Announcer:
NEXT!
Sheila: WE CAN STAND
AND STARE AT OUR WORLD
AND ALL WE'RE GOING TO SEE
IS WHAT'S WRONG.
WE'RE GOING TO SEE WHAT
EVERYBODY IS DOING WRONG,
HOW THEY'RE
EXPRESSING IT WRONGLY.
HOW WOULD IT
CHANGE YOUR LIFE?
HOW WOULD IT CHANGE MY LIFE
IF WE VIEWED THIS WORLD
INSTEAD FROM
A POSITION OF WORSHIP?
IF WE GOT ON
OUR KNEES BEFORE
WE EVER HEADED OUT THE DOOR
ON ANY GIVEN DAY?
♪
Sheila: HI! I'M SHEILA WALSH.
WELCOME TO
WEDNESDAYS IN THE WORD.
I DON'T TAKE IT FOR GRANTED
THAT YOU PAUSE HERE
AND YOU TAKE TIME OUT
OF YOUR DAY SO THAT
WE CAN SIT TOGETHER
AND TALK THROUGH THINGS.
REALLY WHAT'S BEEN ON MY HEART
FOR THE LAST FEW DAYS IS
I'M PROFOUNDLY GRATEFUL FOR
THE WAY THAT SO MANY OF YOU
HELP US DO WHAT WE DO.
YOU HELP US TO REACH THOSE
WHO ARE BROKEN AND HURTING.
BUT I DON'T WANT YOU
TO EVER FORGET
THAT WE REMEMBER YOU.
MAYBE, WHERE THIS CATCHES YOU
AT THIS MOMENT IN YOUR LIFE
IS THAT YOU'RE HURTING
OR YOU'RE BROKEN
OR YOU FEEL A LITTLE LOST.
I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW
WE'RE HERE FOR YOU.
YOU MAY JUST BE SEEING ME
SITTING HERE IN A CHAIR BUT
THERE IS A LOT OF US HERE,
WE'RE A BIG FAMILY
AND WE PRAY FOR YOU.
SO ALWAYS FEEL FREE TO LET US
KNOW WHAT YOUR PRAYER
REQUESTS ARE AND IT WOULD
BE AN HONOR TO STAND
SHOULDER BY SHOULDER WITH YOU.
TODAY, I'VE BEEN THINKING
A LOT ABOUT, WE'RE SLIGHTLY
FURTHER ALONG IN THIS NEW YEAR
BUT NEW YEAR'S EVE HAS
ALWAYS BEEN A VERY
IMPORTANT TIME FOR ME
JUST PERSONALLY.
IT IS A TIME WHEN I LIKE
TO REFLECT ON THE LAST YEAR
AND IT IS A TIME THAT
I LIKE TO LOOK FORWARD TO
A BRAND-NEW YEAR WHERE
YOU'VE JUST GOT A JOURNAL
WITH BLANK PAGES.
I BEGAN TO ASK THE LORD,
MAYBE IN THE LAST WEEK
OR SO OF DECEMBER,
"FATHER, WHAT DO YOU WANT...
WHERE DO YOU WANT ME TO STUDY
AND FOCUS MY ATTENTION
AND MY LIFE IN
THIS COMING YEAR?"
AND IT WAS SUCH A SIMPLE
MESSAGE BUT SO PROFOUND
AND HONESTLY I CAN SAY,
EVEN UP TO THIS POINT
IN THIS YEAR, IT'S REALLY
CHANGING ME.
IT'S CHANGING HOW I SEE LIFE
AND HOW I SEE OTHER PEOPLE.
AND THE SIMPLE ANSWER WAS
"TO BECOME MORE LIKE CHRIST."
WE ALL KNOW IF YOU ARE
A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST AS I AM,
WE KNOW THAT'S KIND OF
THE BOTTOM LINE BUT
I'VE REALLY BEEN ASKING GOD
TO UNPACK THAT FOR ME TO SEE
WELL, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE
ON A MONDAY MORNING
NOT JUST ON A SUNDAY EVENING?
AND I WAS READING MY DARLING
FRIEND, ANN VOSKAMP,
SHE HAS THIS FANTASTIC BLOG.
