Participants: Danny Shelton (Host), Yvonne Lewis (Host), Brian & Dianne Hamilton, Bruce & Tammy Chance, C.A. & Irma Murray, Greg & Jill Morikone, Hal & Mollie Steenson, Jason Bradley, John & Angie Lomacang, Kenny & Chris Shelton, Roy & Earlenne Hunt
Series Code: TL
Program Code: TL015537B
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00:09 Hello and welcome back
00:11 to our Thanksgiving program today. 00:13 Thank you for joining us. 00:15 We all been having a good time? 00:16 Oh, yes. 00:17 Food was good, Yvonne? 00:19 Food was great. 00:20 It seemed like you was eating through the break. 00:22 I don't want to call you out or anything 00:23 but we took little break, 00:24 was you still eating through the break too? 00:26 I had to admit it but I was. 00:28 And now, I'm seeing something on peoples plates 00:30 and I'm sure there is-- it's all good and no sugar. 00:33 I'm just pausing that but I think 00:34 I see apple pie and pumpkin pie. 00:37 They say what kind of pie do you want? 00:39 Now, I said, now how can you have 00:40 Thanksgiving without pumpkin pie? 00:42 You know, what I'm saying right, C.A., 00:44 but you got the apple pie. 00:45 Indeed. 00:47 And it's all good. Yeah, it's all good. 00:48 And if you feel like it, you might even 00:49 have a piece of pumpkin afterwards. 00:51 I'm not allowed. 00:52 No, you are not allowed, Irma is. 00:54 All right, well, we've been having a great time here. 00:56 I hope that you watched the first hour but if not 00:58 we are sitting here giving God thanks 01:00 for what He has done 01:01 and the gift of His son on the cross of Calvary. 01:04 So thank you for what you've done to allow 3ABN 01:08 to come into your home today to take this time 01:10 and thank you for your love and your prayers 01:12 and financial support 01:13 because without it, we would be here 01:15 all by ourselves and we wouldn't 01:17 get to take this gospel into all the world. 01:19 But God has equipped us here with preachers, teachers, 01:22 musicians, singers, you name it and I'm just in awe C.A., 01:27 what God does on a regular basis 01:29 because He said, "Go ye into all the world" 01:32 and that He will supply every need, right. 01:35 "I can do all things through Christ 01:37 who strengthens me." 01:38 Why? Because "My God shall supply all your need 01:41 according to His riches in glory 01:43 through Christ Jesus." 01:45 So we are having a great time. What we've been doing? 01:46 We've been talking to a number that-- 01:49 we had Jason Bradley stand here on the end. 01:52 I show up when there is food. 01:55 Jason loves to eat. 01:57 He does. 01:58 He loves to eat, corsets Yvonne's 02:00 baby boy right there, right. 02:02 That's my baby boy. 02:03 That's your baby Jason and of course Mark 02:05 and Mark is not here today and wish he were. 02:07 Great, great guy also. Yeah. Yeah. 02:09 And John and Angie had to catch flight 02:12 so they had to leave so we said, 02:14 "Okay, you can go, you are excused" 02:16 but they ate first too I noticed, right. 02:18 They did. 02:19 But they have a great testimony. 02:21 Oh, yes. And what a blessing it is. 02:23 So we are just kind of \going around the table here. 02:26 We used to call it in baseball around the horn. 02:28 We are going around the horn 02:30 and we are gonna-- we are talking to Dr. Yvonne Lewis. 02:33 Here, Yvonne, tell us a little bit 02:34 how you ended up here at 3ABN? 02:37 And what you do now? 02:38 Well, I had been practicing traditional Chinese medicine 02:44 prior to coming and I had written a book about health 02:50 and Pastor C.A., who has been carrying me 02:53 around he says for 30 years. 02:57 All right, actually when I got re-baptized in 1985 was it? 03:02 It is, no 86 because Jason born 86. 03:07 Pastor C.A. I came in through his ministry and so-- 03:11 In New York. 03:13 In New York at Ephesus Church and so it was-- 03:16 all through the years we had kept in touch 03:19 and everything and I knew he was out here at 3ABN 03:22 and the Lord had just taken me out 03:25 of traditional Chinese medicine. 03:27 And so most of my income was gone 03:31 and I had felt this impression 03:33 to write this book, finish the book. 03:36 So I finished the book and Pastor C.A. said come out 03:40 to 3ABN and we will interview you about the book. 03:42 So that was a blessing. 03:44 So I came out here and Pastor C.A. had to leave 03:48 and go somewhere and he asked you to interview me. 03:52 And what a blessing that was. 03:54 That was in-- when did I come here. 03:57 I had been here five years, 2010. 04:00 I started here in 2010 and so you interviewed me 04:05 and we began to talk about the intercity 04:08 and about my burden for people in the intercity. 04:12 And one day you said, "I just feel impressed 04:15 that you should be the general manager 04:18 of our urban network." 04:19 And what-- I can't even tell you 04:23 how grateful I am because 04:26 I've had a lot of different jobs. 04:27 You know, I'm kind of old so I've done quite a few. 04:30 Watch it. 04:31 Watch, don't be talking about yourself like that 04:33 because you incriminate a number of us 04:35 when you do that. 04:36 That's right. That's right. 04:38 She is at least 36 I know. 04:39 Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. 04:43 That's touching it. 04:44 Touch, oh, yeah, I'll say. 04:47 But I've had several jobs doing different things in life 04:52 and I'm so thankful that for my journey 04:56 because everything I did was in preparation for this. 05:00 Yes, I believe that. 05:02 Everything if so-- even though it might have seen disjointed, 05:05 you know, because I was singing here, 05:07 I was doing-- I had this social work over here 05:10 and then I had the health thing over here. 05:15 Everything has come together here. 05:18 God is so amazing. 05:20 If I talk about it too much, I will begin to cry 05:22 because I'm so grateful to Him. 05:25 And I thank you, Danny, for being obedient to-- 05:30 God telling you to bring me here 05:33 and as a result of me being here. 05:38 During that time I had been praying for my children, 05:41 praying for my children 05:43 and knowing that they weren't walking with the Lord 05:45 and every mother has that burden. 05:48 You know, every Christian mother has that burden 05:50 for her children 05:52 and I was praying for them 05:56 and asking God to please save my children. 06:00 And He had promised me years ago 06:02 He was gonna save my children. 06:03 And so I knew that Jason had worked for me before 06:09 and because when I was, 06:12 when I had my medical practice he worked in my office 06:14 and so I knew his work ethic 06:16 and I needed an assistant here because I came here in 2010 06:21 as a volunteer, a volunteer for like six months 06:23 before I actually started working fulltime. 06:27 Actually I was working fulltime as a volunteer but... 06:32 I was working fulltime as a volunteer 06:34 but before I became really employed here 06:37 and I had again prayed for an assistant 06:42 over the few years before I got one 06:45 I asked the Lord to send one but I would always get 06:48 these calls from people 06:50 that I knew they just want to be on television. 06:53 And 3ABN is so much more than being on television. 06:57 It is a ministry. 06:58 It is us reaching out to the world 07:01 to bring the gospel to the world, 07:03 not to be TV personalities, right. 07:06 And so-- anyway long story short 07:09 I asked Jay, I said, 07:10 "Jay, would you come out here and be my assistant?" 07:14 And he was like, "I don't know, mom." 07:18 Because he was making really good money 07:20 and he was-- but he wasn't walking 07:22 with the Lord I knew that. 07:23 I felt like if he came out here 07:25 that this would be a good place for him. 07:27 He will be surrounded by a ministry 07:29 and that kind of thing. 07:31 So I said, "Jay, would you come out here 07:33 and help me out?" 07:34 And he said, "I don't know, mom." 07:36 I said, "Well, just come and visit. 