Announcer: SPEND WEDNESDAYS
IN THE WORD WITH SHEILA WALSH
NEXT
ON LIFE TODAY!
Sheila: I THINK THROUGHOUT
HUMAN HISTORY WE'VE STRUGGLED
TO TRUST GOD
COMPLETELY.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU ARE
IN YOUR OWN JOURNEY RIGHT NOW
BUT I WANT YOU
TO KNOW THIS,
EVEN WHEN WE GO
TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH
IN AN EFFORT
TO RUN AWAY FROM GOD,
THERE IS ALWAYS,
ALWAYS A WAY HOME.
♪
Sheila: HI! I'M SHEILA WALSH.
WELCOME TO WEDNESDAYS
IN THE WORD.
I LOVE THAT I GET TO DO THIS.
YOU KNOW WHAT'S
REALLY FUN FOR ME?
MOST WEEKENDS I'M OUT
ON THE ROAD AND THEN
I GET TO MEET SOME OF YOU.
SO MANY OF YOU HAVE SAID
EITHER, "I SET MY D.V.R." OR
"I NEVER MISS THIS PROGRAM."
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR THOSE OF YOU
WHO HAVE WRITTEN
ENCOURAGING LITTLE NOTES
OR JUST TAKEN TIME TO SAY,
"THAT REALLY TOUCHED MY LIFE."
REMEMBER, WE ARE HERE
FOR YOU TOO.
IF YOU'RE STRUGGLING
IN YOUR OWN LIFE, IF YOU
FEEL ALONE, THE WHOLE --
EVERYTHING THAT WE DO HERE
IS TO COMMUNICATE THE LOVE
OF GOD TO WHOEVER YOU ARE
NO MATTER WHAT IS GOING ON
IN YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW.
I WAS THINKING RECENTLY
ABOUT WHEN MY SON CHRISTIAN
WAS LITTLE, WHEN HE WAS
JUST A LITTLE BOY
SOMEONE BOUGHT HIM A PUZZLE.
THE PIECES CAME IN
A WOODEN BOX WITH A PICTURE
OF THREE BEARS IN
FUNNY COSTUMES ON THE COVER.
AND INSIDE THERE WERE
PROBABLY ABOUT 40 PIECES
TO CHOOSE FROM SO YOU COULD
MAKE THE BEARS LOOK DIFFERENT.
EVERY TIME YOU PUT
THE PUZZLE TOGETHER YOU COULD
CHOOSE DIFFERENT HEADS
OR JACKET OR SHOES.
HE HAD A LOT OF FUN WITH THAT
AND MADE SOME VERY
STRANGE LOOKING BEARS.
BUT ONE NIGHT AFTER
CHRISTIAN WAS FAST ASLEEP.
I CAME ACROSS THE PUZZLE.
HE HAD PUSHED IT UNDER
THE COUCH; I THINK THAT WAS
HIS VERSION OF CLEANING UP.
I SAW THE WAY THAT
HE LEFT THE BEAR.
IT WAS HILARIOUS;
THIS BRIGHT YELLOW JACKET
AND A PINK SHIRT
AND A COWBOY HAT.
I LOOKED AT THAT FOR AWHILE
AND I THOUGHT YOU KNOW WHAT?
SOMETIMES I THINK
THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE DO
WITH GOD.
WE MAKE UP OUR OWN PUZZLE
PIECE OF WHAT WE THINK
HE LOOKS LIKE.
WE PASTE ONTO GOD IMAGES
FROM OUR PAST THAT
MIGHT HAVE BEEN YOUR DAD'S
TEMPER OR YOUR HUSBAND
OR WIFE'S DISAPPROVAL.
IT MIGHT BE THE WAY
YOUR MOM CRITICIZED YOU
OR IT MIGHT BE SOME LEGALISM
THAT YOU PICKED UP IN CHURCH.
WE ADD THINGS THAT WE HEAR
AT CHURCH, WHAT WE REMEMBER
IF YOU EVER WENT TO SUNDAY
SCHOOL OR WHAT SOMEBODY
ONCE TOLD US ABOUT GOD.
WE TAKE THE GOOD THINGS
AND THE BAD THINGS,
THE THINGS THAT ARE TRUE
AND THE THINGS THAT ARE
MAYBE LIES BUT WE BELIEVE THEM
BUT HERE'S THE SAD THING.
