Announcer:
NEXT! JAMES AND BETTY REFLECT
ON SOME AMAZING STORIES
WITH THEIR PASTOR
AND FRIEND, ROBERT MORRIS.
Robert: TO GET TO READ
YOUR CONVERSATION
WITH MUHAMMAD ALI,
JOHNNY CASH,
RONALD REAGAN,
BEFORE HE WAS PRESIDENT
AND AFTER
HE WAS PRESIDENT.
IT REALLY IS LIKE
AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY,
WHICH I WASN'T GOING
INTO IT THINKING THAT
BUT I WAS
BLOWN AWAY
WITH ALL THE THINGS
GOD'S DONE IN YOUR LIFE
AND REMINDED OF
HOW GOD'S USED YOU.
♪
James: WELL,
THANK ALL OF YOU.
WE WELCOME YOU TO LIFE TODAY.
I'M JAMES ROBISON.
BETTY AND ARE I THRILLED
TO HAVE OUR PASTOR,
ROBERT MORRIS,
PASTOR OF GATEWAY;
AND FORMER STAFF MEMBER HERE
AND TRAVELED
THE CRUSADE TRAVEL WITH ME,
AND DID THE HIGH SCHOOL
ASSEMBLIES.
AND THEN HE'S BEEN
COMING HERE EVER SINCE --
HE REMINDED ME A WHILE AGO
HE ACTUALLY DID
OUR TELEVISION PROGRAM WHEN
HE WAS ONLY 20 YEARS OLD
WHEN WE WERE ON
THE WEEKLY PROGRAM
ALL OVER THE NATION
ON SUNDAY MORNINGS.
WHO WOULD HAVE EVER THOUGHT
ROBERT WOULD BE PASTORING
ONE OF THE LARGEST CHURCHES
IN THE NATION AND ONE
OF THE MOST HIGH-IMPACT,
INSPIRATIONAL CHURCHES.
BUT HE HAS WATCHED
WHAT I'VE WRITTEN ABOUT
FOR, GOODNESS,
SINCE HE WAS A TEENAGER.
I'M TELLING YOU, ROBERT,
HE IS NOT THE KIND OF GUY
THAT LIKES TO READ BOOKS.
WE SENT HIM THE BOOK
AND I THOUGHT,
WELL, HE'LL LOOK AT IT.
MAYBE HE WILL READ WHAT
JACK HAYFORD SAID ABOUT HIM
AND SOME OTHERS.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
HE TOLD ME HE READ THE BOOK.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE A MIRACLE.
WOULD YOU WELCOME
ROBERT MORRIS TO LIFE TODAY?
[Laughter]
ROBERT, I'VE WRITTEN THE BOOK
THAT IS REALLY
KIND OF THE JOURNEY
THAT I'VE BEEN ON
FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS,
AND REALLY 73 YEARS BECAUSE
I WAS THE PRODUCT OF RAPE AND
THE DOCTOR WOULDN'T ABORT ME
AT MY MOTHER'S REQUEST
AND SAID,
"MAYBE THERE'S A PURPOSE."
SO I'VE BEEN ON
AN AMAZING JOURNEY.
IT'S SO BEYOND ANYTHING
THAT A SHY KID WITHOUT A DAD,
WITHOUT A HOME
COULD HAVE EVER EXPECTED.
YOU'VE GOTTEN
TO WATCH SOME OF IT.
AND NOW YOU ACTUALLY TOLD ME
THAT YOU READ THE BOOK,
WHICH I THOUGHT, WELL,
THAT'S A MIRACLE ITSELF
BECAUSE YOU DON'T
JUST LIKE TO READ BOOKS;
YOU STUDY THE WORD AND
YOU GET WONDERFUL MESSAGES.
BUT WHY DID YOU READ THE BOOK
BECAUSE I KNOW YOU TOLD ME
YOU WERE GOING
TO GLANCE AT IT.
WHY DID YOU READ IT?
Robert: WELL, I HAVE TO ADMIT
THE FIRST THING I DID WAS
SEE WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT ME.
[Laughter]
BUT THEN
WHAT WAS RIGHT AFTER THAT
WAS SO GOOD
THAT I KEPT READING.
AND THEN I BACKED UP SOME
AND I BACKED UP MORE
AND LITERALLY --
I DON'T LIKE TO READ
A LOT OF BOOKS AS YOU KNOW
BUT WHEN I DO READ A BOOK
IT'S BECAUSE
IT KEEPS ME SPELLBOUND
AND I CAN'T PUT IT DOWN.
WHEN I START A BOOK THEN,
I'LL JUST READ IT
STRAIGHT THROUGH
MOST OF THE TIME
AS QUICKLY AS I CAN.
I WANT TO SAY,
AND WE HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER
A LONG TIME,
BUT THAT IS AN AMAZING BOOK.
IT IS FANTASTIC.
I WASN'T EXPECTING
THE WAY IT HIT ME.
IT JUST OVERWHELMED ME,
ILLUSTRATION AFTER
ILLUSTRATION, REALLY,
TESTIMONY AFTER TESTIMONY,
WHICH MANY OF THEM I KNEW,
OF HOW GOD USED YOU.
AND YES, GOD USED YOU
AS A CRUSADE EVANGELIST,
THINGS LIKE THAT
BUT ALL THOSE PRIVATE STORIES
AND SOME OF THEM I SAW
WHEN I WAS TRAVELING WITH YOU
AND YOU WOULD TALK
TO THE WAITRESS
OR YOU WOULD TALK TO A PERSON
ON THE GOLF COURSE
THAT WAS JUST WORKING
AT THE GOLF COURSE.
