1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:03,620 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:04,280 --> 00:00:07,140 Speaker 2: Y'all, we have such a great opportunity to be a 3 00:00:07,340 --> 00:00:10,940 Speaker 2: good Samaritan in the face of great suffering, but what 4 00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:13,010 Speaker 2: does that even look like? We are going to talk 5 00:00:13,070 --> 00:00:15,850 Speaker 2: about that with my guest today, Christy Graham, here on 6 00:00:15,890 --> 00:00:22,790 Speaker 2: the Botan Beloved Podcast. Hello, hello, hello, ladies and gents, 7 00:00:22,910 --> 00:00:25,570 Speaker 2: and welcome to this week's episode of the Botan Beloved Podcast. 8 00:00:25,630 --> 00:00:28,420 Speaker 2: As always, it's your girl, Kirby Kelly, back at it again, 9 00:00:28,790 --> 00:00:31,110 Speaker 2: And I'm so excited. You guys know that I love 10 00:00:31,150 --> 00:00:33,840 Speaker 2: when I get to have returning guests because that means 11 00:00:33,850 --> 00:00:36,500 Speaker 2: that they are a special person. They've left a mark 12 00:00:36,620 --> 00:00:38,900 Speaker 2: on the world. They've left a mark in my world. 13 00:00:39,479 --> 00:00:42,720 Speaker 2: And today I have Christy Graham joining me again. If 14 00:00:42,740 --> 00:00:45,560 Speaker 2: y'all remember, she was literally here on the podcast kind 15 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:48,640 Speaker 2: of around this time last year. And we talked a 16 00:00:48,659 --> 00:00:51,959 Speaker 2: lot about just the different initiatives that Samaritan's Purse was 17 00:00:52,040 --> 00:00:54,910 Speaker 2: doing at the time. And they're always doing incredible initiatives, 18 00:00:54,950 --> 00:00:56,910 Speaker 2: which y'all should just go check that out in general. 19 00:00:57,300 --> 00:01:00,390 Speaker 2: But she actually has her own podcast in collaboration with 20 00:01:00,410 --> 00:01:03,870 Speaker 2: Samaritan's Purse called On the Ground. And I need y'all 21 00:01:03,890 --> 00:01:06,470 Speaker 2: to check it out after this. But she just has 22 00:01:06,510 --> 00:01:12,280 Speaker 2: an incredible heart for ministry, for humanitarian efforts, and especially 23 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 2: the gospel because it ties all those things together. But 24 00:01:15,740 --> 00:01:18,020 Speaker 2: I'll let her share a little bit more about herself. 25 00:01:18,080 --> 00:01:20,319 Speaker 2: I'll throw it over to her right now. But for 26 00:01:20,360 --> 00:01:23,670 Speaker 2: those who might not know you yet, Christy, or know 27 00:01:23,709 --> 00:01:25,330 Speaker 2: kind of who you are and what you do. 28 00:01:25,370 --> 00:01:27,950 Speaker 1: Could you just let everybody know a little bit about 29 00:01:28,130 --> 00:01:29,430 Speaker 1: who you are and what you do? 30 00:01:30,110 --> 00:01:32,250 Speaker 3: Well, thank you so much for having me. So my 31 00:01:32,270 --> 00:01:35,560 Speaker 3: name is Christy Graham, and my husband Edward is Franklin 32 00:01:35,580 --> 00:01:40,080 Speaker 3: Graham's son. So he grew up knowing, serving, and working 33 00:01:40,380 --> 00:01:42,899 Speaker 3: through the ministry in various ways, and then left to 34 00:01:42,940 --> 00:01:48,370 Speaker 3: be in the in many different states and we're far away, 35 00:01:48,430 --> 00:01:51,430 Speaker 3: but again, would come back for different things. But then 36 00:01:51,470 --> 00:01:53,470 Speaker 3: the Lord called him full time to come back eight 37 00:01:53,500 --> 00:01:57,020 Speaker 3: years ago. So we both serve with Samaritan's purse and 38 00:01:57,400 --> 00:02:00,600 Speaker 3: I have the privilege of hosting the podcast called on 39 00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:03,580 Speaker 3: the ground. And I get to share what God's doing 40 00:02:03,640 --> 00:02:05,560 Speaker 3: around the world. And it's been a joy and a 41 00:02:05,620 --> 00:02:08,780 Speaker 3: privilege to do. And then we have four kids. So 42 00:02:08,870 --> 00:02:12,530 Speaker 3: ranging from college age down to middle school. And so, um, 43 00:02:12,910 --> 00:02:16,120 Speaker 3: life is very busy and very full, but, um, It's exciting. 44 00:02:16,820 --> 00:02:17,480 Speaker 1: That's awesome. 45 00:02:17,540 --> 00:02:19,620 Speaker 2: So many seasons of life happening at once. 46 00:02:20,139 --> 00:02:22,250 Speaker 1: I'm like, I just have one kid. I'm like, four? 47 00:02:22,380 --> 00:02:24,620 Speaker 1: That's so much. That's awesome, though. 48 00:02:25,490 --> 00:02:27,810 Speaker 2: Well, let's start there, actually, by just talking a little 49 00:02:27,830 --> 00:02:29,730 Speaker 2: bit about your family. You said that your husband, he 50 00:02:29,750 --> 00:02:32,230 Speaker 2: served in the Army. I know that he spent 16 51 00:02:32,230 --> 00:02:35,669 Speaker 2: years serving in the Army before your family made the 52 00:02:35,690 --> 00:02:40,450 Speaker 2: major transition into ministry. So what did that season of 53 00:02:40,510 --> 00:02:42,970 Speaker 2: surrender look like for you personally? 54 00:02:43,030 --> 00:02:45,579 Speaker 1: Was it an easy yes? to God to make a 55 00:02:45,620 --> 00:02:46,500 Speaker 1: transition like that? 56 00:02:46,639 --> 00:02:48,880 Speaker 2: Or did you kind of wrestle with what he was 57 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:50,660 Speaker 2: asking you or your family to do? 58 00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:54,200 Speaker 3: Uh, it was not easy at all, which, which people, 59 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:56,320 Speaker 3: some people are just shocked by because we'd been through 60 00:02:56,340 --> 00:03:00,220 Speaker 3: eight deployments. I mean, life wasn't easy in the military, but, uh, 61 00:03:00,380 --> 00:03:02,320 Speaker 3: for me, I was an army brat, grew up. 62 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:03,460 Speaker 4: My dad was in the military. 63 00:03:04,169 --> 00:03:07,900 Speaker 3: Pretty much every male in my family served or is 64 00:03:07,960 --> 00:03:09,850 Speaker 3: still serving. And so for me, that's all I knew 65 00:03:10,220 --> 00:03:13,500 Speaker 3: was the military. As hard as it is, I loved it. 66 00:03:13,740 --> 00:03:17,400 Speaker 3: And so when we got married, I hoped he'd be 67 00:03:17,419 --> 00:03:19,549 Speaker 3: in for 30-something years, and that's what we would do. 68 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:22,420 Speaker 4: But halfway through his career. 69 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:24,600 Speaker 3: I think we were looking at the next job, and 70 00:03:24,660 --> 00:03:26,720 Speaker 3: that's what we wanted to do, both of us. 71 00:03:26,820 --> 00:03:28,940 Speaker 4: We both loved what we did or what he did. 72 00:03:29,720 --> 00:03:34,120 Speaker 3: And the Lord pretty quickly and abruptly— asked Edward to 73 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:38,100 Speaker 3: get out. And, you know, we, people had asked for 74 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:40,500 Speaker 3: years and we'd say, we'll pray about it, which, you know, 75 00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:42,800 Speaker 3: is I think always the way of saying, okay, sure, 76 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:45,200 Speaker 3: I'm going to do what I want. And unless God 77 00:03:45,500 --> 00:03:49,640 Speaker 3: radically intersects our lives. And so we were praying about it, but, um, 78 00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:53,260 Speaker 3: I think we thought that would be down the road. And, um, 79 00:03:53,820 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 3: we actually adopted our son from China. And I say 80 00:03:57,080 --> 00:04:01,120 Speaker 3: that because I think that was a pivotal, yes, uh, 81 00:04:01,300 --> 00:04:04,620 Speaker 3: you know, surrender of obedience, um, where the Lord could 82 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:07,440 Speaker 3: really speak to our hearts on the next yes that 83 00:04:07,460 --> 00:04:09,720 Speaker 3: he would ask us to do. And so in that 84 00:04:10,090 --> 00:04:12,950 Speaker 3: chapter of adoption, I think, you know, when you say, yes, 85 00:04:12,990 --> 00:04:14,790 Speaker 3: the Lord, I think you hear. 86 00:04:14,630 --> 00:04:16,390 Speaker 4: Him more clearly. 87 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:20,840 Speaker 3: You're more, you know, dependent and That's when the Lord 88 00:04:20,900 --> 00:04:23,400 Speaker 3: started spurring us to get out and come, you know, 89 00:04:23,440 --> 00:04:25,500 Speaker 3: and he spoke to both of us separately, which I love. 90 00:04:27,350 --> 00:04:29,929 Speaker 3: I say all the time, it helped make it easier. 91 00:04:29,950 --> 00:04:32,750 Speaker 3: It wasn't easy, but it was easier because the Lord 92 00:04:32,790 --> 00:04:34,690 Speaker 3: gave us both a peace. He spoke to both of 93 00:04:34,770 --> 00:04:37,710 Speaker 3: us directly and gave us that peace so that when 94 00:04:37,750 --> 00:04:41,170 Speaker 3: we talked about it together, it was an absolute yes. 95 00:04:41,470 --> 00:04:43,110 Speaker 3: You know, I say kind of like the disciples laying 96 00:04:43,130 --> 00:04:46,400 Speaker 3: down their nets, you know, we laid that down and 97 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:50,020 Speaker 3: were able to go forward. Again, it wasn't easy. but 98 00:04:50,060 --> 00:04:52,040 Speaker 3: it is easier when the Lord is guiding you. And 99 00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:56,160 Speaker 3: so it was a pretty quick transition. Usually it takes 100 00:04:56,279 --> 00:05:00,460 Speaker 3: a couple of years, but the Lord, it happened very quickly. 