MAKING DISCIPLES LIGHT BEARERS 2018 REPORT
Dear fellow Light Bearers, Thank you for taking the time to read this year-end report. Our goal here is to be accountable to you, our partners in ministry, for the work we are doing with the financial support you supply. We consider it an immense privilege to be engaged in the mission of disseminating the gospel to men, women, and children around the world. But we also consider it a great responsibility of stewardship. We do not take lightly the fact that you have put your trust in us to faithfully maximize your giving for the advancement of God’s kingdom and the salvation of souls. We have our marching orders straight from the mouth of our Savior: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen” (Matthew 28: 18-20). Go Make Disciples
That’s what we are endeavoring to do, as you will read in the pages ahead. In the first article, we would like to share with you a definition of discipleship, because it is always helpful to know what we mean by the words we use. Then you will read an exciting report regarding the publishing work of Light Bearers in 2018, an article describing a new discipleship ministry we’ve launched, a report on our ARISE discipleship school, and a powerful testimony from one of our students. Our world desperately needs the gospel of God’s saving grace. Each of us is called to be a disciple-making disciple of Christ. Thank you for linking arms and hearts and resources with us to bear light to an increasingly dark and troubled world. On behalf of the entire Light Bearers team,
Ty Gibson & James Rafferty
DOING DISCIPLESHIP TY GIBSON
Pausing to define the important words we use can be extremely helpful. That way, when we use them, we know what we’re talking about. We must articulate our way to clarity if we are going to have clarity at all. So, here’s a very important word in the Christian vocabulary worth pausing to define: Disciple. After looking at multiple dictionaries, as well as searching the internet for scholarly definitions, I’ve come up with what I regard to be the best definition. Disciple: a totally sold-out student and follower of Jesus Christ who replicates the Savior’s love in others. There are five key ideas here: 1 . SOLD OUT Paul describes our fallen state as “sold under sin” (Romans 7:14). But we weren’t left there. We were “redeemed,” or bought back, says Peter, “with the precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:19). We sold ourselves to sin and Jesus bought us back with His very life. When we realize what our salvation cost Jesus, there’s only one proper response: we become sold out for Him. Sold out means we’ve given Him complete ownership. We belong to Jesus entirely, or not at all. He is either everything to us, or nothing at all. There is no middle ground. 2 . STU D E N T A student occupies the position of a pupil or a learner under the educational influence of a teacher. Jesus is our teacher, which is
to say, He has things to teach us. Lots of things. Beautiful things. Powerful things. And His teachings are radical, so radical that, if believed and acted upon, they would overturn all the religious and political systems of our world. So radical, in fact, that they got Him crucified. After one of His astounding teaching sessions, “The chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people assembled at the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, and plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him” (Matthew 26:3-4). Jesus was murdered because of His ideas. If you are a disciple of Jesus, then you will be passionate to find out His ideas.
“Salvation is free, but discipleship will cost you your life.” D IETRICH B ON HOEFFER
3 . FO L LO W ER But the teachings of Jesus are not merely philosophical or abstract. They are practical, which is to say, they have to do with how to practice life. A term Jesus employed over and over again was, “one another.” Discipleship could be defined as “oneanothering.” Caring for one another. Forgiving one another. Doing life with one another. To be a disciple of Jesus is not merely to intellectually ascent to His ideas, but rather to live out His ideas in our relationships. 4 . REPL I CATES
And relationships are the key feature of discipleship. It is impossible to be a disciple of Jesus in isolation from others. The only way to practice the teachings of Jesus is to be in relationships with people upon whom you can practice, even as they practice His teachings on you. As we learn and follow the teachings of Jesus, our lives are so powerfully transformed that we can’t help but want to share Jesus with others. In other words, disciples make disciples. They replicate.
one with another. This love is the evidence of their discipleship . . . When men are bound together, not by force or self-interest, but by love, they show the working of an influence that is above every human influence” (Ellen White, The Desire of Ages, p. 678).
“Obedience—the service and allegiance of love—is the true sign of discipleship.” EL L EN WH IT E
“Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ.” D IET R ICH B O NHO EFFE R
5. LOV E To be more precise, the thing that lies at the core of the teachings of Jesus, the thing that defines everything about Him and everything He wants for us, is love. To learn to love like Jesus loves, and to replicate His love in relationships with others, is the essence of discipleship. Ellen White explains it like this: “All who are imbued with His Spirit will love as He loved. The very principle that actuated Christ will actuate them in all their dealing
What are you doing with your life? Are you satisfied with your professed Christian experience? Are you eager to wake up each morning and pursue the day because you know exactly who you are and what you’re up to? I have something to tell you. Lean in real close now, because I’m going to tell you the secret to living the most exciting and meaningful life imaginable: be a totally sold-out student and follower of Jesus Christ who replicates His love in relationship with others.
