Alex McFarland: There's a famous quote. Never doubt for a moment that one person could change the world. One committed individual could change the world indeed. It's the only thing that ever has. Well, with that quote, I welcome you to the Jeff shreve program. Alex McFarland here sitting in for Jeff. Very honored to do so. And we have got just a terrific show today that I know is going to inspire and I believe motivate you. And before I bring, the guest and we talk about how the world needs committed individuals that believe God wants to use them to change the world, I want to give you a verse, a verse that's very special to me. I discovered this verse, when I was a young believer. You know, some of the chapters of the NewSong Testament are very famous in one way or another. Like, for example, If I said First Corinthians 13, you probably would think, oh, that's the love chapter. You've heard that at, you know, most weddings you've probably ever been to. Well, First Corinthians 15. What is that? Starts with the letter R. The resurrection. Now, Paul talks about the resurrection. Christ is risen. He was seen of all these eyewitnesses. Paul said, also seen of me. So the resurrection, I mean, God's power to beat death is just miraculous. But I Love the way First Corinthians chapter 15 concludes the last verse in that chapter. Verse 58 says, Therefore, in other words, in light of this, there therefore be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. For as much as you know your labor in the Lord is not in vain. You think about that, God raised Jesus from the dead. sin was paid for, death was beaten, the grave was conquered, Christ resurrected. And if you think about that, and this is perfectly reasonable, if God can overcome death and he can help you overcome anything, death, the grave, sin, condemnation, it's all been resolved and Christ is risen. And I say it this way, the tomb was left empty that your life could be made full. And so Therefore, Paul writes, 1 Corinthians 15:58, in light of this, be steadfast, immovable, consistent, on point, because you know your labor in the Lord is not in vain. Well, as I queue up, just a valued colleague and friend in the ministry, you think about this. No matter who you are, you can do things for the gospel. You can serve Jesus. And it's not in vain. It really does count for eternity. And if you're a believer, you're a follower of Jesus, right? Okay. I hope you are. Well, we need you. The body of Christ needs you. America at this moment needs you to step up and be on point for the Lord. his ambassador, a witness, a representative of Jesus to those watching around you. And you know, you have the promise of God's word that it matters. Your labor in the Lord is not in vain. Well, when I think of somebody that God uses immeasurably, and, I've got a lot of great friends that are just doing things for the kingdom. Just amazing. But honestly, at the top of the list, the very top of the list, someone bearing fruit for the gospel, someone who is as committed a believer as I've ever known. Her name is Bunni Pounds, and you might remember that name from earlier this year. She was the one individual, that organized 500American Christian leaders. And it was America Reads the Bible. And. And for the first time in our nation's history, a sitting president, uninterrupted read a, ah, very large portion of scripture. President Donald J. Trump, at the request of Bunni Pounds, President Trump said, bunny, I'm there, absolutely. And there were a lot of leaders. I was profoundly honored to be one of the readers. My friend Dr. Ben Carson, David Barton, so many staff from American Family Radio, Charis Bible College. But Bunni Pounds, the woman of God, the force of nature laboring for the Lord, and it is not in vain. She was the one behind that. She's with us now. I always get inspired. I like to stay busy for Jesus, but when I'm around Bunni Pounds. I just like Lord. I'm, yours. Let's do this. Let's see God change the world through all of our lives. She's with us now, leader of Bunni Pounds Ministries. welcome to the program. Ah, woman of God, sister in Christ. Bunni, thanks for being with us.
Bunni Pounds: Well, thank you, Alex. Yeah, they don't call me Energizer Bunni for.
Alex McFarland: For nothing, right, Energizer Bunni. Yeah. That's great. That is great. now, for those that may not know, bring people up to speed on your work. There's so many things I want to ask you and solicit your wisdom on, but, give us the story and, and what God is doing in your life, Bunni Pounds.
Bunni Pounds: Well, it's great to be with you, Alex. Always, an honor to talk to my brother in the Lord who knows biblical worldview more than probably anybody in the planet. yeah, I was a homeschooling mom that went back to college, got my political science degree after running two businesses with my husband and, and then, launched into a political consulting career for 16 years, working with members of Congress. had fun discipling elected officials. You know, it's really about the gospel and it's really about, bringing people into relationship with Jesus. So I did that in the political realm for a long time. And then seven years ago, I launched Christians Engaged to build a voter mobilization system for believers, to teach biblical worldview and civics, and inspire people to get involved as leaders in our culture. that has been going for seven years, and we've mobilized 1.2 million Christians. and then our team led the largest Bible reading event that you talked about in American history. America Reads the Bible. It shifted our entire life. And you know what I realized, Alex? I realized for the last seven years, I've been trying to get Christians to do three simple things. Pray, vote, engagement. but man, it's really hard to do that because they don't know the scriptures, they don't have an understanding of who God is, and they don't have an understanding of who they are in God's grand story. And so after America Reads the Bible was over, we had 3 million streams on great American pure flicks, 5,000 media hits in one week. I mean, thousands of emails and Facebook messages inspiring us with what God had done in families and young people. It was mind blowing. our team felt like we need to pour gasoline on a Bible revival. And so we're launching a new ministry just, the last couple weeks. and the whole Bible Live will be our biblical, ah, literacy program, which we can get into. But we are so excited to inspire, ah, Gen Z and Gen Alpha specifically to love, the Bible and to be leaders for our nation.
Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen. You know, I've got to say, during America Reads the Bible, back in May of this year, you know, Bunni, I do a lot of traveling and I remember it thrilled my heart. I was going through airports and I saw dozens of people, you know, for, for those few days, people were on their phone watching, listening, you know, I was seeing what were clearly, you know, 20, 21 year olds with earbuds and they were watching the various readers read through the Bible. And I mean when you're just going through public places, the airports or Starbucks and people are watching from Washington D.C. everybody from the President to Franklin Graham reading the Bible, that's really something. You were there leading the program. But even during that week I was in several states speaking in addition to going to D.C. and it really caught fire. I mean it really did catch fire. Did you get some pretty, inspiring testimonies from people who said, wow, I'm watching, I'm listening. Thank you for doing this. What was some of the feedback you got from the general public?
Bunni Pounds: Well, I had an email from one ministry leader that said he was on a plane watching the opening celebration when we, kind of made a call to recommit ourselves back to the Bible every day, to read the Scripture every day. And he said he hit his. He like got down in the aisle and kneeled down and rededicated himself as a ministry leader back to the Bible. we had a teenager that was sick that ended up sitting there for six hours with his mom and watching Daniel and Ezekiel. I mean, that's crazy. Crazy. And rededicating his life back to Jesus. we had a young boy like 9 years old, just a couple weeks after America Reads the Bible, come up to his parents and say, mom and dad, we want to do, let's do America Reads the Bible Today. And this is at their breakfast table. And they're like, what are you talking about? And he brought out his little cartoon Bible that was animated and started reading the scriptures to his parents. I mean, that is culture changing. When we realize that the Bible needs to come back to the family room and needs to be at the center altar of our life and our families. That's how we change this nation.
Alex McFarland: what would you like to see happen, Bunni? And for those just tuning in, Alex McFarland here of Exploring the Word. We're with Bunni Pounds, Bunni Pounds Ministries. You know, these, things, they're simple, but they're profound. Prayer, repentance, reading the Bible, sharing the gospel. I mean, this is culturally transformative. What would you like to see? If God said, name it, the sky's the limit. Bunni Pounds, what would you like to see the Lord do in our nation today and beyond?
Bunni Pounds: I just want people to know Jesus, Alex. I mean, really, it comes down to that. Just the simplicity of knowing Jesus. I was on a plane, Thursday, going to a conference, and I. This kid, he's 20 years old, comes in with an AC DC T shirt on and, sat down next to me, and frankly, I was a little bit tired. But I started a conversation with him, found out he was a military, kid. His dad had been gone most of his life, and just started sharing the gospel with them, talking about his life, talking about his college, what he was doing. He turned out to be a political science major named Reagan, named after Ronald Reagan. But he was far from God. He needed Jesus. he just emailed me the other night, to follow up. And God's moving in his life. And then the person in front of me that was listening to the conversation found me online and emailed me that she was so inspired by our hour conversation that she wanted to contact me, as well. So I think, number one, Alex, we need to realize that Jesus is real and he's alive. He wants to have a relationship with us, and he wants to affect others people's lives. And we've got to get back to simple Christianity in a deep way.
Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen. Bunni, before we go too much farther, and I'll ask a time or two, give us your website, if you would.
Bunni Pounds: Yeah, it's just my name, Bunni, with an I. Bunni pounds.org bunny pounds.org and there's lots there we'll get into, I'm sure.
