Interview: Writer/producer of "Fireproof" - father of six - has revitalized thousands of marriages...

"Pray constantly your Rosary, your beads of prayer to Heaven. Remain unified in your family lives. The institution of your country--the great foundation is based on family life. Destroy the family and you destroy your country. The enemies--the enemy is already within your country. Watch and pray well, My children." - Our Lady of the Roses, June 18, 1980

LifeSiteNews.com reported on February 20, 2009:

Meet Alex Kendrick, a man of unshakeable faith in God, whose incredible success both in filmmaking and publishing can only be described as miraculous. Alex has six children, the eldest age ten and the sixth due to be born in April. He and his brother Stephen have no professional training in film and writing and are in full time ministry at Sherwood Baptist Church in Atlanta Georgia.

The pair's third film, "Fireproof," starring Kirk Cameron of Growing Pains fame, was the highest-grossing independent film of 2008, with over $33 million in theatre sales, beating out such films as Woody Allen's "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" (starring Scarlett Johansson and Penelope Cruz), and "Milk," starring Sean Penn.

That success is all the more stunning considering the film was made with an all-volunteer, 1,200-person cast and crew, drawn mostly from Sherwood Baptist church. Fireproof is the third major film venture by the church's volunteer production crew, dubbed Sherwood Pictures. "Flywheel," produced in 2004, has sold 200,000 DVDs. "Facing the Giants," in 2006, earned $10.1 million at the box office and has sold more than 1.6 million DVDs in 58 countries, in 14 languages.

Apart from the films, the Kendrick brothers have produced a book on strengthening marriages, which is currently sitting at number one on the New York Times bestseller list. The Love Dare book, as it's called, now has 2.2 million copies in print, and the book itself was a plot device in the film Fireproof.

But far more than the box office success, Kendrick cherishes the spectacular results of the book and film in terms of lives touched. Thousands of emails and testimonials report relationships restored, marriages saved, love recaptured, and divorces dissolved. The film and book give inspired step by step advice on working to salvage a marriage, even tackling the rampant yet rarely discussed marriage-killer, pornography.

LifeSiteNews.com spoke with Alex Kendrick, finding he was more than willing to share the secret of his success - God. Kendrick, who opened each filming session with prayer, told LifeSiteNews.com that his deep faith came from the example of his parents.

"We have a dad and a mom who have really been consistent in their faith," he said. "My father was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1984, had a brief time when he sank into depression and determined that he was going to praise God either way. That you don't just praise God when He blesses you, you praise Him because He is God. And that was a lesson that I watched him live out. And that has a lot to do with the way we make movies today."

Kendrick's second film, "Facing the Giants," has as its theme just that - praising God in good times and bad.

"We did not have to deal with any of the common issues in families - drinking, drugs or immoral material. We didn't have to deal with any of that," said Kendrick. "My father decided when he was a young man, after seeing those types of things wreck the former generations in my family, he decided he was going to be sold out to the Lord."

"Fireproof" deals with eliminating from family life such harmful items or behaviors, including pornography. The controversial subject was handled in the film for the sake of adults, but in a sensitive fashion so as to leave children virtually oblivious to it. LSN asked Kendrick about taking on that touchy topic.

"Well," he said, "in ministry, you tend to deal with re-occurring problems among your members and even in the community and because of cable television and the internet, men can get away with looking at immoral material by piping it into their homes. They don't have to sneak into a store and buy a magazine any more. ... As we studied and got counsel from professional counselors and as we studied what it did to marriages and families, we just realized how devastating it is and that pornography has become one of the primary reasons that couples get divorced."

The natural question for fans of the films is what's up next. But in answer to that, Kendrick could only respond with his own version of the cliché "God only knows." But for Kendrick it's no cliché, it's just a fact. "I do not have any pre-conceived notions about what all our movies are going to be about," he said. He described the process as going through a "season of prayer" where the brothers ask: "God, what would you have us to do."

As to what the brothers are up to now, the Lord, he says, has told them to, "Get your house in order." With six young children, and his brother's four, the heavenly advice is sensible. He explained we are "just pouring into our children and our families and making sure that physically and spiritually we are the healthiest that we can be."

Kendrick explained that between him and Stephen, and another brother, they have 15 children. Asked about his views on large families and contraception, he replied: "You know what, my wife and I have made all of those decisions seeking God's word and seeking Him in prayer and He has always been very clear. So, for us, He has always lain on our heart what he says in Scripture, 'Be fruitful and multiply' and 'The Children are a blessing of the Lord.' We decided that we wanted a full quiver and it is in His hands. He says very clearly in Scripture that He is the one that opens and closes the womb and so we have rejoiced in the family that He has given us."