07:37 Just come and visit." 07:39 So he came on the day of prayer 07:41 and I'll let him tell the rest. 07:43 Okay. Wow. 07:45 Well, what we will do I think 07:46 we'll go to him in just a minute 07:47 instead of going back around since the story but, 07:49 C.A., you notice how humble she says, "You know, 07:53 I've had a number of jobs I have done in my life." 07:56 She doesn't say about living on the east side, 07:58 New York and the nannies and the drivers 08:00 and hobnob and will you know with the so called 08:04 "rich and famous" right. She does-- 08:05 Yvonne was the top jingle singer 08:07 in New York when I met her. 08:08 Yeah. 08:10 And her parking space rented for what my apartment cost. 08:14 Where she parked in her car proud to say is my apartment. 08:17 No, she was doing quite well. 08:20 And she said, "You know, I have my social work thing." 08:23 She has a master's degree in social work. 08:25 And did little Chinese things. 08:27 She's board certified, you know, in Chinese medicine. 08:29 I mean-- I'm just old. 08:31 It's very good, it's very good 08:33 that you are that humble and she really is. 08:35 C.A. said, we got to go over to her place 08:37 and you got to look that she's got 08:39 seven or eight golden platinum records 08:41 with Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross 08:43 and all these famous people that she sang with. 08:46 So I said, "Great, we will go over there." 08:47 So I went over to her house, 08:49 I looked in the living room I said, 08:52 "Oh, may be she keeps them in a room that strange. 08:54 She just keeps them in a bedroom or guest room 08:57 or you know where." 08:58 I said, "Where is your gold and platinum records?" 09:00 She said, "C.A. told you about those?" 09:02 I said, "Yeah but I want to see them." 09:05 She goes, "Well, they are in the closet." 09:07 She had them in the closet boxed up. 09:10 Now how many people do you know really that impressed me. 09:13 I can't tell you how much that impressed me 09:15 because you said that's my old life. 09:17 You know, she does not want to glamorize 09:19 what the world glamorizes. 09:21 Well, Yvonne was up here. 09:23 She says, "That all gone in the closet right now." 09:25 You heard of people coming out of the closet? 09:27 Keeps her first step... 09:29 In the closet. 09:30 Keeps her first-- She blessed in indeed. 09:32 She takes her steps and puts it in the closet. 09:36 And may be that's the way to do it. 09:37 She put the world in the closet. 09:38 That thing that impressed me about Yvonne is when she-- 09:40 I tease her about this because she will come 09:41 to church late every Sabbath. 09:43 Oh, he tells that every time. 09:44 Never comes to church on time but she would bring people 09:47 from the industry with her. 09:49 So she would go and gather these people and of course 09:51 they are late sleepers because they are off right in night. 09:53 But when she would come to church 09:55 they would come down 09:56 to the front row, little pads, pens, 09:59 open up their notebooks and taking notes on the sermon. 10:01 Now that impressed me so very, very much. 10:04 That she was one of the top singers 10:06 but was an extremely humble person. 10:07 You will never know there were people 10:09 that would have the night Mercedes-Benz 10:12 and the day Mercedes-Benz. 10:13 And everybody had a mink coat that they would come 10:15 and sling their mink coats over the pew, you know. 10:18 And that was sort of badge of honor 10:20 and she had that too but she never wore it, 10:23 you know, she just, 10:24 she just came in and you could tell that 10:26 she was searching for God 10:27 and that if you could get her on the right track 10:30 I knew she would be a tool in the hand of God. 10:31 Amen. Amen. And so we just worked with her. 10:33 As she came and she started a choir 10:35 and all of them decided when they came to the church 10:38 they weren't gonna do commercial if that were 10:41 pushing things that they could not endorse. 10:43 So all of cigarettes were out, all the alcohol was out, 10:47 all of the negative things out. 10:48 Of course that was a massive hit in their income. 10:51 So all of this group of people that we baptized 10:53 this is about a half a dozen. 10:54 We baptized, immediately 10:56 as they came out of baptismal pool 10:58 their salary was cut 10 percent, 20 percent, 11:00 30 percent because they said 11:01 "I'm not gonna do those kinds of things anymore." 11:03 So you could tell that their conversion was real 11:06 because they paid for that conversion with out 11:08 of their pocket right away but I could see that in her. 11:11 Amen. 11:12 And I think probably the Folgers Coffee 11:14 that she would sing and then go, caffeine free. 11:19 You probably did that on that. 11:20 A Dee Café for a drink. 11:22 Yeah. Yeah. 11:23 Probably did, did the Dee Cafe version. 11:25 Even if you would had to do over again 11:27 you do the Dee Café version. 11:28 Yes. Absolutely. 11:30 We are having fun today, 11:31 don't get too tight at home, all right. 11:33 We are just having little fun. 11:34 We are talking out loud and that's what families do 11:36 when they get together, right. 11:37 Right. 11:39 Okay, so we are gonna go to Jay. 11:40 So, Jay, your mom is telling that she called you 11:43 and ask you to come and help her in ministry 11:46 but while you've always been a good guy 11:49 and I won't say you are away from the Lord totally. 11:52 I don't know the story but at that point in your life 11:55 I know God was working in your life, 11:58 but the thought of working in ministry, 12:01 did that set well with you, you didn't set well 12:04 How did you-- what did you think about it? 12:06 Well, there were couple different 12:07 variables involved with that. 12:09 Mom, called me, she asked, you know, 12:12 "Jay, what do you think? Do you want to come work here? 12:14 Do you want to come? At least come visit." 12:17 And I like, "I'm used to living in cities 12:19 so I lived-- I was born in New York, 12:20 went to Dallas, went to Atlanta." 12:21 West Frankfort is a city. 12:25 It's a city but-- 12:26 Just 8,200 people. 12:27 Yeah, I'm used to a lot of people and big buildings 12:32 and I love to eat so I'm used to a lot of restaurants 12:36 and but I was at a point in my life 12:39 where I wanted to make a change. 12:42 Because I had been in the world for a long, long, long time. 12:46 And so when I was trying to make this change, 12:48 I felt impressed like when I came out here, 12:52 there was a certain peace that surrounds this place. 12:56 So I came out for the day of prayer 12:58 and I remember you saying that if you leave this place, 13:02 you can't get it off your mind or out of your mind. 13:05 Then this is what God would have you to be. 13:07 And I was working at the restaurant, 13:10 I went back to Atlanta 13:12 and when you said that I was like, 13:14 "Yeah, okay." 13:16 I don't know I could get down with this but then I went back, 13:20 I went back to Atlanta 13:23 and I went back to managing the restaurant 13:26 and I was working like 70 hours a week 13:30 and it was killing me. 13:31 And I was underweight and everything 13:35 and I just remember of thinking 13:37 3ABN, 3ABN, 3ABN, 3ABN. 13:41 And I was like, you know what, 13:43 I need to make this change. 13:45 I need to go now because if I don't go now 13:47 who know when I'll give my heart to the Lord. 13:50 So I answered the calling and I decided to stop fighting 13:54 God as I had for so many years and to come to 3ABN 13:58 and now I'm walking in my divine purpose. 14:00 Okay. I love it. 14:01 And also when mom got baptized by-- 14:04 I've know the Murray's for ever, 14:06 it's crazy, it's amazing how God works, right. 14:10 so when my mom was pregnant with me 14:13 she got baptized by Pastor Murray 14:16 I call them my Murray's because I love them so much. 14:18 Yeah. That's right. 14:20 So she got baptized and I was in her womb 14:24 and then I got baptized recently and-- 14:28 So he baptized you twice? 