Hello and welcome
back to 3ABN Today Live.
00:00:09.80\00:00:13.11
The great
testimonies we've been hearing.
00:00:13.58\00:00:15.31
It's got us all touchy feely.
00:00:15.51\00:00:16.85
We're all old people
here enjoying all this.
00:00:18.25\00:00:22.28
Before I go, you said you
wanted to put your arm around
00:00:22.32\00:00:24.42
it.
00:00:24.42\00:00:24.65
That's okay now.
00:00:24.85\00:00:25.75
You're married.
00:00:25.79\00:00:26.29
You can do that.
00:00:26.32\00:00:27.26
We've been having a great
time here with Coming Together
00:00:28.32\00:00:30.99
Ministries.
00:00:30.99\00:00:31.19
And I was just saying before
the break what an incredible
00:00:32.19\00:00:35.53
ministry this is.
00:00:35.53\00:00:37.00
And I didn't
say, but what a shame.
00:00:37.00\00:00:39.57
So much of the
rejection because so many of our
00:00:39.83\00:00:42.57
universities, our things that
we should, would think would
00:00:42.57\00:00:46.94
endorse and support is
basically a lot of people are
00:00:46.94\00:00:51.31
saying, hey don't come to,
we don't want you on campus.
00:00:51.31\00:00:54.62
We don't want you
telling this story, this LGBTQ.
00:00:54.72\00:00:57.65
And you have, all of you in the
ministry, you represent victory
00:00:58.89\00:01:03.56
over sin through Christ Jesus.
00:01:03.56\00:01:05.76
And so in a topic that
most people don't want to talk
00:01:05.76\00:01:09.73
about.
00:01:09.73\00:01:10.10
We don't want
to talk about that.
00:01:10.67\00:01:11.93
We don't want to
talk about adultery.
00:01:11.97\00:01:13.27
We don't want to
talk about hidden sins.
00:01:13.40\00:01:15.40
We don't want to talk about
anything that has to do with
00:01:15.54\00:01:18.14
us, right?
00:01:18.14\00:01:18.94
But this is something
that needs to be dealt with.
00:01:19.24\00:01:21.68
We're seeing a change in
the people in our church.
00:01:21.84\00:01:24.48
And so I look back and I say,
Pastor Ronnie, if I look back
00:01:24.78\00:01:29.08
say 40 years, you're
having a church for 140 years or
00:01:29.08\00:01:33.82
whatever, no one, no pastors,
nobody would ever got up and
00:01:33.82\00:01:37.86
spoke and said, you know, I
think LGBTQ, we can affirm it
00:01:37.86\00:01:41.33
in the church, baptize
people, baptize pastors.
00:01:41.33\00:01:43.97
And 30 years ago,
wouldn't have, maybe even 20.
00:01:44.73\00:01:48.34
So what's changed?
00:01:49.14\00:01:50.17
Did we find new light in
the Bible that says, oh, this is
00:01:50.34\00:01:53.07
all okay, that we can,
you know, everything's okay?
00:01:53.07\00:01:55.81
Or have we changed?
00:01:55.98\00:01:57.11
Have we allowed politics
and culture to change us?
00:01:57.55\00:02:01.18
And that's really what is
happening within the church.
00:02:01.18\00:02:05.12
So we're glad now we left
with a thought and you have a
00:02:05.52\00:02:08.72
thought when we come
back, you wanted to start us.
00:02:08.72\00:02:10.49
Thank you, Danny.
00:02:10.69\00:02:14.30
is the fulfillment of the law.
00:02:14.30\00:02:16.26
And so anyone that's just
provides the love part, but
00:02:16.53\00:02:19.10
doesn't provide the law
and the fulfillment of that or
00:02:19.10\00:02:22.00
following that law, you
know what, you're not loving an
00:02:22.00\00:02:24.37
individual to just affirm
them in the church and say, oh,
00:02:24.37\00:02:26.91
you're okay, God loves you
as you are because that love is
00:02:26.91\00:02:30.11
the fulfillment of the law.
00:02:30.11\00:02:31.35
Therefore you might be loving
them, but they're still lost.
00:02:31.35\00:02:33.95
And so love and law, love and
the fulfillment of that is to
00:02:34.52\00:02:39.79
follow the Bible and what
the Bible says about sexuality.
00:02:39.79\00:02:42.26
Pastor, don't you think
it's interesting though we as
00:02:42.72\00:02:44.93
Seventh -day Adventists, we
have no problem telling people,
00:02:44.93\00:02:48.90
remember the Sabbath day to
keep it, the commandment says
00:02:49.50\00:02:51.93
remember the
Sabbath day to keep it holy.
00:02:51.93\00:02:53.97
And we almost pride ourselves
in loving people enough that we
00:02:54.07\00:02:58.71
got to tell them the truth.
00:02:58.71\00:02:59.91
Well, you're going to church
the wrong day and we're almost
00:02:59.91\00:03:03.38
aggressive sometimes too much
so that we're not ashamed of
00:03:03.38\00:03:07.42
that.
00:03:07.42\00:03:11.85
But when it comes to something
like this, well, you know, we
00:03:11.92\00:03:15.19
can't say anything.
00:03:15.19\00:03:16.02
We have to be
careful what we say.
00:03:16.22\00:03:18.56
We don't want
to offend somebody.
00:03:18.69\00:03:19.69
Well, I do think that error is
very fragile and it can hardly
00:03:19.96\00:03:24.40
stand to be in the
room with the truth.
00:03:24.40\00:03:26.37
But I think about God's
list of abominations and it is
00:03:26.37\00:03:32.11
interesting in Proverbs
there where it says there's six
00:03:32.11\00:03:34.94
things God hates.
00:03:34.94\00:03:35.94
One of them is hands
that shed innocent blood.
00:03:36.48\00:03:39.15
And you know, when we
think about the sexual sins that
00:03:40.52\00:03:43.99
define our age and then
the corollary and the connected
00:03:43.99\00:03:49.12
ones that follow it, including
abortion, we find ourselves
00:03:49.12\00:03:52.59
reluctant to speak
up for the innocent.
00:03:52.59\00:03:55.50
And of course, if we could
get a loving approach to people
00:03:55.50\00:03:59.93
that was wise without being
condemning even though light
00:04:00.57\00:04:06.11
does condemn darkness, but
we can have an approach that
00:04:06.11\00:04:09.61
actually gives hope at the same
time that it raises the bar on
00:04:09.61\00:04:14.15
health and life and healing.
00:04:14.15\00:04:16.35
And so we as a Church should
be at the forefront of all moral
00:04:16.99\00:04:21.52
issues for the sake of those
that are confused or blind or
00:04:21.52\00:04:25.59
don't know how to find
their way or need a handout.
00:04:25.59\00:04:27.73
You know, we actually for
the first time started talking
00:04:29.16\00:04:32.20
about the issue of abortion
and we have had two testimonies
00:04:32.20\00:04:37.21
within the two years of our
continuing conference where a
00:04:37.21\00:04:40.98
young woman talked about how
even as an Adventist girl she
00:04:40.98\00:04:43.48
was basically date-rate at 16,
had an abortion and didn't even
00:04:43.48\00:04:48.62
realize necessarily what
happened before it was done.
00:04:48.62\00:04:50.72
But as she was going into
Christian education, found out
00:04:50.72\00:04:55.02
that she was pregnant again
and then had the second abortion
00:04:55.02\00:04:57.96
because after she'd had
the first one, it made it much
00:04:57.96\00:05:01.10
easier to have the second one,
even realizing years later that
00:05:01.10\00:05:04.47
she had made this huge mistake.
00:05:04.47\00:05:05.87
And I think that a lot of
women, young women that have to
00:05:06.23\00:05:09.34
make a very difficult decision
like that, you never really
00:05:09.34\00:05:12.21
know what's on the other
side until you've made that
00:05:12.21\00:05:14.94
decision.
00:05:14.94\00:05:15.41
And Patty actually talked
about how the guilt and the
00:05:16.18\00:05:18.98
condemnation of what she
experienced after the second
00:05:18.98\00:05:21.48
abortion, even though
she raised three beautiful
00:05:21.48\00:05:23.45
children, the thought in
her mind of what she had done to
00:05:23.45\00:05:26.02
those two babies
was really powerful.
00:05:26.02\00:05:27.99
And then last year we had
Rebecca come and Rebecca talked
00:05:28.79\00:05:32.89
about how, found out she
was pregnant at 13, had been
00:05:32.89\00:05:36.16
sexually abused by, you know,
kids in the neighborhood and
00:05:36.16\00:05:38.90
things and wound up pregnant at
13, mother drops her off at the
00:05:38.90\00:05:42.24
abortion clinic, she comes out
and mother says, we're never to
00:05:42.24\00:05:46.21
talk about this again, so
here's a 13-year-old girl that,
00:05:46.21\00:05:49.18
you know, is just a child
herself and not having any way
00:05:49.21\00:05:52.25
to process what had happened
to that young girl, wound up
00:05:52.25\00:05:55.82
pregnant at 18, and this is
where, to me, she went from the
00:05:55.82\00:05:59.39
victim to the hero because she
made a determination that she
00:05:59.39\00:06:02.36
was not going to have another
abortion, and she fought even
00:06:02.36\00:06:05.33
against, you know, the doctors
and even, you know, family
00:06:05.33\00:06:08.93
members that were telling her,
you need to have an abortion
00:06:08.93\00:06:10.97
and have this over with, she
fought because she had to move
00:06:10.97\00:06:13.44
out of her home, Find another
home for an un-wenn pregnant
00:06:13.44\00:06:16.91
girl to live in.
00:06:16.91\00:06:18.21
And then she handpicked
the parents that were going to
00:06:18.27\00:06:21.08
adopt her child.
00:06:21.08\00:06:22.11
And three days after she gave
birth to this child, hands that
00:06:22.31\00:06:25.11
baby over to parents with a
note, please give this to him
00:06:25.11\00:06:28.75
when he's 18.
00:06:28.75\00:06:29.52
And that to me is like, wow!
00:06:29.88\00:06:31.79
Even against the culture and
even against, you know, all of
00:06:32.15\00:06:35.56
these things that were
pressuring this young girl, she
00:06:35.56\00:06:37.89
chose to save the
life of that baby.
00:06:37.89\00:06:39.76
And that to me, those
stories are just so incredible.
00:06:40.20\00:06:43.26
That's a hero.
00:06:43.26\00:06:43.93
That's a heroine.
00:06:44.27\00:06:45.47
You know, they're willing to
suffer, which is what it takes
00:06:45.80\00:06:49.57
to become a hero or a heroine.
00:06:49.57\00:06:51.61
You have to suffer.
00:06:51.74\00:06:52.84
Before you're celebrated,
you're scorned, you're mocked,
00:06:53.14\00:06:55.91
you're set aside.
00:06:55.98\00:06:57.58
And these, which we'll get to,
but these Coming Together Live
00:06:58.08\00:07:02.78
events that we're doing
are giving lots of people the
00:07:02.78\00:07:06.69
freedom to process, to grow, to
heal, to change, to find hope.
00:07:06.69\00:07:12.69
You know, in the area of
one of our largest Adventist
00:07:12.69\00:07:16.53
universities, a woman came
up to me and she said she's a
00:07:16.53\00:07:19.87
nurse that works
in women's health.
00:07:19.87\00:07:21.14
And she told me privately, she
said, Mike, the largest users
00:07:21.47\00:07:24.97
of the abortion clinic is
the Adventist university and the
00:07:24.97\00:07:28.51
academy that was in our area.
00:07:28.51\00:07:30.28
And this was
six, seven years ago.
