Well, good morning and just
welcome to our first meeting
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here on Friday at the
great Homecoming Camp Meeting
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in West Frankfort, Illinois.
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And we just are so
happy that you're here.
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And people say: "Where are you?
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In Thompsonville or are
you in West Frankfort? "
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Actually we're in West Frankfort
because that's where we get
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our mail address and that's...
We're right at the line.
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So if you step over one
way you're in Thompsonville
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you go the other way
you're in West Frankfort.
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But it's kind of confusing
to people when they are sending
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their mail to West Frankfort
for me to talk about their being
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in
Thompsonville. So we've decided
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from now on we're just going
to talk about West Frankfort
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and... and leave it that way.
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It's a little easier
and less complicated.
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I won't get so much
mail asking "Where are you? "
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as a matter of fact.
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But we are just really
excited about this Homecoming
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Camp Meeting because
we started out last night.
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Three hours! What a service.
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And I've had so many people
tell me how blessed they were.
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Two inspired, Holy
Spirit- directed messages
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and some music that was
just really inspired as well.
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And we really
enjoyed that music.
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Our speaker this
morning is certainly no stranger
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to you folks. Brenda
Walsh, who is the head of
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Kids' Time and is an author who
has written a number of books
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has just completed book 5
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of her new Aunt
Brenda's Bedtime Stories.
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And that is just selling
like you would not believe!
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People are buying it, and
there'll be 5 volumes available
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now for
Christmas. And so many people
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have been anxiously awaiting
that. There've been 2 out
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already now, and they're
going ahead with the other 3.
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She just finished I think
last night or right away here
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the last story for
volume 5, so it goes to press
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immediately at Pacific Press
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and will be
available November 1.
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So start looking forward
to getting the first five
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and getting them out to your
children, your grandchildren,
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friends, neighbors. I know
that you're going to really
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appreciate those...
those inspiring stories.
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They really really are.
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We're also happy today
to have Tim Parton with us.
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I asked Tim just
before we came on...
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Somebody said: "Is
he related to Dolly? "
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And he said: "Not yet. "
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And so I... he thinks somewhere
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even closer than Noah
that there's a tie back there.
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With all that music
ability from her family and
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from Tim, I think
there has to be a tie
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between these musical families.
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And Tim is going to bring
our special music in a moment.
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Again I want to mention
that Brenda is our speaker.
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Right after Tim
brings us that music
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we're going to go immediately
to her. And she's going to be
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speaking on the subject
Out Of Your Comfort Zone.
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And I hope that you will receive
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a real blessing from this.
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And I also know that you'll
get a chance, those of you
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that are here, to
visit with Brenda afterwards.
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And we'll have a little
break - about 30 minutes
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before our next program -
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and so you'll have an
opportunity to talk with her
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and ask her some questions.
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Before we go further, I
would like for us to have
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a word of prayer.
Shall we bow our heads?
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Father in heaven,
we thank you, Lord,
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that You have given
to us Your Holy Spirit.
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That You speak to
us through that Spirit.
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Speak to us this morning,
Father. Speak to our hearts.
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Speak to our minds and
let us know that You are near.
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We thank you for the
blessings we've already received
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here at this Camp Meeting
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and we pray that You'll continue
to be here in a powerful way
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throughout this
weekend. Thank you, Lord.
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Bless those that are here.
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Bless those who
have to be at home today.
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And may they each receive
a portion of Your Spirit.
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We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.
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Now Tim Parton with
a song Vessel of Mercy.
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Make me
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a vessel of mercy.
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Father, make me
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a vessel that's true.
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Fill me
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with love and compassion
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and fashion my heart to be
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a vessel worthy
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of You.
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Lord, I want to be
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all You want me to be.
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Your service is my desire.
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I so want to know You
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and in Your love grow
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with heavenly power.
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I yield my life to You;
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I'm willing to be used.
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Wherever you bid me, I'll go.
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So Lord Jesus, daily
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I pray that You'll break me
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that Your love I might show.
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Make me
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a vessel of mercy.
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Father, make me
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a vessel that's true.
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Fill me
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with love and compassion
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and fashion my heart
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to be
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a vessel worthy of You.
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Oh, fill me
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with love and compassion
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and fashion my heart
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to be
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a vessel worthy of
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You.
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Sing this with me:
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Lord, I surrender
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all.
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I surrender all.
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All to Thee, my
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blessed Savior...
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I surrender
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all.
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I surrender
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all.
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Amen.
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Thank you, Tim.
I surrender all...
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that's really where
it all starts, isn't it?
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Until we really
surrender everything to Jesus
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we're lost.
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When we really,
really love Jesus,
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when we really fall in
love with our heavenly Father,
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we can't help but want
to share Him wherever we go.
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You just really are
shining and you are so excited.
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When we have the blessed truth
and we have so much to share
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we just want to
witness and tell everybody.
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We want to work for Jesus.
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But did you
realize how important it is
00:10:17.97\00:10:20.47
that we're not just running
around doing what we want to do?
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It's critically - vitally
- important that we're doing
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what God wants us to do.
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In fact, turn in your
Bible to Matthew 7: 21-23
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and I want you to just, you
know, underline that in your
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Bible. You know, get
your highlighters out.
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And go to it often,
because I can tell you
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this will,
alone... this verse alone...
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will change your
life. It changed mine.
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I'm going to
paraphrase right here
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because in Matthew 7:21-23
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we are told that unless we
are doing the will of our Father
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it is for nothing.
And He says we could be
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out baptizing in His name,
doing many wonderful things,
00:11:04.93\00:11:07.61
but unless we are
doing what God wants us to do
00:11:07.82\00:11:11.22
it is for nothing.
He'll say He never knew us.
00:11:11.42\00:11:13.80
We could be out in
India passing out Bibles
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24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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We could be out here,
you know, in New York City
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and working in a soup kitchen.
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We could be doing all kinds
of... passing out literature
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everywhere. We
could do wonderful things,
00:11:26.64\00:11:28.35
but unless God told you
to do it it is for nothing.
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He will say: "I never knew you.
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I don't know who you are. "
00:11:36.41\00:11:37.75
So that's why it's so important
that we are so prayed up
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that we are so totally connected
to our heavenly Father.
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We have a passionate prayer life
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so that we are
walking with Jesus
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and we are
listening to His voice
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and we're doing
what God wants us to do.
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Let me share with you
that unless we allow God...
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And I loved Tim's
song this morning.
00:11:58.65\00:12:01.18
I Surrender All... it's
one of my favorite songs
00:12:01.38\00:12:03.38
because unless we're totally
surrendered we can't do this.
00:12:03.68\00:12:05.91
But unless you allow
God to push us way out of
00:12:06.11\00:12:09.30
our comfort zone - some place
that we are just not comfortable
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being - unless we're
way out of our comfort zone
00:12:13.58\00:12:16.01
we're not really
leaning on Jesus.
00:12:16.21\00:12:18.32
Who are we leaning on?
00:12:18.52\00:12:19.98
We're leaning on self.
00:12:20.53\00:12:21.83
And it's vitally,
critically important -
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you just read Matthew 7:21-23-
00:12:24.80\00:12:26.91
that we are doing
what? The will of our Father.
00:12:26.94\00:12:31.67
So it is really truly when
we are out of our comfort zone
00:12:31.97\00:12:35.27
that we're leaning on
Jesus and not on ourselves.
00:12:35.47\00:12:38.14
Now sometimes... I can
tell you that can sometimes be
00:12:38.44\00:12:41.40
an uneasy place to
be. Oh sure, we'd love to
00:12:41.50\00:12:43.96
do the things that
we're comfortable with
00:12:44.16\00:12:46.15
because, you know,
we feel good about that.
00:12:46.35\00:12:48.36
And it's a little uneasy
feeling when you're out here
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because you are
totally dependent on Jesus.
00:12:52.26\00:12:54.65
That's actually... When God
asked me to produce Kids' Time
00:12:54.95\00:12:58.58
you can't believe how
out of my comfort zone
00:12:58.88\00:13:01.99
I felt because I'd
never produced a program.
00:13:02.19\00:13:06.05
I'm not a producer.
"God, why did You choose me? "
00:13:06.15\00:13:08.44
I had been in front
of the camera many times.
00:13:08.74\00:13:10.91
I've been singing with my
sisters on 3ABN for years,
00:13:11.11\00:13:13.59
and I had done
cooking shows with my sisters.
00:13:13.79\00:13:16.34
I was used to that. I
started playing the piano
00:13:16.54\00:13:19.09
for churches when
I was eight years old
00:13:19.29\00:13:21.15
so I was used to
being in front of people.
00:13:21.26\00:13:22.55
I'm comfortable
doing that, "but Lord,
00:13:22.75\00:13:25.18
I don't know anything
about being a producer! "
00:13:25.38\00:13:27.69
But guess what God says?
00:13:29.02\00:13:30.73
He doesn't want me
to know everything.
00:13:30.93\00:13:33.69
He's going to give
me what I need to know
00:13:33.99\00:13:36.03
every step of the way.
00:13:36.13\00:13:37.19
God's not going to
call you to do something
00:13:37.39\00:13:40.07
that He's not going to totally
equip you with everything
00:13:40.37\00:13:43.69
you need to do the job.
00:13:43.79\00:13:45.16
He's not going to call you
and then just leave you hanging.
00:13:45.47\00:13:48.11
Isn't that awesome?
00:13:48.32\00:13:49.37
So He's going to give us what
we need the minute we need it,
00:13:49.67\00:13:52.98
the second we need it.
00:13:53.18\00:13:54.38
We just need to lean on Jesus.
00:13:54.68\00:13:56.41
Sometimes, you know, I
think it's easier to say that;
00:13:57.01\00:14:01.37
it's easier for me
to tell all of you that.
00:14:01.57\00:14:02.95
But I tell you there's
some places that God has led me
00:14:03.15\00:14:05.80
have been so far
out of my comfort zone
00:14:06.00\00:14:08.34
that I mean I have
to be praying constantly
00:14:08.54\00:14:10.77
to be able to say: "Yes, Lord,
00:14:10.87\00:14:12.23
I'm willing to do
what You want me to do. "
00:14:12.33\00:14:14.13
And one of those times was
00:14:14.43\00:14:18.58
when God called
me to go to a prison.
00:14:18.79\00:14:22.07
Now, I'd never been in a prison.
