Gordon: A BAD CHURCH

EXPERIENCE LED TO THIS

CONCLUSION...

I SAID THAT I DON'T

WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH

GOD, AND I'M NOT GOING TO

CHURCH ANYMORE.

I DON'T WANT TO HEAR

NOTHING ABOUT GOD.

Gordon: A LIFE HEADED

IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

IN A STRIP BAR, AND A

BUNCH OF MEN, AND 20s

RAINING DOWN OVER YOUR

HEAD.

Gordon: FIND OUT HOW

A VOICE STOPPED HER IN HER

TRACKS ON TODAY'S "700

CLUB INTERACTIVE."

> WELL, WELCOME TO THE

SHOW.

IF YOU ENJOY CHICK-FIL-A,

AND HAPPEN TO O B BE A STUDENT

AT FORDHAM UNIVERSITY,

YOU'LL HAVE TO GO

OFFCAMPUS TO GET YOUR

DINING EXPERIENCE.

Terry: AFTER

CONSULTING WITH RAINBOW

ALLIANCE, FORDHAM DECIDED

AGAINST ADDING THE POPULAR

CHICKEN CHAIN.

THEY SAID, IF THEY WANT TO

BRING IN STRICK CHICK-FIL-A, THEY

CAN, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING

TO PARTNER WITH A

CORPORATION THAT WORKS TO

DESTABILIZE AND DEMOLISH

MOVEMENTS FOR CLEAR

EQUALITY.

Gordon: AND THIS HAS

A MUCH BROADER, I THINK,

IMPLICATION FOR OUR

CULTURE, WHERE IF YOU, AS

A CORPORATION OR AN

INDIVIDUAL, GIVE MONEY TO

ANY GROUP THAT SAYS WE

STAND FOR TRADITIONAL

MARRIAGE IN OUR CULTURE

TODAY, WE WANT TO VOTE

THAT WAY, WE WANT TO

ENCOURAGE OTHER PEOPLE TO

VOTE THAT WAY -- ALL OF

THIS GOES BACK TO

CHICK-FIL-A'S SUPPORT FOR

PROPOSITION 8 IN

CALIFORNIA.

THAT PROPOSITION, BY THE

WAY, WON IN THE POPULAR

VOTE, BUT THEN WAS

MYSTERIOUSLY STRUCK DOWN

IN THE COURTS.

SOMEHOW BEING

UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

BUT IT SPEAKS TO IF YOU

DONATE, IF YOU

PARTICIPATE, THEN FOREVER

YOU ARE BOYCOTTED.

THIS IS NOT JUST -- YOU

JUST DON'T HAVE FREE

SPEECH ANYMORE IN THAT

KIND OF CULTURE.

Terry: AND NOT

BOYCOTTED BY INDIVIDUALS,

WHO MAY SAY I DON'T AGREE

WITH WHAT THEY'VE DONE,

BUT BOYCOTTED BY AN ENTIRE

UNIVERSITY.

I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE.

Gordon: IT IS THE

SMALL GROUP WHO SAYS,

WE'LL PROTEST AT THE

UNIVERSITY LEVEL, AND

WE'LL MAKE YOUR LIFE VERY

DIFFICULT IF YOU DON'T

FOLLOW OUR WISHES.

Terry: IT'S A

UNIVERSITY -- WHAT'S UP

WITH THAT?

Gordon: WE'RE SEEING

IT WITH AVERTISERS AND

ADVERTISING AGENCIES, THAT

THEY WON'T SUPPORT

PARTICULAR TELEVISION

HOSTS BECAUSE OF CERTAIN

THINGS.

PLEASE UNDERSTAND, LET ME

UNDER LINE, THIS WILL

IMPACT FREE SPEECH.

WE'RE NOT DEALING WITH

GOVERNMENTS HERE, SO THIS

ISN'T A CONSTITUTIONAL

ISSUE OR A FIRST AMENDMENT

ISSUE, BUT I DO THINK IT

IS A ACTUALLY TRA CULTURAL ISSUE.

> LEAH'S SON, MALACHI,

HAS SMASH NEEDS SPECIAL NEEDS, AND SHE

VISITED THE RESTAURANT.

AND THEN A BOY SHOUTED,

HEY, MOM, LOOK THE AT THAT

BOY.

AND SHE SAW THE HORROR ON

THE MOTHER'S FACE.

Terry: YOU LEANED

FORWARD AND QUIETLY AND

TOLD HIM, WE DON'T SAY

THINGS LIKE THAT, AND WE

DON'T POINT OR STARE.

AND THEN SHE GOES ON TO

SAY, "YOU TOOK A DEEP

BREATH, AND YOU TOOK A

STEP OF COURAGE.

