The Heart of God with Dr. Rick Rigsby

June 12, 2026 | 57:59

Dr. Rick Rigsby explores a powerful story of faith, history, and racial healing as The Heart of God reveals how the love of Christ can transform hearts, restore communities, and unite a divided city.

#Racism #CivilRights #Culture #AmericanHistory #Transformation #Healing #LoveyourNeighbor #LoveofGod #Persecution #RickRigsby

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| The Heart of God with Dr. Rick Rigsby | June 12, 2026

>> national guard on duty in little rock.
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>> a drunkard, racist fireman in a racially charged part of
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The united states.
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>> he said i was leading my family to hell.
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>> he just started telling us, you're going to see a change.
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>> a man started the first integrated church in arkansas.
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>> little rock. it was like pure evil.
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>> you could be sitting up here in the parking lot. boom boom,
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Boom boom.
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>> brother paul became a father figure for me. the love he had.
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I wanted that.
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>> black, white, hispanics. everybody was welcome.
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>> we start loving those who hate us. people begin to say,
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Hey, maybe there is something about this god.
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>> he brought everybody from different hoods together. he
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Didn't give up. everybody else gave up.
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>> i did not know how to love until i came to friendly chapel.
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>> love is everything. that is anything.
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>> all through scripture, we're encouraged to develop a heart
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For god. amen. you can. you can even begin with deuteronomy.
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Hear, o israel. for the lord god is one. and then what's
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Next? you shall love the lord your god with all your heart,
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With all your soul, and with all your might. amen. david
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Invited us to cleanse our hearts in psalm 51. y'all
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Remember that. create in me a clean heart and renew a
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Steadfast spirit within me. restore to me the joy of your
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Salvation and sustain within me a willing spirit. and our key
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Verse. i will give you a new heart and put a new spirit
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Within you. i will remove from you your heart of stone and
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Give you a heart of flesh. you will be my people, and i will
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Be your god. and then the very first sermon that jesus ever
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Preached, the very first sermon focused. come on, y'all don't
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Hear what focused on the heart. chapter five, verse eight.
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Blessed are the pure are y'all. y'all didn't catch that.
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Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see god. our
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Story takes place in little rock, arkansas, where one man,
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Born and bred in hatred and brokenness, would say yes to
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The heart of god. his story unfolded against the backdrop
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Of perhaps the greatest movement for justice this
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Nation has ever seen, the civil rights movement.
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>> it is an unhappy truth that racism is a way of life. the
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Vast majority of white americans and i can see nothing
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More urgent for america to get rid of the disease of racism.
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>> they want to throw white children and colored children
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Into the melting pot of. integration of races will be
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Destroyed in such a movement.
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>> i have this day issued orders to the chief of police
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And the police department to continue to make arrests in all
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Violations with reference to the segregation laws.
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>> december 1st, 1955. rather than following the practices of
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Segregation and going to the back of the bus, a retired
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Seamstress challenged segregation and refused to give
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Up her seat. her name? rosa parks, her city. montgomery,
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Alabama.
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>> that was the day that we started a bus protest, which
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Literally electrified the nation.
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>> that moment changed history for many reasons, one being the
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Emergence of a young minister. his name, the reverend doctor,
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Martin luther king jr. he was only 26 years old and was
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Hardly known outside his dexter avenue church congregation.
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Just days following parks arrest, the montgomery
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Improvement association planned the first mass meeting at holt
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Street baptist church. over 5000 people filled the
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Sanctuary and the church basement. martin luther king
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Spoke with what people called a new voice. that particular
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Night, he spoke with a tone of love, and in that love, he
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Issued this challenge. the only weapon we have is the weapon of
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Protest. we're not wrong.
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>> what we are doing, if we are wrong, the supreme court of
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This nation is wrong. if we are wrong. the constitution of the
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United states is wrong. if we are wrong, god almighty is
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Right.
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>> and they had.
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>> never heard anything like the voice of martin luther king
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Jr. literally connecting his message to the beatitudes.
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Blessed are those who persecute you.
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>> the year old protest against city busses is officially
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Called off, and the citizens of montgomery are urged to return
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To the busses tomorrow morning on a nonsegregated basis.
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>> the success of the montgomery bus boycott led to
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The desegregation of bus lines. but not only that, it elevated
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King to national prominence, and it stirred a nation to ask
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One fundamental question do i carry the heart of god? two
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Years after the montgomery bus boycott, another defining
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Moment unfolded. the venue right here, little rock,
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Arkansas, 1957. this time, the battleground was the classroom.
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>> there is nothing strange in seeing nine american children
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Walking to school on a september morning, but this was
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A special morning and a special part of america. a place where
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Children had never gone to school with whites before.
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>> the law of the land decrees integration of white and
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Colored schoolchildren. but racial feeling still runs high
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In the southern states of america.
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>> even though the supreme court said kids can go to
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Public facilities. the south said no showdown.
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>> and it was very chaotic because i had to walk by here
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To go to the school where i was attending because we couldn't
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Attend central high. everything was segregated.
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>> governor orval faubus, a moderate here in arkansas.
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Despite federal law. he brought in the national guard to, quote,
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Maintain civility, peace and order.
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>> i can remember the national guard surrounding the school
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First. there were so many times that we were threatened and
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People were riding by in cars.
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>> but you're just 12 years old in 1957.
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>> it was a way of life back then. everything was pretty
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Much segregated at that particular time.
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>> we along. justice is a lie.
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>> what started with a simple speech in montgomery, alabama,
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Has now grown into a national movement. all of a sudden, the
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Heart of god is beginning to take shape right here in
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America. we must challenge ourselves to have a heart that
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Beats for god. somebody needs to hear this. despite your
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Feelings of inadequacy, despite the fact that you don't feel
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Qualified, god can use you. that's all we're trying to say
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Today, because i know what some of y'all are asking. what does
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That have to do with little rock friendly chapel in north
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Little rock? i'm so glad y'all asked. history shows all the
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Bad in little rock and north little rock, but history
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Doesn't realize there were a lot of black folks and white
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Folks praying. there were a lot of people in this community. i
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Know i've talked to them that were saying, god, please let us
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Have your heart. please let us have your heart. one group of
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Folks, a lot of folks said, you know what? we're glad that
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Orval faubus remember him. young people, if you don't know,
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Learn your history. we're glad that governor orval faubus is
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Calling in the national guard. as a matter of fact, there were
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Some that celebrated it, like paul holyfield, senior, get
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Them blacks out of here. all those. oh, rick, you making
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Stuff up? read his book. he says those words in his book.
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Get him out. get him out of our community. those kids don't
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Belong in our school. get them out. that was 57. everybody say
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1957 with that young firemen didn't realize was that he
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Would have an encounter with almighty god. something
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Miraculous was happening in north little rock, arkansas,
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And it had to do with the prayers of a powerful mama.
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This pulpit, this very pulpit is the fulfillment of a promise,
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A testament of the heart of god.
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>> if you go back to where this all started, brother paul's
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Mother was a sharecropper in 1918, and her seven year old
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Son choked to death on a cotton seed. and the story goes that
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She went into a cotton field and stayed there all night
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Praying. and the people that were with her said there was a
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Light around her. and what she said she prayed for was, if god
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Gave her any more children, she would dedicate them to him. so
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She had four more children, and one of them was paul.
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>> senior mama holderfield prayed for her son paul, for
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Decades. near the end of her life, while battling terminal
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Cancer. she finally saw those prayers answered at her bedside.
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Paul made a promise to her, god, if you let her live until
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Sunday, i'll give my heart to you. well, mama lived through
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Sunday and the son kept his promise.
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>> paul senior was saved the week that she died. so she left
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Here knowing that.
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>> i'm coming. hold on. know i'm not the fastest in the
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World. hey, hey. are you ready to make a pie? yeah.
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>> i'm ready.
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>> we've made a million of them. are your daddy? my gosh, he
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Loved pie. well, paul loved pie.
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>> you're the only one that can make it like daddy, that's for
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Sure. well.
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>> i won't say anything about that, but it's probably true.
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>> oh, it smells good.
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>> yeah.
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>> yeah. this kitchen, a lot happened in this kitchen. daddy
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Cooked all the meals. we didn't use serving bowls and things
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Like that. he just set the pot up and we would come along and
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Fill our plates, sit down over there, and pretty much every
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Night was family night dinner. well, ilan talking about the
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Dinner table that sunday when daddy got saved, remember? and
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And in the car on the way home, paul asked him. he said he was
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Going to come home and pour out all the beer and get rid of his
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Cigars. and paul said, daddy? yeah.
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>> how long do you think that's going to last? he said, i hope.
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>> forever, son.
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>> yeah. and it did. yeah. golly.
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>> so we came home and we sat down to have lunch and he just,
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Daddy just started telling us, you're going to see a change in
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Your daddy and you're going to see a change in this house.
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>> fast forward to 1970. at this point, america had entered
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The post-civil rights era. however, the laws changed far
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Faster than the attitudes in north little rock. paul, one
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Brother, paul, was serving on the church board when a debate
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Arose. black families were moving into the neighborhood,
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And some saw it as a problem. but brother paul disagreed,
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Insisting, quote, we need sinners, not saints, end quote.