101 00:05:00,700 --> 00:05:04,580 Speaker 3: And we moved here in January about eight years ago. 102 00:05:04,820 --> 00:05:10,060 Speaker 3: And we see above and beyond, you know, the Lord 103 00:05:10,420 --> 00:05:13,350 Speaker 3: came before us, you know, and I think Joshua is 104 00:05:13,380 --> 00:05:15,380 Speaker 3: one of my favorite chapters in the Bible, but I think, 105 00:05:15,430 --> 00:05:17,930 Speaker 3: you know, when he took over from Moses, you know, that, 106 00:05:18,570 --> 00:05:21,510 Speaker 3: must have been so hard, you know, to follow in 107 00:05:21,630 --> 00:05:25,090 Speaker 3: the footsteps of such a great leader. But we know 108 00:05:25,170 --> 00:05:28,390 Speaker 3: that God was working and leading many years before as 109 00:05:28,450 --> 00:05:29,800 Speaker 3: he shadowed and followed. 110 00:05:29,940 --> 00:05:32,040 Speaker 4: And that's what Edward and I both see. 111 00:05:32,100 --> 00:05:34,599 Speaker 3: We can look back at ways that God was preparing 112 00:05:34,700 --> 00:05:38,940 Speaker 3: in advance for what he had for us. And so, yeah, 113 00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:42,160 Speaker 3: when we came, I think I quickly was just, God, 114 00:05:42,200 --> 00:05:43,200 Speaker 3: what do you have for me to do? 115 00:05:43,300 --> 00:05:45,570 Speaker 4: How can I support my husband, Edward? 116 00:05:45,650 --> 00:05:49,430 Speaker 3: And And the podcast very quickly came to be, and 117 00:05:49,510 --> 00:05:51,890 Speaker 3: initially it was an internal podcast just to kind of, 118 00:05:52,950 --> 00:05:56,460 Speaker 3: throughout the different departments, share with our staff what we're doing. 119 00:05:57,040 --> 00:05:58,859 Speaker 3: And then it led to On the Ground, which is 120 00:05:58,900 --> 00:06:00,380 Speaker 3: such a joy and a privilege for me to be 121 00:06:00,400 --> 00:06:04,880 Speaker 3: able to be a part of this in a different 122 00:06:04,900 --> 00:06:06,920 Speaker 3: kind of role, supportive role to my husband, because he 123 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 3: travels way more than I do. But this allows me 124 00:06:10,100 --> 00:06:13,180 Speaker 3: to see what God's called us to do and be 125 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:13,599 Speaker 3: a part of. 126 00:06:13,740 --> 00:06:15,359 Speaker 4: So it's a joy and a privilege. 127 00:06:15,380 --> 00:06:15,480 Speaker 2: Yeah. 128 00:06:15,950 --> 00:06:16,560 Speaker 1: That's awesome. 129 00:06:16,620 --> 00:06:18,700 Speaker 2: And I know you've had some incredible guests on too. 130 00:06:18,740 --> 00:06:22,220 Speaker 2: So being able to even, even though you're not always 131 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:24,420 Speaker 2: on the ground, you still have a platform where other 132 00:06:24,460 --> 00:06:27,820 Speaker 2: people who may be on the ground in some capacity 133 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:32,120 Speaker 2: can collaborate with you and share their stories about what 134 00:06:32,160 --> 00:06:36,729 Speaker 2: Samaritan's Purse is doing, ultimately what God is doing in 135 00:06:36,750 --> 00:06:39,349 Speaker 2: their countries and their nations and their regions and everything. 136 00:06:40,470 --> 00:06:42,409 Speaker 2: And I think that's just really beautiful that you still 137 00:06:42,450 --> 00:06:44,940 Speaker 2: get to serve such an important purpose even if you're 138 00:06:44,960 --> 00:06:46,980 Speaker 2: not completely on the other side of the world. Right. 139 00:06:47,260 --> 00:06:49,880 Speaker 2: And I think that that's something that some Christians may 140 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:52,480 Speaker 2: struggle with when it comes to the idea of missions 141 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:54,700 Speaker 2: as they think, you know, I need to pack my bags. 142 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:56,380 Speaker 2: I need to, I need to go to REI and 143 00:06:56,400 --> 00:06:59,000 Speaker 2: get a backpack, pack it up, literally go to the 144 00:06:59,020 --> 00:07:00,420 Speaker 2: other side of the world in order to make a 145 00:07:00,460 --> 00:07:03,450 Speaker 2: difference for the kingdom. But I love that you are 146 00:07:03,730 --> 00:07:07,850 Speaker 2: showing just through your faithfulness. I think this is like 147 00:07:07,890 --> 00:07:10,170 Speaker 2: what Paul would have loved. Like he was the person 148 00:07:10,190 --> 00:07:12,130 Speaker 2: who was sending letters. He was the person who was 149 00:07:12,470 --> 00:07:15,010 Speaker 2: you know, taking the Roman's road everywhere. But now we 150 00:07:15,050 --> 00:07:17,920 Speaker 2: get to reach the world just in like five seconds 151 00:07:18,040 --> 00:07:21,580 Speaker 2: by posting online or recording a podcast and having someone 152 00:07:21,620 --> 00:07:23,680 Speaker 2: else jump on. And I just, I just think that's beautiful. 153 00:07:23,700 --> 00:07:26,600 Speaker 2: Like you're doing just as much significant work. 154 00:07:26,960 --> 00:07:27,620 Speaker 1: And I love that. 155 00:07:27,780 --> 00:07:30,220 Speaker 2: Um, just about what you're doing, but I want to 156 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:33,160 Speaker 2: shift gears real quick, uh, because when it comes to 157 00:07:33,540 --> 00:07:38,100 Speaker 2: humanitarian work, I know, I mean, I don't know. 158 00:07:38,180 --> 00:07:38,820 Speaker 1: I can only. 159 00:07:38,700 --> 00:07:43,130 Speaker 2: Imagine just the, the stories of you've heard and the 160 00:07:43,170 --> 00:07:47,110 Speaker 2: situations that you've been able to even witness firsthand of 161 00:07:47,270 --> 00:07:54,990 Speaker 2: people just going through unimaginable suffering or oppression or destruction 162 00:07:55,550 --> 00:07:58,450 Speaker 2: for whatever reason, whether it's natural disasters, whether it's just 163 00:07:58,500 --> 00:08:01,400 Speaker 2: because of the world that we live in. I know 164 00:08:01,420 --> 00:08:05,420 Speaker 2: that you recently went to Venezuela after the two earthquakes 165 00:08:05,460 --> 00:08:09,120 Speaker 2: and it completely destroyed the region. Um, so first of all, 166 00:08:09,160 --> 00:08:11,340 Speaker 2: what was it, what is it like whenever you go 167 00:08:11,400 --> 00:08:14,540 Speaker 2: into these places where there is disaster? 168 00:08:14,600 --> 00:08:16,620 Speaker 1: Like what, what has that been like for you? 169 00:08:16,740 --> 00:08:20,050 Speaker 2: And then how have you also been able to, I guess, 170 00:08:20,250 --> 00:08:23,730 Speaker 2: make sense of the, the idea of if God is 171 00:08:23,770 --> 00:08:25,989 Speaker 2: so good, why would he allow these things to happen? 172 00:08:26,030 --> 00:08:28,810 Speaker 2: Cause I think that's a big, um, pain point or, 173 00:08:29,150 --> 00:08:32,189 Speaker 2: or questioning point for a lot of people when it 174 00:08:32,240 --> 00:08:34,219 Speaker 2: just comes to trusting God. 175 00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:36,600 Speaker 4: Yeah, it is hard. 176 00:08:36,780 --> 00:08:40,050 Speaker 3: And I think, we'll never understand that, which I, you know, 177 00:08:40,070 --> 00:08:42,510 Speaker 3: I told somebody, some people, they get frustrated at that, 178 00:08:42,570 --> 00:08:45,390 Speaker 3: you know, and that we don't understand, but I love 179 00:08:45,450 --> 00:08:47,320 Speaker 3: it because our way, you know, God's ways are not 180 00:08:47,380 --> 00:08:50,179 Speaker 3: our ways. And, but I think Romans eight comes alive 181 00:08:50,220 --> 00:08:53,280 Speaker 3: when we go into crises, you know, whether it's manmade 182 00:08:53,340 --> 00:08:55,959 Speaker 3: or natural disaster in Venezuela, especially, you know, the groanings 183 00:08:56,020 --> 00:09:00,260 Speaker 3: of this world are so evident, you know, and, that 184 00:09:00,300 --> 00:09:02,040 Speaker 3: was a difficult one to go to because, you know, 185 00:09:02,059 --> 00:09:07,060 Speaker 3: their country had already faced many years of struggle and heartache. 186 00:09:07,100 --> 00:09:10,380 Speaker 3: And so some of these, but we watched the churches, 187 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:15,040 Speaker 3: they grew, you know, suffering produces character and character produces hope. 188 00:09:15,100 --> 00:09:18,479 Speaker 3: And so we, everywhere we work, Samaritan's Purse, everywhere we 189 00:09:18,500 --> 00:09:20,850 Speaker 3: work is with the local church. And that is what 190 00:09:20,900 --> 00:09:24,290 Speaker 3: allows us to, I think, respond so quickly and know 191 00:09:24,330 --> 00:09:27,530 Speaker 3: the needs on the ground so intimately because we have 192 00:09:27,570 --> 00:09:30,170 Speaker 3: our church partners. And so they're, You know, the churches, 193 00:09:30,950 --> 00:09:33,750 Speaker 3: it was devastating, but they had been praying, you know, 194 00:09:33,790 --> 00:09:36,040 Speaker 3: for opportunities to reach their people. 195 00:09:36,400 --> 00:09:38,380 Speaker 4: And here was an opportunity. 196 00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:41,400 Speaker 3: And so I think for me in disasters, you know, 197 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:43,800 Speaker 3: we see people respond in two different ways. You know, 198 00:09:44,040 --> 00:09:47,280 Speaker 3: if you don't know the Lord, you can become so hardened. 