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(intense music)

(intense music continues)

(intense music continues)

- I am alone.

Just like I said.

(intense music)

What? Don't you trust me?

- No.

(engine revving)

- Smart guy.

- [Sue] I can't believe this is happening.

- That what's happening? - An actual date night

with my husband.

- Well, it's New Year's Eve.

I thought I can make an exception

and become Prince Charming for a night.

- Does that mean that at
midnight you turn back into a toad?

- Hey, watch it lady.

You know you can be arrested

for assaulting an officer of the law.

- Promises. Promises.

Nice tie.

- This? Thanks.

Yeah, my girlfriend gave it to me for Christmas.

- She has a good taste.

(radio buzzing)

- Sorry. Well, well.

- Who is it?

- I'm sorry. I have to make a call.

- Happy stinking New Year.

(cellphone ringing)

Speak!

- Chief Viking. - What do you got?

- The Blue Whale is asking to meet.

- When?

- Now!

Chief, I know this could be a setup,

but more than likely he's
just really desperate for cash.

- Where?

- The bar on the corner of Pine and 17th Street.

- Okay, when exactly?

- I'll tell him seven.

I could be there at seven.

Get the team ready.

- Go!

- Nice talking to you too, Chief.

- Happy New Year. - Sue.

- [News Anchor] Thanks for that report, Tad.

Here in southwestern Michigan, this New Year's Eve,

we have discovered many fun and bested ways

that local's can celebrate.

- Kim.

- Yes, Mrs. Rosenau.

- Unfortunately, we won't be
needing you to babysit tonight.

As usual, there has been a change of plans.

- Ah, no there hasn't.

- I'll still pay you to pull out.

- Kim, you're still on duty.

Don't leave your post. We'll be right back.

- [News Anchor] Right here at the St Josephs,

at the Willow Mall.

- Can you drop Kim home on your way?

- No, I can't drop Kim home on my way.

- Ah, that's right, of course not.

It might blow your cover.

Like us ever being seen
together might blow your cover.

Like going to the park

with your daughter might put her in danger.

- Kim isn't there.

- Don't worry. Kim has been fingerprinted

and vetted by the FBI.

- We'll be right with you Kim.

We're just working out the logistics.

- [News Anchor] Join in...

- Logistics. Like how on New Year's Eve,

we have to travel three towns away

so we aren't recognized having dinner with friends.

We just don't have to worry about that now.

- Sue, Sue, I'm sorry

but this is a big deal.

- It's always a big deal.

- Look, I'll be back in less than an hour.

Stay dressed up. We're going out.

- Go.

- You the best. - You got that right.

- We're all good. Operation date nights a go.

(bright music)

(bright music continues)

- Hey, you can release the death grip on that wheel, son.

Stay calm.

There's our boy.

- Hello? Is anybody there?

Happy New Year boys.

Don't get too close now.

I don't wanna give away my date.

- Hey. Hey. Calm down. Stop shaking.

You're making me nervous.

- Right. Right.

- How's the fishing?

- Casting a line now.

- Come on Turtle.

Sometime today!

- Patience Wolf. Patience.

Oh yeah. Yep. That's him. That's him.

There he blows.

- The Whale is in the water.

- Alright, let's reel him in.

I'm gonna turn left ahead.

(cars crashing)

- Viking is down.

- [Chief] Go. I repeat, Viking is down.

Viking is down!

(intense music)

Viking, can you hear me?

Hey. Hey.

Stay with me.

What are you doing?

- Looking for his badge and gun.

We can't blow his cover.

- Forget about that. Get on the radio. Get his wife.

- We'll bring her to the hospital.

- T-Rex! Get his wife here now.

- Here? - Go!

Can you hear me?

It's Chief. I'm right here.

- This is not happening.

- Is he okay?

- Check the other car.

- Hang in there bud.

Your wife is on the way.

- It's all over.

I'm sorry.

Dear God, I'm so sorry for everything.

- You gotta tell her yourself.

Hey, stay with me!

(bright music)

- David Rosenau. - Hey guys.

Sorry I was just cleaning up after a customer. I'm Dave.

- [Dave Voiceover] Nine years before the accident

I was working as a mortician
apprentice, embalming bodies.

And as low man at the mortuary, I embalmed a lot.

- We've got another customer here for you.

- You know I've been doing this job for five years

and I've still not had one customer complaint.

Not bad, huh?

- Well, it's always a first time.

- Ooh, let's hope not.

- Sign here.

- A John Doe, huh?

- Yeah, we found him down by the river.

- He's been on ice for the prescribed amount of time.

- No takers. Wow.

You know, even if this goes
really bad, I'm still your guy.

- Oh funny mortician.

- Hey, when you work alone or almost alone,

it helps to keep a sense of humor.

- I guess.

- So. Hey, what's it like out there?

- Out where? - Out there.

Being a sheriff, keeping the streets

of Burien County, Michigan
safe for all it's good citizens.

- You've got to be kidding.

- No, I wanna know.

- Well, unlike yours, our customers do complain.

- Hmm. I suppose they do,

but still it's gotta be exciting work.

What's this?

- The department is recruiting guards for the jail.

- Is that the starting salary?

- Sad, isn't it?

- Oh yeah. Real sad.

- No, just keep it.

If you know someone who's interested,

have them call that number.

But there is one requirement.

- What's that?

- They have to have a pulse.

- Got it.

Alright, thanks fellas.

- [Dave Voiceover] Yeah, it was really sad that the job

in the jail paid double of what I was making

and included insurance.

Well, friend in this case I'll be your family.

(motorbike revving)

- Exceptional work, David.

- Thank you Mr. Harris.

- Mrs. Banister's family is scheduled to arrive

for the viewing at 4:00 p.m,

so I'll meet you here at 3:30.

- I'll be here. - I know you will.

- Mr. Harris, may I take a moment of your time?

- Well, of course.

- I've learned so much over the last five years

working for you.

For one thing, I've been in many hospital rooms

and people's homes during
difficult times in their lives,

and I've learned firsthand
from you what genuine kindness

and care does for people

and how much they truly appreciate that.

- Thank you David.

- I've seen the importance of the reputation you have

in the community and I've learned from you

how important it is to remember names,

and to call them by their name.

And I've learned the importance
of a professional image,

no matter if we're washing the cars, cutting the grass,

or meeting with families,

you always expect excellence in it.

I'll never forget all that you taught me.

- But?

- But it's time for me to move on.

- You're not opening a funeral home, are you?

- No. - Good.

- I'm joining the sheriff's department as a guard

in the jail.

- I hate to lose you.

- I hate to go.

- Well, then why go?

- Well, double my salary.

- All my best in your new career, David.

- Thank you Mr. Harris.

- Funny. I always had an idea
you wouldn't do this forever,

but I thought that I would lose you to the ministry.

- The ministry?

- Yes.

You have a very pastoral way about you, David.

- Well, I can assure you that will never happen.

- Ah. Ah. Never say never.

The Lord may take that as a challenge

and the Lord never loses.

I'll see you at 3:30.

- [Police Dispatcher] Pursuit of suspect west

on (indistinct).

(bell chiming)

- Name.

- Rosenau. Dave Rosenau.

- If it isn't the funny mortician,

welcome to Comedy Central.

- Hey. Hi. Do you get a finder's fee for bringing me on?

- Give me your requisition form.

- Oh. Sorry.

- Your uniform and credentials.

And this.

- What's this for?

- To neutralize a threat.

- You don't understand.

I'm just working as a guard in the jail.

- But you're now a deputy.

- Wait till I show my wife what you gave me.

- Deputy, report to weapons safety, immediately.

- [Police Dispatcher] In pursuit of suspect.

- [Dave Voiceover] As my time serving in the jail passed,

I learned that there were
different levels of serving

the public good.

There was what I did in the jail,

than there were the patrol sheriffs.

You know, the officers pulling you over for speeding

and responding to various situations.

- Hey Dave. - Hey Terry.

Another day closer to the big day.

Still no call from the governor.

Guess you're gonna have to go through with it.

- Very funny. You're gonna be there, right?

- Miss your wedding? Not a chance.

- Great.

Oh, time for rounds.

- It's pretty quiet around here.

- Let's hope it stays that way.

- [Dave Voiceover] And then an opening in narcotics.

They were the cool guys.

We didn't exactly know much
about what the detectives

in narcotics units did or where they did it.

That was part of what made them so cool.

You know when you don't know what you don't know,

it seems so much better than it probably is.

Everything was secretive.

They would sneak in and sneak out.

Nobody even knew where their office was.

