Participants:
Series Code: OTR
Program Code: OTR000959
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01:01 Happy Sabbath and welcome to our ASI Convention.
01:07 We're so happy you are here 01:09 and it's our prayer that God will be here 01:12 in the midst of our convention. 01:14 And that we'll uplift Jesus 01:16 and that we'll learn new ways of sharing Christ 01:20 in our marketplace. 01:21 And that you will make new friends 01:23 and that we can be together very soon 01:25 in our eternal home. 01:27 Amen, I like to welcome you also 01:29 and I pray that the Lord will bless us with conviction, 01:32 conversion and that we'll feel committed 01:35 to accept the commission 01:37 that he is going to give us, welcome. 01:49 Let us all rise and bow our heads for prayer. 01:58 Heavenly Father, 02:01 this morning at our ASI Convention in Phoenix. 02:06 We humbly approach your throne room 02:10 with thrilled hearts 02:12 as we've heard these stories this morning 02:16 of how our church leaders and lay are the, 02:22 are witnessing for you around the world. 02:27 This morning Lord, we invite your presence to be with us 02:33 in our main service. 02:36 We thank that our ASI family gathered here, 02:40 those who are watching on television 02:42 and perhaps online, 02:44 we pray for special out pouring of the Holy Spirit. 02:49 This morning we especially think of Sabbath keepers 02:54 by the millions, worshiping on this Sabbath day 02:58 around the world. 03:00 Some perhaps Lord, 03:04 in less than ideal conditions, 03:07 perhaps there are safety concerns, 03:10 but we ask that you send them a special blessing 03:14 and your angels for protection. 03:18 We thank you for your many blessings. 03:21 We pray for every one here, TV Land online. 03:27 All the loved ones who represented here Lord, 03:31 May you bless our endeavors, be with our loved ones 03:34 and forgive us of our sins, 03:35 we pray in our Christ name, amen. 03:48 Praise to our God immortal, invisible, God only wise. 04:00 Immortal, invisible, God only wise. 04:06 In light inaccessible hid from our eyes, 04:13 Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of days, 04:19 Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise. 04:26 Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light, 04:32 Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might, 04:39 Thy justice like mountains high soaring above 04:45 Thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness 04:50 and love. 04:52 To all life, thou givest to both great and small, 04:58 In all life, thou livest, the true life of all, 05:05 We blossom and flourish, like leaves on the tree, 05:11 Then wither and perish, but naught changeth thee. 05:24 Great Father of glory, pure Father of light, 05:30 Thine angels adore thee, all veiling the sight, 05:37 All laud we would render, O help us to see 05:43 'Tis only the splendor of light hideth thee. 05:52 Amen, please be seated. 06:04 Good morning and happy Sabbath. 06:07 Hasn't that been beautiful so far? 06:10 We've come to that time in our worship 06:13 of what we've had the worship of the spoken word. 06:16 We've had the worship of prayer 06:18 and we've had worship of music. 06:20 And now it's time for us to have worship through giving. 06:24 This annual offering at our ASI Convention 06:26 has become a great staple of our convention, 06:30 but we've the opportunity to return an offering, 06:33 a thank offering for the way God has blessed us 06:36 in a way that will bless people all around the world. 06:40 I want you to have close by your program 06:44 that has the different projects listed in there 06:47 as well I will be calling for an envelop a little later 06:50 and I just wanted you to find out where that is, 06:51 don't fill it out yet please? 06:53 Just know where that is at if you would. 06:57 To begin our special focus on our offering this morning, 07:01 I would just like to states for you 07:05 a position of our ASI leadership team 07:08 and I'm sure all of ASI members as well. 07:12 And that is that we affirm our churches position 07:18 on the inspiration of scripture, 07:22 including Genesis 1 through 11. 07:26 You know, whenever I hear those words 07:30 in the beginning God, 07:32 there is something deep inside me that is moved. 07:37 When I think about a God who breathes out stars, 07:42 who breathes out planets, 07:43 who creates you and me with the word of His mouth. 07:48 I'm grateful for that and I'm excited about that. 07:51 It also reminds me 07:53 whenever I hear the words in the evening, 07:55 in the morning were the first day 07:56 and the evening and the morning 07:57 were the second day 07:59 and on down to where we have 08:01 and the seventh day God rested from all of His work. 08:06 It also reminds me of a memory verse 08:09 that I learned in the fifth grade 08:10 back in a little church school. 08:12 We're going to be talking about 08:13 Christian education this morning. 08:14 In the church school in Nevada, 08:15 I went, it went like this. 08:18 By the word of the Lord with the heavens made 08:21 and all the hosted them by the breath of His mouth, 08:23 He commanded, He spoken it was done, 08:26 He commanded and it stood fast.. 08:28 I'll never forget that and I'm grateful 08:29 for that and one another things 08:30 that I want to point out this morning. 