>>> LET'S PRAY TOGETHER. FATHER, WE THANK YOU FIRST AND FOREMOST FOR THE STRONG HOLD OF OUR PAST BEING BROKEN WITH THE GOSPEL. THE STRONG HOLD OF DEATH NO LONGER HAVING ITS GRIP ON US. BUT, GOD, AS A REDEEMED PEOPLE, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE ALL THESE SECONDARY HOLDS IN OUR LIFE. DOUBTS, TEMPTATION. SO FATHER, WE THANK YOU THAT IN THIS MOMENT WE CAN COME TO YOU AND WE CAN PRAY THAT SONG TOGETHER KNOWING THAT THE POWER THAT COMES AGAINST US IS NOT OVERCOME BY THE POWER THAT'S IN US. THANK YOU, JESUS, NOT JUST FOR YOUR SAVING POWER, BUT YOUR SUSTAINING POWER. NOT JUST YOUR JUSTIFYING POWER, BURR YOUR SANCTIFYING POWER. WE THANK YOU, LORD, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY YOU HAVE GIVEN US TO BE IN THIS PLACE TOGETHER, FOR THE THOUSANDS THAT ARE WATCHING ONLINE TODAY, OUR STUDENTS GATHERED IN DORMS AND AT COFFEE SHOPS, JUST IN A HALL SOMEWHERE WITH A LAPTOP OPEN. GOD, WE PRAY THE NEXT FEW MINUTES WOULD JUST ALLOW MINISTRY TO COME THROUGH THOSE LAPTOPS AND THOSE PHONES, AND, GOD, THE WORDS THAT WE DISCUSS WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE, EQUIP PEOPLE, WOULD COMPEL PEOPLE, GOD, TO BE MORE LIKE THE IMAGE OF YOUR SON, JESUS. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'RE DOING IN AND TO OUR LIVES. YOU GET ALL THE GLORY, GOD, FOR WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TODAY. WE PRAY THIS IN YOUR NAME, AMEN. AS YOU'RE HAVING A SEAT, CAN WE THANK THE WORSHIP COLLECTIVE FOR LEADING US TODAY? [ APPLAUSE ] >> GOOD MORNING. I HOPE YOU'RE DOING WELL. WE REALLY ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS ENTIRE WEEK'S LINEUP OF GUESTS WE HAVE. OBVIOUSLY TODAY WE'RE THRILLED TO HAVE MARY BETH CHAPMAN AND RECEIVES STEVEN WITH US. THAT WILL BE A REALLY FUN TIME. BUT ON FRIDAY WE HAVE PASTOR SCOTT SAULS WITH US. WE HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF SEATS IN HERE. TONIGHT WE'LL GET TO BE BACK IN THE FOOTBALL STADIUM. [ APPLAUSE AND CHEERING ] >> I'M THANKFUL FOR THE FOLKS THAT HAVE DONE A LOT OF EXTRA WORK TO DO THAT FOR US. WE WERE AT 6 O'CLOCK AND 8 O'CLOCK IN THE VINES CENTER, 50 STUDENTS AT A TIME. TONIGHT WE'LL GET TO BE 5,000 STRONG IN THE FOOTBALL STADIUM. IF YOU HAVE A TICKET FOR THE 6 O'CLOCK OR 8 O'CLOCK, THEY'RE NO GOOD FOR THAT. WE POSTED THAT ON MONDAY. ON TUESDAY WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE FOOTBALL STADIUM. THEY'RE GOING TO BE GONE IN THE NEXT 20 MINUTES, THE FEW THAT ARE LEFT. TONIGHT, YOU COME INTO THE GATE THAT HAS BEEN ASSIGNED, KEEP YOUR MASK ON THE ENTIRE TIME AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO BE TOGETHER FOR CAMPUS COMMUNITY AT 6:30 TONIGHT. WE'LL GET TO WATCH THE SUNSET TOGETHER AT THE BACK END OF CAMPUS COMMUNITY. ABOUT 75 DEGREES. PERFECT FOR US TO BE THERE THE REST OF THE SEMESTER. ONE LAST THING AS WELL. REMEMBER THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE HOSTING -- THEY'RE WATCHING OUR WITNESS. BE AWARE OF THAT AS MOMS AND DADS AND TEENAGERS SHOW UP, WE HOPE THEY CHOOSE CHRIST MORE AS THE PLACE THAT FURTHER THEIR EDUCATION. OUR GUEST TODAY IS ONE OF MY HEROS. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT HE'S HAD AN AMAZING IMPACT ON MY LIFE. HIS WIFE HAS AS WELL. HE CAN TELL YOU THAT GENDER AND I WERE -- JENNIFER AND I WERE PRAYING ABOUT ADOPTING. THERE WAS A MOMENT, I REMEMBER WATCHING MARY BETH CHAPMAN CHAPMAN ON A VIDEO AND I FELT THAT WAS THE NUDGE THAT TIPPED IT OVER FOR US. WE HAD SUCH AND INCREDIBLY MINISTRY, AND IT OBVIOUSLY SHOWS FROM 49 DOVE -- I'M SORRY, 49 NUMBER ONE HITS TO COUNTLESS DOVE AWARDS, FIVE GRAMMYS. AT THE END OF THE DAY, I THINK THE BIGGEST THIS IN THE MINISTRY IS SHAOHANNAH'S HOPE. IT'S AN INCREDIBLE THING THAT THIS COUPLE HAS DONE. WE CAN'T WAIT TO SIT AND LEARN FROM THEM. AT THE END OF IT I'VE ASKED STEVEN TO LEAD US WITH A FEW SONGS AS WELL. BUCKLE UP. IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT DAY. PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER FOR MARY BETH CHAPMAN AND STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN CHAPMAN, EVERYBODY. [ CHEERING ] >> HOW ARE YOU Y'ALL DOING? >> GREAT TO SEE YOU ALL. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. >> WE HAD YOU BOOKED ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND THEN WE HAD A SNOW THAT SHUT DOWN THINGS. >> YOU GOT TO GET A LOT OF SNOW FOR TO US SHUT DOWN, BUT WE DID. AT THAT MOMENT I WAS LIKE, MAN, I REALLY WAS HOPING WE COULD GET YOU HERE. YOU'RE SO BUSY. THANKS FOR FINDING THEM TO BE HERE. IT IS JUST AN HONOR TO HAVE YOU HERE. BEFORE WE GO FURTHER, I GOT TO KNOW HOW YOU MET. MARY BETH CHAPMAN, DID YOU ALWAYS WANT TO MARY LOOK A COOL -- MARRY A COOL MUSICIAN? >> IT WAS A DREAM COME TRUE. BUT IT HAPPENED. >> I GREW UP IN A PREDICTABLE HOME, WORKED AT NATIONAL HARVESTTER FOR 30 YEARS POLL NOTHING CHANGED. I WENT TO THE SAME SCHOOL, KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12th GRADE, HAVING WAS PRETTY PREDICTABLE AND NORMAL. THAT IS KIND OF WHAT I THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE A VERY COMFORTABLE LIFE FOR ME, THEN I WENT TO AND SON UNIVERSITY IN INDIANA WHERE WE MET AND WENT TO -- DO YOU HAVE A COLLEGE ORIENTATION, FRESHMAN COME A FEW DAYS EARLY? >> WE DO, YEAH. YOU MET AS A FRESHMAN? >> I WAS A FRESHMAN, HE WAS A THIRD-YEAR JUNIOR. >> I STARTED COMING AND GOING. >> HE HAD A COLLEGE BAND. HE WAS IN THE COOL COLLEGE BAND CALLED CHAPMAN HENDERSON. I SAT IN THE LAST ROW AND MADE A LITTLE