:25.61 and speaking so that students can go on strike 00:12:25.64\00:12:28.78 or they can go on a protest, 00:12:28.81\00:12:30.95 and then you see the impact of the power of your speech 00:12:30.98\00:12:35.48 influencing people, telling them to do things, 00:12:35.52\00:12:39.25 you know, face the police and then... 00:12:39.32\00:12:44.43 and so power gets a bit into your head 00:12:44.46\00:12:48.33 and then my time is now divided between 00:12:48.36\00:12:52.27 the things that I learned from my parents, 00:12:52.30\00:12:56.10 from the Adventist School, I hardly prayed anymore, 00:12:56.14\00:12:59.57 I hardly studied the Bible, I was now more into politics 00:12:59.61\00:13:06.08 I was more into discussions on... 00:13:06.11\00:13:09.38 and then I started traveling around the world 00:13:09.42\00:13:12.02 when I became involved with 00:13:12.05\00:13:14.12 the International Union of Students, 00:13:14.16\00:13:15.56 I traveled to... mostly to Eastern Europe, 00:13:15.59\00:13:18.13 the International Union of Students during the '80s 00:13:18.16\00:13:21.66 was mostly financed by the Soviet Union 00:13:21.70\00:13:26.77 and so, I mostly did my travels to Russia 00:13:26.84\00:13:31.81 and the Headquarters of the Organization was in Prague, 00:13:31.84\00:13:35.24 22nd November Street, I can't forget, 00:13:35.28\00:13:38.71 in the former Czechoslovakia which is now the Czech Republic 00:13:38.75\00:13:45.15 so I spent a lot of time there 00:13:45.19\00:13:47.06 and then I began to be introduced to the ideas 00:13:47.09\00:13:50.69 of thinkers and writers like Karl Marx and Engels and Lenin 00:13:50.73\00:13:56.33 and you know what they call the Dialectic Materialism 00:13:56.36\00:14:00.07 and they then told me that, 00:14:00.10\00:14:03.17 "You're wasting your time on this religion, 00:14:03.20\00:14:05.07 God is just an old man in the sky 00:14:05.11\00:14:08.14 how can you believe in such a God 00:14:08.18\00:14:11.11 that allows so much suffering to happen in the world 00:14:11.18\00:14:14.15 so many unemployed people, the hungry people... " 00:14:14.22\00:14:17.05 and so they took me to 00:14:17.09\00:14:19.59 some of the big places in the world. 00:14:19.62\00:14:21.29 I went to Mumbai, 00:14:21.32\00:14:23.73 I went to places like Jakarta, 00:14:23.76\00:14:27.06 I went to some of the big cities in Asia, Manila, 00:14:27.10\00:14:30.33 and to go deeper into those kinds of places 00:14:30.37\00:14:34.97 where you see human beings living below the poverty line 00:14:35.00\00:14:37.67 and then you see ten people sleeping in a little room 00:14:37.71\00:14:41.64 that in America... a baby sleeps in 00:14:41.68\00:14:46.05 Yes, yes, and... 00:14:46.08\00:14:47.92 and I began to see, 00:14:47.98\00:14:49.78 "Oh, you know, this could be the reality of life" 00:14:49.82\00:14:54.56 you know... 00:14:54.62\00:14:55.96 Isn't it interesting that during the first part of your life 00:14:55.99\00:15:00.43 right, you were settled into the missionary mindset 00:15:00.46\00:15:06.53 a Biblical mindset, 00:15:06.57\00:15:09.04 but when you went into the Secular Schools, 00:15:09.07\00:15:13.41 you lost the connection 00:15:13.44\00:15:16.11 and by losing the connection, 00:15:16.14\00:15:18.35 you were able to drift into something else 00:15:18.38\00:15:21.22 because you weren't reading your Bible, 00:15:21.25\00:15:24.02 anymore, Yes. 00:15:24.05\00:15:25.39 you weren't praying... praying anymore... 00:15:25.42\00:15:27.56 so you lost your connection to God... 00:15:27.59\00:15:30.43 But I was reading the Communist Manifesto 00:15:30.46\00:15:33.33 yes, Karl Marx, you were reading Karl Marx, 00:15:33.36\00:15:36.13 you were reading all these other Lenin and Stalin and whatever... 00:15:36.16\00:15:39.60 you were reading all of this 00:15:39.63\00:15:41.34 and not reading the Bible. 00:15:41.37\00:15:43.00 In 1987, I went to Cuba and I met Fidel Castro. 