Times you see the owner keeps it safe in the back where he keeps all the money and he only takes it to the bank once a month and today’s the day so I’mma go over there chop it up with the fellas you know how we do but at
Closing I got to do what I got to do I know it was almost two months ago but the last chemo treatment is wearing me out could you bring me some ginger ale I’m feeling a little nauseous okay baby I’m coming I’ll be right there do y’all see what I’m talking
About I got to do something to make this better She’s suffering and I got to do something today today’s a day baby bab did you hear me could you bring me some ginger ale baby please get back in bed I’ll be right there with it okay Nobody nobody G than youer noer oh good morning and welcome to the iron sharpens iron Barber Shop interesting name for Barbershop isn’t it comes from the Bible Proverbs as iron sharpens iron so a man sharpens the countenance of a friend that kind of stuff happens all
The time around here man comes in with a problem and he talks about it and the discussion breaks out and before he leaves he feels better about the whole thing that’s what I love about this place oh who am I my name is Smitty and I’m what’s called a facilities
Engineer yeah yeah I keep things clean and organized around here you know sweeping washing folding towels organizing the magazines it doesn’t pay much but that’s okay I’m not here for the money I’m here for the fellowship watching a brother come in feeling kind of low and then finding
Some hope and feeling better about life and himself on the outside and the inside hey good morning Smitt good morning that’s Starbucks we call him Starbucks cuz he drinks coffee all day long his real name is Joe and he runs the place he’s been running this place for over 25
Years Smitty morning morning morning good morning all right all right all right Joe over there yeah that’s Daniel yeah but I call him Dapper Dan because he’s always cleaner than the board of hell check him out he dresses like that every day he says he wants to represent the
Style and dignity of the black man good morning brother Smithy good morning de that’s Deacon he really is a deacon at our church he’s been a barber for about 40 years he doesn’t have many clients these days he pretty much just sits in his chair and reads the
Bible but I don’t know how he does it he always throws out the perfect scripture for all the things that happen around here he says he’s going to retire but I don’t believe in I think coming here is what keeps him going hey hey top of the morning s good
Morning all right damn that’s big boy Bronson not much of a boy these days but he was just a kid when I met him his father used to bring him here way back in the day and back then he told us cuz he loved this place back then he told us
He was going to be a barber right here in this very shop sure enough After High School he went to Barber College got his license came right back here as a barber and has been here ever since hey SM what’s up Smitty going on with you Smitt what’s up brother good morning
Gentlemen that’s the Center Court Ben sunny and Leon those guys crack me up they come here every day like it’s their job they sit at that table playing dominoes holding Court dispensing wisdom solving the problems of the world you know and they got a running commentary on all things inside and outside these
Doors come to think of it I can’t remember even one of them getting the haircut brother look at that how y brother doing man all day I so much we got some new customers in here today for those of you who do not know I am the hustle
Maker my job is to S you I got them CDs DD and blu rays too hey brother like you got kids I got front SE San Diego I got watches socks PES and all kind of to hey brother you look hungry guess what I even got the lemon and P pie I got
Incense and from the motherland I give you whatever you need whatever I can because I am the Hustle Man now what’s your pleasure brother what can hustle man do hold on got some merchandise hold on he your feet look cold right there brother cold look here I got an
Exclusive sale for you mxb sock look here I know you’re I know you’re but check me out now look here check me out one might be black one might be white one thing for show your F to game be tight come I’m good I’m good come B out toilet right here
59999 brother oh oh really brother man iar a’t way I thought black Liv all right hold before before ago I got one more thing to say it really breaks my heart you’re kicking me out I must confess but I’m going to keep coming back one day you brother going to say
Yes swap me peace and head I see yall [Applause] later what I tell you there’s never a dull moment here at the iron sharpens iron Barber Shop what’s the song say don’t believe me just watch you’ll see brother how you doing I was out one walk and I got a couple of
Urgent calls you mind step in the back and make those calls I need a little privac sure Pastor right this way bre it’s another day the Lord has blessed us to be here alive well and in have a right mind that’s right let’s pray Heavenly Father we come with Thanksgiving in our
Hearts and praise our lips Lord thank you for blessing this IR shop and orang bers shop and for blessing every man that come through that door for 25 years yes sir in the name of Jesus and the Brethren said am amen Brethren today is a big day
Y these days most businesses don’t last 25 weeks much less 25 years that’s right iron shoing iron is an institution in this neighborhood and I’m looking forward to this anniversary celebration amen amen de you are so right we have so much to celebrate and to thank God for
He’s been a blessing in in this community for 25 years I remember my first day just a few days after you open I walked in here and there were you and Smitty talking about the word I thought to myself a Bop were they talking about God this is where I