BIT OF FUN WITH THIS LITTLE COUNTRY SOUNDING MULL LET WEARING GREEN GUITAR PLAYING. >> I HAD COWBOY BOOTS. >> I'M FROM OHIO. ANYBODY FROM OHIO IN HERE? [ CHEERING ] >> AND I WAS -- I GO BACK AND LISTEN TO RECORDINGS OF ME AND I DON'T HARDLY RECOGNIZE MYSELF BECAUSE I GREW UP IN WESTERN KENTUCKY, AND -- BUT I WAS, YES, VERY MUCH, HOW Y'ALL DOING, IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE, WELCOME TO WELCOME WEEK, SO SHE WAS BACK MAKING FUN OF ME. LITTLE DID SHE KNOW, THOUGH, THAT SHE WAS -- I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS -- HOW IT WORKS HERE, BUT AT ANDSON AT THE TIME, WE HAD MAILBOXES WE WERE ASSIGNED TO, TWO STUDENTS PER MAILBOXES. THERE WERE TWO ROWS OF MAILBOXES AT THE HAUL. I WAS WALKING TO LUNCH WITH A FRIEND. OUT OF THE CAFETERIA DOOR CAME THIS VISION OF BEAUTIFUL VISION, SHE SAID HIGH ON MY FRIEND. HI MARY BETH. THEY WALKED PAST AND I SAID WHO WAS THAT. >> THAT'S MARY BETH CHAPMAN A NEW FRESHMAN, I MET HER LAST NIGHT. I THINK HER LAST NAME IS CHAPMAN. YOU COULD BE RELATED. IMMEDIATELY WHEN HE SAID THAT, I AM SEEING CHAPMAN -- MARY BETH CHAPMAN, SO I THOUGHT ISSUED MEET MYSELF TO HER WE SHARED BAIL BOXES NEXT TO -- MAILBOXES NEXT TO EACH OTHER. I SAT AND INTRODUCED MYSELF IN THE CAFETERIA AND THAT IS WHERE IT ALL BEGAN. >> THANK YOU FOR TAKING MY NAME. >> YOU'RE WELCOME. THIS IS WHAT I'VE DEALT WITH FOR 36 YEARS NOW. >> SO YOU WERE A CHAPMAN AND YOU SHARED A MAILBOX. SHE JUST RED YOUR MAIL, BRO. WHAT WAS THE FIRST DAY. WHEN DID HE MAN UP? >> THE FIRST TIME WAS BIG TIME. TWO HOURS LATE, HE WAS TWO HOURS LATE. >> TWO HOURS LATE? >> WERE YOU REALLY TWO HOURS LATE? >> ARE WE REALLY GOING TO TELL THIS STORY? [ LAUGHTER ] >> IF WE'RE GOING TO TELL THIS STORY -- >> WE'LL SPEND THE WHOLE 25 MINUTES ON -- RED LOBSTER. -- [ OVERLAPPING DIALOGUE ] -- I WAS LATE BECAUSE WE WERE PLAYING MUSIC. WE WERE AT A VETERANS DINNER AND ALL THE GUYS WERE TELLING WAR STORIES. >> YOU WERE HONORING THE TROOPS. >> I WAS HONORING THE TROOPS, YEAH. [ APPLAUSE ] >> BUT NO CELL PHONES PACK THEN: WE HAD ONE PHONE IN THE WHOLE HALL. I JUST SAT THERE THINKING HE WASN'T SHOWING UP. >> I DID FINALLY SHOW UP AND TOOK HER TO RED LOBSTER, BECAUSE I KNEW I HAD ONE SHOT TO IMPRESS HER. >> THAT IS BIG TIME. >> FIRST MOVIE. >> WHAT WAS THE FIRST MOVIE? >> ASKING STRANGE BREW." >> REALLY? >> YOU GUYS ARE GOING WHAT IN THE WORLD. >> YOU'RE THE MOST CELEBRATED CHRISTIAN ARTIST EVER. YOU'RE ONLY SUPPOSED TO WATCH MOVIES WITH KURT CAMERON. [ LAUGHTER ] >> STRANGE BREW IS ABOUT THAT MOMENT IN THE BIBLE. >> THIS IS A STRANGE BREW. [ LAUGHTER ] >> THAT IS THE MESSAGE. >> THAT IS EXACTLY RIGHT. WE ACTUALLY HAVE A FEW PICTURES OF YOU GUYS IN YOUR EARLY DATING YEARS. THIS IS AMAZING. [ LAUGHTER ] >> I DON'T KNOW WHICH OF US HAD THE BIGGER HAIR. THERE WAS A HAIR COMPETITION. >> THAT IS A GREAT PICTURE. THAT WAS THE FIRST DID YOU HAVE AWARD. >> WE HAVE ONE MORE. LOOK AT THAT. [ LAUGHTER ] >> I THINK THAT IS ANOTHER DOVE AWARD PICTURE. >> DOVE AWARDS ARE IN YOUR HOUSE. >> IN HIS STUDIO, I THINK THERE'S 50 SOME. >> YES. >> TALK ABOUT MELTING THEM ALL DOWN. >> WE HAVE. >> WE HAVE A POND AND I THOUGHT IT COULD BE ONE GIANT DOVE FOUNTAIN. IT'S A FUNNY THING TO WATCH. >> JUST FIVE GRAMMYS. THAT'S AMAZING. CAN WE GO BACK TO THAT PICTURE ONE MORE TIME? >> CAN I SAY SOMETHING? I THINK I WAS LIKE -- I SAID LOOK AT ME DELIVERING A DOZEN ROSES TO MY WIFE, BUT WHAT I DID NOT KNOW YET, SWEETHEART, THE FIRST THING I'M THINKING OF THOSE ROWSs, THERE WAS BABY'S BREATH, I DIDN'T KNOW HOW MUCH YOU APPRECIATED THEM. SHE DOESN'T LIKE THAT, BABY'S BREATH. >> CAN WE JUST GO BACK? I KNOW YOU'RE TRYING TO AVOID THIS THING AND MOVE ON, BUT WE HAVE TO STOP FOR A MINUTE. THAT MULLET RIGHT THERE, THAT IS AN AMAZING MULLET, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. LET'S JUST CELEBRATE THAT. >>. [ APPLAUSE ] >> WE HAVE A FEW MORE PICTURES. I'M NOT EXPOSING ANYTHING. THEY'RE LITERALLY ALBUM COVERS. THAT MULLET ITSELF IS A GREAT EXAMPLE. >> IT'S PRETTY STRONG. >> CAN WE GO TO THE NEXT ONE? [ LAUGHTER ] >> THAT IS AN ENGAGEMENT PICTURE. >> WHAT IS IT GOING TO COST FOR ME TO HAVE THAT DESTROYED FOREVER? >> WOW. THERE IS CALEB, LEAD SINGER. THERE IS THE LEAD SINGER RIGHT THERE. >> LOOK AT THAT HAIR. >> I LOVE THAT TURTLE NECK YOU'RE WEARING. NOT A MOCK TURTLE NECK, NOT A FULL TURTLE NECK. >> I DON'T KNOW. >> OH, MY GOSH. OH, MY GOSH. >> IT'S BIZARRE. >> THE SHAME NEVER ENDS. >> LIKE WAIST DOWN YOU WERE PRETTY CASUAL. BUT THEN -- >> SOMEBODY TOLD ME THAT WAS COOL, I PROMISE. THAT WAS NOT ALL ME. >> YOU'RE WEARING YOUR OWN T-SHIRT. >> THERE YOU GO. THERE IS MY BRAD PITT MOMENT. >> ARE THERE ANYMORE. >> THAT IS YOUR RICKY SKAGGS RIGHT THERE. >> YES. THAT WAS MY BILLY RAY INSPIRED. GUTTED'S PARTYING IN THE BACK OR BUSINESS IN THE FRONT, I DON'T KNOW, AN EXPLOSION IN THE FRONT. >> THAT ONE RIGHT THERE -- >> THAT ONE IS REALLY SCARY. >> BACK STAGE, GOOFING AROUND. YOU WONDER WHERE YOUR BOYS GET IT. RIGHT THERE. >> I THINK THAT IS IN A BAT ROMANS. >> LORD, HAVE MERCY. IT IS. IT'S A BAPTISTRY BACK ROOM. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WAS DOING. >> IT'S A GOOD THING -- IF YOU CAN FIND THAT -- [ LAUGHTER ] >> I GOT TO SHOW YOU TWO MORE REAL QUICK. IT'S NOT JUST MULL, ET CETERA. THIS MAN HAS MADE NOT JUST AN IMPACT IN CHRISTIAN MUSIC, BUT AN IMPACT IN THE HAIR INDUSTRY LOOFS. >> LOOK AT THESE GO TEES. LOOK AT THESE FROM A FEW YEARS AGO. LOOK AT THOSE GOATEES. >> SORRY YOU HAD TO BE IN THE PICTURE WITH ME LOOK AT THAT. >> THAT REALLY IS A GREAT PICTURE. >> BUT YES, I DON'T KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK BACK. >> I WAS JUST TRYING SOMETHING DIFFERENT. >> SO WHAT I DO LOVE ABOUT THESE PICTURES, YOU SHOW A PROGRESSION OF A LONG MARRIAGE ALL HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND ALSO WATCHING YOUR KIDS IN THESE PICTURES GROWING UP. I'D LOVE TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT ABOUT JUST PARENTING. A LOT OF US DO FOLLOW YOUR SON -- SONS' MINISTRY AND YOUR DAUGHTER'S MINISTRY, SHAOHANNAH'S HOPE, ONE IS ABOUT TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE, ONE IS ALREADY A GYMNAST AT ALABAMA. YOU RAISED REALLY GREAT KIDS. YOU HAVE NOT JUST LIVED WELL IN YOUR MARRIAGE, BUT YOU TRAINED UP A CHILD ON THE WAY THAT HE SHOULD GO, SO THAT HE WOULD NOT DEPART FROM IT. CAN YOU TALK TO US ABOUT JUST MARRIAGE AND PARENTING FOR A SECOND? YOU HAVE A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE WATCHING, BUT WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE THEM? THEY'RE ABOUT TO GO ON THEIR FIRST DATE AT THE RED LOBSTER DOWN THE STREET HERE, HOW DO THEY GET GOING ON THE RIGHT PATHS TO END UP IN SOME OF THE PLACES? I KNOW YOU DON'T PRESUME TO BE PERFECT IN MY WAY. WOULD LOVE SOME MARRIAGE ADVICE AND PARENTING ADVICE FROM YOU. >> WELL WE JUST YESTERDAY SPENT THE DAY WITH OUR DAUGHTER EMILY WHO IS NOW THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SHAOHANNAH'S HOPE FILMING A CONCERT THAT WILL BE ON THE AIR THIS FRIDAY. THE LAST THING WE SAID TO HER AFTER THIS LONG DAY OF ABSORBING A LOT OF MATERIAL ABOUT TRAUMA INFORMED CARE AND PARENTING THINGS THAT REALLY WEREN'T AVAILABLE TO US, WE WERE DOING THE BEST WE COULD AND KNEW WHEN WE WERE RAISING THE FIRST THREE AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE STEPPED INTO ADOPTION, BUT THE LAST THING WE SAID TO OUR DAUGHTER YESTERDAY AS WE WERE LEAVING TO COME HERE, WE KISSED HER ON THE HEAD AFTER ABSORBING ALL THIS MATERIAL, I'M SORRY FOR EVERYTHING I DID, I'M SORRY FOR EVERYTHING I'M DOING RIGHT NOW AND I'M SORRY FOR EVERYTHING I WILL DO IN THE FUTURE TO MESS YOU UP PRETTY BAD BECAUSE I CAN WRITE THE BOOK ON WHAT NOT TO DO, BUT I THINK IN OUR PARENTING, IT IS THE -- WE LOOK AT THESE PICTURES AND WE GET PRETTY EXHAUSTED FEELING. OH, THERE'S THAT, AND THEN THERE'S THAT, AND THEN THERE WAS THIS COLLEGE, AND THIS CALL TO ADOPT. I THINK THE SAME FOR ME AS FAR AS PARENTING GOES IS JUST KEEP SHOWING UP. WE DIDN'T DO IT RIGHT. OUR CHILDREN, WE HAVE ASKED THEM TO WRITE THE PACK AFTER WE ARE PASSED, WRITE THE TELL Y'ALL, JUST KEEP SHOWING UP AND KEEP TRYING TO DO IT RIGHT. FAMILY FOR US, OUR FAMILY COMES BEFORE EVERYTHING. WE MAKE A LOT OF DECISIONS TOGETHER STILL. >> WE HEARD THIS YESTERDAY. I LOVE HEARING IT BECAUSE IT WAS -- DR. DAVID CROSS BEE SAID IT'S BETTER TO HAVE -- HOW DOES HE SAY -- >> ERR. >> ERL AND REPAIR THAN NEVER TO ERR AT ALL. HE TALKS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF REPAIR, THE RELATIONSHIP WITH TRYING TO LOVE AND CARE FOR CHILDREN ESPECIALLY THAT HAVE SOME REAL TRAUMA IN THEIR LIVES AND SOME BROKENNESS. BUT IT'S SO TRUE. FOR US I REALLY BRIEF THAT WHAT OUR KIDS WOULD SAY BECAUSE WE -- HONESTLY, WE'RE NOT BEING HUMBLE AND TRYING TO JUST, AHH, SHUCKS, TO SAY WE REALLY HAVE BLOWN IT AND FEEL LIKE WE'VE MADE EVERY MISTAKE THAT TWO BROKEN PEOPLE CAN MAKE, PARENTING STARTING VERY, VERY YOUNG, EMILY CAME ON. WE WERE GOING TO WAIT SEVERAL YEARS TO HAVE OUR FIRST CHILD. WE HAD THE SAME LAST NAME. WE WERE TWO BROKEN PEOPLE BRINGING A LOT OF BAGGAGE INTO THIS MARRIAGE, WE WERE GOING TO WAIT SEVERAL YEARS TO HAVE CHILDREN. GOT SURPRISED US AND BLESSED US WITH EMILY. WE WERE MARRIED A YEAR AND A HALF. WE WERE 21 YEARS OLD. SO WE WERE YOUNG AND CLUELESS AND STAYED THAT WAY IT FEELS LIKE FOR ALL THESE YEARS. BUT WE HAVE BEEN FEARSLY COMMITTED TO LETTING OUR KIDS KNOW THAT WE ARE BROKEN AND THAT WE NEED GOD AND WE NEED HIS GRACE AND WE NEED THEIR COMMUNITIES AND EACH OTHER'S FORGIVENESS, AND THERE WERE LOTS OF TIMES WE DIDN'T WANT TO THAT WE'D SIT DOWN AND WE'D SAY GUYS, WE OWN IT, I AM STORY, I NEED YOU TO HEAR ME SAY, I'M SORRY, I'M STILL IN PROCESS, AND STILL BROKEN, AND I SAY IT TO EACH OTHER, AND I THINK IN THEM KNOWING THAT AND US BEING HONEST ABOUT THAT REALITY THAT WE -- I MEAN, IT'S SCRIPTURE, IT'S JUST THE TRUTH OF SCRIPTURE. I'VE WRITTEN SONGS ABOUT IT BECAUSE NOT, HEY, THAT IS A GOOD SONG IDEA. IT'S BECAUSE I'M ONCE AGAIN CONFRONTED WITH HOW WEAK WE ARE, AND I AM, AS A HUSBAND, AS A FATHER, AND I -- NOT IN YOUR STRENGTH, NOT WHERE YOU FELLOW, LIKE YOU REALLY GOT THIS, BUT WHERE YOU'RE AT YOUR WEAKEST. I'M GOING TO HOLD ONTO THAT. I'M GOING TO REMIND MYSELF I'M GOING TO WRITE A SONG AND SING IT AND REMIND EACH OTHER. OUR KIDS ARE MODEL REPENTANCE. THAT IS YOUR SALARY VEGAS. SO OFTEN IT'S JUST UPSIDE DOWN. IF WE COULD JUST DO IT RIGHT. WE AREN'T JUST GOING TO DO IT RIGHT A LOT OF TIMES, YET OUR KIDS HAVE HEARD US ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. WITH GOD'S GRACE, AND FORGIVENESS. >> I THINK THE OTHER THING AS A PARENT, I JUST -- I DON'T KNOW WHERE I GOT THIS U. HOW I GOT THIS, BUT I JUST NEVER LET ANYTHING SURPRISE ME AND I WAS ALWAYS WILLING TO ENGAGE IN WHATEVER CONVERSATION, WHATEVER CRAZY THING CAME UP BECAUSE LOTS OF CRAZY STUFF COMES UP WHEN YOU'RE RAISING KIDS AND I THINK WE -- MAYBE ONE OF THE LITTLE NUGGETS OF WHERE WE KIND OF SORT A DID IT RIGHT, WAS JUST