Announcer: HAVE YOU EVER
FELT THE PAIN
OF BEING UNDERVALUED
OR OVERLOOKED?
JOHN GRAY SUFFERED BOTH
AS A VICTIM OF SEXUAL ABUSE
AND BULLYING, DIVORCED PARENTS
AND AN ALCOHOLIC FATHER.
>> ALL OF THE
NEGATIVE THINGS
THAT HAVE HAPPENED
IN YOUR LIFE WERE NOT
GOD SENTENCING YOU TO PAIN,
HE WAS TRUSTING YOU WITH IT.
James: WOW!
>> YOU CAN BE TRUSTED
WITH PAIN,
YOU CAN BE TRUSTED
WITH TREASURE
BECAUSE THE TREASURE
COMES FROM THE PAIN,
IT COMES FROM
THE PROCESS.
Announcer: NEXT
ON LIFE TODAY!
♪
Betty: WELCOME TO LIFE TODAY!
THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR JOINING US.
I'M BETTY AND THIS IS JAMES.
James: JOHN GRAY IS WITH US.
HE SAYS, I AM NUMBER 8.
DAVID WAS NUMBER EIGHT CHILD.
JOHN WAS HERE YEARS AGO,
PROBABLY SIX OR SEVEN
YEARS AGO AND THEN
I SAW HIM AT OTHER TIMES,
SAW HIM AT GATEWAY,
SAW HIM AT AN ART CONFERENCE.
I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE HIM
AND WE'RE GOING TO WELCOME HIM
BUT I'M GOING TO TELL YOU
WHAT I FELT ABOUT HIM.
WOULD YOU WELCOME JOHN GRAY
TO LIFE TODAY?
[Cheers & Applause]
John: HONOR TO SEE YOU SIR.
James: YOU CAME HERE
THE FIRST TIME AND YOU WERE
FUNNY AND YOU ENTERTAINED US
BUT BOY, I COULD TELL
THERE WAS SOMETHING
REALLY SPECIAL ABOUT YOU.
THEN I SAW YOU AT GATEWAY
AND I SAW YOU...
REALLY YOU WERE PART OF PRAISE
AND MAYBE EVEN LAUGHTER
AND SO FORTH.
BUT YOU SAID SOME THINGS
THERE, AND I CAN REMEMBER
SITTING THERE WATCHING YOU
AND I THOUGHT, THERE IS
REALLY SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL
ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP
WITH GOD, AND WHAT WAS
FLOWING THROUGH YOU
WAS PROFOUND, IT WAS POWERFUL.
IT WASN'T LIKE SOMETHING THAT
JUST IS TRITE OR RELIGIOUS
BUT IT WAS POWERFUL.
THEN I WAS JUST TAKEN BACK
WHEN I FOUND OUT
THE LARGEST TELEVISION
OUTREACH ON SUNDAY MORNINGS
AND THEN MANY TIMES
THROUGH THE WEEK IS LAKEWOOD
AND JOEL OSTEEN, OF COURSE,
I GO BACK TO BEING WITH
HIS DAD, IS ONE OF THE FIRST
ENCOURAGERS WHEN GOD
STRETCHED ME BEYOND
MY BAPTIST CIRCLES, SOMETIMES
KIND OF CAN LIMIT US.
HE SAID GO TO
THE WHOLE CHURCH,
THE WHOLE WORLD TO HELP
THE CHURCH BE WHOLE,
BECOME A SERVANT --
NOT JUST A SPOKESMAN BUT
A SERVANT SPOKESMAN.
I WATCHED THE JOURNEY THERE.
THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN
REALIZED THERE YOU ARE
AND THEN YOU'RE MORE THAN
THERE YOU ARE, YOU ARE NOW
PREACHING AND YOU PREACHED
ON WEDNESDAY NIGHTS
ON A REGULAR BASIS
AS A PASTORAL MINISTRY
AND YOU'RE POWERFUL AND
YOU'LL HAVE MAYBE 9,000
OR 10,000 PEOPLE THERE
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE'S LIVES
TRANSFORMED.
IS THIS A MIRACLE?
IT IS JUST HUGE.
HOW IN THE WORLD
DO YOU EXPLAIN IT, JOHN?
John: YOU CAN'T EXPLAIN IT.
IT'S THE WORK OF
THE HOLY SPIRIT.
I GREW UP IN A HOME WHERE
MY MOTHER AND FATHER DIVORCED
WHEN I WAS VERY YOUNG.
WHATEVER I AM IN FRONT OF YOU
AND IN FRONT OF YOUR AUDIENCE
AND YOUR TELEVISION AUDIENCE,
I AM BECAUSE MY MOTHER IS
A PRAYING WOMAN AND SHE WAS
RELENTLESS IN KEEPING ME
IN THE PRESENCE OF JESUS.
SHE DIDN'T JUST TALK IT,
SHE LIVED IT.
SO SHE WALKED JESUS
IN FRONT OF ME.
SO WHATEVER I AM,
IT IS BECAUSE SHE WAS
RELENTLESS IN PRAYER.
SHE RAN INTERFERENCE
TO THE DEVIL.
SHE TOLD THE DEVIL THAT
HE WASN'T GOING TO TAKE ME.
THAT I WAS GOING TO BE BETTER
THAN WHAT I CAME FROM.
AND THAT I WAS GOING TO BE
A MAN THAT LEFT A LEGACY.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT
GOD IS DOING HERE.
I WATCHED MY MOTHER BUILD
BRIDGES BEYOND RACE,
BEYOND CULTURAL BOUNDARIES
OF SPECIFICITY.
I WATCHED MY MOTHER BECOME
BROAD AND LOVING.