Belong it’s been a blessed 25 years amen amen it’s been almost that long for you too hasn’t it Daniel oh oh yes sir Deacon it’s been 24 years I remember that day well in fact Bronson and his dad were my first walk-in customers by the way Bronson tell me how’s your dad
He’s good thank you very good you know I remember that day too I was just six years old it was my first time in a barber shop and I loved everything about it who would have thought after all these years I’ll be working here hey you’re here man I wonder how many of
Brothers have come through that door over the years hundreds maybe thousands fathers coming in with their little Sons for their first haircuts yeah sitting on phone books and booster seats and crying because they don’t like the sound of the cliff right and those High School seniors coming in for the latest styles
For their High School proms and graduations Mohawks and Fades lines and Designs we’ve done it all that’s right brother’s coming in before a job interview or a marriage proposal going off to college that’s right so many great memories speaking of memories what about those brothers who
Have gone home to be with the Lord amen yeah you remember uh Deacon Brazil boy that man pray yes he could oh he was a real prayer Warrior prayed me through a lot of situations yeah me too we remember Reverend har oh yes he was a true evangelist that’s right old EJ he
Had a way of sharing the gospel that l so many young Brothers to Christ you sure right that man will witness to anybody anywhere yes he would and you guys remember brother Staten oh that brother can sing the paint off the wall when he saying it’s in my
Heart you can see the light of God and the joy of the Lord all over his face those brothers that what made iron sharpens iron the barber shop that it is today they’ll never be forgotten amen amen yeah and let’s not forget about the brothers we lost the ones who never got
A chance to grow up the ones we lost to the streets yeah there were more of them than I can remember yeah more than there should have been that’s for sure these streets are are stranger to our young Brothers they always have been and it’s getting worse and worse every year it
Seems like there’s a war between the young brothers and the police that’s true that’s a war between young brothers and other young Brothers they go around talking about black lives matter but I wonder does black lives really do matter to them they keep gain trues but once
The truth is over the war starts back up again yeah I don’t know what’s going to happen with this generation I’m telling you you know they say all of time no justice no peace yeah but the truth is if you don’t know Jesus you’ll never know peace amen mother
Mother there’s far too many of you crying brother brother brother there’s far too many of you die dying you know we got to find to bring some love in here today yeah brother brother we don’t need to escalate war is not the answer for all love can conquer
He you know we got to find a way to bring some love in here today Pick It lines and pick it signs don’t punish me with brutality sister talk to me sister so you can see what’s going on what’s going on hey hey what’s going on what’s going on
What’s going on I want to know what’s going on Right on right on hey right on right On father father father everybody says that we’re wrong but who are they to Jud just simply because I had you know we got to find a way to bring some loveing here today picking lines and pick it sign don’t you punish me brother brutality brother talk to me brother you
Can see hey what’s going on what’s going on hey yeah what’s going on what’s going on what’s going on I want to know what’s going On What’s going on Amen now what would we do without the Lord he’s have a hope no matter what we have to face tomorrow he’s already there with his grace love and brand new mercies amen what was that scripture again Deacon Lamentations chapter 3 all uhhuh verses uh 22 and
23 through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed that’s the one because his compassions fa not that’s right right they knew every morning great is your faithfulness the Lord is my portion saves my soul therefore I hope in him he’s been faithful through the troubled times
Through the sad times the good times the times when the rent was short in sickness and in death yeah that’s right he’s been faithful for here for 25 years amen Joe tell us the story again yeah Joe go on and tell a story y’all have heard the y’all know
The story come on yes we do but we want to hear it today especially today it’s our anniversary that’s right that’s right Joel It’s a testimony shows how God used his glory in this place amen come on Joe okay okay okay okay it’s like this so 25 years ago I’m leaving barber
School see it add in the paper fully equipped Barber Shop reasonable rent good location I make a call to make an appointment to come and see the place I talk to somebody who I think is the owner turns out it’s the lawyer we agree to meet I show up he
Shows me around everything in the place is brand new like they outfitted it just for me and then he tells me the rent price and I was like oo that’s too good to be true but it was only $271 70 a month oh wow that’s but it
Wasn’t a back it is and I thought it was too good to be true and there had to be a catch somewhere but apparently there wasn’t um the lawyer said that there was three stipulations number one we had to keep the name iron sharpens iron which was fine with me
Then he said that I had to maintain a clean atmosphere No gambling no cussing no off-color conversation right which as a Believer I’d have insisted on anyway right right and then finally he said I had to agree to always ask God who should work in the sh amen right which
Again I’d have done anyway MH and that was all that was all I ran and signed that renters agreement faster than God got the news and then I mailed that check to JT Schmidt who was a post office box I have never seen him or spoken to him in the repairs
In paintings in replacing old furniture and stuff like that over the years seemingly overnight wow even before I had a chance to report it and say anything to call the lawyer to fix it I would come in the next day and it would be and it would be
