- [Announcer] The followingprogram is sponsored by CBN.

- [Gordon] Coming up,

the home of the apostle to the apostles.

- It's a first century town.

Give us something good.

- [Gordon] Scott Rossgoes to ancient Magdala.

- Magdala today gives thelargest view archaeologically

of the time of Jesus.

- [Gordon] Did Jesus walk here as well?

- This is on the path fromNazareth to Capernaum.

- [Gordon] Meet the peopleuncovering biblical history.

- It's considered and treasuredby many archaeologists

on the level of the Dead Sea Scrolls

in terms of archaeological importance.

- On today's "700 Club."

(dramatic music)

Well, welcome to "The 700 Club."

The number of migrants crossingthe southwestern border

is on pace for thehighest level in 20 years.

Republicans are calling itthe Biden border crisis,

but the White House has alsobeen calling it a challenge.

- Well now, Congress is moving once again

to take on illegal immigration

as they try to deal with the Dreamers

who are already here in the country.

As Jenna Browder reports,

the two parties remain far apart.

- With migrants pouring across the border

and the number of childrencoming into the country

on pace to set a record,lawmakers are rushing to solve

at least part of the immigrationproblem with legislation.

In a near party-line vote,

the House approved a bill Thursday

that would give legal status

to around two million Dreamers

brought to the US illegally as children.

The bill also extends tohundreds of thousands of people

led into the country forhumanitarian reasons.

And in another measure,

the House voted to givesimilar protections

to one million farmworkers here illegally.

But both bills face anuphill battle in the Senate.

Republicans insist anyimmigration legislation

must also strengthen border security.

- Legalizing anybodyunder these circumstances

will lead to even moreillegal immigration.

- [Jenna] Senator Lindsey Graham,

who has, for years, joinedDemocratic Senator Dick Durbin

in sponsoring the Dream Actsignaling he's now hesitant

to move it across the finish line.

- Biden has lost controlof the US-Mexican border.

Until he regains control byimplementing policies that work,

it's gonna be very hard to dothe Dreamers or anybody else.

- [Jenna] This week, he joined

with Representative MariaSalazar on the Dignity Act,

which combines legal protectionsfor undocumented immigrants

and border security.

- I'm offering dignity.

What I'm offering isthe art of the possible.

I'm offering to bring thosepeople out of the shadows,

the ones with TPS andeverybody who's been here

for more than five years

and does not have a criminal record.

- [Jenna] Democrats argueDreamers and farmers

need that protection now.

- Dreamers are doctors, nurses,

lab technicians, contacttracers, and job creators.

- [Jenna] This all happeningamid serious concerns

about the surge of migrants on the border.

The White House has labeled it a challenge

and steadfastly refusedto call it a crisis.

But in what seems to be a slip up,

Press Secretary Jen Psakiused that exact word Thursday.

- There have beenexpectations set outside of,

unrelated to, any vaccine doses

or requests for them, thatthey would be partners

in dealing with the crisis on the border.

And there have been requests, unrelated,

that for doses of these vaccines.

- And for years, Congress has been unable

to come up with a solutionfor the immigration problem.

And with Democrats andRepublicans holding steady,

it doesn't appear they'll be able to do it

this time around either.

In Washington, Jenna Browder, CBN News.

- It's unfortunate we'restill in an election cycle

and it just doesn't seem to go away.

And so on one side, onthe administration's side,

they've got to change the lingoso it's no longer a crisis,

so people can't call itthe Biden border crisis.

They can't call it for what it is.

But let's keep this in mind.

President Biden himself calledit a crisis just last month.

Here's the quote:

"We cannot solve thehumanitarian crisis at our border

without addressing theviolence, instability,

and lack of opportunitythat compel so many people

to flee their homes."

That was in his executiveorder on February 2, 2021.

So here we are in March,

and suddenly, everything has to change

and we have to call it a challenge.

Well, if you're focused on the semantics

and not focused on the problem,

then we're never going to solve anything.

And as a nation,

you absolutely have toenforce your borders.

And as the executive,

you absolutely have toenforce the law of the land.

You can't say, "Well, I'mgonna have this open pass."

Well, when you do, that's going to spur

an incredible wave of migration.

It's not just coming from Mexico

and Central America and South America.

Ecuador has an open visaand all kinds of people

from all over the world are now flocking

and joining that caravan

in hopes that they cancome to the United States.

And you have to senda clear signal to them

and to the world, no, you'renot going to be granted asylum,

you're not going to begranted immigration status.

We have to enforce our borders.

That's why you have nation states.

Same time, we've got tosolve the immigration problem

that currently exists,what to do with people

inside the country.

And whether they're Dreamersor however they arrived here,

we have to come to some kind of consensus.

In the current election climate,

I mean, you would think we'vealready had one in November

and can we please stopand start governing?

No, we're back into yetanother election cycle

and everybody gearing for the mid-terms

and so they're trying tomake this a campaign issue

that will dog the Bidenadministration, dog the Democrats,

and, as a result, you getinto this polarization

and you can't get anything done.

