Announcer: NEXT ON LIFE TODAY --
WE WERE LIVING A VERY BLESSED LIFE.
WE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY ON OUR HOUSE,
ON A NEW BACKYARD, NEW FURNITURE, NEW CARS,
AND AT THE END OF THE DAY WE WERE EMPTY.
Announcer: STAY TUNED AS A SUCCESSFUL FAMILY
LIVING THE AMERICAN DREAM SELLS EVERYTHING
TO FOLLOW THEIR GOD-SIZED PASSION TO SERVE OTHERS.
THEY BOUGHT AN R.V. AND HEADED OUT ACROSS AMERICA
TO DO RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS.
THEIR DARING JOURNEY FROM PASSION TO ACTION -- NEXT!
§
Betty: WELCOME TO LIFE TODAY.
I FEEL LIKE YOU JOINED US TODAY
BECAUSE YOU WANT TO BE BLESSED
AND I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO BE!
I'M BETTY ROBISON
AND THIS IS JAMES.
James: WELL, WE'VE GOT
A BEAUTIFUL FAMILY HERE.
AT LEAST I SEE THE WHOLE FAMILY
ON THE COVER OF THIS BOOK,
<I>PASSION TO ACTION.</I>
I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING,
YOU'RE GOING TO --
THERE IS A CLOSE-UP;
YOU CAN SEE THE ENTIRE FAMILY.
CAN YOU IMAGINE
A FAMILY IN ATLANTA,
EVERYTHING IS JUST GOING GREAT,
SUCCESSFUL, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN
THEY DECIDE TO SELL EVERYTHING,
GET IN A SMALL R.V.
WITH ALL THE FAMILY --
I MEAN, FOLKS, LOOK AT THEM,
THERE ARE FOUR KIDS...
AND MOM AND DAD IN A SMALL R.V.
AND JUST TAKE OFF
ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO DO WHAT?
YOU SAY, "WELL,
THEY LOST THEIR MIND.
I DON'T KNOW THAT I CARE."
THEY DIDN'T LOSE THEIR MIND.
THEY GOT A COMMISSION,
A MISSION FROM GOD,
THE PASSION TO ACTION
TO LITERALLY GO ON THE ROAD,
JUST GO OUT WHERE PEOPLE ARE,
MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE
AND LOVE THEM,
AND TALK ABOUT LOVE,
THE SOURCE OF LOVE AND LIFE.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!
JAY AND BETH LOECKEN
AND THEIR FAMILY,
WE'LL LET THEM TELL US
ALL THE KIDS' NAMES,
AND THEY TELL THE STORY
IN THIS INCREDIBLE,
INSPIRATIONAL BOOK.
WOULD YOU WELCOME JAY AND BETH
TO LIFE TODAY?
BETH, GOOD TO SEE YOU.
JAY, GOOD TO SEE YOU!
Jay: THANK YOU!
GREAT TO BE HERE.
James: WHICH ONE OF YOU
LOST YOUR EVER LOVING MIND?
THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE HAD TO ASK.
WHO STARTED THIS?
Jay: I THINK BOTH OF US DID.
IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE
WE WERE LIVING IN ATLANTA
AND I WAS MAKING MORE MONEY
THAN I'D EVER MADE
IN THE MORTGAGE BUSINESS.
I THINK GOD HAD
BEGUN TO DO A WORK
AND A STIRRING IN MY HEART
EVEN THERE.
I TURNED 40 YEARS OLD
AND I KIND OF STARTED
REFLECTING ON MY LIFE GOING
IS THIS ALL THAT THERE IS...
JUST MAKING MONEY?
WE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY
ON OUR HOUSE, NEW BACKYARD,
NEW FURNITURE, NEW CARS,
AND AT THE END OF THE DAY
WE WERE EMPTY.
WE GOT AWAY --
BETH AND I GOT AWAY
FOR A LONG WEEKEND
AND KIND OF EXCHANGED LIVES
WITH A COUPLE
WHO LIVED IN ATLANTA
AND STARTED JUST REALLY PRAYING
GOING, "WHAT SHOULD WE DO?"
I'D BEEN OVERSEAS
ON SOME MISSION TRIPS
WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE;
I SPENT THREE YEARS IN IRELAND.
IT HAD MADE A REAL IMPACT ON ME
SO WE DECIDED
TO GO OVERSEAS TO AFRICA
ON A SHORT-TERM MISSION TRIP.
WE ACTUALLY LED THE FIRST
FAMILY MISSIONS TRIP THAT
NORTH POINT COMMUNITY CHURCH
IN ATLANTA HAD EVER DONE.
IT WAS POWERFUL TO SEE
PEOPLE UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL
WHO ARE IN POVERTY
AND SMELL THE POVERTY.
BUT EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY,
WHAT MADE THE BIGGEST IMPACT
ON US WAS THE JOY
AND THE COMMUNITY
THAT THESE AFRICAN PEOPLE HAD.
IT JUST BLEW US AWAY.
WE WENT OVER THERE
WITH THE EXPRESS PURPOSE,
WE WANT TO SERVE THEM
AND WE ENDED UP GETTING IMPACTED
AS A RESULT --
WHICH ALWAYS HAPPENS.
WE CAME BACK HOME
TO OUR LARGE HOUSE
AND LAID ON THE FRONT ROOM FLOOR
AND BEGAN TO WEEP.
IT WAS AT THAT MOMENT
WE REALIZED HOW POOR WE WERE;
THAT WE LACKED THE SAME JOY
AND COMMUNITY
THE AFRICAN PEOPLE HAD.
WE KNEW THAT WE HAD TO ACT
AND WE HAD TO DO SOMETHING
ABOUT OUR FAITH
AND WHAT THE BIBLE SAID.
