Andrew: GROWING UP POOR

ON THE VIOLENT STREETS OF

NEW YORK.

I KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE TO

HAVE RATS AND MICE IN YOUR

HOUSE.

NOT HAVING ENOUGH FOOD.

WEARING HAND ME DOWNS.

Andrew: ONE GANGSTER

PLANS A WAY OUT.

IT IS NOTHING FOR

SOMEBODY TO GET SHOT OR TO

GET HIT.

MAN, I'M JUST GOING TO

SLIT MY WRISTS AND LAY HERE

AND JUST DIE.

I DON'T CARE ANYMORE.

Andrew: HOW HE FOUND

HOPE IN AN UNLIKELY PLACE.

ON TODAY'S "700 CLUB

INTERACTIVE."

Gordon: ON "700 CLUB

INTERACTIVE," WE USE

TECHNOLOGY TO PRAY FOR EACH

OTHER AND EXPLORE TOPICS

THAT MATTER TO YOU.

WATCH WHAT GOD IS DOING IN

THE WORLD TODAY.

Andrew: HI, AND WELCOME

TO THE SHOW.

KIRBY ANTHONY FELT

INVISIBLE.

THE ONLY TIME HE FELT SEEN

WAS WHEN HE WAS IN TROUBLE.

BY THE AGE OF 14, KIRBY HAD

JOINED A GANG AND WAS

INVOLVED WITH DRUGS,

ALCOHOL, AND WOMEN.

SHE WAS GOING NOWHERE FAST.

UNTIL A GIFT FROM A STRANGER

CHANGED HIS LIFE FOREVER.

I'M KIRBY, ANTHONY, BORN

AND RAISED IN ROCHESTER, NEW

YORK.

MY MOTHER HAD SIX CHILDREN.

SHE WAS 18 WHEN I WAS BORN,

AND I WAS HER THIRD CHILD.

I NEVER MET MY BIOLOGICAL

FATHER.

I GREW UP IN THE INNER CITY,

THE SLUMS.

I KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE TO

HAVE RATS AND MICE IN YOUR

HOUSE.

NOT HAVING ENOUGH FOOD.

WEARING HAND ME DOWNS.

YOU WALK DOWN THE STREET AND

THERE IS BROKEN GLASS ON

EVERY PIECE OF SIDEWALK.

DILAPIDATED BUILDINGS,

PEOPLE BEING DRUNK AND

GAMBLING.

YOU SEE ALL KINDS OF STUFF.

VIOLENCE IS PRESENT AND YOU

DON'T KNOW WHAT COULD

HAPPEN.

IT IS NOTHING FOR SOMEBODY

TO GET SHOT OR TO GET HIT.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE A POSITIVE

VOICE IN YOUR LIFE, GIVING

YOU DIRECTION, GIVING YOU A

VOICE OF REGION, YOU HAVE

THESE OTHER GUYS ON THE

BLOCK, DOWN THE STREET,

HANGING OUT ON THE CORNER,

THEY ACCEPT YOU.

WHAT'S UP, LITTLE MAN?

HOW YOU DOING?

ONE GUY USED TO SAY, STAY IN

SCHOOL; DON'T END UP LIKE

ME.

I REMEMBER ONE DAY A WHOLE

BUNCH OF OLDER GUYS SAID, IF

YOU WANT TO GET DOWN WITH

US, YOU HAVE TO FIGHT.

ANOTHER GUY NAME WAYNE, WAY

BIGGER THAN ME, HE WAS LIKE,

IT'S YOUR TURN, LITTLE MAN.

WHAT YOU GOING TO DO?

I HIT HIM A FEW TIMES, AND

HE JUST ATE THOSE PUNCHES.

AND HE DREW BACK AND PUNCHED

ME IN THE NOSE.

I FELL DOWN AND HE GOT ON

TOP OF ME AND STARTED

HITTING ME.

AFTER THAT, I FELT SO GOOD

BECAUSE ALL OF THE OLDER

GUYS WERE, LIKE, HE FOUGHT

THE WAYNE.

HE DIDN'T CRY.

HE TOOK THE BEATING LIKE A

MAN.

I REMEMBER IT MADE ME FEEL

LIKE IT WAS MORE ACCEPTED.

MY OLDER BROTHER, WHO I

LOVE, HE GOT INVOLVED IN THE

DRUG GANG, AND HE WENT TO

JAIL FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER.

I REMEMBER GOING TO SEE

HIM.

IT MADE ME KIND OF FEEL LIKE

YOU'VE GOT TO BE THE MAN

NOW.

YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE GOOD

CHOICES.

