The 700 Club: October 1, 2009

UnderWing Transcripts PO Box 16282 Clearwater, Florida 33766 540 455-2333 / UnderWing@underwingtranscripts.com ________________________________________ The 700 Club Daily Broadcast Thursday, October 1, 2009 PAT ROBERTSON: Well, folks, on October the 1st, it was a Sunday, 1961, a momentous thing happened. A little tiny television station in Portsmouth, Virginia, went on the air. We had our first television broadcast, an old creaky black and white camera, a one kilowatt transmitter, bailing wire. TERRY MEEUWSEN: But the signal was out, right? PAT ROBERTSON: The signal was out, maybe around the block. We’re not sure. Well, we’re going to celebrate this anniversary with a look back at the beginning of this network a little later in the show. TERRY MEEUWSEN: But first in the news, another major disaster in the Pacific. Two violent earthquakes in Indonesia have killed more than 500 people. PAT ROBERTSON: And hundreds of buildings in the West Sumatra province have collapsed, trapping untold numbers of Indonesians in the rubble, and they’re crying out. They’re screaming in pain, begging. They’re calling on God, “Please help me!” Here is reporter Paul Strand. QUAKE PAUL STRAND: As a 7.6 magnitude quake shook this nation that has hundreds of islands sprawled across a major fault zone, Indonesians fled in panic from the coasts around them. They feared a giant tsunami like the one that killed 230,000 people in this region five years ago might soon follow. This German was showering in a bungalow along one of those coasts when the quake hit. Christian Effenberger (German Tourist): I ran out to a little place where everyone has already summoned to get out of the houses, and then we felt the sandy floor shaking in waves. PAUL STRAND: No tsunami followed, but the damage done by the quake and another that followed Thursday was devastating enough. Rescue workers dug frantically through the rubble of hundreds of collapsed buildings, sometimes by hand, sometimes with heavy machinery. This military rescue worker said his crew was hoping to find survivors. They were trying their best, but they could see dead bodies inside. This machine was ripping through layers of cement at a school where more than 30 students taking after-hours classes Wednesday suddenly disappeared when the quake toppled the building. People already sleeping outdoors for fear any roof they were under might collapse on them were shaken up further as a 6.8 quake rumbled through the same area Thursday. Wednesday's quake was so severe it shook buildings hundreds of miles away in Singapore and Malaysia. Many roads have been severed and communications and power cut off to some of the areas hit worst. Now Indonesia begins the long and expensive road to rebuilding. Paul Strand, CBN News. PAT ROBERTSON: It’s a hideous experience to be caught in an earthquake. The buildings shake, and it’s like the earth itself has gone away. I want to show you again, because this is what’s happening, and there is so-called subduction. You see, this is the Ring of Fire. This red marks the plate tectonics that make up our earth in that part of the world. But, you see, there you have Samoa, where we had one. There you’ve got Indonesia. You have, well, San Francisco and Los Angeles and other cities here on the west coast, all the way down to South America. That’s the Ring of Fire. And that area is subject to earthquakes. It is subject to, well, I guess tsunamis as well if there are serious earthquakes that take place. And everybody that lives there, there is a huge population centered on those coastlines, because that’s the place where people want to live. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Well, the Californian people kind of hold their breath for a little while after this, too, because when one shifts on one side, something usually happens on the other. PAT ROBERTSON: But these plates come, and one can come underneath another. That’s what happened in that terrible earthquake that took place a few years ago, the Indonesian earthquake that led to such terrible disaster. But that was all over the Asian area. And more can come, so hold on to your hats and do a lot of praying. But those people were screaming. They were crying out to God. They were in agony. They were hurting. Everything is gone. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Thank the Lord a tsunami didn’t follow that. PAT ROBERTSON: Oh, yes. Well, Lee Webb has the rest of our top stories from the CBN Newsroom. Lee. JENNINGS LEE WEBB: Pat, a self-described homosexual activist has been appointed to head the Obama Administration’s Safe School Office in the Department of Education. Kevin Jennings is also the founder of the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network. But an incident during his time as a teacher has emerged as the most controversial part of his background. CBN News White House correspondent David Brody has the story. DAVID BRODY: For Kevin Jennings, it’s the 21st century version of “This Is Your Life,” courtesy of those opposing his new job. First, his time as leader of the Gay Straight Alliance Network. Kevin Jennings (Asst. Deputy, Safe and Drug-Free Schools): I am happy to tell you that we have indeed come a very, very long way. And I’m afraid I also have to tell you we have not come nearly far enough. Peter Sprigg (Family Research Council): He’s a radical homosexual activist who has been a pioneer in pushing a pro-homosexual agenda on schools. DAVID BRODY: The Family Research Council is pushing for Jennings’ resignation, setting up a web site that has lead to thousands of e-mails to Congress and the President. It’s titled “Obama Chose This Teacher to Guide Your Children,” and it lists past quotes against the religious right and others pushing homosexuality in schools. The main controversy with Jennings dates back to when he was a schoolteacher. A 15-year-old boy confessed to him at the time that he was having homosexual sex with an adult, yet Jennings did not report the abuse of a minor to authorities. Critics say his behavior was unethical and failed to protect the boy from a sexual predator. His defenders say Jennings had no evidence that a crime had been committed. Jennings has told different versions of the story, but the conservative blogosphere discovered this recording of Jennings talking about the incident. GRAPHIC: JENNINGS IN 2000 AT GLSEN EVENT Kevin Jennings: So I said, “What were you doing in Boston on a school night, Brewster?” He got very quiet, and he finally looked at me and he said, “Well, I met somebody in the bus station bathroom, and I went home with him.” High school sophomore, 15 years old. That was the only way he knew how meet gay people. I was a closeted gay teacher, 24 years old, didn’t know what to say. Knew I should say something quickly, so I finally said, “My best had just died of AIDS the week before.” I looked at Brewster and I said, “You know, I hope you knew to use a condom.” Peter Sprigg: This