James: YOU FOUND THOSE PEOPLE
RESPOND TO LOVE TOO;
DIDN'T YOU?
BETTY AND I HAVE BEEN ALL
OVER AFRICA AND YOU'RE RIGHT,
THERE IS MORE COMMUNITY,
THERE IS MORE LOVE, BECAUSE
THEY'RE TRYING TO STAY ALIVE,
THEY'RE TRYING TO FIND LIFE.
WE CAN HELP THEM FIND A FULLER
MORE MEANINGFUL LIFE, WE CAN
HELP THEM FIND SPIRITUAL LIFE
BUT YOU'VE GOT TO PURSUE LIFE
TO FIND IT.
NOW WHAT I'M HEARING YOU SAY,
YOU CAME BACK HERE
AND FOUND THAT ALL THIS STUFF
IS NOT THE ESSENCE OF LIFE.
WE'VE GOT BLESSINGS.
WELL, WE WANT TO GO OUT --
AND YOU TOOK YOUR FAMILY,
IT HAD TO BE A SHOCK,
AND YOU WENT OUT
TO CONFRONT PEOPLE ABOUT LIFE.
AM I RIGHT ABOUT THAT?
AND YOU WERE PASSIONATE
ABOUT THIS KIND OF ACTION.
HOW DID YOU
GET IN THIS DECISION?
-- JUST THE SAME THING
HAPPENING TO YOU?
Beth: WELL, FIRST OF ALL I JUST
HAVE TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN AFRICA
BECAUSE TRULY
THAT WAS THE CATALYST.
THAT WAS THE WAKE-UP CALL FOR US
BECAUSE WE WERE LIVING
A VERY BLESSED LIFE,
THE AMERICAN DREAM.
SOMETHING MANY PEOPLE
JUST SPEND THEIR ENTIRE LIVES
TRYING TO ATTAIN
YET YOU GET THERE
AND IT IS KIND OF LIKE SOLOMON,
IT'S MEANINGLESS.
James: EMPTY -- VANITY.
Beth: SO WE REALIZED GOD DID NOT
BESTOW BLESSINGS UPON US
JUST TO BLESS OURSELVES
BUT TO BLESS OTHERS,
TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
IN OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES.
HE DIDN'T GIVE US
MATERIAL WEALTH,
HE DIDN'T GIVE US PERSONALITIES,
GIFTS, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
JUST TO HOARD IT,
TO MAKE OURSELVES A BIG LIFE.
SO I THINK AFRICA WAS DEFINITELY
JUST WHAT GOT OUR ATTENTION.
JAY AND I HAD A DREAM TO TRAVEL
FROM WHEN WE WERE FIRST MARRIED.
I HAD A DIFFICULT UPBRINGING
AND WHEN I SHARED MY STORY
WITH HIM,
WHICH I WAS TERRIFIED TO DO
BECAUSE ANY TIME I HAD DONE THAT
TO RELATIONSHIPS IN THE PAST
THEY WENT SOUTH
BECAUSE PEOPLE RAN THINKING
I WAS A BUNDLE OF PROBLEMS.
James: WHAT HAD HAPPENED?
Beth: MY MOTHER
COMMITTED SUICIDE
WHEN I WAS FIVE --
AND SOMETIMES I CAN SHARE IT
LIKE IT WAS JUST YESTERDAY.
AND MY FATHER STRUGGLED
TO RAISE SIX KIDS,
I WAS THE YOUNGEST.
HE BATTLED WITH ALCOHOLISM.
BECAUSE OF THE ABSENCE
AND THE ABANDONMENT OF THAT,
THERE WERE MANY TYPES OF ABUSES
THAT WERE INFLICTED UPON ME
AS A YOUNG GIRL.
AND SO THAT'S JUST THIS MUCH.
I CONTINUED INTO A LIFE OF SIN
AND SELF-DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR
AND IT WASN'T UNTIL 19 YEARS OLD
THAT GOD GOT A HOLD OF MY LIFE
IN A RADICAL WAY AND HE SAID,
"I WANT TO USE YOU."
BUT AT THE TIME I THOUGHT,
THERE IS NO WAY GOD CAN USE ME,
I'M A MESS.
THAT'S WHY WE DO SHARE
OUR STORY IN THE BOOK
BECAUSE WE FEEL LIKE IT IS
CRITICAL TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT
NO MATTER WHERE YOU'VE BEEN,
NO MATTER WHAT
YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH,
NO MATTER WHAT HANG UPS
OR ADDICTIONS
YOU MAY STILL STRUGGLE WITH
THAT GOD IS IN THE BUSINESS
OF RESTORING BROKEN LIVES.
AND NOT JUST TO RESTORE THEM
BUT TO USE THEM FOR HIS GLORY
BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN EASILY
LOOK AT US AND THINK,
YOU GUYS HAVE IT ALL TOGETHER,
YOU'VE NEVER
EXPERIENCED HARDSHIPS.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE.
WE GO, OH, NO!
BECAUSE I'VE BROUGHT
ALL OF THOSE PROBLEMS
INTO OUR MARRIAGE, NOT ONLY
DID I HAVE A DIFFICULT LIFE,
I BROUGHT THAT INTO OUR MARRIAGE
AND WE HAD MANY STRUGGLES
AND I WENT THROUGH DEPRESSION
AND A SUICIDE ATTEMPT MYSELF.
SO IT WAS A DIFFICULT,
DIFFICULT THING.
WHEN JAY AND I MET
AND HE SAID, "LET'S TRAVEL,"
AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS.
HE SAID, "SOME DAY YOUR STORY
IS GOING TO IMPACT THOUSANDS."
