Participants:
Series Code: AWR
Program Code: AWR360010S
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00:02 Since 1971, Adventist World Radio
00:05 has been spreading the loving message of Jesus' 00:07 soon return all over this world. 00:11 Come with me to Namibia, Tanzania and India 00:15 to explore what God is doing to reach the unreached. 00:19 With Adventist World Radio, 00:21 there are no walls, no borders 00:23 and no limits to God's power. 00:29 From just one cell phone, 00:31 an entire church has been planted in Namibia. 00:34 I'm Cami Oetman and this is AWR360°. 00:54 A year ago, we came to Namibia 00:56 to learn about how cell phone evangelism 00:59 is spreading fast around the world, 01:01 started by Neville Neveling 01:03 after seeing a need in his area. 01:05 Now people across the globe 01:08 are using their phones for evangelism. 01:12 From the blind to the quietest person 01:14 in the church, 01:15 the message of the Lord is being sent out. 01:19 We are back here because we have heard 01:21 remarkable stories coming as a result 01:24 of cell phone evangelism. 01:27 How remarkable things 01:28 have been happening this past year. 01:31 A year ago when we visited under the tree 01:33 at Barbie's Church, I did not mention to you that 01:37 this area actually had very minimal Adventist reach. 01:42 Though evangelism has been tried, 01:44 it was unsuccessful. 01:47 You see this, 01:48 this area is actually predominantly Roman Catholic. 01:52 I must say, I did not actually think that 01:56 AWR360° cell phone evangelism 01:59 would have this kind of impact. 02:01 Our AWR team is travelling far 02:04 into North Eastern Namibia, to the city of Kashira. 02:07 There has been no Adventist churches there. 02:10 That is until just a year ago, 02:12 when Barbie started one under her tree. 02:17 She has been listening to cell phone evangelism 02:20 and enjoy learning about the truth she heard. 02:23 But it was a message about the Sabbath 02:25 that really woke her up. 02:27 One week after hearing the message, 02:29 she started a church under her tree. 02:32 She then invited the community to join her and they came. 02:36 But now, some incredible things have happened. 02:42 After your visit our church has grown dramatically. 02:47 Their Pathfinder club has been doing great things 02:50 for the community, 02:51 from doing work for the neighbors to singing, 02:54 they are representing Adventism in a great way. 02:57 She also has a community garden in the back 03:00 and has been teaching the villagers 03:02 how to grow their own food. 03:04 And many people have come 03:05 to listen to her health seminars. 03:09 But then it wasn't long ago as I was working in my house 03:13 on Friday afternoon, prepping for the Sabbath 03:17 when I heard a lot of noises. 03:18 She then noticed that a crowd of people 03:20 had gathered outside her house. 03:23 She couldn't believe it. 03:24 It was then that a man entered the house. 03:27 He said his name was Ouppa. 03:29 He was from the town of Divundu, 03:32 and that he and his group wants to join our church! 03:36 This was quite amazing, 03:38 because this region in Northern Namibia 03:40 really has had no Adventist, 03:43 maybe 10 total in the entire area. 03:47 Just looking at this area 03:49 where Barbie's Church has been established, 03:53 it's part of a minority people group 03:57 in Namibia, languishing. 04:00 So, there's not a lot of these people around, 04:03 it's a minority group. 04:05 And the group as such, are actually Catholic. 04:10 So it's very, very difficult to get into such a group 04:14 because it's like changing group dynamics. 04:17 So when Barbie started the church, 04:19 the word spread quickly. 04:21 But how did the new group hear about Barbie 04:24 and make a decision to join? 04:26 For that we must meet them as they walk to church. 04:31 This is no ordinary trek. 04:33 You see, for them to get to Barbie's, 04:36 they must walk all day on Friday. 04:39 We head out in search of this group. 04:42 Northern Namibia has a population of 220,000. 04:47 Because of the poor roads, this area gets few visitors. 