I WAS DOWNTOWN ONE DAY, AND

THIS MAN CAME UP TO ME.

A HEAVY-SET WHITE DUDE, BALD

HEAD WITH HAIR ON THE

SIDES.

HE WAS HARD-CORE.

HE SAID, DO YOU KNOW JESUS

IS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR.

AND I WAS, LIKE, WHAT?

AND HE SAID, DO YOU KNOW

JESUS IS YOUR LORD AND

SAVIOR.

I SAID, OKAY, JESUS

WHAT?

JESUS, YEAH, JESUS.

HE GAVE ME A TRACK AND

SAID, I WANT YOU TO TAKE

THIS AND READ IT.

I SAID, I'LL TAKE YOUR

TRACK.

I TOOK THE TRACK HOME AND I

STUCK IT IN MY STOP DRESSER

DRAWER AND DIDN'T LOOK AT IT

AGAIN.

SEPTEMBER OF 1992, IT WAS MY

SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL.

I HAD TO GO TO HIS

ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL.

ALL OF THE BAD KIDS GO

THERE.

THERE WAS NO ORDER.

KIDS GETTING IN TROUBLE,

FIGHTING AND SMOKING.

IT WAS REALLY BAD.

I REMEMBER THINKING TO

MYSELF, IS THIS ALL THERE IS

TO LIFE?

IT HAD GOT TO THE POINT

WHERE I COULDN'T EVEN ENJOY

SIN.

THERE WAS A TIME WHEN I WAS

IN THE BASEMENT AT MY

GRANDPARENT'S HOUSE, AND I

HAD A KNIFE AND I REMEMBER

SAYING, I'M GOING TO SLIT MY

WRISTS AND JUST LAY HERE AND

JUST DIE.

I DON'T CARE ANYMORE.

WHEN YOU HAVE THAT PAIN IN

YOUR SOUL, LIKE MENTAL

ILLNESS OR EMOTIONAL

ILLNESS, IT IS JUST LIKE IF

YOU BREAK AN ARM AND IT

HURTS, OR YOU BURN YOUR ARM,

AND THE NERVES IN YOUR ARM

HURTS.

SOME PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND

WITH DEPRESSION AND STUFF,

IT IS THE SAME WAY, BUT IT

IS THE SOUL.

FEBRUARY 4th, 1993, IT WAS

A FRIDAY.

AND USUALLY ON A FRIDAY

NIGHT, I WOULD GO AND HANG

OUT WITH FRIENDS, SMOKE AND

DRINK, KIND OF HANG OUT AND

GET INTO SOMETHING.

THIS PARTICULAR NIGHT I

STAYED AT HOME.

I REMEMBER JUST FEELING SO

DOWN, THINKING ABOUT MY

BROTHER, THINKING ABOUT

LIFE.

AND IT WAS ON THAT NIGHT I

WENT AND GOT THAT TRACK.

AND THAT TRACK HAD STAYED IN

THERE FOR AT LEAST FOUR OR

FIVE, MAYBE EVEN SIX

MONTHS.

IT WAS TALKING ABOUT THE

PEACE OF GOD.

AND I REMEMBER THAT WAS JUST

SO ATTRACTIVE TO ME.

I WAS, LIKE, GOD, I JUST

WANT PEACE IN MY SOUL.

MY SOUL IS NOT AT REST.

AND ON THE BACK IT HAD THE

PRAYER OF SALVATION.

I GOT DOWN ON MY KNEES AND I

SAID THAT PRAYER.

AND I JUST BROKE.

I WAS 17.

I DON'T THINK I WEPT LIKE

THAT EVER IN MY WHOLE LIFE.

IT IS LIKE A WEIGHT, LIKE A

HUGE WEIGHT, WAS JUST OFF OF

MY SOUL.

I DIDN'T HAVE ANY CHURCH

CLOTHES AT THE TIME, BUT I

WENT TO CHURCH.

THE PASTOR GAVE AN ALTER

CALL.

I REMEMBER GOING TO THE

ALTER, AND THE PASTOR HUGGED

ME.

I JUST REMEMBER JUST REALLY

FEELING LIKE I'M IN GOD'S

FAMILY.

GOD LOVES YOU REGARDLESS OF

YOUR STRUGGLE, AND HE LOVES

US TOO MUCH TO LEAVE US THE

SAME.

THE CRIMINAL ON THE CROSS,

THE BIBLE SAYS THAT THE MAN

SAID, LORD, IF YOU ARE

REALLY THE SON OF GOD, SAVE

YOURSELF AND US.

AND THE OTHER CRIMINAL SAID,

WE'RE UP HERE BECAUSE WE

DESERVE TO BE UP HERE, BUT

HE HAS DONE NOTHING.

