I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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I want to spend my life
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Removing pain
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Lord, let my words
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Heal a heart that hurts
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I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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Hello and welcome to 3ABN today.
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My name is C.A. Murray
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and allow me once
again to thank you
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for sharing just a
little of your day with us.
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Thank you for
your love, your prays,
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you supported this ministry.
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We realize that
we couldn't do it,
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we're called to do
without your partnering with us
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so we thank you from
the bottom of our hearts.
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I'm excited beyond
belief dare I say this day
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because of my guest
because of the subject matter
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and I want you really
to draw close and give ear
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because we've got a
lot of stuff to talk about.
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Rachel Williams-Smith is
the chairman of the department
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of communication
at Andrews University,
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and we will get to that.
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But there is a
whole lot of story
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before we get to
Andrews University
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that we want to
really to give ear to,
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because you may know
someone, you may be someone,
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you may have a chance
to minister to someone
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who has had a background similar
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and has gone
through similar experiences.
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I doubt that you have gone
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through the
exact same experiences,
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but perhaps something similar
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and today you're gonna
learn a little bit about
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how one overcomes
a lot of adversity,
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how one overcomes
through the power of Christ,
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a bunch of
negativity that could shape
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and mold and warp there
I say someone's childhood
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and move right
into their adulthood.
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But Rachel's overcome
that, in a marvelous way
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and we're gonna
talk about her walk,
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her journey and I think
you're going to be inspired
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and really
impressed by this woman of God
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who has done some great things
and is doing some great things
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and has managed to put
all of this down in a book
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that we're gonna talk
about in just a little bit.
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First of all good to have here.
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Nice to be here.
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So you told me that--
that her mom is fan of 3ABN,
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and I said well, what about you?
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See said, I will
it watch it some.
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We see her watch
it more from now on.
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I guarantee you.
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I guarantee you,
I will this show.
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Praise the Lord.
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She is an
educator and spend sometime
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on the faculty at
Oakwood University
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and now is chair
of the department
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at Andrew's University,
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and we're gonna
talk about all of that.
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But at-- at before
we go to much further,
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I want us to stop in
as you are from where?
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Now? No, originally.
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Well, I was born
in Massachusetts,
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and my parents left there
when I was six months old.
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So the first place I
remember being is Spain
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and then I kind of Alabama,
and then I group in Tennessee.
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My father was in
military, did I mention that?
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So, when people
ask me where I'm from?
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I say, I don't-- I don't know,
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but I claim
growing up in Tennessee.
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In Tennessee, okay.
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Because there--
having been down here
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a while I know
the Tennessee accent.
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Yes. And you ain't got that.
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Well, okay and if I
need you, I can have it.
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In deed you can.
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But perhaps since having
a military dad and going,
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moving around so much,
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your accent is
pretty Mid Western,
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pretty neutral, well,
little New England in there.
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I credit that
to my mother. Yeah.
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My mother was born in--
in Bridgeport, Connecticut
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and so she had
very proper diction.
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And she modeled that for us
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and she insisted
that her three children,
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my two older bothers and myself,
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spoke properly, wrote
properly and that's a gift
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that she gave me
that was a valuable.
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Now I don't need to ask knowing
a little bit of your story,
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if you grow up
in Adventist home,
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because you grow up in
really an ultra Adventist home.
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Isn't there a book
out called beyond, BO--
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I know Beyond Believes,
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so I'm gonna say
Beyond Adventist.
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That we grew up
Beyond Adventist.
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Very, very, very Adventism home.
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Brothers and sisters, siblings?
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Two older brothers,
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two and three years
older than me, yeah.
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So the only girl and a
family of three children,
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and a baby to boot.
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Yeah.
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Give us some sense
before we go to music,
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just of growing up as a child,
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what was your childhood
like the early childhood?
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Very, very early
childhood was fairly normal.
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So when I'm speaking of that
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I'm saying from
birth to about five
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just the normal
things, play, fight whatever.
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There were some elements
that were already in my life,
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for one, my father had
issues with having a daughter,
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didn't want to have a girl.
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And I know that he
loved me in his own way.
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Yeah, I know that
mentally, not emotionally
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but I-- I know that factually,
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but he did not
know how to show that
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and he had certain
issues about having a daughter.
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So he wouldn't play me
like he would with his--
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he wouldn't play with me at all.
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He wouldn't touch me,
hold me, do things with me,
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and-- and I knew
there was a real divide
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between male and female.
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So I knew that at a
little-- little girl
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so I grew up with a
great fear of my father.
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But apart from that
my life was-- was normal.
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We lived off the base
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because my father
was in the Air Force
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and they only have a army
base in Huntsville, Alabama.
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So after being-- been
born in Massachusetts,
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and then moving to Alabama,
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and then moving to
Spain for couple of years,
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moving back to
Huntsville, Alabama.
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It was when we move back
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I began to see
changes in our lives.
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First, with diet
and then with dress.
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And then my parents
began home schooling us
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so the time I was
six, that's when my--
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our lives began to go to
radically different direction.
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Now were they
Adventist previous of that?
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Was that their
entrance into Adventism?
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No, they were Adventist.
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My mother became an
Adventist of 15 years old.
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And she ended up
coming down to Oakwood
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and doing her pre--
pre-nurses training there.
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And then she have
got her registered,
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became a registered
nurse at Huntsville.
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Okay.
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So and my father
who come to Oakwood,
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he did his pre-nursing and
then finished up with his--
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became a
registered nurse as well.
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I believe that New
England sanatorium,
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I can't remember,
the details but anyway--
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so he-- they both
were registered nurses,
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but I lost my childhood thought,
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there was a
question, you asked me,
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I was going in that direction.
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We are just talking
about your early childhood,
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having said that
though both of your parents
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who had stable, good jobs,
they were professional people.
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And my father was in them--
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it was in the Air
Force, so they was--
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yeah, everything was stable,
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but my father big head
while they were in Spain,
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they couldn't
understand the language
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so they spend a
lot of time reading
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the Bible and other books,
little red volumes of books,
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and they began to
read all kinds of--
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about all kinds of reforms
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and they began
to read other books
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that were coming
out of the times,
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speaking out about the church
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and how was becoming worldly
and all of these concepts.
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So they became
more, more concerned,
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and so-- and then my mother
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became very
interested in health,
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so that lead to our change
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to what we would
now call a vegan diet
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which was
actually a good change,
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it just didn't taste good.
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So as the you know,
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small kid I was
not appreciating it.
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Right I'm not
gonna fly with you.
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No. No.
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You know, but
them the big change,
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and then-- oh, the
dresses, the long dresses,
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I remember my mother
told me that you know,
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Jesus in Revelation is pictured
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as wearing a
garment down to the foot.
00:08:21.38\00:08:23.52
And that Ellen White says
that we should wear our dresses
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two to three
inches from the floor,
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and she want to know if
I want to be like Jesus,
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well, not too many
six years old would say,
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no, I don't want
to be like Jesus.
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You know, as far as if they
grow up in a Christian home.
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So I ended up adopting that.
00:08:36.81\00:08:38.82
Actually I have
picture of myself,
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in my first homemade long dress,
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and holding my little kitten,
00:08:43.28\00:08:45.43
there outside our home
in Huntsville, Alabama.
00:08:45.46\00:08:47.16
But what my parents
decide to home school us,
00:08:47.19\00:08:49.80
it was illegal in
the state of Alabama
00:08:49.83\00:08:51.87
and they wanted
previsions that they are now.
00:08:51.90\00:08:54.27
So this was right
about 1971 and 1971 or so
00:08:54.30\00:08:59.37
and they want
previsions for home schooling
00:08:59.40\00:09:01.55
that they are now.
00:09:01.58\00:09:02.74
So the state
threatened to take us away.
00:09:02.77\00:09:05.09
And my father said,
not if I could help it.
00:09:05.12\00:09:08.49
Now let me ask you a question
00:09:08.52\00:09:09.58
because we talked
them being ultra Adventist,
00:09:09.61\00:09:13.62
so you got this
sort of jauntiest view
00:09:13.65\00:09:16.89
of the organized church.
00:09:16.92\00:09:18.09
Yes. You know, we are--
00:09:18.12\00:09:19.15
they are not what are to be
we need to pull back from that,
00:09:19.18\00:09:22.25
plus they reading
all of this material
00:09:22.28\00:09:24.68
that is kind of
swinging to the right.
00:09:24.71\00:09:26.82
Vegan vegetarianism,
dresses down through flour,
00:09:26.85\00:09:28.78
or even though that
material was 150 years old.
00:09:28.81\00:09:31.25
Right.
00:09:31.28\00:09:32.35
They are taking this and
applying all of this stuff.
00:09:32.38\00:09:34.26
Absolutely.
00:09:34.29\00:09:35.33
So as the young people
00:09:35.36\00:09:37.00
where you kind
of rolling with this
00:09:37.03\00:09:38.25
or this is kind of strange?
00:09:38.28\00:09:40.20
At the young age of
five and six years old
00:09:40.23\00:09:43.27
when the train
just began to come,
00:09:43.30\00:09:45.05
I mean the diet
probably hit me more,
00:09:45.08\00:09:47.11
because I liked my corn curls
00:09:47.14\00:09:50.09
and my potato
chips, and my ice cream.
00:09:50.12\00:09:52.53
Yeah, and that's out.
00:09:52.56\00:09:53.62
And that was out and my and we--
00:09:53.65\00:09:55.98
my mom used to
make this wonderful
00:09:56.01\00:09:57.90
Sunday morning breakfast with,
00:09:57.93\00:09:59.82
you know, fluffy white biscuit
00:09:59.85\00:10:01.78
and all the things that
I loved and then she puts--
00:10:01.81\00:10:05.27
you know, a hard whole
wheat biscuit in my plate
00:10:05.30\00:10:08.34
and he trying to
tell to me that's healthy.
00:10:08.37\00:10:10.15
And all I had to say
is it must be healthy
00:10:10.18\00:10:12.27
because it sure didn't taste.
00:10:12.30\00:10:13.59
Don't taste like any thing.
00:10:13.62\00:10:16.01
You know, so you
know, how young children--
00:10:16.04\00:10:18.35
so that effected me more.
00:10:18.38\00:10:19.48
The dresses I don't
really remember once you know,
00:10:19.51\00:10:21.64
once I learned not to
triple and when I was fine
00:10:21.67\00:10:24.84
but then the home schooling
that made a big difference
00:10:24.87\00:10:27.44
because I really,
really, really had this
00:10:27.47\00:10:29.72
desire to learn.
00:10:29.75\00:10:30.98
Yeah. I wanted to go to school.
00:10:31.01\00:10:32.55
And I had a best
friend name Lisa,
00:10:32.58\00:10:34.46
who was gonna-- we're gonna
start first grade together,
00:10:34.49\00:10:37.53
and she got to
start and I didn't
00:10:37.56\00:10:40.56
and I was so sad
that first day in the fall
00:10:40.59\00:10:43.42
where I was sitting
at little wooden desk,
00:10:43.45\00:10:45.15
my father had picked up
three little wooden desk
00:10:45.18\00:10:47.42
and I'm sitting
in the living room
00:10:47.45\00:10:49.16
with my brothers,
in my own little desk
00:10:49.19\00:10:51.84
and I'm thinking
about the kids that at--
00:10:51.87\00:10:53.63
at the Anna
Knight elementary school.
