1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:12,240 Welcome to the God's goodness podcast where our mission is to encourage as well as highlight 2 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:17,520 God's goodness and modern day miracles. We are your hosts, Josh and Shelly Hankins. 3 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:23,400 Today we have with us a very special couple. It's Patti and Joe Barnabi and the Holy Spirit 4 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:28,520 led me to them through a friend I know and you know the Holy Spirit is leading me to 5 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:34,480 all the right people for this. And they just have this ministry that helps families that 6 00:00:34,480 --> 00:00:40,280 are facing addiction and they're bringing addiction awareness to their local communities. 7 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:45,680 And we just wanted to highlight what they're doing and spread the word so maybe somebody 8 00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:50,960 can get help through it actually. So with that we'll have them open us with an opening 9 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:54,240 prayer and then we'll have them take it from there. 10 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:59,120 Heavenly Father we just thank you and praise you for this day. We ask that the Holy Spirit 11 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:05,400 be upon us right now, that you fill us with your words and not our own words Lord. You 12 00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:11,280 allow us to know that we are never alone when you are in our lives. So I just thank you 13 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:17,240 and I praise you for never alone, the non-profit faith-based organization and also for Club 14 00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:22,840 316 for all the teens that have gathered in your name. And I just give you the glory and 15 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:29,800 praise for this day and I'm very honored to be able to do this to spread your goodness 16 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:34,680 Lord. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen. 17 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:40,280 So Patti you were led to start a really cool group, what do you call it? The group? Organization. 18 00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:44,520 Organization. Yes. And so tell us a little bit about it and what led you to it. 19 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:50,560 Well it all started in the summer of 2010. I was working in Hancock County Schools and 20 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:55,800 during the summers I, you know, I'm off and so I decided I was going to start walking 21 00:01:55,800 --> 00:02:02,480 to get in shape. So my son had given me an iPod and on it was this song called Never Alone 22 00:02:02,480 --> 00:02:07,600 that I'd never heard about, heard it before. I don't even know how it got on this iPod. 23 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:13,800 But it was called Never Alone by Jim Brickman, Lady Antebellum, sings it. And while I was 24 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:19,160 walking I thought this is a great time for me to pray. So I started praying and I listened 25 00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:25,960 to the song and as I did I thought of a young man named Nathan Puelis. He had graduated 26 00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:33,400 my middle daughter and when his parents divorced after a senior year in high school he got 27 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:40,480 into a different crowd and that crowd not only led to, you know, drinking and marijuana 28 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:46,800 but it led to pills and then to heroin. And Nathan lost his life when he was only 25 years 29 00:02:46,800 --> 00:02:54,840 old. So on that same day I went home and our local news, News 9 had a special on heroin 30 00:02:54,840 --> 00:03:01,280 addiction in our community. And so I listened in and it didn't show the parents' faces, 31 00:03:01,280 --> 00:03:06,320 just their voices, while I recognized them. They lived down the street in my neighborhood 32 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:10,360 and my son played with their sons throughout the neighborhood and played all the sports 33 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:15,920 at Weir High. And after he had gotten out of high school he was always in trouble. You 34 00:03:15,920 --> 00:03:21,440 know, he was like the class clown getting attention. But after when Eric got out of 35 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:27,280 high school he ended up getting into drugs and became an addict. And his parents were 36 00:03:27,280 --> 00:03:33,560 sharing that at that time it was destroying the family unit and they just didn't know 37 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:38,840 what to do. But after that I felt like God was telling me he got to do something even 38 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:45,520 though I myself was not addicted or really basically anybody in our family. So I called 39 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:51,160 News 9 and they hooked me up with this lady at Healthways and I told her I wanted to have 40 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:57,920 a walk for addiction. So a couple months after we put together a walk, little did I know 41 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:04,520 God's plans because on that day we had over 400 people that walked. It looked like it was 42 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:08,760 going to storm and rain. So one guy kept coming up to me and oh we're not going to be able 43 00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:15,480 to do this blah blah blah. Well I said well it's all in God's plan. The sun came out, 44 00:04:15,480 --> 00:04:21,240 the rainbow came out and we had a beautiful sunny day. Little did I know we were going 45 00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:31,120 to make $16,000. Well, I was like what is going on here? So after that I felt like the 46 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:37,080 Lord was telling me that he wanted a support group but not like AA because AA is basically 47 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:43,400 just for those that are addicted. He pointed out he wanted a support prayer group for those 48 00:04:43,400 --> 00:04:48,440 that are addicted, family members that wanted to regain hope and trust in their loved ones 49 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:54,600 again and also for community that wanted to make a difference. So I put together the 50 00:04:54,600 --> 00:05:00,320 support group. We met actually every Monday night for years. I just switched it up. Oh 51 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:06,920 it's been a couple years Joe. Yeah right before COVID. Yeah and you know so I had been at various 52 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:12,120 Catholic churches that they allowed us to host the support group there but then when 53 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:17,240 we got involved with Crossroads Church we decided to have the meetings there and Joe 54 00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:23,360 helped set up all the chairs and everything. We do it once a month. It's actually the second 55 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:30,640 Monday of the month Crossroads Church in Whearton West Virginia. But I mean through all this 56 00:05:30,640 --> 00:05:36,880 it's been unbelievable. I mean so many families have come in and out of the doors. Some their 57 00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:43,760 children were saved. Others have died like Nathan. And many times as the years like this 58 00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:48,040 has been a lot of years. It's been 13 years and at times I was like well I'm going to 59 00:05:48,040 --> 00:05:53,840 give it up and then God gives me something else. I mean we were in Women's Day magazine. 