00:15:43.04\00:15:45.94 How was that? 00:15:45.97\00:15:47.98 What was that like? 00:15:48.01\00:15:49.98 Well, you know, see... I idolized Fidel in my mind 00:15:50.01\00:15:54.68 and as a student, I was wearing Fidel Castro wear 00:15:54.72\00:15:57.52 and all these things at the University, 00:15:57.55\00:16:00.09 it was a mark of respect in the Student Movement 00:16:00.12\00:16:02.72 in the '80s... if Fidel was your hero. 00:16:02.76\00:16:07.06 You shake his hand... 00:16:07.10\00:16:08.43 I didn't wash my hand for one week. 00:16:08.46\00:16:10.87 Wow! 00:16:10.93\00:16:14.24 Isn't that amazing how... when you're... again... 00:16:14.27\00:16:17.24 when you're in the world, 00:16:17.27\00:16:18.61 the people of the world become your heroes. 00:16:18.64\00:16:21.11 I met Mikhail Gorbachev in 1985 00:16:21.14\00:16:24.18 in Moscow when I attended a huge 00:16:24.25\00:16:26.58 International Student Festival 00:16:26.61\00:16:28.85 and I also met 00:16:28.88\00:16:32.55 the late Kim Il Sung of North Korea when I went there 00:16:32.59\00:16:35.62 I went to places that no people from the free world used to go, 00:16:35.66\00:16:40.23 Vienna and Kiev. 00:16:40.26\00:16:41.60 And they welcomed you there. And they welcomed me there. 00:16:41.63\00:16:43.57 So now how did... wait, wait, wait 00:16:43.60\00:16:45.23 like... I can't believe how time is... 00:16:45.27\00:16:47.04 It's almost scary, because all these Heads... 00:16:47.07\00:16:48.80 these are people in the Student Movement 00:16:48.84\00:16:51.21 these are people we idolized, they were gods to us, 00:16:51.24\00:16:54.51 and I was touching them in the flesh, 00:16:54.54\00:16:57.45 and there you are... Isn't it amazing... 00:16:57.48\00:17:00.75 Yes, so, how did you come back to the Lord? 00:17:00.78\00:17:06.15 We were having this function 00:17:06.19\00:17:08.02 I was just telling you 00:17:08.06\00:17:09.82 and I was at the Travel Lodge at that time 00:17:09.89\00:17:17.60 now it's the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Papua New Guinea 00:17:17.63\00:17:20.57 it used to be the premier hotel 00:17:20.64\00:17:22.30 we organized a fundraiser, 00:17:22.34\00:17:25.24 to raise funds for somebody 00:17:25.27\00:17:28.11 and I was sort of... in charge of this Fundraiser 00:17:28.14\00:17:32.18 and I invited the Prime Minister of the Country 00:17:32.21\00:17:36.22 some leading business people, and diplomats and there we were 00:17:36.25\00:17:41.72 and in that cocktail sort of a standup cocktail party 00:17:41.79\00:17:47.23 Like a Cocktail party... 00:17:47.26\00:17:48.66 I was holding a glass of whiskey with coke 00:17:48.70\00:17:51.43 and I was drinking the thing 00:17:51.47\00:17:54.50 and then talking to the Prime Minister, 00:17:54.54\00:17:57.07 Sir Mekere Marauta at that time with some other people 00:17:57.11\00:18:00.58 and a Filipino-looking guy walks up 00:18:00.61\00:18:04.25 and excused me from the Prime Minister 00:18:04.31\00:18:06.65 and we walk over to the side and he said, 00:18:06.68\00:18:09.25 "Hey, you don't know me but I know about you 00:18:09.28\00:18:11.82 you are the most influential person 00:18:11.85\00:18:14.52 to that guy there... " 00:18:14.56\00:18:15.99 he was saying... that guy... to the Prime Minister, 00:18:16.02\00:18:17.86 "listen, the Lord has a work for you 00:18:17.89\00:18:21.63 I know that you're a Seventh-day Adventist" 00:18:21.66\00:18:23.67 Wow! 00:18:23.70\00:18:25.67 "I know that you're a Seventh-day Adventist 00:18:25.70\00:18:27.64 and God has a work for you" 00:18:27.70\00:18:29.04 It was on a Sunday afternoon and then he says, 00:18:29.07\00:18:30.91 on Monday evening, 00:18:30.97\00:18:33.68 I am inviting you for dinner to my house at the Embassy" 00:18:33.71\00:18:36.48 "Oh, you are the Philippines Ambassador, 00:18:36.54\00:18:40.85 Excellency, okay, okay, I'll be there" 00:18:40.88\00:18:45.15 and when I went to see him, 00:18:45.19\00:18:47.49 amongst other things we discussed 00:18:47.52\00:18:49.86 he was telling