Gordon: TODAY A C.E.O.
GETS A WAKEUP CALL AFTER HE
GOES UNDERCOVER AT HIS OWN
COMPANY.
WHAT I LEARNED MORE WAS
THE LEADERSHIP CRISIS THAT
EXISTS IN AMERICA.
Gordon: GET THE SECRET
TO HIS SUCCESS.
WHY IS IT SO HARD TO LEAD BY
LOVE.
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.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT JOEL
MANDY, THE C.E.O. OF HERSHIN
FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT SIGNED
UP FOR WHEN HE WAS FEATURED
ON UNDERCOVER BOSS.
VIEWERS WERE SHOCKED TO SEE
WHAT HIS EMPLOYEES REALLY
THOUGHT ABOUT HIM AND THEIR
COMPANY.
AND JUST NOT IN THE WAY
ANYONE EXPECTED.
Reporter: JOEL MAMBI
WENT UNDERCOVER AT SILVER
DOLLAR CITY, ONE OF THE 26
THEME PARKS HE OVERSEASON
THE CBS SHOW "UNDERCOVER
BOSS."
HIS LEADERSHIP STYLE DREW
NATIONAL ATTENTION.
VIEWERS COULDN'T BELIEVE HIS
EMPLOYEES' JOB
SATISFACTION.
IT IS NOT JUST A PLACE I
WORK.
IT IS MY PASSION.
Reporter: AND WERE
PERHAPS MORE SURPRISED TO
SEE A BOSS WHO REALLY
CARED.
I HAVE A LOT OF EMOTION
FOR ALBERT.
I REALLY 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
UPSIDE DOWN.
Gordon: JOEL IS HERE
WITH US NOW, AND WELCOME TO
"THE 700 CLUB."
THANK YOU.
GOOD TO BE HERE, GORDON.
Gordon: WHILE YOU WERE
UNDERCOVER, DID YOU LEARN
ANYTHING ABOUT YOUR
COMPANY?
I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE
COMPANY, BUT WHAT I LEARNED
MORE WAS THE LEADERSHIP
CRISIS THAT EXISTS IN
AMERICA, REALLY.
Gordon: REALLY?
BECAUSE OF 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 THAT CARED ABOUT ITS
PEOPLE.
THEY WISH THEY WORKED FOR
LEADERS LIKE THEY SAW ON
THAT PROGRAM.
THAT WAS THE MOST IMPACTFUL
THING THAT HAPPENED TO ME.
AS A RESULT, I I KNEW THERE
WAS SOME KIND OF LEADERSHIP
CRISIS IN THIS 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.
WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?
I THINK THAT IS EXACTLY
THE PROBLEM.
WALL STREET IS FOCUSED IN A
90-DAY CYCLE.
Gordon: BUT ISN'T THAT
THE NATURE OF THE BEAST.
IF YOU DON'T HIT YOUR
QUARTERLY NUMBERS, YOUR
STOCK PRICES GOING DOWN --
TO APOINT.
BUT I HAVE SEEN 20 YEARS OF
THE GOOD, BAD, AND THE UGLY
IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY, AND
WHAT I HAVE SEEN IS
COMPANIES THAT HAVE TREATED
THEIR PEOPLE WELL.
THOSE PEOPLE PERFORM BETTER
IN THE MARKETPLACE.
THEY MAY NOT CALL IT LOVE.
THEY MAY CALL IT DIGNITY,
TRUST, BUT THOSE COMPANIES
PERFORM BETTER FINANCIALLY.
JIM COLLINS HAS PROVEN IT IN
HIS BOOK.
THEREFORE THE QUARTERLY
RESULTS WILL TAKE CARE OF
THEMSELVES.
ANYBODY CAN BOOST PROFIT
IMMEDIATELY, BUT THEY MAY BE
HURTING THE COMPANY IN THE
LONG-TERM.
THEY'RE DESTROYING THE BRAND
AND DESTROYING THE
EMPLOYEES' TRUST.
YOU HAVE TO PERFORM BY THE
QUARTER, BUT YOU HAVE TO
MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION FOR
THE LONG-TERM.
