Praise

Victor & Eileen Marx: Unbreakable Faith Sacred Duty | Praise

November 23, 2025 | 58:22

Hosted by TBN’s own Matt and Laurie Crouch along with other popular personalities, Praise features the best in contemporary Christian music and worship, fresh and impacting ministry voices, engaging interviews from a wide variety of guests, and a fast-moving hour of relevant talk you won’t want to miss!

#Author #Veterans #Military #PersonalStory #Testimony #Discipleship #Courage #Faith #Culture #Salvation #Transformation #HumanTrafficking #Humaninterest #MattCrouch #LaurieCrouch #VictorMarx

Closed captions

Show Timecode

Praise | Victor & Eileen Marx: Unbreakable Faith Sacred Duty | Praise | November 23, 2025

(beeping sound)
00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:00.990
(dramatic music)
00:00:01.357 --> 00:00:02.625
- victor marx is just amazing,
00:00:02.625 --> 00:00:04.294
Anti-child sex trafficking,
00:00:04.294 --> 00:00:06.329
All across the world,
00:00:06.329 --> 00:00:07.464
One of the most powerful ministries,
00:00:07.464 --> 00:00:09.299
And someone who loves the lord.
00:00:09.299 --> 00:00:10.600
I'll tell you what.
00:00:10.600 --> 00:00:11.935
In a world where it's hard to find strong men,
00:00:11.935 --> 00:00:14.471
Victor marx is one of them.
00:00:14.471 --> 00:00:15.772
- [victor] children are always
00:00:15.772 --> 00:00:17.273
The one that pay the biggest price.
00:00:17.273 --> 00:00:18.908
- victor marx regularly puts himself into harm's way
00:00:18.908 --> 00:00:22.278
To reach children and women who are victims of trauma.
00:00:22.278 --> 00:00:25.215
- over a hundred missions complete,
00:00:25.215 --> 00:00:27.083
With trauma care or help, over 45,000 women with children.
00:00:27.083 --> 00:00:30.186
- [journalist] for 20 years, he and his wife eileen,
00:00:30.186 --> 00:00:32.088
Have helped thousands of people discover new hope
00:00:32.088 --> 00:00:34.390
And experience lasting change from their hurt.
00:00:34.390 --> 00:00:36.860
- the early days in the ministry,
00:00:36.860 --> 00:00:38.294
We really focused on reaching
00:00:38.294 --> 00:00:40.196
One of the biggest demographics
00:00:40.196 --> 00:00:41.698
Of hurting, troubled, abused youth.
00:00:41.698 --> 00:00:44.033
We found it in youth prisons.
00:00:44.033 --> 00:00:45.768
Just come forward, if in any one of those categories,
00:00:45.768 --> 00:00:48.204
You raised your hands in, like the lord.
00:00:48.204 --> 00:00:50.707
- [matt] at some point, victor,
00:00:50.707 --> 00:00:52.175
This is kinda what you're famous for.
00:00:52.175 --> 00:00:54.611
This is something that god just put these skills in you.
00:00:54.611 --> 00:00:57.780
- [reporter] the viral clip
00:00:57.780 --> 00:00:59.015
Seen over 17 million times on youtube.
00:00:59.015 --> 00:01:00.917
(hands slap)
00:01:00.917 --> 00:01:01.818
- he was preparing us
00:01:01.818 --> 00:01:03.353
To enter one of the worst areas in the world.
00:01:03.353 --> 00:01:05.922
- the atp ministries
00:01:05.922 --> 00:01:07.123
Is doing some wonderful things out here,
00:01:07.123 --> 00:01:08.958
Working with other ngos, like free burma rangers,
00:01:08.958 --> 00:01:12.328
Samaritan's purse, and helping thousands of people
00:01:12.328 --> 00:01:16.232
Who otherwise would have no water, no food, no shelter.
00:01:16.232 --> 00:01:19.969
- i mean, you guys are saving kids all over the world now.
00:01:19.969 --> 00:01:24.974
- when isis invaded iraq,
00:01:24.974 --> 00:01:28.111
And started killing, beheading, and taking young women,
00:01:28.111 --> 00:01:32.148
Even kids for sex trafficking,
00:01:32.148 --> 00:01:34.150
Put a team together, flew there,
00:01:34.150 --> 00:01:36.186
And hit the ground running
00:01:36.186 --> 00:01:37.787
To help a number of girls,
00:01:37.787 --> 00:01:39.289
Who had been held captive by isis,
00:01:39.289 --> 00:01:41.691
Who all they wanted to do was die.
00:01:41.691 --> 00:01:44.060
People said, "well, you risk y'all's lives
00:01:44.961 --> 00:01:46.362
Going over there."
00:01:46.362 --> 00:01:47.597
Yeah, we do. (dramatic music continues)
00:01:47.597 --> 00:01:50.066
But if i'm in the center of god's will,
00:01:50.066 --> 00:01:52.368
Is it my business how i go home or not?
00:01:52.368 --> 00:01:59.876
- okay, victor marx, you're in dallas, texas with us,
00:02:00.977 --> 00:02:04.681
But it kinda looks like we're in denver, colorado,
00:02:04.681 --> 00:02:07.350
So this is a little more home for you.
00:02:07.350 --> 00:02:09.152
You guys both are right there from the springs, right?
00:02:09.152 --> 00:02:13.656
Victor, your latest book, "dangerous gentleman,"
00:02:13.656 --> 00:02:18.161
We're gonna get to that in a minute.
00:02:18.928 --> 00:02:20.496
But it's the weirdest thing.
00:02:20.496 --> 00:02:22.432
I've known you like, 30 years, okay.
00:02:22.432 --> 00:02:25.401
But it's like, you will go off here,
00:02:25.401 --> 00:02:29.672
You'll go off there, you'll do this, you'll do that.
00:02:29.672 --> 00:02:32.108
I'll hear your testimony.
00:02:32.108 --> 00:02:33.376
I'll hear all this stuff about you guys,
00:02:33.376 --> 00:02:35.778
And i'd like to, in one place at one time,
00:02:35.778 --> 00:02:39.282
Kinda get to know victor marx.
00:02:39.282 --> 00:02:42.485
Eileen, can you help me
00:02:42.485 --> 00:02:43.786
Get to know victor marx? (eileen laughing)
00:02:43.786 --> 00:02:46.055
You know, at some point, you know,
00:02:46.055 --> 00:02:48.291
You're like this mystery kinda thing.
00:02:48.291 --> 00:02:51.694
You disappear. i'll see a clip of you somewhere on the news.
00:02:51.694 --> 00:02:54.897
You've got a gun in your hands, and it's just weird.
00:02:54.897 --> 00:02:57.734
So help our audience. where do you wanna start this?
00:02:57.734 --> 00:03:01.504
How do we get to know
00:03:01.504 --> 00:03:03.339
The mystery of victor marx and eileen?
00:03:04.173 --> 00:03:07.510
Help me. - what a great way to...
00:03:07.510 --> 00:03:09.078
- well, i would say he is one in a million.
00:03:09.078 --> 00:03:12.181
- okay. - there is
00:03:12.181 --> 00:03:13.583
Nobody like this man,
00:03:13.583 --> 00:03:15.685
And, yes. - i like that.
00:03:15.685 --> 00:03:16.986
One of one. i like that.
00:03:16.986 --> 00:03:18.421
- he's definitely one of one. he breaks the mold.
00:03:18.421 --> 00:03:21.257
He doesn't fit into what the culture says.
00:03:21.257 --> 00:03:25.328
And that's one of the reasons why i love him.
00:03:25.328 --> 00:03:28.398
He pushes the.
00:03:28.765 --> 00:03:30.233
- very, very far out of, yeah.
00:03:30.233 --> 00:03:33.102
- it's your time to be adorable,
00:03:33.102 --> 00:03:34.504
So if you could do something adorable right now,
00:03:34.504 --> 00:03:36.639
It'd be great.
00:03:36.639 --> 00:03:38.508
- yeah, for me, if i had to distill it down to one thing is
00:03:38.508 --> 00:03:43.880
Christ did a lot for me.
00:03:44.380 --> 00:03:46.316
So my addiction isn't the adventures or
00:03:47.183 --> 00:03:51.721
The accomplishments
00:03:52.188 --> 00:03:53.423
Or successes, my addiction is just following him,
00:03:53.423 --> 00:03:57.226
And that's what's led to everything else,
00:03:58.127 --> 00:04:00.463
Which is amazing what he's done.
00:04:00.463 --> 00:04:02.999
- and him meaning jesus.
00:04:02.999 --> 00:04:04.434
Is that who you're talking about?
00:04:04.434 --> 00:04:06.469
- yeah, 'cause i shouldn't be here,
00:04:06.469 --> 00:04:09.772
I shouldn't be sitting here.
00:04:09.772 --> 00:04:11.274
I mean, from my childhood, to my time in the marines,
00:04:11.274 --> 00:04:15.011
To our work overseas, to even two years ago,
00:04:15.011 --> 00:04:19.148
Years ago someone tried to kill us.
00:04:19.148 --> 00:04:21.517
He tried to shoot me right on our own property,
00:04:21.517 --> 00:04:23.553
36 inches away from me threw a tinted window,
00:04:23.553 --> 00:04:27.090
It was an ambush, and missed me by one finger,
00:04:27.090 --> 00:04:32.495
So, you know, there's a saying,
00:04:33.129 --> 00:04:34.764
I'm not hard to find, just hard to kill.
00:04:34.764 --> 00:04:37.066
Yeah, and it's because of what christ did for me
00:04:37.066 --> 00:04:42.405
To save me as a child and redeem my life
00:04:43.272 --> 00:04:46.642
And it sustained me through everything.
00:04:46.642 --> 00:04:48.945
That is, i mean, being his disciple has been it.
00:04:49.912 --> 00:04:54.951
- every good story needs to start with
00:04:55.785 --> 00:05:00.890
Kind of some kind of inciting incident,
00:05:01.724 --> 00:05:03.159
And at some point, your tumultuous childhood,
00:05:03.159 --> 00:05:08.498
Start there because it kind of sets a pattern
00:05:09.432 --> 00:05:11.367
For what you're doing now in helping,
00:05:11.367 --> 00:05:15.671
Rescuing people in vulnerable positions around the world,
00:05:15.671 --> 00:05:19.442
But you were in a vulnerable position
00:05:19.442 --> 00:05:21.811
And that stuck with you
00:05:21.811 --> 00:05:23.012
And that's what kind of makes you go.
00:05:23.012 --> 00:05:25.014
Your issue either becomes your prison or your platform.
00:05:25.014 --> 00:05:29.619
You've turned it into a platform.
00:05:29.619 --> 00:05:31.454
Where did this start?
00:05:31.454 --> 00:05:33.289
- well, you know, my mother came from an unstable background
00:05:33.289 --> 00:05:37.059
And she's still alive, she's in her 80s
00:05:37.059 --> 00:05:39.896
And i've never dishonored her by choices she's made,
00:05:39.896 --> 00:05:43.566
But there were effects of it
00:05:43.566 --> 00:05:45.735
And she and my biological dad, they weren't together,
00:05:45.735 --> 00:05:51.073
But one night they did, she had had three kids already,
00:05:52.208 --> 00:05:55.144
And when she got pregnant with me that night,
00:05:55.144 --> 00:05:57.947
He shoved rosary beats down her throat
00:05:57.947 --> 00:05:59.882
And put a pistol to her head
00:05:59.882 --> 00:06:02.318
And that's the night i was conceived.
00:06:02.318 --> 00:06:06.255
My mother would marry six times.
00:06:06.255 --> 00:06:08.057
I went to 14 schools, lived in 17 different houses.
00:06:08.057 --> 00:06:11.894
My mom ended up marrying six times.
00:06:11.894 --> 00:06:15.364
I went to 14 different schools,
00:06:15.998 --> 00:06:18.334
Lived in 17 different houses,
00:06:18.334 --> 00:06:20.937
But i'll tell you right now,
00:06:20.937 --> 00:06:22.505
My life radically changed when i was about five years old
00:06:22.505 --> 00:06:27.743
'cause i was playing out in the country,
00:06:28.611 --> 00:06:29.946
It was actually over in mississippi,
00:06:29.946 --> 00:06:32.081
And in between two chicken houses, this guy comes up to me,
00:06:32.081 --> 00:06:35.451
He says, "hey, come here, i wanna show you something."
