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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Amen. I have my
wonderful co-host.
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You all know I
always say this every time,
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I'm on this seat and
he is in that seat...
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She is a great host.
I'm just a co-host today.
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Thank you for
allowing me to be here.
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And this is fun,
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I like this part
because I watch you at work.
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Yvonne, the natural.
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But the reason she does so well
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at what she does is
because she loves to do
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what she does
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and that's to tell
people about Jesus Christ.
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Yes.
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And to interview folks,
we have some special friends,
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special...
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We won't call them guests
or just guests when they came,
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but they're sisters in the Lord.
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That's right.
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So we have some
special sisters today.
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We do.
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And I think
you're going to introduce
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the folks to our family.
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I am, you know, these
are more than just guests,
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these are like
family, I've known these women
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since I was a teenager
which was quite a while ago.
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And to have them
here is such a blessing.
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And you're going
to be blessed too
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when you find out
what they're doing,
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so let me introduce them to you.
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First we have Belinda Smith.
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And Belinda is the...
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I want to make sure
I have you title right,
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Founder and
President of the ministry,
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which is Women
Working with Women.
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Yes.
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And then we have Purette Mills,
she is the Vice-President.
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And then we have
mom Maxine Bethea.
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Mom, there you go.
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And she is the
Secretary-Treasurer.
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Mom looks
beautiful today, doesn't she?
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Doesn't she? She does.
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She's beautiful inside and out.
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And now you got a
million dollar smile,
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so that tells me...
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Wow.
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You got confidence in something,
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and I think that
that's in the Lord, right?
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Oh, yes. Amen.
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I think because you're radiating
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when you walked in this room.
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I saw you all
smiling and happy and I said,
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"Okay, they
love Jesus." Oh, yes.
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Amen. They do.
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Yeah.
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And they've had such a journey,
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and before we even start
with Women Working with Women,
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I want us to hear
about your personal journeys
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because I think the
viewers need to know
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what brought you to this place.
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Have you always
been on fire for God?
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Absolutely not.
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I was end-stage renal
disease specialist in dialysis
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for about 25 years.
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And in that field,
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my goal was to train
nurses and technicians
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how to dialyze patients.
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During that time, I
was making very good money.
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So, of course, born
and raised in the church
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with the wonderful family,
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we tend to, you know,
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find our own
ways as we get older.
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And while in the field,
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I did a lot of work
for Corporate America
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where I was working so much,
I wasn't even going to church.
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I was really making a
name for myself in the field,
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and I went as far as I could in
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that field as president of
the Nephrology Association.
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At that point,
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there was no other
level for me to do,
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so I decided then I
wanted to do something else.
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But I also knew that
I wasn't in the church,
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and my life wasn't
the way it should be.
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And if I was going to get
that relationship I needed
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with the Lord,
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I would have to
probably change my course.
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Not knowing that
God knew that as well,
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and during that time,
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my mother had gotten
ill when I went to see her.
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And while I was
there she had passed out,
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I never saw her passed out
before, and I was visiting.
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But I had a hard time getting
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that look out of my
mind when she was sick.
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And so when I went
back to Mississippi,
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I couldn't rest.
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And I knew then I
would have to just resign.
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I can't stay here, I
really need to go be there
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'cause what if nobody is
there and something happens.
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So that was a
divine move by God.
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Absolutely. I believe that.
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And when I got there
and I moved to Gainesville
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and that's
approximately now 16 years ago.
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Okay.
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And while being there
is when I got involved
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with women's ministry.
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I've always been
in giving workshops,
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and conferences,
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and speaking in public
to thousands of people,
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that was my job
but not for Christ,
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that was the difference.
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I got involved
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with the women's
ministry organization
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in Southeastern Conference
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under the
leadership of Nicole Brise,
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Elder Nicole Brise.
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And under her leadership,
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I was able to travel
to Africa and Curacao
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and different places to preach
the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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That was great.
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And I used to preach the gospel
of end-stage renal disease
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and here I am in
Africa now in Bingerville,
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preaching the gospel
at a three weeks crusade.
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Yes.
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So that's where the
turn changed in my life.
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And while I was in Corporate
America drinking and partying
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and doing all
the things, Yvonne,
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you know, we should not do
and that type of lifestyle.
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And so coming back to Florida
was my saving grace turn.
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All right.
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And so when I got back
involved with women's ministry,
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I knew then after 12 years
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of being with
Southeastern Conference
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with the women's ministry,
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the Lord gave me that
vision to do the same thing
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but in the community.
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And so after 12 years
there at Southeastern Conference
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working with Nicole Brise,
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I developed an organization
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called Women Working with Women.
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And that's where the birth came.
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And here's the
thing about our ministry.
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North American
Division and General Conference,
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their sermons
and the PowerPoints
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are shared
throughout the country
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in this ministry
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because those are the ones
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that we used to entertain
the women in the community.
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So we give conferences called
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Women Working
with Women Conferences.
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And we gave one a
couple of years ago,
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we got over 100 women signed
up to come to this conference.
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Wonderful.
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But we were giving them
the Gospel of Jesus Christ
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through our North
American Division PowerPoints
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on women's ministry, on abuse.
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And now all those things
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we give all of
that to the community,
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we don't house it,
it's not ours to house.
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Okay.
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So you bring the community in...
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Absolutely.
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The women in, and
then you're showing them...
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Absolutely.
Evangelistic types of tools.
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It's evangelistic trust
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that we are
using in the community,
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we are preaching the
gospel with our material
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that allows the women to learn
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how to live in Christ
and how to deal with abuse,
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how to deal with incarceration,
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how to deal with
single parenting.
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We have all that stuff.
We have all the material.
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All we're doing is
taking it from the church
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and taking it
outside to the community
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so that we can
share it with those women,
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and they have no idea.
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That's wonderful.
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While we invite the
women of the church to join us
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in that same effort
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so we can grow that
ministry in the community
00:08:01.44\00:08:04.35
and in the church
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because we want to
teach women in the church
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how to do what we are
doing to grow our communities
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even further for the church
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'cause the ultimate goal
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is whether we're
in the church or not,
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it's a women's ministry.
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Yes.
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And we want to make sure people
have a part in that ministry.
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Yes.
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And I really want to get more
into Women Working with Women,
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but I still want to hear
more of your journeys first.
00:08:26.63\00:08:29.27
And, Purette, I know
you have a testimony too.
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Tell us about your testimony.
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Well, I have
quite a few testimonies,
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but I'm going to try to tell you
00:08:35.64\00:08:37.51
this particular
one because it started
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when we were young
with this lady here.
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Ever since I can remember,
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my mother has always
taken in people from the street,
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from so many places,
00:08:48.79\00:08:51.49
particularly
doing community service
00:08:51.53\00:08:54.60
with those people.
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What's exciting to me about
that is that I didn't realize
00:08:56.00\00:08:58.07
she was planting a seed.
00:08:58.10\00:08:59.87
So whether we were,
00:08:59.90\00:09:01.24
you know, feeding people
or taking people in our home
00:09:01.27\00:09:05.11
or visiting
prisons every weekend
00:09:05.14\00:09:07.51
'cause that's what started
with her 50-plus years ago,
00:09:07.54\00:09:10.55
where we were, prison
ministry was in our spirit.
00:09:10.58\00:09:13.21
Every Sabbath, we had
to go to the nursing home,
00:09:13.25\00:09:15.48
we had to go
visit the prisons...
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Oh, yeah, wonderful.
00:09:16.89\00:09:18.22
We were to not
stay at home children.
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Good job, Mom.
00:09:19.62\00:09:21.89
So you made up
the child. Exactly.
00:09:21.92\00:09:23.36
Yes.
00:09:23.39\00:09:24.73
So we learned by example
00:09:24.76\00:09:26.49
but didn't realize
what was really going on
00:09:26.53\00:09:28.80
because we went
crazy about the idea,
00:09:28.83\00:09:31.40
but it had become who we were.
00:09:31.43\00:09:34.00
And, of course, in
turn I end up doing
00:09:34.04\00:09:36.14
that with my own children.
00:09:36.17\00:09:38.01
So as I moved forward
in my own personal life,
00:09:38.04\00:09:42.64
I went into teaching and when...
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whatever city I was in,
00:09:45.58\00:09:47.42
and I've been
in nine conferences
00:09:47.45\00:09:50.32
around the nation.
00:09:50.35\00:09:51.85
So in every city,
00:09:51.89\00:09:53.36
there was some type
of food giving program
00:09:53.39\00:09:56.46
that I was a part of
and then I started my own
00:09:56.49\00:09:59.33
for the school
00:09:59.36\00:10:00.70
because, you
know, in our schools,
00:10:00.73\00:10:02.06
we don't have just,
00:10:02.10\00:10:04.17
you know,
Seventh-day Adventists children.
00:10:04.20\00:10:06.43
And there were a lot of people
00:10:06.47\00:10:07.80
who came to our
schools that couldn't afford it
00:10:07.84\00:10:09.60
who won scholarships.
00:10:09.64\00:10:10.97
Okay. And they needed the help.
00:10:11.01\00:10:12.64
So when I saw
poverty, well, if I saw a need,
00:10:12.67\00:10:15.04
and even people
who were middle class,
00:10:15.08\00:10:17.98
they didn't always have enough
to make ends meet in the way
00:10:18.01\00:10:21.48
that would make
them comfortable.
00:10:21.52\00:10:23.12
So we started in
our school with foods,
00:10:23.15\00:10:25.05
at different schools.
00:10:25.09\00:10:26.49
So now here I am
at a point in my life
00:10:26.52\00:10:29.52
where not only are my
children doing the same thing
00:10:29.56\00:10:32.53
and loved to do the same thing,
00:10:32.56\00:10:34.30
Belinda tells me about
00:10:34.33\00:10:36.30
all that she's doing
with the women's ministries
00:10:36.33\00:10:38.40
for her conference.
00:10:38.43\00:10:40.34
The first 12 years she worked,
00:10:40.37\00:10:42.17
I tried to be a
part of that with her.
00:10:42.20\00:10:43.77
I'm a balloon artist. Okay.
00:10:43.81\00:10:45.47
So my nose got in the door
00:10:45.51\00:10:47.94
because I create
balloon art that wows.
00:10:47.98\00:10:51.48
And so she had me
come in and make sure
00:10:51.51\00:10:54.58
that her
conferences had that appeal.
00:10:54.62\00:10:57.92
Okay.
00:10:57.95\00:10:59.29
And of course the
more I saw her involved,
00:10:59.32\00:11:01.56
she knew that with my experience
00:11:01.59\00:11:02.92
in schools,
00:11:02.96\00:11:04.29
I talked to a lot of
parents, I've always,
00:11:04.33\00:11:06.46
you know, had parenting seminars
00:11:06.49\00:11:07.83
just back to back all the time
00:11:07.86\00:11:09.30
and she wanted to put
that piece in her presentation.
00:11:09.33\00:11:13.44
You know, when
she did conferences,
00:11:13.47\00:11:15.40
we have all kinds of workshops,
00:11:15.44\00:11:17.24
but she wanted a
parenting workshop
00:11:17.27\00:11:20.58
because of that situation,
00:11:20.61\00:11:23.04
I saw her grow and grow and grow
00:11:23.08\00:11:24.85
and just stuck with her.
00:11:24.88\00:11:26.21
So it was a natural transition
for me to get involved.