Now more than ever,

we need to pray for our nation,pray for our leadership,

that can we please come together?

Can we please be one nationunder God, indivisible?

These divisions are really hurting us.

In other news, the Senate has confirmed

one of President Biden'smost controversial nominees

in an extremely close party-line vote.

Efrem Graham has that storyfrom our CBN newsroom.

Efrem.

- Gordon, Xavier Becerra is set to become

the chief of Health and Human Services

after a 50 to 49 vote.

It was the closest margin

of any of President Biden'scabinet picks so far.

Conservatives argued Becerrahas no healthcare experience,

and multiple pro-lifeleaders have blasted him

for his activist supportof abortion rights,

calling him an extremist

and saying he's persecutedanti-abortion groups,

including taking legalaction against them.

About 50 groups angeredby big tech censorship

and deplatforming ofconservative voices nationwide

are calling on the states to take on

the social media giants.

Paul Strand shows us how.

- This letter from activist groups

asked the attorney general in each state

to go after big tech for basically lying.

It specifically targets Twitter, Facebook,

and Google/YouTube, raising questions

about how each company claimsobjectivity yet chooses sides.

- If a company tells you,

as all these big tech companies have done,

that they are neutral and thenacts in an opposite manner,

that may be a violation of local laws.

- [Paul] Media ResearchCenter's Brent Bozell

says 19 states are alreadyfighting back with existing law.

- Consumer laws that are onthe books to protect citizens

from unfair trade practices,

and certainly, what isgoing on with big tech

applies directly to that.

- Some of these techcompanies are so large

and so monopolistic and soabusive in their actions

that we have to take actions.

- [Paul] Both TexasAttorney General Ken Paxton

and Arkansas AttorneyGeneral Leslie Rutledge

are joining the fight.

- We're part of these lawsuits,

part of these investigations.

- [Paul] Rutledge is goingfurther by pushing a bill

to punish deplatforming and censoring.

- To seek penalties

under the Arkansas DeceptiveTrade Practices Act

with a violation, with a penalty, rather,

of a violation up to$10,000 per violation.

- [Paul] Big tech though,could have something to hide

as Twitter is suing Paxton

in an attempt to stop his investigation.

In its suit, it accuses Paxton

of unlawfully abusing his authority

as the highest law enforcement officer

of the State of Texasto intimidate, harass,

and target Twitter.

- Big tech is just a small group

of uncensored, unchecked individuals

who decide they want to silence us.

- [Paul] And Mississippi'sLynn Fitch saw that firsthand

after Twitter didn'tlike a video she posted

about human trafficking.

- I put it up.

Within 37 seconds, theytook it down at Twitter.

If Twitter or any of theseplatforms can just be so cavalier

that they take down an attorney general,

wow, that means they'regonna take all of us down.

- Dan Gainor warns all those targeted

need to figure out now how to communicate

outside big tech's infrastructure

so these bullies can't gang up

and cherry pick which sitesand speech to silence.

- The conservative movementneeds to move ahead

building its own infrastructure.

Because as we saw withParler, particularly,

that infrastructure can goaway over almost overnight.

- [Paul] Paul Strand,CBN News, Washington.

- Turning now to the Middle East.

A major historical find inIsrael announced this week.

Dozens of Dead Sea Scroll fragments,

including parts of OldTestament manuscripts.

As Chris Mitchell reports from Jerusalem,

some of the finds go backmore than 10,000 years,

and they were not easy to reach.

- [Chris] Since 2017,Israeli archaeologists

have surveyed the ravines andcaves of the Judean Desert.

The Israel Antiquities Authority

put together the four-year project

to prevent robbers fromlooting priceless artifacts.

Work included rappellingmore than 200 feet down

to one of the main caves.

(rocks crumbling)

Inside, the team dug and sifted soil

not touched for nearly two millennia.

Their work uncovered biblical treasures,

including pieces of scrollsnearly 2,000 years old.

- Wow.- Wow. (laughs)

- [Chris] Then theymade the precarious trek

up the cliffs, taking thetreasures to the Israel Museum.

- It's a great day.

Actually, it's a daywhere we can show our work

in the last four years in the desert.

It's specific work, butyou can see that we found

many significant artifacts and items

that belong to the state of Israel.

- Perhaps the most importantfinds are these scrolls

from the Book of Zechariah and Nahum.

These are the first biblical scrolls

found in the JudeanDesert in nearly 60 years.

The Jews who fled the Romans in 70 AD

brought this scroll to the cave.

- They took with them onlywhat was most important to them

and what was essential for surviving,

and this is one of thethings that they took.

And this tells us something about

how strong their belief was.

- [Chris] The recoveredportion of the scroll

comes from the Book ofZechariah that says,

"'These are the things you are to do:

speak the truth to one another,

render true and perfectjustice in your gates;

and do not contrive evilagainst one another,

and do not love perjury,because all those are things

that I hate,' declares the Lord."

