>> ONE HOT AFTERNOON
ON APRIL 6TH, 2005,
FOLLOWING THE RULES
OF ENGAGEMENT,
I FOUND MYSELF IN FRONT
OF A SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE.
NOTHING IN BETWEEN
OUR TWO VEHICLES.
I RAISED MY M4 RIFLE
UP TO MY SHOULDER
AND I FIRED TWO ROUNDS
IN FRONT OF THIS VEHICLE
AND THEN BOOM --
MY WORLD WENT BLACK.
Announcer:
HEAR THE AMAZING THINGS
GOD IS DOING
THROUGH SCOTTY
AND TIFFANY SMILEY
AND THEIR HOPE IN SPITE
OF TOTAL BLINDNESS. NEXT!
♪
James: I'VE GOT
TO STILL BE GRINNING.
I'M JAMES, THIS IS BETTY;
WELCOME TO LIFE TODAY.
I'M LAUGHING
BECAUSE I'VE BEEN ADMIRING
THIS BEAUTIFUL BLOUSE.
YOU KNOW ONE OF OUR GUESTS,
HE CAN'T SEE.
HE KEEPS TELLING BETTY
HOW PRETTY HER BLOUSE IS.
[Laughter]
LET ME SAY THIS TO YOU.
THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL COUPLE.
I JUST HAPPENED TO CATCH
PART OF THE PRAYER BREAKFAST,
THE PRESIDENTIAL
PRAYER BREAKFAST
BECAUSE I FIGURED
IF WE EVER HAD A PRESIDENT
THAT NEEDED PRAYER
WE'VE GOT ONE
THAT NEEDS PRAYER.
THEY ALL NEED PRAYER.
I'VE BEEN ABLE TO PRAY
NOT ONLY FOR HIM BUT WITH HIM.
BY THE WAY, THIS COUPLE
ENJOYED BEING AROUND HIM.
THEY SAID, "YOU KNOW WHAT?
IT IS JUST MAKES YOU HAVE
A LOVE FOR HIM
AND PRAY FOR HIM."
THAT'S WHAT WE OUGHT TO DO
FOR ALL OUR LEADERS.
BUT I SAW THEM ON THE PLATFORM
AND I SAW THEM AS THEY SHARED.
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO
DESCRIBE IT OTHER THAN TO SAY
IT IS GRACE AND GLORY --
THE GRACE AND GLORY OF GOD
ALL OVER THEM.
SCOTTY LOST HIS EYES
IN THE WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
HE IS GOING
TO TELL YOU ABOUT IT.
BUT THAT PUT A PRETTY BIG
LOAD OF PRESSURE ON SOMEBODY
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE.
HIS WIFE, TIFFANY,
IS JUST A BEAUTIFUL PERSON
THROUGH AND THROUGH.
THE BOOK THEY WROTE
AND IT IS HIS BOOK, HIS STORY
BUT IT IS THEIR STORY,
HOPE UNSEEN: THE STORY
OF A U.S. ARMY'S FIRST
BLIND ACTIVE DUTY OFFICER.
IT IS AMAZING.
HE STAYED ACTIVE DUTY.
I WANT YOU TO WELCOME
THE SMILEYS.
I WANT YOU TO WELCOME
SCOTTY AND TIFFANY
TO LIFE TODAY.
WOULD YOU DO THAT?
[Applause]
WELL, I'M GLAD TO SEE YOU.
NOW DON'T SAY
I'M GLAD TO SEE ME.
Scotty: YOU'RE VERY HANDSOME.
James: THAT'S RIGHT, BUDDY!
HIGH FIVE.
[Laughter]
TELL US WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU.
A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY
OKAY, WHAT HAPPENED?
WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU SCOTTY?
Scotty: I WAS SERVING
ON ACTIVE DUTY
IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY.
JUST GRADUATED FROM
WEST POINT, THE UNITED STATES
MILITARY ACADEMY, AND MARRIED
MY BEAUTIFUL HIGH SCHOOL
SWEETHEART TIFFANY.
AND AS SOON AS I GOT
TO MY UNIT RECEIVED ORDERS
TO DEPLOY TO MOSUL, IRAQ.
ONE HOT AFTERNOON
ON APRIL 6TH, 2005,
FOLLOWING THE RULES
OF ENGAGEMENT,
I FOUND MYSELF IN FRONT
OF A SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE;
GRAY OPAL, SINGLE MAN
IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT,
HEAD WAS BUZZED,
FACE WAS BUZZED,
SILVER SHIRT
DOWN TO HIS WRISTS,
JUST LOOKED LIKE
AN INNOCENT GUY.
BUT GIVEN THE SUSPICIOUSNESS
OF THE VEHICLE
I KNEW I HAD TO GET HIM OUT.
AND ME STANDING
IN A STRIKER VEHICLE,
I FELT WELL PROTECTED,
BULLET-PROOF JACKET ON,
BULLET-PROOF EYEGLASSES ON.
