Terry: A COUPLE CAUGHT
IN A WEB OF DECEIT.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT ME,
WHAT I WAS DOING.
WHAT DO THEY KNOW?
I COULD HAVE KEPT LYING
AND I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE
BEEN BELIEVED AT THAT
POINT.
Terry: FIND OUT WHAT
HAPPENED WHEN BOTH OF THESE
SECRETS FINALLY CAME OUT OF
THE CLOSET ON TODAY'S "700
CLUB INTERACTIVE."
Gordon: 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.
Terry: HELLO,
EVERYBODY.
WELCOME TO OUR SHOW TODAY.
RECENTLY LANCE ARMSTRONG
SHOCKED AMERICA.
HE CONFESSED HE HAD BEEN
LIVING A LIE, AND DESPITE
YEARS OF DENIAL, HE HAD BEEN
USING PERFORMANCE-ENHANCING
DRUGS THROUGHOUT HIS
CELEBRATED CAREER.
LIKE LANCE, THE COUPLE IN
OUR FIRST STORY, THE COUPLE
HAD A PICTURE-PERFECT IMAGE,
HOWEVER, BEHIND CLOSED
DOORS, THEY WERE KEEPING
SECRETS UNTIL THEY COULDN'T
HIDE THOSE LIES ANY LONGER.
THE FIRST COUPLE YEARS OF
MARRIAGE WERE BRUTAL.
I WAS A VERY EMOTIONAL
PERSON.
I CAME IN SELFISH.
THERE WAS A LOT OF
SARCASM ON HIS PART AND A
LOT OF EMOTION ON MY PART.
I WOULD SAY WITHOUT
EXAGGERATING THAT WE FOUGHT
EVERY DAY.
Reporter: SARAH AND
CHAD COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY
THEIR YOUNG MARRIAGE WAS
FAILING.
AFTER ALL, THEY GREW UP IN
THE CHURCH AND ALWAYS TRIED
TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
IN FACT, CHAD WAS EVEN A
WORSHIP LEADER AT THEIR
CHURCH.
BUT THEY WERE YOUNG, BARELY
21 WHEN THEY MARRIED.
SO WITH THEIR NEWFOUND SENSE
OF FREEDOM FROM THEIR
PARENTS, THEY STARTED TO
EXPLORE A LIFESTYLE THEY
TAUGHT WAS FORBIDDEN.
THE ONLY TIME THEY DIDN'T
FIGHT WAS WHEN THEY WERE
PARTYING.
I CAN REMEMBER A NUMBER
OF TIMES SHOWING UP ON
SUNDAY MORNING AND NOBODY
KNEW, AND PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE
KNOWN.
I WAS BUZZED FROM THE NIGHT
BEFORE.
WE STARTED GOING OUT AND
DANCING AND LIVING AS FREE,
AS FREE AS YOU CAN AND YET
STILL BE MARRIED.
Reporter: AND THEN IT
ESCALATED TO ANOTHER LEVEL,
PORNOGRAPHY.
INSTEAD OF ME SAYING OH,
NO, WHAT ARE YOU DOING, IT
WAS INTERESTING AND
CAPTIVATING.
AND IT WAS SOMETHING I BEGAN
TO DESIRE.
I DON'T THINK WE WERE
WILLING TO ADMIT HOW BAD OFF
WE WERE.
BUT, LIKE I SAID, I HAD
GROWN UP IN THIS PLEASE GOD,
OR DO WHAT WAS RIGHT TYPE OF
MENTALITY, AND ONCE YOU GET
TO A CERTAIN AGE, IT WAS,
LIKE, WHAT'S THE
MOTIVATION.
I HAD BEEN OVERWEIGHT
GROWING UP, AND I LOST ABOUT
60 POUNDS.
BEFORE MEN HAD NEVER LOOKED
AT ME.
AND AFTER THAT POINT, I WAS
GETTING FLIRTED WITH WALKING
DOWN THE STREET.
IT MADE ME FEEL GREAT.
IT MADE ME FEEL LIKE I WAS
FINALLY PRETTY.
I NEVER CALLED MYSELF A
WORKOHOLIC, BUT I BECAME
THAT.
I FOUND THINGS THAT WERE
EXCITING AND PROVIDED
DISTRACTION AND SORT OF
FILLED THE VOID.
Reporter: CHAD STARTED
WORKING AWAY FROM HOME UP TO
FOUR DAYS A WEEK, AND SARAH
STARTED GETTING ATTENTION
FROM ONE OF CHAD'S CLOSE
FRIENDS.
HE WAS ALSO MARRIED.
I STARTED TALKING A LOT
TO THIS OTHER MAN.
