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, I'm Shelley Quinn,
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and we welcome you
again to 3ABN Today.
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You know, I'm very excited about
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the interview
you're about to hear
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and I'm about to
hear with a young man
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that I've just met who is
really an exceptional person
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and he has an exceptional story
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and he comes from a background
that is very interesting,
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but how God led him to
become a college professor,
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to become an administrator,
to become a motivational
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and inspirational
speaker and an author.
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God has just done
amazing things in his life
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and he has some wonderful
things to share with us,
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but just before I introduce him,
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let me read a scripture to you
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that is absolutely on target
for what was going on here
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and it comes from Psalms 37,
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I'm gonna read
verses 5 through part of 7
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and the Bible says
"Commit your way to the Lord,
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trust also in Him, and
He shall bring it to pass."
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Yon know Proverb says
"Commit your plans to the Lord
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and He will
cause them to succeed."
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Verse 6 says,
"He shall bring forth
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your righteousness as the light,
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and your justice as the noonday.
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Rest in the Lord and
wait patiently for Him."
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Now resting and
waiting patiently
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doesn't mean
you're working hard,
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it means that you're waiting
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for the Lord to
open those doors,
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but you're preparing yourself.
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And let me introduce you
now to our very special guest,
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Dennis F. Turner.
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And, Dennis, we're so
grateful that you're here today.
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Well, I'm excited to
be here, very excited.
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Is this your first trip to 3ABN?
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Oh, yes it is.
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Well, we're gonna have to
make certain you get a tour
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and get to see everything
that the Lord is doing here now.
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Awesome.
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Now you're living in
Olive Branch, Mississippi.
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Where is that?
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That is actually about 2 miles
south of Memphis, Tennessee.
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Okay, and, and you
didn't start there though
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and that's the
great part of his story,
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as Dennis began
in Sugar Ditch Alley.
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And as soon as we have a
song we're gonna come back
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and we're gonna
unpack the story.
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And I believe that
God is going to bless you,
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and God is going to inspire you.
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So we're very excited
to hear this testimony,
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but first you like music?
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Oh, I love music.
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And I love the person
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who's going to be
singing to us right now.
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This is, we've got a song,
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Rudi Micelli, has
an incredible voice,
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but he sings as
worship, not as performance.
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And right now what he
is going to sing for us
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is one of my favorites
"Oh, I want to Know You More."
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Just the time I feel
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That I've been caught
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In the mire of self
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Just the time I feel
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My mind's been bought
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By worldly wealth
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That's when the
breeze begins to blow
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I know the Spirit's call
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And all my worldly wanderings
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Just melt into His love
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Oh, I want to know You more
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Deep within my soul
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I want to know You
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Oh, I want to know You
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To feel Your
heart and know Your mind
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Looking in Your eyes
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Stirs up within me
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Cries that say
I want to know You
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Oh, I want to know You more
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And when my daily deeds
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Ordinarily lose life and song
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My heart begins to bleed
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Sensitivity to Him is gone
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I've run the race
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But set my own pace
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And face a shattered soul
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But the gentle arms of Jesus
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Warm my hunger to behold
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Oh, I want to know You more
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Deep within my soul
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I want to know You
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Oh, I want to know You
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To feel Your
heart and know Your mind
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Looking in Your eyes
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Stirs up within me
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Cries that say
I want to know You
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Oh, I want to know You
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Oh, I want to know You
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And I won't give my final breath
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To Know You in Your
death and resurrection
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Oh, I want to know You more
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Oh, I want to know You
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To know You more
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Oh, I want to know You
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More
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That was
beautiful, and I hope that
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that is your heart
cry, certainly is mine.
00:08:12.42\00:08:15.92
You know, it seems that
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the more we know
Him the more we love Him
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and that's what it's all about.
00:08:20.66\00:08:22.60
Well, if you're just joining
us today our special guest
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is Dennis F. Turner,
and Dennis, comes to us
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from Olive Branch, Mississippi.
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But Dennis, you
didn't start in Olive Branch.
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As a matter of fact
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I think the most amazing
part of your story is the start.
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You began life in Sugar
Ditch Alley, Mississippi.
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Yes, I did.
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Tell us that's
Tunica, Mississippi,
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why is it called
Sugar Ditch Alley?
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Well, it was called Sugar Ditch,
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I think it was
acronym or a, you know,
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a, I guess what they would say,
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you know, a
backwards twist or something,
00:09:03.91\00:09:07.44
because there was no sugar.
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There was, matter of fact
there was an open sewer running.
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That was an open sewer
ditch, that's what it was.
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And it was right
behind the downtown area
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of Tunica,
Mississippi, and it was a place
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that was just had a bunch
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of broken down
shacks that people lived in.
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And they had no inside plumbing,
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no inside bathrooms,
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and it was right
alongside at a ditch
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where all the sewer and
all the waste was thrown.
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In fact, wasn't Tunica,
I think until late 1990's,
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it was one of the poorest
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or known to be the
poorest area in United States.
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Yes, it was, It was the
poorest place in America.
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I think if I'm quoting correctly
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Jesse Jackson referred to
it as "America's Ethiopia."
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Back in 1985 is where national
attention came to Tunica,
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and that's when it
was exposed to America
00:10:01.36\00:10:03.67
that the place exists.
00:10:03.70\00:10:05.10
Well, so you grew up
in this impoverished area.
00:10:05.13\00:10:11.24
How many children
were in your family?
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Well, I'm the youngest of 12.
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Oh my goodness, Lord
blessed your mama's heart.
00:10:16.24\00:10:20.48
And you're the baby boy.
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Yes, I'm the youngest.
00:10:21.88\00:10:23.25
Okay, so were
your parents Christian?
00:10:23.28\00:10:27.76
Did you grow up in a
Christian environment?
00:10:27.79\00:10:29.46
Did you realize
how poor you were,
00:10:29.49\00:10:31.56
or were you just a
happy guy that didn't realize
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just how poverty
stricken your family was?
00:10:34.73\00:10:37.67
Well, to be honest I did,
00:10:37.70\00:10:39.67
I did realize that we were poor,
00:10:39.70\00:10:43.00
mainly because of
the attention that
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I, I paid attention to
details with my parents.
00:10:45.24\00:10:49.04
But, you know my
parents were very, very,
00:10:49.08\00:10:53.65
they were Christian parents.
00:10:53.68\00:10:55.85
Very spiritual and
had a praying mother.
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Praise the Lord.
00:11:00.29\00:11:01.62
Yes, yes, yes, she, you
know, my start really began
00:11:01.66\00:11:05.19
right before actually
being born on Sugar Ditch,
00:11:05.23\00:11:08.90
my start began with my mother,
00:11:08.93\00:11:11.93
my mother was 42 and my
dad was 69 years of age.
00:11:11.97\00:11:15.17
Oh my goodness.
00:11:15.20\00:11:16.54
Yes, and my mother sat me down
00:11:16.57\00:11:19.54
one day to tell me the
miracle with me being born
00:11:19.57\00:11:23.45
and she said son "I
want to let you know
00:11:23.48\00:11:25.78
that I was a
diabetic and doctor told me
00:11:25.81\00:11:29.72
after so many children
00:11:29.75\00:11:31.35
that when I was
pregnant with you
00:11:31.39\00:11:33.86
that I would no go full
term, I will miscarriage."
00:11:33.89\00:11:37.09
And she said "I
prayed over you in my womb."
00:11:37.13\00:11:41.06
And she said "I
want you to know that
00:11:41.10\00:11:43.50
when you were born,
he looked at me and said
00:11:43.53\00:11:46.30
I do believe this is
your healthiest child
00:11:46.33\00:11:48.50
you've ever head."
00:11:48.54\00:11:49.87
Praise the Lord.
00:11:49.90\00:11:51.24
And so that has
always stuck with me.
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It's always, you
know, resonated in me
00:11:54.51\00:11:56.28
and it gave me purpose.
00:11:56.31\00:11:57.88
Amen, amen.
00:11:57.91\00:12:00.25
So you're growing up and
I think you told me earlier
00:12:00.28\00:12:04.09
when we met that your family
were traditional Baptists,
00:12:04.12\00:12:07.26
but you had a family,
00:12:07.29\00:12:09.69
wonderful Christian parents,
who were praying parents.