00:10:53.66\00:10:57.13
At Oakwood on the campus
of Oakwood collage at the time
00:10:57.16\00:11:00.25
and how they are
having this great time
00:11:00.28\00:11:01.99
and I'm confined
in little, you know.
00:11:02.02\00:11:04.84
And memorizing quotes,
I think the first quote
00:11:04.87\00:11:08.20
we ever had to memorize
00:11:08.23\00:11:09.29
was Steps to Christ
page 10, "God is love"
00:11:09.32\00:11:11.81
is written upon every opening
spire of springing grass.
00:11:11.84\00:11:14.88
You know, every opening bud,
every spire of springing grass.
00:11:14.91\00:11:18.06
I had to memorize
that whole paragraph
00:11:18.09\00:11:21.03
and I just knew that I
was poor deprive child.
00:11:21.06\00:11:24.14
Yeah, I'm though
because homing schooling now
00:11:24.17\00:11:27.31
as you have
alluded to is illegal.
00:11:27.34\00:11:29.29
Yes.
00:11:29.32\00:11:30.37
So there is a lot of
attended drama to this because,
00:11:30.40\00:11:34.05
it's-- your parents are
involved in illegal activity.
00:11:34.08\00:11:37.49
And yet they are
convicted enough to do this.
00:11:37.52\00:11:39.82
Yes.
00:11:39.85\00:11:40.91
And I want to talk
about the ramifications
00:11:40.94\00:11:43.45
of that kind of lifestyle,
00:11:43.48\00:11:45.11
if you as kids
were aware of that
00:11:45.14\00:11:47.25
and what they had to
do to hold on to that.
00:11:47.28\00:11:49.10
But before we go
there I want to our music
00:11:49.13\00:11:50.78
so we get this out
the way and come back
00:11:50.81\00:11:52.04
as this story is
standing get to me a little bit.
00:11:52.07\00:11:55.06
And this is really
really interesting,
00:11:55.09\00:11:56.72
we got-- and we
got to through this
00:11:56.75\00:11:58.24
and get you to
Andrew's University.
00:11:58.27\00:11:59.37
Yes. You know, that--
00:11:59.40\00:12:00.44
I mean we're still
stuck in the six years old.
00:12:00.47\00:12:02.33
Yeah, but there is a lot
here, and I don't want to--
00:12:02.36\00:12:05.37
I don't want to gloss
over too much of that,
00:12:05.40\00:12:07.03
thank goodness you
have put this in a book.
00:12:07.06\00:12:09.65
So in a little bit we
would be able to read this story
00:12:09.68\00:12:12.32
and grow from it.
00:12:12.35\00:12:13.38
But I want to kind a
un-package this experience
00:12:13.41\00:12:16.37
because it is
gone into making you
00:12:16.40\00:12:18.13
what you are more than that,
00:12:18.16\00:12:19.41
you have to
overcome a lot of stuff
00:12:19.44\00:12:20.70
to get to where you are.
00:12:20.73\00:12:21.76
And that's what I
want to sort of deal with.
00:12:21.79\00:12:22.92
So for now, our music is
coming from the Madisonians
00:12:22.95\00:12:26.45
they gonna be
singing "Amazing Grace."
00:12:26.48\00:12:29.28
Amazing grace,
how sweet the sound
00:12:46.32\00:12:53.63
That saved a wretch like me
00:12:53.66\00:13:00.94
I once was lost,
but now I'm found
00:13:00.97\00:13:08.05
Was blind, but now I see
00:13:08.08\00:13:12.75
Amazing grace,
how sweet the sound
00:13:12.78\00:13:20.66
That saved a wretch like me
00:13:20.69\00:13:25.69
I once was lost
00:13:28.82\00:13:32.30
But now I'm found
00:13:32.33\00:13:37.09
Was blind, but now I see
00:13:37.12\00:13:42.89
The Lord has promised good to me
00:13:45.63\00:13:52.70
His word my hope secures
00:13:52.73\00:13:59.20
He will my shield and portion be
00:14:02.84\00:14:08.81
As long as life endures
00:14:10.51\00:14:17.62
Through many
dangers, toils and snares
00:14:17.65\00:14:25.29
I have already come
00:14:25.32\00:14:30.76
'Tis Grace that
brought me safe thus far
00:14:36.63\00:14:41.73
And lead me home
00:14:41.76\00:14:43.38
Amazing grace
00:14:43.41\00:14:46.85
How sweet the sound
00:14:46.88\00:14:52.05
That saved a wretch like me
00:14:52.08\00:14:58.55
I once was lost
00:15:00.31\00:15:04.00
But now I'm found
00:15:04.03\00:15:08.34
Was blind, but now I see
00:15:08.37\00:15:13.97
Amazing grace
00:15:14.00\00:15:17.47
How sweet the sound
00:15:17.50\00:15:23.54
What a wonderful
group of young people
00:15:31.58\00:15:33.32
the Madisonians, Amazing Grace.
00:15:33.35\00:15:34.87
Thank you so very, very much.
00:15:34.90\00:15:36.85
My good lady, when we
left you were six years old,
00:15:36.88\00:15:41.23
but you are still six years old.
00:15:41.26\00:15:44.15
But I found
innocent because your parents
00:15:44.18\00:15:46.46
are engaging in
an illegal activity
00:15:46.49\00:15:48.37
because they are convicted
that what they need to do,
00:15:48.40\00:15:50.92
they are home schooling
you and your two brothers,
00:15:50.95\00:15:54.08
and is that causing
any kind of friction,
00:15:54.11\00:15:56.44
any kind of problems?
00:15:56.47\00:15:58.82
Not-- not between them,
but yes, with the state.
00:15:58.85\00:16:02.40
Yes. Or the city.
00:16:02.43\00:16:03.84
So the city of Huntsville
00:16:03.87\00:16:05.02
basically gave my
parents an ultimatum.
00:16:05.05\00:16:07.64
Either enroll us in school
or we're gonna be taken away.
00:16:07.67\00:16:10.39
And my father
being the very strong,
00:16:10.42\00:16:13.25
Vietnam vet, military
man that he has captain,
00:16:13.28\00:16:17.87
he was not gonna
be told what to do.
00:16:17.90\00:16:20.01
So he just basically took us
out in the middle of the night,
00:16:20.04\00:16:23.91
load us up in the van,
whisked us off to Arkansas
00:16:23.94\00:16:26.95
and then from there
we ended up in a bus
00:16:26.98\00:16:30.70
so you take a school bus
00:16:30.73\00:16:32.17
and he converted
into a mobile home,
00:16:32.20\00:16:34.05
and we kind of
camped out where we need to,
00:16:34.08\00:16:37.96
so we could
avoid the authorities.
00:16:37.99\00:16:40.38
we actually spent a
year living up on Montesano
00:16:40.41\00:16:44.49
in a state park
for an entire year,
00:16:44.52\00:16:46.79
you only supposed to
rent it two weeks at a time,
00:16:46.82\00:16:48.57
but we are there for
entire year living there,
00:16:48.60\00:16:51.26
and you know, we
just move our bus
00:16:51.29\00:16:52.99
from one location to another.
00:16:53.02\00:16:55.11
We do that just once really
00:16:55.14\00:16:57.77
and that's where we
were for an entire year
00:16:57.80\00:17:00.08
and then my parents
brought 50 acres in Tennessee.
00:17:00.11\00:17:02.84
Now a couple of things
00:17:02.87\00:17:03.93
because you are
throwing some what that be.
00:17:03.96\00:17:04.99
I'm trying, I'm trying
to move forward to and--
00:17:05.02\00:17:07.02
You throw some is
gonna be two hour show,
00:17:07.05\00:17:10.08
as young people that
can be an exciting adventure
00:17:10.11\00:17:12.39
or that be very traumatic.
00:17:12.42\00:17:14.47
How did you and
your brothers take that?
00:17:14.50\00:17:17.43
I think everything for
us was just day to day.
00:17:17.46\00:17:22.37
We didn't question it or
at least I didn't really.
00:17:22.40\00:17:26.72
It was just the way life was,
00:17:26.75\00:17:28.49
I think children
generally tend to be like that.
00:17:28.52\00:17:30.52
Yeah.
00:17:30.55\00:17:32.81
In my story I include episodes
00:17:32.84\00:17:35.50
with on going
competitions with my brothers
00:17:35.53\00:17:38.16
about things of course,
00:17:38.19\00:17:39.25
I never won the
competitions for the most part.
00:17:39.28\00:17:42.21
But try to compete
with them and you know,
00:17:42.24\00:17:44.04
the day to day perspectives
that a child might have on life
00:17:44.07\00:17:47.17
but I'm allowing
that we'll just see
00:17:47.20\00:17:49.27
what's happening even though
00:17:49.30\00:17:50.69
it's coming through
the eyes of a child.
00:17:50.72\00:17:52.02
Okay, your life as
through as of a child.
00:17:52.05\00:17:53.51
Yeah.
00:17:53.54\00:17:54.58
So, you're busing it
for a year and change
00:17:54.61\00:17:57.84
and now you are on 50
acres out in the middle of--
00:17:57.87\00:18:00.76
Yeah, this was in Tennessee
00:18:00.79\00:18:03.26
and it was on a range of
hills in Central Tennessee.
00:18:03.29\00:18:07.13
We-- it was a remote area
00:18:07.16\00:18:08.81
there was no
electricity in this--
00:18:08.84\00:18:11.23
available no telephones,
00:18:11.26\00:18:13.41
we didn't
actually have a telephone
00:18:13.44\00:18:15.23
our neighbor Brother Morlin
00:18:15.26\00:18:17.62
had brought a piece of
property mile up the road,
00:18:17.65\00:18:19.97
and he was the
one that introduced us
00:18:20.00\00:18:21.52
to life on the hill
as we came to call it.
00:18:21.55\00:18:24.38
And so he
actually did have a phone
00:18:24.41\00:18:26.35
but we did not
there was no electricity,
00:18:26.38\00:18:28.97
no running water,
we used out houses,
00:18:29.00\00:18:30.72
we hope hold our
water, we made our cloths,
00:18:30.75\00:18:34.00
we treated our own
medical needs at home,
00:18:34.03\00:18:37.90
we tried to be a self
sustaining as possible.
00:18:37.93\00:18:40.46
And once a month, my
parents would go to the big city
00:18:40.49\00:18:43.70
of Huntsville,
Alabama an hour away
00:18:43.73\00:18:46.20
and they would
buy supplies like--
00:18:46.23\00:18:48.47
You are in Southern Tennessee,
00:18:48.50\00:18:49.68
you are down
close to Alabama border.
00:18:49.71\00:18:50.83
Southern Central Tennessee, yes.
00:18:50.86\00:18:52.35
Yeah, lot of hills, lot
of wilderness out there.
00:18:52.38\00:18:54.88
Yes, it was in and
we actually have a photo
00:18:54.91\00:18:57.58
of an aerial
view of the property,
00:18:57.61\00:18:59.82
surrounded by woods.
00:18:59.85\00:19:00.89
Surrounded by wood.
00:19:00.92\00:19:01.99
Yes. Yeah.
00:19:02.02\00:19:03.15
You know, and my
parents end up selling a piece,
00:19:03.18\00:19:05.99
so you can see where there
is a little bit of clearing
00:19:06.02\00:19:08.24
to the left side of the picture.
00:19:08.27\00:19:09.30
Yes.
