Stay tuned to meet a young woman who has overcome 00:00:01.06\00:00:03.86 many obstacles and challenges to share the gospel 00:00:03.89\00:00:06.99 and serve Jesus... 00:00:07.03\00:00:08.22 My name is Yvonne Lewis and you're watching 00:00:08.25\00:00:10.99 Urban Report... 00:00:11.03\00:00:12.10 Hello and welcome to Urban Report... 00:00:32.94\00:00:35.22 Today our guest is Rebekah Willis, 00:00:35.26\00:00:37.47 Author, Vocalist and Founder of Katy Records... 00:00:37.50\00:00:40.53 Rebekah, welcome to Urban Report... 00:00:40.56\00:00:43.42 Thank you for having me... 00:00:43.45\00:00:45.51 Oh, it's so great to have you you know we had you on 00:00:45.55\00:00:48.67 Magnify Him... our Music Program 00:00:48.71\00:00:51.50 and we didn't get to really talk in depth 00:00:51.54\00:00:55.03 about you and your ministry 00:00:55.06\00:00:57.55 and all that... because Magnify Him is a music program 00:00:57.59\00:01:00.75 with a brief interview, so, I wanted to bring you back 00:01:00.78\00:01:03.91 to talk on Urban Report more about... 00:01:03.94\00:01:07.22 some of the challenges that you faced 00:01:07.25\00:01:10.49 and how the Lord has used those 00:01:10.52\00:01:13.14 to really inspire and encourage you 00:01:13.18\00:01:15.28 to press forward into his divine plan for you... 00:01:15.32\00:01:18.40 so, let's take a look at your background... 00:01:18.44\00:01:22.21 Tell us who is Rebekah Willis? 00:01:22.25\00:01:24.62 Okay, who is Rebekah Willis in a short amount of time... 00:01:24.65\00:01:28.68 How do we do it? Fifty words or less... 00:01:28.72\00:01:32.11 Well, listen... I am a pastor's daughter 00:01:32.15\00:01:36.06 and I grew up in an evangelistic family... 00:01:36.10\00:01:39.94 we did "Living Waters Crusades" all throughout America 00:01:39.98\00:01:43.28 and in Europe and grew up singing 00:01:43.31\00:01:46.35 and was taught from a very early age 00:01:46.39\00:01:49.36 to give everything that we had, all of our talents 00:01:49.40\00:01:52.24 belonged to God and we needed to make sure 00:01:52.28\00:01:54.65 that we didn't use it for anything else because, 00:01:54.69\00:01:56.59 you know, that's not why He gave it to us, 00:01:56.62\00:02:00.69 I'm the youngest of five and enjoy that... 00:02:00.73\00:02:04.76 So you were the baby... 00:02:04.79\00:02:07.04 I've been called the baby all my life... 00:02:07.08\00:02:11.11 but thankfully, my parents were not the type 00:02:11.15\00:02:15.08 to spoil... they were very disciplined 00:02:15.12\00:02:18.09 and made sure that we were disciplined... 00:02:18.13\00:02:21.03 taught respect and love and the fact that we all 00:02:21.07\00:02:25.75 are responsible for each other, 00:02:25.79\00:02:28.45 so, that's pretty much who I am 00:02:28.49\00:02:30.93 I grew up in Michigan and spent most of my time 00:02:30.97\00:02:34.20 in the Detroit area... 00:02:34.24\00:02:35.27 I graduated from Peterson-Warren Academy 00:02:35.31\00:02:36.91 All right... shout-out to them, yes, yes, yes... 00:02:36.94\00:02:41.86 okay... so you grew up as a PK pastor's kid... 00:02:41.90\00:02:44.78 and many times when you grow up as a PK 00:02:44.81\00:02:49.38 and also, in a strict family or a religious family, 00:02:49.41\00:02:54.48 many times, that message is not necessarily 00:02:54.51\00:02:59.20 you don't really take it on as your own... 00:02:59.24\00:03:03.89 at what point did you develop 00:03:03.93\00:03:06.73 your own relationship with Jesus Christ? 00:03:06.76\00:03:08.85 You know, my parents gave me the best gift possible... 00:03:08.89\00:03:15.15 as I said, we were involved... 00:03:15.19\00:03:18.50 we were a part of the ministry team 00:03:18.54\00:03:20.37 we didn't just kind of hang out at Church 00:03:20.40\00:03:23.80 while daddy did his job, 00:03:23.83\00:03:25.03 we were actually involved in the ministry... 00:03:25.07\00:03:28.60 and I was blessed to hear the full gospel 00:03:28.63\00:03:32.13 all of the doctrines and tenets 00:03:32.17\00:03:33.99 of the Seventh-day Adventist Church 00:03:34.02\00:03:35.18 lifestyle messages 00:03:35.21\00:03:36.56 and everything... in evangelistic meetings 00:03:36.59\00:03:39.89 repeatedly... so, I fell in love with the Lord 00:03:39.92\00:03:42.87 very early... I fell in love with him early on 00:03:42.91\00:03:45.52 and had a longing in my heart and I was begging... 00:03:45.56\00:03:48.14 to be baptized... and my parents 00:03:48.18\00:03:50.42 had a rule in our house that you had to be six... 00:03:50.46\00:03:53.43 you had to be at least six-years-old 00:03:53.46\00:03:54.80 before you were baptized... 