HE KEPT SAYING, HELP.

Gordon: A 13-YEAR-OLD

BOY IS RUSHED TO THE E.R.

WITH MASSIVE BLEEDING ON

HIS BRAIN.

THEY TOOK HIM FOR THE

C.T. SCAN, AND I SAID,

IT'S SOMETHING SERIOUS,

ISN'T IT?

AND HE SAID, YEAH, IT IS.

Gordon: WATCH AS THIS

TEEN MAKES A MIRACULOUS

RECOVERY.

WE FELT HE WAS GOING TO

BE OKAY.

Gordon: PLUS...HE WAS

YOUNG AND DRUNK.

THEY SAID, YOU DON'T

WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR

THIS.

THERE ARE TWO GIRLS THAT

ARE DEAD IN THAT CAR OVER

THERE.

Gordon: AND HE GOT

WHAT HE DIDN'T DESERVE.

HERE WAS THIS MOTHER

WHO LOST HER DAUGHTER,

LOOKING AT THE GUY WHO

TOOK THAT FROM HER AND

SAYING, I FORGIVE YOU.

Gordon: HIS STORY OF

REDEMPTION, ALL ON TODAY'S

"700 CLUB INTERACTIVE."

WELL, WELCOME TO THE SHOW.

WHEN 13-YEAR-OLD ISAIAH

CUSTODIO LEFT FOOTBALL

PRACTICE BECAUSE OF HEALTH

ISSUES, HIS FATHER

INITIALLY THOUGHT HE WAS

DEHYDRATED, BUT THE

REALITY WAS MUCH WORSE.

Terry: ISAIAH HAD

SOMEHOW DEVELOPED

INTERCRANIAL HEMORRHAGING,

AND HE NEEDED EMERGENCY

SURGERY, AND EVEN THAT WAS

NO GUARANTEE THAT IT WOULD

SAVE HIS LIFE.

Reporter:

SEPTEMBER 8, 2015,

13-YEAR-OLD ISAIAH

CUSTODIO WAS AT FOOTBALL

PRACTICE WHEN HE HAD A

SEVERE HEADACHE AND BEGAN

THROWING UP.

AFTER GETTING A CALL FROM

THE COACH, ISAIAH'S MOM,

CHRISTINA, CAME TO THE

FIELD.

AND THAT'S WHEN I SAW

HIM KIND OF STUMBLING.

I JUST THOUGHT, THAT'S

KIND OF STRANGE.

HE WAS SAYING ONE WORD AT

A TIME.

HE KEPT SAYING, HOME,

HURT, AND HELP.

AND I REALIZED SOMETHING

ELSE WAS WRONG.

Reporter: TO BE SAFE,

CHRISTINA TOOK HIM TO THE

HOSPITAL.

ON THE WAY, SHE CALLED HER

HUSBAND, OZZIE, WHO MET

THAT THERE.

I JUST REMEMBER SAYING,

ISAIAH IS JUST DEHYDRATED.

MAYBE HE JUST NEEDS A LOT

OF WATER.

HE'S GOING TO BE OKAY.

Reporter: WHILE

WAITING TO SEE THE DOCTOR,

ISAIAH STRUGGLED TO

COMMUNICATE AND KEEP HIS

EYES OPEN.

SOMETHING TOLD ME TO

LOOK IN HIS EYES.

I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHAT

I WAS DOING.

SO I GOT MY CELL PHONE OUT

AND I SHINED A LIGHT INTO

EACH EYE, AND I NOTICED

HIS PUPILS WERE NOT

RESPONDING.

THAT'S WHEN I STARTED

QUESTIONING, OKAY,

SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT

HERE.

Reporter: THEY

ALERTED ONE OF THE NURSES,

WHO IMMEDIATELY TOOK HIM

BACK FOR EVALUATION.

THEY TOOK HIM FOR THE

C.T. SCAN, AND WHEN HE

CAME BACK, I COULD JUST

TELL THAT SOMETHING WAS

NOT RIGHT.

AND I SAID, IT'S SOMETHING

SERIOUS, ISN'T IT?

AND HE SAID, YES, IT IS.

Reporter: THE SCAN

REVEALED A CLUSTER OF

BLOOD VESSELS IN ISAIAH'S

BRAIN HAD RUPTURED, AND HE

NEEDED IMMEDIATE SURGERY.

DR. CHRISTOPHER TROOP WAS

ON DUTY.

HE HAD A LOT ON BLOOD

ON HIS BRAIN, THAT WAS

CAUSING A LOT OF PRESSURE,

WHICH MATCHED HOW BAD HE

LOOKED ON HIS EXAM.