00:19:09.33\00:19:10.36
And that's were another family
moved there was two brothers
00:19:10.39\00:19:12.91
who brought a piece
of property from us,
00:19:12.94\00:19:14.76
eventually that's after
been there for few years
00:19:14.79\00:19:17.54
and they end up moving
a mobile home up there,
00:19:17.57\00:19:19.76
but they didn't-- they lived up
there for little period of time
00:19:19.79\00:19:22.61
and then left you know,
00:19:22.64\00:19:23.81
because it's kind of
hard living up there.
00:19:23.84\00:19:25.20
During these days, was your dad
00:19:25.23\00:19:26.33
still in the
service or had he retired?
00:19:26.36\00:19:27.79
No, he just before
we brought the property,
00:19:27.82\00:19:30.36
he was honorably discharged
and he decided to take his--
00:19:30.39\00:19:35.16
I don't know what you call it,
00:19:35.19\00:19:36.40
whatever you get
when you discharge
00:19:36.43\00:19:37.72
from military you decide
of taking in one big lump sum.
00:19:37.75\00:19:40.20
So he brought the--
00:19:40.23\00:19:41.30
the property and we
moved our bus up there
00:19:41.33\00:19:43.41
and kind of try to
be self sustaining.
00:19:43.44\00:19:46.24
And that you know, you
ask about the impact on me
00:19:46.27\00:19:49.52
as a child that
was more of a impact
00:19:49.55\00:19:52.25
because we move out
in the middle of nowhere
00:19:52.28\00:19:53.65
and with in two
hours you realize,
00:19:53.68\00:19:55.01
hey, I got to the
bathroom, where will I go?
00:19:55.04\00:19:58.75
Isn't there
bathroom out here you know,
00:19:58.78\00:20:00.67
and you know, because
we had lived in a bus,
00:20:00.70\00:20:03.52
but the bus was-- was--
00:20:03.55\00:20:06.27
you know in state
parks they have the facility
00:20:06.30\00:20:09.36
and all that kind of that thing.
00:20:09.39\00:20:10.77
So there is nothing
to hook up to anymore.
00:20:10.80\00:20:13.25
So is like what do we now
and its here is the shovel.
00:20:13.28\00:20:16.01
Wow, wow.
00:20:16.04\00:20:17.09
So after you know,
00:20:17.12\00:20:18.27
after by the time of few days go
00:20:18.30\00:20:20.95
and by a week or
so my mother she had,
00:20:20.98\00:20:23.54
she remembered
going to visit her uncle,
00:20:23.57\00:20:26.34
in Danbury, Connecticut.
00:20:26.37\00:20:27.61
So she would-- she began
to help my father figure out,
00:20:27.64\00:20:31.00
she was the practical one.
00:20:31.03\00:20:32.37
My father had this
ideal of how things should be
00:20:32.40\00:20:34.53
and my mother made it work.
00:20:34.56\00:20:35.96
So she talked to him
about building an out house
00:20:35.99\00:20:39.96
and we ended taking the
seat off of the bus to--
00:20:39.99\00:20:45.39
toilet in the bus, take--
00:20:45.42\00:20:47.09
took the seat and
put it on the board,
00:20:47.12\00:20:49.56
they had a whole
cut in the middle,
00:20:49.59\00:20:51.21
and then, oh, I feel like
that was modern convenience.
00:20:51.24\00:20:53.75
That was nice.
00:20:53.78\00:20:56.02
You know, but some
other things about the house
00:20:56.05\00:20:58.06
that it will get
extremely hot in the summer,
00:20:58.09\00:21:00.98
I would like to
put it like this.
00:21:01.01\00:21:02.06
It was well heated in the summer
00:21:02.09\00:21:03.72
and well air
conditioned in the winter.
00:21:03.75\00:21:04.80
Air conditioned in the winter.
00:21:04.83\00:21:06.02
Yeah, so some people
when they read my story
00:21:06.05\00:21:10.30
they considered abuse,
00:21:10.33\00:21:12.57
in a way to raise
your children like that,
00:21:12.60\00:21:14.22
and I guess if I look at it
00:21:14.25\00:21:15.45
from a more
objective stand point
00:21:15.48\00:21:17.95
of not having lived in it
00:21:17.98\00:21:19.45
I would be upset about
some of the conditions too.
00:21:19.48\00:21:21.77
But you lived through it.
00:21:21.80\00:21:22.84
But I lived through
it, and it was just,
00:21:22.87\00:21:25.21
it was normal life,
but I didn't realize
00:21:25.24\00:21:28.76
there were other
things too, I was very lonely.
00:21:28.79\00:21:31.53
But it was a
condition of daily life,
00:21:31.56\00:21:33.51
so I didn't
think of it like that.
00:21:33.54\00:21:36.26
When I go back
and read my own book,
00:21:36.29\00:21:39.54
I see the
profound loneliness sense.
00:21:39.57\00:21:42.33
And also sadness
and other things,
00:21:42.36\00:21:44.58
but and I was experiencing then
00:21:44.61\00:21:46.77
but I think one of
the things that happened
00:21:46.80\00:21:48.19
that became a
challenge for later
00:21:48.22\00:21:49.93
was learning to so
internalize everything,
00:21:49.96\00:21:52.86
that you don't
feel what you feel.
00:21:52.89\00:21:54.84
Disconnected from the feeling.
00:21:54.87\00:21:56.08
Yes, I understand.
00:21:56.11\00:21:57.35
And that was-- that
was an important aspect
00:21:57.38\00:21:59.87
of my growing up
because that came in conjunction
00:21:59.90\00:22:02.19
with lots and lots of religion.
00:22:02.22\00:22:05.40
Now let me ask you this,
because you admitted that
00:22:05.43\00:22:08.60
you weren't getting
all of the information,
00:22:08.63\00:22:10.68
because of a sort
of disconnect your dad.
00:22:10.71\00:22:12.98
Was the mindset to keep you kids
00:22:13.01\00:22:15.44
from being contaminated
00:22:15.47\00:22:16.96
or just to
remove yourself from--
00:22:16.99\00:22:20.28
my say yourself the
family from the world
00:22:20.31\00:22:22.58
and all the world had or
just we're gonna practice
00:22:22.61\00:22:25.08
this sort of special
brand of Adventism up
00:22:25.11\00:22:27.70
here in the
wilderness by ourselves.
00:22:27.73\00:22:29.93
As best you can relate,
00:22:29.96\00:22:31.26
what was the
mindset of your parents?
00:22:31.29\00:22:34.19
So my parents as far as
I need to make this clear.
00:22:34.22\00:22:39.44
They separated from
the denominational charge.
00:22:39.47\00:22:41.36
Okay, yeah.
00:22:41.39\00:22:42.46
So as far as my
parents were concerned
00:22:42.49\00:22:44.60
the church was apostate.
00:22:44.63\00:22:46.39
So they
separated from the church
00:22:46.42\00:22:47.83
and their goal was
to live out everything
00:22:47.86\00:22:49.89
that the Bible and the
Spirit of Prophecy had to say.
00:22:49.92\00:22:52.46
I think what they
did not understand
00:22:52.49\00:22:54.43
is there's
context to everything.
00:22:54.46\00:22:56.43
So they took
19th century context
00:22:56.46\00:22:59.26
and brought it into the
20th century into you know,
00:22:59.29\00:23:02.21
because we
were-- we were raised--
00:23:02.24\00:23:04.98
we were raised and
they had a very rule,
00:23:05.01\00:23:08.83
law based mentality.
00:23:08.86\00:23:10.83
So if it says
it, you do it. Yeah.
00:23:10.86\00:23:13.13
You know, that
says it, I believe it,
00:23:13.16\00:23:15.10
that settles it for me.
00:23:15.13\00:23:16.23
End of discussion. You
know, so you just do it.
00:23:16.26\00:23:18.65
So that's very
literal, black and white--
00:23:18.68\00:23:24.36
and I could almost use the word,
00:23:24.39\00:23:25.75
non-intellectual approach,
00:23:25.78\00:23:27.72
to interpreting the Word of God.
00:23:27.75\00:23:29.19
You know, I don't mean
that they were intellectual,
00:23:29.22\00:23:31.51
because they were
very intelligent parents,
00:23:31.54\00:23:33.50
but they had a
mentality that was--
00:23:33.53\00:23:35.77
was very literal
and black and white,
00:23:35.80\00:23:38.30
which becomes
un-intellectual in reality
00:23:38.33\00:23:41.23
when it comes to
dealing with a Word of God.
00:23:41.26\00:23:43.59
So that was what
was going on with them,
00:23:43.62\00:23:47.60
and I look it as
two mean streams.
00:23:47.63\00:23:51.50
Preparation for
the coming of Christ,
00:23:51.53\00:23:53.34
separation from the world.
00:23:53.37\00:23:54.88
Everything we did was
based on those two things.
00:23:54.91\00:23:56.50
Yeah, yeah.
00:23:56.53\00:23:57.56
Preparation, separation
00:23:57.59\00:23:58.65
so all of our religious training
00:23:58.68\00:24:00.38
was all about
preparation and separation
00:24:00.41\00:24:03.11
from the world had to all about
the context in which we lived.
00:24:03.14\00:24:06.87
So you can pretty
much put everything
00:24:06.90\00:24:09.70
within those two themes.
00:24:09.73\00:24:10.78
Here then is the
downside that I see.
00:24:10.81\00:24:14.25
If you are solely
prepared to get of this world
00:24:14.28\00:24:17.42
you are not
really preparing yourself
00:24:17.45\00:24:19.13
to meet any of the
challenges in this world.
00:24:19.16\00:24:21.68
So that says to me
that perhaps your education
00:24:21.71\00:24:24.71
wasn't a thorough education,
nor was it an education
00:24:24.74\00:24:27.66
that ever prepared
you to leave the nest,
00:24:27.69\00:24:30.60
because they are not
thinking about leaving the nest
00:24:30.63\00:24:32.86
they thinking about leaving
and going straight to heaven.
00:24:32.89\00:24:34.96
Was that the sort of
context in which you were--
00:24:34.99\00:24:36.93
you were being
thought and trained going up?
00:24:36.96\00:24:38.51
Yes. Yeah.
00:24:38.54\00:24:39.63
Very much of because my parents
00:24:39.66\00:24:41.46
did not believe this
world was gonna last.
00:24:41.49\00:24:43.98
And I know that one
other things our church
00:24:44.01\00:24:46.58
is founded on is the
nearness of Christ coming,
00:24:46.61\00:24:49.07
so it's important,
00:24:49.10\00:24:50.48
but when I look in the scripture
00:24:50.51\00:24:52.00
I see where the Bible stress
the certainty of His return.
00:24:52.03\00:24:55.79
Yes.
00:24:55.82\00:24:56.88
Not so much the nearness of it
00:24:56.91\00:24:58.48
because He says
beloved a thousand days as is--
00:24:58.51\00:25:00.84
thousand years as one
day, one day is thousand years,
00:25:00.87\00:25:03.52
time is not an issue to
God, it's an issue to us.
00:25:03.55\00:25:07.23
But we got
caught up in that issue
00:25:07.26\00:25:08.68
of how soon
Christ was gonna return,
00:25:08.71\00:25:10.63
so therefore
being to trained to live
00:25:10.66\00:25:12.16
in this world was not the focus.
00:25:12.19\00:25:14.42
The focus was being
trained to ready for the--
00:25:14.45\00:25:16.93
the focus was two things,
00:25:16.96\00:25:18.75
being trained to get
through the time of trouble,
00:25:18.78\00:25:20.93
hence we lived as if were
in the time of trouble now
00:25:20.96\00:25:24.50
and being ready for-- you know,
00:25:24.53\00:25:28.49
being ready to
go to heaven and--
00:25:28.52\00:25:31.65
you know, everyone knows
how many times people say
00:25:31.68\00:25:34.38
you got to get ready
Jesus is coming soon,
00:25:34.41\00:25:36.31
you got to get ready.
