‘Blessed’: DIVINE INFLUENCER Producer on Her Journey From Ministry to Movies
By Movieguide® Contributor
Producer Jerilyn Esquibel is sharing how her background in ministry helped her become a hit movie producer.
During an appearance on “The Women in My World” podcast, Esquibel said, “I was working in full-time ministry,” adding that she worked three other jobs to support herself so that she could continue working at the ministry.
One day, a friend told her about a job at the Home Shopping Network that paid $20 an hour—“That would’ve been the most money I’d ever made”—and Esquibel took it. After a few years at HSN, another friend told her about a company that was “reorganizing.”
“And it was actually the Erwin Brothers,” Esquibel said.
The Erwin Brothers head Kingdom Story Company, “the premier destination for making films that ignite a ‘rush of hope.’ In partnership with Lionsgate, Kingdom Story Company prioritizes faith, inspiration, and positive impact in storytelling,” per their website.
Esquibel’s work with the Erwin Brothers has led to producer credits on hit movies like I STILL BELIEVE and JESUS REVOLUTION.
She also worked with Pure Flix on DIVINE INFLUENCER, which won the Epiphany Prize® at this year’s Movieguide® Awards. A synopsis of the movie reads:
When an entitled influencer loses everything, she must humbly trust God to understand what the meaning of true influence is. Desperate, she takes a job at a homeless shelter only so she has a place to lay her head and quickly realizes the joy and purpose that comes from serving others.
“I didn’t go to school for this. I didn’t feel like God was one day like, ‘You’re going to do this.’ It just kind of happened. I actually thought that I was going to be a pastor,” Esquibel explained. “I was blessed enough to just kind of fall into it.”
She also shared how her experience working in ministry prepared her for a career in producing.
“A lot of elements go into running a church…it takes a lot of hands,” she said. “It takes a great team working together…working with the Erwin Brothers, it was kind of the same thing. They operate in such a creative way.”
She continued, “I think being in ministry and depending on your skills in a different way really prepared me…because I never knew what I was doing in ministry. I knew how to work with people, and that’s really it.”
Esquibel also worked on THE UNBREAKABLE BOY, which is set to premiere next year. Movieguide® previously reported:
Kingdom Story Company’s THE UNBREAKABLE BOY just received its official release date: February 21, 2025.
Per Deadline, “the pic follows 12-year-old Austin (Jacob Laval), who is the ultimate ’90s kid — funny, loves life, loves pancakes and instantly makes friends with everyone he meets. When his father, Scott (Zachary Levi), learns Austin has autism and osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease), at first he only can see his son through society’s misconceptions about his disabilities. But with Scott’s growing faith and Austin’s incredible spirit, Scott discovers the excitement for life that comes so naturally to his son. And he learns that being ‘unbreakable’ is about finding joy and gratitude even in the most trying times.”
A true story, THE UNBREAKABLE BOY is based on a book of the same name, written by Scott LeRette and Susy Flory.
“People want and need good, real, and meaningful stories,” LeRette said in a post to the book’s website. “Our story, I hope, is a story for the masses…one that will make you think, cry, laugh, hurt, and love all at the same time.”
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