The team also uncovered the6,000-year-old body of a child

and found an intact basket thatthey sent for carbon dating.

- When the results cameback, we were amazed.

It is 10,500 years old.

It's so unique.

It's the only example that looks like this

from that time in Israeland maybe in the world.

- [Chris] The find shedlight on Jewish history.

These coins from the Bar Kokhba revolt

against the Romans carry inscriptions

that refer to the times ofKing David and King Solomon.

These coins are from the time

of Jerusalem's destruction in 70 AD

- The scrolls that we found,

the fugitives, the coins, theweapons from the rebellions.

But it's not only thestory of the Jewish people.

It's the story of the humankind.

- [Chris] Back in the Judean Desert,

archaeologists say thereare still hundreds of caves

left to explore withthe promise of finding

more biblical scrollsand historic artifacts.

Chris Mitchell, CBN News,the Israel Museum, Jerusalem.

- Incredible work and incredible find.

Gordon.

- Well, every day in Israel,

it seems like they're kicking over a stone

and finding more archaeology

that proves the truth of the Bible,

the history of the Bible.

And it's wonderful to see it unfold.

Here, yet more scrolls fromthe Herod's Temple period.

These are written in Greekand it's fascinating to see

how much they were treasured by people.

Here, people literallyfleeing for their lives

from Roman soldiers,and the thing they want

to take with them is ascroll of the prophet.

If you want to learn moreabout archaeology in Israel,

we've got something for you.

It's a whole series,archaeological series,

called "Written in Stone."

The latest episode is "House of David."

And so if you want to seethis wonderful documentary

showing the proof that archaeology has

that there was a King David,there was a David dynasty,

the House of David, it's yours for a gift

of any dollar amount.

You'll get instant 4K streaming access.

You'll also get a DVD that you can watch

and share with friends.

All you have to do iscall us, 1-800-700-7000,

or go to CBN.com/WrittenInStone

or just text KINGDAVID to 51555.

Again, for a gift of any dollar amount.

What your gift will go to isproducing more documentaries

on Israel, more documentariesthrough CBN Films

like "I Am Patrick.

We're working on one right now

about the existence of theBible, how the Bible came to be.

We need your support in order to pay

for the production costs.

So if you'd like to contribute to that,

give us a call, 1-800-700-7000.

Terry.

- Well, up next, a discovery on par

with the Dead Sea Scrolls.

That's what archaeologistsare calling the Magdala Stone.

What is it, and what does it tell us

about Israel during the time of Jesus?

Plus, the secret to the meaning of life,

and Jews have been recitingit for thousands of years.

Discover the power behind the Haggadah

later on today's show.

(dramatic music)

(inspirational music)

- Well, today, we're talkingabout archaeology and Israel,

and archeologists have made anamazing discovery in Galilee.

It's a first century Jewishsynagogue in the city

that many believe was thehome of Mary Magdalene.

So what's the significance of this find?

Well, Scott Ross explainsfrom the city of Magdala.

- [Scott] Located on the western shore

of the Sea of Galilee,Magdala sits at a crossroad

of Jewish and Christian history.

- Magdala is very significant already,

just in general in the culture.

One of the most known figuresof Christian discipleship

is Mary of Magdala.

What's the importance ofMagdala for the Jewish people?

It's a first century town anda very significant excavation

in the first centuryfor the Jewish culture.

- [Scott] In 2005, Father Juan Solana

initiated the Magdala Project

to highlight the ministry of Jesus

and an opportunity tohonor women of faith.

They broke ground in 2009,and what happened next,

Father Eamon Kellydescribes as providence.

- We bought this piece of land,

and then to find it in Magdala, the land,

and not just on any hillaround the Sea of Galilee.

And then you startdigging with two prayers,

"Lord, spare us from archaeology,"

(men laugh)

'cause it's expensive hobby,

and then a big delay for all the project.

The second prayer was, "Ifyou do give us archaeology,

give us something good."

And so we find this incredible discovery

of a first century synagogue.

- [Scott] Seated in thesynagogue, Father Kelly told me

about some of the featuresthat make it so amazing.

- So we're in a very big roomand we see it's organized

with two rows of seatinghere in the central part

and we have another row ofseating inside the outer walls.

This is a space that's not a family home.

It's a very ornate community room

that has this mosaic and the frescoes.

And the mosaic has two parts,

the rosette mosaic with the three colors,

but now the specialists are telling us

there are 26 colors in the mosaic.

And then we have the unending pattern,

which shocked some people,

but they say this was alsoin the temple in Jerusalem.

And then we have the MagdalaStone right down here.

This is the place where we found it.

Now this and the one out there are copies.

It's considered and treasuredby many archaeologists

on the level of the Dead Sea Scrolls

in terms of archaeological importance.

- [Scott] Archaeologist MottiAviam proposed the theory

of the Magdala Stoneresembling the Second Temple

of Jesus' day.

- And I suggested what we have here

is some kind of a model symbolicof the temple in Jerusalem.