YELLED AT HIM
TO GET OUT OF HIS VEHICLE.
HE LOOKED OVER
HIS LEFT SHOULDER AT ME.
RAISED HIS HANDS
OFF THE STEERING WHEEL
AND SHOOK HIS HEAD NO.
I YELLED AT HIM AGAIN.
HE RESPONDED
IN THE SAME MANNER AND THEN
TOOK HIS FOOT OFF THE BRAKE.
NOTHING IN BETWEEN
OUR TWO VEHICLES.
I RAISED MY M4 RIFLE
UP TO MY SHOULDER
AND I FIRED TWO ROUNDS
IN FRONT OF HIS VEHICLE
AND THEN BOOM --
MY WORLD WENT BLACK.
I LATER FOUND OUT,
A WEEK LATER,
WAKING UP IN WALTER REED
ARMY MEDICAL CENTER,
BLIND THE REST OF MY LIFE,
THAT THAT MAN
WAS A SUICIDE CAR BOMB;
HAD DISINTEGRATED HIS VEHICLE,
KILLING HIMSELF
AND SENDING SHRAPNEL
THROUGH BOTH MY EYES,
PERMANENTLY BLINDING ME
THE REST OF MY LIFE.
THAT'S WHEN MY STORY
AND TRIALS REALLY BEGAN.
James: OKAY, HOW LONG
BEFORE YOU KNEW EXACTLY
WHAT HAPPENED, TIFFANY?
Tiffany: SCOTTY'S BEST FRIEND
WHO WAS SERVING WITH HIM
CALLED ME PRETTY SOON AFTER
AND LET ME KNOW
WHAT HAD HAPPENED.
HE SAID, "WE LOADED HIM
ON A BLACK HAWK
AND WE DON'T EVEN KNOW
IF HE IS GOING TO SURVIVE."
YOU JUST SIT AND YOU PRAY.
WHAT ELSE --
THESE MILITARY FAMILIES,
WHEN SOMEONE IS INJURED
OR KILLED OVERSEAS,
YOU CAN'T GET TO THEM.
SO IT'S OFTEN HARDER
FOR THEM BACK HOME.
SO I JUST BEGAN
PRAYING FOR HIM.
I ALWAYS PICTURED JESUS
JUST LIKE IN THE CORNER
OF THE ROOM WITH HIM
WHEN I WOULD PRAY FOR HIM.
James: WOW!
WHAT A GREAT VISION!
ALL RIGHT, NOW THEN,
YOU DO GET TOGETHER.
I WANT YOU TO JUST KIND OF
TAKE US THROUGH THE JOURNEY
OF WHAT HAPPENS BECAUSE
YOU DID FEEL SOME PRESSURE
THAT BECAME PRETTY GREAT.
HOW DID YOU EXPERIENCE THAT?
Scotty: AFTER THE INJURY,
WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL.
THEY REMOVED BOTH OF MY EYES.
MORE SURGERIES WERE CONDUCTED.
AND WAKING UP AT WALTER REED
ARMY MEDICAL CENTER,
BEING TOLD I'LL NEVER BE
ABLE TO SEE AGAIN REALLY
JUST -- QUESTIONED MY LIFE,
QUESTIONED MY FAITH.
I WAS RAISED AS A CHRISTIAN,
BELIEVED IN GOD,
BELIEVED IN WHAT WAS RIGHT,
WHAT WAS I SUPPOSED TO DO?
BUT FOR ME,
THE LIFE THAT I HAD CHOSEN,
THE LIFE THAT I WANTED TO LIVE
NOW SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE,
SEEMED SOMETHING
I COULD NEVER ACHIEVE.
SO I QUESTIONED MY FAITH.
ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS
CAME INTO THE ROOM
AND ASKED ME TO SAY A PRAYER.
I SAID, "NO,
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO PRAY
AND I DON'T THINK I KNOW GOD."
LITERALLY, THE ROOM
JUST WENT DEAD SILENT.
I THINK MY WIFE,
PRAYING FOR MY EYESIGHT,
PRAYING THAT THERE'S
JUST A HOPE OR A CHANCE
THAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO SEE,
SHE QUICKLY REALIZED
THAT MY FAITH WAS NOW AT
THE FOREFRONT OF HER PRAYERS.
IF SHE WAS NOW MARRIED
TO A MAN WHO NO LONGER
BELIEVED IN GOD
THAT WAS FAR MORE IMPORTANT
THAN MY EYESIGHT.
IT WASN'T JUST HER PRAYERS
BUT IT WAS THE GRACE OF GOD
AND HIS FORGIVENESS THAT
REALLY ENABLED ME TO SEE
THAT LIVING LIFE ON MY OWN,
LIVING LIFE IN
A DEEP DARK DEPRESSION,
A PLACE THAT I WAS AT
WAS ONE OF THE MOST
DIFFICULT PLACES
THAT I HAD EVER BEEN IN
AND I KNEW EVER WOULD BE.
