Hello, and
welcome to Urban Report...
00:00:22.34\00:00:24.51
Today, we are going
behind the scenes of two of
00:00:24.80\00:00:27.51
Dare to Dream's new programs
00:00:27.54\00:00:29.33
"Magnify Him"
with Duawne Starling
00:00:29.36\00:00:32.90
and "Take it to the Bank"
with Host Cordell Thomas...
00:00:32.93\00:00:35.99
Join me now, as I talk to
my co-host Duawne Starling...
00:00:36.03\00:00:40.06
on the set of "Magnify Him"...
00:00:40.09\00:00:42.60
Hello, we are here on
the set of "Magnify Him"...
00:00:42.63\00:00:48.30
and I am here with my
co-host of "Magnify Him"...
00:00:48.33\00:00:51.36
Duawne Starling...
Yvonne: Hi Duawne...
00:00:51.40\00:00:53.27
Duawne: Hi
Yvonne... Yvonne: I am so...
00:00:53.31\00:00:55.12
I can't even tell you how
thrilled I am that you are a
00:00:55.15\00:00:57.62
part of Dare to Dream and
Magnify Him and some other
00:00:57.66\00:01:01.68
programming that
we are talking about.
00:01:01.72\00:01:03.32
It is such a blessing to have
you... and I am finding that
00:01:03.36\00:01:06.51
the Lord is just sending
the right people... you know,
00:01:06.54\00:01:09.66
as we have need, He just fills
that need. So, I would love
00:01:09.69\00:01:14.68
to let the viewers know
just who is Duawne Starling...
00:01:14.71\00:01:18.16
Duawne: Oh Lord... you
know what, I always tell people
00:01:18.20\00:01:21.58
I am a very simple guy. I don't
broadcast so much what I do or
00:01:21.61\00:01:28.19
things that I've done, God has
really blessed me to be able to
00:01:28.22\00:01:34.77
have sung with a lot of
different people in this
00:01:34.80\00:01:36.80
industry... Yvonne:
Okay, now, I am going to
00:01:36.83\00:01:38.75
kind of... I know I am going to
kind of push envelope a little
00:01:38.78\00:01:41.31
bit but I really do want
the viewers to know just your
00:01:41.35\00:01:45.73
pedigree... so...
Duawne: Okay, I will start...
00:01:45.76\00:01:48.57
Well, I love God,
I love gospel music,
00:01:48.61\00:01:51.88
it's what I do, I have worked
with Kirk Franklin, he was the
00:01:51.91\00:01:56.33
very first... all of the Winans,
00:01:56.36\00:02:00.00
Fred Hammond, Yolanda
Adams, Richard Smallwood...
00:02:00.03\00:02:03.55
Yvonne: You are
naming my favorites...
00:02:03.59\00:02:05.80
naming my favorites...
Duawne: Donni McClurkin,
00:02:05.84\00:02:11.53
there are others, let's
see.. Dolly Parton, Wynona,
00:02:11.56\00:02:17.22
I am at a loss actually,
at a loss actually, but it's
00:02:17.26\00:02:22.96
been a lot of people,
it's been a lot of people,
00:02:23.00\00:02:25.30
I've been fortunate and a lot
of times, God would just give
00:02:25.34\00:02:29.41
me the opportunity to
do something once, you know
00:02:29.44\00:02:31.89
sometimes... like for instance,
I remember saying that I wanted
00:02:31.92\00:02:35.20
to sing with Patti LaBelle,
because I just remembered her
00:02:35.24\00:02:38.33
being this phenomenal
singer... growing up...
00:02:38.36\00:02:41.02
watching her... and I said,
you know I want to sing with her
00:02:41.05\00:02:44.68
you know, I just kind of said
it and one day... I actually had
00:02:44.72\00:02:48.32
that opportunity-you know,
but but it wasn't as if I was
00:02:48.36\00:02:50.82
singing background with
her or singing on her record,
00:02:50.85\00:02:54.21
it was just, we were in the
same place at the same time and,
00:02:54.25\00:02:57.57
you know, someone said,
"Oh, he sings," and so we stood
00:02:57.61\00:02:59.73
there and we sang
a song together...
00:02:59.76\00:03:01.70
Yvonne: Wow!... wow!
Duawne: you know, so I am a
00:03:01.73\00:03:04.79
simple guy, I love the Lord,
I love my family, I love music,
00:03:04.83\00:03:08.93
I love what I do, I
love being stretched...
00:03:08.96\00:03:12.08
I am being stretched
right now.. as a matter of fact,
00:03:12.12\00:03:14.56
Yvonne: Yes, yes, it's a
new part of your journey...
00:03:14.60\00:03:17.01
Duawne: Yes, yes...
Yvonne: What would you say has
00:03:17.04\00:03:19.27
been, if you could name, if
you could talk about, maybe,
00:03:19.30\00:03:23.02
two highlights of your journey,
I know you've had so, so many,
00:03:23.05\00:03:27.66
but, let's talk about
first your musical journey,
00:03:27.69\00:03:30.67
what would you say, would
be, two of the highlights of
00:03:30.70\00:03:34.33
that journey...
Duawne: The first one that
00:03:34.36\00:03:37.08
comes to mind, I was
singing background with
00:03:37.11\00:03:39.02
Donni McClurkin... we
were in Hartford, Connecticut,
00:03:39.05\00:03:41.49
and this was, I can
almost tell you the year,
00:03:41.52\00:03:44.48
it was March of 1999, I
believe, we were doing a concert
00:03:44.51\00:03:52.81
and Donni-he has a
powerful ministry and oftentimes
00:03:52.85\00:03:58.56
he would leave the stage during
the Alter Call and he would pray
00:03:58.60\00:04:02.12
for people, he
would lay hands on people,
00:04:02.16\00:04:03.94
and I would always assist
him, but this particular day,
00:04:03.98\00:04:07.62
he had the alter call,
but he never left the stage...
