Participants: John Lomacang
Series Code: OTR
Program Code: OTR000823
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01:00 This is, dare I say, a touched life?
01:02 Can I say that, Kevin? Amen. 01:04 This is Kevin's second Sabbath in an Adventist Church. 01:13 And I told him, more people 01:14 are going to see you on your second Sabbath 01:16 that have seen you in your whole life. 01:19 That's for sure. That's for sure. 01:21 But he's from Nashville, Tennessee. 01:22 Yes, I am. 01:24 And he has a store, he has a testimony. 01:26 Tell us how you began finding about the Adventist Church, 01:29 because you are not a non-church guy, 01:31 you know about church, 01:32 but you weren't quite satisfied? 01:34 Walk us through that experience? 01:35 Well, you know, I used to go to churches, 01:37 and you know, and I would just, I go to non-denominational, 01:41 baptism, Pentecostal, 01:43 and I read the Word and I studied the Word, 01:45 but I couldn't really find any place that, 01:48 you know, 01:49 was walking in the Word, you know, what I'm saying. 01:52 And I struggled with alcohol and drugs, you know, 01:56 and if there's people out there like that, you know, 01:59 I mean, you know, there is hope for you. 02:04 But you know, for a while I got really depressed, 02:07 you know, and I'm asking the Lord, 02:08 you know, "Please, Lord, 02:10 you know, just send me to the right church," 02:13 you know what I'm saying. 02:14 And I'm like, you know, and I'm sitting here, 02:16 and I'm flipping through the channels, you know, 02:18 and I also come across Channel 34 in Tennessee, 02:22 Nashville, it's a 3ABN. 02:26 And you know, at first I was like, "What is this?" 02:29 You know. 02:31 I was like... 02:32 I said, "Man, this kind of looks weird," you know. 02:35 Plus I have heard about, you know, Adventist, you know, 02:37 I mean, there's that sometimes 02:38 when people they look out there, 02:40 but they got the wrong picture, you know what I'm saying. 02:42 You got to come and see for yourself, you know. 02:45 I mean, you can't go by tradition 02:46 of what man says, you know. 02:48 But anyway, whenever I did, you know, 02:50 I came across and the Lord started 02:52 opening up my heart to it. 02:56 I just decided, "Man, I got to go, you know, 02:58 I got to check it out," you know. 03:01 And then I brought my buddy, I call him my buddy, 03:03 I said, "You got to check this out." 03:06 He's looking for the truth too, you know. 03:08 And... 03:09 Now, I want to cut you because 03:10 you watched all or most of Ten Commandments weekend? 03:14 Yes, I did. Yes, I did. 03:15 Amen. Amen. 03:17 You can't sit... 03:18 That was after I watch that, 03:19 that's whenever I started really. 03:21 That's when I started to calm up body and stuff, 03:22 you know. 03:24 And last week you walked 03:25 into your first Seventh-day Adventist Church. 03:26 What was it like? It was different. 03:31 Well, yeah, I mean, but it was... 03:32 That's not the answer I wanted. No, no, no, it was really good. 03:35 There was a lot of love. 03:37 Others, I mean, 03:38 it was for real, really, you know. 03:40 And I mean, you know, when then they gets you, 03:42 they gets you together, and you have to pray in groups. 03:44 You know, I've never seen that before. 03:47 Yeah, it was like, "Whoa!" 03:49 You know, and but then anyway, I took my buddy with me. 03:52 And I was want to know about the Ten Commandment Book. 03:55 Because I said, "Where can I get this book? 03:57 You know. 03:59 And all of a sudden, we go into the back, you know, 04:00 back office, and they got stacks of them, right? 04:03 So me and my buddy, we're like, "Hey, can we have a few cases, 04:08 you know, because we're going to go downtown." 04:12 We're going downtown. 04:16 Not a few books. 04:17 A few cases? Oh, yeah. 04:19 We ended up taking 1000, you know. 04:22 And what did you do with that thousand, though? 04:24 Well, we went down, 04:25 there's a Christian concert down there. 04:27 So we decided to get into our other Christian 04:29 brothers and sisters hands. 04:32 So... So you gave out a 1000? 04:33 So yeah, I know, the Lord put it upon my heart, 04:35 you know, like, if there's any of those Christian camp, 04:37 you know, concerts or evangelism 04:39 is coming into town that all of us should try 04:42 to go out in our each state, 04:44 and pass these books out when they're getting out. 04:46 Now he's a brand new, 04:49 almost heading into, trying to be, going to be real soon, 04:52 if I got anything to say about it going to be baptized 04:53 Seventh-day Adventist, but he's already 04:56 given you a direct quote from the Spirit of Prophecy 04:59 that says, whenever there is a gathering 05:01 of any sort, 05:03 God's people ought to be there, 05:05 and get a hearing 05:06 and bring your literature with him. 05:07 So God has already put that in his spirit. 05:10 Amen. 05:11 That whenever God's people are gathered for any reason, 05:14 Adventist literature ought to be there. 05:16 And we praise the Lord for that. 05:18 Amen. So you found the folk friendly? 05:19 Yes, I did. You found the folk loving? 05:21 Yes. You like what you saw? 05:23 I love it. What made you come here? 05:26 I just wanted to get more, you know. 05:29 Amen. 05:31 I wanted to get more. 05:34 When a guy says, he wants to get more. 05:37 You got to give Him more. Yeah. 05:39 We got a few books lying on here, 05:41 probably, you know. 05:42 I'll take them. I thought you might. 05:44 This is Kevin. 