Announcer: COMING UP, WHEN IN COLLEGE,
GWEN AND BRAD COVERED UP HER PREGNANCY WITH AN ABORTION.
WE REGRET THE DECISION.
IT WAS THE WORST DECISION WE'VE EVER MADE.
WHEN I USED TO CONSIDER WHAT I HAD DONE AND WHERE I HAD BEEN,
I FELT LIKE THAT DISQUALIFIED ME FOR ANYTHING
THAT WAS OF VALUE TO GOD.
Announcer: STAY TUNED AS GWEN, ONE OF THE GIRLFRIENDS IN GOD
SHARES HER JOURNEY FROM BROKEN TO BEAUTIFUL -- NEXT!
§
James: IT'S SUCH A JOY
TO SHARE THIS TIME WITH YOU.
ALL OF OUR FRIENDS,
THIS BEAUTIFUL YOUNG LADY
OUT HERE HAS JUST BEEN
CHEERING US ON.
YOU'RE SO SPECIAL!
AND THE FAMILY.
WE LOVE YOU!
I LOVE YOU TOO!
James: THANK YOU.
WE'RE SO GLAD YOU SHARE
THIS TIME WITH US.
I'M JAMES ROBISON.
BETTY AND I ARE THRILLED
THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
OF TALKING TO YOU AS WELL
AS ALL OUR GUESTS HERE.
WE HAVE GUESTS TODAY
WHO ARE A PART OF AN OUTREACH
THAT IS CALLED <I>GIRLFRIENDS</I>
<I>IN GOD FAITH ADVENTURE,</I>
AND THESE ARE THE GIRLFRIENDS
IN GOD, THREE LADIES THAT
JUST HAVE AN INCREDIBLE,
INCREDIBLE STORY.
AND GWEN SMITH IS HERE WITH US
AND HER HUSBAND BRAD.
NOW YOU'RE GOING TO MEET
A REALLY BEAUTIFUL COUPLE
BUT THEY... YOU KNOW,
IT'S PRETTY EASY SOMETIMES
EVEN AS A CHRISTIAN,
DOESN'T MAKE IT RIGHT,
BUT IT HAPPENS,
BUT TO COMPROMISE
IN YOUR DATING RELATIONSHIP,
AND SURE ENOUGH THEY DID.
SHE WAS PREGNANT AND THEY
MADE A REAL BAD DECISION.
BAD DECISION NUMBER ONE
WAS TO COMPROMISE,
AND THEN THEY'RE PREGNANT,
AND THEN THEY MADE
A REALLY BAD DECISION,
THEY ABORTED THE BABY,
AND IT TOOK A HEAVY TOLL.
TRUSTING GOD IS A STORY
THAT THREE INCREDIBLY
GIFTED CONCERNED WOMEN
THAT HAVE JOURNEYED
AND JOURNALED
THEIR JOURNEY WITH THE LORD
IN TRUSTING GOD
NO MATTER WHAT,
HOW HE WILL HEAL YOUR HEART
AND YOUR HURTS.
WHEN YOU CONSIDER HOW MANY
PEOPLE TODAY -- AND WE'VE
DEALT A LOT WITH ABORTION
AND THE PRECIOUSNESS OF LIFE
AND WHEN SO MANY WOMEN
HAVE MADE THE DECISION
THAT'S LESS THAN BEST,
NOT ONLY COMPROMISING
ALL OF SOMETIMES OUR MORALS
BUT ALSO WITH A CHILD'S LIFE
THAT HAS INCREDIBLE
POSSIBILITIES,
HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH IT?
WELL, LET'S LET GWEN
AND LET'S LET BRAD
TELL US ABOUT IT.
WOULD YOU WELCOME
GWEN AND BRAD SMITH
TO LIFE TODAY?
GLAD TO SEE YOU.
NOW I KNOW, BRAD,
THAT GWEN IS GOING TO
KIND OF CARRY THE STORY BUT
YOU ALL DID MAKE A DECISION
THAT WASN'T BEST
AND THEN YOU MADE A DECISION
RELATED TO THE ABORTION.
IS THIS SOMETHING
Y'ALL DECIDED TOGETHER?
Brad: YES, SIR,
IT WAS A JOINT DECISION.
James: NOW SHE'S TOLD IN,
OF COURSE, THE BOOK
HOW IT AFFECTED HER,
BUT DID IT HAVE A PRETTY
HEAVY AFFECT ON YOU TOO
WHEN YOU REALIZED
WHAT YOU HAD DONE?
Brad: YES.
MEN HAVE A TENDENCY
TO COMPARTMENTALIZE THINGS
PRETTY EASILY BUT IT'S HAD
A SIGNIFICANT TOLL ON US.
BY THE GRACE OF GOD,
HE JUST ALLOWED US
TO CONTINUE TO STAY TOGETHER.
THE MAJORITY OF COUPLES NEVER
SURVIVE THAT TYPE OF FRACTURE
IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP
AND THAT TYPE OF DECISION
BUT BY THE GRACE OF GOD,
I'VE NEVER EVEN CONSIDERED
WALKING AWAY FROM GWEN
EVEN AFTER THAT DECISION.