WHEN WE LIVE WITH
DISTORTED IMAGES OF GOD
IT MAKES IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE
TO COMPLETELY TRUST HIM.
I THINK GOD WANTS US
TO THROW OPEN OUR ARMS
UNRESERVEDLY BECAUSE
HE IS OUR ABBA FATHER.
SO WHAT DO YOU,
WHAT DO YOU RIGHT NOW
IF YOU'RE IN A PLACE
WHERE YOU'RE THINKING,
I WANT TO TRUST GOD BUT
I DON'T LIKE
HOW THIS PUZZLE LOOKS.
WELL, ONE THING I KNOW
FOR SURE, GOD THROUGH
THE POWER OF HIS LIVING WORD
CAN HELP US CHANGE
A DISTORTED PICTURE INTO
A PICTURE OF WHO HE REALLY IS.
THINK ABOUT IT.
GOD'S WORD IS FULL
OF ENCOUNTERS PEOPLE HAD
WITH THE LOVE OF GOD IN CHRIST
WHETHER IT WAS THE WOMAN
CAUGHT IN ADULTERY
OR THE WOMAN AT THE WELL.
ONE ENCOUNTER WITH CHRIST
CHANGED EVERYTHING FOR THEM.
THE LOOK THEY SAW IN HIS EYES
CHANGED EVERYTHING.
I THINK THROUGHOUT HUMAN
HISTORY WE'VE STRUGGLED
TO TRUST GOD COMPLETELY.
NOW I DON'T KNOW WHERE
YOU ARE IN YOUR OWN JOURNEY
RIGHT NOW.
PERHAPS FOR YOU GOD IS
VERY CLOSE AND THAT
YOU REALLY GET IT --
THAT YOU'RE LOVED.
BUT PERHAPS THAT'S NOT
WHERE YOU ARE.
PERHAPS YOU FEEL FAR AWAY
RIGHT NOW.
MAYBE EVEN HURT OR CONFUSED
WHEN GOD DIDN'T SEEM
TO ANSWER YOUR PRAYERS.
AND YOU THINK, I DON'T THINK
GOD CARES ABOUT ME
AND YOU'VE JUST WALKED AWAY.
BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THIS.
EVEN WHEN WE GO TO THE ENDS
OF THE EARTH IN AN EFFORT
TO RUN AWAY FROM GOD...
AND A FATHER WAITING FOR US.
SO TODAY, I WANT US TO LOOK
AT A STORY THAT JESUS TOLD
TO ILLUSTRATE THAT NO MATTER
HOW FAR WE RUN,
WHEN WE FINALLY TURN OUR FACES
BACK TOWARD HOME WE DISCOVER
THAT GOD'S BEEN WAITING
FOR US ALL ALONG.
SO LET'S LOOK TOGETHER
AT LUKE'S GOSPEL,
LUKE CHAPTER 15 AND I'M GOING
TO BE READING VERSES 11-24
AND I'M READING FROM
THE NEW LIVING TRANSLATION.
SO HERE WE GO.
WELL, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU
BUT I'VE BEEN FAMILIAR
WITH THIS STORY SINCE
I WAS A CHILD,
PERHAPS YOU HAVE AS WELL.
IN SUNDAY SCHOOL WE ALWAYS
CALLED IT "THE STORY
OF THE PRODIGAL SON."
BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S
AN ACCURATE TITLE
FOR THE STORY.
IN SOME WAYS IT IS THE STORY
OF TWO LOST BOYS WHO TOTALLY
MISSED THE POINT OF WHAT
IT MEANS TO BE A SON.
BUT I THINK --
I THINK THE STORY IS REALLY
ABOUT THE FATHER.
IT IS A STORY ABOUT THE DEPTH
OF THE FATHER'S LOVE
FOR EACH ONE OF US.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
TO PLACE THE STORY BACK
IN ITS HISTORICAL CONTEXT
AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE
WHO ARE LISTENING TO JESUS
TELL THE STORY THAT DAY
WHAT THEY ACTUALLY HEARD.
WHEN WE DO THAT, WE SEE
A VERY DIFFERENT PICTURE
AND ONE THAT'S HONESTLY
JUST ABOUT AS GOOD
AS IT GETS DOWN HERE.
I AM A HUGE FAN
OF THE WRITER,
KENNETH BAILEY.