I COULDN'T SEE THAT AT THE TIME
SO WHEN WE WENT TO AFRICA
AND WE CAME BACK,
WE REVISITED THIS DREAM
AND GOD HAD PLACED THIS IN US
AND WE KNEW IT WAS THE TIME,
THAT IT WAS NOT GOING TO BE
SOME DAY WHEN OUR KIDS
WERE GROWN AND WE WERE RETIRED,
IT WASN'T GOING TO BE
FOR PLEASURES SAKE
OR FOR SIGHTSEEING
BUT IT WAS GOING TO HAVE
A PURPOSE.
AND THANKFULLY BECAUSE
OUR KIDS WERE IN AFRICA WITH US
THEY WERE EXPERIENCING MANY
OF THE SAME EMOTIONS WE WERE
SO IT WAS A FAMILY DECISION.
EVERY TIME WE SPOKE ABOUT IT,
OUR CHILDREN WERE RIGHT THERE
IN THE MIDST OF IT.
SO OUR OLDEST WHO IS 17 NOW
WAS 13 AT THE TIME
AND OUR KIDS HAD A VOICE.
WE HAD TO HEAR THEIR FEARS
AND CONCERNS AND THEIR OPINION.
WE KNEW THIS WAS GOING
TO REQUIRE A CHANGE
OF LIFESTYLE FOR THEM
AND A SACRIFICE ON THEIR PART.
IT WAS CRITICAL THAT
WE WERE ALL ON BOARD TOGETHER.
SO I WOULD SAY,
WE WERE UNIFIED IN THIS --
VERY MUCH SO.
James: THE WHOLE THING
IS A MIRACLE;
I'M HEARING A MIRACLE OF GOD.
IT'S AN AWESOME MIRACLE!
SO YOU'VE GOT THE WHOLE FAMILY
IN A SMALL R.V.
AND YOU HIT THE ROAD.
NOW JUST EXACTLY WHAT DIFFERENCE
OR IMPACT DID YOU THINK
YOU WERE GOING TO MAKE?
Jay: WELL, IN THE BEGINNING
IT WAS SIMPLE.
WE JUST WANTED
TO GO OUT AND SERVE.
WE WOULD READ THE BOOK OF JAMES
AND GO, "OKAY, THE WAY
I'M LIVING MY LIFE RIGHT NOW
DOES NOT MATCH UP
WITH SCRIPTURE."
IT IS INTERESTING,
ONE OF THE GUYS THAT WE MET --
THAT I MET ACTUALLY
BEFORE WE WENT TO AFRICA,
HIS NAME IS SEVEN,
JUST THE NUMBER SEVEN.
HE'S A ROUGH LOOKING GUY.
HE HAS A FOO MAN CHU MUSTACHE,
SHAVED HEAD,
SPENT SEVEN YEARS IN PRISON.
WHEN HE GOT OUT OF PRISON,
GOD CALLED HIM TO GO
UNDER THE BRIDGES AND RESCUE
PEOPLE UNDER THE BRIDGES.
HE LOOKED AT ME AT THIS
THREE-DAY SPIRITUAL RETREAT AND
SAID, "SON, YOU'RE COMING UNDER
THE BRIDGES WITH ME ONE DAY."
I LOOKED AT HIM AND I WAS LIKE,
"YES, SEVEN. I'LL GO UNDER
THE BRIDGES WITH YOU."
AND OF COURSE,
I HAD NO INTENTION TO DO THAT
BUT I WAS AFRAID OF HIM.
[Laughter]
SO WE WENT.
WHEN WE CAME BACK
HIS WORDS RANG IN MY EAR.
I'M LIKE, WE NEED TO GO
UNDER THE BRIDGES!
I HAD NO CLUE THAT 20 MINUTES
FROM WHERE WE LIVED
THERE WAS HOMELESS PEOPLE
LIVING UNDER A BRIDGE WHO NEEDED
GOD'S LOVE DISPLAYED TO THEM
IN TANGIBLE WAYS.
WHAT WE REALLY HAVE FOUND
IS THAT IT'S IMPORTANT
THAT WHEN WE GO OUT
AND DISPLAY GOD'S LOVE
THAT PAVES THE WAY
FOR RELATIONSHIP
AND THEN THE RELATIONSHIP
PAVES THE WAY FOR THE GOSPEL.
I THINK SOMETIMES
WE'VE GOTTEN IT BACKWARDS
WHERE WE TRY TO POUND PEOPLE
OVER THE HEAD WITH THE GOSPEL
BUT WHAT THEY SIMPLY NEED IS
JUST TO SHOW GOD'S LOVE TO THEM.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE DID,
JUST GO OUT AND SERVE.
AND HAD NO IDEA THAT
IT WOULD TURN INTO A NON PROFIT,
THAT WE WOULD WRITE A BOOK,
THAT THERE WOULD BE
A SMALL GROUP STUDY --
NONE OF THAT!
IT WAS JUST SIMPLY TO SERVE.
THEN WE REALIZED
THAT WE WERE NOT JUST SUPPOSED
TO SERVE AS A FAMILY
BUT WE WERE TO INSPIRE OTHERS
AND THEN HELP MOBILIZE PEOPLE
INTO SERVICE.
Betty: YOU STARTED
JUST RIGHT WHERE YOU LIVE,
RIGHT WHERE YOU WERE.
Jay: NO, WE DECIDED TO GO.
WE DECIDED JUST TO --
Beth: I SEE HER QUESTION THOUGH.
RIGHT WHEN WE GOT BACK
FROM AFRICA WE DID, WE STARTED
IN OUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD,
BASICALLY AND THAT'S WHAT
CONTINUED TO STIR THE POT
FOR US TO GO.
GOING OVERSEAS,
AND WE ARE AN ADVOCATE OF THAT,
THAT THAT'S JUST POWERFUL,
IT'S LIFE-CHANGING,
BUT THERE IS ALSO NEEDS
RIGHT HERE WHERE WE'RE AT.