Resolved nobody great I love to hear that story it inspires me every time I hear it is amazing um but there is one thing that I haven’t shared with any of you what’s that uh the rent uhhuh has never gone up wow not in 25 years
Wow I have been sting a check in the amount of $271 70 MH and not a penny more all right praise the Lord look at God iron sharpens iron has taken care of the men in this community for 25 years that’s a blessing God saw to that what a
Mighty God we serve that’s right right hey let’s go what a mighty God we serve what a mighty God we Serve him heav and Earth him what a mighty God we Ser what a mighty God we serve what a mighty God we serve Angels before him Heaven and Earth adore him what a mighty God we serve that wonderful name of Jes That Wonderful Name of Jesus let’s one of the name of Jesus name I know power power in the name of Jes power in the name of Jesus power in the name of Jesus my heal heal healing in the name of Jesus in the name Jesus healing in the name of Jesus power in the name of Jes power in the name of Jesus the name right yeah yes sir this for iron sharp as iron for 25 years let’s say Amen Brothers amen all right Leon gentlemen on this special occasion the 25th year of iron sharpens iron I have an announcement to make what
Talking about now since we’re closing early today I’ll save my big announcement for the celebration tonight oh come on Smitty now you going to have us on pins and needles all day wonder what you that’s right well maybe Smitty’s got a lady and he’s getting married man don’t the woman in the right
Mind want Smitty there you go oh yeah maybe he go quit his job and go to college College where’s he going to study sweeping tall folding maybe Smitty won the lottery and he’s about to move to the Bahama Smitty wanton the lottery he would make no announcement he be long
Gone y’all leave SMY Alone look I want to say like you were the first one through the doors when we open iron sharpens iron he been dedicated the whole time gosh darn like I can’t even I think about it thank God for you Smitty man I don’t
Know what I would have done without you here amen I believe God sent you something like that no I know it had to be God cuz he knew I was going to need somebody to help me out around here and when I think about it man I I really
Don’t I don’t know what I would have done without you here excuse me gentlemen I have an announcement too this is a robbery nobody move oh my Lord my God can can I go to the bathroom first really really could hear me whoa all right G almost home I for
Are we good we are good thank you thank you rob this evening we wanted to dedicate to community because that’s a big part of who carolm L Adams was and that’s a big part of each one of us that are the founding members of the CLA so we wanted
To do out in the community and look at organizations that really showed up and showed out not just for their organization but they took those fingertips of love and credit them throughout the community so our first ones that we’re going to honor this evening is going to be Lyft career
Resource Center if You’ never heard about them we gave them a page in our play bill please read it share with someone else maybe you could be a mentor maybe you could have a job opportunity for an internship for some of their young people their focus their desire
And their Vision was to provide resources for young adults who age out of foster care between between the ages of 18 and 26 some of these young people have been in foster care since they were babies they were dumped somewhere in a trash can they were left on a at a fire
Station and they were really going through multiple families they never had it a forever home lift Scoops those young people up and tries to give them hope providing advocacy mentorship educational opportunities housing how to budget these young people don’t even know how to budget the little that they
Get from the state so we are so delighted that they’re here they’ve come I believe some of the mentor mentees are here as well but we do have a representative from their board of directors of Lyft who will be bringing some words of a message to you guys just
To introduce themselves further I’m honored that we have Kimberly Johnson Thomas here she is a founding member of Lyft and she’s on the board of directors for them she’s actually the board of director secretary she’s currently serves as the educational director and co-founder of the Epiphany Academy of non-public school in Compton
California it’s a privately owned special education school that serves the needs of students from local school districts that are NE negatively impacted by mild or moderate physical or mental disabilities she is also an active member of the national sorority of by Delta Kappa Incorporated in which she has held
Numerous positions so without further Ado I would like to ask Mrs Kimberly Johnson Thomas to join me here please welcome her with Applause thank you so much this is such an enjoyable evening I am so enjoying everything thank you so greetings everyone uh and as you heard my name is
Kim Johnson Thomas and on behalf of our board of directors of lift career Resource Center we’re honored to attend this year’s Carolyn L Adams career scholarship fundraiser we’re enjoying what we’ve seen so far and we just can’t wait to see the rest of the show let me
Start by saying that um you’ve heard a lot about our nonprofit already thank you uh our nonprofit organization provides Career Services life skills workshops and Community Resources to young adults who are aging out of the foster care system primarily in the Los Angeles and the surrounding communities in Los Angeles County alone
We have over 25,000 Foster youth who’ve experienced abuse neglect or abandonment each year as they age out of the system they’re often in dire need of housing food resources jobs and financial support Studies have shown that young people aging out of foster care can lead productive and healthy lives given the