00:07:30.68\00:07:32.88
So we have this issue
that we're not addressing.
00:07:33.18\00:07:35.72
And again, Pastor Ron, you're
the only one that is willing to
00:07:35.98\00:07:39.52
give us, you
know, that platform.
00:07:39.52\00:07:41.02
Actually, the first time that
Patti gave her testimony was
00:07:41.02\00:07:44.09
when I met you,
Hector, yeah, in Pasadena.
00:07:44.09\00:07:47.00
But these are very
rare opportunities to share.
00:07:47.40\00:07:50.40
But they're gonna grow.
00:07:50.40\00:07:51.33
And you know, one of the things
that's important about this
00:07:51.77\00:07:54.20
ministry that I think comes
out of these events where people
00:07:54.20\00:07:57.54
are telling their story,
sometimes in the now, sometimes
00:07:57.54\00:08:00.31
decades later, is
that people change.
00:08:00.31\00:08:03.11
And how you feel when you're 20
about your human sexuality and
00:08:03.35\00:08:07.88
the results of that and
potentially abortion, et
00:08:07.88\00:08:11.75
cetera, it all changes.
00:08:11.75\00:08:13.12
And it's good for age
-appropriate audiences,
00:08:13.59\00:08:17.59
including age-appropriate young
people, to hear these people
00:08:17.89\00:08:21.76
processing their grief, even
decades afterwards, because we
00:08:21.76\00:08:26.27
change.
00:08:26.27\00:08:30.41
lot of that blame when you
say the university is in church?
00:08:30.41\00:08:33.58
Why are so many going?
00:08:33.84\00:08:35.21
Because it's such a shame we
condemn people that way a young
00:08:35.58\00:08:39.75
person or somebody that's
not wed, they're pregnant, you
00:08:39.75\00:08:42.92
know, they say, oh, the
condemnation I'm gonna get.
00:08:42.92\00:08:45.75
So that pushes them away
rather than to love them.
00:08:46.02\00:08:49.52
So we're to love these people.
00:08:49.52\00:08:49.56
We're to love them through
this process rather than to
00:08:51.96\00:08:56.36
criticize or
rather than to ostracize.
00:08:56.36\00:08:59.17
And we don't do that.
00:08:59.17\00:09:00.47
So there's that
imbalance once again.
00:09:00.54\00:09:02.74
And then we have to change the
narrative that young women hear
00:09:02.77\00:09:06.88
about abortion.
00:09:06.88\00:09:08.01
Oh, it's just a
gentle procedure.
00:09:08.01\00:09:10.91
Oh, it's pregnancy tissue.
00:09:11.51\00:09:14.15
They never referred to as a
baby, always a fetus or some
00:09:14.45\00:09:18.75
other term for it.
00:09:18.75\00:09:20.69
And not understanding the
procedure itself, which is
00:09:21.32\00:09:25.89
really barbaric.
00:09:25.89\00:09:28.13
And it's like because the
narrative has been basically co
00:09:28.50\00:09:34.97
-opted by the culture, it's...
people don't know, they don't
00:09:34.97\00:09:39.17
understand women.
00:09:39.17\00:09:40.24
Young women don't know what
they're actually doing to that
00:09:40.41\00:09:44.18
little life inside.
00:09:44.18\00:09:45.35
I think if they knew
more, which is why we wrote the
00:09:45.91\00:09:49.35
booklet on the
truth about abortion.
00:09:49.35\00:09:50.95
We have two books, actually,
if you want them, they're free.
00:09:51.02\00:09:53.76
There it is on the screen,
the truth about abortion.
00:09:54.12\00:09:56.49
And then also the truth about
this LGBTQ or can the Christian
00:09:56.93\00:10:02.36
church affirm LGBTQ.
00:10:02.36\00:10:04.27
So if you want those, you
can just call and maybe they can
00:10:04.43\00:10:07.14
put an address up or
put our email, whatever.
00:10:07.14\00:10:10.24
And so we'll be able to send
those to you free of charge.
00:10:10.91\00:10:14.64
We're thankful for people who
have sponsored those and made
00:10:14.84\00:10:18.65
them.
00:10:18.65\00:10:22.98
this, maybe a cliche, but
it goes back to Corinthians 13.
00:10:22.98\00:10:26.69
If we don't have love, we
can have all these things.
00:10:26.99\00:10:29.22
There's prophecies, but where
there's prophecies, they'll
00:10:29.62\00:10:32.26
fail.
00:10:32.26\00:10:32.79
Well, we don't
like think about that.
00:10:33.09\00:10:34.93
And you go through all of these
things that you can have, but
00:10:34.93\00:10:39.00
if you don't have love, then
none of this means anything.
00:10:39.00\00:10:42.37
And so I think what we're
missing in the church today, as
00:10:42.64\00:10:47.64
she and I have been talking
about it and we're preparing
00:10:47.64\00:10:51.01
some stuff on it is
the everlasting gospel that
00:10:51.01\00:10:54.32
sometimes we're so focused
on the national Sunday law that
00:10:54.32\00:10:57.79
some of these preachers,
all they do and talk about it on
00:10:57.79\00:11:01.29
the television or on the
Facebooks and all of that,
00:11:01.29\00:11:04.89
Sunday law, Sunday law, all the
while, all of this other, the
00:11:04.89\00:11:08.00
devil's bringing all this stuff
in the church and they don't
00:11:08.00\00:11:11.13
even know it because we're
worried about what's going to
00:11:11.13\00:11:13.77
happen in the future rather
than what's happening to our
00:11:13.77\00:11:16.91
young people and
to our churches today.
00:11:16.91\00:11:18.81
Go ahead and we
want to talk to Hector.
00:11:19.47\00:11:22.04
That's right.
00:11:22.24\00:11:25.95
example of how the church
is somewhat opening up to this
00:11:25.95\00:11:29.78
idea.
00:11:29.78\00:11:33.42
little bit more about that,
but there's a woman there named
00:11:33.42\00:11:35.96
Rosalie and she's
a very humble woman.
00:11:35.96\00:11:38.36
She raised her son in the
church and all of a sudden her
00:11:38.83\00:11:41.56
son announces to her that
he's transgender and she doesn't
00:11:41.56\00:11:44.67
know how to really respond to
that, but she's praying, she's
00:11:44.67\00:11:47.60
joined our prayer line and then
her son showed up at her door,
00:11:47.60\00:11:51.34
you know, fully transitioned
to appear as a woman and she was
00:11:51.34\00:11:55.74
just really kind of shocked
by that and he had come for a
00:11:55.74\00:11:58.61
visit and then he made the
announcement, he goes, I want
00:11:58.61\00:12:00.82
to go to church tomorrow and
then the thought was like, oh
00:12:00.82\00:12:03.55
no, how's that church going
to receive you that saw you as
00:12:03.55\00:12:06.45
this little boy that
was growing up or whatever?
00:12:06.45\00:12:07.96
And as she prayed, the Lord
just really convicted her and
00:12:08.12\00:12:11.19
he says, but he wants to go
to church and she was like, you
00:12:11.19\00:12:13.56
know what?
00:12:13.56\00:12:17.07
said, I don't care what he
looks like, my son wants to go
00:12:17.07\00:12:19.47
to church and she walked into
that church, you know, proud of
00:12:19.47\00:12:23.10
her son, the fact that he
desired to be in church and she
00:12:23.10\00:12:25.67
sat next to her son in the
wig, you know, in the dress or
00:12:25.67\00:12:28.48
whatever, painted nails and
in her mind she said, Lord, I
00:12:28.48\00:12:31.78
don't care what anybody thinks,
I'm just glad that my son is in
00:12:31.78\00:12:35.05
church.
00:12:35.05\00:12:38.62
shared, you know, in our
community to let people know
00:12:38.62\00:12:41.12
that, you know what, that
is, I think, the combination of
00:12:41.12\00:12:44.63
loving individuals and
also upholding the truth of God.
00:12:44.63\00:12:47.83
Yeah, if we'll make room
for God to work, if we can be
00:12:48.93\00:12:51.67
patient, if we can realize
that wanting to go to church is
00:12:51.67\00:12:55.67
moving towards the cross, it
may seem like he's a long ways
00:12:55.67\00:12:59.47
away, but if we can be patient
and not try to redefine what
00:12:59.47\00:13:04.55
love is by changing the law of
God, if we can just be patient
00:13:04.55\00:13:10.42
and be prayerful, give God
room to work, things can happen.
00:13:10.42\00:13:14.76
Amen, and loving on people and
discipling them, you know, it
00:13:15.36\00:13:17.99
doesn't have to be complicated.
00:13:17.99\00:13:19.19
For me, it was simply reading
the Bible and praying while I
00:13:19.26\00:13:22.93
was in sin.
00:13:22.93\00:13:27.17
university with my then
boyfriend and God met me where
00:13:27.17\00:13:31.14
I was.
00:13:31.14\00:13:31.74
And I did feel lonely.
00:13:32.21\00:13:33.51
I needed to have that
wilderness experience, but
00:13:33.68\00:13:36.38
further along in my
restoration, having a group of
00:13:36.38\00:13:38.95
men that were not disgusted
by me and didn't reject me, but
00:13:38.95\00:13:42.98
were accepting
of me where I was.
00:13:42.98\00:13:44.92
And yet, we're also
experiencing their own
00:13:45.45\00:13:48.19
difficulties seeking
God for themselves, too.
00:13:48.19\00:13:50.33
We were creating a bond in
a spiritual community that was
00:13:50.66\00:13:53.66
truly centered
around Christ Jesus.
00:13:53.66\00:13:56.03
And I think a lot of our
churches, like, that's what we
00:13:56.16\00:13:58.43
need.
00:13:58.43\00:13:59.73
That's such a good point.
00:14:00.10\00:14:01.14
That's such a good person.
00:14:01.34\00:14:02.47
Yes, and then I would want
to add to that, too, because
00:14:02.77\00:14:05.94
whether it's pornography,
adultery, pre-murder, or sex, I
00:14:05.94\00:14:11.48
think it's also when you have
that mindset of humility and
00:14:11.48\00:14:15.18
knowing, like, if we have our
past, someone else might have a
00:14:15.18\00:14:20.32
past, too.
00:14:20.32\00:14:23.99
Like, he had a past of
homosexuality, but I had a past
00:14:24.16\00:14:28.73
of premarital sex.
00:14:28.73\00:14:29.90
And I didn't think mine was
better or his was a greater sin
00:14:29.93\00:14:34.54
than mine.
00:14:34.54\00:14:39.61
that, like, we're all sinful,
but the Lord is the one that
00:14:39.61\00:14:45.41
cleanses us, His
righteousness that covers us.
00:14:45.41\00:14:48.42
That's right.
00:14:48.55\00:14:50.79
So anything that you
were BC, that's the old you.
00:14:50.92\00:14:55.62
That's right.
00:14:55.66\00:14:56.16
That's the old you.
00:14:56.19\00:14:57.19
This is the new you.
00:14:57.19\00:14:58.33
And what a gift.
00:14:58.63\00:14:59.73
Your living testimony of what
the Lord can do in your lives.
00:15:00.30\00:15:05.77
And it starts to small because
for me, God didn't start with
00:15:06.20\00:15:10.84
homosexuality sin.
00:15:10.84\00:15:11.87
He actually started for
me, like, I was really bitter.
00:15:12.01\00:15:14.24
You know, I was
very unforgiving.
00:15:14.78\00:15:16.31
So that's just as much as a sin
as, you know, watching porn or
00:15:16.78\00:15:20.82
doing other things, you know,
cheating, stealing, what have
00:15:20.82\00:15:23.65
you.
