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...
00:02:29.11\00:02:31.81
actually... actually the
growing years are so pivotal...
00:02:31.85\00:02:35.28
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,
00:04:06.98\00:04:09.78
making it look like
it's fun and it's okay... "
00:04:09.81\00:04:12.98
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
00:05:01.66\00:05:03.63
I just became enamored with that
00:05:03.67\00:05:05.30
and I wanted to
be able to do that
00:05:05.33\00:05:06.87
so, eventually I went to a
00:05:06.90\00:05:09.50
campus across town
00:05:09.54\00:05:10.71
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,
00:05:15.28\00:05:16.34
I may make a fool of myself...
00:05:16.38\00:05:17.55
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
00:05:42.94\00:05:45.84
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
00:05:51.41\00:05:53.18
portray different levels
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of humanity...
different aspects of humanity
00:05:56.35\00:05:58.15
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"
00:06:30.32\00:06:32.09
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
00:06:35.42\00:06:37.26
how that happened but
a friend and myself...
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we decided... "Well, you
know what... why don't we... "
00:06:39.09\00:06:41.13
he was into musical theatre...
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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
00:06:45.70\00:06:47.77
went across the
Country to Hollywood
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and as soon as I got there
00:06:49.20\00:06:50.87
I began to get
into acting classes
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and dance classes
and I began to audition
00:06:53.71\00:06:57.41
read the trade
papers... everything I could do
00:06:57.45\00:06:59.35
to get busy and
to be a working actor
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and eventually I
got my Union Card and
00:07:01.92\00:07:05.09
started doing some
TV shows and commercials
00:07:05.12\00:07:07.96
and lots of
theatre... traveling theatre...
00:07:07.99\00:07:10.26
so it got... very busy...
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Where were you
spiritually at this point?
00:07:11.93\00:07:14.40
Well, that's an
interesting question because
00:07:14.46\00:07:16.97
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,
00:07:20.70\00:07:22.90
"You know...
something is missing. "
00:07:22.94\00:07:23.94
Hmmm... hmmm... and I
realized what it was...
00:07:23.97\00:07:26.98
"Oh, I need to go to Church"
because I prayed every morning
00:07:27.01\00:07:30.08
I believed in God...
my mother raised us up...
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we prayed... we
believed in God...
00:07:31.78\00:07:34.25
so, I said,
"Yes, I need a Church"
00:07:34.28\00:07:36.42
and so I went and
I found a Church...
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I grew up going
to Catholic Church
00:07:38.29\00:07:39.99
so I found a
Church... got on the bus...
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went to Church...
and that first Service...
00:07:42.16\00:07:44.46
that I went to... I
had a sense of fulfillment
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Hmmm... the second
time I went there...
00:07:46.80\00:07:50.53
it's like... "No,
something's missing"
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Hmmm... and I
realized, at that time,
00:07:53.64\00:07:56.60
that was the Church that
I was used to... growing up
00:07:56.64\00:07:59.87
that I was used to
going to with my mother...
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she would take us to
Church, and that now...
00:08:02.58\00:08:05.15
something had
changed and this...
00:08:05.18\00:08:06.75
no longer worked for
me... before it felt fulfilling
00:08:06.78\00:08:10.55
because it was
familiar... Right...
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but it no longer
worked... so eventually...
00:08:11.82\00:08:15.06
I went into New
Age... Eastern Mysticism...
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Let's talk a
little bit about that...
00:08:18.33\00:08:19.36
because I have some
background in that myself...
00:08:19.39\00:08:22.33
All right... What did
you do with the New Age
00:08:22.36\00:08:25.07
Eastern Mysticism and stuff...
where did you go with that?
00:08:25.10\00:08:27.64
Oh... lot of books...
did a lot of reading at home
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on my own... I
actually went to a Church
00:08:32.11\00:08:34.68
that practiced these types of
00:08:34.71\00:08:38.01
Eastern Mysticism practices
00:08:38.05\00:08:41.28
Such as...?
Transcendental Meditation...
00:08:41.32\00:08:45.55
the gonging and just
even some of the beliefs
00:08:45.59\00:08:49.42
about what
happens when we die...
00:08:49.46\00:08:51.53
and some of the chants...
some of the different things
00:08:51.56\00:08:54.56
some of the repetitive sayings,
and all these types of things
00:08:54.60\00:08:57.77
even a lot of the
beliefs about Heaven and Hell
00:08:57.80\00:09:02.44
there's no evil power...
evil only comes from the person
00:09:02.47\00:09:08.88
that it's working
in and out through...
