Rick Green [00:00:07] Welcome to the intersection of faith and culture. It's The WallBuilders Show, taking on the hot topics of the day from a biblical, historical, and constitutional perspective. Thanks for joining us today. Rick Green here with David Barton and Tim Barton. And yes, it's noisy because we're on the road coming back from, or I'm on the road coming back from D.C. with all the Patriot Institute scholars. Took them out there to see the White House, the Capitol, went to Philly. They got to sign the Declaration of Independence in the room, in Independence Hall, 250 years later, after the Founding Fathers themselves did it. So it was just a great, great trip and we're on our way back. David, Tim, you guys have been on the road as well. It's even better than George Whitefield. He was kind of on his own. Well, I guess the Wesley brothers were doing some of the same, but man, we got us three out there everywhere. We got our friends and all these other organizations. It's almost like we got hundreds of Whitefields out there and Lord willing, God will give us another Great Awakening. 

Tim Barton [00:00:58] Well, and Rick, I do want to talk about some of the things that we have coming up because all three of us are on the road so much, but I am curious when you say your student signed the Declaration of Independence. Did Nicholas Cage help you acquire? Like, was this the original one? Their signing? I'm just curious.. 

Rick Green [00:01:15] I wasn't gonna say anything Tim. It was secret. We did go to the National Archives the day before and no kidding We actually did go the National Archives the day Before and the night before that I told the kids I was like, okay, no stealing the Declaration of Independence. We're gonna have our own copy. We'll get in lots of trouble. Actually, I was encouraging him to steal it but they didn't do it. So now we had our own blown-up copy, but it was it was so cool. You know, you guys know we do this and you know at all the Leadership Congresses and state capitals around the country. But there's nothing like doing it in the room, man, where the Founding Fathers did it. And to do it this year in the 250th, it was really emotional. I'll be honest with you guys. It was for these kids. It was the capstone to their year. They've been with us on the campus for nine months and we were disappointed. We didn't get to go to Israel. We had planned to go Israel with them. And so this was a really close second and in some ways maybe, you know, God's providence even better with it being the 250th for them to get to do that. 

Tim Barton [00:02:09] Well, and I'm thinking as you guys were in Independence Hall, Dad and I have both been up there recently in Philadelphia. I will be up there again in a month or two doing some more filming, but you know, thinking about the 56 Signers, when they pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honors and that commitment, what it meant. We have a book actually at the press today that is on all 56 Signers. We did bios on them to reintroduce people to them because frankly most Americans We don't know their names, much less do we know the stories. And when you're in that room and you start thinking through what, what happened in that and the people that were there, all the different walks of life, uh, it's so many skills and talents and abilities, and even levels of financial means coming together and all saying, man, we're giving everything for this cause of Liberty. It was absolutely a bold step of faith going up against the most powerful military in the world at that time, Great Britain. And willing to put it on the line. And you mentioned even like the George Whitefield thought with how much we're traveling. And it feels a little bit like a George Whitefield, which also a quick plug. If people have not seen the movie, A Great Awakening, again, I will reiterate, go see A Great Awakening. It is so encouraging. It's so good. We did a little of analysis on it. That nitpicky history nerd in me was like, man, there's just one part. I wish it was different. But I'm telling you, The overall movie is so powerful. I absolutely think every Christian needs to go watch this and be motivated by sharing the gospel, but also recognizing the influence that George Whitefield, that pastors of the Bible, had in the founding of our nation, the Founding Fathers, and guys along those lines. There's a lot of events coming up over the next several months. Many of them being led by pastors where pastors are boldly and courageously stepping out to do some very George Whitefield like things to engage Christians in faith, to get back involved in culture. There's a lot of really cool stuff coming up. 

David Barton [00:04:17] Tim just so everybody knows you're not being critical of Great Awakening movie, two hours and 20 minutes and probably the line that you Dislike the most which I agree with this what 15 seconds or 30 seconds or something there. So, it's like the whole thing is really good except maybe just a line here. 