00:03:54.83\00:03:55.87 so, when I was finally baptized 00:03:55.90\00:03:58.24 at six... it was the happiest day of my life... 00:03:58.28\00:04:00.64 and I thought that I was a Christian... 00:04:00.68\00:04:03.44 I loved Jesus... and I wanted to be like Him... 00:04:03.48\00:04:06.73 and I thought that I was a Christian 00:04:06.76\00:04:07.95 but unfortunately that wasn't exactly the case 00:04:07.98\00:04:10.72 because you can do the best that you can do in life 00:04:10.76\00:04:13.75 and still not be where Jesus wants you to be 00:04:13.79\00:04:17.08 because He's really looking for that full commitment 00:04:17.12\00:04:20.93 and that relationship... He's not just looking for us to 00:04:20.97\00:04:24.75 follow certain things 00:04:24.78\00:04:27.00 and to love each other 00:04:27.03\00:04:29.18 and all of this... He's actually trying to perfect 00:04:29.22\00:04:31.54 our character... so gratefully the Lord 00:04:31.57\00:04:35.42 has been working on me... and, you know, like I said 00:04:35.46\00:04:39.11 I went to Peterson-Warren Academy 00:04:39.14\00:04:40.77 and my friends used to challenge me... you know, my classmates, 00:04:40.80\00:04:43.43 we were like family... God blessed me in that way too 00:04:43.46\00:04:46.48 and they used to challenge me and say, you know, 00:04:46.52\00:04:49.15 "You're just an Adventist 00:04:49.18\00:04:50.59 because your father is an Adventist 00:04:50.62\00:04:52.14 and you did this because 00:04:52.18\00:04:53.59 this is the way you were raised... 00:04:53.62\00:04:55.13 and how do you know that it's true?" 00:04:55.16\00:04:56.59 and because I was always a person... that... 00:04:56.63\00:04:59.30 I'm curious... and I questioned 00:04:59.33\00:05:02.83 and research is one of my passions... 00:05:02.87\00:05:05.37 I decided that I would not be caught dead... 00:05:05.40\00:05:08.08 doing anything that just happened to me... 00:05:08.12\00:05:10.73 I didn't want to let anything to just happen to me... 00:05:10.77\00:05:12.77 I wanted to be a complete responsible person... 00:05:12.80\00:05:15.89 taking the talent of my intellect and my life 00:05:15.92\00:05:19.15 and my soul... seriously... Hmmm... 00:05:19.18\00:05:24.09 so, what I began to do is... 00:05:24.13\00:05:26.11 I began to study religion 00:05:26.15\00:05:28.77 I studied all different religions 00:05:28.81\00:05:30.64 How old were you at this point? 00:05:30.68\00:05:32.48 I was about 17... Okay... 00:05:32.52\00:05:36.04 and I said, you know, this is... I'm moving into adulthood 00:05:36.08\00:05:40.27 and I need to really be certain 00:05:40.31\00:05:42.35 that... what I'm going to do with the rest of my life 00:05:42.39\00:05:45.46 is what I need to be doing with the rest of my life... 00:05:45.50\00:05:48.58 Ah... and has there been any kind of spiritual crisis 00:05:48.61\00:05:51.66 that precipitated this or just the challenge 00:05:51.70\00:05:54.31 from your classmates? 00:05:54.35\00:05:56.26 When you grow up in an evangelistic family, 00:05:56.29\00:06:00.15 that is a serious evangelistic family... 00:06:00.18\00:06:03.97 my parents were human beings but there was one thing 00:06:04.01\00:06:08.16 that always was doubtless in our home 00:06:08.20\00:06:11.87 and that was the reality of the Creator God 00:06:11.90\00:06:14.63 and the fact that what He required of us was real 00:06:14.66\00:06:19.23 it wasn't imaginary... it wasn't fake... 00:06:19.26\00:06:21.35 you know, you didn't see one person outside the home 00:06:21.39\00:06:23.83 and another person inside the home... 00:06:23.87\00:06:25.47 we were dealing with something that was real 00:06:25.50\00:06:28.21 and you could see it I mean, we saw miracles... 00:06:28.25\00:06:30.40 in tent meetings... there were demons that attacked 00:06:30.43\00:06:34.08 the family... and... 00:06:34.12\00:06:36.67 things were very clear 00:06:36.70\00:06:39.18 so, when it comes to a spiritual crisis... type thing 00:06:39.22\00:06:44.31 we were kind of living on the front lines... 00:06:44.34\00:06:46.80 Hmmm... okay... I was living on the front lines 00:06:46.84\00:06:49.31 growing up I had a very tough time... 00:06:49.34\00:06:51.35 in High School... dealing with spiritual attacks 00:06:51.39\00:06:56.54 but I approached it intellectually... 00:06:56.58\00:06:59.02 I was more concerned with being a responsible human being 00:06:59.05\00:07:03.83 for my life on the planet... than coming from a place where 00:07:03.87\00:07:08.40 I actually needed something, a lot of people think seekers 00:07:08.43\00:07:12.93 spiritual seekers... have a loss... 00:07:12.96\00:07:15.56 that's why they like to call religion a crutch... 