Necessary support and resources to this end we’ve established Partnerships with local community colleges where we provide monthly workshops and mentoring to their transition AED young adult students everyone here can make a difference consider becoming an advocate for foster youth by joining uh our volunteer team at lft uh maybe becoming a
Mentor um or a donor right um and you can do this by visiting us at www.ft crc.org and again we’re in the play bills so if you want to look us up and find out more please do so again thank you for having us here we want to thank the Carolyn L Adams
Scholarship uh fund and um membership um uh group we want to thank you for having us here we want to thank the miracle uh theater for um having us here um and yes so thank you thank you so much Kim we really appreciate you guys being here and thank
You Pastor for being a gentleman I appreciate that well all right then give him a little amen Colin can you guys turn the lights up a little bit because we’re going to do roll call our second honores of the evening is a really two groups that are
Very dear to my heart I’m not a member of either one but I do support what they do I’ve been doing that since I was 15 years old and that is our Greek black sororities and fraternities aka the divine nine a lot of people who are not
Involved or have no idea what they represent they have a false idea of it’s just a party going on but that’s not true they are anchored and based on community service it is really something that was birthed out of blad and racism on college campuses all over the United
States we could get in finally Hallelujah but we were not allowed to be in any of their organizations we could make the same grades of them we could sit in with them in class but that’s where the buck stopped so a lot of very very smart people who are historic
Figures started these two organizations fraternity and sororities of Greek and then they grew over the years and so this evening we wanted to celebrate you a lot of you have worn your colors I see some AKA I see some Deltas I see some
Kappas I see some Q’s so we want to do a little roll call so I asked two very special people to me and they are one is a Delta rakina and her honey is a Omega so I’m going to ask them to come and do their thing they’re going to do a little
Roll call y’all can get loud cuzz we had intermission so enjoy yourselves I told them to do whatever they wanted to do have your way baby good evening everyone love to see everyone in the in the building looking beautiful and bright I’m going to sit to the script
But um um just like um I call her peacock but um she’s been um a wonderful ful blessing to our lives and to our church um and we just um thank you for the gift of of fellowship and being able to just um showcase um what we’re made
Of uh the national planning Council affectionately known as nphc Divine 9 was founded May 10th 1930 at Howard University in Washington DC the purpose of the mphc is to Foster Cooperative actions of its members in dealing with matters of mutual concern thus the mphc promotes the well-being of its affiliate fraternities and
Sororities facilitates The Establishment and development of local councils of the mphc and provides leadership training for its cons its constituents excuse me your organizations which comprise the Divine n are as follows the ice cold Brothers of alpha F Alpha Fraternity Incorporated do we have any in the house okay
Okay the pretty women alpha alphaa alpha sority Incorporated yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah the oh so deaner men of Capa alpas side Fraternity Incorporated yes sir yes sir yes sir the sons of blood and thunder of Omega Sci-Fi fraternity Incorporated and there’s one in the back too the devastating divas of Delta sigmaa
Sority Incorporated the sons of fire and bstone F beta sigas Fraternity Incorporated the finer woman of Zeta beta sority Incorporated the pretty poodles of Sigma gamar Ro who already Incorporated and last but not least the mighty centur of IA fight Theta and corporate Fraternity Incorporated did pretty good um as a
Past recipient of the Carolyn L Adams scholarship I would like to say thank you to them again because without you I would not have made it so thank you so much um and have a great evening we just have a few minutes before scene
Two so get ready if you’d like to get a beverage the inar is open if you’d like to get some of that amazing truffle popcorn or some empanadas they’re available to you if you need to go to the restroom if you need need assistance
Please let one of us know so we can help you if you need assistance to the restroom and we’ll get started again in just a few minutes thank you very very much we so appreciate your Presence Her B so but I I I A you got the The everywhere verywhere DP DP a thank you so much oh my goodness baby Your We Come on my good this is Great I don’t know the full Thing [Applause] [Applause] We going to get started everybody get back in your seats Please Please get take your seats we get ready to start act two sit on down sit on down colen can you blink the lights for me cuz we’re getting ready to get started come on sit sit we need you to sit on down come on in sit on down get back to your seats
Sit on down lights are getting ready to dim so we want you to settle down in your Seat sit down sit down please take your seats we want to start act two our director is a very timely person is I’m not hello let’s let’s chop it up later please take your seats we want get started please take your seat Hallelujah please take your seats
We want to get started Karen please take your seats I don’t want to start calling people’s name cuz you all know I will set settle down we got a lot more in store for you thank you so very much okay Let’s Get Busy eight act
Two go in go in go in go in go in you come lock this door and turn that open sign over all right everybody listen carefully drop your cell phones in this trash can let’s go get my cell phone let’s go I don’t have all day let’s go
