Worldwide Ministry News
REPORTS Spring 2016 • Vol. 17, No. 2
Lasting
Connections An old ministry finds new life and seeks stronger connections | 10
Latest News From: Brazil, Japan, Tanzania, and More...
NEWSFLASH
News From OCI Ministries Around the World
Hope for Orphans
The team at Eden Valley Foster Care Mission in Tanzania has been praying for better ways to reach orphans in the community. Their prayer was recently answered when a lady brought an orphan girl to the ministry’s school. The woman, who travels from village to village checking on orphans and searching for suitable housing, invited the Eden Valley staff to join her in making visitations.
Thailand’s Tall Missionary
On the Farm
Thanks to a job listing on OCI’s website, a Swedish family and a Colombian ministry have united. Through the joint efforts of the De Bruyn family and Fundacion La Alborada, many neighbors and church members have benefited from receiving fresh produce.
Land of the Rising Son
The Huai Fai Village in Thailand, a program sponsored by Mission Projects Inc., welcomed a new missionary who can’t help but stand out in the crowd. Monique (right) is about a foot taller than most Thai, which gives her extra opportunity to play with children who enjoy climbing on her. Monique joins another missionary to teach English, provide health care, and work with villagers on their farms.
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For almost 15 years, the health message has been spreading across Japan through the teamwork of Nippon Kensei Kyokai (NKK) and Uchee Pines Institute. Together these ministries provide hydrotherapy training to nursing students from Japanese Mission College and spread the good news nationwide through programming on Hope TV Japan.
Ever Learning
Eden Valley Institute in Colorado recently began facilitating three-month apprenticeship programs focusing on medical missions and agriculture. Deivon de Andrade shares: “I couldn’t believe that I could enroll in such a low-cost program and learn the basics regarding herbal and other simple treatments. I plan to use what I have learned when I return as a missionary to the Cape Verde Islands.”
Expanding Horizons
Twice Saved
In 2001, a physician from a group of Brazilian doctors working with Amazon Lifesavers Ministry examined baby Gisele in Saracá, along the Negro River. She was diagnosed with a structural heart defect and received corrective surgery to spare her life a few months later. Fourteen years passed, and the doctors returned to Saracá to witness Gisele (middle) being saved again—this time by demonstrating her commitment to Jesus through baptism.
Helping Hands
After years of diligently establishing schools and orphanages in India, Pattern Education has expanded its work to include Bunyakiri in the Democratic Republic of Congo. There the dedicated team will provide care, educational instruction, and God’s love for hundreds of displaced children.
Students and staff from DayStar Adventist Academy kicked off the month of February by assisting with a health clinic hosted by AMEN (Adventist Medical Evangelism Network) and the Nevada-Utah Conference. A local Adventist church opened their facilities for the DayStar team’s lodging and meal preparation, while Gold’s Gym allowed them to shower for free. Area pastors are following up with numerous Bible study contacts acquired during the event.
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Touching Lives
1
Tuning In to Christ by Evy Gondomulio
on a AChristian radio station caught
2 1: This radio show led Evy to Christ. 2: She committed her life to service and has since won over at least five friends.
health talk broadcast
Evy Gondomulio’s attention late in 2011. She enjoyed the presentations so much that she began listening faithfully to the biweekly programs produced by an OCI member ministry based in Indonesia—Chinese Ministry Center (CMC) Jakarta. Following each broadcast, CMC Jakarta invited the listeners to attend a weekly health seminar and devotional talk. The radio hosts also announced plans for a health camp that would take place in March 2012. Though that piqued her interest, Evy preferred to commit only to attending the health seminars. The first health seminar was sufficient to turn Evy into a regular attendee. Not only did she find the health lectures to be informative, but also the devotionals were aweinspiring. She appreciated the holistic approach to lifestyle, so she did not hesitate when invited to sign up for the health camp. During the health camp, Evy was shocked to discover that CMC Jakarta
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was affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. She had thought Adventism was a cult that denied Jesus Christ was the Messiah, and she felt guilty for not taking the time to find out the truth before. Admitting her mistake, she prayerfully asked God for forgiveness. Evy became more and more drawn to the health message as well as the Bible truths CMC Jakarta taught. Approximately 18 months after listening to that first health broadcast, Evy committed her life fully to Christ through baptism. The prophecies she has learned have taught her to urgently share the good news with her family and friends. By God’s grace, five of Evy’s friends have accepted the Advent message and have also joined the church. She hopes that the results of tuning in to the radio that day in 2011 will be life-changing for many people. Evy Gondomulio gives health lectures and teaches Sabbath School at her local church. To learn more about CMC Jakarta, the ministry that impacted Evy’s life, visit outpostcenters.org.