00:11:26.25\00:11:28.68
But remember the
evangelistic thrust
00:11:28.72\00:11:30.39
of the whole
part of conferencing
00:11:30.42\00:11:32.19
was that I'm not
going to be mentoring
00:11:32.22\00:11:33.56
to the women in the church.
00:11:33.59\00:11:35.99
The conferences
are being reached out
00:11:36.02\00:11:37.56
to the women in the community,
00:11:37.59\00:11:39.23
so when we do our conferences,
00:11:39.26\00:11:40.70
we go on radio,
we go in the paper,
00:11:40.73\00:11:43.57
and we promote it
through the local churches.
00:11:43.60\00:11:45.43
Okay.
00:11:45.47\00:11:46.80
And the people that
come to the women conferences
00:11:46.84\00:11:48.57
are from all other churches.
00:11:48.60\00:11:50.74
And they're
looking and their hearing
00:11:50.77\00:11:52.64
and they're watching that
every presenter is someone
00:11:52.67\00:11:57.05
that we know
that use our material
00:11:57.08\00:11:58.61
that shares that
whether it's on end-it-now abuse
00:11:58.65\00:12:01.32
or whether it's on
how to be a good parent.
00:12:01.35\00:12:05.65
We use our material
in an evangelistic thrust
00:12:05.69\00:12:09.42
to give to the
community and they eat it up,
00:12:09.46\00:12:12.19
they want the
copies, they want the,
00:12:12.23\00:12:13.80
"Can you give me a
copy of that sermon?
00:12:13.83\00:12:15.26
Can I have that?"
00:12:15.30\00:12:16.63
And all the speakers
are from our conference
00:12:16.67\00:12:18.00
that I know
00:12:18.03\00:12:19.37
because that's who God put
in my life with those women.
00:12:19.40\00:12:22.00
And so we've had
just do the talkings,
00:12:22.04\00:12:23.61
we've had many women help
us speak at our conferences.
00:12:23.64\00:12:27.34
And in doing that,
00:12:27.38\00:12:29.21
we're able to tell the
women in the community,
00:12:29.24\00:12:31.48
you know, that you're
more than just a conqueror.
00:12:31.51\00:12:33.95
You might be addicted
right now to him or to a drug,
00:12:33.98\00:12:38.49
but the bottom line
is when you get done
00:12:38.52\00:12:40.22
this weekend at this conference,
00:12:40.26\00:12:41.79
you're going to
realize how much God loves you
00:12:41.82\00:12:43.69
and how much you are more
than what you believe you are.
00:12:43.73\00:12:46.76
And when I saw that,
when I saw that growth,
00:12:46.80\00:12:49.96
when I saw that thrust,
00:12:50.00\00:12:51.97
and she told me
what she wanted to do
00:12:52.00\00:12:53.77
when she left working
00:12:53.80\00:12:55.40
with the
conference, I kind of...
00:12:55.44\00:12:57.21
it was just a natural transition
00:12:57.24\00:12:58.84
for me to be a part.
00:12:58.87\00:13:00.21
And I just love working
with the program, I really do.
00:13:00.24\00:13:04.05
And, again, it's the conference,
00:13:04.08\00:13:05.41
it's the women ministries
00:13:05.45\00:13:07.48
that we have
throughout the conferences
00:13:07.52\00:13:10.02
that have that
equipment to empower me
00:13:10.05\00:13:12.99
to empower others.
00:13:13.02\00:13:14.46
And that's why it's
important to get involved
00:13:14.49\00:13:16.19
with women's ministry as a woman
00:13:16.22\00:13:17.93
if you're in a church
00:13:17.96\00:13:19.29
because it is
critical to get this material
00:13:19.33\00:13:21.93
and take it to the community.
00:13:21.96\00:13:24.40
That's why we're there,
we're sitting there every year,
00:13:24.43\00:13:26.74
we're at conferences,
we're being empowered,
00:13:26.77\00:13:28.97
we're being filled
and now we have to let
00:13:29.00\00:13:31.17
that cup run over
out in the community.
00:13:31.21\00:13:33.31
And that's what I'm
illustrating right now
00:13:33.34\00:13:36.38
in our community,
00:13:36.41\00:13:37.75
and I'm hoping
people will follow
00:13:37.78\00:13:39.35
that same trend not
wait to be put in office
00:13:39.38\00:13:42.15
just do the work.
00:13:42.18\00:13:43.52
Yes.
00:13:43.55\00:13:44.89
It's not a
women's ministry's club.
00:13:44.92\00:13:46.25
It's women in ministry. Right.
00:13:46.29\00:13:47.89
Women in
ministry. Women in ministry.
00:13:47.92\00:13:49.92
So, Sister Maxine, do
you want to say anything?
00:13:49.96\00:13:52.19
Well, I was just
before you move on
00:13:52.23\00:13:54.00
or wonder ask
her a question right
00:13:54.03\00:13:56.10
before we came on the air,
00:13:56.13\00:13:57.47
I heard you two
talking and you were talking
00:13:57.50\00:13:59.73
about you've known her,
00:13:59.77\00:14:01.10
I'm going to say
00:14:01.14\00:14:02.47
since you're
little girl almost, right?
00:14:02.50\00:14:03.84
Yes.
00:14:03.87\00:14:05.21
Tell us little bit
about this relationship.
00:14:05.24\00:14:07.34
Danny, I am so glad you
said that because really
00:14:07.38\00:14:10.85
that's where this seed
was planted in my heart.
00:14:10.88\00:14:14.32
I love, love, love
music, and I love ministry,
00:14:14.35\00:14:18.82
I call it the
M&Ms, they go together.
00:14:18.85\00:14:21.22
Good.
00:14:21.26\00:14:22.59
And my love for music
started in Brooklyn, New York.
00:14:22.62\00:14:26.19
And my girlfriend
and I would follow
00:14:26.23\00:14:29.46
Miss Yvonne Hodge at that
time, everywhere she went.
00:14:29.50\00:14:33.84
Whenever we
heard she was singing,
00:14:33.87\00:14:35.20
it was like a
celebrity because her voice...
00:14:35.24\00:14:37.41
And here's the difference,
00:14:37.44\00:14:39.24
that music grew
ministry loving in my heart,
00:14:39.27\00:14:44.01
you know, just her
voice was so crystal clear
00:14:44.05\00:14:48.48
with no vibrato,
I never heard that.
00:14:48.52\00:14:53.39
And it was like water,
00:14:53.42\00:14:55.09
it's like
listening to fresh water
00:14:55.12\00:14:56.52
'cause it was new.
00:14:56.56\00:14:57.89
And I must have
been all of 10 and 11
00:14:57.93\00:15:00.30
when I first realized
how powerful that was for me.
00:15:00.33\00:15:02.46
Wow! Wonderful. Oh, yeah.
00:15:02.50\00:15:04.10
Oh, no, you didn't have to say.
00:15:04.13\00:15:07.77
But it's exciting to
know that because of that seed
00:15:07.80\00:15:11.74
and following her
whenever we heard her name,
00:15:11.77\00:15:14.21
we wanted to get involved.
00:15:14.24\00:15:15.58
I'm not talking
about now 10 and 11,
00:15:15.61\00:15:17.55
I'm talking about
18, I'm talking about 24,
00:15:17.58\00:15:19.85
I'm talking about 30...
00:15:19.88\00:15:21.22
All my life somewhere
00:15:21.25\00:15:22.72
I would be able to find
and spot that music in my life
00:15:22.75\00:15:26.45
and it kept drawing
me back to ministry.
00:15:26.49\00:15:29.26
So they're teaching
ministry, the music ministry,
00:15:29.29\00:15:32.79
I'm a choir
director to this day,
00:15:32.83\00:15:34.33
she didn't know that,
church's choir director.
00:15:34.36\00:15:37.60
All that they
had started with love
00:15:37.63\00:15:39.63
that I had for people
00:15:39.67\00:15:41.20
who I called the glue
that keeps us in the church.
00:15:41.24\00:15:43.64
Okay.
00:15:43.67\00:15:45.01
So when you hear
Yvonne, there is a pull,
00:15:45.04\00:15:46.57
you know, when you
hear about her sister,
00:15:46.61\00:15:48.94
you hear about any family member
00:15:48.98\00:15:50.78
that was surrounding
Bethel Church at that time,
00:15:50.81\00:15:54.08
there's a pull.
00:15:54.12\00:15:55.45
So this thing of ministry,
00:15:55.48\00:15:58.19
and I say this to
all parents all the time,
00:15:58.22\00:16:01.02
we have to create
positive spiritual memories
00:16:01.06\00:16:04.19
for children at every age.
00:16:04.23\00:16:05.76
Absolutely.
00:16:05.79\00:16:07.13
Because truly, just
as Yvonne became my glue,
00:16:07.16\00:16:10.40
that becomes their glue
to staying in the church.
00:16:10.43\00:16:13.44
So now when I talk about women
and families in this ministry,
00:16:13.47\00:16:18.11
I'm talking about saving souls,
that's all I'm talking about.
00:16:18.14\00:16:20.88
It's what it's all
about. Praise the Lord.
00:16:20.91\00:16:22.24
You know, just a few nights ago,
00:16:22.28\00:16:25.45
I went to New York with
her, we went to New York.
00:16:25.48\00:16:27.48
She was invited
to a Roberta Flack
00:16:27.52\00:16:29.58
that she used to sing
with on the road for some time.
00:16:29.62\00:16:34.42
And she was invited
to her birthday party
00:16:34.46\00:16:36.39
so of course I tag along,
00:16:36.42\00:16:38.46
but what I was so amazed
00:16:38.49\00:16:40.00
at because I didn't
know this part of her life,
00:16:40.03\00:16:41.90
I've known her
a number of years,
00:16:41.93\00:16:43.83
but the professional
singers some of the folks
00:16:43.87\00:16:46.47
you may call
icons that were there,
00:16:46.50\00:16:49.00
all came up to her.
00:16:49.04\00:16:50.37
Oh. I knew that, I knew that.
00:16:50.41\00:16:53.04
They came up to
her and were saying,
00:16:53.07\00:16:56.04
"You know, we've studied
you, we've listened you,"
00:16:56.08\00:16:58.71
but what they told me that,
00:16:58.75\00:17:00.92
"She was such an influence on us
00:17:00.95\00:17:02.68
for the positive,
00:17:02.72\00:17:04.05
she was always
what you see today,
00:17:04.09\00:17:06.49
you know, she was always
good natured, she was helpful.
00:17:06.52\00:17:11.19
We knew there was
something special about her."
00:17:11.23\00:17:14.06
And so we actually saw
some of the younger singers
00:17:14.10\00:17:16.87
that was 40s,
00:17:16.90\00:17:18.97
we call that
younger now, 40s, the ages
00:17:19.00\00:17:22.07
who are professional singers
00:17:22.10\00:17:23.81
who hadn't really known
her that she's enough older,
00:17:23.84\00:17:27.74
they hadn't seen her face
00:17:27.78\00:17:29.11
but when they
introduced her to sing
00:17:29.14\00:17:30.48
and she went to Roberta.
00:17:30.51\00:17:32.18
And then Roberta said,
"Would you sing for me?"
00:17:32.21\00:17:33.62
Oh, my...
00:17:33.65\00:17:34.98
And they said Yvonne Lewis,
00:17:35.02\00:17:36.55
you could hear the
whole crowd was like...
00:17:36.58\00:17:38.49
So afterwards,
these younger folks said,
00:17:38.52\00:17:40.39
"Ma'am, we studied
you, we've listened you,
00:17:40.42\00:17:44.06
you know, all of these years
00:17:44.09\00:17:45.49
and so you've been a
great mentor for us."
