>> SO WHEN I HAVE
WOMEN SAY TO ME,
OH BLESS YOUR HEART!
YOU HAVE SIX CHILDREN.
I GET THAT. I KNOW WHAT
THEY MEAN ABOUT THAT.
THEY'RE "OH,
I COULD NEVER DO THAT!"
OR "I COULD NEVER
TAKE IN A FOSTER CHILD."
BUT WHEN YOU'RE IN PRAYER
HE JUST TAKES YOU
BEYOND THAT BOUNDARY
THAT YOU SET FOR YOURSELF
AND HE ENABLES YOU
TO DO THINGS
YOU COULD HAVE NEVER,
BACK TO DIANE'S VERSE,
THAT YOU COULD HAVE
NEVER DEEMED POSSIBLE.
Announcer: SHEILA WALSH
SPENDS WEDNESDAYS IN THE WORD
WITH FOUR LADIES
WITH A SHARED PASSION
FOR THE FORGOTTEN
CHILDREN. NEXT!
♪
Sheila: HI, I'M SHEILA WALSH.
WELCOME TO
WEDNESDAYS IN THE WORD.
WE'RE DOING SOMETHING
A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
A FEW MONTHS AGO I WAS
INVITED TO GO TO SOMETHING
AT THE WHITE HOUSE
WHICH IS CLEARLY A HUGE HONOR.
BUT I WAS REALLY, REALLY BUSY
AND I THOUGHT, LORD,
I DON'T THINK I CAN FIT
THAT INTO MY SCHEDULE.
BUT I KEPT FEELING COMPELLED
TO GO.
SO I MOVED A COUPLE OF THINGS
AROUND AND I FLEW UP.
I KNEW I WOULD BE MEETING
WITH FOUR OTHER WOMEN
AND WE AGREED THAT WE WOULD
MAYBE HAVE A LATE BREAKFAST
BEFORE WE WENT TO THE THING.
AND HONESTLY, WHEN I GOT THERE
AND MET THESE WOMEN I THOUGHT,
OH, THAT'S WHY I WAS THERE.
I MEAN THE MEETING
AT THE WHITE HOUSE
WAS FANTASTIC BUT FOR ME,
THE REASON I WAS THERE
WAS TO MEET THESE
FOUR AMAZING WOMEN.
SO I INVITED THEM
IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR
CRAZY BUSY SCHEDULE
TO FLY IN HERE
AND TO SPEND A COUPLE
OF WEDNESDAYS IN THE WORD
WITH US.
SO I'M GOING TO
INTRODUCE YOU TO THEM.
FIRST OF ALL,
WE HAVE DIANE STRACK.
THEN WE HAVE LYNETTE EZELL.
WE HAVE STEPHANIE WHITE,
AND WE HAVE CHRISTY,
IS IT HAG OR HAAG?
Christi: I HEAR HAG, HOG,
BUT IT IS HAAG.
I'M MISS HOG ALL THE TIME.
[Laughter]
TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT.
DID YOU GUYS ALL KNOW
EACH OTHER BEFORE WE MET
ON THAT PARTICULAR DAY?
AND IF YOU DID,
HOW WERE YOU CONNECTED?
Diane: WELL, YOU KNOW,
I JUST WANTED
BECAUSE I INVITED THEM --
Sheila: BECAUSE YOU WERE
KIND OF THE CATALYST.
Diane: YEAH. AND KIND OF
THE COOL THING WAS
THAT I'D BEEN TOLD TO INVITE
20 WOMEN TO THE WHITE HOUSE
SO I GOT THIS LIST AND PRAYED,
AND 20 WOMEN.
AND THEN TWO DAYS LATER
I GOT A CALL THAT SAID,
"YOU CAN ONLY BRING FOUR
PLUS YOURSELF."
SO I WAS LIKE, THAT'S GREAT!
JUST LOST 18 FRIENDS
OR HOWEVER -- 16 FRIENDS."
SO I BEGAN TO PRAY;
AND TO REALLY PRAY ABOUT IT
AND ASK THE LORD
WHO SHOULD I BRING?
AND THESE FIVE
WERE WHO THE LORD GAVE ME.
I DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE IT
UNTIL YOU INVITED US OUT HERE
AND I STARTED PUTTING
EVERYBODY'S BIOS TOGETHER,
WE ALL -- I GUESS I DID
BUT NOT AT THAT MOMENT,
WE ALL DO THE SAME THING.
WE'RE ALL PASSIONATE
FOR CHILDREN, FOR FAMILIES,
FOR TRAFFICKING VICTIMS,
FOR FEEDING.
SO WE ALL SORT OF
JOIN YOUR HEART.
AND THEY ARE AMAZING WOMEN
AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR YOU
TO HEAR ALL OF THEIR STORIES.
Sheila: OKAY, SO LET ME JUST
-- STEPHANIE, YOU'RE THE BABY.
Stephanie: I AM THE BABY.
[Laughter]
Sheila: BUT IMPRESSIVE.
YOU'RE AN ADOPTION ATTORNEY.
TELL ME A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT WHAT YOU DO.
Stephanie: I ACTUALLY DO
SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS
WITH ADOPTION AS AN ATTORNEY.
I HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE
LOOKING TO ADOPT A CHILD
WHO MAYBE HAVE GONE THROUGH
MISCARRIAGES OR NOT ABLE
TO HAVE A CHILD OR MAYBE
JUST WANT TO OPEN THEIR HOME
TO ANOTHER CHILD.
AND SO I CONNECT THEM
WITH A WOMAN OR MAYBE A FAMILY
WHO IT'S NOT THE RIGHT TIME
TO HAVE A CHILD.
IT'S A REALLY NEAT
WONDERFUL WAY TO CONNECT
TWO FAMILIES OR TWO PEOPLE
WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED
SOME TYPE OF LOSS.
BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME LOSS
THAT A FAMILY
CANNOT HAVE A CHILD
AND THERE IS A LOSS OF A WOMAN
WHO MAYBE
IT WASN'T THE RIGHT TIME;
AND SHE IS GRIEVING TOO
BECAUSE SHE HAS TO EITHER
PLACE HER CHILD FOR ADOPTION
WHICH IS A HARD THING TO DO.
SO I HELP TO CONNECT
THOSE TWO PEOPLE.
AND I ALSO REPRESENT KIDS
IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM;
KIDS WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH
REALLY TOUGH SITUATIONS
AND REALLY TOUGH LIVES.
I GET TO MEET WITH THEM
AND TALK TO THEM
AND GO TO COURT
AND REPRESENT THEM.
Sheila: THAT'S FANTASTIC.
OKAY, THERE IS A LOT MORE
I WANT TO ASK YOU
BUT I WANT TO GIVE EACH ONE
OF THE GIRLS A CHANCE.
LYNETTE, WOULD YOU TELL ME,
YOUR HUSBAND, IS HE HEAD
OF THE NORTH AMERICAN
MISSIONS BOARD?
Lynette: HE IS.
Sheila: SO TELL ME ABOUT
WHAT YOU GUYS DO AND
WHAT THE MAIN THING THAT GOD
HAS LAID ON YOUR HEART,
WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED
TO BE DOING WITH YOUR LIFE.
Lynette: WELL,
THE MAIN THING THAT WE DO IS
JUST SUPPORT CHURCHES;
AND WE START 20 NEW CHURCHES
A WEEK IN NORTH AMERICA
AND PUERTO RICA.
Sheila: WOW!
Lynette: RIGHT!
AND IF THERE IS A DISASTER
WE'RE THERE.
WE'RE THE YELLOW SHIRTS,
AND SO WE'RE THERE.
FOR INSTANCE
FOR EVERY TEN MEALS
THE RED CROSS SERVES
WE'D MADE EIGHT OF THOSE.
SO WE'RE KIND OF
UNDER THE RADAR.
Sheila: WOW! SO WHEN PEOPLE
SEE A RED CROSS THING ON TV
AND I'VE DONE THAT
AND IT'S LIKE TEXT THIS TO --
SO THAT'S ACTUALLY YOU
THAT'S PROBABLY PROVIDING
MOST OF THOSE?
Lynette: RIGHT.
WE DON'T GET THEIR FUNDS.
WE JUST HELP THEM
AND WE COOK THE MEALS,
WE HAVE BIG TRUCKS,
SEND RELIEF TRUCKS; SEND
RELIEF IS A BRANCH OF WHAT
WE DO AT THE NORTH AMERICAN
MISSION BOARD, WHICH ALSO
INCLUDES FOSTER CARE,
HELPING CHILDREN IN POVERTY,
SEX TRAFFICKING AND ANYTHING
TO AWAKEN THE CHURCH
TO THE NEEDS AROUND US
AND TO ENCOURAGE THE CHURCH
TO GET OUT OF THE PEW
AND TO PUT LEGS ON OUR FAITH.
Sheila: SO YOU DON'T GET
THE MONEY YOU JUST PROVIDE --
THERE'S SOMETHING
A LITTLE WRONG THERE, PEOPLE!
Diane: THEY STAY
IN THE COTS IN THE CHURCH
WHILE EVERYBODY ELSE
IS IN THE HOTELS.
Sheila: OKAY. WE MIGHT BE
REDIRECTING WHERE WE'RE GIVING
AT THIS POINT ONWARD.
DO YOU FIND THAT THE CHURCHES
ARE RESPONSIVE TO THAT MESSAGE
OF GETTING OUT OF THE PEWS
AND DOING SOMETHING?
Lynette: HONESTLY, I'M SEEING
THE CHURCH WAKE UP TO THAT.
WHEN I SAY TO...
WHEN WE SAY TO CHURCHES,
"THERE IS HALF A MILLION
FOSTER CHILDREN
IN THE UNITED STATES,
OKAY, THE CHURCH IS ENOUGH
TO FIX THAT."
BECAUSE IF WE PUT
ONE FOSTER CHILD
IN EVERY EVANGELICAL CHURCH
IN NORTH AMERICA,
WE DON'T HAVE ORPHANS,
WE DON'T HAVE
ANY FOSTER CHILDREN
LEFT IN THE SYSTEM.
Sheila: DO YOU MIND
REPEATING THAT
JUST ONE MORE TIME?
Lynette: RIGHT.
SO WE HAVE
A HALF A MILLION CHILDREN
IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM
IN THE UNITED STATES --
A HALF MILLION.
IF ONE CHURCH,
ONE EVANGELICAL CHURCH
IN NORTH AMERICA,
EVERY ONE CHURCH
WOULD TAKE ONE FOSTER CHILD,
SUPPORT THAT FOSTER FAMILY,
RAISE UP ONE FOSTER FAMILY,
SUPPORT THEM,
DO WRAP AROUND CARE,
WE HAVE SOLVED THE CRISIS.
THE CHURCH IS ENOUGH.
Sheila: BUT WHAT'S
FASCINATING ABOUT THAT IS IT
IS NOT FINDING TEN FAMILIES
WITHIN THE CHURCH,
IT IS JUST IF THE CHURCH
WOULD TAKE ONE CHILD.
Lynette: IT'S NOT
BRAIN SURGERY.
Sheila: GOSH! YOU REALLY,
IF YOU READ SCRIPTURE,
IT IS REALLY CLEAR THAT
WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE
THE ANSWER FOR EVERYTHING.
Lynette: THAT'S RIGHT!
PSALM 68:6: HE'S A FATHER
TO THE FATHERLESS
AND HE PLACES THE LONELY
IN FAMILIES.
