Worldwide Ministry News
REPORTS Winter 2013 • Vol. 15, No. 4
A Long
Jungle Walk
Children in India receive love, care, education, and a pattern for life | 9 Latest News From: Norway, Ukraine, USA, and More...
NEWSFLASH
News From OCI Ministries Around the World
Making a Personal Connection
Shawn and Jean Boonstra, honorary Asian Aid ambassadors, have been sponsoring a girl named Sheela at Asian Aid’s Sunrise Orphanage in India. Recently Jean and her two daughters had the rare opportunity to travel to India with Jim Rennie, director of Asian Aid, to meet the girl they sponsor. They also visited several other Asian Aid schools.
Bringing Down Barriers
As part of their training program, students from Wildwood College of Health Evangelism in Georgia visited the Trenton Senior Center. There they spent quality time with the senior citizens, which proved to be a successful way of bringing down barriers. Besides ministering to their needs by leading out in stretching exercises and giving health talks, the students enjoyed building relationships with the members of the center.
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Haven for Victims of Abuse
The Hope of Survivors (THOS) has relocated to Bedford, Iowa, after acquiring— thanks to a generous donor—what has been known for years as The Bedford Inn. This property will serve as the organization’s world headquarters as well as a place of healing and renewal for victims of clergy sexual abuse. “After years of praying for a place of respite for victims, and having no place for them, this home is an answer to prayer and a tremendous blessing,” says Samantha Nelson, vice president of THOS. “We look forward to putting the programs together for victims who come to renew and heal from the devastating abuse they’ve endured. We feel very blessed that God has answered this prayer in such a remarkable way.”
Growing Collaboration
Recently many new supporting ministries have sprung up rapidly in Ukraine and Russia, creating a need to establish united work between them, as well as to find more ways of collaborating with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. This fall nearly 30 leaders of Russianspeaking supporting ministries gathered together at Our Home Lifestyle Center and School in Ukraine. They were joined by two church leaders: Bill Biaggi, president of the Euro-Asia Division, and Viktor Alekseenko, president of the Ukraine Union. Both the supporting ministries and the church leaders expressed a desire for a
closer working relationship in that region. The rest of the meeting was dedicated to exploring ways of cooperation, including the Mission to the Cities initiative, which has already begun in Kiev, Ukraine.
Singing in Service
Expanding Opportunities
Miracle Meadows School, an OCI member in West Virginia, is an alternative boarding school. The school now accepts a broad range of boys and girls, ages 6-18. As the program continues to expand, they are looking for dedicated missionaries with a variety of skills who are interested in making a difference in the lives of at-risk young people.
Matteson Mission School in Norway is blessed with a new group of students this fall representing nine different countries. Two of the students recently composed a special song to help raise funds for ADRA South Sudan. Not only has it brought in more support, but it also brings a smile to people’s faces when the students go door-to-door. To hear the Matteson student family sing the song, scan this QR code with a smartphone.
Come Together
Family Forums are an integral part of the program at Advent Home Learning Center, a school for boys with learning challenges, located in Tennessee. Several times a year, students, staff, parents, and guests come together for several days of beneficial training seminars, inspiring music, and uplifting spiritual talks. During this year’s Fall Family Forum, participants also enjoyed a fun day together playing games, swimming, and picnicking at a nearby park.
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Touching Lives
Prayer Under the Trees by David Cruz
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1: The new church building shelters this growing group of believers. 2: Virginia and David Cruz (at ends) welcome Gabriel and his new wife. 3: Gabriel loves introducing others to Jesus.
GFor more than a year and a half, he abriel Cabo was a drunkard.
couldn’t keep the bottle away from his lips. Not a day went by without getting drunk, especially when his job paid him in liquor instead of Mexican pesos. His sister urged him to take a job watching over cattle at a ranch in the city of Chihuahua. Optimistic about the future, he accepted the job. However, unable to get alcohol at his new job, he lasted only one week before deciding to return to his hometown. Along the way, he thought he was dying as his body trembled through symptoms of withdrawal. In anguish, he dropped to his knees among the pine trees and asked God to free him from his addiction. Then he remembered a group that held religious meetings under the trees close to his home. He sent for David and Virginia Cruz, the leaders of that group. They visited Gabriel, praying and having worship in his home. Before long he gave up alcohol; the Word of God was penetrating his heart. 4
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As Gabriel grew in his relationship with the Lord, other issues came to the surface. For some time he had been in a relationship with two women simultaneously. To make matters worse, they were sisters.Yet as soon as he understood that he was living in adultery, he ended one of the relationships and married Lupita. Together they gave their lives to the Lord in baptism. Gabriel yearns to share the transforming love of God with other indigenous people in the Sierra Tarahumara. He began by donating a piece of property where Creel Tarahumara Mission is now constructing a church. Although the church is still without pulpit and pews, others like Gabriel are finding what they most long for when they enter that place of worship—Jesus. David Cruz is the director of Creel Tarahumara Mission, an OCI ministry in Mexico. For more information, visit www.outpostcenters.org.