Right now I know there’s a safe in here you know the combination no I’m the only one who knows the combination okay you got two minutes to bring me everything out that’s safe before I blow his head off no funny stuff I’m not playing you better not move let’s go man help hurry
Up all right put all that in here I want all your jewelry and your wallets pass this bag around and put everything in there not giving up my wallet young man you don’t want to do this young brother cut the Young Brother crap and give me your money here you
Go let’s go can we talk about this man talk about what I’m robbing you that’s all I want to talk about you don’t want to do this brother you know what you right I don’t want to do this but I got to do this and I’m going through this so
Cut the conversation and let’s get on with it young man you know this not right I know your people taught you better than this my people what you know about my people you don’t know nothing about my mama or daddy and you sure don’t know nothing
About me I don’t have to know nothing about you to see that you’re angry and you’re hurting and even though you’re holding a gun you’re scared shut up old fool I ain’t scared of nothing you the one need to be scared okay okay look can
We make a deal make a deal this ain’t no game show man are you crazy do you see this gun okay okay listen can we just talk talk to me about what can’t we talk about why you doing this right about how you don’t have to go down this
Road about how your life can be better that’s right about how you can stop the hurting and the pain and the hurting other people right about how you can get healed healed healed okay y’all want to talk let’s talk let’s talk about how my wife is dying of
Cancer let’s talk about how I lost my job and my health benefits and I can’t even take her to the doctor let’s talk about how we going to be homeless in two weeks and let’s talk about relatives and so-called friends you turn that back on you back up I
Don’t want to hear nothing unless you going to tell me how to fix that do any of y’all have the answers for that do you have the answers for that huh yes I do have an answer man see brother I’m a cancer survivor man the first time I came in this
Shop was to have my hair shaved because my my hair fell off from the chemotherapy y’all remember that when the doctor said cancer in my mind I was already already dead yes I gave up hope and I lost faith come on brother I was angry with God just like
You yeah and I’m thanful for everything I was going through but these brothers here yeah come on and they talk to me that’s right we did they encouraged me that’s right they supported me and they prayed for me that’s right they told me a story I’ll never forget come on
Now feel so good to make it this Far I didn’t think I could take it so long yes yeah there were days I wanted to quit I so surely this is it but I held on and I watched as so our friends turn and walk walked away sing the song and it hurt so much I didn’t have words to
Say but even when my day turns tonight and nothing seems just right Lord I Thank you for for my life say that say that for my life Lord I Thank thank you for every Victory and you are sh and for the moment I know Lord it was you kep
Me so I thank you for for my life and I watched you take my family from there to here and when times were little rough God I know you were de thank you Jesus and in a moments I thought i’ fa yes sir I was reminded of your nails so I held
On and if I never live the see another day yeah yeah there nothing I would change to take away I’ve had so many of they far I Way by down lord I thank you for my life yeah yeah for my life it Lord I Thank you for every Victory and you I sh
Yeah and for the moment I know Lord it was you who kept me yes so I thank you for for my life thank you I realized something make it I could have been one of the ones who lost my way yeah and there were times Lord I know I almost went
Crazy yeah that’s it oh Lord but I’m still here with my life oh for my life Lord I Thank you for every Victory and you I’m sh and for the moment I know Lord it was you kep me yeah so I thank you for for my life it may not
Be all that I hope for and every dream has not yet been realized but to see your face one day God I know it’s all going to be worth it so I thank you for for Every Mountain every Valley everything you brought me through Lord I Thank you
For I know it was you God oh I just want to take the time to say thank you to Jesus Oh for my life yeah that’s right that’s right praise His name yes yeah but I reached out in faith and he made me whole from the inside out that’s
Right the doctors gave me 12 months to live that was 5 years ago I’m Healed I’m cancer free right brother I know your wife can be healed because I’ve been healed you just got to give it all to them you got to have faith in them not
Giving him nothing look I’m I’m take this off I got an answer too here we go cuz I’ve been where you are broke disgusted you can’t be trusted you see I lost the job that I had to get then we lost the house just like that had nothing me and M homeless and
Living in the car Jesus days turned to weeks weeks turned to months felt helpless like less than a man couldn’t even provide a roof over the head for my family well then one day I came into this shop looking for a handout y’all remember that you remember I’m looking for a
Handout but that today I got so much more than money yes because you see let me tell you something I was desperate thinking about doing the exact same thing that you’re doing right now but you know what stopped me it’s these brothers right here these brothers right
Here they stopped me because I got so much more than money on that day come on now they introduced me to the Lord yes sir and because I didn’t have nothing to lose I accepted him into my life life now don’t get me wrong right I am not