AND YOU ALWAYS, ALWAYS WANTED
TO LEAD PEOPLE TO JESUS.
ALWAYS!
EVERYWHERE WE WENT YOU WERE
CONCERNED ABOUT PEOPLE.
AND OF COURSE,
WHEN I KNEW YOU, YOU WERE
VERY WELL-KNOWN AND FAMOUS.
BUT EVEN IN THE BOOK
YOU'VE GOT STORIES IN THERE
OF YOU TALKING TO PEOPLE
BEFORE ANYBODY KNEW
WHO YOU WERE
AND IT REALLY IS AMAZING.
IT IS A GREAT TITLE.
TEENAGERS IN PARKING LOTS,
AND YOU TALK TO THEM
AND FIND OUT YEARS LATER
HOW MANY OF THEM
ACCEPTED CHRIST,
HOW MANY LIVES WERE CHANGED
FROM YOU JUST STOPPING
TO GET CHOCOLATE MILK
AND TALKING TO THEM,
POURING OUT FROM YOUR HEART.
DEBBIE WAS ASKING ME
ABOUT IT TODAY AND I SAID,
"WHAT HE IS SAYING IS
EVERY PERSON
CAN LIVE AMAZED."
EVERY PERSON CAN HAVE
THESE AMAZING EXPERIENCES
BECAUSE OUR GOD IS AMAZING
AND IF WE'LL JUST SIMPLY
SEND THE CARD
WHEN GOD PUTS IT ON OUR HEART
OR TALK TO THE PERSON
AT THE OFFICE
OR TALK TO THE PERSON
IN THE RESTAURANT,
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
AN AMAZING TESTIMONY
COME OUT OF THAT
BECAUSE GOD IS AMAZING.
AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT
JAMES IS SAYING IN THE BOOK
IS EVERY PERSON
CAN LIVE AMAZED.
James: DO YOU THINK THAT
IF OUR CHURCH CAUGHT
THE FULL FORCE
OF WHAT HAPPENED TO ME
AS A KID,
WHEN THE SHYEST KID
THAT MOST PEOPLE EVER KNEW
SUDDENLY HEARS GOD SAY,
"YOU'RE GOING TO PREACH"
AND WITHIN THREE DAYS
I'M STANDING ON
A FLATBED TRUCK SPEAKING
TO 200 CONSTRUCTION WORKERS.
AND TO SAY THEY WERE
CAPTIVATED, SPELLBOUND
WHERE I'M SEEING GUYS
WITH ENTIRE SANDWICHES
CRAMMED IN THEIR MOUTH,
NOT REALIZING
THEY'RE ABOUT TO CHOKE
BECAUSE THEY'RE WATCHING
SO INTENTLY.
THE MINISTRY EXPLODED
THAT FAST.
THEN YOU WATCHED IT
FROM THE TIME
I WAS PRETTY YOUNG
AND THEN YOU WERE REAL YOUNG
YOU SAW WHAT WAS HAPPENING.
AND THIS IS THE THING
AND YOU'VE GOT TO TELL ME
IF I HIT THE TARGET.
I BELIEVE WHEN JESUS SAID
THAT YOU ARE GOING
TO RECEIVE POWER,
YOU'RE GOING TO RECEIVE POWER
FROM ON HIGH,
YOU'RE GOING TO BE FILLED
WITH THIS SPIRIT, THIS
OTHER ONE OF THE SAME KIND,
JUST LIKE ME,
TO BE IN YOU AND YOU TARRY
UNTIL THAT HAPPENS,
BUT THEN YOU'RE GOING
TO BE WITNESSES UNTO ME,
JERUSALEM, RIGHT HERE AT HOME,
TO THE NEIGHBORING COMMUNITY,
ULTIMATELY TO THE ENDS
OF THE EARTH AND YOU'RE
GOING TO WITNESS IN POWER.
AND THEN WHEN YOU MOVE
RIGHT INTO THE BOOK OF ACTS
AND YOU SEE
THE BOASTFUL DISCIPLE THAT
IN HIS GREATEST TIME OF NEED
DENIED JESUS THREE TIMES
AND COULDN'T EVEN SAY
IN HONESTY,
"YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU, LORD."
HE JUST HAD TO SAY,
"YOU KNOW -- WELL, I LIKE YOU.
YOU KNOW THE TRUTH."
AND THIS MAN IS SO FILLED
WITH THIS POWER
THAT HE BECOMES
THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER
AT THE MOST POWERFUL PUBLIC
OUTPOURING OF THE SPIRIT,
3,000 SAVED
AND THEY SPOKE THE LANGUAGE
OF EVERY PERSON
IN THEIR EXACT DIALECT;
NOT JUST THE LANGUAGE
OF THAT PARTICULAR
LET'S SAY ETHNIC GROUP
BUT EVEN WITH THE PARTICULAR
PECULIARITIES OF THAT REGION.
SO IT WAS
A SUPERNATURAL WITNESS
AND THE PEOPLE GOT SAVED.
BUT THEN THIS SAME GROUP
WAS SO FILLED WITH POWER
THAT NOTABLE MIRACLES OCCURRED
THAT COULDN'T BE DENIED
AND THEY SAID,
"NO ONE CAN STOP US BECAUSE
WE CAN'T HELP BUT SPEAK
WHAT WE'VE SEEN AND HEARD."