00:12:09.72\00:12:14.03
When did you make a
change from the Baptist Church
00:12:14.10\00:12:20.70
to the Adventist Church?
00:12:20.74\00:12:22.97
The way it
happened around, excuse me,
00:12:23.00\00:12:24.61
it happened around 10, 10 or 11.
00:12:24.64\00:12:27.71
I start to visit a
small Adventist Church
00:12:27.74\00:12:30.71
that was just planted
in the small town of Tunica
00:12:30.75\00:12:34.55
with my sisters.
00:12:34.58\00:12:36.18
I have 2 sisters
that became Adventist
00:12:36.22\00:12:39.85
right before me
and you know there was
00:12:39.89\00:12:43.39
something
peculiar about that church,
00:12:43.43\00:12:45.43
something
peculiar about the people,
00:12:45.46\00:12:47.93
they were different.
00:12:47.96\00:12:49.30
It was something I've
never experienced before.
00:12:49.33\00:12:52.13
Man the joy that I saw
and the energy that they had.
00:12:52.17\00:12:56.64
It was, it was, and I wanted
to go back to see more and more
00:12:56.67\00:13:02.44
and then I was introduced
00:13:02.48\00:13:03.81
to a different
type of eating habit.
00:13:03.85\00:13:08.25
You know, it was so vibrant
00:13:08.28\00:13:10.49
and, and I just knew that
there was something different
00:13:10.52\00:13:14.42
and so as a young
child I start to read
00:13:14.46\00:13:17.93
and study for myself as I
went and visited that church.
00:13:17.96\00:13:21.56
Praise the Lord.
00:13:21.60\00:13:22.93
And as a young
child at the age of 14,
00:13:22.96\00:13:25.77
I heard God voice
saying "this is the place"
00:13:25.80\00:13:29.37
and that's when I
became Seventh-day Adventist.
00:13:29.40\00:13:31.51
Wonderful.
00:13:31.54\00:13:32.87
So God was really leading
you all the way the through it.
00:13:32.91\00:13:36.71
So go ahead
00:13:36.75\00:13:38.08
and unfold this picture
for us a little bit more.
00:13:38.11\00:13:41.62
Now, you're a young
00:13:41.65\00:13:43.42
Adventist
Christian on fire for God.
00:13:43.45\00:13:46.65
But you're still living
in a poverty stricken area
00:13:46.69\00:13:50.69
where you wouldn't think
that there would be opportunity
00:13:50.73\00:13:53.66
to go on and get
your master's degree.
00:13:53.70\00:13:55.60
You hold 2 masters, don't you?
00:13:55.63\00:13:57.63
You know, I have
a master's degree
00:13:57.67\00:13:59.00
and I'm half way done with
educational doctorate degree.
00:13:59.03\00:14:01.94
And with, okay,
well that's praise God.
00:14:01.97\00:14:05.44
How did the Lord put
these things in motion?
00:14:05.47\00:14:10.05
Well, I would, I
would definitely have to say
00:14:10.08\00:14:13.25
it was a process.
00:14:13.28\00:14:16.12
We didn't stay on
Sugar Ditch that long
00:14:16.15\00:14:18.19
after I was born.
00:14:18.22\00:14:19.75
My dad was able to move us off
00:14:19.79\00:14:22.16
and to a low income
house in the town of Tunica.
00:14:22.19\00:14:26.70
But my dad died
shortly afterwards.
00:14:26.73\00:14:29.36
I was 3 when he passed away
00:14:29.40\00:14:31.13
and it seems like things
got worse at that moment,
00:14:31.17\00:14:37.04
but I had a praying mother.
00:14:37.07\00:14:38.84
She held her family together
with prayer and hard work
00:14:38.87\00:14:42.64
and, and so as I grew up, I
had to grow up a lot faster,
00:14:42.68\00:14:48.85
because I wanted to
help my mom and my family
00:14:48.88\00:14:52.82
and so, you know,
00:14:52.85\00:14:54.19
I always tried to
make the right decisions.
00:14:54.22\00:14:57.03
Praise God.
00:14:57.06\00:14:58.39
But you know, the
one thing that got me is,
00:14:58.43\00:15:01.26
you know, my mom would
wake up in the mornings
00:15:01.30\00:15:05.17
and she would
kneel by her bedside
00:15:05.20\00:15:08.40
and she will
pray and every morning
00:15:08.44\00:15:11.94
when she finished praying,
00:15:11.97\00:15:13.51
she gave this handclap of praise
00:15:13.54\00:15:15.94
and she would lift her
hands towards the ceiling.
00:15:15.98\00:15:18.61
And sometimes she'll have
tears running down her face
00:15:18.65\00:15:22.32
and I've watched her
00:15:22.35\00:15:24.89
in every morning
do this for years
00:15:24.92\00:15:29.46
and I finally asked mom why,
00:15:29.49\00:15:34.30
why is it you do the
same routine everyday?
00:15:34.30\00:15:37.43
And she began to tell me
about the goodness of God.
00:15:37.47\00:15:42.40
And how He has brought her,
00:15:42.44\00:15:44.71
and how she nearly
died numerous of times
00:15:44.74\00:15:47.84
and how He has
protected the family
00:15:47.88\00:15:50.71
and how, you
know, He has brought us
00:15:50.75\00:15:53.45
from where we,
from whence we came in,
00:15:53.48\00:15:56.32
it was just, it was so
empowering listening to her.
00:15:56.35\00:16:01.66
Amen.
00:16:01.69\00:16:03.02
And so you know
as the time went on,
00:16:03.06\00:16:06.23
things didn't
get better overnight.
00:16:06.26\00:16:08.63
Not even a year
later, we had struggles.
00:16:08.66\00:16:11.63
My mom became very
ill when I was about 14,
00:16:11.67\00:16:14.80
right after joining
the Adventist Church,
00:16:14.84\00:16:17.17
where we had to move to Memphis
00:16:17.21\00:16:19.64
for medical treatment for her.
00:16:19.67\00:16:21.91
And in that
transition I drew closer
00:16:21.94\00:16:25.21
and closer to God
because I needed Him,
00:16:25.25\00:16:28.45
because now one parent
was sick and one was gone
00:16:28.48\00:16:32.15
and I was the
youngest of the family,
00:16:32.19\00:16:34.59
but my older siblings was,
00:16:34.62\00:16:36.49
you know, we were
not a close knit family.
00:16:36.52\00:16:39.89
You were not?
00:16:39.93\00:16:41.23
That's kind of a
surprise when you think about
00:16:41.26\00:16:44.30
the environment
in which you grew up.
00:16:44.33\00:16:46.30
Yes, yes, it was interesting,
00:16:46.33\00:16:51.11
but once again the
prayers of our mother.
00:16:51.14\00:16:54.74
She would do this sick, healthy,
00:16:54.78\00:16:58.98
every morning and you know.
00:16:59.01\00:17:01.48
Well, this is a
woman who knew God.
00:17:01.52\00:17:03.72
She had a personal
relationship with Him.
00:17:03.75\00:17:05.82
And she knew upon
whom she dependent on.
00:17:05.85\00:17:08.09
Oh, yes. Oh, yes.
00:17:08.12\00:17:11.56
My sister that's
next to me was the--
00:17:11.59\00:17:14.20
she became an
Adventist before I did.
00:17:14.23\00:17:17.77
She stepped out first
and went to Oakwood College
00:17:17.80\00:17:22.20
in back, back in 1988
00:17:22.24\00:17:24.87
and when I
listened to the things
00:17:24.91\00:17:27.21
that she talked about
00:17:27.24\00:17:29.54
and I listened to her experience
00:17:29.58\00:17:32.85
and then being able
to visit the campus one,
00:17:32.88\00:17:35.62
one year during camp meeting.
00:17:35.65\00:17:37.82
I felt the call
00:17:37.85\00:17:40.96
that was the place
that I needed to be
00:17:40.99\00:17:43.56
and so upon
graduating from high school,
00:17:43.59\00:17:46.80
God led me to Oakwood College.
00:17:46.83\00:17:49.20
But, how did the Lord, I
mean college is expensive?
00:17:49.23\00:17:54.30
And here you're coming
00:17:54.34\00:17:55.84
from, really you
have no resources,
00:17:55.87\00:17:59.61
how did all of
that worked together?
00:17:59.64\00:18:02.81
God. Amen.