BY THE GRACE OF GOD,
HE KEPT US TOGETHER.
James: AND YOU HAVE
THREE CHILDREN NOW, RIGHT?
Brad: WE DO.
James: HOW OLD ARE THEY?
Brad: 15, 13, AND 11 AND
WE'LL CELEBRATE 19 YEARS
OF MARRIAGE THIS JUNE.
James: PRAISE GOD!
Gwen: WE'RE A MIRACLE!
James: YEAH, THAT'S GREAT!
AND WE'VE GOT 50 YEARS GOING
SO WE'RE A MAJOR MIRACLE!
THAT'S HOW BIG GOD IS.
NOW HERE'S WHAT I REALLY WANT,
GWEN, YOU LET OUR VIEWERS KNOW
BECAUSE YOU HAVE
A REAL SENSITIVITY
TO WHERE WOMEN ARE
WHO HAVE MADE THIS MISTAKE.
YOU ACTUALLY BACKTRACKED
AND YOU COULDN'T
JUST FORGET IT.
WHAT DID YOU ACTUALLY DO,
RELATED TO THIS DECISION
YOU MADE,
WHEN YOU LOOK BACK ON IT?
Gwen: ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
GOD HAS NOT ONLY SHOWN ME
OVER THE YEARS WAS THAT
WHEN I USED TO CONSIDER
WHAT I HAD DONE
AND WHERE I HAD BEEN, I FELT
LIKE THAT DISQUALIFIED ME FOR
ANYTHING THAT WAS OF VALUE
TO GOD AT THIS POINT.
GOD HAD TO CONTEND
WITH ME ABOUT THAT.
AND SAY, "LISTEN, GWEN,
WHAT'S DONE IS DONE.
IT'S DONE, IT'S FORGIVEN AND
YOU'VE NEVER BEEN QUALIFIED
BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU'VE DONE,
IT'S BECAUSE OF WHAT
I'VE DONE THROUGH JESUS."
IT WAS THAT THAT ACTUALLY
GAVE ME THE COURAGE TO PURSUE
COMING ALONGSIDE WOMEN
AND SHARING MY STORY
AND SHARING THE HOPE
OF SCRIPTURE AND GOD'S WORD.
ONE OF THE WAYS THAT GOD
GAVE ME PERSONAL HEALING
IN MY LIFE HAS --
I ACTUALLY WENT TO
A POST-ABORTIVE RETREAT.
THEY ALSO HAVE POST-ABORTIVE
BIBLE STUDIES THAT ARE
OFTEN SPONSORED BY
PREGNANCY CARE CENTERS.
IT WAS AN AMAZING --
AMAZING TIME OF HEALING
WHERE WE OPENED UP GOD'S WORD,
WE SHARED LADY TO LADY,
HEART-TO-HEART
AND JUST UNEARTHED
THE TRUTH OF FORGIVENESS.
BUT WE WERE ALSO ABLE,
IN THAT TIME, TO RESTORE
DIGNITY TO OUR CHILD,
TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
YOU ARE VALID AND REAL.
THEY ALLOWED US
TO NAME OUR CHILD AND WE
EVEN HAD A MEMORIAL SERVICE.
THERE WERE LAYERS OF HEALING
I WASN'T EVEN PREPARED FOR.
James: SO YOU RECOGNIZED THIS
WAS A VERY REAL PERSON AND
WHAT HAPPENED WAS VERY REAL.
Gwen: OUR BABY WAITS FOR US
IN HEAVEN AND WE CAN'T WAIT
TO MEET IT.
James: WHAT DID YOU NAME
THE BABY?
Gwen: OUR BABY'S NAME
IS AVA CATHERINE.
James: AND YOU FEEL GOOD
ABOUT THAT?
IN OTHER WORDS,
THAT'S A HEALED HEART.
YOU JUST MENTIONED SEVERAL
THINGS LIKE MINISTRIES
TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN
THROUGH SOME OF THIS.
DO YOU HAVE A WEB SITE THAT
IF SOMEBODY WANTED TO GO,
THEY SAY, "OKAY,
I WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT
GIRLFRIENDS, WHAT YOU
THREE LADIES TALK ABOUT."
Gwen: THAT'S
GIRLFRIENDSINGOD.COM.
James: NOT HOW TO GET
A GIRLFRIEND.
THIS IS GIRLFRIENDS IN GOD.
Gwen: NO, WE DO GET E-MAILS.
James: I'M SURE YOU DO.
BUT THEY'LL HELP YOU
BUT IF THEY WANT TO GO
TO THE WEB SITE,
AND YOU HAVE TWO WEB SITES,
IF PEOPLE WANTED TO KNOW
NOT ONLY ABOUT THE BOOK
AND OF COURSE,
IT'S IN THE BOOKSTORES,
MULTNOMAH'S PUBLISHED IT
BUT YOU, I'M SURE HAVE IT
ON THE WEB SITE, BUT LIKE
IF THEY WANTED TO KNOW,
DO YOU ALL SHARE WHERE
THESE KIND OF PLACES ARE
THAT YOU JUST REFERENCED?