THEY WERE BEING CARRIED
AND THEY WERE FEARLESS,
THEY WERE FILLED
WITH BOLDNESS.
YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE THEY DID?
OUT OF COMPASSION
THEY STARTED SHARING
WITH NEEDS OF OTHERS;
NOT BECAUSE SOMEONE
TRIED TO GET THEM TO,
IT WAS THE OVERFLOW OF LOVE.
SO THE WHOLE BOOK OF ACTS
BECAME A PICTURE
OF HOW CHRISTIANS ARE TO LIVE.
AND IS IT NOT YOUR DESIRE
EVERY DAY TO SEE
EVERY MEMBER OF GATEWAY
AND EVERY MEMBER OF THE CHURCH
TO BE LIVING AND WALKING
AS WITNESSES
IN THAT POWER TODAY?
Robert: YEAH.
SEE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT...
WE READ ABOUT PETER
AND JAMES AND JOHN
BUT THEY WERE FISHERMEN.
SOMEHOW WE MISSED THAT.
THEY WERE NORMAL,
REGULAR PEOPLE
THAT GOT FILLED
WITH AN EXTRA-NORMAL SPIRIT,
THE POWER OF GOD.
AND THAT'S WHAT I LIKE
ABOUT THE BOOK IS BECAUSE
EVERY PERSON CAN DO IT
AND I WANT EVERY MEMBER
OF GATEWAY TO LIVE THAT WAY.
YOU AND I CAN'T
REACH THE WORLD,
WE CAN'T.
BUT THE CHURCH CAN --
EVERY PERSON.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS, AGAIN,
YOU TALK ABOUT BETTY,
AND DEBBIE AND BETTY
ARE A LOT ALIKE.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT.
YOU AND I CAN HARDLY
GET A WORD IN EDGEWISE
WITH THOSE TWO.
[Laughter]
IT'S NOT THAT FUNNY.
[Laughter]
BUT NORMAL PEOPLE
HAVE DONE EXTRAORDINARY THINGS
NOT JUST WHAT SHE DOES
ON A TELEVISION SHOW,
BUT AS A MOTHER.
ONE OF THE STORIES
YOU TALK ABOUT
IS HER HAVING A DREAM
ABOUT ROBIN BEING HEALED,
THIS TUMOR FALLING OFF
OF HER LIP
AND IT HAPPENED EXACTLY
LIKE HER DREAM.
THAT WAS A MOTHER.
SHE WASN'T SPEAKING
ON TELEVISION AT THAT TIME.
SHE WASN'T TRAVELING
WITH YOU IN CRUSADES.
SHE WAS JUST BEING A MOM.
SO THAT'S WHAT I LOVE
ABOUT THE BOOK IS
EVERY PERSON CAN LIVE
AN AMAZING LIFE
IF THEY JUST SIMPLY YIELD
TO THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Betty: I BELIEVE THAT'S
THE DESIRE OF JAMES' HEART
IN WRITING THIS BOOK.
BECAUSE I'VE BEEN WITH HIM
ON THIS AMAZING JOURNEY
BUT I'VE ALSO, ON THIS JOURNEY
TOGETHER WITH HIM,
I'VE BEEN AMAZED
BECAUSE I LOOK AND SEE
WHAT GOD'S DONE WITH MY LIFE
AND WHAT HE'S CONTINUED TO DO
WITH IT FOR SOMEBODY
THAT DIDN'T WANT TO BE
SITTING HERE ON TV.
GOD HAS DETOURED ME
AS TONY EVANS SAID
IN HIS BOOK RECENTLY;
THOSE DETOURS IN LIFE
BECOME AMAZING
IF WE ALLOW GOD,
EVEN THE THINGS THAT SEEM
DIFFICULT ON THE JOURNEY,
GOD TURNS IT INTO
AN AMAZING WALK WITH HIM
IF WE ALLOW HIM TO.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT
JAMES IS SAYING.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE
IN THE PULPIT
TO SEE THE AMAZING ACTS
AND WONDERS OF GOD --
JUST OPEN YOUR EYES
IN THE MORNING.
JUST LOOK OUTSIDE
AND SEE THE BEAUTY
THAT GOD HAS CREATED.
JUST LOOK
IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
AND THE OPPORTUNITIES
GOD GIVES US EVERY DAY BEFORE
WE COME IN CONTACT WITH.
IT IS AMAZING
THE OPPORTUNITIES HE GIVES US
JUST IN LIFE, HOMEMAKER,
BUSINESS PERSON, A TEENAGER.
THERE IS SO MUCH THERE
THAT SOMETIMES WE TAKE IT
FROM GRANTED, I THINK,
INSTEAD OF BEING AMAZED.
Robert: THE BOOK
REMINDED ME OF THAT.
GOD WANTS TO DO SOMETHING
DIVINE THROUGH ME,
NOT JUST IN WHAT I DO
OR ME BEING IN MINISTRY
BUT AS A PERSON.
I WAS AT A RESTAURANT
A FEW YEARS AGO
AND JUST SAID TO THE SERVER,
"IS THERE SOMETHING THAT..."
I WAS WITH ANOTHER PASTOR,
"...THAT WE CAN PRAY
WITH YOU ABOUT?"
AND SHE STARTED CRYING.
SHE SAID, "I'M A SINGLE MOM,
CONCERNED ABOUT MY SON."
SO WE PRAYED FOR HER.
THEN I TOLD HER
ABOUT OUR MINISTRY.
SHE CAME TO THE CHURCH.