05:45 Let's give a hand as he goes off. 05:46 God bless you, Kevin. Thank you, thank you. 05:48 God bless you. 05:53 That is a young man that's on fire. 05:55 And when someone is seeking when you say, "Lord, 05:57 show me the right church," 05:59 that is a prayer God will never turn down. 06:01 If you want to know, then God is on the line 06:03 to make sure that you know, and he is well on the way. 06:06 He's not dipped yet. 06:08 But, Elda, he's a dip, he's a dip into making. 06:12 Yeah, he's gonna be a fine 06:13 Seventh-day Adventist one day real, real soon. 06:16 And we're happy for that. 06:17 We're going to bring on Tammy Chance now. 06:19 And she has a beautiful song to sing. 06:22 We always love to hear Tammy's smooth tones 06:25 as she sings "This World is Not My Home." 06:30 How many of you know that song? 06:32 An old, old hymn, 06:34 we've changed it up a little bit. 06:36 But what parts you know, feel free to sing. 06:39 And that's my whole goal is to know that this life 06:44 is not all that we have. 06:45 Thank you, Jesus. It's not all that we have. 06:48 This world is only a temporary home. 06:52 We're going to have our everlasting home 06:54 before too long, I believe that. 07:08 This world is not my home 07:13 I'm just a-passing through 07:17 My treasures are laid up 07:22 Somewhere beyond the blue 07:27 The angels beckon me 07:31 From heaven's open door 07:36 And I can't feel at home 07:40 In this world anymore 07:48 Oh Lord, you know 07:51 I have no friend like you 07:54 If heaven's not my home, 07:57 Lord Lord what will I do 08:01 The angels beckon me 08:04 From heaven's open door 08:06 And I can't feel at home 08:10 In this world anymore 08:18 Just hover in Gloryland We'll live eternally 08:24 The saints on every hand 08:27 Are shouting victory 08:30 Their songs of sweetest praise Drift back from heaven's shore 08:36 And I can't feel at home 08:39 In this world anymore 08:44 Oh Lord, you know Oh, 08:47 I have no friend like you 08:50 If heaven's not my home, 08:53 Lord Lord what will I do 08:57 The angels beckon me 09:00 From heaven's open door 09:03 And I can't feel at home 09:06 In this world anymore 09:11 They're all expecting me 09:13 And that's one thing I know 09:17 My Savior pardoned me 09:20 And now I onward go 09:23 I know He'll take me through 09:26 Though I am weak and poor 09:29 And I can't feel at home 09:32 In this world anymore 09:36 The angels beckon me 09:39 From heaven's open door 09:42 And I can't feel at home 09:45 In this world anymore 10:00 Well done. Thank you so very much. 10:02 One of the things that is thrilling about 3ABN 10:04 is not only do we hear reports of individuals who have been 10:09 brought to the Lord around the world 10:10 and we get reports from Japan, and New Zealand, 10:13 and Papua New Guinea and these places. 10:15 But it's also good to let our light shine here 10:18 in our local vineyard. 10:19 God calls us to be lights here in Thompsonville also. 10:23 So I'm calling out Wendy Mitchell, 10:24 because Wendy is a local person. 10:26 As we would say in New York, she's a home girl 10:29 who is from this very area, 10:31 and we're letting our light shine here also. 10:34 Wendy, I think was first introduced 10:37 to Adventism by our own Kim Smith. 10:39 And where's Kim? 10:41 Kim, are you here in the audience? 10:43 Kim works in our finance department. 10:45 She's bubbly and we have 10:47 a very interesting group of people in finance. 10:49 They sort of keep things live around here. 10:52 Oh, there she is in the back. 10:54 So, Wendy, how are you, first of all? 10:56 I know you're a little nervous, but it's all right. 10:57 These folk all love you. 10:59 You want to hold up microphone up. 11:02 And you had a very tough car experience some years ago. 11:06 Tell us about that and how that sort of worked you 11:08 into where you are today? 11:10 By the grace of God I'm here, 11:12 because a lot of prayer went out 11:14 when I had my wreck, bless, Kim, she was there. 11:19 In 1996, I had my wreck, 11:22 tracheotomy blood, broken clavicle. 11:26 I was in a coma for like two weeks, I think. 11:29 Some of its here and some I don't remember. 11:33 That's the grace of God, maybe He didn't want me to remember. 11:38 And I'm getting back on the right track, 11:42 'cause I slid off 11:44 when I got lie and deceived by close family members. 11:49 And they took my faith way, so I'm a baby in Christ again. 11:52 I got baptized on the 28, 11:55 and I'm gonna do it right this time. 12:01 She's said she is a baby in Christ. 12:02 You know, this is one of the things 12:03 that all of us can do. 12:05 You can be right there. 12:07 Your mission field 12:08 is as close as your local newspaper. 12:12 There are people all around us who need a Word from the Lord. 12:16 And Kim Smith stepped in to a neighbor who was hurting 12:20 and brought the light of Christ in to this life. 12:24 And she is a less than a month new Seventh-day Adventist. 12:30 And you've got to look at this family, 12:31 you got a whole big family here who loves you. 12:33 Now her family said that she can't do too much driving, 12:36 they're little afraid of her driving. 12:37 But Kim takes it back and forth, 12:39 so we can provide shuttle service 12:40 to and from the church. 12:41 Praise the Lord, and amen. So Wendy, this is your new family. 12:46 And we love you. 12:48 And you don't have to search anymore 12:49 because you are home now. 12:51 And you're gonna be home until Jesus takes us all home. 12:54 Amen? Amen. 12:56 And Amen, and amen. 12:58 Thank you so much. God bless you. 13:01 We were talking backstage 13:02 and she was trying to keep it together. 13:04 She said, "I'm a little nervous." 