Dec. 20, 2011

Reflections from Seventh-day Adventist division presidents

(Ted Wilson)- Not long ago a number of leaders of the seventh the Adventist Church worldwide took a trip, a trip that helped not only to review history and activities of the church in the past, but also a trip that helped to bind us together as a team, to bind us in the love of Jesus for a mission that God has entrusted into our hands. I wanna ask some questions of some of the leaders here who are gathered with us and three of them right here next to me are going to help share some of the reactions that they had in relation to this bonding tour. We have with us Alberto Gulfan from the Southern Asia Pacific region, Israel Leito who is from the Inter-American region, and Bertil Wiklander from the Trans European region. Pastor Wiklander what kind of reaction did you have when you saw some of these humble places that we visited?
(Bertil Wiklander)-To me it was a wonderful experience and I felt gratitude to God for what he has done because when I saw the humble beginnings and then see what our church is today, I just praised God for what he has done. I was also very impressed with the people's faith—it is really their faith and their commitment to what they found in Scripture that was the beginning of this movement and that is what I think the spirit we also need to bring into our lives and share with our people as leaders.
(Ted Wilson)- That spirit of commitment, and surrender and total involvement. Was there anything in particular that impressed you about some of those places we visited, some of the activities we were involved with…Alberto?
(Alberto Gulfan)- The Lord works in such a way that even though you begin with very simple things it can grow from there, and this really impressed me very much. The pioneers were very simple people and yet very committed.
(Ted Wilson)- I mean, it is something to read it out of a book, and to study it from afar but when you see the very spot where people sacrificed so, so wholeheartedly it does something to you.
(Ted Wilson)-Pastor Leito what was your reaction?
(Israel Leito)- It was all theory for me until I went on this tour. Now whenever I’m speaking of the Adventist faith, I know what it is, I know where they come from, I know what they had to go through and to be faithful to that commitment as they had it, waiting for the glorious coming of our Lord , Jesus Christ.
( Ted Wilson)- And that ultimate hope that we have the blessed and hope, we call it. The second coming of Jesus Christ which burned so heavily in their hearts,
(Israel Leito)-definitely
( Ted Wilson)-has to be transmitted to every generation and every, every, person every young person and older person and personally I hope that there aren’t many more generations…
(Israel Leito)-yes, definitely
(Ted Wilson)- By God's grace the Lord will be here soon.
(Israel Leito)- I can certainly say blessed be the name of the Lord and we praise him for the faithfulness and the stepfordness of the pioneers that left us the path in which to follow. If the Lord chooses to take us through the same route, then after us people can look and say “Blessed be the name of the Lord, He has blessed this church and we have taken that commitment from the pioneers and we gave it to another generation.”
(Ted Wilson)- Is there one particular instance on this brief three and a half, four-day tour that we took, that stands out in your mind as being one of the most impressionable events and meaningful events for you?
(Bertil Weklander)- yes, for me it was when we were at the William Miller’s farm, the Chapel. And first of all, when we sang the songs of the pioneers that to me was very, very important. I want to teach my people when I come home many of the songs and I've talked to James Nix how I can get a hold of that collection that he has, and so on. And then of course the Holy Communion, where we served each other following Jesus in that kind of service. I felt that this tour gave me a feeling of the reality, of the faith of the pioneers and I think the hope of Christ's coming was really what carried them through a lot of problems, I was not aware that they faced such terrible experiences, losses of loved ones--people who attracted illnesses. We saw one tomb after another where people were buried and it was a testimony to their strong faith that nothing could change the course that they were on, and that’s the spirit I think we also need today.