00:14:23.14\00:14:25.25
In fact, I never knew how hard
it was go get into a prison...
00:14:25.45\00:14:29.48
unless you committed a crime.
00:14:29.78\00:14:31.80
And several
years ago a little girl
00:14:31.90\00:14:35.32
came to Kids' Time.
The Make A Wish Foundation
00:14:35.52\00:14:39.02
had granted her wish
which she wanted to come
00:14:39.22\00:14:41.51
and be on Kids'
Time with Miss Brenda.
00:14:41.61\00:14:43.32
And her name was Sarah.
00:14:43.62\00:14:45.57
Some of you might
remember little Sarah
00:14:45.77\00:14:47.20
that came here to 3ABN.
00:14:47.40\00:14:48.84
And after she came, I
became very close friends with
00:14:49.14\00:14:51.95
her and her mom. And in fact,
00:14:52.15\00:14:53.93
her mom Denise is my
Sharing Time coordinator
00:14:54.13\00:14:57.61
for Kids' Time, and of course,
little Sarah is my production
00:14:57.81\00:15:00.57
assistant. And so we
became very close friends.
00:15:00.67\00:15:03.65
And not long after
Sarah came I was invited
00:15:03.85\00:15:07.02
to come out and
speak... out in Idaho.
00:15:07.22\00:15:09.73
They lived in Idaho
at Pocatello, Idaho.
00:15:09.93\00:15:12.00
In fact, Denise had
asked me if I would come out
00:15:12.20\00:15:14.60
because they wanted to raise
money for an uplink station
00:15:14.80\00:15:17.67
so that the whole
city of Pocatello, Idaho,
00:15:17.87\00:15:20.14
would be able to learn
about Jesus and get 3ABN.
00:15:20.35\00:15:23.05
Her sister lived down there,
and she was really wanting to
00:15:23.25\00:15:25.94
witness to her sister as well.
00:15:26.04\00:15:27.58
And I agreed to come.
00:15:27.68\00:15:28.73
So not long after they had
announced that I was going to be
00:15:29.03\00:15:32.75
speaking out in Pocatello,
00:15:32.85\00:15:35.94
they... I got an e-mail from
someone called Carrie Avery.
00:15:36.14\00:15:40.87
And the e-mail went
something like this:
00:15:41.17\00:15:42.82
"Dear Miss Brenda, I...
my name is Carrie Avery.
00:15:43.02\00:15:45.75
I'm in charge of prison
ministries for our church here
00:15:45.95\00:15:50.74
and we have a high-security
prison here in Pocatello.
00:15:50.94\00:15:53.72
It's a woman's prison,
00:15:53.92\00:15:55.41
and I gave some of your
books Battered to Blessed
00:15:55.71\00:15:58.56
to the prison. In fact, they are
the most-checked-out books. "
00:15:58.76\00:16:01.82
She said, "there's a
waiting list. As soon as someone
00:16:02.02\00:16:03.99
returns it, it's
already going to the next person
00:16:04.10\00:16:05.79
on the list. " She
said: "I can't tell you... "
00:16:05.89\00:16:07.94
She said: "I have a Bible study
00:16:08.14\00:16:09.63
one hour a week with women
00:16:09.83\00:16:12.55
and I can't tell you
how blessed they are.
00:16:12.75\00:16:14.25
Please, would you come
to the prison and speak?
00:16:14.46\00:16:16.39
I feel like your testimony
would be a real blessing.
00:16:16.59\00:16:19.34
Many of the women are
here because they came from
00:16:19.54\00:16:21.86
such battered and abused homes
00:16:22.06\00:16:24.39
and situations. " And she
said: "I think that your message
00:16:24.59\00:16:27.59
would be a message of hope if
you would be willing to come. "
00:16:27.79\00:16:30.45
And since I was...
No, I wasn't the one that
00:16:31.71\00:16:34.52
was... he had booked my
trip, I called up Denise
00:16:34.72\00:16:37.67
and I shared with her the
e- mail and I said: "Look,
00:16:37.87\00:16:39.84
is there any convenient
time for me to come that... "
00:16:40.04\00:16:42.46
They want me to come and
speak to the women there at...
00:16:42.66\00:16:45.51
Friday afternoon
when I'm out there.
00:16:45.71\00:16:48.00
Would it be possible? "
00:16:48.03\00:16:49.42
And Denise said: "You
know Brenda, honestly, "
00:16:49.72\00:16:51.59
she said: "By the
time you get here.
00:16:51.79\00:16:53.21
You aren't going to get here
till real late Thursday night. "
00:16:53.41\00:16:55.78
She said: "Friday morning
we have to wait for my husband
00:16:55.98\00:16:58.13
to come in on the plane.
And by the time he comes in -
00:16:58.34\00:17:00.66
he probably gets in around
10 if the plane's on time -
00:17:00.86\00:17:03.54
we'll have barely enough
time to drive the four hours
00:17:03.75\00:17:06.11
down from Boise,
Idaho, down to Pocatello
00:17:06.31\00:17:09.10
and get there before sundown. "
00:17:09.30\00:17:10.50
She said: "There's really
not going to be enough time. "
00:17:10.71\00:17:12.34
Well, I pray about everything.
00:17:12.64\00:17:14.56
I had prayed before I
made that call to Denise.
00:17:14.76\00:17:16.56
So I trust in
God's perfect will.
00:17:16.76\00:17:19.38
And so I said: "OK, Lord, well
I guess that's the answer. "
00:17:19.58\00:17:22.22
I had prayed about
it; this was my answer.
00:17:22.42\00:17:24.35
And so I e-mailed Carrie
Avery and I told her that
00:17:24.65\00:17:29.66
I was very sorry. That I
had checked; that the timing
00:17:29.76\00:17:31.82
wasn't going to work out.
Perhaps they could book me
00:17:31.92\00:17:33.51
another time to come out just
for... to speak at the prison.
00:17:33.61\00:17:36.82
And so I didn't
think about it again.
00:17:37.02\00:17:39.27
You see, when I told you I
didn't know how hard it was
00:17:39.57\00:17:42.29
to get into prison I didn't
know that it takes a long time
00:17:42.49\00:17:45.66
to get a security clearance.
00:17:45.86\00:17:47.11
And I didn't... But I...
And I didn't know how difficult
00:17:47.31\00:17:50.79
it was. Why there's
even a mandatory 3-week class
00:17:50.99\00:17:55.39
that you have to take
just to learn the rules
00:17:55.59\00:17:58.31
about the prison.
Didn't know that either.
00:17:58.51\00:18:00.34
So I don't think
anything about it.
00:18:00.54\00:18:02.21
I go on with my life.
00:18:02.41\00:18:03.68
And Carrie Avery gets my
e-mail and she was so impressed
00:18:03.88\00:18:07.62
that I was to be at that
prison that she didn't take that
00:18:07.72\00:18:10.08
for... as a no at all.
00:18:10.18\00:18:11.34
She went to her church.
00:18:11.54\00:18:12.59
She asked the
ladies at the prison.
00:18:12.80\00:18:14.24
She asked the prayer bands
and prayer meeting to please
00:18:14.34\00:18:17.25
pray that God
would provide a way
00:18:17.45\00:18:20.12
for me to be at that prison.
00:18:20.32\00:18:21.92
And they prayed every
day. In fact, she had found
00:18:22.12\00:18:24.68
four prayer warriors
that prayed every single day
00:18:24.78\00:18:27.03
just for that. They
didn't pray for anything else...
00:18:27.23\00:18:29.36
just that God
would provide a way
00:18:29.56\00:18:31.39
and open the prison door
for me to speak at that prison.
00:18:31.59\00:18:33.91
Well, I didn't know
anything about it, but two
00:18:34.21\00:18:37.17
weeks before... before
I was scheduled to go out
00:18:37.37\00:18:40.28
I'm going through my
e-mail. I have, you know,
00:18:40.48\00:18:42.87
so much e-mail coming
in that if I get an e-mail
00:18:44.21\00:18:46.27
I want to get if
off my in box right away
00:18:46.37\00:18:48.08
and move it. Either delete
it or file it or something.
00:18:48.28\00:18:51.03
I see that Carrie
Avery's e-mail popped up again.
00:18:51.23\00:18:53.75
And I thought: "What is that?
I should have deleted that,
00:18:53.78\00:18:55.99
you know, months ago.
How did that end up there? "
00:18:56.19\00:18:57.96
And I started to delete it again
00:18:58.16\00:18:59.93
but I was
compelled to re-read it.
00:19:00.14\00:19:03.67
And when I read
that e-mail again
00:19:03.87\00:19:06.01
I do not know how to
tell you any other way except
00:19:06.22\00:19:08.72
that I knew beyond
a shadow of a doubt
00:19:08.82\00:19:10.92
God wanted me at that prison.
00:19:11.12\00:19:12.72
And I... I was so strong
that I picked up the phone
00:19:13.02\00:19:17.58
and I called Denise. I
said: "Denise, I don't know
00:19:17.78\00:19:19.36
how to tell you this,
but I know that God wants me
00:19:19.46\00:19:21.87
at that prison. Can
you tell me... are you sure
00:19:21.97\00:19:24.76
that there's not
any way that I can go? "
00:19:24.86\00:19:26.52
And she said: "Well, Brenda...
" And she went through the whole
00:19:26.72\00:19:29.66
scenario all over again
00:19:29.86\00:19:30.98
of why there wasn't
going to be enough time.
00:19:31.18\00:19:32.77
I said: "Well, what if I flew in
00:19:32.97\00:19:37.45
earlier on Thursday? " I said:
"I know I'm scheduled to tape" -
00:19:37.87\00:19:41.78
and I was supposed
to tape on Thursday
00:19:41.99\00:19:44.69
and I never ever cancel,
so don't you guys tell on me -
00:19:44.89\00:19:47.86
but I said... I said: "What if
I cancelled Thursday's taping"
00:19:48.06\00:19:52.14
and I said "and I fly out
there and get there Thursday
00:19:52.34\00:19:55.84
and then we can, you
know, go on Friday? "
00:19:56.04\00:19:58.69
And she said: "Well, I
guess that would work. "
00:19:58.89\00:20:01.76
She said: "Well, are you
sure you want to do that? "
00:20:01.96\00:20:04.70
And I said: "You know,
I don't normally do that -
00:20:04.80\00:20:07.48
in fact, I've never done that" -
00:20:07.58\00:20:08.66
I said: "but when God's
telling me to do something
00:20:08.86\00:20:10.61
and God says 'Go' I go! "
00:20:10.81\00:20:12.16
And so she said: "Well OK! "
00:20:12.36\00:20:14.62
So that's what I
did. I flew out there
00:20:14.82\00:20:17.11
and sure enough Friday morning
her husband Ivan... his plane
00:20:17.31\00:20:21.36
came in early. His suitcase
was the very first one on
00:20:21.56\00:20:24.64
the baggage carousel.