AND SHE HAD A GUEST BLOGGER ON
SOME TIME BACK,
HIS NAME IS SCOTT SAUL
AND I WAS REALLY ARRESTED
BY AN OBSERVATION HE MADE
ABOUT AN ENCOUNTER JESUS HAD.
YOU REMEMBER THERE IS
A WHOLE CROWD OF PEOPLE,
JESUS IS TEACHING
AND THEN SUDDENLY THESE
RELIGIOUS LEADERS DRAG IN
A WOMAN WHO WAS CAUGHT
IN THE VERY ACT OF ADULTERY
AND THEY THROW HER
AT THE FEET OF JESUS.
BASICALLY, THEY WAIT TO SEE
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?
IF YOU STICK TO THE JEWISH LAW
AND YOU CONDEMN HER
THEN ALL THESE PEOPLE
WHO ARE FOLLOWING YOU
WHO THINK YOU ARE SO KIND
AND SO COMPASSIONATE,
THEY'RE GOING TO LEAVE.
BUT IF YOU DON'T UPHOLD
THE LAW THEN HOW CAN YOU
POSSIBLY SAY THAT YOU ARE
THE SON OF GOD --
THAT YOU CAME IN GOD'S NAME?
AND YOU MIGHT REMEMBER
THAT JESUS JUST WRITES
VERY SLOWLY IN THE SAND
AND SAYS, "WHOEVER OF YOU,
I'M JUST GOING TO GIVE YOU
THE PRIVILEGE IF YOU'VE
NEVER COMMITTED ANY SIN,
WHY DON'T YOU PICK UP
THAT FIRST STONE AND THROW IT
AT THIS WOMAN WHO IS
LYING HERE IN SHAME
AND IN HUMILIATION?"
YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THE STORY,
THEY EVENTUALLY ALL DISAPPEAR.
BUT HERE'S WHAT'S INTERESTING
AND THIS WAS THE OBSERVATION
THAT THIS GENTLEMAN MADE.
HE SAID CHRIST MAKES TWO
STATEMENTS TO THE WOMAN AND
THE ORDER OF THOSE STATEMENTS
IS HUGELY IMPORTANT.
HE ASKS HER THE QUESTION,
"WHERE ARE YOUR ACCUSERS?"
AND SHE SAID THEY WERE GONE.
AND JESUS SAYS THIS,
"NEITHER DO I CONDEMN YOU.
NOW GO AND SIN NO MORE."
THE SEQUENCE OF THOSE
TWO PHRASES ARE
HUGELY SIGNIFICANT.
I THINK WE'RE A LOT MORE
COMFORTABLE WITH SAYING,
"GO AND SIN NO MORE.
AND NEITHER DO I CONDEMN YOU."
THAT'S NOT WHAT JESUS SAID.
JESUS SAID, "NEITHER
DO I CONDEMN YOU.
NOW, IN LIGHT OF THAT LOVE,
YOU'RE SEEN, YOU'RE KNOWN,
YOU'RE ACCEPTED,
GO AND LIVE DIFFERENTLY.
GO AND SIN NO MORE."
THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THAT
THAT HAS GIVEN ME SUCH
A HUNGER TO LEARN
IN THIS CULTURE BECAUSE
IF YOU THINK OF THE TIMES
WE'RE LIVING IN,
WE'RE VERY DIVIDED.
I'VE JUST NEVER KNOWN
AN ANGRIER TIME
IN OUR NATION.
I'M SURE THERE HAVE BEEN SOME
BUT I'VE NEVER KNOWN THEM.
SO MY PRAYER HAS BEEN,
LORD, HOW DO I HAVE
YOUR EYES TO SEE PEOPLE?
AND I'VE BEEN VERY DRAWN BACK
TO THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS.
WHEN PAUL WRITES TO THE CHURCH
IN PHILIPPI, YOU MIGHT
REMEMBER HOW IT BEGAN;
HE TOOK A TRIP AND DISCOVERED
THERE WAS NO SYNAGOGUE THERE
BUT HE FOUND A GROUP OF WOMEN
LED BY A WOMAN NAMED LYDIA AND
THEY WERE JUST WORSHIPPING,
GATHERING BY THE RIVERSIDE.