YOU BROUGHT YOUR BOYS OVER

TO MALACHI AND SAID, I BET

HE WOULD LIKE TO NOW YOUR

NAMES.

YOU TOOK THE TIME TO

EDUCATE YOUR SONS IN THAT

MOMENT AND HELP THEM

UNDERSTAND THAT DIFFERENT

IS OKAY.

DIFFERENT IS NOT SOMETHING

TO FEAR, AND THAT WAS OKAY

TO ASK QUESTIONS."

BOY, KUDOS TO THIS MOM.

TALK ABOUT LEARNING

MOMENT.

Gordon: THAT'S A VERY

SMART MOM.

NOT JUST SAYING, I'M

EMBARRASSED AND LET'S GET

OUT OF HERE, BUT SAYING,

I'M EMBARRASSED, BUT I

NEED TO MAKE SURE MY KIDS

KNOW.

Terry: WHEN WE DO

SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE

MOMENTS, IT IS NOT JUST

LEAH AND HER SON THAT

NOTICED, BUT I IMAGINE THE

WHOLE RESTAURANT NOTICED.

Gordon: AND IT IS A

LIFE LESSON FOR YOUR KIDS.

SEIZE THAT MOMENT.

DON'T TURN AWAY FROM THAT

MOMENT.

Terry: AND FROM YOUR

OWN DISCOMFORT WITH WHAT

YOUR CHILDREN MAY HAVE

DONE.

Gordon: SOME GOOD

NEWS AND BAD NEWS FOR AN

IRISH CHRISTIAN BAKER.

BACK IN 2014, DANIEL AND

AMY, OWNERS OF ASHER

BAKERY RECEIVED A REQUEST

FROM AN ORGANIZATION

CALLED "QUEER PEACE, SPACE," TO

BAKE A CAKE.

THE JUDGE FOUND THEM

GUILTY OF DISCRIMINATION

FOR INJURY OF FEELINGS.

THEY HAVE APPEALED AND

LOST AND ARE NOW TAKING

THEIR CASE TO THE SUPREME

COURT.

WHAT WE REFUSED TO

COULD WADOWAS TO BE INVOLVED WITH A

POLITICAL STATEMENT TO

CHANGE MINDS IN NORTHERN

IRELAND.

BECAUSE WE'RE CHRISTIANS,

WE SUPPORT THE CURRENT

LAW.

AND WE FELT THAT MAKING

THIS CAKE WOULD MAKE US

RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS

MESSAGE.

WE WOULDN'T DECORATE A

CAKE WITH A PORNOGRAPHIC

PICTURE OR WITH SWEAR

WORDS.

WE WOULDN'T EVEN DE DECORATE

A CAKE WITH A SPITEFUL

MESSAGE ABOUT GAY PEOPLE.

IT HAS BEEN A TRYING TIME,

BUT WE'RE THANKFUL TO GOD

AND HIS FAITHFULNESS

THROUGH EVERYTHING.

HE IS STILL ON THE THRONE.

HE IS THE RULER OF HEAVEN

AND EARTH, AND HE IS OUR

GOD AND WE WORSHIP AND

HONOR HIM.

Terry: THE

CONTROVERSY HASN'T HURT

SALES.

THE BAKERY'S PROFITS HAVE

ACTUALLY INCREASED TO

1.6 MILLION IN JUST ONE

YEAR.

Gordon: LET'S ALL GO

TO IRELAND AND BUY A CAKE.

AGAIN, I'LL UNDERINE IT,

THIS IS A FREE SPEECH

ISSUE.

IF YOU DON'T AGREE WITH A

PARTICULAR MESSAGE,

WHETHER ON A CAKE OR A

T-SHIRT, CAN ANOTHER

INDIVIDUAL FORCE YOU IN

THE COURT SYSTEM TO DO

THAT, AND TO VIOLATE YOUR

OWN CONSCIENCE?

I THINK AS A CULTURE WE

NEED TO BE VERY WEARY OF

THIS.

AT WHAT POINT IN TIME DO

WE DENY THE FREEDOM OF

CONSCIENCE?

I THINK WE'RE AT THAT

POINT RIGHT NOW.

AND WE NEED TO PROTECT

FREE SPEECH.

WE NEED TO PARTICULARLY

PROTECT POLITICAL SPEECH.

THIS HAS TO DO WITH A LAW

THAT IS CURRENTLY ON THE

BOOKS IN IRELAND, IN AN

ATTEMPT TO OVERTHROW IT.

