FOR SCORE AND SEVEN YEARS
AGO --
Gordon: THE INCREDIBLE
JOURNEY OF AMERICA'S
GREATEST PRESIDENT.
I'VE MADE A COVENANT WITH
GOD, AND NOW IS THE TIME FOR
THE EMANCIPATION.
Gordon: THE SECRET
BATTLE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
HIS FRIENDS WENT ON
SUICIDE WATCH MORE THAN
ONCE.
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."
THEY CALLED HIM THE RAIL
SPLITTER, AND YET HE IS THE
MAN WHO UNIFIED A NATION.
HE IS ALSO A MAN WHO FAILED
IN BUSINESS, AND YET BECAME
THE MOST SUCCESSFUL
PRESIDENT IN AMERICAN
HISTORY.
TEAMPLET
Terry: IN A NEW MOVIE
BY STEVEN SPIELBERG, ABRAHAM
LINCOLN FIGHTS WITH CONGRESS
AND MEMBERS OF HIS CABINET
TO TRY TO PASS AN AMENDMENT
THAT OUTLAWED SLAVERY.
HE POIGNANTLY ASKED, DO YOU
THINK WE CHOOSE TO BE BORN?
OR ARE WE FITTED INTO THE
TIME WE'RE BORN INTO?
AND HISTORIANS THINK
DESPITE, OR BECAUSE OF
LINCOLN'S HUMBLE BEGINNINGS,
HAD E WAS THE RIGHT LEADER
AT THE RIGHT TIME.
Reporter: ABRAHAM
LINCOLN BEGAN LIFE IN A
SMALL LOG CABIN IN THE VAST
FRONTIER OF KENTUCKY.
HE WAS ONLY GIVEN ONE YEAR
OF FORMAL SCHOOLING.
BUT THAT DIDN'T STOP HIM
FROM GETTING AN EDUCATION.
LINCOLN TAUGHT HIMSELF AND
BECAME A LAWYER AT 27.
YOUNG LINCOLN ONLY SERVED A
SINGLE TERM IN THE U.S.
CONGRESS.
HE LATER RAN FOR THE
ILLINOIS SENATE AGAINST
STEVEN DOUGLAS, AND BECAME A
LEADING VOICE IN THE
ANTISLAVERY MOVEMENT.
LINCOLN LOST THE RACE BUT
STAYED IN POLITICS.
TWO YEARS LATER, HE WAS THE
REPUBLICANS' NOMINEE FOR
PRESIDENT, AND WON THE WHITE
HOUSE IN THE DIVIDED
ELECTION OF 1860.
LINCOLN FACED A TOUGH TASK.
BEFORE TAKING OFFICE,
AMERICA DECLARED THEMSELVES
AN INDEPENDENT NATION, A
DECISION THAT WOULD QUICKLY
PLUNGE OUR COUNTRY INTO A
LONG AND BLOODY CIVIL WAR.
AS COMMANDER IN CHIEF,
LINCOLN FOUGHT TO REUNIFY
AMERICA AND FREE IT FROM THE
STAIN OF SLAVERY.
HE SIGNED THE EMANCIPATION
PROCLAMATION, WHICH FREED
THE SLAVES ON NEW YEAR'S DAY
1863.
HE CALLED IT THE ONE THING
THAT WOULD MAKE PEOPLE
REMEMBER THAT I LIVED.
BY THE END OF THAT YEAR, THE
TIDE OF THE WAR WAS
TURNING.
IN NOVEMBER, HE TRAVELLED TO
A MEMORIAL SERVICE AT
GETTYSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA,
AND DELIVERED ONE OF THE
MOST FAMOUS SPEECHES IN
AMERICAN HISTORY.
FOR SCORE AND SEVEN YEARS
AGO, OUR FATHERS BROUGHT
FORTH ON THIS CONTINENT A
NEW NATION.
AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE
PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, AND
FOR THE PEOPLE SHALL NOT
PERISH FROM THE EARTH.
*
Reporter: AS THE WAR
WAS WINDING DOWN, LINCOLN
BEGAN HIS SECOND TERM IN
OFFICE.
HE PUSHED CONGRESS TO PASS
THE 13th AMENDMENT WHICH
BANNED SLAVERY IN THE UNITED
STATES.
DURING HIS SECOND INAUGURAL
ADDRESS, LINCOLN SPOKE OF A
JUST AND LASTING PEACE.
TRAGICALLY, HE WOULD NOT
LIVE TO SEE IT.
ON APRIL 14, 1865, DAYS
AFTER THE CIVIL WAR ENDED,
JOHN WILKS BOOTH SHOT
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
THE NEXT MORNING, AT
7:22 A.M., LINCOLN DIED.
TODAY ABRAHAM LINCOLN
REMAINS ONE OF OUR MOST
BELOVED PRESIDENTS.
