How God Called Alex Kendrick To Ministry Through Movies
By Movieguide® Staff
Despite his success in the entertainment industry, Alex Kendrick said that Christ is at the center of everything he sets out to do.
The director of Movieguide® Award winning movies like COURAGEOUS said that he and his brother, Stephen, see their work as ministry.
“The more I got into telling stories in the form of feature films and books, Scripture was jumping out at me, and the Lord was pointing to the passages that talk about when you see a Pharisee or someone praying on the street corners to be seen by men, Jesus said that’s the only reward they’ll ever get,” Kendrick said on a recent episode of the ‘The Women in My World’ podcast. “They’re not getting something from the Lord when they are [trying] to be seen by men.”
“I started thinking, ‘Lord, I don’t wanna do these movies or books or speaking just to be seen by men,’” he added. “I had to arrange, even in my own heart, what type of success was motivating me.”
The Kendrick brothers recently released their first movie based on a true story called, LIFEMARK. Like their other projects, Alex said that they prayed for God’s will to be done every step of the way.
“I want the Lord’s presence on the projects we work on,” Alex said on the podcast. “I want Him to be glorified, Him to do more through these projects and ministry avenues than I ever could, and I want to hear, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant,’ when I’m standing before Him.”
“We’ve tasted a little bit of the awards and the status that we thought would be fulfilling, and it feels good for about 15 minutes,” he continued. “Then it starts to fade and I realize, ‘Lord, I just want you.’”
A portion of Movieguide®’s review of LIFEMARK reads:
LIFEMARK is a faith-based drama about an 18-year-old teenager, David, who has tried to hide the fact he’s adopted until his a biological parents try to contact him. One day, David comes home, and his parents who raised him tell him his biological mother wants to meet him. Deciding to meet his birth mother, David hears from his biological father and must decide if he would like to meet him as well. Will David be able to be open with them and listen to what they have to say about giving him up for adoption?
LIFEMARK is a well-made, heartwarming, inspiring movie produced by the Kendrick Brothers and Kirk Cameron, who also stars. The movie is solid throughout, with a positive Christian worldview. The movie promotes relying on God, believing God’s plan, forgiveness, and loving others. There’s also a beautiful pro-life message about adoption, giving life and the value of life. Don’t let the PG-13 rating stop you from seeing this movie. The movie’s themes about abortion and pro-life issues are the reason the Hollywood elites are giving LIFEMARK such a tough rating.