00:04:07.66\00:04:11.27
and I am thinking, there was
this one little guy-and I say
00:04:11.31\00:04:13.86
little guy because he was
short and he might have been
00:04:13.89\00:04:16.20
a teenager, he came up to the
front and immediately my spirit
00:04:16.23\00:04:20.46
was crying out to him and
his was crying out to mine...
00:04:20.50\00:04:24.55
and I could see that he
was just like... troubled...
00:04:24.59\00:04:28.34
I didn't know what it was, but
I could see that he was going
00:04:28.37\00:04:31.17
through something and so
we were singing, "Stand"...
00:04:31.21\00:04:34.54
and I am thinking, "Doesn't
Donni see him, why isn't he
00:04:34.58\00:04:38.09
going to pray for him?"
and I just kept hearing,
00:04:38.13\00:04:41.59
"Go, pray for him"
and... but that wasn't my
00:04:41.62\00:04:45.01
personality, my personality
was the guy who stays in the
00:04:45.04\00:04:48.26
background... you
know, the assistant...
00:04:48.30\00:04:50.29
Yvonne: Right,
right... Duawne: And God said,
00:04:50.32\00:04:52.59
"Go, pray for
him"... I just heard like...
00:04:52.62\00:04:55.20
almost as if there
was a yelling in my ear...
00:04:55.23\00:04:58.09
"Go, pray for
him"... and I said, out loud,
00:04:58.12\00:05:00.63
I said, "Why
doesn't Donni pray for him?"
00:05:00.67\00:05:03.11
and God said, "Because I
want you to go pray for him"
00:05:03.14\00:05:07.09
and so I went down, and it took
a lot of courage, I went down
00:05:07.12\00:05:11.55
and we were... it was a platform
so our feet were like at the top
00:05:11.58\00:05:15.12
of their heads...
so I had to walk down,
00:05:15.16\00:05:17.54
Yvonne: My... my...
Duawne: and I went down and
00:05:17.58\00:05:19.89
I touched him on his shoulder
and I started praying for him...
00:05:19.93\00:05:22.16
and I just prayed
until God said, you know,
00:05:22.20\00:05:25.80
"You're done" and so I
went back up on the stage
00:05:25.84\00:05:29.95
and I could see that
something broke in him...
00:05:29.99\00:05:34.03
there was a release in him
and it was a release in me...
00:05:34.06\00:05:37.55
and after the concert, I wanted
to go and introduce myself
00:05:37.58\00:05:41.03
because his eyes were
closed the whole time...
00:05:41.06\00:05:42.64
so he didn't know it was me...
Yvonne: So he didn't even know
00:05:42.67\00:05:46.09
who was praying for him...
Duawne: But I believe he did
00:05:46.13\00:05:47.47
know I believe he knew, but he
didn't see me... and so when I
00:05:47.50\00:05:52.33
started to head down after the
concert, the Holy Spirit said,
00:05:52.37\00:05:54.78
"You've done what I asked you
to do, anything from this point
00:05:54.81\00:05:57.82
on is in yourself"...
So I said, "Okay"...
00:05:57.86\00:06:01.96
and I kept, I kept going...
and we walked off stage and
00:06:02.00\00:06:06.66
I've never seen him again...
but his face, I carry his face
00:06:06.70\00:06:10.06
with me... I know I'll
see him again... eventually...
00:06:10.09\00:06:13.42
Yvonne: Amen...
Duawne: But that was the night
00:06:13.45\00:06:16.18
I realized that I am not
just a singer... I am much more
00:06:16.21\00:06:19.86
than that... I am a Minister...
and I may not stand up at a
00:06:19.89\00:06:23.51
pulpit and deliver a sermon,
but what I do is ministry...
00:06:23.55\00:06:27.02
Yvonne: Amen... and you know,
that's a really important point
00:06:27.05\00:06:31.16
because, one of the things,
and we've talked about this...
00:06:31.20\00:06:34.51
that we want for Magnify Him,
is not to have performance...
00:06:34.55\00:06:37.83
Duawne: Right...
Yvonne: but ministry...
00:06:37.87\00:06:39.30
anybody can get up... that
can sing and can perform a song,
00:06:39.33\00:06:43.95
but to minister, to actually
try to address the needs
00:06:43.99\00:06:48.53
of the listener... that's
really important... and that's
00:06:48.57\00:06:51.81
what we're here to do... and
that's what I have to tell you-
00:06:51.85\00:06:55.06
that you do... and I am
so... yesterday, I was listening
00:06:55.09\00:06:59.59
to you sing and it was just such
a blessing for me... because
00:06:59.62\00:07:04.08
I had the dual treat of
hearing that liquid silk...
00:07:04.12\00:07:08.96
that silky sound that you have,
with... along with ministry...
00:07:09.00\00:07:14.61
and to me, there's no
better combination than that...
00:07:14.64\00:07:18.21
I don't want
ministry and screechy voice,
00:07:18.25\00:07:20.31
I don't want, you know, a
beautiful voice and no ministry
00:07:20.35\00:07:24.47
but you have that combination,
it's an anointed thing...
00:07:24.51\00:07:28.22
and I just praise the Lord
for you and for your ministry...
00:07:28.25\00:07:30.86
So that was your first,
that was the first highlight...
00:07:30.90\00:07:33.18
Is there another one that you
can share?.. a musical highlight
00:07:33.22\00:07:36.24
for you... Duawne:
A musical highlight...
00:07:36.28\00:07:37.98
I would say, I'll go way back
when I was with Kirk Franklin
00:07:38.01\00:07:42.32
Yvonne: Okay...
Duawne: Um... we were doing...
00:07:42.35\00:07:44.15
it was his very first record...
and we were recording it live
00:07:44.18\00:07:47.26
in Dallas... and he
had me singing a duet...
00:07:47.29\00:07:51.97
but the duet ended up
not being on the record,
00:07:52.01\00:07:54.50
but that specific night, he
had me sing one of the songs
00:07:54.54\00:07:59.23
at a trio, and he had me come
out and sing on the third part..
00:07:59.27\00:08:02.62
and when I... he
started pulling me out...