HE NAVIGATED OUR COUNTRY OUT
OF A WAR AGAINST ITSELF.
HE PRESERVED THE UNION.
AND 150 YEARS AFTER THE
EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION,
HE IS REMEMBERED AS A
CHAMPION OF FREEDOM FOR ALL
AMERICANS.
Gordon: WELL, WE ASKED
OUR Facebook AUDIENCE THE
QUESTION: WHO WAS THE
GREATEST PRESIDENT?
ABRAHAM LINCOLN WAS THE
RUN-AWAY WINNER, GETTING
HALF THE VOTES, THEN CAME
RONALD REAGAN, AND PRESIDENT
OBAMA ROUNDED UP THE TOP
FOURTH.
COMING IN LAST WAS MILLARD
FILLMORE.
JOINING US IS STEVEN
MANSFIELD, THE AUTHOR OF THE
NEW BOOK, "LINCOLN'S BATTLE
WITH GOD."
THANKS FOR BEING ON OUR
PROGRAM.
GOOD TO BE WITH YOU,
GARD.
Gordon: WE KNOW HE
LINCOLN HAD HUMBLE
BEGINNINGS, BUT HE RARELY
TALKED ABOUT HIS EARLY
LIFE.
WHY IS THAT?
I THINK IT WAS A PAINFUL
TIME FOR HIM.
HE DID NOT GET ALONG WITH
HIS FATHER.
HE FOUND HIS PARENTS' FAITH
TO BE REVIVALISM.
HE DIDN'T DO WELL IN THAT
TIME.
HE LOST A MOTHER.
HE LOST A SISTER DURING THAT
EARLY LIFE.
I THINK THE COMBINATION OF
THE PAIN, THE EMBARRASSMENT
OVER THE POVERTY IN HIS LIFE
WAS JUST TOO MUCH FOR HIM.
Gordon: ONE THING YOU
TALK ABOUT IN THE BOOK IS
THERE WERE MULTIPLE POINTS
IN LINCOLN'S LIFE WHEN HE
CONTEMPLATED SUICIDE.
I THINK PEOPLE KNEW HE
SUFFERED FROM MELANCHOLY,
BUT THAT EXTREME?
HE WANTED TO KILL HIMSELF?
YES.
IN FACT, HIS FRIENDS WENT ON
SUICIDE WATCH MORNING ONCE.
I THINK THIS HAS BEEN
UNDERSTATED AND
UNDERREPORTED IN LINCOLN
WRITING.
THERE IS A GREAT BOOK CALLED
"LINCOLN'S MELANCHOLY,"
WHICH CORRECTS THE RECORD,
BUT HE WAS A VERY DEPRESSIVE
MAN.
HE DRIPPED MELANCHOLY WHEN
HE WALKED.
HIS SADNESS WAS ETCHED IN
HIS FACE.
PEOPLE WOULD FEEL A CHILL
WHEN THEY WALKED BY HIM ON
THE STREETS.
HE WAS AROUND A LOT OF
DEATHS.
HE SAID HE WAS HAUNTED BY
THE THOUGHT OF RAIN FALLING
ON GRAVES ALL OF HIS LIFE.
SO TWO OR THREE TIMES HE
LOCKED HIMSELF AWAY AND
CONTEMPLATED SUICIDE.
HE WROTE POEMS ABOUT IT THAT
WERE PRINTED IN NEWSPAPERS.
HE BATTLED DEPRESSION, I
THINK, ALMOST ALL HIS LIFE.
Gordon: HIS LIFE SEEMS
TO BE MARKED BY DEATH, IN A
STRANGE WAY HAUNTED BY IT.
FIRST WITH HIS MOTHER AND
THEN WITH HIS CHILDREN.
WHAT DID THOSE DEATHS DO TO
HIM?
WELL, IN THE EARLY DAYS,
WHEN HE WAS THE VILLAGE
ATHEIST, A MAN WHO HAD
REJECTED CHRISTIANITY OR
REJECTED A BELIEF IN GOD, I
THINK THAT DEATH JUST
DEVASTATED HIM.
HE BELIEVED THAT LIFE ENDED
THERE IN THE GRAVE.
AND HE THOUGHT ABOUT HIS
LOVED ONES SMOLDERING IN THE
GROUND WITH NO ETERNITY.
AND IT WAS TOO MUCH FOR HIS
SOUL.
AS HE STARTED TO RECLAIM A
BELIEF IN A SOVEREIGN GOD, I
THINK HE WAS BETTER ABLE TO
HANDLE IT.
THERE WAS STILL GRIEF AND
DARK NIGHTS OF THE SOUL, BUT
NOT BELIEVING THAT LIFE ENDS
AT DUST IN A BOX, AS HE ONCE
SAID, I THINK HE BEGAN TO BE
ABLE TO HANDLE DEATH BETTER,
AND THANK GOD BECAUSE HE WAS
GOING TO DEAL WITH SO MANY
OF THEM DURING THE GREAT
CIVIL WAR.
