Gordon: COMING UP, FIND
OUT WHAT YOU'RE MISSING AT
CHURCH.
* YOU AIN'T NEVER SEEN A
CHURCH LIKE THIS *
* WE'VE GOT LIGHTS, CAMERAS,
AND PLENTY OF ACTION *
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.
Gordon: WELCOME TO THE
PROGRAM AND THANKS FOR
JOINING US.
A 2012 GALLOP POLL REPORTS
THAT MANY AMERICANS CLAIM TO
BE CHURCH-GOERS, BUT WHEN
YOU DIG A LITTLE DEEPER,
POLLSTERS DISCOVER THAT,
WELL, PEOPLE ARE LYING ABOUT
THEIR CHURCH ATTENDANCE.
IN REALITY, LESS THAN 25% OF
AMERICANS GO TO CHURCH ON A
REGULAR BASIS.
ONE ORGANIZATION IS TRYING
TO CHANGE THOSE STATISTICS,
WITH A LITTLE HUMOR,
COMBINED WITH SOCIAL MEDIA.
*
* WE'RE GOING BACK TO
CHURCH *
* WELL, ALL RIGHT
* CHECK IT
* BACK TO CHURCH ON
SUNDAY *
* THAT'S WHAT'S UP
* WE GOT LIGHTS, CAMERAS,
PLENTY OF ACTION *
* GOT MY TRUCK STOLEN
* AND I'M A PREACHER FROM AN
OUTPASS *
* SO BEFORE I'M THROUGH WITH
IT *
* MAKE IT TO CHURCH, MAN,
EVERYBODY'S DOING IT *
* WE'VE GOT JAY ON THE
PIPES, LAYING IT DOWN *
* EVERYBODY KNOWS
* I RUN THIS TOWN
* GIVE ME SOME WATER AND
I'LL BAPTIZE YA *
* NOW BUST OUT A HYMNAL
* WE'RE GOING BACK TO
CHURCH *
* BACK TO CHURCH
* WE GOING BACK TO CHURCH
* EVERYBODY IN THE NATION,
FIND A LOCATION *
* BACK TO CHURCH
*
WE GOING BACK *
* YO, I GET IT
* MAYBE A SMALL CHURCH IS
MORE YOUR GAME *
* AND EVERYBODY KNOWS YOUR
NAME *
* BACK TO CHURCH, IT'S A
CELEBRATION *
* WHATCHA WAITING FOR,
HERE'S YOUR INVITATION *
* WE GET, WOW
* GOT YOU DANCING IN THE
AISLE *
*
SAYING, OOH, CHILD *
* CAN I GET AN AMEN FROM THE
BACK SEAT *
* AMEN
* BACK TO CHURCH ON
SUNDAY *
*
* TIME FOR A COMEBACK
* WE GOING BACK TO CHURCH
* BACK TO CHURCH.
* WE GOING BACK TO CHURCH
* ALL OF THE PEOPLE GET TO A
STEEPLE *
* BACK TO CHURCH
*
BACK TO CHURCH *
* WE GOING BACK TO CHURCH
* EVERYBODY IN THE NATION
FIND A LOCATION *
* WE'RE GOING BACK
Gordon: PLEASE WELCOME
THE CREATOR OF THE BACK TO
CHURCH RAP.
ERIC ABLE.
ERIC, WELCOME TO "700 CLUB
INTERACTIVE."
THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
Gordon: WHY DID YOU
CREATE THE RAPPING PASTOR'S
VIDEO?
IT IS AMAZING HOW IT HAS
GONE VIRAL.
WE'VE GOTTEN OVER 500,000
VIEWS ON YouTube AND
OTHER CHURCHES HAVE SEEN
IT.
IT ALL STARTED WITH THE
STRATEGY THAT WE WANTED TO
INVITE PEOPLE IN AMERICA
BACK TO CHURCH.
IT WAS ALL PART OF NATIONAL
BACK TO CHURCH SUNDAY, WHICH
IS AN ANNUAL EVENT IN
SEPTEMBER.
WE ASKED OURSELVES, HOW
COULD WE GET PEOPLE BACK TO
CHURCH?
WHAT COULD WE DO TO PAINT A
PICTURE OF THE CHURCH IS
RELEVANT FOR EVERYDAY LIFE
AND SOMETHING THAT IS FUN AS
WELL.