President’s Perspective
The Call to China lay people Caround the world have a passion for communicating
About the Cover: Robert Montague visits students at the Pattern Life school in India.
onsecrated Seventh-day Adventist
the grace of Christ to others. Following His methods is the surest path to success in this endeavor. It is significant that Jesus spent more of His time healing and teaching than He did in preaching. This enabled Him to give a tangible example of heavenly love and compassion, which has its origins in the selfless character of God. A new providential opportunity is opening for OCI and its member ministries to demonstrate this practical compassion in China. In connection with Health Education Resources, an OCI ministry based in Tennessee, and the China Union Mission, plans are under way to equip numerous Chinese men and women to implement hundreds of health expos within select regions of China. These health expos are an effective means for sharing important health principles and educating people about the consequences of poor health habits. They provide a perfect opportunity to connect with the attendees and point them to a healthier, happier, and more fulfilling life. There is eternal value in revealing God’s unceasing interest in humanity through a methodology that Jesus effectively demonstrated. As we endeavor to follow Christ’s example in ministry, we solicit your prayers and support. The OCI staff looks forward with anticipation to see what doors for health education will open in the great nation of China.
REPORTS Winter 2013 • Vol. 15, No. 4
Steven Grabiner Executive Editor Janell Hullquist Editor, Layout & Design Naomi Jackson Content Editor Debbie Hicks Copy Editor Printed By College Press, LLC Bible verses NKJV unless noted.
OCI Reports magazine is published quarterly 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 www.outpostcenters.org.
Steven Grabiner President Editor
janell@outpostcenters.org
Copyright © 2013 Outpost Centers International
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Hitchhiking
Heavenward
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Interview by Naomi Jackson
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As James Hartley hitchhiked through Europe, keeping his eyes open for the next rock concert, he came across the Country Life Restaurant in Basel, Switzerland. Workers there suggested he cultivate his green thumb, which led him to a Seventh-day Adventist organic farm in Tennessee. During that year the truths of the Bible became real to him. After his baptism he soon integrated into ministry life at Wildwood Lifestyle Center and Hospital in Georgia and eventually became the director of LIGHT. What challenges you in your work? The challenge and blessing in selfsupporting work is that you end up being asked to do many tasks that you have little to no experience in. The challenge is to keep working and not get discouraged, remembering that this is God’s work. You may be lacking the human resources you desire. You may be lacking the financial resources you think you need, but sometimes you have to move forward in faith. The biggest challenge, though,
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is living and working in close proximity with fellow church members every day. We are like family at these projects, but it’s not always easy to agree. Self needs to be laid aside. I have always felt that this experience is exactly what God has intended to prepare me for heaven.
How is LIGHT impacting society? Through LIGHT programs, more than 8,000 lay people worldwide have been trained to use the health message as an entering wedge in their communities.
Face to Face Literally tens of thousands of people from all around the world have attended health expos led by our graduates. Hundreds whose first contact with Adventism was through our health programs have been baptized into the church. People are being taught how to live in such a way as to prevent and even reverse diseases. Most importantly they are pointed to the great Physician, who alone can heal the soul.
in Spanish. Through media we want to expand our training in hopes of reviving churches around the world. As the worldwide church moves more toward comprehensive health ministry and city missions, we hope to provide the best training materials and missionary teachers ready to answer the call of duty.
What are some of the most rewarding aspects of your work?
I have no doubts that God has called me to this work. He has given so much to me. I see it as the highest privilege in the universe to be co-laborers with Christ. To see Him open providential doors, answer 4 prayers 1: James and his wife, Dani, enjoy directly, and serving together. 2: Church and change lives. supporting ministry leaders gather to dedicate the LIGHT office. 3: Teaching To see the about health thrills James. 4: Farmwork power of God was influential in James’ conversion. on a daily basis. What could be better motivation? I believe the work we have committed our lives to is prophetic. Soon the whole earth will be lightened with God’s glory. To see this work accomplished and be ready for His return is our great hope!