AND PAUL TALKED TO THEM
ABOUT THE LOVE OF CHRIST.
SO LYDIA ACCEPTED CHRIST INTO
HER LIFE AS DID HER FAMILY
AND HER HOME BECAME
THE NUCLEUS OF THE VERY FIRST
EUROPEAN CHURCH.
BUT NOW PAUL IS WRITING
TO THESE PEOPLE THAT
HE LOVES SO MUCH.
HE'S IN PRISON IN ROME HIMSELF
BUT IT'S PHILIPPIANS
CHAPTER TWO THAT I FIND
SO COMPELLING.
LET ME JUST READ YOU
A FEW VERSES.
THIS IS PHILIPPIANS TWO
AND I'M READING FROM 5-11.
THAT IS ACTUALLY CALLED,
IF YOU LOOK IN ANY THEOLOGICAL
BOOK IT'S CALLED
A CHRISTOLOGICAL HYMN.
WE'RE NOT SURE.
DID PAUL WRITE
THIS PART HIMSELF?
OR WAS IT JUST A HYMN
THAT THEY HAD BEGUN TO SING
IN THE CHURCH?
BUT PAUL INCLUDES IT HERE.
THERE IS A COUPLE OF THINGS
I WANTED TO DRAW
YOUR ATTENTION TO.
IN VERSE SEVEN IT SAYS,
SOME PEOPLE HAVE WONDERED,
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
DIDN'T THINK OF BEING GOD
AS SOMETHING TO CLING TO?
WAS HE TRYING TO HOLD ON
AND NOT HAVE TO COME
TO THIS EARTH?
WAS THERE ANYTHING IN CHRIST
THAT RESISTED COMING?
THE MEANING IS FAR FROM THAT.
IT MEANS THAT THE SON OF GOD,
THE PERFECT SON OF GOD
WILLINGLY RELINQUISHED
ALL THOSE PRIVILEGES TO COME,
OUT OF PURE LOVE
FOR YOU AND I.
I READ AN INTERESTING THING,
A COMMENTARY BY A MAN
CALLED WARREN WIERSBE, WHOSE
COMMENTARIES I READ A LOT.
HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THAT.
HE TELLS A STORY OF
A JOB RECRUITER THAT HAS
BECOME KIND OF RENOWNED
IN HIS CITY; THAT IF YOU WANT
THE BEST WORKERS POSSIBLE
FOR YOUR COMPANY GO TO
THIS GUY BECAUSE HE DELIVERS
EVERY SINGLE TIME.
SO A REPORTER DECIDED TO GO IN
AND INTERVIEW THIS MAN
AND SAID, "HOW IS IT THAT
YOU CONSISTENTLY FIND
SUCH TOP QUALITY EMPLOYEES?"
AND THE MAN REPLIED, "OH,
IT'S VERY SIMPLE ACTUALLY.
I'VE DISCOVERED IF YOU WANT
TO FIND A TRUE LEADER,
DON'T JUST GIVE HIM
RESPONSIBILITY,
GIVE HIM PRIVILEGE.
MOST PEOPLE WILL RESPOND
TO RESPONSIBILITY AND DO
A GOOD JOB IF THEY'RE BEING
PAID FOR IT.
BUT THE DECIDING LINE,
THE DEFINITIVE ISSUE IS HOW
WILL THEY HANDLE PRIVILEGE?"
PERHAPS YOU'RE PROMOTED
IN A JOB, DO YOU USE THAT
PRIVILEGE FOR YOURSELF
OR DO YOU USE THAT TO SERVE
THOSE AROUND YOU?
HE DETERMINED THAT THAT WAS
THE SIGN OF A GREAT LEADER.
A GREAT LEADER WOULD ALWAYS
USE PRIVILEGE TO SERVE
THOSE WHO WORK WITH HIM.
THERE IS NO GREATER EXAMPLE
OF SOMEONE WHO COULD HAVE
HELD ON TO PRIVILEGE BUT
FOR LOVE OF US LAID ASIDE
THAN CHRIST.
IT GOES ON TO SAY:
I DON'T THINK IT IS POSSIBLE
FOR YOU AND I TO UNDERSTAND
EXACTLY WHAT THAT MEANS,
HOW HUMILIATING IT WAS
IN THOSE DAYS.