THAT'S GOD'S PLAN.
Sheila: WOW!
NOW IF PEOPLE WANTED TO ACCESS
YOUR WEBSITE AS OPPOSED TO
THE OTHER ONE WHICH
WE LOVE AND SUPPORT,
WHERE WOULD THEY GO FOR THAT?
Lynette: THE BEST PLACE
TO GO FOR THAT TO GIVE
TO RESTORING DIGNITY WHICH
HELPS OUR FOSTER CHILDREN
OR TO SEND RELIEF
OR TO HELP DISASTER RELIEF
OR SEX TRAFFICKING
IS SENDRELIEF.ORG.
Sheila: OKAY. WOW!
SO CHRISTY HAAG,
YOUR HUSBAND IS PRESIDENT
OF ONE MORE CHILD FOUNDATION
BUT YOU, I WENT ONLINE
AND YOU'RE ALL OVER THE PLACE.
I MEAN YOU'RE EVERYWHERE.
TELL US A LITTLE BIT
OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING
AND YOUR HEARTBEAT
BECAUSE YOU'RE ALSO...
THE THING THAT TOUCHED ME
MOST ABOUT YOU
WHEN WE MET AND TALKED
WAS YOUR STANCE IN PRAYER --
YOUR FACE DOWN ON THE FLOOR
STANCE ON PRAYER.
TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT
OF WHO YOU ARE.
Christi: I TAKE PRAYER
VERY SERIOUSLY.
BECAUSE IT IS THE -- AND
I HAVE SUCH A DEEP RESPECT
-- WE ALL ARE PART
OF THE BIG PUZZLE.
IT TAKES ALL OF US.
BUT WE LOVE WHAT WE GET TO DO.
THIS YEAR WE'LL PROVIDE
SEVEN MILLION MEALS TO
CHILDREN ALL OVER THE WORLD.
WE WORK IN 13 COUNTRIES,
ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES,
DIANE AND I WORK
VERY CLOSELY TOGETHER.
Diane: I'M ON THE BOARD THERE.
Christi: YEAH! WE LOVE HER.
SHE IS AWESOME.
WE'RE CRAZY TOGETHER --
CRAZY ALL OVER THE WORLD
TOGETHER.
BUT A PASSION OF OURS IS
FEEDING CHILDREN PHYSICALLY
AND SPIRITUALLY.
IT IS HARD TO BEAT SOMEONE
OVER THE HEAD WITH THE GOSPEL
WHEN THEY'RE HUNGRY.
I CAN'T...
SO WE'RE BIG IN FEEDING,
WE'RE VERY BIG IN
ANTI CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING.
WE WERE THE FIRST
STATE LICENSED SAFE HOME
IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
GOD'S JUST BLOWING UP
THE MINISTRY IN THAT
WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF KIDS
IN FOSTER CARE, IN OUR
CHRISTIAN FOSTER CARE HOMES.
WE'RE IN TOTAL AGREEMENT,
SHE AND I ARE PASSIONATE
ABOUT WE CAN TAKE CARE
OF EVERY CHILD, EVERY CHILD
IN THE UNITED STATES,
WE CAN ABSORB THAT SO EASILY
IF PASTORS WILL GET UP,
THE LEAD PASTOR WILL GET UP
IN A CHURCH AND SAY,
"I NEED ONE FAMILY --
JUST GIVE ME ONE FAMILY."
Sheila: OKAY, WE'RE GOING
TO DO A SHOW ON THAT.
SHOW US JUST THAT ONE THING.
Christi: AND OUR GOAL
IN FLORIDA IS TO ABSORB
ALL THOSE CHILDREN.
AND THEN WE HAVE A VERY LARGE
SINGLE MOM'S MINISTRY
WHO DIANE HAS WRITTEN
AMAZING CURRICULUM FOR.
Sheila: YES!
THE CURRICULUM IS PHENOMENAL.
Christi: I JUST USED IT
IN ROMANIA.
WE HAVE ANTI TRAFFICKING
AND WE WORK IN 13 COUNTRIES
SO I JUST TAUGHT IT
IN ROMANIA,
I'VE USED IT IN UGANDA,
ALL OVER THE WORLD.
IT'S POWERFUL.
I'VE SEEN GOD PLUCK CHILDREN
OUT OF SATAN'S HAND.
THAT'S THE JOY.
I COULD WRITE BOOKS;
I'VE BEEN IN THIS 40 YEARS,
WRITE BOOKS ON THE TRAGEDY.
Sheila: 40 YEARS?
Christi: MY DAD'S WORKED
AT A CHILDREN'S HOME
FOR 40 YEARS.
AND MY HUSBAND, ACTUALLY,
HIS PH.D. IS IN FINANCE.
WE WERE IN THE BUSINESS WORLD.
WE DID VERY WELL FINANCIALLY
IN THAT WORLD
AND THEN GOD SAID, "I THINK
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO THIS."
I'M THE ONE WHO DRUG MY FEET
BECAUSE I WAS LIKE,
"YOU DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
I GREW UP IN THE MINISTRY.
YOU DON'T KNOW."
BUT WE LOVE IT.
Sheila: HOW DID
YOUR ADVENTURE
WITH UNDERSTANDING
THE POWER OF PRAYER GROW?
Christi: WELL,
I WASN'T SURE IF I WAS
GOING TO TELL THIS STORY.
WE WERE TALKING
ABOUT IT EARLIER.
I GREW UP --
I COME FROM A LONG LINE
OF CHRIST FOLLOWERS.
I'VE HAD IT MODELED
FOR ME FOR YEARS.
BUT MY PRECIOUS GRANDMOTHER,
MY NANU, WHEN SHE WAS 90
WAS BRUTALLY ATTACKED
BY A 19-YEAR OLD.