AND WE THOUGHT ABOUT IN
TERMS OF THE DEEP-CHURCHED
AN DEEP-CHURCHED, AND THE
UNCHURCHED, AND WE WANTED A
DAY WHERE THEY COULD COME TO
CHURCH AND KNOW MANY OTHERS
WOULD BE PARTICIPATING IN
THAT.
AND WE ALSO WANTED TO
PERSUADE MEN.
PUT THE FAM IN THE VAN.
IF WE CAN GET THE MEN TO
COME TO CHURCH, THEN THE
FAMILY WILL FOLLOW.
Gordon: HOW EFFECTIVE
IS IT?
HAVE YOU SEEN ANY
INCREASES?
OH, YEAH.
WE CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF
PARTICIPATING CHURCHES, AND
THEY ALL SAID BY FAR IT WAS
THE MOST USEFUL TOOL THEY
USED TO REACH OUT TO THEIR
COMMUNITY.
PARTICIPATING CHURCHES WERE
RECORDING A 38% I INCREASE
IN AN ATTENDANCE ON THAT
SUNDAY.
I BELIEVE IT HELPS PEOPLE TO
RECONSIDER COMING BACK TO
CHURCH IN A WAY THAT THEY
NEVER HAVE BEFORE.
I PULLED ONE QUOTE OFF THE
Facebook, AND YOU CAN
GOING TO Facebook AND
YouTube AND SEE PEOPLE
TALKING ABOUT IT.
COLIN CAMPBELL WRITES, "THIS
VIDEO HONESTLY MOTIVATED ME
TO ATTEMPT TO GO BACK TO
CHURCH.
I'M A LITTLE SCARED, THOUGH,
BECAUSE I'M AFRAID OF BEING
JUDGED.
BUT THIS VIDEO MAKES IT A
LITTLE LESS SCARY TO GO FAC
BACK TO CHURCH."
SO WE'RE SEEING SOME GREAT
COMMENTS.
Gordon: IT IS
INTERESTING, HE WAS WORRIED
ABOUT BEING JUDGED.
THE STATS ARE SHOWING THAT
2% OF AMERICANS WHO ARE
GOING TO CHURCH -- ONLY 2%
OF THEM INVITE
NON-CHRISTIANS.
WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?
THE STUDY SHOWED THAT
RESEARCH.
IT SHOWED THAT NOT ONLY 2%
ARE NOT INVITING, BUT 82% OF
PEOPLE WOULD COME TO CHURCH
IF SIMPLY INVITED BY A
FRIEND.
I THINK SOME OF IT COULD BE
CHURCHES ARE JUST NOT
PROMOTING IT.
THEY'RE NOT REALLY
ENCOURAGING THEIR
PARISHIONERS TO INVITE
PEOPLE.
BACK TO CHURCH SUNDAY IS A
GREAT EXCUSE TO INVITE
FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND
NEIGHBORS.
I BELIEVE THAT IS ONE
REASON, CHURCHES REALLY
AREN'T TALKING ABOUT IT.
Gordon: HOW DO WE GET
PEOPLE GOING TO CHURCH
INTERESTED IN -- I DON'T
HAVE ANOTHER WORD FOR IT,
MARKETING.
IN THE EARLY TIMES, PEOPLE
WOULD GO HOUSE TO HOUSE AND
DO IT THAT WAY.
WHAT CAN WE DO TO INSPIRE
PEOPLE TO SORT OF RETURN
BACK TO THAT?
I THINK PART OF IT IS
PEOPLE REALLY ENJOY THEIR
CHURCHES.
THEY FIND GREAT COMFORT
THERE AND GREAT ENTHUSIASM
AND GREAT COMMUNITY.
IT IS JUST A MATTER OF HOW
CAN WE GET PEOPLE TO
COMMUNICATE THAT LOVE OF
CHURCH TO THEIR NEIGHBORS
AND FRIENDS.
IF YOU LOOK BACK IN THE NEW
TESTAMENT, OF COURSE, GOD
USED CHURCH GROWTH IN A
COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS.
ONE, THE GROWTH FROM OUTSIDE
IN.
AS MORE PEOPLE CAME TO
CHURCH, THE NEW TESTAMENT
CHURCH SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE
WORLD.