President’s Perspective
Finishing the Race the Pimportance of being faithfulso tomuchthe about end because so
About the Cover: A guest pauses to reflect at the Heartgood Foundation in Norway.
erhaps the Bible speaks
few people are. Only a handful of the individuals profiled in Scripture did not mar their lifework significantly. The vast majority of notable men and women leave behind a record of a major stumble as they approach the finish line. As the painter Pablo Picasso commented, “To finish a work? What nonsense!” Paintings are always in progress. So, too, are our lives. Only when Paul was about to lay down his life did he write, “I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7, NIV). Before that he claimed that he was still pressing forward to the “goal for the prize” (Philippians 3:14).Yet just after describing his confidence in finishing the race of life, he mentions someone who stumbled in the marathon, stating, “Demas...has deserted me” (2 Timothy 4:10, NIV). Earlier Demas was called a “fellow worker” along with Luke, Mark, and others (Philemon 24). What led to his decision to abandon Paul is not clear, other than that he loved the present world. Whether Demas ever recovered his faith and position is also unknown. It is essential for Christians today to recognize the importance of finishing our races well, so that the promising futures that lie before us are not derailed. Wherever we are in our Christian experience, it is vital to keep growing, keep learning, and keep our eyes on the ultimate goal.Yogi Berra was right when he quipped, “It ain’t over, till it’s over.”
REPORTS Spring 2016 • Vol. 17, No. 2
Steven Grabiner Executive Editor Naomi Jackson Editor Janell Hullquist Layout & Design Debra J. Hicks Copy Editor Printed By College Press, LLC Bible verses NKJV unless noted.
OCI Reports magazine is published by Outpost Centers International. Send address changes to ocireports@outpostcenters.org, and please include both the old and new addresses. You may also use the OCI contact information below. Outpost Centers International is a nonprofit organization working in cooperation with the Seventhday Adventist Church to network and nurture supporting ministries worldwide. OCI operates through the generosity of people like you and issues tax-deductible receipts to U.S. donors. Please direct correspondence to: Outpost Centers International 5132 Layton Lane Apison, TN 37302 Tel: 423-236-5600 Fax: 423-236-5650 Email: info@outpostcenters.org For further information, please visit us on the web at outpostcenters.org.
Editor
Steven Grabiner President
naomij@outpostcenters.org
Copyright © 2016 Outpost Centers International
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Called
Photo by Sacha Fernandez
to be
Salt
Interview by Naomi Jackson 1
Tim Maddocks served as an ADRA Cambodia project manager in Siem Reap for more than three years. He spent his days helping farmers in 82 villages improve their rice crops in addition to planting churches and supporting Seventh-day Adventist refugees who returned from Thailand. Then God presented Tim with a new project—SALT Ministries.
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What motivated you to start your ministry?
How has SALT Ministries made a difference in the community?
In 1995, during my morning devotions, God clearly outlined the mission He had for our family: 1) set up a lay training facility in Siem Reap for Khmer people recently converted to Adventism, 2) establish a church at that training center, 3) live like the Cambodians in the farming communities, 4) invest our $20,000 life savings into the project, and 5) ask no one for money and refrain from advertising our needs. God even showed me which property to buy for the training school and how much land to purchase.
We provide medical missionary training, and we care for orphans, the sick, and the demon-possessed. We run a K-12 bilingual school and a multimedia center, where we produce evangelistic materials in the Khmer language. We have trained more than 80 people to plant churches and share the gospel, and God has blessed with the establishment of six worship groups. We see orphaned, abandoned, and destitute children receiving love and a quality education, and making choices to give their lives in service for God.
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Face to Face Currently, of the 117 children living in the orphanage, 27 are HIV+. However, when the love of God is present, positive change is always the product.
What unique tools do you use to minister in the community? Our ministry has a team of six young medical evangelists who reach out to our local communities and beyond. Also, through our school God touches the hearts of many of the students who come from Buddhist homes, and our 11th and 12th graders conduct a three-week evangelistic program each year. In addition, our media center produces videos, as well as flip charts with contextualized artwork, and we will soon release a full-color Khmer cuisine cookbook with an accompanying DVD including cooking demonstrations.
What dreams will soon become reality? God has impressed us to build a butterfly garden on our main campus. This will generate income from tourists as well as give our young people an opportunity to gain professional work experience in a Christian environment. This center of influence will draw upon the incredible design of the butterfly to bring to the awareness of thousands of 3 visitors who will pass through the gate each year that God is the Master Designer. This year we also aim to build our second satellite school and to work together with the Cambodia Adventist Mission to develop a campsite that our ministry donated to the Mission. In addition we are planning a health retreat to reach out to the wealthy Khmer people suffering from lifestyle diseases.