HE'S A LECTURER ON MIDDLE EAST
NEW TESTAMENT STUDIES
AND IS ALSO PROFESSOR EMERITUS
IN JERUSALEM.
HE IS REGARDED AS ONE
OF THE FINEST EXPERTS
IN UNLOCKING THE CULTURAL KEYS
OF LUKE CHAPTER 15.
YOU MIGHT REMEMBER LUKE 15.
YOU HAVE THE LOST SHEEP,
YOU HAVE THE LOST COIN,
AND THEN THIS STORY
OF THE LOST BOY.
WELL, HIS WRITINGS HAVE
HELPED ME UNDERSTAND MORE
ABOUT THESE TWO SONS
AND DEEPENED MY UNDERSTANDING
OF THE MAGNITUDE OF GOD'S LOVE
FOR US, HIS CHILDREN
SO LET'S LOOK AT THIS.
THE YOUNGER SON ASKS,
"FATHER, GIVE ME
MY SHARE OF THE ESTATE."
IT WAS AN OUTRAGEOUS REQUEST.
IN MIDDLE EASTERN CULTURE
THIS WAS EQUAL TO SAYING,
"FATHER, I WISH
YOU WERE DEAD."
CAN YOU IMAGINE
IF YOUR CHILD SAID
SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
NOW THE SON WAS UNMARRIED
SO PROBABLY HE WAS ABOUT 20
SO HIS DAD WAS NOT AN OLD MAN
CLOSE TO DEATH BUT A MAN
IN THE PRIME OF HIS LIFE.
THERE WAS NO GREATER INSULT
IN THAT CULTURE.
THINK OF THE IMPLICATIONS
OF WHAT HE WAS ASKING FOR.
HIS FATHER WAS CLEARLY
A WEALTHY MAN WITH
A LOT OF LAND.
THOSE WHO ARE LISTENING
TO THE STORY WOULD HAVE
EXPECTED THAT JESUS WOULD SAY
THE FATHER SLAPPED THE SON
ACROSS THE FACE FOR MAKING
SUCH A DEVASTATING REQUEST.
WELL, NOT ONLY DOES THE FATHER
IN THE STORY NOT DO THAT,
HE AGREES
TO THE SON'S REQUEST.
HE DIVIDES HIS PROPERTY UP
BETWEEN HIS TWO SONS.
THEN THE INSULT
GETS MUCH WORSE.
THE BOY SELLS THE PROPERTY
AND LEAVES THE COUNTRY.
NOW IN JEWISH CULTURE
HE WAS NOW OFFICIALLY DEAD
TO THE FAMILY.
YOU ACTUALLY HEAR THAT
AT THE END OF THE STORY.
YOU REMEMBER THE FATHER SAYS,
"MY SON WAS DEAD
AND NOW HE IS ALIVE AGAIN."
SO THE BOY LEAVES AND SPENDS
THE MONEY LIVING IN LUXURY.
SOME TRANSLATIONS IMPLY THAT
HE SPENT IT IN LIVING
IMMORALLY BUT THAT IS
ACTUALLY NOT SUPPORTED
BY THE ORIGINAL TEXT.
HE JUST LIVED IT UP FOR
AS LONG AS HE COULD
UNTIL THE MONEY RAN OUT.
SO WHAT WAS HE GOING TO DO?
WHAT NOW? GO HOME?
ABSOLUTELY OUT OF
THE QUESTION.
HE KNEW THAT A CEREMONY
WOULD BE WAITING FOR HIM
AT THE VILLAGE GATE
IF HE EVER TRIED TO GO HOME.
IF A JEWISH SON DISGRACED
HIS FATHER BY SELLING
HIS LAND, TAKING HIS MONEY
AND LOSING IT, PARTICULARLY
TO GENTILES, HE WAS NO LONGER
CONSIDERED A SON.
AND IF HE EVER TRIED
TO RETURN HOME HE WOULD
BE MET AT THE VILLAGE GATE
BY MEN CARRYING A LARGE
EARTHEN JAR FILLED
WITH BURNED NUTS AND CORN.
THEY WOULD BREAK IT
AT HIS FEET SHOUTING OUT,
"THIS BOY IS DEAD!"
AND HE WOULD BE CUT OFF
FROM HIS OWN PEOPLE FOREVER.
NOW THE PRODIGAL SON KNEW
-- HE KNEW THE CONSEQUENCES
OF DISGRACING HIS FATHER.
