Gordon: TODAY A C.E.O.
GETS A WAKE UPCALL AFTER HE
GOES UNDERCOVER AT HIS OWN
COMPANY.
WHAT I LEARNED MORE IS
ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP CRISIS
THAT EXISTS IN AMERICA.
Gordon: GET THE SECRET
TO HIS SUCCESS.
THEY'RE AFRAID OF BEING
PERCEIVED AS BEING SOFT.
Gordon: ON TODAY'S "700
CLUB INTERACTIVE."
ON "700 CLUB INTERACTIVE,"
WE USE TECHNOLOGY TO PRAY
FOR EACH OTHER AND EXPLORE
TOPICS THAT MATTER TO YOU.
WATCH WHAT GOD IS DOING IN
THE WORLD TODAY.
WELCOME TO "700 CLUB
INTERACTIVE."
IT CAN BE A SCARY THOUGHT,
FINDING OUT WHAT PEOPLE
REALLY THINK ABOUT YOU.
NO FILTERS, NO LIES, JUST
YOU AND THE TRUTH.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT JOEL
MANBI, THE C.I.A. OF HERSHIN
FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT SIGNED
UP FOR WHEN HE WAS FEATURED
ON "UNDERCOVER BOSS."
VIEWERS WERE SHOCKED TO SEE
WHAT THEIR EMPLOYEES REALLY
THOUGHT ABOUT HIM AND THEIR
COMPANY, AND NOT IN THE WAY
ANYONE EXPECTED.
Reporter: JOE MAMBI
WENT UNDERCOVER AT SILVER
DOLLAR CITY, ONE OF THE 26
THEME PARKS HE OVERSEES ON
THE SHOW "UNDERCOVER BOSS."
HIS LEADERSHIP STYLE DREW
NATIONAL ATTENTION.
VIEWERS COULDN'T BELIEVE HIS
EMPLOYEES' JOB
SATISFACTION.
AND MORE SURPRISED TO SEE A
BOSS WHO REALLY CARED.
I HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT
FOR HIM.
I RESPECT IT PASSION AND
ENERGY.
GREAT, BECAUSE YOU CAN
CHANNEL THAT.
Reporter: JOEL'S CARING
ATTITUDE WASN'T JUST FOR THE
CAMERAS.
IT IS PART OF HIS COMPANY'S
LEADERSHIP CULTURE.
IN HIS BOOK, "LOVE WORKS,"
JOEL EXPLORES THE SEVEN
BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES THAT
GUIDE HIS CORPORATION AND
SHARES HOW LEADING WITH LOVE
CAN TURN THE BUSINESS WORLD
UP SIDE DOWN.
Gordon: JOEL IS HERE
WITH US NOW, AND WELCOME TO
"700 CLUB INTERACTIVE."
THANK YOU.
GOOD TO BE HERE, GORDON.
Gordon: WHILE YOU WERE
UNDERCOVER, DID YOU LEARN A
LOT ABOUT THE COMPANY?
I LEARNED MORE ABOUT THE
COMPANY, BUT WHAT I LEARNED
MORE WAS THE LEADERSHIP
CRISIS THAT EXISTS IN
AMERICA.
Gordon: REALLY?
BECAUSE THE RESPONSE I
GOT TO THE PROGRAM, PEOPLE
WERE OVERWHELMED BY WHAT
THEY SAW AND THEY WROTE US
BY THE THOUSANDS.
AND WHAT THEY SAID IS THEY
WISHED THEY WORKED FOR A
COMPANY LIKE OUR COMPANY.
AND THEY WISHED THEY WORKED
FOR LEADERS LIKE THEY SAW ON
THAT PROGRAM.
SO AS A RESULT, I KNEW THERE
WAS SOME KIND OF LEADERSHIP
CRISIS IN OUR COUNTRY.
Gordon: ESSENTIALLY,
YOU PUT IT AS A LEADERSHIP
CRISIS AS OPPOSED TO JOB
CRISIS.
WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT WALL
STREET IS JUST DOING WHAT
WALL STREET DOES, WHICH IS
MAXIMIZE PROFITS.
AND RARELY DO YOU SEE A
COMPANY PRAISED FOR VALUING
ITS PEOPLE AND VALUING THAT
AS A LONG-TERM ASSET.
AND WHY DO YOU THINK THAT
IS?
I ACTUALLY THINK THAT IS
EXACTLY THE PROBLEM,
GORDON.
WALL STREET IS FOCUSED O ON
QUARTERLY RESULTS.
Gordon: BUT ISN'T THAT
NATURE OF THE BEAST.
IF YOU DON'T HIT YOUR
NUMBERS, YOUR STOCK MARKET
VALUE GOES DOWN.