AND IF WE DON'T WANT TO GO

ALONG WITH THE OVERTHROW,

DOES IT MAKE YOU SOMEHOW

SUBJECT TO A CIVIL RIGHTS

COURT?

NO.

WE NEED TO STAND UP FOR

FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE.

AND THERE IS ARTICLE 18 TO

THE U.N. THAT PROTECTS

FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE.

AND THIS WAS PUT INTO THE

U.N. CHARTER BY NONE OTHER

THAN ELINOR ROOSEVELT, WHO

THOUGHT OF IT AS A

FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHT,

THAT ALL PEOPLE

EVERYWHERE, REGARDLESS OF

NATIONALITY OR WHETHER

THEY HAVE A BILL OF

RIGHTS, THAT BY SIGNING

INTO THE U.N., THOSE

COUNTRIES GUARANTEE THAT

YOU HAVE FREEDOM OF

CONSCIENCE.

YOU HAVE THE FREEDOM TO

BELIEVE WHAT YOU WANT TO

BELIEVE.

> LAST WEEK 82 NIGERIAN

GIRLS, KNOWN AS THE CHIBOK

GIRLS, WERE RELEASED.

THIS AFTER THREE YEARS IN

CAPTIVITY, AND BEING

KIDNAPPED BY BOKO HARAM.

THE RELEASE CAME FOLLOWING

THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT'S

DEAL.

Terry: THE GIRLS

REQUIRE A REHABILITATION

PROCESS AT THE FEDERAL

MINISTRY OF WOMEN AFFAIRS,

WHICH WILL REPORTEDLY

DELAY THEIR RETURN HOME

EIGHT TO 12 MONTHS.

SOME OF THE PARENTS AND

COMMUNITY MEMBERS FEEL

THAT THE REHAB PROCESS IS

TOO LONG.

THE STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP

MEMBER OF THE "BRING BACK

OUR GIRLS" CAMPAIGN SAYS

THE REHAB IS ABSOLUTELY

NECESSARY, CONSIDERING HOW

LONG THE GIRLS SPENT WITH

THE EXTREMISTS.

Gordon: I'M ALL FOR

REHAB.

I'M ALL FOR, IS THERE

GOING TO BE PTSD, DO THEY

NEED TREATMENT, BUT THE

BEST PLACE FOR THESE GIRLS

IS BACK WITH THEIR

FAMILIES.

AND TO DENY THEM ANOTHER

YEAR, THAT IS ADDING

ANOTHER YEAR THAT IS

ALREADY A THREE-YEAR

HORROR.

Terry: IT SEEMS LIKE

THERE COULD BE SOME WAY TO

BRING THAT COUNSELLING AND

HEALING PROCESS TO THEM

WHILE THEY'RE IN THEIR

FAMILIES.

Gordon: WE ALL KNOW

THE DANGERS THAT INTERNET

PHOTOGRAPHY POSSESS, BUT

JOSH MCDOWELL SAYS HE IS

WARNING PARENTS TO PREPARE

THEIR CHILDREN BY AGE

FIVE -- GET THIS, AGE

FIVE.

HE SAYS PORNOGRAPHY'S

AFFECT ON THE BRAIN IS

SIMILAR TO NARCOTICS, SUCH

AS COCAINE AND HEROIN.

Terry: HIS MINISTRY

RECENTLY CONDUCTED A STUDY

SHOWING THAT NEARLY HALF

OF YOUNG PEOPLE ARE

ACTIVELY SEEKING

PORNOGRAPHY WEEKLY OR MORE

THAN FREQUENTLY.

AND MORE THAN ONE IN FOUR

INDIVIDUALS BETWEEN THE

AGES OF 25 AND 30 VIEWED

PORNOGRAPHY BEFORE

PUBERTY.

AND 21% OF YOUTH PASTORS,

AND 14% OF PASTORS, ARE

CURRENTLY STRUGGLING WITH

THIS ISSUE.

ACTUALLY, I'VE SEEN SOME

STATS ABOUT PASTORS AND

YOUTH PASTORS THAT HAVE

BEEN HIGHER THAN THOSE

PERCENTAGES.

Gordon: I'VE SEEN

HIGHER AND I'VE SEEN

LOWER.

I THINK GETTING INTO THE

STATS, YOU CAN DEBATE THAT

ALL DAY.

BUT THE AFFECT OF

PORNOGRAPHY NOT JUST ON

FAITH BUT ON MARRIAGE IS

PROFOUND.

AND WE'RE SEEING THAT IN

THE MILLENNIAL GENERATION,

WHERE THESE PEOPLE ARE

DELAYING MARRIAGE AND

FOREGOING MARRIAGE.