WE TALKED ON THE PHONE.
WE HUNG OUT, AND FOR A LONG
TIME IT WAS JUST THIS
FRIENDSHIP, THIS EMOTIONAL
BOND.
Reporter: BUT THAT
EMOTIONAL BOND TURNED INTO
SOMETHING MORE.
I WAS TRYING NOT TO DO
IT.
I WAS TRYING TO BE GOOD, OR
BETTER THAN I WAS, AND THEN
IT KIND OF WENT FULL BORE
INTO A COMPLETELY PHYSICAL
RELATIONSHIP AT THAT POINT.
EVERY TIME I WAS WITH HIM
AND WE DID SOMETHING THAT I
WOULD HAVE HAD TO HIDE FROM
MY HUSBAND, THERE WAS
GUILT.
THERE IS ALWAYS GUILT.
BUT THE GUILT WAS SO MUCH
LESS THAN THE DESIRE.
I HATED MYSELF.
I HATED WHAT I WAS DOING,
BUT I REALLY DIDN'T KNOW HOW
TO GET OUT OF IT.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
I COULDN'T TELL.
IF I TOLD, THEN MY WORLD
WOULD COME CRASHING DOWN.
Reporter: THE AFFAIR
LASTED FOR THREE YEARS,
UNTIL A FRIEND OF SARAH'S
GUESSED HER SECRET, AND
OUTED SARAH TO THEIR
PASTORS.
THE NEXT SUNDAY AFTER
CHURCH, THEIR PASTORS CALLED
CHAD AND SARAH TO THE BACK
OFFICE.
I WAS WORRIED ABOUT ME,
WHAT I WAS DOING.
DID THEY KNOW I WAS LOOKING
AT PORN, AND THAT WE WERE
TOTALLY GETTING HAMMERED ON
THE WEEKENDS.
I'M NOT IN ANY WAY, SHAPE
OR FORM THINKING ABOUT
SARAH.
AND THEY SAID, SARAH, YOU
HAVE SOMETHING TO TELL
CHAD.
I PROBABLY COULD HAVE
KEPT LYING AND BE BELIEVED
BY THEM AND MAYBE EVEN CHAD,
OR I COULD TELL THE TRUTH
AND BE DONE WITH IT, NO
MATTER WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES
WERE.
WHAT I DID IS I DECIDED TO
TELL THE TRUTH.
MY FIRST REACTION -- OR
MY FIRST FEELING WAS JUST
SHOCK.
I DIDN'T KNOW IF I WAS
GOING TO LOSE MY DAUGHTER.
I DIDN'T KNOW IF I WAS GOING
TO LOSE MY HUSBAND.
I DIDN'T KNOW IF I WAS GOING
TO LOSE EVERYTHING
BECAUSE -- BUT -- SORRY.
BUT THAT WAS...BEING DONE
WITH THAT AND BEING RIGHT
WITH GOD AND WITH MY HUSBAND
WAS MORE IMPORTANT.
Reporter: WHILE SARAH
SPENT THE NIGHT AT HER
PARENTS' HOUSE, THE NEXT DAY
THEY MET UP AT THE SCREENING
OF "THE PASSION OF THE
CHRIST."
THEY HAD ALREADY COMMITTED
TO ATTEND THE SCREENING
MONTHS PRIOR.
THE MOST AMAZING THING
HAPPENED, AND WE WERE
SITTING NEXT TO EACH OTHER,
WATCHING THIS FILM, I HAD
JUST CONFESSED TO AN AFFAIR,
AND WATCHING IN GOREY AND
BRILLIANT DETAIL THE BEATING
AND CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS.
I WAS BROKEN UP, BALLING
MY EYES OUT.
I'M SOBBING, AND IT WAS LIKE
THE LORD SORT OF
ORCHESTRATED A MOMENT TO
REMIND ME OF THE EXTENT HE
WENT THROUGH TO RESTORE
RELATIONSHIP WITH ME.
I REALLY COME TO
UNDERSTAND THE GRAVITY OF MY
SIN AND HOW MUCH IT HAD BOTH
HURT JESUS -- IT HURT JESUS,
NOT JUST MY HUSBAND.
BUT IT HAD HURT THE LORD.
HOW COULD I STAND BEFORE
GOD AND SAY THANKS FOR
EVERYTHING YOU DID FOR ME IN
ALL OF MY STUPIDITY, BUT
THIS IS JUST TOO MUCH.
HE WAS VERY SAD, STILL,
BUT HE HAD BEEN BLAMED OF
HIS OWN TRANSGRESSIONS OVER
THE PAST 24 HOURS, AND HE
SAID TO ME --
HOW CAN I NOT FORGIVE YOU
WHEN SO MUCH HAS BEEN
FORGIVEN OF ME?
