Participants: Yvonne Lewis (Host), Jason Bradley (Host), Brian Thomas, Sophy Thomas
Series Code: UBR
Program Code: UBR000219A
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00:01 Have you ever wondered about the modern-day sex trade?
00:03 Well, stay tuned to meet two young people 00:05 who have been called by God to minister 00:08 to the victims of these heinous practices. 00:11 My name is Yvonne Lewis. 00:12 And I'm Jason Bradley 00:14 and you're watching Urban Report. 00:40 Hello and welcome to Urban Report 00:42 and I've got my co-host Jason. 00:45 Hey. Hey. 00:47 Welcome. 00:48 And we have two special guests, 00:50 our guest today are Brian and Sophy Thomas. 00:53 In the interest of full disclosure, 00:55 I must tell you that this is my nephew and niece, 00:57 and I'm so very proud of them 00:59 for following the Lord's leading. 01:01 They have such an interesting story to tell 01:04 that we just had to share it with you our D2D viewers. 01:08 So welcome to Urban Report. 01:10 Thank you for having us up here, we appreciate it, 01:12 we appreciate that. 01:13 Yes, for sure, for sure. Yeah. 01:15 You guys have a very, 01:19 both of you have great testimonies 01:21 and, Brian, our viewers have not heard yours 01:25 and I really want them to hear both. 01:28 So let's start with you, 01:30 tell us about where you were raised, 01:32 how you were raised, and what happened to you. 01:36 Oh, I mean, that's a, that's a lot for us to cover 01:39 in a short amount of time. 01:40 But as you know I was raised in Huntsville, Alabama 01:45 with my parents and a younger sister. 01:48 My father had a wonderful job 01:50 as a rubber chemist for several prominent companies, 01:53 which moved us around a lot 01:55 and at the same time afforded us 01:57 a comfortable lifestyle. 01:59 So, you know, it's almost 02:00 like the American Dream kind of thing, 02:02 you know, you get your family and you had a good job 02:04 and you're able to provide, you go to church, 02:05 and you lived the life, you know, 02:07 that you planned for when you were younger. 02:11 We moved to Detroit, Michigan after Buffalo, New York 02:14 and we found ourselves moving back to Huntsville, Alabama 02:18 when I was around 12, 13 years old 02:21 going into the 9th grade. 02:23 And that year, my father decided that, 02:25 you know, God had given him a revelation 02:28 and he was to write a book 02:30 called "Submission Principle" 02:32 that would give people principles 02:35 on how to submit to God, 02:36 therefore, carrying out the purpose 02:38 that He planned out for them. 02:40 But during the writing of his book 02:43 he felt as if he should quit his primary job 02:47 and that, of course, had a domino effect 02:49 because there was no other provision 02:52 like, you know, he didn't plan, 02:54 I don't think accordingly for what could happen 02:57 and he was just purely trusting on God, you know. 03:00 But God gives us power 03:01 over certain situations, circumstances, 03:03 and we've got to be able to clearly hear 03:06 what he wants us to do, 03:08 and I think he just got confused on a few things 03:10 during his interpretations. 03:12 So when he quit his job, 03:13 everything was taken from us in the sense. 03:15 So, you know, you go from living 03:17 a very comfortable lifestyle to a impoverish lifestyle, 03:21 where you know I saw our cars get repossessed. 03:24 We lived in a home that had no power, no lights, 03:27 you know, no running water, 03:29 you know, I still have to walk to nana and papa's house, 03:31 I mean, my grandparents house in the morning 03:33 before school to take a shower, 03:35 and then walk to school. 03:37 So, you know, my relationship with God 03:39 was strained during those times 03:41 because if you're raised in a Christian household with, 03:44 and instilled with certain values, 03:46 this is completely contradictory 03:48 of everything that you know, you've been taught, 03:50 and that you were, 03:52 you come to recognize and appreciate even. 03:54 So you must have raised 03:55 a lot of questions in your head... 03:57 Millions. 03:58 As to, "Okay, so my dad is following 04:01 what he thinks is God's leading 04:04 but yet it's making us dirt poorer". 04:08 Yeah, and going through it. 04:11 And just like going through the domino effect, 04:14 I think that's really a great way to put it. 04:16 So it had to create a certain confusion in your head, 04:20 and a certain anger. 04:22 Well, you know, 04:23 I think the initial response to emotion is confusion 04:27 'cause you don't know how to feel and then, 04:29 once you recognize it 04:30 the natural follow up is anger, 04:33 like no matter what so if you're hurt, 04:34 the follow up was anger. 04:36 If you're, you know what I mean, 04:37 if you've been offended, the follow up is anger. 04:38 So whatever it is, so, yeah, 04:40 I was completely enraged by what happened, 04:44 what my family had to endure what we went through 04:47 as a result of the choices that my parents made, 04:50 that I had absolutely no control over, 04:52 so I'm just donning the situation, 04:53 my younger sister and I. 04:55 And during that time, of course, you, you rebel, 05:00 you don't want anything to do with what the guy who says, 05:03 "I love you and I'll take care of you, 05:05 and then I don't anymore." 05:07 You know, it's like, why? 05:09 Therefore, for me, in this situation, 05:12 all I wanted to do was get back to the place where we were 05:16 and it's not like, oh, my God, 05:17 if you're not going to do it I would do it. 05:20 And guess what, I don't need you to do it 05:22 because obviously, you know, 05:23 you're missing from the picture here. 05:25 Now how did all that affect your relationship 05:28 with your parents at the time because you were, you know, 05:31 you're looking to them, 05:32 they were providing a lifestyle at first 05:34 and that got snatched, you know, 05:36 as they were following 05:37 what they felt was God's direction, 05:39 how did that affect your relationship with them? 05:43 I mean, let's be real it didn't get snatched, 05:45 like they gave it up, you know what I mean. 05:47 So it'd be one thing if, 05:49 and I'm old enough to understand these things, 05:51 it would be one thing if it was taken away, 05:53 you know, and the compounding events 05:56 were out of their control. 05:57 However, this was something that they could control. 05:59 And the results came from the choices they made 06:04 and we were affected by that, 06:05 so, so you're just angry period. 06:08 There is no, you know what I'm saying, in between. 06:10 You love your parents still, you know, 06:11 I don't ever think that that left at all 06:14 but the relationship is just strained 06:16 to where I don't have to listen to you. 06:18 You know what I mean? 06:20 Like why would I listen to you 06:21 because you're not making solid choices to me? 06:24 So, you know, I started working jobs 06:26 and I'm always somebody that, 06:27 you know, I'm not afraid of work 06:29 and I ended up working at several jobs 06:32 and I learned how to, you know, work systems, 06:34 run scams to make extra money 06:36 because I'm the only one in the house 06:38 that was working, you know. 06:39 Run scams, like what? 06:40 Yeah, like, okay, if I'm working, 06:42 I worked at a movie theater 06:43 and if you're gonna get, you know, 06:45 they sell combos, popcorn and drinks and candy. 06:47 Right. 06:49 Well, if you figure out how to run it 06:51 and protect the inventory, 06:52 I can sell you a popcorn and a drink, 06:56 then you come up and you just get a drink, 06:57 I'm keeping all those numbers in my head 06:59 so that I can sell the three to four dollar candy 07:02 and make that three to four dollar profit. 07:03 If I do that 10 to 20 times a night, 07:06 I just made of real good. 07:08 So that's what I began to do, I worked at a grocery store 07:11 because I got fired from that job 07:12 because, you know, they... 07:14 They caught you. 07:15 They didn't catch me, you know, sin makes you dumb. 07:18 So I got bold 07:20 and just started taking money out of other people's registers 07:22 if I wanted to, you know, so you got money, 07:24 you're going to come up short, you know, then I got fired. 