.
>>> GOOD MORNING.
IT'S FRIDAY, AUGUST 28 AND
YOU'RE JOINING US LIVE FOR
LIBERTY UNIVERSITY'S
CONVOCATION.
♪ [ MUSIC ] ♪
>> WE HAVE A REALLY GREAT
CONVOCATION FOR YOU TODAY.
I THINK YOU'LL ENJOY IT.
I WANTED TO ADDRESS TWO THINGS
THIS MORNING.
MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN ASKING
ABOUT THE NEW REPORTS IN REGARDS
TO THE FALWELL FAMILY.
THESE ARE VERY SERIOUS MATTERS
AND THERE MAY BE EVEN MORE
COMING.
SO PLEASE KNOW THAT OUR
LEADERSHIP IS TAKING IN ALL OF
THIS WITH YOU.
WE'RE TRYING TO SORT THROUGH
WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPACTED,
UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AND STAFF,
WHAT WOULD HAVE INVOLVED
UNIVERSITY RESOURCES AND WHAT IS
NOW ABOUT PERSONAL FAMILY
MATTERS.
OUR LEADERS ARE COMMITTED TO
DEALING WITH THE UNIVERSITY
COMMUNITY MATTERS.
DISCERNING THROUGH WHAT IS TRUE
OR FALSE, WHAT WAS DONE WRONG
AND DONE RIGHT.
WHAT CAN BE CHANGED.
THESE ARE DEEP MATTERS, SO
THEY'LL TAKE SOME TIME.
AT THIS POINT WHAT I WOULD ASK
FROM YOU AS YOUR CAMPUS PASTOR,
TRAY, PRAY FOR OUR LEADERSHIP TO
HAVE LEADERSHIP AND DISTRICT
SERBMENT.
PRAY FOR THE FALWELL FAMILY AND
EVERYONE ELSE INVOLVED.
PLAY FOR OUR INTERIM PRESIDENT
AND LEADERSHIP.
AND MOST OF YOU WILL PRAY FOR
REVIVAL ON OUR CAMPUS.
WE WANT GOD TO USE THIS MOMENT
TO SPARK REVIVAL.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE
WE'VE ALSO SEEN HOW IN THE LAST
FEW DAYS THE HURRICANE,
HURRICANE LAURA, HAS CAUSED
HAVOC IN OUR NATION.
HOMES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED, LIVES
LOST, FAMILIES TORN APART AND
EVEN MORE.
AT THIS POINT WE KNOW OF SIX
DEATHS SO FAR.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW WE'RE
PLANNING TO SEND AND LU SERVE
TEAM TO THOSE DEVASTATED AREAS.
OBVIOUSLY THE WAY THAT WE ARE
GOING TO SERVE IN THE PANDEMIC
SEASON IS GOING TO LOOK VERY
DIFFERENT, BUT THAT IS NOT GOING
TO DETER US FROM GOING.
WE CONTACTED SEVERAL PARTNERS TO
BEGIN TO PLAN HOW WE CAN SEND
YOU TO GO AND SERVE.
IN THE MEANTIME, WE NEED TO
CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR ALL THE
PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTED
BY HURRICANE LAURA.
LASTLY TODAY MARKS THE 57th
ANNIVERSARY OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS
MARCH IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
57 YEARS AGO, THERE WAS THE
ICONIC "I HAVE A DREAM" SPEECH.
OBVIOUSLY WE CAME A LONG WAY AS
A NATION.
WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO TO SEE
THAT DREAM INTO FRUITION.
I KNOW WE'RE MORE DEDICATED THAN
WE HAVE EVER BEEN IN FIGHTING
RACISM, SO LET'S PRAY TOGETHER.
FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS
MORNING AND HOW YOUR MERCIES ARE
ALWAYS MADE NEW.
I CONTEST TO YOU THAT I WAKE UP
THIS MORNING AND IN ONE TENSE IT
FEELS OVERWHELMING TO TURN THE
TV ON, GOD, TO SEE THAT SIX
PEOPLE SO FAR HAVE BEEN
IDENTIFIED AS THOSE WHO PASSED
AWAY BECAUSE OF HURRICANE
LAURA.
KNOWING A MOM IS MOURNING THE
LOSS OF A CHILD, A HUSBAND IS
MOURNING THE LOSS OF A WIFE.
IT'S JUST SO HEARTBREAKING.
ALL OF THIS IN THIS PECK SEASON
GUIDES US TO KNOW THAT
HEARTBREAK AFTER HEARTBREAK IS
HAPPENING AS PEOPLE HAVE LOST
THEIR HOMES AND THE DEVASTATION
IN ARKANSAS AND IN TEXAS, GOD,
AND LOUISIANA AND IN SO MANY
OTHER PLACES AND THAT THE STORM
IS NOT EVEN DONE YET, SO WE PRAY
RIGHT NOW, LORD, THAT PEOPLE
WOULD BE SAFE.
WE PRAY FOR STAMINA FOR THOSE
WHO SUFFER, THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN
DEVASTATED FOR POLICE OFFICERS
AND NURSES AND DOCTORS, GOD,
PARAMEDICS, VOLUNTEERS, GOD, WE
PRAY PROTECTION OVER THEM RIGHT
NOW.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE MERCIES
THAT ARE ALWAYS MORE
INSUFFICIENT AND WE NEED IT,
GOD.
WE NEED TO BE FLOODED RIGHT NOW
ON THIS CAMPUS WITH YOUR
PRESENCE AND MERCY AND GRACE AND
LOVE AND PROTECTION.
GOD, THE WHOLE WORLD RIGHT NOW
LOOKING INTO OUR UNIVERSITY.
EVERYWHERE WE TURN, EVERY PAPER
YOU READ, YOU READ SO MUCH ABOUT
THIS HEADLINE AND WHAT ALL IS
HAPPENING IN OUR UNIVERSITY.
SO, LORD, EYES ARE WATCHING US.
I PRAY WHAT THEY WOULD KNOW IS
THEY LONG FOR YOU YOU IN THIS
MOMENT.
WERE ASSURED THAT YOU HAVE NOT
LEFT US IN THIS MOMENT.
GOD, IN THIS MOMENT WHAT IS
TRAGEDY COULD BECOME TESTIMONY.
YOU LOVE US TOO MUCH TO NOT WANT
US TO BE THE VERY UNIVERSITY
THAT YOU ALWAYS WANTED US TO BE,
IN FULL ACTION, FULL LIVING, AND
FULL WORSHIP.
LORD, WE ALSO PRAY FOR OUR
NATION, JUST A PREACHER 57 YEARS
AGO WHO WOULD STAND AND INSPIRE
US, HE SAID I HAVE A DREAM.
I KNOW ONE DAY IN HEAVEN YOU
TELL US THAT EVERY NATION, A GOD
OF JUST WORSHIPING AND I LOVE
THAT WE'LL GET THERE ONE DAY.
HERE ON EARTH MAY YOUR WILL BE
DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN
HEAVEN.  ON.
>>> WE HAVE A NEW MEMBER, A
MEMBER OF THE WORSHIP
COLLECTIVE, JJ, WELCOME ABOARD
FROM CHICAGO.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> HARVEST CHURCH.
IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE IN AN
EXCHANGE PROGRAM.
SO MANY OF OUR WORSHIP
COLLECTIVE MEMBERS ARE UP
THERE.
A LOT OF TIMES WE'LL GRAB
STUDENTS FROM THAT LOCAL CHURCH
AND BRING THEM DOWN LIKE
YOURSELF.
TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF.
FIRST OF ALL, GIVE US THE RIGHT
WAY TO SAY YOUR NAME.
IT'S UNIQUE.
>> I'M FROM UGANDA.
YOU SAY HA-SAY-LU-BAY.
>> WHAT ARE YOU STUDYING?
>>  WORSHIP LEADERSHIP.
I'M GOING TO BE DOING THAT.
>> I REMEMBER DOING THE AUDITION
PROCESS, WATCHING TAPES OF YOU
JUST IN DIFFERENT PLACES WITH
SOME OF OUR FOLKS FROM THE
WORSHIP COLLECTIVE.
WE GET OVER 1,000 PEOPLE THAT
SUBMIT ADDITION TAPES AND
DIFFERENT THINGS FOR FIVE OR SIX
MONTHS THEY OPEN EVERY YEAR.
YOU HAVE TALENT.
WE COULD SENSE A HEART FOR THE
LORD.
A LOT OF TIMES WE'RE LOOKING FOR
PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST NOT COMING
IN HERE TO BE CELEBRITIES.
IT'S OBVIOUS THE MORE WE GOT TO
KNOW YOU, GOD, REALLY HAS HIS
HAND ON YOU AND YOU'RE GOING TO
BE A BIG PART OF OUR TEAM.
TELL US ABOUT THIS SONG YOU'RE
LEADING US IN THIS MORNING.
>> IT'S CALLED NOTHING ELSE.
IT'S PRETTY MUCH JUST ABOUT
WANTING MORE OF GOD, WANTING
MORE OF YOU AND WANTING NOT MORE
OF WHAT HE CAN DO FOR US, BUT
ALL OF WHO HE IS.
SO ONE OF THE LYRICS I LIKE THE
MOST IS "I'M SORRY WHEN I'VE
JUST GONE THROUGH THE MOTIONS"
BECAUSE SO MANY TIMES WE GET
INTO A PLACE OF GOING THROUGH
THE FLOW, GOING THROUGH THE
MOTIONS AND REALLY FORGETTING
THAT GOD CAN SPEAK TO US IN ANY
MUNDANE MOMENT AND HE CAN BRING
IT TO LIFE.
THIS SONG IS LIKE DESIRING HIS
PRESENCE.
WE'RE WEAR HIS PRESENCE CAN
CHANGE EVERYTHING.