60 00:05:53,840 --> 00:05:59,880 I thought it was a joke and one day I had gotten a Facebook message from my son's friend 61 00:05:59,880 --> 00:06:05,760 and she says they would like to do a little thing in you know Women's Magazine and I was 62 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:12,240 like okay I thought this was a joke at first you know. But it's like God always comes through 63 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:16,760 you know and it was like so after a couple years of the support group I kept feeling 64 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:22,120 like the Lord wanted to lead teenagers to get involved in this because they stopped the 65 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:28,440 sad program in the high school. So now I felt led to start a group for teens. You could 66 00:06:28,440 --> 00:06:31,720 share a little bit on that Joe. Club 316. 67 00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:38,440 Well we noticed some younger high school kids coming to our church and I'm making shame 68 00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:44,080 for themselves. They'd come right up in the front rows and sit across the front and just 69 00:06:44,080 --> 00:06:48,360 kind of look at that and one lady that goes to our church her son was one of those and 70 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:53,000 she come up the patio and she says Christian brought some friends to church and they're 71 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:57,400 looking for a group. They want to start a group and I told them to see you. So they 72 00:06:57,400 --> 00:07:03,560 talked to her. Their first group was about four or five. We met at the dining room table 73 00:07:03,560 --> 00:07:10,320 ordered pizza and they told her what they would like to do and she says we can do that. 74 00:07:10,320 --> 00:07:15,120 We can have it right here at our house and they liked that. They liked that idea of being 75 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:21,720 in someone's home. And the first night it was a Sunday evening it was about 6.30. Eleven 76 00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:28,640 kids showed up and they agreed to have it every two weeks. The second week 21 kids were 77 00:07:28,640 --> 00:07:33,600 sitting in our basement in a circle and I have a nice size rec room but that was the 78 00:07:33,600 --> 00:07:39,240 max and they talked that they were each going to bring somebody and I told her I says what 79 00:07:39,240 --> 00:07:42,160 are we going to do? What are we going to do? Because they wanted to be in the home and 80 00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:48,640 I don't blame them. I believe it's a lot more intimate. They feel welcome. Had a lot of people 81 00:07:48,640 --> 00:07:55,160 throw some donations to us in snacks and water and candies. Money for Bibles. It was picked 82 00:07:55,160 --> 00:08:00,800 up by a lot of people. It was unbelievable. And so it's taken off. We had about four group 83 00:08:00,800 --> 00:08:07,480 meetings. Had a little sponsor talk. They've asked for speakers. One kid asked for someone 84 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:14,000 to talk about the future and jobs and everything which was a surprise. And they like it. They 85 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:22,440 like it. Had one the other night we had 24 kids there. The amazing thing with these kids 86 00:08:22,440 --> 00:08:25,440 and Patti got to speak in the high school last week. He was talking to a friend of mine 87 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:30,600 who was still a teacher there. There's a group of kids out there looking for something different. 88 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:35,200 And that's what this one fellow told us. He said we're looking for something different. 89 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:43,080 So they're coming to church on a regular basis. They're influencing kids to seek this difference 90 00:08:43,080 --> 00:08:48,960 thing and we're trying to be as positive influence on them as we can. But our daughter who's 91 00:08:48,960 --> 00:08:53,600 an interim pastor at our church had noticed these kids coming and then they noticed a 92 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:58,520 few other people with them and she said we've switched here a little bit. She said it used 93 00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:03,280 to be parents who would bring kids to school. Take kids to your church. She said I'm looking 94 00:09:03,280 --> 00:09:06,640 at these kids that are coming by themselves and then I'm seeing them next week with a 95 00:09:06,640 --> 00:09:14,920 mother or a father or a brother or a sister or an aunt. And it's like these kids are searching 96 00:09:14,920 --> 00:09:18,200 and then getting their parents to come with them which is total opposite of the way it 97 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:24,000 was when we grew up. Yeah. Yeah. That's beautiful. Yeah. We've had a lot of our guests come on 98 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:29,360 and you know when they were teens and younger they didn't have a lot of friends that you 99 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:33,640 know iron sharpens iron and they didn't have a lot of friends they found that were seeking 100 00:09:33,640 --> 00:09:37,640 the same things they were. You know it was a lot of secular things and it was hard to 101 00:09:37,640 --> 00:09:43,680 find friends that wanted to learn more about Jesus and things like that. So it's a great 102 00:09:43,680 --> 00:09:50,280 outlet for them to have. Well the story was this one boy Malachi's 103 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:56,400 his name. He decided and he wasn't a churchgoer. He just decided one morning that he wanted 104 00:09:56,400 --> 00:10:02,440 to come to church. So he went and got one of his friends Eva and then Christians mother 105 00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:07,840 come to our church but he was the type that only came Christmas or Easter that type of 106 00:10:07,840 --> 00:10:15,240 thing so never you know never would come. And then Christians cousin was a believer and 107 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:22,360 I'll never forget Landon our pastor the past had been praying at all of a sudden she reached 108 00:10:22,360 --> 00:10:27,640 out her hands and she start praying for Landon. Well he just his tears were flowing. The 109 00:10:27,640 --> 00:10:35,240 Holy Spirit touched him. Well then when Malachi and Christian came in Eva it was the same thing 110 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:40,840 just one day their tears were just coming down their faces you know and Malachi was 111 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:47,000 the quarterback of Weirheis football team and so he said that he wanted to pray before 112 00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:52,400 the games I said well just gather around sit around and there was like just maybe one 113 00:10:52,400 --> 00:10:58,800 or two with him. Well as the season went on and on it was almost the whole team that gathered 114 00:10:58,800 --> 00:11:04,080 around him and prayed before the games. So it's just like I just feel like there's a 115 00:11:04,080 --> 00:11:11,520 revival with young people right now. You know they're they're seeking more and you know 116 00:11:11,520 --> 00:11:17,120 that the sad thing is this I mean we were just news nine came the other night for our 117 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:22,480 Christmas gathering and the kids got to be on TV and then we did a group thing like and 118 00:11:22,480 --> 00:11:30,520 we all y'all 316 John 316 it one girl told me yesterday at her school the teacher had 119 00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:36,240 seen this on TV and she made the comment well there are some kids on there that aren't very 120 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:43,760 good or something like that negative and she looked at her Kennedy and she looked at her 121 00:11:43,760 --> 00:11:52,240 and she says she says well everybody can change God gives us more chances than one like that 122 00:11:52,240 --> 00:11:58,760 and I was like all right you go girl you know because that was the right thing to say. Absolutely 123 00:11:58,760 --> 00:12:03,800 it reminds me of that sick people are the ones who go to the hospital right people are out 124 00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:08,640 of shape are the ones that need the gym well there's a lot of hypocrites in church because 125 00:12:08,640 --> 00:12:14,440 that's where they need to be and so to criticize someone for being something that you think 126 00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:19,520 a Christian isn't is ludicrous without you experiencing that life for yourself. Well