(Ted Wilson)- Yeah, absolutely. Now, Pastor Gulfan it was raining that day when we were at the William Miller Farm and in the William Miller Chapel. Did that rain—and it got unusually cold—in fact it wasn’t even predicted, it just kind of came in. Did that kind of dampen your spirit?
(Alberto Gulfan)-Well I was shivering, even when eating, my spoon was—I was trembling. But this did not dampen my spirit. I went under the rain, took some pictures, because I wanted to long remember and share this experience with my people, so that we, too, would be able to renew our desire for the soon return of Jesus.
(Ted Wilson)- Pastor Ruguri you come from the East Central African Region…you had a thought to share on that.
(Blasious Ruguri)- We talked about the rain, Pastor….I had brought a heavy jacket for myself. But when I arrived in the U.S. it was sunny and warm. So I actually thought it wouldn’t be cold and I left it right here in Maryland.
(Ted Wilson)- Big mistake.
(Blasious Ruguri)-When the rain came, I felt maybe this was meant from above. Because we are talking about the latter rain. This rain came on the very last day of our trip and I kind of felt that we needed to enjoy that rain. It might have been cold but it might have been talking to us about something. I liked that trip.
(Ted Wilson)- Yeah. Pastor Leito, anything in particular that you remember from the entire tour, not necessarily at the William Miller Farm?
(Israel Leito)- Having such a great love for music. We sat there and we sang in the chapel. And I was thinking “you know what? William Miller sang here,” you know?
(Ted Wilson)- That’s an interesting thought.
(Israel Leito)- Yes. His voice was heard in this place. Music was so important for them. As we sang their music, it really really touched me. This is why I said “we cannot leave this place without singing.”
(Ted Wilson)- Pastor Oliver, from South Pacific, yeah you get some cool weather but I think it was a little cool for you as well. What kind of reaction did you have perhaps from that experience?
(Barry Oliver)- What was really special for me was seeing the home of John Nevins Andrews, I have a real interest in mission, as we all do--
(Ted Wilson)- And education.
(Barry Oliver)- …and education. And have had a chance of course to read his history of the Sabbath, and have been very impressed with this great man of god. He was our first official missionary back in 1874. To see his home… to retrace, a little, his steps as he would have gone by train from his home into Boston, into Harvard University, to research the history of the Sabbath and the original documents that were available there, that was very moving for me. And to experience the place that he left to go across to Europe, to hear a little of his family, I found that very special indeed.
(Ted Wilson)- Pastor Biaggi, from our Euro-Asia region, you have a comment.
(Gillermo Biaggi)- I was thinking that God has his plans in his providence. The fulfillment of the prophecies of the Holy scriptures has its own time. And in the time, God decided to lift up this movement. To make it clear, the truth that we found in the Holy Scriptures about what will be happening at the end of the history of this world. It could be 2, 3, 4 hundred years before, but God has His own timing. Prophecies fulfilled. God used simple people to enlighten their minds and their hearts. He wants to do it, he has done it with pioneers, wants to do it with us, and wants to do it with billions of people of this world today.
(Ted Wilson)- Well thank you for sharing. It’s exciting to listen to the reactions from these world leaders about the heritage that has been given to us and how we can interpret that into every day life today to help us with reaching so many people around the world with the precious love of Jesus and his soon coming. Stay with us, we’ll be right back but we need to take a break. Thank you for being with us in Revival for Mission.