REALLY THERE'S LIKE
TRANSFORMATION WHEN GOD'S
PRESENCE COMES IN THE ROOM.
>> YEAH.
SONGS ARE PRAYERS, RIGHT, WITH A
MUSICAL SOUND TRACK BEHIND
THEM.
>> YEAH.
>> SOME SWORDS OF ADORE RACING,
SOME ARE MORE CONFESSIONAL
LEANING OR THANKSGIVING OR
SUPPLEMENT MAGAZINES ACTS.
THIS WAS DEFINITELY A
CONFESSIONAL SONG, I'M SORRY,
I'M SORRY.
THIS IS A TIME WE CAN BE LED BY
YOU, IN WORSHIP BY YOU, IN THIS
SONG.
 
>> SO EXCITED TO GET TO SIT WITH
PASTOR STANLEY STANLEY.
>> GOOD MORNING.
THANKS FOR THE INVITATION.
>> WE HAVE A LOT OF NORTH POINT
CHURCH STUDENTS THAT ARE
EXCITED.
THEY HAVE BEEN ASKING YOU TO BE
A GUEST HERE FOR YEARS.
THEY WERE LIKE YES, MY PASTOR
WHEN THEY HEARD THAT.
THANKS FOR ALL YOU'RE DOING IN
THE KINGDOM.
RECENTLY YOU MADE A LOT OF
HEADLINES BY JUST ANNOUNCING AS
A CHURCH THAT YOU HAD DECIDED
NOT TO GATHER TOGETHER ON THE
WEEKENDS WITH YOUR WEEKEND
EXPERIENCES UNTIL THE NEW YEAR,
AND THAT'S A PRETTY
CONTROVERSIAL THING.
YOU TEND TO GO FIRST A LOT OF
TIMES ON THINGS AND SO --
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> WHETHER THAT IS GOOD OR BAD.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT IN A FEW
MINUTES.
TAKE US INTO THAT DECISION.
I KNOW IT DIDN'T COME LIGHTLY
FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAM.
I'D LOVE TO HEAR SOME OF YOUR
THINKING BEHIND THAT.
>> WELL, I'LL TRY TO MAKE THIS
SHORT.
WE ANNOUNCED WE'RE GOING TO BE
CLOSED FOR THREE WEEKS WHEN WE
DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THIS WAS.
THEN WE ANNOUNCED WE WOULD BE
OPEN FOR THE SUMMER AND WE WOULD
REOPEN WHEN SCHOOLS REOPENED.
ALL THE NUMBERS FOR COVID WERE
GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.
ONCE THE SCHOOLS PUNTED FOR
AWHILE TO GO TO ONLINE LEARNING
WE REALIZED WHY WOULD WE OPEN UP
OUR CHILDREN'S MINISTRIES WHILE
THE SCHOOLS WEREN'T SAFE TO
OPEN.
FOR US IT WAS ABOUT 100% ABOUT
HOW DO WE LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR,
LOVE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF
CONTROVERSY ABOUT THIS.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THIS IN A FEW
MINUTES I HOPE.
THIS IS A THEOLOGY AND A
LEADERSHIP DECISION FOR US AS
MUCH AS ANYTHING ELSE BECAUSE WE
HAVE ALWAYS TRIED TO BE A VERY
OUTWARD FACING CHURCH IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
SO IF IT'S NOT GOOD FOR THE
COMMUNITY, EVEN IF IT'S GOOD FOR
US, IT'S A LOSS.
FOR EVERY PASTOR WATCHING OR
LISTENING OR FUTURE PASTOR
WATCHING OR LISTENING THE ITEMS
IS ALWAYS TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR
THE SURE AND THE CHURCH PEOPLE.
I THINK THAT COMPLETELY OPPOSITE
OF WHAT PEOPLE -- JESUS TALKED
AND MODERATED HE WILL.
WE MAINING CLOSE FOR AN EXTENDED
PERIOD OF TIME IS NOT GOOD FOR
ME PERSONALLY, FOR THE CHURCH
PEOPLE, BUT WE BELIEVE AGAIN
BECAUSE OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN
THE STATE OF GEORGIA AND THE
CITY OF ATLANTA IN PARTICULAR
AND THE DEMOGRAPHIC OF THE CITY
OF ATLANTA, THIS IS WHAT IS BEST
FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE GOTTEN A LOT OF GOODWILL
FROM THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE
DIDN'T WANT TO BE A SUPER
SPREADER ESPECIALLY WHEN SCHOOLS
BEGAN TO ROLL BACK IN.
ANY TIME YOU CLUSTER HUNDREDS OF
PEOPLE YOU RUN THE RISK OF BEING
A SUPER SPREADER.
WHY WOULD REUN-- WE RUN THE
RISK.
NOT JUST WORRIED ABOUT OUR OWN
PEOPLE BEING SICK, BUT SPREADING
ILLNESS THROUGH THE COMMUNITY,
SO THAT WAS PART OF IT.
BUT THEN THERE WAS ANOTHER PART
OF THIS THAT I'D LOVE TO TALK
ABOUT, BUT INTERRUPT ME IF I
SPEND TOO MANY I'M ON THIS
QUESTION.
>> NO, THAT'S GOOD.
>> THERE WAS A LEADERSHIP PART
OF IT.
5900 EMPLOYEES IN THE GREATER
ATLANTA AREA.
I REALIZE IN THE AS
EXTRAORDINARY OPPORTUNITY.
YOU SHOULD NEVER LET A PANDEMIC
GO TO WASTE.
I DON'T WANT TO DOWNPLAY THE
DANGER OF THIS -- OF THIS.
WE HAVE LOST PEOPLE WHO HAVE
DIED, GOTTEN VERY SIX.
WE HAVE STORIES LIKE MOST
STUDENTS.
FOR YOUR STUDENTS, EVERY SEASON
OF UNCERTAINTY BRINGS
OPPORTUNITY.
PUTTING ON MY LEADERSHIP HAT, I
THOUGHT, WOW, IS AS CHANCE TO
SAY TO OUR 500 STAFF, WHEN ARE
WE GOING TO OPEN UP.
LET'S JUST TAKE IT OFF THE
TABLE.
LET'S TAKE IT OFF THE TABLE THE
REST OF THE YEAR.
LET'S FOCUS YOUR ENERGY AND
CREATIVITY ON DOING THINGS WE
DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO DO BEFORE OR
THAT WE COULDN'T DO BEFORE OR WE
WOULDN'T EVEN SURE WOULD WORK
BEFORE BECAUSE WE HAVE TAKEN
YOUR SUNDAY RESPONSIBILITY AND
YOUR WEEKDAY RESPONSIBILITY TO
GET READY FOR SUNDAY OFF THE
TABLE.
SO LET'S DON'T FOCUS ON WHAT WE
CAN'T DO.
LET'S ASK THE QUESTION WHAT CAN
WE DO NOW THAT WE COULDN'T DO
BEFORE, SO THAT WE ARE -- WE
CONTINUE TO BE OUTWARD FACING IN
THE COMMUNITY, SATISFYING THE
COMMUNITY AND ENGAGING PEOPLE.
THE MISSION OF OUR CHURCH IS TO
INSPIRE PEOPLE TO FOLLOW JESUS.
SO HOW DO YOU INSPIRE PEOPLE TO
FOLLOW JESUS WHEN YOU CAN'T
GATHER HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE TOGETHER ON SUNDAY
MORNING.
I GOT TO TELL YOU, WATCHING OUR
AMAZING STAFF FROM ALL OF OUR
NINE OR 10 ATLANTA AREA CHURCHES
GO AFTER IT HAS BEEN
EXHILARATING.
WE ARE LEARNING SO MUCH.
WE'RE DOING THINGS, I'M SURE WE
WILL CONTINUE TO DO ONCEE'RE
ABLE TO REOPEN ON SUNDAY
MORNING.
THE LAST THING, I DON'T THINK
THIS IS A A ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL.
EVERY CITY, EVERY STATE IS
DIFFERENT.
THIS WAS A BIG, BOLD DECISION WE
MADE.
I'M GLAD WE MADE IT AND WE'RE
STILL LEARNING.  IF SOMETHING
CHANGES -- I MEAN, WE CERTAINLY
MISS GATHERING TOGETHER THE WAY
WE USED TO.
I WOULD MUCH RATHER TALK TO A
FULL ROOM THAN AN EMPTY ROOM.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE EVER DONE
MUCH COMMUNICATION TO AN EMPTY
ROOM.
IT IS NOT A LOT OF FUN.
NOBODY LAUGHS AT ALL.
>> RIGHT.
>> SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO
RECONVENING.
>> OF COURSE.
>> BUT WHAT WE ARE LEARNING IN
THE PROCESS, IT'S GREAT.
>> SO IT'S ACTUALLY PRETTY -- IT
WAS WELL RECEIVED BY YOUR STAFF,
RIGHT, THEY WERE JUST EXCITED
ABOUT FINALLY IN ALL OF THIS
UNCERTAINTY GETTING THE ONE
CERTAINTY OF -- THE WAY IT WAS
FOR US WHEN IT ALL FIRST CAME
DOWN WE WOULD LITERALLY BE IN A
MEETING AND WE'D BE PRODUCING
AND TRYING TO REACT TO THE NEW
NORMAL AND DURING THE MEETING
THINGS WOULD CHANGE.
WE'D GET A NEW PIECE OF NEWS
THAT WOULD GO OUT.
THE GOVERNOR CHANGED IT FROM 500
PEOPLE TO 50 PEOPLE, TO THIS.
WE'RE CONSTANTLY REACTING TO
PLAN A THAT HAS A SUBSTANTIAL
B.
>> SO FRUSTRATING.