00:25:36.34\00:25:37.38
And then you ask them
what is it mean to get ready?
00:25:37.41\00:25:39.42
And they often loop right back
in to the you got to get ready,
00:25:39.45\00:25:42.41
without really
explaining what that means
00:25:42.44\00:25:44.45
and I think for us getting ready
00:25:44.48\00:25:45.83
was really focused on
getting to the time of trouble.
00:25:45.86\00:25:48.46
And knowing your Bible. Yeah.
00:25:48.49\00:25:50.24
So our curriculum could
be divided into two things,
00:25:50.27\00:25:54.04
Bible and survival.
00:25:54.07\00:25:55.99
Now we did have
academics to some degree,
00:25:56.02\00:25:58.18
but we were not being
prepared to stay in this world.
00:25:58.21\00:26:01.17
Now my brothers were
better prepared than me
00:26:01.20\00:26:03.56
because if for
chance life went on.
00:26:03.59\00:26:06.84
Yeah.
00:26:06.87\00:26:07.97
Remember I told you this strong
divide between male and female.
00:26:08.00\00:26:10.43
Oh, yes.
00:26:10.46\00:26:11.52
So my parents said
if time should last,
00:26:11.55\00:26:15.96
these young men needed you know,
00:26:15.99\00:26:17.37
tray they need to
able to have skills,
00:26:17.40\00:26:19.52
they need to be able to
provide for their homes.
00:26:19.55\00:26:21.73
So they were
definitely encouraged to learn
00:26:21.76\00:26:24.57
all kinds of things
about science and trades
00:26:24.60\00:26:28.20
and they could do
auto mechanics work,
00:26:28.23\00:26:30.42
they could brick masons,
00:26:30.45\00:26:33.20
carpentry work they could do
00:26:33.23\00:26:34.67
all kind of
things with their heads.
00:26:34.70\00:26:36.29
They were being
trained like that incase
00:26:36.32\00:26:37.76
they should be have a household.
00:26:37.79\00:26:39.40
I was trained
to sew and to cook,
00:26:39.43\00:26:42.77
and of course clean the house
00:26:42.80\00:26:44.28
and haul the
water, and be obedient.
00:26:44.31\00:26:48.58
Yeah, there is this sort
of 19th century thinking,
00:26:48.61\00:26:53.22
that seems to dominating--
to dominate everything,
00:26:53.25\00:26:55.59
plus a super dependence on
00:26:55.62\00:26:57.77
or certainly reliance
on the Christ is gonna come
00:26:57.80\00:27:00.62
before these kids even get
old enough to get out of here.
00:27:00.65\00:27:03.14
So that-- that
culture is everything.
00:27:03.17\00:27:04.83
What about relationships?
00:27:04.86\00:27:08.44
Because you're say
quested from the world for years
00:27:08.47\00:27:12.49
what was the idea in
their home about male, female,
00:27:12.52\00:27:15.85
boy, girl, that kind of thing?
00:27:15.88\00:27:17.41
Give me some flavor of that.
00:27:17.44\00:27:19.49
When it came to gender
there was a strict division.
00:27:19.52\00:27:23.46
So my father became
very concerned about the time
00:27:23.49\00:27:29.28
I was 10, that I was
not getting the guidance
00:27:29.31\00:27:31.55
that I needed from my mother,
00:27:31.58\00:27:33.30
on how to grow up to be
a proper and modest female.
00:27:33.33\00:27:35.58
So he decided to take over
00:27:35.61\00:27:37.24
my modesty
training lessons himself.
00:27:37.27\00:27:39.84
And the way I
referred to those as an adult
00:27:39.87\00:27:42.44
is they were
humiliation training lessons.
00:27:42.47\00:27:44.48
Wow.
00:27:44.51\00:27:45.55
How to be ashamed of yourself?
00:27:45.58\00:27:47.36
That and the fact that if man
00:27:47.39\00:27:50.45
ever does anything
relationship to you,
00:27:50.48\00:27:52.21
it's 'cause you invited it.
00:27:52.24\00:27:55.00
So if you can imagine
from to 10 to 14 being growth
00:27:55.03\00:27:59.96
in all kinds of
things, how to walk,
00:27:59.99\00:28:01.97
how to stand, how sit,
the way to look at a man,
00:28:02.00\00:28:06.19
the way not to look at a man,
00:28:06.22\00:28:09.07
the way to hold
your chest, every facet.
00:28:09.10\00:28:13.50
If you can imagine that,
that's what I went through,
00:28:13.53\00:28:16.13
and my brothers
weren't subjected
00:28:16.16\00:28:17.61
to anything like that.
00:28:17.64\00:28:19.11
My bro-- I would be
punished if my brothers
00:28:19.14\00:28:21.48
were to put their
hand like on my shoulder.
00:28:21.51\00:28:24.96
So there is no physical contact
between you and your siblings.
00:28:24.99\00:28:26.34
No, and the
thing is if they did,
00:28:26.37\00:28:28.69
playfully I'm telling if they
just playfully putting hand--
00:28:28.72\00:28:30.32
Yeah, it's on you.
It's because I'm invited it.
00:28:30.35\00:28:32.65
My behavior invited undo
intention from the young man.
00:28:32.68\00:28:37.40
That was something that was
00:28:37.43\00:28:39.54
as you can guess quite damaging.
00:28:39.57\00:28:43.40
Of course at 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
00:28:43.43\00:28:46.45
you know,
calculated as being damaging
00:28:46.48\00:28:48.57
you don't know, you're
just experiencing that,
00:28:48.60\00:28:50.78
but it was it had a
major affect on my life.
00:28:50.81\00:28:54.52
Did he mean to scare me?
00:28:54.55\00:28:56.67
No, he didn't intend to,
00:28:56.70\00:28:57.86
he thought he was
doing what was best.
00:28:57.89\00:28:59.76
But what I found
is that religion,
00:28:59.79\00:29:03.63
extreme religion and
abuse if I may use that word
00:29:03.66\00:29:09.38
definitely family dysfunction
it often goes hand in hand,
00:29:09.41\00:29:12.71
and what that does
is it makes it very hard
00:29:12.74\00:29:16.49
later in life to be
able to get God right.
00:29:16.52\00:29:19.14
Yes, yes, yeah.
00:29:19.17\00:29:20.29
An anti-intellectual
bowing at the ultra religion
00:29:20.32\00:29:25.34
can really skew you in a
bad-- put you in a bad place.
00:29:25.37\00:29:28.95
You know, you don't question,
00:29:28.98\00:29:30.37
you just kind of do as
it says and you don't look.
00:29:30.40\00:29:33.00
When you went to
collage I'm moving around,
00:29:33.03\00:29:34.98
how you were relate,
00:29:35.01\00:29:36.40
how was your
relationship with guys?
00:29:36.43\00:29:38.49
You just-- you just jump
00:29:38.52\00:29:40.18
from when I was about 9, 10 to--
00:29:40.21\00:29:41.68
Yeah, do it.
00:29:41.71\00:29:43.49
I like that.
00:29:43.52\00:29:44.55
We might get through this.
00:29:44.58\00:29:45.70
Because I can see
through out it in other words--
00:29:45.73\00:29:46.95
Now we gonna from
one hour to two hours
00:29:46.98\00:29:48.55
that is three
hours, so this is good.
00:29:48.58\00:29:50.67
So when I
finally did go to collage
00:29:50.70\00:29:52.56
that I'm sure viewers
want to how in the world
00:29:52.59\00:29:54.14
that ever got of
there and that's,
00:29:54.17\00:29:55.61
that's a whole-- I
can say read my book.
00:29:55.64\00:29:58.68
But when I went to
collage I was afraid to date.
00:29:58.71\00:30:04.26
I-- its like everything was--
00:30:04.29\00:30:09.35
there is such a fear
becoming morally impure
00:30:09.38\00:30:12.33
of doing anything wrong
00:30:12.36\00:30:13.95
because impurity
could be in so many says--
00:30:13.98\00:30:16.58
it's like is always jumping
out to get you, you know.
00:30:16.61\00:30:19.06
And just by the
fact that I was a female,
00:30:19.09\00:30:21.79
that by itself
already made me bad,
00:30:21.82\00:30:24.35
from the way because the
labeling actually started
00:30:24.38\00:30:26.86
when I was little
being called Jezebel,
00:30:26.89\00:30:29.16
empire first wife and--
00:30:29.19\00:30:30.72
Things like this and
I talk about all of that
00:30:30.75\00:30:32.56
because like I say religion
00:30:32.59\00:30:34.42
and these kind of
dysfunctional things
00:30:34.45\00:30:36.09
often come very closely together
00:30:36.12\00:30:38.03
and they have a major
effect on young people.
00:30:38.06\00:30:39.78
So I wrote my book to
share my story with others
00:30:39.81\00:30:42.35
who might be struggling.
00:30:42.38\00:30:43.75
But I was afraid to date.
00:30:43.78\00:30:46.34
And when I finally did
my first real boyfriend
00:30:46.37\00:30:48.93
ended up be coming my husband
00:30:48.96\00:30:51.12
and I married him one day
to the day from my first date--
00:30:51.15\00:30:54.06
our first date and one
of the reasons why is--
00:30:54.09\00:30:57.15
or the main reason why--
00:30:57.18\00:30:58.22
One year to the day.
00:30:58.25\00:30:59.33
One year to the
day, from our first date.
00:30:59.36\00:31:00.81
Okay.
00:31:00.84\00:31:01.91
I wanted to do things right.
00:31:01.94\00:31:03.18
I mean, originally I
really just wanted a boyfriend,
00:31:03.21\00:31:05.46
but I was-- I didn't know
how to handle certain things.
00:31:05.49\00:31:09.42
You know, I
didn't know how to handle
00:31:09.45\00:31:11.59
male, female relations
in a extended relationship
00:31:11.62\00:31:15.35
and while I was in school
00:31:15.38\00:31:17.11
I was finishing up
my final year at Oakwood
00:31:17.14\00:31:19.26
and I was really with my mother
so I felt safe in that context,
00:31:19.29\00:31:22.45
but I knew once I
graduated at the time
00:31:22.48\00:31:24.87
they been offered
to $20,000 scholarship
00:31:24.90\00:31:27.89
to Ohio State University,
00:31:27.92\00:31:29.60
and I felt like if I accepted it
00:31:29.63\00:31:31.28
moved away to go there,
00:31:31.31\00:31:33.03
then may be I
couldn't keep it all together,
00:31:33.06\00:31:34.86
may be I couldn't
handle it all right.
00:31:34.89\00:31:36.45
So I decided the best
thing to do was to just--
00:31:36.48\00:31:39.50
and my father basically told
me that I needed to go ahead
00:31:39.53\00:31:43.82
and not keep him waiting
to just go ahead move forward
00:31:43.85\00:31:48.50
with this thing and he told me
00:31:48.53\00:31:49.81
I could come either for
your graduation or your wedding
00:31:49.84\00:31:52.47
unless you
happen to combine them.
00:31:52.50\00:31:54.00
So it's like oh,
okay, I guessed it,
00:31:54.03\00:31:56.24
that's what he suggesting,
00:31:56.27\00:31:57.44
I could do, I
guess all combine it.
