Participants: Yvonne Lewis (Host), Ron Porterfield
Series Code: UBR
Program Code: UBR000101S
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00:01 Stay tuned to meet a man that found that in Hollywood
00:03 all that glitters is not gold. 00:05 My name is Yvonne Lewis and you're watching 00:08 Urban Report... 00:30 Hello and welcome to Urban Report... 00:32 My guest today is Ron Porterfield 00:35 Gospel Medical Missionary Evangelist 00:37 with a compelling journey to share... 00:40 Welcome to Urban Report Ron... 00:42 Thank you Yvonne... it's good to be here... 00:43 So good to have you... 00:45 So Ron... you have a really interesting story... 00:49 tell us about where you grew up 00:51 and how you grew up... I grew up in North of Virginia 00:55 a very simple upbringing we weren't rich or anything 01:00 mostly just very simple and grew up with a mother 01:04 that loved God... my mother and my grandmother 01:08 my brother and I... we loved God... 01:09 but we didn't have a real religious upbringing... 01:13 and as time went on I sort of leaned more towards 01:17 media and entertainment and wanting to actually 01:22 to be an actor... to go for a dream in Hollywood 01:25 and so eventually I went in that direction... 01:27 Now, so you grew up basically in a single-parent household... 01:31 Yes... and... so were there 01:34 male mentors in your home or was it mostly your mom 01:38 and your grandmother that influenced you... 01:40 My mom and my grandmother... we had our uncle there 01:42 but he was an alcoholic, he was lovable... 01:46 not violent or anything like that 01:48 but definitely not a mentor... Hmmm... hmmm... 01:50 there were neighbors that had good influences 01:53 but no one right in the home... so having him 01:56 in your sphere of influence, did that impact you later on 02:01 as far as alcoholism or drugs or anything like that? 02:04 Perhaps... I'm sure it had an influence... 02:07 there again... like I said... he was a lovable drunk but 02:11 but nevertheless a drunk... and so I did get into that 02:15 Hmmm... at what point did you get into that? 02:18 It was around 16... right around there... 02:21 with my friends... began to drink... 02:22 and get into marijuana and those types of things... 02:25 Hmmm... you know what I'm finding is that 02:29 those teen years are so pivotal... 02:31 actually... actually the growing years are so pivotal... 02:35 and many times in our communities... 02:38 we're missing that strong male role model... 02:41 Yes... and so, our boys get caught up 02:44 into the peer pressure... gangs and all of that stuff 02:48 and they're looking for some kind of sense of belonging, 02:53 some kind of sense of identity, 02:55 and they just get swallowed up 02:57 into that whole thing... and it's just such a 02:59 trap of the enemy... yes... it is a trap of the enemy 03:04 and I didn't really have the peer pressure part 03:07 but there again... some of my friends were doing it 03:09 they weren't pressuring me but... because I was sort of shy 03:12 just up to release my ambitions and I could come out and 03:15 be freer once I was drinking something 03:18 or smoking something... I felt freer to be 03:21 who I thought I wanted to be... 03:22 Hmmm... hmmm... it's so interesting that 03:27 the media plays such an important part in us 03:31 making the choices that we make. Yes... 03:34 The other day I was watching a program and it was 03:38 these sisters and these sisters were having fun together 03:43 and these are sisters that are in the 03:45 Entertainment Industry I won't say their names... 03:47 but they're in the Entertainment Industry 03:50 and they actually were smoking marijuana... 03:52 and they were in Jamaica 03:54 and they were smoking marijuana, and making it seem like 03:57 it's okay... and I thought, 03:59 "Man, these women... have such influence 04:02 and they're taking that... 04:04 and really making it look 04:06 making something that is really ultimately dangerous, 04:09 making it look like it's fun and it's okay... " 04:13 and so, once again... it's that pull of the media 04:16 into a lifestyle that is not okay... 04:20 All that glitters... in Hollywood... is not gold... 04:23 It's definitely not gold, Yvonne, and you know 04:25 it's about that influence, so where as I thought 04:28 I was doing something... making my own choices... 