Gordon: WHAT WAS SORT
OF THE TURNING POINT IN HIS
FAITH?
HE WAS KNOWN AS AN ATHEIST.
HE WAS EVEN CALLED AN
INFIDEL.
AT THE SAME TIME, HE WAS
RAISED IN A STRICT BAPTIST
HOME.
AND THEN SOME OF HIS
WRITINGS, PARTICULARLY AS
PRESIDENT, YOU CAN'T HELP
BUT COME AWAY FROM READING
THEM THINKING HE IS A
PROFOUND MAN OF FAITH.
YES.
Gordon: WHAT LED HIM
FINALLY TO BELIEVE IN GOD?
WELL, I THINK HE RESOLVED
SOME EARLY ISSUES.
FIRST OF ALL, HE REALIZED
THERE ARE MORE STREAMS OF
CHRISTIANITY THAN JUST HIS
PARENTS' FRONTIER,
REVIVALIST KIND.
AND ABRAHAM LINCOLN -- HIS
FRIENDS SAID HE NEVER
STOPPED BELIEVING IN GOD.
IT WAS JUST BECAUSE HIS
MOTHER WAS ILLEGITIMATE, HE
BELIEVED SOMEHOW THIS WAS A
REJECTION OF GOD BY HIM.
HE FELT MARKED.
HE FELT CURSED.
IT IS THAT THING THAT WE
OFTEN TALK ABOUT WITH
ATHEIST, THEY SAY THERE IS
NO GOD AND THEY HIT HIM. HIT-- AND THEY HATE HIM.
LINCOLN WAS ANGRY AT GOD.
AS TIME WENT ON, HE RESOLVED
THAT ISSUE.
THINKING OF THE DAY OF OLDER
SONS BEING SUPERIOR TO
YOUNGER SONS -- HE RESOLVED
THAT.
BUT AS SONS DIED AND
RELATIVES DIED, HE ENDURED
SO MUCH DEATH.
THERE WERE GREAT MEN OF GOD
WHO CAME AROUND HIM.
GREAT PASTORS AND MINISTERS,
WHO SPOKE TO HIM, WHO HELPED
EXPLAIN CHRISTIANITY IN A
RATIONAL WAY HE HAD NOT
HEARD BEFORE.
SO I THINK THESE MEN TURNED
HIM TOWARDS DEEP FAITH.
SO BY THE TIME HE GOT TO A
WHITE HOUSE, HE WAS A MAN
CERTAIN OF A SOVEREIGN GOD
RULING THE UNIVERSE.
Gordon: YOUR BOOK TALKS
ABOUT ONE POIGNANT MOMENT
WHEN HIS SON, WILLIE, DIED
IN THE WHITE HOUSE AFTER A
PRETTY LAVISH BALL PUT ON BY
HIS WIFE.
AND DURING THE FUNERAL, HE
WAS SO STRUCK BY WHAT THE
MINISTER SPOKE ON, HE ASKED
FOR A COPY OF IT AND BEGAN
TO DISTRIBUTE IT TO PEOPLE.
AND THE MINISTER IN THIS
CLOSING PARAGRAPH QUOTES
FROM PSALM 119: "IT WAS GOOD
FOR US TO BE AFFLICTED."
DID HE COME TO A VIEW THAT
LIFE'S AFFLICTIONS CAN
ACTUALLY WORK TO OUR
BENEFIT?
HE DID, ACTUALLY.
HE BELIEVED THAT
PERSONALLY.
AND LIKE SOME OF THE OTHER
GREAT LEADERS IN HISTORY,
LIKE CHURCHILL, FOR EXAMPLE,
WHAT HE WAS ENDURING
PERSONALLY BECAME THE
SOURCE, SO TO SPEAK, OF WHAT
HE OFFERED THE NATION
LATER.
SO LINCOLN RESOLVING THE
FACT THAT SUFFERING COULD BE
REDEMPTIVE, THAT THE HARD
THINGS WE DEAL WITH ARE
TOOLS IN THE HANDS OF GOD,
WHEN HE TRANSLATED THAT ON
TO THE NATIONAL STAGE DURING
THE CIVIL WAR, THAT'S HOW HE
WAS ABLE TO GIVE US THE
SECOND INAUGURAL ADDRESS,
FOR EXAMPLE.
THAT IS HOW HE WAS ABLE TO
SPEAK ANY KIND OF
INSPIRATION TO THE COUNTRY
DURING THOSE HORRIBLE
YEARS.
Gordon: HOW DID HIS
VIEWS ON GOD SHAPE HIS VIEWS
ON SLAVERY?
IT IS INTERESTING.