00:31:57.47\00:31:59.57
So that's what I did,
00:31:59.60\00:32:00.96
and I got married
the day I graduated,
00:32:00.99\00:32:03.22
and-- so it's a day--
00:32:03.25\00:32:06.14
guy I have been
dating for one year.
00:32:06.17\00:32:07.51
And it was my first
real dating experience.
00:32:07.54\00:32:10.64
I've got to ask you this
00:32:10.67\00:32:12.65
'cause I know that many
people develop their idea
00:32:12.68\00:32:19.47
of who and what God is,
00:32:19.50\00:32:22.29
through their
significant male adult
00:32:22.32\00:32:26.97
who would be a
father, grandfather,
00:32:27.00\00:32:29.00
you know, the person that's
in there kind of in their face.
00:32:29.03\00:32:32.96
What was your idea
of who and what God was,
00:32:32.99\00:32:37.28
at this point in your life,
00:32:37.31\00:32:39.03
given the fact of the picture
we're getting of your dad,
00:32:39.06\00:32:43.23
how did you work your way
through to a relation with God?
00:32:43.26\00:32:48.12
Well-- And that's a lot I know.
00:32:48.15\00:32:49.78
That's multiple questions.
00:32:49.81\00:32:54.57
So I accepted Christ for myself.
00:32:54.60\00:32:59.68
I committed my life to Him.
00:32:59.71\00:33:01.53
At 14 I had
felt the call of God,
00:33:01.56\00:33:04.90
from the time I was
young, five and six years old
00:33:04.93\00:33:08.60
and I found it surrounded
my life to His control,
00:33:08.63\00:33:12.15
but my default image
of God was and still is--
00:33:12.18\00:33:16.79
I have to
continuously battle against it,
00:33:16.82\00:33:19.18
of one who is prone to condemn,
00:33:19.21\00:33:24.06
God is master, God is guard
the authority not as a friend.
00:33:24.09\00:33:30.81
So Master, God, Lord
those terms makes sense.
00:33:30.84\00:33:34.79
Companion, friend, you know,
00:33:34.82\00:33:38.18
someone who is cheering me on,
00:33:38.21\00:33:41.00
I have to remember even
to this day and you know,
00:33:41.03\00:33:45.00
I'm glad to be able to say
this because a lot of times
00:33:45.03\00:33:47.16
we hear testimonies from people
00:33:47.19\00:33:48.66
who have gone through
things and they've overcome,
00:33:48.69\00:33:51.18
they painted a picture of
everything being in the past,
00:33:51.21\00:33:54.03
and I want you know that
this is an on going testimony,
00:33:54.06\00:33:57.41
this on going overcoming,
00:33:57.44\00:33:59.40
and it probably always
will be, your past very often.
00:33:59.43\00:34:03.09
What find is that
you've been raised
00:34:03.12\00:34:05.69
with a very
strong dominant religion
00:34:05.72\00:34:08.90
that was unbalanced and skewed,
00:34:08.93\00:34:11.52
you may always
struggle with that mentality,
00:34:11.55\00:34:14.00
you may always
struggle with the challenges
00:34:14.03\00:34:16.91
that grow from that
'cause there something about it
00:34:16.94\00:34:20.20
that said to self
is forever being right.
00:34:20.23\00:34:22.06
Yes.
00:34:22.09\00:34:23.12
And at times I
could be locked back
00:34:23.15\00:34:25.71
in that old
mentality just like that.
00:34:25.74\00:34:28.36
It's almost like a
bonnet can come back on my head.
00:34:28.39\00:34:30.67
Yeah.
00:34:30.70\00:34:33.35
And I have to
fight it off. Yeah.
00:34:33.38\00:34:35.39
Because when you're
trained up in something
00:34:35.42\00:34:37.76
from a little
child the Bible says,
00:34:37.79\00:34:40.18
train them up and basically
they will stay that way,
00:34:40.21\00:34:42.59
and if that's good
great but if it is--
00:34:42.62\00:34:45.46
if it is extreme
which is a interesting mix
00:34:45.49\00:34:49.80
because you
can't call it all bad
00:34:49.83\00:34:51.42
but you can't call it good.
00:34:51.45\00:34:53.51
So I like to get-- I'm sorry,
00:34:53.54\00:34:54.81
I'm diverging ahead, but
I like to give the analogy.
00:34:54.84\00:34:57.01
If somebody brought
you a platter of food,
00:34:57.04\00:34:59.02
just gourmet, you know
everything is vegetables,
00:34:59.05\00:35:02.29
the vegetarian meal,
cooked to perfection,
00:35:02.32\00:35:04.48
garnished and so forth
00:35:04.51\00:35:05.90
but just before
they handed it to you,
00:35:05.93\00:35:07.45
they sprinkled feces on it.
00:35:07.48\00:35:10.32
That's what
extremism is like in religion.
00:35:10.35\00:35:12.38
Understood, I
understand clearly.
00:35:12.41\00:35:14.27
I've got to ask you this
00:35:14.30\00:35:15.33
because you were
raised with this--
00:35:15.36\00:35:18.19
okay, negativity as
far as your relationships
00:35:18.22\00:35:21.09
with God is a concerned,
00:35:21.12\00:35:22.71
a sort of negative mindset
00:35:22.74\00:35:24.80
as far as
education is concerned.
00:35:24.83\00:35:27.61
Yes.
00:35:27.64\00:35:28.70
As you are moving
through your bachelors,
00:35:28.73\00:35:31.25
masters, PhD did where you--
00:35:31.28\00:35:34.04
where you fighting that
negativity to try to do--
00:35:34.07\00:35:36.41
I mean getting those
degrees is tough enough,
00:35:36.44\00:35:39.48
but when you are fighting
against a training mindset,
00:35:39.51\00:35:43.92
did it make it doubly
tough to try to keep on going,
00:35:43.95\00:35:46.40
giving what you came from?
00:35:46.43\00:35:48.74
Yes, I mean the
Lord had to do a lot
00:35:48.77\00:35:50.81
first of all to
convince me to go.
00:35:50.84\00:35:52.36
Yes, yes. Because I believed--
00:35:52.39\00:35:54.28
especially collage
I have been thought
00:35:54.31\00:35:56.02
that higher education was--
00:35:56.05\00:35:57.48
was wrong as
perusing worldly degrees,
00:35:57.51\00:36:00.21
going against the will of God.
00:36:00.24\00:36:02.07
So I was amazed
when I began to realize
00:36:02.10\00:36:05.45
God was leading me to
go to Oakwood Collage,
00:36:05.48\00:36:09.11
and it took a lot
convincing and I had--
00:36:09.14\00:36:11.87
I mean, I had
miraculous answers to prayer,
00:36:11.90\00:36:14.16
one after the other,
00:36:14.19\00:36:15.25
after the other till
I finally came to prayer
00:36:15.28\00:36:17.25
where I was fully convinced
that it would be sinful of me
00:36:17.28\00:36:20.05
to continue to believe the God
wasn't leading me to go there.
00:36:20.08\00:36:22.03
All right, Amen, now
I've got to ask you quickly.
00:36:22.06\00:36:24.23
Did you go with
the encouragement
00:36:24.26\00:36:25.65
of your parents or
against their wishes?
00:36:25.68\00:36:28.89
That was one of the
things I prayed for.
00:36:28.92\00:36:30.63
I actually asked the Lord
00:36:30.66\00:36:31.69
that my parents
would not be opposed,
00:36:31.72\00:36:33.90
and both of them were
supportive surprisingly
00:36:33.93\00:36:38.48
even though they had taught me.
00:36:38.51\00:36:39.70
Yes.
00:36:39.73\00:36:41.07
And not just college
you have to understand it.
00:36:41.10\00:36:43.16
Oakwood in my
mentality growing up
00:36:43.19\00:36:45.51
was the-- the seed of evil.
00:36:45.54\00:36:47.98
It was the
devils breeding ground.
00:36:48.01\00:36:50.77
So to go to Oakwood
that was just amazing
00:36:50.80\00:36:53.90
that God would
be leading me there,
00:36:53.93\00:36:55.82
and then for my parents,
both to turn around and say,
00:36:55.85\00:36:57.97
you know what, I think
this is what you should do.
00:36:58.00\00:37:01.54
That was unbelievable. Yeah.
00:37:01.57\00:37:02.97
But I knew-- then I knew
00:37:03.00\00:37:04.78
God was
definitely guiding me there.
00:37:04.81\00:37:06.70
Yeah, you've overcome so much,
00:37:06.73\00:37:08.20
what led you to
communication in particular?
00:37:08.23\00:37:12.24
Because I like to communicate,
00:37:12.27\00:37:13.95
especially says I
couldn't growing up.
00:37:13.98\00:37:16.93
Really it was a love of riding.
00:37:16.96\00:37:18.42
What happened
living out on the hill
00:37:18.45\00:37:20.68
much of the time alone,
00:37:20.71\00:37:22.42
I would express my
thoughts in writing
00:37:22.45\00:37:23.97
so I started
keeping a journal regularly
00:37:24.00\00:37:25.96
from the time I was 13.
00:37:25.99\00:37:27.47
So lot of what I'm
sharing is not just memories
00:37:27.50\00:37:29.84
I have journals and things
00:37:29.87\00:37:32.36
I wrote extensively
about my life at the time.
00:37:32.39\00:37:36.12
So the writing as a
form of self expression,
00:37:36.15\00:37:40.05
and by the time I got
to-- I went to Fountainview,
00:37:40.08\00:37:43.41
it was called
Fountainview Farms back then.
00:37:43.44\00:37:45.60
Now it's Fountainview Academy.
00:37:45.63\00:37:47.54
And that's were a major
change occurred in my thinking
00:37:47.57\00:37:50.21
which was important
for me to move forward.
00:37:50.24\00:37:52.17
And I had a teacher
there he taught me English
00:37:52.20\00:37:54.89
and would have me experiment
with all kinds of writing.
00:37:54.92\00:37:57.97
And I began to realize
that if there was the one thing
00:37:58.00\00:38:00.71
I want to be known
in life as is a writer.
00:38:00.74\00:38:03.17
So ironically I'm this age
00:38:03.20\00:38:04.92
and I'm just finally
writing my first book.
00:38:04.95\00:38:08.15
But that whole
desire to write led me
00:38:08.18\00:38:12.70
to choose English in collage
00:38:12.73\00:38:14.59
and then for my masters program
once again it was English,
00:38:14.62\00:38:17.92
but with a focus on
professional writing
00:38:17.95\00:38:20.06
because I wanted to-- to
live and work as a writer.
00:38:20.09\00:38:22.74
Yeah, yeah.
00:38:22.77\00:38:23.94
And then the Lord led
me to the communication.
00:38:23.97\00:38:26.77
I got my degree, my
PhD at Regent University
00:38:26.80\00:38:30.64
over in Virginia
Beach in Virginia.
00:38:30.67\00:38:32.57
And I didn't
really want to go off
00:38:32.60\00:38:35.15
into all the literature
that comes with English,
00:38:35.18\00:38:37.53
I want to focus more
on the communication.
00:38:37.56\00:38:39.20
Writing, speaking
that was my focus,
00:38:39.23\00:38:41.24
that's how I ended
up with communication.
00:38:41.27\00:38:43.41
Was it traumatic,
dramatic going from the hills
00:38:43.44\00:38:46.77
and I do mean the hills
of Tennessee to Fountainview,
00:38:46.80\00:38:49.80
you left the country,
00:38:49.83\00:38:50.92
year was it
British Colombia there?