THAT DAY AND A HALF WAS
THE POINT OF US DECIDING TO
BE DONE -- BOTH OF US, BUT
ME, PARTICULARLY, DECIDING
TO BE DONE WITH AN OLD WAY
OF LIVING, AN OLD WAY, A
SINFUL WAY, A HURTFUL WAY,
AND A SELFISH WAY OF
LIVING.
Reporter: BOTH SARAH
AND CHAD BOTH COMMITTED
THEIR LIVES TO JESUS
CHRIST.
AND CHAD STEPPED DOWN AT
CHURCH WORSHIP LEADER.
IT IS BOTH PEOPLE
COMMITTING, AND COMING TO
THE POINT, NO MATTER WHAT IT
ENTAILS, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE
IT WORK.
WE CUT OUR CABLE.
WE POURED OUT ALL OF OUR
ALCOHOL.
WE STARTED GOING TO MARITAL
MARITAL COUNSELING AND
CHRISTIAN COUNSELLING.
WE CUT ALL OUR TIES.
WE WERE TOGETHER ALL OF THE
TIME.
AS WE GREW TOGETHER AS A
COUPLE IN A PURE WAY, WE
WERE ALSO GROWING CLOSER TO
GOD, TOO.
>
WE DIDN'T FIGHT AND WE
DIDN'T ARGUE.
IT WAS, LIKE, THIS IS
AWESOME.
Reporter: SINCE THEN,
CHAD AND SARAH RENEWED THEIR
WEDDING VOWS.
THEY BOTH REALIZED THAT
THEIR OLD MARRIAGE THAT TO
DIE SO GOD COULD REBUILD A
NEW MARRIAGE.
THE IMAGE I HAVE OF GOD,
WHENEVER I THINK OF GOD, AS
THE SAVIOR, AS THE ONLY
THING THAT HAS EVER BEEN
ABLE TO SAVE ME.
* YOU ARE WORTHY, MORE
WORTHY THAN I KNOW *
THE KEY TO IT ALL IS THAT
YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO DO
WHAT CHRIST DID IN GOING ON
THE CROSS.
YOU THINK OF ONE OF THE
THINGS HE SUFFERED, HE
SUFFERED EMBARRASSMENT, HE
SUFFERED SHAME, THERE WAS
PAIN INVOLVED, THERE WAS
DEATH INVOLVED.
SO IT COMES DOWN TO WHAT ARE
YOU WILLING TO GIVE UP IN
EXCHANGE FOR WHAT HE HAS?
* YOU'RE WORTHY
Terry: IT DOES COME
DOWN TO THAT.
MAYBE ONE OF THE REASONS
THAT IT IS SO DIFFICULT FOR
US TO GIVE UP IS WE DON'T
REALLY EVER DISCOVER OR
THINK ABOUT OR ALLOW THE
TRUTH AND REALITY OF WHAT HE
HAS AND WHAT HE IS TO FULLY
PERMEATE OUR BEINGS, SO WE
SETTLE FOR OTHER THINGS THAT
ARE SO DIMINISHED, SO MUCH
LESS.
WE BUY THE LIES, SO TO
SPEAK.
YOU KNOW, THERE ARE, IN ALL
OF US, THINGS THAT ARE
NEEDS, THINGS THAT ARE
TEMPTATIONS TO US.
AND THE TEMPTATION IS JUST
THAT, IT IS SOMETHING THAT
IS TEMPTING.
LIKE, IT MAKES YOU WANT TO
WANT MORE OF IT.
JESUS SAID HE CAME TO SET
THE CAPTIVE FREE.
WE DON'T HAVE TO BE CAPTIVE
TO THOSE THINGS.
WE WERE NOT CREATED FOR
THAT.
WE WERE CREATED FOR MORE.
SO MUCH MORE.
YOU KNOW, SATAN, GOD'S
ENEMY, IS CALLED THE FATHER
OF LIES.
MAYBE THE BIGGEST LIE HE
TELLS US IS THAT GOD WON'T
BE ENOUGH.
MAYBE THERE ARE THINGS IN
YOUR LIFE TODAY, WHERE
YOU'RE LETTING SOMETHING
ELSE BE AN IDOL IN YOUR
LIFE, INSTEAD OF FINDING
YOUR COMPLETION, YOUR
WHOLENESS, YOUR
SATISFACTION.
IN THE ONLY ONE WHO IS ABLE
TO GIVE IT TO YOU.
YOU KNOW, WE FIND IT IN
RELATIONSHIPS.
WE FIND IT IN SUBSTANCES.