00:06:35.451 --> 00:06:38.654
And he wanted to take me into this small building
00:06:38.654 --> 00:06:41.858
Where they separate the eggs and the chickens
00:06:42.792 --> 00:06:44.560
And there's a cooler in there,
00:06:44.560 --> 00:06:45.795
But we kids never supposed to go in there,
00:06:45.795 --> 00:06:48.731
But he acted real nice.
00:06:48.731 --> 00:06:50.333
He's like, "come on, i wanna show you something."
00:06:50.333 --> 00:06:53.102
So i followed him in there, and as soon as we go in,
00:06:53.102 --> 00:06:56.105
He shuts and he locks the door, and then it all changed.
00:06:56.105 --> 00:07:00.676
He was a child molester.
00:07:01.177 --> 00:07:03.012
And then what he tried to do was assault me
00:07:03.913 --> 00:07:06.883
And he told me if i ever told anybody
00:07:07.683 --> 00:07:10.419
That he would kill me.
00:07:10.419 --> 00:07:12.088
You know what?
00:07:12.455 --> 00:07:13.990
He knew i wasn't gonna be shut up about it all
00:07:13.990 --> 00:07:17.827
So he tried to make good on his promise to kill me.
00:07:17.827 --> 00:07:20.530
He pulled me and he put me in that commercial cooler
00:07:20.530 --> 00:07:23.199
At five years old and locked me in there,
00:07:23.199 --> 00:07:25.034
Hoping i would freeze to death.
00:07:25.034 --> 00:07:27.270
Do y'all think that's fair?
00:07:27.270 --> 00:07:29.438
What happened to me wasn't fair.
00:07:30.072 --> 00:07:32.441
Let me tell you how it turned out.
00:07:33.209 --> 00:07:35.845
My family, they started looking for me.
00:07:35.845 --> 00:07:38.080
They looked down by the pond
00:07:38.080 --> 00:07:39.815
'cause they thought maybe i got bit by a snake.
00:07:40.816 --> 00:07:42.585
They went out in the woods.
00:07:42.585 --> 00:07:44.720
They couldn't find me
00:07:45.221 --> 00:07:46.455
And finally they looked in that building,
00:07:46.455 --> 00:07:47.957
When they walked in there,
00:07:47.957 --> 00:07:49.959
Thank god they did open the commercial cooler
00:07:49.959 --> 00:07:53.563
And they found me there in a ball,
00:07:53.563 --> 00:07:55.064
My knees to my chest passed out.
00:07:55.064 --> 00:07:57.099
See, i passed out because after i was kicking on that door
00:07:58.234 --> 00:08:00.536
And crying, nobody came.
00:08:00.536 --> 00:08:03.406
Started drugs in the sixth grade,
00:08:04.073 --> 00:08:06.409
Drinking, not because i was trying to be cool as a kid,
00:08:07.543 --> 00:08:09.412
It's just i hurt.
00:08:09.412 --> 00:08:10.947
I know what it means to hurt deeply.
00:08:10.947 --> 00:08:14.283
And then, you know, troubled teenage years
00:08:14.283 --> 00:08:17.353
And developing humor,
00:08:17.353 --> 00:08:19.288
But then just being angry, angry young man.
00:08:19.288 --> 00:08:22.558
I found an organization to take me in.
00:08:22.558 --> 00:08:24.594
It was united states marine corps.
00:08:24.594 --> 00:08:26.762
They gave me a weapon and training.
00:08:26.762 --> 00:08:30.099
- it's like, can i shoot people?
00:08:30.099 --> 00:08:32.435
They're like, yeah,
00:08:32.435 --> 00:08:33.269
The ones we tell you.
00:08:33.269 --> 00:08:35.605
And yeah, i became a competitive shooter
00:08:36.472 --> 00:08:40.242
And loved my time in the corps.
00:08:40.242 --> 00:08:41.510
- how'd you find jesus?
00:08:41.510 --> 00:08:42.778
Let's get to that part.
00:08:42.778 --> 00:08:43.913
- yeah, i was in the corps.
00:08:43.913 --> 00:08:46.616
My definition of manhood as i was raised in
00:08:47.483 --> 00:08:50.519
Was to be able to drink and hold the liquor,
00:08:50.519 --> 00:08:52.588
Fight anybody, and chase skirt.
00:08:52.588 --> 00:08:55.091
And i did all three of those, but still felt empty.
00:08:55.091 --> 00:08:59.228
And it was six months before i got out the marines,
00:08:59.228 --> 00:09:02.031
My biological dad, who i'd met a couple of times,
00:09:02.031 --> 00:09:05.701
But last i knew of him, he was a practicing warlock.
00:09:05.701 --> 00:09:08.971
- [matt] wow.
00:09:08.971 --> 00:09:09.939
- yeah, and he sends me a letter
00:09:09.939 --> 00:09:11.874
That i still have to this day,
00:09:11.874 --> 00:09:13.776
And he says, "dear son."
00:09:13.776 --> 00:09:15.945
And it made me mad reading that.
00:09:15.945 --> 00:09:17.880
And some people watching know exactly what i mean.
00:09:17.880 --> 00:09:20.182
It's like, don't call me your son.
00:09:20.182 --> 00:09:22.385
There's no way, no way that kid could ever forgive me,
00:09:22.385 --> 00:09:26.555
'cause i mean, you know,
00:09:26.555 --> 00:09:28.190
Your mama tells you your daddy is a killer,
00:09:29.091 --> 00:09:32.662
Murderer, pimp,
00:09:33.029 --> 00:09:34.964
Criminal and all that kind of stuff.
00:09:34.964 --> 00:09:37.166
The boy didn't like me too much, she said,
00:09:37.166 --> 00:09:39.635
And i don't know what possessed me to do it,
00:09:40.569 --> 00:09:43.105
But i wrote him a letter, you know,
00:09:43.906 --> 00:09:46.342
And you know, you're gonna think i'm crazy and i am.
00:09:47.376 --> 00:09:50.079
- and it wasn't until that letter that my dad sent,
00:09:50.079 --> 00:09:52.415
He says, "i know you think i'm crazy,
00:09:52.415 --> 00:09:54.717
But this time i'm crazy for jesus christ."
00:09:54.717 --> 00:09:57.720
This man says he came to faith, and i couldn't believe it.
00:09:57.720 --> 00:10:02.291
You know, and i'm trying to figure out what is the angle?
00:10:02.291 --> 00:10:04.660
What do you want from me?
00:10:04.660 --> 00:10:05.828
Because you're using religion now.
00:10:05.828 --> 00:10:07.463
And all he said was, "come visit me."
00:10:07.463 --> 00:10:10.199
So i did.
00:10:10.499 --> 00:10:11.667
I took leave of absence, flew down there,
00:10:11.667 --> 00:10:13.002
Really resistive, and he invited me to church.
00:10:13.002 --> 00:10:16.372
And we go, we're sitting there,
00:10:16.372 --> 00:10:18.274
It was some bapticostal church in louisiana.
00:10:18.274 --> 00:10:21.844
And i remember hearing the message,
00:10:22.611 --> 00:10:24.780
But it was the worship music and these men worshiping god.
00:10:24.780 --> 00:10:29.552
And i'm like, i don't wanna lift my hands,
00:10:29.552 --> 00:10:33.456
I don't, ugh!
00:10:33.456 --> 00:10:35.191
And i felt god's spirit convict me of my sin.
00:10:35.191 --> 00:10:39.328
- wow.
00:10:39.328 --> 00:10:40.730
- but then at the same time, tell me he loves me.
00:10:40.730 --> 00:10:42.932
And he kept, he just kept telling me he loved me.
00:10:42.932 --> 00:10:47.737
And i never felt love in my life, that's the truth.
00:10:48.738 --> 00:10:52.475
No one feels love like that, when god touches you.
00:10:52.475 --> 00:10:57.747
And they gave off the call,
00:10:58.347 --> 00:10:59.281
I feel bad because one, i'm
00:10:59.281 --> 00:11:01.050
Embarrassed 'cause my eyes are leaking,
00:11:01.050 --> 00:11:03.285
And i'm holding the bible as close as i can.
00:11:03.285 --> 00:11:05.521
My tears are hitting the pages.
00:11:05.521 --> 00:11:08.257
But when it was time, we all stood.
00:11:08.257 --> 00:11:10.059
I was on the very back row.
00:11:10.059 --> 00:11:12.361
And i ran forward.
00:11:12.361 --> 00:11:13.863
I mean, that's my personality,
00:11:13.863 --> 00:11:15.498
Is that i just like to throttle things.
00:11:15.498 --> 00:11:17.399
And i just kept telling god, why do you love me?
00:11:17.399 --> 00:11:20.903
- wow.
00:11:20.903 --> 00:11:21.737
- i don't understand it.
00:11:21.737 --> 00:11:22.905
And he was touching me.
00:11:22.905 --> 00:11:24.306
My dad came forward, my biological dad
00:11:24.306 --> 00:11:26.942
Sat on the front row,
00:11:26.942 --> 00:11:28.010
Stretched his arms out.
00:11:28.010 --> 00:11:29.779
And he just, and then an elder.
00:11:29.779 --> 00:11:31.947
This is what i tell people, man,
00:11:31.947 --> 00:11:33.449
When you get born again or saved when god touches you,
00:11:33.449 --> 00:11:35.985
It's not about perfection.
00:11:35.985 --> 00:11:37.219
Christ is the one.
00:11:37.219 --> 00:11:38.788
You're not gonna be perfect, except in the eyes of god,
00:11:38.788 --> 00:11:41.791
But it's just, are you going in the right direction?
00:11:41.791 --> 00:11:43.926
That's when things change.
00:11:43.926 --> 00:11:46.328
And this elder came and put his hand on me.
00:11:46.328 --> 00:11:47.897
He goes, yo,
00:11:47.897 --> 00:11:48.864
Man, can i pray for you?
00:11:48.864 --> 00:11:50.533
Because my background, i don't like to be touched.
00:11:50.533 --> 00:11:52.401
I was like, you know,
00:11:52.401 --> 00:11:53.469
I jumped up, i grabbed him,
00:11:53.469 --> 00:11:55.504
And i said, touch me again,
00:11:55.504 --> 00:11:56.605
I'll break your jaw.
00:11:56.605 --> 00:11:57.840
Touch me, and i mean,
00:11:57.840 --> 00:11:58.741
I'm kind of still crying.
00:11:58.741 --> 00:12:00.309
He was like, and my dad goes,
00:12:00.943 --> 00:12:02.545
I know the boy, he'll hit you.
00:12:02.545 --> 00:12:04.847
Just let him be, let god deal with him.
00:12:04.847 --> 00:12:07.349
That was june 22nd, 1986.
00:12:07.349 --> 00:12:09.952
- i had several of my black belts with me.
00:12:09.952 --> 00:12:12.855
And we were some pretty tough characters,
00:12:13.722 --> 00:12:18.894
You know, people would look at us and say
00:12:19.762 --> 00:12:23.866
They looked like a bunch of hells angels.
00:12:24.733 --> 00:12:26.302
You know?
00:12:26.302 --> 00:12:27.703
I would've been proud of him
00:12:27.703 --> 00:12:32.441
If he'd have won the world championship.
00:12:32.441 --> 00:12:34.810
But i would've never been as proud of him
00:12:35.678 --> 00:12:37.713
As him winning that christ in his heart, you know?
00:12:37.713 --> 00:12:43.085
- you know, i was listening to christian
00:12:43.919 --> 00:12:46.455
Bible teachers about six months prior to that.
00:12:46.455 --> 00:12:49.391
I mean, one of 'em was chuck smith,
00:12:49.391 --> 00:12:51.794
Greg laurie, raul ries.
00:12:51.794 --> 00:12:54.663
And so god was preparing my heart.
00:12:54.663 --> 00:12:57.566
And when i came back to the corp at camp pendleton,
00:12:57.566 --> 00:13:01.403
I remember being in a squad bay doing something,
00:13:01.403 --> 00:13:03.439
And i hit my, and i was like,
00:13:03.439 --> 00:13:05.107
Doggone it!