I love to see students I’ve taught, counseled, and made friends with realize what God wants them to do in life. It’s rewarding to see people catch the vision and arise out of a sleepy, Laodicean state. I also love to see unity in our team as we see God’s providential leading toward a particular project. In addition, it’s such a privilege to be joined together with my wife, Dani, in full-time ministry!
What is LIGHT’s greatest need? There is a lack of laborers in the mission field, and we see it firsthand. We receive calls on a daily basis requesting help to start new projects or for a team to come on location to conduct church training. We just don’t have enough missionary teachers to fill all of these needs.
What are some future goals for LIGHT? In order to make our training more available, we’ve recently launched an online school where we teach the Essentials of Health Evangelism program through video. We are also putting the finishing touches on the same course
What motivates you to press on in ministry?
For more information about LIGHT (Lay Institute for Global Health Training), based in Georgia, visit www.lightingtheworld.org.
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Touching Lives
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Being Jesus’ Feet by Tanea Nedelcu
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legs, but HKolyo greeted me withhisa heartfelt e could barely move
“God bless you!” We were just strangers at a village bus station in Bulgaria, but we began talking about his health. I discovered that damaged veins caused his pain, and I invited him to a place where he could hopefully find relief for his aching limbs: the Center for Health and Prevention. Kolyo took me up on the offer, and for 10 days he received an herbal foot-bath treatment. As the treatments progressed, he told the lifestyle center’s staff about growing up as a Muslim in Turkey. His life took a drastic turn when he crossed paths with Pentecostal missionaries and fell in love with Jesus. He dedicated his life to sharing 1: LIGHT students train to be medical missionaries. 2: Bible study is a key element at the Center for Health and Prevention. 3: Kolyo was blessed physically and spiritually by this experience.
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the gospel among Turkish people in different countries, including Bulgaria. During a treatment, one of the therapists explained to Kolyo about the work of the lifestyle center, awakening a greater interest in his heart. When he discovered that a one-month LIGHT* medical missionary training course was scheduled to begin in a week, he was determined to participate. Although unusual for a Pentecostal missionary to be accepted into the course, after much prayer, the team allowed Kolyo to join. Daily he praised the Lord for the opportunity. Throughout that month, Kolyo was blessed not only spiritually, but also physically. In the mornings he could be seen running on his formerly painstricken legs, a bright smile on his face. This experience also gave him a new way to minister to the Turks in Bulgaria. Now back in his village, he actively continues to be the feet of Jesus, preaching what he has learned through his words and his actions. *Lay Institute for Global Health Training
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Tanea Nedelcu is a teacher at the Center for Health and Prevention in Bulgaria. For more about this ministry, visit www.outpostcenters.org.
Touching Lives
A Long Jungle Walk by Robert Montague
Tplenty to think about on her long en-year-old Lungathailu had
walk through the Indian jungle. At the urging of her uncle, a Global Mission worker, she left her home for the full day’s journey to Pattern Life. At this Seventh-day Adventist group home for displaced children, Lungathailu, a Roman Catholic, was promised education, food, shelter, and clothing. The directors, Pastor Adai Gonmei and his wife Ahaim, welcomed her with open arms. Over the next two years at Pattern Life, Lungaithailu came to know Christ and set her heart on baptism. When Pastor Gonmei held baptismal classes for older students, Lungaithailu was determined to join them, even though the pastor said she was too young. He and his wife believed she should wait until she was older and had a better grasp of
Top: Lungathailu
(front) has found joy at what she had learned. Pattern Life. But Lungaithailu Inset: She has also found a relationship was not interested with Jesus. in waiting. She not only understood the doctrines, but she agreed with them as well. Seeing her perseverance, Pastor Gonmei could no longer refuse her the chance to prepare for baptism. Just a few weeks ago her persistence paid off, and she was baptized. Lungaithailu’s parents have noticed the changes in her life and have expressed interested in learning more about her new beliefs. They have also sent her younger sister, Poudounlu, to join her at Pattern Life, where hopefully she, too, will decide to pattern her own life after Christ’s.
Robert Montague is the director of Pattern Life, based in Tennessee. For more about this new OCI ministry, visit www.outpostcenters.org.
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Total
Healing 2
by Moacir Sarroche
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Instituto Nacional de Valorizaçao Humana e Ambienial (INOVHA) is equipping church members as medical missionaries in Brazil.