HE WAS THE MAN ALWAYS
STRUGGLING WITH HIS FAITH,
BUT HE DID SAY A LOT ABOUT
JESUS CHRIST PUBLICLY.
BUT THAT HE CAME TO A VIEW
THERE WAS A SOVEREIGN GOD
WHO RULES IN THE AFFAIRS OF
MEN, AND HE WAS DISPLEASED
WITH SLAVERY IS WITHOUT
QUESTION.
HE ACTUALLY GOT VERY ANGRY
ABOUT SOME OF THE PROSLAVERY
THEOLOGY THAT WAS WRITTEN AT
THE TIME.
HE WAS STILL DOING WORK ON
HIS OWN PERSONAL
CHRISTIANITY, BUT HE WAS
ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THAT
SLAVERY WAS A SIN, THAT GOD
WAS ANGRY ABOUT THAT SIN,
AND HE WAS JUDGING BOTH
NORTH AND SOUTH AS AS A
RESULT.
THAT'S WHAT HE SAYS IN HIS
SECOND INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
Gordon: THAT BECAME, IN
THE SOUTH, SORT OF THE CRY
AND THE AFTERMATH THAT WE
WERE JUDGED BY GOD, AND WE
WERE JUDGED FOR THE BLOOD OF
SLAVERY.
WITHIN JUST THE CIVIL WAR,
AT THE START THE NORTH WAS
ALL ABOUT PRESERVING THE
UNION.
AND THEN AFTER THE
EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION,
THE WAR BECAME ABOUT FREEING
SLAVES.
DID THAT HAVE ANYTHING
PERSONAL FOR LINCOLN AS
WELL?
THERE IS NO QUESTION
ABOUT IT.
AS THE CIVIL WAR BEGAN, THE
UNION HAD MORE MEN, MORE
MATERIAL, MORE MILES OF
RAILROAD TRACK.
IT SHOULD HAVE WON
EVERYTHING, AND IT DIDN'T.
FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, THEY
COULD HARDLY BUY A VICTORY.
LINCOLN WAS BESIDE HIMSELF,
COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT.
HE SPENT MANY DARK NIGHTS
WALKING THE HALLS OF THE
WHITE HOUSE TRYING TO FIGURE
OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON.
HE FINALLY CAME TO THE
CONCLUSION THIS WAR WAS NOT
ABOUT ONE SIDE BEATING THE
OTHER.
IT WAS ABOUT THE JUDGMENT OF
GOD ON BOTH SIDES.
HE MADE A COVENANT WITH
GOD.
AND HE SAID, OBVIOUSLY THIS
WAR IS ABOUT YOUR WRATH
ABOUT SLAVERY.
IF YOU WILL GIVE THE UNION A
COUPLE OF VICTORIES, TO SHOW
ME THIS IS THE TRUE, I WILL
EMANCIPATE THE SLAVES.
AND HE WENT AND SAID, I'VE
SWORN TO GOD IN A SOLEMN
COVENANT I MADE WITH HIM,
NOW IS THE TIME FOR THE
EMANCIPATION.
AND TWO VERY BRILLIANT MEN
WERE THERE TO WRITE THIS
DOWN, WE KNOW IT FOR
CERTAIN.
SO THE EMANCIPATION
PROCLAMATION, WHICH LINCOLN
CONSIDERED HIS GREATEST
WORK, HE DID TO ASSUAGE THE
WRATH OF GOD IN OUR NATION,
AND A SENSE OF A COVENANT TO
GOD.
IT IS A POWERFUL STORY OF
FAITH.
Gordon: HE WAS GETTING
READY TO ANNOUNCE HE WAS A
CHRISTIAN AND MAKE A PUBLIC
PROFESSION OF HIS FAITH, AND
IT WAS SCHEDULED FOR EASTER
SUNDAY IN 1865, AND
TRAGICALLY HE WAS SHOT
BEFORE IT HAPPENED.
IS -- HOW DO WE KNOW THAT?
WELL, THE GREAT STORY IS
THAT THE WAY YOU USUALLY
HEAR THE ASSASSINATION SCENE
IN THE BOX AT FORD'S THEATER
IS THAT LINCOLN AND HIS WIFE
WERE FLIRTING, AND SHE WAS
SAYING, WHAT WOULD THIS
YOUNG COUPLE WITH US THINK.
AND HE SAID, THEY WILL THINK
NOTHING ABOUT YOU HOLDING ON
TO ME.
THAT'S THE USUAL WAY IT
HAPPENS AND HE IS HOT.
MARY LINCOLN SAID AFTER HE
DIED, WE WERE CONTINUING A
CONVERSATION FROM EARLIER
THE DAY AND WE WERE TALKING
ABOUT WHERE WE WANT TO GO
AFTER THE WAR.