07:27 Ain't that interesting, Brian, how the devil is like, 07:31 he plays on wherever you are at the moment... 07:35 You know, if you have anger, confusion, 07:38 and all that he'll play on that and then you, 07:40 you plant these little seeds of where you can run this scam, 07:45 or you take this so you could, and before you know it, 07:48 you are spiraling downward. 07:50 Out of control. Out of control. 07:53 And he takes advantage of those opportunities, 07:56 so I was working at a grocery store, 07:58 then I can remember, 07:59 Mom would come and I was a cashier, 08:02 so I would swipe groceries through 08:04 without reading them up but there would still be, 08:07 but she would pay $10 for, 08:08 you know, food for a month, you know what I mean. 08:12 We were just trying to do, 08:14 I was trying to do whatever I could to help. 08:15 Then I end up quitting that job 08:18 'cause I was frustrated, 08:19 and you know, it's not a lot of money, 08:21 you know, I'm making no money, I need to make some real money. 08:22 And I was approached by friends, a friend of mine, 08:26 older brother about money opportunities. 08:32 And I'll never forget, he's like you know, 08:35 your family is in a situation right now, 08:37 everybody knows your business, you know what I'm saying. 08:39 But it wasn't as if I was getting 08:41 a lot of opportunities elsewhere, 08:43 nobody, you know, they talk about it like, 08:44 you know, so thing I think with us in the church 08:48 it's like we talk about people's problems 08:49 and I'm gonna pray for you but nobody is active 08:52 and being a part of that person's situation 08:54 of the restoration or... 08:56 Yeah. 08:57 Physically taking a part in it. 08:58 That's such a good point. That is. 09:00 Because, you know, the verse in James 09:02 where it says, you know, 09:04 you pray for somebody to get a go. 09:06 But you've got to go. But you've got to go. 09:08 Give them a go. 09:10 And there's a gap between Christianity, 09:14 the head knowledge and living it. 09:17 Oh, absolutely. 09:19 Practical Christianity 09:20 and that's what you're talking about 09:21 that is what's missed a lot of times. 09:23 I like to think of it as the, you know, 09:27 organization versus organism, right. 09:29 Meaning, the church has gotten into a state of, 09:33 it's an organization 09:34 and organizations have meetings about problems. 09:37 But an organism like your body, if you hurt your arm, 09:40 you immediately go to protect that arm, 09:43 you're meeting the comfort and console, 09:45 wherever that pain is you cover it 09:47 and that's where we have to make the shift to an organism 09:50 from organization from the body of Christ 09:52 is a perspective. 09:53 But so the friend gave me an offer, you know, 09:57 to get involved with the drug trade, 10:01 and it seemed easy enough, it was opportunistic. 10:05 I was like, man, you know, I know people who smoke weed, 10:07 you know, at the time, I smoke weed. 10:09 So if I don't have pay for it 10:12 and I know everybody else who does it, 10:14 I could probably make some money from this. 10:16 And when I learned what I needed to learn, 10:19 I went out and I did well 10:24 to put it simply, I did well 10:26 and lived that lifestyle for 17 years. 10:32 Again, you know, it's that whole plan 10:35 like there are two plans going on 10:38 with the great controversy going on. 10:40 So we have God's plan for your life 10:42 which is to build you up and to restore you 10:46 and to conform you to his image, right. 10:48 And then there's the enemy's plan, 10:50 who takes advantage of your situation 10:53 and just runs with it to destroy you. 10:56 Yeah. 10:57 And so where was your head at this point, 11:00 when you started, you know, doing this, 11:03 did you ever feel like, oh, man, I shouldn't do this, 11:06 or did you just give in to it and run with it? 11:10 I'll be honest because of the culture, 11:14 you know, the people, 11:15 the environment that I was around 11:19 I just went full-fledged for it. 11:22 You know, you're not being, 11:24 and I still had a, you know, loving parents 11:26 but if you're not being celebrated, you know, 11:28 you go to where you celebrate, you know. 11:30 You want to go to not just where you're accepted 11:32 and where people tolerate you but where people like, hey, 11:34 you're doing a good job. 11:36 When you belong to something and it's real for you. 11:38 You know, sometimes I think that 11:40 we put ourselves in positions 11:41 to fall susceptible to things that aren't good for you 11:45 just because it is real, right? 11:47 So as far as the church went, I didn't really wanna be there 11:51 'cause I didn't feel like it was real, you know. 11:53 People would say, they love you and they say these things, 11:55 but nobody's really there. 11:57 It didn't feel real for me, you know. 12:00 But I know these guys up the street 12:02 and everything they say 12:04 they really, really do it, you know what I mean. 12:06 Whether it was good or it was bad 12:08 and I just wanted to be a part of something that was real. 12:10 So, yeah, we were involved with that 12:12 and I didn't graduate high school as a result 12:15 because I would rather be running the streets, 12:17 "Claiming to take care of my family." 12:19 But it's a selfish point of view 12:21 and dispositions simply 12:23 because I made it about me, you know, 12:26 I didn't think rationally like, you know, 12:28 doing well for my family would be doing all the things 12:31 that I'm supposed to do, you know. 12:33 I didn't plan for a future, I just want it right now, 12:36 you know what I mean. 12:37 That's another thing. That'll be crazy. 12:40 That's such a good point too. 12:41 Because there's often such an inability 12:45 to defer gratification, 12:47 "I want what I want and I want it now". 12:50 And the thing is, that's another thing 12:52 that the devil plays on, 12:53 and so God thinks about the end game 12:55 which is having everybody saved, you know. 12:58 He wants to save us so bad 13:00 but the devil tries to distract us 13:01 with all these temporary things to get us, of course, 13:05 to get us not focused on the end game... 13:07 Right. 13:09 To get us to focus on the temporary treasures, 13:12 the money and all that stuff. 13:14 We were in the temporary issues, 13:15 you know what I mean, 13:17 because like all things pass, you know, 13:18 everything is just for a season. 13:19 I was focused on the issue 13:21 and that took more precedence in my life 13:23 than anything else. 13:25 So, you know, we went through a lot, 13:28 homeless as a family we moved to California 13:31 and lived out there and we came back to Huntsville 13:34 and like I said, I didn't graduate high school, 13:36 I ended up just living that type of lifestyle. 13:39 I am a three time felon, you know. 13:42 I'm still even right now 13:45 currently fighting drug trafficking charges 13:47 from 2013 for something I did 4 years ago. 13:50 And God had to do some things for me. 13:53 I'm a person who requires harsh reality, 13:55 just to be real I mean, the harsh reality, you know, 13:58 for it to really make sense I got to 14:00 and I just hit my head, it has to crack open 14:02 and I've got to see what I'm thinking 14:04 and know whether to make any type of, you know, 14:06 change or even to think about it. 14:07 So in 2014, after I caught a trafficking case, 14:12 I got a position case 14:13 and I was like, I was sitting in jail, 14:15 I was, okay, God, you know, 14:16 I've lived this lifestyle for so long now that, 14:18 and I know you're real, 14:21 so if this is my time to get rid of everything, 14:24 and be done, and follow you, 14:26 'cause that's what it feels like, 14:27 like they were things that were just happening 14:29 that I can't control, 14:31 and there were so out of the norm, 14:34 you know, it didn't make any sense. 14:35 Like I can't, you can't say also to enemy attacking me, 14:37 look, God will chastise you too because He loves you, you know, 14:40 just to put you in a position that's so dire, 14:42 you've got to come to Him. 14:43 That's right. 14:45 And if you don't have the common sense to, 14:46 you know, that's your fault. 