BUT HE DID IT ANYWAY.
DON'T YOU THINK IT'S AMAZING
HOW RECKLESS WE CAN BE
WITH OUR LIVES AT TIMES?
WE'RE ALL, EVERY ONE OF US
SINFUL AND FLAWED.
IT IS EASY TO POINT THE FINGER
AT SOMEONE YOU THINK
IS DOING SOMETHING WORSE
THAN YOU'VE DONE.
BUT PAUL, DO YOU REMEMBER
WHEN HE WROTE TO THE CHURCH
IN ROME?
SO THE BOY TRIED
TO FIND A JOB.
HE KNEW THE ONLY WAY
HE COULD SAVE FACE WAS
BY RETURNING THE MONEY
HE HAD SPENT.
IF HE COULD GET
ALL THAT MONEY BACK AND
BUY BACK HIS FATHER'S LAND
THEN THE POSSIBILITY
OF BEING FORGIVEN WAS THERE.
BUT HE WAS TO DISCOVER
THE PAINFUL REALITY
THAT FRIENDS WHO WERE THERE
WHEN YOU HAD A LOT OF MONEY
ARE SCARCE WHEN
YOUR POCKETS ARE EMPTY.
NO ONE, NOT ONE PERSON
GAVE HIM ANYTHING.
HE ENDED UP DOING A JOB
THAT WOULD BE REPULSIVE
TO A JEWISH SON --
FEEDING PIGS.
WELL, HIS JOB BARELY FED HIM.
HE HAD NO HOPE.
HE WAS ABSOLUTELY
OUT OF HIS OWN PLANS.
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN THERE?
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN A PLACE
LIKE THAT WHERE YOU JUST
CANNOT SEE ONE POSSIBILITY
OF HOPE?
YOU CAN'T SEE HOW FROM HERE
CAN I MOVE FORWARD?
WELL, THIS IS WHERE
THE STORY GETS EVEN
MORE INTERESTING TO ME.
I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT IN
HIS MISERY THIS SELFISH BOY
TRULY REPENTED OF HIS BAD
BEHAVIOR AND HUMBLY WENT HOME.
WELL, THAT DOESN'T SEEM
TO BE THE CASE.
THINK ABOUT THE WAY
JESUS TELLS THE STORY.
IT'S THE FINAL STORY
AS I SAID OF A TRILOGY.
HE TELLS THE STORY OF
THE LOST SHEEP, THE LOST COIN,
AND FINALLY, THE LOST SON.
IN THE FIRST TWO STORIES
THE SHEPHERD WENT AFTER
HIS SHEEP AND THE WIDOW
WENT AFTER HER COIN.
SO WHAT ABOUT THE LOST SON?
DID HE REALLY COME HOME
REPENTANT ALL BY HIMSELF?
WELL, KENNETH BAILEY
POINTS OUT SOMETHING
VERY IMPORTANT.
HE SAYS HIS SPEECH
SOUNDS CONTRIVED.
REMEMBER WHAT HE SAID?
WHEN JESUS TOLD THESE
THREE PARABLES, EACH ONE
FURTHER UNDERLINED THE POINT
OF THE PREVIOUS ONE.
IF THE PRODIGAL CAME
TO HIS SENSES ALL BY HIMSELF,
THEN JESUS CONTRADICTED
WHAT HE TAUGHT IN THE FIRST
TWO STORIES.
KENNETH BAILEY SUGGESTS
THAT WHEN JESUS USED
THE ANALOGY OF A SHEPHERD
LOOKING FOR A LOST SHEEP,
IT HAD THE EFFECT
OF REMINDING US OF ONE OF
MY FAVORITE PSALMS, PSALM 23:
I STUDIED GREEK IN SEMINARY
BUT I AVOIDED HEBREW
LIKE THE PLAGUE BECAUSE
IT IS SO HARD TO LEARN.
BUT I STUDIED
JUST A FEW WORDS.
THIS IS WHAT I BELIEVE
JESUS WAS SAYING,
GOD BRINGS THE BOY BACK.
THE BOY DID NOT REPENT
ON HIS OWN.
HIS SPEECH WAS ONE
OF MANIPULATION.
A NUMBER OF ACTUAL ARAMAIC
TRANSLATIONS TRANSLATE IT
THIS WAY: HE GOT SMART,
OR WHEN HE CAME TO HIS SENSES.
