Participants: Karen Thomas (Host), Java Mattison
Series Code: IAADD
Program Code: IAADD000025A
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00:28 Welcome to Issues and Answers.
00:29 Today we're going to be talking about the publishing work, 00:32 dead or alive. 00:34 Our guest today is Java Madison. 00:36 He's a publishing director for South Central Conference. 00:39 He's a graduate of Oakwood University 00:41 and Andrews University with a Masters of Divinity. 00:44 Welcome to the program today, Java. 00:46 Thank you so much, Karen, for having me. 00:47 So the publishing work, dead or alive? 00:49 Wow. 00:51 The publishing work is very much alive. 00:53 In this ministry is surrounding the nature of the word of God. 00:58 When you think about 00:59 how the word of God is communicated, 01:02 how it is translated. 01:04 It is the very nature of this work 01:06 and the word of God, the Bible says is quick, 01:09 the Bible says that it is powerful, 01:11 it is sharper than any two-edged sword. 01:13 This ministry is very much alive 01:15 because it is linked with 01:16 the very life of Christ himself. 01:19 So I understand that there has been some restructuring 01:22 in the publishing ministry 01:23 within the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 01:25 Is it still a viable vocation? 01:27 Can people still become literature evangelists? 01:30 Yes, I'm glad that you asked that question 01:33 because we would like to invite 01:35 people to become literature evangelists like never before. 01:38 Really? 01:40 This is an urgent call. 01:41 We're trying to position ourselves to be used 01:44 by God in the best possible way. 01:47 By restructuring we are becoming more nimble. 01:52 We're becoming more capable to meet the demands 01:55 of our communities, 01:57 to give a relevant word for the issues that they face. 02:01 When you think about 02:03 the very nature of this ministry, 02:05 the Bible says that Moses was called into a mountain 02:11 to speak to God. 02:12 When he was called into the mountain, 02:14 you know, he had face-to-face communion with God 02:17 like no one had ever had until that time. 02:20 And God did a few things, he spoke, the Bible says, 02:25 and after having spoken 02:27 and having this authentic intimacy with Moses, 02:31 to recap the experience, God said, 02:34 all right I'm going to write down 02:36 what I just explained to you 02:38 and God in his own way with his own finger 02:42 wrote down the very 10 commandments. 02:45 And then this is what God did. 02:47 He gave them to Moses to give to the people. 02:52 Bam, publishing. 02:53 Publishing. 02:55 That's how we got it. 02:56 Wow! 02:58 So in these times, 02:59 you know so many things are going on right now, 03:01 what's the best way to get the word out? 03:03 Wow, you know there are so many 03:05 different ways to communicate now. 03:06 I mean the internet is just one of those prime examples 03:10 and technology, media. 03:12 So many outlets to actually reach people 03:14 to communicate to them that God actually loves them, 03:18 that he's desirous to be intimate with them. 03:22 But undergirding all levels of communication 03:26 is the one form of media that we cannot dispense without 03:31 and that is the written word of God. 03:34 This is our main safeguard from temptation, 03:38 our main safeguard from the attacks of the enemy. 03:41 Mmm, wow. 03:42 So now, I guess looking back in history, 03:44 things have always been of importance 03:46 have been written down. 03:48 Have always been written down. 03:49 I mean, one of the reasons why we do publishing 03:53 is because I can audibly speak my sermon to a congregation 03:59 and then after the service people will say 04:01 that was a good sermon. 04:02 And then you ask them exactly what it was 04:05 that I actually spoke about and very few people, 04:08 I have found can actually tell me my points. 04:11 Which would mean either one that memory is bad 04:14 or I'm just a horrible communicator. 04:17 And so writing down the revelation, 04:21 the word of God is important 04:22 so people can go back and they can read it. 04:25 And so the point would be this: 04:26 The written word of God endures and lasts throughout time. 04:31 And so that's why we need the written word of God. 04:35 So therefore we need everybody 04:37 to share in the publishing ministry, 04:40 not just to sell books 04:44 but also to share books, 04:47 and this is why the call 04:48 to the publishing ministry is so urgent 04:51 because we need more people sharing the word of God, 04:55 distributing literature, leaflets, tracts, 04:59 small pamphlets. 