Stay tuned to meet a man
that found that in Hollywood
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all that glitters is not gold.
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My name is Yvonne
Lewis and you're watching
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Urban Report...
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Hello and welcome
to Urban Report...
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My guest today
is Ron Porterfield
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Gospel Medical
Missionary Evangelist
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with a compelling
journey to share...
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Welcome to Urban Report Ron...
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Thank you Yvonne...
it's good to be here...
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So good to have you...
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So Ron... you have a
really interesting story...
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tell us about where you grew up
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and how you grew up... I
grew up in North of Virginia
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a very simple upbringing
we weren't rich or anything
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mostly just very simple
and grew up with a mother
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that loved God... my
mother and my grandmother
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my brother and
I... we loved God...
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but we didn't have a
real religious upbringing...
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and as time went on I
sort of leaned more towards
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media and entertainment
and wanting to actually
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to be an actor... to go
for a dream in Hollywood
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and so eventually I
went in that direction...
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Now, so you grew up basically
in a single-parent household...
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Yes... and... so were there
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male mentors in your
home or was it mostly your mom
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and your grandmother
that influenced you...
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My mom and my grandmother...
we had our uncle there
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but he was an
alcoholic, he was lovable...
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not violent or
anything like that
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but definitely not a
mentor... Hmmm... hmmm...
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there were neighbors
that had good influences
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but no one right in
the home... so having him
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in your sphere of influence,
did that impact you later on
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as far as alcoholism or
drugs or anything like that?
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Perhaps... I'm sure
it had an influence...
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there again... like I said...
he was a lovable drunk but
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but nevertheless a drunk...
and so I did get into that
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Hmmm... at what point
did you get into that?
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It was around 16...
right around there...
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with my
friends... began to drink...
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and get into marijuana
and those types of things...
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Hmmm... you know
what I'm finding is that
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those teen years
are so pivotal...
00:02:29.21\00:02:31.91
actually... actually the
growing years are so pivotal...
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and many times in
our communities...
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we're missing that
strong male role model...
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Yes... and so,
our boys get caught up
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into the peer pressure...
gangs and all of that stuff
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and they're looking for
some kind of sense of belonging,
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some kind of sense of identity,
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and they just get swallowed up
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into that whole
thing... and it's just such a
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trap of the enemy...
yes... it is a trap of the enemy
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and I didn't really
have the peer pressure part
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but there again... some
of my friends were doing it
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they weren't pressuring me
but... because I was sort of shy
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just up to release my ambitions
and I could come out and
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be freer once I
was drinking something
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or smoking
something... I felt freer to be
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who I thought I wanted to be...
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Hmmm... hmmm...
it's so interesting that
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the media plays such
an important part in us
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making the choices
that we make. Yes...
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The other day I was
watching a program and it was
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these sisters and these
sisters were having fun together
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and these are
sisters that are in the
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Entertainment Industry
I won't say their names...
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but they're in the
Entertainment Industry
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and they actually
were smoking marijuana...
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and they were in Jamaica
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and they were smoking marijuana,
and making it seem like
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it's okay... and I thought,
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"Man, these
women... have such influence
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and they're taking that...
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and really making it look
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making something that is
really ultimately dangerous,
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making it look like
it's fun and it's okay... "
00:04:09.92\00:04:13.08
and so, once again...
it's that pull of the media
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into a lifestyle
that is not okay...
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All that glitters... in
Hollywood... is not gold...
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It's definitely not
gold, Yvonne, and you know
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it's about that
influence, so where as I thought
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I was doing something...
making my own choices...
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and I was making my own
choice to go for those things
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but not really
realizing as you are talking
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about the media... how
much I was being influenced
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I thought I was being myself
but that I was really just
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being a puppet... So
how did you get into acting?
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What was your journey with that?
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Well, I was in college
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and I saw a friend
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actually, they
weren't friends at the time
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I saw two people
walking across campus
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and they were
being very dramatic
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acting out some part...
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laughing...
having a good time and
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there again... I saw that and
00:05:01.79\00:05:03.76
I just became enamored with that
00:05:03.79\00:05:05.41
and I wanted to
be able to do that
00:05:05.44\00:05:06.99
so, eventually I went to a
00:05:07.03\00:05:09.62
campus across town
00:05:09.66\00:05:10.82
I auditioned for a part...
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and I got the part...
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I didn't want to do it
where I was going to School
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because I
thought... well, you know,
00:05:15.39\00:05:16.44
I may make a fool of myself...
00:05:16.47\00:05:17.65
so I thought...
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You didn't want your friends
to know or see it... right...
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so it was okay if
I went across town
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because no one would
know me... you know... so...
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anyway I got the
part and got a good review
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and then I came back to
where I was going to school
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and then got more
parts... and got good reviews
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so I felt more comfortable...
so, there again...
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I think it was growing
up with a lot of television
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and something
about being influenced
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by people portraying
different sides of life
00:05:43.04\00:05:45.96
I've always, I guess, been
interested in human behavior
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Hmmm... hmmm... and
so, I thought it was
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very attractive
to me to be able to
00:05:51.52\00:05:53.26
portray different levels
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of humanity...
different aspects of humanity
00:05:56.44\00:05:58.23
so I think...
that's where the acting
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really, for me,
became so attractive...