I HAVE SEEN 20 YEARS OF
THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE
UGLY IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY.
AND WHAT I HAVE SEEN IS
COMPANIES THAT TREAT THEIR
PEOPLE WITH LOVE, AND THOSE
COMPANIES PERFORM BETTER IN
THE MARKETPLACE.
THEY MAY NOT CALL IT LOVE.
THEY MAY CALL IN RESPECT AND
TRUST.
BUT THOSE COMPANIES DO
BETTER.
JIM COLLINS HAS DONE IT IN
HIS GROUPS.
THEREFORE THE QUARTERLY
RESULTS WILL TAKE CARE OF
THEMSELVES.
WHEN YOU MAKE DECISIONS JUST
FOR THE QUARTERLY RESULTS --
ANYBODY CAN BOOST PROFIT
IMMEDIATELY, BUT THEY MAY BE
HURTING THE COMPANY IN THE
LONG-TERM.
THEY'RE DESTROYING THE BRAND
AND THE EMPLOYEES' TRUST.
I THINK YOU HAVE TO PERFORM
BY THE QUARTER, BUT YOU HAVE
TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION
FOR THE LONG-TERM.
Gordon: WHY IS IT THAT
IT SEEMS TO BE MORE IN THE
TECH INDUSTRY THAT YOU SEE.
I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GOING
TO TAKE, PERHAPS, THE
BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES THAT
YOU'RE TAKING.
BUT THEY'RE STILL SAYING WE
WANT TO VALUE THE EMPLOYEE.
WE WANT TO PROVIDE FOR
THEM.
WE WANT TO HAVE A
CONCIERGE'S SERVICE.
WHY IS IT THAT THE TECH
INDUSTRY SEEMS TO HAVE
GOTTEN US MORE THAN
MANUFACTURING?
THAT IS SUCH A GOOD
POINT.
I ACTUALLY HAVEN'T THOUGHT
ABOUT THAT, BUT AS YOU SAY
IT, THE TECH INDUSTRY IS THE
MOST COMPETITIVE INDUSTRY.
THAT'S WHERE THE GROWTH IS.
THAT'S WHERE THE HIGHEST AND
GROWTH TALENT ARE GOING.
THE BEST PEOPLE ARE GOING TO
APPLE OR MICROSOFT OR OTHER
TECH COMPANIES.
THAT'S THE MOST
COMPETITIVE.
THEY NEED TO TREAT THEIR
PEOPLE BETTER TO KEEP THEM.
THAT SHOULD JUST REINFORCE
MY POINT THAT IF YOU WANT
THE BEST, YOU'LL TREAT THEM
WELL, AND THE PRINCIPLES OF
LOVE, IF YOU REALLY BREAK IT
DOWN, THAT'S WHAT IS BEHIND
IT.
IF I SAID IT DIFFERENTLY, IF
I SAID EVERY COMPANY NEEDS
GREAT PEOPLE.
TO HAVE GREAT PEOPLE DOING
THEIR BEST WORK, YOU NEED
HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS.
TO HAVE HEALTHY
RELATIONSHIPS, IT'S REALLY
THE PRINCIPLES OF LOVE.
IT'S JUST NOBODY WANTS TO
TALK ABOUT IT THAT WAY.
WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO IS
CREATE CONVERSATION IN THE
MARKETPLACE THAT WE SHOULD
TALK ABOUT IT.
WE SHOULD BE OPEN ABOUT IT.
WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT HOW
PEOPLE ARE TREATED.
I JUST THINK IT'S INCORRECT
THAT WE DON'T DO IT IN THE
MARKETPLACE.
Gordon: WHY IS IT SO
HARD TO LEAD BY LOVE?
I THINK IN TODAY'S AMERICAN
CULTURE, WE'RE SORT OF
SEEING IT ACROSS THE BOARD,
WHETHER YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
POLITICS OR YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT MANUFACTURING,
START-UPS, SMALL BUSINESSES,
LARGE BUSINESSES -- IT'S
REALLY HARD TO SAY I'M GOING
TO BE A LEADER KNOWN FOR
LOVE.
WE SEEM TO BE MORE
INTERESTED IN I WANT TO BE
FEARED MORE THAN LOVED.
WHY IS THAT?
RIGHT.
I THINK YOU'RE CORRECT, AND
I THINK THE REASON IS PEOPLE
ARE -- THEY'RE AFRAID OF
BEING PERCEIVED AS BEING
SOFT.
AND THEY DON'T THINK THAT
THEY WILL GET THE RESULTS OR
THE RESPECT THEY NEED.