Stories about them were
probably exaggerated. Probably.

So I did the only thing I could do.

I applied. Failing to remember one important step.

(bright music)

- That's amazing.

- Chuck, you wild menu.

- Open bar.

- Uh-huh.

Ooh! - Hey. Hey.

Thanks for coming.

- Ah, I told you I'd be here.

Congratulations Terry.

Chuck.

- To the groom.

I'll drink to that.

- Oh, you drink to a new stoplight in town.

- Yeah. Sorry about the company.

Hey, is this your wife?

- Yes, this is my wife, Sue.

- I have heard so much about you.

- Where was that?

- Well, late nights working
at the department with Dave.

He would not stop talking about you.

I figure if this lug can find
someone he's that crazy about,

maybe I could too.

- Well, congratulations. - Thanks.

- Terry, come here.

I want you to be my Aunt Bertha.

- Well, duty calls.

But again, thanks for being here.

- Catch you later Terry.

- Oh Dave, save the chicken dance for me.

- You got it.

(mimics chicken sounds)

- So you knew Terry from working as a deputy?

- That's right.

- What department are you in now?

- The jail.

But I've been thinking about moving on.

- Are you gonna join us in the patrol?

- Oh no.

- What then? There isn't much else.

- Yes. Where to Dave?

- Maybe there's an opening in narcotics. Eh.

- Nice knowing you Dave.

- Narcotics. Sounds dangerous.

- It's dangerous.

Honey, only three things
happen to guys who join narcos.

- What's that? - One, they end up divorced.

Two, they end up dead.

Or three, that's even worse.

- What's worse?

- Oh, you don't want to know.

- Why have you never mentioned this before?

- Mentioned what? - Narcotics.

- I just saw the poster.

- Well, it's not an option, right?

- Oh, the chicken dance is calling.

- Double. Double.

- Are you coming? - What do you think?

We will continue our conversation later.

(bright music)

- [Dave Voiceover] Chicken dance. That's appropriate.

I should have told her I applied.

Very few applications

for the narcotics division are accepted,

so there's no need to worry. Right?

Deputy Rosenau, you have been reassigned

to the narcotics division.

- All right.

Report to the commander

in two weeks. Awesome.

Yes!

Oh no.

- [Sue] Dave?

- Down here at the beach house.

- How dare you visit the beach house without me?

- Sorry. I needed a retreat.

- Retreat from what? Me?

So you already applied?

- Yeah.

- Without talking to me first?

- Well, that was for good reason.

- That being? - You would've said no.

(chuckles) Sorry. Too soon?

- Yeah. - Sue.

If I do this for the required two years,

I get into the police academy.

That opens up all kinds of doors.

Right now I feel like I'm a prisoner in that jail.

- Two years?

- Two years, and I'm out.

Where you going?

- Upstairs to get my calendar

to circle the day two years
from now when this is all over.

- Thank you.

- I only have myself to blame.

- What do you mean?

- Back in high school.

- Yeah. - I asked you out.

- You did, didn't you?

Well, that's a load off my mind.

- Two years, Dave.

I didn't sign up to raise our daughter alone.

- [Dave Voiceover] The two
years promised turned into seven.

The job description besides living a double life,

working undercover in the darkness of night

and never being able to be
seen with your family in public,

it's pretty simple.

- Hey, isn't that your husband?

- Oh, let's go.

- What does Dave do anyways?

- Pharmaceuticals - Like sales?

- More like quality control.

- [Dave Voiceover] The idea is to make friends,

the wrong kind of friends.

Friends with drug users and pushers.

The idea was to gain their confidence and trust,

so that they would feel
comfortable introducing you

to their dealers.

The goal then is to eventually meet the supplier.

The objective is to get to the top of the supply chain,

so that the snake can be cut off at the head.

(upbeat music)

(upbeat music continues)

- Real stuff.

(upbeat music)

- [Dave Voiceover] It turned out I was good at the job.

I mean really good.

I became known as the closer.

(camera glass shuttering)

- Okay. Hold tight.

Give the man some cash.

- $30,000 in cash. No drugs.

- Well, it's gotta be drugs.

- It's not illegal to have a bag full of cash.

Should we let 'em go?

- Let's get Viking.

(cheerful music)

- Man, it's almost embarrassing.

We turned left and looked over,

we looked right at each other.

I know he saw me.

So he knew we were following you the entire time

you were in the city and
you still went through with it?

Here's the problem, I'll let you go from here, you die

'cause he's keeping that money.

So I'm your best shot at staying alive.

Work with me. I'll help you out.

Tell you what.

Why don't you write down the address

to where you just dropped off.

What and how much.

- Cocaine? A kilo.

- Where you headed?

- Chicago. - Why?

- Drop off the cash, pick up another package.

- Why don't you write down that address too?

Why don't we get you two to a nice warm motel

and continue our talk?

- Saw them in the city, huh?

- Could have been them.

- Alright gentlemen, pay attention if that is.

- [Dave Voiceover] One of the old timers in the unit

is Wolf, twice divorced

and someone you don't wanna cross.

He once held a guy over the railing of a bridge

until he agreed to make good on a bet,

and the guy was a fellow cop.

Then there's Turtle.

Good guy, but slow.

I mean he'll be late for his own funeral.

Hence the handle, Turtle.

I'm Viking because, well, I was born in Minnesota.

School.

You remember Chuck from the wedding?

He eventually did make it into the unit.

His handle is Up.

He thinks it's because we look up to him.

Really, it's because it goes well with Chuck.

Think about it.

T-Rex is the baby of the group.

I was charged with showing him the ropes.

(gunshots firing)

- What are you doing?

- Nothing 'cause I'm dead and so are you.

You just stopped in the middle of an ambush.

You always gotta be thinking five steps ahead

of the situation you're in.

Got it?

- Yeah, I got it.

(gunshot firing)

- Good.

Now let's get outta here
before someone calls the cops.

- [Dave Voiceover] Think five steps ahead.

I learned never to walk into a room, bar, restaurant,

or even church without memorizing every face,

their ages, sex and what they were wearing.

Then at the same time,
looking for all the available exits.

You never know what or who might be waiting for you.

Then there's Chief, the guy everyone loves to hate.

The guy that is short on compliments,

and long on criticism and competitive.

You know, if you caught three fish, Chief caught 30

with his bare hands

and he wouldn't stop reminding you about it.

He lived hard and drank harder.

And while drinking, he smoked

and chewed tobacco at the same time.

And that cockiness drives us crazy.

- Complete green light.

Viking!

- Yes Chief?

- Are we disturbing you?

- Sorry.

- Well. - Well what?

- I said we have a green light

to bring Slicer in.

Are you ready?

- [Dave Voiceover] Like Upchuck, Slicer got his name

for obvious reasons.

- Ready as we'll ever be.

- In other words, dangerously ill prepared as usual.

- Chief, Chief, one thing.

- Hey, rumor has it, Chief's got a heart condition.

- That's impossible.

First, he'd have to have a heart.

Besides if it's true what they
say only the good die young,

he's gonna live forever.

- What is it Turtle?

- How do you stay so calm?

I mean, you've been working this case for.

- Eight months. - Yeah, eight months.

What if Slicer?

- You gotta have faith.

- Faith in what?

- [Dave Voiceover] We had been working on Slicer

for eight months, he'd frequently gimme a bag of coke

as a gift.

We knew he was on the line with some pretty big fish.

- Get in.

- [Dave Voiceover] We've been
tracking him for a long time.

Other undercover detectives had been involved.

Bad things happened to them, so they gave him to me.

- I just gotta ask you something.

- What? - You a cop?

Hmm? - What are you doing?

- Well, I read about this trap thing.

Trap.

- Entrapment? - Entrapment, yeah.

So if I was to ask you something and you lie.

- If I lie and you get arrested, you can't be charged.

- That's it.

- It's all garbage.

You've been watching too many cop shows.

But if it makes you feel any better,

yeah, I'm a cop.

I go out and see if I can meet guys like you.

Buy dope and oh-oh, bad day,

cops are gonna drop down outta the air and arrest you.

You go off to prison.

Does that make you feel any better?

- Hey listen man.

I had to ask, all right.

(intense music)

- That's more like it!

- Police, freeze!

- Show me your hands!

- Get out of the car!

- Get out of the car! - Get out of the car, scumbag!

Let's go. Let's go, let's go.

Move, let's go.

- Show me your hands.

Come on.

- Turtle.

- You have the right to remain silent.

Anything you say can and will.

- Come on, Turtle. - Hey, I gotta start

this over!