BUT, REALLY, I THINK IT IS
GOING TO TAKE GROWTH FROM
WITHIN.
AND GOD SEEMS TO USE THAT,
TOO.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE BOOK OF
ACTS, ACT 2, IN THE EARLY
CHURCH, WHERE THEY SAID THEY
DEVOTED THEMSELVES TO THE
FELLOWSHIP, AND THEY WERE
REALLY INTO THEIR CHURCH.
AS THEY GREW SPIRITUALLY,
NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN THE
CHURCH GREW, AND THAT VERSE
ALSO TALKS ABOUT HOW THE
CHURCH GREW IN NUMBERS.
SO I THINK THERE IS THIS
INTERESTING MIX THAT GOD
USES, THE SPIRITUAL CHURCH
WITHIN THE CHURCH TO REALLY
GROW THE CHURCH IN
ATTENDANCE AND MULTIPLY THE
CHURCH.
WE HAVE A PROGRAM CALLED
"THE 30 DAY CHURCH
CHALLENGE."
THEY TAKE THE BASIC
PRINCIPLES FROM ACTS 2 AND
REALLY HELPS THE
CONGREGATION TO ENGAGE IN
CHURCH.
Gordon: WHAT HAVE YOU
GOT PLANNED FOR 2013?
WE'RE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT
2013.
WE REALIZE THAT THE LORD IS
IN CONTROL OF IT ALL.
IT'S OUR VISION TO HAVE
20,000 PLUS CHURCHES
INVOLVED IN "BACK TO CHURCH
SUNDAY," AND LAST YEAR IT
WAS ABOUT 13,000 CHURCHES.
WE'VE GOT MORE RESOURCES AND
VIDEOS AND GRAPHICS, AND
POSTCARD MAILINGS, AND
THINGS THAT CHURCHES CAN USE
TO REACH OUT TO THEIR
COMMUNITY.
SO A LOT OF NEW IDEAS, BUT
WE'RE HOPING FOR ABOUT
20,000 CHURCHES TO GET
INVOLVED.
Gordon: ALL RIGHT,
ERIC.
THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO FIND
OUT MORE, YOU CAN EITHER GO
TO OUR WEBSITE,
700clubinteractive.com, OR
backtochurch.com AND YOU
CAN GET MORE INFORMATION.
COMING UP, FROM ANCIENT
ARCHITECTURE TO TALKING
ROBOTS.
GET A LOOK AT WHAT GOES INTO
EVERY EPISODE OF
"SUPERBOOK."
THAT'S UP NEXT.
Gordon: IN THE MOVIE
"BEN HUR," THE ROMANS FIGHT
A FLEET.
IN 10 COMMANDMENTS, MOSES
STARTS WALKING OUT OF EGYPT
IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.
THESE ARE JUST EXAMPLES OF
HOW HOLLYWOOD DOESN'T ALWAYS
DO ITS HOMEWORK WHEN IT
COMES TO BIBLICAL EPICS.
BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY
ABOUT THOSE BLUNDERS WHEN
WATCHING THE NEW
"SUPERBOOK."
I AM TAKING YOU TO MEET A
MAN WHO STOOD UP FOR WHAT HE
BELIEVED WAS RIGHT.
Reporter: WHEN YOU'RE
WATCHING "SUPERBOOK," YOU'RE
NOT JUST WATCHING ANIMATED
BIBLE STORY.
YOU'RE ALSO WATCHING ONE OF
THE MOST ACCURATE PORTRAYALS
OF THE ANCIENT MIDDLE EAST
EVER PUT INTO A CARTOON.
IT APPEARS WE'RE IN
ANCIENT BABYLON.
Reporter: EVERY DETAIL
HAS BEEN CHECKED FOR
ACCURACY, FROM THE CLOTHES
TO THE ARMOR, AND IF THEY
DIDN'T HAVE IT BACK THEN,
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE IT
IN "SUPERBOOK."
HERE IS AN EXAMPLE.
TAKE A LOOK AT THIS SHOT.
IT'S ONLY UP THERE FOR A FEW
SECONDS, SO IF YOU BLINK,
YOU MIGHT MISS IT.
BUT THAT MASSIVE BLUE
STRUCTURE IS CALLED THE
ISHTAR GATE.