SHE ACCEPTED CHRIST.
NOW SHE IS A STUDENT
AT OUR UNIVERSITY.
HER WHOLE LIFE CHANGED
AND IT WASN'T BECAUSE
I WAS A PASTOR,
IT WAS BECAUSE I WAS A PERSON
AND JUST HAD
THAT LITTLE PROMPTING
AND SAID, "CAN I PRAY
WITH YOU ABOUT SOMETHING?"
I THINK GOD WANTS TO DO THAT
WITH EVERY PERSON.
I AM GOING TO RECOMMEND
TO OUR WHOLE CHURCH
TO BUY THIS BOOK.
AND AS YOU KNOW
I'VE ASKED YOU TO COME
AND DO A BOOK SIGNING;
AND BE THERE
AT ONE OF OUR MAIN CAMPUSES
AND SIGN BOOKS
AND MEET PEOPLE BECAUSE
EVERYONE WANTS TO MEET YOU.
BUT I DO WANT EVERY PERSON
IN OUR CHURCH --
BUT I WANT EVERY PERSON
TO GET THE BOOK BECAUSE
THERE IS A -- IT IS LIKE
A HOLY SPIRIT INSPIRATION
WHEN I WAS READING BOOK.
AS YOU SAID
I DON'T READ A LOT OF BOOKS,
SO THEY'VE GOT TO BE GOOD
TO KEEP MY ATTENTION.
IT WAS FASCINATING --
THE STORIES THAT YOU TOLD.
AND THEN TO GET TO READ ABOUT
NOT JUST WHAT YOU DID, AS
WHEN PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW YOU,
BUT THEN AS THE DOORS
GOD OPENED UP
WITH VERY WELL-KNOWN PEOPLE.
TO GET THE READ
YOUR CONVERSATION
WITH MUHAMMAD ALI,
JOHNNY CASH, RONALD REAGAN,
BEFORE HE WAS PRESIDENT
AND AFTER HE WAS PRESIDENT.
AND YOUR CONVERSATION WITH HIM
EVEN ABOUT COMMUNISM,
HOW GOD USED HIM
TO TEAR DOWN THAT WALL.
IT REALLY IS LIKE
AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY,
WHICH I WASN'T GOING INTO IT
THINKING THAT
BUT I WAS JUST BLOWN AWAY
WITH ALL THE THINGS
GOD'S DONE IN YOUR LIFE
AND REMINDED OF
HOW GOD'S USED YOU.
James: WELL, THE THING
THAT IS SO IMPORTANT
FROM MY POINT OF VIEW
IS THAT GOD TOOK WHAT SEEMED
TO BE THE LEAST LIKELY,
AND ROBERT, I NEVER
GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE,
NEVER WENT TO SEMINARY.
A LOT OF PEOPLE SAID,
"WELL, YOU SHOULD HAVE."
BUT THE POINT IS
THAT GOD TOOK SOMEBODY
THAT HAD SO LITTLE
AND YET HE DID AMAZING THINGS.
IF PEOPLE WOULD ONLY
UNDERSTAND THIS
THAT AS I'M WRITING
AND SHARING, IT IS TO SHOW
WHAT GOD CAN DO WITH ANYONE
IF YOU JUST LET HIM BE
WHO HE IS IN YOU AND REALIZE
YOU WERE DESIGNED BY HIM
FOR KINGDOM IMPACT
AND YOU'RE A PART OF HIS BODY.
HOW DO YOU SAY
TO ANYONE OF THESE FINGERS,
YOU ARE NOT IMPORTANT.
THE THUMB MAY BE
AS IMPORTANT AS ANY
BECAUSE IT CONNECTS
THE USEFULNESS OF ALL OF THEM.
AND THEN ALL
THE BODY PARTS CONNECTED.
BUT HOW ARE THEY AFFECTIVE
WHEN THEY'RE SUBMITTED
TO THE UNIFORM AND WISDOM
AND CHARACTER AND LEADERSHIP
THAT THE HEAD GIVES,
THE MIND GIVES.
ROBERT, THIS IS WHAT
WE WANT TO SEE.
WE WANT TO SEE
A HEALTHY CHURCH.
YOU WATCH PEOPLE
MIRACULOUSLY FIT IN PLACE.
YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE AT GATEWAY
WHO ARE ABLE TO DO THINGS
YOU'RE NOT EQUIPPED
OR QUALIFIED TO DO
AND DO THEM FAR BETTER
THAN YOU EVER IMAGINED
WHEN THEY YIELD THAT CLAY
TO THE POTTER AND THEY FIT
INTO THE BODY APPROPRIATELY.
THIS IS WHAT
I WANT PEOPLE TO SEE.
IF THEY WILL YIELD
TO THIS FULLNESS OF THE SPIRIT
AND ALLOW THIS JESUS
TO FILL THEM
THEY CAN LIVE AMAZED.
I DON'T THINK THERE IS
A SINGLE PERSON ON THIS PLANET
THAT GOD DOESN'T INTEND
TO EXPERIENCE AMAZING GRACE
AND AMAZING, DIVINE,
SUPERNATURAL GIFTING
AND ENABLING TO BE ABLE
TO FULFILL HIS PURPOSE
AND WE WILL BE WITNESSES
TO HIM.
IT IS INTERESTING THAT HIS
LAST WORDS, "YOU'RE GOING
TO BE FILLED WITH THIS POWER
THAT I'M LEAVING AND SENDING,
LIKE ME, WILL LIVE IN YOU.
