(upbeat music)

- Well, welcome to the showand thanks for joining us.

It looks like Easter in 2021

could be a much differentEaster than 2020.

More people are vaccinatedand COVID cases are going down

although some are calling for a new spike.

Many church leaders hope to safely reopen

for Resurrection Sunday.

- Some however, are being more cautious

about in-person gatherings.

Charlene Aaron tells us why.

- In 2020 many churches closed doors

and moved to virtual services

as COVID-19 forced church goers

to celebrate Easterthrough computer screens

and mobile phones.

This year with more Americansgetting the vaccine,

a growing number want toreturn to worshiping together.

- We're doing a lot of services

to accommodate all of the space.

And still doing all of thespacing and the masking

that's being asked and required,

to make sure that it's a safe experience,

but yet people still canworship the Lord together.

- [Charlene] In California however,

there are still restrictions,

and one pastor is pleadingwith governor Gavin Newsom,

to fully reopen churchesahead of Easter Sunday.

Several churches suedover extreme restrictions

banning in-person services.

Then the Supreme Court steppedin to offer some relief.

In a video, Pastor Jack Trieber

of Santa Clara's NorthValley Baptist Church

says enough is enough.

- We have a 3000 seatauditorium that sits empty.

Governor Newsom, I implore you

to open up our churches byEaster Sunday, April the fourth.

We've been obeying for 366days, one year and one day.

We've had zero deaths in ourchurch of 1000s of people.

We've had zero hospitalizations.

- [Charlene] Thanks to therollout of the COVID vaccine,

Americans are ready tohead back to church.

According to a Pew researchstudy, roughly four in 10,

plan to attend Easterservices in person this year.

- Most people who arecomfortable with coming back

have come back and we're expecting

as the numbers have continually gone down

and people are getting vaccinated,

people are more comfortable,

we're expecting peopleto start coming back.

- Not everyone agrees.

Pastor Shavon Smith and her husband lead

New Generation Churchin Berlin, New Jersey.

Like most congregations, theytook their services online

when the pandemic hit,

then moved back inside with a 25% capacity

and other safety precautions.

When New Jersey lifted restrictions,

the church hosted ananniversary celebration,

a move Pastor Smith now regrets.

And pastor Smith told meonce that church was full

that day the service that they did have

once they lifted those restrictions,

a few days later, severalmembers of the church

including her husband and two children

as well as several members of the church

all were positive forCOVID and because of that,

they're scrapping plans to holdan in-person Easter service

and will now go virtual again, Gordon.

- Well, Charlene I've got toask you, you have a pastor,

a husband and a church.

So what are you planningfor Easter this year?

- We are continuing virtualservices online, Gordon

because we've been reallycautious and prayerful,

we have some in our congregationwho have health issues,

and we've really been just really focusing

on making sure that everyone is safe,

so we will continue to beonline again this Easter.

- Well I'm hearing news reports,

CDCs coming out and saying, watch out,

there's going to be yet another wave,

that we've relaxed too quickly, too soon

and too many people are getting together,

there's a new spike,

so I applaud you,

I think you're going alongwith the CDC regulations,

but how tough has COVIDbeen on your church?

- The toughest part I would say is

people are really having a hard time

with not being able to interact,

and have fellowship with one another.

People in church theylove to hug each other.

So the fact that they'renot able to see one another

and spend time together

and interact and fellowship and socialize,

that's been the hardestpart that we've seen

and we're a small congregation

so I know that for a lot of people

they're missing the social interaction.

We are people, you know, people in church

we love to love on one another

and so that's been the hardest part,

not seeing each other.

- Yeah, it is hard and I'mdoing a fair amount of ministry

on these Zoom things and on the phone

and just yesterday, I hada dear friend who called up

and they had a bad diagnosis

and my first response,

is there anyone around youwho can give you a hug?

You know-- I know.

- What do you tell people

who are anxious to getback to in-person worship?

- I tell them, first of all,you know what the Bible says

don't be anxious, don'tbe anxious about anything

but to pray about everything.

And, you know, this is a very personal

decision that people are having to make

whether to get the vaccine,

going back to church forbuildings that are open.

And so I would reallyencourage people to pray

and be led in God's peace.

You know, and don't bash oneanother if somebody says,

I feel comfortable going back to church,

well, maybe someone else doesn't.

