Christian power couple Mark Burnett and Roma Downey's new faith-based show "Answered Prayers," which premieres on Sunday, July 26, at 10 p.m. ET on TLC, is already getting a lot of praises from devoted Christians.
Downey, who hosts the six-part TV series that tells of miraculous stories and transformations, called the show "a life-changing journey of faith, hope, and answered prayers."
The TV series shares how prayer can help change the course of people's lives.
Victoria Osteen, wife of popular evangelist Joel Osteen from Lakewood Church, said people need more shows like "Answered Prayers" because of its inspirational content. "This is not just a television series," she said. "It's a message of hope to a world in need."
Kay Warren, wife of "The Purpose Driven Life" author Rick Warren, who also heads Saddleback Church, called Downey the perfect host for the show because of her staunch Christian faith.
"Roma Downey understands the power of prayer because she is a woman of prayer. Her reliance on God for her daily needs has prepared her to showcase the stories of others who have found answers to their prayers," she said.
"Answered Prayers" begins with the story of Trisha Gillis, a mother of three in Henryville, Indiana. She left work early one day to pick up her children in school, but a voice kept telling her that she must act quickly and get her children to safety.
"I just got this emotion you can't describe until you feel it," she shares in the show. "This was something telling me that my babies needed to be with me."
She rushed her children home and crammed her family into a closet with padded pillows and blankets. Not long after, a killer F-4 tornado ripped through Henryville and their house was swept away. Cars and buses were flung from all over the place and despite all their efforts, Trisha was separated from her family.
"On that second spin, I just couldn't hold on any tighter. We were being pulled apart. I remember just praying, 'Oh God, protect the babies.' I just had to put them in God's hands."
She believes that her desperate prayer for help saved her whole family although their house and other material possessions were all destroyed.
"We always ask God to lead us: 'Tell me what You want me to do.' That day, I had to follow him. I know we were protected. Five people don't walk out of something like that, survive something like that, without God," she said.