I WON'T GO INTO DETAILS
JUST FOR MY FAMILY
BUT JUST THE WORST
YOU CAN IMAGINE.
I CRAWLED UP IN BED WITH HER
AT THE HOSPITAL
THE MORNING AFTER.
I REMEMBER HER ASKING ME
TO PRAY FOR THAT YOUNG MAN.
I WAS LIKE, "I CANNOT
PRAY FOR HIM RIGHT NOW."
IT TOOK ME A WHILE.
SHE BEGGED US TO PRAY FOR HIM.
AND SHE REACHED OUT
TO HIS MOTHER.
I THINK I JUST SAW IT
MODELED FOR SO LONG.
YOU KNOW
WE SAY WE BELIEVE IN PRAYER
BUT IN THE MOMENT
DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE
IN PRAYER?
AND SHE WANTED US TO TRULY
PRAY FOR THAT YOUNG MAN.
SO I'VE BEEN AROUND IT
ALL MY LIFE.
AND THEN -- I BROUGHT MY SIGN,
TEN YEARS AGO,
MY HUSBAND STARTED ASKING US
TO PRAY BIG.
HE BASICALLY SAID,
"LET'S DON'T PUT ANY
BOUNDARIES ON JESUS.
LET'S JUST PRAY BIG.
GIVE US THE WORLD
FOR CHILDREN."
AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE ALL DO.
BUT WE JUST STARTED
JUST LITERALLY, I MEAN
PRAYING BIG AND SAYING,
"WE'RE NOT GOING
TO BOX YOU IN,
BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE
OUR LITTLE DEFINITION
OF WHAT WE THINK CHILD CARE
AND RESCUING CHILDREN
AND GOD HAS JUST BEEN
BLOWING US AWAY.
WE SENT STORY AFTER STORY
OF TRULY CHILDREN
PLUCKED OUT OF SATAN'S HAND.
Sheila: I WANT YOU ALL
TO FEEL FREE TO KICK IN
AT ANY POINT HERE BECAUSE
I'M THINKING OF VIEWERS
AT HOME AND I'VE HAD
LETTERS RECENTLY SAYING,
"I'M JUST NOT GOOD AT PRAYER."
OR "I'VE PRAYED SOMETIMES
AND GOD DOESN'T ANSWER
SO WHY BOTHER?"
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THAT,
ANY OF YOU?
Diane: I THINK IF WE ONLY
LOOK AT PRAYER AS I NEED
AN ANSWER THAT MAYBE
THAT'S WHERE WE GET STUCK
BECAUSE IT BECOMES
THIS WONDERFUL ADVENTURE.
I LOVE IT WHEN CHRISTY SAYS,
"I PRAYED FOR YOU LAST NIGHT."
I FEEL ENCOURAGED
AND I FEEL EXCITED.
I LOVE IT WHEN I HAVE
A LONELY MORNING
AND I'M IN THE WORD
AND THE LORD SAYS,
"PRAY FOR SO-AND-SO
AND CALL HER."
AND HE JUST GIVES ME
THAT DIRECT.
AND IT IS JUST THIS BEAUTIFUL
RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST.
SO WHEN WE'RE FOCUSED ON
I NEED AN ANSWER,
I THINK SOMETIMES
WE'RE FOCUSING ON
I WANT THAT ANSWER
AND WE GET INTO
THE WHOLE WRONG PLACE.
SO WHEN WE FOCUS ON JUST THIS
WONDERFUL TIME OF WORSHIP
AND LOVING HIM AND REALLY
PRAYING FOR OTHER PEOPLE,
I MEAN HOW AM I CONNECTED
TO THESE LADIES?
WE PRAY FOR EACH OTHER
AND WE LOVE EACH OTHER.
REALLY,
PRAYING FOR OTHER PEOPLE
CHANGES YOUR WHOLE PRAYER LIFE
AND YOU BEGIN TO REALIZE,
MAYBE I DIDN'T NEED THAT.
OR MAYBE I DIDN'T EVEN
WANT THAT.
OR MAYBE THE LORD HAS
SOMETHING SO MUCH BIGGER.
ALL LAST YEAR
I SIGNED EVERY LETTER
EPHESIANS 3:20
AND SAID, "NEVER SETTLE.
NEVER SETTLE IN YOUR LIFE
BUT CONTINUALLY SAY 'GOD
IS ABLE TO DO EXCEEDINGLY,
ABUNDANTLY ABOVE WHAT I NEED
AND WHAT I ASK.'"
SO PEOPLE WHO FOCUS PRAYERS
ONLY ON GOD'S NOT ANSWERING
ARE REALLY MISSING
PERHAPS HIS ANSWER
IS SO MUCH BIGGER
AND SO MUCH MORE WONDERFUL
AND SO MUCH MORE AMAZING.
YOU MAY HAVE TO WAIT FOR IT.
WE'RE NOT A CULTURE THAT
IS ACCUSTOMED TO WAITING.
YOU MAY HAVE TO WAIT FOR IT.
BUT PRAYER IS
A WONDERFUL JOURNEY
AND I KNOW EACH OF THEM
HAS AMAZING STORIES LIKE THAT.
Sheila: LET ME JUST TELL YOU
ONE THING WHICH IS SO SWEET
LAST NIGHT BECAUSE
I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HAVING
DINNER WITH THESE GIRLS
AND AT THE LAST MINUTE MY
SWEET LITTLE YORKIE, MAGGIE,
WAS HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING.
SO I HAD TO QUICKLY
TEXT MARISSA WHO BOOKS
ALL OUR GUESTS
AND SHE IS JUST ADORABLE.
THEN I GET THIS NOTE FROM YOU
SAYING, "I'M PRAYING FOR YOU,
AND I'M PRAYING FOR YOUR DOG."