14:30 Well, actually I got baptized three times. 14:32 I was 11, I was 11-years-old. 14:35 Okay. 14:36 I had to recommit later on in my life. 14:39 But I remember my Murray's for a long time 14:44 because Ms. Irma used to always try and feed me tofu. 14:50 Always trying to feed tofu. 14:54 My mom would be like, "We are gonna go over there." 14:56 I was like, "She's gonna make tofu." 14:59 And so, I go back long way with them. 15:03 The Lomacang's, I've known Aunt Angie forever 15:06 and her niece Rachel for a long time. 15:08 So it was just such a blessing to come here 15:10 be surrounded by so many great people. 15:12 Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. 15:14 We feel that way about you, Jay, 15:16 plus he is a great addition to our basketball playing 15:20 on two or three nights. 15:21 And this food is so good 15:23 that I came up with a great plan. 15:25 I'm gonna live with each one of you for a week 15:29 and I expect you to cook like this every single day. 15:34 All right, I just-- I didn't see anybody amen. 15:38 It got, it's first time it's been quiet here, 15:40 this whole time. 15:43 Jay, we are glad that you are here. 15:45 We respect you tremendously and we've seen 15:48 that God working in you and through you. 15:51 And I mean, the personalities like yours 15:54 and grandpa, your dad too has got 15:56 the greatest personality, you know, 15:58 just easy going and loves the Lord. 16:00 So we are so thankful that you are here 16:02 working in with Dare to Dream. 16:03 Yeah. Amen. 16:05 Now we are gonna skip over here little bit 16:07 I'll come around back over here. 16:08 We got Kenny and Chris. 16:10 Now, we are gonna be talking to some folk 16:11 who were born and raised here in Southern Illinois 16:13 so we didn't leave the big cities, you know, 16:17 Yvonne lived in New York, Jason told her, 16:20 she said she had know this when you are 15, 16 16:22 you would sneak out the window, right. 16:25 I snuck, you see, we lived in a high rise at that point 16:28 and there was a kitchen door 16:29 and then there was a big main door. 16:32 So I wouldn't go out the big main door 16:34 because it would make a little noise. 16:36 So I snuck out the kitchen door, 16:38 It was far-- a little farther 16:39 away from mom's room and then I got outside. 16:42 After this I'm gonna run before I get a whooping. 16:44 That's right. Yeah, there he go. 16:46 Well, see the benefits though, 16:49 the benefits of living in the country like here, 16:52 the kids go out, some of us live far enough, 16:54 they sneak out the window. 16:56 The worse trouble they will get in is stepping in 16:58 cow pasture, you know, 16:59 out there you can get into trouble. 17:01 That so we kind of like that, you know, just go out your door 17:03 and there is all this trouble on the street, you know. 17:05 Of course it's trouble everywhere 17:07 but we want to get to Kenny and Chris 17:11 and of course, Tammy and Bruce we can kind of throw this 17:13 all in his family here brother and sister 17:16 but Thanksgiving time and to you 17:20 and to us in our family. 17:22 It was always a best time of the year, right? 17:23 Oh, absolutely. 17:24 I mean, we love that Christmas we didn't get 17:26 very many presents and now bad thing 17:28 with the folks is just we are pretty poor. 17:30 So Kenny and I our family we would pick up 17:33 a name to who buys each other presents 17:36 so everybody didn't have to try to get a present. 17:38 We were in high school as a freshman, he is a senior. 17:40 So we picked each others names and shook hands. 17:43 He said, he didn't want to buy me a present, 17:45 nor do I buy him once. 17:46 So we were both happy not to have 17:48 to buy a present that year. 17:49 You are even. Yeah. Yeah. 17:51 We were happy with that. Yeah, we were. 17:52 We never had a problem with that because that way 17:54 we just kind of roll each other often 17:55 and then we might have few shekels 17:57 to do something else with. 17:58 Yeah. 18:00 Kenny's road is, you know, 18:01 all the roads end up the same 18:02 but, you know, different from, from different perspective. 18:06 He was the one in our family 18:07 that did not want to get upfront. 18:09 My folks would have to threaten to whip him 18:11 every time we go to singing, he did not want 18:13 to get upfront and sing. 18:15 They want him to stand up to do anything upfront. 18:17 He said, "I don't want to sing, I don't want to preach, 18:20 I don't want to talk. 18:21 He did not want to get upfront. 18:22 So if you were to say when we were kids, 18:24 who is the last person in your family 18:27 that's going to be a preacher and everybody said Kenny 18:30 'cause he is never gonna get it. 18:31 So it doesn't pay never to say never, right? 18:33 But yeah and then be public about it. 18:37 I never will be quiet. 18:38 Let the family say, "Listen, you are not going to be there." 18:40 I said, I will never be a preacher. 18:44 Yet be careful we all know that, it really stands true. 18:47 That was really in my heart, 18:48 that was the way it was for many years, 18:51 I don't even know why those thoughts 18:54 would come in my mind even at a young age 18:57 kind of like one day you will minister, 18:59 you will be a preacher. 19:01 And it was like an ongoing, you know, 19:03 little battle may be inside that I wasn't even really, 19:06 I really wasn't aware of it 19:07 what God had in mind as the end results. 19:10 Because why would you at a very young age say 19:12 "That's one thing I'm not going to be." 19:15 And then that's one thing that God had in mind 19:18 and I'm thankful for it. 19:20 And we did have good, very little 19:21 may be at home but thanksgiving. 19:23 It's always a fun time for us as a family. 19:26 It was a time we were taught to count 19:29 our many blessing name them one by one. 19:32 We had good examples of that. 19:35 It wasn't how much you had 19:37 or what you had that parked outside or was inside 19:40 it was just the small little things 19:42 that God had provided 19:44 that we saw provided in our family 19:47 by I call it great miracle from God 19:49 when there was no way that it could happen at all. 19:53 God had the answer every time 19:56 and as little folks we were able to see that happen. 20:00 And then of course mom more than dad 20:01 she would recount those, those blessings. 20:05 Now sometimes we were small 20:06 but we didn't quite realize like, 20:07 oh, somebody just showed up, 20:09 somebody just gave us a few dollars 20:10 or somebody, you know, 20:11 some bag of groceries or whatever it might be. 20:13 And we are "oh, good, we are hungry let's eat." 20:15 But as we look back mom would recount, 20:17 "Look, what God has done." 20:19 Amen. Amen. 20:20 We time we had little-- 20:22 mom always little tithe money put back 20:24 and she would always say, 20:25 this is all we have for groceries 20:27 but we will not spend God's money. 20:30 We will save, it belongs to God 20:32 and if God want's us to eat 20:33 He will provide and people would knock 20:35 on the door and bring those groceries. 20:36 So we had those things 20:38 that we counted over and over and over. 20:39 So I look at, you know, 20:41 as end result for you in ministry 20:43 and therefore it wants us in ministry, that we-- 20:45 I think we had a good foundation, Danny. 20:47 Oh, absolutely. 20:48 A real footing that we saw physical and spiritual, 20:53 financial blessings on the regular basis seriously 20:56 all the way through our life and then even in our job 20:59 in construction for years 21:01 you really learned to live by faith 21:03 because you didn't have a regular pay check, you know. 21:07 I look back in my life now and I see one and half years, 21:12 year and half I think 21:14 I written a pay check that somebody gave me. 21:15 All these other years God has been the provider. 21:17 Amen. 21:19 So even in construction we learned 21:20 to live by faith that God would supply. 