08:32 I want to quickly talk about three of our projects 08:35 that are designed to bolster our creation scientists 08:40 in the Seventh-day Adventist church. 08:41 Number one, our Southern Adventist University, 08:45 Dr. Michael Hasel and his team of Archeology, 08:48 his Archeology department are continuing to work in Israel 08:52 and other places within the Middle East 08:54 to find ways where the spade truly 08:57 confirms the word of God. 08:59 Now, we believe that the Bible is the record, 09:04 but, you know what, there's a lot people out there 09:06 that need to have evidence 09:08 and so why should we not be showcasing the evidence. 09:11 And I'm thankful for Michael Hasel 09:13 and his team at Southern Adventist University. 09:15 Number two, 09:16 Dr. Art Chadwick at our Southwestern University. 09:20 Dr. Chadwick has, has actually done some study 09:25 and he is in the middle of doing some major study 09:27 in the geological column. 09:29 And as a lay person 09:30 I have done my best to understand this 09:33 and what he has done is he has taken the data points 09:36 from many, many, many studies through out North America 09:38 and the world and put them all in a data base 09:40 over one million data points. 09:43 This afternoon Dr. Chadwick is going to be 09:44 doing a program on that, 09:45 you're not gonna want to miss that. 09:47 But one of the things he is finding is in that program 09:50 that there is incredible evidence 09:53 for the creation story. 09:56 And ASI part of your offering this morning 09:58 will be going to help support that program 10:00 at Southwestern Adventist University. 10:01 And by the way how many of you knew 10:03 that our own Loma Linda University 10:07 has the only accredited program in earth science 10:11 and biology and geology 10:14 that is creation based in the world. 10:17 Any of you know that? 10:18 Our own Loma Linda and so we actually are going to be 10:21 supporting a program this year as well 10:23 at Loma Linda University. 10:24 But we'll be sponsoring some research 10:26 and development money for that organization as well, 10:30 as we'll be helping to sponsors several students 10:32 that will become graduate students 10:34 and will be able to go and teach at other of 10:35 our Adventist colleges and universities. 10:37 I'm pretty pleased that those two things are 10:40 in our program, 10:41 or those three items are in our offering this morning. 10:44 This time I would like to invite 10:46 Jasmine Jacob from the Reach International, 10:49 because we're also, 10:50 we're talking about foundations here 10:52 and how important the foundations are? 10:53 We also have a lot of kids 10:56 that ASI members are working with in 10:59 and Jasmine I would like you to share if you would? 11:06 Did you know that 18,000 children die everyday 11:10 because of hunger? 11:12 850 million people go to bed, 11:16 go to bed every night on empty stomachs? 11:20 The largest number 11:22 of malnourished children are in India, 11:24 more than 100 million. 11:28 Nine and a half million babies die 11:31 before their fifth birthday, 11:33 Reach was organized 36 years ago to eliminate hunger, 11:38 especially among the orphaned, abandoned 11:41 and destitute children in the developing world. 11:44 We feed and educate them 11:47 because we believe that 11:49 education is salvation for the poor. 11:53 This baby is struggling to stay alive. 11:55 He has lost both parents to HIV/AIDS. 11:59 This toddler is too weak to eat unaided. 12:04 This small child sits in the sun 12:07 vacantly staring into space hour after hour 12:11 because she has no strength to run and play. 12:15 Extreme poverty, debt, hunger make people desperate 12:20 and desperate people do desperate things to survive. 12:25 For example in India babies are aborted 12:28 or killed at birth 12:30 because it is one more unaffordable mouth to feed. 12:35 Girls as young as ten are sold as brides to old men, 12:40 or given to the temple, 12:41 or are forced to sell their bodies. 12:44 Children are sent to beg, 12:46 so that the family can have one meal a day. 12:50 We attempt not only feed 12:52 but to give the children a Christian education. 12:55 If children stay in our program, 12:58 over 90 percent will accept 12:59 Jesus as their personal Savior. 13:02 A group of war hardened Ethiopian 13:06 orphans were living with the soldiers 13:08 in a dilapidated rusty army barracks, 13:11 they were introduced to me. 13:14 I was told by Calvin Richards, 13:16 the ADRA Director, an Australian, 13:19 that they had been unable to find any help for them 13:21 not even in Australia. 13:23 It was a God moment, 13:25 immediately I said I will take them. 13:29 The villagers told the children 13:32 I was not orthodox. 13:34 I was a stranger, I ate cats, I cried before eating. 13:39 They were trying to scare them, 13:41 yet 60 boys and girls came to the Reach home. 13:45 In the beginning all they wanted was food, 13:48 a place to sleep and then education. 13:52 Today many of them are respected workers 13:55 in the Adventist church in Ethiopia. 13:57 One of those boys Tenya Rold Harbon 14:01 is the Tigrinya language program director for AWR 14:06 in Addis Ababa. 14:09 Some are evangelist in difficult places 14:12 that others can't go. 14:15 One is staying with me 14:17 and attending Andrews University. 