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Movies as Ministry
Published 12 August 2010
Movies as Ministry: Contemporary Christian Cinema
When you mention Christian movies, people in the church often have one of three reactions:
• they effuse enthusiastically;
• they pretend to throw up;
• they stare at you blankly.
Certainly in the USA, Christian Cinema, like Christian Music has been a niche market, reflecting the fact they have a population size to make commercially viable productions. Christian films have often been criticised for their low budgets, poor acting, and inadequate theology, especially from liberal Christians who probably think a Michael Moore film is beyond criticism.
The last decade has witnessed an expansion of Christian film, and the production quality has also increased with many now using professional actors who have been in secular work. The success of the family drama 7th Heaven (1996 - 2007) demonstrated there could even be a commercially successful Christian family drama with a dog named Happy.
When Alex Kendrick began ministry as the Associate Pastor of Media at Sherwood Baptist Church, in Albany Georgia, he saw potential in a movie based ministry and with his brother Stephen founded Sherwood Pictures as a ministry of Sherwood Baptist Church. They began producing stories for film, and involving local members in the production, as well as acting, including the senior pastor.
Sherwood has a long history of involvement in contemporary technology and ministry, including cable television, music recording, and has a wide variety of groups and activities, including sporting and recreational facilities.
Sherwood Pictures have now produced three films; with a fourth film Courageous, due for release in 2011. Each of the films has a received a growing audience, but the latest to be released Fireproof has received extensive coverage in church circles, and has even been shown on Showtime Drama (Foxtel). It would be fascinating to watch ordinary Australians watching this film. I can see a documentary coming up!
There is a consistent message in their films, and arises from their commitment to make encouraging and life affirming films. These films will naturally ‘err' on the side of good winning over evil or despair, and critics may say they are unrealistic and do not address continuing problems, but all of us know situations where people's lives have been dramatically changed by coming to their own understanding of God's grace and love, and growing to love God and their neighbour.
They are films essentially about relationships - with God, our neighbour, and especially our family, and are aimed especially at men, encouraging a re-examination of their relationships, particularly if they are married. There is a ‘church culture' dimension to the lives of the main characters, and the films want people to consider are they also just part of the church culture or are do they have faith themselves?
Flywheel (2003) - "In every man's life there's a turning point
Alex Kendrick plays Jay Austin, a used car salesman in Albany, able to take anyone for a ride, including ripping off his local pastor, and yet he is still frustrated by his life, and his family. The name of the film comes from a part that Jay needs to have to restore a triumph sports car. It is also a running theme, that unless you have a relationship with God, you are missing what is essential to life. The biblical parallel to this story is also clear and well used in parts -Zacchaeus (Luke 19) and I leave tis part for you to ponder.
Facing the Giants (2006, PG) "...With God, all things are possible."
Grant Taylor is a coach of the Shiloh Eagles, and husband to Brooke. He has coached his high school team to dismal results for six years, and the writing is on the wall. They struggle personally as well, as they have been trying to start a family and wonder why God has not blessed them with children. Taylor begins to adopt some bible teaching and encouragement in his coaching, and his life and the lives of the young people around him change. This film is more for sports enthusiasts, especially American football, and there are parts that are a little obscure for an Australian audience, but themes about relationships and the struggle with faith will resonate. There are times when I wondered about some aspects of the theology presented, but the theological overview is oriented to having faith in God, rather than faith in God so you can win games. There have been over 7000 Facing the Giants local movie events in the USA, highlighting the significant role of sport and the increasing move to tap into this within the church scene in the USA.
Fireproof (2008, PG) "Never leave your partner behind"
Kirk Cameron, a professional actor who played Mike in the 1980s family sitcom Growing Pains is Caleb Holt, a fire-fighter and husband in a dying marriage. He would never leave his partner behind in a fire, but personally he fails to even see how unloving he has become. As his life comes to a point of decision, his father challenges him to undertake a 40 day love dare. The book The Love Dare is a companion to the movie, and has been a secular success with over 3.5 million copies in print in twenty languages.
The film touches on the dangers of fantasy about other relationships when one's own marriage is in difficulty, the scourge of internet pornography - the secret adultery that is consuming many marriages, but focusses on the oldest problem - living only for your own needs, rather than the needs of your spouse. All these link to the Fire theme, a firestorm of issues can be set marriages - how can your marriage survive in a society that often says ‘just move on'. This is a pretty hard-hitting film in parts, and one that is best for couple groups, rather than the general church community.
Fireproof attracted more than 4 million movie goers in its commercial release, and was the No. 1 independent film in the USA in 2008, a fact mainly reflecting the sizeable Christian market, but also the growing interest in family films.
There is an Australian connection with the films - David Nixon, Director of the new film Letters to God is originally from Sydney, and was producer for Facing the Giants and Fireproof.
http://www.sherwoodpictures.com/
Peter Bentley
ACC Executive Consultant
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