The 700 Club: August 25, 2009

The 700 Club Daily Broadcast Tuesday, August 25, 2009 GORDON ROBERTSON: Well, welcome to The 700 Club. A special White House panel is warning the country to prepare for a swine flu outbreak. The government is working on a vaccine, but it may not be ready in time. TERRY MEEUWSEN: However, you can take some simple measures to protect yourself. Paul Strand has the story from Washington. FLU PAUL STRAND: Worst case scenario from a White House panel: the H1N1 flu virus infects half the country, putting almost two million Americans in the hospital and possibly causing 30,000 to 90,000 deaths. Around 36,000 people die from the flu in an average year. Certain parts of the population are more vulnerable to the swine flu. Kathleen Sebelius (Secretary of Health & Human Services): We know it spreads rapidly among otherwise healthy kids, unusual for a flu. PAUL STRAND: A vaccine to fight it won't be ready until mid-October, just when the outbreak might be at its worst. So the panel is recommending some of the vaccine be rushed out for those at highest risk, even though it won't be thoroughly tested. That worries some public health experts. Dr. William Schaffner (Vanderbilt University): Trying to rush in with an unknown, with an untested quantity of vaccine, doesn't appeal to me at all. PAUL STRAND: But even without a vaccine, the best medicine is still preventive measures everyone can take on their own. Dr. David Lakey (Texas Department of Health Services): The things that our grandmothers taught us. We need to cover our cough and our sneeze. We need to wash our hands frequently. We need to use alcohol-based sanitizers. Teacher: Get that soap and water in between those fingers, because that's where bacteria and germs can hide. Emily Bird (Huntsville, Alabama): Go to the doctor. Try to stay away from everyone. Stay away from common areas. I guess if you're really sick, don't go to class. Get someone to take your notes and everything for you. But try to be considerate of the others who are trying to avoid the illness. Allen Konicek (Burlingame Public Schools Superintendent): It's still a matter if you have an elevated temperature, you need to keep that child at home. And that child needs to really stay home until that temperature has broken, and they've been temperature free for 24 hours. PAUL STRAND: Many young people, like these at the University of Colorado Boulder, seem to think they're invulnerable. Phil Locker (Freshman): I have a good immune system, so hopefully that will help me out. Sarah Adams (Student): I didn't think it was that big of a deal for me. Courtney Gibb (Student): It just seems more like a faraway thing. PAUL STRAND: But others, as their schools pass out flu-fighting kits, realize the danger is real. Veronica Alix (Fort Worth, Texas): I feel like it is like a cause for concern, just because it is a lot of kids living together in close proximity, and maybe not everybody washes their hands as often as they should. PAUL STRAND: But if everyone will guard themselves, and if they get sick, guard those around them, the effects can be seriously minimized. Maj. General Tod Bunting (Kansas Adjutant General): Good citizenship is a key component of a response. PAUL STRAND: Paul Strand, CBN News, Washington. GORDON ROBERTSON: I was talking to somebody yesterday who had had this flu last week, and he said it was one of the worst he’s ever been through. So protect yourselves and make sure your immune system is as strong as it can be. And I had a report last week recommending vitamin D as a flu preventative. But if you do get sick, if your children get sick, do everyone a favor. Make sure they stay home. Don’t say, “Well, you just have a slight fever. Go ahead and go to school.” It is imperative that we try to isolate those who are sick, so they’re not getting others infected. And then if there is a major outbreak, I’ve already counseled my family, and I’ll counsel you, if you can stock up on some dry goods that you won’t be forced to leave to go into public places, you can sort of ride it out. If a pandemic hits your area, you won’t necessarily of necessity have to go out and get exposed. Well, Lee Webb has the rest of our top stories from the CBN Newsroom. Lee. VA “FATAL” MISTAKE LEE WEBB: Gordon, the Veterans Administration says a computer glitch is responsible for accidentally informing more than a thousand veterans they have a fatal disease. About 1,200 veterans across the country were mistakenly told they had ALS, commonly called Lou Gehrig's disease. It's a rapidly progressing disease that attacks the nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscles. The VA says it’s in the process of calling everyone who got the wrong letters, but one veteran cried after receiving the letter. He said, “With so many health issues that I already have, I didn't know how to approach my family with the news.” SHUTTING DOWN R.I. LEE WEBB: Government offices in the state of Rhode Island will be closed at least one day a month for a while. That’s part of the governor’s plan to balance the state's budget. Rhode Island has been hit hard by rising unemployment and lower tax revenue. Governor Don Carcieri, shown right there, says shutting down the offices will trim millions of dollars in funding for local governments. About 11,000 employees will be forced to take time off without pay. The first shutdown is scheduled for Friday, September 4th. Additional days are scheduled every month through June. FLA HURRICANE PRAYER LEE WEBB: It's been a very calm year on the hurricane front, and the governor of Florida says he's giving God the credit for that. Governor Charlie Crist says he has had prayer notes inserted in the Western Wall in Jerusalem each year since his election in 2006. Since then, no major storms have hit Florida. The note he placed in the Wailing Wall two years ago read, “Dear God, please protect our Florida from storms and other difficulties. Charlie.” But Governor Crist emphasized that he gives God, not himself, credit for Florida's lack of hurricanes. DISPLAY CONTROVERSY LEE WEBB: The Washington State Capitol will no longer allow nativity scenes, but a holiday tree will still be displayed during the Christmas season. That's part of a new temporary ruling after protests erupted last winter over holiday displays. Hundreds protested a sign that was placed next to the nativity scene by the atheistic Freedom from Religion Foundation. That sign said religion was myth and superstition. Officials hope to have a permanent rule in place later this year in Washington. They say a holiday tree is permitted because the state is taking it over from the previous sponsors. ATTENTION, MULTITASKERS LEE WEBB: The people who multitask the most are the ones who are the worst at it. A Stanford University study finds that the more media people use at once, like computers, cell phones, TV, music and so on, the worse they are at using any one of them. So if you’re trying to do several things at once, chances are you’re not doing any of them very well. Multitasking has already been blamed for car crashes and train wrecks where people are texting or using their cell phones. Gordon. GORDON ROBERTSON: Well, I guess I’m one of those that’s not good at anything. TERRY MEEUWSEN: I’m not driving with you, buddy. GORDON ROBERTSON: Definitely, I don’t text when I’m driving. And I’ve got one of these Bluetooth devices that you can . . . . . TERRY MEEUWSEN: That’s very smart. GORDON ROBERTSON: . . . . do the hands free. But even that, from what I hear, even that, if you’re talking on the phone while driving, you’re distracted. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Your attention is diverted in some way. Yes, well, it’s dangerous. GORDON ROBERTSON: I’m just talking about multitasking in general. I tend to do a lot of that. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Yes, you do. Well, up next, a pop quiz. How well do you know your Bible? WENDY GRIFFITH: Can you name three of the Ten Commandments for me? Man: Nope. WENDY GRIFFITH: Can you name one of the Ten Commandments for me? Man: Nope. WENDY GRIFFITH: Can you name the first book of the Bible? Man: Testament? TERRY MEEUWSEN: We’ll shine the light on biblical illiteracy, right after this. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPOT 1: SWISS AMERICA Spokesman: Seventy-seven million baby boomers hope to retire in the next ten to 20 years, and just three percent will be financially independent. But Uncle Sam wants to help you put gold into your retirement plan by creating a self-directed Precious Metal IRA. There are no tax penalties or new contributions needed to convert an existing IRA or other retirement fund into gold. Pat Boone: This is Pat Boone to tell you about Swiss America’s three-step plan for successful gold investing. First, call Swiss America. Request their free book, materials, and rare opportunity CD. Second, review the materials and learn why gold has more than doubled in the last five years and why experts say it may double again. And third, earn a return through growth of your gold investment. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NEXT DAY PROMO GRAPHIC: THE POWER OF “WHO” GORDON ROBERTSON: Tomorrow. Discover the power of WHO and how it can help you land your next job. Man: If you give me seven references, one of them will probably roll you under the bus. The other will say, hey, they want the job. And the reason is, you don’t know your own WHO. * * * GRAPHIC: TEENAGE MAGELLAN GORDON ROBERTSON: Plus, meet the teenage Magellan and find out why he sailed around the world alone. Tomorrow on The 700 Club. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GORDON ROBERTSON: Well, Christian leaders say this generation is the most biblically illiterate in history, and the consequences could be devastating, not just for the church, but for society as a whole. Here is reporter Wendy Griffith. FOCUS: BIBLICAL ILLITERACY IN AMERICA WENDY GRIFFITH: Can you name three of the Ten Commandments for me? Man: Nope. WENDY GRIFFITH: Can you name one of the Ten Commandments for me? Man: Nope WENDY GRIFFITH: Can you name the first book of the Bible? Man: Testament? WENDY GRIFFITH: Do you think you can get to Heaven by doing good works? Woman: I think there are pearls in Heaven. It’s like a bonus point. WENDY GRIFFITH: It’s clear that many Americans, including Christians, don't know their Bible. Just look at the numbers from a recent study. More than 60 percent of Americans can't name either half of the Ten Commandments or the four Gospels of the New Testament. Some 80 percent, including born again Christians, believe that “God helps those who help themselves” is a direct quote from the Bible. And 31 percent believe a good person can earn his or her way into Heaven. According to a Barna study, most self-proclaimed Christians don't believe Satan or the Holy Spirit actually exist. And even though the Bible is very clear about the sinless nature of Christ, 22 percent believe that Jesus sinned while He was on the earth. Man: I don't think He was sinless altogether, no. WENDY GRIFFITH: What do you base that belief on? Man: My opinion. WENDY GRIFFITH: So what are the consequences of this on society? Dr. Vinson Synan (Regent Univ., Divinity School): If you're Biblically illiterate, you'll fall into every kind of sin and every kind of problem. And that's the problem with our country. If you know the Bible, if you know the Ten Commandments, they are warnings, so that we can live a wonderful life. WENDY GRIFFITH: How many of the Ten Commandments can you name for me? Woman: Most of them. WENDY GRIFFITH: Okay. Go for it. Woman: Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not use the Lord’s name in vain. You shouldn’t take your neighbor’s wife or cattle. Lou Engle: If you get off truth, you move into a realm of deception and ultimately, you think you're walking with God, but you are not walking with God. WENDY GRIFFITH: Lou Engle, founder of The Call prayer movement, says there is a great danger in being “spiritual,” but not knowing the Word of God. Lou Engle (Founder of The Call): Jesus said, “It is written,” when He was tempted. This generation has to say, “It is written.” It has to know that Word if they're going to overcome the enemy. WENDY GRIFFITH: Would you say that you take the Bible literally? Man: I do take the Bible literally. I think it's a good thing to base your life on. WENDY GRIFFITH: Why do you believe it's important, especially for young people, to be grounded in the Word of God and to know the Word of God? Woman: Because it can really help you a lot and pretty much if you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything. WENDY GRIFFITH: And today, Christians seem to be falling for popular culture. For example, divorce is just as common in Christian homes as non-Christian. And a growing number of young, white evangelicals support same-sex marriage. Lou Engle: What we're finding out is that a generation has been taught the moral relativity. Our pastors are filled with moral relativity, because they haven't preached the truth of the Word of God to this generation. WENDY GRIFFITH: Engle also points the finger at parents. Lou Engle: It's the fathers and the mothers. The family is the root of the nation. If you mess with that, if you don't teach kids truth, than we're going to lose it. WENDY GRIFFITH: Synan says the real problem is famine, not a famine for food, but a famine for the Word of God. Dr. Vinson Synan: Amos 8, where the scriptures say, “Behold the days are coming,” declares the Lord God, “when I send a famine on the land, not a famine for bread or thirst for water, but rather for hearing the words of the Lord.” The saddest part is that young virgins and young men would faint for thirst. It doesn't mention the older generation, but it mentions the young people. They're idealistic. Young people need something to live for. And the only thing that really satisfies that hunger is the Word of God. WENDY GRIFFITH: Wendy Griffith, CBN News. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GORDON ROBERTSON: One of the glories of knowing the Bible and observing, not just reading, but observing what it commands, is that you don’t have some kind of idle spirituality, that you’re basing your life, your actions, on the Word of God. It’s gotten very popular today, “Well, I like God. I believe in God. But I just don’t like organized religion. I don’t want to participate in that kind of thing.” You couldn’t be farther from the truth if you fall into that trap. Jesus was born into organized religion. He was a rigorous observer of the law. He followed the commandments. He attended all the festivals. He participated with His people in observing the Word of God. And we need to recapture that. We need to get back to that sense of spirituality, because otherwise you’re into some kind of amorphous thing where, if you feel a tingle on the mountaintop, then suddenly that’s a very spiritual moment, or if you take a walk in the woods. It’s just not a grounded spirituality. And if you’re not grounded in the Word and if you’re not grounded in God’s love, then you’re subject to every whim of doctrine that comes and every current fad that comes. And we’ve got to recapture a sense that the Bible is the Word of God and needs to be taught to our young people. Well, instead of railing against the darkness, we at CBN, we want to light a candle. Back in 1981, we launched a campaign to reach the people of Japan with the Bible. Our goal was to create the Bible, a whole campaign that would cause the Bible to be the most popular book in Japan. And it worked. And the Bible became a bestseller. And one of the bases of the program was an animated cartoon called Superbook. And the show became one of Japan’s highest rated programs. It was watched by millions of people around the world after the campaign in Japan. Now, 27 years later, CBN is bringing Superbook back to reach a whole new generation. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SUPERBOOK 27 YEARS LATER Character: I am taking you to meet a great hero, one who has been given special gifts from God. GORDON ROBERTSON: It’s a new look for an old classic. This is CBN’s Superbook. And CBN has designed this fresh new look to bring Superbook to a new generation. Character: Who are you? Character: I’m David. Character: I’m Joy. Character: Hey, I’m Chris. Character: I’m hungry. GORDON ROBERTSON: The idea to produce an animated Bible for children began in 1981. CBN created Superbook as part of a massive campaign to reach the nation of Japan. When the original series aired in primetime, more than four million people watched every week. Then in 1990, as communism was falling, the soviet government asked CBN to air Superbook across the entire soviet network. The results were astounding. CBN received more than six million letters from children and their parents. For nearly three decades, children in more than 100 countries have enjoyed Superbook. It’s been translated into 43 languages and viewed by an estimated half billion people. Now it’s time to update the look of Superbook to reach a whole new generation. As we looked at Superbook, the main thing we wanted to do was change the style of animation. We can now create a third dimension by adding light and shadows, textures, just like kids see in other animated movies. Character: Go back, child! I’ll slice you open, then grind your bones until they are dust! GORDON ROBERTSON: In the pilot episode, the 3-D story of David and Goliath literally jumps off the screen. Character: Stand still, so I can kill you! Character: No! This battle is the Lord’s. You will not strike me today! GORDON ROBERTSON: Emmy award winner Sean Roche oversees the writing of the new version. He’s worked with major studios like Warner Brothers, Hanna-Barbera and Disney. Sean Roche: None of us could do this alone. It’s a monumental undertaking. And we’re just excited to be this little piece that we bring to it. GORDON ROBERTSON: Once a script is finalized, sketches are turned into 3-D computer characters. Then frame-by-frame the characters are combined with backgrounds. As funds become available, CBN will produce the first 13 episodes, bringing the Bible to life. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GORDON ROBERTSON: We’re producing the series now. We’re starting out in the Garden of Eden. Actually, we’re starting out before the Garden of Eden, the war in Heaven. And we’re going to then take it all the way, in 13 episodes we’re going to take it all the way to when Jesus returns. And three of the episodes are going to be on the life of Jesus. We’re going to have an episode on the conversion of Saul, how Jesus appeared to him. We’re going to have episodes from the Old Testament that point to Jesus, point to the promised Messiah, how God fulfilled the prophecy in His only begotten Son. We want to make this generation biblically literate. So what we’re asking you to is if you want to be a part of this, all you have to do is call us. GRAPHIC: FOR YOUR GIFT OF $25 OR MORE 1-800-759-0700 CBN.COM We’ll send you out the pilot episode, A Giant Adventure, the story of David and Goliath, with your gift of 25 dollars or more. And we encourage you on the “or more.” If you feel a burden that children of the world today need the Bible stories, whatever God is touching you to do, just say yes to that and contribute. This is a massive project. It’s going to be six million dollars. It’s going to take us two years to complete. And we need help to make it happen. So if you want to be a part of it, just call us: 1-800-759-0700. Or you can log on to CBN.com. There is a special giving page there. Throughout the next two years, we’re going to be giving you updates on where we stand with the various episodes. We have green-lighted production. We’re going forward. We’ve got a web site in production right now that will launch out right before Christmas. We really are serious. We want to make this one of the signature projects for CBN for the next decade, that we can bring the Bible to this generation in a way that they will remember, that they will know. And we’re trying as much as possible to keep the dialogue to the New King James version, so that when they hear what the characters are saying in the Bible story, they’re hearing the Word of God. So if you want to be a part of it, call us: 1-800-759-0700. And we’ll send out the pilot episode for your gift of 25 dollars or more. Terry. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Well, recently, we rolled out the red carpet for some of our partners, and we showed them the pilot episode for the new Superbook. We’d like to show you what they had to say. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SUPERBOOK PREMIERE IN DALLAS, TX Children: Superbook! TERRY MEEUWSEN: The beloved 1981 CBN animation Superbook is back, but with a modern twist and a fresh look. Recently, over 200 CBN partners made it out to Dallas, Texas, for the highly anticipated premier of the new Superbook. Woman: It’s nice just growing up and seeing the old Superbook. Woman: My siblings and I, we would always after school watch Superbook, and we loved Superbook. Kristie McCrary (Event Organizer): Today was a very special day, because we did the premier on our new Superbook series at this beautiful Angelika theater in Dallas, Texas, where we crowded, packed the crowd out, and showed them the new pilot episode called A Giant Adventure, with David and Goliath. These kids could probably could have sat in this theater and watched it over and over. In fact, it just grabs you with all the new HD and technology, to the point where you almost think you’re in the video with them. Character: Be brave. He has to go through me first. Boy: It was great animation. Everything was amazing. Girl: And I really liked the characters. Girl: Excellent. Woman: I think that the video obviously shows a strong message. I love that, like they said, it came from the New King James version. It’s going word for word. Character: You come to me with sword and spear, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts! Girl: I learned that God is always with you when you’re doing things. Boy: Just to trust in God. Boy: That God is in your heart. Woman: I love the animation. It’s engaging for the kids, and so I thought that it was perfect. Woman: When you instill scripture into the heart of a child, God’s Word does not return void. Man: I know my kids when they were watching it, they were talking to the movie, and they were interacting. It was very cool. I think it would be very relevant. I think it will impact the world greatly. Girl: If you have faith, then nothing is impossible. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * TERRY MEEUWSEN: I just want to say that sometimes when I have occasion to travel to parts of the world where the old Superbook was such a huge impact, there are adults today who are still walking with the Lord, who are leading in the church, because of the influence that Superbook had on them a couple of decades ago. So now, to have this new one influencing their children I think will have a tremendous impact. GORDON ROBERTSON: Well, we estimate, and it’s just an estimate, that 500 million watched that first series. The number of countries, we literally lost track of it. It became so popular in so many different areas of the world. You go to the former Soviet Union, and it was huge there. And when the wall came down, they asked for it. We put it on air, and six and a half million children wrote in wanting more. So this thing works. We know it works. And what we’re asking you to do is participate with us, to join with us, to say, “Yes, I want to be a part of bringing the Bible to a whole new generation.” GRAPHIC: FOR YOUR GIFT OF $25 OR MORE 1-800-759-0700 CBN.COM We’ve had some conversations with broadcast networks in Asia. They’re interested in the old series, but they asked us, “Could you update it? Could you make it look better? And could you make it look more current?” And we said, “Why not do that? Why not update it? Why not re-imagine it in a whole new way.” So that’s what we’re doing, and we’re asking you to be a part of it. We need to raise six million dollars is the project total goal. So we need to have a lot of people join with us to say, “Yes, I’ll be a part of this, and I’ll continue.” We’re also going to ask you to pray for the whole process. This isn’t an easy thing to do. We need to cover it in prayer for the next two years, 18 months, the length of time it takes to complete it. Then we’re going to need prayer covering and favor with the broadcast networks of the world in order to take this out to the children of the world. So if you want to be a part of it, call us: 1-800-759-0700. We’ll send as our gift back to you Superbook: A Giant Adventure, the pilot episode. There are also some new trading cards in there. We really want to make this an enjoyable experience for children. Well, Superbook teaches kids more than just Bible stories. It applies those stories to modern day situations and helps kids learn valuable life lessons, just like the boy you’re about to meet. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * JOEL GREGORY - SUPERBOOK TIM BRANSON: Shari and John Gregory describe their six-year-old son Joel as fun and outgoing. So when it was time to sign up for their church’s Easter program, they were sure Joel would jump at the chance. There was just one problem. John Gregory: He has a fear of standing in front of a group of people and performing. TIM BRANSON: Joel had his own words to describe how he felt. Joel Gregory: Frightened. Terrified. TIM BRANSON: Although Joel and Shari tried and tried to convince him that it would be fun, Joel would have no part of it. Joel Gregory: The other kids practiced for two months, and I refused. TIM BRANSON: About that time, Joel and his sister Selah started watching Superbook. Joel loved watching the Superbook characters Chris, Joy and Gizmo. Shari Gregory: We put it in, and he watched it over and over and over, and so did our daughter Selah. And they watched it probably 50 times that first week, at least. TIM BRANSON: Pretty soon, he memorized the whole episode word-for-word. That gave John an idea. Shari Gregory: We were watching it one day, and my husband turned to Joel and he said, “Look, Joel, Chris was afraid to perform. But what did David tell him?” And Joel said, “He said that he should do it for God.” And my husband said, “That’s right. You shouldn’t be afraid of performing, because if you’re doing it for God, there’s nothing to be afraid of.” TIM BRANSON: Then on Easter morning, a child decided to drop out of the program. John Gregory: The children’s pastor walked up to my wife and said, “Joel wants to perform.” And then he told us that he wanted to do it for God, and he’s not going to be afraid. Shari Gregory: My husband and I cried, because we knew how much courage that was taking for him to even say that. TIM BRANSON: After only ten minutes of practice, Joel performed his part perfectly. Joel says watching Superbook taught him not to be afraid and to trust God. Joel Gregory: We just started watching Superbook and that just encouraged me. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GORDON ROBERTSON: “We watched Superbook, and God just encouraged me.” That can happen. That can happen around the world. And we need you to be a part of it. So if you want to sponsor the episodes, the production of the new episodes and help with that, for your gift of 25 dollars or more we’ll send out the pilot episode, so you can see for yourself the quality of the animation, the quality of the storytelling. And we want to send this around the world. GRAPHIC: FOR YOUR GIFT OF $25 OR MORE 1-800-759-0700 CBN.COM And you can be a part of it. All you have to do is call us: 1-800-759-0700. You can also log on to CBN.com. And if you want to, you can participate through My.CBN.com. There is a special Superbook page there where you can sign up and then you can adopt Superbook as one of your causes and invite your friends to join as well. GRAPHIC: 1-800-759-0700 CBN.COM And there will be a way that they can donate through the Internet, and they can get the pilot as well. So if you want to invite friends, family to participate with you in adopting this as a cause, you can. Just log on to My.CBN.com, and we’ll show you how to do it. It will be easy to do, and we can create this whole virile network that will help bring the Bible to a whole new generation. Terry. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Speaking of traveling the world, during one of my trips to Ukraine I met a remarkable little boy named Vacilly. At seven years of age, he had never gone to school, played with other children or learned to read. But all that changed when Vacilly turned eight. Here’s why. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * VACILLY’S HOPE TERRY MEEUWSEN: Eight-year-old Vacilly of Ukraine works like a boy twice his age. He showed me how he splits wood, draws and hauls water from the well and harvests apples and grapes, occasionally stopping for a light snack. Vacilly looked after his aging grandmother and helped keep their small country house running. He’s an amazing child. But he was the only child in this remote country village, and there was no school. When we met Vacilly’s grandmother, she told us, in between her tears, that his father and mother abandoned him. Vacilly overheard the conversation and began to cry himself. So this is the home where Vacilly lived with his grandmother until he was seven years old. But she knew that for him to become everything she knew he could be, he needed to go to school. She couldn’t help him with that. There are no schools in this area. That’s when she called the boarding school for orphans to see if he could go there. Here, with the support of Operation Blessing, the children receive a good education and practical skills, like sewing and woodworking. They also have plenty of food to eat and a warm bed to sleep in. Remarkably, Vacilly, who has never gone to school, began to thrive. But something was missing in the children’s education at the orphanage. Director Michael Ivanov, who is more like a father to the kids here, wanted to help the children grow in moral character. He wanted to give them an awareness of God, but he needed help. Michael called our CBN office in Kiev, not to ask for financial help, but to ask if he could have copies of CBN’s Superbook, Flying House and other Gospel-centered programs for the children. CBN brought the videos, along with a new TV. Now, every Sunday, the children gather to watch Superkids Club or other CBN animated programs. Michael Ivanov: CBN videos are the only programs we let the children watch. They see the love of God in the stories and learn how people should treat others. TERRY MEEUWSEN: For Vacilly, it was the first time he had ever seen a television program and the first time he had ever heard the good news of the Gospel. And he can share what he’s learned in school with his grandmother when he returns home on holidays. Meanwhile, CBN and Operation Blessing continue to help the children. Until recently, they all slept on broken-down old beds. But thanks to CBN partners, they now have 50 new beds for the children, with more on the way. And it was our special privilege to bring a stuffed toy to each of the children there as well. Michael Ivanov: On behalf of all the children, thank you. Thank you to all the people who are making good things happen for us here in the Ukraine. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * TERRY MEEUWSEN: I love the fact that this orphanage director cared enough about his kids that he wanted them to watch something that was not just quality, but that would instill values in them. That’s why he called our office in Kiev. Those children are now enjoying many, many videos that have been prepared just for kids, filled with biblical values, filled with all kinds of truth from the Word of God. And your gifts are making that possible. But this kind of hunger for truth, this kind of hunger for the knowledge of God’s Word and what His promises are to us is really stimulating us to want to do something contemporary with what’s been done in the past. So will you help us do that? Help us make Superbook for this generation. You can do that by calling with your gift of 25 dollars or more. GRAPHIC: FOR YOUR GIFT OF $25 OR MORE 1-800-759-0700 CBN.COM Ask the Lord what He’d have you do. When you change the lives of these children, you touch their families. Many of these kids are social orphans. They come from families that have deep need because of poverty. But they have contact with them, and so that truth is taken home as well. So you call now and make your best gift, so that we can touch the world with the message of God’s love. Gordon. GORDON ROBERTSON: We’re also asking you to pray for Superbook and particularly for the staff associated with this. We have teams here in Virginia Beach, also in Nashville and California. We also have teams in Canada and in China. This is truly an international effort to get this series produced, and we need prayer covering for all of them. We got the bad news last weekend of one of the storyboard artists. He was also the script writer for the Saul episode. His son Matthew was involved in a bad accident, and he’s had a brain injury, and he’s in the hospital now. And he’s requesting prayer. We need to cover these teams in prayer. This is an incredible series. It will have incredible impact, not just here in America, but around the world. We can have the same impact the original series had and then increase it. This is something we really are asking for prayer cover. There is a special page on the CBN.com web site. You can find it at My.CBN.com. Pray for CBN. In there are teachings on intercessory prayer. And we’re asking you to join with us and intercede for Superbook, for the ministry of CBN, for my father, for me, for Terry, for Kristi, for Lee, for all of us involved in production here, for our WorldReach centers, for Operation Blessing. GRAPHIC: 1-800-759-0700 CBN.COM We’re asking you to cover CBN in prayer, and we’ll be posting prayer requests on this page to give you specific things to pray for. And one of the specific things to pray for today is Matthew. He is 17 years old, and he is in the hospital right now as a result of a terrible accident. So pray. Stay tuned for more of The 700 Club, after this. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GRAPHIC: KINGPIN GORDON ROBERTSON: Coming up . . . . Man: I thought I was going to be some kingpin drug dealer. GORDON ROBERTSON: He thought he’d be dead by the age of 25. Man: I’m going upstairs to sell this guy drugs, and his gun drops out of his pants. GORDON ROBERTSON: Why he survived when his friends didn’t. Man: Two weeks later I get this phone call in the morning. One of my friends got shot in the head by the guy that I just sold drugs to. GORDON ROBERTSON: Still ahead on The 700 Club. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPOT 2: SUPERBOOK SPOT Announcer: CBN presents Superbook for a new generation. Now, re-imagined from the classic CBN cartoon, a new series featuring amazing Bible stories brought to life using state of the art animation. Character: That’s pretty cool. Announcer: Your kids will love being entertained while they learn biblical values, like courage, loyalty, humility and faith. As they join Chris, Joy and Gizmo in their travels through time. In the first episode, A Giant Adventure, Chris and friends land in ancient Israel, where they meet David and witness his fierce battle against the giant Goliath. Character: You come to me with sword and spear, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts! Announcer: Your gift of 25 dollars or more will help create future Superbook episodes. As our thank you, you’ll receive a special edition DVD of the first episode and our brand new Superbook trading cards. Give your child the advantage of learning God’s Word. Superbook. Super power to change your life. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * BERNANKE REAPPOINTMENT LEE WEBB: Welcome back to The 700 Club. President Obama is reappointing Ben Bernanke to a second term as chairman of the Federal Reserve. Bernanke has been widely credited with taking a quick, aggressive action last year to avoid an economic catastrophe after the meltdown of the credit market, one economist saying, quote, “Wall Street can rest a little easier now.” EATING TOO MUCH SUGAR LEE WEBB: Americans consume about 22 teaspoons of sugar each day, and most of the extra sugar comes from soft drinks, candy, cakes and cookies. The American Heart Association says it’s time to cut back. It says women should have no more than six teaspoons of sugar a day. That’s about 100 calories. And men should consume no more than nine teaspoons, or 150 calories. The guidelines don't apply to naturally occurring sugars, like those found in fruit, vegetables and dairy products. You can always get the latest from CBN News by going to our web site at CBN.com. GRAPHIC: FOR MORE INFORMATION LOG ON TO CBN.COM Gordon and Terry will be back with more of The 700 Club, after this. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPOT 3: CBN NEWS CHANNEL LEE WEBB: It’s the one thing news viewers can agree on. REPORTER: They want change. ANNOUNCER: Now, the world’s leading Christian news organization brings you national, international news and analysis throughout the day: mornings, the busy lunch hour, late afternoon and evenings. It’s news with a Christian perspective whenever you want it. Available on the web 24/7 at CBNNews.com. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GORDON ROBERTSON: Joseph Stallings was once a mortgage broker, a worship leader in his church and a drug dealer, all at the same time. JOSEPH STALLINGS Joseph Stallings: Everybody thought my money was coming from being a mortgage broker, because there was a lot of money in it. And so at daytime I’m in a button-up shirt with a tie and looking all GQ going to work. And I’d leave maybe two or three, go home, get dressed, and we’d go to the clubs. And by the time, before the clubs, people were calling us and saying they wanted drugs. And then after the clubs they were calling and saying they wanted drugs. I thought I was going to be some kingpin drug dealer. I did one line of cocaine and got hooked. That’s really when everything started going downhill. I thought I was either going to be dead by the time I turned 25 or that I was going to be in jail. And my mom, she called me, and she was like, “You need to come back to church.” And I’m like, “Why do I need to come back to church? There’s nothing there for me.” And she was like, “Well, you might find a nice woman.” And I’m like, “Who?” She’s like, “Madeline.” I’m like, “What?” And so I started going back to church. And so I’m playing, and nobody really knows everything, yet. Madeline Stallings: He was partly honest, but I never really got the whole truth from him. He only gave me what I needed to know. Joseph Stallings: So I’m going to church, playing the piano. I’m not singing at that time, really. I’m just playing. My brother and sister are leading worship. As soon as church gets out, I’m gone. That night I’m back in the streets. Actually, the way my parents felt about me doing worship in church and in this lifestyle, they told me, “Go ahead and play. We’re going pray for you. We’re going to keep on praying. Don’t think that we condone it.” And God told them that “his deliverance is in his praise.” And I’m thinking like, “Okay, you all have no clue how deep I am.” Madeline Stallings: He hid it so well. I was really surprised, because I’m like, “You go to church every Sunday, play the keyboard.” Joseph Stallings: Nobody can tell that I’m on drugs. I was very good at hiding everything. You couldn’t tell. Madeline Stallings: I didn’t know I married a drug dealer. I really didn’t. Joseph Stallings: One day I was just like, “I’m going tell her,” and I could see the devastation on her face. And she was really upset. It really hurt her. Madeline Stallings: And I remember one day driving home banging on the steering wheel saying, “God, why did you give me this person? Why? I don’t deserve this.” And clear as day, He said, “Because I needed you to help make him better.” Joseph Stallings: I was in this house, and I was selling them some cocaine. And I’m going upstairs to sell this guy drugs, and his gun drops out of his pants. Madeline Stallings: There were a lot of nights that I stayed up, I couldn’t sleep, and I just prayed for him and just asked God to protect him. Joseph Stallings: He apologizes, and I’m like, “What are you doing?” And he throws it in his room and closes the door. We go in this other room, and we start weighing out the drugs. And so I leave, and two weeks later I get this phone call in the morning. One of my friends got shot in the head by the guy that I had just sold drugs to. And God tells me, “That should have been you.” And I hear it so clearly, “That should have been you.” Right there, when that situation happened, that’s when I began to start praying again. And I’m like, “God, help me.” I would cry out to God, and He just began to show up. He began to show up and wrap His arms around me and love me and tell me that I can do this. My sister used to tell me, “Hey, can you come play for me? I’ve got to sing with Gordon at this class.” So I would come out and I would play for her, and God would move. He’d move, and I would see the things that were going on. And I could feel the anointing, and sometimes I would just cry. I could do nothing else but cry. Madeline Stallings: I’m so excited for what God is doing right now. It’s amazing to see this strong bull-headed person in the streets turn his life over to Christ and be used with his same personality, but for the Kingdom of Heaven. I’m so proud of him. Joseph Stallings: And then I start going to minister’s class at my parents’ church and got my minister’s license and started preaching at the church. And then I started preaching even at the Spiritual Gifts web cast. Madeline Stallings: He loves with his whole heart. He’s not mean. The love of God has really changed the mean, angry “J” or “J-Boogey,” as they used to call him in the streets. He’s no longer that person. He’s totally sold out for Christ, and it’s an honor to be his wife. Joseph Stallings: I’m enjoying life. I’m enjoying God. I’m enjoying my wife. I’m enjoying my family. I’ve just got so much joy now. In my old pictures, I wouldn’t even smile. They’d be like, “Who is this?” And now I’m smiling all the time. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GORDON MINISTERS GORDON ROBERTSON: What happened to Joseph can happen to you. You can be transformed. Maybe you got fooled like he did. Maybe you thought the parties and clubs, the appearance of success, the money, maybe you think that’s the way to go and that will bring you happiness. Well, learn from Joseph. No, it doesn’t do that. It doesn’t do that at all. What it does is lead into a life of crime and get you in places that you never thought you’d go and doing things you never thought you’d do. But there is good news for you, just as there was good news for Joseph. And that good news is God can take you out of that. And He can protect you from all harm. And just as He told Joseph, “That could have been you,” He’s protecting you. He’s been watching out for you. He’s been sending angels around you, because He has a plan and a purpose for your life. Now, what does it take to know that? What does it take to know Him? Just ask. Jesus says so clearly, “Call to Me, and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things that you did not know.” He wants to talk to you. Jesus says, “My sheep hear My voice.” You can hear His voice. He can direct you. He can guide you. He can set you free. He can break any addiction. He’ll make you feel clean again. He’ll give you sleep again. If you want that, all you have to do is ask. And if you want to ask right now, the Bible says, “When you seek Me with all of your heart, then you’ll find Me.” So with all of your heart, if you want to ask Him in, if you want to change today, not some far off time, not some gradual thing, you want to change today and you want to have that same joy that Joseph has, you want to have that today, then bow your head with me. 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.” That’s right. Say it out loud. “Lord Jesus, I come to you. And Lord, I ask that you would speak to me, that you would show me your love, that you would come into my heart and make me new again. And Jesus, I ask for joy. I ask for peace. And Jesus, most of all, I ask that you forgive me and that you set me free and that you would lead me into righteousness for your name’s sake. Change me, O God. Change me, for I ask it in Jesus’ name.” Father, for those who just prayed, I pray a baptism in your love. I pray a cleansing, a renewing of their innermost being, a renewing of their mind, a renewing of their nervous system that what they crave for is gone now, in Jesus’ name, and that you would fill them with love and joy and peace. We ask all of this in Jesus’ name. Amen. And amen. The Bible says the next step for you is to confess with your mouth. It’s called faith’s positive confession. What I want you to do is make a toll free phone call: 1-800-759-0700. GRAPHIC: 1-800-759-0700 CBN.COM And just say, “I prayed with that guy, and I want to confess right now that I made Jesus Lord of my life. I asked Him into my heart. I asked Him to change me.” 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 and read it every day. We encourage you to start singing praises to the Lord. Praise equals deliverance. Realize that. He is enthroned on the praises of His people. And begin to praise the Lord. We also encourage you to join a local church. Go through a water baptism. It’s all necessary for the Christian walk. But it starts with that phone call. Make it right now: 1-800-759-0700. Terry, over to you. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Coming up, a little girl with big headaches. Girl: I can’t really explain it. They felt like all sorts of things, like people were punching my head, needles and basically everything. TERRY MEEUWSEN: See how she found a cure, after this. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPOT 4A: PCC SPOT 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 4B: SUPERBOOK VIEWER COMMENT ANNOUNCER: CBN presents Superbook. Your kids will love being entertained while they learn biblical values. Woman: We’re so excited. It was really fun. Man: It was so relevant. Woman: I think this was awesome. Boy: Yes, it was great. Announcer: Your gift of 25 dollars or more will help create future Superbook episodes. As our thank-you, you’ll receive a special edition DVD of the first episode and our brand new Superbook trading cards. Superbook. Super power to change your life. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * TERRY MEEUWSEN: Remy Sommers loves to watch The 700 Club with her mom, especially the stories of people who have been healed through the power of prayer. But she never imagined that one day she would be one of them. REMY SOMMERS GORMAN WOODFIN: On any given day, you'll find ten-year-old Remy Sommers kicking her soccer ball, driving her toy car in the backyard or talking about her dog. Remy Sommers: His name is Chewy, and he is a shitsu. We found him on the street. He was black when we found him, but we gave him three baths, and he was white. GORMAN WOODFIN: You wouldn't know it to look at her now, but not long ago little Remy suffered from excruciating headaches. Remy’s Mom: She was always in pain. She was always complaining that she had a headache. They would happen early in the morning, eight o’clock in the morning, before school. They would happen in the middle of the day. Remy Sommers: I can't really explain it. They felt like all sorts of things, like people were punching my head, needles and basically everything. Remy’s Mom: She'd just be holding her head for hours and hours. Even after giving her medication, it just wouldn't take away the headache. GORMAN WOODFIN: She decided it was time to take Remy to her doctor. Remy’s Mom: Her pediatrician did a series of tests on her, blood work on her, just to make sure that there was no organic problem going on. And then she sent her for an MRI of the brain just to rule out any kind of tumor of the brain. GORMAN WOODFIN: The doctors said that there was nothing physically wrong, yet the headaches persisted. Then one night, Remy and her mom were watching one of their favorite TV Shows, The 700 Club. Remy’s Mom: We were watching Pat Robertson when he gets a word of knowledge, and he was praying for certain people. And he prayed for many different types of ailments and many different types of sicknesses that people have. But it wasn’t headaches. Headaches were not mentioned. And so after the prayer time, and the show was over, Remy was really upset. She goes, “They didn't pray for me. They didn't pray for my headaches.” And I said, “Honey, you know there are