THE TRUTH IS, IF YOU STUDY
GREAT COMPANIES, GREAT
LEADERS, MOST OF THEM BEHAVE
THE WAY I DESCRIBE IN THE
BOOK "LOVE WORKS," WHERE I
GO THROUGH THE SEVEN
PRINCIPLES OF LOVE.
THAT IS THE FACT, BUT PEOPLE
ARE AFRAID OF BEING
PERCEIVED AS SOFT.
I CAN TELL YOU, THERE IS
NOTHING SOFT ABOUT LEADING
WITH LOVE.
I'VE DONE THE WHOLE GENERAL
MOTORS' GIG WHERE IT IS JUST
ABOUT THE FINANCIAL
PERFORMANCE, AND THAT'S AN
EASIER WAY TO LEAD BECAUSE
YOU EXPIRE SOMEBODY IF THEY
DON'T PERFORM.
IF YOU'RE LEADING BY LOVE,
IT IS A HARDER WAY TO LEAD.
BUT THEY'RE AFRAID OF BEING
PERCEIVED AS BEING SOFT.
Gordon: HOW DO YOU LEAD
BY LOVE AND NOT BE PERCEIVED
AS SOFT?
WHAT'S THE MAIN ANSWER?
THE MAIN WORD THAT IS
MISPERCEIVED IS
TRUTHFULNESS.
MOSTLY WHAT I'VE SEEN OR
HAVE BEEN LED BY IS NOT
TRUTHFUL.
THEY ARE NOT TELLING PEOPLE
HERE IS WHERE YOU DON'T
SUCCEED OR HERE IS WHERE
YOUR TALENTS ARE.
AND IF YOU DON'T SUCCEED,
WE'LL FIND ANOTHER PLACE
WHERE YOU DO BETTER.
MOST COMPANIES I WORKED FOR,
THEY JUST FIRE SOMEBODY
WITHOUT HAVING THE TRUTHFUL
CONVERSATIONS.
Gordon: THOSE
CONVERSATIONS ARE
DIFFICULT.
HAVING HAD THEM, IT IS VERY
DIFFICULT.
YOU END UP WITH HURT
FEELINGS, YOU END UP WITH
DEFENSIVENESS, AND YOU END
UP WITH "I'VE GOT TO PROVE
YOU WRONG."
MY EXPERIENCE IS IF IT IS
HANDLED RIGHT, AND YOU
REINFORCE THE POSITIVES, AND
YOU GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE, I
HAVE FOUND IT TO WORK.
I HAVE HAD TO LET PEOPLE GO,
JUST LIKE YOU HAVE.
IT'S NEVER EASY.
Gordon: IT'S THE
HARDEST THING YOU HAVE TO
DO.
YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR
FAMILY AND WORRIED ABOUT
WHAT IS NEXT?
AND IF YOU STOP BEING
THAT WAY, YOU STOP BEING A
LEADER.
Gordon: I THINK YOU
STOP BEING HUMAN.
YOU STOP BEING HUMAN, IS
A BETTER WAY TO PUT IT.
I THINK TRUTHFULNESS IS WHAT
WE'RE MISSING.
IT IS A MISPEPERCEPTION OF
WHAT LOVE IS.
IN AMERICA, WE THINK OF LOVE
USUALLY AND INCORRECTLY, AS
THE ROMANTIC LOVE THAT
HOLLYWOOD TEACHES US.
BUT AS YOU KNOW FROM THE
BIBLE, AGAPE LOVE IS A
VERB.
IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH
HOW YOU LOVE PEOPLE.
IT IS THE PRINCIPLES.
WHAT I HAVE FOUND AT HERSHIN
ENTERTAINMENT WE GET GREAT
FINANCIAL RESULTS.
WE HAVE OUTPERFORMED EVERY
COMPETITOR FINANCIALLY IN
THE LAST 10 YEARS.
Gordon: I IMAGINE THAT
YOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE GOES
THROUGH.
WHEN PEOPLE FEEL THEY'RE
LOVED AND APPRECIATED, THEY
THEN HAVE THE RESERVOIR TO
SHARE THAT WITH THE PEOPLE
THAT COME INTO THE PARK.
THE ENTHUSIASM OF THE
GUEST EXPERIENCE NEVER RISES
HIGHER THAN THE ENTHUSIASM
OF YOUR OWN EMPLOYEE.
Gordon: LET'S GO BACK
TO YOUR BOOK, BASED ON 1
CORINTHIANS 13 --
YEAH.
Gordon: AND ONE OF THE
KEYS YOU POINT OUT, IN
ADDITION TO LOVE BEING
TRUTHFUL, LOVE IS PATIENT.
WHICH IS THE FIRST THING THE
BIBLE SAYS.
WHICH, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT
THE WORD "LOVE," PATIENCE
DOESN'T COME FIRST IN OUR
MIND.