she 127 00:12:19,520 --> 00:12:25,560 said she said afterwards that teacher when she said that she just looked at Kennedy and 128 00:12:25,560 --> 00:12:32,640 went oh like that and you're correct I mean so many times people in church will be so 129 00:12:32,640 --> 00:12:38,720 judgmental that's one thing with never alone people says a lot of people say to me you 130 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:45,080 know you don't care if you have to hang out with this one or that one and I said who did 131 00:12:45,080 --> 00:12:51,440 Jesus hang around with he didn't care that's how you get healed that's how you learn to 132 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:56,880 love one another you know so what difference does it make I tell the kids all the time 133 00:12:56,880 --> 00:13:02,640 I was in everybody's crowd I was it with the kids that weren't so popular you know I was 134 00:13:02,640 --> 00:13:08,000 with the kids that were popular it didn't matter to me you know that's how I live my life it 135 00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:13,440 doesn't matter and God will use anybody you know take all the characters of the Bible 136 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:18,840 some more murders some more adulterers you know he'll just use anybody somewhere all 137 00:13:18,840 --> 00:13:25,560 the above exactly exactly right and you know what too it's like so many times I question 138 00:13:25,560 --> 00:13:32,200 glad I'll go well why did you put me in this ministry never alone you know I'm not an addict 139 00:13:32,200 --> 00:13:38,120 I've learned a lot in my life you know what being sixty some years old but and he keeps 140 00:13:38,120 --> 00:13:44,800 telling me you don't have to have a degree you didn't have to go to college to do this 141 00:13:44,800 --> 00:13:52,200 and I'm just like I'm totally amazed and with these kids here I am in my sixties and I feel 142 00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:57,400 like I'm their mother hen or something you know but a friend too that they they like 143 00:13:57,400 --> 00:14:05,920 me and I'm like I'm totally amazed you know how these relationships are happening well 144 00:14:05,920 --> 00:14:11,480 he knew how you were going to respond and that's why he chose you why did you pick you because 145 00:14:11,480 --> 00:14:16,280 he knew you'd say yes right otherwise it'd be somebody else doing it and we'd be talking 146 00:14:16,280 --> 00:14:20,960 to somebody else right now but you said yes you had it on your heart and you leaned into 147 00:14:20,960 --> 00:14:25,400 it and you prayed about it and he told you that this is what he wants to do and you had 148 00:14:25,400 --> 00:14:31,600 no idea no background no clue just a heart a heart for God and a heart for community 149 00:14:31,600 --> 00:14:35,120 and this is where he led you this is why you do it because he knew that you would choose 150 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:41,200 him back same reason why he says that he chooses us right well God chose us okay what's because 151 00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:45,920 he knew we'd choose him back and if you think of some of these kids maybe that's why they're 152 00:14:45,920 --> 00:14:50,800 choosing it they know they've aired and they know they were going down the wrong road and 153 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:55,160 nobody's leading them to the right road and they're going to find their own way and where 154 00:14:55,160 --> 00:14:58,800 did they go they went to a church and what did they find they found that person that 155 00:14:58,800 --> 00:15:04,520 cared we hope you know to see that they continue in it and I firmly believe that everybody 156 00:15:04,520 --> 00:15:09,400 deserves a second chance oh well according to the gospel they need a second chance you 157 00:15:09,400 --> 00:15:14,040 know and and a lot of us do need that and I love what you guys do especially with the 158 00:15:14,040 --> 00:15:20,560 kids because that's our future well not just that but so many feel so alone right they 159 00:15:20,560 --> 00:15:24,080 feel alone they feel like there's no outlet they feel like no one understands they feel 160 00:15:24,080 --> 00:15:30,400 like no one is listening right they feel like that the whole world is against them sometimes 161 00:15:30,400 --> 00:15:34,360 and we are created in the image of God's we are very spiritual beings and if we don't 162 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:40,200 turn to the the great spirit God Almighty we're going to turn to a different spirit 163 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:45,720 and and I love that you give them an outlet that shows them the truth the only truth 164 00:15:45,720 --> 00:15:50,080 the truth that matters for the rest of their eternity right and I will continue to pray 165 00:15:50,080 --> 00:15:56,480 for your ministry that these these kids that come that they continue to have a relationship 166 00:15:56,480 --> 00:16:02,120 beyond the ministry for the children that that maybe even they branch out and and create 167 00:16:02,120 --> 00:16:05,000 their own little pockets and their own little parts of community so that this is something 168 00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:10,040 that can spread and grow like you were saying a like a revival right well to me a revival 169 00:16:10,040 --> 00:16:15,960 is global right it's not just community it's not just my neighborhood so I I think I think 170 00:16:15,960 --> 00:16:20,720 you're right I think our country is headed towards a revival because we're fed up with 171 00:16:20,720 --> 00:16:26,000 the evil and a lot of us are leaning into the teachings of Christ because the alternative 172 00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:30,720 isn't working right and and so we're going to look into it and say well what will work 173 00:16:30,720 --> 00:16:35,240 you know maybe these Christians aren't so crazy right so in the thousands of years that 174 00:16:35,240 --> 00:16:39,200 Christianity has been what have we taught we've always taught marriage which stopped 175 00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:44,840 the raping of women right we and the monogamy aspect of it right we've taught that that 176 00:16:44,840 --> 00:16:50,120 we can't treat slaves in a certain way right you can't we we have all these moral ethical 177 00:16:50,120 --> 00:16:53,680 things that have come out of Christianity that people want to slay in Christianity for that 178 00:16:53,680 --> 00:16:58,920 we're going to turn back to and say hey maybe this isn't so bad yes well you know what's 179 00:16:58,920 --> 00:17:05,040 so neat too after when I started the support prayer group it was like okay God kept saying 180 00:17:05,040 --> 00:17:14,360 about the teens you know how long it took before this teen group started 13 years 13 181 00:17:14,360 --> 00:17:21,920 years you know what the fruit wasn't there it's these kids that have come you know Malachi 182 00:17:21,920 --> 00:17:28,920 Christian Landon tie I mean Eva and Lily you know and Cole I mean there's so many of 183 00:17:28,920 --> 00:17:35,640 them but you know what they want to be there they want to come and that's what's so beautiful 184 00:17:35,640 --> 00:17:41,880 about it you know I mean like we've talked about depression we've talked about anxiety 185 00:17:41,880 --> 00:17:48,400 we've talked about you know like Joe said careers and their future goals and one speaker 186 00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:54,520 came and she came from a really bad bad home and she had become an addict she didn't have 187 00:17:54,520 --> 00:18:00,600 any self-worth no self-confidence and it was funny just the other day we went to Weerhaw 188 00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:06,840 and Oak Glen high schools in our Hancock County and one girl had come up and she was 189 00:18:06,840 --> 00:18:13,600 seeking help for a family member but I asked her I says why don't you join club 316 and 190 00:18:13,600 --> 00:18:18,560 she said she looked at me and I knew she came from a family that didn't have a lot of money 191 00:18:18,560 --> 00:18:25,280 or whatever and she says because some kids in that group don't like me so I looked at 192 00:18:25,280 --> 00:18:31,880 her and I said well I like you already I says I would love for you to come and give it a 193 00:18:31,880 --> 00:18:39,840 try and I says the whole scenario the group is to love one another and treat others the 194 00:18:39,840 --> 00:18:46,680 way you want to be treated that's going to be our next topic and in January and I was 195 00:18:46,680 --> 00:18:53,440 like she