I MADE A CHOICE
TO ASK GOD BACK INTO MY HEART,
TO BEGIN TO LIVE A LIFE OF --
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT LIFE
I WAS GOING TO LIVE
BUT I KNEW I WAS GOING
TO LIVE A LIFE OF FAITH
AND I WAS GOING TO LIVE A LIFE
WITH A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP
WITH JESUS CHRIST;
THAT I WAS GOING TO LOVE HIM
AND THAT HE WAS GOING
TO WALK WITH ME
AND TRULY BE MY GUIDE.
Betty: HOW LONG
BEFORE YOU WERE ABLE
TO ACTUALLY BE WITH HIM?
Tiffany: IT WAS ABOUT A WEEK.
YOU DON'T KNOW THE EXTENT OF
THE INJURIES BUT I REMEMBER
I WAS VERY ADAMANT THAT
I FOUND MY WAY
TO WALTER REED BEFORE
THEY WOULD AUTHORIZE ME.
SO I GOT THERE BEFORE
HE EVEN SHOWED UP.
THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO ME
TO BE THERE WHEN HE ARRIVED.
THAT'S WHEN I BEGAN --
I HAD THIS VISION FOR SCOTTY.
I JUST EVERY DAY WOULD
COME IN AND SPEAK TRUTH
AND SPEAK LIFE AND HOPE.
I WOULD TELL HIM
ALL THE THINGS
THAT HE COULD BE.
AND HE WOULD SAY,
"YOU'RE CRAZY!"
I WAS LIKE, WATCH! WATCH!
WATCH GOD WORK
IN THIS SITUATION.
PEOPLE WOULD LEAVE HIS ROOM
AND THEY WOULD SAY,
"THIS IS HOPELESS.
THIS IS AN AWFUL SITUATION."
ONE GENTLEMAN
WHO SCOTTY SERVED WITH
WAS LEAVING THE ROOM
AND HE SAID,
"HE WAS SUCH A GOOD LEADER."
AND WITHOUT HESITATION
I SAID, "HE STILL WILL BE."
AND I TRULY BELIEVED THAT
WITH ALL MY HEART.
GOD HAD GIVEN ME A VISION.
GOD GAVE ME THE STRENGTH
TO GUIDE SCOTTY
DURING THAT TIME
AND TO BE A PRAYER WARRIOR
AND TO SPEAK TRUTH
AND TO SPEAK LIFE INTO HIM
IN A TIME WHEN HE WAS
SO DESOLATE AND SO DARK.
WHEN YOU'RE IN THAT SPACE,
LIKE SCOTTY WAS SAYING IT HAS
A TENDENCY TO PULL YOU DOWN.
BUT IT WAS LIKE, IF THERE'S
A CRACK OF A LITTLE BIT OF
LIGHT I WAS FEEDING IT WITH
EVERYTHING GOD WAS GIVING ME.
IT GAVE ME THE STRENGTH
TO WALK INTO THE ROOM
WHEN THEY WERE ASKING ME TO
SIGN HIS RETIREMENT PAPERWORK
BECAUSE I HAD
POWER OF ATTORNEY.
THEY SAID, "MRS. SMILEY,
YOU NEED TO SIGN
THIS PAPERWORK.
HE IS BLIND.
WE NEED TO START
HIS MEDICAL RETIREMENT."
AND I SAID, "ABSOLUTELY NOT.
I'M NOT SIGNING IT."
I SAID, "I HAD JUST WALKED IN
AND TOLD MY HUSBAND
THAT HE WILL NEVER SEE AGAIN,
I'M NOT GOING TO WALK IN
AND TELL HIM
I JUST SIGNED PAPERWORK
FOR HIM TO BE DONE
WITH THE VERY THING
THAT GAVE HIM PURPOSE."
SO GOD GAVE ME THE STRENGTH
TO DO THAT
AND TO HAVE THAT VISION.
I WAS SHARING
WITH SOMEONE EARLIER
THAT IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL --
I WOULDN'T TRADE ANYTHING
THAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH.
I WOULDN'T TRADE IT
FOR ANYTHING
BECAUSE GOD HAS PAINTED
THIS BEAUTIFUL PICTURE
AND SHOWN ME
THAT HIS WORD IS TRUE.
AND THAT WHEN YOU BELIEVE
IN THE VISIONS AND THE GIFTS
THAT HE GIVES YOU,
THE MIRACULOUS CAN HAPPEN.
GOD DIDN'T HAVE TO SHOW ME,
SCOTTY DID BECOME A TEACHER,
HE DOES SPEAK
AND HE EVEN WROTE A BOOK.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS TELLING HIM
EVERY DAY IN
THIS HOPELESS SITUATION,
WHEN NO ONE ELSE...
Scotty: AND I SAID,
"NO, NO, NO."
James: YOU STAYED
IN THE MILITARY TOO.
Tiffany: NO ONE ELSE
BELIEVED ME.