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Hmmm... hmmm... the
ability to show different
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sides of life
and society... Yes...
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Yeah and so... you found
that you had a gift for it...
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Yes... and so you got...
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you started
getting pulled into it...
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Yes... you got
this role and that role
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how far did you go with
it? All the way to Hollywood
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Did you... okay... how
did you get to Hollywood?
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You know, Yvonne,
it's interesting that
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even before I went to
Hollywood, I had friends
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that would call me "Hollywood"
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That was your new nickname...
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That was my nickname
because of the way I dressed
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to go to
Hollywood... so, it was amazing
00:06:35.51\00:06:37.35
how that happened but
a friend and myself...
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we decided... "Well, you
know what... why don't we... "
00:06:39.17\00:06:41.23
he was into musical theatre...
00:06:41.27\00:06:42.58
so we decided...
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"Why don't we
just go for a career...
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let's just go for it...
" so we loaded up his car
00:06:45.83\00:06:47.87
went across the
Country to Hollywood
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and as soon as I got there
00:06:49.31\00:06:50.99
I began to get
into acting classes
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and dance classes
and I began to audition
00:06:53.81\00:06:57.52
read the trade
papers... everything I could do
00:06:57.56\00:06:59.44
to get busy and
to be a working actor
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and eventually I
got my Union Card and
00:07:02.01\00:07:05.18
started doing some
TV shows and commercials
00:07:05.22\00:07:08.04
and lots of
theatre... traveling theatre...
00:07:08.07\00:07:10.35
so it got... very busy...
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Where were you
spiritually at this point?
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Well, that's an
interesting question because
00:07:14.54\00:07:17.08
when I first got there...
after being there for a few
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weeks... finding a job and
all those necessary things...
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I was there and I said,
00:07:20.83\00:07:23.02
"You know...
something is missing. "
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Hmmm... hmmm... and I
realized what it was...
00:07:24.21\00:07:27.08
"Oh, I need to go to Church"
because I prayed every morning
00:07:27.11\00:07:30.19
I believed in God...
my mother raised us up...
00:07:30.23\00:07:31.84
we prayed... we
believed in God...
00:07:31.87\00:07:34.34
so, I said,
"Yes, I need a Church"
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and so I went and
I found a Church...
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I grew up going
to Catholic Church
00:07:38.38\00:07:40.10
so I found a
Church... got on the bus...
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went to Church...
and that first Service...
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that I went to... I
had a sense of fulfillment
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Hmmm... the second
time I went there...
00:07:46.88\00:07:50.65
it's like... "No,
something's missing"
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Hmmm... and I
realized, at that time,
00:07:53.75\00:07:56.71
that was the Church that
I was used to... growing up
00:07:56.75\00:07:59.97
that I was used to
going to with my mother...
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she would take us to
Church, and that now...
00:08:02.67\00:08:05.25
something had
changed and this...
00:08:05.29\00:08:06.85
no longer worked for
me... before it felt fulfilling
00:08:06.89\00:08:10.64
because it was
familiar... Right...
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but it no longer
worked... so eventually...
00:08:11.92\00:08:15.15
I went into New
Age... Eastern Mysticism...
00:08:15.18\00:08:18.38
Let's talk a
little bit about that...
00:08:18.42\00:08:19.60
because I have some
background in that myself...
00:08:19.63\00:08:22.43
All right... What did
you do with the New Age
00:08:22.47\00:08:25.19
Eastern Mysticism and stuff...
where did you go with that?
00:08:25.23\00:08:27.75
Oh... lot of books...
did a lot of reading at home
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on my own... I
actually went to a Church
00:08:32.22\00:08:34.79
that practiced these types of
00:08:34.83\00:08:38.13
Eastern Mysticism practices
00:08:38.16\00:08:41.39
Such as...?
Transcendental Meditation...
00:08:41.42\00:08:45.66
the gonging and just
even some of the beliefs
00:08:45.69\00:08:49.50
about what
happens when we die...
00:08:49.54\00:08:51.61
and some of the chants...
some of the different things
00:08:51.64\00:08:54.67
some of the repetitive sayings,
and all these types of things
00:08:54.70\00:08:57.87
even a lot of the
beliefs about Heaven and Hell
00:08:57.90\00:09:02.56
there's no evil power...
evil only comes from the person
00:09:02.59\00:09:09.00
that it's working
in and out through...
00:09:09.03\00:09:10.58
I even went to these
weekends where I was being
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a part of
exercises where they were
00:09:15.59\00:09:18.47
exercising their power...
even surrendering my will to be
00:09:18.51\00:09:21.64
to be moved by
these types of entities...
00:09:21.67\00:09:26.53
I guess, I could
say... So, you began to...
00:09:26.56\00:09:31.35
you were trying to...
tell me if I'm right or not...
00:09:31.38\00:09:35.43
you were trying to
fill an empty space
00:09:35.46\00:09:38.97
Yes... and you started
00:09:39.00\00:09:42.46
Eastern Mysticism
which... in and of itself...
00:09:42.50\00:09:45.98
can be very interesting...
and very dangerous...