00:15:23.65\00:15:27.69
that community really is what,
if it's centered around Christ,
00:15:27.69\00:15:30.96
in His Word, in prayer, yes,
have patience and just to trust
00:15:31.06\00:15:33.90
God that He can clean me up,
He can clean anybody else too.
00:15:33.90\00:15:37.83
Yes.
00:15:38.07\00:15:41.17
If I can kind of bring you
into the conversation as well.
00:15:41.30\00:15:44.81
So can you share with us a
little bit more about how God
00:15:45.11\00:15:47.61
met you, where you were and the
struggles that you were facing?
00:15:47.61\00:15:49.98
Yes.
00:15:50.71\00:15:54.62
I was very young.
00:15:54.62\00:15:55.78
Also, I grew up in the church,
you know, went to kinder,
00:15:55.78\00:16:00.82
primary, junior,
all those classes.
00:16:00.99\00:16:02.86
But I remember when we had just
moved homes, they had told us
00:16:03.43\00:16:09.53
there was, you know, a family
member, there was a duplex, you
00:16:09.53\00:16:12.13
know, there was a property
on the top, property on the
00:16:12.13\00:16:14.24
bottom.
00:16:14.24\00:16:14.44
I was very young, I
was about five years old.
00:16:15.44\00:16:17.37
We would always, you
know, every time there was a
00:16:18.41\00:16:21.18
gathering, we were always
together, family was always
00:16:21.18\00:16:23.55
around.
00:16:23.55\00:16:24.21
I grew in a family where
alcohol was always in the mix.
00:16:24.71\00:16:27.78
But it was always with family.
00:16:29.25\00:16:30.92
It was always, you know, our
uncles, our cousins, you know,
00:16:31.25\00:16:34.79
everybody gathering together.
00:16:34.79\00:16:36.26
It came time, I was
about eight years old.
00:16:38.29\00:16:40.60
I would go up, you know, to the
top house where, you know, what
00:16:41.16\00:16:44.30
I thought was my uncle and
my cousin, after they had video
00:16:44.30\00:16:46.87
games, computers.
00:16:46.87\00:16:47.47
So, you know, I would come home
from school or in the summer I
00:16:48.10\00:16:50.54
would go up and play
video games with my cousin.
00:16:50.54\00:16:52.97
He was much older than me, but
he had a computer and he would
00:16:52.97\00:16:56.14
allow me to play.
00:16:56.14\00:16:57.01
Initially, he would just allow
me to play and then eventually,
00:16:57.75\00:17:01.48
little by little, he
started showing me pornography.
00:17:01.55\00:17:04.09
Nothing just, nothing happened.
00:17:06.35\00:17:07.72
He would just show it and then
he would tell me, okay, it's
00:17:08.06\00:17:09.79
time for you to go home.
00:17:09.79\00:17:10.59
And how old were you?
00:17:10.69\00:17:11.59
I was about eight years old.
00:17:11.63\00:17:12.66
About eight.
00:17:12.89\00:17:13.13
So, and that was
kind of the norm.
00:17:13.93\00:17:15.86
I would just go up there to go
play video games, but he would
00:17:15.93\00:17:18.20
just show me pornography
and eventually send me home.
00:17:18.20\00:17:20.80
There was one time, I remember
the first time, I went up and
00:17:21.64\00:17:25.94
it was only his dad, which
at that time I thought it was my
00:17:25.94\00:17:30.41
uncle.
00:17:30.41\00:17:33.95
you know, with the computer.
00:17:33.95\00:17:34.75
She was like, oh,
well, he's not here.
00:17:34.85\00:17:36.35
She was, but why don't you just
go ahead and sit down and watch
00:17:36.62\00:17:38.82
a movie.
00:17:38.82\00:17:39.55
And he, and then he
started showing me pornography.
00:17:39.95\00:17:42.79
And I was like, wow.
00:17:43.86\00:17:45.23
By that time, I was
already kind of getting used to
00:17:45.73\00:17:48.20
watching pornography because my
cousin would show it to me and
00:17:48.20\00:17:51.47
I was like, I was kind of more,
a little bit more interested in
00:17:51.47\00:17:55.27
just watching it because
it was very interesting to me.
00:17:55.27\00:17:57.77
I had never seen it.
00:17:57.77\00:17:58.91
So, I would start going, I
would see my uncle, you know,
00:17:58.97\00:18:02.38
come back from work and I would
go up and I would say, oh, can
00:18:02.51\00:18:06.68
we watch some movies?
00:18:06.68\00:18:07.72
And he would say, okay,
let's watch some pornography.
00:18:07.85\00:18:09.95
I don't know if he knew what
was going on of what his son
00:18:10.12\00:18:14.69
has shown me, but I remember
he told me, she was like, where
00:18:14.69\00:18:17.59
does my son
keep his pornography?
00:18:17.59\00:18:19.39
Why don't you bring
one of those movies?
00:18:19.39\00:18:20.83
So, I remember, it's like,
why not where he kept them?
00:18:21.33\00:18:23.57
So, I went and I got one of
those videos and he put it on.
00:18:23.60\00:18:26.13
And little by little, it
started touching me and just
00:18:26.27\00:18:31.44
started following me.
00:18:31.44\00:18:32.34
He wasn't aggressive, but
he did started touching me.
00:18:32.57\00:18:36.28
And I would just go up.
00:18:37.48\00:18:39.18
I didn't feel comfortable when
he started touching me and just
00:18:39.31\00:18:43.08
doing things, but I was just
gotten so addicted to watching
00:18:43.08\00:18:46.82
pornography that that was
the only way for me to watch it
00:18:46.82\00:18:49.32
because at my
home, we didn't have it.
00:18:49.32\00:18:51.19
And I was so young, I didn't
know where else I could watch
00:18:51.43\00:18:53.86
it.
00:18:53.86\00:18:57.77
could say, get my fix.
00:18:57.77\00:18:58.90
But I knew that
it came at a price.
00:18:59.37\00:19:02.57
Even though I didn't like him
touching me, I would just go up
00:19:03.10\00:19:05.67
and watch pornography.
00:19:05.67\00:19:06.51
But Hector, you know, for
anybody else that is in the
00:19:06.84\00:19:09.98
same situation that you've
come from, you really are the
00:19:09.98\00:19:12.51
victim, even if you
found it interesting.
00:19:12.51\00:19:14.35
And what this man was
doing, he was grooming you.
00:19:14.65\00:19:17.29
He was moving
you along that path.
00:19:17.29\00:19:19.82
And so, you know, a lot of the
victims take responsibility and
00:19:20.09\00:19:23.19
think that it was their fault
that they wound up that way.
00:19:23.19\00:19:25.69
But no, you were an
eight-year -old child.
00:19:26.03\00:19:27.96
He was an adult.
00:19:27.96\00:19:28.76
You were definitely victimized.
00:19:29.26\00:19:30.90
That's right.
00:19:30.93\00:19:31.37
So, that happened for about
four years just continually,
00:19:32.13\00:19:35.94
and he moved on
to different things.
00:19:35.97\00:19:37.81
And it just
didn't even happen there.
00:19:38.07\00:19:39.67
Sometimes when we would have
gatherings at somebody else's
00:19:39.84\00:19:42.38
house, he would find a way
to find an isolated spot and he
00:19:42.38\00:19:46.58
would take me and do things.
00:19:46.58\00:19:48.55
So, eventually, that happened.
00:19:49.78\00:19:51.75
We ended up moving once.
00:19:52.75\00:19:54.22
I started getting
closer to high school.
00:19:54.69\00:19:58.06
But even through that
transition, I became very
00:19:58.23\00:20:01.06
isolated.
00:20:01.06\00:20:01.90
I kind of parted ways from even
communicating with some of my
00:20:02.30\00:20:05.33
siblings who were older.
00:20:05.33\00:20:06.23
Did you ever tell your parents?
00:20:06.47\00:20:07.84
I did not.
00:20:07.94\00:20:08.84
So, I was mentioning to
Michael, because at church,
00:20:09.07\00:20:11.71
they don't talk about abuse
or they don't talk about if
00:20:11.94\00:20:15.18
someone's touching, or they're
not supposed to, please let
00:20:15.18\00:20:18.45
your pastor know,
let your parents know.
00:20:18.45\00:20:20.22
Like, I've never
heard anything like that.
00:20:20.48\00:20:22.15
So, I just kept it to myself.
00:20:22.15\00:20:22.18
And then through that process,
even though I was going through
00:20:24.19\00:20:27.86
that pain, I kind of saw a
few things that were happening
00:20:27.86\00:20:31.36
between that
individual and my mom.
00:20:31.36\00:20:33.96
Like, there was one time that I
had opened the room that led to
00:20:34.56\00:20:38.87
the garage, and I had kind of
looked, and I thought that they
00:20:38.87\00:20:42.20
had been kissing,
and I was confused.
00:20:42.20\00:20:44.27
So, I was very confused in many
different areas, because I even
00:20:44.27\00:20:47.01
had seen something happen
between them, and I was so
00:20:47.01\00:20:50.95
confused.
00:20:50.95\00:20:51.51
But again, there was one time
where I did see them, and I go,
00:20:52.61\00:20:56.05
I'm going to tell my dad.
00:20:56.08\00:20:56.85
I was so upset.
00:20:56.85\00:20:56.89
And then they came, and they
told me, no, no, it was just, I
00:20:58.09\00:21:00.46
was on a trip, and
I was following them.
00:21:00.46\00:21:01.79
That was the only area that I
was able to hold on, which was
00:21:01.79\00:21:04.96
her buttocks.
00:21:04.96\00:21:06.36
And so, they convinced me, and
I was like, okay, whatever, but
00:21:06.86\00:21:09.46
I was just so confused with the
pornography, with him touching
00:21:09.46\00:21:12.23
me, and all this just kind of
bombarding me, and just seeing
00:21:12.23\00:21:15.54
so many things.
00:21:15.54\00:21:16.40
We eventually ended up moving
to a different home, and he
00:21:16.77\00:21:20.24
would come around all the time,
and I kind of just avoided him.
00:21:20.24\00:21:24.75
I didn't hate him, because I
was blaming myself that, well,
00:21:24.88\00:21:27.62
I put myself in that situation.
00:21:27.62\00:21:29.05
I was the one that was going
up and wanting to watch this
00:21:29.28\00:21:31.82
movie, so I ended up getting
what I got, because I put
00:21:31.82\00:21:35.96
myself in that position.
00:21:35.96\00:21:37.13
So, I never hated him, so even
when he would come around, when
00:21:37.19\00:21:39.93
we would move, I would still
say hi, and I would talk to
00:21:39.93\00:21:42.93
him, but I
became very introverted.
00:21:42.93\00:21:46.10
I ended up going to high
school, and so I got together
00:21:46.57\00:21:49.87
with a group of people,
some of my brother's friends.
00:21:49.87\00:21:53.01
He was a football player, so he
was kind of hanging around with
00:21:53.27\00:21:56.61
other football players and all
the popular kids, so I started
00:21:56.61\00:22:00.48
hanging around with them, and
they were all about alcohol and
00:22:00.48\00:22:03.05
drugs, so that became my
escape, so I just wanted to
00:22:03.05\00:22:07.76
drink, so we started drinking.
00:22:07.76\00:22:09.29
I started doing marijuana,
and I did all that through high
00:22:09.39\00:22:13.33
school, and in a sense, I don't
want to say that it helped me,
00:22:13.33\00:22:16.30
but it just kind of controlled
all the hate that I had within
00:22:16.30\00:22:20.54
me because of what
I had gone through.
00:22:20.54\00:22:22.34
Hector, you know, they
call that self-medicating.