says well I won't have a ride I says I'll come pick you up so I'm praying that 196 00:18:53,440 --> 00:18:59,720 I get that opportunity you know to minister to her because she's a senior this year and 197 00:18:59,720 --> 00:19:04,040 you know I don't know what will go on after she gets out of school but you know what that 198 00:19:04,040 --> 00:19:08,320 that's it I mean if we treat others the way we want to be treated I think it'd be a better 199 00:19:08,320 --> 00:19:14,560 world absolutely can you imagine the expression not her face the healing that she'll feel 200 00:19:14,560 --> 00:19:20,000 if they accept her right if they show her that love if they could grant her that second 201 00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:24,720 chance right the one that they were striving for that they got and they looked at her in 202 00:19:24,720 --> 00:19:30,640 the same light you imagine that the sense of belonging she would adapt in that environment 203 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:35,000 the healing that she would get the growth that she would get I think that's that right 204 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:39,960 there is beautiful to think of that that's amazing that's not only just her those that 205 00:19:39,960 --> 00:19:45,760 were holding that against her oh yeah if they make the change then it makes it comes great 206 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:51,640 absolutely people yeah that forgiveness that's not that's for you that's right if you're 207 00:19:51,640 --> 00:19:55,320 holding a grudge against somebody that's not usually hurting them it's usually only hurting 208 00:19:55,320 --> 00:20:00,320 you yeah it eats you up inside when you do that when you don't you know you can't forgive 209 00:20:00,320 --> 00:20:06,600 somebody it does it eats you up it's exhausting yes it's like taking poison and expecting 210 00:20:06,600 --> 00:20:12,560 the other person to die yes and God is very good about taking care of us and the moral 211 00:20:12,560 --> 00:20:17,840 law the ten commandments weren't designed to hold us back from living life to the fullest 212 00:20:17,840 --> 00:20:23,240 but were designed to keep us from harming ourselves and harming others right and the 213 00:20:23,240 --> 00:20:28,480 same can be said with with any of the rules that he gives us that are the rules that we 214 00:20:28,480 --> 00:20:35,400 still live in today like forgive others as I forgive you right because it does hurt us 215 00:20:35,400 --> 00:20:39,920 it hurts us in the longer it hurts us deep and when we hold on to things like that especially 216 00:20:39,920 --> 00:20:43,960 if you're on the other side and you think someone isn't forgiving you for something you did that 217 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:49,160 can be painful as well and and I can see it affecting a teenager who is struggling with 218 00:20:49,160 --> 00:20:55,680 self identity struggling with self-worth struggling with where they fit in this giant world right 219 00:20:55,680 --> 00:20:59,880 because hey I'm in this little Hancock County but all of a sudden they realize I'm especially 220 00:20:59,880 --> 00:21:06,480 with social media as big as this this is a really big planet and it will cause a lot 221 00:21:06,480 --> 00:21:14,640 of frustrations and loneliness and fears to erupt to the surface if not for a balance 222 00:21:14,640 --> 00:21:20,880 for an anchor for a stabilization through Jesus and through fellowship with others right 223 00:21:20,880 --> 00:21:26,080 yeah just love what you guys do with that yeah thank you it's one other thing about 224 00:21:26,080 --> 00:21:33,040 going back to Neverlone it's definitely there to help those that are addicted and help was 225 00:21:33,040 --> 00:21:38,080 available and it doesn't come right from Patti but she makes connections for them to get the 226 00:21:38,080 --> 00:21:42,440 help now of course they got to want to grow go there's a little bit of fun that she can 227 00:21:42,440 --> 00:21:45,960 work with she can get them in there and pay maybe pay their first month or get them to 228 00:21:45,960 --> 00:21:51,560 the area where they need to go and it works but what I'm learning is happening is the 229 00:21:51,560 --> 00:21:56,640 parents are coming to the group now so we kind of forget about the parents and about 230 00:21:56,640 --> 00:22:03,640 a month ago there was my six or seven parents in there and three or four their children 231 00:22:03,640 --> 00:22:07,160 were out they don't know where they're at they're addicted they're addicted and they're 232 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:11,000 always going to get help but they never get it so as you go around the group and you pray 233 00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:14,960 for them and you pray for them as guys we've got to pray for mom and dad that are sitting 234 00:22:14,960 --> 00:22:20,440 here I'm going to use myself as an example I can go home and I can put my head on my 235 00:22:20,440 --> 00:22:27,240 pillow and I'm going to go to sleep jean goes home can't put his head on his pillow he 236 00:22:27,240 --> 00:22:31,040 doesn't know where Sarah is at he doesn't know who she's with he doesn't know what time 237 00:22:31,040 --> 00:22:36,000 of the day he might get a phone call from a mort this group can help a lot more than 238 00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:41,120 just the attic his parents comfort to be able to come to be able to express their opinions 239 00:22:41,120 --> 00:22:44,640 with other parents that are going through the same thing and I think the biggest thing 240 00:22:44,640 --> 00:22:50,240 they learned was the enabling parts I've had seen parents come in there and say it 241 00:22:50,240 --> 00:22:54,720 took me a long time to quit being the enabler and that helps the next parent because they're 242 00:22:54,720 --> 00:23:00,200 doing the same thing so they're hearing it from direct victims yeah like just this week 243 00:23:00,200 --> 00:23:07,240 I had two calls one was a grandmother and the other was a mom and they said Patti you 244 00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:14,080 know okay they said yeah they'll meet with you okay so I could you know got my things 245 00:23:14,080 --> 00:23:18,320 in order and the next day I was supposed to meet with her and another guy that helps me 246 00:23:18,320 --> 00:23:26,480 to find places for them to detox and rehab and she canceled so she says oh the following 247 00:23:26,480 --> 00:23:33,080 day I'll meet same thing same thing and the mother has had it I mean she says she just 248 00:23:33,080 --> 00:23:39,360 can't live here anymore I can't do anymore she's wearing me down you know and the grandmother 249 00:23:39,360 --> 00:23:45,960 she had messaged me and asked if you know I could help her granddaughter and I said sure 250 00:23:45,960 --> 00:23:52,480 I'll be happy to give her my phone number she never called and so I mean you're talking 251 00:23:52,480 --> 00:23:58,720 about not kids that are in their 20s you know and up and it's like they just don't take 252 00:23:58,720 --> 00:24:04,760 any responsibility anymore they leave their children with the grandparents to raise and 253 00:24:04,760 --> 00:24:11,560 it's just the spiritual warfare is powerful right now and I don't know people don't believe 254 00:24:11,560 --> 00:24:17,880 in that too maybe the ones that do not really know the Lord one on one I think they ignore 255 00:24:17,880 --> 00:24:24,200 all that stuff and like clearly yeah it's me it's obvious you know before we we actually 256 00:24:24,200 --> 00:24:29,000 sat down I told you a story about a man that that was trying to quit and he gave me a little 257 00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:33,400 packet of heroin and I went to go get rid of it and as soon as it was next to my head 258 00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:38,920 to throw it down my first thought was I wonder what it's like right I'd so do heroin I don't 259 00:24:38,920 --> 00:24:43,640 have desire to do heroin I'm an EMT now I do a lot of Narcan I've seen a lot of effects 260 00:24:43,640 --> 00:24:48,200 in the families so I you know I just miss that thought put it in my head again to slap 261 00:24:48,200 --> 00:24:51,840 it back down and Mike thought was I wonder how much I can get for it I thought nope gotta 262 00:24:51,840 --> 00:24:58,440 get rid of it and so I feel definitively that there is essences of the enemy in this spiritual 263 00:24:58,440 --> 00:25:03,920 battle attached to these things that make it virtually impossible for someone who does 264 00:25:03,920 --> 00:25:09,280 not walk with Jesus to quit these addictive