Tim Barton [00:04:32] Oh yeah, it's it literally was one line and also by the way, I like I you know, we interviewed some people for the film and they were telling the story, and I understand in Hollywood, sometimes you need to have a drama contrast. And so, I also recognize that that line could have been for a drama contrast because we talked about how so many of the other lines between Whitefield and Franklin, you actually can find those actual lines in the letters they wrote to each other or wrote about those events. And so they were so spot-on in so many places, which was amazing. they did so well. So I highly recommend it. It was just one part that I went, man, I wish we could have done it different. But also, I don't know that they misunderstood that line other than just maybe it was for contrast for Franklin coming around. Ultimately, when it comes to the Constitution Convention on June 28th, 1787, when he has this really famous call to prayer, challenging the other delegates to have the recognition that if God doesn't help them, they're not going to succeed and they need to have dedicated times of prayer just like they did during the American Revolution. And so again, the movie is great. I highly recommend it. It reintroduces George Whitefield and shows some of that relationship and connection he has to Benjamin Franklin, which is completely historically correct, so overall it was so well done. 

David Barton [00:05:57] And Rick, going back to Independence Hall, with all the kids being up there signing the Dec., I've got to say that new book that Tim is talking about when we did all the research for that, a lot of places where I speak, I really kind of criticize the education system currently out there because you just don't know the individual Founding Fathers. And we talked about how that, you know, Tim carries this gift card with him from university to university and says, hey, anybody that can name five Signers of the Declaration off this picture, you get this gift car. And he's had the same gift card nine years essentially. In. I find the same thing when I speak in higher education, Duke University Law School, wherever it was, anywhere I went, they couldn't get more than one or two. But I don't think, I think one time I had one, they got three, but never one that got five. And so having said that and having been very critical of that, I know the names of these guys. I can go through the names and tell you. What I was shocked about was I didn't know their story, even as well as I thought I knew their story. And you get into here and there's no question. It was the unanimous Declaration. That's what it says. It wasn't on the original title. It became that after they went through some kind of back and forth and some rough debates at places, it became unanimous. But then when you get in the person and into these guys, they really have personalities and some of them just quite didn't like some of the others. I mean, even in a state like Georgia, those signers did not get along well with each other, but they had common purpose, common goals. And it is just so different to see the different personalities of these 56 guys even though I knew their names, I just hadn't thought about the nuances of how, you know, even with the three of us on this program, there's times we don't agree with each other. Now we haven't gotten mean with each, but nonetheless, it's fascinating to me. And one of the signers from Georgia actually was killed by an American general in the revolution, because they had such bad personality conflicts. And it's like, oh my gosh, I hadn't realized. Just how distinct of these guys were. So it's gonna be a lot of fun. When people get the book, you're gonna learn a ton, and it's going to shock you and bless you at the same time. 

Tim Barton [00:08:02] Well, it's safe to say Georgia needed some more George Whitefield. For our leaders, but guys, one of the things too, we talked about before we came on air is that there are so many cool events happening. Certainly coming up here in just a couple of weeks, we're going to be up, uh, in DC for the rededication of America to God. I didn't, and you know, there's lots of titles surrounding it, but where President Trump is going to have this National Day of Prayer. We've actually been talking to people at the White House where they were asking for some historic examples of times that Presidents and Founding Fathers called the nation to pray and what that looks like. We've been working with some congressmen. They're going to do some additional events that day. We have friends that are in special church services up there. There's so many things happening coming up. I guess we could jump forward to June. On June 6th, our friend Seth Gruber is doing a big event up in Denver. Our friends Moms for Liberty, they're doing an event out in California on the USS Midway. Dad, you're gonna be out there. I'm with Seth Gruber. On the 19th is when our friend Josh McPherson is doing his big event. It's a men's conference and it's like, it's the men, men conference. So many incredible leaders, everybody from an Eric Metaxas to a John Lovell and Graham Allen and Nick Freitas and Josh Howerton is even gonna be up there. It's going to be an incredible men's conference. And actually, speaking of Josh Howerton, last week, I got to do a podcast with Josh Howerton telling the Christian heritage of America, that story. It was on his Live Free podcast and he's somebody we've talked about several times that, that I am so impressed with how God is using him and his leadership and courage and boldness in so many areas. But all of this to say. There's so many cool things happening right now as we look back at like A Great Awakening and the George Whitefield story in the middle of of George Whitefield's travel. There certainly were times that felt like man we're doing it because it's the right thing to do and I'm saying this like thinking through his eyes and his lens where he would have, he would've had to have thought, I'm doing this because the right thing to but it's really hard right now and then there were times certainly when you can see the response. And the reception and it was different times, different years, different journeys that he was received better than others on some of those occasions. But certainly, there's times you're like, man, it's so clear God is on the move and it's incredible right now. Guys, I feel like we're in a little bit of one of those seasons in the midst of the chaos and the craziness of Washington and some of the politics happening. It's still so clear God is on the move. And it's really cool to see all this stuff happening. 

