.

Gordon: SHE IS THE

HARDEST WORKING WOMAN IN

COUNTRY MUSIC.

GIVE ME A HIGH-FIVE,

LORD.

GIVE ME A THUMBS UP.

Andrew: DOLLY PARTON

LOOKS BACK AT HER

LEGENDARY CAREER, AND SHE

TALKS ABOUT HER FAITH AND

FAMILY, WHICH INSPIRE HER.

ON TODAY'S "700 CLUB

INTERACTIVE."

Andrew: NORTH KOREAN,

AND WELCOMGOOD MORNING,AND WELCOME TO THE SHOW.

DODOLLY PARTON IS A COUNTRY

MUSIC LEGEND.

SHE GOT TO TELL HER STORY

ON A MOVIE ON TELEVISION.

SHE IS CURRENTLY WORKING

ON TURNING MORE OF HER

FAMILY'S STORY INTO HIT

MOVIES MORE PEOPLE CAN

ENJOY.

EFREM GRAHAM TALKED TO HER

ABOUT HER FAMILY, HER

FAITH, AND HER CAREER.

DOLLY PARTON IS THE

HARDEST WORKING AND THE

MOST HONORED FEMALE

COUNTRY MUSIC ARTIST OF

ALL TIME, AND THE ONLY

WITH HER ONLY AMUSEMENT

PARK AND ROLLER COASTER.

IT'S THE FASTEST WOODEN

ROLLER COASTER.

IT GOES UP 73 MILES AN

HOUR, WHICH IS QUITE A BIT

FOR A WOODEN ROLLER

COASTER.

AND IT COVERS A LOT OF

TERRITORY.

WE'VE GOT A LOT OF THINGS

AT DOLLYWOOD.

AND IT'S CALLED LIGHTNING

ROD.

DO YOU RIDE LIGHTNING

ROD?

NO, I DON'T RIDE ANY OF

THEM, WITH THIS HAIR AND

ALL OF MY STUFF -- NOT

GOOD.

Efrem: DOLLY'S LIFE

IS A BIT OF A RISING

ROLLER COASTER.

SHE IS THE FOURTH OF 12

CHILDREN.

HER PARENTS, ROBERT LEE

AND ABBEY LEE, STRUGGLED

TO MAKE ENDS MEET IN THE

POOR HILLS OF EAST

TENNESSEE, NOT TOO FAR

FROM WHERE HER THEME PARK

NOW STANDS.

YOU DO HAVE A COLORFUL

WAY WITH WORDS.

WHY, THANK YOU.

MISS PARTON, FRONT AND

CENTER.

SINCE YOU WERE SO

INTERESTED IN TALKING

DURING THE ESSAY TEST, YOU

CAN BE THE FIRST ONE TO

READ YOUR ALOUD.

PLEASE TELL US WHO YOUR

FAVORITE FAMOUS PERSON IS

AND WHY YOU ADMIRE THEM.

WHY THAT'S EASY.

IT'S MISS DOLLY PARTON,

THE RISING STAR OF THE

GRAND OLE OPRY.

SHE WAS BORN IN TENNESSEE.

SHE COULD SING BEFORE SHE

COULD TALK.

> Efrem: HARD TO

BELIEVE THAT DOLLY PARTON,

ICON, COUNTRY MUSIC

SINGER, LEGEND, COMES FROM

SUCH HUMBLE BEGINNINGS.

THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO

DO THE STORY, BECAUSE

PEOPLE LIKE ME HAVE TO

COME FROM SOMEWHERE.

Efrem: SHE TOLD HER

STORY IN A SONG.

*

SHE MADE MY COAT OF MANY

COLORS THAT I WAS SO PROUD

OF *

I WAS ALWAYS SO PROUD

OF MY FAMILY, MY MOM AND

MY DAD, AND I REALLY

WANTED TO PAY THEM THE

RESPECT I THINK THEY

DESERVE.

I WANTED THIS TO BE MORE

ABOUT THEM THAN IT REALLY

WAS ABOUT ME.

NO ONE HAS SEEN HER

SINCE SHE LOST THAT BABY.

WELL, SHE LOOKS JUST

AWFUL.

WHO WOULDN'T.

EIGHT KIDS ALREADY.

THEY CAN'T FEED THE KIDS

THEY HAVE NOW.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH LEE

PARTON.

GOD TOOK THAT LITTLE

BABY JUST AS SURE AS THIS

WORLD.