00:09:08.91\00:09:10.48
I even went to these
weekends where I was being
00:09:10.51\00:09:15.45
a part of
exercises where they were
00:09:15.48\00:09:18.39
exercising their power...
even surrendering my will to be
00:09:18.42\00:09:21.56
to be moved by
these types of entities...
00:09:21.59\00:09:26.43
I guess, I could
say... So, you began to...
00:09:26.46\00:09:31.23
you were trying to...
tell me if I'm right or not...
00:09:31.27\00:09:35.30
you were trying to
fill an empty space
00:09:35.34\00:09:38.87
Yes... and you started
00:09:38.91\00:09:42.38
Eastern Mysticism
which... in and of itself...
00:09:42.41\00:09:45.88
can be very interesting...
and very dangerous...
00:09:45.91\00:09:49.38
Yes... yes...
because it pulls you in
00:09:49.42\00:09:51.19
because you want
to know more... Yes...
00:09:51.22\00:09:52.95
right and you... and so...
it just kind of pulls you in
00:09:52.99\00:09:56.09
and then you...
before you know it...
00:09:56.12\00:09:58.66
you're a part of
that whole scene...
00:09:58.69\00:10:01.13
That's what happened to
me... I mean the first time
00:10:01.16\00:10:03.26
I went to this particular church
I walked in as... "I'm home"
00:10:03.30\00:10:06.63
Wow... "I'm home... "
00:10:06.67\00:10:08.47
Wow... But
three-and-a-half years later
00:10:08.50\00:10:10.74
as I went to this one service
and I saw what was conducted
00:10:10.77\00:10:14.01
and I had... somehow a
shift had taken in my mind
00:10:14.04\00:10:16.68
that sounds almost
mystic right there...
00:10:16.71\00:10:19.28
and...
00:10:19.31\00:10:21.18
it was almost as if
I was watching a parody
00:10:21.22\00:10:23.82
of the whole event...
but it wasn't a parody...
00:10:23.85\00:10:26.39
it was real... and so I said...
00:10:26.42\00:10:28.56
"No, I can't go here anymore"
and I stepped away from it...
00:10:28.59\00:10:31.73
Did you feel any sense
of evil when you were there?
00:10:31.76\00:10:34.93
Did you get any
sense of "this isn't right"
00:10:34.93\00:10:38.57
Not for the three-and-a-half
years I was going...
00:10:38.60\00:10:42.17
it was on that
particular day that I felt that
00:10:42.20\00:10:45.87
"No, this is not right...
" then, it wasn't a real
00:10:45.91\00:10:49.41
overwhelming sense of
evil... just something was
00:10:49.44\00:10:52.51
strange...
something was peculiar
00:10:52.55\00:10:53.88
Hmmm... hmmm...
00:10:53.92\00:10:55.38
so, I had to remove
myself from there...
00:10:55.42\00:10:57.39
One of the things
that's happening...
00:10:57.42\00:10:59.42
Brother Ron,
that I see, is that...
00:10:59.45\00:11:01.42
Satan has all of these
different traps for us... right?
00:11:01.46\00:11:06.03
so, one of them
is... when you are a person
00:11:06.06\00:11:11.80
that's inquisitive...
and you want to know more...
00:11:11.83\00:11:15.74
you can get caught up
into these new-age things
00:11:15.77\00:11:19.07
that actually have
to do with, you know,
00:11:19.11\00:11:21.91
human potential and meditation
00:11:21.94\00:11:25.11
and this meditation thing
is slipping into the Churches
00:11:25.15\00:11:28.02
in the form of
spiritual formation
00:11:28.05\00:11:30.79
contemplative prayer
and that kind of thing
00:11:30.82\00:11:33.86
and we have to be so
careful because the enemy
00:11:33.89\00:11:36.89
is very shrewd...
and he is going to do
00:11:36.93\00:11:39.29
what he can to
fill that space...
00:11:39.33\00:11:42.06
there's an empty
space in all of us
00:11:42.10\00:11:44.83
for God to fill... and
if we don't fill it with Him
00:11:44.87\00:11:49.04
something else is
going to fill that space
00:11:49.07\00:11:51.77
and that meditation
is a dangerous thing...
00:11:51.81\00:11:54.44
because Biblical
meditation says...
00:11:54.48\00:11:58.78
"Meditate on the
Word... " TM says...
00:11:58.81\00:12:03.05
"Empty your mind... " Right?
