[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>>> SO AS WE APPROACH THE EASTER >>> SO AS WE APPROACH THE EASTER AND PASSOVER HOLIDAYS, WERE
TAKING A LEAP OF FAITH TOGETHER. TAKING A LEAP OF FAITH TOGETHER.
SPEAKING WITH INFLUENTIAL AND SPEAKING WITH INFLUENTIAL AND INNOVATIVE RELIGIOUS LEADERS INNOVATIVE RELIGIOUS LEADERS ABOUT GOD, HEAVEN AND HELL. ABOUT GOD, HEAVEN AND HELL. WE ARE WITH A MAN WHO BROUGHT
PEOPLE TOGETHER WITH HISOUGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER WITH HIS
MESSAGE. MESSAGE. BUT THEN A VOICE ONE NIGHT FROM
THE MAN UPSTAIRS LED HIM DOWN A THE MAN UPSTAIRS LED HIM DOWN A
CONTROVERSIAL PATH THAT COST HIM CONTROVERSIAL PATH THAT COST HIM
PRACTICALLY EVERYTHING. PRACTICALLY EVERYTHING.
>> THERE IS LIFE. >> THERE IS LIFE. THERE IS SPONTANEITY.
JOY.E IS SPONTANEITY. JOY. >> BISHOP CARLTON PEARSON IS AN
ENERGETIC --RLTON PEARSON IS AN ENERGETIC -- >> DANCING AROUND, TRYING TO
FIND YOUR PLACE.D, TRYING TO FIND YOUR PLACE.
>> PASSIONATE AND CAPTIVATING >> PASSIONATE AND CAPTIVATING
SPIRITUAL LEADER. SPIRITUAL LEADER. >> AND LEAVE YOU UP THERE FOR A
WHILE. LEAVE YOU UP THERE FOR A WHILE. >> DRAWING HIS CONGREGATION IN
WITH FLOWING SERMONS AND PERFECT WITH FLOWING SERMONS AND PERFECT
PITCH. PITCH.
♪ ♪
YOU COULD SAY PEARSON WAS BORN YOU COULD SAY PEARSON WAS BORN
TO BE A PREACHER. TO BE A PREACHER.
>> AS A CHILD, OUR WHOLE LIFE >> AS A CHILD, OUR WHOLE LIFE
REVOLVED AROUND THE CHURCH. REVOLVED AROUND THE CHURCH.
I STARTED PREACHING WHEN I WAS I STARTED PREACHING WHEN I WAS
14. 14. I WAS LICENSED AT 15. I WAS LICENSED AT 15. ORDAINED AT 18. ORDAINED AT 18. >> HE ATTENDED ORAL ROBERTS
UNIVERSITY IN TULSA, OKLAHOMA UNIVERSITY IN TULSA, OKLAHOMA
AND ORAL ROBERTS HIMSELF TOOK AND ORAL ROBERTS HIMSELF TOOK
PEARSON UNDER HIS WING. PEARSON UNDER HIS WING.
>> OUT OF ALL THE PROBABLY >> OUT OF ALL THE PROBABLY
25,000 STUDENTS THAT HAD GONE 25,000 STUDENTS THAT HAD GONE
THROUGH THERE BY THE TIME HE THROUGH THERE BY THE TIME HE
RETIRED, NO ONE HAD THE KIND OF RETIRED, NO ONE HAD THE KIND OF
ACCESS TO HIM AS I DID. ACCESS TO HIM AS I DID.
HE LITERALLY TREATED ME LIKE HIS HE LITERALLY TREATED ME LIKE HIS
SON. SON. ♪
>> FRESH OUT OF SCHOOL, BISHOP >> FRESH OUT OF SCHOOL, BISHOP
PEARSONS POPULARITY AND MESSAGE PEARSONS POPULARITY AND MESSAGE
GREW BEYOND ANYONES GREW BEYOND ANYONES
EXPECTATIONS. EXPECTATIONS. INCLUDING HIS OWN. INCLUDING HIS OWN. >> I WAS THE FIRST
AFRICAN-AMERICAN PREACHER ON THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN PREACHER ON THE
SOUTH SIDE TO START A CHURCH SOUTH SIDE TO START A CHURCH
THAT WAS INTEGRATED AND THAT WAS INTEGRATED AND
MAINTAINED IT TO WHERE IT BECAME MAINTAINED IT TO WHERE IT BECAME
WHAT THEY WOULD CALL A MEGA WHAT THEY WOULD CALL A MEGA
CHURCH IN THIS TOWN. CHURCH IN THIS TOWN.
