How THE CHOSEN Helps Sex Trafficking Survivors Understand The Gospel
By Movieguide® Staff
Brigit Shedd, the Administrative Director of Created Gainesville, recently showed THE CHOSEN as a weekly Bible study for sex trafficking survivors.
Shedd said that God used the show to shed light on how Jesus redeems and heals lives, no matter the past experiences.
“He was one on one, he was personal, he spoke to each person he did a miracle for and was always geared toward their specific need. And we show that in THE CHOSEN,” creator Dallas Jenkins said.
“We had known about it from our churches, and our friends,” Shedd said of the crowd-unded, multi-season series about the life and ministry of Jesus.
“I truly believe God has used it to show more and more people, the thousands of people who watch ‘The Chosen’ to understand that this is an issue, and it’s happening here, it’s happening in the United States, in Florida, in Gainesville, and it’s happening around them,” Shedd added. “He [Jesus] is reaching her [Mary Magdalene] with such gentleness and care, but also with correction. He didn’t want to leave her where she was.”
Jenkins explained: “There is something uniquely profound about women who experienced trauma; especially sexually trauma, or have been caught up in some sort of situation or lifestyle, whether they chose it or not, that involved being dominated, or used, or disregarded, or seen for something other than who they truly are.”
“I felt an honor to capture her appropriately,” Jenkins added of the show’s depiction of Mary. “Capture her struggle, her desperation, the oppression that she felt.”
Mary’s sexual trauma is addressed in the first episode of THE CHOSEN, and Jesus later seeks out Mary and offers her a way out. Later in the show, one of Mary’s quotes is, “I was one way and now I’m completely different. And the thing that happened in between was him.”
“That says everything about the Gospel,” Jenkins said. “And I think Mary Magdalene is the character in the show that exemplifies that more than anyone… who you are now, versus who you were before you had that encounter, is radically different.”
Created Gainesville reported that many women whose experiences mirrored Mary Magdalene’s from the show were deeply impacted.
“They might see themselves in that situation and understand how Jesus could affect their lives as well,” Shedd said. “Women resonated with the grace Jesus was showing; that he went to a woman who was rejected by society. Maybe a way that they couldn’t get just reading the Bible, but they actually had a visual to put with that.”
“That moment when Jesus calls her by name and claims that she is his, I think for some reason that went through the television and spoke directly to people,” Jenkins added. “The fact that this show could in some way speak to them and give them a sense of hope, what could be better than that?”
“As women go from a place of darkness that most of us could never understand, and stepping into the light and life that God has for them,” Shedd added.
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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
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