Recently Thomasville Baptist Church and other Clarke Baptist Association churches were “on fire” to use a movie to share the gospel of Christ and reveal the only way to fireproof a marriage.
They did this by offering free tickets to the new movie “Fireproof.”
Thomasville Baptist purchased all the tickets for the two Oct. 11 showings of “Fireproof” at Thomasville Theatre.
Likewise, the association bought out the two Oct. 12 showings and divided them among participating churches, said Chris Baker, Clarke Association director of missions.
To honor local firefighters and as a witness to the community, Thomasville Baptist served a meal to its city’s firefighters and their spouses, gave them tickets to see the movie and provided child care. Thomasville Baptist’s new pastor, Ty Parten, initiated the event.
Members of Thomasville Baptist helped defer a portion of the church’s $2,500 cost by purchasing tickets for firefighters and themselves, as well as extra tickets to be used as an outreach to other individuals.
Linda Edwards, owner of Thomasville Theatre, credits the Clarke Association churches with being able to show the movie there quicker than anticipated.
“Thanks to Thomasville Baptist Church and Clarke Baptist Association,” she said, “because without them, we couldn’t have gotten the movie (at this time). The company’s releasing required that 1,000 tickets be pre-sold.
Brother Ty and Brother Chris got the tickets, so we were able to get the movie. And now the rest of the community can see it as well.”
Because Thomasville Theatre’s seating capacity is only 250 people, Sherwood Pictures originally was not going to schedule the movie for that venue until November. But because the required number of tickets was sold in advance, the decision was altered, Baker explained.
Sherwood Pictures is a ministry of Sherwood Baptist Church, Albany, Ga. The same church created the movies “Flywheel” and “Facing the Giants.”
Baker said he saw from the movie’s previews “the impact it could have on married couples.”
He wanted churches to be able to use it to minister to couples they were already trying to reach.
“The church today should take every advantage to use the media to reach our culture for Christ,” Baker said. “A movie like ‘Fireproof’ is an excellent opportunity for churches.”
“Fireproof,” starring Kirk Cameron of the TV sitcom “Growing Pains,” is the story of a firefighter named Caleb whose marriage is “burning to the ground” and can be saved only by God’s grace.
Caleb accepts from his father a copy of “The Love Dare” and goes through the book’s 40 days of assignments geared toward reviving a dying marriage.
On that journey, Caleb discovers he can truly love his wife only by accepting God’s love himself. This not only transforms his life but also his marriage.
Reactions from those who filed out of the theater after the early showing Oct. 11 reflected lessons learned.
“It makes you stop and think about a lot of things — how everybody treats each other,” said Debra Courtney of Thomasville.
J.J. Parten, wife of Thomasville Baptist’s pastor, said, “It showed and reminded me that my marriage is not a contract; it’s a covenant with God. And it is a blessing that the Christian actors portray that. And (the movie emphasized) to ‘never leave your partner,’” she added quoting the movie.
Ty Parten referenced the movie in his sermon the next morning — Looking for a Man to Stand in the Gap and based on Ezekiel 22:23–31, the sermon emphasized that “a husband can’t give love to his wife without the love of the Lord.”
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