00:07:15.60\00:07:18.46 and things like this but you actually can just seek God 00:07:18.50\00:07:22.41 and seek an understanding of creation... 00:07:22.45\00:07:25.15 because you can see things around you... 00:07:25.18\00:07:27.37 "The heavens declare the glory of God; 00:07:27.40\00:07:29.41 and the firmament shows His handiwork... " 00:07:29.44\00:07:30.83 and the fact is... 00:07:30.87\00:07:32.28 if you look around you can understand that 00:07:32.31\00:07:34.16 there's more to life than what you see... 00:07:34.19\00:07:35.92 Yes... and so in order to be 00:07:35.96\00:07:37.77 a responsible human being... I decided to go and 00:07:37.81\00:07:40.95 study the different religions and to find out for myself 00:07:40.98\00:07:43.93 if the one that I was taking on was the right one 00:07:43.96\00:07:49.30 or if indeed there was any need at all... for religion 00:07:49.34\00:07:52.06 Yes... so you didn't... and this is an important point 00:07:52.10\00:07:54.79 a lot of people think that Christians are "Sheeple" 00:07:54.82\00:07:58.74 you don't check your intellect at the door... 00:07:58.78\00:08:01.22 when you become a Christian, and, in fact, God gives us 00:08:01.25\00:08:05.37 all around us... in creation... reason to believe in Him 00:08:05.41\00:08:09.46 so, you were like a Berean... you wanted to study everything, 00:08:09.50\00:08:14.65 you wanted to see... and it's... you know 00:08:14.68\00:08:16.58 Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God 00:08:16.62\00:08:19.47 so you got in there... you were studying the Word 00:08:19.50\00:08:22.31 but you were also... you were doing some... 00:08:22.35\00:08:26.24 kind of... it's kind of a reinforcement thing 00:08:26.27\00:08:30.10 I guess... because you were reinforcing 00:08:30.13\00:08:31.74 the belief system that you had, but you also were exploring 00:08:31.78\00:08:35.37 not exploring to become 00:08:35.40\00:08:39.02 something different but, I guess it was actually 00:08:39.05\00:08:41.99 reinforcing your own belief system... 00:08:42.03\00:08:43.52 Dr. Lewis, I had no restraints on the discovery... 00:08:43.56\00:08:48.26 you can't be scientific if you go in 00:08:48.29\00:08:50.13 with the pre-conceived notion that you already agreed to... 00:08:50.16\00:08:52.77 Okay... I was completely open... 00:08:52.80\00:08:54.50 I knew who God was... I knew that He existed... 00:08:54.54\00:08:58.97 Hmmm... hmmm... Okay... 00:08:59.00\00:09:00.22 because I had experienced Him first hand... 00:09:00.25\00:09:03.00 Hmmm... hmmm... and I was absolutely in love 00:09:03.03\00:09:05.83 with Jesus... absolutely in love with Him... 00:09:05.87\00:09:08.64 Hmmm... hmmm... so, I told Him... 00:09:08.67\00:09:10.34 "Well, this is what I have to do... " 00:09:10.37\00:09:11.87 I didn't think He'd be proud of me 00:09:11.90\00:09:13.58 if I just kind of wandered around 00:09:13.61\00:09:15.02 and so this is what I need to do... 00:09:15.06\00:09:16.39 so, I mean, I studied Hinduism I studied Islam, 00:09:16.43\00:09:20.73 I studied Judaism, 00:09:20.76\00:09:22.68 I studied Buddhism, I studied just about everything 00:09:22.71\00:09:26.95 that there is out there and shock and all... 00:09:26.99\00:09:31.60 I discovered that the reality of our universe 00:09:31.64\00:09:35.29 can only be found in that one great book... 00:09:35.32\00:09:38.94 the 66 books of the Bible, really... 00:09:38.98\00:09:42.19 if people take a look at it 00:09:42.22\00:09:43.70 and they look at all of it with an open mind... 00:09:43.73\00:09:45.78 it will show them... give them a greater understanding 00:09:45.81\00:09:49.10 that there is some good in most religions... 00:09:49.14\00:09:51.38 Hmmm... hmmm... I say "most religions" 00:09:51.41\00:09:52.99 because there are some religions 00:09:53.03\00:09:54.67 that only lead to disappointment 00:09:54.71\00:09:56.32 some religions that subjugate others... 00:09:56.36\00:09:58.47 there are some religions that are hurtful... 00:09:58.50\00:10:01.93 but if you look at the 66 books of the Bible... 00:10:01.97\00:10:05.37 Hmmm... hmmm... you'll discover that 00:10:05.41\00:10:07.69 everything in there is beautiful 00:10:07.72\00:10:09.93 and glorious and true... and it rings true 00:10:09.96\00:10:11.69 with the spirit and it rings true with day-to-day life 00:10:11.73\00:10:15.54 and I discovered that lo and behold... 