00:18:02.84\00:18:04.98
Praise, mercy God.
Of course, you know.
00:18:05.01\00:18:09.55
And determination.
00:18:09.58\00:18:10.92
And determination.
00:18:10.95\00:18:12.29
We, you know, of course,
00:18:12.32\00:18:13.72
you know, we have
to use student loans
00:18:13.76\00:18:15.36
when you don't have
any other resources,
00:18:15.39\00:18:18.33
but God just used different
people to pour into my life.
00:18:18.36\00:18:22.70
One day I was in
college and I had no money.
00:18:22.73\00:18:28.40
Loans was not enough, you
know grants was not enough.
00:18:28.44\00:18:32.81
Oakwood was expensive,
but I had a professor,
00:18:32.84\00:18:38.51
a coach, his
name was James Ridey
00:18:38.55\00:18:42.12
and we were very close
and I play basketball for him
00:18:42.15\00:18:48.19
and we used to
witness as we went
00:18:48.22\00:18:49.69
and play sports to.
00:18:49.72\00:18:51.06
You're not a tiny
guy, how tall are you?
00:18:51.09\00:18:54.46
About 6'3-1/2".
00:18:54.46\00:18:55.80
Okay.
00:18:55.83\00:18:57.17
Yes, definitely
about 100 pounds lighter,
00:18:57.20\00:18:59.60
but you know one thing he did
00:18:59.63\00:19:02.64
when I was in college
that just blew me away.
00:19:02.67\00:19:06.64
I was sitting there
and I was almost in tear,
00:19:06.68\00:19:10.45
how was I going
to complete school,
00:19:10.48\00:19:13.82
you know, if I can't clear,
00:19:13.85\00:19:16.22
and so he said "don't
you worry about school,
00:19:16.25\00:19:19.19
that's our problem,
you worry about your books
00:19:19.22\00:19:22.72
and getting your
education the other part
00:19:22.76\00:19:26.13
it will handle
itself, God will make a way."
00:19:26.16\00:19:29.46
He picked up the phone
00:19:29.50\00:19:31.53
and on the
other end of the phone
00:19:31.57\00:19:33.00
I just hear him say
"hey, Cliff" you know
00:19:33.03\00:19:36.20
and he tells this guy my
story this guy named Cliff
00:19:36.24\00:19:39.14
and I'm just sitting
in the office listening
00:19:39.17\00:19:41.61
and he says "I
need him in school,
00:19:41.64\00:19:44.58
this is a good young man"
and I'm just sitting there
00:19:44.61\00:19:47.98
and I hear the guy say
to Mr. Ridey, "how much?
00:19:48.02\00:19:53.19
And he told him
exactly how much money I'd need
00:19:53.22\00:19:55.52
and he said "no
problem check is in the mail."
00:19:55.56\00:19:58.59
Glory to the God.
00:19:58.63\00:19:59.96
I was blown away, and
as he hung up the phone
00:20:00.00\00:20:04.27
and looked at me and
said "I told you don't worry."
00:20:04.30\00:20:06.50
Now, let me ask you, did
you do what your mama did
00:20:06.53\00:20:08.84
to give the Lord hand clap.
00:20:08.87\00:20:11.67
I did more, I was
up, I was spinning,
00:20:11.71\00:20:14.38
and I was
jumping, I was shouting.
00:20:14.41\00:20:15.78
Imagine.
00:20:15.81\00:20:17.15
And he told me then he said
00:20:17.18\00:20:18.51
"you know, that
guy who was on the pone
00:20:18.55\00:20:21.02
with that was Clifton Davis,
he is an alumni of Oakwood."
00:20:21.05\00:20:25.05
Praise God.
00:20:25.09\00:20:26.42
And I just said
"wow, praise God."
00:20:26.45\00:20:29.19
And that changed
my life to see someone
00:20:29.22\00:20:32.36
that didn't know me,
could do that for me,
00:20:32.39\00:20:37.53
it gave me even more
purpose and determination.
00:20:37.57\00:20:43.10
Let's see, I'm thinking that
00:20:43.14\00:20:45.54
you were a person of
great purpose and determination
00:20:45.57\00:20:49.01
because number one your
mother let you know immediately.
00:20:49.04\00:20:52.58
I just--I want to
talk to you mamas out there
00:20:52.61\00:20:55.75
and to you daddies
00:20:55.78\00:20:57.12
"please when you're speaking
to your children's life,
00:20:57.15\00:20:59.89
speak words of life,
00:20:59.92\00:21:01.32
speak, speak the word
of God into their life,
00:21:01.36\00:21:05.09
and don't ever tell
your child they're worthless,
00:21:05.13\00:21:07.50
you tell them just how
much they are worth to God
00:21:07.50\00:21:09.96
and give them
that sense of purpose
00:21:10.00\00:21:11.87
because that's so important."
00:21:11.90\00:21:14.34
And you were a
determined young man,
00:21:14.37\00:21:18.17
because you said you know
00:21:18.21\00:21:20.48
"I always tried to
make the right choices."
00:21:20.51\00:21:23.18
You're influenced
heavily by your mother
00:21:23.21\00:21:26.28
and you had developed
00:21:26.31\00:21:27.95
that personal
relationship with the Lord.
00:21:27.98\00:21:29.95
Which is why this professor
00:21:29.98\00:21:32.42
was able to pick
up this phone call
00:21:32.45\00:21:34.12
and I imagine this man on
the other end of the phone
00:21:34.16\00:21:37.03
that wrote the
check, he knew the professor
00:21:37.06\00:21:38.79
wouldn't be calling him unless
you were a special young man.
00:21:38.83\00:21:41.86
And had that determination
to follow God's plan.
00:21:41.90\00:21:46.07
That's right.
00:21:46.10\00:21:47.44
Amen. That's exciting.
00:21:47.47\00:21:49.80
So you went, you got
your degree from Oakwood
00:21:49.84\00:21:54.44
and I wish we had
time to talk about
00:21:54.48\00:21:56.68
all your experiences at Oakwood
00:21:56.71\00:21:58.18
because there
were good ones there.
00:21:58.21\00:22:02.28
But you went on
then to get your master's
00:22:02.32\00:22:05.92
at Mississippi A&M.
00:22:05.95\00:22:07.86
Alabama A&M.
00:22:07.89\00:22:09.22
Alabama A&M.
00:22:09.26\00:22:10.59
Excuse me, Alabama A&M.
00:22:10.63\00:22:12.96
Tell us why you chose
the field that you're in?
00:22:12.99\00:22:18.67
Wow, that's a great question,
00:22:18.70\00:22:23.07
because it seem
like it's changing,
00:22:23.10\00:22:25.31
but as I looked
with the hind side view
00:22:25.34\00:22:29.51
it prepared me for
what I am doing now.
00:22:29.54\00:22:32.28
Education and
physical education was one,
00:22:32.31\00:22:35.38
physical education
was very important for me
00:22:35.42\00:22:37.89
because it taught me
something about the body.
00:22:37.92\00:22:40.66
It taught me a
lot of things that
00:22:40.69\00:22:42.96
we should've known
already and you know
00:22:42.99\00:22:45.63
and a lot of
this is in the message
00:22:45.66\00:22:48.20
of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
00:22:48.23\00:22:50.77
But, then
moving on to education,
00:22:50.80\00:22:52.60
it prepared me
for the things that
00:22:52.63\00:22:54.90
I'm doing now with ministry
00:22:54.94\00:22:57.54
and, you know, the one
thing I can say to people
00:22:57.57\00:23:02.28
because where I'm
from is people do perish
00:23:02.31\00:23:05.35
because of the
lack of knowledge.
00:23:05.38\00:23:06.75
Amen.
00:23:06.78\00:23:08.12
And the one thing I want to do
00:23:08.15\00:23:10.29
is give people at
least that knowledge
00:23:10.32\00:23:13.89
where they can
make a cognize decision
00:23:13.92\00:23:17.36
to do the right thing.
00:23:17.39\00:23:19.43
And that, that
is one of the reason
00:23:19.46\00:23:21.16
why I'm into the
field that I'm in.
00:23:21.20\00:23:22.96
And so when you're
talking about knowledge,
00:23:23.00\00:23:24.70
you're talking more
than just book learning.
00:23:24.73\00:23:26.70
Oh, yes.
00:23:26.74\00:23:28.07
You're talking
about knowing God.