00:09:46.01\00:09:49.46
Yes... yes...
because it pulls you in
00:09:49.50\00:09:51.28
because you want
to know more... Yes...
00:09:51.32\00:09:53.03
right and you... and so...
it just kind of pulls you in
00:09:53.07\00:09:56.16
and then you...
before you know it...
00:09:56.20\00:09:58.73
you're a part of
that whole scene...
00:09:58.77\00:10:01.23
That's what happened to
me... I mean the first time
00:10:01.27\00:10:03.38
I went to this particular church
I walked in as... "I'm home"
00:10:03.41\00:10:06.75
Wow... "I'm home... "
00:10:06.79\00:10:08.57
Wow... But
three-and-a-half years later
00:10:08.60\00:10:10.86
as I went to this one service
and I saw what was conducted
00:10:10.89\00:10:14.11
and I had... somehow a
shift had taken in my mind
00:10:14.14\00:10:16.78
that sounds almost
mystic right there...
00:10:16.81\00:10:19.37
and...
00:10:19.40\00:10:21.29
it was almost as if
I was watching a parody
00:10:21.32\00:10:23.92
of the whole event...
but it wasn't a parody...
00:10:23.96\00:10:26.49
it was real... and so I said...
00:10:26.53\00:10:28.66
"No, I can't go here anymore"
and I stepped away from it...
00:10:28.69\00:10:31.81
Did you feel any sense
of evil when you were there?
00:10:31.85\00:10:35.01
Did you get any
sense of "this isn't right"
00:10:35.04\00:10:38.68
Not for the three-and-a-half
years I was going...
00:10:38.72\00:10:42.29
it was on that
particular day that I felt that
00:10:42.32\00:10:46.00
"No, this is not right...
" then, it wasn't a real
00:10:46.03\00:10:49.52
overwhelming sense of
evil... just something was
00:10:49.55\00:10:52.61
strange...
something was peculiar
00:10:52.64\00:10:53.98
Hmmm... hmmm...
00:10:54.01\00:10:55.48
so, I had to remove
myself from there...
00:10:55.52\00:10:57.47
One of the things
that's happening...
00:10:57.50\00:10:59.53
Brother Ron,
that I see, is that...
00:10:59.56\00:11:01.52
Satan has all of these
different traps for us... right?
00:11:01.56\00:11:06.13
so, one of them
is... when you are a person
00:11:06.16\00:11:11.92
that's inquisitive...
and you want to know more...
00:11:11.95\00:11:15.84
you can get caught up
into these new-age things
00:11:15.88\00:11:19.17
that actually have
to do with, you know,
00:11:19.20\00:11:22.01
human potential and meditation
00:11:22.05\00:11:25.22
and this meditation thing
is slipping into the Churches
00:11:25.26\00:11:28.12
in the form of
spiritual formation
00:11:28.15\00:11:30.89
contemplative prayer
and that kind of thing
00:11:30.92\00:11:33.95
and we have to be so
careful because the enemy
00:11:33.98\00:11:36.98
is very shrewd...
and he is going to do
00:11:37.01\00:11:39.37
what he can to
fill that space...
00:11:39.41\00:11:42.19
there's an empty
space in all of us
00:11:42.22\00:11:44.93
for God to fill... and
if we don't fill it with Him
00:11:44.97\00:11:49.15
something else is
going to fill that space
00:11:49.19\00:11:51.87
and that meditation
is a dangerous thing...
00:11:51.91\00:11:54.56
because Biblical
meditation says...
00:11:54.59\00:11:58.88
"Meditate on the
Word... " TM says...
00:11:58.91\00:12:03.16
"Empty your mind... " Right?
00:12:03.19\00:12:05.67
Oh, yes... so,
when you participated
00:12:05.70\00:12:08.68
in this... did you ever
get any kind of visitation
00:12:08.71\00:12:13.00
or anything like
that? I did get visitation
00:12:13.04\00:12:16.80
when I went that one
event that I was mentioning
00:12:16.83\00:12:20.14
where I surrendered my
will at the beckoning of the
00:12:20.17\00:12:23.44
teacher that was
there... I found myself...
00:12:23.47\00:12:25.02
being taken over
physically by this...
00:12:25.06\00:12:29.97
whatever it was... this "force"
00:12:30.00\00:12:32.45
and I found myself
moving... or being moved...
00:12:32.48\00:12:36.80
and it was not me
willing to do this...
00:12:36.83\00:12:38.78
so, that was very strange...
00:12:38.82\00:12:41.40
Yes... and that's
what made you decide...
00:12:41.44\00:12:44.62
"Whoa... this is not for
me... " Was it that event?
00:12:44.65\00:12:47.72
No, that was...
unfortunate... that was later...
00:12:47.75\00:12:50.79
years later that I
decided I needed to be
00:12:50.82\00:12:55.48
completely away from
all this type of teaching
00:12:55.52\00:12:58.32
this type of
"Movement" Yes... yes...
00:12:58.36\00:13:03.60
that whole philosophy... Yes...
00:13:03.63\00:13:05.66
that whole Eastern
philosophy that seems so benign
00:13:05.69\00:13:09.68
is not... the whole
idea of Yin and Yang
00:13:09.72\00:13:12.25
Hmmm... hmmm... yes...