00:10:15.58\00:10:18.73 it actually rang true with all of the things 00:10:18.77\00:10:22.76 that were taught in the Seventh-day Adventist Church 00:10:22.79\00:10:24.49 they were all completely found in the Bible... 00:10:24.53\00:10:26.45 Hmmm... hmmm... hmmm... hmmm... so, again your belief system 00:10:26.48\00:10:30.99 though... what you're saying is, you were seeking truth... 00:10:31.02\00:10:34.39 you were just seeking truth but you found that 00:10:34.43\00:10:37.30 that truth was totally in the Word of God 00:10:37.33\00:10:40.44 in the Bible... 100 percent... 00:10:40.47\00:10:42.88 100 percent... so what were some of the challenges 00:10:42.91\00:10:46.16 that you faced... once you had settled in... 00:10:46.20\00:10:49.48 on "this is the way... walk ye therein" 00:10:49.51\00:10:52.25 this is how I'm going to be... 00:10:52.28\00:10:53.51 I'm going to be a Seventh-day Adventist Christian 00:10:53.54\00:10:55.62 because I found that to be true 00:10:55.66\00:10:58.51 Hmmm... hmmm... what were some of the 00:10:58.54\00:10:59.83 challenges that you faced... 00:10:59.86\00:11:01.17 as a result of that decision that determination... 00:11:01.21\00:11:04.96 Well, as the youngest of a big family... 00:11:04.99\00:11:09.62 and it's not just a big family 00:11:09.65\00:11:11.43 in my immediate family, but I have tons and tons 00:11:11.46\00:11:14.40 of cousins and extended family, everywhere... you know... 00:11:14.44\00:11:18.99 I went from... 00:11:19.02\00:11:21.19 had finished this great study 00:11:21.22\00:11:23.82 in my transition into what I consider to be 00:11:23.85\00:11:26.36 "Independent Adulthood" I went from being surrounded by 00:11:26.39\00:11:30.85 a family-like environment in my High School 00:11:30.89\00:11:33.97 to just being isolated and 00:11:34.01\00:11:37.69 particularly unknown... 00:11:37.73\00:11:41.34 without acceptance of... I was engulfed in loneliness 00:11:41.38\00:11:45.89 from my Freshman year of School 00:11:45.92\00:11:50.31 no "thing" can prepare somebody for that type of situation 00:11:50.35\00:11:55.85 when you're the youngest, you believe that 00:11:55.89\00:11:58.24 you're all responsible for each other... 00:11:58.28\00:11:59.59 so this was a huge challenge for me to go through this 00:11:59.63\00:12:04.23 and because the personality that I have... 00:12:04.26\00:12:06.33 I just smiled, "Oh, yes... " you know and went through 00:12:06.37\00:12:10.68 I didn't begin to complain about things... 00:12:10.71\00:12:13.24 I didn't even have words to express it... 00:12:13.28\00:12:15.95 I had people that loved me, friends like Eric Thomas 00:12:15.98\00:12:19.75 when I was down... and his wife, Dee Dee, 00:12:19.79\00:12:22.12 when I was down at Oakwood... 00:12:22.16\00:12:23.69 I used to walk over to their house and they would let me in, 00:12:23.72\00:12:26.83 every time I showed up they would let me in... 00:12:26.87\00:12:31.02 and I'd just sit there on the couch 00:12:31.05\00:12:32.33 to be with some people in a familiar space because 00:12:32.36\00:12:36.24 I was drowning in loneliness... 00:12:36.27\00:12:38.21 Hmmm... didn't you have a roommate? 00:12:38.25\00:12:39.56 I didn't intend to tell this today 00:12:39.60\00:12:40.84 but I'm going to tell you... when I was at Oakwood... 00:12:40.88\00:12:44.18 I used to be so lost and broken, you know, I would get up 00:12:44.22\00:12:47.48 and walk over to the Church 00:12:47.51\00:12:51.34 because there's a Church on the grounds there 00:12:51.37\00:12:53.28 walk up to the Church and sit at night 00:12:53.32\00:12:55.26 and beg God to allow me... to kill myself... 00:12:55.30\00:12:57.50 Oh... because I was so very lonely... 00:12:57.54\00:12:59.70 and the people that I knew, 00:12:59.74\00:13:02.44 were people that were involved in music down at Oakwood 00:13:02.47\00:13:06.39 and they were so kind and loving but they had their own lives 00:13:06.43\00:13:10.27 and their own family and their own friendships 00:13:10.31\00:13:13.13 and I wasn't used to being by myself and so isolated... 00:13:13.17\00:13:18.65 so that was huge for me... and I thought, you know, 00:13:18.69\00:13:23.14 that it was cruel and unusual punishment... 00:13:23.18\00:13:27.45 Hmmm... did you have a roommate there... 00:13:27.49\00:13:31.69 I mean, you had absolutely no support system within the... 00:13:31.72\00:13:37.52 I had 5 different roommates at Oakwood, Dr. Lewis, 00:13:37.55\00:13:40.54 when I was in College, I had 5 different roommates... 