James: WELL, YOU BECAME
MISSIONARIES HERE.
LIKE YOU SAID, YOU SAW,
ACTUALLY, A LITTLE BIT MORE
EXPRESSION OF LIFE IN MANY WAYS
IN AFRICA IN ALL THE HARDSHIPS
THAN YOU WERE SEEING
IN THE MIDST OF WHAT
WE WOULD CALL ABUNDANCE.
ABUNDANCE SHOULDN'T BE
THE PROBLEM
BUT IT BECOMES A PROBLEM BECAUSE
IT BECOMES THE ALL-CONSUMING,
ALL-CONTROLLING FACTOR RATHER
THAN SOMETHING WE ENJOY AND
WE'RE ABLE TO BLESS OTHERS WITH.
BY THE WAY, I WANT TO SAY THIS,
THERE'S A WEB SITE.
THEY ARE INSPIRING OTHER PEOPLE
TO TAKE THE SAME KIND OF JOURNEY
AND THEY REALLY WANT
TO ESTABLISH A CENTER
WHERE THEY TRAIN OTHERS, NOT
STOP DOING WHAT THEY'RE DOING,
BUT SHOW YOU HOW YOU CAN DO IT.
SO THERE'S THE WEB SITE.
IF YOU WANT TO COMMUNICATE
WITH THEM, YOU MAY SEE SOMETHING
IN THIS COUPLE YOU SAY,
YOU KNOW WHAT?
THAT NEEDS TO BE MULTIPLIED,
I WANT TO FEED IT.
THERE'S A VERY SUCCESSFUL MAN
IN THE DENVER AREA, THIS IS
WHERE THEY WANT TO START IT,
NAMED PHIL ANSCHUTZ.
THIS WOULD BE A GREAT THING
FOR YOU TO GET INVOLVED WITH.
IT REALLY IS.
YOU'RE THE ONE THAT SAYS,
PASS IT ON.
YOU KNOW FOUNDATION
FOR A BETTER LIFE.
HERE'S A BETTER LIFE!
I REALLY RECOMMEND THIS TO YOU.
HELLO, PHIL, HOW ARE YOU DOING?
I REALLY RECOMMEND IT.
AND SERIOUSLY,
BECAUSE YOU'RE AN AWESOME MAN
BUT THIS IS SOMETHING -- THERE
MAY BE SOMEONE ELSE WHO SAYS,
"I ONLY HAVE A LITTLE."
YOU MAY WANT TO HELP THEM DO IT
OR YOU MAY WANT TO BE INVOLVED.
I WANT TO KNOW BECAUSE WE WERE
CUTTING IMAGES IN OF THE FAMILY
OUT MOVING ABOUT
AND MEETING PEOPLE, TELL ME
ABOUT SOME OF THE EXPERIENCES
THAT WERE MEANINGFUL TO YOU
SO THAT NOW FOR SEVERAL YEARS
YOU AND THE CHILDREN COULD KEEP
GOING BECAUSE YOU COULD SEE
SOME BENEFIT TO THE PEOPLE
YOU'RE TALKING TO.
TELL US WHAT'S GOING ON.
Jay: SO MANY! SO MANY!
James: I KNOW
YOU'VE GOT A WHOLE BOOK ON IT.
BY THE WAY, YOU CAN READ
ABOUT THE "SO MANY" BUT TELL US
ABOUT SOME OF THOSE INSTANCES
THAT MEANT A LOT TO YOU.
Jay: ONE GUY THAT MADE
A PROFOUND IMPACT ON ME,
WE WENT UNDER THE BRIDGES.
IT WAS A RAINY DAY.
MY SON NOAH WAS WITH ME.
HE WAS FIVE AT THE TIME.
WE LOOKED UP, THERE HE WAS.
HE LOOKED LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF
THE PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN.
HE HAD SLICKED BACK HAIR,
MISSING TEETH AND A BEER
ABOUT THAT BIG IN HIS HAND.
HE WAS DRUNK.
WE JUST BEGAN TO TALK AND LOVE
ON HIM AND HANDED HIM A LUNCH.
AND AS WE BEGAN TO COMMUNICATE,
HE LOOKED AT ME
AND I'LL NEVER FORGET HIS WORDS.
HE LOOKED ME RIGHT IN THE EYES
AND SAID,
"SHOW ME WHAT YOU SAY."
I JUST SAT THERE.
I WAS TAKEN BACK BY IT.
I WAS LIKE --
James: SHOW ME WHAT?
Jay: "SHOW ME WHAT YOU SAY."
I WAS LIKE WOW,
PROFOUND WORDS FROM A DRUNK GUY
UNDER THE BRIDGE.
HE WAS CALLING ME INTO ACTION.
I WALKED AWAY FROM THAT
EXPERIENCE THINKING --
James: LOVE NOT IN WORD ONLY
BUT IN DEED.
Jay: I WONDERED HOW MANY PEOPLE
HAD SAID A LOT OF THINGS TO HIM
THAT HAD NEVER FOLLOWED THROUGH
WITH THAT.
James: HOW DID YOU
INTERPRET THAT?
WHAT WERE YOU GOING TO DO?
Jay: I MEAN HE WAS REALLY
CALLING US TO ACTION.
WE HADN'T DECIDED TO GO
FULL-TIME AT THAT POINT.
WE WERE UNDER THE BRIDGES
THAT DAY AND SO IT WAS LIKE
WOW, WE NEED TO DO THIS.
WE NEED TO DEMONSTRATE OUR FAITH
THROUGH ACTION.
THEN OF COURSE, THERE HAS BEEN
SO MANY AMAZING PEOPLE WHO ARE
ON THE FRONT LINES OF MINISTRY
WHO SERVE DAY IN AND DAY OUT
TIRELESSLY WITHOUT
ANY RECOGNITION.