AND LINCOLN SAID I DO NOT
WANT TO GO TO SPRINGFIELD.
I WANT TO GO TO THE HOLY
LAND, WHERE THE FOOTSTEPS OF
THE MASTER HAVE TROD.
HIS FINAL WORDS WERE I SO
MUCH WANT TO SEE JERUSALEM.
IN HIS LAST WORDS BEFORE
JOHN WILKES ENTERED HIS
BRAIN, HE TALKED ABOUT THE
FOOTSTEPS OF THE SAVIOR, HE
TALKED ABOUT GOING TO
JERUSALEM AND BIBLE
HISTORY.
THERE IS NO QUESTION HE WAS
ON THE CLOSURE OF A
CHRISTIAN JOURNEY AND THAT
HIS ASSASSINATION CUT IT
SHORT.
WAS HE ALREADY A BELIEVER?
WAS HE SAVED?
THOSE AREN'T THINGS I THINK
WE CAN WITH CERTAINTY
CONCLUDE FROM STATEMENTS
THAT HE MADE, BUT YOU'RE
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
HE WAS HEADING TOWARDS
BAPTISM AND DEEPER CHRISTIAN
SPIRIT.
Gordon: IF THOSE ARE
YOUR LAST WORDS, I'M PRETTY
CONFIDENT YOUR A CHRISTIAN.
THE BOOK IS CALLED
"LINCOLN'S BATTLE WITH GOD,
A PRESIDENT'S STRUGGLE WITH
FAITH AND WHAT IT MEANT FOR
AMERICA."
IT IS A GOOD READ.
I RECOMMEND IT FOR YOU IT
WILL OPEN YOUR EYES TO SOME
THINGS.
STEVEN, THANKS FOR BEING
HERE.
Terry: YOU THINK OF THE
POWER OF ONE PERSON TO MAKE
A DIFFERENCE IS
IMMEASURABLE.
IT CERTAINLY APPLIES TO
HIM.
Gordon: IT IS AMAZING
HOW THE EVENTS OF THIS LIFE
ACTUALLY ENABLED HIM TO BE
ABLE TO GET A NATION THROUGH
THE GRIEF OF THE WAR.
HALF A MILLION YOUNG MEN
DIED, AND JUST THE FAMILIES
HAVING TO DEAL WITH THAT.
IS IT WORTH IT?
Terry: WELL, AND THE
TERRIBLE DIVISION.
Gordon: AND IS THE
UNION WORTH IT?
AND HIM SAYING, NO, WE NEED
TO MAKE A COVENANT WITH
GOD.
WE HAVE TO FREE THE NATION.
THAT'S THE REASON WE NEED TO
COME UPON US.
Terry: MAYBE THAT SHOT
DIDN'T INTERRUPT THINGS.
MAYBE IT BROUGHT ABOUT
EXACTLY WHAT HE WAS SAYING,
HE WANTED TO SEE JERUSALEM.
Gordon: THE VERY NEXT
MOMENT, HE WAS WALKING WITH
THE SAV SAVIOR.
Terry: UP NEXT, WE'LL
TALK TO SOMEONE WHO BECAME A
MODERN DAY EMOLUTIONIST.
Terry: ABRAHAM LINCOLN
SIGNED THE EMANCIPATION
PROCLAMATION 150 YEARS AGO,
BUT VICTIMS OF HUMAN
TRAFFICKING AROUND THE WORLD
KNOW THAT SLAVERY IS STILL
ALIVE AND WELL TODAY.
ONE PERSON WHO IS TRYING TO
STOP THE PRACTICE IS ZACH
HUNTER.
HE HAS BEEN FIGHTING FOR
HUMAN RIGHTS SINCE HE WAS
JUST 12 YEARS OLD.
BASICALLY MY WHOLE LIFE I
HAD KIND OF A STRONG SENSE
OF JUSTICE, WHERE IF SOMEONE
WAS BEING MISTREATED OR
SOMEONE WAS KNOCKED DOWN ON
THE PLAYGROUND, I WANTED TO
GO HELP THEM BACK UP AND SEE
ABOUT WHAT I COULD DO ABOUT
THE PERSON WHO KNOCKED THEM
DOWN.
THAT WAS JUST SOMETHING THAT
WAS KIND OF BUILT INTO ME.
NOT REALLY TRAINED INTO ME,
BUT I FELT LIKE I WAS BORN
WITH THE EXTRA STRONG SENSE
OF JUSTICE.
SO LEARNING ABOUT SLAVERY IN
SCHOOL WAS REALLY HARD FOR
ME.
I JUST GOT REALLY, REALLY
ANGRY ABOUT IT.
ABOUT THE FACT THAT ONE
GROUP OF PEOPLE WOULD THINK
IT IS OKAY TO OWN ANOTHER
GROUP OF PEOPLE BASED ON THE
COLOR OF THEIR SKIN.