BUILT IN 575 B.C., AND
FAITHFULLY RECONSTRUCTED BY
OUR "SUPERBOOK" ANIMATORS
2500 YEARS LATER.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THAT GATE
IS STILL AROUND.
ONLY IT IS NOT IN BABYLON
ANYMORE.
IT IS NOW STANDING IN A
MUSEUM IN GERMANY.
OUR PRODUCERS SAW THE GATE
AND MADE SURE WHEN WE DREW
IT, WE HAD THE RIGHT COLORS,
THE RIGHT SIZE, AND ALL OF
THOSE LINES ON THE WALL
FACING IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION.
Gordon: AND THE REASON
IS WE WANT TO LET CHILDREN
KNOW THAT THIS IS A REAL
PLACE AND A REALTIME, AND
THIS IS AN HISTORICAL EVENT
THAT HAPPENED.
Reporter: AND IT IS NOT
JUST THE BACKGROUND.
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF
THIS OUTRAGE?
TAKE THIS HANDSOME
FELLOW.
HE WAS A RAINING MONARCH
BETWEEN 522 AND 486 D.C.
HE IS BELIEVED TO BE THE GUY
IN CHARGE OF BABYLON IN THE
YEARS AFTER THE JEWISH
EXILE, AND HE IS THOUGHT TO
BE THE DARIUS REFERRED TO IN
THE BOOK OF DANIEL.
YOU ARE THE WISEST OF ALL
MEN IN MY KINGDOM.
Reporter: AND THAT'S
ACTUALLY THE WAY HE LOOKS.
EVEN A KING CAN BE
UNCERTAIN ABOUT WHAT IS
RIGHT.
Gordon: THE MORE
HISTORICALLY ACCURATE WE CAN
MAKE THEM, THE LONGER THE
SERIES WILL LAST.
Reporter: BUT IT IS NOT
JUST THE LOOK THAT IS
IMPORTANT.
THE FOUNDATION OF ANY
"SUPERBOOK" EPISODE IS THE
BIBLE STORY.
WHETHER IT IS DANIEL IN THE
LION'S DEATH, OR MOSES, OR
CREATION.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
THE STORY BEING TOLD BY US
MATCHES UP WITH THE STORY
THAT IS BEING TOLD IN THE
BIBLE, EVEN THE DIALOGUE,
WHICH COMES DIRECTLY FROM
THE SCRIPTURES.
I HAVE BEEN FOUND
INNOCENT IN HIS SIGHT.
Reporter: ULTIMATELY,
THE GOAL OF "SUPERBOOK" IS
TO TEACH KIDS AROUND THE
WORLD ABOUT THE BIBLE.
THAT'S WHY THIS SERIES WILL
BE TRANSLATED INTO 1 18
LANGUAGES.
WE HOPE IN THE NEXT FEW
YEARS, 300 MILLION CHILDREN
WILL HEAR STORIES THROUGH
"SUPERBOOK," AND MANY OF
THOSE KIDS WILL BE HEARING
ABOUT THE BIBLE FOR THE
FIRST AND ONLY TIME THROUGH
THIS PROGRAM.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE SUCH A
STICKLER FOR ACCURACY.
WE JUST ADDED THE TALKING
ROBOT.
Gordon: IF YOU WANT TO
TAKE THE BIBLE TO THE
CHILDREN OF THE WORLD,
THAT'S OUR GOAL.
OUR GOAL IS OVER THE NEXT
FIVE YEARS, 300 MILLION
CHILDREN WATCHING
"SUPERBOOK" EPISODES AROUND
THE WORLD.
WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF
TRANSLATING THE SERIES INTO
38 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE
LAUNCH IN THE FIRST AND
SECOND QUARTER OF NEXT YEAR,
2013.
AND WE'RE JUST IN
ANTICIPATION OVER WHAT'S
GOING TO HAPPEN, HOW A WHOLE
GENERATION CAN KNOW THE
STORIES OF THE BIBLE.
NOW, WHAT DO WE NEED?
WE NEED HELP WITH THE
PRODUCTION COSTS.
THESE ARE EXPENSIVE EPISODES
TO MAKE.
AND WE'VE GOT A VERY SPECIAL
CHRISTMAS OFFER FOR YOU.