Rick Green [00:10:31] Well, as we're going to break for our interview today, I got to say one other thing about the movie A Great Awakening is made by the folks that do Sight and Sound. And we also took the students up to Lancaster and saw their new Sight and Sound production, which is Joshua. And you guys know my favorite Bible verse, Joshua 1: 8- 9. And it was just so cool, guys. I think y'all have seen some of it, maybe Esther or David or Daniel, some of the other ones they've done. This was the first time I got to see one live, not just a video. And wow, what a production! I just love seeing those kind of things being done with a good biblical perspective and a biblical story in high quality. So, it was awesome. Anyway, the students had a great time. By the way, they also got to go to the Holocaust Museum, Spy Museum, Bible Museum, incredible trip. All right, gotta take a quick break. Nick Vujicic is back with us. We're gonna be talking about a new movie that's gonna be coming out about his life. Incredible, incredible life story. If you don't know Nick's story, we've had him on the program several times. This guy was born without limbs. He is an absolute force, I'm telling you, God has used him with such a great testimony, business man, author, speaker, does all kinds of great stuff. I'm excited about this documentary about his life, it's going to be coming out. Stay with us, folks. We'll be right back. You're listening to The WallBuilders Show. 

Rick Green [00:12:45] Welcome back to the WallBuilders Show. Thanks for staying with us. Great to have Nick Vujicic back with us, Nick. Hey man, always good to have you. Thanks for coming on today. 

Nick Vujicic [00:12:52] Rick, thanks for having me, man. It's awesome. How are you doing? 

Rick Green [00:12:55] Great. But there's so many things we could talk about. I had no idea this movie was coming out. This is a super exciting; No Limbs, No Limits. It's going to be out in the fall and folks can actually participate in this. So, I'm going to give out the website real quick, nickvfilm.com. Did I get that right? 

Nick Vujicic [00:13:12] You did. 

Rick Green [00:13:13] All right, nickvfilm.com folks. You can participate in it. It's a, it's a cool crowd fundraising opportunity. Nick's story. Amazing. We've told it before on the, on the program, but just to remind people, you have reached so many people with the gospel and your story's, of course, amazing. You've done everything from banking, motivational speaking to ministry. And, man, I can't wait to see the movie. So, you guys are starting production now. What's the... Catch us up on the timeline. 

Nick Vujicic [00:13:41] Yeah, look, really, really appreciate it. It's an investment opportunity on a finished produced film. And the reason why we have to cover some of the production is there was just some preferences that I had with the finished product and we had to kind of raise, if you will, interest control of the finished product, and so we needed to raise a certain amount of money and we raised a amount of money and so, of the 5 million, it sounds like a lot of money, but 3 million goes to marketing and 2 million seals the deal where we can launch this. And we're so, so excited about so many people seeing never seen before home footage of me that my mom, my dear mom recorded home footage stuff. She's actually on the documentary and my brother and my sister and my wife and, and even the janitor that inspired me to be a speaker as a, as a teenager. And so, we're so excited that the product is finished. It's coming out on the 25th of September, 2026, and, we're working, with Fathom Entertainment. So it's going to be, they say between 1200 and 1500 screens. 

Rick Green [00:14:58] Nice. 

Nick Vujicic [00:14:58] And, we're, we were so excited about it. 

Rick Green [00:15:01] Love it. Love it well. And when you say public speaking, like 78 countries, 3,500 times met with 25 presidents around the world. I mean, Nick, what an amazing life. And, and I I'm just curious for you. I mean it's cool to have a movie, but I know you, you've got a purpose behind this and you want people to be inspired for a particular purpose in their own lives. Talk a little bit about that. 