00:22:22.94\00:22:24.91
You know, if reality is just
so difficult to deal with, you
00:22:25.31\00:22:28.44
know, then the pills and
the alcohol actually help to
00:22:28.44\00:22:31.05
anesthetize the things that
were, you know, just so painful
00:22:31.05\00:22:33.78
that you've been through.
00:22:33.78\00:22:34.55
Yeah, because you had
been traumatized and been taken
00:22:35.08\00:22:37.82
advantage of, so it seems like
those are deep wounds that you
00:22:37.82\00:22:41.62
still hadn't
experienced healing for.
00:22:41.62\00:22:43.76
Right.
00:22:43.96\00:22:47.50
time, it was hurting me more
because it came to a time where
00:22:47.50\00:22:51.63
I was so angry at myself, and I
started thinking about suicide,
00:22:51.63\00:22:55.30
so there was a couple times,
once I graduated and I started
00:22:55.60\00:22:58.47
working, but I was
drinking a lot more drugs.
00:22:58.47\00:23:01.54
I was doing cocaine
and speed and other drugs.
00:23:01.54\00:23:01.58
There was one time where I did
try to slice my veins, and one
00:23:05.18\00:23:09.05
of my brothers came in and
was like, what are you doing?
00:23:09.05\00:23:10.82
She was like, that's why, you
know, you should be drinking,
00:23:11.85\00:23:14.02
because then you do stuff like
that, and so I just cut them.
00:23:14.22\00:23:17.46
I did have some scars.
00:23:17.49\00:23:18.49
I just, you know,
just kept drinking.
00:23:19.09\00:23:21.16
Couple years later, I was at
the top of the second story in
00:23:22.10\00:23:26.60
the roof, and I was drinking
again in a very dark place.
00:23:26.60\00:23:29.74
I was just struggling with
myself, just being angry, and I
00:23:29.77\00:23:34.38
said, that's it, like I'm tired.
00:23:34.38\00:23:35.84
I'm just going to
jump and get it over with.
00:23:35.88\00:23:37.95
I don't want to deal with this.
00:23:37.95\00:23:39.61
I still hadn't, like during
this time, I still had not
00:23:41.15\00:23:44.79
heard of anybody talking about
abuse or who I can talk to or
00:23:44.79\00:23:48.72
anybody that I can reach or
contact, or my parents saw that
00:23:48.72\00:23:52.63
I was just
drinking and doing drugs.
00:23:52.63\00:23:54.36
They were like, why don't
you just talk to the pastor and
00:23:54.50\00:23:56.20
tell him, you know, just your
alcohol problem and not knowing
00:23:56.20\00:24:00.04
what had happened to me.
00:24:00.04\00:24:01.14
So there was that one time
where I was on the roof and I
00:24:01.24\00:24:03.47
said, I'm just going to jump,
and right when I was going to
00:24:03.47\00:24:05.87
jump, one of my older brothers,
his name's Ernie, he came and
00:24:05.87\00:24:09.88
he was like, what are you doing?
00:24:09.88\00:24:10.71
And he was able to
grab me as I was jumping.
00:24:10.81\00:24:12.91
So I'm hanging on the top of
that roof and he's holding me
00:24:13.88\00:24:17.59
by his hands.
00:24:17.59\00:24:18.72
And I'm just looking
down and I go, just let me go.
00:24:19.15\00:24:21.49
And I go, just let me go.
00:24:21.59\00:24:22.79
And there was some stairs
that would go down to the first
00:24:23.36\00:24:25.66
floor.
00:24:25.66\00:24:26.29
He kind of swung me and he
tried to throw me to the stairs
00:24:26.83\00:24:29.56
and I didn't reach, but it
broke my fall and I ended up
00:24:29.56\00:24:33.07
falling to the garage top and
I ended up fracturing my spine.
00:24:33.07\00:24:38.41
The ambulance came, I had
drugs on me, I had all this
00:24:38.54\00:24:41.71
paraphernalia and I just gave
it all to my brother and I hear
00:24:41.71\00:24:44.71
because the
police is going to come.
00:24:44.71\00:24:45.91
So everybody showed up, the
police, the ambulance and you
00:24:46.08\00:24:48.85
know, they say what happened,
give, you know, the report.
00:24:48.85\00:24:51.79
Ended up being on a body
cast for like two months.
00:24:52.09\00:24:54.09
How old were you?
00:24:54.49\00:24:55.02
I was, at that time, I was,
I want to say about 19, 19, 20.
00:24:55.76\00:25:00.83
Wow.
00:25:00.86\00:25:01.26
I was still very
depressed at the hospital.
00:25:02.23\00:25:04.30
They did send me to the
psych unit because I wanted to
00:25:04.40\00:25:07.10
suicide.
00:25:07.10\00:25:07.60
You know, I was there, they
took me in in the morning and
00:25:08.74\00:25:11.07
they talked to me and I
just said, oh no, it was just an
00:25:11.07\00:25:13.24
episode.
00:25:13.24\00:25:16.81
that I would do again
and they just released me.
00:25:16.81\00:25:19.58
But I, again, I went back to
the same thing, just drinking
00:25:20.08\00:25:24.05
and doing drugs.
00:25:24.05\00:25:25.79
And eventually pastors would
come, they would invite them,
00:25:26.82\00:25:30.36
but it was just to, I had
talked to one, but it was just
00:25:30.36\00:25:33.56
more like just leave
drugs, come to church.
00:25:33.56\00:25:35.30
I was like,
well, what's at church?
00:25:35.76\00:25:37.13
Like there's
really nothing at church.
00:25:37.20\00:25:38.70
I'd never had, every time, even
though I grew up in the church,
00:25:38.90\00:25:41.30
I never had a
relationship with Christ.
00:25:41.60\00:25:43.54
Hector, you know, I wanted
to ask you this because it's
00:25:44.94\00:25:48.01
interesting.
00:25:48.01\00:25:48.41
The statistic is very high that
boys that have been molested by
00:25:49.38\00:25:52.78
men have a stronger same
sex attraction, but that wasn't
00:25:52.78\00:25:56.28
your story.
00:25:56.28\00:25:57.39
And I think it's really
important that you're one of
00:25:57.42\00:26:00.52
the bravest people I know right
now because, you know, to share
00:26:00.52\00:26:04.59
your story in public, being
a Hispanic man, and, you know,
00:26:04.59\00:26:07.83
that these are things that
are never talked about in your
00:26:07.86\00:26:10.70
culture.
00:26:10.70\00:26:14.27
And, you know, I just want to
let you know that I think that
00:26:14.44\00:26:17.74
it's very, very brave of you to
sit there and to tell all these
00:26:17.74\00:26:21.31
details.
00:26:21.31\00:26:21.78
But in that process, you know,
these issues didn't just go
00:26:22.84\00:26:26.41
away.
00:26:26.41\00:26:26.82
You ended up
getting married, right?
00:26:27.38\00:26:28.85
Yes.
00:26:28.85\00:26:29.32
So eventually I was praying.
00:26:29.62\00:26:30.69
I was like, I
just need somebody.
00:26:30.85\00:26:32.35
I want to have a girlfriend.
00:26:32.55\00:26:33.96
I didn't have any
girlfriends through high school.
00:26:34.79\00:26:37.26
I was very shy.
00:26:37.36\00:26:38.19
I couldn't talk to anybody.
00:26:38.39\00:26:39.86
I was very introverted.
00:26:40.06\00:26:41.23
My brothers would
sometimes make fun of me.
00:26:41.73\00:26:43.57
So how come you
don't have a girlfriend?
00:26:43.57\00:26:43.60
You know, you're
always by yourself.
00:26:44.93\00:26:45.97
I just couldn't talk.
00:26:46.03\00:26:47.30
So I prayed.
00:26:48.07\00:26:48.94
Eventually there was a youth
pastor that started attending
00:26:49.30\00:26:52.14
the church I used to go.
00:26:52.14\00:26:53.34
And I made connections with him.
00:26:53.81\00:26:55.58
He finally, you know, got a
hold of me and he befriended
00:26:55.58\00:26:58.38
me.
00:26:58.38\00:27:01.12
just come and
try to sermonize me.
00:27:01.12\00:27:02.95
He became my friend.
00:27:02.98\00:27:03.85
He was like, hey, let's go out.
00:27:03.89\00:27:05.39
Let's just like, we
don't have to go to church.
00:27:05.59\00:27:06.96
Let's just hang out, talk.
00:27:07.02\00:27:08.32
And so I didn't
see him as a pastor.
00:27:08.72\00:27:10.89
I saw him more as a friend.
00:27:11.09\00:27:12.03
So then eventually he was like,
oh, well, just look, just come
00:27:12.33\00:27:14.93
to socials.
00:27:14.93\00:27:17.47
basketball, we have volleyball.
00:27:17.47\00:27:18.70
So I started
attending the socials.
00:27:19.00\00:27:20.54
I fell in love with the socials.
00:27:20.57\00:27:21.80
And then eventually, little by
little, I said, that's it, I'm
00:27:21.80\00:27:24.07
done with the drugs.
00:27:24.07\00:27:24.71
I'm done with the alcohol.
00:27:24.81\00:27:25.87
And so I started leaving the
alcohol and I started attending
00:27:26.61\00:27:30.45
church.
00:27:30.45\00:27:33.45
So I was working
myself towards that.
00:27:33.52\00:27:36.02
But it was very interesting
because as I was going in, I
00:27:36.92\00:27:39.92
reconnected with some of my old
friends from childhood who were
00:27:39.92\00:27:42.19
like, oh, well,
I'm back at church.
00:27:42.19\00:27:43.99
They were at
church, they were happy.
00:27:44.03\00:27:45.39
And as I'm going back and
I'm reconnecting with my old
00:27:46.09\00:27:48.80
friends from church, as we
became good friends, there was
00:27:48.80\00:27:53.03
a couple months down the road,
they were like, oh, well, let's
00:27:53.03\00:27:55.24
go out and hang
out and go, oh, sure.
00:27:55.24\00:27:56.87
And I'm telling my parents,
hey, I'm going to hang out with
00:27:57.27\00:27:59.14
the young people from church.
00:27:59.14\00:28:00.71
Well, they ended up
taking me to the club.
00:28:01.11\00:28:02.54
And then so they started,
because they were drinking,
00:28:03.21\00:28:05.11
they were like, what?
00:28:05.21\00:28:06.08
And I go, well, I'm
trying to leave that.
00:28:06.18\00:28:07.72
And now I'm going back
with people from church.
00:28:07.75\00:28:10.25
So I started drinking
again with the youth from church
00:28:10.29\00:28:12.79
because they
started taking me out.
00:28:12.79\00:28:14.72
So, Hector, yeah, yeah.
00:28:15.82\00:28:16.83
You know, you could just see
the depravity of what sin can
00:28:17.06\00:28:19.86
do.
00:28:19.86\00:28:23.06
And, you know, you were
convicted to leave the drugs
00:28:23.16\00:28:25.90
and the alcohol.
00:28:25.90\00:28:26.74
And you met a wonderful woman.
00:28:27.24\00:28:28.64
You know, your wife is
just absolutely amazing.
00:28:29.04\00:28:30.94
But the one thing that you
brought into your relationship,
00:28:31.54\00:28:34.38
what was that one secret?
00:28:35.18\00:28:36.44
So by the time that I was
praying and I said, God, I want
00:28:38.38\00:28:41.18
you to give me a good wife,
you know, I want to get married.
00:28:41.18\00:28:44.99
I ended up meeting my wife
at church and we started dating.
00:28:46.12\00:28:50.56
And I was her name is Laura.
00:28:51.19\00:28:52.96
That's right.