WE'VE GOT THE LATEST
EPISODE, WHICH IS THE LAST
SUPPER, AND WE'RE GOING TO
PAIR THAT WITH THE FIRST
CHRISTMAS, WHICH WE OFFERED
BEFORE, BUT WE'RE GOING TO
OFFER IT AGAIN.
SO YOU CAN HAVE PLENTY OF
STOCKING STUFFERS, AND WE'RE
INVITING YOU TO JOIN THE
"SUPERBOOK" D.V.D. CLUB.
THAT MEANS FOR A GIFT OF
$25, WE'LL SEND YOU NOT JUST
ONE COPY OF THE D.V.D.,
WE'LL SEND YOU THREE.
AS NEW EPISODES ARE CREATED,
YOU'LL BE FIRST IN LINE TO
GET THEM.
AND YOU'LL GET THREE
VERSIONS, SO YOU CAN HAVE
PLENTY TO SHARE WITH YOUR
RELATIVES, FAMILY, WITH
CHURCH, SUNDAY SCHOOLS,
CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS.
WE WANT TO GET THE STORIES
OF THE BIBLE OUT.
THE SPECIAL OFFER FOR
CHRISTMAS IS YOU GET THE
LATEST EPISODE, "THE LAST
SUPPER," YOU GET THREE
VERSIONS OF THAT, AND YOU
GET "THE FIRST CHRISTMAS,"
AND THREE VERSIONS OF THAT
AS WELL.
SO YOU'VE GOT PLENTY OF
STOCKING STUFFERS FOR THIS
CHRISTMAS.
DO IT NOW.
CALL US, 1-888-777-1999, OR
YOU CAN LOG ON TO
CBN.COM.
AND IF YOU DON'T WANT TO
JOIN THE "SUPERBOOK" D.V.D.
CLUB, YOU CAN JUST GET "THE
LAST SUPPER" AS A SINGLE
EPISODE FOR A ONE-TIME GIFT
OF $25.
UP NEXT, MTV CAME CALLING,
AND CHRIS ANSWERED.
TWO MONTHS LATER, HIS SHOW
WAS CANCELLED.
I WAS LIKE, MAN, I
THOUGHT THIS WAS GOING TO BE
THE THING.
NOW I'M A COLLEGE DROPOUT,
AND THE SHOW DIDN'T GET
WORKED OUT.
AND I'M, LIKE, I HAVE
NOWHERE TO GO.
Gordon: WATCH HOW
LOSING HIS JOB LED TO
FINDING HIS CALLING, AFTER
THIS.
Gordon: WELL, YOU MIGHT
RECOGNIZE CHRIS GRAVY IF
YOU'RE A FAN OF MTV'S ROAD
RULES.
BUT WHEN HE READ HIS BIBLE
ON THE SET, HE GOT LOTS OF
QUESTIONS FROM HIS FELLOW
CAST MEMBERS, AND HE WAS
ALWAYS EAGER TO TELL THEM
ABOUT THE JOURNEY THAT
BROUGHT HIM FULL CIRCLE.
EVERY BOY WANTS HIS
FATHER IN HIS LIFE.
Reporter: CHRIS'
PARENTS DIVORCED WHEN HE WAS
5.
THEY MOVED FROM THEIR TEXAS
HOME TO INDIANA.
IT IS HARD NOT TO BE
AROUND BOTH PARENTS AT THE
SAME TIME.
GROWING UP, MY PARENTS GOT
MARRIED TO NEW PEOPLE.
Reporter: CHRIS' NEW
STEPFATHER WAS YOU ABUSIVE.
CHURCH BECAME HE AND HIS
MOTHER'S REFUGE.
CHURCH WAS REPRESENTED TO ME
A TURN OR BURN THING.
GIVE YOUR LIFE TO CHRIST OR
YOU'RE GOING TO BURN
FOREVER.
Reporter: CHRIS FOUND A
POSITIVE OUTLET IN SPORTS.
I TRIED TO KEEP MY NOSE
IN SPORTS AND TRY TO EXCEL.
ONCE HIGH SCHOOL WAS OVER, I
WENT TO COLLEGE THAT DIDN'T
HAVE SPORTS ANYMORE.
IT STARTED OFF WITH ME
HAVING A FEW DRINKS.