Nick Vujicic [00:15:25] Yeah, look, you know, normally people, Rick, you only get a documentary when you're dead. I'm 43, had the privilege of meeting Billy Graham for 45 minutes. He talked to me and my wife while we were engaged and we were just blessed with that. And look, it is an extension of ministry tool. I have done three million miles around the world and seen one and a half million people in person give their life to Jesus. And so, our ministry, NickVMinistries.org. We're so excited. We just celebrated 20 years here in America when I moved from Australia to America. But now this is, you know, especially the next generation, the now generation, whatever you want to call generation, depression, anxiety, looking for meaning, looking for purpose, trying to find out like, does God really have a plan for me too? And so, look, on one hand, we know that this is an extension of the ministry, Nick, V Ministries as an added tool. There's going to be people crying in their cinemas. We've shown this already to 1400 people in private VIP screenings. And everyone's just moved and everyone gets something out of it. And the number one thing as well, Rick, that people are saying is that they just love how real and raw it really is. 

Rick Green [00:16:42] Nice. 

Nick Vujicic [00:16:43] Like we don't hold back the punches on really how difficult it was. Look, people know that I attempted suicide at age 10. People know some parts of my story here and there. But this really goes much, much deeper, not just with how I felt, how my siblings felt, but especially how my mum felt. My dad's deceased here on earth, he's graduated to heaven, but, you know, we talk about all of this and to really not shy away from, you know, there are some Christian films out there is like, everything was okay, and this is the hard part, and then, you know, turn it around. But we really, really help people understand it's not about a limbless boy, it's about our broken hearts and hopelessness, but God has a plan and he can take our broken pieces, do something beautiful, even to the point, Rick, when you don't get a miracle, you can still be one. 

Rick Green [00:17:36] Hmm. Oh, that's an important one for sure, man. You said, you know, 5 million sounds like a lot. Hey man, you're not doing a billion-dollar avatar movie. So 5 million is great. This is a, this is a great budget. And, and, and these things take fuel in the tank to, to just get them in front of enough people, the lives that can be changed. It's, it's incredible. So, you, and it's easy. You don't have to; you don't to do big bucks. If you don't have it, you can make a small investment in the movie and actually be a participant, in the, in not, in all, not only getting the movie in front people. But potentially return on investment as well. So Nick, this is a great opportunity, thrilled to see this being done. I noticed in the, in the bio, your goal, um, you and your, in your wife have a goal of reaching it's something like a billion people. You've already reached almost a billion. People you want to reach another billion people by 2029. Talk about that. I mean, those numbers are staggering. 

Nick Vujicic [00:18:25] It is staggering and we don't lie where ECFA financial accountability above the IRS and every number is very accurately estimated. We hit 750 million people at 2023, and that was when we wanted and we felt God want us to go around the world. It's been hard, Rick, to even just get five churches to do an event with us here in America. I just don't know what's going on. But there are massive, massive invitations international where we can actually broadcast on secular television to 20% of the country. And that's how we get the digital reach. So, between, 2024 and 2025, we actually did reach another 200 million people across Latin America. We're going to Africa, May and June. El Salvadorian president said, come back. We'll stop the whole school across the country and I want every single school student in public schools to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ from you. So when you have invitation like that, like that's very, very unique. And so, it is massive. We are in our way to a total of 1.75 billion people hearing the Gospel. And we actually believe that this film, I don't know how we actually, we're not gonna even count. You can't quantify what this film's gonna do, but without even this film, we are going to go for another three quarters of a billion which would make it then one point seven five billion so it really is mind-boggling, if I had fingers, I'd pinch myself ... But if it's true you know if anyone ever doubted that God can use them. If God can is a man without arms and legs to be His hands and feet, Rick, then God can use any willing heart. 

Rick Green [00:20:06] Amen. Amen. Oh, so good. Nick, God bless you, man. We're excited. Nickvfilm.com, nickvfilm.com. Folks, go check it out today. September is when it'll actually air, but now is the time to participate. We appreciate you, brother. Look forward to getting you back soon. 

Nick Vujicic [00:20:21] I love you, man. Thank you so much. Thank you.. 

[00:20:25] God bless. Stay with us, folks. We'll be right back with David and Tim Barton. 

Rick Green [00:21:34] Welcome back to The WallBuilders Show. Thanks to Nick for joining us today and back with David and Tim Barton. Oh man, guys, incredible. Every time I talk to Nick, I go, okay, I'm not going to complain about anything in my life ever again. I want just about 10% of his optimism and joy even after all the stuff he's had to overcome. But looking forward to the movie coming out. 