05:00 Then we need a few people selling the word of God. 05:05 And so therefore everybody can get involved. 05:09 Everybody can be a literature evangelist. 05:12 I was going to ask you that. 05:13 So everyone no matter 05:15 whether or not they're directly coming 05:16 under a particular group, a conference or a ministry, 05:22 selling the books or actually going online 05:25 and buying books 05:26 or actually picking up books from a store, 05:28 you're saying we all are literature evangelists. 05:31 We all are literature evangelists. 05:34 Think about it in this way. 05:36 Literature evangelists a lot of people use the word LE. 05:40 But Paul said it in this way in 2 Corinthians 3:2, 05:46 He says, "Ye are living epistles" 05:51 and then he said, "You are read by all men." 05:55 In other words, Paul took 05:57 this idea of literature evangelism 05:59 to a whole another level where he says 06:02 you are the very book, 06:04 your life is the very book that people are reading. 06:08 Before they even read a piece of literature 06:11 that I could share with them, 06:12 they've already read about who Jesus is 06:16 through the life that I've lived. 06:18 And so in that way everybody is involved. 06:21 Nobody can be an innocent bystander or a spectator. 06:25 Your life is a book. 06:27 People may never read the Bible, 06:29 but they've read your acts of kindness, 06:32 they've read your acts of love, 06:34 they've read the kind words that you've spoken. 06:37 And so this concept of literature evangelism 06:39 is far deeper than we actually have made it 06:43 and God is calling for everybody 06:45 to take an active role. 06:46 You may not be able to preach, you may not be able to pray, 06:49 but you can share a piece of literature. 06:51 But make sure that your lifestyle is lining up with it. 06:54 So, you know, some people look and say, 06:56 you know, I need a reason 06:58 to know that this really is a calling of God. 07:01 Is there anything that we've had that's been written 07:04 or that can let us know that 07:06 this really is an important work? 07:08 I'm glad that you asked that 07:10 because in the Colporteur Ministry, 07:13 which is a kind of a book that's been written about 07:16 why we should do this ministry... 07:18 How long ago was that written? 07:20 Well, this book was written about 100 years ago, you know. 07:24 It still is viable today 07:27 because some of the principles 07:29 that are instilled there still apply. 07:32 But it's Ellen White, she wrote the book. 07:35 She suggests that when the church realizes 07:39 her call to share the word of God 07:43 through our publications, 07:45 she says that our church will rise and will go forth 07:50 and shine as bright as the sun. 07:53 She says our power as a church has a lot to do 07:57 with ourpublishing ministry 07:59 and therefore everybody has to take an active part, 08:04 whether you are in your grocery stores, 08:06 whether you're at the gas station, 08:09 whether you're at you day cares 08:10 where you drop your children off or your schools, 08:14 wherever you find yourself at, there you can leave a leaflet, 08:19 a pamphlet encouraging somebody along the way. 08:23 Let me ask you, because you know, 08:25 cities or out in the country or wherever people are living, 08:29 how are people receiving, 08:31 I mean, do people today are they willing 08:33 to take a pamphlet or a booklet from a perfect stranger? 08:37 You know what? 08:38 I found it to be amazing. 08:40 There are so many beautiful people 08:42 in the world today and people are lonely. 08:47 People are hurting. 08:50 People have been cut off from society in so many ways 08:54 and that's what I've found technology has done. 08:58 While it has brought the world closer together, 09:02 it also in so many ways have separated. 09:04 For example, in my home, 09:06 my daughters and my son along with my wife and myself 09:10 we all have either an iPad or an iPhone 09:15 and we're all at several times of the day on these devices. 09:21 We can all be in the same room but we are so far apart. 09:25 And so technology too has a way of separating us. 09:29 And so there is a ability to have high touch, 09:33 meaning, you can reach a lot of people. 09:36 How so? 09:38 Through technology. 