Are Faith-Based Movies the Key to Evangelism?
By Movieguide® Contributor
With the rise in faith-based movies and the traction they gain among millions around the world, many Christians believe those films help advance the Gospel to non-believers.
“The Lifeway Research poll of 1,008 American Protestant churchgoers found that 81 percent say Christian movies are effective evangelical tools and that two-thirds have watched a Christian movie in the past year,” Crosswalk Headlines reported. “In fact, Christian films are more popular than secular movies among churchgoers, with 68 percent saying they’ve seen a Christian movie in the last 12 months compared to 48 percent who say they’ve watched a secular flick.”
Stephen Kendrick, who co-produced the new movie THE FORGE, “believes Christian movies can play a role in those fundamental aspects of the Christian walk,” according to Lifeway Research.
“We live in a visual, video-driven generation. Movies can be great tools to reach people where they are and share biblical truth in the context of an emotional and memorial story,” he said. “Countless people have come to Christ through watching a Christian movie. The Holy Spirit continues to use art to point to the glory of Christ and the gospel.”
The survey asked churchgoers if they agreed with the statement “Christian movies are effective evangelism tools.”
“Baptist (84%) and non-denominational (84%) churchgoers are more likely than Lutheran (75%) and Presbyterian/Reformed (68%) churchgoers to believe Christian movies are effective evangelism tools,” the study found. “Those with evangelical beliefs are also more likely than those without such beliefs to agree (90% v. 71%).”
“It can be easy for Christian resource providers to design resources they hope are helpful, but Christian movies are something churchgoers want to see,” executive director of Lifeway Research, Scott McConnell, explained. “They don’t assume every Christian movie is a fit for non-Christians they know, but they agree films can be an effective way to share the gospel.”
Kendrick has seen the real-life impact of his faith-based movies personally, several of which have won Teddy Bear Awards®.
“We praise God that countless marriages were saved through the combination of the movie FIREPROOF and the follow up book ‘The Love Dare.’ The movie COURAGEOUS inspired men to read ‘The Resolution for Men,’ and countless prayer ministries have been blessed by the movie WAR ROOM and the follow-up resource, ‘The Battleplan for Prayer,’” he said. “We believe THE FORGE movie and its follow-up resources will become a powerful suite of tools to help local churches more effectively disciple the next generation.”
Movieguide® previously reported on THE FORGE, which releases on Aug. 23:
The Kendrick brothers have offered a first look at their newest project, THE FORGE, which will come to theaters this August.
“Isaiah Wright has some growing up to do. A year out of high school with no plans for his future, Isaiah is challenged by his single mom and a successful businessman to start charting a better course for his life,” a synopsis of the movie explains. “Through the prayers of his mother and biblical discipleship from his new mentor, Isaiah begins to discover God’s purpose for his life is so much more than he could hope for or imagine.”
THE FORGE explores how having strong leaders can make an incredible impact. While this is true for all areas of life, it is especially true for faith, where having somebody to shepherd you through can be the difference between whether or not you form a relationship with Christ.
“[THE FORGE] is family-friendly, but it is intense and exciting. In some different places, it is an emotional roller coaster. There’s some funny humor that’s in the movie, but most importantly, it’s this call to discipleship—that we need to get busy about leading people into an abiding surrendered walk with Jesus because that’s the greatest thing in the world,” said Stephen Kendrick.
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