00:12:03.08\00:12:05.59
Oh, yes... so,
when you participated
00:12:05.62\00:12:08.59
in this... did you ever
get any kind of visitation
00:12:08.62\00:12:12.93
or anything like
that? I did get visitation
00:12:12.96\00:12:16.67
when I went that one
event that I was mentioning
00:12:16.70\00:12:20.04
where I surrendered my
will at the beckoning of the
00:12:20.07\00:12:23.34
teacher that was
there... I found myself...
00:12:23.37\00:12:24.91
being taken over
physically by this...
00:12:24.94\00:12:29.88
whatever it was... this "force"
00:12:29.91\00:12:32.35
and I found myself
moving... or being moved...
00:12:32.38\00:12:36.69
and it was not me
willing to do this...
00:12:36.72\00:12:38.69
so, that was very strange...
00:12:38.72\00:12:41.32
Yes... and that's
what made you decide...
00:12:41.36\00:12:44.53
"Whoa... this is not for
me... " Was it that event?
00:12:44.56\00:12:47.60
No, that was...
unfortunate... that was later...
00:12:47.66\00:12:50.67
years later that I
decided I needed to be
00:12:50.70\00:12:55.37
completely away from
all this type of teaching
00:12:55.40\00:12:58.21
this type of
"Movement" Yes... yes...
00:12:58.24\00:13:03.48
that whole philosophy... Yes...
00:13:03.51\00:13:05.55
that whole Eastern
philosophy that seems so benign
00:13:05.58\00:13:09.58
is not... the whole
idea of Yin and Yang
00:13:09.62\00:13:12.15
Hmmm... hmmm... yes...
00:13:12.19\00:13:13.49
it's not benign...
00:13:13.52\00:13:14.76
It seemed so good
in the beginning...
00:13:14.79\00:13:16.36
and it seems logical... Yes...
00:13:16.39\00:13:18.39
there should be a
balance in everything...
00:13:18.43\00:13:20.66
Right... balance
between hot and cold,
00:13:20.70\00:13:22.96
day and night...
but never a balance
00:13:23.00\00:13:25.40
between good and
evil... I know...
00:13:25.43\00:13:27.84
Right... the Bible says
"Eschew evil... " you know...
00:13:27.87\00:13:30.84
"just do the
good... " but with that...
00:13:30.87\00:13:33.41
with Eastern Philosophy it's...
00:13:33.44\00:13:35.24
it's "yin and yang
balance good and evil... "
00:13:35.28\00:13:39.88
and we've never
been called to do that...
00:13:39.91\00:13:42.18
No... no... So,
you got out of that...
00:13:42.22\00:13:44.42
praise God...
00:13:44.45\00:13:45.85
the Lord took you
out of that really...
00:13:45.89\00:13:48.02
Praise the Lord... yes...
and so, what happened after that
00:13:48.06\00:13:50.16
Well... I'm still in the acting,
and that's not going so well...
00:13:50.19\00:13:54.73
because I'm
pounding the pavement and
00:13:54.76\00:13:57.67
in Hollywood...
you've been in Show Business
00:13:57.70\00:14:00.97
well you can have a
tendency to be type-cast...
00:14:01.00\00:14:04.21
Hmmm... type-cast for this role,
00:14:04.24\00:14:06.81
this role and this role...
you know I had to wear a bandana
00:14:06.84\00:14:09.24
like I wanted to
kill a bunch of people
00:14:09.28\00:14:10.91
you know... So,
they were putting you
00:14:10.95\00:14:12.55
in the stereotypical role
00:14:12.58\00:14:13.68
for Black males...
00:14:13.72\00:14:15.02
Yeah... yeah... So
that's really what...
00:14:15.05\00:14:17.29
yeah... gangster and
a thug and all that...
00:14:17.32\00:14:19.05
that type of thing...
yeah... so that got really old
00:14:19.09\00:14:20.96
and then what really moved away
00:14:20.99\00:14:24.19
you know... many times...
a broken heart or some pain
00:14:24.23\00:14:27.50
sometimes pain
gets your attention...
00:14:27.56\00:14:29.36
Yes... Pain...
00:14:29.40\00:14:30.63
Yes... and so... those pains...
00:14:30.67\00:14:32.37
heart pains is
what it was... Hmmm...
00:14:32.40\00:14:34.17
I was in a relationship
and I thought this was the one
00:14:34.20\00:14:38.04
I felt like... as
a matter-of-fact...
00:14:38.07\00:14:41.34
we went to... she
asked me to go to church
00:14:41.38\00:14:43.14
with her... it was
a very popular church
00:14:43.18\00:14:44.88
actors go to... we
went and I don't know what
00:14:44.91\00:14:47.35
that was about... she
wasn't really interested
00:14:47.38\00:14:49.75
but she asked me to go...
something about that moved me
00:14:49.78\00:14:52.49
I began, then, to
be moved closer...