WHERE WOULD BE THE WEB SITE
FOR THEM TO GO TO FOR YOU
TO SHARE INSIGHTS WITH THEM?
Gwen: GIRLFRIENDSINGOD.COM
PROVIDES AN ARSENAL OF TOPICS
FOR WOMEN FOR US TO REALLY
HIT HEART ISSUES WITH WOMEN.
WE HAVE A DEVOTIONALS ARCHIVED
FOR YEARS
AND THERE'S A SEARCH BAR
SO IF TOPIC SEARCH
AND THEN THERE'S INTERACTIVE
COMPONENT OF THEM BEING
ABLE TO LEAVE A COMMENT.
WE GET E-MAILS ALL THE TIME
WITH GIRLFRIENDS IN GOD.
MY FACEBOOK PAGE LIGHTS UP
EVERY DAY WITH WOMEN
PRAYING FOR ONE ANOTHER,
WITH US TALKING ABOUT REAL
ISSUES AND SCRIPTURE.
FACEBOOK.COM/GWEN SMITH MUSIC
IS THAT SITE.
BUT REALLY,
GIRLFRIENDSINGOD.COM
IS JUST A GREAT RESOURCE.
James: DO YOU GO OUT
AND DO CONCERTS,
YOU SING AND YOU MINISTER?
YOU DO THAT?
DO YOU DO THAT AS A COUPLE
OR DOES SHE GO AND YOU PRAY?
Brad: SHE GOES AND I PRAY.
[Laughter]
I TAKE CARE OF THE THREE KIDS
WE HAVE WHILE SHE IS GONE.
Gwen: I AM COMMISSIONED AND
THEY DEFINITELY
PARTICIPATE HUGE.
Betty: GWEN, HAVE YOU SEEN
THROUGH YOUR BOOK
AND THROUGH WHAT GOD DID
IN YOUR LIFE,
HAVE YOU SEEN AND DEALT
WITH A LOT OF WOMEN
THAT HAVE FELT LIKE THEY
CAN'T FIND THAT FORGIVENESS
AND GO ON WITH THEIR LIFE --
THAT IT'S REALLY DAMAGED THEM?
Gwen: EVERY SINGLE DAY.
THAT IS WHEN
GOD FIRST CALLED ME
TO START SHARING MY TESTIMONY,
MY DEEPEST DARKEST SECRET,
OF COURSE,
I WAS NOT EXCITED ABOUT IT
AS YOU CAN WELL IMAGINE.
I DIDN'T FEEL
IT WAS NECESSARY.
BUT HE HAD A DIFFERENT PLAN
AND NOW I SEE
THAT WHEN I GO THERE,
WHEN I'M WILLING, IF YOU WILL,
TO BRING MY MESS TO THE TABLE,
BOY, THAT'S WHEN HE DOES SOME
REAL EXCAVATING IN HEARTS.
BECAUSE YOU KNOW, 40% OF WOMEN
HAVE THAT SAME TESTIMONY
OF ABORTION.
IT IS ASTOUNDING
THE LAYERS OF HURT
THAT ARE IN THE HEARTS
OUT THERE.
WHAT GOD HAS SHOWN ME
THROUGH HIS WORD
AND THROUGH THE REDEMPTION
AND RESTORATION THAT
I'VE EXPERIENCED IN MY LIFE
IS THAT'S JUST NOT
GWEN AND BRAD'S STORY,
THIS IS THE STORY
FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON,
EVERY SINGLE WOMAN,
EVERY SINGLE MAN,
WHOSE GONE TO PLACES
THAT THEY'RE NOT PROUD OF,
WHO'S BEEN THROUGH
DIFFICULT THINGS.
IT IS NOT JUST A HOPE FOR US,
IT IS A HOPE --
IT'S A PROMISE
FOUND IN HIS WORD,
THAT IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS
GOD IS FAITHFUL
AND HE'S JUST
AND HE'S GOING TO FORGIVE IT.
HE DOESN'T CONTINUE
TO HOLD THAT OVER OUR HEADS
AND HE SAYS, "YOU'RE FREE."
Brad: WE HAVE A TENDENCY
TO WEIGHT CERTAIN SINS
AND CERTAIN SINS THAT SEEM
TO BE SO BIG IN OUR LIVES
THAT GOD COULD NEVER
FORGIVE ME FOR THAT.
AND YET ESSENTIALLY
WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS THAT
THE DEATH OF CHRIST
ISN'T ENOUGH
TO PAY FOR THAT SIN.
WE HAVE TO RECEIVE
THAT FORGIVENESS.
THERE IS NO CONDEMNATION
IN CHRIST JESUS.
WE REGRET THE DECISION.
OH, IT'S THE WORST DECISION
WE'VE EVER MADE
BUT WE HAVE CHOSEN
TO RECEIVE GOD'S FORGIVENESS
AND TO MOVE FORWARD
IN HIS GLORY, FOR HIS GLORY.