14:18 He has already converted six people. 14:21 We not only save them for the kingdom 14:24 but they become soul winners for God. 14:27 There are more than 14:28 14 million AIDS orphans in Africa. 14:32 One out of every three children is an orphan. 14:36 You can't find even one family 14:38 that has not experienced AIDS. 14:41 There are many villages with no patents at all. 14:44 There are only children and old people. 14:47 Here is the grandmother. 14:49 She had four children, 14:52 all four and their spouses have died. 14:55 She has 14 grandchildren to take care of. 14:57 The oldest girl 14 years old was raped. 15:01 Now she has a baby and may be HIV as well. 15:05 Ten year old Kaka and his seven year old sister Affero 15:10 continue to live alone in their hut 15:13 when their parents were both buried. 15:15 Both Kaka's feet are infected and oozing, 15:17 he can hardly walk. 15:19 But he has to find food for two of them. 15:22 He wraps his bleeding feet with some dirty rags 15:26 and with the help of a stick 15:28 hobbles around begging for food. 15:31 To help these AIDS orphans, 15:34 we're starting a new project 15:36 on the banks of Lake Victoria. 15:38 Patricks Scalzitt, 15:40 and new Andrews graduate from Phoenix 15:42 from the same town, 15:44 today he is in Rwanda 15:45 learning how to run this orphanage. 15:48 A container filled with one day church type buildings 15:51 and two brick machines 15:52 have already are going to that location. 15:56 Ten one day school classrooms will be built first 16:00 to start the school. 16:02 This will allow us to feed 16:04 and educate these AIDS orphans 16:06 while the children's homes have been built. 16:09 Children are the most used 16:11 and abused minority in the world. 16:14 They re young, inexperienced and helpless. 16:18 It is up to us adults to provide for them. 16:22 If not for the grace of God 16:24 you and I could be one of these poor people 16:27 in these parts of the world. 16:29 We have done nothing to merit what God has given us. 16:33 Christ was born poor, He identified with the poor. 16:37 He said suffer little children to come unto me. 16:42 He is coming very soon 16:44 and all of the angles in heaven. 16:46 He will divide the sheep and the goats 16:48 according to what we have done 16:50 or neglected to do for our fellowmen. 16:55 We cannot touch divinity until we touch humanity. 17:00 Amen, thank you Jasmine. 17:07 I liked that, we cannot touch divinity 17:09 until we've touched humanity. 17:11 Bill Dull you have been coming to ASI 17:14 for a long time. 17:15 When did you first come? 17:17 Hold your mic. 17:19 Thirty two years ago. 17:20 Okay, but there, have you ever missed a Convention? 17:22 I haven't missed anything... 17:24 See, I thought I was doing good with 26 years. 17:27 Bill talked to us about kids who are abandoned, 17:31 destitute or orphans. 17:32 Okay, I'm happy to be able to be here at this Convention. 17:39 I'm the proud father of a 183 children 17:42 in our orphanages in India. 17:46 And I want to thank ASI 17:49 and ASI members for all the support 17:51 and help that you been to our work in India 17:55 in supporting these children. 17:57 You know, I believe that 17:58 God has a very special love for children. 18:02 I believe that God sees the potential in every child, 18:09 and if our children have an opportunity 18:12 to have good Christian education. 18:15 Our children have an opportunity of becoming 18:19 a great witness and the great power for God. 18:24 The devil also sees the great opportunity 18:28 and the great potential for children 18:32 and the devil does everything 18:33 he can to try to destroy the minds and brains 18:36 and bodies of little children. 18:39 You know it may be hard for you to believe 18:42 little girls are trafficked, 18:50 kidnapped, taken, 18:52 put into prostitution, just from India alone. 18:58 And it's, it's a horrible crime 19:03 that has affected so many children, 19:08 but you know by taking children 19:09 into our schools and orphanages, 19:12 we can save them from being trafficked 19:15 and taken into these prostitution centers. 19:20 In the last several years God has given us the opportunity 19:24 to be able to rescue many little girls and boys, 19:31 the girls from prostitution 19:33 and I want to share the story 19:34 of one of those girls with you today. 19:38 She came to us about three years ago, 19:41 I'm going to call her name Sally 19:44 just for her protection. 19:46 Well, Sally was born in a Hindu home 19:50 and when she was about 11 years old 19:53 she came out of school, public school one day 19:57 and a friendly lady met her and said come over by my car 20:02 have a soft drink to drink. 20:04 She went over by the car, she drank a soft drink, 20:11 excuse me, and she woke up in a prostitution house. 20:16 In the dormitory with over a hundred little girls 20:20 8 to 15 years of age 20:25 and she said that at night when the little girls cried, 20:30 those men would come in with belts 20:32 and pull their little naked bodies out of the covers 20:35 and beat them with belts, 20:37 when they cried for their momma. 20:44 She along with the others were beaten into subjection, 20:48 to do anything that a man with his lust 20:53 chose for them to do. 20:55 For two years she was in prostitution 20:59 but then she escaped 21:04 and God's mercy and God's blessing 21:07 she didn't know it at the time 21:09 but God made a way of escape. 