I WOULD SAY IT IS A

BLESSING IN DISGUISE.

HOW COULD THE TAKING OF

THE INNOCENT EVER BE A

BLESSING?

OH, I'M SO SORRY, ABBEY

LEE.

IT IS A BEAUTIFUL LOVE

STORY BETWEEN YOUR MOM AND

DAD AND OVERCOMING

DIFFICULTY.

MY WIFE AND I LOST A CHILD

PRETTY MUCH THE SAME WAY,

SO I IDENTIFY WITH THAT.

OH.

Efrem: HOW WOULD YOU

DESCRIBE THEIR LOVE STORY?

MOMMA NEVER LOVED

ANYBODY BUT MY DADDY, AND

HE DIDN'T LOVE ANYBODY BUT

HER.

AND MY DAD WAS A HANDSOME

MAN, AND MY MOM WAS ALWAYS

A LITTLE JEALOUS, LIKE WE

SHOW IN THE FILM.

BUT THEY GOOD HEARTS.

MOMMA WOULD CHOOSE DADDY

OVER US, AND SHE LOVED US

OVER ANYTHING.

Efrem: YOU ARE

APPROACHING 50 YEARS OF

MARRIAGE YOURSELF.

UH-HUH.

Efrem: WE THEY ALWAYS

AN EXAMPLE FOR YOU?

I THINK MY HUSBAND AND

MY RELATIONSHIP -- IT WAS

A GOD SEND BECAUSE GOD

KNEW I WAS GOING TO BE

NEEDING SOMEBODY LIKE HIM

IF I WAS GOING TO BE DOING

ALL OF THESE CRAZY THINGS.

AND HE WOULD NEED SOMEBODY

LIKE ME BECAUSE HE IS VERY

MUCH A LONER.

Efrem: THE

ENTERTAINMENT REPORTS HAVE

COUNTED ONLY ABOUT 20

PUBLIC PHOTOGRAPHS OF CARL

DEAN AND DOLLY TOGETHER,

SINCE THEY SNUCK ACROSS

THE STATE LINE IN 1966,

AND MARRIED.

WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER 52

YEARS IN MAY, BUT WE'VE

BEEN MARRIED 50.

HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN

SUPPORTIVE, BUT HE ALWAYS

SAID, LEAVE ME OUT OF IT.

I'M NOT GOING TO ANY OF

THESE SHINDIGS OR ANY OF

THAT.

* JOLENE

Efrem: AT 70, DOLLY'S

SHINDIGS ARE NOT SLOWING

DOWN.

PICKING UP THE TEX RITTER

AWARD FOR THE.

"COAT OF

MANY COLORS" SONGS, AND

PUSHING FORWARD WITH A

TOUR.

YOU ARE GETTING READY TO

TOUR, 60 CITIES, I'M

READING.

ARE YOU UP FOR THAT?

I'M READY.

I'M ALL FOR IT.

ACTUALLY, I LOVE TOURING.

I LIVE ON MY BUS.

I DON'T STAY IN HOTELS.

I DON'T HAVE TO FLY, SO I

DON'T WEAR MYSELF OUT WITH

THAT.

I'VE GOT ALL OF MY THINGS

ON THE BUS.

I LOVE TO TRAVEL.

I'M A GYPSY.

I NEVER GOT OVER THAT.

Efrem: YOU STARTED

SINGING IN YOUR

GRANDFATHER'S CHURCH.

HE WAS A MINISTER.

HOW VIVID ARE THOSE MEM

MEMORIES?

OH, VERY VIVID.

I GREW UP KNOWING JESUS

LOVED ME, AND I KNEW

THROUGH GOD ALL THINGS ARE

POSSIBLE.

I JUST GREW UP WITH THOSE

LITTLE THINGS THAT WE

HEARD ALL OF THE TIME.

MY GRANDPA WAS A REALLY

GOOD PREACHER.

HE USED TO SCARE ME A

LITTLE BIT.

HE WAS THAT HELL FIRE AND

BRIMSTONE.

I WROTE A SONG ABOUT HIM,

AND ONE OF THE LINES WAS,

HE PREACHED HELL SO HOT

YOU CAN FEEL THE HEAT.

AND PEOPLE SAY, I'M

SURPRISED YOU TALK ABOUT

THAT, AND I SAY WHY NOT?

THAT'S WHO I AM AND KEEPS

ME GOING.