Gordon: WHY IT IS IT
SEEMS TO BE MORE IN THE TECH
INDUSTRY THAT YOU SEE -- I
DON'T THINK THEY'RE GOING TO
TAKE 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'RE GOING TO HAVE THE CON
CONCIERGE'S SERVICE.
WHY HAS THE TECH INDUSTRY
GOTTEN THIS?
I HAVEN'T ACTUALLY
THOUGHT ABOUT THAT, BUT AS
YOU SAY IT, THE TECH
INDUSTRY IS THE MOST
COMPETITIVE INDUSTRY.
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 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.
AND 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 IS 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 IS
REALLY HARD TO SAY I'M GOING
TO BE A LEADER KNOWN FOR
LOVE.
WE SEEM TO BE MORE
INTERESTED.
I WANT TO BE FEARED MORE
THAN LOVED.
RIGHT.
Gordon: WHY IS THAT?
I THINK YOU'RE CORRECT.
AND I THINK THE REASON IS
PEOPLE ARE 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 SEVEN
PRINCIPLES OF LOVE.
THAT IS THE FACT, BUT PEOPLE
ARE AFRAID OF BEING
PERCEIVED AS SOFT.
BUT 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.
IT IS AN EASIER WAY TO LEAD
BECAUSE YOU JUST FIRE
SOMEBODY QUICKLY IF THEY
DON'T HIT IT.
IF YOU ARE CARING ABOUT HOW
YOUR DECISIONS IMPACT
PEOPLE, IT IS ACTUALLY A
HARDER WAY TO LEAD.
I BELIEVE THAT IS PART OF
THE PROBLEM, THOUGH.
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 ANSWER THERE?
THE MAIN WORD IN THE BOOK
I THINK IS MISPERCEIVED OR
DIFFICULT TO DO IS
TRUTHFULNESS.
THAT ONE OF THE WORDS.
> MOST OF THE LEADERS I
SEE AND HAVE BEEN LED BY ARE
NOT TRUTHFUL.
THEY DON'T REALLY TELL
PEOPLE, HERE IS WHERE YOU'RE
NOT DOING WELL.
HERE IS WHERE YOU'RE
GIFTED.
HERE IS WHERE YOU NEED TO
IMPROVE.
AND IF YOU DON'T, WE'LL FIND
ANOTHER JOB OR ORGANIZATION
WHERE YOU'RE GIFTS ARE
USED.
THOSE ARE TOUGH
CONVERSATIONS.
MOST LEADERS I'VE BEEN
EXPOSED TO IS THEY JUST COME
IN AND FIRE SOMEBODY WITHOUT
HAVING THE TRUTHFULNESS.
Gordon: THOSE
CONVERSATIONS ARE
DIFFICULT.
I KNOW IT.
Gordon: AND THEN YOU
END UP WITH HURT FEELINGS
AND YOU END UP WITH
DEFENSIVENESS, AND YOU END
UP WITH, I'VE GOT TO PROVE
YOU'RE WRONG.
BUT IN MY EXPERIENCE, IF
IT IS HANDLED RIGHT, AND YOU
STILL REINFORCE THE
POSITIVES, YOU GIVE PEOPLE
ANOTHER CHANCE.
HERE IS THE WAY OUT.
I HAVE FOUND IT TO WORK.
I HAVE HAD TO LET PEOPLE GO,
JUST LIKE YOU HAVE --
Gordon: IT'S THE
HARDEST THING YOU HAVE TO
DO.
I'M SICK THE NIGHT
BEFORE --
Gordon: YOU ARE WORRIED
ABOUT THEIR FAMILY AND WHAT
IS NEXT.
IF YOU STOP FEELING LIKE
THAT, YOU STOP BEING A
LEADER.
Gordon: I THINK YOU
STOP BEING HUMAN.
RIGHT, THAT'S A BETTER
WAY TO PUT IT.
I THINK, FRANKLY, IT IS A
MISPEPERCEPTION, BACK TO
WHY DON'T PEOPLE DO IT, IT
IS A MISPERCEPTION OF WHAT
LOVE IS.
IN AMERICA, WE THINK OF LOVE
USUALLY, AND CORRECTLY AS
ROMANTIC LOVE.
