Mission 360˚ TV - Happy 100 Years Spicer

The first Adventist pioneers to India had a vision for education. They wanted to see schools established that would help restore the image of God in men and women in this country. And with that vision in mind, two young Adventist women came to Calcutta in 1895.

(Theme Music)

Spicer Adventist University celebrating

100 years of training young people

for service here in India.

That and much more coming
up next on Mission 360.

(Theme Music)

(Music)

Hello and welcome to Mission 360,

I'm Gary Krause. Today's program is

coming to you from the campus of Spicer

Adventist University, formerly Spicer

Memorial College. This weekend they are

celebrating the 100th anniversary of

education right here on this campus.

The first pioneers,

the first Adventist pioneers

to India had a vision for education. They

wanted to see schools established that

would help restore the image of God in men

and women in this country. And with that

vision in mind, two young Adventist women

came to Calcutta in 1895. Within 20 years

a chain of Adventist schools were

stretching from the Himalayas in the north

right through to south India. The first

class held on the campus of what is today

known as Spicer Adventist University was

July 12, 1915. Back then a whole range of

different courses were offered; carpentry,

agriculture, even a program in poultry.

Students were trained in very practical

skills to reach out into
their communities.

The name of the college, now the

university, came from pastor W. A. Spicer,

a pioneer Adventist missionary who today

his memory is still loved because of his

self-sacrifice and his commitment to the

people of this country. On today's program

we're going to be seeing mission all over

the world. We're going to be looking at

Thirteenth Sabbath Offering projects in

northern Asia. But first up, let's travel
to the country of Korea.

South Korea is often referred to as the
land of the morning calm.

It has preserved a rich and vibrant culture

throughout the years. Many Koreans have

great pride and appreciation for their

country. In a small suburban community, a

group of young people are getting their

traditional costumes and instruments ready

to go to their town's central park
and put on a show.

(Sounds of drums and voices)

They've been practicing for weeks

and the community recognizes their beat.

But who are they?

This youth church is run

by the youth and for the youth. They've

built a solid group of members who are

involved in all the church's activities.

The traditional costumes and instruments

are just one of their many activities
to greet the community.

But this church didn't always
work this way.

Pastor Shin used to be a

deacon in a church. His oldest daughter

Bo Hwa was a middle school student,

there was no one there her age in the

church and she was lonely. So Bo Hwa's

mother knew she had to find friends for

her daughter in the church.

Thanks to the

mother's efforts and pancakes, the youth

congregation was growing! As the church

grew Bo Hwa's father felt the call to join

the ministry. At that time Bo Hwa's father

was a deacon, but he was feeling God's

call to be a minister.

Having three family

members in theology school was not cheap.

Again, the mother came through by

baking the Korean pancakes.

Even before I started I prayed
for a long time and I read

the Bible to get the knowledge. When God

made me successful in this ministry I

thought that it was the work of God.

At first, the community didn't know
what to think of this church.

But the youth decided to give to the

community. They visited the homes of the

elderly. They would talk with them, wash

their dishes, work in their gardens,

and help in any way they could.
As a result of truly

caring for their neighbors,
their reputation

has transformed to being loved
by their community.

These students are very well

welcomed by the elderly citizens around

here. These elderly citizens took them in

as their grandchildren.

On a typical Sabbath they will
have a church service,

share a meal together, and spend the

whole afternoon together.
They are truly a church family.

It is a great joy of mine to

see them remaining in the faith as they

grow up and become successful
citizens in society.

With all the growth and activity,

they have outgrown their humble building

and need more space to expand. They

want to train the youth to effectively
reach the community.

A portion of your mission

offerings will go toward
building a mission

institute for the youth so they can be

properly trained to introduce
their neighbors to Jesus.

Please pray for the members of

this church. Pray that this group will

continue to grow and more hearts are

touched by Jesus.

My guest today is Elder Ted Wilson who

is the president of the General

Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

Thanks for joining us Elder Wilson.

We're celebrating this weekend 100 years

of education at Spicer now called Spicer

Adventist University. Why is education so

important in a country like India?