13:05 But I said, "You'll get your story out 13:07 because God wants your story to indeed get out." 13:10 Dona Klein has been with us all week, 13:13 and God has given us such a beautiful touch 13:16 on the organ, 13:17 and we get to hear from her now. 13:19 Thank you so very much, Dona. 15:22 Dona has such a sweet touch. 15:24 She's been with the Cox Organization 15:26 a good little while. 15:27 I know of people who travel with their instruments. 15:29 Jaime Jorge travels with his violin. 15:32 Roland Gresham travels with his guitar. 15:34 I think Dona's the only person 15:36 I know who travels with her organ. 15:39 It's kind of difficult to get that in your suitcase 15:40 though, isn't it, Dona? 15:43 I'm going to ask for my wife, 15:45 Irma Murray to come and join me. 15:51 Irma is the head of 3ABN Latino 15:58 in the Murray household, 16:01 and in the Murray household only. 16:03 But she is a hard worker for 3ABN Latino 16:06 and she's a real good wife too. 16:09 Yeah. 16:14 Now John and Idalia Dinzey, will you join us please? 16:21 This is indeed 16:22 the head of 3ABN Latino and his wife, 16:25 Idalia, affectionately known as Tita. 16:32 I like to call him El Jefe. 16:35 Some people think it's, heifer. 16:36 It's not. It's Jefe. 16:39 Jefe means the chief in Spanish. 16:42 So I called him affectionately El Jefe, 16:44 because he is indeed El Jefe. 16:46 3ABN Latino, the time is yours. 16:48 Thank you. 16:52 The Lord is doing great and mighty things. 16:56 The Lord is coming soon. Amen. 16:59 We can tell you 17:00 there are many wonderful things happening. 17:01 We have very short time. 17:03 But first we like to introduce you, 17:05 to you the staff of 3ABN Latino, 17:07 and volunteers. 17:08 We like to ask them to come forward. 17:10 There are a few of them missing, namely, 17:14 Moses Primo Sr., and Moses Primo Jr., 17:16 and Pastor José Medina and some other volunteers, 17:19 but we'd like to introduce to you 17:21 the staff that helps keep 3ABN Latino going. 17:25 And next to my wife is Pastor Richard Piñero. 17:30 I think we have to move a little bit over. 17:34 Next to me is Pastor Richard Piñero. 17:37 He works in the pastoral ministries department 17:39 and also one of our fine translators. 17:42 Next to him is his wife, Annette Piñero, 17:45 who works in the programming department. 17:47 And next we have Sister Carmen Carmona, 17:50 one of the volunteers in the call center 17:52 and speak Spanish very well, and from Venezuela. 17:55 And next to her is her husband Caesar Cesar Carmona, 17:58 and he also is volunteer 18:00 and also does some of the programming. 18:02 Next to him is Maritza Oquendo, 18:05 who works in the programming department 18:07 for our English network, 18:08 but also helps out in the Latino network. 18:11 And you have already been introduced to Mrs. CA Murray, 18:15 and that is Irma, 18:16 that is one of our producers for 3ABN Latino 18:19 and does many other things. 18:21 And besides her we have Sister Teresa Bonilla, 18:26 is one of our coordinators for our productions 18:30 and also helps in other areas as well. 18:31 Next to her is the voice of 3ABN Latino, Ismael Teron, 18:37 who also does our editing for 3ABN Latino 18:40 and helps in other areas as well, 18:42 because we all have to do a little more 18:45 in different areas. 18:46 Next to him is one of our engineers 18:48 for the 3ABN Network, 18:51 which also helps in the Latino network, 18:54 helping fill out some of our contracts 18:56 for the different cable companies. 18:57 That's Arnaldo Cruz, 18:59 and he's been a wonderful addition to 3ABN. 19:03 Pray for him and the rest of the staff. 19:04 Next to him is a lovely lady. 19:07 One of the best mothers-in-law's in the world, 19:12 Idalia Toro. 19:17 And next to her, of course, is my father-in-law, 19:20 Wilfredo Toro. 19:21 He has translated the Ten Commandments 19:23 Twice Removed in Spanish, 19:25 and helps us volunteer many different areas. 19:31 And we want to thank the Lord for this wonderful staff. 19:34 And I do have to say I'm grateful to the Lord 19:36 for my lovely wife Idalia, who is a tremendous help, 19:40 bundle of creativity and is a wonderful mother, 19:43 and has been just a tremendous support to me 19:46 ever since I got married, 19:48 which is 1994. 19:49 That's right. 19:51 So we had our 13th year anniversary. 19:53 Praise the Lord for that. 19:54 Our time is fast going, so I need to ask you to watch 19:58 this next video prepared by our editor, 20:01 and watch and listen on the screen to see 20:03 what the Lord has done. 20:06 In 1984, God told Danny Shelton, 20:10 "I want you to build Me a television station, 20:12 one that will reach the world 20:14 with the undiluted three angels' messages, 20:16 one that will counteract the counterfeit." 20:20 Danny responded to the call of the Lord by saying, 20:22 "Lord, if this is really You, I'll go forward, 20:24 if You supply every need." 20:26 In the fall of 1986, 20:29 Three Angels Broadcasting Network 20:31 was on the air, 20:32 broadcasting to one satellite to North America, 20:35 Central America and the Caribbean. 20:39 In 1994, 3ABN opened 20:42 the largest Protestant Evangelism Center in Russia. 20:45 And today, it is reaching millions of people in radio 20:49 and television in the Russian language. 20:52 In 1996, 3ABN expands its satellite coverage 20:56 to two satellites to reach millions of people 20:59 in Europe and Africa. 21:01 In the year 2003, 21:03 Three Angels Broadcasting Network 21:05 begins to send the three angels' messages 21:08 around the world with four satellites. 21:11 Also in the year 2000, 3ABN Radio was launched, 21:15 another powerful instrument to reach millions of people 21:19 for Jesus Christ. 