WE'RE SO LIKE CHILDREN
WHO THINK WE CAN WEASEL
OUR WAY OUT OF BAD BEHAVIOR
WITH NICE SOUNDING SPEECHES.
BUT HERE'S WHAT I LOVE.
EVEN THOUGH
HE CAME HOME WITH THIS,
LET'S-TRY-AND-SOUND-HUMBLE
SPEECH HIS FATHER DIDN'T WANT
HIS SPEECH, HE JUST WANTED
HIS SON BACK AND HE HAD BEEN
WAITING FOR HIM ALL ALONG.
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL IMAGE!
IT WOULD BE SHOCKING
TO THE LISTENING CROWD
THAT THE FATHER RAN.
THAT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN
IN JEWISH CULTURE.
IT WAS UNDIGNIFIED FOR
A MAN OF HIS STATURE TO RUN.
BUT JESUS WAS SAYING THAT'S
WHAT GOD'S LOVE IS LIKE.
EVEN IF WE HAVE SLAPPED GOD
ON THE FACE AND WALKED AWAY,
SEE THE FATHER WANTS TO GET
TO THE BOY BEFORE
THE VILLAGERS CAN.
BEFORE THEY'RE ABLE TO ACT
OUT THE CEREMONY SAYING,
"YOU'RE DEAD TO ALL OF US,"
THE FATHER REACHES THE SON,
THROWS HIS ARMS AROUND HIM,
AND WELCOMES HIM HOME.
HE DOESN'T EVEN ASK
WHAT HE DID WITH THE MONEY.
HE JUST THROWS A PARTY
TO CELEBRATE MY SON WAS DEAD
AND NOW HE IS ALIVE.
THIS IS GRACE.
THIS IS THE LOVE OF GOD.
IT REMINDS ME OF THE HYMN,
AMAZING GRACE, HOW SWEET
THE SOUND THAT SAVED
A WRETCH LIKE ME.
I ONCE WAS LOST
BUT NOW I'M FOUND,
WAS BLIND BUT NOW I SEE.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW
NO MATTER WHERE YOU'VE BEEN
OR WHAT YOU'VE DONE,
HE WAITS TO WELCOME YOU HOME.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT
SITS WITH YOU TODAY.
PERHAPS YOU'RE JUST FLICKING
THROUGH CHANNELS AND
YOU STOPPED BECAUSE
YOU THOUGHT, THERE'S A WOMAN
WITH A FUNNY ACCENT.
BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW,
I DON'T CARE WHAT
YOU'VE DONE UP UNTIL
THIS MOMENT IN YOUR LIFE
THAT GOD IS NOT SOME
DISTANT DEITY, HE IS
A VERY PERSONAL FATHER.
GOD IS NOT LOOKING
FOR RELIGION.
GOD IS LOOKING
FOR RELATIONSHIP.
MAYBE YOU THINK
YOU'VE WANDERED TOO FAR AWAY
FROM HOME.
I TALKED TO A YOUNG GIRL
JUST A FEW DAYS AGO
AND SHE SAID, "I GREW UP
IN THE CHURCH AND I USED
TO BE PART OF
THE YOUTH GROUP.
I WENT TO EVERYTHING
AND THEN I EXPERIMENTED
WITH A FEW THINGS.
AND THEN I FOUND MYSELF
JUST REALLY HOOKED ON DRUGS.
I FOUND MYSELF SELLING
MY BODY ON THE STREET."
SHE SAID, "I JUST DON'T KNOW
HOW I GOT SO FAR AWAY."
BUT SHE SAID, "THEN ONE NIGHT
I WAS WANDERING PAST..."
SHE SAID, "IT JUST LOOKED
LIKE A CONVENTION CENTER AND
THERE WAS MUSIC COMING OUT."
SHE SAID, "I JUST KIND OF
WANDERED UP THE STEPS
AND I LISTENED."
SHE SAID, "I DON'T ACTUALLY
KNOW WHAT THE MEETING
WAS ABOUT BUT THEY WERE
SINGING THIS: AMAZING GRACE,
HOW SWEET THE SOUND
THAT SAVED A WRETCH LIKE ME.
I ONCE WAS LOST,
BUT NOW I'M FOUND.
WAS BLIND, BUT NOW I SEE."
SHE SAID, "I REALIZED
EVEN I COULD COME HOME."
YOU KNOW THE AMAZING THING?