00:23:28.10\00:23:29.87
Yes, you see God is, God
is the center of everything.
00:23:29.90\00:23:33.44
Amen.
00:23:33.48\00:23:34.81
God, God, He is
where everything starts
00:23:34.84\00:23:38.28
and where
everything will finish.
00:23:38.31\00:23:40.38
You know, He is the answer
to every question that we have.
00:23:40.42\00:23:44.92
You know what the Bible said
00:23:44.95\00:23:46.29
"In all yours ways we
should acknowledge Him."
00:23:46.32\00:23:48.96
So you're working on
your PhD, is in what?
00:23:48.99\00:23:53.13
Education. Education.
00:23:53.16\00:23:54.46
Yes, yes, yes,
education and leadership.
00:23:54.50\00:23:58.60
I felt early that I
was called to be a leader.
00:23:58.63\00:24:03.20
Not necessarily wanted that job,
00:24:03.24\00:24:05.87
because that's a lot of pressure
00:24:05.91\00:24:07.64
and you know I was, I
thought I was great follower,
00:24:07.68\00:24:11.58
but that wasn't
God's plan, you know.
00:24:11.61\00:24:15.52
And so I want to be
prepared in leading others,
00:24:15.55\00:24:19.29
so I want to make sure
that I've all the things that
00:24:19.32\00:24:22.42
that would aide me
into being a great leader.
00:24:22.46\00:24:25.63
And, you know,
that's what I admire
00:24:25.66\00:24:27.30
about you, Dennis, is that
00:24:27.30\00:24:29.60
it's one thing
just to know the Lord
00:24:29.63\00:24:32.33
and accept His
call, but we have to
00:24:32.37\00:24:35.70
when God call
us, He will equip us,
00:24:35.74\00:24:38.51
and we've got to work hard
00:24:38.54\00:24:40.18
to be equipped sometimes though.
00:24:40.21\00:24:41.91
You know, sometimes we say that
00:24:41.94\00:24:43.28
that oh, God equips
the call, that's true,
00:24:43.31\00:24:45.51
but it doesn't mean
that there is not hard work.
00:24:45.55\00:24:48.55
As a matter of fact
it's Proverbs 14:23 says,
00:24:48.58\00:24:52.62
"All hard work brings a profit,
00:24:52.65\00:24:55.59
but mere talk
brings only poverty."
00:24:55.62\00:24:59.26
And So you were a
determined person,
00:24:59.29\00:25:02.66
and I know God gave
you that determination.
00:25:02.70\00:25:04.57
But you worked hard.
00:25:04.60\00:25:05.93
Oh, yes.
00:25:05.97\00:25:07.30
And you're still
working hard, I love it.
00:25:07.34\00:25:08.80
Now let's back up a little bit
00:25:08.84\00:25:10.41
because we followed
your education trail.
00:25:10.44\00:25:12.27
But tell me about,
where did you meet your wife?
00:25:12.31\00:25:15.64
Oh, well, my wife,
00:25:15.68\00:25:18.35
I actually met my
wife at a wedding.
00:25:18.38\00:25:20.72
Okay.
00:25:20.75\00:25:22.08
Yes, I really didn't want
to go to be honest with you.
00:25:22.12\00:25:26.25
Men don't seem delighted,
they just don't seem to really,
00:25:26.29\00:25:29.22
that's not high
on their priority.
00:25:29.26\00:25:30.86
My friends dragged me there,
it's like "no you got to go"
00:25:30.89\00:25:33.50
I said "no, I'll wait
here until you get back."
00:25:33.53\00:25:35.83
But no, I went to the wedding
00:25:35.86\00:25:37.40
and I saw her she was
coordinating a wedding
00:25:37.43\00:25:40.44
and I just cannot
take my eyes off her
00:25:40.47\00:25:44.41
and so I was introduced to her
00:25:44.44\00:25:46.17
and it was just, it
was, it's history after that.
00:25:46.21\00:25:50.61
We really talked for hours,
00:25:50.65\00:25:56.15
I mean, and just, but you know,
00:25:56.18\00:25:58.99
that was just God
that was just God.
00:25:59.02\00:26:01.46
She is such a beautiful person.
00:26:01.49\00:26:03.39
So you married a
good Christian woman
00:26:03.43\00:26:05.63
and you have three beautiful
children that are how old?
00:26:05.66\00:26:08.73
They are 8, 4, and 1.
00:26:08.76\00:26:11.57
Okay.
00:26:11.60\00:26:12.93
And I'm gonna telling
you, she is a praying woman.
00:26:12.97\00:26:16.10
Praise God. Praise God.
00:26:16.14\00:26:18.64
So let's talk about
now what God is doing,
00:26:18.67\00:26:23.55
how He's
leading you in ministry.
00:26:23.58\00:26:27.18
Oh, man, where do I begin?
00:26:27.22\00:26:30.65
You know, He's
given me something unique,
00:26:30.69\00:26:34.72
you know, He's
given me my story for one.
00:26:34.76\00:26:37.89
And that's, that's
where I wanted to start.
00:26:37.93\00:26:40.36
Everywhere I go,
I want to make sure
00:26:40.40\00:26:41.86
people understand I exist
because of what God did for me
00:26:41.90\00:26:45.37
and what He is
continuing to do for me,
00:26:45.40\00:26:47.74
and I want people to know
that it's only God that I exist
00:26:47.77\00:26:52.01
and then two, I
want people to know that
00:26:52.04\00:26:54.61
it's not a, He's not
a, you know, He's, He's,
00:26:54.64\00:26:58.28
He's not someone that
I'm keeping to myself,
00:26:58.31\00:27:01.02
but I want to give to others.
00:27:01.05\00:27:02.82
I want to introduce
people to the King that I know.
00:27:02.85\00:27:06.49
And so what we're
doing is, I've taken my story
00:27:06.52\00:27:10.39
and I've done some clever,
in my opinion, things with it,
00:27:10.43\00:27:15.83
you know, I feel
that there should be
00:27:15.86\00:27:18.20
different ways of ministry.
00:27:18.23\00:27:20.24
You know, I love singing,
and I love you know the word,
00:27:20.27\00:27:23.07
but I think there
should be different ways
00:27:23.10\00:27:24.74
and so we've
even-- we've transposed
00:27:24.77\00:27:28.78
my story into a stage play.
00:27:28.81\00:27:31.01
Well, now first, you
wrote book first, right?
00:27:31.05\00:27:33.68
Oh, yes.
00:27:33.72\00:27:35.05
I did, I wrote a book entitled
"The Boy From The Ditch"
00:27:35.08\00:27:39.15
which gives my
story and background
00:27:39.19\00:27:40.89
from Sugar Ditch
to where I'm today.
00:27:40.92\00:27:44.76
And you know, I feel that
that story was placed in me
00:27:44.79\00:27:50.17
because God was gonna use that
00:27:50.20\00:27:53.97
to speak to other
kids in impoverished areas
00:27:54.00\00:27:56.87
and inner cities, and
kids that just feel unloved
00:27:56.91\00:28:01.24
and lonely to minister to them.
00:28:01.28\00:28:03.98
And it's not
always just for the people
00:28:04.01\00:28:07.18
who are impoverished,
00:28:07.22\00:28:08.58
because there
are a lot of people
00:28:08.62\00:28:10.62
who have grown up, not
with a lot of lack or want,
00:28:10.65\00:28:16.49
but accepting the
area of emotional.
00:28:16.52\00:28:20.73
You know, they're
emotionally bankrupt
00:28:20.76\00:28:22.63
because no one's
deposited into them.
00:28:22.66\00:28:24.27
That's right.
00:28:24.30\00:28:25.63
But it's also a
story of great inspiration,
00:28:25.67\00:28:27.67
because if you
think you're trying
00:28:27.70\00:28:29.17
to overcome anything
you can read this book,
00:28:29.20\00:28:31.54
filled with miracles from
God and how the Lord leads
00:28:31.57\00:28:35.91
and how when we just
put our hand in His hand
00:28:35.94\00:28:39.65
and we follow.
00:28:39.68\00:28:41.08
You know, you have to
follow to be a good leader.
00:28:41.12\00:28:42.88
Oh, yes.
00:28:42.92\00:28:44.25
And that's what the
Lord has taught you.
00:28:44.29\00:28:45.79
Yes, yes.