THOUGHT I WAS BORDERLINE CRAZY
DURING THIS TIME.
BUT I WAS JUST TRUSTING
THE VISION THAT GOD
WAS GIVING ME FOR HIM
DURING THAT TIME.
TO SEE IT REVEALED
HERE ON EARTH
LIGHTENED THE BURDEN.
WE REALLY HAD TO FACE THE FACT
THAT OUR LIFE
FOREVER ON THIS EARTH
WAS COMPLETELY ALTERED.
SCOTTY WOULD NEVER SEE
THE FACES OF HIS SONS.
I WOULD NEVER SEE HIM
PLAYING IN THE PARK
OR PUSHING A STROLLER.
WE REALLY HAD
TO COME TO TERMS WITH
THIS WAS THE BURDEN
FOR THE REST OF OUR LIFE
HERE ON EARTH.
SO WHAT ARE WE
GOING TO DO WITH IT?
ARE WE GOING TO BELIEVE
THAT GOD HAS A BIGGER VISION
THAN WHAT WE CAN SEE?
BUT TO SEE THAT PORTRAYED IN
OUR LIFE IS TRULY INCREDIBLE.
James: YOU'RE REVEALING
THE GREATER GLORY OF GOD AND
AS GREAT AS YOU CAN REVEAL IT.
THIS WOMAN -- I'M GOING
TO TELL YOU SOMETHING.
IF WE HAD GENERALS LIKE THIS,
WARS WOULD BE SHORT.
I'M NOT KIDDING YOU.
HERE'S THE DEAL.
SHE IS JUST SUCH
A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION.
SHE IS A BEAUTIFUL PERSON
BUT THERE'S SOMEBODY IN HER
THAT'S SO MUCH
MORE MAGNIFICENT THAN
THE WORLD CAN COMPREHEND.
BUT SHE IS AT LEAST GIVING US
A PRETTY CLEAR GLIMPSE
OF WHAT HE IS LIKE;
AND YOU CAN'T SEE HER NOW
BUT YOU CAN FEEL THE RADIANCE
OF THE GLORY OF GOD ON HER.
AM I RIGHT ABOUT THAT, SCOTTY?
WELL, IT'S ON YOU TOO, BUDDY.
IT REALLY IS.
THERE IS A GENUINENESS.
I MEAN THIS GUY RAN
IN THE IRON MAN COMPETITION.
WHAT ALL IS INVOLVED IN THAT?
TELL US WHAT YOU DID.
YOU'RE BLIND,
YOU GOT TO SWIM,
YOU GOT TO RIDE A BIKE,
TELL US JUST A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT IT.
Scotty: SO AGAIN,
LIKE YOU SAID, I'M MARRIED
TO AN AMAZING WOMAN
WHO LETS ME HAVE A FEW
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.
[Laughter]
SO IN THE YEAR
THAT IT TOOK ME TO TRAIN,
SIX DAYS A WEEK,
ALL YEAR, 52 WEEKS,
I DID A 2.4 MILE SWIM,
112 MILE BICYCLE RIDE,
AND THEN A 26.2 MILE
LITTLE JOG.
I THINK THEY CALL IT
AN IRON MAN.
BUT I DID IT
WITH MY BROTHER-IN-LAW.
IT WAS JUST
A TRUE RACE OF LIFE.
ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT --
AT LEAST IN MY OPINION,
DIFFICULT IRON MAN'S
IN IRON MAN HISTORY,
ONE OF THE LARGEST
DID-NOT-FINISHES
IN IRON MAN HISTORY.
A TEMPERATURE OF 107 DEGREES
-- JUST ABSOLUTE MISERABLE.
BICYCLE TIRES WERE POPPING.
BUT IT WAS THAT KINSHIP
WITH MY BROTHER-IN-LAW,
THE FAMILY FRIENDS JUST
MOTIVATING US, INSPIRING US.
AND THERE WERE MULTIPLE TIMES
I WANTED TO QUIT,
I WANTED TO GIVE UP.
I COULDN'T SEE
THE FINISH LINE.
I COULDN'T SEE MY TIME
THAT I COULD STOP.
AGAIN, WHEN I WANTED TO QUIT,
MY BROTHER-IN-LAW WAS THERE,
MY WIFE WAS THERE,
MY FAMILY WAS THERE
CHEERING ME ON JUST
TO KEEP PUTTING ONE FOOT
IN FRONT OF THE OTHER.
IT WAS THAT INSPIRATION THAT
THAT LAST QUARTER OF A MILE,
IT LITERALLY FELT LIKE
I WAS RUNNING ON CLOUDS.
IT WAS SO AMAZING.
BUT IN THE END
IT IS THE RACE OF LIFE.