21:21 Then, in the year 2003 21:24 in an effort to reach more than 600 million people 21:27 that speak Spanish and Portuguese, 21:30 Three Angels Broadcasting Network 21:32 launched 3ABN Latino, 21:35 another powerful tool in the hands of the Almighty 21:38 God to preach the undiluted three angels' messages. 21:43 3ABN Latino continues to bring to the Spanish and Portuguese 21:47 speaking people, life changing programs. 21:50 Here's a sample of what's going on, 21:52 on 3ABN Latino. 23:22 3ABN Latino is still growing, 23:24 entering new cities through cable companies, 23:27 radio stations and local TV channels 23:30 in Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, 23:35 Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, 23:42 Peru, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, 23:45 and with your help soon in your neighborhood. 23:49 In the year of victory 2007, 3ABN English, 3ABN Radio, 23:55 3ABN Russia, and 3ABN Latino 23:59 are still evangelizing with power. 24:03 Amen. 24:06 Praise the Lord. 24:10 All these things have come to place, 24:12 it has taken place 24:13 only because this ministry belongs to the Lord. 24:16 And He is blessing this ministry 24:19 like never before. 24:21 It is growing, the time is short. 24:24 And praise the Lord for all of you 24:26 who support 3ABN, 24:28 the ministry, the mission, the vision that we all share. 24:31 And how many of you are longing for home? 24:34 Right. 24:35 And we praise the Lord, we had a wonderful experience 24:37 for the Ten Commandments weekend. 24:39 We did it from New York, Chicago area and also Mexico. 24:42 That was the Hallelujah chorus that was sung 24:45 there by the University Choir. 24:47 But it's amazing how the Lord is willing to take something 24:50 that you have dedicated it 24:52 and completely surrender to Him. 24:54 And He will just take it and bless it 24:56 and it will be bigger than we can ever imagine or think. 25:00 Amen. 25:01 The Lord is doing great and mighty things. 25:04 Jesus Christ is coming soon. 25:05 I am convinced as you know the story of 3ABN. 25:10 This is a channel of divine origin. 25:14 And there are TV stations that are saying, 25:16 "We want to put this on." 25:18 There are cable company owners that are watching 25:21 and are talking about getting baptized. 25:23 We just don't have enough time to share with you the stories. 25:26 But there is a couple here. 25:28 I don't know if Johnny and Goethe are in the audience. 25:31 They travelled from North Carolina. 25:33 They were Adventists, but walked away from the Lord 25:35 for over 10 years. 25:37 Watching 3ABN Latino for a year and a half decided 25:40 we need to come back to the Lord, 25:42 we want to be re-baptized and they are here today 25:45 to be baptized within one hour of this moment 25:48 that I'm talking about right here on 3ABN. 25:50 Amen. 25:55 The Lord is coming soon. 25:56 Please remember us in prayer. 25:58 Pray for the people 25:59 that are in the valley of decision, 26:01 because Jesus Christ is coming soon. 26:02 Thank you. That's right. 26:03 God bless. 26:07 I almost didn't want to let them stop talking. 26:09 They had so much good to say. 26:12 And a good report really does make you feel good 26:14 what the Lord is doing through 3ABN Latino. 26:19 Steve Darmody is up now. 26:20 We have had such beautiful music 26:21 from Steve and Jennifer 26:23 and all of our musical ministers 26:26 this several days. 26:28 And he is a... 26:29 You hate to say old friend of 3ABN 26:33 because old has such negative connotations. 26:35 So we'll just say 26:36 longtime friend of the ministry. 26:38 I know, I'm not looking over there. 26:39 I know he's misbehaving. 26:42 But he does sing well, so we'll give him a pass. 26:45 Steve Darmody. 26:51 3ABN is here today 26:53 because of a sacrifice of a lot of people. 26:56 And the sacrifice goes far beyond 26:58 just the financial contributions 27:00 that come, their sacrifices of personal value. 27:05 And sometimes it brings heartache and deep sorrow. 27:11 But you know, every sacrifice will be worth it, 27:14 when we see Him break through the clouds, 27:17 and our Redeemer comes to take us home. 27:37 Through many dangers 27:43 Toils, and snares 27:49 I have already come 27:56 To His grace hath brought me safe 28:03 Thus far 28:07 And grace 28:10 Will lead me home 28:27 Oft times the road seems dark 28:32 Our trials hard to bear 28:36 We're tempted to complain 28:40 To murmur and despair 28:45 But Christ will soon appear 28:49 To catch his bride away 28:53 All tears forever over 28:57 In God's eternal day 29:03 It will be worth it all 29:09 When we see 29:11 Jesus Life's trial will seem so small 29:18 When we see Christ 29:22 One glimpse of His dear face 29:26 All sorrows will erase 29:31 So bravely run the race 29:35 Till we see Christ 29:45 Only faintly now, 29:49 I see Him 29:53 With the darkening veil between 30:02 But a blessed day is coming 30:08 When His glory shall be seen 30:16 Face to face 30:19 Shall I behold Him 30:24 Far beyond the starry sky 30:31 Face to face in all His glory 30:45 I shall see Him 30:50 By and by 30:56 One glimpse of His 31:01 Dear face 31:05 All sorrows will erase 31:13 So bravely run your race 31:20 Till we see 31:27 Christ 31:53 Amen. Thank you so very much, Steve. 31:54 Well done. 31:56 Steve Darmody. Well, well done. 31:58 Jay Christian is the production manager 32:02 for 3ABN Radio, 32:04 which is doing such a great work. 32:08 I feel somewhat low to stand next to him 32:11 because he's got my body. 32:13 When I was in college, I wanted to be this build 32:16 at this height. 