The Machine Gun Preacher
It is a movie that just opened last weekend in select cities. Last night I was able to go to a prescreening in Atlanta, and it opens tomorrow night here. For all of you in Indianapolis it will be opening next weekend. Is it a highly controversial movie? Quite possibly.
The synopsis: http://www.machinegunpreacher.org/movie/synopsis/
I became aware of who Sam Childers was while I was on the Race. I was in month 5 in Laos. My mom sent me an email telling me of this guy who was going to be preaching at my brothers church. She sent me a link to the website telling me more. I was hooked from that moment.
We had an ATL (Ask The Lord) Month coming up in Africa. I asked my squad leader if my team could go to Sudan. We were ministering in Southern Africa at the time, for those of you who don’t know what travel is like in Africa, it’s ridiculous. There was no chance at that time to go.
When I came back from the Race I heard that Sam was preaching again at my brothers church so I went. I listened to his simple message of love (not exactly what they portray on the movie). What I noticed was that the people listening were on the edge of their seats. They wanted to hear what he had to say. This is a man of action, fearlessness, and great determination. People are drawn to him.
He saw something that needed to be changed in this world and went and did something about it. His tactics are not what the typical person would use. But that’s Sam. When I was introduced to Sam and told him about the World Race, his response was, “Sounds like a great vacation!� Awesome. I wasn’t offended, compared to what he does, the World Race is a vacation.
His mission is to rescue children who have been forced into becoming child soldiers, from the LRA. The orphanage he runs is in the middle of a war zone. He goes out and does what few others would want to or have the guts to do.
The movie itself is a difficult movie to watch if you have any compassion at all. The stories of the children in the movie are based on the children at his orphanage. They are true stories. It is not a feel good movie. But the children are being rescued. Hope is being brought into the middle of a war zone.
Go see it! Take some tissues.
