Churches Gathered in Solidarity Declaring Movie Theme---
God is Not Dead
by Terrence Clark
It was April first, observed in some places as April Fool’s Day---a day when pulling a prank of telling a lie was somewhat acceptable. All Fool’s Day (also known as) is also humorously tagged as Agnostic or Atheist Day by some Christians pointing that this classification of people doubts or denies the existence of God. The tag to April Fools is that Bible scripture says in two places Psalms 14:1 and 53:1--- that the fool has said in his heart there is no God.
The etymology of the word agnostic also points to a period in history where it was more stigmatic not to believe in God opposed to the sometimes current ideology to classify believers as closed mind individuals stuck in outdated dogma. In contrast to super scientists, like Steven Hawking, who fluctuate on even acknowledging God, the word ‘genius’ actually once meant to have had received knowledge from a companion spirit.
It was this Fools Day that churches from the Gloucester & Camden County joined with a ministry called MOM (Ministry of Media) out of Newark New Jersey to premiere the second in the God’s Not Dead Series directed by Harold Cronk released by Pure Flix Entertainment.
Movie number two, like the first, dealt with challenges in the school system that tried to enforce the proverbial separation of church and state by aligning the philosophy to the spiritual unbelief and belief of teachers and students. The story, although fictional in character portrayal, is allegedly based upon real courts cases.
The etymology of the word agnostic also points to a period in history where it was more stigmatic not to believe in God opposed to the sometimes current ideology to classify believers as closed mind individuals stuck in outdated dogma. In contrast to super scientists, like Steven Hawking, who fluctuate on even acknowledging God, the word ‘genius’ actually once meant to have had received knowledge from a companion spirit.
It was this Fools Day that churches from the Gloucester & Camden County joined with a ministry called MOM (Ministry of Media) out of Newark New Jersey to premiere the second in the God’s Not Dead Series directed by Harold Cronk released by Pure Flix Entertainment.
Movie number two, like the first, dealt with challenges in the school system that tried to enforce the proverbial separation of church and state by aligning the philosophy to the spiritual unbelief and belief of teachers and students. The story, although fictional in character portrayal, is allegedly based upon real courts cases.
ounders Marvin and Adrienne Cratch’s ministry has hosted four red carpet premieres and a stage play (the first gospel play to be available via Pay per View). Most if these events which included not only the movie but an hour plus of Gospel entertainment ministry. The evening not only was presented in fashion as a Hollywood red carpet---with red carpet, sponsor boards, and photo shoots but included food in the price.
“The 2015 film War Room was first, and it went from there,” recalled Pastor Marvin Cratch. Marvin, who has a background in media marketing and Adrianne, a graphic designer work together through obstacles to grow a partnership of churches working together to get the gospel message out on multiple fronts.
Minister Kim, waiting for the movie to start, said---says it is important to defend the faith because Christians are being criticized. Her husband Frank Horvath, also a minister agreed.
“Christianity has been given a bad rap,” he added. “The movie will give people insight into what Christian faith is. We represent Christ and our relationship with Christ.
Deacon Deeana Vanderpool, a school teacher at a Christian school, acknowledges that believers in general really need do more studying of the Word of God to be better equipped with getting the message out that Jesus is alive.
“The 2015 film War Room was first, and it went from there,” recalled Pastor Marvin Cratch. Marvin, who has a background in media marketing and Adrianne, a graphic designer work together through obstacles to grow a partnership of churches working together to get the gospel message out on multiple fronts.
Minister Kim, waiting for the movie to start, said---says it is important to defend the faith because Christians are being criticized. Her husband Frank Horvath, also a minister agreed.
“Christianity has been given a bad rap,” he added. “The movie will give people insight into what Christian faith is. We represent Christ and our relationship with Christ.
Deacon Deeana Vanderpool, a school teacher at a Christian school, acknowledges that believers in general really need do more studying of the Word of God to be better equipped with getting the message out that Jesus is alive.
Minister Kim’s was from an HR background. “People in the corporate setting were always coming to her to talk about personal things.