09:39 But this high tech reality has also separated people 09:44 from the opportunity to actually 09:47 having a personal contact, 09:49 just to hear somebody say you know what, 09:51 God is with you. 09:52 To hear, you know, God loves you. 09:54 And that's what a literature evangelist can do. 09:57 So when I go to a home and I knock on a door, 10:00 it's almost in Revelation 3 10:04 when the Bible says Jesus knocks on the door, 10:07 he says behold I stand at the door and knock, 10:10 if any man, any woman, hears my voice 10:13 and opens up I'll come in and sup. 10:16 That is to say, I'll come and have dinner with you. 10:19 Eating with people is one of the most 10:21 intimate expressions that we have in humanity. 10:26 It sure is. 10:27 To eat with someone, 10:28 to treat them to a meal is intimate. 10:31 And so what God is really wanting to do 10:33 through literature evangelism is to bring people 10:36 into intimacy with people who have actually met Jesus. 10:40 So, Java, tell me, 10:41 what kinds of things are being planned 10:43 to get the word out? 10:44 Well, I'm glad you asked. 10:46 In the concept mass distribution, 10:49 total church involvement. 10:51 One of the things that we're looking for is 10:53 in the area that we live in 10:55 what big events are happening? 10:57 Whether there are sporting events 10:59 if you're in a city that has some kind of sports team 11:03 where large crowds gather. 11:05 You know this is an opportunity 11:07 for you to go as a church community 11:09 to share the word of God. 11:11 So in mass distributing you want to reach 11:13 as many people as possible. 11:14 Here's the principle. 11:16 In the book Colporteur Ministry, 11:18 she says that the literature can go places 11:21 where the living preacher cannot go 11:24 and the reality is there are some people 11:26 who would never come into our churches 11:28 and I think we kind of need to just recognize that 11:32 and accept that fact. 11:33 And so we have to go where they are 11:36 whether it's at grocery stores. 11:38 Individuals can share the word of God, 11:40 the literature. 11:42 One of the things 11:43 that we are doing here in the Southern Union, 11:46 we are catering books to sporting events. 11:49 So this book, Let's Win, 11:52 it pictures Jesus as your life coach. 11:56 Everybody wants their team to win 11:59 in whatever sport you're playing. 12:01 But bigger than sports is what some people 12:05 have termed the game of life 12:08 and that's a game that you don't want to lose in. 12:12 And so this book, Let's Win, 12:14 helps you to hear from the master coach, Jesus, 12:18 as he coaches you through every stage of your life. 12:21 This is a book that has been put together 12:24 in large quantities. 12:25 Over 250,000 of these have been put in print 12:28 just within the last few months. 12:31 This is a book that people can share to anybody 12:36 who may have an interest in sports 12:38 and so you can choose an event like that. 12:40 This is one example where you can distribute 12:44 this piece of literature to mass quantities of people. 12:47 Anywhere in the Southern Union you can find this book. 12:50 I also have here with me 12:53 what we call GLOW tracts 12:56 Now these GLOW tracts have different topics. 12:59 This topic says why do I go to church on Saturday? 13:04 You may not ever be able to explain to someone 13:06 why you attend church on Saturday 13:09 but this little leaflet is something that 13:11 can actually convince people, 13:14 share with people... 13:15 Can I see that? 13:17 Yes, why you go to church on Saturday. 13:20 Right. Also... 13:21 Simple to read, it looks like... 13:23 Simple to read. 13:24 You can read just in 15 minutes. 13:25 Also is another topic. 13:27 A lot of people want to know is the world coming to an end. 13:31 Yes. 13:32 Evolution is another topic. 13:34 You know the story of evolution goes directly 13:39 against the story that we have a loving creator. 13:43 Right. 13:44 People need to know that there's a God that loves them. 13:47 These are different methods and ways 13:50 people can actually share their faith. 13:53 Making Sense of Natural Disasters. 13:56 Natural disasters, 13:57 this is something that affects people in so many ways. 14:01 This is a way that you can share. 14:03 I have a few more, Breaking Addictions. 14:06 So many people... 14:07 may be it's a smoking addiction, 14:10 eating addiction, 14:11 maybe it's the addiction of hate. 14:13 You know, some people need to learn how to love. 14:15 That's true. 14:16 Yes. 14:17 Where's God When I'm Hurting? 14:19 So many people are hurting. 14:20 They find it hard to believe that there is a God 14:23 because of the pain they feel in their own life. 14:25 Right. 