NO.
Gordon: WHY IS PATIENCE
SO IMPORTANT?
YOU'RE HITTING ON ALL OF
THE DIFFICULT POINTS.
YOU'RE ASTUTE.
WHAT I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT
IS PATIENCE WITH POOR
PERFORMANCE.
IT IS BEING PATIENT WITH HOW
YOU HANDLE POOR
PERFORMANCE.
WE SAY PRAISE IN PUBLIC AND
ADMONISH IN PRIVATE.
WE ALL HAVE TO TAKE PEOPLE
TO THE WOOD SHED.
WE ALL HAVE TO HAVE THAT
CONVERSATION.
I HAVE SEEN SO MANY LEADERS
EMBARRASS THEIR EMPLOYEES IN
FRONT OF OTHERS.
I HAVE HAD IT DONE TO ME IN
MY OWN CAREER SEVERAL TIMES
AT GENERAL MOTORS.
BUT DO THAT PRIVATELY.
AND PUT THEM BACK ON THEIR
HORSE THE NEXT DAY, AND
ALWAYS PRAISE PUBLICLY.
THAT'S WHAT I TALK ABOUT IN
BEING PATIENT.
IT IS NOT LOSING YOUR COOL
IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY ELSE.
DOING IT PRIVATELY.
Gordon: LOVE IS
PATIENT, LOVE IS KIND.
A GREAT BOOK.
IF YOU WANT IT, "LOVE WORKS,
SEVEN TIMELESS PRINCIPLES
FOR EFFECTIVE LEADERS."
IF YOU'RE INVOLVED IN
MINISTRY, IF YOU'RE INVOLVED
IN SMALL BUSINESS, IF YOU'RE
INVOLVED IN LARGE BUSINESS,
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET
THIS.
IT WILL CHANGE THE WAY YOU
THINK ABOUT PEOPLE.
IF YOU UNDERSTAND LOVE NEVER
FAILS, THEN YOU UNDERSTAND
LOVE WORKS.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
THANK YOU, GORDON.
I APPRECIATE IT.
Gordon: COMING UP, A
FATHER WITH A NEARLY
IMPOSSIBLE TASK, RUNNING A
SMALL BUSINESS WHILE RAISING
SIX CHILDREN.
FIND OUT HOW HE DOES IT,
NEXT.
Gordon: FOR ROBERTO,
LIFE AS A SINGLE DAD IN
GUATEMALA WASN'T EASY.
HE HAD SIX CHILDREN AND VERY
LITTLE MONEY, BUT WHEN
ALBERTROBERTO LOST HIS JOB,
THINGS GOT EVEN WORSE.
Reporter: ALBERTO
BECAME A SINGLE PARENT AFTER
HIS WIFE ABANDONED THE
FAMILY.
IT HAS BEEN VERY
DIFFICULT FOR US SINCE SHE
LEFT ME BECAUSE I HAVE HAD
TO RAISE OUR SIX CHILDREN ON
MY OWN.
I WOULD WORRY ABOUT THEM AND
RUSH HOME EACH DAY AFTER
WORK.
I WAS VERY SAD.
EVERY TIME MY DAD LEFT HOME
FOR HIS JOB.
Reporter: THEN ALBERTO
LOST HIS JOB PROCESSING
SALT, AND THINGS GREW EVEN
MORE CHALLENGING.
THIS IS WHERE THE FAMILY HAS
BEEN FORCED TO LIVE, IN A
CHANTEY WITH A DIRT FLOOR
AND WALLS MADE OF PLASTIC
BAGS.
WE WERE HUNGRY, BUT MY
DAD DIDN'T HAVE MONEY TO BUY
FOOD.
Reporter: SO THE FIRST
THING "OPERATION BLESSING"
DID WAS BUILD THE FAMILY A
NEW, STURDY HOME, MADE OF
WOOD, ONE THAT WOULD PROTECT
THEM FROM THE ELEMENTS.
I NEVER DREAMED WE WOULD
HAVE A HOUSE LIKE THIS.
I AM SO THANKFUL TO GOD.
THANKS FOR OUR NEW
HOUSE.
IT IS VERY NICE.
NOT LIKE THE OLD ONE THAT
LET THE WATER GET IN.
Reporter: WHEN WE
LEARNED ALBERTO HAD NOT BEEN
ABLE TO FIND ANOTHER JOB, WE
ASKED HIM ABOUT OTHER SKILLS
AND DREAMS.
I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO
HAVE MY OWN BICYCLE REPAIR
BUSINESS.
Reporter: SO "OPERATION
BLESSING" GAVE ALBERTO ALL
OF THE TOOLS AND SUPPLIES HE
NEEDED TO RUN A SMALL REPAIR
BUSINESS RIGHT IN FRONT OF
HIS NEW HOME.