THESE WERE LESSONS THAT HAVE
FORMED ME TO THIS DAY.
BEING AT LAKEWOOD IS NOT JUST
ABOUT BEING AT THE LARGEST
PLATFORM IN THIS COUNTRY
FROM A MEDIA STANDPOINT
OR EVEN A VENUE STANDPOINT.
IT'S ABOUT BEING ABLE
TO REACH COUNTLESS NATIONS
WITH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS
AND BEING AN EXTENSION
OF PASTOR JOEL'S HEART
AND BUILDING BRIDGES IN A TIME
WHERE CULTURE, UNFORTUNATELY
STILL MATTERS.
THE ONLY COLOR THAT MATTERS
TO ME IS RED AND THAT IS
THE BLOOD OF JESUS.
SO ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS
HAVE TO FALL AWAY.
THERE ISN'T GOING TO BE
NO BLACK SECTION IN HEAVEN,
THERE WON'T BE
A WHITE SECTION OF HEAVEN
OR MEXICAN SECTION OF HEAVEN,
WON'T BE A METHODIST, BAPTIST,
PENTECOSTAL OR
HOLINESS SECTION OF HEAVEN --
James: GIVE ME A FIVE, BUDDY!
GIVE ME A FIVE!
John: THERE IS GOING TO BE
ONE HEAVEN -- AND IF
YOU'VE GOT A PROBLEM WITH
DIVERSITY, HEAVEN IS GOING
TO BE A PROBLEM FOR YOU.
James: AND IT IS ABSOLUTELY
BEAUTIFUL AND THERE
EVERYONE IS UNIQUE.
NO ONE IS UNIMPORTANT.
EVERYBODY IS A VITAL PART
OF THE BODY OF CHRIST.
I JUST WISH WE COULD
GET OVER THE DIVISION.
IT IS THE DEVIL, THE FATHER
OF LIES IS ALSO THE FATHER
OF DISSENSION AND DIVISION
AND THE MAIN PRIMARY ACCUSER
OF THE BRETHREN.
AND HE'S GOT THE BRETHREN
JOINING HIM IN ACCUSATION
-- IT'S TIME TO STOP.
John: IT'S TIME TO STOP.
I THINK WHAT YOUR PROGRAM,
WHAT YOU AND YOUR WIFE HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO DO IN BUILDING
BRIDGES AND ALWAYS SHARING
THE GOSPEL OF JESUS
AND HAVING SO MANY
DIVERSE VOICES ON HAS ALLOWED
PEOPLE TO SEE THAT WHAT
WE THINK HAS SEPARATED US
ACTUALLY SHOULDN'T BE
SEPARATING US AT ALL.
WE'RE MUCH MORE IN LINE
THAN PEOPLE THINK.
YOU LOVE JESUS?
YOU BELIEVE HE IS THE
ONLY WAY TO THE FATHER?
YOU BELIEVE HE DIED
AND ROSE AGAIN?
YOU BELIEVE HE'S COMING BACK?
IF WE'VE GOT THEM THINGS IN
COMMON THAT MAKES US FAMILY.
MY SKIN MIGHT LOOK
A LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM YOURS
BUT IT IS THE SAME JESUS.
MY EXPRESSION MAY
BE DIFFERENT FROM YOURS,
IT IS THE SAME JESUS.
MY PASSION MAY BE EXPRESSED
DIFFERENTLY BUT
IT IS THE SAME JESUS.
AND THAT'S WHAT MATTERS TO ME.
I WILL UNRELENTLESS --
I WILL BE RELENTLESS
AND UNAPOLOGETIC IN PREACHING
THE GOSPEL OF JESUS.
THAT'S WHAT I TOLD THE LORD
WHEN I SAID YES
TO HIS CALLING.
THAT'S WHAT MY MOTHER
PRAYED FOR.
James: I AM NUMBER 8 --
SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT TITLE.
John: OVERLOOKED, UNDERVALUED,
BUT NOT FORGOTTEN BY GOD.
FIRST SAMUEL 16 -- HALLELUJAH!
SAMUEL COMES TO JESSE'S HOUSE
IN BETHLEHEM.
HE IS LOOKING FOR A KING.
JESSE PULLS OUT SEVEN SONS
AND SAMUEL IS TRYING
TO POUR OIL AND THE OIL,
SYMBOLIC OF THE HOLY GHOST
SAID, "NOPE!
I'M NOT GOING NOWHERE."
EVERYBODY STAY IN THE BOTTLE.
NOTHING IS MOVING.
NO OIL IS FLOWING.
THE SONS ARE WAITING
AND THE BOTTLE'S LIKE,
"I'M NOT GOING NOWHERE."
IT GETS TO THE SEVENTH SON
AND SAMUEL SAYS THIS,
"ARE ALL THE YOUNG MEN HERE?"
AND THEN JESSE SAYS, "WELL,
THERE YET REMAINS THE YOUNGEST
BUT YOU DON'T WANT HIM.
HE IS THE ONE --
YOU DON'T WANT HIM.
HE'S THE ONE OUT IN THE FIELD
KEEPING THE SHEEP.
YOU DON'T WANT HIM.
NOBODY SEES HIM AS VALUABLE."
SAMUEL SAYS, "SEND FOR HIM.
WE WILL NOT SIT DOWN
UNTIL HE COMES."
I DON'T KNOW WHO THIS IS FOR
BUT GOD HAS PEOPLE STANDING,
WAITING FOR YOU TO ARRIVE.
THINGS WON'T GET STARTED
UNTIL YOU SHOW UP.
THIS IS THE POWER
OF THE HOLY GHOST.