Efrem: THAT FAITH IS

WHAT INSPIRING DOLLY TO

WRITE HIT SONGS.

SHE HAS WRITTEN MORE THAN

3,000.

* IF I SHOULD STAY, I

WOULD ONLY GET IN THE

WAY *

Efrem: INCLUDING THIS

ONE...

ANY TIME I WRITE

SOMETHING AND I KNOW IT IS

A LINE THAT DIDN'T COME

FROM ME, I SAY, GIVE ME A

HIGH-FIVE, LORD, GIVE ME A

THUMBS UP.

* AND I WILL ALWAYS LOVE

YOU *

* I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU

Andrew: JOINING US

NOW IS CBN REPORTER AND

"STUDIO 5" HOST EFREM

GRAHAM.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW.

Andrew: THANK YOU SO

MUCH.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE

HERE.

Andrew: TELL ME ABOUT

MEETING DOLLY PARTON.

Efrem: AND ICON AND

SO HUMBLE, BUT A JOY TO BE

AROUND.

SHE WROTE THE SONG THAT

WHITNEY HOUSTON MADE

POPULAR AROUND THE WORLD.

AND A GREAT LINE FROM HER

IS, PEOPLE ALWAYS SAY

THAT'S WI WHITNEY'S SONG, AND

SHE SAYS, WHITNEY CAN GET

THE CREDIT AS LONG AS I

GET MY CASH.

BECAUSE SHE WROTE IT AND

THAT'S THE BUSINESS WOMAN

SHE IS.

Andrew: SHE HAS

WRITTEN OVER 3,000 SONGS?

A REAL SAVVY BUSINESS

WOMAN?

ABSOLUTELY.

SHE CAN GO INTO A ROOM

WITH A BUNCH OF MEN, AND

SHE IS THE ONLY WOMAN IN

THE ROOM, AND THEY'RE

LAUGHING AND JOKING WITH

HER AND TALKING ABOUT HER

HAIR AND HER BEAUTY, BUT

IN THE END, SHE WALKS OUT

HAVING CLOSED A MAJOR

DEAL.

SHE HAS A DEAL RIGHT NOW

WITH NBC TO DO FOUR FILMS

BECAUSE OF THE SUCCESS OF

"COAT OF MANY COLORS," SO

IT HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED

THEY'RE GOING TO DO

ANOTHER FILM FOLLOWING

THAT UP, FOCUSING ON A

CHRISTMAS STORY AND THAT

JUST ADDED 12 MILLION

PEOPLE THAT TUNED IN.

AND SO THAT DEAL WITH NBC

IS UNHEARD OF.

Andrew: WHY DO YOU

THINK SHE HAS APPEALED TO

SO MANY PEOPLE FOR SO

LONG?

BECAUSE SHE KNOWS WHO

SHE IS.

THE FILM IS A TRUE STORY,

AND YOU SEE HER AS A KID

WRITING HER VISION FOR

HERSELF, THE VISION THAT

GOD HAD GIVEN HER, THAT

SHE IS GOING TO BE

PERFORMING AT THE GRAND GRAND

OLE OPRY.

AND SHE HAS NEVER DENIED

THE POWER OF GOD IN HER

LIFE, FROM HER GRANDFATHER

TO HER FATHER AND MOTHER

DOWN TO HER AND HER

HUSBAND.

Andrew: EFREM, TELL

US ABOUT YOUR SHOW,

"STUDIO 5."

"STUDIO 5" FIVE FOCUSES

ON THE INTERSECTION OF

ENTERTAINMENT AND FAITH,

ALL THAT IS NEW AND NOW IN

THE WORLD OF UPLIFTING

ENTERTAINMENT.

TO GIVE PEOPLE A TASTE OF

THAT, AND TO MEET PEOPLE

THEY NEVER HAVE KNOWN THEY

HAVE DEEP-ROOTED FAITH.

Andrew: WHO ARE SOME

OF THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE

MEMORABLE TO YOU?

THE FIRST TO COME TO

MIND WOULD BE LE CRAE.

HE RECENTLY WROTE A BOOK.

I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO

INTERVIEW HIM BEFORE HE

WROTE THE BOOK.

AND HE IS RIGHT NOW ON

WORK ON A DOCUMENTARY THAT

WILL BE COMING OUT IN THE

FALL ABOUT HIS LIFE.

IT IS GOING TO PREMIER IN

SOUTH AFRICA.