That never happens to me.
00:20:24.74\00:20:27.61
And we literally just
flew down there that 4 hours.
00:20:27.81\00:20:31.09
We got there ten
minutes before 3 o'clock.
00:20:31.29\00:20:34.54
See you have to be there
right... Her time for her
00:20:34.74\00:20:37.00
Bible study was 3 PM
to 4 PM... very firm.
00:20:37.10\00:20:40.50
And so Carrie was already there
with two of her ministry team.
00:20:40.80\00:20:44.22
And as soon as they saw me
we hugged, we had a quick prayer
00:20:44.43\00:20:47.20
and we walked in. Now I've
got to share something with you
00:20:47.40\00:20:49.46
that's an
important part of this story.
00:20:49.67\00:20:50.99
When... Before I flew out there
00:20:52.02\00:20:55.48
I... before I was cleared...
I want to share with you
00:20:55.88\00:20:59.52
the miracle story of
why I was even able to go.
00:20:59.62\00:21:02.13
Because when I called Carrie
Avery back and told her that
00:21:02.33\00:21:05.48
I felt like God
wanted me to be there
00:21:05.68\00:21:07.25
she was like "Praise the Lord! "
00:21:07.45\00:21:08.96
But she knew that it
would take a miracle.
00:21:09.16\00:21:12.18
You see, I
didn't know... she knew.
00:21:12.38\00:21:14.55
And so she had called
up Denise and she said:
00:21:14.75\00:21:17.38
"Denise, " she
said, "I'm so excited that
00:21:17.58\00:21:19.89
Brenda's coming. " But she said:
00:21:19.92\00:21:21.49
"even months ago if
she would have said 'yes'
00:21:21.69\00:21:23.53
it might not have been time
to get her a security clearance.
00:21:23.73\00:21:26.14
But now it's two weeks
before she's going to come"
00:21:26.34\00:21:28.77
and she said "we need a miracle.
Will you pray with me? "
00:21:28.97\00:21:32.57
And so Denise
said: "Absolutely. "
00:21:32.77\00:21:35.02
So they prayed, and
when they got through praying
00:21:35.22\00:21:37.51
she asked...
Denise said: "You know,
00:21:37.71\00:21:40.50
there's one thing I
could tell you" she said "that
00:21:40.70\00:21:42.61
might help. I don't know
if it will help because... "
00:21:42.81\00:21:44.41
she said "my brother-in-law
is the assistant warden
00:21:44.61\00:21:47.43
at that prison BUT he
is not about God at all.
00:21:47.53\00:21:51.84
In fact, he's kind of anti. "
00:21:52.04\00:21:53.33
And she said: "We're not even
allowed to talk about God. "
00:21:53.53\00:21:55.60
And she says: "I've tried
to get a 3ABN dish in there
00:21:55.80\00:21:57.83
for years and he wants
nothing to do with it. "
00:21:57.98\00:21:59.49
And she said: "So I'm
not sure it would help
00:21:59.69\00:22:02.41
at all if you mention my name,
00:22:02.61\00:22:03.93
but... " she said...
00:22:04.13\00:22:05.84
"one place, a soft part he has
in his heart, is for his little
00:22:06.95\00:22:10.31
niece Sarah. " And she said:
"When Sarah came back from 3ABN
00:22:10.41\00:22:15.88
and she wanted to show her
uncle her being on Kids' Time
00:22:16.08\00:22:20.60
she crawled up in his lap
and her uncle actually watched
00:22:20.80\00:22:23.25
the video of
Sarah on Kids' Time. "
00:22:23.45\00:22:25.60
And she said: "And
while he was watching
00:22:25.80\00:22:28.80
tears were rolling in
his eyes and he said he had
00:22:29.85\00:22:31.84
an allergy problem. "
00:22:31.94\00:22:33.29
She said: "So I know he's
got a soft place in his heart
00:22:35.65\00:22:38.09
for little Sarah. " She
said: "Maybe if your mentioned
00:22:38.29\00:22:40.50
that this Miss Brenda - if you
get to talk to him, I can't even
00:22:40.70\00:22:42.97
give you the number 'cause,
you know, it'd cause problems
00:22:43.17\00:22:45.09
in the family" - and she
said: "and no assistant warden
00:22:45.19\00:22:48.11
lists his number. " So she
said: "If you can get to talk
00:22:48.21\00:22:50.77
to him and you tell him
about, you know, little Sarah, "
00:22:50.87\00:22:53.53
she said: "and
that this Brenda Walsh
00:22:53.73\00:22:56.36
is the same "Miss Brenda"
that helped his little niece,
00:22:56.47\00:22:59.68
it might make a difference.
Don't know, but it might. "
00:22:59.88\00:23:02.44
So Carrie got on her
knees and she started praying.
00:23:02.65\00:23:05.18
And she prayed and she
prayed and then she made the
00:23:05.38\00:23:08.23
phone call. Then she said:
"Lord, how am I going to get
00:23:08.33\00:23:11.41
the phone number? "
She called the prison.
00:23:11.51\00:23:13.61
Nope, can't get the phone
number of an assistant warden...
00:23:13.82\00:23:16.03
could only get the main number.
00:23:17.15\00:23:18.12
So she happened to
think: "Well, it doesn't hurt
00:23:18.26\00:23:20.91
to check the phone book. "
00:23:21.01\00:23:22.34
And there's the phone
number right in the phone book.
00:23:22.55\00:23:25.39
So she says:
"Thank you, Jesus. "
00:23:25.60\00:23:26.88
And so she gets
the phone number out
00:23:27.08\00:23:28.42
and she dials it up,
and a little girl answered.
00:23:28.62\00:23:31.52
And she said: "Hi,
this is Carrie Avery.
00:23:31.73\00:23:33.92
I'm a friend of
your aunt Denise.
00:23:34.02\00:23:35.43
I'd like to speak to your dad. "
00:23:35.63\00:23:36.73
She said: "Oh, he's
not here. He's at work...
00:23:36.93\00:23:39.35
here's his number. "
00:23:39.38\00:23:40.84
And so she takes the number
down and now she's praying again
00:23:41.93\00:23:45.68
and she calls the number
and she gets his voice mail.
00:23:45.78\00:23:48.90
But it's still his
personal voice mail.
00:23:49.14\00:23:51.10
So she leaves a
really long message
00:23:51.30\00:23:52.95
about who she
is, what she wants,
00:23:53.15\00:23:55.13
and why she feels that
Brenda Walsh would be a blessing
00:23:55.33\00:23:57.74
to the women at that prison.
00:23:57.94\00:23:59.34
And then she calls the
religious activities director
00:23:59.54\00:24:02.30
and left him the
same long message.
00:24:02.50\00:24:04.02
She didn't hear anything...
didn't hear anything.
00:24:04.23\00:24:06.08
And so she waited
as long as she could.
00:24:07.13\00:24:10.84
She knew it was
a Friday. She said
00:24:11.04\00:24:12.47
everyone was going to
go home for the weekend.
00:24:12.67\00:24:13.84
She couldn't
possibly wait for that.
00:24:14.05\00:24:15.39
So she called again and left
another big old long message.
00:24:15.59\00:24:18.03
And within 30 minutes the
religious activities director
00:24:18.23\00:24:21.72
called her. Now one thing I also
learned with this experience
00:24:21.82\00:24:24.92
is that prison
is all about rules
00:24:25.02\00:24:27.08
and nobody likes breaking them.
00:24:27.28\00:24:28.71
And so he was not...
The prison activities...
00:24:28.84\00:24:33.87
religious
activities director said:
00:24:34.07\00:24:36.05
"Is this Carrie Avery? "
And she said: "Yes it is. "
00:24:36.26\00:24:38.22
And he said who
he was and he said...
00:24:38.42\00:24:40.20
He said: "I don't know who
this Brenda Walsh thinks she is"
00:24:40.40\00:24:43.49
he said "but" he said
"I just got a call from
00:24:43.69\00:24:46.99
our assistant warden and
he said that she wants to come
00:24:47.19\00:24:50.06
and speak at our
prison and he told me
00:24:50.16\00:24:51.99
to just make it happen. "
00:24:52.19\00:24:54.74
Amen!
00:24:55.64\00:24:56.71
Two weeks before
I'm supposed to go!
00:24:57.01\00:24:59.41
And he said: "But you let
her know" he said "that she's
00:24:59.61\00:25:03.01
not going to be no
celebrity or movie star here. "
00:25:03.11\00:25:05.98
He said: "You let her know"
he said "that she's going to be
00:25:06.18\00:25:08.66
subject to search
like everybody else
00:25:08.86\00:25:11.11
in every orifice. " Oh!
00:25:11.31\00:25:12.91
I don't know about you, but
it didn't sound real good to me.
00:25:13.31\00:25:16.16
And he said: "And I need
this and I need this and I need
00:25:16.37\00:25:19.84
this document
and I need it now! "
00:25:19.94\00:25:21.82
So when she called and shared
all that information with me
00:25:22.12\00:25:25.85
I was really out
of my comfort zone.
00:25:26.93\00:25:29.90
And I had to do some
praying: "Lord, make me willing.
00:25:31.18\00:25:33.68
Make me obedient, and
make me joyful about it. "
00:25:33.88\00:25:36.25
And so you can
imagine. Now we're here
00:25:36.55\00:25:39.82
walking into the prison.
God opened the prison doors.
00:25:40.02\00:25:43.18
And I am going to be honest
with you, I was a little bit
00:25:43.38\00:25:46.27
nervous about
that orifice thing.
00:25:46.38\00:25:47.93
And so I had all that
checking and all that security.
00:25:48.13\00:25:50.48
And I just... I'm
praying the whole time
00:25:50.69\00:25:52.78
"Oh, Lord, please. "
And I had my Bible with me.
00:25:52.89\00:25:54.98
I had taken book marks and I
had my business card with me.