NEW RESOURCES NE W
THE SONSHIP OF CHRIST
TY GIBSON
EXPLORING THE COVENANT IDENTITY OF GOD AND MAN
Why is Christ called both “God” and the “Son of God” in Scripture? Discover an answer so simple you’ll wonder why you never saw it before, and so beautiful it will take your breath away. Ty creates a whole new theological lens through which to interpret the Trinity versus anti-Trinitarian debate that has been raging through much of Christian history. An excellent discipleship resource to share with family and friends. CR-1501 | PAPERBACK, 261 PAGES | $14.99
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THE MINOR PROPHETS The Minor Prophets brought God’s people messages of judgment, hope, and salvation. They spoke not only for God, but of God. The rich prophetic pictures of God’s gracious, loving heart from the Minor Prophets beckon us forward. Their solemn warnings, merciful judgments, and loving calls to repentance are inextricably blended with prophetic images of Jesus. 18DVD | SET OF 5 DVDS | $79.99 18CD | SET OF 21 CDS | $69.99
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PUBLISHING REPORT JA MES RAFFERTY
In the mid 1980s, God impressed us to help spread the gospel to developing countries that were suffering from a dearth of evangelism resources. It can be very challenging for members to do outreach when they lack materials. This is a common problem that Light Bearers Ministry has been called to address for the last 30 years. It all began with a copy machine and one young man who responded to a request for overseas literature in his local church magazine. As of October 2018, through your support, God has blessed us to be able to send 702 million pieces of truth-filled gospel literature in 33 languages, filling 325 containers, to 58 countries world-wide. Each year Light Bearers sends containers of literature to developing countries all over the world. Each container holds about 2 million tracts, along with Bibles and other inspired books like The Great Controversy and The Desire of Ages. Containers leave our publishing house and travel for several weeks and even months to their final destination. Once the container arrives in port, it is cleared through customs, then transported and unloaded by a church entity and stored in a safe location. Then it is made available through the local Division, Union, Conference, or supportive ministry for outreach. It may take months to utilize all the material sent or even years depending on the location and population to be reached. We then receive reports back regarding how the literature was used to impact lives for God’s kingdom. These reports we share with you in our Mission Update on a quarterly basis as a means of accountability and inspiration as we partner together under God’s guidance.
This year has been exceptionally productive. By the end of September, we had already exceeded our yearly budgeted number of containers. As we move into the very end of the year, we have been pushing to get at least three more out, totaling 15. The last time we sent more than 14 was in 2009, when we did 26 containers in one year. There are a number of factors playing into this like financial support, down time, extra help loading containers, and even weather.
God has blessed us to be able to send 702 million pieces of truth-filled gospel literature in 33 languages, filling 325 containers, to 58 countries world-wide. It is becoming more evident that this entire operation of shipping containers full of gospel literature, Bibles, and Spirit of Prophecy books is meeting more and more difficulty. God is working, though, to get literature out the doors while the way is still open. Your financial support has been vital. We are pushing forward through the troublous times so that we can see this inspired statement realized: “The publications sent forth from our printing houses are to prepare a people to meet God. Throughout the world they are to do the same work that was done by John the Baptist for the Jewish nation . . . Let it never be forgotten that these institutions are to co-operate with the ministry of the delegates of heaven. They are among the agencies represented by the angel flying ‘in
the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come.’ Revelation 14:6, 7. And in a large degree through our publishing houses is to be accomplished the work of that other angel who comes down from heaven with great power and who lightens the earth with his glory . . . Solemn is the responsibility that rests upon our houses of publication . . . The great conflict that Satan created in the heavenly courts is soon, very soon, to be forever decided. Soon all the inhabitants of the earth will have taken sides, either for or against the government of heaven.