THIS MAN IS SO HUMBLE, BUT

SO IN TUNE WITH WHAT GOD

HAS CALLED HIM TO DO, AND

HE IS REACHING A

GENERATION THAT IS REALLY

DIFFICULT TO REACH WITH

THE GOSPEL MESSAGE.

Andrew: AND HE IS

SOMEONE A LOT OF PEOPLE

ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO?

YES.

HE WAS ON JIMMY FALLON NOT

ONCE, BUT ABOUT THREE

TIMES.

AND THE WORLD PAYS

ATTENTION TO HIM AND

RESPECTS HIM.

NOT JUST BECAUSE OF HIS

FAITH, BUT BECAUSE OF THE

QUALITY OF HIS WORK.

AND D-1 IS A RAPPER, WHO

BECAME FAMOUS FOR A SONG

CALLED "SALLY PAYBACK,"

AND HE TALKS ABOUT PAYING

OFF THAT STUDENT LOAN AND

THE FREEDOM FROM THAT.

HE IS A RAPPER, BORN IN

LOUISIANA, NEW ORLEANS,

AND WAS A MIDDLE SCHOOL

TEACHER, AND WALKED AWAY

FROM THAT TO GET IN THE

ENTERTAINMENT WORLD.

I LOVE HIS STANCE ON

PURITY.

HE IS NOT HAVING SEX

BEFORE MARRIAGE, AND NOT

DATING.

AND HE IS CHALLENGING

OTHER CHRISTIANS TO DO

100% OF WHAT THE GOSPEL

CALLS YOU TO DO, AND NOT

PICK AND CHOOSE WHAT YOU

WANT TO DO BASED ON WHAT

IS EASY.

Andrew: AND BASED

UPON WHAT THE SHOW TRIES

TO DO, WHO IS ON YOUR LIST

YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE COME

ON?

THE FIRST THAT COMES TO

MIND WOULD BE JIM CASAKIN.

HE IS A GREAT COMEDIAN,

AND IF YOU HAVE LISTENED

TO HIS ACT, IT IS CLEAN.

CHRIS PRATT, I LOVE HIS

STANCE ON FAITH.

AND LENNY KRAVITZ, WHO HAS

A GREAT STORY ABOUT

LEADING HIS FATHER TO

CHRIST ON HIS DEATH BED.

I TALKED TO HIM BRIEFLY

ABOUT THAT, BUT I WOULD

LOVE TO TALK WITH HIM

MORE.

AND THERE IS ALSO JAMIE

FOXX, AND WHENEVER HE IS

AWARDED AN HONOR, HE GIVES

CREDIT TO HIS CHRISTIAN

GRANDMOTHER, WHO RAISED

HIM ON THE STRAIGHT AND

NARROW.

Andrew: THANK YOU FOR

YANKEE US, EFREM.

YOU CAN WATCH "STUDIO 5"

ON ROKU, OR GO TO

cbn.com/STUDIO5.

COMING UP NEXT, A

FATHER IN CHINA WONDERS,

WILL MY SON BE AN OUTCAST,

LIKE ME.

SEE HOW YOU HELPED THIS

Andrew: WHEN YOU GIVE

TO CBN, YOU'RE HELPING

PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD,

LIKE THIS FATHER AND HIS

FAMILY IN CHINA.

HE HAD NO WAY TO PAY FOR

THE SURGERY HIS SON NEEDED

UNTIL PEOPLE LIKE YOU MADE

IT POSSIBLE.

Terry: MR. WOO WAS

BORN WITH A SPINAL

DEFORMITY, SO HE STANDS

ONLY FOUR FEET TALL.

HE IS AN OUTCAST IN MOST

CIRCLES, BUT TO HIS WIFE

AND CHILDREN, HE IS THEIR

HERO.

HE WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR

HIS FAMILY.

ESPECIALLY HIS SON,

CHINCHING, WHO WAS BORN

WITH A CLEFT LIP AND PAL

LATE.

PAL

LATE.

PALETTE.

I THOUGHT, LIKE FATHER,

LIKE SON.

PEOPLE LOOK DOWN ON ME,

AND NOW THEY WILL LOOK

DOWN ON CHINCHING.

I COULD NOT HAVE THAT.

Terry: MR. WOO WORKED

AND DID ODD JOBS IN THE

CITY.

THERE WERE TIMES WHEN

WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH AND

WE HAD TO EAT OTHER'S

LEFTOVERS.