UP TO ABOUT 4 OR 5,000. UP TO ABOUT 4 OR 5,000.
>> BISHOP PEARSON PREPARED TO >> BISHOP PEARSON PREPARED TO
MILLIONS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. MILLIONS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
IN 1995, HE SPOKE ALONGSIDE IN 1995, HE SPOKE ALONGSIDE
REVEREND BILLY GRAHAM AT THE REVEREND BILLY GRAHAM AT THE
OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING MEMORIAL. OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING MEMORIAL.
>> THIS MESS FOR OKLAHOMA AND >> THIS MESS FOR OKLAHOMA AND
AMERICA IS STILL TO COME. AMERICA IS STILL TO COME.
>> AND WAS A SPIRITUAL ADVISER >> AND WAS A SPIRITUAL ADVISER
TO PRESIDENT GEORGE H.W. BUSH. TO PRESIDENT GEORGE H.W. BUSH.
BUT EVERYTHING CHANGED WHEN BUT EVERYTHING CHANGED WHEN
PEARSON HAD WHAT HE CALLED A PEARSON HAD WHAT HE CALLED A
REVELATION FROM GOD. REVELATION FROM GOD.
>> I BELIEVE PEOPLE GO THROUGH >> I BELIEVE PEOPLE GO THROUGH
HELL, NOT ULTIMATELY TO HELL. HELL, NOT ULTIMATELY TO HELL.
>> STOP TELLING PEOPLE THEYRE >> STOP TELLING PEOPLE THEYRE
GOING TO HELL. GOING TO HELL.
I SAID I DONT CARE IF THEYRE I SAID I DONT CARE IF THEYRE
SITTING THERE WITH A NEEDLE IN SITTING THERE WITH A NEEDLE IN
THEIR ARM, DRUNK, HIV POSITIVE. THEIR ARM, DRUNK, HIV POSITIVE.
THERE IS NO ISSUE BETWEEN THEM THERE IS NO ISSUE BETWEEN THEM
AND GOD THAT IS NOT RESOLVED AND GOD THAT IS NOT RESOLVED
BETWEEN THEM AND JESUS. BETWEEN THEM AND JESUS.
>> HIS NEW MESSAGE DID NOT GO >> HIS NEW MESSAGE DID NOT GO
OVER WELL WITH HIS CONGREGATION, OVER WELL WITH HIS CONGREGATION,
OR WITH HIGH-RANKING CHURCH OR WITH HIGH-RANKING CHURCH
OFFICIALS. OFFICIALS. BEFORE HE KNEW IT, HE HAD LOST
EVERYTHING, AND WAS BRANDED AT >>> IS THERE ANYBODY YOU LOVE IN >>> IS THERE ANYBODY YOU LOVE IN
YOUR OWN LIFE RIGHT NOW? YOUR OWN LIFE RIGHT NOW?
>> MY DAD IS THERE, WHAT ABOUT >> MY DAD IS THERE, WHAT ABOUT
IT? IT? >> AND DID YOU LOVE HIM? >> AND DID YOU LOVE HIM? >> OF COURSE, I DID. >> OF COURSE, I DID. HE WAS MY DADDY.
BUT HE BEAT MY MAMA, HE BEAT ME. BUT HE BEAT MY MAMA, HE BEAT ME.
HE WAS A FOREIGN INDICATOR. HE WAS A FOREIGN INDICATOR.
>> AND NOW GOD IS PUNISHING HIM. >> AND NOW GOD IS PUNISHING HIM.
HES SUFFERING IN HELL. HES SUFFERING IN HELL.
HES TORMENTED FOR ALL ETERNITY. HES TORMENTED FOR ALL ETERNITY.
SO LET ME ASK YOU SOMETHING. SO LET ME ASK YOU SOMETHING.
WOULD YOU GET HIM OUT OF HELL IF WOULD YOU GET HIM OUT OF HELL IF
YOU COULD? YOU COULD?