00:28:45.82\00:28:47.16
So go ahead and tell
us about the stage play?
00:28:47.19\00:28:50.73
Oh, well the
stage play is actually,
00:28:50.76\00:28:52.89
we took about the first
3 or 4 chapters of the book
00:28:52.93\00:28:56.50
and transposed it
into a stage play.
00:28:56.53\00:28:58.77
Okay.
00:28:58.80\00:29:00.20
Trying to be
innovative in reaching a great,
00:29:00.24\00:29:03.44
vast people with inspiration.
00:29:03.47\00:29:06.84
Letting them know that
you know they too have purpose
00:29:06.88\00:29:10.68
and that they're
fearfully and wonderfully made.
00:29:10.71\00:29:13.78
And God has
something special for you.
00:29:13.82\00:29:16.58
And all you have to
do is just reach out
00:29:16.62\00:29:19.35
and just submit yourself
00:29:19.39\00:29:21.22
to the God of
universe, God of heaven.
00:29:21.26\00:29:24.26
Amen, now where
do you stage play,
00:29:24.29\00:29:27.96
where would it be showing?
00:29:27.96\00:29:30.10
We're doing a HBCU tour
and then we're gonna to start.
00:29:30.13\00:29:33.54
What is HB's?
00:29:33.57\00:29:35.14
Oh, I'm sorry, it's
Historical Black College Tour.
00:29:35.17\00:29:38.54
Yes, and we're gonna start
00:29:38.57\00:29:39.91
at Miles College in
Birmingham, Alabama.
00:29:39.94\00:29:41.91
Okay, all right, wonderful
00:29:41.94\00:29:43.95
so you've already
played in a number of places
00:29:43.98\00:29:47.05
and now you've done some
churches and some colleges.
00:29:47.08\00:29:51.35
Tell me what is
people's reaction?
00:29:51.39\00:29:56.12
How do they react
to this stage play?
00:29:56.16\00:29:58.33
Oh man.
00:29:58.36\00:29:59.69
We're getting mixed emotion
of joy and just over joy.
00:29:59.73\00:30:05.57
They're tearful, they feel
it is so inspiring to them.
00:30:05.60\00:30:11.41
Most people are telling me
00:30:11.44\00:30:13.51
"is there a way, I
can get DVD or something
00:30:13.54\00:30:16.34
or where you're gonna be next
00:30:16.38\00:30:17.91
because I want my
teenager to see this play.
00:30:17.95\00:30:20.58
I want my college
son to see this play"
00:30:20.62\00:30:23.99
and so they're
very excited about it.
00:30:24.02\00:30:26.89
We've done a play
at Oakwood University,
00:30:26.92\00:30:32.86
we've done a play, I am
sorry, we did a play in Houston
00:30:32.89\00:30:36.63
at World Harvest Outreach Church
00:30:36.67\00:30:38.90
and we've-- the
most recent place
00:30:38.93\00:30:41.44
was in Memphis, Tennessee.
00:30:41.47\00:30:43.51
Why are people
reacting like this,
00:30:43.54\00:30:45.21
what is the message of the play?
00:30:45.24\00:30:49.21
I'm glad you asked.
00:30:49.24\00:30:50.81
The message of the play
is never quit, never give up
00:30:50.85\00:30:57.32
because no matter
how long it takes,
00:30:57.35\00:31:01.79
in the end God
has a purpose for you.
00:31:01.82\00:31:05.39
And so it takes me to
the slogan that we have,
00:31:05.43\00:31:09.03
you know, we have a slogan,
00:31:09.06\00:31:11.20
that is not about the
speed but the mentality.
00:31:11.23\00:31:14.80
I was doing a motivational
speech at a high school
00:31:14.84\00:31:18.67
and it was really, I remembered
this like it was yesterday
00:31:18.71\00:31:22.24
because one of the young
ladies from the high school came
00:31:22.28\00:31:26.01
and said "wow, I really
liked the story you gave"
00:31:26.05\00:31:28.48
and the story was basically
the children story the turtle
00:31:28.52\00:31:32.52
and the rabbit and
I talked about that.
00:31:32.55\00:31:34.86
We talked about how the rabbit
00:31:34.89\00:31:37.29
got full of himself basically
he went off and took a nap
00:31:37.33\00:31:41.06
and how the turtle just
never stopped, never quit,
00:31:41.10\00:31:44.30
and he kept pounded
and he won the race.
00:31:44.33\00:31:47.00
Now we all know
that the rabbit is faster
00:31:47.04\00:31:49.24
than the turtle,
but it was the turtle
00:31:49.27\00:31:51.37
determination
of never giving up.
00:31:51.41\00:31:54.01
My husband always will say that
00:31:54.04\00:31:57.75
"the Christian life is not
a sprint, it's a marathon."
00:31:57.78\00:32:00.85
Oh, yes.
00:32:00.88\00:32:02.22
And so it's a matter of
continually going forward,
00:32:02.25\00:32:05.15
and that's kind
of, but why are people,
00:32:05.19\00:32:09.49
I mean, okay we've
heard these stories before,
00:32:09.52\00:32:11.89
but what is it do you think,
00:32:11.93\00:32:13.26
what is the
and, why are emotions
00:32:13.29\00:32:17.93
so intense when they see this?
00:32:17.97\00:32:20.77
Because, mainly
because they see the loss,
00:32:20.80\00:32:25.51
we expose it.
00:32:25.54\00:32:26.88
The loss.
00:32:26.91\00:32:28.24
The loss, it's not
only where I was born.
00:32:28.28\00:32:31.41
It's not only the
fact that I was born,
00:32:31.45\00:32:34.35
but it's the loss.
00:32:34.38\00:32:36.12
I lost my dad when I was
3. My mom became very ill.
00:32:36.15\00:32:39.42
By the time I was 15
00:32:39.45\00:32:40.79
she could not do
anything for herself.
00:32:40.82\00:32:44.03
My older siblings
had to care for her
00:32:44.06\00:32:46.23
and she was in and out
of the hospital for years.
00:32:46.26\00:32:50.30
In essence at 15,
00:32:50.33\00:32:52.50
I was raising myself
and we portray that on stage
00:32:52.53\00:32:57.71
where people see, see
it live right before them.
00:32:57.74\00:33:02.54
But they see the decisions
00:33:02.58\00:33:04.71
and the thought
pattern that I made
00:33:04.75\00:33:08.58
and it was because of God
00:33:08.62\00:33:10.92
and we, we, we try to be
very strategic in portraying it
00:33:10.95\00:33:15.69
because we want
people to understand that
00:33:15.72\00:33:18.19
without God we're not anything,
but with God we're everything.
00:33:18.23\00:33:23.30
Yeah.
00:33:23.33\00:33:24.67
And so, you know,
we, when you portray that
00:33:24.70\00:33:27.54
it become very emotional.
00:33:27.57\00:33:30.37
When people see
the triumph at the end
00:33:30.41\00:33:32.61
and it becomes so moving.
00:33:32.64\00:33:34.81
You know, that
reminds me of Isaiah 48:17-18
00:33:34.84\00:33:38.25
I think what the Lord
say's, "I'm the Lord your God
00:33:38.28\00:33:41.52
who leads you in
the way you should go."
00:33:41.55\00:33:43.99
That's right.
00:33:44.02\00:33:45.35
And He teaches
us to profit he says
00:33:45.39\00:33:46.82
so it it's just amazing I think,
00:33:46.86\00:33:51.19
I think what's so exciting
about your story, Dennis,
00:33:51.23\00:33:55.53
is that you
connected at such an early age
00:33:55.56\00:34:00.54
on a level of I will
say like Christian maturity
00:34:00.57\00:34:04.64
if you will at
such an early age.
00:34:04.67\00:34:07.68
That's what kept
your hand in God's hand,
00:34:07.71\00:34:10.65
because you could
certainly have gone off,
00:34:10.68\00:34:12.88
you've been in a game,
00:34:12.91\00:34:14.25
you could've done
chosen life of crime,
00:34:14.28\00:34:16.69
you could've done
many things that people do
00:34:16.72\00:34:19.25
when they're, you
know, lose your father
00:34:19.29\00:34:22.39
at an early age then lose
basically your mama too is.
00:34:22.42\00:34:25.99
How long did your mama live?