21:12 Her mother brought her to us, 21:15 she was, there were, 21:17 the people were trying to get a hold of her again. 21:21 The mother snuck her through a field and around 21:24 and out into our school 21:26 and ask us to please take her. 21:28 When they brought her into our orphanage, 21:34 then the mother introduced her to me, 21:36 I reached out my hand to shake her hand 21:40 and she literally fell down 21:42 behind her mother on the ground 21:45 and cried out loud, 21:51 her eyes were bulging in fear. 21:57 She was afraid to touch me. 21:59 Her mother said, please take her into your orphanage. 22:04 So, we took her into our orphanage 22:06 and I asked one of the orphan girls 22:08 to help in to take her. 22:11 And to watch over her and make her feel at home. 22:17 And we had her there for a few weeks 22:20 and then we began to get threats 22:23 that they wanted that girl back again 22:26 and so we took her quietly 22:29 and secretly out of our place 22:31 and took her over a thousand miles 22:34 to another orphanage that I have in South India. 22:39 We thought she would be safe there. 22:41 Surely they would never come a thousand miles. 22:45 About two months went by 22:46 and she was learning to know Jesus, 22:50 but one day I got a phone call, 22:52 she said was crying, 22:54 she said uncle they have come to my mother, 22:57 they are threatening my family 22:58 and they said they know where I'm. 23:02 I said Sally, you can only trust Jesus 23:05 and so I told her to read Psalm 34:7, 23:09 "The angle of the Lord encamps round about them 23:12 that fear him, and delivereth them". 23:17 And then I called one of our very dedicated orphan girls 23:21 that's in the same orphanage 23:23 and I asked her to study the Bible with her 23:26 and to pray with her. 23:29 A few two weeks later 23:31 she took her evening bath went up on the roof 23:34 of the dormitory on Friday evening to meditate. 23:38 She looked down the road 23:41 and she saw a car pull up in the driveway. 23:45 She looked two men 23:48 and a woman get out of the car. 23:50 They were the very people that had her in prostitution 23:55 and then she called for Marina, 23:58 our orphan girl that was studying with her to come up 24:01 and to be with her and to, and so Marina came up 24:05 and they got down behind the wall 24:06 and they were watching to see what was going to happen. 24:11 And then seven or eight motorcycles came up 24:13 and the men got off the motorcycles. 24:15 They were all at the end of our driveway 24:17 about 250 foot away from the dormitory 24:22 and then they all began 24:23 to come up the road to get Sally. 24:29 Sally and Marina cried out to God to deliver them. 24:36 They came about half way up our driveway 24:39 and then they just stopped. 24:42 The women took her camera out and took a photo. 24:45 The man got on his cell phone and made a phone call 24:50 and then they all turned around and went back. 24:54 Down got on their motorcycles 24:56 and went about a thousand feet down the road 25:00 and there they stayed until after midnight that night 25:06 and then they all left. 25:09 Why did they leave? 25:12 What did they see? 25:15 What a miracle of God, 25:16 could it be that they saw angels with flaming swords. 25:22 And so you know, 25:26 Sally has become a very dedicated Christian. 25:30 She loves the Lord with all of her heart 25:33 and she studies her Bible. 25:35 She prays, she knows that 25:36 God has worked the miracle for her. 25:39 There could be a thousand other families out 25:42 doing the same thing we're doing 25:44 and could touch many lives. 25:48 God bless every one of you to do what you can do 25:52 to help prepare the way for Jesus coming. 25:56 Thank you Bill, thank you. 25:58 Isn't that awesome, go ahead. 26:07 Leasa, Leasa Hodges as many of you know 26:09 Leasa is one of our Vice-Presidents in ASI. 26:12 Tell us what you think about this whole thing of orphans 26:15 and abandoned children 26:16 and children that have no resources, no money. 26:20 Well, I was one of those abandoned children. 26:22 I was abandoned 26:23 at a Seventh -day Adventist hospital in Seoul, Korea. 26:27 Well, some many years ago. 26:29 And you know my life is a testimony 26:33 that God can rescue, He can provide for, 26:37 He can train and He equip anyone 26:41 in any situation to be of service 26:43 in anywhere in this world. 26:45 And so as we support our orphans as we care for them, 26:51 you don't know what that person is going to be doing. 26:55 Are you grateful Leasa 26:57 that someone took an interest in an orphan girl? 27:00 I'm very grateful 27:02 and that person I think was God 27:04 and he provided a family that's very mission minded, 27:07 very active in His service that they just train me too. 27:11 And Praise the Lord. 27:13 We're all glad for that, 27:14 thank you so much. Thank you. 27:15 You know, we're going to be talking 27:17 in just a few minutes little bit more about 27:19 how we can help 27:21 and actually get an idea about 27:22 what's happening around our world. 27:24 Our ASI members are caring for ten's of 27:27 thousands of young abandoned children, Garwin. 27:34 You know, when I think of children. 