04:53 It has the highest level of poverty in Namibia, 04:55 was about half the population considered poor. 04:59 But it is in this area that lives are being changed. 05:06 This group is currently on a 40-mile hike to Divundu. 05:10 It will take them all day to get there. 05:13 Over sand, rocks and hills they march on. 05:16 It's an amazing sight to see 05:19 this many people making this long walk. 05:22 Ouppa Stephen is the leader of the group. 05:25 He's the one who made the decision 05:27 to find this new church. 05:31 I go because we must learn about God. 05:35 I have been waiting years for an Adventist Church. 05:39 Even if it were 80 miles away, we would still walk to it. 05:47 Ouppa was one of the few Adventists 05:49 in this region of Namibia. 05:51 He lives a simple life of managing his animals 05:54 and sitting outside his house. 05:57 For many years, I was alone in my faith. 06:01 And with no church nearby, 06:03 I cannot invite anyone to learn with me. 06:08 But then when Barbie's Church started, 06:10 word started spreading around the area 06:13 about this new belief. 06:17 A rumor came to me that an Adventist Church 06:20 had started in the town of Divundu. 06:23 I almost cried when I heard that. 06:25 I pray to God that it was true. 06:30 He wasted no time 06:31 inviting the people of this area 06:33 to trek with him to Divundu. 06:35 He said, "They are teaching the truth 06:37 and we must go." 06:38 Nearly 50 people came with him, 06:41 eager to hear this new truth about Jesus. 06:46 The trek is long and anyone could have been 06:49 easily discouraged about walking all day, 06:52 but they wanted to hear more about this church. 06:57 When we arrived, 06:58 I was very excited to meet Barbie 07:01 for the first time. 07:05 His first words were that he wanted to join the church. 07:09 That night we pitch tents and prepared for the Sabbath, 07:14 waiting in anticipation for the morning. 07:19 And the next morning 07:20 they had their first church service together. 07:23 Everyone in the group 07:24 was impressed with the Sabbath message 07:26 and were determined to return the very next week. 07:30 When AWR heard about how the church had grown, 07:33 we knew the tree that 07:34 they were worshiping under would not be enough. 07:37 And this is when we sought our AWR supporters like you. 07:42 AWR's webpage lists 07:43 many needs all around the globe. 07:46 From terrorists in the Philippines 07:48 to the high mountain area of Nepal, 07:50 lives are being changed. 07:53 But it cannot be done alone. 07:55 It is only through our faithful supporters 07:58 that AWR can keep this broadcast going. 08:01 And now this group of people have a church to worship in. 08:05 Hands across the globe join to support this project. 08:09 And I know God has blessed. 08:12 The most amazing thing is 08:14 this is the first cell phone evangelism church. 08:18 After that first visit, everyone wanted to return. 08:25 Ouppa has since made many treks to worship on the Sabbath. 08:29 I really am amazed to think that one year ago, 08:33 there was less than 10 Adventists 08:36 in this entire area 08:38 and because someone sent 08:39 one message through their cell phone, 08:42 now, there is a community of believers. 08:45 I can't help but think that if all of us 08:48 would just do the Lord's will and evangelize, 08:51 how many more lives would be saved 08:53 for Christ's kingdom. 08:55 On this Sabbath morning, we attend the church service. 08:58 It was just one year ago we were here under a tree, 09:01 and now we are dedicating a new church, 09:04 and there is a communion and foot washing service. 09:08 Many phones were dedicated 09:09 to sharing cell phone evangelism. 09:13 And after this, it is time for many to be baptized. 09:18 You see many in Ouppa's group have made the decision 09:21 to dedicate themselves to the Lord. 09:23 This is what AWR360° is all about, 09:27 from broadcast to baptism. 09:35 I'm so amazed that through my cell phone, 09:38 I was reached and now just one year later, 09:41 there's a new church 09:42 and many people have been baptized. 09:45 God is working mightily all around the world. 