The 700 Club: August 20, 2009

The 700 Club Daily Broadcast Thursday, August 20, 2009 GORDON ROBERTSON: Well, welcome to The 700 Club. Powerful storms are hitting the Midwest in the dog days of summer. Several possible tornados were spotted in one area alone. If you can believe this, the border between Minnesota and Wisconsin. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Yes, and that’s just one area. On the coast, temperatures in some places are over 100 degrees. Jennifer Wishon has this look at the summer’s wild weather. STORMS JENNIFER WISHON: Americans from coast to coast are experiencing extreme weather. Midwesterners are assessing the damage after a night of fierce storms. More than 100 severe weather reports were cited between Minnesota, Kansas and northern Illinois. Man: I could see the clouds spinning, and there were cars ahead of me that were pulled over, so I could tell that something was hitting. JENNIFER WISHON: In Illinois, six people were sent to the hospital with storm related injuries. Many people were caught off guard because, as one forecaster says, the storms didn't look dangerous, until they were. Woman: We actually saw the funnel like just coming. Woman: Trees were falling. Woman: It was like a domino effect. They just kept falling. Then it was like a huge piece of somebody's roof just hit the car. JENNIFER WISHON: Storm watchers spotted at least three funnel clouds around Minneapolis, and at least one tornado was confirmed 30 miles outside the city. Man: I just saw everything flying up in the air. Everything. And it was like dark. JENNIFER WISHON: The owner of this farm in Stanley, Iowa got out of harms way just in time. Jim Fry (Iowa Farmer): I headed to the basement and heard the roof go off the house, and the porch. And I came back out here, and it's a mess. JENNIFER WISHON: One Indiana town weathered a thunderstorm with wind gusts of 100 miles per hour. This apartment building couldn't withstand the pressure. Man: I watched the roof. I watched through my front window, watched the roof go across the street into the other house, and it was pretty wild. JENNIFER WISHON: New Yorkers are still trying to accept these wild scenes. Eighty-mile- per-hour winds tore through the city this week, downing hundreds of century-old trees in Central Park. Meanwhile on both the east and west coasts, Americans are looking for relief from the heat. In the west, several records were broken, including a 105 degree thermometer reading in Roseburg, Oregon. And along the east coast, all eyes are on Hurricane Bill. The storm is expected to strengthen today and could graze the New England coast this weekend. Swimmers from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina northward are warned to beware of rough surf and dangerous rip currents. Jennifer Wishon, CBN News. GORDON ROBERTSON: Well, Hurricane Bill is threatening the coast. The good news is it looks like it’s going to miss the east coast. It may still be on a path to hit Canada and Newfoundland. So please pray for that. I don’t know if I’ve ever heard of a hurricane endangering Canada. So this is wild weather season. TERRY MEEUWSEN: The last few years, the whole El Niño thing has really thrown everything into a tizzy. You’re just getting stuff that you would not normally hear about. It’s unusual. Time to beware. GORDON ROBERTSON: Well, Lee Webb has the rest of our top stories from the CBN Newsroom. Lee. PROP 8 CHALLENGE LEE WEBB: Gordon, a federal lawsuit challenging California’s ban on same-sex marriage will go to trial in January. California voters, of course, passed Proposition 8 last November. That banned homosexual marriage, but homosexual groups said they want to take their case all the way to the US Supreme Court if necessary. Ted Olson (Attorney Opposing Prop 8): This is not a matter of being a conservative or a liberal or a Republican or a Democrat. This is a matter of fundamental human rights and human decency. LEE WEBB: But those supporting Prop 8 say they’re focusing on the will of the voters. Andy Pugno (Protect Marriage): The people have already made their decision. What’s on trial is whether the people were allowed to make that decision, whether they could validly make it. LEE WEBB: The judge calls this case, quote, “a matter of huge importance” for the people of his state and says he doesn’t anything to delay the trial. PARENTS RIGHTS LEE WEBB: A dispute over parenting skills has become part of the health care debate. The House bill calls for the government to send agents into homes to teach people parenting skills. It says, quote, “The state shall identify and prioritize serving communities that are in high need of such services, especially communities with a high proportion of low income families or a high incidence of child maltreatment.” Critics charge that government agencies already investigate abuse cases, and they fear government trained advisors will clash with many parents’ core beliefs about child rearing. ABORTION LEE WEBB: A coalition of pro-life groups has launched an ad campaign to warn Americans that the White House health care plan will lead to taxpayer funded abortion. John Waage reports that the moral case for and against the plan is about to take center stage. JOHN WAAGE: The campaign is sponsored by the Stop the Abortion Mandate Coalition, the largest assembly of pro-life groups ever formed. As provisions of the Obama health care plan became more public, opponents of abortion, euthanasia and rationed care have mobilized to fight what they see as clear danger ahead. Pastor Stephen Broden (Pastor – Fair Park Bible Fellowship): Stand for the unborn. Dr. Gene Rudd (Senior VP – Christian Medical and Dental Assn.): What we’re talking about is life and death. JOHN WAAGE: But the White House is taking the debate elsewhere, downplaying abortion and playing up the moral dimension of treating the uninsured and safeguarding the health of women. Regent University’s Mark Mostert is an expert in the ethical issues of health care. He says prochoice groups have helped the White House switch tactics. Mark Mostert, PH.D. (Inst. for the Study of Disability & Bioethics): Switch it to a maternity issue. This is legislation we need, because insurance companies often discriminate against women in terms of pregnancies and so on. So the debate is going to continue. There is just going to be a different slant to try and get this through. JOHN WAAGE: In Washington, pro-life African American religious leaders warn that the health care plan is immoral and would mean the death of more minority babies. Bishop Harry Jackson (Hope Christian Church, MD): Black, black, black, white. Black, black, black, Hispanic. Black, black, black, white. Black, black, black, Asian. That’s the way this thing is going to go down. JOHN WAAGE: While opponents of the health care plan take to the streets, the airwaves and the Internet, Mostert says prochoice groups will continue to refine their tactics. Mark Mostert, PH.D.: And their agenda is government controlled health care. And once the government controls your health care, then it controls what your doctor may or may not do, and therefore, in an indirect, but a very real way, influence whether people live or die. JOHN WAAGE: John Waage, CBN News. FCC DIVERSITY OFFICER LEE WEBB: A recently created position at the Federal Communications Commission has some conservatives worried. President Obama