00:13:05.107 --> 00:13:06.876
And all the marines in my team,
00:13:06.876 --> 00:13:08.978
They turned, looked at me.
00:13:08.978 --> 00:13:10.279
One guy goes, doggone it?
00:13:10.279 --> 00:13:12.781
Doggone, like what's happened to ob?
00:13:13.582 --> 00:13:16.318
I was like, and that same guy
00:13:16.318 --> 00:13:18.921
Caught me in the parking lot later,
00:13:18.921 --> 00:13:20.489
And he was like, "hey man,"
00:13:20.489 --> 00:13:22.925
'cause my name was kennedy, i was adopted at the time.
00:13:24.026 --> 00:13:26.829
He was like, "what's up with you?"
00:13:26.829 --> 00:13:30.065
- and i remember, i couldn't even stop it coming out,
00:13:30.065 --> 00:13:33.335
I just said, "i'm born again."
00:13:33.335 --> 00:13:35.337
And he goes, "what?"
00:13:35.804 --> 00:13:39.308
I was thinking, "did i just say that?"
00:13:40.109 --> 00:13:42.478
I said, "i'm born again.
00:13:42.478 --> 00:13:44.847
I think god touched me."
00:13:45.347 --> 00:13:46.882
And he was like, and then he and other marines were like,
00:13:46.882 --> 00:13:50.519
"what is this born again thing?"
00:13:50.519 --> 00:13:52.221
- [matt] wow.
00:13:52.221 --> 00:13:53.489
- and that's when i realized my calling
00:13:53.489 --> 00:13:56.492
And the gift in this was evangelism.
00:13:56.492 --> 00:13:59.428
I love to share, i love to bring hope.
00:13:59.428 --> 00:14:02.498
- did you meet that guy?
00:14:02.998 --> 00:14:04.900
So he was already encountering jesus when you met him,
00:14:04.900 --> 00:14:09.838
So you got the good victor, you never had to deal with the-
00:14:09.838 --> 00:14:13.542
- no. - well.
00:14:13.542 --> 00:14:15.244
- well, i was invited to church
00:14:15.244 --> 00:14:18.347
And victor was there, fresh out of the marines.
00:14:18.347 --> 00:14:22.284
The high and tight, is that what you call it?
00:14:22.284 --> 00:14:25.421
And that's who i met, yes.
00:14:25.421 --> 00:14:28.090
So i didn't know the bc victor.
00:14:28.090 --> 00:14:31.927
- well, and she wasn't a believer yet.
00:14:31.927 --> 00:14:34.596
- no.
00:14:34.596 --> 00:14:35.931
- so she came into the church and i was like,
00:14:35.931 --> 00:14:37.499
"lord, i'll marry that one."
00:14:37.499 --> 00:14:38.834
(laurie chuckling)
00:14:38.834 --> 00:14:40.035
That literally was my first thought.
00:14:40.035 --> 00:14:41.537
And she was in church about six months,
00:14:41.537 --> 00:14:44.039
Hearing the word taught before she gave her life to christ.
00:14:44.039 --> 00:14:47.443
And then i go in, "can i disciple her, lord?"
00:14:47.443 --> 00:14:50.446
He's like, "no, no, i need to work on both of you."
00:14:50.446 --> 00:14:54.550
But this is when she did realize
00:14:54.550 --> 00:14:56.585
That there was brokenness in me,
00:14:56.585 --> 00:14:58.454
And can i tell about?
00:14:58.454 --> 00:15:00.689
- the phone call?
00:15:00.689 --> 00:15:02.124
- yeah. - or before, yes.
00:15:02.725 --> 00:15:04.059
- both.
00:15:04.059 --> 00:15:05.361
I got a phone call from my stepfather,
00:15:05.361 --> 00:15:08.030
Who was the one that abused me as a kid.
00:15:08.030 --> 00:15:11.133
Electrocuted me, dunked me in a tub, it was severe.
00:15:12.134 --> 00:15:18.007
One day he sat me in a chair.
00:15:18.640 --> 00:15:20.476
I was seven years old and he pulled out his pistol.
00:15:20.476 --> 00:15:23.012
It was a revolver. i'll never forget.
00:15:23.012 --> 00:15:25.614
And he come up close to me
00:15:25.614 --> 00:15:27.416
And he put that gun to my head right here.
00:15:27.416 --> 00:15:30.652
He said, "if you ever tell anybody,"
00:15:30.652 --> 00:15:32.221
He says, "i'll blow your brains out."
00:15:32.221 --> 00:15:34.089
And he pulled the gun back
00:15:34.089 --> 00:15:35.391
And then he hit it in my head, boom, like that.
00:15:35.391 --> 00:15:39.028
And he did it again. boom.
00:15:39.028 --> 00:15:41.497
He dunked me in a tub one time,
00:15:41.497 --> 00:15:42.998
He bent me over a tub of water
00:15:42.998 --> 00:15:45.634
And he's dunking me and he'd hold me there and he'd say,
00:15:45.634 --> 00:15:47.603
"hold your breath" and pull me up.
00:15:47.603 --> 00:15:49.805
And i would have to count to 25
00:15:49.805 --> 00:15:52.307
'cause that's when i know it was,
00:15:53.042 --> 00:15:55.377
That's how long i could hold my breath.
00:15:55.377 --> 00:15:57.613
And he held me down one time.
00:15:58.247 --> 00:16:00.149
I guess the oxygen deprivation and i passed out.
00:16:01.150 --> 00:16:04.987
I woke up on the floor looking up, i'm not wet.
00:16:05.921 --> 00:16:09.558
His first words were,
00:16:09.558 --> 00:16:10.826
"boy, i'm the one that gives you life."
00:16:10.826 --> 00:16:13.996
I'll never forget.
00:16:14.430 --> 00:16:16.298
Let me just tell you the night we left him,
00:16:17.199 --> 00:16:19.101
'cause that was a good night 'cause we left.
00:16:19.101 --> 00:16:22.571
He'd come home drunk and he was mad
00:16:22.571 --> 00:16:25.174
And he pulled out that pistol
00:16:25.174 --> 00:16:27.309
And he walked around the house,
00:16:27.943 --> 00:16:30.546
The outside of the house
00:16:31.046 --> 00:16:32.281
Because the electricity bill was too high.
00:16:32.281 --> 00:16:34.883
And he starts shooting out all the lights.
00:16:34.883 --> 00:16:36.919
Boom, boom, boom.
00:16:36.919 --> 00:16:39.421
My mother, she takes us and she puts us kids in the closet.
00:16:39.421 --> 00:16:43.292
She hid us in the closet and she stands, she said,
00:16:43.292 --> 00:16:45.894
"ssh, don't cry."
00:16:45.894 --> 00:16:47.529
And he came to that door and he pulled out his pistol,
00:16:47.529 --> 00:16:50.532
And it's one thing i do believe in,
00:16:51.266 --> 00:16:53.836
Besides the lord god almighty, i believe in a real devil.
00:16:54.970 --> 00:16:59.308
I believe in an evil
00:16:59.308 --> 00:17:01.443
That can even tell people what to do,
00:17:02.244 --> 00:17:05.280
And to the extent they're willing
00:17:05.280 --> 00:17:06.615
To yield themself over to this evil presence,
00:17:06.615 --> 00:17:10.185
It'll use their body to do horrible things.
00:17:10.185 --> 00:17:14.289
And that night, i was convinced that some type of demon
00:17:14.289 --> 00:17:18.360
Went and got in that man and he came to the door
00:17:18.360 --> 00:17:22.264
And he said, "i know you're in there."
00:17:22.264 --> 00:17:24.032
And my mom started praying.
00:17:24.032 --> 00:17:25.901
And she said, "the blood of jesus covers the door.
00:17:25.901 --> 00:17:28.570
The blood of jesus covers that door."
00:17:28.570 --> 00:17:30.572
I'm telling you, a real supernatural thing
00:17:30.572 --> 00:17:33.041
Happened that night
00:17:33.041 --> 00:17:34.343
And we all know that god was protecting us.
00:17:34.343 --> 00:17:36.945
And he was, no matter what he did, growling, drunk,
00:17:36.945 --> 00:17:41.316
He had that gun, he could not get to us.
00:17:41.316 --> 00:17:44.753
I knew that night as a kid
00:17:44.753 --> 00:17:48.357
That jesus christ had to still be alive.
00:17:48.357 --> 00:17:51.994
Well, we waited for him to pass out, right?
00:17:51.994 --> 00:17:55.898
Boom. he was out.
00:17:55.898 --> 00:17:57.399
My mom opened the door, the little window in the room
00:17:57.399 --> 00:18:00.302
And she started pushing us kids through the window
00:18:00.302 --> 00:18:03.472
And saying, "run, run!"
00:18:03.472 --> 00:18:07.276
He called from prison
00:18:07.776 --> 00:18:09.678
And i'm talking to him as an adult.
00:18:10.412 --> 00:18:13.415
She was shocked
00:18:13.782 --> 00:18:15.250
Because i almost became like a little kid again.
00:18:15.250 --> 00:18:17.152
- wow. - mm-hmm.
00:18:17.152 --> 00:18:18.320
- and i was like kind of scared,
00:18:18.320 --> 00:18:21.390
But what i had trouble with was attaching to people.
00:18:22.457 --> 00:18:27.696
I couldn't really, and here we...
00:18:28.430 --> 00:18:30.199
- so we got engaged.
00:18:30.666 --> 00:18:31.800
She finally realized. - uh-hmm.
00:18:31.800 --> 00:18:35.537
- i asked her one time in the kitchen.
00:18:35.537 --> 00:18:38.340
This was just a couple years ago.
00:18:38.340 --> 00:18:39.808
"how did you get this?
00:18:39.808 --> 00:18:41.276
How did you get all this?"
00:18:41.276 --> 00:18:42.311
She's doing this, so she goes,
00:18:42.311 --> 00:18:44.646
"it's a calling. (people laugh)
00:18:44.646 --> 00:18:46.048
It's calling," and i'm like. - "it's a calling."
00:18:46.048 --> 00:18:48.817
- "checkmate," i'm like, "oh, my gosh."
00:18:48.817 --> 00:18:51.253
- yeah. - but we were in...
00:18:51.253 --> 00:18:52.387
- that's right. - we were in my kitchen
00:18:52.387 --> 00:18:55.257
In my little apartment.
00:18:55.257 --> 00:18:56.992
We were engaged to get married.
00:18:56.992 --> 00:18:59.394
We sent out the wedding invitations,
00:18:59.394 --> 00:19:01.897
And i'll never forget, this is when she realized,
00:19:01.897 --> 00:19:03.899
"there's something broken in you,"
00:19:03.899 --> 00:19:06.635
And she hugged me, and i had no emotions.
00:19:07.502 --> 00:19:11.873
I had no feeling.
00:19:11.873 --> 00:19:13.308
She goes, "what are you getting nervous about,
00:19:13.308 --> 00:19:15.310
The wedding, cold feet?"
00:19:15.310 --> 00:19:16.678
I said, "no, i just, i can't feel anything."
00:19:16.678 --> 00:19:19.815
She's like, "what?"
00:19:19.815 --> 00:19:21.250
I said, "i don't feel joy, fear, or happiness."
00:19:21.250 --> 00:19:23.619
My emotional state had went into neutral,
00:19:23.619 --> 00:19:26.755
Which is a surviving, coping mechanism,
00:19:26.755 --> 00:19:29.958
And she knew enough about my family where...
00:19:29.958 --> 00:19:35.197
'cause the only advice my mother ever gave me
00:19:36.131 --> 00:19:37.599
As a young man growing up, sixth grade, in a hallway,
00:19:37.599 --> 00:19:40.335
She's drinking from a fifth of whiskey.
00:19:40.335 --> 00:19:42.571
She grabs me by my collar, and she says,
00:19:42.571 --> 00:19:45.274
"don't you ever trust a woman.
00:19:45.274 --> 00:19:47.709
They'll just use you and leave you,"
00:19:47.709 --> 00:19:50.145
And she slammed me back, and i remember my head hit,
00:19:50.145 --> 00:19:53.715
And it's like it imprinted my soul.
00:19:53.715 --> 00:19:55.450
- wow.
00:19:55.450 --> 00:19:56.752
- 'cause if you don't know any different,
00:19:56.752 --> 00:19:57.853
That just sounds like good advice.