>> IT WAS A REAL WIN FOR YOUR
TEAM.
YOU WENT UNTIL JANUARY WE'RE NOT
EVEN GOING TO THINK THAT WAY,
RIGHT?
>>  I DON'T KNOW THE 100% OF OUR
STAFF THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT
IDEA AND I KNOW 100% OF THE
PEOPLE IN OUR CHURCHES DID NOT
BECAUSE I HEARD FROM SOME OF
THEM.
IN A FEW MINUTES WE'LL TALK
ABOUT HANDLING CRITICISM.
THERE WERE PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH
THAT WERE LIKE -- WELL, MOST OF
THE PEOPLE WHO WERE VOCAL
AGAINST THIS DECISION FELT LIKE
IT WAS A POLITICAL DECISION,
THAT WE CAVED TO GOVERNMENT
PRESSURE, WHICH THERE WAS NONE
HERE, AND OTHER THINGS, SO WE
NAVIGATED SOME OF THAT AND ARE
CONTINUING TO NAVIGATE SOME OF
THAT.
BUT, HEY, WELCOME TO LEADERSHIP,
RIGHT?
>>  THAT'S RIGHT.
>> SPEAKING OF, OBVIOUSLY
THERE'S THESE DIFFERENT LANES
THAT ALL THESE CHURCHES ARE
RUNNING TO.
UNITED CHURCH LIKE YOURS SAYING
WE'RE NOT GOING TO GATHER
TOGETHER UNTIL THE NEW YEAR.
WHEN YOU HAVE JOHN McCAIN
ARTHUR AT GRACE IN CALIFORNIA
WHERE THEY ARE SAYING OUR CALL
TO GOD IS TO GATHER TOGETHER AS
BELIEVERS EVEN IF IT'S AGAINST
THE LAW.
SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE IS
SOMEONE IN OKLAHOMA WHO IS
SAYING WE'RE ALLOWED TO GATHER,
BUT NOT WITH CHILDCARE.
PEOPLE IN ATLANTA HAVE DIFFERENT
RULES, LIKE YOU SAID.
TALK TO US ABOUT THE THEOLOGY
BEHIND IT.
EVEN DOWN THE STREET, MAYBE YOUR
FRIENDS AT GULF STONE OR PASSION
CITY, WHO DO COLLABORRING WITH
YOU ALL YEAR LONG, BUT THEY
DECIDE THEY'RE GOING TO LEARN A
DIFFERENT PLAY OR MAYBE SOMEONE
TO THE EXTREME OTHER SIDE LIKE
PASTOR JOHN SAYING I WILL GO TO
JAIL FOR THIS BECAUSE I FEEL
LIKE GOD PUT A CONVICTION IN MY
HEART TO DO THAT.
TALK US THROUGH THE THEOLOGY IF
YOU DON'T MIND.
>> THERE IS A THEOLOGICAL BASIS
FOR THIS.
THIS IS MAYBE WHERE I PART WAYS
WITH SOME OF THOSE FOLKS WITH
JOHN IN PARTICULAR ERSI'VE NEVER
MET HIM.
ALL I KNOW IS WHAT I'VE READ
LIKE MOST PEOPLE.
>> YOU SHOULD GO TO HIS HOME.
>> JOHN SAID SOME NOT SO THINGS
ABOUT ME, NOT MY NAME, BUT HE'S
MADE SOME COMMENTS ABOUT THOSE
WHO HAVE DECIDED NOT TO MEET FOR
TEST OF THE -- THE REST OF THE
YEAR.
>> YEAH.
>> HE SAID THAT WE AREN'T REALLY
A CHURCH AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW
OR DON'T CARE ABOUT SHEPHERDING
OUR PEOPLE.
I THOUGHT, WOW, THAT'S A LOT FOR
SOMEONE I NEVER MET, BUT THAT'S
OKAY.
I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO
INTERVIEW HIM LATER SO HE GETS
THE LAST WORD.
>> WE'RE HOPING SO.
>> IN TERMS OF THE THEOLOGY OF
THIS, THIS IS A BIG DEAL.
AND AGAIN, DAVE, CUT ME OFF
BECAUSE I CAN GO THROUGH LONG ON
THIS.
I AM CONVINCED ON THE NIGHT
JESUS GATHERED WITH HIS APOSTLES
FOR HIS FINAL PASS OVER WHEN HE
SAID A NEW COMMAND I GIVE YOU,
I'M CONVEYANCED HIS NEW COMMAND
IS THE MARCHING ORDERS FOR THE
CHURCH.
THIS IS THE ALL ENCOMPASSING, IF
YOU FORGET EVERYTHING ELSE
REMEMBER THIS.
HE SAID THIS IS MY NEW COMMAND.
WHEN HE SAID THAT HE WAS DOING
SOMETHING ONLY GOD CAN DO.
HE WAS REPLACING AND GIVING NEW
COMMANDING, HE SAID YOU ARE TO
LOVE ONE ANOTHER, THAT WASN'T
NEW, TO WHICH HE WOULD YOU WOULD
HAVE SAID I'M NOT THREW, YOU
WOULD LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE
LOVED YOU.
THE NEXT DAY, THEY THOUGHT THIS
WAS GREAT.
MATTHEW WAS LIKE WHEN I WASN'T
GREAT YOU LOVED ME, GAVE ME A
NEW PROTESTING, MADE ME NAME
US.
THE NEXT DAY HE PUT ON A
DEMONSTRATE NATION OF LOVE THAT
TOOK THEIR BREATH AWAY BECAUSE
IT TOOK HIS BREATH AWAY AND THEY
UNDERSTOOD THAT THE MARCHING
ORDERS FOR HIS MOVEMENT IS TO
ASK THE QUESTION WHAT DOES LOVE
REQUIRE OF ME, AND NOT JUST LOVE
I'VE EXPERIENCED WITH OTHER
PEOPLE, WHAT DOES THIS
PRONOUNCED LOVE THAT JESUS
DEMONSTRATED WHEN HE GAVE HIS
LIFE ON BEHALF OF HUMILITY.
JESUS SAID YOU ARE TO LOVE ONE
ANOTHER THE WAY I HAVE LOVED ONE
ANOTHER.
LOVE THE WAY YOU WANT TO BE
LOVED.
NO, WE'RE DONE WITH THAT.
YOU ARE TO LOVE EACH OTHER THE
WAY I HAVE LOVED YOU.
HE SET HIMSELF UP AS THE COLD
STANDARD FOR LOVE.
I THINK THAT IS THE DRIVING
ETHIC FOR JESUS FOLLOWERS.
THAT IS WHY I TEACH CONSTANTLY.
WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY
OR DO, ASK WHAT DOES LOVE
REQUIRE OF YOU, WHETHER IT'S IN
YOUR MARRIAGE, WORK, SCHOOL,
WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY
OR DO YOU ASK WHAT DOES LOVE
REQUIRE OF YOU.
WITH THAT OVERAREAING CHRISTIAN
ETHIC, JUST TO ASK THAT QUESTION
IN MY MARRIAGE, WE AS THE BODY
OF CHRIST ASK THAT FOR OUR
COMMUNITY, WHAT DOES LOVE
REQUIRE OF US.
HERE IS WHAT WE ALWAYS KNOW WHAT
LOVE REQUIRES.
SACRIFICE.
IT'S A SCARY QUESTION TO ASK
BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO COST YOU
SOMETHING EVERY SINGLE TIME.
SO FOR US, TO MAKE THIS DECISION
ON BEHALF OUR COMMUNITY, AND
THEN TO USE OUR ENERGY, STAFF
ENERGY, AND RESOURCES, TO INVEST
IN THE COMMUNITY, WAS OUR
CORPORATE ANSWER TO WHAT DOES
LOVE REQUIRE OF US IN THIS
SEASON FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
SO AGAIN, I THINK THE CHURCH
ALWAYS LOOKS BETTER WHEN WE ARE
DEFENDING OTHER PEOPLE'S RIGHTS
RATHER THAN DEFENDING OUR OWN.
THE CHURCH ALWAYS LOOKS BETTER
WHEN WE'RE GIVING AWAY RATHER
THAN DEMANDING OUR WAY, AND THIS
IS WHAT JESUS MODELED.
PEOPLE ON THE OTHER END OF THIS
ARGUMENT, I KEEP HEARING THEM
SAY OVER AND OVER, THE LORD
COMMANDING US TO MEET, THE LORD
COMMANDING US TO MEET.
HE DOES NOT.
HE MANDATES THAT WE LAY DOWN OUR
LIVES OR OUR FRIENDS THAT WE DO
OUR BEST FOR OTHERS.
EVEN THE APOSTLE PAUL SAID THIS
DESCRIBING JESUS IN HIS LETTER
TO THE PHILIPPIANS, HE WHO IS
EQUAL WITH GOD DID NOT CONSIDER
EQUALITY WITH GOD SOMETHING TO
BE GRASPED.
IN OTHER WORDS, JESUS -- THIS IS
AMAZING -- JESUS NEVER PLAYED
THE GOD CARD.
HE NEVER SAID, OKAY, BY THE WAY,
I'M GOD.
AGAIN, TO QUOTE PETER, WHO
DICTATED HIS APPEARANCE WITH
JESUS TO MARK, FOR EVEN THE SON
OF MAN, AND REMEMBER THIS, FOR
EVEN THE SON OF MAN DID NOT COME
TO BE SERVED, BUT TO SERVE AND
TO GIVE HIS LIFE FOR MANY.
SO THE LOCAL CHURCH AS THE
REPRESENTATION OF JESUS, THIS IS
A PREMIERE MOMENT FOR THE LOCAL
CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN CULTURE.
THE QUESTION IS WHAT ARE WE
GOING TO DO WITH THIS MOMENT.