AND JESUS TOLD THE ONE

CRIMINAL, YOU HAVE SAID

RIGHT TODAY.

YOU WILL BE WITH ME IN

PARADISE.

THAT CRIMINAL DIDN'T HAVE

TIME TO GET OFF THE CROSS

AND CLEAN HIMSELF OFF AND GO

THROUGH A THIEVES ANONYMOUS

COURSE.

HE WAS A CRIMINAL.

HE DIED AS A CRIMINAL.

AND YET JESUS TOLD HIM,

YOU'RE GOING TO BE WITH ME.

I'M LOVED AND ACCEPTED BY

GOD.

NOT BECAUSE OF MY

RIGHTEOUSNESS, I COULD NEVER

EARN IT.

BUT BECAUSE OF WHAT JESUS

HAS DONE.

THAT MAKES ME PURSUE CHRIST

EVEN MORE.

Andrew: DID YOU HEAR

HIM SAY THAT THE PEACE OF

GOD WAS ATTRACTIVE TO HIM?

IT WAS BECAUSE THE HOLY

SPIRIT WAS DRAWING KIRBY TO

HIMSELF.

THE PEACE OF GOD SURPASSES

OUR UNDERSTANDING BECAUSE IT

IS A PEACE THAT THE WORLD

DOES NOT GIVE AND DOES NOT

OFFER.

IT IS A WONDERFUL THING, THE

GRACE OF GOD, THE PEACE OF

GOD.

H. A. IRONSIDE TOLD A

WONDERFUL STORY ABOUT AT THE

END OF THE CIVIL WAR, UNION

SOLDIERS ARE ON THEIR

HORSES, RIGHT AROUND

RICHMOND, AND OUT OF THE

WOODS COME THIS CONFEDERATE

SOLDIER FROM THE SOUTH,

UNIFORM TURNED TO RAGS,

THIN, SCARED, COLD.

AND HE SAYS, PLEASE GIVE ME

SOME FOOD -- HE SAYS THIS

TO HIS ENEMIES.

AND THE NORTHERN GENERAL

SAYS, GO TO RICHMOND AND GET

FOOD FOR YOURSELF.

HE SAYS, I CAN'T DO THAT.

I LEFT THE ARMY.

IF I GO BACK, I'LL BE

KILLED.

THE UNION GENERAL SAYS,

THERE HAS BEEN A PEACE.

GO BACK AND GET WHAT YOU

NEED.

THERE IS PEACE.

THE WAR IS OVER.

AND THIS CONFEDERATE SOLDIER

SAYS, ARE YOU TELLING ME

THERE IS A PEACE AND I

DIDN'T KNOW IT BECAUSE I'VE

BEEN HIDING OUT IN THE WOODS

ALONE?

AND THAT'S LIKE OUR STORY,

ISN'T IT?

JESUS MADE PEACE WITH GOD ON

OUR BEHALF, AND SOMETIMES WE

DON'T RECOGNIZE IT BECAUSE

WE'RE ALONE AND IN HIDING,

ASHAMED.

BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT

THERE IS HOPE BECAUSE JESUS

MADE PEACE WITH GOD ON OUR

BEHALF.

AND WE NEED TO GET OUT OF

HIDING AND UNDERSTAND THAT

RELATIONSHIP.

COMING UP, MOMMY GONE WILD.

I WANTED MORE, AND THAT'S

ALL I WANTED.

AND I DIDN'T CARE HOW I GOT

IT.

I WAS SO EMPTY AND BROKEN.

Andrew: WE'RE GOING TO

FIND OUT WHAT IT TOOK TO

SOBER HER UP AND BREAK HER

CHAINS OF ADDICTION.

THAT'S AFTER THIS.

Andrew: OUT OF CONTROL,

THAT'S HOW MICHELLE

DESCRIBES HER LIFE, FROM THE

DRINKING TO THE DRUGS AND

THE SEX, AND NOTHING WAS

OFF-LIMITS.

THESE WILD BENDERS COST

MICHELLE MORE THAN SHE

BARGAINED FOR.

I REMEMBER BEING UP IN

OUR BIG WINDOW,

AND MY MOTHER TELLING ME,

MICHELLE, PLEASE COME DOWN

FROM THERE.

DADDY IS NOT COMING HOME.

Reporter: MICHELLE WAS

ONLY FOUR YEARS OLD WHEN HER

PARENTS DIVORCED.

HER MOTHER LATER REMARRIED A

CHRISTIAN MAN WHO TOOK THE

FAMILY TO CHURCH.