27:37 You need a micro phone here... 27:42 When I think of children I can't help 27:44 but think of, many times 27:46 we've taken children into the orphanages 27:49 and if I see these little children 27:51 and they come and they are afraid, 27:54 they are in their ragged cloths 27:56 and many times they just have the little bundle up 28:00 may be wrapped in a paper bag or something of that nature 28:03 and I can't help but think, 28:04 and I think of this almost daily. 28:06 How we need to be like little children 28:09 and how God reaches out to us as we reach out to them. 28:13 And then we say come 28:15 and you know, over in Asia you go like this 28:18 and God calls us to come to Him. 28:21 And you take the little child by the hand, 28:23 you give him a hug for reassurance 28:26 and you know, as we respond to God's love, 28:28 He embraces us with His arms of love. 28:32 And you take the child and you feed him, 28:34 and yes God feeds us. 28:37 You obey them, God obeys us with His blood. 28:42 When the child gets her first new clothes, 28:45 God clothes us with His righteousness. 28:49 Then you take the child to their new home, 28:51 you show him their first bed, their first pillow 28:56 and you show him how to lay their head on it. 28:59 You know God is leading us home as he prepares for us, 29:03 that he has prepared for us. 29:06 And when a child reaches the, receives the warmth, 29:09 the food, the shelter, the love. 29:12 You know their minds are open to be educated 29:15 to receive a Christian education and learn more 29:19 about the everlasting love of Jesus. 29:22 Yes, I think often, often about the children. 29:26 What an example and I thank Bill, 29:29 and Jasmine for their work. 29:32 Last year Meryln and I had the opportunity to visit 29:35 Riverside Farms in Zambia 29:38 helping to build a one day church. 29:42 Afterwards we traveled to Livingstone, 29:44 where Don and Denzel did the DVD training 29:46 that was showed this morning. 29:49 Well, at Livingstone we enquired 29:52 where is your church school? 29:55 The answer we have none. 29:58 We desperately need a church school. 30:01 In fact in Livingstone, 30:02 there are few Sabbath school classrooms for the children 30:07 in the existing churches. 30:09 Then we asked how many churches in the area? 30:14 Now Livingstone is a city of about 200,000, 30:18 they said 32 churches and church groups in one city 30:23 and you think of that then we said what, 30:26 how many members are there? 30:29 The answer over 12,000, just in a city 30:33 and as you think of it 30:35 12,000 members without a church school. 30:39 This made quite an impression, 30:42 because church schools have been a, 30:43 so much a part of our lives and as we traveled home 30:47 we thought about the tremendous need. 30:50 And how could the one day 30:53 church building fill this need. 30:56 When I got home I talked with Don Noble of Maranatha 30:58 to discuss with him the Livingstone area needs 31:02 which are church schools, 31:05 children Sabbath school classrooms 31:08 and one day churches. 31:10 And when you think about it 31:12 next week ShareHim is having 40 evangelistic efforts 31:16 in the Livingstone area. 31:18 You can just imagine the needs after the effort. 31:22 Of the 32 church groups and churches in Livingstone, 31:27 some of them are very large. 31:29 In fact most have been 31:31 finished with rifts over Africa. 31:34 But you know they don't have children 31:36 Sabbath school classrooms. 31:38 Services are being held in rented buildings, 31:41 I went to schools they were packed, 31:43 public schools under the trees 31:46 and you know right across the river in Zambia 31:49 we're facing, Zimbabwe, 31:52 we're facing similar challenges. 31:55 Now, Marilee and I went back to Lewiston. 31:58 Oh, let me tell you when I was in the airport, 32:01 I'm in the Atlanta airport waiting to board my plane, 32:04 they announce the gate 32:07 and they said we're just going to hold for a group 32:11 and I heard this group of young people singing hymns 32:15 and I looked up and here they come 32:17 they are walking in beautiful. 32:20 And I looked on the back perhaps at maps, 32:23 of course right away I had an idea 32:26 and I said to one of the young men, 32:28 where are you going? 32:30 He says we're going to build a one day church, 32:32 do you know about it? 32:35 I says, well, tell me about it 32:38 and he said he gave me a little sales talk 32:41 on the one day church. 32:43 I thought this was really neat. 32:45 Then I noticed the supervisor in the back the doctor 32:49 and we exchanged a few words. 32:52 Soon we got on that all night flight 32:54 and I decided I'm gonna go back 32:56 and see what they are doing and I went back 33:00 and it was dark, everyone was asleep 33:03 and I went back and I looked 33:04 and here is some and here is some setting 33:06 and the night lights were on 33:09 and there on the little flip 33:11 in front of them were their Bibles. 33:13 They went to sleep reading the Bible, I was impressed. 33:17 And when I got to Johannesburg airport 33:19 the next morning, 33:20 here again heard they are singing, 33:22 they were going off, 33:24 it was certainly a good witness. 33:26 But, anyway when we got to Livingstone, 33:29 we found two nice tracks of land 33:31 next to the two of the churches ideal 33:35 for lower grade school. 