NOW HE CAN WORK AND TAKE
CARE OF HIS CHILDREN
THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
THANKS TO "OPERATION
BLESSING," I HAVE RECEIVED
SO MANY BLESSINGS FOR MY
FAMILY.
NOW I CAN ENJOY MY LIFE WITH
MY KIDS, THANKS TO YOU.
THANK YOU!
Gordon: THANKS TO YOU,
IF YOU'RE A MEMBER OF "THE
700 CLUB," THAT THANKS GOES
TO YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE THE
REASON THAT WHOLE FAMILY IS
ABLE TO HAVE A HOPE AND A
FUTURE.
IF YOU'RE NOT A MEMBER, CALL
US AND SAY, YEAH, I WANT TO
JOIN.
I WANT TO BE A PART OF IT.
I WANT TO BE A PART OF
EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING
AROUND THE WORLD.
A PORTION OF EVERY GIFT GOES
INTO THE WORK OF "OPERATION
BLESSING" TO HELP PEOPLE.
ANOTHER PORTION GOES INTO
THE WORK OF CBN
INTERNATIONAL TO PREACH THE
GOSPEL AROUND THE WORLD.
WE'VE GOT 15 TELEVISION
PRODUCTION CENTERS, ALL
DEVOTED TO TRAINING
CHRISTIANS HOW TO DO
CHRISTIAN TELEVISION IN
THEIR OWN CULTURE, IN THEIR
OWN LANGUAGE.
WE'RE SHOWING PEOPLE WHAT
JESUS IS DOING IN THEIR
COUNTRY, WITH PEOPLE JUST
LIKE THEM, WHO TALK LIKE
THEM, ACT LIKE THEM, AND GOD
WANTS HIS WORD OUT THERE.
SO WE WANT TO PREACH THE
GOSPEL TO EVERY NATION,
EVERY TRIBE, EVERY TONGUE.
WE WANT EVERYONE TO HEAR THE
GOOD NEWS, AND YOU CAN BE A
PART OF IT WHEN YOU JOIN
"THE 700 CLUB."
SO IF YOU'RE NOT A MEMBER,
PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL
US, 1-888-777-1999.
IF YOU ARE A MEMBER,
CONSIDER GOING TO A HIGHER
CLUB LEVEL.
WE'VE GOT "THE 700 CLUB"
GOLD, WHICH IS $40 A MONTH,
THERE IS ALSO A THOUSAND
CLUB, WHICH IS $1,000 A
YEAR, AND THAT BREAKS OUT TO
JUST $84 A MONTH.
WHATEVER LEVEL GOD IS
SPEAKING YOU TO GIVE, TO BE
PART OF IT.
WHEN YOU JOIN, I'VE GOT
SOMETHING FOR YOU.
IT'S CALLED "GOD'S PLAN FOR
AMERICA."
WE'RE HEARING A LOT OF DOOM
AND GLOOM, AND WE NEED TO
HEAR WHAT GOD'S PLAN IS.
HOW WE HAVE A COVENANT WITH
GOD IN THE EARLY DAYS.
AND HOW HE'LL HEAR IN HEAVEN
AND HEAL OUR LAND.
1-888-777-1999.
UP NEXT, HE'S AN
ENTREPRENEUR WHO HELPED
BUIL BUILD A BILLION DOLLAR
COMPANY, BUT NOT LONG AGO,
HE COULDN'T EVEN AFFORD TO
PAY THE ELECTRIC BILL.
HEAR HOW HIS LIFE TURNED ALL
THE WAY AROUND WHEN WE COME
BACK.
Gordon: RICK HART JUST
WANTED ONE THING IN HIS
LIFE.
IT WASN'T MONEY AND IT
WASN'T FAME.
IT WAS JUST ACCEPTANCE.
ONE DAY, AFTER HE LOST
EVERYTHING, HE WANTED
SOMETHING ELSE.
HE WANTED TO PUT A SHOTGUN
IN HIS MOUTH AND PULL THE
TRIGGER.
Reporter: BRIGG HART
HAS FOUND THE KIND OF
SUCCESS MANY PEOPLE ONLY
DREAM ABOUT.
BUT LONG BEFORE HE STARTED A
MULTI-BILLION BUSINESS, HE
WAS A KID WITH A SIMPLE
DREAM.
MY DREAM WAS TO HAVE MY
DAD'S ATTENTION.
I JUST WANTED TO HEAR MY DAD
SAY HE WAS PROUD OF ME.
Reporter: THOSE WORDS
NEVER CAME.