ONE GUY IN PARTICULAR,
HIS NAME IS GERALD MARTINEZ.
HE LIVED IN THE FOOTHILLS
OF ALBUQUERQUE,
HAD A SUCCESSFUL SIGN BUSINESS,
MADE HALF A MILLION DOLLARS
A YEAR AND HE AND HIS FAMILY
FELT CALLED TO GO
INTO WHAT IS CALLED
"THE WAR ZONE OF ALBUQUERQUE."
WE'RE TALKING PROSTITUTION,
DRUGS, GUNSHOTS.
HE GOT CHASED
WITH CINDER BLOCKS,
TWO-BY-FOURS WITH NAILS IN THEM,
BEAT OVER THE HEAD.
HE MADE A DECISION.
James: THAT'S EXCITING!
A LOT OF PEOPLE
WANT TO GO INTO THE MINISTRY.
[Laughter]
I CAN JUST SEE THEM RUNNING.
WHERE DO I SIGN UP?
YOU'RE REALLY INSPIRING
A LOT OF PEOPLE.
Jay: EXACTLY!
BUT HE AND HIS FAMILY WERE
CALLED TO LIVE IN THAT COMMUNITY
AND BE INCARNATIONAL
IN THEIR LIFE AND THEY WANTED
TO LOVE ON THESE PEOPLE.
IT WAS SO COOL TO WALK
DOWN THE STREETS WITH HIM
AND SEE THAT HE IS NOT ONLY
THE PASTOR OF VINEYARD CHURCH
THERE, HE HAS BECOME
THE PASTOR OF THE COMMUNITY.
THEY'VE SEEN THE CRIME RATE
COME DOWN 50% IN THE TIME
THAT THEY'VE BEEN THERE.
James: TELL US ABOUT WHAT HAS
HAPPENED TO YOU AS A FAMILY
WHEN YOU GO OUT
AND JUST ENCOUNTER PEOPLE
THAT ARE SHOCKED
THAT YOU'RE THERE.
Beth: I THINK THERE ARE
DEFINITELY SOME WALLS UP
WHEN THERE ARE PEOPLE
WHO ARE BROKEN AND HURTING
AND THEY SEE A FAMILY COME IN.
IT'S USUALLY THE KIDS
THAT DISARM THEM.
IT IS USUALLY WHEN --
WE ARE HUGE ADVOCATES OF PEOPLE
BRINGING THEIR CHILDREN
AND DOING THIS AS A FAMILY
BECAUSE OUR KIDS REALLY --
NONE OF US GO WITH
ULTERIOR MOTIVES
BUT I THINK THEY KNOW
INSTINCTIVELY THAT CHILDREN
ARE THERE PURELY FOR LOVE.
THEY'RE NOT DOING THIS
FOR WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
FOR THE TV CAMERA
OR ANYTHING ELSE,
THEY DO IT PURELY OUT OF LOVE.
SO THAT REALLY DISARMS THEM
BECAUSE I THINK THERE IS
A TRUST BARRIER.
BECAUSE THEY MAYBE HAVE SEEN
PEOPLE SAY A LOT OF THINGS,
LIKE JAY SAID,
AND NOT FOLLOW THROUGH OR
THEY'VE BEEN PROMISED SOMETHING
OR THEY'VE BEEN SHOVED
THE GOSPEL DOWN THEIR THROAT
SO THEY'RE NOT SURE
THEY WANT TO TRUST YOU
RIGHT AWAY.
BUT WE HAVE SEEN
THAT THE WALLS COME DOWN.
James: SO YOU GO INTO
A SITUATION THAT JUST
LOOKS LIKE THERE IS NEED
AND YOU BEGIN TO TALK TO THEM
ABOUT GOD LOVING THEM.
Jay: YEAH, WE TYPICALLY TRY
TO PARTNER WITH CHURCHES.
WE BELIEVE THE CHURCH IS THE
TOOL GOD USES TO REACH PEOPLE.
SO WE DON'T WANT
TO RECREATE THE WHEEL.
WE WANT TO HELP BE A CONDUIT
TO BRING PEOPLE INTO SITUATIONS
AND NON PROFITS THAT ARE
ALREADY DOING GOOD WORK
AND THEN HELP BRING RESOURCES
AND VOLUNTEERS INTO WHAT
THEY ALREADY HAVE GOING ON.
James: WHAT I SEE YOU DOING
THAT I THINK IS SO IMPORTANT
IS YOU'RE GOING OUT AND REALLY
REVEALING THE POWER OF LOVE,
IDENTIFYING NEED,
AND INSPIRING PEOPLE
IN THE COMMUNITY TO SAY,
"HOW DO WE CONNECT WITH IT?
HOW CAN WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE?"
BUT YOU'RE ALSO BECAUSE
SEE YOU IMMEDIATELY STARTED
TALKING ABOUT WHERE SOMEONE
WAS DOING IT EFFECTIVELY
AND NOW YOU'RE PASSING THAT ON.
THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT YOU'VE
ALSO WRITTEN ABOUT IN THE BOOK.
HERE'S SOMETHING THAT WORKS.
HERE'S THE LOVE
THAT EMPOWERS IT.
HERE'S THE LOVE
THAT UNDERGIRDS IT.
FOR INSTANCE, ALL THESE PEOPLE
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
WHO ARE DOING VARIOUS MINISTRY
OR EVEN YOURSELVES NOW
BECAUSE YOU NO LONGER HAVE
THE BUSINESS OR THE JOB,
YOU'VE GOT TO BE
SUPPORTED BY LOVE.