things that you need to have a relationship 265 00:25:09,280 --> 00:25:13,200 with Jesus and and you know ladies and gentlemen it doesn't matter because he meets you where 266 00:25:13,200 --> 00:25:18,320 you are right because while we were still sinners he came and died for us right not 267 00:25:18,320 --> 00:25:22,320 once to say hey when we cleaned our lives up he decided to open the door and come on 268 00:25:22,320 --> 00:25:25,840 in right he would have to good furniture out with grandma's furniture with the plastic 269 00:25:25,840 --> 00:25:31,280 on that you know to be in the showroom I remember we're Italian and we don't want to 270 00:25:31,280 --> 00:25:35,920 set Jesus at any other part of our house is a shambles right because of massive hoarders 271 00:25:35,920 --> 00:25:40,080 on to the things that we like in our life the things that we think make us who we are 272 00:25:40,080 --> 00:25:43,560 and we're afraid to let him in and really all he wants to do is partner with us and 273 00:25:43,560 --> 00:25:48,800 cleaning the garbage out it's so it's such a beautiful thing that we have him to combat 274 00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:54,680 something is horrific I think it's horrific as as addiction because addiction causes shame 275 00:25:54,680 --> 00:25:59,840 guilt isolation loneliness never alone and these are the things that keep them from getting 276 00:25:59,840 --> 00:26:05,400 the help that they need and the communities that they are in just encourages more of the 277 00:26:05,400 --> 00:26:10,680 same behavior and so when they try to break free and they're they're doing well all it 278 00:26:10,680 --> 00:26:14,720 takes is one friend to have a bad day and say hey you want to do this with me you know 279 00:26:14,720 --> 00:26:18,080 I don't believe any of them are deliberately trying to get someone hooked for getting 280 00:26:18,080 --> 00:26:22,680 hooked sake I think if they could they would all be free as soon as they could and I think 281 00:26:22,680 --> 00:26:27,080 it's a struggle for all them I don't think anybody willingly says I'm clout of monadic 282 00:26:27,080 --> 00:26:31,680 you know can't wait to start this again oh man I can't wait till the pain sets in I need 283 00:26:31,680 --> 00:26:37,520 to go steal something for this or or work until I get fired for this or you know nobody 284 00:26:37,520 --> 00:26:41,440 I think wakes up thinking this is this is a good choice for me and I'm glad I made it 285 00:26:41,440 --> 00:26:46,200 yeah it's not going to be there they don't want that in their lives you know the thing 286 00:26:46,200 --> 00:26:50,880 that you said supposed to point is the power of Jesus in their life yes so the success 287 00:26:50,880 --> 00:26:58,880 rate for addicts is it's bad I've seen kids go through this organization five six different 288 00:26:58,880 --> 00:27:03,040 rehab places and still fall out and they're still out of it but the ones that can get 289 00:27:03,040 --> 00:27:08,160 to a faith-based rehabilitation center you got to go get detox which is going to be a 290 00:27:08,160 --> 00:27:14,560 public place you got to get to that faith-based detox and I mean faith-based rehab center 291 00:27:14,560 --> 00:27:19,400 and when you take Jesus in then your enemies are gone and the enemies is all that well 292 00:27:19,400 --> 00:27:25,440 it helps it helps you know it's a spiritual force you know that can help you that's like 293 00:27:25,440 --> 00:27:30,320 our scripture is we can do all things through Christ who strengthen us and that's Philippians 294 00:27:30,320 --> 00:27:37,680 413 that was the scripture the Lord gave me for never alone because we can't do anything 295 00:27:37,680 --> 00:27:43,200 on our own that's why I try to tell the kids too even my grandkids you know they're in 296 00:27:43,200 --> 00:27:48,840 the sports and everything and I preach to them you can't do it on your own you have 297 00:27:48,840 --> 00:27:55,920 to ask Jesus to help you you know and I think when they take that seriously and realize 298 00:27:55,920 --> 00:28:01,720 what none of us saying then they'll see that that force of the Holy Spirit is really going 299 00:28:01,720 --> 00:28:07,160 to help them if it's an arresting match or basketball, baseball whatever it may be you 300 00:28:07,160 --> 00:28:12,360 know but until you realize that you can't succeed without Jesus yes you can absolutely 301 00:28:12,360 --> 00:28:16,040 do it on your own see how far that gets you see where your life is now without him now 302 00:28:16,040 --> 00:28:20,200 why are you here because you didn't have him then that's right and it's important that 303 00:28:20,200 --> 00:28:24,040 you don't want to stay here and you want to move on that you would you adopt him you 304 00:28:24,040 --> 00:28:28,240 invite him into your life that you want to be in the very near presence of God that you 305 00:28:28,240 --> 00:28:32,520 want to be adopted as a son or a daughter that you want the life that Jesus Christ has 306 00:28:32,520 --> 00:28:38,240 set his life aside for you for you want him to take the wrath of God and you want to be 307 00:28:38,240 --> 00:28:43,960 free of that sin not just free from sin but free from sin itself right I think we all 308 00:28:43,960 --> 00:28:48,720 want that as Christians is to live out that gospel story the gospel message and it's very 309 00:28:48,720 --> 00:28:54,120 difficult when we're so constrained this is a trick of the enemy that we're so constrained 310 00:28:54,120 --> 00:28:59,640 with this fight against this enemy that nobody else can possibly fathom right nobody else 311 00:28:59,640 --> 00:29:03,200 who's going through this and it's the same for addiction it's the same for any other 312 00:29:03,200 --> 00:29:07,520 weird idiosyncrasy that you do that you are not alone that there are millions of people 313 00:29:07,520 --> 00:29:12,720 that suffer the same as you like you are not alone and Jesus still died for all of them 314 00:29:12,720 --> 00:29:17,560 you know we all like to say that if you were the last person or the only person or God 315 00:29:17,560 --> 00:29:21,720 still would have sent Jesus to die for you right but not a lot of people think that if 316 00:29:21,720 --> 00:29:26,800 he died for you you were the one that killed him yes and he is still died for you knowing 317 00:29:26,800 --> 00:29:33,520 that you killed him that right there is is baffling yes it is so true and you know what 318 00:29:33,520 --> 00:29:38,680 I think people don't want to even think about that that he died for our sins people that 319 00:29:38,680 --> 00:29:43,520 don't know him because they don't want to acknowledge that you know it's not part of 320 00:29:43,520 --> 00:29:49,160 the world in a way you know this is all spiritual stuff and and some people just don't have 321 00:29:49,160 --> 00:29:56,520 time they go into the material world and they forget about who made them and who gives them 322 00:29:56,520 --> 00:30:00,840 the blessings that we are blessed with you know when I first became a Christian I didn't 323 00:30:00,840 --> 00:30:07,120 struggle with that he died for us I struggled with why did he have to if God is so great 324 00:30:07,120 --> 00:30:10,640 before I was a Christian if God is so great why did Jesus need to come why couldn't he 325 00:30:10,640 --> 00:30:15,040 just like boom you're done you're forgiven just like you know my wife does something 326 00:30:15,040 --> 00:30:18,240 make you know what I forgive you no no sweat you don't have to do anything you don't have 327 00:30:18,240 --> 00:30:22,720 to die for me nobody's a die for you I forgive you right so I had a hard time understanding 328 00:30:22,720 --> 00:30:27,200 why Jesus need to die and I think that's something that you know I don't think you need to be 329 00:30:27,200 --> 00:30:32,360 a theologian but it's something you should look at and understand why he had to die and 330 00:30:32,360 --> 00:30:37,000 why this was part of God's plan for us right so that when people have the questions that 331 00:30:37,000 --> 00:30:42,000 I had you're able to go I'm glad you asked you know what that's a good point you know 332 00:30:42,000 --> 00:30:46,840 what today in church to my daughter Ligana she's the network pastor to high valley crossroads 333 00:30:46,840 --> 00:30:53,840 in Weirton and at towards the end of the service she shared about I have to say this sometimes 334 00:30:53,840 --> 00:30:58,760 Christians are like well if you don't know the scripture then what good are you doing 335 00:30:58,760 --> 00:31:05,040 or whatever but she said today you might not know the scripture as well but if you share 336 00:31:05,040 --> 00:31:11,480 more or less the love of Jesus to others and talk about Jesus share about him that's powerful 337 00:31:11,480 --> 00:31:17,640 and of course you want to read scripture too I'm not saying that but sometimes people feel 338 00:31:17,640 --> 00:31:24,360 like if you don't know the scripture as well as they do that you're not considered as Christian 339 00:31:24,360 --> 00:31:27,600 you know or good enough to be sharing about it. 340 00:31:27,600 --> 00:31:31,640 If you're going to apologetics absolutely study your scripture because you're going 341 00:31:31,640 --> 00:31:36,360 to need to defend every single point that they can possibly make but if you're going 342 00:31:36,360 --> 00:31:41,040 into true discipleship Jesus says go and make disciples of the nation but first I want you 343 00:31:41,040 --> 00:31:45,800 to be a theologian I need you to learn Aramaic, Greek, Hebrew and and I need you to study 344 00:31:45,800 --> 00:31:49,280 every single word you need to understand every single thing you need to understand this song 345 00:31:49,280 --> 00:31:54,760 and this poem and you need to understand why I did it this way no go and make disciples 346 00:31:54,760 --> 00:31:58,200 right and if you don't know something look it up together. 