THERE WAS A CHANCE HE

COULD BLEED TO DEATH ON

THE TABLE.

AT THIS POINT WE WERE JUST

TRYING TO SAVE HIS LIFE.

AND HE COULD STILL HAVE A

VERY BAD OUTCOME FROM

THIS, EVEN IF HE SURVIVED.

NOW I AM TALKING TO GOD

AND SAYING, WHAT IN THE

WORLD IS GOING ON?

I SAID, WHY NOT ME?

JUST TAKE ME IN PLACE OF

HIM.

Reporter: AS THE TEAM

STARTED TO WHEEL ISAIAH

INTO SURGERY, CHRISTINA

STOPPED THEM.

I SAID, DO YOU PRAY?

AND DR. TROOP SAID,

ABSOLUTELY.

AND DR. TROOP PRAYED OVER

HIM.

AND I THINK THAT MOMENT,

WHEN HE SAID, AMEN, WE

FELT HE WAS GOING TO BE

OKAY.

I STARTED FEELING PEACE

DURING THAT TIME.

IH WAS JUST INCREDIBLE

JUST TO SEE PEOPLE THAT WE

DIDN'T KNOW, THESE DOCTORS

AND NURSES, JUST GATHER

AROUND, EVERYBODY HOLDING

HANDS AND JUST PRAYING

AROUND MY SON.

Reporter: WHILE THEY

WAITED, CHRISTINA SENT OUT

A CALL FOR PRAYER.

MANY CAME TO THE HOSPITAL.

WHEN THEY DON'T JUST

PRAY, WHEN THEY SHOW UP TO

PRAY WITH YOU, THAT'S JUST

POWERFUL.

Reporter: THE

SURGICAL TEAM SUCCESSFULLY

REMOVED THE CLOT AND

STOPPED THE BLEEDING, BUT

DR. TROOP CAUTIONED THAT

ISAIAH MAY BE UNABLE TO

SPEAK OR EVEN RECOGNIZE

HIS FAMILY WHEN HE WOKE

UP.

IT WAS THE BEST FEELING

TO SEE HIM OPEN HIS EYES

AND ACKNOWLEDGE US.

I MEAN, HE'S A LIVE AND HE

KNEW WHO WE WERE, AND

THERE WAS JOY.

WHEN DR. TROOP CAME TO

THE DOORWAY, I IMMEDIATELY

GOT UP AND GAVE HIM A BIG,

GRAND HUG.

I WAS STARTING TO FEEL

THAT GOD WAS DOING WHAT HE

SAID ALL ALONG HE WOULD

DO, AND THAT IS TO TAKE

CARE OF US.

Reporter: THE INJURY

CAUSED HIM TO HAVE A HARD

TIME TO USE THE RIGHT SIDE

OF HIS BODY, MAKING IT A

STRUGGLE TO WALK.

IT WAS LIKE A BABY

HAVING TO TAKE BABY STEPS

AGAIN.

Reporter: THROUGH

THERAPY, HARD WORK, AND

PRAYER, HE CONTINUED TO

IMPROVE.

AS HIS SPEECH RECOVERY

PROGRESSED, HE WAS EVEN

ABLE TO DO WHAT HE HAD

MISSED MOST: PLAYING HIS

TRUMPET.

*

IT TOOK A WHILE, BUT I

LEARNED TO PLAY WITH MY

LEFT HAND.

WHAT KEEPS ME GOING, MY

MOM, MY DAD, MY

GRANDFATHER, MY

GRANDMOTHER -- THEY KEEP

ME ON PACE.

Reporter: BACK IN

SCHOOL, ISAIAH WAS SOON

WALKING ON HIS OWN AND WAS

SOON ABLE TO ACT AND SING.

HE HAS COME A LONG WAY AND

HAS BIG PLANS FOR THE

FUTURE.

I WANT TO BE A PHYSICAL

THERAPIST.

BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT

HAPPENED TO ME, AND I WANT

TO GIVE BACK.

HIS SPIRIT HAS ALWAYS

BEEN THERE, HIS DRIVE.

THERE WAS NEVER QUIT IN

HIM.

HIS PERSONALITY JUST

LIGHTS UP THE ROOM.

THERE IS NOT ONE MOMENT

THAT GOES BY THAT I DON'T

THANK GOD.

AND WHEN SOMEBODY IS

ASKING ME, YOU KNOW, HOW

IS YOUR SON DOING, THAT I

DON'T MENTION GOD'S NAME.

HE IS A MIRACLE.

IT IS JUST GOD.

PEOPLE ARE STILL PRAYING

FOR HIM, AND I KNOW THAT

GOD CONTINUES TO WORK IN

HIM.

