Sheila: I KNOW IT'S EASY
TO MAKE GREAT FAITH STATEMENTS
WHEN WE COME TO THE END
OF THE STRUGGLE
OR TO THE END
OF THE TRIAL,
BUT HERE'S WHAT
I WANT YOU TO KNOW
AND I GIVE YOU
MY WORD.
I HAD HIS PEACE
IN THE NOT KNOWING,
WHEN I DIDN'T KNOW.
AS I'M BEING WHEELED
INTO SURGERY THAT MORNING --
AND I DON'T KNOW --
I EXPERIENCED
THE PEACE OF CHRIST.
Announcer: SHEILA WALSH
HELPS US UNDERSTAND
THAT IT'S OKAY
NOT TO BE OKAY.
♪
Sheila: HI! I'M SHEILA WALSH.
WELCOME TO LIFE TODAY.
SO I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.
HOW ARE YOU?
LIKE HOW DO YOU NORMALLY
RESPOND TO THAT QUESTION?
MAYBE YOU'RE DRIVING TO CHURCH
ON A SUNDAY MORNING
AND YOU JUST HAVE
THIS HORRIBLE ARGUMENT
WITH YOUR HUSBAND OR YOUR WIFE
OR YOUR CHILDREN,
AND YOU WALK THROUGH
THOSE DOORS AND THERE'S
SOMEBODY THERE TO GREET YOU
AND THEY ASK YOU,
"HOW ARE YOU?"
AND SO OFTEN
WE DON'T TELL THE TRUTH.
WE SAY WHAT WE THINK
PEOPLE EXPECT.
WE KNOW THAT SOMETIMES
IT JUST A KIND OF
POLITE THING PEOPLE SAY AND
THEY EXPECT YOU TO MOVE ON.
BUT I WONDER IF RIGHT NOW,
IF CHRIST HIMSELF
WAS SITTING, LOOKING AT YOU,
SEEING YOU AND ASKING YOU
THIS QUESTION, HOW ARE YOU?
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?
ONE OF THE REASONS
THAT I WROTE THIS NEW BOOK,
IT'S OKAY NOT TO BE OKAY
WAS THAT I GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE
WRITING ME FOR SAYING,
"THANK YOU FOR SHARING
YOUR STRUGGLE WITH DEPRESSION.
THANK YOU FOR TALKING ABOUT
THE DARKER SIDE OF THINGS
YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH.
IT MADE ME FEEL LESS ALONE."
BUT THEN THE QUESTION
THAT KEPT COMING WAS,
"WHAT NOW? WHAT DO I DO NOW?
I FEEL STUCK."
SO THAT REALLY WAS KIND
OF WHAT WAS BEHIND TWO YEARS
OF LOOKING AT MY OWN LIFE
AND LOOKING BACK THROUGH
MY ENTRIES IN MY JOURNALS,
LOOKING AT THE THINGS
I'D WRITTEN IN MY BIBLE
OF HOW GOD HAD,
BY HIS HOLY SPIRIT,
WALKED ME THROUGH PLACES
WHERE I FELT LIKE I WAS STUCK.
I WANTED TO PROVIDE SOMETHING
THAT WOULD GIVE YOU LIKE
EIGHT SIMPLE STEPS
FOR MOVING FORWARD.
I WANTED SEVERAL THINGS.
I SPENT A LOT OF TIME
ASKING THE HOLY SPIRIT
WHAT I SHOULD DO
BECAUSE I DON'T TAKE IT
FOR GRANTED WHEN YOU CHOOSE
TO GET A BOOK OF MINE,
I DON'T TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED.
THAT'S A HUGE PRIVILEGE.
SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE
IT WAS DAILY, IT WAS DOABLE,
AND THAT RATHER THAN ME
SITTING ON A TV SCREEN
OR ON A PLATFORM
THAT IT WOULD BE ME
HOLDING OUT MY HAND
AND SAYING, "COME ON!
WE CAN DO THIS TOGETHER.
IT'S OKAY NOT TO BE OKAY
BECAUSE JESUS
HAS MADE US ALL RIGHT."
HOW WOULD THAT
SHIFT YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW
IF YOU UNDERSTOOD THAT?
THAT AS YOU ARE AT THIS MOMENT
WITH THE THINGS
YOU DON'T LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF,
THAT GOD LOOKS DOWN ON YOU
AND SAYS,
"HE'S MINE -- SHE'S MINE!"