00:28:52.99\00:28:53.80
And I was very happy.
00:28:53.80\00:28:55.60
She was very beautiful and
her family was very wonderful.
00:28:55.86\00:28:59.37
But I was still
watching pornography.
00:29:00.37\00:29:02.30
That's one thing that I
couldn't let go even through my
00:29:02.57\00:29:04.71
teenage years.
00:29:04.71\00:29:05.47
I was still, now that I
was back at church, I was still
00:29:06.21\00:29:08.91
drinking.
00:29:08.91\00:29:09.44
I started drinking again.
00:29:09.54\00:29:10.38
So when we were going out,
you know, with our friends and
00:29:11.15\00:29:13.55
stuff like that, and we were
at a house, I would hide and
00:29:13.55\00:29:16.25
drink.
00:29:16.25\00:29:16.55
Eventually she caught on.
00:29:16.89\00:29:18.02
She was like, hey, I don't want
no one, you know, I don't want
00:29:18.12\00:29:21.06
to be with anybody
that's going to be drinking.
00:29:21.06\00:29:22.62
So when I proposed to her, that
night before we got married was
00:29:22.62\00:29:28.20
the last day that I drank.
00:29:28.20\00:29:29.60
So we have been
married for 22 years.
00:29:29.73\00:29:31.93
I've been 22 years sober.
00:29:32.07\00:29:33.34
Wow, praise the Lord.
00:29:33.64\00:29:34.94
But the one thing that I
did bring into our marriage was
00:29:35.10\00:29:39.14
pornography.
00:29:39.14\00:29:39.67
So I was hiding around,
still watching pornography.
00:29:40.28\00:29:43.48
What was the effect that that
had on your marriage and also
00:29:44.21\00:29:47.62
in your family?
00:29:47.62\00:29:48.32
Well, because I was hiding,
I wasn't being honest with my
00:29:48.85\00:29:54.22
wife.
00:29:54.22\00:29:54.79
So there was always a lot of
disconnect, you know, a lot of
00:29:55.46\00:29:58.79
hiding, a lot of like,
oh, would you go over here?
00:29:58.79\00:30:00.76
And when I was free at home
or she was at work, I was, you
00:30:00.90\00:30:04.13
know, watching pornography.
00:30:04.13\00:30:05.23
There was one day when I had
came home early from work and I
00:30:05.33\00:30:09.34
was watching pornography.
00:30:09.34\00:30:10.31
She was at work
and I go, I have time.
00:30:10.41\00:30:12.44
Well, she wanted to surprise
me to go and have lunch and she
00:30:13.01\00:30:15.68
shows up at the house
and I'm watching pornography.
00:30:15.68\00:30:18.25
So we started having a lot of
issues like, well, what's going
00:30:19.28\00:30:21.58
on?
00:30:21.58\00:30:22.78
And we started having a
lot of just marital issues.
00:30:23.22\00:30:25.35
I mean, even to the
brink of almost divorce.
00:30:25.49\00:30:27.49
We had my two children already.
00:30:28.16\00:30:29.89
So that was
creating a lot of chaos.
00:30:30.06\00:30:31.89
So again, I had never told my
story about my abuse to anybody
00:30:32.56\00:30:37.53
up to that point.
00:30:37.53\00:30:39.10
When she discovered what I was
doing, I sat down with her and
00:30:40.14\00:30:43.57
I go, okay, I'm gonna tell
you how I became addicted to
00:30:43.57\00:30:45.77
pornography.
00:30:45.77\00:30:49.51
happened to me in childhood and
this is how I got addicted to
00:30:49.51\00:30:52.21
pornography.
00:30:52.21\00:30:52.71
What was her reaction?
00:30:53.25\00:30:54.32
She was very just, to me, I
always say that she's my angel
00:30:55.95\00:31:00.89
because she didn't hate me.
00:31:00.89\00:31:02.29
She was like, why didn't
you just tell me a long time ago
00:31:02.32\00:31:04.99
and we could have gone, you
know, I could have helped you.
00:31:04.99\00:31:07.13
And she was very comforting.
00:31:07.13\00:31:07.13
She didn't, you know, get mad
at me or say, oh, like, I don't
00:31:09.30\00:31:11.47
want to be, no, she was very
comforting and very supportive.
00:31:11.47\00:31:14.24
So when I saw that she was
being very supportive, I knew
00:31:14.57\00:31:17.27
that I had to put
effort to try to leave that.
00:31:17.27\00:31:19.94
So through that whole process,
we had left my old church,
00:31:20.31\00:31:24.15
Spanish church, so we ended
up going to an American church.
00:31:25.05\00:31:27.72
And we met a group of
people, like we said, community.
00:31:28.68\00:31:31.22
You know, we have to
find communities that are like
00:31:31.49\00:31:33.59
-minded and have the same goals.
00:31:33.59\00:31:35.62
So I found a ministry called
In Times Like These Ministries
00:31:36.52\00:31:39.66
with Pastor Michael Johnson.
00:31:39.66\00:31:40.96
And I started attending him.
00:31:41.40\00:31:43.26
He had a lay evangelist course.
00:31:43.33\00:31:45.03
So I did that and he showed
us how to do sermons, Bible
00:31:45.03\00:31:48.27
studies.
00:31:48.27\00:31:51.74
that time in that.
00:31:51.74\00:31:53.04
And I started doing a lot of
the lay evangelist courses with
00:31:53.38\00:31:57.08
that ministry.
00:31:57.08\00:31:57.88
And he taught
us, he kept me busy.
00:31:58.15\00:31:59.65
So my thing was like, I
had to replace pornography with
00:32:00.05\00:32:03.45
something else.
00:32:03.45\00:32:04.42
And I praise God that he put
that ministry in our path that
00:32:04.69\00:32:08.89
helped me to be more involved
in the things of Christ and
00:32:08.89\00:32:12.86
showing me how to give
sermons and Bible studies.
00:32:12.86\00:32:15.86
And through that, it was 2020
when our ministry was having a
00:32:17.00\00:32:22.37
mini camp or a camp
meeting at Pasadena.
00:32:22.37\00:32:25.07
And Michael was
one of the speakers.
00:32:25.41\00:32:26.84
And when I heard his testimony
and Patty's testimony, I was
00:32:27.01\00:32:30.25
just blown away.
00:32:30.25\00:32:31.18
I was like, what,
they're actually talking about
00:32:31.31\00:32:32.68
pornography and all this.
00:32:32.68\00:32:33.85
And on a break, I remember
going to Michael and I go,
00:32:33.98\00:32:37.02
Michael, can I talk to you?
00:32:37.12\00:32:38.52
And he says, sure.
00:32:38.52\00:32:39.35
So we go to a
back room and we talk.
00:32:39.69\00:32:41.29
We had good conversation.
00:32:41.42\00:32:42.32
We had a wonderful prayer.
00:32:42.32\00:32:43.46
And after that,
that was pretty much it.
00:32:44.09\00:32:46.23
We didn't talk
anymore until 2022.
00:32:47.00\00:32:50.40
Wait, how funny?
00:32:50.67\00:32:54.40
time and then nothing
for a couple of years.
00:32:54.40\00:32:56.77
And then we got connected again.
00:32:56.81\00:32:58.61
I just want to jump in and say,
one of the things that I think
00:32:58.81\00:33:01.71
is really profound and I'm just
kind of putting this together
00:33:01.71\00:33:04.18
is that when you got busy
in church and that's when you
00:33:04.18\00:33:08.22
really got tight with your
family because you don't do
00:33:08.22\00:33:10.72
anything without them.
00:33:10.72\00:33:11.62
I mean, if he has
something, they all go.
00:33:11.62\00:33:14.02
If the son has
something, they all go.
00:33:14.26\00:33:15.79
If the wife has
something, they all go.
00:33:15.92\00:33:17.23
And that's really a
very powerful thing.
00:33:17.56\00:33:19.79
And does that help you in your
own victory that you walk in?
00:33:20.46\00:33:23.77
It does.
00:33:23.77\00:33:24.63
Because even when we're doing
ministry, yeah, it's always a
00:33:25.03\00:33:28.20
group.
00:33:28.20\00:33:28.44
It was always my whole, always.
00:33:28.90\00:33:29.90
I mean, wherever they asked
me to go preach, my whole family
00:33:30.17\00:33:34.44
was there.
00:33:34.44\00:33:37.38
in the back of a van
with 10 people and she's doing
00:33:37.38\00:33:39.88
homeschool while we're bouncing
down the road in a church van
00:33:39.88\00:33:42.72
to get here.
00:33:42.72\00:33:43.39
So, yeah, yeah.
00:33:44.05\00:33:45.19
What I love about Hector's
story that I think is really
00:33:45.22\00:33:47.39
interesting is the
minute you decided to follow the
00:33:47.39\00:33:51.23
interventions that got put
in your path, which was to serve
00:33:51.23\00:33:53.86
him and to live in purpose, you
started to experience victory.
00:33:53.86\00:33:57.17
And I think that's really
powerful because even whenever
00:33:57.30\00:34:00.04
you're reviewing your testimony
with me, I was dumbfounded.
00:34:00.04\00:34:03.51
I'm like, so he didn't
tell you to go to a group.
00:34:03.54\00:34:05.74
He didn't have
you go to a therapy.
00:34:05.81\00:34:07.01
He didn't have
you do this or that.
00:34:07.08\00:34:08.64
And your answer was no.
00:34:08.64\00:34:11.08
Like this is the
thing that worked for you.
00:34:11.21\00:34:13.65
And I think that's beautiful
because everyone's testimony is
00:34:13.68\00:34:16.85
going to be different.
00:34:16.85\00:34:17.52
God, He knows what we need.
00:34:17.72\00:34:19.22
He knows how to intervene.
00:34:19.25\00:34:20.39
And I think that's powerful.
00:34:20.52\00:34:21.39
How important was prayer?
00:34:21.79\00:34:23.19
And what I'm looking for, there
are people watching and they're
00:34:23.76\00:34:26.19
struggling with all of that.
00:34:26.19\00:34:27.36
I've heard you say you made up
your mind not to do it anymore.
00:34:27.76\00:34:30.33
You didn't since the night.
00:34:30.47\00:34:31.90
But tell me about prayer
and communion with God, what an
00:34:32.47\00:34:39.57
impact that's had on
you for all these years.
00:34:39.57\00:34:42.04
Yeah, well, prayer became very
essential and even opening our
00:34:42.14\00:34:45.75
Bible.
00:34:45.75\00:34:49.02
And the way I grew up going to
church is we just go to church
00:34:49.22\00:34:51.82
on Saturday.
00:34:51.82\00:34:52.62
You go to class,
you worship on Sabbath.
00:34:52.69\00:34:54.42
And then that's pretty much it.
00:34:54.49\00:34:55.59
There was nothing throughout
the week that we didn't have
00:34:55.69\00:34:58.76
family worship.
00:34:58.76\00:35:00.10
It was just Saturday.
00:35:00.30\00:35:01.53
So it was just Sabbath keeping.
00:35:01.60\00:35:02.80
So when I started changing
with the community, with the
00:35:02.80\00:35:06.94
ministry, I mean we were
studying throughout the week.
00:35:06.94\00:35:10.44
We were having
our family worships.
00:35:10.61\00:35:12.14
We were having prayer.
00:35:12.14\00:35:13.11
We were preparing, you know,
we and my wife were preparing
00:35:13.91\00:35:17.08
sermons and I was
asking her, Oh, help me out.
00:35:17.08\00:35:19.28
So we were more engaged in
the study or the Word of God.
00:35:19.51\00:35:23.32
So that became very essential.
00:35:23.32\00:35:24.92
So my spiritual life
didn't just become on Saturdays.