Gwen: AND WE DON'T DESERVE IT.
Brad: NOT AT ALL.
Gwen: BUT GRACE
IS NOT DESERVED.
James: YOU WROTE A BOOK
ALSO CALLED,
<I>BROKEN INTO BEAUTIFUL.</I>
YOU'VE BEEN BROKEN
INTO BEAUTIFUL.
THAT'S WHAT GOD DOES.
WHEN WE REALIZE, LORD,
I MISSED IT,
I DID MAKE A MESS.
YOU MAKE A MASTERPIECE
OF WHAT I DID. RIGHT?
Gwen: AND GOD DELIGHTS
TO TRANSFORM LIVES.
HE'S IN THE
RESTORATION BUSINESS.
THIS IS WHAT HE LOVES TO DO.
HIS LOVE KNOWS NO END
AND IT IS TRULY
ABOUT UNDERSTANDING
THE DEPTHS OF HIS LOVE
WHICH GO WAY PAST OUR PAST
AND OUR PAINS AND OUR MISTAKES
AND OUR MESS TO BRING US UP.
James: WELL,
HE TAKES BROKEN PIECES
AND CREATES A MASTERPIECE.
YOU'VE GOT A SONG
ABOUT BROKEN INTO BEAUTIFUL.
WOULD YOU SING THAT TO US?
WOULD YOU LIKE TO HEAR
GWEN SING THAT SONG?
HEAR THAT MESSAGE?
BROKEN, LITERALLY --
BROKEN INTO BEAUTIFUL.
I KNOW I'M AN OLD GUY
BUT I'VE BEEN BROKEN
INTO BEAUTIFUL TOO.
§ SHE'S SMILING ON THE OUTSIDE §
§ BUT SHE'S HURTING ON THE INSIDE §
§ IT'S GETTING HARD §
§ JUST LIVING ANYMORE §
§ AND THE SHADOW SHE HAS CLUNG TO §
§ PAINFUL THINGS THAT SHE HAS BEEN THROUGH §
§ HAVE LEFT HER FEELING WORTHLESS, LORD §
§ BUT YOU CHANGE WORTHLESS INTO PRECIOUS §
§ AND GUILTY TO FORGIVEN §
§ HUNGRY INTO SATISFIED §
§ EMPTY INTO FULL §
§ AND ALL THE LIES ARE SHATTERED §
§ AND WE BELIEVE WE MATTER §
§ WHEN YOU CHANGE BROKEN INTO BEAUTIFUL §
§ WE LIVE WITH ACCUSATIONS §
§ SOMETIMES HEAVY EXPECTATIONS §
§ THAT TELL US WE COULD NEVER MEASURE UP §
§ AND YET YOU REPEAT WITH MERCY §
§ THAT IN YOUR EYES WE ARE WORTHY §
§ 'TIL AT LAST WE SEE HOW MUCH WE'RE LOVED §
§ BECAUSE YOU CHANGE WORTHLESS INTO PRECIOUS §
§ AND GUILTY TO FORGIVEN §
§ HUNGRY INTO SATISFIED §
§ EMPTY INTO FULL §
§ AND ALL THE LIES ARE SHATTERED §
§ WHEN WE BELIEVE WE MATTER §
§ WHEN YOU CHANGE BROKEN INTO BEAUTIFUL §
§ WE CAN'T SEE HOW WE CAN STAND §
§ BEFORE YOU, LORD §
§ WE FEEL VALUED, PRICELESS AND ADORED §
§ YOU CHANGE WORTHLESS INTO PRECIOUS §
§ AND GUILTY TO FORGIVEN §
§ HUNGRY INTO SATISFIED §
§ EMPTY INTO FULL §
§ YOU CHANGE WORTHLESS INTO PRECIOUS §
§ GUILTY TO FORGIVEN §
§ HUNGRY INTO SATISFIED §
§ EMPTY INTO FULL §
§ ALL THE LIES ARE SHATTERED §
§ WHEN WE BELIEVE WE MATTER §
§ WHEN YOU CHANGE BROKEN INTO BEAUTIFUL §
§ BROKEN INTO BEAUTIFUL §
§ THANK YOU, JESUS §
James: THANK YOU!
THANK YOU, GWEN.
DID YOU WRITE THOSE WORDS?
Gwen: I DID, I WROTE THEM
WITH A COUPLE OF FRIENDS.
James: IT IS AN
INCREDIBLE TESTIMONY.
LISTEN, I THINK -- YOU KNOW
WORTHLESS INTO PRECIOUS,
BROKEN INTO BEAUTIFUL?
-- REALLY ALL OF US.
GOD USES BROKEN VESSELS.
PEOPLE A LOT OF TIMES TALK
ABOUT HOW FREELY I WEEP.
SOMETIMES WISH I DIDN'T.
IT'S MESSY.
[Laughter]
YOU SEE, SHOP TOWELS --
KLEENEX DON'T WORK THAT WELL.