BUT AS YOU KNOW, FROM THE
BIBLE, AGAPE LOVE IS A
VERB.
IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH
HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THEM.
YOU CAN BE AGGRAVATED WITH
THEM, BUT YOU CAN STILL
TREAT THEM WITH THE
PRINCIPLES OF LOVE.
WHAT I HAVE FOUND IS WE GET
GREAT FINANCIAL RESULTS AS
WELL.
WE HAVE OUTPERFORMED EVERY
COMPETITOR IN OUR INDUSTRY
FINANCIALLY OVER THE LAST 10
YEARS.
Gordon: I IMAGINE YOUR
CUSTOMER SERVICE IS NUMBER
ONE.
BECAUSE THAT GOES THROUGH.
WHEN PEOPLE FEEL THEY'RE
LOVED AND THEY'RE
APPRECIATED, THEY THEN HAVE
THE RESERVOIR TO SHARE THAT
WITH THE PEOPLE COMING TO
THE PARK.
THAT'S RIGHT.
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, AND 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 HAVE WEREN'T ADAGE IN OUR
COMPANY, PRAISE IN PUBLIC.
I'VE SEEN SO MANY LEADERS
EMBARRASS THEIR EMPLOYEES IN
FRONT OF OTHERS, AND I HAD
IT DONE TO ME IN MY OWN
CAREER SEVERAL TIMES AT
GENERAL MOTORS, BUT DO THAT
PRIVATELY, AND DO THAT IN A
CONSTRUCTIVE MANNER.
AND ALWAYS PRAISE PUBLICLY.
PATIENT IS NOT LOSING YOUR
COOL IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY
ELSE.
DO IT PRIVATELY.
Gordon: LOVE IS
PATIENT, AND LOVE IS KIND.
"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 YOUR
LEADERSHIP STYLE.
AND WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND LOVE
NEVER FAILS, THEN YOU
UNDERSTAND LOVE WORKS.
JOEL, THANKS FOR BEING WITH
US.
THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE IT.
Gordon: COMING UP, A
SINGLE FATHER WITH A NEARLY
IMPOSSIBLE TASK, RUNNING A
SMALL BUSINESS WHILE RAISING
SIX CHILDREN.
SEE HOW HE DOES IT, UP
NEXT.
Gordon: FOR ALBERTO,
LIFE AS A SINGLE DAD IN
GUATEMALA WASN'T EASY.
HE HAD SIX CHILDREN AND VERY
LITTLE MONEY.
BUT WHEN ALBERTO 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 TO
RAISE OUR SIX CHILDREN ON MY
OWN.
I WOULD WORRY ABOUT THEM.
I WOULD RUSH HOME EACH DAY
AFTER WORK.
I WAS VERY SAD EVERY TIME
MY DAD LEFT HOME FOR HIS
JOB.
Reporter: THEN ALBERTO
LOST THIS JOB PROCESSING
SALT, AND THINGS GREW EVEN
MORE CHALLENGING.
THIS IS WHERE THE FAMILY HAS
BEEN FORCED TO LIVE, IN A
SHANTI WITH A DIRT FLOOR AND
WALLS MADE OF PLASTIC BAGS.
WE WERE HUNGRY ONE
NIGHT.
MY DAD DIDN'T HAVE MONEY TO
BUY FOOD.
Reporter: THE FIRST
THING "OPERATION BLESSING"
DID WAS BUILD THE FAMILY
THIS NEW, STURDY HOME, MADE
OF WOOD, ONE THAT WILL
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 THAT 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 SCHOOLS AND SUPPLIES
HE NEEDED TO OPEN 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 "700 CLUB" GOLD,
WHICH IS $40 A MONTH, AND
THERE IS ALSO A THOUSAND
CLUB, WHICH IS $1,000 A
YEAR, AND THAT BREAKS OUT TO
JUST $84 A MONTH.
AT WHATEVER LEVEL GOD IS
SPEAKING TO YOU TO GIVE, TO
BE PART OF IT, CALL US.
WHEN YOU CALL AND JOIN, I'VE
GOT SOMETHING FOR YOU.