21:22 So it wasn't a great big, oh, big leap of faith to go. 21:25 God led step by step and I'm thankful for that. 21:30 Can you remember the first time 21:32 that you got up to preach a sermon? 21:33 Oh, Danny, mercy. 21:36 You probably remember lot better than I would be. 21:38 And it would be interesting to see 21:39 what was going through your mind 21:40 since you said "I will" 21:42 and he would say that after he was, you know, grown, 21:43 I mean to the point, not just little kid 21:45 but I'm not gonna-- hey, you guys, don't get up. 21:47 I'm not going to be upfront. I don't get upfront. 21:50 I don't say, I'm not a preacher. 21:52 So, but at one point-- 21:53 I would run and hide, run and hide sometimes 21:54 even I was older, mom would seek me out. 21:57 Mature guy, did what I supposed 21:59 but I think one of things, Danny, was very interesting, 22:03 I know that God was leading and I know He chooses 22:06 and He ordains and He uses and sometimes it's for a time 22:10 and then, because all of us are in ministry 22:12 whatever it doesn't mean you will always be may be. 22:14 God has different plans 22:16 and I can remember before being in ministry 22:18 and a friend will know just a quick story 22:19 you heard me and you heard. 22:21 It's still interesting. 22:22 I had a mutual friend Chuck Davidson 22:24 who just passed away not long ago. 22:26 This is before I was ever in the ministry I was saying 22:28 I would not be in the ministry, I would not. 22:30 I was well into my late 20s get close to 30-years-old 22:34 and said, "No, I would not." 22:35 Well, his dad, his daddy was dying of cancer. 22:38 He used to live at the block 22:40 of in our alley of Warden Street 22:43 and if I timed it just right on school morning 22:45 I didn't have to walk all the way 22:47 from one in West Frankfort to the other was 22:48 we did for school every day... 22:51 You timed it just right. Uphill. 22:52 No, but you always say. 22:54 You timed it just right, you could catch a ride. 22:55 I timed it just right every day 22:57 where the Davidson's daddy was going in truck 22:59 and they would say, "Oh, Kenny, you need a ride? 23:01 Oh, yes." So I could go. 23:03 His daddy was just really sweet man. 23:04 Anyway he got sick 23:06 and then I was getting close to 30 23:07 not been in the ministry as it were, 23:09 but anyhow he passed away. 23:11 And before he did he was in hospital 23:13 and this is the man who gave me a ride 23:15 when I was you know, 13-years-old. 23:17 He said, "I want to see Kenny." 23:20 Thought interesting. 23:21 He has come and Chuck called me saying, 23:23 "My dad's dying. 23:24 He wants you to come and see." 23:25 I thought "what well, sure I go see him." 23:27 Anyway we talked and had good-- you know, 23:29 and prayed with him and he passed away. 23:32 Well, the next day my phone rang 23:34 and Chuck his son was on the line. 23:36 Remember this is before ministry, right. 23:38 Before any calling. 23:40 And he said, and I knew the Lord said 23:42 three days before, 23:43 "Kenny, you will head this man's funeral when he dies." 23:45 I said, "I will not." 23:47 I wasn't trying to be ugly. 23:48 I just said, you know, what I basically said, 23:50 "It's not my job. I don't get paid for it." 23:52 That's called real rebellion. 23:53 Have mercy. 23:54 But I didn't know the difference 23:56 because I didn't do that kind of work. 23:57 As before ministry I never had a funeral, 23:58 never been asked to do one. 24:00 Didn't even want to go to one. 24:02 And so anyway, I knew 24:03 when the phone rang I thought, oh, no. 24:05 there's a call and he said 24:07 "My dad's passed away and he said, 24:09 I want Kenny Shelton to head my funeral." 24:12 Right quick in my mind I said, "Oh, Lord, 24:14 if this is you then I'm going to say something quickly. 24:17 I'm gonna say some things and I want him to answer 24:20 just exactly the opposite of what I say 24:23 so that I know it's You because I'm not--" 24:25 You are very difficult, Kenny. You are very difficult. 24:29 Pray for me children. Pray kids. 24:32 Because I said, I did, I said, 24:34 "But he has to hear backwards to what I'm saying. 24:37 Because I want to make sure it's You 24:38 because this is not my deal. 24:40 But if, Lord, You want me to, I know You would go with me. 24:43 You would help me. 24:44 If You ask me to do it, I know You would do 24:46 but I don't want to something I'm not supposed to do." 24:48 So quite quick I said, 24:50 "Your dad has a pastor, doesn't he?" 24:51 He said, "Yeah, he goes to another church." 24:52 I said, "Well, good, Chuck, here' what we do then. 24:55 I said, we will have the-- then we will go to the church 24:58 and we will and what I want you to do is 25:01 let his pastor do the sermon 25:05 and I'll have closing prayer." 25:07 And Chuck said, "Kenny, that's so wonderful. 25:08 Dad will love for you to have the service 25:10 and his pastor can have closing prayer." 25:13 Just backwards exactly. 25:15 I thought well, "Now it's not good enough for me." 25:18 God you don't want to do it anyway. 25:19 So I going back with God. 25:21 He knew my heart but I'm saying 25:22 I wouldn't afraid to go if You want me to. 25:24 So I said again, "okay, well, Chuck, 25:26 is there gonna be a graveside." 25:28 He said, "Yes." I said, "Good. 25:29 Let his pastor do the graveside 25:31 and I will have dismissal prayer." 25:33 He said, "Oh, Kenny, dad would love that. 25:35 You just read some of the favorite texts, you know, 25:37 his likes and his pastor can have closing prayer." 25:41 I'm serious and I said, "Okay." 25:44 I said, "Thank You, Lord, 25:45 I know that you will go with me." 25:46 So that's how it started anyway in 35 years later his-- 25:52 this young boy his son died 25:55 and just before he died he says, 25:57 "I need Kenny Shelton." 25:59 We used to go to school, I hadn't seen him in 30 years. 26:00 You guys are best friends? Best friends. 26:02 I haven't seen him in 30 years, really dwell with, 26:04 Chuck, he said, "I want Kenny Shelton." 26:05 So I did get to see him before him passed away. 26:07 He was almost gone then. 26:09 As soon as he found he had cancer he just simply said, 26:11 "I want him to come and have my funeral." 26:13 So anyway we did so I had his son's funeral. 26:15 They died of the same thing but I thought very interesting 26:18 how God directs 26:20 and opens doors and closes doors. 26:22 So we are talking about those little things. 26:24 Chris even talking about faith in God. 26:26 You guys you are in Faith Ministry. 26:28 You are on your own, you are not paid here at 3ABN, 26:31 this point who knows will have the future 26:32 but you guys have your own 26:34 "Behold the Lamb Ministry." 26:35 How do you deal with that 26:37 because I know you guys do other things? 26:38 You travel weekends, you got a number of houses, Kenny, 26:41 you know, that you work on all the time. 26:43 It requires you to take care of things. 26:45 So how do you, how do you live on faith? 26:48 Somebody is out here saying, 26:49 "Man, I would like to be in ministry. 26:50 I like to be full time 26:52 but I don't even know where to begin. 26:54 You do one day at a time and its prayer. 26:57 We mentioned earlier about stepping out in that water 26:59 and when you can't see the bottom 27:01 that's when the faith steps in. 27:03 And there had been times that I have not always exerted 27:07 the right type of faith 27:09 and I would be literally shaking in my boots. 27:11 Well, what are we gonna do next. 27:12 And God always works 27:14 just at the right time what you need. 27:17 And so it's such a blessing. 27:19 It's a blessing to have even a small part 27:24 in the closing work of this world's history. 27:27 Unbelievable. 27:28 You know, we talked 27:30 as I was listening to interesting 27:31 by the way that has been wonderful, 27:33 spiritual food along with the physical food. 27:34 Thank you. Okay. All right. 