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“Resist the BAIT” returns!

Men’s Workshop May 11 6-8pm CDT
Online only…& FREE!
register here

I don’t recall the exact year when the “Resist the BAIT, Avoid the Trap” concept was born, but I first presented it in 2008 or 2009 in Peoria. I thought it would become a regular presentation, but it hasn’t… so far.

A church here and there, a regional Man in the Mirror event in Chicago that led to a “Church in the Park” event (talking about pornography / sexual temptation in an open park with men, women, and kids of all ages – really, all ages – that was interesting, and I might have censored a few more parts.

Resist the BAIT is not about “3 Scriptures to remove all temptation,” nor is it an easy way out. It challenges men to think about areas of their lives intentionally, to think about what areas or times Satan might be more effective in tempting them to make bad decisions.

While pornography / sexual sin might be “Every Man’s Battle,” each man is unique.

When you go fishing, your bait or lure varies depending on what species you are fishing for, the body of water, and conditions. So too Satan will use different means to tempt me than for you.

A couple months ago I was talking with Rob Wilson, of Kingdom Life Peoria, and we decided to have a KLP workshop on May 11… and then the virus hit.

We spoke a couple times, and finally I said, “Let’s cancel for now, and we’ll reschedule for June when we should be back into normal life.”

Great idea, but God had others. That same afternoon I received emails about online porn usage up 40% during stay-at-home orders, where people are isolated, pressured, and stressed… along with a lot of extra time.

So within hours of saying ‘wait,” we were back on, with the workshop now online via Zoom, hosted by Kingdom Life Peoria.

There are limited seats available, and sadly, there is currently plenty of space, but they can fill up quickly.

Our prayer is that out of this nationwide, any men welcome event, we might get a few pastors or churches or ministries who already have some guys who are used to getting together with one another, so there already is relationships in place.

We’d love to see how this works where I can share the 100-120 minute presentation, and then let guys talk, and see what God can do there.

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New Movie Networking

I’ve been to a lot of different conferences/conventions over the years. Promise Keepers, Man in the Mirror, NCMM, ISI.

Next month I make my first trip to the National Religious Broadcaster’s PROCLAIM conference. We’re in our 4th year of the Men of AIM Christian Movie Update on WBNH, and since December also been on WPEO.

The NRB has had a much greater presence of Christian films, and this year is no different. With the cancellation of the EQUIP conference in Peoria my schedule was opened up, so this year I’m giving it a shot.

Your prayers are appreciated as we seek to do the following:
1. Network with filmmakers and marketing teams to help films come to Peoria
2. Pre-screen some films to better promote them here locally
3. Network and encourage planting of additional Regional Movie Ministries (and/or obtain additional awareness and endorsements from within the industry)

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Christian Film Takes Top Spot – Still a Long Way to Go!

BOMOJO-LaborDay2015-WR#1Rumors of the possibility started mid last week, after WAR ROOM’s strong opening weekend put it in second place.  With no big blockbusters scheduled for Labor Day (a surprise in itself) and the Kendrick Brother’s past history of strong word-of-mouth, the idea of the film moving up to the top spot was plausible.

Toss in nearly 400 new theaters, mostly positive press coverage, and the expected over the top negative over-reactions (my favorite said the film make the person “shake with rage”), and the plausible became reality.

Unfortunately, with the success of WAR ROOM, we are also hearing the same refrain that we have heard before when a “surprise” Christian film does very well – paraphrased below.

  • Hollywood cannot ignore the Christian market anymore
  • Christian audience far more than a ‘niche’
  • Christians are ready to make an impact at the movie theater

This could be encouraging, but I don’t believe it – not quite yet.  Why not?  We have heard this before.  A couple times with films from the Kendricks, with God’s Not Dead, and Heaven is for Real.

I’ve been the first person to say I don’t want to see Christians blindly supporting Christian films – going just because someone said it was a “good Christian film.”sherwood-or-all

I pray the day is coming where more people are ready to look into various Christian films, and be ready to support those that grab their interest – REGARDLESS of who made the film.  This is NOT about getting people away from the Kendricks, or Pureflix, but more about raising awareness of the other films available.