Alex McFarland: Do you. Do you believe the winds of revival are beginning to stir in the United States?
Bunni Pounds: 100%, Alex. I want us to just stop and just reflect. I know the world looks very difficult right now. I know there's a lot of things going on, but let's just celebrate for a second that Our nation hit 2,250years old this year. praise the Lord that our Constitution has outlasted every constitution in world history. Praise the Lord. Let's also rejoice that we read the entire Bible over our nation. The largest Bible reading since Ezra. Praise the Lord. That included six cabinet members, six Governors, the President of the United States. I mean it was amazing. And so many other things. The rededication on May 17th where the, you know, the White House led a rededication of our nation. Back to faith. And I mean, let's just be grateful for a second, that God is doing something. And we are definitely seeing. Of course, with Bible sales going up, the Bible app reached a billion downloads. I mean God's doing something and he's really doing something in these 20 year olds that are seeking for life and want to get through their insecurities and their anxieties and want to find real life.
Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen. I want to talk about that as well. I know you well enough to know that you're fervently praying for these midterm elections in three weeks, aren't you?
Bunni Pounds: Yes, 100%.
Alex McFarland: Yeah. Do you have, a leading from the Lord on? And by the way, folks, vote be a citizen. Paul, was a Roman citizen and he frequently would, exercise that citizenship. So should we here as American citizens? Hey, I hear the music. We've got a brief break. Bunni Pounds of Bunni Pounds Ministries. An amazing one woman spiritual awakening and she's our guest on, the Jeff shreve program. Alex McFarland of Exploring the Word Sitting in. This is the American Family Radio Network. We've got a brief break and we'll come back with more. Stay tuned because your personal revival God wants to give. And I believe this show is going to be a point part of it. Stay tuned. We're back after this.
: This June marks three years since the overturn of roe. But did you know that since then the number of abortions has surged to a 10 year high? Preborn network clinics continue to support women facing unplanned pregnancies, showering them with God's love and providing free ultrasounds. When a mother meets her baby on ultrasound and hears their heartbeat, she's twice as likely to choose life.
Bunni Pounds: It was like the beginning of my healing journey. They do an ultrasound. That's when everything changed. When I saw my baby and when I heard her heartbeat, that was it.
: $28 sponsors one ultrasound and $140 helps to rescue five babies. Your generous tax deductible donation also helps to provide women who choose life with assistance for up to two years. To donate, dial £250 and say the keyword baby. That's £250, baby. Or visit preborn.com afr. This is real truth for today. Podcasts of the program are Available on the podcast [email protected] now back to Pastor Jeff Schrieve.
Alex McFarland: Good morning, everybody. Alex McFarland here. Very honored to be sitting in for Pastor Jeff Schrieve on the, American Family Radio Network. You know, if there's, one thing that I really just. I wake up every morning, I think about, it's revival. An awakening. Our nation needs it so desperately. I think God in his mercy is beginning to send it. I read in a book one time that the word revival, it's two Latin words. it means life again. That's what revival means. And, revival is a biblical word and a biblical concept. it's a return to the things that bring life. And, you know, we often talk about evangelism, reaching the lost. And of course, that's, part of the Great Commission. But, you know, I really think church growth is an outflow of church health. And very often some of history's greatest moments of evangelism are, are preceded by a supernatural work of God whereby he revives and reawakens his church. And somebody that just is, the personification of revival is our longtime, friend and colleague, Bunni Pounds. Her website is bunnypounds.org b u n N I P O U n d s bunnypounds.org and she's with us now. welcome back, Bunni, and thank you. Thanks for being with us today on afr, but, more importantly, even thank you for what you do for the cause of Christ in our nation and world.
Bunni Pounds: Well, we are ready for a great awakening. Alex. I was just at a conference this weekend. I ended my speech with, I will be at the forefront of the next great awakening. Like, let's go. Come on, guys.
Alex McFarland: Amen.
Bunni Pounds: it is time. And I believe, the prayers of the saints that have been praying over our nation for the last 50, 60 years. I envision the bowl of heaven just tipping over with the prayers and intercessions of the saints for revival and for a great awakening. And I believe it's in our time. I believe we have an opportunity as spiritual mothers and fathers to pour gasoline on it right now.
Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen. Now, you wrote a book, Jesus and Politics. One Woman's Walk with God. you don't hear that. In fact, I gotta be honest with you. you know, I've pastored two churches and preached in about 2,000 churches. Actually more than 2,000. if I talk with pastors about politics, it's usually I stand there while they reprimand me for talking about this world when we're supposed to get people to heaven, it's not either or, it's both. And isn't it? I mean, obviously we're supposed to help people find salvation in Jesus, but aren't we supposed to be salt and light and restore our culture as well?
Bunni Pounds: We are, and we're supposed to be in every part of culture. And so, yeah, Jesus in politics was my, way of weaving my story to really talk about how to walk with an intimate Jesus and walk in his presence, but do it in culture. For me, for 16 years, it was politics and government. You know, I've had the honor of working for people that are serving in the administration right now. Lee Zeldin, Shawn Duffy, other people. Congressman Jeb Hensarling, Congressman Micah Cloud, that's serving in the Hill right now. but it really comes down to us being disciple makers, Alex, wherever we are. And, you know, sometimes people get overwhelmed by people in authority or, you know, whether they're rich or whether they're, at some high level of leadership, and they don't feel like they can talk to them like normal people. So part of this for me was breaking down. Every single one of these people in leadership are normal people. They need God, too. They need the presence of God in their life. but we need to, like, have a whole army of believers that rise up and get involved in the political space and in the governmental space to impact our nation and to hold the line, for righteousness. I mean, it's critical.
Alex McFarland: well, you know, people need to run for office, people of God, because, you know, here's the thing, and I've been around a lot of elected officials as well. you know, including a few meets with President Trump, and, you know, downstream of that. these are human beings. These are ordinary people. You know, one thing that's touched my heart, Bunni, is how very often elected officials that I've been around that they understand that the platform they've got and the influence they have, God entrusted to them. I think the best leaders realize that, they've been given a little moment of influence from God, and they do value our prayers. They do need a word of encouragement, and they do need, gentle reminders that promotion, cometh not from the east or the west, but from God. And the reason I say that, and I want you to speak to it, if you would. Everybody listening. No matter who you are, where you are, you, could be on the school board, in your community. You could run for local office. Because if People of God and Christian constitutionalists. If we aren't standing up and assuming our roles of leadership, I assure you, Satan's people will. And I think we're seeing that. But, leadership is a precious, sacred thing God entrusts to people, isn't.
Bunni Pounds: Is, my pastor actually here in Rowlett, Texas. Cassin Huddleston had never been involved politically. He's a little assembly of God pastor here. And, he decided to get involved, through the ministry. I founded Christians Engaged, hosted an on ramp to civic engagement seminar in his church, then got his members to get on boards and commissions, then became the chaplain of the political party in our area, then became the chaplain of the state political party, and then got recruited to run for the state Board of Education and became the Republican nominee and will be, elected in November. So, you know, all it takes is a yes. It just takes a yes of obedience. I think. Nehemiah is one of the biblical characters in the Bible, Alex, which I just wrote a new book called Stepping up to Lead. Nehemiah shows us how to do that so simply. He was just a simple cupbearer. He feels a burden from the Lord, goes to prayer and fasting, and all of a sudden he's got favor from a Persian king to go back and rebuild the walls of a nation in 52 days. I mean, a miracle story. And what I'm finding is that God wants to do miracles in all of our lives as individuals. Like, Nehemiah is just a person. Ezra's just a person in the Bible. And you can be a biblical character as well. Like, let's go.
Alex McFarland: Yeah, M. You know, I think about Josiah, in the Old Testament, like in 2 Chronicles. And, they are, doing a little renovation on the temple, and they discover, the word of God that had been neglected and forgotten. but when they rediscovered God's holy word, everything changed. And very famously, in 2 Kings, Josiah, when he hears the Bible, he rips his clothes, which was a sign of remorse and contrition and repentance. But, there's a lot there. First of all, it was in the temple that God's word got misplaced and kind of forgotten. But when they rediscovered the Word of God, revival broke loose. Now, here's the thing. I love America and I love the American church. And we have Barna estimates maybe 345,000 churches in America. Sadly, a lot of them are closing. but what would happen? Well, first of all, let me ask you this, Bunni pounds. I mean, you're A person that has their finger on the pulse of the American church as much as anybody I know. has the American church like the time of Josiah? Have we misplaced the word of God and kind of forgotten what the scripture says and where the scripture is?