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>> i'm this little kid that loves basketball. i dream about
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Basketball. and so i would go to the boys club and play every
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Day. and i grew up very, very poor. and here this white man
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Showed up, started to feed us, and he would hold a devotion. i
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Thought, man, this is the dumbest white man i ever seen
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Because he would feed us first and then he would have the
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Devotion.
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>> oh.
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>> and so when he said a prayer to do the devotion, i was back
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On the pool table or whatever i was doing. and that went on for
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Quite some time until i started to think, now, what if this guy
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Actually gets smart and stop feeding? i'm going to be in
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Trouble. and so at that moment, i started to stay and listen to
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What he had to say. and that's when the word of god started to
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Deal with me. and and i thought, this guy must have something to
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Take his time out and use his own money to feed poor kids
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Like myself.
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>> the story that really touched my heart. it's raining
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And brother paul comes by and picks you up and you're not
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Home. mother can't find you. he goes to church and he's
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Discouraged, right? he he literally is going, god, i made
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A promise to to follow you, but it's not working out. i got 5
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Or 6 kids and what am i doing? and i think i'm going to quit.
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And as the story goes, he's in the foyer of the church, picks
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Out a leaflet. and on that centerfold were the words, if
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You were on trial for being a christian, would they have
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Enough evidence to convict you? and i cried, and i told them i
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Would never, ever give up. i decided that i would leave
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Evidence so that if i was ever arrested for being a christian,
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They'd throw the book at me. as we began to close the service,
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I looked out the window and there was nate with his guitar
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Over his shoulder. he had walked 19 blocks in the rain
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Just to get to church. and from that moment on, brother paul
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Was convinced that he was called by god. and if a young
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Man would walk 19 blocks in the rain, he couldn't quit either.
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>> my friends, they started making fun of me. here's this
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White man and this white van in back 1971. that wasn't really
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Cool.
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>> you know?
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>> and so they called me every name that you can think of. but
00:15:50.230 --> 00:15:53.334
I'm not going to be made fun of. i'm not going to be up. i'm not
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Going to show up. but god just put it on my heart that i
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Needed to be there from that day. god has been dealing in my
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Life from that particular day ever since, 55 years later.
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Goodness.
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>> but soon brother paul discovered another need, one
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That would ultimately lead to a chapel where everyone would be
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Welcome.
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>> i think back and thank god i got one of these village
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Churches in the worst crime area in north little rock and
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Started a soup kitchen. he was preparing me back then. i had
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To be prepared to do that in that neighborhood. and i
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Believe the boy's love prepared me well. it taught me how to be
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Tough on the outside and tender and strong on the inside.
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>> one saturday.
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>> evening.
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>> i was over to the holyfield's house, said, i can
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Spend the night with you guys tonight and go to church with
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You sunday. and when i went over to the church with them
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Sunday, i wasn't treated right because i was black and brother
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Paul decided that he was going to change things and make
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Things better. with the lord's help, he started from the
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Chapel. he was.
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>> a real revolutionary, wasn't he?
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>> oh yes. you have to have a lot of courage to do the lord's
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Work. so he wanted to make a difference and he made a big
00:17:17.284 --> 00:17:20.254
Difference for many years.
00:17:20.254 --> 00:17:22.523
>> paul senior came and he knocked on our door. and he and
00:17:22.523 --> 00:17:26.827
My mom said, i don't know who this white man is at the door.
00:17:26.827 --> 00:17:30.798
She said, but he's not the po po. so she opened the
00:17:30.798 --> 00:17:35.536
Door and brother paul said, ma'am, i just want to ask
00:17:35.536 --> 00:17:39.173
You. he said, i'm brother paul, senior holyfield, and
00:17:39.173 --> 00:17:44.611
I'm fixin to start a church. he said, we'll pick your
00:17:44.611 --> 00:17:47.548
Kids up and bring em back. yeah. and mama said to take
00:17:47.548 --> 00:17:51.952
Him to church with you. she said, come in here. she
00:17:51.952 --> 00:17:55.622
Said, well, here you go. you got six days. she said,
00:17:55.622 --> 00:17:58.892
What time do they need to be ready?
00:17:58.892 --> 00:18:01.728
>> holderfield began cooking meals for 15 neighborhood
00:18:01.728 --> 00:18:04.631
Children while working as a fireman in the north little
00:18:04.631 --> 00:18:06.867
Rock fire department. soon he was feeding 80. in 1972,
00:18:06.867 --> 00:18:12.206
Friendly chapel church of the nazarene was organized in
00:18:12.206 --> 00:18:14.808
Little rock, arkansas.
00:18:14.808 --> 00:18:16.276
>> she just fell in love with brother paul. he didn't cook
00:18:16.276 --> 00:18:20.180
And that man can cook. he would have meatloaf, mashed potatoes,
00:18:20.180 --> 00:18:24.418
A whole nine yards, and then we would get to go in this other
00:18:24.418 --> 00:18:28.355
Room where the clothes and shoes was, because, you know,
00:18:28.355 --> 00:18:32.059
We didn't get clothes. fred klett sure did. and he tell us
00:18:32.059 --> 00:18:35.028
To get, you know, pants, dresses, whatever, you know,
00:18:35.028 --> 00:18:38.799
Church stuff. and then we could get stuff for school. and i
00:18:38.799 --> 00:18:42.803
Remember this house all them 55 years, boy, because every other
00:18:42.803 --> 00:18:47.474
Weekend the boys came to spend the weekend. then the girls
00:18:47.474 --> 00:18:51.545
Would come. ain't that some? they didn't run the.
00:18:51.545 --> 00:18:54.081
>> soup kitchen. he ran it by himself. but paul senior. yeah,
00:18:54.081 --> 00:18:58.752
He cooked everything. then he passed it out.
00:18:58.752 --> 00:19:02.956
>> yeah.
00:19:02.956 --> 00:19:03.724
>> oh man. it's tough.
00:19:03.724 --> 00:19:06.527
>> brother paul became a father figure for me. you know, the
00:19:06.527 --> 00:19:10.097
Love he had. i wanted that █i knew that he was a firefighter.
00:19:10.097 --> 00:19:14.501
And so i decided that's what i was going to do, too. i became
00:19:14.501 --> 00:19:18.839
A fire captain. i was the first black fire captain in the city
00:19:18.839 --> 00:19:21.942
Of north little rock. and because i had watched him and i
00:19:21.942 --> 00:19:25.546
Just wanted to follow in his footsteps.
00:19:25.546 --> 00:19:31.418
>> paul holderfield, who as an adult founded a ministry of
00:19:31.418 --> 00:19:35.055
Racial reconciliation and outreach to a struggling
00:19:35.055 --> 00:19:38.192
Community in north little rock, arkansas, died on january 13th
00:19:38.192 --> 00:19:42.196
Of a heart attack.
00:19:42.196 --> 00:19:43.964
>> you fast forward to his funeral. we're in a big church
00:19:43.964 --> 00:19:49.403
With all the big pastors in north little rock taking turns
00:19:49.403 --> 00:19:53.006
Preaching this man's funeral. and when brother paul junior
00:19:53.006 --> 00:19:56.243
Stood up, when he opened his mouth, the place fell silent. i
00:19:56.243 --> 00:20:00.914
Never had to worry about him. they had an anointing. now you
00:20:00.914 --> 00:20:07.387
Can call it coincidence. you can view it however you like.
00:20:07.387 --> 00:20:11.358
But if you look back to that cotton field and that prayer,
00:20:11.358 --> 00:20:15.662
And then you move forward and look at what has happened. in
00:20:15.662 --> 00:20:22.502
1972, a man started the first integrated church in arkansas.
00:20:22.502 --> 00:20:26.406
That church is sitting square in the center of arkansas, one
00:20:26.406 --> 00:20:32.412
Of the most valuable pieces of real estate in this state. you
00:20:32.412 --> 00:20:37.184
Can't drive to the northwest, the northeast, the southwest,
00:20:37.184 --> 00:20:42.189
Or the southeast without passing that church. how
00:20:42.189 --> 00:20:48.228
Unlikely is that?
00:20:48.228 --> 00:20:50.864
>> when god finds a man or a woman whose heart is committed
00:20:50.864 --> 00:20:57.237
Completely to him, his work is supernatural and the impossible
00:20:57.237 --> 00:21:02.676
Is performed. are y'all with me? i mean, you can read scripture
00:21:02.676 --> 00:21:12.753
From noah to moses to abraham, to ruth, to joshua, to to rahab,
00:21:12.753 --> 00:21:19.092
To david, to peter, to paul, to all the disciples. you know
00:21:19.092 --> 00:21:23.196
What you find in the bible? the same thing you find
00:21:23.196 --> 00:21:26.500
Post-biblical times you find imperfect people with blaring
00:21:26.500 --> 00:21:30.404
Faults and checkered past. those biblical heroes served as
00:21:30.404 --> 00:21:34.107
Models, and they proved to us that the least likeliest
00:21:34.107 --> 00:21:38.345
Depended on god, because they were convinced that god's
00:21:38.345 --> 00:21:41.548
Strength is made perfect in our weakness. right? when you can
00:21:41.548 --> 00:21:46.720
Get over yourself, just keep looking straight ahead. i don't
00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:49.856
Want you to blow your cover when you can get over yourself
00:21:49.856 --> 00:21:55.228
And your ability to try to impress folks when you can get
00:21:55.228 --> 00:21:59.900
Over yourself and all the things you need to prop
00:21:59.900 --> 00:22:06.073
Yourself up, when you can get over yourself and say, god, all
00:22:06.073 --> 00:22:10.811
I am is filthy rags. i have nothing to offer anybody no
00:22:10.811 --> 00:22:15.782
More but god. somewhere i read that the leper said, if you are
00:22:15.782 --> 00:22:21.888
Willing, will you cleanse me? and i read that jesus said, i'm
00:22:21.888 --> 00:22:26.226
Not only willing, i'm able to cleanse you. y'all ain't
00:22:26.226 --> 00:22:34.534
Hearing me. i said, when we can get over ourselves and come
00:22:34.534 --> 00:22:38.105
Just as we are, god will take that hardest. god will take
00:22:38.105 --> 00:22:44.311
That hardest stone. i said he'll take that hardest stone
00:22:44.311 --> 00:22:49.216
Away from you. we tend to glorify and elevate to
00:22:49.216 --> 00:22:54.254
Sainthood. brother paul senior. the reality is he did nothing.