- [Dave Voiceover] The guys took me in with Slicer.

I was now technically a felon.

There was more I could find out

by sharing a jail cell with him.

So. - All right.

- [Dave Voiceover] It was important not to blow my cover.

- One more time.

Where'd you get the drugs?

I'm gonna ask you again,

where did you obtain the narcotics?

- How many times are we going to do this?

- Well, I don't know about your schedule,

but it doesn't look like I'm
going anywhere anytime soon.

- Smart guy, eh?

Yeah. You are a real smart guy.

You just sold drugs to a cop.

That's how smart you are!

- What did you do?

- Hey, get him out here.

- Hey, you're a cop.

Oh, I'm gonna have to kill you!

You are killed!

You are killed!

I'm gonna kill you.

- Eight months! - I'm sorry.

- Eight months of work in the toilet!

Who's the smart one now?

I'm gonna leave the paperwork for you to do.

(Chuck grunting)

- [Dave Voiceover] After that incident,

Chief wrote us even harder.

I guess I would've too.

- I just came from the commissioner's office.

He is not happy. The county board is not happy,

I am not happy!

- Is everybody not happy?

Sorry Chief, I just thought the moment called

for a little levity.

- You thought wrong.

In fact, I'm not sure any of you are capable of thinking,

that will be over time the rest of the month.

All right, that's over time until Christmas.

We are going to show those suits

that you guys know what you are doing,

and that you are worthy of the trust and the paycheck

that the people of Michigan
so generously provide you.

Any question?

- Chief?

- I didn't think so.

Unless one of you is up for some special duty.

- What duty Chief?

- Saturday marks the first day of duck season.

The department champion remains yours truly.

Unless one of you amateur
shots thinks you can knock me off

my throne.

- Ah, I'd like to knock him off his throne, all right.

- Lemme get this straight.

Sitting in a duck blind with Chief all weekend,

we're getting shot at by doped up felons.

Bad guys here I come.

- First time for everything.

- Don't look at me.

If he had the opportunity, he'd execute me

and leave me for dead in the woods.

- Gentlemen, he is correct.

Well, you read my mind.

I didn't think any of you had the courage.

- Okay, Chief, I'll go duck hunting with you.

But if you have a heart attack while we're out there,

I'm not picking you up

and taking you back without getting my ducks.

- I wouldn't expect you to.

Polish this.

I wanna see my pretty face in it.

(bright music)

- I guess you drew the short straw.

- What do you mean, Chief?

- Look, I know every year
someone sacrifices themselves

to come out here and spend the day with me.

And you lost the bet.

- No, I wanted to be here.

Besides somebody's gotta finally beat you,

might as well be the best.

- Hmm.

- What? - What? What?

- Why do you keep looking at me?

- I was just wondering something.

- Wondering what? - Nothing.

- What is it?

I've got a gun.

- Wondering what made you so different?

- Different in what way?

- Different from all the other guys.

Different from me.

- I wish I could say that I was different,

but I'm so much the same.

If it's anything, it's because I got church

and the Lord is important to me.

How about you Chief?

Do you believe?

- (chuckles) Nah, it's not for me.

I mean, I guess I believe there's probably a God,

but what would He want with me?

- Well, what's important Chief for guys like us

is to know that Jesus is our Savior.

- You don't really know who I am.

- I think I do.

There's four guys like us.

(ducks quacking)

(gunshots firing)

- [Dave Voiceover] Chief shot three ducks with one shot

and remain the department duck hunting champion.

- Hey.

- [Dave Voiceover] And the rest of us worked over time

until Christmas.

- Long night? - Yeah. Again.

- How was your day?

- [Dave Voiceover] Sue had
learned by now that the answer

to that question was always the same.

- Fine.

- You hungry? - No, I'm fine.

I think I'll just take a shower and get to bed.

- Sally Weaver called.

She and Jeff would like us to go out to eat with them

on New Year's Eve.

Don't worry.

I gave them the company line.

Thanks, but no thanks.

- Now wait a minute.

I think that going out would be a great idea.

- You do?

Go out like in public?

- Yeah. If they're willing to meet in the next county,

why not?

- That's too much trouble.

- Call Sally back.

- Okay. It's a date.

- [Dave Voiceover] I had so much broken glass in my face,

I thought I was lying on a gravel road.

I couldn't breathe.

I felt myself filling up with fluid.

I knew that was bad.

- Hang in there bud.

Your wife is on the way.

- Tell her I love her and I'm sorry.

- [Dave Voiceover] Then I prayed with the clearest mind

I ever had in my life.

Dear Lord, please forgive me for everything.

- [Dave Voiceover] I didn't see a bright light,

I didn't hear any voices, but I had a peace come over me

that no words can describe.

- [Police Dispatcher] Transport is on the way.

- He's stable but lost a lot of blood!

- He was given a blood transfusion on route

to raise his blood pressure.

- Seems pretty stable.

- You still dressed up.

I'll be ready in a minute.

- Their daughter!

Go get their daughter.

- How am I gonna make it?

- You're hurt really bad.

We're absolutely doing the best that we can.

We have a helicopter on the way

to take you to the regional Promise House.

Dave, I'm not gonna give you
any medication for the pain.

The best thing you can do right now for me, stay awake!

- [Dave Voiceover] To this day,

I don't wanna fall asleep.

- Dave! I wish it were me.

- So do I.

I'm kidding.

Turtle, have faith.

- How? How can you say that?

- If I live, it's a win.

If I die, it's a win.

- What?

- Because I'll be with Jesus.

- Faith. - Faith.

- [Doctor] Air transports on the way.

- Let's go!

- Happy New Year, daddy.

- Happy New Year, Brittany.

- I love you, daddy. - I love you.

- My mom's in the waiting room.

- I love you.

- I know. I love you too.

- [Doctor] Let's move.

(chopper blades whirring)

- [Dave Voiceover] Before long I returned to the hard

and fast of the unit.

- Thank you.

- Sorry to put you to work,

but we got a press conference.

- [Dave Voiceover] With the attitude

that I was indestructible.

- [Police Dispatcher] Got a
call back for 866 (indistinct).

Negative Chief.

(Dolores crying)

- May I ask you a few questions?

- [Dave Voiceover] Eventually I was promoted.

- Okay.

- [Dave Voiceover] To detective
sergeant and transferred

to the Homicide and Violent Crimes bureau.

And as crazy as it sounds, my hours improved

unless of course things were happening.

- What do we have here?

- Well, Chaplin, it's a 65-year-old male,

the owner of the business, the victim of a burglary

that went really, really bad.

- Family?

- Wife is right over there.

- Thank you. - Yeah.

- Do you have a pastor that we can call?

- No.

- Here, I'd like you to have this.

These Psalms comfort me in difficult times.

- Thank you.

- Is this the number to where you're staying?

- Yes. I'm staying with my sister.

- I will be sure to check in with you tomorrow to see

if there's anything that I can do.

- Okay. Thank you.

- I especially find comfort in this passage here.

"The Lord is my shepherd,"

I shall not want.

"He make me to lie down."

- Get together in the morning. Your notes.

- Yeah, you got it.

Have a good night.

At least what's left of it anyway.

- You too.

- Detective?

- Yeah.

- I don't know anything about you,

but I saw you talking with the victim's wife,

I think you should be doing what I'm doing.

- No, that's not for me.

Maybe when I retire.

- Well, just think about it.

- [Dave Voiceover] About this
time, our church needed help

with the Sunday school program.

So Sue volunteered me to do a devotion at the start,

you know, before the kids would all go off

to their separate classrooms.

The Lord started to bless the attendance.

Soon the parents would stay

for the devotions. - Thank you very much

for the message.

- Hey, come back next week.

There's more to the story.

- Nice job, Dave.

- Hey, thanks pastor.

- God has given you a gift.

- You mean my gift of gab?

Sometimes it could be a curse.

- No, not here, it's not.

What would you think about becoming a pastor?

- Me? - Yeah, you.

- No, that's not for me.

Maybe when I retire.

Besides, wouldn't that require a lot more school?

- Four years of college and four years of seminary.

- I don't have that kind of time.

There's a time for everything and a season

for every activity under the heavens.

- Turn, turn, turn.

Time to be born and a time to die.

- Yeah. - I know.

- Well, just think about it and if you wanna talk, I'm here.

- [Dave Voiceover] A few more years flew by

in which there were two more accidents

that required a couple surgeries and new body parts.

- After reconstructing your hand,

you're going to lose mobility in your fingers.

- Okay, Doc.