00:08:02.65\00:08:04.80
it was, "Till we meet
again".. so it was the last song
00:08:04.84\00:08:06.70
on the record. When he
pulls me out... I said,
00:08:06.74\00:08:08.94
"What are you doing?"... now
we are having the conversation
00:08:08.97\00:08:10.55
on the stage,... I
said, "What are you doing?"
00:08:10.59\00:08:12.55
and he said, "I
want you to sing this"...
00:08:12.59\00:08:14.02
I said, "This is not my solo,
that's so and so's solo"...
00:08:14.05\00:08:16.35
and he said, "No, I
want you to do it"...
00:08:16.39\00:08:18.31
I said, "I don't know
the words" and he said,
00:08:18.35\00:08:20.21
"I'll give you the words"...
and so, I knew the melody,
00:08:20.24\00:08:22.66
and so I started singing...
"May His peace or may His love"
00:08:22.70\00:08:25.06
he says, "May His love"...
and so I sing, "May His love"..
00:08:25.10\00:08:27.95
and when I got to the next
one, he gave me the next line...
00:08:27.98\00:08:30.76
and I'd sing the next line...
But Kirk was a whole foot
00:08:30.79\00:08:33.50
shorter than me... and so when
the song started to speed up...
00:08:33.54\00:08:36.44
it was like, I was here and
then going back to the mike...
00:08:36.48\00:08:39.35
I was here... and then he
started shouting the words to me
00:08:39.38\00:08:42.46
so if you... if you go
back and listen to that record,
00:08:42.50\00:08:44.88
now that you know the history...
you will hear him shouting the
00:08:44.92\00:08:47.71
words to me...
Yvonne: Oh that's funny...
00:08:47.74\00:08:49.08
Duawne: So that was
the highlight as well...
00:08:49.11\00:08:50.75
Yvonne: that's funny...
now, now, we don't have that
00:08:50.78\00:08:53.44
much time left and I
could not end this time together
00:08:53.47\00:08:56.09
without talking
about your your family...
00:08:56.13\00:08:57.72
Duawne: Oh yeah...
Yvonne: you know, one of the
00:08:57.75\00:08:59.04
things that... again... I
so admire about you is that you
00:08:59.08\00:09:02.03
is that you love your
wife... Duawne: I do...
00:09:02.06\00:09:04.32
Yvonne: I love to see men and
women that love their spouses...
00:09:04.35\00:09:08.71
and will profess them to
others... and that's what you do
00:09:08.75\00:09:12.34
and it's so important
because this whole deal with the
00:09:12.38\00:09:15.90
erosion in the family unit
and all... and you just are
00:09:15.94\00:09:19.27
the epitomy of, from what
I can see, a great husband,
00:09:19.31\00:09:22.43
a great father, tell us
a bit about your family...
00:09:22.47\00:09:25.52
Duawne: My family... they really
are my joy... my wife and I
00:09:25.55\00:09:28.62
have been married for ten years,
we were platonic friends for
00:09:28.65\00:09:31.69
ten years, she was
my best female friend,
00:09:31.72\00:09:33.85
Yvonne: Wow!
Duawne: and I, literally,
00:09:33.89\00:09:35.95
I asked God one day... "You know
what, I am tired of being alone,
00:09:35.98\00:09:38.81
who is my wife?"
and He said, "Carmen"
00:09:38.85\00:09:41.16
you know... and she
was right in front of me...
00:09:41.20\00:09:43.80
and, you know, God told her
three years before He told me...
00:09:43.83\00:09:47.77
but she never
mentioned it to me.
00:09:47.81\00:09:49.70
Yvonne: Wow! Duawne:
She's a wise woman...
00:09:49.73\00:09:51.81
and she knew me...
she knew that I would run,
00:09:51.84\00:09:54.42
so, when I was ready, God
told me, and, you know, it was
00:09:54.46\00:09:58.91
nine months later
that we were married...
00:09:58.94\00:10:01.13
Yvonne: My! Duawne:
Yeah, it didn't take long
00:10:01.16\00:10:03.18
um, when you know that
it's right and you know that
00:10:03.22\00:10:05.49
it's God, you don't have to be
engaged for three and four years
00:10:05.53\00:10:09.10
that's ridiculous, and I
have three beautiful daughters,
00:10:09.13\00:10:12.67
Shiloh-she's six, Serai
is five, and Zion is three
00:10:12.70\00:10:17.31
Yvonne: Oh... that's wonderful
Duawne: So, I call them my
00:10:17.34\00:10:21.91
personal harem...
Yvonne: Yeah, because you are
00:10:21.95\00:10:24.83
surrounded by all this
estrogen Duawne: Yeah...
00:10:24.86\00:10:26.96
Yvonne: That is incredible...
back to your wife, would you
00:10:27.00\00:10:30.51
recommend to others
that a platonic friendship be
00:10:30.55\00:10:35.02
the way to go or do
you... because in your case,
00:10:35.05\00:10:39.49
it wasn't love at
first sight... love grew,
00:10:39.52\00:10:42.17
Duawne: love grew...
Yvonne: What do you think
00:10:42.20\00:10:44.78
about that, about... you know..
do you think that love should
00:10:44.82\00:10:48.27
grow or do you think that the
love at first sight thing is the
00:10:48.30\00:10:51.72
greatest thing...
what do you think?
00:10:51.76\00:10:53.22
Duawne: I don't think
that it's the greatest thing,
00:10:53.26\00:10:55.24
there were things that we
had to experience as friends,
00:10:55.28\00:11:01.65
you know, because the trust
issue... I am gone sometimes,
00:11:01.68\00:11:08.01
and as a friend, you
know, I would talk to my wife...
00:11:08.05\00:11:10.83
when we were just friends,
I would talk to her from
00:11:10.86\00:11:13.61
somewhere or I would send
her a card from somewhere...
00:11:13.65\00:11:16.38
Hey, I am just thinking of you,
you know, we were building that
00:11:16.41\00:11:18.68
for years, but we, I
don't know, we needed our path
00:11:18.72\00:11:25.56
I don't know if
everybody needs that path...
00:11:25.60\00:11:27.99
Yvonne: I think
that's a good point...