COMMERCIALS

(Mike Ryan)- It is a book that talks about this hope that we have, but it is also a very, very good missionary book. Ellen White, matter of fact, identified it as the best book, in her experience, to give to someone else. I think the potential is much greater if we can have every Seventh Day Adventist adopt a personal goal and consciously say “I’m gonna be involved in this.”

(Different Individuals)- “Merry Christmas” x 17

(Ted Wilson)- I wish you a wonderful, blessed, and merry Christmas.

(Wilona)- As I was reading The Great Hope I came across this phrase which was simple but said a lot to me: “It is God’s plan to employ humble instruments to accomplish great results.” Why does this give me hope? Because it tells me that God can use anyone, at any time.  It doesn’t matter if we’re a great theologian or an academic professor, or a doctor or a lawyer. Just anyone doing anything at any time, God has a purpose and a plan for each and every one of us. Sometimes, especially working for the church, people like myself wonder about whether our work has any impact for what God wants accomplished in the world. This particular phrase reminded me that He does and that what I think may be insignificant or simple is actually something that He can use to His benefit and that gives me hope.

(Ted Wilson)- Welcome back to Revival for Mission. We’ve been talking about a very special heritage tour that many of our leaders of the Seventh Day Adventist Church recently took in the northeast part of the United States, looking at the roots of where the Seventh Day Adventist Church began in a very humble, simple way. Seated with me right here are some additional leaders. Pastor Blasious Ruguri of the East Central Africa Region, Pastor Bruno Vertallier from the Euro-Africa region of the world, Pastor Dan Jackson from the North American division—we were in your territory.
Pastor Ruguri I want to ask how you felt when you were viewing some of those particular sites. How did you relate that to the region of the world in which you are currently serving?
(Blasious Ruguri)- When I saw the places where this faith began, and we had tours about how the men and women of God labored faithfully with great dedication and commitment—many times not quite sure—but every time they were not sure they would go back to scripture to search, and they kept moving forward. I said really, God was in it.
(Ted Wilson)- Amen.
(Blasious Ruguri)- There was simply no way we could have so many members today, from those humble beginnings, unless God himself was in it.
(Ted Wilson)- You’re absolutely right. I think all leaders have felt that kind of feeling, regardless of where they come from. Is there something specific, Pastor Vertallier, that you recall, or something you wanted to share regarding a very particular point?

(Bruno Vertallier)- IN FRENCH

(Ted Wilson)- A BIT OF FRENCH. The aspect of being together, of being assembled in that tent, gave us a sense of that unity and solidarity…that fraternity that you mentioned.
(Bruno Vertallier)- IN FRENCH

(Ted Wilson)- That will be a wonderful meal that we will have with the Lord when we get together, just like we had even in those cold conditions there in the tent at the William Miller Farm. Pastor Jackson, what kind of reaction did you have from this tour?
(Dan Jackson)- The whole is…all is greater than the sum of the parts. It is. When I was in Washington, New Hampshire, sitting in the woods, in the church--
(Ted Wilson)- No electricity, very simple.
(Dan Jackson)- When I thought about the force of the Sabbath, truth, and how that captured the minds of the pioneers, and then we moved over to Lowell Hampton (6:06) and we looked at the birthplace in advent of Seventh Day Adventism of the thinking of the second coming. When I stood out on the ascension rock and I put those two things together, I thought, to think that a few people grasped truth and then were so empowered by the spirit to keep it, to follow it, to promote it, to preach it. That was inspiring to me. When I put the whole picture together it was greater than any of the parts. It was a wonderful thing.
(Ted Wilson)- Now let me ask this question, and some others may want to respond also: how can we take the kind of inspiration, the kind of appreciation, that you gained for actually being on site…how can you transmit that to those who may never be able to take a tour like that, but will be listening to you when you preach or when you teach or whatever it is? Any ideas on that?
(Dan Jackson)- The dynamic that they have was provided by the Holy Spirit.
(Ted Wilson)- Amen.
(Dan Jackson)- And so today the same Spirit speaks to me. So that as I review, as I understand the beautiful truth of scripture, I need to speak guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit just as they did, and that’s how I believe we pass that on. It is the living word of God transmitted through the Holy Spirit.
(Ted Wilson)- Pastor Paul, tell us a little bit about what your reaction was on that particular point.
(Paul Ratsara)- I was so moved by what God can do, through simple people, but highly committed to God and to the cause. So I say to myself, this is an encouragement…that God can use me, too. If God used them, if I have the same commitment and dedication, then the same Holy Spirit will also energize. So in my thinking, I’m asking God to lead by example, asking God to give me the strength so when I go back to the region where I’m serving, I try by the grace of God to live by example and then incorporate this into the teachings, in the sermon, in the meetings that we are going to hold. So that is the commitment.
(Ted Wilson)- Thank you Pastor Ratsara. Let me ask another question, and anyone can respond: what kind of sacrifice is it going to and what did you see in the humble beginnings of the church that would help us to be able to share that drive of sacrifice with our church members?

(Bruno Vertallier)- IN FRENCH

(Blasious Ruguri)- I was amazed that there are many times when a pioneer like Joseph Bates didn’t even know how he would pay for the bills--
(Ted Wilson)- for food or whatever
(Blasious Ruguri)- even for the tracts that he needed to publish to bring the message to the people. And actually one of the tracts claimed that E.G. White read and also believed in the truth of the Sabbath. Amazing truth to hear. And I said “here are people who didn’t even have enough for even their own food.” Today we might think that the economy of the world is very difficult. See how we’re dressed here? And there’s no day we go without lunch or without supper? And yet we still think that we do not have the means to take this message where it should go? I think we need to revisit our level of commitment and education.