“To keep it real, I have to let people know that I am a person of faith. People want to know what your faith is. The conversations always lead that way. Fortunately, I never got into any trouble. It's in times of trouble is really when your faith comes through for you. So you have to make it a part of your everyday life and be brave enough to do so.”
Also a DJ, Frank says he felt very confident about sharing his faith with whoever. He cited the Bible verse that a workman (Christian disciple) should study to show themselves approved. “It is so important to study something every day from the Word of God so you can express your faith. When they come at you challenging your faith, you can appropriately answer. Because we do need to answer the questions that men have about this faith we believe in, by which we believe in Jesus Christ.”
Deena says Jesus is her everything. “I love him more than anything. I can’t live this life without Him. He is always there. He is the friend that sticks closer than a brother. He’s my rock and my salvation."
Kim was smiling passionately waiting for her turn to answer. “I feel the same way. He’s my everything. He comes before anyone and everybody. You know, I can’t function without him. I not a morning person. I am slow getting up because I have to have my Jesus time. I need my direction. I need to know what I am supposed to be accomplishing, and without seeking him first, I am really just lost.
Frank further defended the faith from a world view. “Without Christ you have nothing. You don’t have any hope, any belief or any trust. It's with God that you have everything. You have trust. You have hope. You have everything you can ask for. More importantly, you have freedom because there is liberty and freedom in Christ.
“To keep it real, I have to let people know that I am a person of faith. People want to know what your faith is. The conversations always lead that way. Fortunately, I never got into any trouble. It's in times of trouble is really when your faith comes through for you. So you have to make it a part of your everyday life and be brave enough to do so.”
Also a DJ, Frank says he felt very confident about sharing his faith with whoever. He cited the Bible verse that a workman (Christian disciple) should study to show themselves approved. “It is so important to study something every day from the Word of God so you can express your faith. When they come at you challenging your faith, you can appropriately answer. Because we do need to answer the questions that men have about this faith we believe in, by which we believe in Jesus Christ.”
Deena says Jesus is her everything. “I love him more than anything. I can’t live this life without Him. He is always there. He is the friend that sticks closer than a brother. He’s my rock and my salvation."
Kim was smiling passionately waiting for her turn to answer. “I feel the same way. He’s my everything. He comes before anyone and everybody. You know, I can’t function without him. I not a morning person. I am slow getting up because I have to have my Jesus time. I need my direction. I need to know what I am supposed to be accomplishing, and without seeking him first, I am really just lost.
Frank further defended the faith from a world view. “Without Christ you have nothing. You don’t have any hope, any belief or any trust. It's with God that you have everything. You have trust. You have hope. You have everything you can ask for. More importantly, you have freedom because there is liberty and freedom in Christ.
A keynote to the MOM’s premier showings of this movie was the Game Show---Faith Defenders. It was designed to stir the ability to defend one's Christian faith. The target contestants were teens.
Armani—was -fairly confident she could defend her faith, but would also steer seekers to church. Jalen participated in the game show. He got a question wrong and felt he needed to know more in order rightly defend his faith. HE would also send someone desperate for God to church.
Corell Golden – Cory from Newark NJ – also was a contestant on the game show, but his team didn’t win. They missed a question on Apologetics itself—the meaning of the word---which mean to make to think. It made him think.
The other word he got wrong was “Relative” from the World View category. It means to embrace a world with no absolutes—no definite right or wrong.
Teenager---Jair, liked the game show. One of the questions he got right, the answer was---heaven and earth. The question was---What did God create in the beginning?
Corell concluded that the most important apologetic message was that of John 3:16 telling friends that Jesus the Son of God died for all.
Jaleel White Voorhees NJ found out the event via the hosting church’s Pastor Farrar via email and text message. He thinks that seeing a movie dealing with apologetics was important for these days and time.
“Seems like hope is not around, said Jaleel. Movies like this are inspirational.”
He believes that the reason some people doubt God existence is because of past hurt or seemingly unanswered prayer. He would witness faith starting from that field.
“So once I found where they were at, I could share my story of what God has done for me.” He knows God will always come through with something bigger and greater than himself. “I had to have faith and trust. Laying that foundation out kind of helps folks sometimes.”