We have the menorah, we havethe altar, the golden altar,

we have the showbread table,

and we have a sceneinto the Holy of Holies.

- [Scott] Because of thecommandment against graven images,

Aviam says the choice wasto portray God symbolically

in a divine chariot.

- As it is in the Book of Zechariah

and many other books fromthe Second Temple period,

which gives us adescription of the chariot

on which God is riding.

- So what is thesignificance then of Magdala,

going back in biblical history?

- Magdala, today, gives thelargest view, archaeologically,

of the time of Jesus.

- [Scott] While there'sno physical evidence

that Jesus visited Magdala,

Father Kelly says the signs are there.

- Scott, every day, everygroup asks me this question:

Was Jesus here?

Was He in this synagogue?

Was He in Magdala?"

And I say, "We don't knowbecause we lost all the videos."

(Scott laughs)

Jesus was surely present in Galilee

and this is on the pathfrom Nazareth to Capernaum.

There's a port here and He'salways crossing the lake.

This is a mecca for theGalilean Sea fishermen.

- [Scott] At Magdala,the Duc Al Altum Center

is a place for people ofdifferent faiths to worship.

Its Latin name is taken from Luke,

where Jesus tells Peterto launch into the deep.

The atrium is designedto honor the Jewish women

who followed Jesus in the New Testament.

Four smaller chapels include mosaics

illustrating biblical events,

and in the Boat Chapel, aunique boat-shaped altar

overlooks the Sea of Galilee.

- When the Gospel is proclaimed

up there up at the microphone,

it looks like Jesus is preachingagain to us from the boat.

Imagine you're havingliturgy here, prayer,

and the boats are going by.

It allows people to get into the moment

of the Gospel happenings.

- [Scott] And downstairsis the Encounter Chapel,

where Father Kelly says hebelieves God is healing divisions

between Christians andthe Jewish community.

- This is part of the roadof the first century port.

So you know the names ofany first century fishermen?

(Scott laughs)

So who walked on this street?

- Yes.

- Now, if Jesus came to Magdala,

I say he was more often on this street

than he was in our synagogue.

- [Scott] Magdala is staffed, in part,

by international volunteers.

- Sometimes you realize,like, you know very little

of your faith, so this helpsyou to go deeper inside

and really to live all the things

you can find out in Israel.

- I never been in the Holy Land before,

so it was taking a huge risk.

It was very surprising to seewhat we think about Israel

and the Holy Land and cominghere and seeing the reality.

- And that guest house for pilgrims?

It opened just recently.

What's the vision for the future now?

- We had to make quite a few adjustments

because of the archaeological discoveries,

which enriched the site immensely,

enriched it with meaning.

And then by finding asynagogue, a huge increase

of the Jewish-Christian dialogue,

and also theChristian-to-Christian encounter

because here we have a placewhere we're not divided.

So, where providence isgoing to continue taking this

in the future, I thinkwe'll all be surprised,

as we are every day.

- [Scott] Scott Ross for CBN

at Magdala in the Galilee, Israel.

- Well, Israel should open fairly soon.

They've led the worldin terms of vaccinations

and they're getting ready tostart this sort of green pass

so you can go back andvisit and go to Galilee

and walk where Jesuswalked and see the evidence

of what the Bible proclaims.

Well, while you're waitingfor Israel to reopen,

you can go there throughour latest documentary.

It's called "House of David."

It's from our "Written in Stone" series

and it shares the archeological evidence

behind Israel's greatestking, King David, his line,

the line that was prophesiedthe Messiah would come from.

So for a gift of any dollar amount,

you can get exclusive accesstoday to "House of David"

with instant streaming in4K on the CBN Family app.

We'll also mail you a copy of the DVD

with an, again, this is fora gift of any dollar amount.

All you have to do is visitCBN.com/WrittenInStone

or, better still, call us, 1-800-700-7000.

Just say, "I want to getthe copy of 'House of David'

and here's my gift."

Or you can text us, KINGDAVID,all one word, to 51555.

Do it now.

Get informed of what archaeology is doing.

It's supporting the truth of the Bible.

Archaeological discoveries in Israel

are saying the Bible is true,

the history of the Bible istrue, and you can rely on it.

1-800-700-7000.

Terry.- Pretty exciting.

Well up next, inside thepages of the original

and best ever self-help book.

What is it and what doesit reveal about Passover

and the Easter season?

Stay tuned to find out.

(inspirational music)

(uplifting music)

- Well, Passover is one ofthe most important nights

on the Hebrew calendar.

Jewish families around theworld mark the occasion

by hosting a Seder, acelebration that includes

the secrets to the meaning of life.

Take a look.

- [Narrator] Jewish entrepreneur

and philanthropist Mark Gerson

wants to share the buried treasures

found in one of the mostpowerful ancient texts in Judaism

called the Haggadah.

Within its pages, you'llfind the story of the Exodus

and Jewish Passover,which has guided families

through their Sedercelebrations for millennia.