I JUST DID WHAT MY

PARENTS TOLD ME TO DO.

IF THE CHURCH DOORS WERE

OPEN, WE WOULD BE IN

CHURCH.

Reporter: GROWING UP,

MICHELLE WAS TORN BY HER

CHRISTIAN PARENTS AND HER

BIOLOGICAL FATHER, WHO

ENCOURAGED HER TO LIVE BY

HER OWN RULES.

I REMEMBER HAVING A LOT

OF BUILT-UP ANGER.

I WAS SEEING IT AS THEY

DON'T CARE ABOUT ME.

THEY JUST WANT TO KEEP ME

UNDER THEIR ROOF.

THEY DON'T WANT ME TO HAVE A

LIFE.

AND IT MADE ME REBEL MORE.

Reporter: AT 17,

MICHELLE MOVED OUT AND

EMBRACED THE PARTY

LIFESTYLE.

BUT WHEN SHE HAD SEX ONE

NIGHT, HER FRAGILE

SELF-IMAGE WAS DESTROYED.

AFTER THAT, MICHELLE DECIDED

NOTHING SHE DID MATTERED.

IT WAS A BREAKING

POINT IN MY LIFE WHERE I

JUST THOUGHT LESS OF MYSELF

BECAUSE IT WAS IMPORTANT TO

ME TO SAVE MYSELF FOR THE

FIRST MAN I WAS GOING TO

MARRY.

I ENDED UP BEING PROMISCUOUS

THROUGHOUT YEARS BECAUSE I

THOUGHT, WELL, I'VE ALREADY

DONE THAT.

SO I GUESS IF I'M GOING TO

BE A PART OF WHATEVER HIS

WORLD HAS, I'M GOING TO HAVE

TO JUST GO WITH IT.

SO I DRANK A LOT.

I HAD TO DRINK TO RELAX TO

FIT IN WITH THE CROWDS I WAS

HANGING AROUND.

I STARTED SMOKING POT

OCCASIONALLY.

Reporter: MICHELLE WENT

FROM ONE RELATIONSHIP TO THE

NEXT.

I WAS LOOKING FOR THAT

LITTLE WHITE HOUSE WITH THE

PICKET FENCE AND THAT

PERFECT LITTLE FAMILY THAT I

NEVER HAD.

Reporter: HER SEARCH

ALWAYS ENDED IN HEARTACHE.

OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS,

MICHELLE HAD FOUR CHILDREN

WITH FOUR DIFFERENT MEN, AND

PUT ONE SON UP FOR

ADOPTION.

I KNEW I COULDN'T AFFORD

TO KEEP THIS CHILD.

I DIDN'T FEEL THAT I WAS

GOING TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE

HIM A GOOD LIFE.

THAT'S THE HARD PART.

WHEN YOU HAVE THAT BEAUTIFUL

BABY IN YOUR HAND AND YOU

HAND IT OVER.

AND YOU GIVE THAT CHILD TO

THE PERSON THAT IS GOING TO

BE TAKING CARE OF HIM FOR

THE REMAINDER OF HIS LIFE.

AND THAT ALONE, IN ITSELF,

IS UNEXPLAINABLE.

Andrew: MICHELLE USED

ALCOHOL TO DEAL WITH HER

GRIEF, BUT ADDING TO HER

DEPRESSION, SHE HAD ALSO

GAINED WEIGHT.

SO WHEN SOMEONE OFFERED HER

A PILL THAT WOULD HELP HER

LOSE WEIGHT, SHE TOOK IT

WITHOUT QUESTION.

I THOUGHT IT WAS A

DIETARY SUPPLEMENT, BUT IT

WAS METHAMPHETAMINE IN A

PILL FORM.

Reporter: MICHELLE WAS

ADDICTED INSTANTLY, AND SOON

BEGAN SMOKING METH.

FEEDING HER ADDICTION BECAME

ALL SHE CARED ABOUT FOR THE

NEXT EIGHT YEARS.

I WANTED MORE.

AND THAT'S ALL I WANTED.

AND I DIDN'T CARE HOW I GOT

IT.

MY BILLS WEREN'T BEING PAID

AFTER A TIME.

THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW, I'M

BEING EVICTED AND PUTTING MY

STUFF IN STORAGE.

IT TOOK EVERYTHING FROM ME,

MY SOUL, MY CHILDREN, TWO

HOUSES, A COUPLE OF CARS.

EVERY TIME I WOULD

REESTABLISH OR TRY TO

REESTABLISH THINGS, IT WOULD

BE TAKEN AWAY FROM ME.