199 00:09:47,380 --> 00:09:47,720 Speaker 2: Why? 200 00:09:47,860 --> 00:09:48,830 Speaker 4: Why would this happen? 201 00:09:48,900 --> 00:09:51,470 Speaker 3: You know, why would a loving God allow such tragedy 202 00:09:51,490 --> 00:09:54,809 Speaker 3: to happen? And they can get angry or bitter, but 203 00:09:54,910 --> 00:09:59,960 Speaker 3: you watch believers say, you know, Thank you, Lord. You know, 204 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:03,260 Speaker 3: you are faithful. You know, it's like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 205 00:10:03,300 --> 00:10:05,200 Speaker 3: You know, I know my God can save us, but 206 00:10:05,320 --> 00:10:08,720 Speaker 3: even if not, we are going to proclaim his truth. 207 00:10:08,820 --> 00:10:12,780 Speaker 3: And I think another story that came to life recently 208 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:15,780 Speaker 3: through some of our trips and travels was John 9, 209 00:10:15,780 --> 00:10:20,839 Speaker 3: you know, with the blind man, you you know, why 210 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:23,650 Speaker 3: was he born blind? Who sinned, this man or his parents? 211 00:10:23,809 --> 00:10:26,349 Speaker 3: And he said, neither this man nor his parents sinned. 212 00:10:27,170 --> 00:10:28,850 Speaker 3: This came about so that God's. 213 00:10:28,590 --> 00:10:30,290 Speaker 4: Work might be displayed in him. 214 00:10:31,530 --> 00:10:35,010 Speaker 3: And I think, you know, God or Jesus, when he 215 00:10:35,050 --> 00:10:37,500 Speaker 3: walked this earth, he modeled that so often, even with 216 00:10:37,580 --> 00:10:40,319 Speaker 3: Lazarus dying and, you know, certain things that he knew 217 00:10:40,360 --> 00:10:44,059 Speaker 3: was going to happen. And yet he wept, he, you know, 218 00:10:44,120 --> 00:10:47,329 Speaker 3: he had that empathy with the people, but he knew 219 00:10:47,420 --> 00:10:50,750 Speaker 3: that The resurrection was coming. 220 00:10:51,230 --> 00:10:51,990 Speaker 4: So I think. 221 00:10:52,730 --> 00:10:54,550 Speaker 3: I don't know that I'm making sense of this, but 222 00:10:54,570 --> 00:10:57,790 Speaker 3: I think it's... No, you are. Christians, we grieve differently, right? 223 00:10:58,010 --> 00:11:00,270 Speaker 3: And so I think we are able to know that 224 00:11:00,350 --> 00:11:05,560 Speaker 3: God is going to use suffering and hardship for his glory. 225 00:11:05,620 --> 00:11:08,000 Speaker 3: And we live in a fallen, broken world. So he 226 00:11:08,059 --> 00:11:11,060 Speaker 3: came to make all that right. And so I think 227 00:11:11,179 --> 00:11:14,980 Speaker 3: that's what we see our church partners proclaiming the gospel. 228 00:11:15,520 --> 00:11:16,000 Speaker 4: Sometimes. 229 00:11:16,370 --> 00:11:18,849 Speaker 3: the gospel is the only hope they have in a 230 00:11:18,890 --> 00:11:22,650 Speaker 3: situation when the world is falling apart around you. And 231 00:11:22,730 --> 00:11:24,790 Speaker 3: so that is why we go. That is why we 232 00:11:24,830 --> 00:11:26,390 Speaker 3: want to go. We want to go to the ditches 233 00:11:26,429 --> 00:11:29,830 Speaker 3: of life and share the gospel because in this world, 234 00:11:30,450 --> 00:11:33,209 Speaker 3: we have trouble, but we can take heart that Jesus 235 00:11:33,250 --> 00:11:37,150 Speaker 3: has overcome the world. And so I think Venezuela, and 236 00:11:37,170 --> 00:11:38,750 Speaker 3: I'll come back there. I know I started there, but 237 00:11:38,770 --> 00:11:40,770 Speaker 3: I'll come back. I think I was able to see 238 00:11:41,130 --> 00:11:43,890 Speaker 3: church partners, many that They lost their homes. 239 00:11:44,070 --> 00:11:45,290 Speaker 4: They lost family members. 240 00:11:45,390 --> 00:11:48,429 Speaker 3: And yet they were out serving and loving and loving 241 00:11:48,470 --> 00:11:51,470 Speaker 3: their neighbor because they have a hope as an anchor, 242 00:11:51,770 --> 00:11:54,510 Speaker 3: firm and secure. And so, yes, they may have lost 243 00:11:54,580 --> 00:11:59,680 Speaker 3: people or their homes, but Jesus is enough. And they 244 00:11:59,720 --> 00:12:01,739 Speaker 3: are looking, you know, this is not our home. I 245 00:12:01,760 --> 00:12:06,160 Speaker 3: think it just showed them that we are looking for heaven. 246 00:12:06,220 --> 00:12:08,439 Speaker 3: And we want to share that with as many people 247 00:12:08,500 --> 00:12:10,240 Speaker 3: as we can while we still have time. 248 00:12:10,280 --> 00:12:13,219 Speaker 4: So we were able to work with Charge Partners. Um, 249 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:14,179 Speaker 4: we did a lot. 250 00:12:14,220 --> 00:12:16,059 Speaker 3: We do are still doing a lot of different things, 251 00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:19,199 Speaker 3: but had a hospital, still have a hospital operating. Uh, 252 00:12:19,240 --> 00:12:21,500 Speaker 3: we had water sanitation points where people. 253 00:12:21,320 --> 00:12:23,939 Speaker 4: Could come get water. And one woman really made an 254 00:12:23,980 --> 00:12:25,080 Speaker 4: impression on me there. 255 00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:28,540 Speaker 3: Because she came for water. Her husband was killed in 256 00:12:28,559 --> 00:12:31,960 Speaker 3: the earthquake. She lost her home. And so just think 257 00:12:32,220 --> 00:12:37,020 Speaker 3: tragedy upon tragedy. And she came just broken, needing water. And, um, 258 00:12:37,480 --> 00:12:39,820 Speaker 3: then she kept coming back to the water points. And 259 00:12:39,840 --> 00:12:42,780 Speaker 3: the day I was there, she was returning, but with 260 00:12:42,840 --> 00:12:46,349 Speaker 3: tears of joy this time, you know, seeing some of 261 00:12:46,410 --> 00:12:49,290 Speaker 3: our team members that had become family because she came 262 00:12:49,370 --> 00:12:53,250 Speaker 3: back for the hope, for the prayer, for the encouragement, 263 00:12:53,330 --> 00:12:55,950 Speaker 3: you know, for the gospel. And she initially came for 264 00:12:55,970 --> 00:12:58,570 Speaker 3: the water. So I think, you know, that's why we go. 265 00:12:58,630 --> 00:13:01,100 Speaker 3: We go for the physical to help them, but then 266 00:13:01,250 --> 00:13:04,939 Speaker 3: to share the living water, you know, the hope everlasting 267 00:13:05,140 --> 00:13:10,450 Speaker 3: that goes beyond this tragedy. So it's hard. And I 268 00:13:10,470 --> 00:13:11,740 Speaker 3: know we'll talk about it in a minute. I know 269 00:13:11,790 --> 00:13:15,300 Speaker 3: your book, it's hard to wrestle with that tension because 270 00:13:16,300 --> 00:13:19,860 Speaker 3: here in a human standpoint, things might not look good, 271 00:13:20,660 --> 00:13:22,679 Speaker 3: but God can use them for our good. 272 00:13:23,100 --> 00:13:23,840 Speaker 4: And so I. 273 00:13:24,650 --> 00:13:28,350 Speaker 3: Think that's where I realize our need for the Bible 274 00:13:28,390 --> 00:13:30,790 Speaker 3: and the gospel every single day. The older I get, 275 00:13:30,910 --> 00:13:33,390 Speaker 3: the more hardship I see. And it just makes us 276 00:13:33,470 --> 00:13:37,530 Speaker 3: more eager to share that hope with others that don't know. 277 00:13:38,350 --> 00:13:39,090 Speaker 1: Absolutely. 278 00:13:39,250 --> 00:13:43,270 Speaker 2: Because like you said, the Christian grieves, but grieves with hope. 279 00:13:43,470 --> 00:13:45,810 Speaker 2: And that's like a huge thing that I wrote on 280 00:13:45,910 --> 00:13:49,840 Speaker 2: is like, it's not just this like, okay, like wishful thinking, 281 00:13:49,860 --> 00:13:52,780 Speaker 2: I hope it'll get better. And it's not this delusion 282 00:13:52,940 --> 00:13:56,060 Speaker 2: either of like, okay, I'm just going to suppress everything 283 00:13:56,080 --> 00:13:58,740 Speaker 2: that I'm actually going through and just pretend everything's fine 284 00:13:58,780 --> 00:14:01,250 Speaker 2: and like slap a I'm fine bandaid over it when 285 00:14:01,290 --> 00:14:03,530 Speaker 2: it's a gushing wound, so to say. 286 00:14:04,150 --> 00:14:07,360 Speaker 1: Um, But like Christians can grieve with hope. We can 287 00:14:07,420 --> 00:14:08,800 Speaker 1: go through suffering with hope. 288 00:14:08,860 --> 00:14:12,790 Speaker 2: We can step into really hard spaces and places and 289 00:14:12,850 --> 00:14:18,190 Speaker 2: bring hope because our hope is not built on circumstances. 290 00:14:18,390 --> 00:14:21,790 Speaker 2: Our hope is not built on a certain season or 291 00:14:21,810 --> 00:14:25,730 Speaker 2: a certain outcome or a certain person or politics or 292 00:14:25,770 --> 00:14:28,600 Speaker 2: this or that. Like there's so many places where people 293 00:14:29,320 --> 00:14:33,700 Speaker 2: hedge their hope and, when it shakes and eventually breaks, 294 00:14:33,860 --> 00:14:37,280 Speaker 2: that's where people end up in this point of questioning 295 00:14:37,340 --> 00:14:41,900 Speaker 2: God and his goodness. But I would encourage people to 296 00:14:41,940 --> 00:14:44,400 Speaker 2: really assess, well, was your hope in God to begin with? 297 00:14:44,820 --> 00:14:47,360 Speaker 2: Because Christians place their hope in Jesus. And what that 298 00:14:47,420 --> 00:14:49,200 Speaker 2: actually means, what that looks like is we put our 299 00:14:49,240 --> 00:14:52,960 Speaker 2: hope in him because he has been faithful and consistent 300 00:14:52,980 --> 00:14:56,090 Speaker 2: with his patterns. He has been faithful and consistent with 301 00:14:56,260 --> 00:15:00,010 Speaker 2: his personhood. He has been faithful and consistent with fulfilling 302 00:15:00,050 --> 00:15:04,470 Speaker 2: his promises to his people with his presence being there, 303 00:15:04,570 --> 00:15:07,930 Speaker 2: even in the midst of suffering. And we can't forget 304 00:15:07,970 --> 00:15:11,109 Speaker 2: that our God who came in the form of Christ, right? 