A 3,000 member church, called Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia, would most likely go unnoticed if not for the idea of reaching people for Christ through movies. Real movies, like in the theatre. A church competing for screen time with Hollywood big names? And they funded these movies themselves, no less! Are they crazy?? Maybe, but people are taking notice after the success their last two pictures provided:
Facing the Giants (2006) shocked Hollywood observers by making $10 million domestically despite being filmed on a $100,000 budget.
Fireproof — the top-grossing independent film of 2008 — followed with a $33.5 million gross in spite of a $500,000 budget.
Additionally, following Fireproofs, “The Love Dare” book — a marital advice book featured in the movie — rose to No. 1 on The New York Times’ paperback advice bestseller list and has been in the Top 10 for 58 weeks.
Sherwood Baptist Church website states:
We exist to touch the whole world, with the whole Word, motivated by a passion for Christ and compassion for all people.
Members of the 3,000 strong flock provided most of the 1,200 cast and crew, working for nothing on these films. Producers only had to pay professionals for the most technical jobs such as editing.
The church announced it was making a film and asked congregation members who were interested to sign up for a film-making “boot camp”. Some were trained in lighting, sound, camerawork and makeup.
Associate pastors Alex and Stephen Kendrick got Sherwood Baptist into the moviemaking business with the making of “Flywheel,” a film that debuted in local theaters in 2003 and starred Alex Kendrick in the leading role. The Kendrick brothers have written and produced all three films.
“After much prayer, creative brainstorming, more prayer, wise counsel, and still more prayer, Sherwood Pictures is ready to move ahead with their fourth motion picture,” a statement at TheNextSherwoodMovie.com reads.
And this weekend, it arrived……
“Courageous”
The must see movie of the year!!!
Cost 2 million to make, funded by the church.
Grossed 8.8 million in first weekend of release. (PTL!)
Number 5 out of the top ten movies for the weekend.
Dale and I give it 5 tissue boxes. Or is it 4 thumbs way up?
Either way, AMAZING film. I have never been in a theatre with not one seat empty…it was a packed house!!! I have never heard such bust-out loud laughter one minute, followed by sounds of sniffles and sobs the next. This film is high action, highly funny and catches you in your heart. You will never view your job as parents the same, I can tell you that. EVERYONE needs to see this film!
Story: Four men, one calling: To serve and protect. As law enforcement officers, Adam Mitchell, Nathan Hayes, David Thomson, and Shane Fuller are confident and focused. Yet at the end of the day, they face a challenge that none of them are truly prepared to tackle: fatherhood. When tragedy hits home, these men are left wrestling with their hopes, their fears, their faith, and their fathering. Can a newfound urgency help these dads draw closer to God … and to their children? Protecting the streets is second nature to these men. Raising their children in a God-honoring way? That’s courageous.
Quotes from the movie:
“ I don’t feel like I started well. I want to finish well.”
“So where are you, men of courage? I believe every father should step up and answer the call and say “I WILL!”
“When you get married, have some kids. Your gonna figure out real quick how much you don’t know.”
Take your hubby and go see this……you won’t be sorry! The Lord is using this movie in powerful ways to make huge changes in people’s homes. Simply amazing.
There are several follow up books, including The Resolution for Men and The Resolution for Women. There is also Resolution prints you can sign, and hang in your home.
Our Sunday school class, who has been together for 8 years now, is doing one of the Resolution studies, I think there is one for couples. It’s my understanding, that we’ll be having a Resolution ceremony at its conclusion. I am sooo excited!
~T
THE RESOLUTION
I do solemnly resolve before God to take full responsibility for myself, my wife, and my children. I WILL love them, protect them, serve them, and teach them the Word of God as the spiritual leader of my home. I WILL be faithful to my wife, to love and honor her, and be willing to lay down my life for her as Jesus Christ did for me. I WILL bless my children and teach them to love God with all of their hearts, all of their minds, and all of their strength. I WILL train them to honor authority and live responsibly. I WILL confront evil, pursue justice, and love mercy. I WILL pray for others and treat them with kindness, respect, and compassion. I WILL work diligently to provide for the needs of my family. I WILL forgive those who have wronged me and reconcile with those I have wronged. I WILL learn from my mistakes, repent of my sins, and walk with integrity as a man answerable to God. I WILL seek to honor God, be faithful to His church, obey His Word, and do His will. I WILL courageously work with the strength God provides to fulfill this resolution for the rest of my life and for His glory.
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. —Joshua 24:15
Available for purchase here:
http://www.dayspring.com/courageous_the_resolution_8_x_10_frame_ready_print/
4 little Fergusons 