(Ted Wilson)-Sacrifice is based, as Pastor Vertallier was saying, on an understanding of the word of God and on our commitment through the Holy Spirit’s power working in us to understand what real sacrifice is, and you’re saying we really aren’t sacrificing nearly as much as we should. How can sacrifice really be placed into the hands of our people?
(Barry Oliver)- If we’re going to finish the work that God has given us to do, there are going to have to be people who are prepared to leave home, leave family, leave what is familiar, and go. Jesus asks us to go. I was particularly, really deeply impressed by one story I heard. I hadn’t heard it before. James and Ellen White left their little son—I think it was Edson—and they went and I think it was 5 years, they didn’t see him. They were travelling throughout the Eastern and Midwest part of the United States. That’s sacrifice. And it’s going to take that kind of sacrifice to really do the work that God has asked of us.
(Ted Wilson)- You’re right. And those of you who are watching, are you willing to sacrifice in the same way, and am I willing to do that? How is it that God can use each of us in a very specific way to give everything we have—our time, our talents, our resources—for that one purpose? And that is to present Jesus and his soon coming. Be with us in a few moments when we return for Revival for Mission, and we’ll see you shortly. Thank you.

Katia- When I read The Great Hope, I came across this wonderful passage which read “It was the power of the God of Truth and wisdom that controlled even the adversaries of the reformation and thus prepared the way for the great work about to be accomplished. Martin Luther was not present but the voice of One greater than Luther had been heard in the assembly.” This was Luther was challenged by the court about his faith and this gives me hope because I know that even when I’m not there, God can use even adversaries of the truth and He can really make their work accomplish the work through His power. Not necessarily I have to take that responsibility. 

“Merry Christmas” x 17

(Ted Wilson)- I wish you a wonderful, blessed, and merry Christmas.

(Lisa Beardsley)- This book helps us to see, I think, the entire plan of salvation and the great controversy between good and evil that certainly will resolve in Christ returning again. The Great Controversy was significant in my own spiritual formation and my understanding that God has been leading throughout history and working throughout human history towards his divine purposes.

(Ted Wilson)- I’m glad you’ve returned to Revival for Mission. We’ve been talking about a recent heritage tour that many of the leaders of the Seventh Day Adventist Church took in the Northeast part of the United States to see the roots of where the Seventh Day Adventist Church began. I have with me, Pastor Erton Kohler from the South American region, Pastor Gilbert Wari from the West Central Africa Region, Pastor Bill Biaggi who comes from the Euro-Asia region of the world, and Pastor Jairyong Lee from the Northern Asian Pacific region. We were united in our trip—a trip that helped us truly to understand the sacrifice and the commitment of people who started with virtually nothing. Pastor Kohler you were impressed by certain things that were very meaningful to you and to how church members today can probably learn in terms of how to give their all for Jesus.

(Erton Kohler)- IN PORTUGUESE

(Ted Wilson)- It means that all of us, even in whatever financial state we are in, can do much more than we actually think we can do.