IN FACT, IN THOSE DAYS
IF YOU WERE A ROMAN AND
YOU HAD JUST CONVICTED SOMEONE
AND SENTENCED THEM TO DIE
ON A CROSS YOU WOULD NEVER
EVER UTTER THE WORD CROSS.
IT WAS LOOKED ON AS
THE UTMOST OF HUMILIATION.
SO THEY CAME UP WITH AN OLD
WORD THAT THEY USED WHEN
THEY WERE SENTENCING ANYONE.
BUT EVEN TO THOSE,
PARTICULARLY TO THE JEWS,
IT WAS LOOKED ON AS A CURSE
FROM GOD IF YOU WERE
HUNG ON A TREE.
BUT HE GOES ON IN CHAPTER
THREE, VERSE 13 TO SAY THIS
AND THIS IS REALLY THE KEY
FOR ALL THE JEWISH PEOPLE
WHO WATCHED THE CRUCIFIXION.
FOR ALL THE BYSTANDERS
THAT DAY, ON THAT TIME WHEN
CHRIST WAS HUNG ON A CROSS,
TO EVERY SINGLE JEWISH PERSON,
APART FROM ONE OR TWO,
LIKE THE MOTHER OF JESUS
AND ONE OF THE OTHERS
WHO MAYBE STILL HELD ON
TO SOME FAITH, IT LOOKED
TO EVERYONE THAT CHRIST WAS
A CRIMINAL WHO WAS UNDER
THE CURSE OF GOD.
I THINK THE FACT THAT
WE HAVE -- THINK ABOUT IT,
WE WEAR LITTLE CROSSES
AROUND OUR NECKS.
WE HAVE LITTLE CROSSES.
MAYBE YOU HAVE ONE
ON YOUR DESK OR IN YOUR HOME.
BACK THEN THAT WOULD BE
AS OBSCENE AS HAVING
A LITTLE ELECTRIC CHAIR
ON A CHAIN AROUND YOUR NECK.
IT WAS THE MOST DEGRADING
SORT OF PUNISHMENT AND DEATH,
AND CHRIST WILLINGLY
TOOK THAT ON FOR YOU AND I.
THEN IT GOES ON TO SAY THAT
GOD HAS HIGHLY ELEVATED HIM;
THAT THERE IS A DAY COMING,
I DON'T CARE WHAT
IT LOOKS LIKE IN THE NEWS
OR IN THE NEWSPAPER,
THERE IS A DAY COMING
WHEN EVERY SINGLE TONGUE
WILL CONFESS THAT
JESUS CHRIST IS LORD.
BUT MAYBE YOU'RE TEMPTED
TO ASK, "SHEILA, THAT'S GREAT
AND I LOVE THAT PASSAGE.
HOW DOES THAT CHANGE
HOW I SEE PEOPLE?
HOW DOES THAT CHANGE
HOW I LIVE IN THESE DAYS?"
WELL, THERE'S A BEAUTIFUL
PAINTING THAT'S HUNG IN ONE
OF THE ART GALLERIES IN LONDON
AND THERE IS A WHOLE FLOOR
THAT'S GIVEN OVER TO ITALIAN
RENAISSANCE PAINTINGS.
WHEN I WAS A STUDENT IN LONDON
I USED TO GO AND THERE WERE
ONE OR TWO PAINTINGS THAT
I WOULD JUST LITERALLY SIT AND
LOOK AT THE BEAUTIFUL DETAIL.
BUT THERE IS A PAINTING
BY AN ITALIAN RENAISSANCE
PAINTER; HE PAINTED
THIS BEAUTIFUL OIL OF CHRIST
BEING HELD BY HIS MOTHER.
IT'S QUITE A LARGE PAINTING
AND IT'S HUNG IN THIS GALLERY.
THERE IS A VERY FAMOUS
BRITISH ART CRITIC,
HIS NAME IS ROBERT CUMMINGS
AND HE DESCRIBES A DAY WHERE
HE GOES TO THAT PARTICULAR
ART GALLERY AND HE STANDS
IN FRONT OF THAT PAINTING
AND HE LOOKS AT IT.