What is your greatest need?
2 1 & 2: Tim and Wendy Maddocks serve faithfully with the entire family. 3: Tim enjoys tilling the field, both literally and metaphorically.
What do you enjoy about your work? I love to see the potential in someone or something and then work together with God to make that dream become a reality. I think the greatest challenge, though, is seeing so much potential but being limited by time, personnel, and money.
As our name indicates, we truly want to be salt in this world. If I can overcome the distractions of work, remain continually in God’s presence, and be one with Him, then my greatest need will be met, and our ministry will reach new heights for God’s kingdom. To learn more about SALT Ministries in Cambodia, visit www.outpostcenters.org.
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Touching Lives
Change of Heart by Monica Muy
RGod would change his life whenhow amiro Ruiz did not anticipate
and not just a member of the church. It was then that he surrendered his he and his wife, Anabella, attended plans to God and asked His direction. meetings at their local Seventh-day Immediately God began ordering his Adventist Church. Raised a Catholic life so that he could be debt-free by with a history of alcohol, smoking, and providing him with many financial gifts. partying, God had already brought him Ramiro longed to work 100 percent a long way. Ten years earlier he joined for God. In his profession as an the Adventist church and orthodontist, he searched for was serving as an elder. But ways to become involved in something was missing—a medical missionary work. true heart conversion. He began participating in Changing Lives health brigades and assisting Foundation, an OCI the Changing Lives staff with member ministry in cooking classes alongside Guatemala, facilitated Anabella. But Changing Lives the meetings at Ramiro’s needed more than help with church. When he heard Top: Filming a cooking class. cooking demonstrations; the 1: Ramiro and Anabella Ruiz the theme—“Throne small team had specifically now work to change lives. Room Under Siege”— been praying for a male leader. Ramiro thought, “I want to hear God As of June 2015, Ramiro became the clearly.” As the sessions progressed, he president of Changing Lives. Now the understood that hearing God’s voice orthodontist trains church members to required making some lifestyle changes. film prophecy and health programs. God “I stopped eating meat and consuming changed his heart through some lifestyle stimulating drinks with caffeine,” presentations. Certainly He would equip Ramiro explains. “I began to be more him to do the same for someone else. temperate with my food.” Monica Muy is the vice president Over time and with much prayer, of Changing Lives Foundation Ramiro became convicted that God was in Guatemala. Find out more at outpostcenters.org. calling him to be a disciple of Christ
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Touching Lives
An Ailing and a Baby Nurse by Vanessa Cumberbatch
Aheard patients complain of aches s a nurse, Bobbi Robbins often
and pains. They received an ongoing treatment plan but never truly experienced healing. Sadly, this was her story, too. For more than eight years, Bobbi suffered from hypertension, heart arrhythmias, insomnia, and more. Each symptom required a different medication, which suppressed most of her ailments, but in no way did she feel well. Bobbi tried her best to change her lifestyle, but her lack of knowledge and many food addictions sabotaged her efforts to regain health. In despair she prayed, “God,You are coming to claim a people who overcome and have victory. I can’t even overcome a Dr. Pepper®. How will I ever stand for You as Your second coming approaches?” Bobbi knew she could not save herself and was in need of a miracle. A few days later, her miracle began taking shape when her son called. He explained that he was gravely concerned about both his of parents’ health. He knew of a wellness program at Living Springs Retreat, an OCI member ministry in Alabama, and he encouraged them to go. Thanks to her son’s advice, Bobbi is now 35 pounds lighter, full of energy, and off all of her medications. Bobbi
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Before
After
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3 1 & 2: Bobbi and her husband feel rejuvinated. 3: Guests at Living Springs Retreat find new joy in life.
reflects on her stay at Living Springs with fondness. She cheerfully exclaims, “The staff was more attentive and personable than the stewards on a luxury cruise liner, and the delicious meals were a feast that caused no guilt after devouring them.” Right after her lifestyle session, Bobbi quit her job and decided to dedicate her life to sharing the health message. She occasionally volunteers at Living Springs to motivate lifestyle guests with her encouraging story. No longer held captive by her health choices, Bobbi is learning and growing in Christ like never before. Now she understands that cooperation with God’s original design is the first step to health and happiness. Vanessa Cumberbatch is the lifestyle director and administrator at Living Springs Retreat. Find out more about this ministry at outpostcenters.org.