Bunni Pounds: I think we have relegated our life and our spiritual health to a couple verses on a Sunday morning and a pastor preaching for 20 minutes or 25 minutes. and we've forgotten that people, number one, can consume the word of God. I think that's what shocked everybody with America Reads the Bible is number one. We didn't realize we had such a deep famine that people were so hungry for the Word. but they also didn't think that people could retain it or actually sit there for 30 minutes or two hours and just listen to the Bible. we underestimate the capacity of people. And, one thing we're doing, Alex, with Bunni Pounds Ministries, is we're starting a whole new a Bible initiative called the Whole Bible Live. We're actually taking the content of America Reads the Bible in partnership with Great American Pure Flicks and cutting it up in 30 minute segments. And we're going to create a whole Bible study for people to go through the entire Bible with us in 24 weeks. we'll mentor people through the Bible starting January 1st. People can sign up right now to join us in that adventure. But we're also going to do regional events where we partner with local churches and communities and say, number one, let's preach about the importance of biblical literacy in our culture and the, the importance of the Bible in our history. But us, let's just read the Bible. Let's read the whole Book of Acts over a Saturday. Let's read the whole Book of Jon. Let's get young people in a room and sit around every five chapters and discuss it and realize that the Bible itself speaks. and then we are announced, we just announced last week we are going to do another national event in 2028 with 18 to 30 year olds reading the Bible from Genesis to Revelation all the way through from college campuses all over this country. let's get down to just reading scripture. Public reading of scripture in our nation I literally believe can shift our whole country and raise and let God allow God to raise up the leaders that he needs for the next generation of America.
Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen. And I want to say to my fellow pastors out there, believe that God's word has power. You know, I've been in so many churches and look, I love the church I'm not bashing the church, but, very often, you know, there's no saying he took a text, departed therefrom and never returned. I mean, I've heard so often, in fact, I was in one of a big, big, big church. I was on the road promoting one of our biblical worldview conferences. And I went to this, in this particular city, this is like the flagship church. And, I counted seven seconds. A scripture was partially read. The message was a C grade motivational speech, had nothing whatsoever to do with the text. And, seven seconds the Bible was read. And then we had 25 minutes of a, motivational speech. folks, the word of God has power. And pastors believe. Listen, five minutes of God's word can do more in the lives of your parishioners than 35 minutes of the best motivational oratory that you can muster. The word of God has power. And Bunni, you know, whenever I read about, like, even like during the Middle Ages, there were pockets of revival in Europe. Then of course, the Protestant Reformation. And we here in America, we're riding on the ripple effects of the Protestant Reformation even yet. And then there was the first great awakening. There was the Carolina great awakening about 1803-1815, than the second great awakening. You know, Bunni, I gotta tell you this. in my home state of North Carolina, down near what is now Charlotte, there was, about five or six years of revival. Methodist circuit writers, different ones, had a revival, where they say, and I've got a book from the twenties called Revival in the Midst of the Years. But in what is called the Carolina Great Awakening, 20,000 people gathered for a week just to pray. Now, 20,000 people now is a great crowd. But in, you know, like 1805 or 6, that was just unheard of. But the very spot where they had the Carolina Great Awakening was, later on, 100 years later, where Billy Graham grew up. Seriously. So we have the chance, folks, to pray, to hear God's word which will not return void. That's Isaiah 55. And then pray some, generational prayers that can change our nation right now. Code red. You need to be praying for these midterm elections and get out and vote that we don't go socialist or Sharia. But, Bunni, I'll throw it back to you before we have a brief break. The word of God has power, not the word of man. God might use the word of man, but it is the word of God that God breathed Bible that the spirit of the Lord will use to Change lives and change history.
Bunni Pounds: Agreed, 100%. And Alex, revival looks like something. I like to say revival looks like something. It looks like actually prioritizing Jesus above everything in your life. I don't know. I'm sure you remember when you first got born again is like, wow, Jesus is real, right? He loves me. And I remember just laying on my bed as a 13, 14 year old, just like, I just want to feel the presence of God, you know, I want to read the Bible. I want to spend time with believers. Like, you're so hungry. That is what Christianity is, guys. And I don't care if it's, you know, 30 years later. That is what I have to be burning like. But it's unto something. It's unto talking about Jesus. It's unto ministering to people. It is unto bringing his presence into airplanes or in government buildings or in the voting booth or in your school. Right. I think we get complacent, Alex, because we forget there's this amazing adventure of walking with God that is like, it's not even like you're walking on this planet. It is on some other realm. And like, divine appointments. We should be having divine appointments every day, right? And so I want to just inspire people. Number one, if you go to the Word every day and say, Jesus, I want to meet with you every day. I want to hear your voice. I want you to speak to me. You have something then to give. You have something to impart to somebody that you're going to meet today. And nobody else can reach those people but you. You're the only one that's going to meet those people today. And that's the beauty of walking with Jesus. It really is an adventure every day to love God and love people.
Alex McFarland: It's not boring, is it?
Bunni Pounds: No, no. but we have to start somewhere, Alex. And that's why, you know, we're going to take people through the Bible in 24 weeks and six months. Like, you know, we've got to go. Like, let's just simply read the Bible and say we're going to do that and watch God transform our lives.
Alex McFarland: Hey, we've got a brief break. More, and your personal revival can begin today. Stay tuned. We're back after this brief break. Alex McFarland, bunny pounds, the American Family Radio Network. Don't go away.
: If you'd like to contact Pastor Jeff, email pastor jeffromhisheart.org now back to Real Truth for today with Pastor Jeff Schrieve.
Alex McFarland: Good morning, everybody. every blessing to you. You know, I'm Talking with Bunni Pounds. We're talking about personal revival. And I want to assure you this is not just some pie in the sky, ethereal, wishful thinking. This is a biblical reality. And we read about the Josiahs of the world and Elijah and Saul of Tarsus, who became the apostle Paul. And, you know, we've got these great heroes, from God's word and from church history. But honestly, folks, and I say this with complete, conviction. God has things for you. God has an adventure story that he wants to write through your life and your time here on earth. And I began with that, wonderful verse, First Corinthians 15:58, that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. And, we could all tell so many stories. I know Bunni could, and so could I. Of times that, you know, maybe you thought it was insignificant or didn't really matter, and then you find out that it was a God moment and Jesus was using you to influence others. And I would say this to everybody listening. You might be a young person. You might be a college student. Maybe you're riding in your car or wherever more hangs on your obedience than you could possibly imagine. And the beautiful thing about it, we know salvation is a free gift. Jesus paid it all. He shed his blood on Calvary's cross. He rose from the dead. And we are saved. Not by works, but we are saved by the work that Christ Jesus did. And you put your faith in Jesus, and, you know, there m May even be somebody listening right now. And you need to come to Christ, and today is your day to make sure that you are born again. And all you need do is turn to Christ. He is as close by as a prayer. And you say, lord Jesus, I admit that I'm a sinner, and I am sorry for my sin. And I'm asking you to forgive me. And, dear Jesus, I believe you are the son of God, as you said. And, Lord, I believe you died for me. And, Lord, I'm accepting what you did as the payment for my sins. And, Lord, please save my soul and be my Lord. And, you know, if you ask Jesus to come into your life. Jon 6:37. I love this scripture. Jon 6:37. Christ said this. And this might be for this might be the promise for somebody listening right now. Jesus said, the one who comes to me, I will in no way reject you say, but, Alex, you don't know what I've done. Hey, God knows. It doesn't matter what I know or don't know, but it matters this. The Lord loves you. His arms are open. And if you turn to Christ in faith, he will save you, he will forgive you. But then, as a follower of Jesus, a, born again Christian, God has miracles he wants to do through your life. Bunni, I've seen it. I gotta tell you. I mean, you know my history. I grew up on a farm in North Carolina. We were, we were poor and we didn't know it. I rode to Sunday school in a 67 Buick. The floorboards were rusted out. And I didn't like to go to Sunday school because the kids made fun of my sister and me because we smell like exhaust, because there was no floorboard in the back of our car. And we, were poor and didn't know it. but when I found Jesus at age 21, I never knew I'd be a preacher. I never knew I would be on the radio. I just knew I was driving a delivery truck for the farm. But I knew a lot of people that were lost. And I just remember, I prayed and I said, lord, if I could lead one person to Christ, that's all I'm asking. I just want to lead one person to Jesus and my life will be complete. And do you know, I was very shy and very awkward and clunky. But I, did know that everybody needed Jesus. And one by one by one, it began on my delivery route. but I got to lead a man to Christ and then I got to lead people to Christ at UNC Greensboro. And, that's all I wanted to do. And that is, even to this day, I wake up every morning, I'm like, lord, just one more. I want to lead somebody to Christ. All of that, to say this, speak to the person out there, Bunni, if you would. And they say, well, yeah, sure, God uses Bunni Pounds. You know, she's, she's a Christian rock star, or God used Billy Graham. Speak to the person who is just somebody, that's an average person. And they need to believe that God wants to do miracles and supernatural fruit through their life. Would you give us that word, Bunni?