14:47 You know what I'm saying? 14:49 He knows how to get your attention. 14:50 Yeah, He does so. 14:51 And so He did what He needed to for me to get my attention. 14:53 My father always said, 14:54 "I hate to see what you have to go through 14:55 in order to get it," you know 14:57 and these were things I had to go through. 14:58 I kept getting pulled over by the police 15:00 really for no reason, and they would say, 15:02 they were traffic infractions 15:04 but I never got a ticket, you know. 15:05 DWB, this "Driving while black"? 15:08 No, I think driving while suspicious, 15:11 I think the energy that you have, 15:13 you know what I'm saying, is projected 15:14 and people can pick up on it. 15:16 They weren't wrong, you know what I mean. 15:18 It would be a thing if they pulled me over 15:19 and they were wrong, 15:20 but they were wrong every time, you're happening, right. 15:23 So I got pulled over in Birmingham, 15:29 and I was in jail all the day ,and I'm normally used to just, 15:31 you know, bonding right out immediately 15:33 and I had the bond money on me. 15:35 I have a lawyer, a bonding company 15:37 that were coming get me with no issue 15:38 and people that are, you know, 15:40 setup to come and get me things happen, 15:41 I'm a prepared individual. 15:43 And they didn't let me use a phone all the day, 15:45 so that's how I got to use the phone to call everyone. 15:47 I said, "God, let a sign be that the only person 15:49 who answers the phone for me is my father," 15:52 'cause I've got everything I need to get out of here. 15:55 So I literally called everyone, my lawyer, the bond company, 15:59 and the bond company's 24 hours, 16:01 it's their job, they stay by a phone... 16:03 Right. To come and get you. 16:04 Right, right. They didn't pick up. 16:06 So I'm like, okay, God, stop playing with me. 16:09 Then I call the list of friends that I have 16:12 and nobody is picking up the phone, 16:13 I think that, I get an idea, 16:15 I'm sure it was a holy ghost like just, 16:18 just really like he got a sense of humor, you know, 16:21 plan for me he was like, ask for your cell phone. 16:23 So the idea hit me like, ask for your cell phone, 16:25 which is an evidence bag 16:26 that they're not allowed to go into, 16:27 until after you're released of course. 16:29 They can't go into it while you're there. 16:30 Right. 16:32 I asked for myself cell phone, the God went got it, 16:35 opened up my evidence bag that was stapled 16:37 and gave it to me. 16:38 Wow! And so I'm thinking like, 16:39 "Ha, ha I did it" you know what I'm saying, 16:41 like, it worked and nobody has picked up the phone. 16:45 I'm calling random people now, you know what I'm saying? 16:47 I'm just trying to call everybody, 16:50 you know what I'm saying, to not make this thing happen 16:52 'cause I said, "God, if you want me to quit, 16:55 you give me a sign and I'mma pick the sign", 16:57 so that's why I said, exactly you know what I'm saying, 16:59 it has to be my father and nobody picked up. 17:00 And they said, you have one more time 17:02 to use the cell phone 17:03 and then we are going to send you upstairs 17:04 and I just couldn't go upstairs 'cause you get lost 17:06 and it will be a process trying to get out. 17:08 I called my Father, he picked up immediately 17:10 and so I went cold turkey with that 17:12 and that was the hardest thing I ever had to do 17:14 because essentially, you know, my life was on the line, 17:18 I had gone to a point 17:20 where you're so immersed into it 17:23 that you don't know how you're gonna get out. 17:26 You know, it's gone past just being a recreational thing 17:30 to an organized thing 17:33 and you're responsible for this, 17:37 the vision of thing, you know what I'm saying, 17:39 and you're primary guy. 17:40 So, not only do they want to know 17:46 why you want to stop, 'cause there will be no issue, 17:48 I could have just gone back and kept living the life, 17:49 you know what I mean, that was available to me. 17:51 You know, it was not as if I had to stop 17:54 or they were angry with me, 17:55 no, I'mma trusted guy, they know, hey, look 17:58 whatever you need we will give it to you. 18:00 But if you call and say, listen, I'm done 18:02 and not only am I done but I don't, you know, 18:05 to give me a second to get you what you need, 18:07 you know, this is not the movies, you know. 18:10 And if it was the movies 18:11 you know how those situations end, 18:13 you know, they want to eliminate 18:14 any threat to the organization. 18:16 Yeah. 18:17 So I had immediately begin to trust God, 18:18 with harsh realities. 18:20 And I know the grace of God covered me in all of them, 18:25 once I accepted which was very difficult 18:27 so I want anybody to take it lightly 18:29 like it's not a light thing to put your life on the line, 18:31 but that is what we're called to do as Christians 18:33 to say, "God, I would trust you despite what it might cost me". 18:38 And I accepted the fact that if you decide that 18:42 it would be my fate that I die behind this, 18:43 then at least I died for something right, 18:45 you know what I mean. 18:47 I'm gonna do this one thing right 18:48 'cause I've done so much wrong in my life. 18:50 And He covered the situation and blessed me, 18:53 and not only did I take care of the individual 18:56 I needed to be taking care of 18:57 but they did what they needed to do 18:59 to find out that, okay, you didn't tell on us 19:01 'cause I think it's a sinners nature. 19:04 And they were like, you know, you got a blessing to go, 19:08 so as soon as that happened... 19:10 Which also is a miracle. Yeah, oh, no. 19:13 I mean, just that is a miracle. 19:16 These people know where your family lived. 19:17 Exactly, exactly. So, so... 19:20 And we want you to know 19:22 that if you're caught up in something 19:25 that seems deadly, God can deliver you. 19:28 Very good. Absolutely. 19:29 Just trust Him. 19:30 You might, you might be caught up in the same thing, 19:33 the Lord might have had you tuned in 19:34 to watch this program today to hear Brian's story 19:38 to know that God can deliver you too. 19:41 From anything. 19:43 Just know that He's there for you, 19:44 just like He delivered Brian, He can deliver you. 19:47 I mean, the thing is if He never put you 19:49 in a situation that you can control, 19:51 you would think that you could do it without Him. 19:52 Exactly. 19:54 He puts you in a situation 19:55 to be able to develop the trust. 19:57 Yes. 19:58 It's required to live and pursue 20:00 the purpose that He has for us. 20:01 'Cause if you don't trust Him and you have no faith, 20:04 then everything is dead. 20:05 Take it back to the Garden of Eden. 20:07 Yeah. 20:08 All this you can you can touch but this one tree, 20:11 just one tree, you've got it, and it gives us a choice. 20:15 Yeah, absolutely. 20:17 So what ended up happening was, 20:18 I was baptized today three years ago, 20:21 immediately after that happened. 20:22 That happened on January 17th, 20:25 where I made the decision and February 8th 2014 20:28 I submitted and I was baptized. 20:31 So this is a commemorative day for me 20:33 and we're here so that's, you know what I'm saying... 20:35 Praise the Lord. So that's awesome. 20:36 I could have never thought that I would be, you know, 20:39 right here right now and I've done the things 20:41 that God has afforded me to be able to do 20:43 within the time limit 20:44 even to spend three years for me 20:46 and we done some amazing things. 20:47 So I was baptized, 20:49 then out of the blue Oakwood University Church called me 20:53 and said, they wanted me 20:54 to be a part of a revival with Him. 20:58 Now I'm fresh out, you know, to street 21:00 and I'm like I'm not doing no revival. 21:05 But that's what I'm thinking. All right. 21:06 But I told God that I would do whatever He asks me to do 21:09 and I would know it was from Him 21:11 based on who He sent, right. 21:14 I didn't call Oakwood and say let me do this, 21:16 you know, they reached out to me. 21:18 So I'm like, okay, God, you got a plan for this, I'll do it. 21:21 Next thing, you know, I found myself 21:23 in neighborhoods that are familiar with me, 21:25 knocking on doors of people 21:27 who are familiar with me saying, 21:31 "You want to have a Bible study and pray". 