Well first of all, Spicer Memorial College

which has now become Spicer Adventist

University, is one of
those unique situations

where education is so
important in the life

of people that this new
status is going to be

an exceptional opportunity for hundreds of

Seventh-day Adventist students to be able

to get an education without any Sabbath

problems. Where as in the past people

have gone to public universities in India

and have had to face that challenge of

classes six days a week and different

exams on Sabbath. So this is going to be a

wonderful opportunity and to lay a

foundation for working in a very high tech

IT setting with media. India is becoming a

very strong leader in that area.
But in terms

of education itself; I mean 100 years for

Spicer, obviously we ought to be in heaven

by now. We're celebrating the anniversary

and it's great. But education itself and

Seventh-day Adventist education in

particular, is of the greatest
factors in why

the Seventh-day Adventist Church has been

able to achieve such a strong evangelistic

level of efficiency in activity around the

world. Training people,
helping them to see

a vision, understanding the foundation of

all true education which is a knowledge of

God, helping people to fully grasp the

picture that really
education is not only a

way to a higher standard of living but it
is

really, in the Adventist setting,

a key to our entire understanding of how

to reach out to people.

Now, how should a Seventh-day Adventist

educational institution differ
from any other institution?

What are the key differences
in Adventist education?

Essentially in the academic area we should

be no less, in fact we
should be better than

any other institution because the Lord has

asked that we study to show ourselves

approved. When it comes to the world view,

that's where Seventh-day Adventists differ

because we follow Christ's
pattern of trying

to help people physically,
mentally, socially,

and spiritually. And that entire component

is built into the Seventh-day Adventist

educational package in such an intrinsic

way that you can't really
pull it apart without

then destroying what the real purpose of

Seventh-day Adventist education is.

So when a student comes out of that

institution, they have such a complete

picture as Christ did in His ministry that

everything they do is tilted and focused

towards truly helping the person that

they're dealing with in
whatever discipline,

whatever work,
to find true meaning in life

and to find the Master Teacher,

Jesus Christ. So that's what makes the

difference and it's this overall

understanding and it's derived from an

understanding of Scripture,
from the Spirit

of Prophecy, from an understanding of who

we are as a people.

So it's a wholistic emphasis, which isn't
just

head knowledge,
it's affecting your spiritual

life, your physical life,
and it comes from

Ellen White's writings.

That's where is all started.

It does, and it affects even your personal

interrelationships with your family,
with how

you view life, with the purpose of the

beautiful education you've received,
and the

skills and talents that God
has provided for you.

They're not just to be used for yourself

but to be used in service to others and

pointing people to Jesus' soon coming.

Wonderful, Elder Wilson thank you so

much for joining us. And right after this

break we'll be talking to the vice

chancellor of Spicer Adventist University.

(Music)

Welcome back, within the Seventh-day

Adventist Church the Thirteenth Sabbath

Offering has iconic status. For many, many

years Adventists have been giving

generously to 13th Sabbath Offerings.

These are collected, as the name suggests,

every 13th Sabbath at the end of each

quarter of the year.
And these offerings are

given for very specific projects
around the world.

It could be to start a new school,

or a new hospital, to help with community

outreach, various special
projects that get

extra funding to help them do their work.

Your offerings make a difference in the

lives of thousands of people around the

world. Coming up next, let's see how

Thirteenth Sabbath Offerings will be

making a difference in Taiwan as three new

urban centers of influence
are established.

(Music)

In Taiwan a large group of friends is

meeting at a local Seventh-day Adventist

Church. Not all of these friends are

Adventist members, but all feel welcome to

attend. It has become known as the

All Generations Center. This group is made

up of elderly members of the community.

They meet together as part of a regular

program run by the church. This program

has been active for almost 10 years now!

The Taiwanese government recognizes

what they do and supports their programs.

Pastor Tom is in charge of running the

program and planning
the activities.

Many of those who come don't
have family in the area.

They don't have people to take care
of them. So you can imagine their

excitement when they get together and

socialize. The church provides a healthy

lunch for the group. Pastor Tom makes

sure to jump in his car to visit the homes

of those who are not physically
able to attend.

(Sounds of walking)

He spends some time at their

homes, hand delivers meals, and prays

with them. Aside from lunch,
the group also

enjoys exercising, blood pressure checks,
crafts, and music.