DEMANDING OUR WAY, DEMANDING OUR
RIGHTS IS ANT THREAT CULL TO
EVERYTHING JESUS THOUGHT AND
EVERYTHING JESUS DID SO WE THINK
THIS IS AN EXPRESSION OF
CHRIST'S LIKENESS.
IT'S COSTING US FINANCIALLY,
COSTING PEOPLE WHO LEFT OUR
CHURCH TO GO TO ANOTHER CHURCH,
TO GATHER ON SUNDAY, I NEVER AM
CRITICAL OF PEOPLE WHO MAKE
DECISIONS FOR THEIR FAMILIES.
WE THINK THIS IS THE BODY OF
CHRIST IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I'M SERIOUS WHEN I SAY THIS.
I DO NOT THINK THERE IS A ONE
SIZE ALL FITS --
ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL APPLICATION,
BUT I THINK THERE IS A
ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL IN THE CHURCH
AS A CULTURE.
>> IT'S A DIFFERENT CULTURE OF
US AGAINST THEM VERSUS US FOR
THEM OR TAKING AWAY THIS IDEA OF
THE CHURCH IS ALWAYS TRYING TO
WIN.
EXPOUND ON THAT.
WHY ARE WE SO OBSESSED WITH
WINNING ALL THE TIME?
>> WELL, THE MOMENT THE CHURCH
POST SURE ITSELF TO WIN, IT HAS
ALREADY LOST.
WE LEARNED THIS FROM JESUS.
HE'S ON HIS WAY TO JERSEY.
THIS IS HIS DATE WITH FAITH.
HE'S GOING TO BE ARRESTED AND
CRUCIFIED.
THE POST ELSE ARE ARGUING WHEN
HE GETS THERE, THEY RIP OFF HIS
ROB, HE ESTABLISHES HIMSELF AS
KING, WHO WILL BE NUMBER TWO AND
NUMBER 3 IN THE KINGDOM, JESUS
SAID WE TALKED ABOUT THIS
BEFORE.
THIS IS NOT HOW A KINGDOM
WORKING.
MY KINGDOM IS A RACE TO THE
BACKS OF THE LINE FOR EVEN THE
SON OF MAN DID NOT COME TO BE
SERVED.
THIS IS KIND OF FUNNY.
THEY DECIDED TO TAKE A SHORTCUT
THROUGH SAMUEL MARIA INSTEAD OF
THE SHORTCUT.
DO YOU REMEMBER THIS, THE
APOSTLES WERE LIKE JESUS, THEY
WON'T LET US STAY IN THEIR
VILLAGE.
DO YOU WANT US TO CALL DOWN FIRE
FROM HEAVEN AND DESTROY THEM?
AND JESUS IS LIKE, OKAY --
[ LAUGHTER ]
-- WE'RE DAYS AWAY FROM GIVING
MY LIFE AWAY AND YOU STILL THINK
THIS IS ABOUT WINNING.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT WINNING.
THE MOMENT YOU TRY TO WIN,
YOU'RE ALREADY LOST AS A
FOLLOWER OF MY CHURCH.
I JUST BELIEVE WITH ALL MY
HEART, WE HAVE ALREADY LOST
CREDIBILITY AND WE HAVE ALREADY
STEPPED OUT OF THE VEIN OFF THE
PATH OF WHAT CHRIST HAS CALLED
US TO DO.
YOU KNOW HOW WE KNOW THIS IS THE
WAY?
STOP ME DAVE WHEN I'M GOING TOO
LONG, BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT
HAPPENED AFTER THE
RESURRECTION.
THE FIRST CENTURY CHURCH WITH NO
PROPERTY, NO TERRITORY, MO
MILITARY, LOVED THEIR WAY AND
SERVED THEIR WAY AND SACRIFICED
THEIR WAY TO THE ROMAN EMPIRE
WHERE FINALLY ROME CAPITAL
LATEST AND EMBRACES JEWISH RABBI
THEY ACROSS IDENTIFIED.
CHRISTIAN SHAPED WESTERN CULTURE
BECAUSE OF THE PERSON OF JESUS
AND THE TEACHING OF THE APOSTLE
PAUL.
LASTLY, THIS IS BIG, THE APOSTLE
PAUL WHO WAS KNOWN, HE WAS KNOWN
FOR HIS VIOLENCE, HE WAS KNOWN
FOR WINNING, I AM GOING TO
ARREST EVERY SINGLE CHRISTIAN
AND WE ARE GOING TO PUT THE WAY,
THIS NAZARENE SECT OUT OF
BUSINESS.
WHEN HE MET -- THIS IS AMAZING,
WHEN HE MET JESUS IN THE COURSE
OF A DAY HE PUT AWAY ALL OF HIS
VIOLENCE AND ALL OF HIS WINNING
WAY AND HE CHANGED THE WORLD
THROUGH LETTERS HE WROTE.
SO WE KNOW THIS IS THE WAY, WE
KNOW THIS IS THE APPROACH AND WE
KNOW IT WORKS, BUT WE'RE NOT
TRYING TO WORK TOGETHER TO WIN
SOMETHING.
WE ARE TRYING TO FOLLOW JESUS
THE APOLICIES PAUL SAID THIS,
THIS IS AMAZING, THE ONLY THING
THAT COUNTS IS FAITH, EXPRESSING
ITSELF THROW LOVE.
THAT IS THE ONLY THING THAT
COUNTS.
AS YOU CAN TELL, IT'S A BIG DEAL
TO ME, IT'S MORE THAN JUST AN
ORGANIZATIONAL DECISION.
IT IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO LET OUR
LIVES SHINE IN SUCH A WAY THAT
PEOPLE SEE OUR CHURCH.
NO, LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE SO THAT
PEOPLE SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS AND
GLORIFY YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN.
>> I THINK IF SOMEONE WAS
READING PARTS OF WHAT YOU JUST
SAID, THEY WOULD BE LIKE WOW,
THAT IS A MASSIVE MOSQUE WHO IS
ANTI-WAR, APT CONFLICT, WHICH
LETTERS, BUT YOU'RE PRETTY
PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS AND
OBVIOUSLY PRETTY VOCAL ABOUT
THIS.
DO YOU SEE HOW MAYBE SOMEONE WHO
IS MEETING, SAYING MAN, WE'RE
NOT TRYING TO WIN, WE'RE TRYING
TO SERVE OUR PEOPLE, WE'RE
SAYING THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT
GATHERING THAT IS A PART OF
THEIR EVEN MENTAL HEALTH, PART
OF THEIR SPIRITUAL HEALTH AND
THERE ARE PEOPLE SAYING MAN,
THERE IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS
ON SUNDAYS, THE HEALTHY FIGHT,
BATTLES I FIGHT DURING THE
WEEK.
SO DO YOU HAVE ROOM IN YOUR
ARGUMENT THERE FOR SOMEONE WHO
SAYS, MY HEART IS THE SERVICE OF
MY PEOPLE, THE SHEPHERDING OF MY
PEOPLE?
>>  SURE.
>> I THINK IN ONE SENSE I HEAR
YOUR ARGUMENT THAT IT SOMETIMES
TAKES MORE COURAGE TO NOT GATHER
THAN TO GATHER ESPECIALLY IN THE
SOUTH.
SUNDAY CULTURE IN THE SOUTH.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, SOMETIMES
IT TAKES COURAGE IN PLACES LIKE
CALIFORNIA FOR SOMEONE TO SAY,
MAN, WE'RE CITIZENS OF A
DIFFERENT KINGDOM, A DIFFERENT
SET OF REGULATIONS THAT
SOMETIMES CAN SUPERSEDE THE ONES
THAT WE'RE EXISTING IN.
SO DO YOU SEE THE TENSION AND
ROOM FOR THE OTHER?
>>  I SEE THE TENSION AND I SEE
ROOM FOR LOOKING FOR WAYS TO
MEET.
OUR CHURCH IS NOT CLOSED.
WE HAVE DRIVEWAY GROUPS, WE HAVE
PATIO GROUPS, WE HAVE 5 ACRES OF
GRASS WE MEET ON, WE DID TWO
NIGHTS OF WORSHIP WITH PEOPLE
SOCIALLY DISTANCED WHICH FAMILY
WITH MASKS.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT NOT MEETING.
>> IT'S NOT ABOUT PUTTING 3,000
PEOPLE IN A ROOM TOGETHER.
>> IN A ROOM.
RIGHT, THAT RISKS THEIR HEALTH.
WE'RE NOT AGAINST MEETING.
WE JUST SHUT DOWN OUR
TRADITIONAL MORNING SERVICES,
WHERE WE'RE CRAMMING HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS TOGETHER.
IT IS NOT A ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL.
WHAT IS OUR POSTURE IN THE
COMMUNITY AND ARE WE WILLING TO
DO WHAT IS BEST FOR OTHERS AND
BEST FOR OURSELVES.
UNLIKE YOUR FRIEND YOU'RE GOING
TO INTERDO YOU, JOHN HAS SAID
PUBLICLY THEY HAVE HAD NO COVID
CASES IN THEIR CHURCH, THEY HAVE
HAD NO ONE GET SICK AND THEY
DON'T KNOW OF ANYONE.
THAT IS AMAZING.
PERHAPS GOD HAS PERFORMED A
MIRACLE.
WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PEOPLE
SICK, MULTIPLE PEOPLE IN THE
HOSPITAL.
THERE'S A FAMILY WHO WAS A
FATHER, MOTHER, AND ONLY SON,
THE SON IS A RISING SENIOR, MOM
AND DAD BOTH PASSED AWAY WITHIN
FOUR DAYS OF EACH OTHER FROM
COZY, HE WAS COVID POSITIVE, WE
HAD A MEMORIAL SIGNIFICANCE FOR
THEM, HE COULDN'T GET OUT OF HIS
CAR BECAUSE HE WAS COVE
POSITIVE, SO HE DROVE THROUGH,
ROLLED HIS WINDOWS DOWN,
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE CAME FROM THE
COMMUNITY WITH CANDLES.