SO LITERALLY I GET IT
ALL OVER MY BEARD; I WEEP.
BUT YOU SEE,
THE BROKENNESS IN MY OWN LIFE
AND GOD PUTTING
THE PIECES BACK TOGETHER,
IT'S BROKEN MY HEART
FOR OTHER PEOPLE
WHO ARE BROKEN AND HURT.
AND TO ME, THE LOVE
AND THE COMPASSION,
THE BROKENNESS,
TO ME IT'S AN EXPRESSION
OF WHAT GOD POURS
OUT OF HIS HEART TOWARD US;
TO TAKE THE BROKEN PIECES
OF OUR LIFE AND SHAPE THEM
LIKE CLAY TO MAKE
SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL.
AND THE MESSAGE
REALLY IS FOR YOU.
THE BOOK, TRUSTING GOD,
IT'S THERE,
IT'S IN THE BOOKSTORES.
THERE AGAIN IS THE WEB SITE
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW
YOU CAN COMMUNICATE WITH GWEN
IN SOME WAY OR PERHAPS SHE
COULD MINISTER IN YOUR AREA.
BUT YOU NEED TO KNOW
THAT RIGHT NOW,
GOD IS SAYING TO YOU
NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE,
I WANT TO PICK UP
THOSE PIECES.
MAYBE SOMEBODY BROKE
YOUR HEART, CRUSHED YOU,
BROKE THE RELATIONSHIP,
JUST DAMAGED YOU.
MAYBE RELIGIOUS PEOPLE
OR CHURCH PEOPLE HURT YOU
BUT GOD WANTS TO --
HE DIDN'T DO IT.
IT HAPPENED BUT THAT'S LIFE
AND THAT'S WHY HE CAME
TO PICK UP THE BROKEN PIECES
AND PUT THEM TOGETHER
AND THE HURT AND HEALING.
LET HIM DO IT.
FATHER, I PRAY FOR
EVERY PERSON THAT RIGHT NOW
FEELS LIKE SOMETHING
IS GOING ON IN MY LIFE,
I WANT SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL
TO COME OF IT.
WOULD YOU JUST GIVE GOD
THE YIELDED CLAY OF YOUR LIFE
AND SAY, "GOD, SHAPE IT
AND MAKE SOMETHING
BEAUTIFUL OUT OF IT.
WOULD YOU PLEASE? I TRUST YOU.
I TRUST JESUS TO BE MY LORD,
MY SAVIOR.
GIVE ME YOUR LIFE AND HELP ME
SHARE YOUR LIFE WITH OTHERS."
THAT'S WHAT GOD
WANTS YOU TO DO.
THE TELEPHONE NUMBER THERE
ON THE SCREEN,
IF YOU WANT SOMEONE
TO PRAY WITH YOU,
DON'T HESITATE TO CALL
AND SAY, "WOULD YOU
PRAY WITH ME TODAY?"
WOULD BE SO HAPPY FOR SOMEONE
TO SPEND SOME TIME
WITH YOU FOR A MOMENT.
I WANT TO SAY THANKS, BRAD
AND THANKS, GWEN.
WOULD YOU LIKE
TO JUST TELL GWEN THANK YOU,
AND BRAD THANK YOU
FOR SHARING THEIR STORY
AND THE GIFT.
I WANT TO SAY A VERY
DIRECT WORD OF THANKS AND
APPRECIATION TO ALL OF YOU
WHO WATCH US
ALL OVER THE WORLD
AND WHO HELP US
AS I'VE SAID MANY TIMES,
BECOME AN ANSWER
TO SOMEONE'S PRAYER.
WE PRAY, GOD, WHAT IF YOU
GET TO BE GOD'S ANSWER
TO THAT NEED OR THAT PRAYER.
THAT'S REALLY --
IT'S LIKE A GODLIKE ACT.
IT'S LIKE JESUS.
WOULD YOU HELP US
DO SOMETHING VERY GODLIKE
AS WE LOOK TOWARD --
AND I KNOW THIS IS WAY AHEAD
-- TOWARD CHRISTMAS?
THAT WE WOULD DO SOMETHING
FOR CHILDREN FOR CHRISTMAS?
I THINK YOU'LL WANT TO.
WATCH THIS VERY CLOSELY.
Announcer: UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE CHILDREN AROUND THE WORLD
WHO HAVE MANY DIFFERENT KINDS OF NEEDS.
SOME ARE HUNGRY AND THIRSTY,
IN NEED OF FOOD TO EAT OR CLEAN WATER TO DRINK.
OTHERS STILL SIMPLY HAVE NEVER HAD A NEW PAIR OF SHOES
OR THEY'RE UNABLE TO SMILE DUE TO A CLEFT PALATE.
ALL YEAR LONG WE COME TO YOU
AND TELL YOU ABOUT THINGS THAT CHANGE PEOPLE'S LIVES,
THAT SAVE PEOPLE'S LIVES
AND YOU'RE A PART OF THAT.
I WANT TO TELL YOU WHAT WE WANT TO DO THIS CHRISTMAS,
IS WE DO WHAT IS CALLED "SHOES AND SMILES."