WE FIND IT IN WORK,
SOMETIMES.
SELF-WORTH.
SELF-WORTH, WE'RE ALL
LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT
WILL MAKE US FEEL GOOD ABOUT
WHO WE ARE.
THE BIBLE SAYS THAT WE ARE
CREATED IN THE IMAGE AND THE
LIKENESS OF GOD.
SO WHEN WE COME HOME TO THE
HEART OF GOD, THAT'S WHEN WE
FIND OUT WHO WE ARE, AND
ANYTHING BEFORE THAT IS JUST
A SHADOW OF SOMETHING THAT
IS NOT REAL.
WHY DO WE SETTLE FOR SO
LITTLE WHEN WE COULD HAVE IT
ALL?
TODAY, IF YOU'RE STRUGGLING,
I WANT TO SAY TO YOU, COME
HOME TO THE FATHER HEART OF
GOD.
COME HOME TO THE REALNESS OF
WHAT YOU WERE CREATED FOR.
EVERYTHING ELSE IS A
SHADOW.
JUST A SHADOW.
DON'T SETTLE FOR THE LIE.
GO FOR THE REAL.
IT IS AVAILABLE TO ANYONE
WHO WILL ASK.
JUST COME TO THE LORD AND
SAY, GOD -- GOD, I KNOW I
HAVE FALLEN SHORT OF THE
MARK.
I KNOW THERE IS MORE.
I KNOW I CAN BE SET FREE.
YOU CAN BE SET FREE.
THAT'S GOD'S PROMISE FOR
YOU.
THAT'S HIS ABILITY, HIS
POWER.
THAT'S HIS FUTURE FOR YOU,
TO BE SET FREE, TO WALK IN
WHOLENESS.
JESUS SAID THAT I CAME SO
THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE, AND
HAVE IT ABUNDANTLY.
IF YOU'RE NOT LIVING IT
ABUNDANTLY RIGHT NOW, DON'T
SETTLE FOR LESS.
COME TO HIM IN SAYING, GOD,
-- HUMBLE YOURSELF.
HUMBLE YOURSELF.
OUT THE WINDOW WITH PRIDE,
OUT THE WINDOW WITH ANYTHING
THAT IS A SUBSTITUTE FOR THE
BEST AND THE REAL.
COME AND SPEAK TO HIM.
HE IS YOUR FATHER.
HE IS YOUR DAD.
HE'S GOT SOMETHING WONDERFUL
FOR YOU.
JESUS IS YOUR SAVIOR.
HE SAVED YOU FROM YOUR SINS,
BUT HE WANTS TO BE YOUR
REDEEMER.
HE WANTS TO BUY BACK WHAT
HAS BEEN LOST, AND GIVE YOU
A WHOLE NEW BEGINNING, A
FRESH START WITH AN ABUNDANT
LIFE.
IF YOU NEED TO PRAY WITH
SOMEONE ABOUT THINGS YOU'RE
STRUGGLING WITH IN YOUR OWN
LIFE RIGHT NOW, YOU CAN CALL
THE TOLL-FREE NUMBER YOU SEE
ON YOUR SCREEN.
1-888-777-1999.
THERE IS NO ONE ON THE OTHER
END OF THE LINE THAT IS
GOING TO JUDGE YOU.
JUST A FRIEND WHO HAS FOUND
THEIR OWN FREEDOM AND
ABUNDANT LIFE, AND THEY
WOULD LOVE TO SHARE THAT
WITH YOU AND TO LEAD YOU TO
WHOLENESS.
CALL NOW.
THAT CALL IS FREE.
WHEN WE COME BACK, ONE
HUSBAND TRIES TO DEFEAT HIS
THREE-YEAR BATTLE WITH
DRUGS.
AFTER THIS.
Terry: DRUG AND ALCOHOL
ADDICTION IS A COMMON
PROBLEM IN UKRAINE, AND FOR
THE MAN IN OUR NEXT STORY,
HIS DRUG HABITS SEEMED
IMPOSSIBLE TO OVERCOME,
UNTIL A CHANCE MEETING LED
HIM TO AN "OPERATION
BLESSING" REHAB CENTRE.
Reporter: TODAY SASHA
IS A HAPPY FAMILY MAN WITH A
GOOD JOB.
SO MOST PEOPLE WOULD NEVER
GUESS JUST A FEW YEARS AGO
HE WAS A DRUG ADDICT.
I WOKE UP EVERY MORNING
THINKING ABOUT WHERE I WOULD
FIND DRUGS THAT DAY.
Reporter: SASHA STOLE
FROM HIS FRIENDS AND FAMILY
TO BUYING DRUGS.