IT WAS SO POWERFUL AND SAD.
NOW HE'S LIVING WITH HIS
GRANDMOTHER.
FOR US THIS IS A VERY REAL
THING.
THIS ISN'T JUST WHAT WE HEAR
ABOUT IN OUR CHURCHES, BUT IN
OUR COMMUNITIES, SO WE'RE TAKING
IN A INTO ACCOUNT AS WELL.
>> NOT JUST ON THIS TOPIC, BUT
SO MANY OTHER TIMES I WATCH YOUR
SERMONS, I LOVE YOUR PREACHING,
I'VE READ SOME OF YOUR BOOKS.
YOU'RE A LOT OF TIMES WILLING TO
GO FIRST, AND WHEN YOU GO FIRST
ON A TOPIC, WHETHER IT'S
CULTURAL OR ABOUT SOCIAL THINGS
THAT ARE TRIGGER HAPPY OR
WHETHER IT'S THEOLOGICAL.
YOU GET IN A LOT OF TROUBLE
SOMETIMES, ANDY.
I LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU FROM A
LEADERSHIP PERSPECTIVE AND A
PASTORAL PERSPECTIVE HOW YOU
HANDLE CRITICISM.
WHICH PARTS OF CRITICISM DO YOU
LET IN, HOW DO YOU SEE SIGH
OFFER WHO TO LET IN, GIVE PEOPLE
A SPACE TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK INTO
YOUR LIFE FOR ACCOUNTABILITY.
TALK TO US BEYOND THIS, JUST THE
PRINCIPALS BEHIND HANDLING
CRITICISM, CONSTRUCTIVE KIND,
DESTRUCTIVE TIME.
>> MOST OF IT IS CONSTRUCTIVE.
THERE'S CRITICISM.
THERE'S SOCIAL MEDIA
CRITICALLISM PEOPLE OUTSIDE OUR
CHURCH.
THE WORST ONES I TAKE PICTURES
OF AND SHOW MY KIDS.
IT DOESN'T HURT MY FEELINGS.
IT IS SAD TO ME THAT CHRISTIANS,
THAT CREDIBILITIES CAN BE SO
UNKIND.
BECAUSE WHAT PAUL SAID.
HE SAID IT IS YOUR KINDNESS,
LORD, THAT LEADS ME TO
REPENTANCE.
TO BE LIKE CHRIST IS TO BE
KIND.
I WOULD NEVER SAY ANYTHING IN
ANY CAPACITY NEGATIVE ABOUT ANY
PERSON THAT I DIDN'T HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH.
BUT THAT IS SOCIAL MEDIA.
NOW INTERNALLY WHEN I GET
LETTERS OR EMAIL, IF MY
ASSISTANT WERE HERE SHE WOULD
TELL YOU, DIANE.
SHE KNOWS WHEN I GET NEGATIVE OR
CRITICAL, SOMEBODY IN OUR CHURCH
OR HAS BEEN PART OF OUR CHURCH,
WHEN SHE HAND ME THE EMAIL SHE
HAS ALREADY LOCKED UP THEIR
PHONE NUMBER BECAUSE I CALL, I
CALL EVERY SINGLE ONE I CAN FIND
A NUMBER FOR.
AFTER I CONVINCE THEM IT'S
REALLY ME, YOU SPOUT THINGS OFF
IN AN EMAIL THEN YOU REALIZE
WHEN YOU'RE TALKING TO A PERSON,
THE TEMPERATURE COMES DOWN
BECAUSE IT'S A RELATIONSHIP.
>> FOR SURE.
>> SO I AM SO OPEN TO CRITICISM
BECAUSE I WANT TO BE BETTER.
THE ONLY WAY TO GET BETTER IS TO
LISTEN TO PEOPLE WHO ARE
POINTING OUT WHAT THEY THINK YOU
NEED TO DO TO GET BETTER.
SO I'VE JUST LEARNED THAT
THROUGH THE YEARS.
SO I THINK I TAKE IT OKAY.
I DON'T AVOID IT.
I'VE TOLD MY PEOPLE AROUND ME,
DO NOT HIDE THE NEGATIVE EMAIL
AND MESSAGES FROM ME.
I'M FAR MORE INTERESTED IN THOSE
THAN THE ONES THAT TELL ME HOW
GREAT I AM, HOW MY SERMONS
CHANGED MY LIFE:
MY ASSISTANT SAID I'M GOING TO
READ THIS TO YOU BECAUSE YOU
NEED ENCOURAGEMENT.
SHE KNOWS I WON'T LEAD IT.
JUST GIVE ME THE NEGATIVE ONES.
I'LL CALL AND LEARN.
I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO LEAVE
YOUR CHURCH, I JUST DON'T.
I KNOW YOU HAVE A LOT OF
PREACHERS' KIDS AT LIBERTY.
WE SEE THEM A LITTLE
DIFFERENTLY.
I LOVE HIRING THEM.
THEY COME IF IN WITH THEIR EYES
WIDE OWNED AND EXPECTATIONS
REALISTIC.
AS A PASTOR'S SON WHO WAS MY
DAD, CITE SIZZLED CONSTANTLY,
I'M ABLE TO KEEP THAT IN CONTEXT
AND TO KNOW THERE IS SOMETHING
TO LEARN FROM JUST ABOUT EVERY
CRITICISM.
ESPECIALLY SOMEBODY WHO IS
COMMITTED TO THE ORGANIZATION OR
WHO WAS A VOLUNTEER FOR YEARS
OBJECT RAISED THEIR KIDS IN THE
CHURCH, OF COURSE, I'M
INTERESTED IN WHAT THEY HAVE TO
SAY AND I WANT THEM TO
UNDERSTAND WHERE I'M COMING FROM
EVEN IF WE DISAGREE AT THE END
OF THE DAY.
IF YOU'RE HEADED INTO MINISTRY,
GET READY, IT'S JUST PART OF IT,
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, THAT IS
OKAY.
BUT IF YOU GET DEFENSIVIVE, IF
YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE ALWAYS
BEING QUESTIONED RATHER THAN
UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE JUST HAVE A
QUESTION, YOU'LL MISS
OPPORTUNITIES TO GET BETTER.
>> I'VE LEARNED IN OUR CULTURE
HERE AT LIBERTY WHEN YOU'RE A
BIT OF A VISIBLE LEADER, A
LIGHTNING ROD, I JUST GET CREDIT
FOR ALL KINDS OF THINGS.
WE JUST HAD 16,000 STUDENTS ON
CAMPUS, THEY'RE TEXTING ME,
THANKING ME FOR THE NEW BUS
ROUTES.
THANKS FOR -- THINKING ABOUT
YOU.
-- [ INDISCERNIBLE ] -- I GET
CREDIT FOR THINGS I DIDN'T DO,
BUT THEN I GET BLAME FOR THINGS
I DIDN'T DO.
YOU'RE A CATCH Y'ALL WITH TWO
EARS.
WHAT I LEARNED MOST OF THE TIME
IT GOES WAY BEYOND THAT POINT OF
CRITICISM.
MOST OF THE TIME SOMEONE IS
SAYING MAYBE WE FAILED THEM IN A
DIFFERENT WAY, MAYBE WE WEREN'T
THERE FOR THEM.
LAST YEAR IT WAS A STUDENT
COMING AT ME FOR SOMETHING I
SAID AT CONVO.
THE SECOND WE TALKED TO EACH
OTHER I REALIZED HE SPENT SOME
TIME IN THE HOSPITAL WITH A CAR
WRECK AND HIS CAMPUS PASTOR HAD
NOT GONE TO VISIT HIM IN TWO
WEEKS, SO THERE WAS A BREAKDOWN
IN COMMUNICATION.
TYPICALLY THERE IS SOMETHING
BIGGER THAT GOES ON.
PUT YOUR PASTOR'S HALT ON.
WHEN YOU SEE SOMETHING, YOU SEE
AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO DEEPER E.
WHAT DO YOU DO.
>> THAT IS WHY I CALL PEOPLE.
OTHERWISE YOU GET IN AN ENDLESS
EMAIL CYCLE.
WHAT YOU SAID IS SO IMPORTANT.
YOU NEVER REALLY GET TO THE
ISSUE.
IN MOST OF THESE KINDS OF PHONE
CALLS I FINALLY SAY LOOK, I
ACCEPTS MAYBE THERE IS SOMETHING
ELSE GOING ON.
THERE IS THIS MUCH ENERGY, BUT
THERE'S THIS MUCH INFORMATION.
SO WHEN YOU GOT THIS MUCH
INFORMATION, YOU KNOW, IF THAT
IS ALL THERE IS, I DON'T GET
THIS.
WE ARE ALL THAT WAY.
THAT IS NOT A CRITICISM.
SOMETIMES I SAY I FEEL LIKE THIS
THING YOU'RE UPSET ABOUT WAS A
FINAL STRAW.
I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW ABOUT THE
OTHER STRAWS.
>> THERE YOU GO.
>> AND THEN TO YOUR POINT, WE
KIND OF GET DOWN TO BUSINESS AND
OFTENTIMES IT'S SOMETHING THAT
WAS JUST A BLIND-SPOT, SOMETHING
WE OVERLOOKED, I OVERLOOKED, A
COMMENT I MADE IN A SERMON, I
DON'T REMEMBER SAYING THAT, BUT
I'M SO SORRY.
BUT THAT REQUIRES
CONVERSATIONS.
AND SO I JUST DO IF IN THOSE.