347 00:31:58,200 --> 00:32:03,760 I'm real bad at remembering where I find scripture I'm real bad at that and I love to quote Jesus 348 00:32:03,760 --> 00:32:07,800 you know because he never said hey it's written in Isaiah he said no it is written right he 349 00:32:07,800 --> 00:32:13,480 just said it is written and so I tease they didn't have things numbered like we do now. 350 00:32:13,480 --> 00:32:19,000 Yeah right but it is important to read scripture to know it so that you're not easily deceived. 351 00:32:19,000 --> 00:32:20,760 Yes spiritual guide. 352 00:32:20,760 --> 00:32:27,880 Correct I tell my son if I beat you a pie it was 99% pie but 1% dog feces would you eat 353 00:32:27,880 --> 00:32:28,880 that pie? 354 00:32:28,880 --> 00:32:33,760 No because you know there's 1% but if I don't tell you it's in there you did not even know. 355 00:32:33,760 --> 00:32:34,760 Exactly. 356 00:32:34,760 --> 00:32:39,040 So if you read your scriptures and you don't have to be studious just read just you know 357 00:32:39,040 --> 00:32:43,960 give them a passage a day right start your day with a Bible verse and read that because 358 00:32:43,960 --> 00:32:48,720 then it's harder for me to believe that that oh it's 99% truth but that 1% lie. 359 00:32:48,720 --> 00:32:53,240 So why are you telling me the truth because you're trying to use it against God and against 360 00:32:53,240 --> 00:32:55,600 his kingdom and it's good to know that. 361 00:32:55,600 --> 00:32:59,480 I have a men's life group and I have one guy in there and you know we love the group and 362 00:32:59,480 --> 00:33:04,000 we get along and we can hear things out and you know we're all Christians and he said 363 00:33:04,000 --> 00:33:08,720 if we're not reading a word sitting here does does no good and so he challenged us one time 364 00:33:08,720 --> 00:33:12,760 we meet every seven days he said we're going to take the book of Ephesians which has six 365 00:33:12,760 --> 00:33:18,680 chapters he says and we're going to read one chapter a day that means tomorrow you get 366 00:33:18,680 --> 00:33:24,760 it chapter one Saturdays two Sundays three and so on and Wednesday will be chapter six 367 00:33:24,760 --> 00:33:28,640 and we'll meet back here next Thursday and we'll see how well we did. 368 00:33:28,640 --> 00:33:33,600 That has not stopped that's like two and a half years running it's just what you said 369 00:33:33,600 --> 00:33:37,680 it's one chapter a day that's all you have to do. 370 00:33:37,680 --> 00:33:43,280 What do we got 50 verses probably the most in a book except Psalms say yeah Psalms is 371 00:33:43,280 --> 00:33:44,280 forever. 372 00:33:44,280 --> 00:33:49,480 Psalms is forever but it's made a difference in like eight men's lives like you wouldn't 373 00:33:49,480 --> 00:33:54,400 believe just reading that chapter and sometimes you get in a slump and wouldn't you know it? 374 00:33:54,400 --> 00:33:56,080 That was right there attacking you. 375 00:33:56,080 --> 00:33:57,080 In a heartbeat. 376 00:33:57,080 --> 00:34:02,200 Why is this happening and one guy will say it'll say hey I haven't seen you post anything 377 00:34:02,200 --> 00:34:07,760 online get away from the word yeah well you're asked for it then get back to the word get 378 00:34:07,760 --> 00:34:13,440 back to the word Joe and it works it works so she gave bibles to these kids last week 379 00:34:13,440 --> 00:34:19,640 and that was the goal for them to do is to read one chapter a day and we'll see where 380 00:34:19,640 --> 00:34:21,080 it leads us so we can. 381 00:34:21,080 --> 00:34:25,240 It's a beginning you know it's a beginning and you know what it was so neat too with 382 00:34:25,240 --> 00:34:32,840 picking the name for the teen group they one kid had picked a name and then another mom 383 00:34:32,840 --> 00:34:39,000 God bless her Angie had thought about Tim Tebow and hit the club you know under John 384 00:34:39,000 --> 00:34:46,960 316 so the kids chose that club 316 after John but they amazed me sometimes you know 385 00:34:46,960 --> 00:34:52,960 it's just like sometimes I know I wasn't feeling good I was having a tooth problem and one 386 00:34:52,960 --> 00:34:59,320 of them messaged me and he says how are you doing and that meant so much to me because 387 00:34:59,320 --> 00:35:04,360 you know I always think about them if they're having a basketball game or if they're feeling 388 00:35:04,360 --> 00:35:09,040 down or whatever but when somebody young like that reached out to me that really touched 389 00:35:09,040 --> 00:35:12,760 my heart a lot of adults don't even do that you're absolutely right. 390 00:35:12,760 --> 00:35:18,320 I'm not guilty of that sometimes it's the spouses I can admit it yeah I'm real bad at 391 00:35:18,320 --> 00:35:19,480 that. 392 00:35:19,480 --> 00:35:23,920 You know I really am good at that we're trying to keep in touch with you know I'm like Joe 393 00:35:23,920 --> 00:35:30,280 I'm a life group leader too for women and one of the ladies she fell and she's in a wheelchair 394 00:35:30,280 --> 00:35:36,440 and I know she has such a very difficult time she's such a beautiful soul you know but she's 395 00:35:36,440 --> 00:35:43,680 hurting so bad she was a teacher and an outstanding mom so it's so hard sometimes you know I pray 396 00:35:43,680 --> 00:35:51,600 for her I try to witness to her but it's like we're not living her life and she is so excited 397 00:35:51,600 --> 00:35:58,320 that her land is involved in club 316 and he's going to be one of the leaders I'm sure. 398 00:35:58,320 --> 00:36:02,880 I think this is just another reason why you were chosen for this you know that you have 399 00:36:02,880 --> 00:36:06,800 that thought of other people that you have that compassion for other people you can think 400 00:36:06,800 --> 00:36:12,280 about them and empathize without having to do it right without the understanding of 401 00:36:12,280 --> 00:36:17,840 a similar pains or hardships but you can empathize deeply that this is another reason 402 00:36:17,840 --> 00:36:26,320 why God said hey Patti I got something for you and will you do it and you know yep here 403 00:36:26,320 --> 00:36:30,680 we are and another part sure it didn't take off for 13 years but how long did Abraham 404 00:36:30,680 --> 00:36:34,840 wait to have his son the promise that God promised him you know how long and how old 405 00:36:34,840 --> 00:36:41,360 was he right so I love that you're not taking a consideration as a limiting factor right 406 00:36:41,360 --> 00:36:45,960 that you stayed at it 13 years later stayed at it you didn't have a kid with the other 407 00:36:45,960 --> 00:36:52,200 midwife you had this with the original intent that that God had given you and that your heart 408 00:36:52,200 --> 00:36:56,280 is still in it and I love how vulnerable are when you said that sometimes you have these 409 00:36:56,280 --> 00:37:00,880 moments where you feel like you just want to space it and be done with it and because 410 00:37:00,880 --> 00:37:05,360 that's a very real thing you're human being and yet God calls you and prompts you and 411 00:37:05,360 --> 00:37:09,240 motivates you and keeps you going on the path by putting other things in your path that 412 00:37:09,240 --> 00:37:13,960 you cannot ignore and I love how he does that for you and I love how you respond to it and 413 00:37:13,960 --> 00:37:18,880 if I can just encourage you to continue on doing it as if it was your first day right 414 00:37:18,880 --> 00:37:23,160 if you can continue on doing it as if you're working on for the Lord you know that that 415 00:37:23,160 --> 00:37:28,400 passage