Now, as never before, Satan is exercising his deceiving power to mislead and to destroy every unguarded soul. We are called upon to arouse the people to prepare for the great issues before them. We must give warning to those who are standing on the very brink of ruin . . . This is the work before us; for this our publishing institutions were established; it is this work that God expects at their hands” (Ellen White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 7, pp. 140-142). Thank you for being part of this John-theBaptist work. May God guide us as we keep printing the publications of that “other angel” who lightens the earth with God’s glory, preparing the world for His soon return. Amen.
GROW AS A DISCIPLE TRUTH LINK Truth is not merely a list of abstract ideas or a collection of factual data. Truth Link is a series of 27 Bible study guides written specifically to enable you to see and experience the love of God. ET-202 | 27 GUIDES | $7.99
SALVATION IN SYMBOLS AND SIGNS The book of Revelation is filled with so many signs and symbols it can feel intimidating to study. Use this series of 72 halfhour episodes as a simple yet thorough verse by verse study through Revelation. VT-9100 | 22 DVDS (SETS 1-10) | $199.99 INDIVIDUAL SETS | $24.99
DIGMA This library of 12 short videos delves into the most important questions we ask as human beings. Designed for starting a conversation and with a pdf discussion guide on each disc, these DVDs are perfect for personal or small group study and are priced for sharing with others. VT-2400 | 12 DVDS | $19.99 INDIVIDUAL DISCS | $1.99
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2018 LITERATURE SH The East-Ghana Conference requested truth-filled literature to use in their pre-work for their Total Member Involvement evangelistic campaigns. They received one container of doctrinal study guides, Daniel and Revelation studies, Ellen White books, doctrinal magazines, and Bibles.
Jamaica Union Conference received one container of gospel literature, including tracts, Daniel and Revelation study guides, evangelistic books, and Bibles. They plan to saturate the country with the material.
Rwanda Union Mission received one container of doctrinal Bible studies in Kinyarwanda, a major indigenous language. The shipment included a large supply of The Great Controversy and The Desire of Ages in English. These materials were used in a nationwide evangelism campaign for 2,200 simultaneous events, including meetings by Elder Ted Wilson. Attendance was estimated to be 10,000.
Riverside Farm Institute in Zambia received one container of Daniel and Revelation study guides, as well as doctrinal studies. The material is being used by their Bible Pioneers. These individuals come to Riverside once each year for training, take as much literature as they can handle, and then head back off into “the bush� to share the gospel. Riverside also shares the literature with local churches and conferences. The North Zambia Union received a container of doctrinal study guides, Bibles, Ellen White books, and children’s material to be used for distribution in their territory during their Total Member Involvement evangelistic meetings.
HIPMENT RECIPIENTS Northern Tanzania Union Conference received one container of Swahili Bible studies, which they devoted to Total Member Involvement campaigns that started in July 2016 and will end with evangelistic meetings conducted by Elder Ted Wilson in 2018. East-Central Tanzania Conference received a container of Swahili and English Bible studies to be distributed for their Total Member Involvement campaigns scheduled throughout the year and also for pre-work for Elder Wilson’s evangelistic series in 2018. The West Tanzania Conference, with their 55,000 members, received one shipment of Swahili and English literature. They are distributing the material over a vast territory with nearly seven million people. This is pre-work for evangelist campaigns that will include Elder Ted Wilson.
We sent two containers to the Malawi Union that included Chichewa doctrinal studies, English Daniel and Revelation studies, Steps to Christ tracts, and Bibles. They will use the literature for their evangelistic plan, which kicked off this year.
The Madagascar Union, located in Antananarivo, received one container of truth-filled literature in the Malagasy language. They will share the material with five conferences. The president said, “I don't know how to thank you, because you help us to finish the work of God in this part of the world.”
The Northern Conference in South Africa received one shipment of literature, almost half filled with The Great Controversy, by Ellen White. It also included doctrinal study guides, Bibles, and other Ellen White books.
DISCIPLESHIP REPORT JA MES RAFFERTY
In January 2018 God put it on my heart to lead out in a discipleship ministry: to teach, train, support, and do life with a small group of ARISE graduates. This meant ending over 32 years of full-time travel for preaching, teaching, and evangelism and settling into local ministry. The discipleship ministry began in January with three senior and 11 junior interns. For the first six months, our week consisted of four days of class, Monday through Thursday. We divided each day into four subjects: 1. His Time—Bible study. 2. Your Time—questions and answers. 3. Our Time—sharing about ministry and personal life experience. 4. Prayer Time—praying for the outreach and giving all to God.
