An ‘UNCOMMON’ Encounter
Several days ago I was witnessed God speak and I just had to share!
Since the release of the ‘Producer’s Edition’ of Finding Faith, Erik Estrada and I have been on the road. Since early January of this year Erik and I have made over 50 appearances, screenings, and presentations on behalf of the film. The response to Finding Faith’s message has been phenomenal!
During this tour, we have also started gearing up for our new film Uncommon, which is being produced with Liberty Counsel. But the challenges of touring an existing movie along with the time restraints for filming Uncommon quickly added up. And I hate to say it, but I was questioning whether we should even produce another film so soon.
Then God showed up, like He always does, in a very dramatic way!
Several days ago I took my daughter, Brianna, to a college campus in Florida to take an academic test. It was early morning and not too many students were around. Daniel, our scriptwriter for Uncommon, had just sent me his latest draft. As I was waiting for Brianna to finish her exam I figured I had time to review his re-writes.
Even as I flipped through the first pages, I questioned whether this film would even get off the ground. But as I continued to read, I realized how good it was! Daniel seized the message with clear character depictions and a great story line. I was just at a part in the script where the lead in the film becomes harassed for promoting a Bible study on school property when three college-age students approached me.
“Hi. Can we pray with you?” They asked. I responded, “Sorry?”
Here were three college kids who took their Spring Break to come to another college campus to pray for other students. So we spoke for a few minutes about God and Christianity and they moved on to speak with others.
I went back to the script and several minutes later, the students appeared in front of me again. But now, they were talking about God and religion to a group of college kids. So, here I am, reading a script about religious liberties on school campuses and right in front of me I’m overhearing students on school property discuss God, His existence, and His plan for each of their lives.
It was non-threatening and non-intrusive! The kids weren’t banging drums, ringing tambourines, or throwing their hands-up in hallelujahs. They were simply talking about God and Jesus in a peaceful conversation.
Then suddenly, I see a golf cart labeled with the words ‘Security’ make a beeline across the campus right towards the students. In the Uncommon script I was just getting to the part where the Civics teacher is arguing his case for banning a Bible study and any mention of faith or religion on school property. And sure enough, as the scene was unfolding in the script, God was opening my eyes to the exact scene in front of me!
The golf cart didn’t even come to a complete stop before the over enthusiastic security guard was out waving his hands and stating, “YOU CAN’T DO THIS HERE!”
I could tell the kids were as shocked as I was. One of them asked, “What are we doing?” The guard responded, “You can’t meet on school property and talk about religion.” This, of course, is where I had to put my Mat Staver cape on.
We calmly spoke to the security officer and assured him that what these students were doing was perfectly legal and what they were saying was protected as free speech. However, the guard insisted it was prohibited because of some misconception he had about the law.
This was an obvious response from God to me and our team to not only produce Uncommon, but to fine tune the message so we can educate and expose misinformation.
The campus security guard did not know any better. He actually told me he was a Christian and attended church every Sunday morning. So here was a Christian man, serving as a security guard, booting off other Christians from school property just because he doesn’t know any better, and because he felt his job would be in jeopardy if he didn’t do it.
We have to change that…and the film Uncommon is going to do just that! Find your voice and help us make an incredible film this summer!
Jason Campbell
President, JC Films