In his latest book, "The Telling,"

Gerson shares this wisdom and insight,

helping you live a happierand more meaningful life.

- Well, Mark Gersonjoins us now via Skype.

And Mark, welcome to "The 700 Club."

- Gordon, it is greatto be here. Thank you.

- Well, your book is "The Telling,"

and that's actually themeaning of the Haggadah.

Why this book and why now?

- Well, Passover, as you said,is the great Jewish holiday.

In the Bible, it tellsus exactly what it is.

It's two things.

It's one, it's the authentic,

biblically ordained Jewish new year,

and it's also our spring festival.

Two ideas, two concepts coming together

to tell us that the spring,the season of rejuvenation,

of newness is upon us.

It's coming up now.

March 27th will be the Passover Seder

and we should take this opportunity

to discover what are the opportunities

that are open to us spiritually

and opportunities open to usto help improve the world.

And the Haggadah exists to guide us

through that divine journey.

- Well, let's talk about the Passover,

let's talk about the Haggadah,

and talk about what,the story it's telling.

So, what story is being transmitted,

and it's being transmitted generationally,

so what's the story?

- The story is the Exodus story.

So the Passover Seder,which will be this year

on March 27th and 28th,is the oldest running

religious ritual in the world.

What we do at the Passover Seder

is we relive and we retellthe story of the Exodus

directly from Exodus 12 and 13.

Everything we're gonnado at the end of March

is specifically ordainedin the biblical text.

- Well, you believe it alsoreveals the meaning of life,

which is a, that's a big one. (chuckles)

So, why the meaning of life?

What is it in the service thatreveals the meaning of life?

- Well, the Haggadah isbasically the greatest hits

of Jewish thought.

It's as though the authors of the Haggadah

thousands of years ago said,"The new year is upon us.

How can we pack the mostimportant ideas in the Torah,

in our Holy scripture, into one short book

to be used by people sittingat the Passover Seder

to help them live a happier, better,

and more meaningful lifein the year to come?"

And they succeeded incredibly.

And the Haggadah is for our benefit.

It's there for our use.

It's the original andbest ever self-help book,

all derived directly fromthe wisdom of the Torah.

- I really enjoyed yourbook, but one of the chapters

that really caught myattention is Bring That Self.

And you talk about youactually have to prepare.

And part of the service, atthe breaking of the matzo,

is that a declarationby the one leading it

is that, if you'reneedy, if you're hungry,

- That's right.- those are the ones

who are ready for thePassover, for the Seder.

Why is that so important?

And what in Jewish thoughtmeans bring that self

to the celebration?

- What a terrific question.

So I think the answer is revealed

in the meaning of theHebrew word (speaks Hebrew).

(speaks Hebrew) means faces.

There is no Hebrew word for singular face.

So why would there be no Hebrewword for a singular face?

For the same reason whythere's no English word

for the Bible quoting infant,because there's no such thing.

And when the world has no such thing,

we don't need a word for it.

So nobody has just one face.

We all have many different faces.

We present ourselves differently

when we're playing with our children

or our grandchildrenthan when we're at work.

And this great invitationthat you just read,

that all who are hungry, come and eat,

all who are needy, comeand celebrate Passover,

tells us the kind ofself who should arrive

at a new year celebration,whether it's the Passover Seder

or another one in our lives.

It's the broken self.

It's the self who realizes

that I need other people andthat other people need me.

It's the self that realizes I'm hungry,

I'm hungry to improve myself spiritually

and I'm hungry to improve thelives of others materially.

- Well, tell us about thehistory of the service.

It goes back thousands of years.

So, would the Jews of the first century

have celebrated the same waythat Jews celebrate today?

- Absolutely. Absolutely.

If a Jew from the firstcentury walked into my Seder

in New York in 2021, he orshe could sit right down,

participate comfortably, knoweverything that was going on.

One of the staggering things,

one of the incredible thingsabout the Passover Seder

and the holiday in generalis it's continuity.

There is a sacred continuityto the Passover holiday

that is such that, if aJew from the first century,

or perhaps if even Moses came into a Seder

anywhere in the world today,

from Newport News to New York to Tel Aviv,

they would know exactly what was going on

and they could participate comfortably

in telling the great story of the Exodus

in what is essentially a conversation,

a conversation that happensvertically between generations

and a conversation thathappens horizontally

between Jews and our Gentile friends

at Seders all around theworld in any given year.

- Well, you're talking toan audience of Christians

and so I've got to ask, what'sthe most important takeaway

that you want Christians to understand

when they read your book?

- I think we are livingthrough world historic times.

And the world historictime we're living through

is that of Jewish-Christian friendship.

Jewish-Christian friendshipor Jewish-Gentile friendship

is deeply embedded in the Bible.

Abraham's friend andmentor was Melchizedek,

the Gentile king.

Moses' friend and mentor wasJethro, his father-in-law.

And now the Jewish peoplehave such dear friends

in the Christian community.