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Lasting Connections by Fredrik Lillbäck
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Using health evangelism, the Heartgood Foundation shares Christ in secular Scandinavia. A Starting Block Fredrik Lillbäck felt like he had to hit the ground running after one of the Heartgood Foundation’s longtime leaders, Erik Sømme, passed away suddenly. Three months later, life still had not slowed down for Heartgood’s new president as he left his office one Friday afternoon. He was eagerly looking forward to the Sabbath and the blessings it would bring. Entering the lifestyle center’s living room, Fredrik stopped at the sofa where three guests sat chatting. He joined their conversation about health and, after some sharp turns in the discussion, the guests asked him to share the Seventh-day Adventist view
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2 Below: Winter at Fredheim is beautiful. 1: Guests enjoy a nutritious meal together. 2: Exercise gives new energy to the participants.
of the great controversy. After the two non-Adventist ladies left, the Adventist guest asked Fredrik to stay behind. She told him that she had engaged in a similar conversation with his predecessor, Erik, 15 years prior. It had been the starting block on her path to becoming an Adventist. This is exactly what the Heartgood Foundation, the longest-running OCI ministry in Europe, is all about. In Norway since 1978, it has shared
Mission Snapshot Christ through its various enterprises, with Fredheim Lifestyle Center being central to the goal of furthering health work in Scandinavia.
Connecting with Guests Fredrik, a physical therapist, firmly believes that caring for people in lifestyle centers is the most effective way to win people’s confidence. This, in turn, opens up the doors of their hearts to the gospel. He came to this realization after participating in his second health program. A Buddhist man and his wife, who belonged to the state church, also attended the health program. Following the meeting, they shared: “We have never met such friendly people. Where is the Adventist church nearest to where we live?” Fredrik wondered how people could become this receptive in secular Scandinavia, after only a few days. However, what other outreach activity gives a soulwinner 7-12 days (or more) to minister to people’s needs and let God soften their hearts? Each lifestyle session provides a remarkable opportunity, which led Fredrik to recognize Fredheim’s great need: connections with the local churches.
Connecting with Churches To meet this need, the staff at Fredheim is planning a campaign referred to as Be the Link. The objective is to join the ministry’s right arm of health with the local churches’ left arm of the gospel. It has even become the central point in Fredheim’s rebranding process, with its new logo depicting two hands joined together in brotherly love. As described in the book D’Sozo, the aim is “reversing the worst evil,” which is the separation of health and the gospel. Fredheim hopes to play a critical role in each church’s evangelism cycle. Now when churches run health activities, such as health expos, their contacts can be referred to Fredheim as the ideal next step. The cycle would continue when guests, following their stay at Fredheim, can return to a church facilitating a lifestyle club. This paradigm shift can give all of the churches in Scandinavia access to an established, successful health program. More importantly, Fredheim can be an integral part of each guest connecting with Christ. Fredrik Lillbäck runs the Heartgood Foundation in Norway. To learn more, visit fredheim.org.
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1
What
Heavenly Music
2
Compiled by Naomi Jackson
Some people just make music, but OCI member ministries strive to “make a joyful noise unto the Lord” (Psalm 100:1, KJV).
J“Where there is devotional music, ohan Sebastian Bach once said,
God is always at hand with His gracious presence.” Two OCI member ministries have found this to be true and have incorporated music into their education programs to serve others.
Breaking Barriers Music breaks down barriers. At least that is what Betsy Mayer, music director at Hartland Institute of Health and Education, based in Virginia, has experienced with the Three Angels’ Chorale, Hartland’s touring choir. They have sung in prisons, churches of various denominations, homeless shelters, and were even invited by Buddhists to give a concert promoting vegetarianism in Japan. Reflecting on the years of music ministry, Betsy 12
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recalls, “We have never once had to lower our standards to reach these unique and varied groups.” However, at times they have set aside the usual safety preferences. For example, the Three Angels’ Chorale performed in some of California’s most formidable juvenile correctional facilities. “During our
3 1: Hartland’s choir performs special music at a youth conference. 2: A Vida Sana Salem student shares a song. 3: Betsy leads the Hartland music program. 4: Salem teaches many instruments to budding musicians.
Feature concerts, security forces had their automatic weapons trained on our audience,” Betsy says. “In one facility we all had personal emergency call devices strapped to our bodies. Nonetheless, the Holy Spirit gave our choir members special power to present the gospel to these young people, who sat spellbound. The guards would say, ‘We cannot explain how you have been able to subdue these young men.’” Betsy has also seen music soften the hearts of her students. “They begin to love music that they would have never appreciated before, because it mirrors the deeper experience they are having with the Lord,” she shares. This has influenced her approach to teaching. “You can curse the darkness, or you can shed a light. I have found as an educator that it is far more effective to shed a light.”