THAT GOD WILL HIDE
THE ANOINTING IN PLAIN SIGHT.
DAVID WAS RIGHT THERE
THE ENTIRE TIME.
HIS BROTHERS DIDN'T LIKE HIM.
HIS FATHER COULDN'T SEE HIM.
BUT GOD HAD CALLED HIM.
AND AS DAVID WAS WALKING
TO THE HOUSE, HE HAD NO CLUE
THAT IT WAS THE LAST TIME
HE'D WALK AS A REGULAR BOY.
HE WAS GOING TO BE ANOINTED
A KING WITHIN A FEW MOMENTS.
AND AS THE OIL FLOWED,
IT FLOWED FROM --
HE WAS STILL DIRTY
FROM BEING IN THE FIELD.
THIS IS WHAT BLESSES ME.
HE WAS STILL DIRTY.
HE DIDN'T HAVE TIME
TO GET CLEANED UP.
HE DIDN'T GET TIME TO WASH UP.
HE GOT THE OIL AND HE WAS
STILL DIRTY WHICH MEANS
GOD WILL SEE YOU IN YOUR MESS
AND STILL ANOINT YOU
FOR HIS PURPOSE.
[Cheers & Applause]
SOMEBODY BLESS THE LORD!
DAVID WAS ANOINTED THE KING.
HE WAS NUMBER EIGHT.
EIGHT IS THE NEW BEGINNING.
HE WAS THE EIGHTH SON OF
A FORGOTTEN MAN IN BETHLEHEM.
THERE WAS ALSO SOMEBODY ELSE
THEY OVERLOOKED IN BETHLEHEM.
A THOUSAND YEARS LATER
HERE HE COMES: FOR UNTO YOU
IS BORN THIS DAY IN THE CITY
OF DAVID A SAVIOR,
IT IS CHRIST THE LORD.
AND SO THIS DAVID WHO WAS
OVERLOOKED AND UNDERVALUED
WAS THE SAME LINEAGE THAT
MY SAVIOR CAME THROUGH.
SO FOR EVERY PERSON THAT HAS
FELT OVERLOOKED, UNDERVALUED,
PERHAPS YOUR GIFTS AND
CALLINGS WERE LOST ON PEOPLE
WHO HAD MORE RESOURCES,
MORE DEGREES
AND BETTER PEDIGREE.
GOD HAS A PURPOSE
FOR YOUR LIFE.
YOU HAVE TO BE SPOKEN
INTO THE EARTH.
AND IF GOD SPOKE IT
YOU'VE GOT A PURPOSE.
AND IF YOU'VE GOT A PURPOSE,
YOU'RE GOING TO LIVE IT OUT
AND YOU WILL NOT RETURN
TO HIM VOID.
THAT'S WHAT NUMBER EIGHT
IS ABOUT.
BECAUSE I SHOULDN'T BE HERE
TALKING TO YOU.
I SHOULD BE SOMEWHERE
IN A GRAVE BUT BECAUSE GOD HAD
A PURPOSE FOR MY LIFE
HE SNATCHED ME OUT
WHERE OTHER YOUNG MEN DIDN'T
MAKE IT OUT AND NOW I GET
TO TELL PEOPLE THAT
JESUS CAN WORK IT OUT.
James: I LOVE IT!
NOW IN THE BOOK BECAUSE
YOU ONLY GOT --
THIS IS NOT OPRAH.
SO WE DON'T HAVE AN HOUR.
THIS IS NOT DR. PHIL,
WE'VE GOT JUST SO MUCH TIME.
AND OUR VIEWERS THEY LOVE
TO HELP PEOPLE AND TOTALLY
CHANGE THEIR LIVES.
SO WE'VE GOT LIMITED TIME.
BUT YOU POURED A LOT
INTO THIS BOOK.
SO IF PEOPLE GO TO
THE BOOKSTORE, GO ONLINE
AND ORDER IT AND GET IT,
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO HAPPEN
IN THEIR LIFE?
WHAT DO YOU WANT THEM
TO GET OUT OF IT?
BECAUSE YOU'VE HAD
SOME PRETTY ROUGH THINGS.
YOU WERE ABUSED WHEN YOU WERE
A LITTLE BOY AND IT HAS
A TERRIBLE EFFECT.
YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT.
AND YOU KNOW PEOPLE
ARE GOING THROUGH A LOT.
WHAT DO YOU WANT THEM
TO GET OUT OF THE BOOK?
John: NEGATIVE EXPERIENCES,
EVERYTHING THAT THE ENEMY
HAS THROWN WAS ACTUALLY
PREPARATION FOR PURPOSE.
WHEN I WAS ABUSED AT
FOUR YEARS OLD, NOT BY FAMILY
MEMBERS, TWO TEENAGED BOYS
FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD,
ONE STOOD BY WHILE THE OTHER
DID THIS AWFUL THING,
IT WAS ON THE FRONT LAWN
OF MY HOME; MY MOTHER
WAS INSIDE THE HOUSE,
CARS WERE DRIVING PAST,
NO ONE STOPPED.
AND FOR YEARS I DIDN'T
TELL ANYONE.
AND I REMEMBER SAYING,
I WAS GOING TO TELL MY MOTHER
BUT THE TEENAGED GUY SAID,
"IF YOU TELL YOU'LL BE
THE ONE WHO GETS IN TROUBLE."
SO I KEPT THIS THING THAT
HAPPENED INSIDE UNTIL
I WAS 19, MAYBE.
I REALIZED THAT THE ENEMY
LOVES SECRETS.
HE LOVES TO KEEP THINGS
IN THE DARK.
THAT'S WHY JESUS IS THE LIGHT
OF THE WORLD.