32:18 And I went up to 6 feet at age 14, 32:21 I got there very fast. 32:22 And I assumed I would get to about 6'3-6'4. 32:25 But I stopped growing at about 15 years of age. 32:27 And I still look up to people like you. 32:30 Oh, if there's any consolation, you play basketball 32:32 a whole lot better than I do. 32:34 Well, that's up to some amount of debate. 32:37 I got two teeth out here that say I may not be so good. 32:40 But God is good. 32:41 And we have a good time on Tuesday nights playing 32:43 with Danny and the boys as we get a little exercise 32:46 and hopefully not break too many limbs. 32:48 But Jay is doing a very, very fine job. 32:51 We even get people driving down Route 57 listening to 3ABN 32:54 Radio and making contacts through this. 32:56 But Jay is going to tell us about 3ABN Radio. 33:00 Thank you, CA. 33:01 Something that is near and dear to my heart, 33:03 the communication from the listeners. 33:06 And we could sit here probably the rest of the day today. 33:10 And I could just tell you 33:11 communication after communication 33:13 that we've gotten. 33:14 We get emails, we get phone calls, 33:16 we get letters. 33:17 Sometimes people just come and stop in our offices, 33:20 and tell us about 33:22 what 3ABN Radio is meant to them. 33:24 We've got a couple of examples here 33:26 that I'm going to read to you that came to us from email, 33:29 and are very representative of the kinds of things 33:33 that we hear from our listeners. 33:36 This is from Bill in New Mexico and he writes, 33:38 "You can turn on any radio in my home, 33:41 and it would be tuned into the Word of God 33:43 through your kind efforts. 33:45 I wish I could find the words in my heart 33:47 to thank all of your people for keeping me company, 33:50 so many lonely days and nights 33:51 when I was going through a heartbreaking divorce. 33:54 And I cannot thank you enough for teaching me 33:56 so many new lessons I never realized were true, 34:00 until you showed me in the scriptures. 34:02 I was wrong about so many things 34:04 all my life and in my beliefs until I met 3ABN. 34:09 How can I thank you 34:11 and how can I thank God for 3ABN? 34:14 You've meant so much to me and have changed my heart, 34:17 my soul and my life. 34:19 God bless you all." 34:21 And again, that was Bill from New Mexico 34:23 and so much of that letter jumps out at me. 34:26 But I want to point out that he says here, 34:28 "I never realized the truth until you showed it to me in," 34:34 what? Scriptures, the Bible. 34:37 That was key. 34:39 Joselino writes, "Dear 3ABN staff, 34:43 I've been fasting during the day, 34:45 Thursday of the 26, asking God to bless 34:48 all the activities you perform. 34:50 I love all the hard work you do for reaching into the world. 34:53 Jesus is coming back soon. 34:55 I wish I had gold or silver to help out 34:58 but what I have I give, 35:00 time and prayer for this cause." 35:03 And can we ask the same of you? 35:05 Please give us time and your prayers 35:08 because we need them, 35:10 we really do. 35:12 Here's an email from someone. 35:14 "This morning I was returning from taking my son to school 35:17 and I heard a program "Faith Chapel" I think, 35:20 about what teens wish their parents 35:22 did and didn't do." 35:24 Can you see a benefit to that kind of a program? 35:27 It was a very good program. I've heard it myself. 35:29 She says, "It was great. 35:32 I didn't get the name of the pastor speaking 35:33 and would love to get a copy of it 35:35 to share with my husband and sons. 35:37 Is there a way to do that?" 35:39 And that was a letter, an email from Beth. 35:42 And, of course, there's a way to do that. 35:44 We're very happy to provide copies 35:46 of our programs for people. 35:48 And people not only listen to themselves, 35:52 listen to the programs themselves, 35:54 but they share them with other people. 35:56 We've had people contact us and ask 35:58 for a bunch of different copies 36:00 of the different programs that we offer as well. 36:03 And so we're just thrilled to be able to do that. 36:06 So many calls, so many letters, 36:08 and those are just a few that we can pass along. 36:10 But we know that there have been 36:12 people driving down the road, 36:13 and they get to the end of the signal of the station, 36:15 they're listening to and they pull over and stop, 36:17 so they can hear the rest of the program. 36:20 There have been people 36:21 that have showed up at churches. 36:23 This church, I've talked to a number of people 36:26 who've come in who have said, 36:28 "I've been listening to 3ABN Radio, 36:30 I wanted to find out 36:31 what the Seventh-day Adventist Church 36:33 was like, and I came to this one." 36:34 And praise God for that. 36:37 We also have different support systems 36:41 for our affiliates that we have. 36:44 We don't just take affiliates and say, "Good luck, 36:48 do whatever you want to do. And that's fine." 36:50 We're here to help and we help a lot. 36:53 And so we also have some very active affiliates. 36:57 And affiliates are out there doing 36:59 many different things, 37:00 for instance, they go to booths 37:02 in local state fairs and so forth. 37:05 Or they have flyers that they pass out. 37:07 There are a couple of stations in particular I can think of, 37:11 they're always printing out schedules, 37:13 always putting them out and sending them out to people. 37:15 Some people go door to door. 37:16 They're doing everything that they possibly 37:19 can to let people in their communities 37:21 know that there is an outlet in their town, 37:24 that will definitely make a big difference 37:26 in their lives, 37:28 and bring people to God or back to God, 37:31 or help them to understand more of the truth 37:34 from the Bible. 