00:19:57.853 --> 00:19:59.955
So here we are, engaged.
00:19:59.955 --> 00:20:01.156
We're gonna get married three months,
00:20:01.156 --> 00:20:03.125
And i have zero feelings for her.
00:20:03.125 --> 00:20:04.893
- wow. - and eileen, this is how...
00:20:04.893 --> 00:20:08.897
This is those levels of knowing
00:20:08.897 --> 00:20:11.366
When somebody loves you.
00:20:11.366 --> 00:20:13.535
She just said she was hurt,
00:20:14.136 --> 00:20:16.204
You know, she was hurting, but she goes,
00:20:16.204 --> 00:20:18.540
"i'm not your mom." - oh, wow.
00:20:18.540 --> 00:20:21.043
- "i'll never leave you."
00:20:21.043 --> 00:20:24.579
She said, "if you're 85 years old,
00:20:25.347 --> 00:20:28.650
And you feel comfortable then, we'll get married.
00:20:29.584 --> 00:20:32.587
You know, we can pull back those invitations."
00:20:33.522 --> 00:20:37.993
She goes, "but i'm not going anywhere.
00:20:37.993 --> 00:20:40.128
I love you," and i knew it.
00:20:40.128 --> 00:20:42.164
I knew she meant that,
00:20:42.164 --> 00:20:44.366
And i mean, we'd still be engaged right now
00:20:44.366 --> 00:20:50.105
With 20 years left. - yes, yeah.
00:20:50.839 --> 00:20:53.742
- with 25 years left.
00:20:53.742 --> 00:20:54.876
- both of you and your dog. - yeah.
00:20:54.876 --> 00:20:56.378
- would be down here, reagan.
00:20:56.378 --> 00:20:57.679
- yeah, just hanging out,
00:20:57.679 --> 00:20:59.047
Waiting for the wedding days. - yeah.
00:20:59.047 --> 00:21:00.816
(all laugh)
00:21:00.816 --> 00:21:01.783
- [wife] we're still engaged.
00:21:01.783 --> 00:21:03.685
- so by the way, we have a dog policy.
00:21:03.685 --> 00:21:05.654
We don't have dogs in the building.
00:21:05.654 --> 00:21:07.456
- oh, right. - oh.
00:21:07.456 --> 00:21:08.557
- so i'm kidding. (person laughs)
00:21:08.557 --> 00:21:09.825
Our dogs, your dogs. - y'all are dog people.
00:21:09.825 --> 00:21:10.992
- we tried (indistinct). - we have six.
00:21:10.992 --> 00:21:13.061
- victor, there was something that i
00:21:13.829 --> 00:21:17.899
Remember from whatever time i saw you speak,
00:21:18.834 --> 00:21:23.372
And we've been, again, i've known you for 30 years,
00:21:23.372 --> 00:21:27.843
But i've known of you as long,
00:21:27.843 --> 00:21:29.878
And somewhere along the line,
00:21:29.878 --> 00:21:31.680
You said something a minute ago, that you understood,
00:21:32.781 --> 00:21:36.585
"wait a second, god, why do you love me?
00:21:36.585 --> 00:21:39.121
Because i'm a broken person,
00:21:39.121 --> 00:21:41.056
Why is it you love me?
00:21:41.056 --> 00:21:43.091
What's going on here?"
00:21:43.091 --> 00:21:45.527
- uh-hmm.
00:21:45.527 --> 00:21:46.795
- because i remember you telling a story
00:21:46.795 --> 00:21:49.231
Where your fist went through a wall.
00:21:49.231 --> 00:21:53.235
Now, you've been following jesus for a while,
00:21:54.169 --> 00:21:56.605
But your fist went through a wall,
00:21:56.605 --> 00:21:58.473
And then you didn't wanna repair it.
00:21:58.473 --> 00:22:00.375
- right. - because you wanted it
00:22:00.375 --> 00:22:02.244
As a reminder.
00:22:02.244 --> 00:22:03.445
"kids, don't put a picture over it."
00:22:03.445 --> 00:22:06.681
- yeah. - "leave it there.
00:22:06.681 --> 00:22:07.682
Let me feel the sting." - yeah.
00:22:07.682 --> 00:22:10.051
- "of the consequences of what i did."
00:22:10.051 --> 00:22:13.255
What was that all about?
00:22:13.755 --> 00:22:15.857
- well, i had to learn that i couldn't be perfect
00:22:15.857 --> 00:22:19.928
No matter how hard i tried,
00:22:19.928 --> 00:22:22.230
That the brokenness of my past,
00:22:22.230 --> 00:22:24.299
It'd catch me every once in a while.
00:22:24.299 --> 00:22:26.234
I remember putting my fence through wall at that time,
00:22:26.234 --> 00:22:29.638
Which was still a plus for me, 'cause i'm like,
00:22:29.638 --> 00:22:31.673
"i'm not punching somebody.
00:22:31.673 --> 00:22:33.141
It's just a wall."
00:22:33.141 --> 00:22:34.543
- "i didn't kill anybody." - yeah, and-
00:22:34.543 --> 00:22:36.111
- "come on, it's just a wall."
00:22:36.111 --> 00:22:37.712
- 'cause i did kill someone when i was a kid.
00:22:37.712 --> 00:22:40.315
At seven years old, i killed a man
00:22:40.315 --> 00:22:42.384
And watched my stepfather bury him,
00:22:43.151 --> 00:22:45.821
And that haunted me all my life,
00:22:46.455 --> 00:22:50.926
And that's why i needed 123 visits to a trauma specialist.
00:22:52.093 --> 00:22:56.865
In nine months, they had me on depakote, depakene, prozac,
00:22:58.033 --> 00:23:02.003
Zoloft, lithium, i mean...
00:23:02.003 --> 00:23:04.272
- you're gonna have to explain that a little bit more
00:23:04.272 --> 00:23:06.041
Because statutes for...
00:23:06.041 --> 00:23:08.643
- yup. - that kinda lasts-
00:23:08.643 --> 00:23:10.145
- at seven years old, my stepfather brought me to a house
00:23:10.145 --> 00:23:15.417
In mendenhall, mississippi, and it was before daylight.
00:23:16.551 --> 00:23:20.856
He made me lay down in the back of a car.
00:23:20.856 --> 00:23:23.358
He drove me there.
00:23:23.358 --> 00:23:24.926
We'd go into this little wooden house with one light.
00:23:24.926 --> 00:23:30.232
- thinking,
00:23:30.565 --> 00:23:31.766
And there was another fellow there,
00:23:31.766 --> 00:23:33.635
And there was a hole that was already cut out
00:23:33.635 --> 00:23:35.737
Through the wooden floor,
00:23:35.737 --> 00:23:37.172
And then a hole in the dirt.
00:23:37.172 --> 00:23:38.907
And i hear him talking to this guy.
00:23:39.674 --> 00:23:42.844
And i normally don't share this,
00:23:43.478 --> 00:23:46.615
But, you know, i shared it with shawn ryan.
00:23:46.615 --> 00:23:50.785
But, i hear the guy say, "i don't wanna do this anymore."
00:23:51.953 --> 00:23:56.291
And my stepfather who, who, he wasn't a well man.
00:23:57.292 --> 00:24:03.198
He was a known pedophile.
00:24:03.198 --> 00:24:06.001
I remember him telling the guy,
00:24:06.001 --> 00:24:08.303
"it's okay, it's all right. you don't have to."
00:24:08.303 --> 00:24:10.839
And the guy looked, that shoveled, almost like homeless.
00:24:10.839 --> 00:24:14.209
And then, when he kinda relaxed,
00:24:14.209 --> 00:24:16.978
My stepfather punches him, boom, and knocks him out.
00:24:16.978 --> 00:24:20.382
And then, he drags him over to this hole,
00:24:21.249 --> 00:24:23.318
He handcuffs him, puts him on his knees,
00:24:23.318 --> 00:24:26.888
And the guy comes to.
00:24:27.389 --> 00:24:29.224
My stepfather pulled out his revolver,
00:24:29.224 --> 00:24:31.493
Which is the same revolver he would put against my head
00:24:32.594 --> 00:24:36.798
And tell me, "if you ever tell anybody, i'll kill you.
00:24:36.798 --> 00:24:40.302
I'll blow your brains out
00:24:40.302 --> 00:24:41.236
And tell the police you did it."
00:24:41.236 --> 00:24:43.004
Which is why i became
00:24:43.004 --> 00:24:46.775
The world's fastest gun disarm guy.
00:24:46.775 --> 00:24:49.344
That, that was my motivation.
00:24:49.344 --> 00:24:51.713
As a kid, i said, "one day, i'll be so fast.
00:24:51.713 --> 00:24:55.383
No one will ever be able to put a gun to my head."
00:24:55.383 --> 00:24:58.820
And it was at that point,
00:24:59.387 --> 00:25:00.522
He, he put the pistol in my hand,
00:25:00.522 --> 00:25:02.924
And he said, "you're gonna shoot this man."
00:25:02.924 --> 00:25:06.895
And i was terrified, but you,
00:25:06.895 --> 00:25:11.166
When you're conditioned enough through evil
00:25:11.166 --> 00:25:15.503
That no is not an option,
00:25:15.503 --> 00:25:18.106
And i remember holding the pistol
00:25:18.106 --> 00:25:21.910
Up to the guy at the back of his head,
00:25:22.711 --> 00:25:24.279
And the guy, he's conscious and he's,
00:25:24.279 --> 00:25:26.781
He's begging, "don't do it."
00:25:27.382 --> 00:25:28.550
And i start pressing the trigger,
00:25:28.550 --> 00:25:33.054
But i couldn't, i couldn't squeeze it all the way.
00:25:33.054 --> 00:25:36.257
I don't know if it was because i was so young
00:25:36.257 --> 00:25:39.427
Or if i was just so fearful,
00:25:39.427 --> 00:25:41.830
But my stepfather, he put his hand on my wrist
00:25:41.830 --> 00:25:44.099
And his finger in the finger well,
00:25:44.099 --> 00:25:46.601
And he pressed my finger.
00:25:46.601 --> 00:25:50.538
So, it shot the guy in the back of his head,
00:25:51.473 --> 00:25:55.543
And he slumped over and my stepfather rubbed his hand
00:25:55.543 --> 00:25:59.914
In the guy's blood and wiped it on my face and mouth,
00:25:59.914 --> 00:26:03.918
And he said, "boy, that's your first kill."
00:26:03.918 --> 00:26:06.154
- gosh, gosh.
00:26:06.154 --> 00:26:07.455
- and he shoved him in the hole and buried him
00:26:07.455 --> 00:26:08.757
And put concrete over him and ready-mixed,
00:26:08.757 --> 00:26:12.661
And then we left.
00:26:12.661 --> 00:26:17.265
And he just said, "if you ever tell anybody
00:26:18.199 --> 00:26:20.769
What i've done, the way i electrocute you,"
00:26:20.769 --> 00:26:24.839
'cause he would do electrocutions on me,
00:26:24.839 --> 00:26:27.509
He goes, "even if you're an adult," he said,
00:26:27.509 --> 00:26:30.912
"you'll go to prison
00:26:30.912 --> 00:26:32.180
And they'll kill you in the electric chair."
00:26:32.180 --> 00:26:34.749
So, i never told anybody about that,
00:26:34.749 --> 00:26:37.986
No one until i was, geez, in my 40s and...
00:26:37.986 --> 00:26:43.191
- mm hm.
00:26:43.458 --> 00:26:44.693
- i actually talked to an fbi friend.
00:26:44.693 --> 00:26:46.828
I called the local sheriff.
00:26:46.828 --> 00:26:48.963
I said, "i just gotta tell y'all something
00:26:48.963 --> 00:26:51.032
I've kept quiet for all these years."
00:26:51.032 --> 00:26:55.036
And, and they said, even had a, i was polygraphed.
00:26:55.036 --> 00:27:01.509
And it was true, but they didn't
00:27:02.143 --> 00:27:06.715
Know the house or the person.
00:27:06.715 --> 00:27:08.983
There's no gun and my stepfather had died.
00:27:08.983 --> 00:27:12.754
So, i just, there are instances
00:27:13.388 --> 00:27:16.791
Where people, whether civilians or veterans,
00:27:16.791 --> 00:27:19.994
You know, you were made to, you know, take a life,
00:27:21.029 --> 00:27:27.702
And the shame is not yours.