00:11:28.03\00:11:29.22
Duawne: But we
really did need that one...
00:11:29.26\00:11:30.42
Yvonne: Yeah... Duawne:
Because she's my buddy..
00:11:30.46\00:11:32.97
she really is... and
she keeps me on my toes...
00:11:33.01\00:11:35.63
I say that my wife is
not... people would say,
00:11:35.66\00:11:37.88
"Oh yeah, your wife is
like your greatest fan"...
00:11:37.91\00:11:40.06
my wife is not a fan...
Yvonne: Ah, come on, come on...
00:11:40.10\00:11:42.90
Duawne: She's not... my
wife is a cheerleader...
00:11:42.93\00:11:43.98
Yvonne: Oh, oh, I like
that Duawne: Because honestly,
00:11:44.02\00:11:46.51
when you look at the
fans, let's say, you are at a
00:11:46.55\00:11:49.24
ball game...
Yvonne: hmmm, hmmmm...
00:11:49.28\00:11:50.39
Duawne: if you are doing
something and the fans don't
00:11:50.43\00:11:52.28
like what you are doing...
the fans just turn on you...
00:11:52.31\00:11:54.13
Yvonne: Oh... Duawne:
the fans throw things at
00:11:54.16\00:11:56.21
you when you are going
back into the dugout...
00:11:56.25\00:11:57.86
Yvonne: Right, right...
Duawne: but what are the
00:11:57.89\00:11:59.43
cheerleaders doing? When
you are losing, the cheerleaders
00:11:59.47\00:12:02.16
are on the sideline cheering...
when you are winning,
00:12:02.20\00:12:04.86
the cheerleaders are on
the sideline cheering...
00:12:04.89\00:12:06.66
So my wife is my cheerleader...
she's not a fan...
00:12:06.69\00:12:09.22
Yvonne: Oh I like that
distinction... I like that
00:12:09.26\00:12:11.00
distinction... that's great...
and I also like the idea
00:12:11.03\00:12:14.34
that everybody does have a
different path... and so your
00:12:14.38\00:12:17.61
path might not be.. their path..
Not a different spiritual path..
00:12:17.65\00:12:21.45
in terms of who we go to...
I want to make that clear...
00:12:21.48\00:12:24.19
because, you know, there
is the growing belief out
00:12:24.22\00:12:26.43
there that whatever spiritual
path you want to take...
00:12:26.47\00:12:28.64
it all leads to the same place..
we are not saying that...
00:12:28.68\00:12:30.82
Duawne: It
doesn't... Yvonne: No... no...
00:12:30.85\00:12:32.33
in fact, it absolutely doesn't
but what we are saying is that
00:12:32.36\00:12:36.92
your emotional path, your love
path, might be different from
00:12:36.95\00:12:41.47
someone else's... but it's
the path that God had you on...
00:12:41.50\00:12:45.93
Duawne: and it's interesting
because He... the relationship
00:12:45.97\00:12:48.14
started with... I felt
like I needed to protect her...
00:12:48.17\00:12:50.31
Yvonne: Hmmmm,
Duawne: you know, from...
00:12:50.34\00:12:51.87
when we were in college together
there was a chemistry and there
00:12:51.90\00:12:56.46
was a love, but it was a
protective kind of love...
00:12:56.49\00:12:59.71
Yvonne: Okay... were you
like her big brother or like a
00:12:59.74\00:13:01.78
campus brother or something?
Duawne: I was, I was, I just
00:13:01.82\00:13:05.95
felt like I needed to protect
her from the wolves.. and I
00:13:05.99\00:13:10.09
remember saying, I said, "You
know what, I told her, I said...
00:13:10.12\00:13:13.19
"Carmen, you are... my children
are going to call you aunty...
00:13:13.22\00:13:15.89
you know, because I know you are
always going to be in my life
00:13:15.92\00:13:18.55
and I had no idea that
they would call her mommy..
00:13:18.59\00:13:20.71
Yvonne: Now, what have you
found to be one of the greatest
00:13:20.74\00:13:26.53
challenges in being in
ministry in music ministry...
00:13:26.57\00:13:30.18
Duawne: Being
authentic... Yvonne: Hmmmmm...
00:13:30.22\00:13:32.78
Duawne: I think that is
the biggest challenge for me...
00:13:32.82\00:13:34.32
because, growing up in
the church, I was raised to...
00:13:34.36\00:13:40.66
I would say it like this,
I don't think I was raised to
00:13:40.70\00:13:44.41
look the part, but I started to
think... I had to look the part.
00:13:44.44\00:13:48.43
So if I look the part, then no
one would question if I am the
00:13:48.46\00:13:52.41
part, you know.
Yvonne: Wow, what does looking
00:13:52.44\00:13:54.96
the part entail?
Duawne: Looking the part for me
00:13:54.99\00:13:57.48
was being in Sabbath
School, making sure I was doing
00:13:57.52\00:14:01.91
stuff in church and helping
around with the... you know,
00:14:01.95\00:14:05.16
helping the elderly and
singing in the choir, you know,
00:14:05.19\00:14:08.33
Yvonne: Okay, okay...
Duawne: But still, not really
00:14:08.36\00:14:10.24
having a connection with God,
you know, and I didn't really
00:14:10.28\00:14:14.39
get the connection until I was
in... when I say "in the world"
00:14:14.42\00:14:17.65
I mean like... on my own...
until I was living on my own...
00:14:17.68\00:14:20.77
and, you know, paying my own
bills and living in my own home,
00:14:20.81\00:14:24.34
own apartment... that was when
I had to make the connection
00:14:24.38\00:14:27.88
with God for myself... so
I looked the part but inside
00:14:27.92\00:14:33.10
I didn't really know God...
and I know Him now, you know...
00:14:33.13\00:14:36.87
Yvonne: Yes... yes... yes...
Duawne: I know Him and it's not
00:14:37.47\00:14:40.30
the relationship that my mother
has... it's the relationship
00:14:40.34\00:14:42.41
that I have...