But just really be prayerful and be kind,

and let God's peace leadyou in all these things,

'cause we're all goingthrough this together.

- All right.

We've got a viewer question on Facebook.

Trinity asks,

"With so many peopleviewing church online now,

do you think that actualchurch membership and giving

will stay down once returns to normal?"

- Great question.

I personally don't think

that this is going tobe a permanent problem,

I think it's temporary.

I think the more we'reseeing people get vaccinated

and things start slowly opening up,

I think once churches are fully open,

and people are feelingcomfortable going back

I think we're gonna see a return,

I actually think more people

are gonna start coming to church

and that's certainly ourhope in Newport News.

- Yeah, we've seen waves of the virus

I think we're gonna see wavesof revival as people say.

- I believe it.

- What's important in life.

- Absolutely.

- And how do I get back into community,

and church is one of the best ways.

It's a very safe place to get a hug.

Charlene, thanks for joining us.

Thanks for your wisdom and saying,

wow, we're gonna stay isolated this Easter

and we're gonna waituntil we get an all clear.

And if you want more news,

all you have to do is getthe "CBN News channel" app,

Ashley.- All right, well up next,

life in the fast laneas a sprint car racer.

(upbeat music)

- Race car driving is like riding a bull.

Just trying to control something

that is kind of uncontrollable.

950 horsepower all in a 1400 pounds.

- Wow, driver McKenna Haase

shares what's racing throughher mind as she buckles in

and what's it like towin the checkered flag,

right after this.

(upbeat music)

950 horsepower on a 1400 pound frame.

Driver McKenna Haasesays racing a sprint car

is like riding a bull.

McKenna is the first female ever

to win the Knoxville Speedway

blowing away all her male competition.

- [Reporter] McKenna Haase haspicked a daring profession.

- Race car driving is like riding a bull.

Just trying to control something

that is kind of uncontrollable,

950 horsepower, all on a 1400 pound frame.

Just those extreme forces,

now try and drive the rollercoaster.

- [Reporter] The sprintcar driver's first win

came as a 14 year old,

but her young success

hasn't created what herHaase rhyming nickname

might suggest.

- I was probably one ofthe least likely candidates

to be doing what I'm doing

and you just know that God'strying to use that for good.

- [Reporter] McKenna'sfast-track to a racing obsession

began with a random meeting.

- I was on vacation withmy family in third grade.

We went out to eat at the shopping mall

and there was a famous NASCAR driver there

signing autographs.

I became a huge fan of his,

and a huge fan of NASCAR after that.

And that's where mypassion for racing began.

- [Reporter] McKenna becamethe first female to win

at the Knoxville Speedway,

the spring car capital of the world.

The Iowa native doublesas her own marketer,

recruiting sponsors.

- I'm just honest.

And I try to be raw and real

about who I am and what I'm doing,

and why that's beneficial for them too.

It's really about therelationship and the partnership

that grows over time.

The business was justclearly a part of my life

from the time I was littleand kind of a gift from God

that I've always been passionate about,

that I always loved selling.

- Her business sense isn't the only trait

that makes McKenna unique in her sport.

- You're the only femalein a sea of 1000s of men.

My gender has by far created

the biggest challenges that I've faced

throughout my career and continues to.

I think it comes down to justincluding God in that matter

and letting him lead.

- [Reporter] McKenna's rare attributes

matched sprint cars distinct style.

- It's such short, quick,fast intense racing.

Sprint cars can get around half mile track

in 14, 15 seconds.

We race on dirt.

And as the dirt starts to slick off,

now you have cars going 140miles an hour essentially on ice

with 24 other cars around you.

A race car is a machine, and is an animal

and it's working against you,

and your goal is toget it to work for you.

So I think that's justthe greatest satisfaction,

flirting with the dangertoo, in order to succeed.

- [Reporter] The flirt with danger

comes with the territory of racing.

- I had a really bad crashtrying to pass through a weed,

and I slipped like six timesand my helmet came off.

And after that crash, Ialways had this vision

of Jesus in my cockpit coveringmy head as I was flipping.

So that was really whenI started praying a lot,

and I got involved in a college ministry

and that absolutely transformed my life

and really opened my eyes to God.