00:17:45.53\00:17:47.50
And they called her the
Golden Era of their music.
00:17:47.53\00:17:50.60
But I said all that to
say her spirit even though
00:17:50.63\00:17:53.44
she left the church
for a while, her spirit,
00:17:53.47\00:17:56.91
she knew God was
drawing her back.
00:17:56.94\00:17:58.74
Amen.
00:17:58.77\00:18:00.11
That same spirit
00:18:00.14\00:18:01.48
that she has now was
within her that same,
00:18:01.51\00:18:04.35
but she had to really
find her way right back
00:18:04.38\00:18:06.95
to where she is today.
00:18:06.98\00:18:08.32
Praise the Lord. Amen.
00:18:08.35\00:18:09.68
Well, because of her spirit
and because of her journey,
00:18:09.72\00:18:12.22
I didn't really
leave the church,
00:18:12.25\00:18:14.19
I always had music.
00:18:14.22\00:18:15.72
Okay.
00:18:15.76\00:18:17.09
I always had music, and the love
00:18:17.13\00:18:18.46
that I had started
with this young lady.
00:18:18.49\00:18:20.40
Wow. Well, praise the Lord.
00:18:20.43\00:18:21.76
That makes me want to cry.
00:18:21.80\00:18:23.47
Praise the Lord
because the Lord,
00:18:23.50\00:18:24.97
it's so obvious
00:18:25.00\00:18:26.33
that that He's had
his hand on all of us
00:18:26.37\00:18:29.10
and He has just brought us
all such a mighty long way.
00:18:29.14\00:18:32.87
And being that we've all
come from great families,
00:18:32.91\00:18:36.24
we still have a journey
00:18:36.28\00:18:37.61
that we have to take on our own.
00:18:37.65\00:18:38.98
That's right.
00:18:39.01\00:18:40.35
And even when I left the church
00:18:40.38\00:18:41.72
and I partied
and drank and smoked
00:18:41.75\00:18:43.22
and I did all of those things,
00:18:43.25\00:18:44.95
yeah, I did, I know
you're watching, but I did.
00:18:44.99\00:18:48.86
But it all had to be
a part of that journey
00:18:48.89\00:18:51.69
because God only
deals with our choices,
00:18:51.73\00:18:54.00
but He also knows our heart.
00:18:54.03\00:18:55.56
And you remember no matter
00:18:55.60\00:18:57.20
what Peter said,
"Lord, I will not deny You,"
00:18:57.23\00:19:00.00
God knew his heart and
allowed him to deny him.
00:19:00.04\00:19:04.14
But He said afterwards,
00:19:04.17\00:19:06.31
"I allowed him to do that
because I knew his heart."
00:19:06.34\00:19:09.34
Okay. What does that say?
00:19:09.38\00:19:10.78
So we go through these
journeys because God knows us,
00:19:10.81\00:19:14.32
He really knows.
00:19:14.35\00:19:15.72
And He knows how we feel,
and that's why this ministry,
00:19:15.75\00:19:19.09
I have such a
passion for women's ministry.
00:19:19.12\00:19:21.79
I had a passion when
I was in the conference.
00:19:21.82\00:19:25.06
I have a passion
now as an entrepreneur
00:19:25.09\00:19:27.76
and a business owner.
00:19:27.80\00:19:29.13
It is critical to help save
00:19:29.16\00:19:33.23
the women in the community
00:19:33.27\00:19:34.90
more than ever
because I know where I was...
00:19:34.94\00:19:38.74
And I know where
I'm not. That's good.
00:19:38.77\00:19:40.38
And even though I was there,
00:19:40.41\00:19:41.88
you would think I
would've been lost,
00:19:41.91\00:19:43.65
but no, He wasn't
done with this yet.
00:19:43.68\00:19:46.15
No. Right.
00:19:46.18\00:19:48.35
That's what we're saying
to the women in the community.
00:19:48.38\00:19:49.98
And even to the women
00:19:50.02\00:19:51.35
that we go see in
the jail every Sunday,
00:19:51.39\00:19:52.99
every week, she's been going,
00:19:53.02\00:19:54.46
my mother has been going
to jail for over 53 years,
00:19:54.49\00:19:58.33
every week, starting
in New York at Sing Sing.
00:19:58.36\00:20:01.73
Went onto jail of
own accord every week.
00:20:01.76\00:20:04.17
Yes. Yeah, right.
00:20:04.20\00:20:06.23
Yes. Yes,
absolutely for own accord.
00:20:06.27\00:20:09.00
And even with this going now,
00:20:09.04\00:20:10.71
the women there even
as early as of last week,
00:20:10.74\00:20:13.88
the women were very ashamed
00:20:13.91\00:20:17.38
of what they were in
there for and very humiliated,
00:20:17.41\00:20:20.88
and when they come in the
room they're just despondent,
00:20:20.92\00:20:24.49
but then when we say,
00:20:24.52\00:20:25.85
"Hey, praise
God, you're here today
00:20:25.89\00:20:27.52
and look at the day that
God has made just for you.
00:20:27.56\00:20:30.63
You could have
been in your cell,
00:20:30.66\00:20:31.99
but you came up
here to hear the Word."
00:20:32.03\00:20:34.46
Good.
00:20:34.50\00:20:35.83
So God still is
prickling your heart.
00:20:35.86\00:20:38.23
And so you have to remember,
00:20:38.27\00:20:39.60
you know, my husband
was in the same jail.
00:20:39.63\00:20:42.70
And I wasn't in this jail
00:20:42.74\00:20:44.87
but sure I've
crossed a path or something
00:20:44.91\00:20:47.84
that you've done
00:20:47.88\00:20:49.21
because you have to
realize they can relate to you.
00:20:49.24\00:20:50.58
That's right.
00:20:50.61\00:20:51.95
And when they realize
that they can relate to you
00:20:51.98\00:20:53.42
they knew you
have a connection there
00:20:53.45\00:20:55.68
that they will
have with anyone else.
00:20:55.72\00:20:57.92
And I think that's why
when the works in the jail
00:20:57.95\00:21:01.46
and in the
transition that they come out
00:21:01.49\00:21:03.63
and they sign up for hours
00:21:03.66\00:21:05.09
to get their hours done with us.
00:21:05.13\00:21:07.30
Wonderful. Yes, yes.
00:21:07.33\00:21:09.03
Sister Maxine, what do you think
00:21:09.06\00:21:10.70
when you hear your
girls talking about ministry
00:21:10.73\00:21:13.94
and the seeds that
you've planted in them?
00:21:13.97\00:21:17.61
How do you feel
when you hear them talk?
00:21:17.64\00:21:19.97
I just praise God
00:21:20.01\00:21:21.34
because I know if
it wasn't for Jesus,
00:21:21.38\00:21:25.11
I wouldn't be here today.
00:21:25.15\00:21:26.48
Yes. Tell us about your journey.
00:21:26.51\00:21:29.08
Mmm? Tell us about your journey.
00:21:29.12\00:21:30.75
Yeah, Mom, tell
about your journey.
00:21:30.79\00:21:34.36
I can't tell you all of that
but I'll tell you some of it.
00:21:34.39\00:21:36.26
But I do know that
while I was married
00:21:36.29\00:21:40.06
before my husband's
death, I was going to church,
00:21:40.10\00:21:46.13
but I was serving my community
00:21:46.17\00:21:49.94
and my family and
my church family doing
00:21:49.97\00:21:52.21
what I'm supposed to do.
00:21:52.24\00:21:54.48
But when my husband passed,
00:21:54.51\00:21:57.88
and I got married to
Jesus, everything changed.
00:21:57.91\00:22:03.42
And when he passed,
00:22:03.45\00:22:06.92
I asked God what
am I supposed to do.
00:22:06.96\00:22:09.09
I'm up in New York, I
don't have all education,
00:22:09.12\00:22:11.66
I don't have a job.
00:22:11.69\00:22:13.03
I said, "How am I supposed
to raise these children?"
00:22:13.06\00:22:15.90
And a voice said, "Put
them in church school."
00:22:15.93\00:22:18.53
Okay.
00:22:18.57\00:22:20.00
Me and God had a talk.
00:22:20.04\00:22:21.37
"How, Lord, how can I
put them in church school,
00:22:21.40\00:22:22.80
I have no money?"
00:22:22.84\00:22:24.47
He said, "Put
them in church school."
00:22:24.51\00:22:27.14
I went to church that night
and I talked with the pastor,
00:22:27.18\00:22:29.21
he said the same thing.
00:22:29.24\00:22:31.51
The next day,
00:22:31.55\00:22:34.25
Purette came home
00:22:34.28\00:22:35.62
from the first day
in junior high school,
00:22:35.65\00:22:37.79
and she said,
00:22:37.82\00:22:39.15
"Mom, I'm not going
back to that school."
00:22:39.19\00:22:42.59
And I just
talked with the pastor,
00:22:42.62\00:22:43.96
it's not about this
church school thing now,
00:22:43.99\00:22:45.53
you are not going
back to the public school.
00:22:45.56\00:22:48.53
She said, "No,
they want me to bring
00:22:48.56\00:22:49.90
my lunch and some money tomorrow
00:22:49.93\00:22:51.50
or else they're
going to beat me up."
00:22:51.53\00:22:54.64
I said, "Baby, you don't
worry, you don't have to go."
00:22:54.67\00:22:57.51
So when all of my children came
in from school that evening,
00:22:57.54\00:22:59.87
we had a talk.
00:22:59.91\00:23:01.84
And I told them tomorrow,
00:23:01.88\00:23:03.21
we're going to go
find a church school.
00:23:03.24\00:23:05.78
And they were kind of excited,
00:23:05.81\00:23:07.82
but I didn't know
where I was going to go
00:23:07.85\00:23:09.65
with no money,
00:23:09.68\00:23:11.32
just a prayer,
and a raggedy car.
00:23:11.35\00:23:15.92
That night we
prayed, put my babies to bed.
00:23:15.96\00:23:18.09
Early in the next
morning, we get up,
00:23:18.13\00:23:19.46
we're getting ready to
go somewhere to school,
00:23:19.49\00:23:22.00
don't know
where, got in that car.
00:23:22.03\00:23:25.90
I started driving
around Brooklyn, New York.
00:23:25.93\00:23:29.90
And the last stop was
in front of the school
00:23:29.94\00:23:31.84
called Brooklyn
Temple, 3 Lewis Avenue.
00:23:31.87\00:23:36.61
I prayed with my
babies in the car,
00:23:36.64\00:23:38.18
and got up and
walked into the school,
00:23:38.21\00:23:40.72
and the Lord had
everything already planned.
00:23:40.75\00:23:45.09
Walked into the
office, Mr. Sabero says,
00:23:45.12\00:23:47.06
"Oh, so good to have you here.
00:23:47.09\00:23:49.66
These are all your children?"
I say, "Yes, all four."
00:23:49.69\00:23:52.43
He said, "Well,
come into the office."
00:23:52.46\00:23:53.80
We go into the office and
sit down and talk and talk,
00:23:53.83\00:23:55.76
and then he says,
00:23:55.80\00:23:57.37
"We're just going to do
00:23:57.40\00:23:58.77
we can to help you
keep these babies safe,
00:23:58.80\00:24:00.67
we're going to need you here."