AND WHEN THE LIGHT OF
THE HOLY SPIRIT GETS IN THOSE
DARK PLACES IT SHOWS YOU
THAT THE ENEMY WAS A LIAR
FROM THE BEGINNING.
AND THAT WHAT HAPPENED
IN MY CHILDHOOD DOES NOT HAVE
TO INFORM MY DESTINY
EVEN THOUGH IT WAS SENT
TO CAUSE ME TO QUESTION
MY WORTH, MY VALUE,
AND MY IDENTITY.
WHAT HAPPENED IS THAT
MY MOTHER INTRODUCED ME
TO JESUS AND I MADE HIM
MY SAVIOR AT SEVEN YEARS OLD.
SO WHAT THE ENEMY SENT
AS A SEED ACTUALLY BECAME
A FOUNDATION.
SO NOW WHAT HE MEANT FOR BAD,
GOD MEANT FOR GOOD.
SO WHERE I DIDN'T HAVE
A FATHER GROWING UP,
NOW I HAVE MY OWN CHILDREN,
I CAN BUILD A LEGACY.
WHERE I DIDN'T SEE A GOOD
MARRIAGE, NOW I CAN BEGIN
TO BREAK THOSE CURSES
AND CHAINS.
WHAT THIS BOOK IS ABOUT
IS SAYING ALL OF THE NEGATIVE
THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED
IN YOUR LIFE WERE NOT GOD
SENTENCING YOU TO PAIN,
HE WAS TRUSTING YOU WITH IT.
YOU CAN BE TRUSTED WITH PAIN,
YOU CAN BE TRUSTED WITH
TREASURE BECAUSE THE TREASURE
COMES FROM THE PAIN,
IT COMES FROM THE PROCESS.
THIS BOOK IS TO ENCOURAGE
PEOPLE IN THEIR WALK.
GOD DOESN'T WASTE PAIN AND
THERE ARE NO FORGOTTEN LIVES.
AS BELIEVERS IT DOESN'T MEAN
THAT WE WON'T STRUGGLE.
BUT OUR FAITH IS THE FILTER
THROUGH WHICH WE SEE
OUR STRUGGLES AND OUR PAIN.
THE LENS OF THE CROSS
CLARIFIES WHY I HAD TO GO
THROUGH WHAT I WENT THROUGH.
IT IS NOT JUST FOR ME,
IT IS FOR THE PEOPLE THAT
ARE CONNECTED TO ME.
SO WHEN I SAY I AM NUMBER 8,
I'M JUST DECLARING THAT
I'M A NEW BEGINNING AND I'M
SOMETHING NEW IN CHRIST JESUS,
I'M A NEW CREATION.
I HAVE VALUE, I HAVE PURPOSE,
I HAVE IDENTITY
AND I CAN BRING VALUE.
BUT MOST PEOPLE
DIDN'T SEE THAT.
BUT THAT'S THE POWER OF GOD
JUST ANOINTING YOU
IN FRONT OF THE FOLKS
THAT THOUGHT THEY KNEW YOU.
YOU GO FROM ANONYMOUS
TO NECESSARY IN ONE MOMENT.
YOU GO FROM
"WHAT'S YOUR NAME AGAIN?"
TO "WE'VE BEEN EXPECTING YOU"
IN ONE MOMENT.
YOU GO FROM THE KID
THAT WAS OPENING AT THE ART
CONFERENCE AT GATEWAY
TO SITTING WITH PASTOR JAMES
AND BETTY ON LIFE TODAY.
DON'T TELL ME
WHAT GOD WON'T DO.
[Applause]
James: I LOOK AT
MY OWN CHILDHOOD.
I DIDN'T HAVE A FATHER
AND MOST PEOPLE KNOW,
THE PRODUCT OF A FORCED
RELATIONSHIP ON
A HOSPICE NURSE.
SHE GOT PREGNANT AT 40
AND HAD ME AT 41 BECAUSE
THE DOCTOR WOULDN'T ABORT ME.
AND THEN I GREW UP
IN REAL EXTREME POVERTY.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT HAPPENED IN THAT PAIN
WAS I SAW PAIN.
I SAW HURT.
I SAW PEOPLE THAT
WERE OVERLOOKED.
WHEN I FOUND MY WAY TO
THE MISSION FIELDS OF
THE WORLD AFTER PREACHING
TO THE BIG CROWDS
AND COLISEUMS AND STADIUMS
AND SEEING LITERALLY MILLIONS
OF PEOPLE COME TO CHRIST,
WHEN I WENT OVER AND SAW
THE OVERLOOKED IN
THE THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES
AND PRIMARILY IN AFRICA,
I ASKED THE LORD IF
HE WANTED ME TO STAY THERE.
THE MISSIONARIES
ENCOURAGED ME, PLEASE DON'T.
IT WASN'T THAT THEY DIDN'T
LIKE ME AND BETTY,
THEY LIKED US BUT THEY SAID,
"IF YOU'LL GO BACK AND TELL
THE PEOPLE THAT WATCH YOU
ON TELEVISION TO HELP US
AND KEEP US HERE THEN
WE WON'T HAVE TO SPEND A LOT
OF OUR TIME TRYING TO GET
SUPPORT, YOU COULD KEEP US
HERE AND MAKE US EFFECTIVE."
WE CAME BACK TO DO IT
AND I DIDN'T KNOW IF PEOPLE
WOULD HELP BUT
AMAZINGLY THEY DID.
I'D BEEN DOING THIS TWO
OR THREE YEARS AND I GOT
A CALL FROM JOEL'S DAD
AND THIS IS WHEN JOEL IS STILL
BACK DOING CAMERAS
AND BACK BEHIND THE SCENES,
HE HAD NO CLUE.