IT IS LIKE AS WE GO THROUGH
TRIALS, GO THROUGH STRUGGLES,
CAN'T SEE THE FINISH LINE,
CAN'T SEE AN END IN SIGHT,
CAN'T SEE HOW WE CAN GET OUT
OF THIS PROBLEM OR SITUATION,
IT'S HAVING FAITH,
IT'S HAVING THAT KNOWLEDGE
THAT GOD IS WITH YOU,
THAT YOUR FAMILY,
THE COMMUNITY IS THERE
TO SUPPORT YOU
TO GIVE YOU THAT HOPE,
TO GIVE YOU THAT FAITH
JUST TO KEEP PUTTING ONE FOOT
IN FRONT OF THE OTHER
WITH HOPE AND WITH
ANTICIPATION THAT
YOUR RACE WILL BE COMPLETE.
James: WHAT YOU CALL
YOUR MINISTRY BECAUSE
YOU'RE BOTH IN MINISTRY.
SHE'S BEEN INSPIRED
TO START A MINISTRY THAT --
WHAT DO YOU CALL IT?
Scotty: HOPE UNSEEN,
THE BOOK TITLE THAT I WROTE.
AND THEN I DO PUBLIC SPEAKING
TO CORPORATIONS, CHURCHES.
IT'S AMAZING
TO SHARE MY STORY
WITH THOSE WHO MAY NOT KNOW
WHAT IT IS LIKE
TO GO THROUGH STRUGGLES
OR GO THROUGH TRIALS
IN WHICH WE HAVE BEEN ABLE
TO GO THROUGH, TO UNDERSTAND
THAT THERE IS A GOAL,
THERE IS A FINISH LINE
BUT IT IS FIGHTING THROUGH
AND HAVING THAT HOPE
AND HAVING THAT FAITH
THAT WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE
TO CONTINUE TO BELIEVE IN
AND CONTINUE TO HAVE
A LARGER STRENGTH.
James: FRANKLIN GRAHAM HAS
BEEN A REAL FRIEND OF YOURS
AND YOU SAID BILLY
WAS KIND TO YOU
BEFORE HE WENT TO HEAVEN.
I WAS AT THE FUNERAL.
BUT BILLY WAS KIND TO ME TOO.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR MINISTRY,
WHAT YOU'RE DOING RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'RE
DOING THINGS TOGETHER.
I WANT YOU TO BE ABLE TO SEE
-- WHAT GOD PUT ON YOUR HEART,
I WANT TO KNOW THE WEBSITE,
HOW THEY CAN FIND OUT WHERE
YOU ARE GOING TO BE SPEAKING,
WHERE Y'ALL ARE
GOING TO BE SHARING.
Tiffany: SO LIFE
IS INTERESTING
AND HOW GOD BRINGS US THROUGH
DIFFERENT TRIALS TO REVEAL
SOMETHING ON THE OTHER SIDE
IS TRULY INCREDIBLE.
SO PART OF MY JOURNEY IS
AS A WOMAN I STOOD IN THAT GAP
FOR SCOTTY AS HIS WIFE AND
SPOKE TRUTH AND LIFE INTO HIM
BUT SOMETHING THAT I NEVER DID
WAS I NEVER GRIEVED.
SO MY GRIEF DIDN'T HAPPEN
UNTIL YEARS LATER
WHEN I HAD TO WALK THROUGH IT
AND SCOTTY SPOKE TRUTH
AND LIFE INTO MY LIFE.
IT WAS A DIFFICULT TIME.
I HAD THREE LITTLE KIDS.
I FELT JUDGED
ON A LOT OF ANGLES.
PEOPLE DIDN'T
REALLY UNDERSTAND,
WHY SHE IS SHE GRIEVING?
SCOTTY IS WELL AGAIN.
BUT GOD HAS A WAY OF JUST
DRIVING US TO THOSE POINTS
SO HE CAN RAISE US BACK UP.
I SORT OF CALL IT MY REBIRTH.
BUT I WENT THROUGH
THE GRIEVING PROCESS
THAT I LOST SOMETHING
HERE TOO.
THE VISION THAT I HAD
FOR SCOTTY WAS ALSO A VISION
THAT GOD HAS FOR ME,
FOR ALL OF US AS WOMEN.
SO I WAS INSPIRED
TO START STORY BY FAITH
TO ENCOURAGE WOMEN
TO SHARE THEIR STORIES;
TO COME TOGETHER,
THAT WE NEED EACH OTHER.
GOD GAVE US
EACH OTHER AS WOMEN,
NOT TO JUDGE OR DRIVE WEDGES
IN-BETWEEN EACH OTHER
BUT TOGETHER
WE CAN DO GREAT THINGS.
SO I STARTED
STORY BY FAITH WHICH IS
A ONE DAY WOMEN'S CONFERENCE,
BRINGING WOMEN TOGETHER
FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE TO USE
THEIR GOD-GIVEN TALENTS
AND STORIES TO MAKE AN IMPACT
IN THEIR COMMUNITIES,
THEIR FAMILIES AND BEYOND.
I'VE HAD A COUPLE OF EVENTS
AND THEY ARE TRULY
AWE INSPIRING.