09:48 Friends, the lives saved here today 09:51 are because someone shared 09:53 the love of Christ through their cell phone. 09:56 They looked at their hand 09:57 and they saw the tool to reach another. 10:00 AWR360° calls upon you 10:02 to share these important Bible truths. 10:05 It is only working together 10:07 that we can spread the message 10:09 of the Lord to the entire world. 10:27 As Christians, our family is much larger 10:30 than our immediate biological family. 10:32 In fact, we have brothers and sisters 10:34 that live in more than 200 countries 10:36 all around the world. 10:40 We want to remember them in our estate plan. 10:43 We can help you with that process. 10:44 Just log on to awr.org. 10:57 Welcome to a country shared by thousands of animals. 11:02 Over 120 different tribal groups 11:07 and home to some of Africa's most famous national parks. 11:11 I'm in Tanzania and this is AWR360°. 11:20 My name is Michael 11:21 and I live in the northern part of Tanzania. 11:26 I have a beautiful wife and family, 11:29 and grow vegetables to sell. 11:33 As a teenager, Michael had embraced 11:35 the Seventh-day Adventist message. 11:37 But as the years passed by, 11:39 he laid aside his faith and slowly forgot about God. 11:45 Michael settled down, 11:47 married and began to put all his time and energy 11:49 into growing vegetables for sale. 11:53 He took pride in his beautiful garden 11:55 and always kept it neat. 11:58 Then one day something happened 12:01 that would disrupt their peaceful quiet lives 12:04 and ruin Michael's garden. 12:19 I started having terrible problem. 12:22 Wild pigs would come into my garden at night, 12:26 destroying my plants and eating my vegetables. 12:32 In order to protect the crops, 12:34 I began staying up all night to keep watch. 12:48 One evening as he kindled a fire 12:51 and prepared for another long night, 12:53 Michael switched on his radio. 12:55 The station playing was new to him, 12:57 but the word sounded strangely familiar. 13:00 It had been so many years since he had heard anything 13:03 about Jesus. 13:05 It was all such a distant memory. 13:08 The night passed more quickly this time. 13:10 And when morning broke, 13:12 Michael's little radio was still playing the station. 13:14 He would later learn was Adventist World Radio. 13:19 The second night, 13:21 Michael again turned his radio to AWR, 13:24 and this time invited five 13:26 of his neighbors to come listen as well. 13:29 On the third night, a message about faith 13:31 was presented on the radio. 13:34 My heart was touched. 13:36 And I say to my friends, 13:38 "If there is a God big enough to protect our crops, 13:41 why are we staying up the whole night?" 13:45 Michael decided he would give God a second chance. 13:51 In an effort to test and see if God was real, 13:55 Michael remained home the next night, 13:57 instead of going out and watching over his crops. 14:01 Before bed, he gathered his family together 14:04 to listen to AWR and pray for God's protection. 14:14 The next morning Michael 14:15 went outside to survey his crops. 14:20 Amazingly, there was no damage. 14:25 I was so excited and went running back 14:27 to share the good news with my family. 14:31 For the first time in my life, I realized that God was real 14:36 and cared for me. 14:40 Night after night, Michael returned home, 14:42 listen to his radio and once again prayed 14:45 for God's protection before peacefully sleeping. 14:50 Michael's neighbors begin to ask questions. 14:53 They have watched 14:54 as the pigs pass by Michael's fields, 14:57 only to eat their surrounding crops. 14:59 The neighbors felt sure it was witchcraft, 15:03 but Michael gladly explained about the radio and a God 15:07 who would even protect vegetables from pigs. 15:11 Several of my neighbors decided to test God too 15:14 and listen to AWR at home instead 15:18 or guarding their crops at night. 15:20 And the pigs no longer bothered their vegetables either. 15:26 Before long, Michael, his family and 30 other people 15:30 from his village decided to give their lives 15:33 to Jesus through baptism. 15:42 We are so thankful for Adventist World Radio. 