PEOPLE WHO LOVE YOU GOING OUT
AND LOVING THE HELPLESS
AND THE OVERLOOKED,
THEY'VE GOT TO ENABLE YOU.
TO ME, I SEE YOU INSPIRING
PEOPLE THAT LIFE IS BIGGER
THAN POSSESSIONS,
THAT WHEN WE POSSESS LIFE
WE WANT TO RELEASE IT
IN WHATEVER WAY WE CAN
AND EVERYBODY DOESN'T HAVE TO DO
WHAT YOU DO BUT EVERYBODY
HAS GOT AN ASSIGNMENT.
SOME PEOPLE'S ASSIGNMENT
MAY BE TO ENABLE YOU
TO EFFECTIVELY DO WHAT YOU DO
OR ENABLE SOME OF THESE PEOPLE
YOU SEE.
AND THEN YOU MAY BE USED
TO INSPIRE PEOPLE
TO FIND THEIR PLACE.
I SENSE THAT'S REALLY
WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.
Jay: ABSOLUTELY.
IT'S FUNNY, MY BROTHER BRIAN
SAYS THAT ONE PERSON'S DREAM
IS ANOTHER PERSON'S NIGHTMARE.
[Laughter]
SOMETIMES I'VE WONDERED THAT
AS WE'VE BEEN ON THE ROAD.
WE BELIEVE THAT GOD CALLS
EACH OF US TO SOMETHING UNIQUE,
THAT HE GIVES US UNIQUE SKILLS,
PASSIONS, TALENTS, DESIRES
AND TO USE THAT
TO BLESS OTHER PEOPLE.
James: IS THE PURPOSE
OF YOUR BOOK
TO SHOW PEOPLE WAYS THAT
THEY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
IF THEY DON'T LET THE WORLD
HOLD THEM,
THAT THEY GO OUT INTO THE WORLD
TO PIERCE THE DARKNESS?
Jay: THE BOOK
IS REALLY OUR STORY;
IT IS KIND OF OUR JOURNEY.
WE SHARE TEN PASSION TO ACTION
CHALLENGES THAT REALLY ARE
DESIGNED TO HELP PEOPLE THINK
DEEPER ABOUT THEIR LIVES.
THEN WE SHARE
SOME OF OUR BACK STORY.
WE'VE WRITTEN A SMALL GROUP
STUDY THAT'S REALLY DESIGNED
TO HELP EMPOWER PEOPLE.
James: AND THAT'S WHERE
YOU'VE GOT THE LITTLE CD
AND ALSO A WORKBOOK.
SO YOU'RE TRYING TO EQUIP PEOPLE
TO GO OUT AND BE THE CHURCH
RATHER THAN JUST GO TO CHURCH,
GO OUT AND BE EXPRESSIONS
OF THE LIFE OF CHRIST
RATHER THAN JUST GOING IN
AND LISTENING TO MESSAGES
ABOUT IT.
Beth: AND TO SERVE WITH DIGNITY
SO THAT IT DOESN'T
CREATE DEPENDENCY,
THAT'S ONE THING WE'VE LEARNED
ALONG THE WAY
THAT SERVING WITH DIGNITY
AND FINDING OUT THE SKILLS
AND ABILITIES
OF THE PEOPLE YOU SERVE,
HAVING THEM JOIN YOU
SO THAT IT RAISES THEIR DIGNITY.
IT'S NOT ONE DIRECTIONAL,
IT IS NOT THE HAVES
SERVING THE HAVE NOT'S.
James: THAT'S WELL STATED.
Jay: I USED TO SAY I WANT TO
GIVE PEOPLE IN NEED A HAND UP
AND NOT A HAND OUT
BUT NOW I SAY
IT IS ABOUT JOINING HANDS
WITH THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE
AND SERVING WITH THEM.
James: THAT'S GREAT!
DO YOU APPRECIATE
WHAT GOD'S DOING
IN THIS INCREDIBLE FAMILY,
THIS BEAUTIFUL COUPLE?
I AM IMPRESSED WITH JESUS.
LET ME MAKE SOMETHING CLEAR.
I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT,
THE CLOSER YOU GET TO GOD
AND THIS IS SOMETHING I HAD
TO LEARN THE HARD WAY,
THE CLOSER YOU GET TO GOD,
THE MORE YOU KNOW HIS HEART,
THE MORE THAT'S IN HIS HEART
WILL BE IN YOUR HEART.
BUT EVERYTHING IN GOD'S HEART
IS NOT OUR PART.
I USED TO TRY TO DO
EVERYTHING IN HIS HEART
AND I NEARLY KILLED MYSELF.
I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TIME
FOR MY FAMILY. DID I?
I REALLY DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TIME
FOR GOD AFTER A WHILE;
I'M TOO BUSY DOING WHAT WAS IN
HIS HEART, DOING THE WORK OF GOD
RATHER THAN THE WILL OF GOD.
WHAT YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND,
WHEN YOU HEAR A STORY
LIKE THIS,
IT SHOULD INSPIRE YOU TO FIND
YOUR PART IN GOD'S HEART,
THEIR PART IN HIS HEART
IS NOT NECESSARILY YOUR PART.
YOUR PART IN GOD'S HEART MIGHT
BE HELPING THEM DO THEIR PART --
HELPING US DO OUR PART BECAUSE
WE'RE CALLED TO HELP MANY PEOPLE
DO WHAT GOD'S CALLED THEM TO DO
AND INSPIRE OTHERS.
BE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THIS.
BUT WHEN YOU FIND YOUR PART
IN GOD'S HEART
AND THERE IS NO GREATER ON EARTH
THAN SERVANT, YOU SERVE OTHERS.
THE MOMENT I MET THIS COUPLE,
I SAID I WANT TO HELP YOU DO
WHAT GOD WANTS YOU TO DO.