00:14:52.52\00:14:54.72
to have a desire
more for the Lord...
00:14:54.76\00:14:56.93
I don't know where it
was so much for her...
00:14:56.96\00:14:58.93
she was going the other
way... eventually, months later,
00:14:58.96\00:15:01.96
the relationship
disintegrated so that was...
00:15:02.00\00:15:04.47
that turned into pain for me...
00:15:04.50\00:15:06.27
pain in the heart... so
I began to go on a search
00:15:06.30\00:15:09.24
sometimes the Lord causes...
uses... pain to turn up
00:15:09.27\00:15:12.54
the attention... Yes...
00:15:12.57\00:15:14.01
so that's what He did for me...
00:15:14.04\00:15:15.91
and I began to... search...
00:15:15.94\00:15:17.71
"Oh Lord, what is this all
about what is life all about?"
00:15:17.75\00:15:19.98
so I sit down...
morning after morning
00:15:20.02\00:15:22.02
after morning...
reading all those
00:15:22.05\00:15:24.02
spiritualistic books
that I had gone through
00:15:24.05\00:15:26.29
years before...
cover to cover...
00:15:26.32\00:15:28.39
over again...
sometimes some new ones...
00:15:28.42\00:15:31.29
for several months... and
I ended up calling a friend
00:15:31.33\00:15:34.13
who was in the
Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:15:34.20\00:15:36.26
and asked him so many questions
we used to be actors together
00:15:36.30\00:15:39.63
I asked him so many questions,
00:15:39.67\00:15:41.40
and the next
morning I called him back...
00:15:41.44\00:15:43.67
and said, "You know what...
I want to go to Church...
00:15:43.71\00:15:45.31
I want to be
baptized... " and that was the
00:15:45.34\00:15:47.98
start of a new
beginning... Praise the Lord...
00:15:48.01\00:15:50.18
so look at how good God
is... He used a relationship
00:15:50.21\00:15:53.28
that wasn't going to last,
00:15:53.31\00:15:54.38
but used that to draw
you towards Christianity...
00:15:54.42\00:15:57.79
Yes... away from
Eastern mysticism...
00:15:57.82\00:16:00.26
and then you started
investigating Christianity
00:16:00.29\00:16:02.89
more and thought...
"this is what I've been
00:16:02.92\00:16:05.56
looking for... " Yes...
00:16:05.59\00:16:06.86
"This is what I've been
looking for... " and then
00:16:06.90\00:16:08.46
the Lord sent a
Seventh-day Adventist
00:16:08.50\00:16:10.47
into your path...
and then you just started
00:16:10.50\00:16:13.74
going to Church
with him... Yes...
00:16:13.77\00:16:15.40
That's tremendous...
that is so tremendous...
00:16:15.44\00:16:17.94
so, what has your
journey been since...
00:16:17.97\00:16:20.31
since then... how
did you stop the acting?
00:16:20.34\00:16:22.64
Well, it was that stereotyping
that... pushing toward that
00:16:22.68\00:16:29.98
that type-casting...
that really began to
00:16:30.02\00:16:33.59
change my taste
about the whole Industry...
00:16:33.62\00:16:36.89
I really began to
get put off with that...
00:16:36.93\00:16:40.13
and not only that... to see how
00:16:40.16\00:16:42.03
that... what an
influence what a bad influence
00:16:42.06\00:16:46.07
it had painted upon my life
00:16:46.10\00:16:47.40
it was a famous Hollywood
producer... said that...
00:16:47.44\00:16:50.41
more than any other
influence in his whole life
00:16:50.44\00:16:53.41
more than school...
more than his family
00:16:53.44\00:16:55.78
anything... that
his preconceptions
00:16:55.81\00:16:58.08
about life had
been... irreversibly shaped by
00:16:58.11\00:17:00.65
a place called Hollywood...
00:17:00.68\00:17:01.78
I realized... that
had done that... to me...
00:17:01.82\00:17:04.99
so I began to be
put off with that...
00:17:05.02\00:17:07.26
and I decided to eventually
get into Medical Missionary Work
00:17:07.29\00:17:12.09
Now, how did you...
were you interested in health
00:17:12.13\00:17:15.26
prior to the
Medical Missionary work...
00:17:15.30\00:17:19.20
I mean... how did you get...
00:17:19.23\00:17:21.04
navigate through all of that?