- [Reporter] On thedashboard is McKenna's car

is a prayer she recitesprior to the race's start.

- Lord, I pray as I race today,keep me safe along the way.

Not only me, but the others too

performing the jobs they do.

I know God that in a raceeither driver must set the pace,

but in this race of life, I pray,

help me Lord along the way.

- [Reporter] McKenna continuesto merge the life she lives

to the profession she chooses,

confronting her convictionsagainst the potential

of awaiting fear.

- Coming to terms withdeath on the racetrack,

but still live infreedom because you know,

A, what's on the other side of that line,

and B, you know that you have a savior

that knows exactly whenyou're going there.

God literally controls the wheel, right?

In so many of my wrecks,

I didn't walk away because I should have,

or because it made sense.

I walked away because Godwanted me to walk away.

And for me, I would ratherlead a life of significance

than a life of length

as it pertains to the kingdom of heaven.

- [Reporter] McKenna owns and runs

Compass Racing Development,

a program preparing young drivers,

to make educated and professional impact

in the race car industry.

- I believe that youshouldn't wait to give back,

you shouldn't only limit your love

to certain people, tocertain environments.

God calls us to treateverybody like family

and I try to love those kids and my fans

and everybody around me,

like they are family.

Acts 20:24, my life isworth nothing to me.

My only aim is to finish the race

and complete the taskthe Lord has given me,

the task of testifying tothe good news of God's grace.

My whole life in one verse, mylife is worth nothing to me,

my only aim is to finish the race.

What you do on this earth matters.

I wanna lead people to Christ,like that's why I'm here.

I wanna be alive whereverGod has been planted on earth

and it matters when you get to heaven.

- Wow, Amen that is awesome.

First off, 950 horsepower,

I didn't even know that was a thing.

- Yeah, yeah.

Well, you can get more thanthat but I have to say,

you go girl.

- Yes, you go girl.- Unbelievable.

I'm watching this

and here she's flipping so many times

that her helmet comes off.

If it were me, if that were me,

I probably wouldn'tget back on that horse-

- But she did.

- And the 900 horsepower.

I wouldn't do that.

- And I think it's a beautiful thing too.

I mean, she said it,

it basically gave new meaningto my life is not my own.

You know, I'm here to give God glory

and that's exactly what she's doing.

I mean-

- Well, if you're in the middle of it,

you have this vision thatJesus is protecting your head,

as you're going throughthat kind of trauma,

so I've got to ask, wouldyou get into one of those

and drive it around?

- If I had a teachersuch as McKenna, I will.

- Oh really?- Yeah, I actually love.

- So if we send you...

If she could send you there, you'll-

- Sure, yeah, McKenna.

- Seriously?

- Yeah, I think I would.

- You couldn't pay me enoughmoney to get in one of those.

- I think it'd be fun.

I think it would be fun.- Really?

- Yeah, I think it would, but also scary.

So McKenna shout out to you.

- I think it's my age showing, but no, me,

I used to like to drivefast, I don't do it anymore.

- Yeah, good story (indistinct).

- I appreciate risk more.

- Oh, okay.

- Yeah.- I gotcha.

That's okay.

- Anything that couldflip that many times,

you guys, you guys can handle that.

- Yeah.- Yeah,

I'll stay home at the couch.

Still to come,

Mark Burnett, Roma Downeyreleased a new film,

it's called "The Resurrection"

and it's just in time for Easter.

Plus Justin Bieber makes music history.

Efrem shares this week's TopFive stories from Hollywood,

right after this.

(upbeat music)

Well, in the middle of the break,

Ashley revealed that her grandmother

wanted to be a race car driver.

And so that's where thisneed for speed comes from

and the true adventure,

the adrenaline junkie to my right.

- That's right.

Shout out to you, Gram.

I love you, if you're watching.

- Shout out.

She's watching youevery time, you know it.

Well, we have to move on with the show.

A new film by Mark Burnett and Roma Downey

offers a of hope during this pandemic

and it's right in time for Easter.

- Plus Justin Bieber makes history

as the first solo male to debut,

at the number one spoton the Billboard Hot 100

and the Billboard 200Albums chart simultaneously.

Here's Efrem Graham with this week's

Top Five stories from Studio5.

- Go granny go.

- [Efrem] At number five.