00:25:55.18\00:25:58.15
And... And I have it with
me, and we walked in the prison
00:25:58.35\00:26:01.65
and a big loud voice
said: "Step right over here. "
00:26:01.86\00:26:04.65
And it was a glassed in area
and a little drawer like a bank
00:26:04.85\00:26:07.81
comes out. "Put your
driver's license in here. "
00:26:08.01\00:26:10.69
So I went over there and I put
my driver's license in there.
00:26:10.89\00:26:13.89
And he said: "Sign on the log. "
00:26:14.09\00:26:16.56
And I went over there
and I signed on the log.
00:26:16.86\00:26:18.52
And he said: "All right, "
00:26:18.82\00:26:22.71
he said to the
other lady, he said:
00:26:22.91\00:26:25.67
"Step inside. " And all
of a sudden, this really
00:26:25.87\00:26:29.27
heavy metal door -
electric - just creaked open.
00:26:29.47\00:26:33.81
He goes: "Step inside. "
00:26:34.01\00:26:35.86
So I stepped
inside. It went "BANG! "
00:26:36.16\00:26:38.87
The next door
opened. "Step inside. "
00:26:40.25\00:26:43.29
I stepped inside and so
did Carrie and her friend.
00:26:43.49\00:26:45.53
"BANG! " Next one
opened and "BANG! "
00:26:45.73\00:26:47.53
I mean I was like... And
Carrie's going like this.
00:26:47.73\00:26:50.77
They didn't check
nothing. Nothing... nothing!
00:26:50.97\00:26:54.05
They didn't fingerprint me.
00:26:54.35\00:26:56.26
They didn't screen me...
they didn't check nothing.
00:26:56.46\00:27:00.16
Isn't God good? And I wasn't
asking any questions either.
00:27:00.36\00:27:03.36
She said "Come, "
and boy I was going!
00:27:03.56\00:27:04.95
I said: "I'm not going
to go back and ask why. "
00:27:05.15\00:27:07.90
And I followed her to
where the worship area was
00:27:09.38\00:27:12.03
where their worship room was.
00:27:12.23\00:27:13.47
Already a long line of people
had been coming out of there
00:27:13.87\00:27:18.17
and I'm wondering why
they're going the other way.
00:27:18.30\00:27:20.12
And some of them were
ladies. As soon as they saw me
00:27:21.12\00:27:23.80
they recognized my
picture from the book.
00:27:24.00\00:27:25.82
And they were like:
"Oh, Miss Brenda, we're so...
00:27:25.92\00:27:28.25
we're so sorry
there's not enough room. "
00:27:28.45\00:27:30.20
She said: "We wanted to
come and we didn't get here
00:27:30.40\00:27:32.13
early enough. " And they
were already turning away.
00:27:32.24\00:27:34.76
What I didn't understand is
that when every chair is filled
00:27:34.86\00:27:37.23
that's it. You have to go.
00:27:37.43\00:27:40.50
And so there were
several women that were crying
00:27:40.70\00:27:43.06
as they were leaving 'cause they
weren't going to be able to go.
00:27:43.26\00:27:45.08
And all of a sudden
a very big tall woman,
00:27:45.18\00:27:49.31
very stocky with short hair,
00:27:49.51\00:27:51.03
walked right past me and right
past all the women that were
00:27:51.23\00:27:53.96
going out and
walked in the room.
00:27:54.06\00:27:55.75
And I walked right in
after her and I saw her go
00:27:55.96\00:27:58.23
to the middle of the
room. She went to the aisle
00:27:58.43\00:28:00.77
and she just stood in
front of one of those chairs.
00:28:00.97\00:28:03.42
And that lady that was sitting
in that chair shot out of
00:28:03.62\00:28:06.00
there like a bullet.
00:28:06.10\00:28:07.31
And she just left
and that lady sat down.
00:28:07.51\00:28:09.31
I was "whooo. "
00:28:09.61\00:28:11.32
And I knew that God had a
special message for that lady.
00:28:11.52\00:28:16.17
And I started
praying for her right then.
00:28:16.47\00:28:18.44
Carrie announced me to speak.
00:28:18.74\00:28:21.31
They only give you one
hour so time is precious.
00:28:21.41\00:28:24.10
And so I got up
00:28:24.31\00:28:27.38
to address the ladies there.
00:28:27.58\00:28:30.13
And when I give my testimony
00:28:30.43\00:28:33.15
I don't give it just to
be giving it, and I don't
00:28:33.35\00:28:35.71
give it very often. I have
to know God is impressing me
00:28:35.92\00:28:38.21
to give my testimony,
because to tell my story
00:28:38.31\00:28:40.72
of being an abused wife
and terrible domestic violence
00:28:40.92\00:28:45.25
I have to re-live it.
00:28:45.45\00:28:46.54
So to tell you about
it I have to re-live it,
00:28:46.74\00:28:48.73
and it's one of the most
difficult, painful things I do.
00:28:48.83\00:28:51.05
And whenever I give my testimony
00:28:51.25\00:28:52.86
I have people all over the
world that are praying for me.
00:28:53.06\00:28:56.78
I have women in
Africa that fast and pray
00:28:58.07\00:29:01.07
the whole time that
I'm giving my testimony.
00:29:01.27\00:29:03.94
In fact, just two weeks ago
I was in Loma Linda University
00:29:04.15\00:29:07.66
and I gave my testimony,
and there were so many prayer
00:29:07.87\00:29:09.99
warriors that kept letting
me know they were lifting me up
00:29:10.09\00:29:12.29
in prayer. Well, now I
stood before this group of women
00:29:12.39\00:29:16.87
and I began to tell them my
story of being a battered wife
00:29:17.07\00:29:20.83
in my first marriage.
00:29:21.04\00:29:22.43
And as I shared the painful
details... as I described
00:29:22.63\00:29:27.25
being pulled by my hair and
being thrown across the wall.
00:29:27.45\00:29:30.07
Being kicked and
kicked and my ribs broken.
00:29:30.27\00:29:32.22
To be... Every blow that I
was describing you could see
00:29:32.42\00:29:35.60
these women were
physically just wincing in pain
00:29:35.81\00:29:37.99
re-living their own pain.
00:29:38.19\00:29:39.93
I have never given my testimony
00:29:40.13\00:29:42.84
to a group of people
that more fully understood
00:29:43.04\00:29:46.28
what I was talking about
than these ladies right there
00:29:46.48\00:29:49.21
in that room. And I started
noticing that one woman -
00:29:49.31\00:29:53.44
that big woman that
had sat in the middle.
00:29:53.64\00:29:55.80
And when she had first sat
down she had one arm around this
00:29:56.00\00:29:59.71
chair and one arm
around this chair.
00:29:59.81\00:30:01.24
And she had a very
hard look on her face.
00:30:01.44\00:30:03.56
But as I began to share my story
00:30:03.76\00:30:06.89
one arm went down
then the other went down.
00:30:08.30\00:30:11.53
And before I finished
there wasn't anybody that wasn't
00:30:11.83\00:30:14.80
just sobbing. When
I share my testimony
00:30:15.00\00:30:17.91
I usually share a lot
more than what's in the book.
00:30:18.12\00:30:20.10
And I share whatever the
Holy Spirit is telling me
00:30:20.30\00:30:23.39
and impressing me to share.
00:30:23.59\00:30:25.19
And as they were
crying I felt like
00:30:25.40\00:30:29.98
um, I needed a moment too.
00:30:30.38\00:30:32.98
And... because it's
very emotional. And so
00:30:33.01\00:30:35.33
I stopped for a
moment to compose myself
00:30:35.53\00:30:38.39
and I just went over to
the piano and I started playing
00:30:38.59\00:30:40.86
Amazing Grace. I
needed just a minute.
00:30:41.07\00:30:43.98
And as I was playing that song
00:30:44.18\00:30:47.21
those women started singing.
00:30:47.41\00:30:48.81
They sang that
song so beautifully
00:30:49.01\00:30:51.26
that I don't think I've
ever heard the song sung
00:30:51.46\00:30:54.04
in a more
beautiful and meaningful way.
00:30:54.24\00:31:00.04
And when I finished
playing I stood before them
00:31:00.24\00:31:03.69
and I said: "I want you to know
00:31:03.89\00:31:06.56
that I don't
care why you're here.
00:31:07.98\00:31:11.03
I don't care what
crime you've committed.
00:31:11.23\00:31:13.57
I don't care what you've done,
00:31:13.67\00:31:14.95
and more
importantly God doesn't care. "
00:31:15.15\00:31:17.07
I said: "Jesus loves you.
00:31:17.37\00:31:20.70
I want to tell
you right here today
00:31:21.00\00:31:25.68
the reason that I stand
before you today isn't to parade
00:31:25.88\00:31:29.83
my... my pain in front of you.
00:31:30.04\00:31:32.18
The reason I came today
00:31:32.48\00:31:35.13
is to show you
how you can be free. "
00:31:35.33\00:31:38.82
And just about that time
I imagine all those guards
00:31:39.02\00:31:41.70
looking in those
closed circuit TVs were going:
00:31:41.90\00:31:43.63
"I knew we shouldn't have
given her a security clearance!
00:31:43.73\00:31:45.97
She's planning a jail break! "
00:31:46.17\00:31:48.11
I said: "I want you to know
how you can be free in Jesus:
00:31:50.94\00:31:54.53
by surrendering
your hearts right now.
00:31:54.83\00:31:58.34
You may never see the
light of day. You may never
00:31:58.54\00:32:01.15
get out of this prison,
but you can be free in Jesus. "
00:32:01.35\00:32:06.01
And I urged each one of
them to make that commitment
00:32:07.20\00:32:10.32
right then and there. I
urged them to give their
00:32:10.52\00:32:13.14
heart to Jesus. To start
living and shining for Him.
00:32:13.25\00:32:16.00
Yes, even right here.
God may have placed you here
00:32:16.20\00:32:18.33
for a particular reason. If
you surrender your heart to Him,
00:32:18.53\00:32:20.69
God can use your
life to glorify Him.
00:32:20.89\00:32:24.30
And when I finished I prayed and
I prayed for each one of them
00:32:25.43\00:32:28.38
that God would give them
the courage to fully surrender
00:32:28.58\00:32:31.19
their hearts and lives to Him.