21:33 Oh, wow. 21:34 And it was an amazing thing 21:36 because as I'm comfortable as I was with them 21:37 because you're fearful of what people might think 21:38 and go through all of that in your mind 21:40 because you're somebody, you're this, 21:42 and if you're not this, then what are you? 21:44 You know what I mean. 21:45 God is doing a new thing and He's rewiring you. 21:47 That's what is taking place. 21:49 The amazing thing was that, 21:51 I was able to get in every home that not the average, 21:55 you know, evangelist might be able to get into 21:56 because I look just like you, you know, 21:59 and I'm somebody that you were looking to 22:01 out here before, 22:02 like you know how along, 22:03 you want to come in here and pray with, 22:07 and have Bible study with me? 22:09 What happened to you? 22:11 Right, I got to get rid of this, right? 22:12 Yeah, yeah. 22:14 It is a story piece, you know what I'm saying? 22:17 It is something that will break any ice, 22:20 as long as you're transparent with people 22:21 and that's not about I've been perfect my whole life 22:24 and you just need Jesus and you'll be perfect too 22:25 'cause that's not how it goes. 22:27 Right. You know. 22:28 So we did that and in that effort 22:30 during that revival time 22:32 there were 60 some other people baptized 22:34 and that was a blessing but the extra was like, 22:37 the partner that I was partnered with 22:39 and I were responsible for over 40 of them. 22:43 So I saw I say, okay, God... Praise the Lord. 22:45 You know, you, this is different, 22:48 you know, you know, 22:49 we're not trained in evangelism, 22:51 I'm not a Bible scholar, you know, but you can use me. 22:56 And that's exactly the point 22:58 you made yourself available to God and that's all. 23:02 God's not looking for the theologians 23:05 and Bible scholars 23:06 although I believe that by now you are becoming that 23:09 but, but... 23:11 You got to prepare. You got to prepare. 23:12 But He just wants you to be available. 23:15 Period. Why? 23:16 Just say, "Lord, I'm available to you". 23:18 He can do much more with somebody 23:19 that's willing than somebody who's able and stubborn. 23:23 So, you know I know it all. 23:27 So we did that 23:29 and shortly after my brother Jeremy Anderson 23:32 who was converted in 2009, 23:34 and had been on His faith walking 23:36 and you know how when somebody changes, 23:38 you know, it happened to me too, 23:39 people did it to me too, they're like, 23:41 "Oh, you gonna follow God now?" 23:43 Yeah, like, "Right". 23:44 I'll see you later on. 23:46 Yeah, yeah. Hold you in your past. 23:48 Yeah, but not just hold you in your past 23:49 they're used to people not being consistent. 23:52 You know, it's not even their fault it's a programming, 23:53 you know, of people that are inconsistent 23:55 and it's still an issue today 23:57 'cause you have people in the church 23:58 but they're not consistent. 24:00 You know, I suffered from that reality 24:01 and that's also why I didn't go there. 24:03 You know. 24:04 So we've got to be the change that we want to see. 24:06 It's a theory of "If you can't find any good people, be one". 24:09 So if you can't find any real questions be one. 24:11 So my brother Jeremy Anderson was there for me. 24:15 And he was a part of the decision that I made 24:20 because he said when he talked to me he was like, "Look, bro, 24:22 you can't touch nothing else or do nothing else." 24:26 And so I made the decision that if I died, 24:29 that I spoke on earlier, at his house, you know, 24:31 during a 45-minute conversation that we had. 24:33 So he called me one day 24:36 and said that he came from Bermuda. 24:39 And he came from Bermuda 24:40 and he just shared my testimony with people 24:41 because he calls himself a testimony stealer, 24:43 like he like, I'mma share your testimony if you won't. 24:46 So he was out there and he shared 24:48 and he said, "Bro, you got to do something with that 24:50 and God told me that we supposed to do something 24:52 and we're gonna start in, 24:53 I'mma canvassing the Grace Tour 24:55 and I want you to come and speak 24:56 and share your testimony at a church in Myrtle Beach, 25:00 South Carolina," and it was April 2014. 25:04 I said you know in my mind, I won't do that 25:07 'cause I don't want to tell people my business, right? 25:09 You don't wanna 'cause I know 25:10 how judgey people in the church can be 25:12 even though it's not our assignment to tell people 25:14 how we feel only our God feels about them, that's our reality. 25:17 People will do more talking about you 25:19 than talking with and for you to God. 25:21 So I was like, you know, 25:22 I don't wanna put all this out here. 25:24 It wasn't a comfortable thing. 25:26 But nothing grows in comfort, so like I said, I would do it, 25:30 anything you ask me to do, God, I'll do it, 25:31 I know by who you're sensing. 25:33 And my brother asked me I just told him I would 25:35 and we went it was a blessed event 25:36 we did like four events that year, 25:38 or no we did like six events that year 25:40 and we were traveling place to place. 25:42 We hit Texas, we went Dallas, Houston, 25:45 New York, Missouri 25:47 and I just saw the effect that it was having 25:49 and I was like, man, God 25:50 like I'm not a trained speaker, you know, 25:53 I'm not somebody that has the experience 25:56 or the qualifications but God doesn't, you know, 25:58 call the qualified he qualifies the call. 26:01 So, I said, wow, you know, if I can be used for this, 26:04 this is what I wanna do 26:05 and we went full time ministry in 2015 26:09 with something that was developed 26:10 through my brother Jeremy Anderson 26:12 and his wife Traci Anderson 26:13 their nonprofit called, Next Level Living. 26:15 And we developed it was called the Grace Tour. 26:17 We traveled on the road in 2015 for 3 weeks out of the month 26:21 we were on the road witnessing, ministering, 26:23 speaking to any and everyone that we could, 26:26 churches, evangelism one-on-one, 26:28 teaching them how to get outside of the church 26:30 and into the community 26:31 so that they could become more relevant 26:33 therefore making Jesus more relevant. 26:34 You know what I mean? 26:35 Like the days of going with tracks 26:37 is not where you live right now, 26:40 that's not the time that we're right now 26:41 'cause people are hungry 26:43 so if I don't first provide your need, 26:45 you not gonna wanna listen to me. 26:47 Like, don't knock on my door with a track 26:50 and you only got a burger or a sandwich 26:52 or something like I'm hungry can I get that 26:54 and then we could talk about this, 26:56 can you show 26:57 or express a genuine care for what I might need. 26:58 So you are not saying don't get out of track 27:00 but what you're saying is that 27:03 you have to meet people where they are, 27:05 that's what Jesus did. 27:06 Yeah. 27:07 He met people where they were, he fed the hungry, 27:09 he healed the sick, and then He preached to them. 27:11 Jesus never preached Jesus. 27:13 He didn't walk up and say, "I am Jesus, follow". 27:15 You know what I'm saying? He said, "What is it you need?" 27:17 "Oh, you're laying?" 27:18 "Get up and walk". "Or you're blind?" 27:20 "Here, see. Now follow me". 27:21 You know what I mean? 27:23 He gave people an incentive and a reason. 27:24 He showed them that He cared. 27:26 And when people saw that they were like, "Oh, man, 27:28 I never experienced no love, love like this before" 27:32 and that is what was attractive. 27:34 So that's what we are and that's what we do. 27:37 So when, speaking of love, 27:40 when does Sophy come into the picture, 27:42 it's a good place to bring our little Sophy in now. 27:44 Prefect segment. 27:45 We can bear with that. 27:47 Sophy actually came into the picture 27:50 3 months into the Grace Tour in 2015. 27:53 Okay. 27:55 It was March and we were in Las Vegas, 27:57 and our sister Traci Anderson, Jeremy's wife, 28:01 lost her mother and they had to go, 28:04 and see about the family, 28:06 and they left us in Las Vegas and we had, you know, 28:09 assignments to speak at schools, in group homes, 28:12 and detention centers, and churches, and so forth. 