Bunni Pounds: Well, Alex, as you were sharing your story, I was reliving the first person I led to Jesus, which I was doing Christian theater and acting and got to lead a young 12 year old to Jesus after a show. And, and I was 16 years old and I'm addicted at that point. I'm like, this is life. And, you know, it really takes just simple conversation. Alex, we all have simple conversations. None of us are superhuman. None of us are super spiritual. Like, I don't know about you, but every single time I start to open my mouth and share Jesus with somebody, fear rises in my heart. You know, the devil will attack you at every turn and that's everybody. None of us are special, more special than others. We just like overcome that fear and step out. Right? And I will never forget being 18 years old and stopping beside the road and seeing a guy selling roses by the side of the road and meeting him and talking to him and he was exchange student from France and ending up leading him to Jesus and connecting him with a church to disciple him. This is just like daily adventures that we can have with God. So I just want to encourage everybody listening to you. you know, as, as Elijah called down fire from heaven with the BAAL prophets and then a day later he's sitting beside the juniper tree crying out and saying, I'm all alone. There's nobody that loves God. You know, I mean, we all have these mountain experiences and then we all have these valley experiences. Get over it. Like it's okay, like it's just feelings, right? But the word of God's what is eternal. The word of God is what brings faith. You know, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word. And that's why it's critical that we show up every day, say, Jesus, I'm here. I'm going to open this Bible whether I feel like it or not. And I'm going to meet with you because that's how we are consistent in our walk. That's how we see miracles happen. And it has nothing to do with us and it has everything to do with Jesus.
Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen. Bunni, the Bible reading that you led In May of 26, I say this with all my heart. I think that it probably certainly has more fruit than you might even imagine. And I know you've got big, big vision. I think when we get heaven, we're going to see that that was an absolutely eternal God moment in the life of our nation. Because there were 122 ministries, six cabinet members, six governors, 20 members of Congress. There were Hollywood celebrities like Patricia Heaton, representatives from across our country, the President of the United States. Read 2 Chronicles 7. I gotta tell you, Bunni, I was there in D.C. and for those that may not be aware, there was this auditorium and there were hundreds of people for long, long periods of time just sitting to listen to hear God's word. And I thought what a blessing that was. But I'm just going to tell you, when Donald Trump was reading 2nd Chronicles 7, and of course, he got to the very famous verse 2 Chronicles 7:14. And Donald Trump looked in that camera with conviction. He was holding a Bible. He said, if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways. And he kind of paused. And, I mean, you could tell the import of these words was really moving. And Donald Trump said, God's promise, then will I hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and heal their land. And I'm telling you, there was not a dry eye in place. I was wiping tears away. I don't know where you were in the building, if you could see it, but everybody, we were like, oh, my goodness. This is, like, this is a moment. The President is reading God's promise of how a nation can get restored. what was it like, among your team and all of your leaders as this was, we were watching this unfold. What was in your heart and mind at that point, Bunni?
Bunni Pounds: Well, it was surreal. myself and Jamie Thompson, the director of America Reads the Bible. We had prayed for over a year. We had got some intercessory friends to pray. we had set aside Second Chronicles, Chapter seven for President Trump. And then by the grace of God and 20 years in politics, I used every relationship and every person I knew in the White House and the administration to try to make that happen. But God, supernaturally, through a couple key people in the White House, opened that door, and the President did it. We just kept praying that if he read it again, he's not a perfect person. None of us are. But if he read the Word, he would believe it. It would become real in his soul. and it would impact the nation and the nations of the world. And so much so, Alex, that they replaced, played that video from America, reads the Bible at the rededication. That was the President's whole speech again. so I, I believe that it has made a lasting impact on our nation. And I hear from people across the world that have been deeply impacted by the President of the United States, the leader of the free world, reading a repentance scripture. yeah. Unbelievable. And it'll go down in my history book, of course, as one of the greatest moments of my life.
Alex McFarland: Indeed.
Bunni Pounds: But, you know, I believe that God is calling his people back to himself. And when, again, just like the President reading, when we just read Scripture, he does something in our souls.
Alex McFarland: Bunni. time fleets way. First of all, before we do run out of time, I want to say in the Strongest possible terms. Thank you for what you're doing for our nation. I know you've got some big events in the next 12 months and beyond, but, do you have a word for the churches that are struggling? I meet a lot of people, a lot of gray hair as I travel. And they say we're not reaching young people. And, you know, 50 years ago this church was on fire. Now we're just sort of existing. What can we do to jumpstart a, ah, church before it's too late? Do you have a word for the church that is plateaued or declining?
Bunni Pounds: I just want to say, pastors, be relevant with what's happening in the culture. Don't avoid what's in the newspaper. Preach about what's in the newspaper. Preach about what's happening on social media. Preach about the issues that people need to know what the Bible says on and, and what Jesus wants to do in their life. And, we have to have deep conversations with people. What I'm finding with these younger folks is they just want a relationship. They don't have a strong relationship with their father or their mother. They are, you know, been addicted to social media. So spend time with them. It takes a commitment of time, to bring disciples into the maturity that they're supposed to be in. So, so don't be afraid to spend time and actually look like you care.
Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen. Now you've got you. and I were talking about this the other day, and boy, this thrills my heart. You're going to be doing a major summit meeting on evangelism, next year. Tell us about that.
Bunni Pounds: Yeah, we're going to do a conference called the Call of the Evangelist. in Dallas, Fort Worth. We're going to call evangelists to come together, from around the, the nation and encourage you with practical instruction and the fire of the Holy Spirit and, and say, you know, your calling to raise up laborers for the harvest field is critically needed in this hour. And we want to empower you to change your city. So, we're going to be doing that, next August. You know, there'll be stuff, announcements soon, but people can track [email protected] and go through the Bible with us January 1st and, be the leader that God's called you to be for our country.
Alex McFarland: You know, Bonnie, I remember a quote by Jim Elliott. Of course, you know, Jim Elliott and his wife Elisabeth Elliott. They went to South America as missionaries and some of the men were brutally killed by the Alka Indians. Later, they got, saved those Indians. But, there's a great quote. He said, jim Elliot, oh, Lord, make me ignitable. Deliver me from the dread asbestos of other things. And now, there's a lot there. God, make me ignitable. we need to be able to get on fire and burn brightly for Jesus, don't we?
Bunni Pounds: We do, Alex. And it comes down to the priority of our time. Where is Jesus in your calendar? That's my question to leave you with right now.
Alex McFarland: Hey, in your own private Bible study, where are you in the Word at this point, Bunni?
Bunni Pounds: I'm in the book of James, actually. so, yeah, I've got addicted to James lately, and I'm just reading through it over and over again. And I think there's a fire in that that, you know, is not legalism, but is the works, the good works that God wants to do through our life and our purposes.
Alex McFarland: Indeed. Bunnypounds.org will visit again soon. Thank you so much, Bunni. And thanks, for listening, folks. Hey, listen to this. I will be at the COVID next summer in July, the Billy Graham Conference center in Western North Carolina. This will be my 22nd or 23rd summer. and I'll be doing two things. One, I'll be teaching the book of Romans, and all the great revivals in history have included the book of Romans. And then I'll be there with Loren Green of Fox News and Dillon Burroughs, who works with Ben Shapiro and the Colson Center. We'll be doing Biblical worldview. Check out thecove.org, t h e c o v e thecove.org and I'd love to see you and meet you next summer at the Billy Graham Conference Center. In the meantime, thanks to Jeff Schrieve. And remember, folks, First Corinthians, 1558. Your labor in the Lord is not in vain. Stay bold, stand strong, speak up for Jesus. Every blessing.