EVERY TIME I TRIED TO
QUIT, I GOT VERY SICK.
I WENT TO CENTERS, BUT
NOTHING HELPED.
Reporter: THAT CYCLE
LASTED FOR THREE YEARS,
UNTIL ONE DAY SASHA TALKED
TO AN OLD FRIEND HE HADN'T
SEEN IN A LONG TIME.
THE LAST TIME I SAW HIM,
HE WAS A DRUG ADDICT, TOO,
BUT HE LOOKED GREAT.
I WAS SHOCKED.
I ASKED HIM WHERE HE HAD
BEEN AND HOW HE HAD GOTTEN
BETTER.
Reporter: THE FRIEND
TALKED TO SASHA ABOUT GOD,
AND TOLD HIM ABOUT A REHAB
CENTER SPONSORED BY
"OPERATION BLESSING."
SASHA WENT TO THE CENTER
RIGHT AWAY.
I SAW A BUNCH OF GUYS
THAT USED TO BE ON DRUGS.
THEY WERE RELEASED FROM
THEIR ADDICTIONS AND FREE.
I THOUGHT, I CAN DO THIS,
JUST LIKE THEY DID IT.
I REALIZED GOD WAS MY ONLY
HOPE.
SO I REPENTED AND ASKED HIM
TO FORGIVE ME AND SAVE MY
LIFE.
Reporter: SIX YEARS
HAVE PASSED, AND SASHA IS A
NEW MAN.
HE GOES TO THE CHURCH AND
ALWAYS THINKS ABOUT US.
HE IS A GOOD HUSBAND, AND I
AM SO GLAD THERE ARE PLACES
THAT CAN HELP PEOPLE IN
NEED.
I WAS FREE.
I DIDN'T GO THROUGH
WITHDRAWALS.
I FELT WONDERFUL.
I'M BLESSED WITH A WONDERFUL
WIFE AND DAUGHTER.
PRAISE THE LORD.
THANK YOU FOR SAVING MY
LIFE.
Terry: FOR THREE YEARS
SASHA TRIED TO GET FREE FROM
THAT ADDICTION THAT HE HAD
FORMED, THAT HAD TAKEN HOLD
OF HIS LIFE.
HE HAD GONE TO DOCTORS.
HE TRIED WHAT MEDICAL PEOPLE
HAD TO OFFER, AND NOTHING
SET HIM FREE.
AND THEN HE CAME TO A PLACE
WHERE HE HEARD TRUTH.
WHERE HE WAS WITH PEOPLE WHO
PRAYED WITH HIM, WHO PRAYED
FOR HIM, WHO OPENED THE WORD
OF GOD TO HIM.
AND HE WAS SET FREE.
HE WAS SET FREE.
YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WE SAY,
WHAT AM I TO DO FOR YOU,
LORD?
WHAT CAN I DO TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE TO HELP?
NOT EVERYBODY CAN GO EVERY
OVERSEAS, NOT EVERYBODY IS
CALLED TO.
BUT WE CAN ALL DO
SOMETHING.
BE A CENTER.
YOU, WHEN YOU JOIN "THE 700
CLUB," YOU ALLOW US TO KEEP
MINISTRIES LIKE THIS OPEN
AROUND THE WORLD.
THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT THE "700 CLUB" MEMBERS
ARE DOING.
THERE ARE SOUP KITCHENS.
THERE ARE MEDICAL OUTREACH
PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE
MEDICAL CONDITIONS.
YOU ARE GIVING EDUCATION TO
YOUNG PEOPLE WHO CAN'T
AFFORD IT OTHERWISE.
YOU'RE HELPING FAMILIES WHO
ARE WITHOUT JOBS WITH
MICROENTERPRISE
OPPORTUNITIES.
YOU ARE TEACHING PEOPLE WHAT
IT IS TO WALK WITH GOD.
HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU HAVE A
HEAVENLY FATHER?
ALL OF THAT WHEN YOU JOIN
"THE 700 CLUB."
HOW MUCH DOES THAT COST?
65 CENTS A DAY, $20 A
MONTH.
THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF US
WHO HAVE MADE THIS
COMMITMENT, AND WE'RE
LINKING ARMS TOGETHER TO
TOUCH PEOPLE IN THE NAME OF
JESUS.
WE WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME YOU
INTO THE FAMILY OF
MINISTRIES HERE, AND YOU'LL
BE BLESSED TO FIND OUT HOW
SATISFYING THAT IS TO YOU.
YOU CAN JOIN BY CALLING
1-888-777-1999.
JUST SAY, I WANT TO JOIN
"THE 700 CLUB."