Each one was unique in their circumstances, personality, abilities, and talents. The rest of the week was left open to each of the interns to determine what ministry God would lead them to do. Each one was unique in their circumstances, personality, abilities, and talents. Therefore, each one was seeking to develop the calling of God for their lives. The senior interns and I were there to support, encourage, and pour into them. Each week we did life coaching with the junior interns to support them spiritually and emotionally.
At the end of the first six months we transitioned to two senior interns and six junior interns. (One senior intern took a call that is leading his life to full-time work on a farm.)
All the interns attend and support each of these ministries. We relaxed the class schedule for the next six months from four days to two days. We also increased the ministry requirements. Now each junior intern would focus on at least one ministry and their fellow interns would support that ministry. For example, one of our junior interns is starting a Celebrate Recovery program in a local SDA church. The other interns attend the leadership training and will continue to support him as he reaches out to the church and community. Another intern is working at the Eugene Mission, a local wellness center for the homeless. So, all the other interns support him and together they serve the homeless each week. Another intern has a rock-climbing ministry and others are developing a young adult outreach with our local pastors. Another, who has construction experience, is doing a project ministry in the local area. All the interns attend and support each of these ministries. In this way, each intern is not only doing their talent-specific ministry, but they are also supporting and experiencing the various types of ministry that their fellow interns are called to do.
One of the goals of the discipleship ministry is to be available to our local churches and support the ministry of our local pastors by helping with sermons, evangelism, Bible studies, health outreach, children’s meetings, and even church maintenance. And, of course, the interns are involved in personal Bible studies in the local community.
I have learned so many things about personal ministry and discipleship, about being real with people and opening up, about how to do life together and the value of friendship. Additionally, each of the interns will be traveling to Australia this year to pour into our ARISE students in Australia. Being graduates themselves and spending the last year or two in a variety of ministries, they will be able to counsel, coach, and encourage new ARISE students. Then they look forward to engaging with the next year’s ARISE class in the United States.
For me personally, this has been an incredible year. I have learned so many things about personal ministry and discipleship, about being real with people and opening up, about how to do life together and the value of friendship. My plan, with God leading, is to dedicate the rest of my life to discipleship ministry, developing relationships, and mentoring ARISE grads, teaching them everything I know about ministry. It’s a privilege for me to take all my life experience and pass it on to others, to teach and prepare them as much as I can by God’s grace for ministry, and to see them excel and even pass me up in their influence, abilities, and talents to reach souls for Christ. Please keep the discipleship ministry in your prayers and also lend your financial support if you feel so impressed by the Spirit. Amen.
RESOURCES FOR DISCIPLES FOOTPRINTS OF FAITH Footprints of Faith is not a biography of a man, a literary production, or a treatise on the subject of faith. This book is rather a collection of footprints from the life of David Paulson, founder of the Hinsdale Sanitarium in Chicago. It was said that his prayers for the sick brought them back to health again. Our prayer is that by reading of his amazing life of faith that your heart will long for a deeper walk with God an that your faith will be strengthened. CR-1921 | PAPERBACK, 90 PAGES | $9.99
UNDER THE GUIDING HAND: LIFE EXPERIENCES OF THE DOCTORS KRESS A fascinating first-person account of the lives of Daniel and Lauretta Kress, who graduated as physicians from the University of Michigan in 1894. Follow them from occupying a Baptist parsonage to operating multiple Seventh-day Adventist sanitariums. PAPERBACK, 276 PAGES | $14.99
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ARISE REPORT KARL LINDSAY
ARISE is all about radically transforming people’s lives and igniting in them an unquenchable fire to share the gospel with others. Diego was thirsty. This inner thirst kept him searching for a message of hope for years. Stifled by the thought that God was distant and judgmental, he felt hopeless and insecure. When Diego registered for ARISE Online, he was trying to figure out his place in God’s grand narrative, and now he’s finding it.
The room was buzzing with excitement at the insights emerging from God’s word. Diego’s story isn’t unique. We have hundreds of ARISE Online students who are seeking a deeper walk with Jesus. God used ARISE Online in Diego’s life to draw him closer to Himself. Diego says, “I have been so excited about the things that I have learned . . . that I want to tell everyone about how much God loves them.” We praise God for testimonies like this. Our Light Bearers discipleship training program, ARISE, has been teaching students for over 15 years, and after launching ARISE Online last year, we now have over 400
students making their way through the ARISE curriculum through this new, easy-access electronic medium.