>> THAT WAS FROM THE NEW NETFLIX >> THAT WAS FROM THE NEW NETFLIX
FILM, "COME SUNDAY" ABOUT BISHOP FILM, "COME SUNDAY" ABOUT BISHOP
PEARSON CARLTON. PEARSON CARLTON. IN THE 90s, HE WAS A SUCCESSFUL IN THE 90s, HE WAS A SUCCESSFUL PENTECOSTAL MINISTER OF A MEGA PENTECOSTAL MINISTER OF A MEGA CHURCH. CHURCH. HE HELPED REVIVALS, COUNSELED
PRESIDENT BUT LOST IT ALL WHEN PRESIDENT BUT LOST IT ALL WHEN
HE SAYS HE RECEIVED A DIRECT HE SAYS HE RECEIVED A DIRECT
MESSAGE OF GOD THAT WENT AGAINST MESSAGE OF GOD THAT WENT AGAINST
THE TEACHINGS OF THE PENT COSTAL THE TEACHINGS OF THE PENT COSTAL
CHURCH. CHURCH. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU, MEGYN.HERE. >> THANK YOU, MEGYN.
>> YOUR MESSAGE IS THAT THERE IS >> YOUR MESSAGE IS THAT THERE IS
NO HELL. NO HELL. THAT PEOPLE WHO ARENT, QUOTE, THAT PEOPLE WHO ARENT, QUOTE, SAVED, ARE NOT GOING TO HELL. SAVED, ARE NOT GOING TO HELL. THAT, IN FACT, WE HAVE A LOVING THAT, IN FACT, WE HAVE A LOVING AND FORGIVING GOD. AND FORGIVING GOD. >> FIRST I THOUGHT THERE
WOULD -- I BELIEVED IN HELL, I WOULD -- I BELIEVED IN HELL, I
JUST DIDNT BELIEVE ANYBODY JUST DIDNT BELIEVE ANYBODY
WOULD BE IN IT BECAUSE OF THE WOULD BE IN IT BECAUSE OF THE
FINISHED WORK OF THE CROSS. FINISHED WORK OF THE CROSS.
AND THEN I STARTED THINKING AND THEN I STARTED THINKING
ABOUT THE ABSURDITY AND THE ABOUT THE ABSURDITY AND THE
VULGARITY OF ETERNAL TORTURE. VULGARITY OF ETERNAL TORTURE.
IF IT WAS PURGATIVE, I COULD IF IT WAS PURGATIVE, I COULD
UNDERSTAND SOME HELL BUT UNDERSTAND SOME HELL BUT
PUNISHMENT -- OF LITTLE CHILDREN PUNISHMENT -- OF LITTLE CHILDREN
12 AND OVER, 90 YEARS OLD -- I 12 AND OVER, 90 YEARS OLD -- I
COULDNT RECONCILE THAT WITH A COULDNT RECONCILE THAT WITH A
MORAL CHARACTER OF A GOD OF MORAL CHARACTER OF A GOD OF
LOVE. LOVE. >> SO COME OUT AND SAY THAT TO >> SO COME OUT AND SAY THAT TO YOUR CONGREGATION, 6,000 PEOPLE YOUR CONGREGATION, 6,000 PEOPLE AND IT DID NOT GO OVER WELL. AND IT DID NOT GO OVER WELL. DID NOT GO OVER WELL WITH THE
CHURCH LEADERS BESIDES YOURSELF. CHURCH LEADERS BESIDES YOURSELF.
AND WITHIN A YEAR, YOU HAD LOST AND WITHIN A YEAR, YOU HAD LOST
YOUR CHURCH. YOUR CHURCH. >> YEAH.
EVERYTHING. EVERYTHING.
THE PROPERTY, MY INTELLECTUAL THE PROPERTY, MY INTELLECTUAL
RIGHTS, THE NAME. RIGHTS, THE NAME.
I HAD TO SIGN OFF FROM THE -- I HAD TO SIGN OFF FROM THE --
THE FOUNDER OF THE ORGANIZATION THE FOUNDER OF THE ORGANIZATION
THAT I HAD FOUNDED AND IT WAS THAT I HAD FOUNDED AND IT WAS
JUST A PRETTY TORTUROUS. JUST A PRETTY TORTUROUS.
>> AND LOST YOUR HOME. >> AND LOST YOUR HOME.