27:36 But, you know, it is true we do have a real love 27:43 and a compassion for people that we meet. 27:46 And the Holy Spirit seems to bond us 27:49 and get together as a spiritual family. 27:51 So I think this is so apropos 27:54 that they were having this family, 3ABN family 27:57 that's getting together because it's not just us, 27:59 it's all of you out there. 28:01 It's a people that we've met, it's the people we pray for, 28:05 it's the people that we are working for 28:07 because we have such a burden for souls. 28:10 I mean, a tremendous burden for souls. 28:13 Mrs. White says that "When we step out 28:14 we are actually plucking them out of the fire." 28:16 Yes. 28:18 And you mentioned that 3ABN does not always work 28:21 as the main church so to speak works. 28:25 And I have said for years 28:27 that I truly believe this was part of prophecy 28:30 because we are told that the Three Angels' Message 28:32 was going to go around the world 28:34 that the gospel would go around the world 28:36 and then the end will come. 28:38 And that the lay men would be doing the work. 28:41 But I kind of joke, I say, 28:43 "These are the sons of thunder." 28:46 I have seen some thunder 28:49 and the blessings are on the go. 28:51 I had to repeat that so often when we are out 28:55 because I have been so blessed by being around my 3ABN family 28:59 and that blessing is reciprocated when we go out 29:03 because that's when you are working for Jesus, 29:05 that's when you are blessed 29:06 because you are helping others. 29:08 When you guys are out in ministry does anyone 29:10 that comes to the meetings 29:11 ever say they have seen you on 3ABN? 29:13 Oh, yes. 29:15 Oh, Danny, it's exciting every time 29:17 and 3ABN has been so sweet, 29:19 so good to even advertise the meetings and stuff. 29:21 In Nashville when you do that 3ABN people show up. 29:25 And we encourage 3ABN people try to get them to, you know, 29:27 on the go, get involved and give to the ministry. 29:30 And that's probably been one of the biggest blessings 29:32 is people will come because they are watching, 29:36 they are excited just like you guys here 29:38 you talk people all the time. 29:40 They will say, it's on 24/7 in our home. 29:44 We never turn it off, 29:45 we may not be viewing but we are listening. 29:46 We are cooking, we are doing this 29:48 we are watching, we are listening. 29:50 It has changed our heart. It has changed our life. 29:52 We can see that in our own little, 29:54 little ministry of being associated 29:56 to 3ABN more closely. 29:58 Now the greater blessings that we have, 30:02 we feel we have grown spiritually. 30:03 Oh, absolutely. 30:05 We have a fresher vision than we've ever had 30:07 even though being in ministry many, many years. 30:09 It's a fresh vision. 30:11 It's an encouragement because you get to meet the people 30:14 that God has changed their heart and their life. 30:16 Absolutely. 30:17 Each one here has had a part in that. 30:19 And, you know, we here at 3ABN 30:21 probably this has been the busiest year for us. 30:24 Probably well, as everybody here 30:25 that we've ever had in ministry. 30:27 Yeah. 30:28 More outreach, more contact, more prayer, 30:29 more Bible study more we contributed back to 3ABN 30:33 and opportunity to work along 30:34 with our 3ABN family is awesome. 30:36 But, you know, I say this really good, 30:38 one of the greatest blessing we've had this year 30:39 is work with my brother. 30:41 Wow. 30:42 Really, seriously. That's wonderful. 30:44 Me too. Me too. Thank you. 30:45 We love it. 30:47 Tammy and Bruce 30 years ago, 31 years ago, 30:51 Ken and me tell you that we are gonna build 30:53 a television station to reach the world, 30:55 what do you think and... 31:00 That's so true. That's so true. 31:07 Yeah. 31:10 That's what you guys felt like. 31:12 That's impossible. 31:13 I mean, what you think back because you know 31:15 we are ball players and we are carpenters. 31:17 I never felt it was impossible. 31:18 Then? No. I didn't. 31:20 I thought I don't know how that it's possible 31:23 but if God wants it, it will be there. 31:26 I mean, you know, that's it but-- yeah, 31:28 was it straight yeah-- 31:29 Were you thinking we had enough that is not just 31:31 the TV station here but it's one to reach the world? 31:33 No. No. 31:34 I couldn't possibly grasp what it is now. 31:35 That's good. We neither. Yeah. 31:37 No, I couldn't grasp. 31:38 And mom was always, you know, telling me 31:41 at the time I think when we first got started 31:45 or before we started I was pregnant with my second son 31:48 and I was very sick and in and out the hospital. 31:51 But she would call me and say, they are doing this 31:53 and they are building that 31:55 and they are laying the foundation. 31:56 And I thought, well, oh, okay, you know, 31:58 that's what God wants them to do 32:00 but I never dreamt 32:01 it would go beyond this little Southern Illinois. 32:03 Bruce being a brother-in-law was nice. He jumped out. 32:06 Now you were coalmining but you would come 32:07 and help us sometime to building. 32:09 Yeah, I helped with the original building 32:11 and I didn't believe it would happen, 32:14 can't imagine that but I seen so many things happen. 32:18 Yeah. Yeah. 32:22 Now he got made fun of the Lord at the mines, he sure did 32:25 because they would say that, they would say, 32:27 "We are gonna put up pay in those big, 32:29 that big barn they are building over there 32:31 whenever it goes down, you know." 32:33 So he had to take a lot of ribbing 32:35 and everything at the mines. 32:36 Yeah. 32:38 And I worked with about 500 guys at the mines 32:40 and I had to hear that every day. 32:42 Coalminer. Bless those hearts. 32:44 Yeah. 32:45 They would say, "You will put a lot of hay 32:46 in this big pole barn when it's done." 32:48 Yes. 32:49 Yeah, you know what, there is still no hay 32:51 and it's been 30 years. 32:53 And to tell you the truth, and to tell you the truth 32:55 some of the folk ain't around to know about it anymore. 32:57 That's true. 32:59 So ministry has been around 33:00 and going to be around longer than 33:02 some of us should the Lord teary to. 33:03 But what we have here is so-- to me being there 33:08 from the ground, on the ground 33:09 when we had nothing and, you know, 33:12 sometimes our equipment doesn't work right 33:14 and you hear a complaint, 33:15 "Oh, we need this and this" and I want to laugh 33:17 because I think they have no idea how elementary 33:21 that we was to begin with. 33:23 I mean, it was just pathetic. It really was. 33:25 It had to be God because we, we can't do anything. 33:29 Well, the truths in the pudding, 33:30 we just did the anniversary program last week 33:33 and they actually have some footage 33:35 of the little shack that's small is 12/20 33:38 and inside like the little switchers 33:40 on a piece of plywood. 33:42 The chyron is on a cardboard box, you know. 33:45 And whereas putting in tapes 33:46 sending signals 22,300 miles to space 33:50 out of a little 12/20 building saying 33:52 and little sign Three Angels' Broadcasting Network. 33:56 We didn't know anybody is gonna watch. 33:57 Who would know, we didn't advertise one penny, 33:59 put it up and within probably a minute or two 34:01 the phone rang like I wonder who that is. 34:04 Pick it up, "Three Angels' Broadcasting?" 34:05 Yeah. "I see you have a free offer. 34:07 We said, "Clarence, 34:09 can you put like a free book, you know," 34:12 and so the generator room was so loud 34:15 we literally had to go outside 34:17 had a long stretching chord, 34:19 "Hello, Three Angels" 34:20 so we would write down the name and address. 34:21 And I said, these people have no idea. 34:24 They think they are calling a network 34:26 and all we are is in this little bitty building 34:28 so loud you can't even hear anything 34:30 because the generators are running. 34:33 And so transmitters are running. 