AND EVEN THOUGH HE CAN
RECOGNIZE THE SKILL
OF THE BRUSH STROKE,
THE BEAUTY OF THE COLOR,
HE WROTE, "THERE IS SOMETHING
WRONG WITH THIS PAINTING.
THE ANGLE OF THE MOTHER,
THE WAY SHE IS HOLDING
HER BABY, THE HILLS
IN THE BACKGROUND, SOMETHING
IS JUST NOT RIGHT HERE."
HE STOOD THERE.
IT WAS A VERY BUSY DAY
IN THE ART GALLERY.
HE SURVEYED THE PAINTING
FOR SOME TIME.
AND THEN THIS THOUGHT CAME
TO HIM, WHAT IF THIS WAS
NEVER MEANT TO BE HUNG
IN AN ART GALLERY?
WHAT IF THIS PAINTING
WAS MEANT TO BE HUNG
IN A PLACE OF PRAYER?
SO THIS VERY WELL-DRESSED,
VERY WELL-KNOWN ART CRITIC
DID SOMETHING THAT HE SAYS
HE'S NEVER DONE BEFORE
IN HIS LIFE.
HE GOT DOWN ON HIS KNEES
IN THE ART GALLERY IN FRONT OF
THE PAINTING AND HE LOOKED UP
AND IT CHANGED EVERYTHING.
HE REALIZED, THIS WAS NOT
A PAINTING THAT WAS SUPPOSED
TO BE STOOD AND STARED AT.
THIS WAS A PAINTING THAT HAD
BEEN COMMISSIONED TO BE SEEN
THROUGH THE EYES OF WORSHIP.
FROM THAT PLACE ON HIS KNEES
AS HE GAZED UP,
EVERYTHING ABOUT THE PAINTING
HAD CHANGED.
MARY WAS HOLDING
THE BABY CLOSE,
THE HILLS WERE
IN THE BACKGROUND,
EVERYTHING WAS BEAUTIFUL
BECAUSE HE CHANGED HIS STANCE.
AND HONESTLY, THAT'S MY PRAYER
FOR US THIS YEAR.
WE CAN STAND AND STARE
AT OUR WORLD
AND ALL WE'RE GOING TO SEE
IS WHAT'S WRONG; WE'RE GOING
TO SEE WHAT EVERYBODY
IS DOING WRONG, HOW THEY'RE
EXPRESSING IT WRONGLY.
HOW WOULD IT CHANGE YOUR LIFE,
HOW WOULD IT CHANGE MY LIFE
IF WE VIEWED THIS WORLD
INSTEAD FROM A POSITION
OF WORSHIP?
IF WE GOT ON OUR KNEES
BEFORE WE EVER HEADED OUT
THE DOOR ON ANY GIVEN DAY,
WOULD WE BEGIN TO SEE
THIS WORLD WITH THE EYES
OF CHRIST?
I CAN ONLY TELL YOU THAT FROM
MY OWN LIFE, WHEN I STAND
AND WHERE I STAND
CHANGES WHAT I SEE.
BUT WHEN I KNEEL IN WORSHIP,
IT CHANGES WHO I AM.
HUMILITY IS
AN INTERESTING WORD.
I'VE HEARD PEOPLE SAY, "OH,
SHE IS SUCH A HUMBLE PERSON"
OR "I'M REALLY SO HUMBLE."
I THINK WE MISUNDERSTAND.
HUMILITY IS NOT THINKING
BADLY OF YOURSELF.
HUMILITY IS NOT
THINKING OF YOURSELF.
PRIDE AND FALSE HUMILITY ARE
VERY CLOSELY RELATED WHETHER
YOU THINK I'VE GOT THIS
AND NOBODY DOES IT BETTER
OR I'M TERRIBLE AND
NOBODY COULD LOVE ME.
THE UNDERBELLY OF BOTH
OF THOSE IS SHAME BECAUSE
HONESTLY, WE'RE NEVER GOING
TO MEASURE UP QUITE THE WAY
WE THOUGHT.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT YOURSELF
AND YOU THINK, WELL,
I'M NOT WORTH LOVING,
THE SOFT UNDERBELLY OF THAT
IS SHAME.
