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Worldwide Ministry News
REPORTS
Fall 2013 • Vol. 15, No. 3
Firmly
Planted
Find out why this OCI Leadership
Retreat was so meaningful | 12
Latest News From: Colombia, Japan, Portugal, and More...
NEWSFLASH
News From OCI Ministries Around the World
Meaningful Massage
After completing their class on health
expos, students from VIDA Internacional’s
mission school were invited to offer a
health expo in Tegucigalpa, the capital
city of Honduras. Working in collaboration
with the Honduras Union Mission’s
literature booth at the national university,
the medical missionaries gave massages
to university students and church officials
who flocked to the health expo.
Fresh Facelift
At the beginning of the summer, 11
people traveled to Mount Akagi Institute
in Japan to give the ministry’s lifestyle
center a facelift. They replaced the deck,
changed the flooring and carpets, plus
painted the interior. Director Marty Brown
said hosting the mission group gave him
renewed hope and energy. The ministry
is confident that
the new look will
be more inviting
to visitors, and
the team plans
to be more
active in inviting
people to visit
Mount Akagi.
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2013
Showers of Blessing
During powerful storms this spring,
God protected Oklahoma Academy from
tornados; however, a destructive hailstorm
damaged school property. But the disaster
was a blessing in disguise. This summer
every building and
home on campus
received new
roofing and other
refurbishing. The
ministry is thankful
that God works in
wonderful ways!
Successful Students
Amid tears, cheers, and student
accolades, Advent Home Learning
Center in Tennessee held its annual
June graduation. Some students shared
their testimonies of the growth they had
experienced during their time at Advent
Home. Three former graduates received
scholarship offers at two Adventist
universities. There were also two
baptisms. The ministry praises God for its
graduates’ success.
New Beginnings
Madison House in South Africa
has opened its doors as a commercial
guesthouse. Previously operating as
a lifestyle center, the team hopes to
gain enough income through this new
enterprise to be able to cater to lifestyle
guests again. The ministry is also being
featured on a local satellite TV station,
which will potentially attract more visitors.
Lasting Impressions
More than 300 people signed up for
Wildwood’s Health Club this past July
thanks to the ministry’s effort to reach
Chattanooga, Tennessee, in a lasting
way. Students and staff joined the local
Independence Day celebrations by giving
out free, healthy ice cream and hot dogs
at the ministry’s Green Thumb Vegetarian
Restaurant. The initiative was well received
by the community, and as a result, the
people who signed up for the club will be
invited to cooking schools, seminars, and
other monthly health-related events.
Rescue and Relief
This year DayStar Adventist Academy
students (pictured below) will train a
total of 50 hours to become certified First
Responders. Students will learn emergency
search and rescue techniques and disaster
management; these skills will be tested
when they go on the academy’s yearly
mission trip. The school is working in
partnership with Michael Duehrssen, an ER
physician and founder of the International
Rescue and Relief program at Union
College. In the future, they hope to expand
this program into something that can be
used on a wider scale to train youth to be
of service in sharing the Good News as they
minister to people’s physical needs.
Promising
Prospects
In 2012 LIGHT held a
six-month training course
in Nigeria, the first in West
Africa. The project’s small
bakery helped to cover
some of the 11 graduates’
expenses. Harbert Hills
Academy, an OCI ministry
in Tennessee, also donated an industrial
oven that will provide future students with
a work-study opportunity. Currently onemonth training sessions are being held
around the country to prepare people
for the next six-month LIGHT school in
January 2014.
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3
Touching Lives
Caring
Connections
1
2
by Stan Hendrickson
from various
Dhealth issues, including
anemia,
espite suffering
kidney problems, and an electrolyte
imbalance, Hana has a pleasant spirit.
After contracting meningitis at age
3, she never fully developed mentally,
and for years medical personnel
brushed her aside.