AND THE DRINKING STARTED
BECOMING HEAVILY, AND THAT
WASN'T MAKING ME HAPPY
ANYMORE.
SO I STARTED DOING ILLEGAL
DRUGS AND PRESCRIPTION
PILLS, THINGS LIKE THAT, AND
IT KIND OF JUST MORPHS INTO
THE NEXT THING.
THIS ISN'T MAKING ME HAPPY,
SO MAYBE I'LL TRY THIS.
I FOUND MYSELF IN NUMEROUS
RELATIONSHIPS, SEARCHING FOR
SOMETHING TO FILL A HOLE IN
MY LIFE.
Reporter: IN HIS JUNIOR
YEAR OF SCHOOL, CHRIS' AUNT
OFFERED HIM A JOB IN
CALIFORNIA AND A PLACE TO
LIVE.
TWO WEEKS LATER, CHRIS
DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL AND
HEADED WEST.
I THOUGHT, MAYBE IF I GO
TO CALIFORNIA, I CAN GET IN
ENTERTAINMENT, AND MAYBE
THAT WILL BE THE THING THAT
FILLS THAT HOLE, THAT VOID
IN MY LIFE.
Reporter: CHRIS
AUDITIONED AND WAS CAST IN
AN MTV REALITY SHOW.
AND A FEW MONTHS LATER, IT
WAS CANCELLED.
WHEN I GOT TO CALL, IT
DEFINITELY SHOOK ME.
NOW I'M A COLLEGE DROPOUT,
THE SHOW DIDN'T WORK OUT,
AND I HAVE NOWHERE TO GO.
Reporter: CHRIS' LONG
LOST DAD HEARD ABOUT THE
SITUATION AND FOR THE FIRST
TIME REACHED OUT TO HELP.
MY DAD CALLED ME AND SAID
I HAVE A JOB FOR YOU IN
NASHVILLE.
I PACKED UP MY JEEP AND
DROVE DOWN TO NASHVILLE AND
MOVED IN WITH MY DAD FOR THE
FIRST TIME SINCE I WAS 5.
Reporter: CHRIS WORKED
AT A LOCAL RESTAURANT, WHERE
HE PARTIED WITH ALL OF THE
EMPLOYEES AFTER HOURS.
ALL ACCEPT ONE, A WOMAN
NAMED VERNA.
SHE BEGAN A FRIENDSHIP
WITH ME AND WOULD ENCOURAGE
ME, HEY, CHRIS, THERE IS
SOMETHING BETTER FOR YOU.
Reporter: VERNA INVITED
CHRIS TO CHURCH, AND
EVENTUALLY HE AGREED TO GO.
I JUST SAT THERE AND
LISTENED, AND THE ROOM WAS
FULL OF COLLEGE STUDENTS,
FULL OF PEOPLE 20 SOMETHING,
19, 25.
IT WAS TOTALLY REAL.
THESE PEOPLE WEREN'T FAKING
IT.
THEY WEREN'T PUTTING ON A
SHOW.
IT WAS LIO, LIKE, THEY WERE
PRAISING AND SHOUTING TO GOD
BECAUSE OF HOW HE CHANGED
THEIR LIVES.
THERE WAS DEFINITELY A
NATURAL DRAW, AND I WAS
LIKE, I WANT THIS.
Reporter: SEVERAL WEEKS
LATER, CHRIS WENT BACK TO
CHURCH AFTER A WEEK OF
PARTYING.
I BEGAN TALKING TO GOD.
THE FIRST REAL CONVERSATION
I HAD WITH HIM PROBABLY MY
WHOLE LIFE.
YOU'RE REAL.
JESUS, I KNOW WHAT YOU DID
FOR ME.
I REALIZE IT NOW.
AND I'M SORRY.
AND WILL YOU FORGIVE ME?
AND WILL YOU BE MY LORD?
AND WILL YOU TAKE MY LIFE?
AND WILL YOU LEAD MY LIFE?
AND SO IT WAS THERE, ON THE
CORNER IN DOWNTOWN
NASHVILLE, BY MYSELF.
IT WASN'T DOWN IN FRONT OF
SOME CHURCH, OR IN FRONT OF
A GROUP OF PEOPLE.
IT WAS JUST ME AND GOD, AND
WE BEGAN OUR RELATIONSHIP
THEN.