AND YOU SHALL BE
WITNESSES TO ME,
RIGHT NOW AT HOME,
TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH."
I BELIEVE THAT'S GOD'S
DESTINY FOR EVERYONE.
I WANT TO INSPIRE THEM
TO GO THERE.
Robert: REALLY
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT,
WE READ ABOUT THESE PEOPLE
IN THE BIBLE
BUT THERE WAS SO MANY
THAT WAS JUST REGULAR PEOPLE,
GIDEON WHO WAS AFRAID
AND GOD COMES TO HIM
TO USE HIM.
AND ELIJAH SHOWS UP
IN FIRST KINGS 17
AND BASICALLY IT SAYS,
"AND ELIJAH THE TISHBITE."
THAT'S ALL WE KNOW ABOUT HIM
-- HE CAME FROM TISHBE.
James: HE HID ALONE A LOT,
AND SCARED.
Robert: AND THEN
HE EVEN GOT SCARED AFTER
HE DID THIS GREAT MIRACLE.
SO THE POINT IS
THAT GOD USES ORDINARY PEOPLE.
AND THAT'S WHAT I GOT
OUT OF THE BOOK
OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
THAT'S WHY I WANT PEOPLE
TO READ IT
AND GET INSPIRED AND KNOW,
GOD CAN USE ME
JUST LIKE I AM.
I DON'T HAVE TO BE
ON TELEVISION.
I DON'T HAVE TO BE
A PASTOR OF A CHURCH,
GOD CAN USE ME.
James: YOU KNOW YOU WENT
WITH US IN THE EARLY DAYS
OF OUR MISSION OUTREACH.
IT IS AN AMAZING THING
THAT GOD WOULD TAKE SOMEBODY
FROM CRUSADES
AND SEND THEM OVERSEAS.
AND WE GET SUCH A BURDEN
THAT WE ACTUALLY THINK
WE'RE GOING TO STAY OVER HERE
AND TAKE CARE OF
ALL OF THESE PEOPLE.
AND THE MISSIONARIES SAID,
"PLEASE DON'T!"
YOU CAN WONDER,
MAYBE THEY DIDN'T LIKE
SOMETHING ABOUT YOU.
"GO BACK HOME."
NO, THEY SAID,
"PLEASE, YOU GO BACK HOME
AND GET US HELP."
IN THE EARLY DAYS
WHEN WE STARTED THAT YOU WENT.
AND WOULD YOU AGREE
THAT WHAT YOU SAW --
WE HAD LIKE
A COUPLE MILLION PEOPLE SAVED
IN OUR CRUSADES
BUT IN THE MISSION OUTREACHES,
ROBERT, WE STARTED SEEING
2 MILLION PEOPLE SAVED A YEAR
AND AS HIGH
AS 5 MILLION PEOPLE
COME TO CHRIST
AND MILLIONS OF LIVES SAVED
BECAUSE WHEN WE SHOWED
OPPORTUNITY THE PEOPLE SAID,
"WE CAN DO THAT.
WE CAN SERVE
THOSE MISSIONARIES
AND ENABLE THEM TO BE THERE."
WOULD YOU AGREE THAT
THAT'S ONE OF
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL MIRACLES
YOU'VE EVER SEEN?
Robert: IT IS!
AND IT IS ONE OF
THE MOST AFFECTIVE MINISTRIES
I'VE EVER SEEN.
BECAUSE I WAS THERE
AND I SAW YOU FEEDING PEOPLE,
I SAW YOUR MINISTRY,
THE MINISTRY AND REALLY
PEOPLE GIVING TO LIFE
TO FEED PEOPLE.
I SAW PEOPLE BEING FED,
THESE CHILDREN, AND
YOU GUYS WERE FEEDING THEM
THROUGH THE SCHOOLS
BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE
TO GO TO SCHOOL.
SO THEY WENT TO SCHOOL
TO GET A MEAL
AND TO GET SOME SHOES
AND SOME CLOTHES
AND SOME CLEAN WATER
AND THEY WERE
GETTING EDUCATED TOO.
THEN AFTER YOU TOOK THE FOOD
FOR A LONG TIME, THEN
YOU WENT IN WITH THE GOSPEL
AND PREACHED THE CRUSADE
AND THEY ALL CAME BECAUSE
THIS IS THE PERSON FEEDING US.
THIS IS THE MINISTRY,
THEY'RE FEEDING US.
SO WHEN I WAS OVER THERE,
AND AGAIN,
THIS WAS THE EARLY DAYS
BUT THEY WERE SAYING THAT --
I CAN'T REMEMBER
WHICH GOVERNMENT IT WAS
BUT THEY WERE ATTRIBUTING
IN SOUTHERN AFRICA
ABOUT 7 MILLION LIVES
THAT Y'ALL HAD SAVED.
James: THAT WAS IN MOZAMBIQUE.
Robert: YEAH!
THAT Y'ALL HAD SAVED
BY FEEDING THEM.
James: MEANING THE VIEWERS.
Robert: YES!
BUT EVEN THEN, I FORGOT
HOW MANY MILLIONS OF PEOPLE
WHO HAD ACCEPTED CHRIST.
James: MORE PEOPLE ACCEPTED
CHRIST THAN LIVES SAVED.
SO IT JUST SHOWS THE POWER
OF LOVE TO TRANSFORM.
WELL, WOULD YOU JUST LET
ROBERT KNOW HOW MUCH
WE APPRECIATE HIS WITNESS
AND HIS LEADERSHIP?