me, "You know, Brother Ben, 00:18:49.89\00:18:51.76 we have been having problems now for two years 00:18:51.79\00:18:54.06 trying to get a license so we can introduce 00:18:54.10\00:18:56.97 a Christian Broadcasting Television Network... " 00:18:57.00\00:18:59.87 and so, that was it, that was my introduction 00:18:59.90\00:19:05.07 to 3ABN, to Ambassador Tejano who has 00:19:05.11\00:19:08.08 become a lifelong friend and brother to me, 00:19:08.11\00:19:11.08 and he's been my mentor in my spiritual life 00:19:11.11\00:19:14.98 and also to 3ABN that I continue to support 00:19:15.05\00:19:18.89 with all my heart and with all my soul 00:19:18.92\00:19:21.66 and with all my strength, Amen... 00:19:21.69\00:19:23.02 in Papua New Guinea Amen. 00:19:23.06\00:19:24.39 and my road to come back to the Lord. 00:19:24.43\00:19:28.20 It's was just an accident, unplanned, unprepared, 00:19:28.23\00:19:34.00 but you know what? 00:19:34.04\00:19:35.37 When God decides to give you a work, 00:19:35.40\00:19:38.74 Come on now Brother... you have no... 00:19:38.77\00:19:40.18 That's right... 00:19:40.21\00:19:41.71 you can't stop it, He will get you 00:19:41.74\00:19:44.75 and you have no excuse to run away. 00:19:44.78\00:19:47.72 That's right, well you know, it's funny because 00:19:47.75\00:19:50.32 I always say on this Program 00:19:50.35\00:19:53.12 that we talk about Jeremiah 29:11, 00:19:53.15\00:19:56.66 God has a plan for every life, 00:19:56.69\00:19:59.79 every life has a very important work to do for God 00:19:59.83\00:20:03.97 and so, you didn't realize it but all of your experiences 00:20:04.00\00:20:09.34 were getting you ready to do what you're doing now, 00:20:09.37\00:20:12.74 Yes. God was getting you ready 00:20:12.77\00:20:14.71 and you didn't even realize it, 00:20:14.74\00:20:16.58 you thought you had put God aside, 00:20:16.64\00:20:18.68 you had thrown Him aside but He never threw you. 00:20:18.71\00:20:23.52 So, this is the first invitation by God 00:20:23.55\00:20:29.36 through Ambassador Tejano and then later... Danny Shelton 00:20:29.39\00:20:34.10 Yes... yes... 00:20:34.13\00:20:35.46 and Moses Primo and all these lovely people 00:20:35.50\00:20:37.03 that have become my lifelong friends 00:20:37.07\00:20:39.87 Amen... and then, that was not the end, 00:20:39.90\00:20:42.54 I helped them... in one of the ways... 00:20:42.57\00:20:45.14 in my position to get the license for 3ABN 00:20:45.17\00:20:48.61 next, another invitation... 00:20:48.64\00:20:50.15 So, wait, wait, wait, now, you just went past it, 00:20:50.18\00:20:54.08 so you helped to get the license for 3ABN for New Guinea? 00:20:54.12\00:20:58.39 Yes. Praise God... and that's... wow! 00:20:58.42\00:21:01.62 you see how God... God is so good 00:21:01.66\00:21:04.76 He used you to get the word out to the millions of people 00:21:04.79\00:21:09.33 there in New Guinea. 00:21:09.36\00:21:10.70 It was very difficult, Really? 00:21:10.73\00:21:13.10 it was very difficult to get a license 00:21:13.13\00:21:14.50 Why? because, at that time, you know, 00:21:14.54\00:21:16.81 there was only one channel in Papua New Guinea 00:21:16.84\00:21:22.21 a telecommunication regimentary... what you call... 00:21:22.24\00:21:27.25 spectrum... this is the pipe that transmits 00:21:27.28\00:21:33.82 the signals... right? Yes... yes... 00:21:33.86\00:21:35.76 it's the terminology for licenses. 00:21:35.79\00:21:37.23 Spectrum, it's the space that they allow 00:21:37.26\00:21:40.90 for broadcasting channels. Okay. 00:21:40.93\00:21:42.73 Only three... one is reserved for the Government, 00:21:42.76\00:21:45.93 one is private, which a private company 00:21:45.97\00:21:49.30 called MTV already... was issued, 00:21:49.34\00:21:51.81 there was only one for churches that was left and 00:21:51.84\00:21:54.48 ten... twenty different churches had been vying for it 00:21:54.51\00:21:58.81 Wow! and the former Prime Minster, 00:21:58.85\00:22:01.28 Bill Skate, had already committed it to Benny Hinn 00:22:01.32\00:22:05.02 Benny Hinn, you know, the Evangelist who visited 00:22:05.05\00:22:08.72 Papua New Guinea... Yeah... yeah... 00:22:08.76\00:22:10.09 he had committed it to him, 00:22:10.13\00:22:11.46 but... so... it was very difficult. 