14:27 Yeah, I like the way that you just pull 14:28 this out of your lapel, you know. 14:30 So you go some place and you just, 14:32 what do you do? 14:33 You just put the tract down? 14:35 Well you know it's exciting to actually see it unfold. 14:38 For example, one time I was in Orlando 14:42 and I was at a Wal-Mart 14:44 and I was going up and down the aisle 14:46 and I was looking for a piece for my computer. 14:50 And there, out of nowhere it just grabbed me. 14:53 I wasn't looking for 14:55 but it was book called Ministry of Healing. 14:59 It just said, Java, and all of a sudden 15:03 I looked and there the book was. 15:04 I picked it up and I knew 15:06 that that was a literature evangelist 15:08 who just left it there. 15:09 You know, this is one thing 15:12 that really excites me about this ministry. 15:14 It is a ministry where there are unseen agencies 15:19 always at work. 15:21 The reason why I know that book grabbed my attention 15:25 because Ellen White, she talks about 15:27 how God positions angels at every piece of literature 15:33 that's placed for someone to actually read. 15:37 God is jealous for this ministry. 15:40 For example, the Bible says 15:42 my word shall not return unto me void, 15:45 but it shall accomplish the thing in which I sent it. 15:50 And so God will, when you place literature, 15:52 whether it's at a bowling alley, 15:54 whether it's at a gas station, 15:56 whether it is at a gas pump. 16:00 I've placed them at gas pumps 16:02 right by the place where you put your credit card. 16:05 I position a tract right there. 16:08 You can leave it anywhere and you can be rest assured 16:11 that God will send someone there 16:13 where it will arrest their attention. 16:16 Wow. 16:17 So I can leave it with my hairstylist, 16:19 getting my nails done. 16:20 Yes. 16:21 Wow, at the health club. 16:23 Just wherever I'm going. 16:24 You're saying that as I'm leaving this, 16:26 I am leaving a request to God 16:29 to send an angel to accompany this literature? 16:32 Yes, yes. 16:34 Because the word of God is quick, 16:36 it is powerful, 16:37 it's sharper than any two-edge sword. 16:40 The word will arrest the attention of the people 16:42 and that's one of the reasons why we're instructed 16:45 for this ministry to be placed in print 16:49 because it arrests the attention of people. 16:53 I was thinking about another example 16:56 when I was just today at a Pilot gas station 17:02 and in the restroom, 17:04 I saw a piece of literature there 17:07 that was randomly placed there on the counter 17:09 and it grabbed my attention. 17:12 I didn't touch it 17:13 because I knew God had placed it 17:15 there for someone else. 17:16 But that's a perfect example 17:17 of how we can be a light for God. 17:21 And can I just share a scripture with you? 17:23 Sure, please. 17:24 The Bible says in Isaiah, 17:26 "Arise and shine for thy light has come, 17:31 gross darkness shall cover the people 17:34 but my light shall shine on you." 17:37 The reason why this tract is called GLOW 17:40 is because Jesus wants us to let our light shine. 17:45 Let it shine everywhere. 17:47 No matter where you go, 17:48 allow the light of God's glory to shine. 17:51 Allow the truth of God's word to be shared. 17:54 Wherever you are that light should shine. 17:57 It should burst forth where people around 18:00 can know that God loves them, 18:01 God cares and he so desperately wants to be with us 18:06 again face to face. 18:08 I don't know about you but as I look at the times 18:11 that we are living in, so much pain, 18:13 so much suffering. 18:15 Yeah, a lot of things going on. 18:17 Controversy, community 18:20 unrest, differences. 18:23 How can the publishing ministry 18:25 help people through these times? 18:27 Well, it is a direct word of the Lord 18:31 for them to that issue, 18:34 which is why there are so many varieties of topics 18:38 that the word of God has been written 18:40 to meet the specific needs of people. 18:43 Wow. 18:45 So I kind of want to go back to something. 18:47 Now how is it that... 18:48 Is it possible that this beautiful publishing ministry 18:52 can be of benefit to individual families, 18:56 to people who are out of work perhaps 18:57 or trying to come up with ways 19:00 to pay for their schooling, their education? 19:03 You know what, there are so many young people 19:06 across the world right now 19:08 who actually take this to another level. 