HIS CLEFT LIP WAS SO

SEVERE, THAT FOOD WOULD

LEAK OUT FROM HIS NOSE.

Terry: SOON WHAT

MR. WOO DREADED HAPPENED,

AND PEOPLE STARTED MAKING

FUN OF CHINCHING.

WE WERE SCOLDED AND

KICKED AND PURBLED AWAY.

PUSHED AWAY.

I KNEW IT WOULD BE

ULTIMATELY IMPOSSIBLE FOR

CHINCHING TO FIND A JOB OR

GET MARRIED.

MY HEART ACHED FOR MY

LITTLE BOY, BUT THERE WAS

NOTHING I COULD DO.

Terry: THEN MR. WOO

HEARD THAT CBN WAS

SPONSORING CLEFT LIP AND

PALETTE SURGERIES IN HIS

AREA.

HE SIGNED HIM UP RIGHT

AWAY.

AND THE SURGERY WAS A

SUCCESS.

MY SON IS CURED.

THE SURGERY TOTALLY

TRANSFORMED HIM.

HE LOOKS LIKE A BRAND NEW

BOY.

NOW CHINCHING CAN EAT

WITHOUT TROUBLE AND NO ONE

WILL MAKE FUN OF HIM.

AND HE LAUGHS ALL OF THE

TIME.

AS A FATHER, I'M SO

RELIEVED.

CBN SAVED CHINCHING AND

HELPED MY ENTIRE FAMILY.

YOU ARE MY HERO.

Andrew: WELL, IF

YOU'RE A "700 CLUB"

MEMBER, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WHEN CBN WAS MAKING PLANS

TO GO TO CHINA AND TO HELP

PEOPLE IN THAT VILLAGE,

PEOPLE IN DESPERATE NEED,

WE HAD NO IDEA EXACTLY

WHICH FAMILIES WOULD BE

HELPED, BUT GOD KNEW.

AND THANK YOU FOR MAKING

IT POSSIBLE.

AND WE HAVE THAT PRECIOUS

FAMILY WHO HAS HIS OWN

PHYSICAL PROBLEMS TO

OVERCOME, AND HE SEES HIS

CHILD WITH DISABILITY.

BUT PEOPLE LIKE YOU HELPED

THEM.

WE THANK YOU FOR DOING SO,

IN RESTORING THEIR HOPE

AND GIVING THEM A FUTURE.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN

WITH US, YOU CAN CALL US

AT 1-888-777-1999, OR YOU

CAN LOG ON TO

700clubinteractive.com..

AND WE WOULD LIKE TO GIVE

YOU THIS.

THIS WILL HELP YOU WITH

MAYBE A DRUG ADDICTION,

FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES, OR

MARRIAGE PROBLEMS.

IT IS YOURS WHEN YOU JOIN

"THE 700 CLUB" AT $20 A

MONTH.

GIVE US A CALL,

1-888-777-1999.

> WELL, UP NEXT, HE WAS

JUST 16 WHEN THE COPS

PICKED HIM UP FOR A GANG

MURDER.

THE DETECTIVE, HE

TURNED AROUND AND HE TOLD

ME, YOU BETTER TAKE A GOOD

LOOK AT THEM STREETS, BOY,

BECAUSE YOU'LL NEVER SEE

THEM AGAIN.

I WAS REGRETTING THAT I

ONLY LIVED 16 YEARS AND IT

WAS OVER.

I WAS REGRETTING THAT I

WOULD DIE A SLOW DEATH IN

PRISON.

Andrew: WE'RE GOING

TO SEE HOW HE GOT A SECOND

CHANCE FROM BEHIND BARS.

Andrew: BRIAN WORTH

GREW UP ON THE MEAN

STREETS OF LOS ANGELES,

WHERE JOINING A GANG

SEEMED NECESSARY FOR

SURVIVAL.

BUT AFTER HIS BROTHER WAS

KILLED BY RIVALS, BRIAN

DIDN'T JUST WANT

PROTECTION FROM A GANG; HE

WANTED REVENGE.

WE WOULD PARTLY ALL DAY

LONG.

WE WOULD GET HIGH.

WE WOULD GET DRUNK.

AND AT THE SAME TIME, WE

WOULD HAVE TO WATCH OUT

FOR PEOPLE BEING SHOT AT.

WE WERE JUST TRYING TO

STAY ALIVE.