WE HAD THE PRIVILEGE
A LITTLE WHILE AGO
TO INVITE A BUNCH OF PEOPLE
WHO HAVE BEEN VERY FAITHFUL
SUPPORTERS OF THE MINISTRY
HERE AT LIFE FOR SOME TIME.
WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE
KIND OF FUN TO HAVE THEM
COME INTO THE STUDIO
AND ME TO DO SOMETHING
A LITTLE DIFFERENT
BUT TO ACTUALLY TEACH
THE EIGHT STEPS AND KIND OF
WALK AN AUDIENCE THROUGH.
SO I WANT TO SHARE THAT
WITH YOU.
SO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.
Sheila: I THINK THE NEXT STEP
IS ADMIT WHERE YOU'RE STUCK
AND STRUGGLING --
ADMIT WHERE YOU'RE STUCK
AND STRUGGLING.
I READ A GREAT QUOTE
BY SHAUNA NIEQUIST
THAT I LOVE.
HERE'S WHAT SHE SAID,
"WHEN THINGS FALL APART
THE BROKEN PIECES ALLOW
ALL SORTS OF THINGS TO ENTER,
AND ONE OF THEM
IS THE PRESENCE OF GOD."
IT DOESN'T ALWAYS
FEEL THAT WAY, DOES IT?
TRAFFIC IS BAD IN MOST CITIES
AT FIVE O'CLOCK, AND DALLAS,
CERTAINLY, IS NO EXCEPTION.
I JUST LEFT HERE ONE DAY,
LEFT LIFE TODAY STUDIOS, AND
I WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT
MENTALLY GOING THROUGH
EVERYTHING I NEEDED TO DO.
CHRISTIAN AT THAT POINT
WAS A JUNIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL
AND HE'D JUST HIT
ANOTHER GROWTH SPURT
SO HE NEEDED NEW LONG PANTS.
I NEEDED TO GET MY NAILS DONE
BECAUSE I WAS SPEAKING
SOMEWHERE THAT WEEKEND,
WHICH REMINDED ME I NEEDED
TO PICK UP MY DRY CLEANING
FOR THAT WEEKEND.
AND THEN I LOOKED
AT THE GAS TANK
AND I HAD NO GAS.
I REMEMBER THINKING,
I'LL DO IT ALL TOMORROW!
MY TOMORROW LIST
WAS GETTING VERY LONG.
SO I GOT HOME AND
I WAS UNPACKING SOME THINGS
AND I TURNED TO GET SOMETHING
OUT OF THE FREEZER
AND IN THAT MOMENT
I FELT AS IF SOMEBODY
HAD STABBED ME IN THE BACK.
I STOPPED FOR A BIT
AND HELD ON
AND THEN IT SEEMED TO EASE.
SO I THOUGHT, I MUST HAVE
PINCHED A NERVE OR SOMETHING
BUT IT SEEMED TO BE OKAY
SO I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT.
I WAS FINE FOR A FEW DAYS
AND THEN ONE MORNING
AS I WAS GETTING OUT
OF THE CAR
IT WAS AS IF MY BACK LOCKED
AND I COULDN'T MOVE.
I COULDN'T GET OUT OF THE CAR
AND I JUST DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT TO DO.
SO I SAT THERE FOR A WHILE
AND I JUST ASKED THE LORD
TO HELP ME.
THE PAIN EVENTUALLY MOVED
BUT IT WAS GETTING WORSE
AND WORSE.
I WAS HAVING IT
EVERY SINGLE DAY;
PAIN SHOOTING DOWN MY LEGS.
THIS WAS ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO.
WHEN IT CAME TO THE STAGE
THAT I WAS HAVING TROUBLE
ACTUALLY WALKING,
BARRY, MY HUSBAND, SAID,
"BABE, YOU NEED TO GO
AND SEE A DOCTOR."
WELL, MY DOCTOR REFERRED ME
TO A NEUROSURGEON.
SO OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS
I HAD ALL THE STUFF;
I HAD X-RAYS, I HAD AN M.R.I.
THEN THE DOCTOR ORDERED
A CAT SCAN WITH COLORED DYE
INJECTED INTO THE SPINE.
WHEN HE HAD ALL THE RESULTS
HE CALLED US BACK AND HE SAID,
"YEAH, I'M REALLY SORRY HERE
BUT YOU'VE GOT TWO DISKS
THAT ARE ALMOST GONE
AND THE NERVES ARE BEING
PINCHED BETWEEN BONE."