>> LOST MY HOME. >> LOST MY HOME.
>> LOST YOUR FORTUNE. >> LOST YOUR FORTUNE.
>> AND MY INHERITANCE. >> AND MY INHERITANCE.
I DIDNT HAVE ANY INHERITANCE. I DIDNT HAVE ANY INHERITANCE.
BUT WHAT I HAD SAVED. BUT WHAT I HAD SAVED.
ALL MY SAVINGS, 401(k). ALL MY SAVINGS, 401(k).
>> BECAUSE THAT GOES DIRECTLY >> BECAUSE THAT GOES DIRECTLY
AGAINST PENTECOSTAL TEACHINGS. AGAINST PENTECOSTAL TEACHINGS.
>> FUNDAMENTALIST AND >> FUNDAMENTALIST AND
PENTECOSTAL TEACHING. PENTECOSTAL TEACHING.
IT GOES AGAINST THE BIBLE. IT GOES AGAINST THE BIBLE.
THE BIBLE CAN BE VERY THE BIBLE CAN BE VERY
CONTROVERSIAL, BECAUSE ONE DAY CONTROVERSIAL, BECAUSE ONE DAY
IT SAYS YOU LOVE GOD AND THE IT SAYS YOU LOVE GOD AND THE
MERCY OF GOD ENDURES FOREVER. MERCY OF GOD ENDURES FOREVER.
HOW CAN MERCY ENDURE FOREVER AND HOW CAN MERCY ENDURE FOREVER AND
HELL ENDURE FOREVER? HELL ENDURE FOREVER?
ONE WOULD CANCEL OUT THE OTHER. ONE WOULD CANCEL OUT THE OTHER.
>> AND NOW YOUVE GOTTEN TO A >> AND NOW YOUVE GOTTEN TO A
PLACE THAT IS MORE, SHALL I SAY, PLACE THAT IS MORE, SHALL I SAY,
PROGRESSIVE. PROGRESSIVE. ITS INCLUSIVE, ITS LOVING.
IN THE MOVIE, IT WALKS US. IN THE MOVIE, IT WALKS US
THROUGH HOW YOU HAD THIS VERY THROUGH HOW YOU HAD THIS VERY
CLOSE FRIEND WHO WAS GAY, AND CLOSE FRIEND WHO WAS GAY, AND
INITIALLY YOU WERE ADVISING HIM, INITIALLY YOU WERE ADVISING HIM,
ITS OKAY TO BE GAY, YOU JUST ITS OKAY TO BE GAY, YOU JUST
CANT DO GAY. CANT DO GAY.
>> YEAH. >> YEAH. >> AND THEN -- AND NOW YOUVE
EVOLVED ON ALL OF THAT, YES? EVOLVED ON ALL OF THAT, YES?
>> YES. >> YES.
>> AND WHATS YOUR BELIEF NOW? >> AND WHATS YOUR BELIEF NOW?
>> THAT EVERYBODY -- MY -- JUST >> THAT EVERYBODY -- MY -- JUST
LIKE THE MAKEUP ARTIST -- NOT LIKE THE MAKEUP ARTIST -- NOT
TRYING TO CORRECT EVERYBODY, TRYING TO CORRECT EVERYBODY,
JUST ENHANCE EVERYBODY. JUST ENHANCE EVERYBODY. WHO YOU ALREADY ARE.
BRING OUT THE BEST IN YOU, BRING OUT THE BEST IN YOU,
CELEBRATE, OWN, HONOR, RESPECT, CELEBRATE, OWN, HONOR, RESPECT,
LOVE YOURSELF. LOVE YOURSELF.
AND BE YOURSELF. AND BE YOURSELF.
WE SPEND OUR LIVES, MOST OF US, WE SPEND OUR LIVES, MOST OF US,
IMPERIOD OF TIME NAYSING WHO WE IMPERIOD OF TIME NAYSING WHO WE
THINK PEOPLE WANT US TO BE. THINK PEOPLE WANT US TO BE.