(Music & clapping)

This center of influence has bridged a gap

to allow people to attend church on

Sabbath. Before this program began,

community members were not sure what to

think about Adventists.

Through this ministry,
people are getting to know Jesus

and are happier with their lives.

(Music & singing)

Throughout Taiwan the Adventist church

has established Centers of Influence to

meet people's needs. In this community,

it meant creating the
All Generations Center.

(Inaudible voices)

In other communities, education is

a challenge. Yulin Chong attended this

after-school program run by the Adventist

Church. The program helps tutor kids who

may need help and direction.
Yulin struggled

in school and had a difficult home life.

He faced a lot of trouble
in his earlier years

and it caused a lot of
confusion of what to

do with his life. After attending the

after-school program, Yulin learned about

Jesus and found purpose in his life.

Now he is a tutor and helps kids who were

once in his position. People all over the

world are in need. Each community has

different needs. Centers of Influence

around the world are helping touch lives

in their communities. A portion of your

mission offering will help support Centers

of Influence in Taiwan. Please pray for

these projects. Pray that they may grow

and continue to be a light in this world.

My guest is Dr. Justus Devadas who is the

vice chancellor of
Spicer Memorial University.

Doctor, thank you so much for joining us.

Thank you very much.

What an amazing time this is,
to celebrate 100 years!

Indeed, we're on top of the world.

Now, as you look at the past 100 years,

obviously you don't remember it all, but

what would you say are the major

contributions that Spicer has

made here in India?

Until about 15 years back, Spicer was the

only college of the
Adventist Church in the

entire division,
Spicer was the only college.

So if you look at the work force, probably

the highest person
paid came out of Spicer.

Whether it was the
division president or the

union conference presidents, most of them

studied at Spicer and teachers,
accountants, anything.

There are still about 15 years back.

So it's basically trained workers for the
Adventist Church.

Yes, not only for India, we have had

students from foreign countries. But from

the time the college came into being way

back in 1915, when it moved here in 1942

we were the only
institution in the city who

had foreign students studying here. And

then we help ambassadors from different

countries, one of the
GC vice president is a

Spicer graduate. There are many more.

Besides Spicer made
a distinct contribution

to the city by it's very
existence in this city

of the culture we've produced here. We

started several industries in Spicer which

was never heard of.
We also started the first

bakery in this city,
we were also the first to

manage an agricultural farm, modern farm

in this region. We used to educate farmers

from the local areas on modern and

advanced kind of farming. So it's had it's

own role to play in the city and India.

Because our student graduates went and

started schools and that became something.

Spicer is a tremendous place.

So you training teachers as well.

Oh yeah.

So what is the philosophy that
guides this school?

Well the Adventist philosophy of education

we are mission oriented people. Now the

college was started to produce workers for

the church and also
for people to find jobs

elsewhere. But the Indian education

system is British based education system,

very structured. We cannot do this way,

that way. Probably for years we were the

only liberal educational system in this

country. Then we introduced work

education program, students asked to work.

We paid them but then a part of that comes

to the school. We still do that
We put that

as a program in the
University Charter that

everyone has to work. So it's based on

sister White's philosophy of
education to the fullest.

A wholistic education.

Now the name Spicer, coming of course

from pastor Spicer,
how do you look on that name?

Elder Spicer never worked
at Spicer College.

He worked at the division and he was one

of those pioneers when the first Adventist

school was established in India where

several of our missionaries were even

killed due to smallpox, but he was there.

He stayed back and said look, the waves

may have been defeated but the current of

God will win. And then
his statement, there

is no position or authority in the church,

there are positions
only of service. All of

this we heard from him. You will see

hundreds of children named Spicer even

today. The name Spicer is given in respect

of him but then that name is synonymous

with this Christian institution.
Christians, all

denominations know about Spicer, we are

a very special place. In fact, I tried to
get

somebody from the Spicer family to come

for the centennial but they couldn't make
it.

But otherwise the name is very special to

us. Even though went from a college to a

university, they said we will
keep that name

but bring the name Adventist between so it

is Spicer Adventist University.

Okay, so I said it wrong before, I said

Spicer Memorial, it's Spicer Adventist.

Take out the Memorial and add Adventist.