00:32:31.39\00:32:32.70
And when I finished praying
00:32:34.06\00:32:36.01
there wasn't a
dry eye in the place.
00:32:36.22\00:32:38.14
And I just felt impressed...
00:32:38.45\00:32:40.55
I got down... I went over and
the very first person in the row
00:32:40.65\00:32:44.55
I went over and I
just gave her a hug
00:32:44.75\00:32:46.69
And I whispered in her
ear "Jesus loves you. "
00:32:46.89\00:32:49.48
And then I went to the
next person and did the same.
00:32:49.68\00:32:51.46
And the next person. And I
saw Carrie Avery just shoot up
00:32:51.66\00:32:53.78
out of her chair in
the back of the room
00:32:53.88\00:32:55.18
and all of a sudden
just sat right back down.
00:32:55.38\00:32:56.89
And I went from person...
from lady to lady to lady.
00:32:57.09\00:32:59.69
And I went from
row to row to row.
00:32:59.72\00:33:01.71
And I gave each one of
them that personal message
00:33:01.91\00:33:04.58
that Jesus loves them.
00:33:04.78\00:33:06.81
And when I... all the other
ladies stayed sitting down,
00:33:07.01\00:33:10.01
but when I got to the
one where that big tall lady
00:33:10.21\00:33:12.83
that had the attitude
problem in the beginning
00:33:13.03\00:33:15.19
all of a sudden
she just stood right up
00:33:15.39\00:33:18.34
and she just grabbed
me. My nose went right here.
00:33:18.54\00:33:21.51
That's what
happens when you're short.
00:33:23.34\00:33:24.82
And she just held on,
and just when I thought -
00:33:25.02\00:33:27.92
it was wet under there -
and just when I thought I
00:33:28.02\00:33:29.48
couldn't hold my
breath a second longer
00:33:29.68\00:33:31.58
she lets me go and she pulls
me out and she looked at me
00:33:31.78\00:33:34.66
and she said: "Are
you sure Jesus loves me? "
00:33:34.76\00:33:37.47
And I said: "Yes, I'm
sure Jesus loves you. "
00:33:37.67\00:33:40.79
"Are you sure He loves me? "
00:33:41.09\00:33:43.28
She goes: "Everybody
here's going to tell you they're
00:33:43.48\00:33:45.15
innocent. They're going to
tell you they didn't do it.
00:33:45.25\00:33:47.15
I'm going to
tell you I did it! "
00:33:47.35\00:33:48.98
She said: "Sixteen years ago"
00:33:50.41\00:33:54.43
she said "I was a
nurse at a hospital.
00:33:54.63\00:33:57.20
And I came home early
because the census was low and
00:33:57.50\00:34:01.77
they didn't need as many nurses
and they sent me home early.
00:34:01.97\00:34:03.80
And I came home unexpectedly
00:34:04.00\00:34:06.62
in the middle of the afternoon
00:34:06.92\00:34:09.44
and caught my husband
doing something horrible
00:34:09.64\00:34:11.82
to my 4-year-old little girl. "
00:34:12.02\00:34:13.74
And she said: "In the
shock and the horror of it all "
00:34:13.94\00:34:16.32
she said "I went over"
and she said "I got his gun
00:34:16.52\00:34:20.83
out of his holster
because he's a policeman
00:34:20.93\00:34:23.16
and I shot him and I
shot him and I shot him. "
00:34:23.36\00:34:25.70
She said: "I did it! "
00:34:25.90\00:34:28.01
She said: "Now do you
still think Jesus loves me? "
00:34:28.21\00:34:31.11
And I said: "I
KNOW Jesus loves you. "
00:34:31.42\00:34:36.18
Ended up in the
armpit all over again.
00:34:36.48\00:34:38.40
She was sobbing.
00:34:42.61\00:34:44.79
You know, all of a sudden
there was this big loud buzzer
00:34:45.20\00:34:50.46
that sounded. And
it startled me, and...
00:34:50.66\00:34:53.74
and I said: "What's that? "
00:34:53.94\00:34:54.99
And the ladies all
said: "That's movement now. "
00:34:55.09\00:34:56.87
"Wow, they even tell
you when to do that here, "
00:34:57.11\00:34:58.52
I said. "Oh, no,
no... not that kind. "
00:34:58.62\00:35:01.08
I said... you know, I'm
a nurse... And they said:
00:35:01.18\00:35:02.53
"No, no, no. It's just
that that's the only time
00:35:02.73\00:35:04.94
you can move in the
hall. When that buzzer sounds
00:35:05.14\00:35:07.26
and then you've got 3
minutes till the next buzzer
00:35:07.47\00:35:09.10
and nobody can be in the hall
except during those 3 minutes. "
00:35:09.30\00:35:12.01
Hardly anybody got up.
00:35:13.38\00:35:14.55
They stayed. They
missed their supper hour
00:35:14.76\00:35:16.70
and stayed another hour with me.
00:35:16.90\00:35:18.53
Not allowed. And so I was able
to have personal individual time
00:35:18.56\00:35:23.30
with each one of them.
They shared their stories.
00:35:23.40\00:35:24.83
I had individual
prayers with each one of them.
00:35:25.03\00:35:26.74
I told them all
about Kids' Club.
00:35:26.94\00:35:29.07
I told them to sign
their kids up for Kids' Club
00:35:29.27\00:35:31.43
and sign up for lessons
too and that way they could
00:35:31.63\00:35:33.79
do the lessons back and forth
on the phone with their children
00:35:33.89\00:35:36.25
and help spiritually
feed their own children.
00:35:36.45\00:35:38.59
I gave them my
business card. I said: "Look,
00:35:38.79\00:35:41.68
when you have telephone
privileges and you need a prayer
00:35:41.88\00:35:45.30
call me. I'll pray
with you on the phone. "
00:35:45.50\00:35:47.01
We had so many... I
heard story after story.
00:35:47.21\00:35:50.86
Women wept. It was a
revival like I've never seen.
00:35:51.06\00:35:54.13
You know, when I left the prison
00:35:54.33\00:35:58.24
I didn't even
know till I got home
00:35:58.37\00:35:59.96
all the miracles
that God had done
00:36:00.07\00:36:02.84
to provide and open those doors
for me to be at that prison.
00:36:03.05\00:36:06.12
And in fact, Carrie Avery...
I wrote about this story
00:36:06.32\00:36:09.36
in my book Passionate Prayer.
00:36:09.56\00:36:10.77
It's called
Opening Prison Doors.
00:36:10.87\00:36:12.47
And if you've
already heard that story
00:36:12.77\00:36:14.45
and you think "OK, I know
what she's going to say next, "
00:36:14.65\00:36:16.54
you're going to get the
rest of the story today.
00:36:16.74\00:36:18.97
OK? So just bear with me because
00:36:19.27\00:36:22.32
it was such an incredible
letter that Carrie wrote to me
00:36:22.52\00:36:26.43
afterwards. And I
printed the entire letter -
00:36:26.63\00:36:28.78
e- mail - in the book because
I wanted you to be able to see
00:36:28.88\00:36:31.66
all the things and the
miracles that God had done
00:36:31.76\00:36:33.95
for me to be at
that prison that day.
00:36:34.15\00:36:36.39
First of all, touching
is absolutely not permitted
00:36:36.59\00:36:40.90
of any kind...
not even a handshake!
00:36:41.10\00:36:42.73
And I was hugging
every one of those women.
00:36:42.94\00:36:44.52
You see, I had missed
that mandatory 3-week class.
00:36:44.72\00:36:47.01
I didn't know better.
00:36:48.69\00:36:50.33
But if the Holy Spirit told me
to do it, it wouldn't matter...
00:36:50.63\00:36:52.53
I'd do it anyway!
00:36:52.73\00:36:53.90
As long as it's God telling me
what to do, I'm going to do it.
00:36:54.38\00:36:57.03
And she told me from
one detail to another
00:36:57.33\00:37:01.89
how God had literally
broken every single rule
00:37:02.09\00:37:05.24
to make it possible for me
to minister to those ladies
00:37:05.44\00:37:09.10
at the prison. I was blown away.
00:37:09.30\00:37:12.16
Well then the next
year I got a phone call.
00:37:12.46\00:37:15.34
This is not in
the book, folks, OK?
00:37:15.44\00:37:17.41
So now you guys
that have already read it
00:37:17.61\00:37:18.79
can pay attention.
00:37:18.99\00:37:20.24
It'll probably
be in another book.
00:37:21.27\00:37:23.30
But they asked me
to come back and speak
00:37:24.31\00:37:26.94
at the Pocatello church.
00:37:27.04\00:37:28.46
And there was a new
prison ministries leader.
00:37:28.77\00:37:34.76
Called me up and said: "Brenda,
would you please come out
00:37:34.96\00:37:37.28
and" she said "come out and
speak again at our prison? "
00:37:37.48\00:37:40.23
Now my book Passionate
Prayer had just come out
00:37:40.53\00:37:42.74
and I thought I was
going to get to come out there
00:37:42.95\00:37:44.74
and speak about all the things
that... all the miracle stories,
00:37:44.94\00:37:48.44
all the answer
to prayer stories.
00:37:48.64\00:37:49.76
I can keep you here all day long
just talking to you about Jesus.
00:37:49.96\00:37:52.88
I could. And so you
don't think I could?
00:37:53.09\00:37:55.51
Trust me, I get passionate
when I talk about sharing Jesus.
00:37:55.61\00:37:58.89
And so I think that's what
I get to go out there and to
00:37:59.09\00:38:02.05
pray about... I mean talk about.
00:38:02.15\00:38:03.58
So I said: "Yes. " I
go out there all booked,
00:38:03.78\00:38:06.58
ready to go again. And
when I walked in the prison
00:38:06.78\00:38:09.95
the lady said to me - the
prison ministries leader -
00:38:10.26\00:38:14.76
she said: "Brenda, " she
said "last time there were
00:38:14.96\00:38:16.79
so many women that
were not allowed to be here.
00:38:16.89\00:38:19.09
Please, would you give
your testimony again? "
00:38:19.39\00:38:21.99
And immediately I just felt
inside: "Lord, I'm not prepared.
00:38:22.29\00:38:26.29
I don't even have my
prayer warriors praying.
00:38:26.39\00:38:27.89
They don't even know.
" And I started to panic.