named Mark Lloyd to be chief diversity officer at the FCC. Conservatives fear he's there to help bring back the Fairness Doctrine, or something like it. That policy used to require broadcasters to offer balanced commentary on controversial issues, but it was abolished by President Reagan. Critics like Seton Motley of the conservative Media Research Center warned that Lloyd is an opponent of free speech on the airwaves. Seton Motley (Media Research Center): And he co-wrote a report in June of 2007 entitled “The Structural Imbalance of Political Talk Radio.” It’s a silly report on its face, because it did not include public radio, which is, of course, very liberal, and then came up with the fatuous number that 91 percent of talk radio is conservative. It then goes on to recommend localism and media diversity enforcement in its broadest possible definitions to basically balance talk radio from his perspective, which is less conservative talk, less Christian talk and more liberal talk. LEE WEBB: The White House, though, says President Obama opposes bringing back the Fairness Doctrine. AFGHANISTAN LEE WEBB: Turnout was low in Afghanistan’s elections. The Taliban threatened to disrupt voting and terrorist attacks did close some polling sites. But authorities say they stopped other attacks. George Thomas has this look at the threats behind the election. GEORGE THOMAS: The home video had all the hallmarks of someone big in the terror world getting ready to speak on camera. It’s nighttime. The images are grainy, the location unknown. A bunch of masked Islamic militants can be seen walking with weapons, some carrying rocket-propelled grenades. In one scene, a man can be seen assembling an IED, or improvised explosive device. Then a few minutes later, the face appears. Gulbuddin Hekmatyar (Afghan Warlord): We will never take part in a puppet government which is controlled by foreign forces. The Kabul government is made of thieves, corrupt people and criminals. GEORGE THOMAS: Gulbuddin Hekmatyar is one of America's most wanted men. He's a well-known Afghan warlord who fought against the Soviets. Hekmatyar warned that the jihad in Afghanistan will continue until all foreign forces have left the country. Gulbuddin Hekmatyar: The foreign forces are why we have war. As long as they are here the war won't end and you won't have security either. GEORGE THOMAS: Hekmatyar claims to have some 25,000 fighters. Some of his men are engaging US Marines and Afghan forces in Taliban strongholds in southern Afghanistan. Meanwhile, the Taliban’s bloody reign of terror continues to keep authorities and citizens here on edge. Man: We work 24/7 to bring security to the people to make sure they can go and vote safely for their next president. GEORGE THOMAS: Explosions and gunfire rang out again, this time near the presidential compound. Across parts of the capital, the streets and shops are empty, partly because of tight security, and partly because people are afraid. Man: People are worried that something may happen. Man: There could be suicide attacks or explosions, but I will go and vote. GEORGE THOMAS: But despite the threats, Afghan officials sounded a tone of resolve. Humayum Hamidzadi (Afghan Presidential Spokesman): The people of Afghanistan will not let this opportunity to decide their future leadership go from them. GEORGE THOMAS: George Thomas, CBN News. DEFICIT “SHRINKING” LEE WEBB: And here at home, the White House reportedly plans to announce that the federal deficit will be smaller than expected this year. The new figure is 1.58 trillion dollars, down from the previous estimate of 1.83 trillion dollars. But the deficit is coming down only because the administration has gotten rid of a 250 billion dollar emergency fund that would have gone to help Wall Street if necessary. Despite being lower than expected, the deficit is still more than three times as big as last year’s. And experts have estimated that the national debt will rise to 20 trillion dollars or more in the next decade, Gordon. GORDON ROBERTSON: That’s right. By 2020, it will be 20 trillion dollars. And what that means is 800 billion a year will come out of the federal budget just to pay the interest on our debt. Eight hundred billion is a big number. And you start wondering, could we still afford a military under that kind of interest debt? But the second thing that’s going on, and this is sort of under the radar, is the way they’re planning to get our way out of this is devalue the currency. And if you’ve been looking at the dollar against certain foreign currencies, the euro, the Australian dollar, the Canadian dollar, it’s been losing ground pretty rapidly. It would be losing huge ground against the Chinese renminbi, except that China is pegging their currency to our dollar. So that’s sort of keeping that arrangement and keeping Chinese goods continue to be cheap in American markets. So that is an unseen tax. Even Keens said it was an unseen tax if you devalue currency. And that’s what’s going on. They’re printing money like nobody’s business. Terry. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Those numbers are hard to wrap your brain around, aren’t they? GORDON ROBERTSON: We had an expert on. He talked about the tyranny of trillions, and just what exactly is a trillion. Well, you could spend 1,000 dollars a day every day from the birth of Christ until now, and you don’t have a trillion, if that gives you an idea of how big that number is. And so that is a lot of money. And these things are adding up at astronomical rates. And if we devalue our currency, that’s going to be, oh, boy. TERRY MEEUWSEN: That’s a big oh, boy. Well, up next, an Israeli woman speaks out four years after she was kicked out of Gaza. Woman: You’re not the same person after you live through this kind of a trauma, where everything in your lifetime was destroyed to a pile of rubble. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Others like her are rebuilding their lives. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GRAPHIC: SUPER BOWL HERO GORDON ROBERTSON: Coming up, meet the junior high teacher who helped the Patriots win the Super Bowl. Long snapper Brian Kinchen joins us live, later on today’s 700 Club. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPOT 1: CANCER CENTERS LAURA Laura Brokow: The doctor came in. I was still waking up from anesthesia. He leaned over my bed and he said, “Laura, you have cancer,” and he walked out of the room. The first thought is, “What’s going to happen to my children?” I knew I was ready to fight this, and I just wanted this cancer out of me. I wanted to take care of it and move on. Then my mom called me. She had seen an ad on TV for Cancer Treatment Centers of America. It was just a tremendous experience from the minute that I walked in the door. Their bedside manner, you just can’t even describe it. It takes a very special person to do what they’re doing. Announcer: Hope is alive at Cancer Treatment Centers of America. Call us now to have a real conversation about you and your treatment options. We’ll send you this free DVD that shows you how this very special group of people put you at the center of everything they do. Laura Brokow: I wanted to live to see my kids grow up. That’s what gave me the drive to fight cancer. They supported that in me. They gave me choices. They made me realize that every life is worth saving. You can’t fight cancer if you don’t have hope. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NEXT DAY PROMO GRAPHIC: AGAINST ALL ODDS GORDON ROBERTSON: Tomorrow. Woman: She says, “Ronnie has been in a serious car accident.” GORDON ROBERTSON: He was clinging to life. Woman: His neck was broken in two places. Man: He had a very low chance of survival. GORDON ROBERTSON: How this woman fought to keep her husband alive. Woman: I just needed to know what it was going to take to get him through the night. * * * GRAPHIC: FIGHT THE FLU GORDON ROBERTSON: Plus, the two supplements you need to fight the flu. Tomorrow on The 700 Club. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GORDON ROBERTSON: As part of his Middle East peace plan, President Obama is demanding that Israel stop building settlements in Jerusalem and the West Bank. But many Israelis say destroying their homes won’t bring peace and that the pullout from Gaza Strip four years ago proves it. Chris Mitchell has that story. FOCUS: GAZA ANNIVERSARY CHRIS MITCHELL: In August 2005, the Israeli government began uprooting Jewish communities in the Gaza Strip. After 30 years of successful building and farming on the sand dunes of Gaza, it took just a week to obliterate Jewish life there. The government hoped that evicting some 9,000 Israelis from the Gaza communities would improve security. Instead, Israel got war. Yoram Ettinger (Fmr. Israeli Liaison to Congress): In exchange, we got more missiles launched at Israel. More missiles have been smuggled into the Gaza Strip since the expulsion of the settlements. And most importantly, most notoriously, it triggered an all out war. CHRIS MITCHELL: Yoram Ettinger, former Israeli liaison to Congress, says the result from four years ago should clearly be on the minds of Israeli leaders today. Yoram Ettinger: The message to the terrorists has been that not only has terrorism paid off, but in fact you get more and more recognition by the international community. CHRIS MITCHELL: Many Israelis have changed their minds about the disengagement. A recent poll showed that 68 percent of those who supported the pullout now think it was a mistake. Hamas has used the former Jewish settlements as training grounds for terrorists. Thriving greenhouses, cultivated by Israelis, were given to the Palestinians, then vandalized or destroyed. Israel spent more than a billion dollars to help evicted residents, but it wasn’t enough. Four years later, more than 95 percent of the former residents are still living in temporary housing. There is also an economic crisis, with 38 percent of the evicted families facing unemployment or underemployment, and hundreds of the evacuees still paying mortgages on homes that were destroyed. Farmers are the hardest hit. Before, more than 400 successful farmers sent their produce to the best markets in the world. Today, only ten percent are still farming. Anita Tucker, one of the pioneering farmers of Gush Katif, has yet to restart their business. Anita Tucker (Former Gaza Farmer): It's not so easy, and you're not the same person after you live through this kind of a trauma in which everything in your lifetime was destroyed to a pile of rubble. CHRIS MITCHELL: Tucker said there were problems with the compensation. It didn't include home and business upgrades or an allowance for the years of lost income. But she says the spiritual things that couldn’t be taken away helped them go on with their lives. Anita Tucker: The spirit and the values, the faith that we managed to salvage. And we’re not going to let anybody destroy it. CHRIS MITCHELL: While some struggle to move on, others are growing produce again in the desert near Gaza. At Halutziot, which means pioneers, 90 Gush Katif families and others from around Israel oversee 500 acres of greenhouses and 3,000 acres of land, growing organic vegetables. Eli Adler (Rabbi and Farmer): Even though things are taking time, and things are not easy, and things are not maybe going as fast as we thought they would go, but things are developing nicely. CHRIS MITCHELL: Eli Adler, a rabbi and farmer, lives with his family in a temporary house, where makeshift bomb shelters line the streets. Eli Adler: Of course, it was very painful for us leaving Gush Katif, but even though whatever we went through, which wasn't simple, our spirit was left with us when we came here, and we're continuing. CHRIS MITCHELL: The former residents of Gush Katif say they are determined to press on with their lives, but they believe that one day they or their children or their grandchildren will return to the Gaza Strip and rebuild. Chris Mitchell, CBN News, Jerusalem. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GORDON ROBERTSON: They’re making the desert bloom in fulfillment of biblical prophecy. But let this be a lesson. We’re looking at two-state solutions now. We’re looking at how can we craft a peace agreement that will be lasting. Understand that we need to go back all the way to the Camp David Accords. What was the key thing that caused that peace to work? Well, it was Anwar Saddat going to the Knesset and saying, “We recognize your right to exist.” And from that basis, you then can form a lasting peace. And we’re not getting that from the Palestinian Authority. We’re certainly not getting that from Hamas or Iran or Hezbollah, any of those groups. And in the turnover of the Gaza Strip, which was all engineered by the last administration, it was all for peace. And they were expecting free and open elections. What did they elect? They elected Hamas. They put a terrorist group in charge. So until you have a fundamental understanding that Israel has a right to exist, it’s going to be peace, peace and still no peace. Terry. TERRY MEEUWSEN: But, boy, the tenacity of the Jewish people is to be admired. You watch from a distance, going, “Wow, amazing.” GORDON ROBERTSON: An Israeli was asked by Queen Victoria, “What’s the proof for the existence of God?” And his response was, “The Jewish people.” Here you have a continuous existence of a culture for 4,000 years, for the past 2,000 years of which there has been no homeland. The only comparable culture that has survived is the Han culture, the Chinese culture. That’s the only one comparable on the planet. And here they have survived without a homeland. That is a miracle. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Yes. It really is. Well, coming up, he beat Michael Chang for the Grand Slam Cup. Man: Within about ten or 15 minutes after this biggest win of my career, I remember thinking, “Wow, that was really over in a hurry. My goodness. Where is the victory lap here?” TERRY MEEUWSEN: Tennis star David Wheaton talks about his breaking point, after this. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPOT 2A: ENCORE DENTAL Spokeswoman: We’re downtown today, campaigning to save America’s teeth, because good dental health is about more than just brushing. Announcer: If you’re one of the millions of Americans without dental insurance, call Encore Dental for affordable, quality dental coverage. Spokeswoman: When was the last time you went to the dentist? Man: Uh . . . . Woman: Like, probably three years ago. Man: Probably back in college. Announcer: Poor oral health can lead to serious illnesses, like heart disease and stroke. Spokeswoman: What’s your excuse? Woman: It’s just too expensive. Woman: I’m self-employed. Spokeswoman: No dental insurance. Woman: None. Announcer: With Encore Dental, you can receive up to 100 percent coverage for preventative care and up to 50 percent on basic and major procedures. Woman: George retired a year ago. George: And when I did, I lost my dental coverage. Announcer: There are no claim forms and no waiting for reimbursement. Call now for a 30-day money back trial period. Announcer #2: Call 1-800-757-4903 now for a 30-day money back trial period. Announcer: Call now, and get an additional ten percent off when you pay by credit card. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPOT 2B: ALERT USA Dr. Joyce Brothers: Hi, I’m Dr. Joyce Brothers. Those of us who are independent and live alone shouldn’t do so without having emergency protection. And for reliability and peace of mind, I recommend Alert USA. Announcer: With Alert USA, if you ever need assistance, just press your pendant to be connected to an operator who can summon help to your home 24 hours a day. Dr. Joyce Brothers: I’ve been giving advice for many years, and I believe Alert USA provides the best emergency support and value for your dollar. Call now for a free brochure. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GORDON ROBERTSON: In 1991, tennis star David Wheaton fulfilled his dream of winning the Grand Slam Cup. But minutes after winning, David was left all alone with one question: “Is this all there is?” Here is reporter Will Dawson with the answer. DAVID WHEATON WILL DAWSON: He wasn’t born with a tennis racket in his hand, but it didn’t take long for David Wheaton to find one. David Wheaton: At the youngest of age, I think I was four years old, I was taken down to the public court just down the street from our house, and my brothers and sister were playing tennis at that time. And my mom just started tossing me balls. I was wearing like a Speedo stars and stripes bathing suit with no other clothes on besides that, with a little cut-off wood tennis racket. WILL DAWSON (Interviewing): Do you have a picture of that? David Wheaton: I think I do, but I’m not going to show it to you. I don’t want to be blackmailed later by it. WILL DAWSON (Reporting): Eventually, David gave in and shared this footage with us. He says childhood was a joy. David Wheaton: Part of that idyllic childhood had to do with the fact that my parents were very strong Christians. And they were very committed in their faith. And they had a purpose in raising all of us to be followers of Christ. And so I really had a great modeling in the home of what it meant to be a Christian. WILL DAWSON: And his parents encouraged him as he developed his tennis game to pursue his dream of becoming a professional tennis player. David made the high school tennis team when he was in the seventh grade. As a freshman, he won the Minnesota state championship. At 15, David was offered a full scholarship to the famous Nick Bollatieri Tennis Academy in Bradenton, Florida, where he competed against other young upcoming stars like André Agassi and Jim Courier. David Wheaton: I was in that realm of being in the very competitive, driven junior tennis world, playing tournaments throughout the year. And it’s a pretty tough scene actually. Tennis was really my focus at that particular time in my life. WILL DAWSON: David won the US Open junior title and achieved a number one ranking on the junior circuit in 1987. The following year, David accepted a tennis scholarship to Stanford, one of the premiere programs in the nation. As a Christian though, David found more challenges in college off the court than on it. David Wheaton: Going to college is hard. You are away from your parents for the first time, the temptations of the flesh on campus, sexual immorality, drugs and alcohol. So going off to college, I went down that sort of partying lifestyle, and I was going down the wrong path. WILL DAWSON: Although David was making poor choices in his personal life, his tennis career was taking off. He helped Stanford win the 1988 national championship his freshman year. From there he pursued his lifelong dream of playing professionally. In 1990, just two years after he turned pro, David won his first major tournament. David Wheaton: I beat Agassi and Lendl along the way to get to the semi-finals of Wimbledon that year, and so it was a very heady time sort of jumping up the ranks quickly. WILL DAWSON: David qualified to play in the year-end Grand Slam Cup. At the time it was the biggest prize money event in the history of tennis. David beat Michael Chang in the finals in front of a worldwide audience. But to his surprise, the thrill of victory quickly evaporated. David Wheaton: Within about ten or 15 minutes after this biggest win of my career, biggest moment of my life in tennis up to that point, most everyone was gone. And I remember thinking, “Wow, that was really over in a hurry. My goodness. Where’s the victory lap here? Am I going to be running around the court or what’s going on?” And I think it was the first time in my life that I really realized that fame, fortune, success, what so many people chase after in life, that wasn’t going to be very fulfilling. WILL DAWSON: That’s when David began to question his purpose in life. David Wheaton: My relationships with my parents were broken because of the way I was living my life. And my relationship with God obviously was very broken. And the relationships I had with other people were not right, and just the things going on in my life had led to me being—yes, I was outwardly successful, but inwardly, I was very conflicted. WILL DAWSON: David turned to the his Bible for answers. David Wheaton: As I began to read the Word and to just be under the conviction of God in my life, I came to realize how much I was offending God with my life and how much I couldn’t change myself. And at that particular time over that month or two period, I came to a point of real repentance in my life, and I committed to following Christ and believed that He was the Savior of my sin, and I trusted to follow Him as Lord. And my life changed immediately and 180 degrees in the right direction. WILL DAWSON: David went on to win four more tournament titles that spanned a 13-year career, including a Wimbledon doubles championship in 2004. Most of his focus these days though is as an author and host of a nationally broadcast radio talk show called “The Christian Worldview.” But of all his successes, there is one David regards more highly than any others. David Wheaton: Being in a right relationship with your Creator, being reconciled to God, this is the highest purpose in life. You can have everything. You can have nothing. But whatever situation you’re in, if you’re not reconciled to your Creator, if you’re not in a right relationship with the God of this universe, you are never going to have a satisfying, fulfilling life on earth. And also, of course, there is the eternal benefit of having eternal life with Christ in Heaven. What’s more important than that? * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GORDON MINISTERS SALVATION GORDON ROBERTSON: What is more important than that? Let me ask you the same question David was asking, “Is this all there is?” Is there something more? Is there something more to life? Maybe you’re like David. You’ve been climbing the ladder of success, and you’ve got high school graduation. You’ve got college graduation. Maybe