AND WE BECOME A WORLD OF AND WE BECOME A WORLD OF
IMPOSTERS. IMPOSTERS. AND IMPERSONATORS. AND IMPERSONATORS. BUT WHEN I STOP PUTTING ON THAT
AIR, TRYING TO PLEASE THEN THAT AIR, TRYING TO PLEASE THE
PEOPLE, AND I LOVE PEOPLE, I HAD PEOPLE, AND I LOVE PEOPLE, I HAD
TO FACE THE GUY THAT I HAD NEVER TO FACE THE GUY THAT I HAD NEVER
MET. MET.
>> AND NOW YOU DONT HAVE ALL >> AND NOW YOU DONT HAVE ALL
THIS MONEY, YOU DONT HAVE THE THIS MONEY, YOU DONT HAVE THE
BIG 6,000-PERSON CHURCH. BIG 6,000-PERSON CHURCH.
BUT YOURE PREACHING WHAT YOU BUT YOURE PREACHING WHAT YOU
BELIEVE IS GODS KIND AND LOVING BELIEVE IS GODS KIND AND LOVING
AND FORGIVING MESSAGE. AND FORGIVING MESSAGE.
AND WAS IT WORTH IT? AND WAS IT WORTH IT?
I MEAN, DO YOU -- IF YOU COULD I MEAN, DO YOU -- IF YOU COULD
GO BACK NOW AND DO IT OVER GO BACK NOW AND DO IT OVER
AGAIN, WOULD YOU? AGAIN, WOULD YOU?
>> WELL, I WOULDNT BE SITTING >> WELL, I WOULDNT BE SITTING
HERE TALKING TO YOU. HERE TALKING TO YOU.
AND NOBODY -- THE MOVIE AND NOBODY -- THE MOVIE
MAGNIFIES AND AMPLIFIES THE MAGNIFIES AND AMPLIFIES THE
MESSAGE I THOUGHT THE CHURCH MESSAGE I THOUGHT THE CHURCH
WANTED TO MUTE. WANTED TO MUTE.
ITS LIKE JASON SEGEL, ONE OF ITS LIKE JASON SEGEL, ONE OF
THE ACTORS SAID TO ME, BISHOP, THE ACTORS SAID TO ME, BISHOP,
WHAT ARE YOU FEELING, WHAT ARE YOU FEELING,
VINDICATION OR REVENGE? VINDICATION OR REVENGE?
I SAID NO REVENGE. I SAID NO REVENGE.
I DO FEEL VINDICATION, BUT MORE I DO FEEL VINDICATION, BUT MORE
IMPORTANTLY, INDICATION. IMPORTANTLY, INDICATION.
AN INDICATION THAT MAYBE THE AN INDICATION THAT MAYBE THE
UNIVERSE, GOD, HAS A MORE UNIVERSE, GOD, HAS A MORE
IMPORTANT POSTURE FOR THIS IMPORTANT POSTURE FOR THIS
MESSAGE, THAT IT REALLY SHOULD MESSAGE, THAT IT REALLY SHOULD
REACH MASSES. REACH MASSES.
NETFLIX HAS 117 MILLION HOMES. NETFLIX HAS 117 MILLION HOMES.
>> THATS MORE THAN 6,000. >> THATS MORE THAN 6,000.
>> OH, MY -- >> OH, MY -- [ LAUGHTER ]
>> WE HAVE A FEW MILLION >> WE HAVE A FEW MILLION
WATCHING THIS SHOW, TOO! WATCHING THIS SHOW, TOO!
[ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ] YOU KNOW WHAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR YOUR COURAGE AND YOUR LOVE.H FOR YOUR COURAGE AND YOUR LOVE.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE MOVIE, HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE MOVIE,
WHICH IS RIVETING, AND SAD. WHICH IS RIVETING, AND SAD.
ITS SAD WHEN YOU SEE THE PRICE ITS SAD WHEN YOU SEE THE PRICE
HE PAID FOR HIS LOVING AND KIND HE PAID FOR HIS LOVING AND KIND
BELIEFS, AND THE NONACCEPTANCE BELIEFS, AND THE NONACCEPTANCE
WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
BUT THANK YOU FOR SHARING IT BUT THANK YOU FOR SHARING IT
HERE. HERE. >> PLEASURE, MEGYN. >> PLEASURE, MEGYN. IM SO PROUD OF YOU TOO. IM SO PROUD OF YOU TOO. >> THANK YOU, LOVE. >> THANK YOU, LOVE. >> YOURE AMAZING.