Raymond Gowans Voorhees is and Elder at his church in Voorhees. He's witness to non-believers would be to explain about the living God, explain the resurrection, and then would testify of what God has done in his life. He recalls one situation ministering to a coworker while driving on assignment for work.
The gentleman was mocking him for talking about God all the time. He was going back and forth with the Elder, sequentially, became quite agitated. The coworker then started to talk bad about Jewish people.
“I told him don’t talk bad about Jewish people, because they are God chosen people. They’re the apple of His eye. He got angry. I told him God loves him as well. I told him how God sent Christ to reconcile him too.
Anyway, it was a day of spiritual combat with this guy. So we were on Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, passed 53 Street, toward 52 Street. It has been raining the whole time. Suddenly the guy blurted, ‘God if you love Ray so much, stop it from raining.’ By the time we had got to 51 Street it has stopped raining. I sat there on the passenger side of the truck and said you know it stopped raining. God had put His stamp on me and validated everything I had said. After that, there was no more conversation.”
Each Premiere engages a host church. That church is to serve as a liaison between the ministry the theaters and patrons and sponsors. MOM still works very close with the host to establish the event. Pastor Darryl Farrar and wife Pastor Shirley from the Meeting House Church in Voorhees NJ were the host for this new location and movie. They were introduced to the Cratches by a mutual minister friend.
The ministry fit into their 2016 vision---to enlarge their territory and get involved outside of the four walls church building. Pastor Darryl said through the premiere---the vision was literarily being fulfilled. Pastor Darryl says the release time of God Not Dead 2 was crucial. “This is what the church needs, said the pastor, even though the moving speaks from the aspect evangelism, it’s good for the church to know what it really stands for. And, the only way you know what you are to be saying, is to be confronted. Confrontation will show you and teach you and maybe help you to sharpen your skills a little bit.”
Pastor Shirley has a real life connection with the GND series which both releases have plot setting connected to the academic world. She has been a graduate student twice now. Most of the graduates in the programs are agnostic, or atheist says Shirley. Most of the time she is the only one who is a Christian. She reports that believers need to know who they are and not be persuaded by what they hear.
“Knowing who God is in our lives and having a relationship with him is not a religion, says the pastor-student, but a relationship. Many of the nonbelievers in the past have not understood God’s love because they have been preached hate for so long. We need to speak to individuals in a nonjudgmental way. Let them know that God is receptive. He can be received at any time just the way you are.
It doesn’t mean He wants people to stay the way they come. However, it doesn’t matter how long it takes because he is infinite. He’s always going to be there. So when we come to him, we yield everything we have. And, when we fall, we get back up and continue to be committed to him. If people told that message, the church would get more people in the seats.”
Pastor Marvin and Adrianne had been gathering crowds long before they embraced the Christian film arena. They host the Newark NJ Unity Day annual celebration. The events invite churches from the Newark and North Jersey to rally together in solidarity, oneness, and worship. MOM flows out of this Power of One ministry.
“It’s about bringing positive messages to communities, churches, and cities, said Pastor Marvin.
One of the ways is through Christian movies, Christian films, and Christian’s plays. We have to bring this to the church and the streets. “We have to say to the world – God is alive. He is still here. He wants to work in your life, and we can’t move without him.
To the Church we are saying, the world is trying to take everything away. Defend your faith, because if you don’t know one else will.”
The God is Not Dead 2 premiere started with four locations. North Jersey, Pennsylvania and one in South Jersey. See the success the movie distribution company asked them to extend the venue to twelve. Voorhees April 1 was number four.
“It about pulling it all together, said Marvin. God is orchestrating something more powerful than what we could ever imagine. When I first met my wife, I told her what we are doing is bigger than the both of us. So now is the opportunity to make it work.”
Noting there is an abundance of Christian films queued to be released this Marvin acknowledges the importance of partnership. Prior to premiere night, a team of churches, ministries, pastors, leaders, communication and media people connect on the phone for an hour a week. The meetings of Christians from various backgrounds, skills sets, denominations was prophetic in itself of unity.
One of the partners is Churches Making Movies. Ministries like this help movies that didn’t make the box office or are on the way to the box office get viewed. “We have access now to show these films, explained Marvin. What we are going to do now is show them not in theaters, but in churches.”