00:13:40.58\00:13:43.72 And you didn't bond emotionally with any of them? 00:13:43.75\00:13:46.86 I bonded with all of them... 00:13:46.90\00:13:50.12 in terms of being a friend to them... 00:13:50.15\00:13:53.56 but as I said, they had their own friendships... 00:13:53.59\00:13:56.83 their own lives, their own relationships, 00:13:56.87\00:13:59.12 and as much as I could do... being the youngest... 00:13:59.16\00:14:03.76 is to show love... which you do in a family... 00:14:03.80\00:14:07.41 you show love... and then... either love comes back to you 00:14:07.44\00:14:12.44 or it doesn't... but what I understood 00:14:12.48\00:14:15.47 later in life is that the Lord was separating me 00:14:15.51\00:14:19.02 to teach me some things... and to... 00:14:19.05\00:14:22.68 as I was saying before... 00:14:22.72\00:14:25.02 He's all about character development... 00:14:25.06\00:14:26.96 and He knows more about our characters 00:14:26.99\00:14:28.69 than we know about our characters... 00:14:28.72\00:14:30.35 so, there are things that you may expect to be ordinary 00:14:30.39\00:14:34.33 and necessary for health... that the Lord says, 00:14:34.37\00:14:37.34 "Well, I need to take you away from this so that 00:14:37.37\00:14:39.36 you can see me a little bit closer... " 00:14:39.39\00:14:41.31 because I have a tendency to rely on people... 00:14:41.34\00:14:45.52 Hmmm... for things that I should be 00:14:45.55\00:14:47.75 relying on God for... Okay... 00:14:47.78\00:14:49.45 and I didn't know that... Hmmm... hmmm... 00:14:49.48\00:14:51.25 I had no idea... so the Lord had to separate me 00:14:51.29\00:14:55.44 and to say, you know, "Talk to me... 00:14:55.48\00:14:57.44 if there's a problem, bring it to me... 00:14:57.47\00:14:59.54 talk to me... don't pick up the phone and 00:14:59.57\00:15:01.57 call, you know, this person that you respect... 00:15:01.60\00:15:03.48 pick up and call that person that you respect... 00:15:03.52\00:15:05.28 I'm standing right here with you 00:15:05.32\00:15:06.86 and if you truly want this relationship... 00:15:06.89\00:15:09.20 that you believe I'm able to give you... 00:15:09.23\00:15:11.48 then you need to make the effort to consult me 00:15:11.51\00:15:15.46 instead of going over my head at all cost 00:15:15.49\00:15:18.38 and coming to some kind of intellectual conclusion" 00:15:18.41\00:15:22.53 So, this was the beginning then of this kind of foray 00:15:22.56\00:15:26.80 into the loneliness... and the hurt and the rejection 00:15:26.83\00:15:31.03 that you felt over a period of time... 00:15:31.07\00:15:33.95 I know that you mentioned something to me about Paris... 00:15:33.99\00:15:36.79 What happened in Paris? 00:15:36.83\00:15:37.92 Oh, I've lived in a lot of different places in life and 00:15:37.96\00:15:45.55 when I lived there... I went to a Church... 00:15:45.58\00:15:48.02 it used to take me about two hours 00:15:48.05\00:15:51.99 to do the commute one way... there... on Sabbath morning... 00:15:52.02\00:15:55.56 I'd get up early Sabbath morning... 00:15:55.60\00:15:56.98 get ready... go down the street... 00:15:57.01\00:15:58.32 it's so empty in Paris on a Saturday... 00:15:58.36\00:15:59.95 and I would take the bus and 00:15:59.98\00:16:03.58 change and do all the changes that I needed to... 00:16:03.62\00:16:06.29 to get to Church... and no one ever talked to me... 00:16:06.33\00:16:08.97 six whole months I went to that Church, 00:16:09.01\00:16:10.69 people didn't talk to me... and I'm talking about... 00:16:10.72\00:16:12.58 I mean, if you knew me personally, Dr. Lewis, 00:16:12.62\00:16:15.32 you would know that I speak to people... 00:16:15.36\00:16:18.00 I'm not one of these people that's a wallflower 00:16:18.03\00:16:19.92 standing around and waiting for people to come to them, 00:16:19.95\00:16:22.22 and I'd go to people... and say, 00:16:22.26\00:16:25.37 "Happy Sabbath, good morning" and give them a big smile... 00:16:25.40\00:16:27.79 and, you know, I would get cold stares... 00:16:27.82\00:16:30.21 or it was as just... people couldn't see me... 00:16:30.24\00:16:32.07 at least I thought that they couldn't see me... 00:16:32.11\00:16:34.63 six months into my attendance at this Church... 00:16:34.66\00:16:37.99 I walked in and somebody held out a bulletin 00:16:38.03\00:16:40.73 which I thought they were holding out to me... 00:16:40.76\00:16:43.39 and this was the first time that I saw a bulletin... 00:16:43.43\00:16:45.56 I didn't know they had bulletins there... 00:16:45.60\00:16:47.25 and I reached out to take the bulletin... 