34:35 When we first got our little 34:37 icon symbol of the Three Angels' 34:39 you know the first thing that we put up. 34:43 Now I look back and I think 34:44 there couldn't have been anything more amateurish 34:46 than what we had then. 34:48 But when we seen it we went, "Ah." 34:50 I mean, we just gasp, so wonderful. 34:53 You know what, every step of the way you just take, 34:58 you start and whatever it is you just go forward. 35:00 Amen. It's called the next step. 35:02 But I have to tell you I don't know 35:05 and may be God would have put somebody else in my way 35:08 to encourage but if I hadn't been 35:11 for Hal and Mollie I don't know, 35:13 may be we would be watching 35:15 3ABN somewhere else around the world 35:17 because these folks were charismatic pastors. 35:20 Hal had the fastest growing church 35:21 that I know of at least in Southern Illinois I had seen 35:24 and a growing church 35:26 and Mollie right there with him. 35:27 They are both pastors, I mean, really evangelist 35:30 and these folk now I'm Seventh-day Adventist 35:33 right their tongue speaking charismatic, right. 35:35 And I would go out and Hal did a lot of-- 35:38 he's always building. 35:39 In this church he had so much vision 35:41 they are constantly building 35:43 so I would go out and work for him some. 35:45 We would have these conversations. 35:47 He would start on me about speaking the tongues 35:49 and I would tell on him about the Sabbath. 35:51 Then we would talk about the stay, 35:52 the day we do in a good way. 35:54 I respected him and really enjoyed 35:56 but he like talking Bible and so did I 35:58 but we got our work done. 36:00 And so we would trade information 36:02 and never once we've ever been 36:04 in argument never do we disagree, 36:06 we will get upset at each other 36:07 because I knew they were sincere, 36:09 they knew I was sincere. 36:10 So we had these-- 36:12 we didn't know where they would go 36:13 but one step at a time but he always would say "go" 36:18 and go forward, 36:20 never doubt and encouraged us in every way you can. 36:23 And Mollie wasn't quite as encouraging 36:26 in the beginning as you were now. 36:28 Now that I think about it. 36:30 Now that I think about it, she was okay with it 36:33 but Hal was like pushing us forward though. 36:36 But, you know, I think about this and what-- I'm looking 36:40 at the rest of the team here 36:41 and there are others like you said 36:43 that aren't here right now. 36:44 And they are telling about those early days. 36:48 We are just getting it off the ground. 36:52 Danny didn't know that it was impossible 36:54 to get a signal to satellite, so we did it. 36:58 You know, that's when that's called 37:00 shedding blood for a ministry. 37:02 And have not started a ministry 37:04 we know what it is to shed blood for the ministry. 37:08 And so I didn't shed blood for this ministry, 37:12 although I understand the concept but-- 37:14 You have done years now. 37:16 Mollie is general manager and vice president. 37:19 She is shedding blood that down. 37:21 Well, I wasn't there walking that faith walk 37:24 that it took initially. 37:26 When I came there was already a ministry here. 37:29 When the rest of you came there was a ministry here. 37:32 We came into something 37:33 that was already reaching the whole world 37:36 with the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. 37:38 We get to be a part of it. 37:40 Now that is amazing, we get to be a part of this. 37:42 Amen. 37:44 And thank goodness we got history with you. 37:46 Absolutely. 37:48 Well, we one time years ago I asked you guys 37:50 to come and do a day of prayer with us. 37:53 And I remember then the Lord spoke to me and said 37:56 "We're gonna be working together." 37:59 And we both knew that 38:01 but we didn't know how that would work 38:02 because I said, "I know they have such a bigger, 38:04 huge-- you are bigger, 38:06 you are much bigger ministry than we were. 38:08 Oh, yeah. Well. 38:09 You know, starting out of me we were the fledge link, 38:11 these guys they were growing, they had the facilities, 38:13 beautiful big church school, they had a building-- 38:17 used to be a-- I don't know I would see 1, 200 people 38:18 or something that's-- 38:20 Yeah, all totaling about 1,200. 38:21 Yeah, you know, and we are 38:23 just building our first building 38:25 but the Lord basically said, 38:26 "You are gonna be working together." 38:28 And I didn't know how that would happen 38:31 but I didn't see myself join that ministry 38:34 but also see couldn't see you guys joining this. 38:36 And what was a turning point having something said, 38:39 you know what, and you guys were 38:41 baptized about 2000, 1999? 38:43 '99 Christmas day in 1999. 38:45 But what was it that because you were deep in that, 38:48 in your ministry what was it because that's a huge step 38:52 for most people. 38:54 The first thing that I saw that really brought to light 38:58 was the truth of the Sabbath. 39:00 Well, we've been talking the Sabbath 39:01 and things like that. 39:03 Now it was with tongue situation I put on the shelf 39:06 for several years until God showed me the truth of that. 39:10 But I was in my basement. 39:12 I don't know that I've ever shared this. 39:13 I was in my basement doing something 39:16 and thinking about the Sabbath 39:17 and praying about it 39:18 and I had a self actualization, 39:23 experience with the Sabbath. 39:24 I believe that if someone to really grasp the Sabbath 39:29 is like really grasping the reality 39:32 of Jesus being Lord of your life. 39:34 It wasn't just, "Oh, okay, the Sabbath. 39:37 Yeah, that's Saturday." And that works. 39:40 I mean, it just rolled over me into my heart 39:44 about the Sabbath and I've realized 39:47 what He is saying in Revelation 39:49 where that He wants to find people 39:51 that are keeping the faith of God 39:53 and keeping the Commandments of God. 39:56 And so, we had a road to hoe, 39:59 another Southern inspiration he gave, hard road to hoe 40:03 because we didn't know, and I shared 40:06 of one of our little family worship nights there. 40:10 We didn't know how to keep this Sabbath 40:12 we didn't know anything about it. 40:13 I told a guy one time at the car wash, 40:17 I'm a Sabbath keeper now, I don't go in places, 40:19 and do things on the Sabbath 40:21 and I was washing my car at the car wash, 40:23 I was car washing on the Sabbath, 40:26 so didn't know how to keep it. 40:27 But I knew that it was true, 40:29 and I saw the sincerity that you had, 40:32 others had here, at 3ABN. 40:37 When you came to me and told me that, 40:39 "God told you to, build a station 40:41 it would reach the world with the Three Angels' 40:43 undiluted message". 40:44 The only thing that I was heard was "World", 40:47 and I think of our church was praise world outreach. 40:51 God gave me a world vision, we let three other churches, 40:55 Kenny we let your church, start a church in our church, 40:58 I don't believe there should be competition. 41:00 The church is left, we gave him a 100 chairs, 41:03 I think Molly's fear about, you and I get the other here, 41:07 because I was going to give a bunch of stuff away. 41:10 But she was-- 41:12 But you don't give away the treasure, 41:13 Mollie was the treasure you know. 41:20 I'm with you Molly. 41:21 She knew that, I was a giver you cannot give God. 41:24 When I went there, I said to him 41:26 "One day what the Lord impressed me to do", 41:28 he said you know what? 41:30 Later that night, I won't go the whole story 41:31 since some of the others. 41:33 But he said to me, "When you get your building up, 41:35 when you're ready to go this equipment", 41:37 that Melody and I were saying, 41:39 you guys producing for Trinity or W.T.C.C. 41:44 Which was I think 41:45 filled with Trinity at the time and so they said, 41:48 "We'll give you this equipment." 41:50 I couldn't believe that and I said to him, 41:51 "You can give me that equipment?" 