AND I BELIEVE IT IS

BECAUSE OF THE CULTURE OF

PORNOGRAPHY.

WE HAVE BECOME SO USED TO

IT.

WE HAVE BECOME SO USED TO

SEXUALIZATION IN ALL OF

OUR MEDIA, NOT JUST

PORNOGRAPHY.

ALL OF THE ADVERTISING, IT

ALL SEEMS LIKE SEX SELLS,

SO IT IS LIKE WE'VE GOTTEN

NUMB TO IT.

WE DON'T EVEN PAY

ATTENTION TO IT ANYMORE.

BUT WHAT HAPPENS IN THE

BRAIN IS FASCINATING FROM

A MEDICAL STANDPOINT BUT

HORRIFYING FROM STABILITY

OF MARRIAGE STANDPOINT.

IT IS VIEWING THOSE IMAGES

THAT RELEASES A CHEMICAL

IN THE BRAIN THAT IS

SIMILAR TO NARCOTICS, AND

IT DEFINITELY IS

ADDICTIVE.

AND WHAT DOES THAT DO TO

LONG-STANDING, INTIMATE

RELATIONSHIPS IN MARRIAGE?

IT ABSOLUTELY DESTROYS

THEM.

SO AS A CULTURE, CAN WE

STAND UP.

AGAIN, THIS IS ANOTHER

FREE SPEECH ISSUE.

WHERE WE DON'T HAVE THE

FREEDOM TO SAY POLITICAL

VIEWS ON GAY MARRIAGE, BUT

WE ALSO DON'T HAVE THE

FREEDOM -- AND I WOULD

CALL IT FREEDOM -- TO SAY

LET US, AS A CULTURE, NOT

HAVE THESE KINDS OF IMAGES

COMING INTO EVERY DEVICE

THAT WE OWN, AND

PARTICULARLY DEVICES THAT

WOULD BE IN THE HANDS OF

CHILDREN.

Terry: WELL, THAT'S

WHAT I THINK.

COMING INTO -- IT TALKS

ABOUT CERTAINLY THERE ARE

ADULTS AND NOW YOUNG

PEOPLE WHO ARE SEEKING IT,

BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER

IS IT COMES INTO YOUR

DEVICE.

Gordon: IT IS LOOKING

TO O GET YO GET YOU HOOKED.

IF WE CAN BAN CIGARETTE

ADVERTISING, WHY CAN'T WE

BAN THIS?

Terry: COMING UP, SHE

SAYS THE ENEMY HAS NO

INTENTION OF PLAYING NICE

AND WANTS TO DESTROY YOUR

CHILDREN.

AUTHOR DEVON WALLACE JOINS

US TO TELL US HOW TO

DEFEND OUR HOME AND OUR

INHERITANCE, AND THAT'S

Terry: HEARING THE

WORD "WARRIOR," MAY

CONJURE OF MEN IN AN

ARENA, BUT HAVE YOU EVER

THOUGHT OF MOTHERS AR

WARRIORS?

AUTHOR DEVON WALLACE HAS.

TAKE A LOOK.

Reporter: WITH THREE

CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF

THREE, IT IS NO WONDER

DEVON WALLACE WAS

OVERWHELMED.

SHE FELT LIKE SHE WAS

FAILING AT HIS DUTIES AS A

PASTOR'S WIFE AND MOM.

ONE DAY WHILE SHE WAS

CRYING, SHE FELT THE LORD

GIVE HER A CALL OF ACTION

TO ALL MOMS.

YOU ARE A MIGHTY

WARRIOR, AND YOUR CHILDREN

ARE YOUR MOST POWERFUL

WEAPONS.

Reporter: IN HER

BOOK, "THE WARRIOR WE CALL

MOM," DEVON LAYS OUT A

STRATEGY AND SHARES THE

STEPS FOR EMPOWERING OUR

KIDS TO CHANGE THE NEXT

GENERATION.

Terry: DEVON WALLACE

JOINS US NOW.

THE BOOK'S TITLE IS CALLED

"THE WARRIOR WE CALL MOM."

AND WARRIOR IS AN

AGGRESSIVE WORD.

HOW DO YOU USE IT IN YOUR

BOOK?

I WENT STRAIGHT TO THE

WORD AND PSALMS 127: 4

SAYS AS ARROWS ARE IN THE

HANDS OF A MIGHTY WARRIOR,

SO ARE OUR CHILDREN.

I FAILED TO LOOK OVER THE

FACT THAT THE ONE WHO

HOLDS THE ARROWS GOD VIEWS

AS A MIGHTY WARRIOR.

OF THE MOM AND THE DAD,

GOD SEES THEM AS SKILLED

ARCHERS AND OF THE WEAPONS

HE GIVES THEM.