Tim Barton [00:21:53] Well, Dad, I know you took a lot of notes on this, and so I wanna say something real quick and then hand it over to you. Even though, for certain, as we talk about how often we wanna vote with our dollars, this would be a really good place to try to help support a really great cause, even if it is only for a couple dollars. If everybody throws in a couple of dollars, we really can make a difference. But I do wanna say, I thought it was one of the greatest lines when he says, hey, when you're a guy with no arms and legs and you're being the hands and feet of Jesus. And when he said that, I was just like, okay, right? Mind blown just a little bit. That in the midst, Rick, you kind of alluded to it, in the midst of our life, sometimes we can complain and be frustrated and we so lose perspective that God's calling on our life to be His hands and feet in so many ways. And when there's a guy with no arms and legs that is finding the way to be the hands and feet of Jesus, that is an example that we should be a little humbled by and challenged by and I certainly was when he said that line. 

David Barton [00:22:45] You know, Nick, I remember meeting Nick and he and I have been at a lot of conferences together and speak together at the conferences. And I was when I met Nick, I was super uncomfortable, super uncomfortable because here's a guy who's sitting upright in a wheelchair, a motorized wheelchair, able to drive his wheelchair with no arms and no legs. I mean it's just like and suddenly I put myself in the position of, man what would I do if I in that position? If I had no arms, no legs, and you know, that's all he's ever known. He's never experienced what all of us take for granted with being able to do so much stuff. And he's had to learn to do all of that. And what a phenomenal speaker. I mean, obviously completely optimistic in so many areas because he's had to overcome so much.  And I was just thinking about him and it just made me uncomfortable to be around him because I didn't quite know how to connect and it wasn't because of him. It was because I was thinking well what would I do if I were in that situation? And it's just such an inspiration to be around him and I was reminded of some verses that he did. If he had compared himself to everybody who had arms, legs and you know all the limbs, but he didn't and he took right where he was and said okay here's where I am what can I do for with this situation for God? And I was reminded of 2nd Corinthians 10:12 where in the Bible Paul says, hey, do not compare yourselves with each other. If you are, you're not wise. You're without understanding. And then down in Galatians 4:6, or Galatian 6:4, I mean, it says pay careful attention to your own work, for then you'll get the satisfaction of a job well done. You won't need to compare yourself to anyone else. And there's no question. What Nick has done is a great work. He has a great ministry. What he does with young people, encouraging people to go beyond. You know, as she said, no limbs and no limits. He's got no limbs, but there are no limits on that guy. And it is absolutely phenomenal to see him and be around him. And getting his movie out, getting that story out, man, it'll take the self-pity out of you in a heartbeat. You worry about how bad things are for you. You need to be inspired by this movie. And it's so, Tim, you're right. Everybody that can contribute to this, it's gonna be out, but help make it a success. 

Tim Barton [00:24:58] Well, I thought to you guys it was interesting he said he was having some trouble being able to do some of this in American churches, but internationally, that there's an incredible reception. And I do wonder too, again, like thinking about the George Whitefield thing, I do wonder too. If we might see some of that tide turning early on, Whitfield was not embraced by a lot of the church, but as he persevered, he eventually was. I think God is on the move, certainly in America, but also, we've talked about how one of the fastest growing underground churches in the world is in Iran. In the midst of the craziness going on, God is the move all over the place. And so this is a movie that hopefully can impact America, but not just America. This is something that might be able to reach people around the world. So definitely encourage people, if you can support this, and then when it comes out in September, support it again by going to see it in the theaters. 

Rick Green [00:25:50] Yeah, it's almost like his individual story because of all the challenges that he faces, God used that to make him even a better, you know, influencer in the world and have that optimism and be able to bring the biblical perspective. And in the same way, in a lot of these nations where they faced persecution, the church has been able to grow even stronger as a result of that. So, it's a pretty good parallel there. Well, appreciate Nick joining us today. Don't forget all those dates and events coming up that Tim was talking about earlier. Be sure and visit our website today if you wanna learn more about those events coming up this summer. Wallbuilders.com. Wallbuilders.com, that's our main website and then Wallbuilders.show for the radio program and then of course you can catch us on all the different podcasts out there from Spotify to Castbox to you name it, go check it out and download and share with your friends and family. Make sure you're sharing those links with your friends and family because that's gonna help you be a force multiplier you get to be a part of this. But it helps our program grow and reach more people with the truth. Thanks so much for listening to the WallBuilders show