HE WAS LIKE YOU,
HE HAD NO CLUE.
HE WAS JUST LIKE YOU,
HE WOULD NEVER BELIEVE
HE WOULD BE WHERE HE IS.
AND AS A MATTER OF FACT,
EVERYBODY AROUND HIM DIDN'T
-- PROBABLY EVEN HIS OWN
FAMILY DIDN'T.
BUT JOEL'S DAD, JOHN CALLED ME
AND I HAD PREACHED FOR HIM
AT LAKEWOOD.
HE HAD KNOWN MY JOURNEY
AND HE KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON
AND HE WATCHED GOD STRETCH ME.
HE REALLY BLESSED ME.
BUT HE CALLED ME AND HE SAID,
"I NEED TO TELL YOU, JAMES,
YOU AND BETTY SOMETHING.
I'M A MISSION-MINDED PASTOR
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU
AND I WANT TO THANK BETTY.
YOU HAVE BROUGHT THE MISSION
FIELDS OF THE WORLD
AND THE MISSIONARIES INTO
OUR HOMES ALL OVER AMERICA."
HE SAID, "FROM THE BOTTOM
OF MY HEART, I WANT
TO THANK YOU, JAMES,
YOU AND BETTY."
YOU KNOW WHAT, JOHN?
THAT'S THE TRUTH.
WE HAVE ALLOWED THE WORLD
TO SEE THE COMPASSION OF GOD
THROUGH MISSIONARIES THAT
LITERALLY PLACED THEIR LIVES
IN THE MIDST OF INDESCRIBABLE
SUFFERING AND PAIN.
THEY MARCH INTO HELL
FOR A HEAVENLY CAUSE.
IT'S A JOY FOR THESE PEOPLE
TO UNDERGIRD THEM.
ISN'T IT WONDERFUL
THAT GOD GIVES ALL OF US
THAT OPPORTUNITY?
AND IT WAS OUT OF MY OWN PAIN
THAT I COULD BETTER IDENTIFY
WITH THE PAIN OF OTHERS
AND REACH OUT AND TOUCH IT
WITH THE LOVE OF GOD BECAUSE
OF PEOPLE LIKE IN THIS STUDIO
AND PEOPLE WATCHING US
ALL OVER THE WORLD.
John: I THINK THAT IS
THE CALLING OF THE GOSPEL
FOR ALL OF US, THAT WE HAVE
A MISSION FIELD, A LOCAL
MISSION FIELD BUT WE ALSO
SUPPORT THE SPREADING
OF THE GOSPEL THROUGHOUT
ALL THE WORLD.
WHEN YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH
PAIN AND TRAGEDY,
YOU EMPATHIZE WITH THOSE
WHO DON'T HAVE RESOURCES,
WHO DON'T HAVE CLEAN
DRINKING WATER, WHO DON'T
HAVE PROPER HOUSING.
WHEN WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN
SO MUCH, I BELIEVE IT IS
THE CALLING OF GOD AND
THE MANDATE OF THE CHURCH
FOR US TO EXTEND.
THIS WAS THE BOOK OF ACTS,
THAT WE HAD ALL THINGS COMMON
AND DISTRIBUTED TO EACH ONE
AS THEY HAD NEED
AND THE CHURCH GREW DAILY.
James: DO YOU LIKE THIS?
HAS GOD GIVEN THIS MAN A GIFT?
DO YOU KNOW WHAT I BELIEVE?
I BELIEVE OUR DAUGHTER ROBIN,
BETTY'S AND MY DAUGHTER,
ROBIN, I BELIEVE
SHE IS WATCHING.
I THINK, SOMETIMES SHE SAYS,
"THAT'S GOOD, DAD!"
YOU KNOW WHO ELSE I JUST SAW?
I JUST SAW IT.
I SAW MARTIN LUTHER KING
LOOKING DOWN AT YOU
AND SAYING, "THAT MAN
CAN COMMUNICATE!"
DO YOU AGREE HE HAS GOT
A GIFT FROM GOD TO COMMUNICATE
WITH POWER?
IT IS A SUPERNATURAL GIFT.
I SAW IT ON YOU THE FIRST TIME
YOU CAME HERE DOING MORE
ENTERTAINMENT AND HAVING FUN.
BUT I SAW YOU WHEN YOU STOOD
ON THAT PLATFORM AND
I WATCHED YOU WHEN
YOU WERE MORE OF AN M.C.
BUT ALL OF THE SUDDEN,
IN THAT MOMENT, GOD FLOWED
THROUGH YOU LIKE A RIVER.
I REMEMBER THINKING,
DEAR GOD IN HEAVEN,
WHAT HAVE YOU GIVEN US?
JOHN, GOD GAVE ME A LOVE
FOR YOU AND A PRAYER FOR YOU.
I HAVE TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
HE LIFTED YOU UP
AND PUT YOU IN A PLACE.
JOEL, JUST LISTEN TO ME
A MINUTE.
I SURE LOVE YOU.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW YOU POURED
GOD'S GRACE ALL OVER THIS
VERY WORTHY MAN TO RECEIVE IT
BECAUSE THIS MAN WILL RELEASE
THE RIVER THAT FLOWS IN
FREELY TO ALL PEOPLE.
I REALLY BELIEVE THAT'S
WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.
IT'S WHAT EVERYBODY IN
THE BODY OF CHRIST SHOULD DO,
JUST RELEASE THE LIFE
AND THE LOVE OF GOD FREELY
LIKE A RIVER.
I THANK YOU, JOEL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH!