00:38:50.95\00:38:52.48
Yes. Where I went to academy.
00:38:52.51\00:38:54.74
Yeah, to Fountainview.
Yeah, that's right.
00:38:54.77\00:38:55.99
That was when I
was 16, going on 17,
00:38:56.02\00:38:58.55
I was still wearing
a bonnet and long dress
00:38:58.58\00:39:00.50
when I ragged on the
campus of Fountainview.
00:39:00.53\00:39:04.59
That's a major change. Yes.
00:39:04.62\00:39:06.83
How did you adjust up there?
00:39:06.86\00:39:08.26
So the Fountainview
made a big difference for me.
00:39:08.29\00:39:10.74
The-- the principal at
the school at the time,
00:39:10.77\00:39:13.61
she understood some of
what I was going through,
00:39:13.64\00:39:16.33
and the mentality,
00:39:16.36\00:39:18.94
and so she ended
up talking with me
00:39:18.97\00:39:21.83
and shared some of her own
struggles with legalism and--
00:39:21.86\00:39:24.81
and she one other
thing she helped me
00:39:24.84\00:39:27.59
to understand was something
00:39:27.62\00:39:28.66
I've never heard of
which of principles,
00:39:28.69\00:39:31.44
I knew about laws and rules
00:39:31.47\00:39:32.85
I didn't know
anything about principles.
00:39:32.88\00:39:34.03
Yes, yes.
00:39:34.06\00:39:35.09
And she taught me that the Bible
00:39:35.12\00:39:36.15
was filled with principles,
00:39:36.18\00:39:37.21
and it takes
disseverment to understand them.
00:39:37.24\00:39:39.11
Which was important
and there was important
00:39:39.14\00:39:40.95
push against the
anti-intellectualism.
00:39:40.98\00:39:43.65
You know, God
wants us to serve Him
00:39:43.68\00:39:45.02
not only with our-- our heart,
00:39:45.05\00:39:47.85
He wants us to
serve Him with our minds,
00:39:47.88\00:39:50.12
He want us to understand. Yes.
00:39:50.15\00:39:51.71
And we have
requires disseverment
00:39:51.74\00:39:53.23
and so Holy Sprit lead you.
00:39:53.26\00:39:54.56
So she began to
show me principles.
00:39:54.59\00:39:56.27
I like the principle of modesty.
00:39:56.30\00:39:58.57
I did-- she helped me
to understand you know,
00:39:58.60\00:40:00.01
how to wear a
bonnet and long dress
00:40:00.04\00:40:01.37
to be modest,
that's the context.
00:40:01.40\00:40:03.31
In which modesty was
expressed that one time.
00:40:03.34\00:40:05.51
We live in a
different age, different time.
00:40:05.54\00:40:07.05
Was that?
00:40:07.08\00:40:08.12
We can change the
context and yet still be modest.
00:40:08.15\00:40:10.25
Yeah. Amazing.
00:40:10.28\00:40:11.64
Yeah.
00:40:11.67\00:40:12.96
That gave me a platform
00:40:12.99\00:40:14.85
on which to be
interchange conceptually.
00:40:14.88\00:40:17.64
And I began to
understand something
00:40:17.67\00:40:19.52
I already sensed on the hill
00:40:19.55\00:40:21.16
while we still lived
out there in the wilderness,
00:40:21.19\00:40:22.76
that not everything I
been taught was right,
00:40:22.79\00:40:25.08
but that it gave me a platform
00:40:25.11\00:40:26.59
before
distinguishing between things
00:40:26.62\00:40:28.94
that were
extreme and not extreme.
00:40:28.97\00:40:30.79
Yes, yes.
00:40:30.82\00:40:32.08
And so that helped me.
00:40:32.11\00:40:33.47
Then when I went to Oakwood,
was Oakwood University now,
00:40:33.50\00:40:37.71
I discovered an
academic ability,
00:40:37.74\00:40:41.79
and that prepared me to
move forward-- professional.
00:40:41.82\00:40:44.29
Yeah, yeah.
00:40:44.32\00:40:45.35
It occurs to me that you had
no way to even use these terms
00:40:45.38\00:40:49.39
that can think of anything
else to rate or rank yourself.
00:40:49.42\00:40:51.82
No.
00:40:51.85\00:40:52.88
To assist you an abilities
00:40:52.91\00:40:54.03
because there was
no context for that.
00:40:54.06\00:40:55.69
This like they
says do that do that,
00:40:55.72\00:40:57.36
don't think about it,
don't question it just do it.
00:40:57.39\00:40:59.47
So and your--
you are so isolated.
00:40:59.50\00:41:02.01
When did it a God who says
come let us reason together?
00:41:02.04\00:41:06.06
Yes. When did that occur to you?
00:41:06.09\00:41:08.55
Well, He was
reasoning with me on the hill,
00:41:08.58\00:41:10.68
after I--
especially after I excepted Him
00:41:10.71\00:41:12.63
as my own personal Savior.
00:41:12.66\00:41:13.82
That's where I began
to distinguish between
00:41:13.85\00:41:16.17
religion and God
on some-- some levels.
00:41:16.20\00:41:18.91
I recognize that you
know, what I sensed in there
00:41:18.94\00:41:22.57
when I would go on my
early morning walks with God,
00:41:22.60\00:41:24.81
and He talk to
me through nature.
00:41:24.84\00:41:26.42
And what I would
read in the Bible
00:41:26.45\00:41:27.95
and something's in
the Spirit of Prophecy
00:41:27.98\00:41:30.08
were different from
what I was been taught.
00:41:30.11\00:41:32.28
I couldn't exactly
understand but I felt different,
00:41:32.31\00:41:34.62
there was a
different spirit to it.
00:41:34.65\00:41:36.44
And so that
disseverment began there,
00:41:36.47\00:41:41.87
but over time I
think one of the things
00:41:41.90\00:41:44.37
really with reasoning part
00:41:44.40\00:41:46.52
Regent began to
really help me with that.
00:41:46.55\00:41:48.82
Because I had to go in almost--
00:41:48.85\00:41:52.30
I had to began to study
from a out side stand point,
00:41:52.33\00:41:55.17
Adventism and all
of these kind of things
00:41:55.20\00:41:57.16
that I had to begin to
see from another view point
00:41:57.19\00:42:00.20
the things that I had
always taking for granted.
00:42:00.23\00:42:01.98
Yeah, you kind of step
back and look into yourself
00:42:02.01\00:42:03.53
which is tough thing to do?
00:42:03.56\00:42:04.80
Yes, right, it was very tough.
00:42:04.83\00:42:06.44
I'm glad-- I
appreciate you saying that.
00:42:06.47\00:42:07.83
Yeah.
00:42:07.86\00:42:08.89
It was a very tough
because part of you,
00:42:08.92\00:42:12.52
there is always this training
to stay away from world.
00:42:12.55\00:42:14.46
stay away from anything
that will lead you from God,
00:42:14.49\00:42:17.17
and to deliberately
open my mind to understand,
00:42:17.20\00:42:20.34
explore things that are contrary
00:42:20.37\00:42:22.42
to what I've been taught was
the most difficult thing to do,
00:42:22.45\00:42:26.07
but what I found is that
if you are willing to do that
00:42:26.10\00:42:29.17
and follow God,
00:42:29.20\00:42:30.27
He will strengthen the
platform until there is truth.
00:42:30.30\00:42:32.52
Yes, yeah.
00:42:32.55\00:42:33.61
It's not gonna
lead you away from Him.
00:42:33.64\00:42:36.09
It's going to lead you into
closer relationship with Him.
00:42:36.12\00:42:39.12
Yeah, yeah.
00:42:39.15\00:42:40.37
A couple of things that
we got to get to Andrew's.
00:42:40.40\00:42:42.04
One, let me say this to you,
00:42:42.07\00:42:43.86
without trying to
sound like your father
00:42:43.89\00:42:45.97
or paternalistic or avuncular.
00:42:46.00\00:42:47.63
I'm so proud of you.
You make such a nice father.
00:42:47.66\00:42:53.41
To overcome that and to be,
00:42:53.44\00:42:55.07
where you are-- now you're
giving back to the community,
00:42:55.10\00:42:57.31
your training, your teaching.
00:42:57.34\00:42:58.38
Yes, yes.
00:42:58.41\00:42:59.44
You are an educator. Yes.
00:42:59.47\00:43:01.29
As supposed to one who
hates or shrews education.
00:43:01.32\00:43:03.72
So I'm very proud of you that.
00:43:03.75\00:43:05.49
Two things, are
your parents still alive?
00:43:05.52\00:43:07.95
So, my father died
a year an half ago.
00:43:07.98\00:43:10.24
Let me excuse me
two and half years ago.
00:43:10.27\00:43:12.41
My mother is
still very much alive.
00:43:12.44\00:43:14.20
You relation
towards your mom is?
00:43:14.23\00:43:15.72
It's good, she
lives with us actually.
00:43:15.75\00:43:17.40
She moved in this
past May. All right.
00:43:17.43\00:43:19.27
And she will be
watching this show,
00:43:19.30\00:43:20.68
and so probably be
wearing a blue bonnet
00:43:20.71\00:43:22.89
when she watches it.
00:43:22.92\00:43:23.95
Okay, so that you're not
up on the mountain anymore.
00:43:23.98\00:43:26.14
No one is a part
in a mountain anymore.
00:43:26.17\00:43:27.56
How is your
relationship with your brothers?
00:43:27.59\00:43:29.07
I have a good relationship
with both of my brothers,
00:43:29.10\00:43:31.78
one-- they both
live in the Huston area.
00:43:31.81\00:43:34.08
And I learned so
much from each of them.
00:43:34.11\00:43:36.66
So we are in
contact-- regular communication,
00:43:36.69\00:43:39.58
I love my brothers.
00:43:39.61\00:43:40.64
Was your relationship
with your dad in his later days
00:43:40.67\00:43:43.55
was it settled or was it--
00:43:43.58\00:43:46.06
you know, I'm gonna
use the term settled
00:43:46.09\00:43:47.69
because that compare
us, cover us a lot of stuff.
00:43:47.72\00:43:50.18
Yeah, yeah.
00:43:50.21\00:43:51.77
My father-- he came
to love the daughter
00:43:51.80\00:43:55.58
that he didn't want.
00:43:55.61\00:43:57.08
And I think there
was always a lot of--
00:43:57.11\00:43:59.03
for long time there
was a guilt associated
00:43:59.06\00:44:01.19
with things related to me,
00:44:01.22\00:44:02.97
when I was young
and some of the mistakes
00:44:03.00\00:44:05.11
he made in relationship to me.
00:44:05.14\00:44:06.82
I know there was a lot of guilt,
00:44:06.85\00:44:08.03
but I was able to forgive him
00:44:08.06\00:44:10.29
and one of the things
that I was blessed to do
00:44:10.32\00:44:13.19
was be able to
take care of my father
00:44:13.22\00:44:14.94
in the last two
years of his life.
00:44:14.97\00:44:17.28
And-- and they came a point
00:44:17.31\00:44:20.31
where he one day
confessed to me some--
00:44:20.34\00:44:22.84
some of the demons
that had troubled him
00:44:22.87\00:44:24.79
that affected my relation--
00:44:24.82\00:44:25.98
his relationship
with me when I was a--
00:44:26.01\00:44:27.95
from the time I
was a little girl,
00:44:27.98\00:44:29.44
and you know, he was crying
00:44:29.47\00:44:31.09
and he begged me to forgive him
00:44:31.12\00:44:32.31
and it wasn't hard to do.