37:35 And by the way, something that we are working on right now, 37:39 we have never had bumper stickers 37:42 for the radio station. 37:44 Actually, I shouldn't call it a bumper sticker, 37:46 because technically, it's a static cling sticker. 37:49 So many people will not put 37:50 the little sticky things on their cars. 37:52 Then, so what we've done is we've made arrangements 37:55 to get some window stickers, 37:58 they stick in the back of the window 37:59 by static cling. 38:01 So you just put it there. 38:02 And there are no little smudge marks 38:05 or anything like that from the glue that's on there. 38:08 And a lot of people are very interested in those 38:10 and we are going to have them for our affiliates. 38:13 But we're also going to have ones 38:15 that if you don't have an affiliate in your area, 38:18 that all you'll need to do is just get a generic one 38:21 from us that promotes the fact that there's a 3ABN Radio 38:25 and it gives our website where they can listen. 38:28 So you can drive anywhere in the country, 38:30 and put one of those on the back of your car, 38:33 on the back of your vehicles. 38:35 And you can promote 3ABN Radio and we would love it. 38:39 So just some of the things that are happening 38:41 at 3ABN Radio, 38:43 and I am thrilled to death to see 38:45 all these things that are happening. 38:47 And I'm thrilled to see all of you here, 38:49 and praising the Lord and worshipping with us. 38:53 And we thank you very much for your prayers 38:56 and your financial support. 39:02 Thank you, Jay, so very, very much. 39:04 We want to try to redeem the time. 39:06 Steve and Jennifer are coming out to do a duet 39:09 and they will be preceding Pastor Lomacang 39:12 who bring the afternoon's message to us. 39:15 And he of course is the Pastor 39:17 of the Thompsonville Church here. 39:18 Johnny Dinzey just whispered in my ear a story. 39:20 He said that the Latinos were getting together 39:24 to take a picture 39:25 and none of the women wanted to stand in front, 39:27 because some thought that the shirt was fitting them 39:29 a little tight around the middle, 39:31 until Jennifer walked in and she stood up front 39:33 and then everybody felt a lot better. 39:36 Not sure when the baby is due, but we know it sometime soon. 39:39 So Steve and Jennifer, 39:40 if you would come out now please, 39:42 and then the next voice following them 39:44 will be that of Pastor John Lomacang 39:46 who bring the afternoon's message. 39:54 When you think of mercy, you think of the cross, 39:58 Christ's sacrifice, you think of salvation. 40:04 But His mercy is so much more than just that. 40:08 His mercy is what is at work in our lives every day. 40:13 His mercy brings comfort. 40:15 His mercy brings hope. 40:17 His mercy brings character changes 40:19 in our own life. 40:21 God's mercy is so much more. 40:28 In Your mercy You have shown me 40:33 Your salvation 40:39 Undeserving of your favor 40:45 I am free 40:49 And I'll never be the same 40:56 All my life 40:58 I will remain 41:02 In your mercy, tender mercy 41:07 Shown to me 41:18 In Your mercy 41:21 You have promised to be near me 41:28 I am resting in the shelter 41:34 Of your wings 41:39 Every fear I leave behind 41:45 Every confidence I find 41:50 In Your mercy 41:54 Tender mercy shown to me 42:01 So great is Your love 42:07 It is higher than the heavens 42:12 Your faithfulness 42:15 Reaches the sky 42:21 Be exalted, O Lord 42:26 Over all the earth 42:31 Let Your glory be seen 42:35 In my life 42:40 In my life 43:04 In Your mercy 43:09 You have given of Your life blood 43:16 One last heartbeat and redemption 43:22 Was complete 43:26 What a debt of love You paid 43:32 With Your death 43:35 My soul was saved 43:44 In Your mercy 43:49 Tender mercy 43:56 Shown to me 44:32 Thank you, Jennifer. Thank you, Steve. 44:34 Don't they blend together very well? 44:38 I'm going to do today what I've never done before. 44:41 Preach you a short sermon. 44:44 But I don't want our church members 44:46 to take this as a prototype 44:48 of what's going to follow every Sabbath. 44:52 Let us pray. 44:54 Gracious Father, this is Your time. 44:57 Do what humanity can never do. 45:00 In Jesus' name I pray. 45:03 Amen. 45:06 Exodus 14:10-15. 45:12 One of the most encouraging stories 45:16 you find in Scripture that is, as far as I'm concerned, 45:20 is how God can do so much, 45:24 when people's hearts are filled with so little faith. 45:29 For 400 years, the children of Israel 45:33 had found a home in the land of Egypt. 45:35 And when the time had comes for God to deliver them, 45:38 they prayed for God's deliverance. 45:41 At the hour of their deliverance, 45:45 their faith was at an all time low. 45:49 And the Bible tells us exactly why. 45:54 In Exodus 14:10, "And when Pharaoh drew near, 45:59 the children of Israel lifted their eyes, 46:02 and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. 46:06 So they were very afraid, 46:08 and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord. 46:12 Then they said to Moses, 46:13 'Because there were no graves in Egypt, 46:17 have you taken us away to die in the wilderness?' 46:23 " Sometimes Thompsonville looks like a wilderness. 46:28 "Why have you so dealt with us to bring us out of Egypt? 46:33 Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, 46:36 let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians? 46:39 For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians 46:46 than that we should die in the wilderness.' 