19:12 In that level they have decided to share the word of God 19:16 and when they leave this literature with individuals 19:18 they actually leave a donation, 19:21 and this donation has helped young people 19:23 to stay in school. 19:24 This donation has paid for tuition. 19:28 There's so much that can be done through this ministry. 19:32 God will provide for your needs in this ministry. 19:35 I've seen it done for me in my personal life. 19:37 As a matter of fact, when I left Oakwood University, 19:41 they wrote me a check for $6000 19:44 because I was a literature evangelist. 19:47 Wow! 19:48 So yes, there are ways that people 19:51 who want to do this as a ministry 19:54 that it can subsidize their ministry desire. 19:57 Now how about for the person that just loves the internet? 20:00 We talked about tablets, 20:01 we talked about this mass distribution. 20:03 What are some ideas for an individual 20:06 to be able to use maybe their Facebook or Instagram 20:09 or some of these other ways to get the word out? 20:12 You know, a lot of times in your personal devotion 20:15 as you read the word of God, 20:17 the word of God has an impact on you 20:20 and what I do a lot of times is I take an excerpt 20:23 and I'll post that excerpt from what I read 20:27 in my devotional on my Facebook, 20:29 on my Instagram. 20:30 That's one way 20:32 that so many people are sharing the word of God today. 20:34 We have a website youthexcel.info. 20:38 People can go there. 20:40 They can receive the literature 20:42 and they can purchase it to give out, 20:44 to share it with their family members, 20:45 to give as gifts. 20:47 I mean anything you can think of 20:49 or any reason you can think of 20:50 to give someone the word of God. 20:52 We should do it because ultimately 20:54 we know it's the word of God that saves our soul. 20:57 So how accessible is it, you know, 20:59 for a person maybe that's not living in the south 21:01 or they're living in another part of the world 21:04 to be able to get these nice little pamphlets 21:06 to be able to pass out to their neighbors, 21:08 friends and other people? 21:11 Is there a website, I mean 21:12 what's the best way for a person 21:14 to be able to get started. 21:16 Just a person, not necessarily a minister 21:19 or maybe young or old? 21:20 What's the best way for them to get started? 21:22 Well I tell you. 21:23 If you are a member of the Seventh-day Adventist church, 21:26 I would suggest that you first start 21:28 with your local publishing ministries director. 21:31 The GLOW ministry the Lord has blessed 21:34 to become global and worldwide. 21:37 Many publishing ministries are now carrying 21:39 the GLOW literature that was birthed by God 21:43 in Central California by Nelson Erts. 21:47 They have placed this literature 21:49 in so many places. 21:50 I'm talking about multimillion of copies 21:53 have gone across the world. 21:55 I would suggest you start there. 21:58 If your ministries leader 22:00 doesn't have these literatures available, 22:02 you're more than welcome to visit our website, 22:05 and again that website is youthexcel.info. 22:09 There there's a link where you can go to GLOW literature 22:13 and you can purchase this literature 22:16 for a very minimal fee 22:17 of just five dollars for a pack of 100. 22:20 So a small investment of just five dollars 22:23 you can reach 100 people to let them know 22:26 where is God when you're hurting. 22:28 So let's say, I'm at my church 22:31 and I'm listening to Java Madison, 22:33 and I'm all gung ho and I'm all excited you know, 22:35 forward ever, backward never. 22:37 I've heard that at literature evangelisms. 22:39 Forward ever, backward never. 22:40 I'm like yeah, yeah I want to go, I want to go. 22:41 How do I get started? How do you get started? 22:43 What's the best way to organize at my church, 22:47 maybe just a committee of one or how would you suggest it? 22:50 Well definitely, I'm glad you asked. 22:53 If you go to our website, again there is a process. 22:58 The GLOW ministry has a process 23:01 in which you can start 23:02 in your own local church congregation. 23:05 Okay, now let me ask you something 23:06 just for clarification about the GLOW ministry. 23:08 Is this something that all the publishing directors 23:12 and all that are involved in all the conferences, 23:14 they're all kind of working together on this? 23:16 Yes. 23:17 The GLOW ministry is a new initiative 23:20 that breaks down the barrier that we have placed up 23:24 almost unknowingly to keep people 23:26 from this ministry. 