Those interested in the book or films are directed to these websites:
http://www.fireproofthemovie.com
http://www.lovedarebook.com

********

Pro-marriage film Fireproof wins at the box office with highest per screen opening weekend of 2008...

LifeSiteNews.com reported on September 30, 2008:

Samuel Goldwyn Films' "Fireproof," starring Kirk Cameron, far surpassed industry expectations to place #4 at the box office for the weekend. Produced by Sherwood Pictures in Albany GA, "Fireproof" is the company's third film, following "Facing the Giants" - also released by Goldwyn, which went on to gross more than $10 million.

With an all-volunteer, 1,200-person cast and crew, "Fireproof" opened on 839 screens, grossing $6,804,764 with a per-screen average of $8,111. It was the highest opening weekend box office of the year for films released on 1,000 screens or fewer.

Directed by Sherwood's Alex Kendrick and co-written with his brother, producer Stephen Kendrick, "Fireproof" stars Cameron and newcomer Erin Bethea in a story about a firefighter who must learn how to rescue his own marriage.

On both "Facing the Giants" and "Fireproof," Goldwyn, Provident Films, and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment's Affirm Films unit united to devise and execute a marketing strategy blending traditional theatrical marketing and an aggressive grassroots and faith-based outreach. Provident held screenings across the country, providing resources and materials for pastors and churches to spread the word about the film. Through its vast network and databases, Provident created opportunities for leaders to bring the film to their respective areas and generate excitement in their communities.

Communities across the U.S. are using the film as a tool to support local firefighters, police, and other first responders' groups, which typically suffer from divorce rates of up to 90 percent. Volunteer babysitting brigades are offering their services, providing the opportunity for first responders and their spouses to spend a night at the movies. Parents are buying tickets for their married children. And churches are buying for members and using the movie to kick off marriage courses.

High advance sales accounted for 40 percent of all Fandango.com sales as of Friday morning. In the week before its opening, "Fireproof" pre-sold more than $1 million in tickets - far above the predicted blockbusters.

Meyer Gottlieb, president of Samuel Goldwyn Films, said: "Congratulations to Alex and Stephen Kendrick for showing once again that they know how to make a movie both entertaining and substantive. 'Fireproof' will make you laugh, cry, and reflect. I'm confident audiences will continue to support it."

"The success of 'Fireproof' is an example of the combination of great writing and storytelling, proper setup and marketing execution, all directed at an underserved audience hungry for filmed entertainment that meets their needs in many ways," said Terry A. Hemmings, president & CEO, Provident Music Group.

In coming weeks, Goldwyn plans to expand film's release to more than 1,000 screens.

"The act of marriage blessed by the Father must not be dissolved to suit mankind in his carnal nature and loss of the knowledge of God. What God has joined together no man shall place asunder." - Our Lady of the Roses, December 28, 1974

"Are you so blind that you do not recognize the acceleration of sin among you? Murders abound, thievery, all manner of carnage, destruction of young souls, abortion, homosexuality, condemned from the beginning of time by the Eternal Father. Yet sin has become a way of life. Sin is condoned now, even unto the highest judge of your land and your lands throughout the world. As you have sown so shall you reap. Sin is death, not only of the spirit, but of the body. Wars are a punishment for man's sin, his greed, his avarice." - Our Lady of the Roses, August 14, 1981

Our Lady of the Roses' Awesome Bayside Prophecies... https://www.tldm.org/Bayside/
These prophecies came from Jesus, Mary, and the saints to Veronica Lueken at Bayside, NY, from 1968 to 1995:

THE GREAT FOUNDATION
"Pray constantly your Rosary, your beads of prayer to Heaven. Remain unified in your family lives. The institution of your country--the great foundation is based on family life. Destroy the family and you destroy your country. The enemies--the enemy is already within your country. Watch and pray well, My children." - Our Lady, June 18, 1980

JOINED
"The act of marriage blessed by the Father must not be dissolved to suit mankind in his carnal nature and loss of the knowledge of God. What God has joined together no man shall place asunder." - Our Lady, December 28, 1974

DESPICABLE
"The Eternal Father has given mankind a set of rules, and in discipline they must be obeyed. It behooves Me to say that My heart is torn by the actions, the despicable actions, of My clergy. I unite, as your God, man and woman into the holy state of matrimony. And what I have bound together no man must place asunder. And what do I see but broken homes, marriages dissolved through annulments! It has scandalized your nation, and it is scandalizing the world. Woe to the teachers and leaders who scandalize the sheep!" - Jesus, May 3, 1978