HE WAS SUGGESTING THAT
I WOULD HAVE BACK SURGERY.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU
BUT I'VE HEARD ALL SORTS
OF HORROR STORIES
ABOUT BACK SURGERY.
A COUPLE OF FRIENDS OF OURS
HAD GONE THROUGH
BACK SURGERIES
AND INSTEAD OF THEM
BEING MORE MOBILE
THEY'D ACTUALLY ENDED UP
MUCH, MUCH WORSE.
SO I SAID TO HIM,
"IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE
WE COULD TRY FIRST?"
HE SAID, "WELL, I CAN SEND YOU
TO A PAIN SPECIALIST
AND WE COULD TRY
CORTISONE SHOTS."
BUT IT DID NOTHING.
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
THE THING THAT WAS
OVERWHELMING TO ME WAS
I WAS IN A PLACE IN LIFE
WHERE IT SEEMED LIKE
LOTS OF THINGS WERE LINING UP.
I HAD SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES
TO GO AND SPEAK.
I WAS JUST SO EXCITED
AT THE PATH THAT GOD
HAD SPREAD OUT BEFORE ME
AND IT FELT SUDDENLY LIKE
A DOOR SLAMMED IN MY FACE
AND I WAS LEFT IN THE HALLWAY.
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN THERE?
IT'S JUST EVERYTHING
IS GOING ALONG WELL
AND THINGS ARE PROGRESSING
THE WAY YOU HOPED AND
SUDDENLY, OUT OF NOWHERE
A DOOR IS SLAMMED IN YOUR FACE
AND YOU'RE LEFT
IN THE HALLWAY.
I SAW THAT
IN ONE OF MY DEAREST FRIENDS
NOT SO LONG AGO.
SHE HAS ALWAYS STRUGGLED
WITH HER IMAGE
AND SHE IS BEAUTIFUL.
I THINK SHE IS JUST AMAZING
BUT SHE DOESN'T SEE HERSELF
THAT WAY.
THEN SHE MET MR. RIGHT
AND THEY BEGAN DATING
FOR A WHILE.
IT WAS SO INTERESTING,
THE MINUTE HE PLACED
THAT RING ON HER FINGER
IT WAS AS IF IT CHANGED
HOW SHE SAW HERSELF.
IT KIND OF ERASED
ALL THE MESSAGES
SHE'D HAD FOR YEARS.
BUT THEN HE BROKE IT OFF.
I WATCHED MY BEAUTIFUL FRIEND
WITHER LIKE A FLOWER
THAT HAD BEEN
TAKEN OUT OF THE WATER.
EVERYTHING SHE HAD STARTED
TO BELIEVE ABOUT HERSELF
WAS GONE.
MAYBE YOU'VE LONGED
TO BE A MOM.
I HAD A REALLY SAD LETTER
DELIVERED TO ME HERE
THE OTHER DAY
AND IT WAS A YOUNG WOMAN.
SHE DIDN'T GIVE ME HER NAME
AND ADDRESS
AND I THINK IT IS BECAUSE
SHE WANTED TO SAY
WHAT SHE REALLY THOUGHT
RATHER THAN WHAT SHE THOUGHT
WAS THE RIGHT THING TO SAY.
SHE SAID, "I'VE TRIED
FOR SO MANY YEARS,
MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE TRIED
TO GET PREGNANT AND COULDN'T.
THEN SUDDENLY
WE DISCOVERED THE AMAZING NEWS
THAT WE WERE PREGNANT."
AND SHE SAID,
"WE GOT THROUGH MY PREGNANCY
AND EVERYTHING WAS GREAT,
AND THE BABY LIVED
FOR SIX WEEKS."
I ACTUALLY FOUND MYSELF ON
MY KNEES READING HER LETTER.
YOU COULD HEAR THE PAIN
ETCHED INTO EVERY WORD
BECAUSE HER THEME WAS,
"WHY? WHY WOULD GOD DO THAT?
WHY WOULD GOD ALLOW ME
TO GET PREGNANT ONLY TO SNATCH
THAT LITTLE ONE AWAY?"
THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS
YOU MAY HAVE FACED,
MAYBE YOU'RE FACING THEM
RIGHT NOW:
THE END OF A FRIENDSHIP
THAT YOU REALLY VALUED,
THE LOSS OF A JOB,
MAYBE A DIVORCE
THAT YOU DIDN'T SEE COMING,
OR MAYBE, ONE OF
THE HARDEST THINGS OF ALL,
A CHILD KIND OF CUTTING YOU
OUT OF THEIR LIFE,
DEVASTATING HEALTH ISSUES
THAT JUST SHOWED UP
OUT OF NOWHERE.
ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS
ABOUT THOSE TIMES
IS WHEN IT IS AS IF
A DOOR SLAMMED IN OUR FACE
IS WHEN WE FEEL ALONE.
IF YOU HAVE LOVED ONES AROUND,
THEY CAN EMPATHIZE FOR A WHILE
BUT PEOPLE GO ON
WITH THEIR LIVES
AND YOU'RE LEFT
WITH THE REALITY
OF WHAT'S NO LONGER WORKING.
SO LET ME FINISH
MY BACK STORY AS
I'M OBVIOUSLY STILL WALKING.
IN THE WEEKS THAT FOLLOWED
THE CORTISONE SHOTS
NOT WORKING,
I FOUND MYSELF REALLY
POURING MY HEART --
I REALLY LEARNED THAT GOD
IS BIG ENOUGH TO HANDLE
WHAT I REALLY FEEL.
I DON'T EDIT MYSELF WITH GOD,
I JUST POUR MY HEART OUT.
I HAD SO MANY QUESTIONS.
WHAT IF I LOSE
THE ABILITY TO WALK?
WHAT IF I'LL NEVER
BE PAIN FREE AGAIN?
WHAT IF MY LIFE
THAT USED TO LOOK LIKE
A WIDE OPEN DOOR
IS NOW GOING TO BE CONFINED
TO THE FOUR WALLS
OF MY OWN HOME?
SO I BROUGHT EVERY REAL
GUT LEVEL HONEST QUESTION
TO THE LORD.
THE ANSWER WAS THE SAME
EVERY TIME,
"I'LL BE THERE.
I'LL BE THERE.
I'LL BE THERE."
I REMEMBER IT WAS STILL DARK
WHEN BARRY AND I ARRIVED
AT THE HOSPITAL THAT MORNING.
YOU KNOW HOW IT IS.
THEY TAKE YOU BACK
AND YOU GET INTO YOUR GOWN.
YOU GET YOUR I.V. ALL SET UP.
BARRY WAS RIGHT BESIDE ME.
BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU,
CHRIST'S PRESENCE
WAS SO PALPABLE I FELT
AS IF I COULD TAKE HIS HAND.
I KNOW IT SOUNDS EASY
TO SAY THAT NOW
BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY
MY SURGERY WAS SUCCESSFUL.
AND I KNOW IT IS EASY TO MAKE
GREAT FAITH STATEMENTS
WHEN WE COME TO THE END
OF THE STRUGGLE
OR THE END OF THE TRIAL
BUT HERE'S WHAT
I WANT YOU TO KNOW
AND I GIVE YOU MY WORD,
I HAD HIS PEACE
IN THE NOT KNOWING --
WHEN I DIDN'T KNOW.
AS I'M BEING WHEELED
INTO SURGERY THAT MORNING --
AND I DON'T KNOW --
I EXPERIENCED
THE PEACE OF CHRIST
IN THE NOT KNOWING.
NOW THE OUTCOME FOR YOU
MAY HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT.
MAYBE YOU'VE GONE THROUGH
SOMETHING AND YOU'RE LIKE,
"WELL, I'M HAPPY FOR YOU
BUT THAT'S NOT THE WAY
THINGS WORKED FOR ME."
AGAIN,
I LOOK TO THE APOSTLE PAUL.
HERE'S WHAT HE SAID
IN SECOND CORINTHIANS 4:17-18:
SO HOW CAN WE CALL WHAT
YOU'RE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW
"LIGHT AND MOMENTARY"?
TWO WAYS:
WE LOOK AROUND AND WE LOOK UP.
I BELIEVE
THAT GOD REDEEMS
EVERY DROP OF OUR SUFFERING.
I BELIEVE THAT IN GOD
NOTHING IS WASTED.
I BELIEVE THAT IT IS
A BEAUTIFUL THING
THAT GOD CAN DO
WITH A BROKEN LIFE IF YOU
GIVE HIM ALL THE PIECES.