00:24:00.70\00:24:02.80
Do you know, he said,
00:24:02.84\00:24:04.24
"I'm going to figure out
00:24:04.27\00:24:05.61
how much it's
going to cost though,
00:24:05.64\00:24:06.98
we got to get you
tuition and stuff."
00:24:07.01\00:24:09.34
I didn't say a
word, just praying.
00:24:09.38\00:24:12.21
And when he gave me the figure,
00:24:12.25\00:24:15.05
I said, "Sir, I
don't have any money."
00:24:15.08\00:24:18.05
I said, "But I
want my children here,
00:24:18.09\00:24:19.55
God told me to bring them here."
00:24:19.59\00:24:22.69
And he says,
00:24:22.72\00:24:24.39
"Well, I believe
what you're saying.
00:24:24.43\00:24:28.66
Let's talk with the teachers,
see if they need any help.
00:24:28.70\00:24:33.74
If they need some
help, that would be great,
00:24:33.77\00:24:36.47
you will fit in perfectly here."
00:24:36.50\00:24:39.44
He left us in a room,
went to talk to the teachers.
00:24:39.47\00:24:42.61
When he did
that, he came back out,
00:24:42.64\00:24:45.85
"See, Miss
Bethea, we can use you.
00:24:45.88\00:24:48.75
My teachers need some assistance
00:24:48.78\00:24:50.12
but there is no salary,
00:24:50.15\00:24:52.25
but your time
00:24:52.29\00:24:54.29
would take care
of their tuition.
00:24:54.32\00:24:57.43
And then you're
going to have any food
00:24:57.46\00:24:59.76
that's left from
lunch, you can take it home."
00:24:59.79\00:25:03.06
And I said, "Thank you so much."
00:25:03.10\00:25:05.23
And I was so
excited. We prayed with him.
00:25:05.27\00:25:08.14
And told me
where to take my kids,
00:25:08.17\00:25:09.60
and showed me the teacher
I would be teaching with.
00:25:09.64\00:25:13.48
And then that
evening after school
00:25:13.51\00:25:16.54
when I got home,
00:25:16.58\00:25:18.01
my phone was
ringing off the hook.
00:25:18.05\00:25:20.72
The parents, couple
of parents called me,
00:25:20.75\00:25:23.28
if I were to take
the children to school,
00:25:23.32\00:25:24.65
they would buy me gas.
00:25:24.69\00:25:26.19
Praise God. That
was another way out.
00:25:26.22\00:25:29.89
Then I happened to
talk to four parents.
00:25:29.92\00:25:32.39
They told that they were
going to pay me per week,
00:25:32.43\00:25:34.20
it's about
$300-something a week for gas.
00:25:34.23\00:25:39.00
When I went to pick up
the children next morning
00:25:39.03\00:25:41.84
for all of us to go to school,
00:25:41.87\00:25:44.07
I had a good time
talking with the parents,
00:25:44.11\00:25:47.01
spending the whole day
at school with my children
00:25:47.04\00:25:48.98
and their children
00:25:49.01\00:25:50.35
and making sure
about their breakfast,
00:25:50.38\00:25:52.95
their lunch at the school.
00:25:52.98\00:25:56.18
Do you know God
works such a miracle,
00:25:56.22\00:25:58.52
one day I carried
a young fellow home
00:25:58.55\00:26:01.02
by name a Kevin Boyer.
00:26:01.06\00:26:03.59
His mama became an alcoholic
00:26:03.63\00:26:05.06
after driving the
subways in New York.
00:26:05.09\00:26:08.10
And she made him
sit at the front door
00:26:08.13\00:26:10.67
and called me,
00:26:10.70\00:26:12.03
"Come, come, Miss
Bethea, come inside a minute."
00:26:12.07\00:26:14.27
So I told other kids,
00:26:14.30\00:26:15.64
"Stay in the car,
00:26:15.67\00:26:17.01
I'll be right back, don't move."
00:26:17.04\00:26:18.37
I went inside.
00:26:18.41\00:26:19.74
She said, "Here,
take this key to my car."
00:26:19.77\00:26:21.94
She had a brand new
Deuce-and-A-Quarter 225.
00:26:21.98\00:26:24.51
Oh... 225.
00:26:24.55\00:26:25.88
Deuce-and-A-Quarter. Yes, right.
00:26:25.91\00:26:27.88
She said, "I want
you to take this car
00:26:27.92\00:26:32.55
and take these children
00:26:32.59\00:26:33.92
'cause your car going to
breakdown, it's smoking."
00:26:33.96\00:26:36.49
Now I don't want you messing
around with the children.
00:26:36.52\00:26:38.06
I said, "Thank you so
much." I said, "You sure?"
00:26:38.09\00:26:39.63
She said, "Yeah."
00:26:39.66\00:26:41.00
I said, "Your
husband says okay."
00:26:41.03\00:26:42.36
She said, "He don't care." Boy!
00:26:42.40\00:26:46.84
Lord, help me, Jesus.
00:26:46.87\00:26:49.70
When I drive that
car in front of my door,
00:26:49.74\00:26:52.81
my neighbors
thought I had hit the number
00:26:52.84\00:26:55.04
or a lottery or something.
00:26:55.08\00:26:56.41
"Where did you
get that car from?"
00:26:56.44\00:26:57.95
"Jesus." That's right.
00:26:57.98\00:27:00.05
Jesus.
00:27:00.08\00:27:01.42
And God have
carried me so forth.
00:27:01.45\00:27:03.05
And when my husband passed,
00:27:03.08\00:27:07.69
I didn't know
which way I was going
00:27:07.72\00:27:09.72
although I have
been into church,
00:27:09.76\00:27:11.89
but I was serving two masses.
00:27:11.93\00:27:13.73
Okay.
00:27:13.76\00:27:15.10
When he died,
00:27:15.13\00:27:16.53
I started
dancing my problems away.
00:27:16.56\00:27:19.33
I'll get my
children ready for church,
00:27:19.37\00:27:21.54
get them ready for
church on Friday afternoon,
00:27:21.57\00:27:24.04
when I got them
in bed and tucked in,
00:27:24.07\00:27:26.21
I would take off and go
dance, go dance, go dance.
00:27:26.24\00:27:30.21
Get home about 3
o'clock in the morning
00:27:30.25\00:27:31.81
and get a couple hours of rest
00:27:31.85\00:27:33.85
and get up and
get my children ready
00:27:33.88\00:27:35.22
for Sabbath school.
00:27:35.25\00:27:37.75
One Sabbath morning,
00:27:37.79\00:27:39.22
sitting in the
back with my children,
00:27:39.25\00:27:42.16
Ella Goldburn was preaching.
00:27:42.19\00:27:43.83
Oh, yeah.
00:27:43.86\00:27:45.79
He looked up
there in the back in end
00:27:45.83\00:27:47.40
I was nodding.
00:27:47.43\00:27:49.50
I hear my name out
before the congregations,
00:27:49.53\00:27:51.80
"Sister Bethea, wake up,
00:27:51.83\00:27:53.60
you're going to
miss the message."
00:27:53.64\00:27:56.60
That day sealed my life.
00:27:56.64\00:28:00.38
I carried my children
home, went into my cabinet,
00:28:00.41\00:28:05.41
let us all, we all fortifies
00:28:05.45\00:28:08.38
and most small record,
00:28:08.42\00:28:10.09
tapes and all stuff on it,
00:28:10.12\00:28:12.29
went in our
backyard on the Sabbath,
00:28:12.32\00:28:14.96
threw them all across the fence.
00:28:14.99\00:28:16.46
Okay.
00:28:16.49\00:28:17.83
I haven't bought
another one since that day,
00:28:17.86\00:28:20.70
get it out of my
life, get it out.
00:28:20.73\00:28:22.10
Yes.
00:28:22.13\00:28:23.47
And God have just
kept on the lesson
00:28:23.50\00:28:27.34
like you're going, it's going...
00:28:27.37\00:28:29.60
bottom one drop out,
but God just picks it up.
00:28:29.64\00:28:32.57
Yes.
00:28:32.61\00:28:33.94
And put the icing on
00:28:33.98\00:28:35.94
is when my Lord
blessed this child
00:28:35.98\00:28:39.45
to come out of high school
00:28:39.48\00:28:41.65
and I had to
take her to Oakwood.
00:28:41.68\00:28:44.55
"How am I
supposed to do that, Lord?"
00:28:44.59\00:28:46.52
I got where I
stopped even questioning Him
00:28:46.55\00:28:48.72
because He just
kept doing everything.
00:28:48.76\00:28:52.09
I picked my
child up with a U-Haul,
00:28:52.13\00:28:55.56
drove around those mountains
00:28:55.60\00:28:56.93
in Tennessee at night by myself,
00:28:56.97\00:29:01.27
got to Oakwood,
patiently waited.
00:29:01.30\00:29:06.31
When I got a chance to go
into the principal's office,
00:29:06.34\00:29:09.31
Dr. Rock,
00:29:09.34\00:29:12.88
he and I talked for awhile.
00:29:12.91\00:29:15.55
He said, "You
tell me, Sister Bethea,
00:29:15.58\00:29:18.75
you drove all around
00:29:18.79\00:29:20.12
those mountains of Tennessee
by yourself with the U-Haul
00:29:20.16\00:29:24.09
with your child
at night by yourself
00:29:24.13\00:29:27.70
with only $200?"
00:29:27.73\00:29:30.43
And I said, "It's all I got."
00:29:30.47\00:29:32.97
But God told me
to bring her here
00:29:33.00\00:29:35.50
and I'm going to leave her here.
00:29:35.54\00:29:37.01
Okay.
00:29:37.04\00:29:38.37
'Cause she's got
better book on the rock,
00:29:38.41\00:29:39.74
you're going to take
her, I'm not taking her back.
00:29:39.77\00:29:42.64
All of her stuff
is in the U-Haul.
00:29:42.68\00:29:45.05
I said, "Now would
you take your business
00:29:45.08\00:29:46.41
'cause I'm going to pray
00:29:46.45\00:29:47.78
and sit right
here in this office."
00:29:47.82\00:29:49.15
He said, "You're crazy
as you got a lot of faith
00:29:49.18\00:29:53.19
to come this far with
$200, It's a $1000..."
00:29:53.22\00:29:56.29
I say, "This is God school."
00:29:56.32\00:29:59.29
He said, "Bring her." Yeah.
00:29:59.33\00:30:02.13
"Mrs. Bethea, we're going
to go and talk to brethren."
00:30:02.16\00:30:06.20
I say, "Have a good talk.
00:30:06.23\00:30:08.67
I will be out here
when you come out."
00:30:08.70\00:30:11.24
He came out.
00:30:11.27\00:30:13.74
"God is with you, Mrs.
Bethea. He is with you."
00:30:13.78\00:30:15.61
I say, "I know, He
told me to bring her."
00:30:15.64\00:30:18.65
I said, "So let's
pray now." There you go.
00:30:18.68\00:30:20.58
So I grabbed a seat
and he and I prayed.
00:30:20.62\00:30:23.22
He said,
00:30:23.25\00:30:24.59
"You're something
else, Sister Bethea."
00:30:24.62\00:30:26.52
I said, "Where do
I register my child?"
00:30:26.55\00:30:29.52
Registered my child,
00:30:29.56\00:30:31.83
got in that U-Haul,
00:30:31.86\00:30:35.66
an old car and
started driving back
00:30:35.70\00:30:37.73
to Brooklyn just
singing, giving God praise.
00:30:37.77\00:30:40.34
Yes.
00:30:40.37\00:30:42.17
He told me if I'm going
back that within a quarter
00:30:42.20\00:30:44.04
with some money.