Helping the Hurting Ever since his youth, Juvenal Moreno had a passion for music, health, and sports, but his parents also taught him to do outreach. After college he worked as a music teacher in nonAdventist institutions, yet Juvenal realized that God had bigger plans. “I understood that the Lord had not formed me as a musician to strengthen the music of the world, but to honor His name,” he says. He determined to surrender his talents to the Lord. The result would eventually become Vida Sana Salem—a Colombian mission school and wellness center combining music with health evangelism. Ninety-eight percent of the student body arrives at Salem without any musical experience. However, what they learn and put into practice during
outreach makes an eternal difference. “Often during our missionary visits we find people who are apathetic to religious things and emphatically reject our visit,” Juvenal explains. “But before leaving these people, we sing a hymn accompanied by musical instruments, and they are touched.” In addition to going doorto-door, the students and staff enjoy singing in the streets, parks, and shopping centers. Passersby take a 4 break to enjoy the music, receive a flyer, and pause for prayer. Some even request Bible studies. On one occasion, Juvenal approached a ragged, drunk young man listening to the music with tears streaming down his face. The young man told of his deep pain and embarrassment. When Juvenal inquired, he replied, “I am a Seventh-day Adventist, too, but I do not know in what moment I fell into drugs, and now I am living on the streets.” Before concluding their conversation, the young man promised he would return to Jesus. Music is not only a means for drawing people closer to God while on Earth. Each day is a new rehearsal for the heavenly choirs when we will sing, “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty!” (Revelation 15:3b). For more information about these OCI ministries, visit www.outpostcenters.org.
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Food for Thought
by Sheree Moodie
I “ Yasked my husband, half-laughing ou are kidding me, right?”
Sweet Surrender
wrestling with letting God be God. I told myself that He was the boss, and and questioning in disbelief. When whatever He wanted was fine. But my he showed me the camper that had heart would not let go of my desire been donated for us to live in, he for a house like the one I had sold in said, “It is ours, if we want it.” Australia. I continued to look back The rats were clearly interested. while God tried to get me to stop and They had been living in to let Him be God. the camper for 10 years God must be the “Sheree, you can never be already, and the smell a good servant when you Master; I must be was overwhelming. I struggle for the mastery of cried, “Lord, surely You the servant. He is your life,” the Lord once the Potter, and I said to me. If God is God, did not ask me to sell my house and live in He must be the Master not am the clay. this, did You?” Silence. only of my life but also of As a child I grew up listening to my the ministry I run and all I have and father tell stories of his adventures in do. This is difficult for a controlling India, and I decided I wanted to be a person, but it is a necessity if I am to missionary to India, too. But instead of find peace and a solid relationship with India, God sent me to Zambia. the King of Kings. God must be the I can remember many a day when Master; I must be the servant. He is the God taught me a lesson in selfPotter, and I am the clay (Isaiah 64:8). surrender. On one particular occasion, I His will is supreme, and His ways are was struggling with the camper and the always the best. lack of space. God whispered, “What if Sheree Moodie and her husband, this is all you will ever have to live in? Robert, run Kidz 4 Him in Zambia. Visit Will You still serve Me?” I found myself kidz4him.com to learn more.
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Get Involved If you have a desire to serve God, prayerfully consider one of the following ways to get involved.
The Joy
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Have a Plan
Cedarvale Health & Lifestyle Retreat, Australia
Planned gifts can benefit you, your family, and OCI member ministries around the world today and into the future. Your commitment to the Lord’s work can reach the unreached even after you are gone. Your gifts will help ensure that the ministries you have invested in during your lifetime will continue to bear fruit!
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Country Life Institute, Austria School Leader
Cross to Crown International, Nicaragua Bible Workers Maintenance Person
Desert Tree Ministry, Chad Accountant Agriculture Specialist Publishing Manager
Liceo Maranata, Colombia Musical Missionary
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Our Home Lifestyle Center & School, Ukraine ESL Teacher
School by the Sea, Poland
The simplest way to designate a planned gift is through your will. A will is your final opportunity to safeguard your wishes and leave a legacy toward what you value most. Consult your attorney or financial planner to assist with these arrangements. Thank you for keeping OCI and worldwide missions in your thoughts and prayers as you make these important decisions.
Your Support Makes a Difference Thanks to your contributions, we raised more than $72,000 toward our annual fund in 2015! We appreciate you supporting the worldwide ministry of OCI. With OCI’s network continually growing, our goal for 2016 has increased to $95,000. We invite you to join us in supporting the great commission of countless missionaries serving in more than 100 member ministries. outpostcenters.org/donate
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