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A CARPENTER’S PRAYER

"A Redemptive Story of Faith and Forgiveness"

Content: -1 Caution advised for older children, including teenagers, and sensitive adults.
Entertainment Quality:
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Language
Violence
Sex
Nudity

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What You Need To Know:

A CARPENTER’S PRAYER tells an inspiring true story of faith and redemption. The story takes place in rural Michigan in 1973. Doyle Clark, the local pastor, pursues God’s call in his life. However, he struggles to make ends meet, and the hope of building a new church for four separate congregations grows impossible. As despair mounts, God provides hope from the most unlikely person, Glenn Frank, a drunk who has nothing but a guitar. However, because of his expertise in carpentry, Glenn helps the pastor and his family build the church. The plan hits a snag when Glenn’s past returns to haunt him.

A CARPENTER’S PRAYER provides a powerful lesson on the truth that faith in God leads to redemption, no matter who you are or what your circumstances. There is God-exalting worship, prayer and Scripture reading throughout the movie, leading to a faith-filled conversion. The movie also promotes the importance of family and showing God’s love to people in need. God is the ultimate provider in A CARPENTER’S PRAYER. MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for children due to some scenes of drunkenness.

Content:

(CCC, BBB, V, AA, M):

Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements:
Very strong Christian, biblical worldview stresses prayer, worship, faith, church, forgiveness, repentance, baptism, and Scripture reading to show that God has the power to redeem anyone and provide for His children despite any circumstances;

Foul Language:
No foul language, and a man sings a praise song to Jesus, but he’s drunk;

Violence:
No depicted violence, but it’s mentioned there was a fire that killed a married couple;

Sex:
No sex;

Nudity:
No nudity;

Alcohol Use:
One of the main characters struggles with an alcohol addiction, he likens it to needing medicine, so there are several scenes of drunkenness, including one where he walks into church drunk;

Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse:
No smoking or drugs; and,

Miscellaneous Immorality:
Man with alcohol problem gets pastor’s young son to say nothing to father about his problem, but it’s rebuked and resolved positively.

More Detail:

A CARPENTER’S PRAYER is an inspiring example of God’s faithfulness to redeem even the most unlikely of people.

Pastor Doyle Clark pastors a local church in Michigan during the 1970s. Despite their humble means, the Clark family is full of love and trust that God will provide. Pastor Clark wants to pursue God’s calling on his life of uniting four smaller churches under the roof of a new building. However, when a pastor from another church backs out, Pastor Clark is desperate to find the money to continue the project.

Another problem arises when one of the contractors, Lloyd, has a heart attack. Now, Pastor Doyle not only needs money, he also needs a carpenter who can fill in for Lloyd.

Meanwhile, at a bar in Detroit, a drunk named Glenn Frank plays his guitar. Glenn is promptly kicked out and taken to jail. Glenn’s sister picks him up and offers him a place in her home in the same town as Pastor Clark and his family. Despite his vices, Glenn tells Pastor Clarke he can fill in as carpenter. Better yet, he can work for free because he still gets paychecks from his old job.

Thankful for Glenn’s act of kindness, the Clarks take Glenn in and shows him the love of God by providing him with community and meals. Glenn grows close with Pastor Clark’s oldest son, Lance, whose greatest wish in life is to learn to play the guitar.

Glenn makes the boy promise not to tell his father about his drinking problem. In return, Glenn will teach Lance how to play the guitar. Lance is conflicted about lying to his father, but he agrees.

However, Glenn’s reliance on alcohol only grows as memories from his past bombard him with grief. The town begins to question Clark’s relationship with Glenn, especially when he starts to put his own life and other people’s lives in danger.

While Pastor Clark begins to lose hope, Lance trusts that God still has a plan for Glenn, his family and the church.

A CARPENTER’S PRAYER is a rousing true story about how God has the power to redeem, the importance of showing God’s love to those in need, and God’s provision despite our circumstances. Along with the movie’s overarching themes of redemption and God’s love, there are many encouraging examples of local ministry and faithful pastoral leadership such as prayer, baptism and worship.

Despite some heavier, adult themes, A CARPENTER’S PRAYER is an encouraging, inspiring movie many families can enjoy together. Due to some depictions of drunkenness, MOVIEGUIDE® does advise caution for children.



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