A few months ago, Hana fell down
stairs. Soon afterward several wounds
opened up on her legs. For six weeks
Stan and Jan Hendrickson, directors
of Fondacioni
Almise, an OCI
associate member
in Albania,
treated Hana in
her home. They
prayed with Hana
and her brother
3
1 & 2: Guitar and English
each day, and they
classes provide opportunities
have seen great
for the Hendricksons to build
improvement in
relationships. 3: Jan visits Hana in
her home.
her health.
Another person the Hendricksons
have been able to help is 8-year-old
Dioni. He had been sick for a week
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and unable to sleep. Stan showed
Dioni’s family some simple massage and
hydrotherapy home remedies. Dioni
recovered and begged to go to school!
He now attends Jan’s English class for
children, and the family has started to
show an interest in spiritual topics.
Helping people with their health
is an important witnessing tool for
Fondacioni Almise. However, English
and guitar classes are the ministry’s main
outreach. Albanians are often cynical
toward religion. The classes allow the
Hendricksons to develop relationships
with the community. Two young
couples from these classes recently
began attending church.
The team shares Jesus with people
at every opportunity, but there is a
need for more literature in Albanian.
Currently they are also seeking more
English teachers. Please keep Fondacioni
Almise in your prayers as its workers
continue to create connections and
share Christ with the community!
Stan Hendrickson serves as director
of Fondacioni Almise in Albania. Visit
www.outpostcenters.org for more
information.
President’s Perspective
Death of
a Sister
more than 10 years
Aago, I remember it distinctly. Driving
onto the
About the Cover: New friends
share ideas during the 2013
OCI Leadership Retreat.
Photo by: Janell Hullquist
lthough the event happened
campus of Riverside Farm Institute in Zambia, I saw her
lying on the ground, her sister standing over her. A hasty
move by a well-meaning young man had separated the
two, which had been deeply united in life.
She and her sister were a pair of trees, so called the
“sisters” by the locals. The two trees bore their leaves at
a different time than most of the other trees on campus.
The student missionary mistook her leafless form as an
indication of death, not realizing that during the dry
season, she and her sister put out leaves that gave muchneeded shade. Thinking he was getting rid of a dead tree,
he took a chainsaw and cut her down. Although many
of the ministry staff members missed her, they were glad
that her sister had been spared.
How often do we make unwarranted judgments about
people based on their outward appearance? Unable to
read the heart, correctly judge the motives, or understand
the struggles of others, we form a wrong opinion of
their spiritual condition. In our ignorant zeal, we use our
tongues to cut them down, inflicting pain and wounding
reputations. How much better it would be if we could
learn to see others as Jesus sees them! Rather than
accepting our hasty misconceptions, perhaps we could
seek to discover the inward working of God’s grace upon
the heart.
REPORTS
Fall 2013 • Vol. 15, No. 3
Steven Grabiner Executive Editor
Janell Hullquist Editor, Layout & Design
Hannah Kuntz Content Editor
Debbie Hicks Copy Editor
Printed ByCollege Press, LLC
Bible verses NKJV unless noted.
OCI Reports magazine is published
quarterly by Outpost Centers
International. Send address changes
to ocireports@outpostcenters.org, and
please include both the old and new
addresses. You may also use the OCI
contact information below.
Outpost Centers International is
a nonprofit organization working
in cooperation with the Seventhday Adventist Church to network
and nurture supporting ministries
worldwide. OCI operates through the
generosity of people like you and issues
tax-deductible receipts to U.S. donors.
One-hundred percent of all donations
go to the designated ministry.
Please direct correspondence to:
Outpost Centers International
5132 Layton Lane
Apison, TN 37302
Tel: 423-236-5600
Fax: 423-236-5650
Email: info@outpostcenters.org
For further information, please visit us
on the web at www.outpostcenters.org.
Editor
Steven Grabiner
President
janell@outpostcenters.org
Copyright © 2013 Outpost Centers International
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5
About His
Business
Interview by Hannah Kuntz
C al vi n Th ra sh
an d hi s p ar ents
Calvin Thrash III never planned to take over the ministry his parents,
Doctors Calvin and Agatha Thrash, founded in 1970. He pursued various
business ventures, including positions in banking and radio, but God led
him to be about His business. Calvin is now the president of Uchee Pines
Institute in Alabama, which continues to promote healthy living and
healing in its community and around the world 43 years after beginning.