00:27:28.303 --> 00:27:31.306
- hm. - yeah.
00:27:31.306 --> 00:27:32.640
- it never was.
00:27:33.007 --> 00:27:34.309
So, we're not meant to carry that around.
00:27:34.309 --> 00:27:37.045
- you helped me understand why,
00:27:37.679 --> 00:27:41.449
When you were going forward,
00:27:41.449 --> 00:27:43.718
That you were questioning, wait a second.
00:27:44.586 --> 00:27:46.955
How could you love me?
00:27:46.955 --> 00:27:48.923
How could you love me?
00:27:49.424 --> 00:27:50.725
How could, i can't understand it.
00:27:50.725 --> 00:27:53.328
That's, that's the level of grace that you understand
00:27:53.328 --> 00:27:58.666
That drives, and, and created a platform
00:27:59.534 --> 00:28:02.737
For who and what you are today,
00:28:02.737 --> 00:28:05.707
And that's why this...
00:28:05.707 --> 00:28:09.277
- calling. - this...
00:28:09.277 --> 00:28:10.478
- calling.
00:28:10.478 --> 00:28:11.613
- calling that you were called to
00:28:11.613 --> 00:28:15.717
Makes him who he is.
00:28:16.184 --> 00:28:18.253
(light music)
00:28:18.253 --> 00:28:21.389
- this is probably my prized possession right here.
00:28:21.389 --> 00:28:24.058
This is every pen-pal letter that has come in
00:28:24.058 --> 00:28:27.595
Since we, since we began.
00:28:27.595 --> 00:28:30.165
- i keep every letter that is sent
00:28:30.932 --> 00:28:35.270
Because it means everything to us
00:28:35.937 --> 00:28:38.873
And we pray for these kids.
00:28:38.873 --> 00:28:40.341
There are many asking for prayer.
00:28:40.341 --> 00:28:43.411
Some of 'em tell us the deepest, darkest secrets, you know,
00:28:43.411 --> 00:28:47.382
A lot of 'em call me pappy marks
00:28:47.382 --> 00:28:49.584
Because unfortunately just don't have any other dads.
00:28:50.652 --> 00:28:54.322
- we just hear about this kid killing somebody
00:28:54.322 --> 00:28:57.458
Or robbing or raping, right, that's what we hear.
00:28:57.458 --> 00:29:00.328
But victor actually goes in and talks to those people
00:29:00.328 --> 00:29:03.965
And can look at them and say, "god loves you.
00:29:03.965 --> 00:29:07.635
You don't have to stay here," right.
00:29:07.635 --> 00:29:09.604
Even though you did these rotten things,
00:29:09.604 --> 00:29:11.973
There's still hope for you.
00:29:11.973 --> 00:29:13.408
- my pops died when i was around two years old
00:29:13.408 --> 00:29:17.579
And my mom got with a man named abraham,
00:29:17.579 --> 00:29:21.449
And then like he was abusing her and stuff,
00:29:22.350 --> 00:29:25.186
Like that's stuff i can't forget.
00:29:25.186 --> 00:29:27.222
- it's hard to listen to somebody that
00:29:27.222 --> 00:29:29.657
You can't relate to.
00:29:29.657 --> 00:29:30.758
It's hard to actually get something outta somebody
00:29:30.758 --> 00:29:32.827
That's never been through what you've been through
00:29:32.827 --> 00:29:34.696
Because they could easily say something
00:29:34.696 --> 00:29:36.631
And the first thing you could say is,
00:29:36.631 --> 00:29:39.100
"well, you didn't live my life.
00:29:39.100 --> 00:29:41.035
That's easy for you to say,
00:29:41.035 --> 00:29:42.637
You haven't been through what i've been through," you know?
00:29:42.637 --> 00:29:45.306
And when i heard his story, i remember one thing
00:29:45.306 --> 00:29:48.877
That he said that really like touched me.
00:29:48.877 --> 00:29:50.912
And i think any kind of brother, you, black, white,
00:29:50.912 --> 00:29:53.181
Hispanic, asian, you can relate to it,
00:29:53.181 --> 00:29:55.683
As far as having a relationship with god.
00:29:55.683 --> 00:29:57.318
He told me about his, if i'm not mistaken, his dad,
00:29:57.318 --> 00:30:00.622
His dad would like lay him, you know,
00:30:01.422 --> 00:30:03.725
And whip him on his back.
00:30:03.725 --> 00:30:05.026
And he said he waited till his dad would wait
00:30:05.026 --> 00:30:06.995
Until every time his skin like,
00:30:06.995 --> 00:30:09.597
Like his body would just, you know,
00:30:09.597 --> 00:30:11.099
Calm down and he'd hit him again.
00:30:11.099 --> 00:30:13.601
And he said he would've flashbacks about that.
00:30:13.601 --> 00:30:16.337
And at that time he was questioning about god
00:30:16.337 --> 00:30:18.306
And he said he could visualize, see god or jesus
00:30:18.306 --> 00:30:21.442
Laying right there, taking them whippings with him.
00:30:21.442 --> 00:30:23.845
And when he said that,
00:30:23.845 --> 00:30:25.246
It brought like chills all over my body
00:30:25.246 --> 00:30:27.882
Because i looked at my whole life,
00:30:27.882 --> 00:30:30.485
Everything that i went through,
00:30:30.485 --> 00:30:31.986
All abuse from all the betrayal, everything.
00:30:31.986 --> 00:30:34.622
And i sat there and i looked,
00:30:34.622 --> 00:30:36.157
And i always questioned why god wasn't in my life
00:30:36.157 --> 00:30:38.593
At that time, you know?
00:30:38.593 --> 00:30:40.261
And when i realized it,
00:30:40.261 --> 00:30:41.663
And then i read this thing called the footprints,
00:30:41.663 --> 00:30:44.532
I realized that he was there the whole time,
00:30:44.532 --> 00:30:46.267
But he was carrying me.
00:30:46.267 --> 00:30:47.235
He took that beating with me.
00:30:47.235 --> 00:30:48.903
- someone invited me to go speak to some kids
00:30:48.903 --> 00:30:50.872
Who were locked up.
00:30:50.872 --> 00:30:52.073
And i thought, what?
00:30:52.073 --> 00:30:53.574
And i had just started really being comfortable enough
00:30:53.574 --> 00:30:57.512
To tell my story to people.
00:30:57.512 --> 00:30:59.847
- through and through he's a warrior.
00:30:59.847 --> 00:31:01.883
He's a protector of our home.
00:31:01.883 --> 00:31:06.721
He's a provider.
00:31:06.721 --> 00:31:08.890
He's sincere, he's an honest person who loves people
00:31:08.890 --> 00:31:14.162
Who loves the broken.
00:31:14.662 --> 00:31:15.663
That's his calling, are the broken people.
00:31:16.564 --> 00:31:19.100
- i think i have a heart for these kids
00:31:19.100 --> 00:31:20.702
Because i know where many of 'em have been
00:31:20.702 --> 00:31:24.405
And i know where god wants to take them.
00:31:25.273 --> 00:31:28.109
And that, i mean, it's the love of god
00:31:28.910 --> 00:31:30.611
That motivates me every day to hit the ground running,
00:31:30.611 --> 00:31:35.216
To bring these kids in some form or fashion, the gospel.
00:31:35.216 --> 00:31:39.087
It's i know what god can do in their life.
00:31:39.087 --> 00:31:41.356
I know he can redeem, he can redeem
00:31:41.356 --> 00:31:44.392
What the enemy has meant for evil in their lives.
00:31:44.392 --> 00:31:47.495
I know it. not only believe it, i know it.
00:31:47.495 --> 00:31:51.366
And that's why he's sending me.
00:31:51.366 --> 00:31:53.968
- you know, we live in a horrible world.
00:31:53.968 --> 00:31:56.604
- we do
00:31:56.604 --> 00:31:58.139
- of just sin.
00:31:58.139 --> 00:32:01.476
But god redeems, he's such a redeemer of all of that,
00:32:02.543 --> 00:32:07.882
All of that time, all of that pain.
00:32:08.683 --> 00:32:12.253
You have five grandbabies, you know,
00:32:13.054 --> 00:32:15.656
You've got this beautiful family and the story
00:32:15.656 --> 00:32:20.528
And you're doing what you love to do on the inside, right?
00:32:20.528 --> 00:32:25.466
On the inside you're created
00:32:25.466 --> 00:32:27.235
Just the way god wants you to be.
00:32:27.235 --> 00:32:29.470
And i think so many people struggle
00:32:29.470 --> 00:32:31.906
Maybe with some of the feelings that they have inside,
00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:36.244
But god has a plan for that.
00:32:36.244 --> 00:32:38.513
God has a redemptive story for that,
00:32:38.513 --> 00:32:41.182
For that whatever drives you,
00:32:41.182 --> 00:32:45.720
God gave you so much of that just through what he does
00:32:45.720 --> 00:32:52.827
And his plan for your insight, his dna inside of you,
00:32:52.827 --> 00:32:58.099
Is what i guess i'm trying to say.
00:32:58.866 --> 00:33:00.101
Romans 8:28, god takes those parts that you've been through
00:33:00.101 --> 00:33:04.639
And somehow weaves that into a new tapestry.
00:33:04.639 --> 00:33:07.275
- what else could you be doing today?
00:33:07.275 --> 00:33:09.343
- right. - than what you're doing?
00:33:09.343 --> 00:33:11.546
You know?
00:33:11.546 --> 00:33:12.713
- and, and you know, i tell folks,
00:33:12.713 --> 00:33:14.549
And i mean this, god doesn't cause that evil to happen.
00:33:14.549 --> 00:33:19.854
He allows people to make their own choices.
00:33:20.755 --> 00:33:24.492
But he will redeem it.
00:33:24.992 --> 00:33:26.627
If people just don't give up, you know.
00:33:26.627 --> 00:33:29.030
- that's one of the reasons why i wrote the book,
00:33:30.064 --> 00:33:32.266
To tell stories of what he's done,
00:33:32.266 --> 00:33:34.802
And people i've worked with,
00:33:34.802 --> 00:33:36.938
To encourage people, especially men.
00:33:36.938 --> 00:33:38.806
- [laurie] it's beautiful.
00:33:38.806 --> 00:33:39.740
- "the dangerous gentleman:
00:33:39.740 --> 00:33:42.743
A call for men to be courageous in a culture of fear."
00:33:43.778 --> 00:33:49.617
This is unique,
00:33:49.984 --> 00:33:52.053
And i think what i wanna point out is the foreword,
00:33:52.053 --> 00:33:57.391
Written by our courageous fallen charlie kirk.
00:33:58.359 --> 00:34:03.531
And as we're filming this episode with victor and eileen,
00:34:04.665 --> 00:34:10.004
We think it was just a few weeks ago
00:34:10.805 --> 00:34:15.510
That we were at the funeral.
00:34:16.110 --> 00:34:18.646
You were with erika.
00:34:18.646 --> 00:34:21.182
You were dealing with that at a,
00:34:21.182 --> 00:34:25.286
You know, family level.
00:34:25.286 --> 00:34:27.488
And if romans 8:28, that worked in your life,
00:34:27.488 --> 00:34:32.660
It's gonna work in this situation,
00:34:33.427 --> 00:34:35.062
We're gonna see a revival of young people.
00:34:35.062 --> 00:34:37.932
That organization's gonna go to another level,
00:34:38.900 --> 00:34:41.669
And everything we can do, everything you can do,
00:34:41.669 --> 00:34:44.238
We're committed to see that next generation
00:34:44.238 --> 00:34:47.708
Have a chance at changing the world.
00:34:47.708 --> 00:34:50.311
I know, just because i know you,
00:34:50.311 --> 00:34:53.214
That charlie called you and needed you in his life.
00:34:53.214 --> 00:34:57.885
He needed your mentorship.
00:34:57.885 --> 00:34:59.520
He needed that part of who you are inside of him.
00:34:59.520 --> 00:35:05.860
He needed that around him.
00:35:06.427 --> 00:35:12.366
We're gonna see romans 8:28 work for that situation.
00:35:13.434 --> 00:35:17.405
It's gonna happen.