46:50 And Moses said to the people," 46:54 I think this is the understatement 46:56 of any generation. 46:57 "And Moses said to the people of God, 47:01 'Do not be afraid. 47:02 Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, 47:09 which He will accomplish for you today. 47:14 For the Egyptians whom you see today, 47:16 you shall see no more forever. 47:20 The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.' 47:25 And the Lord said to Moses, 'Why do you cry to Me? 47:29 Tell the children of Israel to go forward.' 47:35 " God's servant Ellen White recorded a statement 47:39 that has etched its memory in my mind. 47:44 In the book, Councils on Stewardship, page 154. 47:47 I read these words years ago, 47:49 but they continue to echo 47:50 as we draw nearer to the close of this earth's history. 47:55 As the people of God approach the perils of the last days, 47:59 Satan holds earnest consultation 48:03 with his angels, 48:04 as to the most successful plan to overthrow their faith. 48:10 He sees that the popular church is already low to sleep, 48:15 by his deceptive power, by pleasing sophistry, 48:20 and lying wonders, 48:22 he can continue to hold them under his control. 48:26 Therefore, he directs his angels 48:29 to lay their snare, 48:31 especially for those looking 48:34 for the Second Advent of Christ, 48:37 and endeavoring to keep all the Commandments of God. 48:41 Last year on the heels of the Ten Commandments week, 48:44 and I want to say this in context, 48:47 the gates of hell were opened on 3ABN. 48:55 And I want to say because we continue to go forward 48:57 telling it like it is, the gates of hell, 49:00 are still opened against 3ABN. 49:05 But what Satan did to Jesus was nothing 49:10 compared to what Jesus did to Satan. 49:14 You see, brothers and sisters, we are living in a time 49:16 where we are in a time of certainty and uncertainty 49:20 at the same time, 49:21 a time of decision and indecision 49:23 at the same time, 49:25 the hour of stability and instability, 49:27 both are running side by side. 49:30 There are those that are not sure who's in control. 49:33 But I wanna say to you today that God is still in control, 49:36 what do you say? Amen. 49:38 In the night of Israel's greatest cry, 49:40 God wiped away their tears. 49:44 In the hour of their greatest bondage, 49:46 God broke the shackles of slavery. 49:49 When Pharaoh decided to lock Israel down, 49:52 God opened the gates of delivery. 49:55 And so my brethren, 49:57 God is not just good when this shines, 50:01 God is good even when it rains. 50:05 And God allows rain to come. 50:07 And by the way, I don't know if you understand it very well, 50:09 but agriculturally unless it rains, 50:11 nothing is going to grow. 50:14 Sometimes we grow most when it rains, 50:17 sometimes we grow least 50:18 when the sun stays out too long. 50:20 I believe that God is allowing it to rain on 3ABN, 50:24 so that we can grow better than we have grown before. 50:28 What do you say? 50:30 So God does not bring rain to frighten us, 50:32 God brings rain to prepare us for the planting of the seed, 50:37 so that when the latter rain comes, 50:40 we will be ready for the Coming of the Lord. 50:44 And so my brethren, 50:45 when it looks like it's not going to happen, 50:47 there's God, when it looks like 50:48 it's not possible at all, then there's God, 50:52 when your eyes contradict what your heart believes 50:56 there is God. 50:59 And so I'm not concerned about the direction of 3ABN, 51:01 I'm not concerned about the fight that we're fighting, 51:04 I'm not concerned about that, 51:05 because Jeremiah the Prophet said, 51:07 "Is there anything too hard for God?" 51:12 And brethren, God could do 51:13 more with those have a lack of faith, 51:14 then God could do with those who think 51:16 that they can do all by their own strength. 51:20 But I want to close by saying this, I did say close. 51:25 We are not free because Satan chose to let us go, 51:29 we are free because Jesus chose never to let us go. 51:35 When you fail to see God's goodness, 51:37 all you'll see is Satan's badness. 51:40 Don't let fear dilute your faith. 51:44 Don't be afraid, stand still and see 51:48 the salvation of the Lord. 51:50 I believe that God in these last days 51:52 is going to pull off something 51:53 that we could not possibly 51:55 have imagined could happen with a deficit. 51:58 To be down is nothing to God 52:00 because God never runs out of resources. 52:06 But God sometimes brings you to the point 52:08 where your plate is empty, 52:10 so that He can fill it to the brim, 52:12 and you will know that when it happens, 52:14 only God could have done it. 52:15 What do you say? 52:17 Sometimes God has to remind us 52:20 that there is only one way to home. 52:24 He said to the children of Israel, 52:26 don't spend time looking in the rearview mirror, 52:29 it's time to go forward. 52:30 What do you say? 52:32 Don't spend time in the pit of nostalgia 52:35 and in the maze of mediocrity wondering 52:37 why things are not the way they used to be. 52:39 The reason why they're not is because 52:41 God has a different plan than He had for the past. 52:45 God's got a clear our mind from how it used to be, 52:48 so that God can show us how it's going to be. 52:53 So we look back at the last 22 years of 3ABN, 52:55 we say, "Man, things were great." 52:57 But brethren, things are going be 53:00 better than they were before because God has not diminished. 53:03 God is better than He has ever been. 53:05 What do you say? 53:07 Obstacles don't move, however, when you stand still, 53:10 obstacles move only when you go forward. 