Reporter: MICHELLE'S

KIDS STAYED WITH RELATIVES

AND FRIENDS.

AND THEN MICHELLE'S PARENTS

FILED FOR CUSTODY OF HER

DAUGHTER, VALERIE, AND WON.

AFTER MY PARENTS TOOK MY

DAUGHTER, I RAN REAL HARD.

I WAS JUST RUNNING FROM

EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING

WITHIN ME, MYSELF AND

EVERYBODY ELSE.

I WAS SO EMPTY AND BROKEN,

AND I REMEMBER BEING UP FOR,

I'D SAY, ABOUT FIVE DAYS.

Reporter: MICHELLE WENT

ON A METH BINGE AND WAS

COMING DOWN FROM HER HIGH

WHEN HER OLDEST SON,

ANTHONY, FOUND HER.

HE SAID, MOM, GET

YOURSELF TOGETHER.

AND I JUST LOOKED AT HIM

WITH THAT DISGUST IN HIS

FACE, AND I WAS THINKING,

THIS IS MY BABY BOY, MY

FIRST-BORN CHILD, AND HE

SEES ME A MESS.

SO AT THAT POINT HE HELPED

ME PICK UP WHATEVER WAS

AROUND, AND I SAID, OKAY,

I'M GOING TO TRY THIS.

I'M GOING TO GO TO SLEEP AND

GET MYSELF TOGETHER.

Reporter: MICHELLE

SOBERED UP SO SHE COULD TRY

TO TAKE CARE OF HER BOYS.

THE FIRST THING WAS TO FEED

THEM.

THEY SAID, MOM, WE NEED

TO GET SOME STUFF TO EAT.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT CAME

TO ME, I THOUGHT, WAIT, I

CAN TAKE THEM DOWN TO THE

CHRISTIAN CENTER AND FEED

THEM FREE.

MY PARENTS ARE BOTH LEADERS

THERE.

AND I CAN GET A CHANCE TO

SEE VALERIE REAL QUICK.

Reporter: AFTER THEY

ATE, MICHELLE'S DAUGHTER

CONVINCED HER TO STAY FOR

THE WORSHIP SERVICE.

MICHELLE'S FIRST IMPULSE WAS

TO RUN.

I STILL REMEMBER

EVERYTHING GOING THROUGH MY

HEAD: WHY ARE YOU HERE?

WHY ARE YOU ATTEMPTING

THIS?

WHAT ARE PEOPLE GOING TO

SAY?

SO I SAT THERE IN THAT PEW

AND FOUGHT IT AND FOUGHT IT

AND FOUGHT IT.

Andrew: FINALLY,

MICHELLE DECIDED TO STOP

RUNNING.

IT WAS LIKE THE SECOND

PSALM, AND I REMEMBER

WALKING UP TO THE ALTER.

AND I THOUGHT, THIS IS MY

CHANCE FOR CHANGE.

AND AT THAT MOMENT IS WHEN I

SAID, YES, JESUS, TAKE THIS

FROM ME.

HAVE YOU TO TAKE THIS FROM

ME, THIS ADDICTION, MY

FRIENDS -- I SURRENDER IT

ALL TO YOU.

AT THAT POINT, THAT'S WHEN

MY LIFE WAS CHANGED.

I WALKED INTO A CHURCH

FOR A FREE MEAL, BUT I LEFT

WITH ETERNAL LIFE.

Reporter: MICHELLE

COMPLETED THE DRUG RECOVERY

PROGRAM AND IS DRUG-FREE.

TODAY SHE IS HAPPILY MARRIED

WITH JOHN, RECONCILED WITH

HER CHILDREN, AND FINALLY

HAS THE LIFE SHE DREAMED

OF.

GOD HAS REALLY RESTORED

EVERYTHING, NOT ONLY WITH

RELATIONSHIPS, BUT WITHIN

MYSELF.

ALL I HAD TO DO IS SAY, GOD,

TAKE ME, I'M YOURS.

I NEED YOU.

AND I GUESS THE TRUTH OF IT

IS IS GOD KNOWS OUR HEART.

WHEN WE'RE READY, HE KNOWS

OUR HEART.

Andrew: I LOVE WHEN

MICHELLE SAID, THIS IS MY

CHANCE.

THIS IS MY CHANCE TO CHANGE

MY LIFE.

I IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT OF THE

STORY OF ZACIAS IN THE

BIBLE.

AND WE SEE ALL OF THE GOSPEL

OF LUKE, THAT JESUS CAME TO

SEEK AND SAVE THE LOST.