I tell you what, I need you to form my hand in a way

that I can still hold my gun and pull the trigger.

- Hmm. I can do it. - Great.

Nice job, doc.

- [Dave Voiceover] It was at this time I really started

to wonder what is it all about?

"Now listen, you who say today

or tomorrow we will go to this or that city.

Spend a year there, carry on business and make money

while you don't even know what will happen tomorrow.

What is your life?

You are a mist that appears for a little while

and then vanishes.

Instead you ought to say, if it is the Lord's will,

"we will live and do this or that."

Lord, what do You have in mind?

Should I be doing something different with my life?

Sue, how many times have I told you not to sneak up

on somebody with a gun?

- I thought I'd find you here.

- Thought I'd get a jump

on next week's Sunday school devotion.

- With a gun?

That's some visual aid.

- Sue, do you realize there are people out there

that are doing this for a living?

- Yes, I can.

- But they haven't just come
off a three day long shift away

from their family working a homicide.

- If you wanted to, you could too.

- You think so? - I do.

- [Dave Voiceover] I know what they were trying to get at.

This will be hard on your marriage and your family,

and your wife will have to work to support you

and so on and so on.

They wanted us to be aware of the challenges.

But after 20 minutes, I was more than aware.

The kids were unbelievably well-behaved,

me on the other hand.

- So how do you feel about returning to a daily life

in which you are sitting in a
classroom for the entire day?

- Frankly, I think that's the dumbest part

of this entire thing. - Meaning?

- Meaning, I don't wanna sit inside anywhere.

I didn't test for sergeant
in the sheriff's department

because I didn't want to sit
inside of a patrol car all day.

I like to have the freedom to go where I want

when I want, like the wind.

- Mr. Rosenau, why do you want to become a pastor?

- Hmm. I love to go fishing.

I was thinking, hey, if I become a pastor,

I'll have a lot more time to go fishing.

- I think you would be surprised to find out

that pastors don't have a lot of time to go fishing.

- Are there any other reasons why you are interested

in preparing for the ministry?

- Well, of course there's the money.

- Brothers, I don't think you've spent enough time alone

with Dave to understand his unique sense of humor.

I think what he's trying to
say is it's been a long morning.

Maybe we could take a break.

- Good idea.

- I have a question for you.

You all know what I go back to do.

If you could snap your fingers
and be me, would you do that?

Or would you still choose to be where you are today?

- I wanna say I wouldn't make anything different,

but it has come at a cost.

- I, we understand cost.

You know what, I'm so glad that we did this.

- You are?

- Yeah.

Attending classes, going to chaplain,

having that meeting were so eye-opening.

- In what way? - I know now

that I will never be a pastor.

- All right then. Case's closed.

- Mr. Rosenau, can I talk to you for a minute?

Sue, I will meet you at the union.

- Let's go have lunch, kids.

- Dave, I am glad I caught you here.

- Well, there are not very
many places to hide in this town.

- No kidding.

Listen, I usually don't share
my opinion with guys like you.

You could decide to do it and enroll here

and if it doesn't work out, you've lost everything.

And I still have my job.

Dave, you need to be here.

(gentle music)

- [Dave] Come on, son, do something.

- Right out there about 15 feet out,

just this beautiful small mouth.

- You kidding me?

Unbelievable.

- So Dave, I know you don't like talking about it,

but how's work?

- You know God's brought me through so much

that He didn't have to,

but will I make it through the next one?

Because there's always a next one or a last one.

- I see what you mean.

- You know, I've gotten to work

every type of case imaginable.

There isn't anything I wish I could have done

that I didn't already do.

- You ever hear the saying,
when a door closes behind you,

one opens in front of you?

- In my world, that means you're probably in jail.

- So what's next?

- I don't know.

And it's eating me alive.

I've been praying for the Lord's will to be done.

- And?

- He's not telling me anything.

- Are you listening or are you hoping to hear

what you think you want to hear?

- Frankly, I haven't been able to stop thinking

about the trip to the school ministry.

- Look, Dave, you know I love you and your family,

and I don't wanna lose you in our church

or as my fishing buddy,

but God's gonna keep after you until you go.

- Are you frozen?

- [Dave] Dogs are ready.

- Oh. Unfroze.

(gentle music)

- What if I call everything up to today?

The first half of my life, call it good.

What if I spend the rest of my life serving the Lord?

I mean, what do I got to lose?

- Dave, if you wanna be a pastor,

I'll start packing tonight.

But if you don't, you need to stop talking about it.

- You know that peace I told you I felt the night

of the accident when I was
lying on the floor of the car,

I know that what I was feeling
was not just to be at peace

with dying, but I was having a peace like none other

because I knew I was forgiven.

I've been in church my whole life,

and I've never known peace like that before then.

There must be others out there who dunno it either.

Maybe I could tell them.

(gentle music)

- Where are you going? - To start packing.

(gentle music continues)

- Viking, don't do this.

Don't be a fool.

- I don't wanna spend the rest of my life wondering

if I should have and didn't.

- You understand you're giving up your pension?

- I know.

- Why don't I hold onto this letter for a few days?

Give you time to reconsider with a clear head.

- I made my decision.

I believe God is calling me to do this.

- I don't understand that.

But then again, I have never understood you.

I accept your resignation.

- Thank you.

- You're a good man.

Rosenau, aren't you forgetting something?

(gentle music)

- [Dave Voiceover] When I left the department that day

for the last time, I felt like I was gonna throw up

right there on the spot.

I'm a fool!

- Dave, how did it go?

- It's done.

We prayed, made an educated decision.

Now, it's all in. - All in.

(gentle music)

- [Dave Voiceover] I put a for sale sign in our yard.

I left my family, waving and crying.

(bright music)

I found a motel in Minnesota that Sunday night,

I wondered what am I doing?

On Monday morning, I started
a part-time job as a dispatcher

at the local sheriff's department.

By three that afternoon, I found an apartment.

(bright music)

On Tuesday, I went into work
at the sheriff's department

in. What's going on?

- [Dave Voiceover] The world changed forever.

- Has hit the second tower

at the World Trade Center in Manhattan.

It appears that America is under attack.

We'll be going to a live feed
from an elementary school

where President Bush is
scheduled to deliver remarks

to a group of children.

We have been informed that after the remarks,

the President will board Air Force one

and return. - [Dave Voiceover] I knew

then that I had just made the biggest mistake

of my life.

I needed to be fighting the bad guys,

not stuck in a cornfield in Minnesota.

- [News Anchor] Today, our fellow citizens.

- [Dave Voiceover] I drove back to Michigan

that night passing through

an eerie, completely dark downtown Chicago.

Sue called and said our son
wouldn't stop asking for me.

He knew that when bad things
happen, daddy went to work.

- [News Anchor] Secretary's businessmen and women,

military and federal workers, moms and dads,

friends and neighbors,

thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil,

despicable acts of terror.

The pictures of airplanes flying into buildings,

fires burning. Huge, huge structures.

- Dave, I don't think we can do this.

- [News Anchor] Disbelief, terror.

- I know.

- [News Anchor] And a quiet.

- I'm coming home.

- No, that's not what I meant.

We can't do this.

Look. Look who's here.

- Daddy.

- Hey buddy.

- [News Anchor] To defend. - I love you.

- I love you too, son.

- You are not gonna leave again, are you?

- [News Anchor] They cannot touch.

- Well, yes, but guess what?

- What?

- You and mommy, and your sisters are coming too.

Sale of the Michigan house are not,

Sue and I knew that the only way this was going to work

is if we were all in together.

I bought a house in Minnesota.

To call it a fixer upper would be

a very generous description.

The second bathroom that
Sue was so happy to hear we had

was actually an outhouse.

I started classes and the family moved

in right around Thanksgiving.

- So Dad, how was school today?

- Fine.

- Fine. Is that all you can say?

We need details.

- What's with the interrogation?

Is that how I talk to you when
you come home from school?

(cellphone ringing)

- I will get it.

I want you to tell them how school was today.

- You too, huh?

- Did you get called to the principal office today?

- No, I didn't get called to the principal's office today.

Not today anyway.

(kids chuckling)

Besides, we don't have a principal, we have a president.

- Dave.

It's Chief.

- Chief. Chief, Chief?

Hello, Chief.

- Hello. Dave.

- Is everything all right?

- I'm in the University of Chicago Medical Center

waiting for a heart transplant,

but I don't think I'm going to make it.

- Chief, I.

- I wanted to call and say thank you

for that morning in the duck blind and I love you.

- I love you too.

