This is the Truth Network. Welcome to Passion for Christ, a ministry of Utah Partnerships for Christ. In Acts 26, 18, Jesus said, Paul's purpose was to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light. and from the power of Satan unto God. That they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
We hope you'll join us for today's testimony of lives changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Now let's begin today's episode. Welcome back to Trip Talk Live. This is Russ East, your host. I'm with Gary Rodmacher. He's been sharing with us his experiences serving the Lord as a pastor for many years and then.
Having the opportunity to go back to Ghana after having been there around those college years. And so, maybe, Gary, before we talk a whole lot more about Ghana, would you wanna maybe just kind of give a shout out to all the folks out there that the world might say, how can you get past 60, 65? Like that golf course is, you know, kind of calling your name, you know? The beaches are calling your name. Um, You you know what I'm alluding to here?
It's it's something that we can To some degree, yeah, we might have to kind of change gears a little bit. But there's a lot of. Mileage that we have left on our tires.
So let's change the name of that concept of retirement to retiring. Let's retire our car. Let's put another tire on and keep going as the Lord gives us strength. What do you say to that? Uh you're singing my tune.
Um This is a passion in my heart, is not only to do the ministry I'm doing, but to try to inspire other people who are at this stage in their life. I'm not 60, I'm 75, and I'm asking God for 10 more years at least to be able to continue to do this.
So God has been investing in the lives of people, the people who are listening to us, and it's time to give him a return on his investment, is one of the ways I like to think about it. He has been teaching you, he has given you experiences, you've touched people's lives, they've touched your lives. It's time to take that and turn around and give it away. And I'll tell you what drives me. Rush, is that Um you know, the Bible says in Second Corinthians five, ten that We must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ and give an account for the deeds done in the body, whether profitable or worthless.
And um That sobers me up. You know, when I was younger and I heard that, I didn't like that verse. Yes, it sounded scary. But I studied it and I've understood what it means. And there is going to come a time when every one of us, our eyes will meet the eyes of Jesus.
And that moment in time is, to me, is the most important moment in time. That's what I'm living for. That's what I want. And I would like to encourage as many other people as possible to realize that will happen. You will be one-on-one, face-to-face with Jesus.
And all I want for him to do is smile at me and say good job, Gary. Um and I I want that for everyone who who Who's following Jesus Christ? You know. And then There's a lot of things that can attract our attention, like you suggest, the golf course or traveling the world or things like that. But this this is an investment that will pay returns Throughout eternity.
And I read in 1 Thessalonians 2 that the source of our joy in the presence of Christ is going to be the people whose lives we've touched. And uh Yeah. It seems so common for Christians today to say, Well, I've got my ticket to heaven. And then they just sit back and relax, it seems.
So just do the minimum, go to church and give money to, you know. But God wants all of us. He wants every part of us. And uh and I was just talking uh with the My grandson, who just turned twenty-one next month, and I just said. If you don't if you're not following Jesus, you're not going to make it.
Anywhere in life, you need to follow Jesus because He's the only one who can enable you to have a successful life, and Jesus said. You know, uh if you want to come close to me, Um Deny yourself, that is, say the same thing Jesus said in the garden: not my will, but yours be done. Deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow me. And that's where the fullness of life comes in. And so it's not just You know, going to Ghana, I'm interested in the man across the street from me as well, and the homeless man that just gave his life to Christ in our town, and I'm counseling him and doing discipleship with him.
This is this is a life a life um It's a life. It's a life style I guess you'd say Yes. And so maybe this would be a good time to just talk a little bit about ITEE. You mentioned IT Global. It's a ministry that kind of orchestrates Some online training for those in foreign countries, for people that want to be servant leaders in churches.
And it's just something really exciting. And I'm looking into it to try to put some time into that as well with the ministry with Utah Partnerships for Christ. And I was just doing a Bible study with a friend of mine. And God's word is just this never-ending well. Of richness and depth, and it's God's word, it's inspired by the Holy Spirit.
you think you might have a you know a pretty good grasp on God's word, and then you just you dig a little deeper and then you just can't help but want to share it with other people.
So tell our listeners, Gary, about ITEE, what it stands for and how people can get involved with that and even help financially. Yes.
So when I came back from Africa the first time, I was looking for a school that I could connect up with. And it took me about three years to find this school. And as soon as I saw it, I said, I want to be a part of it. It's called IT Global. That's how we say it.
It's actually the letters are ITEE, which stands for Internet Theological Education by Extension. But we just say IT Global because it's easier than ITEE Global. Anyway, It's a ministry that's only been around for about eleven or twelve years. But we're in 24 countries. Right now, I'm facilitating a class online in the Gospel of Mark.
And I have eleven students. Uh they're in Zambia, Kenya. Uh Yeah, Ghana.
South Africa. Right. Pakistan. And I have one student in the UK who is Who is Ethiopian, but who moved to the UK.
So I have those students and I interact with them during the week, a term. We have three terms a year, so that lasts about 12, 13 weeks. And they have a curriculum, they go online. Most of them. do it on a phone.
because they don't have Uh you know a tablet or a laptop. But they do their work, and we can communicate we can zoom call from time to time or we can com communicate with one another on WhatsApp. Um and uh it's just amazing to me to see How quickly it spreads. I went this past fall, like I said, I went to Africa October, November. And for the first time, I didn't just go to Ghana.