I KNOW THAT GOD SAVED

ME BECAUSE HE WORKS WITH

ME EVERY SINGLE DAY.

Terry: YOU KNOW,

GOD'S ALWAYS WITH ALL OF

US EVERY SINGLE DAY.

IT'S INTERESTING, ISN'T

IT, HOW WE CAN JUST GO

ALONG REALLY NOT

ACKNOWLEDGING OR

NECESSARILY RECOGNIZING

THAT IN ANY WAY UNTIL

SOMETHING LIKE THIS

HAPPENS, AND IT CAN COME

OUT OF THE BLUE, JUST LIKE

IT DID FOR ISAIAH.

AND IT IMPACTS EVERYBODY,

HIM, HIS FAMILY, HIS

EXTENDED FAMILY, EVEN THE

MEDICAL TEAM THAT WORKED

FOR HIM, HIS CLASSMATES.

GOD WANTS TO REVEAL TO US

WHO HE IS.

HE WANTS TO REVEAL HIS

TRUSTWORTHINESS.

THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE

NEED TO GRAB HOLD OF, WHEN

WE'RE ASKING GOD FOR

PRAYER, TO MEET OUR NEEDS

IN SOME BIG CAPACITY.

IT MIGHT BE A PHYSICAL

HEALING THAT WE NEED.

IT MIGHT BE FINANCIAL.

IT MIGHT BE RELATIONAL OR

PSYCHOLOGICAL.

BUT GOD IS ABLE.

HE LOW LOWS US.

LOVES US.

HE KNOWS US BY NAME.

HE WANTS TO INVADE YOUR

HEART AND YOUR LIFE AND

ALSO INVADE YOUR NEED WITH

HIS PRESENCE.

AND IN HIS PRESENCE IS

FULLNESS OF JOY.

IN HIS PRESENCE IS

EVERYTHING THAT YOU AND I

SEEK AND DESIRE AND WANT

AND NEED.

SO TODAY MANY OF YOU ARE

WATCHING, AND I KNOW YOU

HAVE NEEDS, TOO.

YOU HAVE THINGS THAT

YOU'RE ASKING GOD FOR

RIGHT NOW.

YOU MAY FEEL VERY ALONE,

BUT YOU'RE NOT.

TODAY WE'RE PRAYING

TOGETHER WITH YOU.

YOUR NEED DIDN'T HAVE TO

BE MENTIONED ON THIS

PROGRAM FOR GOD TO MEET

IT.

HE IS LISTENING.

HE HEARS YOU.

WE LINK OUR HEARTS AND OUR

WORDS AND OUR MINDS WITH

YOU TODAY, AND THAT IS

BIBLICAL.

GOD IS PRESENT.

GORDON?

Gordon: WE DO HAVE

SOME Facebook PRAYER

REQUESTS THAT WE ARE GOING

TO MENTION.

JOSH WRITES IN, "MY FRIEND

CHRIS WAS IN A BAD CAR

ACCIDENT, AND IT DOESN'T

LOOK GOOD.

PLEASE PRAY FOR A

MIRACLE."

LET'S JUST ENCOURAGE YOU

WITH THE STORY YOU JUST

SAW.

IT IS NEVER TOO BIG FOR

GOD.

LOUIS SAYS, "I HAVE STAGE

FOUR CANCER.

I NEED A FULL BODY

HEALING.

I KNOW GOD CAN DO A

MIRACLE."

TANYA WRITES IN, "PLEASE

PRAY FOR MY NEPHEW,

CHRISTIAN.

HE IS STRUGGLING WITH

DEPRESSION, AND PTSD AFTER

LOSING THROUGH FRIENDS TO

SUICIDE.

HE IS ALSO STRUGGLING WITH

GOD AND WITH HIS FAITH."

LET'S JUST LIFT THESE TO

THE LORD AND REALIZE

NOTHING IS TOO HARD FOR

HIM, NOTHING.

WE DON'T HAVE TO ARGUE

WITH HIM.

WE DON'T HAVE TO CAJOLE

HIM.

WE DON'T HAVE TO BEG AND

PLEAD.

HE WANTS TO BE GOD.

HE WANTS TO BE OUR SAVIOR.

HE WANTS TO BE OUR HEALER.

HE WANTS TO BE OUR ALL IN

ALL.

LET'S GO TO HIM NOW.

LORD, WE JUST LIFT THE

NEEDS OF THE AUDIENCE TO

YOU RIGHT NOW, AND WE PRAY

SPECIFICALLY FOR THESE

PRAYER REQUESTS, FOR

CHRIS, WHO HAS BEEN IN

THIS CAR WRECK, LORD GOD,

DO A MIRACLE.