28:15 And I was assigned to preach for the main service 28:19 at Abundant Life Church in Las Vegas, Nevada. 28:22 And I was like, you know, 28:24 wow, this is going to be interesting 28:25 I never got into a pulpit and preach before. 28:29 But let's just say God blessed, amazing experience, and I said, 28:32 "Okay, God", you know, you know new heights new level, 28:34 everything is about going to the next level 28:36 which is why our nonprofit is called Next Level Living. 28:38 So I was still in Las Vegas 28:42 and somebody suggested to me 28:44 on Facebook a page to go on like, 28:46 it was a "Jesus is King" page. 28:48 And I'm like, "I like Jesus, Jesus is my man". 28:50 So I go to the page and I like the page, 28:52 when I liked the page, you know, 28:53 it will show you who else likes the page, right? 28:56 And I saw this wonderful looking woman. 28:59 I saw this divine creature, you hear me? 29:03 I got to get my Barry White voice, 29:05 this gorgeous creation. 29:08 And I said, wow, I think, I think, 29:11 I think I should talk to her, you know, 29:15 'cause this point I'm looking for a helpmate, 29:17 I must be real. Right. 29:18 And someone who loves Jesus yes, yes. 29:21 My Sister Sula Skiles, who's a pastor 29:24 and a church planter down in Destin, Florida 29:26 with her husband John Skiles, 29:27 we've been growing calls and praying, 29:29 she literally prayed for a specific type of woman 29:31 with certain characteristics. 29:33 I began to look for those things. 29:35 I go to her page and I literally went from, 29:38 it was 2015 all the way back to 2000 29:41 whenever she started her page. 29:44 And the entire thread was consistent. 29:47 The whole thing was just like, you know, 29:49 it was beautiful, it was joyous, 29:50 it was encouraging, it was inspiring. 29:53 There were biblical references, 29:54 it was just like joyful, you know, 29:57 when I saw that and I said, "I like that". 30:03 So, of course, I jumped in her DM, 30:05 I hit her inbox like, "How are you?" 30:08 You know, "You're so blessed". You know what I'm saying? 30:11 I was coming with that talk. 30:13 And she didn't say nothing to me, 30:14 she didn't respond for a while. 30:16 And finally as I said, I study things 30:19 and I like, you know, a challenge. 30:21 You like as men we love to be able to pursue something. 30:24 You don't make yourself so readily available 30:27 that it looks like this is what you do, 30:29 bounce, bounce, right? 30:31 Be unavailable to a degree. 30:36 The hunters? Yeah, man, she was there. 30:38 Men are hunters. 30:39 So one day, you know, I discovered that she likes, 30:41 you know, she's a fan of food like most of women are, 30:44 you know what I mean, 30:45 like they say food's a way to a man's heart, 30:46 no, it's not, it's a woman. 30:48 You know what I mean? 30:50 So I said, "Hey, sis." 30:53 I hit it with a sis, I think that worked, 30:55 you know what I mean? 30:57 Oh, he goes and say sis. 30:58 I said, "Hey, sis," Non threatening, 30:59 you know what I'm saying? 31:01 Right, not "Hey, babe". 31:02 Yeah, we wouldn't do that. 31:04 And I said, so that she responded 31:06 and we just kind of spoke and she said "Listen", 31:09 I said, "Can I have your number 31:10 so we could talk for the like, 31:12 I love to just grow in Christ with you". 31:13 You know what I'm saying? 31:15 She said, well, "Listen, thank you, I'm flattered 31:20 but I'm really focused on purpose right now". 31:22 And I said, "Oh, I like that". 31:28 So when she said that I said, okay, that's somebody that, 31:31 you know, I can see myself being with so, you know, 31:34 whatever, whatever 31:35 I know what to look for. 31:37 But you're talking quality. Quality. 31:39 Inside and outside. 31:40 Period. Period. 31:42 And so I left her alone for a second. 31:46 But it was all while I was still in Vegas 31:48 and what she did was the sermon 31:50 that I preached in Vegas was recorded at the church 31:54 and I posted the link on my page. 31:56 So she went to my page, and she clicked the link, 31:58 and she watched it. 32:00 And so I'm like God knew what He was doing. Right? 32:02 "All right, God, you know what you're doing 32:03 with all this stuff," right? 32:06 So, so she watched it and then the Grace Tour 32:09 we have videos on YouTube that you can go and watch. 32:12 And she started to look up the Grace Tour. 32:14 So she watched all the videos, you know, 32:16 and next thing you know, I get a message on Instagram, 32:21 you know, from Facebook to Instagram, 32:22 and she followed me, 32:24 I was going to followed her back. 32:25 And I was like, "Oh, you like the videos, huh?" 32:29 Now what were you thinking, Sophy, when you saw Brian, 32:33 what were you thinking? 32:36 I never seen a group of young people on fire 32:41 for the Lord, and I wasn't around that. 32:44 And I was in a place of my own, you know, 32:47 pursuing God with all my heart 32:52 and I just didn't have that around. 32:55 So I was just very, very encouraged and inspired, 32:59 and I had my son I said, 33:00 "Andrew, you have to look at these 33:02 wonderful young people 33:04 that are going around the country", 33:06 you know, the ye therefore 33:07 go ye there for ministry really, 33:09 you know, and it just was so encouraging to me 33:12 so I decided after his few attempts 33:15 to just send him an encouraging message. 33:17 And say, "Hey, brother," you know, 33:19 I'd just like for you guys to know 33:21 that I'm praying for you guys, 33:23 what you guys are doing is a phenomenon, 33:25 and I'll keep you guys lifted up in prayer 33:27 keep doing what you're doing, God bless pretty much. 33:29 And that was the message. And what happened next? 33:32 And he was just like, "Oh." 33:36 I remember she wouldn't give me a telephone 33:37 so what she gave me was her Skype. 33:39 So we began the Skype. 33:41 Like messaging and then I actually got a Skype video, 33:44 I called it a Skype date and we spoke, you know, 33:48 and really developed a bond through that, you know. 33:53 And where were you living? Connecticut. 33:54 Oh, okay, so you live in Connecticut, 33:57 and you were still in Huntsville? 33:58 While I was on the road at that time, 33:59 but, yeah, you know, Huntsville was home. 34:01 That was your base. 34:02 But we were still, you know, 34:04 just really getting into the tour. 34:07 So you know, we talked for a while 34:09 and kept speaking and finally I got her number, 34:12 she let me call her and we, you know, we talked every day. 34:16 And then it was like two months later it was May, 34:19 Memorial Day weekend, and I was like, 34:21 you know, we should meet, we should meet up. 34:24 So I flew to New York and she came to pick me up 34:26 I went back to Danbury, Connecticut where her family is 34:28 and spent Memorial Day weekend with them, you know. 34:31 And God ain't with the family. They love his speaking. 34:34 Oh, okay. 34:36 They barbecue and all they want to do is barbecue. 34:40 Just like us. Just like me. 34:44 So I cooked for them, you know what I mean? 34:49 I barbecued and I made, you know, 34:51 some baked beans that, you know, that they love, 34:54 and made all the stuff. 34:56 So they were like, "Hey, you're cool with us", 34:57 you know what I'm saying, so we got in there. 34:59 And every month I flew her out 35:01 to wherever I would be on the road. 35:04 Yeah, we made a commitment that we would see each other. 35:06 And then we were married four months later. 35:08 Wow. 35:10 So how long was the courtship all together? 35:11 Four months. Four months. 35:13 Four months! March to July. 35:15 Wow, that's incredible 35:16 and you got married how long ago? 35:18 When was it? 35:19 Well, we had our wedding ceremony Memorial Day weekend. 35:23 Last year. 35:24 2016, but we were married in 2015. 35:28 That was a beautiful wedding. 35:31 Fabulous, really beautiful. Thank you. 35:34 So God has now called the two of you 35:38 into a ministry with the sex trade. 35:41 How did that happen? And what's that all about? 