00:17:21.07\00:17:22.77
Well I had already been...
always been interested in health
00:17:22.80\00:17:25.64
it's amazing that a
lot of people in the
00:17:25.67\00:17:27.94
Eastern Mysticism are
very health conscious...
00:17:27.98\00:17:30.95
Yeah... yes...
but even before that
00:17:30.98\00:17:32.51
I was interested and so...
00:17:32.55\00:17:33.98
when my friend
started taking me to church
00:17:34.02\00:17:36.48
he was in the Health Ministry
and I used to assist him
00:17:36.52\00:17:39.09
and so that was
my entry in that way
00:17:39.12\00:17:41.02
and the he eventually left
and went to the other church
00:17:41.06\00:17:43.43
and they asked me to take
over, so I was into that...
00:17:43.46\00:17:45.79
and then a friend
eventually asked me...
00:17:45.83\00:17:47.36
she said, "Have
you ever thought about
00:17:47.40\00:17:48.86
Medical Missionary Work...?"
00:17:48.90\00:17:50.07
I said, "No, I don't really
know anything about it... "
00:17:50.10\00:17:52.00
so I send off...
got some information
00:17:52.03\00:17:54.74
a good friend of
ours... she asked me...
00:17:54.77\00:17:57.41
"Have you ever thought
about going to Uchee Pines?"
00:17:57.44\00:18:00.31
Ah... and so,
she made some calls
00:18:00.34\00:18:03.31
got some information,
I sent in my application
00:18:03.35\00:18:05.91
and eventually ended up
going there, studying there,
00:18:05.95\00:18:08.95
and I've been there
working... ever since...
00:18:08.98\00:18:12.09
In what capacity?
Well, I was working as a
00:18:12.12\00:18:14.62
Lifestyle Counselor in
the Lifestyle Center...
00:18:14.66\00:18:17.16
and right now I'm working
as the Education Director
00:18:17.19\00:18:20.66
in the Education Department
00:18:20.70\00:18:21.93
having the blessing of training
other Medical Missionaries...
00:18:21.96\00:18:24.97
Amen... so look at
how God brought you
00:18:25.00\00:18:29.27
all along this
journey... on this Program
00:18:29.30\00:18:33.07
on Urban Report...
I always say that...
00:18:33.11\00:18:36.31
we might not know
where God is taking us
00:18:36.34\00:18:39.48
but God has a plan for
us, and if we'll just yield
00:18:39.51\00:18:43.18
to that plan... it's
exceedingly and abundantly
00:18:43.22\00:18:46.82
more than we can
ever ask or think...
00:18:46.86\00:18:48.99
Where are you now,
in your heart of hearts
00:18:49.02\00:18:53.19
versus where you were then...
00:18:53.23\00:18:55.16
how is this more
fulfilling for you than
00:18:55.20\00:18:57.80
your previous life?
00:18:57.83\00:18:59.50
There was a 180
degree difference...
00:18:59.53\00:19:01.97
before... I did not realize
00:19:02.00\00:19:03.67
while I was trying to be
00:19:03.71\00:19:05.31
independent... I thought
I was making my own choices
00:19:05.34\00:19:07.58
and I was making some choices
00:19:07.61\00:19:08.74
but I realized then that...
00:19:08.78\00:19:10.55
as we look at it...
there are only two "powers"
00:19:10.58\00:19:12.48
I was being controlled by
the power... by the enemy...
00:19:12.51\00:19:15.12
influenced by
this great Industry
00:19:15.15\00:19:17.19
and now... the Lord in
His love and His grace has
00:19:17.22\00:19:21.99
called me to His
marvelous light...
00:19:22.02\00:19:23.89
and so I have a
desire now not to put myself
00:19:23.93\00:19:27.10
up front as
"The Product" because
00:19:27.13\00:19:29.66
when you're into this
Industry, you are "The Product"
00:19:29.70\00:19:31.93
there's a lot
about self, self, self...
00:19:31.97\00:19:34.20
and so now, I want
to be used by the Lord
00:19:34.24\00:19:36.40
to benefit others...
to help others to bring,
00:19:36.44\00:19:39.84
as I read, "This gospel of
release from suffering... "
00:19:39.87\00:19:43.41
Hmmm... oh that's
wonderful... Yes...
00:19:43.45\00:19:46.55
So you want to take
what God has given you
00:19:46.58\00:19:50.35
and implant it into
others... so to speak...