04:30 and I was making my own choice to go for those things 04:32 but not really realizing as you are talking 04:34 about the media... how much I was being influenced 04:37 I thought I was being myself but that I was really just 04:40 being a puppet... So how did you get into acting? 04:45 What was your journey with that? 04:47 Well, I was in college 04:49 and I saw a friend 04:52 actually, they weren't friends at the time 04:54 I saw two people walking across campus 04:55 and they were being very dramatic 04:57 acting out some part... 04:59 laughing... having a good time and 05:01 there again... I saw that and 05:03 I just became enamored with that 05:05 and I wanted to be able to do that 05:06 so, eventually I went to a 05:09 campus across town 05:10 I auditioned for a part... 05:12 and I got the part... 05:13 I didn't want to do it where I was going to School 05:15 because I thought... well, you know, 05:16 I may make a fool of myself... 05:17 so I thought... 05:18 You didn't want your friends to know or see it... right... 05:20 so it was okay if I went across town 05:22 because no one would know me... you know... so... 05:25 anyway I got the part and got a good review 05:27 and then I came back to where I was going to school 05:30 and then got more parts... and got good reviews 05:32 so I felt more comfortable... so, there again... 05:35 I think it was growing up with a lot of television 05:38 and something about being influenced 05:42 by people portraying different sides of life 05:45 I've always, I guess, been interested in human behavior 05:49 Hmmm... hmmm... and so, I thought it was 05:51 very attractive to me to be able to 05:53 portray different levels 05:56 of humanity... different aspects of humanity 05:58 so I think... that's where the acting 05:59 really, for me, became so attractive... 06:02 Hmmm... hmmm... the ability to show different 06:07 sides of life and society... Yes... 06:11 Yeah and so... you found that you had a gift for it... 06:14 Yes... and so you got... 06:16 you started getting pulled into it... 06:18 Yes... you got this role and that role 06:20 how far did you go with it? All the way to Hollywood 06:23 Did you... okay... how did you get to Hollywood? 06:26 You know, Yvonne, it's interesting that 06:27 even before I went to Hollywood, I had friends 06:30 that would call me "Hollywood" 06:32 That was your new nickname... 06:33 That was my nickname because of the way I dressed 06:35 to go to Hollywood... so, it was amazing 06:37 how that happened but a friend and myself... 06:39 we decided... "Well, you know what... why don't we... " 06:41 he was into musical theatre... 06:42 so we decided... 06:43 "Why don't we just go for a career... 06:45 let's just go for it... " so we loaded up his car 06:47 went across the Country to Hollywood 06:49 and as soon as I got there 06:50 I began to get into acting classes 06:53 and dance classes and I began to audition 06:57 read the trade papers... everything I could do 06:59 to get busy and to be a working actor 07:01 and eventually I got my Union Card and 07:05 started doing some TV shows and commercials 07:07 and lots of theatre... traveling theatre... 07:10 so it got... very busy... 07:11 Where were you spiritually at this point? 07:14 Well, that's an interesting question because 07:17 when I first got there... after being there for a few 07:18 weeks... finding a job and all those necessary things... 07:20 I was there and I said, 07:22 "You know... something is missing. " 07:23 Hmmm... hmmm... and I realized what it was... 07:27 "Oh, I need to go to Church" because I prayed every morning 07:30 I believed in God... my mother raised us up... 07:31 we prayed... we believed in God... 07:34 so, I said, "Yes, I need a Church" 07:36 and so I went and I found a Church... 07:38 I grew up going to Catholic Church 07:40 so I found a Church... got on the bus... 07:42 went to Church... and that first Service... 07:44 that I went to... I had a sense of fulfillment 07:46 Hmmm... the second time I went there... 07:50 it's like... "No, something's missing" 07:53 Hmmm... and I realized, at that time, 07:56 that was the Church that I was used to... growing up 07:59 that I was used to going to with my mother... 