305 00:15:11,190 --> 00:15:15,100 Speaker 2: Fully God and fully man did not spare even himself 306 00:15:15,540 --> 00:15:18,760 Speaker 2: from suffering. So we don't serve a God and know 307 00:15:18,820 --> 00:15:21,520 Speaker 2: a God and love a God who is just sitting 308 00:15:21,600 --> 00:15:23,060 Speaker 2: on his throne up in heaven. 309 00:15:23,140 --> 00:15:25,360 Speaker 1: He is, but he also stepped off of. 310 00:15:25,340 --> 00:15:28,800 Speaker 2: That throne and he shared in human likeness and did 311 00:15:28,900 --> 00:15:32,800 Speaker 2: not turn away from suffering the cross, which when you 312 00:15:32,820 --> 00:15:35,640 Speaker 2: really think about it was the ultimate form of suffering, 313 00:15:35,720 --> 00:15:39,620 Speaker 2: knowing that that wasn't just a brutal death, but it 314 00:15:39,700 --> 00:15:41,620 Speaker 2: was separation from God. 315 00:15:41,880 --> 00:15:44,910 Speaker 1: Ultimately, he took on the weight of humanity's sins. 316 00:15:45,510 --> 00:15:47,850 Speaker 2: And when we really take time to just dive into 317 00:15:48,590 --> 00:15:51,350 Speaker 2: what the cross fully means, it's not just Jesus died 318 00:15:51,390 --> 00:15:53,130 Speaker 2: and he rose again and now I'm good. But when 319 00:15:53,170 --> 00:15:56,590 Speaker 2: we actually understand what, what he went through, the brokenness 320 00:15:56,610 --> 00:15:58,390 Speaker 2: that he went through of his body on the cross, 321 00:15:58,870 --> 00:16:02,150 Speaker 2: the rejection, being despised by his own people, all that 322 00:16:02,210 --> 00:16:06,430 Speaker 2: went into it, it really frames our own suffering and 323 00:16:06,450 --> 00:16:10,670 Speaker 2: the suffering we go through in the world of knowing, wow. 324 00:16:10,910 --> 00:16:14,460 Speaker 1: Like I serve a God, but I also know a God. 325 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:16,940 Speaker 2: Who knows me intimately in the situations that I'm going 326 00:16:16,960 --> 00:16:21,560 Speaker 2: through intimately and he cares. And if anything, the whole 327 00:16:22,320 --> 00:16:24,500 Speaker 2: meta-narrative of the Bible shows us that we serve a 328 00:16:24,520 --> 00:16:27,920 Speaker 2: God who isn't the author of evil, He's the redeemer 329 00:16:28,020 --> 00:16:31,940 Speaker 2: of evil time and time again. And I think that's 330 00:16:31,980 --> 00:16:35,140 Speaker 2: beautiful that you get to bring that hope. Samaritan's Purse 331 00:16:35,160 --> 00:16:37,700 Speaker 2: gets to bring that hope and that perspective to so 332 00:16:37,720 --> 00:16:39,600 Speaker 2: many people who may have never even. 333 00:16:39,560 --> 00:16:40,980 Speaker 1: Heard the gospel before. 334 00:16:41,980 --> 00:16:44,360 Speaker 2: But I do want to talk about, there's so many 335 00:16:44,380 --> 00:16:46,380 Speaker 2: things that I want to hit on in so little time. 336 00:16:46,730 --> 00:16:49,250 Speaker 2: You know, you've been able to see so many people 337 00:16:49,990 --> 00:16:53,600 Speaker 2: leave behind their comfort and their security and sometimes their 338 00:16:53,630 --> 00:16:56,620 Speaker 2: own safety to go and serve others. Like Samaritan's Purse 339 00:16:56,680 --> 00:17:01,820 Speaker 2: is going into some difficult situations, some unsafe regions even. 340 00:17:02,720 --> 00:17:06,020 Speaker 2: I know that you've covered different medical teams preparing to 341 00:17:06,060 --> 00:17:09,159 Speaker 2: respond to like Ebola outbreaks on your podcast. I don't 342 00:17:09,200 --> 00:17:10,800 Speaker 2: know many Christians that would just go to a country 343 00:17:10,820 --> 00:17:15,480 Speaker 2: that's having an outbreak, right? But how have those individuals 344 00:17:15,580 --> 00:17:19,970 Speaker 2: taught you about courage, about sacrifice, and even loving others 345 00:17:20,070 --> 00:17:20,890 Speaker 2: like Jesus? 346 00:17:23,020 --> 00:17:23,619 Speaker 4: It is amazing. 347 00:17:23,680 --> 00:17:25,760 Speaker 3: And again, I've been an Army wife, you know, for 348 00:17:25,840 --> 00:17:30,040 Speaker 3: many years. So we've watched people deploy and that's different 349 00:17:30,060 --> 00:17:32,680 Speaker 3: because you have orders. You know, you cannot, you have 350 00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:36,000 Speaker 3: to go. But again, that selflessness. So I thought I 351 00:17:36,119 --> 00:17:37,180 Speaker 3: knew selflessness. 352 00:17:37,220 --> 00:17:37,940 Speaker 4: I thought I knew. 353 00:17:38,440 --> 00:17:40,910 Speaker 3: But coming here, it has taken on a whole new meaning. 354 00:17:40,950 --> 00:17:45,890 Speaker 3: And yeah, the Ebola, especially, I got to train and 355 00:17:46,550 --> 00:17:50,330 Speaker 3: watch our teams before they left. They train and have, 356 00:17:50,950 --> 00:17:52,910 Speaker 3: you know, throughout the year they do it, but especially 357 00:17:52,950 --> 00:17:55,230 Speaker 3: before deployment. But I got to put on the suit. 358 00:17:55,450 --> 00:17:57,520 Speaker 3: I got to see what it was like to, you know, 359 00:17:57,540 --> 00:18:02,859 Speaker 3: in clean, sterile circumstances, put it on and pretend you 360 00:18:02,900 --> 00:18:05,740 Speaker 3: were going through a scenario. But then to think through 361 00:18:05,840 --> 00:18:09,350 Speaker 3: and talk to our team that was about to leave, 362 00:18:09,490 --> 00:18:11,490 Speaker 3: you know, within a couple weeks to go serve and 363 00:18:11,530 --> 00:18:14,290 Speaker 3: fight Ebola. Yeah. You know, one told me, you know, 364 00:18:14,330 --> 00:18:16,450 Speaker 3: initially it was hard for her family, for her parents 365 00:18:16,550 --> 00:18:18,090 Speaker 3: to let her go. You know, they had a really 366 00:18:18,109 --> 00:18:20,760 Speaker 3: hard time with it. Why would you go somewhere where 367 00:18:20,840 --> 00:18:24,500 Speaker 3: you're facing death? You know, and we all are every day. 368 00:18:24,720 --> 00:18:26,940 Speaker 3: You know, we live in a fallen, broken world where 369 00:18:28,280 --> 00:18:32,439 Speaker 3: we're not promised the next hour. But we live in 370 00:18:32,460 --> 00:18:34,899 Speaker 3: a bubble where we feel, you know, secure. So when 371 00:18:34,920 --> 00:18:37,260 Speaker 3: you're going somewhere where you're definitely not secure. 372 00:18:37,750 --> 00:18:40,650 Speaker 4: But she just said, I feel called. You know, God 373 00:18:40,690 --> 00:18:41,390 Speaker 4: has equipped me. 374 00:18:41,450 --> 00:18:44,170 Speaker 3: He's given me. She was an ER doctor, and she 375 00:18:44,190 --> 00:18:48,729 Speaker 3: just felt, I have these skills. But more importantly, I 376 00:18:48,810 --> 00:18:50,450 Speaker 3: have the gospel, like you just said. 377 00:18:50,630 --> 00:18:51,770 Speaker 4: We have a Redeemer. 378 00:18:51,890 --> 00:18:55,629 Speaker 3: We have, you know, Jesus came to this earth, and 379 00:18:55,690 --> 00:18:58,990 Speaker 3: he even begged before going to the cross, Lord, if 380 00:18:59,040 --> 00:19:01,760 Speaker 3: there's any other way, please take this cup. But not 381 00:19:01,800 --> 00:19:05,500 Speaker 3: my will, yours be done. And that's exactly what our teams, 382 00:19:06,080 --> 00:19:09,940 Speaker 3: you know, feel, Lord. I don't want to die, but 383 00:19:10,420 --> 00:19:12,420 Speaker 3: not my will, yours be done. I'm going to go 384 00:19:12,520 --> 00:19:16,810 Speaker 3: boldly proclaim the gospel, help these people in Jesus' name. 385 00:19:17,460 --> 00:19:21,090 Speaker 3: And they just brought to life, I actually recently read 386 00:19:21,810 --> 00:19:23,110 Speaker 3: David going before Goliath. 387 00:19:23,130 --> 00:19:24,530 Speaker 4: I reread that recently. 388 00:19:24,670 --> 00:19:26,510 Speaker 3: And I think after talking to some of our teams 389 00:19:26,550 --> 00:19:29,109 Speaker 3: that are going to dangerous places, it came alive because 390 00:19:29,230 --> 00:19:33,200 Speaker 3: I just love that Goliath, when he went before. 391 00:19:33,010 --> 00:19:36,790 Speaker 4: The Israelites, it said for 40 days, he taunted them. 392 00:19:37,090 --> 00:19:40,330 Speaker 3: And he said, is there anyone that will face me? 393 00:19:40,390 --> 00:19:42,490 Speaker 3: He shouted, he came out, choose a man to come 394 00:19:42,510 --> 00:19:42,869 Speaker 3: before me. 395 00:19:42,869 --> 00:19:43,629 Speaker 4: 40 days. 396 00:19:44,330 --> 00:19:49,909 Speaker 3: You know, our army, men that were trained with armor, 397 00:19:50,270 --> 00:19:51,469 Speaker 3: no one would come before him. 398 00:19:51,890 --> 00:19:53,760 Speaker 4: They were afraid. They lived in fear. 399 00:19:55,320 --> 00:19:57,639 Speaker 3: And so when David came to deliver, you know, the 400 00:19:57,680 --> 00:20:01,479 Speaker 3: food to his brothers, I just love that he came 401 00:20:02,440 --> 00:20:04,459 Speaker 3: and he said, you know, he was hearing what was 402 00:20:04,500 --> 00:20:08,900 Speaker 3: happening and he said, Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that 403 00:20:08,980 --> 00:20:11,399 Speaker 3: he should defy the armies of the living God? 404 00:20:11,500 --> 00:20:17,450 Speaker 4: You know, he was just appalled. Who is this? You know, uncircumcised, ungodly. 