00:35:25.22\00:35:28.99
It was just throughout the week.
00:35:28.99\00:35:30.29
And that is what changed.
00:35:30.53\00:35:31.49
And that changed your lifestyle.
00:35:31.49\00:35:33.80
That's the thing that changed
what you did every day, what
00:35:34.13\00:35:37.63
you have started to value.
00:35:37.63\00:35:38.87
And there really is
power in the Word of God.
00:35:39.47\00:35:41.80
I think a lot of
people miss that.
00:35:41.87\00:35:44.27
You know, they might hear
that testimony and think, well,
00:35:44.31\00:35:46.07
that's just the Word of God.
00:35:46.07\00:35:47.14
Well, you have to taste
and see that the Lord is good.
00:35:47.18\00:35:48.88
You know, it sounds so simple,
but that's exactly what God
00:35:49.68\00:35:52.65
used to start
the journey for me.
00:35:52.65\00:35:54.35
So I thank you for
sharing and being vulnerable.
00:35:54.38\00:35:56.82
But Daniel, it is simple.
00:35:57.99\00:35:58.95
You know, isn't that
the beauty of the gospel?
00:35:59.12\00:36:00.72
It is simple.
00:36:00.72\00:36:02.22
And you know,
Jesus talks about it.
00:36:02.72\00:36:05.79
Ellen White talks about it.
00:36:06.13\00:36:07.30
Jesus says you can clean the
house out, but if you leave it
00:36:07.36\00:36:09.50
empty, the old demons
come around looking for an
00:36:09.50\00:36:12.20
opportunity to come in and
they know where the key is.
00:36:12.20\00:36:14.30
It's hidden in the
back, under the mat.
00:36:14.70\00:36:16.64
And if it's
pornography, whatever it is.
00:36:16.77\00:36:18.81
Then the book, Education, Ellen
White says that as a safeguard
00:36:19.44\00:36:24.18
against evil, the preoccupation
of the mind with good is worth
00:36:24.18\00:36:27.52
unnumbered barriers
of law and discipline.
00:36:27.52\00:36:29.62
So if you fill that life
up with something, especially
00:36:30.12\00:36:33.66
because when you're serving
Christ, your connection is
00:36:33.66\00:36:37.36
deepening with Christ.
00:36:37.36\00:36:38.39
And then you're also in
communion with these other
00:36:38.89\00:36:41.23
people.
00:36:41.23\00:36:43.87
And so there is a cooperation
with God that really kind of
00:36:44.53\00:36:49.90
allows him to work
and works with him.
00:36:49.90\00:36:53.07
And it squeezes, you know,
it puts the squeeze on the old
00:36:53.17\00:36:57.35
life and actually brings life
in a way that you haven't had
00:36:57.35\00:37:01.22
before.
00:37:01.22\00:37:01.55
And, you know, it's beautiful.
00:37:01.92\00:37:03.08
And just being around you
for even really just today, it's
00:37:04.75\00:37:09.39
very evident that the love
of God is active in your heart,
00:37:09.39\00:37:11.99
transforming you.
00:37:12.03\00:37:12.83
It's beautiful.
00:37:13.09\00:37:14.00
And I just want to praise
his name for your testimony and
00:37:14.66\00:37:17.47
your journey.
00:37:17.47\00:37:21.80
was always interfering with
connecting with Christ was the
00:37:21.80\00:37:24.91
excuses.
00:37:24.91\00:37:29.11
And as soon as I let go, I
was like, no, I got to avoid the
00:37:30.08\00:37:33.58
excuse.
00:37:33.58\00:37:36.92
to go to trials and
tribulations and arguments with
00:37:36.92\00:37:40.06
my wife, but I got to
remember who is at playing.
00:37:40.06\00:37:43.36
And I think getting away from,
I'm excusing my sin, I think
00:37:44.09\00:37:48.20
that was a big part of it.
00:37:48.20\00:37:49.46
It's so important to
spend time with the Lord.
00:37:49.86\00:37:56.20
That's how, that's
really how we're changed.
00:37:56.30\00:38:00.11
By beholding, we become changed.
00:38:00.18\00:38:01.91
So we connect with him and
by doing that, he changes us.
00:38:02.01\00:38:06.85
There's nothing we can
do to change ourselves.
00:38:06.88\00:38:09.68
And I think it's really
important to know like it is
00:38:09.68\00:38:12.69
not your work, it is your
decision to give your heart to
00:38:12.69\00:38:19.29
Christ.
00:38:19.29\00:38:19.83
That's all you can do.
00:38:19.86\00:38:20.96
And in doing that and
giving him time, giving the Holy
00:38:21.00\00:38:24.77
Spirit time, he works on us.
00:38:24.77\00:38:26.97
He's the author and
finisher of our faith.
00:38:27.00\00:38:29.87
We can't do it ourselves.
00:38:30.07\00:38:31.41
So you were giving the Lord
his time and he has changed you.
00:38:31.54\00:38:37.38
You know, there's so many
children that are, and adults
00:38:37.51\00:38:41.85
and pastors too, who are
addicted to pornography and
00:38:41.85\00:38:47.42
don't know...
00:38:47.42\00:38:48.86
Whoa!
00:38:50.43\00:38:51.09
Because it's secret, because
it's something you do privately
00:38:51.63\00:38:55.83
and it's taking over
and you can't tell anyone.
00:38:57.27\00:39:00.54
It's a very
personal shame producing...
00:39:00.94\00:39:04.91
Yeah, that's a lie that you
can't tell anyone because there
00:39:04.91\00:39:07.68
is help.
00:39:07.68\00:39:11.35
there as well, if
people want to use them.
00:39:11.35\00:39:13.88
So that's also another liar.
00:39:14.72\00:39:16.25
I hate to say the word excuse
because the shame is real.
00:39:16.72\00:39:19.62
It's hard and you feel
guilty, especially as a pastor.
00:39:19.95\00:39:23.63
But Daniel, you bring up a
really good point because I
00:39:24.39\00:39:26.59
think even if there are places
that you can go, I think that
00:39:26.59\00:39:31.97
first and foremost on
everybody's mind is, if I tell
00:39:31.97\00:39:34.97
somebody, will I be exposed?
00:39:34.97\00:39:36.57
Will I lose my career?
00:39:36.67\00:39:37.74
Will I lose my family?
00:39:38.07\00:39:39.34
And so those real fears I
think do keep us even from the
00:39:39.34\00:39:42.61
options that are out there.
00:39:42.61\00:39:43.65
And I think that that's
why these discussions are so
00:39:43.75\00:39:46.28
healthy.
00:39:46.28\00:39:49.55
that allowed you to tell your
story to someone, then imagine
00:39:49.55\00:39:52.89
the power when, what is it, by
the testimony of two or three,
00:39:52.89\00:39:56.26
shall that thing be established.
00:39:56.36\00:39:57.46
So the more stories that
we have like this, I think it
00:39:58.03\00:40:00.66
really helps individuals that
are watching to say, hey, if
00:40:00.66\00:40:03.16
God can do that for them, you
know, God can do that for me.
00:40:03.16\00:40:06.60
That's right.
00:40:06.60\00:40:07.27
Faith comes by hearing.
00:40:07.67\00:40:08.90
It's like the seed sows like,
this could be my story too.
00:40:09.64\00:40:13.14
And I think by talking
about it, I think it helps.
00:40:13.71\00:40:16.68
Like I said, the only person
that I had discussed this with
00:40:16.91\00:40:19.31
was my wife.
00:40:19.31\00:40:20.58
And then I had shared it
a little bit with Michael.
00:40:20.65\00:40:22.32
Yeah, but what a beautiful
response from your wife.
00:40:22.32\00:40:22.35
Had you not had that?
00:40:24.69\00:40:25.69
I don't think
you'd be here either.
00:40:25.69\00:40:27.42
Yes, that's right.
00:40:27.42\00:40:28.19
It was the grace
of God through her.
00:40:28.22\00:40:29.66
Right.
00:40:29.86\00:40:34.20
Conference a
couple of years ago.
00:40:34.20\00:40:36.06
And he was just searching.
00:40:36.77\00:40:37.87
He wasn't a Christian
raised, you know, in another
00:40:38.37\00:40:40.70
denomination.
00:40:40.70\00:40:41.50
But somebody had told him about
our conference and he lived in
00:40:42.07\00:40:45.41
Detroit and so he drove a
couple of hours to be there.
00:40:45.41\00:40:47.78
His idea was he was going
to come for Thursday and leave
00:40:48.04\00:40:50.71
Friday.
00:40:50.71\00:40:54.22
he was going to hear.
00:40:54.22\00:40:54.92
And, you know, we just swooped
on him and, you know, we just
00:40:55.92\00:40:58.89
loved on him and, you know, we
talked to him and you just had
00:40:58.89\00:41:01.62
conversations.
00:41:01.62\00:41:02.29
And the guy ended up
staying until Sunday night.
00:41:02.69\00:41:05.39
And he starts work at 6 a.m.
00:41:05.79\00:41:07.76
so he used to get
up at like 3 .30 a.m.
00:41:07.76\00:41:09.36
and he didn't even leave our
pizza party until like 7.30 at
00:41:09.60\00:41:13.37
night to drive home to be there.
00:41:13.37\00:41:14.64
The point I want to make
is that, you know, he started
00:41:15.67\00:41:18.24
coming to our prayer lines
and we have prayer lines for
00:41:18.24\00:41:20.84
individuals that are
wanting out of LGBT lives.
00:41:20.84\00:41:23.24
We also have our general prayer
lines that are designed for
00:41:23.35\00:41:26.82
anybody that, whether
you're a parent or an individual
00:41:26.82\00:41:29.18
struggling with anything else,
you know, can come to as well.
00:41:29.18\00:41:31.59
But as he got involved in
our ministry, he started making
00:41:31.89\00:41:34.89
connections with some of the
people that he saw there that
00:41:34.89\00:41:37.29
he could actually, you
know, see with his own eyes.
00:41:37.29\00:41:39.46
And through that process, we
had people from Australia and
00:41:39.86\00:41:43.16
New Zealand and,
you know, South Africa.
00:41:43.16\00:41:45.67
And yet, he's been involved
in our prayer lines and on our
00:41:46.07\00:41:48.67
chat rooms.
00:41:48.67\00:41:49.57
You know, it was so amazing is
that he had the bravery to give
00:41:49.90\00:41:54.58
his testimony on the last night
of our last conference, which
00:41:54.58\00:41:58.51
was a year later
after we met him.
00:41:58.51\00:42:00.18
And the next day on Sunday, he
got baptized in Lake Michigan.
00:42:00.48\00:42:03.92
So we do have a picture.
00:42:04.45\00:42:05.52
I don't know if you can...
00:42:05.62\00:42:06.59
But then look at
that, look at that!
00:42:06.59\00:42:07.86
Isn't that amazing?
00:42:08.86\00:42:09.72
Well, this is one of the
byproducts of these Coming
00:42:10.73\00:42:12.93
Together Live events is
the amazing sense of family and
00:42:12.93\00:42:16.40
connection that
develops out of it.
00:42:16.40\00:42:17.33
It was a surprise to me.
00:42:18.20\00:42:20.24
But the amount of time
that's being spent together, the
00:42:20.67\00:42:23.34
hopeful messaging, the non
-condemnation, it's not that
00:42:23.34\00:42:28.91
standards are lowered, it's
just that the standard of love
00:42:28.91\00:42:31.45
is raised higher.
00:42:31.45\00:42:32.71
And the connecting time, and
pretty soon people feel like I
00:42:33.58\00:42:38.25
could change.