00:19:50.39\00:19:54.09
and just share it... so that
they can go out and share it
00:19:54.12\00:19:57.33
Yes... So what would you say
00:19:57.36\00:19:59.46
to that young person right now
00:19:59.49\00:20:01.50
that is grappling with
going into "Show Business"
00:20:01.53\00:20:06.20
they want to get
into that business
00:20:06.23\00:20:08.50
they want to see
if they can be "Stars"
00:20:08.54\00:20:10.74
if you would look
into that camera...
00:20:10.77\00:20:14.31
and tell some
young person... what...
00:20:14.34\00:20:17.78
speak to some young
person that's grappling with
00:20:17.81\00:20:20.52
going to Hollywood
and wanting to be a "Star"
00:20:20.55\00:20:23.18
You know, Jesus is not looking
for us to be actors and models
00:20:23.22\00:20:27.19
what He is looking for is
someone to model His behavior
00:20:27.22\00:20:31.46
because... for all of them...
God has sent Jesus to redeem us
00:20:31.49\00:20:35.70
and while many
00:20:35.73\00:20:37.10
may want to go to a
place like Hollywood
00:20:37.13\00:20:38.93
because they think it's
all glamour and all glitz...
00:20:38.97\00:20:41.40
there's a harsh
reality... and that is...
00:20:41.44\00:20:43.77
that the enemy of our
souls is the one, many times,
00:20:43.81\00:20:47.48
most times... who is
influencing all of us
00:20:47.51\00:20:50.21
to go to these places...
00:20:50.25\00:20:51.38
I would say,
"Change your mind... "
00:20:51.41\00:20:56.25
I would say, "Lean
more towards your Bible...
00:20:56.28\00:20:59.79
ask those who are near to you
00:20:59.82\00:21:03.16
if they can
00:21:03.19\00:21:04.89
help you and that you would
not make such a choice as this"
00:21:04.93\00:21:09.03
Thank you...
it's good... it's good
00:21:09.06\00:21:13.87
because our kids need
to know that it's all about
00:21:13.90\00:21:18.07
choices... Yes...
00:21:18.11\00:21:19.41
so, whatever choice you
make, there's a consequence
00:21:19.44\00:21:22.94
to that choice... Yes... yes...
00:21:22.98\00:21:24.68
and I found consequences...
00:21:24.71\00:21:26.35
I found myself involved in
drugs... these types of things,
00:21:26.38\00:21:30.89
alcohol... and I was
involved with some of that
00:21:30.92\00:21:34.19
before I even went
but we're not... really as
00:21:34.22\00:21:37.46
much as in charge...
I was not in charge...
00:21:37.49\00:21:39.79
like I thought I
was... And you know what...
00:21:39.83\00:21:42.03
that's a good
point too Brother Ron
00:21:42.06\00:21:44.07
because I think
that many times we think,
00:21:44.10\00:21:47.30
that "Hey, it's my life...
I can do what I want to do
00:21:47.34\00:21:50.51
I'm making my own decisions,
I am doing what I want to do"
00:21:50.54\00:21:54.68
and yet... we
are controlled by...
00:21:54.71\00:21:58.55
well, God allows
us to make a choice...
00:21:58.58\00:22:01.15
but if we don't
choose God, we are controlled
00:22:01.18\00:22:05.12
by another
entity... That's right...
00:22:05.15\00:22:07.22
and I think that's where
a lot of our young people
00:22:07.26\00:22:09.19
don't understand...
00:22:09.22\00:22:10.29
it's not them...
that's being in control...
00:22:10.33\00:22:13.93
they are being
controlled... Yes...
00:22:13.96\00:22:16.00
and I think a lot of
times, we don't realize that...
00:22:16.03\00:22:18.47
you know... tell
us, if you would, again
00:22:18.50\00:22:21.80
how you think the
media shapes values
00:22:21.84\00:22:25.07
because I think...
that's important too...
00:22:25.11\00:22:27.14
to know that what you watch...
00:22:27.18\00:22:30.68
is critical... it
makes a difference...
00:22:30.71\00:22:33.18
would you share
something about that for us...
00:22:33.21\00:22:35.62
Yes... sure... We
don't realize that we
00:22:35.65\00:22:37.92
end up actually
imitating what we see...
00:22:37.95\00:22:40.22
Hmmm... hmmm...
so, one would say that
00:22:40.26\00:22:42.42
"Art would imitate
Life" but then they say,
00:22:42.46\00:22:45.36
then that life would
imitate art and finally
00:22:45.39\00:22:48.20
that life would draw the
very meaning of its existence
00:22:48.23\00:22:51.27
from art... so,
what's happening is
00:22:51.30\00:22:54.70
that many are
looking to this media
00:22:54.74\00:22:57.64
for a reason for their existence
00:22:57.67\00:23:00.54
if we can see...
what's out there...