Reporter: CHRIS SAYS
GOD PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES
FOR HIM TO LIVE OUT HIS
DREAM.
MTV PRODUCERS RECAST HIM IN
THE NEW ROAD SERIES.
AND YOU MAY RECOGNIZE HIM
FROM "BATTLE OF THE SEXES"
TOO.
I GOT TO SHARE CHRIST
WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
ALL OF MY CAST MEMBERS WOULD
SIT DOWN AND COME AND TALK
TO ME AND ASK ME QUESTIONS.
Reporter: CHRIS MET HIS
FUTURE WIFE AT CHURCH.
I MET HIM THAT MONTH HE
GOT SAVED.
SO I ONLY SAW THIS
PASSIONATE, ON-FIRE CHRIS,
AND I ONLY HEARD STORIES OF
THE PREVIOUS LIFE.
I THINK THAT MADE IT A WHOLE
LOT EASIER FOR ME TO GO,
OKAY, THIS IS WHO HE IS
NOW.
AND GOD HAS FORGIVEN ALL OF
THAT.
GOD ORCHESTRATED OUR STORY,
NOT ONLY OUR LOVE STORY, BUT
OUR LIFE STORY.
Reporter: LESS THAN A
YEAR LATER, THE TWO WERE
MARRIED.
AND CHRIS NOW HAS A CHANCE
TO BE THE FATHER HE ALWAYS
LONGED FOR.
HIS SON, CADEN IS 2, AND A
SECOND CHILD IS ON THE WAY.
MORE AND MORE, I'M
UNDERSTANDING THE LOVE AND
COMPASSION SIDE OF GOD, AND
THE LOVE AND MERCY HE HAS
FOR ME.
AND LEARNING MORE AND MORE
WHAT IT MEANS TO TRUST HIM
AS MY PROVIDER.
AND TRUST HIM AS THE ONE WHO
IS GOING TO OPEN AND SHUT
THE DOORS.
HE'S MY DAD.
HE'S MY FATHER.
Gordon: AND HE'LL DO
THE SAME THING FOR YOU,
HE'LL BE YOUR DAD.
WE CALL OUR CREATOR DADDY.
OUR FATHER, WHO ART IN
HEAVEN.
OUR OMBA, OUR FATHER.
WE GET TO DO THAT.
IT IS A GREAT PRIVILEGE THAT
WE HAVE.
IT IS A GREAT JOURNEY.
IT IS AN ADVENTURE, WHERE
YOU START RELYING ON HIM,
AND YOU KNOW THAT HE IS
WATCHING OVER YOU.
AND HE HAS GOT PLANS FOR
YOU.
HE'S GOT DOORS HE WANTS TO
OPEN FOR YOU.
HE WANTS TO GIVE YOU
OPPORTUNITY.
HE CAME THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE
LIFE AND HAVE IT MORE
ABUNDANTLY.
NOW, WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO
GET IT?
ALL YOU'VE GOT TO DO IS
ASK.
THE SAME THING THAT CHRIS
DID.
HE JUST BOWED HIS HEAD AND
SAID FORGIVE ME, RESTORE ME,
COME INTO MY LIFE, BE PART
OF ME NOW.
I WANT TO HEAR YOUR VOICE.
I WANT TO LIVE FOR YOU.
AND WHEN YOU DO THAT, YOU
GET INTO A WONDERFUL
RELATIONSHIP THAT WE WERE
MADE FOR.
AND WHEN YOU START
UNDERSTANDING THAT, THAT WE
WERE MADE FOR A RELATIONSHIP
WITH OUR HEAVENLY FATHER,
THEN LIFE STARTS TO GET REAL
SIMPLE.
AND YOU START UNDERSTANDING,
ALL I HAVE TO DO IS TRUST
HIM.
IF HE TELLS ME TO DO
SOMETHING, THERE IS GOING TO
BE A BLESSING THERE.
SO I'M JUST GOING TO TRUST
HIM.
AND WHEN YOU DO THAT, AN
INCREDIBLE LIFE OPENS UP FOR
YOU.
ADVENTURES THAT YOU'VE NEVER
DREAMED YOU WOULD EVER DO,
HE'LL HAVE YOU DO.