33:38 Well, we just had the weekend and Sunday, 33:40 we got a bulldozer 33:41 and we cleared the land staked out the buildings 33:45 and the classrooms in each site has a dockers room, 33:51 larger one which is the dockers room. 33:53 The dockers ladies are very active in Africa. 33:58 We have plans for two lower grade schools 34:00 with 24 classrooms, 34:03 30 children Sabbath school classrooms, 34:06 25 one day churches. 34:08 Now some of these are extra big churches, 34:11 if you went just to the one day 34:13 this would be a total of 87 buildings 34:16 in that area to fill these needs. 34:20 And I want to encourage each of you 34:22 go on a trip of a life time, 34:24 an incredible Maranatha volunteer project 34:28 in an ideal situation next to Victoria falls, 34:32 the National Game Park 15 minutes away. 34:35 But you know most of all is filling the needs 34:39 for churches, children Sabbath schoolrooms 34:42 and church schools in this deserving area. 34:46 The church is relive in Livingstone. 34:51 God wants Christian education 34:53 in the Livingstone, Victoria Falls area. 35:01 You know, as we think about 35:03 Adventist Christian education, 35:05 our church schools, academies, 35:07 colleges and universities. 35:09 I want to ask each one of you a question. 35:12 How many of you here today have been 35:14 influenced by Christian education 35:16 or have you supported someone with Christian education? 35:19 Can I see your hands? 35:23 I think that's just about every hand in this audience 35:26 and I'm thankful today for grandmother 35:28 whose influenced and guidance 35:29 in my life was responsible for me 35:31 having a Christian education. 35:33 If it wasn't for that, I wouldn't be here today, 35:36 my children, or my grand children. 35:38 And this is why I'm so passionate 35:40 about Christian education. 35:42 You know, only in heaven 35:43 will we know the souls have been saved 35:47 because we helped someone to attend a Christian education. 35:51 And I'm thankful to our founders 35:52 who established Christian education 150 years ago. 35:56 You know, we have a friend 35:57 who always said Christian education is the genius 36:02 of the Seventh-day Adventist church, 36:04 the genius of the Seventh-day Adventist church. 36:07 I believe that, 36:08 but most importantly I believe 36:10 what the Spirit of Prophecy says in the Desire of Ages. 36:13 Children are the most susceptible 36:16 to the teaching of the gospel. 36:18 Their hearts are open to divine influences 36:21 and strong to retain the lessons received. 36:25 They need to be educated in spiritual things 36:28 that they may form characters 36:30 after the similitude of the character of Christ. 36:35 Why do we have Christian education? 36:38 Christian education prepares children to meet Jesus. Amen! 36:55 I'm grateful for my Christian education. 36:57 Donna, our ASI President Donna McNeilus, 37:00 tell us quickly some things about ASI? 37:04 Did you know that every single day 37:08 around the entire globe, 37:11 there are hungry, thirsty, 37:14 cold and sick little children? 37:18 They have no place to lay their head on a soft pillow, 37:22 they don't even have a bed, 37:24 no job skills, no education 37:29 and in fact they have never heard 37:32 the name of Jesus Christ. 37:35 Proverbs 22:6 tells us, 37:38 "Train up a child in the way he should go, 37:41 and when he is old he will not, 37:45 will not depart from it." 37:48 Praise God that there are ASI Ministries 37:52 that have heard the call. 37:53 You have heard that today, 37:55 they are helping these precious children. 37:58 I've had the privilege of traveling around the world 38:01 and I've been it at these many orphanages 38:03 and these homes 38:04 where children are being taken care off. 38:07 If we go to Africa, 38:09 there are lot of ASI ministries 38:12 that are feeding some 290,000 meals every year. 38:18 They are providing uniforms, 38:20 I know about a little boy who was given a uniform 38:24 and he was able to graduate at the top of his class. 38:29 He received a scholarship and went on to high school. 38:33 Let's go to Asia, 38:35 I know in India that they are providing meals 38:38 for more than 600,000 meals every year. 38:43 Wells are being dug for clean water. 38:47 Thousands are receiving an education 38:49 through ASI members and ministries. 38:54 You know what these little orphans they get this bed, 38:57 they get that pillow, they get that blanket, 38:59 they get uniforms it's a privilege for them, 39:03 it changes their life. 39:06 They are learning how to make their own uniforms. 39:09 In these schools 39:10 they are not only been taught A-B-C's 39:12 and 1-2-3's, they are been taught about Jesus Christ. 39:17 Twenty seven orphanages for His children 39:21 that are being operated by ASI members 39:24 and ministries just in Asia alone, 39:28 and Central America. 39:30 1.4 million meals are provided for His children 39:36 in Central America every year. 39:39 1300 children are cared for in 38 homes, 39:45 and hundreds of students 39:46 in seven schools are receiving an education. 39:51 Let's go to North America, 39:53 my very own bags 39:57 that are given to faster children have been provided 40:01 for children this last year. 40:04 Many pieces of clothing have been distributed, 40:07 food, housing, 40:08 schooling, medical care for our Native American 40:12 reservations have been provided, 40:14 14,000 meals to students every year. 40:19 How about our supporting schools? 