Alex McFarland: There's a famous quote. Never doubt for a moment that one person could change the world. One committed individual could change the world indeed. It's the only thing that ever has. Well, with that quote, I welcome you to the Jeff shreve program. Alex McFarland here sitting in for Jeff. Very honored to do so. And we have got just a terrific show today that I know is going to inspire and I believe motivate you. And before I bring, the guest and we talk about how the world needs committed individuals that believe God wants to use them to change the world, I want to give you a verse, a verse that's very special to me. I discovered this verse, when I was a young believer. You know, some of the chapters of the NewSong Testament are very famous in one way or another. Like, for example, If I said First Corinthians 13, you probably would think, oh, that's the love chapter. You've heard that at, you know, most weddings you've probably ever been to. Well, First Corinthians 15. What is that? Starts with the letter R. The resurrection. Now, Paul talks about the resurrection. Christ is risen. He was seen of all these eyewitnesses. Paul said, also seen of me. So the resurrection, I mean, God's power to beat death is just miraculous. But I Love the way First Corinthians chapter 15 concludes the last verse in that chapter. Verse 58 says, Therefore, in other words, in light of this, there therefore be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. For as much as you know your labor in the Lord is not in vain. You think about that, God raised Jesus from the dead. sin was paid for, death was beaten, the grave was conquered, Christ resurrected. And if you think about that, and this is perfectly reasonable, if God can overcome death and he can help you overcome anything, death, the grave, sin, condemnation, it's all been resolved and Christ is risen. And I say it this way, the tomb was left empty that your life could be made full. And so Therefore, Paul writes, 1 Corinthians 15:58, in light of this, be steadfast, immovable, consistent, on point, because you know your labor in the Lord is not in vain. Well, as I queue up, just a valued colleague and friend in the ministry, you think about this. No matter who you are, you can do things for the gospel. You can serve Jesus. And it's not in vain. It really does count for eternity. And if you're a believer, you're a follower of Jesus, right? Okay. I hope you are. Well, we need you. The body of Christ needs you. America at this moment needs you to step up and be on point for the Lord. his ambassador, a witness, a representative of Jesus to those watching around you. And you know, you have the promise of God's word that it matters. Your labor in the Lord is not in vain. Well, when I think of somebody that God uses immeasurably, and, I've got a lot of great friends that are just doing things for the kingdom. Just amazing. But honestly, at the top of the list, the very top of the list, someone bearing fruit for the gospel, someone who is as committed a believer as I've ever known. Her name is Bunni Pounds, and you might remember that name from earlier this year. She was the one individual, that organized 500American Christian leaders. And it was America Reads the Bible. And. And for the first time in our nation's history, a sitting president, uninterrupted read a, ah, very large portion of scripture. President Donald J. Trump, at the request of Bunni Pounds, President Trump said, bunny, I'm there, absolutely. And there were a lot of leaders. I was profoundly honored to be one of the readers. My friend Dr. Ben Carson, David Barton, so many staff from American Family Radio, Charis Bible College. But Bunni Pounds, the woman of God, the force of nature laboring for the Lord, and it is not in vain. She was the one behind that. She's with us now. I always get inspired. I like to stay busy for Jesus, but when I'm around Bunni Pounds. I just like Lord. I'm, yours. Let's do this. Let's see God change the world through all of our lives. She's with us now, leader of Bunni Pounds Ministries. welcome to the program. Ah, woman of God, sister in Christ. Bunni, thanks for being with us.
Bunni Pounds: Well, thank you, Alex. Yeah, they don't call me Energizer Bunni for.
Alex McFarland: For nothing, right, Energizer Bunni. Yeah. That's great. That is great. now, for those that may not know, bring people up to speed on your work. There's so many things I want to ask you and solicit your wisdom on, but, give us the story and, and what God is doing in your life, Bunni Pounds.
Bunni Pounds: Well, it's great to be with you, Alex. Always, an honor to talk to my brother in the Lord who knows biblical worldview more than probably anybody in the planet. yeah, I was a homeschooling mom that went back to college, got my political science degree after running two businesses with my husband and, and then, launched into a political consulting career for 16 years, working with members of Congress. had fun discipling elected officials. You know, it's really about the gospel and it's really about, bringing people into relationship with Jesus. So I did that in the political realm for a long time. And then seven years ago, I launched Christians Engaged to build a voter mobilization system for believers, to teach biblical worldview and civics, and inspire people to get involved as leaders in our culture. that has been going for seven years, and we've mobilized 1.2 million Christians. and then our team led the largest Bible reading event that you talked about in American history. America Reads the Bible. It shifted our entire life. And you know what I realized, Alex? I realized for the last seven years, I've been trying to get Christians to do three simple things. Pray, vote, engagement. but man, it's really hard to do that because they don't know the scriptures, they don't have an understanding of who God is, and they don't have an understanding of who they are in God's grand story. And so after America Reads the Bible was over, we had 3 million streams on great American pure flicks, 5,000 media hits in one week. I mean, thousands of emails and Facebook messages inspiring us with what God had done in families and young people. It was mind blowing. our team felt like we need to pour gasoline on a Bible revival. And so we're launching a new ministry just, the last couple weeks. and the whole Bible Live will be our biblical, ah, literacy program, which we can get into. But we are so excited to inspire, ah, Gen Z and Gen Alpha specifically to love, the Bible and to be leaders for our nation.
Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen. You know, I've got to say, during America Reads the Bible, back in May of this year, you know, Bunni, I do a lot of traveling and I remember it thrilled my heart. I was going through airports and I saw dozens of people, you know, for, for those few days, people were on their phone watching, listening, you know, I was seeing what were clearly, you know, 20, 21 year olds with earbuds and they were watching the various readers read through the Bible. And I mean when you're just going through public places, the airports or Starbucks and people are watching from Washington D.C. everybody from the President to Franklin Graham reading the Bible, that's really something. You were there leading the program. But even during that week I was in several states speaking in addition to going to D.C. and it really caught fire. I mean it really did catch fire. Did you get some pretty, inspiring testimonies from people who said, wow, I'm watching, I'm listening. Thank you for doing this. What was some of the feedback you got from the general public?
Bunni Pounds: Well, I had an email from one ministry leader that said he was on a plane watching the opening celebration when we, kind of made a call to recommit ourselves back to the Bible every day, to read the Scripture every day. And he said he hit his. He like got down in the aisle and kneeled down and rededicated himself as a ministry leader back to the Bible. we had a teenager that was sick that ended up sitting there for six hours with his mom and watching Daniel and Ezekiel. I mean, that's crazy. Crazy. And rededicating his life back to Jesus. we had a young boy like 9 years old, just a couple weeks after America Reads the Bible, come up to his parents and say, mom and dad, we want to do, let's do America Reads the Bible Today. And this is at their breakfast table. And they're like, what are you talking about? And he brought out his little cartoon Bible that was animated and started reading the scriptures to his parents. I mean, that is culture changing. When we realize that the Bible needs to come back to the family room and needs to be at the center altar of our life and our families. That's how we change this nation.
Alex McFarland: what would you like to see happen, Bunni? And for those just tuning in, Alex McFarland here of Exploring the Word. We're with Bunni Pounds, Bunni Pounds Ministries. You know, these, things, they're simple, but they're profound. Prayer, repentance, reading the Bible, sharing the gospel. I mean, this is culturally transformative. What would you like to see? If God said, name it, the sky's the limit. Bunni Pounds, what would you like to see the Lord do in our nation today and beyond?
Bunni Pounds: I just want people to know Jesus, Alex. I mean, really, it comes down to that. Just the simplicity of knowing Jesus. I was on a plane, Thursday, going to a conference, and I. This kid, he's 20 years old, comes in with an AC DC T shirt on and, sat down next to me, and frankly, I was a little bit tired. But I started a conversation with him, found out he was a military, kid. His dad had been gone most of his life, and just started sharing the gospel with them, talking about his life, talking about his college, what he was doing. He turned out to be a political science major named Reagan, named after Ronald Reagan. But he was far from God. He needed Jesus. he just emailed me the other night, to follow up. And God's moving in his life. And then the person in front of me that was listening to the conversation found me online and emailed me that she was so inspired by our hour conversation that she wanted to contact me, as well. So I think, number one, Alex, we need to realize that Jesus is real and he's alive. He wants to have a relationship with us, and he wants to affect others people's lives. And we've got to get back to simple Christianity in a deep way.
Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen. Bunni, before we go too much farther, and I'll ask a time or two, give us your website, if you would.
Bunni Pounds: Yeah, it's just my name, Bunni, with an I. Bunni pounds.org bunny pounds.org and there's lots there we'll get into, I'm sure.
Alex McFarland: Do you. Do you believe the winds of revival are beginning to stir in the United States?