00:22:54.254 --> 00:23:00.427
It was all about jesus. on the morning of september 15th, 1963,
00:23:00.427 --> 00:23:10.871
Parishioners gathered at 16th street baptist church here in
00:23:10.871 --> 00:23:14.474
Birmingham, alabama. this particular sunday was youth day.
00:23:14.474 --> 00:23:18.412
Girls were downstairs preparing to lead worship. but then at
00:23:18.412 --> 00:23:23.817
1022, a bomb planted by white supremacists tore through the
00:23:23.817 --> 00:23:27.487
Church. four young girls were killed. addie mae collins,
00:23:27.487 --> 00:23:32.459
Denise mcnair, carole robertson and cynthia wesley. the images
00:23:32.459 --> 00:23:38.231
Shocked the nation, but what followed reveals something
00:23:38.231 --> 00:23:41.835
Deeper. the church did not retreat. they mourned and they
00:23:41.835 --> 00:23:46.206
Endured. because this was never just political. this was
00:23:46.206 --> 00:23:51.578
Spiritual. a battle between hatred and love, fear and
00:23:51.578 --> 00:23:56.550
Courage.
00:23:56.550 --> 00:23:57.717
>> life is hard. times as hard as crucible. still, it has its
00:23:57.818 --> 00:24:03.390
Bleak and difficult moments. but if one will hold on, he
00:24:03.390 --> 00:24:08.094
Will discover that god walks with him.
00:24:08.094 --> 00:24:12.432
>> in the wild.
00:24:12.432 --> 00:24:14.201
>> and that same faith would take root in communities all
00:24:14.201 --> 00:24:18.238
Throughout the country. for example, in north little rock,
00:24:18.238 --> 00:24:21.408
Brother paul, one carried that conviction into the streets,
00:24:21.408 --> 00:24:24.678
And it didn't stop with brother paul. one under the leadership
00:24:24.678 --> 00:24:28.181
Of brother paul. two that same heart expanded, reaching into
00:24:28.181 --> 00:24:32.919
Prisons, into gangs and into places that many people had
00:24:32.919 --> 00:24:37.257
Written off.
00:24:37.257 --> 00:24:40.160
>> dad started the church. his heart was changed when he saw
00:24:40.160 --> 00:24:43.296
Such prejudice. he wanted to have a church where everybody's
00:24:43.296 --> 00:24:45.866
Welcome, and we've had racial harmony and racial
00:24:45.866 --> 00:24:49.469
Reconciliation in our little part of the world for 51 years.
00:24:49.469 --> 00:24:53.039
And when all the racial turmoil started, i had the privilege of
00:24:53.039 --> 00:24:56.376
Telling our church family, we just got to keep doing what
00:24:56.376 --> 00:24:59.513
We've been doing for 51 years a loving kids, feeding the
00:24:59.513 --> 00:25:03.884
Homeless, clothing our homeless community and just loving them
00:25:03.884 --> 00:25:07.888
Right where they are and letting them know that
00:25:07.888 --> 00:25:11.825
Everything that we do is because of the one who provides
00:25:11.825 --> 00:25:15.395
Us with the resources to do it. his name is jesus.
00:25:15.395 --> 00:25:21.268
>> father, thank you for this day. thank you for our.
00:25:21.268 --> 00:25:23.503
>> open it up and see what.
00:25:23.503 --> 00:25:25.438
>> you got. oh.
00:25:25.438 --> 00:25:26.973
>> now i know why bob beat you down here. i love you, buddy.
00:25:26.973 --> 00:25:33.079
>> delicious.
00:25:33.079 --> 00:25:33.947
>> do you always give praise to tony?
00:25:33.947 --> 00:25:35.549
>> jesus.
00:25:35.549 --> 00:25:36.082
>> alright buddy.
00:25:36.082 --> 00:25:37.150
>> love you. love you too, daddy. brother.
00:25:37.150 --> 00:25:43.557
>> oh my goodness. hurt. when's the last time you've been to
00:25:43.557 --> 00:25:46.626
The flying fish?
00:25:46.626 --> 00:25:48.161
>> this one? yeah.
00:25:48.161 --> 00:25:50.430
>> counting this time?
00:25:50.430 --> 00:25:52.165
>> no. kurt. three months ago.
00:25:52.165 --> 00:25:55.135
>> this time. this isn't it.
00:25:55.135 --> 00:25:59.739
>> and have you ever come here?
00:25:59.739 --> 00:26:01.508
>> yeah.
00:26:01.508 --> 00:26:02.208
>> it's a fun place.
00:26:02.208 --> 00:26:03.209
>> i've caught bigger fish than most of them.
00:26:03.209 --> 00:26:05.478
>> i'm not surprised to hear that.
00:26:05.478 --> 00:26:07.948
>> man, it's great to be together with you all again. i
00:26:07.948 --> 00:26:10.917
Have to tell y'all, the holder feels. especially our mutual
00:26:10.917 --> 00:26:15.855
Friend paul junior could not have had better friends than
00:26:15.855 --> 00:26:20.026
The two of you.
00:26:20.026 --> 00:26:21.361
>> he gave more to me than i gave him, for sure. yeah. i was
00:26:21.361 --> 00:26:24.898
Running a soup truck under bridges here in little rock,
00:26:24.898 --> 00:26:27.801
And when i started, i kept hearing the name brother paul,
00:26:27.801 --> 00:26:30.704
Brother paul. and i thought, i'm gonna go over and meet him.
00:26:30.704 --> 00:26:33.673
You know, i thought, you know, i'd go in and visit with him
00:26:33.673 --> 00:26:36.776
For about five minutes and ended up staying three hours
00:26:36.776 --> 00:26:39.012
For the reasons that his church was. there was the reason i was
00:26:39.012 --> 00:26:42.682
Under the bridge. wow. you know, and i just instantly connected
00:26:42.682 --> 00:26:45.118
With him.
00:26:45.118 --> 00:26:46.286
>> one of the most powerful stories i have ever heard in my
00:26:46.386 --> 00:26:48.788
Life. brother paul was operating the soup kitchen just
00:26:48.788 --> 00:26:50.991
Like he would do regularly. a gentleman came late and became
00:26:50.991 --> 00:26:55.161
Rather agitated when brother paul said, you've. you've
00:26:55.161 --> 00:26:58.798
Missed the soup kitchen for the day. these are the times. and
00:26:58.798 --> 00:27:01.868
The man got violent. he did.
00:27:01.868 --> 00:27:03.837
>> and man's probably about six, six, big man. he was cussing
00:27:03.837 --> 00:27:07.474
And f bombing. he was just being aggressive, telling this
00:27:07.474 --> 00:27:10.276
Man's not who he says he is. he's not. and brother paul just
00:27:10.276 --> 00:27:14.214
Kept walking towards him and he kept walking. the guy drew his
00:27:14.214 --> 00:27:16.750
Fist back. i mean drew it back. and brother paul gets probably
00:27:16.750 --> 00:27:20.320
About 6 to 10in from him. i don't know how far it is and
00:27:20.320 --> 00:27:24.858
This guy just collapses on. just started crying. the guy's
00:27:24.858 --> 00:27:29.396
Apologizing. just saying. i'm so sorry. i'm so sorry that i
00:27:29.396 --> 00:27:32.265
Said that to you. so brother paul gives him a meal. brother
00:27:32.265 --> 00:27:35.669
Paul goes, just skip it. and the guy goes, just skip it. and
00:27:35.669 --> 00:27:41.241
The guy started walking away and he's probably about ten
00:27:41.241 --> 00:27:44.577
Steps away. and he turns around again. he goes, just skip it.
00:27:44.577 --> 00:27:48.515
And he goes, yeah, just skip it. and i thought when i was
00:27:48.515 --> 00:27:52.118
Watching, i thought a psalm. i think it's 103 going that god
00:27:52.118 --> 00:27:56.389
Forgets our sins as far as the east is from the west. it's
00:27:56.389 --> 00:28:00.727
Gone. yeah. he no longer. it's skip it, man. it's like it
00:28:00.727 --> 00:28:04.330
Never happened. oh, and i asked brother paul. we asked. brother
00:28:04.330 --> 00:28:07.734
Paul afterwards said, what did you say to him? and he said,
00:28:07.734 --> 00:28:10.770
Well, when i got close to him, i just said, you're hurting
00:28:10.770 --> 00:28:14.007
Aren't you, man? wow. you're really hurting. wow. and he
00:28:14.007 --> 00:28:16.910
Says, yes, i am. and he just collapsed.