A LITTLE CHILD JUST LIKE THIS THAT HAS A CLEFT PALATE,
THAT'S NEVER HAD A REAL SMILE,
WE GIVE THEM SURGERY AND THIS LITTLE CHILD WILL HAVE A NEW SMILE.
LITTLE KIDS LIKE THIS THAT HAVE NEVER HAD
A PAIR OF SHOES BEFORE IN THEIR LIFE,
WE GIVE THEM ONE.
Announcer: A CHILD WITH BARE FEET MAY SEEM HARMLESS
BUT THE POTENTIAL DANGER FOR CHILDREN LIVING IN THESE TYPES OF CONDITIONS
CAN BE LIFE-THREATENING.
James: ONE OF THE THINGS WE FOUND IN THE CENTRAL AMERICAN COUNTRIES
IS THAT THEY HAVE A REAL PROBLEM WITH HOOKWORMS,
WHICH THEY GET FROM WALKING IN DIRT OR SAND,
THEN IT CREATES A TREMENDOUS INTESTINAL PROBLEM.
THE ANSWER IS JUST SHOES.
WE CAN PROVIDE LITERALLY FOR SOME OF THEM
THE FIRST PAIR OF SHOES THEY'VE EVER HAD,
NOT ONLY FOR FUN AND COMFORT, BUT FOR HEALTH.
Announcer: DURING THE PAST SEVERAL HOLIDAY SEASONS,
<I>LIFE Outreach </I>AND ITS MISSIONARY PARTNERS
HAVE PASSED OUT THOUSANDS OF PAIRS OF SHOES TO CHILDREN
IN MANY DIFFERENT COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD.
IN ADDITION, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RESTORE NUMEROUS CHILDREN'S SMILES
THROUGH CORRECTIVE SURGERIES.
WE PUT SMILES ON THE FACES OF THESE CHILDREN TODAY
AS WE'VE GIVEN THEM SHOES
BUT OTHERS NEED A LITTLE MORE,
THEY NEED THAT CLEFT PALATE SURGERY.
I HOPE YOU CAN HELP PUT A SMILE ON EVEN MORE CHILDREN'S FACES.
DO THE BEST THAT YOU CAN
AND YOU CAN GIVE SHOES AND SMILES TO CHILDREN ALL OVER THE WORLD.
SO I HAVE A SPECIAL MESSAGE JUST FOR YOU --
James: YOU'RE WELCOME!
THAT WAS OUR SON RANDY THERE
WITH THOSE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN.
AS I LOOK AT THEM I JUST --
I LOVE THEM.
HOW DO YOU NOT WANT
TO TAKE THE LITTLE CHILDREN
IN THE ARMS OF GOD?
HOW DO YOU NOT WANT TO
PICK THEM UP AND HOLD THEM?
I LOVE -- I LOVE PEOPLE!
THAT'S THE LOVE OF GOD
IN MY HEART BECAUSE
I CAN BE A TOTALLY
SELF-ABSORBED PERSON.
I'VE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEM
THINKING ABOUT ME;
I'VE NEVER REALLY HAD
A PROBLEM WITH THAT.
BUT THIS SUPERNATURAL THING
THAT IS SO MUCH BIGGER
THAN I AM MAKES ME WANT TO PUT
A SMILE ON A CHILD'S FACE.
THAT LITTLE BOY YOU SAW --
THAT YOU SAW BEING
ROLLED INTO SURGERY.
I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME
WE SAW HIM.
HE ACTUALLY SAW HIMSELF
FOR THE FIRST TIME.
HE LIVED WHERE
HE DIDN'T SEE MIRRORS;
THERE WEREN'T EVEN CARS
AROUND WHERE HE LIVED
WHERE HE COULD SEE
HIS REFLECTION IN SOMETHING.
WE TOOK A PICTURE OF HIM
WITH US AND HE WAS WATCHING.
AND THEN THEY TURNED AROUND
AND SHOWED HIM THE IMAGE
AND WHEN HE SAW HIS FACE
HE PULLED BACK
AND HE RAN, HE SCREAMED.
HE HAD NOT SEEN
WHAT HE LOOKED LIKE
OR IF HE EVER HAD
HE THOUGHT IT WAS AWFUL.
IT SO MOVED US,
I LOOKED AT OUR VIEWERS,
AND I SAID, "WE WANT
TO GIVE THAT BOY A SMILE.
WE DON'T KNOW
HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO IT,"
BECAUSE THERE WERE NO SURGEONS
WHERE HE WAS.
VIEWERS LIKE YOU SAID,
"WHATEVER IT TAKES."
AND WE GOT PERMISSION
AND WE GOT VISAS,
WE GOT THE ABILITY TO MOVE
FROM ONE COUNTRY TO ANOTHER
TO GET HIM TO JOHANNESBURG
TO A GREAT SURGEON,
AND THE SURGEON DONATED,
IN THAT CASE, HIS TIME
BECAUSE HE HEARD THE STORY.