♪ You are the only one I've ever loved ♪

- [Efrem] Justin Bieber'snew studio album "Justice"

has just become his eighth todebut on the number one spot

on the Billboard 200All Genre Album chart.

And with Justin's "Justice"at the top of the charts,

TMZ reports, the singer's RV was spotted

at the California StatePrison of LA County,

where he and a pastorshared the gospel message

with inmates.

♪ I need you to hold on ♪

♪ Heaven is a place not too far away ♪

- [Efrem] At number four.

♪ Oh, victory in Jesus,my Savior forever ♪

- [Efrem] That's Carrie Underwood,

who's long awaited albumof hymns "My Savior"

is now available just in time for Easter.

♪ Great is thy faithfulness ♪

♪ Great is thy faithfulness ♪

- The songs on this album

are literally songs thatI've heard since birth.

We had our little church,we kind of went to a couple.

My first one probably would have been,

just very tiny, wooden pews.

It was probably the firstplace that I sang as well.

♪ just as I am without one Thee ♪

- [Efrem] At number three.

- One man against the might of Rome.

- He deserves to die.

- If you cannot control the story.

(man screaming)

- [Efrem] It's a Studio 5 lookat the film, "Resurrection"

streaming now on Discovery Plus.

From producers, RomaDowney and Mark Burnett.

- The movie opens up atthe crucifixion of Jesus.

And then we wanted to tell thestory from the point of view

of the disciples in that few days,

they wait to see, willhe come back or not?

And the time in Jerusalem,there's so much going on.

♪ Never knew ♪

You'll live to regretyour hand in His death.

- You think he's coming back?

- I know he is.

- [Efrem] At number two.

♪ I'll never be more lovedthat I am right now ♪

Congratulations to worship leader

and recording artist Chandler Moore,

with the release of his new song "Jireh"

and the news of his engagement.

- Resolve trust in theLord with all my heart

and not leaning on what I feel like.

♪ On the mountain top ♪

♪ I can see so clear what it's all about ♪

- [Efrem] Chandler helpedto write the song "Jireh"

back in January

just days after losingeverything in a house fire,

and only a week after he moved in.

♪ I will be content ♪

♪ In every circumstance ♪

At number one.

♪ I feel it in this ground ♪

♪ Holy Spirit knows ♪

Gospel music's Kierra Sheard

is an artist, actress entrepreneur,

and soon to be, published author,

with her first book,"Big, Bold, and Beautiful"

being released next week.

You've written a book,"Big, Bold, and Beautiful"

and you chose to dedicateit to your grandmother.

What made you do that?

♪ Covering my family ♪

♪ I'm making better decisions ♪

- Kierra lost her grandmotherto complications from COVID-19

nearly a year ago.

- Do this book becauseI don't think she knows

but so many conversations with her was,

"Oh you gon' get me emotional."

It was prophetic, andshe just meant so much.

It was just so manyanswers that she provided

and so this book came from,you'll see me talking about

my nana, my mom, my dad, my grandfather,

and it's literally becausethey've been the voice of God

in my life.

- Well, Efrem joins usnow with all the latest,

and so let's talk firstabout the film "Resurrection"

is streaming now onDiscovery Plus, tell us more.

- It is streaming now on Discovery Plus

of course, Mark Burnett and Roma Downey

were working on this film for years

in hopes of bringing it to the theater,

but of course COVID-19 hit,

so they searched for a platformwhere it could be shared

and they ended up going with Discovery

because it is such afamily-friendly outlet for viewing,

and they encourage peopleto do make time to watch it,

because when you do that,

it makes room for more contentlike this to be created

and to be shared so wewould love to see this

do as well as the Bibleseries did some years ago.

But as she said, it picks upfrom the death on the cross,

that's where the story begins

and literally follows the disciples

and what happened in the days following

as we're waiting tosee, does he come back?

Does he return?

Has he truly resurrected naturally?

Beautiful story to shareand certainly, timely

as we are celebrating-

- I've gotta ask, does ittake us through ascension?

- I have not seen it just yet,

that I have not.

I have not.

I've seen bits and pieces

and I'm looking forward toseeing the whole entire piece

by the time this weekend's over.

- Okay, well, that would be a tease.

So if you want to see-- Yes.

- The end of the story,go to Discovery Plus.