>I GREW UP IN

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA,

WHERE THE GANG LIFE WAS

PART OF THE EVERY DAY

SWING OF THINGS.

I WOULD WATCH ALL OF THE

OLDER GANG MEMBERS GET

DRUNK, COME TO THE HOUSE

AND PARTY.

EVENTUALLY I DEVELOPED A

LOVE FOR THEM, AND I

WANTED TO PLEASE THEM.

AS I GOT INTO 12 OR 13

YEARS OLD, IT BECAME A

SENSE OF HONOR TO BELONG

TO A GANG.

WHEN PEOPLE SAW ME, THEY

DIDN'T JUST SEE ME AS AN

INDIVIDUAL.

THEY SAW THE STATUS OF MY

GANG.

THEY STARTED TO FEAR ME

AND RESPECT ME.

IT WAS THE GANG LIFE THAT

RIPPED MY FAMILY APART.

MY OLDER BROTHER, AT THE

SAGAGE OF 16, I WAS MURDERED.

IT SPEAD OUR FAMILY ON THE

TRACK TO HIT THE STREETS

HARD.

I WAS FILLED WITH ANGER.

ALL I COULD THINK ABOUT

WAS REVENGE.

I SKIPPED SCHOOL ONE DAY

AND WE WENT CRUISING

AROUND AND WE SAW SOME

GANG GRAFFITI ON THE WALL

FROM OUR RIVAL GANG

MEMBERS.

WE SAID TO OURSELVES,

LET'S GO SPRAY PAINT ON

THE WALL AND DISRESPECT

THEM.

SO WE LEFT TO GET A CAN OF

SPRAY PAINT, AND BY THE

TIME WE CAME BACK, THERE

WERE GANG MEMBERS ON THE

STREET.

WE SAID IT WAS TOO

DANGEROUS TO GET OUT OF

THE CAR.

AS I WAS DRIVING AWAY, THE

QUESTION WAS POSED, SHOULD

WE SHOOT AT THEM?

AND I RESPONDED, YEAH.

SO WE TOOK OFF.

I DIDN'T KNOW IF SOMEBODY

GOT HIT.

I DIDN'T KNOW IF SOMEBODY

DIED.

THE NEXT MORNING I WOKE UP

TO BANGING ON MY DOOR.

I THOUGHT IT WAS MY

GRANDMA WAKING ME UP TO GO

TO SCHOOL, BUT IT WASN'T.

IT WAS THE SHERIFF'S

DEPARTMENT.

THEY BANGED ON THE DOOR

AND TOLD ME TO GET DOWN.

THEY PUT THEIR GUN TO MY

HEAD, THEY HANDCUFFED ME

AND ESCORTED ME THROUGH

THE LIVING ROOM.

I CAN REMEMBER SEEING MY

GRANDMA SITTING DOWN IN

THE CORNER WITH TEARS IN

HER EYES AS SHE CRIED OUT,

WHAT DID YOU DO?

WHAT DID YOU DO?

I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO

RESPOND, SO I PUT MY HEAD

DOWN AND CONTINUED TO WALK

OUT OF THE HOUSE.

THEY PUT ME IN THE BACK OF

THE COP CAR AND THEY

CONTINUE TO DRIVE OFF.

THE DETECTIVE TURNED

AROUND AND TOLD ME, YOU

BETTER TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT

THOSE STREETS, BOY,

BECAUSE YOU'LL NEVER SEE

THEM AGAIN.

I LOOKED AT THE PEOPLE

GOING TO SCHOOL OR TO

WORK, AND FOR THEM IT WAS

THE START OF ANOTHER

NORMAL DAY.

BUT FOR ME IT WAS THE

BEGINNING OF THE END.

THEY TOOK ME TO THE POLICE

STATION AND BOOKED ME FOR

ONE MURDER AND ONE

ATTEMPTED MURDER.

ABOUT A YEAR LATER, AT THE

AGE OF 17 YEARS OLD, THE

JUDGE SENTENCED ME TO

PRISON FOR LIFE.

THIS TIME THEY PUT ME IN A

ONE-MAN CELL IN THE L.A.

COUNTY JAIL.

IT WAS OVER.

MY FUTURE WAS GONE.

I HAD SACRIFICED MYSELF

FOR MY GANG.

IT WAS LIKE I WAS DEAD,

BUT I WAS STILL ALIVE.

I WAS CRUSHED BY DISPAIR

AND HOPELESSNESS.