WHEN YOU DO, WE WANT TO SAY
THANK YOU BY SENDING YOU
THIS LATEST TEACHING D.V.D.,
IT'S "LIFE BEYOND THE GRAVE,
PART TWO," AND YOU'RE GOING
TO LOVE THIS.
IT IS VERY, VERY POWERFUL.
MULTIPLE ACCOUNTS OF PEOPLE
WHO DIED.
SOME WENT TO HEAVEN, AND
SOME WENT TO HELL, AND CAME
BACK TO SHARE THEIR STORIES
OF WHAT THEY EXPERIENCED
WHEN THEY VISITED ETERNITY.
AND YOU CAN ALSO JOIN "THE
700 CLUB" BY LOGGING ON TO
CBN.COM.
A SAILOR GOES AWOL AND THEN
TURNS HIMSELF IN.
FIND OUT WHY.
THAT'S NEXT ON "700 CLUB
INTERACTIVE."
Terry: JOHN WYLIE
THOUGHT JOINING THE MILITARY
WOULD MAKE HIM.
INSTEAD, IT WASN'T LONG
BEFORE IT BROKE HIM.
MY MOM WAS MARRIED
ULTIMATELY THREE TIMES
THROUGH MY CHILDHOOD, SO I
HAD A LOT OF DADS COMING AND
GOING.
THE DAD WHO HAD THE MOST
INFLUENCE IN MY LIFE WAS A
VIETNAM VET.
HE TAUGHT ME THAT ONLY
WEAK-MINDED PEOPLE WHO
NEEDED A CRUTCH IN LIFE
WOULD NEED GOD.
AND SO THESE WERE
INSTRUCTIONS, THAT IF I WAS
ANY KIND OF A MAN, I WOULD
GROW UP TO BE A MAN WHO
DIDN'T NEED GOD IN MY LIFE.
BY THE TIME I WAS 15, I LEFT
HOME.
WE WOULD SMOKE POT AND
COCAINE AND SPEED AND
L.S.D.
I WAS FILLED WITH HATE.
I KNEW I WANTED TO GO A
DIFFERENT DIRECTION.
I DIDN'T WANT TO CONTINUE TO
BE THE PERSON I HAD BEEN.
SO WITH ALL OF MY BEST
EFFORT, WHEN I WENT INTO THE
MILITARY, I THOUGHT I WOULD
TURN MY LIFE AROUND.
I FOUND OUT IT WAS EXACTLY
THE OPPOSITE.
I WENT AWOL.
WE WERE CRASHED IN THE MOTEL
ROOM, TRYING TO GET SOME
SLEEP.
THERE WAS A KNOCK ON THE
DOOR, AND THERE IS MY
FRIEND, HIS PASTOR WAS
STANDING AT THE DOOR.
HE LOOKS AT ME, AND HE SAYS,
LISTEN, YOU NEED TO GET
RIGHT WITH JESUS.
YOU NEED TO GIVE YOUR LIFE
TO GOD.
THIS GUY GOES THROUGH THE
PLAN OF SALVATION, AND SAYS,
YOU NEED TO ACCEPT JESUS
CHRIST AS YOUR LORD AND
SAVIOR.
DO YOU WANT TO DO IT?
AND I THOUGHT TO MYSELF,
ANYTHING TO GET RID OF YOU.
I DIDN'T MEAN A WORD OF IT.
I WASN'T CONVICTED, DIDN'T
CARE.
I JUST WANTED THE GUY TO
LEAVE THE ROOM.
HE SAID, IN JESUS' NAME,
AMEN.
AND I SAID, IN JESUS' NAME,
AMEN.
WHEN I SAID AMEN, SOMETHING
HAPPENED.
JUST SO QUICK, LIKE THIS
LITTLE -- THE BEST I COULD
DESCRIBE IT WOULD BE LIKE A
JOLT OF ELECTRICITY, LIKE A
WAVE WENT THROUGH MY BODY,
LIKE THAT.
AS FAST AS IT CAME, IT
WENT.
IT KIND OF SHOOK ME A HAIR.
AND THE GUY LEFT.
AND IT KEP KEPT EATING AT
ME, WHAT WAS THAT?
THAT WAS ODD.
THAT WAS WEIRD.
BUT SOMETHING I NOTICED FROM
THAT DAY, I BEGAN TO FEEL
AWKWARD ABOUT THE THINGS I
WAS DOING.
SO MUCH SO THAT I CAME UP
WITH THE IDEA THAT MY ONLY
OPTION WAS TO TURN MYSELF
IN.
I WAS TIRED OF LOOKING OVER
MY SHOULDER EVERYWHERE I
WENT, AND I DIDN'T WANT TO
SPEND THE REST OF MY LIFE
THINKING THAT THE MILITARY
OR THE F.B.I. WAS LOOKING
FOR ME.