00:34:26.03\00:34:27.56
My mom passed
away when I was 24.
00:34:27.60\00:34:30.07
When you were 24.
00:34:30.10\00:34:31.43
oh, I wish, she
could see you today.
00:34:31.47\00:34:33.03
Oh, I know she was
excited even back then,
00:34:33.07\00:34:35.67
but she will on the seat like,
00:34:35.70\00:34:37.74
she'll get to
hear your whole story,
00:34:37.77\00:34:40.58
but it's
exciting to meet someone
00:34:40.61\00:34:46.55
and it's inspiring
that it's just that
00:34:46.58\00:34:49.98
when you're so connected to God,
00:34:50.02\00:34:51.89
it's like there
was an umbilical cord
00:34:51.92\00:34:53.59
between you and the
Lord at such an early age.
00:34:53.62\00:34:56.49
And then you just were connected
00:34:56.52\00:34:58.26
and you put your head
down and you just went forward.
00:34:58.29\00:35:01.60
Just day by day, plodding along,
00:35:01.63\00:35:06.23
and the Lord
kept opening the doors
00:35:06.27\00:35:09.07
and you've walked through them.
00:35:09.10\00:35:11.41
You know, you
couldn't have said it better.
00:35:11.44\00:35:14.91
What I'd like to
tell young people,
00:35:14.94\00:35:16.95
you know or just
remind them that is--
00:35:16.98\00:35:21.18
some days you're not gonna
always do the right things.
00:35:21.22\00:35:25.19
Yeah. Amen.
00:35:25.22\00:35:26.55
But the Bible says
that the race is not given
00:35:26.59\00:35:30.06
to the swift or the strong,
but to the one that endure it.
00:35:30.09\00:35:34.73
If you fall, just get
up, you have to keep at it.
00:35:34.73\00:35:40.07
Someone once
told me and he said,
00:35:40.10\00:35:41.60
you know, "if
you knock on the door
00:35:41.64\00:35:44.57
and no one answer,
move on and keep knocking,
00:35:44.61\00:35:48.51
if you knock on the
door and they turn you away,
00:35:48.54\00:35:51.61
move on and keep knocking,
00:35:51.65\00:35:53.75
eventually
someone's gonna let you in."
00:35:53.78\00:35:56.85
That's beautiful.
00:35:56.89\00:35:58.22
That resonates with me
because it tells me that
00:35:58.25\00:36:02.72
no matter what
you experience in life
00:36:02.76\00:36:05.19
or what you maybe going through,
00:36:05.23\00:36:07.60
you know in the
end you shall prevail,
00:36:07.66\00:36:11.13
God will deliver.
00:36:11.17\00:36:13.70
And we've to
sometime look at our situation
00:36:13.74\00:36:17.34
and look at the process
as a learning experience
00:36:17.37\00:36:19.74
because He may be
trying to teach us something.
00:36:19.77\00:36:21.44
Amen, amen.
00:36:21.48\00:36:24.15
I'm trying to
remember the scripture in Micah
00:36:24.18\00:36:26.28
it says "Do not rejoice over me,
00:36:26.31\00:36:28.48
over me, my enemy for
when I fall I will arise
00:36:28.52\00:36:30.95
when I fall seven times
the Lord will lift me up"
00:36:30.99\00:36:33.52
I think that's Micah and
that's what you're saying.
00:36:33.56\00:36:38.13
And that's a powerful
message to tell young people.
00:36:38.16\00:36:41.56
Because sometimes we do,
00:36:41.60\00:36:43.57
we can make them feel so
guilty for a wrong decision
00:36:43.60\00:36:47.24
that they're ready to
give up and go in the other way
00:36:47.27\00:36:49.37
because they feel
there's no hope for them.
00:36:49.40\00:36:51.61
But, what your ministry is doing
00:36:51.64\00:36:54.91
is teaching young people.
00:36:54.94\00:36:57.38
How to continue on with God
00:36:57.41\00:37:01.02
and when they
fall flat on their face
00:37:01.05\00:37:03.72
to turn to God,
let Him pick them up,
00:37:03.75\00:37:05.59
dust them off, and keep going.
00:37:05.62\00:37:07.62
Keep going. Amen.
00:37:07.66\00:37:09.32
Keep going, it's not over.
00:37:09.36\00:37:11.26
Amen. Yes.
00:37:11.29\00:37:12.63
So when you have,
from time to time at least,
00:37:12.66\00:37:17.07
I know in
ministry there's times that
00:37:17.10\00:37:19.67
when you're ministering,
00:37:19.70\00:37:21.50
you hear certain stories
and things that standout.
00:37:21.54\00:37:26.47
And as I am sure
you've learned already,
00:37:26.51\00:37:29.28
it doesn't necessarily mean
00:37:29.31\00:37:31.35
whatever the economic
situation is for people,
00:37:31.38\00:37:35.35
some of those
grandparents were saying,
00:37:35.38\00:37:37.75
"Oh, I want my
grandchild to see this,
00:37:37.79\00:37:39.92
you know, where can
I get a copy of it."
00:37:39.95\00:37:41.82
They may come from
homes that are quite well off.
00:37:41.86\00:37:46.26
But, they just
need the direction.
00:37:46.29\00:37:48.50
Have you heard
testimonies as you're out,
00:37:48.53\00:37:51.57
you've been an, you're
an inspirational speaker,
00:37:51.60\00:37:53.80
motivational
speaker, where do you speak?
00:37:53.84\00:37:56.00
Oh, man, I speak
everywhere to be honest.
00:37:56.04\00:37:58.64
I do churches,
schools, banquets, universities.
00:37:58.67\00:38:04.98
I've been called to do,
00:38:05.01\00:38:09.08
I'm trying to think
of the next one I have
00:38:09.12\00:38:11.35
it's a, I think it's a
banquet for young people
00:38:11.39\00:38:15.99
that a service organization
in the community is doing
00:38:16.02\00:38:19.96
for the community kids and so.
00:38:20.00\00:38:22.20
So this is beyond just the
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
00:38:22.23\00:38:25.10
You're speaking in.
00:38:25.13\00:38:26.67
Yes, yes it's beyond the
Seventh-day Adventist Church,
00:38:26.70\00:38:30.31
you know, we, I accept calls
00:38:30.34\00:38:33.68
pretty much
wherever God leads me.
00:38:33.71\00:38:35.68
Because everyone
needs to hear the good news.
00:38:35.71\00:38:38.91
Absolutely.
00:38:38.95\00:38:40.75
But have you met anyone
during your ministry so far
00:38:40.78\00:38:44.85
where there's a testimony that
00:38:44.89\00:38:47.12
you've heard someone
it's touched their heart
00:38:47.16\00:38:48.96
and they've shared
a story that you felt
00:38:48.99\00:38:51.73
could be
similar to your somebody
00:38:51.76\00:38:54.20
that's really been
disadvantaged, but.
00:38:54.20\00:38:59.47
There's a story
that comes to mind.
00:38:59.50\00:39:01.57
It was a--
00:39:01.60\00:39:03.34
she was actually
not a young lady,
00:39:03.37\00:39:05.31
she was slightly
older than myself.
00:39:05.34\00:39:10.18
She-- it was at a book signing
00:39:10.21\00:39:12.28
where I did a
speaking engagement
00:39:12.31\00:39:14.82
and this young lady was
in tears as I gave my story
00:39:14.85\00:39:20.82
and so I saw
people consoling her
00:39:20.86\00:39:25.43
and so I somehow something
just told me to address,
00:39:25.46\00:39:30.17
you know, I speak to her
00:39:30.20\00:39:32.80
and when I gave
her some encouragement
00:39:32.83\00:39:36.34
and she stood up and
she shared with me that
00:39:36.37\00:39:42.38
it was my story did
something miraculous in her.
00:39:42.41\00:39:46.72
She said that
"she had experienced
00:39:46.75\00:39:48.88
some hardships with her family,
she want to write about it"
00:39:48.92\00:39:52.89
and then she said, "she felt,
00:39:52.92\00:39:55.79
but when she started writing
that it was therapeutic for her
00:39:55.82\00:40:00.70
because she heard
me say the same thing"
00:40:00.73\00:40:03.63
that was a lot of things,
00:40:03.67\00:40:05.23
you know, that I dealt
with when writing my story.