40:21 They are providing education. 40:24 How about the work study programs? 40:27 South America, 100,000 breakfasts are provided 40:34 for students in local schools. 40:37 There's a crisis centre for abused 40:39 and abandoned girls where they are housed 40:42 and fed and they are taught about a real Heavenly Father. 40:47 There is a lot more, we could tell you more, 40:50 but you know what this only represents 40:53 a portion of the work 40:55 that's been done all over the world 40:58 by ASI members and ministries. 41:02 These are real children whose needs are being met 41:07 and they are being introduced to their loving Father 41:11 and savior Jesus Christ. 41:14 I just want you to realize that our ASI family 41:18 in this last year provided over 2,314,000 meals 41:26 for children and you, yes you were a part of that. 41:32 You helped to get thousands 41:34 and thousands of pieces of clothing. 41:37 You provided schooling for children, 41:40 the gift bags of love provided. 41:43 And some day soon we'll be rewarded. 41:46 Won't it be a wonderful day 41:48 when we can sit around the tree of life 41:50 with all God's precious children? Amen, 42:02 You know, as Karen joins me here just now, 42:06 I want you to have that envelop handy. 42:08 You can get it outwards closer to you now 42:10 and get your pen ready because 42:11 we're gonna be talking about that in just a minute. 42:13 But, I'm struck that in the moment 42:18 that we possess right now, 42:21 where we're living in the stream of time, 42:24 there has never been a greater opportunity 42:28 in our world to serve and to meet the needs of people. 42:32 And what's this really all about? 42:34 Yes, we're providing meals 42:36 and by the way did you realize 42:37 that we can provide a meal 42:39 for a little orphan for about a quarter, 42:41 about 25 cents. 42:43 Stop and think about that. 42:45 How many meals would a hundred bucks provide? 42:50 Okay, think about a thousand dollars, 42:52 a thousand dollars would provide 4000 meals, 42:56 that's 11 orphans all year long. 43:00 And you can just take that up to 10,000, 43:02 would provide 40,000 meals. 43:04 A 100,000 dollars will provide 400,000 meals. 43:08 Why we're interested in those meals for kids 43:10 we're interested ultimately in souls 43:11 for the kingdom, aren't we? 43:13 We're, Karen talk about some of the things 43:16 this offering touches your heart with. 43:19 Well, we heard the stories this morning about the abused 43:22 and the neglected and abandoned children. 43:25 And I believe that children have a special place 43:29 in the heart of our Creator. 43:31 When He was on the earth 43:32 he said suffer the little children to come on to me 43:35 and mothers would bring their babies 43:37 and their little ones to him to be blessed by him. 43:40 Dan and I feel that it's a privilege 43:42 to be able to give 43:44 and be a blessing to His other children. 43:47 it says, 43:49 "A generous person will prosper, 43:53 and those who refresh others 43:55 will themselves be refreshed". 43:58 Isn't it amazing that we gain 44:00 and are blessed when we give. 44:04 How many of you can say that you have been blessed 44:07 in the past when you have given? 44:08 Can I see your hands? 44:10 Haven't we all been blessed when we give? 44:12 We've been put in this world to be able to share 44:15 and be a conduit to others of God's children. 44:18 And there are so many more out there 44:20 that I'm looking forward to getting acquainted 44:21 with throughout our eternity 44:22 because I want them living in the same neighborhood 44:24 that I live in. 44:25 And I hope that they will want me 44:27 in their neighborhood as well in heaven, 44:28 I don't know about you? 44:30 But I'm thinking about, 44:32 the major projects in our offering. 44:34 You have gone through 44:35 and looked at the different projects in the magazine 44:38 and those of you who are watching by television, 44:40 I don't want you to turn the channel 44:42 when we finish because I'm going to be coming 44:43 and talking to you after we go off camera here, 44:46 because we want you to participate as well. 44:48 But those of who are here in our live audience 44:50 in Phoenix, Arizona. 44:52 You have looked at those and you have seen them 44:55 and I pray that as you laid them out last night 44:57 and prayed over them that the spirit of God touched you 45:01 and what we would liked to have you do just now, 45:05 is like to have you take that envelop, 45:08 want you to fill your name out, 45:09 you got to put your name and address 45:10 and the different things on there, 45:12 may be you have already done that. 45:14 Then I want you to think about 45:15 what you're going to be able to do this year. 45:17 Obviously you can put money in that envelop 45:19 or a check if you like to put a check in that envelop. 45:22 Or you can write down as a pledge 45:24 and you want to pay that out over this next year. 45:27 What you're going to be doing 45:28 is going to be helping all the projects 45:30 that are listed in here and I just want to, 45:32 to mention that we have on, on page 23 of your magazine, 45:38 we have put in there the provision 45:41 for an overflow offering. 