SO I SHOWED UP AT THE GATE,
THE MILITARY GATE, SAYING,
HEY, I'M JOHN WYLIE AND YOUR
LOOKING FOR ME.
YOU COURT-MARTIALED, AND I
WAS SENTENCED TO DO SIX
MONTHS AT HARD LABOR, WHICH
WAS FOR THE SIX MONTHS OF
MONEY I HAD TAKEN.
SO ONE NIGHT, IN THAT DORM
ATMOSPHERE, GETTING READY TO
HEAD TO MY BUNK, AND I SAW
GUYS IN THE CORNER, AND IT
WAS LIGHTS OUT, AND THEY
WERE READING BIBLES WITH
FLASHLIGHTS.
THIS YOUNG MAN WALKED RIGHT
UP TO ME.
AND HE LOOKED ME RIGHT IN
THE EYE.
AS SOON AS HE BEGAN TO
SPEAK, THE MOMENT THE FIRST
WORD CAME OUT OF HIS MOUTH,
THAT FEELING I HAD BEFORE,
WHEN THAT PASTOR WALKED IN
THE DOOR, NOW IT WAS BACK,
BUT IT WOULDN'T GO AWAY.
THERE WAS LIKE ELECTRICITY
SHOOTING THROUGH MY BODY.
AND HE SAID, GOD KNOWS
EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU.
HE KNOWS EVERYWHERE YOU'VE
BEEN.
EVERY WORD WAS A KNIFE INTO
MY HEART.
AND THIS KID LOOKED AT ME
AND HE SAID, HERE'S THE
DEAL: WHAT IF I'M RIGHT AND
YOU'RE WRONG?
YOU NEED TO GO TO BED AND
THINK ABOUT IT.
AND HE JUST SHUT UP AND
TURNED AROUND AND WALKED
AWAY.
AND SO I BEGAN TO THINK
ABOUT WHAT HE SAID.
WHAT HAPPENED JUST NOW?
WHAT WAS GOING ON WHEN HE
WAS TALKING TO ME?
I REALIZED, OH, MY GOODNESS,
WHAT IF THAT WAS GOD?
WHAT IF MY DAD WAS WRONG?
WHAT IF GOD DOES KNOW
EVERYWHERE I'VE BEEN?
WHAT IF IT'S TRUE?
AND THEN THIS FEAR BEGAN TO
GRIP MY HEART.
AND I BEGAN TO REALIZE HOW
MUCH TROUBLE I WAS REALLY
IN, IF THAT WERE, IN FACT,
TRUE.
AND AT THAT MOMENT, I
BELIEVE GOD GAVE ME THE
GREATEST GIFT OF MY LIFE.
MY CONSCIENCE CAME ALIVE.
BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN DEEP
REMORSE CAME TO ME.
AND I BEGAN TO CRY.
I TOOK MY PILLOW AND I
BURIED MY FACE IN MY PILLOW
SO NOBODY COULD HEAR ME, AND
I BEGAN TO CRY.
AND I PRAYED FOR THE FIRST
TIME IN MY LIFE.
AND AS I PRAYED, I FELT LIKE
I WAS FORSAKING MY FATHER
AND MY UPBRINGING.
AND I PRAYED AND THE WORDS
WERE JUST, LIKE, FALLING
DOWN TO THE GROUND.
AND I PRAYED AND I SAID,
GOD, IF IT'S TRUE, IF YOU DO
KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT ME,
AND IF IT IS TRUE THAT YOU
DID REALLY DIE FOR ME, I AM
SO SORRY.
AND I JUST BALLED MYSELF TO
SLEEP.
I WOKE UP THE NEXT MORNING,
AND I WAS A NEW MAN.
I HAD IN ME A PEACE THAT I
CANNOT DESCRIBE TO YOU.
IT IS BEYOND WORDS.
I FELT CLEAN AND FREE.
THE WORLD LOOKED DIFFERENT
TO ME.
AND I SAID OUTLOUD, THE
FIRST WORDS OUT OF MY MOUTH
WAS, THERE IS A GOD, AND HE
HEARD ME.
AND THE MILITARY WAS, LIKE,
HE WAS LIKE THIS AND NOW HE
IS A JESUS FREAK.
SO I WAS DISCHARGED.
THE SHIRT ON MY BACK, $15 IN
MY POCKET, AND THE WHOLE
WORLD IN FRONT OF ME.
AND NOW I'M PASTORING A
CHURCH THAT IS A FUN RIDE.
ITS D.N.A. IS BIRTHED AND
OUT OF THE SIMPLE WAY I MET
JESUS THAT DAY IN PRISON.