00:40:05.27\00:40:08.97
I had no clue that
there was some things
00:40:09.00\00:40:11.31
I was holding on to.
00:40:11.34\00:40:12.67
It's cathartic.
00:40:12.71\00:40:14.04
Yes, and so when
I wrote the story,
00:40:14.08\00:40:17.18
it seemed like
God was releasing it.
00:40:17.21\00:40:19.98
And so she was just in tears
00:40:20.02\00:40:24.09
and she said,
"My mom told me that
00:40:24.12\00:40:28.22
if I published this book
00:40:28.26\00:40:30.89
that she would not going
to speak to me ever again."
00:40:30.93\00:40:34.73
And she said, "She felt
00:40:34.76\00:40:37.27
like she was
pressed against the wall"
00:40:37.30\00:40:41.00
because she felt
something telling her to do this
00:40:41.04\00:40:45.07
and, and she was,
she felt that it was God
00:40:45.11\00:40:47.88
leading her to do
this, but her mom,
00:40:47.91\00:40:51.28
so she didn't know what to do
00:40:51.31\00:40:53.38
and she said "that day that
after she heard my testimony
00:40:53.42\00:40:57.55
and heard the people's reaction
00:40:57.59\00:41:01.19
and just the story" she said,
00:41:01.22\00:41:05.79
"It was clear to what
decision she will make."
00:41:05.83\00:41:09.03
And so I prayed for her
right there on that spot
00:41:09.06\00:41:12.13
and for her
family and her mother
00:41:12.17\00:41:15.14
and that story just it resonate
00:41:15.17\00:41:19.81
and it just-- it
never leaves my mind
00:41:19.84\00:41:21.94
because I'm like
"Wow, you know God,
00:41:21.98\00:41:25.61
you had, my story had
this affect on someone."
00:41:25.65\00:41:30.09
That's right.
00:41:30.12\00:41:31.45
And you know that God
gives us all a testimony.
00:41:31.49\00:41:33.86
You're testimony is greater
sermon you'll ever preach.
00:41:33.89\00:41:37.86
So now that the
Lord has led you out,
00:41:37.89\00:41:43.60
brought you out
of Sugar Ditch Alley.
00:41:43.63\00:41:48.57
From poverty to
where you're comfortable.
00:41:48.60\00:41:51.11
He's using you in a mighty way.
00:41:51.14\00:41:53.84
Do you ever find that
00:41:53.88\00:41:57.88
success
sometimes gets in your way
00:41:57.91\00:42:02.65
of your relationship with God?
00:42:02.68\00:42:04.02
In other words, do
you find that you have to,
00:42:04.05\00:42:07.02
you know, when
you have a great need,
00:42:07.06\00:42:09.19
it's easy to stay on your knees
00:42:09.22\00:42:10.66
before the Lord
recognizing your dependence.
00:42:10.69\00:42:13.06
But sometimes even
success at ministry
00:42:13.09\00:42:17.20
can make you temporarily forget
00:42:17.23\00:42:21.84
how totally
dependent you're upon God.
00:42:21.87\00:42:24.31
Do you find that
you're really having
00:42:24.34\00:42:26.37
to focusing on
that to maintain that
00:42:26.41\00:42:28.61
same intimacy of relationship?
00:42:28.64\00:42:33.35
I think, I'm built different.
00:42:33.38\00:42:35.52
I don't find that and
I'm gonna tell you why,
00:42:35.55\00:42:39.09
I'm-- the person I'm
00:42:39.12\00:42:42.62
or the kind of
person I'm, I should say,
00:42:42.66\00:42:45.23
I'm very hard on myself.
00:42:45.26\00:42:51.37
I believe in the
more the more you get
00:42:51.40\00:42:56.77
the more
responsibility you have.
00:42:56.81\00:42:59.27
And when I look at great
big audience of people that,
00:42:59.31\00:43:06.92
you know, I'm ministering
to or if I'm speaking to,
00:43:06.95\00:43:09.78
I feel a sense of
responsibility that
00:43:09.82\00:43:12.55
they're here for a purpose
and it is my job to give them
00:43:12.59\00:43:17.73
what I'm supposed to give them,
00:43:17.76\00:43:21.26
and that to me is a
lot of responsibility.
00:43:21.30\00:43:26.63
It is.
00:43:26.67\00:43:28.00
You definitely want
that every individual there
00:43:28.04\00:43:31.41
to leave with something
that God can use in their lives
00:43:31.44\00:43:35.24
and so I guess for me
00:43:35.28\00:43:38.41
it's more like
the more, you know.
00:43:38.45\00:43:42.68
Praise the Lord.
00:43:42.72\00:43:44.05
Yeah, with the
more responsibility.
00:43:44.09\00:43:46.09
Oh, you know, that's
an excellent response
00:43:46.12\00:43:48.56
because that's the
way it is supposed to be.
00:43:48.59\00:43:50.33
That's the way
God wants you to be.
00:43:50.36\00:43:52.13
So now let's talk
about for just a moment.
00:43:52.16\00:43:57.17
You've got a book and
the name of the book is?
00:43:57.20\00:44:00.30
The Boy From The Ditch.
00:44:00.34\00:44:01.97
The Boy From The Ditch.
00:44:02.00\00:44:03.34
When did you write the book?
00:44:03.37\00:44:04.74
I wrote the book
about 2-1/2 years ago.
00:44:04.77\00:44:07.18
All right and this
book is available how?
00:44:07.21\00:44:11.91
It is available on Amazon.
00:44:11.95\00:44:15.32
Okay. Amazon.com
00:44:15.35\00:44:16.95
Or Barnes & Noble
Nooks or you can order it at.
00:44:16.99\00:44:20.62
You said that too fast--
00:44:20.66\00:44:21.99
Oh, Amazon.com.
00:44:22.02\00:44:24.23
And Barnes & Noble Nooks.
00:44:24.26\00:44:26.90
Okay, Barnes & Noble.
00:44:26.93\00:44:28.50
Or you can go to the website
www.theboyfromtheditch.com
00:44:28.53\00:44:35.20
Okay, www.theboyfromtheditch.com
00:44:35.24\00:44:40.51
I love the name
00:44:40.54\00:44:41.88
because you did
come out of the ditch
00:44:41.91\00:44:44.45
didn't you, literally?
00:44:44.48\00:44:46.28
So this is something that--
00:44:46.31\00:44:49.32
what is the name of the ministry
00:44:49.35\00:44:50.69
that the Lord has given you?
00:44:50.72\00:44:52.72
The name of the ministry
is Turtle Nation Ministry.
00:44:52.75\00:44:56.22
Turtle Nation.
00:44:56.26\00:44:58.03
Nation Ministry.
00:44:58.06\00:44:59.76
I love it. Yes.
00:44:59.79\00:45:01.63
Now this is your logo.
00:45:01.66\00:45:03.00
Yes, that is my
logo, and the slogan,
00:45:03.03\00:45:07.17
"It's not about the
speed, but the mentality,
00:45:07.20\00:45:10.61
which is a, I
think a modern trans...
00:45:10.64\00:45:18.28
Translation!
00:45:18.31\00:45:19.65
Translation, I'm
sorry, of the verse
00:45:19.68\00:45:23.89
that we just talked about
00:45:23.92\00:45:25.25
which is "The race is not given
to the swift nor the strong,
00:45:25.29\00:45:28.39
but to the one that
endure it to the end."
00:45:28.42\00:45:32.16
You know, I was-- the
story we were talking about
00:45:32.19\00:45:34.83
when I spoke at the high school,
00:45:34.83\00:45:36.60
the young lady
came to me and said,
00:45:36.63\00:45:38.53
you know, I
really like the story
00:45:38.57\00:45:40.20
and the way you used it.
00:45:40.24\00:45:41.90
You guys have a
mascot, logo, or something
00:45:41.94\00:45:46.64
and I said "wow, you know
no, but thank you for the idea."
00:45:46.68\00:45:51.95
She said, oh,
she was all excited,
00:45:51.98\00:45:53.48
it was a high school student.
00:45:53.52\00:45:54.95
And so we came up with
the slogan and the mascot
00:45:54.98\00:45:59.52
and we got with the publishing--
00:45:59.55\00:46:01.66
Have you already
named it Turtle Nations?
00:46:01.69\00:46:04.09
No. So all of this---
00:46:04.13\00:46:06.03
All of this came
from that conversation.
