August 2017
PICTURES Novo Tempo Media Center near Sao
Paulo, Brazil https://cincopa.com/~AwFA-HeEFQuM
PICTURES of TRIP TO ZIMBABWE: https://cincopa.com/~AEIARBuu2Dsk
Brazil
The meeting near
Sao Paulo, Brazil was the venue for this year’s Hope Channel’s Leadership/Managers’
Meeting. I was included in the
invitation because I am considered the manager for Hope Channel – Deaf which is
one of the 46 different channels of Hope Channel. Hope Channel – Deaf is an Internet channel (www.hopechanneldeaf.org), as opposed to a broadcast channel. By being an internet channel makes it
available anywhere in the world where there is Internet reception regardless of
satellite reception. Zimbabwe, for
example is not able to receive the satellite coverage for Hope Channel but it
can receive ours. We use what is called VOD or Video On Demand which means
programs are not aired according to a schedule but according to the viewers
wish or demand. You don’t have to be deaf to enjoy the channel. Try out the
section on nature!
The meeting was
held at the South American Division Hope Channel site which is called Novo
Tempo. It is by far the largest facility
of the 46 channels. The General
Conference, the mother station, employs 26 individuals with just a few sets for
television production, Novo Tempo employs 496 and soon to be over 500. There
are 26 different sets from which programs are broadcast. Novo Tempo is a multi-ministry facility which
includes not only television and radio productions but also a large Bible
school program. It is state-of-the-art facility and has a tremendous
recognition and ministry throughout South America. The networking with various personnel that I
was able to do there clearly made the trip worthwhile. Our own Hope Channel – Deaf will certainly
benefit!!
Zimbabwe
I cut my time in Brazil
a little to attend the Special Needs Camp Meeting in Zimbabwe. What a
life-changing experience for me in so many ways. Just two years ago there was
very little organized in the way of Special Needs Ministries. With an emphasis coming from the General
Conference, things began to change rapidly.
Division, union and local conference leadership accepted the challenge.
When I arrived, and spoke that Thursday evening, the meeting hall was packed
with 350-400 individuals—deaf, blind and many in wheelchairs. What a beautiful sight! We introduced the new recommended theme song,
“Not Alone”, and what an experience to hear these Africans sing that song—a
song that originated in Uganda and recorded by the Watato Children’s Choir
(made up of all orphans). The division leader, Passmore Mulambo, union leader,
Logan Masaiti , and the conference president, Godfrey Musara showed incredible
leadership for this ministry. The
conference president, for example, has a conference membership of 190,000 yet
he makes it his practice to worship with a special needs group somewhere in his
conference once a month. His conference has 17 different camp meetings this
year. I can’t say enough about the enthusiasm of all the leaders, including lay
leaders. An interpreter for the deaf from Pretoria, South Africa, Zee Purdy
Lee, attended and added much to the meetings.
The camp meeting
was held on the school grounds of a government facility designed for special
needs individuals. On opening night the
Deputy Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare for the country of
Zimbabwe was present and gave some opening remarks. His remarks regarding the
work of the Seventh-day Adventist Church were encouraging and inspiring. My brief meeting with him was very positive
and we spoke of working together in the future.
On Sabbath we had to move out of the hall that had been provided for us
and into a tent that had been pitched on the school grounds. The attendance on Sabbath was around
500! I spoke about six times during the camp
meeting. I was asked to make an appeal
for baptism after my Sabbath sermon. Forty had completed the Voice of Prophecy
Bible Study Lessons. I made the call and 34 came forward for baptism! I was overwhelmed with the response. I had never experienced so many in
“wheelchairs” come forward to an altar call. That afternoon 15 deaf, 10 in
wheelchairs and 9 “able-bodied” were baptized,
Some of those in wheelchairs had no control of their legs or arms. I was so moved by their experience. Afterwards with beaming smiles, some shouted,
“I’m baptized, I’m baptized, thank you Jesus.”
The impossible happened and they were visibly rejoicing. In the midst of all the excitement, I paused. Silently I prayed and thought, of all the
uncertainties that I’ve faced over the last several years and now those
uncertainties had a reason. I just couldn’t see why at the time.
I must tell you
about a special service –the last service of the camp meeting. What an impression it made on all of us.. Three cakes were placed before three
individuals: a blind person, a deaf person and a physically handicapped person.
Each was asked to cut out a piece of the cake in front of them. A sighted
person helped the blind, an interpreter explained to the deaf what to do, and
the physically handicapped person (no use of either arms or legs) used the best
resource he has--his mouth in which an able-bodied person assisted by placing
the knife in his mouth. In each case a piece of the cake was cut. BUT IT DIDN'T
STOP THERE! The sighted person fed the blind person the cake, the blind person
fed the deaf person and the deaf and the physically handicapped person fed each
other. No one was better than the other and each needed the other. The message
was clear: we need each and each has been called to serve all. Surely, a
powerful message for a world that disparages those often whom they call
"disabled." The German philosopher Johann Gottfried Herder observed
in the 18th century that we cannot know ourselves without a reference point outside
of ourselves. Perhaps, just maybe that reference, in part, are those with
special needs who illustrate so powerfully that they serve as mirrors of our
own brokeness. I attended as a student and was reminded that I must remain a
student and while there they were my teachers. (By clicking on each picture you
can see more.)
A little
expression that I’ve coined for myself and applied to many situations—both mine
and others—was once again confirmed:
“Don’t try to conclude the writing of the book when God is still adding
chapters!” Heavy on my heart now is,
“What about others! What about those who
are being marginalized all around the world because of their “disability.” As we now say about this ministry, “Our
mission is not about disability. It is about possibilities.” Each one of these individuals with special
needs has possibilities that the world often overlooks or ignores. We are out to change that!!
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