you work as if you're working for him where you are and he sees the things that 416 00:37:28,400 --> 00:37:32,680 you're doing and a lot of the times we don't realize all the good that we do right a lot 417 00:37:32,680 --> 00:37:35,720 of times you'll see someone walk out that door and you'll never see him again but you 418 00:37:35,720 --> 00:37:40,600 have no idea the something that you could have started in them just by having a door 419 00:37:40,600 --> 00:37:45,600 open and God available to him in that moment that four years later they might find themselves 420 00:37:45,600 --> 00:37:50,040 in an alley and they're like this is it I'm done and they walk into a church and they 421 00:37:50,040 --> 00:37:53,760 give their life to Jesus and their life is completely transformed because you planted 422 00:37:53,760 --> 00:37:59,560 that seed and I want to encourage you to continue to do that with unwavering faith and if you 423 00:37:59,560 --> 00:38:04,160 ever need to call you know call Shelly I'll be glad to pray for you I'd be glad to talk 424 00:38:04,160 --> 00:38:09,200 to you I'd be glad to encourage you I have a few spiritual gifts in that department I 425 00:38:09,200 --> 00:38:12,800 would be more than happy to help you out with that I'm really bad about thinking about it 426 00:38:12,800 --> 00:38:16,880 myself so you have to do the leg work and call me first but I'm always in the moment 427 00:38:16,880 --> 00:38:17,880 if you do. 428 00:38:17,880 --> 00:38:23,880 A few years back I had had surgery done and I was at home you know and I needed care and 429 00:38:23,880 --> 00:38:27,640 she was sitting on the opposite couch for me one day and I was going through some cars 430 00:38:27,640 --> 00:38:32,240 that I got when I was in the hospital and everything and she was working she says you 431 00:38:32,240 --> 00:38:37,400 know what she says I think I'm going to give up never alone she says you need my help and 432 00:38:37,400 --> 00:38:41,480 I got to be here for you and I'm reading all these cards and all these people that are 433 00:38:41,480 --> 00:38:46,000 praying for you so I know I'm in good hands and I looked at her and I says what about 434 00:38:46,000 --> 00:38:51,000 the people that need help she says well you know I don't know I just feel like I need 435 00:38:51,000 --> 00:38:57,160 to be here and I says Patti I'm recovering I'm doing good those people need you they 436 00:38:57,160 --> 00:39:01,000 don't have anyone else to call and she said it had been like a quiet time period like 437 00:39:01,000 --> 00:39:06,760 nobody had been bothering her and sure enough like the next morning phones ringing person 438 00:39:06,760 --> 00:39:10,880 needs help phones ringing person needs help phone rings against she looked at me she come 439 00:39:10,880 --> 00:39:14,240 downstairs and she says you know you told me I couldn't give this up and I told you 440 00:39:14,240 --> 00:39:19,240 I was just as I've got three people to take care of right now and it happened again just 441 00:39:19,240 --> 00:39:22,960 couple years ago we were riding in the car and she says I think I'm about ready to give 442 00:39:22,960 --> 00:39:29,480 this up to who to who who's going to do this we didn't even get to our destinations is 443 00:39:29,480 --> 00:39:34,840 she got a phone call she calls them Godwinks it's Godwink so that's why she's still here 444 00:39:34,840 --> 00:39:39,720 today just like Isaiah who shall I send you shall I sign on the year Peter worked through 445 00:39:39,720 --> 00:39:44,400 jail to write the Bible he spent all that time doing that eating give up well you know 446 00:39:44,400 --> 00:39:49,200 what that's it too like people say oh this is a coincidence and in never alone meetings 447 00:39:49,200 --> 00:39:55,400 and stuff I'm telling the kids this now too it's Godwinks God is winking at us that he 448 00:39:55,400 --> 00:39:59,240 has an assignment for us so we got to get to work and I don't believe in coincidence 449 00:39:59,240 --> 00:40:04,480 is over since I've a family Christian not at all no it's cool how he works all the 450 00:40:04,480 --> 00:40:11,320 relationships together you know you lead people to the resources they need and it's just all 451 00:40:11,320 --> 00:40:16,560 life is about relationships you know because that's how you got here surely that's it from 452 00:40:16,560 --> 00:40:21,980 Kathy she's in my women's group it's we called our group a name and we call it faith over 453 00:40:21,980 --> 00:40:26,920 fear especially for Angie that you know we're praying for a miracle that she'll be able 454 00:40:26,920 --> 00:40:32,560 to get out of that wheelchair someday so we're praying for healing so that's why we but if 455 00:40:32,560 --> 00:40:39,560 it wasn't for her associating us to connect with you I would have never met you and Josh 456 00:40:39,560 --> 00:40:44,440 the Holy Spirit really strong working working things together in your lives right now it's 457 00:40:44,440 --> 00:40:51,040 pretty busy yeah but I'm excited I'm excited you know it's like Lord what do you have next 458 00:40:51,040 --> 00:40:56,200 that's the better attitude yes what's next instead of saying why we should say how how 459 00:40:56,200 --> 00:41:00,120 do you want to use me in this how can I serve you in this instead of why did this happen 460 00:41:00,120 --> 00:41:04,240 yes all right well this happened how would you like me to move on I got a deal what do 461 00:41:04,240 --> 00:41:08,640 I do what do I do you know keep praying how am I going to bring you glory with this papa 462 00:41:08,640 --> 00:41:13,000 I need some help that's right what would it be like to bring him back in the school building 463 00:41:13,000 --> 00:41:17,920 by in the public buildings I don't think you ever should have left you know well so he created 464 00:41:17,920 --> 00:41:22,840 everything right and so therefore we have the laws of nature because he created them and 465 00:41:22,840 --> 00:41:27,600 if nature abores a vacuum right so if you take extreme good out of school what gets 466 00:41:27,600 --> 00:41:32,160 sucked into it and the evidence is out there you took God out of school and this is what's 467 00:41:32,160 --> 00:41:38,240 going on this is a direct relation to what you guys wanted right this is we can't have 468 00:41:38,240 --> 00:41:42,840 this this is once you do what I did one ground up and just ignore it right I was raised Buddhist 469 00:41:42,840 --> 00:41:46,440 I didn't pray when they pray they just ignored it but I showed them respect and they give 470 00:41:46,440 --> 00:41:49,600 them their moment and I you know they put you by your head you're like all right well 471 00:41:49,600 --> 00:41:53,480 I'm not going to say things as they're talking in the middle of it that wasn't rude my parents 472 00:41:53,480 --> 00:41:58,320 taught me better than that but it wasn't for me you can have your moment it's only got 473 00:41:58,320 --> 00:42:04,000 last a minute I sat in on a round table there was a particular group up there that was wanting 474 00:42:04,000 --> 00:42:09,200 that the 10 commandments out of the classrooms and everything so people were dialogue dialogue 475 00:42:09,200 --> 00:42:14,080 back and forth and everything and I stood up just God stood me up maybe that's a better 476 00:42:14,080 --> 00:42:18,960 way to put it and I says you know why you want the 10 commandments out of the classrooms 477 00:42:18,960 --> 00:42:25,440 out of the schools I says because you can't alter them there isn't enough words to change 478 00:42:25,440 --> 00:42:32,120 the true meaning of vowed shout not kill and it everybody got quiet and all of a sudden 479 00:42:32,120 --> 00:42:36,000 something they started clapping and I didn't mean it to become that way I was just angry 480 00:42:36,000 --> 00:42:40,160 at these people that were trying to force this down our throat and a couple people come 481 00:42:40,160 --> 00:42:43,800 up to me after we said we never thought of it that way you're right you can't alter 482 00:42:43,800 --> 00:42:50,160 the vowed shout not kill you know yeah you doubt shout no kill unless your spouse doesn't 483 00:42:50,160 --> 00:42:56,480 know it doesn't go that way there's not enough words unless they had it really common that's 484 00:42:56,480 --> 00:43:00,240 what we need to get back into school and that's what they need to probably recite every day 485 00:43:00,240 --> 00:43:06,240 and keep God in America well your 316 group would be a lot smaller if they did and I'd 486 00:43:06,240 --> 00:43:11,480 be okay with that I'm sure you would too well John 316 for God so loved the world that he 487 00:43:11,480 --> 00:43:18,640 gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life 488 00:43:18,640 --> 00:43:23,480 for God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world 489 00:43:23,480 --> 00:43:24,480 through him. 490 00:43:24,480 --> 00:43:31,040 Amen love that one and I like that you went on to 317 because I cannot read 16 without 491 00:43:31,040 --> 00:43:37,160 17 cannot because it's one of my favorite ones go on this is important because he did 492 00:43:37,160 --> 00:43:42,600 not come condemn the world but to save it through him and a lot of us feel condemned. 