WOULD YOU JUST SAY THANKS
SO MUCH TO GOD?
AND THANK YOU TO JOHN GRAY?
[Applause]
BOY, YOU ARE SPECIAL!
YOU KNOW BOTH OF US
ARE NAMED AFTER A DISCIPLE.
BOY, IF THERE WAS ONE
AND ONE OF THEM, JAMES WAS
"A SON OF THUNDER" AND
A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK
GOD MADE ME ONE OF THOSE.
BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU
SOMETHING, BOY, THERE NEVER
WAS SUCH A DISCIPLE AS JOHN.
I KNOW I'M NAMED JAMES BUT
JOHN BECAME MY HERO.
NOT ONLY LEANING ON JESUS AND
WANTING TO BE CLOSE TO HIM,
BUT SPENDING THOSE
LAST YEARS LOOKING OUT,
THINK ABOUT IT,
SEPARATED ON THAT ISLAND,
LOOKING ACROSS THAT SEA,
SPEAKING DIRECTLY THE WORD
OF GOD, THE DIRECT MIND OF GOD
AND THE HEART OF GOD TO
THE CHURCHES FOR THE AGES.
BUT THEN HE SAID SOMETHING
IN THE END,
THERE WILL BE NO MORE SEA.
NO MORE SEPARATION, JOHN.
NO MORE SEPARATION FROM
OUR LOVED ONES, NO MORE
SEPARATION FROM OUR ROBIN,
NO MORE SEPARATION FROM
ANYTHING THAT CUTS YOU OFF
FROM ALL THOSE THINGS
THAT ARE PRECIOUS TO YOU.
I'M TELLING YOU, GOD IS
OFFERING US SUCH
AN INCREDIBLE PLACE
IN HIS HEART AND HE WANTS
TO EXPRESS HIS HEART
THROUGH US FREELY.
FATHER, I PRAY WE WILL LET YOU
DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO
THROUGH US AND YOU GET
THE GLORY; IN JESUS' NAME.
JOHN, YOU'RE A TREMENDOUS
BLESSING.
OUR VIEWERS, LIKE I SAID ABOUT
JOEL'S DAD SAYING, "YOU
BROUGHT THE MISSION FIELDS
OF THE WORLD INTO OUR HOMES,"
LET ME TELL YOU THIS,
WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO KEEP
BRINGING THEM INTO YOUR HOMES
IF YOU DIDN'T ENABLE US
TO KEEP THOSE MISSIONARIES'
HANDS FILLED SO IT WASN'T
JUST HEARTS FULL BUT
THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO MEET
THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE.
AND THE GREATEST JOY,
MOST OF YOU TELL US YOU HAVE
IS GIVING PEOPLE WATER
FOR LIFE AND TELLING THEM
ABOUT THE WATER OF LIFE.
I'M TELLING YOU, IF WE COULD
KEEP DRILLING THESE
WATER WELLS IT JUST
CHANGES EVERYTHING
FOR MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.
I WANT YOU TO WATCH PLEASE.
I WANT YOU TO WATCH
VERY CLOSELY AND VERY
PRAYERFULLY, AND SAY,
"GOD WHAT CAN I DO RIGHT NOW?"
I PROMISE YOU,
THERE'S SOMETHING YOU CAN DO
THIS MOMENT TO BECOME
SOMEBODY'S MIRACLE.
WATCH PLEASE!
Announcer: THESE WORN PATHS
PROVIDE ROUTES
FOR PEOPLE
AND ANIMALS ALIKE
SO THEY CAN MAKE THEIR WAY
TO WATER SOURCES.
THE PROBLEM WITH THAT
IS IN MOST VILLAGES,
FAMILIES HAVE TO SHARE
THE VERY SAME WATER SOURCE
WITH
THE ANIMALS.
James: ANIMALS DRINKING;
AND SAD IS THE FECES.
THESE LADIES
ARE HERE WASHING.
AND YOU CAN SEE BY LOOKING
AT THE WATER THAT IT'S --
YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO WASH
YOUR CLOTHES IN IT
BUT THEY DO.
THE PROBLEM IS
PEOPLE DRINK THIS
AND IT IS ABSOLUTELY
100% CONTAMINATED
AND IT IS KILLING PEOPLE
HERE IN AFRICA.
Announcer: IT IS HARD
TO IMAGINE THE IMPACT
THESE POLLUTED WATER SOURCES
HAVE ON A PERSON
UNTIL YOU TAKE A LOOK
AT THE FACTS.
THE LACK OF SAFE WATER
IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST
CAUSES OF ILLNESSES.
AND EVEN MORE TRAGIC
IS THE FACT THAT THESE
WATERBORNE ILLNESSES
ARE ONE OF THE LEADING
CAUSES OF DEATH
FOR CHILDREN
UNDER THE AGE OF FIVE.
Ralph: JESUS SAYS
IN THE BOOK OF JOHN,
"HE WHO BELIEVES IN ME,
OUT OF HIS HEART
"WILL FLOW RIVERS
OF LIVING WATER."
WHEN YOU HELP US BRING CLEAN
WATER TO THESE VILLAGES,
YOU'RE REALLY MAKING
A DIFFERENCE IN BRINGING LIFE
TO PEOPLE WHO DESPERATELY NEED
A SENSE OF HOPE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR GIVING.
THANK YOU FOR WORKING TOGETHER
TO BRING THE LOVE OF GOD
TO THESE PEOPLE JUST ONE CUP
OF WATER AT A TIME.
James: WOW!
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS.
