Bishop Jim Lowe gives Glenn an update on the latest happening in Birmingham

June 11, 2015

Writer

Bishop Jim Lowe of Guiding Light Church will be hosting Glenn on 8/28 in Birmingham, Alabama for the five-year anniversary of Restoring Honor. Ever since Glenn made the announcement on Monday, people have been flooding the church's phone lines to get more details and make it known they will be there. The event is already starting to get bigger than anyone anticipated, and Bishop Lowe gave Glenn the latest information on what's been happening in Birmingham since the announcement.

Find out more about the 'Never Again Is Now' campaign from Mercury One.

GLENN: Bishop Jim Lowe is our guest. I wanted to get him on the phone and find out how things are going in Birmingham, Alabama, where we'll be at his church, Guiding Light Church, on August 28th. The five-year anniversary to Restoring Honor. Bishop, I have a feeling this thing will grow a little out of control in a good way.

JIM: Well, it looks like it's doing that already. We're getting a lot of people asking questions from all over the nation.

So we're ready to try to see what we can do in order to make this be a great event and to have people come together.

GLENN: I have a feeling. It will be Friday and Saturday.

JIM: Yes, sir.

GLENN: And let me tell you what happened at 8/28, five years ago. We went and we rented the Kennedy Center, and we did a deal at the Kennedy Center. And I had all the pastors and everybody gathered there. There was about -- what was it? 3,000 people that went there?

PAT: Uh-huh.

GLENN: The next day, we did something open for everybody at just an open space in the mall. There were 500,000 people that were there. I don't think we'll hit that or anywhere close to that. But I have a feeling there will be a lot of people there. A lot of people.

JIM: The phone lines have been lighting up. And like I said, got people coming from all over. This looks like it will be a great thing to do when people come to Birmingham, where -- you know, this is where the civil rights struggle was. The struggle for civil rights. And now as we're coming together, we're talking about all lives matter. And the rights of every human being. This seems like this is a good place for that.

GLENN: It sure does.

JIM: To launch forward.

GLENN: So, Bishop, I did notice that you posted something on Facebook. And I know you had a meeting either tonight or last night. With your -- with your congregation because it seems to me that -- the post I read on your Facebook page, seems to me you're getting pushback on being with -- well, with me and apparently I have a Klan mask someplace, so...

JIM: Well, is it in your pocket? Do you have it in?

GLENN: Well, I don't actually have one.

JIM: They say all kinds of things. Quite frankly, Glenn, I don't care about that. What I'm concerned about is the fact that we're unifying together on a principle that we can agree upon. I think people have to recognize and stop looking at one another by the color of their skin or even by what their thought processes may be. We have to learn to join together for principles that are greater than our things that separate us. This thing about all lives matters is what's important. We can agree on that whether you're black or white. If I could get a Klansman to agree that my life is important, I mean, that's good.

GLENN: Okay. I want to make it clear. I'm not a Klansman.

[laughter]

GLENN: So, Bishop, let me ask you this, because this is on your Facebook page, and I don't know why you meant by this.

The question may be asked why I, Jim Lowe, a black man with my background would be willing to work with Glenn Beck, a white man, with his background. My first and most accurate response is, as Jim Lowe, the black man, I would not. But the truth is, I refuse to be defined by the color of my skin and see myself defined by any other man.

Explain that a bit. What do you mean by this?

JIM: Well, listen, Glenn, here's the problem. When people start putting labels on people, they define them. And if you define somebody and a person believes what you define them to be, then their destiny is based upon how they're defined. If I'm told by my parents that I'm dumb. I'm not going to be anything. Then my destiny is affected by the thoughts they have created in my mind. If you can label me and get me thinking that I won't amount to something because of some name that you'll give me. Then that limits me because of how you define me. I refuse to be defined by what some individual wants to call me. I have been defined by my Creator, my God who has created me. And only he has a right to determine what I am to become. No one else. And so if I'm defined by people to be a black person, a black man, then I'm limited to what the concepts of what are acceptable norms for black people. I refuse to be put in a box and be labeled by what humankind says I am, when I have a divine kind that has proclaimed that I'm much more than what man can say I can be. Does that make sense to you?

