BVOV Magazine 2013 - present

“I experienced a real deliverance and came out of it a different man. I found a church and received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. That was two years before I met Desiree. “One day in 1984, I was on the set of 'General Hospital.' While I was waiting to do my lines, I struck up a conversation with a security guard. The man was a former pastor who’d lost his church. I was ministering to him, encouraging him to believe God for restoration, when they called me to do my lines. I didn’t go. What I was doing with that security guard was eternal. Eventually, I went and filmed my part. Back in my dressing room, I knew acting wasn’t for me. I’d been called to the ministry.” When Mel arrived home that evening he said, “Desiree, don’t ever pay my Screen Actors Guild dues again. I’m not going to act anymore. I’m going into the ministry.” Desiree looked at her husband like he’d sprouted two heads. She felt like passing out. He had a successful career and he was tossing it away. Someone needs to be the responsible adult and pay the bills, she thought. I guess that will be me. Passing Through the Fire Desiree was working every day—even turning work away—when she was offered a job as a stunt woman on the popular 1980s TV series "Airwolf." While it made financial sense to take the job, her heart kept tugging her in a different direction. Lester Sumrall and Norvel Hayes were speaking at their church and she wanted to attend the services. Instead, she did the adult, responsible, grown-up thing. She accepted the job. Desiree had done a lot of scenes where she’d taken high falls while engulfed in flames—always wearing protective gear. In this particular scene, the script called for her to ride inside a Jeep 4x4 with a control button concealed in her hand. On cue, Desiree would press the button and smoke would be released. Nothing in the script mentioned fire, so for this scene she didn’t wear protective clothing. The 4x4 bounced across the terrain as cameras rolled. The moment Desiree pressed the button, it set off a fire bomb that engulfed her in flames and knocked her unconscious. Paramedics flew her by helicopter to the burn center of a nearby hospital, where she arrived in critical condition. Desiree had suffered second and third degree burns on her chest, arms and neck, and her face was burned off. Mel and Desiree’s father cried as they stood next to her bedside. Her hair had been protected by the wig she was wearing, and her hands had been spared by the work gloves she had worn. But...her face? During her stay in the hospital, Mel brought a cassette player and teaching tapes by Kenneth and Gloria, and some of Kenneth’s music recordings for her to listen to. Mel and Hubie took turns staying with Desiree, keeping the Word of God or praise music playing 24 hours a day. Desiree’s mother, who had been sick with a cold, was not allowed to enter her daughter’s room. Mel also posted 8-by-10-inch photographs of Desiree’s beautiful face all around the room. Taking a Stand “I remember regaining consciousness,” Desiree says. “I realized that God had been tugging me not to take that job. I shouldn’t have survived that fire bomb and it was a miracle I was alive. I knew God was giving me another chance at life. I told Him that I would do whatever He wanted me to do with my life. “My face was wrapped in bandages and whenever they tried to remove them, the bandages ripped away my flesh. Night and day, I listened to Kenneth and Gloria. When the pain kept me from sleeping, I lay in bed at 3 a.m. listening to the Word of God and worship music. “When I was finally strong enough to walk to the shower, I stood there sobbing in pain. Then I dropped to my knees and just worshiped Jesus. The presence of God fell in that shower. When I opened my eyes, all my bandages were folded in a neat stack on the shower floor.” ***** article continues on next page ***** ********** ADVERTISEMENT ********** JUNE Broadcast Calendar featuring: Kenneth Copeland Gloria Copeland Kellie Copeland May 29-June 2: Know and Believe the Love Kenneth Copeland Sun., June 4: Pray in the Spirit and Receive God's Wisdom Kenneth Copeland June 5-9: No Fear in Love Kenneth Copeland Sun., June 11: The Power of Faith Put Into Action Kenneth Copeland June 12-16: Called and Chosen by Love Kenneth Copeland Sun., June 18: The Lovingkindness of Your Heavenly Father Kenneth Copeland and Kellie Copeland June 19-23: From their prayer cabin in Arkansas... Kenneth and Gloria Copeland Sun., June 25: The Healing Compassion of Jesus Kenneth Copeland June 26-30: From their prayer cabin in Arkansas... Kenneth and Gloria Copeland ___________________________________________________________ Station Listings kcm.org/watch/find-a-station more ways to watch dish® CHANNEL 265 Roku® apple tv® 4th Generation YouTube® podcast KCM App KCM.org DAYSTAR Network Trinity Broadcasting Network kcm.org/waystowatch Watch our Spanish broadcast on Enlace or at es.kcm.org/medios. BVOV : 23

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