Mission Volume 7 • Number 3
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FROM THE OFFICE OF ADVENTIST MISSION VOLUME 7 • NUMBER 3 Return to Palau Melissa meets the man who killed her missionary family when she was 10 years old. PLUS 4 The 10-Kilometer Church Plant 6 Not Too Much Masala 10 The Man with the Golden Tooth 30 #FollowHim EDITORIAL erhaps you’ve heard the story her grandparents, Drs. Itamar and Melissa’s life story is featured of the missionary family that Ruth DePaiva, came to take her to on page 16 of this magazine. It’s Pwas murdered in Palau in the United States, she told them one of the most courageous sto- 2003 and of their 10-year-old that she wanted to return to Palau ries of grace that I’ve ever read, daughter, Melissa, who was the one day. and it’s an honor for Mission 360° sole survivor. Through the years, Melissa never to share it with you. Although Melissa knew that lost this desire. In 2018, fifteen years she couldn’t stay on the island after leaving Palau, she made the after the deaths of her loved ones, journey back with her grandparents Laurie Falvo, she was still sad to leave. When and her husband by her side. Editor Melissa Gibson with her grandmother, Ruth DePaiva, who has taught her so much about forgiveness. 2 From the Office of Adventist Mission CONTENTS Chairman: G. T. Ng Editor in Chief: Gary Krause Editor: Laurie Falvo The 10-Kilometer Church Plant Contributing Editors: Cheryl Doss, Kayla 4 Ewert, Rick Kajiura, Elbert Kuhn, Andrew McChesney, Hensley Moorooven, Teen Nielsen, Ricky Oliveras, Karen J. Porter, Not Too Much Masala Claude Richli, Jeff Scoggins, Gerson Santos, 6 Earley Simon, Karen Suvankham, John Thomas, Homer Trecartin, David Trim The Mystery Book Editorial Advisors: Petras Bahadur, Paolo 8 Benini, Edison Choque, Jose Cortes Jr., Daniel Duda, Richard Elofer, Kleber Gonçalves, Johnson Jacob, MinHo Joo, Zakari Kassoule, The Man with the Golden Tooth Wayne Krause, Samuel Lumwe, Silas 10 Muabsa, Paul Muasya, Umesh Nag, Denis Sand, Clifmond Shameerudeen, Wesley Szamko, Samuel Telemaque, Doug Venn, Living Vertically Amy Whitsett, Gregory Whitsett, 12 Dmitry Zubkov Design: 316 Creative Paying It Forward Production and Digital Media: Donna Rodill 14 Mission 360° is a quarterly magazine produced and copyrighted ©2019 by the General Return to Palau Conference of Seventh-day Adventists®. All 16 rights reserved. The contents may not be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. Ministering on the Mount of Olives 22 12501 Old Columbia Pike Silver Spring, MD 20904-6601, USA Game Changers Telephone: (301) 680-6005 24 Questions? Comments? Email us at [email protected]. 12 Ways to Serve Your City 26 VOLUME 7, NUMBER 3 Adventist® and Seventh-day Adventist® are Breaking My Title the registered trademarks of the General 28 Conference of Seventh-day Adventists®. Unless otherwise noted, Bible verses are 30 #FollowHim quoted from the King James Version. 3 ECUADOR began attending church regularly, and as her faith grew, she prayed The 10-Kilometer that Miguel would join her. Initially, he showed no interest, but after a few months, as a birthday gift, he Church Plant agreed to join her for one Sabbath only. “My first impression was that n Quito, Ecuador’s capital city, a and lab work,” Carolina adds. “But I didn’t know anybody, but every- 10-kilometer race was just what it was going to cost around three body knew me,” Miguel says. “I felt Ian Adventist youth group need- thousand dollars, and we didn’t an immense love.” ed to help them plant a church! have the money.” Miguel wanted to learn more, The idea originated in the home Every Wednesday, the friends so he and Noemi asked for Bible of Carolina, where friends regularly went jogging as a group activity. studies at home. Eventually, they Ricky Oliveras, met for fellowship. Carolina, the One week, as they prepared for gave their hearts to Jesus and Office of leader of the church planting proj- their weekly run, Carolina’s mother were baptized. Their bakery is now Adventist ect, says, “We wanted to do more suggested that they use their ac- closed on Saturdays, but business Mission than just meet together and grow tivity as a way to raise funds. “You has doubled on Sundays! from each other’s experiences. So, could have a race,” she said, “and “It’s a radical change,” Miguel we decided to plant a church in an charge a small registration fee.” says. “We used to have a lot of unentered part of our city.” The group loved the idea and got problems, but