DON'T GIVE ANDY AN EMAIL IF
THERE'S NOT A PHONE NUMBER.
I'LL READ IT, BUT I WANT TO --
PEOPLE NEED TO HEAR YOUR VOICE.
ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE'S
CONFLICT.
PEOPLE NEED TO HEAR YOUR VOICE
BECAUSE TONE IS EVERYTHING.
YOU KNOW WHAT, THESE
CONVERSATIONS, EVEN IF THEY
START OFF REALLY SOMEWHAT
HOSTILE, THESE ARE REASONABLE
PEOPLE, THEY LOVE OUR CHURCH.
IT ALWAYS ENDS UP GOOD.
EVEN THE ONES LEAVING THE
CHURCH.
THE JOKE NOW IS WHEN PEOPLE TELL
ME THEY'RE LEAVING I GO THIS IS
A GREAT TIME TO LEAVE OUR
CHURCH, WE'RE NOT MEETING
ANYWAY.
THEN I ASK WHERE ARE YOU GOING
TO GO, THEY'LL SAY I DON'T THINK
THEY'RE MEETING EITHER.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>>  I'M GOING WITH YOU, THAT IS
A GREAT TRICK.
SUCH A GREAT PASTOR.
CAN I GO WITH YOU.
>> I USUALLY KNOW THE PASTORS,
WHERE THEY'RE GOING.
I'LL ITEM THEM YOU'RE COMING,
I'LL TELL THEM THEY MADE A GOOD
CHOICE.
>> LEAVING NORTH POINT TO GO TO
A CHURCH ACROSS THE STREET.
I'M TIRED OF MY PREACHING TOO,
CAN I GO WITH YOU.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>>  YOU MENTIONED BEING A
PREACHER' KID, THE LEGACY OF
YOUR FATHER, THE WAY HE SERVED A
KINGDOM, SO WELL.
TALK TO US ABOUT THAT NOT JUST
FOR YOUR PREACHER'S KIDS, BUT
JUST GOING UNDER THE SHADOW OF
SOMEONE WITH YOUR LAST NAME.
MY DAUGHTER FACE MASK IS COMING
INTO THIS SCHOOL YEAR AS A
FRESHMAN AND SHE IS VERY
INTERESTED IN PEOPLE KNOWING HER
BY HER FIRST NAME.
SHE IS PROUD OF HER LAST NAME,
BUT SHE WANTS TO COME IN AND NOT
BE KNOWN AS PASTOR DAVID'S
DAUGHTER.
SHE JUST WANT TO COME IN AND BE
HER.
AND WE HAVE A LOT OF THAT HERE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF PASTOR'S KIDS,
A LOT OF BESTSELLING AUTHOR'S
KIDS, DUCK DYNASTY, PEOPLE SEND
KIDS TO LIBERTY FROM ALL WALKS
OF INFLUENCE.
TALKS TO US ABOUT THAT.
WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE IN DEER
VALLEY THIS SUMMER.
YOU BAILED ON ME, BUT YOUR SON
WAS THERE SO I GOT TO TALKS TO
LIMB ABOUT BEING UNDER YOUR
SHADOW.
BOTH DIRECTIONS I HEARD.
GIVE US SOME WISDOM.
>> HOW PREACHERS RESPOND TO
THEIR LAST NAME HAS A LOT TO DO
WITH THEIR PERSONALITY.
I THINK IT HAS A LITTLE TO DO
WITH BIRTH ORDER.
I THINK IT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH
THEIR -- IT'S NOT A
ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL.
MY SONS LIKE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF
OUR LAST NAME IN A POSITIVE
WAY.
YOUR DAUGHTER SOUNDS LIKE MY
DAUGHTER, HER INDEPENDENT WASN'T
INAPPROPRIATELY MORE IMPORTANT,
IT WAS JUST MORE IMPORTANT THAN
THE BOYS.
THE BOYS SAW IT AS A WAY TO GET
INTO ALL THE GREEN ROOMS AND EAT
ALL THE DOUGHNUTS THEY COULD
EAT.
WHAT BOTH OF MY PARENTS DID THAT
WAS SO GREAT FOR ME AND I'VE
TRIED TO DO THIS FOR MY KIDS IS
THEY WORKED HARD TO KEEP THE
EXTRA EXPECTATION OFF ME AS THE
PREACHER'S SON ORCHID.
WHEN THEY CAME TO MY DEFENSE IN
SO MANY WAYS I HAD LESS
RESTRICTIONS, I HAD -- I DIDN'T
EVEN IN A CURFEW GROWING UP.
I WENT HOME WHEN EVERYBODY ELSE
HAD TO GO HOME BECAUSE OF CURFE.
MY PARENTS WERE VERY HANDS OFF
ONCE I STARTED DRIVING.
YOU KNOW WHAT, GOOD LUCK, GOD
BLESS.
IT WAS PARTLY BECAUSE THAT IS
THE WAY MY DAD GREW UP, HE FELT
LIKE THIS IS JUST PART OF TAKING
RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR OWN
LIFE, TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR
YOUR OWN DECISIONS.
SO I THINK THE WAY I WAS RAISED
SET ME UP NOT TO REALLY STRUGGLE
WITH A LOT OF THOSE THINGS.
I AM SO PROUD OF TO BE MY
FATHER'S SON.
AND IT HAS RESULTED IN MULTIPLE
ADVANTAGES FOR ME.
I'VE TOLD MY KIDS, BEING MY SON
OR DAUGHTER IS GOING TO OPEN
DOORS, BUT I'M TELLING YOU, ONCE
YOU WALK THROUGH THEM, IT IS UP
TO YOU.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> DON'T RESIST THE ADVANTAGES
THAT COME WITH THIS, BUT
UNDERSTAND, ONCE YOU TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THOSE
OPPORTUNITIES, IT'S UP TO YOU,
IT'S YOUR CHARACTER, IT'S YOUR
GIFTEDDEDNESS, YOUR PREPARATION,
YOUR DISCIPLINE.
SO WE HAVE HAD THESE
CONVERSATIONS THROUGH THE
YEARS.
I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR MY HERITAGE
AND THE SHOULDERS I STAND ON.
THAT'S NOT -- THAT'S NOTHING
TO -- I DON'T THINK STUDENTS
SHOULD RESIST THAT.
IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY THEY SHOULD
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF, AN
OPPORTUNITY A LOT OF PEOPLE
WOULD LOVE TO TAKE ADVANCE OF.
>> YOUR SON DID GREAT.
THE FIRST SHOW HE TOLD THAT WAS
A LITTLE BIT UP ON THE EDGES.
I WONDER WHAT HIS DAD -- I
AUTOMATIC WAS ANDY STANLEY'S SON
SAID THIS, CHARLES STANLEY'S
GRANDSON?
>>  I HAVE HEARD THEM ALL.
>> I FOUND THAT LETTER YOU
ACTUALLY WROTE THOSE JOKES.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>>  I MAKE SUGGESTIONS ALL THE
TIME AND HE JUST LOOKS AT ME
LIKE THANKS, DAD.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS SO FUNNY.
>> WE'RE GOING TO HAVE HIM ON
CAMPUS AS SOON AS WE CAN GET
AWAY FROM THIS COVID SEASON.
TALK TO US IF YOU DON'T MIND
JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT GOING
THE LEGACY.
TELL US THE STORY ABOUT WHEN
YOUR FATHER WAS RUNNING FOR THE
SOUTHERN BAPTIST BE, BEING A
SUCCESS OR NOT, WHETHER YOU WIN
OR LOSE.
I'VE HUNG ONTO THAT, WALKING ON
OBEDIENCE IN MY OWN LIFE.
I'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT STORY YOU
SHARED.
THINGS YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM
YOUR DAD.
YOU'RE SUCH HONORABLE SON, BUT
TALK TO US A LITTLE --, TELL US
THAT STORY.
>>ETH CUT ME IF -- OFF IF I GO
ON TOO LONG.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT OUR TIME IS.
THE PRESIDENT OF SOUTHWESTERN
SEMINARY, I DON'T WANT TO SAY
NAMES, HAD BEEN A PASTOR IN
ATLANTA.
THEY HAD BEEN AT ODDS A LITTLE
BIT.
ANYWAY, A LOT OF HISTORY THERE.
THIS PARTICULAR PERSON DID NOT
THINK MY DAD SHOULD BE THE
PRESIDENT OF THE CONVENTION.
THERE WAS A PRESS CONFERENCE AT
SOUTHWESTERN SEMINARY BECAUSE
THE STUDENTS HAD SORT OF
DEMANDED THAT THEY INVITE MY DAD
TO SPEAK AT CHAPEL OVER THE
WISHES OF THE PRESIDENT.
ANYWAY, A LOT OF TENSION.
BUT THE MOMENT YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT, AND THIS REALLY WAS A
DEFINING MOMENT FOR ME, I WAS A
FIRST-YEAR SEMINARY STUDENT, I
WAS AT THE DALLAS SEMINARY DOWN
THE ROAD.
20 OR 30 PRESS PEOPLE, THIS WAS
THE DAY BEFORE THE CONVENTION
WAS TO BEGIN.
BACK THEN I THINK THERE WERE
LIKE 35, 40,000 PEOPLE SHOWED
UP.
THERE WAS A LOT OF GOING ON, THE
BATTLE OF THE BIBLE.
FROM YEARS AGO.
>> SO YOU'RE WATCHING YOUR DAD
DEAL WITH ALL THIS CONFLICT
EVERYDAY.
>> YEAH.
WE'RE SITTING AT THIS BIG
CONFERENCE TABLE.
I SNUCK IN, SAT AGAINST THE
WALL.