00:35:17.405 --> 00:35:18.739
You know, every time a person with
00:35:19.507 --> 00:35:23.511
A free will decides to pull a trigger,
00:35:23.511 --> 00:35:27.148
They think they're stopping something,
00:35:27.148 --> 00:35:29.584
And really they're just expanding it.
00:35:29.584 --> 00:35:33.087
There's gonna be an expansion.
00:35:33.087 --> 00:35:35.423
These tests come in your life,
00:35:35.423 --> 00:35:39.393
And when you pass them, you go to a next level.
00:35:39.393 --> 00:35:44.065
And a lot of times the church gets that bass-ackwards.
00:35:44.065 --> 00:35:47.201
They talk about the devil too much.
00:35:47.201 --> 00:35:49.637
Wait a second.
00:35:49.637 --> 00:35:51.205
Free moral agency is the most powerful thing god created.
00:35:51.205 --> 00:35:54.775
You can listen to the devil or you can listen to god.
00:35:54.775 --> 00:35:58.112
And guess what?
00:35:58.112 --> 00:35:59.413
Somebody, there's all sorts of evil
00:35:59.413 --> 00:36:01.449
Because people listen to the devil,
00:36:01.449 --> 00:36:04.151
And this young man, charlie kirk,
00:36:04.885 --> 00:36:09.023
His life is gonna reverberate into millions of young people
00:36:09.023 --> 00:36:14.328
That are gonna have dramatic change.
00:36:15.096 --> 00:36:17.298
And you're right.
00:36:17.298 --> 00:36:18.799
You guys, both of you have a front row seat for that,
00:36:18.799 --> 00:36:21.936
And thank you for what you're doing in regard to that.
00:36:21.936 --> 00:36:24.905
- yeah.
00:36:24.905 --> 00:36:26.107
Well, it's a privilege and an honor
00:36:26.107 --> 00:36:28.709
To have spoken into his life, you know.
00:36:29.577 --> 00:36:32.079
He has other mentors.
00:36:32.079 --> 00:36:33.814
He was wise to choose men to help him in certain areas,
00:36:33.814 --> 00:36:38.185
And erika with eileen and other ladies,
00:36:38.185 --> 00:36:42.390
But one of the biggest things on charlie's heart
00:36:43.357 --> 00:36:45.126
Was raising up young men to be men,
00:36:45.126 --> 00:36:48.095
Because the absence of fathers in the homes,
00:36:48.095 --> 00:36:50.698
And the lack of masculinity, and just in general courage.
00:36:50.698 --> 00:36:54.902
So he was thrilled to write the foreword,
00:36:54.902 --> 00:36:57.972
And it is humbling to read that,
00:36:57.972 --> 00:37:01.442
But ultimately charlie, he did embody
00:37:01.442 --> 00:37:06.514
The dangerous gentleman to the point of giving his life.
00:37:07.648 --> 00:37:10.318
- it's my friend, victor marx.
00:37:10.318 --> 00:37:12.420
- good to be here, brother.
00:37:12.420 --> 00:37:13.721
Yeah.
00:37:13.721 --> 00:37:14.555
- good.
00:37:14.555 --> 00:37:15.923
So we're on radio stations across the country,
00:37:15.923 --> 00:37:17.058
Podcasting, live streaming all this.
00:37:17.058 --> 00:37:18.225
So we've done a couple deals together,
00:37:18.225 --> 00:37:19.794
But why don't you reintroduce yourself to our audience?
00:37:19.794 --> 00:37:22.663
Tell us about yourself.
00:37:22.663 --> 00:37:24.065
- well, i had an organization that primarily,
00:37:24.065 --> 00:37:28.235
The easiest way to say it is we set captives free,
00:37:29.270 --> 00:37:32.106
Both physically, those who have been trafficked or abused,
00:37:32.106 --> 00:37:36.043
Those who've been affected by pedophiles,
00:37:36.043 --> 00:37:38.079
Both in the us, overseas,
00:37:38.079 --> 00:37:40.514
Middle east, southeast asia,
00:37:40.514 --> 00:37:41.682
South of the border.
00:37:41.682 --> 00:37:43.150
And then we help people with trauma,
00:37:43.150 --> 00:37:46.287
People who've suffered or been
00:37:46.287 --> 00:37:48.122
Traumatized all across the board.
00:37:48.122 --> 00:37:50.991
And then the final thing is spiritually.
00:37:50.991 --> 00:37:53.094
We help people who are held captive in darkness
00:37:53.094 --> 00:37:58.366
Or oppressed by darkness get set free.
00:37:59.200 --> 00:38:01.302
- hi, my name is sarah.
00:38:01.302 --> 00:38:02.803
(speaking in foreign language)
00:38:02.803 --> 00:38:08.843
(speaking in foreign language)
00:38:09.477 --> 00:38:22.690
(emotional music)
00:38:23.124 --> 00:38:24.658
- [victor] we're deep in mosul, you can see the destruction.
00:38:24.658 --> 00:38:27.328
We went in deep.
00:38:27.328 --> 00:38:28.929
- this mission is an orphan baby boy that needs help.
00:38:30.030 --> 00:38:33.501
- [host] marx and his team moved across town
00:38:33.501 --> 00:38:35.403
To meet with lanmo sanju,
00:38:35.403 --> 00:38:37.338
Leader of the infamous 400 mawozo gang,
00:38:37.338 --> 00:38:40.074
Famous for kidnapping 17 american missionaries.
00:38:40.074 --> 00:38:42.877
- listen, we just took in two little girls,
00:38:42.877 --> 00:38:45.346
Two sisters, into one of our safe houses.
00:38:45.346 --> 00:38:47.815
They told us they'd never slept on any bed.
00:38:47.815 --> 00:38:50.651
(child laughs)
00:38:50.651 --> 00:38:52.219
- all right, this is fbr mission in syria.
00:38:52.219 --> 00:38:53.687
So we just wanted to say, victor marx,
00:38:53.687 --> 00:38:56.090
Ready, two, three...
00:38:56.090 --> 00:38:57.925
- [children] thank you.
00:38:57.925 --> 00:38:59.326
(child speaking in foreign language)
00:38:59.326 --> 00:39:06.801
(child speaking in foreign language)
00:39:07.568 --> 00:39:18.379
- so we prayed and we've asked y'all to pray.
00:39:19.246 --> 00:39:21.415
We couldn't give all the details,
00:39:21.415 --> 00:39:23.150
But here's the result of your prayers.
00:39:23.150 --> 00:39:26.020
This little boy's name is now ali, ali,
00:39:26.020 --> 00:39:30.591
And victor marks here.
00:39:31.091 --> 00:39:32.726
God bless you.
00:39:32.726 --> 00:39:34.028
(light music)
00:39:34.028 --> 00:39:35.296
- this book is available wherever books are sold.
00:39:35.296 --> 00:39:39.300
The stories that you've heard here,
00:39:40.034 --> 00:39:45.139
It goes much deeper here.
00:39:45.706 --> 00:39:48.309
There's this little company called amazon.
00:39:48.309 --> 00:39:50.411
You might have heard of it. you can get it there too,
00:39:50.411 --> 00:39:53.514
Bestseller at amazon.
00:39:53.514 --> 00:39:55.416
And, and we, i think need to,
00:39:55.416 --> 00:40:03.190
If, if, if your life is, is analogized by a book,
00:40:04.124 --> 00:40:09.096
We need to, we need to add a,
00:40:09.096 --> 00:40:11.131
A chapter near the end of it,
00:40:11.131 --> 00:40:12.800
Because the other day...
00:40:12.800 --> 00:40:15.803
(people laugh)
00:40:15.803 --> 00:40:17.505
I had...
00:40:17.505 --> 00:40:18.439
- that's a whole new book.
00:40:18.439 --> 00:40:19.406
- yeah, so let me just kind of,
00:40:19.406 --> 00:40:20.941
Let me just kind of prepare you for,
00:40:20.941 --> 00:40:22.409
The other day, i had, you know,
00:40:22.409 --> 00:40:24.545
This smartphone in my hand.
00:40:24.545 --> 00:40:27.147
And i have the, you know,
00:40:27.715 --> 00:40:31.785
However long we've all had smartphones.
00:40:31.785 --> 00:40:34.522
There's a little tab that'll come down
00:40:34.522 --> 00:40:36.223
Every once in a while.
00:40:36.223 --> 00:40:37.691
It'll say something like. "this person's going live.
00:40:37.691 --> 00:40:41.028
This person's doing this, this, person."
00:40:41.028 --> 00:40:43.430
And as god is my witness,
00:40:43.430 --> 00:40:45.966
I have never touched that bar before
00:40:45.966 --> 00:40:48.536
Ever in my whole life. - never.
00:40:48.536 --> 00:40:50.070
- i have never... - i don't think i...
00:40:50.070 --> 00:40:51.639
- integrated with a,
00:40:51.639 --> 00:40:53.507
Somebody deciding that they're
00:40:53.507 --> 00:40:55.309
Doing something that is live
00:40:55.309 --> 00:40:58.312
Until about, i'm gonna call it two or three weeks ago.
00:40:59.413 --> 00:41:03.017
- yeah.
00:41:03.017 --> 00:41:03.951
- and i looked down at my phone
00:41:03.951 --> 00:41:05.786
(co-host laughs)
00:41:05.786 --> 00:41:06.887
And this little bar dropped down.
00:41:06.887 --> 00:41:08.222
It said, "victor marks is going live."
00:41:08.222 --> 00:41:11.492
Victor marks going live?
00:41:11.492 --> 00:41:12.793
What's he, wonder what he'd be going live for.
00:41:12.793 --> 00:41:14.395
- what's he doing now? (laughs)
00:41:14.395 --> 00:41:15.496
- [victor] yeah.
00:41:15.496 --> 00:41:16.430
- what, what are you up to?
00:41:16.430 --> 00:41:17.665
And, and i touched the bar
00:41:17.665 --> 00:41:20.100
Not even knowing really what would happen.
00:41:20.100 --> 00:41:22.603
And i'm standing there
00:41:22.603 --> 00:41:23.871
And i, i see you at a pulpit,
00:41:23.871 --> 00:41:25.739
Which that didn't seem unusual,
00:41:25.739 --> 00:41:28.309
(co-host laughs)
00:41:28.309 --> 00:41:29.977
But what you said at that pulpit made me kind of go,
00:41:29.977 --> 00:41:34.315
- [victor] yeah.
00:41:34.682 --> 00:41:35.983
- you know, kind of one of those.
00:41:35.983 --> 00:41:37.084
Why don't you, why don't you,
00:41:37.084 --> 00:41:39.620
Why don't you tell our audience if it, it,
00:41:40.521 --> 00:41:43.958
This book is really outta date
00:41:43.958 --> 00:41:45.626
Because a new chapter needs to be shoved in the back
00:41:45.626 --> 00:41:48.362
Of this, this thing because something,
00:41:48.362 --> 00:41:51.332
Something happened with you.
00:41:51.332 --> 00:41:52.700
What happened with you? what's going on with you?
00:41:52.700 --> 00:41:54.902
- well, october 1st, we announced my candidacy
00:41:54.902 --> 00:41:58.939
To run for governor and win for the state of colorado.
00:41:58.939 --> 00:42:02.643
- [host] oh my god.
00:42:02.643 --> 00:42:03.911
- and that absolutely shocked the world.
00:42:03.911 --> 00:42:07.781
Not just colorado, the world.
00:42:08.415 --> 00:42:11.118
- victor, you know, whether you, i've heard you say,
00:42:11.118 --> 00:42:15.522
"lord, can't i move on from being a guy
00:42:15.522 --> 00:42:18.892
That just disarms people super fast?
00:42:18.892 --> 00:42:21.895
And can i just kinda,
00:42:21.895 --> 00:42:23.731
Can we go somewhere else, you know, at, at some point?"
00:42:23.731 --> 00:42:26.467
But god won't let you go away from that.
00:42:26.467 --> 00:42:30.671
That video has been seen in, across platforms.
00:42:30.671 --> 00:42:33.841
- billions. - billions of times.
00:42:33.841 --> 00:42:36.777
And if there's anything that anybody is ever said is like,
00:42:36.777 --> 00:42:41.548
"let's see, victor marks, wait, wait.
