Echoing God’s call for men to “rise with courage” in their homes and as leaders, the producers of the hit movie Fireproof just announced that the theme for their upcoming fourth release is fatherhood.
“The movie is about fatherhood and the title is one word: Courageous,” said co-writer and director Alex Kendrick. “Four fathers who are all in law enforcement–who protect and serve together–go through a terrible tragedy.”
“They begin looking at their role as fathers,” he explained, “and they begin challenging one another to fulfill God’s intention for fathers. We focus on the crucial role of father; it’s not just to be a father who loves his kids. It’s to be engaged with a purpose–to be a father on purpose.”
Along with Alex Kendrick, the Sherwood Pictures leadership team includes Michael Catt, who is the senior pastor of Sherwood Church; Jim McBride, the executive pastor, and Stephen Kendrick, the co-writer/producer of Courageous.
“God led us,” said Stephen Kendrick. “We believe God is calling men to rise up with strength and with leadership in their homes, with their families and with their children.”
Pastor Catt noted, “For more then a year we’ve prayed to be sure that we’re pursuing God’s idea and not our own. With action, drama and humor, this film will embrace God’s promise in the Bible to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers.”
He added, “This at a time when four of 10 marriages end in divorce and more than a third of all children live away from their biological fathers.”
“The statistics on fatherless children are devastating,” agreed McBride. “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.”
All four leaders of Sherwood Pictures are husbands and fathers. Pastor Catt has two children; Pastor McBride has four; Stephen Kendrick has four; and Alex Kendrick has six.
Filming of Courageous begins March 2010 in Albany, Georgia.
About Sherwood
Sherwood Pictures is a ministry of Sherwood Church of Albany, Georgia, under the leadership of Senior Pastor Michael Catt and Executive Pastor Jim McBride. It is the home of the hit independent movies Flywheel (DVD only), Facing the Giants, and Fireproof (2008’s top indie film).
Sherwood movies entertain as they touch audiences where they live, and they show the means to live more fully through faith in God.
With previous Sherwood movies, fans, churches, and organizations across the country (and world) became “partners” in the movie’s impact–giving prayer support for production, distribution, and the movies’ messages.
Ministries and outreaches used the films in creative ways. Churches built series and group studies on the topics; Sunday schools seized the momentum of good entertainment that emphasizes life-changing truths.
“It’s been the Bible’s story of Jesus multiplying the boy’s fish and loaves,” Alex Kendrick said. “God has multiplied these movies beyond our wildest dreams.”
BILLY GRAHAM ON FATHERHOOD:
- How can I be a better father?
Billy Graham writes, “I commend you for wanting to be a good father; almost nothing else in life is more important for you.”