I REMEMBER BEING IN MY

ONE-MAN CELL, AND MY FACE

WAS PRESSED AGAINST MY

KNEES BECAUSE I REALIZED I

WAS NEVER GOING TO BE A

HUSBAND, I WAS NEVER GOING

TO BE A FATHER.

ALL OF A SUDDEN I BEGAN TO

REGRET THAT I DIDN'T

LISTEN TO MY PARENTS, THAT

I DIDN'T GO HOME WHEN I

SHOULD HAVE.

I WAS REGRETTING I ONLY

LIVED 16 YEARS AND IT WAS

OVER.

I WAS REGRETTING THAT I

WOULD DIE A SLOW DEATH IN

PRISON.

AS I SAT THERE IN MY

ONE-MAN CELL, I HEARD A

NOISE AND THE HALLWAY.

I GOT UP AND PUT MY FACE

AGAINST THE BARS, AND I

LOOKED.

IT WAS AN ELDERLY MAN

PASSING OUT CHRISTIAN

LITERATURE.

I WAS STILL MAD AT THE

WORLD.

I DIDN'T WANT TO TALK TO

ANYBODY.

THIS OLD MAN, HE KIND OF

BARGED INTO MY DARKNESS.

HE STOOD THERE AND HE DID

SOMETHING I'LL NEVER

FORGET.

HE HAD THE CUMP T CRURCH TO COURAGE TO

REACH THROUGH THE DARKNESS

OF MY BARS, AND HE GRABBED

MY HAND AND HE SAID A

QUIET PRAYER OVER ME.

I DIDN'T FEEL ALONE.

I FELT THAT GOD REACHED

OUT TO ME.

I GOT DOWN ON MY KNEES,

AND AS A BROKEN TEENAGER,

I CRIED OUT TO GOD.

IT WASN'T EVEN A PRAYER.

IT WAS A GROAN FROM THE

DEPTHS OF MY HEART.

AND NOT TOO LONG AFTER

THAT, GOD GAVE ME A

VISION.

HE SAID, BRIAN, IF YOU

SERVE ME AND DON'T GIVE

UP, I'LL SEND YOU TO REACH

OTHER PEOPLE.

AND GOD BEGAN TO RESTORE

MY LIFE.

AT THE SAME TIME, I

MARRIED MY CHILDHOOD

SWEETHEART, AND MY WIFE

BEGAN TO FIGHT FOR MY

FREEDOM.

THE GOVERNOR HAD SAID NO

LIFER WILL BE PAROLLED

EXEMPT IN A PINE BOX.

I WAS DENIED PROCEDURAL

FIVE TIMES BY THE

CALIFORNIA GOVERNORS.

I CAME TO A PLACE IN MY

WALK WHERE I TOLD GOD, IT

DOESN'T MATTER IF I GO

HOME OR I DIE IN PRISON,

I'M GOING TO SERVE YOU NO

MATTER WHAT.

ABOUT A YEAR AFTER I MADE

THAT COMMITMENT, AFTER 16

YEARS IN THE DARKNESS OF

PRISON, I WALKED OUT A

FREE MAN AND WAS RESTORED

TO MY FAMILY.

I'M AMAZED HOW GOD HAS

TURNED MY STORY AROUND.

I DON'T DESERVE TO BE

LOOKING AT THIS BLUE SKY.

I DESERVED DEATH, BUT BY

THE GRACE OF GOD, TODAY

I'M A FATHER.

> I'FATHER.

I'M A HUSBAND.

TODAY I GET THE PRIVILEGE

OF PASTORING AN AWESOME

CHURCH THAT IS IMPACTING

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF

LIVES.

I'M JUST GRATEFUL FOR

EVERY BREATH I TAKE OUT

HERE.

HE BROUGHT THIS BROKEN

16-YEAR-OLD BOY FROM

HOPELESSNESS TO A LIFE OF

HOPE AND A LIFE OF

PURPOSE.

I'M ABLE TO LIFT UP MY

HEAD NOW BECAUSE OF THE

FORGIVENESS AND FREEDOM

THAT I HAVE IN JESUS.

MY PATH NO LONGER HAUNTS

ME.

GOD SET ME FREE.

Andrew: WHAT A

TRANSFORMATION.