Absolutely, I think one of the
00:14:42.44\00:14:44.99
things that happens when you
grow up in the church, is that
00:14:45.02\00:14:47.84
you end of taking a lot
for granted and you have that
00:14:47.87\00:14:50.55
vicarious relationship...
it goes through mom...
00:14:50.59\00:14:53.43
I was just talking about
this with my older son, Mark,
00:14:53.47\00:14:56.15
and we were talking about how...
he has a real relationship now,
00:14:56.19\00:15:01.18
his own relationship is not
through mom, it's not through
00:15:01.21\00:15:05.03
his grandmother, or his dad...
it's, it's, you know, his own.
00:15:05.06\00:15:08.59
One of the things that happens
I think, is, you know, you just
00:15:08.63\00:15:12.13
kind of get caught up in...
looking like... but not being,
00:15:12.16\00:15:17.08
you know, being in...
having your own relationship...
00:15:17.12\00:15:20.72
This has been such a wonderful
time... see, we can kind of
00:15:20.76\00:15:25.20
go on and on... We
really could, we really could
00:15:25.24\00:15:27.14
We need like an hour or 2
hours I know, I have some more
00:15:27.18\00:15:30.94
questions that I could ask you
but, you know, the viewers will
00:15:30.98\00:15:34.71
just have to watch. I
could have gone on and on
00:15:34.74\00:15:38.44
with Duawne... it is
such a joy to work with him...
00:15:38.47\00:15:42.14
he's so gifted and he's so
on fire for the Lord, and he has
00:15:42.17\00:15:47.28
such a beautiful spirit...
I am also learning about
00:15:47.32\00:15:52.42
finances from our next guest,
Cordell Thomas, and I am really
00:15:52.46\00:15:56.66
enjoying that because there's
so much that we don't know about
00:15:56.70\00:16:01.11
budgeting and about... just
kind of making our money grow...
00:16:01.15\00:16:05.53
So, let's go to the set
of "Take it to the Bank"
00:16:05.57\00:16:08.26
our program on
financial literacy and see what
00:16:08.30\00:16:10.96
Cordell Thomas
has to teach us...
00:16:10.99\00:16:12.94
I am here on the set of
"Take it to the Bank" with the
00:16:12.97\00:16:17.61
host, Cordell Thomas...
Cordell, it's so good to have
00:16:17.65\00:16:22.25
you here with "Dare to
Dream" and to teach us about
00:16:22.29\00:16:26.00
financial literacy...
what is that exactly?
00:16:26.03\00:16:28.77
Financial literacy is basically
the ability to communicate,
00:16:28.81\00:16:31.92
understand, and to make
good decisions about money...
00:16:31.96\00:16:34.77
that's really how it
is... Why is that important?
00:16:34.81\00:16:37.66
The importance of it
is... is fantastic... one of the
00:16:37.69\00:16:41.00
resources I have in my home
state basically tells us that
00:16:41.03\00:16:44.30
if you really want to
understand how wealth is made...
00:16:44.34\00:16:47.73
emulate what the wealthy
do... and many of us don't
00:16:47.77\00:16:51.09
understand it.. it comes down
to a core context of building
00:16:51.12\00:16:54.49
from a budget... understanding
where the money comes from and
00:16:54.53\00:16:57.71
where it goes and that excess
that we have can be put away
00:16:57.74\00:17:01.03
into savings, into investments
and, as the wealthy do, they use
00:17:01.06\00:17:05.29
it to acquire assets, and that's
what you see in this area with
00:17:05.33\00:17:09.53
3abn... they've acquired the
assets that can use the talents
00:17:09.56\00:17:13.32
that have been given to spread
the gospel around the globe...
00:17:13.35\00:17:17.00
and that's what God is talking
about in the parable of the
00:17:17.03\00:17:20.09
talents...
Amen... so how did you get
00:17:20.12\00:17:23.40
involved in... in
finance and money and teaching
00:17:23.43\00:17:25.98
and all that... how did
you get involved in that?...
00:17:26.02\00:17:28.54
Life experience and of course
I have a Masters in Business
00:17:28.58\00:17:31.28
from the University of Michigan
but all of that is really
00:17:31.32\00:17:34.11
negligible... I went to work
in automotive manufacturing...
00:17:34.15\00:17:36.91
and worked with a couple of
major automotive manufacturers
00:17:36.94\00:17:39.57
for about eleven
years... I learned about greed,
00:17:39.61\00:17:41.79
I learned about the
understanding of how people
00:17:41.82\00:17:43.93
climb the corporate ladder and
I found that, that really wasn't
00:17:43.97\00:17:47.71
for me. I went to another
Organization in the Oil industry
00:17:47.74\00:17:51.42
or the Energy industry... and
found, no, that really wasn't
00:17:51.45\00:17:55.09
for me and then of
course, they went through a
00:17:55.12\00:17:56.68
consolidation and I
got... laid off from the work...
00:17:56.72\00:17:59.94
I got a fantastic severance
package and I used the money...
00:17:59.98\00:18:03.82
instead of putting it
and investing it long term,
00:18:03.85\00:18:05.67
I took it and went traveling
to Europe... now I don't regret
00:18:05.71\00:18:09.10
the travel... I enjoyed it
because I learned a little bit
00:18:09.14\00:18:12.24
more about philanthropy and how
other countries work with their
00:18:12.27\00:18:15.70
under-served communities...
but as I came back, God placed
00:18:15.74\00:18:18.94
me in a situation to
begin working in non-profits
00:18:18.98\00:18:22.22
and observing what goes on in
the non-profit industry and in
00:18:22.25\00:18:25.91
the under-served
communities of our country...
00:18:25.95\00:18:28.68
and when you understand what
happens in those under-served
00:18:28.71\00:18:31.68
communities, you know now that
money is being mismanaged...
00:18:31.72\00:18:35.78
and to a certain extent, we are
trying to just help the people
00:18:35.81\00:18:39.84
stay in that type of
existence instead of helping
00:18:39.88\00:18:42.69
them climb out of that poverty
into a better subsistence...
00:18:42.73\00:18:46.63
Great... great point...
what are some of the ways that
00:18:46.66\00:18:49.69
money is being mismanaged in
the under-served communities?