Here’s the other thing – support of these other films will HELP future films from the Kendricks and Pureflix and others.  The Kendricks have made 5 films, and have done a great job building their network and support from film to film – but have only had 5 steps to work with.  Pureflix have had a handful.  The Erwin Brothers (see below) have their 3rd coming out.  In each case, a limited number of efforts.  If ALL CHRISTIAN FILMS worked together, then EVERY film that comes out can BENEFIT from the films before it… and HELP those after it.

When this happens, in our goal of 500 cities across the United States (just 10 per state), I believe the 3 bullets above will be undeniable.  Christian filmmakers can invest in their films, and focus on their films, and these 500 networks of film supporters will drive an awareness of and excitement for Christian films that will not require the throwing away of millions of dollars on TV or print advertising, most of which is ignored or skipped entirely

erwin-keynoteThis is no 30-second clip, but well worth the 20 minutes, by Jon Erwin.  He talks about the power of film to share the Gospel, in a  way that cannot be stopped.  Specific to Christian films, he shares the tension between the groups who demand a bold message and those who want to be entertained – and the POWER that comes when a film does both, and triggers the casual film customers’ FOMO – FEAR OF MISSING OUT.

Erwin’s third film (previously made October Baby and Mom’s Night Out), WOODLAWN, comes out October 16, and will likely be the next one to widely capture the church audience like WAR ROOM.

But what is “normal” for Christian films?   If we are going to trumpet how strong the market is for faith-based films, shouldn’t that strength show up in film after film, rather than just hit and miss?

Next to the Kendrick Brothers, the other source of Christian films that has really caught the attention of mainstream media is Pureflix, in particular regarding last year’s God’s Not Dead.  While Do You Believe was in the top 10 for 3 weeks, the group’s other release, Faith of our Fathers, saw a quick drop off after its release around July 4th.

Other films have struggled to move beyond a few weeks in theaters, and most came nowhere near 1,000 theaters. The other couple films which have been groups into the “Christian” bucket and had success this year (opened late 2014) are Exodus and Unbroken, but their production and promotion budgets have far more in common with traditional blockbusters than most Christian films.

With one or two films – usually from the same couple production companies – breaking out from the pack each year, do we really have a growing audience for Christian films, or just a growing audience for those limited production companies?

Let’s see what we can do for the rest of the year.  Let’s continue to share and support WAR ROOM – I expect a major drop-off for week 3 will be widely reported in the media, but it is still a major accomplishment and milestone.

The important things about milestones, is they mark what was accomplished as you MOVE FORWARD.  Where do we move forward to?

Below are several films coming up still in 2015. (click name to visit the film website)

Films with *** are those I have seen personally.  Feel free to ask me any questions you might have about it – content, message, etc.  I don’t promise to have every question, but I will respond as best I can.

Sept 11     90 Minutes in HeavenBTFS-Twosday-buyhere

Sept 18     Captive (Not for young children)

Oct. 6       Beyond the Farthest Star*** (Peoria – Oct 6)
Series of one night screenings – check here for full listing, or bring it to your area!

Oct 16      WOODLAWN***
                  Peoria, Illinois FB page (additional Peoria related page expected soon)

Yes, if this sounds familiar, it’s because Jon Erwin spoke about it here. 

Dec. 25    YELLOW DAY
                  This is a unique film, that I have not seen, but I love the clips and story I have learned about it so far.

YOUR CHALLENGE (Should you choose to accept it)…

If you or your church brought a a group to WAR ROOM, I challenge you to review the films below, and pick 1, 2, or 3 (or more) to support with a group as well.  Maybe one film triggers interest in your youth group, while another catches the eye of the young marrieds.  And that is OK!

Remember, it is not about blindly supporting every film, but assuring the success or failure of a particular film is based on the level of interest, and not failure due primarily due to lack of awareness.

_____________________________________________

Click Image to visit our Facebook page.Want to see more Christian films play in YOUR town? 

Move from pushing a film to building a ministry with a Regional Movie Ministry.

When Mom’s Night Out opened, the TOP MARKET was Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  (Yes, you read that right.)