I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT
THE BOOK WAS AMAZING ENOUGH
THAT YOU READ IT.
AND ROBERT, JUST KNOW THAT --
DO YOU FEEL THE SUPPORT
AND THE LOVE THAT BETTY
AND I HAVE FOR YOU,
YOUR LEADERSHIP?
WE WANT TO BE AN ENCOURAGEMENT
AND SERVE YOU IN EVERY WAY
WE CAN IN THE CHURCH.
BUT THANK YOU FOR BEING
AN ENCOURAGER TO US.
THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU
REALLY DID ENCOURAGE
PEOPLE TO LEARN
THE BLESSING OF GIVING,
THAT WHEN YOU SEE A NEED
AND YOU GIVE TO MEET IT,
THE JOY THAT'S THERE
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR THAT.
BUT ALSO, THANK YOU
FOR SHARING ABOUT THE BOOK.
LET ME JUST SAY THIS TO YOU.
WE'RE SENDING THE BOOK.
IT IS IN THE BOOKSTORES.
YOU CAN GET IT.
I HOPE YOU WILL GET A COPY
FOR A FRIEND.
I HOPE YOU WILL CONSIDER
GIVING IT TO SOMEONE
AND SAYING, LORD,
LET THIS PERSON
WHO RECEIVES THIS
BEGIN TO LIVE THE AMAZING LIFE
THAT YOU DIVINELY ENABLE,
SUPERNATURALLY GIFT THEM
TO BE ABLE TO LIVE.
I PRAY THAT HAPPENS.
WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY,
RIGHT NOW, ROBERT,
WE'RE ASKING PEOPLE
TO HELP US RESCUE CHILDREN,
RESCUE PEOPLE
FROM SEXUAL TRAFFICKING.
WE'RE SENDING THE BOOK
AS A THANK YOU
BECAUSE WE SAY THANK YOU
TO PEOPLE TO BLESS THEM JUST
LIKE THEY'RE BLESSING OTHERS.
I WANT YOU TO LOOK IN
RIGHT NOW
AND ACTUALLY LISTEN
TO SOMEONE'S HEART BROKEN
THAT IS JUST A HOMEMAKER,
A GRANDMOTHER,
A MEMBER OF GATEWAY.
BUT LISTEN TO HER HEART
AND LISTEN TO THE NEED
SHE ADDRESSES THAT YOU ARE --
I'M NOT EXAGGERATING --
YOU ARE THE MIRACLE ANSWER
TO WHAT SHE TALKS ABOUT
AS A MOTHER,
AS A CHRISTIAN WHO CARES.
WATCH CLOSELY.
Kirie: ROW AFTER ROW
OF BROTHELS AND JUST --
I'VE LOST COUNT OF
HOW MANY GIRLS I'VE SEEN.
THEY JUST SIT
IN LITTLE BENCHES
WITH SOME MAN
WATCHING OVER THEM.
I DON'T KNOW
WHAT IS WORSE
THAN THIS.
WHERE DO THEY GO
THAT'S WORSE THAN THIS?
THEIR SITUATIONS
ARE UNTHINKABLE.
THEY'VE ALL BEEN
SOLD BY SOMEONE
INTO THE SEX
TRAFFICKING BUSINESS.
THEIR LIVES HAVE
BEEN TORN APART.
THEIR LIVES
HAVE BEEN CRUSHED
AND ON A DAILY BASIS,
EVERY ONE OF THEM,
WITHOUT EXCEPTION
ARE BEATEN.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING
THAT THEY CHOSE.
THEY WERE FORCED INTO IT.
THEY WERE TAKEN
AS YOUNG CHILDREN.
THEY KNOW NOTHING ELSE
BUT TO BE A PROSTITUTE.
THEY DON'T WANT IT.
THEY DON'T LIKE IT.
THEY'RE BROKEN OVER IT.
THEY'RE ASHAMED.
BUT THEY DON'T KNOW
WHAT ELSE TO DO.
THEY'RE STILL CHAINED
TO THEIR PAST.
AND THAT'S WHAT
WE WANT TO DO,
WE WANT TO BREAK THOSE
CHAINS FROM THEIR PAST.
WE WANT TO SHOW THEM THAT
THEY CAN WALK OUT OF BONDAGE.
THEY CAN
FIND A LIFE
OUTSIDE OF
PROSTITUTION.
IT ISN'T EASY
BUT IT CAN
BE DONE.
James: GOD BLESS YOU, KIRIE.
KIRIE JAMES IS ONE
OF OUR SWEETEST FRIENDS.
SHE WENT WITH US
TO CHERNOBYL IN THE UKRAINE.
AND HOLDING
THE LITTLE CHILDREN THERE
AND TAKING CARE OF THEM,
SHE GOT A VERY DEADLY DISEASE
THAT NEARLY KILLED HER
AND KEPT HER HOSPITALIZED
FOR OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS
OFF AND ON.
AND YET, THERE SHE IS
BACK ON THE MISSION FIELD
BECAUSE SHE IS A MISSIONARY,
AS A GRANDMOTHER,
AND A MOM, A HOMEMAKER.
AND YOU SAY WHY?
-- BECAUSE SHE'S SEEN
WHAT LOVE DOES
IN IMPOSSIBLE SITUATIONS.
SHE GOES INTO THE PIT OF HELL
AS A MOTHER AND A GRANDMOTHER
TO TRY TO LIFT THEM OUT
TO SEE THEM HAVE THE JOY
THAT SHE'S SEEN
WITH HER OWN GRANDCHILDREN
WHAT LOVE DOES.