00:28:16.910 --> 00:28:19.412
>> collapsed right there. that is just a great, great story.
00:28:19.412 --> 00:28:23.717
>> verily i say unto you, when you've done it unto one of the
00:28:23.717 --> 00:28:28.088
Least of these, you have done it unto me.
00:28:28.088 --> 00:28:33.860
>> oh, i love you, i love you.
00:28:33.860 --> 00:28:36.763
>> you get back up in there, you know, after, you know,
00:28:36.763 --> 00:28:41.134
You're not going to be almost they're going to change your
00:28:41.134 --> 00:28:43.403
Mind. i like it, i like it. oh, one of the sweetest guys i've
00:28:43.403 --> 00:28:48.241
Ever met. homeless. but he asked me could he possibly lay
00:28:48.241 --> 00:28:52.879
Down because he wasn't feeling well. you join me in praying
00:28:52.879 --> 00:28:56.449
For him.
00:28:56.449 --> 00:28:57.083
>> paul, you are the man.
00:28:57.083 --> 00:28:58.218
>> no, i'm not the man.
00:28:58.218 --> 00:29:00.053
>> no. hold on now. now i'm pointing to the man.
00:29:00.053 --> 00:29:02.255
>> i'm pointing you to the man. but i ain't the man i shouldn't.
00:29:02.255 --> 00:29:06.226
Thank you, brother. you're welcome. steve. you're welcome
00:29:06.226 --> 00:29:08.161
Buddy. love you.
00:29:08.161 --> 00:29:17.036
>> this is just right. two blocks from the church. it's
00:29:17.036 --> 00:29:20.607
Like it was kids everywhere. you could be sitting up here in
00:29:20.607 --> 00:29:25.411
The parking lot. boom, boom, boom, boom. people be shooting
00:29:25.411 --> 00:29:29.048
Just like that. it's just. it was bad. it was bad back then.
00:29:29.048 --> 00:29:32.852
>> little rock was. it was. it was like pure evil. and brother
00:29:32.852 --> 00:29:36.256
Paul knew that, which is one of the main reasons he picked the
00:29:36.256 --> 00:29:39.592
House he picked to live in, because that was one of the
00:29:39.592 --> 00:29:42.929
Worst neighborhoods.
00:29:42.929 --> 00:29:43.696
>> and he never moved.
00:29:43.696 --> 00:29:44.864
>> and he never moved. he didn't give up.
00:29:44.864 --> 00:29:46.933
>> he didn't give up.
00:29:46.933 --> 00:29:48.067
>> everybody else. everybody else gave up. brother paul
00:29:48.067 --> 00:29:51.204
Stood for a purpose bigger than himself. he brought everybody
00:29:51.204 --> 00:29:55.542
From different hoods together in this jam. yeah. like there's
00:29:55.542 --> 00:29:59.179
People from little rock all across the bridge. you know,
00:29:59.179 --> 00:30:01.414
They come to this church different hoods everywhere. he
00:30:01.414 --> 00:30:04.551
Forgave. even if you did him wrong, he'll forgive you. like
00:30:04.551 --> 00:30:07.887
You could do him wrong. i'm talking wrong. it don't even
00:30:07.887 --> 00:30:11.324
Mean. and it's like after he forgive you, it's like you
00:30:11.324 --> 00:30:14.627
Never did it. and i still to this day, don't see how.
00:30:14.627 --> 00:30:18.531
>> oh, are you ready? oh.
00:30:18.531 --> 00:30:20.700
>> and i always heard people talk about brother paul and the
00:30:20.700 --> 00:30:24.270
Entire community knew him. sometimes i was a little bit
00:30:24.270 --> 00:30:26.606
Nervous to talk to him because i didn't know if i'd measure up,
00:30:26.606 --> 00:30:30.844
But he was. he was just a pillar in this community. it
00:30:30.844 --> 00:30:34.781
Didn't matter who you were. it didn't matter where you came
00:30:34.781 --> 00:30:37.984
From. he loved you. he loved people. and it is the most
00:30:37.984 --> 00:30:42.288
Godly thing that i've ever seen in my life.
00:30:42.288 --> 00:30:45.491
>> because i'm telling you, i did not know how to love and do
00:30:45.491 --> 00:30:49.929
For people until i come to friendly chapel. people at my
00:30:49.929 --> 00:30:53.466
Job say how you how you be down there with them gang members. i
00:30:53.466 --> 00:30:57.036
Said, them gang members ain't going to hurt us. i said, we
00:30:57.036 --> 00:31:00.039
Love them. you can mention friendly chapel people. i just
00:31:00.039 --> 00:31:04.677
Light up. hey! oh, brother paul, brother, we know we seen
00:31:04.677 --> 00:31:08.548
Miracles down there on that street.
00:31:08.548 --> 00:31:11.217
>> we had that perfect day. he was in the bedroom watching
00:31:11.217 --> 00:31:15.989
That ball game.
00:31:15.989 --> 00:31:20.493
>> i went to go get a snack in the kitchen. and you went in?
00:31:20.493 --> 00:31:23.730
>> i went.
00:31:23.730 --> 00:31:24.631
>> in to check on him.
00:31:24.631 --> 00:31:26.499
>> and he was laying on the floor. and so i screamed. i
00:31:26.499 --> 00:31:29.535
Mean, i held out hope, but i knew when i looked at him, i
00:31:29.535 --> 00:31:32.672
Bargained with god. i prayed for a miracle. i said, god,
00:31:32.672 --> 00:31:35.942
Please, i know you can. you can bring him back to life. you can,
00:31:35.942 --> 00:31:39.646
You can do anything. please, god, please. and i don't know
00:31:39.646 --> 00:31:43.283
How long i did that. and.
00:31:43.283 --> 00:31:47.520
>> three months.
00:31:47.520 --> 00:31:48.554
>> yeah.
00:31:48.554 --> 00:31:49.689
>> the worst thing i've ever experienced in my life. yeah.
00:31:49.789 --> 00:31:53.593
How you can grieve and praise the lord at the same time.
00:31:53.593 --> 00:31:57.196
>> that's what i said. you have grief in this hand, and then
00:31:57.196 --> 00:32:01.567
You have joy that nobody can take from you in this hand. and
00:32:01.567 --> 00:32:06.539
How they just enjoy wins out every time. as much as i'm
00:32:06.539 --> 00:32:10.877
Missing, joy wins out. and i love you so much. yeah.
00:32:10.877 --> 00:32:16.582
>> we're gonna get through it. yeah. i love you.
00:32:16.582 --> 00:32:22.021
>> cathy sent me. my wife sent me over here because she said
00:32:22.021 --> 00:32:25.091
She wanted a report on how the dressing was.
00:32:25.091 --> 00:32:27.460
>> oh, great.
00:32:27.460 --> 00:32:28.561
>> it was great. awesome. best in town. always good.
00:32:28.561 --> 00:32:31.464
>> all right.
00:32:31.464 --> 00:32:32.665
>> how about the ham and the turkey? it was good. it's all
00:32:32.665 --> 00:32:35.201
Good. awesome. all right. bless you for everything you do. well,
00:32:35.201 --> 00:32:38.972
Bless y'all. y'all are y'all are much bigger blessing to us
00:32:38.972 --> 00:32:41.574
Than we are to y'all. okay. be be.
00:32:41.574 --> 00:32:44.510
>> it was almost like a presidential sendoff because
00:32:44.510 --> 00:32:47.313
When we left the church, interstate was shut down.
00:32:47.313 --> 00:32:52.585
Bridges and overpass. there were people standing up waving
00:32:52.585 --> 00:32:56.589
Flags. people were pulling off the side of the road with their
00:32:56.589 --> 00:32:59.792
Hands over their heart. for brother paul.
00:32:59.792 --> 00:33:02.695
>> the whole city, you know, all of little rock felt the
00:33:02.695 --> 00:33:05.999
Loss of brother paul.
00:33:05.999 --> 00:33:07.367
>> that funeral was huge and i've just never seen anything
00:33:07.367 --> 00:33:12.171
Like it. we arranged to have an escort to make sure that family
00:33:12.171 --> 00:33:16.175
Knew that the north little rock police department loved them.
00:33:16.175 --> 00:33:18.478
It still is not enough to thank him for what he did. i hope
00:33:18.478 --> 00:33:23.016
That i can be half that person that he was.
00:33:23.016 --> 00:33:26.819
>> he would always talk about it wasn't him. it was christ in
00:33:26.819 --> 00:33:30.757
Him. he always gave christ the credit, always gave christ the
00:33:30.757 --> 00:33:35.895
Glory. he is one of the one of the just, true living saints
00:33:35.895 --> 00:33:40.266
That i've ever known.
00:33:40.266 --> 00:33:41.567
>> brother paul never. he never gave up the broom. he never
00:33:41.567 --> 00:33:45.004
Gave up the ladle for serving soup. he never gave up those
00:33:45.004 --> 00:33:49.142
Basics of going picking up the bread. and it wasn't really
00:33:49.142 --> 00:33:52.145
Because he had to. he just didn't want to. and he kept it
00:33:52.145 --> 00:33:55.681
Simple.