- Goodbye, Dave.

- What is it?

- I think I might do something stupid.

- Why should today be any different?

- Hello, Chief Walters.

- Right in there.

- Chief.

(gentle music)

Chief.

- I was just on the phone with you.

You're in Minnesota?

Is this real?

- Yeah, it's me, Chief.

- Why would you come here for me, Dave?

- Last night on the phone you said, I love you

and I said, I love you too,

but that was just shock.

I've never had a grown man say that to me before.

You know, Chief, you're not an easy man to love.

- You came all this way to tell me that.

Thanks Dave.

- After you hung up on me last night, I got to thinking,

if I really did love you,

I would do whatever it took to come here

and tell you about Jesus.

- It would.

- You could tell me to leave,

and I'll get right back on a plane.

Can I please tell you about Jesus?

- That's probably a good time for that, Dave.

- Like I said, in that duck blind,

Jesus came for people like you and me,

people who need a Savior.

- [Dave Voiceover] That day I shared what Jesus did

on the cross for Chief and the Lord grabbed one more.

Five years later, my hometown
pastor graciously allowed us

to have Chief's funeral in our church in Michigan.

As many of you know,

we thought we would need a large facility.

We were right.

Chief thought he knew everything,

and at the end of his life, he did know everything.

He knew that every one of God's promises are true.

That's why I had all the confidence

in the world last Saturday
afternoon to hold Chief's face

and tell him, I will see you again face-to-face

of that I am certain.

Put his arms around me, pulled
me close to him, kissed me.

Yeah, Chief kissed me and said, I hope so.

I love you Dave.

I told him I loved him too and that God loved him.

He knew this was true.

- [Dave Voiceover] Law enforcement and officials

from across the state heard a
by grace through faith sermon

that they might not otherwise have heard

if I wasn't foolish enough to be led to hop on a plane

and make just one visit.

So any tears of sadness I may have or you may have

are now to be mixed with tears of joy

because God saved Chief by
grace through faith in His son

and by what Jesus has done.

Now, Chief truly knew everything

and he wants you to know it too, amen.

- [Dave Voiceover] The third year at seminary

is called the Vicar Year.

I was assigned to a church
in Illinois that was hanging on

by a very thin thread.

The pastor had been gone for a while.

A church in the neighboring
state of Wisconsin had taken

this one on as a one year mission project.

So with that support,

the remnant of the congregation
went to the seminary,

and asked if there was an older student

who could be on his own for a year, have some fun

and see what might happen.

Guess who fit the MO?

- Well, here we are.

- Yep. Here we are.

- What is it?

- They all know this is on the down slide.

I feel like the guy from
Corporal, he gets sent into town

to shut down the antiquated factory.

Mm. It's nothing personal. Only business.

- Is that what's going to happen?

- I've been praying not. - Me too.

- [Dave Voiceover] The congregation moved out

of the building that we had been in

to a rented local VFW post.

- There is no way

that this is ever going to feel like church.

- [Dave Voiceover] But do you know what? It did.

"Where two or three are
gathered together in God's name,

there He is in the midst of them."

Many of you out there today think

that my family and I being here

is only prolonging the inevitable.

- You got that right.

- You know, I can work a homicide right now, no problem,

but I don't have any idea

on how to do an evangelism anything.

Hey, you get what you pay for.

(congregants chuckling)

But I have an idea.

How about for the next 364 days,

why don't we turn to the word
of God and see what it can do?

Either we'll make headlines,

local church closes it's doors.

That'll prove God doesn't do what He says He does.

Or we'll gather here with a room full of people

because He does.

I need your help.

If you know anybody, I'll go with you,

or gimme their name and address and I'll go.

If there's one thing I got, it's courage.

- [Dave Voiceover] Courage, I
may have been exaggerating.

I'd close my eyes, point to a spot on a map, open my eyes,

drive to that street and sit in my vehicle

and not want to get out.

Are you kidding me?

Look at you.

You used to do things that
would give people nightmares

and go back for more.

You don't wanna go knock on a door.

This is ridiculous.

- Can we help you?

- I'm St. Peter.

- Really?

- Sorry. I'm Dave Rosenau

and I'm serving at St. Peter's Church.

I'm just looking for people who don't have a church

or know about how much Jesus loves them. Do you?

- Oh, we're fine.

Thanks for stopping, but we have a church.

- Great. That's wonderful.

Would you be willing to help me learn about the area?

I'm new here.

What church are you attending?

- Well, it's...

We haven't been going in a while.

- I'd like to invite you to ours.

I'm gonna tell you right now, we don't look like much.

We sit on folding chairs in a smelly VFW post.

We sing terribly, but I
promise you that you will think

it's the most beautiful church in the world

because of what the word of God will do for you.

The address and time are right there.

- Well, I've been wanting to
get back to church for a while,

so we may make it.

- Really? - Mh-hmm.

- Are you? - Yep.

- Why are you still here?

- Well, if you tell me you're going to come,

I'll remember your name and I'll wait outside for you.

But if you're not gonna come, just tell me

and I won't remember your name.

You're not gonna hurt my feelings.

- Okay. So we're not coming.

- Thank you.

Why not?

- [Dave Voiceover] I watched
a new kind of joy fill that gym

as the Lord started bringing visitors

and then brought them back again.

Welcome to the house of the Lord.

We begin today's service in the name of the Father,

and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, amen.

- [Dave Voiceover] Making
calls on strangers became easier.

I took a shoebox full of prospect cards

that had been collecting
dust over the last seven years.

I pretended I was working a homicide.

I defined the scope of the investigation,

planned the next step, collected relevant evidence.

Reviewed and analyzed the information,

and documented the findings.

I didn't stop until I called

or knocked on every single door.

Some had died for a change from natural causes.

Some had moved to unknown whereabouts.

Some said they didn't have an alibi

as to why they were on the list in the first place.

Some found another church,

and some said they would give us another try.

(Sue clears throat) - Oh, hi honey.

- Are you coming to bed?

- In a minute.

I promised Luke I'd read him a bedtime story first.

- Dave. Luke has been asleep for hours.

It's one in the morning.

- Oh wow. I'm sorry.

- Tell that to Luke.

- Right.

- Tomorrow.

Tell him tomorrow.

- Right. Say speaking of tomorrow,

why don't you and I take the
kids to the zoo in the morning?

Huh? Then we'll come home,

we'll have a nice family picnic.

I'll make our world famous burgers,

then get a sitter and go see a matinee.

- You sure you can tear yourself away

from that board for one day?

- Absolutely.

Probably. More likely.

- Did you just throw someone in the dead file?

- Yeah. And it's a good thing too.

- How's that?

- Well, a former neighbor reported that they moved.

So take him off the board frees up more time,

so I don't have to call them so I have more time for you

and the kids.

- I see. And that means you have time to go to bed.

- I'll be back.

- Not tonight you won't.

(cheerful music)

- [Dave] So what'd you think of the movie?

- It was good.

- It was, wasn't it?

Can you imagine spending your whole life searching

for a treasure?

Is someone gonna find it before you?

Are you gonna die trying to find it?

Is this clue only going to lead to another clue

and then another?

Everyone thinking you're crazy

and then you actually find it, pretty cool.

- Maybe the reason it makes for a good story

is that we're all seeking a treasure in this life.

- Yes, we do.

But what is the treasures we seek?

That is the question.

- Jesus.

- And being married to you.

Mary, Mary. Mary, Mary.

Mary Meyer.

- What? - Mary Meyer.

Mary Meyer. Mary Meyer.

- What is that?

- Somebody on the prospect board.

- You're kidding.

- Would you mind if we go and knock on just one door?

We're so close.

- Fine.

- Come with me. - Okay.

(Dave knocking)

- Hello. Are you Mary Meyer?

- No. Young man, I'm not.

My name is Dolores.

- So sorry, Dolores.

My name is Dave Rosenau, this is my wife, Sue.

- Nice to meet you.

- Hi.

- We're from St. Peter's Church here in town.

We must have came to your house by mistake.

Sorry to bother you.

- Wait, would you mind coming
in my house for a few minutes?

- Not at all.

- You have a beautiful home.

- Thank you, dear.

I would like to show both of you something.

All day, I have been trying to write a poem or a song,

or even a prayer, but I could not get past the title.

- Would you please stop the pain?

- A few minutes ago I bowed my head and I prayed

and I asked God to please take my pain away.

There was a knock at the door and there you were.

- No, I can't believe that. - Well, it's true.

- You'll have to forgive my husband.

He's a former police detective.