THE LOOK ON OUR FACE WHEN EVERYTHING COMES HOME. OH, OKAY, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE NOW DEALING WITH OR THIS IS WHAT THEY'VE HEARD AND WE WOULD -- AND WE WERE -- WE ALWAYS TRIED TO BE THE FIRST LINE OF TELLING OUR CHILDREN WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO HEAR ANYWAYS, BUT WE TRIED TO GET TO THEM FIRST, WE HAD THIS BASE, THIS IS WHAT MOM AND DAD SAY ABOUT IT, BUT IT DIDN'T WORK ALL THE TIME. >> A LOT OF OUR FRIENDS, THEY'LL SAY, YOU NEED TO GO HAVE OUR KIDS TALK TO MARY BETH ABOUT THAT. SHE'LL BE ABLE TO KEEP TALKING WITH A STRAIGHT FACE. THEY'RE STRUGGLING, LIKE OOH, AHH. GO TALK TO AUNT MARY BETH. >> MAYBE SOMEONE IS LISTENING, OH, WOW, YOU DON'T ACT SURPRISED WHEN THEY TALK TO YOU ABOUT I SAW SOMETHING AT SCHOOL THAT MAYBE A LOT OF CHRISTIANS WOULD SHY AWAY FROM TALKING ABOUT, BUT NOT ACTING SURPRISED ALSO IS A PART OF YOUR STORY IN THAT YOUR DAUGHTER COMES HOME FROM A MISSION TRIP WHEN SHE'S A YOUNG TEENAGER, 14 OR 15. >> SHE WAS 11. >> OH WOW. >> HAITI? >> YES. >> YOU DIDN'T ACT SURPRISED WHEN SHE DROPPED ON YOUR LAP THIS IDEA OF ADOPTION. TALK TO US ABOUT THAT. >> WE CANNOT ACT SURPRISED. WE JUST SAID NO. >> THAT'S GOING TO BE AN AMAZING PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU GROW UP. OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR PASTOR, SCOTTY SMITH, WHO IS NO LONGER PASTOR IN OUR CHURCH, BUT HE'S ON OUR BOARD AT SHAOHANNAH'S HOPE, HE WAS OUR PASTOR THEN, HE IS WHO WE CALLED AND WE SAID YOU NEED TO COME TALK TO OUR DAUGHTER BECAUSE SHE HAD THIS EXPERIENCE IN HAITI AND WE WERE REALLY FEELING AT THE TIME WE WERE VERY SCARED, WE FELT WE COULD BE A VOICE, A CATALYST, A CHANGE MAKER, BUT MAYBE THIS ISN'T FOR OUR FAMILY, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO SAY -- WE HAD SCOTTY COME TALK TO HER AND US. STARTED TAKING STEPS AND LOOK WHAT HAPPENED. >> WHAT DID HAPPEN, DO YOU KNOW? WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR DAUGHTER THERE ON THAT MISSION TRIP? -- [ OVERLAPPING SPEAKERS ] -- >> SHE SENT ME A PICTURE THE OTHER DAY. SHE IS 11. IT SAID -- WHAT DID IT SAY. IT SAID FUNNY FACTS ABOUT MY DAYS IN HAITI. ONE OF THEM WAS -- ONE OF THE FUNNY FACTS WAS WE WERE HELD HOSTAGE FOR EIGHT HOURS AND WE WERE BY RUSTY MACHETES AND MACHINE GUNS. THAT WAS ONE OF OUR FUNNY FACTS. SHE HAD THIS I PLAYED WITH CHILDREN ON THIS ISLAND OR WE TOOK THIS OLD BOAT. SHE WAS WRECKED RACKED WITH A, THE COUNTRY OF EIGHTY, SHE WAS RACKED WITH CHILDREN NOT HAVING FAMILIES, COMPASSION HAD GREAT PROGRAMS SET UP THERE. THESE CHILDREN DIDN'T HAVE FAMILIES. THAT IS WHAT RESONATED WITH HER. HER WORDS EXACTLY ARE WE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THEN HER TRAJECTORY OF STUDY, BUT HER WORDS WERE WE HAVE THEM AT OUR TABLE. SO THEN WHEN AN 11-YEAR-OLD SAYS WE HAVE ROOM AT OUR STABLE AND -- TABLE AND WE DO, WE KIND OF HAVE TO GO ON THAT JOURNEY WITH HER. THAT LED TO US BEING SUPER SKILLED. WE TOLD THE KIDS AT THE TIME THAT WE WOULD TAKE STEPS TOWARD THIS AND AS LONG AS GOD DIDN'T PUT A DETOUR SIGN UP OR DERAIL IT, POINT US IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION, WE WOULD FOLLOW IT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENED AND WE ENDED UP IN CHINA THREE SOMETIMES. >> SO WALK US THROUGH THAT. THREE TIMES. YOU DIDN'T THINK THE FIRST TIME WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO ADOPT MULTIPLE TIMES, DID YOU? >> NO. THIS WAS DEFINITELY A ONE AND DONE. I WAS TRAVELING, THINGS WERE A LOT OF CHILDREN, WE ALREADY HAD MORE THAN -- YOUR PARENTS WILL REMEMBER, THEY SAW ME IN CONTACT CERTAIN BACK IN THE DAY WHEN WE HAD OUR THREE KIDS. I WOULD USE THIS CHEESY CHOKE, WE HAVE THREE KIDS WE NICKNAMED EENI, MEENI AND MINEE, AND THERE WILL BE NO MORE. WHEN EMILY CAME HOME WITH THIS IDEA, THIS IS AN AMAZING WONDERFUL THING, BUT THAT IS NOT IN THE PLANS FOR US. SO SHE STARTS THIS CAMPAIGN. WE HAVE TO AT LEAST PRAY ABOUT HOW WE'RE NOT GOING TO CRUSH HER FAITH. IT SAYS RIGHT HERE IN THE SCRIPTURE, YOU KNOW, TRUE RELIGION CARES FOR THE WIDOWS. SHE'S THROWING ALL THE ZINGERS AT US. GOD BEGINS TO CHANGE HER HEART PARTICULARLY BECAUSE I WAS THE GUY BEING, OH, THIS WOULD BE AWESOME, THE MINISTRY THERE, BUT SHE'S GOING, YEAH, I'M GOING TO BE THE ONE TAKING CARE OF FOUR BABIES NOW WHEN YOU SADDLE UP YOUR HORSES AND DO ALL THAT NONSENSE. THIS IS GOING TO BE A LOT FOR ME. SO GOD REALLY DID START TO STIR IN HER HEART TO A PLACE TO SAY I REALLY THINK THAT GOD IS -- THIS IS A JOURNEY OF FAITH AND I'M SUPPOSED TO TAKE THIS JOURNEY AND WE KEPT TAKING A STEP. IT WAS GOD SHOWING US ONE OF THE THINGS THAT -- I SAY I LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT GOD ON OUR ADOPTION JOURNEY'Ss MORE THAN ANYTHING IS GOD IS WILD AND GOD IS WIN SEW AND GOD IS NOT THIS POLICEMAN IN THE SKY, DID YOU DO THIS, DID YOU DO THAT, WHATEVER YOU HAVE DONE IS THE LEAST OF ME. WHAT I FOUND IS GOD IS -- I THINK WE BOTH FOUND GOD IS DOING THIS. [ TALKING FAST ] IT'S GOING TO MESS YOUR LIFE UP, BUT IF YOU REALLY WANT TO EXPERIENCE ME, I WANT TO TAKE YOU ON A JOURNEY. AND THE MORE STEPS WE TOOK IT WAS THAT AND WE ENDED UP IN CHINA, WE'D BRING HOME OUR DAUGHTER, BUT WE ALSO GOT THE DOOR OPEN TO WALK THROUGH THE ORPHANAGE WE CAME FROM. WE HAD THIS EDUCATION EMILY HAD GIVEN US. SHE WAS SO COMMITTED, SHE BOUGHT A BOOK ABOUT INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION, SHE WOULD READ IT TO HER MOM IN THE CARE, WHEN SHE COULDN'T GET AWAY FROM US. SHE WAS