IN THIS ACCOUNT, THERE WAS A

TAX COLLECTOR THAT WAS

DESPISED IN THE COMMUNITY

BECAUSE HE WAS WEALTHY AND

HE USED TO CHEAT PEOPLE OUT

OF MONEY.

THE BIBLE SAYS HE WANTED TO

SEE JESUS.

AND THE CROWD AROUND JESUS

WAS SO LARGE HE COULDN'T SEE

HIM BECAUSE HE WAS A LITTLE

GUY.

SO HE HAD TO RUN AHEAD.

AND HE RAN AHEAD OF WHERE

JESUS WAS AND HE CLIMBED A

TREE.

AND HE WAITED FOR JESUS

BECAUSE HE WANTED TO SEE

HIM.

PERHAPS IN YOUR LIFE, YOU

WANT TO KNOW, YOU WANT TO

SEE JESUS.

WE HAVE TO MAKE THAT EFFORT

TO REACH OUT TO HIM.

THE BIBLE SAYS THAT JESUS

WALKED, LOOKED IN A TREE,

AND SAW HIM AND KNEW HIS

NAME.

AND SHOCKED EVERYONE WHEN HE

SAID, ZACHIAS, COME DOWN

FROM THE TREE IMMEDIATELY.

HE WANTED HIM THEN.

THE INVITATION TO THIS

OUTCAST, TO THIS

SINNER WAS IMMEDIATE.

HE DIDN'T TELL HIM TO CLEAN

HIMSELF UP FIRST.

HE JUST SAID, COME DOWN TO

ME NOW.

I WANT TO EAT IN YOUR HOME

TODAY.

THAT WAS A BIG THING IN

THOSE DAYS, TO SHARE A

MEAL.

HE SAID TO COME DOWN

IMMEDIATELY, AND IMMEDIATELY

ZACHIAS DID.

HE HAD PUT HIMSELF IN A

POSITION TO MEET WITH

CHRIST.

BUT INTERESTINGLY, JESUS

DIDN'T CLIMB THAT TREE.

HE BECKONED ZACHIAS TO COME

DOWN AND MEET WITH HIM AND

ENTER INTO RELATION WITH

HIM.

AS THE VERSE SAYS, JESUS

CAME TO SAVE AND TO SEEK

WHAT WAS LOST.

YOU CAN PRAY WITH SOMEONE.

GIVE US A CALL AT

1-888-777-1999, OR LOG ON

TO CBN.COM.

AND THERE IS SOMEONE HERE TO

PRAY WITH YOU RIGHT NOW.

NEXT, WE'RE GOING TO PRAY

FOR YOU, JESSICA AND I

WILL.

SHE'S BEEN GOING THROUGH

YOUR PRAYER REQUESTS.

WE'RE GOING TO BE PRAYING

FOR YOU ON THE SHOW.

FIRST, A TEENAGER MAKES A

DEVASTATING DISCOVERY AND

GOES OUT OF CONTROL.

I FOUND MY FATHER DEAD,

FROM A HEART ATTACK.

HE LEFT ME $70,000, AND

WITHIN A YEAR AND A HALF I'D

SPENT IT ALL ON DRUGS.

Andrew: WE'RE GOING TO

SEE HOW HE TURNED HIS LIFE

AROUND WHEN WE COME BACK.

Andrew: WELL, WE ALL

HAVE A PURPOSE IN LIFE, BUT

CHRIS DEW DID NOT FEEL THAT

WAY.

HE WAS BORN WITH A SPEECH

IMPEDIMENT, AND HE HATED HIS

LIFE, AND SOON BLEW HIS

ENTIRE INHERITANCE ON

DRUGS.

I THOUGHT I WAS BORN WITH

NO PURPOSE IN LIFE.

I WAS ALWAYS A REAL QUIET

CHILD.

I NEVER FELT OKAY IN MY OWN

SKIN.

WHEN I WAS ABOUT 12 YEARS

OLD, I REMEMBER COMING HOME

FROM SCHOOL ONE DAY AND

RUNNING UPSTAIRS AND HITTING

MY KNEES AND JUST CRYING OUT

TO GOD, AND BEGGING HIM TO

FILL HIS EMPTINESS IN MY

HEART, TO TAKE AWAY THIS

SPEECH IMPEDIMENT OR TO JUST

KILL ME.

MY VIEW OF LIFE WAS I WOULD

LIVE 50 TO 80 YEARS AND I

WOULD DIE.

AND IF THAT WAS THE CASE, I

WAS GOING TO TRY TO GET AS

MUCH PLEASURE AS I COULD IN

THAT SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.

I WAS BLESSED WITH PARENTS

WHO JUST LOVED ME INCREDIBLY.

I NEVER LACKED FOR ANYTHING

AS A CHILD.