A NEWS PERSON, CHANNEL 8 NEWS IN
DALLAS, AFTER THIS BACK AND
FORTH, THEY HAD THE PRESIDENT ON
ONE SIDE OF THE TABLE AND MY DAD
ON THE OTHER, SO THEY'RE ASKING
THEM BOTH QUESTIONS.
THIS GUY WOULD GET RED IN THE
FACE ANGRY TALKING ABOUT MY DAD,
CRITICAL.
I STILL REMEMBER MY DAD JUST
SITTING THERE, HE WAS SO CALM, I
REMEMBER THINKING IS HE
LISTENING?
I WAS READY TO COME OVER THE
TABLE.
IT WAS VERY HEATED.
JUST SURREAL, SO PEACEFUL.
SO PEGGY TURNS TO MY DAD AND
SAID DR. STANLEY, DO YOU THINK
YOU'LL WIN TOMORROW BECAUSE THE
NEXT DAY WAS GOING TO BE THE
VOTE FOR PRESIDENT.
DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO WIN
TOMORROW.
THIS IS WHAT HE SAID.
HE SAID, WELL IF I WIN, I WIN,
AND IF I LOSE, I WIN.
AND MY RESPONSIBILITY IS TO OBEY
GOD AND LEAVE ALL THE
CONSEQUENCES TO HIM.
THAT'S IT.
IF I'M OBEDIENT TO GOD, I'VE
WON.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THE
UTILIZED COME IS IN THIS
PARTICULAR ARENA.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THE
OUTCOME IS IN ANY ARENA.
IF WE GO TO BED AT NIGHT WITH A
CLEAR CONSCIENCE AND WE KNOW TO
THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY THAT
WE'VE OBEYED GOD, WE HAVE WON.
AND IF WE MAKE THE WRONG CALL
THEN WE APOLOGIZE AND WE HAVE
WON.
SO IT'S NOT ABOUT BEING PERFECT,
IT'S NOT ABOUT MAKING PERFECT
CALLS.
IT'S ABOUT HAVING A CLEAR
CONSCIENCE, SAYING GOD, THE
RESULTS ARE IN YOUR HANDS, THE
RESULTS ARE IN YOUR HANDS, I
HAVE DONE WHAT YOU HAVE CALLED
ME TO DO.
AND WHEN YOU LEAD FROM THAT
POSITION, THERE IS A CONFIDENCE
THAT DOESN'T BECOME ARROGANCE,
THERE IS A CONFIDENCE THAT ISEN
TRACKED BECAUSE PEOPLE WANT TO
FOLLOW SOMEONE WHO WHO IS
CONFIDENT TO THE BEST OF THEIR
ABILITY, WAKES UP EVERY DAY
SAYING HEAVENLY FATHER, STRUCK
ME AND TEACH ME IN THE WAY THAT
I AM TO GO AND COUNSEL ME WITH
YOUR EYES UPON ME.
I STRUGGLE WITH THIS EVERY
MORNING.
TO LIVE WITH THAT OPEN HANDED
POSTURE.  THAT THAT WAS JUST
ANOTHER DAY-TO-DAY AT THE OFFICE
FOR HIM.
IF I WIN I WIN, IF I LOSE I WIN
BECAUSE I RESPONSIBILITY IS TO
GOD AND TO LEAVE THE CONDITIONS
DELINQUENCIES TO HIM.
STANDING THERE AGAINST THE WALL
THAT DAY, I TOLD THAT STORY 100
TIMES.
IT'S KIND OF A DEFINING MOMENT.
>> I TOLD MYSELF THAT STORY
BEFORE.
I JUST WANT TO PUT MY HEAD ON
THE PILLOW AT THE END OF THE
NIGHT TO SAY I WAS OBEDIENT TO
GOD'S WILL IN MY LIFE.
THE LAST QUESTION, YOU'RE SO
GOOD AT LEADERSHIP.
I LISTEN TO YOUR LEADERSHIP
PODCASTS QUITE A BIT.
MY TEAM SOMETIMES USES IT FOR
DEVELOPMENT AS WELL.
THIS COVID SEASON, BEYOND THAT,
THIS -- ALL THE RACIAL DIVIDE
THAT IS REALLY BROUGHT TO
FOREFRONT RIGHT NOW ESPECIALLY
IN YOUR CITY OF ATLANTA, ALL
THIS HAPPENING JUST IN OUR
WORLD, 2020 JUST SEEMS TO BE
SUCH A HARD, HARD YEAR.
AND SO AS A DEVELOPING LEADER,
WHO IS CONSTANTLY LEARNING, IS
THERE A MUSCLE THAT YOU'VE BEEN
HAVING TO -- YOU HAVEN'T HAD US
DEVELOP THAT YOU'VE BEEN HAVING
TO DEVELOP IN THIS SEASON AND
WHAT IS GOD TEACHING YOU IN
THAT.
TALK ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP.
>> TWO THINGS.
THE ONE -- THERE'S ONE THAT
COMES KIND OF NATURAL FOR ME AND
THERE'S ONE THAT IS NOT NATURAL
FOR ME.
WHAT IS NATURAL FOR ME IS I'VE
UNDERSTOOD FOR MANY, MANY YEARS
THAT I CANNOT PROVIDE CERTAINTY
FOR ANYONE, NO ONE CAN, BUT
UNCERTAINTY IS WHY THE WORLD
GETS LEADERS.
IN THE MIDST OF UNCERTAINTY THE
BEST THING A LEADER CAN DO IS
PROVIDE CLARITY.
IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I SAID
TO OUR STAFF LET ME BE CLEAR.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO MEET FOR THEY
WANT OF TIME.
IN THE MEANTIME, HERE IS WHAT
WE'RE GOING TO DO.
THIS MAY NOT BE THE BEST
DECISION, BUT I CAN'T IMAGINE
UNCERTAINTY.
ALL I CAN DO IS, IS TRY TO
PROVIDE CLARITY.
CLARITY IN THE MIDST OF
UNCERTAINTY.
THAT IS A GEAR THAT IS KIND OF
NATURAL FOR ME.
EARLIER YOU SAID YOU FEEL LIKE I
GO FIRST TIMES.
>> YEAH.
>> I THINK PART OF THE REASON IS
PART OF THE REASON I FEEL I GO
FIRST SOMETIMES IS I KNOW IF I
WAIT UNTIL ALL THE UNCERTAINTY
GOES AWAY, YOU WAIT FOREVER
OPINION UNCERTAINTY NEVER GOES
AWAY.
UNCERTAINTY IS NOT 18 SUE OF BAD
LEADERSHIP, IT'S A SIGN WE NEED
LEADERSHIP.
THE MORE UNCERTAINTY THERE IS
THE MORE CLARITY THE WORLD
NEEDS.
THAT IS NATURAL.
HERE IS WHAT IS NOT NATURAL FOR
ME.
DURING THE TIMES OF UNCERTAINTY,
PEOPLE AROUND US, ESPECIALLY THE
PEOPLE LEADING, THEY NEED TO SEE
OUR HUMAN -- HUMANITY AND THIS
IS HARD FOR ME.
I DON'T WANT TO HAVE A MEETING
OR HAVE A CONVERSATION UNTIL I
HAVE AN ANSWER, A MAP, A WAY
FORWARD AND THAT IS A MISTAKE.
IN THE MIDST OF UNCERTAINLY
PEOPLE NEED OUR HUMANITY, WHICH
MEANS I NEED TO CALL, NOT TEXT,
CALL, NOT EMAIL, I NEED TO HAVE
MORE CONVERSATIONS AND MORE
MEETINGS THAN NORMAL BECAUSE
TIMES ARE UNCERTAIN.
THIS IS AN OLD ADAGE, PEOPLE
REALLY DON'T CARE WHAT WE KNOW
UNTIL THEY KNOW WE CARE.
IN NORMAL TIMES IT'S IMPORTANT,
BUT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE
MOST IMPORTANT.
IN TIMES LIKE THIS, WE HAVE
TO -- IT'S NOT JUST A MATTER OF
ALLOWING OUR HUMILITY TO SHOW,
WE HAVE TO LEAD WITH OUR
HUMILITY.
AND THAT DOES NOT COME NATURAL
FOR ME.
AS I'M TALKING TO YOU PEOPLE ARE
HELPING ME IN THIS ROOM GETTING
THIS RIGHT.
THEY'RE THINKING YOU'RE RIGHT,
ANDY, YOU DON'T NORMALLY LEAD
WITH YOUR HUMANITY.
I'VE GIVEN PEOPLE AROUND ME
PERMISSION TO NUDGE ME.
FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OUR DEAR
FRIENDS WAS TAKEN TO THE
HOSPITAL WITH COVID, HAD A HEART
ATTACK.
ONCE THEY GOT INTO THE EMERGENCY
ROOM.
I WAS TELLING SANDRA ABOUT IT.
HAVE YOU CALLED KELLY?
THIS IS STEWART HALL.
>> YEAH.
>> HAVE YOU CALLED STILLY?
I'M LIKE, NO, BUT I'M GOING TO
TEXT HER LATER AND SHE TOOK MY
PHONE AND SAID, NO, WE'RE GOING
TO CALL HER RIGHT NOW.
YOU'RE RIGHT.
WHEN YOU HEAR THAT, ANDY, YOU
MUST BE THE WORST PASTOR.
I NEVER CLAIMED TO BE A A GOOD
PASTOR.
I AM A GOOD SPEAKER, BUT I'M NOT
A GREAT PASTOR.
I NEED PEOPLE AROUND ME TO
REMIND ME ESPN IN TIMES
'UNCERTAINTY, YOU CAN'T LEAD
WITH UNCERTAINTY, YOU HAVE TO
LEAD WITH YOUR HUMANITY.
I GENUINELY CARE.