STRETCH FORTH YOUR HAND TO

REKNIT HIS BODY.

WE COME AGAINST ANY

INTERNAL BLEEDING NOW IN

JESUS' NAME.

AND WE ASK FOR A COMPLETE

AND TOTAL RESTORATION.

AND THEN FOR LOUIS WITH

HIS CANCER, LORD, YOU'RE

ABOVE ANY CANCER.

WE JUST ASK NOW THAT THOSE

CANCER CELLS STOP

REPRODUCING IN THE NAME OF

JESUS.

AND THAT HEALTHY CELLS

WOULD MOVE IN AND TAKE

OVER AND REPRODUCE

NORMALLY, AS YOU INTENDED.

AND NOW, FOR THIS YOUNG

MAN, WHO IS HAVING PTSD,

WHO HAS LOST THREE FRIENDS

TO SUICIDE, LORD, YOU KNOW

HIM BY NAME.

YOU COUNT EVERY HAIR ON

HIS HEAD.

AND I JUST ASK THAT YOU

WOULD SHOW UP IN POWER TO

LET HIM KNOW THAT YOU ARE

THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT.

COMFORT HIM NOW IN HIS

GRIEF.

GIVE HIM HOPE.

GIVE HIM A FUTURE.

SHOW HIM THE DESTINY THAT

YOU HAVE PREPARED FOR HIM.

AND NOW FOR ALL WHO ARE

WATCHING, WE JUST DECLARE

OVER THEM THAT YOU FORGIVE

ALL OUR INEQUITIES, YOU

HEAL ALL OUR DISEASES, YOU

ARE THE GOD WHO RENEWS OUR

STRENGTH, AND WE RECEIVE

IT NOW.

AND WE BLESS YOU FOR WHAT

YOU HAVE DONE, WHAT YOU'RE

ABOUT TO DO, AND WHO YOU

ARE, FOR YOU ARE THE SAME

YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND

FOREVER.

THERE IS SOMEONE WITH

SHARP PAIN IN YOUR RIGHT

SHOULDER, IT IS RELATED TO

A PINCHED NERVE IN YOUR

NECK.

GOD IS HEALING THAT.

HE IS REDUCING THE

PRESSURE ON THAT NERVE.

HE IS SETTING YOU

COMPLETELY FREE FROM THAT.

YOU'RE STARTING TO FEEL

ALL THOSE TENSE MUSCLES

JUST RELAX INTO THAT

SHOULDER, ALL THE WAY UP

THAT NERVE.

ALL OF THE DAMAGE IS BEING

REPAIRED RIGHT NOW IN

JESUS' NAME.

WHAT YOU COULDN'T DO

BEFORE, MOVE THAT ARM

AROUND AND REALIZE YOU'VE

BEEN SET FREE FROM IT.

IT IS HEALED NOW IN JESUS'

NAME.

TERRY?

Terry: AS GORDON WAS

PRAYING, THE SCRIPTURE

JUST CAME TO ME, AND THERE

IS SOMEBODY WHO HAS HAD

TROUBLE WITH MOBILITY AND

WALKING.

IT IS THE SCRIPTURE THAT

SAYS, YOU SHALL RISE UP ON

WINGS LIKE EAGLES.

YOU'LL WALK AND NOT BE

WEARY, AND YOU'LL RUN AND

NOT FAINT.

STEP UP, STAND UP,

STRETCH, AND BEGIN TO MOVE

IN WAYS YOU HAVE NOT BEEN

ABLE TO MOVE BEFORE.

GOD IS HEALING YOU.

Gordon: LORD, WE

THANK YOU.

WE THANK YOU FOR

EVERYTHING YOU DO, WHO YOU

ARE, AND WE RECEIVE IT NOW

IN JESUS' NAME.

AMEN.

AND AMEN.

IF YOU'VE BEEN TOUCHED BY

GOD, SHARE YOU'RE GOOD

REPORT.

LET US KNOW WHAT GOD HAS

DONE FOR YOU.

CALL US: 1-800-700-7000.

AND IF YOU NEED PRAYER,

WE'RE HERE FOR YOU.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS PICK

UP THE PHONE AND CALL US.

THE NUMBER IS ON THE

SCREEN.

DO IT NOW.

> COMING UP, A DRUNK

DRIVER STRUGGLES WITH WHAT

HE HAS DONE.

TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY

FOR THE DEATH OF TWO

20-YEAR-OLD GIRLS WHO HAD

THEIR WHOLE LIFE AHEAD OF

THEM -- I DIDN'T WANT TO

RESPONSIBLE FOR IT.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT LIFE,

FROM THAT MOMENT FORWARD,

WOULD EVER OFFER ME EVER

AGAIN.