45:44 And in that overflow offering 45:45 we're talking about one day schools 45:48 and of course we all know the one day church concept, 45:50 but, you know, 45:51 you can also create a one day school really easily, 45:54 you heard various people 45:55 talking about that this morning 45:57 and also more of train them now. 45:59 There are so many more lay people around our world 46:02 waiting to be trained with the resources 46:04 that we have developed in ASI 46:05 and train them now DVD program. 46:08 I just want you to think about 46:09 something with these one day schools for a moment. 46:14 It costs about $3000 to built a one day school. 46:19 For $3000 you can actually built a one day school. 46:24 If you stop and think about that for 10 schools 46:28 if you want to built 10 schools that's $30,000, 46:30 $30,000 put 10 schools in place 46:33 where these kids coming out of the orphanage, 46:34 out of the villages can actually come 46:36 and learn about Jesus while they are learning about 46:38 how to deal in this world. 46:41 For $300,000 you can put up 100 one day schools 46:47 and I can go on with the math. 46:49 Stop and think about the impact 46:52 that your gift this morning can have in this coming year. 46:56 Now, I want to know we actually have envelops, 47:00 they look like this. 47:01 How many of you have an envelop? 47:02 Can I see your envelops, hold them up for a second 47:03 that you got them, all right put your hands down. 47:06 Now is there anyone in this audience 47:07 that does not have an envelop? 47:09 If there is anyone we got deacon standing by 47:11 if you need an envelop and you don't have one, 47:12 I want a deacon somewhere close by 47:15 I don't see any hands. 47:16 You are all having, I'm sorry I got a hand right up here, 47:18 please make sure this lady, I got two hands, 47:20 I got several hands, hold your hand high 47:22 if you need an envelop, 47:23 please hold your hand where ever you are, 47:25 I want to make sure you have an envelop. 47:27 So you have the blessing 47:29 of participating in this active worship 47:32 which the offering is, 47:33 okay I believe we have covered all those. 47:36 I'm going to pray here in just a moment 47:39 and we're going to ask the Lord 47:40 to bless this offering in a very special way. 47:45 And I wan to thank you right now 47:48 for your incredible generosity. 47:52 ASI members are incredibly generous 47:57 and I'm just so grateful for each one of you 47:59 and I pray that the blessing 48:01 that is brought as a result of your gift this morning. 48:06 Some day in heaven 48:07 you are going to be able to see the result of it, 48:08 because souls for the kingdom will be there. 48:11 Would you bow your heads with me 48:12 just now where you are. 48:15 Holy Father in heaven, 48:17 we counted an incredible privilege 48:20 to be able to come before you just now 48:22 in an active worship 48:23 and give of the blessings that You have given to us 48:27 for all the projects that we have 48:29 in our ASI offering this year. 48:32 I pray Lord that you would bless every single donation 48:35 and every single person making a gift. 48:38 I pray that as this money is traveled to various places 48:42 around the world in mission. 48:43 O Lord I pray, that you will allow 48:46 through the power of your Holy Spirit 48:48 for lives to be touched for here and for eternity. 48:53 We're so grateful for this privilege this morning 48:55 and thank you for it in Jesus name, amen. 48:58 And those of you who are watching on television, 49:00 please do not turn the channel, 49:01 I will be right back with you. 49:13 Savior, Thy dying love Thou gavest me 49:25 Nor should I aught withhold, dear Lord, from Thee 49:36 In love my soul would bow, my heart fulfill its vow 49:46 Some offering bring Thee now, something for Thee 50:05 At the blest mercy seat, pleading for me 50:15 I want to thank you all for participating with us 50:17 in our ASI Convention here in Phoenix, Arizona. 50:19 Where ever you're just now, 50:21 if you would like to participate in this offering 50:24 and be a part of reaching out and touching children, 50:27 orphans, for the many other projects 50:29 that you have heard discuss this morning. 50:31 We would invite you to make it check payable 50:33 to ASI ministries 50:35 and there will be an address come up on your screen 50:37 where you will be able to mail that check in, 50:39 so that you can be part of 50:40 this particular offering this morning. 50:43 I want to thank you for your generosity 50:44 and for those of you who may be ASI members 50:47 who are not able to be here with us in Phoenix today. 50:50 I want to just thank you for tuning in. 50:52 We wish you were here. 50:53 For those of you who may have never heard of 50:54 an ASI Convention, we want you to tune in 50:56 to our website asiministries.org. 50:59 Learn a little bit more about our organization. 51:02 We love to have you at our convention next year 51:04 in Orlando, Florida. 51:05 In the mean time I just wan to pray 51:07 that God will bless you abundantly 51:10 where ever you are, 51:11 so that you can experience the fullness of His joy 51:14 in your life, thank you so much. 51:22 Thy face I see, my ransomed soul shall be 51:31 Through all eternity, something for Thee |
Revised 2014-12-17