FMoacir Sarroche had a question he resh out of military service,
could not get out of his mind: why did Jesus have to die in his place? Raised a Catholic who had served as a priest’s helper throughout his adolescent years, he accepted it as fact yet was unable to wrap his mind around Christ’s sacrifice. Frightening encounters with spiritualism as a child further muddied the waters. Then a friend invited Moacir to a Seventh-day Adventist Bible study. He left the study feeling like he was walking among the clouds and began regularly attending the Adventist church. Even before baptism Moacir found great joy in studying the Bible with others, making house visits, and doing mission work. He was particularly
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impressed with Christ’s methods, as described by Ellen White: “The Savior mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, ‘Follow Me’” (The Ministry of Healing, p. 143). Church members invited Moacir to participate in their activities, but much to his dismay, he sensed they were indifferent toward using Christ’s methods to draw people into the kingdom of heaven. How could Moacir help the people both in and out of the church to know more about Christ through His methods? God called him to attend Brazil Adventist University, where he entered the theology program. Three months
Mission Snapshot into the course, a group of teachers and scientists from Loma Linda University arrived to present a seminar on diet and health. From that point on, Moacir understood his role in the cause of God: to be a medical missionary. To that end, he earned his Masters in Public Health (MPH) degree at Loma Linda. Upon returning to Brazil in 2000 with a greater knowledge in how to minister through health work, Moacir worked with 100 students from Brazil Adventist University to offer a free health expo in a poor region of São Paulo. The attendees filled out a questionnaire where they were asked about their health, lifestyle, and their interest in receiving home visits and Bible studies. Approximately 50 percent of the attendees requested visitation and Bible studies. This provided the motivation to establish the Total Health Project that same year, which eventually led to founding INOVHA in 2006. Moacir says that as he analyzed the reports from the mission team, “I quickly perceived that God was giving us a golden opportunity to develop an academic project for a practicum, which is necessary to complete the
MPH degree, and become a supporting ministry for the present truth.” As the INOVHA team uses health promotions to go door-to-door, they are developing relationships they hope will bear fruit for eternity. Through their efforts, 300 volunteer health promoters have connected with 30 Adventists churches; they have hosted nearly 30 health expos and attended to approximately 80,000 people free of charge. INOVHA desires to show God’s love and witness the character of Christ developing in their fellow Brazilians. Their unselfish service is turning the 5 tables on the 1: Newly trained church members head indifference into the local community. 2: The team Moacir sensed makes one-on-one contacts. 3: A volunteer takes information during when he first a health expo. 4: Taking blood pressure is just one station at a health expo. joined the 5: People of all ages learn about health. Adventist church. INOVHA is successfully filling churches with active medical missionaries who are equipped to bring healing, education, and support to one of the most challenging and diverse territories in Latin America. Moacir Sarroche is the coordinator for educational projects at INOVHA. To learn more about this new OCI member, visit www.outpostcenters.org.
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Treasures in Heaven by Naomi Jackson 2
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 that this world Wis nearing its end. Natural disasters, increasing e are frequently reminded
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poverty, civil unrest—knowledge increases, but so does desperation. In that context we ask ourselves how Matthew 24:14 will ever be fulfilled: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Since 1983 God has made it clear that OCI exists to have a part in the fulfillment of this prophecy. It makes sense, then, that the Lord is calling OCI to expansion and growth. Even with approximately 90 OCI ministries working in more than 35 countries, there is still much territory left unreached. Over the next five years, OCI would like to welcome at least 40 new ministries under its umbrella. Top: People everywhere need the gospel. 1: Instituto Quebrada Leon reaches people in Bolivia through health expos. 2: Partnering ministries provided these Zambian children with a school building. 3: During a mission trip, a student from DayStar Adventist Academy in Utah builds a widow’s house. 4: Madison Mission School students in Norway invite someone to an evangelistic meeting. 5: Sharing God’s Word is the top priority at VIDA Internacional in Honduras.