PROPAGATION
"The act of the union of the flesh was created as the means for the propagation of life upon your earth. We have seen the defaming of this sacred ritual of your God. You fornicate like animals, and when you sin you will not stand up and accept the fruits of your vulgarity.
    "The union of the flesh will produce as the Father has deemed it. Should you use this in any manner contrary to the laws of your God, you shall reap what you have
sown." - Our Lady, May 10, 1972

HUMANAE VITAE*
"The encyclical of Pope Paul on birth control is true and must be followed by mankind. There shall be no rationalization of sin. There shall be no excuse for the murder of the unborn. Sin has become a way of life among mankind, but Heaven does not condone murder. Heaven cannot condone sin, though the Eternal Father in His mercy is most merciful and long suffering and forgiving." - Our Lady, October 2, 1976

*The encyclical letter, Humanae Vitae [Of Human Life] by Pope Paul VI, principally forbidding the use of artificial contraceptives in the regulation of births, under pain of mortal sin. It was issued in 1968 amidst great controversy generated by dissident theologians and others, who clamored for a reversal of this timeless doctrine. This godless pursuit was dealt a heavy glow when our Holy Father, speaking as the supreme teacher of the Church, gently but firmly articulated the constant teaching of the Church. We recommend that you read and study this momentous encyclical letter, Humanae Vitae.

STRENGTH
"The strength for souls will be found in the family circle." - Our Lady, December 31, 1972

ANNULMENTS
"Families are disintegrating. I must tell you now, My children, the family must be returned to the holy state it was constructed for. We shall never approve nor accept marriage and cohabitation without marriage. We shall not accept the annulments that are being given now to so many without due cause." - Our Lady, September 27, 1986

COMMON-LAW
"O My child and My children, never have We seen from the beginning of time a world in such chaos. And also, I shall not speak with words that affright your heart, my child, but I wish it known that this new modern role of what they call 'marriage without marriage'-which means living as 'common-law,' I understand--My children shall not be tolerated in Heaven. It was never the plan of the Eternal Father that man and woman shall live as animals.
    "Fornication shall never be accepted. There is no excuse for fornication. If you cannot remain celibate, better then that you must then be married. It is better, My child and My children, to be married than to burn in hell.
    "I also ask that all of My children of the world review the Ten Commandments." - Our Lady, November 1, 1985

BLACK CLOUD
"My children, when My Son returns upon your earth, will He find even a flicker of faith left in the hearts of mankind? In the days of Sodom, so too were men giving themselves over to all the pleasures of the flesh: eating, drinking, marrying, giving in marriage. All manner of sinful lusts were being committed. Men shameful with men, women casting aside their role of motherhood and lusting after women. As it was in the days of Sodom, so now is this black cloud over America." - Our Lady, July 14, 1979

SACREDNESS
"The sacredness of marriage and the married life of man and woman must not be destroyed by debased sensuality. It is a private consummation between man and woman and the family. It is not an object of derisive laughter and scornful jokes, My children.
    "Your actions are observed by the Eternal Father Who looks into your heart. Pure thoughts, pure mind, pure spirit--what goes into the heart will come out." - Our Lady, August 21, 1975

Directives from Heaven... https://www.tldm.org/directives/directives.htm

D15 - Holy Matrimony PDF
D167 - The Family - Part 1 PDF
D168 - The Family - Part 2 PDF
D223 - Adultery & Divorce PDF

Articles...

Pope John Paul II tells bishops to make known full teaching of Church on defense of marriage
https://www.tldm.org/News7/marriage1.htm

Pope John Paul II says Catholic lawmakers must defend sanctity of life, marriage
https://www.tldm.org/news10/PopeCatholicLawmakersMustDefendMarriage.htm

Pope John Paul II says family "under attack" in modern society
https://www.tldm.org/news4/family.htm

Bishop Fred Henry calls on Catholics to "push back" in the battle against traditional marriage
https://www.tldm.org/News9/homosexualityBishopHenry.htm

Wisconsin Bishop says attack on marriage teaching "intimidation" against the Church by political groups
https://www.tldm.org/News9/marriageDefenseBishopMorlino.htm

Voters keep choosing to protect traditional marriage: New definitions added in 7 states, 1 vote total incomplete
https://www.tldm.org/News9/MarriageAmendmentWins2006.htm

Maryland Catholic bishops identify "coordinated effort" in homosexual war on the family
https://www.tldm.org/News8/HomosexualWarOnFamily.htm

Pope John Paul II slams same-sex "marriages"
https://www.tldm.org/news6/homosexuality6.htm

Cohabitation and divorce
https://www.tldm.org/news2/divorce.htm

Living together before marriage has disastrous results, study finds
https://www.tldm.org/News8/cohabitation.htm

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