6
What impressed you to continue the
work your parents started?
What are some of the most effective
aspects of Uchee Pines’ outreach?
In many ways I was involved with the
Lord’s work even before I was a Christian.
For 15 years I ran the publishing company
my parents started. One day after I was
reconverted and rebaptized, my dad
approached me about taking his place as
president of Uchee Pines. I talked to my
wife, Kelly, about the decision. I hoped the
Lord would find someone who was better
suited than I; however, after much prayer,
it seemed like God was calling me to
accept, and I became president in 1999.
International outreach has always
been important to us. We have tried to
create an environment at Uchee Pines
that emphasizes willingness to answer
the Lord’s call, wherever He leads. I
believe that it’s crucial for our institutions,
specifically Uchee Pines, to put a focus
on work that is being done in as many
different venues as possible, and that
includes serving abroad.
However, we would like to improve our
local outreach. Almost all of the lifestyle
guests come from outside our community.
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2013
Face to Face
1
2
3
1: Calvin Thrash congratulates a medical missionary graduate. 2: The Bible is always at the core of the work
at Uchee Pines. 3: The health ministry opens doors to share spiritual healing.
Previous page: The lifestyle center attracts a wide variety of people to Uchee Pines.
There has been an influx of people in our
area, and unfortunately we probably knew
our neighbors better 30 years ago. We
want to have a deliberate plan for door-todoor visitation to help us get to know our
neighbors and their needs better.
Additionally, we want to find new ways
to encourage people to start ministries.
One way is by making our health
educational material and other resources
more readily available through different
media platforms.
How is Uchee Pines making an impact?
We’d like to focus on success stories,
but people aren’t always healed. A man
with terminal cancer came to our lifestyle
center for several sessions. During the
first session he had a stroke, and it looked
like he might die. However, after that he
began improving considerably. During this
time he had a reconversion process and
was rebaptized. Even though he passed
away recently, I believe the Lord brought
him here so he could be in a spiritual
environment that would be conducive
to his spiritual growth. There’s no doubt
that God allowed everything to happen in
order to bring the man closer to Him.
The lifestyle center and Country Life
store have broken down prejudice in
many ways in our surrounding area,
which has opened the door for a greater
evangelistic impact. People come to
Country Life looking for spiritual help
when they feel like they can’t get it
from anybody else; they realize that our
outreach pertains to more than just food.
What is the most rewarding aspect of
your work?
It’s personally satisfying to see God
work in people’s lives. And, of course, the
Lord is working in my own life as well.
We each have an idea about what we
think we’re supposed to do or want to
learn, but as we
grow closer to
Him, He opens
opportunities
to serve in
ways we can’t
imagine. I think
He’s getting
us all ready for
heaven. It is an
individual work
in a lot of ways,
but He’s doing
Kel ly & C alvi n
it as a Church
and as a group.
It’s good that we’re together so that we
can learn from each other.
For more information about Uchee Pines
Institute in Alabama, visit www.ucheepines.org.
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7
Touching Lives
Life More
Abundant
by Marianne Ferreira
1
struggled with
Fdepression and anxiety.
When she
or 33 years Bev*
was 12 years old, she felt unable to
cope with the domestic violence in her
family and attempted suicide for the
first time.
During her teenage years, Bev
attended the Seventh-day Adventist
Church for a while, but life was a
burden. After marrying and leaving
home, she was no longer exposed to the
horrors of abuse. However, fear for her
mother’s wellbeing continued
to control her.
Becoming
increasingly
dependent on
medication, Bev
was hospitalized
several times for
severe depression,
2 often after a
suicide attempt.
Her self-image
progressively
worsened. She
3
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1: Beautiful nature
surrounds VitaSalus.
2: The dentist helps
many people regain
confidence.
3: Lifestyle guests
enjoy a morning hike.
was smoking heavily and gaining weight.
Bev often felt so ugly she would cry.