Diego’s story isn’t unique. In partnership with the North New South Wales Conference in Australia, we had over 40 students graduate in May from our three-month program and over 70 people attend the second ARISE Express program, which is a two-week program focused on evangelistic training. In October we also ran our first ARISE Intensive, a three-day event held in Orlando, Florida. We condensed our curriculum into 17 teaching sessions and gave the 230 attendees practical tools for understanding Scripture and sharing the gospel with those around them. It was nothing short of amazing. The room was buzzing with excitement at the insights emerging from God’s word. Attendees left the event revitalized in their faith and eager to employ their gifts to advance God’s kingdom of grace in the world. How might you or someone you love become an ARISE student? Explore the options at our website.
MY ARISE TESTIMONY EDGAR QUISPE
Just over a year ago, my wife Nicole and I sat down to discuss the possibility of me attending the 2017 ARISE program in Oregon. A lot of things needed to fall into place in order for me to attend. How would we manage finances if I didn’t work for three months? What would life be like separated from the one you love? There were significant question marks. Often times in life we ask ourselves, “How are we ever going to be able to do this?” The question we really should be asking is, rather, “Is this what God wants for my life?” I was learning to trust God with the little things in my life. ARISE was the next step in learning to trust Him. As soon as Nicole and I let go of the need to know how ARISE could happen, God provided the solutions. All He asked us to do was trust ourselves to His leading. When I arrived in Oregon, I thought I was going to receive training on how to give Bible studies and share the gospel effectively. Although I did learn those things, I fully believe now that God brought me to ARISE because I desperately needed healing.
I fully believe now that God brought me to ARISE because I desperately needed healing. Seven years ago, I woke up from a decade long run of drug and alcohol abuse and I found myself surrounded by carnage. I had
hurt everyone in my life: my wife, our families and our friends. I don’t really know how I got so lost, but I was pretty far out there—angry, controlling, abusive, unfaithful, proud. I was living in my own little dysfunctional bubble, writing my own life-narrative. I was broken. God has faithfully worked on my heart, though, to reveal the need I have for a Savior. I spent my whole life having a relationship with the stories, ideas, and facts about Jesus, thinking that this was the gospel, when, in reality, I had never been in a personal relationship with Him. The ARISE experience has been a life-changer for me in this area.
I was pretty far out there— angry, controlling, abusive, unfaithful, proud. As my class journeyed through the biblical narrative, I began to bathe in God’s love for me. Jesus became a real person. He began to personally wash and dress the wounds of my life. It was during ARISE that I finally met Jesus. I thought I was coming to an academic program to learn how to give Bible studies. It turned out to be an encounter with Christ that is completely rewriting my personal story as a human being. Now He says to me every day, “Come. Receive. Heal. Rest.” At the end of ARISE, I was presented with the opportunity to stay on as a Light Bearers intern in the new discipleship program, which included working with Storyline
Adventist Church (a local church plant). After prayerful consideration (and selling a lot of our belongings), Nicole and I accepted and made the move to the Eugene area. The discipleship ministry is really about learning to do life together. What does the gospel look like up close and personal in a community? We’ve had six to 12 interns partaking in the program at any given time. Our leadership team consists of James Rafferty and a number of senior interns that help with facilitating and mentoring. A good portion of our time is spent leaning in to each other—studying, singing, praying, eating, learning, confessing, growing, laughing, and healing. There are some pretty intense moments. I’m beginning to understand that true joy, growth, and maturity come as I learn to be vulnerable and honest with myself and others. This oftentimes means I must face my fears in some really uncomfortable spaces. It’s pretty amazing to watch God begin to change the way I experience trials in my life as I learn to trust Him and the way He is calling me to live in community.
Another aspect of the discipleship ministry is helping each intern to step into his or her calling. Some of the ministries we’re involved with include serving at the Mission (a local homeless shelter), rock climbing night with people from the community, midweek small group studies, and starting up a Celebrate Recovery chapter at one of our local churches.
As my class journeyed through the biblical narrative, I began to bathe in God’s love for me. One of my favorite parts of the discipleship program is how, as a group, we support each other’s ministries. There is no doubt that a huge part of my healing process is coming from being able to serve others. The joy of service is real and there is nothing better than serving together. Nicole and I are looking forward to another season in the discipleship ministry, and I am grateful for this opportunity to continue learning to love others as Jesus loves me, and to receive love from others.
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