THAT JUST BLEW MY MIND.
WHEN I FOUND OUT THERE ARE
MORE THAN 27 MILLION PEOPLE
IN SLAVERY AROUND THE WORLD
TODAY, I KIND OF REALIZED,
WOW, THERE IS STILL
SOMETHING FOR ME TO DO.
I STILL CAN ACTUALLY MAKE AN
IMPACT IN THE WORLD.
A QUOTE FROM ONE OF MY
FAVORITE MOVIES, AMAZING
GRACE, WILLIAM PITT SAYS WE
ARE TOO YOUNG TO REALIZE
THAT CERTAIN THINGS ARE
IMPOSSIBLE, SO WE WILL DO
THEM ANYWAY.
I THINK THAT WAS MENTALITY
AT THE TIME, SO I THOUGHT TO
DO THEM ANYWAY.
THIS IS AN IMPOSSIBLE
PROBLEM, AND I'M NOT SO
DELUSIONAL THAT I THINK I
CAN END MODERN DAY SLAVERY,
BUT I CAN DO SOMETHING.
I TALKED TO MY FRIENDS AND
TALKED TO THE LEADERS AT MY
SCHOOL.
I SAID THIS IS WHAT I WANT
TO DO, I WANT TO RAISE
MONEY.
I STARTED A CAMPAIGN CALLED
"LOOSE CHANGE TO LOOSEN
CHAINS."
IT IS A FUNDRAISER AND
AWARENESS RAISING CAMPAIGN
FOR STUDENTS.
WITH THE CAMPAIGN, THE
STUDENTS WOULD TAKE OVER THE
SCHOOL, THE CHURCH, WHEREVER
THEIR COMMUNITY GROUP IS,
AND SPEAK TO THE GROUP ABOUT
MODERN-DAY SLAVERY, ABOUT
THE FACT THESE ARE KIDS OUR
AGE AND PEOPLE YOUR AGE WHO
ARE IN SLAVERY, PHYSICALLY
IN SLAVERY.
SOME LITTLE GIRLS BEING
FORCED INTO PROSTITUTION.
IT IS A TERRIBLE, HORRENDOUS
SITUATION.
BUT SAYING WILL IS HOPE, AND
THERE IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO
IN RAISING THIS LOOSE
CHANGE.
BECAUSE EVERYBODY HAS LOOSE
CHANGE, AND NOBODY REALLY
WANTS IT.
AND THIS IS A GOOD USE FOR
IT.
THAT WAS BASICALLY THE
PREMISE, COMPLETELY
STUDENT-LED, TO EMPOWER MY
GENERATION.
WHEN I STARTED THE CAMPAIGN,
FOR THEM TO REALIZE THEY CAN
DO SOMETHING AND TO HAVE A
PHYSICAL, LITERAL IMPACT ON
THE SUFFERING IN THE WORLD.
I REMEMBER THE FIRST LOOSE
CHANGE LOOSEN CHAINS
CAMPAIGN WE BROKE THE
CHANGE-COUNTING MACHINE AT
OUR BANK THREE OR FOUR
TIMES.
EACH TIME WE CAME IN THE
DOOR, THEY WERE, LIKE, OH,
NO, IT'S THAT KID AGAIN,
WHICH I'M OKAY WITH.
BASICALLY GET THAT CHANGE
MADE INTO A CASHIER'S CHECK,
AND SEND THAT CHECK TO ONE
OF FIVE NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS WE SUPPORT
THAT ARE LITERALLY FREEING
PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD.
THAT MONEY GOES TO PAY FOR
INVESTIGATORS, AND THEY GO
IN AND DOCUMENT THE CASE,
AND THEN TAKE THAT EVIDENCE
TO THE LOCAL POLICE, RAID
THE PLACE WHERE PEOPLE ARE
BEING HELD, AND GET THEM OUT
AND ARREST THE BAD GUYS AND
TAKE THEM TO COURT.
THE MONEY THAT IS RAISED
WOULD ALSO PAY FOR THE
LAWYERS WHO WOULD PROSECUTE
THE PERPETRATOR AND GET THEM
PUT BEHIND BARS.
AND THE MONEY ALSO PAYS FOR
AFTER CARE FOR THE PEOPLE
WHO ARE FREED FROM SLAVERY,
SO THEY CAN REHABILITATE
THEMSELVES AND HOPEFULLY
BEGIN LIVING NORMAL LIVES,
LIKE EVERY HUMAN HAS A RIGHT
TO.
THE MINISTRY HAS GROWN TO BE
MORE THAN LOOSE CHANGE AND
LOOSENED CHAINS, AND MORE
THAN ME.
IT IS MORE NOW ABOUT HELPING
PEOPLE FIND THEIR PASSION.
IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT IS
MO MODERN-DAY SLAVERY OR IF
IT IS HELPING RAISE MONEY TO
DIG WELLS IN AFRICA, OR
HELPING PEOPLE IN YOUR OWN
COMMUNITY.
THERE IS HURTING
EVERYWHERE.
WE CAN BASICALLY BE THE
SOLUTION, THE HEALING FOR
THE HURTING IN THE WORLD.
Terry: ZACH GETS IT.
HE REALLY GETS IT.
AND HOW WONDERFUL, ISN'T IT,
TO SEE SOMEONE WHO IS
ELOQUENT, WHO IS WILLING.
YOU KNOW, AT A TIME IN HIS
LIFE WHEN A LOT OF KIDS ARE
SORT OF SELF-FOCUSED AND
SAYING WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO
TO BE WHAT I WANT TO BE?
AND HE IS TURNED OUT AND
SAYING WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP
SOMEBODY ELSE.
Gordon: I LOVE THAT
QUOTE, WE WERE TOO YOUNG TO
KNOW IT IS IMPOSSIBLE, AND
SO WE DID IT ANYWAY.
I KNOW IN MY OWN LIFE,
BACK IN MY 30s, I WAS
STARTING MINISTRIES IN ASIA,
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE
TELLING ME WHAT I WAS
PROPOSING WAS ABSOLUTELY
IMPOSSIBLE.
IT WAS INTERESTING TO ME
THAT I TOOK THAT AS A CHELE
CHALLENGE.
OKAY, WITH GOD, ALL THINGS
ARE POSSIBLE, SO LET'S GO DO
THIS.
IT SERVED NOT TO DISCOURAGE
ME BUT TO ENCOURAGE ME.
AND WHAT ZACH IS FACING, I
JUST ADMIRE.
YES, WE CAN MAKE A
DIFFERENCE.
ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A
DIFFERENCE WHEN THAT ONE
PERSON IS HOOKED UP WITH
GOD.
AND WHEN YOU'RE INSPIRED BY
A VISION FROM GOD, NOTHING
CAN STAND IN YOUR WAY.
IF GOD BE FOR YOU, WHO COULD
BE AGAINST YOU?
SO BE ENCOURAGED.
THERE ARE A LOT OF NEGATIVE
THINGS IN OUR CULTURE RIGHT
NOW, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT,
ONCE AGAIN, ARE WE A DIVIDED
NATION?
WE'RE LOOKING AT ECONOMIC
PROBLEMS THAT SEEM
INSURMOUNTABLE.
WE ARE LOOKING AT TERRORISM
THAT DIDN'T EVER SEEM TO GO
AWAY.
WE'RE LOOKING AT THE VARIOUS
THINGS GOING ON IN EUROPE.
IS THEIR ECONOMY EVER GOING
TO TURN AROUND?
A LOT OF DIFFERENT THREATS.
A LOT OF REASON TO BE FULL
OF DOOM AND GLOOM.
BUT WITH GOD, ALL THINGS ARE
POSSIBLE.
AND WE CAN DO IT IF WE JUST
SAY YES AND AMEN TO HIS
PROMISES.
UP NEXT, THE BOY WHO WAS
SOLD INTO SLAVERY BECAUSE
HIS MOTHER COULDN'T PAY A
$20 DEBT.
KOREAN
Terry: WE WANT TO
INTRODUCE YOU TO A TEENAGER
WHO HAD TO WORK AROUND THE
CLOCK BECAUSE HIS MOM
COULDN'T PAY A $20 DEBT.
Reporter: EVERY DAY
AFTER SCHOOL, MAHAM'S
12-YEAR-OLD SON STOPS BY TO
HELP HIS MOM AT THE ROADSIDE
CAFE WHERE SHE WORKS.
WEARING HER TRADITIONAL
BURMESE MAKEUP, HE TOLD US
ABOUT THEIR STRUGGLES.
IT HAS BEEN VERY HARD AND
WE DON'T MAKE ENOUGH MONEY.
Reporter: MATAM IS A
SINGLE MOM.
A SERIES OF EMERGENCIES HAVE
GOTTEN HER INTO DEBT WITH NO
WAY TO PAY IT.
SO HER SON DECIDED TO QUIT
SCHOOL AND GO TO WORK FOR A
LOCAL BAKER.
THE BAKER PAID OFF MATAM'S
DEBT IN EXCHANGE FOR HER
SON'S WORK.
BUT WHAT SHE DIDN'T KNOW IS
HOW BAD HE TREATED HER SON.
HE MADE ME SLEEP IN THE
KITCHEN, WHERE THE MOSQUITOS
BIT ME.
I HAD TO GET UP VERY EARLY
TO WORK AND I WOULD CRY EACH
NIGHT BECAUSE I MISSED MY
MOTHER SO MUCH.