TRUE CHRISTIAN HUMILITY
IS WHEN WE KNEEL AT THE FEET
OF CHRIST AND WE HEAR HIM SAY,
"NEITHER DO I CONDEMN YOU.
NOW GO AND LIVE DIFFERENTLY."
I THINK THAT WOULD CHANGE
OUR WORLD IF WE BEGAN
TO SEE WITH THE EYES OF JESUS.
I HAD THAT PRIVILEGE
NOT SO LONG AGO.
OF GOING TO THE DARKEST PLACE
BUT SEEING IT
THROUGH DIFFERENT EYES.
WATCH THIS.
Sheila: MY FIRST NIGHT
ON THE STREETS
IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
WAS DEVASTATING.
I NEVER THOUGHT
I WOULD SEE
SOMETHING LIKE THAT
IN MY LIFE.
A SEX TRAFFICKER
CAN MAKE $200,000 A YEAR
ON ONE --
ONE LITTLE GIRL.
AND SHE'S
JUST A CHILD.
Interpreter:
WHEN I WAS 12,
I GOT A JOB
DOING HOUSEWORK.
I WORKED
VERY HARD.
ONE TIME
I MET A LADY
WHO SAID SHE COULD GET ME
A JOB AS A HAIRDRESSER.
THEY WOULD
TRAIN ME
AND IT WOULD BE
A WELL-PAID JOB.
I BELIEVED HER
AND SO DID MY MOTHER.
SO I WENT WITH HER
TO THE THAI BORDER.
BUT ONCE I GOT THERE
I WAS SOLD AS A PROSTITUTE.
THEY FORCED ME
TO HAVE SEX WITH MANY MEN;
UP TO 20 MEN
A NIGHT.
Sheila:
SOME OF MY FRIENDS,
BEFORE I EVEN WENT
SAID TO ME, "WHY DON'T THESE PEOPLE JUST GET OUT OF IT?
IF THEY DON'T LIKE
THAT LIFESTYLE
WHY DON'T THEY
JUST LEAVE?"
BUT WHEN YOU BEGIN TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENS,
SO MANY OF THESE GIRLS,
THEY'RE BROUGHT TO A PLACE,
THEY'RE THROWN INTO
A ROOM WITH OTHER GIRLS
AND THEY'RE NOT
ALLOWED TO SLEEP,
THEY'RE NOT
ALLOWED TO EAT,
AND AT SOME POINT
AFTER SEVERAL DAYS
ONE OF THEM IS REMOVED
AND NEVER COMES BACK.
THE MESSAGE
TO THE GIRLS IS,
IF YOU DON'T DO
WHAT WE TELL YOU TO DO,
IF YOU
DON'T SMILE
AND LOOK LIKE THIS
IS WHAT YOU WANT TO DO,
THE SAME THING
CAN HAPPEN TO YOU.
Interpreter:
WHAT I MISS MOST
IS MY MOTHER'S LOVE
AND COMFORT.
WHEN I'M IN THE BROTHELS
I FEEL HOPELESS --
THAT I'LL NEVER
GET OUT.
Sheila: I'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED
ANYTHING LIKE IT IN MY LIFE.
I'VE TRAVELED ALL OVER
THE WORLD BUT IN THE DARKNESS
THAT WE ENCOUNTERED IN
SOUTHEAST ASIA WHERE THESE
LITTLE GIRLS ARE KIDNAPPED
FROM THEIR VILLAGES,
THESE GUYS HAVE IT DOWN TO
A FINE ART; IT'S A BILLION
DOLLAR BUSINESS,
THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
AND THEY'LL OFFER THESE
LITTLE GIRLS SOMETHING
THAT SOUNDS PROMISING
AND HOPEFUL, AND THEN
THEY'LL DISCOVER THAT THEY ARE
TRAPPED AND THEY'RE IMPRISONED
AND THEY CANNOT GET AWAY.
I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY OF
TALKING TO A GIRL WHO HAD
BEEN RESCUED AND I SAID
TO HER, "DID YOU EVER
CONSIDER JUST RUNNING?
WAS THERE EVER A MOMENT WHEN
YOU THOUGHT I COULD RUN."