WHEN YOU DO COME HOME
TO THE FATHER YOU HAVE SUCH
A DESIRE TO REACH OUT
TO OTHERS WHO ARE STILL
OUT THERE AND THEIR NEEDS
MIGHT BE DIFFERENT BUT
THEY'RE VERY, VERY REAL.
WOULD YOU WATCH THIS WITH ME?
Sheila:
THIS YOUNG MOM
IS A WIDOW.
SHE'S ALREADY BURIED
THREE CHILDREN.
SHE HAS TWO LEFT.
THEY'RE SIMPLY ASKING
FOR A DECENT MEAL A DAY.
>> SHEILA, THIS IS
AN EXCITING DAY
BECAUSE THIS
IS PAULINA.
YOU CAME WITH US
LAST YEAR
AND YOU TALKED TO HER
AND YOU INTERVIEWED HER
AND SHE TOLD YOU
ABOUT HER CHILDREN
AND HOW WEAK THEY WERE
AND HOW THEY
COULDN'T GO TO SCHOOL.
AND THE
WORST PART,
SHE HAD LOST THREE CHILDREN
BECAUSE OF HUNGER
BECAUSE SHE JUST DIDN'T
HAVE ENOUGH FOOD.
BUT TODAY I'VE SEEN
A SMILE ON HER FACE,
HER CHILDREN
ARE EATING.
MISSION FEEDING
HAS COME TO THIS VILLAGE.
THE PEOPLE THAT
WATCH LIFE TODAY
HAVE MADE
IT HAPPEN.
PAULINA HAS
NEW LIFE
AND SHE NOW KNOWS
THESE CHILDREN WILL LIVE.
Announcer:
TODAY, EACH OF PAULINA'S
TWO SURVIVING CHILDREN
HAVE BEEN
STABILIZED
WITH A DAILY
BOWL OF FOOD.
THANKS TO THE COMPASSION
OF LIFE TODAY'S VIEWERS
WE WERE ABLE
TO BRING MISSION FEEDING
TO ALL OF THE CHILDREN
IN PAULINA'S VILLAGE.
Announcer: IF YOU GAVE
TO MISSION FEEDING IN 2016
YOU LITERALLY HELPED SAVE
THESE CHILDREN'S LIVES.
PAULINA'S STORY
TESTIFIES TO THE IMPACT
YOU CAN MAKE ON A CHILD
AND THE MOTHER DESPERATE
TO KEEP HER CHILD ALIVE.
RIGHT NOW DROUGHT AND FAMINE
HAVE DEVASTATED AREAS
ACROSS
SOUTHERN AFRICA
AND MORE CHILDREN
ARE DYING.
WHEN YOU GIVE
TO MISSION FEEDING,
YOU GIVE LIFE!
Sheila: WHAT A
HOPE-FILLED STORY!
I REMEMBER SO CLEARLY
THE DAY I MET PAULINA, A YEAR
BEFORE JANICE WAS THERE.
I REMEMBER THAT NIGHT
WE WERE CAMPING IN THEIR
VILLAGE AND I WAS IN A TENT.
I REMEMBER THAT NIGHT
JUST WEEPING, THINKING OF
WHAT IT MUST BE LIKE AS A MOM
TO HAVE TO BURY NOT JUST ONE
CHILD -- SO MANY OF THE MOMS
IN THESE VILLAGES HAVE BURIED
TWO AND THREE CHILDREN.
WHEN I SAW THIS PIECE,
WHEN JANICE GOT BACK AND
I SAW PAULINA AND THE LOOK
ON HER FACE IS SO TRANSFORMED.
SHE USED TO BE DESPERATE
AND NOW THERE IS THIS LOOK
OF PEACE, OF JOY,
OF HAPPINESS, OF KNOWING
HER PRAYERS WERE HEARD.
THE THING THAT REALLY
STRIKES ME SO MUCH ABOUT
OUR MISSION FEEDING,
BECAUSE AT THE MOMENT WE FEED
ABOUT 400,000 CHILDREN,
IS THAT JUST AS WE CAME IN
TO PAULINA'S VILLAGE
AND CHANGED THEIR LIVES.
DID YOU HEAR WHAT SHE SAID?
"NOW ALL THE CHILDREN
ARE GOING TO SCHOOL."
THAT'S THE AMAZING THING.