is a man who is in charge of safe schools, and yet the only thing he would do to protect the safety of a 15-year-old boy engaged in high risk sexual conduct was to tell him to wear a condom. I think that makes him unfit for the position he’s been appointed to. DAVID BRODY: After pressing the Education Department, CBN News obtained this statement from Jennings, quote, “Twenty-one years later I can see how I should have handled this situation differently. I should have asked for more information and consulted legal or medical authorities.” The Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network isn’t waiting to see if that apology makes the controversy go away. It has created a petition that says, “Stop the anti-gay slander against Kevin Jennings.” Education Secretary Arne Duncan is standing by his man, saying, quote, “Kevin Jennings has dedicated his professional career to promoting school safety. He is uniquely qualified for his job, and I’m honored to have him on our team.” The question remains if all of that will be enough. David Brody, CBN News, Washington. LEE WEBB: Pat, back to you. PAT ROBERTSON: We have to ask ourselves, how many times is the President going to stick his finger in the eyes of the straight population or at least the family population of America? The American people don’t like this kind of conduct, and they certainly don’t want somebody in charge of child safety in the schools to be heading it up. It’s just unbelievable that Obama would pick somebody like this. But he has picked a communist, and that communist had to resign. He has picked other radicals. He seems to tend toward these radical people, because that’s his background. That’s where he came from. And when the campaign was going on politically, people were pointing it out, and everybody says, “Oh, no, no, you’d be racist if you brought these things up.” Well, it’s not racist to say this is his background. He was a community organizer for ACORN and some of the other radical groups. Now he is President, and he’s going to bring his training and his experience into that office. And that’s the experience he had. He’s never run anything. He’s never been in charge of anything. And this is all he knows. And that’s who we’re going to get. So you’d better stand up and do something about it or else. Lee. HEALTH CARE AND ABORTION LEE WEBB: We could be just two weeks away from the full Senate voting on health care legislation. President Obama promised it would not allow federal dollars to go towards abortion. But the Senate Finance Committee refused to strengthen anti-abortion provisions in the health care bill. It also rejected a conscience amendment that would have protected health care workers who refuse to perform abortions due to religious and moral objections. Senator Orrin Hatch tells CBN News the current language in the committee's bill does not go far enough on the issue of abortion. Sen. Orrin Hatch ([R] Utah): They just can't stand the debate, because they know that they're gradually losing on the issue of abortion. The vast majority of people in this country, even pro-choice people or pro-abortion people, do not believe taxpayers should have to pay for the abortions of others. LEE WEBB: But Hatch promises there will be more debate on the abortion issue before the health care fight is over, Pat. PAT ROBERTSON: I tell you, this health care thing is just a monstrosity, and the best thing to do is to let it die quietly and start something else. Maybe Congress has got the guts to do it, but so far, they keep saying, “Well, let’s have a compromise.” You don’t want to compromise on something as bad as that. You want to do away with it and start all over. Lee. EUROPE AND SOCIALISM LEE WEBB: President Obama's big government programs have caused some fears that the US may be headed for European-style socialism. But Europe seems to be going in the opposite direction. The New York Times reports socialists are in retreat across the continent. In Germany this week, Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats won a big election victory over the Social Democratic party. Her win follows recent socialist defeats in Italy, France and Sweden. Socialists remain in power in Britain, Spain and Portugal, but in the UK, Gordon Brown's Labor party is third in the polls, its worst showing since 1982. The Times quotes a leading French socialist who was asked if his party was dying. He said, “No. It is already dead.” CHINA’S ANNIVERSARY LEE WEBB: China is celebrating its 60th anniversary as a communist nation. The country staged its largest parade of military hardware. Police blocked off a wide area around Beijing’s Tiananmen Square for the festivities. Chinese President Hu Jintao wore a grey tunic reminiscent of Chairman Mao. He reviewed thousands of troops and hundreds of tanks and other weaponry. After the armaments, 60 floats celebrating Chinese accomplishments passed in review. The events were meant to underscore what Hu calls the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. IRAN NUCLEAR TALKS LEE WEBB: The US and five other nations have begun talks with Iran about ending its nuclear weapons program. They’re being held under tight security in Geneva, and they’re being billed as a last chance for Iran to avoid tough sanctions. One official says the US may talk one on one with the Iranians to try to reach an understanding. Britain, France, Germany and Russia joined the US in sending top diplomats to the meeting, but China did not. And that means the world powers could have trouble agreeing on sanctions to punish Iran. PHILIPPINES LEE WEBB: They’re comparing the damage in the Philippines from Typhoon Ketsana to that of the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina. Hundreds of thousands of people are homeless in the capital city of Manila alone, and some of those affected work for CBN Asia. Despite their personal tragedies, though, they are devoting their time and energy to helping others. PETER MAIZE: It's nearly midnight, but Gel Yap is still busy at the Operation Blessing warehouse, preparing relief supplies. Since the typhoon hit Manila last week, this warehouse has been a swirl of activity. Hundreds of volunteers are working around the clock to meet a huge and urgent demand. Gel began volunteering last weekend, just a few hours after floodwaters engulfed her home, and nearly took her life and the life of her infant son. Manila had never seen anything like it. A month's worth of rain fell in one day. The entire city was underwater. Gel's husband, Gene, stepped outside their house and saw his car rapidly swallowed up by the floodwaters. He decided it was time to get his family to higher ground. Gene Yap (CBN Asia): Well, what she did was lift our two-month-old over her head, and she was actually wading on the water. Her feet were actually not touching. PETER MAIZE: Neighbors heard their cries and pulled Gel and the baby to higher ground. Once they were safe at a relative's house, Gene's five-year-old