This has been 6,000 years coming.

It's developed, Gordon, in large part,

due to you and to CBNand the audience at CBN.

Really in this current generation,

and in the previousgenerations when it started,

it's ongoing now.

We are living in an historic time

of Jewish-Christian friendship,

and the focal point of this friendship

should be the Passover Seder.

So I would tell every Christian

find a Jewish home and join them for Seder

because Christians enhancethe Seders so magnificently.

In fact, the original Seder in the Bible,

the last meal in Egypt, itwasn't called a Seder then,

but it was the last meal in Egypt,

was enjoyed by Jews andthe mixed multitudes,

Jews and Gentiles together,

and let's make that a reality every year.

- All right.

Well, you can learn more aboutthe Seder, about Passover,

and the Haggadah in Mark's book.

It's called "The Telling."

I encourage you to get it.

It will really encourage your faith

and you'll understandthe essential Judaism

in the Passover and alsoin the Lord's Supper.

So Mark, thank you for beingwith us, and we'll be back

with more of "The 700Club" right after this.

(inspirational music)

Coming up.

- I started drinking morebeer at night, during the day.

- [Gordon] A father of four'saddiction gets out of control.

- Crying, pleading with me,"Dad, just please stay home."

- [Gordon] His plan to end it.

- [Tarrant] Found a rope,

tied it up there on the third rafter.

- [Gordon] And what saved his life.

- [Tarrant] Celeste and thekids never stopped believing.

- [Gordon] Later on "The 700 Club."

(tense music)

- And welcome back to "The 700 Club"

for this CBN newsbreak.

A group of 57 black Christianleaders is urging the Senate

to reject the Equality Act.

The bill expands civil rightsprotections for LGBTQ people,

but critics say it wouldhurt religious freedom

in multiple ways.

The black leaders warn

the bill would removemany of the basic rights

that allow religiousorganizations to operate

according to the tenets of their faith.

They support an alternative bill

that would protect religious freedom

as well as LGBTQ rights.

CBN's Operation Blessing

is bringing free, life-changing surgeries

to people around the world.

When Jesus, a young boyin Honduras, turned two,

his father, Jonathan noticedhe was struggling to see

and would often fallwhen he tried to walk.

A specialist diagnosed himwith congenital cataracts

in both eyes, but a staffmember at his clinic

told him about Operation Blessing.

Thanks to the support ofOperation Blessing's partners,

Jesus soon got the surgery he needed.

The cataracts were removed

and his sight was restored free of charge.

His father, overjoyed,

thanking OperationBlessing through the years.

You can learn more about whatOperation Blessing is doing

by visiting OB.org.

Gordon and Terry are back withmore of today's "700 Club."

It's coming up right after this.

(tense music)

(inspirational music)

- BoChen's parents hadto keep rushing their son

to the hospital.

At one point, he had pneumonia.

At another, he went into cardiac arrest.

As soon as he recovered from one illness,

another would strike.

All the while, his parents worried

that their son's nextillness would be his last.

Before their son was born,

the Ji's daydreamed forhours about his future.

They hoped BoChen would be strong

and live a happy and healthy life.

But it wasn't long beforehe started getting sick.

- [Interpreter] His lips turned purple

and his immunity was weak,so when he caught colds,

they lasted for over two weeks.

Sometimes he cried so much, he fainted.

- [Terry] It turned out thatBoChen had a hole in his heart.

(speaking in foreign language)

- [Interpreter] I couldn't believe it,

so I had an ultrasound done.

It showed he reallydid have heart trouble.

- [Terry] Mrs. Ji kepta close watch on BoChen

and spent all her sparetime looking for ways

to help him get better.

- [Interpreter] BoChenhad a hard time breathing

and he was so tiny.

I worried his brain andbones wouldn't develop right.

And when I looked online,

I found out that children like BoChen

sometimes don't even live to be three.

- [Terry] Mr. Ji workedhard to support his family,

but there was no way he couldafford surgery for his son.

Over time, the holecompromised BoChen's lungs

and he didn't get the oxygen he needed.

Once he went into cardiac shock

and ended up in the hospital.

- [Interpreter] I asked my husband,

"Do you think he will live?"

I wouldn't be able to handle him dying.

He was part of me.

- [Interpreter] I remember our wishes.

But now, our boy wasn'tgoing to be strong.

The doctor even saidBoChen wouldn't be able

to do anything strenuous.

- [Terry] BoChen got pneumonia

and had to go back to thehospital several times.

Finally, someone theretold the couple about CBN.

They contacted us, andwe set up heart surgery

for BoChen right away.

- [Interpreter] You fixed everything.

CBN's love made my family feel so warm.

- [Interpreter] BoChenstarted gaining weight.

Now, he's healthy.

He loves to smile andhe's happy every day.

- [Interpreter] He's smartand will live a long life.

If CBN hadn't helped us,

I don't know if my son would have made it.

- [Interpreter] Thank you forproviding us such timely help,

and thank you for giving us hope.