I did two pastor seminars. In Ghana, and then I did one in Togo, which is a French-speaking country.
So I had two people helping me translate: one that was translating what I was saying, and then one that would translate what people were saying to me. And right now we have 17 people who are signed up and taking our first class, which is always the book of Galatians, is the one that everybody takes for their first class. And it's just exciting to see that. And there's opportunities for people to be involved. If you've been a Bible teacher at any time or taught a Bible study or.
or anything like that, and you'd like to say I'd like to do that With people in other parts of the world, there's an opportunity for you to do this. We have several people who were never pastors, but just active, involved people in their church. and have taken on an opportunity to become a facilitator. You don't have to come up with content. The content is already there.
You just need to be an encourager and help people along the way.
So uh that's that's great. Yeah, and there's there's there's many other things that people could do. We're gonna keep talking about Ghana. and the work there that's going on. We have another guest coming on, so stay with us.
Stay with us, Gary. We've got a gentleman named Kurt. Who was just in Ghana back in August? He's gonna share some of his experiences back there.
So stay with us. Call us if you have a question. 866-348-78-7884. We'll be right back here on Tuesday Live. We'll be right back for the rest of today's testimony.
Please know we at Utah Partnerships for Christ have been planting seeds of the gospel in Utah for over 24 years. We welcome any questions you may have and invite you to visit our website to obtain a list of words and definitions that would help you understand how Mormons think and how to be able to better witness to your friends who belong to the Mormon Church. That website is www.upfc.org. That's upfc.org. We'll be right back.
Welcome to Passion for Christ, a ministry of Utah Partnerships for Christ. In Acts 26, 18, Jesus said, Paul's purpose was to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light. and from the power of Satan unto God. That they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. We hope you'll join us for today's testimony of lives changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Now let's begin today's episode. Welcome back to Truth Talk Live. This is Russ East. I've been having a great conversation with Gary Rodmacher, and now it's going to get even better because I've got another friend. His name is Kurt Schneid, and Kurt He is a professional videographer.
He went to Ghana. In August of 2025, with our friend Fred Wilson. And so, Gary. Kurt, I want to introduce you guys to each other. You guys are going to become lifelong brothers in Christ, well, you're brothers in Christ, but now you're going to become friends forever because Kurt, you had an experience in Ghana that you won't forget.
So will you share with our listeners and right here with Gary, who has a heart for Ghana, about what happened when you got over there And you got that that camera rolling. And there was some really great stuff that happened. You want to share with our listeners about this? No, I'd be happy to. Hi, Gary.
Nice to meet you. And, Russ, thanks for having me on today. I have nothing but praise reports, the love of Christ and all that God did and helping me to get there and get settled. It certainly didn't start off without a hitch. I had a lot of struggle getting my visa approved, and it didn't get approved by the time my original air flight took off.
And then It just it looked like it might not come through at all. And I was disappointed, and God used that time for me to really realize and think about. You know what it is that I'm supposed to do while I'm there. You know, as a cameraman, as a filmmaker, I had one idea in my mind-a professional idea in my mind, but God used that time. for me to to really sow in my heart his purpose and in his prompting for me.
And so I was supposed to be in Ghana for a week And by the time my visa came through, and I was able to get on a plane and get there. I only had like three days. And so we arrived in the morning time and landed. I got picked up from the airport, flew all night. Got there in the morning and got to the hotel, put my bath down.
Grab my camera and we there in Accra, in in the the capital city of And my travel partner Fred walk the the campus there. and was able to meet with some of the participants and church members, and just share some of the truths about the Mormon faith. from America that's not being promoted or shared in the Mormon teachings in Africa. And so Okay. Once we got established that day and up and filming.
Uh i it it was clear that God's hand was all over that trip. We went from one meeting to the next to the next. I remember thinking at the end of day two that we had been there a week. Because it was only. the end of the second day But we had done so much, we had met so many people, we had touched so many lives.
And God was doing a work not only through me, but in me. And I've shared with so many people since coming back, Russ, that I had heard people talk about missions. This was my first time on a mission. And I had heard people say, I went to serve other people, but I ended up getting served. I went to teach other people, but I ended up getting taught.
I went to love on other people, but I ended up getting loved on. And that was absolutely true for me across the board. It was an incredible experience. And um, It really was. I want to hear more about the moment when.
just to help our listeners know the backstory here, we went there to help to Um educate the Christians on how to reach Mormons for Christ. In that part of the world, because there was just a lacking there of understanding of really seeing what Mormons believe and just really show that we need to reach them with the true gospel because they have a different gospel, a different Jesus, a different spirit, and they're teaching this. Mormonism is all over the country, so we're trying to reach them for Christ in a loving, compassionate way.
So, Kurt, he got to roll the camera when our other gentleman there, Fred, was witnessing to somebody and or is actually some Mormon missionary. And I'll have him tell the story of what happened there. But But, Gary, when you're hearing that, is that just doing your heart well? What kind of thoughts do you have, and maybe a question you have for Kurt, possibly? Oh, well, yes, it reminds me you know, short-term missions is is a great, great thing.