“We are going to have church night out---a red carpet premiere at church. The same red carpet premier you would get in Hollywood right at your doorstep. We are children of the Most-High. We are supposed to live in royalty. We have to get it into our minds that we are kings and queens. We are not going to start to live it until we start doing it.
The question sometimes is---Does the entertainment industry reflect society or does it sway it. The MOMs pastor answers from a more direct stage. He says it about transformation. About each one reaching another and affecting lives with generational blessings.
Adrianne Wilson-Cratch is an evangelist by calling since she can remember. She sums what they do within that title and loves it. As an evangelist, she notes that religiously liberties have been hampered and taken so much. She believes this series of apologetic movies will have a great impact because it will enable believers to stand up in their work place, in school, and even in public.
“You won’t feel like you’re being ostracized because you are a Christian, says Adrianne. I love this movie because it gave me burst to go and stand up. Apologetics in the urban church is not a word we are used to. So to bring this message into the urban area is a move of God. Through it, we can teach young people how to defend their faith.”
She expressed the experience of defending the faith on a family level. Her daughter battled unbelief but not so much as with God but with believing in Jesus Christ.
“There may be people who believe in God, but different Gods. I just believe, exclaimed the evangelist, that Jesus Christ is the way and the only way. In this film, it talks about Jesus Christ being the Son of God. In The Word of God---Jesus said, 'I and the Father are one.' I believe In Jesus Christ because---He is God. Also in our daily walk, as Christians, people may not get in your face, but there might be things they might do to you. And, it may not be any about you, but because you stand for Christ.”
The MOMs couple says their vision is worldwide. Marvin says, “I see it being able to enhance the Christian community by bringing positive messages and positive connections throughout everywhere I go. There are things that hover over cities---bringing negativity---surrounding us. What I see this doing is dispelling that negative mist and bring a positive twist to everything that is going on. By seeing positive media, movies, ministry, messages all coming together to make a difference.”
Adrianne added, “If you noticed there are a lot of positive Christian movie coming out now. The world is accepting Christian movies as something they want to go to.
We are right in the middle at the cusp of what God is doing in this movement. Like Pastor Farrar and the others who caught the vision, it’s not our vision but Gods vision. People saw that vision and said I want to be a part of this. We can see everyone we invited did not come out. As we keep rolling, people get involved, get excited and come out. We know this is just the tip of the iceberg.”
Other Churches, ministries, and organizations that campaigned with MOM and the Meeting House Church was Family Life Church---Pastors Larry & Yvonne Clark, and The Glory Cloud publications (the parent of the Voice of One CNC).
Cynthia Scott has just exited the 2-hour movie. She said one of the significant things in the film for her was how the young Christian teacher stood her ground in what she believed, no matter what they were going to do to her. “She stood her ground,” said Cynthia, who is also an elder at her church. “And, we as Christians need to do just that. When we stand our ground, on the Word God, God will back us up.”
To partner with Ministries Of Media and or to obtain information to bring red carpet movie premieres and other Christian movies to your church and community visit Marvin and Adrianne at:
www.thepowerofone3c.org/
Marvin Cratch - Executive Director
(609) 216-6976
Adrianne Cratch - Event Coordinator
(973) 666-6042
The Meeting House Church - themeetinghouse.cc/index.html
Family Life Church - www.familylifeonline.org/
Voice of One CNC – voicecnc.com
Armani—was -fairly confident she could defend her faith, but would also steer seekers to church. Jalen participated in the game show. He got a question wrong and felt he needed to know more in order rightly defend his faith. HE would also send someone desperate for God to church.
Corell Golden – Cory from Newark NJ – also was a contestant on the game show, but his team didn’t win. They missed a question on Apologetics itself—the meaning of the word---which mean to make to think. It made him think.
The other word he got wrong was “Relative” from the World View category. It means to embrace a world with no absolutes—no definite right or wrong.
Teenager---Jair, liked the game show. One of the questions he got right, the answer was---heaven and earth. The question was---What did God create in the beginning?