WE FEED THE CHILDREN
AT SCHOOL SO THEY WILL COME
TO SCHOOL AND NOT ONLY GET
A GOOD MEAL BUT THEY'LL GET
AN EDUCATION AND IT TOTALLY
BREAKS THAT CYCLE OF GOING
FROM DEATH TO LIFE.
AND IT IS SO DOABLE!
FOR THOSE OF YOU
WHO HAVE GIVEN BEFORE,
THANK YOU SO MUCH!
BUT LET'S ALL UP OUR GAME
THIS YEAR.
DO YOU REALIZE THAT FOR $30
YOU CAN FEED THREE CHILDREN
FOR THREE MONTHS?
$50 YOU CAN FEED FIVE CHILDREN
FOR THREE MONTHS;
$100, 10 CHILDREN.
SO PLEASE LET'S ALL
DO SOMETHING.
I ACTUALLY WANTED TO MAKE
A SPECIAL ASK TODAY.
I WANT YOU TO CONSIDER GIVING
AN ADDITIONAL GIFT FOR
A FOOD FACTORY UPGRADE.
WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE
FACTORY IN AFRICA THAT
PRODUCES OUR FOOD BUT
IT'S OUTDATED AND ONCE WE DO
AN UPGRADE IT'S GOING
TO CHANGE WHAT WE'RE ABLE
TO PRODUCE.
IT WILL BE UP BY 50% --
SO MUCH MORE EFFICIENT!
TO DO THE TOTAL UPGRADE
IT'S $216,000.
SO I WAS THINKING, WHAT IF
216 OF US GAVE $1,000?
SO I'M GOING TO BE
ONE OF THEM.
SO WOULD 215 OF YOU JOIN ME
SO THAT WE CAN DO THIS
FACTORY UPGRADE AND GET
AS MUCH AS FOOD TO AS MANY
CHILDREN AS POSSIBLE?
NOW FOR SOME OF YOU,
THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT IF EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US
DOES SOMETHING THEN SLOWLY
VILLAGE BY VILLAGE
BY VILLAGE WE'RE GOING
TO SEE HOPE RETURN
TO MOTHERS' EYES.
IF THIS WAS AN IMPOSSIBLE
SITUATION THEN WE WOULD ALL
JUST WRING OUR HANDS AND SAY,
"WHAT CAN WE DO?"
BUT WE'VE DISCOVERED
YEAH, THERE IS SOMETHING
THAT WE CAN DO AND
WE CAN DO IT NOW.
I CAN'T WAIT TO GO BACK
TO THESE VILLAGES AND SEE
THE DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES
OF THESE MOMS
AND THESE CHILDREN.
BUT IT WILL ONLY BE DIFFERENT
IF YOU AND I DECIDE TODAY
WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING.
SO PLEASE, WOULD YOU GO TO
YOUR PHONE, DIAL THE NUMBER
ON YOUR SCREEN?
GIVE THE BEST GIFT YOU CAN
POSSIBLY GIVE AND
LET'S FEED THESE CHILDREN
AND GIVE THEM LIFE.
Announcer:
IN IMPOVERISHED AND FAMINE STRICKEN AREAS OF AFRICA,
CHILDREN
ARE SUFFERING.
THE NEED
IS GREAT.
AND WITHOUT FOOD,
THEY FACE DEATH BY STARVATION.
WITH YOUR SUPPORT,
YOU WILL HELP FEED AND CARE
FOR CHILDREN
IN CRISIS AREAS
OF SUDAN, ANGOLA,
AND MOZAMBIQUE.
WITH AFRICA FACING ONGOING
FOOD SHORTAGES AND DROUGHT,
WE URGENTLY NEED
TO REPLENISH SUPPLIES
AND COME TO THE AID
OF 400,000 CHILDREN
COUNTING ON US.
YOUR LIFESAVING GIFT
OF $30, $50, OR $100
WILL HELP FEED AND CARE FOR
THREE, FIVE OR TEN CHILDREN
FOR THE NEXT
THREE MONTHS.
PLEASE ALSO CONSIDER
AN ADDITIONAL GIFT TO HELP
PROVIDE CRITICALLY NEEDED
UPGRADES TO OUR FOOD FACTORY
THAT WILL INCREASE
OVERALL PRODUCTION BY
A STAGGERING 50%.
THIS IS A
$216,000 CHALLENGE
ABOVE OUR NORMAL
FEEDING BUDGET
THAT COULD HELP SAVE
EVEN MORE LIVES.
WITH YOUR GIFT
OF ANY AMOUNT
WE'LL SEND YOU
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MESS.
IN HER NEW BOOK,
SHEILA WALSH BRINGS INSIGHT
TO KNOWING THE PEACE
AND PRESENCE OF CHRIST
IN THE MIDST OF LIFE'S
INEVITABLE MESSES.
WITH YOUR GIFT
OF $100 OR MORE
TO HELP FEED AND CARE
FOR TEN CHILDREN,
WE WILL SEND YOU SHEILA'S BOOK
PLUS THE "ARISE" COFFEE MUG.
THIS HEAT-ACTIVATED MUG
REVEALS ISAIAH 61
EACH TIME YOU FILL IT
WITH A WARM BEVERAGE;
A WONDERFUL WAY
TO BEGIN YOUR DAY.
AND FINALLY, WITH YOUR GIFT
OF $1,000 OR MORE
TO HELP FEED AND CARE
FOR 100 CHILDREN,
BE SURE TO REQUEST
OUR "DETERMINED EAGLE"
BRONZE SCULPTURE.
PLEASE CALL, WRITE, OR
MAKE YOUR GIFT ONLINE.
James: THE REASON
THE FOOD IS THERE
IS BECAUSE PEOPLE LIKE YOU
DIDN'T CHANGE CHANNELS,
DIDN'T LOOK AWAY,
DIDN'T THINK ONLY OF YOURSELF.
YOU SAID, "I CAN FEED
THREE OR FIVE OR TEN --
THAT'S THE REASON THAT
WE'RE ABLE TO KEEP FEEDING
-- THAT'S THE REASON WE'RE
FEEDING NOW IN MANY AREAS
AT SCHOOLS INSTEAD
OF REFUGEE CAMPS
WHERE
THEY'RE DYING.
WE'RE ALSO MEETING
THE CRISIS NEED BUT
WE'RE DOING THIS NOW BECAUSE
WE'RE GIVING THE CHILDREN
HEALTH FOR
THE FUTURE.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU
FROM THE DEPTH OF MY HEART
FOR NOT JUST CHANNEL SURFING,
GOING ON OR TURNING AWAY.
I'M ASKING YOU TODAY
TO RESPOND RIGHT NOW
AND YOU DIAL
THAT TELEPHONE NUMBER
OR YOU GO ONLINE AND SAY,
"I'M GOING TO CARE."
IF YOU CAN CARE FOR TEN,
THERE ARE A LOT MORE
THAN TEN HERE.
$1,000 WOULD CARE FOR 100
FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
BUT $100 WILL CARE
FOR TEN,
$50 WILL CARE
FOR FIVE,
AND $30 WILL CARE
FOR THREE.
SO PLEASE, DON'T SIT THERE
AND WATCH.
YOU CAN THANK GOD
FOR WHAT YOU'RE SEEING
BUT LET'S MAKE IT POSSIBLE
FOR PEOPLE
TO THANK GOD
FOR WHAT YOU DID.
I THANK GOD
AND I THANK YOU.
Sheila: THANK YOU SO MUCH!
AND FOR ANY GIFT AT ALL
WE WILL SEND YOU MY NEW BOOK,
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MESS.
MY FRIEND KAY WARREN WROTE,
"IF YOU'VE EVER TOLD YOURSELF
I CAN'T DO THIS
ONE MORE DAY,
PLEASE READ THIS BOOK."
IF YOU ARE ABLE TO SEND US
SOME MORE THERE ARE SOME
OTHER GIFTS THAT WE WOULD
LOVE TO SEND TO YOU.
BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING,
I KNOW THAT FOR THOSE OF YOU
THAT HAVE BEEN FAITHFUL
PARTNERS FOR SO LONG,
YOU JUST WANT TO MAKE
A DIFFERENCE.
SO YOU AND I TOGETHER
CAN CHANGE THIS WORLD
ONE CHILD AT A TIME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR BEING WITH US.
SEE YOU NEXT TIME.
♪
♪
♪
Announcer: DO YOU WANT TO GROW YOUR CHILD'S RELATIONSHIPS
WITH GOD, PARENTS
AND THE WORLD AROUND THEM?
DON'T MISS
TOMORROW'S PROGRAM
WITH JONATHAN
AND WYNTER PITTS.
>> 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.