BUT IF I DON'T EXPRESS THAT,
THEN IT JUST DOESN'T MATTER.
CLARITY, HUMANITY, ONE COMES
NATURAL, ONE DOESN'T COME
NATURALLY, THEY HAVE A LOT OF
HUMANITY, BUT THEY'RE
SOMETIMES -- BEING CLEAR.
IF YOU CAN'T PROVIDE CLAIRE FEE
IN THE MIDST OF UNCERTAINTY,
DON'T BE A LOAD PASTOR FOR SURE
OR TRY TO LEAD AN ORGANIZATION.
THOSE ARE THE TWO THINGS I'VE
WRESTLED WITH MOST DURING THE
SEASON.
>> IT'S GOOD TO KNOW YOU'RE
TRYING TO DEVELOP AND GROW IN
THAT.
JESUS WAS PROPHET, PRIEST, KING,
THE KINGLY ROLE OF GOVERNOR IN
ESSENCE.
THE PRO GET I CAN ROLL OF
CASTING PROVISION.  AND THEN THE
PRIESTLY ROLE.  ARE ARE THE
PEOPLE LED WELL, TAUGHT WELL,
LOVED WELL.
I'M LIKE YOU.
THERE ARE PARTS OF ME THAT DON'T
REALLY LEAN INTO ONE VERSUS THE
OTHER, BUT THAT DOESN'T GET ME
OFF THE HOOK.
I'VE GOT TO DEVELOP THOSE
THINGS.
IT'S GOOD TO KNOW MY STRENGTHS.
THERE ARE STRENGTH FINDER LIKE
FIND YOUR SWEET SPOT AND JUST
HONE ON.
YOU'LL HAVE TO GROW IN ALL THREE
OF THOSE IN YOU'RE A MINISTER.
>> JESUS WAS ON HIS WAY TO BE AN
ANSWER TO ONE PRAYER AND HE
STOPS, HE'S LIKE WHO TOUCHED
ME.
THE APOSTLES ARE LIKE WELL
EVERYBODY.
EVERYBODY WHO HAS SAT IN JUDEA
HAS TOUCHED YOU.
EVERYWHERE HE WENT THERE ARE
CROWDS.
IT'S SICK PEOPLE.
IMAGINE EVERYWHERE YOU WENT THE
SICKEST PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY,
IT'S LIKE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE.
NO, SOMEBODY IN PARTICULAR
TOUCHED ME.
AND THEN HE'S GOING TO JERSEY
LUMP -- JERUSALEM LUMP, HERE HE
IS GOING TO DIE AND SAVE THE
WHOLE WORLD.
HE STOPS AND SAID BRING THAT GUY
TO ME.
THOSE ARE THE VERY CONVICTING,
SOMETIMES THE WAY FORWARD IS TO
STOP.
SO THOSE ARE THINGS I HAVE TO BE
REMINDED.
IT'S NOT BECAUSE I DON'T CARE.
IT'S JUST WE'RE ALL WIRED A
CERTAIN WAY AND TO YOUR POINT, A
WEAKNESS IS NEVER AN EXCUSE.
IT'S JUST A WEAKNESS.
>> SO GOOD.
ANDY, THANKS FOR GIVING US SO
MUCH TIME, SO MUCH GREAT WISDOM
OUT OF THIS.
WE LOVE YOU, WE APPRECIATE YOU,
WE'RE PRAYING FOR YOUR CHURCH.
JUST A BLESS HAVING GOD ON YOU.
ONE LAST FAVOR.
WOULD YOU PRAY OVER OUR
STUDENTS, 90 NATIONS, WE'RE ALL
AND A HALF I.T. GAING THROUGH
BEST PRACTICES TO BE SAFE.
WE GATHERED LAST NIGHT IN THE
FOOTBALL STADIUM, SEATS 25,000,
WE HAD RIGHT AT 5,000 IN THERE
SOCIALLY DISTANT, OUTDOORS LIKE
YOU HAVE BEEN DOING.
>> FRESH AIR.
>> YES.
THEY GAME FROM DIFFERENT GATES
THEY WERE ASSIGNED, DOING ALL
THOSE THINGS.
AS WE'RE TALKING EVERYDAY IN
THIS MOMENT, MAN, WE'D LOVE YOUR
PRAYER.
>> I'D BE HAPPY.
LET'S PRAY TOGETHER.
HEAVENLY FATHER, THANK YOU FOR
DAVID, THANK YOU FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY HE HAS FOR SUCH A
TIME AS THIS, I PRAY THAT YOU
WOULD FILL HIM WITH WISDOM AND
EXTRAORDINARY INVITING --
INSIGHT TO SEE WHAT NEEDS TO BE
SEEN, HAVE THE COURAGE TO DO
WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
THANK YOU FOR LIBERTY
UNIVERSITY, FOR THE TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS WHO HAVE
WALKED THROUGH THAT CAMPUS,
EDUCATED ONLINE, ATTENDING NOW,
I PRAY YOU CONTINUE TO BLESS
THIS EXTRAORDINARY ORGANIZATION
THAT YOU HAVE USED IN SUCH AN
EXTRAORDINARY WAY ALL OVER THE
WORLD, MEN AND WOMEN ALL OVER
THE WORLD SERVING YOU WHO ARE
EQUIPPED TO SERVE YOU IN THIS
AMAZING INSTITUTION, SO I PRAY
THAT YOUR HAND OF FAVOR WOULD BE
ON STRONGER THAN EVER.
AND FATHER, GIVE ALL OF US
WISDOM TO KNOW WHAT TO DO AND
THE COURAGE TO DO IT IN THESE
UNCERTAIN TIMES IN JESUS' NAME,
AMEN.
>> OIL SO THANKFUL FOR PASTOR
ANDY STANLEY, NOT JUST FOR THE
WORK HE'S DOING IN THE CITY OF
ATLANTA, BUT HOW GOD IS USING
HIM ALL OVER THE WORLD,
INCLUDING THIS MORNING.
I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU FOR JUST
A FEW SECONDS BEFORE WE DISMISS
ABOUT CAMPUS COMMUNITY LAST
WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I
WAS SO BLESSED TO BE IN IN A
FOOTBALL STADIUM WITH 5,000 OF
YOU AS WE MADE MUCH OF GOD.
SOMETIMES WHEN YOU TAKE
SOMETHING FOR GRANTED, THAT IS
JUST AFFORDED TO YOU ALL THE
TIME, ONE THING I REALLY NOTICED
IS HOW MUCH I LONG TO BE IN THE
SAME ENVIRONMENT WITH BROTHERS
AND SISTERS IN CHRIST, JUST
SINGING AND OPENING GOD'S WORD
AND PRAYING.
SO I'M THANKFUL FOR OUR
PRODUCTION TEAM, OUR STATE SETUP
TEAM, THE JANUARY TUTORIAL TEAM,
THE GOOD FOLKS IN ATHLETICS WHO
ALLOWED US TO USE THEIR SPACE,
OUR LU STAGE' TEAM, THEY PUT SO
MANY HOURS.
TEAM.
OUR CONSTRUCTION TEAM, WHO TOOK
OUT SCAFFOLDING WHEN THEY COULD
OPEN UP MORE SPACE.
I'VE HEARD A LOT OF GRATITUDE
COMING TOWARDS ME AS A CAMPUS
PASTOR FOR THAT NIGHT, BUT
AGAIN, THOSE ARE THE UNSUNG
HEROS THAT GOT IN THERE LONG
BEFORE I SHOWED UP THAT NIGHT
AND PROBABLY STAYED UP THROUGH
THE NIGHT TO TAKE EVERYTHING OFF
THAT END ZONE AND GET US READY
TO HAVE FOOTBALL PRACTICE.
AND SO WHAT AN INCREDIBLE NIGHT
JUST AGAIN FOR US TO WORSHIP
TOGETHER, TO STUDY GO GOD'S WORD
TOGETHER AND PRAY TOGETHER.
I'LL NEVER, EVER FORGET IT.
I WANTED TO SHOW YOU A VIDEO
THAT MARK TOOK FROM THAT
MOMENT.
HERE IS ABOUT 15 OR 20 SECONDS.
>> IN THE SIX YEARS I'VE BEEN ON
STAFF, MARK, JUST ABOUT EVERY
WEDNESDAY NIGHT COMES AND
WOREs WITH US AT CAMPUS
COMMUNITY AND HE SENDS ME
PICTURES AND TEXTS ABOUT THE
SERMON.
SO LOVE HIM.
THANK HIM FOR THAT VIDEO THAT I
THINK HAS 500 VIEWS ALREADY ON
FACEBOOK THAT HE POSTED.
JUST KNOW THAT NEXT WEEK, WE
PLAN TO DO CAMPUS COMMUNITY
AGAIN IN THE FOOTBALL STADIUM.
YOU NEED TO GO AHEAD AND
REGISTER, SO YOU CAN SECURE YOUR
SEAT.
AND WE DO HAVE AN OVERFLOW WE'RE
PLANNING FOR.
YOU JUST REGISTER AND YOU'LL GET
AN EMAIL THAT WILL GIVE YOU
INFORMATION REGARDING THAT.
I BELIEVE PREACHING AT ALL THREE
MORNING SERVICES AT MY HOME
CHURCH, THOMAS ROAD BAPTIST
CHURCH ON SUNDAY.
I KNOW A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS GO
TO AN ARRAY OF AMAZING CHURCHES
IN THE CITY.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE A CHURCH HOME
OR IF YOU WANT TO COME AND
WORSHIP WITH US I'D LOVE TO
UNPACK GOD'S WORD WITH YOU ON
SUNDAY MORNING AT THOMAS ROAD.
I LOVE YOU AND WE'LL SEE YOU
NEXT WEEK.
♪ [ MUSIC ] ♪