Terry: WHAT'S THE

DEVIL'S TRIANGLE?

TALK ABOUT THAT.

IT IS A PLACE I FOUND

MYSELF IN AS A YOUNG MOM,

WHEN I DID HAVE THREE

UNDER THE AGE OF THREE.

THE DEVIL'S TRIANGLE

REFERS TO THE BERMUDA

TRIANGLE.

AND IT USED TO BE A

MYSTERIOUS TERM FOR PLACES

WHERE SHIPS AND AIRPLANES

WOULD ENTER NA THA INTO THAT ZONE

AND THEY WOULD LOSE FORMS

OF COMMUNICATION AND THEY

WOULD DISAPPEAR.

AND THE LORD BEGAN TO SHOW

ME THAT THIS IS WHERE MANY

MOMS END UP, AND THEY

ENTER INTO, AND WE NEVER

HEAR FROM THEM AGAIN.

THAT TRIANGLE IS MADE UP

OF BEING A DAUGHTER OF

GOD, BEING A WIFE, AND A

MOTHER OF CHILDREN.

AND TRYING TO NAVIGATE ALL

OF THOSE ROLES.

Terry: IT IS TOUGH,

VERY TOUGH.

IT IS ONE THING TO READ

ABOUT IT, BUT WHEN YOU'RE

WALKING THROUGH IT IN THE

REALITY OF DAY-TO-DAY

LIFE, IT CAN FEEL SO

OVERWHELMING.

HOW DOES A WOMAN BEGIN TO

KNOW HER TRUE IDENTITY?

IT DID FOR ME WHEN THE

LORD WAS SHOWING ME I WAS

LOST IN THE MIDDLE OF

THAT.

I THINK WHEN WOMEN ARE

PULLED EMOTIONALLY AND

TIME-WISE, WE DEFAULT TO

MOTHERHOOD BECAUSE WE

THINK, HUSBAND WILL

UNDERSTAND, GOD WILL

UNDERSTAND, AND THE LORD

WAS SHOWING ME THAT IS

GOING TO MAKE YOUR HOUSE

FALL.

YOU CAN'T JUST FOCUS ON

MOTHERHOOD.

I'LL NEVER FORGET WHEN HE

SAID TO ME, DEVON, YOU'LL

HAVE TO BE A GOOD DAUGHTER

BEFORE YOU'LL EVER BEEN A

GOOD MOTHER.

I'M A DAUGHTER BEFORE I'M

A WIFE OR A MOTHER.

AND GETTING GROUNDED IN

THAT IDENTITY WILL HELP

MOTHERHOOD AND BEING A

WIFE FLOW MORE EFFECTIVELY

EFFECTIVELY.

Terry: I THINK ALL

PEOPLE DO THIS, BUT I

THINK WOMEN DO THIS A LOT,

MAYBE BECAUSE THE CULTURAL

PRESSURE TO LOOK A CERTAIN

WAY, BE A CERTAIN WAY.

HOW DO WE KEEP FROM

COMPARING OURSELVES FROM

EACH OTHER BECAUSE THAT

CAN BE A DEVASTATING

THING?

IT IS.

THE PATH OF COMPARISON IS

A CYCLE MANY WOMEN FIND

THEMSELVES IN.

I ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT IT

IN THE BOOK.

I USE THE EXAMPLE OF DEBRA

AND J.L., AND THEY WERE

TWO WOMEN THAT GOD

ACTUALLY USED BOTH OF THEM

TO CHANGE A NATION.

I RELATE MORE TO J.L., WHO

WAS IN HER TENT, PROBABLY

SAYING, DEBRA IS SO

AWESOME, WHY CAN'T I BE

HERE.

AND DEBRA WHO WAS THE

LEADER, BUT DID NOT WIN

THE BATTLE.

IT WAS J.L. WHO ACTUALLY

WON THE BATTLE.

SOME ARE IN THE WORK

FORCE, SOME AT HOME, AND

SUCCESS IS NOT DEFINED BY

WHAT WE'RE DOING, BUT IT

IS BY WALKING IN

OBEDIENCE.

WE CANNOT COMPARE

OURSELVES OR EVEN OUR

PARENTING STRATEGIES TO

OTHER.

OUR CHILDREN ARE UNIQUE,

AND GOD HAS A UNIQUE

DESIGN FOR EACH OF US AND

AN ASSIGNMENT FOR EACH US.

Terry: WHAT'S THE

MOST SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF

ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER

RECEIVED FROM ANYONE?

WHATEVER IS EASY AND

CONVENIENT IS NOT ALWAYS

BEST.