00:16:47.29\00:16:50.21 and the individual lifted the bulletin over my head 00:16:50.25\00:16:52.99 I was standing no more than two feet away from her... 00:16:53.02\00:16:55.55 at arm's length... she lifted the bulletin 00:16:55.58\00:16:58.20 over my head and gave it to the person behind me 00:16:58.24\00:17:00.76 Hmmm... and I said, 00:17:00.80\00:17:03.36 "Oh, okay... all right then... " 00:17:03.40\00:17:07.35 So, did this start a... from the time at Oakwood 00:17:07.38\00:17:13.09 through Paris and other experiences... 00:17:13.12\00:17:15.23 did you go into a depression, as a result of this... 00:17:15.26\00:17:19.25 because it seems like you had a series of rejections 00:17:19.28\00:17:23.20 and isolation and that can often send you into depression. 00:17:23.23\00:17:27.16 We have to understand... everyone needs to understand 00:17:27.19\00:17:31.81 their "Love Language" I don't know, you know, 00:17:31.84\00:17:33.71 if people have even thought of it... 00:17:33.75\00:17:34.84 but people need to understand their Love Language 00:17:34.87\00:17:37.00 because a lot of the disappointments 00:17:37.04\00:17:38.20 they experience in life can come directly from the idea 00:17:38.24\00:17:43.05 that their needs... in relation to their love language 00:17:43.09\00:17:47.87 are not being met... my Love Language is "intimacy" 00:17:47.90\00:17:50.05 so I can have a lot of friends that I care about and love 00:17:50.08\00:17:52.91 and would die for and give them the shirt off my back 00:17:52.94\00:17:55.73 but if I can't talk to you... Hmmm... hmmm... 00:17:55.77\00:17:58.32 or if you don't talk to me... Hmmm... hmmm... 00:17:58.35\00:18:00.84 and spend time together... it takes time for these things 00:18:00.87\00:18:05.85 then the need is not met... so, I discovered after years 00:18:05.88\00:18:10.83 of this happening... from my Freshman year up until 00:18:10.87\00:18:14.43 many, many years later... in my travels... 00:18:14.47\00:18:18.01 because I wanted to live my life in that way... 00:18:18.04\00:18:22.22 exploring the world and doing the best that I could 00:18:22.25\00:18:26.39 I was very ambitious... I discovered that 00:18:26.42\00:18:29.39 there is a physical need for the love language to be fulfilled 00:18:29.43\00:18:36.67 to be understood and fulfilled and you can actually 00:18:36.71\00:18:39.46 physically feel a change in your body... 00:18:39.49\00:18:42.11 when you are not receiving love in the way 00:18:42.15\00:18:44.73 that you need to receive it... 00:18:44.76\00:18:46.67 Yes... yes, I agree with that... 00:18:46.71\00:18:47.81 It's a physical thing... 00:18:47.84\00:18:49.01 I agree with that... yes... 00:18:49.04\00:18:50.17 so, there have been times of depression in my life 00:18:50.21\00:18:55.15 times of depression that were situational depression 00:18:55.18\00:19:00.05 because, certain things were not the way that they need to be 00:19:00.09\00:19:03.14 and not because I wanted them to be another way 00:19:03.18\00:19:06.20 but because I literally needed certain things... 00:19:06.24\00:19:09.23 Hmmm... hmmm... that were unavailable to me 00:19:09.26\00:19:12.93 from the body of Christ... I did suffer from depression... 00:19:12.97\00:19:17.29 so, how did you... because I cannot believe that our time 00:19:17.33\00:19:21.62 is winding up... I haven't even... I haven't even 00:19:21.65\00:19:24.19 you know, it's a tip of the iceberg thing 00:19:24.23\00:19:27.22 how did you go from there 00:19:27.26\00:19:30.76 into being the Founder of Katy Records 00:19:30.80\00:19:35.29 how did your experiences... 00:19:35.32\00:19:37.05 first of all, tell us about Katy Records... 00:19:37.08\00:19:40.41 we need to know about that, and then I'll ask you about 00:19:40.44\00:19:43.19 your experiences... opening up the door to that... 00:19:43.22\00:19:46.21 What is Katy Records about? 00:19:46.25\00:19:48.44 Katy Records is a modern media ministry 00:19:48.47\00:19:51.92 the whole purpose of Katy Records is to disseminate 00:19:51.95\00:19:55.65 the truth... the Word of God... in as many different formats 00:19:55.68\00:20:00.39 digital format, digital media, as possible... 00:20:00.42\00:20:03.62 because there are people in the world 00:20:03.65\00:20:06.30 who may never enter a Church yet... 00:20:06.33\00:20:08.87 because they don't feel comfortable 00:20:08.91\00:20:11.38 but who are 00:20:11.41\00:20:12.61 avid media consumers so they'll love to listen to music 00:20:12.64\00:20:17.02 and there are people out there that just want things for free 00:20:17.06\00:20:20.28 so Katy Records offers... 