00:33:55.681 --> 00:33:56.783
>> how simple is this? soup? soap? salvation. you want to
00:33:56.883 --> 00:34:00.353
Change your community? serve them is. would you agree?
00:34:00.353 --> 00:34:04.957
>> exactly. but also let god change you.
00:34:04.957 --> 00:34:07.160
>> let god change you. you. yeah.
00:34:07.160 --> 00:34:09.328
>> there's a lot of people even that don't know the lord that
00:34:09.328 --> 00:34:12.432
Serve. good point. okay. but you're carrying the presence of
00:34:12.432 --> 00:34:17.236
Christ with you. that's what's so unique. you know, they're
00:34:17.236 --> 00:34:20.339
Not commanded to eat, but we're commanded to feed them. okay,
00:34:20.339 --> 00:34:24.077
Okay. it's on, you know, it's on us. it's who needs who. we
00:34:24.077 --> 00:34:27.146
Need them. we need them more than they need us. yeah,
00:34:27.146 --> 00:34:30.083
Because we're commanded to do that. yeah, but it's more than
00:34:30.083 --> 00:34:32.385
Just the command. it's carrying the presence of jesus. yes.
00:34:32.385 --> 00:34:41.394
>> 90% of the people that come through our doors, they don't
00:34:41.394 --> 00:34:44.397
Ever get to feel that love. they don't get to feel the love
00:34:44.397 --> 00:34:47.533
That that jesus has for them. so we do it for him.
00:34:47.533 --> 00:34:52.538
>> good morning, this man. good morning man, i was homeless, i
00:34:52.538 --> 00:34:57.210
Was a meth head until i was 40, which means i've been clean 24
00:34:57.210 --> 00:35:01.114
Years now. and i came here then it was just a bunch of messed
00:35:01.114 --> 00:35:06.219
Up people trying to be better. and nobody judged you for your
00:35:06.219 --> 00:35:11.224
Past, but you were being uplifted for what you were
00:35:11.224 --> 00:35:14.460
Trying to be. this is. heavenly father, we thank you for this
00:35:14.460 --> 00:35:18.464
Day. help everybody to come through these doors, to feel
00:35:18.464 --> 00:35:21.701
The love and the caring that we have to put forward that
00:35:21.701 --> 00:35:26.706
Brother paul taught us for us. yes. thank you.
00:35:26.706 --> 00:35:34.580
>> what happens when you say, yes, god, you have my
00:35:34.580 --> 00:35:41.053
Everything. you've got me totally. i am so possessed by
00:35:41.053 --> 00:35:45.758
You that i don't want to do anything but serve you. and
00:35:45.758 --> 00:35:50.830
When that happens, when there's a change in here, there's going
00:35:50.830 --> 00:35:53.900
To be a change out there. and friendly chapel just happens to
00:35:53.900 --> 00:35:58.704
Be an example of what can happen if we sacrificially
00:35:58.704 --> 00:36:03.409
Chase the right thing. i have a question for y'all. what are
00:36:03.409 --> 00:36:06.145
You chasing right now? hey, fellas, you ever chased the
00:36:06.145 --> 00:36:10.149
Wrong girl? ladies, let me hear you say, hey, you ever waste
00:36:10.149 --> 00:36:17.890
Your time chasing the wrong fella? what are you chasing
00:36:17.890 --> 00:36:28.234
This morning? for too many years of my life. i chased
00:36:28.234 --> 00:36:31.804
After approval, trying to appease the sensibilities of
00:36:31.804 --> 00:36:35.775
People i didn't even know. you want to see change in your
00:36:35.775 --> 00:36:39.779
Family? chase after him. you want to see change in the
00:36:39.779 --> 00:36:42.982
Community. chase after him. you want to see everything change.
00:36:42.982 --> 00:36:47.720
Chase after him. in the spring of 1965, the struggle for civil
00:36:47.720 --> 00:36:56.729
Rights reached a critical turning point in selma, alabama.
00:36:56.729 --> 00:37:01.067
For many black citizens, the right to vote was nearly
00:37:01.067 --> 00:37:04.270
Impossible. now, once again, leaders called for action. a
00:37:04.270 --> 00:37:08.608
Peaceful march from selma to montgomery. on march the 7th,
00:37:08.608 --> 00:37:13.246
Hundreds stepped onto the edmund pettus bridge, awaiting
00:37:13.246 --> 00:37:17.016
On the other side of the bridge, the alabama state troopers, in
00:37:17.016 --> 00:37:21.120
What became known as bloody sunday, peaceful men and women
00:37:21.120 --> 00:37:26.525
Were met with violence. clubs, tear gas brutally broadcasts
00:37:26.525 --> 00:37:31.597
All across the watching nation, but the movement did not
00:37:31.597 --> 00:37:35.568
Retreat. days later, thousands were turned, walking side by
00:37:35.568 --> 00:37:41.340
Side for 54 miles, and when they reached the alabama state
00:37:41.340 --> 00:37:45.978
Capitol, doctor martin luther king junior stood and declared
00:37:45.978 --> 00:37:49.615
That justice would not be denied. within months, the
00:37:49.615 --> 00:37:54.987
Voting rights act of 1965 became law. it was a moment
00:37:54.987 --> 00:37:59.659
That proved something powerful. real change never happens in
00:37:59.659 --> 00:38:05.464
Isolation. it takes people coming together, standing
00:38:05.464 --> 00:38:09.368
Together, walking together. the civil rights movement did not
00:38:09.368 --> 00:38:13.706
Just change laws, it changed lives. it shaped communities.
00:38:13.706 --> 00:38:17.677
It impacted generations to come. and in places like little rock,
00:38:17.677 --> 00:38:22.048
That same spirit of faith and action continue through leaders
00:38:22.048 --> 00:38:25.618
Like brother paul the second, whose life was marked by
00:38:25.618 --> 00:38:29.188
Bringing people together, reaching across divides, and
00:38:29.188 --> 00:38:33.125
Transforming a city, an impact that lasted throughout the
00:38:33.125 --> 00:38:37.496
Decades and continues to resonate today.
00:38:37.496 --> 00:38:45.037
>> good morning everybody.
00:38:45.037 --> 00:38:46.472
>> good morning paul. paul.
00:38:46.472 --> 00:38:48.641
>> yeah. what we got today, we got chili. we're serving chili
00:38:48.641 --> 00:38:52.244
Today.
00:38:52.244 --> 00:38:52.712
>> right, baby?
00:38:52.712 --> 00:38:53.913
>> you know, your dad used to cook chili for the appreciation
00:38:54.013 --> 00:38:56.649
Dinner. is that going to be something you're going to.
00:38:56.649 --> 00:38:58.818
>> i'm not over.
00:38:58.818 --> 00:38:59.819
>> i'm not going to do.
00:38:59.819 --> 00:39:01.687
>> i'm not a cook. i'm not a cook. i will help put it
00:39:01.687 --> 00:39:04.824
Together. but yeah, i'm not cooking.
00:39:04.824 --> 00:39:06.692
>> it's good.
00:39:06.692 --> 00:39:07.860
>> will you serve anywhere from 180 to 210 on a daily basis?
00:39:07.960 --> 00:39:17.103
>> same thing. you know what i mean, i did. morning, morning.
00:39:17.103 --> 00:39:20.106
>> morning. all right. yes, sir. yes, sir.
00:39:20.106 --> 00:39:22.475
>> good, good real good, real good.
00:39:22.475 --> 00:39:25.378
>> good morning, good morning, good morning. hey, pal.
00:39:25.378 --> 00:39:28.948
Everybody doing all right? yes, sir. yes, sir. yes, sir. every
00:39:28.948 --> 00:39:33.386
Once in a while, a.
00:39:33.386 --> 00:39:35.488
>> soup kitchen is about to start. this is one of the great
00:39:35.488 --> 00:39:38.824
Things that friendly chapel. am i going to get to see brother
00:39:38.824 --> 00:39:41.861
Paul?
00:39:41.861 --> 00:39:42.328
>> good morning.
00:39:42.328 --> 00:39:43.028
>> good morning. where is he?
00:39:43.028 --> 00:39:44.630
>> hey, come on. brother paul. yes, sir. what's going on?
00:39:44.630 --> 00:39:47.366
What's going on?
00:39:47.366 --> 00:39:48.434
>> it's good to see you.
00:39:48.434 --> 00:39:49.969
>> how you doing? good, good. love you man.
00:39:49.969 --> 00:39:52.071
>> you want to pray with us this morning? all right.
00:39:52.071 --> 00:39:54.974
>> come on.
00:39:54.974 --> 00:39:56.208
>> hey, fellas. how y'all doing? it's good to see you, man. hey,
00:39:56.308 --> 00:39:58.978
Good to see y'all. jean. good to see you, brother. love you
00:39:58.978 --> 00:40:01.981
Too. hey, everybody.
00:40:01.981 --> 00:40:03.149
>> how y'all doing?