00:42:41.548 --> 00:42:43.083
Oh, you mean, wait, that...
00:42:43.083 --> 00:42:45.185
- [victor] right.
00:42:45.185 --> 00:42:46.120
- are you talking about that guy
00:42:46.120 --> 00:42:47.287
That does the thing with the gun,
00:42:47.287 --> 00:42:48.555
And then all of a sudden it's back, you know..."
00:42:48.555 --> 00:42:49.790
- yeah.
00:42:49.790 --> 00:42:51.158
- yeah, that guy, that guy is running for governor.
00:42:51.158 --> 00:42:55.829
- [victor] yes.
00:42:56.196 --> 00:42:57.131
- of the state of colorado.
00:42:57.131 --> 00:42:58.332
And every time he says it, he says,
00:42:58.332 --> 00:42:59.266
"i'm running and i'm gonna win."
00:42:59.266 --> 00:43:00.567
- yes, - governor.
00:43:00.567 --> 00:43:02.636
And that means that this is the,
00:43:02.636 --> 00:43:08.442
Let's say next chapter in god redeeming a broken boy
00:43:09.476 --> 00:43:16.650
That was left for dead,
00:43:17.151 --> 00:43:19.019
Found jesus, had someone come into your life.
00:43:19.920 --> 00:43:25.893
Her name is eileen that said,
00:43:26.527 --> 00:43:28.062
"i wouldn't leave you, even..."
00:43:28.062 --> 00:43:30.431
- if we're 85 and we're still dating, or just engaged,
00:43:31.532 --> 00:43:34.168
I'm not gonna leave you. - i love that.
00:43:34.168 --> 00:43:36.670
- so, your mama's prophecy wouldn't come true,
00:43:36.670 --> 00:43:40.374
Over your life, that you couldn't trust a woman.
00:43:40.374 --> 00:43:44.945
And all of that is,
00:43:44.945 --> 00:43:46.580
Is put in this big life blender
00:43:46.580 --> 00:43:51.418
And you're pouring out a new chapter of your life
00:43:51.418 --> 00:43:54.788
To show that leadership,
00:43:54.788 --> 00:43:57.791
To get a handle on all of the issues
00:43:57.791 --> 00:44:02.029
Of the state of colorado.
00:44:02.029 --> 00:44:03.897
Is that roughly what we're talking about here?
00:44:03.897 --> 00:44:07.101
- you need to come on my campaign trail
00:44:07.101 --> 00:44:09.536
And speak. - we're ready.
00:44:09.536 --> 00:44:11.205
- that truly is it. - yeah.
00:44:11.205 --> 00:44:12.940
- it's, you know, we've had people,
00:44:12.940 --> 00:44:15.909
Of course the naysayers go, "you can't."
00:44:15.909 --> 00:44:18.011
I said, "look, one thing we're good at
00:44:18.011 --> 00:44:20.047
Is doing the impossible." - there it is.
00:44:20.047 --> 00:44:22.082
- 'cause we know whom our source is
00:44:22.082 --> 00:44:24.885
And he gives us wisdom
00:44:24.885 --> 00:44:26.353
And we surround ourself with courageous people.
00:44:26.353 --> 00:44:29.490
- if somebody- - he always says,
00:44:29.490 --> 00:44:30.758
"how do you do the impossible,
00:44:30.758 --> 00:44:32.159
Is by following the voice of the lord."
00:44:32.159 --> 00:44:34.461
- [victor] yes.
00:44:34.461 --> 00:44:35.696
- responding to the voice of the lord.
00:44:35.696 --> 00:44:36.830
- responding to the voice. - yes.
00:44:36.830 --> 00:44:37.931
- that's how you do the impossible.
00:44:37.931 --> 00:44:39.166
- if you wind the clock back 53 years,
00:44:39.166 --> 00:44:42.936
Paul and jan crouch were just working
00:44:43.737 --> 00:44:45.939
At a tv station in los angeles.
00:44:45.939 --> 00:44:48.742
And they put,
00:44:48.742 --> 00:44:52.980
They put their faith to something the lord said to them.
00:44:52.980 --> 00:44:58.352
My dad looked at my mom in the car one day and said,
00:44:59.386 --> 00:45:02.222
"jan, you're not gonna believe
00:45:02.222 --> 00:45:03.490
What the lord just said to me."
00:45:03.490 --> 00:45:05.325
And she said, "no, i will.
00:45:05.325 --> 00:45:06.493
He just said the same thing to me.
00:45:06.493 --> 00:45:07.861
He's released us from our work here."
00:45:07.861 --> 00:45:10.197
- [victor] wow.
00:45:10.197 --> 00:45:11.532
- so what do you do with that as a couple,
00:45:11.532 --> 00:45:13.100
When the lord speaks to you simultaneously?
00:45:13.100 --> 00:45:15.536
My mom wasn't convincing my dad of anything.
00:45:15.536 --> 00:45:18.739
My dad wasn't convincing my mom of anything.
00:45:18.739 --> 00:45:21.575
They quit their job.
00:45:22.042 --> 00:45:23.977
I'm, you know, in like fourth or fifth grade.
00:45:23.977 --> 00:45:26.480
My dad's home when i come home from school.
00:45:26.480 --> 00:45:29.216
I don't know what's going on.
00:45:29.216 --> 00:45:30.884
And about three months later, seeking the lord,
00:45:30.884 --> 00:45:33.654
Thinking or assuming that tv station ownership
00:45:33.654 --> 00:45:37.925
Was in their future,
00:45:37.925 --> 00:45:39.326
They'd been in radio station ownership prior to that,
00:45:39.326 --> 00:45:41.962
And my dad hears the voice of the lord again,
00:45:42.863 --> 00:45:44.832
Says, "call angel lerma."
00:45:44.832 --> 00:45:48.068
He looks up, because that's what you do
00:45:48.902 --> 00:45:50.838
When you hear the lord's voice and he said,
00:45:50.838 --> 00:45:53.173
"lord, i've already talked to angel.
00:45:53.173 --> 00:45:54.741
He has no intention to sell."
00:45:54.741 --> 00:45:56.977
And the lord interrupted him and said, "call.
00:45:56.977 --> 00:45:58.879
Call now."
00:45:58.879 --> 00:46:00.747
Walks into the kitchen, pulls phone off with the cord
00:46:01.815 --> 00:46:04.718
And gets a little black book and dials the number
00:46:04.718 --> 00:46:07.554
And you know, and the secretary says, "i'm sorry, paul.
00:46:07.554 --> 00:46:10.824
He's in an important meeting down the hall.
00:46:10.824 --> 00:46:12.759
Can't be disturbed."
00:46:12.759 --> 00:46:14.561
He said, "oh, man.
00:46:14.561 --> 00:46:15.562
Okay, well, tell him i called,"
00:46:15.562 --> 00:46:17.531
And she goes, "hang on a second.
00:46:17.531 --> 00:46:18.832
I think i might hear him coming down the hallway.
00:46:18.832 --> 00:46:21.401
Why don't you hold a second?"
00:46:21.401 --> 00:46:23.337
Sure enough, he picks up the phone.
00:46:23.337 --> 00:46:24.738
He said, "angel, i called you a couple months ago.
00:46:24.738 --> 00:46:27.241
You had no intention to sell this channel.
00:46:27.241 --> 00:46:29.042
I wanted to call you back again today,
00:46:29.042 --> 00:46:30.811
See if anything's changed."
00:46:30.811 --> 00:46:32.546
Long pause.
00:46:32.546 --> 00:46:34.514
He said, "paul, i just got done in an official board meeting
00:46:34.514 --> 00:46:39.086
And we just voted to sell this channel.
00:46:39.086 --> 00:46:42.022
Did you know that?"
00:46:42.022 --> 00:46:43.924
He said, "no sir, i didn't.
00:46:43.924 --> 00:46:45.259
But based on that, i'd like to come see you."
00:46:45.259 --> 00:46:47.961
Okay, that is now 53 years ago.
00:46:47.961 --> 00:46:52.833
Tv station number one,
00:46:52.833 --> 00:46:54.501
Seven million miracles later we sit here.
00:46:54.501 --> 00:46:58.238
How do you do the impossible, victor, with no money?
00:46:59.273 --> 00:47:02.943
How do you raise up arguably one of the largest voices
00:47:02.943 --> 00:47:06.947
For christendom in history?
00:47:06.947 --> 00:47:08.448
We have 17 language networks on around the world.
00:47:08.448 --> 00:47:11.285
My dad put a satellite signal
00:47:11.285 --> 00:47:12.686
Everywhere there's electricity in the world,
00:47:12.686 --> 00:47:14.688
C-band and ku-band.
00:47:14.688 --> 00:47:16.623
How do you do the impossible in one generation?
00:47:16.623 --> 00:47:19.860
You respond to the voice of the lord.
00:47:19.860 --> 00:47:21.995
So here's the question our audience cares about.
00:47:21.995 --> 00:47:24.831
- [victor] yeah.
00:47:24.831 --> 00:47:26.133
- did the lord tell you to run for governor?
00:47:26.133 --> 00:47:27.834
- without a doubt. - mm hm.
00:47:27.834 --> 00:47:29.903
- i wouldn't be doing it.
00:47:29.903 --> 00:47:31.571
I would not be doing it.
00:47:31.571 --> 00:47:33.273
And he confirmed it with my bride.
00:47:33.273 --> 00:47:35.809
And every day that led up to that, i've said,
00:47:35.809 --> 00:47:39.446
"lord, give us an off ramp.
00:47:39.446 --> 00:47:41.081
Give us an exit if this isn't you."
00:47:41.081 --> 00:47:43.383
Because there's no benefit to us.
00:47:43.383 --> 00:47:46.119
There's none.
00:47:46.119 --> 00:47:47.321
- the question i asked you a minute ago is,
00:47:48.221 --> 00:47:52.426
"can a ministry head who loves jesus
00:47:52.426 --> 00:47:56.563
And talks about jesus as much as he talks about anything,
00:47:56.563 --> 00:47:59.833
Be the governor of a state?"
00:47:59.833 --> 00:48:01.401
Well, if somebody thinks that that's impossible, great.
00:48:01.401 --> 00:48:05.572
Because the only way you do the impossible
00:48:05.572 --> 00:48:08.275
Is you respond to the voice of the lord,
00:48:08.275 --> 00:48:10.677
And you have clearly and clarion call said
00:48:10.677 --> 00:48:15.215
The lord told you to do this,
00:48:15.215 --> 00:48:17.050
So you qualify for the impossible.
00:48:17.050 --> 00:48:19.486
So, mr. governor,
00:48:19.486 --> 00:48:21.321
Let's just say it this way,
00:48:21.922 --> 00:48:23.657
On day one, what do you do for the state of colorado?
00:48:23.657 --> 00:48:28.929
Day one after-
00:48:29.296 --> 00:48:30.197
- you are elected governor.
00:48:30.197 --> 00:48:33.166
- i'll consecrate that state back to god
00:48:33.166 --> 00:48:35.402
The way it should be,
00:48:35.402 --> 00:48:37.270
And then watch his spirit move in every facet, every facet.
00:48:37.270 --> 00:48:42.642
And god's good at unscrambling eggs,
00:48:43.410 --> 00:48:45.746
And he'll need to.
00:48:46.179 --> 00:48:48.215
But we'll do it without showing hate
00:48:48.215 --> 00:48:51.818
Toward people we disagree with.
00:48:51.818 --> 00:48:54.121
Get it done by love.
00:48:54.121 --> 00:48:55.789
God goes after people's hearts,
00:48:55.789 --> 00:48:58.125
And criminals or people who wanna do violence,
00:48:58.125 --> 00:49:01.328
Well, there's consequences for all that,
00:49:01.328 --> 00:49:03.797
But we're coming at people with love.
00:49:03.797 --> 00:49:06.266
- that's beautiful.
00:49:06.266 --> 00:49:07.734
Day one, you're gonna consecrate the state back
00:49:07.734 --> 00:49:10.637
To god who created it.
00:49:10.637 --> 00:49:12.105
- yep.
00:49:12.105 --> 00:49:13.507
- the tbn audience just cares about what you said,
00:49:13.507 --> 00:49:18.278
Is the fact that god called you to do it.
00:49:19.146 --> 00:49:20.547
- yes.