son made a drawing of the danger he had just escaped. Gene Yap: Well, this is a drawing of what we went through. This is me here, Daddy, and this is my wife, Gel. And this is us wading through the water going to the neighbor’s house to get shelter. PETER MAIZE: Gene immediately turned his attention to helping others. He works in CBN's Corporate Communications department, so all that night, Gene sat at his parent's kitchen table, remotely updating the web site with news of Operation Blessings' relief efforts. His wife felt compelled to go to the warehouse and volunteer. Gel Yap (CBN Asia): I think more about the people, and just give to them the kind of love that the people gave us when we needed it most. PETER MAIZE: In another part of the warehouse, the head of Operation Blessing has been sleeping on a cot in her office as she oversees the relief effort. All these people share a common goal. Dr. Kim Pascual (Operation Blessing): It's not just giving out the medicine. It is giving you hope. PETER MAIZE: The lives of dozens of workers have been turned upside down by this disaster, but for Operation Blessing and CBN Asia, the most important thing has always been helping others first. Peter Maize in Manila, for CBN News. LEE WEBB: Pat, the folks in that region of the world seem to be under siege with Typhoon Ketsana in the Philippines. We talked about the earthquakes in Indonesia and the tsunami in Samoa. PAT ROBERTSON: Well, the weather is changing, as you know, Lee. And whether it’s global warming or whatever is, whether it’s the winds off the Pacific Ocean, whatever. TERRY MEEUWSEN: El Nino. PAT ROBERTSON: El Nino or La Nina, whichever of those two is causing the problem. There is no doubt about it, they’re under siege. And the best thing we can do right now is, A, pray, and B, help them. And we’re helping thousands of people with Operation Blessing in the Philippines. We were the first on the scene when that terrible tsunami hit in the Indonesian area. We were there in Banda Aceh, first on the scene to help. And we will help again wherever the needs are, as much as we can. It’s a huge area and millions of people that are hurting. So if you want to help, it’s Disaster Relief, CBN Center, Virginia Beach. What’s next? GRAPHIC: Disaster Relief CBN Center Virginia Beach, VA 23463 OB DISASTER RELIEF FUND 1-800-759-0700 CBN.COM TERRY MEEUWSEN: Well, coming up, the war in Afghanistan according to the troops. Man: We’re going to win this war just by winning the hearts and minds of the people and giving them some of the wonderful things that America takes for granted. TERRY MEEUWSEN: We’ll have their stories from the front lines. That’s next. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPOT 1: CURVES Announcer: So you’ve finally decided that it’s the right time for you to lose weight. That’s great. And maybe you’re considering going to Weight Watchers. Woman #1: Weight Watchers? Woman #2: Oh, no, girl. Woman #3: What’s going on? Woman #1: You’re going to try something new. Woman #3: I am? Woman #2: We’re clear. Go, go, go, go, go! Announcer: Introducing the new Curves 30-Day Diet Plan. 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Whether he’s turning it over to Joe Biden or whether he’s not going to turn it to anybody, he’s not in touch. But he’s debating whether or not to send more troops in there, yet he’s not discussing it with his key people. His advisors and his party apparently are split on the issue. But as Chuck Holton reports, the controversy isn’t affecting the morale of these splendid troops on the ground. NEWS SET-UP PKG CHUCK HOLTON: There seems to be no good news out of Afghanistan lately. The Taliban is gaining ground while support for the war is waning back at home. That drop comes as the US commander warns the mission could fail unless more troops and resources are added to the fight. When I visited Helmand Province a year ago, this spot was an empty field outside Camp Bastion. Now it’s home to 10,000 Marines. And it’s generally accepted knowledge that it’s going to take a lot more than that to implement General McChrystal’s strategy of clear, hold and build. But before that can happen, we’ve got to convince the American people that it’s worth it. In the midst of all the debate and uncertainty, morale of the troops in the field remains unaffected. Marine Sgt. Ravi Berwa: This tour in Afghanistan is my third deployment to a combat zone. We're making tremendous progress. You just think back to September 11th, and it's all worth it. CHUCK HOLTON: These Marines are taking the fight to the Taliban on new battlegrounds. And while these operations have been largely successful, they have led to record American casualties, a fact that weighs on politicians in Washington. This progress and other strategies to win in Afghanistan will take time. And the troops I talked to all expressed a belief that winning is worth the cost. Lance Cpl. Mary Schloss: I believe that what I'm doing is very important to getting this war won. I look at those pictures of those who gave their lives, and I can’t look at their families or think of their memory and say this is not worth it. It has to be worth it now. CHUCK HOLTON: Chuck Holton, CBN News. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * FOCUS GUEST: CHUCK HOLTON PAT ROBERTSON: Chuck was giving you that report on the scene. Now he’s back from Afghanistan, where he was imbedded with the US military. Chuck is also a former US Army Ranger. Chuck, it’s good to see you. You went on missions with the Marines. And what do you think? Do they have the resources to do the job? CHUCK HOLTON: No, they don’t have the resources to do the job. I can tell you, especially in the area of air transport, they’re really hurting. We just don’t have enough helicopters over there, Pat. And they need to get more helicopters on the ground right away. Part of the problem is that there just aren’t enough helicopters in the military anymore, because they have scaled back. But the helicopters they do have are stretched so thin that they just don’t have time to work on them properly. I was on helicopters that were leaking oil and transmission fluid as we were flying. And that’s kind of scary for those guys. But it also makes it harder for them to do their job, harder for them to get around. It might take a week for a soldier get from one base to another even if they’re only a few miles apart. PAT ROBERTSON: What do the Afghan people think? I was over there years ago when the Russians were giving them trouble. What do they think about us or about the war? CHUCK HOLTON: Well, Pat, I think that is another reason why we need a lot more troops over there, is because over half of the Afghan people have never seen an American soldier. Well, it’s kind of hard to win their hearts and mind if you never get out there and they don’t see you. But the good news is that the Taliban is actively working to lose the support of the Afghan people. PAT ROBERTSON: How’s that? CHUCK HOLTON: By their brutality. They’re putting in these IEDs just everywhere in the south. And they’re indiscriminate. They’re just pressure plates. And while I was there, a tractor pulling a trailer full of women and children hit one of these and killed 14 people. And you can imagine, that’s not winning hearts and minds. PAT ROBERTSON: Well, do the people know the Taliban did it? CHUCK HOLTON: Absolutely. Yes. And the people tell us when we go into these villages that, “We don’t want to support the Taliban, but if you’re not here, we don’t have any choice.” And that’s why it’s important, I think. And these soldiers see that, and the Marines see that. It’s important for us to be there to get rid of the Taliban. And I don’t think it will take as long as everybody says it will if we will just invest what’s required to defeat the Taliban. If we can do that, then we can start nation building. PAT ROBERTSON: Do you think Obama is willing to do that? CHUCK HOLTON: It’s a real hot political football. That’s obvious. And one of the things I noticed while I was there this time is that there is a sort of under the table way that we are increasing our strength in Afghanistan, and that’s through civilian contractors. Do you know we have 68,000 troops on the ground there. There are 123,000 civilian contractors in Afghanistan. PAT ROBERTSON: Come on! Twice as many? CHUCK HOLTON: Twice as many. And they’re doing jobs that you would normally think would be reserved just for soldiers and sailors and airmen and Marines. They’re door gunners on helicopters. They’re pilots on helicopters. They’re training the Afghan forces. These are all being done by civilian contractors on the ground. PAT ROBERTSON: Well, what are these, ex-military guys? They have to be. CHUCK HOLTON: Most of them are ex-military, and some of them are foreigners as well. PAT ROBERTSON: Well, Blackwater got such a bad name after that incident in Iraq. CHUCK HOLTON: They’re sort of a convenient political punching bag at this point, but I can tell you that they are absolutely vital to the war effort. And it’s actually less expensive in the long run for us to use contractors for a lot of these kinds of jobs. You see here on the screen now, these Afghan commandos in training, they’re all being trained by contractors, not by US military. And they’re doing a great job. PAT ROBERTSON: Do you think the Afghanis can have an army worthy of the name? CHUCK HOLTON: Oh, absolutely. Yes. We did the same thing in Iraq. Again, we have to invest what it takes to get these people to the point where they can provide security for their own people. And if we put the resources needed into the country, I think that that can be done in a matter of years, and then we can slowly start backing off the troop strength and then start working more on humanitarian aid. Unfortunately, the international community has been trying to do it upside down. They have been trying to start with humanitarian aid without providing security. And when you do that, all you do is make it easier for the Taliban to get around, easier for them to communicate. And so that’s a recipe for total perpetual war, is to just keep funding both sides. PAT ROBERTSON: What about Karzai? Is he for real? Is he corrupt in your opinion? Or were you over there long enough to find out? CHUCK HOLTON: In the opinion of the people that I was with, Karzai is as corrupt as the day is long. PAT ROBERTSON: Is he really? He is? CHUCK HOLTON: No question about that. The only issue is it’s sort of a choice between, kind of like we have in this country sometimes, between bad and worse. The corruption in that culture is so endemic, because that culture is a culture based on shame, not on guilt. And so in their culture, as long as you don’t get caught, there is nothing wrong with it. And so one of the good things that we’re seeing as we have troops in there, and they’re spending time with the Afghan soldiers and Afghan policemen, is that the policemen and soldiers we’re training are starting to emulate Americans. And they’re starting to see, “That’s what we want to be like.” And so the more we can have contact with those people, the more we will influence their culture and get them out of that culture of corruption. PAT ROBERTSON: What about the opium poppies? CHUCK HOLTON: Well, as you know, Pat, 90 percent of the illegal opium comes out of Afghanistan. PAT ROBERTSON: I know. CHUCK HOLTON: From there. And that’s one of the biggest reasons why we need to be there. I think the reasons that we’re in Afghanistan today are different than they were on 9/11. But we need to stop looking at Afghanistan like it’s another Iraq and start looking at it like it’s another Colombia. Because Afghanistan is a narcoinsurgency, just like Colombia was. And we’ve been in Colombia for 20 years, and we’ve been doing good work down there, especially lately. We’ve really been helping the Colombian government get rid of the insurgency down there. And the lessons that we’ve learned in Colombia are being applied to Afghanistan, and it’s working. I was on one mission, Pat, where we went in and took three million dollars of opium out of one guy’s house. And there were 50 guys on that mission, not one American soldier. They were DEA agents in law enforcement. They were local Afghan police and some ISAF special forces, some NATO special forces. PAT ROBERTSON: Three million dollars worth in one guy’s house? CHUCK HOLTON: One house, and that was only the secondary objective. We never made it to the primary objective, because we got so much out of the secondary. PAT ROBERTSON: Unbelievable. CHUCK HOLTON: Yes. So it’s working. We just need to give it time to work. And every kilo of opium we take off the street in Afghanistan not only saves lives in the United States and around the world, but it takes money out of the pocket of the Taliban. And that’s less money they can use to kill American soldiers over there. PAT ROBERTSON: Fantastic. Chuck, tremendous, wonderful report, brother. CHUCK HOLTON: Thank you very much. PAT ROBERTSON: You’ve done great work. CHUCK HOLTON: Thank you. PAT ROBERTSON: Former special services, special forces soldier. He’s doing a great job with CBN. Chuck Holton, ladies and gentlemen. Terry, unbelievable. TERRY MEEUWSEN: It is unbelievable. Well, up next, a look back at 48 years of broadcast history. GRAPHIC: THE 700 CLUB IS BORN We’re going to show you how The 700 Club got its start, after this. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPOT 2: AMMED DIRECT Nicole Johnson: Hi, I’m Nicole Johnson, Miss America 1999. I’ve had diabetes since 1993, and I hate boring food. Don’t you? Well, I got these three free cookbooks with fantastic tasting recipes for people with diabetes. If you have diabetes and have Medicare or qualified insurance, you can get these cookbooks free. Announcer: Call now to qualify for not one, not two, but three free cookbooks. Call 1-800-746-6449. Nicole Johnson: You’ll love this rich, chocolate cake. It makes my mouth water. Plus, oven fried chicken and nachos. Yum! You’ll also get this free meal planning guide and this free diabetes magazine. So call now for your free Better Care kit with three free cookbooks. Announcer: To qualify, call 1-800-746-6449. That’s 1-800-746-6449. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GRAPHIC: 1969 ANNOUNCER: CBN, the Christian Broadcasting Network, presents the following program in color. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * PAT ROBERTSON: It was a great day. We were sweating bullets, if I can use that term, on October the 1st. It was a Sunday. We didn’t have everything together. We didn’t have the money we needed. It was supposed to go on the air at one o’clock, and it was maybe three or four o’clock in the afternoon before we finally got on the air, but we got on the air. And that day, a check came in that got us going, helped pay to get us moving. I tell you, it was a miracle from God, and it was one that was born out of incredible prayer. But it was a humble start and one that was 400 years in the making. CBN’S 48TH ANNIVERSARY PIECE GRAPHIC: From the very beginning God had a plan . . . Man: Almighty God, by your great mercy, we have reached this land, which we now claim and establish for Thy eternal purposes. We ask Thee to open hearts and enlighten the understanding of the peoples of these shores to comprehend the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ. John F. Kennedy: Ask not what your country can do for you. ANDREW KNOX: It was 1961. America’s hope soared with the possibility of putting a man in space. And in Tidewater, Virginia, another first was recorded: the beginning of Christian television. Engineering this new frontier was a young New York Seminary graduate, Pat Robertson. Two years earlier, Pat, his wife, Dede, and their three children left their home and ministry in Bedford-Stuyvesant, New York, and headed south. He purchased a tiny, broken-down UHF television station with a God-given mandate to take the airwaves for Jesus Christ. Pat signed on with a signal that barely broadcast past the end of the block. But like others of his time, he believed anything was possible. John Glenn: Friendship 7. Beautiful sight. Announcer: From Dallas, Texas, the flash apparently official. President Kennedy died at one p.m. central standard time. Announcer: Ladies and gentlemen, the Beatles. Martin Luther King: I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed. Announcer: That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. ANDREW KNOX: By the end of the decade, CBN’s program The 700 Club was making a noticeable impact. People were coming to Christ. The production facilities grew, and the vision expanded. By the early ‘70s, The 700 Club aired to a national audience. ANNOUNCER: Welcome to The 700 Club, a program of prayer and praise presented by the Christian Broadcasting Network. ANDREW KNOX: Every day, hundreds of people from all over the country called in for prayer and to receive Christ. God was moving, bringing change to a nation in turmoil at home and abroad. Man: There was a cancer growing on the presidency. Richard Nixon: People have got to know whether or not their President is a crook. Well, I’m not a crook. ANDREW KNOX: Now out of its infancy, CBN was shaping its mandate to take the Gospel to all nations. A new international communications center emerged, along with a graduate-level university. God was calling leaders for training, and they responded. As the ‘70s came to a close, God prompted Pat to focus on the needs of others. In 1978, Operation Blessing, a humanitarian relief organization, was born to share Christ’s love with the needy. Around the globe, it was a time of terror, both foreign and domestic. During the 1980's, the growth of CBN was nothing short of miraculous. CBN was given a television station in the Middle East. By 1982, the Gospel message of Christ broadcast across the Holy Land and surrounding Arab countries. At home, hundreds of thousands came to Christ through the Prayer Counseling Center, while Operation Blessing gave assistance to those suffering. Strategic programming included prime time specials, an international 700 Club, and the animated series Superbook and Flying House. CBN stood poised for a global impact. Ronald Reagan: Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall. ANDREW KNOX: The east opened. The Cold War came to an end, and hearts were warmed by the message of Christ’s love. Billy Graham: Your vision of what you are going to do in Eastern Europe is one of the most thrilling things that I have heard. I would say to everybody, “Let’s get behind Pat in Eastern Europe.” ANDREW KNOX: In response to CBN’s Gospel blitz, 30-million Soviets gave their lives to Jesus Christ. Amid a world filled with turmoil and disaster, the Gospel is going forth to all nations. As people watch on televisions and via the Internet, consider the prayer of those early settlers: Man: We ask now that your Kingdom come to earth and your will be done as it is in Heaven. And to that end, we claim this land for that great purpose. Amen. ANDREW KNOX: CBN programming in the Asian Pacific Rim, India and Africa has led millions to faith in Jesus. Today, CBN WorldReach has offices in more than 40 countries and has broadcast evangelistic TV programs in 90 languages reaching more than 227 countries and territories. And Operation Blessing is also there providing practical relief to the poor and the suffering with medical missions, education and training programs. This is only the beginning. Forty-eight years of broadcast ministry serve as a solid foundation to build upon into the future. PAT ROBERTSON: The Bible says, “When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will raise the standard against him.” And I believe God put CBN in place, so that we would be here for such a time as this. ANDREW KNOX: From humble beginnings to a worldwide ministry, it’s clear, God has a plan for the future and for CBN. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * PAT ROBERTSON: Well, ladies and gentlemen, it’s a special birthday. Terry, you weren’t here at the time, but it was a Sunday afternoon. And we didn’t have the money to pay the bill to get this thing going. And, miraculously, a gentleman came forth with a check for 5,000 dollars. TERRY MEEUWSEN: But that’s a principle of God, that He sort of lets us come to the end of ourselves and then sends His answer. PAT ROBERTSON: Well, it happened. And we went on the air with this dinky little television station, and now we’re all over the world. This is the 48th anniversary of our first television broadcast. And folks, you’re part of it. And this monstrous cake is here to celebrate it. TERRY MEEUWSEN: I think we should pray before we eat it, don’t you? PAT ROBERTSON: Well, I think we ought to cut a piece, and then we’ll pray. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Okay. PAT ROBERTSON: All right. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Okay. That’s a deal. PAT ROBERTSON: All right, I’ll hold a—oh, that’s a huge piece. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Well, I’m going to do that. How’s that? PAT ROBERTSON: That’s better. All right. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Okay, here we go. PAT ROBERTSON: Forty-eight . . . . TERRY MEEUWSEN: Despise not the day of small beginnings. Yes. PAT ROBERTSON: Our 48th anniversary, ladies and gentlemen. I was keeping the books in those days. Our first year, the total revenue was 8,000 dollars. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Wow. PAT ROBERTSON: The second year was 20,000. And now, it’s time to pray. “Father, we thank you for what you’ve done. We thank you, Lord, in Jesus’ name. We thank you, Lord. And we ask you will continue to bless and bring forth fruit beyond anything we can imagine, in Jesus’ name. Amen.” TERRY MEEUWSEN: Amen. PAT ROBERTSON: Are you going to eat some of this stuff? TERRY MEEUWSEN: Well, I am. I want to see you eat some of this stuff. PAT ROBERTSON: Well, it looks too good. Is it good? Good? TERRY MEEUWSEN: The rest of us will love it. You’ll want a shake. But you’ll love this. PAT ROBERTSON: All right, I’ll try one, too. TERRY MEEUWSEN: There you go. PAT ROBERTSON: Happy 48th. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Happy 48th. PAT ROBERTSON: We’ll be back with more right after this. Stay tuned. TERRY MEEUWSEN: He likes it. Mikey likes it. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GRAPHIC: AT THE BUS STOP LEE WEBB: Coming up later, one word summed up her life. Woman: Abuse. Mental, emotional, spiritual, psychological, sexual abuse. LEE WEBB: So she joined the crowd. Woman: By the time I became an adolescent, I was like, “Dude, why try?” LEE WEBB: The day she tried to end it all . . . . Woman: I had no plans to get on the bus. I was timing my leap into the street. LEE WEBB: . . . . and the stranger that saved her life. Woman: He said, “Don’t you dare. Don’t you dare give up.” * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPOT 3A: MISSING Announcer: New from New York Time’s bestselling author, Beverly Lewis, The Missing. A painful absence, a desperate search, an unlikely friendship. Will Grace’s search for truth lead to hope or heartache? The Missing. Book two in the Seasons of Grace series, from Beverly Lewis, America’s favorite author of Amish fiction. Get your copy today, from Bethany House. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPOT 3B: GOLDLINE Jay Johnson (Former Director US Mint): All you have to do is read a newspaper or watch TV to know that millions of us have seen our investments and our nest eggs lose value in these tough economic times. And no one knows how long this will last. Hi, I’m Jay Johnson, former director of the US Mint. I supervised our nation’s gold supply, including Fort Knox. Let’s look at three popular investment choices: stocks, real estate and gold. Stocks have declined. Housing has crashed. Yet, gold has tripled in value since 2001. Some experts, like me, believe gold may reach new record highs due to inflation and the falling dollar. Gold is a safe haven asset that has never dropped to zero. Make gold part of your portfolio. Call Goldline now, a company with nearly half a billion dollars in annual sales. Goldline has been helping investors acquire gold for nearly 50 years. Call Goldline now. Ask for your free investor’s kit and learn why gold should be a part of your portfolio. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * VOUCHERS RALLY LEE WEBB: Welcome back to The 700 Club. Some 3,200 Washington, DC, residents protested on Capitol Hill Wednesday. They’re angry that the Obama Administration cut off a voucher program that let thousands of DC children opt out of weak, local public schools. They had been awarded scholarships that allowed them to attend private schools. Tara Montgomery (Niece Lost a Scholarship): If my niece loses this scholarship, her and all these kids will be so disheartened that they won’t even want to go—if they go back to public school, they won’t want to participate, and they will be statistics. LEE WEBB: In fact, one mother said her daughter asked if they could move to avoid the DC public schools. DISTRACTED DRIVING LEE WEBB: The federal government is getting involved now on the issue of driving while texting. The Department of Transportation is wrapping up a distracted driving summit. According to government research, distracted drivers killed nearly 6,000 people and injured a half million more last year. Sixteen percent of all fatal crashes involved drivers under the age of 20. Congress introduced legislation in July that would force states to ban texting behind the wheel or lose federal highway funds. Eighteen states have already adopted that law. 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 Pat and Terry will be back with more of The 700 Club after this. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPOT 4: REGENT Female Student: Welcome to Preview Weekend. Male Student: Welcome to Preview Weekend. Group of Students: Welcome to Preview Weekend. Male Student: Regent University is amazing. Female Student: You can’t understand the university unless you visited and met the people. Male Student: I felt a sense of peace walking around the campus. Female Student: And I just said to myself, “That’s something I have to check out.” Announcer: Your calling, your purpose, your future. Find your place at Regent University Preview Weekend. Call 800-373-5504, or visit www.Regent.edu/Preview. Join us November 12th through 14th for Preview Weekend. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * TERRY MEEUWSEN: Well, while she was waiting for a bus, Anneshia Freeman thought about her life and about the pain she had suffered, the hurt she’d endured. Anneshia was planning on killing herself, until a stranger walked by. ANNESHIA FREEMAN Anneshia Freeman: My childhood, it was abuse, if I could sum it up in one word. Mental, emotional, spiritual, psychological, sexual abuse. DEBBIE WHITE: Anneshia Freeman had an absent father and a mother with paranoid schizophrenia. Anneshia Freeman: I started developing a belief system that, compared to other people, there was something wrong with me. DEBBIE WHITE: Because of her mental illness, Anneshia’s mother forced her children to read the Bible and pray on their knees for hours on end. Anneshia Freeman: I had a personal relationship with God, but it was distorted. I had asked God to come into my heart when I was seven or eight. And I told my mom and I was so happy, but she was a religious fanatic. And she operated out of a legalistic concept of God. It was a conditional relationship. I had to be perfect. By the time I became an adolescent, I was like, “Dude, why try?” DEBBIE WHITE: By high school, Anneshia found solace in drugs and alcohol. Her grades dropped as she looked for way to pay for her addictions. Anneshia Freeman: When I was 13, I looked like I was 21 or 22. I resembled