00:40:03.149 --> 00:40:04.350
>> friend and pastor, doctor rick rigsby. so let's open up
00:40:04.350 --> 00:40:07.453
In prayer and then we'll we will get get started. lord,
00:40:07.453 --> 00:40:12.558
Thank you for this day. thank you for giving us and our
00:40:12.558 --> 00:40:15.294
Church the ability to serve. i pray that they have a great day,
00:40:15.294 --> 00:40:18.431
A great rest of their week. i pray that they're blessed. i
00:40:18.431 --> 00:40:21.434
Pray that this food be nourishment to their bodies
00:40:21.434 --> 00:40:24.069
Again. lord, we just want to tell you how much we. we love
00:40:24.069 --> 00:40:27.506
You. how thankful, thankful we are for what you do for us and
00:40:27.506 --> 00:40:30.576
What you will do for us. we love you and it's in jesus name
00:40:30.576 --> 00:40:33.746
We pray. amen.
00:40:33.746 --> 00:40:34.680
>> amen, amen.
00:40:34.680 --> 00:40:35.614
>> alright.
00:40:35.614 --> 00:40:36.148
>> let's come on in.
00:40:36.148 --> 00:40:37.516
>> this picture is very, very special to you, to your mother,
00:40:37.516 --> 00:40:40.486
To your entire family. it's special to all of us. this is a
00:40:40.486 --> 00:40:44.924
Picture that was taken of a man that found out where your mom
00:40:44.924 --> 00:40:50.029
And dad lived, and was hungry, and comes to your front door,
00:40:50.029 --> 00:40:55.401
And your father answers the door, turns around and says,
00:40:55.401 --> 00:40:59.004
Mama, fix this man some food. and this was the picture that
00:40:59.004 --> 00:41:03.976
Was captured.
00:41:03.976 --> 00:41:05.244
>> it was interesting because, you know, we're all together as
00:41:05.244 --> 00:41:07.446
A family that day, everybody's day off, it's a holiday and
00:41:07.446 --> 00:41:10.182
This guy's hungry. he comes to the door and when you see this
00:41:10.182 --> 00:41:14.487
Guy crying and embracing my father, you see what it means
00:41:14.487 --> 00:41:19.124
To people. and and you start seeing yourself like, what
00:41:19.124 --> 00:41:23.262
Impact could i make on somebody?
00:41:23.262 --> 00:41:25.264
>> what's going on? good morning. how are you doing?
00:41:25.264 --> 00:41:28.167
Good to see y'all.
00:41:28.167 --> 00:41:29.535
>> wait till you taste this.
00:41:29.535 --> 00:41:30.736
>> yeah. oh yeah. it's good.
00:41:30.736 --> 00:41:32.538
>> good morning. even though you got a dallas cowboy hat on,
00:41:32.538 --> 00:41:35.708
I'm gonna still give you some.
00:41:35.708 --> 00:41:37.576
>> are they disappointed?
00:41:37.576 --> 00:41:38.911
>> hey, i got some good news. the cowboys are going to the
00:41:38.911 --> 00:41:43.215
Super bowl next year if they buy tickets.
00:41:43.215 --> 00:41:48.287
>> yeah. i'm going. what's going on? he out here joking.
00:41:48.287 --> 00:41:51.857
Good day. what's going on? you doing all right? i don't.
00:41:51.857 --> 00:41:55.895
>> care who you are.
00:41:55.895 --> 00:41:56.929
>> that's funny. yeah.
00:41:56.929 --> 00:41:58.297
>> is that the old sanctuary? can i take.
00:41:58.297 --> 00:42:01.000
>> a look at it?
00:42:01.000 --> 00:42:02.535
>> because. yeah. come on in.
00:42:02.535 --> 00:42:03.802
>> this was the very first time that i met y'all right here in
00:42:03.802 --> 00:42:07.540
This building.
00:42:07.540 --> 00:42:08.374
>> so are you preaching this church?
00:42:08.374 --> 00:42:09.775
>> yeah, i preached in this church. i want to say it was
00:42:09.775 --> 00:42:12.678
2000 was the very first time. and it it looked huge back then.
00:42:12.678 --> 00:42:16.015
That was 20 some years ago. and i remember i fell in love with
00:42:16.015 --> 00:42:20.286
Your family, fell in love with friendly chapel. i remember
00:42:20.286 --> 00:42:23.722
Calling my wife saying, i have never seen church like this.
00:42:23.722 --> 00:42:27.793
It's not what they do, it's who they are. they just love folks.
00:42:27.793 --> 00:42:33.532
They feed folks. they care for folks. and i've been all over
00:42:33.532 --> 00:42:36.936
The world. i've never seen a church. brother paul, like the
00:42:36.936 --> 00:42:39.838
Church your grandfather started like the church, your father
00:42:39.838 --> 00:42:43.676
Continued. and now like the church that you're privileged
00:42:43.676 --> 00:42:46.011
To shepherd.
00:42:46.011 --> 00:42:47.246
>> this church is was 55 years last year. so my grandpa
00:42:47.246 --> 00:42:51.550
Started it. and then when he passed away, my dad took over
00:42:51.550 --> 00:42:55.120
And i never thought i'd be here. but but here we are. i was a
00:42:55.120 --> 00:42:59.458
Doctor, chiropractor, and just i enjoyed my job. and then
00:42:59.458 --> 00:43:02.962
After my dad passed, it just it wasn't i didn't enjoy going to
00:43:02.962 --> 00:43:06.298
Work anymore.
00:43:06.298 --> 00:43:07.399
>> would you say that leaders are cornered?
00:43:07.399 --> 00:43:09.435
>> yeah. leaders. leaders can be cornered, that's for sure.
00:43:09.435 --> 00:43:11.837
>> what was going through your mind, brother paul, when you
00:43:11.837 --> 00:43:15.641
Started wondering, god, are you calling me? because i think
00:43:15.641 --> 00:43:18.844
There's so many people that are watching right now that wonder,
00:43:18.844 --> 00:43:21.413
God, how could you be calling me, using me?
00:43:21.413 --> 00:43:24.717
>> i was just kind of in shock for, for a while. and i feel
00:43:24.717 --> 00:43:28.754
Like god's calling me to be here. but i got a lot of
00:43:28.754 --> 00:43:32.591
Concerns. people would ask. they would say, hey, you know,
00:43:32.591 --> 00:43:35.094
Is it going to continue?
00:43:35.094 --> 00:43:36.929
>> footsy man, love you.
00:43:36.929 --> 00:43:39.465
>> it's hard on our church. i think that's one of the things
00:43:39.465 --> 00:43:42.601
I worried about, i know was what were we going to do with
00:43:42.601 --> 00:43:45.638
Our.
00:43:45.638 --> 00:43:46.271
>> church.
00:43:46.271 --> 00:43:47.373
>> the congregation, everybody just felt lost. you know,
00:43:47.473 --> 00:43:50.943
Everybody had been saying it has to be a holder field. it
00:43:50.943 --> 00:43:54.079
Has to be a holder field, you know? and we're like, well, you
00:43:54.079 --> 00:43:57.416
Know, that's god. god has to do that. not not us.
00:43:57.416 --> 00:44:01.353
>> when brother paul philip announced that he was going to
00:44:01.353 --> 00:44:04.623
Take over friendly chapel as pastor.
00:44:04.623 --> 00:44:07.426
>> the lord has put his hand on paul philip holderfield and to
00:44:07.426 --> 00:44:12.531
Accept a call into ministry.
00:44:12.531 --> 00:44:16.468
>> the whole congregation just went in the whole world and
00:44:16.468 --> 00:44:21.173
Clapping. went crazy. yes, everybody was clapping.
00:44:21.173 --> 00:44:33.085
>> brother paul, philip holderfield the third.
00:44:33.085 --> 00:44:36.622
>> and i'm not. yes, everybody just went crazy.
00:44:36.622 --> 00:44:45.631
>> it's wonderful. chapel.
00:44:45.631 --> 00:44:52.871
>> as soon as it happened i. not audibly, but in my spirit i
00:44:52.871 --> 00:44:58.577
Heard god say, is that quick enough for you? do you not
00:44:58.577 --> 00:45:01.780
Trust me? do you not know i'm in control? yeah. you know, and
00:45:01.780 --> 00:45:07.252
I'm like, yes it is. you know, it's quick enough.
00:45:07.252 --> 00:45:10.255
>> all the miracles.
00:45:10.255 --> 00:45:11.290
>> but it's his timing. it had to be his timing.
00:45:11.290 --> 00:45:18.130
>> thank you. thank you master. good morning. good morning. how
00:45:18.130 --> 00:45:20.933
Are you? good, good.
00:45:20.933 --> 00:45:22.000
>> good to see you.
00:45:22.000 --> 00:45:23.168
>> how you doing, man? good things are going well. yeah.
00:45:23.168 --> 00:45:25.404
>> i get to show you the. what's going on. good to see
00:45:25.404 --> 00:45:29.174
You. you doing alright? doing alright? good to see you.
00:45:29.174 --> 00:45:33.512
Thanks for coming. i sit up there. yeah. and i just looked.
00:45:33.512 --> 00:45:37.483
>> at him. he say it.
00:45:37.483 --> 00:45:39.151
>> may cry. i told him don't.
00:45:39.151 --> 00:45:40.419
>> cry baby. hey do what you gotta do. thank you, thank you.
00:45:40.419 --> 00:45:44.189
Thank you, thank you. hey, don't worry about that. it
00:45:44.189 --> 00:45:46.325
Ain't wouldn't be the first time here, would it? no, no.
00:45:46.325 --> 00:45:49.228
That's right. it's going to be. it's going to be a good service.