00:18:49.72\00:18:53.76
They have a "Poverty Industry"
which is a 33 billion dollar
00:18:53.80\00:18:57.80
a year industry... which
gets their money from those that
00:18:57.84\00:19:01.50
don't have money... but how
does that work? Well, you have
00:19:01.54\00:19:05.17
pawn shops... and you
have pay-day loan centers...
00:19:05.21\00:19:08.68
and you have a lot of these
liquor stores and organizations
00:19:08.71\00:19:13.84
within communities that
charge these under-served people
00:19:13.87\00:19:18.97
more than they have
to... for products that are
00:19:19.01\00:19:21.53
not good for them... and
then, they have to travel
00:19:21.56\00:19:24.72
out to buy good things and they
don't have the means to do that
00:19:24.76\00:19:28.21
so they don't have the
transportation... so they focus
00:19:28.25\00:19:31.12
on them because there
is a lot of money there...
00:19:31.15\00:19:33.84
they focus on the fact that
they don't have the money to buy
00:19:33.87\00:19:37.30
something... so they go in and
pawn the vehicle to get a loan,
00:19:37.33\00:19:40.72
to go and purchase something
and then thinking that they
00:19:40.75\00:19:43.13
will be able to pay that
back to get that product back
00:19:43.17\00:19:45.52
so they, they are
focused on that...
00:19:45.55\00:19:47.76
See that's such a good point
and I really want to develop
00:19:47.80\00:19:51.51
that a little bit more because
I've seen it so many times in...
00:19:51.55\00:19:55.23
in the inner city
that... for example... the pawn,
00:19:55.26\00:19:58.65
the pawn shops... tell
us please how does that
00:19:58.68\00:20:02.00
work and why is it bad...
If I need some extra money
00:20:02.04\00:20:06.54
why shouldn't I take my coat,
if I have a coat that I want
00:20:06.57\00:20:12.35
to sell or some piece of
clothing or some piece of
00:20:12.38\00:20:15.15
whatever... why can't I take
it to the pawn shop and get some
00:20:15.19\00:20:18.70
money for it and then have
the cash that I need to do what
00:20:18.74\00:20:21.84
I want to do? Why shouldn't I do
it? Cordell: Excellent question
00:20:21.88\00:20:24.39
If it's a part of your
community and so what part
00:20:24.47\00:20:26.74
of how things are
done, you see as a part of a
00:20:26.77\00:20:28.39
normal way of
existence... Right...
00:20:28.42\00:20:30.24
But that's not the
case... That's what they see...
00:20:30.27\00:20:32.27
These individuals have a wealth
of knowledge of how to do little
00:20:32.30\00:20:36.41
things in the community
but they get caught up in...
00:20:36.45\00:20:38.42
I need the money now, so let
me figure out how I can get it
00:20:38.46\00:20:41.34
and with the consumer,
type of industries we have
00:20:41.38\00:20:44.96
media is out there telling...
be a consumer, be a consumer...
00:20:44.99\00:20:47.17
be a consumer... We
should be teaching our young
00:20:47.21\00:20:49.86
people about being producers...
and being a producer means this-
00:20:49.90\00:20:53.97
I start with a budget... I
start with how much I make,
00:20:54.01\00:20:57.68
I can live off of maybe a
$1,000 or $1,500 a month...
00:20:57.72\00:21:01.32
and how much do I pay out in
expenses? That margin between
00:21:01.36\00:21:05.32
your income and your expenses
is where you can begin the
00:21:05.35\00:21:09.28
process of saving...
putting money away...
00:21:09.32\00:21:11.53
Wait now, if I am on a fixed
income... like if I am just...
00:21:11.57\00:21:14.24
if I am on social services
for example, you're telling me
00:21:14.27\00:21:16.91
I can save
something? Yes, you can...
00:21:16.94\00:21:19.10
Tell me how... Well,
you know, it's a matter of
00:21:19.13\00:21:22.20
understanding-there's
an acronym now ACCSC...
00:21:22.24\00:21:25.27
basically it's ASSESS
where you are at. Okay...
00:21:25.31\00:21:28.05
Look at what you have now...
look at the debts you have...
00:21:28.08\00:21:30.61
the expenses you
have... assess that and then
00:21:30.64\00:21:32.98
put together a budget
about what you have coming in...
00:21:33.02\00:21:35.85
and what you are paying out...
now, if you are paying out more
00:21:35.89\00:21:38.52
than what you have
coming in, there is a problem...
00:21:38.55\00:21:40.93
and we need to look at
the third step which is...
00:21:40.97\00:21:43.28
cut your expenses... figure
out what you can do without...
00:21:43.31\00:21:46.37
figure out what you can
cut... figure out what you can
00:21:46.40\00:21:48.97
get rid of... and with
that then you can figure out
00:21:49.00\00:21:51.37
how you can bring your budget
in line... It's essential for
00:21:51.41\00:21:54.68
you to bring it in line because
there's no way, you'll ever be
00:21:54.72\00:21:58.83
able to save unless you are
spending less than you bring in.
00:21:58.86\00:22:02.94
Aha, that's such a good point
because I think about all the...
00:22:02.98\00:22:06.65
especially young mothers tend to
do this-well older mothers too
00:22:06.68\00:22:10.13
they tend to... they
might not feel like cooking
00:22:10.16\00:22:13.23
so they'll go to the
local fast-food place...
00:22:13.27\00:22:16.27
buy fast food for the kids,
and spend way more money than
00:22:16.30\00:22:20.57
they would have spent if
they just bought food to cook
00:22:20.60\00:22:24.83
for the kids...
What do you see as,,
00:22:24.86\00:22:30.06
as one of the downsides of
fast food... just going to the
00:22:30.09\00:22:34.24
fast-food place and
just purchasing like that?
00:22:34.27\00:22:37.20
We are beginning to see
now whether our millennial
00:22:37.23\00:22:38.78
generation now are habit.. that
and I'll explain millennial as
00:22:38.81\00:22:42.19
your age group that was
born between 1982 and 2000...