BUT SOMEBODY LIKE YOU SAID,
"WE WILL PAY TO FLY HIM
IF IT TAKES A PRIVATE PLANE,
GO GET HIM."
AND SOMEBODY LIKE YOU MOVED
AND GAVE HIM THAT SMILE.
HE GOT A SMILE.
WELL, WE CAN DO THAT
OVER AND OVER BECAUSE NOW
WE'VE GOT DOCTORS IN PLACE
WHERE WE FOUND THESE CHILDREN
WITH THE MISSIONARIES,
WE CAN GET THEM TO IT
BUT WE WILL PAY FOR IT.
IT WILL COST $500
TO GIVE A SMILE.
SO WE WANT TO GIVE SMILES
FOR CHRISTMAS.
BUT WE ALSO WANT TO GIVE
THE SHOES FOR CHRISTMAS,
FOR THE LITTLE ONES,
FOR THE OLDER CHILDREN
AND THESE THEY CAN WEAR
ACTUALLY FOR YEARS;
THEY ARE ADJUSTABLE
EVEN IN SIZE BECAUSE
OF THE WAY THEY'RE MADE.
THEY ARE $3.60 CENTS A PAIR.
WE WANT TO GIVE 200,000
FOR CHRISTMAS,
PAIRS LIKE THIS.
THAT MEANS $36, BETTY,
WE'VE GOT TEN PAIRS OF SHOES.
I DON'T THINK THERE IS
ANYBODY WATCHING THAT CAN'T
HELP GIVE SOME CHILDREN
SOME SHOES FOR CHRISTMAS.
SOME OF YOU CAN GIVE THE $500
OR $1,000 AND GIVE TWO SMILES
OR GIVE A SMILE.
WHATEVER YOU CAN DO, BETTY,
I'M PRAYING EVERY VIEWER WILL
AT LEAST DO SOMETHING TO HELP
PROVIDE THE SHOES AND SMILES.
Betty: I THINK YOU WILL
BECAUSE SHOES AND SMILES,
WHAT A GREAT COMBINATION
BECAUSE WE SEE THE SMILES
COME ON THE CHILDREN'S FACES
WHEN WE PUT THE SHOES
ON THEIR FEET.
BUT ALSO WE CAN SEE
THE SMILES OF CHILDREN
THAT NEED THE SURGERY
TO GIVE THEM A SMILE
THAT THEY'VE NEVER HAD BEFORE.
SO JOIN WITH US.
James: WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT
WHAT WE CAN DO TO BLESS YOU.
WE ALWAYS LIKE TO SAY
THANK YOU.
OUR SON WROTE A BOOK,
<I>GOD WANTS YOU TO BE HAPPY</I>.
YOU'RE GOING TO BE HAPPY
WHEN YOU GIVE SHOES AND SMILES
BUT THIS IS ABOUT
THE JOY OF THE LORD.
IT IS A FABULOUS BOOK.
I KNOW OUR SON WROTE IT
BUT I CAN'T WRITE AS WELL
AS HE CAN AND THIS IS HIS
FIRST BOOK TO BE PUBLISHED
AND I PROMISE YOU,
IT WILL BLESS YOU.
WE'RE SENDING IT
FOR ANY GIFT TO SAY THANKS,
AND WE'RE SENDING
THE CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT
TO THOSE OF YOU WHO WILL MAKE
A SPECIAL GIFT, WE ASK YOU
TO GIVE $100 OR MORE,
MAKE A SPECIAL GIFT
TO HELP US PROVIDE
THOSE SHOES AND THOSE SMILES.
ALSO "THE LION AND THE LAMB"
BRONZE, THIS BEAUTIFUL --
IF YOU MAKE A GIFT
OF $1,000 OR MORE.
REALLY AND TRULY,
AT THIS TIME OF YEAR AS YOU
THINK ABOUT CHRISTMAS GIFTS,
YOU COULD MAKE A SIZABLE GIFT
THAT WOULD HAVE AN INCREDIBLE
IMPACT RIGHT NOW
SO I PRAY YOU'LL DO IT.
WOULD YOU?
WOULD YOU DIAL THE NUMBER,
TAKE YOUR BANKCARD,
USE IT LIKE A CHECK?
WRITE A CHECK, MAKE IT TO LIFE
OR YOU CAN GO
TO <I>lifetoday.org</I>
AND MANY OF YOU DO THAT NOW.
IT'S VERY CONVENIENT
AND IT IS AN IMMEDIATE GIFT
AND YOU MAKE THAT GIFT.
BUT PLEASE, PLEASE TODAY
GIVE SOME SHOES,
GIVE SOME SMILES,
WHATEVER YOU CAN DO, REMEMBER
TEN PAIRS OF SHOES $36.
IT'S BIG TO THOSE CHILDREN --
THAT'S A REAL BIG GIFT.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE GIFT
GOD PUT ON YOUR HEART
AND HAS ENABLED YOU TO MAKE.