00:13:12.28\00:13:13.58
it's not benign...
00:13:13.62\00:13:14.85
It seemed so good
in the beginning...
00:13:14.88\00:13:16.43
and it seems logical... Yes...
00:13:16.47\00:13:18.48
there should be a
balance in everything...
00:13:18.52\00:13:20.73
Right... balance
between hot and cold,
00:13:20.77\00:13:23.07
day and night...
but never a balance
00:13:23.11\00:13:25.52
between good and
evil... I know...
00:13:25.56\00:13:27.94
Right... the Bible says
"Eschew evil... " you know...
00:13:27.97\00:13:30.94
"just do the
good... " but with that...
00:13:30.98\00:13:33.51
with Eastern Philosophy it's...
00:13:33.54\00:13:35.34
it's "yin and yang
balance good and evil... "
00:13:35.38\00:13:39.97
and we've never
been called to do that...
00:13:40.01\00:13:42.26
No... no... So,
you got out of that...
00:13:42.30\00:13:44.52
praise God...
00:13:44.55\00:13:45.93
the Lord took you
out of that really...
00:13:45.97\00:13:48.13
Praise the Lord... yes...
and so, what happened after that
00:13:48.16\00:13:50.25
Well... I'm still in the acting,
and that's not going so well...
00:13:50.28\00:13:54.83
because I'm
pounding the pavement and
00:13:54.87\00:13:57.77
in Hollywood...
you've been in Show Business
00:13:57.81\00:14:01.07
well you can have a
tendency to be type-cast...
00:14:01.10\00:14:04.32
Hmmm... type-cast for this role,
00:14:04.36\00:14:06.92
this role and this role...
you know I had to wear a bandana
00:14:06.95\00:14:09.34
like I wanted to
kill a bunch of people
00:14:09.37\00:14:11.03
you know... So,
they were putting you
00:14:11.06\00:14:12.64
in the stereotypical role
00:14:12.68\00:14:13.78
for Black males...
00:14:13.82\00:14:15.10
Yeah... yeah... So
that's really what...
00:14:15.14\00:14:17.39
yeah... gangster and
a thug and all that...
00:14:17.43\00:14:19.14
that type of thing...
yeah... so that got really old
00:14:19.17\00:14:21.06
and then what really moved away
00:14:21.09\00:14:24.29
you know... many times...
a broken heart or some pain
00:14:24.33\00:14:27.61
sometimes pain
gets your attention...
00:14:27.64\00:14:29.48
Yes... Pain...
00:14:29.52\00:14:30.73
Yes... and so... those pains...
00:14:30.77\00:14:32.49
heart pains is
what it was... Hmmm...
00:14:32.53\00:14:34.30
I was in a relationship
and I thought this was the one
00:14:34.33\00:14:38.13
I felt like... as
a matter-of-fact...
00:14:38.17\00:14:41.43
we went to... she
asked me to go to church
00:14:41.47\00:14:43.25
with her... it was
a very popular church
00:14:43.28\00:14:44.99
actors go to... we
went and I don't know what
00:14:45.03\00:14:47.45
that was about... she
wasn't really interested
00:14:47.49\00:14:49.84
but she asked me to go...
something about that moved me
00:14:49.88\00:14:52.58
I began, then, to
be moved closer...
00:14:52.61\00:14:54.83
to have a desire
more for the Lord...
00:14:54.86\00:14:57.01
I don't know where it
was so much for her...
00:14:57.04\00:14:59.01
she was going the other
way... eventually, months later,
00:14:59.04\00:15:02.09
the relationship
disintegrated so that was...
00:15:02.12\00:15:04.59
that turned into pain for me...
00:15:04.62\00:15:06.37
pain in the heart... so
I began to go on a search
00:15:06.40\00:15:09.36
sometimes the Lord causes...
uses... pain to turn up
00:15:09.39\00:15:12.64
the attention... Yes...
00:15:12.68\00:15:14.11
so that's what He did for me...
00:15:14.14\00:15:16.00
and I began to... search...
00:15:16.04\00:15:17.83
"Oh Lord, what is this all
about what is life all about?"
00:15:17.86\00:15:20.07
so I sit down...
morning after morning
00:15:20.10\00:15:22.12
after morning...
reading all those
00:15:22.15\00:15:24.10
spiritualistic books
that I had gone through
00:15:24.14\00:15:26.37
years before...
cover to cover...
00:15:26.40\00:15:28.48
over again...
sometimes some new ones...
00:15:28.51\00:15:31.37
for several months... and
I ended up calling a friend
00:15:31.40\00:15:34.24
who was in the
Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:15:34.27\00:15:36.37
and asked him so many questions
we used to be actors together
00:15:36.40\00:15:39.75
I asked him so many questions,
00:15:39.79\00:15:41.52
and the next
morning I called him back...
00:15:41.55\00:15:43.76
and said, "You know what...
I want to go to Church...
00:15:43.80\00:15:45.41
I want to be
baptized... " and that was the
00:15:45.44\00:15:48.08
start of a new
beginning... Praise the Lord...