- Well, I wouldn't have done my job very long

if I believed everything people were telling me.

- Well, it's obvious you're not doing that job anymore.

- You got me there.

- Dave, can you help me stop my pain?

- Dolores, I know someone who can.

May we sit down? - Please.

- [Dave Voiceover] The next week, Dolores came

and she brought a friend.

Those that came, came because someone invited them.

One by one, they came and the word of God worked

in their hearts.

Sometimes the person doing
the inviting was a stranger,

sometimes an acquaintance, sometimes a good friend

or even a close relative.

And on one occasion it was a spouse.

Tina called me and said

that I had left a message on
her machine several months ago.

Her husband Craig just returned

from serving in Iraq,

she said he was having trouble adjusting

and asked me to visit them that very day.

Craig, Tina tells me that you serve.

- Listen, pastor just want to know one thing.

Do you teach in your church
that soldiers are killers?

- Well, are you?

- I'm asking you.

- Are you a killer, Craig?

- You have no idea what it's like!

People shooting at you.

Try to get your job done, no matter what it is,

you have no idea the sacrifice,

pictures rolling through your head day and night,

you can't tell anybody about not even your wife!

- You might be surprised.

You know, the Bible talks about a time

when some other soldiers
wondered about the same thing.

They asked John the Baptist,

if they should continue serving in the military

and John told them to go back and keep serving.

Craig, I thank God that you were well prepared,

well equipped and trained to do what you needed to do,

so that today a guy like me can be talking

to families like yours in a free country

and our little church can be doing

what it does every Sunday and I want you to come.

You need to come because we can help you

through the word of God.

Welcome to the House of the Lord.

We begin today's service in the name of the Father,

and of the Son of the Holy Spirit.

- [Dave Voiceover] The days passed quickly

and it was time for me to return to the seminary

for my final year.

619 please.

The church was doing well enough

that it was granted a three
year reprieve from execution.

A pastor was called and it was time for me to leave

right after my farewell service.

(cellphone ringing)

Hello? Oh, hey mom.

Yeah, I was just heading out to service.

What? How?

We'll be there as soon as we can.

I love you too, mom. Bye.

- The kids are in the car.

You don't wanna be late for.

What is it?

- Dad. He's gone. - Oh, Dave, no.

Hello.

- I didn't even get to say goodbye.

- I'm so sorry.

- How am I supposed to go

and share the love and joy of Jesus with anybody?

At a farewell service, having to smile,

eat cake, stupid cake.

(gentle music)

A year ago today,

I told you that we'd either be making headlines

about closing our doors or be filled with joy

because we saw what the Lord can do.

I'm happy, but please forgive me. I'm also sad.

Right before coming here today,

I learned that my dad had gone home to heaven.

I...

- This just...

This doesn't feel right.

We should cancel today's service for pastor.

- You need to go home and be with your family.

- Sorry, pastor.

- Sorry.

- Wait a minute, please, please.

God can use this to remind us in a way

that we'll never forget and when we leave our homes,

and come to church each Sunday morning,

we're coming to something
so much more than just church.

This is God gathering us in a place we need to be

with the people we need to be with,

so that God can strengthen us with what we need

in order to face both the good and the bad.

I have no idea how this is going to go,

but let's have church.

Let's turn to the word of God for the peace, hope,

and love that surpasses all our understanding.

Welcome to the house of the Lord.

- [Dave Voiceover] After eight long years of college

and seminary, that's the day graduates

are given their first pastoral assignment.

- Dave, I'm so glad to see you here. Congratulations.

- Thank you. And thank you for all the prayers

and encouragement along the way.

- Absolutely. Sue, congratulations.

- Thank you.

- Dave, so good to see you.

Sue, great to see you

as well. - Good to see you.

- Got your seats right here for you.

- Thank you.

You look great.

- Pastor Rosenau, I'm so proud of you.

Congratulations.

Congratulations to both of you.

- Thank you.

- Oh, Pastor Rosenau,

that's gonna take some getting used to.

You know, I couldn't have done this without you.

Thank you.

- Well, there's been a lot of people praying

for this day to come.

- Good morning.

- [All] Good morning.

- We welcome all of you to the seminary

in this very exciting day.

Call Day. Just think the students have studied

for eight years for this day is waiting to find out

where the Lord is sending them to serve Him.

Let's begin.

- [Dave Voiceover] I was convinced

that I was going to be sent to a large church

with a thriving youth group, packed with kids.

- Cambodia, Mount Olive, Lincoln.

- [Dave Voiceover] It seemed like days before they got

to the Rs and the list of assignments.

- David Rosenau, St. Mark's Leesburg, Florida.

- Florida!

There no kids in Florida, but cool.

- Hey, congrats man. - Thanks.

- Looks like the old man's
first calls a retirement call.

- [Dave Voiceover] The graduates were sent off to rooms

to meet their new district president.

That's the guy in charge of the area

where you assigned.

- Financial difficulty.

- [Dave Voiceover] My classmate with a smart comment

also received a call to Florida.

- Membership has declined.

There are some within the congregation

who fear whether they can keep the doors open.

We're confident though that together with the power

of the word of God and some hard work,

you're gonna do some great things.

You've got our full support. - Thanks.

- Poor guy.

- Yeah, that's tough. - Good to so you early.

I've got one more student to talk with,

and we can catch up later.

See you soon.

Ah, David Rosenau.

- Hi. - Susan.

- Hi. - Pleasure to meet you both

in person.

Maybe you overheard a little of my conversation

with a young man before you.

In a few months, you might be wishing you were sent

where he is.

- [Dave Voiceover] I was given

what was called a rejuvenation assignment.

In other words, it was currently on life support.

The congregation had no children, not one.

The church bordered the
largest retirement community

in the entire country.

- The power of the word of God, we're looking forward

to some really exciting things happening.

God be with you. - Thank you.

- I'll check in on you a little bit later.

- Did he say the average age was 72?

- It's gonna be okay.

- [Dave Voiceover] 72? On the other hand,

72 was 30% higher than
the average church attendance

on any given Sunday.

- Well, are you ready?

- Can I get back to you on that?

- Did you hear the news?

- What news?

- The county voted on expanding
Highway 27 to Okahumpka

from two to four lanes.

- Here we go.

New county chairman.

- Same old story, new guy
always trying to change things

for the sake of change.

- You'd think they learned to leave well enough alone.

- Yeah.

- I see they finally got some water

in a fellowship hall over there.

- Where do you wanna sit?

- Ah, looks like a buyer's market.

(gentle music)

- What's going on?

Good morning.

- Green card.

- Excuse me.

- The green card.

- Oh, the visitor card, right.

I'm the new pastor.

- I still need the card.

- We'll do it later.

- We do it now.

Welcome to St. Mark's.

My pleasure.

Michael, Bob.

- Thank you for the years.

- My pleasure.

Morning kids.

Welcome to Florida.

Good to see ya.

Welcome Pastor Rosenau.

Mrs. Rosenau.

- Thank you Pastor Williams.

- Thank you for serving the
vacancy here all these months.

Must have been challenging.

I mean, serving your congregation on this one

at the same time.

- St. Mark's will be blessed to have a full-time Pastor.

Ted? - Yeah.

- Do you have a minute?

- Yeah.

- Have you met Pastor Rosenau?

- Morning Pastor.

- Good morning.

- I'm your elder.

- From the looks of it,

I'd say you all are my elders.

A pleasure to meet you. This is my wife Sue.

- Sue. - Hi.

- Oh, Wednesday evening, the council meets here.

- Well, I look forward to hitting the road running.

- New guy wants to make change

just for the sake of change.

- You'd think they'd learn to leave well enough alone.

- Seven o'clock sharp.

- It's a date.

- See you then. - All right.

- (speaking foreign language).

- Excuse me.

- Something my German grandmother used to say.

The beginning is always hard.

- Hard. Kids.

Sweetheart. What's the matter?

- I don't like it here.

- I don't either. That was so bad.

But Jesus sent Daddy here for some good reason.

We're just gonna have to figure out why.

- [Dave Voiceover] At the seminary,

we're told that when a new pastor comes

into the congregation, don't
make waves for at least a year.

Looking at the guys in the room,

I wasn't sure if they had here.

- Jim, does the outreach program have a report?

- [Dave Voiceover] Oh Lord. Green card Jim

is the outreach chairman?

- Yeah. Yeah. It's that time of year again.

We have to start making plans

for the Christmas booth downtown.

- I'll have Shirley get her group of ladies together

and start baking Christmas cookies.

- Ooh. I love those spritz cookies.

