Participants: Lincoln Steed (Host), Wintley Phipps
Series Code: LI
Program Code: LI000266B
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00:03 Welcome back to Liberty Insider.
00:05 Before the break with guest Wintley Phipps 00:08 we were riffing on a little bit 00:09 about the principles of democracy 00:11 and religious liberty and so on 00:13 but I what really wanted to get on was how do we protect 00:16 this underlying principle of religious liberty 00:19 and it seems to me well, we can debate a lot here 00:22 and now the future security depends upon 00:25 training up a new generation that have it right. 00:28 Right, right, right. 00:29 And you might not have noticed recently in our religious 00:32 liberty activities of the Seventh-day Adventist church 00:35 there's been an initiative from the west coast 00:37 to establish a freedom classroom 00:41 bring young people on a tour of-- 00:43 These high sports spots and educate them in the principle. 00:46 But actually you're ahead of the game, 00:48 what have you been doing? 00:49 Sure. 00:50 Well, for me it started because on this train ride 00:55 where I saw this man I looked a little discouraged 00:57 and I said there's anybody sitting next to you 00:59 and it was Chuck Colson and he began to take me 01:01 into the prisons with him-- over 30 years ago 01:06 and I was shaken by what I saw. 01:09 I did not realized that one of every 01:11 three African American males, you know, men that look like me 01:15 and about sons, one of every three 01:18 between the ages of 18 and 30 are in prison today 01:22 in the United States or America-- 01:23 States or districts. Or should provide. 01:24 Especially by the way 01:26 we're talking about democratic principles. 01:28 Since in many states they lose the right 01:30 to practice that's a very dangerous. 01:32 Yeah, there are in the prison on probation 01:35 no parole supervised by the court system. 01:37 I'll give you another statistic that I came across recently 01:41 that really has me reeling 01:45 almost 20 African American males are murdered 01:51 every day in the United States of America. 01:56 Almost 20 are killed every single day of every year 02:03 in the United States of America. 02:05 If that was happening in Iraq or Afghanistan 02:09 where 20 American soldiers-- 02:11 for example if the 20 American soldiers were being killed 02:14 every day of every year there would be an outcry. 02:18 And so Chuck Colson really opened my eyes 02:22 because being coming from my faith tradition 02:26 I was a little sheltered. 02:29 And so he placed me on his board of directors 02:33 and I saw how you build a power church ministry 02:37 and how you run a not for profit with integrity. 02:40 And while on the board a very alarming statistics surface 02:44 we found out that almost 70% of all children in America 02:49 who end up in prison come from the children 02:52 of those who were in prison. 02:53 So I began to advocate why don't we build ministry 02:58 intervention for children whose parents are incarcerated? 03:02 Because if they're the most likely they go to prison 03:05 they're the ones who need the most help. 03:08 And I tell people when you have a board 03:12 and you have a wide-eyed idealist who is always hopping 03:16 on what needs to be done you know what you do, 03:18 you get an enabling action and you set him off to do it. 03:21 So they basically said look this is a calling for you 03:24 and if you wish to move in that direction 03:27 we'll help you get started 03:28 and they got me in my first employee, 03:30 my first office space and gave me the resources 03:34 to begin building what is now The Dream Academy. 03:37 And the Dream Academy is an organization, 03:40 a charity that brings tutoring 03:42 and mentoring to children of prisoners 03:45 and children falling behind in school. 03:48 I give you another statistics. 03:49 Now when does the, when does this take place, 03:52 obviously not during school hours. 03:54 After school. After school. 03:55 It is an after school program 03:57 and we get the kids at the most vulnerable hour 04:00 because most of the crime and most of the difficulty 04:03 happens between three and six in the afternoon 04:06 and so they come to us. 04:08 We help them to figure out 04:11 where they're not doing well in school 04:13 because it's critical for them to do well in school. 