00:44:32.34\00:44:35.42
Because I guess I have
sought through his eyes
00:44:35.45\00:44:38.82
and I realize, he
didn't mean to be wrong.
00:44:38.85\00:44:41.74
He just was troubled. Yeah.
00:44:41.77\00:44:43.99
And often that's where
some of this unbalanced
00:44:44.02\00:44:47.74
just comes from this,
00:44:47.77\00:44:48.80
because we don't deal
with the things in our lives.
00:44:48.83\00:44:51.65
We try to cover them up and--
00:44:51.68\00:44:53.01
and supplant them with religion.
00:44:53.04\00:44:54.97
And God never
intended for religion
00:44:55.00\00:44:56.78
or even for God to
be a fix for things
00:44:56.81\00:44:59.82
that we don't to deal with.
00:44:59.85\00:45:01.11
Which is why I
chose the word settled
00:45:01.14\00:45:02.77
because some of the stuff
00:45:02.80\00:45:03.84
will not be totally
redressed until heaven.
00:45:03.87\00:45:06.35
But if he can get peace
00:45:06.38\00:45:08.12
and get
understanding then your--
00:45:08.15\00:45:09.54
you are on the way home.
00:45:09.57\00:45:10.60
I have peace,
I-- there are things
00:45:10.63\00:45:12.60
that I never
experienced with my father,
00:45:12.63\00:45:14.95
I wanted to one day know
00:45:14.98\00:45:16.80
what it feels likes to be
a daughter and to have that--
00:45:16.83\00:45:20.35
you know, that sense
of my father loving me.
00:45:20.38\00:45:23.96
And I know he did love
me, but to the day he died,
00:45:23.99\00:45:26.86
it did remain a fact.
00:45:26.89\00:45:29.28
So I mentally know he loves me.
00:45:29.31\00:45:31.97
I didn't get to feel it,
but I did get to feel the love,
00:45:32.00\00:45:35.75
the emotional love toward him.
00:45:35.78\00:45:38.02
That happened
after he felt sick.
00:45:38.05\00:45:39.29
Yeah.
00:45:39.32\00:45:40.36
And then I found
the gates of my heart
00:45:40.39\00:45:42.38
opened to where I emotionally
was loving my father,
00:45:42.41\00:45:45.43
and I asked Lord
to spare his life
00:45:45.46\00:45:47.21
so I could show
that I loved him.
00:45:47.24\00:45:49.33
And so I had two
years to do that.
00:45:49.36\00:45:51.18
Praise God. I'm
very thankful for that.
00:45:51.21\00:45:52.32
Praise God.
00:45:52.35\00:45:53.51
Praise God, now we got to jump
00:45:53.54\00:45:55.69
before our time
gets out from us.
00:45:55.72\00:45:56.88
Andrew's University,
00:45:56.91\00:45:58.35
you're the
chairman of the department
00:45:58.38\00:45:59.98
of communication at
Andrew's University.
00:46:00.01\00:46:02.61
Talk to me just a little
bit about the goals the--
00:46:02.64\00:46:06.44
as chair of the
department you are responsible
00:46:06.47\00:46:08.55
for setting the
trajectory of the department.
00:46:08.58\00:46:12.06
What are you
trying to accomplish?
00:46:12.09\00:46:13.49
What kinds of product,
00:46:13.52\00:46:15.17
student wise are
you trying to produce?
00:46:15.20\00:46:17.21
Okay, I'm so glad you
asked me the question.
00:46:17.24\00:46:19.13
I've been waiting to get
to this part of the program.
00:46:19.16\00:46:22.60
So I'm so
excited the irony of God.
00:46:22.63\00:46:26.11
You have got this lady
whose raise in a bonnet
00:46:26.14\00:46:28.80
and long dress isolated
from media and everything else,
00:46:28.83\00:46:31.86
and now I'm directing a
communication department
00:46:31.89\00:46:34.41
that has a graduate
program on top of it.
00:46:34.44\00:46:36.55
Praise God.
00:46:36.58\00:46:37.93
And what I know this is a quota
00:46:37.96\00:46:40.93
that I love it's in
the Book of Education,
00:46:40.96\00:46:42.97
page 262 and 263,
00:46:43.00\00:46:45.41
where the--
Ellen White talks about
00:46:45.44\00:46:47.90
how the whole world
is open to the gospel.
00:46:47.93\00:46:50.48
And how that
millions up on millions
00:46:50.51\00:46:53.36
have never so much has
heard of the love of God
00:46:53.39\00:46:56.51
that is in Christ Jesus.
00:46:56.54\00:46:57.57
And it is their
right along with us
00:46:57.60\00:46:59.57
to receive this love
to have this knowledge.
00:46:59.60\00:47:02.08
And what I realize is that
media can accomplish things
00:47:02.11\00:47:05.41
in reaching people
that no direct contact
00:47:05.44\00:47:07.93
between human beings can
accomplish in certain context.
00:47:07.96\00:47:12.59
You can reach millions of people
00:47:12.62\00:47:14.21
at a time through media,
00:47:14.24\00:47:15.73
when you can't reach
millions of people at a time
00:47:15.76\00:47:17.89
through physical contact.
00:47:17.92\00:47:18.95
Very true.
00:47:18.98\00:47:20.05
So I'm so, I feel the
calling of God in my life
00:47:20.08\00:47:23.43
to take exactly
what I was banned from
00:47:23.46\00:47:25.82
and to help to
shape young people
00:47:25.85\00:47:29.71
who can go and
shape the programming
00:47:29.74\00:47:32.04
that is coming out,
00:47:32.07\00:47:33.13
especially if I may say
on our Adventist networks.
00:47:33.16\00:47:36.81
So that the
programming can began to really
00:47:36.84\00:47:39.52
not that isn't already reaching,
00:47:39.55\00:47:41.47
but that it can target a segment
00:47:41.50\00:47:44.46
that I'm not
sure is targeted yet,
00:47:44.49\00:47:47.55
and that is young people.
00:47:47.58\00:47:49.19
Because we've got young people--
00:47:49.22\00:47:51.23
Adventist and
non-Adventist young people
00:47:51.26\00:47:53.65
who need to be
watching uplifting programming,
00:47:53.68\00:47:56.48
and I look
forward to the opportunity
00:47:56.51\00:47:58.86
and were we already
beginning to do something's
00:47:58.89\00:48:01.37
that will make it possible
to train Adventist students,
00:48:01.40\00:48:06.34
especially our
graduate students to develop--
00:48:06.37\00:48:09.28
to change
ultimately change the face
00:48:09.31\00:48:10.88
of Adventist
media and programming
00:48:10.91\00:48:12.64
so that it will
reach young viewers,
00:48:12.67\00:48:16.50
who are currently not watching.
00:48:16.53\00:48:17.85
Okay, I'm gonna walk you back
00:48:17.88\00:48:19.03
through the same
answer you just gave me.
00:48:19.06\00:48:20.76
Okay. By asking you this way.
00:48:20.79\00:48:22.02
Was that too bold? No, no.
00:48:22.05\00:48:24.12
This was right on,
00:48:24.15\00:48:25.28
which is all we're
going to do it again.
00:48:25.31\00:48:26.82
Okay.
00:48:26.85\00:48:27.88
Here is the mission of
the church as I see it.
00:48:27.91\00:48:30.44
Here is what we are
doing to address, redress,
00:48:30.47\00:48:32.99
help the mission of the church.
00:48:33.02\00:48:34.06
Yes. Oh, can you--
00:48:34.09\00:48:36.02
Answer that.
00:48:36.05\00:48:37.08
Oh, say it again now. Okay.
00:48:37.11\00:48:38.14
Here is the mission of
the church as I see it.
00:48:38.17\00:48:40.29
This is where the church
needs to go, we are going.
00:48:40.32\00:48:42.69
Here is what we are
doing to help fulfill
00:48:42.72\00:48:45.15
or meet the
needs of that mission
00:48:45.18\00:48:46.65
because here how we serve
the mission of the church.
00:48:46.68\00:48:49.02
At Andrew's University? Correct.
00:48:49.05\00:48:50.36
Okay. In my department.
00:48:50.39\00:48:51.88
So in my department,
00:48:51.91\00:48:54.66
one of the things you
have to realize is that--
00:48:54.69\00:48:57.36
at Andrew's we
have the seminary,
00:48:57.39\00:48:59.93
and so you already
have a seat of people
00:48:59.96\00:49:03.22
being trained to minister
00:49:03.25\00:49:05.31
and with the
communication department
00:49:05.34\00:49:07.58
there in the same
proximity with the seminary,
00:49:07.61\00:49:10.15
there this wonderful opportunity
00:49:10.18\00:49:12.46
for sharing and cross breeding
00:49:12.49\00:49:14.64
so that
seminarians can become strong
00:49:14.67\00:49:17.75
in sharing the
gospel through media
00:49:17.78\00:49:19.24
because that's the
way churches are going.
00:49:19.27\00:49:21.49
If you look at
churches that are growing now.
00:49:21.52\00:49:23.43
It's those that are
strong in the media context.
00:49:23.46\00:49:25.95
And there are
going beyond their walls.
00:49:25.98\00:49:28.30
They are reaching
people all over the world.
00:49:28.33\00:49:30.15
That needs to happen at--
at a individual church level
00:49:30.18\00:49:32.72
and they need to be carrying
the mission of this church,
00:49:32.75\00:49:36.02
which is the
gospel of Jesus Christ,
00:49:36.05\00:49:38.48
and the special
truce that He is given us,
00:49:38.51\00:49:40.26
which include the
Sabbath, and health,
00:49:40.29\00:49:41.73
and so many wonderful
things that make our lives
00:49:41.76\00:49:44.00
better on day to day basis.
00:49:44.03\00:49:45.95
So between that and then
00:49:45.98\00:49:47.28
we have our
communication students
00:49:47.31\00:49:48.80
who are also very much spiritual
00:49:48.83\00:49:52.48
and drawn to share the
message of Jesus Christ,
00:49:52.51\00:49:55.55
that relationship
there is an awesome one.
00:49:55.58\00:49:57.91
So what we are
doing-- and I-- I am not sure
00:49:57.94\00:50:00.13
if I'm answering your question,
00:50:00.16\00:50:01.42
so just re-ask
it if I'm not, okay.
00:50:01.45\00:50:03.81
So you have a three time around.
00:50:03.84\00:50:06.29
But one of the things
00:50:06.32\00:50:08.04
we've done a revamp
on our graduate program
00:50:08.07\00:50:11.47
just to
strengthen it, streamline it.
00:50:11.50\00:50:13.69
Now a student could do
it in about three semesters,
00:50:13.72\00:50:16.68
if they come in and know
00:50:16.71\00:50:17.91
what they want to do
from start to finish.
00:50:17.94\00:50:20.66
We have-- I'm
actually working on a proposal,
00:50:20.69\00:50:24.09
I guess its kind of
daring of me to say,
00:50:24.12\00:50:27.85
so because I
don't know if it will--
00:50:27.88\00:50:29.06
it will go through or out,
00:50:29.09\00:50:30.36
but I'm working on a proposal
00:50:30.39\00:50:31.47
to lower the
tuition for two years
00:50:31.50\00:50:33.93
so that we can really get
more people in to our program
00:50:33.96\00:50:37.44
and to have a chance to see
00:50:37.47\00:50:38.68
what it's all about and
then we can visit from there
00:50:38.71\00:50:40.27
what to do going forward.
