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God Is Faithful: Miracles from The Movieguide® Awards

God Is Faithful: Miracles from The Movieguide® Awards

By Tess Farrand, Associate Content Editor

God is immeasurably faithful, and His favor continues to show at the Movieguide® Awards.

Over the last 28 years, God has blessed the work of Movieguide® and filmmakers who seek to edify faith values in their projects. Many have come to know Jesus as their personal Lord and savior. Others heard the Gospel for the first time.

To celebrate how God moves through this annual event, let’s a take a look into the growth and impact of faith in Hollywood.

 A Brief History

In 1993 at the LA Press Club, Movieguide® co-founder and publisher, Dr. Ted Baehr, held a news conference to present figures showing that Hollywood’s small percentage of decent films is much more profitable than its R-rated fare. The Movieguide® Awards are formally referred to as the Annual Faith and Values Gala and Report to The Entertainment Industry for this reason.

Yet, at the time, this was a novel concept.

Over the next few years, what would become recognized as the Movieguide® Awards were born with the hope that Hollywood filmmakers would create more God-honoring content.

When Movieguide® started, over 80% of the movies in the box office were rated R and now 34% of all movies are rated R. In 1985, only 6% of the movies were aimed at families. By 2008, almost 40% of the movies released in theaters were aimed at families. Along with less R rated movies there has been a great increase in Christian content in movies.

Movieguide®’s analysis consistently shows studio executives and filmmakers that family-friendly content and even Christian-friendly content can significantly increase the profitability of their movies. Praise be to God, Movieguide®’s activities have led to a significant increase in the number of family-friendly and Christian-friendly movies over the past 30 years.

Related: Five Famous Celebrities You Didn’t Know Attended the Movieguide® Awards

Impact

Both behind the scenes and in front of the camera, the Movieguide Awards aspire to share the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

With almost thirty years-worth of stories, here are a few to encourage entertainment skeptics that God uses all things to the good of those who love Him.

Movieguide® COO, Robby Baehr, remembers that one year, a gentleman came to Christ from receiving a Bible in the awards gift bag.

In 2019, Jim Caviezel of PAUL, APOSTLE OF CHRIST won a Grace Prize for his performance in the movie. However, he took his moment on stage to gift the award to his co-star James Faulkner. Thousands of people got to see love and kindness in action.

Former Movieguide® Awards host Sadie Robertson Huff (DUCK DYNASTY) said, “A lot of times today, you turn on the TV and it’s bad news after bad news after bad news, and all these scary movies and stuff. It’s so important that we get the good out there, and we get the inspiration, and the faith-based.”

In 2020, Jen Lilley (DAYS OF OUR LIVES) co-hosted the event with Andrew Walker. But before she hosted, Lilley told Movieguide® in 2016, “for one, I’m a Christian. Full disclosure. That’s no secret to most people. I know it’s not exclusively a Christian film event, but at the same time, I’m completely inspired and excited, because I feel like 2015 was the best year yet as far as family values go for films.”

Dr. Ted Baehr, Founder and Executive Producer of the Annual Faith & Values Awards Gala & Report to the Entertainment Industry notes: “When we start the MOVIEGUIDE® Gala, some people thanked God, but that was rare. Every year, the thanks to God and the testimonies to Jesus Christ have increased. This year, with the Gala starting with the former studio head and successful filmmaker, DeVon Franklin, many of the honorees, hosts and presenters talked about Jesus Christ and their testimonies. It was refreshing and reviving!”

Faith content is only looking up for from here!

Stay tuned for more video and print coverage of the 28th Annual Movieguide® Awards soon.