00:15:48.11\00:15:50.28
so look at how good God
is... He used a relationship
00:15:50.32\00:15:53.40
that wasn't going to last,
00:15:53.43\00:15:54.54
but used that to draw
you towards Christianity...
00:15:54.58\00:15:57.87
Yes... away from
Eastern mysticism...
00:15:57.91\00:16:00.33
and then you started
investigating Christianity
00:16:00.37\00:16:03.00
more and thought...
"this is what I've been
00:16:03.03\00:16:05.63
looking for... " Yes...
00:16:05.67\00:16:06.96
"This is what I've been
looking for... " and then
00:16:06.99\00:16:08.58
the Lord sent a
Seventh-day Adventist
00:16:08.61\00:16:10.58
into your path...
and then you just started
00:16:10.62\00:16:13.86
going to Church
with him... Yes...
00:16:13.89\00:16:15.53
That's tremendous...
that is so tremendous...
00:16:15.56\00:16:18.04
so, what has your
journey been since...
00:16:18.08\00:16:20.43
since then... how
did you stop the acting?
00:16:20.46\00:16:22.74
Well, it was that stereotyping
that... pushing toward that
00:16:22.78\00:16:30.07
that type-casting...
that really began to
00:16:30.10\00:16:33.67
change my taste
about the whole Industry...
00:16:33.71\00:16:36.97
I really began to
get put off with that...
00:16:37.00\00:16:40.23
and not only that... to see how
00:16:40.26\00:16:42.15
that... what an
influence what a bad influence
00:16:42.18\00:16:46.18
it had painted upon my life
00:16:46.22\00:16:47.50
it was a famous Hollywood
producer... said that...
00:16:47.54\00:16:50.53
more than any other
influence in his whole life
00:16:50.56\00:16:53.52
more than school...
more than his family
00:16:53.55\00:16:55.88
anything... that
his preconceptions
00:16:55.92\00:16:58.18
about life had
been... irreversibly shaped by
00:16:58.21\00:17:00.74
a place called Hollywood...
00:17:00.78\00:17:01.86
I realized... that
had done that... to me...
00:17:01.90\00:17:05.09
so I began to be
put off with that...
00:17:05.13\00:17:07.34
and I decided to eventually
get into Medical Missionary Work
00:17:07.37\00:17:12.19
Now, how did you...
were you interested in health
00:17:12.22\00:17:15.40
prior to the
Medical Missionary work...
00:17:15.43\00:17:19.32
I mean... how did you get...
00:17:19.36\00:17:21.14
navigate through all of that?
00:17:21.18\00:17:22.90
Well I had already been...
always been interested in health
00:17:22.93\00:17:25.73
it's amazing that a
lot of people in the
00:17:25.77\00:17:28.05
Eastern Mysticism are
very health conscious...
00:17:28.08\00:17:31.03
Yeah... yes...
but even before that
00:17:31.07\00:17:32.62
I was interested and so...
00:17:32.65\00:17:34.09
when my friend
started taking me to church
00:17:34.12\00:17:36.57
he was in the Health Ministry
and I used to assist him
00:17:36.61\00:17:39.19
and so that was
my entry in that way
00:17:39.22\00:17:41.13
and the he eventually left
and went to the other church
00:17:41.16\00:17:43.53
and they asked me to take
over, so I was into that...
00:17:43.56\00:17:45.89
and then a friend
eventually asked me...
00:17:45.92\00:17:47.45
she said, "Have
you ever thought about
00:17:47.48\00:17:48.97
Medical Missionary Work...?"
00:17:49.00\00:17:50.04
I said, "No, I don't really
know anything about it... "
00:17:50.08\00:17:52.11
so I send off...
got some information
00:17:52.15\00:17:54.84
a good friend of
ours... she asked me...
00:17:54.88\00:17:57.51
"Have you ever thought
about going to Uchee Pines?"
00:17:57.54\00:18:00.40
Ah... and so,
she made some calls
00:18:00.44\00:18:03.41
got some information,
I sent in my application
00:18:03.44\00:18:06.01
and eventually ended up
going there, studying there,
00:18:06.04\00:18:09.06
and I've been there
working... ever since...
00:18:09.09\00:18:12.17
In what capacity?
Well, I was working as a
00:18:12.21\00:18:14.73
Lifestyle Counselor in
the Lifestyle Center...
00:18:14.76\00:18:17.25
and right now I'm working
as the Education Director
00:18:17.28\00:18:20.74
in the Education Department
00:18:20.77\00:18:21.87
having the blessing of training
other Medical Missionaries...
00:18:21.90\00:18:25.07
Amen... so look at
how God brought you
00:18:25.11\00:18:29.40
all along this
journey... on this Program
00:18:29.43\00:18:33.16
on Urban Report...
I always say that...
00:18:33.20\00:18:36.41
we might not know
where God is taking us
00:18:36.45\00:18:39.59
but God has a plan for
us, and if we'll just yield
00:18:39.63\00:18:43.26
to that plan... it's
exceedingly and abundantly
00:18:43.30\00:18:46.90
more than we can
ever ask or think...
00:18:46.94\00:18:49.06
Where are you now,
in your heart of hearts
00:18:49.10\00:18:53.28
versus where you were then...