00:22:42.23\00:22:45.56
and we are seeing that and,
of course, the next generation,
00:22:45.59\00:22:48.85
there is a considered concern
about health issues and they are
00:22:48.89\00:22:52.47
saying that this generation now
is expected to live less than...
00:22:52.50\00:22:56.05
our previous generation...
because they are not eating
00:22:56.08\00:22:58.54
in the healthy way... My...
00:22:58.57\00:22:59.89
The basic issue I see with,,
fast foods are two things...
00:22:59.93\00:23:04.52
One is the cost per mouth to
feed goes up exponentially...
00:23:04.56\00:23:09.94
if you buy in bulk from a store
the quality foods that you need,
00:23:09.98\00:23:14.48
and cook for a family of four,
it costs a lot less than if you
00:23:14.52\00:23:18.64
go to a fast-food place
and buy for four people...
00:23:18.67\00:23:23.39
you would spend easily..
twenty-five to thirty dollars
00:23:23.43\00:23:26.70
for a family of four at a
fast-food place than if you did
00:23:26.73\00:23:29.75
the same and assessed how much
it costs to feed each mouth,
00:23:29.79\00:23:32.57
it would come down to easily,
maybe a dollar and thirty cents
00:23:32.60\00:23:35.34
per mouth... So it, it, it
is a wonderful way to begin the
00:23:35.38\00:23:39.23
saving process...
Absolutely and I think...
00:23:39.26\00:23:41.65
this is so important to share
because so many people want to
00:23:41.68\00:23:45.76
do better but they don't really
know how... and what you are
00:23:45.79\00:23:49.95
teaching, if I understand you
correctly, is planning, instead
00:23:49.98\00:23:54.11
of just impulse buying...
plan... you can plan...
00:23:54.14\00:23:57.33
it does take a little bit more
effort to prepare that food,
00:23:57.36\00:24:00.30
for the family, but it's so much
healthier. There was a movie out
00:24:00.34\00:24:05.41
a documentary, about
fast foods and that kind of
00:24:05.45\00:24:10.80
thing... and the gentleman that
was the star and the producer
00:24:10.84\00:24:16.09
of the documentary, had
been super-sizing himself...
00:24:16.13\00:24:20.17
he would go to this particular
place and... fast-food place...
00:24:20.20\00:24:24.43
and just order the super-sized
version of these different meals
00:24:24.46\00:24:28.66
and it turned out that
his health just deteriorated.
00:24:28.69\00:24:32.42
So, health is important,
not to mention, finance...
00:24:32.45\00:24:35.46
I mean, you are spending
way more than you need to
00:24:35.49\00:24:38.46
when you do that.
Another thing that I noticed
00:24:38.50\00:24:41.32
that goes on... and I'd
like for you to address...
00:24:41.36\00:24:44.11
is a lot of this furniture
rental... like you go in and
00:24:44.15\00:24:48.21
you say, "Oh wow" and I
have some people in my family
00:24:48.24\00:24:52.27
that did this...
okay... so if you are watching,
00:24:52.31\00:24:54.15
you know, just forgive me...
But they went and they thought
00:24:54.18\00:24:57.31
Oh wow... this is like a
36- or 50-inch TV, oh wow,
00:24:57.35\00:25:03.63
I can have it now... and
they actually rented the TV.
00:25:03.66\00:25:06.66
Would you tell us, why that's
not a good idea to go into these
00:25:06.70\00:25:11.19
furniture rental places and just
kind of furnish your home with
00:25:11.22\00:25:15.64
those purchases... There
are two things involved...
00:25:15.67\00:25:18.41
One is "impulse purchase" and
in this case, it is not really a
00:25:18.44\00:25:22.76
purchase, it's a rental to own..
there are fees associated with
00:25:22.79\00:25:26.94
borrowing money... in this case
you are borrowing this piece of
00:25:26.97\00:25:30.59
equipment that you have
to pay back over time...
00:25:30.62\00:25:32.85
The second issue
is... we are not planning...
00:25:32.88\00:25:36.28
we are impulse purchasers
and we are actually, looking
00:25:36.31\00:25:42.63
at what the media is
telling us to do... you need it,
00:25:42.67\00:25:45.15
you want it, have it now,
take it now, we can put it
00:25:45.18\00:25:47.59
on our credit card and pay for
it later... and that's not what
00:25:47.63\00:25:51.30
principles of finance is really
about. It's about, taking the
00:25:51.33\00:25:54.97
time to allocate a
certain portion of that savings
00:25:55.01\00:25:59.06
to a specific thing
you would like to buy...
00:25:59.10\00:26:01.29
One of the things we try to
tell people is to prioritize...
00:26:01.32\00:26:04.74
set up goals... so if this
is a short-term goal, between
00:26:04.77\00:26:08.11
one and four weeks or one and
two months... you basically say,
00:26:08.15\00:26:13.09
"I can save about $600 a month
to buy that flat-screen TV."
00:26:13.12\00:26:18.38
So let me plan, two months
out, and within two months,
00:26:18.41\00:26:21.92
I can go into a store and
purchase that object for cash,
00:26:21.95\00:26:25.38
so I am not borrowing money,
I planned for that expenditure,
00:26:25.42\00:26:28.92
so there are a lot of things
in play here, we are listening
00:26:28.96\00:26:33.16
to what society tells us about
immediacy and gratification,
00:26:33.19\00:26:37.36
and we lose sight of the fact
that we are servants and we are
00:26:37.39\00:26:42.00
stewards of God and His benefits
towards us, so we need to take
00:26:42.03\00:26:46.61
the time to assess what's
in the best interest of that
00:26:46.64\00:26:50.65
acquisition and whether or not
it's something I actually need.