I THINK I GET MORE OUT OF THEM
THAN THE PEOPLE WHO COME.
BUT IT IS AN INCREDIBLE
MOMENT IN TIME BECAUSE
WOMEN HAVE A POWERFUL VOICE
AND A POWERFUL INFLUENCE
AND GOD WANTS TO USE US
TO BE A LIGHT TO THIS WORLD.
SO MY NEXT EVENT IS IN
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA
ON SATURDAY, JUNE 23RD.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO
MEETING ALL THE WOMEN THERE
AND CONTINUING TO SHARE
THE LIGHT AND THE HOPE
WE ALL HAVE
TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
James: WEBSITE
IF THEY WANT TO KNOW EVENTS
BUT ALSO IF THEY WANT
TO COMMUNICATE AND SAY,
"WOULD YOU COME AND DO
A ONE DAY EVENT IN OUR AREA?"
WHAT WEBSITE?
Tiffany: TIFFANYSMILEY.COM.
James: AND NOW THEN
WHAT ALL YOU DO TOGETHER,
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
THE HOPE UNSEEN.
IS THAT A SEPARATE WEBSITE?
Tiffany: YES.
James: SO IF THEY WANTED YOU
TO COME AS A COUPLE BECAUSE
YOU DO SPEAK TO CORPORATIONS,
YOU SPEAK IN VARIOUS FUNCTIONS
BUT THAT WOULD BE
WHERE THEY WOULD GO
TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOU,
BOTH EXPRESSIONS, LET'S SAY,
OF HOW MUCH
YOU'VE BLESSED THEM
AND ALSO APPRECIATION
BUT ALSO TO FIND OUT
WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO BE
OR HOW THEY MIGHT GET YOU
TO COME AND BE IN THEIR AREA.
Scotty: OR HOPEUNSEEN.COM.
James: THAT'S GREAT.
THE BOOK IS IN THE BOOKSTORES.
YOU CAN GET IT ONLINE.
I'LL JUST TELL YOU THIS TODAY.
WE ARE GOING TO HELP
FEED HUNGRY CHILDREN
AND SAVE THEIR LIVES
AND SHOW THEM THAT THEY CAN
MAKE A LIFE AND A FUTURE.
WE HAVE GIFTS TO HELP YOU
AND WE ALWAYS OFFER THEM.
WE DON'T GIVE GIFTS
TO GET GIFTS.
WE GIVE GIFTS TO GIVE GIFTS
BECAUSE WE LOVE YOU.
YOU'RE GIVING TO GIVE LIFE.
WELL, IF YOU'D LIKE
TO HAVE THE BOOK THOUGH
AND YOU JUST HELP US
FEED SOME CHILDREN,
WE'LL BE GLAD
TO SEND IT TO YOU.
IF YOU HAD A MESSAGE
THAT YOU WANTED ALL COUPLES,
ALL PEOPLE,
LET'S SAY ALL CHRISTIANS
BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE
IF WE DRESSED UP
IN THE GLORY THAT'S ON YOU,
I THINK THE CHURCH WOULD
LOOK MORE LIKE THE LORD
AND I THINK JESUS
WOULD BE LIFTED UP.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY
TO THE CHURCH TODAY
THAT YOUR DESIRE IS
FOR THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY?
WHAT DO YOU PRAY FOR THEM?
WHAT DO YOU HOPE FOR THEM AND
LONG FOR THEM TO EITHER SEE,
REALIZE OR BECOME?
Tiffany: I LONG
FOR THERE TO BE LOVE.
THAT WE COME TOGETHER...
LIKE SCOTTY AND I TALK A LOT
ABOUT JUST JESUS' JOURNEY
AND HOW INCREDIBLE IT WAS.
THAT WE WOULD BE WILLING
TO LISTEN TO WHAT GOD
IS TELLING US TODAY;
THAT WE COULD PICK UP
AND PACK UP
AND GO WHERE HE SAYS
AND DO WHAT HE SAYS,
TO LISTEN TO HIM WITH LOVE
AND LISTEN TO EACH OTHER
WITH COMPASSION.
THAT WOULD BE MY MESSAGE.
James: IT'S LOVE
THAT NEVER FAILS.
EVEN WITH YOUR CHALLENGES,
IF THERE HADN'T BEEN REAL
LOVE HERE, TO WHERE THE LOVE
OF GOD ACTUALLY BEGAN TO BE
EXPRESSED THROUGH THE LOVE
THAT WAS THERE,
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TOUGH
FOR YOU AND YOU'VE SAID THAT.
WHAT DO YOU WANT
PEOPLE TO HEAR?
Scotty: AS GOD TELLS US
TO BE LIKE CHRIST,
THAT GOD LOVED THE WORLD
THAT HE SENT
HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON,
JESUS CHRIST
TO FORGIVE US OF OUR SINS
AND TO CLEAN US
FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS
IS TO DO THAT,
IS TO LOVE EACH OTHER,
TO ACCEPT EACH OTHER
AND TO BE AN EXAMPLE
TO THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW HIM.
