17 October 2016 | St Albans, England [Victor Hulbert]
Take a blank sheet of paper. Sit quietly for a few moments and jot down five ways that your church could best tell its story.
Finished? Pause again. Think big. Think very big! Think Hollywood big!
Ridiculous? Maybe, but what if somebody has already spent the $40 million and done it for us?
Are you excited now? Don’t you want to tell your friends? Don’t you want to sing it from the rooftops? You should!
‘Hacksaw Ridge’ is the biggest PR opportunity the church has ever had. Mel Gibson, a man from a radically different faith background was convicted that this is a story he had to tell. It is a story of moral courage, faith, pacifism and Sabbath keeping. Even the evangelical world is enthused with the Sabbath keeping part of the film – comparing it favourably with the classic 1924 story of Olympian Eric Liddell in Chariots of Fire.
So now to test number 2.
Got some ideas?
Ok, here are a few to help you.
1. Count how many non-Adventist friends, colleagues or neighbours you have. Order and give each one the special ‘Hacksaw Ridge’ edition of FOCUS magazine (in the UK) or the special magazines being produced in your Union. Spread them like the leaves of autumn. You may find people especially receptive after watching the film.
2. Use your social media to share positive stories about ’Hacksaw Ridge’, linking people to Adventist resources that tell more of the story.
3. Let you friends know that Desmond Doss is not unique. For instance, British Adventists have courageous stories from WWI. Point them to www.adventist.uk/ww1. Arrange a showing in your church or small group, of the UK film, “A Matter of Conscience”. Follow it with a discussion on moral values, pacifism and faith.
4. Follow the lead of youth in Poland and arrange a Desmond Doss fun run. Don’t just run, do it with a load on your back representing the 75+ lives he saved. Donate the funds raised to help refugees from Syria, disaster victims in Haiti, or a charity of your choice. (The Polish have a pile of other ideas as well. Why not run a memes contest, make a vblog, or run a hashtag #belikedoss.)
5. Keep an eye on newspaper reports or blog entries. Post a positive comment sharing that you have been inspired by the faith of Desmond Doss.
Got any more ideas? Let us know and we may share them on our TED Facebook page. [tedNEWS]
See Also:
Adventist Review: Would Desmond Doss be happy with Hacksaw Ridge.
Deadline Hollywood: Mel Gibson interviewed during his Venice Film Festival comeback.
Adventist Review: ‘Hacksaw Ridge’ talking points: A guide for church members.
tedNEWS Staff: Victor Hulbert, director; Esti Pujic, editor
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