I ACTUAL TELL MOTHERS THAT

CONVENIENCE IS AN ENEMY TO

KINGDOM PARENTING.

WE'RE TOLD TO DO WHATEVER

IS QUICKEST, AND WE'RE

ROBBING OUR CHILDREN.

JUST LIKE GOING THROUGH A

FAST FOOD RESTAURANT ROBS

US OF NUTRIENTS, SOME OF

OUR PARENTING SKILLS IS

ROBBING CHILDREN OF WHAT

IS NEEDED.

Terry: PEOPLE WHO

READ YOUR BOOK, MOMS WHO

READ YOUR BOOKS, BECAUSE

WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR

ADVICE THAT WILL HELP YOU

WALK MORE DEEPLY AND LIVE

MORE EFFECTIVELY -- WHAT

IS THE TAKE ANYWHERE YOU

WAN-AWAY YOU WANTTHEM TO HAVE?

HEAVEN IS WATCHING THEM

AND DEPENDING ON THEM.

THIS NATION WILL CHANGE, I

BELIEVE, WHEN THE MOMS

CHANGE AND WHEN WE WAKE

UP.

THE TAKE-AWAY IS THAT

PARENTING STRATEGY ISN'T

ACTUALLY FOUND IN A BOOK.

IT IS FOUND IN SURRENDER

TO HEAVEN AND IN PRAYER

AND IN WALKING WITH

OBEDIENCE TO HIM.

Terry: WE'RE LOOKING

AT A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE OF

YOUR FAMILY, YOUR HUSBAND

AND CHILDREN.

DEVON WALLACE'S BOOK IS

AVAILABLE WHEREVER BOOKS

ARE SOLD.

IF YOU'RE A MOM AND YOU'RE

STRUGGLING TO KNOW YOUR

OWN TRUE IDENTITY, OR EVEN

HOW TO RAISE YOUR CHILDREN

TO KNOW THEIRS, THIS IS A

GREAT SOURCE OF WISDOM AND

INFORMATION.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET IT.

THANK YOU, DEVON.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

IT IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE.

Gordon: UP NEXT, SHE

WEIGHED HER OPTIONS, AND

FOR VERNA, THE DECISION

WAS EASY.

BEING A MOTHER WITH TWO

KIDS, GETTING SOCIAL

SERVICE AND FOOD STAMPS

AND STUFF LIKE THAT, I

SAID, $100 DANCING TO A

THREE-MINUTE SONG, I'M IN.

Gordon: VERNA MASTON

JUST WANTED TO BE KNOWN

AND ACCEPTED.

SHE BECAME KNOWN AS

"STAR," A STRIPPER WITH

NOTORIETY.

BUT WHEN SHE HAD

EVERYTHING SHE THOUGHT SHE

WANTED, SHE REALIZED IT

WAS ALL A LIE.

I I WAS HAVING A GOOD

TIME DRINKING AND GETTING

HIGH AND SELLING DRUGS AND

BEING PROMISCUOUS.

Reporter: PLEASURE

AND POWER WERE ALL THAT

VERNA CARED ABOUT.

THE REASON FOR HER

LIFESTYLE CHOICES GO BACK

TO HER CHILDHOOD, WHEN SHE

WAS ONE OF 14 KIDS.

I FELT OVERLOOKED.

I WANTED THE LOVE AND

VALIDATION FROM MY MOM AND

MY DAD.

AND MY DAD NEVER SAID THAT

I LOVE YOU.

Reporter: AT THE

HANDS OF FAMILY MEMBERS,

VERNA WAS MOLESTED AS A

LITTLE GIRL AND RAPED AT

AGE 14.

THOUGH SHE TOLD HER

PARENTS, THEY DECIDED TO

SWEEP IT UNDER THE RUG.

I DIDN'T FEEL AS THOUGH

IT WAS MY FAULT.

I JUST FELT HURT AND

BETRAYED AND ABANDONED.

THE HURT TURNED INTO

REBELLION, VIOLENCE.

A PERSON DIDN'T TAKE NO

STUFF OFF OF NOBODY,

ESPECIALLY A MALE.

Reporter: AT 16,

VERNA STARTED GOING TO

CHURCH AGAIN, HOPING

SOMEONE WOULD LOVE HER.

INSTEAD SHE GOT PREGNANT

BY A YOUNG MAN THERE AND

WAS SHUNNED.

AND THEY TOLD ME I HAD

TO GET MARRIED OR I WAS

GOING TO DIE AND GO TO

HELL.

AND I WAS, LIKE, WELL, I

DON'T EVEN LIKE THE GUY.

I KNOW I'M PREGNANT.