BUT WHEN I STARTED GOING

DOWNHILL, THEY JUST DIDN'T

KNOW HOW TO HANDLE ME.

I STARTED SMOKING WEED AT 15

YEARS OLD, AND SOON I WAS

COMPLETELY ENSLAVED TO

SHOOTING HEROIN EVERY SINGLE

DAY.

I JUST KEPT FEELING MORE

EMPTY, MORE HOPELESS.

WHEN I WAS 19 YEARS OLD, I

FOUND MY FATHER DEAD FROM A

HEART ATTACK IN OUR

APARTMENT.

HE LEFT ME $70,000, AND

WITHIN A YEAR AND A HALF I

SPENT IT ALL ON DRUGS.

ONE EVENING MY MOM ASKED ME

OVER FOR DINNER AND ASKED ME

IF I WAS WILLING TO GIVE

LIFE ONE MORE CHANCE.

THE VERY NEXT DAY I ENDED UP

IN FLORENCE AT A DRUG AND

ALCOHOL REHAB CENTER.

I WAS JUST OVER 100 POUNDS.

I BARELY EXISTED.

I WAS A WRECK, JUST SHAKING

AND SWEATING FROM THE

WITHDRAWALS.

AND ONE OF THE OTHER

RESIDENTS CAME UP AND ASKED

ME TO GO TO A CHRISTMAS

SERVICE.

I WASN'T RAISED IN THE

CHURCH AT ALL, BUT I HAD

HEARD ABOUT JESUS BEFORE.

BUT THIS TIME WAS COMPLETELY

DIFFERENT.

I REMEMBER SITTING IN THE

SERVICE, AND MY MIND WAS

RACING.

MY HEART WAS RACING.

BUT JUST FEELING GOD

PRESSING THROUGH ALL OF THAT

CLOUDINESS.

I REMEMBER THEY GAVE THE

INVITATION TO ASK JESUS INTO

YOUR LIFE, AND TO RAISE YOUR

GLOWSTICKS, AND TO RAISE IT

ABOVE YOUR HEAD.

AT FIRST I WOULDN'T DO IT.

BUT RIGHT AT THE VERY LAST

MINUTE, I BROKE THE

GLOWSTICK AND RAISED IT

ABOVE MY HEAD AND ASKED

JESUS INTO MY LIFE AT THAT

POINT.

AND GOD'S SPIRIT LIVING IN

ME KEEPS ME HUNGERING AND

GROWING CLOSER TO HIM.

I WAS BLESSED WITH THE

OPPORTUNITY TO GO BACK TO

THE TREATMENT CENTER AND TO

HOLD BIBLE STUDIES AND TO

SEE LIFE CHANGE HAPPEN

THERE.

LIFE TODAY IS TOTALLY

DIFFERENT.

THE EMPTINESS I ONCE HAD IS

NO LONGER THERE.

THE JOYLESS MISERY I WAS

LIVING IN HAS BEEN REPLACED

WITH THE PLEASURES OF GOD.

THE SATISFACTION I WAS

LOOKING FOR IN DRUGS AND

ALCOHOL HAS BEEN COMPLETELY

SATISFIED IN JESUS.

THE BIGGEST STRUGGLE I HAD

WAS MY SPEECH IMPEDIMENT IN

MY LIFE, BUT THROUGH HIS

LOVE AND HIS GRACE AND HIS

PEACE, HE HAS LOOSENED MY

TONGUE.

AND I WHOLEHEARTEDLY BELIEVE

HE IS GOING TO USE HIS

HEALING AND MY VOICE TO LEAD

HUNDREDS, AND EVEN

THOUSANDS, OF PEOPLE TO

HIM.

Andrew: CHRIS, WE

REJOICE THAT YOU DID NOT

GIVE UP, AND THAT YOU FOUND

THAT SATISFACTION, AS YOU

SAID, IN JESUS CHRIST.

AND WE THANK YOU FOR HOW YOU

ARE IMPACTING LIVES NOW.

YOU KNOW, TO OUR AUDIENCE,

THOSE WATCHING, UNDERSTAND

PEOPLE NEED YOU.

YOU CAN BE THE KEY TO

SOMEONE ELSE FINDING HOPE.

AND ALL TOO OFTEN WE FOCUS

ON OURSELVES.

THERE ARE SO MANY AROUND US

WHO NEED US TO LEAD THEM IN

HOPE.

AND THE IMPACT WE CAN HAVE

ON OTHERS IS TRULY

REMARKABLE.

WE HERE AT "700 CLUB

INTERACTIVE" LOVE TO PRAY

WITH YOU.