00:30:44.07\00:30:45.91
I have to get come her.
00:30:45.94\00:30:47.81
As we were to lead to
Jesus, I see that all of money.
00:30:47.84\00:30:51.05
There you go.
Prayed again, prayed again.
00:30:51.08\00:30:54.55
After we finish that, I
started back to Brooklyn
00:30:54.58\00:30:58.92
by myself praising
God for this child.
00:30:58.95\00:31:02.69
God blessed her to be
there for a whole four years.
00:31:02.72\00:31:05.26
Yes, Amen. Not owing a dime.
00:31:05.29\00:31:08.23
Amen. That's wonderful.
00:31:08.26\00:31:10.17
I know what God
can do. That's right.
00:31:10.20\00:31:12.23
And all of them came
through church school
00:31:12.27\00:31:14.64
on prayer.
00:31:14.67\00:31:16.00
Yes.
00:31:16.04\00:31:17.37
God made a way,
every step of the way.
00:31:17.41\00:31:19.81
Yes. That's amazing.
00:31:19.84\00:31:21.81
That is such a great testimony,
00:31:21.84\00:31:24.01
you ought to write a book
00:31:24.05\00:31:26.28
about God is
blessing you so much.
00:31:26.31\00:31:29.02
That's right.
00:31:29.05\00:31:30.39
"The Blessings
of a Single Parent."
00:31:30.42\00:31:31.75
Yes. I definitely want a book.
00:31:31.79\00:31:33.25
I want to pay you for this
one 'cause I want this one.
00:31:33.29\00:31:35.36
All right.
00:31:35.39\00:31:36.73
To read it and I'm
going to read this.
00:31:36.76\00:31:38.09
I'm not a great reader
for a lot of different things,
00:31:38.13\00:31:40.10
I stick with the
Bible, Spirit of Prophecy,
00:31:40.13\00:31:42.63
and I get so
much stuff coming in
00:31:42.66\00:31:44.00
but I'm going to read this one.
00:31:44.03\00:31:45.37
These are incredible.
00:31:45.40\00:31:46.74
Yeah, I want every
single parent to have it.
00:31:46.77\00:31:48.10
I really do. Testimonies.
00:31:48.14\00:31:49.47
And I hope that some
of our church leaders
00:31:49.50\00:31:50.91
and teachers and
faculty are listening today
00:31:50.94\00:31:53.17
because there are many
people just like you...
00:31:53.21\00:31:55.48
Yes.
00:31:55.51\00:31:56.85
Who still need that help
00:31:56.88\00:31:58.21
and we need not
turn anybody away
00:31:58.25\00:32:00.68
when they come
into the church schools,
00:32:00.72\00:32:02.32
we need to make a way
00:32:02.35\00:32:03.69
for them not to be so expensive.
00:32:03.72\00:32:05.05
Wow!
00:32:05.09\00:32:06.42
We need to make more
people can afford them,
00:32:06.45\00:32:08.12
and for years here,
00:32:08.16\00:32:09.49
we had our
students at the school here
00:32:09.52\00:32:12.33
that said, "If you
can't afford tuition,
00:32:12.36\00:32:14.00
don't pay it," and
God has blessed on that.
00:32:14.03\00:32:16.67
The schools have been
going about 16, 17 years.
00:32:16.70\00:32:19.10
Beautiful.
00:32:19.13\00:32:20.47
So if they can pay
$100 a month, that's fine,
00:32:20.50\00:32:22.37
but those who can't pay it,
00:32:22.40\00:32:23.74
no one's ever
been turned away...
00:32:23.77\00:32:25.11
Wonderful. Just for that reason.
00:32:25.14\00:32:26.88
Because I like you I was
raised or didn't have anything
00:32:26.91\00:32:30.75
and so I say, why is it,
00:32:30.78\00:32:32.28
you know, it's
Christian education,
00:32:32.31\00:32:34.45
this should be for everybody,
not just those who can pay.
00:32:34.48\00:32:36.82
God said we train
them the way they should.
00:32:36.85\00:32:38.99
Now God has blessed.
00:32:39.02\00:32:40.66
They may stray away
but they're coming back.
00:32:40.69\00:32:42.56
It's within them
you have instilled it
00:32:42.59\00:32:44.43
when you were young.
00:32:44.46\00:32:45.79
And it's in them
and it's coming back
00:32:45.83\00:32:47.16
for my children like,
00:32:47.20\00:32:48.96
you know, you know
Jesus, I say, "Lord, she knows."
00:32:49.00\00:32:51.90
Absolutely. "She's yours now."
00:32:51.93\00:32:53.27
All I can do is pray for
her. I can't train anymore.
00:32:53.30\00:32:54.64
Now we got to... Go ahead.
00:32:54.67\00:32:56.00
I was going to say
that book has helped
00:32:56.04\00:32:57.47
a lot of people
in this ministry,
00:32:57.51\00:32:59.34
you know, work with women
00:32:59.37\00:33:00.71
because a lot of them
are single from the projects
00:33:00.74\00:33:03.71
and but the thing about the book
00:33:03.75\00:33:05.08
and I'm not saying is
because she's my mother,
00:33:05.11\00:33:06.82
I was with her on a
lot of those journeys.
00:33:06.85\00:33:09.08
You're not going to...
00:33:09.12\00:33:10.45
that's nothing but miracles.
00:33:10.49\00:33:11.82
I mean, this is like out
of this world crazy miracle
00:33:11.85\00:33:14.69
and so people have been
with their eyes open like,
00:33:14.72\00:33:17.39
"I know that can happen for me.
00:33:17.43\00:33:18.79
If that happened for her,
I know it can happen for me."
00:33:18.83\00:33:20.30
Absolutely.
00:33:20.33\00:33:21.66
And so we have to
use that in ministry.
00:33:21.70\00:33:23.06
It was really amazing.
00:33:23.10\00:33:24.73
It's when I used to go to,
like she said, nursing homes.
00:33:24.77\00:33:27.94
And this particular Sabbath,
00:33:27.97\00:33:29.30
we were going to a nursing home
00:33:29.34\00:33:30.67
and this pretty warm
sitting up in her bed.
00:33:30.71\00:33:32.44
And I just grabbed her
because she was so pretty
00:33:32.47\00:33:33.91
I say you got to
come and go home with me,
00:33:33.94\00:33:36.08
I was playing, you know.
00:33:36.11\00:33:38.11
But she was serious.
00:33:38.15\00:33:40.45
She said, "For real?"
00:33:40.48\00:33:41.88
I said, "Yeah, come
on go home with me."
00:33:41.92\00:33:44.12
She said, "Okay."
00:33:44.15\00:33:45.55
So I said,
00:33:45.59\00:33:46.92
"I'll be back to
your room in few minutes."
00:33:46.96\00:33:48.29
I said, "I pray with you,
00:33:48.32\00:33:49.66
I'm going to pray
with some other women
00:33:49.69\00:33:51.03
and I would come back by here."
00:33:51.06\00:33:52.39
When I got back by her
room, she had a doctor there.
00:33:52.43\00:33:56.33
And she told the doctor
00:33:56.36\00:33:57.70
that I was going
to take her home.
00:33:57.73\00:33:59.23
Oh!
00:33:59.27\00:34:01.10
I carried a woman home,
00:34:01.14\00:34:02.47
she stayed with me for 10 years.
00:34:02.50\00:34:05.07
Mercy. Wow.
00:34:05.11\00:34:06.51
Ten years. Ten years.
00:34:06.54\00:34:09.21
And that's the
seed I'm talking about.
00:34:09.24\00:34:10.91
When I say she
would take people home,
00:34:10.95\00:34:12.68
she would feed people,
00:34:12.71\00:34:14.05
she would bring people
of the street, I mean...
00:34:14.08\00:34:15.42
Minister to them.
00:34:15.45\00:34:16.79
Yeah, she was
always doing things like
00:34:16.82\00:34:18.15
that along with prison ministry.
00:34:18.19\00:34:20.06
So I think the journey,
00:34:20.09\00:34:22.76
you know, had everything to do
00:34:22.79\00:34:24.36
with the seeds
planted, you know...
00:34:24.39\00:34:26.86
I never saw
myself in prison ministry
00:34:26.90\00:34:29.30
or women's ministry.
00:34:29.33\00:34:30.80
I was Corporate
American, I loved it,
00:34:30.83\00:34:32.30
I was making
over $80,000 a year,
00:34:32.33\00:34:34.00
I was fine, I was content.
00:34:34.04\00:34:36.17
But then I flipped the
script and followed the voice,
00:34:36.20\00:34:39.31
I listened to the Lord.
00:34:39.34\00:34:41.14
The figures are different
but the enrichment in my life
00:34:41.18\00:34:43.71
cannot ever be as
is what I was making.
00:34:43.75\00:34:47.85
You can't give me
that joy, that peace,
00:34:47.88\00:34:50.19
because when you find
Christ as a peace that you have,
00:34:50.22\00:34:52.82
and that's what the women
need to know in the community
00:34:52.85\00:34:55.19
that it's wonderful to
have Christ in your life
00:34:55.22\00:34:58.13
and to put Him first
00:34:58.16\00:34:59.49
because the peace
that passes understanding
00:34:59.53\00:35:02.63
will be obtained in your life,
00:35:02.66\00:35:05.13
but you just have
to give Him a try,
00:35:05.17\00:35:07.10
have faith and
that's what we try to do.
00:35:07.14\00:35:08.70
Let me tell you how I know
00:35:08.74\00:35:11.91
what Jesus is going to
do if you just trust Him.
00:35:11.94\00:35:17.25
Ten years, the
lady stayed with me,
00:35:17.28\00:35:19.45
I had to sadly
come back to Florida.
00:35:19.48\00:35:21.82
And I asked her,
00:35:21.85\00:35:23.18
"You want to go
to Florida with me?"
00:35:23.22\00:35:24.75
She said, "Yeah,
I'll go, I'll go."
00:35:24.79\00:35:27.09
So we picked up
with my granddaughter
00:35:27.12\00:35:29.06
and we started to Florida.
00:35:29.09\00:35:31.26
And got on 65 South, ,
00:35:31.29\00:35:33.80
we decided going
back to my dada's house
00:35:33.83\00:35:35.90
my mama's house,
00:35:35.93\00:35:38.30
and my car starts smoking.
00:35:38.33\00:35:42.40
On 65, I was at
one of the main exits
00:35:42.44\00:35:48.04
where they had the hospital...
00:35:48.08\00:35:53.28
Nashville,
Tennessee. Up on that area.
00:35:53.31\00:35:56.35
And so a voice says,
"Turn off here, turn off here."
00:35:56.38\00:35:59.52
When I turned off down
there went to a share station.
00:35:59.55\00:36:03.16
And a nice man was standing
there waiting on me to pull up
00:36:03.19\00:36:06.26
into that station.
00:36:06.29\00:36:07.80
And he said,
00:36:07.83\00:36:09.16
"Miss, pop your
hood, pop your hood."
00:36:09.20\00:36:11.10
And I popped the hood.
00:36:11.13\00:36:13.84
He said, "You
have a busted radiator.
00:36:13.87\00:36:15.70
Where are you going?"
00:36:15.74\00:36:17.14
I said, "I'm going to Florida."
00:36:17.17\00:36:18.51
He said,
00:36:18.54\00:36:19.87
"But your
grandmamma in your car,
00:36:19.91\00:36:21.24
you won't make it,
you won't make it."