It just it it Transforms your worldview. I thought the United States was the center of the world, and when I went to Ghana at 22, I realized. you know, they get along just fine without us. And uh but I but uh I I uh I hear your heart for the Mormon people where I stay usually. Just down the street from me, I walk by the Mormon uh church building or whatever they call it.
And uh So, I'm aware, I see the young men on bicycles. Yeah, I'm heartened in or by hearing that there's people who are interested in Uh teaching the truth. Yeah, it was um It was an incredible experience for us. We at the end of the second day, I had mentioned we had We had an opportunity to speak directly with some of the Mormon missionaries. the ward was within sight of the building where we were staying, the YWAM church facility where we were staying.
And so we could look out the window and see the ward and see that there was no activity there. But at the end of the second day, the lights were on and there were a couple of missionaries there on bicycles. And so we went over directly. And met them and started speaking with them and had a wonderful, engaging and respectful conversation. Very interesting as Fred was sharing some of the messages and the love that Christ has for Mormon missionaries and some of the perspectives that we wanted to enlighten them to.
A gentleman nearby, there were people all over the place, but there was a guy sitting nearby. And listening. And then, as we left, we had convinced these missionaries: why don't you come across the street with us to the YWAM facility, meet your neighbors. And you know, if you're interested in the lessons that we're teaching and the concepts that we're saying, you have people right across the street from you here that you can speak with that can help reveal Christ's love. uh further to you And as we started off across the street, this gentleman stopped us and said, you know, that he had been listening and asked Fred if he was a man of God.
And we confirmed, and he said, Well, I'd like you to help me. recommit my life to Christ. And so we said, absolutely, come with us. We're going over to the YWAM facility. We're going to take these two Mormon missionaries over there.
We start off across the street.
Now we've got the two Mormon missionaries and this gentleman. And then two more Mormon missionaries met up with us. As we're approaching, so we had four Mormon missionaries and this guy, we walked into YWAM and woke everybody up and got everybody out of their bedrooms so that they could meet everybody else. And we just had a nice time of fellowship. And then we all together with the four Mormon missionaries and all the pastors and the Christian trainees and everybody at that YWAB facility, We all help this gentleman recommit his life to Christ And it was just a beautiful moment of humility and love and grace.
And testimony to the truth and the power of Jesus Christ. Those Mormon missionaries Yep. Those Mormon missionaries got to see firsthand. How how truth r resonates in the heart. And can bring a man to repentance.
And that love of Christ is incredibly powerful. Yeah, praise God for that. And if you didn't have your camera there and you there's that skill in knowing how to capture those moments and be able to catch you know, the the r the all the nuances of that. And that's what God has Has gifted you with the equipment to use and just the wherewithal and the know-how and everything. Hey, I'm just going to go ahead and give people an opportunity to get in contact with you, Kurt, because.
May maybe there's a an event uh or an outreach where where you could do what you did for us. In Ghana. Just give us a quick website address where people can contact you. In case there's another ministry, who knows? Maybe Kurt God wants to take you all over the world.
I would be happy to serve alongside any ministry that is doing God's work in the world here. Our website is accessstudios.com, and access is spelled AX. C E S S And then Studios S T U D I O S com, AccessStudios. com, and we provide high quality video production and digital marketing services for mission driven businesses and nonprofit organizations and, of course, ministries of the Lord. it's an honor to be in that position.
Yeah, imagine, imagine. what what kind of technology we have today where we can you know we take it for granted, but Think about all the ministry things that are going on all around the world, and to have it captured and archived and passed on to others through social media and audio and radio and internet. I mean, you can show this, you can relive it, you know, and that's so exciting just to think about.
So, I'm so grateful that the Lord worked it out. I remember us trying to track down your visa, and boy, that was a challenge. I think there was a little bit of spiritual. What's the word called um Warfare going on. You know, there's some spiritual warfare, I think.
Because, man, like you say, when you got there, Uh Great things are happening and they continue to happen.
So there's opportunities we have to go back there. We've made some connections at Liberty University to try to get, you know, we want young, old, middle-aged, whoever God is calling to go to Ghana, Africa. We're just. Really moved by the Lord to make this a mission field that has a Has a change in the landscape, you know? And we want to just keep doing what what you've been doing, Gary, for many years.
What Kurt and I have just started doing, and we appreciate all your prayers, all the Truth Talk. Live family listening. We're going to come right back after this break. We have one more segment. I want to pose Galatians chapter 1.
To Kurt and to Jerry, we're going to talk a little bit about this passage and how we can apply it. to our friend in Ghana. We can equip the Christians. We can educate them to what the gospel really is.
So stay with us. and we'll be right back. Before we sign off for today, please know that all of us here at Utah Partnerships for Christ appreciate your prayers and support. We are also available to do Zoom call workshops or personal coaching on reaching Mormons for Christ. Contact us today at upfc.org.
That's upfc.org. Thanks so much for joining us on another edition of Passion for Christ.