BLASTING US AND YOU ESPECIALLY. WHEN WE WALKED THROUGH THE ORPHANAGE IN CHINA, THERE IS BED AFTER BED WITH BABIES AND I KNOW THIS ONE AND I KNOW HER HEART IS GOING, THIS IS A ROOM FULL OF 100 BABIES, MULTIPLY IT OUT, THERE ARE MILLIONS OF CHILDREN ALL OVER THE WORLD WAITING FOR THEIR LIFE TO BEGIN, SOMEONE WAITING TO SAY YOU BELONG, YOU MATTER. WHILE WE CAME HOME WITH OUR HEARTS FULL, WE CAME HOME WITH BROKEN HEARTS, SHE WAS LOOKING AT ME, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO, WE KNOW TOO MUCH NOW, WE'VE BEEN RUINED. >> FOR ME TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY OWN SPIRITUAL JOURNEY AND OWN ADOPTEDNESS, STANDING IN THE HALLWAY AND MORE THAN JUST RECEIVING OUR DAUGHTER, IT WAS ME REALIZING THAT THAT WAS MY EXPERIENCE THAT GOD DON'T ME FOR NO OTHER REASON I JUST WAS WRAPPED IN RAGS AND HERE I AM AN ETERNAL PRINCESS, RIGHT, SO THAT IS ALL GOING ON. WE COME HOME, I'M ON A PLANE GOING, YOU KNOW, A PLATFORM, IT'S BACK IN THE DAY WHEN YOU COULD MEET AT THE GATE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE 200 PEOPLE AT THIS GATE AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU RIGHT NOW MY BROTHER, YOUR BROTHER, FAMILY MEMBERS, GOOD FRIENDS, ARE GOING TO GO, YOU MEAN THERE'S CHILDREN THAT NEED FAMILIES? THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. THAT WAS THE EARLY DAYS OF SHAOHANNAH'S HOPE. WE WERE GOING YES, YES, YES. >> GOD RAISED SHAOHANNAH'S HOPE UP FOR A FORCE FOR GOOD FOR SO MANY FAMILIES. LIKE I SAID, IN YOUR ENDS DUCK -- INTRODUCTION, THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE-AWAY EXCUSES AND IN THE PROCESS, IN THE JOURNEY OF A FAMILY WHO MAYBE STEP INTO THE ADOPTION PROCESS. A LOT OF TIMES IT MIGHT BE A MEDICAL NEED IN THE LIFE OF A CHILD, A LOT OF TIMES IT MIGHT BE A FINANCIAL BURDEN THAT IS SO BIG, I DON'T KNOW, TYPICALLY TO ADOPT IT'S 30, 40, $50,000, SO A LOT OF GOOD FAMILIES WITH AN EXTRA PLACE AT THEIR DINING TABLE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE AN EXTRA $40,000 TO BEGIN THE JOURNEY AND SO SHAOHANNAH'S HOPE HAS HELPED. THIS IS A GOD GLORIFYING, AMAZING, HONESTLY MIND BLOWING THING, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF GRANTS TO HELP THOSE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES BE ABLE TO SAY YES, LORD, BUT HOW, LORD, BUT YOU WALKED IN THE HOW, LORD. EMILY NOW HEADS SHAOHANNAH'S HOPE. >> THAT 11-YEAR-OLD GIRL. >> THAT 11-YEAR-OLD GIRL WHO IS NOW 35 IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR SHAOHANNAH'S HOPE. IT ENGAGES THE CHURCH, REDUCING BARRIERS TO ADOPTING. REDUCING BARRIERS FOR US IS -- I THINK IT JUST IN OUR LIFE, IN THE WAY WE HAVE LIVED OUR FAMILY, WE ARE NOT ONES THAT WANT TO GO SUPER, SUPER WIDE, BUT WE LIKE TO GO SUPER, SUPER DEEP. SHAOHANNAH'S HOPE STARTED BY THERE'S THIS NEED AND PEOPLE DIDN'T THINK MUCH ABOUT THE COST OF RAISING A CHILD. BUT IT'S LIKE GETTING OVER THAT BRIDGE TO THE FINANCIAL COMPLETION OF ADOPTION. THAT IS WHERE IT STARTED. WE HAVE SUCH AMAZING SUPPORTERS AND DONORS AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HELP A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK IT'S JUST CHINA IN A, BUT IT'S NOT. IT'S 63, I THINK COUNTRIES, IS THE U.S. IS A BIG PART OF OUR HEART IN HELPING CHILDREN RIGHT HERE IN OUR OWN BACKYARD FIND HOMES AND THEN FROM THERE, WE SAW THE MEDICAL SUPPORT PIECE AND WE WERE IN CHINA FOR 10 YEARS WITH THIS PLACE CALLED MARIA'S BIG HOUSE OF HOPE AND TAKING CARE OF KIDS THERE WITH PROFOUND MEDICAL NEEDS. WE WOULD HELP MOVE THEM TO A PLACE WHERE THEY COULD BE ADOPTED. THAT WAS OUR NICHE WORK IN CHINA, OUR DAUGHTERS WERE FROM CHINA. WE HAVE TRANSITIONED OUT OF CHINA AND WE OFFER MEDICAL ADVANCE CARE, REDUCING THE BARRIER. FAMILIES ARE OVERWHELMED WITH THE CHILDREN THEY ADOPT WITH MEDICAL EXPENSES. YOU CAN APPLY IF YOU'RE A FAMILY WHO HAVE ADOPTED AND YOU HAVE ONGOING MEDICAL EXPENSES, WE HAVE MEDICAL CARE GRANTS, AND THEN ONE OF THE REALLY COOL THINGS WE DO IS I ALWAYS WANT STUDENTS TO BE INVOLVED SOMEHOW. SO THERE'S A REALLY SMALL PIECE. THIS IS WHERE YOU NEED TO CONNECT AT SOME POINT BECAUSE OF THE LOVE OF STUDENTS HERE. WE HAVE A THING CALLED PAWS CAMPAIGN, KIDS IN HIGH SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHATEVER AGE, WE CATER TO THAT. IT'S A PAUSE FROM SOCIAL MEDIA TO WALK THROUGH A BIBLE STUDY OF WHAT REALLY IS GOING ON IN THE WORLD AS IT PERTAINS TO ORPHANS. SO WE DO THIS. IT'S A SMALL PART OF WHAT WE DO BECAUSE IT STARTED WITH A STUDENT, RIGHT, AND STUDENTS ARE THE BIGGEST CHANGE AGENTS IN OUR WORLD. I BELIEVE THAT, AND SO RAISING UP THE NEXT LEADERS, THE NEXT EMILYs, WE HAVE THIS PAUSE CAMPAIGN AND WE ALSO DO THE TRAUMA INFORMED CARE, THE PRE-IMPOSED WORK THAT WE DO BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT ADOPTION IS NOT EASY AND IT'S NOT OVER WHEN WE DON'T AND BRING A CHILD HOME, BUT THERE ARE ONGOING NEEDS THERE AS FAR AS SUPPORT. SO THAT'S WHAT WE DO. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT. WE DEFINITELY NEED TO SPEND MORE TIME TO BE MORE AWARE AND MAYBE THE PAUSE CAMPAIGN COULD BE A GREAT THING, PARTNER WITH YOU. THERE ARE 140 MILLION ORPHANS IN THIS WORLD. THAT IS A STAGGER NUMBER UNTIL YOU REALIZE THAT LESS THAN 1 PERCENT OF THE CHURCH COULD STEP INTO THE LIFE. THE CHURCH IS THE LARGEST ENTITY ON THE PLANET. WHERE LESS THAN 1 PERCENT OF THE CHURCH COULD STEP NO LIFE AND EVERY ORPHANAGE COULD BE EMPTY. IF IT'S NOT US, IF IT'S NOT OUR BURDEN, THEN WHOSE IS IT. I'M GRATEFUL THAT YOU USED YOUR INFLUENCE. IT STARTED SOMETHING AS PURE AS AN 11-YEAR-OLD ON A MISSION TRIP LOOKING AT HER DAD, LET'S MODEL IT AT HOME, LET'S GO REALLY LOUD, DAD, ON STAGE ABOUT THIS AND THE IMPACT WE'VE HAD. I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT ONE THING, STEVEN. I TOLD THE STUDENT I'M SUCH A FAN OF YOUR MINISTRY. IT'S REALLY ROOTED IN THE EARLY STAGES OF MY OWN FAITH. I BECAME A CHRISTIAN WHEN I WAS AND YEARS OLD. I WAS A FORMER MUSLIM, I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT CHRISTIANITY, I WASN'T RISED -- RAISED UP IN CHRISTIAN CULTURE. THE FIRST WEEK I WAS A CHRISTIAN MY YOUTH PASTOR AND I WERE TALKING AND HE SAID SOMETHING THAT I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND. HE SAID GOD WILL BE WITH YOU. I SAID WHAT DO YOU MEAN? THIS WAS A WEEK OLD OF LIKE FIVE DAYS OLD BABY. GOD'S OMNI PRESENCE. HOLD UP, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN. HE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT GOD IS EVERYWHERE AT ALL TIMES. THERE IS NOWHERE I'LL GO WHERE GOD IT NOT WITH ME. HE WENT TO THE OFFICE AND CAME BACK AND BROUGHT A CA SAYS OF REAL-LIFE CONVERSATIONS, ONE OF YOUR CONVERSATIONS. YOU HAD A MULLET ON THE COVER. HE GAVE ME THAT AND HE SAID I WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO THIS SONG CALLED "HIS EYES." IT WAS THE FIRST CHRISTIAN TAPE I EVER HAD AND FIRST CHRISTIAN SONG I LISTENED TO AND IT TAUGHT ME THAT HIS EYES ARE ALWAYS UPON ME. THERE IS NOWHERE I'LL EVER GO WHERE GOD IS ASLEEP,. I WANT TO TALK TO YOU BOTH ABOUT THEOLOGYIED PINPOINT DOPPLER RADAR SOME OF THE LOUDEST THEOLOGY YOU TAUGHT ABOUT PAIN, YOUR FAMILY, YOU DIDN'T SIGN UP FOR IT, BUT YOU BECAME SPOKESPEOPLE FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH TRAGIC LOSS AND YOUR SONGS ARE SUNG AT FUNERALS, THEY'RE SUNG BECAUSE THEY USHER IN BIBLICAL HOPE. I'D LOVE TO TALK TO YOU JUST ABOUT SINGING OUT OF YOUR CONVICTIONS. REALLY JUST ABOUT THE LOSS YOU WENT THROUGH WITH THE LOSS OF YOUR DAUGHTER AND HOW YOU DECIDED TO SIGN UP TO BE PUBLIC ABOUT IT. THIS IS SUCH A PRIVATE THING, BUT YET YOU DECIDED TO NOT WASTE A TRAGEDY AND TO WRITE ABOUT IT, YOU ARE BOTH AUTHORS, TO SING ABOUT IT. CAN YOU TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT? >> WELL, I'LL JUST -- MUSIC I THINK AS YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT, I'M DIGGING THROUGH MY JOURNEY, SPIRITUAL WILL AND MUSIC, AND I WAS SIX YEARS OLD, I LEARNED THE FIRST SONG ON THE GUITAR, MY DAD SAT ME DOWN, HE WAS AN AMAZING SINGER AND MUSICIAN, HE WAS A SONGWRITER WHEN YOU WAS A LITTLE BOY. ASPIERING SONGWRITER. HE DIDN'T HAVE A SUCCESS WITH IT. HE ABOUT A LITTLE PUBLISHING DEAL FOR A FEW MINUTES. THE FIRST SONG I LEARNED WAS JOHNNY CASH. SIX YEARS OLD, SINGING ABOUT GOING TO PRISON. IT WASN'T THE BEST WAY TO START OFF MY TRAINING IN MUSIC, BUT I LOVED THAT SONG. WHEN I WAS SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS OLD GOD HELPED ME -- HAD A LOT OF ISSUES, MY DAD GROWING UP WITHOUT A FATHER, A LOT OF THE SHAME IN HIS LIFE, HIS DAD HAD LEFT HOME, HE WAS AN ALCOHOLIC AND PASSED AWAY WHEN MY DAD WAS A VERY YOUNG BOY AND SO WE STARTED TO SING MUSIC TOGETHER AS A FAMILY AND IT WAS MUSIC ABOUT THE CHANGE THAT GOD HAD MADE, THAT GOD'S GRACE MADE IN OUR FAMILY. I REMEMBER "HE TOUCHED ME." WE WOULD SING IT AS A FAMILY AND THE LEAR KICKS, "THE HAND OF JESUS TOUCHED ME, NOW I'M NO LONGER THE SAME." MY DAD WOULD GET TIERS IN HIS EYES. THIS IS TRUE. THIS IS LIKE LIFE CHANGING, ETERNAL TROT. EVEN AS A YOUNG BOY GROWING UP LISTENING TO MUSIC AND LOVING ROCK AND ROLL AND LOVING ALL KINDS OF MUSIC AND STYLES AND COUNTRY AND BLUE GRASS, BUT WHEN I WOULD SEE SONGS AND HEAR SONGS THAT HAD JUST TRUTH, WHAT WE WANT INTO THEM, I THINK THAT IS WHAT BEGAN TO MARK ME EVEN AS A YOUNG ASPIRING SONGWRITER I STARTED WRITING THOSE SONGS. I KNOW HOW IMPACTFUL IT WAS IN MY LIFE. I THOUGHT THOSE ARE THE SONGS THAT NATURALLY CAME OUT OF ME. THROUGH THE YEARS I THINK BACK ON HOW THE SEEDS THAT WERE PLANTED IN MY HEART, AND THE HEMS. -- HIMSELF. THERE WAS THEOLOGY. IT WOULD EVENTUALLY TURN INTO THE SONGS I WOULD WRITE. THAT IS THE WAY WITH GOD'S WORD. WHEN THE SEEDS GET PLANTED IN OUR HEART. IT IS THE MOST POWERFUL USE OF THE GIFT OF MUSIC. IF YOU COMMUNICATE TROT. THAT HAS BEEN MY PRAYER AND MY HOPE AND IN OUR LIFE, JUST -- THE MUSIC HAS BEEN KIND OF THE OVERFLOW OR JUST THE INCIDENT OF THE SIDE EFFECT OF OUR LIFE TOGETHER. THAT MUSIC, THE SONGS THAT CAME OUT OF IT. YOU'RE RIGHT, SONGS OF PAIN, TRAILS ABLAZING, IS THAT JUST A FUN CAMPUS SONG TO SING OR WHATEVER, BUT THAT WAS ACTUALLY ROOTED IN A DIFFICULT, PAINFUL HARD TIME OF ME WONDERING, SHOULD I KEEP DOING THIS, CAN I KEEP DOING THIS, I FEEL LIKE A FAILURE, FEEL LIKE AS A HUSBAND, A DAD, SO MANY WAYS OF NOT DOING IT RIGHT, I CAN'T FIX WHAT IS BROKEN. I GET MINISTERED TO BYPASSTORS AND FRIENDS. WHEN THE GRACE OF GOD SAYS THIS, YOU CAN'T SCREW IT UP. GOD ALREADY DID THAT, TOOK IT TO THE CROSS, KIND OF BLOW THE DOORS OFF OF THIS PERFORMANCE THING YOU'RE TRYING, TRYING TO BE GOOD ENOUGH. JESUS ALREADY TOOK CARE OF IT. I WALKED OUTGOING IF THIS IS REALLY TRUE, THIS IS LIKE GOD SAYING THIS COULD BE AN ADVENTURE. SONGS LIKE THAT WOULD COME FROM MOMENTS IN OUR JOURNEY TOGETHER, IN OUR LIFE TOGETHER. CERTAINLY TOOK A MUCH DEEPER -- IT'S BEEN MOUNTAINTOPS, EVEN THE GREAT ADVENTURE. I REMEMBER TRYING TO DECIDE WHEN WE LOST MARIA, CAN I STILL SING THAT SONG BECAUSE IT'S FUN, THERE'S JOY IN IT. I STARTED TO LOOK AT