00:50:40.30\00:50:41.63
So hopefully that works.
00:50:41.66\00:50:43.21
That's a prayer
request right there.
00:50:43.24\00:50:44.38
Yes.
00:50:44.41\00:50:45.59
And we have also teamed up
00:50:45.62\00:50:47.43
with the
seminary and we have our--
00:50:47.46\00:50:49.42
is going through the
approval process right now,
00:50:49.45\00:50:51.16
looks like it will be successful
00:50:51.19\00:50:52.76
to offered a dual degree,
with an MA in communication,
00:50:52.79\00:50:58.35
Mdiv the Masters of Divinity.
00:50:58.38\00:51:01.06
It's a dual degree and
they can actually do it,
00:51:01.09\00:51:04.54
if they are in the
track one of the program,
00:51:04.57\00:51:06.54
one credit more, and
they have a dual degree,
00:51:06.57\00:51:09.28
if they are in the track two
00:51:09.31\00:51:10.35
which means that
they didn't start out
00:51:10.38\00:51:11.95
with a degree in theology.
00:51:11.98\00:51:14.85
At the undergraduate
level that's track two
00:51:14.88\00:51:16.82
then they can do
10 extra credit--
00:51:16.85\00:51:18.55
11 extra credits.
00:51:18.58\00:51:19.62
That's not a lot, it's
not a ton of extra work.
00:51:19.65\00:51:21.59
No, it's not, a dual
degree in communication
00:51:21.62\00:51:24.61
and Master of Divinity,
00:51:24.64\00:51:27.74
and with a focus
on media ministry.
00:51:27.77\00:51:30.58
That's one of
the concentrations.
00:51:30.61\00:51:32.18
Now did I answer your question?
00:51:32.21\00:51:33.27
Indeed you did.
00:51:33.30\00:51:34.33
Or did I shoot
off, like an off shoot.
00:51:34.36\00:51:35.76
No, no you did. You did.
00:51:35.79\00:51:38.67
And I'm moving us along
00:51:38.70\00:51:39.83
because I don't want
our time to get away.
00:51:39.86\00:51:41.45
The proximity to the seminary,
I think is a God inspired one.
00:51:41.48\00:51:44.95
Yes.
00:51:44.98\00:51:46.03
And since media is so
important to ministry now,
00:51:46.06\00:51:48.66
the two are married
for better for worse.
00:51:48.69\00:51:51.20
Yes.
00:51:51.23\00:51:52.26
To give our seminarians,
our teachers, our pastors,
00:51:52.29\00:51:54.48
our church leaders
the tools is a good thing.
00:51:54.51\00:51:57.29
Sure you want to make
contact with this department,
00:51:57.32\00:52:00.20
and we done a little
more selling of the person
00:52:00.23\00:52:03.29
than we did the--
the teaching regime.
00:52:03.32\00:52:06.95
But I felt they
are so interwoven,
00:52:06.98\00:52:08.66
I her story is so important
00:52:08.69\00:52:10.19
so when you go to sit
under the true ledge of Rachel
00:52:10.22\00:52:14.47
and all the other
professors in department
00:52:14.50\00:52:16.51
this is what you gonna get,
00:52:16.54\00:52:17.62
and I'm very
proud to highlight that.
00:52:17.65\00:52:20.79
Should you want to make
contact with Rachel personally
00:52:20.82\00:52:23.41
and get a copy of this
book, really excited about it,
00:52:23.44\00:52:26.93
here is the lower thrust
00:52:26.96\00:52:28.03
you want to put
that information contact
00:52:28.06\00:52:29.66
information of just now
that's rachelwilliamssmith.com.
00:52:29.69\00:52:34.70
And that's for the book? Yes.
00:52:34.73\00:52:36.20
Now we've also talked about
the communication department
00:52:36.23\00:52:39.18
at Andrew's University,
00:52:39.21\00:52:40.75
they are need of help
too, they are growing,
00:52:40.78\00:52:42.65
they are making changes,
00:52:42.68\00:52:43.86
they want to be a
value to our young people.
00:52:43.89\00:52:46.16
Should you want to make contact
00:52:46.19\00:52:47.77
with that
department for information,
00:52:47.80\00:52:49.54
for donations,
here is the information
00:52:49.57\00:52:52.10
that you're gonna need.
00:52:52.13\00:52:54.18
If you would to
support Andrew's University,
00:52:54.21\00:52:56.70
department of communication
00:52:56.73\00:52:58.23
or if you would like see
00:52:58.26\00:52:59.30
what you can do
their communication degree
00:52:59.33\00:53:01.43
then you can visit them online
00:53:01.46\00:53:03.22
at Andrews.edu/communication
development@andrews.edu.
00:53:03.25\00:53:11.12
You can find
testimonies, schedules and more.
00:53:11.15\00:53:14.45
Again the address is,
00:53:14.48\00:53:15.74
Andrews.edu/communication
development@andrews.edu.
00:53:15.77\00:53:23.74
Now that's the information
you need for the department,
00:53:25.74\00:53:27.96
the book of courses in
entitled Born Yesterday.
00:53:27.99\00:53:31.19
And we spent a lot of
time talking about that
00:53:31.22\00:53:32.84
because I thought
that was-- was worth while,
00:53:32.87\00:53:35.30
but you got a video
that you want us to see,
00:53:35.33\00:53:37.26
set that for us you will.
00:53:37.29\00:53:38.49
Well, I just wanted to--
00:53:38.52\00:53:39.59
I actually came here
talk about the media--
00:53:39.62\00:53:41.49
the media program what we were
doing at Andrew's University
00:53:41.52\00:53:44.69
and we have a
whole media center.
00:53:44.72\00:53:46.39
The university has
renovated in everything,
00:53:46.42\00:53:49.06
but it's up to us to equip it.
00:53:49.09\00:53:51.66
And so one of the
things I'm trying to do is--
00:53:51.69\00:53:53.78
is to help people be aware
00:53:53.81\00:53:55.02
that there is a
ministry going on here
00:53:55.05\00:53:56.64
to share the
gospel with the world,
00:53:56.67\00:53:58.27
especially young
people and we need equipment.
00:53:58.30\00:54:00.53
And we actually
have an address for that,
00:54:00.56\00:54:03.26
and the president
of the university--
00:54:03.29\00:54:05.27
of Andrew's
University has given a message
00:54:05.30\00:54:08.74
supporting our
department and saying
00:54:08.77\00:54:11.35
what we trying to
do and the value of it.
00:54:11.38\00:54:13.70
All right, let's
look at that just now.
00:54:13.73\00:54:15.55
I'm Niels-Erik Andreasen,
00:54:21.48\00:54:23.22
president of Andrew's University
00:54:23.25\00:54:25.74
and I'm here to speak with you
00:54:25.77\00:54:27.65
about information
and communication.
00:54:27.68\00:54:31.12
It's been said that we
live an information age,
00:54:31.15\00:54:34.29
and that is true isn't it?
00:54:34.32\00:54:36.95
People around the
world in every country
00:54:36.98\00:54:40.04
are communicating with
each other all the time,
00:54:40.07\00:54:43.52
and we watch it on the
evening and morning news.
00:54:43.55\00:54:46.69
It's also true
about our families
00:54:46.72\00:54:49.41
and it's very
true about our church,
00:54:49.44\00:54:51.52
which is a world church
where people communicate
00:54:51.55\00:54:55.29
across borders around
the world on a daily basis.
00:54:55.32\00:54:59.39
Communication
therefore is an important part
00:54:59.42\00:55:01.89
of the ministry and a message,
00:55:01.92\00:55:04.62
and the work of the church.
00:55:04.65\00:55:06.54
This information
and communication,
00:55:06.57\00:55:08.82
technology and
programs are being taught
00:55:08.85\00:55:12.62
in our
department of communication.
00:55:12.65\00:55:15.10
For example here at
Andrew's University,
00:55:15.13\00:55:17.57
students learn how
to manage information
00:55:17.60\00:55:20.95
and how to
communicate that by speaking,
00:55:20.98\00:55:24.24
writing and using
various forms of technology.
00:55:24.27\00:55:28.40
Through this information,
communication department
00:55:28.43\00:55:32.65
we are able to prepare
people who are un-tune,
00:55:32.68\00:55:35.37
that what's
happening in the world today
00:55:35.40\00:55:37.75
and a special message our church
00:55:37.78\00:55:40.57
wants to give
people around a globe.
00:55:40.60\00:55:44.06
This is a very
important endeavor
00:55:44.09\00:55:46.53
both in our worlds and
especially for our church.
00:55:46.56\00:55:50.40
And so I invite you
to support our programs
00:55:50.43\00:55:53.55
of education in
communication at Andrew's
00:55:53.58\00:55:56.84
and other places as
well with your prayers
00:55:56.87\00:56:00.09
and your financial
support and your interest.
00:56:00.12\00:56:03.73
Give our young
people a shot in the arm
00:56:03.76\00:56:06.77
to make them
better communicators
00:56:06.80\00:56:08.89
of the gospel and of truth.
00:56:08.92\00:56:11.26
Thank you for your
interest in communication,
00:56:11.29\00:56:14.64
information systems
and preparation of workers
00:56:14.67\00:56:18.60
in that field of endeavor.
00:56:18.63\00:56:20.88
Thank you from
Andrew's University.
00:56:20.91\00:56:23.51
And we thank Dr.
Andreasen for his speech.
00:56:29.96\00:56:32.55
Rachel, if you
look into the camera
00:56:32.58\00:56:33.90
and give us your best speech,
00:56:33.93\00:56:35.07
I know your
department needs some help.
00:56:35.10\00:56:36.88
So you're
looking straight ahead,
00:56:36.91\00:56:38.42
right there in front of you
and give us your best speech.
00:56:38.45\00:56:41.93
Thank you so much
for listening today.
00:56:41.96\00:56:43.91
I want to
encourage you to pray about
00:56:43.94\00:56:45.90
our Andrew's University
communication department.
00:56:45.93\00:56:48.59
There are so many things
00:56:48.62\00:56:49.65
that the Lord has
laid on our hearts to do,
00:56:49.68\00:56:51.97
and we have a
wonderful almost 1,000 foot--
00:56:52.00\00:56:55.02
1,000 foot square
space for a studio
00:56:55.05\00:56:58.19
but we need
equipment, we need lighting,
00:56:58.22\00:57:00.72
we need computers,
00:57:00.75\00:57:02.55
we need things
that will allow us
00:57:02.58\00:57:04.64
to train our students
so that they can go forth
00:57:04.67\00:57:08.32
and develop programming
that can engage young people
00:57:08.35\00:57:11.71
so that they can share
the gospel of Jesus Christ
00:57:11.74\00:57:15.86
in a language that young
people of this day understand,
00:57:15.89\00:57:19.50
so that they can
make a difference
00:57:19.53\00:57:21.22
in the lives of people
00:57:21.25\00:57:22.60
who need to know
Jesus Christ for themselves.
00:57:22.63\00:57:25.36
So thank you and I look
forward to your support.
00:57:25.39\00:57:28.80
Well, our time is fast
slipped in to eternity.
00:57:28.83\00:57:31.11
Allow me now in
closing to wish you
00:57:31.14\00:57:32.64
both grace and peace
00:57:32.67\00:57:34.37
through our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ.
00:57:34.40\00:57:35.91
We'll see you again soon.
Bye-bye and God bless you.
00:57:35.94\00:57:38.76