00:45:49.228 --> 00:45:52.397
Yeah. well, i'm glad you're here now. and i'll be looking
00:45:52.397 --> 00:45:55.300
For you every sunday from now on.
00:45:55.300 --> 00:45:57.169
>> he will.
00:45:57.169 --> 00:45:58.337
>> he will. yeah he will. yeah. it's good to have you here.
00:45:58.437 --> 00:46:01.173
Love you too, baby. yeah. love you too. that's right. good.
00:46:01.173 --> 00:46:03.509
>> this is the day the lord has made. we will rejoice and be
00:46:03.509 --> 00:46:07.246
Glad in it. it's an old.
00:46:07.246 --> 00:46:09.581
>> it's easy.
00:46:09.581 --> 00:46:10.349
>> like sunday morning.
00:46:10.349 --> 00:46:11.416
>> oh, look at you.
00:46:11.416 --> 00:46:13.819
>> i had one thing to. what? i'm talking about. me and you.
00:46:13.819 --> 00:46:16.922
>> okay, good.
00:46:16.922 --> 00:46:19.291
>> i let you hear it.
00:46:19.291 --> 00:46:20.659
>> surprise you. brother.
00:46:20.659 --> 00:46:22.127
>> i was thinking about how we've been, you know, preparing
00:46:22.127 --> 00:46:24.463
The last week and how i'll ask the question. you come in and
00:46:24.463 --> 00:46:27.599
It's going to. i think it's going to be special.
00:46:27.599 --> 00:46:30.269
>> i do, i do too. i love.
00:46:30.269 --> 00:46:32.304
>> what you said when we first started talking about this
00:46:32.304 --> 00:46:34.640
Documentary, you said, i have one.
00:46:34.640 --> 00:46:36.475
>> question, remember?
00:46:36.475 --> 00:46:37.643
>> what did.
00:46:37.643 --> 00:46:38.043
>> you say?
00:46:38.043 --> 00:46:39.111
>> i said, it's going to glorify jesus. yeah. is it
00:46:39.111 --> 00:46:41.713
Going to be about him?
00:46:41.713 --> 00:46:42.848
>> yeah.
00:46:42.848 --> 00:46:44.049
>> as you think about your 50 plus year relationship with
00:46:44.049 --> 00:46:46.051
Friendly chapel, you think about brother paul, his son,
00:46:46.051 --> 00:46:49.488
Brother paul junior, and now brother paul junior's son paul
00:46:49.488 --> 00:46:52.424
The third. what is the one constant that you have seen in
00:46:52.424 --> 00:46:58.130
Five decades of this church? being in north little rock.
00:46:58.130 --> 00:47:02.034
>> people loving, giving, growing, caring for each other
00:47:02.034 --> 00:47:07.439
And that work is going to continue.
00:47:07.439 --> 00:47:09.274
>> he did a fantastic job of preparing us for this. he
00:47:09.274 --> 00:47:13.011
Preached it from the pulpit that, you know, one day that he
00:47:13.011 --> 00:47:16.215
Would be the one laying there in front of us and and but that
00:47:16.215 --> 00:47:20.085
Doesn't mean the lord was going anywhere. you feel the holy
00:47:20.085 --> 00:47:22.588
Spirit here, and it's not because of anything that we're
00:47:22.588 --> 00:47:26.625
Doing. it's the work that the lord is doing with a bunch of
00:47:26.625 --> 00:47:29.895
Bunch of folks. you know, we're just ordinary people coming to
00:47:29.895 --> 00:47:33.432
Work every day, and i'm here 5 or 6 days a week and don't want
00:47:33.432 --> 00:47:37.269
To be anywhere else. i'll be here till the lord takes me
00:47:37.269 --> 00:47:39.938
Home.
00:47:39.938 --> 00:47:41.139
>> i mean, how many times did paul say paul junior say, we're
00:47:41.240 --> 00:47:44.042
Going to keep doing what we've been doing for 50 years.
00:47:44.042 --> 00:47:46.945
>> for 54 years. we're going to keep on doing it. do you
00:47:46.945 --> 00:47:50.015
Remember what your daddy said? we came.
00:47:50.015 --> 00:47:52.184
>> yeah, and stayed.
00:47:52.184 --> 00:47:53.952
>> we came when they didn't want.
00:47:53.952 --> 00:47:55.854
>> us stay till they couldn't do.
00:47:55.854 --> 00:47:57.656
>> without, couldn't do without us. and so that's where we are.
00:47:57.656 --> 00:48:01.193
We were planted that many years ago when everybody said, you're
00:48:01.193 --> 00:48:04.496
Going to get killed down there. it's the worst crime area in
00:48:04.496 --> 00:48:08.033
Little rock, north little rock, maybe the state of arkansas.
00:48:08.033 --> 00:48:11.236
And we stayed till they couldn't do without us.
00:48:11.236 --> 00:48:14.006
>> he wanted everybody to know that jesus that changed his
00:48:14.006 --> 00:48:17.009
Life.
00:48:17.009 --> 00:48:19.811
>> what happens in a community when one person says yes to
00:48:19.811 --> 00:48:24.850
Jesus.
00:48:24.850 --> 00:48:25.984
>> it makes a drastic change. it revolutionized the whole
00:48:26.084 --> 00:48:29.154
Entire city, and especially the city of north little rock. it
00:48:29.154 --> 00:48:33.692
Was radically changed because of what had happened at
00:48:33.692 --> 00:48:37.062
Friendly chapel and brother paul senior. and then later on
00:48:37.062 --> 00:48:40.032
The same. the transformation continued when brother paul
00:48:40.032 --> 00:48:44.636
Junior took over the pastorship. and it's still going on today
00:48:44.636 --> 00:48:49.374
With our third pastor, brother paul phillip. yes, yes, amen.
00:48:49.374 --> 00:48:54.780
>> like he said, he would rather be a sermon than give a
00:48:54.780 --> 00:48:57.816
Sermon. and nonbelievers don't believe in jesus christ because
00:48:57.816 --> 00:49:02.321
Christians look like they do. they don't see us making a
00:49:02.321 --> 00:49:04.823
Difference. they don't see selflessness and humility and
00:49:04.823 --> 00:49:08.427
Sacrifice. and the things that jesus called us to. and that's
00:49:08.427 --> 00:49:12.497
That was the calling for brother paul senior and brother
00:49:12.497 --> 00:49:15.400
Paul junior in the church. if there was more churches like
00:49:15.400 --> 00:49:18.503
That, then people would realize, oh, there really is something
00:49:18.503 --> 00:49:22.107
Different about jesus.
00:49:22.107 --> 00:49:23.342
>> the world will be a better place. the united states will
00:49:23.342 --> 00:49:26.144
Be a better place. if it was more of like friendly chapel.
00:49:26.144 --> 00:49:31.183
>> lord, i'll say that. so i give you a hug. oh, don't put
00:49:31.183 --> 00:49:36.054
Me on that.
00:49:36.054 --> 00:49:39.691
>> oh.
00:49:39.691 --> 00:49:46.631
>> he's always okay.
00:49:46.631 --> 00:49:47.966
>> it's simple. enacting the gospel is simple, and it's
00:49:47.966 --> 00:49:52.004
Something that shouldn't be a part of our life. it should be
00:49:52.004 --> 00:49:54.873
All our lives. if you put your arm around somebody that's got
00:49:54.873 --> 00:49:59.544
Vomit down their shirt and hadn't took a bath in a week,
00:49:59.544 --> 00:50:04.182
You might be on to something you might be on. that's what
00:50:04.182 --> 00:50:07.185
Friendly chapel specializes in.
00:50:07.185 --> 00:50:09.254
>> it took one brother meeting, one brother paul for me to
00:50:09.254 --> 00:50:12.524
Believe that it could be lived that way. but the question is,
00:50:12.524 --> 00:50:16.028
Will you be that one that takes courage to walk out a whole new
00:50:16.028 --> 00:50:22.167
Life and a new calling for some people to make a whole life
00:50:22.167 --> 00:50:25.270
Change?
00:50:25.270 --> 00:50:26.171
>> you ain't got to reinvent the lord's love.
00:50:26.271 --> 00:50:28.340
>> yeah.
00:50:28.340 --> 00:50:29.474
>> come on at all. you just gotta show it before you tell
00:50:29.574 --> 00:50:31.610
It.
00:50:31.610 --> 00:50:34.112
>> oh my lord. oh, i love.
00:50:34.112 --> 00:50:43.822
>> oh, brother paul. now your grandpa was a golden gloves
00:50:43.822 --> 00:50:47.793
Champ.
00:50:47.793 --> 00:50:48.927
>> he was a golden glove champ. and his old family photo.
00:50:49.027 --> 00:50:51.063
That's me up there.
00:50:51.063 --> 00:50:53.165
>> in the corner there.
00:50:53.165 --> 00:50:55.734
>> oh my goodness. would you look at that.
00:50:55.734 --> 00:50:58.603
>> now do you remember giving this book to my dad?
00:50:58.603 --> 00:51:00.939
>> oh my gosh. oswald chambers my utmost for his highest.
00:51:00.939 --> 00:51:03.975
>> yeah. and you wrote in there. you wrote it was from you. and
00:51:03.975 --> 00:51:07.312
This was 2005, a couple days before my birthday.
00:51:07.312 --> 00:51:09.481
>> gosh, i.