53:14 God said to the children of Israel, 53:15 not just to go forward, 53:17 but all the river and water before you 53:21 is not able to stop your progress. 53:24 But it cannot remove unless 53:26 you put your foot first in the water of faith. 53:30 And so my brother and my sister, 53:33 as we stand here today, the water may look great. 53:37 But God is saying to us, 53:39 it's too late for us to stand still only. 53:42 You got to know when to stand still, 53:44 and you got to know when to go forward. 53:46 Stand still and see God defeat your enemy, 53:48 then go forward so that God can part the way 53:52 and every obstacle that appears to be designed 53:55 to defeat you will become the very way 53:58 which God pronounces your deliverance. 54:03 So I'm not concerned about the enemy that pursues us 54:05 because he said to the children of Israel, 54:07 the enemy that you see today, you'll see no more forever. 54:11 So I'm not concerned. 54:12 And I want to say this clearly, 54:14 I'm not concerned about what the internet says. 54:17 I'm concerned about what God says. 54:20 I'm not concerned about the sound of the chariots 54:23 from Egypt. 54:25 Because I know that the God that brought us out 54:27 can block their way with His divine flame. 54:31 I'm not concerned about the heat in the day 54:33 because when it gets too hot, God can give us a cloud. 54:37 When it gets too cold, God can give us a fire. 54:40 Can you say, amen? 54:41 So I'm not concerned about what I hear behind me, 54:43 I'm going to keep my eyes 54:45 fixed on the God that's ahead of me. 54:46 What do you say? 54:48 And so they become fearful. 54:50 You know, there are times 54:51 that we don't know how it's going to happen, 54:53 how it's going to pan out. 54:54 But we got to do what God has told us to do. 54:56 You see there certain things that we have forgotten. 54:58 You see, it was not Moses 55:00 that delivered Israel from Egypt, it was God. 55:02 It was not Pharaoh that decided to let them go, it was God. 55:06 It was not Moses that saved them 55:08 from the hand of the angel of destruction, 55:11 it was God. 55:12 It was not Moses that gave them water 55:14 or provided them bread, it was God. 55:17 It was not Moses that protected them 55:19 from the serpents and scorpions, it was God. 55:23 It was not the people 55:24 that provided the finances for 3ABN, 55:27 it was God. 55:34 And so my brother, 55:40 obstacles don't move, 55:42 if the people of God just decide to stand still. 55:47 I'm going to close with something that I feel 55:51 is absolutely necessary to do. 55:57 And that is to remind Brother Danny Shelton, 56:03 Mollie Steenson, Shelley Quinn, Pastor CA Murray, 56:09 Pastor John Dinzey, 56:12 and everybody that walks through the doors of 3ABN 56:15 and those of you that always joined with us 56:17 every day to pray for 3ABN. 56:20 It's time for us to stop looking to man 56:23 and look unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. 56:27 This work is not going to be completed by 3ABN, 56:30 God's going to use 3ABN in the completion process. 56:34 But Paul the Apostle says, "God will finish the work 56:38 and cut it short in righteousness." 56:41 So today, would you stand with me 56:43 as we do something that I believe 56:45 that we should always do when we hear 56:46 the enemy coming behind us? 56:49 We ought to pray. 56:50 I believe that when the enemy hears us pray, 56:52 he's got to stop at the command of God. 56:55 And do something for me 56:56 as I would encourage us all to do. 56:58 Let's join hands. 56:59 Join the hands of the person next to you. 57:02 And we're going to believe together 57:03 that the prayer of the righteous 57:08 the fervent prayer of the righteous 57:12 will avail much. 57:14 Our Father God in Heaven, 57:17 we stand before the God of all creation. 57:21 And Lord, we are in the wilderness now wondering, 57:25 and sometimes it seem as though our wondering is aimless. 57:30 But Father, help us to never to forget 57:33 that what's behind us 57:36 does not equal what's ahead of us. 57:39 The Promised Land is still ahead of us Father, 57:43 and we've come too far to turn around now. 57:49 We've come too far to give 57:50 the enemy credit for our defeats. 57:54 We've come too far to say, 57:56 Can "God take us the rest of the way?" 57:59 We've come too far to doubt the Almighty Hand of God 58:02 who delivers in any circumstance on any day. 58:06 And so Father, today give back to Danny Shelton 58:08 the faith he had 23 years ago. 58:11 Give him back the vision he had when the nights showed zero 58:15 in the bank and you delivered the very next day. 58:18 Help him to understand that before the asphalt was laid, 58:22 the vision was laid. 58:24 Before the antenna went up, 58:25 the angels were ready to carry the message around the globe. 58:29 Father, help him to look back 58:30 to find courage to look forward. 58:33 Help him to stand at his window some days and look out and see 58:36 what mighty things that God has done. 58:39 And Father, may Danny give God the credit. 58:42 May Danny give God the burden. 58:44 May he give God the nights when his eyes are watered 58:48 from the tears of uncertainty. 58:50 And when he stands up and comes 58:54 and wonders what to say to the people, 58:56 may he say the God who might serve his able. 59:01 And so father, we are committed to go forward today. 59:04 We're not going back to Egypt. 59:07 We're not going back to Pharaoh. 59:09 For we see the gleams of the golden morning, 59:13 give us wisdom to join hands today 59:16 and accomplishing through our human strength 59:20 as we've filled by Your Holy Spirit. |
Revised 2019-08-27