now it’s different. The group’s initial attempt to busy planning. We study together, go to church, share Jesus didn’t go well. “We On the day of the race, more sing, and pray to God.” knocked on people’s doors and than 950 people participated, pro- Miguel and Noemi’s family is asked whether they wanted to viding enough money to conduct just one example of those who study the Bible with us,” Carolina the health fair and rent a church have come to know Jesus, and says. “It was a bad idea! They said, building! The health fair and oth- they’re excited to share what ‘No, we don’t even know you. Who er outreach activities resulted in they’ve learned. are you? What do you want?’” new friendships and new faces “We have a small group that The friends met again to in church on Sabbath mornings. meets in our house once a week,” pray about how best to connect Next to the church is a bakery Noemi says. “Our goal as a family with the people. “We decided to owned by Noemi and Miguel. is to share God’s Word so others do a survey to determine their Sometimes during the week can know Him too.” needs,” says Maria, a member of people from the church bought About 10 people have so far the church planting team. “We dis- things from their store, and one been baptized as a result of the covered that many of them were day Noemi asked them about young people’s effort, and the experiencing health problems.” the church. They invited her to church members pray that their “We wanted to host a health study the Bible with them the next efforts will continue to spread God’s fair with free medical consultations Sabbath, and Noemi accepted. She love throughout the community. 1 2 4 3 “I can see a difference in many of each other in heaven,” adds the people’s lives, Maria says. “Before Anavelen, another member of they used to live without purpose, the church-planting team. without knowing what’s going to Your donations have made happen tomorrow. Now they have it possible for Global Mission to the hope that Jesus is coming again, help this church plant. Thank you and they’re sharing that.” for supporting church planting “Our dream is that this church projects like this one in major will grow and that we’ll all see cities of the world. 4 1 More than 950 people participated in the 10-kilometer race. 2 The youth group meeting in the home of Carolina, the leader of the church planting team. 3 When Miguel and Noemi decided to close their bakery on Sabbaths, God blessed them by doubling their sales on Sundays! 4 Maria, one of the church planters who conducted a survey to determine the community’s needs. 5 Carolina leads a weekly Bible study in Miguel and Noemi’s home. 6 Church planting couple Anavelen and Sebastian help children at the church plant learn about Jesus. 5 Please support Global Mission to reach those who don’t know Jesus. Ways to give Online To make a secure donation quickly, visit Global-Mission.org/giving. Call Call 800-648-5824. 6 Mail a check In the United States: Global Mission, General Conference 12501 Old Columbia Pike Silver Spring, MD 20904-6601 In Canada: Global Mission SDA Church in Canada 1148 King Street East Oshawa, ON L1H 1H8 5 A COUNTRY IN THE 10/ 40 WINDOW 1 Andi taking a mud bath during monsoon season. 2 Bimola, who started as my student grader and became family. 3 Suban taking a much-needed break on a hike. Not Too 4 Andi playing on my kitchen floor while I cooked, always doing Much Masala something to make me laugh. y whole heart feels warm. When we pile into the car, the beetle. He’s shouting, “Miss, green Editor’s note: This author Like the sun is shining di- boys’ voices climb above each oth- color. Green color for you!” My served as a Mrectly on it while I’m lying er while each tries to update me heart is bursting at the seams. volunteer at a on the beach. It feels so happy, it on his life. Eventually, we decide mission school could burst like a balloon with too to play Suban’s favorite song, “My The girls are piled all around in the 10/40 much air in it, except instead of Heart Will Go On.” I watch the me on the surrounding bunks. Window. She air, it’s full of love.” These childlike boys’ goofy antics as they sing Eunice turns on her flashlight, was initially words are all I have to explain along, and I think I must be the shining it directly in my face. an elementary teacher and what I feel when memories of most blessed girl in the world. “Eunice, I’m blind.” dormitory moments with my students wash This fact is confirmed when, “Miss, sorry.