HE'LL HAVE YOU GO PLACES.
HE'LL HAVE YOU MEET PEOPLE.
HE'LL OPEN DOORS OF
OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU.
HE WANTS TO BLESS YOU.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS ASK
HIM IN.
NOW HERE IS THE PRAYER --
IT'S VERY SIMPLE.
JESUS, IF THIS IS REAL, IF
YOU'RE REALLY THERE, IF YOU
REALLY WANT TO HAVE A
RECALLS WITH ME, IF YOU
REALLY LOVE ME, COULD YOU
SHOW ME.
COULD YOU MAKE ME NEW
AGAIN?
CAN I KNOW YOUR LOVE?
CAN I BE FORGIVEN?
IF YOU PRAYED THAT WITH ALL
OF YOUR HEART, HE'LL ANSWER
YOU, HE'LL COME IN.
AND WHAT HE DID FOR CHRIS,
HE'LL DO FOR YOU.
HE'LL TURN YOUR LIFE
AROUND.
IF YOU WANT SOMEONE TO HELP
YOU PRAY, ALL YOU'VE GOT TO
DO IS CALL US,
1-888-777-1999.
WHEN YOU CALL, JUST SAY I
WANT TO PRAY AND ASK JESUS
TO COME INTO MY HEART.
FOR EVERYBODY THAT CALLS,
WE'VE GOT A FREE PACKET FOR
YOU.
IT IS CALLED "A NEW DAY."
IN THERE IS A C.D. TEACHING,
ABOUT AN HOUR, 70 MINUTES
LONG.
WHAT DO YOU DO?
WHAT DO CHRISTIANS BELIEVE?
HOW DO YOU LIVE THE
CHRISTIAN LIFE?
WHAT'S THIS ALL ABOUT?
THERE IS ALSO A BOOKLET WITH
BIBLE VERSES IN IT.
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO WHAT
CHRIS DID, WHICH IS GET
INVOLVED IN A LOCAL CHURCH.
GET A BIBLE.
START READING IT.
START RENEWING YOUR MIND
THROUGH SCRIPTURE.
THAT'S HOW YOU DO IT.
YOU READ THE BIBLE EVERY
DAY.
AND PRAY AND ASK JESUS TO
TALK TO YOU AND TO BE WITH
YOU.
IF YOU DO THAT, HE'LL DO
IT.
BUT MAKE THAT PHONE CALL.
WE WANT TO GET THIS PACKET
TO YOU FREE.
THE PACKET IS FREE AND THE
PHONE CALL IS FREE.
JUST GIVE US A CALL.
1-888-777-1999.
WE'VE GOT SOME CHATS.
LET'S GO TO DIMITRI IN THE
CHATROOM.
STEPHANIE CHATS IN AND
SAYS, "I HAVE BEEN CHECKING
OUT NEW CHURCHES, AND ONE
WAS SO PERFORMANCE-DRIVEN,
AND THE OTHER WAS SO
OLD-FASHIONED.
WHY SHOULD I BOTHER WHEN IT
SEEMS NO ONE KNOWS HOW TO BE
NORMAL?"
Gordon OH, THERE ARE
PLENTY THAT KNOW HOW TO BE
NORMAL.
THERE ARE EXTREMES.
AND SOME PEOPLE ACTUALLY
LIKE THE OLD-FASHIONED
CHURCH.
THEY REALLY APPRECIATE THAT
KIND OF FELLOWSHIP.
SOME LIKE THE SUPER
PERFORMANCE CHURCH.
YOU'LL FIND ONE THAT YOU
LIKE.
BUT I'LL GIVE YOU A BIT OF
ADVICE: STOP LOOKING FOR THE
PERFECT ONE BECAUSE AS SOON
AS YOU JOIN IT, IT WON'T BE
PERFECT ANYMORE.
THERE ARE NO PERFECT CHUMPS,
BU CHURCHES, BUT THERE ARE
WONDERFUL FELLOWSHIPS.
WE LEAVE YOU WITH THESE
WORDS FROM JOHN 3: "FOR GOD
SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE
GAVE HIS ONLY SON SO
EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM
WILL NOT PERISH BUT HAVE
ETERNAL LIFE."
THAT'S THE HOPE OF OUR
SALVATION.
GOD BLESS YOU.
WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN.