Bunni Pounds: 100%, Alex. I want us to just stop and just reflect. I know the world looks very difficult right now. I know there's a lot of things going on, but let's just celebrate for a second that Our nation hit 2,250years old this year. praise the Lord that our Constitution has outlasted every constitution in world history. Praise the Lord. Let's also rejoice that we read the entire Bible over our nation. The largest Bible reading since Ezra. Praise the Lord. That included six cabinet members, six Governors, the President of the United States. I mean it was amazing. And so many other things. The rededication on May 17th where the, you know, the White House led a rededication of our nation. Back to faith. And I mean, let's just be grateful for a second, that God is doing something. And we are definitely seeing. Of course, with Bible sales going up, the Bible app reached a billion downloads. I mean God's doing something and he's really doing something in these 20 year olds that are seeking for life and want to get through their insecurities and their anxieties and want to find real life.
Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen. I want to talk about that as well. I know you well enough to know that you're fervently praying for these midterm elections in three weeks, aren't you?
Bunni Pounds: Yes, 100%.
Alex McFarland: Yeah. Do you have, a leading from the Lord on? And by the way, folks, vote be a citizen. Paul, was a Roman citizen and he frequently would, exercise that citizenship. So should we here as American citizens? Hey, I hear the music. We've got a brief break. Bunni Pounds of Bunni Pounds Ministries. An amazing one woman spiritual awakening and she's our guest on, the Jeff shreve program. Alex McFarland of Exploring the Word Sitting in. This is the American Family Radio Network. We've got a brief break and we'll come back with more. Stay tuned because your personal revival God wants to give. And I believe this show is going to be a point part of it. Stay tuned. We're back after this.
: This June marks three years since the overturn of roe. But did you know that since then the number of abortions has surged to a 10 year high? Preborn network clinics continue to support women facing unplanned pregnancies, showering them with God's love and providing free ultrasounds. When a mother meets her baby on ultrasound and hears their heartbeat, she's twice as likely to choose life.
Bunni Pounds: It was like the beginning of my healing journey. They do an ultrasound. That's when everything changed. When I saw my baby and when I heard her heartbeat, that was it.
: $28 sponsors one ultrasound and $140 helps to rescue five babies. Your generous tax deductible donation also helps to provide women who choose life with assistance for up to two years. To donate, dial £250 and say the keyword baby. That's £250, baby. Or visit preborn.com afr. This is real truth for today. Podcasts of the program are Available on the podcast [email protected] now back to Pastor Jeff Schrieve.
Alex McFarland: Good morning, everybody. Alex McFarland here. Very honored to be sitting in for Pastor Jeff Schrieve on the, American Family Radio Network. You know, if there's, one thing that I really just. I wake up every morning, I think about, it's revival. An awakening. Our nation needs it so desperately. I think God in his mercy is beginning to send it. I read in a book one time that the word revival, it's two Latin words. it means life again. That's what revival means. And, revival is a biblical word and a biblical concept. it's a return to the things that bring life. And, you know, we often talk about evangelism, reaching the lost. And of course, that's, part of the Great Commission. But, you know, I really think church growth is an outflow of church health. And very often some of history's greatest moments of evangelism are, are preceded by a supernatural work of God whereby he revives and reawakens his church. And somebody that just is, the personification of revival is our longtime, friend and colleague, Bunni Pounds. Her website is bunnypounds.org b u n N I P O U n d s bunnypounds.org and she's with us now. welcome back, Bunni, and thank you. Thanks for being with us today on afr, but, more importantly, even thank you for what you do for the cause of Christ in our nation and world.
Bunni Pounds: Well, we are ready for a great awakening. Alex. I was just at a conference this weekend. I ended my speech with, I will be at the forefront of the next great awakening. Like, let's go. Come on, guys.
Alex McFarland: Amen.
Bunni Pounds: it is time. And I believe, the prayers of the saints that have been praying over our nation for the last 50, 60 years. I envision the bowl of heaven just tipping over with the prayers and intercessions of the saints for revival and for a great awakening. And I believe it's in our time. I believe we have an opportunity as spiritual mothers and fathers to pour gasoline on it right now.
Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen. Now, you wrote a book, Jesus and Politics. One Woman's Walk with God. you don't hear that. In fact, I gotta be honest with you. you know, I've pastored two churches and preached in about 2,000 churches. Actually more than 2,000. if I talk with pastors about politics, it's usually I stand there while they reprimand me for talking about this world when we're supposed to get people to heaven, it's not either or, it's both. And isn't it? I mean, obviously we're supposed to help people find salvation in Jesus, but aren't we supposed to be salt and light and restore our culture as well?
Bunni Pounds: We are, and we're supposed to be in every part of culture. And so, yeah, Jesus in politics was my, way of weaving my story to really talk about how to walk with an intimate Jesus and walk in his presence, but do it in culture. For me, for 16 years, it was politics and government. You know, I've had the honor of working for people that are serving in the administration right now. Lee Zeldin, Shawn Duffy, other people. Congressman Jeb Hensarling, Congressman Micah Cloud, that's serving in the Hill right now. but it really comes down to us being disciple makers, Alex, wherever we are. And, you know, sometimes people get overwhelmed by people in authority or, you know, whether they're rich or whether they're, at some high level of leadership, and they don't feel like they can talk to them like normal people. So part of this for me was breaking down. Every single one of these people in leadership are normal people. They need God, too. They need the presence of God in their life. but we need to, like, have a whole army of believers that rise up and get involved in the political space and in the governmental space to impact our nation and to hold the line, for righteousness. I mean, it's critical.
Alex McFarland: well, you know, people need to run for office, people of God, because, you know, here's the thing, and I've been around a lot of elected officials as well. you know, including a few meets with President Trump, and, you know, downstream of that. these are human beings. These are ordinary people. You know, one thing that's touched my heart, Bunni, is how very often elected officials that I've been around that they understand that the platform they've got and the influence they have, God entrusted to them. I think the best leaders realize that, they've been given a little moment of influence from God, and they do value our prayers. They do need a word of encouragement, and they do need, gentle reminders that promotion, cometh not from the east or the west, but from God. And the reason I say that, and I want you to speak to it, if you would. Everybody listening. No matter who you are, where you are, you, could be on the school board, in your community. You could run for local office. Because if People of God and Christian constitutionalists. If we aren't standing up and assuming our roles of leadership, I assure you, Satan's people will. And I think we're seeing that. But, leadership is a precious, sacred thing God entrusts to people, isn't.
Bunni Pounds: Is, my pastor actually here in Rowlett, Texas. Cassin Huddleston had never been involved politically. He's a little assembly of God pastor here. And, he decided to get involved, through the ministry. I founded Christians Engaged, hosted an on ramp to civic engagement seminar in his church, then got his members to get on boards and commissions, then became the chaplain of the political party in our area, then became the chaplain of the state political party, and then got recruited to run for the state Board of Education and became the Republican nominee and will be, elected in November. So, you know, all it takes is a yes. It just takes a yes of obedience. I think. Nehemiah is one of the biblical characters in the Bible, Alex, which I just wrote a new book called Stepping up to Lead. Nehemiah shows us how to do that so simply. He was just a simple cupbearer. He feels a burden from the Lord, goes to prayer and fasting, and all of a sudden he's got favor from a Persian king to go back and rebuild the walls of a nation in 52 days. I mean, a miracle story. And what I'm finding is that God wants to do miracles in all of our lives as individuals. Like, Nehemiah is just a person. Ezra's just a person in the Bible. And you can be a biblical character as well. Like, let's go.
Alex McFarland: Yeah, M. You know, I think about Josiah, in the Old Testament, like in 2 Chronicles. And, they are, doing a little renovation on the temple, and they discover, the word of God that had been neglected and forgotten. but when they rediscovered God's holy word, everything changed. And very famously, in 2 Kings, Josiah, when he hears the Bible, he rips his clothes, which was a sign of remorse and contrition and repentance. But, there's a lot there. First of all, it was in the temple that God's word got misplaced and kind of forgotten. But when they rediscovered the Word of God, revival broke loose. Now, here's the thing. I love America and I love the American church. And we have Barna estimates maybe 345,000 churches in America. Sadly, a lot of them are closing. but what would happen? Well, first of all, let me ask you this, Bunni pounds. I mean, you're A person that has their finger on the pulse of the American church as much as anybody I know. has the American church like the time of Josiah? Have we misplaced the word of God and kind of forgotten what the scripture says and where the scripture is?