00:22:11.49\00:22:14.03 Only when the Government changed, 00:22:14.06\00:22:17.07 and Sir Mekere Marauta became the Prime Minister, 00:22:17.10\00:22:21.64 he appointed me as his Chief of Staff 00:22:21.67\00:22:24.21 Oh... you see... 00:22:24.24\00:22:26.61 see, now I feel like you're "Joseph" 00:22:26.64\00:22:28.68 I feel like you are a "Joseph," in the Government, 00:22:28.71\00:22:32.71 Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. 00:22:32.75\00:22:34.52 Except now you're a "number one. " 00:22:34.55\00:22:36.05 Yes, I became a Civil Staff, 00:22:36.08\00:22:37.72 and later he appointed me to become Executive Chairman 00:22:37.75\00:22:41.52 of the Privatization Commission 00:22:41.56\00:22:43.43 the Commission that the Prime Minister set up, 00:22:43.46\00:22:46.09 to privatize State investments, so all the State Companies 00:22:46.13\00:22:49.63 that I am now Minister for I actually privatized them 00:22:49.66\00:22:53.54 and Corporatized them ten years ago 00:22:53.60\00:22:55.60 so I've just come back to take them to a higher level 00:22:55.64\00:22:58.37 but when I was in the position all these things happened 00:22:58.41\00:23:04.05 and it's a long story but 3ABN got the license 00:23:04.08\00:23:07.22 That's tremendous... 00:23:07.25\00:23:08.92 and has been broadcasting for how many years now 00:23:08.95\00:23:11.52 impacting the lives of many people 00:23:11.55\00:23:13.89 Amen. creating positive change 00:23:13.92\00:23:16.36 Amen. in the spiritual message, 00:23:16.39\00:23:19.43 in the health message, the exercise programs, 00:23:19.46\00:23:23.10 kids' programs, your program 00:23:23.13\00:23:24.80 Praise God... 00:23:24.83\00:23:26.17 amazing how so many people are touched 00:23:26.20\00:23:28.84 and so many people are 00:23:28.90\00:23:30.57 now being encouraged to live positive lives 00:23:30.61\00:23:32.71 because of these Programs Amen. 00:23:32.74\00:23:34.11 and I played a small part. 00:23:34.14\00:23:35.81 Well, I think you're being modest though 00:23:35.84\00:23:38.35 we praise the Lord for you Thank you. 00:23:38.38\00:23:40.82 and for people like you who have the vision 00:23:40.88\00:23:44.65 to do something great for God 00:23:44.72\00:23:47.82 because God is great. 00:23:47.86\00:23:49.42 Where do you see... 00:23:49.46\00:23:50.99 we only have about a minute or so left, 00:23:51.03\00:23:54.10 where do you see God taking your ministry... 00:23:54.13\00:23:57.30 you're doing so many different ministries, 00:23:57.33\00:24:00.47 tell us about some of the other ministries you're doing. 00:24:00.50\00:24:02.57 These days... that's why I was... 00:24:02.60\00:24:04.54 because that is the climate zone Yes. 00:24:04.57\00:24:06.47 this transformation 00:24:06.51\00:24:07.88 where they invited me again to attend a prayer breakfast 00:24:07.91\00:24:12.08 by an Evangelist called, Pastor Mark Finley. 00:24:12.11\00:24:16.08 Yes. Now, I hardly knew for 20 years 00:24:16.12\00:24:19.39 who was the President of the General Conference, 00:24:19.45\00:24:21.89 who was this... who was that... 00:24:21.92\00:24:23.49 I was completely in the dark, 00:24:23.53\00:24:25.03 I knew more about Fidel Castro and Mikhail Gorbachev 00:24:25.06\00:24:29.30 and all these other people, right? 00:24:29.33\00:24:30.67 Hmmm... hmmm... 00:24:30.70\00:24:32.03 So, they invited me to this Prayer Breakfast 00:24:32.07\00:24:35.27 and Mark Finley opened to me the Word of God 00:24:35.30\00:24:38.87 especially the story of Daniel, that story touched my life 00:24:38.94\00:24:42.61 I'm now living the kind of life that Daniel lived. 