00:23:00.58\00:23:02.41
if we're looking to
that for our existence...
00:23:02.44\00:23:04.28
it's a very shallow existence,
a very dangerous existence
00:23:04.31\00:23:08.28
and with morals that
are being put forth...
00:23:08.32\00:23:11.49
that are against God,
that are very hurtful,
00:23:11.52\00:23:14.59
that will leave us very empty
00:23:14.62\00:23:16.32
at the end of it
all... that is so true...
00:23:16.36\00:23:19.39
we are being
desensitized... And deceived...
00:23:19.43\00:23:22.40
and deceived...
desensitized and deceived
00:23:22.43\00:23:25.37
we're
desensitized to immorality,
00:23:25.40\00:23:29.10
because now we're used
to seeing certain things
00:23:29.14\00:23:32.17
on the screen... and
it's not as offensive
00:23:32.21\00:23:34.98
maybe as it once was...
and the more you watch it
00:23:35.01\00:23:38.85
the more accustomed
and familiar you get to it
00:23:38.88\00:23:42.68
and the less repugnant it is...
00:23:42.72\00:23:44.09
and that's all
part of Satan's plan...
00:23:44.12\00:23:46.55
isn't it? It
is... and a word about
00:23:46.59\00:23:48.92
being desensitized...
we come into the Church
00:23:48.96\00:23:52.09
you know, things in
Church then begins to be
00:23:52.13\00:23:54.00
a little bit more boring
00:23:54.00\00:23:55.06
Hmmm... then we
fall asleep when we hear
00:23:55.10\00:23:58.17
words of truth... those
don't hold weight anymore,
00:23:58.20\00:24:01.37
but those are the
things that are going
00:24:01.40\00:24:03.71
to give us a foundational life
00:24:03.74\00:24:05.67
that is going to take us through
00:24:05.71\00:24:07.64
when we're in pain...
we need something greater
00:24:07.68\00:24:10.41
than what we
saw on the screen...
00:24:10.45\00:24:12.51
Yes, that is so true...
we need something greater
00:24:12.55\00:24:16.95
than what's on that screen
because what's on the screen
00:24:16.99\00:24:19.55
is not real... No...
when I was going through
00:24:19.59\00:24:21.92
that heartbreak... I
may sit down and look at a
00:24:21.96\00:24:24.23
movie to try to escape...
but when that movie is over
00:24:24.26\00:24:28.10
then I'm right back
there... I needed Jesus
00:24:28.13\00:24:31.27
That's right... He is the key...
He is the balm... is he not...
00:24:31.30\00:24:35.67
Yes, that's right...
00:24:35.70\00:24:36.91
So, what are you doing now,
tell us about your ministry now.
00:24:36.94\00:24:40.31
Yes, I'm working at Uchee Pines
also I have my own ministry LC3
00:24:40.34\00:24:43.51
Lifestyle Counseling
for Mind, Body and Spirit...
00:24:43.55\00:24:45.88
and as a result...
I've been able to travel
00:24:45.91\00:24:48.82
to many places in the world...
00:24:48.85\00:24:49.95
and to do Medical
Missionary Training
00:24:49.98\00:24:52.12
do Seminars and to be able
to work one-on-one with people
00:24:52.15\00:24:56.59
sometimes I've
been in their homes
00:24:56.62\00:24:58.59
and to be able to
help them and it's been
00:24:58.63\00:25:00.96
a wonderful
blessing to see how the Lord
00:25:01.00\00:25:03.03
can heal people and to
bring them up higher...
00:25:03.06\00:25:06.77
so if someone has a
degenerative disease,
00:25:06.80\00:25:11.27
they could call you
and you would come there
00:25:11.31\00:25:14.98
as part of the ministry...
you come there and assist them
00:25:15.01\00:25:17.88
how does that work?
Well, I do more... teaching now
00:25:17.91\00:25:20.88
and Seminars...
those types of things...
00:25:20.92\00:25:23.49
so you lecture to
groups... you go to groups
00:25:23.52\00:25:25.99
and work with groups... do
you do individual consulting
00:25:26.02\00:25:28.39
when you're there
at churches... or...
00:25:28.42\00:25:30.29
Yes... I do some
of that... Okay...
00:25:30.33\00:25:32.06
Yes, I do some of
that... even perhaps some
00:25:32.09\00:25:35.26
on the phone as
well... that can be...
00:25:35.30\00:25:36.97
save a lot of time
00:25:37.00\00:25:38.67
and I can reach
many people that way...