15:46 If we had not heard it, 15:48 we would still be out in the dark, 15:51 guarding our crops from pigs, 15:53 and would have missed hearing about Jesus. 15:57 Three years later, 15:58 Michael's garden continues to grow well, 16:01 and the wild pigs have never returned. 16:04 Michael loves to tell everyone about Jesus, 16:07 and with a big smile he shared with us that 16:10 he is a missionary now. 16:13 His love for Jesus 16:14 and the Seventh-day Adventist Church 16:17 has been rekindled 16:18 and he has a passion born 16:20 from a personal experience of faith and trust. 16:24 And all of this is the simple result 16:27 of a radio broadcast 16:28 and a God big enough to answer prayer. 16:35 Thank you for your generous support 16:37 of Adventist World Radio. 16:39 Through it lives are being touched 16:41 and transformed for eternity. 16:59 I grew up in Indiana, 17:00 and I've been a farmer all my life. 17:04 My father, every time we plant a field, 17:06 when we got through we'd always kneel down 17:09 and have prayers. 17:10 We've done our part, 17:12 now the Lord will do His, and He always come through. 17:19 After praying about it, 17:20 my wife and I decided to do a gift annuity 17:23 through Adventist World Radio. 17:25 It goes to people that normally you're not going to hear. 17:29 And that's what our seventh-day message is all about, 17:33 every nation, kindred, tongue and people. 17:38 When you're a farmer, 17:39 you don't have a retirement plan. 17:42 It was a good way to supplement our retirement. 17:45 It's been a blessing to us, 17:47 and I know it's going to be a blessing 17:48 to those others around the world. 17:57 Join me as I leave the beautiful Country 18:00 of Tanzania to hear the amazing testimony 18:03 of one pastor living in India. 18:11 Eight out of every 10 Indians say that 18:13 religion is very important in their lives. 18:17 For Pastor El, that is definitely true. 18:19 He is a speaker and evangelist 18:21 at over 400 charismatic revival churches 18:24 across India. 18:26 His goal in life is to share Christ 18:28 with everyone around him. 18:30 But where did he get such fervor? 18:34 Pastor El was a miracle baby. 18:36 His parents dedicated him to God 18:38 as a tithe as he was their 10th child. 18:42 After the tragic death of his parents 18:44 at a very early age, 18:45 it was this memory that gave Pastor El hope 18:48 to continue in life. 18:51 He hopes to see his parents one day soon 18:54 when Jesus comes again. 18:56 In the year 2000, 18:58 Pastor El entered full time ministry 19:00 as a Christian revival pastor. 19:03 He thought he was sharing the right message. 19:05 But one day he came across a sermon on the Sabbath 19:08 by an AWR speaker on YouTube that troubled him. 19:13 He could not deny the conviction 19:15 that this was plain truth. 19:20 But to stand for the truth meant sacrifice, 19:24 leaving the friends and connections 19:25 you've had all your life isn't easy. 19:29 He was disowned by his own family members 19:31 as they believe he had accepted heretical teaching. 19:37 One prominent pastor told him, 19:39 you may join any other denomination, 19:41 even Catholicism, 19:43 but do not follow Seventh-day Adventist. 19:48 But Pastor El could not find peace 19:51 until he made a stand. 19:53 His heart desire to obey all the commandments. 19:58 When he accepted the Sabbath, at last, 20:01 peace and joy filled his heart. 20:06 His only desire in life 20:07 is to share the Seventh-day Adventist message 20:10 with those around him. 20:16 But in 2012, 20:18 a stroke changed his life forever. 20:24 Pastor El was sick and paralyzed for 13 long days. 20:30 Through all of this, 20:32 his faith grew stronger in Christ. 20:34 He did not fear death as he knew that 20:37 God's still had to work for him to do. 20:39 He remembered his miraculous birth 20:42 and held on to God's promises. 20:45 In the end, God had the victory. 20:49 Pastor El now works 20:50 to bring the truth to native places, 20:52 and is working to build churches 20:54 and Bible study centers 20:56 in his home province where there is none. 21:09 Come with me to the continent of Africa, 21:12 where one of our faithful radio producers 21:14 has sacrificed so much 21:15 to reach his fellow countrymen for Jesus. 