Bunni Pounds: I think we have relegated our life and our spiritual health to a couple verses on a Sunday morning and a pastor preaching for 20 minutes or 25 minutes. and we've forgotten that people, number one, can consume the word of God. I think that's what shocked everybody with America Reads the Bible is number one. We didn't realize we had such a deep famine that people were so hungry for the Word. but they also didn't think that people could retain it or actually sit there for 30 minutes or two hours and just listen to the Bible. we underestimate the capacity of people. And, one thing we're doing, Alex, with Bunni Pounds Ministries, is we're starting a whole new a Bible initiative called the Whole Bible Live. We're actually taking the content of America Reads the Bible in partnership with Great American Pure Flicks and cutting it up in 30 minute segments. And we're going to create a whole Bible study for people to go through the entire Bible with us in 24 weeks. we'll mentor people through the Bible starting January 1st. People can sign up right now to join us in that adventure. But we're also going to do regional events where we partner with local churches and communities and say, number one, let's preach about the importance of biblical literacy in our culture and the, the importance of the Bible in our history. But us, let's just read the Bible. Let's read the whole Book of Acts over a Saturday. Let's read the whole Book of Jon. Let's get young people in a room and sit around every five chapters and discuss it and realize that the Bible itself speaks. and then we are announced, we just announced last week we are going to do another national event in 2028 with 18 to 30 year olds reading the Bible from Genesis to Revelation all the way through from college campuses all over this country. let's get down to just reading scripture. Public reading of scripture in our nation I literally believe can shift our whole country and raise and let God allow God to raise up the leaders that he needs for the next generation of America.
Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen. And I want to say to my fellow pastors out there, believe that God's word has power. You know, I've been in so many churches and look, I love the church I'm not bashing the church, but, very often, you know, there's no saying he took a text, departed therefrom and never returned. I mean, I've heard so often, in fact, I was in one of a big, big, big church. I was on the road promoting one of our biblical worldview conferences. And I went to this, in this particular city, this is like the flagship church. And, I counted seven seconds. A scripture was partially read. The message was a C grade motivational speech, had nothing whatsoever to do with the text. And, seven seconds the Bible was read. And then we had 25 minutes of a, motivational speech. folks, the word of God has power. And pastors believe. Listen, five minutes of God's word can do more in the lives of your parishioners than 35 minutes of the best motivational oratory that you can muster. The word of God has power. And Bunni, you know, whenever I read about, like, even like during the Middle Ages, there were pockets of revival in Europe. Then of course, the Protestant Reformation. And we here in America, we're riding on the ripple effects of the Protestant Reformation even yet. And then there was the first great awakening. There was the Carolina great awakening about 1803-1815, than the second great awakening. You know, Bunni, I gotta tell you this. in my home state of North Carolina, down near what is now Charlotte, there was, about five or six years of revival. Methodist circuit writers, different ones, had a revival, where they say, and I've got a book from the twenties called Revival in the Midst of the Years. But in what is called the Carolina Great Awakening, 20,000 people gathered for a week just to pray. Now, 20,000 people now is a great crowd. But in, you know, like 1805 or 6, that was just unheard of. But the very spot where they had the Carolina Great Awakening was, later on, 100 years later, where Billy Graham grew up. Seriously. So we have the chance, folks, to pray, to hear God's word which will not return void. That's Isaiah 55. And then pray some, generational prayers that can change our nation right now. Code red. You need to be praying for these midterm elections and get out and vote that we don't go socialist or Sharia. But, Bunni, I'll throw it back to you before we have a brief break. The word of God has power, not the word of man. God might use the word of man, but it is the word of God that God breathed Bible that the spirit of the Lord will use to Change lives and change history.
Bunni Pounds: Agreed, 100%. And Alex, revival looks like something. I like to say revival looks like something. It looks like actually prioritizing Jesus above everything in your life. I don't know. I'm sure you remember when you first got born again is like, wow, Jesus is real, right? He loves me. And I remember just laying on my bed as a 13, 14 year old, just like, I just want to feel the presence of God, you know, I want to read the Bible. I want to spend time with believers. Like, you're so hungry. That is what Christianity is, guys. And I don't care if it's, you know, 30 years later. That is what I have to be burning like. But it's unto something. It's unto talking about Jesus. It's unto ministering to people. It is unto bringing his presence into airplanes or in government buildings or in the voting booth or in your school. Right. I think we get complacent, Alex, because we forget there's this amazing adventure of walking with God that is like, it's not even like you're walking on this planet. It is on some other realm. And like, divine appointments. We should be having divine appointments every day, right? And so I want to just inspire people. Number one, if you go to the Word every day and say, Jesus, I want to meet with you every day. I want to hear your voice. I want you to speak to me. You have something then to give. You have something to impart to somebody that you're going to meet today. And nobody else can reach those people but you. You're the only one that's going to meet those people today. And that's the beauty of walking with Jesus. It really is an adventure every day to love God and love people.
Alex McFarland: It's not boring, is it?
Bunni Pounds: No, no. but we have to start somewhere, Alex. And that's why, you know, we're going to take people through the Bible in 24 weeks and six months. Like, you know, we've got to go. Like, let's just simply read the Bible and say we're going to do that and watch God transform our lives.
Alex McFarland: Hey, we've got a brief break. More, and your personal revival can begin today. Stay tuned. We're back after this brief break. Alex McFarland, bunny pounds, the American Family Radio Network. Don't go away.
: If you'd like to contact Pastor Jeff, email pastor jeffromhisheart.org now back to Real Truth for today with Pastor Jeff Schrieve.
Alex McFarland: Good morning, everybody. every blessing to you. You know, I'm Talking with Bunni Pounds. We're talking about personal revival. And I want to assure you this is not just some pie in the sky, ethereal, wishful thinking. This is a biblical reality. And we read about the Josiahs of the world and Elijah and Saul of Tarsus, who became the apostle Paul. And, you know, we've got these great heroes, from God's word and from church history. But honestly, folks, and I say this with complete, conviction. God has things for you. God has an adventure story that he wants to write through your life and your time here on earth. And I began with that, wonderful verse, First Corinthians 15:58, that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. And, we could all tell so many stories. I know Bunni could, and so could I. Of times that, you know, maybe you thought it was insignificant or didn't really matter, and then you find out that it was a God moment and Jesus was using you to influence others. And I would say this to everybody listening. You might be a young person. You might be a college student. Maybe you're riding in your car or wherever more hangs on your obedience than you could possibly imagine. And the beautiful thing about it, we know salvation is a free gift. Jesus paid it all. He shed his blood on Calvary's cross. He rose from the dead. And we are saved. Not by works, but we are saved by the work that Christ Jesus did. And you put your faith in Jesus, and, you know, there m May even be somebody listening right now. And you need to come to Christ, and today is your day to make sure that you are born again. And all you need do is turn to Christ. He is as close by as a prayer. And you say, lord Jesus, I admit that I'm a sinner, and I am sorry for my sin. And I'm asking you to forgive me. And, dear Jesus, I believe you are the son of God, as you said. And, Lord, I believe you died for me. And, Lord, I'm accepting what you did as the payment for my sins. And, Lord, please save my soul and be my Lord. And, you know, if you ask Jesus to come into your life. Jon 6:37. I love this scripture. Jon 6:37. Christ said this. And this might be for this might be the promise for somebody listening right now. Jesus said, the one who comes to me, I will in no way reject you say, but, Alex, you don't know what I've done. Hey, God knows. It doesn't matter what I know or don't know, but it matters this. The Lord loves you. His arms are open. And if you turn to Christ in faith, he will save you, he will forgive you. But then, as a follower of Jesus, a, born again Christian, God has miracles he wants to do through your life. Bunni, I've seen it. I gotta tell you. I mean, you know my history. I grew up on a farm in North Carolina. We were, we were poor and we didn't know it. I rode to Sunday school in a 67 Buick. The floorboards were rusted out. And I didn't like to go to Sunday school because the kids made fun of my sister and me because we smell like exhaust, because there was no floorboard in the back of our car. And we, were poor and didn't know it. but when I found Jesus at age 21, I never knew I'd be a preacher. I never knew I would be on the radio. I just knew I was driving a delivery truck for the farm. But I knew a lot of people that were lost. And I just remember, I prayed and I said, lord, if I could lead one person to Christ, that's all I'm asking. I just want to lead one person to Jesus and my life will be complete. And do you know, I was very shy and very awkward and clunky. But I, did know that everybody needed Jesus. And one by one by one, it began on my delivery route. but I got to lead a man to Christ and then I got to lead people to Christ at UNC Greensboro. And, that's all I wanted to do. And that is, even to this day, I wake up every morning, I'm like, lord, just one more. I want to lead somebody to Christ. All of that, to say this, speak to the person out there, Bunni, if you would. And they say, well, yeah, sure, God uses Bunni Pounds. You know, she's, she's a Christian rock star, or God used Billy Graham. Speak to the person who is just somebody, that's an average person. And they need to believe that God wants to do miracles and supernatural fruit through their life. Would you give us that word, Bunni?