35:43 Well, okay, let me give context 'cause prior to that... 35:46 Good. 35:47 This came because God asked me to do something, 35:50 and I wrote a book. 35:51 And, you know, we developed the book, 35:53 and we put it out in 2016, you know, 35:55 as you know called the Plug. 35:57 And with that He also asked us to start our own ministry 36:00 and our own programs for schools, 36:01 while I was doing the Grace Tour 36:03 already with just an extension, you know, 36:04 and something that we would reside over 36:07 so that we could grow. 36:09 And we were in schools with mentorship programs, 36:13 teacher empowerment sessions, you know, 36:16 realigning them with a purpose, it's called Teachers Covenant. 36:19 And it is really encouraging and inspiring people 36:23 to pursue their purpose 36:24 and their passions every single day. 36:26 And it's called "The Activate Series" 36:28 so we developed a company 36:30 and it's called Activated Ministries. 36:32 Well, a ministry called Activated Ministries rather. 36:36 My wife's, our intentions were for her 36:37 to quit her corporate job that she made great money at, 36:41 and go full time ministry 36:42 because that's where her heart was. 36:44 So in March 2016, she did, she quit her job, 36:49 through a series events the God showed us like 36:50 this is what He want us to do 36:51 and we walked that walk, 36:54 and are still there, you know, now. 36:57 2016, what month was it, honey, 37:00 where Jeremy Krause contacted you? 37:04 Towards, probably September... Like mid August right? 37:07 Mid August, September, yeah. 37:08 Yeah, so my sister Sula Skiles 37:12 that we spoke of has become Sophy's mentor. 37:15 And Sula is a survivor of sex trafficking, 37:17 and she's now phenomenal speaker for it, 37:20 a part of many organizations 37:22 that fight this horrendous injustice. 37:26 So we always knew that we would always do 37:27 something together 37:29 and we just didn't know what it would be. 37:31 And Sophy was on Instagram one day 37:36 and she tells it better than I do, so... 37:38 Well, I was on Instagram one day and I, you know, 37:40 this man was just liking all the pictures, 37:41 and the ministry pictures, and stuff like that 37:43 and I went on his page 37:45 and I saw that him and his wife are in Thailand 37:47 and they're doing ministry in Thailand and, obviously, 37:50 Thailand is my home. 37:51 So and I saw that they're, you know, 37:55 in the human trafficking arena, 37:58 so I just sent them a message and say, 37:59 "Hey, you know, brother, 38:00 you know you guys are doing awesome job in Thailand, and, 38:03 you know, I'm going to continue to pray for you, and your wife, 38:05 and your ministry." 38:06 And he hit us up right away and say, 38:08 "Hey, I see that you're a Christian 38:09 and you're Thai 'cause there's 1% in Christianity 38:12 in Thailand". 38:14 One percent! Wow, 1%? 38:15 Lower than one percent. Lot of work to do. 38:17 So when I accepted the Christ 38:19 I've come from the home of Buddhism, you know, 38:22 and I'm the only Christian in my home. 38:24 So when I accepted Christ, I've always asked God like, 38:28 "God, use me as your hands and feet 38:30 to go back home to increase that number, 38:33 I want to go spread, you know, the love of Christ there". 38:36 And but I didn't know what avenue, 38:39 so when Jeremy and I spoke it just, you know, 38:43 the Holy Spirit just spoke to us 38:45 and then being around my mentor Sula, 38:47 and hearing her story, in part with, you know, 38:51 the traumatic background 38:53 that I came from dealing with trauma, 38:55 and sexual abuse, and all that stuff 38:59 it just, it just really heighten my passion 39:01 for human and sex trafficking. 39:03 We need to hear your testimony. 39:05 I was just getting ready to say 39:06 gives us a little what happened. 39:10 Yeah. I was born in Thailand in a small village, you know, 39:13 to a family of farmers very poor. 39:15 Came in when I was two, 39:17 actually sponsored by a Christian lady, 39:20 to the United States 39:21 and stayed in Connecticut all my life. 39:23 But in my culture women are very marginalized, right. 39:27 And we are to be submissive at any cost. 39:30 So the blueprint I have with, you know, 39:32 was domestic violence, and alcohol abuse, 39:37 and I was sexually molested by family members 39:40 by the age of 12. 39:41 And, you know, and I think at that very moment 39:45 is when I questioned my value and my worth 39:50 because my father didn't protect me 39:52 when these things were presented. So... 39:54 Your father knew about the abuse? 39:56 Well, yeah. 39:58 But in my culture you don't talk about things. 40:01 You just keep it moving, you know. 40:03 And so I think that was the point of me 40:07 determining how I was gonna look at myself and my life. 40:13 I didn't have an identity, yeah, 40:14 I was always the lesser person, you know. 40:19 So after that just a series of attempt to suicides, 40:24 and cutting myself was just a way of dealing 40:27 with dysfunction, and trauma, and then, you know, 40:30 I had my son at 17, 40:32 and that was a domestic violence relationship as well. 40:37 This was my blueprint, you know. 40:38 I've given myself to a man, this was gonna be my husband 40:42 for the rest of my life 40:44 regardless of what's gonna go on, 40:45 you know, that was my mindset. 40:49 So that was my mindset just going through life now, 40:52 and not fully knowing who I am and understanding 40:55 my value and my worth, 40:56 even at the age of my early 20s accepting Christ 41:00 through a relationship, 41:01 I was dating a pastor's son at the time, 41:04 and that's how, you know, I encountered Christianity 41:08 but just on, you know, the surface. 41:10 I've never heard the gospel before, 41:12 never heard the gospel before. 41:14 And one evening I was invited by his mother to come 41:19 and hear a man speak from South Africa. 41:23 You got to come, Sophy, you got to come, 41:24 this man is awesome". 41:26 I went out of respect, you know I went to church 41:28 but I'm a Buddhist, I haven't converted 41:30 but I'm going out of respect for the elders and stuff. 41:33 So I went to hear that the speaker 41:36 was sitting in the way, way back and at the, 41:39 and don't even ask me what the sermon was about 41:40 'cause I don't know my mind was totally on something else. 41:43 At the end of the service he said, you know, 41:47 young lady with the floor just sitting in the back, 41:49 you know, come over, come up to the altar. 41:52 And I'm looking around like, 41:53 "Who's he talking about not me", you know. 41:56 I'm like, "What is this about?" You know. 41:59 And he said, "You know, young lady, 42:01 you know, please come up, 42:02 you know, I like to pray for you. 42:05 And I was like, okay, I got up and not even all the way up, 42:10 probably to the center of the altar I, 42:13 I felt just an overwhelming presence 42:16 and I started to shake and cry really, really badly. 42:19 And I said "I got up here", he just looked in my eyes 42:21 and he said, "You know, you're just so precious 42:24 and you're going to evangelize around the world one day". 42:29 And that was the message to me. 42:31 I didn't know what evangelism is. 42:32 I didn't know what evangelism, I've never heard the gospel 42:34 so I'm just like crying because I'm emotional 42:37 and feeling this presence 42:38 that was warm and it was electric. 42:40 It was just it was overwhelming and he's speaking these things 42:43 and the elders of the church just got around 42:45 and prayed for me. 42:47 I didn't know still what was going on. 42:49 But that night though, that night, 42:50 that night I knew it was Jesus and I felt the Holy Spirit 42:54 because He visited me in my dream. 42:57 And it was just a beautiful dream 42:59 where I remember to this day, and I'll tell everybody, 43:01 and anyone if they asked about Christ is that, 43:04 you know, I was walking on the road 43:05 just like Paul in Damascus I was walking on this road, 43:07 just walking, and walking, 43:08 and just very down in the dream, 43:11 and then soon there was just a light like a glory 43:14 and it was just so heavy 43:15 that I couldn't even look right into it 43:17 'cause it would, you know, blind me that was the light. 