WHAT A TRANSFORMATION IN

BRIAN'S LIFE, TO GO FROM,

AS HE SAID, THAT HOPELESS,

ANGRY TEENAGED BOY, WHO

WAS THEN SENTENCED TO

JAIL, TO PRISON -- TO SEE

THAT KIND OF LIFE CHANGE

THROUGH THE POWER OF JESUS

CHRIST AND THE WORK OF THE

HOLY SPIRIT.

REMARKABLE.

HE SAID THAT THERE WAS A

MAN WHO REACHED INTO THE

DARKNESS OF HIS CELL TO

PROVIDE HIM HOPE.

AND MANY OF US CAN ATTEST

TO THE FACT THAT AS WE

HAVE COME TO KNOW JESUS AS

OUR SAVIOR, THAT HE HAS

REACHED INTO THE DARK

PLACES OF YOUR LIFE.

AND HE BEGINS TO

ILLUMINATE THOSE PLACES

WITH HIS LOVE AND HIS

GRACE AND HIS FORGIVENESS.

AND SOMETIMES THOSE

MOMENTS CAN BE PAINFUL, AS

THE DARKNESS OF OUR SIN

BECOMES ILLUMINATED BY HIS

LOVE.

WE HAVE TO FACE SOME

THINGS.

WHAT HAS US IN PRISON?

WHAT HAS US FEELING THAT

I'M TOO FAR GONE FOR THE

LOVE OF GOD TO RESCUE ME?

I'M NOT WORTHY OF THIS

LOVE?

I'VE SAID THAT ON

OCCASION, LORD.

I'M NOT WORTHY OF YOUR

LOVE.

I'M NOT WORTHY OF YOUR

SACRIFICE.

NONE OF US ARE WORTHY OF

IT ON OUR OWN.

BUT IT IS THE GREAT GIFT

OF GOD, THAT HE STEPPED

INTO HUMANITY IN THE FORM

OF JESUS CHRIST, HIS SON,

TO RESCUE US OUT OF OUR

SIN PROBLEM.

BUT WHEN WE ARE PROVIDED

RESCUE, WE HAVE TO EMBRACE

IT.

IF WE PUSH IT AWAY, IT

DOESN'T DO ANY GOOD.

IT JUST CAUSES MORE

CONFLICT IN OUR SOUL.

I KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE

WATCHING WHO ARE IN A

RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST

AT ONE POINT AND WHO HAVE

WANDERED AWAY.

AND THEY FEEL LIKE, I'M

NOT WORTHY TO BE BACK INTO

RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.

IT IS NO ACCIDENT YOU'RE

WATCHING THIS PROGRAM.

AS THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD

CALLS YOU UNTO HIMSELF,

THE BIBLE SAYS THAT GOD

WILL NOT TURN ANYONE AWAY

WHO SEEKS HIM.

AND I WANT TO PRAY WITH

YOU NOW.

IF YOU'RE SOUL NEEDS THE

RESCUING POWER OF GOD,

THAT HE'LL COME INTO YOUR

LIFE, AND HE DOES IT WITH

JOY.

FATHER, I HEAR THIS STORY,

AND I SEE THE REDEMPTIVE

POWER OF YOUR LOVE, AND I

ASK YOU, LORD, TO DO THE

SAME IN MY LIFE.

YOU KNOW MY STRUGGLES, YOU

KNOW MY SIN, YOU KNOW MY

DARKNESS, AND YOU KNOW THE

DARKNESS THAT I STRUGGLE

WITH, AND YOU KNOW ABOUT

MY SEVERED RELATIONSHIPS

AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES I'M

IN.

BUT, FATHER, I HEAR YOU

ARE A RESCUING, LOVING,

HEAVENLY FATHER, AND I ASK

YOU NOW TO COME INTO MY

LIFE.

I'VE GOT A LOT TO

OVERCOME, BUT, LORD GOD, I

ASK YOUR HOLY SPIRIT TO

LEAD ME.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR MERCY

AND FOR THE BLOODSHED ON

THE CROSS, THAT ALLOWS ME

TO BE IN RELATIONSHIP WITH

YOU.

IN JESUS' NAME.

AMEN.

WE WANT TO CELEBRATE WITH

YOU, IF YOU PRAYED.

GIVE US A CALL AT

1-888-777-1999.

AND PRAY WITH US.

WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM

YOU.

WE LEAVE YOU WITH LUKE 18:

27: "THE THINGS WHICH ARE

IMPOSSIBLE WITH MEN ARE

POSSIBLE WITH GOD."

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

BYE-BYE.