THAT'S WHY I PUT THE WEB SITE,
ITS BACK UP THERE AGAIN.
YOU SAY,
"I WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT IT.
I MAY WANT TO HELP THEM.
I MAY WANT TO DO WHAT THEY'RE
DOING OR INSPIRE OTHERS."
THERE IS THE CONNECTION POINT.
YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT AFRICA
AN AWFUL LOT.
WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME
IN AFRICA AND WE'VE
BEEN ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE
ALL OVER THAT CONTINENT.
AND RIGHT NOW,
THIS IS THE LAST WEEK
OF SOMETHING
IF YOU'VE WATCHED US
YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH,
THAT'S MISSION FEEDING
SAVING THOUSANDS OF LIVES
ONE LIFE AT A TIME;
ONE PERSON LIKE YOU
HELPING PUT ARMS OF LOVE
AROUND AS MANY AS POSSIBLE.
WATCH CLOSELY.
[Singing]
§
§
§
James: MY PRECIOUS WIFE, BETTY,
PRAYED SO MANY YEARS AGO,
ALMOST 20 YEARS AGO
WHEN SHE SAW THE FOOD RUN OUT
AND THE CHILDREN
CRAWLING DOWN INTO THE BARRELS
AND TRYING TO SCRAPE FOOD AND
SAW THE PANIC AND DESPERATION.
SHE PRAYED AND SHE LOOKED OUT
AT YOU AND SAID, "WOULD YOU
PLEASE PRAY SOMETHING WITH US?
PRAY THAT THE LINES TO FEED
THESE CHILDREN WILL ALWAYS
BE LONGER THAN THE LINE
COMING TO GET THE FOOD."
BETTY, FOR SO MANY YEARS,
I'VE GOT TO BE HONEST WITH YOU,
ONLY IN THE LAST MONTHS
AND I KNOW THERE IS ECONOMIC
INSTABILITY AND UNCERTAINTY,
I UNDERSTAND THAT
AND I PRAY FOR THOSE OF YOU
WHO ARE LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITY
AND GOD IS THE ONE
THAT WILL OPEN THE WAY
AND GOD HAS PROMISED TO BLESS
THOSE WHO ARE GENEROUS,
SUPERNATURALLY,
MIRACULOUSLY AND HE DOES.
BUT IT IS ONLY IN RECENT DAYS
NOW, BETTY, THAT WE'VE ACTUALLY
RUN OUT OF FOOD.
THERE IS TWO REASONS,
ONE: THE SUPPORT IS NOT QUITE
AS STRONG AS IT HAS BEEN
AND MUST BE.
AND THE OTHER THING IS
THE NEEDS ARE GREAT JUST LIKE
WHAT'S TAKEN PLACE IN SOMALIA
WHERE THEY'RE TELLING US
A HALF MILLION COULD DIE
IN THE NEXT MONTHS
AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS.
AND THE MISSIONARIES
ARE TELLING US THEY WANT
TO HAVE REAL STRONG SUPPORT
TO CONTINUE TO GO
INTO AREAS LIKE THAT, AND WHAT
WE'VE BEEN DOING IN SUDAN AND
IN THE HARD-HIT AREAS OF ANGOLA
AND OTHER PARTS OF AFRICA.
I DON'T WANT US TO RUN OUT.
I WANT TO BE ABLE TO SAY
TO THE MISSIONARIES
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE ENOUGH,
MORE THAN ENOUGH.
THAT'S MY PRAYER.
Betty: THAT'S STILL MY PRAYER.
IT CONTINUES TO BE.
WHEN YOU'RE THERE AND YOU SEE
THESE CHILDREN STAND IN LINE
FOR HOURS UPON HOURS WAITING,
THEY'VE BEEN OFFERED HOPE
THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE
SOME NOURISHMENT THERE.
WE'RE GOING TO PUT SOME SOUP
IN THEIR BOWL AND THEY'RE NOT
GOING TO GO AWAY HUNGRY, JAMES.
BUT WHEN YOU DO RUN OUT, TO SEE
THAT ONE THAT'S NEXT IN LINE,
THE LOOK IN THEIR EYES,
THE DISTRAUGHT,
LIKE WHERE'S MINE?
WHAT HAPPENED?
AND THEY CRAWL DOWN
INTO THE BARRELS TRYING TO GET
THE LAST LITTLE SCOOP UP
WITH THEIR LITTLE TINY FINGERS
AND THE BARRELS ARE HOT, JAMES,
BECAUSE WE HAVE TO KEEP IT
HEATED UP SO THAT IT WILL BE
GOOD NOURISHMENT FOR THEM.
IT BREAKS YOUR HEART.
I DON'T WANT THAT
TO HAPPEN AGAIN.
I KNOW YOU DON'T EITHER.
I HOPE YOU WILL JOIN WITH US
AND LET'S KEEP THE BARRELS FULL
SO THEIR LITTLE BOWLS
CAN STAY FULL.
James: WHEN YOU HAVE HAD NO HOPE
AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN
YOU SEE HOPE, AND THEN
RIGHT AT THE LAST MOMENT
LIKE BETTY SAID, IT DISAPPEARS,
IT'S NOT ONLY DIFFICULT
FOR THAT CHILD, IT TEARS AT
THE HEART OF THE MISSIONARIES,
AND IT TEARS AT OUR HEART
BECAUSE WE'RE DOING OUR BEST.
THIS IS THE LAST WEEK AND
WE NEED AN OUTPOURING OF LOVE
THAT IS EXPRESSED IN ACTION.
WE NEED YOUR HELP
TO MEET THOSE NEEDS
AND THERE IS A JOY IN DOING IT.
AND THE JOY OF THE LORD
IS OUR STRENGTH.
GOD GIVES US STRENGTH.