Feature This entails not only attracting existing ministries but also being directly involved in the establishment of new mission projects. In addition, OCI takes seriously its responsibility of nurturing, providing counsel, and creating network opportunities to its member ministries. Yet with limited staff, expansion seems unlikely at first glance. Nevertheless, as God increases the membership, OCI has committed to send full-time field vice presidents to foster growth and encourage ministries in their efforts to bring Jesus to the world. To this end, OCI has divided the globe into 12 regions, each to receive a field vice president. At the same time OCI is working toward becoming financially self-sustainable. These are goals OCI cannot accomplish alone. We are grateful to know that nothing is impossible with God; He has ways of accomplishing His work. The apostle Paul writes, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). Although God could bring this work to an end in a split second with the help of His angels, He deliberately chose humanity to collaborate in this great controversy. “Humanity lays hold upon divine power, Christ dwells in the heart by faith; and through cooperation with the divine, the power of man becomes efficient for good” (The Desire of Ages, p. 296). We invite you to partner with us as we partner with Christ. Not only
Partner With Us Here are several creative ways to raise funds and partner with OCI: 1. Adopt OCI as a family mission project: Save your loose change in a jar, and watch OCI Reports mission videos online to see the impact of contributors like you. 2. Help your children create their own industries: Rake leaves, shovel snow, and sell hot drinks during the cooler months. When the sun comes out, offer lawn services, sell smoothies and lemonade, or wash cars. 3. Invite honorary gifts: To celebrate a birthday or anniversary, suggest friends give to OCI in place of gifts. 4. Host a benefit concert: Gather musical talent from area churches for a joint effort. 5. Christmas letter campaign: Spruce up that yearly letter and encourage friends and family to give a Christmas gift to OCI.
will your gift help us fulfill the Great Commission on Earth, but you will store up treasures in heaven as well. Together—God, OCI, and you—we can make an eternal difference. For more information about how you can get involved, visit www.outpostcenters.org.
We look forward to hearing how God blesses your efforts in supporting the work of OCI! Send us your stories at info@outpostcenters.org. OC I
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Food for Thought
Rest Assured by Frank Fournier
a certainty Dthat you are aforChristian? What o you know
assurance do you have? More importantly, on what, if you think you have it, do you base that assurance? A Valuegenesis survey conducted among Seventh-day Adventist youth in the late 1980s and early 1990s discovered that the vast majority of our young people felt they had no assurance of salvation. Puzzled, the pollsters queried the youth again to find out why they felt as they did. The typical response was, “Our behavior does not measure up to God’s requirements.” Really? Where did they get the idea that assurance was based on behavior? Could it be that we have impressed it on them in our Adventist homes, schools, and churches? Permit me to demonstrate how unreasonable such thinking is. The prophet Isaiah writes, “But we are all like an unclean thing” (Isaiah 64:6). If that is true, then what is the point of looking to the unclean for assurance? The verse goes on to say that “all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags.” Again, if our best behaviors are filthy, there isn’t much sense looking there
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for assurance, is there? No! All we can possibly find there is discouragement with our Christian experience. God’s servant made it very clear that even true Christians dare not look for meritorious value in their own good works. Ellen White writes, “The religious services, the prayers, the praise, the penitent confession of sin ascend from true believers as incense to the heavenly sanctuary; but passing through the corrupt channels of humanity, they are so defiled that unless purified by blood, they can never be of value with God” (SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 6, p. 1078). We cannot possibly find assurance looking to defiled behavior. The blood of Christ’s atoning sacrifice alone will suffice! “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11). It is here that behavior simply becomes the product of the proper foundation, and in that—in Him—I rest assured.
Frank Fournier is president of Eden Valley Institute in Colorado. For more information about this OCI member, visit www.eden-valley.org.
Get Involved
If you have a desire to serve God, prayerfully consider one of the following ways to get involved.
Service
Opportunities
Service Openings
Open Doors in China
Cross to Crown International, Nicaragua
With its population of nearly 1.4 billion, China needs the health message. The first step is to activate 100 churches across the country. Just $600 will train and equip a church in China to hold health expos. Through these expos, each church can then reach thousands of people.
Bible Workers/Radio Personnel
Eden Valley Institute, Colorado Medical Doctor
Laurelbrook School & Sanitarium, Tennessee English Teacher Head Girls’ Dean
Living Springs Overseas Missions, India Accountant
Will you help OCI and our partners spread the health message in China?
Donate today!
Miracle Meadows School, West Virginia Chaplain Teachers/Tutors
Mision Yasha, Mexico Medical Missionary
Springs of Life Foundation, Poland English Teacher
VIDA Internacional, Honduras Construction Worker Graphic Designer/Videographer
Wildwood Lifestyle Center & Hospital, Georgia Clinic Nurse Clinical Psychologist Receptionist
View the complete list at www.outpostcenters.org. Find OCI on
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Outpost Centers International 5132 Layton Lane Apison, TN 37302
Philippians 3:13
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This one thing I do...
OCI Leadership Retreat
March 10-15, 2014
at Uchee Pines Institute
You are invited to the OCI Leadership Retreat at Uchee Pines Institute in Alabama! Register today for inspirational meetings, beneficial seminars, mission reports from around the world, and fellowship with other mission-minded people.Â
www.outpostcenters.org/retreats