41:53 he said, "Well, if the Lord impress me too" and I said, 41:56 "Well if our pastor gave away a cassette deck" 41:59 They would tie and feather him, you know, 42:00 run him out of town on a rail, 42:02 I mean we would have go through the Church Board, 42:04 you know do all of this stuff. 42:06 So, finally I went to church as him said, 42:08 this charismatic pastor, 42:10 you know all the miracles that's happening with property. 42:13 He is going to give us, television equipment 42:15 when we were ready for it. 42:17 And finally one pastor said, 42:19 "But you can't do that, how do we know he'll do that?" 42:22 you know so "Would you get the Church Board to sign, 42:26 and make it official to this." 42:28 So, I felt bad to come back and said 42:30 "Well, I need to ask you this?" 42:31 they said, "That's no problem", so they did. 42:33 So that, I can show people, see here when we are ready, 42:36 they're going to give us equipment. 42:37 We didn't need the equipment, but we needed the encouragement 42:40 to know that God was alive and He is on the throne-- 42:43 It only takes a spark to get the fire going. 42:45 Probably in the 15, 16 years that I have pastored there, 42:48 I might have said, maybe four times, 42:50 "God told me to do this." 42:53 And you hear that all the time, 42:55 especially charismatic moment that 42:56 "God told me"... I never say it. 42:58 But when I say it and people listen so, 43:00 Mollie was all in favor, 43:02 You know, we gave, were you were asking her. 43:04 Mollie what do you think about it? 43:05 Okay. She's shakin' her head. Yes, she's all in favor of it. 43:08 She's knows a little more-- 43:11 plus I believe 43:12 she knew in her heart too in some way that 43:15 we both were going to be here. 43:17 And I thought there for while, you would come to us. 43:22 The truth of the matter is we did like this, 43:25 and that was so beautiful. 43:26 Amen. 43:28 My heart has been here for years. 43:32 My heart is here now, and I'm in Pastoral Department. 43:37 I do the prayer request, weekly prayer request, 43:41 and we have prayer warriors all over the world. 43:44 If you're prayer warrior and you're watching, 43:45 I want to know that I love you how much I appreciate you. 43:48 Amen. We've seen miracles. 43:51 Absolutely, Mollie you have been 43:53 incredible blessing you are to 3ABN. 43:55 Amen. 43:56 Honestly, and I say this before God, 43:59 there is nobody more important in this ministry 44:01 than Mollie Steenson. 44:03 Because she literally runs this ministry... 44:04 she knows everybody, she keeps up, 44:07 Brian is shaking his head those who know, 44:09 she deals with people on a day-to-day basis. 44:11 Everyday that I don't 44:13 and many of the rest of you don't. 44:15 Every department Mollie knows, inside now. 44:18 Tough decisions, 44:20 you know easy ones, that's great, 44:21 but she makes the tough decisions 44:23 day-after-day. 44:25 And she'll ask us, Brian, me, well, what do you think about? 44:26 Sometimes we say, 44:28 "Mollie whatever the Lord impresses you." 44:31 I relay my life, if I said, 44:33 I'm gonna have one hand people, that I respect the most. 44:37 You're on that hand, I have to tell you that. 44:40 Right now, I have never seen anybody 44:43 more stable, more constant, more encouraging, 44:47 and being used to God that I have you-- 44:49 She's a proverbial rock of Gibraltar. 44:53 All of these years, 44:54 and I'll say it publicly before the world. 44:56 And super sweet. Yeah. 44:58 There you go. 44:59 Yeah I told Bruce, if I had Mollie's job, 45:01 I would dump myself on a railroad track. 45:05 And my dear sister, that's why you don't have it. 45:10 I don't want it, thank you. 45:13 You all honor me, and that encourages me, 45:16 and I appreciate it and I thank you all 45:18 from the bottom of my heart 45:19 for those words of encouragement. 45:20 We all need encouragement from time to time. 45:22 And as long as there is 45:24 breath in my lungs and health in my body. 45:27 And God wants me here, I am here. 45:29 Amen. Amen. Absolutely. Absolutely. 45:32 And it's been doing, give us a little update 45:34 if you two, three years ago. 45:35 We heard that Mollie had, 45:36 somebody said fourth stage cancer. 45:38 Stage four cancer, right? 45:40 Tell us what's happening? 45:41 You look great, 45:42 you got in more energy than the rest of us. 45:44 What is happening in your life? 45:46 Well, they haven't changed my diagnosis, 45:48 but the difference in diagnosis and prognosis. 45:51 The diagnosis is pretty bad, 45:53 the prognosis is we can control it. 45:55 I love the word control, I'm not going backwards, 45:59 I'm not getting worst. 46:01 I'm maintaining, and I have shared this before, 46:05 I think it was in Sabbath School, 46:07 though I don't know if I had shared this on the air. 46:08 I'll do it very quickly, 46:10 what they did in a clinical trial, 46:12 they take my blood about every three or four months. 46:15 Because they are amazed, that my health is maintaining 46:20 and that I'm not getting worst, and I've got the energy 46:23 and so on and so fourth. 46:25 And so, they take my blood 46:27 to try and determine, what it is 46:30 that's keeping me so healthy, and you know what it is? 46:34 It's All Mighty God. 46:35 See, Mollie, they don't know, 46:37 you can't put the Holy Spirit in a test tube. 46:39 So they don't have answer. 46:41 It's the blood of Jesus. 46:43 We have a great report. Thank you so much. 46:46 Then they send her a bill for it and charged 46:48 I think $500 for taking her blood. 46:51 And she told the lady when she called her, she said, 46:53 "Honey, they should be paying me." 46:56 That's right, that's right. 46:58 Absolutely, I agree with it. 47:00 Well, we're down to the corner now, 47:02 we've got down to Brian and Diane, 47:04 and you guys we talked about Roy in early, 47:07 and you called in them. 47:08 But you got a call and you came here. 47:10 Now, tell us what you did 47:12 before you came here for number of years 47:14 and what really brought you here 47:15 and what do you do now? 47:16 Okay. 47:18 Well, Diana and I have been in church ministry. 47:20 We started out in Michigan 47:23 and I pastored church district near Berrien Springs. 47:28 I say suburb of Berrien Springs. 47:30 It's a big Adventist ghetto, you know. 47:32 Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. 47:33 And we were there five years, 47:35 and then we moved to conference office 47:37 and I was in treasury. 47:38 I have business degree as well as my ministerial. 47:42 Worked for Michigan Conference for another five years, 47:46 then we moved over to the Wisconsin 47:47 that's where we met the Hunt's, and worked there for ten years. 47:52 And then called us to the wilderness 47:56 that was Southern California. 47:57 Oh, okay, all right. L.A. 48:00 And we were only there about three and a half years. 48:04 And I just, I was ready to get back to the Midwest. 48:08 At least in my heart, you know, we felt little bit 48:11 like ducks out of water, something that need to, 48:14 we spent so much time here in the Midwest, 48:17 but had no clue where or what the Lord would have. 48:20 But just kind of had a feeling that may be and we were praying 48:24 for an opening in some place 48:25 but didn't know where, you know. 48:27 And just remember one day 48:29 this phone rang at my desk, doing my, 48:33 you know, green eyeshade job, you know, 48:36 just run some numbers and phone rang 48:39 and that was Elder Gilley 48:41 and I can still hear the sound of his voice, 48:45 and he says "Why don't you think about 48:48 coming into 3ABN to be as treasurer." 48:53 And that was a shocker. 48:55 I mean, clear, I mean, thought I had-- 48:59 that wouldn't been anything I would ever thought. 49:01 I would thought may be some other 49:02 conferences or maybe pastoring 49:05 but never thought about 3ABN, self supporting ministry. 49:09 Yeah, all right. 49:10 There's certain security 49:13 in the big corporations, you know. 49:15 And by the way, you know, 49:17 the church is a billion dollar business. 