00:36:21.28\00:36:22.61
He said, "I tell you what to do,
00:36:22.64\00:36:23.98
you go up on that
hill to that station.
00:36:24.01\00:36:26.92
They are open all night long,
they'll fix your car for you,"
00:36:26.95\00:36:29.08
and I got no money
to get my car fixed.
00:36:29.12\00:36:32.02
But I do what he
has asked me to do.
00:36:32.05\00:36:33.39
I went up there.
00:36:33.42\00:36:35.49
You're not going to
believe, when I went up there,
00:36:35.52\00:36:39.49
I parked my car...
00:36:39.53\00:36:41.06
A tall handsome black
guy come out to my car,
00:36:44.30\00:36:47.07
all dressed up,
tie and everything.
00:36:47.10\00:36:50.14
He said, "Miss,
what's wrong? Pop your hood."
00:36:50.17\00:36:53.54
That's two men telling me
to pop my hood, I pop it again.
00:36:53.58\00:36:57.31
He said, "You got
a messed up radiator,
00:36:57.35\00:36:59.28
you can't go on this
places just stay in your car.
00:36:59.31\00:37:02.45
Let me go and talk to the man."
00:37:02.48\00:37:04.79
He went inside
stayed for about 20 minutes,
00:37:04.82\00:37:09.56
came out with a paid receipt,
00:37:09.59\00:37:13.26
over $600 for my car.
00:37:13.29\00:37:16.40
He said,
00:37:16.43\00:37:17.77
"Listen, they're going
to fix your car for you,
00:37:17.80\00:37:21.77
you're going to
have to stay overnight.
00:37:21.80\00:37:24.04
So you come follow me,
00:37:24.07\00:37:25.41
we go into this
hotel right over here.
00:37:25.44\00:37:27.84
I'm going to
put you and your mom
00:37:27.88\00:37:29.21
and your
daughter up for a night."
00:37:29.24\00:37:31.18
He said, "Early in the morning,
00:37:31.21\00:37:32.75
I want you to
come back over here
00:37:32.78\00:37:34.12
with this receipt, get your car,
00:37:34.15\00:37:36.72
and have a safe
trip to Florida."
00:37:36.75\00:37:38.55
I said, "Sir, what's your name?"
00:37:38.59\00:37:40.99
He was a young pastor coming
00:37:41.02\00:37:43.39
from a prison
ministry conference.
00:37:43.43\00:37:45.93
Oh, look at that.
00:37:45.96\00:37:47.96
He and I had a
little church in the car.
00:37:48.00\00:37:49.56
Oh, look at that.
00:37:49.60\00:37:50.93
He and his partner came
00:37:50.97\00:37:52.30
by wanting to
know what was wrong.
00:37:52.33\00:37:53.67
And he told him, he said,
00:37:53.70\00:37:55.04
"We got to take
over to the hotel,
00:37:55.07\00:37:56.40
we got to get some rest."
00:37:56.44\00:37:57.77
The car won't be
ready until in the morning.
00:37:57.81\00:37:59.84
They drove us over
there, we got over there,
00:37:59.87\00:38:03.95
only Jesus would do
something like this.
00:38:03.98\00:38:06.01
When I got to the hotel,
00:38:06.05\00:38:09.48
the man paid for our room,
00:38:09.52\00:38:13.52
the hotel and the
mechanic was over $1,200.
00:38:13.56\00:38:18.33
And I said to the man,
00:38:18.36\00:38:19.89
I said, "Please,
give me your address,
00:38:19.93\00:38:21.26
I have to pay you back."
00:38:21.30\00:38:22.63
He said, "No, no, no."
00:38:22.66\00:38:24.50
He said, "We
have money left over
00:38:24.53\00:38:25.87
from our conference.
00:38:25.90\00:38:28.30
It's on this car.
00:38:28.34\00:38:30.11
I don't stop at this station,
00:38:30.14\00:38:32.71
but I want to
get some cool drinks
00:38:32.74\00:38:34.21
so that I could
drive a little further.
00:38:34.24\00:38:36.85
God stopped me
here." Look at that.
00:38:36.88\00:38:40.02
"And your car
attracted my attention."
00:38:40.05\00:38:43.52
He says, "So I
had to do what I did.
00:38:43.55\00:38:45.82
You know, I say,
00:38:45.85\00:38:47.19
"Oh, Jesus, Jesus, only Jesus."
00:38:47.22\00:38:52.63
And he was
writing for quite a while,
00:38:52.66\00:38:54.63
then we lost connection,
00:38:54.66\00:38:56.00
I don't know where he
moved or what happened,
00:38:56.03\00:38:57.37
but I can never get
a hold to him anymore.
00:38:57.40\00:38:59.73
You see, what you're saying,
00:38:59.77\00:39:02.20
I know it's such
a great testimony
00:39:02.24\00:39:05.74
for the women in this program...
00:39:05.77\00:39:08.58
Because they need to know
that no matter where you are,
00:39:08.61\00:39:12.68
God's got you.
00:39:12.71\00:39:14.05
He's got you. Tell us
more about the program.
00:39:14.08\00:39:16.32
What kinds of things are
you doing in this program
00:39:16.35\00:39:19.15
and what...
00:39:19.19\00:39:20.52
Then how can we help?
Well, yeah, absolutely.
00:39:20.56\00:39:21.89
A lot of viewers want to know.
00:39:21.92\00:39:23.26
This is how you can help
and this is what we're doing.
00:39:23.29\00:39:26.19
We have been blessed to partner
with the University of Florida
00:39:26.23\00:39:28.53
and Santa Fe College
there in Gainesville, Florida.
00:39:28.56\00:39:31.60
Our office is there
00:39:31.63\00:39:33.00
is in the Santa Fe
College office building,
00:39:33.03\00:39:36.17
but we also have the ability
00:39:36.20\00:39:37.54
to use their
workshops and seminars
00:39:37.57\00:39:39.41
and any of their
conferences rooms
00:39:39.44\00:39:41.74
because we're an
incubator company
00:39:41.78\00:39:43.28
and this was a God given thing
00:39:43.31\00:39:45.01
that was given
and placed in our laps
00:39:45.05\00:39:46.95
and we accepted it,
00:39:46.98\00:39:48.32
and so we're able to
do programs there free.
00:39:48.35\00:39:50.95
We do a professional
development program there
00:39:50.99\00:39:52.92
for free,
00:39:52.95\00:39:54.29
everything we do is free
to the women in the community.
00:39:54.32\00:39:56.86
So they're aware
that we have this program,
00:39:56.89\00:39:59.23
so when they come
out of the incarceration
00:39:59.26\00:40:01.76
or if they are a single parent
00:40:01.80\00:40:03.40
or a parent who
hasn't been in school
00:40:03.43\00:40:04.77
or haven't had
employment in a long time,
00:40:04.80\00:40:06.67
they take this program.
00:40:06.70\00:40:08.20
And in this program,
they get the computer skills,
00:40:08.24\00:40:10.81
they get administrator
skills, we dress for success,
00:40:10.84\00:40:14.34
we give them the whole
spiel about how to obtain a job
00:40:14.38\00:40:17.08
and fill out a resume,
00:40:17.11\00:40:18.48
be totally equipped with that
00:40:18.51\00:40:20.68
because you'd be
surprised how many people
00:40:20.72\00:40:22.05
just have lost the skills.
00:40:22.08\00:40:24.19
And so in this program,
00:40:24.22\00:40:25.55
we've been blessed
to have a young lady
00:40:25.59\00:40:26.92
who was incarcerated,
but when she came out,
00:40:26.96\00:40:28.76
she didn't have anywhere to go,
00:40:28.79\00:40:30.16
she didn't use
any of her skills,
00:40:30.19\00:40:31.79
she had two
babies by a boyfriend
00:40:31.83\00:40:35.20
and they were living with him
00:40:35.23\00:40:36.63
and they were on food stamps.
00:40:36.67\00:40:38.00
And she came to the program
and several other women there,
00:40:38.03\00:40:41.67
it's called The House of Hope
00:40:41.70\00:40:43.14
which is another
place that helps women
00:40:43.17\00:40:45.07
as well there in the city.
00:40:45.11\00:40:46.44
What we did we came together
00:40:46.47\00:40:48.64
and we got this
program going with the women,
00:40:48.68\00:40:51.58
and this young
lady took the program,
00:40:51.61\00:40:53.28
in a short story,
00:40:53.31\00:40:55.52
a year and a
half later came back
00:40:55.55\00:40:57.02
and she
graduated from the program
00:40:57.05\00:40:58.99
and so her dream job
was to work for the city.
00:40:59.02\00:41:01.92
And because of her resume
and what we did in the program
00:41:01.96\00:41:04.39
and what we taught her,
and one of the main topics
00:41:04.43\00:41:07.13
I'd like to deal
with is leadership
00:41:07.16\00:41:08.50
and self-esteem,
00:41:08.53\00:41:09.86
I want to make sure
that when they get everything
00:41:09.90\00:41:11.23
they get that they also
have empowered themselves
00:41:11.27\00:41:13.54
to be self-sufficient
00:41:13.57\00:41:15.04
from being
independent emotionally
00:41:15.07\00:41:17.01
on any other person but God,
00:41:17.04\00:41:18.97
those two courses are
important for them to take.
00:41:19.01\00:41:21.48
So they take those two courses,
00:41:21.51\00:41:23.08
but in that course, a
light bulb went off for her.
00:41:23.11\00:41:25.21
She came back
00:41:25.25\00:41:26.58
as a keynote speaker
for last year's class
00:41:26.61\00:41:28.95
with her two children.
00:41:28.98\00:41:30.42
She is in her dream job.
00:41:30.45\00:41:32.72
She left her baby's
daddy because he wasn't doing
00:41:32.75\00:41:37.73
what she now saw
herself doing in her life
00:41:37.76\00:41:41.03
and she was
going to church as well
00:41:41.06\00:41:43.50
and she was
moving into her new home.
00:41:43.53\00:41:46.27
Here is a homeless person
00:41:46.30\00:41:48.24
from
incarceration to having children
00:41:48.27\00:41:51.01
that other people
were taking care of,
00:41:51.04\00:41:52.67
now she is
independent, self-sufficient,
00:41:52.71\00:41:55.68
and found God...
00:41:55.71\00:41:57.05
Okay. Amen.
00:41:57.08\00:41:58.41
To me, that is
all what we're about
00:41:58.45\00:42:00.35
and whatever we can do
00:42:00.38\00:42:02.22
and what our main
goal is empowering,
00:42:02.25\00:42:05.52
educating women and
also uplifting them,
00:42:05.55\00:42:08.22
but we need a facility,
00:42:08.26\00:42:09.59
we had a facility but
the facility that we had,
00:42:09.62\00:42:11.96
the city, the area
00:42:11.99\00:42:13.46
that we were there did
not want us to feed people.
00:42:13.50\00:42:16.50
Well, that's a
definite no for us
00:42:16.53\00:42:18.57
because we have to.
00:42:18.60\00:42:19.93
And how many people do you feed?
00:42:19.97\00:42:21.40
We have fed over 6,500
people in the last year
00:42:21.44\00:42:24.77
so just with what we're doing,
00:42:24.81\00:42:27.08
and every quarter
00:42:27.11\00:42:28.44
because now we
don't have a facility,
00:42:28.48\00:42:30.65
God is still good.