00:42:38.25\00:42:39.12
I do want to belong with a
group of people like this and
00:42:39.72\00:42:42.29
God loves me the way he loves
them and I'm choosing to go a
00:42:42.29\00:42:45.16
different route.
00:42:45.16\00:42:45.76
And you know, something better
is our watchword and what's
00:42:46.39\00:42:49.16
better than being loved
and being a loving family.
00:42:49.16\00:42:51.30
And that's what develops
around so many of these events.
00:42:51.33\00:42:53.74
And then you have the faith
that grows when God's Word is
00:42:54.24\00:42:57.61
shared and the
testimonies are given.
00:42:57.61\00:42:58.84
We only have about 14 minutes
or so left, but I want you to
00:42:58.84\00:43:03.14
kind of tell us what you're
doing, what's new, where you're
00:43:03.14\00:43:06.41
going to be, how
that we can get involved.
00:43:06.41\00:43:08.68
And so once again, that you're
being here, what I'm seeing is
00:43:09.25\00:43:13.92
that you're letting people know
that no matter what the problem
00:43:13.92\00:43:17.16
is in their life, that
we can gain victory over.
00:43:17.16\00:43:20.50
And that's what all of
our churches, all of our
00:43:20.66\00:43:23.30
universities, all of our
health system, everywhere we go,
00:43:23.30\00:43:26.37
people have to understand
if we as Christians, it's our
00:43:26.50\00:43:30.17
responsibility to
help them understand.
00:43:30.17\00:43:32.71
There's nothing so bad.
00:43:33.07\00:43:34.31
You said it earlier, gossip,
whatever else in the church,
00:43:34.81\00:43:38.38
it's just as bad in God's sight
when we reject God's love and
00:43:38.81\00:43:43.02
His Ten Commandments
and we reject His laws.
00:43:43.02\00:43:45.32
But God can give us
victory no matter what it is.
00:43:45.99\00:43:48.56
We'll bring people all the
time to say, oh, this guy was in
00:43:49.46\00:43:53.03
prison for 23 years.
00:43:53.03\00:43:54.30
He killed a guy and everybody's
willing to forgive him.
00:43:54.36\00:43:57.17
You know, oh, this is great.
00:43:57.17\00:43:58.53
Well, this guy was homosexual.
00:43:58.83\00:44:00.30
He's what,
uh-oh, you know, really?
00:44:00.50\00:44:02.34
I mean, you know.
00:44:02.60\00:44:03.81
We're gonna watch him for a
couple of years and see how he
00:44:03.81\00:44:05.94
does.
00:44:05.94\00:44:06.14
Really?
00:44:06.41\00:44:09.98
years.
00:44:09.98\00:44:14.48
give you victory over that.
00:44:14.48\00:44:15.75
And so that's what each of
your testimonies are showing us.
00:44:15.75\00:44:19.79
And so thank you for that.
00:44:19.79\00:44:19.82
But let us know what some
of the things that's happening,
00:44:21.02\00:44:23.36
how can we get involved.
00:44:23.63\00:44:24.89
And we want you to be thinking
about, we want to put their
00:44:24.96\00:44:27.66
address up before the program's
over because if I could
00:44:27.66\00:44:31.00
encourage you, I want you
to pray and ask the Holy Spirit
00:44:31.00\00:44:33.70
what he would have
you to do financially.
00:44:33.70\00:44:35.97
They're growing and
more people involved.
00:44:36.30\00:44:38.74
The ministry center they have.
00:44:38.91\00:44:40.44
All of this is so important
right now for us as Christians
00:44:40.74\00:44:44.78
and Adventists for this church
and that we want to say we need
00:44:44.78\00:44:49.38
you, but we do.
00:44:49.38\00:44:50.25
We do.
00:44:50.25\00:44:50.79
We need you all.
00:44:50.79\00:44:51.82
And thank you for what you do.
00:44:51.89\00:44:53.46
And I'd like for our
people at home to donate because
00:44:53.46\00:44:53.49
financially a lot of people
can't, maybe they can't get
00:44:58.16\00:45:02.30
out, they can't go somewhere,
they can't do whatever, but
00:45:02.30\00:45:04.53
they can send $20 or $100
or some people can send $1,000,
00:45:04.53\00:45:09.10
whatever's on their hearts.
00:45:09.60\00:45:10.71
But we have to
keep this ministry.
00:45:10.81\00:45:13.01
God's going to do it.
00:45:13.31\00:45:14.31
But it's like the preacher
said, once a church they wanted
00:45:14.48\00:45:17.21
to build this big, they were
building a big addition to the
00:45:17.21\00:45:21.02
church.
00:45:21.02\00:45:21.78
And he said, "I've got
some good news and bad news."
00:45:22.08\00:45:24.55
And said, which
you want to hear it?
00:45:24.55\00:45:26.99
You want to hear it?
00:45:26.99\00:45:27.49
And they said, yeah.
00:45:27.49\00:45:31.89
project."
00:45:31.89\00:45:32.56
And everybody
clapped and cheered.
00:45:32.73\00:45:34.46
Oh, they were so happy.
00:45:34.73\00:45:35.86
Then he said, "bad news,
it's still in your pocket."
00:45:36.13\00:45:38.90
So that we don't want
that to be with our viewers.
00:45:40.67\00:45:43.14
We've good news and bad news.
00:45:43.47\00:45:44.77
The money we don't want
to still be in your pockets.
00:45:44.87\00:45:46.91
We want you to pray and ask the
Lord what he would have you to
00:45:47.24\00:45:49.74
do to support the
coming together ministry.
00:45:49.74\00:45:52.11
And we'll put their address up
in just a little bit and we'll
00:45:52.11\00:45:52.15
keep it.
00:45:54.85\00:45:57.59
scroll it on the screen,
whatever you want to do the
00:45:57.59\00:45:59.62
rest of the program.
00:45:59.62\00:46:00.62
But we hats off to
you all, all of you.
00:46:01.66\00:46:03.99
And thank you for what you're
doing for the cause of God.
00:46:04.03\00:46:06.90
What a need in this church.
00:46:07.46\00:46:09.33
And when we're seeing the, from
what was totally, you know, the
00:46:09.43\00:46:15.14
percentages of young people
accepting of these, these, you
00:46:15.14\00:46:18.94
know, LGBTQ and the
lifestyle and affirmation.
00:46:18.94\00:46:22.34
We love the people, but we
can't affirm, you know, open
00:46:22.34\00:46:25.71
sent.
00:46:25.71\00:46:26.31
But anyway, tell
us, catch us up here.
00:46:26.61\00:46:28.22
I put for the radio, for the
folks who are just listening, I
00:46:28.48\00:46:31.75
can't see the screen.
00:46:31.75\00:46:32.75
The website is
comingtogetherministries.org.
00:46:33.19\00:46:36.59
Oh, thank you.
00:46:36.89\00:46:43.06
.org.
00:46:43.06\00:46:44.10
That way, if you're riding in
your car, you can still donate
00:46:44.33\00:46:48.27
because you can get in touch
with them through the website.
00:46:48.27\00:46:51.41
See there, that's one of
the reasons we need you here
00:46:51.41\00:46:53.84
tonight.
00:46:53.84\00:46:54.11
Oh, thank you.
00:46:54.28\00:46:55.24
We got a phone number.
00:46:55.78\00:46:56.44
We have a phone number as well.
00:46:56.85\00:46:58.95
Errico 269-815-9007.
00:46:59.35\00:47:04.22
You got about 10 minutes.
00:47:04.45\00:47:06.09
So, thank you so much.
00:47:07.26\00:47:08.59
And, you know, now that we have
bought a building and we have
00:47:09.22\00:47:12.49
full -time employees, and, you
know, we aren't supported by,
00:47:12.49\00:47:16.90
you know, the denomination,
but we definitely support it by
00:47:16.90\00:47:21.57
people's generosity and we
really do need you to keep the
00:47:21.57\00:47:25.37
doors open.
00:47:25.37\00:47:26.31
But, you know, you use this
interesting analogy, Ronnie,
00:47:26.57\00:47:29.04
said, you know, the
ministry has been flying.
00:47:29.18\00:47:31.21
You know, we took off the
ground, but we've really never
00:47:31.35\00:47:33.78
really elevated and gotten high
up in, you know, to really get
00:47:33.78\00:47:37.35
some altitude on us.
00:47:37.35\00:47:38.42
And really, it's starting to
build momentum, but we really
00:47:38.82\00:47:42.56
can't do it without, you know,
individuals that are believing
00:47:42.56\00:47:45.63
in this ministry
and standing behind us.
00:47:45.63\00:47:47.96
We have salaries now, we
have lights to keep on and a
00:47:47.96\00:47:51.57
building to maintain.
00:47:51.57\00:47:52.47
And that, to me, is just
shocking even to have that
00:47:52.93\00:47:54.94
reality.
00:47:54.94\00:47:55.57
We've been open for a year.
00:47:55.60\00:47:56.77
It's amazing to sit in that
beautiful office to see this
00:47:56.77\00:47:56.81
cross -generational ministry.
00:47:59.71\00:48:01.11
And, you know, anybody
listening, I think all you have
00:48:01.71\00:48:03.61
to do is think about somebody
you know who knows somebody who
00:48:03.61\00:48:05.85
needs to hear that
life could be different.
00:48:05.85\00:48:07.55
And sending these beautiful
people out to share their
00:48:07.72\00:48:10.69
testimonies, give hope, the
prayer lines that go on, the
00:48:10.69\00:48:14.42
variety of connection points
there are with this ministry.
00:48:14.42\00:48:16.73
I mean, you can call now,
you know, five days a week, you
00:48:16.73\00:48:20.20
know, eight hours a day.
00:48:20.20\00:48:21.30
And, of course, sometimes they
call outside of those hours,
00:48:21.40\00:48:23.90
too.
00:48:24.07\00:48:26.10
hope, give you practical help.
00:48:26.10\00:48:27.50
And to have two, you know,
master-degree social workers on
00:48:27.97\00:48:33.11
our staff now, too, is amazing,
lining that up with all the
00:48:33.11\00:48:36.04
experience we have.
00:48:36.04\00:48:36.68
And an administrator.
00:48:36.68\00:48:37.61
The administrator is now
keeping us very focused and
00:48:38.25\00:48:41.28
organized.
00:48:41.28\00:48:41.68
That's right.
00:48:41.72\00:48:46.45
places, delivering a
true gospel message of hope.
00:48:46.45\00:48:49.36
Amazing.
00:48:49.62\00:48:53.43
which is our annual conference
that we were talking about.
00:48:53.53\00:48:55.56
And this year, we're not just
focusing on LGBTQ issues, but
00:48:55.96\00:48:59.57
we're also going to add a
couple of different programs.
00:48:59.57\00:49:01.84
One major one, or a few
major ones, social media and
00:49:02.20\00:49:05.81
predators.
00:49:05.81\00:49:06.51
At the age of 13, I
found myself in that type of
00:49:06.88\00:49:09.44
situation.
00:49:09.44\00:49:13.52
iPhones and a lot of access
to young people, as well as
00:49:13.52\00:49:17.19
betrayal trauma.
00:49:17.19\00:49:18.19
There's a lot of spouses, a
lot of women that experience
00:49:18.32\00:49:21.66
feeling betrayed after finding
out that their husband was
00:49:21.66\00:49:25.53
either watching pornography
or had committed adultery.
00:49:25.53\00:49:28.10
And what are some of
the other topics as well?
00:49:28.36\00:49:30.00
Yes, somewhat of
like Hector's story.