(Erton Kohler)- SMALL BIT OF PORTUGUESE

(Ted Wilson)-And giving out so many pieces of literature to people when they had virtually nothing, and in fact, they would pray for God to somehow supply the need… and He did. Pastor Lee, what kind of reaction did you have?
(Jairyong Lee)- It was a tremendous blessing to me personally. Of course I had read some of the stories in a history book in the past. When I saw these places, it became so real in my mind; when I visited those humble places—houses, church buildings—where I heard the stories of the tremendous sacrifices of these pioneers, well I had it in my mind that this is truly God’s work. God has led them and guided these humble people, and then when they gave their tremendous sacrifices to the Lord’s cause, God took care of them. And God has accomplished marvelous things through these humble and dedicated people. Likewise, I strongly feel that in the last days—in our days—God will do the same thing through our people who are dedicating their lives and sacrificing their lives to the Lord’s cause. God will accept them, use them, and finish the Gospel work at the same time, taking care of his people to the end of the world.
(Ted Wilson)– the complete trust in what God will do and not just the machinery of the church, not just the finances that are provided through the liberality of our people and then we depend on somebody to figure it out…the implicit trust that God requires of all of us whether we are leaders, church members sitting in the pew in church, that’s a very important thing—this trust factor. How are you going to be able to help church members in Northern Asia Pacific to really catch that vision?
(Jairyong Lee)-When the pioneers gave that kind of dedication and sacrifice, I’m sure they trusted in the Lord. They believed that the Lord would take care of them. And likewise in our region of course we have many difficult territories--
(Ted Wilson)- But some prosperous territories, also.
(Jairyong Lee)-Whether they have more or less doesn’t matter, the question is how we can trust in the Lord. As Jesus said “I will be with you till the end of the world.”
(Ted Wilson)- Amen.
(Jairyong Lee)-That is not only that he will be with our world, but he will also take care of our world, everyday, with the living.
(Ted Wilson)-we need to just entrust ourselves into the hands of God. Pastor Biaggi, you want to share something, I can see that.
(Gillermo Biaggi)- I want to follow up this idea because God is the creator, is love, has a message for human beings. He wants to communicate with us through his scripture and he is calling human beings. The interesting thing about the pioneers is that the majority of them were young people. God touched the heart and minds of young people in their early 20s and 30s...very young people. God can use powerful young people today as well to reveal his love, his work, his purposes...and always he will provide. And this message of hope can reach all the inhabitants of this world through the work and commitment of young people.
( Ted Wilson)-  Pastor Wari, how do you think young people and others in Africa can really relate to how God worked in that particular place and will he do the same thing for them?
(Gilbert Wari)- I will take home the experience of Annie Smith. I love music.
(Ted Wilson)- Annie Smith?
(Gilbert Wari) Yes, Annie Smith. I love music and the way she was able to carry her mission—because everybody has their sense of mission—and we were told on that tour that when she contracted that sickness and she knew she was dying, she carried on working…preparing poetry; she didn’t want to die before completing the task. Even her mother had to write for her because she couldn’t write any more but she was on the task until the poetry was over. And when the poetry was over she told her mother, “I am ready to die.” What a blessing to our young people—to have that sense of commitment and mission, even to the last minute. I was very much impressed by that. Another aspect, since I’m coming from a very challenging place, another aspect of the testimony has to do with Stephen Smith. Stephen Smith, who was somewhat of a troublemaker in the church, eventually came and said he was a rebel who surrendered totally. What a blessing, what a lesson. In other words, we should never lose heart, we should never be discouraged, because there is always hope, even to the last minute.
(Ted Wilson)- Amen.
(Gilbert Wari)- These are written lessons to pass onto the younger generations to make sure that the mission of this church is carried out successfully.
(Ted Wilson)- And the mission and the impression that the holy spirit gives to people to do missionary work for God, to share their faith transcends all culture and  climates and regions.
(Gilbert Wari)- Exactly.
(Ted Wilson)- Pastor Kohler, you had another point I think that you wanted to share.

(Erton Kohler)- PORTUGUESE

(Ted Wilson)- Dependence on the Lord is so incredibly important, just as Pastor J.N. Andrews, at the very end before he was dying, gave this money to the work in Europe. That’s the kind of spirit we desperately need. Pastor Lee?
(Jairyong Lee)- Back to your previous question about the young people…what is really amazing to hear again is that many of these pioneers were young people in their 20s. They wrote articles, published books, they organized meetings, preached the gospel, and they did a tremendous job. And then quite often in our days, it seems that we underestimate the potential of our young people. So I strongly feel this time that as leaders of the church we need to encourage our young people—to give them an opportunity--
(Ted Wilson)- Amen.
(Jairyong Lee)- to invest in that. So they can be at front in the gospel work.
(Ted Wilson)- Absolutely. I think we really need to underline that point. That young people are such a vital part of the church and they will help to finish the church just as they helped to start the church. Pastor Biaggi?
(Gillermo Biaggi)- From the region that we are coming, many of our church members suffer persecution and suffer death because of their faith. We were encouraging this trip that our pioneers as well would give all their lives in sacrifice for the Lord. So we need not be discouraged. Whenever we are living in isolated places of this world, the Lord can be close to us through his work and through the presence of the Holy Spirit. That is the thing that is giving us hope to unite ourselves in the messages that we find in the Holy Scriptures.
(Ted Wilson)- Thank you so much. As we look to the future and how God is going to use each of us to proclaim this precious message from Scripture, the three angels’ messages found in Revelations 14—that we do it with love and with sacrifice—I know that you’ll be a part of it and will want to allow the Holy Spirit to work through you as well. Don’t go far away, we have to take a little break. But come back again for Revival for Mission.