SOME OF YOU
HAVE BEEN THROUGH THINGS
I'VE NEVER BEEN.
I CAN'T HELP SOMEONE
WHO HAS LOST A CHILD.
I'VE NOT BEEN THERE
BUT IF YOU HAVE,
YOU CAN SPEAK WORDS OF COMFORT
AND PEACE THAT I CAN'T.
IF YOU LOST A JOB
AND IT WAS YOUR LIVELIHOOD,
I CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT.
IF YOU'VE BEEN THERE,
AND YOU SEE SOMEBODY ELSE
WHO IS STRUGGLING,
YOU CAN SPEAK TO THAT.
IF A SPOUSE
HAS WALKED OUT ON YOU
AND YOU THOUGHT,
WHAT ON EARTH
AM I GOING TO DO?
HOW AM I GOING TO GET
THROUGH THIS?
I CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT,
BUT HAVE YOU BEEN
THROUGH THAT?
AND GOD HAS MET YOU
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MESS?
THEN YOU ABSOLUTELY CAN.
NOW IF YOU STRUGGLE
WITH DEPRESSION
OR SUICIDAL THOUGHTS,
I'M YOUR WOMAN.
SEE THE THING IS,
NOTHING IS WASTED WITH GOD.
WHEN WE OFFER UP
OUR BROKENNESS TO HIM,
HE MEETS US THERE.
AND THEN,
AS SECOND CORINTHIANS SAID,
WE ARE ABLE TO COMFORT OTHERS
WITH THE SAME COMFORT WITH
WHICH WE'VE BEEN COMFORTED.
PAUL GOES ON TO WRITE,
THAT'S WHY WE NEVER GIVE UP.
THIS IS
SECOND CORINTHIANS 4:16-18.
SO, ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR STRUGGLE.
TELL GOD HOW IT FEELS TO HAVE
A DOOR SLAMMED IN YOUR FACE.
IF YOU'RE IN A PLACE RIGHT NOW
AND YOU THINK, WHERE ARE YOU?
TELL HIM.
AND THEN HEAR GOD SAY TO YOU,
"I'M HERE.
I'M HERE.
I'M HERE."
JESUS IS THE REDEEMER
IN THE HALLWAY.
Sheila: THAT'S THE TRUTH.
WHEREVER YOU FIND YOURSELF
RIGHT NOW,
MAYBE YOU FEEL LIKE
YOU'RE STUCK IN THAT HALLWAY
AND YOU'VE HEARD THE SLAMMING
OF THE DOOR AND YOU THINK,
GOD, WHERE ARE YOU?
WHAT I KNOW IN MY OWN LIFE,
WHAT I'VE WALKED THROUGH
IN MY OWN LIFE IS THE MOMENTS
THAT SEEMED LIKE THE DARKEST,
LIKE THE LEAST HOPE-FILLED
WERE SOME OF THE PLACES
WHERE I ENCOUNTERED CHRIST
IN THE MOST INCREDIBLE WAY.
THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT
OF THAT TEACHING
BUT IN THIS BOOK,
IT'S OKAY NOT TO BE OKAY:
"MOVING FORWARD
ONE DAY AT A TIME,"
I'LL WALK YOU THROUGH
ALL THESE EIGHT STEPS
SO THAT TOGETHER
WE CAN BE THE MEN AND WOMEN
THAT GOD HAS CALLED US TO BE.
THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT
THE WAY WE ARE AS A NATION
AT THE MOMENT
THAT OFTEN I FIND MYSELF
REALLY GRIEVED
BECAUSE WE HEAR SO MUCH ANGER,
SO MUCH DISCUSSION,
SO MUCH RHETORIC
THAT'S REALLY NEGATIVE
AND POLARIZING.
THE ONE THING
THAT SHOULD BE A CONSTANT
IS THE BODY OF CHRIST
IN THIS NATION --
IN ANY NATION.
WE SHOULD BE THE ONES
WHO ARE A CITY SET ON A HILL,
A LIGHT SHINING
THAT'S NOT COVERED UP.
NO MATTER WHO IS IN OFFICE,
NO MATTER
WHO IS IN THE WHITE HOUSE,
NO MATTER WHAT'S GOING ON
IN THE NATION,
NO MATTER WHAT YOU HEAR
ON THE NEWS,
WE DO NOT TAKE WHO WE ARE
FROM ANY OF THAT.