BUT THE PART YOU DON'T KNOW
WAS MARISSA HAD TO CALL
THE RESTAURANT AND SAY,
"I'M SORRY WE'RE GOING
TO CANCEL THIS RESERVATION."
AND THE GUY AT MR. G'S
AT THE HYATT IN DFW AIRPORT
SAID, "WHY?"
SO THE GUY THAT ANSWERED
THE PHONE AT MR. G'S SAID,
"CAN I PRAY FOR THEM?"
AND HE STOPPED
AND PRAYED FOR US!
I THOUGHT, I THINK WE DON'T
REALIZE THE IMPACT IT HAS
ON THE LIVES OF OTHER PEOPLE
WHEN WE SAY,
"WE'RE PRAYING FOR YOU."
Diane: IF YOU SAY IT, DO IT.
WHEN YOU SAY TO SOMEONE,
"OH, I'LL BE PRAYING FOR YOU."
SO I'VE REALLY BEGUN TO BE,
I DON'T CARE
IF I'M IN THE AIRPORT,
I DON'T CARE WHEREVER I AM,
A RESTAURANT,
WHEN I SENSE SOMEONE
HAS A NEED I SAY,
"STOP, LET'S PRAY RIGHT NOW."
Christi: YOU'RE
THE QUEEN OF THAT.
IF I CALL YOU, YOU SAY,
"LET'S PRAY RIGHT NOW"
AND THAT MEANS THE WORLD.
I'VE TRIED TO MODEL THAT.
YOU'VE BEEN SO GOOD FOR ME
WITH THAT.
Sheila: HOW ABOUT YOU LYNETTE?
WHAT WOULD YOU THROW INTO
THAT WHOLE DISCUSSION OF
PEOPLE WHO JUST FEEL LIKE
THEY ALMOST TREAT PRAYER
LIKE A LAST RESORT,
LIKE "I'LL TRY AND DO THIS
AND IF THAT DOESN'T WORK
THEN I'LL JUST PRAY ABOUT IT."
HOW HAS YOUR OWN ADVENTURE
WITH PRAYER
IMPACTED YOUR LIFE?
Lynette: I GREW UP VERY SIMPLY
AND I REMEMBER GETTING UP
FOR THE SCHOOL BUS.
MY PARENTS WERE NEW BELIEVERS,
AND MY MOM WAS PRAYING
BY THE SOFA.
SO SHE WASN'T OPENING THE WORD
AND TEACHING ME
TO MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE
BUT SHE PRAYED.
SO I CARRIED THAT
ALL THROUGH MY LIFE.
THEN WHEN THE LORD BEGAN
TO MOVE IN OUR HEART
TO OPEN OUR HOME,
EXPAND OUR BOUNDARIES,
AS THE LORD TELLS US
IN THE OLD TESTAMENT,
TO TAKE IN CHILDREN...
Sheila: YOU HAVE THREE
ADOPTED CHILDREN; DON'T YOU?
Lynette: I DO.
WE HAVE SIX TOTAL;
WE HAVE THREE ADOPTED.
AND I HAVE TWO ADOPTED
GRANDCHILDREN AS WELL;
OUR OLDER KIDS BOUGHT INTO IT.
I KNOW.
SO IT'S BECOME GENERATIONAL.
IT'S JUST WHAT WE DO; RIGHT?
BUT PRAYING THROUGH THAT
IS THE ONLY WAY I COULD LIVE
OUTSIDE OF MY COMFORT ZONE.
WHEN I HAVE WOMEN SAY TO ME,
"OH, BLESS YOUR HEART!
YOU HAVE SIX CHILDREN."
I GET THAT.
I KNOW WHAT THEY MEAN
ABOUT THAT.
THEY'RE "OH,
I COULD NEVER DO THAT."
OR "I COULD NEVER TAKE IN
A FOSTER CHILD."
BUT WHEN YOU'RE IN PRAYER
WITH THE LORD,
WHEN YOU'RE IN PRAYER,
HE JUST TAKES YOU
BEYOND THAT BOUNDARY
THAT YOU SET FOR YOURSELF AND
HE ENABLES YOU TO DO THINGS
YOU COULD HAVE NEVER --
BACK TO DIANE'S VERSE,
THAT YOU COULD HAVE NEVER
DEEMED POSSIBLE.
EPHESIANS FIVE: LIVE IN LINE
WITH THE SPIRIT.
AND IN PRAYER
IS WHEN WE DO THAT.
ONE OF OUR CHILDREN
THAT WE BROUGHT HOME,
WE JUST REALLY STRUGGLED.
SHE STRUGGLED IN SCHOOL
AND SHE WAS STARVING,
LITERALLY SWOLLEN BELLY
AND STICK ARMS.
SO WE HAD A LONG JOURNEY
OF HEALING.
I REMEMBER THE LORD
JUST IMPRESSED UPON ME,
DO LIKE YOUR MOM.
AND I JUST EVERY NIGHT
GOT BESIDE THAT CHILD'S BED,
DUG A HOLE IN THE CARPET
AND STUCK MY NOSE IN IT
AND IT WAS JUST FACE DOWN
AND ASKED THE LORD,
"WOULD YOU JUST HEAL HER MIND?
WOULD YOU HEAL HER BODY?
WOULD YOU JUST HEAL HER,
LORD?"
-- BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE
THOSE TOOLS.
WE HAD ALL PROFESSIONALS
HELPING US,
GREAT TEACHERS
BUT WE NEEDED A TOTAL HEALING.
IT IS INCREDIBLE
TO SEE HOW FAR
THE LORD HAS BROUGHT HER.
Sheila: THAT'S POWERFUL.
AND FOR HER TO SEE THAT TOO.