IT'S A CUP OF WATER AT A TIME
BUT WHEN YOU GIVE THEM A WELL
-- THINK ABOUT THIS,
JESUS SAID,
"IF YOU GIVE JUST
A CUP OF WATER IN MY NAME
YOU WON'T LOSE YOUR REWARD."
DON'T START JUMPING AROUND,
WHAT IS THAT REWARD?
LEAVE THAT IN GOD'S HANDS.
HE KNOWS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
HE KNOWS WHAT'S BEST.
SOMETIMES WE DON'T.
BUT HE SAYS, "IF YOU GIVE JUST
A CUP OF WATER IN MY NAME"
-- IN OTHER WORDS, YOU SEE
A NEED AND YOU MEET IT.
BETTY, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN
IF WE GIVE A WELL OF WATER?
AND YOU AND I HAVE BEEN
DOING THAT NOW FOR YEARS.
WE ASKED GOD TO LET US,
EVERY TIME THE MISSIONARIES
BRING THE OPPORTUNITY,
"GOD, PLEASE LET US BE ABLE
TO GIVE A WELL."
SOME OF YOU HAVE JOINED
IN THAT PRAYER.
AND YOU'VE TOLD US
GOD MIRACULOUSLY
HAS ENABLED US TO DO IT.
AND WE HAVE SOME
WHO WILL GIVE SEVERAL WELLS
DURING THE COURSE OF A YEAR.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU CAN DO.
BUT I KNOW ONE THING,
NOTHING YOU DO IS SMALL.
IT'S HUGE!
AND IF YOU GAVE
JUST ONE FAMILY WATER
THEN WHAT A MIRACLE.
BUT THINK ABOUT
THE REALITY OF THIS.
THE WELLS COST $4800.
IF YOU CAN GIVE ONE,
BETTY AND I ARE ASKING GOD
TO MOVE ON YOU
AND LEAD YOU TO DO IT
AND ENABLE YOU TO DO IT.
SO IF YOU CAN GIVE A WELL,
$4800, PLEASE DO IT.
IF YOU CAN GIVE
MORE THAN ONE, DO IT.
BUT HERE'S THE THING
I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND.
I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT
THAT YOU GET THIS.
MOST OF THE RESOURCES THAT
COME IN TO DRILL THE WELLS
COME FROM GIFTS OF $48
OR $144, I USE THOSE EXAMPLES.
A $48 GIFT GIVES TEN PEOPLE,
BASICALLY,
WHEN YOU BREAK IT OUT,
WATER THE REST OF THEIR LIFE.
SO YOU'RE GIVING
MANY CUPS OF WATER
FOR THOSE TEN PEOPLE
THE REST OF THEIR LIFE;
$144 AND YOU'VE GIVEN
30 PEOPLE WATER
THE REST OF THEIR LIFE,
CUPS OF WATER EVERY DAY.
CAN YOU DO THAT?
I PRAY YOU WILL.
LET ME TELL YOU
ANOTHER MIRACLE.
THERE ARE MANY AREAS
WE CAN'T GET DRILLING RIGS IN
BECAUSE OF THE TERRAIN;
WE JUST SIMPLY CAN'T GET UP
INTO THAT RUGGED AREA.
BUT GOD ANSWERED A PRAYER
AND GAVE US A FILTER SYSTEM
THAT WORKS LIKE DIALYSIS.
YOU CAN GIVE THREE FAMILIES
THEIR OWN FILTER SYSTEMS
TO FILTER ANY KIND OF WATER,
AND IT IS AN ABSOLUTE FACT,
IT WILL PURIFY IT
AND GET ALL THE GERMS AND
ALL THE DEADLY STUFF OUT OF IT
AND GIVE THEM CLEAN,
FRESH CLEAN DRINKING WATER
THAT WE CAN GIVE
THREE FAMILIES THAT FOR $100.
SO WOULD DO YOU THAT?
THERE IS A LEVEL
AT WHICH YOU CAN HELP.
IF YOU CAN DRILL THE WELL,
DO THE $48,
IF YOU CAN GIVE $1200
AND PRAY THREE JOIN YOU,
WE'VE GOT IT OR $2400
AND PRAY ANOTHER PERSON
JOINS YOU,
YOU'VE GOT A PRAYER ANSWERED
AND YOU BECOME
THE MIRACLE ANSWER TO PRAYER,
WE'VE GOT ANOTHER WELL.
SO WHATEVER YOU CAN DO,
I WANT YOU TO RIGHT NOW
GO ONLINE, LIFE TODAY,
OR DIAL THE NUMBER.
PEOPLE ARE CALLING IN
RIGHT NOW PRAYING TO RECEIVE
THE WATER OF LIFE,
TO HAVE SOMEBODY
AGREE WITH THEM IN PRAYER
AND THAT CALL
IS PAID FOR BY LOVE.
SO YOU CALL OR GO ONLINE,
TAKE YOUR BANKCARD, PLEASE,
USE IT THE WAY
YOU SHOULD ALWAYS USE IT,
LIKE A CHECK
AND MAKE THE GIFT
GOD PUT ON YOUR HEART.
WOULD YOU PLEASE DO THAT?
FATHER, I PRAY
EVERY PERSON WATCHING
WILL MOVE RIGHT NOW
TO GET THEIR CARD,
TO MAKE THE CALL OR GO ONLINE
AND MAKE THE GIFT
YOU PUT ON THEIR HEART;
IN JESUS' NAME.
THANK YOU!
PLEASE DO IT.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR GIVING LIFE.
Announcer:
EVERY DAY, CHILDREN LIVING
IN EXTREME POVERTY
ARE FORCED TO MAKE
A DREADFUL CHOICE:
DRINK POLLUTED WATER
FILLED WITH DEADLY DISEASE
OR PERHAPS,
DIE OF THIRST.