Gordon: HIS AMAZING

STORY OF REDEMPTION AND

FORGIVENESS, RIGHT AFTER

THIS.

Gordon: WHAT STARTED

OUT AS AN INNOCENT NIGHT

OUT WITH FRIENDS ENDED

WITH ERIC SMALLRIDGE

FACING 20 YEARS IN PRISON

AFTER HE KILLED TWO YOUNG

WOMEN WHILE DRIVING DRUNK.

ERIC THOUGHT HIS LIFE WAS

OVER, BUT HE WAS GIVEN A

SECOND CHANCE IN AN

UNLIKELY PLACE.

MAY 10th OF 2002, IT

WAS A FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

I SPENT ALL DAY WITH MY

FRIENDS.

WE CAME TO THIS BAR.

ONE BEER HAD LED TO

ANOTHER, AND THE NEXT

THING YOU KNOW THE LIGHTS

IN THE BAR WERE COMING ON

AND IT WAS 2:00 IN THE

MORNINGMENMORNING.

I JUST FIGURED I WOULD BE

OKAY AND WENT RIGHT OUT TO

THE TRUCK AND JUMPED IN.

AS WE WENT INTO THIS

CURVE, THE CAMARO ON MY

RIGHT ALL OF A SUDDEN

STARTS TO MERGE INTO MY

LANE.

I JUST INSTINCTIVELY

JERKED THE WHEEL.

I NEVER SAW THE CAR THAT

HAD PULLED INTO THE INSIDE

LANE.

WHEN I CAME TO IN THE

MIDST OF ALL OF THE

AIRBAGS, SMOKE, AND THE

RADIATOR HISSING, GLASS

WAS EVERYWHERE, AND THE

OFFICER COMES OVER AND HE

WAS, LIKE, WHAT HAPPENED?

WHAT HAPPENED?

HE ASKED ME HAD I BEEN

DRINKING, AND I TOLD HIM I

HAD.

AT THAT POINT, THE LIGHTS

ARE COMING ON ANDHI'M

SEEING THIS CAR, AND I'M

SEEING PEOPLE FRANTICALLY

WORKING AROUND THE CAR.

I SEE THEM ACTUALLY BRING

WHITE SHEETS OUT, AND I'M

THINKING TO MYSELF, WHAT

IS REALLY GOING ON HERE?

AND THEY SAID, YOU DON'T

WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR

THIS.

AND I SAID, RESPONSIBLE

FOR WHAT?

AND THAT'S WHEN HE LOOKED

AT ME AND HE SAID, THERE

ARE TWO GIRLS THAT ARE

DEAD IN THAT CAR OVER

THERE.

TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR

THE DEATH OF TWO

20-YEAR-OLD GIRLS WHO HAD

THEIR WHOLE LIFE AHEAD OF

THEM -- I DIDN'T WANT TO

BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT LIFE,

FROM THAT MOMENT FORWARD,

WOULD EVER OFFER ME EVER

AGAIN.

I WAS A 24-YEAR-OLD KID

FACING A MINIMUM OF 20

YEARS.

AND I WAS SCARED.

THEY SAID, YOU CAN'T LOOK

AT THE FAMILIES.

I SAID, WELL, I NEED TO

SAY SORRY TO THEM.

AND THEY SAID, YOU CAN'T

SAY YOU'RE SORRY.

AND I SAID, WHAT DO YOU

MEAN?

THEY LOST THEIR KIDS.

THEY LOST THEIR DAUGHTER.

AND HE SAID, IF YOU WANT

20 YEARS IN PRISON, GO OUT

THERE AND TELL THEM YOU'RE

SORRY.

GO OUT THERE AND SIT AT

THE TABLE AND PAY

ATTENTION TO THE PAPERS ON

THE TABLE OR THE JUDGE,

AND THAT'S WHAT I DID.

HERE I WAS IN A VERY DARK

WORLD, AND MY MOM DROPS

THE BIBLE OFF, AND I'M

THINKING TO MYSELF, IT IS

PROBABLY TOO LATE FOR ME.

THAT'S WHEN ANOTHER INMATE

COMES OVER AND HE STARTS

TALKING TO ME.

AND HE SAID, DO YOU

BELIEVE IN GOD?

I SAID, I BELIEVE IN GOD,

BUT I DON I DON'T REALLY THINK

HE WANTS TO HAVE A

RELATIONSHIP WITH ME RIGHT

NOW.

AND HE SAID, YOU'RE WRONG.

AND WE STARTED READING THE

WORD, "THEY INTENDED TO

HARM YOU, BUT GOD INTENDED

FOR GOOD, BUT WHAT IS

BEING ACCOMPLISHED IS THE

SAVING OF MANY LIVES."