AND SHE SAID, "YES.
BUT ONE OF MY CAPTORS TOLD ME,
'WE KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE.
IF YOU LEAVE WE'RE GOING AFTER
YOUR EIGHT-YEAR-OLD SISTER.'"
WHAT CHOICE DID SHE HAVE?
I'M SO COMPELLED BY THE WORDS
IN ISAIAH, ISAIAH 61 SAYS:
AND THAT'S WHAT THESE
YOUNG GIRLS ARE.
THEY ARE BEING HELD CAPTIVE
-- THEY'RE PRISONERS.
SO MANY OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE
THAT I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY
LATER ON IN OUR TRIP
TO VISIT WITH WHO HAD BEEN
RESCUED AND NOW WERE BEING
RESTORED SAID, "YOU HAVE
NO IDEA HOW MANY NIGHTS
I WOULD LIE IN MY BED
AFTER THE LAST MAN HAD GONE
AND CRY OUT, 'IF THERE IS
A GOD, DO YOU HEAR ME?'"
BECAUSE THEY HAD
LOST THEIR IDENTITY.
THEY WERE NO LONGER MARY OR
SAMANTHA, THEY WERE A NUMBER.
THEY WERE JUST NUMBER 24
AND THEY FELT THEY HAD
NO FUTURE.
BUT WHAT I SAW
WITH MY OWN EYES IS
THERE IS NO PLACE TOO FAR
THAT THE LOVE OF GOD
CANNOT REACH YOU,
CANNOT RESCUE YOU,
AND CANNOT RESTORE YOU.
AND YOU AND I CAN DO IT.
IT DOESN'T EVEN COST MUCH.
FOR $128 THAT HELPS US
TO REACH, TO RESCUE,
AND TO RESTORE ONE CHILD.
NOW SOME OF YOU MIGHT THINK,
I'D LOVE TO DO THAT BUT
HONESTLY, IT DOESN'T FIT
MY MONTHLY BUDGET.
WELL, WE HAVE SOME AMAZING
PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING
TO PARTNER WITH US FOR
THIS OUTREACH AND THEY'VE
PUT UP $200,000 WHICH MEANS
IF YOU CAN WORK SAY, $64
INTO YOUR BUDGET, YOU HAVE
IN EFFECT RESCUED A CHILD
BECAUSE THEY WILL MATCH THAT.
I'VE SEEN ALSO WHAT HAPPENS
TO THE YOUNGEST OF THESE
WHEN THEY'RE FINALLY BROUGHT
TO A PLACE OF HOPE, LIKE
LIFE TODAY'S DESTINY HOUSE.
THE DIFFERENCE IT MAKES WHEN
THEY LEARN THAT NOT ONLY
DID GOD HEAR THEM
AND THAT GOD SAW THEM
BUT THAT GOD HAS GIVEN THEM
A NEW NAME: DAUGHTER, SON --
IT CHANGES EVERYTHING.
I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF
LEADING A WORSHIP SERVICE
WITH ABOUT 150 BOYS AND GIRLS
WHO HAD BEEN RESCUED
OUT OF TRAFFICKING.
THEY WORSHIPPED WITH TEARS
ROLLING DOWN THEIR FACE
BECAUSE WHEN YOU'VE TASTED
OF DARKNESS YOU RUN TO CHRIST
WHO IS THE LIGHT.
WOULD YOU HELP US?
WE CAN DO THIS
IF YOU'LL HELP US RIGHT NOW.
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.
Lisa: I'VE SPENT
THE LAST FEW DAYS
WALKING THE STREETS
OF MUMBAI.
I HAVE SEEN
BROTHELS.
I HAVE SEEN
CHILDREN.
I HAVE SEEN
WOMEN.
BUT THEY ALL HAVE
ONE THING IN COMMON,
NONE OF THEM
CHOSE TO BE HERE.
THE WOMEN
I'VE TALKED TO
THEY WERE EITHER
KIDNAPPED FROM NEPAL
OR OTHER PLACES
IN INDIA,
BROUGHT TO MUMBAI WITH
THE HOPE OF SOMETHING BIGGER,
SOMETHING BETTER,
A FUTURE,
AN OPPORTUNITY
TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES.