GOD CAME FOR THE LOST,
NOT FOR THE FOUND.
AND JUST TO BE AN EXAMPLE
TO THE MEN AND WOMEN
THAT DON'T KNOW GOD;
AND TO KNOW AND TO SHARE
THAT GOD HAS FAITH
AND THAT THERE IS HOPE.
AND THROUGH WORK
AND THROUGH THAT SPIRIT
GOD WILL CONTINUE TO USE
ALL OF US
TO MAKE THIS WORLD
AN AMAZING AND LOVING PLACE.
James: YOU KNOW WHAT
I WANT TO SAY IN YOUR BEHALF?
FIRST OF ALL,
TO GOD BE THE GLORY
FOR THE GLORY AND GRACE
THAT'S ON YOU.
WOULD YOU SAY THANKS
TO TIFFANY AND TO SCOTTY?
AND TO THE LORD.
BETTY, THE WAY YOU GET
LOVE FLOWING IS SHARE IT.
YOU'RE SMILING BECAUSE
YOU KNOW WE HAVE SEEN
HEARTBREAKING THINGS
THAT ONLY LOVE CAN HEAL.
HERE'S WHAT
I WANT YOU TO WATCH.
WATCH FOR AN OPPORTUNITY
RIGHT NOW TO RELEASE
THE LOVE OF GOD THAT'S IN YOU,
WAITING TO BE FREELY RELEASED
AND IT NEVER FAILS. WATCH.
Sheila: I KNOW WHEN
I'VE SEEN PICTURES OF MALNOURISHED CHILDREN --
SEVERELY MALNOURISHED
CHILDREN BEFORE,
I THOUGHT
IT IS TOO LATE,
THERE IS NOTHING
I CAN DO.
BUT WHAT I DISCOVERED
WHILE I WAS HERE
IS THAT WITH
THE FIRST BOWL OF FOOD
YOU REVERSE
THE PROCESS.
THE MINUTE NUTRITION BEGINS
TO ENTER THE BODY OF A CHILD
IT IS AS IF DEATH
TURNS A CORNER
AND LIFE
MARCHES IN.
IT IS AMAZING
WHAT EVERY SINGLE
ONE OF US CAN DO!
SO YOU MIGHT LOOK AT
THESE PICTURES AND THINK
LIKE I DID,
THIS IS OVERWHELMING.
IT MIGHT SEEM
THAT WAY
BUT THAT'S JUST
A LIE OF THE ENEMY.
THIS IS FIXABLE.
WE CAN DO THIS.
WE CAN TURN
FROM DEATH TO LIFE
IN A MOMENT.
James: THOSE LITTLE
STICK FIGURES THAT YOU SAW
ALMOST LOOK LIKE THEY WOULD
BE TOO FRAIL TO PICK UP.
YOU WONDER IF THEY'RE
JUST GOING TO TOPPLE OVER.
YOU KNOW WHAT JESUS WOULD DO?
HE WOULD PICK THEM UP.
HE WOULD LOVE THEM.
YOU SAY, "HE CAN MIRACULOUSLY
RESTORE THEM TOO, COULDN'T HE?
YEAH.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT HE SAID?
HE SAID WHEN YOU SEE
THE LEAST OF THESE,
THE OVERLOOKED,
THE TOO OFTEN FORGOTTEN,
THE HUNGRY, THE NAKED,
THE SUFFERING, AND YOU
TOUCH THEM WITH LOVE AND
YOU PICK THEM UP WITH LOVE,
THAT'S WHAT PICKS THEM UP --
THAT'S HOW JESUS
PICKS THEM UP TODAY.
THE MISSIONARIES ARE THERE
AND THEY FOUND THEM
AND THEY FOUND THE NEED.
AND BY THE WAY,
ALTHOUGH THAT'S NOT PART
OF THE FEEDING PROGRAM,
IT IS PART OF WHAT
THE MONEY RAISED FOR
THE FEEDING PROGRAM DOES,
IT ESTABLISHES
THOSE MALNUTRITION CLINICS.
BUT WE WANT TO STOP IT
BEFORE THEY GET TO THE PLACE
THAT NOW WE KNOW UNLESS
SOMETHING HAPPENS RIGHT NOW
THEY WILL BE DEAD
IN A MATTER OF HOURS OR DAYS.
SO IN THE FEEDING CENTERS
WHERE 400,000 CHILDREN ARE,
THAT'S WHERE WE FEED THEM
BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE
THEY'RE HEADED.
AND UNLESS THE FEEDING
IS INITIATED AND CONTINUED
THAT'S WHERE THEY END UP --
AND THEN IN THOSE GRAVES
THAT WE'VE SEEN TOO OFTEN.
SO WE CAN TURN IT AROUND.
HOW DO WE TURN IT AROUND?
Betty: WITH LOVE FIRST OF ALL
-- A LOVE AND A CARING
IN OUR HEARTS.
