Josh Liljenquist Discusses Live to Love on Newsmax2’s The Pulse

Newsmax2 mission interview transcript

Transcript note: This transcript has been lightly edited for readability by removing non-substantive verbal fillers and adding punctuation. The meaning and sequence of the original broadcast have not been changed. One brief partisan characterization by the host has been omitted from this public version; the complete historical broadcast remains preserved in the private archive.

The Silver Lining: Clyde’s foundation fundraiser

DAVID J. HARRIS JR.: Friends, you know what that sound means. It is time for tonight’s Silver Lining. Joining us tonight is a social media powerhouse from Minnesota who uses his platform to change people’s lives. He calls it Live to Love. Thanks to everyone who donates, we can watch beautiful stories like this.

JOSH LILJENQUIST, IN ARCHIVED CLIP: Remember me?

CLYDE: Yeah.

JOSH LILJENQUIST: When I told you my blood sugar was low, why did you help me?

CLYDE: Because you needed help.

JOSH LILJENQUIST: Because you helped me the first time, I wanted to come back and give you this.

CLYDE: Wow.

JOSH LILJENQUIST: It is $1,000.

CLYDE: Thank you for that.

JOSH LILJENQUIST: When I was here last, you told me there was a problem with your foundation.

CLYDE: Yes. It has not been fixed. The foundation is falling apart.

JOSH LILJENQUIST: What did the inspection say would happen if it was not fixed?

CLYDE: Then I probably could not even stay in the house.

JOSH LILJENQUIST: Where would you go?

CLYDE: I do not know.

JOSH LILJENQUIST: This is my friend Scott Trester. He owns Kingdom Construct.

SCOTT TRESTER: I am here to help you with your foundation. We can get it fixed for you.

JOSH LILJENQUIST: I have another surprise for you. This is for you.

CLYDE: Wow. Thank you so much. A contractor with money.

JOSH LILJENQUIST: That is $15,000.

CLYDE: I thank God, and I thank the strangers. This way, I can actually keep living in the house.

JOSH LILJENQUIST: Do not worry. We will get it.

Viewers respond to Clyde’s story

DAVID J. HARRIS JR.: Joining me tonight is the creator behind Live to Love, Josh Liljenquist. Millions of people saw Clyde’s video, more than 1,000 people donated, and his fundraiser is now over $25,000. Does this give you hope that there is still good in the world when so many strangers donate to another stranger in need?

JOSH LILJENQUIST: The more I do it, the more I realize that there is a lot more good out there than there is bad.

Pastor Steven Mills needs a living kidney donor

DAVID J. HARRIS JR.: In one of your latest videos, you met a pastor whose life depends on finding a kidney donor. Let’s watch.

STEVEN MILLS, IN ARCHIVED CLIP: My kidneys are not working. I have to rely on this equipment to live.

JOSH LILJENQUIST: How much is it?

STEVEN MILLS: Sometimes $2,500 to $3,000 a month.

JOSH LILJENQUIST: Have you had to dip into your retirement?

STEVEN MILLS: It is gone. I need a kidney transplant. I have also had a bone marrow transplant, and that makes finding a match more difficult. The donor has to be a living donor.

JOSH LILJENQUIST: How can someone check whether they can donate a kidney?

STEVEN MILLS: There is a link on a website. It will ask for my date of birth, 12-23-77, and my name, Steven Mills. Then they will contact you.

STEVEN MILLS: God will never let you take the walk by yourself. He will always walk with you.

Josh explains how he became involved

DAVID J. HARRIS JR.: What led you to Steven? Does he still need a donor?

JOSH LILJENQUIST: He still needs one. I think we received 10,000 clicks in 24 hours from people checking whether they could be a match, which is incredible. There are a lot of good people out there.

My dad told me about Steven. I got on a call with him, realized how genuine he was, booked my ticket and was there within a week. It was one of the best decisions I ever made. I have never met somebody so selfless and so driven by his faith. I had to step up, and I hope other people will too.

DAVID J. HARRIS JR.: How can viewers help?

JOSH LILJENQUIST: The donor and fundraiser links are available through my JoshLilj social profiles. The donor system uses Steven Mills’s name and date of birth to begin the screening process. They will contact applicants to determine whether they may be a match. Because of Steven’s bone marrow transplant, matching is more complicated.

St. Paul follow-up

DAVID J. HARRIS JR.: [A brief partisan characterization by the host has been omitted.] The city later rescinded the restriction. Has the situation hindered you from going out and helping people?

JOSH LILJENQUIST: No. It put a fire under my belly. It makes me want to help more people. It probably had the opposite effect of what they wanted, but live and learn, I guess.

Closing message

DAVID J. HARRIS JR.: What is your message for everybody tonight?

JOSH LILJENQUIST: Praise God. We are not promised tomorrow. Jesus died on the cross for us. Trust in Him, and everything else will fall into place.

DAVID J. HARRIS JR.: I agree. Romans 8:28. Josh Liljenquist, God bless you. Thank you for all that you do.

JOSH LILJENQUIST: God bless you, David.

DAVID J. HARRIS JR.: Thank you for joining us on The Pulse on Newsmax2. God bless you, America, and good night.