AND THIS CHURCH I PASTOR
TODAY, RIVER CHRISTIAN
FELLOWSHIP, WE'RE
SPIRIT-FILLED, AND WE'RE OUT
THERE RAW, IN THE CITY,
RESCUING HOMELESS FAMILIES,
HELPING THE PROSTITUTES,
SHOWING UP AT CITY HALL TO
HELP THE CITY SOLVE THE
PUBLIC WORKS PROBLEMS,
PICKING UP TRASH ON THE SIDE
OF THE HIGHWAY.
PAINTING WIDOWS HOUSES.
REDEEMING ABANDONED
PROPERTIES IN MY CITY.
WHATEVER I SEE IN MY CITY
THAT I'M ACCOUNTABLE FOR
THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED,
THERE IS NOTHING THAT THE
RIVER WOULDN'T DO OUR
WOULDN'T BUY OR WOULDN'T GET
INVOLVED IN WITH WHATEVER
GOD PUTS IN OUR POCKET.
IT IS ALL ABOUT LOVE.
AND LOVE ALWAYS WINS AND
NEVER FAILS.
Terry: FOR GOD SO LOVED
YOU THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY
BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHEN YOU
BELIEVE IN HIM, YOU SHALL
NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE
EVERLASTING LIFE.
THAT'S GOD'S PROMISE TO
YOU.
YOU NEED TO KNOW WHEN YOU DO
WHAT JOHN DID, WHEN YOU SAY
GOD, TAKE MY LIFE.
GOD, IF YOU'RE REAL, SHOW
ME.
GOD, I'M GETTING SERIOUS
WITH YOU.
YOU ARE GOING TO BE
RADICALLY CHANGED.
WHEN JESUS CHRIST REALLY
COMES INTO A LIFE, IT IS NOT
ABOUT HEAD KNOWLEDGE.
IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT WHAT
YOU BELIEVE.
IT IS ABOUT SURRENDERING,
JUST LIKE HE DID.
IT IS ABOUT THAT DEEP
CONVICTION THAT COMES UPON
YOU.
IT IS ABOUT KNOWING THAT YOU
ARE A SINNER IN NEED OF A
SAVIOR, AND ASKING GOD TO
FORGIVE YOUR SINS.
KNOWING YOU DON'T DESERVE
IT, BUT TRUSTING HIS LOVE
AND HIS MERCY AND HIS GRACE,
AND THEY ARE REAL AND THEY
ARE AVAILABLE TO YOU.
THEY REALLY ARE, YOU KNOW.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE
YOU'VE BEEN OR WHAT YOU'VE
DONE.
THE CROSS WAS ENOUGH.
JESUS PAID THE WHOLE PRICE
FOR YOU.
AND NOT ONLY PAID THE PRICE
FOR YOU, WHILE YOU WERE
STILL SINNING, HE WAS SAVING
YOU, BUT NOW WANTS TO GIVE
YOU MORE LIFE.
AND NOT JUST ETERNAL LIFE,
AS THOUGH THAT WOULDN'T BE
BE ENOUGH, BUT WANTS TO GIVE
YOU LIFE HERE, A CHANGED
LIFE.
A LIFE THAT MATTERS.
A LIFE FILLED WITH HIS LOVE
SO YOU CAN TURN AROUND AND
REACH OUT AND LOVE OTHER
PEOPLE.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO KNOW MORE
ABOUT HOW TO GET THAT LIFE,
CALL THE NUMBER THAT'S ON
YOUR SCREEN.
1-888-777-1999.
WHEN THE PERSON ANSWERS ON
THE OTHER END OF THE PHONE,
JUST SAY, I NEED TO KNOW
JESUS.
WILL YOU PRAY WITH ME.
THEY WOULD LOVE TO DO THAT.
AND THEY'VE GOT A GREAT
LITTLE PACKET, ALSO, FOR
YOU.
IT'S CALLED "A NEW DAY," AND
IT WILL HELP YOU LEARN HOW
DO YOU WALK IN THAT
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD
SO THAT YOU TRULY GROW IN
IT.
WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
BEING WITH US TODAY.
WE'VE GOT A GREAT PROMISE
FOR YOU FROM THE BOOK OF
ISAIAH: "YOU WILL KEEP HIM
IN PERFECT PEACE, WHO'S MIND
IS STAYED ON YOU BECAUSE HE
TRUSTS IN YOU."
TRUST IN THE LORD TODAY, FOR
TODAY AND YOUR TOMORROW.
THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.
WE LOVE BEING WITH YOU.
WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT
TIME.
GOD BLESS YOU.
