The Apostle --Lessons in church planting from Hollywood

--Overview

It’s a rare thing when a Hollywood film depicts authentic Christian faith, much less an effective illustration of planting churches.

But the 1997 film, The Apostle, succeeds on both fronts. The film stars Robert Duvall as Sonny, a successful Southern Holiness preacher who commits a crime of passion. Choosing to run from the law, Sonny takes on a new identity as the Apostle E.F. and hides out in the small town of Bayou Boutte, La., where he believes God is calling him to plant a church.

In addition to starring in the film, Duvall wrote, directed and produced The Apostle with $5 million of his own money. While some Christians find it difficult to draw spiritual meaning from the film because of Sonny’s sins, The Apostle provides a powerful character who is both flawed and able to be used as a channel of God’s grace. Sonny is much like King David, himself a murder and adulterer, whom the Bible describes as a man after God’s own heart.[1]

When Sonny arrives in Bayou Boutte, he instantly begins walking through the community, praying that God will lead him. He makes simple conversation with an auto mechanic, and in the process finds an occupation (mechanic) and a place to live while supporting his vocation (church planter). The first two people with whom he comes into contact soon become significant members of his emerging congregation.

Next, he seeks out a partner in the ministry in a respected, retired minister. This colleague not only proves to be a source of spiritual support for Sonny, but he also provides contacts with others in the community and a rent-free meetingplace.

There also is an acknowledgement that other churches have legitimate roles, implying that Sonny seeks the unchurched rather than stealing from other flocks. While watching a Catholic priest blessing fishing boats as they leave the harbor, Sonny says, “You do it your way. I do it mine. But we get it done, don't we?�

Sonny begins working multiple jobs to fix up the meetinghouse and buy time on the local radio station for his preaching. Enlisting friends, contacts and neighborhood children in renovating the meetinghouse, Sonny makes the work both fun and instructional for the children. For the first several meetings, he personally drives a resurrected bus to pick up people.

The name of the church, One Way Road to Heaven, provides a clear sense of Sonny’s identity for the congregation and for its Christ-centered focus. Eleven people participate in the first meeting, at which Sonny is already instructing the congregation on Bible reading, tithing and loving one another.

In a few weeks, the church has a choir, whose singing is featured on the radio. We see all of Sonny’s casual contacts participating in the church. The church seeks to meet the physical needs of the community by distributing food baskets to needy families. People are being baptized, and the church is growing. Children have a prominent place, and Sonny is actively serving as a mentor to potential leaders.

Troubles and conflict inevitably arise, even within the church. Sonny deals with it directly and with love. When a man physically threatens the church, Sonny responds in a manner that demonstrates his understanding of God’s power and of the man’s own spiritual need. What happens demonstrates the power of God through the church to transform lives, even led by such a flawed vessel as Sonny.

When The Apostle ends, it’s left unstated whether “the little church in the wildwood� will survive. What is clear is that Sonny has given it his all. The rest is up to God.

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[1] Acts 13:22

--Overview