Then things began to change. A new
colleague recognized Bev from the
church youth group she once attended
and was moved with compassion. A
consultation was organized at VitaSalus,
and Bev attended a depression recovery
program at the new, yet unfinished
lifestyle center. The dentist at VitaSalus
also fixed her damaged teeth, giving her
a new smile she wasn’t afraid to share.
“During that short period, I started
learning how to deal with anxiety,”
Bev says. “I decreased my medication,
stopped smoking, and learned to look to
God for help.”
When Bev was reunited with her
family, tears of joy and victory flowed
freely as they embraced.
Four months later, Bev is still
happy. She has further decreased her
medication, is eating healthfully, and
has lost more weight. She is actively
involved in church with her 14-year-old
daughter. And most importantly, Bev has
started living again.
*Name changed for privacy.
Marianne Ferreira is a physician
at VitaSalus in Portugal. For more
information about this OCI member,
visit www.outpostcenters.org.
Touching Lives
Open Doors
Open Hearts
by Debbie Baker
1
the steps
Tand carefully knockedclimbed
on the door.
wo young ladies
As freshmen at Heritage Academy in
Tennessee, Sierra Manester and Ashley
Christian were learning how to conduct
door-to-door visits and Bible studies.
They had been visiting a couple that
was new to the area. As the studies
progressed, the students presented
end-time prophecies, including the
mark of the beast. Their team leader,
LoAmmi Richardson, helped them
with the study. The husband and wife
became increasingly excited as Sierra,
Ashley, and LoAmmi shared Bible
verses and answered their questions.
Nearing the conclusion of the visit,
the man said, “I have been studying
this topic for 15 years and have not
been able to make it fit together, but
you have helped me make sense of it!”
Surprised, the girls praised God for
using them to witness for Him.
This past year, Heritage partnered
its literature evangelism program with
a new Bible study ministry, which has
proven to be a dynamic combination.
Students like Sierra and Ashley are
trained in both areas, and they visit
members of the community on a
daily basis.
2
1: A student distributes literature in a shopping
center parking lot. 2: Students enjoy connecting
with neighbors through Bible studies.
During the summer, Heritage
Academy’s faculty carried on
the Bible studies in the students’
absence. However, as the new school
year begins, students will again do
visitation. The staff members praise the
Lord for allowing them to play a part
in impacting the lives and spiritual
walks of both those who give and
receive the studies!
Debbie Baker is president of
Heritage Academy in Tennessee. To
learn more about this OCI ministry,
visit www.heritagetn.org.
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9
God
Opens
theWay
by Yolanda Rodriguez
As an inner-city school in Colombia, Liceo Maranata
gives at-risk young people hope for a brighter future.
God calling
Yher to start a children’s ministry.
olanda Rodriguez felt
In 1994 she opened Liceo Maranata, a
school in Colombia, with eight students.
In the beginning Yolanda taught
classes in her father’s home. When the
first school year ended, there were
19 students. As enrollment increased,
it became apparent that the ministry
needed more space.Yolanda prayed with
the children that God would provide
them with a larger facility, including a
spacious courtyard for recreation.
Four years and 90 students later, the
ministry was in dire need of a new
place to meet.Yolanda found a house
for sale with a large lot for $25,000,
but she only had $1,500. However, she
felt impressed that God would take
care of everything and went ahead
with the initial sale proceedings. As
the time neared to pay the remainder
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of the money, she wondered how He
would supply the balance. Her father
lent her $5,000, bringing the total she
had to $6,500, which was still a lot less
than what was needed to purchase the
property.Yolanda realized that she would
have to take out a loan. However, a
banking friend advised her against doing
so because the school wouldn’t generate
enough resources to pay back a large
Mission Snapshot
debt. Instead he offered to personally
lend her the money with low interest.
Despite the wait, God had opened a
way. Liceo Maranata finally had a school
building of its own with enough space
to accommodate more students.
Since the building was purchased,
the school has grown exponentially.
The ministry is located in Soacha,
Colombia, on the southern edge of
Bogotá, the country’s capital. Before its
establishment, there was no Adventist
educational presence in that region.