I KNOW THAT IN MY OWN LIFE,
THAT WHEN I WAS GROWING UP,
I WALKED IN MY SLEEP
EVERY NIGHT.
I WOULD HIDE IN THE TOY BOX.
BUT MY MUM, SHE WOULD LAY
HER HANDS ON ME AT NIGHT
AND PRAY, AND SAY,
"FOR THIS LEAST LIKELY, LORD."
I THINK
THE LORD LOVES TO DO THAT.
BUT YOU SPENT A LOT
OF YOUR TIME
IN THE COURT ROOM.
HOW HAS PRAYER IMPACTED
WHAT YOU DO AS AN ATTORNEY?
Stephanie: I GREW UP WITH
A REALLY GODLY FATHER
AND I ALWAYS COULD HEAR HIM
TALK TO HIMSELF.
I WAS LIKE WHAT IS HE DOING?
SERIOUSLY!
LIKE WHAT IN THE WORLD
IS HE DOING?
AND HE WAS PRAYING.
HE WAS LIKE,
LORD, FORGIVE ME...
IT EMBARRASSED ME AT TIMES.
I WAS LIKE,
OH MY GOODNESS, DAD.
STOP! STOP! JUST STOP!
BECAUSE HE WOULD TALK
TO HIMSELF.
BUT HE WAS TALKING TO GOD
THE WHOLE TIME.
THAT'S HOW
I GET THROUGH COURT,
HOW I GET THROUGH MY LIFE.
AS WE ALL KNOW, LIFE IS TOUGH
AND THERE IS UPS AND DOWNS
AND WE'RE DOING GOD'S WILL.
SOMETIMES THAT'S WHEN
THE TOUGHEST STUFF HAPPENS
IS WE'RE OPENING UP SAYING,
"USE US, LORD."
THEN SATAN JUST ATTACKS US.
SO WE HAVE TO BE CONTINUALLY
IN PRAYER.
I TRY NOT TO TALK OUT LOUD
BUT WHEN I'M IN COURT,
I JUST PRAY FOR MY CLIENTS.
I PRAY FOR THE KID --
THE CHILD I SAW YESTERDAY,
WHO WAS NINE YEARS OLD WHOSE
SISTER JUST GOT MURDERED
IN FRONT OF HER EYES.
I PRAY FOR THOSE KIDS,
AND BE WITH THOSE KIDS.
BUT IT IS JUST CONTINUAL...
AND PRAYER THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
BUT I THINK
WHAT I HAVE GAINED SO MUCH
IN THIS PAST COUPLE OF YEARS
IS THE PEACE THAT COMES
FROM PRAYING ALL THE TIME.
WE DON'T KNOW
WHAT IS HAPPENING TOMORROW.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING
TO HAPPEN
ESPECIALLY IN A YEAR,
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN
BUT WE DO KNOW
THAT GOD IS GOING WITH US
AND THAT'S THE ONLY THING
THAT KEEPS ME GOING.
Sheila: IT'S INTERESTING;
I HAD THE PRIVILEGE
AS WELL AS DIANE'S HUSBAND
OF BEING AT
DR. BILLY GRAHAM'S FUNERAL.
SOMEONE HAD ASKED BILLY
SOME TIME AGO, "WHO IS
THE NEXT BILLY GRAHAM?"
HE SAID, "WE ALL ARE --
THE CHURCH."
I SEE THAT IN YOU GIRLS,
THAT WE ARE ALL GOING
TO RAISE UP AND BEGIN
TO ACTUALLY LIVE OUT
WHAT WE SAY WE BELIEVE.
ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVE
TO DO AND IT IS VERY MUCH
THE HEART OF ALL THESE GIRLS
IS THAT THE HEARTBEAT
OF LIFE TODAY IS THAT BECAUSE
GOD HAS TOUCHED OUR LIVES
WE WANT TO TOUCH THE LIVES
OF OTHER PEOPLE
AND OTHER CHILDREN.
SO I WANT TO SHOW YOU A STORY
THAT I BELIEVE YOU'LL WANT
TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT.
WOULD YOU WATCH THIS WITH ME?
>> WHAT YOU'RE SEEING
HERE IS A RESULT OF
THE TERRIBLE DROUGHT.
THEY HAVE NOT
SEEN ENOUGH RAINS,
THEIR CROPS HAVE FAILED
AND THIS VILLAGE
IS IN DESPERATE NEED.
THEY HAVE ABOUT TWO WEEKS
WORTH OF SUPPLIES
IF THEY'RE
LUCKY.
THIS IS JUST THE EXAMPLE OF
MANY VILLAGES IN THIS AREA.
IT REALLY BREAKS
GOD'S HEART
TO SEE THESE PEOPLE
SUFFERING LIKE THIS.
Sheila:
THIS IS MARIA.
MARIA IS A MOTHER
OF SIX CHILDREN
BUT ONLY THREE OF THEM
ARE STILL ON THIS EARTH.
YOU MIGHT BE ABLE
TO TELL ALL AROUND ME
THAT THE CROPS THIS YEAR
HAVE COMPLETELY FAILED SO
SHE'S NOT ABLE TO FEED THEM
WITH ANYTHING SHE HAS.
SHE LITERALLY HAS
TO DIG AROUND
TO SEE IF SHE CAN
FIND SOME ROOTS --
ANYTHING TO BE ABLE
TO FEED HER CHILDREN.
I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT
IT MUST BE LIKE FOR A MOM
TO HAVE TO BURY
THREE CHILDREN.
AND NOT ONLY THAT BUT TO HAVE
TO WATCH THREE CHILDREN DIE
BECAUSE OF
MALNUTRITION.
THIS IS HER BOY.
SHE ONLY HAS
ONE BOY LEFT.