IT'S CALLED "GOD'S PLAN FOR
AMERICA."
WE'RE HEARING A LOT OF GLOOM
AND DOOM FOR AMERICA, AND
YOU NEED TO KNOW WHAT GOD'S
PLAN.
HOW HE WANTS TO AFFIRM THE
COVENANT MADE BY HIM WITH
THE EARLY SETTLERS.
HOW WE CAN TURN AND PRAY,
AND HE WILL HEAR IN HEAVEN
AND HEAL OUR LAND.
IF YOU WANT TO BE
ENCOURAGED, GIVE US A CALL.
1-888-777-1999.
UP NEXT, HE IS AN
ENTREPRENEUR WHO HELPED
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.
AND ONE DAY AFTER HE HAD
LOST EVERYTHING, HE WANTED
SOMETHING ELSE.
HE WANTED TO PUT A SHOTGUN
IN HIS MOUTH OF PULL THE
TRIGGER.
Reporter: BRIG HART HAS
FOUND THE SUCCESS MOST
PEOPLE ONLY DREAM ABOUT IT.
BUT BEFORE THAT, BRIG WAS A
KID WITH A SIMPLE DREAM.
MY DREAM WAS TO HAVE MY
DAD'S ATTENTION.
IT WAS AT THE ROOT OF
EVERYTHING.
I WANTED TO HEAR MY DAD SAY
HE WAS PROUD OF ME.
Reporter: THOSE WORDS
NEVER CAME.
WHAT LITTLE ATTENTION BRIG
RECEIVED FROM HIS FATHER WAS
VIOLENT AND ABUSIVE.
MY DAD WAS A HARD, HEAVY
DRINKER.
YOU COULDN'T PLEASE HIM.
SO THAT CAME WITH PHYSICAL
ABUSE, MENTAL ABUSE,
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: BRIG ESCAPED
FROM THE PAIN ON THE BEACHES
OF MARYLAND'S EASTERN
SHORE.
SURFING WAS MORE
IMPORTANT THAN ANYTHING
ELSE, INCLUDING SCHOOL.
I WAS IN SCHOOL PHYSICALLY,
BUT I WAS MENTALLY IN THE
WAVES.
Reporter: AT HOME,
BRIG'S FAMILY WAS DROWNING
IN FEAR.
AT 13, I HAD HAD ENOUGH
OF THE ABUSE.
TO SOME DEGREE, I WAS MORE
SCARED FOR MY MOM.
MYSELF, I COULDN'T DEAL WITH
IT EMOTIONALLY.
I WAS A WRECK.
THERE WAS A DAY, I JUST TOLD
MY MOM, 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: BRIG 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 BECAUSE I HAD TAKEN
SOMETHING.
I HAD GOT INTO BREAKING AND
ENTERING.
I WAS 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 ALSO WAS
THE THING THAT WOULD GET MY
DAD'S ATTENTION, WOULD GET
THE WORLD'S ATTENTION, AS A
WAY TO REDEEM MYSELF.
WE WORKED SEVEN DAYS A WEEK,
EIGHT TO 1 18 HOURS A DAY,
ENDED UP HAVING FIVE SURF
SHOPS.
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.
I WENT INTO DEPRESSION.
Reporter: AFTER HIS
BUSINESS FAILED, BRIG LOST
ALL HOPE.
I JUST DECIDED, I LIVED
MY FULL LIFE.
IT IS TIME TO END IT.
WHO IS GOING TO MISS ME
ANYWAY.
I WAS ESTRANGED FROM MY
PARENTS AND MY OTHER
SIBLINGS.
IT WAS AT A POINT WHERE I
WAS SO DEPRESSED, I SAID I'M
GOING TO TAKE MY LIFE.
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 RANG.
Reporter: THE NIGHT
BEFORE BRIG HAD MET A
CHRISTIAN BUSINESS
BUSINESSMAN NAMED DOUG.
HE SAID, ARE YOU DOING
ANYTHING IMPORTANT RIGHT
NOW?
I SAID NOTHING THAT CAN'T
WAIT.
Reporter: THE TWO MET
THE SAME DAY.