Announcer: POVERTY IS A KILLER
AND BECAUSE OF IT CHILDREN NEEDLESSLY SUFFER,
NOT ONLY FROM A LACK OF FOOD AND CLEAN WATER,
BUT ALSO FROM A LACK OF THINGS WE TAKE FOR GRANTED
SUCH AS A HEALTHY SMILE OR A SIMPLE PAIR OF SHOES.
FOR MOST OF THESE CHILDREN,
THEY'VE NEVER OWNED A NEW PAIR OF SHOES
AND WHILE THAT MAY SEEM MINOR IN LIGHT OF ALL THEIR NEEDS,
WALKING WITH BARE FEET PUTS THEM AT RISK
OF LIFE-THREATENING INFECTIONS THAT COULD LEAD
TO CRIPPLING CONSEQUENCES, DISEASE, AND EVEN DEATH.
BY RESPONDING TODAY, YOU CAN HELP <I>LIFE</I> IMMEDIATELY SECURE
AND BEGIN SHIPPING CHRISTMAS SHOES TO 200,000 CHILDREN
AROUND THE WORLD JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS.
YOUR GIFT OF $36 WILL PROVIDE TEN PAIRS OF SHOES.
A GIFT OF $72 WILL PROVIDE 20 PAIR
AND A GIFT OF $144 WILL HELP PROVIDE 40 PAIRS
OF CHRISTMAS SHOES FOR CHILDREN IN NEED.
IN APPRECIATION OF YOUR GIFT, BE SURE TO REQUEST
THE INSPIRATIONAL NEW BOOK, <I>GOD WANTS YOU TO BE HAPPY</I>
BY JAMES AND BETTY'S SON, RANDY ROBISON.
WITH YOUR GIFT OF $100 TO HELP PROVIDE 28 PAIRS OF SHOES,
YOU MAY REQUEST THE BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED SHOE ORNAMENT
TO PLACE ON YOUR TREE EACH CHRISTMAS.
FINALLY, PLEASE CONSIDER A GIFT OF $1,000 OR MORE
TO HELP PROVIDE TWO CHILDREN WITH CORRECTIVE CLEFT PALATE SURGERIES
AND YOU MAY REQUEST "THE LION AND THE LAMB" BRONZE SCULPTURE.
PLEASE CALL, WRITE, OR MAKE YOUR GIFT ONLINE TODAY.
Kathy: I'VE GOT TO ASK YOU TO DO SOMETHING FOR ME RIGHT NOW.
YOU'VE GOT TO LOOK AT THESE BEAUTIFUL FACES
OF THESE LITTLE BOYS AND GIRLS.
THEY'RE ABSOLUTELY LITTLE ANGELS
AND THEY HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON,
THEY'RE SEVERELY IMPOVERISHED.
THERE MUST BE A COUPLE HUNDRED HERE BUT
<I>LIFE Outreach International</I>'S GOAL IS TO PUT 200,000 SHOES
ON THE FEET OF CHILDREN LIKE THIS ALL OVER THE WORLD.
YOUR GIFT WILL NOT ONLY PROVIDE SHOES
FOR THESE PRECIOUS CHILDREN
BUT IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE SMILES,
NEW SMILES FOR THE CHILDREN WHO NEED CLEFT PALATE SURGERY.
WOULD YOU PICK UP THE PHONE RIGHT NOW?
WOULD YOU GO ONLINE AND GIVE A GIFT, BIG OR SMALL,
GOD CAN USE IT AND YOU'LL BE BLESSED. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
James: I REALLY DO WANT
TO SAY THANK YOU.
I THINK THE LITTLE SHOE
IS SO BEAUTIFUL.
MAKE A $100 GIFT
OR MORE IF YOU CAN.
OR IF YOU COULD GIVE $1,000
AND HELP US GIVE TWO SMILES
AND LET US SEND YOU
"THE LION AND THE LAMB"
BRONZE, IT'S A TREASURE.
BOY, WHAT A TREASURE
THOSE SMILES ARE.
I KNOW YOU NEVER GIVE TO GET
A GIFT, YOU GIVE TO GIVE.
BUT WE LIKE TO GIVE TO GIVE,
TO BLESS YOU
BECAUSE YOU BLESS OTHERS.
I WANT TO AGAIN SAY THANKS
TO BRAD AND TO GWEN SMITH
FOR BEING WITH US.
AND THE BOOK, <I>TRUSTING GOD</I>
IS IN THE BOOKSTORES.
WOULD YOU JOIN ME AND BETTY
IN SAYING THANKS
TO THIS VERY SPECIAL COUPLE?
THANK BOTH OF YOU!
BLESS YOUR THREE CHILDREN!
GIVE THEM OUR REGARDS!
TELL THEM WE TALKED ABOUT
THEM ON TELEVISION. OKAY?
THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR HELPING US SHARE SMILES
AND SHOES FOR CHRISTMAS.
§
§
AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS
IT IS AN EFFORT TO BE SPIRITUAL WITHOUT GOD.
Announcer: NEXT WEEK, RAVI ZACHARIAS
HELPS US REDISCOVER GOD'S TRUTH.