WE TAKE WHO WE ARE
FROM THE WORD OF GOD
WHICH LETS US KNOW
THAT GOD IS IN CONTROL.
EVEN WHEN IT SEEMS LIKE
HE'S NOT, GOD IS IN CONTROL.
HE IS SOVEREIGN.
HE'S GOT YOUR BACK!
HE KNOWS YOUR STORY
AND HE WILL NEVER
EVER LEAVE YOU.
IF WE AS GOD'S CHILDREN
BEGIN TO LIVE LIKE THAT --
I LOVE WHEN PETER
IN HIS LETTER SAYS,
"ALWAYS BE READY
TO GIVE AN ANSWER
FOR THE REASON OF THE HOPE
THAT'S WITHIN YOU."
THAT IMPLIES THAT WE HAVE
TO LIVE DIFFERENTLY
AS GOD'S CHILDREN.
THAT PEOPLE WOULD WANT
TO KNOW, WHAT IS IT ABOUT YOU
WHEN EVERYTHING ELSE
IN SOCIETY IS FALLING APART,
YOU'RE DIFFERENT?
I'M GOING TO TELL YOU
IN A LITTLE BIT HOW TO GET
A HOLD OF THIS BOOK.
I WANT TO SEND IT
TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU.
BUT BEFORE THAT,
I WANT TO TELL YOU
ABOUT SOMETHING
THAT IS SO DEAR TO MY HEART
AND TO ALL OF US HERE
AS A TEAM AT LIFE.
WE'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY,
WE CALL IT RESCUE LIFE
TO GO TO PLACES
WHERE YOUNG GIRLS, YOUNG GUYS
ARE BEING HELD CAPTIVE.
AND IF WE,
AS THE BODY OF CHRIST
ON THIS PLANET, AT THIS TIME
DON'T DO SOMETHING,
THEN WHO WILL?
IT IS OUR HEART THAT WE WANT
TO GO TO THE DARKEST PLACES
AND REACH THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE.
AND THEN WE WANT
TO RESCUE THEM
AND THEN WE WANT
TO SEE THEM RESTORED
SO THAT THEY KNOW WHO THEY ARE
AS A CHILD OF GOD.
SO IT'S VERY MOVING,
IT'S VERY EXCITING;
SO I WANT YOU TO WATCH THIS.
Sheila:
IT IS CLEAR TO ME
TODAY MORE THAN
IT'S EVER BEEN
THAT I KNOW
NOTHING --
NOTHING
OF SUFFERING
COMPARED TO
THIS BEAUTIFUL GIRL
AND THOUSANDS
AND THOUSANDS LIKE HER.
IT'S REALLY
OVERWHELMING.
IT'S OVERWHELMING
BECAUSE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
SHE IS NOT ALONE.
THERE'S THOUSANDS
OF GIRLS LIKE THIS
AND THE ONLY HOPE IS NOT
THE GOVERNMENT STEPPING IN,
THE ONLY HOPE
IS THE BODY OF CHRIST.
IN LUKE CHAPTER 19,
VERSE TEN,
JESUS SAID
THE SON OF MAN CAME TO SEEK
AND TO SAVE THOSE
WHO ARE LOST.
THAT'S WHY
JESUS CAME
AND THAT'S WHY YOU
AND I ARE ON THIS EARTH.
WE CAN'T WAIT
FOR SOMEBODY ELSE
TO MOVE IN
AND HELP.
IT'S OUR JOB.
IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY.
THE SEX TRAFFICKERS
ARE NOT SITTING BACK THINKING
WE'LL TAKE
A DAY OFF.
THEY'RE THERE.
THEY'RE RELENTLESS.
IF WE AS THE
BODY OF CHRIST
DON'T CARE MORE
THAN THEY CARE
THEN GOD HAVE
MERCY ON US.
Sheila: THAT TRIP
LITERALLY CHANGED MY LIFE.
I COULDN'T GET THE IMAGES
OF THOSE GIRLS OUT OF MY MIND
AND I THANK THE LORD FOR THAT.
GOD FORGIVE ME
IF I EVER FORGET ABOUT THEM.
WHEN YOU SIT
WITH THESE YOUNG GIRLS,
IT IS GETTING A SENSE
OF THE BIGGER PICTURE
OF THE EVIL THAT IS GOING ON.
THIS IS LIKE
A BILLION DOLLAR BUSINESS.
IT IS HUGE!