405 00:20:18,330 --> 00:20:19,430 Speaker 4: Why are we afraid? 406 00:20:20,050 --> 00:20:22,990 Speaker 3: So it hit me that it wasn't even David versus Goliath, 407 00:20:23,109 --> 00:20:25,750 Speaker 3: you know, which we know that's an incredible story. But 408 00:20:25,790 --> 00:20:28,010 Speaker 3: it hit me that this wasn't David versus Goliath. This 409 00:20:28,090 --> 00:20:33,780 Speaker 3: was the living God against unliving gods. And that is 410 00:20:33,840 --> 00:20:36,439 Speaker 3: the same battle we face today. And I watch our 411 00:20:36,480 --> 00:20:40,200 Speaker 3: teams every day. They are just, I serve the living God. 412 00:20:40,820 --> 00:20:44,420 Speaker 3: So why would I not go before this scary, awful disease? 413 00:20:44,500 --> 00:20:46,580 Speaker 4: Why would I not go? Who are they? 414 00:20:46,600 --> 00:20:50,110 Speaker 3: And I just love, if you keep reading, of course, 415 00:20:50,160 --> 00:20:52,970 Speaker 3: we know that David, when Saul said, you can't do that. 416 00:20:52,990 --> 00:20:55,209 Speaker 4: You're just a boy. Everybody tried to talk him out 417 00:20:55,230 --> 00:20:56,629 Speaker 4: of his brothers, everybody. 418 00:20:57,010 --> 00:21:00,169 Speaker 3: But he said, your servant has been tending, you know, 419 00:21:00,210 --> 00:21:02,150 Speaker 3: his father's sheep, you know, he had killed a lion 420 00:21:02,170 --> 00:21:04,070 Speaker 3: and a bear. He had done all these things before 421 00:21:04,090 --> 00:21:07,050 Speaker 3: he had been trained. And as I said, even as 422 00:21:07,090 --> 00:21:09,090 Speaker 3: we came and I watched that with all of our teams, 423 00:21:09,109 --> 00:21:12,129 Speaker 3: you know, they go with a confidence of the living God, 424 00:21:12,450 --> 00:21:16,290 Speaker 3: but also they've watched him do miracles in the past. 425 00:21:16,330 --> 00:21:17,609 Speaker 4: You know, they've been faithful. 426 00:21:18,050 --> 00:21:19,910 Speaker 3: And I think that's what we, and that's why I said, 427 00:21:19,930 --> 00:21:22,820 Speaker 3: I always share about us leaving the military. I share 428 00:21:22,840 --> 00:21:25,410 Speaker 3: about our adoption because I think that That was our 429 00:21:25,630 --> 00:21:29,090 Speaker 3: lion and our bear. You know, the Lord showed us 430 00:21:29,450 --> 00:21:32,670 Speaker 3: in a hard yes and lots of praying and lots 431 00:21:32,710 --> 00:21:35,770 Speaker 3: of time. He showed us things in that season that 432 00:21:35,830 --> 00:21:38,570 Speaker 3: prepared us for the next yes. And so even now 433 00:21:38,630 --> 00:21:42,030 Speaker 3: we're facing some other yeses and hard things, and we 434 00:21:42,070 --> 00:21:42,590 Speaker 3: can look. 435 00:21:42,490 --> 00:21:44,490 Speaker 4: Back and say, God, you were faithful. 436 00:21:44,990 --> 00:21:47,590 Speaker 3: I've watched you, you know, with the lions and the bears, 437 00:21:47,630 --> 00:21:49,710 Speaker 3: so I can go with the confidence. So every time 438 00:21:49,750 --> 00:21:52,210 Speaker 3: he brings us something new and something scary and. 439 00:21:53,690 --> 00:21:55,470 Speaker 3: We can go with the boldness. But again, I always 440 00:21:55,510 --> 00:21:58,370 Speaker 3: come back to the living God. We serve a living God. 441 00:21:58,430 --> 00:22:00,170 Speaker 3: And that's what I watch our teams. You know, they 442 00:22:00,190 --> 00:22:03,510 Speaker 3: go with a boldness because we have the gospel of 443 00:22:03,550 --> 00:22:08,030 Speaker 3: Jesus Christ and the power, you know, he conquered death. 444 00:22:08,369 --> 00:22:10,970 Speaker 4: So how can we be afraid to go anywhere? 445 00:22:11,170 --> 00:22:14,530 Speaker 3: But, but it does take, um, I think it does 446 00:22:14,590 --> 00:22:17,390 Speaker 3: make people question and even countries we go into, there's 447 00:22:17,430 --> 00:22:22,340 Speaker 3: many countries that, uh, are maybe not open to the gospel, but, 448 00:22:22,890 --> 00:22:25,790 Speaker 3: Or maybe even there's some countries that we go where 449 00:22:26,390 --> 00:22:29,030 Speaker 3: they have been lied to, thinking Christians hate them. 450 00:22:29,050 --> 00:22:30,930 Speaker 4: And here we go. 451 00:22:30,790 --> 00:22:33,389 Speaker 3: And serve in Jesus' name, and they say, why are 452 00:22:33,450 --> 00:22:35,090 Speaker 3: you offering me food? 453 00:22:35,190 --> 00:22:37,169 Speaker 4: Why are you offering me water? I thought you hated me. 454 00:22:37,190 --> 00:22:41,040 Speaker 3: And we say, no, we don't. And we love because 455 00:22:41,540 --> 00:22:42,240 Speaker 3: God loved us. 456 00:22:42,260 --> 00:22:43,240 Speaker 4: So again, I think. 457 00:22:46,050 --> 00:22:48,820 Speaker 3: We go into some pretty hard and dark situations, but 458 00:22:48,880 --> 00:22:51,540 Speaker 3: we have the light that overcomes the dark. And so 459 00:22:51,680 --> 00:22:55,200 Speaker 3: it fuels our teams. But again, it's not easy. We 460 00:22:55,260 --> 00:22:57,020 Speaker 3: have to be relying on the Lord. And that's why 461 00:22:57,420 --> 00:22:59,880 Speaker 3: we start every day at Samaritan's Purse in God's word. 462 00:23:00,920 --> 00:23:05,100 Speaker 3: We pray corporately as a team and, of course, encourage 463 00:23:05,260 --> 00:23:07,770 Speaker 3: individual prayer and time with the Lord. But we pray 464 00:23:07,810 --> 00:23:11,310 Speaker 3: corporately over our staff members in difficult places. We pray 465 00:23:11,350 --> 00:23:14,490 Speaker 3: for them by name because we know we can't do 466 00:23:14,550 --> 00:23:15,590 Speaker 3: it without the living God. 467 00:23:16,290 --> 00:23:17,649 Speaker 4: Fighting our battles for us. 468 00:23:17,810 --> 00:23:20,990 Speaker 3: And so that's, I don't know if I answered your question, 469 00:23:21,850 --> 00:23:24,850 Speaker 3: but I'm circling back to that is why and how 470 00:23:24,890 --> 00:23:25,230 Speaker 3: we go. 471 00:23:25,250 --> 00:23:26,670 Speaker 1: No, absolutely. 472 00:23:26,730 --> 00:23:30,619 Speaker 2: And it even reminds me of like the early Christian church. 473 00:23:30,670 --> 00:23:33,080 Speaker 2: I don't know if many people know this, but they 474 00:23:33,300 --> 00:23:38,100 Speaker 2: responded to suffering and crisis, especially during times where there 475 00:23:38,119 --> 00:23:41,700 Speaker 2: were like devastating plagues in the Roman empire, when other 476 00:23:41,760 --> 00:23:45,859 Speaker 2: people would go and flee to be away from these people. 477 00:23:46,410 --> 00:23:51,760 Speaker 2: It was many Christians who stayed, and they stayed behind 478 00:23:51,780 --> 00:23:54,300 Speaker 2: to care for the dying, to feed the hungry. They 479 00:23:54,380 --> 00:23:57,760 Speaker 2: risked their own lives to serve people who didn't even 480 00:23:57,820 --> 00:24:00,560 Speaker 2: share the same faith as them, too, in the hopes 481 00:24:00,600 --> 00:24:02,919 Speaker 2: that they could share their faith and be like, hey, 482 00:24:02,960 --> 00:24:05,040 Speaker 2: this might be the last opportunity that I get to 483 00:24:05,420 --> 00:24:07,359 Speaker 2: be the hands and feet of Christ to you, but 484 00:24:07,420 --> 00:24:11,240 Speaker 2: also share the gospel with you. And their compassion became 485 00:24:11,300 --> 00:24:14,729 Speaker 2: such a powerful testimony to Christians to the people who 486 00:24:14,850 --> 00:24:17,850 Speaker 2: even oppressed Christianity, like they took notice. 487 00:24:17,510 --> 00:24:19,710 Speaker 1: Of what the Christians were doing. 488 00:24:19,730 --> 00:24:22,210 Speaker 2: Um, and I think that's such a beautiful reminder of 489 00:24:22,250 --> 00:24:25,109 Speaker 2: what we have been called to do as believers and 490 00:24:25,590 --> 00:24:29,250 Speaker 2: what Samaritan's purse continues to embody today, that we don't 491 00:24:29,290 --> 00:24:32,430 Speaker 2: just proclaim the love of Jesus. 492 00:24:32,290 --> 00:24:33,129 Speaker 1: With our words. 493 00:24:33,170 --> 00:24:36,149 Speaker 2: We are called to also demonstrate it through our actions, 494 00:24:36,210 --> 00:24:37,280 Speaker 2: especially when the. 495 00:24:37,260 --> 00:24:38,660 Speaker 1: World is hurting. 496 00:24:38,700 --> 00:24:42,179 Speaker 2: Like that is such a prime and beautiful opportunity to, um, 497 00:24:42,910 --> 00:24:45,800 Speaker 2: testify with our actions, actually be the hands and feet 498 00:24:45,820 --> 00:24:50,200 Speaker 2: of Christ to a broken world. But I want to 499 00:24:50,560 --> 00:24:54,639 Speaker 2: also talk about kind of what you have learned as 500 00:24:54,680 --> 00:24:58,740 Speaker 2: you've worked and interviewed, had people on your On the 501 00:24:58,780 --> 00:25:02,409 Speaker 2: Ground podcast, that you've been able to just talk to 502 00:25:02,470 --> 00:25:07,510 Speaker 2: so many people from different countries, different cultures, different circumstances. 503 00:25:08,250 --> 00:25:10,129 Speaker 1: What have you learned as a. 504 00:25:12,660 --> 00:25:16,100 Speaker 2: Through collaborating and talking to people within the global church. 505 00:25:16,500 --> 00:25:19,100 Speaker 2: What has that taught you about your faith or even 506 00:25:19,140 --> 00:25:22,100 Speaker 2: convicted you maybe even about your faith? And what do 507 00:25:22,119 --> 00:25:26,110 Speaker 2: you think the American church can learn from the global church? 