00:18:53.32\00:18:55.29
how is this more
fulfilling for you than
00:18:55.32\00:18:57.92
your previous life?
00:18:57.96\00:18:59.61
There was a 180
degree difference...
00:18:59.65\00:19:02.10
before... I did not realize
00:19:02.13\00:19:03.78
while I was trying to be
00:19:03.81\00:19:05.42
independent... I thought
I was making my own choices
00:19:05.46\00:19:07.67
and I was making some choices
00:19:07.71\00:19:08.83
but I realized then that...
00:19:08.87\00:19:10.65
as we look at it...
there are only two "powers"
00:19:10.68\00:19:12.57
I was being controlled by
the power... by the enemy...
00:19:12.61\00:19:15.21
influenced by
this great Industry
00:19:15.25\00:19:17.27
and now... the Lord in
His love and His grace has
00:19:17.31\00:19:22.07
called me to His
marvelous light...
00:19:22.11\00:19:23.96
and so I have a
desire now not to put myself
00:19:24.00\00:19:27.20
up front as
"The Product" because
00:19:27.23\00:19:29.76
when you're into this
Industry, you are "The Product"
00:19:29.80\00:19:32.04
there's a lot
about self, self, self...
00:19:32.07\00:19:34.31
and so now, I want
to be used by the Lord
00:19:34.34\00:19:36.50
to benefit others...
to help others to bring,
00:19:36.54\00:19:39.95
as I read, "This gospel of
release from suffering... "
00:19:39.98\00:19:43.52
Hmmm... oh that's
wonderful... Yes...
00:19:43.55\00:19:46.65
So you want to take
what God has given you
00:19:46.69\00:19:50.45
and implant it into
others... so to speak...
00:19:50.48\00:19:54.17
and just share it... so that
they can go out and share it
00:19:54.21\00:19:57.42
Yes... So what would you say
00:19:57.45\00:19:59.55
to that young person right now
00:19:59.59\00:20:01.62
that is grappling with
going into "Show Business"
00:20:01.66\00:20:06.31
they want to get
into that business
00:20:06.35\00:20:08.62
they want to see
if they can be "Stars"
00:20:08.66\00:20:10.85
if you would look
into that camera...
00:20:10.89\00:20:14.41
and tell some
young person... what...
00:20:14.44\00:20:17.89
speak to some young
person that's grappling with
00:20:17.92\00:20:20.61
going to Hollywood
and wanting to be a "Star"
00:20:20.65\00:20:23.27
You know, Jesus is not looking
for us to be actors and models
00:20:23.30\00:20:27.26
what He is looking for is
someone to model His behavior
00:20:27.30\00:20:31.56
because... for all of them...
God has sent Jesus to redeem us
00:20:31.59\00:20:35.82
and while many
00:20:35.86\00:20:37.21
may want to go to a
place like Hollywood
00:20:37.24\00:20:39.05
because they think it's
all glamour and all glitz...
00:20:39.09\00:20:41.49
there's a harsh
reality... and that is...
00:20:41.56\00:20:43.89
that the enemy of our
souls is the one, many times,
00:20:43.92\00:20:47.56
most times... who is
influencing all of us
00:20:47.60\00:20:50.31
to go to these places...
00:20:50.35\00:20:51.47
I would say,
"Change your mind... "
00:20:51.50\00:20:56.34
I would say, "Lean
more towards your Bible...
00:20:56.38\00:20:59.87
ask those who are near to you
00:20:59.91\00:21:03.23
if they can
00:21:03.27\00:21:04.97
help you and that you would
not make such a choice as this"
00:21:05.00\00:21:09.15
Thank you...
it's good... it's good
00:21:09.19\00:21:13.99
because our kids need
to know that it's all about
00:21:14.03\00:21:18.18
choices... Yes...
00:21:18.21\00:21:19.53
so, whatever choice you
make, there's a consequence
00:21:19.56\00:21:23.04
to that choice... Yes... yes...
00:21:23.08\00:21:24.78
and I found consequences...
00:21:24.81\00:21:26.44
I found myself involved in
drugs... these types of things,
00:21:26.48\00:21:30.97
alcohol... and I was
involved with some of that
00:21:31.00\00:21:34.27
before I even went
but we're not... really as
00:21:34.31\00:21:37.55
much as in charge...
I was not in charge...
00:21:37.59\00:21:39.86
like I thought I
was... And you know what...
00:21:39.90\00:21:42.14
that's a good
point too Brother Ron
00:21:42.18\00:21:44.16
because I think
that many times we think,
00:21:44.20\00:21:47.42
that "Hey, it's my life...
I can do what I want to do
00:21:47.45\00:21:50.62
I'm making my own decisions,
I am doing what I want to do"
00:21:50.66\00:21:54.78
and yet... we
are controlled by...
00:21:54.81\00:21:58.64
well, God allows
us to make a choice...
00:21:58.68\00:22:01.25
but if we don't
choose God, we are controlled
00:22:01.29\00:22:05.21
by another
entity... That's right...
00:22:05.24\00:22:07.32
and I think that's where
a lot of our young people
00:22:07.36\00:22:09.26
don't understand...
00:22:09.30\00:22:10.37
it's not them...
that's being in control...