00:25:38.70\00:25:40.84
so people can e-mail
you if they want to...
00:25:40.87\00:25:42.94
we have your e-mail address
we can put it up on the screen,
00:25:42.97\00:25:46.04
Hmmm... hmmm...
they can e-mail you
00:25:46.07\00:25:47.81
if they want to invite
you to their churches...
00:25:47.84\00:25:50.95
Yes... to come and
minister... to them
00:25:50.98\00:25:52.91
Yes... That's
an amazing blessing
00:25:52.95\00:25:55.48
an amazing blessing...
what kind of fulfillment
00:25:55.52\00:25:58.72
does this give you?
Well, you know, considering
00:25:58.75\00:26:01.92
I used to be... all about "self"
00:26:01.96\00:26:03.63
like I said... all about self...
00:26:03.66\00:26:05.26
now to be used by the Lord
00:26:05.29\00:26:07.30
to be a blessing
to someone else...
00:26:07.30\00:26:09.23
is such a great fulfillment...
it gives me a sense of
00:26:09.26\00:26:12.63
a purpose in life... Yes...
00:26:12.67\00:26:15.24
I'm very fulfilled... Yes...
00:26:15.27\00:26:17.71
to see how the
Lord can transform
00:26:17.74\00:26:20.14
lives the way He's
transformed my life...
00:26:20.18\00:26:22.51
so I thank God for that...
00:26:22.54\00:26:24.35
Amen... and to know
that what you're doing...
00:26:24.38\00:26:27.02
when you're walking
in your divine destiny...
00:26:27.05\00:26:29.65
this is what you
were supposed to do...
00:26:29.68\00:26:31.69
this is what God has put
you on the planet to do...
00:26:31.72\00:26:34.12
Amen... and
there's nothing better
00:26:34.16\00:26:35.66
than that... what's
more fulfilling than that
00:26:35.69\00:26:37.59
to know that this
is why you're here...
00:26:37.63\00:26:39.96
It is a wonderful
blessing... Amen... amen...
00:26:40.00\00:26:43.16
Tell us in... about 30
seconds, can you give us a
00:26:43.20\00:26:45.50
story of someone
that you've worked with
00:26:45.53\00:26:47.80
whose life has been changed
as a result of your work...
00:26:47.84\00:26:50.57
Yes... there was a young
man just a few years ago,
00:26:50.61\00:26:54.74
and he was
there with his wife...
00:26:54.78\00:26:56.48
and he was dying from cancer,
and he was a prodigal son
00:26:56.51\00:26:59.75
he strayed away
from the Church...
00:26:59.78\00:27:01.08
one day, he was
lying in his room dying...
00:27:01.12\00:27:03.42
and I said, "No, I'm not going
to let you lie here and die... "
00:27:03.45\00:27:05.59
so I took him
outside him and his wife...
00:27:05.62\00:27:07.42
she helped me get him
out, and as we're outside...
00:27:07.46\00:27:10.03
and he was looking at
the squirrels and the birds
00:27:10.06\00:27:12.56
and I saw a whole
change on his face...
00:27:12.59\00:27:14.56
but that morning... he
says, "Ron, I'm in agony...
00:27:14.60\00:27:17.57
please pray for me...
" and as he asked me that
00:27:17.60\00:27:20.20
I got down to pray...
and he began to pray...
00:27:20.24\00:27:23.44
Now, he wasn't a
Christian? He had left...
00:27:23.47\00:27:26.04
Okay... yes, he
had left the Church...
00:27:26.07\00:27:28.58
this was years
before... but as he asked me to
00:27:28.61\00:27:31.81
pray for him... he
began to pray earnestly
00:27:31.85\00:27:34.98
asking... pleading for
help... well the next week...
00:27:35.02\00:27:37.95
his wife took him
home and he died...
00:27:37.99\00:27:39.35
but I strongly
believe... that he returned
00:27:39.39\00:27:43.02
to the Lord...
and that one day...
00:27:43.06\00:27:45.49
we will see
him... in glory... Yes...
00:27:45.53\00:27:47.86
Yes... That is so beautiful...
00:27:47.93\00:27:50.40
Thank you so much
for being with us...
00:27:50.43\00:27:52.47
I really appreciate you...
00:27:52.50\00:27:54.30
thank you and your
work... God bless you...
00:27:54.34\00:27:55.97
and thank you
for being with us...
00:27:56.00\00:27:57.81
Join us next time...
because it wouldn't be the same
00:27:57.84\00:28:00.38
without you...
00:28:00.41\00:28:03.55