Corell concluded that the most important apologetic message was that of John 3:16 telling friends that Jesus the Son of God died for all.
Jaleel White Voorhees NJ found out the event via the hosting church’s Pastor Farrar via email and text message. He thinks that seeing a movie dealing with apologetics was important for these days and time.
“Seems like hope is not around, said Jaleel. Movies like this are inspirational.”
He believes that the reason some people doubt God existence is because of past hurt or seemingly unanswered prayer. He would witness faith starting from that field.
“So once I found where they were at, I could share my story of what God has done for me.” He knows God will always come through with something bigger and greater than himself. “I had to have faith and trust. Laying that foundation out kind of helps folks sometimes.”
Raymond Gowans Voorhees is and Elder at his church in Voorhees. He's witness to non-believers would be to explain about the living God, explain the resurrection, and then would testify of what God has done in his life. He recalls one situation ministering to a coworker while driving on assignment for work.
The gentleman was mocking him for talking about God all the time. He was going back and forth with the Elder, sequentially, became quite agitated. The coworker then started to talk bad about Jewish people.
“I told him don’t talk bad about Jewish people, because they are God chosen people. They’re the apple of His eye. He got angry. I told him God loves him as well. I told him how God sent Christ to reconcile him too.
Anyway, it was a day of spiritual combat with this guy. So we were on Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, passed 53 Street, toward 52 Street. It has been raining the whole time. Suddenly the guy blurted, ‘God if you love Ray so much, stop it from raining.’ By the time we had got to 51 Street it has stopped raining. I sat there on the passenger side of the truck and said you know it stopped raining. God had put His stamp on me and validated everything I had said. After that, there was no more conversation.”
Each Premiere engages a host church. That church is to serve as a liaison between the ministry the theaters and patrons and sponsors. MOM still works very close with the host to establish the event. Pastor Darryl Farrar and wife Pastor Shirley from the Meeting House Church in Voorhees NJ were the host for this new location and movie. They were introduced to the Cratches by a mutual minister friend.
The ministry fit into their 2016 vision---to enlarge their territory and get involved outside of the four walls church building. Pastor Darryl said through the premiere---the vision was literarily being fulfilled. Pastor Darryl says the release time of God Not Dead 2 was crucial. “This is what the church needs, said the pastor, even though the moving speaks from the aspect evangelism, it’s good for the church to know what it really stands for. And, the only way you know what you are to be saying, is to be confronted. Confrontation will show you and teach you and maybe help you to sharpen your skills a little bit.”
Pastor Shirley has a real life connection with the GND series which both releases have plot setting connected to the academic world. She has been a graduate student twice now. Most of the graduates in the programs are agnostic, or atheist says Shirley. Most of the time she is the only one who is a Christian. She reports that believers need to know who they are and not be persuaded by what they hear.
“Knowing who God is in our lives and having a relationship with him is not a religion, says the pastor-student, but a relationship. Many of the nonbelievers in the past have not understood God’s love because they have been preached hate for so long. We need to speak to individuals in a nonjudgmental way. Let them know that God is receptive. He can be received at any time just the way you are.
It doesn’t mean He wants people to stay the way they come. However, it doesn’t matter how long it takes because he is infinite. He’s always going to be there. So when we come to him, we yield everything we have. And, when we fall, we get back up and continue to be committed to him. If people told that message, the church would get more people in the seats.”
Pastor Marvin and Adrianne had been gathering crowds long before they embraced the Christian film arena. They host the Newark NJ Unity Day annual celebration. The events invite churches from the Newark and North Jersey to rally together in solidarity, oneness, and worship. MOM flows out of this Power of One ministry.
“It’s about bringing positive messages to communities, churches, and cities, said Pastor Marvin.
One of the ways is through Christian movies, Christian films, and Christian’s plays. We have to bring this to the church and the streets. “We have to say to the world – God is alive. He is still here. He wants to work in your life, and we can’t move without him.
To the Church we are saying, the world is trying to take everything away. Defend your faith, because if you don’t know one else will.”
The God is Not Dead 2 premiere started with four locations. North Jersey, Pennsylvania and one in South Jersey. See the success the movie distribution company asked them to extend the venue to twelve. Voorhees April 1 was number four.
