TIFTON, Ga. (BP)–“This movie,” Gary Rosberg said of “Fireproof,” coming to theaters Sept. 26, “is going to reach people and have a positive effect on marriages around the world.”
Rosberg and his wife Barb added their endorsement of Fireproof during a Great Marriage Experience conference attended by 200 couples Aug. 23 in Tifton, Ga.
Fireproof is the third feature film from Sherwood Pictures, creators of “Facing the Giants” and “Flywheel” and a ministry of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Ga.
The Rosbergs, from Des Moines, Iowa, are marriage conference speakers, authors, hosts of a daily radio program and cofounders of America’s Family Coaches ministry.
“I hope every church will get behind this movie,” Rosberg said during the marriage conference sponsored by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Through numerous resources, LifeWay is connecting with Fireproof’s aim of strengthening marriages:
— HomeLife magazine’s September issue looks at the making of the movie from writer/director Stephen Kendrick’s viewpoint and features a Q&A with Fireproof star Kirk Cameron.
— LifeWay’s B&H Publishing Group will release “The Love Dare” devotional journal in September, with the “Fireproof Bible Study: Live The Love Dare” slated for release in February in connection with the movie’s release on DVD.
— A new webpage, www.lifeway.com/Fireproof, also is active. An 11-page PDF excerpt from The Love Dare can be downloaded at the site, along with a sermon by Michael Catt, senior pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church and executive producer of Fireproof. The sermon is adapted from his book, “Fireproof Your Life,” and includes a PowerPoint with frames from the movie. More content will be added to the website in the weeks ahead.
The Love Dare journal, which is prominently featured in the movie, is written by Kendrick and his brother and fellow writer/director Alex. The Love Dare is a 40-day guided devotional experience designed to lead couples to truly love each other while learning more about the nature of true love. Each reading includes Scripture, a statement of principle, the day’s “dare” and a journaling area and check box to chart progress.
The Fireproof Bible Study: Live The Love Dare member book will be a marriage-centered Bible study for individuals and couples. Eight small-group sessions will be based around one or more clips from Fireproof and will use activities to create opportunities to talk about real-life marriage and explore and apply God’s Word.
A kit for the Bible study will include:
— The Love Dare journal.
-– A Bible study leader book with notes by Catt and Stephen and Alex Kendrick.
-– The movie on DVD.
— Fireproof teaching clips on DVD.
-– A CD-ROM containing sermon outlines and helps for church planning and promotion related to the movie.
Craig Webb, editor of LifeWay’s Pastors Today newsletter, and his wife Barbara were invited to go to Albany, Ga., to watch part of the filming of Fireproof.
Webb wrote on his blog, “As [Barbara and I] saw clips of the movie, we both began thinking of ways this amazing film could be used to impact marriages in our church family as well as marriages all over the world. During a break from the filming, Alex and Stephen Kendrick took us into a side room and asked us what we thought so far. Our questions turned to ministry impact and what resources would be available for pastors and church leaders…. They hoped that LifeWay would be involved.”
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Polly House is a corporate communications specialist with LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.