00:49:20.547 --> 00:49:21.882
- and you said you would consecrate the state.
00:49:21.882 --> 00:49:23.850
After that-
00:49:23.850 --> 00:49:25.352
- everything works out.
00:49:25.352 --> 00:49:26.920
- i can argue with you over policy if i thought i needed to,
00:49:26.920 --> 00:49:29.890
I mean, after that, but that is literally day one.
00:49:29.890 --> 00:49:34.494
Now, what i want you to do,
00:49:34.494 --> 00:49:37.531
Victor, is
00:49:37.831 --> 00:49:41.968
Tap in.
00:49:42.202 --> 00:49:43.503
Are you ever gonna call yourself a politician?
00:49:44.404 --> 00:49:47.174
We have to say governor.
00:49:47.674 --> 00:49:49.142
Okay, so you're gonna say leadership.
00:49:49.142 --> 00:49:50.944
You're in state leadership.
00:49:50.944 --> 00:49:54.481
- correct. - okay.
00:49:54.481 --> 00:49:56.016
So i won't make the mistake of calling you a politician,
00:49:56.016 --> 00:49:58.051
- but it will affect our nation.
00:49:58.051 --> 00:49:59.419
- yeah. - you bet it will.
00:49:59.419 --> 00:50:00.854
- okay.
00:50:00.854 --> 00:50:02.155
But tap into the person that we know you to be
00:50:02.155 --> 00:50:05.892
That we've known for decades,
00:50:05.892 --> 00:50:08.628
And your camera will have a red light over there,
00:50:08.628 --> 00:50:12.132
And just whatever you feel like praying for.
00:50:12.132 --> 00:50:17.904
- we just celebrated my 60th birthday
00:50:18.672 --> 00:50:21.174
With a bunch of friends and it was a pretty fancy deal.
00:50:22.309 --> 00:50:26.480
She surprised me, i didn't know it was coming.
00:50:26.480 --> 00:50:29.883
And someone who has known me for 40 years
00:50:29.883 --> 00:50:34.087
And worked with me in ministry,
00:50:34.087 --> 00:50:37.724
And then another person who worked,
00:50:38.458 --> 00:50:40.694
A college worker for years when i was with james dobson.
00:50:40.694 --> 00:50:43.296
- [matt] sure.
00:50:43.296 --> 00:50:44.698
- he said this.
00:50:45.065 --> 00:50:46.433
He goes, "i've known victor, this jovial, fun,
00:50:46.433 --> 00:50:51.071
Jesus guy who cares for people,
00:50:51.705 --> 00:50:55.609
But when i went with him to iraq,
00:50:55.609 --> 00:50:58.612
He flipped the switch
00:50:58.612 --> 00:51:00.013
And i saw a leader that was calm, decisive, strategic."
00:51:01.148 --> 00:51:06.353
And he goes, "it was incredible to see him lead teams
00:51:07.420 --> 00:51:11.825
Of very capable people of the most difficult,
00:51:11.825 --> 00:51:16.029
Challenging circumstances."
00:51:16.029 --> 00:51:18.265
And i would say this.
00:51:18.265 --> 00:51:19.733
In my first book, i write where when i was 15 years old,
00:51:20.834 --> 00:51:24.638
A visiting evangelist to a church that came,
00:51:24.638 --> 00:51:29.009
He pointed at me and he said, "hey, stand up young man."
00:51:30.143 --> 00:51:34.514
And he goes, "god wants you to know something.
00:51:34.514 --> 00:51:37.350
He's gonna use you.
00:51:37.350 --> 00:51:38.885
You'll be a mighty man of god.
00:51:38.885 --> 00:51:40.921
He'll use you as a rod of love
00:51:40.921 --> 00:51:42.889
To keep people from destroying themselves."
00:51:42.889 --> 00:51:45.659
Two years later in a different state,
00:51:46.459 --> 00:51:48.061
'cause we had moved, the pastor's wife
00:51:48.061 --> 00:51:51.765
Stopped the service, had me stand up,
00:51:51.765 --> 00:51:55.202
Said the exact same thing.
00:51:55.202 --> 00:51:57.504
No way they could have known.
00:51:57.504 --> 00:51:59.573
And every season of my life, i said, "lord, is this it?
00:51:59.573 --> 00:52:03.376
You know, i know you've done in and through me
00:52:04.277 --> 00:52:06.179
What i never thought possible,"
00:52:06.179 --> 00:52:08.215
And where we are right now stepping into this,
00:52:09.115 --> 00:52:12.219
I love what one of our kids said,
00:52:12.219 --> 00:52:14.187
She just said, "daddy, look where god's brought you."
00:52:14.187 --> 00:52:17.324
God gives men credit, but he gets all the glory.
00:52:17.324 --> 00:52:20.493
And leadership is not optional for men or parents,
00:52:21.528 --> 00:52:26.733
And i'll say this to the people of colorado.
00:52:27.634 --> 00:52:30.303
He's heard your cry.
00:52:30.303 --> 00:52:31.671
He knows, those of you who have been there for generations,
00:52:32.839 --> 00:52:38.011
What you've seen, the influx of evil,
00:52:38.812 --> 00:52:41.014
The acceptance of things that are not fair,
00:52:41.014 --> 00:52:44.584
Causing families to disband, leave.
00:52:45.318 --> 00:52:48.221
He's heard your cry and he's answering.
00:52:49.089 --> 00:52:52.659
What we need is everyone watching to continue to pray
00:52:53.693 --> 00:52:57.697
'cause above everything, it is a spiritual battle.
00:52:57.697 --> 00:53:01.301
We need you to support.
00:53:01.301 --> 00:53:02.902
Go to victor2026.com
00:53:02.902 --> 00:53:08.308
And support what we're doing
00:53:08.908 --> 00:53:11.311
And you'll be able to be part of a victory,
00:53:12.245 --> 00:53:14.014
So i'm gonna pray right now and god's gonna get the glory.
00:53:14.014 --> 00:53:17.517
Father, thank you for saving me
00:53:17.517 --> 00:53:20.954
And saving me unto a purpose.
00:53:20.954 --> 00:53:22.922
For every season of my life, lord,
00:53:22.922 --> 00:53:25.325
I give you all the glory for it.
00:53:25.325 --> 00:53:27.527
And thank you for giving me, allow me to...
00:53:27.527 --> 00:53:30.530
- taste of the goodness that you have.
00:53:30.530 --> 00:53:33.400
Lord, you've never failed me. you've never forsaken me.
00:53:33.400 --> 00:53:36.736
Lord, men have, women have, but you never have.
00:53:36.736 --> 00:53:40.840
Thank you for bringing my helpmate
00:53:40.840 --> 00:53:43.109
Who will make an incredible first lady.
00:53:43.109 --> 00:53:46.880
And god, we've been a mom and dad to nations
00:53:46.880 --> 00:53:51.518
Because of where you've placed us, and what we've done.
00:53:51.518 --> 00:53:54.087
But we look forward to being the leaders that are needed
00:53:54.087 --> 00:53:58.325
For our state right now, to get it right.
00:53:58.325 --> 00:54:01.995
And it's not about politics, it's about hearts.
00:54:01.995 --> 00:54:05.031
And god, you love colorado.
00:54:05.031 --> 00:54:07.167
And you even love those that are in darkness.
00:54:07.167 --> 00:54:09.502
You wanna bring them out.
00:54:09.502 --> 00:54:11.137
Lord, i think about the deaths
00:54:11.137 --> 00:54:12.572
And the addictions to fentanyl.
00:54:12.572 --> 00:54:14.240
I think about the homeless people.
00:54:14.240 --> 00:54:16.543
Lord, i think about the immigration challenge.
00:54:16.543 --> 00:54:18.978
And lord, i think about how that state
00:54:18.978 --> 00:54:22.082
Has become a sanctuary
00:54:22.082 --> 00:54:24.484
For full-term pregnancies to be terminated,
00:54:24.484 --> 00:54:28.755
Babies to be killed at full term.
00:54:28.755 --> 00:54:31.157
That is not your way. and lord, we repent of it.
00:54:31.157 --> 00:54:34.627
Lord, i know you love women and children,
00:54:34.627 --> 00:54:37.063
And i know you need men to rise up.
00:54:37.063 --> 00:54:38.932
So lord, raise men up, strengthen women's hearts
00:54:38.932 --> 00:54:43.570
To support their husbands in all things.
00:54:43.570 --> 00:54:45.939
And lord, may children trust and obey
00:54:45.939 --> 00:54:47.974
Their parents in all things.
00:54:47.974 --> 00:54:50.343
And god, remove those who would stand in your way.
00:54:50.343 --> 00:54:52.746
But add to us though,
00:54:52.746 --> 00:54:54.681
Both in colorado and around the nation,
00:54:54.681 --> 00:54:56.783
Those who wanna see a victory.
00:54:56.783 --> 00:54:58.918
And we love you christ.
00:54:58.918 --> 00:54:59.986
And it's in your name we pray.
00:54:59.986 --> 00:55:01.221
Amen. - amen.
00:55:01.221 --> 00:55:03.223
- amen. - wow.
00:55:03.223 --> 00:55:04.591
Responding to the voice of the lord,
00:55:04.591 --> 00:55:06.760
Consecrating the state of colorado back to him,
00:55:07.694 --> 00:55:11.331
As kinda the first piece.
00:55:11.331 --> 00:55:14.734
Wow.
00:55:14.934 --> 00:55:16.202
- we had a prophet friend of ours say,
00:55:16.202 --> 00:55:19.339
"i hear you always saying,
00:55:19.339 --> 00:55:21.207
'why do we always have to walk on water'"?
00:55:21.207 --> 00:55:23.977
Mm. and i felt that for you guys today.
00:55:23.977 --> 00:55:26.279
God, why do we always have to walk on water?
00:55:26.279 --> 00:55:28.581
It's the safest place for us.
00:55:28.581 --> 00:55:30.383
- [victor] it is.
00:55:30.383 --> 00:55:31.451
- out in the deep.
00:55:31.451 --> 00:55:33.086
Good on you!
00:55:33.420 --> 00:55:34.521
I'm so proud of you guys, i can't hardly stand it.
00:55:34.521 --> 00:55:36.189
- thank you. - all for you.
00:55:36.823 --> 00:55:37.957
- thank y'all for your friendship.
00:55:37.957 --> 00:55:39.426
- make colorado great again! (laughing)
00:55:39.426 --> 00:55:41.060
- yes! yes. - yeah.
00:55:41.060 --> 00:55:42.829
- "the dangerous gentleman" is available.
00:55:42.829 --> 00:55:46.666
And, - and wife.
00:55:46.666 --> 00:55:47.901
- i'm gonna, yeah, i was about to write
00:55:47.901 --> 00:55:49.569
"and women" under here. - and eileen.
00:55:49.569 --> 00:55:50.904
- [victor] she has a little book.
00:55:50.904 --> 00:55:52.472
- yeah. - better than that one,
00:55:52.472 --> 00:55:53.773
Called "the dangerous woman."
00:55:53.773 --> 00:55:55.108
- love it. - so this is available now,
00:55:55.108 --> 00:55:57.577
If you wanna know more about what leadership looks like.
00:55:57.577 --> 00:56:01.514
And we are all for you.
00:56:01.514 --> 00:56:04.317
We love that you heard the voice of the lord,
00:56:04.317 --> 00:56:07.253
And you're responding to it,
00:56:07.253 --> 00:56:08.955
Because, look, - it's good.
00:56:08.955 --> 00:56:11.124
Here we sit in this facility because paul and jan crouch
00:56:11.124 --> 00:56:16.029
Responded to the voice of the lord.
00:56:16.029 --> 00:56:18.231
- yep. - we believe that style.
00:56:18.231 --> 00:56:20.934
Not everybody does.
00:56:20.934 --> 00:56:22.001
- right. - you know, but we do.
00:56:22.001 --> 00:56:24.571
So we're behind you, and we'll see you in colorado sometime.
00:56:24.571 --> 00:56:28.708
(upbeat music) we'll see you next time.
00:56:28.708 --> 00:56:30.643
Bye-bye.
00:56:30.643 --> 00:56:30.643

Victor & Eileen Marx: Unbreakable Faith Sacred Duty | Praise

November 23, 2025 | 58:22

Closed captions

Share