THE PEOPLE BEHIND IT
ARE VERY ORGANIZED
AND THEY'RE VERY CLEVER.
BUT THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE
GOING ON HERE.
LET ME REMIND YOU
WHAT PAUL WROTE
TO THE CHURCH IN EPHESUS.
EPHESIANS CHAPTER 6 SAYS THIS:
IT WAS SO CLEAR TO ME
AS WE WALKED THOSE STREETS
AND SAT WITH SO MANY
OF THOSE GIRLS,
AND PUT OUR ARMS AROUND THEM
AND PRAYED FOR THEM.
WE ASKED SOME OF THEM,
"DO YOU KNOW THERE IS A GOD
IN HEAVEN WHO LOVES YOU?"
AND THEN BEING ABLE TO PRAY
WITH SOME OF THESE GIRLS
AND LEAD THEM INTO
RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST.
BUT IT MADE ME REALIZE
THAT YOU AND I,
WE HAVE TO DO TWO THINGS.
WE HAVE TO REACH OUT
AND DO SOMETHING
AND DO SOMETHING NOW.
AND THEN WE HAVE TO COMMIT
TO BE PRAYING PEOPLE;
TO GET ON OUR KNEES AND PRAY
THAT SOME OF THE EVIL
STRONGHOLDS IN THESE NATIONS
WOULD BE BROKEN.
BUT IT STARTS WITH YOU
AND I DOING SOMETHING.
OUR HEART IS THAT WE WANTED --
WE THOUGHT WE WOULD BE ABLE
TO REACH 2500 CHILDREN
THIS YEAR.
THEN SOME OF OUR FRIENDS SAID,
"NO. WE CARE ABOUT THIS."
SO A $320,000 MATCHING GIFT
CAME IN.
SO THAT MEANS THAT YOU
AND I IN THIS SEASON,
WE CAN RESCUE 5000 CHILDREN
-- 5000!
IT USED TO BE
THAT IF YOU GAVE $128
YOU WOULD RESCUE ONE CHILD
BUT NOW THERE'S GOING TO BE
A MATCHING GIFT
SO IF YOU CAN GIVE $128,
YOU'RE GOING TO RESCUE
TWO CHILDREN
WHO ARE LITERALLY RIGHT NOW
BEGGING GOD TO HELP.
IF YOU CAN ONLY DO $64,
NOW WITH A MATCHING GIFT,
TOGETHER WITH A BROTHER
OR SISTER IN CHRIST,
YOU'VE RESCUED A CHILD.
LET ME READ YOU WHAT I READ
IN PSALM CHAPTER 10,
JUST TODAY.
LORD, YOU KNOW THE HOPES --
YOU KNOW THE HOPES
OF THE HELPLESS.
SURELY YOU WILL HEAR
THEIR CRIES AND COMFORT THEM.
THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE.
WE ARE NOT HERE TO SIT
AND WAIT TO GET RESCUED.
WE ARE TO BE THOSE WHO REACH,
WE ARE TO BE THOSE WHO RESCUE,
AND WE ARE TO BE THOSE
WHO RESTORE.
AND WE COME
IN THE NAME OF JESUS.
IF YOU AND I DECIDE TOGETHER
WE'RE GOING TO DO
SOMETHING NOW,
WE HAVE THE POSSIBILITY
OF RESCUING 5000 CHILDREN.
PLEASE GO TO YOUR PHONE.
MAKE THE BEST GIFT
YOU POSSIBLY CAN.
Announcer: BEHIND THE BRIGHT
LIGHTS THERE IS A DARKNESS
WHERE A WORLD OF VIOLENCE
AND SEXUAL ABUSE RUNS RAMPANT
SCARRING THE SOULS OF
MILLIONS OF YOUNG CHILDREN.
WITH THEIR BODIES BROKEN
AND HOPES CRUSHED,
THESE CHILDREN ARE TRAPPED
IN A NEVER-ENDING NIGHTMARE.
WITH YOUR HELP, MISSION:
RESCUE LIFE CAN SHINE
THE LIGHT OF GOD'S LOVE
IN THIS DARK WORLD TO REACH,
RESCUE AND RESTORE CHILDREN
AND YOUNG PEOPLE
TO THE BEAUTY GOD DESIGNED
FOR THEM TO ENJOY.
WITH A GENEROUS OPPORTUNITY
OF A $320,000 MATCHING GIFT,
YOUR GIFT OF $128
TO HELP RESCUE A CHILD
WILL BE MATCHED
TO HELP TWO CHILDREN.