THE LYRICS, EVEN IN THE LEAR CUBS IT SAYS WE'LL TRAVEL OVER THE MOUNTAINS SO HIGH, AND WE HAVE, BEYOND ANYTHING WE COULD MARRIAGE, WE WENT TO RED LOBSTER SO MANY YEARS AGO. WE HAVE SEEN INCREDIBLE PLACES, GOD TOOK US TO AMAZING PLACES, WE GOT TO DO INCREDIBLE THINGS, BE PART OF AMAZING THINGS. THE SONG WILL TRAVEL AND WE'LL GO THROUGH VALLEYS, SO DARK AND SO LOW AND SO PAINFUL AND YET THROUGH ALL OF IT GOD IS GOING TO CARRY US, GOD IS GOING TO LEAD US, AND HE HAS. >> I THINK FOR US, FOR ME, IT CAME DOWN TO CAN GOD BE INSTRUMENTED IN EVERYTHING. ONCE WE KNOW THE ANSWER IS YES, IT CAN BE CATASTROPHIC, LIKE LOSING A CHILD AND YOU HAVE ANOTHER CHILD THAT IS INVOLVED, THAT QUESTION BECOMES MADDENING. I WAS SO ANGRY, WE'RE TRYING TO DO THIS, TRYING TO DO THIS RIGHT, TRYING TO STEER THIS, WHY WOULD THIS BE WHERE THIS WENT. FOR US -- I KEPT HEARING, I CAN BE TRUSTED, I CAN BE TRUSTED, I CAN BE TRUSTED, AND I CAN TAKE YOUR ANGER, I'M STILL HERE, I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE. THINGS ARE JUST SO DIFFERENT. BUT YET I CAN BE TRUSTED, I CAN BE TRUSTED. TO DECIDE TO REALLY SPEAK ABOUT, WRITE ABOUT, CONVERSE ABOUT, IT'S BECAUSE WE ALL IN THIS ROOM CARRY DEEP, DEEP PAIN, WE DON'T HOLD THE MARKET ON PAIN, AND IN THOSE EARLY DAYS IT WAS IMPORTANT, LIKE I SAID EARLIER, WE HAVE MADE A LOT OF DECISIONS TOGETHER BASED ON FAMILY. WE REALLY SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH WILL FRANKLIN PARTICULARLY WHO REALLY DROVE BECAUSE IT WAS HIS STORY, IT WAS HIS STORY, MARIA'S STORY, OUR STORY COLLECTIVELY AS A FAMILY, BUT HOW DO YOU STEER THAT WELL, HOW DO YOU PROTECT HIM AND HIS PAIN AND HIS JOURNEY. SO WE REALLY, REALLY HAD SCOTTY LEAVING US, OUR PASTOR, TALKED A LOT WITH WILL FRANKLIN AND KIND OF FOLLOWED HIS LEAD ON THAT A LOT. >> IT WAS THE POINT WHEN -- THAT WAS MUCH WISDOM FROM MY WIFE TO REALLY BE ADD MENTAL THAT LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE'LL -- IT'S THE HEART OF A MAMA THAT HAS THAT TENDERNESS, WE REALLY NEED TO LET HIM DRIVE, WHETHER WE TALK ABOUT THIS OR NOT, AND WE'LL BOTH REMEMBER IT UNTIL WE SEE MARIA'S FAITH AGAIN, WILL SAID WE HAVE TO BECAUSE IT'S -- IF IT WAS EVER TRUE AT ANY POINT, THEN IT'S TRUE NOW, THAT WE WILL SEE HER AGAIN, IF THE GOSPEL IS THROW, JESUS CONGRESS CONCURRED DEATH IN THE GRAVE -- CONQUERED DEATH IN THE GRAVE, I GOT NOTHING ELSE TO HOLD ONTO. THERE ARE A LOT OF DAYS, WE KNOW MORE NOW THAN WE DID, WE PROBABLY DIDN'T KNOW EVERYTHING THAT WAS GOING ON IN HIS MIND THAT MADE THE DECISION AM I GOING TO KEEP LIVING, AM I GOING TO KEEP SHOWING UP TO LIVE AND YET HE KEPT DOING THAT SAYING, YEAH, BECAUSE IT'S TRUE, BECAUSE THE GOSPEL IS TRUE BECAUSE I'M GOING TO SEE MY SISTER AGAIN, AND THIS SIDE IS SOMEHOW -- AND CALEB SAID IT AT MARIA'S MEMORIAL SERVICE, ONE OF THE MOST PROFOUND THINGS COMING OUT OF THE MOUTH OF OUR 19, 18-YEAR-OLD SON, HE SAID IT'S LIKE WE'RE STANDING WAY TOO CLOSE RIGHT NOW TO THIS MASTERPIECE, BEAUTIFUL PAINTING AND YOU ALL WE SEE ARE THESE UGLY BRUSH STROKES AND THESE THINGS THAT MAKE NO SENSE TO US AT ALL. HE SAID I BELIEVE, AS WE GET FURTHER AND FURTHER AWAY WE'RE GOING TO SEE THAT GOD IS REALLY CREATING SOMETHING THAT IS GOOD AND BEAUTIFUL, AND WILL BE GOOD FOR US AND FOR OUR FAMILY, AND HE WENT ON TO SAY, AND I BELIEVE GOD IS GOING TO HEAL WILL FRANKLIN IN A WAY THAT'S GOING TO BE REALLY AMAZING, AND YOU GUYS HAVE EXPERIENCED THEM, THEIR MUSIC, YOU KNOW, AND THEY HAVE STIRRED IT TO -- THE PAIN IN THE STORY IN A VERY DIFFERENT WAY THAT WE HAVE WITH THE MUSIC, BUT IT'S WOVEN ALL THROUGH THIS AND GOD HAS GIVEN OPPORTUNITIES, AND WILL FRANKLIN OPPORTUNITIES TO STIR THAT IN AN INCREDIBLY WAY. OUR WAY WE LIKED, WE WERE NEVER CHOSEN, -- [ INDISCERNIBLE ] -- GOD, WE DON'T WANT, NO MORE, NO, TURN BACK THE HANDS OF TIME AND MAKE IT ALL GO AWAY. >> I JUST AM SO THANKFUL. I'M SITTING HERE THINKING ABOUT YOUR FAMILY, THINKING ABOUT WILL, THINKING ABOUT THE INVESTMENT YOU'VE MADE EVEN THROUGH THAT AND HIS MATURITY AND SELFLESSNESS IN WANTING TO NOT ONLY GIVE HIS FAMILY PERMISSION TO WRITE ABOUT IT AND TELL ABOUT IT AND SING ABOUT IT AND HELP PEOPLE WHO GO THROUGH THE SAME KIND OF TRAGEDY TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH SCRIPTURE ABOUT IT, BUT EVEN TODAY COMING. I KNOW THAT WOUND NEVER GETS -- I DON'T KNOW IT JUST NEVER COMPLETELY HEALS, THE HEART OF A MOM, THE HEART OF A DAD, THAT KIND OF TRAGIC LOSS. THE WHOLE WORLD WAS PRAYING FOR YOU. >> YES, WE KNOW THAT. AT ONE POINT IN TIME WE WERE THE MOST PRAYED FOR FAMILY ON THE PLANET. I'M CONVINCED OF THAT. YEAH, THE CHURCH HELD US SO TIGHT FOR A LONG, LONG TIME. >> 13 YEARS LATER, TO WATCH HOW GOD DID NOT -- WITH WILL, KNOWING HE'S A YOUNG MAN, THEN MY -- ENEMY IS LYING IN HIS EAR, MAYBE YOU COULD HAVE DIFFERENT DIFFERENTLY, IT WAS AN ACCIDENT, AND WATCH HOW THE LORD HAS RISEN HIM UP. HE'S BEEN ON THIS STAGE AND MINISTERED. THE BEST INCREASES OF YOUR FAMILY ARE STILL TO COME. WE LOVE YOU, WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR YOU AND WE HONOR YOU AS A FAMILY. CAN WE THANK THE MAP MANS FOR BEING HERE. [ APPLAUSE ] >> I ASKED YOU EARLY, YOU ALREADY SAID YES, BUT I KNOW YOU WANT TO DO IT. STEVEN IS GOING TO STAND AND LEAD FOR US A FEW MINUTES. COME ON, PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER FOR MARY BETH AND FOR STEVEN. SUE NOW HE MADE YOU GUYS STAND UP, I'M GOING TO GET IN TROUBLE, BUT I'LL LET YOU SIT BACK DOWN FOR A MOMENT. I'LL SING. I'LL SING OVER YOU, YOU CAN SIT AND