YOU KNOW YOU HEAR THE HEARTS
OF THOSE MOTHERS.
THEY WOULD DO ANYTHING
TO HELP THEIR BABIES.
THEY HAVE DONE EVERYTHING
THAT'S AVAILABLE TO THEM.
THERE'S NOTHING LEFT.
THERE IS NO SOURCE
FOR THEM TO GO TO, JAMES,
FOR THE FOOD
TO FEED THEIR BABIES.
THEY KNOW THE FOOD
COULD SAVE THEIR LIVES
BUT WE NEED TO HELP THEM.
WE NEED TO GIVE THEM HOPE.
THOSE MOTHERS ARE BEGGING
FOR HELP FOR THEIR CHILDREN
JUST AS WE WOULD DO
IF OUR CHILDREN WERE HUNGRY
AND WE HAD NOTHING
TO GIVE THEM.
SO PLEASE JOIN WITH US.
LET'S FEED
THESE PRECIOUS LITTLE ONES
THAT NEED A CHANCE AT LIFE
THAT THEIR MOTHERS LOVE
SO MUCH.
James: WE HAVE THE HOPE.
WE HAVE THE ANSWER
TO THAT HOPE.
IN MANY WAYS WE'RE THE HOPE
-- LOVE IS THE HOPE.
IT IS WHAT NEVER FAILS.
HERE'S WHAT I WANT
TO ASK YOU TO DO BECAUSE
THIS IS NO EXAGGERATION.
FOR $30, $50, OR $100
WE CAN FEED THREE,
FIVE OR TEN CHILDREN
FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS.
YES, WE CAN.
IS THERE ANY WAY YOU CAN FEED
-- WOULD THERE BE ANY WAY
YOU COULD FEED TEN CHILDREN?
YOU SAY, "WHAT IS THAT?
HOW MUCH?" $100.
YOU CAN SPEND THAT WITH
YOUR FAMILY ON A NICE MEAL.
COULD YOU GIVE $50 OR $30
AND FEED THREE OR FIVE?
WHATEVER YOU CAN DO,
YOU'RE GIVING LIFE.
REMEMBER THIS.
THERE ARE SOME OF YOU
THAT ARE BLESSED IN SUCH A WAY
THAT YOU CAN SAY,
"JAMES, I CAN GIVE MORE."
$1,000 WILL FEED
A HUNDRED KIDS --
A HUNDRED OF THEM!
WOULD YOU RIGHT NOW GO ONLINE
OR DIAL THAT NUMBER
THAT'S A PRAYER LINE
FOR BROKEN HEARTS
AND HEAVY HEARTS,
ALWAYS TO CALL,
IT'S PAID FOR BY LOVE.
BUT WOULD YOU RIGHT NOW
DIAL THE NUMBER OR GO ONLINE
AND TAKE YOUR BANKCARD,
MAKE THE GIFT
GOD PUTS ON YOUR HEART?
PLEASE DO IT.
YOU'RE THE MIRACLE
WAITING TO HAPPEN.
THIS IS WHAT LOVE DOES.
PLEASE DO IT NOW.
GO GET THE BANKCARD,
MAKE THE GIFT.
IF YOU WANT TO WRITE A CHECK
JUST MAKE IT TO LIFE
BUT CALL US AND TELL US
YOU'RE PUTTING IT IN THE MAIL.
WE NEED TO KNOW THAT.
THANK YOU FOR DOING IT.
WE'LL BLESS YOU
WITH SOME GIFTS THAT WILL BE
A TREMENDOUS BLESSING TO YOU.
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.
James: I WANT TO JUST SAY
THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR YOUR HELP.
YOU'RE GOING TO BE BLESSED
BY PROVERBS POWER,
THAT'S WISDOM.
THIS COUPLE IS A BLESSING.
THEY'VE GOT THE GLORY OF GOD
ALL OVER THEM.
THIS IS A TREMENDOUS BOOK,
TREMENDOUS STORY.
YOU HELP US GIVE
THOSE KIDS SOME FOOD
AND TAKE CARE OF THEM AND
YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE THIS BOOK,
JUST ASK FOR IT.
WE'LL SEND IT TO YOU.
WOULD YOU JOIN ME AND BETTY
SAYING THANKS TO TIFFANY
AND TO SCOTTY?
WHAT A BLESSING YOU ARE.
THANKS FOR COMING ALL
THE WAY HERE TO BE WITH US.
Tiffany: IT'S AN HONOR!
IT WAS FUN.
James: THANK ALL OF YOU
FOR BEING WITH US.
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING
LIFE TODAY.
THANKS FOR SHARING.
THANK YOU.
♪
♪
Announcer:
THE 2016 HARVEST AMERICA
WAS DEEMED
THE LARGEST ONE NIGHT
EVANGELISTIC OUTREACH
IN AMERICAN
HISTORY.
GREG LAURIE BELIEVES
WE CAN DO IT AGAIN.
>> 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.