00:20:20.32\00:20:22.08 "Truth Media now, Free or Cheap" 00:20:22.11\00:20:23.69 which is our motto and it's named after 00:20:23.73\00:20:27.97 my grandfather's shop in Chicago and everything that you find 00:20:28.00\00:20:31.43 on the website... is about ministry... 00:20:31.46\00:20:33.44 we want to empower people 00:20:33.47\00:20:34.67 to become and minister in their life 00:20:34.70\00:20:37.73 because we're responsible for our own spiritual welfare... 00:20:37.76\00:20:41.81 you can't look around you... 00:20:41.85\00:20:43.67 and say, "Oh, so-and-so didn't do something for me 00:20:43.70\00:20:46.29 therefore my spiritual life is falling to bits... " 00:20:46.33\00:20:48.85 you know... or 00:20:48.88\00:20:50.70 "You know, I'm lonely and therefore 00:20:50.74\00:20:52.24 I can't talk to God anymore" 00:20:52.28\00:20:53.58 we don't blame our best friends for what our enemy does... 00:20:53.61\00:20:56.03 Hmmm... so, if we're looking at life... 00:20:56.07\00:20:58.89 we need to be able to take responsibility 00:20:58.93\00:21:01.68 in talking about a lifestyle-focused spirituality 00:21:01.72\00:21:06.72 what can I do from day-to-day, to-day, to-day, to-day... so 00:21:06.76\00:21:10.38 you'll find music there... you'll find presentations... 00:21:10.42\00:21:14.32 you'll find books... you'll find all kinds of things 00:21:14.36\00:21:18.23 there... there's Katy Records Radio... 00:21:18.27\00:21:19.97 which is... just actually we're launching this Friday and 00:21:20.01\00:21:25.06 just a way to get the media out there... 00:21:25.09\00:21:28.76 of course, you know, it's also a media production company 00:21:28.79\00:21:34.67 so we do put out CDs... and just this summer... 00:21:34.71\00:21:38.36 for instance, we gave away a hundred free CDs... 00:21:38.39\00:21:42.51 during various Camp Meetings and events that are... 00:21:42.55\00:21:46.03 it was of an album that would come out later... 00:21:46.06\00:21:49.68 and, you know, I want our Viewers to hear you... 00:21:49.71\00:21:52.98 I know you're on Season 2 of Magnify Him 00:21:53.01\00:21:56.11 but you are an artist on Katy Records... 00:21:56.15\00:21:59.18 and I just want our Viewers to hear you sing this song... 00:21:59.21\00:22:03.26 "Nothing Escapes Your View" so let's let them hear that... 00:22:03.29\00:22:07.30 Singing... I was alone... 00:22:07.34\00:22:11.03 and standing in the portal all I was seeking 00:22:11.06\00:22:16.09 was lock to my storeroom... God I had beaten the system 00:22:16.12\00:22:21.84 still had more room... nothing escapes your view... 00:22:21.88\00:22:27.61 what I was doing was trying... to seek in my way 00:22:27.65\00:22:32.91 just like a dragon who took a wider highway... 00:22:32.94\00:22:38.13 there is no secret with you I can't get by... say... 00:22:38.17\00:22:43.47 nothing escapes your view... you're the truth 00:22:43.50\00:22:48.35 and the love that lights up the avenue 00:22:48.39\00:22:53.54 don't let me lose you... all I have... 00:22:53.58\00:22:58.66 only death ends this stubborn, broken path... give me eye salve 00:22:58.69\00:23:05.84 so I can see... 00:23:05.88\00:23:09.62 What is this thing 00:23:09.65\00:23:13.28 that is coming over me now... 00:23:13.31\00:23:16.66 I want to be in the way 00:23:16.69\00:23:19.32 I'll get to know how... it comes by hearing, 00:23:19.35\00:23:23.54 rebuking, changing my style... nothing escapes your view... 00:23:23.58\00:23:29.35 Oh, how I love you... I see all you have given... 00:23:29.39\00:23:35.81 never too much did you ask... 00:23:35.85\00:23:38.59 for you I'm living... 00:23:38.63\00:23:40.50 sought me and saved me 00:23:40.54\00:23:42.66 I won't look back where I've been... 00:23:42.70\00:23:45.23 nothing escapes your view... 00:23:45.26\00:23:49.39 you're the truth... and the love that lights up the avenue 00:23:49.42\00:23:56.38 don't let me lose you 00:23:56.42\00:23:58.24 all I have... only death ends the stubborn broken path 00:23:58.28\00:24:05.59 give me eye salve so I can see... 00:24:05.62\00:24:12.34 I was alone 00:24:12.38\00:24:15.76 and standing in the portal... 00:24:15.79\00:24:19.15 all I was seeking was a lock to my storeroom 00:24:19.19\00:24:23.19 God I have beaten the system still had no room 00:24:23.23\00:24:28.88 nothing escapes your view... 00:24:28.92\00:24:32.23 precious you're awesome 00:24:32.26\00:24:35.26 my foundation is so sound 00:24:35.30\00:24:37.75 gifted you keep me 00:24:37.78\00:24:40.16 I'm sleeping through the night now 00:24:40.20\00:24:42.74 no longer gauging my will from my account now 00:24:42.78\00:24:48.04 nothing escapes your view... 00:24:48.07\00:24:54.86 Wow! what a blessing... 