“It about pulling it all together, said Marvin. God is orchestrating something more powerful than what we could ever imagine. When I first met my wife, I told her what we are doing is bigger than the both of us. So now is the opportunity to make it work.”
Noting there is an abundance of Christian films queued to be released this Marvin acknowledges the importance of partnership. Prior to premiere night, a team of churches, ministries, pastors, leaders, communication and media people connect on the phone for an hour a week. The meetings of Christians from various backgrounds, skills sets, denominations was prophetic in itself of unity.
One of the partners is Churches Making Movies. Ministries like this help movies that didn’t make the box office or are on the way to the box office get viewed. “We have access now to show these films, explained Marvin. What we are going to do now is show them not in theaters, but in churches.”
“We are going to have church night out---a red carpet premiere at church. The same red carpet premier you would get in Hollywood right at your doorstep. We are children of the Most-High. We are supposed to live in royalty. We have to get it into our minds that we are kings and queens. We are not going to start to live it until we start doing it.
The question sometimes is---Does the entertainment industry reflect society or does it sway it. The MOMs pastor answers from a more direct stage. He says it about transformation. About each one reaching another and affecting lives with generational blessings.
Adrianne Wilson-Cratch is an evangelist by calling since she can remember. She sums what they do within that title and loves it. As an evangelist, she notes that religiously liberties have been hampered and taken so much. She believes this series of apologetic movies will have a great impact because it will enable believers to stand up in their work place, in school, and even in public.
“You won’t feel like you’re being ostracized because you are a Christian, says Adrianne. I love this movie because it gave me burst to go and stand up. Apologetics in the urban church is not a word we are used to. So to bring this message into the urban area is a move of God. Through it, we can teach young people how to defend their faith.”
She expressed the experience of defending the faith on a family level. Her daughter battled unbelief but not so much as with God but with believing in Jesus Christ.
“There may be people who believe in God, but different Gods. I just believe, exclaimed the evangelist, that Jesus Christ is the way and the only way. In this film, it talks about Jesus Christ being the Son of God. In The Word of God---Jesus said, 'I and the Father are one.' I believe In Jesus Christ because---He is God. Also in our daily walk, as Christians, people may not get in your face, but there might be things they might do to you. And, it may not be any about you, but because you stand for Christ.”
The MOMs couple says their vision is worldwide. Marvin says, “I see it being able to enhance the Christian community by bringing positive messages and positive connections throughout everywhere I go. There are things that hover over cities---bringing negativity---surrounding us. What I see this doing is dispelling that negative mist and bring a positive twist to everything that is going on. By seeing positive media, movies, ministry, messages all coming together to make a difference.”
Adrianne added, “If you noticed there are a lot of positive Christian movie coming out now. The world is accepting Christian movies as something they want to go to.
We are right in the middle at the cusp of what God is doing in this movement. Like Pastor Farrar and the others who caught the vision, it’s not our vision but Gods vision. People saw that vision and said I want to be a part of this. We can see everyone we invited did not come out. As we keep rolling, people get involved, get excited and come out. We know this is just the tip of the iceberg.”
Other Churches, ministries, and organizations that campaigned with MOM and the Meeting House Church was Family Life Church---Pastors Larry & Yvonne Clark, and The Glory Cloud publications (the parent of the Voice of One CNC).
Cynthia Scott has just exited the 2-hour movie. She said one of the significant things in the film for her was how the young Christian teacher stood her ground in what she believed, no matter what they were going to do to her. “She stood her ground,” said Cynthia, who is also an elder at her church. “And, we as Christians need to do just that. When we stand our ground, on the Word God, God will back us up.”
To partner with Ministries Of Media and or to obtain information to bring red carpet movie premieres and other Christian movies to your church and community visit Marvin and Adrianne at:
www.thepowerofone3c.org/
Marvin Cratch - Executive Director
(609) 216-6976
Adrianne Cratch - Event Coordinator
(973) 666-6042
The Meeting House Church - themeetinghouse.cc/index.html
Family Life Church - www.familylifeonline.org/
Voice of One CNC – voicecnc.com