Kathie Lee Gifford on Faith and Entertainment: ‘I’m on this Earth to Share the Good News’
By Movieguide® Staff
Actress and former TODAY Show host Kathie Lee Gifford is never shy about her faith.
“I’m a woman who believes that, if I say … I believe in a God who’s all love, I can’t say I’m a follower of Jesus if I don’t try to love like Jesus loved,” Gifford told CBN. “And I fail at it, but that’s my intention every day of my life — ‘Jesus, let me see people the way you see them. Let me hear their words in the way You will, but let me have compassion for them.’”
Despite her many achievements and continued time in the spotlight, Gifford gives all praise to God.
“I was not put on this earth to … get Grammy nominations and win Tonys or Emmys and all of that,” the former Movieguide® Awards host said. “It’s lovely when those kinds of things happen. … That’s just that’s not why I’m on this earth. I’m on this earth to share the Good News that God loves you, whoever you are.”
Gifford recently released her latest faith-filled project, THE WAY, which is a worshipful presentation of the love of Christ and the transforming power of God’s word through the eyes of Hagar, Ruth, David, and Mary Magdalene.
Gifford’s THE WAY is now available to stream on Pure Flix.
Gifford said that her faith and entertainment were always closely connected. As a young girl, Gifford said that she first encountered the Lord at a movie theater.
“I found myself in a movie theater in Annapolis, Maryland, watching a movie that the Billy Graham Organization had just put out,” she explained. “It was called ‘The Restless Ones.’ … It was a story of a young girl at the cusp of womanhood who had a choice to make.”
“I heard literally, maybe not audibly, but very, very powerfully, I heard Jesus [in] my little heart: ‘Kathie, I love you, and if you’ll trust Me, I’ll make something beautiful out of your life,” she continued. “I met Him where I already lived, where my dreams already lived and breathed — at a movie theater. And that’s the kind of God I want to introduce people to.”
Movieguide® previously reported of THE WAY:
“I just want people to know him personally,” she continued. “I want them to understand that they shouldn’t be afraid of him, they should welcome his presence into their life. He’s the answer to all their prayers. He’s the answer to all their needs. He’s the healing for all their hurts. And they just don’t know it. They just don’t know it. They don’t even believe he exists, much less that He cares.”
Gifford hopes that THE WAY and “The God of the Way” will also encourage believers to live boldly in Christ and show a fallen world the radical love of the Gospel.
“That’s what we’re supposed to do as believers in Yeshua is, first of all, live loving lives that show them, be a model of what Jesus’s love looks like—but then just tell them, it’s a simple thing. Don’t preach at them, don’t judge them. Just love them in his name. And you can’t even believe the miracles that will abound. When we just do the simple thing he said to do, ‘Go out and make disciples of all people, of all nations.’”
“Gospel means ‘good news’ in Greek,” Gifford continued. “The good news that God loves you and sent his Son to die for us, that we might have hope and eternal life. That’s all this movie is about. But it’s presented in a brand new way, stories, ancient stories for those who know the Bible somewhat, but brand new stories for a whole world of people that don’t even believe in God, much less know that he loves them.
“That’s our challenge as believers in Yeshua, are we going to have the courage to walk out on the water and keep our eyes on Jesus?”
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