493 00:43:42,600 --> 00:43:47,280 Exactly and judged you know judged is a big thing too. 494 00:43:47,280 --> 00:43:52,920 Philippians 313 I have not yet reached my goal but I continue to strive for what's ahead 495 00:43:52,920 --> 00:43:59,200 for me that's where we need to go every day even with Mark you want to give up every day 496 00:43:59,200 --> 00:44:05,040 we're on this side of the dirt is blessing anyway thank you so much for coming on it 497 00:44:05,040 --> 00:44:10,240 has been a pleasure to meet you guys finally and I'm just glad that we got connected the 498 00:44:10,240 --> 00:44:17,160 way we did be God with a cat like he's working through this podcast and I just pray that 499 00:44:17,160 --> 00:44:21,680 the right people hear this message and then they can share it with people that it can 500 00:44:21,680 --> 00:44:29,520 help because it can inspire others to seek that help and help others. 501 00:44:29,520 --> 00:44:34,640 Shelly that's a thing though it seems like it's so hard to get them to come through the 502 00:44:34,640 --> 00:44:41,280 door because of the shame I should have mentioned that shame is a big thing with them coming 503 00:44:41,280 --> 00:44:49,000 to our meetings or even calling me you know and yet in a small community you hear who's 504 00:44:49,000 --> 00:44:55,680 using and it's like it's not really a secret but they're afraid to come forward because 505 00:44:55,680 --> 00:44:57,080 of the shame and guilt. 506 00:44:57,080 --> 00:45:01,640 But you have to start somewhere if you're going to get help why not start with people 507 00:45:01,640 --> 00:45:07,120 that are out there willing to help and to love you no matter what not to judge you. 508 00:45:07,120 --> 00:45:10,520 Through some of her fundraisers she's had speakers come in next addicts and everything 509 00:45:10,520 --> 00:45:16,120 and they'll take that mic and they'll be in a room and there might be a menry center 510 00:45:16,120 --> 00:45:22,400 we've got probably 150 to 200 people there and the first thing they'll say is if what 511 00:45:22,400 --> 00:45:29,720 I say today helps one person in this crowd the trip I made was worth it and we're talking 512 00:45:29,720 --> 00:45:31,960 about guys that come from Florida. 513 00:45:31,960 --> 00:45:32,960 Yeah. 514 00:45:32,960 --> 00:45:37,000 Get some of those other places and that ring a bell with me that ring a bell with me that 515 00:45:37,000 --> 00:45:42,080 guy's come and taken time out of his life hoping for one person to get saved in this 516 00:45:42,080 --> 00:45:43,080 room. 517 00:45:43,080 --> 00:45:47,840 That's how Sam is now I know you guys are going to be connected with Sam he was on a 518 00:45:47,840 --> 00:45:48,840 few episodes ago. 519 00:45:48,840 --> 00:45:50,800 I know Sam Gattano. 520 00:45:50,800 --> 00:45:52,560 He's our number one so far. 521 00:45:52,560 --> 00:45:53,720 Joe Liss right now. 522 00:45:53,720 --> 00:45:55,600 He is something else. 523 00:45:55,600 --> 00:45:59,440 I loved his story I sat there and listened I haven't gotten to listen to any but because 524 00:45:59,440 --> 00:46:05,040 we are Italian I had to listen to hear what Sam had to say. 525 00:46:05,040 --> 00:46:06,040 He's got a great message. 526 00:46:06,040 --> 00:46:08,320 Yes he does powerful. 527 00:46:08,320 --> 00:46:13,440 Yeah if God loves him then who are you to say your sin is worse? 528 00:46:13,440 --> 00:46:18,320 All right who are you to say like well I've done so much you have no idea like you have 529 00:46:18,320 --> 00:46:19,320 no idea. 530 00:46:19,320 --> 00:46:21,520 I know I was like like this. 531 00:46:21,520 --> 00:46:27,280 I worked in a courthouse and we were partnered with a workforce board people that had issues 532 00:46:27,280 --> 00:46:32,400 you know they needed to get some work experience so we took one in to help us. 533 00:46:32,400 --> 00:46:35,880 I don't know who we're getting and I don't know what they've been involved in and I really 534 00:46:35,880 --> 00:46:42,800 didn't know the magnitude of it but the person that we got was a felon and it was because 535 00:46:42,800 --> 00:46:50,840 of drugs and the sheriff's department and the safety police at the courthouse stopped 536 00:46:50,840 --> 00:46:55,800 me when I came in one day and they said you know the person upstairs is a felon because 537 00:46:55,800 --> 00:46:59,360 she worked in our office and I said no I don't know that. 538 00:46:59,360 --> 00:47:04,080 I said we just asked for someone we're giving them 60 days to get their life you know get 539 00:47:04,080 --> 00:47:08,680 their job experience and he said well this could be a problem. 540 00:47:08,680 --> 00:47:14,080 I said why would it be a problem come from the state and they checked out her record 541 00:47:14,080 --> 00:47:18,120 and he said well we'll give this a try here. 542 00:47:18,120 --> 00:47:21,240 I said she was not going to be working with money so you don't have to worry. 543 00:47:21,240 --> 00:47:25,680 But we'll see where it goes and I looked at him and I said you know everyone deserves 544 00:47:25,680 --> 00:47:30,760 a chance and he looked at me and he says you're right Joe. 545 00:47:30,760 --> 00:47:32,800 I said thank you. 546 00:47:32,800 --> 00:47:36,160 We kept that girl for about 150 days. 547 00:47:36,160 --> 00:47:40,440 We got her her GED I sat with her in a room and I said what is your goal in life she said 548 00:47:40,440 --> 00:47:41,440 to get my GED. 549 00:47:41,440 --> 00:47:43,560 I said I can make that happen. 550 00:47:43,560 --> 00:47:46,960 I made a call to the career center which is right up the road from us. 551 00:47:46,960 --> 00:47:49,200 Our girls took her back and forth from school. 552 00:47:49,200 --> 00:47:51,280 She got her GED. 553 00:47:51,280 --> 00:47:55,760 She was so excited to get it she mailed for her own diploma even though they get it with 554 00:47:55,760 --> 00:47:59,800 the class and she says I want to get my CDL. 555 00:47:59,800 --> 00:48:02,080 I said we can make that happen there too. 556 00:48:02,080 --> 00:48:05,200 She got her CDL and she got a job. 557 00:48:05,200 --> 00:48:07,880 The day she left the courthouse we had a party. 558 00:48:07,880 --> 00:48:13,400 The guy that told me what we were up against up there come into that room and said I didn't 559 00:48:13,400 --> 00:48:14,400 believe. 560 00:48:14,400 --> 00:48:16,200 I had my doubts when you come in here. 561 00:48:16,200 --> 00:48:19,120 He said but I've seen you changed your life. 562 00:48:19,120 --> 00:48:22,320 He says I want to tell you something you ever have a problem. 563 00:48:22,320 --> 00:48:26,120 Outside of here you get in a pickle you call my number you have it. 564 00:48:26,120 --> 00:48:28,000 He said I'll be there to help you. 565 00:48:28,000 --> 00:48:29,920 I got two people with one girl. 566 00:48:29,920 --> 00:48:30,920 That's awesome. 567 00:48:30,920 --> 00:48:32,400 Can't be afraid to talk. 568 00:48:32,400 --> 00:48:33,400 Can't be afraid to spread. 569 00:48:33,400 --> 00:48:35,600 No, you cannot be ashamed of the gospel. 570 00:48:35,600 --> 00:48:38,480 The quote you said about disciples. 571 00:48:38,480 --> 00:48:39,480 That's crossroads. 572 00:48:39,480 --> 00:48:46,200 Quote, when we leave our vision when we leave the church the pastor recites that to go out 573 00:48:46,200 --> 00:48:47,960 and be disciples to others. 574 00:48:47,960 --> 00:48:51,560 You're done being a church in here now go out and be the church. 575 00:48:51,560 --> 00:48:52,560 Make disciples. 576 00:48:52,560 --> 00:48:53,560 Very important. 577 00:48:53,560 --> 00:48:54,560 Yeah, so good. 578 00:48:54,560 --> 00:49:00,920 Well, thank you for joining us and if this has been a blessing to you we ask that you 579 00:49:00,920 --> 00:49:05,960 share it with someone that came to your mind and also we have a fundraising campaign that 580 00:49:05,960 --> 00:49:11,640 helps us pay for the expenses of editing the audio and to pay for the equipment that's 581 00:49:11,640 --> 00:49:13,120 still not all paid off. 582 00:49:13,120 --> 00:49:18,280 So, anyway, if you go to GibsonGo.com and look out God's goodness podcast you can make 583 00:49:18,280 --> 00:49:23,520 a financial donation and that would be a blessing as well and we hope you enjoyed this and tune 584 00:49:23,520 --> 00:49:31,640 in next time.