00:49:30.10\00:49:32.73
So the aftermath of the
aftermath after sexual abuse,
00:49:32.83\00:49:36.71
courting and dating, and
unforgiveness as well, and
00:49:36.97\00:49:43.31
restoration of what God can do.
00:49:43.31\00:49:46.01
It's beautiful.
00:49:46.61\00:49:49.98
So if you're interested in
signing up for our conference,
00:49:50.35\00:49:52.55
we're having it in
September in Berrien Springs.
00:49:52.85\00:49:55.46
So like you mentioned,
you feel free to email info at
00:49:55.92\00:49:59.29
comingtogetherministries.org.
00:49:59.29\00:50:01.26
And we'll be glad to follow
up with you and send you that
00:50:01.66\00:50:04.07
information so you can be
part of this movement where we
00:50:04.07\00:50:07.04
believe that God is able to
transform our lives and make us
00:50:07.04\00:50:10.41
into his image as
he's designed us to be.
00:50:10.41\00:50:12.64
You know, the best way to
support our ministry, if anyone
00:50:13.78\00:50:16.34
is really interested, what
we're really trying to promote
00:50:16.34\00:50:19.18
is a monthly donation.
00:50:19.18\00:50:20.88
You know, we have a young girl
that was helping us out in our
00:50:21.02\00:50:23.72
IT department and single girl,
you know, and she's got her own
00:50:23.72\00:50:27.36
bills or whatever, but she
gives us $100 every month, you
00:50:27.36\00:50:30.76
know, and she sends that check.
00:50:30.76\00:50:31.83
And it's those monthly
donations that really help us
00:50:32.13\00:50:34.56
to be able to plan ahead, you
know, whether it's $20 or $200
00:50:34.56\00:50:38.47
or $2,000, you know, that
monthly donation will actually,
00:50:38.47\00:50:42.34
you know, really benefit us
much more than just a one-time
00:50:42.34\00:50:45.64
gift.
00:50:45.64\00:50:48.48
ministries because the book we
wrote, Canada Christian Church
00:50:48.48\00:50:52.55
Affirm LGBTQ, had somebody
who said, they read it and they
00:50:52.55\00:50:56.75
said, oh, we love it, and I
want to give you a good-sized
00:50:56.75\00:51:01.02
donation, but I can't tell
anybody because I have family
00:51:01.02\00:51:04.96
that's there, so, you know,
we don't want to, you know, so
00:51:04.96\00:51:08.73
most of them is, oh, well,
we got this, we're going to give
00:51:08.73\00:51:11.40
this, but they say, oh, we
got to be careful if we give to
00:51:11.40\00:51:14.40
this ministry and
people find out whatever.
00:51:14.40\00:51:17.14
So they need all
the help they can get.
00:51:17.71\00:51:20.31
I'm telling you, the Lord's
going to do it, but he's going
00:51:20.34\00:51:22.41
to do it through you.
00:51:22.41\00:51:23.31
And so we were going to be
not only praying for them, they
00:51:23.65\00:51:27.12
need your prayers, but
also financial support.
00:51:27.12\00:51:29.62
And those of you that watch,
we've been on not quite 40
00:51:29.68\00:51:32.69
years, but 40 years ago,
you know, the idea came to build
00:51:32.69\00:51:35.49
with, so about 38 years, we
rarely go on the air and ask
00:51:35.49\00:51:39.09
people to support and donate.
00:51:39.09\00:51:41.13
We always say, if the Holy
Spirit's impressing, we do that
00:51:41.60\00:51:44.33
again here tonight, but this
is a ministry that the devil
00:51:44.33\00:51:47.77
hates, absolutely hates,
because he doesn't want people
00:51:47.77\00:51:51.77
to know they can get victory
over this, and no help from a
00:51:51.77\00:51:55.84
bunch of the Christian
universities that say, well, we
00:51:55.84\00:51:58.51
can't really have you on here
talking about it because we got
00:51:58.51\00:52:01.98
LGBTQ clubs and we don't
want, in fact, if we do, and I'm
00:52:01.98\00:52:07.16
talking this not from you
all, but information I got from
00:52:07.16\00:52:09.89
others that, in the note, that
says some of the, and at least
00:52:09.89\00:52:15.16
in the last administration,
I don't know where we're going
00:52:15.16\00:52:17.47
here, but if you so much as
have people like yourselves on
00:52:17.47\00:52:22.44
to try to teach people victory
over this lifestyle, that the
00:52:22.44\00:52:27.34
government says, we're not
going to give a student student
00:52:27.34\00:52:29.71
loans only to qualify student
loans if universities are
00:52:29.71\00:52:35.08
supportive of LGBTQ so you you
have to support it and i mean
00:52:35.08\00:52:39.92
that's a shame because a lot of
the christian universities and
00:52:39.92\00:52:43.56
i don't want to say which
ones because i'm embarrassed to
00:52:43.56\00:52:46.16
actually shame it too but there
are some that we all know that
00:52:46.16\00:52:50.77
won't have people well we
can't have you on campus telling
00:52:50.77\00:52:54.44
people you can overcome sin
because we can't tell them that
00:52:54.44\00:52:57.74
it's in and well what good
does it do to have a christian
00:52:57.74\00:53:01.14
university if you can
help young people overcome sin.
00:53:01.14\00:53:03.88
But Danny, there's a movement,
and you know, what's really
00:53:04.15\00:53:07.18
great is some people, you know,
maybe they've heard something
00:53:07.18\00:53:10.42
negative about our ministry,
and I'm just so grateful
00:53:10.42\00:53:13.02
because now people are trying
to check us out and find out a
00:53:13.02\00:53:16.06
little bit more about us,
and if they'll take the time, if
00:53:16.06\00:53:19.33
they'll bother to just take
a few minutes and hear some of
00:53:19.33\00:53:22.20
our testimonies, they'll see,
you know, that our ministry is
00:53:22.20\00:53:25.80
not to take something away or
to force anybody, and you know
00:53:25.80\00:53:29.10
what's starting to happen
is there's this there's like a
00:53:29.10\00:53:32.41
movement, a little bit
of growth happening in our
00:53:32.41\00:53:34.88
ministry, and we're very
close to, you know, a major
00:53:34.88\00:53:37.31
university, and we're now
having, you know, opportunities
00:53:37.31\00:53:41.28
to have access to individuals
and leadership and stuff that I
00:53:41.28\00:53:45.39
think is going to
make a big difference.
00:53:45.39\00:53:46.92
And the Bible says we can do
nothing against the Gospel but
00:53:47.16\00:53:50.56
for it.
00:53:50.56\00:53:51.39
So I met Muhammad Ali years ago
in Berrien Springs, and I was
00:53:51.79\00:53:55.43
talking to him one day, and
he said, not just me, there were
00:53:55.43\00:53:57.77
several others, but he said,
you know, I really don't care
00:53:57.77\00:54:00.87
if people pay to see me get
beat up, or if they pay to see
00:54:00.87\00:54:03.97
me win, as long as they
know about me and who I am.
00:54:03.97\00:54:06.68
So in a sense, people can
talk about us all they want to,
00:54:07.04\00:54:10.18
good, bad, or whatever,
but with the Lord's blessings,
00:54:10.41\00:54:12.98
greater is he that is in us
than he that is in the world.
00:54:13.35\00:54:16.95
So we realize that there's
victory, not only we're talking
00:54:17.25\00:54:20.46
about in sin, over sin, but
God has called this ministry as
00:54:20.46\00:54:25.76
surely he's called any other
ministry, you know, in this
00:54:25.76\00:54:29.33
church and outside
our supporting ministry.
00:54:29.33\00:54:31.50
So that's why we're so focused
in sin, asking our folks to
00:54:31.87\00:54:35.90
really support you.
00:54:35.90\00:54:36.84
Thank you, Denny.
00:54:37.11\00:54:40.44
also have other programs that
we're wanting to grow with the
00:54:40.44\00:54:42.98
grace of God and the skills
that he's given us, and one of
00:54:42.98\00:54:45.85
them is the life coaching
program, which I believe is an
00:54:45.85\00:54:48.42
asset and a
tool for many people.
00:54:48.42\00:54:50.05
Would you like to share So our
life coaching program is still
00:54:50.09\00:54:55.62
in development, but once it's
out, we want to open up that
00:54:55.62\00:54:59.93
platform for those who are
watching, listening, like if
00:54:59.93\00:55:03.20
you feel that calling to become
a life coach, to be like as a
00:55:03.20\00:55:07.17
mentor, a disciple, if you
yourself have overcome a sexual
00:55:07.17\00:55:11.91
issue and the Lord has restored
you and you want to help
00:55:11.91\00:55:15.54
others, that's what we want
to open up is life coaching and
00:55:15.54\00:55:19.31
also for those who are
struggling with any sexual
00:55:19.31\00:55:23.45
issue we also want to be
able to provide that platform
00:55:23.45\00:55:27.62
primarily of course through
God and to journey together and
00:55:27.62\00:55:32.39
using those
practical tools as well.
00:55:32.39\00:55:34.83
So God willing
that will be coming out.
00:55:35.46\00:55:37.37
We'd like to put the address up
or the email up maybe one more
00:55:37.40\00:55:40.50
time just kind of
leave it up for a bit here.
00:55:40.50\00:55:42.87
Yes and one last
program I'm sorry.
00:55:42.87\00:55:45.01
If you feel called and you feel
that God has helped you, you
00:55:45.01\00:55:49.04
want to be able
to help someone else.
00:55:49.04\00:55:50.38
We have an associate student
Hector here with us as well and
00:55:50.65\00:55:54.05
he shared his testimony
vulnerably and we've been able
00:55:54.05\00:55:56.85
to witness how God's worked
in his life and our associate
00:55:56.85\00:55:59.89
pathway program is also a
program that's going to be
00:55:59.89\00:56:02.52
available to you as well.
00:56:02.52\00:56:04.29
So we want to equip those
to teach others how they can
00:56:04.69\00:56:08.90
overcome by giving
sermons, teaching tools and
00:56:08.90\00:56:12.60
presentations to schools,
conferences and around the
00:56:12.60\00:56:15.30
world.
00:56:15.30\00:56:18.04
I believe God
answers short prayers.
00:56:18.04\00:56:18.07
We only got a few seconds that
short prayer because we got to
00:56:19.34\00:56:22.48
be out of zero.
00:56:22.48\00:56:23.14
Father God how grateful we are
for you sending your son Jesus
00:56:23.85\00:56:29.02
Christ and Lord Jesus.
00:56:29.02\00:56:30.15
We're so grateful to you
for what you've done and Holy
00:56:30.32\00:56:33.42
Spirit for living in us.
00:56:33.42\00:56:34.89
So thank you Lord continue
to be with this ministry open up
00:56:34.92\00:56:38.93
the windows of heaven to bless
them we pray and continue to
00:56:38.93\00:56:42.63
give them victory we pray
in all of us in Jesus name.
00:56:42.63\00:56:45.70
Amen.
00:56:46.20\00:56:46.23
Amen.
00:56:46.50\00:56:46.80
Amen.
00:56:47.34\00:56:50.11
I want to thank each and
every one of you again for what
00:56:50.24\00:56:52.37
you're doing.
00:56:52.37\00:56:52.81
Be sure, call, write.
00:56:53.04\00:56:55.01
If you can't and didn't get the
address you can always write to
00:56:55.34\00:56:58.58
us or call us and
we'll give it to you.
00:56:58.58\00:57:00.32
But for now our
time is all gone.
00:57:00.52\00:57:01.98
So until we see you next time
may the Lord richly bless you
00:57:02.32\00:57:05.19
abundantly more than
you could ever ask or think.
00:57:05.19\00:57:07.62
Amen.
00:57:07.89\00:57:08.29