00:51:09.481 --> 00:51:10.649
>> remember this. this is really look at this. he wrote
00:51:10.649 --> 00:51:13.285
All through this book.
00:51:13.285 --> 00:51:14.519
>> he wrote all through it. and i don't know, i came across
00:51:14.519 --> 00:51:17.422
This, but right here he wrote something and it was something
00:51:17.422 --> 00:51:20.292
That you told him. yeah. and in here it says, quit trying to
00:51:20.292 --> 00:51:23.361
Prove yourself, paul here. your daddy, paul, he is proud of his
00:51:23.361 --> 00:51:28.467
Son. and he wrote down here rick rigsby.
00:51:28.467 --> 00:51:32.437
>> i remember that, and i sensed that with your dad. and
00:51:32.437 --> 00:51:35.540
I just told him, your father is proud of you. there is no need
00:51:35.540 --> 00:51:39.344
To prove your worth or the rightness of what you do. and
00:51:39.344 --> 00:51:42.514
What i find interesting, paul, is that the very same comments
00:51:42.514 --> 00:51:47.752
That i shared with your dad, i am now privileged brother to
00:51:47.752 --> 00:51:51.556
Share with you.
00:51:51.556 --> 00:51:52.924
>> talked about me and pastor rick's relationship. you know,
00:51:52.924 --> 00:51:57.462
I'm 37 and i, i ran a marathon last year. he's 70 and had foot
00:51:57.462 --> 00:52:02.067
And a foot surgery and shoulder surgery last year. i go to bed
00:52:02.067 --> 00:52:07.606
At 11. he goes to bed at 830. and if you've ever heard him
00:52:07.606 --> 00:52:15.380
Preach, he likes to call himself pretty ricky. but what
00:52:15.380 --> 00:52:25.457
Unites us? doesn't our heart beat the same? yes. people.
00:52:25.457 --> 00:52:29.661
Listen up. you got to get this part. yeah. the common unifier
00:52:29.661 --> 00:52:33.765
Is we both have a heart that beats for god. and that makes
00:52:33.765 --> 00:52:38.670
All things possible. yes, it says where two or more gather.
00:52:38.670 --> 00:52:43.842
He is in our midst and we are gathering here this morning. i
00:52:43.842 --> 00:52:47.646
Say again, all things are possible because both of our
00:52:47.646 --> 00:52:49.781
Hearts beat for god. it isn't about color. it's not about age.
00:52:49.781 --> 00:52:53.418
Yes, it's about the heart of god. amen. as a church, we need
00:52:53.418 --> 00:52:59.224
To stop making excuses. stop saying brother paul's not here
00:52:59.224 --> 00:53:06.398
No more. neither is moses, neither is joshua. but god's
00:53:06.398 --> 00:53:10.101
Here right now. and i was worried about will people stop
00:53:10.101 --> 00:53:16.007
Coming to church? i you know, i'm not a public speaker. i'm
00:53:16.007 --> 00:53:19.010
Not a i'm not a preacher. people sometimes say that you
00:53:19.010 --> 00:53:22.247
Got big shoes to fill and. but, you know, that's not my job.
00:53:22.247 --> 00:53:26.551
You know, they gave me a great example. so i'm going to follow
00:53:26.551 --> 00:53:29.688
Those footsteps and, and yes, i can't fill their shoes, but i
00:53:29.688 --> 00:53:32.657
Got to the point where i knew that if i just followed and was
00:53:32.657 --> 00:53:36.995
Obedient to, to god's calling, that he would take care of the
00:53:36.995 --> 00:53:40.565
Rest.
00:53:40.565 --> 00:53:43.101
>> personally, i am so proud of you. i can hear your daddy
00:53:43.101 --> 00:53:47.372
Right now saying i'm proud of him.
00:53:47.372 --> 00:53:52.444
>> you said one thing you said, you know, i know if it was the
00:53:52.444 --> 00:53:55.647
Other way around, your dad would have been there for my
00:53:55.647 --> 00:53:58.583
Kids.
00:53:58.583 --> 00:53:59.117
>> so he would have.
00:53:59.117 --> 00:54:00.452
>> you know. yeah. i just really appreciate you. and, you
00:54:00.452 --> 00:54:02.687
Know, there was one time where i didn't feel like i had nobody
00:54:02.687 --> 00:54:06.458
To talk to. and so, you know, i'm just really thankful for
00:54:06.458 --> 00:54:09.461
You. i love you.
00:54:09.461 --> 00:54:11.396
>> i love you.
00:54:11.396 --> 00:54:20.905
>> lord, thank you that we can come to this church, lord, and
00:54:20.905 --> 00:54:24.209
Listen about your word and that we can just come in your house.
00:54:24.209 --> 00:54:27.445
And i just want to pray that papa was happy in heaven with
00:54:27.445 --> 00:54:31.549
Grace and grace, papa. and like seeing dodger and everybody
00:54:31.549 --> 00:54:33.818
Else and all the other pets, lord. and just thank you for
00:54:33.818 --> 00:54:36.688
This day, lord, and we all love you, jesus and god. in jesus
00:54:36.688 --> 00:54:39.791
Name i'll say amen. amen.
00:54:39.791 --> 00:54:42.861
>> great job son. i'm really proud of you.
00:54:42.861 --> 00:54:46.531
>> we can help those who help us and love those who love us,
00:54:46.531 --> 00:54:50.769
And be nice to those who's nice to us and give to those who's
00:54:50.769 --> 00:54:54.239
Give us. and no one will ever even expect that god's anywhere
00:54:54.239 --> 00:54:57.208
Around. but when we start loving those who hate us and
00:54:57.208 --> 00:55:02.347
Being nice to those who's nasty to us, and helping those who's
00:55:02.347 --> 00:55:06.618
Never helped no one, people begin to say, hey, maybe there
00:55:06.618 --> 00:55:08.920
Is something about this god, hey, maybe we have seen god.
00:55:08.920 --> 00:55:13.458
Amen. i want to be like jesus.
00:55:13.458 --> 00:55:17.395
>> people are always going to be people, love them, care for
00:55:17.395 --> 00:55:21.066
Them, help them, feed them. i don't care what year, what year
00:55:21.066 --> 00:55:25.070
It is, if it's 20, 50 or 2070, people are going to need to be
00:55:25.070 --> 00:55:28.940
Loved and to see the love of christ and how you treat them.
00:55:28.940 --> 00:55:33.111
And so hopefully french family a whole lot in the future. what
00:55:33.111 --> 00:55:37.248
It's been in the past.
00:55:37.248 --> 00:55:38.383
>> oh, man.
00:55:38.383 --> 00:55:40.218
>> who is it? hey, bryson, how are you doing? tyler. ball
00:55:40.218 --> 00:55:44.789
Cannonball!
00:55:44.789 --> 00:55:46.958
>> hey, tyler. come here.
00:55:46.958 --> 00:55:50.562
>> yes or no? did god stop doing miracles after brother
00:55:50.562 --> 00:55:53.832
Paul? senior? did god stop doing miracles after brother
00:55:53.832 --> 00:55:57.736
Paul? junior? is god stopping doing miracles with brother
00:55:57.736 --> 00:56:01.806
Paul the third? no, because god's work is not contingent
00:56:01.806 --> 00:56:06.010
Upon any man or any woman. so here's the message of the our
00:56:06.010 --> 00:56:11.383
Father. i want a heart that beats for you. so i close by
00:56:11.383 --> 00:56:16.187
Asking you, what is possessing your heart? would you do a
00:56:16.187 --> 00:56:19.357
Homework assignment if i gave it to you? i'm going to ask you
00:56:19.357 --> 00:56:22.394
Again and just lie to me. and just instead of that, would you
00:56:22.394 --> 00:56:25.497
Do a homework assignment if i gave it to you? read revelation
00:56:25.497 --> 00:56:30.168
Three. pastor rick. i don't know where revelation is. just
00:56:30.168 --> 00:56:33.338
Keep reading the bible. you'll get there. read revelation
00:56:33.338 --> 00:56:36.608
Three. read about what jesus said about a lukewarm person. a
00:56:36.608 --> 00:56:45.683
Lukewarm christian made jesus sick and it makes him ill today.
00:56:45.683 --> 00:56:51.055
What are you saying, pastor rick? even though your
00:56:51.055 --> 00:56:54.659
Circumstances might seem dire, even though you were just
00:56:54.659 --> 00:56:57.929
Diagnosed, even if, kathy, you've walked up to a casket
00:56:57.929 --> 00:57:01.499
Recently, i just say this, father, whatever i am going
00:57:01.499 --> 00:57:10.141
Through, may i be a sacrificial sacrifice to you so that this
00:57:10.141 --> 00:57:16.181
Day somebody knows that you are real. i want a heart that truly
00:57:16.181 --> 00:57:23.421
Beats for you. behold, i stand at the door and knock. amen.
00:57:23.421 --> 00:57:37.135
>> amen.
00:57:37.135 --> 00:57:39.571
>> anyone who lets me in, i will come in and i will sup
00:57:39.571 --> 00:57:46.411
With them. and the only requirement is this is your
00:57:46.411 --> 00:57:52.951
Heart. completely his.
00:57:53.017 --> 00:57:59.009

The Heart of God with Dr. Rick Rigsby

June 12, 2026 | 57:59

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