08:02 she would take us to Church, and that now... 08:05 something had changed and this... 08:06 no longer worked for me... before it felt fulfilling 08:10 because it was familiar... Right... 08:11 but it no longer worked... so eventually... 08:15 I went into New Age... Eastern Mysticism... 08:18 Let's talk a little bit about that... 08:19 because I have some background in that myself... 08:22 All right... What did you do with the New Age 08:25 Eastern Mysticism and stuff... where did you go with that? 08:27 Oh... lot of books... did a lot of reading at home 08:32 on my own... I actually went to a Church 08:34 that practiced these types of 08:38 Eastern Mysticism practices 08:41 Such as...? Transcendental Meditation... 08:45 the gonging and just even some of the beliefs 08:49 about what happens when we die... 08:51 and some of the chants... some of the different things 08:54 some of the repetitive sayings, and all these types of things 08:57 even a lot of the beliefs about Heaven and Hell 09:02 there's no evil power... evil only comes from the person 09:08 that it's working in and out through... 09:10 I even went to these weekends where I was being 09:15 a part of exercises where they were 09:18 exercising their power... even surrendering my will to be 09:21 to be moved by these types of entities... 09:26 I guess, I could say... So, you began to... 09:31 you were trying to... tell me if I'm right or not... 09:35 you were trying to fill an empty space 09:38 Yes... and you started 09:42 Eastern Mysticism which... in and of itself... 09:45 can be very interesting... and very dangerous... 09:49 Yes... yes... because it pulls you in 09:51 because you want to know more... Yes... 09:52 right and you... and so... it just kind of pulls you in 09:56 and then you... before you know it... 09:58 you're a part of that whole scene... 10:01 That's what happened to me... I mean the first time 10:03 I went to this particular church I walked in as... "I'm home" 10:06 Wow... "I'm home... " 10:08 Wow... But three-and-a-half years later 10:10 as I went to this one service and I saw what was conducted 10:14 and I had... somehow a shift had taken in my mind 10:16 that sounds almost mystic right there... 10:19 and... 10:21 it was almost as if I was watching a parody 10:23 of the whole event... but it wasn't a parody... 10:26 it was real... and so I said... 10:28 "No, I can't go here anymore" and I stepped away from it... 10:31 Did you feel any sense of evil when you were there? 10:34 Did you get any sense of "this isn't right" 10:38 Not for the three-and-a-half years I was going... 10:42 it was on that particular day that I felt that 10:45 "No, this is not right... " then, it wasn't a real 10:49 overwhelming sense of evil... just something was 10:52 strange... something was peculiar 10:53 Hmmm... hmmm... 10:55 so, I had to remove myself from there... 10:57 One of the things that's happening... 10:59 Brother Ron, that I see, is that... 11:01 Satan has all of these different traps for us... right? 11:06 so, one of them is... when you are a person 11:11 that's inquisitive... and you want to know more... 11:15 you can get caught up into these new-age things 11:19 that actually have to do with, you know, 11:21 human potential and meditation 11:25 and this meditation thing is slipping into the Churches 11:28 in the form of spiritual formation 11:30 contemplative prayer and that kind of thing 11:33 and we have to be so careful because the enemy 11:36 is very shrewd... and he is going to do 11:39 what he can to fill that space... 11:42 there's an empty space in all of us 11:44 for God to fill... and if we don't fill it with Him 11:49 something else is going to fill that space 11:51 and that meditation is a dangerous thing... 11:54 because Biblical meditation says... 11:58 "Meditate on the Word... " TM says... 12:03 "Empty your mind... " Right? 12:05 Oh, yes... so, when you participated 12:08 in this... did you ever get any kind of visitation 12:12 or anything like that? I did get visitation 12:16 when I went that one event that I was mentioning 12:20 where I surrendered my will at the beckoning of the 12:23 teacher that was there... I found myself... 