WHAT THEY FOUND WAS TORTURE, CAPTIVITY, AND BONDAGE.
IT IS AN OVERWHELMING
HOPELESS CYCLE.
BUT YOU
KNOW WHAT?
WE CAN DO SOMETHING
ABOUT THIS.
FIRST IT'S
PREVENTATIVE;
WE WANT TO
SPREAD THE WORD
TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE
LYING AND TAKING THESE
YOUNG WOMEN CAPTIVE,
THESE WOMEN THAT ALL THEY
WANT IS A HOPE AND A FUTURE.
WE WANT TO EDUCATE
AND EQUIP THEM
SO THEY DON'T FALL
CAPTIVE TO THIS.
BUT SECONDLY,
THE ONES THAT ARE CAPTIVE,
WE WANT TO
RESCUE THEM.
WE WANT TO GIVE THEM
ENOUGH HOPE THAT THEY WILL
BE BRAVE ENOUGH TO STEP OUT,
AND WHEN THEY STEP OUT
WE WANT TO GIVE THEM A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN BE RESTORED.
WE WANT TO RESTORE
THEIR LIVES.
WE WANT TO GIVE THEM SKILLS
SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE A DREAM.
WE NEED PARTNERS
FOR RESCUE.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
WE NEED YOU
TO GO TO THE PHONE.
WE NEED YOU
TO GO ONLINE.
WE NEED YOU
TO BE GENEROUS.
I KNOW WHAT YOU'VE SEEN,
I KNOW WHAT YOU'VE HEARD
IS UNCOMFORTABLE
BUT WE NEED YOU TO MOVE
INTO ACTION. THANK YOU!
Sheila: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
PLEASE GO TO THE PHONES.
PLEASE CALL AND MAKE
THE BEST GIFT POSSIBLE.
WITH ANY GIFT AT ALL
WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU
JAMES'S AMAZING NEW BOOK,
LIVING AMAZED.
IN SOME WAYS THERE'S
A CORRELATION; HE STARTED
AS A LOST, DESPERATE, LONELY
LITTLE BOY WHO HAS GROWN
INTO THIS GODLY MAN
WHO HAS SEEN CHANGE
ACROSS ALL THE NATION.
WE'LL BE HONORED TO SEND THAT.
REMEMBER, IT DOESN'T
TAKE MUCH, $128 WILL
RESCUE ONE GIRL.
IF YOU'D DO JUST $64,
OUR PARTNERS WILL COME IN
WITH THAT AND MATCH IT.
SO FOR $1280 YOU CAN RESCUE
TEN CHILDREN BUT BECAUSE
OF OUR MATCHING GIFT,
THAT WILL NOW BE 20 CHILDREN.
IT'S A JOY,
IT'S A PRIVILEGE --
YOU'RE LITERALLY SEEING THEM
GOING FROM THE DARKEST NIGHT
INTO THE LIGHT OF CHRIST
WHO HEARD THEIR CRIES,
WHO LOVES THEM AND IS GOING
TO USE THEM TO MAKE
A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR NATION.
THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.
I'M SHEILA WALSH FOR
WEDNESDAYS IN THE WORD
AND I'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.
♪
♪
♪
Announcer: REGARDLESS
OF YOUR NET WORTH,
ESTATE PLANNING BENEFITS
YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
BEFORE AND AFTER DEATH,
AND RESULTS IN PEACE OF MIND.
AS A FREE SERVICE
TO OUR FRIENDS AND PARTNERS,
LIFE PLANNING SERVICES,
A MINISTRY OF LIFE OUTREACH
INTERNATIONAL
CAN HELP WITH
YOUR ESTATE PLANNING NEEDS
AND CHART
YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE!
DON'T PUT OFF
THIS IMPORTANT STEP
TO PEACE OF MIND
THROUGH BETTER PLANNING.
CONTACT LIFE PLANNING
SERVICES TODAY!
>> THE FIRST 72 HOURS
WERE JUST OVERWHELMING.
Announcer: RICK AND TOMMYE
EXPERIENCED UNIMAGINABLE PAIN
WHEN THEIR 25-YEAR-OLD
DAUGHTER DIED.
>> 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.