508 00:25:26,130 --> 00:25:28,189 Speaker 2: Because I think sometimes we can get so focused on 509 00:25:28,330 --> 00:25:31,190 Speaker 2: American church and Western church and how we do things here. 510 00:25:31,570 --> 00:25:34,129 Speaker 2: But when we actually look up and see globally what 511 00:25:34,170 --> 00:25:37,109 Speaker 2: God is doing, there is so much to take in. 512 00:25:37,170 --> 00:25:38,830 Speaker 2: So I'd just love to hear your thoughts on that. 513 00:25:39,670 --> 00:25:40,620 Speaker 4: Oh, I am every. 514 00:25:41,270 --> 00:25:46,189 Speaker 3: interview, I'm, the Lord convicts and encourages me and shows me, 515 00:25:46,250 --> 00:25:49,250 Speaker 3: especially like you said, some of our church partners in, 516 00:25:49,430 --> 00:25:52,010 Speaker 3: in hard places, you know, and again, one of our, 517 00:25:52,330 --> 00:25:54,610 Speaker 3: I've said this many times, but one of our favorite pastors, 518 00:25:54,630 --> 00:25:57,590 Speaker 3: you know, he said, suffering is a vitamin of the church. 519 00:25:58,290 --> 00:25:59,970 Speaker 4: And he said, I feel bad for you here in 520 00:25:59,990 --> 00:26:00,630 Speaker 4: the U S. 521 00:26:00,580 --> 00:26:04,390 Speaker 3: You know, you don't know you know, how to cling 522 00:26:04,430 --> 00:26:07,530 Speaker 3: to the Lord and how to, again, like David, I think, 523 00:26:07,630 --> 00:26:10,010 Speaker 3: and David goes on later, you know, in all his battles, 524 00:26:10,030 --> 00:26:12,170 Speaker 3: he inquired of the Lord, he inquired of the Lord, right? 525 00:26:12,190 --> 00:26:14,750 Speaker 3: Because he got into things that he knew he could 526 00:26:14,790 --> 00:26:16,580 Speaker 3: not do. And I think that's what we watch some 527 00:26:16,600 --> 00:26:19,500 Speaker 3: of our church partners and Venezuela too. I mean, the 528 00:26:19,540 --> 00:26:23,060 Speaker 3: churches are thriving and growing because they've been through hardship 529 00:26:23,100 --> 00:26:24,879 Speaker 3: and suffering and it. 530 00:26:24,859 --> 00:26:25,800 Speaker 4: Does produce fruit. 531 00:26:26,100 --> 00:26:29,100 Speaker 3: And so then they're able to say when hardship and things, 532 00:26:29,359 --> 00:26:32,770 Speaker 3: you know, come up, thank you, Lord, for this opportunity 533 00:26:32,990 --> 00:26:33,870 Speaker 3: to share the gospel. 534 00:26:34,030 --> 00:26:34,930 Speaker 4: To house people. 535 00:26:36,130 --> 00:26:39,650 Speaker 3: So I am just always overwhelmed, but I think I 536 00:26:39,710 --> 00:26:41,070 Speaker 3: come back and here. 537 00:26:40,950 --> 00:26:44,390 Speaker 4: At Samaritan's Purse, we read the Good Samaritan often, right? 538 00:26:44,430 --> 00:26:46,970 Speaker 3: Because that is what we're based off is the Good Samaritan. 539 00:26:47,010 --> 00:26:49,590 Speaker 3: And I think I love God's word and I love 540 00:26:49,609 --> 00:26:52,190 Speaker 3: that it's alive and active and it's sharper than any 541 00:26:52,230 --> 00:26:55,500 Speaker 3: two-edged sword. And so it can convict and challenge us 542 00:26:55,619 --> 00:26:57,540 Speaker 3: every time we read it. And so, but a lot 543 00:26:57,560 --> 00:26:59,899 Speaker 3: of times after I've talked to somebody, I'll reread it 544 00:26:59,980 --> 00:27:01,609 Speaker 3: and I'll see it with new fresh eyes. But I 545 00:27:01,660 --> 00:27:06,410 Speaker 3: think it starts with, you know, the Samaritan obviously helps 546 00:27:06,450 --> 00:27:08,590 Speaker 3: the person physically, and that's what we do. We go 547 00:27:08,650 --> 00:27:10,630 Speaker 3: and we help people physically so that we can share 548 00:27:10,670 --> 00:27:14,450 Speaker 3: the gospel, but it starts with compassion. And I think 549 00:27:14,490 --> 00:27:16,690 Speaker 3: for me, I've walked with the Lord for a long time. 550 00:27:16,710 --> 00:27:19,590 Speaker 3: I thankfully grew up in a Christian home and I 551 00:27:19,650 --> 00:27:21,790 Speaker 3: accepted Christ at a young age. And so I have 552 00:27:21,830 --> 00:27:24,490 Speaker 3: walked with the Lord for a long time But I 553 00:27:24,530 --> 00:27:26,790 Speaker 3: think sometimes we can get compassion fatigue or we can 554 00:27:26,830 --> 00:27:28,710 Speaker 3: get prideful or we can get, you know, we can 555 00:27:28,750 --> 00:27:32,120 Speaker 3: let things come in. And so we often, I think 556 00:27:32,150 --> 00:27:35,680 Speaker 3: we have to, Psalms, there's many Psalms of search me, God, 557 00:27:35,780 --> 00:27:38,180 Speaker 3: search me and try me, oh Lord, see if there's anything. 558 00:27:39,240 --> 00:27:42,880 Speaker 3: And I think that happens often. And I just love 559 00:27:42,920 --> 00:27:46,959 Speaker 3: where it starts. He said, you know, they were asking him, 560 00:27:47,080 --> 00:27:50,920 Speaker 3: you know, who's our neighbor? You know, and he told 561 00:27:50,960 --> 00:27:52,780 Speaker 3: the parable because he said, love the Lord your God 562 00:27:52,800 --> 00:27:54,910 Speaker 3: with all your heart, your soul and strength. and love 563 00:27:54,930 --> 00:27:56,850 Speaker 3: your neighbor as yourself. And they said, who's your neighbor? 564 00:27:56,869 --> 00:27:59,330 Speaker 3: And that's when he tells this parable. And I think 565 00:27:59,390 --> 00:28:01,650 Speaker 3: two religious leaders, we all know this story, but two 566 00:28:01,690 --> 00:28:04,770 Speaker 3: religious leaders, a priest and Levite, they walked by, you know, 567 00:28:04,810 --> 00:28:08,430 Speaker 3: we don't know why. But I think sometimes that's me. 568 00:28:08,650 --> 00:28:11,150 Speaker 3: Sometimes we walk by. And so when you said, you know, yes, 569 00:28:11,190 --> 00:28:13,230 Speaker 3: I get to go sometimes to the ends of the earth, 570 00:28:13,310 --> 00:28:17,820 Speaker 3: but we're to be aware in our sphere of influence here, right? 571 00:28:18,020 --> 00:28:18,340 Speaker 2: Absolutely. 572 00:28:18,359 --> 00:28:20,419 Speaker 3: I think that's where sometimes I have a harder time is, 573 00:28:20,660 --> 00:28:22,970 Speaker 3: is here. When I go to Walmart or when I'm 574 00:28:23,130 --> 00:28:26,150 Speaker 3: running errands, who is around me? Give me eyes to see. 575 00:28:26,330 --> 00:28:30,250 Speaker 3: And I think that compassionate heart. And so it says, 576 00:28:30,869 --> 00:28:33,650 Speaker 3: when the man saw him, he had compassion. And so 577 00:28:33,690 --> 00:28:34,390 Speaker 3: he went to him. 578 00:28:34,490 --> 00:28:35,330 Speaker 4: He took action. 579 00:28:35,390 --> 00:28:37,770 Speaker 3: So I think that is something that's come alive. The 580 00:28:37,810 --> 00:28:39,930 Speaker 3: more I talk to people, the more I do this job. 581 00:28:39,970 --> 00:28:42,650 Speaker 3: I think I've changed so much since the beginning of this. 582 00:28:43,580 --> 00:28:45,240 Speaker 3: Our goal is still the same, to share the gospel. 583 00:28:45,280 --> 00:28:48,480 Speaker 3: But I think we've realized as a team, we have 584 00:28:48,540 --> 00:28:52,570 Speaker 3: to ask God, Give us a willing spirit to see 585 00:28:52,610 --> 00:28:55,740 Speaker 3: people around us, to have eyes to see and ears 586 00:28:55,780 --> 00:28:57,500 Speaker 3: to hear of what God wants us to do and 587 00:28:57,540 --> 00:29:01,660 Speaker 3: have compassion and to show mercy and to share the gospel. 588 00:29:01,700 --> 00:29:05,520 Speaker 3: And mercy is sharing the gospel. We have something. We 589 00:29:05,560 --> 00:29:08,770 Speaker 3: have a hope that people need. They're dying and they 590 00:29:08,810 --> 00:29:12,530 Speaker 3: need to hear this. And so I think that, yeah, 591 00:29:12,550 --> 00:29:14,630 Speaker 3: the more people I get the privilege to talk to 592 00:29:14,690 --> 00:29:16,610 Speaker 3: and get to meet in the field, I mean, I'm 593 00:29:16,650 --> 00:29:20,130 Speaker 3: just overwhelmed. And I think the gospel is the same everywhere. 594 00:29:20,620 --> 00:29:23,100 Speaker 3: Their circumstances are different. You know, sometimes we've been in 595 00:29:23,140 --> 00:29:26,740 Speaker 3: a church under a tree. We've been in church without walls. 596 00:29:26,900 --> 00:29:31,440 Speaker 3: You know, the churches look different physically, but the people 597 00:29:31,480 --> 00:29:35,190 Speaker 3: are the same, right? The gospel changes us, and there 598 00:29:35,250 --> 00:29:37,530 Speaker 3: is such a commonality all around the world. And that's 599 00:29:37,570 --> 00:29:39,970 Speaker 3: what's so exciting to see and working with the local church. 600 00:29:40,110 --> 00:29:40,810 Speaker 4: All over the world. 601 00:29:43,070 --> 00:29:46,930 Speaker 3: Again, their situations are different, the social structure of their 602 00:29:46,950 --> 00:29:49,370 Speaker 3: country and then the, you know, there's different things, but 603 00:29:49,630 --> 00:29:51,650 Speaker 3: the gospel is the same. And that's what I love 604 00:29:51,950 --> 00:29:54,920 Speaker 3: is it's the same message. So I think the Lord 605 00:29:54,960 --> 00:29:58,100 Speaker 3: has just showed me that we are to stay compassionate 606 00:29:58,120 --> 00:30:01,100 Speaker 3: and to love the Lord our God. That's why we're here, 607 00:30:01,560 --> 00:30:04,040 Speaker 3: to love God and love others. And loving others is 608 00:30:04,060 --> 00:30:08,020 Speaker 3: sharing the gospel. And so I think I get to 609 00:30:08,060 --> 00:30:09,840 Speaker 3: talk to so many different people where their. 610 00:30:09,740 --> 00:30:11,000 Speaker 4: Assignments are different. 