- Especially when they're a
little burnt on the outside.

- Yeah.

- What in the world is that?

- What do they teach you at the seminary?

Spritz Cookies, they come out of a canister

that you crank on the end and you.

- No, no, no.

What is the Christmas booth?

- We give out cookies and a coupon for a free Bible,

and if they come to church, they get a free Bible.

- Cool.

How many have we given away?

- Oh, none.

- How many years have we been doing this?

- 12.

- How many have we given away in those 12 years?

- None.

- How many people are here today in this church

because we do this? - None.

- Then I don't wanna do that.

- Oh, here we go.

- The Christmas festival
booth has become a tradition.

- The thinking is that now that we have a new pastor

with a young family, we're
gonna attract more families

and we're gonna find those families

at the Christmas festival.

Isn't that right, Ruben?

- That's right. Don.

The key to growing a church

is by reaching young families. Right?

- Well, you should have thought of that 40 years ago

before you built the church in the middle

of a retirement community.

- So Pastor, are you telling me

that you're giving up already?

- Absolutely not.

This area is a gold mine waiting to be discovered.

Soon we'll fill every seat and need to buy more.

- Fill 'em with what?

- Your neighbors.

How about if we try just for one year

instead of spending time on that, what was it?

Christmas booth, you and I, Jim, just the two of us go out

and invite one person to come.

Based on the record so far, if one person comes, we win.

- Invite like in person?

- Exactly.

- Snicker doodle. - Excuse me.

- I like Snicker Doodles the best.

- Oh yeah. My son and daughter-in-law have one of those.

It's a German shepherd poodle mix.

- Yeah, that's a Schnitzel Doodle.

- Snicker Doodle is a cookie.

- Oh, those are great. We should add those

to the list for the Christmas Booth.

- Good morning, Sophie.

How are you this morning?

- How did you know my name?

- We met last week. - That was so brief.

- Well, you were worth remembering.

I'll see you inside.

- Hello guys.

- Good morning Ted.

- Anybody know where the pastor is?

- Yep. - Where is he?

Service starts in 10 minutes.

- He's in the parking lot.

- In the parking lot?

What's he doing there?

- Go ask him and find out where he hid our chairs.

- Good morning, I'm Dave.

- Hello, I'm Joanne.

- Joanne, are you a member?

- Gracious, no.

I haven't been inside of a church for over 40 years.

- Oh, this is great

'cause I don't know if I'm coming back next week.

- The preacher's that bad?

- Well, see, I'm the pastor.

It's my first Sunday.

- I sure know how to pick 'em.

- Well, I have to be here.

But what brings you, Joanne?

- My sister and her husband
are visiting from out of town.

She wanted to go to church this morning.

And you're the closest one.

- That works.

Good morning, I'm Dave Rosenau,

Pastor here at St. Mark's. Welcome.

- Thank you. I'm Betty, and this is my husband, Joe.

- Nice to meet you, Joe.

- Pastor.

- So Joanne tells me you're visiting.

Where's home?

- New Jersey.

- Do you have a home church in New Jersey?

- I'm a Methodist, but I don't care where I go.

- How about you, Joe?

- I'm a nothing.

- Wow. You're not gonna believe this.

But just this morning I prayed.

Please, Lord, send me a Methodist and a nothing.

And here you are.

The power of the prayer.

We'll see you inside.

Good morning. - Pastor.

- Good to see you.

- Great sermon. - Thank you. God bless you.

Hey, Joe.

Betty.

Joanne, what do you think?

Should we come back next week?

- I think you should, but I'm not going to.

- Was I that bad?

- I know my husband won't come,

and I don't have the courage to come by myself.

- I tell you what, I'll be waiting outside for you.

I'll have courage for the both of us. I'll walk you in.

- [Dave Voiceover] One week later,

I couldn't believe my eyes.

Joanne, you came back!

- All week, I couldn't get the picture out of my head

of you standing here in the parking lot alone,

waiting for me like a jilted lover.

- Guilt, a great motivator.

- Hmm.

- [Dave Voiceover] I learned that day

why Joanne had such difficulty walking.

Many years earlier, she was working in her office

in New York.

It was late at night.

Her husband, Richard was flying in

from an overseas business trip.

So she stayed in town to pick him up from the airport.

Joanne was brutally assaulted and left for dead.

They found her crumpled up under her desk

the next morning, barely alive.

She was in recovery for more than three years.

On a visit to her home, I met Richard, Joanne's husband,

and learned that Joanne
also suffered from leukemia.

- So now, you know,

but don't act different around me, all right?

Just keep being you.

- I'm so sorry.

- Life's not fair.

- Then it's a good thing the next life is.

- I'm convinced when this life ends,

everything ends with it.

- So what about you, Richard?

What do you believe?

- I can tell you what I don't believe.

I don't believe that there is a God.

Where was He when she was being attacked?

And another thing, Pastor, I can tell you right now,

God did not write that book.

Men wrote that fairytale.

But I'm not gonna think any less of you

if you want to believe God did.

- I'm not gonna sit here and try to convince you

that Heaven is for real.

I can't convince either of you
that God is God, but God can.

This might sound crazy and a big waste of time,

but I'd like to ask you both to do me a favor.

- What's that?

- I'd like you both to attend a Bible information class

that I'm starting.

No obligations. You can walk away at any time.

- Thanks Dave. We'll get back with you.

- Okay.

- Is there something else?

- Yes. You know what?

I don't think I lose anything if I make you mad.

I didn't walk away from the coolest job in the world

and take my family away from
all their friends and relatives

and sit in a stuffy classroom for eight years

to be here in your living room
and suddenly become timid.

If I walk out that door, your wife who I think you love,

dies without the peace God wants her to have.

Please come. - Well, I'd like to.

It's just that I can hardly walk anymore.

- Then I'll come here.

What do you say?

You can always get a restraining order.

- Alright. Just not during football.

- You got it.

- [Dave Voiceover] During council, Jim introduced us

to the church rejuvenation plan.

It set aside a large chunk of money for the new pastor

to launch a, lemme get this right,

a strategic evangelism roadmap initiative.

Then Reuben, the financial secretary

passed around the budget.

The church was in the red.

There was no money for the plan.

Okay, so what do we do?

- Well, we were hoping that you'd tell us.

- You know, a new pastor,

a fancy program isn't gonna fix anything around here.

- Well, that's encouraging.

- So Pastor, do you have another idea?

- Yes, Ted. I do.

- Well, great.

Make sure you give Reuben the bill.

- Yeah, yeah.

Look, I don't know about you guys,

but I kind of like to hear the plan.

- Okay, Jim, I've decided to use the word of God.

We can implement it right now, one by one,

starting with us in this room.

If it doesn't work, we'll spend some money.

But I would like to buy one thing.

If you're willing, it's a little pricey.

- Well fine. Whatever.

What is it?

- I'd like to buy an umbrella.

- Oh. What the heck does an umbrella

have to do with evangelism?

- You see me outside every Sunday.

- Yeah.

- The first Sunday it rains

and I walk someone into church,

you'll see what it has to do with evangelism.

Hey, and if you wanna go all out and buy two,

one of you could join me out there.

- But what about the Church Rejuvenation Plan?

- The CRP will have to wait.

I mean, we have a motion on the table

to buy two umbrellas. All in favor?

- Aye. - Aye.

Oh, wait, wait.

I have a very important question.

- What's that?

- What color umbrella you thinking?

- [Ted] Can I come in?

- Oh, hi Ted. Of course.

- Special delivery.

- My umbrella. And there's two.

- I gotta tell you, pastor,

you're a breath of fresh air.

I thank God for you,

and I want you to keep doing just what you're doing.

- We'll see you Sunday.

- Okay. - Thank you.

- Alright.

- Hey, you.

- Hi.

- I just saw Ted.

He sure looked happy.

Wow. And you got them without full vote

of the congregation. Impressive.

- You know, I think God's really starting

to work around here, Sue.

What's with the plants?

- I thought one would look nice in your office

and that you could take the other to Joanne.

- I like the second idea.

- How is she?

- Struggling. - Physically or spiritually?

- A little bit of both, but good news

is she and Richard haven't
served me with an injunction.

- Mm. Not yet.

- You know this will be dead in a week

if you leave it with me.

- I think you'll find something to do with it.

- Tillie.

- [Dave Voiceover] Ted's word of encouragement was fuel

for my fire.

Tillie, I noticed you were
attending services pretty

regularly and then you were gone.

Is it me?

- Heavens, no.

You know, the worship at your church is so different

than what I'm used to.