WHAT LITTLE ATTENTION BRIGG
RECEIVED FROM HIS FATHER WAS
VIOLENT AND ABUSIVE.
MY DAD WAS A HARD, HEAVY
DRINKER.
I COULDN'T PLEASE HIM.
THAT CAME WITH PHYSICAL
ABUSE, MENTAL ABUSE, AND
STATEMENTS THAT CAUSED
PROBABLY A LOT OF EMOTIONAL
DAMAGE EARLY ON BECAUSE WE
JUST DIDN'T FEEL WORTHY.
A SLAP IN THE MIDDLE OF A
CONVERSATION WAS A NORMAL
THING.
BUT NOT JUST A SLAP.
A BACKHANDED, OFF YOUR FEET,
INTO THE GROUND.
Reporter: BRIGG ESCAPED
FROM THE PAIN ON THE BEACHES
OF MARYLAND'S EASTERN
SHORE.
SURFING WAS MORE
IMPORTANT THAN ANYTHING,
INCLUDING SCHOOL.
I WAS IN SCHOOL PHYSICALLY,
BUT I WAS MENTALLY IN THE
WAVES.
Reporter: AT HOME,
BRIGG'S FAMILY WAS DROWNING
IN FEAR.
AT ABOUT 13, I HAD HAD
ENOUGH OF THE ABUSE.
TO SOME DEGREE, I WAS MORE
SCARED FOR MY MOM.
MYSELF, I JUST COULDN'T DEAL
WITH IT EMOTIONALLY.
I WAS A WRECK.
THERE WAS A DAY I JUST TOLD
MY MOM, I SAYS, I'M GOING TO
LEAVE.
I'M GOING TO RUN AWAY.
AND SHE ACTUALLY HELPED ME
TO PACK.
IT WAS HARD FOR BOTH OF US,
BUT SHE FELT LIKE IT WAS
PROBABLY BETTER FOR ME NOT
TO BE IN THAT ENVIRONMENT.
Reporter: BRIGG LIVED
WITH FOUR DIFFERENT FAMILIES
OVER A SIX-YEAR PERIOD.
THOUGH HE FLED THE ABUSE, HE
COULDN'T OUTRUN THE ANGER
THAT CONSUMED HIM.
THE ANGER WAS REALLY
FOCUSED AT MY DAD.
I WOULD DRINK.
I WOULD DO DRUGS.
I WAS ON PROBATION FOR A
WHILE JUST BECAUSE I HAD
TAKEN SOMETHING.
I HAD GOTTEN INTO BREAKING
AND ENTERING, JUST FILLING A
VOID, I BELIEVE, THAT WAS
PAIN THAT I WAS TRYING TO --
I WANTED IT TO GO AWAY.
IT NEVER DID.
Reporter: HE GRADUATED
HIGH SCHOOL AND SOBERED UP
DURING A TWO-YEAR STINT IN
THE MARINES.
THEN HE AND HIS BROTHER
OPENED THEIR OWN SURF SHOP
IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA.
MY GOAL WAS SUCCESS.
I FELT LIKE SUCCESS WAS THE
THING THAT WOULD GET MY
DAD'S ATTENTION, WOULD GET
THE WORLD'S ATTENTION.
WE WORKED SEVEN DAYS A
WEEK.
EIGHT TO 18 HOURS A DAY.
ENDED UP HAVING FIVE SURF
SHOPS.
BUT THAT'S WHEN THE ECONOMY
KIND OF HIT A ROUGH TIME.
OUR BUSINESS ALMOST
OVERNIGHT WENT SOUTH.
WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
WE WERE HEARTBROKEN.
WE HAD WORKED SO HARD FOR
NAUGHT.
AT THIS TIME, I TURNED TO
DRUGS AND ALCOHOL MORE.
THAT WAS MY SCAPEGOAT, TO
TRY TO TAKE AWAY THE PAIN.
DID IT WORK?
NO.
WENT INTO DEPRESSION.
Reporter: AFTER HIS
BUSINESS FAILED, BRIGG LOST
ALL HOPE.
I JUST DECIDED I'VE LIVED
MY FULL LIFE.
IT IS TIME TO END IT.
WHO IS GOING TO MISS ME
ANYWAY.
I WAS ESTRANGED FROM MY
PARENTS, MY OTHER SIBLINGS.
I WAS AT A POINT WHERE I WAS
SO DEPRESSED, I SAID I'M
GOING TO TAKE MY LIFE.
AND I KNEW HOW TO DO IT.
I PUT THAT SHOTGUN IN MY
MOUTH EARLY ONE EVENING IN A
DRUNKEN STUPER.
I WASN'T AFRAID OF DEATH
BECAUSE I DIDN'T THINK THERE
WAS ANYTHING BEYOND IT.