611 00:30:12,320 --> 00:30:14,560 Speaker 3: And even me and even you having a new baby, 612 00:30:14,600 --> 00:30:19,340 Speaker 3: I think our assignments change over time, right? But our calling, 613 00:30:19,980 --> 00:30:23,880 Speaker 3: which is to be compassionate, to share the gospel, to 614 00:30:23,920 --> 00:30:26,820 Speaker 3: love God and love others and the Great Commission, We 615 00:30:26,860 --> 00:30:28,620 Speaker 3: can do that where we are. We can do that 616 00:30:28,660 --> 00:30:31,680 Speaker 3: across the world. So our calling is the same. And 617 00:30:31,700 --> 00:30:34,680 Speaker 3: that's something that I've learned by talking to people. Our 618 00:30:34,720 --> 00:30:36,720 Speaker 3: callings are all the same. Our assignments and the. 619 00:30:36,680 --> 00:30:39,840 Speaker 4: Way God asks us to carry that out is different. 620 00:30:40,180 --> 00:30:41,960 Speaker 4: And that can even change year to year. 621 00:30:42,720 --> 00:30:44,860 Speaker 3: And I think that's, again, what we have to be 622 00:30:45,240 --> 00:30:46,719 Speaker 3: compassionate and aware of. 623 00:30:46,810 --> 00:30:49,180 Speaker 4: Lord, search me. Am I where I'm supposed to be? 624 00:30:49,450 --> 00:30:51,870 Speaker 3: And so I think that's what I love hearing from 625 00:30:51,910 --> 00:30:54,170 Speaker 3: our partners that get to do different things. 626 00:30:54,630 --> 00:30:56,990 Speaker 4: And sometimes I'll say, man, I wish I could do that. 627 00:30:58,030 --> 00:31:01,090 Speaker 3: Sometimes it's talking to somebody in Africa that's doing one 628 00:31:01,110 --> 00:31:06,750 Speaker 3: of our projects of planting trees or goats. It's like, 629 00:31:07,010 --> 00:31:09,610 Speaker 3: I just love hearing the way that the gospel is 630 00:31:09,650 --> 00:31:12,780 Speaker 3: going forward and it looks different. And again, the assignment 631 00:31:12,800 --> 00:31:14,700 Speaker 3: and the way God calls them to do it is different, 632 00:31:14,760 --> 00:31:19,280 Speaker 3: but it's the same as this compassion that the Samaritan had. 633 00:31:20,220 --> 00:31:23,570 Speaker 3: It's allowing God to use us and to see the 634 00:31:23,610 --> 00:31:24,330 Speaker 3: needs around us. 635 00:31:24,470 --> 00:31:26,510 Speaker 4: And that is what God did, you know, in Jesus. 636 00:31:26,670 --> 00:31:29,050 Speaker 4: I mean, he saw people where they were. 637 00:31:29,070 --> 00:31:30,150 Speaker 3: Yeah. 638 00:31:30,830 --> 00:31:32,430 Speaker 1: He saw them and he dignified them. 639 00:31:32,950 --> 00:31:33,470 Speaker 3: And I love that. 640 00:31:33,540 --> 00:31:35,380 Speaker 1: And we get the opportunity to do that. Just like 641 00:31:35,400 --> 00:31:37,620 Speaker 1: you said, we don't have to be on the. 642 00:31:37,600 --> 00:31:39,760 Speaker 2: Other side of the world or go on a mission 643 00:31:39,800 --> 00:31:43,060 Speaker 2: trip once a year to be a good Samaritan. We 644 00:31:43,080 --> 00:31:45,940 Speaker 2: can be a good Samaritan literally right where we are 645 00:31:46,120 --> 00:31:51,930 Speaker 2: at to the people that society like discards to, those 646 00:31:52,190 --> 00:31:54,460 Speaker 2: that have been othered based. 647 00:31:54,280 --> 00:31:55,920 Speaker 1: On our convictions on things. 648 00:31:56,060 --> 00:31:59,940 Speaker 2: No, it's like Jesus saw everyone, um, and he loved 649 00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:03,219 Speaker 2: them and he called them forth to repentance. Uh, but 650 00:32:03,260 --> 00:32:06,080 Speaker 2: he dignified them in doing so. And we have the 651 00:32:06,100 --> 00:32:06,760 Speaker 2: opportunity to. 652 00:32:06,760 --> 00:32:07,280 Speaker 1: Do that too. 653 00:32:07,300 --> 00:32:11,490 Speaker 2: Uh, as we wrap this episode though, before we wrap, 654 00:32:11,670 --> 00:32:14,890 Speaker 2: I would love for you to share what's coming up on, 655 00:32:15,210 --> 00:32:18,330 Speaker 2: on the ground with Samaritan's purse, because, Like I said, 656 00:32:18,370 --> 00:32:21,880 Speaker 2: not everybody gets the opportunity to actually be on the ground, 657 00:32:22,180 --> 00:32:25,220 Speaker 2: but I think hearing so many stories of what God 658 00:32:25,300 --> 00:32:29,260 Speaker 2: is up to globally not only brings us to a 659 00:32:29,280 --> 00:32:32,200 Speaker 2: place of humility in checking our own heart with what 660 00:32:32,240 --> 00:32:34,400 Speaker 2: God might be doing in our lives and our communities, 661 00:32:35,180 --> 00:32:38,140 Speaker 2: but it gives us a greater perspective of what God 662 00:32:38,220 --> 00:32:41,890 Speaker 2: is doing. It always reignites my faith to hear about 663 00:32:42,110 --> 00:32:45,950 Speaker 2: what God is doing within the global church and also 664 00:32:46,030 --> 00:32:49,150 Speaker 2: how I can get involved in um, in, in whatever 665 00:32:49,190 --> 00:32:50,270 Speaker 2: capacity that looks like. 666 00:32:50,310 --> 00:32:52,010 Speaker 1: So what's coming up on, on the. 667 00:32:51,950 --> 00:32:55,690 Speaker 2: Ground with Samaritan's Purse and what, what are you excited 668 00:32:55,710 --> 00:32:58,450 Speaker 2: most for people to, I don't know, listen to or 669 00:32:58,530 --> 00:32:59,950 Speaker 2: hear about as they tune in? 670 00:33:00,570 --> 00:33:00,930 Speaker 4: Oh man. 671 00:33:01,430 --> 00:33:03,390 Speaker 3: I say all the time, I say whichever episode I'm 672 00:33:03,410 --> 00:33:07,390 Speaker 3: working on right now is my favorite. We just released 673 00:33:07,490 --> 00:33:10,230 Speaker 3: one on our cataracts, our cataract teams that get to 674 00:33:10,280 --> 00:33:13,469 Speaker 3: go and You know, they go for two weeks and they. 675 00:33:13,350 --> 00:33:15,380 Speaker 4: Perform hundreds of surgeries. 676 00:33:15,430 --> 00:33:17,640 Speaker 3: This one was in Cambodia, but then our team is 677 00:33:17,680 --> 00:33:20,760 Speaker 3: also going to go to Venezuela to carry out a 678 00:33:20,800 --> 00:33:22,920 Speaker 3: cataract mission and get to see that. So we'll be 679 00:33:22,940 --> 00:33:28,120 Speaker 3: bringing that, which is always exciting. We have some U.S. 680 00:33:28,160 --> 00:33:29,840 Speaker 4: Disaster, you know, rebuild. 681 00:33:30,040 --> 00:33:32,640 Speaker 3: We're actually going to a home next week, a home 682 00:33:32,680 --> 00:33:36,060 Speaker 3: dedication home. where we rebuilt a house that was destroyed 683 00:33:36,100 --> 00:33:39,400 Speaker 3: by Helene, which, you know, has been years. Um, I mean, 684 00:33:39,420 --> 00:33:41,580 Speaker 3: I think people have been waiting and suffering for years. 685 00:33:41,600 --> 00:33:45,160 Speaker 3: So we have, you know, us disaster relief. We have 686 00:33:45,330 --> 00:33:49,190 Speaker 3: international projects. I mean, we, we are going to be 687 00:33:49,230 --> 00:33:50,810 Speaker 3: taking you all over the world. And so again, these 688 00:33:50,830 --> 00:33:52,370 Speaker 3: are just the ones that we have planned, but I 689 00:33:52,650 --> 00:33:55,110 Speaker 3: know God is already writing stories that we don't even 690 00:33:55,130 --> 00:33:58,250 Speaker 3: know about. So I encourage people to, to subscribe, tune 691 00:33:58,310 --> 00:34:00,709 Speaker 3: in on the ground with Samaritan's purse, because it is 692 00:34:01,350 --> 00:34:04,670 Speaker 3: really exciting. Uh, we don't even know where we're going 693 00:34:04,690 --> 00:34:07,590 Speaker 3: to go, but God has some great stories. And I 694 00:34:07,610 --> 00:34:10,210 Speaker 3: just want to continue. I just want to share again, 695 00:34:10,370 --> 00:34:13,750 Speaker 3: as I said, I read John nine after this cataract surgery, 696 00:34:13,790 --> 00:34:15,370 Speaker 3: you know, after we did this episode, it just made 697 00:34:15,450 --> 00:34:16,270 Speaker 3: this come to life. 698 00:34:16,370 --> 00:34:18,350 Speaker 4: The, I was blind, but now I see. And I 699 00:34:18,370 --> 00:34:19,250 Speaker 4: just want to encourage people. 700 00:34:19,270 --> 00:34:21,609 Speaker 3: And this is something that I'm challenged and encouraged by, 701 00:34:22,110 --> 00:34:24,029 Speaker 3: you know, this man that was born blind, you know, 702 00:34:24,050 --> 00:34:25,670 Speaker 3: he became, he, Jesus gave. 703 00:34:25,550 --> 00:34:29,089 Speaker 4: Him sight and he could not, not testify. Right. 704 00:34:29,150 --> 00:34:31,690 Speaker 3: Like he just wanted to say, I was blind and 705 00:34:31,730 --> 00:34:34,430 Speaker 3: now I see. And I, Realize in that story, there's 706 00:34:34,469 --> 00:34:37,700 Speaker 3: three different scenarios or people. I just want to encourage 707 00:34:37,719 --> 00:34:40,540 Speaker 3: people because this is what God's convicting me of. He 708 00:34:40,600 --> 00:34:44,340 Speaker 3: couldn't not testify, right? And even people were kind of upset. 709 00:34:44,420 --> 00:34:47,000 Speaker 3: Like some people were like, I don't think that's the 710 00:34:47,020 --> 00:34:49,160 Speaker 3: same man. I think it just looks like him. They 711 00:34:49,180 --> 00:34:51,950 Speaker 3: were a disbelief among the crowd. And even when they 712 00:34:51,969 --> 00:34:54,810 Speaker 3: went before the Jews, the parents didn't want to testify. 713 00:34:54,989 --> 00:34:56,890 Speaker 3: They were afraid because they didn't want to be kicked 714 00:34:56,930 --> 00:34:59,920 Speaker 3: out of the synagogue. The Jews were angry. but this 715 00:34:59,960 --> 00:35:02,600 Speaker 3: man could not stay quiet. So they actually passed it off, 716 00:35:02,760 --> 00:35:05,020 Speaker 3: you know, ask him, he's of age. And this man 717 00:35:05,060 --> 00:35:07,819 Speaker 3: just testified, testified and got kicked out. 718 00:35:08,920 --> 00:35:10,440 Speaker 4: And so I just was thinking. 