I JUST WANT TO KEEP MY

BABY.

Reporter: THEY

MARRIED, BUT AFTER A FEW

YEARS AND ANOTHER CHILD,

THE MARRIAGE FAILED.

FROM VERNA'S PERSPECTIVE,

SO DID THE CHURCH AND GOD.

I SAID, I DON'T WANT

NOTHING TO DO WITH GOD,

AND I'M NOT GOING TO

CHURCH ANYMORE.

I DON'T WANT TO HEAR

NOTHING ABOUT GOD.

I DON'T WANT TO HEAR

ANYTHING.

Reporter: FOR YEARS,

VERNA SCRAPED BY AS A

SINGLE MOM UNTIL A FRIEND

CONVINCED HER SHE COULD

MAKE MONEY AS A STRIPPER.

BEING A MOTHER WITH TWO

KIDS, GETTING SOCIAL

SERVICE AND FOOD STAMPS

AND STUFF LIKE THAT, I

SAID, $100 TO DANCE TO A

THREE-MINUTE SONG, I'M IN.

Reporter: IN NO TIME

SHE REASONED HER WAY INTO

A NEW CAREER.

CAN FEED MY KIDS.

I CAN PAY MY BILLS.

I CAN BUY ALL KIND OF

CLOTHES AND DIFFERENT

TYPES OF CARS, AND I CAN

TRAVEL ALL OVER THE WORLD.

SO THAT THOUGHT WENT OUT

THE WINDOW, THAT WAS

SLEAZY, IT WAS DISGUSTING.

IT SLIPPED INTO, I'M GOING

TO MAKE A LOT OF MONEY.

Reporter: AND SHE

DID.

VERNA BUILT A HUGE

BUSINESS AS AN EXOTIC

DANCER, DRUG DEALER, AND

MADAM, GOING BY THE NAME

"STAR."

WHILE IT WAS ALL VERY

LUCRATIVE, THERE WAS MORE

IN IT FOR HER THAN MONEY.

WORTH.

IT GAVE ME A SENSE OF

WORTH LATER ON.

EVERYWHERE I WENT, HAD A

LOT OF RESPECT.

Reporter: AND IT MET

ANOTHER NEED THAT VERNA

CARRIED FROM HER PAINFUL

CHILDHOOD.

I THINK IT WAS

IMPORTANT BECAUSE NO ONE

WOULD BE ABLE TO VIOLATE

ME.

WITH TWO GUNS ON MY HIP,

YOU KNOW, THAT ALSO

HELPED.

Reporter: VERNA SAID

SHE HAD PAINS OF GUILT

ALONG THE WAY, BUT THEY

WERE EASILY SUBDUED WITH

DRUGS AND ALCOHOL.

THEY WAS ENJOYING IT ALL.

BUT BY 2002, VERNA STARTED

TO SENSE GOD CALLING HER

OUT OF IT.

SHE TRIED TO IGNORE HIS

VOICE, UNTIL ONE NIGHT, IN

THE MIDDLE OF A SET --

WE WERE AT A STRIP BAR,

A BUNCH OF MEN RAINING

DOWN 50s OVER YOUR HEAD,

AND YOU'RE TRYING TO

DANCE, AND TRYING TO DROP

IT LIKE IT IS HOT.

Reporter: SHE SAYS

GOD TOLD HER TO LEAVE

RIGHT THEN.

VERNA STOPPED DANCING AND

RAN TO THE BATHROOM.

AND THEN THE LORD SPOKE

TO ME WHILE I WAS SITTING

RIGHT THERE.

SHE TOLD ME TO COME OUT

FROM AMONG THEM AND BE YEE

SEPARATED.

Reporter: BUT LETTING

GO OF HER LIFESTYLE WASN'T

AS EASY AS SHE THOUGHT.

THE MONEY, BECAUSE THAT

WAS A LOT OF MONEY, AND IT

WAS THE WORTH, TOO.

Reporter: WITHIN

WEEKS, THE GROWING

CONVICTION THAT VERNA FELT

BROUGHT HER TO A

CROSSROADS.

SHE HOLED UP IN HER HOUSE

FOR SIX WEEKS, POURING

OVER GOD'S WORD.

WHEN I TOOK

RESPONSIBILITY, THAT'S

WHEN I SAID, LORD, I WANT

YOU TO COME INTO MY LIFE.

I REPENT OF MY SINS, AND

SAVE ME.

BECAUSE THE PRIDE HAD ME

SO I'M ALL RIGHT, BUT I

WASN'T ALL RIGHT.

I WAS LOST.