WHEN I FIRST READ THAT

SCRIPTURE, IT GAVE ME

HOPE.

THE CHAPLAIN CAME BY, AND

WE WENT DOWN TO A HOLDING

CELL, AND I GAVE MY LIFE

TO CHRIST.

ON OCTOBER 3rd I WAS

BROUGHT BACK TO COURT FOR

SENTENCING.

HEARING EACH PERSON COME

UP AND TALK AND ADDRESS

THE JUDGE AND ME, IT WAS

HEART-WRENCHING.

AND THEN RENEE, MEGAN'S

MOM, HAD THE ABILITY TO

LOOK OVER TO ME AND SAY, I

FORGIVE YOU.

HERE WAS THIS MOTHER WHO

LOST HER DAUGHTER, LOOKING

AT THE GUY WHO TOOK THAT

FROM HER, AND SAYING, I

FORGIVE YOU.

I WAS SO YOUNG IN CHRIST

AT THAT POINT THAT THERE

WAS STILL SOME DOUBT.

ARE YOU SURE, GOD, THAT

YOU CAN STILL ACCEPT ME?

ARE YOU SURE THAT I CAN BE

FORGIVEN?

AND THEN SHE SPOKE IT.

I JUST FELL APART.

I'M REALLY SORRY TO THE

FAMILIES FOR WHAT I'VE

DONE.

I'VE FELT SO MUCH PAIN,

AND THERE IS NOTHING I CAN

DO BUT ASK GOD TO HELP ME.

BUT THAT'S NOT GOING TO

BRING YOUR GIRLS BACK.

I WOULD GIVE MY LIFE.

I WROTE THEM LETTERS,

AND I MADE A PHONE CALL TO

MEGAN'S GRANDMOTHER, AND

SHE TOLD ME THAT RENEE WAS

THERE.

I KNEW EN MY HEART I IN MY HEART IT WAS

MY FAULT.

AND I TOLD HER, RENEE, I

JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW I

TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY

FOR WHAT I DID THAT NIGHT.

IT WAS WHAT SHE NEEDED TO

HEAR.

IN AUGUST OF 2006, WE COME

INTO THIS COURTROOM, AND

IT WAS A VERY BRIEF

HEARING.

IT WAS CALLED A BEGGER'S

MOTION.

NO LAW IS DISCUSSED.

YOU SIMPLY BEG FOR MERCY.

THESE FAMILIES HAD COME TO

A MOTION ON MY BEHALF.

YOU WOULD EXPECT MY FAMILY

TO DO THAT, BUT THEN THE

FAMILIES -- MEGAN'S AND

LISA'S PARENTS AND

BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND

AUNTS AND UNCLES -- IT WAS

LIKE HOLY COW, THEY'RE

SUPPORTING THAT.

EVEN IF THE JUDGE SAYS NO,

THE BLESSING HAS ALREADY

BEEN GIVEN.

AND WHEN THE JUDGE CAME

BACK, HE SAID ON RECESS I

READ SOMETHING, AND IT WAS

IN MEIKA 6: 8: "WHAT

DOES THE LORD REQUIRE ME

BUT TO ACT WITH MERCY AND

WALK HUMBLY WITH

GOD."

HE SAID, MR. SMALLRIDGE,

THESE FAMILIES HAVE COME

TO TRY TO GIVE YOU A

SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE, SO

I'M GOING TO RUN THESE

SENTENCES CONCURRENT.

MEGAN AND LISA, IF I COULD

SAY ONE THING TO THEM,

THEY WERE GOD'S ANGELS

BEING USED FOR A PURPOSE,

THAT THEIR LIVES ARE JUST

AS MAGNIFICENT NOW AS THEY

WERE THEN, THAT THEY ARE

STILL AFFECTING PEOPLE'S

EVERYDAY LIFE.

WITHOUT RECEIVING

FORGIVENESS, YOU CAN'T

MOVE FORWARD.

THERE IS NO HOPE.

IF WE DON'T FORGIVE SELF

OR RECEIVE FORGIVENESS FOR

THE THINGS WE'VE DONE IN

OUR PAST, WE HAVE TO STILL

ACCEPT IT FROM CHRIST, AND

TO KNOW THAT AS LONG AS WE

TURN AWAY FROM THOSE

ACTIONS, AND AS LONG AS WE

WALK THE WALK THAT IS

APPROVED IN GOD'S EYES,

THAT WE ARE TRULY

FORGIVEN.

Gordon: WHAT AN

AMAZING STORY.

AN AMAZING STORY OF

FORGIVENESS, REDEMPTION,

THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL.