00:24:42.64\00:24:47.35 I read Daniel's story, especially of his diet, you see, 00:24:47.38\00:24:50.09 Yes... yes. the diet, water and vegetables 00:24:50.12\00:24:52.72 okay, that's the health message Yes... yes... 00:24:52.75\00:24:55.76 plus uncompromising values and principles 00:24:55.79\00:24:58.53 Godly principles in Government, 00:24:58.56\00:25:00.66 that story about Daniel from Pastor Mark Finley in 2000 00:25:00.70\00:25:05.87 transformed my life and put me on the road 00:25:05.90\00:25:09.94 to where I am today and that is the life that I live. 00:25:09.97\00:25:12.71 Praise God, we praise God for you. 00:25:12.74\00:25:15.41 Thank you so much, thank you for taking the time 00:25:15.44\00:25:18.25 to be on this Program and to share your story. 00:25:18.28\00:25:21.02 So, I got re-baptized in 2002, yes, I got re-baptized again. 00:25:21.05\00:25:24.69 Praise God, we are so thankful, 00:25:24.72\00:25:28.46 we're thankful for you, your ministry, 00:25:28.49\00:25:30.39 your service to the people of God 00:25:30.43\00:25:33.63 and for your time, coming here, 00:25:33.66\00:25:36.63 thank you so much, may God continue to bless you. 00:25:36.67\00:25:40.00 Viewers, make sure that you support... 00:25:40.04\00:25:43.81 if you hear about Brother Ben Micah anywhere 00:25:43.84\00:25:47.74 doing any kind of missionary work, 00:25:47.78\00:25:50.35 please support him. 00:25:50.38\00:25:51.91 God bless, thank you. 00:25:51.98\00:25:53.45 Oh! it's so great to see people 00:25:53.48\00:25:59.85 that are letting their light shine 00:25:59.89\00:26:01.76 in the work place in their personal lives, 00:26:01.79\00:26:04.59 we have to do that too. 00:26:04.63\00:26:06.56 You know, Matthew 5:16 says, 00:26:06.59\00:26:08.90 "Let your light so shine before men, 00:26:08.93\00:26:10.90 that they may see your good works 00:26:10.97\00:26:12.87 and glorify your father which is in heaven. " 00:26:12.90\00:26:15.70 We can all let our light shine and we all have to do that. 00:26:15.74\00:26:19.94 We want to thank you so much for coming up to us 00:26:19.97\00:26:25.41 during the General Conference Session 00:26:25.45\00:26:27.58 and letting us know how Dare to Dream 00:26:27.62\00:26:29.72 is impacting your lives. 00:26:29.75\00:26:31.09 I heard great stories about people 00:26:31.12\00:26:33.42 who are coming to Jesus through Dare to Dream, 00:26:33.46\00:26:36.26 people who are going to their local church, 00:26:36.29\00:26:39.06 and saying, "We want to get baptized 00:26:39.09\00:26:41.06 because we're watching Dare to Dream" 00:26:41.10\00:26:43.37 and those of you who are supporting us 00:26:43.40\00:26:45.47 through prayer and financial support, 00:26:45.53\00:26:47.57 we couldn't do it without you, 00:26:47.60\00:26:50.34 so you are an intrinsic part of this whole thing. 00:26:50.37\00:26:53.61 Thank you so very much for helping us 00:26:53.64\00:26:56.34 and for standing in the gap with us 00:26:56.38\00:26:58.98 and for those of you who haven't given yet, 00:26:59.01\00:27:01.32 please ask the Holy Spirit how you can help Dare to Dream, 00:27:01.35\00:27:05.25 what He would have you to do to assist us 00:27:05.32\00:27:08.02 to get the gospel out to the whole world. 00:27:08.06\00:27:10.69 Our address here if you want to send us a donation is 00:27:10.73\00:27:16.26 Dare to Dream, PO Box 220, West Frankfort, IL 62896 00:27:16.30\00:27:21.80 or you can call, 618-627-4651 00:27:21.84\00:27:28.28 that's 618-627-4651 or 3abn. org 00:27:28.34\00:27:34.72 or D2Dnetwork. TV 00:27:34.78\00:27:38.35 There are a whole bunch of ways to reach us 00:27:38.39\00:27:42.02 but pick one and again, pray about it and ask the Lord 00:27:42.06\00:27:46.39 how He would have you to help us. 00:27:46.43\00:27:48.83 Thank you so much for tuning in 00:27:48.86\00:27:51.20 and we so appreciate you, we love you, 00:27:51.23\00:27:54.14 and we ask that you just continue to watch. 00:27:54.17\00:27:56.81 Join us next time because you know what? 00:27:56.84\00:28:00.88 It just wouldn't be the same without you. 00:28:00.91\00:28:04.88