WHAT DOES YOUR HEART SAY
WHEN YOU LISTEN TO
ONE OF YOUR CLOSEST FRIENDS
OVER THERE
POINTING TO THE NEED
THAT LOVE CAN MEET?
Betty: FIRST OF ALL,
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU,
KIRIE, FOR GOING OVER THERE,
FOR HAVING SUCH LOVE
IN YOUR HEART
THAT YOU WANTED TO REACH OUT
AND OFFER HOPE
TO THESE PRECIOUS CHILDREN
THAT DIDN'T ASK FOR THE
SITUATIONS THAT THEY'RE IN.
A LOT OF THEM WERE LIED TO,
TOLD THAT THEY WOULD HAVE
A GOOD JOB, JUST GO WITH THEM
AND THEY WOULD MAKE
LOTS OF MONEY
AND PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILY.
THEY WENT THINKING THAT
THERE WAS SOME HOPE THERE.
AND WHEN THEY GET
TO WHERE THEY TAKE THEM,
THEY LOCK THEM UP
LIKE ANIMALS.
THEY BEAT THEM,
THEY ABUSE THEM,
THEY SELL THEM
AND THEY TREAT THEM
LIKE ANIMALS --
WORSE THAN ANIMALS.
AND THESE PRECIOUS
LITTLE CHILDREN,
WE'VE HEARD SOME OF THEM SAY,
"I JUST WANT MY MAMA.
I JUST WANT MY MAMA."
CAN YOU IMAGINE?
THESE ARE PRECIOUS
LITTLE CHILDREN.
THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY
THEY'RE IN THESE SITUATIONS
BUT THERE THEY ARE.
I'M SO GRATEFUL
FOR SOME OF YOU,
SO MANY OF YOU THAT HAVE
REACHED OUT AND HELPED
IN THESE SITUATIONS BEFORE
BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP AGAIN.
THERE ARE SO MANY MORE
CHILDREN OUT THERE
THAT ARE CRYING OUT,
"MAMA! SOMEBODY HELP ME!
SOMEBODY CARE.
HAVE I BEEN FORGOTTEN?"
AND THEY THINK THERE IS
NO WAY OUT BUT THERE IS.
IT'S BECAUSE OF THE LOVE
THAT YOU HAVE FOR THEM;
THE LOVE OF GOD
THAT REACHES OUT TO THEM
THAT GIVES THEM HOPE.
SO PLEASE JOIN WITH US.
LET'S MAKE A SAFE PLACE
FOR THESE CHILDREN TO GO TO
AND TO BE CHILDREN
AS THEY SHOULD BE.
James: AND WE CAN
ACTUALLY DO THAT.
THE MISSIONARIES
HAVE PLANTED THEIR LIVES
IN THE MIDST
OF THIS SUFFERING AND PAIN.
THEY'VE LEFT THEIR COMFORT.
IT IS AMAZING GRACE
THAT LEADS THEM THERE.
BUT THEY NEED TO BE ENABLED.
RIGHT NOW THE MISSION WORKERS
HAVE TOLD US
WE CAN RESCUE 5,000,
THAT'S WHAT WE CAN RESCUE
AND WE HAVE THE FACILITIES
EITHER RENTED
OR THAT WE HAVE BUILT
OR ARE IN THE PROCESS
OF BUILDING,
TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.
IT AVERAGES $128
TO RESCUE ONE.
THAT IS NOT MUCH MONEY
TO WORK A MIRACLE
THAT CHANGES
EVERYTHING FOR THEM.
SO WHAT WE'RE ASKING YOU
TO DO RIGHT NOW
IS TO GO ONLINE
TO THE WEBSITE THERE
OR TO DIAL THE NUMBER;
TAKE YOUR BANKCARD
AND THEN THIS IS WHAT
I WANT YOU TO PRAY ABOUT:
$128 WILL RESCUE ONE.
IT CHANGES EVERYTHING.
THAT WILL COVER THE COST.
WE HAVE TARGETED 5,000
THAT THE MISSIONARIES SAY
WE CAN HANDLE RIGHT NOW
BUT WE NEED THE RESOURCES.
CAN YOU DO THAT?
LET ME TELL YOU
ABOUT A MIRACLE.
SOME VERY CARING CHRISTIANS
HAVE COME TOGETHER AND SAID,
"WE'LL MATCH $200,000 --
WE'LL MATCH WHAT YOU GIVE."
WHICH MEANS INSTEAD OF $128
RESCUING ONE, IT RESCUES TWO.
WE ALSO, AND
I EMPHASIZE THIS TO PEOPLE
WHO ARE ABLE TO DO IT,
$1280 RESCUES TEN
BUT NOW IT IS ACTUALLY 20.
IF YOU CAN GIVE AT THAT LEVEL,
I BELIEVE YOU WANT TO
AND I BELIEVE YOU WILL
AS AN ANSWER TO PRAYER
TO MEET A NEED,
A LEGITIMATE NEED,
AND TO SEE A MIRACLE.
WOULD YOU RIGHT NOW PLEASE
VERY PRAYERFULLY
WITH A BROKEN HEART
AND WITH LOVE,
WOULD YOU REACH OUT
AND CHANGE A LIFE TODAY?
THAT'S WHAT LOVE DOES.
GO ON THE WEBSITE YOU SEE,
TAKE YOUR BANKCARD,
USE IT LIKE A CHECK
OR DIAL THE NUMBER
AND USE THAT CARD
LIKE A CHECK.
