Church planting, a proud and important activity, is mainly about keeping and spreading the faith. It's a great way of not only fostering faith in a certain place. It's also a great venue for bringing in new and younger members to the flock. If you yourself are a church planter, you may want to take advantage of new strategies to bring in new followers. How? By using movies. It may sound unconventional, but there are some movies that may actually apply to the cause. Let's check out some of these movies:
Bridge to Terabithia
A rather unknown Disney Film, the Bridge to Terabithia can serve as a good symbolism of Catholicism. With the protagonists as outcasts – the boy showing talent in the arts, the girl as a writer – the movie shows the importance of having someone to believe in. Just the use of a child's imagination can create a world where everything works out fine. Now, think about it. If faith (the children's imagination) can be developed, a whole new world (the church) can be built. As a plus, the movie shows the value of parenthood as well, always a good think when planting a church.
The Shawshank Redemption
Having faith, no matter how bizarre or unjust you've been treated, will help you get through the blackest nights. So did this happen in this movie, when an accountant was falsely accused of having murdered his wife. Even with the torment and pain he faced in prison, he took things in stride – and made a change in the facility. The accountant even developed a library for the prisoners, helping everyone get an education, fostering trust and camaraderie in each other. It's quite a great film – being one of the Internet Movie Database's top-rated films – that it'll definitely inspire every viewer to do good. It's great for church planting, a motivation tool on getting the church up!
Passion of the Christ
If there needs to be a good thing about Mel Gibson, then this must be it. It may be bloody, it may be controversial, but the Passion of the Christ can work out as a good foothold on setting faith in a community. Knowing the hardships and trials that the Messiah went through – by actually seeing it – is a good way of reminding everyone to keep the faith alive. Though, you may not want to show these to minors. Gore and violence is rampant in the film, which may be a shock for some.
The use of movies in church planting can help build up more churches. It's unconventional, but a good way to convey a message. Let your local parish leaders and groups know first, if you're deciding on using these films. More often than not, they'll allow it – they may even praise you for it.