719 00:35:10,480 --> 00:35:13,640 Speaker 3: We're all either blind, we're all spiritually blind and we 720 00:35:13,680 --> 00:35:17,600 Speaker 3: need to know the gospel or we're afraid. We're like 721 00:35:17,620 --> 00:35:20,799 Speaker 3: these parents, afraid to testify, afraid to speak out about 722 00:35:20,880 --> 00:35:24,219 Speaker 3: Jesus the Messiah, or we're like the blind man that has, 723 00:35:24,680 --> 00:35:27,180 Speaker 3: I was blind and now I see. And again, every 724 00:35:27,219 --> 00:35:29,299 Speaker 3: time I get to talk to our partners, I just 725 00:35:29,340 --> 00:35:32,600 Speaker 3: get ignited in my faith, and I want faith like theirs. 726 00:35:32,719 --> 00:35:34,980 Speaker 3: And many of the ones that are so reckless like 727 00:35:35,020 --> 00:35:39,240 Speaker 3: this man, they've been through great suffering, and they've seen Jesus, 728 00:35:39,360 --> 00:35:42,560 Speaker 3: like Job says, before I knew of God, but now 729 00:35:42,600 --> 00:35:44,680 Speaker 3: I've seen God. That's what he says at the end 730 00:35:44,700 --> 00:35:48,190 Speaker 3: of Job. But I just love that after this man testifies, 731 00:35:48,230 --> 00:35:50,589 Speaker 3: he gets kicked out of the synagogue. They threw him out, 732 00:35:50,969 --> 00:35:53,790 Speaker 3: and Jesus came to him. He came to him, and 733 00:35:53,830 --> 00:35:57,620 Speaker 3: he answered him, and he said, You have seen him. 734 00:35:58,000 --> 00:36:01,060 Speaker 3: You know, the man says, sir, I believe. And Jesus says, 735 00:36:01,080 --> 00:36:03,440 Speaker 3: you've seen him. He's the one speaking to you. And 736 00:36:03,480 --> 00:36:06,339 Speaker 3: this man says, I believe, Lord. And he worshiped him. 737 00:36:06,500 --> 00:36:09,140 Speaker 3: And I think, you know, if we believe, if we 738 00:36:09,180 --> 00:36:12,440 Speaker 3: know Jesus, we have to testify and we have to 739 00:36:12,480 --> 00:36:15,100 Speaker 3: share with others this good news, this hope that we have. 740 00:36:15,900 --> 00:36:20,109 Speaker 3: And so I think as you asked what we have 741 00:36:20,140 --> 00:36:23,529 Speaker 3: coming up, that's what we have coming up. We have testifies. 742 00:36:23,930 --> 00:36:26,580 Speaker 3: We get to testify of what the God's done. And 743 00:36:26,620 --> 00:36:28,520 Speaker 3: I know it will encourage and speak to your heart. 744 00:36:28,560 --> 00:36:31,379 Speaker 3: And again, we go to lots of different countries, lots 745 00:36:31,420 --> 00:36:33,280 Speaker 3: of different projects with Samaritan's Purse. 746 00:36:33,340 --> 00:36:36,050 Speaker 4: But this is why we go. We go to bring 747 00:36:36,130 --> 00:36:38,630 Speaker 4: sight to the blind spiritually. 748 00:36:38,650 --> 00:36:39,690 Speaker 3: Amen. 749 00:36:39,750 --> 00:36:42,029 Speaker 4: Jesus does that. We don't do that. He's the one 750 00:36:42,070 --> 00:36:44,129 Speaker 4: that does that miracle. But we get to share. 751 00:36:44,150 --> 00:36:45,450 Speaker 1: You get to be a part of that. 752 00:36:45,510 --> 00:36:48,580 Speaker 2: Yes. You get to be a vessel, which is incredible 753 00:36:48,620 --> 00:36:51,000 Speaker 2: that we get to partner literally with, like you said earlier, 754 00:36:51,120 --> 00:36:53,819 Speaker 2: the living God. Right. We get to partner with him 755 00:36:53,860 --> 00:36:56,480 Speaker 2: and be on mission with him. That's what I think 756 00:36:56,520 --> 00:37:00,600 Speaker 2: about the Great Commission. We are in commission with him, 757 00:37:01,080 --> 00:37:06,239 Speaker 2: upholding his will, hopefully making heaven crowded and bringing the 758 00:37:06,280 --> 00:37:10,310 Speaker 2: kingdom of God here in this world that so desperately 759 00:37:10,370 --> 00:37:12,910 Speaker 2: needs him. And I love that y'all are doing that. 760 00:37:13,010 --> 00:37:15,010 Speaker 2: And maybe you guys who are listening to this episode 761 00:37:15,030 --> 00:37:17,609 Speaker 2: are like, yeah, I've heard of Samaritan's Purse at my university, 762 00:37:17,630 --> 00:37:20,489 Speaker 2: at my church, at this one Christian concert that I 763 00:37:20,530 --> 00:37:21,930 Speaker 2: went to, and they did a little. 764 00:37:21,770 --> 00:37:22,520 Speaker 1: Blurb about it. 765 00:37:22,770 --> 00:37:25,739 Speaker 2: But seriously, I encourage all of you, To one, check 766 00:37:25,780 --> 00:37:29,240 Speaker 2: out the On the Ground podcast because firsthand hearing these 767 00:37:29,340 --> 00:37:32,890 Speaker 2: stories is not just an inspiring thing that makes. 768 00:37:32,690 --> 00:37:33,450 Speaker 1: You feel good. 769 00:37:33,910 --> 00:37:38,290 Speaker 2: It moves you toward compassion. And that's the heart of God, 770 00:37:38,469 --> 00:37:42,270 Speaker 2: that he is moved by compassion for his people. So 771 00:37:42,290 --> 00:37:44,130 Speaker 2: I think that's one reason to check out the On 772 00:37:44,170 --> 00:37:46,570 Speaker 2: the Ground podcast. But also I want to encourage you 773 00:37:46,590 --> 00:37:50,250 Speaker 2: guys to get involved in some capacity with Samaritan's Purse 774 00:37:50,270 --> 00:37:54,580 Speaker 2: because they are doing incredible work. Maybe God wants you 775 00:37:54,640 --> 00:37:57,500 Speaker 2: to take a big leap of faith and join the initiative. 776 00:37:57,800 --> 00:38:00,140 Speaker 2: Or maybe he's just calling you to be a prayer warrior. 777 00:38:00,239 --> 00:38:03,290 Speaker 2: Maybe he's calling you to be inspired so that you 778 00:38:03,350 --> 00:38:06,489 Speaker 2: can be compassionate and be a good Samaritan to your 779 00:38:06,550 --> 00:38:09,810 Speaker 2: community here that also is going through suffering. It's its 780 00:38:09,950 --> 00:38:10,920 Speaker 2: own degrees of it. 781 00:38:11,030 --> 00:38:11,469 Speaker 1: I don't know. 782 00:38:11,969 --> 00:38:13,430 Speaker 2: I know that there is some good work that we 783 00:38:13,469 --> 00:38:16,890 Speaker 2: can pull from what they're doing in our own lives. 784 00:38:17,040 --> 00:38:18,940 Speaker 2: And there's also so much that we can be a 785 00:38:18,960 --> 00:38:21,540 Speaker 2: part of in what Samaritan's Purse is doing. But I 786 00:38:21,580 --> 00:38:24,660 Speaker 2: will link the On the Ground podcast down below so 787 00:38:24,700 --> 00:38:26,820 Speaker 2: you guys can just cue that up and start listening 788 00:38:26,840 --> 00:38:30,350 Speaker 2: to some of these stories because truly they are going 789 00:38:30,390 --> 00:38:33,290 Speaker 2: to just impact you in so many ways. It inspires 790 00:38:33,330 --> 00:38:35,109 Speaker 2: me every time I hear about what God is doing 791 00:38:35,170 --> 00:38:37,430 Speaker 2: in the global church. I've had the privilege of being 792 00:38:37,489 --> 00:38:40,580 Speaker 2: able to go all over the world and connect with 793 00:38:40,620 --> 00:38:43,239 Speaker 2: different believers from all around the world. And it is just, 794 00:38:43,780 --> 00:38:46,480 Speaker 2: it is so humbling and it ignites your faith in 795 00:38:46,500 --> 00:38:49,390 Speaker 2: a way like no other. to hear about what God 796 00:38:49,550 --> 00:38:53,350 Speaker 2: is doing at such a large scale. So go listen 797 00:38:53,390 --> 00:38:55,770 Speaker 2: to that because it will truly reignite your faith. 798 00:38:55,670 --> 00:38:56,410 Speaker 1: In so many ways. 799 00:38:56,910 --> 00:38:59,860 Speaker 2: Christy, thank you for taking the time to, one, be 800 00:38:59,900 --> 00:39:01,700 Speaker 2: faithful to what God has called you and your family 801 00:39:01,739 --> 00:39:04,120 Speaker 2: to do, but to also just come here on the 802 00:39:04,160 --> 00:39:07,020 Speaker 2: podcast and share just a little bit of what God 803 00:39:07,080 --> 00:39:09,550 Speaker 2: is doing globally and the ways that you get to 804 00:39:09,570 --> 00:39:11,350 Speaker 2: partner and share some of those stories. 805 00:39:11,430 --> 00:39:13,650 Speaker 1: So thank you for being here today. 806 00:39:14,100 --> 00:39:16,180 Speaker 2: And to everyone who tuned into this episode, thank you 807 00:39:16,200 --> 00:39:18,410 Speaker 2: for listening and just giving us some of your time. 808 00:39:18,770 --> 00:39:21,350 Speaker 2: I pray that this was an encouragement to you. If 809 00:39:21,370 --> 00:39:24,609 Speaker 2: you're not subscribed, subscribe. I put out new episodes every 810 00:39:24,630 --> 00:39:26,510 Speaker 2: single week. I'm also about to do. 811 00:39:26,770 --> 00:39:29,529 Speaker 1: A 10-week series, if y'all can believe it. 812 00:39:20,030 --> 00:39:20,290 Speaker 2: Amen. 813 00:39:20,310 --> 00:39:20,410 Speaker 4: Amen. 814 00:39:20,430 --> 00:39:20,589 Speaker 2: Amen. 815 00:39:34,700 --> 00:39:36,380 Speaker 1: But also diving into the fruit of the Spirit. 816 00:39:36,420 --> 00:39:38,460 Speaker 2: And I think it so greatly goes with literally what 817 00:39:38,480 --> 00:39:42,640 Speaker 2: we talked about today, like being a Christian, loving, patient, 818 00:39:42,719 --> 00:39:45,379 Speaker 2: all these things. We see this within what it looks 819 00:39:45,400 --> 00:39:47,640 Speaker 2: like to be the body of believers. So this will 820 00:39:47,680 --> 00:39:51,660 Speaker 2: really reignite. This will activate you. This series will activate 821 00:39:51,680 --> 00:39:53,719 Speaker 2: you with what we talked about today. But I love 822 00:39:53,739 --> 00:39:55,200 Speaker 2: you guys, and I'll see you here next week for 823 00:39:55,239 --> 00:39:57,120 Speaker 2: another episode of the Bottom Beloved Podcast. 824 00:39:57,140 --> 00:39:59,140 Speaker 1: But until then, go be a good Samaritan. 825 00:39:59,469 --> 00:40:05,380 Speaker 2: Bye. For more life-giving faith-based podcasts just like this one, 826 00:40:05,600 --> 00:40:10,020 Speaker 2: check out lifeaudio.com, a proud partner of the Botten Beloved Podcast.