Reporter: VERNA FOUND

OVER TIME THAT GOD WAS

ABLE TO MEET HER DEEPEST

NEEDS IN A WAY HER PAST

LIFESTYLE NEVER COULD.

SEX COULDN'T FILL IT,

DRUGS COULDN'T FILL IT,

ALCOHOL, MONEY -- THE ONLY

THING THAT COULD FILL THAT

VOID WAS THE LOVE OF JESUS

CHRIST.

AND ONCE I STARTED

EMBRACING HIS LOVE, ALL

THAT OTHER STUFF SLOWLY

DISSIPATED.

Reporter: VERNA IS

NOW AN EVANGELIST AND

REMARRY.

SHE AND GARLAND ENJOY EACH

OTHER, HER DAUGHTERS, AND

GRANDCHIDS, AND ESPECIALLY

SHARING THE TRUTH OF GOD

WITH OTHERS.

AND I FOUND MY WORTH IN

JESUS CHRIST.

IT'S IN HIM THAT I MOVE

AND LIVE AND HAVE MY

BEING.

Gordon: AND YOU CAN

FIND YOUR WORTH IN HIM.

YOU CAN KNOW IN YOUR

INNERMOST BEING THAT

YOU'RE WORTH THE PRICE

THAT HE PAID FOR YOU.

THAT HE PAID ALL OF IT.

HE PAID WITH HIS OWN SOUL.

HE DIED ON A CROSS FOR

YOU.

AND IF YOU WERE THE ONLY

ONE TO EVER BELIEVE IT, HE

STILL WOULD HAVE COME FOR

YOU.

HE STILL WOULD HAVE PAID

THAT PRICE.

THAT'S HOW MUCH YOU'RE

WORTH, AND THAT'S HOW MUCH

HE LOVES YOU.

YOU'RE UNIQUELY MADE.

THERE IS NO ONE ELSE IN

THE UNIVERSE LIKE YOU.

AND GOD LOVES YOU SO MUCH

HE WOULD GIVE ANYTHING TO

RESTORE A RELATIONSHIP

WITH YOU.

TO HAVE YOU WITH HIM FOR

ALL ETERNITY THAT'S THE

WHOLE MESSAGE OF THE

GOSPEL.

THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS.

NEWS THAT THE WORLD HAS

NEVER HEARD BEFORE.

NEWS THAT MAKES

CHRISTIANITY UNLIKE ANY

OTHER RELIGION.

ALL OF THE OTHER ONES ARE

CONCERNED WITH HOW CAN YOU

PERFECT YOURSELF ENOUGH SO

THAT GOD WOULD PAY

ATTENTION TO YOU?

CAN YOU DO ENOUGH RIGHT

THINGS?

CAN YOU THINK ENOUGH RIGHT

THOUGHTS?

CAN YOU GO OFF AND

RENOUNCE THE WORLD AND

LIVE ON A MOUNTAIN

SOMEWHERE AND SPEND ALL OF

YOUR TIME MEDITATING IN IN

PRAYER?

NO.

CHRISTIANITY COMES AT IT

IN A WHOLE NEW WAY.

GOD COMES DOWN TO YOU AND

SAYS, I WANT YOU FOR ALL

ETERNITY.

AND HERE IS VERNA, SHE IS

IN THE MIDDLE OF SIN.

SHE KNOWS IT'S SIN.

YES, THERE ARE A LOT OF

REASONS FOR IT: HURT,

REJECTION, ABANDONMENT,

HURT BY THE CHURCH -- ALL

OF THOSE REASONS.

BUT IN THE MIDDLE OF HER

SIN, GOD COMES TO HER AND

SAYS, SEPARATE.

COME OUT AND BE WITH ME.

AND WHERE YOU ARE RIGHT

NOW, HE IS SAYING THE SAME

THING.

SEPARATE, COME OUT, BE

WITH ME.

AND IF YOU'LL JUST ANSWER

THAT CALL, HE'LL COME FOR

YOU.

HE'LL BE FOR YOU.

AND HE'LL FORGIVE YOU.

HE'LL SET YOU FREE OF

ANYTHING YOU HAVE DONE

WRONG AND SET YOU ON THAT

NEW PATH.

> IF YOU WANT HELP WITH

THIS PRAYER, GIVE US A

CALL.

THE NUMBER IS ON THE

SCREEN, TOLL-FREE:

1-800-700-7000.

HERE IS A WORD FROM

ISAIAH: "ARISE, SHINE, FOR

YOUR LIGHT HAS COME.

AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD

HAS RISEN UPON YOU."

LET GOD'S GLORY JUST RISE

ON YOU, REST ON YOU TODAY.

GOD BLESS YOU.