43:20 So I turned away a little bit, 43:22 and then I felt this light coming by me, 43:25 and as it passed me, 43:27 I was able to turn around a little bit, 43:29 and then this man's face, whom I know was God, 43:32 who's Jesus, looked and smiled and it was so bright. 43:35 And He said to me, "You shall not die." 43:38 And that was my dream. 43:39 I woke up the next day, I was just crying, 43:42 and call calling my pastor, 43:43 and I went to church the following weekend 43:46 and accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior. 43:49 I didn't know still what the Gospel 43:50 but I know I never felt 43:52 something so real and so, so tangible, 43:56 it was a tangible encounter, you know, 43:59 it was just not just reading scriptures and just, you know, 44:03 surface knowledge 44:06 but I actually had an encounter, 44:08 and He's so real like that. 44:10 How did your family react to that since... 44:13 Right I know. 44:14 Christians so like how did they respond to that? 44:16 Well, they mocked me a lot at first. 44:18 So my grandmother who is a religious Buddhist, 44:22 she was very actually supportive to it. 44:26 She would say, "Hey, you know, 44:27 I heard about Jesus Christ He's a good man". 44:29 You know? "You do whatever you want to do", 44:32 and that was her stance on it 44:33 but other family members mocked me 44:35 like they would say you know 44:36 don't talk about Jesus Christ around here, 44:38 you know, people would ask me, "Okay, what happened?" 44:40 There was they started to get curious 44:42 because of the change in the lifestyle, 44:46 so they would get curious about it 44:47 and they would ask me, 44:49 and it would be my opportunity 44:50 to share a little bit of my story. 44:52 But it got so bad where I got so offensive sometimes 44:55 'cause they would be like, "You Jesus freak", 44:56 or, you know. 44:57 You know, don't come around here 44:59 talking about Jesus, 45:00 you know, we're Buddhist, and this is our culture, 45:02 and this is our religion, 45:03 and you know you do what you want 45:04 but you don't come around here and speak those things. 45:07 So that's what I was dealing with, with a lot. 45:10 But even at that time, 45:12 I didn't have a faith based home 45:14 so it wasn't strong, you know. 45:16 The connection that I had was through my ex-boyfriend, 45:20 his parents, and his side of the family, 45:22 so when that relationship ended, 45:25 I didn't have anybody kind of to really be mentored by, 45:30 and to really just help me through this faith walk, 45:34 so I kind of was lost through my ways in. 45:39 And didn't really fully submit, 45:42 was believer but not a true follower. 45:45 All right, so what, what was the, 45:47 what marked the turning point? 45:48 The turning point was going through 45:49 so many different relationships with different men, 45:52 trying to find love, you know, only to be abused, you know, 45:58 same spirit different faces. 46:00 Right. 46:02 Now we're really dealing with who I am 46:03 and identifying myself with Christ. 46:06 So I continued to go through this life 46:08 of just different relationships to a different relationship 46:10 and it wasn't until the last relationship 46:13 before Brian, I've never really been single 46:15 'cause I was scared to be alone. 46:17 Okay? 46:18 So the last relationship before Brian I said, I'm done, 46:23 you know, I'm done with this. 46:25 And I got on my knees one day and it wasn't until, 46:29 it was like two and half years ago, 46:32 I said, "I'm done, God, 46:33 I want your way and your will only. 46:37 I fully submit". 46:38 And I don't think that people fully submit 46:41 because of the pain and the costs 46:42 that is associated with full submission, 46:44 you're gonna lose a lot of stuff. 46:46 People are scared of change 46:48 and they don't want to let go of certain things 46:50 even things that they say they love 46:52 that are not good for them, right? 46:54 So I said that's it, that's it I'm done, all you. 46:58 And I'll tell you that room when I say encounters, 47:03 He's so good in real like that 47:06 I felt such a warmth that evening in my bedroom 47:10 and I knew that's there was a whole transformation 47:14 to have taken place. 47:15 Yes, I've accepted Christ, 47:18 I had this revelation of His love for me 47:20 but transformation doesn't take place 47:22 until you get that full revelation 47:24 of His love, and who you are, and what you're made to do. 47:29 So that changed me totally. 47:31 In that morning, I'll tell you 47:33 it was just a whole weight lifted off, 47:35 I started to really, really pursue the things 47:38 that God has placed in my life, and I fell in love with Christ, 47:44 I fell in love to the point where I said, 47:45 "God, if I wasn't going to get married, 47:48 marry or have a husband, I'm good. 47:50 Because this is so fulfilling, 47:51 I've never felt so good and so fulfilled in my life". 47:57 You're glad that didn't happen, right? 47:59 Seven months later I showed up. 48:01 So, you know, to any single ladies out there, 48:06 you know, if you chase Him... 48:10 That is the key. Yeah. 48:11 It's that just not the key 48:13 because the Lord wants your heart first. 48:15 Yes, yes. 48:17 Then, then someone else can be a part of that 48:21 but you and Him first. Yes. 48:23 I really believe that too with all my heart. 48:26 And it was so crazy because it just like 48:28 even though I didn't want a husband, 48:29 he had the Holy Spirit 48:31 to really, really place in my heart 48:32 to really understand and read about healthy relationship 48:35 because I didn't have healthy relationships, 48:37 I've broken relationships full of abuse, and lies, 48:41 and, you know, things, 48:43 and I started to read about healthy relationship 48:45 just simple healthy relation with family, and friends, 48:47 and coworkers, it was simple. 48:50 Then he got me on to, I watched one video of Dr. Myles Munroe 48:54 and he talked about relationships and how, 48:58 you know, we woman meet men in heat and in passion 49:02 not in purpose and in vision. 49:05 So... 49:07 And that really was profound to me 49:09 because it just really explained, 49:11 you know, the cycle that I went through, you know, 49:15 and I'm like that's it, if he's not in passion I mean, 49:17 if he's not in purpose and in vision, 49:19 I can't even talk to the dude. 49:22 Basically, like our conversation was like, 49:26 "What kind of vision do you have for our life?" 49:28 You know. 49:30 Looking what God, He set you guys in purpose. 49:32 In purpose. And, and I really want... 49:35 Your testimony is amazing, Jay. 49:39 I mean look at what God has done. 49:41 He worked on both of you apart healed you 49:45 because you were broken... 49:48 And still broken. We're still broken. 49:50 And then brought you together. Yeah. 49:51 We're all broken, yeah. 49:52 We're all, you know, we're broken. 49:54 But He healed you by attaching you to Him, 50:00 and then you guys could attach to each other in purpose. 50:04 So let's talk about the sex trade 50:06 because I can't believe our time is getting away. 50:08 And your testimonies are just so profound 50:11 and our viewers need to know who you are 50:14 because you're getting ready to take all that God 50:17 has given you into the mission field. 50:20 Tell us about it. 50:22 Well, there is just another level of ministry 50:23 that He's called us to, you know, He's all, 50:24 God is always about increasing and expansion. 50:27 So He's called us to the anti-human 50:30 in sex trafficking field. 50:32 We founded a nonprofit organization 50:34 that is called the G51 Project, 50:36 which is founded on the principles 50:38 found in Galatians 5:1 which says, 50:41 my wife quotes it better than I do. 50:42 Okay. 50:44 But it is for freedom that Christ has set us free 50:45 so stand firm and do not let yourselves 50:48 be yoke by slavery ever again, 50:52 so that's what G51 is founded on, yeah. 50:54 And we have a website we're gonna put up too. 50:56 Yeah, thank you. 50:58 The entire verse is just in the chapter 50:59 is about freedom in Christ, period. 