12:24 being taken over physically by this... 12:29 whatever it was... this "force" 12:32 and I found myself moving... or being moved... 12:36 and it was not me willing to do this... 12:38 so, that was very strange... 12:41 Yes... and that's what made you decide... 12:44 "Whoa... this is not for me... " Was it that event? 12:47 No, that was... unfortunate... that was later... 12:50 years later that I decided I needed to be 12:55 completely away from all this type of teaching 12:58 this type of "Movement" Yes... yes... 13:03 that whole philosophy... Yes... 13:05 that whole Eastern philosophy that seems so benign 13:09 is not... the whole idea of Yin and Yang 13:12 Hmmm... hmmm... yes... 13:13 it's not benign... 13:14 It seemed so good in the beginning... 13:16 and it seems logical... Yes... 13:18 there should be a balance in everything... 13:20 Right... balance between hot and cold, 13:23 day and night... but never a balance 13:25 between good and evil... I know... 13:27 Right... the Bible says "Eschew evil... " you know... 13:30 "just do the good... " but with that... 13:33 with Eastern Philosophy it's... 13:35 it's "yin and yang balance good and evil... " 13:39 and we've never been called to do that... 13:42 No... no... So, you got out of that... 13:44 praise God... 13:45 the Lord took you out of that really... 13:48 Praise the Lord... yes... and so, what happened after that 13:50 Well... I'm still in the acting, and that's not going so well... 13:54 because I'm pounding the pavement and 13:57 in Hollywood... you've been in Show Business 14:01 well you can have a tendency to be type-cast... 14:04 Hmmm... type-cast for this role, 14:06 this role and this role... you know I had to wear a bandana 14:09 like I wanted to kill a bunch of people 14:10 you know... So, they were putting you 14:12 in the stereotypical role 14:13 for Black males... 14:15 Yeah... yeah... So that's really what... 14:17 yeah... gangster and a thug and all that... 14:19 that type of thing... yeah... so that got really old 14:20 and then what really moved away 14:24 you know... many times... a broken heart or some pain 14:27 sometimes pain gets your attention... 14:29 Yes... Pain... 14:30 Yes... and so... those pains... 14:32 heart pains is what it was... Hmmm... 14:34 I was in a relationship and I thought this was the one 14:38 I felt like... as a matter-of-fact... 14:41 we went to... she asked me to go to church 14:43 with her... it was a very popular church 14:44 actors go to... we went and I don't know what 14:47 that was about... she wasn't really interested 14:49 but she asked me to go... something about that moved me 14:52 I began, then, to be moved closer... 14:54 to have a desire more for the Lord... 14:56 I don't know where it was so much for her... 14:58 she was going the other way... eventually, months later, 15:02 the relationship disintegrated so that was... 15:04 that turned into pain for me... 15:06 pain in the heart... so I began to go on a search 15:09 sometimes the Lord causes... uses... pain to turn up 15:12 the attention... Yes... 15:14 so that's what He did for me... 15:15 and I began to... search... 15:17 "Oh Lord, what is this all about what is life all about?" 15:20 so I sit down... morning after morning 15:22 after morning... reading all those 15:24 spiritualistic books that I had gone through 15:26 years before... cover to cover... 15:28 over again... sometimes some new ones... 15:31 for several months... and I ended up calling a friend 15:34 who was in the Seventh-day Adventist Church 15:36 and asked him so many questions we used to be actors together 15:39 I asked him so many questions, 15:41 and the next morning I called him back... 15:43 and said, "You know what... I want to go to Church... 15:45 I want to be baptized... " and that was the 15:48 start of a new beginning... Praise the Lord... 15:50 so look at how good God is... He used a relationship 15:53 that wasn't going to last, 15:54 but used that to draw you towards Christianity... 15:57 Yes... away from Eastern mysticism... 16:00 and then you started investigating Christianity 16:02 more and thought... "this is what I've been 16:05 looking for... " Yes... 16:06 "This is what I've been looking for... " and then 16:08 the Lord sent a Seventh-day Adventist 16:10 into your path... and then you just started 16:13 going to Church with him... Yes... 16:15 That's tremendous... that is so tremendous... 