WHEN WE BLESS OTHERS,
WE'RE BLESSED IN DOING IT,
AND HE BLESSES THOSE
WHO BLESS OTHERS --
THERE IS NO QUESTION.
WOULD YOU THIS LAST WEEK
PLEASE DIAL THAT NUMBER?
TAKE YOUR BANKCARD,
PLEASE DO IT NOW,
MAKE THE LARGEST GIFT YOU CAN.
A $100 GIFT ENABLES US
TO FEED TEN CHILDREN
FOR THE NEXT MONTHS.
$50, WE CAN FEED FIVE.
$30, WE CAN FEED THREE.
WE'RE OFFERING THE BRONZE AND
THIS IS THE LAST TIME IT WILL BE
OFFERED TO THOSE OF YOU WHO WILL
HELP US CARE FOR 100 CHILDREN,
FEED THEM AND MEET THEIR NEEDS.
WE HAVE THE BOOK BETH HAS
WRITTEN, HER AWESOME TEACHINGS.
WE HAVE <I>THE 90-DAY BIBLE.</I>
WE WANT TO BE A BLESSING TO YOU.
CALL RIGHT NOW.
IF YOU WRITE A CHECK,
MAKE IT TO LIFE, BUT CALL US
AND TELL US YOU'RE MAILING IT.
OR YOU CAN GO ONLINE,
LIFETODAY.ORG
AND MAKE THAT SPECIAL GIFT.
PLEASE DO IT.
IF YOU GET A BUSY,
BE DETERMINED.
DIAL UNTIL YOU GET THROUGH
BECAUSE WE DO NEED YOUR HELP.
Announcer: AT THIS VERY MOMENT
A CHILD IS DRAWING HER LAST BREATH
STRUGGLING TO STAY ALIVE DUE TO A LACK OF FOOD.
SADLY, THIS IMPOVERISHED CHILD IS NOT ALONE
AND WITHOUT OUR HELP, MANY LIKE HER THROUGHOUT AFRICA
FACE DEATH AS WELL.
TODAY YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
YOU CAN HELP SAVE A LIFE!
LIFE'S MISSION FEEDING TEAMS ARE IN PLACE RIGHT NOW
READY TO ANSWER THE HUNGER CRIES
OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF SUFFERING CHILDREN
IN REMOTE AREAS OF AFRICA.
WITH PREVIOUS FOOD RESERVES GONE
AND PARTS OF AFRICA FACING ITS WORST FAMINE
AND FOOD SHORTAGE IN MORE THAN TWO DECADES,
WE DESPERATELY NEED TO REPLENISH OUR SUPPLIES
FOR THE FEEDING PROGRAMS IMMEDIATELY!
YOUR LIFESAVING GIFT OF $30, $50, OR $100
WILL HELP FEED AND CARE FOR THREE, FIVE, OR TEN CHILDREN
FOR THREE FULL MONTHS.
WITH YOUR GIFT WE'LL SEND YOU BETH MOORE'S BOOK,
<I>THE LIFE THAT OVERCOMES.</I>
THIS LIFE OUTREACH EXCLUSIVE
FEATURING A COLLECTION OF MESSAGES FROM BETH'S HEART
WILL INSPIRE YOU TO LIVE AN OVERCOMING LIFE EACH DAY!
WITH YOUR GIFT OF $100 OR MORE TO HELP FEED TEN CHILDREN
YOU MAY ALSO REQUEST OUR NEW 90-DAY BIBLE
DESIGNED TO HELP YOU READ THROUGH THE SCRIPTURES
IN JUST 90 DAYS.
FINALLY, AS A SPECIAL CHALLENGE
PLEASE PRAYERFULLY CONSIDER A GIFT OF $1,000 OR MORE
TO HELP FEED AND SAVE THE LIVES OF 100 CHILDREN.
AND YOU MAY ALSO REQUEST THE BEAUTIFUL
"HEART OF THE FATHER" BRONZE SCULPTURE.
THIS IS THE LAST WEEK PLEASE CALL, WRITE,
OR MAKE YOUR GIFT ONLINE TODAY AT LIFETODAY.ORG.
James: IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
FOR BETTY AND I TO LET YOU KNOW
THIS IS THE LAST WEEK.
WE REALLY DO NEED YOUR HELP.
PLEASE DO ALL YOU CAN.
IF THERE IS ANY WAY YOU CAN
HELP US FEED 100 CHILDREN
FOR THE NEXT MONTHS DO IT.
HELP US FEED TEN.
BUT REMEMBER, DON'T LOOK LIGHTLY
IF YOU SAY, "JAMES,
I CAN'T DO MUCH."
$30 MEANS AN AWFUL LOT
TO THREE CHILDREN.
WE'RE SENDING YOU
BETH MOORE'S BOOK AND
<I>THE 90-DAY BIBLE.</I>
WE'LL ALSO SEND,
IF YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE IT,
<I>PASSION TO ACTION.</I>
YOU HAVE NO IDEA
WHAT YOU MAY BE INSPIRED TO DO.
THIS BEAUTIFUL FAMILY YOU SEE,
THEY'VE GOT PASSION FOR ACTION.
GOD'S WILL,
WE WANT THAT FOR YOU.
JOIN US IN SAYING THANKS SO MUCH
TO THIS INCREDIBLE COUPLE.
GOD BLESS YOU BOTH.
JUST KEEP LIFTING HIM UP.
THANK ALL OF YOU SO MUCH
FOR YOUR HELP.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP.
THANKS FOR JOINING HANDS
WITH US.
§
§
§
Beth: ON THE OTHER SIDE OF A PERFECT STORM
THE SERPENT IS ALL BITE AND NO VENOM.
Announcer: WRECKED BUT NOT RUINED -- TOMORROW!