I for one want to people
to know that this is

an Adventist institution. We'll stand for

Adventist principles whatever may come.

It doesn't matter whether we are big or

small but we'll stand for the Adventist

philosophy of education.

So I'm totally committed to that.

As you look to the future Dr. Devadas,

what would be your hope that this school

will continue to contribute?

Gary, you know the Adventist kids in India

had suffered for years and years for want

of an Adventist university because they'd

go to the secular universities,
they'd find

difficult time to manage
the Sabbath issues,

they'd move with a
different group of people.

Now with our university, we can only grow.

The Southern Asia has 1.7 million

membership and that many youngsters are

there. India has the highest population

which is less than 24 years old.

Seventh-day Adventists also, we want them

to come. We want the education to be

provided. Then, for international students

Spicer will still provide
top-class Adventist

education at an affordable price.

Up next we travel to Japan.

(Music)

When you think of Japan you might

imagine the busy,
crowded streets of Tokyo.

Or your mind might wander off to scenes of

beautiful landscapes. There is not only

diversity in Japan's lifestyle
and terrain but

also in the people who live here. Over the

years many South Americans have settled

into towns and cities throughout Japan.

Shizuoka is famous for it's views of

Mount Fuji. It has a humid, sub-tropical

climate. On this Sabbath morning the rain

is holding off allowing
this congregation to

meet beside a peaceful lake
outside the city.

This is a unique group in Japan.

The members of this church come from

South America and most from Brazil.

Many of them have lived here for years and

this is their home.
They come to work, have

a different quality of life,
and sometimes just

to have a new beginning. Since there is

such a large population
of Brazilians in this

area, they have formed
their own church family.

The churches atmosphere is friendly

and kind and all are welcome.

Brazilians smile a lot.

They like to hug and
they're very friendly.

They like to make friends and they also

expect you to come back again.

Each Sabbath begins
with a Sabbath

School lesson. If you don't speak

Portuguese there is still a place for you.

The classes are divided into Portuguese,

Japanese, and English speaking groups.

In general, Japan is a challenging area
for the gospel to spread.

Japan is a highly

developed country. But because of

secularism and materialism and all these

things will hinder people to receive the

gospel message.

You can notice a strong presence of these

concepts in the cities.
People are busy and

have little time for religion. This busy

lifestyle even rubs off on the Brazilian

migrant workers. For the church members,

the time to rest on
Sabbath is highly valued.

(Singing)

Marina is originally from Brazil.

When she moved to Japan with her

husband they were not Adventists.

Her husband wanted to find a new church

in Japan. So he started looking and found

an Adventist church. Marina was against

the idea of visiting. The first
time she went to church

she deliberately wore
outrageous outfits to

embarrass him and maybe stop him from

going. Her husband told
her that as long as

she comes to church it's okay. Marina

began to feel something change and before

long she actually wanted to attend. She

listened to the messages and eventually

Marina and her husband were baptized.

Members like Marina have turned their

lives around to serve Jesus.

The mission challenge can be
seen around the world

and especially in places like the

10/40 window. Churches like this one in

Japan have a great responsibility to draw

people closer to Jesus. A portion of your

mission offerings will support a

multicultural center where international

members can come together and lives

can be touched by Jesus.

Please pray for this church and other

international churches around the world.

Thank you for supporting the mission of

the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Well thanks so much for joining us today

on Mission 360. Right here from Spicer

Adventist University in Southern Asia.

And on today's program we've seen how

God's light has been spread here in India

and also in Northern Asian, in Japan,

in Taiwan, and other areas. Thank you so

much for your continuing prayers for

mission and also your financial support.

If you'd like to find out more about

Thirteenth Sabbath Offerings, just go to

our website at AdventistMission.org.

There you'll find lots of
reports with stories

and pictures and you'll also have the

opportunity to contribute a Thirteenth

Sabbath Offering if you wish. Before we go

I'd like to offer you a small gift of

appreciation for your support of mission.

A Taste of Travel is a cookbook written by

Nancy Kyte, the marketing director for

Adventist Mission. Nancy brings in recipes

from all over the world. So if you want to

add some spice, some interest to your life

try this book. Well that's it for today's

program and I hope that you can join me

next time right here on Mission 360.