- Hope, you can't put a price tag on it.

That thanks goes out toyou, 700 Club members.

You are the ones who make it possible

for us to step into hopeless situations

like BoChen and his parents were facing

and give the gift of life.

And that's just one of the things you do

if you're a 700 Club member.

You're touching thelives of people in need

all around the world, aswell as right here at home.

To the rest of you, if youhaven't joined the 700 Club,

this is the moment.

We would love to hear from you.

Our number's toll-free.

It's 1-800-700-7000.

Just call and say, "I wantto join the 700 Club."

We have lots of clublevels for you to join at,

but a general membershipis just 65 cents a day,

$20 a month.

If you're already a general member,

go up to 700 Club Goldwith a gift of $40 a month.

Some of you might want tojoin as 1000 Club members

at $84 a month.

As you can see, we have a 2500 Club level

and a Founders level.

Do something today to make a difference.

It will just bless you

as much as it blessesthose that you're helping.

You'll be amazed at how good you'll feel

about the fact that you'remaking a difference in the world,

especially in these dayswhere sometimes you feel like

there's not a lot you cando to make a difference.

Joining the 700 Club is one way you can.

And here's an extra thank you to you.

We're gonna send you Pat's latest book,

"I Have Walked With the Living God."

He talks in here about theyears of following the Lord

and God's great faithfulness to him.

He also shares candidlyabout mistakes he's made

and how God has continued to bless him

and use him in spite of that.

And so we want you to have this.

It'll be inspiring toyour walk with the Lord.

I think you'll find it fascinating.

I did.

My husband's reading it right now

and hasn't been able to put it down.

So we're gonna send this to you

when you join the 700 Club.

1-800-700-7000.

Call and say, "I'm gonnajoin the 700 Club."

Thank you.

Gordon.

- Still ahead, the race of his life.

This marathoner keptchasing money and booze

at the expense of his own family.

Can he outrun his inner demons?

Well, see for yourself right after this.

(dramatic music)

(inspirational music)

Four suicide attempts on Easter Sunday.

Tarrant just wanted to check out of life,

a life addicted to gambling and booze.

So what stopped him,

and how did this lifelong runner

finally cross the finishline into a brand new life?

Take a look.

- I'd seen the allure of gambling.

I started putting in 20 bucksthen 60 dollars then hundreds

and then eventually turnedinto thousands of dollars

per night while I'm drinking.

- [Narrator] Tarrant CrossChild is a tribe member

of the Blackfoot Confederacy.

In summers as a boy, he found joy

in running on the beautifulSouthern Alberta reservation.

- And it's quite amazingbecause you see the buttes,

the rocks, and then youget to find the horses

and then chase them back into the corral.

So that's when I really realized

that I really loved to run.

- [Narrator] His passionbecame his pursuit,

and Tarrant accepted a college scholarship

to run cross country atMedicine Hat College in Alberta.

While there, he met Celeste,

who was also a runner and a Christian.

- It was just a relationshipthat just grew through running

and we fell in love with each other.

- [Narrator] They weremarried in the year 2000,

and soon, started a family.

He worked in the flooringbusiness, and as the company grew,

so did his desire for money and alcohol.

- I started attending pubs, having a beer.

I started chasing after the acceptance

from other contractors and money

just really started to run my life.

- [Narrator] One day in 2007,

Tarrant got a call from his mother,

who owed him money for two months.

- And she says, "Tarrant, I'm sick."

I said, "Mom, I know.

You're always sick.

You didn't pay me back.

Don't call me until youpay me back that money."

- [Narrator] It would be lasttime he would speak to her.

- She ended up dying anhour after I yelled at her

and hung up the phone on her.

Realizing, "What kind of son did I become?

Who does that to their own mother?"

- [Narrator] Tarrant stoppedrunning and drowned his sorrows

in alcohol and gambling.

- I started drinking morebeer at night, during the day,

as the weeks went onand the months went on

after my mother's death.

- [Narrator] His substance abuse

took its toll on his family.

- My daughter, she would sprawl her body

right along the door,just blocking the door,

crying, pleading with me,"Dad, just please stay home."

Just the grip of the addictionoverpowered the thought

of being home with mywife and my four children.

- [Narrator] His familycontinued to hope and pray.

- Little did I know, my wife and my kids

would be kneeling down in the living room,

hand in hand, praying.

- [Narrator] His gamblingtook money from the family,

and soon, he defaulted on his mortgage.

On Easter Sunday 2014, whilehis family was at church,

Tarrant decided to take his life.

- After drinking more beer,I went into the garage,

found a rope, tied it upthere on the third rafter.

After my three failed attempts,I went back into the house

and I was mad and I found a bottle

of extra strength Tylenol,consumed the entire bottle,

and meanwhile, I was down over 24 beer.

- [Narrator] Celeste returned from church

to find Tarrant unresponsiveand rushed him to the hospital.

- And after a few days there,

I said, "Celeste, I need help."

I didn't want faith help.