00:24:54.90\00:25:00.37 and did you write that song as well? 00:25:00.41\00:25:02.54 Yes, actually, I'd like to say that the Lord writes the thing 00:25:02.57\00:25:07.14 because sometimes He sends them to you without your asking... 00:25:07.18\00:25:11.57 Yes, yes, yes, well, thank you so much for sharing the music 00:25:11.61\00:25:15.97 now how can others get involved 00:25:16.00\00:25:18.06 in a Katy Records Project 00:25:18.09\00:25:22.19 how can they get involved with that? 00:25:22.22\00:25:24.01 Katy Records is always looking for any kind of media... 00:25:24.04\00:25:27.95 we have several pastors who've given us sermons 00:25:27.98\00:25:30.73 that we are able to... through our little portal 00:25:30.76\00:25:33.47 we are able to distribute to lots of people 00:25:33.50\00:25:35.74 we have about 20,000 visitors a month 00:25:35.78\00:25:37.69 at katyrecords. org 00:25:37.73\00:25:39.23 and if you have something 00:25:39.26\00:25:41.57 that you want to get out there... to the world... 00:25:41.60\00:25:43.78 whether it's a book... whether you're a musician 00:25:43.82\00:25:45.97 or a singer... whether you have presentations 00:25:46.00\00:25:48.90 that... or you have a project that you want to share 00:25:48.94\00:25:51.76 with the rest of the world... all you have to do is 00:25:51.80\00:25:54.73 let me know... e- mail me at live@katyrecords. org 00:25:54.77\00:25:58.65 that's katyrecords. org and we'll get it together... 00:25:58.69\00:26:02.54 That's awesome... thank you so much 00:26:02.58\00:26:04.83 so, what would you say... in 30 seconds... 00:26:04.87\00:26:08.65 what would you say to our Viewers 00:26:08.68\00:26:10.77 to our Viewers who, themselves, are dealing with loneliness 00:26:10.81\00:26:15.40 and isolation... what would you recommend 00:26:15.44\00:26:18.10 to them? Get involved in ministry... 00:26:18.13\00:26:21.83 Hmmm... like this... my good friend 00:26:21.87\00:26:24.05 Derrick Williams... he just preached a sermon about 00:26:24.08\00:26:26.15 how we are born for eternity... 00:26:26.19\00:26:28.47 we don't come into this world to just deal with "Now" 00:26:28.50\00:26:32.32 "Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven 00:26:32.35\00:26:34.74 where moth and rust can't destroy... " 00:26:34.77\00:26:36.94 nobody can come and steal it from you... 00:26:36.98\00:26:39.59 that is your future... that is your "Now" 00:26:39.63\00:26:42.42 and put your energy into God's work... 00:26:42.45\00:26:45.21 into His work... put your energy into Him... 00:26:45.25\00:26:48.13 seek His face because He will not fail you... 00:26:48.16\00:26:50.58 everything that you need you can find in Him... 00:26:50.61\00:26:53.69 and trust Him... take the time and trust Him... 00:26:53.73\00:26:56.77 you know, He said, 00:26:56.80\00:26:58.24 "Taste and see that the Lord is good" 00:26:58.28\00:26:59.76 he doesn't ask you to do anything... 00:26:59.80\00:27:01.09 doesn't ask you to do anything blindly... 00:27:01.13\00:27:03.38 He's given you an opportunity to taste the stuff 00:27:03.41\00:27:05.62 and I suggest that that's what you do... 00:27:05.66\00:27:07.93 because human beings will fail you... 00:27:07.96\00:27:10.16 they're doing the best they can many of them... 00:27:10.20\00:27:12.45 people are not intending to reap havoc 00:27:12.48\00:27:15.11 everywhere they go... Right... 00:27:15.15\00:27:16.69 and for some of us... there are more things going on 00:27:16.72\00:27:20.12 every time you try to do something, 00:27:20.16\00:27:21.96 the devil will throw things in your path 00:27:22.00\00:27:23.67 to slow you down or to stop what you're doing 00:27:23.71\00:27:25.97 to change the way that you're able to affect your environment 00:27:26.01\00:27:29.10 but remember... if you are putting your energy 00:27:29.13\00:27:32.02 into God's plan... then you have the whole heavenly 00:27:32.06\00:27:34.60 host there... working with you 00:27:34.64\00:27:36.53 He will remove the loneliness 00:27:36.56\00:27:38.42 and the pain... if you give Him a chance... 00:27:38.46\00:27:40.75 Yes... thank you so much... 00:27:40.79\00:27:42.44 thank you so much for being with us 00:27:42.48\00:27:44.07 and for sharing your testimony with us... 00:27:44.10\00:27:46.84 and for letting us know about Katy Records... 00:27:46.88\00:27:49.59 and your music... 00:27:49.62\00:27:50.65 Well, thanks for tuning in join us next time... 00:27:50.69\00:27:54.64 you know... it just wouldn't be the same 00:27:54.68\00:27:57.04 without you... 00:27:57.08\00:27:59.86