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Kendrick Brothers on Intersection of Ministry and Movies: ‘We Love To Tell Stories and Lead People To Truth’

Photo via Alex Kendrick’s Instagram

Kendrick Brothers on Intersection of Ministry and Movies: ‘We Love To Tell Stories and Lead People To Truth’

By Movieguide® Staff

Kirk Cameron recently sat down with the Kendrick Brothers to discuss their faith and the movie-making industry.

Cameron, who stars in LIFEMARK, asked why movies are important in today’s culture.

“Movies and television, they share stories and stories are powerful,” Alex Kendrick told Cameron. “I can remember some sermons I’ve heard over the years but movies that I saw a decade ago I still remember so specifically.”

“Jesus told stories in the form of parables to impart truth and draw people to truth so that’s one of the reasons we love telling stories,” he added.

Stephen said that the brother’s love for movie-making started with their passion for movie-watching.

“I think it started with just that we loved watching really good movies,” he explained. “If you think about the power of music to influence people, you think about the power of art to influence people, you think about the power of story or example, you swirl all that together… God gave people prophets in the old testament, visions where they’re seeing and hearing something, it’s like he gave them a movie experience.”

“They’re moved emotionally sometimes weeping over what’s happened and we now have in our generation the technology to swirl the arts, the music, story, example together and just like Jesus did with the parables to point people to heaven’s truth through an earthly context,” he continued. “We love being able to tell stories and to lead people to truth because lives can be transformed when they hear and believe the truth.”

Stephen added that past movies, like Movieguide® Award-winning FIREPROOF, give people examples and values to bring into the real world.

“We have a generation that doesn’t know what good fatherhood looks like. Oftentimes, they’ve never seen a good marriage, they don’t know what reconciliation looks like, there’s so many of these truths that are communicated in scripture,” he said. “We can show them, like in FIREPROOF, when Caleb gets on his knees and apologizes to his wife, many men have never seen what it looks like to apologize and to see the beauty of that example, many times people walk out of the theater and the light bulb is going on.”

Despite the tumultuous Hollywood landscape and differing political views, the Kendrick brothers exhorted other Christians to be leaders in every area of their life for the glory of Jesus.

“What did Jesus say in the sermon on the mount? Did he say take your light and hide it under a bushel or did he say let it so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven? He said we are the salt of the earth we are the light of the world,” Stephen said. “I love Romans 12:21. I think about it every week. It says do not be overcome by evil, you overcome evil with good.”

“Every generation really needs believers to rise up and for us to show them truth while they’re hearing lies, for us to show love while they’re modeling hate, for us to show healing and reconciliation in a divisive world that’s committed to death,” he continued. “I would want believers to reach out to me if I didn’t know Christ and I didn’t know God and I was in a toxic environment not knowing where I came from, why I’m here, or where I’m going. I would want people who do know the truth to reach out to me with love and compassion. So it is our job as Christ’s ambassadors to reach out to anybody, anywhere with the gospel and with God’s love.”

While this includes ministry and evangelism, Alex added that this could also be accomplished through movies and entertainment.

“We want to do that in every sphere of influence, whether it’s entertainment—which is why we make movies—ministry, the athletic field, the political field and the cultural field, we want to go into each of these areas of influence and do this and we need believers doing the same thing,” he concluded.

Movieguide®’s review of the Kendrick Brothers’ movie 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.

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.


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.