Rich but I’m also not homeless you better watch that’s right let me tell you they shared a scripture with me that day Philippians 4:19 yeah my God will supply all of your needs yes sir according to his riches that come on now let me tell you something God was my rock
Yes when I was at my rock bottom that’s right but if you give your life over to him he will fix it nah let me tell you something God Will Make A Way Out of Nowhere W he do it for you though the storms keep on
Raging in my life yes sir and sometimes it’s hard to tell the night say from day still that hope that life within is reassured as I keep my eyes upon the distance sure I know he’ll be we sa me to that blessing he has prepared but the storms don’t
See and if the wind she B blowing in my life my soul has been the Lord no no no no the storms keep on Raging in my life and sometimes it’s hard to tell the night from still that hope that life within is Reassured as I keep my eyes upon the dist sh I know safely to th bless he has PR but if the swor don’t see no no no no no and the winds keep on Blow going in my life my soul has beening the Lord some sometimes sometimes in his life of
His by the W and the current that seem so F but in the word of God got to make it keep me time but if if the stor don’t cease oh when Jus take the winds keep on and keep on blowing and blowing and blowing and blowing my soul has
Been when I get down Jesus pick me up keep me moving when the is my soul my my soul my my my my soul may r r do they Dash I will not wor because he hold me fast so like the day clouds in the sky I know it’s all right
Cuz Jesus is Li in my soul oh brother my soul in my soul in my soul in my soul my my soul my my my my my my my my my soul I’m Soul has anger in the amen amen all right all right so right come on that’s right true that’s right right
Brother tell tell the story right I came here me about Jesus Amen that’s right nah I Nothing I see you the Future Then you do right Now I see you in the future Sing the song you right now Yes GL In your in your in your for was to come he’s better than anything that’s been in your life thank brother it’s better than anything that’s been in your life it’s better than anything it’s better than anything it’s better than Anything it’s better than anything that’s it it’s better than anything it’s better than anything better than anything Come on brother sing that’s right that’s all right amen that’s all right that’s all [Applause] right y’all sing way too much do anybody else got anything to say yes I do what’s your name son it’s Michael Michael Michael we want to help you we don’t want to see you go down
This road right that’s right too many of our young black men have been lost on this road that’s right that’s right their lives were lost but even worse the souls were lost because they didn’t know the Lord that’s right that’s right the problems and and and species of this uh Fallen World
Drove them to destruction now we don’t want to see that happen to you no that’s right we need you to be whole to be the man that God wants you to be yeah yes that’s right a positive role model in the in in the community the head of your
Household the husband and brother you can be in Christ you’re not by yourself man we’ve all been in Desperate situations we’ve all got stories of Deliverance healing that’s right and restoration yes bottom line we’re all here living believing amen praying that’s right yeah that God is for us
That’s right that’s right with us yeah we want you to know this Michael because he is we want you to know it look man amen look you tried it your way why not give Jesus a try that’s right we promised that no matter what it looks like or no matter what you’ve been
Through he’ll never leave you alone and he will take care of you that’s right I know how you feel cuz I felt all along like that too talk to him brother y’all singing again God we just want you to know you’re not by Yourself and he’ll be with you every step of the way that’s right I don’t have wor no matter what it is no matter what you need he’ll be there for you never alone you can take it from me right I don’t have to worry cuz I felt Hess Des Spar just like
You but you’re never alone never alone all right he walks beside Me oh all the Way and he got my Footsteps every day so I’m never ever again I won’t be insecure anymore I will be there he’ll be there he’ll be right by my side again no no no never Any again he walk right by right by right by my all the he’ll do that for you too right don’t you I and all the way every day oh never never when I let worry or doubt cons through me never well I doubt my faith in him he’ll be
There never no no never know never never he’ll never leave you he’ll be there Step it away cuz he walk he walks right there all the way all the way and he and he my footsteps he he died my fo all the way every day every day neverone say that no
Never I’m never alone and you ain’t either Michael never alone be alone no No it’s all right brother tell the truth brother that’s right never alone huh who are you I’m I was in the back and I heard everything after hearing those testimon I had to come out Michael pray that you make a decision today a decision that will change your [Applause] life Michael repeat after
Me Jesus Jes Jesus be my Lord and my savior be my Lord and my savior Jesus Jesus I give you my S I give you my S Jesus Jesus I ask that you give me your spirit I ask that you give me your spirit to walk with me to walk with me
The rest of my life the rest of my life in Jesus name in Jesus name amen amen amen I don’t understand what’s happening I feel I it’s all right son it’s going to be all right we prayed with you now it’s your turn amen that’s right my turn yeah
Pray yeah I don’t know how I don’t even know what to say you got That’s Right and say my heart touch my spirit I want to make a brand new St yeah find anything in me should not be take it down take it down and strengthen me CU it’s my desire to live Right searching my my and search My Heart Lord touch my spirit ah just to want to make a brand new star you find a in me Lord just take it out and St than me it’s my this like to be right oh Oh cre in Heart Lord I need you to clean me up God the right Spirit just the right Spirit God I I just want to be I just want to be oh creating me God oh Clean Heart yeah yeah just a live want to