an adult woman. I didn’t really think I was prostituting then. I didn’t think that’s what it was, but that’s what it was. I was exchanging sexual services for drugs and alcohol. DEBBIE WHITE: Anneshia ran from her home life after her high school graduation. Anneshia Freeman: I was living in Chicago when the addiction kicked into high gear. I had been smoking marijuana, drinking alcohol, occasionally snorting cocaine, but it only lasted for three minutes. And it cost 25 dollars to feel like that for three minutes. I stopped paying bills. All of my money started going to cocaine. The addiction got so bad, until I went back to Detroit. And that’s when I got introduced to the crack cocaine subculture, and I started hanging out in crack houses. DEBBIE WHITE: She stayed on the streets for 12 years, the victim of physical beatings and rapes. Anneshia Freeman: I could see evil. I met evil there. I knew evil existed, but in those crack dens, I saw evil in an entirely different light. There were so many times when I had pistols to my head literally, pistols to my head, or somebody who had their hands around my throat choking me. That goes along with prostituting and living and being in crack houses, and owing dope boys money. Oh, I felt convicted. I knew that some of the things that I was engaging in were an abomination to God. I knew that, but the drugs, I had to have the drugs. DEBBIE WHITE: Anneshia couldn’t handle her life of addiction anymore. She went outside to the nearest bus stop. Anneshia Freeman: But I had no plans to get on that bus. I was going to commit suicide. I was timing my leap into the street. I was just real resigned in my spirit. I had made up my mind, “I can’t live like this anymore.” And a man was walking behind me, and he stopped. I didn’t see him until he said something. That’s what made me turn around and look at him. He said, “Don’t you dare.” And I turned around. He said, “Don’t you dare give up.” And I believe that man was an angel. I don’t know if he was or if he was just somebody God used right then in that point, because I was getting ready to leave here. And I’m like, “Wow! You mean there’s a God out there that cares whether or not a prostitute crack addict is getting ready to take her life?” DEBBIE WHITE: Shortly after that day at the bus stop, Anneshia made the decision to let God change her life. Anneshia Freeman: I was walking away from a crack motel, and I heard God in my spirit. It wasn’t an audible voice. It was deep in my spirit. I heard God say, “Choose you this day who you will serve.” And it’s like not only had He shown me Himself, He had shown me Satan’s kingdom uncut and raw. And I knew right then in my spirit that if I didn’t leave at that particular moment, I would die there. And that was August the 7th of the year 2000, and I have not used another drug, any type of mood-altering, mind-altering substance, including alcohol. I have used nothing since that day. DEBBIE WHITE: Anneshia started going to church and completed several addiction programs. Anneshia Freeman: The cross means so much to me. It means that I have access now. He let me know, “I love you even though you sin. I don’t love your sin, but I love you.” And He saved me. And He’s given me a life that is beyond anything I could have imagined. DEBBIE WHITE: In the last ten years, Anneshia has completed three degrees, including an MBA. Today, she is a certified addictions counselor and has developed a citywide program to help prostitutes get off the streets. Anneshia Freeman: I would say that if you think you’re too far, that that is a lie straight from the pit of Hell. No matter what you have done, God can turn your life around, and He’s not going to just turn it around a little bit. He can turn it all around until you don’t even recognize your life. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * TERRY MINISTERS TERRY MEEUWSEN: No matter what, no matter what has happened, God can and wants to turn your life around. Sometimes it starts out in your childhood with abuse. It might be abuse at someone else’s hand. Maybe it’s your parents as it was for Anneshia. But in the end, what happens is you get into the kind of behavior where you’re abusing yourself. You’re your own worst enemy. But you can’t get far enough away for God not to be able to reach you. His arm is not too short. His heart is filled with compassion and mercy and grace. What does He want for you? He wants you to know Him. He wants you to have a relationship with Him. He wants you to understand who He is, what the cross was about. When Anneshia talks about how much the cross meant to her, it’s because she understands the sacrifice on the cross was for her and for me, and for you. It was a huge sacrifice, because God’s love for you is huge. Will you receive that today? You don’t have to clean up your act or get good enough. You don’t have to have a deep theological understanding of it all. This is what you need to know: you are a sinner, just like the rest of us, in need of a Savior. It’s not about saying a little rote prayer. It’s about understanding why He died on the cross. Someone needed to pay the price for our sin. Jesus agreed to do that. He was not the sinner. He didn’t have to do it. But He loved you enough to do it, and what did that mean? It means that you and I get a complete start over, a brand new beginning and the power to live differently. Now you may think you can’t do it. You may think the drugs have hold of you too much, whatever it is you’re doing is too significant a part of your life. Ask Him. He is all. He is the one who saves you. He is the one who teaches you. He is the one who empowers you. So start. Ask Him. Let’s do that right now. Just confess out loud before Him that you get it, that you know who you are. You know who He is, and you choose Him. That’s what it is. So pray with me right now, will you? “Father, I hear it. I hear the story. I hear the plan. And I’m coming to you today saying I accept what Jesus did for me. Jesus, not just accept it, I needed it. I am a sinner. I needed a Savior. Thank you for being willing to come for me. Thank you for being willing to die for me, to suffer for me, to pay the price for my wrongdoing. I’m asking you to be the Savior of my soul, the forgiver of my sins. And Holy Spirit, please come now. Empower me. Touch me. Teach me. Change me. Help me to see you in all things. I choose you today. Thank you for choosing me. Thank you, Father, for loving me. Even while I was sinning, you cared about me. I ask all of this in Jesus’ name. Amen.” If you’ve just prayed that prayer, then begin to walk in that relationship. GRAPHIC: 1-800-759-0700 CBN.COM It takes some commitment and time. We’ve prepared a little packet for you called “A New Day.” And it’s absolutely free. If you’ll call the number that’s on your screen, 1-800-759-0700, you can get a hold of this. GRAPHIC: OUR GIFT TO YOU 1-800-759-0700 CBN.COM Just say, “I prayed the prayer. I’d like ‘A New Day.’” And we’ll send this out to you right away. You can also log on to CBN.com and get it that way. Pat. PAT ROBERTSON: Well, it’s sort of semi-birthday time. And we’ve got an anniversary edition of Bring It On. Heather wants to know, “Pat, what has been your favorite moment from The 700 Club?” PAT ROBERTSON: Well, stay tuned, Heather. We’ll try to answer that and more of the question that are coming to us. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPOT 5A: ISRAEL PAT ROBERTSON: Israel, the land where God came to mankind. Imagine to be in the place where our Lord lived, to stand where He performed His miracles, to see where He taught the multitudes. The pages of the Bible come alive in the land filled with God’s promises. Don’t miss this experience of a lifetime. Visit Israel. You’ll never be the same. ANNOUNCER: Call today. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPOT 5B: SWISS AMERICA Pat Boone: Pat Boone here for my good friends at Swiss America, the company that has helped Americans to rediscover gold for over 25 years now. You may have noticed gold prices have more than doubled in the last five years, but do you ever wonder why? Economists say the top five reasons are: a falling dollar, which also creates number two, a rising cost of living. Third, increasing demand for gold worldwide. Fourth, political uncertainty. And fifth, new Wall Street gold funds. It all adds up to higher prices ahead. Gold offers safety first and then profit. A wise economist has said a portfolio without gold is like walking around naked in zero degree temperatures. So don’t get caught in the cold without gold. Call Swiss America now for a free educational kit. Ask about tax free gold IRAs. Seize this rare opportunity today. Call now. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GRAPHIC: 1976 ANNOUNCER: From CBN, it’s The 700 Club. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * BRING IT ON TERRY MEEUWSEN: Well, we want to Bring It On with some e-mail questions that some of you have sent in about the history of CBN. And Pat, Heather says, “Pat, what was one of the best interviews or moments you had in all your years of television?” PAT ROBERTSON: Well, probably the best moment that we had in the early days of CBN was when the power of God came in and the cameramen were weeping pools of tears right by their camera. And people were being slain in the Spirit. That was when it was good. TERRY MEEUWSEN: I miss those days, but one of the things I always remember is the walk you and Billy Graham did in Germany when the wall came down. That was a moment in time, wasn’t it? PAT ROBERTSON: We were there. I did a little tour of Eastern Europe and stopped into East Germany. And Billy was there, and we had lunch together and had an interview by the wall. That was a marvelous time. TERRY MEEUWSEN: It was a moment in history, really. PAT ROBERTSON: It was. Another one was when I interviewed Yitzhak Rabin in ’74. He, of course, was assassinated not too long afterwards. It was an absolutely memorable moment. And I talked about what did he need, and I made a commitment to stand with Israel on that day. And it was a very moving time. But we’ve had some great interviews. It’s hard to say which one. TERRY MEEUWSEN: I know. It is hard to pick one, isn’t it? PAT ROBERTSON: The power of God has been so marvelous. I think when God comes in, that’s what’s important. When you have a 1,000-1,500 people come to the Lord during a program, that’s what’s really nice. TERRY MEEUWSEN: This is Josephine, who says, “Pat, CBN has been a major force for evangelism throughout the world. With such a remarkable past, where do you think God will be working in the future?” PAT ROBERTSON: Josephine, I think what God is doing is spreading, continuing to touch more lives. We’re in the final harvest. And it’s just a question of when is harvest over? We have had, some count as many as 500 million people have accepted the Lord. What’s happening next? I think God is continuing that harvest until the last day. But we haven’t got a lot more time, at least as I see it. And I may be wrong. TERRY MEEUWSEN: This is from David, who says, “In light of Regent now having an undergraduate school in addition to its graduate and doctoral programs, what plans do you have for the future of education at Regent University?” PAT ROBERTSON: Well, our long range plan is to have a university that would rival Oxford or the Sorbonne during the Middle Ages, a real center of Christian learning. In the meantime, we’re growing like crazy. We should hit a couple thousand in the undergrad in the next month or so. Beyond that, I would think in terms of online education, I’d like to see well over 100,000 students and to make a major impact around the world. TERRY MEEUWSEN: This is from Jayne, who says, “Pat, what would you say has been the secret of CBN’s success? Are there some key principles you’ve followed to see such growth and accomplishment?” PAT ROBERTSON: Well, the key principle is always humility. I give God the praise. Anything good that happens, He gets the credit. Anything bad that happens, I take the blame. You do that, and everything is okay. You start taking the credit for the good stuff, and God says, “Now, wait a minute. You’ve got your priorities wrong.” We give Him praise for everything good that happens. TERRY MEEUWSEN: This is Barry, who says, “Throughout your life, you’ve had to make some major decisions about what direction to take in a variety of settings. How did you go about making those decisions?” PAT ROBERTSON: I’ve spent many times in prayer, days in prayer, weekends in prayer, seeking the Lord. TERRY MEEUWSEN: You still do. PAT ROBERTSON: I still do. That’s the only way to find out what’s going on. Otherwise, you’re just blindly struggling around. You make so many bad decisions. I can make so many bad decisions without God. TERRY MEEUWSEN: I was just reading about how often Jesus went apart alone. If He needed to do that, surely we do. PAT ROBERTSON: Believe me, we need to. And I just had an operation, and unfortunately by being under anesthesia for ten hours, it leaves you a little bit, not quite as sharp spiritually as you’d like to be. So you need to get back to that. Hey, they tell me that’s all the time, Terry. TERRY MEEUWSEN: Happy 48th. PAT ROBERTSON: Happy 48th, honey. You’re a blessing. TERRY MEEUWSEN: So are you. PAT ROBERTSON: Terry is such a blessing. Well, we leave you with these words from Matthew 28, . . . . GRAPHIC: Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (NKJV) . . . . “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Bye, bye. GRAPHIC: COPYRIGHT 2009 CHRISTIAN BROADCASTING NETWORK * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * END SPOT B: 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 Chen Yu. Born with a serious heart defect, doctors said he would soon die. His parents couldn’t afford surgery. That’s when you provided the operation that saved his life. 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.