00:42:30.68\00:42:32.25
What we have to do,
00:42:32.28\00:42:33.65
people in the
community and in the church,
00:42:33.68\00:42:35.68
we have to partner
with the community,
00:42:35.72\00:42:38.22
we partnered with the mayor,
00:42:38.25\00:42:39.59
we partnered
with the commissioner,
00:42:39.62\00:42:40.96
chief of police, we
also partnered with vendors,
00:42:40.99\00:42:43.89
organizations, so
every quarter now,
00:42:43.93\00:42:46.16
and to me it's better
than what we've been doing
00:42:46.19\00:42:48.76
because we're
feeding 600 families
00:42:48.80\00:42:50.77
at least in a couple of hours.
00:42:50.80\00:42:52.67
And this only came about
00:42:52.70\00:42:55.40
because our partner with Bethel
00:42:55.44\00:42:56.77
Seventh-day Adventist
church in Gainesville, Florida,
00:42:56.81\00:42:59.47
the pastor is none other
than Pastor Brent Walden,
00:42:59.51\00:43:02.88
his wife Lady
Jacqueline Waldon are a gift.
00:43:02.91\00:43:06.31
They saw the vision.
They saw what we're doing.
00:43:06.35\00:43:09.15
They allowed us to
use the parking lot.
00:43:09.18\00:43:11.05
And then he decided,
"You know what, Purette,"
00:43:11.09\00:43:13.92
this is Pastor Walton,
00:43:13.96\00:43:15.29
"We're going to
make this a field day.
00:43:15.32\00:43:16.83
Every quarter we're
going to close the church,
00:43:16.86\00:43:18.29
we're going to come out here
00:43:18.33\00:43:19.66
and we're going to
take care of the community."
00:43:19.69\00:43:21.76
And not only are we taking
care of community with food,
00:43:21.80\00:43:24.47
we also partnered
00:43:24.50\00:43:25.83
with the
theological health department
00:43:25.87\00:43:27.20
so we do testing for HIV.
00:43:27.24\00:43:29.07
We do blood pressure, diabetes,
00:43:29.10\00:43:31.27
we have vendors that will
give free healthcare screening,
00:43:31.31\00:43:34.41
we have vendors
that also would give
00:43:34.44\00:43:35.78
insurance
information making sure
00:43:35.81\00:43:37.45
that the families in those areas
00:43:37.48\00:43:38.88
that were in
there very low areas
00:43:38.91\00:43:41.42
that they have
insurance for their families.
00:43:41.45\00:43:43.89
We have the choirs
that are in the church,
00:43:43.92\00:43:46.82
the groups that
are participating
00:43:46.86\00:43:48.52
that are out there,
00:43:48.56\00:43:49.89
we are making a
difference and we...
00:43:49.92\00:43:52.06
I think we've
been on television now
00:43:52.09\00:43:53.43
three to four
times this year already
00:43:53.46\00:43:55.70
and the front page a
couple of times in regards
00:43:55.73\00:43:59.73
to what the community is doing
00:43:59.77\00:44:01.60
to Bethel
Seventh-day Adventist church
00:44:01.64\00:44:03.10
with Women Working with Women.
00:44:03.14\00:44:04.67
So the partnering is critical
00:44:04.71\00:44:06.94
because it reaches people
00:44:06.98\00:44:08.54
that we cannot reach
and that's one of the things
00:44:08.58\00:44:11.18
that we're real
proud of and that we do.
00:44:11.21\00:44:13.52
But we're not just feeding them,
00:44:13.55\00:44:15.15
we're educating them,
we are empowering them,
00:44:15.18\00:44:17.12
we're going behind
bars and making sure
00:44:17.15\00:44:18.79
that when they come
out, they come to us.
00:44:18.82\00:44:20.89
Before we couldn't do that,
00:44:20.92\00:44:22.26
but partnering with the
city and the government,
00:44:22.29\00:44:25.26
now allows the women
that we give studies to act
00:44:25.29\00:44:28.23
for our
organization to do their hours.
00:44:28.26\00:44:30.57
What a blessing that is.
00:44:30.60\00:44:32.30
And so now it's
a wonderful circle
00:44:32.33\00:44:34.77
that happens for us.
00:44:34.80\00:44:36.14
And so when they
come out of churches,
00:44:36.17\00:44:38.17
we've got to be ready for them
00:44:38.21\00:44:39.97
so that they can have
not just a place to worship
00:44:40.01\00:44:43.31
but a place that
they can be accepted
00:44:43.35\00:44:45.51
for who they are.
00:44:45.55\00:44:47.12
And I think
that's where we're at now
00:44:47.15\00:44:48.85
and we're excited about that.
00:44:48.88\00:44:50.35
I think we have a clip.
00:44:50.39\00:44:52.65
Yeah, absolutely,
you should put this clip,
00:44:52.69\00:44:54.82
it should
demonstrate the community
00:44:54.86\00:44:56.86
and the women that
we've helped behind bars,
00:44:56.89\00:44:59.26
the women that are
incarcerated doing their hours,
00:44:59.29\00:45:02.06
they are the team
00:45:02.10\00:45:03.43
that help us
distribute the food.
00:45:03.47\00:45:05.10
So if you look at registration
00:45:05.13\00:45:06.67
and you look at the other areas,
00:45:06.70\00:45:08.14
you will see those
women are actively involved
00:45:08.17\00:45:10.14
and they love it
00:45:10.17\00:45:11.51
and they're
just connected to it.
00:45:11.54\00:45:14.01
This is it. Tell us
about on that screen?
00:45:14.04\00:45:16.28
This area is the
Bethel Seventh-day Adventist
00:45:16.31\00:45:17.75
parking lot here.
00:45:17.78\00:45:19.11
We have turned
00:45:19.15\00:45:20.48
into a huge flea
market of services
00:45:20.52\00:45:23.22
for the Alachua County
in Gainesville, Florida.
00:45:23.25\00:45:26.12
Here you're going to see
00:45:26.15\00:45:27.49
how we have
different tents of vendors
00:45:27.52\00:45:29.32
that are going on here.
00:45:29.36\00:45:30.79
The boxes, we
get pallets of food.
00:45:30.83\00:45:32.96
There's a company, a
storage company that...
00:45:32.99\00:45:35.23
a U-Haul company that
does the lifting for our food.
00:45:35.26\00:45:39.57
They donate their time to us
00:45:39.60\00:45:40.97
and give us that
machine every quarter.
00:45:41.00\00:45:42.34
They don't want a dime.
00:45:42.37\00:45:43.71
This truck is from Farmshare,
who again we partnered with,
00:45:43.74\00:45:47.94
Farmshare brings
us our food of no cost
00:45:47.98\00:45:51.31
and it's over I believe
00:45:51.35\00:45:52.68
it was 30,000
tons of food that day.
00:45:52.71\00:45:55.65
And I'm saying when people left,
00:45:55.68\00:45:57.35
they couldn't
leave without assistance
00:45:57.39\00:45:59.25
so we have to get Rykers group,
00:45:59.29\00:46:02.39
we got to get
these boys club groups
00:46:02.42\00:46:03.89
that are in the
community to unload their cars
00:46:03.93\00:46:06.86
and load their cars
because they have so much food.
00:46:06.90\00:46:10.30
So it is very positive,
00:46:10.33\00:46:14.77
and the community
knows this better now,
00:46:14.80\00:46:16.91
and when they see us,
even when we go to Walmart,
00:46:16.94\00:46:19.37
we go to the store,
00:46:19.41\00:46:20.74
"Oh, yeah, Women
Working with Women,
00:46:20.78\00:46:22.11
you guys have helped
those ladies that were..."
00:46:22.14\00:46:24.15
that's what God wants
us to do is to share that.
00:46:24.18\00:46:26.92
Yeah.
00:46:26.95\00:46:28.28
And my dream is do
not have to worry about
00:46:28.32\00:46:33.99
going to the board of
any church organization
00:46:34.02\00:46:37.46
to feed people.
00:46:37.49\00:46:39.29
Some might recall
when we work with women
00:46:39.33\00:46:41.86
and say it my
family is out of food
00:46:41.90\00:46:44.43
that I can say come over.
00:46:44.47\00:46:45.80
Yeah, we do that
now, we can do that.
00:46:45.83\00:46:47.17
Pick up what you need.
This is what I'm praying for.
00:46:47.20\00:46:49.07
So do you have a facility? No.
00:46:49.10\00:46:51.47
Where you're... So
that's one of your needs?
00:46:51.51\00:46:53.74
Yes. You need...
00:46:53.78\00:46:55.11
The needs and that
you mention it to me
00:46:55.14\00:46:56.58
in the needs is the facility
00:46:56.61\00:46:58.78
that will house
us to be able to do
00:46:58.81\00:47:00.75
what we do under one roof.
00:47:00.78\00:47:02.82
Once that facility
will be able to have
00:47:02.85\00:47:05.22
our food
distribution to where...
00:47:05.25\00:47:07.29
it doesn't matter
what time you call,
00:47:07.32\00:47:08.66
if a family is a need a food
or a fire breaks out in a home
00:47:08.69\00:47:11.49
and family loses
their food or clothes,
00:47:11.53\00:47:13.73
you can call Women
Working with Women,
00:47:13.76\00:47:15.43
and we will have
something ready for you
00:47:15.46\00:47:16.80
and your family.
00:47:16.83\00:47:18.17
Yeah.
00:47:18.20\00:47:19.53
We want to be able to be
a daily blessing for people.
00:47:19.57\00:47:21.84
That's... Lot of
quarterly blessing.
00:47:21.87\00:47:23.20
Yes.
00:47:23.24\00:47:24.57
Also, on the other
side of the facility,
00:47:24.61\00:47:25.94
we want to have conference room,
00:47:25.97\00:47:27.31
seminars, workshops to where,
00:47:27.34\00:47:28.68
you know, when women
come out of the incarceration,
00:47:28.71\00:47:30.58
we want a transition facility
00:47:30.61\00:47:32.55
that will allow us
to help women transition
00:47:32.58\00:47:34.65
from drug addiction,
transition from abuse,
00:47:34.68\00:47:37.79
transition from
just making poor choices
00:47:37.82\00:47:39.89
because of low self-esteem,
00:47:39.92\00:47:41.52
and giving them the
ability to have zero tolerance
00:47:41.56\00:47:44.33
for the choices that they make
00:47:44.36\00:47:45.69
so that they don't
make future bad choices.
00:47:45.73\00:47:48.03
But that all has to be developed
00:47:48.06\00:47:49.66
in an environment
00:47:49.70\00:47:51.30
and the environment is critical.
00:47:51.33\00:47:53.03
It's hard for people to believe
00:47:53.07\00:47:55.20
in some things
of the environment
00:47:55.24\00:47:56.60
isn't set right,
00:47:56.64\00:47:57.97
and that's why the
facility is critical
00:47:58.01\00:47:59.47
because we go, and we pay,
00:47:59.51\00:48:01.14
and we go to different
hotels and we have this,
00:48:01.18\00:48:03.45
but God is telling us.
00:48:03.48\00:48:04.88
Yeah.
00:48:04.91\00:48:06.25
Have your facility. Sure.
00:48:06.28\00:48:07.62
Do it right there.
00:48:07.65\00:48:09.68
Be the head.
00:48:09.72\00:48:11.05
Okay. Not wasting money.
00:48:11.09\00:48:12.42
Not to tell what we can
do is we can ask the folk
00:48:12.45\00:48:15.12
in that area,
00:48:15.16\00:48:16.49
there maybe
people that's watching
00:48:16.52\00:48:17.86
or you know people
00:48:17.89\00:48:19.23
who has big facilities
00:48:19.26\00:48:20.60
that's not even
being used right now.