I just wanted secular help.

Because in my mind, I would think,

"How can God fix everything I have done?

How can He redeem me?

How can He set me free from my past?"

- [Narrator] A nurse toldTarrant about Teen Challenge,

a Christian-based rehab facility.

- And as she's telling me this,I realize I'm not shaking.

I'm not sweating.

I feel calm.

I feel peace.

- [Narrator] Tarrant committedto the 12-month rehab.

On his second day,something changed his heart.

- Worship team is up.

They start singing this song,

"Amazing Grace-My Chains Are Gone."

I felt like the chains,you know where I'm bound

in addiction and gambling and sin,

I felt like they'd been broken.

"What's my life gonna look like now?"

- [Narrator] Tarrant foundout that members of the church

had taken care of someof the family bills.

In fact, they received so much help,

they were able to keep their house.

- When I graduated, Ireturned home to my family.

We renewed our vows, returned to our home,

and I started my business back up.

- [Narrator] Tarrant alsostarted running again.

That year, he ran theSaskatchewan marathon,

and though he didn't win,he drew national attention

and gained a sponsorship with New Balance.

- When I crossed the finish line,

I really felt God impressing upon my heart

that "Yes, this is a finish line,

but to you, it's is a brand-newstart to a brand-new life."

- [Narrator] He now travels Canada

with his Child of the Cross Ministry,

donating shoes, putting onraces, and sharing the Gospel.

- I knew I wanted this community

so I could feel that samething and experience a victory,

something positive in their lives.

- [Narrator] And for thepositive in his life,

Tarrant credits the power of prayer.

- Celeste and the kidsnever stopped believing.

Being able to still pray, tostill being able to believe

that her husband'sgonna be better someday,

her husband's gonna comeback to Jesus Christ.

It happened right infront of me in my life.

So this Jesus is real

and I know Jesus wants arelationship with everyone.

- And that means you.

He wants a relationship with you.

It's incredible news.

The Creator, the one that by whom

and through whom all things were made,

to Him all things are going.

Here's the amazing news.

That same Jesus, that same Savior,

wants to have a relationship with you.

He wants it so badly and so much

that He was willing to die for you.

He was willing to leaveheaven, come to earth,

be born in a stable,

to walk things out and to dothat without ever sinning,

without ever violatinga single commandment.

He did it so that His blood

would be the perfect sacrifice for you.

He did it for love.

"For the joy set beforeHim, He endured the cross,"

and that joy is you.

That joy was Tarrant.

That joy was his family being restored.

That joy set before him.

To realize that He, throughthat sacrifice for the sins

of all people for all time,through that sacrifice,

you could find righteousness,peace, and joy.

It's incredible.

It's the best news thatthe world has ever heard,

that there was someone willingto change everything for you.

Now here's Tarrant, andmaybe you're like him.

You think, "Well, howcan anybody fix this?

How can anybody undo it?

How can anybody make it right?"

And those are really good questions.

I know I had those questions.

It was like, "Okay, have I gone too far?

Have I done too much?

Is there any path for me forward?

Is there any way?"

And I remember trying to figure it all out

and saying, "Okay, well ifI do this and if I do that."

You know, all these kinds of things,

all of which was tryingto, in some weird way,

fix things so I'd be good enough

for God to pay attention to me.

All of that ignores the good news.

Let Him fix you because you can't do it.

You can't undo it.

There's not enough good things you can do,

good thoughts you can haveto undo what you've done.

Only Jesus can do that.

Only God can do that.

If you can figure it out,if you can, you know,

find some mental way to do it,

well, you would've already done it.

Here's the great news.

If you can figure out what to do,

well then, you don't need God.

But with God, all things are possible.

He can change you.

Now you heard the story of Tarrant.

Here's someone who's lost in addictions,

and it was addiction to gambling,

it was addiction to alcohol.

He got so desperate

that he attempted suicide numerous times.

You even saw the rope he tried to use.

And he tried all of thatand then he decided,

"Well I'm gonna overdoseon extra strength."

He tried to check out.

He tried to say, "I want to end it all."

But then you heard him on the second day,

where he said, "Okay, I'll try God."

He's in a worship service.

He's listening to a wonderfulsong, "Amazing Grace."

My chains.

In that, I've been set free.

Chains have gone.

Your chains can go.

Your habits can change.

Your very mind, your very existence,

all of it can change.

You too can be set free.

Jesus is waiting for you.

All He's looking for isfor you to say, "Okay."

Just a little nod, a little ascent

to say, "Jesus, okay."

Let's do that right now.

Let's pray and let Jesus do all the rest.

Jesus, I come to you.

I need to be set free.

Break the chains in my life.

Forgive me.

Give me a new life.

And if you do this, I'll followyou all the days of my life.

Hear my prayer.

I pray it in Jesus' name, amen.

If you prayed with us, let me know.

Call us, 1-800-700-7000.

Here's a word from Romans:

"If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord

and believe in yourheart, you will be saved."

(inspirational music)