BUT I KNEW I HAD TO KEEP
WORKING THERE WITHOUT PAY TO
PAY BACK OUR DEBTS.
Reporter: MATAM BEGAN
TO PRAY AND ASK GOD FOR A
WAY TO RESCUE HER SON.
I WAS BORN A CHRISTIAN,
BUT IT WAS JUST A RELIGION.
IT WAS NOT UNTIL THIS
HAPPENED TO ME THAT I GREW
CLOSE TO JESUS.
Reporter:
"OPERATION BLESSING" HEARD
ABOUT MATAM'S PLIGHT AND
QUICKLY PAID OFF HER DEBT TO
THE BAKER.
JUST $20 U.S. DOLLARS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO CBN
BECAUSE I CAN NOW STAY WITH
MY MOTHER.
Reporter: AND TO HELP
HER GET BACK ON HER FEET
FINANCIALLY, CBN GAVE MATAM
A GRANT TO START HER OWN,
LARGER CAFE.
THAT HAS MADE IT POSSIBLE
FOR HER SON TO GO BACK TO
SCHOOL.
AFTER THAT BAKERY JOB, I
KNEW I NEEDED TO GO TO
SCHOOL.
NOW MY DREAM IS COMING
TRUE.
ONE DAY I HOPE TO HAVE A
GOOD JOB, TO BE ABLE TO HELP
MY MOM.
Terry: DO YOU SEE HOW
YOU CAN IMPACT PEOPLE'S
LIVES AROUND THE WORLD?
THIS KIND OF ANSWER TO
PRAYER ON BEHALF OF A
MOTHER'S HEART AND A SON'S
HEART IS ANSWERED BECAUSE
PEOPLE JOINED "THE 700
CLUB."
THAT'S WHY WE ASK YOU TO
JOIN WITH US IN MAKING A
DIFFERENCE.
WE ARE TOUCHING LIVES IN
COUNTRIES ALL AROUND THE
WORLD, BRINGING THE MESSAGE
OF GOD'S LOVE AND GIVING
PRACTICAL HOPE AND HELP TO
PEOPLE WHO ARE SOMETIMES
SIMPLY HELD DOWN BY POF
POVERTY.
FOR 65 CENTS A DAY, $20 A
MONTH, YOU CAN BE AN ANSWER
TO SOMEONE'S ANSWER IN
NEED.
GO TO YOUR PHONE AND SAY,
YES, I WANT TO JOIN "THE 700
CLUB."
OUR NUMBER IS TOLL-FREE.
IT IS 1-888-777-1999.
YOU CAN ALSO JOIN WITH US BY
LOGGING ON TO CBN.COM.
WHEN YOU DO, OUR WAY OF
SAYING THANK YOU FOR CARING
ABOUT OTHERS IS TO SEND YOU
PAT'S LATEST TEACHING,
"GOD'S PLAN FOR AMERICA."
WE WANT YOU TO HAVE THIS.
"HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE DAYS
AHEAD."
I THINK IT WILL BE A
BLESSING TO YOU, BUT MOST OF
ALL, I THINK YOU'LL HAVE THE
SATISFACTION OF KNOWING
YOU'RE TOUCHING SOMEONE
ELSE'S LIFE.
Gordon: JOIN IN ON THE
DISCUSSION ON OUR Facebook
PAGE.
THERE IS A LOT ON THE
PRESIDENT AND WHO WAS THE
GREATEST PRESIDENT.
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO BE PART
OF IT.
THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE
FOR THIS PROGRAM.
WE LEAVE YOU WITH A VERSE
THAT AB ABRAHAM LINCOLN
QUOTED RIGHT BEFORE THE
COUNTRY PLUNGED INTO A CIVIL
WAR: "AND IF A HOUSE BE
DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF, THAT
HOUSE CANNOT STAND."
LET'S TAKE THOSE WORDS TO
HEART AS WE FACE A DIVIDED
ELECTORATE IN TODAY'S
AMERICA, AND A DIVIDED
CONGRESS AGAINST AN
ADMINISTRATION, AND LET'S
PRAY, AND PRAY EARNESTLY,
THAT WE WOULD, ONCE AGAIN,
BE ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, IN
DIVIS BELIEVE.
INDIVISIBLE.
I HOPE YOU'RE PRAYING FOR
PRESIDENT OBAMA AND THE
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS THAT WE
CAN COME TO SOME KIND OF AN
AGREEMENT.
IF WE'RE DIVIDED, WE'RE NOT
GOING TO BE ABLE TO STAND.
BUT IF WE CAN COME TOGETHER,
IF WE CAN UNITE, I USE THE
WORD COMPROMISE, THEN WE CAN
SEE A WAY THROUGH.
AND WITH GOD, ALL THINGS ARE
POSSIBLE.
GOD BLESS YOU.
WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN.