00:46:06.06\00:46:08.76
And you know it
was really interesting
00:46:08.80\00:46:10.80
because that young lady
was just, she was so gifted
00:46:10.83\00:46:15.04
and she made such an impression
on me that 2 years later
00:46:15.07\00:46:19.14
she is now one of the
actress in my stage play.
00:46:19.17\00:46:22.68
Praise God, praise God.
00:46:22.71\00:46:25.38
So this then on your
website that you offered that.
00:46:25.41\00:46:30.29
Now do you offer other things
00:46:30.32\00:46:31.65
on your website
or like a little...
00:46:31.69\00:46:33.22
Yeah, well you
can, my website offer me
00:46:33.25\00:46:37.09
of course as a motivational
and inspirational speaker
00:46:37.13\00:46:40.03
and also the stage play.
00:46:40.06\00:46:43.06
You can contact us
through that website
00:46:43.10\00:46:46.87
theboyfromtheditch.com
to book the stage play.
00:46:46.90\00:46:50.91
Or to find out
where it might be showing.
00:46:50.94\00:46:52.71
Yes, or find out
where it might be showing.
00:46:52.74\00:46:56.51
We're also, you
know, I do a lot,
00:46:56.54\00:47:02.02
I also mention music.
00:47:02.05\00:47:03.99
I wrote the music, all
the music for the play,
00:47:04.02\00:47:10.09
so it's really my
testimony and story,
00:47:10.13\00:47:14.60
but everything
that God has given me
00:47:14.63\00:47:17.07
and you know I want to use it.
00:47:17.10\00:47:19.60
Amen.
00:47:19.63\00:47:21.54
To further His cause,
00:47:21.57\00:47:22.90
and to have an
impression on young people,
00:47:22.94\00:47:24.77
and people all around the world.
00:47:24.81\00:47:27.14
You know the
thing about a stage play
00:47:27.18\00:47:31.01
is that you can book a
community sooner or something
00:47:31.05\00:47:35.88
and this does draw people
in where they might not come
00:47:35.92\00:47:39.85
just to hear your sermon,
00:47:39.89\00:47:41.22
they'll come watch a stage play.
00:47:41.26\00:47:43.96
And where some
teenagers might come to church
00:47:43.99\00:47:47.13
just sit on their
iPad or their iPhone
00:47:47.20\00:47:49.23
the whole time texting,
00:47:49.26\00:47:51.07
they'll really
pay attention to this.
00:47:51.10\00:47:52.70
So it is, it's
a way to reach out
00:47:52.73\00:47:55.80
and it is your
testimony, it's God's story.
00:47:55.84\00:47:59.01
Yes, definitely.
00:47:59.04\00:48:00.91
Of how He worked in your mind.
00:48:00.94\00:48:04.21
What about your children?
00:48:04.25\00:48:06.21
Are they developing
00:48:06.25\00:48:07.82
that same personal
relationship with the Lord
00:48:07.85\00:48:10.69
you're showing,
you're modeling to them?
00:48:10.72\00:48:13.46
You became what you beheld
00:48:13.49\00:48:15.42
and you're
modeling that to them now.
00:48:15.46\00:48:17.93
Yes, it's funny you said acts,
00:48:17.96\00:48:20.76
because my wife and I, we were
just having this conversation
00:48:20.80\00:48:23.57
just a few moments
ago, few days ago I'm sorry,
00:48:23.60\00:48:27.77
and we observed our
children trying to figure out
00:48:27.80\00:48:31.81
you know, who is
the kinesthetic leaner,
00:48:31.84\00:48:33.51
who is the cognitive learner,
00:48:33.54\00:48:35.24
you know, and we're just
00:48:35.28\00:48:36.68
trying to figure
out things about them,
00:48:36.71\00:48:38.45
but the one thing we agreed on
00:48:38.48\00:48:41.05
and one thing that
we have vowed to do
00:48:41.08\00:48:44.65
and that is be an
example for our children.
00:48:44.69\00:48:48.22
The biggest thing is
a lot of kids doesn't--
00:48:48.26\00:48:51.73
they grow up and they
do not have that example.
00:48:51.76\00:48:54.86
Now, I lost my father at 3.
00:48:54.93\00:48:56.30
I really know what it's
like to lose a father figure.
00:48:56.33\00:49:01.44
You have no one to model
yourself or your behavior.
00:49:01.47\00:49:05.91
Or how you go
about making decisions.
00:49:05.94\00:49:09.84
And so we-- I have 2 boys
00:49:09.88\00:49:11.58
and 1, my youngest is a girl.
00:49:11.61\00:49:13.92
My wife and I, we've vowed
that the one thing we would do,
00:49:13.95\00:49:16.82
we would not allow the
world or their environment
00:49:16.85\00:49:22.76
to raise our children
that we would do it and.
00:49:22.79\00:49:25.79
Glory to God.
00:49:25.83\00:49:27.13
The saying says you know,
00:49:27.20\00:49:29.23
"It's not what you
say, but what you do."
00:49:29.26\00:49:33.34
That's what kids are watching.
00:49:33.37\00:49:35.30
Amen, like I said you okay,
00:49:35.34\00:49:37.57
greatest sermon you'll
preach is your testimony
00:49:37.61\00:49:40.18
and your lifestyle in
front of your children.
00:49:40.21\00:49:42.74
That is true, what you do.
00:49:42.78\00:49:44.15
Yes, they're watching you.
00:49:44.18\00:49:45.51
Well, we want to
give people an opportunity
00:49:45.55\00:49:48.08
to get in touch with you Dennis,
00:49:48.12\00:49:49.58
if you want to
ask Dennis to come
00:49:49.62\00:49:52.55
and be a speaker at an
event, or at your church,
00:49:52.59\00:49:55.52
or if perhaps you could
like to book the stage play
00:49:55.56\00:50:01.23
or I guess again,
just to know again
00:50:01.26\00:50:03.83
how to get hold of his
book and purchase that book,
00:50:03.87\00:50:06.94
here's his contact information.
00:50:06.97\00:50:09.20
If you'd like to contact Dennis,
00:50:11.47\00:50:13.14
then you can email
him at coachd92@gmail.com.
00:50:13.17\00:50:17.98
That's coachd92@gmail.com.
00:50:18.01\00:50:21.95
Or if you'd like to
learn how you can get his book
00:50:21.98\00:50:24.45
Boy From The Ditch or find
out more about the stage play,
00:50:24.49\00:50:28.49
then you can go online
at theboyfromtheditch.com.
00:50:28.52\00:50:33.66
It's all one word
theboyfromtheditch.com.
00:50:33.70\00:50:38.37
We're gonna be coming back
00:50:42.34\00:50:43.67
in just a moment with a
closing thought from Dennis,
00:50:43.71\00:50:45.44
but right now we
have Rudi Micelli again,
00:50:45.47\00:50:47.58
and Rudi is gonna be
singing for us "Always."
00:50:47.61\00:50:51.05
Always
00:51:01.86\00:51:04.43
When I seek my Jesus
00:51:04.46\00:51:08.73
When I need his favor
00:51:08.76\00:51:13.03
I know he'll be there
00:51:13.07\00:51:19.14
Always
00:51:19.17\00:51:21.81
If I am afflicted
00:51:21.84\00:51:26.05
Feeling hurt or saddened
00:51:26.08\00:51:30.49
I know that He cares
00:51:30.52\00:51:36.42
Jesus rescued me from danger
00:51:36.46\00:51:43.10
With His hand of mercy
00:51:43.13\00:51:47.40
Brought me to His light
00:51:47.44\00:51:53.41
He's more than I've ever needed
00:51:53.44\00:52:00.28
He's my king, my Savior
00:52:00.32\00:52:04.59
Now I have new life
00:52:04.62\00:52:09.36
Always I will go on singing
00:52:10.93\00:52:17.63
Knowing that someday soon
00:52:17.67\00:52:22.00
He will come for me
00:52:22.04\00:52:26.44
Jesus rescued me from danger
00:52:28.18\00:52:34.98
With His loving arms He
00:52:35.02\00:52:39.29
Brought me to His light
00:52:39.32\00:52:46.09
He's more than I've ever needed
00:52:46.13\00:52:52.73
He's my king, my Savior
00:52:52.77\00:52:57.17
Now I have new life
00:52:57.21\00:53:03.24