04:17 Lincoln by the age of 30, 60% of all black boys in America 04:23 60% who don't graduate from high school will be in prison. 04:26 I know it's incredible. I didn't know it was that hard. 04:29 Yes. It's shocking. 04:30 Yeah, and so-- 04:31 We're not running out of time 04:33 but I see our time running away. 04:34 Yes, yes. 04:36 In other programs you have been 04:37 kind enough to sing a song. 04:38 Absolutely and we happen to. 04:40 The picture you are painting demands 04:41 a arousing go for compassion and help. 04:46 Sure. You got a song we go this? 04:48 Absolutely, well, you know I'm thinking this beautiful hymn 04:51 "His Eye Is on the Sparrow." 04:53 Because these young people God has His eye on them 04:56 and I want them to know that. 04:58 Absolutely. 04:59 And so I will share this song. Looking forward to. 05:18 Why should I feel discouraged 05:26 Why should the shadows come 05:33 Why should my heart feel lonely 05:41 And long for heaven and home 05:49 When Jesus is my portion 05:57 My constant Friend is He 06:05 His eye is on the sparrow 06:13 And I know He's watching over me 06:22 His eye is on the sparrow 06:31 And I know He's watching over me 06:41 I sing because I'm happy 06:48 Yes, Lord, I sing because I'm free 06:57 For His eye is on the sparrow 07:07 And I know He's watching over me 07:17 His eye is on the sparrow 07:26 And I know He's watching over me 07:31 I know He's watching over me 07:36 I know He's watching over me 07:45 I sing because I'm happy 07:52 Yes, Lord, I sing because I'm free 08:02 For His eye is on the sparrow 08:13 And I know He's watching over me 08:22 His eye is on the sparrow 08:33 And I know He's watching over me 08:44 Yes, yes, 08:48 I know He's watching over me 09:15 Awful. Well, praise God. 09:17 Well, we have to believe that God's eyes 09:20 are not just on the sparrow it's on the young 09:22 these young men and women you're able to influence. 09:27 And I'm presuming that a big part 09:29 of what you're communicated to them 09:31 is not just general values the fact that God loves them 09:35 and cares for them and they've value. 09:37 Absolutely. 09:38 I would prove from what I have read 09:40 and see the lot of the problem with the prisoners themselves 09:42 and then it would have to be that children. 09:44 They devalued themselves. That's right. 09:46 And when somebody contributes to your sense of self-work 09:50 and self-esteemed not only do they not only do they give you 09:56 more than money could every buy but they also express 10:02 or they express the love of God 10:03 and the character of God to you. 10:05 Wonderful, wonderful. Yeah. 10:06 So you the program is going strong and continuing. 10:09 Yes, we always have need for more resources and funds 10:12 and I tell people God told me once 10:17 you've seen a sparrow with a worry line. 10:21 So no matter what's happening 10:23 don't worry God will take care of you. 10:25 And we ask that you'd pray for us and support us 10:28 as we help the young people with the Dream Academy. 10:32 One of the most moving and indeed the troubling scenes 10:37 in the New Testament is when Jesus was teaching 10:40 His disciples and others 10:42 and gathered around with some young children. 10:45 He said "Whoever causes one of these young people 10:49 to go astray, whoever subverts the innocence of a young person 10:54 better for him that a millstone be put around his neck." 10:57 In other words, it's very important that young people 11:01 be kept spiritually pure and they be protected. 11:04 It's very important that they be prepared 11:07 and husbanded toward the kingdom. 11:10 Our guest today has spoken about his Dream Academy 11:14 that's a very particular program that addresses 11:16 a very particular social problem in the United States 11:19 but actually the dream of Jesus is that 11:23 all young people be prepared for His kingdom 11:26 and the dream of our religious liberty endeavored has to be 11:30 that we can prepare young people to know what freedom is, 11:34 to live freedom and liberty in their lives 11:37 and that be prepared to exemplify that 11:40 in their community, in their nation 11:42 and thereby on a the trust and the importance 11:47 that God has placed upon their wellbeing. 11:50 For Liberty Insider this is Lincoln Steed. |
Revised 2014-12-17