16:17 so, what has your journey been since... 16:20 since then... how did you stop the acting? 16:22 Well, it was that stereotyping that... pushing toward that 16:30 that type-casting... that really began to 16:33 change my taste about the whole Industry... 16:36 I really began to get put off with that... 16:40 and not only that... to see how 16:42 that... what an influence what a bad influence 16:46 it had painted upon my life 16:47 it was a famous Hollywood producer... said that... 16:50 more than any other influence in his whole life 16:53 more than school... more than his family 16:55 anything... that his preconceptions 16:58 about life had been... irreversibly shaped by 17:00 a place called Hollywood... 17:01 I realized... that had done that... to me... 17:05 so I began to be put off with that... 17:07 and I decided to eventually get into Medical Missionary Work 17:12 Now, how did you... were you interested in health 17:15 prior to the Medical Missionary work... 17:19 I mean... how did you get... 17:21 navigate through all of that? 17:22 Well I had already been... always been interested in health 17:25 it's amazing that a lot of people in the 17:27 Eastern Mysticism are very health conscious... 17:30 Yeah... yes... but even before that 17:32 I was interested and so... 17:34 when my friend started taking me to church 17:36 he was in the Health Ministry and I used to assist him 17:39 and so that was my entry in that way 17:41 and the he eventually left and went to the other church 17:43 and they asked me to take over, so I was into that... 17:45 and then a friend eventually asked me... 17:47 she said, "Have you ever thought about 17:48 Medical Missionary Work...?" 17:50 I said, "No, I don't really know anything about it... " 17:52 so I send off... got some information 17:54 a good friend of ours... she asked me... 17:57 "Have you ever thought about going to Uchee Pines?" 18:00 Ah... and so, she made some calls 18:03 got some information, I sent in my application 18:05 and eventually ended up going there, studying there, 18:08 and I've been there working... ever since... 18:12 In what capacity? Well, I was working as a 18:14 Lifestyle Counselor in the Lifestyle Center... 18:17 and right now I'm working as the Education Director 18:20 in the Education Department 18:21 having the blessing of training other Medical Missionaries... 18:25 Amen... so look at how God brought you 18:29 all along this journey... on this Program 18:33 on Urban Report... I always say that... 18:36 we might not know where God is taking us 18:39 but God has a plan for us, and if we'll just yield 18:43 to that plan... it's exceedingly and abundantly 18:46 more than we can ever ask or think... 18:49 Where are you now, in your heart of hearts 18:53 versus where you were then... 18:55 how is this more fulfilling for you than 18:57 your previous life? 18:59 There was a 180 degree difference... 19:02 before... I did not realize 19:03 while I was trying to be 19:05 independent... I thought I was making my own choices 19:07 and I was making some choices 19:08 but I realized then that... 19:10 as we look at it... there are only two "powers" 19:12 I was being controlled by the power... by the enemy... 19:15 influenced by this great Industry 19:17 and now... the Lord in His love and His grace has 19:22 called me to His marvelous light... 19:23 and so I have a desire now not to put myself 19:27 up front as "The Product" because 19:29 when you're into this Industry, you are "The Product" 19:31 there's a lot about self, self, self... 19:34 and so now, I want to be used by the Lord 19:36 to benefit others... to help others to bring, 19:39 as I read, "This gospel of release from suffering... " 19:43 Hmmm... oh that's wonderful... Yes... 19:46 So you want to take what God has given you 19:50 and implant it into others... so to speak... 19:54 and just share it... so that they can go out and share it 19:57 Yes... So what would you say 19:59 to that young person right now 20:01 that is grappling with going into "Show Business" 20:06 they want to get into that business 20:08 they want to see if they can be "Stars" 20:10 if you would look into that camera... 