Why?  Because one church – Celebrate Church – saw the potential of Christian films to impact lives.

What impact can your church have?

What impact can YOU have?

Learn more about Regional Movie Ministries here!

Purchase the RMM booklet – for about the cost of a movie ticketHERE.

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July through October…

We’re just days from “Faith of our Fathers, then August brings “Beyond the Farthest Star” and WAR ROOM. September has “Adrenaline” and then in October WOODLAWN hits the screen… and those are just what we know of. There are several others awaiting release dates and theater announcements.

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2015 SHARE – WBNH 88.5

wbnh-logoI think this is year 5 to be a studio guest on WBNH 88.5FM.  Listen Thursday, March 26 from 5-6pm.  Don’t just listen, help support this great station which has been a huge blessing to Men of AIM – and if you’re going to give, why not donate while Men of AIM / HOI Christian Movie Central is on the air?

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DVD Sale

Years ago we were asked, “Why don’t you have DVD’s for sale?”  Now we know – we are not at enough events to sell enough to justify the inventory, even with a great relationship with Hoerr’s Berean Bookstore.

Thus, we are getting out of the movie market – just in time for Christmas!  Limited quantities, but you can get some shopping done AND help out Men of AIM by purchasing the following films, PLUS the first 8 orders will get a free pre-viewed rental copy of “Seven Days in Utopia.”

Courageous, Soul Surfer, Fireproof, Facing the Giants, The Grace Card, The Blind Side, Christmas with a Capital C.

On some of these $15 is a loss for us, but is still a WIN for you or your church’s film library!

Just email Rich@MenofAIM.org with your interest and we’ll work out the details like payment and shipping.   THANKS!

 

(for other Christmas gifts, especially for the bacon or meat lover on your list, check out www.cafepress.com/menofaim )

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New Date for A Matter of Faith – January 23

Great response in the cities where it opened last weekend, but wider release to open January 23.
In Peoria?  We hope so – learn how you or a group can help, or how your movie ticket purchase can score you Christian movie posters, t-shirts, or dvd’s here!

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“A Matter of Faith” screening

Pastors and other Christian leaders around Peoria Illinois, join us Tuesday, September 9 at 7pm for an advanced screening of “A Matter of Faith” at Rock Church between East Peoria and Metamora.

Watch the trailer at www.amatteroffaithmovie.com, and then come with an idea of how many your church or organization might be able to bring. Yes, 200 is great, but every 10 or 20 gets us there – we need 1,000 to confirm the theater, and the sooner the better!

Learn more, including how bringing a group can be a fundraiser for your youth group or missions trip at www.menofaim.org/movies/faith

Download an informational PDF to share with others at www.menofaim.org/movies/amof-hoi.pdf

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NO-ah

Saw it Friday, waste of time waste of money. Many, many posts all over the internet focusing on so many different problems with the film Scripturally, but – even if it was a completely original storyline with no tie back to Scripture (which I guess it almost is), it just wasn’t a very compelling story.

Biggest deception is to go back to the trailer, website, clips after seeing the whole films and seeing how there is intentionally no trace of the Rock People, or words like NOah’s “I am not alone” – was NOT talking about God, but the Rock People who got up and started fighting for him seconds later. That was the closest I came to walking out of the theater, and the only thing that kept me there was to see how much worse it might get.

Plus side – the film is so bad and so far off the mark I don’t imagine it having any major impact on anyone’s faith. In this sense something closer to the Truth with a few key differences may have been more damaging than this film.

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I’ll take ‘words I didn’t expect to hear’ for $500, Alex

“Could you fill in for Pastor Cal at Northwoods this weekend?”
Looking forward to the Men’s 7:40 Breakfast this Saturday as we take a step back from the guideposts and journey of The Map by David Murrow, but stay on the mountain.

Many people may have missed a week or so, we will take a high level at the mountain, and then share the importance of balance as we consider the journeys in our lives. Also might have some announcements about this summer’s Promise Keepers conference in Peoria June 6-7.

Register so they can plan adequately for food ($4):

https://public.serviceu.com/RegistrationForm/7092660-273911940?OrgKey=938750d9-7021-46be-b0af-192ad09fc57f