you went to graduate school and graduated yet again. Maybe you started a career. Maybe you had success. Maybe you achieved. And you’re wondering, “Is this it? Because if this is it, there’s got to be more.” And there is more. You don’t find true satisfaction until you find your Creator. You don’t find your true purpose until you’re in right relationship with Him. And I’m not talking about some homemade spirituality where you have your own version. “I’ll approach God my way.” No. No. You’ve got to realize that won’t get you there. Maybe you’ve tried it, and maybe you have moments, but it hasn’t really gotten you where you wanted to be. Jesus says very clearly, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Me.” And these aren’t my words. These aren’t things that are made up. These aren’t fables. This is what Jesus said when He was on earth. And the amazing thing is that when you accept that and you say, “Okay, Jesus, I want right relationship with you. I want to know you,” then the door opens and you find the way. You find the truth. You find all the things that you’ve been looking for. You find the thing that will satisfy. Now, maybe you’ve tried to satisfy it other ways. And what the world calls partying, what the world calls success, money, things, and all you’ve ended up with is broken relationships. Do what David did. Don’t just ask the question. Look for the answer. And you’ll find the answer in Jesus Christ. And He is the answer to every human need. And He wants to come to you and have a relationship with you so that you can hear His voice. You can be guided by Him. What does it take to have that? A simple prayer. Just ask. If you’re not right with God, if you’re doing things that you know aren’t right, if you know you’re going the wrong way, all you have to do right now is stop, get on your knees, bow your head and say, “Jesus, I’ve tried all the other things. I want to try you. So if you’re there, if you’re real, will you come to me? Will you show yourself to me? Will you forgive me? Will you restore relationship with me?” If you do that, He’ll answer. He’ll come to you. He loves you so much that He died for you so that you could be with Him for all eternity. So if this is for you, bow your head. Pray a very simple prayer and let Jesus do all the rest for you. What He has done for others, He will do for you. Pray with me. “Lord Jesus.” Say it out loud. “Lord Jesus, Jesus, I want to know you. I want to hear your voice. I want to have a relationship with you. And so right now, I turn from all the things that I’ve done wrong. And I say I don’t want to do that anymore. And Jesus, I ask that you forgive me, that you restore me, that you make me new again. And Jesus, I open my heart to you, and I ask that you come in, that you would fill me with your love, fill me with your acceptance and give me the peace that passes all understanding. And Jesus, if you’ll do this for me, I want to follow you all the days of my life. Hear my prayer, for I pray it in your name.” Father, for those who just prayed, I pray a baptism in your love. Let your forgiveness just flow through them. Let them feel your presence, your peace. And, Lord, I ask for a heart of understanding, that they would know you and they would hear your voice, for we ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen. The Bible says if you’ll believe in your heart and then confess with your mouth, you shall be saved. GRAPHIC: 1-800-759-0700 CBN.COM What I want you to do is make that confession, the faith positive confession, by making a toll free call: 1-800-759-0700. Just say, “I prayed that prayer. I asked Jesus to come into my heart.” When you call, we’ve got a free packet for you. It’s called “A Higher Calling.” GRAPHIC: OUR GIFT TO YOU 1-800-759-0700 CBN.COM In there is a CD teaching on how to live the Christian life. We encourage you to get a copy of the Bible. We encourage you to join a local church. We encourage you to spend time every day just asking God to speak to you. You can do it very simply. Say, “Lord, show me a Bible verse today, something to guide me today.” It can be that simple. He will speak to you, be that still, small voice. Get to know Him. That’s the way He speaks is that still, small voice. Make that call. Do it right now: 1-800-759-0700. Terry, over to you. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Still ahead, seven weeks after he left his classroom, this teacher snapped the ball for a game winning field goal in the Super Bowl. GRAPHIC: THE LONG SNAPPER Brian Kinchen will tell us how he did it, on today’s 700 Club. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPOT 3A: COUNSELING CENTER Son: Daddy? Father: Yeah, buddy? Son: How many nickels are in a dollar? Father: There are 20 nickels in a dollar. Son: How do birds fly? Does milk really make my bones stronger? Father: Yeah. Yep. Son: Daddy, when we die, will we go to Heaven? Announcer: Do you have the answer to life’s biggest question? Call The 700 Club. We’ll help you find answers to the important questions life brings your way. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPOT 3B: LIBERTY MEDICAL Announcer: Important news for diabetics on Medicare. Spokesman: I’m a diabetic, and I want you to know over 230,000 US doctors have authorized their patients to receive their diabetic supplies through Liberty Medical. And that begins with the OneTouch Ultra 2 meter, easy to use, fast results, at no additional cost. Liberty helps keep you on track by delivering diabetic supplies to your door and filing your claim. Woman: I never feel I’m going to run out of anything. Woman: With Liberty, I always have someone to talk to, and now, they refill all my prescriptions. Announcer: Call now to receive a diabetic cookbook free. Spokesman: Call to receive the OneTouch Ultra 2 meter at no additional cost and find out why 230,000 US doctors and over a million people with diabetes trust Liberty Medical. Announcer: Liberty. We deliver better health. Call now. Announcer #2: Call Liberty Medical today at 1-800-333-4080. That’s 1-800-333-4080. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * LESBIAN CUSTODY CASE JOHN JESSUP: Welcome to Washington for this CBN Newsbreak. A Virginia mother could face jail time for refusing to allow her seven-year-old daughter to see her former lesbian partner in Vermont. Lisa Miller returns to court this week. Her former girlfriend, Janet Jenkins, has filed another motion to gain custody of Isabella. Miller, the biological mother, conceived Isabella while the two women were living together. Miller became a Christian and does not want her daughter exposed to the homosexual lifestyle. Attorney Mat Staver of the Liberty Counsel is representing Miller. He says the stakes in this case have never been higher. GRAPHIC: ON THE PHONE Mat Staver (Liberty Counsel): The future of Isabella literally now is now hanging in the balance more than so ever before, and Lisa stands the chance of possibly spending time in jail. This is a heart-wrenching situation where the mother, Lisa, knows that putting her child in an activist lesbian environment is harmful for her. Unfortunately, little Isabella is the pawn in this particular agenda for Janet, and Lisa stands to be put in jail and have her own daughter literally ripped away. JOHN JESSUP: Hearings are scheduled Friday in Vermont and next week in Virginia. IDAHO BIBLE RULING JOHN JESSUP: An Idaho state school commission says a charter school can't teach students about the Bible. Nampa Classical Academy said it wanted to teach students about the Bible's influence on literature and history, not to give instruction about religion. The Alliance Defense Fund represented the school. It asked the commission to protect the right of public schools to use the Bible as a teaching tool. But the Idaho Public Charter School Commission ruled that the state constitution limits the use of religious texts. Well, you can always get the latest from CBN News by going to our web site at CBN.com. Gordon and Terry will be back with more of The 700 Club, right after this. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPOT 4: INSURE Announcer: She’ll always be your little girl. You’d do anything in the world for her. But what would her world look like if something were to happen to you? Could she still go to college? Could your family stay in your home? Could she have the same future you’ve always dreamed about? With the uncertainty in today’s economy, there’s never been a more important time to insure your family’s future. Now, with the help of the experts at Insure.com, you can, easily and affordably. The good news is that life insurance prices are at all time lows. In fact, a healthy 40-year-old man can now apply for 500,000 dollars of term life insurance for less than 25 dollars a month. Even if you have an existing health condition, we can still get you competitive quotes. With one phone call, we’ll compare quotes from 25 of the highest rated life insurance companies, and we’ll back them up with our 500-dollar lowest price guarantee. Protect your most valuable investment: your family’s future. Call our experts now, and we’ll send you a free, no obligation price comparison report based on your specific needs. Call today. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NEXT DAY PROMO GRAPHIC: AGAINST ALL ODDS GORDON ROBERTSON: Tomorrow. Woman: She says, “Ronnie has been in a serious car accident.” GORDON ROBERTSON: He was clinging to life. Woman: His neck was broken in two places. Man: He had a very low chance of survival. GORDON ROBERTSON: How this woman fought to keep her husband alive. Woman: I just needed to know what it was going to take to get him through the night. * * * GRAPHIC: FIGHT THE FLU GORDON ROBERTSON: Plus, the two supplements you need to fight the flu. Tomorrow on The 700 Club. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * TERRY MEEUWSEN: Brian Kinchen had played in the NFL for 13 years, and still, he felt like a failure. Then three years after he had left football, Brian got the second chance of a lifetime. SET-UP PIECE ANDREW KNOX: Brian Kinchen was a 38-year-old husband, father of four and a seventh grade Bible school teacher. Then in December of 2003, the hottest team in the NFL called, the New England Patriots. The NFL playoffs were only a few weeks away, and the Patriots needed someone to snap the ball for their punter and kicker. Just seven weeks later, Brian was the long snapper in the dramatic Super Bowl winning field goal by Adam Vinatieri. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GUEST: BRIAN KINCHEN TERRY MEEUWSEN: Please welcome to The 700 Club Brian Kinchen. Brian, it’s great to have you here. Brian Kinchen: Well, thanks for having me. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Does your heart still kind of pound as you watch that video? Brian Kinchen (Former NFL Long Snapper): It does, every time I watch it. It’s the same emotions. But fortunately I know the outcome. TERRY MEEUWSEN: It’s an amazing story. You played in the NFL for 13 years. That’s a dream of most little boys’ hearts. And yet, you felt like a failure at the end of that. Why? Brian Kinchen: Well, I was always a performance-based affirmation guy. I never felt good enough for some reason. I always felt like I needed to do more. I needed to be better. And when you dream growing up to be an NFL star, and then you’re fortunate enough to get that career, there’s this human emotion. You always just want more. And so it’s a feeling I still deal with today. It’s no different than it was then. TERRY MEEUWSEN: So you left the NFL. Now you’re in a teaching position. And what was it, four years after you left, you get a phone call while you’re teaching a junior high class. Tell us about that. Brian Kinchen: Well, yes, it was three years after I had retired. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Three. Brian Kinchen: And I’m 38 years old, a father of four. I’m with a wife that God hand selected for me, and just in a place I felt I was supposed to be, teaching seventh grade Bible. And so the New England Patriots call me, and I’m sitting there thinking, “Football. There’s just no way that you’re actually asking me to come back.” So I wasn’t sure. I wasn’t very sure if I wanted to go. But obviously, everybody that I talked to said I should. And when I found out that they were 12 and two, I changed my mind. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Yes, I was going to say, good team choice. Brian Kinchen: Right. So I took the opportunity, and it turned into a seven week odyssey that was just unbelievable. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Yes. It was unbelievable. Talk a little bit about the position of snapper for people who aren’t football fans. What does the snapper do, and why is that position so pivotal? Brian Kinchen: It’s unusual in the sense that you’re very unnoticed, and you have to basically throw a football upside down with 300 pound guys standing over you waiting to annihilate you. TERRY MEEUWSEN: I had never thought of it quite that way. Brian Kinchen: Yes. It’s very, very unique. And not many can do it and do it well. But now there are 32 of them in the NFL who get paid quite a bit of money to do it. In fact, my son is one at LSU. TERRY MEEUWSEN: No kidding. Brian Kinchen: Yes. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Wow. So here you are, you’re one day in the classroom as a teacher, and the next day you are back in the NFL with the top contender. What kind of psychological culture shock was that? Brian Kinchen: It was very surreal. I remember when Bill told me that I had made the team and I was going to be back. And it’s something I had wanted to do for so long. I wanted to be back, because I didn’t feel like I was ready to walk away. And I had dreams about it time and time again. And it was just so funny, because that dream became a reality of walking into that meeting room for the first time with a bunch of guys I didn’t know. And I was back to where I wanted to be in the NFL. It was an unbelievable feeling. And then to be able to end it the way it did was obviously icing on the cake. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Will you talk a little bit—you mention the seven weeks leading up to the moment we saw in the big game and the last, was it nine seconds, I believe, at the end of that game. But talk about those seven weeks, because it was the dream of a lifetime to go back and have that second chance, but there had to be incredible pressure on you to make this count. Brian Kinchen: Yes, and it almost turned into a nightmare in a sense, because the confidence that I had going in to that tryout and going back was as good as it had ever been. But it was funny how in those five weeks, which I did fairly well, but when we got ready for Super Bowl week, which was a two week process, I just began to do things and throw snaps that I just had never done before. And so all my confidence was slowly being eroded through the process. But God had a plan in the midst of it all, which I was not really oblivious to and not real happy about. TERRY MEEUWSEN: As you were going through those last two weeks and you were getting ready and you felt like your snap was a little bit off and the ball wasn’t going where you wanted it to, what was going through your mind? How did you keep your heart and your mind in the right place? Brian Kinchen: Well, I just kept asking God why. I just didn’t understand, because I felt like I was where I needed to be, teaching. And then I got the call. I prayed about it. I felt like that’s where I needed to go. And then I’m there, and I’m in this torment of not being able to do what I had done so well for so long without even a thought, and going into the biggest stage of all professional sports. And so I couldn’t see the end as God did. And I just had to understand that God had a plan. There was a reason. And certainly it was revealed at the end. TERRY MEEUWSEN: You went into teaching after you had left the NFL. And sometimes we make a decision based on what we feel our calling is. But you had a lot of unresolved issues about your athletic career. Did you really appreciate the opportunity in the teaching thing until after you had a chance to go back and do the football again? Brian Kinchen: I think it gave me certainly an added perspective. But for me, once my career ended and my success part of my life I felt was over, then it was a shift to significance. And so what other way is there to impact the world than through young people in teaching and coaching? TERRY MEEUWSEN: So did going back to teaching then have a whole new perspective for you once you’d had the second chance? Brian Kinchen: I think it did. It did. But I had always known that my career or even a game like that wouldn’t change who I was. It wouldn’t make me any different. But the beauty of it was that I got to experience the reality of being a part of the greatest championship in all of football and to be able to see the reality that you know what, it doesn’t make a difference. There is nothing at the end of the rainbow that should change me, because if my feet are firmly planted in the Word of God and I understand who I am in His eyes, that nothing should change that. TERRY MEEUWSEN: What we haven’t mentioned here that we should mention is not only was this the opportunity of a lifetime, not only did you get picked up by the team to be picked up by, but in that final game, you were playing the Carolina Panthers, the very team that had cut you. What kind of pressure did that put on you? Brian Kinchen: It was ironic, but I don’t know that I felt vengeful, because if I surely commit to that God has a plan for my life, I can’t really hold people accountable, because it’s what He wanted to happen and the way He wanted it to work out. So it was really amazing that it ended like that. It just kind of adds to the story that really wrote itself pretty much. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Will you talk about those moments of that game? As you’re sitting on the sideline, here you are, you’re in the Super Bowl, for heaven’s sakes, in this second shot at the whole thing. When did you realize that the whole thing was going to fall into your lap and count on your skill? Brian Kinchen: I was trying to avoid that. I had prayed all week that God would not allow that to happen, because I was so depleted of everything that I had. And the amazing thing about it was, as I talked about, God had stripped away all the confidence I had. And so going out there, it’s almost surreal in retrospect, because I had no confidence of being able to get that football where it needed to go. And I told my father right when that play was over, right when that game was over, that I felt like Gideon, because God, like He did with Gideon, stripped away all of his army down to 300 guys, so that Israel couldn’t take credit for it. And so I told him I felt the exact same way, because I have no stake or no claim to be able to say that it was me that got that ball back there. It was only by the grace of God that that ball got where it did and we ended up winning that football game. TERRY MEEUWSEN: That was an incredible moment. Let’s take a look at your Super Bowl ring. I feel like I need to come over there with a forklift and lift your hand up, so we can look at this. Brian Kinchen: Yes, the ring is a great, great symbol. And everybody talks about getting the ring. And for me, the ring obviously is a wonderful reward for what we’re able to be a part of. But I think the beauty of it is that it gives me a platform unlike anything else, to be able to go and to share the message of the story and my faith. TERRY MEEUWSEN: And what are you doing today? Brian Kinchen: Just trying to get used to teaching and getting in the routine again, because I’d kind of been on my own for a while, obviously traveling and speaking about the experience. And this book that we’ve been working on for the last year has been consuming us, because it’s a message that transcends all areas of life. And it’s a great sports narrative. And then the element of what I was going through and the way that God used that to enlighten me was just incredible. TERRY MEEUWSEN: It is another amazing picture of the fact that our God is the God of the second chance and that He uses us when we least expect it in amazing ways. The book about Brian Kinchen’s life is called The Long Snapper. And I love the secondary title: A Second Chance, a Super Bowl, a Lesson for Life. This is available wherever books are sold. It is an incredible story. Thank you so much for coming and sharing. Brian Kinchen: Well, I appreciate you having me. TERRY MEEUWSEN: It’s awesome. Brian Kinchen: Thank you so much. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Wonderful. We’re going to be back with more of The 700 Club right after this. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPOT 5: WINDSHIELD WONDER Announcer: Is this any way to clean a windshield? Well, it used to be the only way. But now there is the exciting new Windshield Wonder. The Windshield Wonder combines a microfiber cleaning cloth with a long handle and pivoting head, to make windshield cleaning fast and easy, so easy you don’t even need glass cleaner. That’s right. The Windshield Wonder cleans and shines glass with plain tap water. Amazing! Use the Windshield Wonder inside to clean mirrors, hard to reach windows and more. Your Windshield Wonder order includes the handle, two microfiber bonnets, a microfiber towel, a spray bottle, even a handy storage bag. That’s a 20 dollar value for just ten dollars. But that’s not all. Call now, and as a bonus, we’ll double your order. Just pay separate shipping and handling. That’s right. Get everything you see here, a 40 dollar value, for just ten dollars. Call now. To order by credit card, call 1-800-890-3170. You’ll get a complete second set as a bonus with today’s order. So call 1-800-890-3170. That’s 1-800-890-3170. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GORDON ROBERTSON: Today, Richard Creel owns four successful companies. And when it comes to money, he has no worries. But there was a time when Richard said his world was falling apart. Here’s how he recovered from bankruptcy and became a multimillionaire. RICHARD AND CHRISTAL CREEL TIM BRANSON: The legendary Shelby Cobra is more than a dream car for Richard and Christal Creel. They have the only authorized Cobra dealership in Arizona, and that’s just one of four businesses they own. The road to their success, however, was a tough one. By the time the couple married in 1997, they had already opened a coffee shop. The idea was that Christal would run it. Christal Creel: The plan was for me to quit my job. And Rich was working at the time, so he basically was going to support us, and so we put everything on the line to open the coffee house up. TIM BRANSON: What they didn’t plan on was Richard’s getting hurt. He injured his back during a rescue mission while working as a police officer for the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Service. Richard Creel: I tried to go back to work. Bottom line, too painful, and I couldn’t tolerate the pain without taking medication, so I took a leave of absence. TIM BRANSON: His Workman’s Compensation claim was denied, which left him without medical coverage. Richard Creel: No income, no doctor’s office visits, no medication, nothing. Everything had to come out of our pocket. TIM BRANSON: The coffee shop didn’t pull in the money they needed to pay all the bills, including Richard’s medical care. Christal Creel: We needed at this point for the income to keep our apartment and pay for his healthcare, and the money just went a lot quicker than we could bring it in. TIM BRANSON: They closed up shop and declared bankruptcy. Richard Creel: Well, literally, my world was falling apart, and there wasn’t anything I could do about it. I really started praying, because I knew God was the answer. God had the answer. TIM BRANSON: The answer came on The 700 Club. Christal Creel: It was Gordon. I was listening to Gordon one morning, doing the dishes and having coffee, and he just said in such a calm voice, “The Lord loves you; you can’t out-give God.” TIM BRANSON: They decided to take God at His Word. They started a cleaning business and tithed right off the top of their income. Christal Creel: And the first cleaning check that we got was 70 dollars, and so I took that and wrote a seven dollar check. And the next check we got was about 140, so then there was a 14 dollar tithe, and a 20 dollar, and I was hooked. I thought, “This really does work!” TIM BRANSON: It took time, but things turned around. Several business opportunities opened up for Christal. Workman’s Comp finally paid for Richard’s back surgery. He also started receiving benefits from an old retirement account. The back pay alone totaled 30,000 dollars. And Christal, who now had a real estate license, closed on an 8.5 million dollar land deal. Richard Creel: Blessings just kept rolling. It’s like once the first harvest came in, it was truly a floodgate, and it just kept flooding in and flooding in. TIM BRANSON: In addition to their four businesses, the Creels found a dream home complete with horses for them and their grandchildren. They want to remind people that financial success doesn’t happen overnight. Christal Creel: We did have to keep reminding ourselves that it is a process of faith and growing and believing and praying. Richard Creel: True to God’s Word where He says that, “You test Me; see if I will not pour out a blessing that you cannot contain.” * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GORDON ROBERTSON: Test Him. It’s the only area where we’re allowed to test God. It’s in our finances. Just realize He does love you. He is looking out for you. He does want to care for you. GRAPHIC: 1-800-759-0700 CBN.COM And what’s the purpose of tithing? Well, it’s to make sure we are putting God first in our lives. And when we do that, then he provides. And no, it’s not some get-rich-quick scheme. It’s gradual. You’ll find blessings flowing to you, and you just don’t understand where they’re all coming from. But they come. What happened to Richard and Christal can happen to you if you just start an adventure in tithing. If you want to do that, call us: 1-800-759-0700. Just say, “I want to join The 700 Club.” How much is that? Well, it’s 20 dollars a month, 65 cents a day. And you join tens of thousands of people that want to make a difference in the world today. If that’s you, call us: 1-800-759-0700. Or you can log on to CBN.com. When you give through the Internet, you’ll automatically sign up for Pledge Express. GRAPHIC: FREE WITH PLEDGE EXPRESS 1-800-759-0700 CBN.COM We save so much on processing. It’s electronic monthly giving. And we’re able to send as our gift back to you “Power for Life” monthly teaching CDs. So if you want it, log on to CBN.com. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * BRING IT ON GORDON ROBERTSON: I think we have just a few seconds for one e-mail. TERRY MEEUWSEN: I’m going to read this fast. This is Janey, who says, “I had a traumatic phone conversation recently with someone. The call is replayed in my mind when I wake up in the morning, throughout the day. Thoughts of worry, fear and paranoia keep attacking me because of that conversation. How do I get these thoughts and words out of my head?” GORDON ROBERTSON: Janey, it’s real simple. You bind them. Jesus said, “Whatever you bind on earth is bound in Heaven.” Bind them. And just bring every thought into captivity of Christ. You don’t have to receive negative words. You can’t block them from coming in your ears, but once they’re there, you can say, “I bind that. I plead the blood of Jesus Christ over that.” And then if you’re dealing with issues of fear and anxiety, ask for God’s perfect love to come to you. He loves you, and His perfect love will cast out all fear. If you’re in right relationship with Him, then you don’t have to worry about anything else. What can man do to you if you have the living God on your side? So just keep that in mind. God wants to protect you. He wants to help you. He want to be your very present help in time of trouble. We leave you with these words from Psalm 37, . . . . GRAPHIC: Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” (NKJV) . . . . “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” God bless you. We’ll see you tomorrow. GRAPHIC: COPYRIGHT 2009 CHRISTIAN BROADCASTING NETWORK * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * END SPOT: YOU WERE THERE TERRY MEEUWSEN: I have the privilege of traveling all over the world and seeing firsthand the life-changing things you make possible through your partnership. Thank you for joining The 700 Club. Here in India, you’re demonstrating the love of God to such wonderful people, most of who are in great need, both physically and spiritually. You’re bringing hope and joy to millions around the world, just like you did for the Chens. Their home was destroyed in an earthquake, leaving them with nothing but heartache. You rebuilt their entire village and restored their dreams as well. Your monthly gift makes it possible to heal the sick, feed the hungry and preach the Gospel, both at home in America and throughout the world. So please watch for this mailing and send in your pledge. Imagine lifting someone’s life out of despair and filling it with hope instead. That’s what you make possible every day, and it only happens because you were there.