THE ABILITY TO HAVE NOT

JUST MERCY BUT ACTUALLY

RECONCILIATION.

TO SAY, WE RECEIVE YOU.

YES, YOU KILLED OUR

DAUGHTERS, BUT WE RECEIVE

YOU.

AND WE DON'T WANT YOU NOW

TO BE IN PRISON FOR 22

YEARS.

HOW DO YOU YOU GET T GET TO THAT

POINT?

AND HOW DO YOU
T TO THE

POINT OF FORGIVENESS,

WHERE YOU REALLY DO LET IT

GO, AND YOU REALLY DO WANT

THE BEST FOR THE OTHER

PERSON?

JESUS TAUGHT ABOUT IT.

HE TAUGHT A GREAT DEAL.

ONE OF THE THINGS HE

TAUGHT ABOUT WAS SOMEONE

WHO WENT TO A KING AND HAD

A HUGE DEBT.

HE COULD NEVER REPAY IT.

AND THE KING WAS SAYING,

WELL, LET'S THROW YOU INTO

DEBTODEBTORS' PRISON AND SELL

YOUR FAMILY.

THAT'S WHAT WOULD HAPPEN

IN THOSE DAYS IF YOU

COULDN'T REPAY YOUR DEBT.

THE MAN FELL ON HIS KNEES

AND HE BEGGED FOR

FORGIVENESS.

AND THE KING SAID, OKAY, I

FORGIVE THE DEBT.

I SET YOU FREE.

YOU OWE ME NOTHING.

GO YOUR WAY.

AND THEN THAT SAME MAN,

WHO HAD BEEN FORGIVEN FOR

SO MUCH, WHEN HE FOUND

THAT HE WAS OWED A VERY

SMALL AMOUNT BY SOMEONE

ELSE, HE DEMANDED PAYMENT,

DEMANDED IMMEDIATE

PAYMENT.

AND THEN WHEN HE COULDN'T

GET THAT, HE DID THE SAME

THING HE ASKED FOR MERCY

FOR, HE THREW THE MAN INTO

PRISON.

WELL, THE PARABLE GOES ON

TO SAY, WELL, WHEN THE

RULER FOUND OUT ABOUT IT,

HE REVOKED HIS

FORGIVENESS.

THE MAN ENDED UP IN JAIL.

AND HE WAS -- IT IS AN

UNUSUAL VERSE -- HE WAS

DELIVERED TO THE

TORTURERS.

AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS TO

YOU AND I WHEN WE HOLD ON

TO UNFORGIVENESS.

THAT BITTERNESS BECOMES

PART OF OUR INNERMOST

BEING AND POISONS US.

AND WE START TO LOOK AT

THE WORLD WITH EYES OF

BITTERNESS, EYES OF ANGER,

EYES OF REVENGE.

INSTEAD OF THE EYES OF

LOVE THAT GOD WANTS US TO

HAVE.

YOU HAVE TO BE SET FREE

FROM IT.

YOU LITERALLY NEED A

MIRACLE TO HAPPEN.

FOR YOU TO HAVE THE

FORGIVENESS THAT JESUS

GAVE FROM THE CROSS, WHERE

HE SAID, FATHER FORGIVE

THEM; THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT

THEY'RE DOING.

AND WHEN YOU HAVE THAT

FORGIVENESS, THEN YOU

TRULY BECOME LIKE HIM AND

YOU TRULY ARE SET FREE.

IF THERE ARE THINGS IN

YOUR HEART THAT THIS BRIEF

TALK HAS SORT OF TRIGGERED

IN YOU, THAT YOU'RE

HOLDING THINGS -- IT COULD

HAVE BEEN FOR DECADES --

IT COULD HAVE BEEN FOR

SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED IN

YOUR CHILDHOOD -- LET IT

GO TODAY.

AND IF YOU NEED HELP WITH

THAT, IF YOU NEED SOMEONE

TO SAY, HOW DO YOU GET TO

THAT, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO

IS CALL US.

THE NUMBER IS ON THE

SCREEN: 1-800-700-7000.

REALIZE YOU CAN WALK FREE

OF IT.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO TORTURE

YOU ANYMORE.

YOU CAN BE FREE FROM IT

AND FREE INDEED.

WE ALSO HAVE A FREE

BOOKLET FOR YOU ON

FORGIVENESS, KEYS TO THE

POWER FOR LIVING.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS MAKE

A FREE PHONE CALL, ASK FOR

IT, AND WE CAN SEND IT OUT

TO YOU RIGHT AWAY.

DO IT NOW.

BE FREE FROM ALL OF THE

THINGS THAT ARE HOLDING

YOU BACK FROM FULLNESS

WITH HIM.