YOUR $64 GIFT WILL BE MATCHED
TO HELP RESCUE ONE CHILD
FROM THE HORRORS
OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
AND A $32 RESCUE GIFT
WILL BE DOUBLED TO $64!
WITH YOUR GIFT
OF ANY AMOUNT TODAY,
WE WILL SEND YOU THE NAMES
OF GOD PRAYER JOURNAL.
FROM ADONAI TO YAHWEH,
THIS JOURNAL IS FILLED
WITH BEAUTIFUL PHOTOGRAPHS
TO HELP YOU REFLECT
ON 31 DIFFERENT NAMES OF GOD
FOUND THROUGHOUT SCRIPTURE.
WITH YOUR GIFT
OF $128 OR MORE,
YOU'LL RECEIVE
THE NAMES OF GOD BIBLE.
THIS SPECIAL EDITION, NIV,
LARGE PRINT BIBLE IS ENGRAVED
WITH THE MANY NAMES OF GOD;
A BEAUTIFUL REMINDER
THAT THE GOD WE SERVE
IS INFINITELY GOOD.
FINALLY, PLEASE CONSIDER
A GIFT OF $1,280
WHICH WILL NOW HELP
RESCUE 20 CHILDREN
AND YOU MAY REQUEST THE
BEAUTIFUL "BRIDGE OF FAITH"
FRAMED CANVAS PRINT
BY THOMAS KINKADE.
PLEASE CALL, WRITE
OR MAKE YOUR GIFT ONLINE!
Kirie:
I'M STANDING IN THE MIDDLE
OF A SLUM AREA IN CAMBODIA
WHERE THE HOMES
ARE ACTUALLY BUILT
ON TOP OF
FLOATING GARBAGE.
I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT
PEOPLE WILL COME HERE
AND OFFER THE MOTHERS
HOPE FOR THEIR CHILDREN
IN THE WAY
OF A JOB;
GIVING THEM SOME TYPE
OF WORK TRADE
SO THAT THEY CAN
SEND MONEY HERE
AND HELP
THEIR FAMILY.
BUT IN REALITY,
THEY'RE SOLD INTO TRAFFICKING,
THEY BECOME
SLAVES SOMEWHERE.
WE'RE ASKING YOU
TO CONSIDER HELPING US
TO EDUCATE THESE FAMILIES
SO THEY KNOW HOW TO SAY NO.
WE'RE ASKING YOU TO HELP US
RESCUE THOSE CHILDREN
THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN
SOLD INTO TRAFFICKING.
PLEASE, GO TO THE PHONE
OR GO ONLINE
AND MAKE THE VERY
BEST GIFT YOU CAN.
Sheila: DID YOU CATCH
THE URGENCY OF THIS?
I PRAY YOU DO.
THIS IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
IN THIS DAY,
SO MANY YOUNG GIRLS
ARE STRUGGLING
AND THEY NEED US TO HELP.
IF YOU GIVE $128,
WE'RE GOING TO SEND YOU
THE "NAMES OF GOD" BIBLE
AND THIS JOURNAL.
FOR ANY GIFT AT ALL,
I GET TO SEND YOU MY OWN BOOK,
IT IS OKAY NOT TO BE OKAY:
"MOVING FORWARD
ONE STEP AT A TIME."
TOGETHER YOU AND I CAN CHANGE
THIS WORLD.
IT'S NOT TOO GREAT FOR GOD.
WHEN YOU AND I JOIN
TOGETHER AND SAY, "YES,
WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS.
WE'RE GOING TO LET PEOPLE
WHO DON'T EVEN KNOW
THERE IS A GOD IN HEAVEN KNOW
BECAUSE WE COME
AND WE HELP THEM FIRST."
WE REACH THEM, AND WE RESCUE,
AND WE RESTORE THEM
IN JESUS' NAME.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING
WITH ME ON LIFE TODAY.
I'M SHEILA WALSH.
GOD BLESS YOU!
♪
♪
>> IT WAS A TIME IN MY LIFE WHERE I FELT GOD'S GRACE
MOST PROFOUNDLY.
Announcer: FIND OUT
WHAT SLOWED DOWN
THE FASTEST AMERICAN WOMAN
IN HISTORY,
SANYA RICHARDS-ROSS
TOMORROW!
>> 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.