00:38:27.99\00:38:30.38
But remember when I told you
about how God's never going to
00:38:30.58\00:38:32.78
call you to do anything
00:38:32.88\00:38:34.25
unless He's going
to be there for you.
00:38:34.45\00:38:36.88
He's not going to
leave you hanging?
00:38:37.08\00:38:38.20
And immediately as I'm speaking
to the Lord and I'm panicking
00:38:38.40\00:38:41.58
because I wasn't prepared,
I wasn't emotionally prepared,
00:38:41.69\00:38:43.97
I wasn't prayed up. I
said: "Lord, how can I do this?
00:38:44.17\00:38:46.69
I can't do this. "
And God said to me:
00:38:46.89\00:38:50.31
"Brenda, I'm enough. "
00:38:50.52\00:38:52.85
I said: "But I don't have
prayer warriors praying. "
00:38:53.05\00:38:55.30
"Brenda, I'm enough. "
00:38:55.50\00:38:58.13
And I had to surrender
and I said: "OK, Lord. "
00:38:59.29\00:39:02.69
And so when I went there,
sure enough... the whole place
00:39:04.02\00:39:06.65
was packed. And
again, I gave my testimony
00:39:06.85\00:39:12.80
and stood before
those ladies. And I watched
00:39:12.90\00:39:15.12
the Holy Spirit penetrate
the hearts of these precious
00:39:15.32\00:39:19.28
ladies who were
so hardened before.
00:39:19.48\00:39:21.88
You could just see the Holy
Spirit softening their hearts.
00:39:22.08\00:39:24.17
And when I finished
I did the same thing...
00:39:24.47\00:39:26.98
even though I knew better.
I hugged every single woman
00:39:27.18\00:39:29.14
throughout the whole place.
00:39:29.25\00:39:30.61
And when it was over
00:39:33.58\00:39:37.04
Carrie said: "By the way...
" She makes announcements.
00:39:37.24\00:39:40.36
"Brenda has two
hours to speak today.
00:39:42.80\00:39:44.49
The assistant warden says
she's going to take it anyway
00:39:44.70\00:39:46.61
so we're just
giving her two hours. "
00:39:46.82\00:39:48.41
And I had a chance to visit
and minister to the women again.
00:39:52.40\00:39:55.61
And three women came running
up to me as soon as we had
00:39:55.71\00:39:58.09
finished. And they
were crying and they said:
00:39:58.30\00:39:59.95
"We had to come and be
here tonight. We begged to come.
00:40:00.15\00:40:03.26
We're the only three
that were here last year
00:40:03.46\00:40:05.53
but we begged to come
because we wanted you to know
00:40:05.73\00:40:08.75
that last year when you left
00:40:08.95\00:40:11.45
we committed our hearts to Jesus
00:40:11.65\00:40:13.82
and we wanted you to
know that we are now baptized
00:40:14.02\00:40:16.67
Seventh-day Adventists and we
wanted to tell you ourselves. "
00:40:16.77\00:40:19.37
Amen. And I was
praising the Lord
00:40:19.67\00:40:22.17
and I was just crying. I
said: "Thank you, Jesus. "
00:40:22.37\00:40:24.96
And they said: "Yes, we
were baptized right there. "
00:40:25.26\00:40:27.90
It's just this box. I thought
it was a communion table.
00:40:28.10\00:40:30.68
I didn't...
hadn't seen anything...
00:40:30.88\00:40:32.08
I guess the lid comes
off and you stand inside.
00:40:32.18\00:40:34.98
They fill it up with water.
The pastor actually stands
00:40:35.18\00:40:36.95
on the outside of it to
lower them into the water.
00:40:37.05\00:40:39.51
I had never seen
anything like that.
00:40:39.71\00:40:41.13
Didn't even know it
was a baptismal tank.
00:40:41.34\00:40:42.84
And I was praising the Lord.
00:40:43.04\00:40:44.72
I have so many wonderful
opportunities to witness.
00:40:44.92\00:40:47.65
I was thanking
Jesus for the opportunity
00:40:47.85\00:40:52.24
to come to that prison
that I had been so fearful of.
00:40:52.44\00:40:56.99
Well, the next day
I met the Pocatello...
00:40:58.12\00:41:02.97
'cause that was a Friday...
00:41:03.17\00:41:04.29
The next day I met
the Pocatello church
00:41:04.49\00:41:06.30
and I spoke there.
And when I was through
00:41:06.50\00:41:08.69
I was at the door greeting
everybody as they were leaving.
00:41:08.89\00:41:11.56
And all of a sudden
Denise comes running up to me.
00:41:11.76\00:41:14.81
She says: "Brenda,
Brenda, you've got to come now.
00:41:15.01\00:41:16.65
You've got to come
now! " And I said: "What? "
00:41:16.85\00:41:18.23
She goes: "My
brother-in-law is here. "
00:41:18.43\00:41:20.95
"My brother-in-law came
to hear you speak today. "
00:41:21.25\00:41:24.19
"My brother-in-law who said
he would never have anything
00:41:24.39\00:41:26.39
to do with God is here! "
00:41:26.49\00:41:27.76
And I said: "I'm so
sorry, folks, I've got to go.
00:41:27.96\00:41:29.80
I'll be right back.
" And I followed Denise
00:41:29.90\00:41:32.06
all the way, and there he was.
She was afraid he was going to
00:41:32.16\00:41:33.79
leave through the side door.
00:41:33.89\00:41:35.28
And as soon as she introduced
me I did what any Micheff sister
00:41:35.48\00:41:39.00
does: I gave him
a great big old hug.
00:41:39.10\00:41:40.77
And I said: "Thank you so much
00:41:40.87\00:41:43.18
for allowing me to
be at your prison. "
00:41:43.38\00:41:46.17
He had that
allergy problem again.
00:41:46.37\00:41:48.53
He said: "No, it's
me who thanks you. "
00:41:51.74\00:41:54.51
He said: "I'd have to be deaf,
dumb, and blind, and stupid, "
00:41:54.72\00:41:58.55
he said "not to know
that God did something special
00:41:58.65\00:42:01.21
when you were here last year. "
00:42:01.41\00:42:03.38
He said: "In fact, I told them
you've got a security clearance
00:42:03.68\00:42:06.69
for life! "
00:42:06.89\00:42:08.38
He said: "You are
welcome any time at my prison. "
00:42:09.54\00:42:12.83
He said: "I don't
know" he said "what happened"
00:42:13.03\00:42:14.71
he said "last year
when you were here"
00:42:14.92\00:42:16.48
he said "but I had so many women
00:42:16.68\00:42:18.71
sign up and begging
for Bible studies. "
00:42:18.92\00:42:20.68
And see, I knew from
talking to Carrie that
00:42:20.88\00:42:22.72
she had to fight to
get that one hour a week.
00:42:22.82\00:42:24.63
And he said: "But so many
people were signing up for Bible
00:42:24.83\00:42:28.94
studies" he said "that I
had to give them 2 hours a week.
00:42:29.04\00:42:31.51
That wasn't enough,
so I gave them two days
00:42:31.71\00:42:33.90
with an hour a
week and another hour.
00:42:34.10\00:42:35.76
That wasn't enough, So I
gave them 4 hours a week.
00:42:35.96\00:42:37.77
Now they've got 3
days a week 2 hours a day
00:42:37.97\00:42:39.99
and that's not enough. "
00:42:40.19\00:42:41.52
And I had donated quite a
few of my Battered to Blessed
00:42:43.76\00:42:46.24
books 'cause I had heard
there was a long waiting list.
00:42:46.45\00:42:47.93
Sometimes they had to wait
months before it was their turn
00:42:48.13\00:42:49.77
to read. So I had
donated a whole bunch of books
00:42:49.87\00:42:52.03
to the prison and they
said they are still not enough
00:42:52.13\00:42:54.21
that they were
being so checked out.
00:42:54.41\00:42:55.93
Because there's also a
lot of people that come and go
00:42:56.13\00:42:58.56
so there's always
new people coming in.
00:42:58.77\00:43:00.09
And I was
just... I was overwhelmed
00:43:01.30\00:43:03.83
and I just gave him a
great big hug and I just said:
00:43:04.03\00:43:05.67
"Thank you. Thank you so much. "
00:43:05.87\00:43:08.54
And he said: "Let me
tell you what" he said
00:43:08.64\00:43:11.20
"any time you want
to come back" he said
00:43:11.41\00:43:13.55
he said "you're
welcome at my prison. "
00:43:13.65\00:43:15.44
And I said: "Well,
as a matter of fact... "
00:43:15.54\00:43:17.78
I said: "I would love
to bring my sisters. "
00:43:19.46\00:43:22.65
I said: "My sisters and I sing.
00:43:22.85\00:43:24.26
Would you allow
us to do a concert?
00:43:24.46\00:43:26.41
Come back and have a concert?
" See what he didn't know was
00:43:26.61\00:43:28.27
whenever my sisters
and I give a concert
00:43:28.47\00:43:30.03
it's not just up there singing.
00:43:30.24\00:43:31.91
It's a testimony; it's
a witness; it's a concert.
00:43:32.11\00:43:34.97
OK. It's a praising Jesus
and it's a soul-winning concert.
00:43:35.27\00:43:40.89
And so he said:
"Well absolutely. In fact,
00:43:41.19\00:43:43.67
I'm going to tell
you what I'll do. "
00:43:43.87\00:43:44.88
He said: "I'm going to
open up the whole gymnasium
00:43:45.08\00:43:47.79
so everybody in the prison
can come if they want to. "
00:43:47.99\00:43:49.86
And he said: "I'll hire extra
guards to make it possible. "
00:43:51.23\00:43:53.87
I... I... I was just
blown away and I said:
00:43:53.97\00:43:57.63
"Thank you; thank you so much. "
00:43:57.83\00:43:59.97
So as he's
leaving, I was just...
00:44:02.25\00:44:06.84
You know, they were waiting
for me at potluck, you know,
00:44:07.04\00:44:08.54
afterwards and they hate
it when the speaker's late
00:44:08.64\00:44:10.39
I guess. So I got it 4
times come up and tell me that
00:44:10.59\00:44:13.39
they were ready to have prayer.
And I said: "Go on without me. "
00:44:13.49\00:44:15.66
Spiritual food is so
much more important to me.
00:44:15.77\00:44:17.83
But the pastor
came up to get me now.
00:44:18.03\00:44:21.07
They got... brought the big
guns you know to come there.