GLENN: Yes, it sure does. Bishop, let me -- what do you think -- what do you think is happening here? Because I think -- you know, you're -- I've done this. And so I know this audience. And I know what's coming. And I just know how this will work out. But that's not the world you live in. What do you think is happening? What are you feeling?

JIM: Glenn, I believe that God has a purpose for all of us. And I believe that this message that the love of God must be heard and it must be heard at times like these when our streets are -- are being torn up by riots of people talking about justice. No -- no justice, no peace. You cannot do things like this if you expect there to be justice. The message of the truth of the Gospel of the Word of God must be preached. And people must hear. The pulpits must proclaim it. People must speak out for what the truth is and be unashamed of the Gospel. I'm not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the answer that is the answer to the problems of the world today. I'm more intent on being biblically correct than politically correct. And if that means that some people will be challenged by the things I say, so be it. Because I'm not defined by a political doctrine. I'm defined by what God says.

GLENN: You and I both know that I didn't pick Birmingham, and you didn't pick me.

JIM: No. No.

GLENN: You and I were both there. And thank goodness we have witnesses of it because it sounds nuts.

JIM: It does.

GLENN: But when I saw you in an audience that I was speaking to, I knew I had to talk to you. And I didn't know -- do you remember what I said to you when I first walked up to you?

JIM: Yes. Like, I don't know what I'm supposed to say to you. But I feel like the Lord is telling me I need to talk to you.

GLENN: And you said back to me, well, I just wrote you a letter because the Lord told me to write you a letter and I didn't know I was going to be here.

JIM: No, I didn't know that. It was my surprise that we wound up being in your studios. I didn't know that. I didn't control that.

GLENN: Right. Right. And so -- and I still haven't seen your letter. So I don't know what you even wrote to me.

JIM: Glenn, I didn't even mail it. I was thinking -- I thought to myself -- I mean, when I heard you speak about things you want to do, I felt something saying, you need to talk to this man. You need to meet him. And I'm saying, okay, yeah, really, Glenn Beck? Then we wind up getting an opportunity to come to Dallas. Then we wind up that I'm going to be in your studios. I didn't plan that.

You know, the thing about it is that we have a choice in our destiny of what we want to do. But God, he's the one that works the purposes out. He's the one that fulfills our plans, who orders our steps. I was sent there to you by God.

I know people think that's crazy, but that's okay. I'm a man of God. What else do you expect me to say? All glory and honor to God.

GLENN: That's right. And I will tell you this, Bishop, there are -- there are plans and things that I saw in my own head that I don't have the capability, I don't have the staff, I don't have the finances, and everything else to do the things that I want to do. And you and I, through our people I guess, have been talking back and forth. I know what's happening in your city now, and I think exactly what I thought was going to happen -- what I think I've seen is going to happen now, and there's no way I could have pulled it off myself. There's no way any of that. And here you are a guy who is saying, hey, I think we should do this. You're putting something together that I've already seen without knowing what I am seeing. Why do you suppose that God picked Birmingham, Alabama, and your church?

JIM: Listen, Birmingham has been known -- it's known a lot of times because of the racial strike that occurred in the '60s. And it's been known because it's one of the places that they talk about. They always talk about the firehoses and the dogs and everything. My father grew up in this city. And I grew up in this city. I'm familiar. I saw the firehoses. I saw the dogs.

I made mistakes sometimes of going to a white fountain, and my mother hollering at me, move -- you can't go there. You can't go there. I've had to go to the bathrooms that were the colored bathrooms. I know about all of that. That's what our history is of Birmingham. But I choose not to remember that history. I choose to remember that we've overcome those things. That we've achieved a great mighty things in the city of Birmingham. We have a black mayor now. We have city council predominantly black. We do things. We're excelling. We're moving forward.

We don't need to always look back at our past and point the finger at somebody. We need to look at the future and look at how we can come together. And what I believe, it's through the love of the Lord that we come together, that we join hands.

If you came to Birmingham now, if you look for it, you may look to find trouble and racism. But you know what, I live here. I don't see that much of that. There may be others that do because they look for it. But I look for the human beings that are here, that have a heart, that are looking to make this city better. And that's what Birmingham is becoming. That's what Birmingham can show the world.

GLENN: I find it remarkable that the guy who walks in to my studio is the guy who is not only at the city where Martin Luther King began, but also at a time when the country is pulling itself apart, was the epicenter of some of the worst stuff of the 1960s. And we're going to be able to show an explosion of black and white and love coming together. I mean, I think only God could design something like this.

JIM: I give credit to him. I give that glory to him. And to be able to be a part of this is an honor to me. But all I want to do is to let people know, even for my city, I want them to know that it is because of Almighty God that we've been able to hold together. You haven't heard anything like what happened in Ferguson or Baltimore. You haven't heard of that. In most of the South, you don't hear of it. Because what we have in our churches, in our black churches and our white curches, most of all, you're getting taught the Word of God. You're not getting the watered-down mixture of what God says or what some man feels. You're getting the truth. And it's that truth that holds us together. That's what unifies us. When we begin to understand the brotherhood of mankind that all people, black and white, whatever, Asian, Hispanic, that we're all creatures of God and all of our lives we've been created by God for a purpose. And when we honor that, we fulfill what God has for us to do. We learn to work together. To share together. To build together. Because God put us here together.

If he didn't want us to be together, he would not have put us together. And that goes for you and me, Glenn.

GLENN: Bishop Jim Lowe. He is from Birmingham, Alabama. The Guiding Light Church, where we'll kick off a tour and a speaking engagement all around the country. This is the only one that we've announced, and this is the first one. And this is going -- I believe this is going to become historic. All part of our Never Again is Now campaign to bring attention to wake up our churches and bring attention and aid to those in the Middle East who are being slaughtered in Allah's name because they either don't worship Allah, they don't worship Allah enough. They worship a Christian God, a Jewish God, or they just live a different lifestyle than what ISIS says is acceptable. That must stop. And we must stand together as one.

JIM: We must stand together for what's going on in the streets of America too. We must stand together and evergreens that the lives of those blacks and whites and policeman, they all matter also. Listen, if I can rise up above -- in the -- in my church where above, they tried to kill me and how many others there, and I'm ready to still stand together in love for other people, all lives matter. If I can overcome it, others can overcome.

GLENN: Bishop, I love you. Thank you very much.

JIM: God bless you.

The Woodrow Wilson strategy to get out of Mother’s Day

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I’ve got a potentially helpful revelation that’s gonna blow the lid off your plans for this Sunday. It’s Mother’s Day.

Yeah, that sacred day where you’re guilt-tripped into buying flowers, braving crowded brunch buffets, and pretending you didn’t forget to mail the card. But what if I told you… you don’t have to do it? That’s right, there’s a loophole, a get-out-of-Mother’s-Day-free card, and it’s stamped with the name of none other than… Woodrow Wilson (I hate that guy).

Back in 1914, ol’ Woody Wilson signed a proclamation that officially made Mother’s Day a national holiday. Second Sunday in May, every year. He said it was a day to “publicly express our love and reverence for the mothers of our country.” Sounds sweet, right? Until you peel back the curtain.

See, Wilson wasn’t some sentimental guy sitting around knitting doilies for his mom. No, no, no. This was a calculated move.

The idea for Mother’s Day had been floating around for decades, pushed by influential voices like Julia Ward Howe. By 1911, states were jumping on the bandwagon, but it took Wilson to make it federal. Why? Because he was a master of optics. This guy loved big, symbolic gestures to distract from the real stuff he was up to, like, oh, I don’t know, reshaping the entire federal government!

So here’s the deal: if you’re looking for an excuse to skip Mother’s Day, just lean into this. Say, “Sorry, Mom, I’m not celebrating a holiday cooked up by Woodrow Wilson!” I mean, think about it – this is the guy who gave us the Federal Reserve, the income tax, and don’t even get me started on his assault on basic liberties during World War I. You wanna trust THAT guy with your Sunday plans? I don’t think so! You tell your mom, “Look, I love you, but I’m not observing a Progressive holiday. I’m keeping my brunch money in protest.”

Now, I know what you might be thinking.

“Glenn, my mom’s gonna kill me if I try this.” Fair point. Moms can be scary. But hear me out: you can spin this. Tell her you’re honoring her EVERY DAY instead of some government-mandated holiday. You don’t need Wilson’s permission to love your mom! You can bake her a cake in June, call her in July, or, here’s a wild idea, visit her WITHOUT a Woodrow Wilson federal proclamation guilting you into it.

Shocking Christian massacres unveiled

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Is a Christian Genocide unfolding overseas?

Recent reports suggest an alarming escalation in violence against Christians, raising questions about whether these acts constitute genocide under international law. Recently, Glenn hosted former U.S. Army Special Forces Sniper Tim Kennedy, who discussed a predictive model that forecasts a surge in global Christian persecution for the summer of 2025.

From Africa to Asia and the Middle East, extreme actions—some described as genocidal—have intensified over the past year. Over 380 million Christians worldwide face high levels of persecution, a number that continues to climb. With rising international concern, the United Nations and human rights groups are urging protective measures by the global community. Is a Christian genocide being waged in the far corners of the globe? Where are they taking place, and what is being done?

India: Hindu Extremist Violence Escalates

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In India, attacks on Christians have surged as Hindu extremist groups gain influence within the country. In February 2025, Hindu nationalist leader Aadesh Soni organized a 50,000-person rally in Chhattisgarh, where he called for the rape and murder of all Christians in nearby villages and demanded the execution of Christian leaders to erase Christianity. Other incidents include forced conversions, such as a June 2024 attack in Chhattisgarh, where a Hindu mob gave Christian families a 10-day ultimatum to convert to Hinduism. In December 2024, a Christian man in Uttar Pradesh was attacked, forcibly converted, and paraded while the mob chanted "Death to Jesus."

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) recommends designating India a "Country of Particular Concern" and imposing targeted sanctions on those perpetrating these attacks. The international community is increasingly alarmed by the rising tide of religious violence in India.

Syria: Sectarian Violence Post-Regime Change

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Following the collapse of the Assad regime in December 2024, Syria has seen a wave of sectarian violence targeting religious minorities, including Christians, with over 1,000 killed in early 2025. It remains unclear whether Christians are deliberately targeted or caught in broader conflicts, but many fear persecution by the new regime or extremist groups. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a dominant rebel group and known al-Qaeda splinter group now in power, is known for anti-Christian sentiments, heightening fears of increased persecution.

Christians, especially converts from Islam, face severe risks in the unstable post-regime environment. The international community is calling for humanitarian aid and protection for Syria’s vulnerable minority communities.

Democratic Republic of Congo: A "Silent Genocide"

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In February 2025, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an ISIS-affiliated group, beheaded 70 Christians—men, women, and children—in a Protestant church in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo, after tying their hands. This horrific massacre, described as a "silent genocide" reminiscent of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, has shocked the global community.

Since 1996, the ADF and other militias have killed over six million people, with Christians frequently targeted. A Christmas 2024 attack killed 46, further decimating churches in the region. With violence escalating, humanitarian organizations are urging immediate international intervention to address the crisis.

POLL: Starbase exposed: Musk’s vision or corporate takeover?

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Is Starbase the future of innovation or a step too far?

Elon Musk’s ambitious Starbase project in South Texas is reshaping Boca Chica into a cutting-edge hub for SpaceX’s Starship program, promising thousands of jobs and a leap toward Mars colonization. Supporters see Musk as a visionary, driving economic growth and innovation in a historically underserved region. However, local critics, including Brownsville residents and activists, argue that SpaceX’s presence raises rents, restricts beach access, and threatens environmental harm, with Starbase’s potential incorporation as a city sparking fears of unchecked corporate control. As pro-Musk advocates clash with anti-Musk skeptics, will Starbase unite the community or deepen the divide?

Let us know what you think in the poll below:

Is Starbase’s development a big win for South Texas?

Should Starbase become its own city?

Is Elon Musk’s vision more of a benefit than a burden for the region?

Shocking truth behind Trump-Zelenskyy mineral deal unveiled

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President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have finalized a landmark agreement that will shape the future of U.S.-Ukraine relations. The agreement focuses on mineral access and war recovery.

After a tense March meeting, Trump and Zelenskyy signed a deal on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, granting the U.S. preferential mineral rights in Ukraine in exchange for continued military support. Glenn analyzed an earlier version of the agreement in March, when Zelenskyy rejected it, highlighting its potential benefits for America, Ukraine, and Europe. Glenn praised the deal’s strategic alignment with U.S. interests, including reducing reliance on China for critical minerals and fostering regional peace.

However, the agreement signed this week differs from the March proposal Glenn praised. Negotiations led to significant revisions, reflecting compromises on both sides. What changes were made? What did each leader seek, and what did they achieve? How will this deal impact the future of U.S.-Ukraine relations and global geopolitics? Below, we break down the key aspects of the agreement.

What did Trump want?

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Trump aimed to curb what many perceive as Ukraine’s overreliance on U.S. aid while securing strategic advantages for America. His primary goals included obtaining reimbursement for the billions in military aid provided to Ukraine, gaining exclusive access to Ukraine’s valuable minerals (such as titanium, uranium, and lithium), and reducing Western dependence on China for critical resources. These minerals are essential for aerospace, energy, and technology sectors, and Trump saw their acquisition as a way to bolster U.S. national security and economic competitiveness. Additionally, he sought to advance peace talks to end the Russia-Ukraine war, positioning the U.S. as a key mediator.

Ultimately, Trump secured preferential—but not exclusive—rights to extract Ukraine’s minerals through the United States-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund, as outlined in the agreement. The U.S. will not receive reimbursement for past aid, but future military contributions will count toward the joint fund, designed to support Ukraine’s post-war recovery. Zelenskyy’s commitment to peace negotiations under U.S. leadership aligns with Trump’s goal of resolving the conflict, giving him leverage in discussions with Russia.

These outcomes partially meet Trump’s objectives. The preferential mineral rights strengthen U.S. access to critical resources, but the lack of exclusivity and reimbursement limits the deal’s financial benefits. The peace commitment, however, positions Trump as a central figure in shaping the war’s resolution, potentially enhancing his diplomatic influence.

What did Zelenskyy want?

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Zelenskyy sought to sustain U.S. military and economic support without the burden of repaying past aid, which has been critical for Ukraine’s defense against Russia. He also prioritized reconstruction funds to rebuild Ukraine’s war-torn economy and infrastructure. Security guarantees from the U.S. to deter future Russian aggression were a key demand, though controversial, as they risked entangling America in long-term commitments. Additionally, Zelenskyy aimed to retain control over Ukraine’s mineral wealth to safeguard national sovereignty and align with the country’s European Union membership aspirations.

The final deal delivered several of Zelenskyy’s priorities. The reconstruction fund, supported by future U.S. aid, provides a financial lifeline for Ukraine’s recovery without requiring repayment of past assistance. Ukraine retained ownership of its subsoil and decision-making authority over mineral extraction, granting only preferential access to the U.S. However, Zelenskyy conceded on security guarantees, a significant compromise, and agreed to pursue peace talks under Trump’s leadership, which may involve territorial or political concessions to Russia.

Zelenskyy’s outcomes reflect a delicate balance. The reconstruction fund and retained mineral control bolster Ukraine’s economic and sovereign interests, but the absence of security guarantees and pressure to negotiate peace could strain domestic support and challenge Ukraine’s long-term stability.

What does this mean for the future?

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While Trump didn’t secure all his demands, the deal advances several of his broader strategic goals. By gaining access to Ukraine’s mineral riches, the U.S. undermines China’s dominance over critical elements like lithium and graphite, essential for technology and energy industries. This shift reduces American and European dependence on Chinese supply chains, strengthening Western industrial and tech sectors. Most significantly, the agreement marks a pivotal step toward peace in Europe. Ending the Russia-Ukraine war, which has claimed thousands of lives, is a top priority for Trump, and Zelenskyy’s commitment to U.S.-led peace talks enhances Trump’s leverage in negotiations with Russia. Notably, the deal avoids binding U.S. commitments to Ukraine’s long-term defense, preserving flexibility for future administrations.

The deal’s broader implications align with the vision Glenn outlined in March, when he praised its potential to benefit America, Ukraine, and Europe by securing resources and creating peace. While the final agreement differs from Glenn's hopes, it still achieves key goals he outlined.

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