Many of the students struggle with
social problems such as drug abuse,
juvenile delinquency, and teenage
pregnancy. The ministry’s mission
is to provide these children with an
opportunity for a brighter future.
Through education based on Seventhday Adventist principles, the students
develop spiritually, mentally, physically,
socially, and emotionally.
The team has developed a
comprehensive education plan, which
emphasizes studying the Bible. Students
learn leadership skills by reading about
mission-minded men like William Carey
and David Livingstone. In addition,
students are taught about healthy
lifestyle choices through devotionals,
workshops, videos, and food sold
at the school’s store. Staff members
hope that students will one day be
able to effectively serve God in their
communities and churches.
With 529 students, this inner-city
ministry is again seeking to expand by
building more classrooms. The team
continues to trust God’s leading. As
they come to Him in prayer, they are
confident that He will continue to
open a way. It is their greatest desire that
students and their parents will come to
know God’s power and love, which has
sustained Liceo Maranata for 19 years.
This Page: Despite crowded facilities,
students thrive at Liceo Maranata.
Previous Page: Yolanda and her husband
are committed to these children.
Yolanda Rodriguez serves as director of Liceo
Maranata in Colombia. To learn more, visit
www.outpostcenters.org.
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11
2
3
1
Top: Riverside Farm lies along the
Kafue River. 1: Steven Grabiner
presents on Revelation.
2: A small group discusses
practical topics. 3: Anita Kim
enjoys a seminar. 4: Participants
came from 20 different countries.
4
Firmly
Planted
Compiled by Hannah Kuntz
He shall be like a tree
planted by the rivers of
water...And whatever he
does shall prosper.
Psalm 1:3
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2013
Edesigned to provide ministry
ach year OCI holds a retreat
leaders and staff with opportunities for
fellowship, learning, and rejuvenation.
This summer more than 150 people
attended the 2013 OCI Leadership
Retreat at Riverside Farm Institute in
Zambia. As the OCI family gathered
near the banks of the Kafue River,
the theme “Firmly Planted” seemed
especially fitting. Throughout the retreat,
presenters reminded attendees to be
“firmly planted” in Jesus Christ. For
each person, the retreat was meaningful
in a different way.
Feature
Spiritual Renewal:
My heart was drawn toward God
and my fellow missionaries in renewed
strength, hope, encouragement, and
devotion during the United Prayer
sessions. I have never experienced such
long group prayer sessions; however,
they were a delight and the highlight
of each day for me.
Tamara Schoch
Kibidula Farm Institute, Tanzania
Useful Seminars:
What a privilege it was to attend the
retreat! I appreciated many aspects of the
meetings, especially the seminars, which
were of excellent quality and very
practical and relevant for supporting
ministries. Topics included management,
stress/burnout, morality, and biblical
leadership. The presentations were
followed by small-group discussions that
gave us an opportunity to brainstorm
and share issues we face and to get ideas
from others who may have solutions
from the Bible or from their own
experiences.
Dosung Kim
Instituto Quebrada Leon, Bolivia
Encouragement:
I am so thankful that I attended
this year’s retreat. I loved hearing the
nightly reports from the ministries.
The seminars were great, too, and I
learned a lot that I can apply to my
life and work. I left feeling renewed
and energized, and I gained lots of
wonderful new friends!
Networking:
I appreciated the opportunity to
develop new ideas while talking to
other OCI ministry leaders. Next year
we plan to do a training program in
Prague in cooperation with LIGHT,
as well as to organize a mission trip to
the Philippines. We also discussed the
possibilities of sharing more materials
with other ministries such as PowerPoint
lectures, handouts, posters, and articles.
Robert Zizka
Springs of Health, Czech Republic
Networking was a highlight for me.
Here is one example: After teaching a
class to a group of Bible workers during
the retreat, I was given about 12 sheets
of paper filled with requests for spiritual
books and Bible commentaries. Shortly
after arriving home to Oregon, a retired
pastor contacted me wanting to donate
15 boxes of the very materials requested
by these Bible workers. Praising God!
