18^th December 2014

In past end of year editions of ACCatalyst I have outlined some possible films for watching or use during the Christmas and New Year periods. I decided to give a brief outline of the some of the thoughts behind this focus again to encourage some wider interaction with this medium.
Of course, the Christian church has long used different media other than the printed word to tell its story, notably the simple art of story-telling, a very effective and often visual presentation helpful for those who were illiterate.
Plays based on religion, usually arising from the Catholic mass, including the mystery plays and the Passion plays developed in medieval times, with the Oberammergau Passion Play first performed in1634 and the next to be undertaken in 2020.
It took a while before new technologies developed to enhance a ‘technological' experience of the visual with the ‘magic lantern projection' (like an early form of OHP or overhead projector for those under 30 years), emerging in the 17th century and continuing until the development of photography in the 19th century and then the relatively quick move to early forms of motion or moving pictures.
The 20th Century film witnessed the rapid expansion of the motion picture industry and Christians were vitally involved in the first twenty-five years, including for the ground-breaking Australian work within the Salvation Army, with Herbert Booth (son of the movement's founder), and Joseph Perry using film for the Army's mission. The first major work produced in Australia was a combined film, lecture and slide show about Christian martyrs and heroes of the faith Soldiers of the Cross (1900). In one sense this presentation was similar to what many people do with PowerPoint or similar computer-based programmes today. 
The first period of film was termed the ‘silent era'. There were thousands of productions and many notable silent films had religion as a central element, though interestingly, this was also the time when questions arose about the church's involvement, especially as secular films began to show some of the more immoral aspects of life. For many in the church, film was beginning to be seen as the devil's work, and religious groups retreated for a period.
Once commercial film became more cost effective in the 1950s and especially the 1960s, Christian organisations explored again the medium, realising it could be very effective to promote their missionary endeavours or use for evangelism. One Australian example of evangelistic follow-up was Shadow of the Boomerang (1960), which was a follow-up film to the influential 1959 Billy Graham Crusade in Australia.

Over the last 50 years, Christian film has continued to develop, though the focus initially was on historical and biographical features, especially about Christian missionaries, or for example well-known church founders like Times Squares Church founder David Wilkerson, played by Pat Boone in The Cross and the Switchblade (1970).
During the 20th Century, only a small number of Christian companies produced major films due to cost and distribution difficulties, but the 21st Century has witnessed a full circle of change, with again individual churches and ministers producing and distributing films, because simply the technology is there to enable cheaper, and more quality productions and every church is now a possible screening venue.
An Australian group Heritage HM was founded ten years ago to help produce and distribute inspiring films. I have reviewed many of these in ACCatalyst, and believe screening a film is a simple and effective evangelistic outreach in this visual age. Many churches have undertaken such events, and have reached people who would never come to a church service. Recently the DVD of the much publicised 2014 film 'Son of God' has become available, and it is just one movie from the wide range of helpful resources to encourage people in this ministry; see the Heritage HM website: Movies Change People 

Occasionally during my ACC visitations, I have presented a seminar that outlines more about these ideas and also goes over the history and development of Christian involvement in film.
I would be pleased to interact with people who are keen to explore this issue more.
Peter Bentley
(ACC National Director)