Most ministries in our church have not begun with a bright idea in a pastors' meeting. We usually don't say, "Let's start a street outreach," and then go recruit laypeople to staff it. We have learned over the years to let God birth something in people who are spiritually sensitive, who begin to pray and feel a calling. Then they come to us. "We want to start such-and -such," they say- and the ministry gets going and lasts. Discouragement, complications, and other attacks by the enemy don't wash it out.
Jim Cymbala

The Redemption completes post production

The Redemption completes post production

by Glen on 2001-12-15 00:03:13

The Redemption, a feature length motion picture, recently completed post-production. The Redemption features performances by veteran actors Ted Lange and Lucy Paquet, and stars Jenilee Harrison and Steve Withem. Directed by Oscar(TM) winner, Carl Kress, The Redemption is an inspirational dramatic motion picture that tells the story of Ely Goldman, a once devoted family man that has fallen into the depths of homelessness and alcoholism following the loss of a child who longs for the day when he may reunite with his only living daughter.

Filmed entirely on location in and around Bloomington, Indiana, The Redemption’s production was completed ahead of schedule and under budget. “The Good Lord blessed this project from the very day He gave me the concept for the script,” said Steve Withem, who also wrote and produced The Redemption. “My faith has grown 100 fold as a result of my association with this project. I have absolutely no experience or formal education in the motion picture industry, and for this production to move along so flawlessly on our meager budget is exceptionally rare, and you can’t attribute that success to a novice like me. God watched over this project and even provided us with the weather we needed, in Indiana, in December! I’m so naive. I mean, to do this on a meager budget with many difficult night exterior shoots is extraordinary. We are talking about a homeless man being the main character, and we did it! I can’t prove it wasn’t luck, or coincidence, but my faith that God would ensure the successful completion of this project was never in doubt. As for my belief that luck had nothing to do with it, well, that is a fact.”

Many of the crew members had never worked on motion picture before, and those members that had experience worked in a more responsible capacity than anything they had done before.

“Carl Kress made his directorial debut at age 62, our director of photography had never been a DP before, our first AD [assistant director] had never worked any capacity in the motion picture business in her life.” said Withem “You can hire first timers with confidence if you believe in those assurances that you have been given from God. I love the film score that Rick Dimond wrote and performed, and this is his first venture into the film world. Coincidence? I don’t think so.”
Redemption Films, LLC is busily searching for an appropriate distributor to get The Redemption out to the public.

“God didn’t promise me a distribution deal. All I know is that I was supposed to demonstrate my faith, and get this motion picture made. I think that we made a good motion picture that will touch people and they will enjoy, but sadly it is easier sell a distributor on trashy content with nudity and violence than a good human interest story.” said Withem “I keep praying for that answer.”

More information about The Redemption can be found at the web site of Redemption Films, LLC at: http://www.redemptionfilms.com or by writing the company at 1117 N. Jackson St., Bloomington, IN 47404.

– reported by Charisma News Service