I MET THIS GENTLEMAN WHO
OFFERED ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO
REDEEM MYSELF IN BUSINESS.
I THOUGHT THE ANSWER WAS
MONEY.
HE NOTICED I WAS LIVING IN A
SITUATION WHERE I WAS
PHYSICALLY HUNGRY.
I WAS PROBABLY ABOUT
105 POUNDS.
AND HE FED ME.
AND HE KNEW I WOULDN'T
RECEIVE IT, SO HE WOULD
LEAVE GROCERIES ON MY
DOORSTEP.
HE WOULDN'T TELL ME.
I DIDN'T KNOW FOR A WHILE
WHO IT WAS.
THAT GOT TO ME.
Reporter: ONE DAY AT A
BUSINESS RETREAT, BRIG HEARD
A MESSAGE THAT ALTERED HIS
LIFE.
HE WAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL
BUSINESSMAN, REALTOR, OUT OF
NORTH CAROLINA.
HE DID NOTHING BUT TAKE HIS
BIBLE -- HE TALKED ABOUT THE
NUMBER ONE BEST-SELLER HE
WAS GOING TO READ FROM.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THAT
MEANT.
HE OPENED IT UP, AND HE
DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING OTHER
THAN 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
FOR FOR 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 BRIG.
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.
AND HE SAID, IF YOU BOW YOUR
HEAD AND CLOSE YOUR EYES,
I'LL INTRODUCE YOU TO HIM.
I DID BOW MY HEAD AND I DO
PRAY.
I FELT A WEIGHT LIFT OFF OF
ME.
I CAN'T EVEN EXPLAIN IT.
IT WAS LIKE I WAS
WEIGHTLESS.
Reporter: THAT DAY BRIG
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, AS FAR AS THE EAST
IS FROM THE WEST, THAT I'M A
NEW CREATURE IN CHRIST.
ALL THINGS BECOME NEW.
I HAVE A NEW CHANCE.
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 THE BEER CANS OUT,
EMPTIED MY POT OUT.
I WENT HOME A FREE MAN.
BUT I HAVE 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.
I DIDN'T WANT ANYTHING
ELSE.
Reporter: BRIG SAYS GOD
RESTORED HIS FAMILY.
I WENT TO JUST ABOUT
ANYBODY ANY HAD OUGHT WITH
AND ASKED FOR FORGIVENESS,
JUST LIKE MY MOM AND DAD,
WHO IN TIME CAME TO KNOW THE
LORD BECAUSE THEY SAW IT WAS
REAL.
THEY SAW LIGHT IN THIS
LITTLE GUY.
THIS SURFER GUY WHO GAVE HIS
LIFE TO THE LORD.
Reporter: BRIG PRAYED
FOR GOD TO --
I MADE A COVENANT IF HE
WOULD HELP ME, I WOULD LEAD
OTHERS IN THE LIFE I WAS NOW
EXPERIENCING, HIS NEW HOPE
IN CHRIST JESUS.
IN A YEAR AND A HALF, I NOT
ONLY PAID ALL OF MY BILLS, I
ENTERED IN A FIELD, AN
INDUSTRY, EVIDENTLY THAT GOD
HAD CALLED ME TO, RELATIONAL
MARKETING, THAT WENT TO THE
TOP OF THE FIELD IN A NUMBER
OF YEARS.
Reporter: BRIG'S NEW
BOOK "WHY NOT YOU, WHY NOT
NOW," EXPRESSES PASSION TO
HELP OTHER OTHERS SUCCEED
IN LIFE.
I MINISTER THROUGH MY
BUSINESS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT
GOD HAS CALLED ME TO DO.
IT'S A JOYFUL THING.
I LOVE DOING WHAT GOD HAS
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.
I'M FANATICAL ABOUT MY
FAITH?
WHY?
BECAUSE IT IS ONLY ANSWER IN
THESE TOUGH SOMETIMES.
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
IT.
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?
HE'LL DO IT FOR YOU.
JUST AS HE DID FOR BRIG,
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, 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 BRIG WAS
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 IN,
JUST AS HE DID FOR BRIG.
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.