COMMERCIAL

Robert- In this last chapter of this amazing book we’re told and we’re painted a picture of the culmination of the redemption story. We’re told of a loving God that will stand from his throne, and he will stand on the precipice of this earth and say, “enough’s enough”—no more pain, no more sorrow, the former things have passed.  Jesus Christ himself will say “behold, I make all things new.” And there’s a sentence in here that just grabbed my attention, grabbed my heart, because as God stands from his throne and all his followers are surrounding him, he says “Behold, the purchase of my blood! For these I suffered, for these I die, that they might dwell in my presence throughout eternal ages.”

(Different Individuals)- “Merry Christmas” x 17

(Ted Wilson)- I wish you a wonderful, blessed, and merry Christmas.

(Cliff Goldstein)- The whole great controversy between Christ and Satan has helped me to understand history, to understand the past, the present and the future unlike anything. Here’s the power of the book—it’s amazing. It’s very powerful. Every time I read the book, I find that I get more and more out of it. It’s truly astonishing.
(Ted Wilson)- Welcome back to Revival for Mission and a discussion about the heritage tour that leaders of the Seventh Day Adventist Church took just recently in the Northeast part of the United States. We’ve been talking about sacrifice, about commitment, about how God used young people in a very particular way to bring this precious biblical movement into the forefront before people. With me right now I have Pastor John Rathinaraj from the Southern Asian region, and Pastor Barry Oliver from the South Pacific Region and Pastor Paul Ratsara from the Southern African Indian Ocean Region. Welcome gentlemen. You know, we’ve been talking about sacrifice, about some of the aspects of how people were able to accomplish something with very little. And I suppose as you viewed some of these humble places…I think of the church in Washington, New Hampshire—how simple it was, and how uncomplicated people’s lives seemed to us, at least, from what we are used to with electronic gadgets and everything else and we didn’t even have electricity there. I don’t know, what we’re some of the impressions that you had from this trip that really struck home through your own heart?
(Paul Ratsara)- When we visited William Miller’s farm…the house…there was a room there—his bedroom. We were shown the table where he studied the bible…the bible and the concordance. And from that little place, he studied the truth and he decided to internalize and to put into practice the truth he knew. And God used him. So what I take from that is that truth is so powerful. Truth always prevails. And if we allow ourselves to be transformed by the truth of the bible, then God can also produce people like William Miller and all these pioneers. I was so impressed by that and I was humbled by the dedication and the diligence of the pioneers when it came to searching for truth, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide them and use them in a mighty way. I believe that this is what we need—we need to study the word of God more and put it into practice and willingly sacrifice.
(Ted Wilson)- Amen. Pastor Oliver, share with me a little bit, your reaction.
(Barry Oliver)- I’ve already talked to you a little about my excitement at being right there where John Nivins Andrews lived. But it struck me, I think I was sitting in the little church in Washington, New Hampshire…and I looked around and I thought, “We live in a very different world today…spectacularly different.” When you think about the world of William Miller and think about the world we live in today, what do we have what they didn’t have? We have all the communication channels, we have all the technology, we have travel—so much more that they didn’t. And yet look at what they did with what they had. And I was thinking, if only we could get that commitment and that sacrifice, put it together with the tremendous advantages that we have. And then we have, of course, the fact that this is God’s mission…that the Holy Spirit is on our side when we’re on his side. Look what can be done.
(Ted Wilson)- Amen.
(Barry Oliver)- The work can be finished. It can be finished quickly. And Jesus could come. That’s pretty exciting.
(Ted Wilson)- It is. And you know, how the Lord can help us to get our arms around all the resources we have today in comparison to the few that they had at that time. Pastor John, what kind of reaction did you have from this particular trip?
(John Rathinaraj)- When I look at our pioneers, they have sacrificed everything. Not only themselves and their family and their children and their time and their property…the whole thing, they have sacrificed for God’s work. And also the dedication and the commitment they had for God. You know, even though they might not have health, many of them lost their health and their children--
(Ted Wilson)- We need to take care of our health, but you’re right.
(John Rathinaraj)- When I was sitting in the William Miller church I was thinking about the preaching he did in the church. In 1844, I was told, that over 50,000 people were ready to meet Jesus. And it was his reason to preach that only Christ was coming and the book says that 4,500 times he preached about only Christ coming. When I looked at that, within a short time, one man by the power of his spirit could prepare 50,000 people for God’s kingdom, how much we all could do it. When we think about the beginning of our church…humble and simple beginnings. Today we have spread it all over the world…I’m sure with dedication and commitment, we can do great things for God.
(Ted Wilson)- Amen. Pastor Leito, I know you had something you wanted to share with us.
(Israel Leito)- IN SPANISH