CALL US: 1-800-700-7000

TERRY?

Terry: WELL, STILL TO

COME, A YOUNG GIRL BORN

WITH TWO CLUBBED FEET...

I FEEL PAIN BECAUSE SHE

IS MY CHILD.

I CAN'T LOOK AT HER

WITHOUT CRYING, BUT I

CAN'T DO ANYTHING FOR HER.

I CAN'T PAY FOR THE

SURGERY.

Terry: SEE HOW

VIEWERS LIKE YOU HELPED

THIS GIRL AND HER FAMILY,

WHEN WE COME BACK.

Terry: TODAY SAMIRA

IS ALWAYS ON HER FEET,

DANCING FOR JOY.

BUT WHEN WE FIRST MET HER,

SHE COULD BARELY WALK AND

HER CONDITION BROKE HER

MOM'S HEART.

SAMIRA'S EYES SPARKLE WHEN

SHE SMILES.

THE SPIRITED 7-YEAR-OLD

FROM WESTERN UKRAINE SEEMS

TO HAVE NO CARES AND THE

WORLD.

BUT TRUTH IS, SAMIRA WAS

BORN WITH TWO CLUBBED

FEET, A SERIOUS DISABILITY

THAT CAUSES SEVERE PAIN

AND LIMITS HER MOVEMENT.

HER MOTHER, NORA, SUFFERS,

TOO.

I FEEL PAIN BECAUSE SHE

IS MY CHILD.

I CAN'T LOOK AT HER

WITHOUT CRYING, BUT I

CAN'T DO ANYTHING FOR HER.

I CAN'T PAY FOR THE

SURGERY THAT WOULD ALLOW

HER TO WALK AND RUN AND

PLAY LIKE OTHER CHILDREN.

Terry: SAMIRA RARELY

CRIES, BUT THIS DAY HER

TEARS FALL WHEN SHE SEES

HER MOTHER CRYING.

I HAVE ONE DREAM, FOR

SAMIRA TO BE HEALTHY AND

WALK NORMALLY.

Terry: YET NORA KNOWS

HER DREAM IS UNLIKELY TO

COME TRUE.

THIS POOR FAMILY CAN

BARELY AFFORD FOOD.

AND LIKE MOST PEOPLE IN

THIS VILLAGE, NORA AND HER

HUSBAND ARE UNEDUCATED,

AND THEIR JOB

OPPORTUNITIES ARE LIMITED.

MY HUSBAND IS HIRED

O BY PEOPLBYPEOPLE TO DO JOBS LIKE

CUTTING GRASS OR DIGGING

GRAVES, AND IS ONLY PAID

$2 TO $4 A DAY.

Terry: THAT'S WHY

NORA WAS OVERJOYED WHEN

CBN'S "ORPHANS' PROMISE"

OPENED A SCHOOL NEARBY.

SHE ENROLLED SAMIRA RIGHT

AWAY.

BUT WE KNEW SAMIRA NEEDED

MUCH MORE THAN JUST

READING AND WRITING

SKILLS.

SHE NEEDED SURGERY THAT

HER PARENTS COULD NEVER

AFFORD.

SO IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE

WE LOCATED A SKILLED

SURGEON AND PAID THE FULL

COST OF SAMIRA'S SURGERY

AND POST-OPERATIVE CARE.

11 MONTHS LATER, SAMIRA'S

LEGS AND FEET WERE NORMAL.

MY CHILD CAN DO

EVERYTHING.

WHAT ELSE COULD I EVER

WANT?

THANK YOU.

IT IS ALL BECAUSE OF YOU.

I CAN WALK AND RUN.

I CAN PLAY WITH OTHER

CHILDREN.

I EVEN TAKE DANCING

LESSONS AT MY SCHOOL.

THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME

STRAIGHT LEGS.

Terry: THANK YOU FOR

CARING ABOUT CHILDREN THAT

YOU WILL NEVER MEET IN

THIS WORLD, BUT WHOSE

LIVES ARE FOREVER CHANGED

BY YOUR KINDNESS AND

GENEROSITY.

JOIN WITH US.

JOIN "THE 700 CLUB."

65 CENTS A DAY, $20 A

MONTH.

CALL OUR TOLL-FREE NUMBER:

1-800-700-7000.

Gordon: HERE IS A

SCRIPTURE FOR YOU: "JUDGE

NOT AND YOU SHALL NOT BE

JUDGED.

CONDEMN NOT, AND YOU SHALL

NOT BE CONDEMNED.

FORGIVE AND YOU WILL BE

FORGIVEN."

GOD BLESS YOU.

WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN.