No One Could Know

“Next Time You See Johnny”

“Bedtime. In her room all alone. She feels the presence of someone unseen. Someone unknown.

‘Jesus,’ she hears herself start.

Let the fire of forgiveness burn bright in this broken down heart.

And the next time you see Johnny, tell him I’m alright.

There’s a fire of forgiveness that’s always burning bright.

There’s someone he can pray to. Each and every night.”

Those lyrics from Kenny Marks’s song “Next Time You See Johnny” have rolled around on the phonograph of my mind since I was in his music video in the fall of 1989.

That October, Producer/Director Stephen Yake asked me if I thought I could do the video — I was being considered because I looked like the girl in the prequel, “The Party’s Over.”

The actress who played “Jeannie” in “The Party’s Over,”
the prequel to “Next Time You See Johnny.”

She was nowhere to be found for part two in the trilogy of songs, and there I was working for Willie George Ministries in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where Steve produced the TV/video show “Fire By Night” and its twice a month music videos for Christian artists.

He looked at me in his office that day, and my heart pounded as he described the story line.

“Do you think you can do this?” he asked again, leaning his full chest on top of his metal desk while holding the photo of Girl #1.

I didn’t care what she – or I –  looked like, I knew I needed to do the video. It was too close to my own story.  I connected with “Jeannie” … and with the child who’s father was M.I.A.

Now, 25 years later, I’m again out in the media publicly proclaiming God’s message of forgiveness. I encourage you to let the fire of forgiveness burn bright in your own heart.

And, thank you, Kenny. Thank you Steve, Pastor Willie George, and the crew of FBN, for reminding us of the important message of forgiveness.

Click on the links to watch the  Next Time You See Johnny video or The Party’s Over.