HE IS
12 YEARS OLD
AND SHE SAID TO ME,
"I'M SO WORRY ABOUT HIM
BECAUSE HE IS
GETTING SO THIN
AND HE HAS A COUGH
AND I SEE THE SIGNS."
THAT'S THE
HARD THING.
SHE SAID WHEN SHE WENT TO BED
AT NIGHT HER PRAYER IS:
GOD, WILL YOU PLEASE
SHOW ME WHAT TO DO?
OR WOULD YOU SEND
SOMEBODY TO HELP ME?
I WAS ABLE TO TELL HER,
"GOD HEARD YOUR PRAYER
AND THAT'S WHY
WE'RE HERE."
THAT'S WHAT
THIS IS ALL ABOUT.
MISSION FEEDING IS ALL ABOUT
AN URGENT NEED RIGHT NOW
FOR FAMILIES WHO GO
TO SLEEP HUNGRY AT NIGHT
BUT STILL BELIEVING
IN A GOD WHO ANSWERS PRAYER.
WE CAN BE THE ANSWER
TO THAT PRAYER
FOR THIS
YOUNG MOM.
Sheila: I REALLY...
IN MY HEART, I JUST FEEL
IT IS TIME FOR US TO GET REAL
ABOUT WHY WE'RE ON THIS EARTH.
YOU AND I ARE HERE AT
THIS POINT IN HUMAN HISTORY
AND IT IS NOT AN ACCIDENT.
WE HAVE BEEN CALLED
TO BE THE HANDS AND FEET
OF JESUS CHRIST.
WE'VE BEEN CALLED
TO BE THOSE WHO REACH OUT.
WE'VE BEEN CALLED TO GO
BEYOND OUR COMFORT ZONE.
HOW CAN YOU LOOK AT CHRIST
ON THE CROSS AND THEN SETTLE
FOR A COMFORT ZONE?
EVERYTHING ABOUT HIS LIFE
HE CHOSE --
INTENTIONALLY CHOSE
A PATH OF SUFFERING
SO THAT YOU AND I COULD BE
REUNITED WITH THE FATHER.
NOW THE CONSEQUENCE OF THAT
IS THAT THEN WE SEE
EVERYBODY DIFFERENTLY.
WE'RE NOT JUST WAITING
FOR CHRIST TO COME
AND GET US OUT OF HERE
WE ARE HERE
TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
IT'S SUCH A PRIVILEGE
ON BEHALF OF YOU
TO BE ABLE TO GO
TO THESE COUNTRIES AND WE'RE
GOING TO GOING BACK SOON.
BUT WHEN YOU SEE
AND YOU GO WITH A MOM
AND YOU LITERALLY
WITH HER GET DOWN
ON YOUR HANDS AND KNEES
AND SCRAPE THROUGH
THE DRY DIRT
LOOKING FOR ANYTHING THAT
SHE COULD POSSIBLY COOK UP
THAT NIGHT FOR HER CHILDREN --
BUT THERE IS NO PROTEIN.
AND AS A MOM, TO HAVE BURIED
THREE CHILDREN, WE WENT
TO THAT MASSIVE GRAVE SIDE
WHERE ALL THE LITTLE GRAVES
ARE FILLED.
AND EVERY MOM
HAS LEFT SOME LITTLE THING.
SOME HAVE LEFT
A LITTLE PLASTIC BOTTLE,
SOME HAVE LEFT ONE LITTLE
SOMETHING TO SAY,
"MY CHILD LIVED."
AND THAT'S WHERE THEY ARE.
BUT WE WANT TO STOP THAT NOW
IN JESUS' NAME.
THE THING IS WE CAN DO IT
IF YOU WILL HELP US,
IF YOU WILL STAND WITH US.
WE'VE TRIED TO MAKE IT DOABLE
FOR EVERYONE,
WHETHER YOU'RE A TEENAGER
OR WHETHER YOU'RE RETIRED.
SO $30 WILL PROVIDE MEALS
FOR THREE CHILDREN FOR MONTHS!
-- $30 FOR THREE CHILDREN.
$50, FIVE CHILDREN.
$100, TEN CHILDREN FOR MONTHS!
OUR PRAYER AND OUR COMMITMENT
TO OUR PARTNERS
WHO ARE BOOTS ON THE GROUND
THERE IN AFRICA
DAY IN AND DAY OUT, 24/7,
IS THAT WE WILL CONTINUE
TO FEED 400,000 CHILDREN.
THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO
THIS YEAR.
AND WE CAN DO IT!
IT IS NOT DIFFICULT
IF WE WILL ALL MAKE
A COMMITMENT TO DO SOMETHING.
WHEN I GO BACK,
I WANT TO BE ABLE
TO TELL THE PEOPLE WHO WORK
FOR AND WITH US, "LISTEN,
WE WILL NEVER EVER
LET THE LINE OF CHILDREN
LINING UP FOR FOOD BE LONGER
THAN WHAT WE HAVE TO GIVE."
BUT WE CAN DO IT TOGETHER.
SO WOULD YOU GO TO YOUR PHONE?
WOULD YOU DIAL THAT NUMBER
ON YOUR SCREEN?
YOU CAN GO ONLINE.
BUT JUST IF WE ALL COMMIT
TOGETHER TO DO THE BEST
WE POSSIBLY CAN, AND MAYBE
YOU THINK, WHAT I CAN GIVE,
IT'S NOT THAT MUCH.
REMEMBER WHAT JESUS SAID
TO THE WOMAN WHO DROPPED
THAT COIN IN?
WHAT SHE GAVE WAS MORE
THAN ANYBODY THAT DAY
BECAUSE IT COST HER.
SO LET'S MAKE A DECISION
IT'S GOING TO COST US ALL
A LITTLE BIT.
WHAT A PRIVILEGE!
IN JESUS' NAME.