- You got it.

- All right well, we got totalk about Carrie Underwood,

"My Savior" is now availablejust in time for Easter,

do you have a favoritesong on the album, Efrem?

- Oh, my favorite wouldbe probably "Just as I am"

I come to thee without one plea.

It's such a beautiful song.

For those who are countrymusic lovers like myself,

it's got a very country feelfor some of the selections,

you will enjoy it.

As Carrie says, these are songs

that she's been singingliterally and hearing

since even before she was born,

but was also challengingbecause these are songs

that we're used to singingas congregations and together

and here it is, she hasto sing these songs alone.

So to have the energy

and the anointing and allthat you need to do it,

of course took work.

- Absolutely, she is.

- Magnificent.

- Yeah, she is 100% anointed.

Like her voice is incredible

and I think I mentioned this before,

but there's a song that she sang,

"How Great Thou Art".

I think at one of the award-- With Vince Gill-

- Shows, oh my gosh, I'vewatched that so many times

so I'm excited for this album.

- Beautiful, beautiful album.

- Yeah, we gotta talk about The Biebs.

I'm a belieber.

I am, I just, I am.

I'm not ashamed to say it.

- How long, how longhas this been going on?

- Actually, honestlyit's been more recent,

it's been more recent.

- Really?- Yeah, mm-hm.

Just his stance, I mean, he'sjust very open about Jesus

and I love that he's using his platform,

which is literally millionsto preach the gospel.

I'm like, come on Justin-- Absolutely!

- And he's making history.

Tell us more about hisnew album "Justice."

- Simultaneously on twocharts at the same time,

his eighth time debuting at number one,

so he's got lots to celebrate.

I love the way that he chose to celebrate,

the album of course is titled "Justice."

So where do you find Justin Bieber

to celebrate the release of "Justice"?

He visits the prisons with a pastor

who we do not know exactly who it was.

TMZ spotted Justin's RV at the prison.

He and the pastor were allowed in

to share the gospel message.

Their visit was short,

but he did go to help preachthe gospel to the inmates there

and what a beautiful wayto celebrate "Justice"?

- Absolutely, amen.

- And what a beautiful story.

His life, and, you know,from childhood in church,

desperately poor inCanada to where he is now,

all the things I mean,we literally watched,

you know, his life unraveling

and then for it to all come back together

and for his, I mean, that's,it's a wonderful testimony.

- Praying grandmother for sure.

- And a praying mother too.

- Yeah.

- And a couple of praying pastors.

- Absolutely.- So, yeah, prayer works.

- I'm living proof.- Same here.

- Me too.

(all laughs)

- All right, well, we've got to have

a 10th commandmentviolations story for you.

- Okay.

- Where Ashley, noted race car driver

and descendant of race car driver

was wondering how youever got an interview

with Chandler Moore, the recording artist.

So he has a new song andbig news, what is it?

- That's right, he...

I got it being friends

with someone who helpedto produce his album,

which was beautiful, but Chandler Moore,

the song is called "Jireh",

he, Maverick City Music aswell as Elevation Worship

teamed up to do this song and album

about, it was back in January.

But the time that they'rerecording this album "Jireh"

literally four days prior,

Chandler had moved into a new apartment,

was only there a weekwhen he lost everything

in a house fire.

He had just left his house a day early,

trying to make a worshipservice that he missed

and while he was away

his house burned down, lost everything.

Can you imagine having lost everything

and then you sit down to pen

Jireh, you are enough, more than enough.

When you know you havenothing to go back home to,

that's just powerful.

- It's a great time topray to your provider.

- Yes.

- It's a wonderful time anda shout out to New Life,

the church that my wife and I attend.

One of the worship leaders ofNew Life is in the background.

- She is, she is.

- I love it.

- All right well, for all thelatest in entertainment news,

make sure you check outEfrem weekly show Studio5.

You can watch it on the "CBN News Channel"

or online at CBNNews.com/Studio5

and Efrem, we will see you next week.

- See you next week.

- Well, we have ascripture for you from Job,

and this is Job talking to God.

"I know that you can do everything

and no purpose of yourscan be withheld from you."

Realize you're part of God's purpose,

you're part of his plan.

No part of that can ever be withheld.

- Yeah.(upbeat music)