RIGHT ABOUT THE TIME I WAS
ABOUT TO PULL THE TRIGGER,
THE PHONE RINGS.
Reporter: THE NIGHT
BEFORE BRIGG HAD MET A
CHRISTIAN BUSINESSMAN NAMED
DOUG.
AND HE SAID YOU DOING
ANYTHING IMPORTANT, AND I
LOOKED AT THE SHOTGUN, AND
SAID SOMETHING THAT CAN'T
WAIT.
Reporter: THE TWO MET
TH THE SAME DAY AND THE TWO
BECAME FRIENDS.
I THOUGHT THE ANSWER WAS
MONEY, AND HE NOTICED I WAS
LIVING IN A SITUATION WHERE
I WAS PHYSICALLY HUNGRY.
I WAS PROBABLY ABOUT
105 POUNDS, NOT LOOKING TOO
GOOD.
HE FED ME, AND HE KNEW I
WOULDN'T RECEIVE IT, SO HE
WOULD LEAVE GROCERIES ON MY
DOOR STEP.
HE WOULDN'T TELL ME.
THAT GOT TO ME.
Reporter: ONE DAY IN A
BUSINESS RETREAT, BRIGG
HEARD A MESSAGE THAT ALTERED
HIS LIFE.
THE GENTLEMAN SPEAKING
WAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL
BUSINESSMAN OUT OF NORTH
CAROLINA.
HE DID NOTHING BUT TAKE HIS
BIBLE, AND HE TALKED ABOUT
THE NUMBER ONE BEST-SELLER,
AND HE OPENED IT UP, AND HE
TURNED TO 1 CORINTHIANS 13,
AND HE JUST READ IT WORD FOR
WORD.
SOMETHING THAT TOUCHED MY
HEART IN THAT LOVE HE WAS
SPEAKING OF WAS THE KIND OF
LOVE I WAS PROBABLY HOPING
FROM MY FAMILY FOR ME.
A FORGIVING LOVE, A
REDEEMING LOVE.
AND HE NOTICED, AND I
COULDN'T CONTAIN MYSELF, BUT
I WAS WEEPING.
Reporter: THE SPEAKER
APPROACHED BRIGG.
AND I ASKED HIM WHO WROTE
THAT?
AND HE SAYS, I KNOW THE
AUTHOR AND I CAN INTRODUCE
HIM TO YOU.
AND I SAID, REALLY, I'D LIKE
TO MEET HIM.
HE SAID, IF YOU'LL BOW YOUR
HEAD AND CLOSE YOUR EYES, I
WILL INTRODUCE YOU TO HIM.
I DID BOW AND CLOSED MY
EYES, AND I FELT A WEIGHT
LIFT OFF OF ME.
Reporter: THAT DAY
BRIGG BECAME A CHRISTIAN.
OTHER CHRISTIANS AT THE
BUSINESS RETREAT SHARED
THEIR STORIES.
THEY TALKED TO ME ABOUT
HOW MY PAST, MY SINS WERE
FORGIVEN.
THAT GOD WON'T EVEN
REMEMBER, FAIRS THE EAST IS
TO THE WEST, I'M A NEW
CREATURE IN CHRIST.
ALL THINGS BECOME NEW.
THEY TOLD ME ABOUT A GOD
THAT IS A GOD OF A SECOND
CHANCE AND A THIRD CHANCE,
AND I SAID WOW, I NEED
THAT.
AS I DROVE HOME, I WAS
THROWING THE BEER CANS OUT
THE WINDOW.
I KNOW I LITTERED, BUT
THROWING BEER CANS, EMPTIED
MY POT OUT.
I WENT HOME A FREE MAN.
BUT I NEVER, IN 31 YEARS
EVER GONE BACK TO MY WAYS OF
DRUGS AND ALCOHOL.
THE MIRACLE WAS THE DESIRE
WAS GONE.
I HAD NO DESIRE WHATSOEVER.
WHERE I RAN TO THAT AS A
CRUTCH, IT WAS GONE.
JESUS CAME IN, AND THERE WAS
NO ROOM FOR NOTHING ELSE.
NOW, I DIDN'T WANT ANYTHING
ELSE.
Reporter: BRIGG SAYS
GOD RESTORED HIS FAMILY.
I WENT TO JUST ABOUT
ANYBODY I REMEMBERED I HAD
OUGHT WITH AND ASKED FOR
FORGIVENESS.
JUST LIKE MY MOM AND DAD,
WHO CAME TO KNOW THE LORD
BECAUSE THEY SAW IT IN ME.
Reporter: BRIGG PRAYED
FOR GOD TO GIVE HIM WISDOM
IN BUSINESS.