Announcer: IN IMPOVERISHED
AND DROUGHT-STRICKEN AREAS
OF AFRICA
CHILDREN
ARE SUFFERING.
THE NEED IS GREAT
AND WITHOUT FOOD
THEY FACE SEVERE
MALNUTRITION --
EVEN DEATH.
WITH YOUR SUPPORT
LIFE'S MISSION FEEDING
OUTREACH CAN SAVE LIVES
BY FEEDING AND CARING
FOR CHILDREN
IN THE HARDEST HIT AREAS
OF ANGOLA, MOZAMBIQUE,
AND SOUTH SUDAN.
WITH PREVIOUS
RESERVES GONE
AND MISSION FEEDING
HELPING IN AREAS WITH
SEVERE CROP FAILURE
WE URGENTLY NEED TO
REPLENISH OUR FOOD SUPPLIES
TO REACH 400,000 CHILDREN
WHO ARE COUNTING ON US.
YOUR LIFESAVING GIFT
OF $30, $50, OR $100
WILL HELP FEED AND CARE FOR THREE, FIVE OR TEN CHILDREN
FOR THREE
FULL MONTHS.
AND WITH YOUR GIFT
OF ANY AMOUNT,
WE'LL SEND YOU PROVERBS POWER:
SUCCESSFUL COMMUNICATION.
THIS POWERFUL CD SERIES,
ALONG WITH STUDY GUIDE
FEATURING
STEVEN K. SCOTT
UNVEILS THE SECRETS
TO INCREDIBLE WISDOM
FOUND ONLY IN
THE BOOK OF PROVERBS.
THIS SERIES WILL
GIVE YOU THE TOOLS
TO TRANSFORM YOUR
RELATIONSHIPS IN LIFE.
WITH YOUR GIFT
OF $100 OR MORE,
REQUEST THE COMPLETE
PROVERBS POWER LIBRARY
FEATURING FIVE
POWER-PACKED SESSIONS
THAT INCLUDE:
"THE POWER OF VISION,"
"BREAKING THROUGH MEDIOCRITY,"
AND MUCH MORE.
FINALLY, WITH YOUR GIFT
OF $1,000 OR MORE
TO HELP FEED AND CARE
FOR 100 CHILDREN,
BE SURE TO REQUEST
THE "BRIDGE OF FAITH"
FRAMED CANVAS PRINT
BY THOMAS KINKADE.
PLEASE CALL, WRITE, OR MAKE
YOUR SECURE GIFT ONLINE TODAY.
Isak: JUST LOOK AT
THIS LITTLE CHILD'S ARMS.
LOOK AT HOW
AT TWO YEARS OLD
HIS ARMS ARE HARDLY
ANY THICKER
THAN WHAT
MY THUMB IS,
A CHILD THAT
WEIGHS NOTHING --
A CHILD THAT
IS WASTING AWAY.
IF YOU LOOK
INTO HIS EYES,
THERE IS
A LIFELESSNESS THERE.
YOU SAY,
"HOW DO WE CHANGE THAT?
WHAT DO I DO?"
I'LL TELL YOU
WHAT YOU CAN DO.
YOU CAN GIVE
A GIFT RIGHT NOW
THAT IS LITERALLY
A GIFT OF LIFE.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY
EVEN THAN JUST ONE CHILD,
YOU CAN REACH OUT
AND YOU CAN GIVE THAT GIFT
TO MULTIPLE
CHILDREN,
TO CHILDREN OUT
IN THE VILLAGES WHERE
THERE ISN'T ENOUGH FOOD,
CHILDREN THAT
HAVEN'T GOTTEN
TO MALNUTRITION
CLINICS YET
BUT WILL BE HERE
VERY SOON IF WE DON'T
DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
ACT NOW BECAUSE IF WE GET
TO THEM IN THOSE VILLAGES,
IF WE MEET THEM BEFORE
THEY'RE IN THIS CONDITION,
WE KNOW
WE CAN SAVE THEM.
WE DO IT TIME AND TIME
AND TIME AGAIN.
WE CAN GUARANTEE THAT
WE SAVE THEIR LIVES.
PLEASE DO YOUR
VERY BEST TODAY
BECAUSE THAT GIFT
IS A GIFT OF LIFE.
Sheila: THANK YOU SO MUCH!
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
I'M SO GRATEFUL
YOU GIRLS CAME DOWN!
DALLAS IS BRIGHTER TODAY
BECAUSE YOU'RE HERE.
Diane: THANK YOU
FOR HAVING US.
Sheila: I LOVED
WHAT YOU SHARED.
THAT IF EVERY CHURCH
IN AMERICA
TOOK ONE FOSTER CHILD AND DID,
WHAT DID YOU CALL IT?
Lynette: WRAP AROUND CARE.
Sheila: WRAP AROUND CARE --
I LOVE THAT -- THAT
THERE WOULD BE NO PROBLEM.
WE'RE GOING TO SHOW YOU THE
WEBSITES OF ALL THESE WOMEN
AND THE AMAZING THINGS
THEY'RE DOING.
I THINK THE THING THAT I GET
FROM EVERYONE IS
WE CAN ALL DO THIS
NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE TODAY,
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US.
WHEN WE BEGIN TO PRAY
BIG THINGS CHANGE.
SO GOD BLESS YOU GIRLS!
I'M GOING TO TRY
AND TALK THEM INTO STAYING
FOR ONE MORE SHOW.
AND I'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME
ON WEDNESDAYS IN THE WORD.
GOD BLESS YOU!
♪
♪
♪
>> YOU CAN'T REALLY
LOVE SOMEONE WITHOUT
TELLING THEM THE TRUTH
AND YOU CAN'T
TELL THEM THE TRUTH
WITHOUT LOVING THEM.
Announcer:
NICK VUJICIC TOMORROW
ON
LIFE TODAY!
>> 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.