00:44:21.27\00:44:22.92
And they said: "You
know, you need to come down
00:44:23.02\00:44:24.61
for the potluck. " And I
was sharing with him about
00:44:24.71\00:44:27.46
you know I was just overwhelmed.
00:44:27.67\00:44:28.74
And I said: "Let
me share with you
00:44:28.94\00:44:30.18
such a praise report. " I said:
"Yesterday when I was at that
00:44:30.38\00:44:35.21
prison God did
something so amazing.
00:44:35.31\00:44:37.20
God did something so awesome. "
00:44:37.40\00:44:39.11
And I said: "And
He allowed me to know
00:44:39.32\00:44:41.58
about three women that were
baptized and gave their hearts
00:44:41.98\00:44:46.44
to Jesus because of my
visit there last year. "
00:44:46.65\00:44:48.96
And now I had
that allergy problem.
00:44:49.16\00:44:50.99
And I said: "I just can't tell
you what that means to me. "
00:44:51.19\00:44:54.03
And he said: "Three women? "
00:44:55.31\00:44:57.82
He said: "What are you
talking about... three women? "
00:44:58.02\00:44:59.49
I said: "Well
that's what they told me. "
00:44:59.80\00:45:01.35
He goes: "I baptized 20
women up there at that prison
00:45:01.55\00:45:04.49
since you were there. "
00:45:04.69\00:45:06.00
I said: "Twenty? I
thought it was three! "
00:45:06.20\00:45:08.77
He said: "No, I baptized 20! "
00:45:08.97\00:45:10.59
He said: "I've got more
people in my baptismal class. "
00:45:10.79\00:45:13.00
Is that not awesome?
Is that not incredible?
00:45:14.09\00:45:17.01
I thought about how
often I had feared and not
00:45:17.22\00:45:21.07
wanted to come, and
I was thinking about
00:45:21.27\00:45:23.13
having to go
through that security check
00:45:23.33\00:45:25.31
and how I had to
get fingerprinted
00:45:25.51\00:45:26.97
and I had to go all
that... And it's scary being
00:45:27.17\00:45:28.55
in... something that
you've never done before.
00:45:28.65\00:45:31.43
And yet God had taken that
00:45:32.56\00:45:35.49
and He had blessed it.
And He had touched the hearts
00:45:35.69\00:45:38.32
and God had a
reason for me being there.
00:45:38.42\00:45:40.32
Twenty women that were baptized
00:45:40.62\00:45:43.27
and more in his baptismal class.
00:45:43.47\00:45:44.60
Now they've got all
these Bible study groups going.
00:45:44.80\00:45:46.70
And I was like
praising the Lord.
00:45:46.91\00:45:48.67
I just couldn't
hardly believe it.
00:45:48.87\00:45:50.27
Well then the next year
00:45:51.79\00:45:54.85
my sisters and I
went back to the prison.
00:45:55.05\00:45:57.07
See, I told you
this wasn't in the book.
00:45:57.28\00:45:58.65
And we had the most
amazing time. True to his word,
00:46:00.21\00:46:04.43
the assistant
warden had the gymnasium...
00:46:04.64\00:46:06.96
By the way, something
that had never happened
00:46:06.97\00:46:09.52
and if you get to read the book
00:46:09.72\00:46:11.50
you'll see
Carrie Avery's letter.
00:46:11.70\00:46:13.31
One of the things
that really impressed me
00:46:13.51\00:46:14.83
the very first time I was
there there were four women
00:46:15.03\00:46:18.56
there that were
from the Lock Down Unit.
00:46:18.76\00:46:22.11
Not allowed... doesn't happen.
00:46:22.31\00:46:23.68
"Don't even know how
that happened, " they said.
00:46:23.88\00:46:25.30
But they were there.
00:46:25.50\00:46:26.82
So when my sisters and I
got ready to prepare for the...
00:46:28.70\00:46:33.32
to fly out there for ministry
00:46:33.52\00:46:35.45
we do what we always do
and we really, prayerfully
00:46:36.64\00:46:40.55
pray every day
that we die to self
00:46:40.75\00:46:44.62
and that we glorify God
and that He fills us so full
00:46:44.82\00:46:48.02
of His Holy Spirit that
we'll be a powerful witness
00:46:48.12\00:46:50.62
when we go out to minister
to these ladies at the Pocatello
00:46:50.82\00:46:54.13
prison.
00:46:54.44\00:46:55.55
You see, we cannot
share what we don't have.
00:46:55.85\00:46:59.04
If we are not prayed
up, if we are not so closely
00:46:59.25\00:47:01.65
connected with our heavenly
Father, we can't share anything!
00:47:01.85\00:47:04.66
You can't share
what you don't have.
00:47:04.86\00:47:06.90
So that's why it's
vitally important that you are
00:47:07.20\00:47:09.80
praying constantly
asking God to fill you
00:47:10.00\00:47:13.15
with His Holy Spirit.
00:47:13.35\00:47:15.11
And you need to
do more than that.
00:47:15.41\00:47:17.51
You need to spend
that time in His Word.
00:47:17.71\00:47:21.23
God speaks to us
through His Word.
00:47:21.63\00:47:23.94
You know so
many people ask me...
00:47:24.04\00:47:25.39
They will say:
"Brenda, you always talk about
00:47:25.59\00:47:28.02
listening to God and
listening to the Holy Spirit.
00:47:28.23\00:47:30.18
How do you really know if the
Holy Spirit is talking to you? "
00:47:30.39\00:47:35.56
And I can tell
you that's very easy.
00:47:35.86\00:47:37.67
The more time
you spend with Jesus
00:47:37.97\00:47:41.43
the more you
will know His voice.
00:47:41.63\00:47:43.43
It's like if you have a
new... somebody you just meet
00:47:43.73\00:47:46.84
and they call you on the
phone for the first time,
00:47:47.04\00:47:49.68
are you going to know who it is?
00:47:49.88\00:47:51.18
No. Even if you
met them just once
00:47:51.48\00:47:53.63
maybe even twice, maybe
3... but when you become friends
00:47:53.83\00:47:57.41
and the phone rings
and you hear their voice
00:47:57.62\00:47:59.98
you know
immediately who it is, right?
00:48:00.18\00:48:02.62
So it is with
our heavenly Father.
00:48:04.10\00:48:06.22
The more time we
spend on our knees,
00:48:06.43\00:48:08.39
the more time we
spend in His Word,
00:48:08.59\00:48:10.80
the more time we
spend with Jesus our Savior,
00:48:11.00\00:48:15.12
the more we will know His voice.
00:48:15.15\00:48:17.68
If you are in a
position where you are saying
00:48:17.99\00:48:21.69
"I don't really know if
God's talking to me or not, "
00:48:21.90\00:48:24.27
then I'm going to tell you:
00:48:24.47\00:48:25.63
find some alone time with Jesus.
00:48:25.83\00:48:28.02
You're not spending
enough alone time with Him.
00:48:28.22\00:48:30.68
You need to have
that time where you
00:48:30.88\00:48:33.46
are... is set
apart. Take that extra time
00:48:33.66\00:48:36.52
to say: "I need to be filled
up with Your Holy Spirit. "
00:48:36.72\00:48:41.65
"Lord, I need You in my life. "
00:48:41.85\00:48:44.13
And ask God to
cleanse you from all your sin.
00:48:45.42\00:48:47.50
Ask God to strip you of self
00:48:47.71\00:48:50.74
so that people
only see Jesus in you.
00:48:50.94\00:48:54.33
One of the most
important and beautiful things
00:48:55.60\00:49:00.09
that anybody
could ever say to me
00:49:00.29\00:49:01.80
isn't that they like what I'm
wearing or some big compliment.
00:49:02.00\00:49:05.63
If they can tell me
they see Jesus in me
00:49:05.94\00:49:09.39
that's the most important thing
anybody can ever say to me.
00:49:09.59\00:49:13.04
Amen. Because when we are truly
00:49:13.34\00:49:17.10
walking with Jesus, you
don't have to wear a sign
00:49:17.30\00:49:20.58
saying "I love Jesus. "
00:49:20.79\00:49:22.25
My daddy used to
always say: "If you love Jesus
00:49:22.45\00:49:25.06
notify your face. "
00:49:25.16\00:49:26.50
So you can't help
but just shine for Him.
00:49:29.33\00:49:31.28
And sometimes just a tiny
smile will make a difference.
00:49:31.59\00:49:35.57
Sometimes when I'm even
at an airport going through
00:49:36.45\00:49:38.75
and you see
everybody with stone faces,
00:49:38.95\00:49:41.34
they're not even
expression, and they're walking
00:49:41.54\00:49:43.19
from one gate to the next
and you're making eye contact
00:49:43.30\00:49:45.88
but they're just like
this, I smile at them.
00:49:46.09\00:49:48.29
I even had somebody just
last week come back and said:
00:49:49.25\00:49:51.55
"Do I know you? "
00:49:51.75\00:49:52.81
And I said: "No, but
Jesus does. He knows you. "
00:49:52.91\00:49:57.79
And I tell you... what
you can do with just a smile.
00:49:57.99\00:50:00.88
This awkward moment in the
elevator with a bunch of people
00:50:01.98\00:50:04.92
and we're just waiting for
the floors, and it's a slow
00:50:05.12\00:50:06.70
elevator.
Nobody's saying a word.
00:50:06.80\00:50:08.25
I don't... It's an
opportunity to witness.
00:50:08.45\00:50:11.66
They can't go anywhere.
00:50:11.86\00:50:13.13
They're right there in that
elevator. It's time to witness.
00:50:13.33\00:50:15.60
Smile at them. Let them know.
00:50:17.89\00:50:19.69
I turned around one day
to the guy in the elevator
00:50:19.89\00:50:21.85
and I said: "I just want
you to know Jesus loves you. "
00:50:21.95\00:50:23.49
And he just started crying.
00:50:23.59\00:50:25.03
He said: "I can't
believe you just said that to me
00:50:25.23\00:50:26.42
right now. I can't believe it. "
00:50:26.62\00:50:28.01
You see how good God is?
00:50:28.31\00:50:29.80
So my sisters and I, any
time we prepare for ministry
00:50:31.06\00:50:33.47
we are asking the
Holy Spirit to fill us.
00:50:33.67\00:50:36.34
We don't just pray once.
We don't just pray twice.