21:18 Hi, I'm Cami and this is AWR360°. 21:27 It was late one afternoon 21:29 as I closed the door to my office 21:31 at the AWR Station. 21:33 I would be gone for several days. 21:46 As Assad boarded the bus, nothing seemed unusual. 21:50 It was like any other day. 21:52 Only today he was traveling farther, 21:55 this time returning home for a short visit. 21:59 Despite religious persecution in his country of birth, 22:02 Assad longed for his people to know Jesus 22:05 and this spurred him on. 22:08 All of a sudden, 22:10 Assad's thoughts were interrupted. 22:29 I cringed as they reach for me too. 22:31 And then to my horror yelled, 22:33 this is the man we are looking for. 22:40 They said they knew of my work with the radio 22:42 and wanted my confess. 22:45 Unsatisfied with the answers I gave, 22:47 they threw me into a large empty container. 22:58 Shut out from fresh air and sunshine, 23:01 he sat in darkness. 23:03 His socks, shoes and jacket were taken, 23:06 and Assad suffered from the extreme conditions. 23:10 As the sun beat down in the day, 23:12 the metal container intensified the heat. 23:16 While at night, a sharp chill set in. 23:23 Without food or water, 23:25 Assad soon felt very sick. 23:29 As I sat in the dark isolation of the container, 23:32 my mind went back to my childhood. 23:36 Scenes in my village being raided 23:38 by night flashed before me. 23:47 Those men had been asked to. 23:54 Somehow I escaped and I ran with all my might. 24:00 Alone in the darkness, 24:01 I've wondered for the first time 24:03 what would become of me? 24:09 Assad's mind lingers on the memories. 24:12 There was the orphanage he was taken to, 24:15 and the boys that introduced him 24:16 to Adventist World Radio. 24:20 They huddled together listening, 24:21 knowing that if caught, punishment would ensue. 24:27 Christianity was not allowed here, 24:29 but this only made them long all the more for the truth. 24:36 Then there was that day 24:37 when the orphanage director had called him into her office. 24:41 Assad was old enough now 24:43 and he must leave the orphanage. 24:54 His heart ached as he walked away, 24:56 never to return. 24:58 Again, he wondered, "What will become of me?" 25:03 Now he sat alone in a metal shipping container, 25:07 pondering the same question he had 25:09 as a lonely child and dejected orphan. 25:12 Assad closed his eyes 25:14 and thought about his work with Adventist World Radio. 25:17 Since escaping his home country, 25:20 Assad have been producing Adventist Radio programs 25:23 in his native tongue for his people back home. 25:26 Christianity was forbidden in his country, 25:29 but the radio could carry the message 25:31 that missionaries could not. 25:43 I wondered what would become of my radio program now. 25:47 Who would carry on the work if I didn't return? 25:52 The days and weeks passed, 25:54 Assad was released from the container, 25:57 but the inhumane conditions remained starved, 26:00 beaten and even electrocuted. 26:03 He had endured more than any human should. 26:08 One day without notice, my hands were unbound, 26:13 and I was told, I could return home. 26:16 I could hardly believe it. 26:18 I was free. 26:20 I was praising the Lord as I boarded a bus again. 26:23 This time headed home to my family 26:26 and my work at the radio station. 26:31 Despite the harrowing experience 26:32 Assad has been through, 26:34 he faithfully continues his work with AWR, 26:37 producing messages of hope and truth for his home country. 26:42 Assad trusts the Lord to keep him safe, 26:45 and knows that as long as God wants him 26:47 to be producing these programs, 26:49 nothing can stop him. 26:56 There are many others like Assad, 26:57 who have suffered great persecution 27:00 to share their faith, 27:01 and yet there are many more 27:02 who still need to hear about Jesus. 27:05 Please pray for these precious souls 27:07 and consider helping to further 27:08 the work of Adventist World Radio 27:10 around the world by donating today. 27:13 Together from broadcast to baptism, 27:15 this is AWR360°. |
Revised 2020-04-02