a lot of people that need prayer. Maybe tomorrow or the next day they might pray for headaches.” GORMAN WOODFIN: Then little Remy Sommers made up her mind. She knew what she needed to do. Remy’s Mom: She goes, “That's it. I'm calling The 700 Club.” And I was like, “Okay.” But something just said to me, “Let her call. The faith of a child. Let her call.” GORMAN WOODFIN: Remy remembers what she said to the counselor. Remy Sommers: I said, “I have a headache. Can you pray for me?” GORMAN WOODFIN: As weeks went by, to everyone's amazement, the headaches vanished. Remy’s Mom: And then about a week or two later, I said to her just out of curiosity, I said, “Remy, do you still have those headaches?” And she goes, “No, Mommy, I haven’t had a headache in a long time.” And so I kept documenting in my journal when she hadn’t had the headaches, and ever since she made that phone call, she’s never had a headache since. Thank God. Thank God. GORMAN WOODFIN: Now it has been over a year since Remy called the Prayer Counseling Center, and to date the headaches have never returned. Michelle thanks God for The 700 Club and for the Prayer Counseling Center. Remy’s Mom: Nothing helped Remy's headaches. Us giving her medication, the doctors, the different types of treatments that they did to control pain, nothing had really gone on. But I know that the prayer counselors were just so kind to her and just so moved by the Holy Spirit just to speak the right words to her, the right words that just comforted her and just knowing that God was listening. GORMAN WOODFIN: That’s why Remy would encourage other kids and even grownups to watch The 700 Club. Remy Sommers: Because you should see how many other people are suffering and how God changed their lives. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * HOSTS PRAY FOR NEEDS TERRY MEEUWSEN: Here at CBN, we agree with Remy in the power of prayer and God’s willingness, not just His ability, but His willingness and desire to change the needs in people’s lives. GORDON ROBERTSON: And also the power of testimony. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Yes. GORDON ROBERTSON: Remy mentioned that in a very unique way. You can see the stories and realize that God is still working today. He’s still healing today. And just like Remy, you can see that and say, “Well, I want that for me. I want that for me.” And if we don’t get a word of knowledge for you, that’s okay. God’s Word is still true for you. His Word is absolutely true. He heals all your diseases. He forgives all your iniquities, and He heals all your diseases. So if you have the faith to believe your sins are forgiven, you have all the faith you need to believe for healing. We’re going to pray. Before we pray, we’re going to encourage you. Here is Yvonne from Hurricane, Utah. I didn’t know they had hurricanes in Utah. But anyway, they’ve got a city, Hurricane. She twisted and injured her back. Deep pain radiated from her lower back around her right side and would keep her up at night. One day she was watching The 700 Club. Terry, you had a word of knowledge: “You have deep pain in the lower part of your back. It radiates around to your sides. You’ve had it for some time. And you’re just going to feel a warmth come into that area of your body and it’s going to be gone.” Yvonne said, “That’s me!” She felt warmth go throughout her body. The pain left immediately. She began checking her body to confirm it, and she was able to bend over, touch her toes, without pain. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Hallelujah. That’s wonderful. Well, this is Carol. She lives in O’Fallon, Missouri. She was playing tennis when her arm and shoulder began to ache whenever she moved in a certain way. That pain and discomfort continued for her for weeks. Then one day she was watching this program. Gordon, you received a word of knowledge, and Carol placed her left hand near her right shoulder and asked for healing. The next word of knowledge that you had repeated Carol’s prayer word for word. She lifted her hand from her arm, and the pain disappeared. She then moved her arm and shoulder in various ways. She’s been pain free ever since. GORDON ROBERTSON: That can happen to you. Just place your hand on that area of the body that needs healing. If it’s throughout your body, place your hand on top of your head. If there are people around you, could you ask them to come pray for you? The Bible says, “These signs shall follow them that believe. They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.” Let’s pray for you right now. “Lord God, we just lift out in faith and we lay hands on the people that are laying hands on themselves. And we join with anyone around them now, and together we say out loud be healed and be made whole. And we command pain to leave now, in Jesus’ name.” There is someone praying for your right leg. It’s swollen. You’ve got an ACE bandage all around it. And God is healing that right knee, in Jesus’ name. That right knee is being healed right now, in the name of Jesus. Terry. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Someone else, you have some kind of an infection in your system that keeps evidencing itself through recurring strep. And God is healing that for you. You’re not going to have that strep infection anymore. GORDON ROBERTSON: There is someone with recurring sinus infections. And your adenoids have been affected by it. And God is healing that right now, in the name of Jesus. Someone with a neck injury. You’re getting healed. Just begin to turn your neck. Someone with a shoulder injury, you’re being healed as well. Lower back. There is a right hip. Someone with crushed toes on your left foot. God is healing many people right now, in Jesus’ name. Amen. If you’ve been touched by God or if you need prayer, call us: 1-800-759-0700. GRAPHIC: 1-800-759-0700 CBN.COM That’s all the time we have. God bless you. We’ll see you again. GRAPHIC: COPYRIGHT 2009 CHRISTIAN BROADCASTING NETWORK * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * END SPOT: SUPERBOOK Announcer: CBN presents Superbook for a new generation. Now, re-imagined from the classic CBN cartoon, a new series featuring amazing Bible stories brought to life using state of the art animation. Character: That’s pretty cool. Announcer: Your kids will love being entertained while they learn biblical values, like courage, loyalty, humility and faith. As they join Chris, Joy and Gizmo in their travels through time. In the first episode, A Giant Adventure, Chris and friends land in ancient Israel, where they meet David and witness his fierce battle against the giant Goliath. Character: You come to me with sword and spear, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts! Announcer: Your gift of 25 dollars or more will help create future Superbook episodes. As our thank you, you’ll receive a special edition DVD of the first episode and our brand new Superbook trading cards. Give your child the advantage of learning God’s Word. Superbook. Super power to change your life.