20:14 and tell some young person... what... 20:17 speak to some young person that's grappling with 20:20 going to Hollywood and wanting to be a "Star" 20:23 You know, Jesus is not looking for us to be actors and models 20:27 what He is looking for is someone to model His behavior 20:31 because... for all of them... God has sent Jesus to redeem us 20:35 and while many 20:37 may want to go to a place like Hollywood 20:38 because they think it's all glamour and all glitz... 20:41 there's a harsh reality... and that is... 20:43 that the enemy of our souls is the one, many times, 20:47 most times... who is influencing all of us 20:50 to go to these places... 20:51 I would say, "Change your mind... " 20:56 I would say, "Lean more towards your Bible... 20:59 ask those who are near to you 21:03 if they can 21:04 help you and that you would not make such a choice as this" 21:09 Thank you... it's good... it's good 21:13 because our kids need to know that it's all about 21:18 choices... Yes... 21:19 so, whatever choice you make, there's a consequence 21:22 to that choice... Yes... yes... 21:24 and I found consequences... 21:26 I found myself involved in drugs... these types of things, 21:30 alcohol... and I was involved with some of that 21:34 before I even went but we're not... really as 21:37 much as in charge... I was not in charge... 21:39 like I thought I was... And you know what... 21:42 that's a good point too Brother Ron 21:44 because I think that many times we think, 21:47 that "Hey, it's my life... I can do what I want to do 21:50 I'm making my own decisions, I am doing what I want to do" 21:54 and yet... we are controlled by... 21:58 well, God allows us to make a choice... 22:01 but if we don't choose God, we are controlled 22:05 by another entity... That's right... 22:07 and I think that's where a lot of our young people 22:09 don't understand... 22:10 it's not them... that's being in control... 22:13 they are being controlled... Yes... 22:16 and I think a lot of times, we don't realize that... 22:18 you know... tell us, if you would, again 22:21 how you think the media shapes values 22:25 because I think... that's important too... 22:27 to know that what you watch... 22:30 is critical... it makes a difference... 22:33 would you share something about that for us... 22:35 Yes... sure... We don't realize that we 22:37 end up actually imitating what we see... 22:40 Hmmm... hmmm... so, one would say that 22:42 "Art would imitate Life" but then they say, 22:45 then that life would imitate art and finally 22:48 that life would draw the very meaning of its existence 22:51 from art... so, what's happening is 22:54 that many are looking to this media 22:57 for a reason for their existence 23:00 if we can see... what's out there... 23:02 if we're looking to that for our existence... 23:04 it's a very shallow existence, a very dangerous existence 23:08 and with morals that are being put forth... 23:11 that are against God, that are very hurtful, 23:14 that will leave us very empty 23:16 at the end of it all... that is so true... 23:19 we are being desensitized... And deceived... 23:22 and deceived... desensitized and deceived 23:25 we're desensitized to immorality, 23:29 because now we're used to seeing certain things 23:32 on the screen... and it's not as offensive 23:35 maybe as it once was... and the more you watch it 23:38 the more accustomed and familiar you get to it 23:42 and the less repugnant it is... 23:44 and that's all part of Satan's plan... 23:46 isn't it? It is... and a word about 23:48 being desensitized... we come into the Church 23:52 you know, things in Church then begins to be 23:54 a little bit more boring 23:55 Hmmm... then we fall asleep when we hear 23:58 words of truth... those don't hold weight anymore, 24:01 but those are the things that are going 24:03 to give us a foundational life 24:05 that is going to take us through 24:07 when we're in pain... we need something greater 24:10 than what we saw on the screen... 