51:01 So I actually said, we talked to Jeremy Kraus 51:04 the founder of the 51:06 Thrive Rescue international organization in Thailand, 51:09 we spoke with him and immediately, you know, 51:11 how sometimes you just have a connection with people. 51:14 Like there's a divine connection, period, 51:15 like I just feel connected to you, 51:17 you feel connected to me, 51:18 and there's something for us to do, let's figure it out. 51:22 We had that conversation and shortly after he posted 51:24 that Thrive Rescue was hosting schooling 51:26 called Thrive Justice School... 51:29 Thrive what school? Thrive Justice School. 51:30 Justice. Yes, mam. 51:32 Which is an extensive and intensive training 51:34 for six weeks and upon completion 51:36 you will be certified in global injustice response, 51:39 qualifying you to speak globally 51:41 on this particular injustice. 51:43 So that's what we will be obtaining 51:45 and we're headed to Thailand in June, 51:48 and we're currently fundraising for that 51:50 as well as other things that God has given us 51:52 to develop like a Safe Heaven Home 51:54 for victims that have been resumed 51:57 for their restoration and their rehabilitation. 51:59 And we're reformulating that and building it 52:03 wherever He tells us to put it 52:05 most likely with in Huntsville, Alabama. 52:07 What are your current needs? What do you need? 52:10 We need partners, man, we need partners. 52:12 In fundraisings you need funds, you know, 52:13 'cause this thing costs. 52:15 So what we did was we took 3000 out of our, you know, 52:17 savings account, you know, we're not, you know, 52:19 financially, you know, rich people you know. 52:21 Really the last bit that we have. 52:23 Right. 52:24 Just because God that's what He said to do, so, you know, 52:26 it's not a thing like He gave it us, 52:27 He'll take care of us, 52:29 we are not worried about that, we'll give it to you, 52:30 we've seen way too many miracles 52:32 and know that you can do all things 52:34 to ever begin to doubt you now, and He sustained us, right? 52:37 So it's really just about Him being able to trust you 52:38 with the way He's preparing you to receive. 52:40 So we gave that, 52:42 then we've been raising the money, 52:43 we were 51% of the way there now, 52:45 so that's just a blessing and a testimony in itself 52:47 'cause every month we make it, you know what I mean. 52:49 So we're currently fundraising for that venture, 52:52 as I said we'll be there for six weeks. 52:53 And when we come back, 52:54 we will be developing the safe house for victims 52:57 that have been rescued and we'll be partnering 52:59 with local law enforcement and U.S. Marshals, FBI, 53:03 and other organizations that are fighting 53:05 to eradicate this injustice. 53:07 How prevalent is it in the United States because, 53:10 you know, you don't hear that much about it? 53:13 Thirteen billion dollars a year in the US alone. 53:15 Thirteen billion! 53:17 One hundred fifty billion worldwide. 53:19 Hundred fifty billion worldwide! 53:20 So twenty seven million. How does it work? 53:23 How does it a girl become enslaved? 53:25 Well, there are several ways, you know, 53:27 like for instance with our sister Sula. 53:29 They met her party on Hollywood, 53:32 promised her a modeling contract, 53:34 and she did model, and got her ticket 53:36 but it was a one way ticket, 53:38 and she was so excited about the opportunity 53:40 and the people where she was, 53:41 it looked so great 53:42 that she didn't really suspect anything. 53:44 Right. 53:45 She gets on a plane, she goes, 53:46 and she was the gift for a billionaire's wife. 53:49 Oh, my. 53:50 Yes, yes, she was a gift for billionaire's wife. 53:53 And she was there for many months. 53:55 And... 53:56 How is it that they can't get out? 53:58 Well, when you get there, 53:59 they take all your documentation, 54:01 they take your passport. 54:02 Oh, she came from another land. 54:04 She came from here to California 54:07 and went somewhere toward the Middle East. 54:09 Oh, I got you. Okay. 54:11 So they take all of your information. 54:12 Okay, so you're at their mercy, period. 54:14 And it is a life threatening situation 54:17 and she saw people not come back, you know, 54:20 if they were rebellious, and so forth. 54:23 So she submitted, she submitted she was... 54:28 They drug you, there is a breakdown process 54:31 where you don't trust people, you can't talk to people, 54:36 you have no resources, you have no network, 54:38 and you're pretty much just a slave. 54:39 It is the exact same thing that was happening with slavery 54:42 from Africa to Americas and so forth 54:44 where people are just sold. 54:46 There are like I said, 27 million people 54:48 in sex trafficking it happens in various ways, 54:50 you have the modeling situations, 54:51 and have promises of better jobs, 54:53 where mothers and their daughters 54:54 have been duped into it 54:57 like there's stories of that happening, 54:58 then there's also social media 55:00 which is super, super dangerous right now. 55:02 Because, if you meet a young man, 55:05 he promises you these things, 55:06 he would be your boyfriend for a while even, 55:08 and then they will literally set them up to be raped, 55:12 you know, they'll drug them, they'll rape them, 55:14 you wake up, and you're in the situation now, 55:17 you have no freedoms, you have no rights, 55:20 and you are no longer a person, you are a commodity. 55:22 And the reason why it's so financially prosperous 55:28 is because I can sell a person over and over again. 55:31 Wow. 55:33 I can continue to sell you it doesn't matter what... 55:34 Looks like you're in a situation. 55:36 Period. Wow. 55:38 So, they do it there's also recruiting from 55:41 what they call "Bottom girls" you know, 55:43 we won't call, but they call it. 55:45 But basically a recruiter, that's been broken in, 55:48 and they will go out, they will befriend you, 55:50 and you're a young person, this isn't about poverty issue, 55:53 a good neighborhood bad neighborhood thing, 55:55 good family, bad neighborhood, 55:57 now they're coming for your daughters, you understand? 55:59 And it doesn't matter. 56:00 If you're human being with vulnerabilities, 56:02 you are suspect for it's happened to you, 56:05 and that's any and everybody to whatever age. 56:08 So in America the average age is from 12 to 16 years old, 56:11 and 76% of those victims are young Caucasian females. 56:15 Worldwide out of the 27 million, 56:17 14% are children ages 12 to 16. 56:23 It's so horrendous like we believe that this is evil 56:26 in its purest form 56:27 like this is the most demonic presence on earth 56:29 'cause you have to be fully engulfed 56:32 and demon possession to sell a child. 56:36 You are raping kids. 56:37 You're setting kids up to be raped. 56:39 And it's so evil like it's hard to talk about. 56:44 Yeah, and then in South East 56:45 you have parents that are knowledgeable, 56:49 knowingly selling their children 56:51 for sex or for luxury items even, you know, 56:55 like Cambodia the customers are prominently westerners 57:00 that go there, and buy little girls 57:03 that are at six, seven years old for sex. 57:05 Oh! 57:07 We thank you for what you're doing, 57:08 we're gonna be praying for you. 57:10 Thank you. Praise the Lord. 57:11 And we are going to make sure that we share this 57:15 because you've heard it now, viewer. 57:18 In the New International Version 57:21 of the Bible Isaiah 61:1 says, 57:23 "The spirit of the Lord God is upon me 57:24 because the Lord has anointed me 57:27 to bring good news to the afflicted, 57:29 He sent me to bind up the brokenhearted 57:31 to proclaim liberty to the captives 57:33 and freedom to prisoners." 57:34 Brian and Sophy are being used by God 57:36 to help set the captives free. 57:38 Won't you help them in this endeavor? 57:41 Ask the Holy Spirit just how much you should give 57:43 in support of this mission, 57:45 freely you have received, freely give. 57:48 Well, we've reached the end of another program, you guys, 57:51 thank you so much for being with us. 57:53 It was wonderful, what a blessing. 57:55 God's got a great thing in store for you. 57:57 And thank you, Jay. 57:59 Join us next time 58:00 'cause it just wouldn't be the same without you. |
Revised 2017-06-08