Sherwood Pictures to Tackle Fatherhood in Upcoming Film

Religious filmmaking brothers Alex and Stephen Kendrick of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia revealed in an official announcement service Sunday evening that their next anticipated Christian film is entitled "Courageous" and will focus on the theme of godly fatherhood, according to their official web site: www.courageousthemovie.com. The film will follow the dramatic lives of four police officers, their dangerous jobs and the struggles they encounter within their own families after enduring a horrible tragedy.

In a separate video announcement, Stephen Kendrick said, "We believe that God has led us very clearly after a year of prayer in the direction that He wants us to go for the next movie. And we believe that He is calling us to focus in on the issue of calling men to rise up with strength and with leadership in their homes and with their families and their children."

Whereas Sherwood's previous film "Fireproof" (2008) dealt solely with the theme of marriage, "Courageous" will instead expand to encompass a more family-oriented perspective.

"The statistics on fatherless children are devastating," said Sherwood Executive Pastor Jim McBride to the nearly 1300 service attendees. "And because the family is the building block of society, one important place to rebuild families is through fathers who stay and lead and love." Sherwood Pictures also noted that four out of ten marriages currently end in divorce and the vast majority of today's children grow up without the companionship of their biological parents.

During the reception that followed, the Kendrick brothers said that not each of the four stories found within the film will result in happy endings. The brothers also promised that "Courageous" will be sure to include their "trademark humor, powerful spiritual message, drama and, for the first time, action sequences," according to The Christian Post. Stephen Kendrick also suggested the film may include a few elements of romance as well.

Mt. Zion Baptist Church Pastor Daniel Simmons prayed for the direction of the movie at the official dedication service and also stated that he believes "Courageous" will have a significant impact on the African-American community. Simmons additionally noted that he intends to use this film to minister to African-American fathers in the same way he ministered to the families and spouses of his church through Sherwood's 2008 film "Fireproof" and the Kendrick brother's accompanying book "The Love Dare."

Although the movie is currently still in the preproduction stages of scriptwriting and casting, the Kendrick brothers plan to begin filming by next spring with a tentative release date set for early 2011.

©2009 Joshua D. Givens & The Underground Christian E-Magazine

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