NO CHILD SHOULD EVER BE
FACED WITH THIS DECISION.
THE GOOD NEWS IS
THERE IS A SOLUTION.
MISSION:
WATER FOR LIFE
IS ONE OF THE MOST PROVEN
AND VIABLE DEMONSTRATIONS
OF GOD'S LOVE
IN THE WORLD TODAY.
SUFFERING
CAN END
BECAUSE CLEAN WATER
CHANGES EVERYTHING!
WITH YOUR
GIFT TODAY
YOU CAN HELP DRILL
400 WATER WELLS
IN REMOTE VILLAGES
IN 15 NATIONS.
A GIFT OF $48 WILL PROVIDE
DISEASE-FREE WATER
FOR TEN PEOPLE,
$72 WILL PROVIDE
FOR 15 PEOPLE,
AND $144 WILL HELP
PROVIDE CLEAN WATER
STRAIGHT FROM THE GROUND
FOR 30 PEOPLE.
PLEASE ALSO CONSIDER
AN ADDITIONAL GIFT OF $100
TO HELP PROVIDE THREE FAMILIES
WITH WATER FILTRATION KITS
IN EMERGENCY AREAS
WHERE OUR DRILLING RIGS
ARE UNABLE TO REACH.
AS OUR THANK YOU,
WE'LL SEND YOU THE BOOKS,
WORDS OF JESUS
AND WORDS OF HEALING.
ONE CONTAINS ONLY
THE WORDS OF JESUS
AND THE OTHER
SCRIPTURES FOR HEALING
IN YOUR BODY,
MIND, AND SOUL.
WITH YOUR $100 GIFT, YOU CAN
RECEIVE BOTH HARDBOUND
AND SOFTBOUND EDITIONS OF
THESE SCRIPTURE PROMISE BOOKS.
FINALLY, PLEASE CONSIDER
A GIFT OF $1200
TO HELP PROVIDE WATER
FOR 250 PEOPLE.
OR A GIFT OF $4800
TO HELP SPONSOR
A COMPLETE WELL
AND YOU
MAY REQUEST
OUR BEAUTIFUL HAND-SCULPTED
"DETERMINED EAGLE" BRONZE.
PLEASE CALL, WRITE,
OR MAKE YOUR GIFT ONLINE.
Ralph: WE'RE HERE
IN BURUNDI, AFRICA
UP IN THE MOUNTAINS WHERE
THEY CANNOT GET DRILL RIGS
TO COME UP HERE
TO DRILL WELLS.
THIS SCENARIO HAPPENS AROUND
THE WORLD, NOT JUST HERE.
WE'VE DISCOVERED
THAT THESE PEOPLE UP HERE
HAVE PATHETIC
WATER SOURCES.
LIFE HAS BEEN GIVEN
AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING
THESE WATER FILTRATION SYSTEMS INTO THE MOUNTAINS
SO THAT WHEN MOTHERS
BRING WATER
HOME TO THEIR CHILDREN
THEY'RE NO LONGER
BRINGING WATER THAT'S
KILLING THEIR CHILD,
THEY CAN CREATE WATER
THAT BRINGS LIFE
TO THEIR CHILD.
IT'S GOING TO BRING
SO MUCH JOY TO THESE HOMES
THAT CAN PROVIDE CLEAN WATER
FOR THEIR FAMILIES.
AGAIN, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR ALL THE GENEROUS GIVING.
IT REALLY IS
MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
GOD BLESS YOU.
James: WELL, BETTY AND I JUST
FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEART,
AND WE'RE IN THE LAST DAYS
NOW OF THIS TIME
WE'VE GOT TO GET THE RESOURCES
TO DRILL 400 WELLS.
WE'VE ALREADY DRILLED 200.
BUT NOW TIME IS RUNNING OUT
TO GET THE OTHER 200 AND
I'M JUST ASKING YOU TO DO IT.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE JOHN'S
BOOK, IT'S IN THE BOOKSTORES.
IT'S ONLINE.
WHAT A BLESSING IT COULD BE.
BOY, I WISH EVERYBODY THAT
HAD CHALLENGES IN THEIR HOME
OR MAYBE DIDN'T HAVE A FATHER,
I DIDN'T, MAYBE DIDN'T EVEN
HAVE A PRAYING MOTHER BUT
YOU'VE GOT A JESUS THAT
DIED FOR YOU, GET THIS BOOK.
IF YOU GAVE A CUP OF WATER,
YOU HELPED US TO GIVE
THESE PRECIOUS CHILDREN
AND THEIR FAMILIES SOME
CLEAN WATER, AND YOU'D LIKE
TO HAVE JOHN GRAY'S BOOK,
WE'LL SEND IT TO YOU.
YOU JUST ASK FOR IT.
JOIN BETTY AND ME IN SAYING
THANKS TO JOHN.
REALLY APPRECIATE YOU, JOHN.
BLESS YOU.
BLESS LAKEWOOD!
BLESS ALL YOUR OUTREACHES.
BLESS YOU FAMILY IN HOUSTON.
I WAS BORN IN HOUSTON!
BORN AGAIN IN HOUSTON.
MARRIED IN HOUSTON!
LOVE YOU!
GOD BLESS YOU.
GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU.
♪
♪
♪
Announcer: IF YOU'RE IN
THE DALLAS/FORT WORTH AREA,
COME BE A PART
OF THE LIFE TODAY
STUDIO AUDIENCE.
CALL OR E-MAIL TODAY
TO RESERVE YOUR TICKETS.
YOU'LL BE INSPIRED
AND ENTERTAINED!
>> 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.