I'm so set in my ways.

I just went back to what is familiar at my old church.

Don't be mad.

- That's fine, Tillie.

I just thank God that you're in the word,

and for your faith in Jesus as your savior.

- Thank you for taking the time to visit me

and for the plant.

You made me feel like I matter.

- You do. To me and to Jesus.

You know Tillie, I've learned that sometimes

I just have to let go and let God.

So many blessings have
come from taking time to visit

in a home or by standing in that parking lot.

- [Dave Voiceover] Generally, people are surprised

when you take time for them.

Soon, they knew they could count on getting to talk

to me personally.

Each week, no matter what,
they ask me quietly for a prayer

or tell me about something
that happened in their lives,

both good and bad.

They whisper encouragement,
and sometimes complaints.

I scold them quietly if it's the latter,

they started to tell their neighbors,

please come with me to church.

If you do, pastor will be waiting outside.

Tillie. And he'll remember your name.

- What are you doing here?

- I just wanna be where I'm supposed to be.

- [Dave Voiceover] The cool thing

is that by standing outside, I get to ask new people

where they live and where they used to live.

Is Sue inside? - Yes.

- [Dave Voiceover] And then just like I used to do

in my former life,

I track them down like they're on the most wanted list

because they are.

- Well, the way attendance

and membership has been growing around here,

some have suggested that we offer more activities.

- [Dave Voiceover] Danger, warning.

Did I say that out loud?

No. Good.

What I did say.

What do you mean activities?

- Well, you know things that serve their needs.

Here's a list for you.

- Book club. Dart ball.

Bachi ball, sewing circle. Okay.

But I think you could do
these things in the communities

where you live.

- No, but if we do them here,

that'll make the church look like an active

and busy place.

- Maybe some just wanna do these activities

so they could get together
with people they already know.

I get it.

That's a lot safer than going
outside your comfort zone

to get to know the neighbor you don't know.

How about we try something?

- What are you getting at?

- How about we try having the church be,

oh, I don't know, church.

- What do you mean?

Church is church.

- Look, we'll do everything we can to make sure church

is good each and every Sunday,

no matter when you invite someone,

and we'll do as many Bible studies as we need to do.

Worship and Bible studies.

These will be the groups and activities that we do.

We don't have to do it forever,

but let's just try it, see what happens.

- But aren't most people looking
for more from their church?

- Maybe, but let's see what happens

if we come here to be strengthened by the word of God,

then go back into our communities

and reach out to people where we live,

and let God use us to be the salt of the Earth

and the light of the world.

That's the church being the church.

That's the church at work.

- First time I laid eyes on you,

I knew you were going to be trouble,

but maybe we needed a little trouble around here.

- Yeah.

- Okay then. Let's get at it.

- [Dave Voiceover] When the time was right,

I started to work examples of
encouragement into sermons

and Bible class.

I tell about how someone talked to a friend,

and brought them to church

or about how someone shared a name

and how that simple act made a difference.

One by one, they were beginning to see themselves

as part of the process.

It started to have an effect on, well, everyone.

- I have been looking for this "Civil War" book forever.

- You have?

Well, I'm glad you found it.

How are you today?

- Better now. - Why, what happened?

- I just came from church.

I heard a message about how much God loves me.

- Hmm. Hey, next time you're in church,

could you say a prayer for my husband?

He has cancer.

- Oh. Oh, sure.

I don't have to be in church to pray for him.

What's his name?

- Randy. - Randy, okay.

Well, I'll start praying for him right now

and for you, Carol.

- Oh, thanks. I appreciate it.

- Where are they treating him?

- General.

- Good. Good. They have a great staff.

- Good. I'm glad to hear that.

All right, will this be all for you today?

- Hi, Randy.

- Yes.

- Does your wife Carol work at the bookstore on Palm?

- Yeah, she does. - Oh, good.

- Is everything all right?

- Oh, yes. Yeah, yeah. Everything's fine.

I'm Jim, by the way.

No, I just did buy a book

and she asked if I'd pray for you.

All this chemo stuff and can we chat for a few minutes?

- Oh, sure.

- [Dave Voiceover] The very next day,

I was sitting in Randy's room with Jim,

sharing the word as they were prepping him

for his first chemo treatment.

Forensic outreach was catching on.

- It's open.

- [Dave Voiceover] Surprisingly,
the Bible information class

at Joanne and Richards.

Joanne.

- [Dave Voiceover] Was now on week 14.

What's wrong?

- Pastor, I get it. - Get what?

- What you've been talking about the last three months.

I get that Heaven is for real
and I know I'm gonna be there

because Jesus died to take away my sins.

- You don't believe that for a minute?

- Yes, I do.

Listen to me.

I know I'm going to Heaven because Jesus is my savior.

We've actually been reading the Bible.

- We? - Mm.

- And I called my children this morning,

and I told them that I believe

and that I want them to believe too,

because I wanna see them in Heaven.

- You did? - I did.

And I told them to prove it to them

that I was not going to take God's name in vain,

instead, I was gonna say.

- Oh.

- [Dave Voiceover] Joanne proceeded

to say the naughtiest word in the world.

- We'll get to that in lesson 17.

- Yeah, Dave. I do too.

- You both are full of it.

- Hey.

- We're going to continue our classes.

- Hi daddy. - Hi Katie.

- This is my friend Lauren.

- And this is her mom, Hannah.

- Hello. - Welcome.

What brings the two of you here this morning?

- Katie. - Katie?

- I asked Lauren if she went to church, she said no.

- You asked her?

- That's what you said to do.

- And here we are.

- Yes, and here you are.

- We'll see you inside.

- Alright. Church attendance is up.

Bible class attendance is up,

and membership is really up. Huh?

I mean, the people are like energized and excited.

They want to come to church again.

- Who would've thought?

- Well, you did.

- Well, we got a pretty wonderful product.

- Yeah. Yeah.

We, I just needed to be reminded of that.

You smell that?

- Jim, what is it? - I don't know.

I smell something.

- A gas leak or?

- No, no, no, no, Pastor.

Pastor, don't take this the wrong way,

but you smell like a sheep.

- Me? - Mhm-hmm.

- I'm sorry, I showered before.

- Occupational hazard.

You see, a shepherd cannot
spend that much time with a sheep

and not start to smell like a sheep.

Pastor, thank you for smelling like a sheep.

- The smell I wear with pleasure.

- All right, so.

(cellphone ringing) - Excuse me.

Hello, Richard. How are things?

I'll be right there.

Tell the rest of the council I'll be late.

- I love you. I know.

- I let myself in.

- Thanks for coming, Pastor.

- Richard, would you mind if I say some words

that I know will be a comfort to all of us?

- Please.

- "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul.

He leads me in the path of
righteousness for His namesake.

Yea though I walk through the
valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil for Thou art with me.

Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil, my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy
will follow me all the days

of my life and I will dwell in the house

"of the Lord forever."

Almighty God, look with favor upon my friend Joanne.

Comfort her with the promise of life

with all believers in Your eternal kingdom.

A promise made sure by the death

and resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord

from all sin, from all evil, from all suffering,

deliver her, grant her Your saving peace, amen.

Dear, dear Joanne, heaven is open.

Go forth in the name of the
Father Almighty who created you

in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God

that redeemed you.

In the name of the Holy Spirit

that called you to faith.

May you rest in peace and live now forever

in the blessings of Heaven.

Joanne is home with the Lord.

- This is what it's all about, isn't it, pastor?

- Yes, Richard.

This is what it's all about.

(bright music)

- Dave, is that you?

- Yeah.

- You know you've been going nonstop

since we first moved here. - I know.

- So how was your day?

- I think I'm supposed to tell you that it was great,

but I just held Joanne's hand as the Lord took her home

to Heaven.

- How's Richard?

- At peace.

(gentle music)

(gentle music continues)

- You know, Dave, only the Lord and the two of us know

what it took to get here.

I think if we tried to explain this journey,

no one would believe it.

- It hasn't been an easy road, has it?

- No. But if we had to do all of this only for Joanne,

I would do it again.

(cellphone ringing)

Are you going to answer the call?

- This is Pastor Rosenau, how may I serve you?

- [Dave Voiceover] Sharing the hope and the peace

that we have is worth all our time, commitment

and our very best effort.

If it's to show just one precious soul, Jesus,

the heavy lifting has been done.

Go, love and tell one by one.

(bright music)

(bright music)

(bright music continues)

(gentle music)

(gentle music)

(gentle music continues)

(bright music)

(bright music)

(bright music continues)

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