The morning after the weddings Oprah and Gayle hit a milestone. "We'd been on the road for one week, and it was time for some divine intervention," Oprah says. "I wanted to find a good church with some good choir singing to help sustain me for the rest of the [trip]."
Oprah and Gayle made the two-hour drive from Tulsa to Fort Smith, Arkansas, and arrived at St. James Missionary Baptist Church in time to hear an inspirational sermon from Pastor Gary Hinkel. The pastor invited Oprah on stage to share a few words with the congregation.
"I am so pleased to be here to share the spirit of God with you all," she said. "This is our seventh day traveling to New York City, and I said to the crew, 'We have to find somebody's church to give praise to the Lord.'"
The St. James choir closed the service with a song that Oprah says she'll never forget. As the choir sang, "I pray for you. You pray for me. I need you to survive," Oprah and Gayle wiped tears from their cheeks. As they left the church, Oprah and Gayle felt a sense of renewal.
"I now know I can make it the rest of the way," Oprah said.