00:22:10.40\00:22:14.02
they are being
controlled... Yes...
00:22:14.06\00:22:16.13
and I think a lot of
times, we don't realize that...
00:22:16.16\00:22:18.59
you know... tell
us, if you would, again
00:22:18.63\00:22:21.92
how you think the
media shapes values
00:22:21.95\00:22:25.17
because I think...
that's important too...
00:22:25.21\00:22:27.23
to know that what you watch...
00:22:27.27\00:22:30.80
is critical... it
makes a difference...
00:22:30.83\00:22:33.28
would you share
something about that for us...
00:22:33.31\00:22:35.73
Yes... sure... We
don't realize that we
00:22:35.76\00:22:38.01
end up actually
imitating what we see...
00:22:38.04\00:22:40.30
Hmmm... hmmm...
so, one would say that
00:22:40.34\00:22:42.52
"Art would imitate
Life" but then they say,
00:22:42.56\00:22:45.46
then that life would
imitate art and finally
00:22:45.49\00:22:48.32
that life would draw the
very meaning of its existence
00:22:48.36\00:22:51.39
from art... so,
what's happening is
00:22:51.42\00:22:54.81
that many are
looking to this media
00:22:54.85\00:22:57.75
for a reason for their existence
00:22:57.78\00:23:00.65
if we can see...
what's out there...
00:23:00.68\00:23:02.50
if we're looking to
that for our existence...
00:23:02.54\00:23:04.40
it's a very shallow existence,
a very dangerous existence
00:23:04.43\00:23:08.39
and with morals that
are being put forth...
00:23:08.42\00:23:11.60
that are against God,
that are very hurtful,
00:23:11.63\00:23:14.67
that will leave us very empty
00:23:14.71\00:23:16.41
at the end of it
all... that is so true...
00:23:16.45\00:23:19.47
we are being
desensitized... And deceived...
00:23:19.51\00:23:22.52
and deceived...
desensitized and deceived
00:23:22.55\00:23:25.48
we're
desensitized to immorality,
00:23:25.52\00:23:29.21
because now we're used
to seeing certain things
00:23:29.25\00:23:32.29
on the screen... and
it's not as offensive
00:23:32.32\00:23:35.06
maybe as it once was...
and the more you watch it
00:23:35.10\00:23:38.94
the more accustomed
and familiar you get to it
00:23:38.98\00:23:42.79
and the less repugnant it is...
00:23:42.82\00:23:44.20
and that's all
part of Satan's plan...
00:23:44.23\00:23:46.64
isn't it? It
is... and a word about
00:23:46.67\00:23:49.01
being desensitized...
we come into the Church
00:23:49.05\00:23:52.18
you know, things in
Church then begins to be
00:23:52.21\00:23:54.10
a little bit more boring
00:23:54.13\00:23:55.19
Hmmm... then we
fall asleep when we hear
00:23:55.23\00:23:58.29
words of truth... those
don't hold weight anymore,
00:23:58.32\00:24:01.48
but those are the
things that are going
00:24:01.52\00:24:03.80
to give us a foundational life
00:24:03.84\00:24:05.79
that is going to take us through
00:24:05.83\00:24:07.75
when we're in pain...
we need something greater
00:24:07.78\00:24:10.52
than what we
saw on the screen...
00:24:10.55\00:24:12.62
Yes, that is so true...
we need something greater
00:24:12.65\00:24:17.05
than what's on that screen
because what's on the screen
00:24:17.08\00:24:19.64
is not real... No...
when I was going through
00:24:19.67\00:24:22.02
that heartbreak... I
may sit down and look at a
00:24:22.05\00:24:24.33
movie to try to escape...
but when that movie is over
00:24:24.36\00:24:28.21
then I'm right back
there... I needed Jesus
00:24:28.24\00:24:31.39
That's right... He is the key...
He is the balm... is he not...
00:24:31.43\00:24:35.76
Yes, that's right...
00:24:35.80\00:24:36.89
So, what are you doing now,
tell us about your ministry now.
00:24:36.93\00:24:40.42
Yes, I'm working at Uchee Pines
also I have my own ministry LC3
00:24:40.45\00:24:43.60
Lifestyle Counseling
for Mind, Body and Spirit...
00:24:43.64\00:24:45.99
and as a result...
I've been able to travel
00:24:46.02\00:24:48.92
to many places in the world...
00:24:48.95\00:24:50.04
and to do Medical
Missionary Training
00:24:50.07\00:24:52.22
do Seminars and to be able
to work one-on-one with people
00:24:52.25\00:24:56.68
sometimes I've
been in their homes
00:24:56.71\00:24:58.68
and to be able to
help them and it's been
00:24:58.71\00:25:01.08
a wonderful
blessing to see how the Lord
00:25:01.12\00:25:03.16
can heal people and to
bring them up higher...
00:25:03.19\00:25:06.89
so if someone has a
degenerative disease,
00:25:06.93\00:25:11.37
they could call you
and you would come there
00:25:11.40\00:25:15.09
as part of the ministry...
you come there and assist them
00:25:15.12\00:25:17.96
how does that work?