Be just I just I just want to be right I get down on my knees I’m beging you please yes yes God God oh I need to God God I have your God I need you to save my life you to save my wife Lord I just want to be whole God I
Want to be I know this might be a show I know somebody out there yeah I need you God yes I do yes I do yeah I want to I just want to be saved I want to be yes I yes I yeah I want to be I’m sorry y I’m sorry
To I’m sorry I want to be right I just want to be right God I want to be I just want to be like God I want to be sa I I just I just want to be saved I want to be right just a little bit God I want to be
Be Lord I Need make me right God make me right God save my life save my life Lord Me make me praise His name it yes sir yes sir I’m not afraid anymore amen you I’m not scared that’s all right Hallelujah I don’t know what all this means but I do believe God’s going to help me amen yes he is he will and we will son we’re going to
Be here for you Lord Lord you’re one of us now thankes after what we just been through you are our brothers that’s right you’re a part of us that’s right that’s right Lord but the word of the Lord says in Ecclesiastes yeah read two are better than one uhhuh
Because they have a good return for their labor sir and if either one of them fall the one will pick up his companion that’s right amen we’re here to lift you up that’s right and verse 12 says and if one can be overcome alone two will be able to resist
Him is not quickly torn apart amen all right y’all now that I’m a part of you I got a confession to make it right now that gun yeah uhhuh yeah it’s not real you got to be K I was hoping nobody call my BL cuz I had nothing to back it up
With uhuh don’t do it don’t do it sit down old man I’m saved [Applause] now guess is well that’s right no yeah right no no and a soul was saved in the process am what a day amen hey Joel I think we can close up now oh yeah right that’s right
Oh here we go here we go here we go not again we was doing good Too I got the house after I got kicked out this what let me tell you what going oh good found uhhuh found he drown death his name name was ni oh Lord all right all right here we go all started when I left sh IR went down to the house
M she some pig feet pig feet I put them on before I left the house I told you I walk out the toes of my shoes so I had to go back and get some I and I checked on the P like I good I went
On I looked it down there in the living room that’s where we live down the living room and that’s what I saw Lord I Saw Nicodemus yeah and I was scared to go down but I went anyway and I cre on over there I my brother I qu over there okay and I
Huh huh what so to the other side and I on that and usually when I go to the left side he at meuh Nicodemus but look closer and closer I noticed that his eyes was blazed and I know it for my nius I’m not doing it I’m not doing it
I’m not doing it this is crazy a fish absolutely crazy a fish a fish named Nicodemus okay I can’t H I can’t hurt so bad you know what I mean I can’t you know what I’mma keep it I’m go out so I decided to go
Walk and I went on down and I saw the blond grocery store and I said the weekend coming up I’m going get some ho oil for the Saints okay the superar yeah you know when they say the price of O going up li you know
Me did you know that a 48 bottle of c849 what you say who do that I can’t do it who can do that I can’t nice catch that’s not right that’s not right serious he’s serious to he serious for closer walk with uh you want to be
Blessed one drop here and one drop here and the Lord will snapch you out of your mess I’m trying to tell you this is the good stuffff right here Lord I had a oh man so just keep me lifted up in PR looking at y’ had aad day y point something what’s
Going come on y’all let’s go home and get ready for the celebration yeah come on Michael man take you home your wife we going to go to this celebration together hold up fellas we did not hear Smitty’s announcement that’s right after all we’ve been through today we better
Hear it we may not have another chance later yeah after all that’s going on today what else could SMY say no no no Leon’s right my announcement PS in comparison to what happened here today yeah come on y’all let’s come on man let’s get out here
But since we’re all here I might as well spill it here we go yeah I’m G tell you the story it’s going to be good you know I was raised in a neighborhood just like this and I went to a barber shop just like this from the time I was a child
Until I went away to college College College college there something but I never forgot that barber shop and the way that those men fed into my life as matter of fact my research proves it research I learned about an urban principal who opened up a barber shop in
Their school to lift the confidence level of their male students keep talking and on real and Facebook you see all the time where Barbers volunteer their time to give free haircuts to the homeless to lift their self-esteem as well so I wrote about the impact of neighborhood barber shops and beauty
Salons on the urban community for my Master’s thesis master he got he had a degree something so after I graduated college I came here started my business in sociology sociology of Sociology but I never forgot that barber shop sometime later I inherited a large sum of money that I wanted to invest not
In stocks or bonds or anything like that I want to invest in people people in my community particularly the men uhhuh I got so tired of listening to the news about black onblack crime and how many black men are incarcerated addicted unemployed and homeless and I wanted to
Build a place where men could come together and talk and laugh and lift each other up possibly share the joy of the Lord and maybe maybe make a better community so I bought a building wait and I figured it out to be the top-of-the-line Barber Shop wow hold