24:12 Yes, that is so true... we need something greater 24:16 than what's on that screen because what's on the screen 24:19 is not real... No... when I was going through 24:21 that heartbreak... I may sit down and look at a 24:24 movie to try to escape... but when that movie is over 24:28 then I'm right back there... I needed Jesus 24:31 That's right... He is the key... He is the balm... is he not... 24:35 Yes, that's right... 24:36 So, what are you doing now, tell us about your ministry now. 24:40 Yes, I'm working at Uchee Pines also I have my own ministry LC3 24:43 Lifestyle Counseling for Mind, Body and Spirit... 24:45 and as a result... I've been able to travel 24:48 to many places in the world... 24:49 and to do Medical Missionary Training 24:52 do Seminars and to be able to work one-on-one with people 24:56 sometimes I've been in their homes 24:58 and to be able to help them and it's been 25:01 a wonderful blessing to see how the Lord 25:03 can heal people and to bring them up higher... 25:06 so if someone has a degenerative disease, 25:11 they could call you and you would come there 25:15 as part of the ministry... you come there and assist them 25:17 how does that work? Well, I do more... teaching now 25:20 and Seminars... those types of things... 25:23 so you lecture to groups... you go to groups 25:26 and work with groups... do you do individual consulting 25:28 when you're there at churches... or... 25:30 Yes... I do some of that... Okay... 25:32 Yes, I do some of that... even perhaps some 25:35 on the phone as well... that can be... 25:37 save a lot of time 25:38 and I can reach many people that way... 25:40 so people can e-mail you if they want to... 25:42 we have your e-mail address we can put it up on the screen, 25:46 Hmmm... hmmm... they can e-mail you 25:47 if they want to invite you to their churches... 25:50 Yes... to come and minister... to them 25:52 Yes... That's an amazing blessing 25:55 an amazing blessing... what kind of fulfillment 25:58 does this give you? Well, you know, considering 26:01 I used to be... all about "self" 26:03 like I said... all about self... 26:05 now to be used by the Lord 26:07 to be a blessing to someone else... 26:09 is such a great fulfillment... it gives me a sense of 26:12 a purpose in life... Yes... 26:15 I'm very fulfilled... Yes... 26:17 to see how the Lord can transform 26:20 lives the way He's transformed my life... 26:22 so I thank God for that... 26:24 Amen... and to know that what you're doing... 26:27 when you're walking in your divine destiny... 26:29 this is what you were supposed to do... 26:31 this is what God has put you on the planet to do... 26:34 Amen... and there's nothing better 26:35 than that... what's more fulfilling than that 26:37 to know that this is why you're here... 26:40 It is a wonderful blessing... Amen... amen... 26:43 Tell us in... about 30 seconds, can you give us a 26:45 story of someone that you've worked with 26:47 whose life has been changed as a result of your work... 26:50 Yes... there was a young man just a few years ago, 26:54 and he was there with his wife... 26:56 and he was dying from cancer, and he was a prodigal son 26:59 he strayed away from the Church... 27:01 one day, he was lying in his room dying... 27:03 and I said, "No, I'm not going to let you lie here and die... " 27:05 so I took him outside him and his wife... 27:07 she helped me get him out, and as we're outside... 27:10 and he was looking at the squirrels and the birds 27:12 and I saw a whole change on his face... 27:14 but that morning... he says, "Ron, I'm in agony... 27:17 please pray for me... " and as he asked me that 27:20 I got down to pray... and he began to pray... 27:23 Now, he wasn't a Christian? He had left... 27:26 Okay... yes, he had left the Church... 27:28 this was years before... but as he asked me to 27:31 pray for him... he began to pray earnestly 27:35 asking... pleading for help... well the next week... 27:37 his wife took him home and he died... 27:39 but I strongly believe... that he returned 27:43 to the Lord... and that one day... 27:45 we will see him... in glory... Yes... 27:47 Yes... That is so beautiful... 27:50 Thank you so much for being with us... 27:52 I really appreciate you... 27:54 thank you and your work... God bless you... 27:56 and thank you for being with us... 27:57 Join us next time... because it wouldn't be the same 28:00 without you... |
Revised 2023-10-23