MAKE THE GIFT
GOD PUTS ON YOUR HEART.
REMEMBER THIS,
THE GREATEST GIFT WE CAN GIVE
IS THE LIFE AND LOVE OF GOD.
WOULD DO YOU THAT RIGHT NOW?
WE HAVE SOME GIFTS
TO SEND YOU TO SAY THANK YOU
AND TO BLESS YOU.
AND IF YOU COULD HELP US
RESCUE 10, NOW 20,
MAKE THAT SPECIAL GIFT.
WE'LL SAY THANK YOU
AND YOU'LL BE PART
OF A MIRACLE.
THANKS FOR DOING IT.
Announcer:
INNOCENT CHILDREN
AND YOUNG PEOPLE
LONGING TO BE LOVED
AND CARED FOR
ARE BEING ABDUCTED
AND SOLD
AT THE HANDS
OF VIOLENT PREDATORS,
THEIR SPIRIT
AND BODIES BROKEN
UNDER HORRIFIC EMOTIONAL
AND PHYSICAL ABUSE.
THROUGH MISSION:
RESCUE LIFE
YOU CAN REACH OUT
TO SAVE CHILDREN
VULNERABLE TO
SEX TRAFFICKERS.
YOU CAN HELP RESCUE
THOSE ALREADY ENSLAVED
AND YOU CAN HELP
RESTORE THEIR LIVES
AND GIVE THEM
A FUTURE.
NOW A GENEROUS OPPORTUNITY
OF A $200,000 MATCHING GIFT
MEANS YOUR GIFT OF $128
TO HELP RESCUE A CHILD
WILL BE MATCHED
TO HELP TWO CHILDREN.
YOUR $64 GIFT WILL BE MATCHED
TO HELP RESCUE ONE CHILD
FROM THE HORRORS
OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
AND A $32
RESCUE GIFT
WILL BE DOUBLED
TO $64.
WITH YOUR GIFT
WE WILL SEND YOU
JAMES ROBISON'S NEW BOOK,
LIVING AMAZED:
HOW DIVINE ENCOUNTERS
CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE.
AS YOU READ THESE
INSPIRING STORIES
YOU'LL LEARN HOW
TO LIVE AMAZED
IN THE PRESENCE OF
GOD 24 HOURS A DAY.
WITH YOUR GIFT OF $100
OR MORE, YOU'LL RECEIVE
JAMES' NEW BOOK,
ALONG WITH THE COMPANION,
AMAZED JOURNAL
SO YOU CAN RECORD ACCOUNTS
IN YOUR OWN LIFE
WHERE YOU'RE AMAZED
AT GOD'S GOODNESS.
FINALLY, PLEASE CONSIDER
A GIFT OF $1280
WHICH WILL NOW
HELP RESCUE 20 CHILDREN
AND YOU MAY REQUEST
OUR BEAUTIFUL NEW
"DETERMINED EAGLE"
BRONZE SCULPTURE.
PLEASE CALL, WRITE, OR MAKE
YOUR SECURE GIFT ONLINE TODAY.
James: WELL,
BETTY AND I DO SAY THANKS
IN BEHALF OF PRECIOUS
CHILDREN AND PEOPLE
WHO HAVE BEEN SO MISTREATED.
WE'LL SEND YOU THE BOOK,
LIVING AMAZED FOR ANY GIFT,
AND ALSO THE JOURNAL
IF YOU CAN MAKE A GIFT
OF $100 OR MORE.
ROBERT, WE HAVE
THIS INCREDIBLE BRONZE HERE
THAT IS REALLY PRETTY.
I THINK THIS MAY BE
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BRONZE
THAT WE HAVE EVER CREATED --
"DETERMINED EAGLE."
DETERMINED TO RISE AND SOAR
ON THE TURBULENCE OF THE TIMES
AND THE CHALLENGES OF THE DAY;
GOD WILL LIFT US UP.
WE DON'T NEED TO LIVE IN FEAR
OR DESPERATION.
WOULD ALL OF YOU SAY
A GREAT THANK YOU
TO OUR PASTOR AT GATEWAY,
AND OUR FRIEND, ROBERT MORRIS?
[Cheers & applause]
I'M GOING TO HAVE TO GO BACK
AND FIND THE CLIP
WHEN YOU WERE 20 YEARS OLD
DOING TELEVISION.
Robert: YES!
I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT.
James: THANK ALL OF YOU
FOR WATCHING.
THANK YOU FOR HELPING US
REACH OUT IN LOVE
AND RESCUE PEOPLE.
♪
♪
♪
Sheila: HOW COULD THIS
POSSIBLY WORK OUT FOR GOOD?
HOW COULD
ANY GOOD
COME OUT OF THE PAIN
I'M IN RIGHT NOW?
Announcer:
SHEILA WALSH TOMORROW!
>> LIFE TODAY IS MADE
POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORTERS OF
LIFE OUTREACH INTERNATIONAL.
YOUR GIFT WILL BE USED EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE EXEMPT PURPOSES OF LIFE.
THE MINISTRY FEATURES
SPECIFIC OUTREACHES
AS EXAMPLES OF THE PROGRAMS
IT SUPPORTS AND CONDUCTS.
GIFTS ARE CONSIDERED
TO BE WITHOUT RESTRICTION
AS TO USE UNLESS EXPLICITLY
STIPULATED BY THE DONOR.
THE MINISTRY IS A MEMBER
OF THE E.C.F.A.