James Rafferty
Light Bearers Ministry, USA
Larger View of Missions:
Attending the 2013 OCI Leadership
Retreat in Zambia changed my heart
and gave me a completely different
vision for serving God through selfsupporting work. I praise God for the
opportunity to attend, and I pray that
other young people like myself will go
to future OCI retreats and gain a greater
vision of self-supporting work.
Birendra Ramtel
Living Springs Overseas Missions, India
Pat Humphrey
USA
If you are interested in attending a future OCI Leadership Retreat,
please email info@outpostcenters.org or call 423.236.5600.
OC I
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13
Food for Thought
Lessons From My
Morning Walk
by David Armstrong
while visiting
Afamily, I took a morning
walk.
few weeks ago
We had experienced delays with
ministry plans, and I felt emotionally
drained. I needed to recharge.
As I walked I prayed that God would
teach me a lesson through nature. He’d
been waiting for me to ask; within
seconds, thoughts flashed into my
mind. I noticed a tall and symmetrical
tree with a well-set trunk and leafy
foliage. It had not reached its attractive
stature in a week, a month, or even
a year; many seasons of growth and
dormancy went into the making of
this handiwork of God. Each year’s
development probably went unnoticed
by local residents, but it made a
difference nonetheless. I read, “Be
patient with progress.”
Next I thought about human
development and how it takes many
years of love, care, and instruction for
an infant to become a productive adult.
Spiritually, mentally, and physically
speaking, it all takes time. I read, “Be
patient with people.”
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2013
Then I thought of Moses, who tried
to take God’s promise to deliver the
Israelites from Egyptian bondage into
his own hands. As a result, the wouldbe Pharaoh found himself tending
smelly sheep for his father-in-law, and
the Israelites remained slaves for 40
years longer than what Moses initially
found comfortable. Though Moses was
eager, he needed time to mature before
he was ready for the great work God
had for him. I read, “Be patient with
God’s Providence.” (Or should I say,
“Thank you, Lord, for being patient
with us!”)
Adjusting to God’s timetable can be
challenging, “but like the stars in the
vast circuit of their appointed path,
God’s purposes know no haste and no
delay” (The Desire of Ages, p. 32). Praise
God for His perfect timing! May we
be thankful for these delays, which are
part of teaching us patience!
David Armstrong is the director of Eden
Blossoms Ministry in Nepal. For more
information about this associate OCI
member, visit www.edenblossoms.org.
Get Involved
If you have a desire to serve God,
prayerfully consider one of the
following ways to get involved.
Service
Opportunities
Service Openings
Events
Amazon Lifesavers Ministry, Brazil
Messiah’s Mansion Exhibits 2013
Administrative Assistant
Black Hills Health & Education Center,
South Dakota
Food Service Director
Registered Dietician
Cave Springs Home, Tennessee
Men’s & Women’s Deans
Oklahoma Academy is well known for
its traveling, life-sized replica of the
ancient Hebrew Tabernacle, Messiah’s
Mansion. Find out when it will be near
you. For the exhibit schedule, visit
www. messiahsmansion.com
Contact: lmundall@oklahomaacademy.org
DayStar Adventist Academy, Utah
Maintenance Person
Eden Valley Institute, Colorado
Medical Doctor
Peru Projects, Peru
General Mechanic
Media Specialist
Uchee Pines Institute, Alabama
Country Life Store Manager
VIDA Internacional, Honduras
Accountant
Agriculturalist
Elementary Teachers
Graphic Designer
Vegan Cook
Wildwood Lifestyle Center & Hospital,
Georgia
Copy Editor
General Maintenance Person
Nurses/Physicians
View the complete list at
www.outpostcenters.org.
OC I
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15
NONPROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
CHATTANOOGA, TN
PERMIT #1114
Set
Your Sights
on Service
Manuela Fankhauser gives
children in Honduras
a strong spiritual and
educational foundation.
What is YOUR calling?
Outpost Centers International
5132 Layton Lane
Apison, TN 37302
Find service opportunities at
www.outpostcenters.org
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