Up SM what are you trying to say what I’m saying is my name is James Theodore Smith I am JT Smith the unknown owner of this shop and the gentleman you’ve been paying that rent to for 25 years Joe I don’t believe believe a that n of course Schmid is the German equivalent
Of Smith that’s right it was you the whole time Joe I’ve taken that rent money you’ve given me all these years and invested it and we can go away some no no no now we have enough money for pensions for all the Barbers now I’m ready for that we can keep this place
Open long after we’re gone good man Smitty tell me something Smitty that uh $271 .70 is it where’ you get that number from Deacon what does Proverbs 27:17 say just as iron sharpens iron so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend that’s who we are y that’s what
We do that’s right Proverbs 2717 I just added a zero to the end ah I see what you did I see what you did I see it I see it yes that’s right that’s right you know sociology is my career but this place this is my Ministry so after this place
Closes I go home and do my work in sociology and then I do special projects special projects what kind of special projects man I am so glad you asked uh SMY got a book this is the book iron sharpens iron it tells all about this shot The Barbers
The past clients even you guys and and the Center Court all right look at that iron shoing iron this is awesome look how God has blessed this place yeah I mean even your visit Michael who knew that all this would happen today God did yeah yeah yeah he
Blessed us all to be here he sent you here man I don’t know what to say I do l’sen praise the Lord praise the Lord praise the Lord Brethren this C for a prayer of Thanksgiving amen amen amen let’s pray almighty God Lord we thank you for your goodness your grace and your
Mercy thank you Lord for brother Speedy Lord we thank you for blessing this on Sho on bar and for blessing every man that come through that door for 25 years 25 that’s right we thank you and you Praise You In The Name of Jesus and the Breen said [Applause]
Amen let’s get out of here I [Applause] guess the All right you guys come back out so they can see how amazing you were give them another hand they’re going to start coming back Out Shar I am I Shar While we’re waiting for them to come out oh here’s my beautiful niece she was the only woman in the performance you didn’t see her till the end but she was amazing all right Elder Greg Nelson do you baby do You Lord let’s pray Dion Travis me and Dion Don Mackie come on Don do you baby do You Deacon Tommy come on now come on now Professor Tandy Ward LC all right Timothy do you baby do you Timothy Bryan and James Brown come on now that’s what I’m talking about yeah all right be come on show him the love show him some love Deacon Travis all right
De here come fancy darl R Johnson Ed Bower and Mr Jes St and here comes through Us uhoh here go Smitty we forgot Smitty the star Mr Paul Turner Deacon Turner y’all do what y’all were told to do now come on now do it right one more time 1 2 and our phenomenal band our vocalist we could not do this without you guys you absolutely fantastic bless you bless you bless You where is Olivia she needs to come Out this is who makes this happen she is the creative Force she wrote she directed please give her some love she poured her heart into this all right sister did you guys enjoy yourself till you feel a little light in your step right now I want you to go out and tell
Somebody we’re going to be back here tomorrow night tomorrow afternoon at 4:00 we would love for have you there’s a few more tickets online if you want to grab one or tell somebody we’d love for you to come but if you’ve enjoyed this evening share it share the good news
Everything doesn’t start stop in the barber shop it leads the barber shop it’s the same as a salon it’s a very interesting place but you can be blessed in that environment and still come out looking sharp with a nice haircut or got your head beat so we thank you for
Coming this evening Pastor Taylor please stand and first lady Regina they’re here he’s an Omega she’s a Delta we appreciate their support and we have several of our we have several of our actually recipients of our scholarship rakina was uh 2008 I believe Tamina you were 2007 you were our first one please
Stand Pastor Balden you were 20 2019 Javon was 2019 as well with you I believe they were either in the audience doing something they were behind the states they were playing that’s what CLA does we want to keep the people that we bless we want them to continue to share
Their gifts so we thank all of you for coming we ask that you have travel in Grace home you get up early in the morning to maybe praise the Lord ENT your church or un soon for those of you who have RIS stand going to our after
Set please stay in your seat we’re going to direct you to the backyard in about 5 minutes you can just sit and mingle say hello to someone that you have not seen and most importantly to me as well I want to thank this theater Owen and my
Smith are amazing young couple and I adore them is my Gods son still here Trey are you still here Mr Kenneth Phillips Stand Up that’s Robert and Kenneth Phillips son the old the young oldest one that’s Mike’s son the only child I’ve never had and without Trey I would not be here
I’ve poured my heart into this particular venue because he’s a part of it and what they’re trying to do to revitalize this Englewood area is totally phenomenal a lot of you grew up in Englewood we’re going to bring it back we’re going to blow new breath into
It and make it a place where everybody can come and enjoy and be creative so we thank you so much for coming God bless all of you have a safe rest of your evening I know some of you have dinner reservations in the area Bon of bati and
We will see you God will in the creek don’t rise we’ll see you again good night Everyone I I I am I Char High Am
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