LISTEN, YOU CAN SING ALONG TOO, YOU CAN STAND, SIT, WHATEVER YOU WANT. BUT I FEEL LIKE JUST -- I DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH TO DAVID AND JUST FOR YOU GUYS INCITING US HERE. THANK YOU FOR WHAT LIBERTY MEANS, WHAT YOU MEAN AS THE STUDENTS AT THIS AMAZING PLACE FOR THE WAY YOU ARE LETTING THE WORLD SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO DO WHAT WE DO WITH EXCELLENCE FOR THE GLORY OF GOD. I MENTIONED EARLIER TRYING TO REDEMOCRAT MYSELF -- ON OUR FIRST DATE, MY FAVORITE MOVIE REALLY IS CHARIOTS OF FIRE. THERE IS A PHRASE IN THERE,, THE CHARACTER IS SAYING THAT HIS FATHER IS TALKING TO HIM ABOUT USING HIS GIFTS. AS YOU KNOW, THE STORY, IF YOU DO, HE WAS A MISSIONARY AT HEART AND HE ACTUALLY DIED IN CHINA AS A MISSIONARY, ERIC LITTLE, IN THAT MOVIE. THERE'S A POINT WHERE HIS FATHER IS TALKING TO HIM ABOUT BEING A CHINESE MISSIONARY. THE WHOLE THING IN THE MOVIE IS HE'S BATTLING BETWEEN I LOVE TO RUN AND GOD GAVE ME THIS SPEED AND I'M GOOD AT THAT, BUT I KNOW I'M ALSO SUPPOSED TO BE A MISSIONARY. THAT IS THE MORE HONORABLE, NOBEL USE OF MY TIME. YOU NEED TO GO USE YOUR LIFE FOR GOD. I LOVE THERE IS A MOMENT WHERE HIS FATHER SAID RUN IN GOD'S NAME AND LET THE WORLD STAND IN WONDER. I BELIEVE THAT WHAT YOU GUYS ARE PURPOSING TO DO HERE AT LIBERTY AND WHAT I'M SO THANKFUL FOR IS THAT YOU'RE RUNNING IN GOD'S NAME AND -- AND IN DIFFERENT ARENAS AND AREAS, MOST RECENTLY ON THE BASKETBALL COURT AND DOING IT WITH SUCH EXCELLENCE THAT THE WORLD STANDS BACK AND SAYS WOE, THAT IS REALLY EXCELLENT, THAT IS REALLY GOOD. AND THEN WE GET THE OPPORTUNITY FROM THAT TO SAY, YEAH, TO GOD BE THE GLORY, YOU KNOW, SO I ENCOURAGE YOU IN THAT. THERE IS MY LITTLE ENCOURAGEMENT FROM UNCLE STEVE THIS MORNING FOR YOU. AS YOU PURSUE WHATEVER IT IS THAT GOD HAS PUT IN YOUR HEART TO PURSUE, WHATEVER THE DREAM IS, WHATEVER THE GIFTS ARE TO DO EVERYTHING YOU DO WITH SCREEN SEE, WITH EXCELLENCE FOR THE GLORY OF GOD. SO I HAVEN'T SUNG THIS SONG IN A LONG TIME, BUT WHEN DAVID MENTIONED THIS MORNING EARLIER, MENTIONED THE FIRST SONG HE HEARD WAS "HIS EYES," I THOUGHT WELL, I GOT TO SING THAT SONG BECAUSE I LOVE THIS SONG, I LOVE THE TRUTH OF IT, I NEED THE TRUTH OF IT. I WROTE THIS SONG WHEN I HAD A MOMENT WAY, WAY BACK BEFORE EVEN REALLY UNDERSTANDING A LOT OF WHAT I WAS EVEN SAYING IN THIS SONG AND IT HAS PROVEN TO BE TRUE BECAUSE IT'S GOD'S TRUTH, IT'S NOT MINE, IT'S NOT MY WORDS. SO LET THIS SONG ENCOURAGE YOU AND MAYBE EVEN TAKE YOU BACK A LITTLE BIT TO THE MULLET YEARS FOR DATING. >> I GET ASKED A LOT OF TIMES, I GUESS ALL SONG WRITERS DO, ARTISTS, SINGERS, WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SONG THAT YOU'VE WRITTEN. IT'S REALLY HARD, I DON'T KNOW, I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF SONG WRITERS IN THIS ROOM. THEY ALL MEAN SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO YOU, THEY ALL HAVE SIGNIFICANCE. YOU CAN'T CALL ONE OUT AS YOUR FAVORITE, LIKE YOUR CHILDREN, LIKE YOUR BABIES. WHEN I'VE TRIED TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION I'VE ANSWERED IT THIS WAY. OKAY, IF I COULD ONLY PICK ONE, SOMEONE SAID YOU GOT JUST ENOUGH TIME, I'M TAKING YOU HOME, YOU HAVE ENOUGH BREATH IN YOUR LUNGS TO SING ONE SONG OF ALL IS THE ONES YOU'VE WRITTEN, WHAT'S IT GOING TO BE. REAL QUICKLY I'VE ALWAYS GONE TO THIS SING. I RECORDED IT AND WROTE IT. IT WAS ON MY VERY FIRST ALBUM, I RERECORDED IT OVER THE YEARS. THIS SONG IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE SIMPLEST SONGS I'VE WRITTEN, BUT IT SIMPLY SAYS WHAT I HOPE EVERY SONG AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, ALL OF MY LIFE HAS ECHOED THIS TRUTH BROUGHT IT IS THE ONE TRUTH THAT HAS HELD ME TOGETHER, IS THE ONE ULTIMATE TRUTH THAT IS THE FOUNDATION AND THE ANCHOR FOR MINE AND MARY BETH'S LIFE, OUR LIFE TOGETHER, OUR LIFE, AND FOR YOUR LIFE BECAUSE IT IS JUST -- IT'S THE ULTIMATE TRUTH, THAT GOD IS FAITHFUL, THAT HE IS TRUTH, THAT WE CAN TRUST HIM, WE CAN TRUST HIS PROMISES, HIS WORD, AND SO, THIS IS THAT SONG THAT I WOULD SING. >>> PRAY WITH ME, FATHER, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY THIS MORNING TO JUST REMEMBER HOW FAITHFUL YOU HAVE BEEN, HOW FAITHFUL YOU ARE, GOD, HOW FAITHFUL WE WILL BE. THERE IS NOWHERE WE CAN GO, THE DARKEST, DEEPEST VALLEY, THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN. LORD, WE'RE GOING TO -- THIS ADVENTURE OF LIFE IS GOING TO TAKE US A LOT OF PLACES AND WE ARE SO HOPEFUL AND THANKFUL TO REMEMBER THAT NOT ONE SINGLE MOMENT WILL YOUR EYES NOT BE ON US, YOUR VOICE WHISPERING TO US, TRUST ME, TRUST ME, I'M WITH YOU, I'M WITH YOU, I'M FOR YOU, SO WE THANK YOU FOR THE HOPE IN THAT, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOODNESS AND FOR YOUR FAITHFULNESS. WE BLESS YOU AND BRAISE YOU AND WE PRAY IN JESUS' NAME. AMEN. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. GOD PRESS YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. >> MAN. [ APPLAUSE ] >> CAN WE THANK STEVEN AND MARY BETH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WHAT A GREAT CONVO. SO GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE. OBVIOUSLY THEIR CDs AND BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE AT BARNES & NOBLES. [ APPLAUSE ] >> PHENOMENAL. SO GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE. GO WITH THE LORD. MAKE SURE YOU GRAB THE FEW REMAINING TICKETS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TONIGHT AT 6:30. SEE YOU TONIGHT.