LET'S GO TO JESSICA IN THE

CHATROOM.

ANDREW, THAT WAS A GREAT

STORY.

WE HAVE Facebook REQUESTS

IN WITH SIMILAR PEOPLE WITH

SIMILAR CRIES OF

DESPERATION.

CYNTHIA WRITES, "PRAY FOR MY

KIDS.

MY SON AND HIS GIRLFRIEND

ARE ADDICTED TO METH AND

ALCOHOL.

MY DAUGHTER KEEPS LOOKING

FOR MEN IN ALL OF THE WRONG

PLACES.

SHE NEEDS TO SAY NO TO BOOZE

AND TO MEN.

PRAY FOR SALVATION FOR MY

KIDS AND FOR THE CHAIN OF

ADDICTION TO BREAK OFF IN MY

FAMILY."

ERIC WRITES, "I AM

DEPRESSED AND CAN'T SNAP OUT

OF IT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL

TAKE AWAY THIS DEPRESSION.

IT IS RUINING MY LIFE."

AND FINALLY ANGELIQUE SAYS,

"MY TWO SONS ARE IN TWO

DIFFERENT GANGS.

THEY'RE BOTH ON

PAROLE AND HAVE ADDICTION

PROBLEMS.

PRAY THAT MY BOYS CAN BECOME

GANG-FREE AND DRUG-FREE.

I WANT THEM HEALTHY AND

SAFE."

IF YOU'RE WATCHING AND YOU

NEED A BREAKTHROUGH IN YOUR

LIFE, OR YOU KNOW SOMEBODY

WHO DOES, JOIN WITH US IN

PRAYER AND WE'LL AGREE WITH

YOU IN FAITH.

HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK

YOU, JUST LIKE WE SAW IN

THAT STORY WITH CHRIS,

FATHER, THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO

TAKE OUR BROKENNESS AND TURN

IT INTO SOMETHING

BEAUTIFUL.

FATHER, FOR CYNTHIA, WHO IS

HEARTBROKEN OVER HER SON,

AND HER SON'S GIRLFRIEND,

LORD, WE ASK FOR

INTERVENTION INTO THEIR

LIVES.

THAT THEY WILL HAVE AN

ENCOUNTER WITH THE LIVING

GOD.

FATHER, FOR ERIC WHO IS

STRUGGLING WITH DEPRESSION,

FATHER, WE PRAY THAT YOUR

LOVE WILL OVERWHELM HIM,

THAT HE WILL EXPERIENCE THE

JOY OF THE LORD THAT IS NOT

DEPENDENT ON CIRCUMSTANCE,

BUT, FATHER, THAT HE WILL

BEGIN TO LOVE AND ACCEPT

HIMSELF.

THAT HE WILL GET TO THE ROOT

OF THE PAIN PROBLEM.

BRING PEOPLE INTO HIS LIFE,

AND COUNSELLORS, WHO CAN

HELP HIM WALK THROUGH THAT

JOURNEY.

AND, FATHER, WE LIFT UP

THOSE WHO ARE IN A PLACE OF

STRUGGLE, WHO ARE IN

DESPERATION, AND, FATHER, WE

ASK THAT YOU TOUCH THEM

RIGHT NOW IN JESUS' NAME.

FOR ANGELIQUE AND HER TWO

SONS, FATHER, WE ASK THAT

YOUR HOLY SPIRIT COME

CRASHING INTO THEIR LIVES,

THAT THEY WOULD KNOW THAT

YOU HAVE FOR THEM A HOPE AND

A FUTURE.

IN JESUS' NAME WE PRAY.

AMEN.

ANDREW?

Andrew: THANK YOU,

JESSICA.

IF YOU NEED FURTHER PRAYER,

GIVE US A CALL,

1-888-777-1999.

WE LEAVE YOU WITH THESE

WORDS FROM PSALM, 107: "SOME

SAT IN DARKNESS AND DEEPEST

GLOOM, IMPRISONED IN IRON

CHAINS OF MISERY.

HE LED THEM FROM THE

DARKNESS AND DEEPEST GLOOM.

HE SNAPPED THEIR CHAINS."

I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT

JESUS IS ALWAYS SEARCHING

AND SEEKING THE LOST.

HE NEVER STOPS.

HE IS KNOCKING ON THE DOOR

OF YOUR HEART.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO RESPOND

TO HIM AND MEET WITH HIM FOR

PEACE WITH GOD THROUGH JESUS

CHRIST.

FOR JESSICA, I'M ANDREW

KNOX, AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT

TIME ON "700 CLUB

INTERACTIVE."

BYE-BYE.