June 22 - Caring for Ukraine’s Refugees
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0:05 - 0:06The country of Georgia is home to some
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0:06 - 0:08four million people.
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0:08 - 0:09Out of these millions,
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0:09 - 0:12Pastor Grigol is one of only two Georgian
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0:12 - 0:14Seventh-day Adventist pastors.
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0:14 - 0:17We don’t have many workers,
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0:17 - 0:19and because of that
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0:19 - 0:22we have a lot of functions as pastors.
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0:22 - 0:24It’s a big challenge because
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0:24 - 0:27we don’t have enough resources.
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0:27 - 0:29Pastor Grigol lives in
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0:29 - 0:31the port city of Batumi,
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0:31 - 0:32Georgia’s second largest city.
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0:33 - 0:35The mission challenges grow by the day
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0:35 - 0:38as new apartments, casinos,
and other developments -
0:38 - 0:40are constructed around his church.
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0:41 - 0:42Many people don’t trust
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0:44 - 0:46when you talk to them about God.
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0:47 - 0:50I would say this is one of the challenges.
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0:50 - 0:51Although historically,
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0:51 - 0:53Georgia was the second nation
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0:53 - 0:55to officially adopt Christianity,
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0:55 - 0:57Adventism has struggled
to gain ground here. -
0:57 - 1:01The Adventist Church
is very small in Georgia. -
1:01 - 1:03There are approximately 300 people,
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1:04 - 1:06they are scattered all over Georgia.
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1:06 - 1:08In Batumi we have a church
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1:08 - 1:12approximately consisting of 40 members.
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1:12 - 1:13Despite their small numbers,
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1:13 - 1:15church members in Batumi
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1:15 - 1:16have a heart for mission.
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1:16 - 1:18So they have found practical ways
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1:18 - 1:20to follow Christ’s method of ministry.
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1:20 - 1:22When we become friends with people,
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1:23 - 1:26like we try to organize
different social projects -
1:26 - 1:28and humanitarian projects
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1:28 - 1:30for people who are in need,
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1:30 - 1:33and when they get closer to us
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1:33 - 1:37and start to communicate with us,
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1:38 - 1:41then we have more trust from them.
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1:42 - 1:43Recently, the greatest need comes
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1:43 - 1:46from the influx of Ukrainian refugees.
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1:46 - 1:47Adventists in Batumi
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1:47 - 1:49welcome refugees to their church
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1:49 - 1:51for a variety of classes and programs.
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1:52 - 1:54Today, they are
conducting English classes. -
1:54 - 1:57The classes are a great way
for the Ukrainians -
1:57 - 1:59to come together to learn and socialize.
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2:00 - 2:01These gatherings have
allowed them to develop -
2:01 - 2:04a community away
from their homes in Ukraine. -
2:04 - 2:07It allows them to feel
supported and cared for. -
2:08 - 2:09The church also offers classes
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2:09 - 2:11to learn the Georgian language.
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2:11 - 2:13Learning Georgian helps them find
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2:13 - 2:15job opportunities more easily
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2:15 - 2:16so that they can integrate
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2:16 - 2:17and feel more at home.
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2:18 - 2:19Through these projects
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2:19 - 2:21we become friends with them
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2:21 - 2:23and sometimes they ask
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2:23 - 2:25questions about our church,
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2:25 - 2:28about our beliefs and we can share.
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2:28 - 2:31Finally, we believe that these projects
they will have influence -
2:31 - 2:36and maybe some of them will even
start to attend our church. -
2:37 - 2:40Pastor Grigol and church members in Batumi
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2:40 - 2:41have been praying for funds to build
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2:41 - 2:43an urban center of influence
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2:43 - 2:44that would provide space for them
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2:44 - 2:47to offer more programs to their community.
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2:47 - 2:49Currently, the church is too small.
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2:49 - 2:51Sometimes we have a challenge
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2:51 - 2:52because we don’t have
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2:53 - 2:55rooms or space to conduct
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2:55 - 3:00different kinds of events and meetings.
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3:00 - 3:02For example, with this English class
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3:02 - 3:05we have to use our hall
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3:05 - 3:07where we have services.
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3:07 - 3:10This is our biggest need, I would say.
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3:10 - 3:13This quarter, a portion
of your 13th Sabbath Offering -
3:13 - 3:14will help construct
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3:14 - 3:17an urban center of influence
in Batumi, Georgia. -
3:17 - 3:18This will vastly improve
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3:18 - 3:19outreach efforts here.
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3:20 - 3:23This is a big honor and a big joy that
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3:24 - 3:28there are many people who care
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3:28 - 3:33and are interested in supporting
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3:34 - 3:37the mission in our country.
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3:38 - 3:40Please pray as church members in Batumi
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3:40 - 3:42continue to meet
the needs of their neighbors. -
3:42 - 3:43Thank you for supporting
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3:43 - 3:4613th Sabbath Offering projects like this!
- Title:
- June 22 - Caring for Ukraine’s Refugees
- Description:
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Adventists in the country of Georgia welcome refugees to their church for a variety of classes and programs. Church members have been praying for funds to build an urban center of influence that would provide space for them to offer more programs to their community.
- Video Language:
- English
- Team:
- Team Adventist
- Project:
- Mission Spotlight DVD
- Duration:
- 03:58
JoshuaSagala edited English subtitles for June 22 - Caring for Ukraine’s Refugees | ||
Joanna_PM edited English subtitles for June 22 - Caring for Ukraine’s Refugees | ||
danielle rox edited English subtitles for June 22 - Caring for Ukraine’s Refugees | ||
danielle rox edited English subtitles for June 22 - Caring for Ukraine’s Refugees | ||
kita_fio edited English subtitles for June 22 - Caring for Ukraine’s Refugees |