00:26:50.68\00:26:53.96
Because in the
under-served communities in time
00:26:53.99\00:26:56.89
why do I need a 50-inch screen
with a $79 a month cable bill
00:26:56.93\00:27:03.57
to put this when I can't really
even afford the rent that I have
00:27:03.60\00:27:09.26
and those types of things,
so as you assess a budget,
00:27:09.30\00:27:11.54
the nice thing is... most people
haven't thought about writing
00:27:11.58\00:27:15.55
down what my expenses are, and
then if I can save a little bit
00:27:15.58\00:27:19.52
it's a mentality that... once
I see myself saving $50 a month,
00:27:19.55\00:27:23.10
I can increase that to $100 a
month, I can pay off this debt
00:27:23.14\00:27:26.66
and increase it to $200 a
month and that's the key...
00:27:26.69\00:27:30.78
once you get to saving, then
cash flow becomes a decision
00:27:30.82\00:27:34.47
you can make in acquiring
different things and giving back
00:27:34.51\00:27:38.12
to your church or
giving back to a charity.
00:27:38.16\00:27:40.80
Ah, and you just used a
word that I think is just so
00:27:40.84\00:27:44.74
important... Decision... we
have choices that we can make...
00:27:44.77\00:27:48.08
you know, it's not just about
something being thrust upon us
00:27:48.11\00:27:51.91
but we can choose, we can choose
to do a budget, we can choose
00:27:51.95\00:27:55.61
to save, we can get a handle on
our finances. One of the things
00:27:55.64\00:27:59.09
that I noticed, even about
me personally, is that I'll just
00:27:59.12\00:28:02.77
kind of let things... you know,
I just kind of will not really
00:28:02.81\00:28:07.67
zero in on making the right
choices, it's not fly-by-night
00:28:07.70\00:28:12.52
but kind of... by the
seat of your pants, you know...
00:28:12.56\00:28:14.82
and you just kind of go along,
and, but go along to get along,
00:28:14.85\00:28:17.53
No, it's about making the
choices that we need to make...
00:28:17.56\00:28:21.31
to take control of our finances,
and I think that's one of the
00:28:21.35\00:28:25.41
things that many of us fail
to do because we weren't really
00:28:25.44\00:28:29.47
trained to do that, so we don't
kind of have that perspective
00:28:29.50\00:28:34.47
on things. How relevant is
the Bible in teaching principles
00:28:34.51\00:28:39.44
of financial management?
It's relevant.. it's for real...
00:28:39.47\00:28:42.22
Is it? Because many people
would say, well, it's.. you know
00:28:42.26\00:28:45.52
the Bible is old and you know,
it doesn't, it doesn't really,
00:28:45.56\00:28:48.78
it's not for today...
How do you feel about it?
00:28:48.82\00:28:51.10
You can look at the terminology
as it's used in the Bible...
00:28:51.14\00:28:55.93
and you can buy a Bible that
speaks to you.. the NIV version,
00:28:55.96\00:28:59.69
the American Standard version,
but it's the context of what
00:28:59.72\00:29:03.04
the Bible is trying to teach
you the parables that are there,
00:29:03.07\00:29:06.78
if you can read the parable and
start peeling back the levels
00:29:06.81\00:29:10.48
of understanding, what's
going on in that parable,
00:29:10.51\00:29:12.98
What's a parable? The
parable is a story that
00:29:13.02\00:29:15.38
gives you an idea of a
different meaning-in this case,
00:29:15.41\00:29:19.87
you know, the master
left, but he is going to return,
00:29:19.90\00:29:24.28
there's analogy there
because our Master, our Lord,
00:29:24.32\00:29:27.41
has left and He's going
to return and He will hold us
00:29:27.45\00:29:30.55
accountable for how we
have utilized the talents
00:29:30.58\00:29:33.86
the Holy Spirit has blessed us
with, it's up to us to discern
00:29:33.90\00:29:37.77
what those talents are and
then hold ourselves accountable
00:29:37.80\00:29:41.46
the other thing that comes
out from the Bible as mentioned
00:29:41.49\00:29:44.30
in James... and I hammer James
in some of my presentations...
00:29:44.34\00:29:47.11
is the fact that...
Wealth is not just about money..
00:29:47.15\00:29:51.22
wealth is about faith as James
talks about, there are people
00:29:51.25\00:29:54.70
that might be poor monetarily
but are wealthy in faith...
00:29:54.73\00:29:58.14
and it tells us that we
shouldn't play favorites
00:29:58.18\00:30:01.52
with individuals because
they are monetarily wealthy,
00:30:01.55\00:30:05.48
because realistically,
possessions don't really matter,
00:30:05.52\00:30:09.44
it's how we utilize what
God has given us for His Kingdom
00:30:09.47\00:30:13.36
that matters in the
end. Wow, wealth is not just
00:30:13.39\00:30:18.66
about money...
wealth is about the way we
00:30:18.70\00:30:23.23
handle the resources
that God has given us and
00:30:23.26\00:30:26.77
make them grow, because we
are managing them properly.
00:30:26.81\00:30:31.22
If we pursue excellence, if
we are the best that we can be,
00:30:31.26\00:30:36.50
God will bless that.
God has a plan for you,
00:30:36.53\00:30:40.82
a specific plan for
you, Jeremiah 29:11 says,
00:30:40.85\00:30:45.07
in the King James Version, it
says, "For I know the thoughts
00:30:45.11\00:30:48.22
that I think toward you saith
the Lord, thoughts of peace and
00:30:48.26\00:30:51.34
not of evil, to give you an
expected end, and in the NIV
00:30:51.38\00:30:55.69
it says, "to give you
a future and a hope. "
00:30:55.73\00:30:58.82
There's hope for you,
there's a future for you,
00:30:58.86\00:31:01.89
God has a plan for you and
if you pursue God and ask Him
00:31:01.92\00:31:05.54
what that plan is, He's going
to let you know what it is,
00:31:05.58\00:31:09.16
and He is going to bless
your efforts because you are
00:31:09.20\00:31:12.98
walking in His plan.
Today's Urban Report covered
00:31:13.01\00:31:16.76
music and money. Join
us next time as we look at
00:31:16.80\00:31:20.32
life from another perspective...
Have a good one, pursue God,
00:31:20.35\00:31:25.15
pursue excellence, know
that God has a plan for you
00:31:25.18\00:31:30.12
and be blessed...
00:31:30.15\00:31:32.81