23:28 What do you mean? 23:29 Well, the idea of selling the literature 23:32 have made so many people in our church 23:35 feel like that ministry isn't for me. 23:38 Okay. 23:39 So unless they signed up 23:41 and became a formal literature evangelist 23:43 and then people just kind of stayed away from it 23:45 and said it's for the LE's not for me. 23:48 Yes, because of the fear 23:51 or the desire to not want to sell the literature. 23:54 But when everybody can share the literature, 23:58 it makes it possible for everybody to get involved. 24:00 So what does it take for you to get involved? 24:03 Find a friend. 24:05 Gather individuals in your church 24:07 who want to reach people with the word of God. 24:10 That's the only criteria 24:12 that you need to be a literature evangelist. 24:15 Then you equip yourself with the literature. 24:18 That means God is calling for sacrifice. 24:23 That is to say you set aside funds 24:26 that you are going to use to sacrifice 24:28 to purchase inexpensive literature at bulk qualities. 24:34 Okay, okay, so like large numbers... 24:37 Large numbers... 24:38 Bulk quantities. Yes. 24:40 Maybe I'm going to say we're going to target... 24:42 Is this based upon a goal maybe as our group would have, 24:45 say we want to get out 5000 pieces 24:46 of literature that kind of. 24:48 Yes. 24:49 Set your goal high 24:51 because one of the mandates is to spread the gospel 24:54 through the written word of God like the leaves of autumn. 24:57 And if you've ever seen a beautiful autumn setting, 25:00 it's so many leaves that if you had to pick them all up, 25:03 it would just drive you insane. 25:05 But not only like the leaves of autumn 25:08 but also like never before. 25:11 Whatever you have prior experience 25:13 in terms of the success of the publishing ministry, 25:16 God is saying in the last days, which we're in, 25:19 this word will go forth like never before. 25:22 She said like clear streams of light beaming 25:26 around the world like never before. 25:29 So set your goals high. 25:30 If I was in a community of 40,000, 25:33 then I would be saying 25:34 I need 40,000 pieces of literature. 25:36 What would it take for me to order 25:38 40,000 pieces of literature. 25:40 I would organize myself, I would get sponsors, 25:42 I would get donors, 25:44 I would make the sacrifice first 25:45 if I were doing it. 25:47 Maybe for you it would be $1,000. 25:49 For some $10,000. 25:51 I've had individuals write large sum checks 25:54 and they've distributed in some cities by themselves, 25:57 a single individual 25:58 over 200,000 pieces of literature. 26:01 Wow. 26:03 They distributed it in different churches. 26:04 They set up stations 26:05 and one individual has impacted a whole city. 26:09 I want to be that kind of impact player for Jesus. 26:11 I don't know about you, 26:13 but I'm just excited about the thought 26:14 that I can let my light shine. 26:17 It's time if I were in a locker room 26:19 to go hard or go home. 26:22 We're either going to be disciples of Jesus 26:24 or we're not. 26:25 And because I know 26:27 everyone wants to be a disciple of Jesus, 26:28 then I'm saying let's go hard for Jesus. 26:31 Would you mind offering prayer for those of us 26:33 who are asking to become a part of this ministry please? 26:36 Yes, thank you so much. 26:39 Dear heavenly Father, we are again indeed grateful 26:42 that you love us. 26:44 We're glad that this love has sprung up in our hearts 26:49 to fountains of living water that never run dry. 26:54 We're asking as we set our minds to join hands 26:57 to share the word of God with as many people as possible 27:01 like the leaves of autumn, like never before, 27:04 that you bless our efforts. 27:06 Move upon the hearts of people right now 27:08 who may be looking at this show today 27:12 and bless their efforts. 27:15 Impress upon their hearts to make a sacrifice 27:18 to tell somebody that Jesus is soon to come. 27:22 Not only bless our efforts but we're praying now 27:24 a blessing upon the books. 27:26 Send your angels, send your Holy Spirit 27:29 that as people come in contact with this literature, 27:32 that they meet Jesus 27:34 This is our hope, this is our desire. 27:36 And we know they need him to know him is eternal life. 27:39 We love, we bless you in Jesus' name. 27:42 Amen. 27:43 Amen. Amen. 27:44 Thank you so much for coming 27:46 and thank you for joining us today 27:47 in Issues and Answers. 27:49 We hope that you've learned now 27:50 that we all are literature evangelists. |
Revised 2016-08-22