(Ted Wilson)- Beautiful. And that kind of spirit of the pioneers that can help us to preach the second coming of Christ is something that will unify us. And it is something that certainly can help us to be powerful in our presentation.
(Israel Leito)- Amen.
(Ted Wilson)- Pastor Wiklander, you had a comment as well.
(Bertil Wiklander)- Yes, I was most impressed by discovering that the spirit of sacrifice and commitment that our pioneers had was deeply rooted in their total surrender to Jesus Christ.
(Ted Wilson)- Amen.
(Bertil Wiklander)- And I will never forget the letter that Ellen White wrote to her twin sister when she was seeking to plead with her to lead her to Jesus Christ. I think it’s the most beautiful letter I’ve ever read by Ellen White, and it tells us something about this deep connection with Jesus that we need. I think that also the doctrines that our pioneers discovered under the guidance of the Holy Spirit were also rooted in this deep union with Jesus Christ. They didn’t put the doctrines here as something that was the result of bible study and the faith in Christ was here. It was one thing. It was their commitment to Jesus that led them to his word and it was the earnest search for truth that led them to discover the doctrines of the bible.
(Ted Wilson)- I think as we try to encourage our church members worldwide and others who are interested in scripture, it’s important for us to point them to this word—to the word of God and to help them understand that in our diversity, in differing opinions, that the holy spirit can really help to galvanize us and unify us just like the pioneers of old.  I just want to appeal to you in a very special way. You know, your lives may seem to you to be very full of regular and normal activities but God has something unusual for your life. He doesn’t want to you to just kind of move along through the normal activities but He wants you to realize He has a purpose for your activities and for your very important talents that He’s given to you. In scripture it tells us, in Psalm 37 verse 5, it’s a familiar text to many of you and a very favorite of mine, “Commit thy way unto the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.” And this particular verse I think exemplifies the kind of spirit—the kind of pioneer spirit that people had at the beginning of the Seventh Day Adventist Church and that God asks each of us to have in these very last days of Earth’s history. As you’ve heard these leaders share, we truly believe that Jesus is coming very soon. The bible predicts this, the world events tell us this, and we know that the Holy Spirit is wanting each of us to play a major role in the proclamation of God’s precious message of salvation, love for Christ, and for his soon second coming. And I encourage each of you to be a part of this great advent movement. I’d like to pray with you as we close. Father in heaven; thank you so much for your many blessings to each of us. We thank you that you have chosen each of us to be spokespersons for you, to share the word of God, to allow the holy Spirit to work within us in a very dynamic way and to be sacrificial and committed in the way we share this precious message. So Lord, we commit ourselves into your care. We ask that you will bless each viewer and help them to know that you love them very much and have a special role for them to play in truly taking on the spirit of the pioneers to proclaim this message. Thank you for hearing us and thank you for our heritage and our future. We ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen. Thank you for being with us.

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