Well, I do more... teaching now
00:25:18.00\00:25:20.99
and Seminars...
those types of things...
00:25:21.02\00:25:23.57
so you lecture to
groups... you go to groups
00:25:23.61\00:25:26.09
and work with groups... do
you do individual consulting
00:25:26.13\00:25:28.47
when you're there
at churches... or...
00:25:28.51\00:25:30.38
Yes... I do some
of that... Okay...
00:25:30.42\00:25:32.16
Yes, I do some of
that... even perhaps some
00:25:32.19\00:25:35.38
on the phone as
well... that can be...
00:25:35.42\00:25:37.10
save a lot of time
00:25:37.13\00:25:38.78
and I can reach
many people that way...
00:25:38.81\00:25:40.95
so people can e-mail
you if they want to...
00:25:40.98\00:25:43.05
we have your e-mail address
we can put it up on the screen,
00:25:43.08\00:25:46.13
Hmmm... hmmm...
they can e-mail you
00:25:46.17\00:25:47.90
if they want to invite
you to their churches...
00:25:47.94\00:25:51.04
Yes... to come and
minister... to them
00:25:51.08\00:25:53.01
Yes... That's
an amazing blessing
00:25:53.04\00:25:55.56
an amazing blessing...
what kind of fulfillment
00:25:55.60\00:25:58.81
does this give you?
Well, you know, considering
00:25:58.85\00:26:02.03
I used to be... all about "self"
00:26:02.06\00:26:03.70
like I said... all about self...
00:26:03.74\00:26:05.34
now to be used by the Lord
00:26:05.38\00:26:07.39
to be a blessing
to someone else...
00:26:07.43\00:26:09.34
is such a great fulfillment...
it gives me a sense of
00:26:09.38\00:26:12.75
a purpose in life... Yes...
00:26:12.79\00:26:15.35
I'm very fulfilled... Yes...
00:26:15.38\00:26:17.82
to see how the
Lord can transform
00:26:17.85\00:26:20.24
lives the way He's
transformed my life...
00:26:20.28\00:26:22.60
so I thank God for that...
00:26:22.64\00:26:24.45
Amen... and to know
that what you're doing...
00:26:24.49\00:26:27.12
when you're walking
in your divine destiny...
00:26:27.15\00:26:29.75
this is what you
were supposed to do...
00:26:29.78\00:26:31.76
this is what God has put
you on the planet to do...
00:26:31.80\00:26:34.21
Amen... and
there's nothing better
00:26:34.25\00:26:35.75
than that... what's
more fulfilling than that
00:26:35.79\00:26:37.70
to know that this
is why you're here...
00:26:37.73\00:26:40.05
It is a wonderful
blessing... Amen... amen...
00:26:40.08\00:26:43.29
Tell us in... about 30
seconds, can you give us a
00:26:43.32\00:26:45.61
story of someone
that you've worked with
00:26:45.64\00:26:47.92
whose life has been changed
as a result of your work...
00:26:47.96\00:26:50.68
Yes... there was a young
man just a few years ago,
00:26:50.72\00:26:54.85
and he was
there with his wife...
00:26:54.88\00:26:56.57
and he was dying from cancer,
and he was a prodigal son
00:26:56.60\00:26:59.83
he strayed away
from the Church...
00:26:59.87\00:27:01.18
one day, he was
lying in his room dying...
00:27:01.21\00:27:03.52
and I said, "No, I'm not going
to let you lie here and die... "
00:27:03.56\00:27:05.69
so I took him
outside him and his wife...
00:27:05.73\00:27:07.53
she helped me get him
out, and as we're outside...
00:27:07.56\00:27:10.11
and he was looking at
the squirrels and the birds
00:27:10.14\00:27:12.65
and I saw a whole
change on his face...
00:27:12.68\00:27:14.66
but that morning... he
says, "Ron, I'm in agony...
00:27:14.70\00:27:17.68
please pray for me...
" and as he asked me that
00:27:17.71\00:27:20.31
I got down to pray...
and he began to pray...
00:27:20.34\00:27:23.55
Now, he wasn't a
Christian? He had left...
00:27:23.58\00:27:26.15
Okay... yes, he
had left the Church...
00:27:26.18\00:27:28.68
this was years
before... but as he asked me to
00:27:28.71\00:27:31.92
pray for him... he
began to pray earnestly
00:27:31.95\00:27:35.09
asking... pleading for
help... well the next week...
00:27:35.12\00:27:38.05
his wife took him
home and he died...
00:27:38.09\00:27:39.43
but I strongly
believe... that he returned
00:27:39.47\00:27:43.10
to the Lord...
and that one day...
00:27:43.14\00:27:45.57
we will see
him... in glory... Yes...
00:27:45.60\00:27:48.00
Yes... That is so beautiful...
00:27:48.03\00:27:50.51
Thank you so much
for being with us...
00:27:50.55\00:27:52.56
I really appreciate you...
00:27:52.60\00:27:54.41
thank you and your
work... God bless you...
00:27:54.44\00:27:56.07
and thank you
for being with us...
00:27:56.11\00:27:57.90
Join us next time...
because it wouldn't be the same
00:27:57.94\00:28:00.47
without you...
00:28:00.50\00:28:03.59