I MADE A COVENANT WITH
GOD, IF HE WOULD PUT ME IN
FRONT OF ONE OR 100, I WOULD
SHOW THIS 1 CORINTHIANS LOVE
WITH OTHER FOLKS, I WANTED
TO LEAD THEM INTO THIS LIFE
I WAS NOW EXPERIENCING, THIS
NEW HOPE IN CHRIST JESUS.
IN A YEAR AND THREE MONTHS,
I NOT ONLY PAID ALL OF MY
BILLS, I ENTERED INTO A
FIELD, AN INDUSTRY, THAT
EVIDENTLY GOD HAD CALLED ME
TO, RELATIONAL MARKETING
THAT WENT TO THE TOP IN
THREE YEARS.
Reporter: BRIGG'S NEW
BOOK "WHY NOT YOU, WHY NOT
NOW," EXPRESSES HIS FASHION
PASSION TO HELP OTHERS
SUCCEED IN BUSINESS.
I MINISTER THROUGH MY
BUSINESS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT
GOD'S CALLED ME TO DO.
IT'S A JOYFUL THING.
I LOVE DOING WHAT GOD'S
CALLED ME TO DO.
I GAVE MY HEART TO THE
LORD.
I GOT A SECOND CHANCE.
I MET MY WIFE.
I HAVE A BEAUTIFUL FAMILY.
I HAVE NO ADDICTIONS, OTHER
THAN I'M ADDICTED TO THE
LOVE OF CHRIST, AND I'M FAN
FANATICAL ABOUT MY FAITH
BECAUSE JESUS IS THE
ANSWER.
Gordon: JESUS IS THE
ANSWER, AND HE IS THE ANSWER
FOR YOU IN THESE TOUGH
TIMES.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS ACCEPT
HIM.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS ASK.
ARE YOU THERE?
COULD YOU SHOW ME THAT?
COULD YOU SHOW ME YOUR
LOVE?
COULD YOU SHOW ME HOW
PATIENT YOU ARE, HOW KIND
YOU ARE, HOW YOU KEEP NO
RECORD OF WRONG?
COULD YOU SHOW ME THAT?
AND HE'LL DO IT FOR YOU.
JUST AS HE DID FOR BRIGG,
HE'LL DO IT FOR YOU.
NOW, I LOVE HIS STORY, WHERE
HE LITERALLY DOESN'T KNOW
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE
MIDDLE OF A BIBLE STORY,
WHERE SOMEBODY PICKS UP AND
SAYS I WANT TO READ FROM THE
BEST-SELLING BOOK OF ALL
TIME.
AND THEN ASKS, WOULD YOU
LIKE TO MEET THE AUTHOR.
AND HE SAYS, YEAH, I'D LIKE
TO MEET THE AUTHOR.
AND SO I'LL ASK YOU THE SAME
QUESTIONS THAT BRIGG GOT
ASKED: ARE YOU DOING
ANYTHING IMPORTANT TODAY?
WOULD YOU LIKE TO MEET THE
AUTHOR?
WOULD YOU LIKE TO MEET THE
AUTHOR OF YOU?
THE ONE WHO CREATED YOU?
AND CREATED YOU UNIQUELY TO
HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH
HIM.
AND HE HAS CREATED GOOD
THINGS FOR YOU TO WALK INTO,
JUST AS HE DID FOR BRIGG.
HE'LL SHOW YOU THAT IF YOU
JUST ASK HIM.
AND JUST SAY, JESUS, IF
YOU'RE THERE, IF YOU LOVE
ME, COULD YOU SHOW ME?
COULD YOU BE THAT FOR ME?
COULD YOU BE MESSIAH FOR ME,
MY SAVIOR.
COULD YOU DO THAT?
AND IF YOU'LL PRAY THAT WITH
ALL OF YOUR HEART, HE'LL
ANSWER AND HE'LL COME IN.
IF YOU WANT SOMEONE TO PRAY
WITH YOU, ALL YOU'VE GOT TO
DO IS CALL US.
WE'RE HERE FOR YOU.
THE NUMBER IS TOLL-FREE.
WE'RE HERE 24 HOURS A DAY,
SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS PICK
UP THE PHONE AND CALL.
1-888-777-1999.
AND REMEMBER THAT PRAYER:
JESUS, IF YOU'RE THERE, COME
INTO MY HEART.
SHOW ME HOW MUCH YOU LOVE
ME.
WELL, THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE
HAVE FOR THIS PROGRAM.
WE LEAVE YOU WITH THESE
WORDS FROM 1 CORINTHIANS:
"AND NOW THESE THREE REMAIN:
FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE.
BUT THE GREATEST OF THESE IS
LOVE."
GOD BLESS YOU.
WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN.