49:20 It's not a small business, you know. 49:22 And so, you know, you have this sense of security 49:24 being with this big organization. 49:27 And we had some other feelers and I was interested in those. 49:32 But 3ABN, I wasn't sure. 49:36 But as a little time went by 49:39 and we thought more and prayed more, 49:41 the others say, I wasn't sure. 49:44 But 3ABN we're interested in 49:46 and I don't know if it was Mollie, 49:48 somebody sent us the book "Mending Broken People." 49:52 And so as, we had about 45 minute commute 49:55 every morning to work. 49:57 And Diana would read Mending Broken People to me 50:01 as we travel, you know. 50:03 So we got a feel for the ministry. 50:06 Now I suppose as I was thinking about uncertainty 50:09 they were probably thinking the other way, 50:11 conference person, don't know about that. 50:14 Can they handle self supporting, 50:16 and, C.A., nobody kept me a side and said, 50:19 you know, 3ABN is broke, 50:21 no money at 3ABN, no one said that to me. 50:25 That's good they didn't, but anyway... 50:28 You learned it after you came though. 50:30 Yeah, I learned it after I came. 50:31 There's no money in the bank. 50:33 So we came out for the interview, 50:34 you know, the more we saw, the more we thought, 50:38 more we sense God was leading us here. 50:41 What was interesting after we got here, 50:43 that we found out was 50:45 Dan's brother had a phone call with Larry Ewing, 50:50 who was the previous treasurer before me. 50:53 Larry been here about six years or so 50:55 and they were gonna go back to Canada. 50:58 And during the "Ten Commandments 51:00 Twice Removed" 51:01 when that thing was really roaring, 51:04 my brother-in-law called up, 51:05 and I think he ordered a semi-load of the books. 51:08 Oh, okay. 51:09 Okay, so he was talking directly with Larry 51:11 on the finances of that. 51:13 And when in the process he says, 51:16 I have a brother-in-law 51:17 if you ever needing somebody to do, 51:20 you know, accounting you got to think, so he-- 51:22 Larry says, well, give me his name 51:23 and he wrote my name down on the yellow sticky pad, 51:27 and my phone number that's all he had, 51:29 set that on his desk, and that sat there for a year. 51:32 Well, now. 51:34 It was a year before, 51:36 and then when Larry knew he was leaving 51:38 he picked up that sticky pad gave it to Elder Gilley. 51:41 Isn't that something? Wow. 51:43 Same thing we were talking about. 51:44 A year before we hadn't any clue, 51:47 we were coming here the Lord knew, 51:49 where we were going. 51:51 Yes, He did. 51:52 And so it's been 51:56 a exciting journey, an interesting journey. 52:04 In a war, 52:07 a lot of people like to be 52:08 behind in the safe zone of the war, 52:12 you know back somewhere doing a support thing, 52:15 where you are not in the fray of the battle, you know. 52:17 Because, it's safer back there, it's easier back there, 52:20 you can relax back there. 52:23 3ABN is up on the frontline of the war. 52:25 Yes. It is. Amen. 52:26 Every day you know that we are fighting a battle 52:30 and we have an enemy, 52:32 but everyday we also see victories. 52:36 And if people want to be in the frontline of the battle 52:42 for good and evil, for, you know, for God, 52:46 3ABN is on the frontline of that battle. 52:48 Amen. Praise God. 52:50 Hallelujah. Praise the Lord. 52:51 So, that brought us here, that's how we got here. 52:53 I would like to say for Brian, we work closely 52:56 because most of the viewers know me 52:58 and Bruce head up the donation where people send us items, 53:00 we turn to cash, we have to work hand in hand 53:03 with accounting to make that all work. 53:05 And Brian has been a pleasure since he got here, 53:09 because we've all kind of did this department 53:12 by the seed of our pants kind of learning as we go. 53:15 And different rules change and, you know, laws change 53:19 and we have to go accordingly. 53:20 And Brian has made our job easier, 53:23 and we just appreciate him, 53:24 and Diane in what they do here for us. 53:26 I shake with that. Amen. 53:29 Diane, we just have a minute or so left, 53:31 but your husband was this a joint decision 53:34 or did he just have to talk to you into it? 53:37 Or it's probably more the other way. 53:40 She was certain about this thing, 53:42 I was worrying little. 53:43 Why were you certain about it? 53:44 Well, I had-- when we were in Wisconsin 53:47 and he was traveling a lot so, I wanted TV, 53:52 we didn't have TV in the home, 53:54 but I wanted something while he was out, 53:58 and so I wanted 3ABN, and so we got 3ABN. 54:02 And I was so "Oh, I would be neat to work there." 54:06 Amen. All right. 54:07 And so, I never told him that at the time but... 54:11 Isn't it interesting, as we listen. 54:13 Now I can tell the folks at home, this is not planned. 54:16 Am I telling the truth? Everybody here. 54:18 No one knew what was coming today 54:20 'cause I didn't know and the rest of us don't know. 54:22 We just said, we sat down C.A. made a note to have a prayer 54:25 and an introduction 54:27 and let people talk, so that was. 54:29 He's a producer so this is it. Okay. 54:33 So we sat down and as basically what I told him, 54:36 we're gonna come out do an intro 54:37 and Kenny's gonna have a prayer 54:39 and then we're each gonna talk. 54:40 So here you go talk and eat. 54:42 And but can't you feel-- did anybody beside me feel like 54:45 this has been orchestrated by God. 54:47 When you see each of these people, 54:49 everybody here, how one little decision 54:52 in your life could make a difference? 54:54 So for those of you at home, we really want to talk to you 54:57 for just a moment. 54:59 There's something going on right now in your life. 55:01 May be you're at your turning point 55:02 in your life, in ministry 55:04 and I believe that we all need to be in ministry 55:06 here in the closing moments of earth's history. 55:08 Everybody is not in position 55:10 get out and travel and do all that. 55:12 We can do that for you. 55:13 We got folks and preachers and teachers, they can do that. 55:16 But something that you can do with your friends, 55:18 your relatives, your neighbors, passing out, become a member 55:23 of "The Blessing is on the Go!" team. 55:25 We'll talk about that, because when you give 55:27 a monthly gift to 3ABN, to any donation, 55:30 any size donation we'll send you a monthly tool. 55:33 It could be a sermon, it could be music 55:35 that you can share with your neighbors 55:37 in the lost and dying world around you. 55:39 And hopefully it'll inspire you and draw you closer to Jesus, 55:44 and then you realize, you know, 55:45 what world we're on the same team 55:47 and everyone of us, now are evangelist for Jesus. 55:50 The Lord is coming very soon, and it's a matter 55:54 He's coming ready or not 55:56 and I choose to be ready, how about you all. 55:58 Amen. Amen. We want to be ready. 56:00 We're gonna go out praying with you today. 56:01 I'm gonna ask pastor here just to take us out, 56:04 those of you at home, you pray with us. 56:06 Once again thanks for joining us 56:07 for Thanksgiving. 56:09 Amen, amen. 56:10 Father God, our hearts are filled 56:11 with gratitude to You, 56:13 and praise and thanksgiving indeed. 56:16 Not just for the day of the season 56:17 but we're thankful to You every day of the year, 56:19 because we can look back over our lives 56:21 and see the moving of the hand of God 56:24 bringing us to this place, 56:25 for this time at the close of this earth's history 56:28 to be heralds of the greatest message 56:30 ever give in the world that the message is 56:33 that Jesus is coming soon. 56:34 And may we each be faithful to that trust and that charge. 56:38 Keep us doing what You have called us to do 56:40 until You call us from labor to eternal reward. 56:43 And we thank You dear Father, in Jesus blessing name, 56:47 amen and amen. 56:48 Hallelujah. |
Revised 2015-12-24