00:48:20.63\00:48:22.03
That would be willing to donate.
00:48:22.06\00:48:23.40
Are you
non-profit? That's right.
00:48:23.43\00:48:24.77
Non-profit, 501c3.
00:48:24.80\00:48:26.13
So if you need a tax
write off, you have facilities,
00:48:26.17\00:48:29.67
then we're going to put you
in contact with these ladies.
00:48:29.70\00:48:32.64
Or those of you
that are watching,
00:48:32.67\00:48:35.04
you say, "I don't have
that, I don't live in the area
00:48:35.08\00:48:38.45
but I can donate financially,"
00:48:38.48\00:48:40.98
we say that this is a
ministry of faith going back
00:48:41.02\00:48:43.85
for 50-some years ago
with mom and God has blessed,
00:48:43.89\00:48:47.59
and He's continued to bless.
00:48:47.62\00:48:49.26
But you see the blessing of God
is on the go, we all would say.
00:48:49.29\00:48:52.46
The blessing of
God is on the go.
00:48:52.49\00:48:53.83
So when you're going,
00:48:53.86\00:48:55.20
when you step
forward in the water,
00:48:55.23\00:48:56.80
God will part that water,
00:48:56.83\00:48:58.67
and then He supplies every
need according to His riches
00:48:58.70\00:49:01.77
and glory through Christ Jesus.
00:49:01.80\00:49:03.61
So we don't need to
give you all pep talk
00:49:03.64\00:49:06.07
We're going to
start shouting. Yeah.
00:49:06.11\00:49:07.68
We don't need to give a pep talk
00:49:07.71\00:49:09.14
'cause you got a book and here,
00:49:09.18\00:49:10.51
it is telling a bunch
00:49:10.55\00:49:11.88
of these miracle
stories right here.
00:49:11.91\00:49:13.45
Yes, yes.
00:49:13.48\00:49:14.82
And so but we
want to encourage you
00:49:14.85\00:49:16.28
and we want to
encourage your folk at home,
00:49:16.32\00:49:18.39
this is just,
think of this is Mama
00:49:18.42\00:49:21.22
bringing the babies to
the church schools saying,
00:49:21.26\00:49:23.73
"I'm bringing my babies
here we're not leaving."
00:49:23.76\00:49:25.76
They're in Gainesville,
you know, they're saying,
00:49:25.79\00:49:27.76
"Here we are, we got this baby,
00:49:27.80\00:49:29.56
we're not leaving,
God is going to bless it,
00:49:29.60\00:49:31.33
we're going to
feed these people,
00:49:31.37\00:49:32.70
we're going to take
care of these women."
00:49:32.73\00:49:34.07
Oh, yes.
00:49:34.10\00:49:35.44
"We're going to bring them out
00:49:35.47\00:49:36.81
of darkness
into marvelous light,
00:49:36.84\00:49:38.17
we just need
your help to do it,"
00:49:38.21\00:49:39.54
so we're going
to ask you to pray
00:49:39.57\00:49:40.91
and I'm going to ask
Yvonne to pray right now,
00:49:40.94\00:49:42.94
we're very serious, you
pray and ask the Holy Spirit
00:49:42.98\00:49:45.71
what He would have you to do.
00:49:45.75\00:49:47.48
I don't care if
it's $10 or $10, 000
00:49:47.52\00:49:50.99
whatever you do
will be a blessing
00:49:51.02\00:49:53.29
and we know that this
money is going to be put
00:49:53.32\00:49:56.16
for the winning of souls.
00:49:56.19\00:49:57.53
This is evangelism in its
best, literally at its best.
00:49:57.56\00:50:00.93
That's right. It is, it is.
00:50:00.96\00:50:02.50
Visit to the fatherless,
the widows, the poor,
00:50:02.53\00:50:05.53
all of these things
that James talks about,
00:50:05.57\00:50:07.70
that's what they're doing,
00:50:07.74\00:50:09.07
we can get out and
preach and that's great,
00:50:09.10\00:50:10.44
we can get a
tent or a big building
00:50:10.47\00:50:12.27
and preach and
that's all wonderful.
00:50:12.31\00:50:13.88
But what about
the people that says,
00:50:13.91\00:50:15.64
"You know, I can't really hear
00:50:15.68\00:50:17.01
what you're
saying 'cause I'm hungry,
00:50:17.05\00:50:18.65
I can't hear what you're saying
because my life is messed up."
00:50:18.68\00:50:21.65
Oh, we're going to preach.
00:50:21.68\00:50:23.42
"You have no idea of
what I'm going through..."
00:50:23.45\00:50:25.35
That's right.
00:50:25.39\00:50:26.72
"So I'm not going
to turn on listen that,
00:50:26.76\00:50:28.09
I want to see Jesus."
00:50:28.12\00:50:29.46
That's right.
00:50:29.49\00:50:30.83
And you see Jesus
through this ministry.
00:50:30.86\00:50:32.79
But we're going to
ask Yvonne right now,
00:50:32.83\00:50:34.50
we're going to
join hands together
00:50:34.53\00:50:36.26
and we're going to pray
00:50:36.30\00:50:37.63
and ask the Holy
Spirit would impress you
00:50:37.67\00:50:39.90
as to what to do.
00:50:39.93\00:50:41.27
Yvonne and I are
going to help too,
00:50:41.30\00:50:42.64
if I can speak for
her I know as well,
00:50:42.67\00:50:44.74
we're going to help,
we're going to ask you
00:50:44.77\00:50:46.68
to say Lord what
would you have me to do.
00:50:46.71\00:50:48.68
It may be something
00:50:48.71\00:50:50.05
more than you ever
dreamed you would do,
00:50:50.08\00:50:52.35
you're going to
put God to the test.
00:50:52.38\00:50:53.85
"Try me and see
00:50:53.88\00:50:55.22
that I will not open
the windows of heaven,
00:50:55.25\00:50:56.82
pour you out blessings
00:50:56.85\00:50:58.19
where there's not
room enough for you."
00:50:58.22\00:50:59.55
Yes. Pray for us, okay?
00:50:59.59\00:51:01.92
Lord, we just
thank You and praise You.
00:51:01.96\00:51:04.26
Thank you, Lord, God,
for the vision and mission
00:51:04.29\00:51:07.20
that You placed on
these women's hearts
00:51:07.23\00:51:09.23
who want to serve
You and to serve You
00:51:09.26\00:51:11.40
as Jesus dear Lord.
00:51:11.43\00:51:13.37
We thank You, Lord God,
00:51:13.40\00:51:15.04
that You said Jesus
you to minister to everyone
00:51:15.07\00:51:19.04
and You are sending
these women to minister
00:51:19.07\00:51:21.84
in the
communities to give them food
00:51:21.88\00:51:24.25
and to turn their hearts to You,
00:51:24.28\00:51:26.38
so we thank You, Father.
00:51:26.41\00:51:28.18
And we pray for
continued blessings
00:51:28.22\00:51:29.78
and we pray that You
will work on the hearts
00:51:29.82\00:51:32.49
of the viewers
and impress them to do
00:51:32.52\00:51:36.42
something to be a
part of this work.
00:51:36.46\00:51:38.53
Lord, it is all of
our responsibilities
00:51:38.56\00:51:41.43
to share the wonderful gospel.
00:51:41.46\00:51:44.00
So we thank You, we
bless you name and we pray
00:51:44.03\00:51:47.17
for continued guidance
for Women Working with Women.
00:51:47.20\00:51:50.64
Thank You, Lord,
in Jesus' name, amen.
00:51:50.67\00:51:53.17
Amen. Amen.
00:51:53.21\00:51:55.38
Go ahead, we have just a minute
00:51:55.41\00:51:56.75
or so before we
got to take break.
00:51:56.78\00:51:58.11
I want to just
close it up real quickly
00:51:58.15\00:51:59.75
with this one thing.
00:51:59.78\00:52:01.22
When it started, we
wanted this to look like
00:52:01.25\00:52:04.35
what Jesus did
00:52:04.39\00:52:05.82
and Jesus actually
went out to people on foot
00:52:05.85\00:52:09.49
and just made
sure He met their needs
00:52:09.52\00:52:11.56
but He fed them first.
00:52:11.59\00:52:12.93
Yeah.
00:52:12.96\00:52:14.30
He clothed them,
00:52:14.33\00:52:15.66
He did whatever He
needed to do to make sure
00:52:15.70\00:52:17.07
that their
physical needs would met.
00:52:17.10\00:52:18.83
That's where the love starts,
00:52:18.87\00:52:20.20
that's where a
relationship building starts.
00:52:20.24\00:52:22.04
And then we try
to go from there.
00:52:22.07\00:52:23.81
So we really
appreciate just knowing
00:52:23.84\00:52:26.34
that God's plan is what our plan
00:52:26.37\00:52:29.11
is supposed to follow.
00:52:29.14\00:52:30.48
And our goal has
always been to have a facility
00:52:30.51\00:52:33.52
after my best
friend Binky Place,
00:52:33.55\00:52:35.68
and that's what
it will be called
00:52:35.72\00:52:37.32
because she was
my best friend...
00:52:37.35\00:52:39.35
And Binky is? She was my sister.
00:52:39.39\00:52:41.56
With the Holy Spirit...
00:52:41.59\00:52:42.92
Is my sister who
passed away in 2009.
00:52:42.96\00:52:44.69
Is her sister.
00:52:44.73\00:52:47.03
And she loved you
and you loved her.
00:52:47.06\00:52:49.13
Absolutely, Binky
00:52:49.16\00:52:50.53
and I were like
peanut butter and jelly
00:52:50.57\00:52:52.13
and even as relatable on a life,
00:52:52.17\00:52:55.14
we know that
this is a divine thing
00:52:55.17\00:52:58.24
that has to happen
00:52:58.27\00:52:59.61
because she believed
it and in spite of what
00:52:59.64\00:53:01.71
she went through to look at God,
00:53:01.74\00:53:03.21
"Won't He do it?"
00:53:03.24\00:53:04.58
Yes. "Won't He do it?"
00:53:04.61\00:53:05.95
And so Binky's
Place is going to happen
00:53:05.98\00:53:07.78
and we know it's going to happen
00:53:07.82\00:53:09.15
because we're doing everything
God has called us to do
00:53:09.18\00:53:11.89
and being here is no accident.
00:53:11.92\00:53:13.32
Praise the Lord.
00:53:13.36\00:53:14.69
We need to put up the
address and we want to make sure
00:53:14.72\00:53:16.86
we have time before
the program is over.
00:53:16.89\00:53:18.79
So this is a role,
00:53:18.83\00:53:20.16
this is how you
contact with your support
00:53:20.20\00:53:22.73
and your gifts.
00:53:22.76\00:53:26.27
If you would like to find out
00:53:26.30\00:53:27.64
more about Women
Working with Women
00:53:27.67\00:53:29.94
and the many professional
00:53:29.97\00:53:31.37
and personal
development programs they offer,
00:53:31.41\00:53:34.34
please visit their website
WomenWorkingWithWomen.org.
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There you will find information
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on their seminars
on domestic violence,
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prison ministry,
parenting, Bible study,
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and many other topics.
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Their website again is
WomenWorkingWithWomen.org.
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Or call them at area code
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(352) 871-5223.
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Their address is
Women Working with Women,
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530 West University Avenue,
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Gainesville, Florida, 32601.
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