00:50:36.64\00:50:38.35
We ask God to bathe us
anew, afresh, every single day,
00:50:38.56\00:50:42.10
every single
minute, every single second
00:50:42.13\00:50:43.93
so that we can be
used to the utmost
00:50:44.13\00:50:46.71
to be
soul-winning tools for Jesus.
00:50:47.01\00:50:49.00
When we got out to
that Pocatello prison,
00:50:49.30\00:50:51.61
all three of us, and they
were setting up our microphones
00:50:51.81\00:50:55.95
and all the women
were starting to come in,
00:50:56.15\00:50:58.15
filling up the seats,
00:50:59.75\00:51:01.01
there was one
lady that I recognized.
00:51:01.21\00:51:05.70
She was that real tall
woman I met the first day
00:51:06.21\00:51:09.98
that big old soggy. I got
ready; I took a big breath
00:51:10.18\00:51:12.75
this time... I
knew it was coming.
00:51:12.95\00:51:14.45
And she said: "Oh, Miss
Brenda, I've got to tell you. "
00:51:16.88\00:51:19.91
She said: "I've been baptized! "
00:51:20.21\00:51:23.23
Amen. And about that time
00:51:23.53\00:51:25.84
one of the other women
came up there and she said:
00:51:25.94\00:51:27.79
"She's really such a
spiritual leader in our prison"
00:51:27.99\00:51:30.26
she said "this last year. "
She said: "She's the one that
00:51:30.46\00:51:32.91
heads up so many
Bible study classes
00:51:33.11\00:51:34.99
in the prison 'cause
there's not enough... "
00:51:35.19\00:51:36.93
"They only have
Bible study" she said.
00:51:37.13\00:51:40.13
"We only have it 3 days
a week for 2 hours a day
00:51:40.27\00:51:42.42
so it's not enough time,
so I give Bible studies here
00:51:42.63\00:51:45.15
in the prison. " Isn't God good?
00:51:45.25\00:51:47.30
Amen. Isn't that awesome?
00:51:47.60\00:51:48.83
And so I was so excited and then
00:51:49.14\00:51:51.32
I just gave her another big hug.
00:51:51.52\00:51:53.42
We started the concert,
00:51:53.73\00:51:55.86
and in between songs
each one of us will take turns
00:51:57.24\00:52:00.49
sharing. So when
we finish one song
00:52:00.69\00:52:02.65
the next person
will start to share.
00:52:02.85\00:52:04.58
And we share whatever the Holy
Spirit is telling us to share.
00:52:04.78\00:52:08.28
You know, I might come
in with an idea of what I'm
00:52:08.79\00:52:11.38
going to say, and I can tell you
how many times I've done that
00:52:11.49\00:52:14.12
and God has turned
me around on a dime
00:52:14.33\00:52:15.73
and I didn't say a thing
that I thought I was going to
00:52:15.93\00:52:17.57
talk about. That
happens all the time
00:52:17.67\00:52:20.01
because we want to be
instant to God's will.
00:52:20.31\00:52:22.35
If you're really praying
and asking God to use you
00:52:22.65\00:52:25.23
in a special
way... If you say: "Lord,
00:52:25.43\00:52:27.03
let me be instant to Your
will. Let me not second guess
00:52:27.23\00:52:31.60
what You're telling me. "
00:52:31.80\00:52:33.33
We miss many divine
appointments when we do that.
00:52:34.41\00:52:36.37
Do you realize
how dangerous that is?
00:52:36.57\00:52:37.76
If we say, you know,
you can hear the Holy Spirit
00:52:37.96\00:52:42.17
telling you "Just smile
at that lady that's coming up
00:52:42.37\00:52:44.81
right here. Just give her
a nice smile and let her know
00:52:44.91\00:52:46.57
I love her. " And we go
00:52:46.67\00:52:48.38
"Do You really
want me to say that?
00:52:48.48\00:52:50.33
I'm actually in a public
place and I'm at my work place
00:52:50.44\00:52:52.30
and Lord, You don't
really mean that, do You? "
00:52:52.50\00:52:54.03
And in that instant that you're
questioning the Holy Spirit
00:52:55.23\00:52:58.02
that second is gone -
she's gone - you've missed
00:52:58.22\00:53:00.55
that opportunity. See,
but if you're prayed up
00:53:00.65\00:53:03.66
and you're saying: "Lord,
use me in a special way, "
00:53:03.86\00:53:05.92
you're saying: "Lord,
make me instant to Your will
00:53:06.13\00:53:08.68
that I'm not second
guessing Your voice, "
00:53:08.88\00:53:11.72
you will have so
many divine appointments.
00:53:13.11\00:53:15.29
And as we were
singing and witnessing
00:53:16.53\00:53:22.03
I saw again how the
Holy Spirit was flooding
00:53:22.23\00:53:25.33
into the hearts of those ladies.
00:53:25.53\00:53:27.74
And there were four women
that were off to the side.
00:53:27.94\00:53:32.03
And true to his word, they
had hired a lot of extra guards
00:53:32.23\00:53:35.61
there. And if somebody acts up,
they don't get a second chance.
00:53:35.81\00:53:38.99
They are ripped out of
there and they are taken out
00:53:39.19\00:53:41.10
right then and there, and
you don't get a second chance.
00:53:41.30\00:53:44.06
So if you're acting up at all...
00:53:44.26\00:53:45.47
And there were four women
that I felt like were just
00:53:45.67\00:53:47.71
devil possessed because
they were rolling their eyes
00:53:47.81\00:53:50.38
and they weren't making enough
of a problem where the guard
00:53:50.58\00:53:53.70
saw it yet, but they
didn't see what we saw
00:53:53.90\00:53:56.17
looking at them. And I
could see them roll their eyes,
00:53:56.27\00:53:58.03
you know, nudging each other.
00:53:58.23\00:53:59.94
And I just started praying
for them even while we were
00:54:00.14\00:54:01.75
singing. And in fact, I
saw throughout the concert...
00:54:01.85\00:54:06.55
the whole first part of
the concert... they were really
00:54:06.75\00:54:09.50
getting worse. And so
I started praying more!
00:54:09.70\00:54:12.23
And when my sister
Linda was talking, I was
00:54:12.53\00:54:14.19
praying for those four women.
00:54:14.39\00:54:15.61
And I was praying
and I was praying.
00:54:16.63\00:54:18.99
And before we
finished I saw those ladies
00:54:20.59\00:54:25.50
that had been so sarcastic and
had been so rolling their eyes
00:54:25.70\00:54:29.87
and kind of making fun
00:54:30.07\00:54:31.47
I saw the Holy Spirit
just open their hearts
00:54:31.77\00:54:34.93
and their faces
softened and they were in tears
00:54:35.13\00:54:39.77
before that concert ended.
00:54:39.97\00:54:41.79
In fact, God did something
really awesome that day
00:54:42.09\00:54:45.99
because at the very
end of that concert,
00:54:47.03\00:54:52.83
um,
00:54:53.03\00:54:54.25
my sister Linda
gave an altar call.
00:54:57.13\00:55:01.01
And she pleaded
with them that if they
00:55:01.41\00:55:04.37
really wanted to see Jesus,
00:55:04.57\00:55:09.77
if they wanted to
have that blessed hope,
00:55:09.97\00:55:12.21
if they wanted to have
that peace in their heart
00:55:12.41\00:55:14.56
every single night, that
the only healer of hearts
00:55:14.76\00:55:17.57
was Jesus.
00:55:17.67\00:55:19.57
And she pleaded with
them to surrender their heart
00:55:19.87\00:55:23.14
and life to Him
right then and there.
00:55:23.24\00:55:24.78
And Cinda and I stepped up
and we added to the altar call.
00:55:24.98\00:55:29.87
And we pleaded
with each one of them.
00:55:30.07\00:55:31.23
And I looked directly
at those three women...
00:55:31.43\00:55:33.41
four women that
had been struggling.
00:55:33.61\00:55:35.38
And I said... looked
right at them. I said:
00:55:35.68\00:55:39.59
"Jesus loves you.
00:55:39.79\00:55:41.18
He died to save you
00:55:41.38\00:55:43.54
and He's coming again soon.
00:55:43.74\00:55:45.38
He's preparing your
mansion for you right now.
00:55:45.58\00:55:47.84
But God's not going to force you
00:55:48.14\00:55:51.65
and if you don't choose Jesus
00:55:51.85\00:55:54.92
you're going to be lost...
00:55:55.12\00:55:57.26
eternally lost. "
00:55:57.46\00:55:59.00
And all of a sudden
the tears started coming.
00:55:59.30\00:56:02.14
And we said: "If
you really love Jesus,
00:56:02.54\00:56:08.34
if you really want
to start your life anew,
00:56:08.54\00:56:10.68
if you want to live an abundant
life even here in this prison,
00:56:10.88\00:56:14.84
won't you take your stand
by coming forward right now
00:56:15.14\00:56:19.34
and surrender your
heart and life to Him? "
00:56:19.64\00:56:22.24
All of a sudden you
saw one woman stand.
00:56:24.18\00:56:26.23
You saw another person stand
00:56:26.53\00:56:28.33
and another person
stand, and pretty soon they
00:56:28.54\00:56:30.37
were just popping up everywhere.
00:56:30.57\00:56:32.04
And over 100 women came forward
00:56:33.53\00:56:37.17
to give their life
to Jesus that night.
00:56:37.37\00:56:40.14
And when we were
done talking I went over
00:56:40.44\00:56:43.42
and I... I started hugging them.
00:56:43.92\00:56:48.40
I just started hugging them,
we started hugging the women.
00:56:48.60\00:56:50.63
And all of a sudden that
religious activities director
00:56:51.23\00:56:56.59
that was in the back of
the room he was watching.
00:56:56.80\00:56:58.92
All of a sudden he sees
it's not the assistant warden
00:56:59.13\00:57:00.81
that had come
in... the warden came in.
00:57:00.91\00:57:02.52
And now he knows...
we're in big trouble!
00:57:02.72\00:57:04.44
And he looks. He goes "What
part of touching... no touching
00:57:04.64\00:57:06.60
don't those girls understand? "
00:57:06.80\00:57:07.89
And he said: "Don't you see?
God has done something special
00:57:09.00\00:57:13.15
here tonight? "
00:57:13.25\00:57:14.55
Be brave enough to step
out of your comfort zone.
00:57:16.16\00:57:20.46