Bunni Pounds: Well, Alex, as you were sharing your story, I was reliving the first person I led to Jesus, which I was doing Christian theater and acting and got to lead a young 12 year old to Jesus after a show. And, and I was 16 years old and I'm addicted at that point. I'm like, this is life. And, you know, it really takes just simple conversation. Alex, we all have simple conversations. None of us are superhuman. None of us are super spiritual. Like, I don't know about you, but every single time I start to open my mouth and share Jesus with somebody, fear rises in my heart. You know, the devil will attack you at every turn and that's everybody. None of us are special, more special than others. We just like overcome that fear and step out. Right? And I will never forget being 18 years old and stopping beside the road and seeing a guy selling roses by the side of the road and meeting him and talking to him and he was exchange student from France and ending up leading him to Jesus and connecting him with a church to disciple him. This is just like daily adventures that we can have with God. So I just want to encourage everybody listening to you. you know, as, as Elijah called down fire from heaven with the BAAL prophets and then a day later he's sitting beside the juniper tree crying out and saying, I'm all alone. There's nobody that loves God. You know, I mean, we all have these mountain experiences and then we all have these valley experiences. Get over it. Like it's okay, like it's just feelings, right? But the word of God's what is eternal. The word of God is what brings faith. You know, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word. And that's why it's critical that we show up every day, say, Jesus, I'm here. I'm going to open this Bible whether I feel like it or not. And I'm going to meet with you because that's how we are consistent in our walk. That's how we see miracles happen. And it has nothing to do with us and it has everything to do with Jesus.
Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen. Bunni, the Bible reading that you led In May of 26, I say this with all my heart. I think that it probably certainly has more fruit than you might even imagine. And I know you've got big, big vision. I think when we get heaven, we're going to see that that was an absolutely eternal God moment in the life of our nation. Because there were 122 ministries, six cabinet members, six governors, 20 members of Congress. There were Hollywood celebrities like Patricia Heaton, representatives from across our country, the President of the United States. Read 2 Chronicles 7. I gotta tell you, Bunni, I was there in D.C. and for those that may not be aware, there was this auditorium and there were hundreds of people for long, long periods of time just sitting to listen to hear God's word. And I thought what a blessing that was. But I'm just going to tell you, when Donald Trump was reading 2nd Chronicles 7, and of course, he got to the very famous verse 2 Chronicles 7:14. And Donald Trump looked in that camera with conviction. He was holding a Bible. He said, if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways. And he kind of paused. And, I mean, you could tell the import of these words was really moving. And Donald Trump said, God's promise, then will I hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and heal their land. And I'm telling you, there was not a dry eye in place. I was wiping tears away. I don't know where you were in the building, if you could see it, but everybody, we were like, oh, my goodness. This is, like, this is a moment. The President is reading God's promise of how a nation can get restored. what was it like, among your team and all of your leaders as this was, we were watching this unfold. What was in your heart and mind at that point, Bunni?
Bunni Pounds: Well, it was surreal. myself and Jamie Thompson, the director of America Reads the Bible. We had prayed for over a year. We had got some intercessory friends to pray. we had set aside Second Chronicles, Chapter seven for President Trump. And then by the grace of God and 20 years in politics, I used every relationship and every person I knew in the White House and the administration to try to make that happen. But God, supernaturally, through a couple key people in the White House, opened that door, and the President did it. We just kept praying that if he read it again, he's not a perfect person. None of us are. But if he read the Word, he would believe it. It would become real in his soul. and it would impact the nation and the nations of the world. And so much so, Alex, that they replaced, played that video from America, reads the Bible at the rededication. That was the President's whole speech again. so I, I believe that it has made a lasting impact on our nation. And I hear from people across the world that have been deeply impacted by the President of the United States, the leader of the free world, reading a repentance scripture. yeah. Unbelievable. And it'll go down in my history book, of course, as one of the greatest moments of my life.
Alex McFarland: Indeed.
Bunni Pounds: But, you know, I believe that God is calling his people back to himself. And when, again, just like the President reading, when we just read Scripture, he does something in our souls.
Alex McFarland: Bunni. time fleets way. First of all, before we do run out of time, I want to say in the Strongest possible terms. Thank you for what you're doing for our nation. I know you've got some big events in the next 12 months and beyond, but, do you have a word for the churches that are struggling? I meet a lot of people, a lot of gray hair as I travel. And they say we're not reaching young people. And, you know, 50 years ago this church was on fire. Now we're just sort of existing. What can we do to jumpstart a, ah, church before it's too late? Do you have a word for the church that is plateaued or declining?
Bunni Pounds: I just want to say, pastors, be relevant with what's happening in the culture. Don't avoid what's in the newspaper. Preach about what's in the newspaper. Preach about what's happening on social media. Preach about the issues that people need to know what the Bible says on and, and what Jesus wants to do in their life. And, we have to have deep conversations with people. What I'm finding with these younger folks is they just want a relationship. They don't have a strong relationship with their father or their mother. They are, you know, been addicted to social media. So spend time with them. It takes a commitment of time, to bring disciples into the maturity that they're supposed to be in. So, so don't be afraid to spend time and actually look like you care.
Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen. Now you've got you. and I were talking about this the other day, and boy, this thrills my heart. You're going to be doing a major summit meeting on evangelism, next year. Tell us about that.
Bunni Pounds: Yeah, we're going to do a conference called the Call of the Evangelist. in Dallas, Fort Worth. We're going to call evangelists to come together, from around the, the nation and encourage you with practical instruction and the fire of the Holy Spirit and, and say, you know, your calling to raise up laborers for the harvest field is critically needed in this hour. And we want to empower you to change your city. So, we're going to be doing that, next August. You know, there'll be stuff, announcements soon, but people can track [email protected] and go through the Bible with us January 1st and, be the leader that God's called you to be for our country.
Alex McFarland: You know, Bonnie, I remember a quote by Jim Elliott. Of course, you know, Jim Elliott and his wife Elisabeth Elliott. They went to South America as missionaries and some of the men were brutally killed by the Alka Indians. Later, they got, saved those Indians. But, there's a great quote. He said, jim Elliot, oh, Lord, make me ignitable. Deliver me from the dread asbestos of other things. And now, there's a lot there. God, make me ignitable. we need to be able to get on fire and burn brightly for Jesus, don't we?
Bunni Pounds: We do, Alex. And it comes down to the priority of our time. Where is Jesus in your calendar? That's my question to leave you with right now.
Alex McFarland: Hey, in your own private Bible study, where are you in the Word at this point, Bunni?
Bunni Pounds: I'm in the book of James, actually. so, yeah, I've got addicted to James lately, and I'm just reading through it over and over again. And I think there's a fire in that that, you know, is not legalism, but is the works, the good works that God wants to do through our life and our purposes.
Alex McFarland: Indeed. Bunnypounds.org will visit again soon. Thank you so much, Bunni. And thanks, for listening, folks. Hey, listen to this. I will be at the COVID next summer in July, the Billy Graham Conference center in Western North Carolina. This will be my 22nd or 23rd summer. and I'll be doing two things. One, I'll be teaching the book of Romans, and all the great revivals in history have included the book of Romans. And then I'll be there with Loren Green of Fox News and Dillon Burroughs, who works with Ben Shapiro and the Colson Center. We'll be doing Biblical worldview. Check out thecove.org, t h e c o v e thecove.org and I'd love to see you and meet you next summer at the Billy Graham Conference Center. In the meantime, thanks to Jeff Schrieve. And remember, folks, First Corinthians, 1558. Your labor in the Lord is not in vain. Stay bold, stand strong, speak up for Jesus. Every blessing.
Alex McFarland welcomes Bunni Pounds, founder of Christians Engaged and Bunni Pounds Ministries, to discuss personal revival, biblical literacy, and how believers can make a lasting difference for Christ. Reflecting on the impact of America Reads the Bible, Pounds shares her vision for helping a new generation rediscover Scripture through the Whole Bible Live initiative. They explore the need for prayer, evangelism, discipleship, and Christian involvement in culture and public service. Pounds encourages believers to overcome fear, prioritize time with Jesus, and faithfully share the gospel in everyday conversations. The discussion challenges churches and individuals alike to return to God's Word and embrace the calling to be a light for Christ in their communities and across the nation.
Live
Did you know American Family Radio is listener-supported? Your monthly financial support will allow us to continue upholding Godly values through our numerous channels, like American Family Radio, One Million Moms, The Stand magazine, and many more.
Become a Great Commission Partner TODAY to help AFR transform culture by rebuilding the family. When you donate today, you’ll get access to:
